Best- Merill Kelly SP Diamondbacks – 7.2IP 3H 1ER 1BB 7K
Merill Kelly’s pitching performance was much needed not only for his team, the Arizona Diamondbacks but also for the MLB as a whole. To see a starting pitcher go into the 7th inning with a no-hitter is a great accomplishment. The Diamondbacks came into the night at 1-3 and turned to Kelly to stop the bleeding and get the team back on track. Kelly turned amazing stats that helped propel the Diamondbacks over the Rangers on Tuesday night. Kelly now has the second-longest starting pitching performance of the year, and it could not have come at any better time for the Diamondbacks. With this shortened season, executions like Kelly’s will be few, which is why, as baseball fans, we need to appreciate just how great this game was.
Notable performances: Javier Baez SS Cubs – 3-5 3R 3RBI 2HR; Aaron Civale SP Cleveland – 6IP 7H 2ER 1BB 9K 1W; Carlos Correa SS Astros – 3-4 1R 2RBI 1HR; Tanner Roark SP Jays – 5IP 3H 1ER 0BB 5K 1W; Tim Anderson SS White Sox – 3-5 3R 1RBI 1HR
Worst- Dylan Cease SP White Sox – 2.1IP 7H 4ER 0BB 1K 1L
There were no shortages of bad performances to pick from on Tuesday, but I will give it to the White Sox starting pitchers. The White Sox had a chance to dig themselves out of the hole they had put themselves in from the weekend series against the Twins the doubleheader on Tuesday against Cleveland. Instead, they dug themselves even deeper by dropping both games. The most significant contributors to these losses were their two starting pitchers, Dylan Cease and Carlos Rodon.
Cease was making his first start of the year and needed to get off strong after a very underwhelming rookie season. Needless to say, he failed to achieve his goal. Cease’s cannot have a repeat for the White Sox if they want any chance for a playoff spot this year.
The Other Worst – Carlos Rodon SP White Sox – 3.2IP 4H 5ER 3BB 4K 1L
Rodon was making his first start since he had Tommy John surgery in May of 2019. Rodon gave up five runs; the White Sox would never recover. With Michael Kopech opting out of the season, and now Reynaldo Lopez on the IL, the White Sox need their starting pitching staff to wake up and play up to their potential.
Rodon and Cease are needed even more than they were supposed to be this year; The White Sox are at 1-4, and if this pitching doesn’t get better, then the White Sox season will be over before it even starts.
Extra Trash: Kyle Wright SP Braves – 2.2IP 4H 5ER 3BB 3K 1L; Luery Garcia 2B White Sox – 0-8; Carlos Martinez SP Cardinals – 3.2IP 7H 6ER 1BB 2K 1L; Khris Davis OF/DH Athletics – 0-4, hitless for the season; Pete Alonso 1B Mets – 0-4.