MLB News and Notes

Slam Diego is Back!

After a very tough stretch since the beginning of June, going 5-11 in their 16 contests this month, the San Diego Padres look to have their power back. Over this awful stretch, the team averaged 3.25 runs per game, but their pitching staff has held up their end, delivering a team 4.375 ERA in June. During their game with the Reds, June 16th, the team had the entire game with the pitching staff surrendering zero runs through 8 innings and a 2-0 lead.

Then Mark Melancon came in to close out the game and proceeded to give up 4 hits and 4 runs in the process, blowing the save. San Diego could’ve felt sorry for themselves and lost yet another game, but they came to bat and delivered two crucial home runs to win it. Both Eric Hosmer and Victor Caratini are to thank for the victory and coming off a huge walk-off, the Padres should have a ton of momentum for the next few series. Look to take Padres run lines in future games.

Diamondbacks Make Mediocre History

You’ve heard that right folks get the trumpets out; the Arizona Diamondbacks have officially made history… for having the longest road losing streak of all time. Not so long ago, the Diamondbacks completed their victory in Atlanta and were a respectable 11-11 and were respected as a team who could go to a team’s ballpark and give them a challenge. Little did they know April 25th would be the last day they will have won a road game for a long while, and it is starting to take a toll on the organization.

Manager Torey Lovullo has been devastated by this lack of success, quoted by the New York Post saying, “I lay in bed at night thinking about different things …Sometimes I’m up until 3, 4 o’clock in the morning trying to put the pieces of this puzzle together in my own head. It’s tough. It’s very challenging.” We hope for the fans of Arizona, the players, and poor Torey Lovullo’s sake, the Diamondbacks can get it together and grab a victory on the road. Until then, fade the Diamondbacks! For Mets fans who previously held this record, you thankfully are free from this sad place in MLB history.

DeGrom’s Historic Season Derailed Momentarily

So far this season, Jacob DeGrom has been proving game in and game out that he is the best pitcher in baseball. Through 11 starts, DeGrom holds a 0.54 ERA, a 14.91 K/9 average, and 1.07 BB/9 average. Stats we haven’t seen since… well, ever! He is a shoo-in for the CY Young in the NL as long as he could stay healthy, but that is starting to look more questionable as the season unravels. Earlier in this season, DeGrom had to sit out a start due to a minor injury, and now in his last two starts with the club, he has had to exit the game early. He exited his start Wednesday against the Cubs after throwing eight strikeouts in 3 innings due to shoulder soreness, and people are beginning to wonder if the insane velocity he has could serve as a downfall to him.

DeGrom is similar to Randy Johnson in the fact that his velocity does not waver with age, but in order to have a lengthy career, he may have to cut down on some of this velocity and focus on placement on pitches. It’s hard to tell the best pitcher in the past 20 years what to do, but the Mets are best off keeping him out for at least 10 days to recover fully.

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