Forward of the 2024 common season’s last weekend, listed below are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day immediately:
1. Freeman nursing harm:
Whereas the temper surrounding the Dodgers was largely celebratory final evening within the aftermath of the membership clinching their eleventh NL West title in 12 seasons, there was one potential trigger for concern: first baseman Freddie Freeman, who departed final evening’s sport in opposition to the Padres through the seventh inning on account of an ankle harm. As famous by MLB.com’s Juan Toribio, Freeman was in a strolling boot and on crutches following final evening’s sport however appeared optimistic after telling reporters that x-rays got here again unfavourable, revealing a sprain.
Freeman famous that whereas his ankle is swollen, membership officers are “optimistic” he’ll be able to go in time for the playoffs when the NLDS kicks off subsequent Saturday. Freeman joins Miguel Rojas because the second member of Los Angeles’ on a regular basis beginning lineup who gained’t be collaborating within the membership’s last collection in opposition to Colorado in hopes of getting wholesome sufficient to take part within the upcoming playoff run. The Dodgers seem prone to shift Max Muncy over to first base whereas Freeman is out, thereby opening the recent nook up for Enrique Hernandez.
2. Twins dealing with elimination:
The Twins are staring down elimination after dropping 4 of their earlier 5 video games to the Marlins and Crimson Sox, leaving them with a disastrous 9-15 report that has allowed the Tigers to surpass them within the AL Wild Card race. Only one season faraway from breaking their prolonged drought with out a playoff collection win, Minnesota now sports activities a 82-77 report headed into the season’s last collection. Each the Tigers and Royals have an identical 85-74 data, leaving the Twins in want of a miracle to return to the postseason at this level.
They maintain the tiebreaker over each of their rivals, however the membership would wish to not solely sweep the Orioles of their last collection of the season but additionally profit from both Detroit or Kansas Metropolis getting swept of their last collection of the 12 months to be able to make it into the playoffs. Of these two potentialities, the Royals getting swept by the Braves seems to be extra probably than the Tigers getting swept by the White Sox, though Chicago has loads of incentive to do the whole lot it may well to brush contemplating they’d keep away from taking sole possession of the trendy period’s all-time loss report if they’ll lengthen their present profitable streak from three video games to 6. Minnesota’s final stand begins at 7:10pm native time this night when Pablo Lopez (4.11 ERA) takes on Baltimore rookie and former Twins prospect Cade Povich (5.59 ERA in 15 begins).
3. D-backs look to clinch:
The Padres have already clinched an NL Wild Card spot, however their last collection of the common season will nonetheless have main playoff implications as they head to the desert to face the Diamondbacks in a three-game set. Arizona at the moment holds an NL Wild Card spot with an 88-71 report that leaves them primarily tied with the Mets (87-70) and one sport up on the Braves (86-71). Nonetheless, their playoff hopes aren’t fairly as strong because it might sound at first look after the ultimate two video games of this week’s collection between Atlanta and New York have been rescheduled for Monday. That leaves the Snakes in want of a sweep this weekend to be able to punch their ticket to the postseason with out ready on the outcomes of Monday’s doubleheader, as each the Mets and Braves maintain the tiebreaker over them.
If Arizona manages to brush the Padres, they’d end with a report of 91-71. Both the Braves or Mets may attain that win whole, however at the least one membership is assured to fall quick because the Braves would wish to win all 5 of their remaining video games so as to take action whereas the Mets would wish to go at the least 4-1. Something lower than a sweep, nonetheless, leaves Arizona’s destiny within the arms of a doubleheader that may happen after they’ve wrapped up their common season, a irritating circumstance for the Diamondbacks that would depart them in limbo forward of a possible NL Wild Card collection on Tuesday. They’ll kick off their try and clinch at 6:40pm native time this night with veteran righty Merrill Kelly (3.71 ERA) on the mound reverse Padres veteran Yu Darvish (3.18 ERA in 15 begins).