Media by Associated Press – FILE – San Diego Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. looks out from the dugout prior to the team’s baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 25, 2022, in San Diego. Tatis was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball on Friday, Aug. 12, after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The penalty was effective immediately, meaning the All-Star shortstop cannot play in the majors this year. Tatis had been on the injured list all season after breaking his left wrist in spring training. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan, File)
The Major League Baseball world was rocked over the weekend by the news of San Diego Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. testing positive for a performance-enhancing anabolic steroid.
Just two weeks ago, the Padres won the trade deadline by acquiring Juan Soto and Josh Bell from Washington and closer Josh Hader from Milwaukee.
But dreams of a lineup with Soto, Bell, Tatis, and Manny Machado batting 3-4-5-6 will have to wait. Tatis was suspended for 80 games, and he announced Saturday that he will not appeal, thus missing the rest of 2022 and the start of the 2023 season.
Tatis led the NL with 42 home runs last season but had yet to play in a game this year after breaking his left wrist in an off-season accident in the Dominican Republic.
The Padres were expecting to have Tatis back for the September push and the postseason. The Padres are 64-52, 17 games adrift in the NL West. However, they are currently in one of the three Wild Card positions.
Rookie shortstop C.J. Abrams was traded in the Soto deal, leaving Ha-Seong Kim as the everyday shortstop. The 26-year-old is batting .249 with six homers and 40 RBI, a far cry from Tatis’ production a year ago. The Padres are now +750 to win the National League pennant and +1500 to win the World Series.
Dodgers on Epic Win Streak
Meanwhile, the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers are on fire. They crushed Kansas City 13-3 on Saturday with six home runs and have won 12 straight games.
The Dodgers have the best record in baseball at 79-33. A win on Sunday not only gives the Dodgers 80 wins but also matches the longest win streak the team has had since moving to Los Angeles in the 1950s.
The Dodgers are +175 to win the National League pennant and +370 to win the World Series. In the last two weeks, they have overtaken the New York Yankees for both the best record in MLB and as the 2022 World Series favorites.
In August, Max Muncy has five home runs, while Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts both have three. Muncy, Will Smith, Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Trea Turner are all hitting over .310 in August. The Dodgers are hitting .391 as a team in August with 20 homers and a 2.18 ERA.
Astros Add a Pitcher, Lose a Hitter
The Houston Astros had a mixed bag of injury news this weekend. Outfielder Michael Brantley is out for the season after having shoulder surgery. On the flip side, Lance McCullers Jr. returned to make his 2022 debut on Saturday night.
Brantley has been out since June 26th and is a free agent after the season. At 35, it is quite possible he’s played his final game in Houston. Brantley hit .288 this season with only five home runs in 64 games as he added 14 doubles and drove in 26 runs.
In his absence the last six weeks, the Astros have struggled to find a permanent left fielder. Chas McCormick has started 17 games while converted infielder Aledmys Diaz has started 16. Overall they have played five different players in left field since Brantley went down.
McCullers was activated Saturday and pitched for the first time since last year’s ALDS. The right-hander beat Oakland 8-0 with six innings in which he allowed two hits, walked four, and struck out five.
If healthy, his addition bolsters a rotation that leads the American League in ERA (3.05) and ranks second in strikeouts (1,023).
The Astros lead the AL West by 12 games, and they have overtaken the Yankees for the best record in the AL at 74-41. They are even with the Yankees to win the American League pennant at +175 and are +450 to win the World Series.
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