As easy as 1-2-3-4 for the Dodgers
The Dodgers hit five home runs in their win over the Mets. One by the leadoff batter Chris Taylor, one by the #2 batter Corey Seager, one by the #3 hitter Justin Turner, one by the cleanup hitter Cody Bellinger and one by Yasiel Puig, who batted eighth in the batting order. It was the first time in franchise history that the Dodgers got a home run from each of the top four batters in their starting lineup.
Two other teams this season had a home run hit by each of the top four batters in their starting lineup. The Cubs, also at Citi Field, on June 13 (Anthony Rizzo, Ian Happ, Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward) and the Nationals versus the Brewers on July 27 (Brian Goodwin, Wilmer Difo, Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmermann).
Dodgers: hottest team ever?
With their win in New York on Saturday afternoon, the Dodgers improved their record to 43-7 over their last 50 games dating back to June 7. Only three other teams in major league history won 43 or more games over a 50-decision span within one season: St. Louis of the Union Association in 1884 (44-6), Cubs in 1906 (45-5) and Giants in 1912 (43-7).
Beckham paying immediate dividends
Tim Beckham has made an immediate impression on his new Orioles teammates by rapping out 13 hits and three home runs in his first five games with the team, including two hits and a homer in the O’s win over the Tigers on Saturday night. Beckham is the first player in modern major league history to record 13 hits and three home runs in his first five games with a team.
Davies is 7-0 on the road
Kyle Davies allowed only one hit in seven innings in the Brewers’ road win over the Rays. Davies improved to 7-0 with a 2.65 ERA in 12 road starts this season. No other pitcher in Brewers history went 7-0 or better over their first 12 road starts of a season. The only other active pitcher to go 7-0 or better over his first 12 road starts of a season was Max Scherzer for the Tigers in 2013 (7-0 with a 2.29 ERA in his first 12 road starts of the season).
Pomeranz pitching like an ace
Drew Pomeranz pitched another solid game in the Red Sox win over the White Sox on Saturday night. Pomeranz improved to 5-0 with a 2.24 ERA over his last ten starts dating back to June 16. Pomeranz is the first Red sox pitcher to go 5-0 or better with an ERA that low over a ten-start span within one season since Clay Buchholz in 2013 (7-0, 1.66).
Cubs pen supports Lackey
Four Cubs relievers allowed one unearned run in support of John Lackey in their win over the Nationals on Saturday afternoon. The Cubs’ bullpen has a 1.19 ERA in games started by Lackey this season. That’s the best bullpen support for any major league pitcher who has started at least ten games this season.
Contreras is knocking in runs
Willson Contreras drove in three runs in the Cubs’ win over the Nationals giving him 27 RBIs over his last 19 games, dating back to July 14. That matches Nolan Arenado for the most RBIs in the major leagues since that date.
Headley picking up the slack for the Bombers
Chase Headley hit a solo home run off Zach McCallister in the eighth inning, which accounted for the final run in a 2-1 Yankees win over the Indians. It was the eighth time in his career that Headley hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth inning or later, his second in a Yankees uniform.
Headley leads the Yankees in hits (29, tied with Didi Gregorius), runs scored (14), doubles (8) and batting average (.354) since July 9.
DeJong is DeMan for the Cardinals
Paul DeJong hit a two-run home run in the Cardinals’ win over the Reds. It was DeJong’s 15th homer in just 57 games since he made his major league debut on May 28. Only one player in Cardinals history reached 15 home runs in his first 57 games in the major leagues. Albert Pujols hit his 15th (and 16th) in his 49th career major league game in 2001.
Only two rookies have hit more home runs than DeJong since he made his MLB debut on May 28: Cody Bellinger (22) and Aaron Judge (19).
Lamet wins third straight start
Dinelson Lamet allowed only one hit in 5⅔ innings in the Padres’ win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Lamet is 3-0 with a 1.96 ERA over his last three starts. The last Padres rookie to win three consecutive starts was Jesse Hahn, who had two such streaks like that in 2014, a four-start winning streak in June and a three-start winning streak in July.
Efficient CG for Hamels
Cole Hamels needed only 96 pitches in his complete-game victory over the Twins on Saturday night. It was the fewest pitches thrown in a complete game of at least nine innings for a Rangers pitcher since Derek Holland threw 92 pitches in a complete game at Yankee Stadium on June 27, 2013.
It was the fewest pitches Hamels threw in any of his 16 career complete games. His previous low was 97 pitches in a complete game at Dodger Stadium on June 4, 2009.
Folty strikes out 11 of 23 batters faced
Mike Foltynewicz struck out 11 of the 23 batters he faced in the Braves’ win over the Marlins on Saturday night. Foltynewicz is the fourth pitcher in Braves history to strike out 11 or more batters despite facing no more than 23 batters in the game. The other Braves pitchers to do this were Brandon Beachy (2011), Julio Teheran (2013) and Ervin Santana (2014).
Leiter gives Phillies a phighting chance
Mark Leiter, Jr. kept the Phillies in the game by striking out nine batters while not issuing a walk in relief of Nick Pivetta in their loss to the Rockies. Leiter, Jr. is the fourth pitcher over the last 40 years to strikeout nine or more batters without issuing a walk in a relief appearance. The others to do that over that span were Tom Gordon for the Royals in 1989 (10 SO), Bruce Ruffin for the Rockies in 1993 (9 SO) and Mark Guthrie for the Twins in 1995 (12 SO).
Only 2 strikeouts in a shutout!
Paul Blackburn, Ryan Dull, Santiago Casilla and Blake Treinen combined to shutout the Angels on Saturday night despite striking out only two batters. That’s the fewest batters that Oakland pitchers struck out in a shutout since April 9, 2012. Tommy Milone (8 IP, 0 SO) and Grant Balfour (1 IP, 1 SO) blanked the Royals, 1-0, in that game.