Because the march in direction of the postseason continues, listed below are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world in the present day:
1. Castillo to bear MRI:
Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo is scheduled to bear an MRI after struggling a left hamstring pressure in yesterday’s recreation towards the Cardinals. It’s been a relative down season for Castillo by his lofty requirements, because the 31-year-old has pitched to a 3.64 ERA (102 ERA+) with a 3.93 FIP in 175 1/3 innings of labor via 30 begins. Castillo has nonetheless been a key a part of Seattle’s playoff hopes as he types a rotation (alongside Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, and Bryce Miller) that’s arguably the best in your entire sport.
That glorious rotation can be key to the membership preserving the final vestiges of its playoff hopes alive. At 73-71, Seattle has only a 7.7% likelihood (per FanGraphs) of creating it into the postseason with about three weeks to go within the common season. That precarious positioning makes even a single missed begin doubtlessly devastating for the Mariners, however an extended absence may put a dent of their possibilities of success within the playoffs even within the unbelievable occasion that they handle to squeak into the postseason. Righty Emerson Hancock (4.76 ERA, 5.43 FIP in 9 huge league begins), would doubtless take over Castillo’s rotation spot have been the veteran to go on the injured record.
2. Graterol to return:
As famous by MLB.com’s Damage Tracker, the Dodgers are anticipated to activate right-hander Brusdar Graterol from the injured record earlier than in the present day’s recreation towards the Cubs. Graterol suffered a hamstring pressure simply over a month in the past in his first look of the 2024 season after a season-long battle with shoulder irritation. The membership might want to make an activate roster transfer with a purpose to activate Graterol.
The 26-year-old was dominant for L.A. final 12 months with a 1.20 ERA and three.03 FIP in 67 1/3 innings of labor, and the Dodgers are absolutely hoping he can carry that form of elite manufacturing to the again of their bullpen down the stretch and into the playoffs. In spite of everything, the membership’s 4.35 ERA and 4.47 FIP out of the bullpen for the reason that begin of July are each beneath common, with the latter determine touchdown within the backside six amongst all huge league golf equipment. The membership’s struggles to shut out video games have been largely solved by the deadline addition of Michael Kopech, however the return of Graterol ought to give the membership one other late-inning choice alongside Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, and Daniel Hudson.
3. Will the Braves carry up Biggio?
The Braves acted rapidly on the heels of stories that their damage alternative for Ozzie Albies, veteran Whit Merrifield, had himself suffered a notable damage when he fouled a ball off his foot, leading to a small fracture. Whereas a go to with a specialist decided that Merrifield wouldn’t additional worsen the difficulty by ending out the season and would have the ability to return to the sphere as quickly because the ache in his foot allowed, that didn’t cease Atlanta brass from buying second baseman Cavan Biggio over the weekend. Although Biggio wouldn’t be eligible for the postseason, will the Braves nonetheless look to pick out his contract to the large league roster? Such a transfer would require the membership to not solely clear a spot on the lively roster, but in addition make a 40-man roster transfer with a purpose to accommodate Biggio.
