On the heels of some overnight transaction news, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today…
1. Gray to undergo MRI:
Rangers right-hander Jon Gray is set to undergo an MRI exam after departing yesterday’s game prior to the sixth inning due to a bout of groin tightness. As noted by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Gray told reporters last night that he does not expect to miss a start, though the MRI suggests that the Rangers have at least some level of concern. Being cautious with Gray makes plenty of sense for the Rangers, as the 32-year-old righty has essentially emerged as the club’s ace with Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Nathan Eovaldi all on the injured list.
In ten appearances, Gray sports a sterling 2.08 ERA (188 ERA+) with a 2.46 FIP and a solid 24.1% strikeout rate. That sort of production in the rotation would be difficult to replace if Gray required a trip to the IL himself, even as the Rangers are set to activated righty Dane Dunning today to start tonight’s game against the Phillies.
2. Roster move coming and hit streak to watch in Arizona:
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters (including Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic) last night that a roster move is coming for the club today. Lovullo did not get into specific details regarding the impending move, although he did note that it’s “possible” the club opt for a bullpen game this evening against the Dodgers. Tonight’s start had previously been slated to be taken by right-hander Ryne Nelson, who has a brutal 7.06 ERA through seven starts this season despite a decent 4.17 FIP.
If Arizona does opt for a bullpen game, it’s not clear if that would indicate that Nelson is being removed from the roster or simply having his start pushed back. Among the hurlers who could potentially be slated to join the roster, lefties Brandon Hughes and Andrew Saalfrank as well as righty Cristian Mena have all pitched fairly well at Triple-A this season and are currently on the 40-man roster, while lefty Blake Walston could be a multi-inning relief option for the club who is also on the 40-man.
While the D-backs’ rotation is a source of intrigue at the moment, so is the hitting streak of their star second baseman. Ketel Marte went 1-for-5 last night to push his MLB-best hit streak to 20 straight games. It’s one of the least conventional hit streaks you’ll see, as Marte has only two multi-hit games over the course of this 20-game run. His .262/.300/.523 slash during this run is strong (123 wRC+) but also not quite the blistering production one might expect from someone on such a good run. In fact, he posted better rate stats in 28 games before his hitting streak than he has over the course of the streak (thanks in large part to a pair of four-hit games and a trio of three-hit showings). Marte will have one of his toughest tests of the streak thus far when he faces off against Dodgers righty Tyler Glasnow.
3. Young lefties square off in Kansas City:
Two of the AL Central’s most impressive young arms are set to face off in a pitchers’ duel later today as Royals lefty Cole Ragans takes on Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Ragans, 26, dominated to a 2.64 ERA in 12 starts with the Royals down the stretch last year after being acquired from the Rangers. This year’s 3.70 ERA doesn’t quite stack up to that level, but the lefty sports an excellent 2.58 FIP thanks in part to an excellent 27.6% strikeout rate and improved 7.8% walk rate.
Ragans is facing a tough assignment, as Skubal has been among the very best pitchers in the big leagues this year. The 27-year-old has been nothing short of dominant through nine starts this season, with a 1.80 ERA and an MLB-best 1.95 FIP in 55 innings of work. Skubal has struck out 31.6% of batters faced this season while walking a microscopic 3.5%. The two youngsters are set to face off this afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10pm local time.
But Skubal has to face major league hitters… Ragan faces a bunch of AAAA hitters. It’s a shame Scottie Harris doesn’t know the Tiger offense stinks. One of the worst OBP teams and they are 5th in runners LOB. Tiger offense is a clown show.
Melchez
wRC+
Tigers 92
Royals 99
You might be overstating things a bit
Royals have 6 regulars with OPS+ over 100. Tigers have 4. Tigers also have 3 regulars with OPS+ under 60.
Royals 31 and 19
Tigers 23 and 25
Royals have been shutout once… Tigers 5 times. 7 times the Tigers have scored 1 run.
OK?
How does that support your argument?
That a team nearly .500 isn’t great evidence that they are “AAAA”
I think it’s fair to say the Tigers are close to .500 because of their pitching and not their hitting.
No Soup
Which is why it makes no sense to cite W-L record as support for a team being AAAA level offensively.
Thanks soup… teams that can’t score many runs don’t win many games. Even with decent pitching. 5 shutouts and 7 games with 1 run… hard to expect your pitchers to shut out everyone.
Melchez
That s team is basically .500 isn’t evidence that they are a “AAAA” team
They aren’t a AAAA team. They are a bit below average offensively based on their 92 wRC+
Looking at offensive measures is a better way to measure offense than W-L record
The reason they are a sub .500 team is because they have a terrible offense. It’s in all the stats.
Melcher
“Terrible” is a vague, eaninglessm word.
Their offense has been, last I checked, 8% below average
THAT is in the stats. “Terrible” or “AAAA” IS not
“eaninglessm”… The Tigers have a terrible offense… it’s in the stats and in the eye of people who know baseball. They really stink.
Time to let Walston have his shot as a starter in the show.
Tigers need to cash in on some older players… how about Andy Ibanez to the Dodgers for catcher Hunter Feduccia? Dodgers could send down Gavin Lux to fix his swing. Ibanez can play 2B. Tigers get a young lefty hitting backup catcher that has some OBP and good defense. They can cut Carson Kelly and call up Jace Jung for 3B. Shop around Urshela.
Try and trade Flaherty or extend him. Don’t do another ERod and just let him walk. Trade Canha while he has value. Not many people will be looking for a 35 year old OF/1B/DH, but he’s still hitting a little.
Melcher
Dodgers can send down Lux, if they wanted, without giving up Fedducia.
Ibanez is a.nice player, but that trade isn’t happening.
The Dodgers should call up Lupcius. He was a decent player for the Tigers.
Feduccia is buried behind Smith Rushing Cartaya and Barnes
How on earth does Reese Olson have a 2.16 ERA over 9 starts and he is 0 and 5? That has to be historicaly unlucky.
Blackpink
PART of the reason is people thinking ERA and W-L record are more meaningful than they are
4 unearned runs have also scored. Which is 2.88 runs allowed per 9.
Ok how in earth is a pitcher who is allowing 2.88 runs per 9 innings 0 and 5 after 9 starts?
Bp
Some parts playing for a below average offensive team. Some parts luck (poor sequencing, maybe poor relief pitching)
What pitching stat do you prefer? A combo of ERA and win loss tells quite a bit.
Welchez
FIP-
XFIP-
Both tell more about PITCHING than ERA and W-L record
FIP and XFIP are related to the ERA. I’m taking ERA and also Wins and Losses.
Great pitchers have low era and high win percentages Prove me wrong.
Melchez
“prove me wrong”
Goodbye
Tigers offense stinks… CBeisboi doesn’t understand baseball.
It’s 8% below average
I know that because I understand math
Tigers offense stinks because I know baseball.
Am I the only one who thinks of Sammy Malone rapping whenever a player has a gg-gg groin, gg-gg groin, gg-gg groin injury?
Yes. You are indeed the only one.
Not much of a duel… 3 nothing in the 5th with the Royal pitcher tossing a no no.
Hmmm… but the offense isn’t the problem. LOL
I can’t wait for Derek Hill Jr… I mean Max Clark to get called up. Then the next rebuild will start.
Just picture Clark and Tork in the same lineup with Payton Graham at short… that is going to really be an amazing base to build on.
You know… I was criticized for wanting the Tigers to sign Seager for short. I was told he was overrated. That same year Freeman was lingering on the market… imagine if they had signed them both. The Tigers could have 2 positions set for years and build on those.
Seager, Greene, Freeman… that’s a solid 3 hitters. Carpenter… Keith and Jung in the wings… dang, that would be a very solid lineup. Lefty heavy… but that’s better than what they have.