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Cal Raleigh did not hit a homer, and I was shocked to think that I might not have any Big Dumper news for you. But then I saw that he stole his 11th base of the year. The next-highest total for catchers is five. Baseball doesn’t ask for speed from catchers, and any stolen base by a backstop feels like a luxury. Raleigh is finding every way to sway MVP voters. He’s got a six-steal lead at his position, and he’s five ahead of Aaron Judge’s season total of six.
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Today’s Headlines
Acuna’s All-Time Highlight
Ronald Acuña Jr. unleashed a throw for the ages. A throw to tell your kids about (I did, pulling up the highlight on my phone at dinner and watching their jaws drop). A throw that conjured up cannon shots from a Hall of Famer. It happened in the third inning of a 7-3 win for a 43-53 team. It happened during a bizarre, underachieving, frustrating season for a preseason contender. Those contextual details will fade away over time, and we’ll be left with the flat-footed, no-hop, perfectly placed dream of a throw from the corner of the right field grass to Nacho Alvarez Jr.’s glove a few feet from third base. We’ll hear the announcers’ calls spike from nonchalance to surprise, we’ll see Jorbit Vivas and the New York Yankees‘ shock, and Acuna will smile and mime a bazooka as he walks in from the outfield over and over and over.
Atlanta has a mountain to climb to recover from a disappointing season. Acuna is doing his best to make it happen. He also went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple, and his buddy Ozzie Albies knocked in four runs, too. That, plus six shutout innings and eight strikeouts from Spencer Strider, equates to the best possible start the All-Star hosts could ask for.
Eight Up, One Back
The Milwaukee Brewers traveled to the West Coast for a weekend showdown of National League contenders on opposite trajectories. The Brewers entered Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers as winners of seven straight. Since July 19, Milwaukee was 17-5. The Dodgers had halted a seven-game losing streak with two wins before the All-Star break, and they sent Tyler Glasnow to the mound to stop the Brewers from gaining more ground in the NL. Milwaukee starter Quinn Priester outpitched his LA counterpart with 10 strikeouts and three hits in six scoreless innings. The Brewers’ bullpen allowed one baserunner, Caleb Durbin’s two-RBI night (a double and a homer) proved to be enough offense, and the Brewers climbed up the standings with a 2-0 win. They’re a game back in the NL Central and just a single win behind the Dodgers’ total.
Cubs Stop Streaking Sox
The Chicago Cubs held onto their slim lead in the Central by keeping the Boston Red Sox from going to 11. Boston won 10 straight going into All-Star week. Their restart opened with a first-inning, three-run Seiya Suzuki blast into the Wrigley bleachers. The 4-1 win nudged the Cubs into the top spot in the NL. The Red Sox streak boosted them to contention in a crowded AL East, and they’re in the thick of the wildcard hunt.
Stowers Hits Swing-Off Winner
The Miami Marlins sent Kyle Stowers to Atlanta for the All-Star Game fresh off a three-homer performance on Sunday. He thought the Dodgers coaches were messing with the young guy when they told him he’d be one of the NL hitters for the post-tie swing-off, and he set the stage for Kyle Schwarber’s heroics with a homer. And he kept swinging for the fences on Friday night with a two-run homer in the first, then wrapped up the evening with a walk-off home run in the 10th for the 8-7 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Marte to Restricted List
The Arizona Diamondbacks placed All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte on the restricted list. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated a “personal issue” was the reason for Marte’s time away from the team. Scottsdale, Arizona, police have been investigating a reported burglary at Marte’s home during the All-Star Game, and Marte endured taunts about his deceased mother from a fan in Chicago at the end of June.
The D-backs signed Sergio Alcántara as cover, recalled catcher Adrian Del Castillo, and selected the contract of right-hander Trevor Richards. After shuffling their roster and accommodating Marte’s request for time off, Arizona beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-3. Geraldo Perdomo (2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs) and Del Castillo (3-for-4, two runs, two RBIS) led the way on offense. Brandon Pfaadt struck out six in seven scoreless innings.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Slidin’ Bill
In England, they use the phrase “as cool as you like” to describe players who do extraordinary things while remaining calm and keeping it simple. William Contreras tracked a foul pop-up backward, slid the entire width of the warning track, and caught the ball just before he encountered the netting. The “as cool as you like” nature is fully earned by his slow roll onto his back while holding up the ball, secure in his mitt.
HBP Hat Trick
Left forearm, left foot, left wrist. TJ Friedl, welcome to the record books with three HBP in the same game.
Catch and Throw
Since we started with RAJ’s throw, we’ll end with variations on the theme. First, here’s Alvarez, the third baseman who stood still and fooled Vivas into strolling into third instead of sliding, making a daring catch over the tarp. Second, you’ll see another right field Jr. completing a double-play with a strong throw to third base.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Cubs signed right-hander Spencer Turnbull to a minor league deal.
⚾ Cleveland Guardians right-hander Luis L. Ortiz’s non-disciplinary paid leave for an ongoing investigation was extended to August 31 by an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA.
⚾ The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated second baseman Brandon Lowe from the 10-day IL and optioned infielder Curtis Mead to Triple-A.
⚾ The New York Mets reinstated left-hander Brooks Raley from the 60-day IL and designated left-hander Richard Lovelady for assignment. Also, Mets right-hander Max Kranick will have either Tommy John surgery or a flexor tendon repair. Either one will end his season, but the latter involves a quicker recovery time and could see him ready for next season.
⚾ The Texas Rangers selected the contract of infielder Cody Freeman from Triple-A and placed infielder Sam Haggerty on the 10-day IL with ankle inflammation (retroactive to July 15).
⚾ The Colorado Rockies reinstated shortstop Ezequiel Tovar from the 10-day IL and placed second baseman Thairo Estrada on the 10-day IL with a sprained thumb.
⚾ Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Ryan Burr will undergo season-ending surgery to address a capsular injury in his shoulder.
⚾ The Baltimore Orioles signed right-hander Corbin Martin to a major league contract. The O’s designated Martin for assignment on Sunday and brought him back after he cleared waivers and chose free agency.
⚾ The San Francisco Giants called up left-hander Matt Gage.
The St. Louis Cardinals activated outfielder Jordan Walker from the 10-day IL and optioned infielder Thomas Saggese to Triple-A.
Articles You Should Read
5 Things to Watch For in the Second Half of the 2025 MLB Season — Steve Drumwright, Pitcher List
Has Ceddanne Rafaela Made the Leap? — Davy Andrews, FanGraphs
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