It’s August 1, and that means it’s time for the Baseball Roundtable monthly Wrap Up for July – a look at the stories and statistics that caught The Roundtable’s attention over the past month, as well as the standings, Roundtable Players and Pitchers of the Month, the Trot Index and more.
As usual, there were a few attention-grabbers over the past thirty-one days. We saw:
- The Royals’ SS Bobby Witt, Jr. hit .489 over 23 games and the Reds’ RHP Hunter Greene put up a 0.33 earned run average over four starts;
- Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi throw 39 innings in six starts, without issuing a single walk;
- Marlins’ Rookie SS Xavier Edwards hit for the cycle in a game which included his very first MLB homer and very first MLB triple;
- A no-hitter by Padre’s righty Dylan Cease;
- The first-ever three-homer game by a Yankee rookie (Ben Rice);
- The Braves’ 1B Matt Olson and C Travis D’Arnaud going yard back-to-back twice in one game; and
- Much more.
Read on for these stories and stats – and more (like All Star Game highlights), as well as for the usual Baseball Roundtable Wrap Up features.
Just a Brief Interruption from the Past
One of July’s highlights was the Braves’ Matt Olson and Travis D’Arnaud hitting back to back homers twice in one game. For those who like to know such things, back on May 2, 2002 – in a Mariners’ 15-4 win over the White Sox in Chicago – Seattle 2B Brett Boone and CF Mike Cameron hit back-to-back dingers twice – in the same inning. It was a ten-run first frame, and the victims were White Sox’ pitchers Jon Rauch and Jim Parque.
Now, back to our regular programming.
Baseball Roundtable July Players and Pitchers of the Month
National League
Player of the Month … Brenton Doyle, CF, Rockies
A couple of my Players of the Month for July could also qualify for Surprise of the Month. (Spoiler alert – there is a tie in the AL). We’ll start with Rockies’ CF Brenton Doyle. Doyle, in just his second MLB season, put up a .333-11-27 line in 24 July games. He led the NL in July homers, tied for the NL in RBI and scored 15 runs. Why the surprise? Last season, his first in the majors, Doyle hit just .203-10-48 in 126 games. (He did bring home a Gold Glove). This season, he came into July at .254-7-27 in 79 games. In July, Doyle had eight multi-hit games and nine multi-RBI contests.
Doyle was a fourth-round draft pick (out of Shepherd University) in 2019. In four minor-league seasons (292 games), he hit .287-55-165.
Honorable Mentions: Diamondback’s 3B Eugeni0 Suarez’ July number were nearly identical to Doyle’s. Like Doyle, he hit .333 with 27 RBI and 30 hits. He also had ten homers (to Doyle’s 11) and scored 21 runs to Doyle’s 15. I gave a paper thin edge to Doyle, probably because of the surprise factor (and his two stolen bases). I also put a couple of shortstops in here. Phillies’ SS Trea Turner had a .292-10-23 month, with 20 runs scored and five steals. Miami’s 24-year-old rookie SS Xavier Edwards led the NL in July hits (34), while going .395-1-12, with 14 runs scored and nine steals. The 2018 first-round draft choice (Padres) looks like a keeper. In six minor-league seasons, he hit .313-14-172, with 295 runs scored in 461 games. Last season, he hit .295 in 30 games for the Marlins and this season, through July, he is at .379-1-12, with 15 runs scored in 27 games. On July 28, he became just the second Marlin to hit for the cycle. (You’ll find more details on Edwards and his unique cycle in the highlights section.)
Pitcher of the Month – Hunter Greene, RHP, Reds
Photo: Minda Haas Kuhlmann, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Okay, I’m a sucker for a sub-200 earned run average. So, imagine how impressed I am with the Reds’ Hunter Greene and his 0.33 ERA in four July starts. Greene went 2-0 for the month and gave up just nine hits, one earned run and eight walks, while striking out 29 in 27 innings. He ran his season record to 7-4, 2.97. He held hitters to a minuscule .103 average and put up a 0.63 whip.
Honorable Mentions: How can you not mention Pirates’ phenom righthander Paul Skenes, who not only started the All Star Game as a rookie, but went 2-1, 1.59 in four July starts – fanning 33 and walking just six in 28 1/3 innings. On July 11, he no-hit the Brewers for seven innings, walking one and fanning eleven. His season record at the end of June was 6-1. 1.90. And, remember, he was the number-one pick in the 2023 draft and made it to the majors after just 34 minor-league innings. We’ll also give a nod of appreciation to a couple of veterans. The Braves Chris Sale went 3-0, 2.45 in five July starts, with 37 whifffs in 29 1/3 innings – and the Padres’ Dylan Cease went 4-2, put up a 2.35 ERA, led the NL with 49 July strikeouts and tossed a no-hitter on July 25.
American League
Player of the Month – Brent Rooker, LF, A’s & Bobby Witt, Jr., SS Royals
The A’s offense exploded in July and Brent Rooker lead the way – going .391-11-30 – third in MLB in average (among those with at least 75 July at bats) and first in RBI and home runs. He also tossed in five steals. Like Brenton Doyle in the NL, Rooker is a bit of a surprise here. In his fifth MLB season, the 2017 first-rounder (Twins) came into the season with a .230-40-92 line over 218 MLB games. He was, however, a 2023 All Star, hitting .246-30-69 for the A’s in 137 games. It looks as though he is going to eclipse all those number in 2024. As of the end of July, his 2024 line was .297-26-77, with 53 runs scored and seven steals.
You can’t ignore Royals’ SS Bobby Witt, Jr., who hit an MLB-highest (among hitters with at least 75 July at bats) .489 for the month, with seven homers, 22 RBI and 26 runs scored. He led MLB in July runs and hits (44 in 23 games). Witt hit safely in all but one of his July games and ended the month with an active 13-game hitting streak. His month included 13 multi-hit contests. His July on-base percentage was .520.
Honorable Mention: A’s rookie right fielder Lawrence Butler also had a great month: .363-10-27, with 23 runs scored and four steals.
Pitcher of the Month – Tie: Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Rangers & Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers
Yeah, I copped out again. Another tie. Nathan Eovaldi picked up four wins (one loss) and put up a 3.23 ERA. He led AL pitchers in starts (6, tied) and innings pitched (39). He also put up a fine 0.79 WHIP, but he gets the nod here on the basis of his 32 strikeouts versus zero – yes zero – walks. It’s those kind of unique ratio that attracts The Roundtable’s attention. Eovaldi’s numbers would have been even better, except for a five-inning, six-run outing versus the Orioles on July 19.
The Tigers’ Tarik Skubal went 3-0, 2.45 in five July starts, fanning 42 batters (second in the AL) and walking just five in 33 innings. He showed an ability to pitch out of trouble in a July 22 game against the division-leading Guardians, when he gave up just one earned run, despite surrendering ten hits and a walk in seven innings. He went at least six innings in all five starts, seven frames in three. (Okay, those didn’t used to justify bragging rights, but in today’s game they do.)
Honorable Mentions: The Rays’ Taj Bradley gave up just five earned run (six runs total) in five July starts (31 innings pitched) – going 3-1, 1.45, with 31 strikeouts and eight walks. He held hitters to a .160 average and put up a 0.81 WHIP. The Twins’ Bailey Ober went 3-1, with a 2.00 ERA and fanned 29, while walking just four, in 27 innings.
Surprise of the Month – Tyler Phillips, RHP, Phillies
Phillies’ rookie Tyler Phillips was a 16th-round draft pick (out of high school) in 2015 (Rangers). He moved from team to team in the minor leagues over eight seasons (in 2021 alone, he played for the Round Rock Express, Frisco Roughriders, Reading Fightin’ Phils and Jersey Shore Blue Claws) before being called up from Triple-A this July 5. (His minor-league record was 42-43, 4.32 in 149 games/129 starts.) Phillips saw his first MLB game action on July 7, going four innings in relief and giving up three hits and one run, while fanning seven. His next three appearances for the Phillies were starts – and he went 3-0, giving up four runs in 21 innings. In his third MLB start, he threw his first MLB shutout – a four-hitter in a 8-0 win over the Guardians. Philips finished July at 3-0, 1.80 for the Phillies. A very pleasant surprise.
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THE TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BASEBALL ROUNDTABLE FEATURE
Through July 31, 34.6% of the MLB season’s 122,431 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (22.3%); walks (8.2%); home runs (3.0%); HBP (1.1%); catcher’s interference (less than 1%). Strikeouts, by the way, outnumbered base hits 27,274 to 26,705.
The 34.6% figure is down from 35.6% through July in 2023. I also looked into full-year Trot Index figures for the years I have been a fan: in 2023; 30.3% in 2010; 29.9% in 2000; 31.7% in 1990; 23.1% in 1980; 27.0% in 1970; 25.1% in 1960; and 22.8% in 1950.
Observations on July Results.
The first thing that struck me was that July was a month of “reckoning.” Looking at the teams that were in first and second place in each of the divisions at the end of June:
- Seven of the 12 were under .500 for the month of July (Braves, Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers, Orioles, Yankees, Mariners);
- Three of those teams had their division’s worst July W-L record (Brewers, Yankees, Mariners);
- Of the five teams that were over .500, three were just one game over (Cardinals, Guardians and Twins);
- Only the Padres (13-9) and Astros (14-11) were more than one game over .500 from this group.
The surprise team of the month was the Oakland A’s. They ended June 26 games under .500, with the worst record in the AL West, second-worst in the AL overall (thanks to the White Sox) and third-worst in all of MLB. Then, in July, they won the most games of any AL team … 15-9. They did with power. Their earned run average was pretty much middle of the pack at was 4.18 (fifteenth in MLB and seventh in the AL.) However, the A’s led MLB in July homers (45), were second in runs scored (first in the AL) with 148. They were led by 29-year-old LF Brent Rooker (.391-11-30 in July) and 24-year-old RF Lawrence Butler (.363-10-27). Those two bats accounted for 46.7% of the team’s homers, 39.9% of the RBI, 30.9% of the A’s July base hits and 31.8% of the runs scored. On the mound, 28-year-old southpaw JP Sear came through with a 4-1. 3.07 record in four stats. He was the only true starter with an ERA under 4.30. (Hogan Harris went 1-1, 1.45 in three starts, but only pitched 14 2/3 innings.
——-Team Statistical Leaders for July 2024 ———–
RUNS SCORED
National League –Diamondbacks (164); Mets (133); Cardinals (126)
American League – A’s (148); Red Sox (141); Yankees (129)
The fewest runs in July were scored by the White Sox (74). In the National League, it was the Padres at 99.
AVERAGE
National League – Diamondbacks (.283); Cardinals (.271); Padres (.270)
American League – Red Sox (.283); Royals (.278); A’s (.267)
The lowest team average for July belonged to the White Sox at .212. The lowest in the NL was the Braves (.229). The bottom five in average were from the AL.
HOME RUNS
National League – Braves (44); Diamondbacks (41); Rockies (41)
American League – A’s (45); Yankees (41); Red Sox (37)
The Angels had the fewest July homers at 17. Also under 20 were the White Sox (18) and Nationals (19).
The Diamondbacks led MLB in slugging percentage for July at .499. The Red Sox led the AL at .496.
TOTAL BASES
National League – Diamondbacks (435); Mets (400); Rockies (383)
American League – Red Sox (440); A’s (400); Yankees (384)
STOLEN BASES
National League – Nationals (38); Reds (33); Marlins (26)
American League – Rays (34); Angels (25); Mariners (25)
The Twins and Rockies stole the fewest sacks in July at seven (in 11 and 16 attempts, respectively).
WALKS DRAWN
National League – Dodgers (99); Diamondbacks (92); Brewers (92)
American League – Yankees (109); Rays (94); Orioles (89)
The Diamondbacks led MLB in July On-Base Percentage at .353. The Red Sox led the AL at .343.
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
National League – Rockies (259); Mets (251); Braves (250)
American League – Red Sox (248); Mariners (244); White Sox (234)
Royals’ batters fanned the fewest times in June (124). The Padres fanned the fewest times in the NL at 150.
Bonus Stats
- Three teams (Red Sox, Reds, Pirates) recorded zero sacrifice bunts in July. The only teams with more than five were the Diamondbacks (9) and Marlins (9).
- The Braves recorded five sacrifice bunts in July – after not having in single sacrifice bunt through June.
- Through July, the Tigers have the fewest sacrifice bunts on the season at three, the Diamondbacks the most at 20.
- Mariners’ batters were hit by a pitch an MLB-leading 23 times in July. Brewers’ batters suffered the fewest HBP (four).
- Year-to-date, the Twins have suffered the most hit batsmen (75), the Brewers the fewest (32).
- The Rockies grounded into an MLB-highest 25 double plays in July. Teams grounding into fewer than ten double plays in the month were the Reds (7), Phillies (9), Dodgers (9) and Cubs (9).
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EARNED RUN AVERAGE
National League –Pirates (3.09); Cubs (3.14); Braves (3.38)
American League – Mariners (3.03); Rays (3.30); Rangers (3.76)
The Nationals had the highest July ERA at 5.72 – also north of 5.00 were the Blue Jays (5.65); Dodgers (5.36); White Sox (5.34); Rockies (5.29), Orioles (5.21); and Phillies (5.25).
STRIKEOUTS
National League – Mets (242); Braves (236); Giants (224)
American League – Astros (246); Yankees (241); Orioles (229)
The Astros averaged an MLB-best 10.06 strikeouts per nine innings in July. The Braves averaged an NL-best 9.5o. Ten teams average at least nine strikeouts per nine innings for the month.
FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED
National League – Padres (58); Braves (60); Cardinals (61)
American League – Mariners (56); Twins (58); Rays (60)
The Mariners walked an MLB-lowest 2.36 batters per nine innings in July. The Blue Jays walked an MLB-worst 4.24 batters per nine frames.
SAVES
National League – Mets (11); Dodgers (8); three with seven
American League – Astros (9); Rangers (9); Guardians (8); Rays (8);
The Dodgers and Red Sox blew the most saves in July – nine each. LA was 8-for-17 in save opportunities, Boston 6-for-15.
Walks+ Hits/Innings Pitched (WHIP)
National League –Padres (1.10); Cubs (1.14); Braves (1.15)
American League: Mariners (1.11); Twins (1.15); Rays (1.17)
Bonus Stats:
- The Mets gave up an MLB-high 48 home runs in July. The Mariners and Diamondbacks each gave up an MLB-low 19 home runs.
- The Padres held opponents to an MLB-low .220 average in July. The Rockies’ staff was touched for an MLB-high .291 average.
- The Braves’ strikeouts-to-walks ratio for July topped MLB at 3.93. The White Sox had MLB’s worst ratio at 1.77.
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July 2024 Highlights
Will Smith – Acting Up (and Outa Here)
On July 3, Dodgers’ catcher Will Smith came to the plate five times and had three home runs and two walks – scoring four runs and driving in three – as the Dodgers beat the Brewers 8-5 in Los Angeles. Smith went yard in the first and third innings off Aaron Civale and in the seventh off Bryan Hudson. They were his 12th, 13th and 14th homers of the season and made him just the fourth Dodger catcher with a three-homer game (Roy Campanella, Mike Piazza, Yasmani Grandal). Side note: Smith also homered in his first at bat the next day, giving him long balls in four straight at bats.
Smith finished July with a .256-15-56 line on the season.
Justin – Man of Steele
On July 5, Cubs’ southpaw Justin Steele pitched his first-ever complete game, as the Cubs beat the Angels 5-1 in Chicago. Steele tossed an efficient 95 pitches (68 strikes) and gave up two hits and two walks, while fanning seven. The nine-inning outing came in Steele’s fourth MLB season and 76th start. For those who like to know such things, there were seven MLB complete games in July and there have been 22 complete games this season (13 of them shutouts). By comparison, in 2010 there were 165 MLB complete games and, in July of that season, there were 27 MLB complete games – nine of them shutouts).
One (or a dozen) for the Record Books
In the fourth-inning of the Twins’ July 6 9-3 home win over the Astros, Minnesota 3B Jose Miranda stroked a single to right-center on an 0-1 pitch from Astros’ starter Hunter Brown. Just a single, no big deal. Right? Wrong! It gave Miranda a stretch of 12 base hits in 12 consecutive at bats tying an MLB record: Walt Dropo. 1B, Tigers … July 14-15, 1952; Pinky Higgins, 3B, Red Sox … June 19-21, 1938; Johnny Kling, C, Chicago Colts … August 24-28, 1902). A few highlights from Miranda’s streak:
- Miranda is the youngest player to accomplish this record;
- Miranda’s 12 base hits came off the most different pitchers of any of the streakers (eight different moundsmen)
- Miranda had the most total bases during his streak (19 – four doubles, one home run, seven singles);
- Miranda had the most runs scored during his streak (seven);
- Six of his 12 hits came when he was behind in the count, three on 0-2 pitches.
- The streak took place over four games over four days.
Yankee Power from an Unexpected Source
From Babe Ruth to Mickey Mantle to Aaron Judge (and others), the Yankees have been known for their power (hence, the Bronx Bombers). On July 6, however, 1B Ben Rice became the first Yankee rookie to hit three homers in a game and he did it in just his 17th MLB game (the fifth-earliest ever to achieve the feat according to Elias Sports Bureau). Batting out of the leadoff sport, Rice hit a solo shot in the first inning, a three-run homer in the fifth and a second three-run blast in the seventh, as the Yankees topped the Red Sox 14-7 in New York.
Rice was a 12th-round pick in the 2021 MLB Draft (out of Dartmouth College, where he hit .242-1-13 in two seasons – 30 games). In 2023, he went .324-20-68 in 73 games at A, High-A and Double-A. In 2004, he was .275-15-36 in 60 games at Double-A and Triple-A, before making his MLB debut on June 18. Through July, his MLB stat line was .211-7-22 in 35 games for New York.
An Immaculate One Inning Outing
On July 10, in Chicago, the White Sox called on Michael Kopech to come in from the pen in the top of the ninth to save a 3-1 win over the Twins. He did it in style, throwing 2024’s first Immaculate Inning (nine pitches, three strikeouts). In order, he fanned Twins’ 3B Brooks Lee, RF Matt Wallner and PH Max Kepler.
Ben Joyce Brings the Heat
On July 12, Angels’ reliever Ben Joyce threw a 104.5 MPH fastball – the fastest pitch of 2024 – while pitching a scoreless seventh frame in a 2-1 Angels win over the Mariners. (Side note: The fastest pitch measured since the tracking era began in 2008 was a 105.8 MPH Aroldis Chapman offering in 2010). Joyce’s pitch was fouled off by Angels’ Josh Rojas, who eventually fanned.
Ben Joyce holds the record for the fastest pitch recorded by a college player – a 105.5 MPH fastball while at the University of Tennessee.
As July closed, the 23-year-old rookie righty had a 1-0, 2.01 stat line in 19 2024 appearances, with 19 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings pitched.
Lucky 13
On July 13, Carlos Santana went deep in the off the Giants’ Taylor Rogers in a Twins’ 4-2 win at Oracle Pak. Not only did his 13th home run come on the 13th day of July, it also gave Santana the distinction of having homered in all 30 active MLB ballparks. In a #InBaseball We Count Everything move, the Elias Sports Bureau reported that only Santana, Manny Machado and Giancarlo Stanton had homered in all 30 current MLB ballparks. Of course, that will change when the A’s leave Oakland next season.
The Shohei Show – Frosting on the Cake
There’s always seems to be a Shohei Ohtani highlight. This one came in a July 13 Dodgers’ ten-inning 4-2 loss to the Tigers. In the top of the fifth frame, Ohtani broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run off Keider Montero. It was not only Ohtani’s 29th and league-leading round tripper of the season, but also his 200th MLB homer making him the first Japanese-born player to reach that mark. Ohtani already had the all-time mark for Japanese-born player (Hideki Matsui is second at 175), so this was frosting on the cake.
Rookie Power
Reds’ 23-year-old rookie RF Rece Hinds made his MLB debut on July 8, going two-for-three with a double and a home run in a 6-0 Reds’ win over Colorado. In his first six MLB games (July 8-13) Hinds hit an even .500 (11-for-22), with five home, three doubles and a triple His nine extra-base hits over his first six games are the most by any player in the Modern Era. Hinds ended July with a .316-5-11 stat line in ten games.
Hinds was signed, as a teenager, out of the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft. In five minor-league seasons, he hit .244-60-202, with 54 steals in 322 games.
All Star Notes
MLB’s 94th MLB All Star Game was played on July 17th and plenty has been written about the American League’s 5-3 win, so I’ll be brief here. A few highlights for The Roundtable:
- Red Sox’ outfielder Jarren Duran picked up the Ted Williams All Star Game Most Valuable Player Award after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth frame.
- Phenom Paul Skenes of the Pirates became the fifth rookie pitcher to start an All-Star game – and pitched a scoreless first inning. Other rookies to start the ASG include: Dodgers’ Hideo Nomo (1995): Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela (1981); Tigers’ Mark Fidrych (1976); Senators’ Dave Stenhouse (1962).
- Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer for the National League to become the first player to both notch a pitching victory (2021) and hit a homer in his All-Star game career.
- The Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase picked up his second ASG save to become just the fifth pitcher to record multiple All Star Game saves. Others in the club Mariano Rivera (four saves), Dennis Eckersley (3), Mel Harder (2), Bruce Sutter (2).
- The Winning pitcher was the A’s rookie Mason Miller (just the third rookie to notch an ASG win – after Spec Shear in 1947 and Dean Stone in 1954). Miller, who pitched the top of the fifth inning, threw eight (of his 12) pitches over 100 MPH – one at 103.6 MPH – fastest ever recorded at an All-Star contest.
An Early Riser – Then, Ouch!
The Oakland A’s drafted SS Jacob Wilson in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft – out of Grand Canyon University, where he hit .412-6-61 in 49 games in his junior (2023) season. In 2023, the 21-year-old went on to hit .333-1-13 in 26 games at Rookie and High-A ball. In 2024, he worked his way quickly up to Triple-A, with stops at Rookie and Double-A, hitting a combined .438-7-34 in 46 games before being called up to the A’s. He made his MLB debut on July 19, starting at SS and lacing a single on an 0-1 pitch from the Angels’ Griffin Canning in his first MLB plate appearance. He then scored on a Lawrence Butler’s triple, but pulled a hamstring as he rounded third and went on the ten-day IL after his first MLB at bat.
A Bi(cycle) Built for Two
Photo: Flickr user thatlostdog–, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
On July 21, Astros’ Designated Hitter Yordan Alvarez took the designation “hitter” seriously, hitting for the 2024 season’s second cycle (single, double, triple, homer in the same game). In his four-for-four game, Alvarez:
- Singled to RF in the first inning;
- Hit a solo homer to right in the fourth;
- Hit an RBI triple to center in the sixth;
- Doubled to right in the eighth.
Despite Alvarez’ efforts, the Astros lost the contest (versus the Mariners) 6-4.
The season’s previous cycle came on June 30, courtesy of the Rangers’ Wyatt Langford.
Well, That’s One
On Juley 21, Royals’ righty Seth Lugo went the distance, as Kansas City topped the White Sox 4-1 (n KC). Lugo gave up one run on three hits, walking none and fanning six (103 pitches). It was his first career complete game (nine seasons, 85 starts). It ran Lugo’s 2024 record to 12-4, 2.38 (his previous high in victories was eight in 2023).
More #InBaseballWeCountEverything or Do We Need a Trot Clock?
On July 21, as the Rays bested the Yankees 6-4 in New York, Rays’ LF Randy Arozarena and CF Jose Siri raised a few hackles with their “slow-motion” long ball celebrations. Do we really count everything in baseball? MLB.com’s Adam Berry reported Siri’s home run trot took 30 seconds (including time to watch the fly ball, flip his bat and round the bases.) Note: Berry reported that Arozarena and Siri each average 29.3 seconds per home run trot – second only to the Braves’ Marcell Ozuna.
Well, the next day, July 22), as the Yankees topped the Rays 9-1, fans saw a mini ‘Battle of the Home Run Trots.” In the fifth inning, Siri took 32.6 seconds to make his way from the batter’s box back to home plate after a long ball. The Yankees’ Juan Soto later took 2024 season’s slowest 37.7 seconds to round the bases after a leadoff seventh-inning homer.
Do we need not just a pitch clock, but also a trot clock? Are we tracking too much? You can be the judge.
That’s a Nice Round Number
On July 23, Cardinals’ righthander Lance Lynn – in his 13th MLB season (2011-15, 2017-24 … Cardinals, Twins, Yankees, White Sox, Rangers, Dodgers) – came into his start against the Pirates with 1,998 career strikeouts. In his five-inning scoreless outing, he gave up four hits and three walks, but more important (as a highlight), fanned two batters to reach the career 2.000 mark. Lynn got a no-decision, as the Cardinals triumphed 20-1 in Pittsburgh.
Lynn who started his career with the Cardinals in 2011, remained a Cardinal until 2019 and then returned to the Red Birds this season, At the close of July the 37-year-old had a 6-4, 4.06 record on the season and a career record of 142-99, 3.75. He has won 15 or more games in four seasons and was twice an All Star. His best record was in 2012, when he went 18-7, 3.78 for the Cardinals.
Astros Win True Rubber Game
The Astros came into came into their final game at the Oakland Coliseum (the A’s are moving out of Oakland next season) with a 54-54 lifetime record at the ballpark. They won that July 25 matchup 8-1, behind the pitching of Hunter Brown (six innings of one-run ball), sparked the bats of 2B Jose Altuve (three-for-five, with two runs scored and two RBI), RF Chas McCormick (two-for-four with a home run) and 3B Alex Bregman (two-for-four with two RBI). It gave Houston a final record at the Coliseum of 55-54 and made them the only opposing American league team with an All-Time record above .500 at the ballpark.
Giants’ Rookie Sets Franchise Long Ball Mark
Giants’ rookie Tyler Fitzgerald is having a solid season (.301-9-19 over 47 games as July came to an end). Further, from July 9 through July 23, he homered in five consecutive games played, hitting .571-5-7 in that span – and setting a Giants’ rookie mark for homers in consecutive games played. The power outburst may have been a bit of a surprise, Before starting the long ball streak Fitzgerald had just one home run and six RBI in 34 games this season. The 26-year-old had, however shown power in the past, with a .292-22-78 record 11 games at Double-A and Triple-A last season – and two homers in ten games after being called up to the Giants last September.
Know Your Place, Tyler
In 2024, Tyler Fitzgerald taken the field at SS, 2B, 1B, CF, LF and P – and served as DH. In his three trips to the mound, he is 0-0, with a 9.00 ERA in three innings.
Oh, No-No You Don’t
On July 25, Padres’ righthander Dylan Cease tossed the 2024 season’s second no-hitter, as San Diego topped the Nationals 3-0 in Washington D.C. Dylan walked three and fanned nine in the 114-pitch (71 strikes) outing. It was Cease’s tenth win of the year (versus eight losses) and dropped his earned run average to 3.50. (The Astros’ Ronel Blanco threw 2024’s first no-no in a 10-0 win over the Blue Jays on April 1.)
After the game the Padres’ Luis Arreaz presented the final-out game ball to Cease. A fitting tribute. Two seasons ago (Sept. 3, 2022), Cease (then with the White Sox) had a no-hitter going with two-outs in the ninth, cruising with a 13-0 lead over the Twins. Arreaz (then with the Twins) broke up the no-no with a two-out single on a 1-1 pitch. Cease struck out the next Twin (Kyle Garlick) to finish with a one-hit shutout.
Movin’ On Up
On July 25, as the Rangers bested the White Sox 2-1 in Texas, Max Scherzer got the win, with six strong innings (three hits, one walk and, importantly, nine strikeouts). His final whiff of the game (White Sox’ LF Tommy Pham on a 1-2 pitch with one out in the sixth) gave Scherzer 3,400 career strikeouts. His fourth strikeout of the game (career number 3,393) Moved him into sole possession of tenth place on the All-Time career whiff list.
Getting That First One Out of the Way Early
On July 25, Phillies rookie righty Tyler Phillips made his third major-league start and just his fourth MLB appearance. The 2015 16th Round draft choice (Rangers) made it count, tossing a four-hit (one walk/four strikeouts) shutout in win over the Guardians. Phillips threw 105 pitches (71 strikes) in the whitewashing. Phillips made his MLB debut on July 7, called up after going 7-3, 4.89 (with two complete games) in 15 starts at Triple-A. He closed July with a 3-0, 1.80 record for the Phillies.
A New High For Blake
On July 17, two-time Cy Young Award Winner Blake Snell was masterful as his Giants topped the Rockies 4-1 in San Francisco. Snell fanned a career-high 15 batters in his outing – remarkably in just six innings. (He walked two, gave up two hits and allowed no runs). I’ll do the math. He faced 22 batters and fanned 15 (68.2 percent). Twelve of the 15 whiffs came on swinging strikes and MLB.com reported that he induced 30 swings add misses, the MLB single-game high this season. Overall, he threw 103 pitches (66 strikes). Snell’s outing, by the way, got him a no-decision, He left the game with a 1-0, lead, but the Rockies tied it in the top of the seventh, before losing 4-1.
An Unlikely Cycle
On July 28, Marlins’ rookie shortstop Xavier Edwards came to bat with two outs and no one on in the top of the ninth inning and the Marlins trailing the Brewers 6-2. Not a momentous at bat, unless you consider that he needed just a single to compete the cycle (single, double, triple, home run in the same game). Brewers’ pitcher Devin Williams quickly got Edwards down to a 1-2 count and, with just strike left, Edwards hit a groundball to shortstop – and beat it out for an infield single and the second cycle in Marlins’ history. Talk about getting in under the wire, but there’s more.
- Edwards, batting leadoff, started his cycle with a home run to right (off Tobias Myers) on the first pitch of the game. It was the first home run in Edwards’ (at that point) 55-game MLB career.
- Edwards next walked to conclude a ten-pitch plate appearance versus Kyle Tyler in the second.
- Edwards then hit a double leading off the eighth – on a 1-2 pitch from Jakob Junis.
- In the seventh, he hit a 2-1 offering from Joel Payamps for a triple – his first-ever MLB triple.
- Then, of course, there was that ninth-inning, infield single to complete the four-for-four, two-run, one-RBI day.
A Padres’ first-round pick, as a teenager, in the 2018 draft, Edwards was traded to the Rays in December of 2019 and then traded to the Marlins in November of 2022. Edwards hit .313-14-172 over six minor-league seasons. He got a taste of the majors in 2023, hitting .295-0-3 in 30 games for the Marlins. Edwards came into the 2024 season on the IL and spent some time back a Triple-A. He played his first 2024 MLB game for the Marlins on June 7. At the end of July, he was hitting .379-1-12, with 15 runs scored and nine steals over 27 games.
Okay, This Deal Just Might Work
Lots has been written about the multitude of trade deadline deals – those that were made and those that weren’t (just ask Twins fans about that). So, I won’t rehash here. But the results of one of those deals caught my eye. On July 27, the Yankees acquired the versatile Jazz Chisholm, Jr. from the Marlins for three prospects. Coming to the Yankees, Chisholm had made 190 appearances in CF, 167 at second base and 46 at shortstop. On July 28, he started in CF for New York (batting in the five-hole) and went one-for-five with a stolen base. It was the next game that caught my eye. On July 29, the Yankees put Chisholm at third base, batting sixth. (The hot corner has been a bit of an offensive desert for New York this season). It was Chisholm’s first-ever professional appearance at the position.
A new team, a new position – how did the newcomer react to the pressure? In his very first inning at third base, the ball found him. With no outs and a runner on first, Phillies’ SS Trea Turner sent a groundball Chisholm’s way. The result? A nifty third-to second-to first double play. (Chisholm picked up another two assists in a flawless day in the field.) The change didn’t bother his offense either. He went two-for-four, with two home runs, two runs scored, three RBI and a walk. Oh, and he hit that second homer with a new bat. Chisholm reported that with the Yankees up 12-4 and Phillies’ catcher Garrett Stubbs on the mound, he asked Aaron Judge if he could try the big sluggers’ heavier bat against the backstop’s soft tosses. New team, new position, new bat. Still no problem.
Then, on July 30, to show his first game as a third basemen was no fluke, Chisholm doubled down. Again, playing flawless defense (four assists, one putout) at the hot corner, Chisholm went three-for-six, with two runs, scored, five RBI and two more home runs, as the Yankees edged the Phillies 7-6 in 12 innings. This outburst, by the way, made Chisholm the first Yankee to homer four times in his first three games in the pinstripes.
100 for Skenese
On July 29, the Pirates’ 22-year-old, 6’6”, 235-pound, righthanded phenom Paul Skenes logged his 13th MLB start (facing the Astros). While he got a no-decision, he went six innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three walks and five this. Notably, he also fanned six batters, giving him 103 on the season. He is just the sixth NL/AL MLB pitcher (post-1900) reach 100 whiffs in 13 or fewer games. The list:
- 12-games …Herb Score, Indians – June 9, 1955; Hideo Nomo – June 9, 1995; Kerry Wood, Cubs – June 15, 1998.
- 13-games… Jose DeLeon, Pirates – September 21, 1983; Masahiro Tanaka, Yankees – June 11, 2014; Paul Skenes, Pirates – July 29, 2024.
Skenese record through July was 6-1. 1.90. Side note: The Roundtable finds Score’s 12-games to 100 whiffs the most impressive. That season, MLB teams average just 4.4 strikeouts per nine innings. In his first 12 games, Score fanned 101 batters in 86 frames.
Double Your Pleasure
On July 31, as the Braves topped the Brewers 6-2 in Milwaukee, Braves 1B Matt Olson and C Travis d’Arnaud hit back-to-back home runs, not once, but twice. Batting in the four and five spots in the order, the pair hit solo shots in the fourth inning off the Brewers’ Freddy Peralta. (Those homers tied the game at two apiece). Then, with the Braves up 4-2 in the eighth, they added a second pair of solo home runs off Nick Mears.
–INDIVIDUAL LEADERS FOR July —
BATTING AVERAGE (at least 75 July at bats)
American League: Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (.489); Brent Rooker, A’s (.391); Lawrence Butler, A’s (.363)
National League: Xavier Edwards, Marlins (.395); Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks (.357); Juan Yepez, Nationals (.341)
HITS
American League: Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (44); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (34); Yainer Diaz, Astros (34)
National League: Xavier Edwards, Marlins (34); Ezequiel Tovar, Rockies (31); four with 30
The Rockies’ Brenton Doyle led all MLBers in July extra-base hits with 19 – seven doubles, one triple and eleven home runs.
HOME RUNS
American League: Brent Rooker, A’s (11); Lawrence Butler, A’s (10); Cal Raleigh, Mariners (9); Anthony Santander, Orioles (9)
National League: Brenton Doyle, Rockies (11); Trea Turner, Phillies (10); Marcell Ozuna, Braves (10); Eugenio Suarez, Diamondback (10)
The Royals’ Brent Rookie led all players with at least 75 July at bats in slugging percentage at .833. The Rockies’ Brent Doyle led the NL at .800.
RUNS BATTED IN
American League: Brent Rooker, A’s (30); Lawrence Butler, A’s (27); Rafael Devers, Red Sox (24)
National League: Brenton Doyle, Rockies (27); Eugenio Suarez, Diamondbacks (27); Alex Burleson, Cardinals (25)
RUNS SCORED
American League: Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals (26); Brent Rooker, A’s (24); Lawrence Butler, A’s (23)
National League: Corbion Carroll, Diamondbacks (22); Eugenio Suarez, Diamondbacks (21); Trea Turner, Phillies (20)
DOUBLES
American League: Rafael Devers, Red Sox (10); Jarren Duran, Red Sox (10); Dominic Smith, Red Sox (10); Juan Soto, Yankees (10)
National League: Juan Yepez, Nationals (11); Alex Bohm, Phillies (10); Michael Busch, Cubs (9)
TRIPLES
American League: Colt Keith, Tigers (3); Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays (3); seven with two
National League: Mike Yastrzemski, Giants (4); Jake McCarthy, Diamondbacks (4); five with two
STOLEN BASES
American League: Luis Robert, Jr., White Sox (12); Zach Neto, Angels (8); Victor Robles, Mariners (8)
National League: Elly De La Cruz, Reds (15); Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (12); Lane Thomas, Nationals (11)
The Angels’ Zach Neto and Mariners’ Victor Robles stole the most July bases without getting caught (8).
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
American League: Luis Robert, Jr., White Sox (38); Taylor Ward, Angels (34); Ben Rice, Yankees (30)
National League: James Wood, Nationals (37); Brandon Nimmo, Mets (34); five with 33
WALKS
American League: Aaron Judge, Yankees (23); Isaac Parades, Rays (20); Nolan Schanuel, Angels (18)
National League: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (19); Matt Chapman, Giants (17); Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (17)
PITCHING VICTORIES
American League: Framber Valdez, Astros (4-0); Michael Wacha, Royals (4-0); Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers (4-1); Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles (4-1); JP Sears, A’s (4-1); Hunter Brown, Astros (4-2); Hans Crouse, Angels (4-2); Brady Singer, Royals (4-2)
National League: Jacob Junis, Brewers (4-0); Aroldis Chapman, Pirates (4-1); Dylan Cease, Padres (4-2)
The Blue Jays’ Chris Bassitt (1-4, 7.01) and Phillies’ Christopher Sanchez (1-4, 6.59) tied for the most July losses.
EARNED RUN AVERAGE (minimum 25 May innings)
American League: Taj Bradley, Rays (1.45); Bryce Miller, Mariners (1.80); Luis Castillo, Mariners (1.99)
National League: Hunter Greene, Reds (0.33); Paul Skenese, Pirates (1,59); Luis Ortiz, Pirates (1.75)
The highest ERA among pitchers with at least 25 July innings or four July starts was 7.71 by the Reds’ Freddy Montas (1-2, 7.71 in four starts, 21 innings.
STRIKEOUTS
American League: Nick Pivetta, Red Sox (44 K/29 IP); Tarik Skubal, Tigers (42 K/ 33 IP); Grayson Rodriguez, Orioles (42 K/34 1/3 IP)
National League: Dylan Cease, Padres (49 K/ 38 1/3 IP); Chris Sale, Braves (37 K/29 1/3 IP); Sean Manaea, Mets (36 K/36 2/3 IP);
The Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi made six starts in July, pitching 39 innings and striking out 32 batters, while walking none.
WALKS + HITS/INNINGS PITCHED (at least 25 July innings)
American League: Bailey Ober, Twins (0.74); Tyler Anderson, Angels (0.75); Nathan Eovaldi, Ranges (0.79)
National League: Hunter Greene, Reds (0.63); Paul Skenes, Pirates (0.67); Tyler Phillips, Phillies (0.76)
Among pitches with at least 25 innings, the Reds Hunter Greene held batters to the lowest June average at .103.
SAVES
American League: Josh Hader, Astros (9); Emmanuel Clase, Guardians (8); Kirby Yates, Rangers (8)
National League: Kyle Finnegan, Nationals (6); Camilo Doval, Giants (6); Tanner Scott, Marlins (6); Edwin Diaz, Mets (6)
Josh Hader of the Astros saved the most games without a blown save in July (nine).
If the season ended on July 31, your post-season teams would be:
American League
Guardians, Orioles, Astros Wild Cards: Yankees, Twins, Royals
National League
Phillies, Dodgers, Brewers Wild Cards: Braves, Padres, Diamondbacks.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com
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