The second half of the Major League Baseball season is now in full swing, and we are getting ready for a big set of Sunday afternoon games today.  This is the last day of Week 18 and before taking a look ahead at your fantasy baseball lineups for today we first need to look back at the top MLB news and headlines from Saturday’s slate of games. Highlights include a pitching duel between Jacob deGrom and Aaron Nola, another Dodgers win, the Brewers big extra inning victory, and Nelson Cruz making history. Do not forget to check out our updated August Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings before setting your lineups this week plus the latest MLB Injury Report, Fantasy Baseball Player Spotlight Series, and players trending up and down in the Fantasy Baseball Stock Watch. Before we start our day let’s take a look back at the top performances from yesterday...

Jacob deGrom and Aaron Nola Are Spectacular

 
 

Jacob deGrom and Aaron Nola showed the baseball world how good they really are last night. DeGrom threw six scoreless innings, in which he faced 20 hitters and retired 18, ten by strikeout, in New York’s 1-0 win over the Phillies. The Mets (74-40) are now leading the Braves by 5.5 games after Atlanta swept a doubleheader in Miami. Phillies ace, Aaron Nola, wasn’t too shabby himself, throwing eight excellent innings, striking out eight batters while allowing just one run on four hits.

The Dodgers Hit Six Home Runs

The Dodgers flexed yesterday, and they sure have some strength. They blasted six home runs enroute to their 12th straight win. Only one more to go to tie the franchise record since the move out West. The Dodgers now have the best record in Major League Baseball at 79-33. During this streak, the Dodgers have won every game by multiple runs. The last team to do it was the 1922 Pirates. 

The Brewers Inch Closer To The Cardinals

It was playoff atmosphere at Busch Stadium last night as Hunter Renfroe’s first triple in three years broke a 1-1 tie in the tenth inning to help hoist the Brewers over the first place Cardinals. The win moved the Brewers to within a half-game of the Cardinals in the NL Central and they can move back into the top spot with a win in the rubber game of the series this afternoon. 

What A Return For Lance McCullers Jr.

 

Lance McCullers Jr. pitched six shutout innings in his season debut as the Astros beat the A’s 8-0 last night. McCullers, an All-Star in 2017, allowed two hits, struck out five, and walked four for his first shutout since August 31, 2021. This was his first game since Game 4 of the 2021 American League Divisional Series against the Chicago White Sox as he went on to miss the 2021 ALCS and World Series for the Astros due to a right flexor tendon strain.

Hit #2000 for Nelson Cruz

 

Nelson Cruz earned the “Boomstick” moniker as one of the most prolific power hitters of his time, but he has never been just a one trick pony. The 42-year-old Nationals DH went 2-for-3 last night in a 4-3 win over the Padres and his second hit, a double, made history. The power hitter nailed his 2,000th Major League hit and became the first player in team history to tally his 2,000th hit in a Nationals uniform. Cruz is one of just six active players to accumulate 2,000 hits- Albert Pujols (3,345), Miguel Cabrera (3,076), Robinson Canó (2,639), Yadier Molina (2,148) and Joey Votto (2,093).

Tarik Skubal Shut Down

 

The Tigers exciting left-handed ace, Tarik Skubal, will not throw another pitch in the 2022 season because of left arm fatigue. Tigers manager AJ Hinch said Skubal will visit with a specialist next week to address his arm issue, specifically his elbow. Skubal is 7-8 with a 3.52 ERA and 117 strikeouts over 117.2 innings in his third season with the Tigers and didn’t allow an earned run over his past three starts.

 

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