Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
Letter of recommendation: The German boardgame “Tac.” Apparently, it’s difficult to find outside of Germany, but it’s a great time.
Today’s Headlines
Webb Gem
The Giants’ offense was only able to put up one run against Oakland on Wednesday night, and it came on a sac fly from Brett Wisely, but that was all Logan Webb needed:
Nothing was stopping Logan tonight! pic.twitter.com/vuVYFGYYO6
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 1, 2024
Webb’s line on the night was 9 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, and 6 K, for his second career shutout. Sure, it took him 106 pitches, so no Maddux for the guy. But it did take less than two hours, which has to count for something! Webb’s had some blowup games this season, but overall it’s been another strong season for the Giants ace, as he lowered his ERA to 3.49 (to go with a sparkling 2.90 FIP) and picked up his eighth win of the campaign.
We also learned something during the post-game celebration, which is that the Rogers twins can’t dump Gatorade at all:
All smiles 😁 pic.twitter.com/E38vjnFZeb
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 1, 2024
Stick to pitching, the lot of ya!
Holliday In Baltimore
When Jackson Holliday was promoted to the Orioles in April, it was a big deal for pretty much everybody following baseball. The top prospect in the sport in one of the youngest, most dynamic offenses going…and it was not exactly a start to write home about. He batted .059 in 10 games and was optioned back to Triple-A until Wednesday. Holliday started the day off 0-2, but hit his first big league HR in grand fashion:
HAPPY HOLLIDAYS!!!! pic.twitter.com/P3HBoRWmm0
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 31, 2024
And he couldn’t have timed it much better:
Staying in the family business. 20 years after Matt Holliday's 1st career homer, his son Jackson follows with the first of his career! pic.twitter.com/yh6kwc9mr8
— MLB (@MLB) July 31, 2024
You can’t really see from the clip given the chaos that ensued out near Eutaw Street, but the home run ball was caught by a father-son duo who returned the milestone homer, got to meet Jackson, and pick up a signed bat for their trouble:
Jackson got his home run ball back 🥹 pic.twitter.com/nWv6BMAJu6
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 31, 2024
Hey DJ, Can You Play A Sweep?
The O’s did go on to win their game 10-4, but they’ve been unable to open up a real division lead over the Yankees, who spent most of July looking like they had never really played baseball before. That may be changing, as they swept the Phillies behind a career offensive day from DJ LeMahieu:
DJ LeMahieu hits his 3rd career grand slam! pic.twitter.com/CSeQQoaLnm
— MLB (@MLB) July 31, 2024
That’s only his third grand slam, out of his 123 career home runs, which in turn happened in over 6600 plate appearances. That seems…improbable. Then again, Derek Jeter didn’t hit his first grand slam until 2005. Regardless, DJ added another pair of runs batted in, accounting for all of the Yankee scoring in their 6-5 win, and setting a new career high for RBI in a single game. His batting line for the season is all the way up to uh, .182/.270/.252, but hey, a win is a win!
I would also be utterly remiss if I didn’t point out that the opening pitch at Citizens Bank yesterday was thrown by none other than Hunter Pence, who, of course, put his own funk on it:
A very uniquely Hunter Pence first pitch. pic.twitter.com/JeVq5kAzir
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 31, 2024
There’s that famous elbow-less throwing action!
Dads > Dodgers
Zooming over to the NL West, it was a big day for division rivals in California, as the Padres won a laugher against the Dodgers and accomplished something they haven’t done in well over a decade:
Final: Padres 8, Dodgers 1
The Padres win their season series against L.A. for the first time since 2010, which comes with the added benefit of a postseason tiebreaker. Relevant, because the gap in the NL West is now 4 1/2 games, as close as the Padres have been since May 4.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) August 1, 2024
The Dodgers definitely made some impact moves at the deadline, but their pitching remains creaky, especially given Clayton Kershaw’s return being a seven-run stinker (although only three earned!) while Dylan Cease continues his strong season. It’s the Dodgers’ division to lose right now, but the Padres will gladly try to make that happen.
Kirby Pays Tribute
And up in Boston, George Kirby added a new pitch to his arsenal. Maybe just the one time, though, as a tribute to the late Tim Wakefield.
George Kirby threw a knuckleball to begin Wednesday's game against the Red Sox to pay tribute to Tim Wakefield ❤️
“He was a special player. So just being able to do it here in Boston was pretty cool.” – George Kirby pic.twitter.com/3vLyb7yEGZ
— MLB (@MLB) August 1, 2024
And lest you think Kirby wasn’t committed to getting things right, check out the pitch data:
Gameday 3D — George Kirby knuckleball for his first pitch at Fenway Park to honor Tim Wakefield
155 rpm ! pic.twitter.com/lzAWRmBwra
— David Adler (@_dadler) July 31, 2024
155 RPM! We all love a knuckleballer (even if we don’t trust them) and it would be pretty incredible to see Kirby actually work it into his pitch mix, although it seems antithetical to his entire “I will never walk anybody, ever” approach to baseball and life.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Built Different
Catchers are a different breed, but James McCann is a whole other, more insane breed even within that group.
https://t.co/yZHNhhZQaS pic.twitter.com/n3bsyr7d7B
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) July 31, 2024
2U DP
Today’s “Wait what just happened” play comes to us from Queens, where Max Kepler struck out and then added insult to injury by taking an attempted pickoff throw from Francisco Alvarez to the dome, leading to an interference-driven double play call:
The Mets get two outs after Max Kepler is called for interference on a Francisco Alvarez throw pic.twitter.com/bvkNFAk9US
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 31, 2024
It didn’t end up mattering as the Twins downed the Mets 8-3, but you’d have to think it’s bad enough making the out at the plate on the strikeout, no need to do it twice.
Living Their Best Life In Queens
But it wasn’t all bad at Citi, as this guy is certainly having a time doing uh, splits? For fun?
Please look at this absolute legend pic.twitter.com/LKNxNk5CUN
— Laura Albanese (@AlbaneseLaura) July 31, 2024
I don’t even know. Between this and the rain delay shenanigans from the Subway Series, it seems like The Power Of Grimace has some side effects.
Jazz Phan
The Yankees went into Wednesday’s game feeling pretty good. Good enough for newly acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. to try to get one over on the Phanatic:
Jazz and the Phanatic going toe-to-toe 😂 pic.twitter.com/iHaiXyfuM3
— MLB (@MLB) July 31, 2024
I would imagine I would also be willing to take on any mascots if Aaron Judge was my hype man, though.
[unintelligible]
And now to the wonderful world of Minor League Baseball, where you can hear the dulcet tones of home run calls, and also this:
Nothing could have prepared you for this home run call pic.twitter.com/6MMBEUMECx
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 31, 2024
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ In a blow for Baltimore, Jordan Westburg has been diagnosed with a fractured right hand, and while the team is hopefully he’ll return “before the end of the regular season,” there’s no timetable currently.
⚾ Gerrit Cole threw a bullpen without any issues, he’s currently penciled in to start this weekend against Toronto.
⚾ The Cardinals placed Lance Lynn on the IL with right knee inflammation. They don’t think the issue is “overly serious,” but there’s no timeline as of now.
⚾ Angels utilityman Luis Rengifo came out of last night’s game after an awkward swing follow through, as of the time when this article went to submission, there’s no official news, but it seems like he should be at least considered DTD.
Articles You Should Read
All Runners Are In Scoring Position – Russell A. Carleton, Baseball Prospectus (sub req’d)
Fantasy Baseball Coverage