“Slam Diego” Padres Are Rolling
Man oh man, the “Slam Diego” Padres have been on a record-breaking tear in their recent week of play. But before we dive right in, you have to acknowledge the sensation of Fernando Tatis Jr. The high-flying, energetic shortstop is one of Major League Baseball’s brightest stars and has been playing MVP-caliber baseball. Leading all of baseball in home runs and RBIs, Tatis Jr. has no sights of slowing down the season. The main power source on the Padres leads the team in Batting AVG, Home runs, RBIs, OBP, Hits and Stolen Bases. Wow! The Padres certainly have a potential Hall-of-Famer in Tatis Jr. for years to come.
Besides for Tatis Jr., the Padres lineup etched their name in the record books this past week. San Diego, or as many call them, “Slam Diego” (for their daily Grand Slam home runs) is the first team in Major League Baseball history to hit four grand slams in the same amount of games. Back-to-back-to-back-to-back, moonshot after moonshot, the Padres lineup cannot be stopped. To add, a day after the record was broken, the Padres went on to hit another grand slam. Five grad slams in six games is truly remarkable.
The “Slam Diego” power doesn’t end there as their high-powered offense currently leads all of baseball in home runs and RBIs. Currently equipped with five 15+ RBI players in Manny Machado, Tatis Jr., Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers, teams are unable to find answers for this unstoppable offense. Adding on to the icing, the Padres all-around offensive production also comes from the bats of Trent Grishman, Jake Cronenworth, Jurickson Profar and Tommy Pham.
Without a doubt, the Padres are on fire and all baseball fans should keep an eye out for them. If Tatis Jr. can keep up his sensational production around the diamond, the “Slam Diego” is a lock to make a deep playoff run.
White Sox Stay Hot and Own “The Windy City Showdown”
Winning their last nine of 12 games, the Chicago White Sox are catching fire early in the 2020 season. The young and valued core are proving their worth as they can certainly be the next up-and-coming dynasty in Major League Baseball. Leadoff hitter Tim Anderson provides a strong and valuable bat at the top of the lineup. Rising phenoms Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert provide an extremely bright core in the South Side of Chicago. Breaking out recently, the fierce bat of José Abreu cannot be stopped. Clobbering six home runs in the past three days, Abreu has sneakily entered the top of the home run race charts.
This past weekend in the “Windy City Showdown” between the crosstown rivals Chicago Cubs and White Sox, the Sox steamrolled and their offense connected on all cylinders. Although unable to follow through on the series sweep, the White Sox have planted their ground as the best team in Chicago, without hesitation. Outscoring the Cubs 19-6 in three games, power came from all throughout the lineup in the weekend series. Production from Abreu, Anderson, Adam Engel and Nomar Mazara counted for taking two in the three game set.
Catching a winning groove of late, the White Sox have clicked. When this highly-offensive lineup gets hot, boy, there’s no stopping the,. A young and high-ceiling core, mixed with proven veterans in the lineup, provides an unstoppable roster in the South Side of Chicago.
Injury Bug Bites Yankees
Dejá vú? It may seem like it for the New York Yankees, as last year they set a record with most players on the IL in a single season with 29 different players.
Although winning on the field, the Bronx Bombers have been losing off the field. Already down SP Luis Severino due to Tommy John Surgery to start the 2020 season, more would soon join the Injured List. The highly-energetic and dominant Tommy Kahnle also went down due to Tommy John as he’s projected to miss part of the 2021 season as well as the remainder of this season. The injury bug would continue to strike the pitching staff as primary closer (due to Alrodis Chapman out due to COVID-19) Zack Britton would go down with a hamstring injury. To begin the season, Britton was near perfect while going 7-for-8 in save opportunities. Relief pitcher Luis Avilan would also land on the 10-day IL with a left shoulder inflammation. Starter James Paxton is the latest arm to fall as he lands on the 10-day IL with a forearm injury. Britton, Paxton and Avilan are all expected to return to the Yankees prior to the 2020 postseason.
On the offensive side of the ball, the lead bats in the lineup have also gone down. With a hot start to the season, it was all too good to be true as Giancarlo Stanton landed on the 10-day IL. The right-handed power hitter is expected to return in two or three weeks, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. Backup Catcher Kyle Higashioka fell as well to the 10-day IL with a strained oblique. The rising sensation Gleyber Torres is the next to hit the IL with hamstring tightness. Following, the top-of-the-lineup consistent bat of DJ LeMahieu will be out of the lineup for time with a thumb injury. On the bright side of things for Yankee fans, prior to their next series with the Atlanta Braves, Aaron Judge (calf) is expected to be activated off the 10-day IL list.
Offensively and defensively, the Yankees have fallen like dominoes to injuries. Even without their stars, the lineup is still able to keep up and come out with wins. Clint Frazier, Mike Ford, Luke Voit and Gio Urshela have all stepped up to fill the gaps within the team. It will be interesting to see if New York is able to keep up their production through the remainder of the season.
Photo: B/R
