Homered against Happ in the third inning.

I tuned in minutes late. Did he bow to the fans?

How come there aren't more afternoon games? Wouldn't they get pretty good ratings?

Nice to see.

I had no idea he was Cuban.

Congratulations on 10 years and a full MLB pension.   

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29598678/in-mlb-season-short-celebrations-jon-jay-achieves-veteran-milestone

I watched the Marlins-Orioles last night. It was boring. It also proved that boring baseball is great, compared to no baseball.

As for Monte, he looked lost at the plate.

We should get his stats with Fightins in tomorrow's feed. Last year's with Ms most likely not. Fangraphs has them.

Needs pitching stats

Bought Javier at auction July 25 at $3 in the end game, because I had the $3, Javier  pitched for Houston, and I couldn't find anyone else I liked at the tail end of an AL pitching staff that was going to win a bunch of games. Now he's 1 of my 2 starters, including Heaney, a keeper at $1. 

I was outbid for all the starters that I rated above $5. Planned from the beginning to load up on non-starters, in essence punting wins and Ks (we ditched the IP requirement for this year and I pounced), the former as I didn't see how anyone could reliably predict wins in 2020, the latter because my innings probably would doom my Ks to, at best, near the bottom of the pack. I even took wins out of my prediction formula, leaving Ks in to boost the value of strike-out relievers.

So far, in this way-too-short set of games, I have found extraordinary luck, not only in Javier and Heaney, but in hitters who have smacked me to the top. I mention the following only because I doubt that I ever will see such a short-term lead again -- 29 points (at 108 because the rest of the 5x5 AL only league is well balanced). A great fall no doubt is on the horizon, but I'm pretty happy so far.

Are these young guns this good or are the hitters that far behind?

BA's prospect report...

Los Angeles Dodgers

—Dustin May went six innings for the first time in his big league career, striking out eight batters, allowing two runs on three hits and walking one to get the win. The righthander retired the first seven batters he faced, five via strikeout, before allowing an RBI double in the third inning to score a run. He got the next batter to strike out to end the inning, and a solo home run in the fourth inning was the only other blemish on his day. May’s 97-99 mph plus-plus sinker fooled hitters with its movement, and he mixed in his mid-80s curveball, low-90s cutter and changeup to subdue a lineup that ranked first in the majors in runs scored entering the day.

<video of him making Machado look very bad>

I had him on my free waivers wish list on Monday but he went to the BB Guns for $19.

In BA's prospect roundup...

Houston Astros

—Cristian Javier picked up the first win of his career in the team’s win over the Diamondbacks, pitching six innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits, walking one and striking out two. The Astros No. 8 prospect has pitched to a 1.42 ERA in 12.2 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out 11.

<video of his "Wicked 76mph breaking ball>

In BA's prospect roundup today...

Boston Red Sox

—Red Sox No. 8 prospect Jay Groome threw a live bullpen session at the team’s alternate training site as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery. Groome returned from the May 2018 surgery in 2019 to make three appearances between the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and short-season New York Penn League, allowing a run on five hits in four innings while striking out six and walking one.

<video of his "nice, easy delivery">

Yesterday's Top Performers

Batters:

Carlos Correa* (HOU): 3-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R

Howie Kendrick* (WSN): 4-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R

Stephen Piscotty* (OAK): 2-3, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 R

Eloy Jimenez (CHW): 3-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R

AJ Pollock (LAD): 2-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R

Austin Riley (ATL): 1-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R

Jason Heyward (CHC): 2-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

Joey Wendle (TBR): 3-4, 1 R, 1 SB

Dylan Moore (SEA): 2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 R

Matt Chapman (OAK): 2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R

View All of Yesterday's Batters at Baseball-Reference.com

Franmil Reyes, Hunter Renfroe, Joey Gallo...

That was my plan in the American Covid Dreams: for one year suffer with these awful modern ballplayers who swing for the seats and nothing else. See how that works for 60 games (or less).

The only one I got was Franchy Cordero.

Yesterday's Biggest Play

Batter: Franmil Reyes (CLE)

Pitcher: Nate Jones (CIN)

Situation: Top 8th, 0 out, 2-2 count, Runner On 1st

Score:  CLE 2, CIN 2

Home Run (Line Drive to Deep CF)
2 runs scored on the play, and CLE's win probability increased 29% points, to 86%
CLE went on to win the game, 4-2

View the full game Boxscore at Baseball-Reference.com 

Stathead Spotlight: Stephen Piscotty

Most recent walkoff grand slams

See the list at Stathead.com's Batting Event Finder

A softer-tossing version of Bieber.

Kyle Hendricks (P) CHI-N - Aug. 04

https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=747420

Kendricks (2-1) earned the win against Kansas City on Tuesday, tossing seven innings and allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three.

ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Kendricks followed a rough second outing with an effective performance in his third start Tuesday, tossing 62 of 94 pitches for strikes and allowing only one extra-base hit among the seven base knocks against him. The right-hander was quiet on the strikeout front, but he didn't allow any free passes and emerged with his second win -- and second quality start -- of the campaign. Hendricks' next start is scheduled for Sunday on the road against St. Louis. 

I'm sure he was thrilled by the experience and thrilled by the paychecks.

Anthony Castro (P) DET - Aug. 04

https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=747188

The Tigers optioned Castro to their alternate training site Tuesday.

ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Detroit is off until the weekend after its four-game series with St. Louis was postponed, the Tigers will still have to reduce their active roster from 30 to 28 men prior to Friday's series opener in Pittsburgh. As a low-leverage reliever with minor-league options remaining, Castro was a logical choice to lose his spot on the active roster. The 25-year-old right-hander made his MLB debut July 27 against the Royals, giving up two runs on one hit and one walk in a one-inning appearance. 

Willie Calhoun (OF) TEX - Aug. 04

https://www.rotowire.com/baseball/player.php?id=747324

Calhoun isn't in the lineup Tuesday against the Athletics.

ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Calhoun has gone just 1-for-18 with one RBI and five strikeouts to begin the season, and he'll retreat to a bench role for the third time in the past five games. Adolis Garcia will start in left field, batting eighth. 

More on Alvarez from Rotowire:

Alvarez has a tremendously interesting back story - he was good enough in high school to earn a baseball scholarship, but after one year fully committed to speed skating, where he was good enough to joining the U.S. Olympic speed skating team, where he earned a silver medal in 2014. He very nearly won a job out of summer camp, and now will serve as Jonathan Villar's backup at shortstop. 

Cardinals on the Covid IL:

DeJong, Junior Fernandez, Carlos Martinez, Yadier Molina, Ricardo Sanchez, Edmundo Sosa and Kod Whitley.

To the Covid IL yesterday. Joins Jorge Alfaro, Jeff Brigham, Adam Conley, Garret Cooper, Robert Dugger, Yimi Garcia, Jordan Holloway, Nick Neidert, Harold Ramirez, Miguel Rojas, Caleb Smith, Ryne Stanek, Jose Urena, Alex Vesia and Chad Wallach.

I tink that's all of them.

Volquez fell my way for free. Apparently he's no Hansel Robles.