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Because the 2024 common season continues, listed below are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day at this time:
1. Bellinger headed for additional analysis:
Cubs heart fielder Cody Bellinger exited yesterday’s sport 7-2 win over the Astros yesterday previous to the underside of the seventh inning. The 28-year-old had crashed into the outfield wall on a play earlier within the sport and was identified with a proper rib contusion per a crew announcement. Supervisor Craig Counsell stated after the sport that x-rays got here again damaging, however the membership will wait to see how the two-time All Star feels at this time earlier than placing a timetable on his return to motion (X link by way of ESPN’s Jesse Rogers).
Bellinger received off to a sluggish begin this season however has caught fireplace in current days, going 10-for-30 with three residence runs, a triple, and 5 walks over his previous eight video games. That sizzling stretch has introduced his season slash line as much as .226/.320/.441 (103 wRC+) regardless of an fluky low .215 BABIP. Mike Tauchman figures to slip over from proper area to heart in Bellinger’s absence, with teen Alexander Canario moving into the beginning lineup in proper. An extended absence might open the door for a high prospect akin to Pete Crow-Armstrong or Owen Caissie to affix the massive league membership.
2. Kiermaier day-to-day:
The Cubs weren’t the one crew to lose their beginning heart fielder mid-game yesterday, because the Blue Jays eliminated Kevin Kiermaier from yesterday’s 3-2 loss towards the Royals within the sixth inning attributable to flexor discomfort in his left hip. Per MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, Kiermaier is taken into account day-to-day for the second however Toronto had not but absolutely evaluated the veteran by the tip of final evening’s sport. It’s the identical hip on which Kiermaier required season-ending surgical procedure in July 2022.
It’s been a troublesome begin to the season for Kiermaier, who has slashed simply .193/.246/.246 in 62 journeys to the plate this season. Even so, the 34-year-old has continued to supply worth to the Jays together with his trademark superlative protection in heart area. Whereas Kiermaier is down, Daulton Varsho figures to slip over to heart area with a mixture of Davis Schneider, Cavan Biggio, and Ernie Clement dealing with left.
3. The place will Cooper land?
Previous to yesterday’s sport, the Cubs designated veteran first baseman Garrett Cooper for project in a considerably stunning transfer. The 33-year-old is coming off a down 2023 season with the Marlins and Padres however has hit .270/.341/.432 (118 wRC+) in restricted taking part in time with the Cubs this season. There are some purple flags, as Cooper’s 31.7% strikeout fee can be a career-high over a full season and his .391 common on balls in play is more likely to regress.
Even so, Cooper is a former All-Star who has slashed a good .264/.336/.445 (112 wRC+) because the begin of the 2020 season and boasts a robust .285/.337/.475 slash line towards left-handed pitching all through his profession. That might make the veteran an attention-grabbing piece for groups in want of assist at first base or DH, such because the Pink Sox or Astros. The Cubs have one week to both commerce, launch, or waive Cooper following yesterday’s DFA. Efficiently shifting him to a different crew might permit them to get the rest of his $1.75MM wage off their books, a significant sum given their proximity to the primary luxurious tax threshold.
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