MLB Weekly Digest 9/18/17

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The prior week in MLB was about a starting pitcher nearly making history, a club in the American League clinching a division title and a club activating an ace from the disabled list.

Tigers’ Boyd Twirls Masterpiece, Comes Close to History

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matt Boyd was scintillating in Sunday’s outing against the Chicago White Sox.

What a game, @mattboyd48. ???? pic.twitter.com/wObWqwpMuV

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 17, 2017

The southpaw was on the verge of history as he didn’t yield a hit across eight and two-thirds innings. However, a double by shortstop Tim Anderson with two outs in the ninth inning ended his chance at completing the no-hitter.

Boyd had to settle for a complete-game shutout with five strikeouts, one hit allowed and one walk issued on 121 pitches.

He became the first Tigers pitcher with a one-hit, one-walk complete-game shutout at age 26 or younger since Joe Coleman in 1973, per StatsCentre.

Matt Boyd: No-hitter broken up in 9th but is 1st @Tigers pitcher with 1-hit, 1 walk CG shutout at age 26 or younger since 1973 (Joe Coleman)

— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) September 17, 2017

The Tigers as a franchise have been very unlucky when it comes to finishing off no-hitters.

The start by Boyd was the sixth time they have lost a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth inning, second-most of any team in MLB history, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Today is the 6th time the @tigers have lost a no-hit bid with 2 outs in the 9th inning, 2nd-most of any team in MLB history (White Sox, 7). pic.twitter.com/A1JmJh0uVC

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 17, 2017

Boyd was dominating on the mound, but that hasn’t been the case much of this season.

He entered Sunday’s contest with a 5.75 ERA in 114.1 innings (22 starts).

The Tigers sent Boyd to the minors after he posted a 7.28 ERA in six May starts, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

Matt Boyd’s ERA over six May starts was 7.28. He was sent to Triple-A after that. This was a magnificent day, by any measure. @Tigers @MLB

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) September 17, 2017

Indians Punch Ticket to October by Winning AL Central Title

The Cleveland Indians are once again bound for October baseball as they clinched the American League Central title with an 8-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

Division title streak: 2.

The @Indians claim the AL Central once again. #CLINCHED pic.twitter.com/uJKxXNOtno

— MLB (@MLB) September 17, 2017

This is the second straight division title for the Indians and the first occurrence of back-to-back division titles since winning five straight from 1995-1999, per Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

The Indians are the 2017 American League Central champions. First back-to-back titles since winning five straight from 1995-99.

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) September 17, 2017

The Indians have been the hottest team in MLB for the past couple of weeks as they had an AL-record 22-game win streak end on Friday.

They have the best record in the AL at 93-57 and the club is firing on all cylinders.

They’re peaking at the right time with the regular season almost over and will be a hard club to defeat in the postseason.

Red Sox Activate Price from Disabled List

The Boston Red Sox activated starting pitcher David Price from the disabled list on Thursday, per Greg A. Bedard of Boston Sports Journal.

Red Sox activate David Price from the 10-day disabled list. Here we go.

— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) September 14, 2017

Price was put on the DL towards the end of July with inflammation in his left elbow.

The left-hander hasn’t achieved much success in 2017, as indicated by his 3.82 ERA in 66 innings (11 starts) with 63 strikeouts, 22 walks issued and eight home runs surrendered.

The Red Sox plan to have Price pitch out of the bullpen and will similarly use him how the Indians have done with Andrew Miller, per Joe Trezza of MLB.com.

David Price is back from the disabled list, and the Red Sox plan to use him in the bullpen, Andrew Miller-style.

— Joe Trezza (@JoeTrezz) September 14, 2017

This isn’t the first time that Price has pitched out of the bullpen. The Tampa Bay Rays used him in that capacity in the 2008 postseason.

Price has a 5.54 ERA in the postseason, but maybe coming out of the pen will change his fortunes.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

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.

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