Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:
1. Sale to return:
The Braves are expected to activate ace lefty Chris Sale from the 60-day IL this weekend. The veteran southpaw has been sidelined since June due to a fracture in his ribcage, but prior to that he had been firmly in the conversation to win a second consecutive NL Cy Young award with a 2.52 ERA, a 2.69 FIP, and a 30.8% strikeout rate. While Atlanta has no hope of making the postseason at this point, Sale’s return to action is important for the lefty on an individual level, given his lost seasons from 2020 to 2022, when he made just 11 total starts due to a variety of injuries. If he can take the ball five times down the stretch, he’ll have reached 20 starts in three consecutive seasons since his days as the workhorse ace of the Red Sox back in 2017. The Braves have available space on their 40-man roster to accommodate Sale, so only an active roster move will be needed to activate him.
2. Tolle to debut:
While the former lefty ace of the Red Sox is set to return from the IL in Atlanta this weekend, fans in Boston are hoping they’ll witness the start of another lefty ace’s career at the same time. That’s because left-hander Payton Tolle is expected to be called up for his MLB debut today. The club’s second-round pick in last year’s draft, Tolle has sprinted through the minors, posting a 3.04 ERA in 20 appearances across three levels. He’s been even better since graduating from High-A, with a 2.36 ERA and a 34.2% strikeout rate in 42 innings of work at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Tolle’s rapid ascent will now culminate in a chance to impact a playoff race in the majors as the Red Sox jockey with the Yankees and Mariners for Wild Card positioning down the stretch. The lefty’s first assignment will be a tough one. He’ll be tasked with taking on Pirates ace Paul Skenes (2.07 ERA) at Fenway Park in a game scheduled for 7:10pm local time.
3. Tong to debut:
Tolle isn’t the only top pitching prospect set to make his MLB debut today. Over in the National League, the Mets are set to welcome right-hander Jonah Tong to the majors when he makes his big league debut against the Marlins this evening. The game is scheduled for 7:10pm local time and will see Tong take on another of the sport’s top young arms in righty Eury Perez (3.44 ERA). In 22 starts between Double-A and Triple-A this year, Tong has a dazzling 1.43 ERA to go along with an absurd 40.5% strikeout rate. With the Mets holding onto the NL’s final Wild Card spot at the moment, they’ll be banking on the 2022 seventh-rounder continuing his success in the majors.
I get they have the space, but please open up another space by DFA-ing Cal Quantrill. JR Ritchie just had a 11-K performance at AAA. A Sept call-up should be expected. Hayden Harris and his 0.57 ERA in AAA would be great insurance from struggling Dylan Lee giving up a lot of long balls.
PHI won’t respect our Elder tonight.
They need to DFA the 3 pitchers who worked last night but I doubt they’ll call up any player not on the 40-man roster
Agreed, but all 4 (inc. position player Vidal Brujan who somehow had a better 1.1 IP (getting Schwarber out)) than Cox/Suero’s outings. Go figure.
They don’t need to call-up anyone, but it’d be nice to get Harris/Ritchie a taste before next year if they have some innings to spare.
Save ritchie’s service time. Why waste him during a lost season? Mayb he’ll get onto top 100 list & atl can earn ppi next yr?
Ritchie has a chance to be next schwelly
So does owen
“While the former lefty ace of the Red Sox is set to return from the IL in Atlanta this weekend …”
Uhhh, the Braves are in Philadelphia where Atlanta pitching served up 4 “Schwarbombs” on Thursday night. And the getaway game is the ESPN Sunday-night game of the week.
Yes, Cal Quantrill hasn’t been with the team 3 weeks nor has had a chance to unpack, but he’s “Atlanta pitching.” I appreciate you didn’t put Cal and Sale in the same paragraph. Enjoy Elder tonight. The gift that keeps on giving.
Tong’s numbers are berzerker! Not sure if it translates to MLB, but who doesn’t root for that?
Agree. I was familiar with him, but had never checked out his numbers. Mets fans have to be pumped for this.
Bosox: The lefty’s first assignment will be comically easy (facing the Pirates AAAA lineup).
I’d say it’s by design. Plus getting him up before 9/1 lets him go the post-season.
Hey Swan, correct me if i am mistaken but all a player needs to be is with the organization prior to 9-1, example Jays just signed a guy to a minor league deal and the article says he will be eligible for the post season if needed.
Players only need to be in the organization by September 1 to qualify for postseason. They don’t need to be on the major league roster. So Tolle could play postseason whether he was called up today or later in September.