Takeaways from MLB Week 13
All of a sudden, Cleveland has turned into the center of the sports universe.
Just weeks removed from the Cavaliers winning the 2015-16 NBA championship, the Indians are still riding a 14-game winning streak. And entering play Saturday with an AL Central-leading record of 49-30, you could argue they are World Series contenders.
Heck, Cleveland could play .500 baseball the rest of the way and probably would still make the playoffs. So it’s more than safe to pencil them into the October picture.
It’s probably reasonable to do it in erasable pen.
Other cities too saw their playoff hopes affected. Which cities might those be?
Cleveland Indians Go Streaking
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On the morning of June 17, the Cleveland Indians woke up only a half-game up in the AL Central.
As of Saturday morning, the team sits seven games ahead of the second-place Kansas City Royals thanks to an active 14-game winning streak, which also happens to be a franchise record.
If the Indians play .500 baseball the rest of the way, they’ll still win 90 games. That could be enough to win the AL Central but almost assuredly would earn the team a wild-card spot.
The biggest takeaway from the streak is how well Indians have pitched.
As of their 13th straight win on Thursday, Cleveland starting pitchers had allowed only 55 hits in 97 innings pitched during the winning streak. The team’s relievers, in 21 innings of work through Thursday, had only issued six walks.
As of Friday morning, the Indians pitching staff ranked fourth in MLB with a 3.42 ERA.
Atop the wish list of any World Series hopeful is great pitching. Right now, the Indians have the best of staffs. Come October, they could ride it to a World Series appearance.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Playoff Hopes Take a Hit
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When it’s ace Clayton Kershaw’s turn to pitch, the Los Angeles Dodgers look like World Series contenders. When he doesn’t, the team looks like one struggling to make the playoffs.
Unless Los Angeles’ starting staff can improve dramatically, the team will look more like latter until at least after the All-Star break.
That’s when Kershaw will be eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list after suffering a back injury. On Friday, the Dodgers announced on Twitter they placed Kershaw on the 15-day disabled list, but it’s unclear yet when he will return. Even when he is healthy enough to pitch again, Kershaw could require a rehab start to stretch his arm out.
To shore up its rotation, Los Angeles quickly made a move by acquiring right-hander Bud Norris from the Atlanta Braves, who started for the team on Friday.
Still, the loss of Kershaw, who has been baseball’s best pitcher this season with a 1.79 ERA and remarkably low 0.727 WHIP, severely dashes the Dodgers’ playoff hopes.
Doug Padilla of ESPN.com reported the injury is a mild disc herniation and will not require surgery.
The good news for the Dodgers is that rookie Kenta Maeda has pitched well lately. Maeda has allowed no more than one earned run in five of his last seven starts. In the other two starts during that span, he had outings of four and two earned runs allowed.
Baltimore Sets Home Run Record for June
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In a year in which home runs are being hit at a record pace, the Baltimore Orioles set a record of their own.
On Thursday, the team capped off the month of June by hitting its 56th homer, besting the previous record of 55 by the Oakland A’s in 1996.
It’s that kind of power that has the O's leading the AL East.
Not only are they hitting them out of the park, but they’re also doing it with men on base. Baltimore ranked sixth in MLB with an OBP of .333 as of Friday. The Boston Red Sox, who trail the Orioles in the AL East race, are the only American League team that has scored more runs than Baltimore.
The power the Orioles have shown this season can carry a team through October. Last year, we saw then Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy get hot in October, and it propelled his team to the World Series.
Home runs are the quickest way to score, and the threat of power keeps Baltimore in nearly every game.
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Kris Bryant Has Historic Day on Tuesday
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So far this season, Chicago Cubs third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant has proved to be among the National League’s few MVP candidates.
Those who vote for him at the end of the year certainly will have his performance on Monday against the Cincinnati Reds at the top of their minds.
That’s when Bryant became the only player in history to hit two doubles and three homers in a single game. He also replaced Cubs legend Ernie Banks as the youngest Chicago player to hit three home runs in a game.
"The best game of my whole life, obviously," Bryant told reporters, including Cody Pace of MLB.com, after the game. "To hear that, there's so many good players in this game, it's just, I feel so fortunate, so thankful for this opportunity to play on a stage like this every day, and I give it my all and I make the most of every opportunity I get. To hear that, it keeps you coming back."
Bryant already has 22 home runs this season to go along with a slash line of .279/.369/.564. In 151 games last season, Bryant went yard 26 times. He may surpass that mark before the All-Star break.
Lucas Giolito Debuts for the Nationals
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Baseball’s top prospect, according to MLB.com, debuted on Monday.
After the Washington Nationals placed starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list, the team called up right-hander Lucas Giolito, who debuted against the New York Mets.
Though he was only allowed four innings of work, the 21-year-old fared well for Washington. Giolito only allowed one hit while holding the Mets scoreless.
He is scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Strasburg has missed two starts with an upper back strain. Should he miss extended time, Giolito figures to remain part of a Nationals rotation that has been among baseball’s best.
As of the completion of Friday’s games, Washington ranked second in baseball with a 3.30 ERA.
It’s possible that Straburg could be ready to pitch Sunday’s game, in which case Giolito would be scratched and likely sent back down. Though promising, he still needs to time to further develop.
With Double-A Harrisburg this season, Giolito has a 3.17 ERA and a 1.423 WHIP.
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