Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the baseball world this weekend…
1. Adam Jones honored in Baltimore:
The Orioles announced late last month that longtime Baltimore star Adam Jones will formally retire as a member of the O’s on Sept. 15. Jones will be honored in a pre-game at Camden Yards tonight, giving Baltimore fans that rooted him on as the heart and soul of many contending O’s clubs — and throughout his heroics for Team USA in the 2017 World Baseball Classic — to bid farewell to a franchise favorite. Jones made five All-Star teams, won four Gold Gloves and captured a Silver Slugger Award as an Oriole. From 2008-18, the center fielder played in 1613 games as an Oriole, batting .279/.319/.459 with 263 home runs and 90 steals. He helped fuel postseason runs in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and played a major role in the Orioles being one of the American League’s winningest teams during his peak years in Baltimore. Following an 11-year stretch with the O’s, Jones played a year with the D-backs (2019) and spent two seasons (2020-21) with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, but he’ll always be remembered as an Oriole.
2. Cy Young candidates on the hill:
There are still multiple viable Cy Young candidates in both the American League and National League, and this weekend’s slate of games will see several of them take the hill as they make one of their final cases for that hardware. Friday will see American League innings (187) and ERA (2.79) leader Gerrit Cole take the mound against his former team in Pittsburgh. Minnesota’s Sonny Gray, who ranks second in the AL with a 2.96 ERA, will take Sunday against the visiting White Sox. His teammate Pablo Lopez — fourth in innings pitched, seventh in ERA, second in strikeout rate and riding a blistering second-half hot streak (1.89 ERA) — will look to continue his own late bid Saturday against the ChiSox. Astros lefty Framber Valdez, second in innings (181 2/3) and fifth in ERA (3.32) will host the Royals on Sunday.
In the National League, Cubs lefty Justin Steele (2.49 ERA) will be on the bump for tonight’s game against the Diamondbacks. He ranks just 15th in the NL in innings pitched but is second to Blake Snell in ERA among qualified hurlers. Baseball’s innings leader, Logan Webb (193), could cross the 200-frame threshold today versus the Rockies and will look to drop his fifth-ranked 3.40 earned run average in an ominous Coors Field setting.
3. The wild NL Wild Card chase:
The National League Wild Card race is as tightly contested as it’s been at any point this season, with each of the D-backs, Reds and Giants in a three-way tie for the third and final spot. That trio of teams is 2.5 games behind the Cubs for the second spot. As it happens, the D-backs and Cubs are set to kick off a three-game series this weekend that’ll be particularly pivotal for Arizona, where the Diamondbacks’ playoff odds have dwindled after a torrid start to the season. A D-backs sweep could flip the script and catapult them into the second Wild Card spot, whereas a series defeat or sweep at the hands of the Cubs could be a backbreaker for their playoff hopes.
Both Cincinnati and San Francisco will take on teams with losing records, as the Reds play host to the Mets and the Giants visit the Rockies at Coors Field. San Francisco’s weekend series will be particularly notable with regard to the playoff race, as they’ll play a doubleheader tomorrow to make up for yesterday’s rainout.
The Marlins, meanwhile, are just half a game behind the Reds, D-backs and Giants — but they’re in for the toughest challenge in baseball this weekend as they tangle with a juggernaut Braves club that is currently 46 games over the .500 mark with a staggering +239 run differential.
There’s enough time left on the schedule that this weekend won’t completely determine the postseason field, but we’ve reached the point in the calendar where every series — in some cases every individual games — can swing the playoff odds in significant fashion.
Dbacks need to take 2/3 from the Cubs this weekend, but will have to do it without Gallen and Kelly who started the last two games in NY. That said, Gallen and Kelly haven’t been consistent of late.
>Gallen and Kelly haven’t been consistent of late.
Yeah, Gallen has been terrible in 3 out of his last 4 starts. 25 H and 17 ER in 15 2/3 innings. The other start was a 9 IP 3 H CG shutout, of course. He is already at 192 2/3 IP, which is his career high by 8 2/3 IP. Probably a bit worn out, they should be careful with him.
We couldn’t hit you guys the last time we played, so if I were you, I’d be optimistic about that matchuo, unfortunately, for us Cubs fans.
I’m really hoping Pfaadt can finally string together a few good outings. The rotation could not be in greater need.
The Mets are virtually eliminated, but they can make lives hell for the teams in front of them if they go on a tear down the stretch similar to what they just did to the D-Backs. They’ve got the Reds, Marlins, and Phillies the rest of the way. They could knock the Reds and Marlins out and force the Phillies out of hosting a wildcard series.
I’ve never understood this philosophy. I dont find any joy in trying to ruin another team’s chances to make the playoffs unless it’s a hardcore rival. If my team isn’t making the playoffs, I want my team to lose to improve our draft odds.
Halfway with you. I want to see the future, presumably when things could be better. If that means a few more losses, I don’t care much, but I don’t think I’d support deliberate tanking. Time is valuable, facing major league hitting (or pitching) is valuable for kids in the farm system.
It’s a fine line. I understand that your point is you disagree with the reason why teams are trying to win. However teams owe it to their fans to compete, even if they are out of contention. I’m not sure that I care why my team plays well, as long as they do. It’s brutal to host a team that clinches a playoff spot on your turf. In the end the goal of playing games is to win, and that’s what puts butts in the seats.
There are young players looking to impress for 2024. For the Mets, Vientos, Mauricio, Baty and DJ Stewart aren’t guaranteed anything for 2024. Ditto Peterson, Megill, Butto and Lucchesi in the rotation.
At this point, I suspect most Mets fans would be fine with DJ Stewart starting in right field on opening day 2024.
Agreed, but I think he’ll be a lefty DH/reserve outfielder. He will take Vogelbach’s roster spot since Marte will be back and Vogey will be non-tendered. Vogey just cost a little over $1M this year. Next year, he’d return to arbitration schedule.
I agree. The Mets have talented players on the roster and I think the fans should respect the Mets more when the players give it their all and win games. And how could the Mets not respect themselves (and each other) more when they compete hard and win games? Go Mets!
DJ Stewart is Quad A or bench fodder unfortunately
The MLB draft is a crapshoot, look at any years draft and see the many highly touted draft picks that never made it. Purposefully trying to lose, can’t imagine it. Play to win, everyday, no matter what!
I’m like a Javelin missile – anti-tank. I could not root for my team to lose. Besides, if the Mets have any desire to sign a player under a QO, getting a top-six pick is useless.
With a lottery to determine the #1 pick it doesn’t matter as much as it used to.
When I take my son to a game or watch one on tv, we want to see our team win. It doesn’t matter what the standings say.
Scouting and development will really improve draft odds.
You’re wrong Cincyfan85, you’re just plain wrong. Your opinion in this matter does not have to be respected because it is flat out blatantly wrong if you are any sort of baseball fan at all.
@phenomenalajs, the Mets sit six loses behind those WC teams, If they do to those teams what they did to the dbacks they may go into the off-season say 3 or 4 games out of the playoffs.
I believe Steele has the highest percentage of Quality Starts. The voters will give it to Snell
I wouldn’t say give it to snell like he doesn’t deserve it. Snell has many numbers that are greater than steeles. Snell has been on a historic run since the may 25th I believe. Something like a 1.6 era over around 20 straight starts. Steele has been great but snell has been better.
The Twins and Marlins pulled off something like a win-win trade. But I’d rather have Pablo Lopez. Particularly with how many infielders the Twins have on that roster.
Brian
Agree, especially since there is still time for the former Fish prospects to bloom with Twins.
Fish just need to get a better shortstop for next year.
Sonny Gray over Gerrit Cole for AL Cy Young? Thoughts?
Possible, but not probable. The ERA differential isn’t drastic (at this moment) but Cole has more innings pitched, fewer walks and more strikeouts. The one thing Gray has is an absurdly low 7 Home Runs allowed.
I think in the end it ends up going to Cole
Cole has the lock on it unless he pitches terrible in 2 of his 3 last starts or so….
Playoffs are a joke. In the Giants case, they have managed to fleece a majority of fans into accepting a .500 team as long as it makes the Wild Card. What a joke. Farhan makes a good puppet for this regime.
I think there’s a huge need for a superstar. They should be in the hunt for a #1 starter to go with Web and Harrison, along with a big bat like Ohtani etc…
Adam Jones for Erik Bedard still stings as a Mariners fan and it’s even worse when you realize the Mariners gave up even more in that deal.
Agreed…though even as an O’s fan I’ve always felt this was a bit misleading as one of the “biggest robbery” trades.
Bedard pitched really decent for the M’s when he was healthy and Tillman took like 3-4 years to become something useful for the O’s. Jones became an O’s icon no doubt…but if Bedard could have avoided the injury bug I think he would have made good on his half of the trade.
Tillman was more than “something useful”. When more talented guys like Brian Matuz, Jim Johnson and Zach Britton couldn’t cope as starters (all 3 eventually going to the bullpen), there was Tillman taking the bump every 5th game. Os didn’t have an ace during that 5 year run last decade. He was a 3/4 talent that Buck entrusted as his ace (when healthy). Loved that guy!
What do you guys have against Blake Snell? You hardly mention him for Cy Young even though he has a very good chance of winning it. You hardly mentioned him when you talked about the Padres and having a few players playing decent.
Snell 14 and 9 2.43 ERA 217 K’s 11.7 K’s per 9.
5th in wins
1st in ERA
10th in innings pitched
1st in hits per 9
2nd in K’ per 9
Snell has 93 walks or 5.0 per 9 IP. Some people think that disqualifies him immediately or something.
He has 111 hits allowed (plus 93 BB) in 167 IP for a 1.222 WHIP.
Tied for lead MLB in 6.0 Hits allowed per 9 IP.
Gallen has struggled lately. Webb is okay. People like Zack Wheeler for it.
I would vote for Snell.
Snell isn’t pitching this weekend, hence why he wasn’t mentioned. The segment is “Cy Young candidates on the hill,” and talks about which candidates are starting this weekend. If Snell was a probable, he would’ve been mentioned.
@Chris G. You’d think that part was obvious, but reading comprehension is lost on some…regrettably so.
This is correct. If I had to guess right now, I would call Snell the favorite — he’s just not going this weekend.
Reds play at New York.
Yes. And they hope to paint the town Red. 😉
I told everyone on this site two months ago that he would be the 8th pitcher EVER to potentially win Cy Young Awards in both leagues. They scoffed and guffawed.
Thanks for reminding us, briar-patch. I might not have been aware of your brilliant prognostication otherwise.
Acknowledged.
Shame that the Orioles game honoring Adam Jones is on something called Apple TV and not on the usual MASN station. Oh well get to watch the highlights on the Saturday pre game show
Call it Adam’s Apple TV. 😉
@Geotheo, yelling at the kids to stay off his lawn again.
Not really sure why Webb is in this conversation. Basically a .500 innings eater
He’s had a top 5 season for NL pitchers this year. Yes, he does eat innings and does not have a lot of shiny wins to his name. However, there is a tremendous amount of value in eating innings the way he does by not allowing runs. I think he’s valuable and worthy of consideration for the Cy Young award, but I don’t think he wins it under any circumstances (assuming nothing drastic) this year.
Webb has gotten the least run support of any starting pitcher in baseball.. Not only would his won-lost record look much better, but many of those runs on his ERA were runners he left on only to have Giants relievers allow them to score.
As Giants fan, I do not think he deserves the NL Cy Young, but he certainly deserves to be in the conversation.
Logan Webb—
July 22 he pitched 1.1 innings and gave up 6 earned runs. That was his only start where he threw less than 80 pitches in a start this year.
Completed less than 6 innings in all but 5 of his 30 starts.
Has an average of 3.3 runs per start of run support from his team’s offense.
Leads MLB with 1.4 BB/9IP, 193 IP, 1 shutout, and a 6.1 K/BB ratio.
Time ran out before I could finish editing my mistakes.
This should be—
Completed less than 6 innings in ONLY 5 of his 30 starts.
Does anyone think that Steele can actually win the Cy this year? He has a good record, although we all know that doesn’t mean a lot anymore. His ERA is very solid too.
Sure. I’d put him 2nd on my ballot right now.
Very interesting NL wild card race this season. Even though I’m rooting for the Reds to make it, Diamondbacks seem to have better chances. Marlins’ remaining schedule is tough and the Giants are a long shot.
Too many playoff spots. Mediocrity rewarded at the expense rewarding excellence.
If having to win a road series is a reward….
@Ken Jergins,
Did you really invoke the name of not one but two players from the 1800’s on a Board frequented by a majority of people who can’t recall who can’t recall a time there was no DH and few who know of the great Eddie Gaedel’s intimidating strike zone? lol
Well played. I learned a bit of history today from you.
Snell – He’s the first pitcher in MLB history to have a sub-1.50 ERA with 12.50+ K/9 over a 20-start span in a single season.
“Meanwhile” should ONLY start the sentence. It should NOT come in the middle. Don’t break up subject and verb if it isn’t absolutely necessary. Fire Adams.