[ayaghmour2]

August 18th, 2023: We opened our nice homestand with Walker Buehler (9-5, 3.76 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) taking on Dylan Bundy (5-5, 5.11 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) and the Diamondbacks. The Arizona lineup looks like they sorted it by overall rating. They bested us 4-1 in the opener.

Buehler allowed 5 hits and 2 runs in 6 innings with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. Yasukazu Shiotani pitched the top of the 9th and allowed 3 hits and 2 runs with 2 walks and a strikeout.

There wasn't much hitting, but the biggest problem was losing Nick Gordon to an injury. His diagnosis is pending, and are #1 AAA option is injured. Jose Ramirez was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Shoehi Ohtani was 1-for-4 with a double. Adam Haseley was 2-for-4.

Kris Bryant hit his 3000th homer as the Cubs still lost to the Reds 15-13. The 31-year-old Bryant is a career .273/.373/.515 hitter with 863 RBI's and has hit 26 or more homers each year of his 9 year career.

August 19th, 2023: Nick Gordon has minor knee tendinitis and will be day-to-day for just 4 days. I'd make sure he got enough rest.

We're just half a game up with Jake Florence (9-9, 4.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) taking on Jean-Christophe Hernandez (3-8, 6.24 ERA, 1.79 WHIP). I gave Gordon the day off today, starting Scott Kingery at 2B and moving Brendan to SS. We didn't have many hits, but we manage 7 runs in a 7-1 win to even the series.

Jake Florence continues to be brilliant, 5.1 innings with 5 hits, a run, 3 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Koda Glover pitched the next 1.2 innings with 3 strikeouts and a hold.

Starting Kingery was a great move, as he went 2-for-3 with a three run homer and a walk. Shoehi Ohtani was 1-for-4 with a solo shot in the 1st. Cole Roederer was 0-for-3, but walked twice, scored, and was 1-for-2 stealing. Adam Haseley was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI's and a double. Seth Beer was 1-for-1 with 3 walks and 2 runs scored.

Former Marlin (who I have no idea why or how he became good, but I really want him back) Juan Villasenor tossed a shutout in a Mariners 11-0 win over the Astros. Trading him to the Mariners with James Farris for Art Warren may be the worst trade I made, no because of Warren, who was solid, but because Villasenor has now become a 4* out of no where. The Cuban 27-year-old is 10-7 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.03 WHIp after being awful last season.

August 20th, 2023: Max Povse is off to AAA New Orleans to begin a rehab assignment. Most likely, he'd be recalled when rosters expand.

Tylor Megill (0-0, 3.77 ERA, 1.26 WHIP) made his return to the rotation in the rubber matcch against Zach Linginfelter 6-8, 5.47 ERA, 1.57 WHIP) who pitched really well against us when he was on the Giants. We scored 7 in the 9th to take the finale 12-11. Brendan Rodgers hit a walk off single off LF Jose Siri who walked a batter and then allowed the game winner.

It was a rough day for pitching, as Megill allowed 6 runs and 7 hits in 2.2 innings with 4 walks and 3 strikeouts. Edward Cabrera allowd 2 runs and 2 hits in 2 innings with a walk and strikeout. Corbin Clouse allowed a run, walk, hit, and 2 strikeouts in 1.1 innings. Koda Glover allowed 2 unearned runs in 0.1 innings with 2 walks and a strikeout.

Cole Roederer had a great game, 4-for-6 with 3 runs scored, 2 RBI's, and a steal. THomas Dillard was even better, 3-for-6 with a run scored, 5 RBI's, and a homer. Ryan Mountcastle had a pinch hit RBI triple in the 5th. Seth Beer was 1-for-3 with a double, RBI, 2 runs scored, and 2 walks. Nick Gordon was 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Ty Madden of the Braves tossed a 2-hit shut out in a 2-0 win over the Phillies. He hasn't had the best year, 5-5 with a 5.43 ERA.

Atlanta is right on our tail, just half a game out as we host the Padres for four. The 81-42 Padres are a formidable foe, but we have to take advantage of their starting pitching. We'd see Sam Keating (18-3, 3.18 ERA), Adrian MorejoM (0-2, 5.53 ERA), Jovani Moran (1-0, 5.79 ERA), and Dinelson Lamet (8-6, 4.91 ERA).

August 21st, 2023: A lot of stuff happening before the game. First, Tyler Jay is being recalled from his rehab assignment with Corbin Clouse being optioned to AAA. Jordan Montgomery will be headed to the GCL to begin his rehab assignment. He'd get the start today.

And we dropped to 5th in the Power Rankings, with Atlanta up to 2nd.

We opened the Padres series with A.J. Puckett (6-5, 4.70 ERA, 1.67 WHIP) got the start against Sam Keating (18-3, 3.18 ERA, 1.01 WHIP) who absolutely thrives behind the Padres lineup. It was a day off for Gordon, with Mountcastle at 2B and Rodgers at SS. We shut down the high powered offense 2-0 to open the series.

Puckett allowed 6 hits in 7 ininings with a walk and 2 strikeouts. Joe Jimenez earned the hold with 2 strikeouts in the 8th, and Yasukazu Shiotani got the save with a perfect 9th.

Seth Beer was 2-for-4 with a solo hoemr in the 1st, and both of the RBI's. Mountcastle was 2-for-4. Lewis Brinson was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Shoehi Ohtani and Cole Roederer were both 1-for-4 with a double and 2 strikeouts.

August 22nd, 2023: The Royals will be without rookie LHP Arturo Andrade for the rest of the year. The 22-year-old tore his UCL. In 24 starts, he was 6-6 with a 4.93 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and struck out 109 in 111.1 innings. The former 16th rounder looks like an absolute stud, a 3/5 who has rally blossomed since being drafted by Kansas City.

Corbin Burnes (8-7, 4.54 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) took on Adrian Morejon (0-2, 5.53 ERA, 1.84 WHIP) in the second of the four game set. The bats were popping tonight in front of the sold out crowd, as we crushed the visitors 11-1.

Burnes was great, 6 innings with 3 hits and a run to go with 2 walks and a strikeout. Ben Popkin actually got a hold, pitching the 7th with a walk and a strikeout. Ohtani finally didn't give up runs when pitching, 2 innings with a hit, walk, and 3 strikeouts.

Adam Haseley had an excellent game, 3-for-5 with 3 runs scored, 5 RBI's, a double, a steal, and a 3-run homer. Brendan Rodgers was 2-for-5 with 2 runs scored, 2 RBI's, and a homer. Ryan Mountcastle was 1-for-4 with a solo homer. Scott Kingery was 1-for-3 witih 2 runs scored and a walk, as well as a stolen base. Lewis Brinson was 2-for-3 with a run, RBI, triple, and double before leaving with an injury. Thomas Dillard was 1-for-3 with 2 walks and a steal.

August 23rd, 2023: Lewis Brinson is headed to the DL with a strained rib cage muscle. I would've called up Juan Ramirez, but he's out with an injury of his own. Mickey Moniak will be healthy tomorrow, but I wanted to give him a rehab assignment, so I called up RF Carlos Soler.

The Pirates will be without SP Nathan Eovaldi for the year with a damaged elbow ligament. THe 33-year-old was 8-10 with a 5.10 ERA.

We looked to win the series a game early, with Walker Buehler (9-6, 3.73 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) taking on Jovani Moran (1-0, 5.79 ERA, 1.18 WHIP). Despite playing all the time, Adam Haseley is officially the new starting CF, and will hit 7th today. I think this is revenge for earlier in the season, and we won another, this time 5-3.

Only problem is another injury, this time 3B Jose Ramirez, with his diagnosis pending. He doubled in his only at bat, leaving in the first.

Buehler was strong, 5.1 innings with 4 hits, a run, 2 walks, and an impressive 12 strike outs. Koda Glover, Ben Popkin, and Phil Maton got holds while Shiotani got the save. Popkin struggled, a run, hit, a strikeout, and 3 walks in an inning. Luiz Gohara faced one batter and threw one pitch, allowing a hit that later scored.

Brendan Rodgers was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a run scored, and one driven in. Nick Gordon was 2-for-3 with a double, run scored, hit by pitch, and a stolen base. Haseley was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI's and a sac fly.

August 24th, 2023: Mickey Moniak will joing Jordan Montgomery in the GCL as he begins his rehab assignment. He'd be back when rosters expand.

Jose Ramirez passed all his tests, and can return to the lineup with no current injury. His groin tightness has already recovered, as there was no tear or strain.

The Royals lost another young arm, this time 23-year-old reliever Yefri Del Rosario. In 10 innings, just a 1.80 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 8 appearences.

The Mets got a big loss, as Luis Marrero's season ends today with elbow inflammation. The Cuban superstar was 10-7 with a 2.56 ERA in 25 starts, walking just 35 and striking out 140 in 137.1 innings. New York currently holds a 1 game lead for the 2nd Wild Card spot.

We looked to pull of the impressive 4 game sweep with the red-hot Jake Florence (10-9, 3.91 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) taking on Dinelson Lamet (8-6, 4.91 ERA, 1.55 WHIP). Soler got the start in LF. We were edged in the finale 2-1.

Florence was still great, 6 innings with 4 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Tyler Jay tossed 2 scorless innings with a hit and strikeout.

We only had two hits, so it makes sense that we lost. Soler was 1-for-3, and Rodgers was 1-for-3 with the only run scored. Other then that, nothing worth noting here.

Freddie Freeman recorded his 2,000th career hit in a 16-1 domination over the Cubs. The Braves are now just 1 game behind us, as they don't really lose much. The 33-year-old Freeman is a career .287/.384/.512 in 1,910 career games with Atlanta.

We welcome the Giants to town for three before an off day that signals the start of a new road trip. At 58-71, the Giants should be an easy opponent for us, but we're a really weird team. We'd see Zack Littell (5-6, 4.45 ERA), Martin Carrasco (2-7, 6.04 ERA), and Madison Bumgarner (7-7, 3.29 ERA).