As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Doubleheader in Atlanta:
A game between the Padres and Braves was rained out on Saturday, and the lost contest will be made up for today in the form of a split doubleheader. Game 1 is scheduled for 12:20pm local time while Game 2 is scheduled for 6:20pm local time, with fans who had tickets to Saturday night’s postponed game eligible to use them during today’s second contest this evening per MLB.com.
Game 1 will feature a pitchers’ duel between right-handers Dylan Cease (2.45 ERA) and Reynaldo Lopez (1.34 ERA). while Game 2 will see young righty Randy Vasquez (6.32 ERA) face off against veteran southpaw Chris Sale (2.54 ERA). Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud was sidelined this weekend due to dizziness after a foul ball struck his mask, and while he’s expected to be back in action today, Atlanta would likely need to add another catcher to the roster if he’s suffered any sort of setback.
2. Cardinals roster move incoming:
The Cardinals are poised to promote right-hander Ryan Loutos today for what would be his major league debut if he makes it into a game. The Cardinals will need to clear space on both their 40-man and active rosters to accommodate the addition of Loutos, who signed with St. Louis as an undrafted free agent back in 2021 but has impressed with a 1.72 ERA and 3.06 FIP in 13 appearances at the Triple-A level for the club this year.
The 40-man roster move could be a relatively simple one, as catcher Willson Contreras is a candidate for the 60-day injured list after suffering a fractured arm that will reportedly sideline him for around ten weeks. The player who Loutos will replace on the active roster is less clear, although speculatively speaking it could make some sense for the Cardinals to swap out optionable right-hander Nick Robertson for a fresher arm on the heels of Robertson throwing 58 pitches across three innings of work during last night’s game.
3. Who’s joining the White Sox rotation?
The White Sox are reportedly planning to designate veteran right-hander Brad Keller for assignment today following a tough start in the Bronx over the weekend where he allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits, including four home runs, and a walk over four inning. Keller, 28, will have the opportunity to elect free agency in search of another opportunity should he not be traded or claimed before clearing waivers.
What remains unclear is how the White Sox plan to replace the veteran righty in their rotation. Right-hander Michael Soroka is stretched out to start but was only just moved to the bullpen last week to accommodate Keller. Lefty Jared Shuster has starting experience and has looked good in seven multi-inning relief appearances, but he’s thrown in the vicinity of just 25 pitches per outing in recent weeks and would likely need to be stretched out further to be a realistic starting option. That could leave the club to turn to a hurler not currently on the active roster such as Nick Nastrini or Jonathan Cannon, both of whom made their MLB debuts earlier this season but have since been optioned back to Triple-A Charlotte.
RP Daysbel Hernandez is the 27th rostered man for ATL for the DH, so – fingers crossed – we may see d’Arnaud. Tromp isn’t making the team great again.
keller did okay in the bullpen? It’s kind of confusing why they might DFA him just after one start where he was facing the best team in mlb. Why not move him back to the bullpen?
WSox standards for performance are high. Tough love if you want to play for elite manager Grifol and owner like JR. Layer upon layer of excellence.
It’s time for the Cardinals to DFA Brandon Crawford.
How is he still in the major leagues his career is done he should have retired this offseason so he could be a giant forever but he had to spend a few games with the cardinals
Defense? Nope. Too slow unless the ball is hit directly at him.
Pinch it? Nope. .091
Veteran Leadership? Nope. Kind of hard to spend 13 yrs with one organization only to move to a new city, new team, new teammates, for one year and expect to suddenly lead when he’s just getting there himself.
No idea.
Slider,
I’m sure he still pinches it from time to time
3 for 31 with 12 Ks so far (.097 BA). He and Chris Taylor are gonna make a heck of a 1-2 punch for somebody once they both get tossed overboard from their respective teams.
Taylor is signed for next year at 13 million and making big money this year as well. I wouldn’t lump those 2 players together. Crawford is basically around because of injuries and he’s not making squat. I believe Crawford is gone once Edman is healthy.
I can’t understand why Cards don’t leave Fermin up and DFA Crawford. He’s tearing it up down in AAA. Maybe they don’t think he’s good enough defensively at SS to be Winn backup but he’s got to be better than Crawford
Edman being hurt has really hurt the team in a lot of ways. With him on the team backup shortstop isn’t a problem even if he regularly plays center. Saggese and Prieto are coming soon but I don’t believe either is too impressive on defense at short. Fermin I don’t know. Some guys the team doesn’t want to give a chance. Crawford is garbage he needs to go. And Carpenter should be next.
There was talk that Contreras’ injury was healing better than expected so it’s possible they don’t want to put him on the 60 day IL we will see. Robertson certainly looks like a good choice to be sent down after he was used up trying to prove the ONeill trade wasn’t completely stupid. Roycroft is a bum he could also be sent down.