MLB rumors: Cashman trash is now treasure, Red Sox pitcher demoted, walk-offs are everything
By Josh Wilson
Today’s MLB rumors roundup looks at a former Yankees star hitting the trade block, a Red Sox pitcher getting a role change, and more.
The MLB season is long and grueling, but there is always drama to be had. Usually, it’s sprinkled into a game here and there throughout each week, but this week gave us several really intense games all in one night.
We’ll start there with this morning’s MLB rumors roundup but also look at a Red Sox pitching change and a relief pitcher who is going to get a lot of attention at the trade deadline.
Walk-offs were everything on Wednesday night in the MLB
Wednesday night gave us three very intense games, with three walk-offs, two of them coming in extra innings.
Astros walk off the Cubs
The Houston Astros entered the eighth inning down 6-1, but stormed back in the final two frames to win over the Chicago Cubs 7-6. Here’s what manager Dusty Baker had to say after the game, courtesy of MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart:
"“I always say, ‘If you can win the eighth and ninth, you’ve got a chance to win the ballgame,’” Baker said. “Boy, we had some heroes over heroes tonight. The guys came through. It was a wonderful win. It was the win of the year. That’s great, especially right before an off day, too. The thing I appreciate is not many of the fans left.”"
The Cubs are no strangers to comebacks, erasing a massive 7-run deficit of their own earlier this season against the Seattle Mariners. This time, though, they were on the wrong side of things.
Blue Jays get the last laugh with extra innings homer
The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees locked horns on and off the field this week. A standard mid-May series has included Aaron Judge being accused of cheating by Jays broadcasters, a Yankees base coach — who was appeared to be called “fat” by Jays manager John Schneider — was reported to the league by the Jays for standing too far out of the box, and now a 10th-inning walk-off home run from Danny Jansen has made for another fun episode.
The best news? This series isn’t done. The Yankees have won two, the Jays one, and there’s one more game tonight. Season-long, each team has won three games. Six more come after this, but no until September. Tonight’s game definitely matters, especially with how closely contested the AL East should be down the stretch.
Mets win with a three-run homer
Another New York team involved in a 10th-inning game, but this one worked out in the NY team’s favor.
Mets star Pete Alonso hit a three-run home run to end the game, but just before him was Francisco Alvarez singling, who was called up from Syracuse earlier in the day.
The Mets had to rally back multiple times. Mark Vientos tied it up at 2 runs apiece in the bottom of the seventh with a home run.
The Rays’ Brandon Lowe pushed the Rays ahead with a two-run homer in the eighth. Then, in the ninth, Randy Arozarena made it 5-2 with an RBI single.
Alvarez sent it to extra innings with a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. Tampa scored three runs in the 10th, but New York scored three off the Alonso homer.
Tampa scores a league-leading 6.25 runs per game, but the Mets have middled at 4.25 per game, so their rally was impressive and not necessarily characteristic.