Eduardo Rodriguez delivered a stellar performance for the Detroit Tigers against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night, catching the attention of potential suitors in need of pitching help before the trade deadline.
In the game, Rodriguez allowed two runs and four hits over seven dominant innings, possibly making it one of his final starts for the Tigers as the trade deadline looms. The left-hander impressed by striking out seven batters without issuing a walk.
The Tigers secured a tight 3-2 victory that remained undecided until the end of a tense ninth inning. Jason Foley handled the eighth inning for Detroit, and Alex Lange encountered some challenges closing the game but managed to secure his 16th save.
Javier Baez contributed a home run, while Miguel Cabrera and Kerry Carpenter also drove in runs for Detroit. The Tigers faced difficulty against Royals’ pitcher Ryan Yarbrough until he experienced hamstring cramps in the sixth inning.
In the end, Detroit emerged victorious, with Rodriguez proving instrumental in their success. The Royals, despite their efforts, were unable to snatch a win.
Miguel Cabrera, who is retiring after this season, received an honorable farewell during his last scheduled visit to Kauffman Stadium. The Royals paid tribute to him by presenting a $10,000 check to his foundation, along with a framed crown-and-photo montage, commemorating his triple crown achievement in 2012.
In Thursday afternoon’s series finale, Royals’ right-handed pitcher Zack Greinke is expected to return from the injured list to face Detroit, with the Tigers countering with right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen.
During Wednesday night’s game, Yarbrough experienced discomfort while delivering a pitch to Javier Báez in the sixth inning, leading to a mound visit by Royals manager Matt Quatraro and head trainer Kyle Turner. As a precautionary measure, Yarbrough walked off the mound with Turner, and Carlos Hernández took over the pitching duties.
Yarbrough described it as a simple hamstring cramp, not a serious injury. He is optimistic about a quick recovery and expects to resume business as usual in the next few days.
Left-handed pitcher Daniel Lynch IV placed on the 15-day Injured List due to a left shoulder strain. Lynch, who recently pitched through arm fatigue in his last two starts, will get some rest to recover and come back stronger. It’s not the same ailment that caused him to miss the first two months of the season. According to manager Matt Quatraro, it’s a minor strain that they prefer to manage carefully rather than push through.
Lynch expressed frustration over the setback but will not be completely shut down from throwing during the next two weeks. The time off will allow him to recover from the fatigue that affected his recent performances, including a drop in velocity during the last game against the Tigers.
In the meantime, left-handed pitcher Austin Cox has been called up from Triple-A Omaha to join the Royals bullpen, providing their only lefty reliever.
The St. Louis Cardinals completed a series sweep against the Miami Marlins with a 6-4 victory on Wednesday, their second sweep of the season.
Nolan Gorman was the standout performer, hitting a three-run homer and driving in four runs overall. The Cardinals quickly built a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Marlins’ pitcher Sandy Alcantara, the NL Cy Young Award winner. The Marlins, on the other hand, extended their losing streak to six games, the longest of the season for them.
Manager Oliver Marmol praised his team’s productive at-bats, acknowledging the challenge they faced against Alcantara’s tough pitching.
The Cardinals’ victory marked their fifth consecutive win, helping them move ahead of Pittsburgh and out of the NL Central cellar. Gorman expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress, noting that this performance aligns with their early expectations for the season.
In the game, Alcantara struggled, allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings. Despite his efforts to bounce back, he has gone 0-3 in his last four starts.
Zack Thompson, pitching for the first time in 20 days, delivered an impressive performance, allowing three hits in two scoreless innings. Chris Stratton secured his first save since April 22, 2022, though he allowed an RBI double to Luis Arraez.
Cardinals’ starter Dakota Hudson pitched three innings, conceding two runs and five hits. His performance, while filling up the zone, resulted in a higher pitch count.
Marlins’ third base coach Jody Reed sustained a broken leg in the third inning after getting hit by a foul ball. Outfielder Avisaíl García began a rehab assignment with Double-A Pensacola, playing as a designated hitter.
The Marlins will face the Colorado Rockies in a three-game series, with LHP Braxton Garrett set to start. Garrett has shown consistency, allowing three runs or fewer in eight of his last 10 starts.
The Cardinals will start LHP Steven Matz in their series opener against the Chicago Cubs, with RHP Marcus Stroman on the mound for the Cubs. Matz previously delivered 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against the Cubs on June 24 in London.
The MLB scoreboard for Wednesday, July 19, 2023:
Pittsburgh 7, Cleveland 5
Baltimore 8, Los Angeles (NL) 5
Houston 4, Colorado 1
San Diego 2, Toronto 0
New York (NL) 5, Chicago (AL) 1
Texas 5, Tampa Bay 1
Oakland 6, Boston 5
Los Angeles (AL) 7, New York (AL) 3
Detroit 3, Kansas City 2
Minnesota 6, Seattle 3
St. Louis 6, Miami 4
Milwaukee 5, Philadelphia 3
Cincinnati 3, San Francisco 2
Arizona 5, Atlanta 3
Chicago (NL) 8, Washington 3
