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. Series Preview: Rangers @ Mariners
It’s been a struggle for the reigning World Series champion Rangers this year, as they’ve played to just a 33-35 record that places them 5.5 games back of the Mariners for the AL West lead and 3.5 games back of the Twins for the final AL Wild Card spot. Texas has begun to heat up recently with a 9-6 record over their past 15 games, a stretch that includes swiping two of three from the Dodgers in L.A. earlier this week. With a three-game set against Seattle on the docket this weekend, the Rangers will turn to lefty Andrew Heaney (4.06 ERA), veteran Nathan Eovaldi (2.68 ERA), and righty Dane Dunning (4.80 ERA) opposite the three-headed monster at the front of the Mariners rotation: Luis Castillo (3.35 ERA), George Kirby (3.81 ERA), and Logan Gilbert (3.19 ERA).
The coming series will be crucial to the defending champs’ chances of turning things around, particularly in the division standings, prior to the trade deadline next month. The Rangers won’t play the Mariners again until September. A sweep of the series by Texas would place them just 2.5 games back of Seattle in the division and back over .500, while the Mariners would be able to create even more distance in the AL West with a sweep of their own, giving them at least an eight-game lead over their closest competitor. The series kicks off tonight in Seattle and 7:10pm local time.
2. Cole continues rehab:
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is scheduled to make his third rehab start at the Triple-A level today, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including those at MLB.com). Boone added that Cole is expected to throw around 70 pitches, and Cole himself said following his last start that he expected to make one more before returning to the majors. That could signal that Cole will be ready to be activated as soon as next week, assuming there are no hiccups during his rehab outing today.
The reigning AL Cy Young winner has been sidelined since Spring Training due to a bout of elbow inflammation but has looked like his usual dominant self in two rehab starts at the Double-A level. In a combined eight innings of work, Cole has struck out nine batters (32.4% strikeout rate) while issuing zero walks and allowing just one earned run. Cole’s return to the rotation should allow the Yankees to return right-hander Cody Poteet to his role as an occasional spot starter rather than a fixture of the rotation, though the 29-year-old has impressed with a 2.40 ERA in three starts since replacing an injured Clarke Schmidt.
3. 2021 NL Cy Young Award rematch:
Sunday’s game between the Phillies and Orioles will be a particularly interesting one, even aside from the inherent intrigue of seeing two of the league’s heavyweights square off in a hypothetical World Series preview. Right-handers Corbin Burnes and Zack Wheeler are set to face off in Baltimore starting at 1:35pm local time. It will be the first time the pair have faced each other since finishing as the top two in a close 2021 NL Cy Young Award vote that saw each hurler get 12 out of 30 first place votes. Ultimately, Burnes bested Wheeler by a narrow margin to take home the award.
Burnes was traded to Baltimore over the winter and upon joining the Orioles has enjoyed his best campaign since he was crowned the best pitcher in the NL three years ago. In 86 2/3 innings, he’s notched 2.08 ERA and 3.22 FIP, though his 23.6% strikeout rate is a far cry from the 35.6% figure he posted in 2021. Meanwhile, Wheeler recently signed an extension to stay in Philadelphia through 2027. His 2.16 ERA in 87 2/3 frames this season would be a career best, and he sports an excellent 2.90 FIP with a 27.7% strikeout rate.
Good for Rangers for dispatching the Dodgers.
Rangers mariners going to be fun
tormented: I just hope it’s televised.
Hah I’m going to go back to the radio for this game, Apple TV plus my @$$
Kyle Bradish versus Ranger Suarez match up today is very intriguing, too.
I wish the Cubs could have traded for Burnes, but I’m fairly certain that the Brewers would not have moved him to a division rival even if they offered a better package. Especially after the whole Craig Counsell thing.
If a GM doesn’t accept the best offer for a trade because the team is in the division then they need to be fired. Job of a GM is to put together the best team they can and when trading a playing, get the best return possible. All they should care about is who they are getting back not who the outgoing player is going to.
It seems to me that most top contending teams have two really good starters, then it stops there. With Suarez pitching so well, the Phillies now have three. Winning it all almost always comes down to who has the fewest injuries. That puts the Phillies ahead of the Braves and Dodgers right now.
Mariners have 5
This is not a crucial series given that we are not even halfway through the season yet. The Rangers had 5+ game lead most of last season until early Aug when Jung went down. They were playing solid baseball before Jung went down again this year among the majority of the other injuries, They are getting healthy. This season will have many more ups and downs before we get to Sept. This is not a crucial series. at this point of the season.
Games played now count just as much as the ones in September.
This series actually is very important. The Rangers could go 8.5 games back of Mariners if they get swept. Even losing 2 out 3 would hurt. With no more head to head games until September be tougher to catch up. Also Twins catching up on wildcard and Houston is playing better in the division.
If Mariners make a good big move also at Trade deadline will make it harder also.
JRod v Seager is another sideline battle – if the Rangers healthy enough.
Pitchers duels don’t always work out as expected, look no further than Houck vs Nola last night.
That’s why they play the games!
It was still a pitchers duel. Houck was hurt by one Schwarber hit. Nola was up against the Red Sox formidable lineup of …
Oh, never mind.
hayzee – It was easily Houck’s 2nd-worst game of the season.
2nd-most ER
2nd-mosts Hits
Nola just didn’t have it yesterday.
Yup, hence the oh never mind at the end. But I do give credit to his going 6 innings and then being able to use a roster filler for the next 3.
hayzee – Totally agree with you there, Houck is a gamer …. unlike Bello, he doesn’t implode under adversity.
That’s why I’ve been a huge Houck fan since Day One!
Did you see Bello’s presser after his last game? The guy was late and decided to wear sunglasses the whole time. I think he’s auditioning for Sox diva. lol Hey, he’s still maturing so it’s not a big deal, A bad look though.
Dick – I totally agree, both Bello and Rafaela have some maturing to do. They came into a ton of money all at once, with no real incentive to work hard on their game for at least 3-4 years.
My early perception of Grissom is the same.
Heads-up for those seeing the clash of the titans: Tonight’s Yankees-Red Sox game has been moved up a half-hour to 6:30 PM ET so people in New England can potentially witness the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Finals.
Chucky – I think some people will be shocked at Yankee fans practically outnumbering Sox fans tonight in Fenway.
The article mentions the three headed monster of the Seattle rotation…
Castillo 3.35 ERA, 110 ERA+
Kirby 3.81 ERA, 97 ERA+
Gilbert 3.19 ERA, 116 ERA+
Doesn’t actually seem all that monstrous. That description is as much reputation as actual performance this season.
Texas top three is actually much better this season:
Gray 2.17 ERA, 180 ERA+
Eovaldi 2.68 ERA, 145 ERA+
Lorenzen 2.86 ERA, 136 ERA+
Well throw in Mariners other 2. Woo has been their best with a 1.07 ERA and Miller has a 3.48 ERA. Not a bad 5 man rotation
Don’t like this comparison because of innings pitched so far:
Castillo: 83.1
Kirby: 80.1
Gilbert: 90.1
Gray: 62.1
Eovaldi: 57
Lorenzen: 59
But to be fair Kirby and Castillo are obviously better pitchers than they have shown so far this year. And Gray and Lorenzen haven’t put up numbers like that in the past. Things will even out as the season goes on.
Swiper no swiping
Hey Gerrit, why don’t you go out for a bike ride. Big Yankee contract as a reward for being a cheater. Same old same old Steingrabbers.
Rangers get Vlad JR or Luis Robert at deadline to hit 3rd in that lineup missing a big right handed hitter it will be on. Rangers SP has held it down TBH hitting and middle relief is the weak spot for Texas yes hitting in Texas has been the biggest issue.