Baseball Daily Dose: Dose: Strasburg Stellar
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It’s been a devastatingly disappointing 2015 season for the Washington Nationals, and Stephen Strasburg has been at the center of some of the ugliest of the ugliness.
But the 27-year-old right-hander suddenly looks capable of contributing in a major way to fantasy championship runs over these final couple of weeks.
Strasburg was flat-out dominant in a 4-0 victory Tuesday night at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, yielding just a hit and a walk over eight shutout innings while striking out 14. Yes, it was the Phillies. And yes, they didn’t even have Ryan Howard (knee) in their dreadful starting lineup. But that brilliant pitching line from Strasburg still counts.
Strasburg also had his swing-and-miss stuff working last Wednesday against the Mets, fanning 13 batters over 7 1/3 innings. He joins Pedro Martinez as the only two pitchers in the combined history of the Nationals and Expos to rattle off consecutive 13-plus-strikeout games.
Since returning August 8 from an oblique strain, Strasburg boasts a 2.38 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 45 1/3 innings.
If the Nationals stay on track with their current rotation schedule, Strasburg will finish up with outings against the Marlins, Phillies, and Braves — maybe the three worst teams in Major League Baseball this year.
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Cardinals Welcome Back Holliday
In a move that came a little bit earlier than expected, the Cardinals activated veteran outfielder Matt Holliday from the disabled list on Tuesday afternoon and had him suited up in the dugout for Tuesday night’s series opener at Milwaukee’s Miller Park.
Holliday did not appear in that game — a 10-inning victory over the host Brewers — but he is expected to return to action at some point during the three-game set and Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak has stated publicly that the 35-year-old will be treated as an everyday player down the stretch.
Holliday has been limited to 63 games this season due to back-to-back tears of his right quadriceps muscle and he has tallied just four home runs and 31 RBI when healthy, but this is a guy with the ability to make a splash in a short amount of time. Look for him to bat third and start in left field on Wednesday night. Stephen Piscotty moving to right and Jason Heyward sliding to center would be ideal, but manager Mike Matheny has a bunch of different avenues he could travel with seven different outfielders now on the active roster.
Kelly Leaves Start With Shoulder Injury
Red Sox right-hander Joe Kelly entered his start Tuesday night against the Orioles having registered a 1.85 ERA over his last seven outings. He carved through Baltimore’s lineup in the first two innings, even striking out the side in order in the bottom of the second, but four singles and a Steve Pearce home run drove him from the game in the third and the Red Sox later announced that Kelly was battling right shoulder soreness and general arm fatigue.
That would explain the sudden drop in velocity and effectiveness in that ugly third frame.
A thorough examination is probably coming Wednesday morning. Even if it doesn’t reveal anything too serious, it seems likely that the out-of-contention Red Sox will go ahead and shut the 27-year-old down.
Kelly is currently sitting on a 10-6 record, 4.82 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, and 110/49 K/BB ratio in 134 1/3 frames. He will be eligible for salary arbitration for the first time in his career over the offseason.
National League Quick Hits: Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy said Tuesday that he’s felt no improvement in his recovery from a concussion … Brandon Crawford (calf, oblique) is likely to return to the Giants’ lineup on Friday … Bryce Harper went 3-for-3 with a walk, an RBI single, two home runs, and three RBI in Tuesday’s win over the Phillies … Billy Hamilton was held out of the Reds’ starting lineup Tuesday with lingering shoulder discomfort … Cubs left-hander Jon Lester pitched nine innings of one-run ball to beat the Pirates in the second half of Tuesday’s doubleheader … Cameron Maybin (eye) is expected to return to the Braves’ starting lineup on Wednesday … Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon finished 4-for-5 with a two-run home run in Tuesday’s win against the Mets … Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that he’s hoping Hunter Pence (oblique) will make it back for the final homestand of the season … Andrelton Simmons hit a walkoff RBI single as the Braves edged the Blue Jays on Tuesday … Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria missed an 11th straight game Tuesday because of a left hamstring strain … Carlos Martinez struck out nine over eight innings of one-run ball Tuesday in the Cardinals’ defeat of the Brewers … Yasiel Puig (hamstring) did some running in the outfield Tuesday at Dodger Stadium … A.J. Pollock hit a three-run home run as the Diamondbacks rallied late to overcome the Padres on Tuesday … Marlins reliever Carter Capps (elbow) could be activated from the disabled list as soon as Sunday.
American League Quick Hits: A’s right-hander Jesse Chavez has been shut down for the remainder of the season with a non-displaced fracture in his rib cage … Corey Kluber (hamstring) will return to the Indians’ starting rotation Thursday against the Royals … Kris Medlen threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings in the Royals’ win over the Indians on Tuesday … Alex Rodriguez slugged his 32nd home run of the season Tuesday in the Yankees’ loss to the Rays … Royals closer Greg Holland worked in then out of trouble Tuesday versus the Indians to earn his 31st save … Edwin Encarnacion was held out of the Blue Jays’ starting lineup Tuesday with discomfort in his left middle finger … Chris Davis smacked an RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning as the Orioles took down the Red Sox on Tuesday … White Sox starter Jeff Samardzija was shelled for 10 runs on 11 hits over three innings in a loss to the A’s on Tuesday … Red Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa has been shut down for the season due to concerns about his workload … Billy Burns (hamstring) is not expected to return to the A’s starting lineup before Friday … Tigers closer Bruce Rondon allowed a run but escaped with the save Tuesday night against the Twins … Josh Reddick finished 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI, and three runs scored as the Athletics pounded the White Sox on Tuesday … Prince Fielder went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored Tuesday in the Rangers’ big win over the Astros … Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez will have his right shoulder examined by Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday … David Murphy hit a three-run home run as the Angels hung on to beat the Mariners on Tuesday … Drew Hutchison has been removed from the Blue Jays’ rotation and will pitch in relief down the stretch … Nelson Cruz hit his 42nd home run of the season Tuesday in a loss to the Angels.
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