The Phillies were 90 feet away from forcing extra innings against the Dodgers. Instead, a chopper to Max Muncy led to a 5-2-6-4 double play to end the game (video link from the Dodgers on X).
1. Abrams hits two more HRs
Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams is enjoying his time in Sacramento and Colorado. Abrams slugged a pair of two-run home runs on Tuesday against the Rockies. He’s now gone deep four times in the last three games. Abrams has knocked in nine runs since the All-Star break, moving him into a tie for first place on the RBI leaderboard. The 25-year-old is no stranger to monster first halves. The problem the past two seasons has been a second-half swoon. Abrams seems to be bucking that trend this year, with a 1.040 OPS in July.
2. Gausman struggles again
Blue Jays righty Kevin Gausman was chased in the fourth inning last night against the Rays. He allowed four earned runs on nine hits while recording just one strikeout. The veteran has permitted at least four earned runs in six of nine appearances since the start of June. Gausman, a pending free agent, would likely draw interest on the trade market if the Blue Jays decide to be sellers. With his next outing scheduled in Boston this weekend, Tuesday’s game could have been his last home start in Toronto. “I’m not going to think about that too much because I’m a Blue Jay right now, the focus is on this team … that’s where my mind’s at,” Gausman told reporters, including Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. “But yeah, that is kind of crazy to think about.”
3. Double the doubleheaders
The Wednesday schedule features two doubleheaders after rainouts on Tuesday. The Pirates and Yankees will square off for two games in the Bronx, while the Orioles and Red Sox play twice in Boston. Both twin bills are of the day/night variety. Pittsburgh will be playing its third doubleheader in less than two weeks. The club played one against the Brewers right before the All-Star break, then another over the weekend against the Guardians. Boston will have a chance to match the franchise record for consecutive wins (15) and break it all in one day.
Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images
