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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 8/23/2024

Mariners' big fade costs Servais his job as manager.

Steve Drumwright
MLB Morning News 8/23/2024

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

With a second team dropping the hammer on a manager, firing season is fully upon us in the baseball calendar. How much bloodier it gets is the great unknown. The writing has been on the wall for Skip Schumaker’s exit from the Miami Marlins and an overhaul for the St. Louis Cardinals could be in the offing. Schumaker actually could end up with the Cardinals, a team he played eight seasons for. Will there be another surprising manager move?

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Seattle Shakeup: Scapegoat Servais Sacked

 

You can’t fire the players en masse, so you axe the manager. That is the reason why the Seattle Mariners, in the throes of slump that has seen them lose 15 games in the American League West standings, fired manager Scott Servais. Servais, however, found out his fate via social media but still had a classy farewell message. Hitting coach Jarret DeHart was also fired. The 57-year-old Servais, who has managed the team since 2016, will be replaced by former Mariners catcher Dan Wilson, who has the job on a full-time basis. Also, Hall of Fame designated hitter Edgar Martinez will join the coaching staff. After being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series and winning once in their last nine games, the Mariners were 64-64, almost forcing general manager Jerry Dipoto’s hand. After all, Tuesday’s loss left the M’s five games behind the first-place Houston Astros after leading the division by 10 games on June 18. The Mariners are 7½ games out of the AL wild-card race. While Mariners pitching has been superb — leading MLB with a 3.53 ERA, including 3.32 by the starters — the offense has been a mystery, ranking 27th in runs, 28th in OPS (.666) and last in batting average (.216). Wilson has been around the club in some capacity since retiring after the 2012 season, including an on-field role in baseball operations and a fill-in TV analyst.

 

Judge Hits No. 48, Ramirez Goes 30-30, Cole Gets 150th

 

For a drama-free 6-0 game, there sure was a lot going on in the Cleveland Guardians–New York Yankees matchup. Aaron Judge continued his homer binge, hitting his fourth in three games as the Yankees cruised past the Guardians 6-0. Judge now has 48 homers, continuing his pursuit of a second 60-homer season after hitting an AL-record 62 in 2022. While the Guardians were silenced by Gerrit Cole, José Ramírez reached a big milestone. Ramirez, who has 32 homers, notched his 30th steal in the top of the sixth for his second career 30-30 season. Ramirez is the 15th player in MLB history with two or more 30-30 seasons. Cole spun six shutout innings, allowing just a leadoff single, while striking out just two and walking five. It did, however, result in his 150th career victory. Fun fact: The first-inning leadoff single by Steven Kwan was the only hit allowed by the Yankees.

 

Dodgers DFA Heyward

 

If this is the end of Jason Heyward’s career, it will be an underrated one. The five-time Gold Glove outfielder was designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers as outfielder-infielder Chris Taylor (strained left groin) returned from the 60-day injured list. The 35-year-old Heyward was slashing .208/.289/.393 with six homers and 28 RBIs in 63 games this season, his second with the Dodgers. The defense-first Heyward, who is making $9 million this season, could still land on another team either by being claimed off waivers or signing after clearing waivers. He would be eligible for the postseason if he joins a team before September. Heyward is largely credited with inspiring the Chicago Cubs to win the 2016 World Series, ending a 108-year drought, with a speech during a rain delay after the ninth inning of Game 7. The Cubs won 8-7 in 10 innings.

 

deGrom Flashes Form In First Rehab Game

 

Even facing minor-league hitters, an ace pitcher can be a bit nervous after not being on the mound for 16 months. So when Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom surrendered hits to the first two batters he faced in a Double-A game, resulting in a run, it shouldn’t have been too surprising. But the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner quickly rebounded and struck out the next two batters, reaching 100 mph. It was deGrom’s first game since April of last season after undergoing UCL surgery on his right elbow. DeGrom struck out three and threw 29 pitches, 21 strikes, in his two innings of work for the Frisco RoughRiders. He is expected to make three more rehab outings before returning to the majors. Meanwhile, another rehabbing Rangers right-hander, Max Scherzer, was scratched from Friday’s start due to arm fatigue.

 

Angels Retain Minasian

 

Just when you think the Los Angeles Angels might zig, they zag. The Angels have signed general manager Perry Minasian to a two-year extension. Minasian’s four-year contract was set to expire following this season. The Angels are on pace to miss the playoffs for a 10th straight season, entering play Thursday with a 54-73 record, tied for last in the AL West with the Oakland A’s. The Angels finished 77-85 in Minasian’s first season and have not had a better mark since. He hired Ron Washington as manager last offseason and selected all pitchers in the 20-round 2021 draft.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Tribute Bangs

 

Joey Votto’s sudden retirement on Tuesday still has folks in their feels. The only MLB team he played for put out this video.

 

Both Ways, Blue

 

Home plate umpire Larry Vanover might have been a little too pumped up for the matchup between Pittsburgh Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes and Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo. Home plate seemed three rivers wide. Skenes was again sensational, with nine strikeouts in six innings and lowering his ERA to 2.16, the best in MLB since his call-up. It also helps with calls like this … but Lodolo got similar treatment.

 

Umpire Strikes Back

 

When is a warmup pitch not a warmup pitch? New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole found out in the top of the second inning when he apparently threw one too many and was charged with a ball by home plate umpire Derek Thomas.

 

Not Routine

 

Single to right and runner thrown out at the plate. Happens all the time, right? Not the way this went down in the Double-A game between the Bowie Baysox and Erie Seawolves.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ Yankees infielder-outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. (sprained left elbow) will be activated from the 10-day injured list Friday.

⚾ First baseman Dominic Smith will be signing with the Cincinnati Reds. Smith was recently released by the Boston Red Sox after being squeezed of their roster. The Reds have a void at the position due to injuries to Jeimer Candelario (fractured toe) and Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist surgery).

⚾ Left-handed starter Trevor Rogers, expected to be a key addition at the trade deadline, was optioned to Triple-A by the Baltimore Orioles. But Rogers has posted a 7.11 ERA in 19 innings since arriving in Baltimore.

⚾ Right-handed reliever Héctor Neris, released by the Chicago Cubs this week, is rejoining the Astros. Neris pitched the previous two seasons with the Astros before signing with the Cubs in the offseason for one year and $9 million. The Astros will only be responsible for a prorated portion of the MLB minimum salary.

⚾ San Diego Padres right-handed starter Matt Waldron, MLB’s lone knuckleballer, was sent to Triple-A. Waldron, a rookie, allowed 10 runs in 4⅓ innings in his last start, the latest rough outing after a standout first half.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Authenticity debated as Ruth’s called-shot jersey set for auction — Rustin Dodd, The Athletic

Rangers prospect Walker riding wave of rediscovered rhythm — Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News

Japanese players set to fight for earlier shot at MLB career — Evan Drellich, The Athletic

Diamondbacks may be the best team in baseball — Bob Nightengale, USA Today

 

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 Bluesky and Threads @DrummerWrites.

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