Baseball Daily Dose: Iwakuma No-Hits the Orioles
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Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma found a fun way to register the first complete game of his major league career spanning 88 starts: he no-hit the Orioles at Safeco Field on Wednesday afternoon. Using 116 pitches, he walked three and struck out seven in a career-best performance. It’s the Mariners’ first no-hitter since Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game on August 15, 2012 against the Rays. That Hernandez perfecto was also the last no-no tossed by an American League pitcher prior to Iwakuma.
It was only Iwakuma’s 11th start of the season as he missed two and a half months between April 21 and July 5 due to a strained lat muscle. He has had a couple of poor starts but has mostly been reliable since coming off of the DL, posting a 3.05 ERA in his eight most recent starts.
Iwakuma, 34, is a free agent after the season. The Mariners drew some trade interest in him leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, but they told inquiring teams that they preferred to hold onto him.
The right-hander has been quite reliable since coming over to the United States from Japan, posting a 3.16 ERA in 2012, a 2.66 ERA in 2013, and a 3.52 ERA last year. Iwakuma’s strikeout and walk rates are comparable to those posted in previous seasons and he should be expected to compile an ERA closer to his 3.22 career average than the season-wide 4.41 ERA he carried into Wednesday’s start.
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Miggy Returns Friday
Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will return to the Tigers on Friday when the club opens up a three-game road series in Houston against the Astros, MLive.com’s Chris Iott reports. Cabrera might not play in all three games, as he has been out since July 4 with a Grade 3 calf strain.
Alex Avila, Marc Krauss, Andrew Romine, and Jefry Marte handled first base duties in Cabrera’s absence.
Cabrera hit the shelf with a terrific .350 batting average and a .456 on-base percentage, both of which led the American League, along with a .578 slugging percentage. Since July 4, the Tigers have gone 14-20, losing 8.5 games in the AL Central in Cabrera’s absence.
If the Tigers play it conservatively with Cabrera, starting him only five or so games a week, it would cut a bit into his fantasy value, but he can still put up huge numbers in the final 48 games of the season.
Aoki Leaves Lightheaded
Giants outfielder Nori Aoki exited Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Astros after four innings due to lightheadedness. He was struck in the helmet by a Jake Arrieta pitch on Sunday. He passed a concussion test on Tuesday and returned to the lineup on Wednesday, going 0-for-2 before leaving.
Concussions and concussion symptoms are serious issues, especially with chronic traumatic encephalopathy making headlines in the NFL. Though Aoki passed the concussion tests, manager Bruce Bochy said there’s a “good possibility” Aoki will be placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list, as Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News reports. Justin Maxwell replaced Aoki in the fifth inning Wednesday and would get the lion’s share of the playing time in left field while Aoki is out.
Aoki, 33, entered Wednesday’s action batting .304/.370/.389 with 12 stolen bases and 37 runs scored.
Jennings Returns Friday
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings will be activated from the 60-day disabled list on Friday. Jennings hasn’t played since April 25 due to left knee bursitis. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on June 10. Joey Butler was optioned to Triple-A Durham to preemptively create roster space for Jennings as the Rays have an off-day on Thursday.
Jennings was batting a meager .222/.306/.238 with five stolen bases in 72 plate appearances prior to the injury. It remains to be seen how Jennings will be used and how frequently. The Rays have gotten subpar offensive production out of their outfielders this season and are currently running with Grady Sizemore and Daniel Nava in the corners and Kevin Kiermaier in center.
Even if Jennings were to return to everyday playing time, he would still have only limited fantasy value down the stretch. Fantasy owners would only roster him for cheap speed but the Rays may not want him to risk exacerbating his knee injury.
National League Quick Hits: Mets first baseman Lucas Duda (back) is expected to return to the lineup on Thursday … Nationals outfielder Denard Span (back) has resumed light baseball activity … Braves starter Matt Wisler gave up two runs in five innings in a no-decision versus the Rays on Wednesday … Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto knocked in five runs with a single and a grand slam in a 10-run sixth inning against the Red Sox on Wednesday … X-rays were negative on Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco’s wrist but he was held out of the lineup on Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks … Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina doubled and tripled in Wednesday’s win over the Pirates … Pirates starter A.J. Burnett (elbow) played catch on flat ground on Wednesday … Cubs closer Hector Rondon uncorked two wild pitches, blowing the save in the ninth inning in Wednesday’s 10-inning win against the Brewers … Reds first baseman Joey Votto homered in a 3-for-4 effort in Wednesday’s win against the Padres … The Brewers activated reliever Brandon Kintzler from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Wednesday … Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner (thigh) will be activated from the disabled list on Thursday or Friday … Giants starter Tim Hudson (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Friday … Diamondbacks reliever David Hernandez left Wednesday’s game against the Phillies and was diagnosed with a left ankle contusion after he was hit by a line drive … The Padres placed reliever Brandon Maurer on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder … The Rockies designated outfielder Drew Stubbs for assignment on Wednesday.
American League Quick Hits: The Yankees designated 1B/OF Garrett Jones for assignment on Wednesday … The Blue Jays signed outfielder Chris Heisey to a minor league contract on Wednesday and assigned him to Triple-A Buffalo … Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (hamstring) will be re-evaluated on Friday … Rays starter Drew Smyly (shoulder) could return to the Rays’ starting rotation on Sunday versus the Rangers … Red Sox starter Rick Porcello (triceps) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Lowell on Saturday … Royals reliever Wade Davis (back) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday … Twins DH Miguel Sano homered twice and drove in six runs in a rout of the Rangers on Wednesday … White Sox closer David Robertson blew his sixth save of the season on Wednesday against the Angels … Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler hit a two-run double in the eighth inning to spark a comeback win against the Royals on Wednesday … Indians starter Danny Salazar held the Yankees to a lone run in 7 1/3 innings in Wednesday’s win … Astros outfielder Colby Rasmus hit a solo home run into McCovey Cove at AT&T Park in Wednesday’s win versus the Giants … Angels third baseman David Freese (finger) isn’t ready for a rehab assignment yet, manager Mike Scioscia said on Wednesday … The Rangers will recall Chi Chi Gonzalez from Triple-A Round Rock to start on Thursday against the Twins … Mariners outfielder Nelson Cruz (neck) was held out of Wednesday’s lineup versus the Orioles but should return on Friday after an off-day on Thursday … Third baseman Danny Valencia homered in Wednesday’s loss to the Blue Jays, giving him three in six games since joining the Athletics.
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