Cycling past the Reds

The Reds are probably sick of seeing Christian Yelich at this point.

Yelich hit for the cycle against Cincinnati on Monday in Milwaukee, accomplishing the feat in just six innings before being lifted in the Brewers’ 8-0 blowout win. He singled in the first inning, doubled in the third, belted a two-run home run in the fifth and tripled in a pair of runs in the sixth to complete the feat.

If this all sounds familiar, it’s because Yelich also hit for the cycle less than three weeks ago in Cincinnati as part of a ridiculous 6-for-6 night. The 26-year-old is the first player in major league history to hit for a cycle twice against the same team in one season. He’s only the fifth player ever and third since 1900 to hit for two cycles in the same season. Former Brewer Aaron Hill was the last player to hit for two cycles in one season, which he did in 2012. Before that, it hadn’t happened since 1931.

The big night is simply a continuation of what has been a monstrous second half for Yelich. He’s sporting a .355 average with 20 home runs and 50 RBI since the All-Star break, with 13 of those dingers coming across his last 27 contests. Yelich’s career high in homers coming into this season was 21. He needs just one more to match that total in the second half alone.

Of course, Yelich was no slouch in the first half, putting up a .292/.364/.459 line with 11 bombs. Now boasting a .318/.385/.570 line with 31 home runs, 93 RBI, 109 runs scored and 20 stolen bases on the season, Yelich has thrust himself to the center of the National League MVP conversation. He could be playing his way into the conversation to be a first-round pick in fantasy drafts next season.


Rocky Night

The Rockies entered Monday night’s showdown against the Dodgers with a slim lead in the National League West. They finished the night in second place and possibly down a star shortstop.

The game was, in effect, over pretty quickly, as the enigmatic Jon Gray lasted just two-plus innings, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while notching just one strikeout. The Dodgers went on to win the game 8-2 to take a half-game lead over the Rockies in the division.

Perhaps of greater concern for the Rockies is that Trevor Story exited the game with a right elbow injury. The shortstop injured the elbow on a throw following a terrific diving stop in the first inning. He remained in the game initially but had to call out the trainer following an awkward swing-and-miss in the fourth inning and was eventually pulled.

Video from the Rockies’ broadcast shows both plays, with one of the broadcasters saying Story kept shaking out his right arm and rubbing his forearm in between innings. Story wasn’t able to say when asked after the game how severe the injury might be. He will undergo more tests Tuesday and hopes to know more then.

The Rockies and Story’s fantasy owners are left to cross their fingers, hoping this isn’t a season-ending injury to a guy who has been one of the best players in baseball in 2018.

Judge, Chapman Nearing Return

The Yankees didn’t have an official game Monday, but there was an important simulated game at Yankee Stadium featuring two of their stars.

Aaron Judge took 11 live at-bats against A.J. Cole, Chance Adams, and Phillip Diehl in the Bronx and had no issues with the chip fracture in his right wrist that’s kept him sidelined for nearly two months. Judge was activated from the disabled list last Friday but hasn’t been cleared to hit in a game yet, although he has played a couple innings in the outfield.

Judge resumed swinging a bat two weeks ago and while he has admitted his wrist still doesn’t feel 100 percent, he’s reportedly been hitting bombs in batting practice. He could return to the Bombers’ lineup as soon as this week’s series against the Red Sox, although it won’t be Tuesday, per George A. King III of the New York Post.

Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that he’s hoping Judge can get in 30-40 at-bats in the final weeks to prepare for the postseason. The Yanks have 12 more games after Tuesday, so that seems doable. When Judge does return, Brett Gardner would appear to be the most vulnerable to lose playing time. He’s already been pushed from the leadoff spot to the No. 9 spot and has been benched a couple times lately against righties.

Also participating in a simulated game Monday was Aroldis Chapman, who threw 22 pitches to Tyler Wade and Kyle Higashioka. It came after he threw a 26-pitch bullpen session on Saturday.

Chapman has battled tendinitis in his left knee for a big chunk of the season and it finally forced him to the DL nearly a month ago. He’s been given a couple platelet-rich plasma injections in the knee. It appears that the closer is as healthy now as he’s going to be for the rest of the season and he’s expected to be activated later this week. Dellin Betances and David Robertson will move back into setup roles.


American League Quick Hits: Eddie Rosario hit a solo home run but later departed Monday's game against the Tigers after aggravating his right quad injury … Ryan Borucki worked eight scoreless innings while fanning seven Monday in the Blue Jays' blanking of the Orioles … Miguel Sano (knee) was available off the bench Monday and could return to the Twins' lineup Tuesday … An MRI showed meniscus damage in Michael Fulmer's right knee and he’s not expected to return this season … Indians president Chris Antonetti said on MLB Network Radio on Monday that Trevor Bauer (leg) pitching out of the bullpen in the postseason is "something we’ve thought about" … Tyler Glasnow whiffed six batters over six shutout innings in a win over the Rangers on Monday … Josh Reddick is day-to-day after leaving Monday’s game versus the Mariners with right Achilles soreness … Ryan O'Hearn finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in the Royals' loss to the Pirates on Monday … Kevin Pillar went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run Monday in the Blue Jays' defeat of the Orioles …

National League Quick Hits: Mets manager Mickey Callaway said after Zack Wheeler's start Monday that the righty could be shut down for the season due to his workload … Joc Pederson homered twice and also doubled in the Dodgers’ win over the Rockies on Monday … Michael Conforto went 3-for-5 with a home run and six RBI in the Mets' win over the Phillies on Monday … Kyle Hendricks went 8 2/3 innings while allowing just one run on three hits with eight strikeouts in a win over the Diamondbacks on Monday … Hyun-Jin Ryu whiffed five across seven shutout frames Monday in a win over the Rockies … Victor Robles went 2-for-4 with his first major-league homer in the Nationals' loss to the Marlins … Starlin Castro went 2-for-4 with solo homer and three RBI to lead the Marlins to a win over the Nationals on Monday … Anthony Rendon went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer in the Nationals' loss to the Marlins on Monday … Kolten Wong went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer, and three RBI in the Cardinals' defeat of the Braves on Monday … Asdrubal Cabrera suffered a Grade 1 calf strain in Monday's loss to the Mets … Adam Frazier departed Monday's game versus the Royals after fouling a ball off his right knee … Maikel Franco (shoulder) hit in the batting cage Monday and is expected to be ready to play again in 3-4 days …