Daily Double Play: Your MLB Update
Hosted by Big Dill
About This Episode
Generated sports podcast with host Big Dill based on prompt: Daily MLB news. Game scores, highlights and general news
Transcript
Welcome to "Daily Double Play: Your MLB Update" on Big Dill Sports! I’m Dillon, your trusty guide to all things Major League Baseball. Grab your peanuts and crackerjacks, because the post-All-Star action is heating up!
Let's dive into the American League East, where the race is suddenly as unpredictable as a knuckleball. Just a few weeks ago, the Yankees seemed destined for the top, but after some bumps and bruises, they're trailing Toronto. The Blue Jays unleashed an 11-game winning streak, rocketing them to first place. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay, temporarily homeless thanks to Hurricane Milton, is struggling to find their footing in July, even after leading the league in offense back in May and June. And Baltimore? They’re shaking things up, letting go of manager Brandon Hyde. A midseason shuffle could mean big changes ahead.
Over in the National League Central, it's a three-team showdown you won’t want to miss. The Brewers, with their savvy speed and small ball tactics, lead the pack, nudging just ahead of the Cubs. Chicago, powered by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s powerful bat and stellar defense, isn’t backing down. This might be the most exciting NL Central race we’ve seen in years.
Speaking of excitement, let’s talk MVP contenders. Aaron Judge is leading the charge in the AL. His .355 average and impressive OPS make him a force to be reckoned with. But don’t sleep on Cal Raleigh, the Mariners’ powerhouse catcher, breaking records left and right.
In the NL, it’s a toss-up. Pete Crow-Armstrong is shaping up to be a 40-40 player, while Shohei Ohtani continues to amaze with his dual threat as a hitter and pitcher for the Dodgers. His 32 home runs and all-around skills keep LA fans cheering and opposing pitchers sweating.
On the mound, pitchers are throwing flames post-All-Star break. Tarik Skubal’s recent domination against the Guardians was a masterclass, earning him his second straight All-Star nod. Meanwhile, Boston’s Garrett Crochet continues to lead the AL with an impressive 160 strikeouts. In the NL, Paul Skenes and Zack Wheeler are riveting us with their craft, navigating tight games and delivering when it counts.
As we edge closer to the trade deadline, whispers are starting to turn into roars. The Braves have bolstered their bullpen, trading for Dane Dunning. Expect to see more moves like this as teams jostle to perfect their rosters for the final stretch.
Before we wrap up, it's time for our ‘Big Dill’ Player of the Day: Pete Crow-Armstrong. That double he hit in the Cubs’ 7–3 victory was just another highlight in his standout season. If he keeps this pace, he might just be the backbone of a postseason run.
And that’s your Daily Double Play for today! Keep those catcher's mitts at the ready, because the MLB has a lot more excitement in store as the season rolls on. Don’t forget to tune in next time on Big Dill Sports. Stay cool, stay safe, and keep loving the game. Until then, I’m Dillon, signing off!
## American League East Comes Alive Post–All-Star Break
The stretch run in the American League East began with fireworks on July 17, as a division once viewed as a runaway for the New York Yankees suddenly looks wide open. New York entered the day just a half-game behind Toronto after stumbling to a 53–43 record, underperforming its Pythagorean expectation by six wins ([washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/07/17/yankees-unlucky-al-east-standings/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have romped into first place thanks to an 11-game winning streak that carried through late June into July. Tampa Bay, displaced from Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton, opened the second half on a skid, having gone just 3–9 in July prior to yesterday’s slate, despite leading the majors in runs scored over May and June ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45753919/mlb-2025-first-half-storylines-trends-soto-skenes-skubal-tigers-dodgers)). Baltimore, mired in last place, fired manager Brandon Hyde at the break and faces questions about its direction at the deadline.
Key players to watch:
- Aaron Judge (NYY), batting .355 with a 1.195 OPS, remains the early betting favorite for AL MVP at –600 on ESPN BET ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
- Cal Raleigh (SEA) leads all AL catchers with 38 home runs and 82 RBIs, shattering Reggie Jackson’s first-half record for swing-thumpers behind the plate ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45753919/mlb-2025-first-half-storylines-trends-soto-skenes-skubal-tigers-dodgers)).
## National League Central: A Three-Team Dogfight
The NL Central, long derided as predictable, has blossomed into one of baseball’s most compelling divisions. The Chicago Cubs (54–36) sport a lineup headlined by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 25 home runs and elite defense, yet trail the surging Milwaukee Brewers (55–39) by a single game. Milwaukee’s formula of speed and small ball—23rd in HRs but seventh in runs scored—has propelled it to a seven-game winning streak, spearheaded by the imposing late-inning trio of Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Jared Koenig ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45753919/mlb-2025-first-half-storylines-trends-soto-skenes-skubal-tigers-dodgers)).
Eugenio Suárez’s two-run shot and Corbin Burnes’s six-strikeout outing keyed the Diamondbacks’ 3–1 win over the Nationals yesterday, underscoring Suárez’s team-leading 78 RBIs and Burnes’s role in ranking fifth among NL hurlers with 154 K’s ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## MVP Races: Judge vs. Raleigh and Crow-Armstrong Emerging
American League MVP
- Aaron Judge (NYY): .355/.501/.694 (.1.195 OPS), 31 HR, 85 R.
- Cal Raleigh (SEA): .300/.398/.690 (.1.088 OPS), 38 HR, 82 RBI ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
National League MVP
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC): .280/.340/.500, 25 HR, 27 SB (on pace for a 40-40 season), leads NL in both Baseball-Reference WAR (5.2) and FanGraphs WAR (4.9) ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45753919/mlb-2025-first-half-storylines-trends-soto-skenes-skubal-tigers-dodgers)).
- Shohei Ohtani (LAD): .300/.430/.557 (.987 OPS), 32 HR, 91 R, 78 RBI ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
Yesterday’s highlights included:
- Crow-Armstrong’s two-run double sparking the Cubs’ 7–3 win over the Reds (Chicago is now 55–36);
- Ohtani’s solo homer in the Dodgers’ 6–1 victory at Arizona, his 32nd of the year, to keep LA atop the NL West.
## Pitching Standouts and Cy Young Contenders
Pitching fireworks continued July 17, led by Tarik Skubal (DET) dominating the Guardians with a nine-strikeout complete game to blank Cleveland, his 13th K-effort tying the Tigers’ single-season record ([espnpressroom.com](https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2025/07/espns-sunday-night-baseball-featuring-the-minnesota-twins-vs-detroit-tigers-averaged-2-million-viewers-up-66-from-last-years-comparable-game/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Skubal’s 11–4 record and 2.77 ERA earned him his second straight All-Star nod, and he’ll head the Tigers’ rotation into a critical stretch.
In the American League, Garrett Crochet (BOS) extended his AL-leading 160 strikeouts and 2.23 ERA with nine punch-outs over eight innings in Boston’s 3–1 victory at Atlanta ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45753919/mlb-2025-first-half-storylines-trends-soto-skenes-skubal-tigers-dodgers)).
National League margins tightened as:
- Paul Skenes (PIT) whiffed eight over six innings but lacked run support in a 2–1 loss to the Mets;
- Zack Wheeler (PHI) delivered 10 strikeouts across seven shutout frames in Philadelphia’s 5–3 win at Colorado.
## Trade Rumors and General News
• The Braves acquired RHP Dane Dunning from Texas in exchange for Jose Ruiz as they hunt bullpen depth ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45766814/braves-land-rhp-dane-dunning-send-jose-ruiz-rangers?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
• The All-Star break saw a no-show at the annual MLB Draft, prompting calls for format changes and fan engagement improvements ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45753710/mlb-draft-2025-players-absent-zero-attendance?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).
## Standings Snapshot (July 17)
American League
East: TOR 54–35, NYY 53–43, TB 46–49, BAL 45–46, BOS 55–36 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Central: DET 59–38, KC 47–50, CLE 46–49, CHW 32–65, MIN 47–49 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
West: HOU 56–40, SEA 55–39, TEX 51–43, LAA 48–46, OAK 34–59 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
National League
East: ATL 56–39, PHI 55–40, NYM 54–41, WAS 47–48, MIA 44–50 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Central: MIL 56–38, CHC 54–36, STL 50–43, PIT 43–49, CIN 38–54 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
West: LAD 60–35, SD 50–43, COL 44–51, ARI 47–48, SF 46–49 ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Major_League_Baseball_season?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
July 17’s baseball landscape sets the stage for a thrilling second half: division races in flux, MVP races razor-tight, and Cy Young favorites duking it out on the mound. As teams strategize around next week’s trade deadline, fans can expect even more storylines to emerge under the hot summer sun.
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