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In recent weeks, Kody Clemens has been delivering for the Phillies in high-leverage situations. Clemens was called up when rosters expanded on September 1. This stretch has seen Clemens record a walk-off hit on September 9 against the Tampa Bay Rays. As mention by Paul Boye of “Phillies Therapy” Clemens has four of the nine hits with the highest win probability added for the Phillies in September. Clemens recorded a single, two doubles, and a home run between those four hits. The single was the walk-off hit against the Rays. Alec Bohm being on the injured list has increased Clemens playing time. Edmundo Sosa is also on the injured list as well. This has led to Clemens being the starting third baseman for the time being.
Overall Clemens is having the best season of his major league career. Clemens has a .235/.269/.469 line with four home runs and 17 RBI in 34 games. In addition, Clemens has a .264 BABIP with a .311 wOBA and a 99 wRC+ this season. Clemens has a career-high 6.6% barrel rate and a career-high 44.7% hard-hit ball rate this season. He is making contact with 82.2% of the pitches he has seen this season which is a career best. Clemens has a .266/.322/.489 line with 14 home runs and 50 RBI in 68 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season. In the minors, Clemens has a .295 BABIP with a .352 wOBA and a 105 wRC+ this season.
Role Player Delivering For The Phillies
High Leverage Success
Clemens has been the most successful in high-leverage situations this season. This season, he has a .974 OPS and a 171 wRC+ in high-leverage situations. Clemens leads the Phillies in both categories among players with at least 15 high-leverage plate appearances this season. He has a .462 BABIP and a .417 wOBA this season in high-leverage situations. Clemens has a 1.133 OPS and a 209 wRC+ in the ninth inning or later this season. Clemens has a 0.52 win probability added and a 0.44 clutch rating since September 1. Among qualified NL batters in that span, the win probability added ranks fourth, while the clutch rating ranks second.
Potential Postseason Role
One factor that will influence the chances of Clemens making the postseason roster is the health of Austin Hays. The Phillies are currently unsure of when Hays will return from the injured list. Hays is on the injured list due to a kidney infection. If Hays cannot return in time for the postseason, Clemens and Weston Wilson will be on the Phillies’ postseason roster if they are healthy. Hays coming back before the postseason means a decision will need to be made. One of Clemens or Wilson will likely be left off the postseason roster. However, it is possible that Hays ends up being the odd one out. Hays being an important trade deadline acquisition reduces the chances he would be left off the postseason roster if healthy.
The Postseason Roster Case For Clemens
Both Clemens and Wilson have compelling cases to be on the postseason roster. In that scenario, Clemens has a slight edge as a left-handed hitter. Hays and Brandon Marsh will probably platoon in left field with Johan Rojas starting in center field. Having both Hays and Wilson on the postseason roster with Clemens left off does not make much sense. Clemens has a .606 OPS and a 77 wRC+ as a pinch hitter this season. Wilson has a .273 OPS and a -34 wRC+ in pinch-hit situations this season. This is important because whoever is in that role will be used in late-game pinch-hit scenarios. Clemens has been delivering for the Phillies in those exact situations lately, which helps give him the upper hand.
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Cubs catcher lost to horrific-looking injury on same day he returns from IL
After working to return to the Chicago Cubs' lineup following an oblique injury, Miguel Amaya suffered a gruesome-looking injury in his first game back with the Cubs on Wednesday night. Running to first base, Amaya just beat out an infield single on a slow dribbler to shortstop when his left foot landed forcefully on the base, causing his leg to buckle and sending Amaya flying down the first base line. Following the injury, Amaya was carted off the field in Toronto with a towel over his face. The emotions shown by Amaya as he was carted off indicated he knew already he would miss more time in a season that has been marred by injuries. After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Amaya would be going back on the injured list with what was diagnosed as a left ankle sprain. X-rays, however, were negative. The 26-year-old Amaya had just told reporters after being activated from the 60-day injured list that he was thankful he was healthy. Just three at-bats later, Amaya was once again injured. Amaya's three at-bats against the Blue Jays on Wednesday represented his first game action since May 24, when he recorded just two at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds before leaving the game with an oblique injury. In just 96 at-bats this season, Amaya is slashing .281/.314/.500 with four home runs and 25 RBI. Amaya's injury is another blow for the Cubs, who have seen their lead in the National League Central evaporate as the Milwaukee Brewers have now won 12 consecutive games and are 20-4 since the All-Star break. As has been the case in Amaya's absence, Carson Kelly and Reese McGuire will continue to be the dominant presences behind the plate for the Cubs. Joining with Amaya, the duo has helped the Cubs record a 2.8 Wins Above Average (WAA) at catcher, the highest mark of any MLB team. After Amaya's injury, the Cubs would go on to post a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays.
Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice
Defense ruled the day during the joint practice between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots defense did a masterful job of disrupting Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Wednesday's practice. However, New England's offensive line was unable to allow Drake Maye to have enough time to finish plays. "Even with four new expected starters up front following last year’s debacle, Wednesday suggested that there will likely be some bumps ahead for this offensive line," Graff wrote. "Sure, going up against the Vikings was always going to be a difficult task. Greenard has been wrecking his own team’s practices in training camp, and everyone in New England knows how good Flores’ scheme can be. But the domination was so thorough by the Vikings’ front seven that three straight plays at one point would’ve resulted in a sack." Maye showed flashes of promise when he had time to throw downfield or was able to use his legs to buy time or scramble when pressure came. The concern is that the offensive line won't allow Maye enough time to even scramble so he can make throws. Graff has noticed the same issues that happened on Wednesday have been a constant at training camp against the Patriots defense. With a new-look offensive line that includes first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle, the Patriots are expected to have some bumps at training camp and in September. New England's offense probably won't look great out of the gate while the offensive line develops in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme. If and when the offensive line improves, Maye will have a chance to show off the arm that made him the No. 3 pick in 2024. For now, the offensive line is a concern much like it was last season.
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, California, in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Tua Tagovailoa Doesn't Hold Back After Dolphins 'Embarrassed' By Lions
The Miami Dolphins have struggled through training camp and the first preseason game, but may have hit a new low in Wednesday's joint practice with the Detroit Lions. Reporters watching practice noted that Detroit outclassed the Dolphins on both offense and defense, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa struggling with timing and mistakes against the aggressive Lions' secondary. Speaking to reporters after practice, Tagovailoa refused to give himself a grade but admitted that his team was frustrated against the NFC Super Bowl contenders. "For a grade, I wouldn't give myself a grade," Tagovailoa said, via NFL.com. "I don't think that's fair to grade yourself. "My assessment -- I still wouldn't give myself a grade. I think that's for you guys to do with however you guys report that and whatnot. I think today offensively was a very frustrating day in regards to what we wanted to do, what we said we wanted to do. Came out and we just weren't able to get things jumpstarted, so that was very frustrating today." Tagovailoa is coming off a season where he appeared in just 11 games, completing 72.9% of his passes for 2,867 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Dolphins Struggled in 'Lopsided' Practice Chris Cwik of Yahoo Sports noted that the Dolphins were "embarrassed" by the Lions in Wednesday's practice, which came after Miami already stumbled through mistakes in their preseason opener against the Chicago Bears. The Athletic's Colton Pouncy had an even more brutal assessment, calling it one of the worst performances he had seen from a team. "That was the most lopsided joint practice I’ve ever seen. Lions dominated both sides," Pouncy shared in a post on X. The practice may not bode well for Tagovailoa and the Dolphins, who dropped to 8-9 last season and return to a division with Super Bowl contending Buffalo Bills and a rising New England Patriots team.
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