MLB

The switch from Bradley to Joe Boyle ought to have been made a month ago, but at least it looks like it’s happening now. While no rotation replacements have been confirmed, Boyle should be worth rostering in shallow leagues with Bradley down.

Montgomery filled up the stat sheet and had arguably the two most important hits in this come-from-behind win for the White Sox. They fell behind 4-0 in the first inning before recording an out. Then, Montgomery’s 414 foot, 109.8 mph three-run shot quickly tied this game up in the second. The game went back and forth for a while afterwards in a battle of bullpens before Montgomery’s 112.2 mph, go-ahead, two-run double in the eighth gave them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. He added a 107.0 mph lineout as well and became just the 37th player this season to have three batted balls hit 107 mph or harder in the same game. It’s only been 16 games to begin his career, but Montgomery’s power is legit and he’ll hold some fantasy relevance down the stretch as long as he can keep his strikeouts in check.

Altavilla loaded the bases and made the White Sox sweat out their two-run lead here before finally getting out of the jam. This was his second save of the season and is now the fourth different pitcher to earn a save over the last four converted saves for Chicago. Grant Taylor came into this game in the sixth inning to get out of a jam and Jordan Leasure – the winning pitcher – handled the seventh. It’s impossible to rely on any reliever in this bullpen for saves when there are so few to go around and they’re being dispersed like this.

The Rays jumped all over Cannon for four runs in the first via home runs by Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero. Then, he retired 10 batters in a row up until the fifth inning, where he lost it again and the Rays pulled back ahead. Still, Cannon has flashed some real swing-and-miss stuff lately, especially with his fastball at the top of the zone. That pitch forced 10 of his 18 whiffs, which tied a career high, and there were times when it was dominant. He’s sneakily approaching streaming territory for deeper leagues, but his next start is probably one to avoid with the Phillies coming to town.

Simpson has been an on base machine since being called back up to the majors last month. He has at least one hit in the 21 of 24 games he’s started since then and a .341 batting average over that span. He stole just the one base in this one, but the White Sox pitchers were very aware of him there every time he reached. Now the Rays’ regular lead-off hitter and center fielder, he figures to be the best source of stolen bases in the league from this point through the rest of the season.

This was supposed to be the type of start that helped Bradley continue to build some more momentum after a handful of good starts in a row. Instead, he was chased in the second inning after allowing four straight hits – including a three-run homer by Colson Montgomery – and then walking the world. He was fortunate that reliever Mason Englert stranded the bases loaded and cleaned up his mess. Rather than not being able to find the zone, Bradley consistently got ahead of hitters, then nibbled, and couldn’t force any swings-and-misses or chases from the White Sox hitters. It was tough to watch and a big step backwards for him. Things won’t get easier for him next time out either with a date against the Yankees in the Bronx on deck.