As the regular season winds down, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the day:
1. Magic Numbers down to one:
It’s “Magic Number” season in baseball, as several clubs around the league look to clinch postseason berths and/or division crowns in the waning days of the 2024 season. Heading into play Wednesday, each of the Brewers, Phillies and Yankees have a magic number of 1. Two of those clubs, the Brewers and Phillies, square off against each other. Milwaukee sends Freddy Peralta (3.75 ERA) to the mound opposite longtime Phillies star Aaron Nola (3.52 ERA) in what should be a well-pitched matchup. Even though the two teams are facing one another, they can still both clinch playoff appearances tonight. The Brewers would clinch their division either by topping the Phillies or if the Cubs lose to the visiting A’s in today’s early game. Meanwhile, the Phils would clinch a postseason berth if they best the Brewers or if the Braves drop their road game against the Reds. As for the Yankees, they’ll send lefty Nestor Cortes (3.90 ERA) to the mound opposite Mariners righty Bryce Miller (3.12 ERA) as they look to punch their own ticket to October baseball.
2. Steele to return to the mound:
Cubs left-hander Justin Steele went on the injured list earlier this month with an injury scare that was eventually diagnosed as elbow flexor tendonitis. At the time, it was unclear if Steele would be healthy enough to return to action this year. Since then, he’s been symptom-free and even threw a 40-pitch bullpen session over the weekend, opening the door to a potential return. That possibility will become a reality today, as the lefty figures to take the mound in Chicago opposite A’s rookie Brady Basso (1.23 ERA in two starts) at 1:20pm local time.
Steele has been limited to just 22 starts between his most recent trip to the IL and a hamstring strain that occurred on Opening Day, but when healthy enough to take the mound he’s turned in his third consecutive excellent campaign with a 3.09 ERA (130 ERA+) and 3.13 FIP in 128 innings. The Cubs will need to clear a spot on the active roster before today’s game.
3. Marlins 40-man move incoming:
Steele isn’t the only left-handed starter returning from the injured list today. Marlins southpaw Ryan Weathers is scheduled to start today’s game against the Dodgers, facing L.A. rookie Landon Knack (3.70 ERA in ten starts) at 6:40pm local time this evening. Weathers, 24, posted a solid 3.55 ERA and 3.93 FIP in 13 starts with the Marlins earlier this year but has been on the injured list since June due to a finger strain.
The seventh overall pick of the 2018 draft was transferred to the 60-day IL in July, meaning the Marlins will need to clear both active and 40-man roster space prior to this evening’s game. With less than two weeks to go in the regular season, it’s possible the club could simply transfer an injured player who won’t return this year to the 60-day IL in Weathers’ place. Vidal Brujan, Derek Hill, Max Meyer, Calvin Faucher and John McMillon are all on the 10-day or 15-day injured list at the moment.
Wow. That would be weird for one club to celebrate on field and the other to go into the clubhouse and do the same. Party in Mil!
Another weird scenario is that the Dodgers (division) and the Padres (WC) could both celebrate in the same game while playing each other early next week.
I find the idea of celebrating after a loss to be odd. But at least it puts the loss out of your head probably.
yes in such a case it would likely be a quiet celebration
Quiet and low-key, as in using Barefoot Bubbly and Miller Lite.
With yesterday’s loss to the Marlins, Dodgers need to make their starters eat more innings even if they are getting shelled. Failure to do so would only further expose their exhausted bullpen to increased workload and risk of injuries.
Please explain how a Braves loss to the Reds would reduce the Phillies magic number when the Braves are in third place 2 games behind the Mets…
?
The Braves are the first team out of the playoffs. Magic numbers for making the playoffs always refer to the first team out of the playoffs. Staying ahead of that team ensures a playoff berth.
Yea. Keyword was clinch playoff Appearances. So probably not a big celebration to partially refute my other comment.
Thank you my friend. I was thinking division not playoffs.
No worries. Easy mistake to make since the Phillies will have 2 magic numbers.
He forgot about the Mets. I mean it’s easy to do.
I remember back in the day, counting down the magic number.
Sadly, those days are long past, when competent people ran the team.
The answer to the question: Name 3 teams that won’t win the World Series this year?
Very little advantage in clinching early anymore.
whyhayzee: It won’t be long before every team makes the PO all in the name of money. I can see the seeding now: The White Sox playing the best of three against the yankees in the first round. It’s be over after the first game.
baseball has the least amount of teams who make the postseason of any sport LMAO
Baseball has the least teams because they play 162 games!!!!!
and….? they still have the least.
all in the name of money.
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Shockingly, that’s why I go to work.
Avenger is making a prediction into the future. You are stating what is in the present. Really makes no sense here.
@whyhayzee
I’d like to see some relegation for bad teams as they have in Europe but that would require having a lower league not linked to the MLB teams.
I have an idea for that. More later.
One division for large markets, one for mid markets and one for small markets in each league. One wild card. Four playoff teams total. Make them earn it.
Would never happen because of the money involved so maybe the second place team in each division plays a wild card which includes the division winner with the worse record. Best two records gets a bye.
This gives more teams at each level a chance as long as the system is fouled up.
Th A’s can produce a random 26 year old that shuts down Chicago (duh) and Detroit (you have my attention) but the Red Sox’s early career extension is to the only guy sitting 95 that can’t strike anyone out and by extension stop anyone? Throw the whole team away until the Red Sox hire someone who can do a better job than any of the Front Office Subscribers
If I had any say with the Cubs organization, I would just shut Justin Steele down for the rest of the season. He already had a couple of stays on the IL this season. Realistically not making the playoffs. Just save his body for 2025.