MLB News

With around 50 games left for teams around the MLB, scoreboard watching has taken full effect as teams jockey for postseason positioning. While a couple of divisions have seemingly locked up, there are several that could come down to the wire for who will come out on top.

While all eyes are on the games being played, there is plenty of news off the field as well. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories of the week in the world of baseball.

Giants And Crawford Agree To Extension

With the likes of Trevor Story, Carlos Correa, Javier Baez, and others about to hit the market, this offseason is supposed to have one of the best shortstop free agent crops in some time. While the list is still impressive, one name is now off the board.

On Friday, the San Francisco Giants and shortstop Brandon Crawford agreed to a two-year extension. It appears that the deal will pay him $32 million total to stay in the bay area.

Crawford has had a remarkable season this year. He is currently hitting .298/.365/.539 with 19 home runs, 69 runs batted in 58 runs, and nine stolen bases. He has been one of the catalysts for an offense that has helped propel the Giants to a league-best record 75-42.

The Giants, with the best record in baseball, are currently +800 to win the World Series.

DeGrom’s Return Delayed

Unfortunately for Mets’ fans, a potential Jacob deGrom return is going to have to wait a little longer. According to Mets’ manager Luis Rojas, deGrom is still dealing with elbow inflammation and will not throw for at least another couple of weeks.

According to SNY’s Steve Gelbs, this setback could mean that the earliest possible return would be mid-September, assuming no other setbacks took place. This is bad news for a Mets’ team that has fallen 1.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in the N.L. East.

Prior to the injuries, deGrom was 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA.

That isn’t the only bad news for the Mets. They also put recently acquired shortstop Javier Baez on the injured list with back spasms. Since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs, Baez was hitting .171/.216/.343 with two home runs and three runs batted in for the Mets.

Severino Has Setback, Expected To Have MRI

It has been a rough couple of years for New York Yankees pitcher Luis Severino, and it does not appear to be getting too much better. In 2019, Severino was limited on the mound due to a lat injury and missed all of last year after having Tommy John surgery.

The hope was that he could be available around the All-Star break this season, but that had been pushed back due to a groin injury. Now, as he was ramping up rehab appearances, the righty has encountered another setback.

Severino was supposed to pitch in a game at Triple-A Friday, but he was scratched with shoulder tightness. Now, Jon Heyman of MLB Network is reporting that the Yankees will send him to meet with doctors and have an MRI on Monday.

The 27-year-old last pitched a full season in 2018 when he went 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and struck out 220 in 191.1 innings.

The hope for the Yankees was that he could be one more solid arm to add to a team that already has a staff earned run average of 3.68 (eighth in the majors). While more will be known after the MRI, for now, it appears as if it might be another lost season for the young hurler.

Sale Has Spectacular Return

While Severino is still trying to make his comeback from Tommy John surgery, Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale successfully made his return over the weekend.

On Saturday, Sale took the mound for the first time in two years and showed flashes of the Sale of old. He went five innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out eight.

While it might take Sale a little bit to knock the rust off, this is a huge boost for a Red Sox team that has been reeling as of late.

Prior to this weekend, they had lost 11 of their last 14. With a couple of wins against the Baltimore Orioles, they now sit four games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for first in the A.L. East and are clinging onto the second Wild Card spot. The Red Sox still have a lot of work to do, but having Sale back to full strength will be a huge boost for a team that is currently at +2700 to win the World Series.