As the house stretch of the common season continues, listed below are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world in the present day:
1. Albies to start rehab project:
The Braves have handled loads of accidents all through the season, starting from the early losses of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. to the newer absence of Austin Riley. They’re lastly on the cusp of getting a key participant again, nonetheless, as supervisor Brian Snitker advised reporters (together with MLB.com’s Mark Bowman) that second baseman Ozzie Albies is nearing a return to motion after two months on the shelf on account of a wrist fracture. The 27-year-old is ready to start a brief rehab project in the present day and might be activated Friday in opposition to the Marlins if all goes nicely.
Albies, a switch-hitter, nonetheless feels discomfort when swinging left-handed and should completely swing right-handed upon returning. Happily, Albies has at all times hit significantly better when batting righty all through his profession, and Snitker confirmed that he’ll have the ability to play second base throughout his rehab project. Whit Merrifield, who was signed shortly after Albies’ damage and has carried out nicely because the membership’s second baseman in his absence, will now be an possibility in left area and at third base, the place fellow in-season acquisitions Ramon Laureano and Gio Urshela at present reside.
2. Sequence Preview: Yankees @ Mariners
The Yankees are headed out west in the present day to tackle the Mariners in a three-game set that may have vital implications on the AL playoff image. The Yankees at present maintain a three-game lead over the Orioles within the AL East, and whereas the loser of that duel may also make the postseason as a Wild Card staff, the division crown remains to be noteworthy as it is going to doubtless be tied to a bye via the Wild Card spherical. In the meantime, the Mariners will not be at present in playoff place however are simply two video games out of the ultimate AL Wild Card spot. FanGraphs nonetheless offers them a shot on the postseason with 10.7% odds.
With a view to hold these hopes alive, the Mariners should take down the Yankees on this collection, which begins at 6:40pm native time tonight. Righty Luis Gil (3.18 ERA) is ready to take the mound for the Yankees reverse 24-year-old Bryan Woo (2.38 ERA). The subsequent day, lefty Nestor Cortes (3.90 ERA) is scheduled to tackle right-hander Bryce Miller (3.18 ERA). The collection wraps up with right-hander Clarke Schmidt (2.41 ERA in 13 begins) taking over Logan Gilbert (3.24 ERA) on Thursday.
3. Eovaldi possibility watch:
As laid out by MLBTR’s Steve Adams yesterday, Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is simply 4 innings shy of triggering a vesting participant possibility valued at $20MM. He’s pitched 4 or extra innings in 24 of his 26 begins this season, so it’s extraordinarily doubtless that Eovaldi will see that possibility vest in the present day. The 34-year-old (35 in February) will nonetheless have the precise to show down that participant possibility and as soon as once more take a look at free company, but it surely offers some insurance coverage within the occasion that Eovaldi suffers an damage within the season’s ultimate weeks — or maybe merely a straightforward technique of resolving his offseason standing early if the Texas native is proud of the Rangers and doesn’t want to undergo free company once more. Eovaldi should not have any drawback topping that $20MM assure available on the market, nonetheless. He’s pitched to a 3.67 ERA in 152 frames this season and touts a mixed 3.65 ERA, 23.7% strikeout charge, 7% stroll charge and 49.8% grounder charge in 296 frames over his two seasons as a Ranger.
4. MLBTR Chat:
The postseason is nearly upon us, and golf equipment have begun to get eradicated because the remaining contenders make their ultimate pushes in direction of the playoffs. Within the AL, the Tigers and Mariners are nipping on the heels of the Twins for the ultimate AL Wild Card spot. Within the NL, the Diamondbacks, Mets, and Braves are in locked in a detailed race to take the ultimate two Wild Card spots behind San Diego. Should you’re questioning about your staff’s hopes of a World Sequence championship this fall or how your membership may strategy the approaching offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a stay chat with readers at 1pm CT in the present day. You’ll be able to click on right here to ask a query upfront, take part stay as soon as the chat begins, or learn the transcript as soon as the chat is full.