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MLB Morning News – 9/06/23

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

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 9/6/2023

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

Tuesday’s action included a big game from a small guy, many runs, and a weird soccer-baseball crossover. Let’s get into it!

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Altuve and Astros make a statement

 

Following Monday’s big win over the Rangers, the Houston Astros took things even further with a 14-1 demolishing in game two of the series. The romp was highlighted by Jose Altuve, who hit solo homers in his first three at-bats, while also having big offensive days from Martín Maldonado (2 HR and 4 RBI), Yordan Alvarez (HR, 2 RBI), and Jeremy Peña (3 hits, 3 runs). Over on the mound, Framber Valdez had a bounce-back performance, tossing seven innings of 1-run ball. With the win, the Astros have solo possession of the top AL West spot for the first time in 2023, while the Rangers are seriously on the verge of a meltdown.


Youth movement brings Reds back

As the red-hot Julio Rodríguez hit a 3-run homer to give the Mariners a 5-1 lead, it looked like Seattle was on track to keep pace with Houston in the AL West. When Rodriguez hit yet another dinger to pad the lead and make it 6-3 in the seventh, the bullpen appeared ready to secure the win. Cincinnati saw all that and never flinched, as Nick Martini hit a big 3-run blast to tie it in the eighth, and then wunderkind Elly De La Cruz created the winning run with his legs. It all started with an infield single to shortstop, followed by his 25th stolen base of the season, and then coming to the plate with a walk-off single delivered by Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Even as their run differential remains subpar, the Reds continue to prove that they are in good hands for a playoff race.

 

A wacky game in Wrigley

The San Francisco Giants entered the game with 18 straight scoreless innings, and now faced Kyle Hendricks, who has dominated the Giants throughout his career. San Francisco came out hot, hitting a couple of homers off Hendricks and scoring 8 runs overall…and still lost by 3. On a windy night at Wrigley, the Cubs took advantage of several miscues and poor pitching to win for the seventh time over their past 10 games. Clutch homers by Seiya Suzuki and Christopher Morel drove in five late runs for Chicago, as they remain well in the hunt for the top wild-card spot and the NL Central crown.

 

 

Bassitt guides Blue Jays 

 

In what may end up being one of the best free-agent signings of the 2023 offseason, Toronto righty Chris Bassitt solidified his standing as the team’s co-ace. With Toronto needing every win they can get in a fierce wild-card race, Bassitt won for the third time in his last four starts, earning win #14 of the season with a strong outing in Oakland. His final line of 8 innings, 1 run, and 7 strikeouts was impressive, outlasting Ken Waldichuk, who matched Bassitt for six scoreless innings before Oakland’s bullpen imploded in a 6-run seventh inning that decided the game. Toronto’s win has them with a half-game lead for the third wild card spot.

 

Marlins outlast Kershaw and Dodgers

 

Staring at an early 2-run deficit and facing Clayton Kershaw, it looked like the Marlins would see their 4-game winning streak come to an end. However, Kershaw was a bit out of sorts today (5 walks in 5 innings), and Miami took advantage to roar back and take a 3-2 lead. With the game tied at 3 in the eighth, the Marlins got a couple of clutch back-to-back homers from Bryan de la Cruz and Jazz Chisholm Jr., taking a final 6-3 lead that would prove decisive. The five-game winning streak means that Miami will remain tied for the final wild-card spot in the NL, as they look for their first October appearance after a full season since 2003.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

A Heel Assist by Quintana

 

With the whole Messi-in-MLS fever in full force, it appears that even baseball players have gotten into the hype train. Staring at a comebacker from Joey Meneses, José Quintana extended his heel, directed the ball with a clever heel touch, and saw Ronny Mauricio field and throw to get Meneses out. The unconventional 1-4-3 putout was a thing of beauty.

 

Giancarlo Stanton reaches 400

 

Giancarlo Stanton’s time with the Yankees has been rocky, full of injuries and disappointments, and he will probably finish 2023 with a negative WAR. However, there is no denying that his power is still prodigious, as he showed today in this majestic homerun, the 400th of his career. The dinger was also notorious, as it gave the Yankees the lead in what would be a win, taking them back to .500. Stanton became just the 58th player in MLB history with 400 big flies.

 

 

Adam Duvall saves the day (momentarily)

 

In the bottom of the 10th inning of what had already been a memorable game, the Rays had the bases loaded and a premium opportunity to walk it off. Christian Bethancourt fought off an 0-2 pitch and hit what appeared to be the game-ending sacrifice fly, but Adam Duvall had other ideas. Known mostly for his bat, Duvall flashed his cannon arm to gun down the runner at the plate, sending the game to the 11th. While Boston took a lead via the ghost runner, Tampa would roar back mightily, as Brandon Lowe ended the game with a three-run bomb off Kenley Jansen.

 

Injuries

 

Both New York teams announced season-ending injuries for disappointing players, as Carlos Carrasco is out for the Mets and Anthony Rizzo will no longer be in the Yankees’ lineup. Starting with Carrasco, he was diagnosed with a broken right pinkie, following a mishap in the weight room. He finishes this year with a 3-8 record and 6.80 ERA, by far the worst season of his career, just before becoming a free agent. As for Rizzo, the lefty first baseman is being shut down with post-concussion syndrome, an ailment that has affected him for most of the season, as he hoped to return from his IL stint that dates back to August 3. With the Yankees out of contention, it makes sense to avoid further risk for Rizzo, who will finish with career-lows all across the board: 12 homers, 41 RBI, and a .706 OPS.

Shohei Ohtani was again out of the lineup for the Angels, marking the second consecutive day without the future MVP. While Ohtani has not addressed the media directly regarding his injuries, manager Phil Nevin indicated that his oblique tweak was serious enough to warrant more rest. However, Nevin also mentioned that Ohtani is working towards a return this season, as he wishes to keep hitting despite the Angels being out of playoff contention. This situation will need day-to-day monitoring, as we hope that Ohtani can have a strong finish.

Articles You Should Read

 

A Time to Slug and a Time to Bunt – Michael Baumann, Fangraphs

The 2023 MLB Awards Race Guide  – Zach Kram, The Ringer

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

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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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