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MLB Morning News – 7/19/23

Get caught up on everything you need to know from Tuesday's games.

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 7/19/2023

Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.

If you are a fan of pitching, Tuesday was not your day (sorry, Nick Pollack!). Teams combined to score 199 runs, with 12 MLB squads scoring in double digits, something that had not happened in more than 100 years. Among all the runs, what stood out? Let’s get into it!

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Young Bucco grabs treasure

 

Outside of game action, the Pirates (currently in the middle of a 5-game losing streak) at least had some positive news to share, as they made the arrival of #1 pick Paul Skenes official. With a $9.2 million signing bonus that shattered the previous record for #1 picks, Skenes provides a glimmer of hope for a franchise that is desperate for a new identity, especially on the pitching side. Skenes has been compared to Stephen Strasburg in terms of prospect shine, as he has flashed a 100mph fastball and led LSU to a national title only a few weeks ago. The righty will start his pro career in the Florida Complex League, as baseball fans will eagerly await to see if he is fast-tracked to the majors.

 


Dbacks outlast Braves in crazy game

 

In a day full of runs, one game was still able to stand out above the rest. Arizona and Atlanta feature some of the most athletic and powerful offenses in the game, and it was all in full display. The game had 17 runs scored by the end of the fourth inning, and the scoring would not stop until the very end. Following 6 lead changes, 29 runs, 27 hits (14 of them going for extra bases) and several offensive heroes, Arizona came out on top after their bullpen was finally able to put some zeroes on the board—Tyler Gilbert, Miguel Castro, and Kevin Ginkel combined to pitch three perfect innings to close the contest. While the game could be remembered for Christian Walker and Austin Riley’s offensive heroics, see below for the truly memorable play from this game.

 

 

Ohtani aura silences Yankee bats

 

In box score terms, Shohei Ohtani had a quiet game for his standards, even as it included his league-leading seventh triple and another walk to get his OPS to 1.072. However, the biggest story for the Angels was the best outing of the season for Patrick Sandoval. Following a breakout 2022 campaign that featured a 2.91 ERA and more strikeouts than innings pitched, Sandoval was expected to become Ohtani’s co-ace or at least a stable presence in the rotation. This season has been rough for the lefty, as some have wondered if pitching in the WBC affected his offseason ramp-up plan. Nevertheless, if the Angels are to somehow climb back to contention and silence Ohtani trade rumors, they will need more of today’s version of Sandoval: 7.1 innings of 2-hit ball, with 7 strikeouts and only one run allowed.

 

 

Manoah falls back to earth

 

Turns out that facing the Tigers is not the best barometer, eh? The maligned Alek Manoah returned to his rough early-season form, throwing a dud against the Padres, in what was only the beginning of a 9-1 blowout loss. The righty allowed a first-inning homer to Juan Soto and never looked comfortable on the mound, finishing his day with eight baserunners and four runs allowed in only four innings, needing a whopping 92 pitches in the process. The most alarming part was that Manoah did not record a single strikeout, and now the questions will certainly start again regarding his status on Toronto’s rotation.

 

 

Rain cannot stop the Giants

 

Following Monday’s rain suspension, the Giants and Reds resumed play in the top of the eighth inning with two runners in scoring position for San Francisco. Even as they failed to score, a weird pick-off from Tyler Rogers in the ninth and a double from Joc Pederson in the tenth would propel the Giants towards their sixth straight win. Just a few hours later, rain appeared again to delay the regularly-scheduled game, which turned into a classic Great American Ballpark hitting bonanza, as both teams combined for 25 hits and 21 runs, including six homers. The offensive hero for San Francisco was the ever-underrated Wilmer Flores, who drove in five runs. With the unconventional twin bill, closer Camilo Doval became the first Giant pitcher with two saves on the same day since 2000, and at the same time earned the distinction of being the first pitcher with 30 saves in 2023.

 

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Corbin Carroll’s K/Triple

 

The old baseball adage holds that every day presents a possibility of seeing something you have never seen before. Behold, a play I had never seen before. After tying the game at five and with Ketel Marte at second base, Corbin Carroll swung at a nasty pitch from Bryce Elder that was not caught cleanly by Sean Murphy. With the speedy Carroll racing for first, Murphy rushed his throw and failed to complete the routine play—instead, chaos ensued. The ball sailed to right field as Marte used his speed to score, while Carroll never looked back and ended up at third. He would score Arizona’s seventh run, as the Dbacks ended up pulling out the win.

 

Joey Votto reaches cool milestone

 

In what could be the last season of his career, Joey Votto continues to add to his lore. Stepping to the plate with a man on base, he hit a patented opposite-field homer to reach 350 career dingers—only the second Cincinnati Red to reach that milestone. Votto also became the 99th player in MLB history with this many. Could he reach Joe DiMaggio’s 361 before the season ends?

 

 

Randy bests best friend

 

The friendship between Cuban-born Randy Arozarena and Adolis García has recently been highlighted, as both competed in the Home Run Derby, and it was revealed that Garcia is godfather to Arozarena’s daughter. The recent history of friendly competition added another chapter today, as Randy hit a soft line drive to right field and challenged Garcia’s arm to stretch the hit into a double. Garcia’s off-balance throw came really close to getting the out, prompting a smirk and celebration from Arozarena. Adolis would get the last laugh, as the Rangers beat the Rays, 5-3.

 

 

Injuries

 

Tuesday was a quiet day for injuries, as no notable players were placed on the IL. Among the moves announced, the Braves shifted pitcher Kolby Allard to the 60-day IL, as the nerve inflammation in his pitching shoulder has worsened. He becomes the fourth member of Atlanta’s rotation to be placed on the long-term IL, probably indicating that the team will be looking for starting pitching at the deadline. Also in the National League, the Brewers placed lefty Wade Miley on the 15-day IL, although his absence is expected to be short, as he is dealing with a minor issue on his elbow.

In welcomed news, Clayton Kershaw had a 30-pitch bullpen session that left him and the Dodgers optimistic regarding his injury status. While the progress should not accelerate the return timetable that was set for early August, it at least means that the veteran southpaw is on the right path to returning as a key member of Los Angeles’ rotation. Kershaw’s last appearance came on June 27, but the Dodgers have been able to keep pace in the NL West and enter today with a 2-game lead atop the division.

Articles You Should Read

 

Four Hitters Primed for a Big Second Half – Esteban Rivera, Fangraphs

Top 10 Story Lines for MLB’s Second Half – Zach Kram, The Ringer

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

 

Is it Legit?

Closing Time: Ranking the Top 30 Closers

Pablo Figueroa

Pablo Figueroa is a Baseball Writer here at Pitcher List, with experience as a writer since 2013. He lives in Aguascalientes, Mexico - proud home of Los Rieleros. When he´s not thinking about baseball , he's a husband, owns two dogs, watches random episodes of The Sopranos , plays padel, and works on his day job to pay the bills.

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