| | Monday, May 20, 2024 | What better way to begin recapping the weekend than with the first game Friday afternoon? That's when Paul Skenes threw six no-hit innings against the Cubs, striking out 11 in what was only his second career start. Also notable is that he was facing the same opponent for a second straight outing, which would normally work in the offense's favor, but Skenes did an excellent job mixing up his pitches, at times even using his offspeed stuff to set up his triple-digit fastball. He also made it to 100 pitches, which is as much as you could ask from any young pitcher, really, and serves as a pretty clear indication that the Pirates will deploy him as a fully stretched-out starter rather than how he was used in the minors. | Of course, that Skenes outing wasn't the only noteworthy pitching performance from the weekend. Luis Gil struck out 14 over six innings against the White Sox Saturday and is looking more efficient overall, having gone at least six innings in four straight starts and issued two walks or fewer in four of five. Perhaps just as notably, Walker Buehler finally turned in a good outing, allowing no runs on three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts against the Reds Saturday. According to MLB.com, he changed his position on the rubber, which cost him a little in terms of velocity but greatly improved his command. He threw 71 percent of his pitches for strikes in this start compared to 61 percent in his first two. | Meanwhile, Grayson Rodriguez came off the IL with six one-hit innings against the Mariners on Saturday. Seth Lugo struck out 10 while allowing two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings against the Athletics Saturday, lowering his ERA to 1.79 and his WHIP to 0.98. Nick PIvetta ditched his cutter for a second straight start (it's been a terrible pitch for him) and allowed just one baserunner (and one run) in his six innings against the Cardinals Sunday. Chris Paddack went eight strong against the Guardians Sunday and seems to fare better when he throws his slider at least 20 percent of the time, as he did in this one. Yu Darvish allowed just two hits over seven innings against the Braves Sunday and has allowed no runs on 10 hits in his past four starts, spanning 24 innings. | The biggest bullpen development was an epic meltdown from Edwin Diaz Saturday that led to Reed Garrett getting a save Sunday in what manager Carlos Mendoza describes as a "fluid" situation. The biggest hitting development was Luis Matos collecting 11 RBI in a two-day span. I have more to say about both of those situations in today's look at the waiver wire. | | Waiver wire adds | Alek Manoah, SP, Blue Jays | The turnaround for Alek Manoah actually began in his previous start, when he allowed no earned runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts over seven innings against the Twins. He said then that he focused on attacking the zone and trusting his defense, which seemed like a good starting point, but it was only a one-off. Now, it isn't. This latest start was even better in that he allowed only one hit, once again walking one over seven innings. I'm stressing the walks because they were a big part of what wrecked his 2023 campaign, when he threw just 61 percent of his pitches for strikes. In these past two starts, he's thrown 69 percent of pitches for strikes. For those without a frame of reference, that's basically opposite ends of the spectrum. And it may be the key to unlocking Manoah's ace potential. | Luis Matos, OF, Giants | Luis Matos' exit velocities are never going to inspire poetry, but there's a reason why he slashed .331/.401/.543 in the minors last year. And we finally caught a glimpse of it in the majors this weekend, when he collected 11 RBI on six hits, including three doubles and a homer, in the span of two days. Also notable is that it took eight games for Matos to strike out for the first time, and that's where it starts for the 22-year-old. What he lacks in quality of contact he makes up for in quantity of contact, boasting an 11.9 percent strikeout rate for his entire minor-league career. Unlike his stint in the majors last year, he's rarely putting the ball on the ground (27.6 percent of the time so far), and better yet, he's pulling the ball when he elevates it. That's the tried-and-true way of maximizing power with modest exit velocities, and it makes Jung Hoo Lee's replacement in center field worth a flier in all leagues. | | John Means, SP, Orioles | What more do you need to see from John Means? Now fully recovered from Tommy John surgery (after a perhaps-too-hasty return late last year), he's doing all the things that made him a success prior to the surgery. He has yet to issue a walk in three starts and has a fly-ball rate that would rank tops among qualifiers, according to FanGraphs. It's a profile that lends itself to a spectacular WHIP, if some vulnerability to the long ball, but home runs don't figure to be as big of a problem as when Means last pitched extensively given the much deeper left-field fence at Camden Yards. He's even missing bats at a nice rate thanks to his changeup, which was responsible for eight of his 11 swinging strikes in his quality start Friday. You shouldn't expect a big strikeout total, but you may get a respectable one. | Matt Chapman, 3B, Giants | Matt Chapman is here for two reasons: He plays third base, and he's hot right now. If you're in need of a replacement for Max Muncy (or perhaps even Austin Riley), then you're only now coming to learn of the waiver wire wasteland that is third base. The good news is that Chapman just went 8 for 10 this weekend, collecting four doubles and two stolen bases. His home run output has been disappointing for a second straight season as he leans into an opposite-field approach that's even more misguided in San Francisco than it was in Toronto, but the speed is new. I wouldn't say I'm particularly optimistic about his rest-of-season outlook, but the fact is you can only afford to be so picky at this position.Then again, if Joseph Ortiz is also available (see below), it makes for a more elegant solution. | | News and Notes | Perhaps the biggest news of the weekend is that Edwin Diaz had another rough outing and is being shifted to a "fluid" role temporarily. It sounds like Adam Ottavino and Reed Garrett could see save opportunities. (Reed Garrett actually picked up a two-inning save on Sunday)Diaz's fastball is down just over 2 MPH this season and he has struggled with walks and home runs.Obviously there's no way you drop him but we should probably bench him for the foreseeable future right?Gerrit Cole threw two simulated innings Saturday. Pitching coach Matt Blake said after that was clocked throwing in the low 90s, but he is still multiple weeks away from making his return.Austin Riley has now missed five straight due to intercostal inflammation but appears to be progressing.Blake Snell is expected to return Wednesday against the Pirates.Joe Musgrove is listed as the starter on Tuesday against the Reds. Adolis Garcia was scratched from the lineup Sunday due to a right forearm injury. He underwent an MRI that came back clean.Zac Gallen's right hamstring tightened up on Saturday, though he was still able to pitch into the 7th inning. That's the same hamstring that gave him issues a few weeks back.Lots of Dodgers happenings this weekend: Max Muncy was placed on the IL with a Grade 1 right oblique strain and James Outman was optioned to Triple-A. Nico Hoerner has now missed six straight with this left hamstring strain. I'd probably plan to use somebody else over him this upcoming week.Bobby Miller threw a bullpen session Saturday. He's expected to throw a three-inning simulated game in the next few days. He's on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.Devin Williams played catch Saturday, the first time Williams has done any sort of throwing since being shut down with multiple stress fractures in his back.Ryan Pepiot threw a three-inning bullpen on Friday. He could be activated as soon as this week. Nolan Jones is expected to be recalled from his rehab assignment following Sunday's game at Triple-A.Sean Murphy will likely begin a rehab assignment Tuesday. He's been out since Opening Day with a left oblique strain.Josh Jung is expected to be re-evaluated in another 10-14 days before being cleared to start taking swings. He still appears to be at least six weeks away from returning. Brutal.Dansby Swanson is expected to return from the IL on Tuesday. Tylor Megill is returning to the Mets' rotation on Monday. | | | | | Tracker | | 24/7 Sports News | Watch a new episode of Tracker, starring Justin Hartley, Sunday at 9/8c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Watch Now | | Stay up to date on all the sports you love with CBS Sports HQ. We bring you the top stories, news, picks, highlights and more anywhere, anytime, all the time. Watch Live |
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