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Today’s Headlines
Sandy Alcantara is one step closer to the NL Cy Young.
Alcantara looked to bounce back against the Los Angeles Dodgers Saturday night after failing to get through the fourth inning in his last start out west. Alcantara was dominant on the mound in Miami. The only run he allowed was a solo home run to Mookie Betts. Beyond that, he mowed down batters and was able to effectively control some ninth inning baserunners. Saturday was Alcantara’s fourth complete game of the season. He also struck out 10 batters, his fifth start with double-digit strikeouts this season.
Sandy is the COMPLETE package. pic.twitter.com/7nGPEZdz3r
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 28, 2022
A pitcher’s duel across the border.
Facing off against each other on Saturday night were Shohei Ohtani and Alek Manoah. Ohtani dazzled in seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits all night: a George Springer lead-off single and a third-inning double from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He also struck out nine. Manoah staved off the Angels’ lineup until the sixth inning when Luis Rengifo knocked in the game’s first run. With the loss, Toronto is clinging to the third wild card spot. The Baltimore Orioles are not far behind.
Shohei Ohtani was at once very honest and very diplomatic about his matchup with Alek Manoah:
“I enjoyed it. I would like to avoid it, if possible, because he’s a great pitcher. Less chance of getting good results at the plate. But I did enjoy going pitch for pitch with him.”
— Julia Kreuz (@juliackreuz) August 27, 2022
Aroldis Chapman hits the IL with…an infected leg tattoo.
Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone told the media before Saturday’s game that his closer would be going on the injured list with a rather peculiar injury. Chapman has an infection on his leg, Boone said, stemming from a tattoo he’d gotten recently. This puts the team in a bit of a pickle for the weekend, as reliever Clay Holmes is not eligible to return until next week.
Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees placed LHP Aroldis Chapman on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to 8/24) with an infected wound from a recent tattoo.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 27, 2022
Best Moments From Yesterday
New York Mets retired No. 24 in honor of Willie Mays during Old Timers’ Day.
When Mays started his Major League Baseball career, he did so in another New York uniform: the Giants. The team moved out west in 1958, however, becoming the San Francisco Giants. The Hall of Famer spent the vast majority of his career as a Giant, but he did wrap up his career for two seasons as a New York Met. There was more meaning behind trading his Giants jersey for a Met one, as Anthony DiComo explains:
Acquiring Mays was important to [then Mets owner] Payson, who had build the Mets into the hollow space vacated by the Giants — the team for which Mays would always be best-known. Bringing him back to New York meant bringing him home.
Payton had promised Mays that no other Mets player would wear his number, but seasons ended and years passed. Last night, however, the Mets fulfilled that decades long promise when they retired his No. 24.
As part of today's Old Timers’ Day ceremonies, we have retired Willie Mays' No. 24. 🧡💙 pic.twitter.com/aJYhZFk1LL
— New York Mets (@Mets) August 27, 2022
The Ichiro Girl met her idol.
I don’t remember this going viral, but I’m so glad I know about it now. This really will be the most wholesome and joyful thing you’ve seen all week.
“Ichiro Girl” reuniting with Ichiro is the most wholesome thing we’ve ever seen 🥹 pic.twitter.com/vrM41SHLaB
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) August 27, 2022
Injuries
Clayton Kershaw is nearing a return from the lower back pain that sent him to the injured list.
Jose Trevino is day-to-day after being hit by a pitch on his foot.
Jackson Stephens is heading to the 7-day concussion IL after taking a comebacker off the head.
Zack Wheeler was placed on the 15-day IL with forearm tendinitis.
Articles You Should Read
The Spin Rate: “Narco” by Blasterjaxx and Timmy Trumpet — Erik Van Rheenen, Pitcher List
Finding Rooting Interests for Bad MLB Teams — Randy Holt, Pitcher List
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)
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