Photo by: Joshua Peacock on Unsplash
MLB 2022 Weekly Preview: News, scores, and upcoming games
Here’s what you need to know about if you’re a baseball fan. Read all about the MLB 2022 season here.
The MLB All-Star Game is coming up on Tuesday, July 19th, with Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani listed as two of the biggest headliners for the matchup.
MLB important headlines
- Tampa Bay manages to get close win over Boston, 5-4
- Dodgers take care of business against Cardinals, 4-0
- White Sox absolutely crush Twins, 12-2
- Cubs lose 0-8 against Mets
- Surprises keep coming as Reds defeat Yankees, 7-6
- Win streaks keep on coming: Mariners with 11 and Orioles have 10
- Infielder Tyler Wade traded from Angels to Yankees
- Rays’ superstar Wander Franco will miss 8 weeks with wrist injury
Game of the week
Chicago White Sox – 12 @ Minnesota Twins – 2 on Thursday, July 14th
All in all, the White Sox came into Minnesota and did a fantastic job of dismantling the Twins.
Things were pretty efficient with the bat and the ball for Chicago, with Zavala, Robert, and Vaughn all knocking it out of the park with stunning homers. Yet it was undoubtedly Tim Anderson’s two hits and three runs that helped turn the tide against an often-feisty Twins team.
On the pitching side, Johnny Cueto was magnificent over six innings, as he only gave up seven hits and one run, which brought his ERA down to 2.80 for the season.
This 12-2 demolition of the Twins is the first of four matchups, so unless Minnesota wants to wave the white flag, they better pick up their game quick to avoid another shameful loss like this on Thursday night.
The few Chicago fans that made the trip to Minneapolis were certainly rewarded with Luis Robert’s unbelievable 452-foot-long homer that whacked the second deck in the left field. This massive hit gave the White Sox a 6-1 lead in the fourth inning and likely put all thoughts of a comeback out of the Twins’ collective heads.
Robert has been solid for Chicago for the entire 2022 season, and even if the 44-45 White Sox have been up and down, the right-hander center fielder’s .301 average and 12 home runs have been a bright spot.
There was little to be excited about from the Twins’ performance, as starting pitcher Sonny Gray certainly had a game to forget. Gray gave up nine hits and six runs over the matchup, and ended things with a 3.71 ERA. Fans were probably surprised that Gray stayed so long in the game, as he just wasn’t feeling it at all.
The Twins are still fourth in the American League and hold a solid 49-42 record, so there’s little worry to be had just yet. However, we would like better performances with the bat from Luis Arraez and Byron Buxton, who both went AWOL during the game.
MLB Power Rankings 2022
Need a catch-up as to which squads are the greatest in baseball? Here are the best teams in the MLB right now.
1. New York Yankees: 62-27
No one can catch the Yankees right now, and this could be one of the best records that the MLB has seen for some years. Since May 23rd, the team hasn’t lost more than three games and they fluctuate between being the best squad in ERA and home runs.
We all know how good Aaron Judge has been this season, but the Yankees have also got to be proud of catcher Jose Trevino’s breakout performance and his inclusion in the All-Star roster.
2. Houston Astros: 58-30
Although the Astros have been incredible so far, there are a few worries about Michael Brantley’s shoulder issues and lack of a fixed date for a return to the lineup. It appears as if Houston is weathering the storm well enough, especially since Jake Meyers has returned and delivered the goods.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers: 58-30
The Dodgers continue to win game after game mostly due to one thing: They limit the opposition’s runs. Even when their own batters aren’t feeling it, the pitching/fielding lineup is still managing to dictate the game and ensure their competition doesn’t get the runs they want.
They could use the return of Walker Buehler and Blake Treinen to help steady the ship a little bit, although it’s better that both are healthy when the World Series battle begins.
4. New York Mets: 56-34
It’s a great time for New York baseball! The Yankees and Mets have been two of the best teams in the MLB for the 2022 season, and now both fan bases have something to cheer about.
It was especially amazing to see the Mets win two out of three games against the Braves, which are a team trying to take the Mets’ spot in the NL. Max Scherzer has been excellent lately, allowing just one run and getting 20 strikeouts in 13 innings. His 2.15 ERA is helping the Mets keep up with the pack and stay relevant in a fast-paced league.
5. Atlanta Braves: 54-37
We really like what we’re seeing from Spencer Strider, and it remains perplexing as to how Austin Riley didn’t make it on the ASG roster. Still, the snub may even motivate him to perform better in the second half of the season, which would hurtle the Braves to potentially second-place in the National League (they’re not catching the Dodgers).
Team to keep an eye on – Seattle Mariners
Seattle has sneakily won 11 games in a row and shows no signs of slowing down. They have three more games against the Rangers that they can easily win, and it could be that the All-Star break actually comes at a bad time. Momentum is important in sports, and this minor pause could disrupt everything. If the Mariners continue the hot streak afterward, then we’ll know if they are legit.
With the bat, Ty France is the one to watch, with an average of .303 and already knocking up 32 runs and 91 hits, not to mention 10 home runs. It has to be Logan Gilbert with the ball, who has a 2.80 ERA and 100 strikeouts right now.
Must-see upcoming MLB game
Check out the following matchup on the MLB schedule.
New York Mets @ Chicago Cubs on Friday 15th July
Likely first pitchers:
Mets – Taijuan Walker
Cubs – Marcus Stroman
The Cubs are looking to bounce back against the Mets after they fell 0-8 to the New York team. While the Cubs haven’t exactly been forcing their way to the top with a 34-55 record, it’s still an inexcusable result and one that they’ll fight to erase.
It will be interesting to see Cubs’ starting pitcher, Marcus Stroman, face his former team again and perhaps create a bit of drama on Friday. His 4.91 ERA is iffy, but he’s been in and out of the lineup, so we’ll give him a pass.
The Cubs are looking to break a seven-game losing streak and try to salvage a win before the All-Star Game. Stroman is still yet to show everyone his best for the Cubs, but there’s time and we’re sure he’s going to give a better effort against his old squad.
The Mets, on the other hand, are absolutely rolling at 56-34 and second place in the National League. A lot of the success is from the pitching mound, where Chris Bassist’s 3.79 ERA and 104 strikeouts have helped to propel the team to dizzying heights. With the bat, too, there’s a lot to be excited about, as Pete Alonso’s 24 home runs and .268 average are huge reasons as to why the Mets are second in the NL.
As this is the second of four matchups against the Cubs, we have to think that the Mets keep up their stellar play for one more game, then it’s not improbable to think that Chicago will take either the third or fourth game.
Author: Joe Garland
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