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As one stadium is built in Las Vegas (there is a good update below), there is progress on getting a new venue built in downtown Kansas City. The City Council approved $600 million in funding for its share of the proposed $3 billion complex, of which the stadium is $1.9 billion (at the moment). There are many more hurdles to navigate before the first shovel hits the dirt. The Royals have said they will put up $760 million toward the project, while trying to pry another $540 million from the state of Missouri. The Royals are hoping to have the stadium built by the 2030 season.
Today’s Headlines
deGrom Reaches 2,000 K’s As Rangers Climb
With his second strikeout of the first inning Thursday, Texas Rangers right-handed starter Jacob deGrom officially reached a milestone, not that his career needed much more validation. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner made it to 2,000 strikeouts the second-fastest of any pitcher in MLB history in the Rangers’ 2-0 victory over the Washington Nationals. The five-time All-Star struck out 10 over six shutout innings, allowing just a second-inning single. He reached 2,000 strikeouts in 1,661 innings, second to Chris Sale’s 1,626 and in 272 games, second to Randy Johnson’s 262. The victory allowed the Rangers to tie the Minnesota Twins for the third and final AL wild-card slot and, combined with the Houston Astros‘ 18-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, pull within one game of the AL West lead.
After Meeting, Marte Goes On Injured List
After more than three days of vagueness, the Arizona Diamondbacks have been able to sort out the next chapter in the Ketel Marte sage. Following a meeting between general manager Mike Hazen, manager Torey Lovullo, Marte and his agent, the D’backs transferred the mercurial second baseman from the restricted list to the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation. Marte had an MRI Thursday. “I’m not gonna get into specifics,” Hazen said. “I feel like the conversation and meeting was productive. We discussed the last week. That, obviously, I’m not going to get into. He’ll talk to his teammates at some point and we’ll go from there.” After the team arrived in Boston on Sunday night, Marte did not report to Fenway Park for Monday’s game, leading the D’backs to put him on the restricted list. Marte had little to no contact with the team until Thursday’s meeting at the team’s minor-league headquarters.
Reds Play Dropsy, Cardinals Pick Up Win
The Cincinnati Reds certainly have to file a grievance against the baseball gods. How else can you explain what happened on the would-be final out of the game in the top of the ninth. JJ Wetherholt’s rather routine fly to deep left-center wasn’t caught and led to the St. Louis Cardinals scoring six runs. The Reds came back with four runs, but fell one short in a 10-9 loss to the Cardinals. On the critical play, the left-handed-hitting Wetherholt lofted a 1-2 pitch to left-center. Left fielder TJ Friedl, a defensive replacement, had the ball tracked but was battling the sun. Center fielder Dane Myers ranged over and called off Friedl, then had the ball clank off his glove, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score from second and third. Four more runs would come in, including two on José Fermín’s single. Two walks, one by Myers, set up the four-run bottom of the ninth, which included a two-run Sal Stewart single off Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien that made it 10-8. Tyler Stephenson drew a bases-loaded walk to pull the Reds within 10-9, but Matt McLain lined out to right fielder Jordan Walker on the warning track as the Cardinals survived.
Cole Cruises As Yankees Sweep Orioles
If the New York Yankees are going to get where they want to go, they will need more performances like this one from ace right-hander Gerrit Cole. Cole struck out eight over six innings as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a 6-1 victory. The win kept the Yankees securely in the No. 1 AL wild-card position, 5½ games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, while picking up a game on the Tampa Bay Rays, who have a four-game lead in the AL East. Luis García Jr. and Spencer Jones homered for the Yankees.
Jays Take Rays Series, Continue Surprising Push
The Toronto Blue Jays made the interesting decision to do a mix of selling and buying at the trade deadline. And even with superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. currently out with a concussion, the Jays are finding ways to win games, something they didn’t do much of before the deadline due to a rash of injuries and underperformance. But with right-handed starter Shane Bieber flashing his Cy Young form and three players hitting home runs, the Jays beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 5-1. By taking two of three in the series, the Jays (63-66) are now tied with the Texas Rangers and (62-65) within a half-game of the third and final AL wild-card spot, currently held by the Minnesota Twins (63-65). Bieber struck out seven over seven innings, allowing a run on four hits. Kazuma Okamoto, Nathan Lukes and Daz Cameron each hit solo homers for the Jays. Lukes’ fifth-inning shot snapped a 1-1 tie.
Holmes Quiets Critics With 1-Hit Start
How players respond to a bit of uncertainty regarding their status with the team can make or break a season, perhaps a career. While this likely won’t be a career-altering start, Atlanta right-handed starter Grant Holmes perhaps changed his season. Holmes took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in Atlanta’s 2-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox. It was the third strong start in August for Holmes, but his six runs in 3⅔ innings in his last time out had some speculating about Holmes’ spot in the rotation, especially with AJ Smith-Shawver returning. Austin Riley drove in a pair of runs and Mauricio Dubón had three hits and scored once.
By The Numbers
7 Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto went 5-for-6 with a homer and a career-best seven RBIs in an 18-3 romp over the Houston Astros.
200 Cleveland Guardians right-handed starter Gavin Williams struck out 11 over 5⅔ innings during a 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. It was Williams’ ninth double-digit strikeout game this year, tied with Toronto’s Dylan Cease for second, behind Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski’s 10.
4 The Kansas City Royals got just their fourth sweep of the season, taking four games from the A’s with a 6-2 victory. Bobby Witt Jr. hit a homer and scored three times.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Stadium Progress
Unless you are watching the stadium construction cam, we don’t get many updates on the new A’s stadium being built in Las Vegas. But we did Thursday as the second truss was added to the framework. The stadium is set to open for the 2028 season.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Seattle Mariners are calling up baseball’s top pitching prospect, left-hander Kade Anderson, to start Saturday’s home game against the Chicago Cubs.
⚾ Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez left the game against the Rays in the fourth inning with right hamstring tightness.
⚾ Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will be placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
⚾ San Francisco Giants right-handed reliever Keaton Winn was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow neuritis. Left-handed reliever Reiver Sanmartin was called up from Triple-A.
Articles You Should Read
How the Phillies reemphasized plate approach and reenergized the lineup — Charlotte Varnes, The Athletic
How a streamer’s viral “MVP Baseball 2005” challenge got Oswalt his perfect game — Stephen J. Nesbitt, The Athletic
The Dodgers are Mark Walter’s crown jewel. Can he hold onto it in federal probe? — Los Angeles Times
Card collecting both “hobby and a semi-obsession” for Jays’ Straw — Keegan Matheson, MLB.com
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