Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day today:
1. Alonso chasing down Strawberry:
Mets slugger Pete Alonso bashed the 251st home run of his career in a game against the Guardians yesterday, and his next home run will tie him with former Mets, Dodgers, and Yankees star Darryl Strawberry for the most home runs in Mets history. Strawberry hit 252 homers across 1109 games for the Mets in his career, while Alonso is at just 959 games; Strawberry has one additional season with the club and Alonso is further limited by the 60-game shortened season in 2020. Fans in Queens are surely hoping that Alonso’s latest homer will help their first baseman turn things back around, as he’s been hitting a paltry .188/.280/.426 since the start of July. Alonso will try to tie Strawberry’s record today against Guardians left-hander Logan Allen, who has a 4.06 ERA in 108 2/3 innings of work this year.
2. Keaschall to return from IL:
Multiple reports (including that from Dan Hayes of The Athletic) have indicated that the Twins are poised to activate top prospect Luke Keaschall from the injured list today. The 22-year-old’s return to action has been much anticipated, as he jumped out to a hot start when he went 7-for-19 with three doubles and five walks against just two strikeouts in his first seven games as a big leaguer earlier this year. Keaschall’s heroics were cut short, however, when he suffered a fractured forearm back in April. He’s been sidelined ever since, but now appears to finally be ready to return to the majors. The well-regarded youngster is very versatile, capable of handling first, second, and third base as well as center field. He mostly played second for the Twins earlier this year, however, and could push Edouard Julien out of the lineup for the Twins.
3. Soroka to the IL:
The Cubs are expected to place right-hander Michael Soroka on the 15-day injured list later today after he exited his start against the Reds last night after just two innings of work due to shoulder discomfort. It’s unclear exactly how long the 28-year-old will be on the shelf, but it’s a tough blow to a Cubs team that dealt two prospects to the Nationals for Soroka’s services ahead of the trade deadline in order to fortify a beleaguered rotation. It’s possible right-hander Ben Brown steps back into the rotation with Soroka unavailable, though southpaw Jordan Wicks is another option while right-hander Javier Assad is on a rehab assignment at Triple-A as he works towards his season debut. Regardless of who will eventually take what would have been Soroka’s next start, the Cubs will need to add another pitcher to their bullpen mix today to replace Soroka on the roster.
Cubs gonna Cubs
Dansby’s gonna put his foot down after hearing this news.
Really disappointing trade deadline for them.
Ugh, it hasn’t been a week since the deadline and Soroka is on the IL. This is just frustrating…
I would love for the Mets to DFA Montas and have the Cubs pick up the pitcher and his remaining $22 million on his contract.
Okay now, back to reality.
Don’t tease Hoyer with a good time!
I don’t want to watch another collapse in September…
Everybody collapses except for cheaters.
Cheaters roids or cheaters banging trash cans?
Emmanuel Clasè
If the Mets DFA him then they bought the contract (sans Minimum Veteran Wage paid by his new team)
Don’t change your name Brett Baty’s Arm.
Ugh, they coulda won that game.
I’m really frustrated. They are throwing away games. They look sloppy.
Soto should bat first. Outrageous numbers when batting with nobody on.
Ryne Stanek has a 5.03 ERA as a Met. He has been with the Mets longer than a year now.
I’m going to change my name to Soto Bats First soon.
Alonso is just like every player. Its a long season and there will be ups and downs.
styme – The current popular catchphrase is “ebbs and flows” ;O)
Peaks and valleys?
As long as we’re talking ups and downs, when does the Aaron Boone Watch begin? That vaunted Yankee bullpen gave up the tying HR in the 9th and the winning 3-run HR in the 10th.
Boone is already planning how to use Bird in a tight situation.
Williams has been inconsistent at best all year. Kinda surprised by Bird’s performance in two outings. I figured him to be the best of all the relivers they acquired.
Bummer man. I feel terrible about these late innings losses. Truly bummed and terrible, About those late inning losses. Terrible…
Bird got sent down to Scranton as punishment for serving up that 3-run HR last night. Mark Leiter Jr. is due back from the injury list any day now.
Hoping Yankees fans get their wish and Boone is shown the door this year. They’ve had injuries, sure, but if they miss the playoffs and finish behind the Red Sox and doesn’t get fired, it’ll be a joke. While they made the ALCS last year, they’re so undisciplined and sloppy and it’s been this way for a lot of Boone’s tenure.
Crazy to me that NYC is considered a pressure cooker and the Yankees in particular is supposed to be high stress, but Boone and especially Cashman seem to have the safest jobs in the sport. I wonder how long ago both would have been fired if George was still alive.
Fun fact- there are only two teams whose all time HR leader has as few as Strawberry for the Mets. One is the Diamonbacks, a relatively new franchise (Luis Gonzalez is the leader).
The other is the Padres, whose all time leader is Manny Machado, currently sitting ay 187.
IMO, I’m surprised more teams didn’t want Alonso last winter. I guess he truly didn’t want to leave New york no matter how much others were offering. He had no choice but to take a low ball offer from New york. Boston was ideal if they kept Devers instead of Bregman. Boston still needs a 1B.
Pete was coming off of 2 two down years when he hit free agency last year. Nobody wanted to commit long term $$ to a bad defensive 1b who was a HR or bust hitter. He has been far better this year, but still won’t find a robust market this offseason.
“IMO, I’m surprised more teams..low ball offer”..When “more teams didn’t want” you and one team signs you, then that is called “market rate” or “setting the market”, not “a lowball offer”.
You don’t hire Uber agent Scott Boras to ignore higher offers or leave money on the table, so it’s easy to conclude that the Mets put forth the best offer for Pete Alonso last year.
Evan Longoria 261 with Tampa.
That’s Pete’s next goal. Get to 262.
Then keep moving the Mets higher on the list.
Strawberry also played for the Giants.
Do you think Darryl remembers that?
Why wouldn’t he?
I don’t think it can get much worse. *Knock on wood*
Another starter injured. Tucker, Seiya , Busch and PCA are all slumping at the same time.
Logjammer: It can always get worse. For any team.
Arizona takes home the injury ravaged suffering title in 2025.
Thank goodness the Cubs traded for lots of starting pitching at the deadline…
Whew! Just like everybody else did!
Death, taxes, and Michael Soroka being injured.
Death, taxes, and Michael Soroka being injured and the Cubs going halfway at the deadline.
I picked up Luke Keaschall in the AL Only league I’m in after he got injured and stashed him on my bench. I sure hope it was worth it.
I dropped Brock Stewart and added Spencer Arrighetti. I sure hope he was worth it.
I wouldnt trade him, the arm issue might linger this season and the Twins lineup is thin but Keaschell is going to be a good player and next season will be his rookie year, he will be playing for the RoY in ’26.
I believe this was his rookie year. He accrued mlb service time while injured. So he shouldn’t be eligible next season for ROY
“as [Alonso]’s been hitting a paltry .188/.280/.426 since the start of July.”
It’s funny, because as soon as the calendar switched to August he started hitting. It’s only four games (lol) but he’s slashing .438/.474/1.063/1.536.