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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 6/17/2024

Happy Father's Day, as baseball offered many fitting tributes to dads.

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 6/17/2024

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

Today’s Headlines

 

(Dodger) Blue Sunday

 

Tyler Glasnow pitched yet another gem, and two solo shots from Shohei Ohtani guided the Dodgers to a 3-0 win over the Royals. That was the only good news for LA, as the day had started with confirmation that Yoshinobu Yamamoto was headed to the IL with a strained rotator cuff. Things got even worse when Mookie Betts was hit by a fastball in the seventh inning. With Betts immediately in pain, he was removed from the game and later revealed to have a fracture in his left hand. While the initial diagnosis suggests that the former MVP will not require surgery, it is still likely that he will miss significant time. With two of their most important players out for a while, the Dodgers will need to use their depth and resources, even as they still carry a significant cushion atop the NL West. In a season where it is clearly championship-or-bust for the franchise, things have started to look less rosy than just 24 hours ago.

Boston Sprint 

 

In the rubber game of the most famous rivalry in MLB, the Boston Red Sox had a plan – run like crazy, and then run some more. With the Yankees being a clear favorite and with a 14-game lead in the standings, maybe a little bit of madness would go a long way. It all started normally enough, with Jarren Duran swiping second in the first inning, and then Dominic Smith doing the same in the second. However, when David Hamilton did it again in the third, it became clear that the Red Sox would test catcher Jose Trevino at every chance. Even as Trevino has been an above-average catcher in terms of caught stealing percentage (and led the AL in 2022), Boston would not be denied in their quest of stealing a series win, setting a franchise record with nine stolen bags that led to five runs in their 9-3 win, including four by Hamilton alone. In a year in which almost everything has gone right for New York, this might be a turning point if other teams suddenly try to exploit this facet of the game.

No No-No for Ronel

In a bygone era, probably around ten years ago, managers would need to have a very good reason to remove a starting pitcher that was chasing a no-hitter. Today, it is par for the course if this scenario comes into play with a high pitch count and the skipper simply asks for the ball and the bullpen tries to complete the anti-climactic feat. Ronel Blanco has been one of the few good stories for the Astros in 2024, as he came out of nowhere to pitch a no-no in his first start of the season and has followed it up with a stellar season. Facing the Tigers, it looked as if he would have a similar gem, coasting through seven hitless innings with only three walks allowed. Alas, he ended the seventh with 96 pitches, and manager Joe Espada had seen enough, bringing in Ryan Pressly for the eighth. He would promptly allow a single with two outs, with the Astros ultimately earning a routine 4-1 win, aided by a Jose Altuve homer and three RBI. Here’s hoping that Blanco will get another chance to flash his legit no-hit stuff…and get to finish it.

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Center Field Redemption

 

The Brewers and Reds just finished one of the best series of the season, with all three games decided by two or fewer runs and plenty of animosity between these division rivals. In today’s finale, Milwaukee erased an early 3-0 deficit behind a clutch Willy Adames three-run homer and was able to secure the series with a defensive walk-off play. However, before that fateful play, there was the usual chaos on the basepaths created by Elly de la Cruz, as the speedster created a run out of thin air when an errant pick-off caught center fielder Blake Perkins off guard. With the game on the line, Cincinnati tried to again get the best of Perkins, but it was probably too aggressive on a shallow line drive. Elly may have won the battle, but Blake won the war.

A Memorable Debut

 

With lefty Kyle Harrison sidelined, a true minor-league journeyman was called up by the Giants and given the task of being the bulk man in a bullpen game trying to avoid a home sweep. The recipient of said task was 29-year-old Spencer Bivens, who had pitched professionally and semi-professionally for nearly 13 years, including stops in independent leagues, the Mexican league, and even in France. Finally making his MLB debut, Bivens struck out the first batter he faced, and while Nolan Schanuel greeted him with a homer right after it, the rookie settled down and pitched three innings with three more Ks. What’s more, the Giants aided him with a rare offensive explosion, giving Bivens his first career win, with a very proud mom cheering from the stands. As always, say it, Brad.

 

Winless in Seattle

While games 1 and 2 of the AL West series between the Rangers and Mariners had been highly competitive, game 3 showed just how dominant Seattle can be with their starting pitching, as they secured the sweep behind a Logan Gilbert masterpiece. The righty earned his fourth win of the season by shutting down the Rangers to the tune of only two hits and no walks allowed over eight scoreless innings, while racking up nine strikeouts. Even as the Mariners could only score in limited fashion, it was still enough for the 5-0 win that has opened the biggest gap between first and second place in any division, as Texas is now 8.5 games behind the M’s.

Oh Behave, Austin

 

The A’s and Twins played a rare Sunday double-header, which was highlighted by this amazing Austin Martin homerun robbery. While the ball off Shea Langeliers’s bat did not seem to have enough at the beginning, it continued to carry and forced Martin to leap and reach over the ball, where he was able to bring it back and secure the lead – kudos to Tyler Soderstrom as well, as his high baseball IQ allowed him to tag all the way to third and eventually score. Preventing the homer was key for the win, as Minnesota took game 2 by an 8-7 score, securing the day’s and the series sweeps. Royce Lewis homered in both games, and the Twins remain firmly in playoff contention.

 

Baseball Dads and Sons

 

With all of today’s games featuring some sort of Father’s Day tribute in their pregame ceremonies, MLB was kind enough to provide a compilation of dad-son feats of strength. Featuring notorious duos like the Griffeys, Bonds, Tatis’s, and Guerreros, it is always heartwarming to remember that the love of baseball usually starts at home. Congratulations to all dads on this day.

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Kyle Harrison was scheduled to start today’s game against the Angels, but instead was scratched and subsequently placed on the 15-day IL with a right ankle sprain. He becomes the latest injured San Francisco starter, as the team has faced lengthy absences from Blake Snell and Tristan Beck, while also expecting the late-season returns of Alex Cobb and Robbie Ray. In Harrison’s absence, there is no obvious reinforcement for the Giants, who should rely on more bullpen games as they figure things out. 

⚾ The Yankees have placed top prospect Jasson Domínguez on the 7-day Minor League IL, as he suffered a setback in his rehab assignment. While the injury to his side is not considered serious at the moment, the club will be cautious with Dominguez, as he is already coming back from Tommy John surgery in 2023, following his sizzling MLB debut. While there is no clear position for the Martian when he returns to the Yankees, he should still play a prominent role for the offense. 

⚾ Following a six-week absence, Trea Turner is ready to return for the Phillies as soon as today. A hamstring strain kept him on the shelf, which is particularly hard for a player that relies so much on speed. Even as Edmundo Sosa has served as a fantastic backup, there is no question that Turner represent a major boost for Philadelphia, as he will try to build on his early-season .852 OPS and provide even more thump to the potent Philly offense. 

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Five Hitters who Have Turned Their Season Around — Jay Jaffe, FanGraphs

Like Father, Like Son — Manny Randhawa, MLB.com

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

Sit/Start Week 12: Reviewing All Starting Pitching Matchups

Week 12: Hitters to Start and Avoid

Week 12 FAAB Insights

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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