Tigers' Tarik Skubal Hailed by MLB Fans for Beating José Altuve, Astros in Game 1
Oct 1, 2024
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 01: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers walks off the field after the second inning against the Houston Astros during Game One of the Wild Card Series at Minute Maid Park on October 01, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros persevered and overcame a brutal start to become division champions. Now, they're already on the brink of elimination from the 2024 MLB playoffs.
Houston fell 3-1 to the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the best-of-three American League Wild Card Series.
In the bottom of the ninth and having scored one run, the Astros got runners on second and third with one out. First baseman Victor Caratini lined out to Tigers left fielder Riley Greene. After giving up a walk, Tigers reliever Beau Brieske watched Jason Heyward make great contact but hit a liner right at first baseman Spencer Torkelson.
All of Detroit's runs came on three straight singles in the second inning. Catcher Jake Rogers got things started before shortstop Trey Sweeney and third baseman Matt Vierling followed suit.
That was more than enough offensive support for Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The left-hander held the Astros to four hits and struck out six over six innings.
Sometimes, baseball can be a simple game. Throw a starting pitcher with filthy stuff out there and watch him work. The rest will take care of itself.
We're only one game into the postseason so it's too early to begin crafting narratives. But Skubal, the presumptive AL Cy Young winner, could be embarking on an October to remember.
Wrote this in early March 2020, good to see Tarik Skubal is ahead of schedule. He's clearly exceeded this prediction. He's as good as any pitcher in baseball right now.https://t.co/8WR5IelO5jpic.twitter.com/zzHbvUKGrR
Houston's star quartet of Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker, Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman combined to go 5-of-16, which isn't a terrible collective output. But only one of those hits went for extra bases.
By the time the Astros offense started clicking, it was too late to make a difference on the outcome.
The series resumes Tuesday at 2:32 p.m. ET. All three games are in Houston, so the Astros would host a winner-take-all Game 3. The momentum could shift dramatically if the home team responds with a victory in Game 2.
Houston's hitters will also feel a little more confident knowing it has seen the last of Skubal this season one way or the other.
Jerry Reinsdorf Calls White Sox's Season 'Embarrassing' After MLB-Record 121 Losses
Sep 29, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 11: Chicago White Sox White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf speaks with Executive Vice President Kenny Williams during a ceremony honoring Harold Baines prior to a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Oakland Athletics at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 11, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 11, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox are set to end their dreadful 2024 season on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers, and team owner Jerry Reinsdorf released a statement addressing the fans.
After setting an MLB record with 121 losses entering Sunday's game, Reinsdorf wrote, "I want to thank you for continuing to support the team throughout what was an embarrassing season. You all deserved better."
Reinsdorf went on to describe the performance by the White Sox this season as "completely unacceptable" and declared that the franchise "will do everything we can to fix this for 2025 and the future." Chicago will commence the search for a permanent manager, though general manager Chris Getz said last week that interim manager Grady Sizemore "is in consideration" to be promoted to a permanent role.
Still, there isn't much to look forward to for White Sox fans. Getz indicated that the team won't be very active in seeking improvements on the open market.
"We're not gonna be working heavy in free agency," Getz said earlier this month. "We've got guys on the field right now who need to improve their game. A lot of these guys are young players and need to make the adjustments to be more productive."
Chicago has the 11th-best farm system in MLB, so the team doesn't have young pieces to play with in potential trades. Veteran outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and starting pitcher Garrett Crochet could be on the trade block if the White Sox try to recoup assets that would benefit the team in the long run.
For now, Chicago fans are just hoping for a merciful end to the 2024 season, so Reinsdorf's words won't do much to improve morale.
Twins Manager Baldelli: Collapse Will 'Bother Me Forever' After Missing MLB Playoffs
Sep 29, 2024
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 27: Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on as Ryan O'Hearn #32 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a two run homer in the second inning at Target Field on September 27, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Twins were 17 games above .500 and cruising to their second consecutive playoff appearance on Aug. 17.
Until they weren't.
Minnesota is 12-26 in the last 38 games, in fourth place in the American League Central and officially eliminated from the playoffs. And it is going to take Twins manager Rocco Baldelli a long time to get over it.
"This will bother me forever," Baldelli said Saturday, per Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune. "There will be no way around that. I will think about it a lot and I will use it to motivate myself in a lot of different ways going forward, because I never want to experience that again."
Despite missing the playoffs, Baldelli is expected to return as Twins manager in 2025, per The Athletic's Dan Hayes.
Nightengale noted Minnesota had a 90 percent chance to make the playoffs six weeks ago but instead collapsed following some questionable roster decisions.
"It's an embarrassment worn at all levels of the organization," he wrote. "Ownership cut payroll by more than $30 million after the Twins advanced to the AL Division Series in last year's playoffs. The front office whiffed on many of its additions and failed to bolster the roster at the trade deadline."
Whether the collapse inspires the front office to make critical additions during the upcoming offseason remains to be seen, but Baldelli was not happy with the situation.
This is his sixth year managing the organization, and it has been to the playoffs in three of them and finished above .500 in four of them. He is helping build a standard for the American League Central team, but that standard was missing down the stretch this season.
As a result, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals will join the Cleveland Guardians as three playoff teams from an American League Central that will have the Twins in bounce-back mode next season.
Photo: White Sox Post 'Men in Black' Meme After Setting Modern MLB Record for Losses
Sep 28, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Interim manager Grady Sizemore of the Chicago White Sox looks on against the Los Angeles Angels during the fifth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 26, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Chicago White Sox's social media team continues to set a standard the players have failed to match on the field.
A day after the White Sox suffered their record-setting 121st loss, their X account joked about using a "neuralyzer" from Men in Black to make everybody forget this season:
The employees handing the franchise's social media accounts steadily became the unsung heroes amid a disastrous season. As Chicago inched toward baseball infamy, the posts became increasingly fatalistic in a tongue-in-cheek way.
The good news for the admin is that only two games remain for the White Sox. Then everyone can shift their focus to the offseason, when hope springs eternal. Even a franchise that lost more games than anybody in history can turn things around with the right additions.
White Sox' Garrett Crochet on MLB-Record 121st Loss: 'Obviously, It Sucks'
Sep 28, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 01: Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox reacts while Miguel Vargas #20 and Lenyn Sosa #50 of the Chicago White Sox show their support during the fourth inning against the New York Mets at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 01, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The Mets defeated the White Sox 2-0. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
While the Detroit Tigers were celebrating their 4-1 win over the Chicago White Sox that clinched the team's first playoff berth since 2014 on Friday night, the White Sox set a new modern-era MLB record with their 121st loss of the season.
White Sox ace Garrett Crochet, who made his final start of the season against the Tigers, didn't mince words about the team's historically bad 2024 campaign.
"Obviously, it sucks," Crochet told reporters after the game. "We put ourselves in this position early on. We had a bad April. We just never dug ourselves out of that hole. We are where we are because of the way we played, which sucks."
Before the 2024 White Sox, the modern MLB record for losses in a single season belonged to the 1962 New York Mets team that went 40-120. Chicago needs to win each of its final two games to avoid finishing with a worse winning percentage than the '62 Mets (.250).
On the other end, the Chicago White Sox lose their 121st game of the year, setting the modern MLB record for losses in a season. It breaks the previous record set by 1962 Mets in their inaugural season that stood for 62 years.
The White Sox tied the modern record with their 120th loss of the season on Sunday against the San Diego Padres. They were able to stave off the record-breaking defeat by sweeping the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series from Tuesday through Thursday.
That sweep marked their second three-game winning streak this month. They had just three winning streaks of at least three games all season prior to Sept. 14.
While the winning streaks were few and far between, the White Sox had three losing skids of at least 12 straight games. The peak—or valley—of those was an AL-record 21-game losing streak from July 10 through Aug. 5.
Crochet is one of the few members of the White Sox who came out of the season unscathed. He pitched four scoreless innings with six strikeouts against the Tigers. The 25-year-old will finish 2024 with a 3.58 ERA and 209 strikeouts in 146 innings.
The Kansas City Royals' historic turnaround will include a playoff appearance after they locked up an American League wild-card spot with the Minnesota Twins' loss to the Baltimore Orioles.
Kansas City was limping to the finish line with a seven-game losing streak before getting back on track earlier this week by sweeping the Washington Nationals.
Now, the Royals have locked up their first postseason berth since winning the 2016 World Series.
Here's a look at the current playoff matchups and bracket if the season ended today as well as up-to-date standings.
Projected MLB Playoff Bracket
AL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Kansas City Royals; No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Detroit Tigers
NL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks; No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 New York Mets
First-Round Byes: No. 1 New York Yankees and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians (American League); No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies (National League)
MLB Standings
AL East
New York Yankees (93-66); clinched division and first-round bye
Cleveland Guardians (92-67); clinched division and first-round bye
Detroit Tigers (86-74, 6.5 GB; clinched playoff berth
Kansas City Royals (85-75, 7.5 GB); clinched playoff berth
Minnesota Twins (82-78, 10 GB)
Chicago White Sox (39-121, 53.5 GB)
AL West
Houston Astros (86-73); clinched division
Seattle Mariners (82-77, 4 GB)
Texas Rangers (75-84, 11 GB)
Oakland Athletics (69-90, 17 GB)
Los Angeles Angels (63-96, 23 GB)
AL Wild Card
Baltimore Orioles (89-71); clinched wild card
Detroit Tigers (86-74); clinched wild card
Kansas City Royals (85-75); clinched wild card
Minnesota Twins (82-78, 3 GB)
Seattle Mariners (82-77, 3 GB)
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies (94-66); clinched division and first-round bye
New York Mets (87-70, 5.5 GB)
Atlanta Braves (87-71, 6 GB)
Washington Nationals (69-90, 25 GB)
Miami Marlins (59-100, 35 GB)
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers (91-68); clinched division
Chicago Cubs (82-78, 9.5 GB)
St. Louis Cardinals (81-78, 10 GB)
Cincinnati Reds (76-84, 15.5 GB)
Pittsburgh Pirates (74-85, 17 GB)
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (95-64); clinched division and first-round bye
San Diego Padres (91-68, 4 GB); clinched playoff berth
Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71, 4 GB)
San Francisco Giants (79-80, 16 GB)
Colorado Rockies (61-98, 34 GB)
NL Wild Card
San Diego Padres (91-68, +3 Games); clinched wild card
New York Mets (87-70)
Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71)
Atlanta Braves (86-71, 1 GB)
After tying the franchise record with 106 losses last season, the Royals, by their usual standards, went on a massive spending spree in free agency to at least get back to respectability.
Kansas City added $47 million to its 2024 payroll by signing Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Chris Stratton, Garrett Hampson, Will Smith and Hunter Renfroe. That doesn't include the 11-year, $289 million extension given to Bobby Witt Jr. in February.
Lugo turned out to be arguably the best free-agent signing for any team last winter. The 34-year-old is on the shortlist of AL Cy Young candidates with a 3.03 ERA in a career-high 204.2 innings.
The rotation with Lugo, Wacha, Cole Ragans and Singer is very dangerous for opposing teams in a short series. The rotation as a whole ranks third in MLB with 19.9 FanGraphs' wins above replacement and second with a 3.57 ERA.
Witt is probably going to finish second to Aaron Judge in AL MVP voting. The 24-year-old superstar leads MLB in batting average, hits and owns a .332/.389/.591 slash line. He is the first player in franchise history to have at least 30 homers and 30 steals in a season.
Great starting pitching combined with Witt leading the offense have allowed the Royals to become just the 14th team in MLB history to have a winning record one year after losing at least 100 games.
Kansas City is just the second team to make the playoffs in the season after losing at least 100 games, joining the 2017 Minnesota Twins.
With a postseason berth locked up, the Royals are still waiting to find out their opponent in the AL Wild Card series. They will face either the Houston Astros or Baltimore Orioles in a best-of-three series.
White Sox Lose 121st Game to Break Modern MLB Record; Fans Troll Team's Historic Loss
Sep 28, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Andrew Vaughn #25 of the Chicago White Sox reacts against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 26, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
As the sun sets on what has been a disastrous season, the Chicago White Sox have made history.
With their 4-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, the White Sox picked up their 121st loss this season, breaking the modern MLB record for the most losses in a season previously held by the 1962 New York Mets, who lost 120 games.
Chicago won its last three games against the Los Angeles Angels as it seemed the White Sox might avoid breaking the record, but the Tigers, motivated by a late-season push to make the playoffs, were too much for them on Friday.
After officially making history, fans trolled Chicago for the historically bad season.
What we’ve all been expecting all year is now official. The 2024 Chicago White Sox are officially the worst Major League Baseball team in modern history
When the Mets lost 120 games in 1962, it was their inaugural season as a franchise, so it makes sense why they struggled so much. The White Sox, who won the AL Central just three years ago, don't have the same excuse.
Though New York was historically bad in 1962, it won the World Series just seven seasons later. Perhaps Chicago will have that same kind of turnaround, though it doesn't seem likely at the moment.
The good news for the White Sox is they can only lose two more games as they'll close out their season on Sunday. After that, it will be a long offseason of figuring out how they can avoid breaking their own record next year.
While it was an unfortunate night for Chicago, it was a celebratory one for the Tigers, who have won 15 of their last 18 games and clinched a postseason berth for the first time in 10 years with the win.
Detroit was previously tied for the longest active playoff drought, but the Los Angeles Angels now have sole ownership of that crown.
Detroit looked to be on track for another lost season as recently as July, prompting the front office to go into sell mode at the trade deadline. They dealt Jack Flaherty, Carson Kelly, Mark Canha and Andrew Chafin in a series of a moves.
Instead of going into the tank after that, the Tigers responded by winning 24 of their last 32 games since Aug. 23to make their first appearance in the playoffs since 2014.
Here's a look at the current playoff matchups and bracket if the season ended today as well as up-to-date standings.
Projected MLB Playoff Bracket
AL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Kansas City Royals; No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Detroit Tigers
NL Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks; No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 New York Mets
First-Round Byes: No. 1 New York Yankees and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians (American League); No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies (National League)
MLB Standings
AL East
New York Yankees (93-66); clinched division and first-round bye
Cleveland Guardians (92-67); clinched division and first-round bye
Detroit Tigers (86-74, 6.5 GB; clinched playoff berth
Kansas City Royals (85-75, 7.5 GB)
Minnesota Twins (82-77, 10 GB)
Chicago White Sox (39-121, 53.5 GB)
AL West
Houston Astros (86-73); clinched division
Seattle Mariners (82-77, 4 GB)
Texas Rangers (75-84, 11 GB)
Oakland Athletics (69-90, 17 GB)
Los Angeles Angels (63-96, 23 GB)
AL Wild Card
Baltimore Orioles (88-71); clinched wild card
Detroit Tigers (86-74); clinched wild card
Kansas City Royals (85-74)
Minnesota Twins (82-77, 3 GB)
Seattle Mariners (82-77, 3 GB)
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies (94-66); clinched division and first-round bye
New York Mets (87-70, 5.5 GB)
Atlanta Braves (87-71, 6 GB)
Washington Nationals (69-90, 25 GB)
Miami Marlins (59-100, 35 GB)
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers (91-68); clinched division
Chicago Cubs (82-78, 9.5 GB)
St. Louis Cardinals (81-78, 10 GB)
Cincinnati Reds (76-84, 15.5 GB)
Pittsburgh Pirates (74-85, 17 GB)
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (95-64); clinched division and first-round bye
San Diego Padres (91-68, 4 GB); clinched playoff berth
Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71, 4 GB)
San Francisco Giants (79-80, 16 GB)
Colorado Rockies (61-98, 34 GB)
NL Wild Card
San Diego Padres (91-68, +3 Games); clinched wild card
New York Mets (87-70)
Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71)
Atlanta Braves (86-71, 1 GB)
The Tigers seemed like an afterthought in the AL yet again. They were nine games under .500 as recently as July 4 (39-48) and 9.5 games out of a wild-card spot after losing their fifth straight game on Aug. 2.
Since Aug. 3, however, the Tigers have been on an absolute heater. They have had five winning streaks of at least four games, with series wins over the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles (twice) and Kansas City Royals.
While it took awhile for most of the Tigers to get going, Tarik Skubal has been their constant all season. The 27-year-old, who was mentioned as a potential candidate to be dealt ahead of the trade deadline, is the AL Cy Young frontrunner with a 2.39 ERA and MLB-high 228 strikeouts in 192 innings over 31 starts.
The Tigers aren't going to win games if they get into a slugfest. Even if you isolate their performance to the second half of the season, they rank 20th in runs scored and 24th in weighted on-base average since the All-Star break.
But having the best pitcher in the AL to start Game 1 of a wild-card series gives the Tigers a leg up on most of the teams they will face. Their opponent is still to be determined based on the results of this weekend's games.
The Tigers will likely face either the Orioles or Houston Astros, but there is a slim chance they could move all the way up to the No. 4 seed and host Orioles or Kansas City Royals in the best-of-three series.
Grady Sizemore 'in Consideration' for White Sox Managerial Job, GM Chris Getz Says
Sep 25, 2024
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 09: Chicago White Sox Interim Manager Grady Sizemore walks towards the dugout before a game against the Chicago Cubs at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 09, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Griffin Quinn/Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz confirmed to reporters on Tuesday that interim manager Grady Sizemore is being considered for the full-time position.
"Grady is in consideration," he said. "He has a lot of traits that we're looking for. But we certainly want to go through a full process before we make any sort of decision."
Getz had previously said that the White Sox would go outside the organization to find its new manager.
Sizemore, 42, took over as the interim manager on Aug. 8 after Pedro Grifol was fired, and he hasn't had much more luck than his predecessor, going 8-31 at the helm. He's brought a more positive approach to the clubhouse, however, something management has clearly appreciated.
As somebody who has watched or listened to nearly all 1-2-0 losses, I must respectfully disagree. Even somebody with your incredible mind cannot imagine what #WhiteSox fans have endured this year, sir. https://t.co/yahDWtnBdC
"We were very intentional on wanting to create an atmosphere that remained healthy for players to show up every day even though we're faced with challenges," Getz told ESPN's Jeff Passan last week. "These guys have shown up every day looking to compete knowing each game may be an uphill battle. There aren't a lot of wins in our record. We're looking to find wins in development, and the best way to do that is to have the best attitude possible about where we're growing and what we're learning."
Sizemore has attempted to restore confidence for a White Sox team that is historically bad and has found numerous ways to lose, going just 36-120 on the season.
"You can focus on the negative all day," he told Passan. "And I know we've done our share of that too, but at the end of the day, I think this team lost a lot of confidence. We've been told for so long that they're not doing this right. They're not doing that right. And I just think that this game is too hard to play if you don't have confidence. So all I've tried to do is try to restore some of that with the guys by being positive."
Sizemore, a former MLB player himself who was a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glover winner, has never been a full-time manager. And for the time being, his focus is on his interim duties and finishing the season on a high note.
"I don't have too many thoughts about it right now. Just worried about finishing out this season strong," he told reporters Tuesday. "I like everything about this organization. I like the opportunity that they've given me. I want to continue what I've started and be a part of this in any way that I can and just try to help turn this organization around, as fast as we can."
Jackson Jobe Promoted by Tigers Ahead of Rays Series; MLB's No. 1 Pitching Prospect
Sep 23, 2024
LAKELAND, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Jackson Jobe #78 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a portrait during photo day at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 23, 2024 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
As the Detroit Tigers gear up for their series against the Tampa Bay Rays that starts on Tuesday, they injected some youth into their pitching staff.
The Tigers announced on Monday that right-handed pitching prospect Jackson Jobe will be promoted to their major-league roster for the upcoming series. Jobe is ranked as the No. 1 pitching prospect and No. 6 overall prospect by MLB.com.
Jobe is joining the hunt.
The Tigers will select the contract of RHP Jackson Jobe to the Major League roster prior to the upcoming series against Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/REDkpIYIV7
Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reported that Jobe will pitch out of the bullpen when he makes his MLB debut. Right-hander Shelby Miller will be designated for assignment as the corresponding move to make room for Jobe on the 40-man roster.
The Tigers selected Jobe out of high school with the third overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft. He had originally committed to play college baseball at Ole Miss before opting to pursue a professional career.
During the 2024 season, Jobe has played in High-A (three starts), Double-A (16 starts) and Triple-A (two starts). He has a combined record of 5-3 with a 2.36 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP and 96 strikeouts against just 45 walks across 91.2 innings pitched. He held opposing hitters to a batting average of .178.
Entering this season, CBS Sports prospect expert R.J. Anderson ranked Jobe as Detroit's No. 2 overall prospect behind second baseman Colt Keith, who has played 142 games this year.
"Jobe's arsenal is full of above-average or better pitches, including a fastball that jets into the upper-90s, two breaking balls, and an excellent changeup for someone this young and inexperienced," Anderson wrote at the time. Concerns about Jobe's durability and command (his elbow rides up to the shoulder line) kept him from ranking higher, but there's front-of-the-rotation potential here if both improve."
At 82-74, the Tigers are clinging to the third and final wild-card spot in the American League. Detroit is certainly hoping that adding Jobe will help clinch a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2014.
