Latest news with #Shohei Ohtani
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
MLB Power Rankings: Our top 10 goes topsy-turvy; Goals for all 30 teams in the second half
By Tim Britton, Johnny Flores Jr. and Andy McCullough Every week, we ask a selected group of our baseball writers — local and national — to rank the teams from first to worst. Here are the collective results. Trade deadline week moves swiftly. Front offices are making their final determinations about their teams' chances in 2025 over the next day or so, and they're about to take real, public steps that reveal what they think. Advertisement And after that? There are still two months of baseball to be played. For the contenders, those two months are critically important, as teams jockey for qualification to and seeding within the postseason. For the sellers and cellar-dwellers, those two months are no less significant. They're the chance to get a better read on what went wrong this year and the first steps toward righting the ship in 2026 — by getting a key player back healthy, by evaluating young talent properly and by making the right determinations about what's needed this winter. So let's examine the most important aspect of the next two months for all 30 teams. Record: 62-45 Last Power Ranking: 3 Goal for the next two months: Get set for October Yeah. Obviously. The World Series is always the goal for the Dodgers, and it will likely always be the goal for as long as Shohei Ohtani calls Chavez Ravine his home. But there are a variety of lower-level objectives for the club in the second half: Find help for the bullpen before this week's trade deadline. Get Mookie Betts going at the plate. Make sure Blake Snell is healthy. Same story with Max Muncy. All of them serve the larger goal of becoming the first team since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees to win back-to-back championships. — Andy McCullough Record: 62-45 Last Power Ranking: 9 Goal for the next two months: Figure out a third-base plan The almost decade-long carousel at the hot corner was supposed to end for the Mets once Brett Baty made it to the majors. Baty's struggles opened the door last year for Mark Vientos, who staked his claim once and for all as New York's long-term third baseman — until this year, in which he's opened the door back up for Baty. Throw in Ronny Mauricio, and the merry-go-round continues. Advertisement The Mets don't necessarily need to have the same everyday third baseman by the start of a postseason they should be a part of. But the kind of rotation they're running right now is harder to pull off during the spread-out schedule of October baseball. — Tim Britton Record: 62-44 Last Power Ranking: 2 Goal for the next two months: Win the NL Central For much of the season, the Cubs were cruising toward their first NL Central title in a full 162-game season since 2017. Keyword: were. Manager Craig Counsell's old club, the Milwaukee Brewers, has quickly emerged as one of the sport's best teams and the two clubs have been wrestling over control of the Central for much of the past few weeks. At 96.2 percent playoff odds, per FanGraphs, the Cubs aren't in danger of missing October, but with so much on the line, having their season be determined in a best-of-three wild-card series would be suboptimal. Chicago has too talented a team to let things come down to that, which is why winning the NL Central should be its goal. — Johnny Flores Jr. Record: 63-43 Last Power Ranking: 4 Goal for the next two months: Protect The Miz at all costs Since joining the Brewers' rotation in early June, Jacob Misiorowski has been nothing short of a revelation in Milwaukee, hocking 99-mph fastballs and dicing hitters with a near-95-mph slider. However, Misiorowski has 92 2/3 innings under his belt between the big leagues and minors, and protecting his arm should be at the top of Milwaukee's goals, even as a potential NL Central crown becomes more and more realistic. The 23-year-old topped out at 97 1/3 innings last season between Double A and Triple A, meaning he's well on pace to exceed that total by season's end. Already, Milwaukee has put that plan into motion, limiting him to 64 pitches over 3 2/3 innings against the Mariners (seven of his outs were strikeouts, by the way). With the kind of stuff that can lead an October rotation, getting him there in one piece will be paramount. — Flores Record: 60-46 Last Power Ranking: 5 Goal for the next two months: Get Aaron Nola back to form The Phillies have a top-five rotation in the sport despite getting next to nothing yet this season from Nola — nine starts and a six-plus ERA before ankle and rib injuries have kept him out since mid-May. Nevertheless, Nola still profiles as a postseason starter for Philadelphia, provided he can look anything like his usual self. Putting that pitcher in a playoff rotation with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez would make the Phillies as dangerous as anyone in the senior circuit. — Britton Advertisement Record: 63-44 Last Power Ranking: 7 Goal for the next two months: Reincorporate Daulton Varsho While he won a Gold Glove last year, Varsho's offense hasn't popped in Toronto the way it did earlier in his career with the Diamondbacks, which is what made his enormous jump in exit velocity in a small sample earlier this season so intriguing. Fourteen of his 19 hits this season (in 92 at-bats) have gone for extra bases, including eight home runs. His on-base percentage was down and his strikeout rate up, so it wasn't all good. But after missing two months, Varsho returning to the lineup could bring the Jays one more big bat. — Britton Record: 62-46 Last Power Ranking: 1 Goal for the next two months: End with the American League's best record So much went right for the Tigers in the early part of the season that it's almost inconceivable that things would take a turn this ugly, but that's exactly what's happened this second half. At 62-46, the Tigers still have a nine-game lead over the Guardians in the AL Central, but their position at the top of the American League has now gone to the surging Toronto Blue Jays, with the ever-dangerous Houston Astros right on their heels. The Tigers aren't fighting for their lives as they were a season ago, but winning the AL would go a long way in helping stabilize the team for the deep October run it has been poised to make. — Flores Record: 57-49 Last Power Ranking: 6 Goal for the next two months: Make sure Aaron Judge is ready for October 'The UCL is intact' is not the worst sentence you can hear regarding an elbow injury, but those words having to be said reveal a lot about the magnitude of the issue. While Judge's IL stint shouldn't be too long, he will need to DH for a time after returning, which will force Giancarlo Stanton into the field for the first time since 2023. All of this is suboptimal for a Yankees team under .500 since the start of June. — Britton Advertisement Record: 60-47 Last Power Ranking: 8 Goal for the next two months: Maintain control of the American League West This looked like a season of transition for the Astros and the end of the team's run atop the division. Or so it seemed. Houston has continued to roll despite the departures of Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. The team did not capsize when slugger Yordan Alvarez broke his hand. The group figures to keep pushing even with third baseman Isaac Paredes dealing with a serious hamstring injury. So expect GM Dana Brown to be aggressive when looking for another bat this week. The Astros will push to win the West again, as the franchise has done in every full season since 2017. — McCullough Record: 57-50 Last Power Ranking: 11 Goal for the next two months: Get back to the postseason In the past four seasons, the Mariners have finished with 90 wins, 90 wins, 88 wins and 85 wins. That success has netted just one postseason appearance, back in 2022. If the team stumbles down the stretch, this year could look like more of the same — a winning record but a seat on the couch in October. This is why president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto is working the phones to add help for his offense. Dipoto has already added Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor. An upgrade at third base wouldn't hurt, either. — McCullough Record: 57-51 Last Power Ranking: 10 Goal for the next two months: Unearth whatever's left in Walker Buehler Garrett Crochet has been everything the Red Sox could have wanted in an ace, and Brayan Bello has grown into a solid No. 2 starter. Beyond that, Boston's rotation could use a boost, and Buehler is the best in-house option to provide one. No, the season hasn't gone how Buehler or the Sox expected. But he's pitched better in July, and his postseason bona fides will provide him with more of an opportunity than he might otherwise have to get Boston to October. — Britton Record: 58-49 Last Power Ranking: 13 Goal for the next two months: Keep Michael King healthy for the postseason Advertisement King, who threw a simulated game at Petco Park on Monday, could play an outsized role in San Diego's postseason outlook. He has been on the injured list since May with a shoulder issue. If he is healthy, the team can trust him to start Game 1 against any opponent. His presence could also provide general manager A.J. Preller with more confidence in moving starter Dylan Cease in an attempt to improve the offense. A postseason rotation featuring King, Nick Pivetta and Yu Darvish could be formidable. But if King's shoulder acts up again, the Padres will enter October shorthanded. — McCullough Record: 56-51 Last Power Ranking: 15 Goal for the next two months: Don't let this pitching go to waste The Rangers are on a tear. After bookending the All-Star break with series victories over Houston and Detroit, the Rangers swept the Athletics and the Braves. Their run differential suggests they might be the best team in the AL West. Their offense has finally begun to keep pace with the excellence provided by the pitching staff, led by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. If the lineup keeps clicking, the Rangers could be a formidable October foe, given the headliners in the rotation and the postseason resume of franchise cornerstone Corey Seager. — McCullough Record: 56-51 Last Power Ranking: 17 Goal for the next two months: Make the postseason While the Cubs and Brewers have been busy playing Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots over the NL Central, the Reds have quietly been keeping afloat, riding a 15-11 June record and 12-9 mark in July to an overall 56-51 mark that has them just 1.5 games back of the NL's third and final Wild Card spot. It goes without saying that the team should put October as its chief goal to end the season. With a rotation that could have Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott as a 1-2 punch, and Elly De La Cruz serving as the club's sparkplug, October could truly get wild if Cincinnati were to make it. — Flores Record: 54-53 Last Power Ranking: 14 Goal for the next two months: Get Bryce Eldridge to the majors If the Giants were based in Tampa Bay — remember when that almost happened in the 1990s? — and, to extend the hypothetical, were run by the current Rays ownership and front office, the club would probably be a seller this week. When the team was swept by the Mets last weekend, the club's postseason odds fell to 24 percent, according to FanGraphs. But these Giants, as you likely know, do not play in Tampa Bay. The team is trying to maintain momentum with fans in the Bay Area. If Eldridge, the team's top prospect, can cut down his strikeout rate in Triple A, it would be a treat to see him share a lineup with Rafael Devers and Matt Chapman as the club chases a wild-card spot. — McCullough Advertisement Record: 54-53 Last Power Ranking: 12 Goal for the next two months: Get Ha-Seong Kim going Just after returning from offseason shoulder surgery and a right calf injury, Kim is back on the IL with a lower back strain. Even in the event that Tampa Bay's recent injury woes push it toward selling this week, a healthy return from Kim by season's end would help both the Rays get a better grip on their middle infield situation and Kim understand his value ahead of his decision on a player option this winter. — Britton Record: 55-53 Last Power Ranking: 18 Goal for the next two months: Pick a lane and stick with it For Cardinals fans, the Thursday deadline can't come soon enough. So much of how the rest of the season will play out hinges on these two home games against the Marlins. By then, it'll be clear if John Mozeliak and company decide to sell off entirely or thread the needle. Whatever path the front office takes, the team must stick with it through the end of the season. If it's a sell-off, that means providing the future faces of the franchise ample opportunity to get acquainted with the big leagues. And if it isn't, then it means attempting to nab one of the NL's final wild-card spots. — Flores Record: 52-55 Last Power Ranking: 21 Goal for the next two months: Get the pitching staff healthy Now that right-hander Seth Lugo has agreed to a two-year $46 million extension that will keep him in Kansas City through at least 2027, with a vesting or club option to extend things one season more, the Royals will boast a rotation that also includes Cole Ragans, Noah Cameron and Kris Bubic, along with a bullpen that has both Daniel Lynch IV and Lucas Erceg. Unfortunately, Ragans, Bubic and Lynch are all on the IL, while Cameron is on pace to exceed his career-high 128 2/3 innings (he's at 108 2/3 entering Monday). Kansas City's playoff odds aren't completely dead (11.8 percent), but much like Cleveland and Minnesota, barring some kind of miracle, an October appearance seems doubtful. Instead, the club should prioritize the health of a pitching staff that has the potential to be one of the league's best for the next several seasons. — Flores Advertisement Record: 52-54 Last Power Ranking: T-19 Goal for the next two months: See what the future has in store After a surprise run to the ALCS a season ago, it seems unlikely that the Guardians will play an encore this October — FanGraphs has their playoff odds at just 12.7 percent. That makes it all the more important that Cleveland sees what it has in the minors, and which of those pieces can help the club in the future. Whether it's Juan Brito, C.J. Kayfus or even last year's No. 1 pick, Travis Bazzana, the Guardians have several offensive pieces that could take the league's 28th-ranked offense by OPS to a more respectable level. Some uncertainty extends off the field as well, with the news Monday that closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave as part of a sports betting investigation. — Flores Record: 51-55 Last Power Ranking: T-19 Goal for the next two months: Get the bats right Regardless of what Minnesota decides to do by Thursday's trade deadline, getting its offense on the right path before the end of the season should be its primary goal, playoffs or not. All-Star Byron Buxton has been at his best and healthiest, but the same can't be said for Carlos Correa, who still has three years and more than $94 million left on his deal. Royce Lewis and Matt Wallner have also struggled. Those last three hitters figure to be part of Minnesota's long-term future, meaning getting them back to, well, producing at a respectable level is important. — Flores Record: 51-56 Last Power Ranking: 16 Goal for the next two months: Find some starters for 2026 Arizona general manager Mike Hazen acknowledged reality last week and started to sell, trading away first baseman Josh Naylor and outfielder Randal Grichuk. Soon to follow out the door likely will be third baseman Eugenio Suárez and one of the team's two pending free agent starters, Zac Gallen or Merrill Kelly. The team needs to identify replacements next season for Gallen, Kelly and injured starter Corbin Burnes. Might as well start now by prioritizing controllable pitching as important to the package for Suárez, who might be the best player traded this summer. Arizona also needs to help Brandon Pfaadt get back to missing bats, and decide if a recent 12-start sample of success for Ryne Nelson is sustainable. — McCullough Record: 50-55 Last Power Ranking: 25 Goal for the next two months: Evaluate the offensive core Have you noticed just how good the Marlins have become? Since falling 16 games under .500 in early June, Miami owns the third-best record in the sport, just behind Milwaukee and Toronto. That's thanks to a top-five pitching staff over that time and the breakout on top of a breakout by Kyle Stowers. He, Otto López, Xavier Edwards and Agustín Ramírez give the Marlins a deeper offensive core than they've had in some time. Who else, among Connor Norby and Heriberto Hernández and Eric Wagaman, can become part of it? — Britton Advertisement Record: 52-55 Last Power Ranking: 23 Goal for the next two months: Keep Mike Trout on the field Trout reached the 1,000 RBI milestone on Sunday with a titanic home run, a reminder of his still explosive offensive potential. In his 15th season, he has become an earth-bound slugger, no longer capable of ranging around the outfield to showcase his myriad defensive tools. He has not played the field since injuring his meniscus in April. His body aches when he runs the bases. He might just be a designated hitter for the rest of the season, and perhaps beyond. And you know what? That's OK. Watching Trout just hit four or five times a game is better than not watching Trout at all. If he can make it through this season without any more injuries, perhaps the Angels can chart out how to build around him in the coming years. — McCullough Record: 45-60 Last Power Ranking: 22 Goal for the next two months: Know how healthy the rotation will be in 2026 Atlanta's Opening Day rotation is no more: Over the weekend, Grant Holmes joined on the IL the other four pitchers who started the season as the club's starters. That quintet — Holmes alongside Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach and Reynaldo López — has pitched exceedingly well this year, to a 3.35 ERA. Of course, the five have combined to start barely three-fifths of Atlanta's games. So the goal between now and the end of the season is to get a firm read on who will have a normal offseason and how much depth will have to be added this winter. — Britton Record: 48-58 Last Power Ranking: 24 Goal for the next two months: Welcome back the starting pitchers So much has gone wrong for the Orioles this season, and that misfortune really started last year, when Tyler Wells and Kyle Bradish each required elbow surgery. Bradish just started his rehab assignment, and Wells' should commence this week. Bringing those two back into the fold will be a big step toward rebuilding the rotation for 2026. The news hasn't been as positive on Grayson Rodriguez, who's still experiencing elbow discomfort. This week will mark a year since Rodriguez's last big-league start. — Britton Advertisement Record: 46-63 Last Power Ranking: 26 Goal for the next two months: Enjoy the Rookie of the Year race For much of the season, Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson looked like the favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year award. The 23-year-old hit .329 in the first half and garnered more All-Star votes than Royals phenom Bobby Witt Jr. But with Wilson cooling off in recent weeks, a new contender has emerged: His teammate Nick Kurtz, who bashed his way into baseball history with a four-homer game against Houston on Friday night. That 6-for-6 evening was far from a fluke. Kurtz, the No. 4 pick in 2024, has been making hard contact for months. He is the sort of player a franchise can build around. The good news for the Athletics is that Wilson could still be one of those players, too. — McCullough Record: 45-62 Last Power Ranking: 27 Goal for the next two months: Develop Spencer Horwitz When the Pirates traded Luis L. Ortiz, along with two other pitching prospects, to acquire Horwitz from the Guardians, they did so intending to solve their first base problem, an issue that has persisted for at least five seasons since Josh Bell was still wearing the black and gold. After beginning the season on the IL, Horwitz did not make his 2025 debut until mid-May and has largely struggled. He did, however, post back-to-back multi-hit games against the Tigers last week, and added a grand slam for good measure in the third game to help Pittsburgh sweep Detroit. How the rest of the season shakes out will determine whether the Pirates have a cornerstone at first or just another fill-in come Opening Day 2026. — Flores Record: 44-62 Last Power Ranking: 28 Goal for the next two months: Evaluate the front office Advertisement Toward the end of another lost season for Washington, it all comes down to whether Mike DeBartolo is the right guy moving forward. He has been with the Nats for 12 years, and he's been the interim GM for three weeks. He's already had the No. 1 pick in the draft and now he'll navigate a trade deadline without significant walk-year players to move. (Only Michael Soroka made our Big Board top 50.) DeBartolo has suggested he'll modernize the organization. How much of that can he manifest by the end of the season? — Britton Record: 39-68 Last Power Ranking: 29 Goal for the next two months: Develop, develop, develop Record-wise, it's another lost season in Chicago, but 2025 doesn't have to end in total failure, so long as the White Sox continue to develop the crop of young talent that it's amassed via trade acquisitions and drafting. Between Edgar Quero, Kyle Teel, Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth, among others, the White Sox have a plethora of budding hitters and pitchers who can help turn things around in the near future. Continuing to get them opportunities, identifying any weaknesses and working on said weaknesses should be the goal to end the season as the club looks toward brighter days. — Flores Record: 28-78 Last Power Ranking: 30 Goal for the next two months: Avoid making the wrong kind of history The Rockies are showing signs of relative progress. The decision to trade Ryan McMahon was a start. We shall see if the team can maximize the returns for its cache of controllable relievers this week. Meanwhile, the team has been playing better baseball for the past couple months. Colorado is not playing good baseball, per se, but the Rockies are trending toward avoiding breaking the record for losses set last year by the White Sox. — McCullough (Top photo of Javier Báez: Nic Antaya / Getty Images)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shohei Ohtani's leadoff home run (38)
Shohei Ohtani gives the Dodgers a 1-0 lead with a leadoff home run to center field in the 1st inning
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Twins' Byron Buxton destroys Shohei Ohtani right away with monster HR vs. Dodgers
The post Twins' Byron Buxton destroys Shohei Ohtani right away with monster HR vs. Dodgers appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Minnesota Twins wasted no time making noise against the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night, as leadoff hitter Byron Buxton launched an electrifying solo home run off Shohei Ohtani to start the night with a bang. In what many were calling a heavyweight All-Star rematch, Buxton delivered the first blow—crushing Ohtani's second pitch of the game 410 feet into the left-center stands. The moment was both stunning and historic. Buxton's blast off the Dodgers ace clocked in with a 104.8 mph exit velocity and marked the first home run surrendered by the two-way phenom in his comeback season from Tommy John surgery. MLB wasted no time sharing the jaw-dropping clip on it's official X (formerly known as Twitter), capturing the center fielder's instant fireworks. 'CRUSHED 💥 Byron Buxton demolishes the second pitch he sees from Shohei Ohtani!' Buxton's shot wasn't just an early momentum-shifter—it also marked a significant milestone, as The Athletic's Dan Hayes pointed out. 'Byron Buxton now tied with Max Kepler for the third-most leadoff home runs in #MNTwins history (15), moving him past Chuck Knoblauch.' The blast was his 23rd of the season and sixth leadoff shot in 2025, underscoring his importance to a Twins offense battling to stay in the AL Wild Card race. The homer propelled Buxton into elite company within the organization, now tied with Max Kepler and trailing only Brian Dozier (28) and Jacque Jones (20) in franchise history for most leadoff bombs. Buxton, currently slashing .289 with 23 home runs and 57 RBIs, continues to prove he's among the most dangerous leadoff hitters in the American League. His early-game power has set the tone repeatedly for a Twins squad striving for consistency. Ironically, Ohtani, who had yet to allow a homer this year across five starts, responded in the bottom of the first with a titanic 441-foot two-run homer of his own. The dual-threat superstar flipped the score to 2-1, showing yet again why he's baseball's ultimate unicorn. Still, the 11-year veteran's lead-off bomb has been the statement of the night so far for Minnesota. The Twins vs. Dodgers showdown is living up to its billing—a duel filled with stars, drama, and milestone moments. Entering the game, the Twins are 48-51 on the season, tied with the Kansas City Royals for fourth place in the AL Central and sitting just one game behind the third-place Cleveland Guardians. The Detroit Tigers hold the top spot with a record of 60-41, while the Chicago White Sox remain buried in last place with a record of 36-65. As the Twins leadoff hitter, Buxton is not just making noise—he's rewriting history. With postseason hopes in reach, Minnesota may go as far as their No. 1 spark plug can take them. Related: Twins' Carlos Correa showered with disrespectful chant by Dodgers fans Related: Twins' Royce Lewis pulls back the curtain on 2025 struggles with Minnesota
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Insider claims Shohei Ohtani just hit ‘one of most impressive home runs ever'
The post Insider claims Shohei Ohtani just hit 'one of most impressive home runs ever' appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Los Angeles Dodgers have won their series opener against the Minnesota Twins, highlighted by a game-ending catch. This time, Dodgers All-Star Shohei Ohtani delivered a jaw-dropping home run against Twins reliever Jhoan Duran. In a moment of pure baseball brilliance, Ohtani turned on a 100-mph sinker from Minnesota's flamethrowing closer. He sent it soaring to the opposite field, and the blast shook Dodger Stadium and beyond. And lo, Ohtani is no stranger to towering blasts. MLB Network's Jon Morosi claims Shohei Ohtani's home run is one of the most impressive home runs ever he's witnessed. The pitch was a 100-mph sinker, darting in on the hands at the outer corner. Clearly, it was the kind of pitch hitters dream of turning on, but rarely do. The location was perfect. Yet what truly elevated the moment was Ohtani's ability to go the other way, generating enough barrel strength to turn that offering into a moon shot. It wasn't just power; it was precision. Jhoan Duran is no slouch on the mound for the Twins. In fact, he consistently works in the upper 90s with both sinkers and sliders and has baffled some of baseball's elite. Therefore, for Ohtani to take one of his best pitches and send it deep to the opposite field, on purpose, speaks volumes about his pure batting acumen. Furthermore, it underscores the fact Ohtani's the first true two-way star in modern baseball. What makes the homer even more meaningful is context. The Dodgers were in the midst of a mid-season skid. Ohtani's bomb provided a pivotal spark, igniting a resurgence in their offense. It reminded everyone why he's the centerpiece of L.A.'s lineup. Furthermore, it marked another chapter in his 2025 journey. He now ranks near the top of the NL in home runs and OPS and has secured his spot as an All-Star for the fifth consecutive year. Technically speaking, that swing was textbook biomechanical brilliance. He got his hips through early. He maintained bat head speed and extended fully. All the while, he countered a pitch designed to tie him up on the outer edge. The result? A high-arching, opposite-field homer that stands tall not just in the stat column, but in the pantheon of memorable Shohei Ohtani moments. And if Shohei Ohtani keeps delivering on this level, it's not just greatness he's chasing, it's another World Series run with the Dodgers. Related: Dodgers' Dave Roberts makes 'rock bottom' request after another implosion Related: Dodgers' Ben Casparius exits Twins game with apparent injury
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman leaves game in eighth inning
Days before the trade deadline, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman exited Sunday's game in the middle of the eighth inning. With the Red Sox clinging to a 4-3 lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chapman entered the game to face a tough pocket in the lineup beginning with No. 9 hitter Miguel Rojas. He walked Rojas on five pitches, the last ball coming on a pitch clock violation. Chapman's velocity, noticeably down, with his fastball averaging 94.7 mph compared to his normally electric 98.5 mph average this season, as he struggled to find the zone. Advertisement The left-hander stayed in and walked Mookie Betts on five pitches before getting Shohei Ohtani to fly out before manager Alex Cora and a trainer came out to the mound. After a brief discussion, Chapman exited the game and Jordan Hicks entered to finish off the eighth. Hicks collected his second save for the Red Sox with 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Chapman pitched Saturday night, making 17 pitches and picking up the save in a 4-2 win. The Red Sox have not yet announced a status update for Chapman. The 37-year-old closer is in the midst of one of the best seasons of his 16-year career with a 1.30 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, along with a 39.1 percent strikeout rate and a career-low 7.1 percent walk rate heading into Sunday. Chapman signed a one-year, $10.75 million deal last offseason with the Red Sox, who won an important series against the Dodgers but now approach the trade deadline with concerns over the lefty's health.
