Injured Yelich nonetheless within the hunt for batting title

The Milwaukee Brewers are charging towards a playoff spot with out Christian Yelich.

And even whereas injured, Yelich is inching nearer to a pleasant particular person honor.

Yelich is at the moment the Nationwide League’s batting chief, though Arizona’s Ketel Marte and Washington’s Anthony Rendon are shut on his heels. Out with a fractured kneecap, Yelich can solely watch as his crew chases a postseason berth. The batting race is probably not foremost on his thoughts, however that is coming all the way down to the wire too – with Yelich’s .329 common holding the lead.

Marte can also be batting .329, with Rendon at .325.

It will be the second straight batting title for Yelich, who additionally gained NL MVP honors final 12 months. The final participant to win back-to-back NL batting titles was Larry Walker in 1998 and 1999.

Yelich profitable twice in a row can be significantly spectacular provided that he has to compete in opposition to Colorado gamers hitting at altitude. Since their first season in 1993, the Rockies have gained 11 of the NL’s 26 batting titles. (Trivia query: Identify the 9 completely different Colorado gamers who’ve gained one.)

The American League batting race is just about all the way down to Tim Anderson of the White Sox (.334) and DJ LeMahieu of the Yankees (.329).

The house run races are additionally tight. Pete Alonso of the Mets leads Eugenio Suarez of the Reds 50-48 within the NL. The AL race is tied at 45 between Jorge Soler of the Royals and Mike Trout of the Angels, however the injured Trout is completed for the 12 months.

Elsewhere across the majors:

MILESTONE

Giants supervisor Bruce Bochy, who’s retiring on the finish of the season, earned his 2,000th victory Wednesday night time when San Francisco routed Boston 11-3. The Giants had champagne within the clubhouse to rejoice.

Reaching the milestone was not a foregone conclusion by any means. The Giants gained 64 video games in 2017 and 73 final 12 months, however they’ve already reached 75 in 2019 with a number of video games nonetheless to go.

Almost half of Bochy’s wins got here with San Diego, however his years with the Giants are what stand out, with World Collection titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

OFF-FIELD PROBLEMS

As baseball prepares to take heart stage with the beginning of the postseason, there was troubling information off the sector. Pirates nearer Felipe Vazquez was arrested on a number of felony fees, together with statutory sexual assault, soliciting a baby and pornography.

Additionally, Yankees pitcher Domingo German was positioned on administrative depart underneath Main League Baseball’s home violence coverage.

TRIVIA ANSWER

The Colorado gamers who’ve gained batting titles are Andres Galarraga (1993), Walker (1998, 1999, 2001), Todd Helton (2000), Matt Holliday (2007), Carlos Gonzalez (2010), Michael Cuddyer (2013), Justin Morneau (2014), LeMahieu (2016) and Charlie Blackmon (2017).

HIGHLIGHT

San Francisco’s Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of Crimson Sox nice Carl Yastrzemski, homered at Fenway Park on Tuesday night time in a 7-6, 15-inning victory over Boston. Mike performed left area, Carl’s place, and the 2 walked Fenway’s outfield earlier than the sport. Carl Yastrzemski performed his total Corridor of Fame profession for the Crimson Sox.

LINE OF THE WEEK

Toronto’s Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle Tuesday in an 8-5 victory over Baltimore. Biggio homered within the third inning, singled within the sixth, doubled within the eighth and tripled within the ninth. The rookie repeated the feat that his father, Corridor of Famer Craig Biggio, achieved in 2002.

The one different father-son duo in main league historical past to hit for the cycle was Gary and Daryle Ward in 1980 and 2004.

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Observe Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister

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Extra AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports activities