On Monday, Gelof, Hernaiz and Harris were all in the A’s starting lineup, with Hernaiz manning third base and Harris at first base on a rare day of rest for Nick Kurtz. Those three will likely shuffle around the infield over the final month of the season as the A’s seek to get a closer evaluation of the trio of homegrown players.
“Wilson will also need some rest as we go,” Kotsay said. “There will be enough opportunity to utilize a rotation. It’s about performance, and we’ll also look for the best matchups for those opportunities as well.”
Here is your friendly reminder to follow Lance Brozdowski’s substack. (Editor note: SERIOUSLY, Lance is SOOO good, check out his YouTube, too!)
Astros Spencer Arrighetti has struggled since his return from a fractured right thumb (8.59 ERA, 4.57 xFIP, 10% K-BB). His velocity is down 2 mph, sitting 92.2 mph in these three post-IL starts compared to 94.2 mph last season. He started throwing a sinker to right-handed hitters since returning, perhaps as a way to mitigate the velocity drop.
“Darren and I sat with [Thomas] and we made some adjustments,” Kotsay said. “I wanted him to get a little bit more athletic in the box.”
What exactly does “more athletic in the box” mean?
“Well, I’m usually really wide,” Thomas said. “I’ve skinnied up a little bit just so I can be a little more adjustable with my legs. A little more athletic.”
In addition to practicing the new stance in batting practice, Thomas said he worked with Bush one-on-one in the batting cage a few hours before Thursday’s game. Later, in his first at-bat of the game, Thomas crushed his first homer.
But the Royals also acquired the 25-year-old Bergert thinking about their future rotation. He showed why on Tuesday, with a 90-95 mph fastball that averaged 19 inches of induced vertical break. His sweeper showed a ton of movement despite Bergert not having the best command of his breaking pitches, and he flashed his new kick-changeup.
The difference in spin is obvious over his last two starts.
The STUPH models loved his changeup in his Kansas City debut giving it a 128 Pitching+ and 77 BotOvr.
If the Tigers turn at some point to pitching chaos, or some rendition of it, Melton becomes big. Even if they don’t, Melton potentially looms large in situational work.
Asked if Melton could work into higher-leverage opportunities, Hinch said, “I think so. I mean, the stuff’s there. I think it’s about experience and strike throwing and being able to still use his whole arsenal. …
“I don’t know where it ends in terms of usage. I think the No. 1 goal in putting him towards the bullpen is to maybe pitch him a little bit more often. As he pitches more often, the outings are going to come where he can get the ball in his hand in that leverage that you’re talking about. He certainly has the stuff. I think he has the DNA. I think he has the makeup. It’s just all new for him.”
Holmes consulted with three doctors, including Dr. Neal ElAttrache and a Braves team physician. The hope is that the rehab will help the UCL grow back together.
“If I’m not mistaken, I think ElAttrache said it was more about kind of letting the scar tissue over,” Holmes said. “Since it’s been injured, just let the scar tissue over. There was a small tear in there.”
In Wednesday’s 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, Horton was dominant. The rookie tossed 5 2/3 scoreless frames, striking out six and walking none, having allowed just two hits. He needed just 67 pitches to get through his start and was pulled because the Cubs continue to monitor what’s already a career-high workload.
“We want a healthy Cade Horton,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We want a strong Cade Horton for the rest of the season. So we’re going to have to make some tough decisions, that’s just part of it. It’s the right thing to do for the team and for Cade.”
Horton understands the thinking, and while he said he feels good, he knows there’s more at stake to consider. His focus is just taking the ball when it’s given to him and attacking hitters while he’s on the mound.
Still, Suarez is the Major League saves leader, and the Padres don’t see much reason to move away from that formula. In his Padres debut on Friday, Miller pitched the eighth and Suarez got the ninth. Suarez again got the ninth on Sunday, and Miller seems to be on board with that plan.
“I’m happy to be here,” he said. “Hoping to make [the bullpen] an even bigger strength. … Whatever I can do to help the team win, I’m ready to do.”
Eventually, that will include closing games, with Shildt adding: “There will be opportunities for Mason to take that role down at some point.”
Tuesday was one of those nights. The RailRiders loaded up on lefties, playing eight against Painter. Southpaws are among his biggest problems; entering Tuesday, lefties batted .311 with an .881 OPS against him.
The pitches Painter trusts against lefties did not deliver. He could not locate his fastball, which spun arm-side up. The changeup, he thought, wasn’t competitive. The curveball was off.
Aaron Nola made another rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He’s scheduled to pitch again next Tuesday in Buffalo, N.Y., with the IronPigs. He will then join the Phillies in Washington. It puts him on track to return either Aug. 17 or 18.
When possible, in recent games, Thomson has turned to Edmundo Sosa over Otto Kemp at third base. The manager said it’s to prioritize defense. On the infield, that has grown into a team strength this season.
During the team’s pregame radio show on Sunday, general manager Dana Brown said Javier is ahead of Garcia, but expressed hope that both pitchers would contribute in the second half.
France and Arrighetti are still in the live batting practice phase of their recoveries, a step behind Garcia and Javier.
It’s difficult — if not impossible — to envision any of the four pitchers returning before the July 31 trade deadline, putting Brown in a precarious position. Houston could use starting pitching help, but if their internal reinforcements are back at full strength, the need may be mitigated.
This is the mysterious one. Santander has still not started to hit at the Blue Jays’ complex in Dunedin, Fla., and until he does, there won’t be much of a timeline. It’s possible this stretches on closer to the Trade Deadline, but for now, the Blue Jays have to plan on life without Santander in the lineup.
An issue with Santander will be his playing time since he’s locked in as the DH. I’ve been holding him in some formats where I need power (and none is on the waiver wire), but it’s getting to the point I need to move on.
Left-hander Cade Povich, who’s on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation, could be activated as soon as Monday, and Mansolino was optimistic about him.
“I think everything’s progressing,” Mansolino said. “We’re planning on starting him here soon on a rehab assignment, so that will pop up here soon. As long as all goes well, we’ll see him do that and from then, we’ll figure it out.”
Willi Castro was a late scratch Sunday with a sore right wrist, one that could prevent him from playing in the next two or three games. Castro felt the soreness when he woke up Sunday morning, but noted it’s not the first time he’s experienced the issue.
Castro underwent an X-ray, which showed no fracture. The utility man previously experienced wrist soreness a season ago.
“I’ve had that pain before, but (Sunday) was the day that it got worse,” Castro said. “But I’ve played with that pain before, last year, this year. It’s nothing. The good thing is it’s nothing fractured or anything like that. They told me it’s probably (going to) swell. Probably 2-3 days I’ll be fine to go back in and play. … The good thing is nothing is broken. Just try to heal it.”
The Phillies seem intent on finding out whether Kemp is a viable option in left field. If so, that would provide a way for the team to keep him in the lineup even once Bryce Harper (right wrist inflammation) returns from the injured list.
In that scenario, Kemp and Max Kepler would form a platoon in left field, with Kemp starting against lefties and Kepler starting against righties. Kemp would essentially be filling the role previously held by Weston Wilson, who was optioned to Triple-A last week.
The Phillies have been vague about Harper’s recovery from inflammation in his right wrist. They have not established any timetable for Harper’s return. They have not detailed his treatment for an injury that bothered him late last season. Harper was not with the team earlier this week during a four-game trip to Miami; the team said he’d travel but changed course because officials said Harper could do more work at Citizens Bank Park.
He is nearing a return — the biggest test will be how his wrist feels with increased swinging. Harper, who answered questions Friday for the first time in two weeks, clarified this: The pain in his wrist is not due to a structural issue. He’s met with various doctors who have assured him he would not need surgery — now or in the offseason — to fix it.
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Harper is all but certain to play through some continued pain this season; the goal is to make it tolerable. Harper said the best treatment has been rest. He’s now comfortable with beginning more activities on the field.
“We’re taking it a little slow with the groin. We were playing [Jacob Melton] four days a week in the minor leagues and it kind of fits here,” Brown told the team’s pregame radio show.
“He’s probably going to come up here and face right-handers, gives us that left-hand bat we’ve been looking for. We don’t have to play him here every day, but we’re gradually going to break him in and see what he can do.”
