Right-hander Mason Miller pushed his scoreless innings streak to 33 2/3 on Thursday against the Rockies. He’s now tied with Cla Meredith for the franchise record. Miller will have a tough task this weekend in hitter-friendly Mexico City.
1. Phillies’ losing streak
The NL East is dealing with another winless run. First, it was the Mets, who lost a dozen in a row. Now, it’s the Phillies. The club has dropped nine straight after an extra-innings loss on Thursday against the Cubs. Chicago started the streak with a pair of wins in Philadelphia, then swept the team across four games at Wrigley Field this week. The Phillies started the season with a 6-4 record. They’ve gone 2-13 over the past 15 games. Philadelphia now takes on first-place Atlanta.
2. Mexico City matchup
Our first MLB World Tour series of the season will be this weekend. The Diamondbacks and Padres will face off for a two-game set at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City. With the stadium sitting well above sea level, offenses have seen a boost in past series at the venue. The Padres and Giants combined for 37 runs over two games in 2023. The Astros and Rockies put up 26 runs across a pair of matchups in 2024. German Marquez and Zac Gallen will square off on Saturday.
3. Phillips to retire as a Red
Second baseman Brandon Phillips will sign a one-day contract with Cincinnati today, the team announced. The three-time All-Star last played with the Red Sox in 2018. He’ll ink a ceremonial deal with the Reds to officially retire with the club. Phillips spent 11 of his 17 MLB seasons in Cincinnati. He was a steady contributor for a squad that was regularly in the postseason during the early 2010s. Phillips provided both power and speed at the top of Cincinnati’s lineup, delivering three consecutive 20/20 campaigns from 2007 to 2009. The first year in that run saw Phillips set career highs with 30 home runs and 32 steals. He finished his career with 211 home runs and 209 steals across 1,902 games.
Photo courtesy of Bill Streicher, Imagn Images
Alotta preseason favorites are off to slow starts
Phillies, Jays, m’s, muts
redsox are last in divison (thanks for ruining devers career boston! Hope you’re happy on pace for 100 L)
Reds, braves in 1st
Sacramento tied for 1st
Rays over 500
Long season but good to see small markets doing well
The Phillies cursed themselves when they sold out their heritage for corporate greed. Winning will not resume until Harry the K’s returns to Citizens Bank Park. And they get a new manager.
salem,
“thanks for ruining devers career Boston”
Please elaborate on how a world-class athlete’s entire career could be “ruined” by one spat with management.
Braves are small market? Someone should tell them so they can quit spending so much.
Phillips last played a big league game in 2018. He has already came and went on the HOF ballot getting a single vote in 2023. Will this one day deal reset his HOF chances? Will he be on the ballot again in 5 years or do they not acknowledge ceremonial contracts?
No, I think he would have to play in an actual MLB game like Jose Rijo did.
That’s why it’s called “ceremonial” – it’s not official.
Not even in the Very Good category….. zero HOF possibility ever.
I’m not arguing that he deserves to be in. I never said anything close to that. Stop reading things that are not there.
hiflew,
It’s a ceremonial contract that will not reset his non-existent Hall of Fame chances. No team is dealing with the paperwork to clear a 40-man roster spot and pay a guy $4,500 for one day for something like this.
Glad to see Dat Dude retire as a Red, though being in the team’s hall of fame kind of sealed that deal anyway. But hey, do the PR and let him take his bows.
Cla Meredith, what a blast from the past. Remember watching his ML debut with the Red Sox on TV: he came into a tie game with a runner on, then walk, walk, grand slam xD