On The Injured List

No other way to say it than this: I have been placed on the injured list for unspecified reasons, and we all know what that means in 2022. Not sure how long I’ll be out for, but I’m definitely missing the remainder of the Salt Lake series.

In the meantime, the Rainiers will be using their various forms of social media to share the link to the Salt Lake Bees broadcast. They have an excellent announcer in Steve Klauke who has seen more PCL baseball than I have, and he’s a true pro.

You can use the link the Rainiers post on social media, or if you use the MiLB app to listen to games it should be self-explanatory.

There is a chance I may not have a post before the early game on Thursday – that one starts at 11:05 AM Pacific – but we’ll definitely have a new post before the homestand begins on Friday.

RAINIERS DAILY

YESTERDAY: Tacoma hit four home runs, but that did not add up to a victory in the opener of a three-game series at Salt Lake on Tuesday night. Tacoma built an early 5-0 lead, but ultimately lost 9-8. The big blow was when former Rainier-for-a-minute Jack Mayfield snapped a 5-5 tie with a three-run homer in the fourth inning. Tacoma’s home runs were hit by Justin Upton, Jarred Kelenic, Marcus Wilson, and Alex Blandino. Kelenic’s home run was to straight away center field, went over the batter’s eye, and was estimated at 465 feet.

TODAY: Tacoma Rainiers (19-35) at Salt Lake Bees (30-25), 5:35 PT.

OPPONENT AFFILIATION: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

OPPOSING MANAGER: Lou Marson.

SEASON SERIES: Salt Lake leads, 9-4.

PITCHERS: LHP Tommy Milone (1-0, 1.29) at LHP Jake Kalish (6-1, 1.76)

Kalish has been arguably the best pitcher in the PCL this year, leading the league in wins and ERA. Last year he allowed 31 home runs and posted a 6.94 ERA for Omaha, so this is really some kind of turnaround.

ROSTER MOVES: None as of blog post time.

HOT HITTERS: Brian O’Keefe has reached base with a hit or a walk in 22 of the 23 games he has played in this season… Jarred Kelenic has a 12-game hitting streak, going 19-for-52… Forrest Wall has hit safely in five of his last six games.

OPPONENT NEWS: Salt Lake won on Sunday against El Paso, but lost the home series 4-2. Prior to that the Bees had won or split their previous five series… in something I never thought I’d live to see, high-elevation Salt Lake has the best pitching stats in the PCL. The Bees lead the league in team ERA (4.25) by nearly a third of a run over runner-up Oklahoma City (4.54)… David MacKinnon has reached base via hit or walk in 21 straight games, and he hit three doubles last night… former Rainiers outfielder Dillon Thomas has reached base in 11 straight games.

PCL SCOREBOARD: Follow all league games in real-time with links to broadcasts and Gameday screens right here.

Links:

• Justin Verlander got some revenge on the Mariners, striking out a dozen in the Astros 4-1 win on… let me see here, having trouble telling… ah, yes, Tuesday night.
• Some Astros were suspended for the game.
• It’s good to see Cal Raleigh start to contribute at the plate. If you saw him play in Tacoma last year you might believe, as I do, that he’ll eventually figure out MLB pitching. Also in the notebook, an injury update on Evan White, who’s rehabilitation assignment with the Rainiers mysteriously ended in Reno.
• In the PCL, former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Kuechel is joining the Reno Aces.