Don’t let the smile fool you, this MLBbro is always locked in.
The 32-year-old MLBbro Center fielder George Springer has been playing well for the Toronto Blue Jays. After a scare getting hit in the forearm against the Boston Red Sox, Springer has been good and there’s no doubt about it. Springer has a batting average of .286 with 10 RBI, .847 OPS, and one stolen base.
The Blue Jays sit one game behind the New York Yankees in the AL East standings with a 13-8 record before today’s matchup against the Houston Astros as they look to bounce back falling to the Astros, 11-7. On Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox, Springer came up clutch hitting a two-run homer to tie the game up in the ninth inning. This was Springers’ 200th career home run and he celebrated it by pumping his fist up in the air rounding first base.
Springer has a bright personality not only in the clubhouse with teammates but on the field playing the game with fun and thrill. As Springer did with the Astros for years, he loves pressure situations. Whether it’s during the World Series or a late May game it matters no different.
Blue Jays Manager Charlie Montoyo on George Springer heroics late in the ninth inning, “That was special what Springer did, You don’t teach that. He wants it. He’s one of those guys, and that’s why he does so good in the playoffs. He’s one of the best players in playoff history because he’s waiting for those moments to happen.”
The Blue Jays went on to close out that game with a walk-off win 6-5 over the Red Sox and Springer finished with 3 RBI. Since sitting out Friday’s game with a forearm bruise, Springer has hits in four straight contests and has gone 6-for-17 with a double and two homers.
This is what the Blue Jays were hoping for after inking him to a six-year, $150 million deal in 2021. Springer is in the top-five all-time with 19 postseason home runs. Having led the Astros to their World Series win, Springer took home the World Series MVP award. He hit five home runs for the Astros in the seven-game long World Series.
Springer is looking like he’s fully healthy and the Blue Jays will finally get to experience his full value. The diving plays catching balls that are hit in between gaps outfield, having a calming presence in the clutch moments, and being a fun teammate in the clubhouse. That’s all the Blue Jays need from Springer as they have a stacked batting lineup that includes Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Bo Bichette , and Raimel Tapia.
Springer has played in less than 100 games for the Blue Jays but he’s already in their record books. He’s one of only six players with an OPS above .900 in their first 95 games and trails only Jose Canseco with 26 home runs. The Blue Jays who have championship aspirations need Springer to stay on the field, the team is better when he’s playing. Blue Jays have a record of 59-37 when Springer is playing for the past two seasons and 44-41 when he doesn’t suit up for the organization.
Look for the Blue Jays to continue to climb up MLB power rankings and stay there as the season progresses forward. While they’re sitting there at the top, just know that more than likely George Springer will have something to do with the success of this 2022 Blue Jays’ team.
This is also a critical season for Cain as he’s in the final year of his contract. And with his struggles at the plate, things aren’t looking too good for our MLBbro.
In 10 games this season, Cain is hitting a dismal .161 with six strikeouts.
Cain does not know what is in store for his future but no matter what he’s going to play his heart out every time he steps on that field.
“I’m still unsure about that right now,” Cain said in an article from www.fox6now.com. “I’m going to go out here and give it my all,” he said. “Hopefully we can get to the playoffs. Hopefully get to the World Series if it is my last year.”
Cain’s teammates know how much of an impact he can make on the field.
“I think everyone in this clubhouse and this organization knows his value to this team on the field and off the field,” infielder Keston Hiura said. “Obviously, we all see what he does on the field defensively and what he does in the clubhouse, I think is even more.”
These past few seasons have been tough for Cain as he’s dealt with numerous injuries last year and plus he sat out most of the COVID-shortened season in 2020.
But one thing Cain has done despite his struggles, is battle through adversity.
During the 2021 season, he finished hitting .257 with eight home runs and 36 RBI. He did that despite missing significant time due to injuries.
When he returned from his injuries last season, Cain wasted no time making an impact on the team.
Cain knows that injuries have played a key role in his absence during his career, and unfortunately that’s just part of the game.
“You know me, I just want to play games and that depends on my health,” Cain said. “If I’m healthy, I’ll be on the field.”
Cain is the type of player who will go full throttle unless he’s in a hospital bed and if he’s on the field then he’ll help out the promising Brewers in positions to win games.
Though he’s been struggling at the start of the season, there’s no doubt that Cain can turn things around.
It’s a long season and the two-time all-star will have plenty of opportunities to make a positive impact for the Brewers and see himself appearing in more games.
LOS ANGELES – While several aspects of baseball are always changing, whether that is players changing teams or a rule change, some storylines just stay the same.
This is the case whenever Taylor Hearn of the Texas Rangers and J.P. Crawford of the Seattle Mariners ended up battling it out. On Thursday, it was no different. Crawford went 1-for-2 against Hearn, hitting a three-run home run in the process. In his career against Hearn, Crawford is 8-for-14, with a pair of home runs, along with six RBI.
Along with that home run to Crawford, Hearn had a night in which he will try and forget. He only pitched three innings, giving up four hits, four walks, and five runs to go with only four strikeouts. Even with Hearn’s subpar outing, the Rangers came back and won, 8-6. Crawford has been off to a hot start this season, as he has a batting average of .310, an OPS of .934, and a SLG percentage of .500. Crawford has 5 RBI so far. His home run against Hearn was his first of the season.
On the other hand, Hearn has had a very shaky start to his season. He’s pitched a total of three games this season, never making it farther than the fourth inning. Hearn has no wins and one loss this year, with a 7.59 ERA, and with 18 hits and six walks to only 14 strikeouts. But we know the potential to have commanding stuff is there.
Both Crawford and Hearn had to battle in order to get to where they are today.
Crawford was drafted out of Lakewood High School in Southern California, getting drafted 16th overall by the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2013. He was a high prospect in their organization, but due to an injury-plagued campaign, he was never really able to get the ball rolling in Philly. In late 2018, when Crawford was dealt to the Mariners, he finally got his feet planted, and has never looked back. During his time with the Mariners, Crawford is batting .258, with 19 home runs, and 129 RBI.
Hearn was originally drafted three times, in the 22nd, 25th, and 36th rounds, respectively. He chose to play college baseball at San Jacinto College and Oklahoma Baptist University instead, and it paid off. He was drafted by and signed with the Washington Nationals in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. Hearn was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016. In 2018, Hearn was traded to the Rangers. He made his MLB debut in 2019. He was a reliever at first, eventually transitioning into a starter. Over his career, Hearn has six wins and eight losses, with a career 5.02 ERA.
The Rangers and Mariners don’t play again until early June, so it’s unlikely to see the pair again this season. If they do end up squaring off again this year, will history repeat itself, or will there be a change in fortune?
Rough first innings for Taijuan Walker and Josiah Gray made it a not so great Sunday Funday in the matchup between melanated mound marauders.
The game between the New York Mets and Washington Nationals brought us the first career matchup between 2021 All-Star Taijuan Walker and former Dodgers top prospect Josiah Gray.
Gray took the mound first for the home team Nationals, and sadly it became clear before the first out was even recorded that we would not be witnessing a pitchers duel.
He allowed the first three Mets to reach base before giving up a two-run single. The score was 4-0 in favor of New York before Gray would even record the first out.
Gray would also give up home runs in both the second and third innings as he only lasted three innings allowing seven hits, six earned runs and striking out two on 87 pitches.
“They came out attacking early, and then coupled with my command not being there, not being great tonight, that was the result tonight,” said Gray who struggled for his second start in a row.
Gray is going to have to take his lumps and get acclimated to the Bigs during the final month of his 2021 season.
He had six consecutive starts pitching at least five innings before that streak was snapped in last Monday’s start against the Phillies. The young hurler only lasted four innings and gave up seven runs — six of which were earned— and struck out four.
After going through a few post All-Star Game struggles, “Fly High” Taijuan Walker seemed to be rounding his way back into form after a successful August. However, his first start of September showed otherwise.
He gave up a leadoff home run on a 3-1 pitch. Then, later on that inning Walker would give up a two-run home run to #HighFive member Josh Bell which cut the lead to 4-3.
Bell would finish the game 1-for-2 at the plate drawing two walks and collecting two RBI. Over his last seven games the switch hitting first baseman has a .308 average, a .419 on base percentage, three RBI and five walks.
Walker would settle down as he held the Nats off the scoreboard through four innings but would give up three runs in the fifth inning, including four singles, a wild pitch, and a walk to Josh Bell.
Walker lasted 4.1 innings, giving up the two home runs, striking out six batters and giving up six hits and six runs.
The Mets would end up winning the game 13-6 and took three out of four games against the Nationals.
This recent burst has elevated the Mets to just 3.5 games back of the second National League wild card spot, but time is running out.
Both Walker and Gray will look to bounce back during their starts next weekend.
Gray will lead his Nationals into Pittsburgh for a game against the Pirates while Walker will get another taste of the Subway Series as his Mets take on the Yankees.
On Tuesday night, MLBbro Lamonte Wade Jr. went 2-for-5 with two RBI and hit his second clutch homer since Saturday in an 8-0 blowout of the Mets to help San Francisco maintain a 3-game cushion over the LA Dodgers in the NL West.
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