Because the 2024 common season continues, listed here are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world all through the day right this moment:
1. Mariners underneath new administration:
After struggling badly on offense all through the season and a 1-8 highway journey that allowed the Astros to overhaul them within the AL West race, the Mariners took motion yesterday by firing supervisor Scott Servais and putting in Dan Wilson because the membership’s new skipper. It’s the second midseason managerial change of the month, because it was simply two weeks in the past that the White Sox overhauled their teaching employees whereas changing Pedro Grifol with Grady Sizemore within the supervisor’s chair.
The query for Wilson and the Mariners now could be whether or not or not the modifications within the dugout will assist inject some life right into a workforce that has seen its playoff odds sink to simply 11.1% in accordance with Fangraphs, or if the membership will proceed to flounder whereas the Astros pull additional away within the AL West race. Chicago has gone simply 3-8 since their swap was made, though given the 1-22 stretch the membership had previous to Grifol’s firing, even that meager .272 profitable proportion is arguably an enchancment. Wilson’s first activity will likely be profitable tonight’s sport in opposition to the Giants, which takes place in Seattle at 7:10pm native time with Luis Castillo (3.51 ERA) on the mound reverse Hayden Birdsong (5.01 ERA).
2. Buxton nearing return?
Uber-talented however oft-injured outfielder Byron Buxton has considerably quietly put collectively a powerful, wholesome season with the Twins this yr. His 90 video games performed this yr are the third most of his MLB profession thus far, and he’s made probably the most of them by slashing a superb .275/.334/.528 (140 wRC+) whereas posting sturdy numbers in heart discipline. It’s an enormous step ahead from a 2023 marketing campaign that noticed Buxton provide simply 85 video games value of below-average offense whereas being restricted to a DH-only function in a bid to maintain the now 30-year-old former All-Star wholesome.
In fact, Buxton is presently on the injured listing with irritation in his proper hip. That’s absolutely a worrisome prognosis for Twins followers given Buxton’s lengthy harm historical past, however MLB.com’s Damage Tracker offers loads of motive for optimism by noting that the outfielder has performed hitting, fielding, and operating in latest days and might be activated from the shelf as quickly as right this moment, the primary sport the place he’s eligible to return to motion. Minnesota has relied on teenager Austin Martin in heart discipline whereas Buxton has been out of fee.
3. Yankees getting more healthy:
Yankees followers bought thrilling information yesterday when it was reported that infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is about to be activated from the injured listing right this moment. The information ought to supply a facelift for the membership’s struggling infield combine, and extra reinforcements are on the way in which with each Jon Berti and Anthony Rizzo set to start rehab assignments amid prolonged stays on the injured listing this yr. Each Berti (87 wRC+ in 17 video games this yr) and Rizzo (80 wRC+ in 70 video games) have struggled to provide on the plate this yr, however these points are par for the course in a Yankees infield that has seen Gleyber Torres, Oswaldo Cabrera, Ben Rice, and DJ LeMahieu all publish lackluster numbers with Torres’s 90 wRC+ main the pack. With New York clinging to a 1.5-game lead within the AL East over the Orioles, the approaching returns of Chisholm, Rizzo, and Berti might assist the membership’s beleaguered infield to point out indicators of life down the stretch.
