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Four weeks from today is the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Less than three weeks after that is the Aug. 3 trade deadline. There is a lot that will transpire over the next seven weeks that will determine the fates of known contenders, unknown contenders and everyone else. Some sellers are clear already, it just matters to what extent some teams will disassemble and which team will pull off the biggest surprise. Buckle up because it is about to get very interesting.
Today’s Headlines
Crow-Armstrong Goes In Reverse To Notch Cycle
Does a reverse cycle mean you ran around the bases backwards? Not at all, but it is a pretty rare accomplishment. Pete Crow-Armstrong homered, tripled, doubled and singled for the season’s first cycle in the Chicago Cubs‘ 5-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies. But it took some ninth-inning drama as Pedro Ramirez singled home the tying run and Matt Shaw drew the walk-off walk. Crow-Armstrong led off the bottom of the first with a homer, tripled leading off the third, doubled with one out in the fifth and singled leading off the seventh. He added a sacrifice fly in the eighth. It was his 13th homer, fourth triple and 12th double of the season. His was the fifth reverse cycle in MLB history.
May Finishes The Job, Notches 1-Hit Shutout
Dustin May was oh so close to turning in the second Maddux in four days. Instead, he will just settle for the best game of his career. After six perfect innings, May settled for a one-hit shutout as the St. Louis Cardinals bounced the San Diego Padres 3-0. May lost his bid for a perfect game when he walked Fernando Tatis Jr. on a 3-2 pitch leading off the seventh. Two batters later, Manny Machado grounded a single through the left side of the infield for what would be the only hit the Padres would get. With runners on the corners, the Friars had a chance to foil May’s shutout, but Gavin Sheets hit a grounder up the middle that shorstop Masyn Winn turned into a 6-3 double play. May, who had never gotten an out in the eighth inning in any of his other 70 career starts, got all 27 outs for the shutout in 101 pitches. May struck out nine. His catcher, rookie Jimmy Crooks, doubled home a pair of runs in the fourth inning and Alec Burleson doubled home another in the fifth.
Crews Powers Surging Nationals
The Washington Nationals have built an impressive season (thus far) without much help from Dylan Crews, the outfielder who was the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft. No, Crews actually was sent down to Triple-A to get straight and just recently came back. He hit a three-run homer as part of five-run fifth inning in the Nats’ 7-3 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The outburst came after the Royals scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. Luis García Jr. and Curtis Mead also drove in a pair of runs for the Nationals, who are three games above .500 for the first time since winning the World Series in 2019 and have won seven of their last 10.
Tigers’ Keith Goes Deep 3 Times
Not that he is a power hitter, far from it. But power had been missing from Colt Keith’s production for the Detroit Tigers this year. Keith, who entered Monday with one homer this year, clubbed three and drove in six in the Tigers’ 9-3 victory over the Houston Astros. Keith, who had 13 home runs in each of his first two seasons, hit two-run blasts in the fourth and seventh innings and a solo shot in the ninth. Keith’s other RBI came when he was hit by a pitch in the first inning. Kevin McGonigle and Spencer Torkelson added solo shots for the Tigers.
Giants Players Issued Warning Over Defacing Pride Caps
Following three San Francisco Giants pitchers scrawling Bible verses on their special Pride Night caps, MLB has warned the players about similar actions in the future. “The writing on the cap violates our rules, and consistent with normal practice, we have warned the players about future violations,” an MLB spokesman said in a statement to The Athletic. Starting pitcher Landen Roupp’s inscription went over the rainbow-colored SF on his hat.
By The Numbers
6 Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez hit two homers, including a grand slam, to drive in a career-high six runs in a 12-0 rout of the New York Mets.
2-for-23 Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Pavin Smith, who was in a 2-for-23 funk entering the game, hit a walk-off homer off the foul pole in right in a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. It was his first homer this year.
23 Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton led off the sixth inning with his 23rd homer of the season in a 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers. Buxton is one behind MLB co-leaders Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies and Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Two Firsts With One Swing
After facing Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski in his MLB debut Friday, it could only get better for Philadelphia Phillies rookie right fielder Gabriel Rincones Jr. Jr. He didn’t play in the other two games over the weekend, but was back in the lineup with his family in attendance for the series opener against the Miami Marlins. And he made the wait worth it, smacking a a two-run homer for his first MLB hit in the Phillies’ 7-0 win.
Different Feelings
Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill robbed another homer, this one by Alec Burleson of the Cardinals. Just look at the reactions from Burleson and Padres right-hander Lucas Giolito.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh will be activated off the 10-day injured list today. He has been sidelined with a strained right oblique.
⚾ Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner left Monday’s game due to a contusion on his right wrist. X-rays were negative.
⚾ Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager went on the seven-day concussion list. Infielder-outfielder Josh Smith (glute strain, meningitis) was activated from the 10-day IL.
⚾ Atlanta right-handed starter Spencer Strider, who went on the 15-day IL Saturday with right elbow inflammation, will be shut down for another four weeks.
⚾ New York Mets right-handed starter Christian Scott was placed on the 15-day IL with a right hip impingement. Right-hander Kodai Senga (lumbar spine inflammation) is set to return from the 15-day IL and start today.
⚾ Houston Astros right-handed starter Hunter Brown will be activated from the 15-day IL and start today. He has been on the IL with a Grade 2 strain of his right shoulder.
⚾ Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman (right ankle surgery) will be activated off the 60-day IL today.
⚾ Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt was optioned back to Triple-A as outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (hamstring strain) was activated from the 10-day IL.
⚾ San Diego Padres right-handed reliever Ron Marinaccio was suspended three games for throwing at Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game. Marinaccio is appealing, thus able to still play. No penalty was levied against Orioles starter Trey Gibson, who hit Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts in the head with a pitch in the fifth inning.
Articles You Should Read
One year later, seismic Devers deal a dud for Giants, Red Sox — Jen McCaffrey and Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic
Phillies are finally thriving, but it happened too late to save Thomson’s job — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
Tigers’ Valdez excited, nervous about return to Houston — Chris McCosky, Detroit News
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