This week will be the first full week of the newcomers playing for their new teams… kind of like the first full week at a new school. With the Rays and Red Sox not really making much-needed moves at the deadline, we should see if that affects the standings greatly. The standings have slightly changed for now. Let’s see what happened over the weekend and what is to come this week in the MLB American League East.
TAMPA BAY RAYS
After losing the series against the Yankees, the Rays had to reset and fight for the division. Josh Fleming went five innings and gave up three runs. Nelson Cruz went 2-for-5 and Yandy Diaz went 3-for-4. Home runs by Diaz, Mike Zunino, and Randy Arozarena helped seal the deal on the win against the Sox.
Ryan Yarbrough started for the Rays. He went five innings and gave up five runs. He left the game tied when Andrew Kittredge and co took over. Ji-Man Choi went 2-for-5 and Wander Franco went 2-for-4. Francisco Mejia also went 2-for-4 with a home run in the 4th inning. Choi hit his 8th home run in the first inning. The Rays clinched the series with a 9-5 win.
Shane McClanahan went six innings and only gave up one run. Brandon Lowe hit his 23rd home run of the season in the 3rd inning. Franco went 2-for-3. The Rays swept the Red Sox and are up 1.5 games in first place now.
Dawg's got pop 💥 pic.twitter.com/jnJ4gV7oec — Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) August 2, 2021
Next series for the Rays is against the Mariners. Michael Wacha, Luis Patino, and Josh Fleming are scheduled to pitch. The Rays then head to Baltimore to face the O’s over the weekend.
BOSTON RED SOX
The Red Sox faced the Rays over the weekend for the fight for first place. Martin Perez went four innings and gave up six runs. I can’t remember the last time Perez went deep into a game. Short outings like this in July are what can tire out a bullpen by October. The Sox have enough arms to spread the workaround but it can add up. J.D. Martinez looks lost at the plate but there is no doubt he will figure out what is going on. Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-5 and Christian Vazquez went 2-for-4. The Sox lost 7-3.
Nathan Eovaldi was the starter for game two. He pitched 5.1 innings and gave up six runs but five of them earned. Jonathan Arauz had two errors in the game that costed a run. Enrique Hernandez went 2-for-5 and Bogaerts hit his 16th home run of the season. Adam Ottavino didn’t help by giving up three more runs. They lost 9-5.
Nick Pivetta went 4.2 innings and gave up three runs. Hunter Renfroe hit his 16th home run of the year to put the Sox on the board. Hernandez went 3-for-5 and Rafael Devers went 2-for-4. Leading all of MLB in comebacks with 33, the offense tried to come back in the 9th but it ended with Martinez flying out.
The Sox get a much-needed day off today before facing the Tigers for three games. Garrett Richards, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Martin Perez are scheduled to pitch. The Sox then head to Canada to play the Jays for four games.
NEW YORK YANKEES
The Yankees entered Miami with new additions to the team. Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo were in the lineup for the first game in loanDepot Park. Giancarlo Stanton played left field for the first time this season as well. Jameson Taillon went 5.2 scoreless innings. The only run given up was by Zack Britton. Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a walk and a home run, his 15th of the year. Noticeably out of the lineup this weekend was DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela.
LeMahieu is dealing with sore triceps while Urshela is dealing with a hamstring issue. LeMahieu did pinch-hit during the series and had to play second base due to Gleyber Torres being ejected on a very bad call by the home plate umpire. Urshela also pinched hit and once he got on base, Nestor Cortes pinch ran for him. The Yankees ended up winning 3-1.
The best in the Rizz. pic.twitter.com/ACO6LKcOVy — New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 31, 2021
Domingo German went four innings and gave up two runs in game two. The game was tied at two until the 7th inning. Rizzo, again, hit a home run. Rougned Odor was 2-for-4. Lucas Luetge got the win and Jonathan Loaisiga got his 3rd save with the 4-2 win.
The Yankees completed the sweep against the Marlins. Jordan Montgomery went five innings and gave up one run. Aaron Judge went 2-for-4 and Rizzo went 1-for-4. Joey Gallo got his first hit as a Yankee with a double. Aroldis Chapman got his 22nd save with the 3-1 win.
WELCOME HOME
Yankees fans will be able to watch the newcomers play in the Bronx against the Orioles this week before facing the Mariners for four games. Andrew Heaney will start for the Yankees tonight followed by Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon. Aaron Boone said that Nestor Cortes will slide into German’s rotation spot since German was placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Finally back in Canada, the Jays faced the Royals after splitting the series against the Red Sox. Ross Stripling went 5.1 innings and gave up two runs. George Springer went 3-for-4 and Bo Bichette went 2-for-4. Bichette also hit his 19th home run and Teoscar Hernandez hit his 16th. Jordan Romano got his 9th save in the 6-4 win.
Alek Manoah pitched seven scoreless innings against the Royals. Springer hit two home runs in the game and went 2-for-4. The Jays won 4-0.
What better way to end the first series back at home than with a sweep? Newly acquired, Jose Berrios, started and went six scoreless innings in his Jays debut. Marcus Semien hit his 25th home run and Santiago Espinal hit his second. Jays won 5-1.
José Berríos, Filthy Curveballs…and Sword. ⚔️ And pitching with 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TGVZs5ky1Z — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 1, 2021
After a day off, the Jays face the Indians. Hyun Jin Ryu, Steven Matz, and Ross Stripling are scheduled to pitch. Jose Berrios should be lined up to face the Red Sox over the weekend.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES
The O’s were in Detroit over the weekend. Matt Harvey went 6.1 scoreless innings. It is really a mystery why no team was interested in him. Sure, he isn’t the difference-maker for a contending team but some teams could use an arm like his. Ryan Mountcastle his 17th home run and Pedro Severino hit his 8th while going 2-for-3. Cole Sulser got his fourth save. The O’s won 4-3.
The series was clinched in game two with John Means on the mound. He went six innings and gave up only one run. Maikel Franco hit his 11th home run of the season. Cedric Mullins and Ramon Urias went 2-for-4. Mountcastle went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Sulser got his fifth save in the 5-2 win.
The Tigers avoided the sweep on Sunday. Spenser Watkins went 5.2 innings and gave up four runs. Mountcastle and Anthony Santander went 2-for-4. Conner Greene gave up two more runs. The O’s lost 6-2.
What a play. 😱 pic.twitter.com/ZNACq0QmsJ — MLB (@MLB) August 1, 2021
Next, the O’s head to New York to face the Yankees for three games. Jorge Lopez, Alexander Wells, and Matt Harvey are scheduled to pitch. They then head back home to face the Rays over the weekend.
LET’S SPIN IT
The Rays are now 1.5 games ahead of the Red Sox. The Yankees are 2.5 games behind the A’s for the second wild card spot. The Jays are keeping close behind the Yankees with being two games behind. This week, the standings can change a bit especially when the Yankees face the Mariners. It should be interesting to see how the Red Sox bounce back after the sweep and how the Yankees find ways to continue winning games.
My Monster MLB Trade Deadline takeaways
Featured Image via AP Photo/Mike Carlson
MLB American League East week preview | E2G Sports | Jessica Marie
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