In a season marked by pitcher injuries, two Cy Young Award winners made their long-awaited returns to the mound last week. Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees and Max Scherzer of the Texas Rangers both made their season debuts after battling injuries.
Unfortunately, not all pitchers have been as fortunate. Players like Shane McClanahan, Sandy Alcantara, Félix Bautista, and Shohei Ohtani have yet to pitch in 2024, while others like Spencer Strider and Shane Bieber are now out for the rest of the year.
Cole's return comes at a crucial time for the Yankees, who lead the AL East but have faced recent setbacks with injuries to key players like Giancarlo Stanton. Scherzer's comeback provides much-needed support for the struggling Rangers, who are currently three games under .500.
Despite the challenges, both Cole and Scherzer showed promise in their respective outings. Scherzer, in particular, impressed with a strong performance against the Kansas City Royals, allowing just one hit.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani's MVP chances have been impacted by his absence from pitching due to Tommy John surgery. However, with other contenders like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mookie Betts facing injuries, Ohtani's strong offensive stats could keep him in the running for the award.
Trivia enthusiasts might be interested to know that the Miami Marlins hold the record for allowing the most runs in a game this season, with a 20-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics on May 4.
Elsewhere in the league, standout performances like Pablo López's 14-strikeout game for the Minnesota Twins and Jason Heyward's grand slam for the Los Angeles Dodgers have kept fans on the edge of their seats.
As the season progresses, the MLB landscape continues to evolve, with teams jostling for playoff contention and players making their mark on the field.
