MLB news & notes: no hitters and of course, postponements

Welcome to ‘Marty’s Musings’, my weekly column of numbers summarizing the happenings in the baseball world. I am your guide for taking an analytic look at the news and notes throughout the game, and highlighting this week’s key pitching matchups.

This week we see more positive COVID tests in the game that cancels another series, the White Sox bats go crazy, and the Red Sox pitching gets worse and worse as a trade signals they’re throwing in the towel.

News & Notes

99 - Game score for White Sox starter Lucas Giolito in his 13-K no hitter against the Pirates. It’s the best game score for any starting pitcher in the history of the White Sox storied franchise, even better than Phil Humber’s 2012 perfect game score.

34 - Number of days between the first time all 30 teams played on a single day and the second time it happened. Due to postponements due to COVID and due to weather, MLB went a month before having all 30 teams play on the same day, a regular occurrence in a normal season. Last Saturday finally saw all 30 teams suit-up.

2 - Games in a three-game series played by the Astros and Athletics, before Sunday’s finale was canceled due to a positive COVID test for the A’s. Just goes to show that despite 15 games on Saturday, normalcy is fleeting in these trying times.

4 - Games postponed on Wednesday due to the players deciding to not play to bring attention to racial injustice in the country. The games between the Reds and Brewers, Mariners and Padres, Dodgers and Giants were made up in double-headers Thursday, the same day the Mets and Marlins staged their walk-out.

2 - Prospects San Diego sent to Boston in exchange for Mitch Moreland. The Red Sox have been one of the worst teams in baseball, with a pitching staff that is staggeringly bad. In exchange for Moreland, Boston acquired outfielder Jeisson Rosario and infielder Hudson Potts.

39th - Birthday celebration for Cardinals veteran Adam Wainwright, who celebrated with a complete game 7-2 victory over the Indians. Over the nine frames, he gave up only four hits, walked two batters, and struck out nine.

3 - Cubs’ outfielders who hit two home runs on Sunday. The outfield trio of Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward, and Ian Happ combined for six home runs between them, the first time in MLB history all three outfielders hit multiple dingers.

Series of Note

Rays v. Yankees, August 31st - September 2nd

The Rays swept the Yanks in a three-game set when they last played, and they enter Monday’s action 3 ½ games ahead of New York in the American League East.

White Sox v. Twins, August 31st - September 2nd

Lucas Giolito is coming off his no hitter to face a potent home-run-happy Twins lineup on Monday night. The Sox are tied with the Indians atop the AL Central, with the Twins only 1 ½ games behind them.

Cubs v. Cardinals, September 4th - September 6th

Chicago is 4-6 in their last ten games after getting off to a torrid start. They are the only team in the NL Central above .500 with fewer than half the season to go. If anyone else in that division is going to keep-pace with the Cubs, the Cardinals have a head-to-head matchup where they can gain some ground.