Miami Marlins designate Wei-Yin Chen for assignment in 40-man roster crunch

The Miami Marlins have finalized their 40-man roster by Wednesday’s deadline to set their 40-man roster in advance of the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. in order to protect prized prospects from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft a week from today at the conclusion of the Baseball Winter Meetings.

Pricy pitcher Wei-Yin Chen was the odd man out and was designated for assignment. This means the Marlins now have seven days to try to trade him or release him.

Trading Chen will be difficult, as he comes with a salary of $22M in 2020. He finished the 2019 season with a 6.59 ERA in 45 appearances as a reliever.

“This decision was not about money,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said on a conference call. “It was about building the best and deepest 40-man roster, to allow us to compete in 2020 and beyond.”

It may feel like a hard thing to do but it was also the right thing to do. Chen finished the season with a -1.1 WAR. That means any of the minor league prospects that were added to their 40-man roster would have a much more positive impact on their record than Chen.

Having signed a five-year, $80 million contract in 2016, Chen was supposed to be the missing piece to the Marlins’ starting rotation behind Jose Fernandez. Unfortunately, it never materialized. His best year was 2017 when he recorded a 3.82 ERA but that year was curtailed by injury. In 2018, he had a 4.79 ERA but somehow posted a 1.62 ERA in 13 home starts.

The Marlins opted to move Chen to the bullpen in order to load their rotation with young studs such as Pablo Lopez, Sandy Alcantara, Caleb Smith and Trevor Richards to go with Jose Urena at the start of last year. This experiment fell flat from the start and Chen was reduced to being the human white flag. It was better to move on rather than spend another season hiding him in the bullpen only to send him out when the game is already a lost cause.

Chen may end up with another team in spring training and try to capture a starting pitching role. It would most likely be for the league minimum and the Marlins will still be on the hook for vast majority of his 2020 salary.

Not the only expensive dump

Designating and potentially releasing Chen wasn’t the most expensive player to get left off a roster this week. The New York Yankees released Jacoby Ellsbury with $21 million remaining on the seven-year, $153 million contract he signed prior to the 2014 season. The Yankees are also on the hook for a $5 million buyout for the 2021 season. Ellsbury hasn’t played a game in the last two season due to injury.

Who made the Marlins 40-man roster

The Marlins filled their roster openings with pitching prospects Sixto Sanchez, Edward Cabrera, Nick Neidert and Humberto Mejia, along with shortstop Jazz Chisholm and first baseman Lewin Diaz. Those prospects, which the exception of Cabrera and Mejia, were acquired in trades. Sanchez, the No. 1 ranked Marlins prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was acquired in the JT Realmuto trade with Philadelphia. The Marlins got Neidert from Seattle for Dee Gordon, Chisholm from Arizona for Zac Gallen, and Diaz from Minnesota for a Single-A prospect and Sergio Romo.

The Marlins left out Will Stewart, Tommy Eveld, Bryson Brigman, Dylan Lee and Christopher Torres, which leaves them open for selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Eveld and Brigman were acquired in 2018 trade deadline period for veterans Cam Maybin and Brad Ziegler. Torres was a part of the same trade package as Neidert to the Seattle Mariners for Dee Gordan prior to 2018. Stewart was part of the Realmuto Trade and while his stats in Single-A weren’t so hot, he did show flashes of a potential big leaguer.

“It is a challenge, and it’s a good challenge to have,” Hill said. “As we’ve built the layers of talent throughout the system, we still believe he is a very good Major League prospect.”

If a player is taken in the Rule 5 Draft, he would have to make the opening day roster or be sent back to his original franchise.

Miami Heat (8-3) Need to Keep Feasting on Bottom Feeders

The Miami Heat (8-3) are sitting pretty in a dreadful Eastern Conference where only six teams have winning records so far.

After two closer than expected wins against Detroit and Cleveland, Miami looks to get healthy against more subpar opponents in the coming days.

Beginning Saturday when they meet the 3-8 New Orleans Pelicans, the Heat will only face two teams with winning records to close out November.

So far the Heat have taken care of business when they should, as five of their eight wins are against sub .500 teams.

Miami has only lost to the Timberwolves, Nuggets, and Lakers who are a combined 24-8 this season.

While also taking care of business on the road at Milwaukee (8-3) and Phoenix (7-4) and blowing out the 8-3 Rockets 129-100 at home.

The Heat have a quick two game home stand which kicks off against the 3-8 Pelicans who are near the bottom out West without Anthony Davis and top pick Zion Williamson.

New Orleans is still scoring at an impressive clip (118.4 PPG, 3rd) but are atrocious on the other end, giving up the most points in the NBA at 122.8 per game.

Like Miami, New Orleans also struggles with turnovers giving it up over 17 times per contest, while allowing teams to shoot 47.4% from the field (24th in the NBA).

Miami is a middle of the pack scoring offense but so far excelling on defense, this should continue against New Orleans.

To close out the home set the Heat will host Cleveland, whom they just dispatched 108-97 on Thursday.

The Cavaliers are polar opposites of the Pelicans, Cleveland is tied for 25th in the NBA scoring just 105.3PPG, but allows a respectable 107.1 PPG which is 11th league-wide.

Cleveland has scored 97 or fewer points in four out of 11 games (all losses) and should again struggle with an elite Heat defensive unit.

Miami will then travel to Chicago to kick off a stretch where they play six out of eight games on the road. Jimmy Butler will face his former Bulls team for the first time in a Heat uniform, Butler spent the first six seasons of his career in Chicago.

Chicago (4-8) has lost seven of ten games and have allowed the most points off of turnovers in the NBA. If Miami can play a clean offensive game that should be a recipe for a nice road win. The Bulls are the 4th worst shooting team in the league at 43.3%, playing right into Miami’s hands.

Things get tougher after that as the Heat will visit the other team in Butler’s past, the Philadelphia 76ers. This rivalry has become more contentious and now that Josh Richardson is in Philly it makes it even more interesting.

You know Butler and the Heat circled this game on the calendar.

Miami must keep cleaning up on lesser opponents which has been an issue in seasons past, all wins count whether in November or May and the Heat must stockpile as the schedule becomes more difficult in the second half of the season.

Follow us on Twitter for more exclusive Miami Heat coverage @5ReasonsSports.

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Miami Sports…are They Becoming Good Again?

The ever changing Miami sports landscape has been on a steady trend downward since the end of the “Big 3 era” of Miami Heat basketball.

Now there were some amazing moments since then, such as Dwyane Wade’s Last Dance and the Miami Miracle.

Those fleeting instances have been sandwiched between years of mediocrity.

The Marlins tore it all down, again.

The Heat had a bloated, ineffective roster.

We all know where Adam Gase left the Dolphins.

Manny Diaz is trying to bring the Hurricanes back.

Even the Panthers, a team with legitimate playoff aspirations recently, has disappointed.

Expecting anything different has become an annual disappointment.

Until now.

Dolphins Vision Unfolding

All of a sudden there is exciting and competitive football being played by the Miami Dolphins.

Who for once are actually exceeding expectations.

Yet we still aren’t happy.

Brian Flores has steadily guided a team lacking NFL level talent across multiple positions into a disciplined and passionate group.

Flores and his coaching staff are developing players and proving it “Takes No Talent” to compete.

Chris Grier has a war chest of draft capital, and actual capital of about 140M to quickly add top tier free agents.

With a shot at a franchise quarterback to boot.

For once the Dolphins have a plan and the cast to execute and deliver a winner.

Culture Shock

The Miami Heat seem to have figured out their roster around a true star in Jimmy Butler.

And are interesting as hell.

 

Getting back to their defensive identity and bringing back the “Culture” led by Butler has galvanized a young roster.

Currently the Heat rank fourth in defensive rating and third in steals per game (9.6). Miami also ranks in the top ten league wide in points-per-game allowed (105.7, 6th) steals (96, 5th) and overall defensive FG% (.437, 9th).

Smart perimeter defense has been key, the Heat lead the NBA in 3-point FG% allowed at just 28.9%. Only Miami and Oklahoma City are holding teams under 30% from deep as of November 13th.

 

Hassan Whiteside went to Portland which paved the way for Bam Adebayo to become the all around catalyst we see before us. Before being sidelined with a concussion, Justise Winslow was taking a huge step forward as well.

Finally the Heat have a cohesive roster that fits their style of play and identity, in a wide open Eastern Conference the Heat are suddenly poised for a home playoff series if they stay on track.

Cardiac Cats

In Sunrise the Florida Panthers under new coach Joel Quenneville are playing exciting, action packed hockey. Florida has won their last two games by an 11-9 margin…that’s a lot of goals!

After making franchise history with a four goal rally against Boston this week, the Panthers are showing tremendous toughness and resolve in late game pressure situations.

 

In the two wins against Boston and New York the Panthers outscored them 5-0 in the third period. Despite shaky goaltending and defense the Cats have found a way to get it done in the final 20 minutes.

It helps to have a top ten offense on your side, Aleksander Barkov has points in six straight games entering Thursday’s action and the power play continues to dominate.

Florida ranks second with the man advantage, converting 26.8% of their power play opportunities.

If the Panthers can figure out their issues on the blue line and in goal to support a dynamic offense, they have a great chance of making the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-2016 season.

Hurricanes’ Season a Tale of two Teams

The Miami Hurricanes football team has had a polarizing season to say the least.

From quarterback uncertainty and losses against inferior teams early in the year, to blowout wins and record breaking performances – the 2019 Miami Hurricanes have kept fans on the edge of their seats.

After an uneven start to the season on offense, Jarren Williams has settled in as QB1 and hitting the big plays that were missing earlier in the year.

 

The Hurricanes have won three straight in ACC play by a combined margin of 95-49, after starting conference play 1-3 the turnaround has been drastic.

On the other side of the ball the defense has been wrecking house led by new and older names alike.

Senior linebackers Michael Pinckney and Shaq Quarterman have experienced a resurgence of energy and effectiveness.

While Gregory Rousseau went from out of the starting lineup to the best defensive lineman in the ACC, and one of the best in all of college football.

 

The Hurricanes have a star in the making both under center and at defensive end, two of the most important positions in football.

And they are both freshman.

With a coaching staff starting to figure it out and a favorable ACC Coastal division to call home, the sun is shining bright in Coral Gables.

Don’t Forget About us!

While the teams that are in action in November are getting all the attention, there are more great storylines in Miami sports on the way.

The Marlins have quietly built one of the best farm systems in all of baseball.

Oh yeah, we are getting professional soccer too!

We could be saying this time next year “what a time to be a Miami sports fan”

A statement that is well deserved and long overdue.

Follow us on Twitter for all things Miami sports @FiveReasonsSports and @SportsWaveDave.

Photo by Tony Capobianco.

Josh Rosen out, Ryan Fitzpatrick in for Dolphins

Brian Flores clearly wants to win, even if the Miami Dolphins organization does not.

And in that context, he’s gone back to Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starter at quarterback, as the Dolphins travel to Buffalo.

That means Josh Rosen, after three starts and an overall 52.0 passer rating for the entire season, is back on the bench. And it means there will be much debate about whether it was worth trading a second-round pick to Arizona for him, and whether he has any future with this franchise.

Rosen was repeatedly hurried and hit in Sunday’s loss to Washington, but his performance also paled in comparison to that of Fitzpatrick, who rallied the Dolphins to within 17-16 before a two-point conversion failed.

And Rosen hasn’t been that good when given time either, as our Chris Kouffman of Three Yards Per Carry noted:

And Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post has a sentiment that is similar to ours.

Rosen may have been put in a terrible spot. Awful offensive line. So-so skill players. A coaching staff that, at times, has seemed clueless or worse.

But he hasn’t shown much either. Some escapability and improvisation. Some toughness. But not much special in terms of arm strength or anticipation. And it’s clear that Flores hasn’t been satisfied with his command of the offense.

We thought that, at worst, Rosen would compete with the next quarterback — likely drafted this April — to be the starter at the start of next season. Now that appears unlikely.

Fitzpatrick? Well, he is what he is.

Buffalo is one of his former teams, and Fitzpatrick knows that stadium and the conditions well. The Bills are good, really good, but it shouldn’t stun anyone if there’s some FitzMagic on Sunday. Flores clearly wants that. Do you? Does Steve Ross?

Marlins prospect Alex Vesia is torching the Arizona Fall League

At 10-5, the Salt River Rafters have the best record in the Arizona Fall League, and is in part, thanks to Alex Vesia. This is relevant considering that this is the team that includes seven Marlins high level prospects.

The Rafters roster is comprised of top prospects from the Marlins, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Rays and Twins. Their best reliever so far in the season has been Alex Vesia, who has yet to give up a run in six games while striking out 10 batters.

That alone is impressive but when compounded with the fact that he finished the minor league season not giving up a run in nine games at Double-A Jacksonville while striking out 25 in 16.1 innings, then it looks like the Marlins’ next closer is on the way.

Most of the prospects that play in the Arizona Fall League find themselves in the big leagues not too long after. Case in point is Giancarlo Stanton, the slugger formerly known as “Mike.” He was in the Arizona Fall League in 2009 and made his MLB debut in June 8, 2010.

So consider who are falling victim to Vesia’s vicious velocity. Joe Rizzo is the Seattle Mariners’ 16th ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline and Vesia struck him out swinging on three 93-94 MPH fastballs this past Saturday. Greyson Jenista is the Atlanta Braves 11th ranked prospect. After drawing a full count against Vesia on Oct. 2, a series of foul balls and a 92 MPH fastball did him in. Micker Adolfo (No. 11, White Sox) struck out swinging twice in the same week against him. Elehuris Montero (No. 4, Cardinals) is the highest ranked prospect that Vesia struck out.

Vesia’s first performance was his best in the AFL. Zack Short (No. 9, Cubs), Greg Deichmann (No. 17, Athletics) and Nick Allen (No. 6, Athletics) all struck out swinging on the same fastball that has plagued every prospect that’s faced him.

It’s amazing to believe that his minor league season began in Low A Clinton and ended with 100 strikeouts in 66.2 innings through three different levels. At this point, there’s a good chance he joins the Marlins bullpen in 2020 as the next Nick Anderson.

Should Marlins Consider Starlin Castro?

Starlin Castro had a really rough start to the 2019 season and May was by far his worst month. In May he hit for a .208 average with no home runs and 8 RBIs. He performed way below expectations for a veteran who is known for hitting ability.

Castro struggled in the first half of the season, batting for a .245 average with six home runs and 24 RBIs. His poor performance in the first half made it pretty much impossible to trade him at the deadline and if the Marlins did find a suitor for Starlin, they most likely wouldn’t have gotten much in return.

In the second half, Castro reached a new level. He hit for a .302 average, hammered 16 home runs, and drove in 52 RBIs. I know it would’ve been nice to have been able to trade Castro at/before the deadline for prospects but he became really fun to watch in the second half. He went on an absolute tear. Whether you like Castro or not, you can’t deny that he actually reached another level.

There are some people on twitter who believe that Starlin Castro purposely tanked his stats in the first half to stay with the Marlins. He ended up having a very good relationship with Miguel Rojas and Martin Prado and possibly felt like he didn’t want to be traded away from his closest friends on the team so it is a possibility. Do I think that’s the case? No, but it’s possible.

Starlin Castro finished his final year of his 7-year, $60 million dollar contract which he signed back in 2012 when he was with the Chicago Cubs, but there is a club option for him to return to the Marlins if they want him back. The option would cost the Marlins $16 million but there is definitely value in Castro. A veteran presence in the clubhouse and a mentor for Marlins rookie Isan Diaz. Castro could play second, shortstop and third so there is some versatility that comes with him.

If the Marlins do want to bring him back but don’t want to pay him $16 million, there is a $1 million buyout and they could potentially negotiate a cheaper deal. I do believe Castro has bought into what the Marlins are building and that he wants to stay in Miami. He is represented by Magnus Media, who is based in Miami, and also represents the Mesa brothers who signed with the Marlins last October.

In my opinion, I do think that the Marlins should consider bringing back Castro on a cheaper/team friendly contact. He could be more valuable than simply on the field by being a mentor and by possibly recruiting players in the free agent class this offseason.

Recap of the 2019 Marlins

It’s hard to recap such a negative season, but here we go.

Let’s all be honest, no one expected the team to be any good whatsoever. We expected at least a 60-win season with many ups and downs. The Marlins finished the season with a 57-105 record which was pretty much expected.

I’m sure we would’ve loved to avoid 100 losses but it is what is, it did secure the third overall pick in the 2020 draft. But then, this recap would’ve probably been similar, anyway… 

There were definitely some bright spots for the Marlins this season. Just to name a few, Sandy Alcantara started to show what he can do, Jon Berti became the perfect utility man, Harold Ramirez did great in his rookie season, and Isan Diaz started to become comfortable at the major league level. Diaz started making lesser errors and showed comfort at the plate.

Here’s a recap of the positives of the season:

Sandy Alcantara

Alcantara was voted to represent the Marlins in the All-Star Game because of his start to the regular season. His Pre All-Star stats are as follows: 4-8 record, 3.82 ERA, 70 strikeouts, and an opponent batting average of .241. After the All-Star break, he hit a bump in the road where he started to show inconsistency in his fastball command and started to walk more batters. 

August he began to turn things around, in five games started he had a 3.03 ERA in 32.2 innings pitched with a 27:12 strikeout to walk ratio. September came along and he reached another level. In six games started, he had a 2-2 record with a 2.59 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched with a 35:9 strikeout to walk ratio. September became Sandy’s best month without a doubt.

Jon Berti

Jon Berti blossomed into the perfect utility man. He can play all positions in the infield and outfield. He also showcased his insane speed on the base paths. He swiped 17 bases this year, he would’ve swiped more but he spent some time on the IL. In 73 games played, he hit for a .273 average with six home runs and 24 RBIs. Berti is a nice surprise for the Marlins, he definitely made a case for a roster spot next season.

Isan Diaz

Isan Diaz is an interesting story. He absolutely tore up Triple-A pitching and earned himself a call up to the show back in August. He launched a home run off Jacob deGrom in his MLB debut but rookie struggles kicked in early. He was having trouble making routine plays and was uncomfortable at the plate. As he gained more experience he became more comfortable and didn’t think too much while on the field. He ended up finishing the season with a .173 average, five home runs, and 23 RBIs. Not the best stat line but he did only play 49 games while being completely tensed up. It should be fun to see how he plays next year.

Harold Ramirez

Harold Ramirez signed with the Marlins during the 2018 offseason and what a great sign he is. In 119 games, he hit for a .276 average, hit 11 home runs and drove in 50 RBIs. He definitely showcased why he was formerly a Top 100 prospect when he was in the Blue Jays organization. He can play all three outfield positions and has a very decent defense. He without a doubt became a fan favorite for Marlins fans and earned a roster spot for the 2020 season.

Your 2019 Marlins were not the best but they did show improvement. They may have lost six more games this year than they did in 2018 but the pitching held its own and we got to see some rookies showcase their ability. The club next season will be more competitive than it was this year and it’s going to be more fun with more rookies making their debuts and some new faces from free agency…

We will be here to recap when they win the World Series…

Marlins extend Don Mattingly and Miguel Rojas

The Marlins announced the contract extensions of manager Don Mattingly and shortstop Miguel Rojas.

The Miami Marlins opened their final home series of the season with some encouraging news.

Mattingly’s extension runs through 2021 and includes a mutual option for 2022. He becomes the first MLB manager since Terry Collins to have losing records in his first four seasons with a team and return for a fifth season. The Mets went to the World Series in Collins’ fifth season at the helm.

“I think about his leadership, demeanor and overall character,” Marlins CEO Derek Jeter on Mattingly. “He’s all in. He keeps our guys competing on a daily basis.”

Mattingly said he’s thrilled to have the opoprtunity to see this though. He’s seen the prospects first hand and has read the reports. His extension is a good sign that the minor league talent that has been brought in over the last two years is on the way soon.

“Hopefully by the time I’m done, this team is in a great place,” Mattingly said.

Rojas’ deal with Marlins is for $10.5M over 2 years and an option. Jeter called Rojas “the true example of a professional.”

“This front office has been transparent since last Spring Training. Derek and Bruce,” Rojas said. “They are always going to tell you the truth trom day one.”

Rojas has been with the Marlins since 2015 as a part of the Dee Gordon trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has grown from utility infielder to starting shortstop and team leader. When Mattingly was asked in July about who should be the Marlins All-Star, he chose Rojas for his leadership.

The Marlins should have about $25 million is coming off the books with Martin Prado’s contract expiring and Starlin Castro’s $1M buyout. That money should be spent on improving the team, especially the bullpen. While Jeter was non-committal on the issue, he did emphasize that he wants his top prospects to have a clear pathway to the big leagues.

“They’re coming and we don’t want to block their way,” Jeter said.

 

Diaz and Cooper homer but Marlins bashed by Mike Moustakas

Mike Moustakas celebrated his 31st birthday by hitting two home runs, including a tiebreaking, two-run shot in the ninth inning to lead the Milwaukee Brewers over the Miami Marlins 7-5 Wednesday night.

“Obviously two homers is pretty cool no matter what day it is but on your birthday it’s pretty special,” Moustakas said. “But even more so is the win, especially with Yeli going down. Everyone has to step up even more.”

In his first full season with the Brewers, Moustakas has more than 30 home runs for the second time in his career. His career high is 38, achieved in 2017 with the Kansas City Royals.

“He’s having a big year,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Moustakas. “He hurt us in Milwaukee a little bit. I think we left a changeup up the first time. I’m not sure if [Jose Urena] was trying to go in. He’s a pretty good fastball hitter.”

Diaz and Cooper, just as Moustakas

For the Marlins, the loss spoiled a night in which progress was made with some of their young players. Isan Diaz and Garrett Cooper hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to tie the game 5-5. Diaz is hitting .162 since being called up on Aug. 5, but has hit 26 home runs with a .305 batting average and .973 OPS in Triple-A New Orleans. Of his 19 hits in the big leagues, three of them are doubles and three are home runs.

“I think that’s what happens when you stick to your plan and put a good swing on the ball,” Diaz said. “I was very fortunate with that, brought some momentum to our side. We tried to keep it rolling, but we fell a little short tonight.”

Cooper now has 15 home runs and 50 RBI and is slashing .282/.346/.449 in his first full season in the big leagues. He batted .306 before the All-Star Game but .258 afterwards. His home runs have been the same between the two halves.

“I think the second half has been more of a learning curve for me, trying to drive the ball a little bit more,” Cooper said. “I think my hard-hit percentage is way up this half. You teeter on trying to get your hits, and you teeter on trying to drive the ball.”

The Marlins now have 127 home runs on the season, which is the fewest in MLB. Miami has 66 homers at Marlins Park, which is 27th in the league at home, and as spacious as the fairly new ballpark is, visiting teams don’t seem to have any difficulty hitting bombs there. It’s nights like this that make it seem like these youngsters are close to turning the corner.

Christian Yelich out for the season with fracture knee

Christian Yelich will not be the Superman that took the Brewers to the NLCS in 2018 again this season.

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Miami Marlins 4-3 on Tuesday yet took a major hit in their playoff push.

National League MVP Christian Yellich fractured his knee on a foul ball in the fist inning and left the game. The Brewers announced that he will be out for the remainder of the season.

“We’ll fly him back to Milwaukee (Wednesday) for further testing,” Brewers general manager David Stearns said after the game. “We don’t have a definitive timeframe other than we know that he’ll be out for the remainder of the season right now. We also don’t know whether surgery is required. He’ll need further diagnostic imagining (Wednesday) in Milwaukee then meet with our doctors and we’ll plot a plan going forward.”

Yelich hit .329 with 44 home runs and 97 RBIs along with 30 stolen bases this season for a Brewers team that entered the game only two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wildcard spot. He led the majors in slugging percentage and OPS prior to the inury.

“We feel awful for Christian,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s the thing that resonates with me right now. He’s a special player and it’s a joy to watch him play every day. He’s the best at what he does. Not being able to see that every day is not good.”

What makes this extra tragic is the injury occurred at his original stomping grounds. Yellich’s career began in Miami and his last two years with the Marlins were Don Mattingly’s first two as manager.

“Obviously awful, we all know Yeli and what kind of guy he is,” Mattingly said. “You hate to see a player like that get hurt down the stretch. He’s stepped into the superstar realm as a player, and MVP last year. You don’t want to see that happen to a team down the stretch.”

The injury may be the difference between whether or not Yellich wins his second consecutive MVP. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger now has 2 1/2 weeks to improve on his 44 home runs, 106 RBI, 11 stolen bases, .306 batting average and 1.049 OPS.