Atlanta pitcher Chris Sale delivered a complete game shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers, striking out 11 batters and allowing just five hits. This performance marked his seventh consecutive quality start and contributed to a sweep of the NL West division leaders. Sale, at 37 years old, also registered a pitch at 100.1 miles per hour, his fastest since 2018. He utilized this velocity against Shohei Ohtani, who struck out twice against him. Sale needed 109 pitches, with 80 thrown for strikes, generating 20 swings and misses.
This outing was Sale’s first complete game in seven years. His last nine-inning game was on June 5, 2019, while with the Red Sox. Since then, he has undergone Tommy John surgery, sustained a rib injury, and won a Cy Young Award at age 35. Despite these challenges, Sale is pitching like his past self, having allowed more than three runs in an appearance only once this season, back on April 6. Since that date, he has maintained a 1.83 ERA over 128 innings, with a 161-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His current 2.06 ERA places him behind Jacob Misiorowski for the NL lead, and he trails Cristopher Sánchez in innings pitched. Sale’s strong season keeps him in contention for his second Cy Young Award with Atlanta.
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Skubal’s Return and Rays Stadium Vote
Meanwhile, Tarik Skubal, a two-time American League Cy Young Award winner, is set to return to Detroit for a three-game series. This marks his first appearance at his former home ballpark since his August 1 trade to the Dodgers. Skubal will face his former teammate Drew Anderson. While his performance in Los Angeles has not quite matched his Cy Young Award-calibre form, he has recorded a 3.38 ERA, a 30.3% strikeout rate, and a 7.1% walk rate across four starts, including an 11-strikeout game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Former Tigers teammate Troy Melton anticipates a mixed reaction from fans, leaning towards a positive reception, acknowledging Skubal’s contributions to the organization. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expects fan support for Skubal and believes he will remain focused on the game.
In other news, Hillsborough County commissioner Ken Hagan called for a special meeting to vote on the Rays‘ latest stadium proposal. The Tampa City Council previously approved the plan with $80MM in city funding. The county’s potential contribution would be nearly $800MM, while the Rays are committing approximately $1.4 billion in private financing, covering any cost overruns. The city council’s vote was 4-3 in favour. This vote is part of an ongoing effort to construct a new stadium in the Tampa area, a goal supported by new majority owner Patrick Zalupski since he acquired the club last year.
Twins Debut for Walker Jenkins
The Minnesota Twins are calling up top outfield prospect Walker Jenkins for his major league debut. Jenkins, a former No. 5 overall draft pick and a consensus top-10 prospect in baseball, has had a strong season in Triple-A. He is hitting .323/.417/.559 with 14 home runs, 17 stolen bases, a 13.3% walk rate, and a 15.4% strikeout rate. Despite some time missed due to injury, the 21-year-old is considered the most highly touted Twins prospect in years. He joins shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, another recent first-round pick, who has also been promoted post-deadline. Culpepper has performed well, with a .333/.381/.526 line and three home runs in his first 63 major league plate appearances. This duo is expected to offer Twins fans a glimpse into the team’s future as Minnesota competes in the AL Wild Card hunt.
Atlanta currently holds a 79-55 record, leading the National League East. The Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in the league at 83-51, positioning them for one of the two first-round playoff byes. The Dodgers, with an 80-54 record, are also in a position to claim a bye, holding a one-game lead over the Braves after losing three consecutive games in Atlanta.
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Source: mlbtraderumors.com
Liam Tremblay covers national news and politics for Canada News Today, reporting on Parliament, the provinces and the decisions that affect Canadians.
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