Baseball Daily Dose: Daily Dose: Bryant Bash
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Kris Bryant entered Monday’s game against the Reds with just three hits in his last 20 at-bats. It’s probably safe to say that he’s now past that mini-slump.
Bryant had an historical night Monday versus the Redlegs, going 5-for-5 with three home runs, two doubles, six RBI and four runs scored. His 16 total bases were three shy of Shawn Green’s major league record. Dating back to 1913 (when Baseball-Reference’s database begins), Bryant is the first player ever to hit three home runs and two doubles in the same game.
With his three dingers on Monday, Bryant has surged into a tie with Nolan Arenado and Adam Duvall for the National League lead with 21 home runs. His 57 RBI are eight behind Arenado for the NL lead, and his 59 runs scored are tops on the Senior Circuit.
Bryant has struck out 74 times this season, a total bested by only 13 others in the NL. The strikeout is always going to be part of his game and a major reason why he’s probably never going to hit for a great average (he’s batting .278 this season and .276 in his career). However, the Cubs and Bryant’s fantasy owners will obviously live with the strikeouts and good-not-great average when it comes along with all that category punch. Bryant is on pace for 45 home runs, 123 RBI and 127 runs scored.
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Elbow Trouble for Mets
The Mets are built around their talented rotation this season, but they’re now going to have to hold their breath and hope that two members of that rotation will survive the season.
The club has confirmed that Steven Matz is dealing with a bone spur in his pitching elbow. Noah Syndergaard is reportedly battling the same issue, although the team has not publicly acknowledged his injury (apparently at Syndergaard’s insistence). As far as Matz’s case goes, he’s been told that he can’t do any more damage to his elbow if he pitches through the ailment, as it’s not close to any ligaments or tendons. However, Matz hasn’t felt 100 percent of late and it’s showed in his results with a 5.00 ERA in his last five starts. The lefty is currently in line to start Wednesday against the Nats, although he could be scratched.
“Is it going to affect my stuff, is the most important thing,” Matz said. “[If] I’m going to pitch against the Nationals here, we’re playing important games now against them, so I want to compete to my best ability. … That’s something I’m going to have to figure out.”
Syndergaard was pulled from a start last week with elbow pain, but he took the ball on Monday against the Nationals and lasted just three innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks. The right-hander had his usual big velocity, so it doesn’t appear whatever discomfort he’s dealing with affects his ability to reach back for his heater. However, it’s impossible to say how much the pain his hindering him. Obviously the fact that this was easily his worst outing of the season isn’t encouraging.
The Mets are in a tough spot here. If Matz goes under the knife, he’d reportedly be sidelined well into August. A timetable for Syndergaard would figure to be similar. If Matz pitches through the injury, he may simply not be very effective. The club could hold off on surgery for now and see how the two pitchers look and feel. Pitchers have pitched through bone spurs before. But, any delay could potentially end their seasons if they eventually do need operations.
Syndergaard obviously plans on pitching through the injury given that he made his scheduled start Monday. A decision on Matz reportedly will be made on Tuesday when general manager Sandy Alderson and other Mets officials get together to determine the best course of action. If he’s skipped Wednesday, Logan Verrett looks to be the most likely candidate to start in Matz’s place. Meanwhile, fantasy owners are left in the lurch.
Giolito On His Way
The Nationals lost Stephen Strasburg to the disabled list, but they’re promoting one of the top young talents in the minors to take his spot in the rotation.
Lucas Giolito will be summoned from Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday to make his major league debut against the Mets. The big right-hander will be taking the ball in a big league game 16 days shy of his 22nd birthday.
Entering the season, Giolito ranked as either the best or second-best pitching prospect in the game virtually everywhere you looked (he contended with Julio Urias for top honors). At 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds, Giolito looks like what a workhorse ace is supposed to look like, and he has the stuff to go along with it. The righty sports a four-seamer that sits in the mid-90s and touches the upper-90s, and he backs it up with power curveball that can be unhittable when he’s on. Giolito also features a quality two-seamer and changeup.
The Nats tinkered with Gilito’s delivery this spring, which probably helps explain why he put up a disappointing 38/25 K/BB ratio across 44 1/3 innings over the first two months of the season. He’s found a groove in June, though, with a 30/7 K/BB ratio over 22 2/3 frames.
Giolito certainly wouldn’t be the first high profile pitching prospect to struggle at a young age after jumping over Triple-A to the majors. However, he absolutely has the repertoire and also reportedly the poise to have success right out of the gate.
How long Giolito’s stay in the majors will be this time around is up in the air. The Nationals aren’t sure at this point how much time Strasburg will miss with an upper back strain, as the results of an MRI aren’t in yet. However, given how Gio Gonzalez has pitched of late (8.44 ERA over his last seven starts), you’d have to think Giolito will have a spot in the rotation for a while if he pitches well.
Giolito threw a career-high 117 innings last season and, given how the Nats have handled other young starters in the past, will likely be limited to around 150-160 frames this year. He’s thrown 71 innings at Harrisburg this season, so he’s in a pretty good spot pace-wise. Giolito needs to be owned in any fantasy leagues where he’s still available.
National League Quick Hits: Joey Votto hit a pair of homers, drove in three and scored three runs in Monday’s loss to the Cubs … Carlos Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in Monday’s win over the Blue Jays … Aledmys Diaz left Monday’s game against the Royals after fouling a ball off his right eye and has been sent to the hospital for further tests. The Cardinals don’t believe he suffered an orbital fracture … Ben Revere went 4-for-5 with an RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases in Monday’s victory over the Mets … Odubel Herrera went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in Monday’s win over the D’Backs … Vincent Velasquez struck out seven over five scoreless frames versus Arizona in his return from the disabled list … Gerrit Cole (triceps) threw off a mound on Sunday for the first time since going on the disabled list … Jonathan Papelbon (intercostal) began a rehab assignment Monday … Clayton Kershaw is nursing a minor back injury but is on track to make his next scheduled start on Friday … Cuban infielder Yulieski Gourriel had a private workout with the Mets on Monday … Trea Turner made his first professional start in center field Monday, officially putting Ben Revere and Michael Taylor on notice … Rockies manager Walt Weiss said Monday that the club will wait to decide if Jake McGee (knee) will regain the closer job when he returns from the disabled list later this week … Rubby De La Rosa (elbow) was scheduled to play catch Monday for the first time since being placed on the disabled list … Both Trevor Story (finger) and DJ LeMahieu (knee) are day-to-day after sitting out Monday’s game … Matt Cain (hamstring) is slated to begin a rehab assignment on Friday … John Gant exited Monday’s start against the Indians with a left oblique strain …
American League Quick Hits: Edwin Encarnacion’s bat stayed scorching Monday, as he hit his 20th and 21st homers of the season in a loss to the Rockies … Danny Duffy struck out eight while yielding two runs over eight innings in a win over the Cardinals … Marcus Semien delivered a three-run homer and an RBI double against the Giants on Monday … Taijuan Walker (foot) is tentatively scheduled to rejoin the Mariners’ rotation on Thursday versus the Orioles … Yu Darvish (shoulder, neck) will throw a simulated game on Wednesday … Josh Reddick (thumb) will be activated from the disabled list Tuesday … Kendrys Morales went 4-for-4 with a two-RBI single in Monday’s win over the Cardinals … Nick Franklin went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and five RBI in Monday’s win over the Red Sox … The Red Sox optioned Eduardo Rodriguez to Triple-A Pawtucket after he was shelled for nine runs over 2 2/3 frames against the Rays … Lonnie Chisenhall singled and lifted a three-run homer in Monday’s win over the Braves … Yunel Escobar (knee) missed his fourth straight game Monday … Corey Dickerson (thumb) missed a second straight start Monday … Alex Rodriguez was benched against a righty for the second straight game Monday and could only play mainly versus lefties moving forward … Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Monday that Garret Richards’ right elbow had shown “progressive healing.” … Lance McCullers was scratched from Tuesday’s scheduled start against the Angels due to a blister … An exam Monday on Andrew Heaney’s left elbow did not show improvement … C.J. Wilson will undergo a second opinion on his ailing left shoulder … Brock Holt is still dealing with post-concussion symptoms … Steven Souza (hip) is on track to begin a rehab assignment later this week …
