Finishing the Job
After working at least six full innings in each of his first three starts of the 2020 season, Rangers’ ace Lance Lynn was limited to just five innings his last time out due to an elevated pitch count (109). He had his sights set on working much deeper on Friday -- and not even Coors Field was going to get in his way.
After striking out the side to end the eighth inning, Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward checked on his horse and Lynn simply responded by telling him “I’m finishing it”.
And that’s exactly what he did. Despite having closer Rafael Montero ready to go for the ninth, Lynn marched back out and mowed through the heart of the Rockies lineup -- retiring Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado in order to preserve a one-run lead and the Rangers’ victory.
Lynn finished the game at 110 pitches (73 strikes). He has now thrown between 102 and 110 pitches in each of his five starts this season. Workhorse.[[ad:athena]]
What’s even more impressive, is that Lynn allowed just two hits in the ballgame -- singles to Garrett Hampson and Trevor Story to lead off the first inning. A pair of ground outs that followed allowed the Rangers to scratch out their first run.
Those would be the only baserunners that the Rockies would have until the sixth inning, where they utilized a pair of errors to push another run across.
Lynn didn’t walk a batter in the ballgame while striking out five. It’s just the ninth time in this history of Coors Field that a pitcher has allowed two or fewer hits in a nine-inning complete game.
The suddenly red-hot Rangers have now won six of their last seven games -- pulling even at the .500 mark (9-9) for the first time since the opening weekend of the season. Lynn has been a huge part of that.
He has been on another level this season, posting a 3-0 record, 1.11 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 36/12 K/BB ratio across 32 ⅓ innings. If Coors Field can’t stop him, perhaps nothing can. He’ll look to extend his dominance when he takes on the Padres in San Diego on Wednesday.
Connect Four
Blue Jays’ 22-year-old wonderkid Bo Bichette has been earning plenty of accolades in his young career -- both at the plate and in the field. On Friday, it was his powerful right-handed bat that was getting the attention.
Bichette blasted a three-run homer off of Aaron Loup in the sixth inning, marking the fourth consecutive game in which he had left the yard. Also in doing so, he became the first shortstop in big league history (or at least since the advent of the RBI in 1920) to tally an extra-base hit and an RBI in seven consecutive games.
Blue Jays’ manager Charlie Montoyo certainly seemed impressed, telling reporters afterwards “I think we’re watching a star in the making… That’s what I’m watching. I love the potential. I love his intensity. For a young kid, he’s a leader. To do what he’s doing, it’s awesome. That’s what stars do.”
In all, the Blue Jays blasted six home runs in their victory over the Rays, with Teoscar Hernandez (2), Randal Grichuk, Rowdy Tellez and Cavan Biggio joining in on the fun. If you’re counting at home, that makes a total of 14 round-trippers that the Jays have slugged in their first three games playing in Buffalo.
Bichette finished the night 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and is now slashing a scintillating .356/.387/.678 to go along with five homers, 13 RBI and four stolen bases. Not too shabby for a 22-year-old.
Bichette wasn’t the only player who homered for the fourth straight game on Friday though. Angels’ prized free agent addition Anthony Rendon accomplished the feat himself with a no-doubter to break up Clayton Kershaw’s no-hit bid in the fifth inning.
Rendon -- who had gone deep the last time that he faced Kershaw as well in Game 5 of last season’s National League Division Series --- also drew a pair of walks against him in the game, making him the only Angels’ hitter to reach base against the start southpaw.
Kershaw even joked about it after the game, quipping “I’ll get Rendon out one of these days, I guess… Other than that, it was a good night.”
The Angels’ team record for consecutive games with a home run is five -- accomplished by Bobby Bonds in 1977. Rendon will have his eyes on that one when he squares off against Walker Buehler on Saturday night.
After a miserably-slow start to the season in which Rendon was hitting just .103/.364/.205 with one homer and four RBI though his first 12 games, he has now collected six hits over his last four games to raise that slash up to .192/.425/.500.
Aces Scratched
Two-time reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom was scratched from his scheduled start against the Phillies on Friday.
Most assumed that it would be due to a bothersome blister on his right middle finger that he dealt with during his last start. While he was able to pitch through that issue his last time out, he wasn’t as sharp as he usually is -- giving up two runs on seven hits and a pair of walks over five innings in a victory over the Marlins.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported however that it was actually neck tightness that held deGrom out of this one.
The good news is that he plans on playing catch on Saturday and is hoping to throw a bullpen session on Sunday or Monday. That would mean that deGrom expects to miss just this one start.
Still, it’s a tough break for fantasy players in weekly leagues as they’re forced to take a zero in that roster spot for this week.
When on the hill, deGrom has been as good as ever this season, posting a 2-0 record, 2.45 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 28/5 K/BB ratio over 22 innings through his first four starts.
The Athletics also had their ace scratched from his scheduled start on Friday, as Frankie Montas was pulled from his start against the Giants due to tightness in his upper back.
Jesus Luzardo -- who had been scheduled to start on Saturday -- slid up a day and pitched (rather ineffectively) on regular rest in his place.
It’s unclear if that means Montas will be ready to go in Luzardo’s place on Saturday, or if he’ll need to be pushed back even further. If he’s unable to go on Saturday, Sean Manaea is likely to slide up from Sunday.
The 27-year-old hurler has been fantastic through four starts with the Athletics this season, posting a 1.57 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22/9 K/BB ratio across 23 innings of work. Any extended absence would be a major blow to both the A’s and to fantasy players.
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Yikes for Yates
Padres’ closer Kirby Yates was forced to leave Friday’s appearance against the Dodgers after throwing just six pitches due to right elbow soreness.
He’s scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday.
Yates -- who hadn’t pitched since August 7 due to back soreness -- felt strong while warming up on Friday, but lasted just six pitches into his outing before he was escorted off by the training staff. Padres manager Jayce Tingler said that more information will be known after Saturday’s exam, but the club expects to be without Yates for at least the next couple of days.
Drew Pomeranz looks to be the biggest beneficiary of an extended absence for Yates, though Emilio Pagan and Craig Stammen could see save situations as well.
Teaching a Lesson
The Indians activated right-handers Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac from the restricted list on Friday, then in a surprising move optioned both of them to the team’s alternate training site.
Both players violated MLB’s health and safety protocols by going out last weekend while in Chicago and then lied to the Indians about their poor decisions.
Both pitchers drove to Detroit individually - with their gear - on Thursday to meet up with the Indians for the start of their three-game weekend set against the Tigers. On Friday, the Indians had a team meeting where they allowed Clevinger, Plesac and anyone else who wanted to speak their minds, the opportunity to do so.
Indians’ skipper Terry Francona also indicated to reporters that he had seen Plesac’s controversial Instagram post and was “disappointed”.
The Indians did say that both Clevinger and Plesac will stay on their regular throwing schedules while at the alternate training site. At this point though, it’s not clear when either hurler will join the Indians’ rotation.
American League Quick Hits: Ramon Laureano’s suspension was reduced from six to four games upon appeal. He began serving his suspension on Friday and will be eligible to return on Tuesday… Aaron Judge was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to August 12, with a right calf strain… Charlie Morton (shoulder) played catch without issue on Thursday and is slated to throw off a mound on Saturday or Sunday. If all goes well, he could rejoin the Rays’ rotation next week... Yonny Chirinos (triceps) is expected to rejoin the Rays’ rotation on Sunday against the Blue Jays… Rich Hill (shoulder) threw 60 pitches at the Twins’ alternate training site on Friday and is pushing to return to the Twins’ rotation as soon as possible… Michael Brantley (quad) remained out of the Astros’ lineup on Friday. He’s still considered day-to-day… Reynaldo Lopez threw a two-inning bullpen session on Friday as he works his way back from a strained shoulder… John Means is tentatively scheduled to start for the Orioles on Sunday -- provided he makes it through the intake testing process again without any issues -- after a stint on the bereavement list… Jordan Zimmermann (forearm) threw a bullpen session on Friday for the first time since being shut down during Summer Camp…Ken Giles (forearm) played catch without issue on Friday and is still aiming to return this season… Rangers’ catcher Robinson Chirinos landed on the 10-day injured list with a sore left ankle… Greg Bird elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Rangers… Josh Donaldson (calf) “had a good day” in his rehab on Friday, but is still feeling some soreness. His return doesn’t appear imminent… Yusei Kikuchi was scratched from his scheduled start against the Astros on Friday due to neck spasms. Nestor Cortes started in his place and was pummeled by the Astros.
Brandon Lowe smacked his sixth home run and drove in three in a loss to the Blue Jays… Teoscar Hernandez clubbed a pair of long balls -- and now has seven on the season -- as the Jays rolled in that one… Niko Goodrum homered and stole a base as the Tigers fell to the Indians… Franmil Reyes blasted a two-run homer off of Ivan Nova in that one that’s still going… Alex Verdugo clubbed his fourth homer as the Red Sox fell to the Yankees… Gerrit Cole improved to 4-0 on the season -- and won his 20th consecutive decision -- with seven innings of one-run ball against the Red Sox… Nick Solak homered and doubled twice as the Rangers topped the Rockies in Colorado… Anthony Santander took Stephen Strasburg deep as the Orioles fell to the Nationals… Nestor Cortes was obliterated in an emergency start against the Astros, giving up eight runs (seven earned) in just ⅓ of an inning… Yordan Alvarez homered in his first at-bat of the season and drove in four runs to lead the Astros’ attack in the rout… Framber Valdez fanned five over six innings of one-run ball in an easy victory there… Justin Upton went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts in a loss to the Dodgers and is slashing a putrid .107/.190/.214… Jesus Luzardo was roughed up for six runs over 3 ⅓ innings against the Giants… Stephen Piscotty slugged a grand slam during a five-run rally in the ninth inning as the A’s came from behind to beat the Giants.
National League Quick Hits: Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that an unnamed Reds’ player has tested positive for COVID-19. It’s likely that Saturday’s game against the Pirates will be postponed, though no official announcement has been made yet… Nationals’ third baseman Starlin Castro suffered a broken right wrist while diving for a ball during the resumption of Sunday’s suspended game. 20-year-old Luis Garcia was recalled from the team’s taxi squad as a corresponding move, and responded with an RBI double in his MLB debut on Friday… Stephen Strasburg left Friday’s start with a recurrence of the nerve issue that has plagued him for most of the season. A return trip to the injured list is not out of the question… Phillies’ rookie right-hander Spencer Howard left his start early on Friday due to a blister on his right middle finger. He’s expected to have his next start pushed back a day or two… Cal Quantrill will start for the Padres on Saturday against the Diamondbacks… Logan Morrison elected free agency after refusing an outright assignment to the Brewers’ alternate training site. He was designated for assignment earlier in the week… Cardinals’ outfield coach Willie McGee opted out of the remainder of the 2020 season, but will continue to help the team’s outfielders from home… Jeff McNeil sat out Friday’s game with a bone contusion on his left knee. He’s considered day-to-day… Kris Bryant sat out another game on Friday with a sore hand. He’s considered day-to-day and expected to return before the end of the weekend… Ryan Braun (finger) is expected to return to the Brewers’ lineup on Saturday or Sunday… Tyler Chatwood was scratched from his scheduled start on Friday with mid-back tightness. There’s a chance he’ll be ready to go on Monday… Alex Young will start for the Diamondbacks on Saturday against the Padres… Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that catcher Will Smith (neck) may require a trip to the injured list.
Nick Castellanos clubbed his eighth home run of the year and Jesse Winker had a double dong night as the Reds took care of the Pirates… Sonny Gray struck out 10 over 6 ⅔ innings in that one… Chad Kuhl fanned six in a losing effort… Dominic Smith homered for the third straight game as the Mets fell to the Phillies. Smith now leads the team in homers (5) and RBI (14)... J.T. Realmuto socked his eighth dinger of the season -- a three-run blast -- as the Phillies rallied to beat the Mets. The Phillies would be wise to lock that man up ASAP… Bryce Harper delivered the eventual walk-off RBI single to end that one… Hector Neris blew his second straight save chance, but was credited with a victory after the Phillies rallied in the home half of the ninth… Travis d’Arnaud smacked his third home run of the year in a loss to the Marlins… Pablo Lopez was terrific in that one, racking up a career-best eight strikeouts over six innings of two-run baseball… Ryan Castellani punched out seven over 4 ⅔ innings of one-run baseball in a no-decision against the Rangers... Alec Mills -- who had his start pushed up a day -- fanned seven in a losing effort against the Brewers… Christian Yelich crushed a go-ahead three-run shot in the sixth that proved to be the difference in that one… Trea Turner went 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in a lopsided victory over the Orioles… Clayton Kershaw surrendered just one run -- on one hit -- over seven strong innings in a victory over the Angels… Cody Bellinger smacked a pair of home runs to lead the Dodgers in that one… Dinelson Lamet struck out eight over six innings of one-run ball in a tough-luck loss against the Diamondbacks… Merrill Kelly hurled 6 ⅔ innings of shutout baseball while striking out seven in a victory over the Padres… Trevor Gott surrendered five runs -- including a pair of home runs -- while recording just one out in a disaster against the Athletics.
