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MLB-Best/Worst for Monday, September 7, 2020

Best-Jean Segura SS/2B Phillies 4-5 2R 5RBI 1HR

The Phillies hold the fifth spot right now in the National League but not out of reach. As many as five teams are close behind the Phillies, making every game a must-win.

Jean Segura came up big for the Phillies on Monday against the New York Mets. Segura (.261AVG 5HR 17RBI 19R 2SB) hasn’t necessarily lit the league on fire, but on Monday, he accounted for five of the nine runs the team scored and hit the game-winning two-run home run. 

The Phillies are trying to hold on and get into the playoffs and look for more hitting like this from Segura. He could make this offense dangerous with already proven big-time hitters, JT Realmuto, Bryce Harper, and Rhys Hoskins. If Segura becomes another weapon, this team could have a shot to make it to the postseason.  

Other Notables: Max Scherzer SP Nationals-7IP 6H 0ER 1BB 8K 1W; Dylan Moore 2B Mariners-2-5 2R 4RBI 1HR; Kyle Hendricks SP Cubs-8IP 7H 1ER 0BB 4K 1W; Sean Murphy C Athletics-2-3 2R 3RBI 1HR; Kevin Guasman SP Giants-6IP 2H 1ER 3BB 9K 1W.

Worst-Chad Green and Adam Ottavino RP New York Yankees .1IP 5H 9ER 4BB 0K 1L

The New York Yankees came into the 2020 season as the huge favorite to win the American League and were only behind the Dodgers as World Series favorites. But as of Monday, they were on a three-game losing streak and were only up by 2.5 games for the last and final spot for the AL playoffs. Monday kept the downpour coming as the bullpen imploded and blew the game against the Blue Jays. 

The Yankees are dealing with many injuries, including Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gleybar Torres, James Paxton, and Gio Urshela. None of which affect the bullpen. The Yankees’ bullpen was supposed to be one of the Yankees’ biggest strengths but have turned out pretty bad this season. 

Chad Green and Adam Ottavino will never be looked at as awful, but with the playoffs less than three weeks away, losses like this tend to stand out. If the Yankees don’t shore up their bullpen, they might go from favorite to forgotten. 

Extra Trash: Bubba Starling OF Royals-0-4 3K; David Peterson SP Mets-2IP 3H 5ER 4BB 3K; Willy Adames SS Rays-0-4 3K; Kolby Allard SP Rangers-3.2IP 5H 8ER 4BB 5K 1L; Nick Markakis OF and Austin Riley 3B Braves-0-10 1K.