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MLB News & Moments You Should Know: 8/25/2024

Blue Jays' Francis comes close to making history with no-hit bid.

Steve Drumwright
MLB Morning News 8/25/2024

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

It is funny to see grown men described as “acting like a kid” when they show joyous emotion on a baseball field. There sure were plenty of emotions Saturday at the Little League World Series as the team from Lake Mary, Fla., knocked off Borne, Texas, 10-7 in the U.S. title game. Lake Mary now faces Taoyuan City, Taiwan, in Sunday’s championship game. Taiwan beat Barquisimeto, Venezuela, 4-1 in the international final.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

Bowden’s No-Hit Bid Upended In 9th

If you didn’t know who Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis was before Saturday, you weren’t alone. The 28-year-old made his eighth MLB start after 35 relief appearances over the last three seasons. A seventh-round draft choice by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2017 and traded to the Jays along with reliever Trevor Richards for first baseman Rowdy Tellez, Francis is finding his niche in 2024. What he did Saturday vs. the Los Angeles Angels nearly etched his name in team history. Francis took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, but Taylor Ward foiled his bid by hitting a leadoff homer to left-center. Bowden struck out a career-best 12 and walked three. Following Ward’s homer, he left to a rousing ovation in what would be a 3-1 Jays victory.

Ohtani Throws Off Mound, Hits No. 41

There is no chance of Shohei Ohtani pitching this season. However, there are certain markers worth noting as the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar makes his way back from right elbow surgery. Less than 24 hours after hitting a walk-off grand slam to become the sixth player in MLB history to join the 40-40 club, Ohtani pitched off a mound for the first time since being injured almost a year ago. Wearing a shirt in support of Freddie Freeman’s son Maximus, Ohtani threw just 10 pitches in the pregame bullpen session. Then in the game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Ohtani homered again, his 41st of the season, as he sets his sights on becoming the first player with 50 homers and 50 stolen bases.

It’s Realmuto, Not Once, But Twice

Think J.T. Realmuto was happy to have left-hander Ranger Suárez back on the mound for the Philadelphia Phillies? The catcher hit a pair of three-run homers, finishing with seven RBIs in the Phillies’ 11-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Suarez, meanwhile, returned from the injured list following a bought with back soreness. Limited by a pitch count, he struck out six in five innings, allowing one run on four hits and a walk.

Good News, Bad News For Reds’ Greene

First, the positive: Cincinnati Reds ace right-hander Hunter Greene does not have UCL damage, meaning no Tommy John surgery. That was determined by an MRI exam and three medical examinations. While it was hoped that Greene would only spend the minimum 15 days on the injured list, Greene said he has elbow inflammation and won’t pitch again until that subsides. He does aim to return this season.

Cardinals’ Contreras Heading To IL

In another blow in a second straight disappointing season, the St. Louis Cardinals are losing starting catcher Willson Contreras to a broken finger on his right hand. He was hit by a pitch leading off the top of the fourth inning of the Cardinals’ 6-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins. Contreras will be put on the 10-day injured list. How long he is out is not known, but with precious few weeks left, Contreras’ season could be over. Catcher Iván Herrera is expected to be called up to take Contreras’ roster spot.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Worth Waiting For

You can say a three-inning save in an eight-run victory is meaningless. But then look at the smile on Casey Kelly’s face and say that. The 38-year-old had not pitched in the majors since 2018 until being called up just hours before the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-2. Kelly pitched the final three innings to earn his first MLB save (Julian Aguiar also earned his first MLB win). Kelly was a first-round draft pick in 2008 and made it to the majors in 2012. He struggled in his five seasons before going to the Korea Baseball Organization and finding success as a starter. Oh, and part of Kelly’s journey back included playing for his father, who manages the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate.

15 Years Later …

It was Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium, which meant a lot of greats were in the house. The focus of this year’s ceremony was celebrating the 2009 World Series winners.

Ageless Voice

Someone needs to have a choir sing “Happy Birthday” to him when he hits 100 in November.

Father-Son Moment

They often do Cactus League games together, but the Milwaukee Brewers‘ final trip to Oakland to face the A’s presented an opportunity for Vince Cotroneo and son Dom to do a radio broadcast of a regular-season MLB game. While dad is a regular on A’s radio, Dom is a behind-the-scenes guy with the Brewers’ TV and radio teams and does a postgame show for the flagship radio station. Vince is retiring from doing A’s games after this season.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ The San Francisco Giants promoted right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from Triple-A. Doval, a top MLB closer the last two seasons, was demoted at the beginning of this month after severe struggles in order to get his mind right.

⚾ Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call (partially torn left plantar fascia) went on the 10-day IL.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

How the Boras Four are doing after “butchered” offseason — R.J. Anderson, CBS Sports

Why a six-inning minimum for starting pitchers makes sense — John Shea, San Francisco Chronicle

Flashback: Veeck holds “Grandstand Managers Night” — Alex Coffey, Baseball Hall of Fame

 

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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