Phillies News: Minor trade news, Phillies attendance update
The Philadelphia Phillies enjoyed another of their off days early in the season. The Philadelphia Phillies face off against the Toronto Blue Jays as Toronto travels down to Citizens Bank Park for a two-game set. The starting pitching matchups consists of Aaron Nola (2-2, 4.64 ERA) for the Phillies and Alek Manoah (1-2, 4.71 ERA).
The Phillies made a minor trade with the Kansas City Royals. Philadelphia acquired outfielder Junior Marin and cash considerations from Kansas City for the recently designated for assignment right-handed pitcher James McArthur. Marin is an 18-year-old outfield prospect that has been in the Royals system for two years, playing in the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Complex League. Over the two seasons, Marin played 62 games, has 214 plate appearances, slashing .348/.425/.554, has seven home runs, and 38 RBIs. A move intended for the future when Nick Castellanos or Kyle Schwarber need a replacement.
More Phillies news
The Philadelphia Phillies and the Phillies faithful are coming out to support the team in droves so far this season. The Phillies are amongst the very top when it comes to fan attendance early in the season.
Is Matt Strahm one of the most important and electric pitchers in baseball? That sounds like a real homer type of question at first. This stat provided proper context for the question as Strahm is in the same company as a former Cy Young winner and two legitimate candidates for this season.
Now onto some disappointing stats about the Phillies. The Phillies have been confounding when pitching against teams in two-out, runners-in-scoring position-type of situations.
MLB news
The St. Louis Cardinals are currently enjoyers of back-to-back victories after being losers of eight straight games. That is not the news regarding the team though. All-Star catcher and big-time free agent signing catcher Willson Contreras has been a part of a temporary positional change controversy. There are multiple layers to this story.
The Tampa Bay Rays are enjoying a dominant extended start to the season. That continued yesterday against the Baltimore Orioles as ace starter Shane McClanahan is the first pitcher in the MLB this season to have seven wins. McClanahan has won his first seven starts, joining two other Rays pitchers.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are still one of the feel-good stories in the MLB so far this season, The Pirates are clutching to first place with the current lead of 0.5 games over the Milwaukee Brewers and losers of seven straight. Starting pitcher Mitch Keller put the team on his back for a complete game shutout that had historical significance for the Pirates.