Plus Carroll updates, the Reds are no good dirty rotten cheaters (allegedly), and more betting crap
Diamondbacks News
(MLB.com) Carroll makes impromptu rehab start in ACL
Lovullo had just gotten through explaining that Carroll was supposed to take swings Saturday morning in a live BP session against injured reliever Kendall Graveman, but Carroll had other ideas.
“He was lighting the ball up,” Lovullo said. “He made a couple comments, walked by me, sat with the trainer for a second. He said, ‘Do you mind if I play in the ACL game tonight?’ I’m like, ‘Whoa, whoa. I like that.’ That’s how fast it happened.”
[Ed. Note] But can he pitch?
(NBC Sports) Robbie Ray’s complete-game gem secures Giants’ crucial series split vs. D-backs
The complete game has just about been washed out of modern baseball. There have been just 10 of them in the National League this season, and no pitcher has done it twice. The math says you’re not even supposed to let a guy face a lineup a third time, let alone a fourth. Most front offices these days would rather see a random reliever soak up that last inning or two of a blowout and save a few bullets for the starter. Occasionally in 2025, teams throw position players out on the mound to further save arms.
But there was no doubt for Melvin and Ray. The manager knew his bullpen was gassed and needed a break. Ray hadn’t thought much about how it had been eight years since his last CG, but he knew he felt great and had been on the attack for eight innings. When the two made eye contact, no words were exchanged.
“He deserved it,” Melvin said after Thursday’s 7-2 win. “He wanted it.”
(SI.com) Three Takeaways from the Diamondbacks’ Series Split with Giants
The Arizona Diamondbacks split a four-game series with the San Francisco Giants. After taking the first two games, Arizona had two chances for a series victory, but could not convert, dropping the final two.
Their record stands at 43-44, and they’re 3.5 games out of the third NL Wild Card with four teams in front of them. Here are [Jack Sommer’s] takeaways:
(SI.com) Two Arizona Diamondbacks Pitchers Claim Reds Mound Doesn’t Meet MLB Standards
The duo was asked where their least favorite place to pitch was.
“Cincinnati is tough,” Kelly said. “Cincinnati is brutal. The ball flies and I know they are supposed to have regulations on how high the mound is, but whatever they are doing, they’re cheating for sure.”
Gallen chimed in and agreed.
“That mound is so flat,” Gallen said. “You can notice it from the dugout.”
MLB News
(Yahoo! Sports) Guardians’ Luis Ortiz Under Investigation in Potential Betting Scandal
While the Cleveland Guardians continue to slump, riding on a six-game losing streak entering Wednesday, they will be without starting pitcher Luis Ortiz after his name emerged as a suspect in an MLB betting scandal.
Ortiz is under investigation by the MLB after a betting-integrity firm flagged multiple scenarios of the starter’s pitches receiving unusual betting activity.
The 2025 draft class will be evaluated instantly based on what we know right now. And, based on what we know right now, we can also go back a decade and re-evaluate the 2015 draft class. That draft has not yet produced an MVP or a Cy Young winner, but it has produced several All-Stars and World Series champions. Four first-round position players have appeared in 1,000 big-league games, though the less said about the first-round pitchers the better.
(SI.com) Colorado Rockies Reliever Throws Fastest Pitch in MLB in Last Decade
Seth Halvorsen has emerged as the Rockies’ closer this season after he was promoted to the Majors last season. He is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 35 games, with four holds, along with seven saves in 10 chances. He’s struck out 32 and walked 15 in 34.2 innings.
The Rockies ended up beating the Houston Astros, 7-6, on Thursday and Halvorsen came on with two outs in the eighth inning to get a four-out save. He allowed three hits, a run and struck out one.
Along the way, he set a record, one that he’s quite familiar with.