Welcome to the majors, George Lombard Jr. The Yankees’ top prospect made the most of his second career at-bat, launching a solo home run in a 2-0 win that featured two New York long balls.
Elsewhere, the Dodgers’ newest addition couldn’t stop the slide. Left-hander Tarik Skubal made his debut for Los Angeles on Tuesday at Wrigley Field and turned in six innings of two-run ball against the Cubs, but the Dodgers still came away with a 5-1 loss.
That pushed the club to five straight defeats and seven losses in its last nine games. The NL West still looks safe, but the fight for the two first-round byes in the National League is getting tighter.
Los Angeles now sits one win behind the Brewers and just one victory ahead of the Braves.
Tampa Bay also got a debut homer from a trade deadline pickup, with Liam Hicks delivering a grand slam in his first game with the club last night. Freddy Peralta’s first outing with the Rays went in the opposite direction.
The right-hander was hit for seven earned runs over 3 2/3 innings against the Rockies, allowing nine hits and two homers while striking out three. It only added to the rough stretch he brought with him, as Peralta had an ERA well over 6.00 across his final 10 starts with the Mets.
The Rays likely have a plan to get him straightened out, but whatever they want to change probably won’t show up right away.
In Cleveland, another top prospect is on the way. Guardians infielder Angel Genao is expected to be promoted ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Mets.
The 22-year-old has spent most of the season at Triple-A Columbus, where he hit .309/.395/.494 with 10 home runs and nine stolen bases. He also logged time at every infield position except first base.
Genao’s arrival could create a problem for Jose Ramirez, who was scratched Tuesday because of left wrist inflammation. Ramirez only returned from a left hamate fracture less than two weeks ago, and Cleveland doesn’t have an obvious infield opening if everyone is healthy.
In Other News...
Dodgers Prospect Just Changed The Organizations Pitching Depth Picture
The Dodgers have spent the last few days reshaping their pitching inventory at multiple levels, and one of the quieter developments might end up mattering just as much as the headline moves. While the club shuffled pieces around the trade deadline and kept Oklahoma City busy with roster activity, a newer arm in the system gave the front office another reason to feel better about the depth it is trying to preserve.
Hyun-Seok Jangs first High-A start turned into a statement, as he worked six scoreless innings and piled up eight strikeouts before being recognized as the Midwest League pitcher of the week. For an organization that just watched Chayce McDermott and Carlos Durn head out in trades while Hunter Feduccia, Jacob Kmatz, Chuckie Robinson, Jonathan Hernndez and Emmet Sheehan all became part of Mondays movement, Jangs arrival in the conversation is the kind of development that can change how a pitching pipeline looks in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Clarified Two Unexpected Post Deadline Roster Roles
The Dodgers used the final stretch before the August 3 trade deadline to make a quiet but meaningful decision on two roster pieces in Alex Call and Eric Lauer. Neither player was moved, and both are now expected to stay with Los Angeles the rest of the season, a sign the club sees enough value in each to keep the roster intact rather than shop for a different fit.
Dave Roberts and Brandon Gomes both backed the decision, with Lauer set to remain in the starting rotation for now. Andrew Friedman had at one point weighed shifting Lauer to the bullpen, but recent roster changes opened the door for him to keep starting, leaving the Dodgers with a clearer picture of two unexpected roles as the season moves deeper into the second half. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Number 29 Change Just Signaled A Notable Roster Shift
Jonathan Hernndezs latest stint with the Dodgers came with a small but noticeable change that did not go unnoticed in the dugout or on the field. After being called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City, the right-hander handled the final two innings in a recent game while wearing No. 26, a shift from the No. 29 he had earlier in his time with the club.
The jersey switch also reflects a broader roster reshuffling that comes with a new arrival in the clubhouse, especially when a number with some Dodgers history is involved. No. 29 has belonged to a long line of previous Dodgers players and coaches, and the change left Hernndez in a different lane as he settled back into the big-league mix. [Read more 🡒]