Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Gray, Owens Debut
It was a night of high-profile-pitching-prospect debuts Tuesday around Major League Baseball, with Jon Gray strapping on a Rockies uniform for the first time and Henry Owens getting an introduction-by-fire to the Red Sox vs. Yankees rivalry.
Neither performance will inspire a sonnet, but let’s go in depth anyway on these youngsters …
Gray lasted just four innings against the Mariners at Coors Field, yielding three runs — two earned — on five hits and two walks as the Rockies fell 6-4. He did strike out four Seattle hitters on a pitch total of just 77, but too many of his deliveries missed their intended location. Ben Badler, Baseball America’s prospect guru, offered a quick review of the outing on Twitter: “The touch and feel still needs work, so you can see why Jon Gray has been so erratic, but the pure stuff was still impressive tonight.”
Gray, the second overall pick in the 2013 MLB Amateur Draft out of the University of Oklahoma, had a 2.90 ERA and 82/30 K/BB ratio over his last 80 2/3 innings at Triple-A. He might carry matchup-by-matchup value in mixed fantasy leagues down the stretch, but there are going to be some rough lines along the way as he adjusts to the reality of having to make 50 percent of his starts in Denver’s mile-high altitude. Spotty control remains the biggest issue for the 23-year-old right-hander.
Owens was charged with three earned runs over five innings as the Red Sox were routed 13-3 at Yankee Stadium. On the surface it looks like an ugly one, but there were some positive stretches in the start for the 23-year-old former supplemental first-round draft pick. Owens gave up a run in the bottom of the first after Chris Young hit a one-out infield single, Alex Rodriguez drew a walk, and Mark Teixeira smacked a ball into left-center field, but the right-hander went on to retire 12 straight New York batters after that. The rest of the runs on Owens’ line came in the bottom of the sixth, with reliever Robbie Ross Jr. pitching. Owens struck out five and issued only one walk in a charged environment in enemy territory.
Owens had a 3.16 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts ratio through 122 1/3 innings this season at Triple-A Pawtucket. He has the ability to become a frontline starter in the future and he could be of value over these final two months in deeper mixed fantasy formats.
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Richie Rich And The Rays
Rays corner infield prospect Richie Shaffer is another former first-round pick who drew headlines on Tuesday night. The 24-year-old cranked a seventh-inning solo homer off White Sox reliever Daniel Webb for his first major hit as Tampa Bay rolled to an easy 11-3 victory on the south side of Chicago. Shaffer also drew a walk in the game and finished with two runs scored. He was starting at third base while Evan Longoria handled designated hitter duties for a night.
Shaffer can also play some first base and he has reportedly been working on the side at both corner outfield spots. If his bat keeps making noise, he may be able to sneak into the Rays’ starting lineup on a semi-regular basis down the stretch.
Shaffer was sporting a .954 OPS and 16 home runs in 55 games for Triple-A Durham at the time of his Monday callup. He’s a post-hype guy — and fantasy baseball enthusiasts love post-hype types.
Boyd Promptly Joins Detroit Rotation
As many had been speculating, the Tigers will call up 24-year-old left-hander Matt Boyd to start Wednesday night at Comerica Park in Detroit’s second of three games against the visiting Royals. Boyd, a sixth-round pick in 2013 out of Oregon State University, was acquired from the Blue Jays in last week’s David Price trade. He got roughed up in two starts earlier this season with Toronto, but his minor league numbers should have him on all fantasy watch lists.
Let these couple lines of stats do the talking: Boyd has registered a 1.65 ERA, 0.855 WHIP, and 108/27 K/BB ratio across 114 2/3 innings this season between Double-A New Hampshire, Triple-A Buffalo, and Triple-A Toledo. He owns a 2.48 ERA, 0.989 WHIP, and 278/64 K/BB ratio in 272 career minor league frames.
National League Quick Hits: Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman is back on the disabled list with a right oblique strain … David Wright (back) is hoping to begin a rehab assignment early next week … Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo finished 4-for-5 with a two doubles and two runs scored in Tuesday’s win over the Pirates … Stephen Strasburg (oblique) could be cleared to return to the Nationals’ rotation this weekend if his bullpen session Wednesday goes according to plan … Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday’s win over the Cardinals … Jake Arrieta delivered seven scoreless innings Tuesday in the Cubs’ defeat of the Pirates … Justin Turner (thigh) expects to rejoin the Dodgers as soon as his 15-day disabled list stint is over … Padres outfielder Justin Upton remains day-to-day with a bruised right thumb … Maikel Franco cranked a grand slam Tuesday in the Phillies’ defeat of the Dodgers … Mets starter Jon Niese held the Marlins to one run over seven innings on Tuesday night … Jonathan Papelbon picked up his second save in a Nationals uniform on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks … Cardinals setup man Jordan Walden has been pulled off his minor league rehab assignment due to lingering upper-arm discomfort … Jake Peavy struck out eight while allowing just one run over six innings in a no-decision Tuesday against the Braves … Phillies right-hander Ken Giles got the final four outs of Tuesday’s win over the Dodgers for his third save of the season … Aroldis Chapman notched his 23rd save of the year Tuesday night against the Cardinals … Mets acquired left-handed reliever Eric O’Flaherty and cash considerations from the Athletics for a player to be named later.
American League Quick Hits: Tigers owner Mike Ilitch fired general manager Dave Dombrowski on Tuesday, replacing him with Al Avila … Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has ruled out Michael Pineda (forearm) returning before September … Marco Estrada held the Twins to one run in 6 2/3 innings, earning his ninth win of the season on Tuesday … Rangers optioned outfielder Leonys Martin to Triple-A Round Rock … Josh Reddick (back) was a late scratch from the Athletics’ lineup Tuesday … Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson went yard for the 28th time this season Tuesday against the Twins … Yankees placed newcomer Dustin Ackley could miss up to a month with a right lumbar strain … Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Tuesday’s win versus the Tigers … C.J. Wilson is scheduled to meet with with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on August 11 for a second opinion on his left elbow … Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday’s win over the White Sox … Blue Jays reliever Aaron Sanchez was suspended three games by MLB for throwing at Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar on Sunday … Dustin Pedroia (hamstring) is expected to resume baseball activities this weekend … Rays left-hander Drew Smyly (shoulder) will make at least two more rehab starts … Carlos Carrasco allowed just one hit over nine shutout innings Tuesday night against the Angels … A’s right-hander Chris Bassitt delivered seven scoreless frames Tuesday in a win over the Orioles … David Freese (finger) said Tuesday that he could return to the Angels’ lineup by next week … Delino DeShields had an RBI triple, scored a run, and stole a base in Tuesday’s defeat of the Astros … Rangers released veteran left-hander Wandy Rodriguez.
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