With the trade deadline approaching and best record in the MLB, we talk with Blue Jays manager John Schneider
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Canada News.Net
3 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
New faces fitting in with Royals, Blue Jays
(Photo credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images) After reaping an immediate reward from a trade-deadline deal, the Kansas City Royals are positioned Saturday afternoon to clinch their three-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays. Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run home run in the second inning Friday night in his first plate appearance for the Royals. The outfielder was obtained from the San Francisco Giants, the trade just beating the clock by about 90 seconds in the Royals' final deal on Thursday. Yastrzemski's was the first of four homers Friday by the Royals, who won the series opener 9-3. Bobby Witt Jr. launched a three-run shot, Adam Frazier a two-run blast, and Salvador Perez a solo homer. Frazier is another recent Royals acquisition, joining them on July 16. Yastrzemski said: 'It was the first time I was able to relax today just getting back on the field. It was nice to put a couple of good swings on the ball and have a little bit of an impact here.' Witt was impressed. 'What Yaz did in showing up and hitting a homer,' Witt said. '... Shout out to him coming off the plane and doing that to put together a professional at-bat.'Starter Kevin Gausman and reliever Mason Fluharty allowed two homers each in alarming trend for Toronto. 'I think the biggest thing we have to get going is on the mound,' manager John Schneider said. 'That is 16 home runs in the last five or six games, so it's tough to catch a ball when it's in the seats.' Royals starter Michael Wacha turned in a brilliant eight-inning outing in which he allowed one run on three hits. The win left the Royals at .500 for the first time since June 20, when they were 38-38. In three starts since the All-Star break, Wacha is 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA. 'We knew Wacha was going to go out there and be Wacha,' Witt said. 'And so, we got to put some runs on the board and enjoy it.' The Royals have won three games in a row while the Blue Jays have dropped five of six. Kansas City is scheduled to start left-handed rookie Noah Cameron (5-4, 2.44 ERA) in the middle game of the series. He has never faced Toronto, which is slated to go with right-hander Max Scherzer (1-1, 4.89). He is 13-5 with a 3.22 ERA in 23 career starts against the Royals. The Blue Jays used two players obtained from the Minnesota Twins before the deadline in the loss on Friday. Reliever Louis Varland pitched a perfect seventh, and designated hitter Ty France was 0-for-4. 'I'm excited. This is a great baseball team,' France said of joining the American League East-leading Blue Jays. 'It's always nice coming into a winning environment, a winning atmosphere. You can't ask for more than playing meaningful baseball at this time of the year. I'm excited to be here, and we'll see where things go.' Toronto center fielder Daulton Varsho was activated from the injured list and was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on Friday. In another move, Toronto put outfielder George Springer on the seven-day concussion list. Catcher Alejandro Kirk (concussion) could return this weekend. Kansas City reinstated infielder/outfielder Nick Loftin from the concussion IL and optioned outfielder MJ Melendez to Triple-A Omaha. Loftin was 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter and played third base in the ninth.
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Rays look to end 4-game skid, take on the Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers (64-46, first in the NL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (54-57, fourth in the AL East) Tampa, Florida; Saturday, 1:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Dodgers: Blake Snell (0-0); Rays: Drew Rasmussen (8-5, 2.96 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 87 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Dodgers -136, Rays +115; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays play the Los Angeles Dodgers after losing four in a row. Tampa Bay has a 54-57 record overall and a 31-29 record at home. The Rays have a 42-23 record in games when they record eight or more hits. Los Angeles has a 29-25 record in road games and a 64-46 record overall. The Dodgers have a 44-18 record in games when they record eight or more hits. The matchup Saturday is the second time these teams square off this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Yandy Diaz has 19 doubles, a triple and 18 home runs while hitting .281 for the Rays. Junior Caminero is 6 for 38 with two home runs over the last 10 games. Will Smith leads the Dodgers with a .325 batting average, and has 19 doubles, a triple, 14 home runs, 50 walks and 50 RBIs. Freddie Freeman is 14 for 39 with two home runs and 10 RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 2-8, .221 batting average, 5.02 ERA, outscored by 20 runs Dodgers: 6-4, .255 batting average, 3.00 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs INJURIES: Rays: Jonathan Aranda: 10-Day IL (wrist), Chandler Simpson: day-to-day (hand), Stuart Fairchild: 10-Day IL (oblique), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (forearm), Hunter Bigge: 60-Day IL (lat), Richie Palacios: 60-Day IL (knee), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (tricep), Alex Faedo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nathan Lavender: 60-Day IL (elbow) Dodgers: Kirby Yates: 15-Day IL (back), Hyeseong Kim: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Tanner Scott: 15-Day IL (elbow), Michael Kopech: 60-Day IL (knee), Kike Hernandez: 10-Day IL (elbow), Max Muncy: 10-Day IL (knee), Roki Sasaki: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tony Gonsolin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Evan Phillips: 60-Day IL (forearm), Blake Snell: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Kyle Hurt: 60-Day IL (elbow), Michael Grove: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brusdar Graterol: 60-Day IL (shoulder), River Ryan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gavin Stone: 60-Day IL (shoulder) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Yankees take on the Marlins after Volpe's 4-hit game
New York Yankees (60-50, second in the AL East) vs. Miami Marlins (53-55, third in the NL East) Miami; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Yankees: Cam Schlittler (1-1, 4.91 ERA, 1.84 WHIP, 15 strikeouts); Marlins: Eury Perez (3-3, 3.07 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 46 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Yankees -120, Marlins +100; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The New York Yankees take on the Miami Marlins after Anthony Volpe had four hits against the Marlins on Friday. Miami has a 25-29 record in home games and a 53-55 record overall. The Marlins have the fifth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .253. New York has a 26-28 record on the road and a 60-50 record overall. Yankees hitters have a collective .332 on-base percentage, the second-ranked percentage in the AL. The teams square off Saturday for the second time this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Kyle Stowers leads the Marlins with 45 extra base hits (18 doubles, three triples and 24 home runs). Javier Sanoja is 10 for 29 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games. Cody Bellinger has 20 doubles, five triples, 20 home runs and 65 RBIs for the Yankees. Giancarlo Stanton is 12 for 44 with five home runs and 10 RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Marlins: 7-3, .251 batting average, 3.17 ERA, outscored opponents by nine runs Yankees: 5-5, .238 batting average, 5.59 ERA, outscored by 11 runs INJURIES: Marlins: Derek Hill: 10-Day IL (finger), Jesus Tinoco: 60-Day IL (forearm), Connor Norby: 10-Day IL (wrist), Max Meyer: 60-Day IL (hip), Ryan Weathers: 60-Day IL (lat), Griffin Conine: 60-Day IL (arm), Andrew Nardi: 60-Day IL (back), Braxton Garrett: 60-Day IL (elbow) Yankees: Clarke Schmidt: 60-Day IL (forearm), Aaron Judge: 10-Day IL (flexor strain), Mark Leiter Jr.: 15-Day IL (fubular), Fernando Cruz: 15-Day IL (oblique), Ryan Yarbrough: 15-Day IL (oblique), Oswaldo Cabrera: 60-Day IL (ankle), Jake Cousins: 60-Day IL (elbow), Gerrit Cole: 60-Day IL (elbow), Luis Gil: 60-Day IL (back) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
