The MLBbros were impactful and present in the various opening games of the 2024 MLB Wild Card series.
Justyn-Henry Malloy: Detroit Tigers
Justyn-Henry Malloy hit second for the surging Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the franchise’s first postseason appearance in 14 years.
Malloy went 1-for-2 with a walk in a 3-1 win over the Houston Astros. It’s all coming together at the right time for AJ Hinch’s Detroit crew, which recovered from a sub .500 first half to snatch a Wild Card slot in the American League. The franchise survived the growing pains of All-Star Riley Green, rookie JHM and the injury to Kerry Carpenter and other key figures and now they are a team nobody wants to face.
By his second time up he was striking out to end a three-run explosion in the second inning by the Tigers. It was all they needed.
When you can trot out a Cy Young ace such as 18-win wonder Tarik Skubal, a triple crown pitcher, you always have a chance. His fastball and change ups were dominant as usual and he exited after six innings of no-run ball.
Malloy was up and down in his rookie season, showing some pop with 8 bro bombs in 202 at-bats. He has the potential to explode in a game and for AJ Hinch to give him the start in the opening Wild Card game is a huge indication that he believes the young outfielder is a part of the Tigers’ future.
Tommy Pham: Kansas City Royals
There’s that man again. Playoff Tommy Pham, who always plays his best when the stakes are high. He’s been a consistent catalyst for teams looking to either get out of the doldrums or seeking a veteran spark who can bring, energy, a loud bat and a competitive, winning spirit to a possible contender.
Adding Pham to a Royals team that is built around Bobby Witt and veteran catcher Salvador Perez was a genius move. Pham helped the Arizona Diamondback make a fairy tale run to the World Series last season. Pham is a .313 career playoff hitter with 36 hits and 6 homers and 10 RBI in 115 postseason at-bats.
Pham was 0-for-3 in his first playoff game on Tuesday with the Royals, but they managed to win a 1-0 pitcher’s duel over the Baltimore Orioles in Game 1 of the Wild Card series.
Pham played just 23 games with the Royals in the regular season after stops in Cry-town and St. Louis. He impacted the team’s late season run to the Wild Card and will be counted on heavily as he batted seventh and played right field in Game 1.
Cedric “CM Storm” Mullins: Baltimore Orioles
Cedric Mullins has been here before with the Birds. He’s no longer the catalyst of the offense, the 30-30 leadoff guy that he was in 2021, but he’s still a leader on this team and a very productive player with the glove and at the plate.
Mullins led the Orioles with two hits in the franchise’s Game 1, 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. During the season, CM Storm hit 18 homers and stole 32 bases. He’s a weapon in the eighth spot for the O’s, who probably should have the veteran hitting higher in the order during the playoffs.
Tyrone Taylor: Mets
Tyrone Taylor has found a home with the NY Mets after spending the first six years of his career with the Milwaukee Brewers who drafted him in the second round in 2012.
Taylor got over 300 at-bats for just the second time in his career and the 30-year-old only hit 7 bro bombs but he provided a combination of durability (130 games played), speed (11 steals) and solid defense for the Mets, who creeped into the postseason with a 360 degree turn in the second half behind shortstop Francisco Lindor and a host of steady role players like Taylor, who started and batted eighth for the Miracle Mets in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
In that game, Taylor went 1-for-4 with a run scored to help lift the Mets to an 8-4 win in Game 1. In the last 15 games of the season with the Mets fighting tooth and nail for an NL Wild Card, Taylor hit .298 and slugged. 447.
Michael Harris II: Atlanta Braves
Entering Game 1 of the Wild Card series against San Diego Padres, Michael Harris II was 1-for-27 over eight games in two postseasons for the Atlanta Braves. He enters these playoffs on fire, coming off a streak of five homers in seven games to end the regular season. Harris was able to collect two of his team’s seven hits in a 4-0, Game 1 loss to the Padres, continuing his torrid hitting.
After batting over .290 in his first two seasons, including his 2022 NL Rookie of the Year campaign, Harris struggled mightily throughout most of this season, but was able to find his groove in the last two months of the season and salvage a respectable .264 batting average with 16 homers.
Now, he’s firmly cemented as the Braves’ leadoff hitter and he looks poised to finally have his breakout playoffs, which would make the growing pains he experiences this season worthwhile.
He’s sure to produce a web gem or two as he is among the best centerfielders in the past 20 years, and we are yet to see the best of him at the plate…that’s a scary thought.
Outfielder Tommy Pham is now on his third team this season. The Kansas City Royals claimed the veteran off waivers a few days ago. Pham is now on a team that is competing for a spot in the postseason.
Tommy Pham went 2-for-5 in his first game with Kansas City Royals (Getty Images)
But what else is new? With a nickname like “Playoff Pham” there’s no mistaking what the veteran has become known for.
Tommy Pham has a.313 batting average with 36 hits, 6 homers, 10 RBIs and 15 runs scored in 31 games in the postseason in his career. The Royals are looking for him to add his veteran presence and hot bat to a team looking to shock the world this postseason.
Tommy Pham Was Lone Bright Spot On Chicago White Sox
The 36-year-old started the 2024 season on the Chicago White Sox, a team that currently has the worst record in all of baseball. Despite the team’s struggles, Pham put up some productive numbers during his stint with Chicago. Through 70 games, he had a .266 batting average with five home runs and 19 RBI and he also had a .380 slugging percentage.
After his time in Chicago, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. In his brief stint with St. Louis, he hit .206 through 23 games. It’s safe to say Pham will finish out the season with the Royals and he is a player who can make an immediate impact. The Royals were interested in Pham earlier in the season.
“This time of year, you’re very limited in how you can acquire players, and waivers is one way to do it,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We had interest in [Pham and Grossman] at the Deadline. Obviously, we didn’t get them, but we just kind of kept monitoring … what they were doing, along with others, and we put in the claim the other day.
“It’s rare you get two guys in one day, but this is one of those cases that went our way. It should provide a lot of depth.”
Tommy Pham thanks his former team for giving him the chance to join a contender: "I'm just thankful the Cardinals granted my request to get put on waivers so that this could happen. Ultimately, man, they did me a good deed." #Royalspic.twitter.com/lEvO7Kuh3a
In his debut with the Royals on Sunday, he went 2-for-5 against the Houston Astros.
With the addition of Pham, the Royals have a player who can play any position in the outfield and is a solid hitter at the plate.
“He makes you a better team by his intensity,” said manager Matt Quatraro. “He comes here with one purpose every day, and that’s to kick your butt.”
Tommy Pham Helped Arizona To Surprise World Series In 2023
Pham also has postseason experience as well. He was on the Arizona Diamondbacks team that went to the World Series last year. He put together an impressive postseason performance last year, hitting .279 in 16 games and had three home runs.
If the playoffs started today, the Royals would be the final team to make the wild-card spot. But this team is in a unique position.
They have a chance to win the American League Central division. It’s a very close race between the Royals, Cleveland Guardians, and Minnesota Twins.
And it will be an exciting finish when the season comes to an end.
From starting the season off with the White Sox, to being on a potential postseason team, Pham knows the importance of going out there no matter what team you’re on and leaving it all on the field.
When you are talented and can make an impact on a team, someone will notice you and seek to get you.
The 2024 MLB trade deadline is just seven days away, and as teams prepare for their final playoff push, these three MLB bros could be on the move.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Buzz around the league has gotten louder as we head to the deadline and if things hold, Chisholm will be one of the best players moved. Miami attempted to build around Chisholm, but typical front office turmoil in Miami combined with his inconsistency on the field have led this couple toward a divorce that may benefit both sides.
Jazz is hitting .251/.324/.735 with 12 homers, 45 RBI and 19 stolen bases on the season, numbers that don’t match the expectations many have for Chisholm. After an offseason that saw Jazz look to assert himself as a leader in Miami, a change of scenery to a contender could provide a new perspective for the young talented centerfielder.
The intrigue around Chisholm is two fold, as he can still play infield and will receive more time there from Miami to showcase his ability for possible suitors. Miami is most likely unwilling to provide the pay increase coming to Jazz this off-season in arbitration, so this move would fall right in line with how business is done in Miami.
Jack Flaherty
Starting pitchers are always valuable at the deadline and with the season Flaherty is having, Detroit has the potential to acquire some quality talent for their flamethrower. Jack took a one year deal with Detroit looking to establish himself again after several up and down seasons, and that’s exactly what he has done.
Flaherty is 7-5 with a 3.13 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 100.2 innings pitched for the Tigers. There has been talk about Detroit trading their ace Tarik Skull, but if they decide to keep him teams are certain to inquire about Jack as a rental for a stretch run to the playoffs. He struggled in this role last season, going 1-3 with a 6.75 ERA in seven starts for Baltimore.
Tommy Pham
The Chicago White Sox were one of the first teams to identify themselves as sellers this deadline, and Tommy Pham’s name is one that is almost certain to be moved. The White Sox signed Pham to a minor league deal at the beginning of the season after the veteran failed to land a deal before the start of spring training despite providing a spark for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season.
During his time in Chicago Tommy has been a solid contributor despite their struggles as a team, hitting .270/.341/.718 with 66 hits, 4 homers and 17 RBI in 244 at-bats for the White Sox. With their front office committed to the future, look for Tommy to be dealt for the third consecutive deadline.
There are several contenders in need of outfield help, and Pham has already proven that he can be an asset come playoff time. Once Chicago moves superstars Luis Robert Jr, the market for Pham should materialize quickly.
After helping lead the wild card Diamondbacks to the NL Pennant and three games short of the World Series, Pham had been a free agent all winter long, until he signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on April 15th. He had to be added to the roster by April 25th, or he could request his release from the team.
Chicago White Sox Winning With Tommy Pham
He played four games with their Triple-A affiliate in Charlotte, batting .294, with one RBI and two stolen bases. By April 25th, the South Siders liked what they saw, and brought Pham up to the major league roster.
So far, so good. Pham has made the most of his time in Chicago. Entering Sunday’s 7-2 loss to the Yankees, Pham was batting .346, to go with two home runs and 10 RBI, as well as an .886 OPS in 27 games played. He’s also only struck out 11 times.
Corey Julks Trying To Get Back To Consistent MLB At-Bats
Julks on the other hand, had spent all of the 2024 season with the Triple-A of the Astros before being designated for assignment on May 10th. On May 15th, he was traded to Chicago for minor-league right-handed pitcher Luis Rodriguez.
Julks was later recalled to the major league roster, making his one and only appearance in the majors on May 17th, in the Bronx versus the Yankees. He was 1-for-4 in that game with two strikeouts.
This is only the second season in the bigs for the 28-year-old Texas native. He played 93 games for the Astros, his hometown team, in 2023. He had a respectable .245/.297/.352 slashline, with six home runs, 33 RBI, and managed to steal 15 bags. However, it didn’t move the needle for the Astros enough, as Julks was left off the team’s postseason rosters for both the ALDS and ALCS.
It obviously was not the ending to his Astros tenure that Julks wanted, but the good news is that it’s a fresh start for Julks, and he now has a much stronger chance of getting more playing time in the majors, as there are many spots up for grabs on this rebuilding roster.
Chicago White Sox Entering An Extreme Rebuild
The White Sox are currently 14-33, the worst record in all of the MLB. They let former All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson leave for Miami, and outfielder Luis Robert has been on the IL for almost all of the season with a Grade 2 right hip flexor strain, so wins have been tough to come by.
Nevertheless, since April 26th, which was Pham’s first game for the team, they are 11-11. This shows that the team really needed a veteran leader and a player who knows how to win. With the continued leadership and strong play of Pham, and the new addition in Julks, who knows if these two can be catalysts for long term change throughout the organization and make winning much more common for the White Sox.
Marcus Semien has stamped himself as the greatest second baseman in Texas Rangers history after completing the mission to bring the franchise their first ever World Series championship along with his half a billion-dollar double play mate, two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager.
“Everything I ever worked for was for that moment,” said Semien when talking about his clutch bomb in the 9th inning put the game away for good.
“I had to simplify, see the whole field first. I am a pull hitter but needed to stay on the baseball longer.”
After the ball flew over the wall, the team’s quiet leader let out a mighty roar. Semien never shows emotion, whether good or bad. His even demeanor is a constant reminder of the teams “next play” mentality.
He’s also an iron man in today’s game. In 2023, he was MLB’s workhorse. When you combine his postseason, regular season and the All-Star Game, he played in 180 games and recorded an MLB-record record 788 plate appearances.
Marcus Semien Is MLB’s Most Durable Player
Over the last three seasons, Semien has missed just one game.
He never wants an off day, but for the time being he will finally get to enjoy some quality off time atop of the baseball mountain.
Texas Rangers Dynasty?
The Rangers will be returning almost all of their core pieces from this World Series team and with the best middle infield in the game together for at least five more years, championships and championship opportunities could become common practice in Arlington, especially after slaying the dragon known as the Houston Astros.
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