Rookie’s strong start leads Braves in shutout
Kyle Muller threw five scoreless innings to earn his second big league win, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the New York Mets 2-0 on Monday afternoon in the opener of a doubleheader at Citi Field.
Muller (2-3) allowed the Mets to advance just two runners as far as second base.
The 23-year-old rookie gave up four hits and walked two while striking out three. He struck out Pete Alonso and Michael Conforto to strand a pair of runners in the third. Muller got help defensively from Austin Riley in the fifth, when the third baseman leaped to snare Alonso's high chopper to begin an inning-ending double play.
Tyler Matzek threw a perfect sixth for the Braves. Will Smith allowed a one-out single to Tomas Nido before getting James McCann to hit into a double play to earn his 20th save.
Muller also helped Atlanta score the first run with a single off Marcus Stroman (7-9) in the third inning for his first major league hit. Joc Pederson followed with an RBI double. Stroman allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over five innings.
Dansby Swanson led off the fourth with a double. His shot high off the center field wall was initially ruled a homer. Kevin Pillar threw the ball into the infield and Swanson was tagged by shortstop Jonathan Villar. Crew chief Doug Eddings overruled, awarding Swanson second base.
LATE SUNDAY
White Sox 3, Brewers 1: Lance Lynn allowed one run over six innings and hit a two-run single to lift Chicago past host Milwaukee as the White Sox avoided a sweep in this series between division leaders.
Lynn (10-3) allowed six hits, struck out six and walked none, outdueling Brandon Woodruff in a matchup of All-Star righthanders. Lynn, who lowered his ERA to 1.91, also keyed a decisive three-run second inning with his bat — his first hit since 2017.
“They both are winners, so it's all good,” Lynn said of his pitching and hitting. “A good night. I got lucky, got a hit, drove in two runs, and we won. So that's all it's about.”
Michael Kopech pitched a scoreless inning for Chicago and Liam Hendricks tossed two for his 24th save in 28 chances.
TREVOR BAUER CASE
Pitcher Trevor Bauer’s future with the Los Angeles Dodgers and his major-league career remain in jeopardy with his paid administrative leave ending Tuesday. MLB has twice extended Bauer’s leave.
A San Diego woman has alleged that the pitcher choked her to the point of losing consciousness during two sexual encounters in the spring and injured her during the second. Bauer, through his representatives, said the encounters were “wholly consensual.”
The sexual-assault allegations have turned a pitcher in his prime into a pariah in his own clubhouse, where no teammate has spoken publicly about him or come to his defense. Two people with knowledge of Dodgers clubhouse dynamics, who are unauthorized to speak publicly about the situation, said that a majority of players do not want Bauer back under any circumstances.
Even if he is not charged with a crime, Bauer could be facing a lengthy MLB suspension without pay. Since MLB implemented its domestic violence policy in the summer of 2015, 14 players — five of whom were placed on paid administrative leave — have been suspended for violating it, with suspensions ranging from 15 to 162 games.
The Dodgers removed a Trevor Bauer bobblehead night, which was set for Aug. 19, from their promotional schedule and pulled Bauer merchandise from their online and stadium team stores.
A prolific Twitter, Instagram and YouTube user, Bauer hasn’t posted on social media since the sexual-assault allegations surfaced. He has been seen on social media only once, when a Twitter user posted a picture of Bauer and his agent, Rachel Luba, at Utah’s Zion National Park on July 12.
On Friday, Bauer made his first public appearance since being placed on leave, attending a hearing in Los Angeles Superior
Court to determine whether a restraining order will remain in effect. His accuser was also in attendance. After the two sides argued they needed more time to review recently disclosed evidence, the judge granted a continuance until early August.
A lengthy MLB suspension of Bauer without pay would provide some salary relief for the Dodgers, who still owe Bauer about $75 million.
Bauer’s contract is not publicly available, so whatever grounds the Dodgers might have to void it are unknown. However, the standard player contract allows a team to terminate a deal should the player “fail, refuse or neglect to conform his personal conduct to the standards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship.”
Questions remain about the Dodgers’ vetting process, and why an organization that President Biden described as “a pillar of American culture and American progress” in a White House ceremony on July 2 — the same day Bauer was placed on his first paid administrative leave — would sign Bauer in the first place.
And, of course, the biggest question of all: Will Bauer play again for the Dodgers?
“I don’t have any way of answering that because, right now, this is in the hands of the commissioner’s office,” team president Stan Kasten said. “Let’s get through that [process] and then we’ll be able to discuss that more in-depth.”
ELSEWHERE
Yankees: All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge and catcher Kyle Higashioka took another step in returning from the COVID-19 injured list by taking batting practice at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
Twins: Byron Buxton rejected a contract offer from this weekend and the team turned down a counteroffer from Buxton’s agent, increasing the possibility the star outfielder may be traded with thedeadline looming Friday.