As the home stretch of the regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. Albies to begin rehab assignment:
The Braves have dealt with plenty of injuries throughout the season, ranging from the early losses of Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. to the more recent absence of Austin Riley. They’re finally on the cusp of getting a key player back, however, as manager Brian Snitker told reporters (including MLB.com’s Mark Bowman) that second baseman Ozzie Albies is nearing a return to action after two months on the shelf due to a wrist fracture. The 27-year-old is set to begin a short rehab assignment today and will be activated Friday against the Marlins if all goes well.
Albies, a switch-hitter, still feels discomfort when swinging left-handed and will have to exclusively swing right-handed upon returning. Fortunately, Albies has always hit much better when batting righty throughout his career, and Snitker confirmed that he’ll be able to play second base during his rehab assignment. Whit Merrifield, who was signed shortly after Albies’ injury and has performed well as the club’s second baseman in his absence, will now be an option in left field and at third base, where fellow in-season acquisitions Ramon Laureano and Gio Urshela currently reside.
2. Series Preview: Yankees @ Mariners
The Yankees are headed out west today to take on the Mariners in a three-game set that will have significant implications on the AL playoff picture. The Yankees currently hold a three-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East, and while the loser of that duel will also make the postseason as a Wild Card team, the division crown is still noteworthy as it will likely be tied to a bye through the Wild Card round. Meanwhile, the Mariners are not currently in playoff position but are just two games out of the final AL Wild Card spot. FanGraphs still gives them a shot at the postseason with 10.7% odds.
In order to keep those hopes alive, the Mariners will have to take down the Yankees in this series, which begins at 6:40pm local time tonight. Righty Luis Gil (3.18 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Yankees opposite 24-year-old Bryan Woo (2.38 ERA). The next day, lefty Nestor Cortes (3.90 ERA) is scheduled to take on right-hander Bryce Miller (3.18 ERA). The series wraps up with right-hander Clarke Schmidt (2.41 ERA in 13 starts) taking on Logan Gilbert (3.24 ERA) on Thursday.
3. Eovaldi option watch:
As laid out by MLBTR’s Steve Adams yesterday, Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is just four innings shy of triggering a vesting player option valued at $20MM. He’s pitched four or more innings in 24 of his 26 starts this season, so it’s extremely likely that Eovaldi will see that option vest today. The 34-year-old (35 in February) will still have the right to turn down that player option and once again test free agency, but it provides some insurance in the event that Eovaldi suffers an injury in the season’s final weeks — or perhaps simply an easy means of resolving his offseason status early if the Texas native is happy with the Rangers and does not wish to go through free agency again. Eovaldi should have no problem topping that $20MM guarantee on the market, however. He’s pitched to a 3.67 ERA in 152 frames this season and touts a combined 3.65 ERA, 23.7% strikeout rate, 7% walk rate and 49.8% grounder rate in 296 frames over his two seasons as a Ranger.
4. MLBTR Chat:
The postseason is almost upon us, and clubs have begun to get eliminated as the remaining contenders make their final pushes towards the playoffs. In the AL, the Tigers and Mariners are nipping at the heels of the Twins for the final AL Wild Card spot. In the NL, the Diamondbacks, Mets, and Braves are in locked in a close race to take the final two Wild Card spots behind San Diego. If you’re wondering about your team’s hopes of a World Series championship this fall or how your club could approach the coming offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
Braves have actually gotten really good production from midseason free agents. Makes all the roster maneuvering shenanigans they did over the offseason look even more pointless, as they clearly could have filled some holes with cheap free agents.
Maybe, but you’re talking about a very small sample size. These guys (Urshela, Whit, Laureano) wouldn’t have been available had they been producing anywhere near this with their former teams. Sure, ATL knows how to turn chicken poo into chicken salad, but they’re also not undefeated in doing so.
And considering the current lack of offensive production (last night: 0-12 w/ RISP to get shutout), I’d argue the hole-fillers are showing why.
Pretty sure inutero told me I “don’t know ball” recently too. Join the club. It’s the automatic comeback when they disagree.
Laureano has never stopped hitting. He’s been making a lot of loud outs lately. They are hardly giving it away. The Mets have played great.
“roster shenanigans”.”fill some holes”. There were no holes to fill except one at the time. All that just applies to Kelenic. I mean its still not the same as a cheap free agent because he has like 4 years remaining. Whether it is a failure or not it’s a different type of move than going one year deal every year in left. Those types of players wouldn’t have signed with ATL because there was no role. The only thing really there was whether you wanted Duvall or someone else like Laureano. A coin flip. Whit and Urshela are not very good anyway. They are nice to have around tho
How is Eovaldi expected to “easily” top $20 mil/year when Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell struggled to get $25 million and $31 million, respectively? The math ain’t math-ing
One word… Scott Boras!!! Oh I’m bad at math sorry…
Snell’s 2/62M with opt out isn’t 1/31M, especially coming off a Cy season. Eovaldi’s 2.4 bWAR (’24) will not be Snell’s 2023 6.2 bWAR.
The reference was to a total guarantee of $20 mill not AAV. At Evoldi’s age and health history a 3/50 deal is potentially more attractive than 1 year 20-25 mill.
As others pointed out, it’s not AAV. Deeds wrote “Eovaldi should have no problem topping that $20MM guarantee,” meaning total value of his next contract should exceed the remaining $20M he would be owed. Even if he got 2/$40M on the open market, that’s double the guarantee of 1/$20M.
It should say “Even if he ONLY got 2/$40M…” I left a word out which obviously greatly affected the intention of my statement. I agree that he’ll get more than 2/$40M. I think he gets 3 years and probably around $22-23M AAV.
Eovadli will go into next season at age 35, though. Comparing his upcoming trek through FA to that of a 29 year old (at the time) Giolito who had previously shown #2 stuff before imploding probably isn’t the greatest comparison. Coming off an offseason in which many players got significantly less total than many of us expected (Snell and Montgomery, in particular) makes it even less so.
Well in all fairness that was unwise. Eovaldi himself got a lesser deal last time than Gio who was arguably the worst pitcher in baseball for two straight seasons. I know there were injury concerns but I didn’t get Eovaldi’s market. I can only presume BOS thought they’d turn Gio into a beast. Many better pitchers got pretty small deals last offseason-tho there were concerns for all of them.
I can’t wait to see the Yankees get another sweep
It would be nice but how in the world does Seattle not have a better record considering how good their pitchers are?
the hype around julio was earned and appropriate. for the most part The rest of the team isn’t even batting their weights.
They rank 11th in the AL in OPS only ahead of OAK, TB, LAA, and CHW.
Regardless of why you feel the hype is well deserved he’s having a drastically different season this year than last….his overall numbers are half of last year…..consistency marks the real stars of the game and he’s not showing that this season…
one down season or down by his standards doesn’t mean he isn’t a star or won’t continue to be one.
Your name fits you
I wonder if the Mariner’s marketing people that have been hyping all Julio, all the time have burdened this 23-year-old? I live outside Seattle, and I see it. We have several young stars but it’s mostly been Julio Julio Julio for three years.
As they should and continue to do so. I don’t think the M’s would sign Rodriquez to an early extension if they didn’t think that he wasn’t up to task to represent the M’s brand. Obv. these things can backfire like the Rays and Wander Franco but the team doesn’t pay him anymore.
The Ms have 3 of their better pitchers going. Kirby could be there but has not been great at times. Woo has been the most consistent but also pitched the fewest innings. I thought they should have brought Hancock up for a couple rotations to give the guys a few extra days.
If the overrated (wow) Julio, Garver, who has hit good at times lately. Robles has been hot and cold but is on the hot side right now. Randy has to hit this series too. Our overrated SPers are home so they should do well. We have a chance to win this. Need to keep people off the bases in front of Judge. Then just plunk him when he comes up. lol Just kidding walk him if it works. All obvious but possible.
Well I guess I bombed on day 1. Man what a butt whooping.
Whit isn’t gonna get much time in left imo. Laureano is a much bigger threat and has been making lots of loud outs. So has Kelenic who they are clearly trying to get hot (he lines out a ton-wouldve had a grand slam the other day in most parks, which Laureano did like one day before as well with bases loaded). With the way the offense has been they are trying to get any potential source of power hot heading into playoffs. But if playoffs started today Laureano is in that lineup nearly everyday. Just look at where he’s hitting (5th) compared to Whit (9th).
Do you think Kelenic will have a full-time spot in the Braves lineup next season, or do you think the Kelenic experiment is over ??
I think they will bring in another guy to platoon and maybe compete with him for a job in spring. Laureano possibly at the least.It’s still a case of being mentally immature. He has little confidence obviously and is quick to anger at himself. Where they are at financially and with position prospects I don’t think they can give up on him because of the years of control and youth. He’s useful as a 4th outfielder, at least. Playing CF everyday might have thrown him off. He was supposed to be platooned and play a much easier LF. He really does hit the ball hard a lot right at people. It’s possible he’s been a tick above average. Some projections expect him to be above average next year, likely because he has the highest hard hit and medium hit rates of his career. I think it’s a coin toss. He might never figure it out but I think there’s a chance. Idk. Its good he’s at least been serviceable. He hasn’t totally crashed his first year on a new team. They try to tweak his swing in season but to me he needs to be left alone. He has enough on his mind apparently.
I had such high hopes for Kelenic. When he is on he is one of the best. He is off then it gets in his head and he acts like a 12 yo.
I was kind of surprised to see him in CF. How did he do there? I guess he played a couple games for us there when Julio sat out. Hope he can find a wife and calm down. Or something but he needs to remember to be a super star you will fail a min of 70%. Stop getting wrapped up in the failures and concentrate on the success.
Oddly, looking at some stats just now, he seemed to do far batter in center than in left. The small set of stats I looked at painted him as a good CF and a bad LF.
I agree. He just looks very anxious in a competitive kind of way every at bat. Like he’s fighting for his life. I honestly agree- he needs some lovin’. I can relate.
Sorry to go off writing an essay.
It’s all good Rishi. Braves keep giving away close games. I wonder what team Fried will be playing for next year at this point. Starting to seem like the Braves of the 90’s again squandering chances at more than one championship when the window is open….
I love your essays!! Thank you for your time & insights!