Mining the News (8/5/21)

American League

Astros

• Yordan Alvarez is preparing to play some first base.

In addition to Bregman, the Astros were without starting first baseman Yuli Gurriel for the second game in a row Wednesday against the Dodgers while he deals with a stiff neck. With Gurriel out, Aledmys Díaz started both games at first base (instead of third) and Robel García started at third, which isn’t ideal.

Astros manager Dusty Baker admitted Wednesday having slugger Yordan Alvarez capable of playing first base, especially on days Gurriel isn’t available, would provide better roster flexibility. The Astros only started playing Alvarez in left field in the last couple of months after he began his career exclusively as a designated hitter.

He started the season with no position flexibility and now may start next season with two.

Mariners

• Jake Fraley will not play every day.

“It’s nice to have Jake [Fraley] back,’’ said Mariners manager Scott Servais. “We’ve missed him since he has been gone. As far as running Jake out there six, seven days in a row, you’re probably not going to see that happen. We’ll mix and match based on who we’re facing that night. D-Mo [Dylan Moore] will be in the lineup somewhere. He brings so much defensive versatility.’’

Since returning from the IL, he’s started two of three games while pinch-hitting and staying in the third game.

Royals

• Kris Bubic decided to just throw harder with good results.

“I just said, ‘Screw it,’” Bubic said following his team’s 7-1 loss to the White Sox. “I’m going to throw it as hard as I can.’”

Bubic was suddenly reaching 94-95 mph with his fastball, a pitch that’s averaged 90 mph for the lefty this year. And it threw the White Sox off balance: Bubic struck out seven of the 10 batters he faced in the final three innings and allowed just one to reach base on an infield single.

No lies detected.

His next start on Sunday should be monitored to see if he can keep the velocity up and the improved results.

Twins

• Jorge Polanco is finally healthy and hitting.

It’s mostly been positives for Polanco since his problematic right ankle — on which he underwent surgery in consecutive offseasons — resolved itself earlier this year. Even through a difficult 2020 season in which he hit .258/.304/.354 with only four homers, Polanco said his confidence never wavered.

It was only a matter of his body catching up again — and it very much has.

“The health aspect is just — it’s a very big deal,” Baldelli said. “It’s something that he’s struggled with over a long period of time, and now he’s feeling good, he’s feeling healthy and it’s allowing him to have the kinds of at-bats and swings and forceful swings that he’s capable of.”

It’s pretty easy to spot when he finally got healthy.

It’s just as obvious when looking at the month-to-month numbers from the last two years.

Month: OPS
2020
Jul: .714
Aug: .665
Sep: .625

2021
Apr: .555
May: .838
Jun: .833
Jul: .914
Aug: 1.357

Welcome back Jorge.

• Bailey Ober is trying for more rise on his fastball.

Following an up-and-down start to his big league career as he acclimated to the Major Leagues, Ober has settled down over his last three starts, allowing six earned runs in 14 1/3 innings, good for a 3.77 ERA. The 26-year-old relied heavily on his fastball as he struck out the side in the second inning and finished with six strikeouts and one walk in his 64-pitch appearance, with the only Cardinals run coming on a trio of fourth-inning singles.

“It’s been sinking where I want it to stay a little more straight, so I’ve been working between starts to get a little bit more of my carry back,” Ober said. “I feel like I had that a little bit more today and my last couple of outings, so I tried to take advantage of that.”

I figured his results would have been better when his fastball gets more rise, but the exact opposite has been true.

His four-seamer (32% GB%) has seen its vertical movement change quite a bit. I grouped the average game movements into 7.2″ to 7.8″  (sinking) and 8.1″ to 8.8″ (rising). Here are the game results.

While he is changing, he is not improving.

• Rocco Baldelli says that Alex Colomé is the closer.

Baldelli said that while Alex Colomé will continue to get closing chances in the bullpen, he plans on looking at a number of pitchers in that role. As a matter of fact, everyone could be called upon to save games.

“Alex is going to get a fair number of them, but honestly every other person in our bullpen could get one or more as well,” Baldelli said.

National League

Brewers

• Tyrone Taylor has earned more playing time.

In 71 plate appearances in July, Taylor had an impressive 1.019 OPS with three home runs and a whopping 48 percent hard-hit rate. On Sunday, he batted leadoff.

“He has earned the spots in the lineup and kind of forced us to put him in the lineup; he’s playing so well,” Counsell said. “And that’s a great way to do it.

Taylor has started 12 of the 14 games, but the quote might have been a kiss of death for him since he’s gone 0-for-20 in his last five games.

Phillies

• Chase Anderson is moving back to the starting rotation.

But after missing all of June and most of July on the COVID-19 list, Anderson tossed his first scoreless outing of the season on July 27 against the Nationals. Though he still needs to find more consistency on the mound, Anderson inspires more confidence on the mound than Velasquez.

First, Vince Velasquez (5.95 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 9.4 K/9) must be in the dog house if Chase Anderson is the answer.

Second, Chase Anderson has started throwing from two release points since spending over a month on the COVID-IL.

I’m not sure it matters, but I found it interesting. Additionally, he throwing his change (14% SwStr%) more (27% usage to 40%). But probably most importantly, his fastball velocity is now averaging under 90 mph.

Overall, the changes didn’t help him (3 ER, 1 K, and 1 BB in 4 IP) last night, but if he can build his strength back, he needs to be re-evaluated.