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On a random Tuesday, as the season’s half point approaches, it is easy to pass by some of the news that does not involve games directly. This is why we lead off with a small paragraph to appreciate Whit Merrifield, who announced his retirement from baseball. While he was never a star and probably unknown to many casual fans, a player like Merrifield should serve as a reminder that a successful career can come in all shapes and sizes.
Drafted in the ninth round of the 2010 draft by the Royals, Merrifield would not debut until his age-27 season, in 2016. Despite being part of some bad Kansas City teams, he excelled as a second baseman, leading the league in hits in 2018 and 2019, while also leading the AL in stolen bases three times. He made three All-Star teams and played in the postseason for Toronto, as he now closes his career with 1,249 hits in 1,147 games. Enjoy retirement, Whit.
Whit Merrifield has announced his retirement after 9 seasons spent with the Royals, Blue Jays, Phillies and Braves. He was an All-Star in 2019, 2021 and 2023. He also led the Majors in hits in back-to-back seasons (2018-19).
Today’s Headlines
Shohei at Altitude
In one of the most unbalanced matchups in MLB, the Dodgers visited the lowly Rockies, with a 30-game difference in the standings. While playing at Coors is always tricky, the Dodgers held on for a 9-7 victory, taking full advantage of the conditions, with 14 hits that were barely enough to keep Colorado at bay. While Andy Pages, Michael Conforto, and Mookie Betts were instrumental for the win, the biggest highlight came from Shohei Ohtani, who muscled a high pitch for his 27th homer, in what was truly a Coors-like blast in terms of trajectory and carry. Expect to see Shohei hit at least one more in this series, as the conditions are perfect for his prodigious power.
Home run No. 27 on the season for Shohei Ohtani!
Ownage
It is safe to say that Atlanta has been one of the season’s biggest disappointments. With playoff odds hovering around 20%, they are still technically in the race, but it is still improbable to see them overcome their tough first half. Nevertheless, they have managed to completely dominate the Mets, having at least that silver lining. Last night’s 7-4 victory over New York has given Atlanta a 6-0 mark over their rivals, having outscored the Mets by a combined 27-11 mark over the six games. Even as New York took an early 3-0 lead, Atlanta responded with a five-run frame, with Matt Olson driving in three runs and Atlanta hitters working nine walks during the contest. Spencer Strider earned his third win of the season, with eight Ks over five innings.
The @Braves ride a 5-run 6th inning to a second straight victory in Queens.
The 50/50 Club
Tarik Skubal did not appear to be at the top of his game last night, allowing two-run homers to Brent Rooker and Denzel Clarke during the first two innings, which gave Oakland an early 4-2 lead. However, that was all the damage he would receive, as the lefty ace buckled down to pitch four scoreless frames from there. That was enough for his offense to awaken, highlighted by a five-run third inning that gave Detroit a lead they would not relinquish. Skubal’s final line (six hits, four runs, a walk, and 8 strikeouts) was not spectacular, but enough to earn his ninth win of the season and 50th of his career. The 11-4 final score also gave the Tigers their own 50th win of the season, becoming the first team to get that number in 2025.
Tarik Skubal gets his 50th career win and the @Tigers win their 50th game of the season!
Boo-Urns!
In his awaited MLB debut, the wonderfully-named Chase Burns did not disappoint, flashing the incredible speed and stuff that have made him a top prospect. Facing the mighty Yankees, Burns got off to a blazing start, striking out the first five batters he faced, including three former MVPs in Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt. Even as the offense eventually settled down and tagged him for six hits and three runs, Burns left the mound with a solid five-inning performance, ultimately giving the Reds a chance to come back and take the game to extras. There, both teams went scoreless in the tenth, before Cincinnati broke through with two runs in the eleventh, walking it off with a Gavin Lux single in a 5-4 final score. All in all, a banner day for the Redlegs.
Pretty good first impression?Chase Burns recorded his first SIX outs via strikeout in his MLB debut 👏
Best Moments From Yesterday
Humming Along
In a matchup of lefty aces, an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel emerged in Houston, as Ranger Suárez and Framber Valdez exchanged dueling zeroes frame after frame. Valdez was not particularly sharp, issuing four walks and working around two defensive errors, but his extreme ground ball tendencies kept him afloat, with the Phils hitting into a couple of costly double plays. Suarez, in contrast, was dealing from the start, retiring the first ten batters he faced and allowing a hit until the sixth. And yet, Suarez would end up as the tough-luck loser, even as he outlasted Valdez on the mound. Working into the eighth in a still-scoreless tie, Suarez allowed an improbable homer to eighth-place hitter Cooper Hummel, he of four career long balls up to that point, giving the Astros a dramatic 1-0 win. While Hummel is the rightful hero of this game, let’s give it up for both starting hurlers, as they combined to allow one run over 14.2 innings, with only 14 base runners allowed, against ten strikeouts.
Cooper Hummel breaks a scoreless tie in the 8th inning!
Winn-ing Baseball
In game 2 of the classic rivalry between the Cardinals and Cubs, St. Louis came out on top yet again, pulling within only 2.5 games of their bitter foes. While the early part of the contest was a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams combine for 13 runs over the first four innings, the last of those runs ended up being the difference in the 8-7 Cardinals win. With one out and Alec Burleson at the plate, a deep fly ball to center field was perfectly played by Pete Crow-Armstrong, until he forgot his catch represented only the second out of the frame. That is all Masyn Winn needed to tag and never stop, scoring from second base as the Cubs scrambled to get the ball back to the infield. The brain cramp was part of a tough day for PCA, as he also failed to score the tying run from third base in the seventh inning, botching a squeeze play.
Masyn Winn scored from 2nd base on a SAC FLY 🤯
Moore Pain for Boston
For seven innings, this game belonged to Garrett Crochet. Boston’s ace delivered a gem, with 10 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings, but his offense could only muster a 1-0 lead in that span. This is where Christian Moore enters the picture, as he first delivered a game-tying homer in the eighth, denying Crochet a much-deserved win. With the game going to extras, the Red Sox scored the ghost runner to retake the lead, but that is where Moore takes full ownership of this game, delivering a two-run walk-off homer (even as he thought it was just a triple, for some reason). The 3-2 final score handed Boston its fourth straight loss, though at least manager Alex Cora was not ejected this time around.
The moment Christian Moore realized he ended the game 🤣
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Marlins pitcher Max Meyer will undergo season-ending surgery, as a labrum repair on his left hip will keep him out of action for at least six months. This becomes the second prolonged injury in Meyer’s young career, as he already had Tommy John surgery following the 2022 season. Meyer should now be available around next year’s Spring Training.
⚾ The Mets completed a couple of roster moves, as starting pitcher Frankie Montas Jr. was finally activated and made his season debut. He had been sidelined since early February with a right lat strain and should now become an integral part of the team’s rotation. On the other hand, outfielder Jesse Winker was transferred to the 60-day IL, as his right oblique strain is still an issue. He will now be eligible to return after the All-Star break.
⚾ The White Sox are taking a low-risk flier on former standout pitcher Noah Syndergaard, signing him to a minor-league deal. The righty will be assigned to the team’s Arizona complex, looking to ramp up gradually, with an opt-out clause set for August 1, should he not make the major-league team by then. Syndergaard has not pitched in MLB since 2023, and will be looking to make a comeback at age 33.
Articles You Should Read
The Dazzling Defense of Denzel Clarke — Esteban Rivera, Fangraphs
The Incredible Return of Patrick Copen — Ben Weinrib, MLB.com
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