Let’s take a look at some of the latest MLB Betting news and rumors in the world of Major League Baseball as we get closer to the postseason.
Latest News and Rumors in the World of Major League Baseball | Aug. 22nd Edition
Tony La Russa Should be Fired
The Chicago White Sox have been one of the biggest disappointments throughout the course of the season as many people projected the team to coast and win the American League Central and make a run at the World Series. However, they have been in the middle of an easy stretch in the first month of the second half of the season and still are unable to “get fat” in the standings to capture a playoff spot with six weeks left in the regular season. This has been a huge disappointment, and manager Tony La Russa has to be fired very soon.
The White Sox are 62-59 and are 2.5 games back of the AL Central lead and 3.5 games back of an AL Wild Card spot as well. If you took away the name of Tony La Russa from the manager position, it would arguably be an improvement. I understand the owner Jerry Reinsdorf wants to “correct” his biggest mistake of firing La Russa back in his first stint with the White Sox, but they are two completely different managers, and you are risking the current and future of the franchise by trying to fix a “mistake” of the past.
Marcell Ozuna Future in Jeopardy
Atlanta Braves left fielder Marcell Ozuna is a decent player as this season, he has a .652 OPS with 20 home runs and 46 RBI up to this point. However, he had a brush up with the law as last week he was pulled over and charged with a DUI before posting bail and joining the team once again. This was the second time in as many years that he had an issue making him be away from the team after last season and a domestic dispute allegation against him.
When he returned to the team, the Braves’ home crowd booed him and with his homer-or-bust attitude as he’s struggling at the plate this season. He’s on thin ice with the team and their fan base, and having the availability being a question mark due to off-the-field issues could be the final nail on the coffin for his tenure with the Braves organization.
Wander Franco Setback Causes Concern in Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Rays have an extremely exciting player in shortstop Wander Franco and have been out since July 9. However, he was pulled from a game during his rehab assignment after experiencing a bit of soreness in his right wrist that he had surgery on and has no timetable to return now.
Franco has a .763 OPS in 508 MLB at-bats, and his play on the Rays will be a breath of fresh air to a struggling offensive team throughout the course of the regular season. They are in a three-way tie for the AL Wild Card spots and have been trying to break through this season to the point they can be competing for the AL East lead as the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays all have been struggling the last few weeks.
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