Baseball Chatter July 28

Max Scherzer is the only active pitcher to strike out 200 batters six years in a row.
Kyle Schwarber has hit five home runs in 50 at bats since the break, including two last night.Brett Gardner hit a walkoff home run and Aaron Judge was hit by a helmet that chipped his tooth during the ridiculous celebration teams do in baseball when someone gets a walkoff anything. Judge will play today.
Dusty Coleman hit the first home run of his career last night but he is 30 and that is why he is not included in waiver wire pickups.

Trade Deadline

The Cardinals are willing to trade Lance Lynn, but they aren’t desperate. In fact, they still haven’t decided if they are buyers or sellers. Anyway, here is what the greatest teammate in the world, Adam Wainwright, said about Lynn

If he stays or goes somewhere else, he’s going to be a winner wherever that is, Lance is a proven winner, a proven playoff competitor, and he’s proven he can hit left-handed now. He’s proven a lot of stuff. Most of all, he’ll win. Adam Wainwright on Lynn

The Rays now have too many second basemen so Brad Miller or Tim Beckham could be on the way out of Tampa

The Rays just traded prospect Casey Gillespie to the White Sox for Dan Jennings, but some say they are still interested in Justin Wilson. If you believe everything you read on Twitter, there are at least six and as many as 12 teams interested in Wilson.

Lucas Duda was traded to the Rays for relief pitcher Drew Smith. He will spend most of his time as the designated hitter, but he can’t hit lefties so don’t get too excited. He has 17 home runs and 73 RBI on the season. T.J Rivera should see the majority of time at first base in New York but he didn’t play last night due to a ‘minor arm injury’

The Brewers can’t figure out if they are buyers or sellers, but they have inquired about Curtis Granderson? Are they inquiring about a different Granderson?


Travis Wood (SD-SP) will make his first start as a Padre tonight at home against Chad Kuhl and the Pirates. It pushes Dinelson Lamet and Clayton Richard back one day.

Waiver Wire PickUps

Kyle Freeland (COL-SP) doesn’t strike out many batters and he pitches half the time in Colorado, but he actually pitches better at home than he does on the road:

  • Home: 61 IP, 3.21 ERA, 59 H, 5 HRA
  • Away: 54 IP, 4.12 ERA, 56 H, 8 HRA

Manuel Margot (SD-OF) hit homers two games in a row now and has an AVG/OBP of .299/.337 with five steals, two homers, 10 runs and 6 RBI since the break

Charlie Morton (HOU-SP) has won three out of four starts since coming off the disabled list with a 3.28 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 24 ⅔ innings. Plus he is on the Astros and that is almost as good as it gets for run support

Chad Kuhl is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA in his past 10 starts. He ranks second on the Pirates behind Gerrit Cole with 80 strikeouts

Derek Dietrich (MIA-3B) has two home runs and eight RBI over the past two games. His batting average is horrible, .231, but he has position eligibility. Martin Prado isn’t coming back anytime soon as he may need surgery on his knee.

Derek Dietrich Stats

C.C. Sabathia allowed more than two runs last night for only the second time in his last 10 starts. You might have to be a little desperate to pick him up, but pitching is pretty scarce this season.

Another desperation move could be Josh Tomlin, who is 3-0 with a 3.10 ERA, one walk, two home runs allowed and 17 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings over his last three starts. He is a tease though and when you least expect it…

via GIPHY

Teams

Mets Where careers are ruined memeThe Mets called up Chris Flexen to start yesterday after just seven starts above the High-A level, but they leave Amed Rosario down at Triple-A

Oakland thought they were doing themselves a favor by getting Blake Treinen to replace Santiago Casilla as their closer, but that hasn’t worked out well for them at all. They should have kept John Axford for free.

The Nationals hit four consecutive home runs in the third inning against the Brewers last night. Michael Blazek was pitching. Poor guy.

Cubs starting pitchers are 10-0 with a 2.51 ERA since the break. On the surface, it looks like the Cubs and the Nats have the best rotations in the second half. Take a deeper look and you might agree that the Red Sox have the most sustainable rotation.

Second Half Rotations

The Rockies have lost 16 of the last 19 games away from Coors Field. They still have a four game lead for the second wild card but their pitching is the worst in baseball in the second half. So, while Colorado is out looking for a catcher, they should really be looking for a whole new pitching staff.

Rockies Pitching Second Half

Injury Updates

Miguel Sano will return to the lineup today after missing two games with a sore left wrist

Dallas Keuchel will return from the DL to pitch at Detroit tonight

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