Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Harrison to make Red Sox debut:
After being acquired back in June as the centerpiece of the Rafael Devers trade, former top prospect Kyle Harrison has spent the entirety of his Red Sox career so far in Triple-A. That’s set to change later today, as MassLive’s Chris Cotillo writes that Harrison is set to be recalled to the big league roster today. Lefty Chris Murphy will be optioned to the minor leagues in the corresponding move, according to Cotillo.
Fellow young lefty Payton Tolle is listed as the probable starter for today’s game against the Athletics, so it’s possible that Harrison will be ready to piggyback after Tolle threw just three innings in his last start. Another possibility, of course, is that Tolle will be scratched from his start and Harrison will fill in to give Tolle additional rest after a tough outing against the Diamondbacks last week, or even that Harrison is being called up early for a start later this week. The lefty has a career 4.48 ERA across parts of three MLB seasons in San Francisco, and a 3.75 ERA in 12 starts with Triple-A Worcester.
2. Raleigh chases Mantle:
Cal Raleigh is in the midst of a historic season that may well win him the AL MVP award. As the Mariners wrap up their series against the Cardinals later today, he’ll be chasing another exciting piece of history. Raleigh currently has 53 home runs on the season, which puts him just one long ball behind Mickey Mantle for the single-season home run record among switch-hitters and two away from taking sole possession of that record. Cardinals rookie Michael McGreevy, who has a 4.68 ERA in 73 innings of work this year, will be tasked with keeping Raleigh from reaching that milestone today. In 142 games this year, Raleigh has slashed .240/.349/.574 and leads the AL with 113 RBI in addition to his MLB-leading home run total.
3. Pitchers’ Duel in Texas:
The Brewers are looking to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Rangers in Dallas today, and they’ll do so with ace Freddy Peralta on the mound amid a career season. Peralta has pitched to a 2.50 ERA with a 27.1% strikeout rate. On the mound opposite Peralta is a formidable foe, however, as the Rangers will be starting veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly. Kelly has a 3.16 ERA on the year across 29 starts, but he’s been even better since joining the Rangers at the trade deadline. He’s on a five-outing streak of quality starts, during which he’s pitched to a combined 2.23 ERA across 32 1/3 innings of work. While he’s struck out just 20.3% of his opponents in that five-start stretch, he’s made up for that by walking a microscopic 3.3%. The two right-handers are scheduled to square off at 1:35pm local time this afternoon.
Wow people reallllly reach on made up records every year? Most HRs by a switch hitter in history? Seriously? I really hope they put that up on the Jumbotron at T-Mobile Park, because wow, what a historical accomplishment
it’s quite a big deal, since the player that holds the record, Mickey Mantle, is one of the greatest hitters of all time, he’s even in the hall of fame. Plus, Cal is doing it as a switch-hitting catcher, even more impressive.
Did everyone make this big of a deal when Luis Gonzalez passed Mantle? No. If they actually broke a real record like if Raleigh hit the most home runs in a season sure
Oh no, it’s not made up. It’s real. Mickey Mantle was a real person. Cal Raleigh is a real person. The Baseball Hall of Fame is a real place. You should check it out. Maybe then you would understand what a historical accomplishment is.
I’m all for historical accomplishments and this switch hitting one is pretty legit. But I would say some of these “first player to…” accomplishments are getting a little thin.
Media types (in and out of sports) are always trying to push historical happenings just so they can say they were “there.”
You mean like “First player ever to have at least 17 home runs, 27 stolen bases, 6 errors, 120 hits, 120 strikeouts, and 48 walks by August 27th”?
@swanhenge Why not? It raises the bar on player achievements. Going 30-30 used to be a big thing. Now it’s 40-40, 40-70, and 50-50 (which no one thought was possible). They should all be celebrated. Some of the fans here are just upset the records they’ve seen established are being broken.
swan – I dunno, i kinda like the “first since” …. it gives proper perspective on the accomplishment. Like all the times Roman Anthony was the first since Ted Williams ….. that’s damn impressive!
How about last night, Early being the first Sox pitcher to strike out 11 since Don Aase ….. how else would Aase be mentioned here? And just imagine what the punny comments would be like!
Try to explain some of baseball’s most famous records to a non-sports fan and you’ll soon realize how made up and silly they all are. This is a glass house stone throwing situation
So you are saying because a non sports fan doesn’t understand or care about an accomplishment that makes them silly? Julio was the first player to go 30/30 in his first 4 years in BB. Another silly stat? These stats mean something to fans and players alike. I bet there are guys on here that look up Seattles box score that haven’t done it in years if ever. Not just Mariner fans are following this all or most of BB is following it.
Captain K and John you two or one more likely are either not a fan of baseball as a whole don’t like the Ms or are just trying to be contrary. When you think about it Mantle set this record in 1961 that was a long time ago. I know this because it is my birth year and I am old. It means there were a lot of people before and after him that did not hit this many HRs. Cal broke the record right before this one too of course. That was Mantle in 1959.
It is an accomplishment to say the least. Especially for a catcher to be doing it. He broke the record for HRs hit by a C a week or so ago. He is having an MVP season while doing this. Even the Judge homers have to admit that Cal is the MVP since Judge is injured and is not doing all that great in the HR area for awhile. You have your right to your opinions but will not get many to back you up. That is why I think you are the same person with 2 accts.
@compassionrose I think you may be misunderstanding me. I love baseball stats and records of all types. I enjoyed reading about Cal breaking this record.
I also feel that they are just made up benchmarks that hold only as much weight as we ascribe to them. My experience in trying to explain them to someone who does not have any emotional attachment to the game reminded me of this.
So to criticize this record, while upholding the importance of other records is what led me to reference the expression “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones”
Also, the two account comment made me chuckle since my comment is essentially disagreeing with OP
lol Sorry misunderstood what you meant. I find all records interesting unless of course they are broken every couple years. These old ones I really like. This one though is a bit more relevant since it is my team and player on that team doing it. Have watched Cal grow up through our system and seen the work he had put in to make himself better.
It is…you’re off base here
Connelly Early had a nice game for the Red Sox last night. Sure, it was against the A’s but got to start somewhere.
A nice game? He got 11 of the 15 outs in 5 innings on Ks. And let’s not diminish the A’s offense just because they don’t have any pitching. They are one of the better hitting teams in MLB. Check the rankings…. BA: 4th; HRs: 5th; SP: 4th; OBP: 10th.
Early another Chaim Bloom hit w/ Early!
York – Athletics have the 12th-best offense in MLB, it’s not like Early was facing the Pirates.
With the positive debuts of Tolle and Early,I can see why Breslow was so reluctant to include them in any deadline deals. Early was electric last night. 11 K’s , 5 shutout innings. Can the Sox actually produce some home grown pitching?? . Bello is coming into his own as a top of the rotation guy. When was the last time the Sox had this kind of young pitching talent?? Lester, Bucholz,Suppan……
Bring on the lefties!!!
Early looked fantastic last night. Once (if?) Tolle can reel in his secondary stuff, he’s gonna be solid. It’s awesome they developed these two promising arms.
Sounds like Harrison just needs to get the ball over the plate. We don’t need a LH Walker Buheler.
swan – It is indeed special to have three young lefty power pitchers, quite exciting.
Early had some serious bags under his eyes today, probably did quite a bit of well-deserved celebrating last night!
Anyone remember Rickie Weeks?
Who would have thought the Sox would have as many wins as the Dodgers at this point in the season……?
Optimistic Red Sox fan. Notice how I use the singular fan. I am the one. Just me. Everyone else is a Debbie Downer.
I have been a hater since 2017. whyhayzee is correct that he is the only optimist in Boston. A beacon of hope.
Troy – He’s not in Boston, and real Bostonians are among the most highly educated and intelligent citizens in the country. They are realists who understand there’s a path to potential success, that’s why they watch the games and follow the team so closely.
hayzee – Speaking of hated women with slang nicknames, what do you think of Phillies Karen?
As usual my take on it is not the same as the internet mob.
That guy went really, really far – maybe ten seats over? – and grabbed the ball really close to where the woman’s seat was.
The only available camera angle doesn’t show whether or not he violated her space when taking the ball.
That’s something I just don’t tolerate, fans forcing their way in front of me to get a ball. If a ball is headed my way and some guy jumps in front of me and my seat while in my row, they are gonna get a well-placed violent shove.
Reminds me of that Rangers fan that died when he ran and jumped in front of another fan that the ball was heading directly toward.
I don’t know how many expected it but I can tell you the gambling partners of MLB sure are happy. Dodgers have been at the bottom of the record standings vs the run line and have killed quite a few parlays this year.
I am with you, whyhayzee! The Sox are going to win it all!