With the calendar now flipped to July, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Uncertainty surrounding Kershaw:
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has been dealing with elbow inflammation since his most recent start last week. The Dodgers have yet to decide whether the veteran lefty would require an IL stint, but with his next start scheduled for today, they’ll need to make a call within the next few hours. As noted by Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register, right-hander Michael Grove is poised to take the ball against the Pirates this evening if Kershaw isn’t ready to go.
Kershaw has been the Dodgers’ most reliable starting option this season, posting a 2.55 ERA and 3.54 FIP in 95 1/3 innings of work — including a sterling 1.09 ERA in five June starts. The club has gotten a worrisome 5.26 ERA from the rest of its starters this season thanks to rough first halves from Grove, Julio Urias, and Noah Syndergaard, a stat that highlights Kershaw’s importance to the team in the long-term. What’s more, Urias and right-hander Tony Gonsolin combined for just 6 2/3 innings of work when starting the club’s past two games, leaving the Dodgers with a taxed bullpen that would be unlikely to pick up the slack if Kershaw required an early exit.
2. Whitlock to undergo MRI:
Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock is expected to undergo an MRI today on the heels of his exit from yesterday’s start against the Blue Jays after just one inning with elbow tightness. In the event Whitlock misses time, Boston will be left in a pickle regarding their rotation; the club sports just three active starters besides Whitlock in James Paxton, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford. Chris Sale and Tanner Houck are on the injured list and don’t appear close to a return, right-hander Nick Pivetta was recently demoted to the bullpen, and both aforementioned issues apply to veteran hurler Corey Kluber.
While the club could place Pivetta back in the rotation going forward, Chad Jennings of The Athletic notes that Cora has expressed hesitance at the idea of moving him out of his current role. After two appearances where he struggled to adjust to his new role, Pivetta has dominated out of the bullpen with a 1.93 ERA and 3.23 FIP in his past 11 appearances.
3. Series Preview: Orioles @ Yankees
The Orioles head to Yankees Stadium for a four-game set in New York today. The series kicks off with right-hander Tyler Wells taking on Domingo German, who will be making his first start since throwing the first perfect game in more than a decade. Both clubs scuffled in June. The Yankees posted an 11-14 record since June 1, and while the Orioles have fared better with a 14-12 record, Baltimore has won just one of its last five series. In a highly competitive AL East, a quality showing in this series will be key for both clubs. The third-place Yankees could tie the Orioles in the standings with a sweep, while the Orioles will need a strong showing to keep pace with the division-leading Rays, who lead Baltimore by 5.5 games in the division.
I imagine Whitlock goes on the IL not matter what because he wouldn’t have another start before the all-star break anyways, and then could miss one start on the other side before coming back. Either way it’s not ideal
I imagine Domingo German won’t be throwing another perfect game, tonight. A shut out would be fine though.
Make sure they have plenty of sticky stuff.
Make sure you don’t think the Orioles will finish with a better record then the Yankees this season, so basically stop being delusional. If that’s possible.
Hahahahaha. What? Yanks are choke artists. The Birds have every chance of finishing with a better record.
Just curious on what are you basing your confidence in the Yanks. Their stellar month of June? Without Judge they are not a 500 team so it’s really a question of how long he’s out.
Its funny how yoh get off calling someone else delusional after that statement.
You mad?
Yes, I am very mad at how you think Lethal is spelt.
no worries. Bloom is already on the prowl for the next BBB he can pick up on the cheap
All these pitchers with elbow problems lol. I guess it’s ok as long as they throw 100 mph and have a high strike out rate. Can’t have them pitch normal and try using fewer pitchs per start. Kershaw can’t stay healthy for many reasons but these other guys wow. Never ends.
Kershaw struggles to stay healthy because he’s OLD … as in “a lot of mileage put on that arm” OLD. This article referring to him as the “ace” of the staff says it all about the rotation. Do they go after an SP at trade dead line?
You can say what you want about Kershaws age but he hasn’t made 30 starts in a season since 2015. This guy struggles to stay healthy year after year. Sorry. Just the way it is. The Dodgers keep paying him tons of money and he’s almost always a question mark. Always wondering when the next injury will strike. He’s been hurt for years.
Very much NOT a Dodger fan but as a MLB fan, I’ll defend Kershaw as a good value for what he has given each of last 5+ years even with the annual IL stint factored in.
I wasn’t mentioning his worth just how he cannot stay healthy and he has missed an incredible amount of time in the past several years.
@retired except 2017-19 he started 27, 26, and 29 games. 2020 was a short season where 30 was not an option. But toss out that #30 and don’t tell the whole story. Kershaw still started over 20 games in 2021 and 2022 and is now at 16 at this year’s All Star break.
A full season is 33 starts. 27 starts means he missed a month.
Just can’t win with some people.
Yet he’s still the ace of the team. I don’t know if that’s good or bad.
A little off the subject, but does anyone think Kershaw will be able to pitch in the ASG?
Rarely does any pitcher start 33 games in a season anymore. And no it does not mean they missed a month. It typically means in today’s game that spit starters were called up to get staff extra rest or entire rotation pushed back by interruptions in schedule such as makeups.
22 started 32 with 6 starting 33 last season.
In the last season not effected by COVID or a lockout 20 pitchers has 33+ starts with 7 going 34. 35 went 32+ starts.
33-34 is considered taking the ball every 5th game. A full season.
No pitcher started more than 6 games in a month last season or in 2019. Only 7 threw 6 starts in a month in 2019 and all of them did it only once.
Since 33-34 IS a full season, if they threw 27-28 starts that means they missed a full month or more.
So 22 out of 150 rotation spots started 32 and only 6 of those started 33. Seems that is rather uncommon in grand scheme of things no??
33-34 games is considered a season. That is taking the ball every time the pitcher can all season. If they didn’t take the ball, it doesn’t matter why. They missed a start.
It doesn’t matter if it’s not common. Its a full season of starts. Period. End of discussion on that point.
If you have 28 or less starts that means you missed 5+ starts or 1 month of the season. Its not up for debate. Its a fact.
Very much not a Dodger fan either and I concur. I think every team in baseball would like to have those 20+ starts a season from Kershaw.
34 starts by 5 pitchers is 170 starts. And no because a player only started 28 games does not mean they missed any team. That is an absolute assumption on your part. Teams regularly push pitchers back a day or rain outs and makeups require pushing a whole staff back. Doing so throughout a season can make a player end up with 28 starts and often does.
And if it is not at all common it in no way makes it a full seasonof starts. There is no rule requiring a team to start a pitcher every 5th day as you are implying. You are being absolutely presumptuous assuming a pitcher who does not start x amount of time missed any starts. You are also being absolutely pompous in trying to back these foolish presumptuous statements you are making.
It wasn’t a question. Its a fact. If you are not smart enough to understand that you piss into the wind. Meet my little friend mute.
I can see them getting Stroman from the Cubs. Cubs keep saying they won’t trade him but yeah they will.
That makes a lot of sense. He’s durable, and his results are fairly consistent which is more than you can say about the rest of the Dodger rotation aside from Kershaw and Miller. Stroman is best case scenario, but LAD has been in buy low mode this year. I could actually see them taking Jordan Lyles off KC’s hands. That’s the last thing I wanna see, but look at their pickups so far this year. KC will have to eat most of what’s left for Lyles this year which I’m sure they’ll be happy to do.
The Cubs trading Stroman would be fine, just as long it’s not to the New York Yankees, since he’s not needed.
As a cub hater, I would love to see Stroman go anywhere else. He can take Steele with him.
Until Rodon comes back, he’s needed. But I agree with you, Captain Judge. Anywhere but the Yankees.
I see pitchers with very high leg kicks in their wind-ups, a few admitting they are emulating Juan Marichal. That’s all well and good, but if they would cut out trying to see how high they can bring their leg and focus on using their them more instead of just using their arms, there would be less arm, shoulder, UCL and TJ’s injuries. And they still would pitch 98-100.
I see pitchers with very high leg kicks in their wind-ups, a few admitting they are trying to emulate Juan Marichal. That’s all well and good, but they would do better if they cut out trying to see how high they can bring their leg up and focus on using them more instead of just using their arms, there would be less arm, shoulder, UCL and TJ’s injuries. And they still would pitch 98-100.
Sorry about the double post.
Especially when you have Bloom who actually seeks out damaged pitchers to sign to ridiculous contracts.
> Kershaw’s importance to the
> team in the long-term.
While Kershaw is important, getting something better out of Urias, Syndergaard, etc, is more important. They won’t make the playoffs if they keep getting what they have gotten from those starters.
True story. They made some risky calculations over the winter and lost those bets. Now they have only a few weeks to fix this, and it will be very costly either way.
Hitting—
SS and 2B (Vargas and Rojas) have been holes in the lineup, too. I’m sure they field well but they don’t hit like Seager/Turner. That hasn’t helped, either.
Lest we forget backup catcher Austin Barnes is hitting .108 Betts, Smith, and Freeman (and to a lesser degree Heyward) have carried this team so far this year. I don’t think they’re gonna make many meaningful additions from outside the organization this year, so it’s unfortunately more likely what you see is what you get.
> so it’s unfortunately more likely
> what you see is what you get.
Well, at least it’s not:
“what you see is what you Mets.”
The Dodgers made a mistake by not adding significant players. They said it was to stay under the luxury tax but they’re not fooling anyone. They’re saving their pennies to go after Ohtani. So basically they’re playing for 2024 instead of 2023.
Avenger – that is my take as well and I think a lot of sports writers, etc., have said the same appears to be the case.
Now, 6 months from now and Ohtani spurns the Dodgers for a different team – now what is the take on this?
The Dodgers aren’t all that well known for long term high dollars contracts for one player. SF, Angels and Padres all at least have a history of swimming in the deep waters.
Longtimecoming: My guess is, if they don’t sign Ohtani, they will sign every other FA they can along with other team’s dfa’s and players nearing 40. They’re too good an organization, but they’re probably hoping the Angels don’t make the PO. That might push him to wanting to leave.
I agree, the Ohtani rumors are a total mirage. Sportswriters and some fans like the idea but if you look at how the Dodgers actually spend their money, massive longterm contracts isn’t it. They’re in a bind, with a only few weeks to evaluate whether they’re serious buyers, nibblers, or even sellers. Yes, the latter is possible. With so many holes to fill they might not be able to trade their way out of it and decide to push the reset button.
I think they showed with Betts for the right player they ll open the check book.
With Ohtani, they’ll have no choice. I doubt he’ll sign anywhere for two years and an option for a third.
The exception that proves the rule. With all the chances they’ve had to sign or retain big names over the years, he’s really the only one.
And Matt Kemp, Kershaw, Freeman, etc.. to name a few. Dodgers like many other teams will not bat an eye at going after Ohtani this offseason.
Yankees lineup is pretty weak right now. If a few Orioles hitters could get hot, I can see the Birds taking the series.
I took a peek at Baseball Reference a few days ago and was really surprised to see how much some of the Yanks are scuffling this year. Some like Donaldson are putting up “career worst” levels.
> Some like Donaldson are
> putting up “career worst” levels.
“The best indicator of future performance is how they performed in the past. And they have performed consistently well in the past.”
—Steve Cohen
Someone should tell Cohen it’s “What have you done for me lately?” Look at Urias. He’had two or three great seasons. Now it doesn’t seem like he can get past his latest injury. Does that mean teams will sign him based on what he did in the past or what he’s done in his walk season?
> Someone should tell Cohen it’s
> “What have you done for me lately?”
“What will you do the next few years?”
Preferrably “few” covers the years you are looking to sign the player.
It’s kind of sad that when Judge is out of the lineup, the team struggles. I know there are other factors involved, but it shows that the yanks are not a well-balanced team with not enough depth.
You mean sweep the series. O’s are the better team now as the standings indicate. The Yankees will need to win 3 out of 4 to gain a better foothold of their current WC spot.
When was the last time the Orioles finished with a better seasonal record then the Yankees? Exactly let’s see them actually do it lst. Not saying they can’t either.
Captain: Remember, these aren’t your father’s Orioles. I know the article implied the O’s have lost a series, but I heard from another source that they haven’t lost any. Whatever. They don’t need to win this series, they just have to split it. It would be interesting if both the Mets (probably) and the Yankees missed the PO. The networks would go nuts.
@avenger65- it’s definitely possible that the Orioles finish the season with a better record then the Yankees. I just don’t see it as probable. The O’s are plenty exciting and I love Camden Yards. Probably one of best ball parks in the majors.
Few years ago they won the division lol
Its provable in early October.
baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/2023-schedule-sco…
They’ve lost a few series
I agree because he seems fragile and maybe more care could’ve been given to reduce his workload. But he has only 6 starts of exactly 6 IP and 6 starts of 7 IP. Three starts (100,103,105) over 100 pitches. I don’t know how much effort he spent in those games but he hasn’t exactly been abused.
My response was to a Kershaw post by someone that has vanished.
If Kersh goes on the IL that will mean every projected opening day Dodger starter will have spent time on the IL this season already. And the only one not currently on the IL is, Urias who just came off the IL two days ago. Pepiot was only supposed to be in the rotation because Gonsolin was hurt in spring training. Ouch..
L Urias
L Kershaw
R May
R Gonsolin
R Syndegaard
R Pepiot
Hopefully, the Orioles can anhiliate Herr Sticky Hands In Training (Cole’s Apprentice Caught Again).
It’s *shoulder* inflammation for Kershaw, not elbow. I don’t mean to be pedantic but that’s a pretty notable difference in ailments for a pitcher to be recovering from.
Yes. Shoulder inflammation is much worse.
It isn’t “much worse” or can be a much wider spectrum of things — while elbow inflammation is often first stage of what leads to Tommy John surgery and can be devastating for a pitcher. Shoulder inflammation ain’t great but can be mild and relieved with a shot and subside greatly after that,
I don’t know. The elbow is UCL/tj territory.
At least it isn’t his back. That would mean he’ll be on and off the IL the rest of the way. Not saying shoulder problems are better, but we all know how much time he’s missed in his career due to back problems.
The shoulder is pretty close to the back – thinking about the effect of overcompensating triggering the back again and one thing leads to another. If he follows recent trends with others injuries an oblique might even flair up – or a hamstring!
Curious to see how Hicks plays.
Was hoping he would annihilate the Yanks but he’s cooled off since his early run. Still hope he goes on a tear
Whitlock has been trying to be tough guy and is hurting the team, Kershaw is being cautious
I’ll take cautious
It’s not elbow inflammation, it’s shoulder inflammation. Your own linked article says as much.
mlb.com/dodgers/news/clayton-kershaw-has-left-shou…
Kershaw is out here quietly cementing his first ballot status. Watching him this year has been awesome. The adjustments, the pinpoint control. It’s beautiful! He’s a completely utterly different pitcher than he was 10 years ago
Kershaw needs only 88 more strikeouts for 3,000 career strikeouts.
His career’s only blemish has been his postseason pitching. He never was as dominant in October.
For a brief moment, I thought he might get to 3,000 before Greinke, but this latest setback will more than likely put a kibosh to that happening. .
Dear Cora Bloom,
You are not getting to the post season and, in the 20,000-to-1 shot you do, you’re getting your buns handed to you in the first series. Put Pivetta back in the rotation, release Kluber, call up Barraclough and Ryan (I Shot the) Sherriff and call it a day. Then please quit.
Milt, it’s tempting but Pivetta has been valuable in his new role. Winc has faltered though and might be better suited for one inning stints. I actually think Crawford has taken the Pivetta spot, .500 record, 4.50 ERA. It’s all about the innings though. Who gets them and when.
Bloom is gonna mess Whitlock up look at bard ..he is still recovering they shoulda left Whitlock and Houck in the bullpen
Quadruple- Bard was messed up before we went back and forth he’s even said that. As for Whitlock and Houck they both wanted to be starters so the club is giving them this year to know once and for all. Whitlock isn’t being messed up he was a starter his entire career before being in the bullpen in 2021
No, Whitock wasn’t a starter for his entire career which from a ML standpoint (drafted in 2017 and underwent TJ around 2019-2020) in 2021…..he’s been in like 87 games with 19 starts for the Sox……..he seemingly was a lot more affective in relief as referenced by his stats in both 2021 and 2022……the Yankees exposed him to Rule 5 and the Red Sox grabbed him in 2020 when he supposedly was recovered from the TJ surgery.
rsfan – they wanted to be starters? I want to date a model. Ain’t happening.
That’s a strange point to make seeing as how he was a starter at every single level he pitched at before having to become a reliever as a Rule 5 pick recovering from TJS.
At this point they need to contact MadBum to see if he’s still willing to pitch. If nothing else the guy is durable when he stays off the dirt bike.
MadBum isn’t available. He’s trying to learn how to throw again at The Dallas Keuchel School for pitchers who can’t throw as far as home plate.
Check out the Worcester pitching stats. They are not pretty.
Well, if you look, you’ll see James Paxton had a 6.23 ERA down there. Drohan is a little wild, but he may be the next possibility. Or, just for the sake of cool names, promote Taylor Broadway.
Well, Sherriff is on the IL with a flexor strain, so….
You don’t hear as much about Jason Whitlock as you used to.
Fire Boone
Day after day the Yankees field a team that has either literal replacement players or replacement value players. It’s not just one thing….injuries, underperformance, age, and spotty managing are all there. They need to take a hard look at themselves, not do dumb trades, not take on more salary, and recognize that trading the farm for expensive old players only to, at best, squeak into the last wildcard spot and then lose makes no sense. As does the idea that if they can just hang in until the IL folks come back….forget it. Accept reality,
Well said, and applies in differing ways to many teams. We keep hearing of teams waiting on the deadline to determine if they buy, sell, or do neither. The fact that team “X” is a few games out of the last playoff spot in late July should not drive roster decisions. If organizations were honest, there would be more teams willing to sell. After 100 games, you should know your teams capabilities. If the best evaluation of a team is “Just get to the playoffs, anything can happen”, its like the guy whose never flown the plane deciding to push random buttons in hopes the landing gear comes down. Reality bites hard this time of year, and Im not advocating selling for its own sake. But more teams need to look longer term, and if opportunities emerge to make your team better in the longer view, take it. If not, at least do no further harm to roster viability 2-3 years down the road.
“The Dodgers keep paying him tons of money and he’s almost always a question mark”
How is that “not mentioning his worth”
>an MRI today on the heels
Whitlock has a heel in his throwing arm? Hm! (Beware of carelessly larding your prose with clichés!)