Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
I have said this before and I will say it again: MLB keeps stepping all over itself with how it schedules everything going on during the All-Star Game festivities. Think of Sunday morning. An early start to Day 2 of the MLB Draft, followed a short time later by the first pitch of the Futures Game. At the same time, the first of a full slate of games began. MLB needs to set aside a full week and give each of its events a bit of breathing room and the players a little bit of extra rest. Those participating in the game don’t get much of a break at all with the extra travel.
Today’s Headlines
Pirates No Longer Rolling Over, Sweep Brewers
They might not have young Konnor Griffin for a while, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are showing that it might be time to start believing in what they are doing. Behind seven strikeouts from All-Star right-handed starter Paul Skenes and 11 RBIs from the bottom five hitters in the order, the Pirates scored 10 runs in the fourth inning for a 14-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Not only did the Bucs sweep the NL Central-leading Brewers in three games, but they moved three games above .500 and have their best record at the All-Star break at 50-47 since 2016. Every Pirates starter had a hit and a run scored, led by Henry Davis‘ three RBIs and three runs scored. Davis and Marcell Ozuna each hit home runs for the Pirates.
Motivated Wheeler Stifles Tigers, Skubal
Zack Wheeler is choosing not to go to the All-Star Game. Fine. Whatever you need to do to motivate yourself. It is working for the Philadelphia Phillies‘ right-handed starter. Wheeler outclassed two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal as the Phillies rolled into the break with a 5-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Wheeler struck out 10 over six innings and J.T. Realmuto had a bases-clearing double in a four-run sixth inning to spark the Phillies, who are 45-24 since firing Rob Thomson as manager.
Orioles Finally Get 4th Straight Win; Benches Empty
Any middling team is looking for any piece of good news as the break hits. For the Baltimore Orioles, that comes in the form of a four-game winning streak, their first of the year. That was a result of their 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. This was the Orioles’ eighth attempt at a fourth win in a row. Leody Taveras hit a second-inning two-run bomb, then drove in the go-ahead run as part of a five-run sixth inning that also featured Jeremiah Jackson’s two-run double. Things got feisty in the seventh. Following Samuel Bassallo’s solo homer, Royals right-hander Lucas Erceg hit rookie Blaze Alexander, the third Oriole to get plunked. Alexander started chirping at Erceg and both benches emptied. Alexander, however, sustained a nondisplaced fracture of his left hand.
Gore, Nimmo Keep Surprising Rangers Going
MacKenzie Gore could have checked out of the first half and let his bullpen do all the work in the Texas Rangers‘ series finale against the rival Houston Astros. But the left-hander didn’t and now the Rangers have a winning record entering the break. Stepping in after ace right-hander Jacob deGrom was scratched from this start, Gore stepped in and went four innings as the Texas Rangers rallied for a 6-5 win on Brandon Nimmo’s bouncer over the pitcher’s head with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. Gore struck out four and allowed a run on two hits and a walk. The Rangers had a 3-1 lead when he exited, but the Astros got three in seventh and another in the eighth for a 5-4 lead. Kyle Higashioka homered in the eighth to tie it, setting the stage for Nimmo to win it. That kept the Rangers 1½ games up in the AL West at 47-45. A loss would have put the Rangers at .500.
Sanchez, Cease Get All-Star Starts
After choosing not to participate in last year’s All-Star Game, which led to a kerfuffle over the selection of Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez went on to prove that he was one of the best pitchers in all of MLB. N0w, Sanchez will get to start the All-Star Game in his home stadium. Sanchez was named the starter by NL manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For the AL, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider picked his own pitcher in right-hander Dylan Cease to start over New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler.
The Future Is Here
In a game full of star prospects, you never know who will be the one to come up with the big moment. In this year’s Futures Game, that turned out to be High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods catcher Nathan Flewelling. The No. 2 prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays‘ organization hit the lone home run as the AL beat the NL 6-1 in the seven-inning game. Flewelling’s two-run blast came in the top of the sixth to extend the AL’s lead to 4-1. He was named the game’s MVP.
Draft Wraps Up
The futures of all 30 franchises were impacted at least a little if not a lot with the 20 rounds of the MLB Draft. To catch up on who the teams took on Day 2, check out the coverage from MLB.com and Baseball America.
By The Numbers
0 The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Arizona Diamondback 5-3, the first time this season they were swept in a series.
1 Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena hit his first home run as a visiting player at Tropicana Field during an 8-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Arozarena hit 44 as a member of the Rays at the Trop.
9 Cleveland Guardians left-hander Joey Cantillo had nine punchouts in five innings during a 5-2 victory over the Miami Marlins that completed a three-game sweep and gave the Guardians four wins in a row.
17 The New York Mets lost to the Boston Red Sox 3-2 in 10 innings, dropping their record to 40-57. That 17 games below .500 at the All-Star break is the worst for the Mets since 1995, when the season started late due to the players’ strike. They also did it in 1993.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Battle Of The Best
The Futures Game had several must-see prospect matchups, but how can you really top the No. 1 pitcher, Seattle Mariners left-hander Kade Anderson, vs. the No. 1 hitter, Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jesús Made?
Really Hip
This might not make Shakira jealous, but Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers showed that his hips don’t lie.
Inside-The-Park History
For the second time this season, Jake McCarthy of the Colorado Rockies zipped around the bases for an inside-the-park homer. Both times have been leading off the game, making McCarthy the first player since Edd Roush of the 1929 New York Giants to do that.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Seattle Mariners left-handed starter Emerson Hancock left Sunday’s game in the second inning with a bruised left hand after a comebacker off the bat of Yandy Díaz of the Tampa Bay Rays. X-rays were negative, with more testing planned.
⚾ The Boston Red Sox called up right-hander Brayan Bello from Triple-A as left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe was designated for assignment. Bello had struggled mightily in the Red Sox’s rotation and was sent to Triple-A to figure things out.
⚾ Arizona Diamondbacks right-handed starter Zac Gallen, as expected, was officially put on the 15-day IL with inflammation in his right elbow.
⚾ Cincinnati Reds left-handed starter Nick Lodolo was placed on the 15-day IL due to a blister on his left index finger that cropped up in his outing Saturday. Right-hander Chase Petty was called up from Triple-A.
Articles You Should Read
Kyle Harrison needed a catcher, so little brother stepped in. Now, he is a draft pick. — Shayna Rubin, San Francisco Chronicle
It has been quite a road to get here, but 9-0 road trip puts Red Sox thinking playoffs — Peter Abraham, Boston Globe
Tigers’ McGonigle dreamed of playing in an All-Star Game; Delco native gets wish — Lochlahn March, Philadelphia Inquirer
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
