Another week in the MLB season has been completed. From former top prospects being recalled to a playoff contender collapsing, here are the top 10 stories in the MLB this week.
Former Cardinals top prospect recalled to the big leagues
Jordan Walker is back in the big leagues for the St. Louis Cardinals. The former top prospect in all of the MLB started the year in the majors after an impressive 2023 campaign but was sent down in April. In his time in Triple-A this season, Walker hit .257 with a .757 OPS. Walker was expected to make a jump this year for St. Louis, but he has yet to figure out the big league pitching thus far. This comes at a good time for Walker, as the Cardinals will need his bat in the lineup, only being four games back of a wild card spot.
Top pitching prospect in AL Central called up
The Minnesota Twins have called up Zebby Matthews to the big leagues. Matthews ranks as one of the best baseball pitching prospects and a player who has shot up lists this season. Matthews started the season at high A but has developed well and made it all the way to Triple-A, throwing 19 innings to a 5.68 ERA in just four starts. The Twins are in desperate need of starting pitching. Minnesota expects Matthews to come in and eat up some innings for the Twins in the thick of a playoff race. In his first start for the big league club, he tallied five innings pitched, two earned runs and struck out five. The Twins are one of the hottest teams in the league in the second half of the season, just four games back of Cleveland in the AL Central.
Recent trade deadline acquisition DFAed from NL West squad with reinforcements on the way
The second stint of the Amed Rosario era in Los Angeles was short. After being acquired on July 29, the Dodgers decided to DFA Rosario, with Mookie Betts being activated off the injured list. Rosario only appeared in five games with the team, hitting .273 with a .697 OPS. In such a crowded infield for the Dodgers, I am a little surprised they even traded for him to begin with. With Betts now activated off the injured list and returning to the outfield, getting rid of Rosario here seems like a head-scratcher. Rosario had a career year this year, hitting .305 with a .746 OPS. Even if Rosario was not going to be a full-time starter for the Dodgers, he would still be an excellent player on the bench. Rosario is expected to sign with the Cincinnati Reds.
AL East star heads to IL amid hot streak at the plate
Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been added to the 10-day injured list with a left elbow sprain. While he’s only on the injured list for the next 10 days, it is likely to be more. Chisholm tore his UCL sliding into home plate against the Chicago White Sox but does not need surgery. The Yankees hope that Chisholm will be back by September, well before the playoffs. Acquired at the trade deadline from the Miami Marlins, Chisholm has been nothing short of spectacular in his time in the Big Apple. In a Yankee uniform, Chisholm is batting .316 with a 1.063 OPS. Chisholm has been a boost to the Yankee lineup, which, before the trade deadline, was struggling for the last couple of months. Chisholm has seemingly brought back life into this team, and the pinstripes will be without his presence for at least the next 10 days.
Former All-Star catcher placed on waivers
The Colorado Rockies have put Elías Díaz on waivers, making him free to sign with any team. The 2023 All-Star Game MVP’s time in Colorado is over. With the Rockies out of contention and Díaz scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season, Colorado will let Díaz sign with a team to join them for a playoff run. The only thought I have about this is why Colorado didn't try to trade him at the trade deadline to get assets for him. The Rockies have been out of the playoff picture for a couple of months now, so what was the point of keeping Díaz on the roster when you knew you would put him on waivers? I expect a lot of teams to be interested in the catcher. A catcher with impressive hitting stats, slashing .270 with a .693 OPS, would be an instant upgrade for a contending team. I expect a team like the Arizona Diamondbacks to be interested in Díaz. With Gabriel Moreno on the injured list, Diaz would be an excellent addition to the lineup and would add to the best-hitting team in the league.
NL Central team out of playoff race amid losing streak
I don't think any team has had a worse go of it post-trade deadline than the Pittsburgh Pirates. Buying at the trade deadline, the Pirates are 1-12 since. The Pirates had everything in front of them at the trade deadline. They were 55-52 and only a few games back of the wild card, with series upcoming against teams that were in front of them in the playoff picture, and they have squandered the chance of October baseball in Pittsburgh. With consecutive series losses to the Diamondbacks, Dodgers and the Padres twice, the Pirates now are under .500 yet again and are well out of the playoff picture. A combination of different things is why the Pirates are on this losing streak. From the decisions made by the manager to the bullpen being so bad in the second half to the newly acquired bats getting off to a rough start with the new team, the Pirates have failed the gauntlet schedule they had coming up, practically losing their chances of the playoffs.
NL Central ace placed on IL
The Cincinnati Reds have placed pitcher Hunter Greene on the 15-day IL with right elbow soreness. The former top-5 pick in the draft has been outstanding for the Reds this season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 162 strikeouts. With all of the elbow injuries around baseball turning to Tommy John surgery, I expect the Reds to take things slow with Greene. With Cincinnati out of the playoff picture, there is no reason to rush Greene back earlier than he should. All teams have to look at an elbow injury with a grain of salt nowadays — with guys throwing so hard these days, you are almost guaranteed to get injured no matter what.
Future Hall of Fame pitcher has no plans to retire after the 2024 season.
The battle between Max Scherzer and Father Time will seemingly continue into the 2025 season. Scherzer announced this week that he has no plans on retiring and will return for his 18th season at the significant league level. No pitcher in the MLB today has had a career quite like Scherzer, a three-time CY Young winner, and a two-time World Series champion; Scherzer is almost a guaranteed Hall of Famer. Scherzer is expected to be a free agent this offseason. The 40-year-old has found a home in Texas, and I expect him to be back for the Rangers. Even at 40, the numbers he is putting up are impressive, rocking a 3.89 ERA with 38 strikeouts in just 39.1 IP. Scherzer had an injury earlier this season, and many thought it could be his last year.
Team breaks records for being eliminated from playoffs for earliest in wild-card or divisional era
The Chicago White Sox are currently on pace to lose 123 games. That would break the record for the most losses by any team in MLB history, beating the expansion Mets. The White Sox are officially eliminated from the playoffs, and it is only August. The White Sox continue to show why they are one of the worst teams in modern baseball history. With losing 21 games in a row, the White Sox were just two games shy of tying the Philadelphia Phillies' record in 1963. There is no denying that the Chicago White Sox are breaking records in the MLB; they are just records you wouldn't want to have.
NL West team interested in reunion with star pitcher in free agency
The Blake Snell era might be short-lived in San Francisco. After a recent resurgence and a sluggish start, Snell will almost certainly decline his $30 million player option. This would make Snell a free agent yet again. Snell was a free agent this past offseason but did not get what he would've wanted on the open market, settling for a 2-year deal in San Francisco. Rumors were swirling about the Giants possibly selling off Snell at the July 30 trade deadline, but San Francisco decided to keep him. Snell has been his dominant self as of late. He's had a 1.14 ERA in his last seven starts with 67 strikeouts — and a no-hitter. A team that is interested in Snell in the offseason is the San Diego Padres. Snell spent three years as a Padre before accepting a contract in San Francisco. Chances are high Snell will decline his player option, and he will have a second go around in free agency to sign with any team he would like.
Team of the Week
AL: Houston Astros
The Astros continue to dominate and continue to win. After a mediocre start earlier in the season, they are now gearing up for a deep playoff run in October. Houston has been playing their best baseball of the year lately, going 5-1 this week with a sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays and a series win over the White Sox.
NL: Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are almost certainly out of the slump they were in to begin August. Going 5-2 this week with series wins over the Giants and the Angels, the Braves are retaking their spot as the top wild-card spot in the NL. Injuries have been a big issue for Atlanta this season, but the way Austin Riley has been playing lately, Atlanta can compete with anyone.
Player of the Week
AL: Bobby Witt Jr.
The second half Bobby Witt Jr. has had is giving him a good case to go head to head with Aaron Judge to win MVP. Witt has had another week of terror, slashing .409 with three home runs and a 1.428 OPS. Witt continues to show why he is the face of the franchise for the Kansas City Royals.
NL: Ian Happ
Ian Happ continues to prove why he is one of baseball's best-hitting outfielders. Happ is having a career year at the plate and had an impressive week batting .286 with three home runs and a 1.185 OPS. Since he entered the big leagues, Happ has been consistently one of baseball's best hitters.
