The Weekly Rundown: 4/14/24 - 4/20/24
Another eventful week in baseball in the books.
Good morning and happy Sunday!
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It was an eventful week in baseball. If you weren’t able to pay close attention, don’t worry. We’ve got it all covered below.
Let’s jump in…
Five Games, Five Homers
Cubs rookie Michael Busch tied a franchise record with home runs in five consecutive games. Four other Cubs players have accomplished the feat: Christopher Morel (2023), Sammy Sosa (1998), Ryne Sandberg (1989) and Hack Wilson (1928).
The rookie first baseman has been tremendous for Chicago so far in 2024. Through 18 games, he’s slashing .317/.400/.667 with six homers and 13 RBIs. He’s currently the odds-on favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
RIP Whitey Herzog
The baseball world lost a legend on Monday as Hall-of-Fame Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog passed away at 92.
“On behalf of the entire St. Louis Cardinals organization, I would like to offer our condolences to the family and many friends of Whitey Herzog,” Cardinals chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt, Jr. said. “Whitey and his teams played a big part in changing the direction of the Cardinals franchise in the early 1980s with an exciting style of play that would become known as “Whitey Ball” throughout baseball. Whitey loved the Cardinals, their fans, and St. Louis. He will be sorely missed.”
Herzog led the Cardinals to a World Series title in 1982 and was named NL Manager of the Year in 1985. His No. 24 is retired by the Cardinals, and he's been inducted into both the Royals and Cardinals Hall of Fame along with Cooperstown.
John Sterling Calls it a Career
Longtime Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling announced his retirement on Monday. The 85-year-old had been the voice of the Yankees since 1989.
Sterling had no shortage of iconic calls and catchphrases during his illustrious career.
"Ballgame over! Yankees win! Theeeeeee Yankees win!"
"It is high, it is far, it is gone!"
“A Stantonion blast!”
"An A-bomb from A-Rod!"
The list goes on.
The Yankees honored Sterling with a pregame ceremony on Saturday, which you can watch in its entirety below:
Dominant on the Bump
Jose Berrios, Toronto Blue Jays
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB vs. Colorado Rockies
Jose Butto, New York Mets
6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 K, 1 BB vs. Kansas City Royals
Ranger Suarez, Philadelphia Phillies
9.0 IP (CG), 7 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 1 BB vs. Colorado Rockies
Jared Jones, Pittsburgh Pirates
5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 0 BB vs. New York Mets
Tanner Houck, Boston Red Sox
9.0 IP (CG), 3 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 0 BB vs. Cleveland Guardians
Michael King, San Diego Padres
7.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 10 K, 2 BB vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 1 BB vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Spencer Turnbull, Philadelphia Phillies
7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 2 BB vs. Chicago White Sox
Brayan Bello, Boston Red Sox
6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2 BB vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
7.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 8 K, 2 BB vs. Chicago White Sox
Luis Castillo, Seatle Mariners
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 1 BB vs. Colorado Rockies
Big Bombs
Andrew McCutchen recorded his 300th career home run.
Cedric Mullins hit the first walk-off homer of his career against the Twins.
Travis d’Arnaud blasted three homers, including a go-ahead grand slam to lead the Braves over the Rangers.
Adley Rutschman recorded the first grand slam of his career.
Tyler Stephenson hit an opposite-field grand slam of his own for the Reds.
Web Gem of the Week
We have a new Catch of the Year candidate. Cedric Mullins made an incredible diving grab to rob Kyle Farmer of extra bases.
Welcome to the Show
Orioles No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday tallied his first MLB hit on Sunday against the Brewers.
Rangers righty Jack Leiter — the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft — made his MLB debut on Thursday against the Tigers. The son of former MLB pitcher Al Leiter struggled, allowing seven runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three in 3.2 innings.
The Dodgers promoted their No. 3 ranked prospect Andy Pages. The slugging 23-year-old outfielder went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in his big-league debut on Tuesday vs. the Nationals. First hit at the 2:43 mark below:
Astros pitching prospect Forrest Whitley made his big-league debut on Tuesday, pitching 0.2 innings of relief vs. the Braves. The righty allowed one hit and walked one batter but didn’t allow an earned run in his brief appearance. He was sent back down to Triple-A to make room for Justin Verlander, who returned from injury and made his season debut on Friday.
Notable Injuries
The Pirates placed left-hander Marco Gonzales on the 15-day IL with a forearm strain.
The Marlins placed third baseman Jake Burger on the 10-day IL due to a left oblique injury.
Angels reliever Robert Stephenson, one of the team’s prized offseason additions, will miss the season due to an elbow injury.
The Red Sox placed right-hander Garrett Whitlock on the 15-day IL with an oblique strain.
The Padres placed righty Yu Darvish on the 15-day IL with tightness in his neck.
Rockies first baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant was placed on the 10-day IL due to a low back strain.
The Orioles placed right-hander Tyler Wells on the 15-day IL due to right elbow inflammation.
The Brewers placed outfielder Christian Yelich on the 10-day IL due to a low back strain.
The Braves placed infielder Ozzie Albies on the 10-day IL with a right big toe fracture.
The Cubs placed outfielder Seiya Suzuki on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain.
Red Sox outfielder Tyler O’Neill was placed on the 7-day IL with a concussion.
The Rockies placed left-hander Kyle Freeland on the 15-day IL with an elbow strain.
Tigers third baseman Gio Urshela is on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain.
Marlins left-hander A.J. Puk was placed on the 15-day IL due to fatigue in his throwing shoulder.
The Blue Jays placed right-hander Chad Green on the injured list due to a right teres major strain.
Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez tore a ligament in his thumb that will require surgery. There currently is no timetable for his return but the average recovery time for the injury is six-to-eight weeks.
Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas left Saturday’s game with a rib injury and an IL stint is possible, though the severity of the injury is currently unclear.
Rapid Fire
Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham signed a minor league deal with the White Sox.
Pirates reliever Aroldis Chapman was ejected from Monday’s game vs. the Mets for arguing balls and strikes and was suspended for two games. An appeal brought the suspension down to just one game.
The Rangers designated first baseman Jared Walsh for assignment.
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