The Weekly Rundown: 7/2/23 - 7/8/23
Elly De La Cruz's "Antics," Carlos Rodon returns, and more.
Good morning!
It’s the final edition of the Weekly Rundown before the MLB All-Star break, which begins tomorrow. We’ve got a lot to catch up on, starting with Threads coming out of nowhere to (hopefully) kill Twitter. Follow me on there if you’d like.
Early Threads impressions:
It seems… nicer? More wholesome? Yeah, it’s only a matter of time before it’s just as toxic as Twitter, but I’m enjoying the feel of it right now for some reason. It’s refreshing.
They need to give people an option to not see a bunch of random influencer accounts that they aren’t following. I don’t want to read threads from “daddyissues” on my homepage.
Hopefully, a desktop version is available soon. I’m on my laptop more than my phone, so TweetDeck was a lifesaver for Twitter. A similar option for Threads would be huge.
The other major development over the last week: I’ve joined the “dirty 30” club. So if you’re wondering what to get me for a belated 30th birthday gift, go ahead and subscribe to the newsletter below!
Now let’s get into yet another loaded rundown.
Elly’s ‘Antics’
There was some drama in Wednesday night’s Nationals-Reds game. Nats manager Davey Martinez asked to have the bat handle of Reds rookie phenom Elly De La Cruz inspected, and the umpires ruled that he couldn’t use the handle.
However, the handle was reinstated later in the game and De La Cruz blasted a 455-foot bomb into the upper deck. The 21-year-old celebrated by looking in the umpire’s direction and pointing at his bat handle.
That didn’t sit well with Martinez, who said after the game he “didn't like his antics after he hit the home run."
De La Cruz shared why he celebrated in that fashion.
"Just to tell everybody that the knob is not the reason why I am doing a good job," De La Cruz said. "It's because of all the work I'm putting out there."
I can’t believe we’re still complaining about “antics.” It’s simple, if you don’t want someone to pimp a homer, don’t let them crush it 455 feet with a 111.6 mph exit velo. If you don’t want a pitcher screaming in celebratory fashion after striking you out, put the ball in play. De La Cruz’s style of play is the most exciting thing in the sport right now. Why try to discourage that?
Anyway, Elly went on to steal three bases in one inning during Saturday’s game against the Brewers. That included an electrifying straight steal of home. Enjoy:
Rodon Returns
Yankees prized offseason addition Carlos Rodon finally made his debut with the club on Friday after missing most of the first half due to injury. He took the mound against the Cubs at Yankee Stadium.
Rodon, an All-Star in 2021 and 2022, was solid. The 30-year-old southpaw allowed two runs on four hits in 5 1/3 innings. However, he took the loss as he was outdueled by Cubs starter Jameson Taillon and his offense failed to put a run on the board. Chicago won the series opener, 3-0.
Despite the defeat, the Yankees getting Rodon back in the mix is enormous. If he can pitch like his All-Star self and form a scary 1-2 punch with Cy Young candidate Gerrit Cole, it’ll go a long way toward helping New York get into the postseason. This club needs all the help it can get right now with Aaron Judge hurt.
Triple-A Brawl
We had some fireworks a few days after the Fourth of July as a brawl broke out in Friday’s game between the Nashville Sounds (Brewers Triple-A affiliate) and Colombus Clippers (Guardians).
George Valera, the Guardians’ No. 2 prospect, didn’t take kindly to something Nashville catcher Alex Jackson said during his at-bat in the third inning. That led to a dust-up in which Valera shoved the ump and threw punches at Jackson who still had all of his catching equipment on. Not the smartest move.
Valera and Jackson were ejected, obviously. No word on discipline yet for either player, but it’s bad timing for Valera, who likely wasn’t far from a promotion to the majors.
Updated All-Star Rosters + Full Home Run Derby Bracket
Here are the full updated rosters for the 2023 All-Star Game.
* Denotes a player who is injured or has chosen not to play.
American League
Elected starters
C: Jonah Heim (TEX)
1B: Yandy Díaz (TB)
2B: Marcus Semien (TEX)
3B: Josh Jung (TEX)
SS: Corey Seager (TEX)
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)*
OF: Randy Arozarena (TB)
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)*
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
Reserves
C: Salvador Perez (KC)
C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
IF: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
IF: Whit Merrifield (TOR)
IF: Bo Bichette (TOR)
IF: José Ramírez (CLE)
IF: Wander Franco (TB) (Replacement)
OF: Luis Robert Jr. (CWS)
OF: Austin Hays (BAL)
OF: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)*
OF: Adolis García (TEX)
OF: Kyle Tucker (HOU) (Replacement)
OF: Julio Rodríguez (SEA) (Replacement)
DH: Brent Rooker (OAK)
Pitchers
RHP: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
RHP: Gerrit Cole (NYY)
RHP: Luis Castillo (SEA)
RHP: Sonny Gray (MIN)
RHP: Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)
RHP: Kevin Gausman (TOR)
LHP: Shane McClanahan (TB)*
LHP: Framber Valdez (HOU)
RHP: Michael Lorenzen (DET)
RHP: George Kirby (SEA) (Replacement)
RHP: Pablo Lopez (MIN) (Replacement)
Relievers
RHP: Kenley Jansen (BOS)
RHP: Emmanuel Clase (CLE)*
RHP: Félix Bautista (BAL)
RHP: Yennier Cano (BAL)
RHP: Carlos Estévez (LAA) (Replacement)
National League
Elected starters
C: Sean Murphy (ATL)
1B: Freddie Freeman (LAD)
2B: Luis Arraez (MIA)
3B: Nolan Arenado (STL)
SS: Orlando Arcia (ATL)
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL)
OF: Mookie Betts (LAD)
OF: Corbin Carroll (AZ)
DH: J.D. Martinez (LAD)
Reserves
C: Will Smith (LAD)
C: Elias Díaz (COL)
IF: Matt Olson (ATL)
IF: Ozzie Albies (ATL)
IF: Austin Riley (ATL)
IF: Dansby Swanson (CHC)*
IF: Pete Alonso (NYM)
IF: Geraldo Perdomo (AZ) (Replacement)
OF: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (AZ)
OF: Nick Castellanos (PHI)
OF: Juan Soto (SD)
DH: Jorge Soler (MIA)
Pitchers
RHP: Zac Gallen (AZ)
RHP: Spencer Strider (ATL)
RHP: Bryce Elder (ATL)
LHP: Justin Steele (CHC)
RHP: Mitch Keller (PIT)
RHP: Josiah Gray (WSH)
LHP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)*
RHP: Marcus Stroman (CHC)
RHP: Corbin Burnes (MIL) (Replacement)
Relievers
RHP: Alexis Díaz (CIN)
LHP: Josh Hader (SD)
RHP: Devin Williams (MIL)
RHP: Camilo Doval (SF)
RHP: David Bednar (PIT) (Replacement)
RHP: Craig Kimbrel (PHI) (Replacement)
And here’s the bracket for the 2023 Home Run Derby:
Pete Alonso is the favorite to win his third Home Run Derby trophy, but I’m going with Luis Robert here. He rakes and he has the easiest path to the finals. That’s where my money would be going if I were a betting man.
The IL
Garrett Whitlock, RHP, Boston Red Sox
Whitlock was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation.
Brandon Drury, INF, Los Angeles Angels
Drury is on the 10-day IL with a left shoulder contusion.
Michael Kopech, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Kopech was placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation.
Royce Lewis, 3B, Minnesota Twins
Lewis is on the 10-day IL with a strained left oblique.
Bryce Miller, RHP, Seattle Mariners
Miller was placed on the 15-day IL due to a blister.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., CF, Miami Marlins
Chisholm is on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain
Clayton Kershaw, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kershaw landed 15-day IL due to soreness in his throwing shoulder.
Tyler Alexander, LHP, Detroit Tigers
Alexander was placed on the 60-day IL with a left lat/shoulder strain.
Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Trout was placed on the 10-day IL with a left hamate fracture. He underwent surgery and is expected to return in 4-to-8 weeks.
Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros
Altuve was placed on the 10-day IL due to discomfort in his left oblique.
Adam Wainwright, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Wainwright landed 15-day IL due to a shoulder strain.
Zack Greinke, RHP, Kansas City Royals
Greinke is on the 15-day IL with shoulder tendinitis.
Joe Kelly, RHP, Chicago White Sox
Kelly was placed on the 15-day IL due to inflammation in his right elbow.
Cal Quantrill, RHP, Cleveland Guardians
Quantrill is on the 15-day IL due to right shoulder inflammation.
Daniel Hudson, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Hudson is on the 15-day IL with a sprained MCL in his right knee.
Tommy Edman, UTIL, St. Louis Cardinals
Edman is on the 10-day IL with right wrist inflammation
Esteury Ruiz, OF, Oakland A’s
Ruiz was placed on the 10-day IL with a right shoulder subluxation.
Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
Hayes is on the 10-day IL with lower back inflammation.
Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
McCutchen hit the 10-day IL due to right elbow inflammation.
Dansby Swanson, SS, Chicago Cubs
Swanson is on the 10-day IL with a left heel contusion.
Dominant On The Bump
Andrew Abbott, Cincinnati Reds
7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 12 K, 1 BB vs. San Diego Padres
Sonny Gray, Minnesota Twins
6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 3 BB vs. Baltimore Orioles
Jordan Montgomery, St, Louis Cardinals
6.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 3 BB vs. New York Yankees
Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners
9.0 IP (CG), 5 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 0 BB vs. San Francisco Giants
Joe Musgrove, San Diego Padres
7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 11 K, 1 BB vs. Los Angeles Angels
Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies
7.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 12 K, 1 BB vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Brandon Bielak, Houston Astros
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 4 BB vs. Colorado Rockies
Kenta Maeda, Minnesota Twins
7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 9 K, 1 BB vs. Kansas City Royals
JP Sears, Oakland A’s
7.1 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 0 BB vs. Detroit Tigers
Pablo Lopez, Minnesota Twins
9.0 IP (CG), 4 H, 0 ER, 12 K, 0 BB vs. Kansas City Royals
Kodai Senga, New York Mets
8.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 12 K, 1 BB vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Dean Kremer, Baltimore Orioles
7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 10 K, 1 BB vs. New York Yankees
Lance Lynn, Chicago White Sox
7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 11 K, 1 BB vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Jose Berrios, Toronto Blue Jays
7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 1 BB vs. Chicago White Sox
Carlos Carrasco, New York Mets
8.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 1 BB vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Jameson Taillon, Chicago Cubs
8.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 2 BB vs. New York Yankees
Aaron Civale, Cleveland Indians
7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 9 K, 0 BB vs. Kansas City Royals
Blake Snell, San Diego Padres
6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 11 K, 3 BB vs. New York Mets
Matt Manning, Detroit Tigers
6.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 5 K, 3 BB vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Miles Mikolas, St. Louis Cardinals
7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 0 BB vs. Chicago White Sox
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 11 K, 1 BB vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Big Bombs
Tyler Stephenson crushed a pinch-hit go-ahead homer in the eighth against the Padres.
Francisco Alvarez game-tying homer in the ninth vs. Diamondbacks
Cristian Pache hit a go-ahead two-run homer with the Phillies down to their final out vs. the Marlins.
Web Gem Of The Week
Cedric Mullins robbed Byron Buxton of a three-run homer with a sick grab.
Welcome To The Show
Orioles top prospect Colton Cowser, the No. 14 ranked prospect in MLB, made his big-league debut on Wednesday vs. the Yankees. The 23-year-old outfielder went 1-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk in his first game.
Quick Takeaways
The Reds are still rolling. They’ve won eight of their last 10 it’s starting to look like a two-team race in the NL Central between them and the Brewers, who are two games behind Cincinnati in the standings. Get your popcorn ready for the second half.
The only team hotter than the Reds right now are the Braves, who have won nine of their last 10 and had a nine-game win streak at one point during the week. They’re a juggernaut with the best offense in the league, which includes the likely NL MVP in Ronald Acuña Jr. He’s the only player ever to notch 20+ homers, 40+ stolen bases, and 50+ RBIs before the All-Star break.
Christian Yelich is quietly putting together a spectacular year and since he didn’t make the NL All-Star squad, that deserves more recognition. The 2018 NL MVP is hitting .285/379/.455 with 11 homers and 46 RBIs in 86 games for the Brewers this season.
Maybe a Shohei Ohtani trade is on the table after all? The Angels are struggling (1-9 in their last 10) and their outlook doesn’t look promising with Mike Trout out for 4-8 weeks. Ohtani is a free agent after this season. So if you’re in the Angels front office, and you’re being realistic with your 2023 expectations, why would you risk losing the biggest superstar in the history of the sport for NOTHING next offseason? It just doesn’t make sense to me. He should be moved in exchange for one of the greatest hauls for a rental we’ve ever seen. One of these contenders will have no problem giving up the farm, especially if they’re unlikely to be in the Ohtani sweepstakes this winter.
The Rays have hit their worst stretch of the season thus far as they’re in the midst of a seven-game losing skid. It doesn’t help their cause that they have to finish up the first half with a three-game series against the juggernaut Braves, who have taken the first two games. The AL East race could get really interesting in the second half.
Rapid Fire
Dodgers righty Dustin May is likely out for the rest of the season as he’s set to undergo surgery on July 18 to repair the flexor tendon in his throwing elbow.
Yankees reliever Jimmy Cordero has been suspended for the rest of the season for violating the league’s domestic violence policy.
Right-hander Alek Manoah made his return to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday following his stint in the minors. He appeared to be back on track, allowing only one run on five hits while striking out eight in 6 1/3 innings vs. the Tigers.
The Padres designated veteran slugger Nelson Cruz for assignment. The 43-year-old hit .245 with five homers and a .681 OPS in 49 games.
The Tigers designated veteran infielder Jonathan Schoop for assignment. Schoop hit .213 with no homers and a .550 OPS in 55 games this season.
The Red Sox signed catcher Jorge Alfaro to a major-league contract a month after releasing him. Alfaro will back up Connor Wong while Reese McGuire is sidelined due to injury.
The Marlins optioned top pitching prospect Eury Perez to the minors despite his 2.36 ERA in 11 starts. Miami did so to manage the 20-year-old’s workload.
The Rumor Mill
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that adding a right-handed bat ahead of the trade deadline would make sense for the club. Team president Andrew Friedman already expressed his desire to pursue rotation help, so those are two areas to keep an eye on for L.A. over the next few weeks.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman reports Guardians ace Shane Bieber is drawing trade interest ahead of the deadline. Cleveland probably can’t afford to keep Bieber long-term, but the club is still firmly in the mix to win the AL Central and will need the former Cy Young Award winner in the rotation to make any noise this season.
Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi identified the middle infield as an area of interest leading up to the trade deadline. Perhaps someone like Tim Anderson could be on their radar?
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!