For those who believe Javier Baez is about to be traded, he just had a street named after him in Chicago, Javier ‘Javi’ Baez way
When asked which Red Sox pitcher after Sale and Porcello is capable of picking up the slack if David Price is out for several months or even the season, Chad Finn at Boston.com replied:
Well, first things first, I’m actually kind of encouraged by Price’s reported progress now, so maybe this won’t be an issue in the first place. I really thought we were going to get some inevitable news in the past few weeks that Price was headed for a second visit with Dr. James Andrews — and we’d see him again in July 2018. But it looks like the scalpel may be dodged. Dr. Andrews can now focus his time on Clay Buchholz, I guess. Eduardo Rodriguez is the most talented of the lot, but he’s still maddeningly inconsistent at age 24. He should be a 15-game winner on stuff alone, but he still gets distracted too easily and must be considered an enigma.
Francisco Cervelli has had 13 opportunities to catch a base stealer. He has been successful zero times. Last season he ranked 20th out of 23 qualifying catchers with a 19.3 percent success rate.
Gerrit Cole got his seventh at Wrigley Field last night. That is the most at any stadium outside of Pittsburgh’s PNC Park. In 51 innings pitched in Chicago, he has a 2.29 ERA without giving up a home run.
Tanner Roark went 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA in five starts against the Phillies last season.
Toronto has lost the last seven and is now 1-9 on the season. They still have the least number of runs scored in baseball with 28.
Zach Britton earned his 54th consecutive save last night to tie Tom Gordon for the second-longest streak ever. The record belongs to Eric Gagne (84).
The Indians starting pitchers are 1-6 with an AL-worst 6.58 ERA.
Matt Kemp ran before the game yesterday, and isn’t expected to need a rehab stint in the minors before he’s eligible to return on Tuesday
Sonny Gray will throw three innings or 45 pitches in extended spring training and at least two more bullpens before rejoining the team.Bob Melvin is looking at a return date of May 1
Matt Moore pitched eight innings of three-hit ball in Monday’s home opener. He is 5-0 with a 1.50 ERA over his last seven starts at home.
Trevor Bauer averaged one home run given up per nine innings over the past three seasons combined, but this year he has allowed three in 10.2 innings.
Royals general manager Dayton Moore said he believes Raul Mondesi gives the team its best chance to win right now,
There will be some mistakes along the way, But you have to continue to develop at the major-league level. I think he gives us the best chance to win right now — I do. For what we’re trying to do right now, what we expect to be. The more opportunity we can get him up here, the better.General Manager Dayton Moore on Mondesi
Ender Inciarte has three home runs in 42 plate appearances so far this season. Last season he hit three over 578 plate appearances. He’s tied for the team lead in home runs with Freddie Freeman
In 2014, Skip Schumaker suggested Zack Cozart be more aggressive at the plate and reminded everyone that Cozart hit .364 when swinging on the first pitch the season before.
Cozart took that advice, and hit .344 with a .656 slugging percentage when swinging at the first pitch.
Aroldis Chapman hasn’t allowed the Cardinals to score a run since Sept. 2, 2011
The least hated team in Baseball? The Rockies according to 1,277 baseball fans at Northern Kentucky University’s “Known Rivalry Project.”
The study is ongoing, so head on over to KnownRivalry.com and take the survey.
Clayton Kershaw has allowed only four earned runs over his last ten home starts, 76 1/3 innings pitched.
Mets shortstop prospect, Ahmed Rosario, is 11-for-32 (.344) with two stolen bases and four RBIs in his first eight games since being promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas. Rosario was ranked the best prospect in all of baseball by ESPN last week, and the Mets’ best shortstop prospect since Jose Reyes.
Only one starting pitcher, Jerad Eickhoff, has pitched into the seventh inning for the Phillies in 10 games so far this season.