We are heading into the homestretch of the Major League Baseball season as teams have just about a quarter of the season left. At this point, division races are starting to take shape, and many teams are starting to jockey not only for position in their divisions but for home-field advantage in the playoffs as well. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the major stories from around the league over the last week.
Arrieta’s Season Over
Jake Arrieta’s season has certainly been a disappointment for the right-handed pitcher of the Philadelphia Phillies, and on Saturday, it was announced that it is likely over. Arrieta has been dealing with bone spurs in his right elbow all season and has pitched through the pain of the injury. With results not there, the Phillies and Arrieta have decided to shut it down for the season to allow Arrieta time to recover for the start of the 2020 season.
This season, Arrieta was 8-8 with a 4.64 ERA and 1.47 WHIP. In 135 2/3 innings, he has allowed 149 hits, 70 earned runs, 21 home runs and has struck out 110 versus 51 walks. For the Phillies, they currently sit nine games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East but sit just two games out of the second Wild Card spot behind the Chicago Cubs. With playoff implications on the line, Philadelphia just didn’t feel like it could keep trotting Arrieta out every five days. They will hope to compete this year while also hoping he can rebound to form for the 2020 season.
Robertson To Miss The Rest Of This Season And Next
In addition to Arrieta, another veteran righty’s tenure with the Phillies is likely over. David Robertson has undergone Tommy John surgery and will now be out for not only this season but likely all of the 2020 campaign as well. This last offseason, Robertson agreed to a two-year, $23 million deal with the Phillies after having been a relatively consistent and dominant reliever for several years. This year, though, Robertson only appeared in seven games for the Phillies, pitching to a 5.40 ERA and 2.10 WHIP.
In 6 2/3 innings, Robertson allowed eight hits, four earned runs, a home run and struck out six while walking six. For those keeping tabs at home, that amounts to a little over $3 million per inning pitched for the Phillies. At 34 years old, Robertson will certainly be on the older side when he is able to return to the majors. It will be interesting over the next year or so as to how his rehab goes and to whether he can return to form for the 2021 season.
Tatis Jr. Likely Out For Season
Sadly for both Padres fans and baseball enthusiasts alike, one of the most dynamic rookies in baseball will be shut down for the rest of the season. Fernando Tatis Jr. is likely out for the rest of the season as he tries to recover from back issues that have seemingly been worse than expected. Tatis Jr. has been spectacular this season. In 334 official at-bats, he is hitting .317/.379/.590 with 22 home runs, 53 runs batted in and 61 runs scored. He also added 16 stolen bases in 22 chances.
Overall, at just 20 years old, he looked like a budding star that can be a building block for years to come for the San Diego Padres. For fans, though, they will have to wait until next season to see him play on the big stage again.
Urias Suspended For Domestic Violence
In another sad case of domestic violence in professional sports, Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Julio Urias has been suspended 20 games by Major League Baseball. This stems back to an incident where video and witnesses saw the 22-year-old shove a female to the ground. Urias was originally put on administrative leave but was able to return shortly after that. With the investigation over, Urias has accepted the penalty and will begin serving the suspension immediately. However, the suspension will only be 15 games at this point as he gets credit for those first five games while he was on administrative leave.
On the season, Urias is 4-3 in 27 games (six games started) with a 2.53 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. In 67 2/3 innings, he has allowed 51 hits, 19 earned runs, six home runs and has struck out 67 while walking 23. The Dodgers currently hold a rather insurmountable advantage in the NL West as they lead the second-place San Francisco Giants by 18.5 games at the time of this writing.
A’s Sign Harvey
After a few weeks on the unemployment line, starting pitcher Matt Harvey has found a new job. The Oakland A’s have signed Harvey, and he will start at Triple-A for Oakland. Harvey is coming off of a tough season with the Los Angeles Angels, who released him a few weeks ago. Thus far this season, Harvey is 3-5 in 12 starts with a 7.09 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 59 2/3 innings. During that stretch, he allowed 63 hits, 47 earned runs, 13 home runs and struck out 39 versus 29 walks.
Harvey is long removed from being a projected ace like his early days with the New York Mets. In his best season in 2013, Harvey went 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA. While his 2015 season was solid, too, he has certainly not been the same pitcher since. For Oakland, though, they needed depth. With injuries to players like Sean Manaea, Jesus Luzardo, A.J. Puk, and others, their starting rotation has certainly tested its limits. It is unclear how quickly, or even if, Harvey will be up with the big club, but at least he has a new chance in Oakland.
