With the start of All-Star festivities simply across the nook, listed here are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day:
1. Ruiz to bear testing:
A’s outfielder Esteury Ruiz injured his throwing shoulder whereas diving again in direction of first base throughout yesterday’s win over the Tigers, supervisor Mark Kotsay advised reporters, together with Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Ruiz will bear x-rays and probably an MRI as we speak. The 24-year-old rookie, who was shipped to Milwaukee from the Padres within the Josh Hader commerce on the deadline final 12 months earlier than becoming a member of Oakland within the three-team deal that despatched Sean Murphy to Atlanta, has had an uncommon season because the membership’s beginning heart fielder. Ruiz owns a slash line of simply .257/.310/.329 throughout 369 plate appearances this season, good for a wRC+ of simply 85.
Whereas that efficiency on the plate definitely leaves one thing to be desired, it’s been paired with strong protection in heart discipline and a whopping 43 stolen bases, a determine that leads the majors. With fellow outfielder Ramon Laureano already on the injured checklist himself, outfielder JJ Bleday appears more likely to slide over to heart if Ruiz misses time, opening up extra begins for Brent Rooker and Seth Brown within the outfield corners.
2. Dodgers to make IL determination on Graterol:
Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts advised reporters (together with Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic) that right-hander Brusdar Graterol has been coping with an arm difficulty that’s brought on him to be unavailable for the previous two days. Journeys to the injured checklist may be backdated a most of three days, so it’s hardly surprising that Roberts indicated a choice on whether or not Graterol would require an IL stint for the problem can be made previous to tonight’s sport towards the Pirates.
Graterol, 24, is among the many few vibrant spots within the Dodgers’ bullpen this season. The hard-throwing righty sports activities an ERA of simply 1.95 with a 3.10 FIP in 37 innings of labor. Alongside nearer Evan Phillips and left-hander Caleb Ferguson, Graterol creates the spine of a Dodgers bullpen that has struggled exterior of its core, leading to collective 4.47 ERA that ranks seventh-worst within the majors. Ought to Graterol miss time, lefties Alex Vesia, Justin Bruihl, and Victor Gonzalez are all on the 40-man roster on the Triple-A stage, as is righty Nick Robertson.
3. Collection Preview: Astros vs. Mariners
A sequence to observe begins in Houston this night, because the Astros tackle the Mariners. The Astros haven’t seemed like the identical dominant staff that stormed to their second World Collection championship in six seasons final October, sporting a 49-38 file that places them in second place within the AL West. Equally, the Mariners have slipped since ending MLB’s longest energetic postseason drought final 12 months, with a file of simply 42-43 in 2023.
The four-game set, which kicks off 7:10pm CT this night, might have vital implications for each golf equipment going ahead. The Astros are simply two video games behind the Rangers for the division crown after going 8-2 over their final ten video games. With Texas dealing with a 34-52 Nationals squad of their last sequence earlier than the All-Star break, Houston will seemingly want a robust sequence to remain on their heels. In the meantime, the Mariners are one in all a number of preseason playoff contenders who’ve struggled up to now within the 2023 marketing campaign. A very robust or weak exhibiting throughout this sequence from Seattle might influence their entrance workplace’s decision-making forward of the commerce deadline on August 1.
The Mariners will ship George Kirby, Luis Castillo, Bryan Woo and Logan Gilbert to the mound. Houston, in the meantime, has tonight’s starter listed as TBD, with a trio of Hunter Brown, Framber Valdez and Brandon Bielak to comply with. Chandler Rome of The Athletic tweets that Cristian Javier is not going to begin a sport throughout the staff’s last sequence earlier than the break.
