Marty’s musings: Ohtani, the Red Sox, and Max Scherzer v. Joe Girardi

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 key pitching matchups.

Shohei Ohtani continues to dazzle, the Red Sox make short work of the Yankees, this time in Boston, and the Diamondbacks finally win a road game.

News & Notes

3 - Home runs given up by Gerrit Cole in his start against the Red Sox on Sunday. It’s the first time he’s allowed more than one home run in the first inning. Cole’s spin rate has decreased considerably since MLB”s crackdown on the use of foreign substances.

6 - Games the Yankees have lost to the Red Sox so far this season. New York was swept at home by the Red Sox a couple weeks ago, and lost all three games in Boston this past weekend.

1 - Combined no hitter in Cubs history, which Chicago pitched on Thursday night against the powerhouse Dodgers. Zach Davies threw six no hit innings but allowed five walks. Ryan Tapera, Andrew Chafin, and Craig Kimbrel got the last 12 outs but all gave up a walk. That’s eight walks and zero hits in a 4-0 Cubs win.

24 - Consecutive losses by the Diamondbacks on the road. The streak came to an end Saturday when they defeated the Padres 10-1. The Dbacks are currently 22-57, and are nearly 30 games out of first place.

11.74 - Seconds for Shohei Ohtani to run from home to third on a triple this past weekend. He lit up the Rays on Sunday, homering, tripling, and stealing a base.

2010 - The last time the Dodgers were swept by the Padres in San Diego. It’s a new day in the NL West with the Giants continuing to lead the division and the Padres and Dodgers battling things out for second place.

3 - Times Phillies manager Joe Girardi asked the umpires to check Max Scherzer for sticky stuff, and three times it was nothing. Here’s a better (NSFW) narration of what happened, it’s far better than anything I can possibly describe in words.

Injury Report

The Twins announced last week that Byron Buxton is out until at least August 1.

Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas will be out until mid-August with a forearm injury.

Mets starter Joey Lucchesi is out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury that will require Tommy John Surgery.

The Astros Alex Bregman is out for a few weeks with a quad strain.

The Nats are heating up but Stephen Strasburg will be out until mid-July with a neck injury.

Pitching Matchups to Watch

Tuesday, June 29

Kevin Gausman (SF) v. Walker Buehler (LAD), 10:10 ET

Last week the Padres swept the Dodgers, the Giants beat the A’s two-of-three. San Francisco remains in first place, four games ahead of LA going into the last few days of June. Gausman has been excellent this season, giving up more than two earned runs in only one of his 15 starts.

Wednesday, June 30

Shohei Ohtani (LAA) v. Domingo German (NYY), 7:05 ET

Shohei Ohtani is clearly the most fun player in baseball, and he makes his first-ever start against the Yankees on Wednesday.

Friday, July 2

Jacob deGrom (NYM) v. Gerrit Cole (NYY), 7:10 ET

deGrom had his worst start of the season...where he gave up two runs in six innings. Cole also had his worst outing, and he gave up six runs in five innings.