In Sunday’s edition of Say Hey, Baseball, we talked about how baseball’s western divisions are giving us an absolutely fantastic show and could be poised to deliver some of the most entertaining regular-season baseball that we’ve seen in a while. On the other hand, things on the East Coast are entertaining in their own, weird way. Despite the fact that the Yankees are currently far ahead of every NL team in the standings, they’re still 9.5 games back of the Red Sox and will probably have a closer eye on the AL West race since it’s likely that they’ll have to deal with the runner up in that division come October.
Baseball’s wild west entices envy from the east
While Sunday’s Say Hey, Baseball focused on the amazing playoff races out in the west, it’s understandable if Monday’s edition discusses how fans out east may be feeling a little left out from the fun.
Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images
The most drama in the AL East will come from the bottom of the division as the Baltimore Orioles will be battling history of their own. They’re already on the very cusp of being mathematically eliminated from the postseason and the only question now is whether or not they’ll end up being remembered in the same vein as the infamous 1962 Mets when it comes to futility. Baltimore still has two more series left against the Yankees and they also have to play the Athletics, Astros, and Red Sox before the season ends. They’ll have to go on another big-time slide to “accomplish” that “feat,” but anything is possible with that murder’s row left on their schedule.
Meanwhile on the senior circuit, unless the Nationals can dramatically find a way to revive themselves then it’s looking likely that the NL East will come down to two-horse race between the Braves and Phillies. In case you’re wondering how these teams are currently handling this situation, the Phillies dropped three out of five against the Mets (including a 20-run shellacking on Thursday) and the Braves got swept in a four-game home series against the Rockies. The preliminary start to this pennant race is off to an inauspicious start, but may not be a shock when you consider the relative inexperience of both clubs.
The NL East race should still bring some interesting twists and turns and could come down to which team makes the least mistakes down the stretch. It’ll still be interesting, but I’d imagine a lot of fans on the East Coast will spend some late nights being envious of being able to watch the teams from the west at a reasonable time of night.
- Before Sunday, there were only 25 active pitchers who had thrown an immaculate inning. That club grew to 26 after Zac Rosscup ended the Dodgers’ blowout of the Mariners by striking out the side on just nine pitches.
- Pinstripe Alley has gone into full pragmatist mode. They recognize that the AL East race is over and that it’s time for the Yankees to start preparing for the one game battle of doom that is the Wild Card game.
- It would help having a shortstop with the quality of Didi Gregorius ready and healthy for the game. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury scare on Sunday.
- Matt Olson may be an underappreciated cog of the machine that is the Oakland A’s, but maybe it’s time to show him a little bit more love.
- Josh Hader hasn’t been on the mound for the Brewers nearly as much as he was during the first half of the 2018 season. Craig Counsell has a reason for that, and he’s counting innings as part of that reason.
- Speaking of pitchers in the NL Central, Austin Gomber is starting to make some solid contributions to the Cardinals’ rotation and his curveball is playing a big role in his development.
- Meanwhile in the AL Central, the White Sox stirred up a bit of excitement when they announced that top prospect Michael Kopech will be debuting on Tuesday against the Twins.
- Kopech won’t be the only big-name prospect making his first career big league start. The Twins will be sending Stephen Gonsalves to the mound tonight for his major league debut.
- Charlie Blackmon’s production has fallen off a cliff this season when compared to his past two seasons. Beyond the Box Score tried to figure out what’s going on.
- Yu Darvish had to leave his most recent rehab stint after just one inning. That’s deifnitely concerning for the Cubs and it’s leading Bleed Cubbie Blue to wonder what the future holds for Darvish and his status with the Cubs.
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