Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. AL East race tightens:
The Blue Jays have been in control of the AL East for almost three months, but their hold on the division is getting shakier. The Yankees not only clinched yesterday after their third consecutive win — they pulled within a game of a Blue Jays club that lost to the Red Sox. If the Yankees and southpaw Max Fried (2.92 ERA) can take care of business against the White Sox in a bullpen game opened by Fraser Ellard (4.50 ERA in 16 appearances), they’ll have the chance to pull into a tie with the Jays. Toronto has a tough task tonight with Boston ace Garrett Crochet (2.69 ERA) on the mound against Max Scherzer (5.06 ERA in 16 starts). It’s worth noting that the Yankees would need to make up another game even after today, as the Jays hold the tiebreaker after winning the season series between the two clubs.
2. Reds, Greene take on Skenes in pivotal pitchers’ duel:
The Mets bested the Cubs in a back-and-forth series opener last night, while the Reds dropped their series opener against Pittsburgh to fall one game back in the Wild Card race. That’s a significant drop with just a handful of games to go, and the road doesn’t get any easier with NL Cy Young favorite Paul Skenes standing in their way tonight. Fortunately for Cincinnati, they’re able to counter with their own ace. Hunter Greene has been limited to just 18 starts by injury, he’s pitched to a 2.74 ERA and struck out 31.5% of his opponents when healthy.
3. Fry hospitalized following hit-by-pitch:
A scary scene took place in yesterday’s game between the Tigers and Guardians when Cleveland designated hitter David Fry was struck in the face by a 99 mph fastball from reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. As noted by MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins, Fry stayed conscious the entire time but was being held for observation overnight at a local hospital. The extent of Fry’s injuries aren’t yet known, but it seems reasonable to expect the injury could sideline him for the final week of the regular season and into the playoffs, should the Guardians manage to sustain their incredible comeback. Last night’s 5-2 win pulled Cleveland into a tie with a reeling Detroit club. Tonight’s game will pit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty (4.60 ERA) against Guards righty Tanner Bibee (4.34 ERA).
It really isn’t fair to Skubal that he might have one more chance to blow his CYA on the last day of the season if Detroit hasn’t clinched by then. Baseball is wild.
You don’t get to play the Paris Hilton card in baseball.
He went 6 innings and gave up 1 or 2 earned yesterday that did not destroy his cy young chances
Even if he is really bad on the last day he still wins it unless he throws a yes-hitter
sad – Agreed, actually only one earned run allowed.
However …… 2 of the unearned runs were on his throwing error. He also had a balk and a wild pitch.
So even though his pitching last night was solid as usual, would Cy voters take all the other stuff into consideration when voting?
I guess the question is, does the Cy go to the best season-long pitching performance? Or does it go to the best pitcher? There’s a difference.
As much as I’m rooting for Crochet, I’m having a really difficult time seeing Skubal not taking the Cy Young voting even if Detroit misses the playoffs. The truth is Crochet was more or less knocked out of serious contention at the beginning of the month. His strikeout numbers will get him a handful of first place votes but even so, most voters will see Skubal as overall better. My guess is Skubal will easily win a majority of the first place votes and Crochet will get a few number 1 votes but be number 2 on almost every other ballot. The only possible thing would be if in Skubal’s last start (Against the Red Sox interestingly enough) he allows 10 runs in the first inning without getting an out. That might change things but the odds on that are less than the odds on the Guardians making this crazy dash at the end.
Reds fans know to never get your hopes up
Cincy still holds tie-breakers over both D’backs and Mets.
September baseball is the best — and tonight’s Mets game is the final regular season ballgame for ESPN as things stand.
Complacency going back a while is biting Tigers….and Cubs since they clinched. Losing is a habit, and it’s not easy to restart the engine when your roster isn’t special/superior to opponents.
Scary moment for Fry. Hope he’s OK
Toronto is 2 games up on the Yankees. They hold the tie breaker.
“It’s worth noting that the Yankees would need to make up another game even after today, as the Jays hold the tiebreaker after winning the season series between the two clubs.”
It was mentioned in the last sentence of the paragraph.
True but it also says they are within one game when technically they aren’t.
They are within one game in the standings, so I’d say that is technically true. Saying they’re 2 games up isn’t really accurate, because it gives the wrong impression about W-L. Having the tiebreaker makes it effectively like they’re 1.5 games up, but we really need some better notation since we often know the tiebreaker ahead of time.
Maybe we should say they’re 1.0+ games up?
I think Toronto does not hold onto the AL East and ends up playing at home vs. the Red Sox in a WC series.
That does feel like the most likely outcome.
Is it bad that I’m sort of rooting for this? I’d rather not have the Red Sox have to play a WC series in Yankee Stadium. As fun as it would be to beat them there, it’d be a very annoying way for the Sox to get eliminated xD
The only chance of Skubal losing the Cy Young award would be if Garrett Crochet throws a complete game shutout vs. Toronto tonight and Skubal gives up 8+ ERs in 3 innings or less vs. Boston this weekend. Even if this happens, I still think Skubal would still hold a slight edge to bring home the hardware.
I agree, Saint Dorothy.
Skubal heavy favorite……but he gets to face weak ALC lineups double the time while Crochet faces Tor/NYY, etc. more. Crochet’s stats likely improve and Skubal’s probably suffer more than one thinks if the roles were reversed.
Crochet has not been as dominant in his last couple starts. He has given up 4 home runs and 4 walks in his Last 12 innings. He does have 21 strikeouts also. They pushed him back a day so he is ready for game 1 of the playoffs. ( fingers crossed) A great ,ace- like performance tonight will greatly enhance that opportunity. The bottom of the lineup came through last night. ( Lowe, Narvaez) . Need the vets to step up . Bregman, Story, Duran.
I must also acknowledge M. Yoshida ,who has been hitting well of late , 7 for his last 18 atbats batting cleanup.
The Guardians beating Skubal and the Tigers last night. Just incredible !! The Reds vs Pirates tonight,with Hunter Greene going against Paul Skenes in a matchup of Cy Young contenders is phenomenal. I’m rooting for Terry Francona.
Over under the Yankees actually overtake the Jays?