Since 2009, David Price has made at least 14 starts after the all star break in every season, averaging 97.5 innings pitched. The Red Sox will keep this in mind and may delay his return just to be on the safe side.
The Red Sox are:
- 77-15 when they score at least five runs.
- 16-57 with four runs or less.
The Angels will have a fire sale right before the trade deadline if they do not feel they can make the playoffs. Players set to hit free agency after 2017 include Cameron Maybin, Ben Revere, Danny Espinosa and Yunel Escobar. Ricky Nolasco and Huston Street have options. The Angels might also consider trading Garrett Richards, who becomes a free agent after the 2018 season.
Despite getting knocked around yesterday, Masahiro Tanaka’s velocity was actually up about a mile and a half on both his four-seam fastball and splitter from last season. This should lower concerns about the partial tear in his UCL being to blame.
Odubel Herrera has had more than 50 plate appearances in five of the top eight spots in the Phillies batting order. Tonight he will bat third, where manager Pete Mackanin feels he is best suited.
Aaron Altherr had 20 extra-base hits in 137 at-bats after being promoted in 2015. This spring, that loudness has returned.
I definitely feel a lot better at the plate, I can see the ball a lot better. Just getting there on time makes all the difference. I think what it mostly boils down to is that the timing is there now.Aaron Altherr
As the Phillies’ fourth outfielder, Altherr, 26, is in a better position at the start of this season than Tommy Joseph or Hector Neris were at the start of the last.
It is @astros Opening Day and I am feeling good! Good Luck, @kidkeuchy! #AstrosOpeningDay #fearthebeard #threeup #threedown #keuchelskorner pic.twitter.com/qhqFjAjZeW
— BSdM (@benstate84) April 3, 2017
Last year, Gerrit Cole saw his average fastball velocity drop to 95.5 mph. Even though he was still among the top 10 hardest throwers in the majors, injuries caused command issues which led to a .282 batting average against. That is nearly 50 points higher than the .235 they hit against him in 2015.
Kolten Wong, finished the spring below the Mendoza Line with a .192 average. That is 10 hits in 52 at bats. That isn’t the worst of it though. He struck out 11 times and was caught three of the four times he attempted to steal.
Melvin Upton Jr. was released by the Blue Jays yesterday.
Roberto Osuna opens year on DL as #BlueJays release Melvin Upton Jr, DFA Mike Bolsinger to set opening day roster: https://t.co/f6putOcpkB
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) April 2, 2017
Upton will make $16.45MM this season, the final year of the $75.5MM deal he signed with the Braves in 2012, but the Padres are on the hook for most of that. San Diego ate all but $5MM of the remaining $22MM left on Upton’s contract when it traded him. Upton was a useful player as a member of the Padres, with whom he slashed .257/.313/.435 with 21 home runs and 29 steals in 602 PAs and earned positive marks in the field (nine Defensive Runs Saved, 2.9 Ultimate Zone Rating). Not far removed from that production, he could catch on elsewhere as a low-cost option for an outfielder-needy team.
Share this Post