The final stretch of the season is here. The last couple of weeks of the MLB season are here, and here are the top 10 MLB stories for this week.
Pocket aces set to return for Rangers
Injuries have riddled the Texas Rangers all season, which is one reason why the Rangers are well below .500 and not in line to make the postseason. Texas is eight games out of the wild card but will return Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer this weekend. With deGrom expected to pitch on Friday and Scherzer scheduled to pitch on Saturday, the Rangers need all the help they can get with their playoff chances diminishing.
While deGrom has not pitched in for over a year as he has been recovering from Tommy John's surgery, he is one of the best pitchers in baseball when he is healthy. DeGrom signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers in April 2023. He has only made six starts for the Rangers. On the other hand, Scherzer is returning from a shoulder injury which he missed the last six weeks. Scherzer has a 2-4 record and a 3.89 ERA this season.
Prospect called up amid playoff run for AL East team
Jasson Dominguez is back in New York and ready to contribute to a baseball team in October. Dominguez, one of the most hyped-up prospects ever, made his debut last September but only played in eight games until he tore his UCL and required season-ending Tommy John surgery. The Yankees reinstated Dominguez back in June but optioned him to Triple-A. With Alex Verdugo struggling for the past three months, the hope is that Dominguez can come in and play left field for New York.
Cardinals promote fast-rising prospects
The St. Louis Cardinals are pretty much out of playoff contention. They're 6.5 games back from a wild card with only half a month left. It is time to see what the young prospects can do. Thomas Saggese has been added to the major league roster and will finish the season with the team. Saggese was acquired from the Jordan Montgomery trade at the trade deadline in 2023 and has quickly climbed the ranks as one of the best prospects for St. Louis. The Cardinals have to start building for next year, and it was always the plan to bring up Saggese to see if he can add a boost to the team at the end of the year.
Padres player on a historic streak at the plate
Striking out is a big part of baseball. For everyone except Luis Arráez. Arráez hasn't struck out since Aug. 10. He has gone 120 plate appearances since striking out. Dave Cash holds the record in 1976, who went 223 plate appearances without a strikeout.
While Arráez might not have the best season statistically for his standards, his ability to put the ball in play gives the Padres a weapon in the playoffs. Arráez has a smooth approach to the game and knows his pitches. It is crazy to think that in this age of baseball, with all of the swing and miss we get, this streak is still active and going.
Rangers' top prospect promoted
If I told you in 2019 that Kumar Rocker would be making his debut in September of 2024, you would probably think I am crazy. After finishing one of the greatest college seasons ever in 2019 at Vanderbilt, Rocker had an inconsistent 2020, which led him to be drafted 10th overall by the New York Mets. An injury after the draft caused Rocker not to sign, and he went and played independent ball for a year before being taken third overall by the Texas Rangers in 2021. Tommy John's surgery in May of 2023 ended his season and pushed back his development. But the wait is finally over.
MLB confirms A's to play in Sacramento in 2025
At last, it is official. It is officially official after years of turmoil and the Athletics wanting to leave Oakland. The Oakland Athletics will move to Las Vegas and hope to open a stadium in 2028. The problem is where the Athletics will play in the years in between. Conversations about Sacramento came about, and it seemed like the possible destination. Talks were stalled, but the MLB has finally confirmed that the Athletics will play the 2025 season at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento. Sutter Health Park has a capacity of 14,000 people. While the move was in jeopardy as if the logistics would come through on the short-term move to Sacramento, all at last, it is official.
Astros dodge bullet with injury to star
At this point in the MLB season, you just hope your team stays healthy and plays well enough to get into the playoffs. Jose Altuve exited Wednesday night's game vs the Athletics because of right-side discomfort. Altuve called out manager Joe Espada and the athletic trainer out of the dugout after a swing in the fifth inning. With the Astros amid a playoff push, manager Joe Espada doesn't seem overly concerned with his star.
"He got fooled on the pitch and kind of felt something," Espada said. "Out of precaution, he decided to bunt with two strikes to ensure he was fine. Right now, day-to-day."
Wild card race in NL ramping up as a team from Queens catches fire
The New York Mets’ and Atlanta Braves’ playoff chances differ by the day. The Atlanta Braves were in sole possession of the number one wild card for most of the season, but recent injuries and an August slump have prevented them from it. The Mets, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. The Mets have jumped into the wild card conversation after winning 15 of their last 20 games. With the race so close, a critical three-game set in late September in Atlanta will likely decide the third wild card team in the NL. Some playoff baseball in September for two bitter rivals trying to make it in.
Braves pitcher placed on 15-day IL
The injuries continue to pile on for the Atlanta Braves. Reynaldo López has been added to the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation. López exited his start Tuesday against the Washington Nationals after just one inning. López will be eligible to return on Sept. 26, three days before the end of the regular season. López has been a big part of the Braves rotation, posting an 8-5 record and a 2.03 ERA. López, an all star this season, said he was surprised about his velocity, and that's when he knew something was wrong.
"I didn't really know what was happening," López said through team interpreter Franco García. "The first pitch went out, and I thought it was 95, and I looked up and it was 89. That took me by surprise. That's something I wasn't expecting."
If the Braves make the playoffs, López would most likely be healthy and ready to return.
White Sox plan to cut payroll amid historic losing season
No team has had a worse year than the Chicago White Sox. They are now 35-115 and on pace for the worst record in MLB history. The plan for the White Sox is to cut payroll. Chicago is in the midst of a complete rebuild of an organization. They have to build it down and then build it back up again. For teams who want to win in major league baseball, you have to develop it through the farm system. They don't necessarily have a face of the franchise, but they do have time to overhaul the roster and possibly start from scratch.
Team of the Week
NL: Philadelphia Phillies
The weather is getting colder, and the Philadelphia Phillies are gearing up for a playoff push. With going 5-2 this week, the Phillies are ready for the playoffs and are a team built for October.
AL: Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are the scrappy bunch of the MLB season this year. Going 5-2 this week, the Tigers are now 2.5 games back of a wild card spot and have positioned themselves well to try and make a run.
Player of the Week
NL: Michael Busch
Michael Busch has been a massive piece for the Chicago Cubs this season. In this week, he hit .478 with four home runs and a 1.567 OPS.
AL: Riley Greene
With the recent resurgence of the Tigers and them making a playoff push, Greene hit .364 with three home runs and a 1.239 OPS. Greene has been a key part of the Tigers' success this year.
