The Trade Deadline always dominates the news cycle this time of year, and on the home page of MLB.com there are currently seven highlighted stories about trades and only four concerning Monday’s action. Of the results from that action that have the most impact on the deadline, the Rangers lost yet again dropping them to .500 and making them more likely to sell, while the Giants won and are just two back of a wild card spot. Texas’ playoff expectancy was below 0.5 percent per Fangraphs before Monday’s loss, so Mike Minor and Hunter Pence ’s chances of leaving town are going up. On the other hand, Madison Bumgarner and several talented San Fran relievers could end up staying put.

Pitching Performance of the Day

Cole added one more strikeout after that and led all starters on Monday with 11 strikeouts. He now has 205 strikeouts on the season and he got to 200 faster than anyone has ever done other than Randy Johnson in 2001. Cole is on pace for 34-35 starts and given that the Astros could have a playoff spot locked up late, he might skip a start at the end of the year to be rested for his first playoff start. If he makes 12 more starts (bringing his total to 34) and maintains his strikeout per game rate, he’ll finish with 316 strikeouts, which would be 41st most in a single season. Going back to 1947, 316 strikeouts would be tied for 15th most in a season.

Hitting Performance of the Day

Mitch Garver was one of two hitters to double dong on Monday, but the other (Eugenio Suárez ) struck out twice while Garver did not strike out at all and added a single. Garver now has a shocking 172 wRC+ in 205 PA this year. He ranks 26th in PA among catchers, but since June 2 he ranks 14th. The opportunity problem has been solved to some degree, but you have to wonder if the talent is legit. He has not cut his strikeout rate this season, and his walk rate is in line with his career average. But he is absolutely making better contact. He ranks 24th in the league in barrels per plate appearance, and that’s out of 403 hitters. His average exit velocity is up more than two miles per hour, and his hard-hit rate has spiked up over 50 percent. There is no reason Garver should be owned in less than half of ESPN shallow leagues.

Game of the Day

When Paul Goldschmidt hit a grand slam in the top of the 10th to break a 2-2 tie, the opposing Pirates had just a 1.4 percent chance of winning the game. The game was a one-run affair throughout until Goldy broke it open, but the Pirates actually had a win expectancy of 51 percent at one point after the grand slam. Three batters into the bottom of the 10th Pittsburgh was behind only one run after a couple of doubles followed by a Jung Ho Kang home run. After a single and an error the Bucs had two on and no one out with a man in scoring position (obviously), and that’s the point at which they were the slight favorite to win. With one out Jacob Stallings singled, but Kevin Newman was thrown out at home. Adam Frazier flied out to end the valiant comeback bid. Here’s the game graph courtesy of Fangraphs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What to Watch for Today

Three starters who have been the subject of trade rumors will make starts tonight, possibly the last ones they’ll make in their current uniforms, though perhaps not likely. We already mentioned Bumgarner, and he’ll go against the Cubs tonight. MadBum has a limited no-trade clause which limits teams he can be traded to without waiving the no-trade to eight teams, one of which is the Cubs.

Trevor Bauer will start against the Blue Jays, and Matthew Boyd will go for the Tigers. The Indians are squarely in contention for a wild card spot as well as the division, so it’s entirely possible Bauer stays put. He is not a free agent after this season, so he could be traded in the offseason. As for the Tigers, they’re certainly bad enough to be clear sellers, but with three years of team control after this year, the Tigers may prefer to hold on to Boyd, at least for now.