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The playoff push continues, even as some teams are losing ground quickly. How did your favorite team fare this Tuesday? Let’s get into it!
Today’s Headlines
Wander Franco placed on administrative leave
The Tampa Bay Rays scored nine runs in the eighth inning to cap a comeback win over the visiting Colorado Rockies. However, the biggest news for the team came away from the field. In what was an expected move, MLB decided to place Wander Franco on administrative leave as it continues to investigate the allegations made against him in the Dominican Republic. While his placement on the restricted list is reported as indefinite, it is likely that he will not be part of the team for the rest of 2023. Even as the Rays have thrived on depth and still are likely to make the playoffs, the news still remains a shock to Tampa and the baseball world.
Signs of #Rays Wander Franco are disappearing at the Trop – the banner of him on the rotunda was replaced by Yandy Diaz, the elevator wrap is now Fairbanks. Sign at Ferg’s across street also down. Franco does still have a locker in clubhouse.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 22, 2023
Mariners add misery to White Sox
Despite not having Julio Rodríguez for a second straight game, this time with a stomach ailment, the Mariners showed no signs of slowing down and won for the eighth straight time. The win came at the expense of the White Sox, who were in the middle of a rough organizational day, as ownership announced the dismissal of executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn. While the moves were certainly expected for the underachieving franchise, it was still shocking to see in late August. Seattle took advantage of the circumstances, with a 6-1 lead by the fifth inning, cruising to yet another win, which now puts them a single game back of the Rangers in the AL West.
We might have to start calling them the Wariners. 🔱 pic.twitter.com/sKasfJy4Zg
— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2023
Turner creates a core memory
Trea Turner’s maiden season in Philadelphia has had more lows than highs, as the high-priced free agent has mostly failed to live up to his contract. But as the Phillies have taken a stranglehold on the top NL wild card spot, Turner’s resurgent play has been a big part of it. Today, he added a signature moment to his collection, with a clutch walk-off two-run single that capped an improbable win for Philadelphia. With the Giants sending top prospect Kyle Harrison to start the game, San Francisco had labored to take a 3-2 lead, as the Phillies had not scored since a 2-run homer by Bryce Harper in the first. With all-star closer Camilo Doval on the mound, Philadelphia loaded the bases via a hit batter, a single, and an intentional walk, bringing Turner as the potential hero. He delivered with some luck, as his line drive deflected off Doval all the way to the outfield, allowing the winning run to score.
Trea Turner rings the bell for the @Phillies! 🔔 pic.twitter.com/IJJCg7g6m6
— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2023
Cy Gallen would like your attention
Following the All-Star break, it seemed that Zac Gallen’s chances to win the Cy Young were quickly fading. In a span of five starts, his ERA climbed from 3.04 to 3.37, no longer flashing the dominance he showed at the beginning of 2023. However, he appears to have righted the ship at the most critical time for Arizona, as today he pitched his third straight game allowing no more than one run. With his 11-K gem against Texas, he has now pitched in four games with at least that many strikeouts this season, as the Dbacks climbed back to the third wild card spot. On the other hand, the Rangers have now lost six straight and are in serious danger of ceding control of the AL West to the Astros and/or Mariners.
Zac Gallen put on a pitching clinic. 😤 pic.twitter.com/5VvqEkv5PI
— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2023
Rookies fail to save drowning Yankees
In a move that seems too little, too late for the Yankees, the team announced that top prospects Everson Pereira and Oswald Peraza would be promoted to the major league team and inserted into the lineup for today’s game against Washington. Adding them to the return from the IL by Carlos Rodón, it seemed that New York would have a jolt to finally break its ghastly losing streak. Alas, it was not to be. Even as Rodon had a strong return (6 innings of 1-run ball, though with only one strikeout), the rookies combined to go 0-for-7 as the team’s offense remained feckless to the tune of only two hits. While the Nationals also struggled to string hits together, a clutch eighth-inning homer by CJ Abrams broke the tie and sent the Yankees to their ninth straight loss. Entering today, even the Nationals, Pirates, and Tigers are closer to a playoff spot than the Yanks.
CJ Abrams is going places.
Like deep. pic.twitter.com/TZQGHYzYlL
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 23, 2023
Best Moments From Yesterday
Alek Thomas can fly
With Marcus Semien at the plate, the Texas Rangers appeared to be en route to having an extra-base hit and threatening Arizona in the top of the ninth. Alek Thomas had a different idea. With his back to the infield, the speedy outfielder took a precise path to meet the ball in the warning track, making a spectacular leap to get the catch and record the first out of the inning. The play was impressive, just as the Diamondbacks move back to playoff position.
Alek Thomas really just did that. 😯 pic.twitter.com/6jWfqqQKfw
— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2023
A nifty 4-6-3 putout
In what could be the saddest series of the season, the Royals visited the Oakland A’s (combined 76-178 record)—a battle of teams that have been playing out the string for a while. Just to remind us that this is actually major league baseball, the Royals pulled off an amazing play to record an improbable out. Behind Zack Greinke, second baseman Michael Massey realized he had no play at first, so he flipped the ball to shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who still had time to make an accurate throw and get the runner out. It is nice to know that even the worst teams can give us a memorable moment.
Teamwork at its finest from the @Royals middle infield. 👏 pic.twitter.com/fFZPQkMsOw
— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2023
Bo knows baseball
The Blue Jays have been one of the best teams in baseball in 2023…unless they are playing their division foes. Toronto entered today with a 13-24 record against the AL East, including a dreadful 2-8 mark against the Orioles. However, at least today they came out victorious, with a highlight reel play from Bo Bichette. With Adley Rutschman at the plate and Baltimore threatening, Bichette went to his right, dove, and somehow got an accurate overhand throw to nail the Baltimore star at first base.
Bo Bichette helped the @BlueJays to a massive win with this highlight-reel play. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/i97WwaBeau
— MLB (@MLB) August 23, 2023
Injuries
The Dodgers announced that JD Martinez is headed to the 10-day IL with a groin injury. He had been out of the lineup since August 19, which probably means that the move will be backdated by a couple of days. With Los Angeles having a large lead atop the NL West, they are more likely to proceed cautiously with Martinez, who has enjoyed a career resurgence in 2023. As he heads to the IL for the second time this season, the designated hitter already has 25 home runs and 23 doubles, making his one-year, $10 million contract one of the best free-agent signings of the campaign.
Just a few weeks after returning from a long IL stint, Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez was again out of the lineup, albeit with a much lighter (yet weird) malaise. Manager Dusty Baker reported that Alvarez’s late scratch was due to a home mishap with a door, which left a bruise on his left hand. While the injury is bound to heal quickly, Alvarez may be out of the lineup again on Wednesday and will be evaluated day-to-day. At least the Astros did not miss him that much, pummeling the Red Sox with a 7-3 win.
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