ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.There nothing wrong with a little kick-em-while-theyre-down attitude in sports, especially when the recipient is the 27-time world champion New York Yankees, who have doled out more than their fair share of pain through the years Giancarlo Stanton Jersey.But Friday night, in a massively important American League showdown with the Yankees and Tampa Bay, it was the upstart Rays who did all the bullying. Tampa Bay broke open a close game late with two runs in the seventh and six more in the eighth, winning 9-0 before 17,886 fans at Tropicana Field.The win was huge for the Rays, who are now 73-57 on the season and just five games behind the Yankees in the AL East race. They are 16 games over .500 for the first time all year and are just four games behind New York in the loss column.The race is definitely on.Jeffrey Springs was great on the mound for the Rays, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing just four hits. The Rays bullpen took it from there, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. He is 7-4 on the year, and lowered his ERA to 2.62 on the season.The score of that game was not the story of that game the way it ended up https://www.newyorkfanoutlet.com/Aaron_Judge_Jersey, Rays manager Kevin Cash said.Springs was really good. He executed the change-up well and had the fastball right at the top of the zone, getting strikes up there when he needed them.We finished off a good road trip and we wanted to come in and set a good tone and win the first one, and we did.The Yankees free-fall continues. They were once 61-23 this season, and were talking about being the greatest team ever. They are 79-53 now, going just 18-30 in the past two months.They did nothing on Friday night, with not a single morsel of good to come out of it. They had only five hits all night, and made three errors, including two errors in the fourth inning that led to the first run of the game Marwin Gonzalez Jersey.Springs kept them off-balance all night, and made big pitches when he had to in the first, third and sixth inning, when the Yankees got two men on base in each inning. Springs left with two outs in the sixth inning after throwing 97 pitches. JT Chargois got an out to end the inning.Chargois also got the first two outs in the seventh inning, and then lefty reliever Colin Poche struck out Oswaldo Cabrera to end the inning. Jason Adam pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts, and Calvin Faucher closed it out, pitching a scoreless night and allowing just one hit.

The New York Mets are officially playing in the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres this weekend.The three-game series is set to feature Jacob deGrom https://www.nymteamstore.com/David_Wright_Jersey, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt as New York looks to book a trip to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.While the Wild Card pitching trio is set, should the Mets advance to the NLDS Joey Lucchesi Jersey, they will need another arm to add to the rotation for a longer series.On Tuesday at Citi Field, both Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker got one last chance to make a case to be in the rotation for the postseason.Carrasco, 35, went just four innings and yielded two runs on five hits, with both runs coming via a home run from Riley Adams.With the outing, the 13-year MLB native finishes the regular season with a sub-4.00 ERA, 15 wins, and 152.0 innings pitched, his most since 2018 with Cleveland.While Carrasco put together a healthy season, the 152.0 innings clearly gassed him, as he sputtered towards the finish line.In his final seven starts, the right-hander had a 4.88 ERA and allowed 34 hits in 27.2 innings.Carrasco is a seasoned veteran who has playoff experience; he went to the World Series with the then-Cleveland Indians in 2016, so he will surely earn a spot on the postseason roster, though perhaps not in the rotation.Walker, 30, went four innings on Tuesday just as Carrasco did, but fared better as he struck out 10 and scattered just four hits at a damp and cold Citi Field.

Sunday, Minnesota Twins catcher Gary Sanchez came dangerously close to being the latest addition to our list of the strangest baseball injuries of the 21st century.Midway through the top of the eighth inning in the Twins game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, Sanchez carelessly wandered into the path of centerfielder Gilberto Celestino practice swing.Sanchez was on-deck https://www.twinsstoreofficial.com/Joe-Ryan-Jersey, preparing to face White Sox reliever Jake Diekman, during an instant replay review of the previous play: a one-out fielder choice off the bat of Twins second baseman Nick Gordon.Celestino was set to bat right after Sanchez. The two were taking practice swings.Sanchez unceremoniously got up and aimlessly walked through the path of Celestino practice swing Nick Gordon Jersey.Celestino appeared to come within inches of hitting his catcher in the face with his bat.Thankfully, nobody was hurt, otherwise, it would not have looked too different from one of the strangest injuries in the history of professional sports.In a November 2009 game in Atlanta against the Atlanta Thrashers, Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk scored on a breakaway goal. Out of frustration, Florida Panthers defenseman Keith Ballard swung his stick into the face of Panthers goalie Tomas Vokoun.Vokoun was forced to exit the game with blood dripping from his face. It appeared that Ballard wanted to break his stick on the goalpost out of frustration, but ended up catching his goaltender in the face on accident.Thankfully, no Twins players were harned in the making of this video.Crisis averted.Sanchez proceeded to strikeout, ending the inning.

Another day, another SF Giants acquisition. On Sunday, San Francisco claimed right-handed pitcher Jharel Cotton off waivers from the Minnesota Twins. To create a space on the 40-man roster, they designated Willie Calhoun for assignment. Separately, recently claimed infielder Jos Rojas cleared waivers and was offered the chance to stay in the organization but opted to become a free agent.David Richard-USA TODAY SportsCotton was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins last week. Cotton has actually been quite effective out of the Twins bullpen this season, posting a 2.83 ERA in 35 innings pitchedwith 31 strikeouts. However, Cotton peripherals suggested he has benefited from good luck and might struggle to continue to be effective Matt Cain Jersey. Every ERA estimator expects Cotton ERA to be at least one run higher than it is . Clearly skeptical of his numbers, the Twins decided to put Cotton on waivers.Cotton was originally drafted by the Dodgers back in 2012, but made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2016 https://www.thesfgstore.com/Jay_Jackson_Jersey-98. Cotton was a member of the A starting rotation in 2017 but underwent UCL surgery in the spring of 2018 and missed the entire season. Then, in 2019, Cotton struggled mightily in the minor leagues and was traded to the Cubs after the season.

With all eyes upon celebrity outfielder Juan Soto among the continuous exchange talks, the Nationals will wrap up their a few-sport sequence towards the Dodgers, and yourself can view absolutely free straight at present upon MLB.Tv set.The matinee matchup within Los Angeles is MLB.Tv set's No cost Video game of the Working day.The 3-recreation sequence, which started out Monday, introduced Soto again towards Dodger Stadium, the web page of his interesting Property Operate Derby victory a very little about a 7 days in the past. It was the most current illustration of Soto developing in direction of the celebration each time he's experienced the emphasize, and yourself can wager he's not shifting towards shy absent as anticipation builds forward of the Aug Darryl Strawberry Jersey. 2 Exchange Deadline.Wednesday's sport features the Nationwide League West-main Dodgers, who comprise been associated in the direction of Soto within current exchange chatter, one particular additional opportunity in direction of check out the 23-calendar year-previous up finish ahead of the Deadline. It additionally delivers supporters a likelihood towards perspective a selection of other Nats exchange applicants as very well, which include initial baseman Josh Bell and specified hitter Nelson Cruz.The video game might contain excess Exchange Deadline ramifications for the Dodgers, much too, as remaining-hander Andrew Heaney produced his return in opposition to the wounded record towards commence from Washington https://www.shopteamdodgers.com/Dodgers_James_Outman_Jersey-203. Heaney contains dealt with still left shoulder criteria for significantly of this period, producing simply 3 starts off for Los Angeles whilst article a glowing 0.59 Technology above 15 1/3 innings. If he can crank out a nutritious return, it may have an affect on whether or not the Dodgers create a movement for a further starting up pitcher just before the Deadline.As if that wasn't sufficient intrigue, followers can capture a search of Freddie Freeman, who is inside of the midst of one particular of the most recent stretches of his job, moving into Tuesday's sport with a .524 common , 5 homers and a 1.595 OPS more than his preceding 11 video games.

Optimistic early morning, LSB.That undoubtedly was a amazing direction in the direction of reduce the initial recreation of the 2022 year.Evan Grant writes that the Rangers' offense was constructive and the Rangers' pitching was terrible and that none of it was as well extraordinarily unexpected https://www.texasrangersteamstore.com/Joe-Barlow-Jersey.Grant moreover is made up of notes upon Chris Woodward getting in touch with his shot upon Brad Miller inside of the leadoff location, concerning a couple other aspects.Levi Weaver presented his prices against Chris Woodward and Corey Seager over how aspects began off tremendous absolutely sure and then precisely bought insane Ricky Vanasco Jersey.On top of that this detail's kinda great.Jeff Wilson states it wasn't as terrible as previous calendar year's opener yet uh...continue to fairly difficult.Ok. Other than the video game.Levi experienced his standard outstanding function rates against Josh Jung who is primarily Squidward inside of Arizona on the lookout longingly out of his window as SpongeBob and Patrick and the chill out of the Rangers just take toward transfer perform baseball.And Eric Longenhagen includes some praise for the Diamondbacks and their acquisition of Yonny Hernandez in opposition to the Rangers. That's all for this early morning. The Rangers just take a further break at the Blue Jays this afternoon at 2:07. Contain a Excellent weekend!

The Seattle Mariners had a huge schedule edge coming down the home stretch of the American League playoff race, but they havent fully taken advantage of it.Manager Scott Servais tried to ease the pressure Wednesday by telling his players to come in late, and skip batting practice. It worked. Playing loose and relaxed, the Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 and. combined with Baltimore loss at Boston, has now dropped the Mariners magic number to three.That means that any combination of Mariners wins and Orioles losses sends Seattle to its first trip to the American League playoffs since 2001.We played a crisp game tonight. Guys were on every pitch, the energy was great, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. Weve had a nice year, but we need to get it turned, and hopefully it turned in the right direction tonight.The Mariners have the luxury of playing the five worst teams in the American League in their final five series of the season, but they havent played well enough to take control of the wild-card race. Theyve lost consecutive series to the Los Angeles Angels https://www.shopteambluejays.com/218-Matt_Chapman_Jersey, Oakland A and Kansas City Royals, and lost the first game of their series with the Rangers on Tuesday night.All that saved them is the Orioles have been struggling too, going just 9-14 since Sept. 4, The Mariners have a 4 1/2 game lead for the final wild-card spot, and they also hold the tie-breaker against Baltimore. With the magic number at three, they could clinch as soon as Friday. They are also now just a half-game behind Tampa Bay for the No. 5. The Rays lost 2-1 in 10 innings at Cleveland.In other playoff news, Houston lost to Arizona and the New York Yankees beat Toronto https://www.shopteambluejays.com/174-Ross_Stripling_Jersey, so the Astros magic number to clinch home field throughout the AL playoffs remains at one.

Craig Counsell knows how to get a team into October. Over the past five seasons, theBrewers manager has led his team to a September winning percentage of .603. Only theDodgers,Rays andAstros have been better closers in that time. Milwaukee has reached the postseason four straight seasons. But this time the numbers appear stacked against Milwaukee Christian Villanueva Jersey. The Brewers have 21 games to run down either thePadres orPhillies for a wild-card spot. Might as well add one more game to those deficits because Milwaukee lost the season series to San Diego and Philadelphia, so the Brewers lose on both tiebreakers. The tiebreak against the Padres was decided June 5 when Counsell did not bring back one-inning specialist Josh Hader to pitch the 10th after a 15-pitch ninth inning. Jake Cronenworth homered off Trevor Gott for the decisive Padres win. Figure the win total the Brewers likely will need is 89. That means Milwaukee will have to finish 147with starters Eric Lauer Robert Suarez Jersey, Aaron Ashby and Freddy Peralta on the injured list, and a strikeout-heavy, low-batting-average offense that relies on home runs to win. The Brewers havent won four games in a row in six weeks, during which they are 1922. Looks ominous, right? But one thing we have learned about Counsell and his Brewers is they squeeze every bit of edge out of each game and each season. They clinched playoff spots each year from 2018 through 21 with no more than three games remaining. They are the best team in baseball at winning one-run games over the past five seasons . What is their narrow path to an NL wild card this time?1. The Phillies or Padres collapseUnder manager Rob Thomson, the Phillies are playing cleaner baseball with better defense and situational hitting. Philadelphia does have 12 games remaining against theBraves , AstrosandBlue Jays, but it looks poised to break the NLs longest playoff drought.San Diego has trouble with the Dodgers , with three more to play against them. Its starting pitching should be good enough to avoid a meltdown, but San Diego has been wildly inconsistent this season. Juan Soto and Josh Bell, both slugging under .400 with their new team, have not jolted a mediocre offense. The Padres finish with nine at home against the Dodgers,White SoxandGiants.2. Home cooking Milwaukee is in a stretch of playing 20 of its final 26 games at home, where it is 3927. . No more two-city trips. No more games out of the Central time zone.3. Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff Over the past two months the Brewers are 106 when their two aces take the ball. Theyll get it eight more times. The Brewers need at least six wins in those eight games because of uncertainty about the rotation depth.4. Continued revival from Christian Yelich His skill set now defines him as an elite leadoff hitter, no longer the extra-base machine and run producer he was in 2018 and 19. In the leadoff spot his OBP is .392. Only Paul Molitorever got on base at a better rate for Milwaukee in at least 70 games out of the leadoff spot. Back on July 27, Yelich was so frustrated with his career-worst rate of ground balls that he junked his leg kick for a toe-tap mechanism. It worked for a bit, but after five weeks his slug with the toe tap was just about the sameas it had been before , so he dropped the toe tap Sept. 5 inColorado. With his first swing after returning to the usual leg kick https://www.padresplayersshop.com/632-raymond_kerr_jersey, he hit a 499-foot homer. He has slashed .300/.382/.500 since then.Yelich isnt the same power threat he was a few years ago as a perennial MVP contender, but hes finding success as a viable leadoff man.AP Photo/David Zalubowski5. More lockdown relief from Devin Williams The trade of Haderon Aug. 1 may seem like a turning point for Milwaukee , and the deal created brief clubhouse confusion, but Hader wasnt throwing the ball well at the timeand has been even worse with the Padres . Since he replaced Hader as closer, Williams is six of seven in save chances. Matt Bush, Brad Boxberger and Taylor Rogers are solid go-to setup guys for Counsell in close games https://www.padresplayersshop.com/250-benito_santiago_jersey.Watch Brewers games live with fuboTV: Start a free trial today!6. The next eight The next week is dangerous. The Brewers cant win a playoff spot in the next week, but they could lose it: two games in St. Louis against theCardinals, followed by a six-game homestand against theYankeesandMets. But Milwaukee does have a knack for rising to the occasion. This year the Brewers are one of only seven teams to have played at least .500 baseball against winning teams . Thats better than the NL Centralleading Cardinals , Philliesand Padres . Baseball Reference gives the Brewers just a 29.9% chance of reaching the playoffs. FanGraphs gives them a 25.7% chance. But history, if not the math, is on their side. In recent years, these have been the spots in which Counsells teams have responded.Sign up for the Five-Tool Newsletter to get all our MLB coverage in your inbox every Friday during the 2022 season https://www.padresplayersshop.com/251-bill_almon_jersey.