Takeaways from MLB Week 10

The melee between Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado and Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura unquestionably headlined MLB’s Week 10.

Ventura, a reputed rabble-rouser, drilled Machado in the midsection with a fastball. The Baltimore slugger charged the mound, the benches cleared, and brawling ensued. Ultimately, both players were suspended, but the incident raised questions about whether MLB should take steps to eliminate brush-back pitches.

But as that storyline percolated throughout the past week of baseball action, other happenings provided us with great on-field theater.

What exactly were those?

Ventura-Machado Melee Raises Questions About the Use of the Brush-Back Pitch

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Pitchers have been throwing inside since Babe Ruth wore short pants. Teams have retaliated for just as long.

But when we saw Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura drill Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado with a fastball Tuesday, it underscored a need to legislate the brush-back pitch out of the game.

Immediately after being hit, Machado charged the mound and the benches cleared, prompting a ruckus that looked like a scene out of Gangs of New York.

On Thursday, MLB announced in a press release that it was suspending Machado four games and Ventura nine. The release also read that each player would be fined an undisclosed amount of money.

The disparate suspensions seem unfair, given that Ventura only pitches once every five days. However, he also has a reputation as an instigator. He was suspended seven games last season after getting into a shouting match from the mound with Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton.

The bigger issue, though, is the danger in throwing such pitches.

The reason a brush-back works is because players are afraid of getting hit. It can cause injury. Guys like Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward wear an extension on their helmet to protect their jaw because they have been hit there.

Other players, like Minnesota Twins great Kirby Puckett, have seen their careers cut short because they were hit by a pitch. In 1995, Puckett was hit in the face with a pitch that broke his jaw and caused vision problems that forced him to retire.

Players understand the danger. So, in essence, they need to retaliate. And if MLB doesn’t like it, then the commissioner’s office should do something to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Jurickson Profar Makes His Debut at First Base

Associated Press

Two seasons ago, when he was firmly entrenched as the Texas Rangers shortstop of the future, Jurickson Profar was considered among baseball’s best prospects.

Then, shoulder injuries sidelined the promising switch-hitter. Profar, who debuted in 2012, had played 94 games at the major league level heading into 2016.

The Rangers needed to move on to a different plan while Profar recovered, so Elvis Andrus became the team’s everyday shortstop and has played well in the role.

But Profar returned to the big club this season, meeting the expectations so many had for him just a few seasons ago. Through 15 games this season, he is hitting .365/.375/.556.

But there's a conundrum for Rangers manager Jeff Banister: Where should he play Profar?

The answer is everywhere. Texas has moved Profar all around the diamond in order to keep his hot bat in the lineup. The team even started him at first base Tuesday, a position he had never played before. Gil Lebreton of the Star-Telegram reported Profar’s only experience at first base came in two pregame workouts.

So far this season, Profar has been in the Texas lineup at every base and as the team’s designated hitter. In 2013, he even saw time in left field. That kind of versatility should keep him in the team’s everyday lineup.

Yankees Remain in October Picture by Winning 5 Straight

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

On May 14, the New York Yankees were eight games out of first place and last in the AL East as their aged roster was reeling offensively.

It was understandable to ask the blasphemous question: Should the Yankees become sellers?

This week, though, New York has climbed back into the division race, winning all but one game entering Sunday, including five in a row. As of its only loss of the week Saturday, a 6-1 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Tigers, the team sat at an even .500 and just 5.5 games behind the division-leading Baltimore Orioles.

The Yankees were only three games removed from the wild-card spot, well within striking distance.

During that five-game run, New York scored 33 runs and only allowed 14. On Friday, the team shut out the Tigers, courtesy of a seven-inning, five-hit performance from starter CC Sabathia, who appears revived in a season in which he boasts a 2.28 ERA. (The past three seasons have seen Sabathia’s ERA at 4.73, 5.28 and 4.78.)

The streak allowed the team’s three-headed bullpen monster of Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman to shine. In those five wins, the trio pitched 7.2 innings and allowed only three hits.

Albert Almora Makes His MLB Debut

Rich Pilling/Getty Images

Given how great the Chicago Cubs have played this season and the potential this young roster has, it seems unfair that they have more promising players in the pipeline.

Then again, that was the plan during the rebuild Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein put into action when he arrived in Chicago. Now, the organization is reaping the benefits.

The latest of its stars-in-the-making to make an MLB debut is outfielder Albert Almora, who did so Tuesday. MLB.com rates him as the 79th-best prospect in baseball.

He has two hits in nine at-bats this season, but Almora has a number of tools and has played well defensively.

He was the first pick of the Epstein era (sixth overall in the 2012 draft). He headlined the organization’s burgeoning farm system but has received less fanfare in ensuing seasons after the team added other promising players like shortstop Addison Russell and third baseman and outfielder Kris Bryant.

An injury to Jorge Soler has given Almora his first opportunity to play at the major league level and join in the hype surrounding the promising organization.

Stephen Strasburg Moves to 10-0

Evan Vucci/Associated Press

With a seven-inning, five-hit outing, Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg became the first NL starter to begin a season 10-0 since San Diego Padres pitcher Andy Hawkins went 11-0 in 1985, according to Eddie Matz of ESPN.com.

His win total this season puts him just one shy of his 2015 number. Strasburg has a single-season career high of 15 wins, which he accumulated in 2012.

In seven of his 13 starts this season, Strasburg has recorded double-digit strikeouts, and he hasn’t allowed more than four earned runs in any of them. He has gone at least six innings in all but one start, an outing in Cincinnati in which he earned a no-decision.

Strasburg's 2.75 FIP suggests he has been even better than the solid 3.03 ERA he has posted this season.

He's also part of a rotation that has been among baseball’s best. The Nationals starters had a 3.28 ERA entering Sunday, third best in MLB. Their .230 batting average against also ranked third.

His next scheduled start is Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs.