As the 2024 regular season gets underway, here are three things we’ll be watching from around the baseball world this weekend:
1. Series preview: Twins @ Guardians
A series that could have a major impact on this year’s AL Central title race begins tonight, as the Twins visit the Rangers in Cleveland for a three-game set. Tonight’s game will feature the youth of Minnesota Simeon Woods Richardson (3.24 ERA) right-hander Triston McKenzie (3.54 ERA). Cleveland has yet to say who will take the ball tomorrow on the opposite side Bailey Ober (3.77 ERA), but Tanner Bibee (4.34 ERA) will start opposite Chris Paddack (4.89 ERA) during the series finale on Sunday.
Minnesota was expected to be the team to beat in the AL Central this season, but the club fell to the bottom of the standings after a brutal 7-13 start, and the Rangers were white hot out of the gate at 18-7. started their first 25 games. Since then, the Twins have been on a roll, going 17-6 during a 12-game winning streak. On the other hand, the Guardians have started to come back to Earth with a record of 9-10 in the last 19 games. However, they still lead the AL Central by 1.5 games over the second-place Royals and 2.5 games over the third-place Twins. Will this weekend’s series shake up the Central?
2. Heyward is about to go back:
Outfielder for the Dodgers Jason Heyward has finished rehabbing the issue that has kept him out since late March, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Jack Harris of the LA Times) last night. Although the veteran did not play in yesterday’s game against the Reds, Roberts indicated that he will be removed from the injured list “soon,” meaning he could play this weekend. Heyward impressed for the club in 124 games last year, slashing .269/.340/.473 in the club role.
Heyward’s return raises the question of who the Dodgers will trade to make room for him on the roster. Service veterans Enrique Hernandez and especially Chris Taylor we have struggled badly this season, but there is nothing to choose from and it will have to be allocated from the list. That would be a big decision with Taylor in particular, as he has a 2025 contract with a $13MM salary that could be dead money. Another possibility is to send or James Outman or Andy Pages in the minor leagues, as both minors have options left. Of the two, Outman seems to have the bigger chance considering he’s slashed .147/.250/.266 in 124 trips to the plate this year.
3. Walker is under examination:
Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker left last night’s game against the Mets in the fourth after taking a returner out of his foot. As noted by Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies announced Walker’s injury as a left foot injury. Gelb added that Walker managed to avoid a broken toe but the club was unsure if the veteran would start next. The right-hander is expected to be re-evaluated today to determine his next steps. In the event Walker needs some time off due to injury, the Phillies are fortunate to have an excellent solution to that problem in the form of a right-hander. Spencer Turnbull. Turnbull started the season as a member of the club’s rotation while Walker was on the injured list and dominated in the role, with an impressive 1.67 ERA and 3.21 FIP in 32 1/3 innings of work over six starts.
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