As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:
1. Skenes to debut:
Less than a year after he was selected first overall in the 2023 draft, Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes is set to be promoted to the big leagues this weekend. Skenes, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday later this month, has carved up Triple-A hitters to the tune of a microscopic 0.99 ERA across seven starts at the level with an incredible 42.9% strikeout rate in 27 1/3 innings of work. The young fireballer will make his MLB debut at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Saturday, where he’ll take on Cubs ace Justin Steele (0.96 ERA in two starts this season). First pitch is scheduled for 4:05pm local time Saturday afternoon.
2. Woo to be activated:
Mariners manager Scott Servais offered some exciting news to reporters (including Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times) yesterday afternoon when he revealed that youngster Bryan Woo will be activated off the injured list today to take the ball against the A’s in Seattle this evening. Woo, 24, has missed the entire 2024 season to this point due to elbow inflammation but made 18 starts with the Mariners in his rookie season last year. In 87 2/3 innings of work, Woo posted a respectable 4.21 ERA and 4.36 FIP with a solid 25.1% strikeout rate. Woo’s start will begin at 6:40pm local time this evening, when he’ll pitch opposite Oakland right-hander Paul Blackburn.
3. Iglesias approaching milestone:
Braves closer Raisel Iglesias currently has 199 career saves, leaving him just one away from becoming the 54th player in MLB history to reach the 200 saves milestone. After joining Atlanta at the trade deadline in 2022 in a deal with the Angels, the right-hander has posted a sterling 1.96 ERA in 96 1/3 innings of work with the Braves while striking out 27.8% of batters faced. Even by those lofty standards, the right-hander is off to an impressive start this season; in 14 1/3 innings of work, the 34-year-old veteran has posted a 1.88 ERA with a 2.60 FIP, though he’s managed just ten strikeouts in that time. Iglesias could get the opportunity to reach the milestone this weekend in Queens, where the Braves will be visiting the Mets for a three-game set.
Most underrated stadium/fanbase/history/organization in all of international sports history (Braves)
@Username1
Braves are mostly overrated. They have a lot of teams that win in the regular season but not a lot of championships to claim.
Strider, Maddux, Acuna, Abiles, Smoltz, etc.
@Username1
Yes, all those guys played for the Bravos. What’s the point?
Teixeira, Grissom, Avery, McGriff.
Rico Carty
Marty Perez
Klesko, Uggla, Glavine.
John Rocker
Tommie Aaron
Kranepool, Kanael, Cannizzaro.
Bragg, Blanco, Estrada.
Gant, Hudson, Moylan
Only 10 teams have as many or more World Series titles as the Braves, their 18 appearances in the World Series are 4th on the list and they have the record for most division titles.
As per usual, your takes are awful. Of course, you’ll hang your hat on World Series titles, something the Yankees haven’t earned in how long?
The Braves have little history before 1991. I mean, they moved 3 cities in like 30 year span.
Jones, Furcal, Lopez, Jones.
Joe and Phil
McMichael, Lempke, BLAUSER
Not even a Braves fan but put some respect on Dale Murphy’s run
Murphy, Vazquez, Escobar.
Tommie Aaron’s brother
Iglesias was traded by the Angels for Jesse Chavez and Tucker Davidson. Another reason why the Angels can never get any positive roster-building momentum.
The Angels have indeed struggled mightily in building a roster, but in fairness, the Iglesies trade was a salary dump thereby lessening their return.
But why did the Angels need to do another salary dump?
Because of lousy roster decisions.
Their circle of mediocrity flows into itself.
when perry inevitably leaves after this season, how long will rendon last under a new regime? over/under one full season? do neto and schanuel spend time in the minors next year? the pitching is pertty much focused on caden dana reaching the majors, thats about the only thing to look at other than a tyler anderson rebound so fresh slate there
Minasian still servrs clubhouse for the Braves.
Paul Skene now begins his major league career. Let’s see how long it takes for him to follow Gerrit Cole’s path to New York.
@Very Barry
He’ll be on the Dodgers soon enough with deferred money to 2050.
In a freakish reversal of the Dodgers defer strategy, the White Sox will expedite Skene’s salary with payments made dating back in time to 1947
@Brew88
The players should be paid based on that year’s performance and then it ends and they have to perform again. If they are terrible, they make the league minimum.
Paul Goldschmidt would have to sell his Ford F150 to pay mortgage this year
Like real people? What a novel concept.
This Cardinals fan resents this remark but agrees it is correct. Damnit.
Goldschmidt would have bought a new house free and clear after his 2022 MVP season.
Seems like a weird person to single out for not earning his contract.
Goldy isn’t weird, he’s just an example of a star having a “terrible” year, so far. Great player, he’ll rebound.
He’s not weird you are weird for singling him out as if he’s not earning his contract. He’s already earned it. He’s 36. He’s been incredibly healthy. If he’s no longer the same guy as he was so be it.
Try to keep it in context Joel and re-read the original post I was responding to. Goldy isn’t the only star having a bad year, and I’m sorry your feelings were hurt by my use of him as an example. If it helps, I don’t actually believe he should be paid league minimum this year and have to sell off his F150, that was a joke, ya know?
It’s fine man. There are a LOT of players not earning their money. The Cardinals have signed lots of players that haven’t lived up to their contract over the years. Goldschmidt is having a bad year in year 5 of a 5 year deal and he’s 36. He shows up every day he doesn’t get into trouble. I don’t see the point in cracking jokes at his expense.
Goldschmidt is also an example of an aging player whose best years are behind him
The Cards should have traded him after last season for younger players
If Goldschmidt is aging and his best years are behind him why would other teams trade for him?????
Reading comprehension works if you pay attention to the entire context
AFTER last season
Why would a team want a 36 year old 1b coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro making 26 million dollars in 2024?
Nobody has made a mistake here. The contract was a good contract but players get old. His decline is nothing compared to the decline we have seen from other guys with big contracts. Pujols sucked for nearly a decade. Fielder got hurt and retired early. Howard was awful for his entire 5 year deal.
Suggesting that a star as respected as Goldschmidt be forced to earn league minimum was deliberate in my response to Old York, I was being intentionally sarcastic, and using Goldy as the example was meant as a compliment to him. I could have used say, Bogaerts, but I’m not sure his bad season isn’t the new norm for him..
Last year he hit 25 homers and drove in 80 runs. Not too shabby for someone of his age
Teams trade for that kind of production, even from a 36 year old player
It’s all good man. People have been making some stupid comments about the Cardinals lately. If you didn’t intend it that way then no worries.
I wonder about the Padres long term but they got a window here. And they are certainly trying you have to respect that.
That’s not impressive for 26 million a year. And he also has a NTC so he could only be dealt to a team that he chose. Last year at the deadline I suggested trading him to Baltimore. But what difference does it make?
The Mariners sure need some kind of spark to get them going again. They were badly humbled by the Twins, who absolutely looked unbeatable.
Momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher.
Earl the Weaver
. . .and meanwhile Oakland has been looking pretty good.
So Seattle will be pitching Woo.
They should trade for Woo Suk Go and have him come into game to relieve Bryan Woo and then, there you have it, Woo Woo!
Of course the old phrase, “pitching woo” means something entirely different!
The Pirates will draw their largest single game attendance in team history on Saturday, and all just to see Olivia Dunne…
good chance Pirates still lose 1-0
I have several friends that are going to the game on Saturday, and it’s not to see Skene’s girlfriend who will be sitting in an enclosed suite where fans wouldn’t see her unless the camera points at her
Thanks for sharing that. It makes a difference in the outcome of the game, fer sher.
Kinda wild only 54 guys have reached 200 saves.
A lot of AS RPs spent early careers at SPs
Also, the save has only been an official statistic since 1969, I believe.
Elroy Face of the Pirates recorded 191 saves, all before 1969
Biggest pet peeve: It’s just “MLB” not “the MLB.”
I thought your biggest pet peeve was that no one will sign Bauer?
That would be #2
Looks like the Skenes debut got slightly botched. Oh well.