Forward of the 2024 common season’s last weekend, listed here are three issues we’ll be maintaining a tally of across the baseball world all through the day at the moment:
1. Freeman nursing damage:
Whereas the temper surrounding the Dodgers was largely celebratory final night time within the aftermath of the membership clinching their eleventh NL West title in 12 seasons, there was one potential trigger for concern: first baseman Freddie Freeman, who departed final night time’s sport in opposition to the Padres throughout the seventh inning attributable to an ankle damage. As famous by MLB.com’s Juan Toribio, Freeman was in a strolling boot and on crutches following final night time’s sport however appeared optimistic after telling reporters that x-rays got here again unfavourable, revealing a sprain.
Freeman famous that whereas his ankle is swollen, membership officers are “optimistic” he’ll be able to go in time for the playoffs when the NLDS kicks off subsequent Saturday. Freeman joins Miguel Rojas because the second member of Los Angeles’ on a regular basis beginning lineup who received’t be taking part within the membership’s last sequence in opposition to Colorado in hopes of getting wholesome sufficient to take part within the upcoming playoff run. The Dodgers seem more likely to shift Max Muncy over to first base whereas Freeman is out, thereby opening the recent nook up for Enrique Hernandez.
2. Twins dealing with elimination:
The Twins are staring down elimination after dropping 4 of their earlier 5 video games to the Marlins and Pink Sox, leaving them with a disastrous 9-15 file that has allowed the Tigers to surpass them within the AL Wild Card race. Only one season faraway from breaking their prolonged drought and not using a playoff sequence win, Minnesota now sports activities a 82-77 file headed into the season’s last sequence. Each the Tigers and Royals have equivalent 85-74 data, leaving the Twins in want of a miracle to return to the postseason at this level.
They maintain the tiebreaker over each of their rivals, however the membership would want to not solely sweep the Orioles of their last sequence of the season but in addition profit from both Detroit or Kansas Metropolis getting swept of their last sequence of the yr with a purpose to make it into the playoffs. Of these two potentialities, the Royals getting swept by the Braves seems to be extra probably than the Tigers getting swept by the White Sox, though Chicago has loads of incentive to do the whole lot it might probably to comb contemplating they’d keep away from taking sole possession of the fashionable period’s all-time loss file if they will lengthen their present successful streak from three video games to 6. Minnesota’s final stand begins at 7:10pm native time this night when Pablo Lopez (4.11 ERA) takes on Baltimore rookie and former Twins prospect Cade Povich (5.59 ERA in 15 begins).
3. D-backs look to clinch:
The Padres have already clinched an NL Wild Card spot, however their last sequence of the common season will nonetheless have main playoff implications as they head to the desert to face the Diamondbacks in a three-game set. Arizona presently holds an NL Wild Card spot with an 88-71 file that leaves them basically tied with the Mets (87-70) and one sport up on the Braves (86-71). Nonetheless, their playoff hopes aren’t fairly as strong because it may appear at first look after the ultimate two video games of this week’s sequence between Atlanta and New York had been rescheduled for Monday. That leaves the Snakes in want of a sweep this weekend with a purpose to punch their ticket to the postseason with out ready on the outcomes of Monday’s doubleheader, as each the Mets and Braves maintain the tiebreaker over them.
If Arizona manages to comb the Padres, they’d end with a file of 91-71. Both the Braves or Mets may attain that win complete, however at the very least one membership is assured to fall brief because the Braves would want to win all 5 of their remaining video games so as to take action whereas the Mets would want to go at the very least 4-1. Something lower than a sweep, nonetheless, leaves Arizona’s destiny within the palms of a doubleheader that can happen after they’ve wrapped up their common season, a irritating circumstance for the Diamondbacks that would depart them in limbo forward of a possible NL Wild Card sequence on Tuesday. They’ll kick off their try and clinch at 6:40pm native time this night with veteran righty Merrill Kelly (3.71 ERA) on the mound reverse Padres veteran Yu Darvish (3.18 ERA in 15 begins).
