The Nationals entered Monday’s action with an 0-29 record when trailing heading into the ninth inning (h/t Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic). Washington erased a 3-1 deficit against the Giants in the final frame, scoring three runs against reliever Keaton Winn to secure a comeback victory. The bullpen collapse spoiled a strong start from Logan Webb, who cruised through eight innings of one-run ball.
1. Brewers/A’s in Vegas
The Athletics are playing at Las Vegas Ballpark this week. The first matchup in the extremely hitter-friendly venue delivered. The Brewers escaped with a 15-14 win in 12 innings. The clubs combined for 11 home runs, including a 483-foot shot by Shea Langeliers, the longest of the season. William Contreras seemed to put the game away in the 10th inning on a three-run homer that gave Milwaukee a four-run lead. No margin is safe in this ballpark, though. The A’s pulled within a run on a Nick Kurtz homer, then tied it with a Jonah Heim solo shot. Milwaukee regained the lead in the 12th inning, and Chad Patrick stranded a runner at third base to secure the win. This was just the first of six games at Las Vegas Ballpark.
2. Cease slated to return
Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease is expected to get the ball on Tuesday against the Phillies. The free agent acquisition is returning from a minimum stint on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Cease scuffled through his lone rehab appearance, allowing five earned runs on six hits and two homers across four innings. He got up to 75 pitches, so he should have close to a normal workload against Philadelphia. Toronto is finally getting healthy in the rotation. Max Scherzer is lined up to start Wednesday, and Shane Bieber is also only a couple of rehab outings away from rejoining the club.
3. Mancini back in the majors
Veteran first baseman Trey Mancini made his long-awaited return to the big leagues on Monday with the Angels. The 34-year-old hadn’t seen MLB action since 2023 with the Cubs. Mancini wasted no time checking back in, recording an RBI single in his first at-bat. He picked up two more hits later in the contest. Mancini had been a strong producer in the middle of the Orioles’ lineup for multiple seasons. He struggled mightily after being dealt to the Astros, then failed to stick with the Cubs. Mancini inked a minor league deal with the Angels in January. He could factor in at first base and DH with Nolan Schanuel still playing through an ankle injury.
Photo courtesy of Lucas Peltier, Imagn Images
The Mancini highlights this morning made me smile…
The Vegas games should be exhibitions.
Man, it bothers me so much when these player summaries leave out critical details. As an O’s follower, I am most aware of the relevant to them but i must happen a lot.
Mancini developed cancer and was treated with chemotherapy. My cancer center Nephrologist wife tells me that very very few such patients get back to where they were. It takes. Years when they do. Mancini did not ‘struggle mightily’, he was recovering from disease and mainly from the extremely damaging treatment. Telling the story otherwise is simply wrong.
The other case that jumps out is Heston Kjerstad. He killed the minors with a 140 wrc+ and had about a 900 ops for close to 100 initial PAs. Then the Yankee$ beaned him (why is it so often them? Is it just bc they are free from all repercussion?). He has battled concussion and various other brain and mystery issues since. The blurb cannot describe his story on performance without mentioning the beaning related issues. ( I think he should sue mlb for $25mm).
So it must be that it happens here a lot. Would love to hear about other teams cases.
Brother it’s a little blurb morning article, it’s not that deep. If someone is regularly reading this site I’m willing to bet they know ball enough to know about Trey’s story.
If you needed a reminder about inflated stats for players in the PCL…
It was great seeing Trey get his hits last night. Sorry, you’re on the worst team in the league, Trey. Arte, SELL THE TEAM.
The real eye opening stat in the Brewers-A’s game isn’t the number of homers but sixteen challenges! (9 for the A’s, 7 for the Crew.) How could one umpire miss so many calls?
High-scoring games, 1-run “spread” result, constant challenges… Very Vegas-like and it’s sad.
Vegas will be the 2nd highest elevation when the new stadium is complete.