Morning Mound Visit: Larry Walker, Derek Jeter finally enter Cooperstown

Jay Jaffe | FanGraphs: Larry Walker and Derek Jeter were elected to the Hall of Fame over a year and a half ago, but COVID-19 delayed the induction ceremony until today. It’s been a long road for these two players and an even longer one for Marvin Miller and Ted Simmons.

Andrew Mearns | Pinstripe Alley: The Yankees had a scare Tuesday night as Gerrit Cole exited his start with hamstring tightness. With a tenuous grasp on the first Wild Card spot, the Yankees can’t afford to lose their ace for any extended period. The Yankees are optimistic that Cole will just be day-to-day.

Rob Arthur | Baseball Prospectus $: Previously, Rob Arthur estimated pre-Statcast era exit velocity using stringer-supplied landing coordinates. It appears that exit velocities now are the highest they’ve ever been.

Quick Hits

A disastrous first inning sank the Red Sox, shrinking their lead over the Blue Jays and Mariners in the AL Wild Card.

A two-run eighth inning lifted the Reds over the Cubs and helped Cincinnati pull even with San Diego in the NL Wild Card race.

The Astros erased a two-run deficit in the ninth inning and later won on a Carlos Correa double in the 10th.