0
0
The prior week in MLB was about a slugger reaching a significant milestone, a reliever whose 2017 season is done and a pitcher in the American League is back on the disabled list again.
Marlins Stanton Reaches 50-Homer Plateau
Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continues to clobber everything in sight, but his home run on Sunday was extra special.
The bomb he hit against San Diego Padres starter Clayton Richard in the eighth inning pushed his home run total to 50 on the season.
5️⃣0️⃣!!!
Congratulations, @Giancarlo818!#StantonSmash pic.twitter.com/yKNnRk3G2I
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 27, 2017
Stanton became the first National League player to hit 50 home runs since Prince Fielder accomplished the feat back in 2007 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The outfielder is in some more elite company as only four other players in MLB history have hit 50 home runs at an earlier junction in the season, per ESPN Stats & Info.
There goes No. 50 for Giancarlo Stanton! This is the earliest a player’s hit 50 since Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa in 2001, per @EliasSports. pic.twitter.com/Wq90ZqFPP3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 27, 2017
Stanton is on pace to finish the season with 63 homers, per Drew Silva of Rotoworld.
Giancarlo Stanton now on pace for 63 home runs.
— Drew Silva (@drewsilv) August 27, 2017
This would tie him with Sammy Sosa for the sixth-most in one season, and Barry Bonds holds the record of 73 dingers in 2001.
It’s possible that Stanton reaches the record held by Bonds as he has a couple more games left in August and the rest of September.
Cardinals Rosenthal to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
The St. Louis Cardinals won’t have their closer for the remainder of the 2017 campaign. Trevor Rosenthal is set to undergo Tommy John surgery next week, per Jennifer Langosch of MLB.com.
Trevor Rosenthal will undergo Tommy John surgery next week.
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) August 23, 2017
The loss of Rosenthal is a major blow to the Cardinals’ bullpen as he was pitching well this year.
He compiled a 3.40 ERA in 47 2/3 innings (50 games) with 76 strikeouts, 20 walks issued, three home runs surrendered, a 126 ERA+, a 2.14 FIP and went 11-for-13 in save opportunities.
The Cardinals will likely turn to Seung-hwan Oh to handle the responsibility of being the team’s closer.
He has saved 19 games this year, but has accumulated a 3.86 ERA and allowed eight home runs in 53 2/3 innings (54 games).
The injury to Rosenthal comes at a horrible time for the Cardinals as they trail the Chicago Cubs by four and-a-half games in the NL Central.
They will need Oh and other pitchers in the bullpen to step up with Rosenthal out for the season.
Indians Place Miller on Disabled List with Knee Injury
The Cleveland Indians placed reliever Andrew Miller on the 10-day disabled list earlier this week with patella tendinitis, and it marked the second time that he was on the DL since the All-Star break.
Moves:
Shawn Armstrong/Yandy Diaz recalled from Columbus
Andrew Miller (patellar tendonitis)/Danny Salazar (elbow inflammation) to DL pic.twitter.com/M1Ke8C8bKI— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) August 22, 2017
Miller is one of the premier setup men in MLB, and he has the numbers to back it up.
In 54 innings for the Indians this year, the left-handed reliever has a 1.65 ERA with 79 K’s, three home runs yielded and a 0.78 WHIP.
The absence of Miller for an extended period is a significant loss to the Indians as he can not only shut down a lineup for just one inning but multiple innings.
The club will probably turn to Bryan Shaw to be their setup guy with Miller injured.
Shaw has performed well in the bullpen for the Indians as indicated by his 3.25 ERA in 61 innings (62 games) with 51 strikeouts, 21 walks issued and four home runs were given up.
The Indians have a comfortable six and-a-half game lead in the AL Central and can allow Miller to get healthy, as they’ll need him in October.
Author Profile
- Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.
Latest entries
MLBOctober 16, 2023MLB Weekly Digest October 16th Edition: Milwaukee Brewers Starting Pitcher Brandon Woodruff Underwent Shoulder Surgery
MLBOctober 9, 2023MLB Weekly Digest October 9th Edition: Miami Marlins Starting Pitcher Sandy Alcantara Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
MLBOctober 2, 2023MLB Weekly Digest October 2nd Edition: Baltimore Orioles Reliever Felix Bautista Will Undergo Tommy John Surgery
MLBSeptember 25, 2023MLB Weekly Digest September 25th Edition: Miami Marlins Starting Pitcher Sandy Alcantara Out for Season with UCL Injury