7/28/21: Open Game Thread

I noped out of the game last night to watch Olympic baseball (Team DR melted down in the ninth inning against medal favorites Japan, sadly) but we’re back at it today. I still don’t feel good about last night’s vibe-wrecking trade, even if it looks good on paper, but am heartened by the fact that I apparently don’t have to worry about rooting against Jesús Luzardo for the next half-decade, which is good because Baby Jesús rules and I love the idea of him in a Marlins uni so much more than an A’s one. Anyway, things will likely be continuing to happen at breakneck pace as we count down to the trade deadline, but in the meantime, someone’s still gotta play the games:

No Luis Torrens, no Cal Raleigh? Those are two of the most compelling at-bats that I’m watching right now, although surprisingly, the other belongs to Jarred Kelenic. I’m scared to hope that this recent offensive fluttering is Kelenic turning a corner—he’s still working a 40% K-rate since being recalled, worse than he was posting initially as teams have refined their approach against him—but it is good to see him get to battle some righties instead of the weirdly lefty-slanted barrage he faced to start the post-ASB (and maybe why that strikeout rate is so high).

You can find the game in all the usual places: on ROOT Sports NW if you’ve got a TV handy, on 710 ESPN if you have to listen on the radio at work, or on MLB.TV if you’re out of area.