Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. Martin exits due to shoulder issue:
Rangers right-hander Chris Martin departed yesterday’s game against the Astros after throwing just one pitch. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters (including Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News) that Martin’s exit was due to “shoulder discomfort.” Bochy indicated that Martin’s shoulder will be examined before the club makes any decisions about next steps, but it would hardly be a shock to see the nearly 39-year-old hurler be placed on the shelf. That would be a tough outcome for the Rangers, as Martin has been fantastic in a late-inning role this year with a 1.83 ERA and 1.87 FIP across 22 appearances.
2. Series Preview: Royals @ Giants
The Royals are headed to San Francisco for a three-game set that pits the current holder of the final Wild Card spot in each league against one another. The Royals have a one-game lead over the Rangers and Astros for the last spot in the AL, while the Giants have a two-game lead on the Cardinals over in the NL.
Southpaw Kris Bubic has a sterling 1.66 ERA through nine starts, and at 6:45pm local time in San Francisco he’ll be taking on fellow lefty Robbie Ray (3.04 ERA) in an attempt hand the Giants their first loss of the season with the veteran Ray on the bump. Tuesday, Royals righty Michael Lorenzen (3.76 ERA in nine starts) will square off against Hayden Birdsong (2.31 ERA in 11 relief outings) as he moves from the bullpen to the rotation. The series will close out on Wednesday with San Francisco ace Logan Webb (2.42 ERA in ten starts) taking on a to-be-announced Royals starter. Kansas City placed both Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo on the injured list over the weekend.
3. How will the Phillies handle the loss of Alvarado?
The Phillies were dealt a nasty surprise yesterday when closer Jose Alvarado was suspended for 80-games after testing positive for exogenous testosterone. The lefty has been crucial in the bullpen for Philadelphia, delivering a 2.70 ERA and 1.84 FIP in 20 appearances while picking up seven saves. Fellow lefty Matt Strahm (2.89 ERA, 1.91 FIP in 21 outings) has been nearly as effective, but the Phillies’ relief corps owns a lackluster 4.57 ERA as a collective unit. That’s a bottom-ten figure in baseball, thanks largely to early struggles from Jordan Romano (7.27 ERA) and Carlos Hernandez (6.35 ERA). Romano, however, has rattled off eight consecutive scoreless frames with an 11-to-1 K/BB ratio. Hernandez hasn’t been as sharp but still has a more palatable 4.50 mark with improved strikeout and walk rates over his past 10 frames.
Getting Romano back to the pre-injury form he showed in Toronto would be a boon, especially since trade season is unlikely to begin in earnest for another month at least. In the meantime, could the Phillies look to make a more minor addition, as their division rivals in New York did when they added southpaw Jose Castillo in a trade the Diamondbacks last week?
There’s nothing better than a good Bubic showing.
Let’s hope he can help nip the road losing streak in the bud.
His ERA is real and it’s spectacular!
I’ve been doodling my bubic all morning.
It just could be that Romano is returning to form at the right time for the Phils. If Romano is actually back to his pre-injury form, they have their replacement closer in house. Prior to the injury last season, Romano had been one of the AL’s most effecient closers at converting save opportunities into saves.
To many ifs for a team with a the best starting rotation in baseball and championship asperations. Sorry, you don’t spend 300 million to settle for if Jordan Romano can . Has been Jordan Romano is for pretenders. Dumbrowski hopefully will move off some of those young arms and find his closer.
Maybe he should face a team outside of the pirates before you make that declaration.
The Giants had a tremendous weekend. Both the Padres and the Dodgers have to be looking over their shoulder. If there’s one word that can describe how the Giants are doing, it’s Busterific. Thank you, Buster Posey.
Break out the rye bread and mustard, Grandma!
How about that Farhan? It’s basically his team except for Adames and Verlander.
calling the giants the final wildcard holder is a little bit of a stretch considering the fact that the giants, dodgers and padres are less than a game apart in the division right now
Yeah, and to think about the wildcard at this point is probably a little premature.
Huh ? A stretch ? They are the current holder of the final wild card spot. That’s fact. There’s no stretch there at all.
Not too early for me. I think about the wild card spot every day.
Phillies might try to trade for Alexis Diaz.
Carlos Hernandez is the last guy in the bullpen for the Phillies right now. His roster spot is hanging by a thread.
Rangers were fortunate Chris Martin lasted as long as he did! At 39 and shoulder discomfort that’s age boys and girls. Rangers have a number of geriatrics on their ball club. The Rangers have not done enough to develop their minor league system to replace those currently on the roster. They haven’t drafted very well lately which contributes to their problem. Fire Kim Fagg their scouting director for starters.
Chris Martin has been a mostly underrated reliever during his career. Unlike most relievers, he throws quality strikes. You gotta love any pitcher who is one of just over 100 all time with an immaculate inning.