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Today’s Headlines
Texas-sized 13-5 There Good Buddy
The Astros managed to close the gap with Texas in the AL West, going into last night’s matchup only one game behind the Rangers. But the team with the state in the name was in no mood to let the team with the city in the name win.
Houston got out to an early lead thanks to a three-run shot from Alex Bregman in the first inning:
Scheduled Breggy Bomb to the Crawford Boxes. pic.twitter.com/f7stplAlPm
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 27, 2023
And somebody on the Houston social team was feeling it:
Should've walked him. pic.twitter.com/Az6BvJQmZU
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 27, 2023
But apparently, nobody’s told these guys Careful, Icarus because after that opening salvo, the Rangers would go on to score 13 unanswered runs, capped off by an Adolis García grand slam in the eight-run fifth inning:
Having a grand old time. #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/LigC9FRcnL
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 27, 2023
I have to admit I’m not entirely sure if I’m using “unanswered” correctly because the Astros did score two more runs on a Yainer Diaz dinger in the ninth inning but 13-3 to 13-5 doesn’t seem like a very forceful answer if it is one.
Either way, my fantasy pitching is in shambles after they blew up Framber Valdez like this, the Rangers’ prodigious offense continues apace, and they remain two games up in the divisional race.
Debuciano
Wednesday Rookie Debut season continues apace, as the Giants called up their top SS prospect Marco Luciano (our pre-season 50th-ranked Dynasty prospect).
Marco’s moment 😤 pic.twitter.com/57s9X0Pz1s
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 27, 2023
He went 0-2 before being lifted for pinch hitter Joc Pederson, but MLB Pipeline has him rated with a 55-hit, 65-power combo, so I doubt that trend continues for particularly long.
People Are Being Traded!
There’s getting to be some more movement on the trade front as we approach August.
I mean, a lot of those names are weird, but they’re still people, and they’re still being traded.
First, we got the Marlins and Twins hooking up to swap RPs, with Dylan Floro heading up to the Land Of 1000 Rakes
Welcome to Minnesota, Dylan! pic.twitter.com/mZtI4zrZbv
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 26, 2023
…and in return, Jorge López is headed down to join Pitbull’s 305 army in Miami.
Desde Caguas, Puerto Rico meet your new Marlin: Jorge López. 🇵🇷
Welcome to the family! #MakeItMiami pic.twitter.com/LorJYGa3xe
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 26, 2023
This means while the Twins still have 10,000 lakes, they now only have one López.
Meanwhile, it’s a homecoming in LA for Kiké Hernández, who’s back in a Dodgers jersey for the first time since 2020, and I think they’ve missed him:
It’s good to have you back, Kiké. 😂 pic.twitter.com/5mgVZwOmC2
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 26, 2023
But that’s not all for the Boys In Blue, as they also shipped out Noah Syndergaard to Cleveland,
We have acquired RHP Noah Syndergaard and cash from the Los Angles Dodgers in exchange for SS Amed Rosario.
Welcome to Cleveland, Noah.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/jbFw6lqP83
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) July 27, 2023
And brought in Amed Rosario.
Welcome to LA, @Amed_Rosario! pic.twitter.com/KxblyQYYrj
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 27, 2023
People Aren’t Being Traded!
You guys heard about this Shohei Ohtani fellow? Seems both good at baseball and also maybe a huge trade chip?
Well, maybe not that last bit anymore.
EXCLUSIVE: Shohei Ohtani is off the trade market, a source familiar to the Angels' decision told SI’s Tom Verducci.
Los Angeles, four games off a wild-card spot, will instead make a push for the postseason https://t.co/5Rq6s4ImUW
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 27, 2023
It seemed like this might have just been a bluff, maybe to extract a higher value for Ohtani in any ongoing talks.
Later on Wednesday, the White Sox were also dialling back the “We’re having a fire…sale!” talk:
Hearing the White Sox are telling teams they are set on being competitive in 2024 so I’d take Tim Anderson off this list (and maybe Joe Kelly) with that revelation. https://t.co/MibMLTSgvu
— Eno Sarris (@enosarris) July 27, 2023
However, it didn’t stop them from moving Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López to the aforementioned “Going for it” Angels:
All-Star RHP Lucas Giolito is being traded from the Chicago White Sox to the Los Angeles Angels in return for top prospects — catcher Edgar Quero and left-handed pitcher Ky Bush, the White Sox announced Wednesday.
The Burbank, California native is headed home. pic.twitter.com/Q5kFBGbqpE
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) July 27, 2023
So I guess we can believe one of these teams a bit more than the other.
Best Moments From Yesterday
The Anti-Coughlin
No, I’m not talking about Ben McAdoo (I promise that’s the only real NFL reference I will ever make, Nick), I’m talking about Blue Jay Chris Coghlan’s iconic Superman dive over Yadier Molina all the way back in the hazy days of 2017:
Well, no, that’s not true. I’m really talking about Cleveland Guardian Gabriel Arias, who did the complete opposite of Coughlan and slid directly through Freddy Fermin’s legs to score on a Steven Kwan single:
Problem: Play at the plate.
Solution: Slide between the catcher's legs. 😂 pic.twitter.com/P5XYH7SZF4
— MLB (@MLB) July 26, 2023
Baseball is so graceful. Pablo highlighted a nutmeg pitch yesterday, so I guess this is a nutmeg runner?
Darude – Sandystorm
It’s been…not the greatest season for Sandy Alcantara overall, but the man’s still a workhorse:
RHP Sandy Alcantara recorded his 2nd complete game win of the season today at Tampa Bay, joining TEX's Nathan Eovaldi as the only two pitchers to throw multiple complete game wins in 2023.
— Marlins Communications (@MarlinsComms) July 26, 2023
Not only a second complete game but the most efficient one of the year:
Fewest pitches needed to throw a 9-inning complete game in the big leagues so far this year! 97 pitches! 😮 https://t.co/BNVzKd3YjU
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 26, 2023
The Bird Parade
When I was a young boy,
My father took me to Busch Stadium to see a baseball crew.
He said “Son, when you grow up
Would you wear a shirt featuring a weirdly suggestive Fredbird?”
The Cardinals are hosting an Emo Night next Friday and they're giving away a "My Cardinal Romance" shirt 😭 pic.twitter.com/rmdSGxEXew
— MLB Life (@MLBLife) July 26, 2023
I didn’t know what to tell him then, and I still don’t.
Injuries
Max Fried missed his scheduled rehab start due to illness, the Braves are going to reschedule it.
Aaron Judge will be back on Friday. Unless he isn’t. He’s been out for nearly two months and calling him straight back without any rehab starts seems quite aggressive.
Jesse Winker is on the IL due to back spasms.
Starling Marte will need longer than the minimum stay on the IL due to migraines and potentially paternity leave.
Articles You Should Read
Plotting Ohtani’s Path To 62 Home Runs – Mike Petriello, MLB.com
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Reliever Ranks (Closers) (Holds)
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)