The kids came out to play on Wednesday night. Two rookie hurlers faced off in the first of many future AL Central showdowns. Kyle Tucker had a cycle in hand, but there’s no slowing progress. Line drives, dugout dives, rare feats, Winker eats, and bodies were flying everywhere. But what did you expect?
This is Wednesday baseball.
Dane Cooks, Feeds Heat, But The Tigers Send It Back
There was nothing funny about the effort put forth by Dane Dunning in his major-league debut on Wednesday. The Great Dane is the final piece of the Adam Eaton trade (joining Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito), and he might be the best of the bunch.
Okay, probably not, but he’s top two or three for sure. Either way, the battle is on, and he’s going to have to defend himself.
Not a problem:
Welcome to the Show, @Ddunning33. 😅 pic.twitter.com/7xYYkMvrsK
— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2020
https://gfycat.com/IllfatedClearcutLhasaapso
That pitch came howling back at Dunning at 104.1 mph. He’s a little paranoid in the immediate aftermath, but wouldn’t you be?
After all that, how’s your heart rate, Dane?
https://gfycat.com/MajorLargeHydra
That’s totally fair. You had a big day. Speaking of…
Debut Showdown: Casey Mize vs. Dane Dunning
We know debuts have become more-or-less boilerplate this season, but this showdown was special. Check it.
In this corner:
Welcome to the Motor City, @Casey_Mize! pic.twitter.com/cjVnerN0wt
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) August 19, 2020
Yup, that's filthy.
Congrats on the first Major League strikeout, @Casey_Mize! #DetroitRoots pic.twitter.com/lN6tEhKIIl
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 20, 2020
And in this corner:
Welcome to the Show, Dane! pic.twitter.com/S6DCENI5Kk
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 20, 2020
Watch #WhiteSox rookie Dane Dunning strike out the side in just his third MLB inning. pic.twitter.com/XGuPduNWDy
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 20, 2020
Mize: 4 ⅓ inning 7 hits 3 earned runs 7 strikeouts 0 walks, 11 swinging strikes
Dunning: 4 ⅓ innings, 5 hits, 3 earned runs, 7 strikeouts, 1 walk, 17 swinging strikes
Mize became the first pitcher in Tigers’ history to strike out 7 without walking a batter in his debut. Hasn’t been done in the majors at all since Stephen Strasburg who – nervitis aside – has turned out pretty good. But don’t take my word for it: check Casey’s debut one GIF at a time.
Giolocation
The NBA is back, and that means flopping. But come on: It’s not always a foul.
This one was, but the Yankees utilized their Giolocation device and brought it back:
There he goes. pic.twitter.com/y6g0d9BZv6
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 20, 2020
We should hear the other side of the argument. When flopping does warrant a whistle, the question must be asked: offense or defense?
Just how they drew it up. pic.twitter.com/wfAcrxmIUd
— Julian McWilliams (@byJulianMack) August 19, 2020
Unclear, but it deserved a whistle. Gotta stop play after that debacle. (Not much better than a good baseball blooper though, amiright?)
The Dark Knight Rises, Bested By Two-Face
There was more going on in this game between the Reds and Royals, but I’m not going to dignify that particular moment with commentary. It was horrendous.
On the positive side: Matt Harvey is back in the big leagues! He started the second game of Wednesday’s twin bill with the Reds. The newest Royal took the loss after giving up three earned runs in three innings.
But at least he had the support of his friends. Here he is striking out former teammate Jesse Winker.
Jesse Winker’s reaction to being struck out by his former teammate, Matt Harvey?
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 20, 2020
Winker seemed like a friend, but then he turned around and homered off Harvey – not very friendly at all. The consolation for Harvey is that it’s not personal: Winker’s hurt a lot of pitchers this year. He isn’t a household name yet (full disclosure: I was calling him Kyle Winkler in my head for like an hour), but if he keeps ripping at this pace, he’s going to be: .365/.484/.712 with an unreal 214 wRC+ through 20 games.
There’s a pun in here somewhere about Harvey Dent, but I can’t find it. Instead, take a look at the two sides of Winker:
2019: 1.0 fWAR, 113 games, 384 plate appearances
2020: 1.0 fWAR, 20 games, 64 plate appearances
The Dark Knight might be back, but it’s Winker who’s on the rise.
Kyle Tucker Cycles Through His Checklist, Forgets To Double
Kyle Tucker did something on Wednesday night that only 20 players have done since 1901.
Have yourself a night @KTuck30!
4-5: 2 3Bs, 1 HR, 11 total bases #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/XZeQScfEGo
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 20, 2020
Two triples? Just slow down, Kyle! You don’t need that extra base. Unless…wait a minute…is a triple better than a double?
Kyle Tucker had a single, 2 triples, and a home run tonight.
It's the 1st time a player has had at least 1 1B, 2 3B and a HR in a game since Chris Coghlan on Sept. 13, 2015.
It's just the 20th instance since 1901.
By comparison, there have been 286 cycles since 1901.
RARER!!!
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 20, 2020
This is amazing, but I still struggle to get excited about the Astros. Let’s move along.
Dancing Friars
I could show you Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr. going back-to-back, but here’s a better idea: let the kids dance.
Siri show me the two least-hateable players in baseball pic.twitter.com/7Dc2hwMPcG
— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) August 20, 2020
— William Boor (@wboor) August 20, 2020
In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Padres put together a heck of a series of ABs to wear down Rangers’ closer Rafael Montero. After laboring through 42 pitches, Montero blew the save in glorious fashion. Here’s how it happened:
A ghost committed an error allowing Profar to reach second base. A sacrifice bunt got him to third. Trent Grisham turned a 1-2 count into a 3-2 walk. Then Tatis fouled off four straight to earn a 3-2 walk. Then Manny Machado worked an 8-pitch at-bat. It ended well for him.
Now let’s walk this off.
MANNY #WALKOFF SLAM! pic.twitter.com/YZPExt66Iw
— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2020
The @Padres are ELECTRIC. pic.twitter.com/0kqNhNijLk
— MLB (@MLB) August 20, 2020