Because the stretch run of 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 now:
1. Darvish returns to the mound:
Veteran right-hander Yu Darvish is scheduled to make his first begin for the Padres since Could tonight towards the Tigers. The 38-year-old missed time because of hamstring and elbow points earlier this summer time earlier than being positioned on the restricted checklist because of an undisclosed household matter again in July.
Previous to his prolonged absence, the veteran rebounding from a reasonably pedestrian 2023 season. After posting a lackluster 4.56 ERA final yr, Darvish impressed with a 3.20 ERA and three.54 FIP in 11 begins this yr earlier than hitting the shelf. Since being traded to the Padres after a second-place end in NL Cy Younger award voting with the Cubs in 2020, Darvish has put collectively a 3.80 ERA with a 3.69 FIP and a 26.2% strikeout charge. With the Padres firmly within the playoff image, each Darvish and fellow veteran Joe Musgrove determine to issue into the membership’s postseason rotation alongside Dylan Stop and Michael King.
2. Yankees weighing late-inning choices?
As famous by The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner in a single day, Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone refused to reply a query relating to right-hander Clay Holmes’ standing because the membership’s nearer following yesterday’s heartbreaking loss the place Holmes surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford. Boone mentioned throughout his postgame presser the membership plans to “speak by means of it and do what we expect is the perfect factor” however didn’t wish to say extra whereas the staff was nonetheless “uncooked and emotional” following the loss.
Holmes, who earned his second profession All-Star nod this season, sports activities a 3.27 ERA and a very good 2.91 FIP in 55 innings of labor. Regardless of these robust charge numbers, nevertheless, he hasn’t precisely been a shutdown ninth-inning choice in his third yr because the membership’s nearer. He’s transformed simply 29 of his 40 save alternatives. These 11 blown saves lead the majors, effectively forward of even different struggling closers like Craig Kimbrel and David Bednar, each of whom have blown six saves in 29 possibilities.
3. Twins roster transfer incoming:
As famous by Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune yesterday, the Twins are anticipated to recall right-hander Louie Varland earlier than right now’s recreation towards the Rays. Varland is poised to pitch in a multi-inning aid function after scheduled starter Ronny Henriquez, who hasn’t thrown greater than two innings in an outing with the large league membership this yr. After right now’s scheduled outing, it’s not clear if Varland will pitch for the membership in a bullpen function down the stretch or stay stretched out as a beginning choice, however Nightengale means that the 26-year-old figures to stay with the membership going ahead quite than return to the minor leagues.
Varland entered the yr as a rotation candidate in Minnesota, with a profession 4.40 ERA (96 ERA+) in 94 innings as a swing choice on the large league degree. Sadly for the righty, he surrendered a disastrous 9.18 ERA in 4 begins again in April and was rapidly demoted to the minors. He’s appeared significantly better since, with a 3.60 ERA and 4.33 FIP in 20 innings of labor on the large league degree whereas shuttling between the majors and minors, however he’s been leapfrogged by Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa and Zebby Matthews on the Twins’ rotation depth chart. Minnesota might want to make a corresponding lively roster transfer previous to right now’s recreation to accommodate the addition of Varland.
