An eventful week in Major League Baseball was headlined by crazy East divisions.
Phillies win eight consecutive games including weekend sweep of the Mets to take two-game lead in the division. Philadelphia was 4.5 games back of New York last Sunday.
Phillies have gone from 4.5 games back
Now up 2.5 games 🔥🔥
In the span of one week
First time they have done that this late in the season in over 100 years
And they are doing it to the Mets again!
pic.twitter.com/gtsC0UuIVO— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 8, 2021
Zach Wheeler threw a complete game shutout on the day the Phillies retired the late Roy Halladay’s number.
Roy Halladay's No. 34 will never be worn again by a Phillie. pic.twitter.com/4Lr8xxXvDR
— MLB (@MLB) August 8, 2021
Before the game today, the Phillies retired the late Roy Halladay's number 34.
Zack Wheeler retired 22 Mets in a row from the 1st to 8th inning today during his complete game shutout, the longest streak within a game by a Phillies pitcher since Halladay in his perfect game. pic.twitter.com/h37ZzCcxG5
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 8, 2021
AL East heating up: Rays, Yankees, Jays, all 8-2 in their last ten games while Red Sox 2-8 in that span.
SERIES = STOLEN 🔥
FINAL: #BlueJays 9, Red Sox 8 pic.twitter.com/EEXhngv01k
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 8, 2021
Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. suffers another shoulder injury; may move to the outfield when he returns.
Fernando Tatis Jr. expected to return soon, could be as an outfielder.
“We’ll see what’s going to be the best for the team.”
A move would actually be because the Padres feel it might be best for Tatis.
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) August 7, 2021
Dodgers fans let the Astros hear it in Los Angeles series. It was the first matchup between the two teams since Houston beat LA in the 2017 World Series (which it has since been revealed the Astros cheated in).
Early look at some Dodgers fans at the game vs the Astros in LA tonight. pic.twitter.com/Zo3WuVesSB
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 4, 2021
Animal week: Cat gets onto the field at Yankee Stadium, gets chants of “MVP!” from the crowd. Victor Robles allows praying mantis to stay on his hat in Nats game.
There's a cat loose at Yankee Stadium.
The crowd chanted M-V-P for the feline 🐱https://t.co/KPs2ZKsjlo
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 3, 2021
Whatever you do, don't tell Victor Robles that he's playing CF with a praying mantis on his head.@Victor__Robles // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/o3P0yE68cC
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 3, 2021
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Power Rankings
1. San Francisco Giants (71-41) | PREV: 2 (+1)
2. Tampa Bay Rays (68-44) | PREV: 3 (+1)
3. Los Angels Dodgers (67-45) | PREV: 1 (-2)
4. Chicago White Sox (66-46) | PREV: 8 (+4)
5. Houston Astros (66-46) | PREV: 4 (-1)
6. Oakland Athletics (64-48) | PREV: 9 (+3)
7. Milwaukee Brewers (66-46) | PREV: 6 (-1)
8. Boston Red Sox (65-49) | PREV: 5 (-3)
9. San Diego Padres (64-49) | PREV: 7 (-2)
10. New York Yankees (61-50) | PREV: 10
11. Toronto Blue Jays (60-50) | PREV: 11
12. Philadelphia Phillies (59-53) | PREV: 15 (+3)
13. Atlanta Braves (57-55) | PREV: 16 (+3)
14. Cincinnati Reds (61-51) | PREV: 13 (-1)
15. Seattle Mariners (59-54) | PREV: 14 (-1)
16. New York Mets (56-55) | PREV: 12 (-4)
17. Los Angeles Angels (56-56) | PREV: 18 (+1)
18. St. Louis Cardinals (55-56) | PREV: 17 (-1)
19. Cleveland Indians (54-55) | PREV: 19
20. Detroit Tigers (54-60) | PREV: 20
21. Colorado Rockies (51-61) | PREV: 22 (+1)
22. Chicago Cubs (52-61) | PREV: 21 (-1)
23. Washington Nationals (50-62) | PREV: 24 (+1)
24. Kansas City Royals (48-62) | PREV: 23 (-1)
25. Minnesota Twins (48-64) | PREV: 27 (+2)
26. Miami Marlins (47-65) | PREV: 25 (-1)
27. Pittsburgh Pirates (41-71) | PREV: 26 (-1)
28. Baltimore Orioles (38-72) | PREV: 28
29. Texas Rangers (39-73) | PREV: 29
30. Arizona Diamondbacks (35-78) | PREV: 30