Injuries and Roster Moves
The past week in Major League Baseball has seen significant roster changes and injury updates. The **Cleveland Guardians** placed **Sam Hentges** on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. **Xzavion Curry** was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to fill the gap. Manager **Stephen Vogt** mentioned that Hentges experienced left shoulder fatigue and wasn’t recovering well. This is Hentges’ second stint on the injured list this season. He previously missed the first six weeks due to left middle finger inflammation. Hentges has been a crucial part of Cleveland’s bullpen, boasting a 3.04 ERA over 25 appearances this season.
In other injury news, **Matthew Boyd** is nearing a return after undergoing left elbow surgery. Boyd, who signed with the Guardians on June 29, is expected to return in August. He has been throwing bullpen sessions and is likely to appear in an Arizona Complex League game soon. **Chase DeLauter**, the Guardians’ top prospect, remains sidelined with turf toe. His return date is still uncertain.
The **Los Angeles Dodgers** optioned **Bobby Miller** to Triple-A due to underperformance, while **Walker Buehler** is making progress in his recovery but has no clear return timetable. The **New York Mets** placed reliever **Reed Garrett** on the injured list for an MRI due to forearm tightness. The **Toronto Blue Jays** removed **Bo Bichette** from a game due to right calf soreness, and **Arizona’s Jordan Lawlar** reinjured his hamstring, sidelining him for six to eight weeks.
2024 MLB Draft Insights
The 2024 MLB Draft is just over a week away, and the latest mock drafts are generating buzz. **Travis Bazzana**, a second baseman from Oregon State, is projected to go first overall to the **Cleveland Guardians**. Bazzana has received the majority of votes from scouting directors. Other top prospects include **Charlie Condon**, **Jac Caglianone**, **JJ Wetherholt**, and **Hagen Smith**.
The **Cincinnati Reds** are expected to pick **Charlie Condon**, an outfielder and third baseman from Georgia, while the **Colorado Rockies** are likely to select **Jac Caglianone**, a first baseman and left-handed pitcher from Florida. The **Oakland A’s** are considering **Braden Montgomery** from Texas A&M, and the **Chicago White Sox** are eyeing **JJ Wetherholt** from West Virginia.
The draft will be broadcast on MLB Network and ESPN, and fans can also watch it on MLB.TV, MLB.com, and the MLB App. The Day 1 preview show starts at 6 p.m. ET, with the draft festivities beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Power Rankings Shake-Up
This week’s power rankings have seen some significant changes. The **Philadelphia Phillies** have risen to the top spot after sweeping the Nationals and improving their record to 34-14. The Phillies lead the **Atlanta Braves** by five games in the National League East and are on pace for 115 wins. **Bryce Harper** and **Kyle Schwarber** have returned to the lineup, though Harper sat out a game due to a bruised hand.
The **Los Angeles Dodgers** have moved up to the second spot, with **Freddie Freeman** having an excellent year. The **New York Yankees** climbed to third place, riding a seven-game winning streak and a resurgence from **Giancarlo Stanton**. The **Baltimore Orioles** dropped to fourth after maintaining their sweep-less series streak. The Braves fell to fifth, despite having the sixth-best record in baseball.
The **Cleveland Guardians** moved up to sixth place after sweeping the defending division champion **Minnesota Twins**. **Will Brennan**’s walk-off home run was a highlight for the team. The **Milwaukee Brewers** dropped to seventh, with **William Contreras** posting an impressive .954 OPS. The **Kansas City Royals** climbed to eighth, achieving ten games over .500 for the first time since their 2015 World Series-winning season.
Notable Performances and Moments
**Jackson Chourio** of the **Milwaukee Brewers** hit his first career grand slam, marking the Brewers’ third grand slam in the past four games. Chourio’s grand slam occurred during a 4-2 win over the **Chicago Cubs**. This performance continues a strong stretch for the National League Central-leading Brewers. Chourio became the youngest player to hit a grand slam since **Jose Reyes** did so for the Mets in June 2003.
**Michael Kopech** of the **Chicago White Sox** achieved an immaculate inning, retiring the **Minnesota Twins** in order on nine pitches. This marks the first White Sox immaculate inning since **Sloppy Thurston** in 1923. The **Philadelphia Phillies** became the first team to reach 60 wins this season, with **Bryce Harper** and **Kyle Schwarber** making significant contributions.
**Nick Pivetta** of the **Boston Red Sox** struck out eight consecutive batters, tying a franchise record despite losing to the **Oakland A’s**. The **Chicago Cubs** defeated the **Baltimore Orioles** 4-0, led by **Shota Imanaga** who threw six scoreless innings. The **Seattle Mariners** posted a humorous video featuring players answering questions incorrectly, adding a light-hearted moment to the week.
Fantasy Baseball Insights
For fantasy baseball enthusiasts, several players have stood out this week. **Garrett Crochet** of the **Chicago White Sox** has been effective, with a SIERA of 2.31 over his last five starts. **Paul Skenes** has also impressed with a SIERA of 2.52. **Brenton Doyle** of the **Colorado Rockies** has been a bright spot, and the **Miami Marlins** are considering bringing up **Max Meyer** and trading **Jazz Chisholm**.
The **New York Mets** have seen improvement from **Brandon Nimmo**, while the **Houston Astros** have climbed the rankings despite injuries. The **San Diego Padres** have dropped in the rankings after losing four straight games, and the **St. Louis Cardinals** are expected to drop below .500 due to a negative run differential.
Looking Ahead
As the MLB season progresses, teams will continue to make adjustments and strategize for the playoffs. The upcoming draft will bring new talent into the league, and fans can look forward to exciting games and performances. Stay tuned for more updates and insights as the season unfolds.
