On Friday, the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to get to 20 victories on the season. They now sit atop the National League at 20-8, a full four games ahead of the Padres in the National League West with just two more games to go until they reach the halfway point of this sprint season.
They seem to be finding new ways to win each and every night, and this particular victory was no different -- and perhaps of paramount importance. It was a dominant pitching performance by 26-year-old right-hander Walker Buehler.
Now Buehler entered the season as one of the top starting pitchers in all of baseball, so the fact that he’s dominating shouldn’t come as a big surprise. The problem is, that through his first four starts, he was rather pedestrian -- registering a 5.21 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 17/9 K/BB ratio across 19 innings. He hadn’t struck out more than six batters in any outing and had yet to complete six innings in any of his starts.
That all changed on Friday. Buehler racked up a season-high 11 strikeouts while allowing just one run on four hits over six innings of work. He didn’t walk a batter in the game, throwing 67 of his 92 pitches for strikes. In fact, aside from Charlie Blackmon‘s single in the fourth inning, he didn’t allow a baserunner through the first five innings.[[ad:athena]]
Afterwards, Buehler credited watching Clayton Kershaw dominate in Thursday’s start with giving him more confidence, “Any game that he pitches, there’s stuff that all of us that are younger can pick up on... His aggressiveness, his ability to own the 0-0 count, throw his other stuff in at any time. What he wants, and to do what he wants with it. I don’t know if it’s necessarily watching him do it. I think he’s proving he’s one of the best ever and does those things how you’re supposed to do. But I think reminding yourself, that’s how it’s supposed to be done, is a big thing, and I did a better job of that tonight.”
With one of the deepest and strongest all-around offensive attacks in all of baseball -- and a lockdown bullpen -- the Dodgers were already considered one of the favorites to win the World Series in 2020. With Buehler and Kershaw both pitching like the dual aces that they are -- they are certainly a force to be reckoned with.
Go-Ahead Grannies
Facing the Cleveland Indians has been a house of horrors for the Detroit Tigers dating back to last season. In fact -- entering play on Friday -- the Tigers had dropped 20 consecutive games against their division rival. Twenty.
So naturally, the feeling in the Tigers’ dugout -- and certainly among the fan base -- had to be one of impending doom again on Friday night as the Indians jumped out to an early 5-0 lead through the first three innings.
Only then, something new and exciting happened. After Adam Plutko had limited the Tigers to just one hit through the first three innings, all hell broke loose in the fourth. After Victor Reyes was retired to start the inning, Miguel Cabrera drew a one-out walk to get things started. Jonathan Schoop then clubbed his sixth home run of the season to make it a 5-2 ballgame.
Plutko then plunked Jeimer Candelario and allowed a single to JaCoby Jones. After Jorge Bonifacio walked to load the bases, Andrew Romine lined an RBI single into right field to make it a 5-3 contest. That’s when rookie Isaac Paredes strode to the dish.
The 21-year-old rookie -- who debuted on Monday -- had just one hit in nine at-bats through his first three big league games. That one hit though, had come with the bases loaded in his debut, a two-run single that he blooped into left field.
Perhaps it’s something about the bases being full that brings out the best in him. On Friday, he fouled off a tough 1-2 offering from Adam Plutko before clobbering a go-ahead grand slam over the wall in left field to give the Tigers a 7-5 lead that they would never relinquish.
It was his only hit in the contest -- as he struck out in each of his other three at-bats to finish the night 1-for-4 -- but it’ll be a night that the rookie third baseman will never forget.
Paredes wasn’t the only player who hit a clutch go-ahead grand slam on Friday night though. Matt Davidson was single-handedly responsible for defeating the Cardinals.
The Reds trailed 2-0 entering the sixth inning, but started to mount a two-out rally against left-hander Genesis Cabrera. It all began when the Cardinals made a pair of errors on a fly ball hit by Eugenio Suarez. Cabrera then walked Mike Moustakas and hit Phillip Ervin, loading the bases.
The Cardinals opted to make a pitching change at that point -- bringing in another left-hander in Tyler Webb. That’s when Reds’ skipper David Bell called upon his lefty-masher -- even though Davidson hadn’t seen at at-bat since August 11. He didn’t disappoint.
After getting ahead in the count 2-0, Davidson absolutely obliterated a ball deep into the left field stands. His blast had an exit velocity of 113.1 mph -- making it the hardest hit ball by any Reds’ hitter this season. It traveled an estimated 449 feet.
While he has been used sparingly, Davidson has been a valuable cog in the Reds’ lineup this season, slashing .286/.348/.762 with three homers and 10 RBI in only 21 at-bats.
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Phixing the Bullpen
There have been a lot of rough days for the Phillies bullpen this season, but Thursday’s doubleheader may have been the final straw.
In the first game of the twin-bill, the Phillies carried a two-run lead into the sixth inning. Tommy Hunter surrendered the tying run in the sixth while Deolis Guerra allowed the winning run -- albeit unearned -- in the seventh.
To get the bad taste out of their mouths from the first game debacle, the Phillies jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. Surely that would be safe -- right?
Wrong. They carried a 7-2 lead into the sixth inning of that one. Starter Vince Velasquez pitched into the sixth and was responsible for the first two runs scoring, but the bullpen took it on the chin from there. Connor Brogdon allowed a pair of runs while recording only one out, then closer Hector Neris gave up three more -- though again his were unearned.
As a team, the Phillies bullpen owns an 8.07 ERA -- far and away the worst in all the land. The next closest is the Reds at 6.17. The Phillies bullpen also owns the highest home run rate (2.09 / 9 innings) and as a team they have recorded only two saves all season.
Something needed to be done.
So on Friday, the Phillies went out and acquired some help. Early in the afternoon, they swung a deal with the Yankees to pick up right-hander David Hale in exchange for minor league right-hander Addison Russ. The 32-year-old was a dependable arm for the Yankees in 2019 and owned a 3.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 7/3 K/BB ratio over six innings. He should help out in the middle innings.
Later in the day they made a deal with the Red Sox that brought even more help. They sent Nick Pivetta and minor league right-hander Connor Seabold to Boston in exchange for Red Sox’ closer Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree -- along with cash considerations (necessary to keep the Phillies below the luxury tax threshold).
Workman is the big get for the Phillies, as he should slot in as the team’s closer with Hector Neris deferring to a setup role -- though it’s possible that they use Workman in the eighth inning instead and keep Neris in the ninth. He’s also a rental, as he’s set to hit free agency at the end of the season.
Workman had one of the best seasons in big league history in 2019, going 10-1 with a 1.88 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while saving 16 games for the Red Sox in 2019 and he has converted all four of his save chances so far this season -- even though he owns an inflated 1.80 WHIP.
The Phillies also get Hembree in the deal -- a hard-throwing right-hander who figures to operate in some sort of setup capacity as a bridge to Workman (or Neris). The 31-year-old hurler hasn’t been at his best this season either though, posting a 5.59 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 10/3 K/BB ratio over 9 2/3 innings.
While it may not work out in correcting all of the issues in the Phillies’ bullpen, certainly adding three talented arms isn’t going to hurt the cause.
From a fantasy perspective though, the two big winners that come out of this deal are both on the side of the Red Sox.
With Workman moving on, all of a sudden there’s an opening in the ninth inning for the Red Sox. Matt Barnes was already the most logical candidate to take over there, and now it seems like it’s a certainty after he locked down a save against the Orioles on Friday night.
Barnes hasn’t been great this season -- posting a 5.06 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 12/8 K/BB ratio over 10 2/3 innings, but it’s really two bad outings against the Yankees that are dragging down his overall numbers. He shouldn’t face much competition for saves and should be owned in all mixed leagues at this point.
The other big winner in the deal is Nick Pivetta. Always high on promise and low on results, Pivetta moves to a dream situation in terms of job security. He should get the ball every fifth day for the Red Sox and have a chance to pile up strikeouts -- regardless of the results. Fantasy players who have room to gamble with their ratios a bit should definitely have interest.
In three games out of the Phillies’ bullpen this season, he posted a 15.88 ERA and 1.94 WHIP over 5 2/3 innings of work. The 27-year-old hurler owns a career 9.6 K/9 mark across 396 1/3 big league innings. Those type of strikeout totals can be difficult to find on the waiver wire.
American League Quick Hits: James Paxton was diagnosed with a flexor strain in his left arm -- and while it’s good news that the UCL is unaffected -- Paxton still may miss the remainder of the 2020 season... Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Yonny Chirinos’ elbow injury is season-ending and he will need Tommy John surgery... The Orioles recalled top prospect Ryan Mountcastle from their alternate training site... The Rays will call up Josh Fleming to make his major league debut Sunday versus the Blue Jays... Salvador Perez landed on the 10-day injured list with left eye central serous chorioretinopathy... The Yankees placed Gleyber Torres on the 10-day injured list with Grade 1 strains of his left quad and left hamstring... Yoan Moncada was held out of the White Sox lineup on Friday because the club is “managing his legs,” manager Rick Renteria said... Evan White (knee) remained out of the Mariners’ lineup on Friday after leaving Wednesday’s game when he fouled a ball off of his knee... Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Aaron Judge (calf) should be ready to play whenever the team returns to action... Dylan Moore was scratched from the Mariners’ lineup Friday with a wrist issue. He’s considered day-to-day... Michael Brantley (quad) is unlikely to return from the injured list when first eligible on Saturday... Angels’ shortstop Andrelton Simmons returned from the injured list on Friday... Jake Odorizzi was forced to leave Friday’s start after being drilled in the chest by a line drive. He’s considered day-to-day.
Yandy Diaz went 3-for-3, homered, walked twice and scored a pair of runs as the Rays fell to the Blue Jays... Jordan Romero picked up his first career save, allowing only the inherited runner to score in the 10th... Cavan Biggio went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI as the Blue Jays topped the Rays in 10 innings... Colten Brewer fired four scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Orioles... Rafael Devers remained hot -- socking a three-run homer to lead the Red Sox to victory in that one... Cedric Mullins had three hits -- including a homer -- in a losing effort there... Jose Abreu homered twice as the White Sox walloped the Cubs... Eloy Jimenez smacked his ninth tater of the season in that one... Luis Robert (hand) returned to action by crushing a two-run homer against the Cubs... Dallas Keuchel hurled eight innings of one-run baseball to earn a victory over the Cubs... Kyle Lewis continued his impressive 2020 campaign with a homer, two walks and three runs scored in a victory over the Rangers... Danny Santana clubbed his first home run in a losing effort there... Anthony Rendon went 4-for-5 and drove in a run in a losing effort against the Athletics... Stephen Piscotty had two hits and drove in three to lead the A’s offense in that one... Hunter Dozier homered and drove in three runs in a victory over the Twins... Danny Duffy fanned six over five innings of one-run baseball to defeat the Twins.
National League Quick Hits: The Mets entire weekend series against the Yankees was postponed after there were a pair of positive COVID-19 tests in the organization (one player, one staff)... Stephen Strasburg has been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in his right hand -- with season-ending surgery one possibility on the table to address the issue... Padres’ closer Drew Pomeranz landed on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder strain. Emilio Pagan is expected to see the bulk of the action in the ninth inning while he’s sidelined... Howie Kendrick missed his sixth straight game on Friday due to a sore hamstring... The Marlins got reinforcements on Friday with Jorge Alfaro, Richard Bleier and Miguel Rojas returning... Phillies left-hander Jose Alvarez landed on the injured list with a testicular contusion. Ouch... Drew Smyly (finger) hopes to begin throwing off a mound next week... Ronald Acuna (wrist) is slated to resume swinging a bat on Saturday. If all goes well, he could be close to a return... Ozzie Albies (wrist) has yet to resume swinging a bat since feeling soreness while swinging Monday. There’s no timetable for his return... Kris Bryant (wrist) remained out of the Cubs’ lineup Friday... The Giants granted Yolmer Sanchez his unconditional release, allowing him to explore opportunities elsewhere... Will Smith (neck) is targeting a return to the Dodgers on Sunday... Madison Bumgarner (back) is scheduled to throw a 70-pitch simulated game on Sunday... Keone Kela was pulled from Friday’s appearance against the Brewers due to tightness in his forearm... Austin Slater is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday after leaving Friday’s game against the Angels in the first inning due to a left groin strain.
Trea Turner slugged his fifth home run of the year as the Nationals fell to the Marlins... Elieser Hernandez was terrific in that one, striking out six over five innings of two-run baseball... Miguel Rojas returned to the lineup with a bang, blasting a three-run homer to power the Marlins to victory... Christian Yelich swatted his seventh home run in a loss to the Pirates... Chad Kuhl picked up his first victory since 2018 with five innings of one-run ball against the Brewers -- though he disappointingly only struck out one... Bryan Reynolds went 3-for-4 with a homer, three runs scored and four RBI to lead the charge in that one... Jon Lester was blasted for eight runs — including four homers — over 3 2/3 innings in a loss to the White Sox... Cristian Pache went 1-for-4 with a single and two strikeouts in his major league debut Friday against the Phillies... Marcell Ozuna homered twice and plated four runs as the Braves routed the Phillies... Christian Walker collected four hits in a loss to the Giants... Logan Webb piled up eight strikeouts over seven innings of two-run ball to beat the Diamondbacks... Wilmer Flores went 2-for-3, homered and scored three runs as the Giants topped the D’Backs... Emilio Pagan recorded his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth against the Astros... Manny Machado had two hits and two RBI to pace the Friars offense in that one... Raisel Iglesias rebounded from Thursday’s disaster with a scoreless ninth inning to earn a save against the Cardinals... Dakota Hudson struck out six over 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Astros.
