On the heels of an early-morning commerce report, listed below are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world all through the day at the moment:
1. Pitchers’ duel in Minnesota:
Two of the AL’s second-place groups shall be sending front-of-the-rotation starters to the mound in Minneapolis at the moment, as Twins ace Pablo Lopez takes the mound in opposition to younger Mariners star Logan Gilbert. The 28-year-old Lopez has struggled a bit when it comes to run prevention by way of seven begins this 12 months, as his 4.30 ERA is definitely slightly below league common by measure of ERA+. That being mentioned, the right-hander’s peripherals are as sturdy as ever. He’s struck out a wonderful 30.2% of batters confronted this season whereas strolling simply 5.4%, giving him a robust 3.48 FIP with even higher anticipated numbers.
Twins followers are certainly hoping that Lopez’s outcomes begin catching as much as his peripherals at the moment, as Gilbert has been among the many best possible in baseball at stifling opposing offenses this 12 months. Via seven begins, Gilbert sports activities an AL-best 1.69 ERA in 48 innings of labor with a 3.24 FIP. A few of Gilbert’s run-prevention can certainly be attributed to a microscopic .183 BABIP, however the right-hander has nonetheless struck out a powerful 28.2% of batters confronted in opposition to a 7.3% stroll price. The 2 aces will conflict at Goal Area this afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 12:10pm native time.
2. Drury headed to the IL?
Angels infielder Brandon Drury could also be poised for a visit to the injured listing at the moment. The 31-year-old was pulled from yesterday’s recreation within the sixth inning on account of tightness in his left hamstring, and after the sport advised reporters (together with Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that whereas he was going to be evaluated additional at the moment he wasn’t “feeling excellent” within the aftermath of his departure. A visit to the IL may enable Drury time not solely to heal, however to attempt to rediscover his 2023 type. Whereas the infielder clubbed 26 homers in 125 video games with the Angels final 12 months, he’s hit simply .173 with minimal energy to date this season. It appears doubtless that infielder Luis Guillorme, reportedly acquired from the Braves this morning, would change Drury on the membership’s roster within the occasion that he requires a visit to the shelf.
3. Rodriguez awaiting MRI outcomes:
Left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez underwent an MRI yesterday afternoon, GM Mike Hazen told AZSports yesterday. Rodriguez has but to make his Diamondbacks debut, having as a substitute spent the complete season thus far on the injured listing nursing a strained lat. That may very well be set to vary quickly, nevertheless, as Hazen indicated that with favorable outcomes on the MRI, the lefty shall be cleared to start out a throwing program.
Coming off a wonderful 2023 season the place he pitched to a 3.30 ERA and three.66 FIP in 26 begins with the Tigers, Rodriguez would supply a lift to the reigning NL champions, who’ve struggled to a 17-20 document and have fallen into third place within the NL West, eight video games behind the Dodgers for the division crown. Arizona has relied on younger arms similar to Slade Cecconi and Ryne Nelson within the rotation amid Rodriguez’s absence.
