One day after Angel Genao opened his big-league career with four straight hits for the Guardians, another young infield name made noise right away. Genao started at third base for the injured Jose Ramirez, and his fast start followed George Lombard Jr.’s early surge with the Yankees.
Elsewhere, Casey Mize’s first turn with San Diego went sideways in a hurry. The right-hander, acquired from Detroit just before Monday’s 5 p.m. trade deadline, was tagged for eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. That was a sharp fall after he had allowed seven earned runs total across his final five starts with the Tigers.
“ Pretty tough time to have the worst start of my career,” Mize told reporters, including Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune. “ Kind of just put us in a really tough spot and didn’t give us a chance to win.”
Noah Cameron kept rolling for Kansas City. The Royals left-hander worked eight innings against the Twins on Wednesday, striking out nine while giving up one run on two hits.
After Royce Lewis opened the fourth with a bunt single, Cameron didn’t allow another baserunner. He has now gone at least seven innings in three straight starts, and he’s given up just five hits over that stretch.
Since 1900, only four pitchers have strung together three straight outings of seven innings or more while allowing two or fewer hits in each one, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com. The most recent was Justin Verlander in 2019, during his Cy Young season.
Atlanta kept its surge going, too. The Braves won again Wednesday behind seven innings from Bryce Elder, stretching their streak to seven and moving to 14-19 in the second half.
The win, combined with a Dodgers loss, put Atlanta in line for a first-round bye. The Braves are now one game ahead of Los Angeles in the loss column after the Dodgers were swept by the Cubs and dropped their sixth straight.
There’s still a lot left before October, but the race for the two NL byes is tightening.
In Other News...
Braves Face A Bigger Bryce Elder Question Than His Recent Results
Bryce Elders recent run has at least given the Braves something to point to while they wait for more certainty in the rotation. Over his last five starts, he has put together a 2.57 ERA across 28 innings, and on the surface that looks like the kind of stretch a club can build around as it tries to steady itself through the seasons grind.
The deeper numbers tell a different story, though, and that is where the real concern for Atlanta sits. Elders performance has looked better than it may actually have been, with indicators suggesting the Braves have benefited from a mix of good fortune and solid defensive support behind him, leaving open the question of how sustainable this all is if the results start to swing the other way. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Plans Suddenly Ride On Robert Suarez Health
Robert Suarez has given the Braves plenty to like when he has been on the mound, posting a 0.56 ERA across 13 appearances, but his season has again been shaped by health. The reliever is working his way back from a forearm injury, and Atlanta is keeping a close eye on him while trying to avoid turning a short-term issue into something more complicated.
Suarez is still feeling soreness, which is why the Braves are holding off on any meaningful ramp-up until they are convinced he is fully recovered. For a bullpen that could use every reliable arm it can get, the timing makes this recovery especially delicate, since the club needs to balance patience now with the possibility of running out of runway later. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Are Sending A Clear Message With Robert Suarez's Return
The Braves are still keeping a close eye on a trio of important arms as the season moves into its most delicate stretch. AJ Smith-Shawver has already made his way back onto the field, while Spencer Schwellenbach continues working through recovery from elbow surgery with no firm timetable attached. Robert Suarez, meanwhile, remains on the injured list with elbow inflammation, and Atlantas approach with him fits the broader tone around the pitching staff: patience first, urgency later.
Suarez is expected to pitch again this season if the rehab keeps trending in the right direction, but the organization is making it clear there will be no shortcuts. For a club trying to line up healthy pitchers for the postseason, every step in his recovery matters, and the Braves seem intent on avoiding the kind of setback that would complicate the bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]