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Phillies: Zack Wheeler’s season is over

Currently sitting comfortably atop the National League’s Eastern Section, six games ahead of the New York Mets and aiming for a second consecutive division title, the Philadelphia Phillies are aiming for big things in 2025.

But their quest to win their first World Series title since 2008 won’t be without its pitfalls.

Starter Zach Wheeler will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a rare blood clotting disorder called thoracic venous outlet syndrome, the team announced this afternoon (Saturday).

Wheeler had undergone surgery to remove a blood clot in his right arm earlier this week.

The recommendation is now to undergo thoracic outlet decompression surgery in the coming weeks, with details of the operation to come. What is known for now is that he is expected to miss six to eight months of activity.

The 35-year-old led the National League in strikeouts (195) and WHIP (0.94). His 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings was also a Major League Baseball record.

Wheeler finished second in the National League Cy Young Trophy voting on two occasions. First in 2021 when he led the league in strikeouts, complete games and innings pitched, and last season when he finished second to Chris Sale.

Gunner last pitched on August 15, earning a no-decision in five innings of work in a 6-2 win over the Washington Nationals.

A tough blow in the city of brotherly love.

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Alek Manoah: his stay in the minors is extended by ten days

As the Toronto Blue Jays enjoy their best season in nearly a decade, one player who hasn’t been able to contribute to that success is starting pitcher Alek Manoah, who hasn’t played in over a year after undergoing Tommy John-type surgery last year.

And it won’t be for a while in his case. Toronto has extended Manoah’s minor league rehab by ten days, according to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith.

Nicholson-Smith reports that Manoah will launch a practice session this weekend and is expected to get another start with Buffalo at Triple-A level early next week.

Manoah’s initial thirty-day rehab period has come to an end, but the right-hander is not yet ready to be activated in the Majors. The Blue Jays have therefore opted to use one of the three potential ten-day extensions available to pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery under the collective bargaining agreement.

Manoah has struggled since his return so far, posting a 7.71 earned-run average and 2.06 WHIP in eleven and two-thirds innings of work spread over five starts.

His most recent performance, however, was his best with the Bisons, when he allowed one run in four and two-thirds innings on the mound with four strikeouts.

When he’s ready to return to the Blue Jays, it’s unclear whether he’ll be part of the team’s starting rotation, given their depth at this level. So there’s still a chance Manoah won’t be pitching for the Jays in 2025.

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Aroldis Chapman finds the Fountain of Youth in Boston

When the Red Sox acquired Aroldis Chapman, did you expect him to be so dominant?

For several years now, Chapman hasn’t exactly been the pitcher he once was. In particular, he had a bad end in the Yankees organization, as we know.

But this year in Boston, he has clearly found the fountain of youth.

The reliever, who was fighting for the closer ‘s job at practice camp, is currently one of the best relievers in baseball in 2025. And at the respectable age of 37.

In fact, following yesterday’s save against his former team in New York, Chapman’s stats are truly staggering. His 1.08 ERA in 50 innings pitched is truly insane.

He has given up only six earned runs this year and has a WAR of 2.8. He has 24 saves and has put no fewer than 71 guys in the mitt.

The Cuban Missile, as he’s known, is at the heart of his team’s success. He’s keeping the Red Sox in the playoff hunt, and the club couldn’t ask for more.

The Boston club is poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2021, and Chapman has experience aplenty in the playoffs. He has two rings (2016 and 2023) and has made the playoffs several times over the years.

He shouldn’t be too scared on the October stage, if he ever gets the chance to compete in 2025.

Plus, he should have his agent’s phone ringing off the hook this winter, when he’ll be a free agent once again. He could even earn himself a pay raise, at $10.75 million.

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Red Sox: Walker Buehler officially loses his place in the rotation

Walker Buehler isn’t having a great season in Boston. The former Dodger, who was one of Boston’s big catches this winter, has a 5.40 ERA and a 1.564 WHIP in 22 starts this season.

He’s seriously pulling it out.

But even so, until now, Buehler had managed to keep his spot in the rotation. The club didn’t have a ton of other options… except that’s all changing.

So we wondered if Buehler’s time had finally come, and early this evening, Alex Cora confirmed it: Buehler is going to the relief bullpen.

He has therefore lost his place in the rotation.

Buehler’s next start was scheduled for Monday, but it will instead be another pitcher who takes his place. Buehler, however, will be used in relief… and that could start as early as this weekend.

Because in reality, there was less and less room in the rotation for Buehler. Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Dustin May are doing good work, and Richard Fitts was recently recalled.

And that’s not counting guys like Kyle Harrison and Cooper Criswell, who could be recalled in their turn.

Last year, Buehler shone as a reliever in the World Series, closing the books in the last game of the series to give the Dodgers the win. Perhaps this new role will give him a boost to his season.

Alex Cora says he still has confidence in himself, at least. He wasn’t going to say otherwise, of course, but seeing Buehler in the bullpen rather than in the waivers is a sign that there’s still some hope.

So we’ll see if the change will be beneficial for Buehler and the Red Sox, but it’s about time, for everyone’s sake, that it happened.

Especially since, if Buehler remained in the rotation, he could have gone for three more $500,000 bonuses (one for every two starts). The club saves money, too.

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MLB in brief: Shane Bieber’s journey | A first since 2007? | Walker Buehler’s role

Shane Bieber’s journey

He’ll be back tonight.

Corbin Carroll could end the season with 20 triples

That would be a first since 2007.

Walker Buehler’s role

He could end up in the bullpen.

Brewers don’t hit home runs

This could hurt in the playoffs.

Samuel Basallo could have been a member of the Yankees

It would have been a game-changer.

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All the pressure in the world will be on Max Fried tonight

The New York Yankees opened their important four-game series against the Boston Red Sox with a 6-3 loss yesterday (Thursday) at Yankee Stadium. In the second duel, the Bombardiers will be hoping to turn things around, and they’ll need their ace pitcher Max Fried at his best, something he hasn’t been able to do in quite some time.

And Fried, whose first half of the season earned him a spot in the All-Star Game before he struggled in recent weeks, knows this more than anyone.

At this point, every game I pitch, I’m trying to get back on track and pitch to my standards and what I’m capable of. We play really good baseball as a team. For me, it’s time to start lightening my load and being able to do my part.

Fried had posted an exceptional earned run average of 1.92 after the first two months of the campaign. But in his last seven starts, the left-hander has a 3-3 record with a 6.94 ERA.

With his resume and talents, the 31-year-old knows what he’s capable of, but the frustration is palpable.

It’s really frustrating. I want to be able to take the ball and put us in a good position to win every time and I haven’t been able to do that. I have to understand that I have to do something different. I just have to figure out how to get those results.

With one defeat already under their belts in their duel with the Bas Rouges, the pressure will be on tonight for the Yankees, and especially for Fried, who will have to try and keep a cool head.

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Adley Rutschman’s future in Baltimore increasingly uncertain

Adley Rutschman established himself as one of Major League Baseball’s top prospects after his incredible college career at Oregon State University. In fact, it was this success that prompted the Baltimore Orioles to select him with the very first pick in the 2019 MLB draft.

Rutschman proved to be a wise choice, as he quickly rose through the minor league ranks, finally making his Manfred Tour debut on May 21, 2022. Since then, he’s been one of the best defensive catchers in Major League Baseball, while adding his two cents in the middle of Baltimore’s offensive lineup.

Until last year.

After amassing an OPS of .807 in his rookie campaign, Rutschman posted an OPS of .809 in 2023. Then, the following year, the slide began, as evidenced by his .709 OPS. At the time, Rutschman was still considered one of the best offensive catchers in MLB, and it was assumed that this was just a rare bad campaign.

But we have to admit that the problem is deeper, as his regression has only intensified, his OPS below the .700 mark being blatant proof. This is clearly not good offensive production, even considering that the catcher’s position is not known for generating much on that side of the ball.

The 27-year-old won’t be free as a bird until 2027, but it’s already legitimate to question his status in Baltimore. Samuel Basallo, recently promoted to the Majors, could expel Rutschman from Maryland, having just signed an eight-year pact worth $67 million.

There’s still plenty of time for Rutschman to turn things around, and a strong final month of the season could bring plenty of optimism about how the star catcher might bounce back in the 2026 campaign.

It should also be noted that the Orioles’ starting catcher has been placed on the injured list with an oblique injury.

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Samuel Basallo signs 8-year, $67 million contract with Orioles

It’s been less than a week since Samuel Basallo was finally recalled to Major League Baseball by the Baltimore Orioles, and the catcher has done well since his recall, batting for a .300 batting average in his first eleven plate appearances.

Prior to his promotion, Basallo posted a .270 batting average in 321 plate appearances at the Triple-A level in 2025, along with a .966 OPS and 23 long balls.

And it seems that the Maryland club already likes what it sees from its young star, since now, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Basallo has agreed to an eight-year, $67 million contract extension with the club this morning (Friday).

The deal, which takes effect next season, is worth up to $88.5 million on an incentive basis, and is the largest pre-arbitration contract extension ever given to a catcher. The contract would also contain a team option.

The young catcher entered the 2025 MLB campaign as a top-15 prospect, but the Orioles chose to wait until the end of August to proceed with his recall to the Majors, which remains a mystery, especially considering all the trouble they’ve had at the number-two position this season.

With Adley Rutschman on the injured list with an oblique injury, Basallo will be able to operate as the O’s number one catcher for the immediate future, although the rookie is also likely to see plenty of playing time at designated hitter as well, due to his precarious defense.

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Roman Anthony was not intimidated by Yankee Stadium

Last night, the Yankees were visited by the Red Sox in the Bronx. And let’s just say it wasn’t a perfect game.

I say that because both teams didn’t play their best baseball. The Red Sox, for example, left 14 guys on base and were 3-in-19 with a runner or runners in scoring position.

The Bombardiers? 10 guys left on base, 2-in-7 under the same circumstances… and four defensive errors, including no less than three in the same half inning of play.

But according to the good Jazz, that’s okay… #Imputability #NothingChanges

But fortunately for the Red Sox, there was one player in particular who made the Red Sox win by a score of 6-3: Roman Anthony. The young man, playing at Yankee Stadium for the first time in his major league career, wasn’t intimidated.

Quite the contrary, in fact.

He tied the game in the sixth with a hit, but more importantly, he hit a two-run home run (that made it 6-3) in the top of the ninth. No, he wasn’t intimidated by Yankee Stadium.

The result? The Yankees have lost six of their seven games this season against the Red Sox, so far.

This means that the Yankees are now only half a game ahead of the Red Sox in the standings. If Boston continues to win in the next few days, it could give the Sox a healthy lead in the standings over New York’s rivals.

To be continued.

  • National League standings.
  • Eight strikeouts for Trey Yesavage yesterday.

  • Astros win.

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MLB in brief: Craig Kimbrel to Houston | Less than 162 games in a season | Prospects recalled

Craig Kimbrel in Houston

He’s landed himself a job with the Majors.

Less than 162 games in one season?

It’s a possibility on the table if there’s an expansion.

Trea Turner makes himself at home

That’ll help the Phillies.

Recalled prospects

The “password” is coming to Boston.

And the Rays have recalled Carson Williams.

Cal Quantrill in Atlanta

Claimed in the waivers.

Justin Verlander gets better

He should be able to play in 2026.

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