Edwin Encarnacion – got the Blue Jays going in August.
August Belonged to the Blue Jays
The Dog Days of August are behind us and, by pretty much any measure, the month belonged to the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays won a major-league-best 21 games – against only six losses (a .778 percentage) – moving from third place in the AL East (6 games behind) at the end of July to first place (with a 1 1/2 game edge over the Yankees) at the end of August. In the process, they were totally dominant – scoring MLB’s most runs for the month (170) and giving up MLB’s fewest tallies (83). Middle of the line-up offense was the key to the surge. DH Edwin Encarnacion hit .407 in August with 11 home runs and 35 RBI – those totals ranked first, second and first in all of MLB. Also contributing to the Blue Jays’ rush to first place were: 3B Josh Donaldson, who matched Encarnacion’s 11 homers and 35 RBI, while hitting .324 for the month; and RF Jose Bautista (.286-10-20).
The Blue Jays weren’t the only team to make a move in August. The Mets had MLB’s second-best record at 20-8 (.714), moving from second place in the NL East at the end of July (two games back) to first place (with a 6 ½ cushion over the Nationals). Four teams recorded 19 wins in August – the Pirates at 19-8 and the Royals, Cardinals and surging Cubs (all at 19-9). Two teams played under .300 ball for the month – the Reds (8-21, .276) and Braves (8-20, .286). Over in the AL, the Angels had August’s worst results at 10-19 (.345)
If the Season Ended August 31 …
Let’s start with a look at who is where. Who would be in the playoffs if the season ended at the end of business on August 31?
- AL … Division Champions: Blue Jays; Royals; Astros. Wild Cards: Yankees, Rangers. Note: The Twins are just one game behind the Rangers in the WC race.
- NL … Division Champions: Mets; Cardinals; Dodgers. Wild Cards: Pirates, Cubs. Note: The closest to the Cubs in the WC race are the Giants – 5 ½ back.
You will find full August 31 standings at the end of this post.
A Few Team Observations
Home to the team holding 2015’s best won-lost record.
As of the end of play on August 31, the Cardinals (.649), Royals (.615) and Pirates (.612) were the only teams playing .600 or better ball, while only the Phillies were playing under .400 ball (.395). The biggest Division edge belonged to the Royals with a 13-game lead over the Twins in the AL Central, while the closest race was in the AL East, where the Jays lead the Yankees by just 1 ½ games. While they didn’t have MLB’s worst won-loss record, the Reds were the furthest behind in any Division race – trailing the Cardinals by 30 ½ games (however, they were only one game behind the fourth-place Brewers).
A sampling of team stats through August:
- The Blue Jays led all of MLB in runs scored with 720 – 90 ahead of the closest challenger (the Yankees at 630). The top scoring team in the AL was the Diamond backs at 588 runs. The Braves were MLB’s lowest-scoring team through August at just 475 tallies, while the Rays had the lowest AL total (489). MLB Average – 548 runs scored.
- The Cardinals gave up the fewest runs through August (392), while the Rockies were the most generous (Thank you, Coors Field) at 682 runs. In the AL, the Astros allowed the fewest tallies at 469, while Detroit allowed the most opposing runners to reach the plate (640). MLB Average – 548 runs allowed.
- Only Saint Louis had a team earned run average under three (2.65 through August 31), while only Colorado had a team ERA over five (5.10). MLB Average – 3.92
- Toronto also led all of MLB in home runs through August at 184. The Dodgers lead the NL with 155. Least power? The Braves and Marlins were the only teams with less than 100 long balls, 83 and 97, respectively. Surprisingly, the Royals – with the AL’s best record – had the fewest home runs in the junior circuit at 102. The Royals were, however, sixth in the AL in runs scored (569) and second (trailing only the Tigers) in batting average (.270). MLB Averages – 129 HRs, .254 average.
- If you are looking for speed, Cincinnati is the place to go (Thanks, Billy Hamilton). The Reds led MLB with 116 steals through August, but the Diamondbacks were on their heels with 110. In the AL, Houston led in steals with 99. Meanwhile, no one stayed put on base more than the Orioles and Dodgers, with 36 and 39 steals, respectively, each. MLB Average – 69.
- Laying off the bad pitch. No team drew more walks through August than the Blue Jays (448) – maybe it’s all the power. The Cubs drew the most free passes in the NL at 444. The Royals were the only team to draw fewer than 300 walks through August (295). Surprisingly, despite leading all of MLB in walks, the Blue Jays drew the fewest intentional passes through August (eight). The Cardinals led all of MLB with 43 intentional walks through August 31. MLB Averages – 370 walks, 26 intentional passes.
- The Cubs led MLB in strikeouts (as hitters) at 1,208, while the Astros’ 1,158 led the AL. The Royals got the bat on the ball most consistently, with MLB’s lowest strikeout total through August at 741. MLB Average – 997.
- When it comes to power pitching, the Indians’ staff led MLB in strikeouts with 1,163, with the Cubs atop the NL with 1,128. Twins’ pitchers have recorded the fewest whiffs, just 804. MLB Average 997.
Before getting into individual statistics for August and through August here are …
A FEW AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS
The Tri-Cycle Club
Adrian Beltre – hitting for the cycle can be habit-forming.
On August 3, Texas Rangers’ 3B Adrian Beltre – a four-time All Star, four-time Gold Glover and four-time Silver Slugger honoree – joined a very elite group of MLB hitters. As the Rangers topped the Astros 12-9 in Arlington, Beltre became just the fourth MLB player to hit for the cycle three times in his career (joining John Reilly, Babe Herman and Bob Meusel). Beltre didn’t keep the home town fans in suspense for long, completing his cycle in just five innings (triple in the first, double in the second, single in the third, home run in the fifth).
All three of Beltre’s cycles have come at Arlington (but not all for the Rangers). He hit for his first cycle on Sept. 1, 2008, against the Rangers (as a Mariner). His second cycle came as a Ranger on Aug. 24, 2012, against the Twins. For trivia buffs, Beltre is the only person to hit for the cycle in the same ball park for more than one team.
Making that First One Count
On August 12 and August 21, Mariners’ RHP Hisashi Iwakuma and Astros’ RHP Mike Fiers, respectively, each threw their first-ever MLB complete game. Iwakuma beat the Orioles 3-0 (in Seattle) and Fiers topped the Dodgers by the same score (in LA). The nine-inning outings were not only each player’s first complete game, they were the fourth and fifth no-hitters of the 2015 MLB season.
Going the Distance – In Style
On April 21, 2012, Philip Humber of the White Sox pitched his first MLB complete game – and did it in style – pitching a perfect game against the Mariners in Seattle. He threw 96 pitches in the perfecto – 67 for strikes – in which he fanned nine. The perfect game was the only complete game of Humber’s eight-year MLB career.
Number-Nine … Number-Nine … Number-Nine
No one likes to bat in that number-nine slot, but it was pretty good to Red Sox’ right fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. on August 15. Coming into the game hitting .203 with just two home runs (after hitting .198 with one home run in 127 games in 2014), Bradley went five-for-six, with three doubles, two home runs, five runs scored and seven RBI – as the Red Sox topped the Mariners 22-10 in Boston. Bradley’s five extra-base hits in a game were a Red Sox’ franchise record (and some pretty good hitters have graced the Fenway batter’s box).
How Do You Spell Relief?
On August 16, Oakland 1B Ike Davis took the mound for the second time this season. Davis came on to open the bottom of the eighth with Oakland trailing Baltimore 18-2. Davis retired the first hitter he faced (number-two hitter CF Gerardo Parra) on a fly to left. Then, Orioles’ 3B Jimmy Paredes doubled. That’s when it got interesting. The Orioles had moved starting DH Steve Clevenger to 1B when they brought in reliever Jason Garcia in the top of the eighth, thus losing the DH position. That meant relief pitcher Jason Garcia would come to the plate, hitting in the clean-up spot (which had been occupied by starting 1B Chris Davis). So, here – in the DH-embracing American League – we had a position player pitching to a pitcher (batting clean-up). Garcia drew a four-pitch walk, after which Davis struck out Jonathan Schoop and got starting DH/now 1B Clevenger on a fly to left. Davis was the A’s most effective pitcher of the game, which saw the Orioles score 18 runs on 26 hits and three walks,
Davis may come by his penchant for taking the mound naturally. He is the son of former MLB reliever Ron Davis – who notched 130 saves in 11 big league seasons.
I Think That One Cleared the Van Down by the River
On August 19, Tigers’ southpaw Daniel Norris was slated to start against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was his fourth appearance since being traded to the Tigers (by the Blue Jays) on July 30 – and his first in an NL park. Consequently, the day would mark Norris’s first-ever professional plate appearance. The free-spirited (more on that in a minute) lefty gave a hint of things to come when he damaged the Cubs’ new right field video board with a long smash during batting practice. Then, during the game, he hit a two-run home run in his first major league plate appearance – the first Tiger hurler ever to do so. The Tigers, by the way, beat the Cubs 15-8, but Norris left after 4 1/3 innings due to an oblique strain.
Oh, about that free-spirit, this is the same Daniel Norris who – despite signing for a $2- million bonus – lived in a 1978 Volkswagen van behind a Wal-Mart in Spring Training.
August A Month For Rookies
According the Elias Sports Bureau, 56 rookies went deep in the month of August – hitting 155 home runs, the most ever hit by rookies in a single MLB month. Leading the rookie home run parade were Twins’ 3B/DH Miguel Sano and Cubs’ C/OF Kyle Schwarber, who each hit nine August round trippers. Sano went .278-9-26 for the month, while Schwarber went .221-9-24.
Cespedes Paying Dividends for Mets
On August 21, Yeonis Cespedes had a night to remember as his Mets topped the Rockies 14-9 in Colorado. Cespedes collected five hits in six at bats – including three home runs, a double and a single. He also scored five times and drove in seven – and added a stolen base for good measure. In the process, he missed a cycle (single, double, triple, homer in one game) by just the triple – and was just a three-run blast short of a “Home Run Cycle” (solo, two-run, three-run and Grand Slam homer all in the same game). Cespedes hit a Grand Slam in the second inning, a solo shot in the fourth and a two-run homer in the sixth. For the story of professional baseball’s only Home Run Cycle, click here. Since the Mets traded for Cespedes on July 31, he has given them all they wanted and more. In 28 games as a Met, he has hit .275-8-23.
Double Your Pleasure … Double Your Fun
Cano – a doubles machine.
On August 25, Seattle 2B Robinson Cano banged his way into the MLB record books by taking second base on a bloop hit to left field. It was Cano’s 30th double of the season, making him the first MLB player to hit thirty or more doubles in each of his first 11 big league seasons. Cano’s historic two-bagger came with one out and no one on in the bottom of the seventh inning of the Mariners’ 6-5 home win over the A’s. (The Mariners were leading 6-5 at the time, and Cano did not come around to score.)
In his first ten seasons, the six-time All Star, five-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time Gold Glover averaged 41 doubles per year (a low of 34 in his 2005 rookie and a high of 48 for the Yankees in 2009 and 2012). Cano is now one of just six players – joining Stan Musial, Honus Wagner, Tris Speaker, Joe Medwick and Ed Delahanty – to collect 30 or more doubles in 11 straight seasons.
Ten Players Go Yard in One Game
On August 24), the Mets hit eight home runs while trouncing the Phillies 16-7 (in Philadelphia). The game featured a total of eleven round trippers (tying the NL record for combined long balls in a game). The two teams also set a new MLB record for the most players hitting a home run in a game at ten – seven Mets and three Phillies. The eleven home runs were just one short of the MLB record for a game – accomplished twice, both times in a White Sox/Tigers contest. For more on the Mets/Phillies and other home run records, click here.
Arrieta’s No-No
On August 30, the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta threw a no-hitter in Los Angeles, beating the Dodgers 2-0. Arietta walked one and fanned twelve in the outing, throwing 80 of 11 pitches for strikes. Arrieta, by the way, finished his no-no in style, striking out the side in the ninth. It was the sixth no-hitter this season – one short of the modern record for an MLB season (seven in 1990, 1991, 2012). There were eight no-hitters thrown in the 1884 American Association (considered a major league) season. The no-hitter was Arrieta’s sixth win in August and 17th on the season – MLB 2015 highs for August and through August.
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NOW IT’S … STAT TIME
Now, here are your Month-of-August and Through-August batting and pitching leaders:
Month-of-August Batting Leaders
A look at August’s batting leaders gives a pretty good indication as to why the Blue Jays finished with the month’s best won-lost record. As I noted earlier, the Jays’ 3B Josh Donaldson, RF Jose Bautista and DH Edwin Encarnacion made up the month’s most devastating offensive trio. Encarnacion was clearly August’s top offensive performer – with a .407-11-35 line.
For August, three hitters with at least 75 plate appearances managed a .400 batting average; Encarnacion; Indians’ left fielder Michael Brantley (.406); and Indian’ 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (.403). D-Backs CF A.J. Pollock led NL hitters with a .377 average for August.
August was a good month to be named “Khris” or” Chris” Davis – as both players reached 10 home runs and 20+ RBI for the month. Brewers LF Khris went .228-10-24, while Orioles’ 1B Chris’ August line read .257-10-22.
Nobody apparently wanted anything to do with Reds’ slugging 1B Joey Votto. Votto led MLB with 38 walks in August – the Nationals’ Bryce Harper was second with just 24.
Here’s a look at the Month-of-August batting leaders.
AVERAGE (minimum 75 plate appearances)
AL
Edwin Encarnacion, DH , Blue Jays – .407
Michael Brantley, LF, Indians – .406
Lonnie Chisenhall, 3B, Indians – .403
NL
A.J. Pollock, CF, D-backs – .377
David Peralta, LF, D-backs – .375
Andrew Mccutchen, CF, Pirates – .348
HR
NL
Carlos Gonzalez, RF, Rockies – 10
Khris Davis, LF, Brewers – 10
Kyle Schwarber, C, Cubs – 9
AL
Nelson Cruz, RF, Seattle – 12
Edwin Encarnacion, DH, Mariners – 11
Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays – 11
RBI
AL
Edwin Encarnacion, DH Blue Jays – 35
Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays – 35
Miguel Sano, 3B, Twins – 26
NL
Ryan Zimmerman, 1B, Nationals – 28
Matt Kemp, RF, Padres – 25
Khris Davis, LF, Brewers – 24
Kyle Schwarber, C/OF, Cubs – 24
RUNS SCORED
AL
Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays – 29
Jose Bautista, RF, Blue Jays – 26
Nelson Cruz, RF, Mariners – 24
NL
Kyle Schwarber, C/OF, Cubs – 26
A.J. Pollock, CF, D-backs – 24
Bryce Harper, RF, Nationals 24
STOLEN BASES
NL
Dee Gordon, 2B, Marlins – 11
A.J. Pollock, CF, D-backs – 10
Charlie Blackmon, CF, Rockies – 9
AL
Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros – 8
Lorenzo Cain, CF, Royals – 7
Four with Six
Month-of-July Pitching Leaders
Jake Arrieta was clearly the pitcher of the month in August with an MLB-leading six victories, an 0.43 ERA for the month (second only to the Mets’ Matt Harvey among pitchers with 20 or more innings) and a no-hitter in his last August outing. Boston’s Joe Kelly matched Arrieta’s six wins in the AL, going 6-0, 2.68. The Giants’ Madison Bumgarner was the only five game winner (5-0, 1.43).
The Importance of Run Support
The AL ERA leaders illustrated just how important run support can be. The Astros’ Scott Feldman, Indians’ Carlos Carrasco and Tigers’ Justin Verlander finished 1-2-3 in ERA for the month – and had a combined ERA of 1.44 in 13 starts. Yet each won only one game, and they totaled four losses.
WINS
AL
Joe Kelly, Red Sox – 6-0, 2.68 ERA
Seven with four victories.
NL
Jake Arrietta, Cubs – 6-0, 0.43
Madison Bumgarner, Giants – 5-0, 1.43
Three with four victories
ERA (minimum 20 innings pitched in the month)
AL
Scott Feldman, Astrsa – 1.33
Carlos Carrasco, Indians– 1.47
Justin Verlander, Tigers – 1.50
NL
Matt Harvey, Mets – 0.33
Jake Arrieta, Cubs – 0.43
Michael Wacha, Cardinals – 1.13
STRIKEOUTS
AL
Chris Sale, White Sox – 52 (33 2/3 innings)
David Price, Blue Jays – 50 (43 1/3 IP)
Chris Archer, Rays – 50 (39 1/3 IP)
NL
Madison Bumgarner, Giants – 53 (37 2/3 innings)
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers – 51 (45 IP)
Raisel Iglesias, Reds – 45 (39 2/3 IP)
SAVES
AL
Shawn Tolleson, Rangers – 10
Roberto Osuna, Blue Jays – 10
Brad Boxberger, Rays – 8
NL
Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals – 11
Mark Melancon, Pirates – 10
Four with nine
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MLB LEADERS THROUGH -AUGUST
Batting Leaders Through-August
BATTING AVERAGE
NL
Bryce Harper, RF, Nationals – .329
Dee Gordon, 2B, Marlins – .329
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, D-backs – .325
AL
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers – .358
Michael Brantley, LF, Indians – .322
Jason Kipnis, 2B, Indians – .319
HR
AL
Nelson Cruz RF, Mariners – 39
Josh Donaldson, 3B. Blue Jays – 36
Chris Davis, 1B, Orioles – 35
NL
Bryce Harper, RF, Nationals – 31
Carlos Gonzalez RF, Rockies – 31
Todd Frazier, 3B, Reds – 30
Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies – 30
RBI
NL
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, D-backs – 96
Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies – 95
Andrew McCutchen, CF, Pirates – 85
AL
Josh Donaldson, 3B, Blue Jays – 108
Chris Davis, 1B, Orioles – 92
Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Blue Jays – 91
RUNS
AL
Josh Donaldson, 3B. Blue Jays – 101
Brian Dozier, 2B, Twins – 90
Jose Bautista, RF, Blue Jays – 89
NL
Bryce Harper, CF, Nationals – 92
A.J. Pollock, CF, D-backs – 91
Dexter Fowler, CF, Cubs – 85
STOLEN BASES
NL
Billy Hamilton, CF, Reds – 54
Dee Gordon, 2B, Marlins – 45
Charlie Blackmon, CF, Rockies – 36
AL
Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros – 35
Lorenzo Cain, CF, Royals – 26
Billy Burns, CF, A’s – 25
Ben Revere, LF, Blue Jays – 25
Pitching Leaders Through-August
WINS
NL
Kale Arrieta, Cubs – 17-6 (2.11)
Madison Bumgarner, Giants – 16-6 (2.97)
Michael Wacha, Cardinals – 15-4 (2.69)
Gerrit Cole, Pirates – 15-7 (2.44)
AL
Dallas Keuchel, Astros – 16-6 (2.24)
Felix Hernandez, Mariners – 15-8 (3.66)
Four with 14
ERA
NL
Zack Greinke, Dodgers – 1.61
Jake Arrieta, Cubs – 2.11
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers – 2.24
AL
Sonny Gray, A’s – 2.13
Dallas Keuchel, Astros – 2.24
Scott Kazmir, Astros – 2.45
STRIKEOUTS
AL
Chris Sale, White Sox – 229 (171 1/3 IP)
Chris Archer, Rays – 223 (181 IP)
Corey Kluber, Indians – 219 (200 1/3 IP)
NL
Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers – 236 (185 IP)
Max Scherzer, Nationals – 209 (178 IP)
Madison Bumgarner, Giants – 192 (175 2/3 IP)
SAVES
AL
Brad Boxberger, Rays – 33 (37 opportunities)
Glen Perkins, Twins – 31 (33 opps)
Huston Street, Angels – 31 (35 opps)
NL
Mark Melancon, Pirates – 43 (45 opportunities)
Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals – 42 (44 opps)
Jeurys Familia, Mets – 36 (41 opps)
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To close, here are the MLB standing as of August 31
AL East
Blue Jays 74-57 .565
Yankees 72-58 .554 1.5
Rays 65-66 .496 9.0
Orioles 63-68 .481 11.0
Red Sox 61-70 .466 13.0
AL Central
Royals 80-50 .615
Twins 67-63 .515 13.0
Indians 64-66 .492 16.0
White Sox 61-68 .473 18.5
Indians 48-54 .471 13.0
AL West
Astros 73-59 .553
Rangers 68-62 .523 4.0
Angels 65-66 .496 7.5
Mariners 61-71 .462 12.0
A’s 58-74 .433 15.0
NL East
Mets 73-58 .557
Nationals 66-64 .508 6.5
Braves 54-77 .412 19.0
Marlins 53-79 .402 20.5
Phillies 52-80 .394 21.5
NL Central
Cardinals 85-46 .649
Pirates 79-50 .612 5.0
Cubs 74-56 .569 10.5
Brewers 55-75 .423 29.5
Reds 54-76 .415 30.5
NL West
Dodgers 73-57 .562
Giants 69-62 .527 4.5
Padres 64-67 .489 9.5
D-backs 63-68 .481 10.5
Rockies 53-76 .411 19.5
