DENVER (AP) — As he rounded first base
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 12:03 am
Andre Dawson Jersey , Ryan McMahon turned back toward his teammates in the dugout, hollered and emphatically clapped twice.It was just the emotion shining through.McMahon hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning after replacing injured slugger Nolan Arenado , Colorado’s beleaguered bullpen kept the Dodgers in check and the Rockies beat Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 on Friday night.McMahon entered the game in the fifth when Arenado was taken out with soreness in his right shoulder. The left-handed McMahon lined a fastball from left-handed reliever Zac Rosscup (0-1) to straightaway center and heartily celebrated as he rounded first.“I was really pumped up,” McMahon said. “We needed that one.”McMahon’s homer overcame a rough night on the bases for the Rockies, who had two runners thrown out at home trying to score on grounders. Running on contact, Carlos Gonzalez was easily thrown out in the first and Trevor Story in the third.It was a rough night at the plate as well — the Rockies were 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position.But the bullpen was lights out a night after giving up five homers and seven runs. The relievers went a combined 3 1/3 scoreless innings after starter Jon Gray left, with Jake McGee (2-4) picking up the win and Adam Ottavino closing out the ninth instead of a struggling Wade Davis. It was Ottavino’s fifth save.“For them to go out there and not give up anything … that was incredible,” said Gray, who allowed four runs over 5 2/3 innings. “So hopefully that next step gets taken and we go off from here.”DJ LeMahieu had a two-run homer in the first to help the Rockies snap a six-game skid against the Dodgers at Coors Field. It was his first homer since June 28.There was reason for a degree of concern with the durable Arenado leaving the game. The Gold Glove third baseman has been bothered by a sore shoulder for a week and tweaked it while turning a double play in the third inning. He was covering second base on a play that was scored 3-5-3.“After it, I had trouble throwing,” said Arenado, who hopes to be back in the lineup Saturday. “It hurt too much to let it fly after that.”McMahon replaced Arenado at third base and hit his first homer since June 20.“It was Mac’s night to give us a big swing,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.Max Muncy had two doubles and a two-run homer for the Dodgers, while Cody Bellinger added three singles. Los Angeles remains in a first-place tie with Arizona in the NL West.Kenta Maeda went 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs before running out of steam and was replaced by Rosscup, a reliever Los Angeles claimed off waivers from Colorado on July 11.“I think all my pitches were average today,” Maeda said through a translator. “Nothing really stood out per se.”TRAINER’S ROOMDodgers: Closer Kenley Jansen was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday because of an irregular heartbeat. MGR Dave Roberts didn’t have a timetable for his return.Rockies: LHP Mike Dunn (left shoulder joint inflammation) tossed a recent bullpen session. … RHP Antonio Senzatela (shoulder) threw on the side Friday and “feels good,” manager Bud Black said.FAMILIAR FOEMcMahon said he faced Rosscup during a live batting practice a few months ago when both were with Colorado.The result?“I hit a home run against him in live BP,” McMahon said.TO THE BULLPEN?In Jansen’s absence Ron Santo Jersey , Roberts said moving Maeda to bullpen remains a possibility. Maeda hasn’t discussed that with his manager yet.“It’s hard to say until we have that conversation,” Maeda said.ROCKIN’ IN THE CAGESinger Chris Stapleton took batting practice off Black before the game. Clayton Kershaw, Ian Desmond and Charlie Blackmon stood around the cage to watch.Stapleton hit a sharp single to left on his first pitch and then got jammed on the next two pitches before calling it a day. Asked if he hit any homers, Stapleton responded: “An inside the park one.”He played at the Pepsi Center on Friday.UP NEXTDodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (5-4, 3.63 ERA) faced the Rockies on June 2 at Coors Field, giving up four runs in five innings.Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland (10-7, 3.04 ERA) is 7-2 with a 2.18 ERA in 10 starts at Coors Field this season. Tim Warner/Getty ImagesThere are a handful of teams that have a chance to completely turn the MLB offseason on its head if they decide to be active on the trade market.The Cleveland Indians are one such team.According to Buster Olney of ESPN, financial restrictions could lead to some key veteran players being shopped on the trade block this offseason.Buster Olney Buster_ESPNFaced with market constraints, the Indians will listen to trade offers for some of their veteran players this winter, according to sources. Kluber, Carrasco, Encarnacion, Gomes, etc. Lindor, Ramirez will definitely be held.There's a lot to unpack there, and two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber is obviously the name that jumps off the page.It was another excellent season for the 32-year-old, as he went 20-7 with a 2.89 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 222 strikeouts in an American League-high 215 innings.Kluber is entering the final guaranteed season of his contract and will earn $17 million in 2019.However http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/auth ... oss-jersey , his current deal also carries a pair of team-friendly club options for 2020 ($17.5 million) and 2021 ($18 million) that make him an extremely valuable trade chip.It would surely take a pair of top-tier prospects and more to pry him loose.Carlos CarrascoTim Warner/Getty ImagesCarlos Carrasco doesn't have the same collection of hardware in his trophy room, but he's an equally attractive trade chip.The 31-year-old was terrific once again this past season, going 17-10 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 231 strikeouts in 192 innings.The Indians already exercised his $9.75 million option for the upcoming season, and his contract carries one more option year in 2020 at $9.5 million, so he too would represent more than just a one-year rental.With Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger and Shane Bieber also in the starting rotation, the Indians could conceivably trade one of Kluber or Carrasco and still have one of the best starting rotations in baseball.Buster Olney Buster_ESPNYes, the Indians will listen to trade offers for Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, etc., but two things to remember:1. They arent trading all of them, and they arent trading Lindor or Ramirez2. No matter who they trade, they will enter 2019 as prohibitive favorites in AL CentralIn a market where Patrick Corbin, Dallas Keuchel and Nathan Eovaldi are the top available free agents, now would be the perfect time for the Indians to maximize the value of their top starters while potentially freeing up some payroll space and bolstering the farm system in the process.Catcher Yan Gomes is also listed as a potential trade candidate by Olney, and he too carries value, albeit not at the same level as the two top-flight starting pitchers.After a pair of down seasons Ryne Sandberg Jersey , Gomes rebounded to post a 103 OPS+ with 26 doubles, 16 home runs and 48 RBI. He also threw out 29 percent of base stealers, was an All-Star for the first time and finished the season with 2.6 WAR.For a team looking to upgrade the catcher position but not interested in making a long-term commitment to free agents Yasmani Grandal and Wilson Ramos, Gomes could be an attractive alternative.The 31-year-old will earn $7.083 million in 2019, followed by a pair of reasonably priced club options in 2020 ($9 million) and 2021 ($11 million).The trouble is, after trading Francisco Mejia to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Brad Hand and Adam Cimber over the summer, there's no clear in-house replacement beyond backup Roberto Perez.Edwin EncarnacionDylan Buell/Getty ImagesThe final name on that list, Edwin Encarnacion, will be difficult to move.The 35-year-old is owed $21.667 million in 2019, and he has a $20 million team option for 2020 that carries a $5 million buyout.Encarnacion is still a dangerous slugger, as he posted a 115 OPS+ with 32 home runs and 107 RBI in 2018, but teams are putting less of a premium on offense-only players.It would likely take eating a good chunk of his salary to find a taker, and that would defeat the purpose.So will the Indians really consider moving a significant veteran piece?It's too soon to tell, but in this market, shopping Kluber and Carrasco makes a lot of sense, and it could help the team in the long run.All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted.