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It was an exciting couple of days, eh? According to some the Dodgers, Yankees and Giants made out the best. The Padres, Rockies and Cub fans made out the worst.

The Dodgers getting Scherzer and Turner have definitely improved the team. They are 3 games behind the division leading Giants, 4 in the loss column. And the Giants picked up Chris Bryant. After losing 2 of 3 to the Giants before the trade, they have a chance to win 2 of 3 over the D'Backs with a win Sunday. They just got Cory Seager back and if they can get Trevor Bauer out of his situation, their starting 5 should be extremely tough. Buhler, Arias, Kershaw, Scherzer and Bauer. Some rotation, eh?

The Giants adding Bryant is huge. He can immediately replace injured Evan Longoria. Longoria was supposed to return soon after the all star break but that hasn't happened. He might not be back until late August. And once Longoria returns, Bryant versatility will allow him to move to the outfield. Despite losing 2 of 3 to the Pirates and Cardinals, the Giants have beaten the Dodgers 11 of their last 17 meetings. And they only have to play them 3 more times the remainder of the season.

The Yankees needed left handed hitters and defensive help. They couldn't have done better than Gallo and Rizzo. Though Gallo has gone 0-fer 8 (with 2 walks) in his first two games with NY, Rizzo has gone 4 for 5 with 2 walks, 2 homers, 2 rbi and 5 runs scored. Of course they are not nearly in the same position as the Dodgers and Giants but they've already leaped over Seattle in the wild card chase and trail Oakland by just 1 game in the loss column. Most believe the division is out of reach with first place Tampa and Boston in a virtual tie on any given day but the Yankees are just 6 games behind TB and 5 behind Boston in the loss column. They play Boston 6 more times and Tampa 3. By adding those two lefties, their lineup has become much more difficult to navigate with a diversity of left and right-handers. But even more importantly, it lights a fire under guys who stand to lose playing time because of the trades. Rougned Odor, the only decent left hander before the trade, has gone 3 for 6 with 3 rbi (of the 7) the last 2 games.

The losers like San Diego, Colorado and Cub fans are obvious. San Diego was rumored to be getting Scherzer, then Berrios. Neither happened. The Rockies were supposed to get a haul for Trevor Story. That didn't happen either. I feel for Cub fans. There's nothing worse than watching the core of your team traded away. Rizzo, Bryant, Baez and Kimbrel. First it takes 108 years to win another Championship, then that team is dismantled just 5 years later.

The Mets should be considered another "winner" if it weren't for deGrom's problems.

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Going into tonight's action.....

The division leaders since the dead line?

Boston 2-8
CWS 7-3
Houston 3-6
NY Mets 2-8
Milwaukee 5-4
San Francisco 7-3

The others?

Tampa 7-2
NY Yankees 8-2
Toronto 9-2

Cleveland 4-4
Oakland 6-2
Seattle 4-4

Philadelphia 8-2
Atlanta 6-3

Cincinnati 7-2
Dodgers 5-3
San Diego 4-4

A week doesn't make or break the deals at the trade deadline but it's a pretty good indication of the direction teams have taken since. Boston did virtually nothing but pick up Kyle Swarber (who was injured and still hasn't played). Toronto picked up Berrios. The Yankees Rizzo and Gallo. The Giants picked up Bryant. The Dodgers Scherzer and Turner. The Mets Baez. The Phillies Gibson. It sure is going to be interesting to see how it all plays out. The Red Sox and Mets have already been ousted from first place. The Dodgers and Cleveland have lost ground. Tampa, Toronto, the Yankees, Oakland and Philadelphia have made huge gains. Cincinnati has gained a game.

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Luis Severino made his second rehab start with the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Sunday, throwing four perfect innings in a combined no-hitter

Luis Severino's latest rehab start was perfect.

The right-hander twirled four flawless frames for the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Sunday evening, retiring all 12 batters he faced in order.

Severino struck out four of the final six hitters he faced, including MLB Pipeline's top prospect Adley Rutschman, finishing with five strikeouts (and a total of 48 pitches).

While Sunday marked another productive and promising step forward for Severino in his rehab from Tommy John surgery—and a setback a few months ago—it was also part of a historic performance.

Factor in another four spotless innings from pitchers Shawn Semple, along with a clean ninth from Ron Marinaccio, and the Patriots wound up throwing a combined no-hitter, the first in franchise history.

In fact, it was nearly a perfect game. Marinaccio walked a batter on four pitches with one out in the ninth inning, the first baserunner of the day for the Bowie Baysox.

Severino's outing on Sunday was his second with the Patriots this month, bouncing back from a bit of a bumpy performance on August 3, allowing two runs over 2.1 innings. The right-hander hasn't pitched at the big-league level since the 2019 postseason, undergoing Tommy John surgery the following spring.

Before losing to the Mariners on Sunday afternoon, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked if Severino could make the jump to the Bronx following his rehab start with Somerset.

"I don't think so," Boone said. "We'll get through today with him and hopefully everything goes well there and I think probably in line to at least make his next one as well."

If that's the case, Severino could pitch again on August 13, if he stays on his five-day routine. Barring any setbacks, it seems like the right-hander is on track to rejoin the rotation in pinstripes by the end of the month.

With only 48 pitches on Sunday, however, he still has some work to do when it comes to building up his pitch count. Considering other hurlers on the injured list—like Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, Corey Kluber and Domingo Germán—could also return before September, New York is poised to have a surplus of arms if everyone stays healthy.

Man, if the Yankees get Severino and Kluber back, they may prove a handful down the stretch. Luis Gil (pronounced Luis "Heel") has made 2 starts since Cole and Montgomery went on Covid IL and hasn't allowed a run. He's thrown 11 innings, allowed 6 hits, 3 walks and has 14 K's. Sometimes when things go bad you find someone you wouldn't normally have found, who can do the job. He throws in the high 90's, hits triple digits and has a wipe out slider. Not to mention Jamison Tallion was named July AL pitcher of the Month. Their rotation going down the stretch could be Cole, Montgomery, Tallion, Severino, Kluber with German, Heaney and Gil filling in (if German sorts out his shoulder problems). I'm not counting on BOTH Severino and Kluber but if 1 comes back to pitch well......

[snackdaddy]

I look at the Giants roster. How the hell do they have the best record? If it was all smoke and mirrors you would think it would catch up to them by now. The pitching seems pretty good. Hitting looks average at best. I guess they've been good with the timely hits.

I doubt Bauer is returning to the Dodgers. Ever. I hear quite a few players don't want him back. Not to mention the negative publicity that would follow them if they let him return. Getting Scherzer was huge. Now they have a guy every bit as good, if not better. Buehler is another true ace. Urias is solid. Kershaw's not what he was but is still a solid pitcher. Gonsolin has been good. They have David Price who seems to be on a limited pitch count.

My concern is the bullpen. Although if Graterol can return to form that would be a big lift. He looked really good last night with that 100+ fastball. Kelly has been coming around. Treinen should probably be the closer. Jansen isn't what he used to be either. Although he might make for a good set up guy.

So when Betts returns to the lineup, who leads off? Trea Turner has been better. But Betts is a guy who can break out and do some real good things in the post season.