Here are a few things we’ll be watching around Major League Baseball today:
1. Another Braves outfielder exits with hamstring trouble:
On the same day that Braves center fielder Michael Harris II returned from a two-month stay on the IL with a hamstring strain, left fielder Jorge Soler exited due to hamstring soreness after running out a ground ball in the top of the fourth.
According to David O’Brien of The Athletic, manager Brian Snitker described the injury as “tightness” rather than a more worrisome strain, while Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution notes that Snitker “didn’t sound too concerned.” However, Soler’s own post-game comments seemed a little more ominous. When asked if he was worried about a stint on the IL, the outfielder told reporters, “To be honest, I don’t know” (per Toscano). Ultimately, no one will know the severity of Soler’s injury until he gets an MRI, which he is set to undergo today (per Toscano). That said, the Braves wouldn’t be sending him for a scan if they didn’t have any concerns. After all, it was only a few days ago that Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. downplayed the severity of an injury, only for an MRI to reveal a left elbow sprain and land him on the 10-day IL.
Soler has four home runs, 11 RBI, and a .978 OPS in 13 games since joining the Braves ahead of the trade deadline. His hot hitting has been reminiscent of the last time he came to Atlanta in a midseason trade; he hit 14 home runs with an .882 OPS down the stretch in 2021, before helping the Braves to a World Series title and winning World Series MVP honors.
2. Riley Greene to begin rehab assignment:
In more hamstring-related injury news, Tigers All-Star outfielder Riley Greene will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo today. He is working his way back from a hamstring strain he suffered in late July (per the Tigers, via Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic). The Tigers are hoping to have him back before the end of the month (per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News).
The 23-year-old enjoyed a tremendous first half with Detroit, slashing .272/.364/.503 with 17 home runs and 50 RBI through the All-Star break. He’ll look to pick up where he left off over the final weeks of the season. Meanwhile, the Tigers will be pleased to have their star hitter back in the lineup, even as they continue to slip further out of contention in the AL Wild Card race. They have gone 7-10 since Greene last took the field.
3. Dominic Leone exits with elbow soreness:
White Sox reliever Dominic Leone exited yesterday’s game with right elbow soreness, the team told reporters (including James Fegan of Sox Machine). He is set to undergo further testing today, after which the team will presumably provide an update on his status. As Fegan points out, Leone has already missed significant time with elbow trouble this season. Previously, he missed the end of the 2022 campaign with inflammation in his pitching elbow. The 32-year-old journeyman has a 6.63 ERA and 5.09 SIERA in 19 innings of work in 2024.
Ominous? How do you get that from “TBH, I don’t know.” Jorge knows what he doesn’t know.
Just cannot get past Duvall, smh.
Jorge is not a doctor nor does he play one on TV. Doubt he stayed in a Holiday Inn recently either.
That’s my point.
I love Riley Greene and think he should be a Tiger for life. But his health concerns me. Aside from the multiple injuries in his young career, the way he runs looks like he is favoring his lower back or lower legs, as if he’s trying to minimize the impact of his feet hitting the ground.
To avoid him becoming Fred Lynn or Grady Sizemore, I wouldn’t mind him getting some reps at 1B in spring training.
Especially if the Tigers sign Juan Soto. 🙂
Tigers have money, shoot your shot for Soto! Yankees are not a lock to sign him in the offseason.
Tigers may shoot their shot but odds are pretty good they miss…
It’s well documented how much Juan Soto LOVES Little Caesar’s pizza. He’s been spotted several times in NYC passing up local pizzerias to get his $5 hot-n-ready. Maybe a lighter AAV deal with Detroit that includes some stock in Little Caesar’s would seal the deal.
If that’s true, and I have no way of knowing if this is sarcasm, then that’s some genuinely good advertising if he hooks up with Little Caesar’s lol
You need to oil your Sarcasm Detector.
No one who has the money to eat well is going to eat a Little Caesar’s “pizza product”.
Riley at 1B is not the worst idea I have ever heard, especially with Tork striking out so often in AAA. Colt Keith seems destined for a corner OF spot, if he can’t handle the infield with plus defense.
He’s 23 and you want him to be a Tiger for life? Have you not seen how bad long term contracts turn out? I’ll go out on a limb and say there’s a zero percent chance the Tigers sign Juan Soto.
Kind of like someone probably said there was a zero percent chance the Tigers would trade for Cabrera or Prince Fielder years ago,
The Tigers spent a lot of money back then. People didn’t say that at all. No way would Soto go to Detroit. He wants the limelight.
I like it. An aggressive offseason.
White Sox- biggest bust in MLB history. Predicted by millions to win 100+, will actually end up losing 110+.
I think the biggest bust in MLB history was Morganna actually.
No one predicted the White Sox would win 100 games, let alone “millions”. While they did not have a great roster heading into the season 70 wins wasn’t out of the question and even .500 was an attainable goal if everyone was reasonably productive
Slusser, Verducci, Axisa, Rome, Olney, etc.
No they didn’t
I’m hearing rumors of two different rule changes the MLB is looking at.
1. Regulating where the outfielders can stand, as they’re seeing fewer and fewer XBHs because fielders are playing deeper.
2. Pitchers are required to go at least 6-innings.
Regarding #2, I’d like them to require starters to go 8-innings minimum.
Both should be implemented.
@12981
Why?
Because of too many pitching changes and players playing all over the field. If they can’t go 6 innings for any reason, the team should automatically lose regardless of the score.
Don’t usually mute trolls, but think you and Mickey the Moron Mod should both be exceptions.
@NashvilleJeff
What did I say to make you want to mute me? I didn’t think I was coming off as a troll in my post.
@Old York: Sorry for the confusion Old York. I was referring to 12981, not you. I usually like your posts. I don’t agree w/your thoughts on starting pitchers being forced to go 8 innings, but you’re no troll.
Also why are we paying these starters so much money to pitch once per week? This young generation just doesn’t want to work anymore. The starting pitcher should be pitching everyday.
Technically, the starters are pitching everyday except off days. Just different starters each day. 🙂
Almost every pitching staff has had injuries so making pitchers who aren’t capable of doing it stay in the game is ridiculous. Maybe go back to playing the game the right way instead of trying to hit every ball 800 feet and when they strike out 150 times they walk back to the dugout like it’s no big deal. Maybe if they have pitchers throw with their non dominant hand will help the batters
Both ideas are ridiculous.
Dictating Outfield alignments purely for the benefit of extra base hits would be as silly as brining the fences in in every ballpark for more Home Runs. It’s supposed to be a game of skill, if you can’t leg out a double that’s on you.
The 6 inning pitcher thing won’t happen. Everyone already blames the pitch clock for the uptick in arm injuries (while ignoring “max effort” on every pitch and the grips pitchers are using the get tork on the ball). Forcing a pitcher to go six innings when there’s nothing left in the tank will just add to the injuries
I think the starter innings was tied to losing the DH spot. If they’re taken out before then they lose the DH too
That’s being floated too. This one is 6 inning or 100 pitches, 4 er, or an injury.
So in the case of George Kirby who was getting pummeled by the Tigers on Tuesday you would make him stay out there and throw 200 pitches.
I believe the potential rule states they can be removed if they give up 4 runs or more.
Also if they throw 100 pitches they can be removed from the game.
The idea would be starters must go 6 innings. They can leave sooner due to injury (obviously), pitch count at 100, or giving up 4 runs or more.
It is also to try and eliminate the “opener” or bullpen games.
No it would allow at 100 pitches or 4 runs.
It will never happen. There are so few pitchers that currently average 100 pitches a start or 6 innings a start that you would be begging for more arm injuries. Or, if pitchers dial back in order to be able to reach those marks offensive stats would go through the roof. Many pitchers struggle when going through the lineup a third time. What I would like to see is a limit to the amount of foul balls a batter is allowed per plate appearance.I think a batters ability to foul a ball off is what drives up pitch counts.
The tigers have a good team, and getting better. Injuries once again played a factor this year but once again a crop of young and new guys got a chance to show their stuff. The 2020’s have that 1960;s feel to it. The pieces coming together real nice with everyone coming up. It looks real good.
Today’s hero Baez looked good in his on field interview, and he’s trying. The Tigers look like a solid .500 or better team. Staying healthy will help greatly. Hard choice coming up, but that is good too. Sure it makes it hard to trade guys as other teams will try to wait for released players, but who knows ? Tigers are looking good. .