Tag: baltimore-orioles

The Week Ahead in Major League Baseball June 24-June 30

Have you filled out an All Star ballot yet? While at my parents’ house on Sunday, my three kids fill out theirs and I assisted my sister with hers. With the Fall Classic coming up in three weeks, I’ll get mine in by Saturday morning. This is now the last week of June and the National League has 13 of its 15 teams with realistic chances of playing playoff baseball. Let’s see what’s coming up around the league as we close out the third full month of the 2024 season.

Steven Kwan is batting .390 in 200 at bats this year. Photo from the Akron Beacon Journal

Series to watch: Cleveland Guardians at Baltimore Orioles.

I feel like when we talk about the elite teams in Major League Baseball, the Guardians are not on anyone’s list. Yet, they enter this showdown with the same number of wins as the more celebrated Orioles. Since returning from a hamstring injury on May 31, outfielder Steven Kwan’s batting average is over .400. Josh Naylor has supplied 20 home runs and Jose Ramirez is continuing to be his magnificent self, ranking second among all players in RBI’s with 67. The O’s were just swept in Houston after taking two of three games against the Yankees. Outfielder Heston Kjerstad, the organization’s #4 prospect according to MLB.com, will be brought up this week (his third callup) to provide punch to a lineup that scored only two runs in 18 innings on Saturday and Sunday.

Player to Watch: CJ Abrams

The 23-year old shortstop, who came to the Washington Nationals in the Juan Soto trade with the San Diego Padres, is making a case to make his first All Star team. Abrams is hitting .344 over the last two weeks and he leads he Nationals in just about every offensive category. He was the 6th overall pick in the 2019 draft and had a breakout 2023 season with 18 hone runs and 47 stolen bases. Abrams’ career arc mirrors that of former Nat Trea Turner who also was a shortstop drafted by the Padres a decade ago and later was traded to Washington.

Sneaky Red Sox

Very quietly, the Boston Red Sox have had a solid 2024 thus far. Thought to finish last in the American League East, Boston sits at 42-36 and in the final Wild Card spot. They won two of three games against the Yankees last weekend and then went 5-1 last week, sweeping three in Toronto and winning two of three in Cincinnati. The most interesting aspect is that Rafael Devers is having, by his standards, a below average season. Catcher Connor Wong has been a revelation, hitting .330 and left fielder Jarren Duran leads the Majors with 10 triples. On the mound, Tanner Houck is bidding to be the the starting pitcher for the American League as he leads the league in ERA with a 2.14 mark.

Mauled Marlins

The Miami Marlins have had a terrible season. Injuries have played a huge role in the big step back after their playoff appearance in 2023. Miami has literally lost an entire starting rotation to various aliments. Sandy Alacantra had Tommy John surgery right after the Marlins were eliminated from the playoffs. Before the 2024 season began, Eury Perez was told he needed TJ surgery. Edward Cabrera hasn’t pitched since May 7 because a shoulder issue. To top it off, Jesus Luzardo was placed on the IL Saturday with a back problem and Braxton Garrett, who was on the IL until May 12, had to be scratched from his Sunday start with a stiff elbow. In all of my years following baseball, I don’t think I have ever seen an injury situation quite like this.

The Week Ahead in Major League Baseball June 17-June 23

I write this in the aftermath of another Father’s Day success. Nothing crazy, no places to go, just surrounded by those who are most important in my life. The week ahead in Major League Baseball will be anything but calm, with one gigantic series being played, one superstar whose status is in question and another superstar who might be getting ready to make his season debut. On top of that, we get a classic 1975 World Series flashback as the Cincinnati Reds take on the Boston Red Sox!

Gunnar Henderson and the Orioles head to Yankee Stadium for three big games. Photo from WBAL TV.

Series to watch: Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees.

It’s a battle in the Bronx between the teams with the two best records in baseball. Aaron Judge and Gunnar Henderson are the top two home run hitters. They are the only clubs with more than 100 home runs. A regular season series does not get any better than this. The O’s took three of four games from the Yanks in Camden Yards in during the last days in April/first days in May. You can bet New York remembers that set and will be looking for a bit of payback. I’m reliving a bit of my youth when both of these teams were solid year in and year out and their games were a big deal.

Player to watch: Gerrit Cole

There is a possibility that the 2023 Cy Yong winner will make his season debut on Wednesday against the Orioles. Cole pitched for Triple A Scranton Wilkes-Barre on Friday, his potential final step after being out all season so far with elbow discomfort. The Yanks have their starting pitcher as TBD with Cody Poteet listed as the other potential option. New York’s rotation as been strong all year long and getting back their ace adds another stroke of luck in this magical start.

Not Dodging injuries

The Los Angeles Dodgers endured a painful series this past weekend against the Kansas City Royals. Despite winning two of three games, the Dodgers lost two big pieces of their championship puzzle. Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto left Friday’s game after two innings with triceps tightness. He was placed on the 15 day IL. His velocity was down noticeably as compared to his previous outing vs. the Yankees. On Sunday, Mookie Betts fractured his left hand after being hit by a pitch from the Royals’ Dan Altavilla. Though it was announced surgery was not needed, there is no timetable for his return. Despite these latest injury setbacks, Los Angeles still owns an eight game lead in the National League West and have pitcher Bobby Miller returning this week. They can afford to be careful with Yamamoto and Betts.

Turner back

Cole is not the only star coming back. Trea Turner is set to return to the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup Monday night barring anything unforeseen. The Phils lost the last two games of their series against the Orioles and have dropped five of their last seven contests. Turner’s return from a hamstring injury comes at a good time with Philadelphia set to play six games at home against playoff contenders the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Week Ahead in Major League Baseball June 10-June 16

Next week is Father’s Day. What better present for Dad than treating him to a day of doing……..nothing. OK, watching the day’s action in Major League Baseball ranks a close second, particularly if it is a rainy day. At least fans of the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets won’t be watching baseball during breakfast. Most kids, including my own, will be done with school this week. Time to start letting them stay up late to watch some West Coast action.

Bryce Harper and company head to Camden Yards this weekend. Photo from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Here is what is coming up this week:

Series to watch: Philadelphia Phillies at Baltimore Orioles

This past weekend bought the hype of a possible World Series preview with the Los Angeles Dodgers playing at the New York Yankees. The Phils-O’s matchup can be deemed as such, too. It wouldn’t be the first meeting between the clubs in the Fall Classic as in 1983 the Orioles were victorious in five games, their last World Series appearance. Philadelphia owns the best record in baseball while Baltimore is tied with the Cleveland Guardians with the third best mark. Gunnar Henderson already has 20 home runs for the Orioles, the most in either league. Kyle Schwarber has been quiet so far this month, a stark contrast to his previous June. Will the friendly confines of Camden Yards wake up his sleeping bat?

Player to watch: Francisco Alvarez

The Mets were 12-8 when their young catching star suffered a thumb injury. They are now 28-36. It’s impossible to attribute the total meltdown to Alvarez’s absence. However, a telling stat appeared on SNY, home of the Mets, a couple of weeks ago. The pitching staff’s ERA is two runs lower with Alvarez behind the plate. The lineup, which has been showing signs of life, could use his big and dramatic bat in the order. Despite the bad record, the Mets are only three games out of a playoff spot. All signs point to Alvarez returning to Queens over the weekend.

Last Stand for the Blue Jays?

The Toronto Blue Jays are a game under .500, and in fourth place in the American League East. Cavan Biggio, once a part of a core of youngsters that was to make the Jays annual contenders, was designated for assignment. Alek Manoah will miss the rest of the season. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr and Bo Bichette are due to be a free agents after 2026. It almost feels as though if Toronto misses out on the playoffs this year, there will be a major teardown of the team. I think management will add, rather than subtract at the trade deadline.

National League West woes

The NL West was seen as a very strong division at the start of the season. Today, four of the five teams are under .500. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers are not immune, playing .500 ball over the last two weeks. The Colorado Rockies are the only team that is hopeless while the other three teams are within a game and a half of one another. Despite the miserable starts, I expect two of the three teams bundled together to make the playoffs.