There were only eight games on Monday, but there were some significant results as it relates to the postseason. All three NL Central teams in the playoff mix were in action, and all three won. The Cardinals maintained their two- and three-game lead on the Cubs and Brewers, respectively, while the Cubs maintained their one-game lead over the Brewers for the second wild card spot. The Nationals lost to the Cardinals, which brought the Cubs within a half-game of the Nats, who currently hold the top wild card spot in the NL. Over in the AL, the A’s blew it in the ninth inning and saw their lead for the top wild card spot cut to one game over the idle Rays. The also idle Indians sit 1.5-games back of the Rays.
Pitching Performance of the Day
José Berríos was the only starter on Monday to record a quality start, get the W and strikeout more than three batters. Detroit’s Tyler Alexander and St. Louis’ Dakota Hudson also got the W in a quality start, but they only struck out three and one, respectively. Berrios struck out eight while allowing seven baserunners and two runs over 7.1 innings. He generated 15 swinging strikes in less than 100 pitches, and his swinging strike rate for the year now sits at 10.7-percent.
His strikeout rate remains down from last season but is almost right at his career average of 23-percent. His walk rate has improved this season and is down to an impressive 6.1-percent. He has a 3.58 ERA, but he might not totally deserve it with a SIERA of 4.31, which lags behind the ERA due to the lowered strikeout numbers. As you can see below, he’s certainly got the stuff to up that strikeout rate in the future.
José Berríos, 94mph Two Seamer, 78mph Curveball and 85mph Changeup, Overlay.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 17, 2019
[Added the 94mph Two Seamer from Abreu's AB to Jiménez's AB] pic.twitter.com/Pw2pJQ4tYx
Hitting Performance of the Day
Marcus Semien was one of five batters tied for the lead in total bases on Monday with six, and he is the only one of those five who did not strike out. Semien homered and singled twice while driving in two and scoring twice. Semien has a seven-game hitting streak going and has put together an incredible month. On the last 30 days Semien is 39-for-117 (.333) with 11 home runs, nine other extra-base hits and as many walks as strikeouts. That’s good for a wRC+ of 190, which is fifth best in the league in that time frame behind only Alex Bregman , Anthony Rendon , Nolan Arenado and Eugenio Suárez . That run has pushed Semien’s wRC+ to 135 on the year, third best among shortstops. Semien went off the draft board on average as the 24th shortstop this season and outside the top 200 overall.
What to Watch for Today
We’re back to a full slate of games today, and the only game that features two teams in competition with each other for a playoff spot is St. Louis hosting Washington. The Cards lead the NL Central, but if they were to fall out of the division lead, they’d be in competition with the Nats for wild card spots. St. Louis currently has a 1.5-game advantage on Washington. Patrick Corbin and Miles Mikolas will face off tonight. However, the best pitching matchup of the night is Lance Lynn against Justin Verlander as those two rank second and third among AL starters in WAR behind only Gerrit Cole .
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Daulton Varsho picked up three hits, three RBI and a homer in a win over the Angels on Thursday.
Varsho has only played in seven games this year, but they’ve been seven good ones. He’s homered three times already, and his slugging percentage is a remarkable — and entirely unsustainable — .727 over 22 at-bats. Varsho has been a mediocre offensive player in his two seasons with the Blue Jays, but it’s possible at the age of 28 he’s having a breakout campaign. Far from a guarantee, but possible.
Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
Ward, 31, gave the Angels a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Chris Bassitt in the first inning. He’s now gone deep in two of his last three games, and it ‘improves’ his slash to .181/.224/.391. Ward has been one of the most hot/cold players players in the sport over the last few years, so fantasy managers who can afford to make some roster moves may want to look at Ward while the going is good.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
Green got the save after Jeff Hoffman worked in back-to-back games — and struggled — in the first two contests against the Angels. He struck out two and looked the part while needing just nine pitches to get through the inning. Hoffman should remain the closer, but Green is on his tail if the struggles were to continue.
Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.