With July simply across the nook, listed here are three issues to regulate round baseball at the moment:
1. Graceffo to hitch Cardinals’ bullpen:
The Cardinals are anticipated to advertise Gordon Graceffo forward of this night’s matchup with the Reds. Though he has been a starter within the minors, the right-hander can be out there out of the bullpen tonight. St. Louis can unencumber a spot for Graceffo on the 40-man roster by transferring Steven Matz to the 60-day IL. Nevertheless, the workforce might want to make an extra corresponding transfer to open a spot on the lively roster.
Graceffo, 24, is broadly thought of one of many higher pitching prospects within the group. He has made 14 begins this yr for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds, pitching to a 3.84 ERA with a 21.4% strikeout price and an 8.9% stroll price. Whereas his Triple-A numbers don’t soar off the web page, they signify an enchancment from his stats with the Redbirds final season; in 21 video games (18 begins) at Triple-A in 2023, Graceffo posted a 4.92 ERA with a 20.9% strikeout price and 11.6% stroll price.
2. Harm updates approaching Harper, Schwarber:
On the identical day they misplaced Spencer Turnbull for the subsequent six to eight weeks, the Phillies had two extra damage scares, this time to a pair of their finest hitters. Bryce Harper, who was just lately named the beginning first baseman for the NL All-Star workforce, limped his approach again to the dugout after hurting his left hamstring on the ultimate play of yesterday’s sport in opposition to the Marlins. In line with Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Harper felt his hamstring “seize” as he ran to first base. He talked about that’s uncertain how frightened he must be in regards to the extent of the damage as a result of he has by no means skilled this explicit concern earlier than.
In the meantime, leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber exited Thursday’s sport early with what the workforce referred to as “left groin tightness” (per Coffey). Schwarber is within the midst of one other sturdy season with Philadelphia in his first yr as a full-time DH, with 17 house runs and an .820 OPS. Coffey famous that the Phillies will present updates on each sluggers at the moment, maybe throughout supervisor Rob Thomson’s media availability this afternoon at roughly 2:25 pm CT.
3. Giants to activate Wade:
Giants supervisor Bob Melvin instructed reporters (together with Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic) that first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. is ready to rejoin the workforce at the moment. Which means he’ll be eligible for tonight’s contest in opposition to the Dodgers at Oracle Park. Presumably, he’ll slot again into the guts of the order in opposition to rookie right-hander Landon Knack. Wade not often performs in opposition to left-handed pitchers, however he has been San Francisco’s most efficient bat in opposition to right-handed pitching this season.
Certainly, Wade was one of many hottest hitters in MLB over the primary two months of the 2024 marketing campaign, slashing .333/.470/.426 (166 wRC+) throughout 52 video games. Nevertheless, he has been out since late Might with a left hamstring pressure. The Giants, who’ve gone 11-16 since Wade landed on the IL, will certainly be happy to have him again within the lineup. San Francisco might want to make a corresponding transfer to place Wade again on the lively roster.
