MLB
Angels 4, Orioles 1
There was speculation over whether the Angels would trade Zach Neto at the deadline. Los Angeles, sitting at 44-71, is all but eliminated from AL postseason race, and the idea that the club would benefit from exchanging its young shortstop for highly-rated prospects was floated. The notion never made a lot of sense, however.
Neto, one of the Angels’ best players, is just 25 and controllable through 2029. The trade haul for the shortstop would’ve had to have been monumental for me to move him. In the end, common sense prevailed, and Neto is still with Los Angeles.
Of course, there’s no guarantee his stay lasts forever. The Angels seem to be in a deep rebuild, and as Neto inches toward free agency, his calculus could and likely will change.
As for yesterday, the Angels are surely thrilled they kept him. Neto finished 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, the difference in the game.
This was a defeat the Orioles couldn’t really afford, especially with Brandon Young on the bump. The right-hander limped through 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs.
Young is now 8-3 with a 3.43 ERA.
Reds 6, Athletics 5
I’m in awe of Sal Stewart. The rookie slugger has continued to rake at a high level, thus forcing the issue in the NL Rookie of the Year race. JJ Wetherholt has been the favorite for much of the season, but Stewart has evened the odds in the recent days.
If you favor WAR, Wetherholt is the obvious choice. The Cardinals second baseman has been worth 4.5 wins this year, far exceeding Stewart’s 1.9 mark. However, Stewart wins out in the counting stats, boasting a .257 batting average, 25 home runs and 87 RBIs. This race could come down to who hits the rookie wall and who doesn’t. Stay tuned.
Stewart went 2-for-4 with a homer yesterday.
Remember when the Athletics were in the thick of the playoff race? I barely do, but the A’s were 38-38 on June 20th, alive and well with hopes of grabbing an unexpected postseason berth.
As time has gone on, talent — and inexperience — has won out, and the Athletics are 45-70. An important offseason awaits in Sacramento as the franchise’s relocation to Las Vegas looms.
Leave a Reply