Mazel tov
- C Ryan Lavarnway (Indians), who represented Team Israel in the 2021 Olympics, hit .375 with 2 doubles in 2 starts last week after being called-up from the minors. Lavarnway’s only other stint with Cleveland this season was a four-game stretch in June.
- After a less-than-perfect MLB debut on August 29, P Scott Effross (Cubs) rebounded like a seasoned veteran, tossing 3 near-perfect innings over 2 games and earning his first win. A recent article says the turning point in Effross’ career was his decision to begin throwing sidearm.
Stats to share
- At 25.1 feet per second, 1B Rowdy Tellez (Blue Jays) ranks #490 in the Majors in sprint speed. But that didn’t stop the 6’4″, 255-pound infielder from hitting his second triple of the season on August 31, thanks to a favorable carom off the wall in left-centerfield. No other Jewish ballplayer has more than one triple this season.
- Speaking of sprint speed, the fastest Jewish player this season is C Garrett Stubbs (Astros), whose 28.3 feet per second ranks #119 in the Majors.
- CF Kevin Pillar (Mets) had 14 HRs in 268 at-bats thru September 5, making him one of only 74 MLB players averaging a HR every 20 at-bats or fewer. Pillar hit a career high 21 HRs in 2019, but that amounted to one home run every 29.1 at-bats.
Weekly overview
- Jewish batters hit a combined .250 (20-for-80) last week, with 3 HRs, one triple, 5 doubles, 2 RBIs, a stolen base, 5 walks, 15 strikeouts, and a .294 OBP (on-base percentage). The performance kept their collective batting average steady at .241, versus the Major League average of .242.
- Jewish pitchers went 1-0 with one hold and a 1.69 ERA last week, yielding 4 hits and a walk over 10.2 combined innings while striking out 15. The performance lowered their collective ERA from 4.61 to 4.55, versus the Major League average of 4.20.
At the plate
- CF Kevin Pillar (Mets) continued to wield a hot bat last week, hitting .462 (6-for-13) with 2 HRs — including a grand slam — 2 doubles, 8 RBIs, and a 1.077 OPS (on-base plus slugging).
- C Ryan Lavarnway (Indians) hit .375 (3-for-8) with 2 doubles and a 1.000 OPS.
- SS Alex Bregman (Astros) hit .316 (6-for-19) with an RBI and a .666 OPS.
- 1B Rowdy Tellez (Brewers) hit .182 (4-for-22) with a triple, double, 3 RBIs, and a .568 OPS.
- LF Joc Pederson (Braves) hit .083 (1-for-12) with a solo HR against his former Dodgers teammates and a .487 OPS.
- C Garrett Stubbs (Astros) hit .000 (0-for4) in three appearances.
- P Max Fried (Braves) went 0-for-2 on September 1.
On the mound
- Scott Effross (Cubs) went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 2 appearances, yielding one hit and zero walks over 3 combined innings while striking out 5.
- Max Fried (Braves) pitched six solid innings in a September 1 defeat but was not charged with the loss. He yielded 2 earned runs on a walk and 3 hits — including 2 HRs — while tying a season high with 9 strikeouts. Fried’s last loss came on July 28.
- Richard Bleier (Marlins) tossed 1.2 perfect innings over 2 appearances, yielding zero hits and walks while striking out one.
Players to watch
- SS Zack Gelof (Athletics/Low-A/Stockton Ports), a 2021 draftee, hit .389 (7-for-18) last week, with 2 HRs, 4 doubles, 7 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, and 5 walks.
- C CJ Stubbs (Astros/High-A/Asheville Tourists) hit .273 (6-for-22), with 3 HRs, a double, 5 RBIs, a stolen base, and 2 walks.
- OF Rhett Wiseman (Nationals/Double-A/Harrisburg Senators) hit .333 (5-for-15) with a double and an RBI.
- P Aaron Cohn (Athletics/Low-A/Stockton Ports), a 2021 signee and a teammate of Zack Gelof, tossed 4 scoreless innings over 3 games, yielding a hit and a walk while striking out 3.
- P Ben Gross (Twins/Double-A/Wichita Wind Surge) tossed 4 innings in his Double-A debut on September 3, yielding one earned run on a hit and a walk while striking out 7.
- P Dean Kremer (Orioles/Triple-A/Norfolk Tides) had his best start of the season on September 3, yielding just 2 hits and zero walks over 5 scoreless innings while striking out 5 to earn a win.
Transactions
- C Ryan Lavarnway (Indians) was called-up from the minors on September 2.
Injured list
- P Robert Stock (Mets), right hamstring strain, since July 21. Out for the season.
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