The Opener

As the 2023 season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Brantley nearing return:

Astros veteran Michael Brantley hasn’t played in a major league game since June 26 of last year due to difficulties while rehabbing from right shoulder surgery he underwent last summer. The 36-year-old outfielder appears to be on the brink of returning, however, with signs pointing to Brantley’s 2023 debut coming as soon as today. When Brantley takes the field, it will mark his fifteenth season as a big leaguer. Brantley is on the 60-day IL, meaning the Astros will need to make room for him on both the active and 40-man rosters before he can return to action.

The veteran outfielder will add an additional left-handed bat to the Houston lineup alongside Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker, and could prove to be a potentially impactful one as well; Brantley sports a .306/.368/.464 slash line with a 128 wRC+ since joining the Astros in 2019. With the exception of an injury-marred, 11-game season in Cleveland back in 2016, he hasn’t had a below-average offensive campaign since 2011. Brantley’s return seems likely to cut into the time at DH available to young catcher Yainer Diaz, which could in turn mean Diaz takes more starts behind the plate away from veteran Martin Maldonado going forward.

2. Harris teases external 40-man add:

As noted by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris spoke to 97.1 The Ticket yesterday morning about the club’s vacancy on the 40-man roster after infielder Isan Diaz elected free agency. Harris suggested that he is “going to try to fill that spot soon,” though he also added that the roster-move “would not be a call-up” of a prospect not yet on the 40-man roster like Colt Keith or Justyn-Henry Malloy. Petzold suggests that a recently DFA’d veteran like Noah Syndergaard or Jurickson Profar could receive a big league deal from the club, similar to the club’s addition of catcher Carson Kelly earlier this month.

3. Acuna approaches history:

Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. has long been considered the favorite in the NL MVP race, even as teammate Matt Olson, former teammate Freddie Freeman, and fellow right fielder Mookie Betts have made strong cases for themselves in recent weeks. Acuna had another big night yesterday in spite of a wild incident in which a pair of fans rushed him on the field in Denver, hitting his 29th home run of the season while stealing two bases.

Acuna now sits at 61 stolen bases on the season, having extended his major league lead in the category over Oakland’s Esteury Ruiz to 10, and his NL lead over Arizona’s Corbin Carroll to a whopping 21. With a 60-bag season already secured, Acuna is just one home run away from becoming the first player in major league history to post a 30-60 season. Overall, Acuna is hitting .335/.418/.572 with a wRC+ of 166 in 601 trips to the plate this season.

As an eventful month of August winds down, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Who will replace Thor?

The Guardians designated right-hander Noah Syndergaard for assignment yesterday, ending his tenure in Cleveland after just six starts. Upon announcing the move, the club indicated that a corresponding move would be made today, before this evening’s game against the Twins in Minnesota. Syndergaard’s departure leaves the club with just four pitchers in the starting rotation: right-handers Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Xzavion Curry as well as lefty Logan Allen. Left-hander Joey Cantillo and righties Peyton Battenfield and Hunter Gaddis are the club’s starting options already on the 40-man roster, though with Syndergaard’s depature the club will have the opportunity to explore other options as well without the need for a 40-man roster move.

Of course, with an off-day on Thursday and right-hander Cal Quantrill nearing a return from the shoulder inflammation that’s kept him off the big league mound since early July, the club could simply decide to wait on adding a starter until Quantrill is ready or the schedule forces the issue. In that case, a reliever currently at Triple-A like lefty Tim Herrin or righty Cade Smith could be called up for the interim to help out in the club’s bullpen.

2. Giants getting healthy:

The Giants are expecting to welcome back a pair of outfielders into the mix during the club’s series against the Reds, which starts today. Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area relayed yesterday that both Mike Yastrzemski and Mitch Haniger are nearing a return, with Haniger having participated in what could be his final rehab game last night while Yastrzemski ran the bases. Both players will be welcome additions to a beleaguered offense in San Francisco; as a team, the Giants slashed just .209/.289/.343 in July, and their slash line of .230/.299/.348 in August is only marginally better.

Yastrzemski has been a slightly better than league average bat with the Giants this year, slashing .233/.314/.439 in 77 games before going on the IL with a hamstring strain. Haniger, on the other hand, struggled badly to a .230/.281/.372 slash line in 40 games with his new club before he was sidelined due to a forearm fracture that required surgery. The Giants will need both Yastrzemski and Haniger to play closer to their career wRC+ numbers of 113 and 119 respectively if they are to get back into the NL Wild Card mix, as the club has fallen a game and a half behind the Diamondbacks for the last spot in recent days.

3. Brewers head to Wrigley:

The Cubs and Brewers will meet for their third series of the season today. The three-game set will have major implications for the NL Central race headed into the season’s final month. Milwaukee, riding an eight-game winning streak, heads to Chicago with a four-game lead over the Cubs in the division, meaning even a sweep by the north siders wouldn’t end their reign at the top of the division standings. That being said, a series win by the Brewers would put the club firmly in the driver’s seat for a division title headed into the season’s final month, as they’d extend their lead over the second-place Cubs to five or six games with only three more games against Chicago on the schedule this season. Brewers lefty and former Cub Wade Miley (3.18 ERA) will take the mound at 7:05pm CT this evening opposite Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon (5.60 ERA) for the first game of the series.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Jansen to be re-evaluated:

Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen was pulled from Wednesday night’s game due to tightness in his right hamstring. Per MLB.com, the club plans to evaluate Jansen further upon returning to Boston today. Jansen told reporters that he “felt great” yesterday and was hoping to avoid a trip to the injured list. The 68-60 Red Sox are still in the hunt for the playoffs, with a 3.5 game deficit to make up for in the Wild Card standings. A healthy and effective Jansen will be key to the club’s playoff aspirations, as the four-time All Star has posted a 2.81 ERA while racking up 29 saves in 46 appearances this season. Should Jansen require a trip to the shelf, Chris Martin seems like the most likely candidate to take over for Jansen in the ninth inning.

2. Who’s starting for the Cubs this weekend?

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer announced yesterday that the club plans to move left-handed Drew Smyly to the bullpen going forward, raising questions regarding who will take the ball for Smyly’s previously-scheduled start on Sunday. Right-hander Hayden Wesneski (4.46 ERA) made 11 starts for the club earlier in the season, but has excelled in a multi-inning bullpen role with a 2.45 ERA in 22 innings since leaving the rotation.

If the club doesn’t want to change Wesneski’s role, they could look to the minor leagues where 2021 first-round pick Jordan Wicks has posted a 3.55 ERA in 91 1/3 innings between the Double-A and Triple-A levels this year. One intriguing option would be right-hander Shane Greene, a long-time big league reliever who has been stretched out to longer appearances at Triple-A since joining the Cubs on a minor league deal. In his most recent appearance, Greene posted five scoreless innings with the club’s affiliate in Iowa, striking out six while walking just one.

3. Where will Garrett land?

The Guardians granted left-hander Amir Garrett his release yesterday, allowing the veteran southpaw to return to the open market. With one week remaining before September 1, after which point players who join a new organization will no longer be postseason eligible, time is of the essence as Garrett looks to catch on with a new team.

The 31-year-old posted a solid 3.33 ERA in 24 1/3 innings with the Royals earlier this season, though he also walked a whopping 17.9% of batters he faced during that time. While he only recorded 4.2 innings of work with the Guardians at Triple-A, his wildness didn’t appear improved there, as he walked four in that time. Still, given the scarcity of external relief options this time of year, particularly ones who throw from the left side, it seems reasonable to expect Garrett to find a new home in the coming days. The Cubs, Astros, Red Sox and Twins are among the clubs who might benefit from an additional lefty arm in their bullpen.

On the heels of last night’s disappointing news for baseball fans everywhere, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Will Ohtani require surgery?

As previously alluded to, Angels GM Perry Minasian indicated to reporters yesterday that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani will not pitch again this season after suffering a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Ohtani, of course, is in the midst of his third-straight sensational two-way campaign and appears to be the front-runner for the 2023 AL MVP award even in spite of his injury. Ohtani and the Angels are, as noted by Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, looking for second opinions before any decision on surgery is made. Tommy John surgery would wipe out Ohtani’s chances of pitching in 2024, though an internal brace procedure could leave the door open for him to pitch next year. Any such decisions will depend on the severity of the tear and its placement on the ligament, and all of baseball will be awaiting updates from the Angels as they gather more information.

2. What’s next for Suarez?

Padres right-hander Robert Suarez was thrown out of yesterday’s game against the Marlins before throwing a pitch following a foreign substance check. First base umpire Todd Tichenor explained after the game that the righty’s left wrist was the area at issue, though Suarez countered that he had simply applied sunscreen for protection during the day game in San Diego. Given players who are ejected after a foreign substance check are automatically subjected to a 10-game suspension, it’s all but certain Suarez will receive one from the league today. The 32-year-old has the right to appeal the suspension, a course of action he told reporters he’s considering. Should the suspension go through, it would be a major blow for the Padres, who will not only lose a solid reliever for ten days but will be unable to replace him on the active roster.

3. Dodgers, Guardians to complete suspended game:

Yesterday’s Dodgers-Guardians game was suspended in the top of the third inning due to rain, and will resume at 11:10am CT this morning. Once the suspended game is completed, the clubs will square off in a today’s regularly scheduled game later in the afternoon. The makeshift doubleheader opens the door for Dodgers right-hander Ryan Pepiot, who made his season debut with the big league club over the weekend, to take the ball in today’s second game opposite Guardians righty Gavin Williams as the club’s 27th man. Since a club’s 27th man is not subject to minimum stays in the minors when optioned, the Dodgers will have the opportunity to start Pepiot today and then option him back to the minor leagues without losing the ability to use him in the next turn through the rotation. Fans with tickets to yesterday’s game can find information about ticket exchange options here.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. DeJong to join the Giants:

The Giants inked shortstop Paul DeJong to a big league deal yesterday, and MLB.com notes that DeJong’s deal with the club is expected to be made official today, at which point he will formally join the club’s roster. The Giants will need to open a spot on their 40-man and active rosters to accommodate DeJong. The 30-year-old infielder spent his entire professional career with the Cardinals until this year’s trade deadline, when he was flipped to the Blue Jays in the midst of an injury scare for Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette. When Bichette was ready to return after just a couple of weeks on the injured list, the Jays opted to designate DeJong for assignment after he went 3-for-44 at the plate with no walks or extra base hits during his time with the club.

While his numbers in Toronto were brutal, they came in a small sample of less than 50 plate appearances and followed a mostly successful bounceback stint in St. Louis earlier this year. In 306 trips to the plate with the Cardinals this year, DeJong slashed .233/.297/.412. That offensive performance was right around league average by measure of wRC+ (95). Combined with DeJong’s strong glove up the middle, that made him a generally a productive player for the Cardinals this year. If DeJong can regain that form, he should be an asset to a Giants club that’s currently relying on Casey Schmitt and Johan Camargo at shortstop with Brandon Crawford on the injured list.

2. Garcia exits with hamstring strain:

Marlins outfielder Avisail Garcia exited yesterday’s win over the Padres with a left hamstring strain, as noted by MLB.com. While Garcia is expected to undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of the issue, a trip to the injured list seems likely for the 32-year-old veteran, who has dealt with multiple hamstring injuries throughout his career. It’s been a second consecutive miserable season for Garcia, who has slashed a combined .215/.260/.316 in 498 trips to the plate as a member of the Marlins. In addition to that weak performance, Garcia has struggled to stay on the field, as he’s appeared in just 37 games this season thanks to a back injury earlier in the season. With Garcia likely headed to the shelf, a bench spot in Miami could be available for a player such as Garrett Hampson, Xavier Edwards, or Dane Myers.

3. Reds @ Angels Doubleheader:

The Reds and Angels are set to partake in a doubleheader this evening after Monday’s series opener was postponed. The pair of games comes on the heels of a 4-3 win by the Reds last night in Mike Trout’s first game back from the injured list. Game 1, which is scheduled to begin at 3:07pm CT, is slated to feature a pitchers’ duel between left-handed rookie Andrew Abbott (2.99 ERA) and two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani (3.17 ERA). Cincinnati has not announced who will take the ball in game two opposite Angels lefty Reid Detmers (4.93 ERA). Fans who had tickets to Monday’s game can use them to attend tonight’s second game, which is slated to begin at 8:38pm CT. More details can be found here.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Harrison to make Giants debut:

The Giants are poised to promote left-handed pitching prospect Kyle Harrison today prior to his planned start against the Phillies on the road. Harrison, 22, was a third-round pick in the 2020 draft by the Giants and came into the 2023 campaign as a consensus top-40 prospect in baseball, pushing as high as the top-20 on some lists. While Harrison’s run-prevention numbers at Triple-A this year haven’t been anything to write home about (4.52 ERA in 67 2/3 innings of work), between the inflated offensive environment of the Pacific Coast League and Harrison’s fantastic 35.6% strikeout rate at the level, it’s easy to see why San Francisco thinks it’s time to give the youngster a shot. Harrison is not yet on the 40-man roster, meaning the club will have to make a corresponding move to clear space for him.

2. Houck to return:

Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck is poised to return from the injured list for tonight’s game against the Astros in Houston, as noted by Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. It will be Houck’s first return to a big league mound after being struck in the face by a comebacker, resulting in facial fractures that ultimately required surgery. Houck, 27, has had a difficult season to this point with a 5.05 ERA across 13 starts, though a 4.21 FIP, 4.16 SIERA, and 3.82 xFIP all could indicate better days on the horizon. Houck’s return likely spells the end of fellow righty Nick Pivetta’s return to the rotation, with the 30-year-old hurler presumably heading back into the relief role he dominated in earlier this summer.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

September is fast approaching, and the league’s 30 clubs are all pushing full steam ahead into the stretch run. Although we’re nearly into the season’s final month, just over half the league still has 10% or better odds at a playoff spot, per Fangraphs. If you’re curious how your team will hold up over the season’s final months, what their plan for the future is, or have a question about one of the many deals that went down at the deadline last week, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is hosting a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

With the regular season now 75% complete, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Meadows to be promoted:

Tigers outfield prospect Parker Meadows is set to be promoted today, as the Tigers themselves have announced. Meadows is the brother of fellow Tigers outfielder Austin Meadows, and has slashed .256/.337/.474 in 113 games with the club’s Triple-A affiliate this season while stealing 19 bases in 21 attempts. As a left-handed outfielder, Meadows adds to the club’s depth of lefty-hitting outfield options that already includes the elder Meadows (who has been out since April battling anxiety), Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Akil Baddoo, Nick Maton, and Zach McKinstry, though the latter two also play the infield. While a 40-man roster move won’t be necessary after Meadows was selected last November, an active roster move will still be necessary prior to tonight’s game against the Cubs in Detroit. That move has yet to be announced, but Daren Tomhave of The Detroit News suggests that Maton is the most likely player to be sent down given his left-handed bat and lack of playing time in recent weeks.

2. Crawford nearing a return:

After sweeping the Astros in a three-game set over the weekend, the red-hot Mariners are headed to Chicago for a trio of games against the White Sox. There, they’ll be joined (according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times) by shortstop J.P. Crawford, who was in the midst of a career season at the plate prior to sustaining a concussion earlier this month. In 460 trips to the plate this season, Crawford has slashed .266/.379/.411 with a wRC+ of 129 and an elite 14.8% walk rate. With Crawford’s bat returning to a rejuvenated Mariners lineup as soon as this evening, the Mariners will look to continue the hot stretch of play that’s seen them go 14-4 in the month of August and climb within three games of the AL West division lead.

3. Estrada to undergo x-rays:

Giants infielder Thairo Estrada was struck in the hand by a pitch in the ninth inning of yesterday’s game against the Braves. While Estrada stayed in the game, manager Gabe Kapler indicated to reporters, including Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, that he’ll undergo testing to determine the severity of the injury. The incident is of particular concern given the fact that Estrada missed a month earlier this summer with a fractured hand after being hit by a pitch at the beginning of July. Estrada also missed time with a wrist sprain earlier this season. If Estrada were to require a trip to the injured list, that could open up additional playing time for infielder Casey Schmitt, though the club could also call up Marco Luciano or Brett Wisely from the minors to fill the void.

As we gear up for the weekend, here are three things to watch around baseball…

1. Winn set for big league debut:

The Cardinals selected the contract of infielder Masyn Winn last night, and he’ll make his big league debut today against Joey Lucchesi and the Mets. Selected with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2020 draft, the 21-year-old Winn is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most promising prospects, ranking No. 30 overall at Baseball America, No. 32 at MLB.com and No. 47 at FanGraphs. A sensational athlete and former two-way player, Winn focused solely on his development as an infielder in 2021. He’s soared through the minors, spending the entire season to date in Triple-A despite just turning 21 at the end of spring training. He’s more than five years younger than the average player in a .288/.359/.474 batting line with 18 home runs, 15 doubles, seven triples and 17 stolen bases in 498 plate appearances. Scouting reports tout his above-average hit tool, plus speed and 80-grade arm at shortstop. And, given that he’s still somewhat recently honed in on the position-playing side of his game, there’s still a chance for him to grow into some more power as well.

2. Bichette return:

Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette has now played in a pair of minor league rehab games, serving as the designated hitter for Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday before playing shortstop in the Bisons’ game yesterday. Bichette’s previously ailing knee doesn’t appear to be bothering him, as he pounded an opposite-field two-run homer in his first plate appearance Thursday and potentially finished up a brief two-game rehab stint with a 4-for-5 showing. The Jays haven’t formally reinstated Bichette just yet, though they’d previously informed beat writers that the hope was for him to play one rehab game as a designated hitter and one as a shortstop before evaluating him for a possible return this weekend. Even if Bichette heads back to Buffalo for another game or two, it seems likely he’ll be back this weekend — with a return in tonight’s series opener against the Reds a distinct possibility.

3. McCutchen, Altuve approaching notable milestones:

Multi-time All-Stars Andrew McCutchen and Jose Altuve are both closing in on key milestones, with the latter standing a particularly good chance at reaching an impressive round number this weekend. Altuve is sitting at 1,997 career hits and will look to become just the 297th player to ever tally 2,000 hits in his big league career. He’ll look to do so in a road series against the Mariners, squaring off against Bryce Miller, Logan Gilbert and Emerson Hancock along the way. Meanwhile, another former MVP who also collected his 2,000th hit this season, Andrew McCutchen, is three long balls shy of becoming just the 158th player in MLB history to swat 300 homers. The 36-year-old will face off against Twins starters Pablo Lopez, Sonny Gray and Dallas Keuchel this weekend in Minnesota. Reaching 300 this weekend after connecting on only 10 homers all season to date seems unlikely, but Cutch could still chip away at the milestone and seems likely to get there at some point in the near future.

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around baseball today…

1. Cardinals, Cardinals, Cardinals:

There’s no shortage of intrigue around the Cardinals right now — albeit not for reasons the St. Louis faithful would prefer. Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman both left last night’s game after injuring themselves on foul balls — Edman fouling one into his leg and Nootbaar fouling one into his groin. The latter was taken to a “non-emergency medical facility” for further exams, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Cards will have updates on both today, but with that pair ailing and Nolan Gorman now having missed three games due to ongoing back discomfort, the Cards could be shorthanded and forced into some kind of roster move.

Elsewhere on the roster, tonight will be a crucial night for struggling franchise icon Adam Wainwright, who has limped to an 8.78 ERA in 66 2/3 innings during what will be the final season of his big league career. Wainwright is two wins away from becoming just the 122nd player to ever reach 200 wins … but he’s allowed 38 runs in 23 innings since his last victory, exactly two months ago to the day. Wainwright tells Benjamin Hochman of the Post-Dispatch that he has no plans to quit and plans to see the season through. Manager Oli Marmol acknowledged Wainwright’s struggles, telling Hochman that in the event of another non-competitive outing, “we’ll sit down and we’ll have another honest conversation as to what does this really looks like moving forward and what’s best.”

2. Kittredge set to return to Rays:

When the Rays next take the field on Friday, they’ll likely do so with right-hander Andrew Kittredge in their bullpen for the first time since June 8, 2022. Kittredge, who underwent Tommy John surgery last summer, has wrapped up his rehab process and is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list prior to tomorrow’s game, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes. Righty Hector Perez, who was selected to the big league roster yesterday and subsequently allowed four of the five batters he faced to reach base, seems to be a likely corresponding move.

Getting Kittredge back is nothing short of a boon to a Tampa Bay pitching staff that has been ravaged by injuries. While he’s not going to step into the rotation to help offset the crushing losses of Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs, Kittredge was a quietly elite bullpen option from 2020-22 before his injury. In his past 99 2/3 big league frames, he’s notched a 2.17 ERA with a 24.2% strikeout rate, 4.9% walk rate and 51.9% ground-ball rate.

3. More veterans hit the market:

As August has worn on, we’ve seen several notable names jettisoned from Major League rosters by way of DFA. With no trades of Major League players allowed, any player designated for assignment at this point can only be placed on outright or release waivers, instantly making him available to all 29 other teams. Yesterday’s DFAs of Ryan Thompson (Rays) and Luke Weaver (Reds) add another pair of potential depth options for teams, joining earlier DFA casualties like Mychal Givens and the since-released Carson Kelly and Chasen Shreve. (Givens, as of this morning, had not yet passed through waivers but will likely clear, given his $5MM salary and injury-plagued season.) Both Thompson and Weaver are affordable enough — earning $1MM and $2MM this season, respectively — that it’s not completely out of the question that a team would claim them, though that appears unlikely in the latter’s case, given the extent of his struggles. Even if Givens, Thompson and Weaver all become free agents, they’ll stand out as immediate depth options for teams dealing with injuries in the bullpen or (in Weaver’s case) the rotation.

There are also a handful of notable veterans who’ve been released from minor league deals recently, including catcher Kevin Plawecki, lefty Fernando Abad, right-hander Dan Altavilla and designated hitter/outfielder Franmil Reyes. Royals righty Nick Wittgren, meanwhile, is likely to elect free agency today.

Here are three things around the baseball world we’ll be tracking today…

1. Bichette return looming?

Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was slated to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo last night, slotting in as the designated hitter, but that contest was rained out. TSN’s Scott Mitchell tweets that the plan had been for Bichette to DH on Tuesday and play shortstop Wednesday, with a Friday return in Cincinnati possible. The Jays are off tomorrow, while their Triple-A club now has games scheduled both today and tomorrow. Bichette could still DH today, play shortstop tomorrow, and technically return as soon as Friday. The Jays will evaluate Bichette following today’s DH appearance but still hope to get him into a game at shortstop before reinstating him, per Mitchell. The 25-year-old Bichette is enjoying an excellent season at the plate, hitting .321/.352/.494 with 17 home runs, but he’s been out since July 31 due to patellar tendinitis in his right knee.

2. Anderson’s suspension appeal:

White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is facing a six-game suspension following the benches-clearing brawl that began when Anderson and Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez got into a fist fight following the latter’s slide into second base. Jim Bowden of The Athletic tweets that Anderson’s appeal is scheduled for tomorrow, barring a settlement at some point today. Within the next day then, we should know whether Anderson will serve that full six-game ban or perhaps a reduced punishment. The two-time All-Star and 2019 AL batting champion is having the worst season of his career at the plate (.240/.285/.286), although in 103 plate appearances since the All-Star break he’s posted a .290/.359/.355 batting line.

3. Dodgers going for 10 in a row:

Earlier this season, it looked as though the Dodgers might be dethroned in the NL West, but their recent play has once again made them a commanding favorite to win their 10th division title 11 years. They’ll send Clayton Kershaw to the mound tonight against the Brewers as they seek their 10th straight victory — the longest active win streak in Major League Baseball at the moment. Kershaw, 35, will be making just his second start since returning from a six-week stay on the injured list. He’s been his usual dominant self when healthy, pitching to a 2.51 ERA with a 27.5% strikeout rate and 6% walk rate in 100 1/3 innings this season. Kershaw currently ranks fourth among active pitchers in strikeouts with 2916 in his career. He trails only Max Scherzer (3340), Justin Verlander (3290) and Zack Greinke (2955) in that regard. Depending on how long Greinke’s recent placement on the IL lasts, Kershaw could move into third place on that esteemed ranking by season’s end.