With MLB’s schedule roughly 70% complete, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. White Sox, Guardians await suspensions:
The White Sox and Guardians got into one of the more memorable benches-clearing fights in recent memory on Saturday, with Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson and Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez at the center of the chaos. Unlike the majority of MLB skirmishes, actual punches were thrown between Anderson and Ramirez before the pair were pulled away from each other. The fracas lasted for several minutes, and each of Anderson, Ramirez, Guardians manager Terry Francona, White Sox manager Pedro Grifol, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, and Guardians third base coach Mike Sarbaugh were ultimately ejected. While Anderson was out of the lineup during yesterday’s series finale, the league has yet to hand down any suspensions in the aftermath of the scuffle. Tom Withers of the Associated Press writes that the clubs expect to hear from MLB as soon as today regarding likely multi-game suspensions for both Anderson and Ramirez.
2. Rodon to undergo MRI:
Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon exited yesterday’s start against the Astros with left hamstring tightness. He’s scheduled to undergo an MRI today, though in comments to reporters (including the folks at YES Network) Rodon indicated that he did not anticipate the MRI revealing anything overly concerning.
The first year of Rodon’s six-year, $162MM contract hasn’t gone the way the sides had hoped as Rodon missed the entire first half due to a strain in his left forearm. In six starts since since returning from the injured list, Rodon has looked nothing like the ace who made consecutive All-Star appearances while finishing in the top six of Cy Young award voting in both 2021 and 2022. He’s posted a 7.33 ERA while failing to make it out of the sixth inning in any of his appearances. In the event Rodon requires another trip to the injured list, right-handers Jhony Brito and Randy Vasquez could be among the club’s options to take over in the rotation.
3. Perez returns to the majors:
Marlins phenom Eury Perez was shut down in the midst of a sensational rookie season (2.36 ERA across 11 starts) last month as Miami keeps a close eye on the 20-year-old hurler’s innings. With the team currently dealing with a losing streak that has extended to four games and half a game out of the final Wild Card spot, club brass have made the decision to bring Perez back into the fold of the major league rotation. He’s slated to start this evening’s game against the Reds in Cincinnati and figures to help anchor the Marlins’ rotation throughout the remainder of the 2023 campaign alongside Sandy Alcantara and Jesus Luzardo.