As MLB’s stretch run gets under method, here are 3 things we’ll be watching on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Steele scratched from arranged start:

Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell informed press reporters (consisting of ESPN’s Jesse Rogers) last night that ace southpaw Justin Steele had actually been scratched from his scheduled start today due to elbow discomfort. No info is presently readily available concerning the seriousness of the problem or just how much time the lefty is anticipated to miss out on. Rogers suggested that the club anticipates to understand more about Steele’s circumstance today, while Steele’s colleague Jameson Taillon informed press reporters (consisting of Rogers) after the other day’s video game that “From everything [he] heard, we’re hoping it’s just a quick thing.”

Regardless of if Steele just misses out on a start or 2 or is ticketed for a a lot longer lack, the news is a destructive blow to the Cubs as they have a hard time to stay pertinent in the playoff photo. They presently sit 3.5 video games back with simply 3.7% chances at the playoffs per Fangraphs, and the loss of their ace might off any remote hopes the club has of assembling a September rise. Steele missed out on time with a hamstring injury previously this year, however in 22 starts, the 29-year-old has actually published a 3.09 age with a 3.14 FIP in 128 innings. Those outcomes are ideal in line with what Steele has actually provided for 3 years running now, and his 3.10 age considering that the start of the 2022 season is fourth-lowest amongst pitchers with a minimum of 400 innings, bested just by Justin Verlander, Max Fried, and Zack Wheeler.

2. Cole exits begin due to cramping:

Steele wasn’t the only ace to have an injury scare the other day, as Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole left his start last night with what the club called (as kept in mind by The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner) an ideal calf cramp. The right-hander, who will commemorate his 34th birthday later on today, is set to be assessed even more today however informed press reporters (consisting of MLB.com’s Drew Davison) that he isn’t “super concerned” about the problem. Cole compared the problem to one he formerly experienced versus the Dodgers last season, when he prevented the hurt list and just made his next start on an additional day off before going back to his regimen without additional problems.

After missing out on nearly the whole very first half with injury, Cole returned in June however hasn’t looked rather like himself over his 69 innings of work this year. His 4.12 FIP is the worst figure of his profession, and his 3.65 age is the greatest its been considering that the 2017 season throughout his time with the Pirates. Still, even that lessened level of production is rather important, especially for a Yankees club that has actually seen its other beginners installed a dull 4.65 age considering that the start of July.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With the calendar now turned to September, all eyes are on the push to the postseason, where the Mets, Cubs, Red Sox, and Mariners hide on the periphery of the playoff bubble. Much of the intrigue is concentrated on the race to the leading 2 seeds in each league, which make byes through the playoffs and have little certainty headed into the seasons last month. If you’re questioning your group’s hopes of a World Series champion this fall or how your club might approach the coming offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click on this link to ask a concern beforehand, participate live once the chat starts, or check out the records once the chat is total.