Sandy Alcantara is hungry, and the only thing that will satiate his hunger is more innings. Going into Tuesday. Alcantara leads the major leagues in innings pitched with 115 1/3 strong innings, all while maintaining a strong ERA, lowered in Tuesday’s outing to 1.82. The 26-year-old righty hurled eight strong innings versus an unfamiliar Angels lineup, giving up just two hits, and striking out 10.
18 swings and misses capstoned Alcantara’s amazing outing, 10 of them from the changeup. The offspeed pitch also garnered six called strikes, good for a 44% CSW (called strikes plus whiffs) on that pitch. His sinker was also good for seven called strikes, contributing to a mighty filling 33% CSW on his pitches overall.
Alcantara looked strong all throughout Tuesday’s outing, hitting 101 MPH on his 106th pitch. According to @codifybaseball, no other starter has thrown faster than 99.1 MPH after the seventh inning this season. Alcantara has now gone seven plus innings in 11 straight starts, and the only thing that will assuage the Marlins ace’s hunger is more innings. The righty also has eight outings this season of at least eight innings pitched; no other pitcher in the major leagues has more than three outings this season.
One of the best pitchers in baseball, Alcantara improves to a 9-3 record on the season, accompanied by a strong 1.82 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 107 strikeouts.
Hitters with an EDGE
Cedric Mullins vs. Rangers
3-for-4, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Mullins’ walk-off double was the cherry on top for this otherwise strong performance at the plate. A two-out line drive plated Ryan McKenna, thus sealing the win for the Orioles. He’s now batting .309 with 12 doubles and 18 RBI, since June 1.
Seiya Suzuki vs. Brewers
2-for-5, HR, R
Suzuki’s two-run blast put the Cubs up 4-2 in the fifth inning. He now has four hits (including two home runs) and four RBI in two games since returning from the injured list after being sidelined with a finger injury.
Alex Kirilloff vs. White Sox
3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Kirilloff’s two homer night came at the expense of two pitchers: he first went deep of Michael Kopech in the fourth inning for a solo shot, and later victimized Vince Velasquez for a two-run bomb to contribute to the Twins’ 8-2 victory over the White Sox. Beyond tonight’s two homer show, he’s hit a grand total of three home runs in 99 plate appearances thus far.
Pitchers with an EDGE
Max Scherzer vs. Reds
6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 11 K
He’s back, and better than ever. A very strong start from the veteran who returned from the injured list, with 11 strikeouts to match his season high. What a long journey to return to the Mets for Scherzer, who was sidelined with an oblique strain and later a dog bite on his pitching hand. He finished the evening with an absolutely ridiculous 44% CSW, the slider cashing in with seven whiffs and seven called strikes. He ended up with the no decision as the Mets lineup came up empty handed against Reds pitching.
José Quintana vs. Yankees
5 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 7 K
The veteran southpaw staved off a difficult Yankees lineup to keep the Pirates in the game. He threw 96 pitches, 60 of them for strikes, including 10 swings and misses, five on the fastball. Quintana now has a 3.33 ERA and 74 strikeouts over 81 innings pitched this year.
Closing Time
Rafael Montero vs. Royals (sixth save)
1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Call me by your name. Montero gave up a leadoff triple to Whit Merrifield; he was plated by Andrew Benintendi, which shorted the Astros’ lead to two runs. Montero was able to get Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino to strike out to end the game.
David Bednar vs. Yankees (13th save)
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
The 27-year-old tossed a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his 13th save. He threw 15 pitches, 11 of them for strikes in this outing; he’s now converted 13 out of 16 save opportunities.
Tanner Scott vs. Angels (10th save)
1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K
A tense save opportunity. The Marlins closer gave up a run, but was still able to lock down the save after a strong start from Sandy Alcantara. He gave up a single to Michael Stefanic, then two walks to Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. He finished the save opportunity by getting Jared Walsh to line out.
Lou Trivino vs. Blue Jays (sixth save)
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Trivino’s sixth save capped off with striking out Vladimir Guerrero, Jr, then getting Matt Chapman to fly out. A single surrendered to Raimel Tapia halted things for a moment, but a Santiago Espinal groundout ended the game, and solidified the win for the A’s.
Brusdar Graterol vs. Rockies (second save)
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
With Craig Kimbrel considered day-to-day for the time being, Graterol can expect to pick up some save opportunities for the Dodgers in Kimbrel’s stead. He only gave up a single to Ryan McMahon, but otherwise finished the Rockies in 15 pitches, throwing 12 of them for strikes.
Priority Pickup
Eduardo Escobar - INF, New York Mets - Rostered in 50% of Yahoo Leagues
We all know about the rejuvenating confidence that a new outfit can bring. In Escobar’s case, getting a new belt has somehow enabled a burst of power in a short amount of time. He’s homered in 3 straight games since donning his new accessory. His homer streak was broken on July 4, but he still went 1-for-5 at the dish, with an RBI single. In his last seven games, he’s slashing .222/.250/.556 including those three homers, eight RBI, and one walk drawn.
Wednesday’s Matchup of the Day
Joe Ryan (6-3, 3.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 60 K) vs. Lance Lynn (1-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 22 K)
Ryan had one of his best starts of the season on Friday night, against the Orioles where he allowed just two hits, walked one, and struck out seven. Velocity and command were his greatest assets in that start. With 90 career strikeouts, Ryan set a new franchise record for the most strikeouts through a pitcher’s first 17 career games.
As for his opponent, Lynn: he made his fourth start of the season Friday after returning from the injured list. He kept the Giants scoreless for six innings, and was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Tommy La Stella to strike out swinging. Lynn is still working himself back into form after his injured list stint.
American League Quick Hits
Nathan Eovaldi (back) threw a live batting practice session on Tuesday at Fenway Park. … Twins placed RHP Chris Archer on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 2, with left hip tightness. … Anthony Rizzo was scratched from the Yankees’ lineup Tuesday due to lower back stiffness. … Chris Taylor has been diagnosed with a small fracture in his left foot. … Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said he expects that Wily Peralta (hamstring) will require a 15-day IL stint. … X-rays turned up negative for any fractures in Bobby Witt Jr.‘s right hand. … There was no update Tuesday on the status of Frankie Montas’ right shoulder.
National League Quick Hits
Freddy Peralta (shoulder) progressed to throwing off a mound last Friday. … Reds transferred RHP Tony Santillan from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. … Reds activated OF Tyler Naquin from the 10-day injured list. … Giants placed C Curt Casali on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. … Kyle Hendricks left his start Tuesday against the Brewers due to right shoulder soreness.
