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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 7/28/2024

Snell strikes out 15 in possible last Giants start; Yanks add Chisholm.

Steve Drumwright
MLB Morning News 7/28/2024

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

The expectations for this year’s trade deadline were not that great. After all, there didn’t seem to be a star player or three who stood out as the distinct prizes. But if Saturday is any indication, these next few days should be wild. With the number of teams that think they are contenders battling for players, there will be some overpays and some teams that surprisingly sell. All deals must be completed by Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Snell Fans 15 — In 6 Innings

Sure, the San Francisco Giants can still make a run. How likely is it? Not very. Entering Saturday, the Giants were five games below .500 and haven’t made themselves part of the conversation in the National League West, much less the Wild Card race. But if reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell continues his recent string of standout performances, that could change. Of course, Snell could also wind up in another uniform in the coming days. The left-hander struck out a career-high 15 in just six shutout innings as the Giants won the opener of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies 4-1. Snell, who allowed two hits, is the first MLB pitcher in the modern era (since 1901) to accumulate 15 strikeouts in six or fewer innings. In four starts since returning from a groin injury, Snell has a 0.75 ERA with 30 strikeouts and seven walks in 24 innings. It has also made him a hot commodity among contenders seeking another starter.

Padres Hit Lucky 7

Over the last two seasons, the San Diego Padres have been a confounding team. After eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers before falling to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Championship Series, much was expected of the Padres. Last season, they woke up just in time to make a run at the end of the season, but it wasn’t enough for a return to the postseason. This year, they appear to have found the on-switch a bit earlier. Manny Machado hit a three-run homer, Xander Bogaerts had three extra-base hits and Michael King turned in a stellar 6.1 innings to knock off the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles for the second day in a row, this time by a 9-4 score. It marked the Padres’ season-best seventh win in a row, likely activating general manager A.J. Preller into overdrive before the trade deadline. Machado’s seventh-inning blast gave him exactly 1,000 career RBIs, coming at the stadium where he began his MLB career.

Trades: Yankees Acquire Jazz

After a few deals trickled in the previous two days, the hot stove was certainly firing all four burners Saturday. That included the big-budget New York Yankees taking center fielder-second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. off the hands of the low-budget Miami Marlins. Chisholm could solve two problems for the Yankees by taking over the leadoff spot in the batting order and potentially moving Gleyber Torres off second base. The Marlins received catcher Agustín Ramírez (No. 3 prospect, per Baseball America), middle infielder Jared Serna (Yankees’ No. 11 prospect) and infielder-outfielder Abrahan Ramirez (unranked).

⚾ The Philadelphia Phillies bolstered the back end of their bullpen by acquiring closer Carlos Estévez from the Los Angeles Angels, who received right-handed pitcher George Klassen (Phillies’ No. 5 prospect) and left-hander Samuel Aldegheri (Phillies’ No. 7 prospect).

⚾ The Toronto Blue Jays continued to unload talent during a disappointing season, sending catcher Danny Jansen to the Boston Red Sox for shortstop Eddinson Paulino (Red Sox’s No. 18 prospect), third baseman-shortstop Cutter Coffey (unranked) and right-handed pitcher Gilberto Batista (unranked). The trade could also set up a weird situation where Jansen could appear in a single game for both teams. He was in the lineup for the June 26 game between the Jays and Red Sox that was suspended and will be resumed on August 26 in the top of the second inning.

⚾ Right-handed reliever Nate Pearson was traded by the Jays to the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Yohendrick Pinango (Cubs’ No. 17 prospect) and shortstop Josh Rivera (unranked).

⚾ The Milwaukee Brewers acquired right-handed reliever Nick Mears from the Rockies for two prospect right-handers — No. 28 Yujanyer Herrera and unranked Bradley Blalock.

⚾ The New York Mets added outfielder Jesse Winker in a deal with the Washington Nationals. The prospects heading to the Nats have not been reported as of late Saturday night.

Grisham Saves Yankees, Who Win In 10

Down to their final strike, the Yankees got a little magic. Trent Grisham doubled off the Green Monster on a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to score Jahmai Jones to tie the game 8-8, then the Yankees scored three in the top of the 10th to beat the Red Sox 11-8. Austin Wells delivered the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly, then Gleyber Torres added a two-run double. Also, Aaron Judge hit his MLB-leading 37th homer, a 432-foot shot that went all the way out of Fenway Park in the first inning.

Suarez, Senga Sidelined

Two National League East rivals suffered losses to the starting rotation, but the impact this season will be much different. Phillies All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez went on the 15-day injured list with lower-back soreness. While back injuries are always tricky, Suarez is expected to return relatively soon. He has been a key reason why the Phillies have the best record in MLB. Meanwhile, New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga’s return to the rotation lasted just one game. Senga, who made his season debut Friday after sustaining a capsule strain in his right shoulder, went on the 15-day IL after straining his right calf in the sixth inning. Senga’s season appears to be over unless the Mets make the postseason.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

OK x 11

Rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach has been a much-needed surprise for Atlanta since making his MLB debut in May. He turned in an 11-strikeout performance in Atlanta’s 4-0 triumph over the New York Mets that came at a much-needed time as the team had lost six straight.

Cruz Clobbers

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz occasionally reminds folks of his immense talent, even if he is still trying to put it all together. This is one of those moments.

Sho-gone

Maybe it is because his swing is so smooth, but the distance of the home runs hit by Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani is always amazing. This was no exception.

They Let Anybody Hit

Actor Matt Damon was at Fenway Park. No word on where Ben Affleck was (Casey Affleck was there though).

Just A Shutout By A Local Kid

Homers get a lot of pub. Pitchers retaliate with a boatload of strikeouts. But every once in a while, you get a shutout by a single pitcher. Now add in the fact that your first shutout comes in your fourth MLB appearance and for the team you grew up watching. That is the day that Tyler Phillips had, who went to high school in Pennsauken, New Jersey, just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.

Was There A Trash Can Involved?

This walk-off is courtesy of Alex Bregman, whose solo blast in the bottom of the ninth gave the Houston Astros a 10-9 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Rookie’s Roll

When your name is dropped in the same sentence as the 2004 version of Barry Bonds, you must be doing something special (and hopefully nothing else). That is exactly what is going on with Tyler Fitzgerald. The Giants’ rookie shortstop hit a solo home run in the eighth inning of the nightcap of a doubleheader vs. the Rockies. It was his eighth homer in 10 games, something that hasn’t happened to a Giants player since… 2004 Bonds. The Giants won 5-0 to sweep the doubleheader.

It Is That Bad

One of the better things fans do to show their distaste for how their bad team is playing is wearing a bag over their head. The NFL’s New Orleans Saints made it a thing back in the day. This Chicago White Sox fan — who either shops at or works for the Mariano’s grocery store chain — joined the club.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman went on the family leave list. He left Houston and returned home to Los Angeles as his 3-year-old son, Maximus, has been hospitalized battling an illness.

⚾ Chicago White Sox right-handed starter Mike Clevinger, who was on a rehab assignment following right elbow inflammation and neck soreness, will have season-ending disk replacement surgery on his neck.

⚾ Blue Jays top prospect Ricky Tiedemann, a left-handed starter, will undergo Tommy John surgery, which is likely to sideline him all of the 2025 season.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

What is it like to be a GM at the deadline? — Former Atlanta GM John Coppolella, Yahoo Sports

Who is eligible for the 2025 Hall of Fame ballot? — Baseball Hall of Fame

The trade deadline is getting weird — Travis Sawchik, The Score

 

Fantasy Baseball Coverage

 

Starting Pitcher Roundup

Hitter Performances

Reliever Ranks

Starting Pitcher Streamers

 

Steve Drumwright

Steve Drumwright is a lifelong baseball fan who retired as a player before he had the chance to be cut from the freshman team in high school. He recovered to become a sportswriter and have a successful journalism career at newspapers in Wisconsin and California. Follow him on Twitter and Threads @DrummerWrites.

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