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There is a lot of good content out there from writers at MLB.com, Baseball America, The Athletic, and other outlets regarding the draft, which begins Sunday. Will the Washington Nationals, with the No. 1 overall pick, have a shift in philosophy after Sunday’s firing of Mike Rizzo, the longtime president of baseball operations and general manager? Mock drafts are flying around like mosquitoes in a muggy Midwest summer, with high school shortstop Ethan Holliday and college left-hander Kade Anderson the favorites to go in the top two spots in some order. Holliday is, of course, the brother of Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday and the son of former MLB star Matt Holliday. Drafts can change the course of a team’s path forward, for good or bad. There are also fascinating players such as Illinois high school left-hander Jack Bauer — yes, named after the “24” character — who has been clocked at 103 mph. Anyways, check out those sites for the latest info.
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Today’s Headlines
Brewers Sweep, Adding To Dodgers’ Woes
It is fair to ask whether a three-game sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers of the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers was bigger for one team or the other. In this case, it was probably equally important. Jackson Chourio notched his first career walk-off, grounding a one-out single to left field in the 10th inning as the Brewers rallied for a 3-2 win over the Dodgers. In sweeping a home series against the Dodgers for the first time in their history (28 series), the Brewers have gone 28-12 since the day before Memorial Day and pulled within 1.5 games of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs. Meanwhile, the Dodgers suffered their second straight three-game series sweep, following up a lost weekend at home against the Houston Astros, and have scored five runs in the last 42 innings as they head to San Francisco for three more. Still, the Dodgers lead the NL West by five games over the second-place Giants. Right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow, activated off the 60-day injured list following right shoulder inflammation that sidelined him two months, pitched well, allowing an unearned run on two hits in five innings, walking three and striking out five. Dodgers closer Tanner Scott had another rough outing, allowing three hits in the bottom of the ninth, including a tying RBI single by pinch-hitter Andrew Vaughn, just called up by the Brewers before this series. After newly minted All-Star closer Trevor Megill struck out the side in the top of the 10th, automatic runner Sal Frelick moved to third on a fly out to right-center by William Contreras, and Chourio secured the sweep with his hard grounder through a drawn-in infield.
Jackson Chourio with the #walkoff hit to secure the SWEEP!
Houser Halts Jays’ Streak at 10
When teams are on a lengthy winning streak, you never know what will derail them. On this occasion, the Toronto Blue Jays simply have to tip their cap, even if it is to the lowly Chicago White Sox. That is because right-handed starter Adrian Houser pitched seven strong innings as the White Sox stopped the Blue Jays’ 10-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory. Houser scattered seven hits, walking two and striking out two. Right-handers Grant Taylor and Jordan Leasure pitched the final two innings, with Leasure picking up his second save of the season. While the Jays pushed across a run in the second inning on Tyler Heineman’s bunt, the White Sox scored both their runs in the bottom of the fourth on Edgar Quero’s RBI double and Lenyn Sosa’s go-ahead single. The loss prevented the Jays from tying the franchise record of 11 wins in a row.
Trout Pushes Toward 400 With 2 HRs
Mike Trout is approaching a significant career milestone (Round Number Department). While otherwise having a rough go offensively this season, the Los Angeles Angels‘ star hit career homers No. 393 and 394, and Jorge Soler snapped an eighth-inning tie with a blast of his own in an 11-8 win over the Texas Rangers. Trout, who entered the game with a .229/.351/.436 slash line yet had an OPS+ of 119, went deep to left with his 15th homer of the season for a two-run shot in the third inning, and followed with a line drive to right for No. 16, a solo shot, both coming off Rangers starter Kumar Rocker. But the slugfest wasn’t decided until Soler hit a two-run blast off right-hander Luke Jackson to snap an 8-8 tie. The Angels scored the final five runs of the game over the seventh and eighth innings.
Just keep crushing 🐟Mike Trout blasts his second homer of the night! 💪
Jorge Soler gives the @Angels the lead with a NO-DOUBTER 😤
All-Star Game Updates
⚾ Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero will participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby. Caminero hit his 22nd in a 7-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. Also competing are Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Seattle’s Cal Raleigh, Washington’s James Wood, Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, and Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz.
⚾ The automated ball-strike system (ABS) will be used during Tuesday’s All-Star Game. As was the case in spring training, each team will have two challenges and will retain them as long as they are successful.
⚾ All-Star replacements: Detroit Tigers infielder Zach McKinstry replaces injured Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, Astros infielder Isaac Paredes replaces Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez (opting out), Brewers closer Trevor Megill replaces teammate Freddy Peralta (scheduled to start Sunday), Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan replaces Astros righty Hunter Brown (scheduled to start Sunday).
Best Moments From Yesterday
For His Royal Subjects
When you finally hit your first home run in front of your hometown fans, you might as well make it memorable. Just ask Kansas City Royals rookie slugger Jac Caglianone, who cleared three walls in his 466-foot blast to dead center at Kauffman Stadium in a 4-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Wood Primed
Think Nationals slugger James Wood is ready for the Home Run Derby?
433 feet115.9 mphJames Wood crushed this one 🚀
Acuna More Primed
Atlanta superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. will have the hometown crowd behind him for the Home Run Derby. But clear on the other side of the country in West Sacramento, Calif., Acuna showed it doesn’t matter the stadium. He hits bombs. Two, to be exact, with the first one looking like it had a bus to catch. This performance came a day after Acuna was scratched from the lineup after tweaking his back while lifting weights.
Eras Come Together
A day after squaring off on the mound, 11-time Dodgers All-Star Clayton Kershaw and Brewers rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski finally met face-to-face before the series finale.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Twins outfielder Byron Buxton, an All-Star selection and Home Run Derby participant, left the game after being hit on his hand by a pitch in the first inning. He is expected to be fine.
⚾ Infielder DJ LeMahieu was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees. A two-time batting champion, LeMahieu’s playing time was expected to decrease as the Yankees move Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third base to second base, where LeMahieu had been seeing most of his action. He has a slash line of .266/.338/.336 with two homers and 12 RBIs in 45 games.
⚾ Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida was activated from the 60-day injured list after having right shoulder surgery during the offseason.
⚾ Cincinnati Reds ace right-hander Hunter Greene (strained right groin) went to the team’s facility in Arizona for the next step in his rehab process. The Reds are still unsure of a timeline for Greene’s return.
⚾ Two-time All-Star left-handed starter Dallas Keuchel signed a minor-league contract with the Kansas City Royals. The 37-year-old won the AL Cy Young Award in 2015.
⚾ Dodgers right-handed reliever Michael Kopech underwent surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus. Already on the 15-day IL, he was moved to the 60-day IL to make room on the 26-man roster as right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder inflammation) was activated from the 60-day IL.
⚾ Astros outfielder Jake Meyers left the game before the first pitch was thrown due to right calf tightness, an injury that had bothered him the last two days.
Articles You Should Read
Players skeptical about Manfred’s push for salary cap — Evan Drellich, The Athletic
Is Marlins’ Alcantara coming around? — Dan Szymborski, FanGraphs
With Yoshida back as Red Sox’s DH, another new role awaits Anthony — Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic
MLB Draft could see record number of first-round shortstops selected — Carlos Collazo, Baseball America
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
