MLBits: Eric Kay Opens Up About Tyler Skaggs Death, How to Pitch Ohtani, Harper, Schwarber, More

Tyler Skaggs MLB Notes
Tyler Skaggs MLB Notes

MLB NOTES — In an interview with The Athletic’s Sam Blum from Englewood Federal Correctional Institution, former Los Angeles Angels employee Eric Kay opened up about his fatal role in the life of Tyler Skaggs.

Eric Kay Opens Up About Tyler Skaggs’ Death in Prison Interview

“I feel horrible that I didn’t stop contributing to his addiction. He had so much more to live for than me,” Kay said. “I don’t mean that to sound trite. He did. He was just married, now he’s making millions of dollars. He’s basically a front-line starter.

“‘What are you doing?’ I should have said that. ‘Tyler, what are you doing, dude?’”

While Kay expressed remorse for his role in Skaggs’ death, he told Blum that he believes his 22-year prison sentence is unjust.

“I’m going to fight this,” Kay said. “And I’m continuing to fight until I can’t fight anymore. And once the fight’s gone, that’s what scares me.”

“I can’t do this time,” he said. “I’m not built for this. If I were to feel like, ‘You know what, I deserve this. This time is fair.’ That’s a different story. But it’s not. I was convicted on conjecture. I was convicted on falsehoods.”

Check out Blum’s exclusive interview with Kay:

How Do You Get Shohei Ohtani Out? MLB Pitchers Answer the Question

“Where he’s at right now, if the ball is in his hitting zone, it’s gonna be hit hard somewhere,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters this week of Shohei Ohtani.

When a hitter hits a baseball like Ohtani, facing him is daunting for opposing pitchers. But they still have to do it and try to answer the question: how do you get Shohei Ohtani out?

“It’s just trying to keep him uncomfortable. Because he’s just so big.” Tyler Yarbrough said in an interview with Fabian Ardaya. “He’s so strong. Knows the strike zone so well. His bat’s in the zone for a long time. It’s just super impressive…So just trying to keep him guessing at the plate, getting him in uncomfortable counts where he has to chase. I don’t think I’ve done really a good job.”

Ohtani MVP odds MLB Notes
Jun 16, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber Exit Philadelphia’s Loss to the Marlins

The Philadelphia Phillies had a tough night, made worse when Bryce Harper injured his left hamstring while playing against the Marlins. Harper felt discomfort in his lower hamstring while running to first base and will have more tests done on Friday.

“He just felt his hamstring grab coming down the line,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Don’t know anything more than that, so we’ll just have to wait until tomorrow to check him out.”

Kyle Schwarber also left the game early with an injury.

“He just felt his groin tighten up,” Thomson said. “So I got him out immediately, as soon as I knew about it. But again, I have no other news about that until tomorrow.”

Harper said after the game that he felt his hamstring give him some discomfort as he ran down the first base line.

“Felt my lower hammy just a little bit,” said Harper. “We’re going to get an image tomorrow just to see what that looks like. See how I kind of feel tomorrow and go from there.”

DraftKings new promo MLB Notes
Jun 24, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) receives congratulations from designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) after he hits a three-run home run in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Orioles Pound Rangers in ALCS Rematch

The Orioles are showing strong performance in the 2024 season, with a 51-30 record, tied with the Yankees atop the AL East. Last year’s painful loss to the Rangers in the ALDS is still fresh in the memory of Orioles fans. However, the Orioles have shown improvement since then and are proving to be a threat in the postseason. Despite winning the first game of the ALDS rematch, the stakes are much higher in October than in June.

Baltimore beat the Rangers 11-2 on Thursday night, getting home runs from Heston Kjerstad, Cedric Mullins, Adley Rutchman, and Colton Cowser.

Other MLB Notes

https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1806376949159514382

written by

Patrick grew up in Chicago's Bridgeport and Garfield Ridge neighborhoods before moving to the Western Suburbs of Chicago before eventually relocating to the Las Vegas area with his family in 2023. He started with Bleacher Nation in 2021 and has spent time as a Staff Writer and on the Chicago Blackhawks beat. He is currently a writer and editor at Bleacher Nation covering the Chicago Bears and the NFL at large and the author of the Bleacher Nation Newsletter. Patrick is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

more cubs news

Enhanced Box Score: Phillies 6, Cubs 4 – July 2, 2024

Sure, the Cubs strung together a couple of hits before a late-game, three-run Seiya Suzuki blast, but it was just a classic fake rally before an otherwise inevitable loss. Indeed, even including the ninth inning tonight, the Cubs went down...

Pre-Gamin’: Cubs vs Phillies (7:05 CT) – Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs had their day of rest and reflection, they're back at home, and they're facing a team with significant injuries. Who care if they're "the best team in baseball." Let's beat the Phillies. Huzzah! Chicago Cubs...

Brennen Davis Suffered a Back Fracture

The mystery around Brennen Davis's absence from the Iowa Cubs' lineup the last few weeks is no longer a mystery: it's his back again. But it's a different issue. And it sounds bad: https://twitter.com/TommyBirch/status/1808266859600662675 You may recall that Davis dealt...

Cubs Have a League-Leading Seven Prospects in MLB Pipeline’s Updated Top-100

The MLB Pipeline crew has released a full midseason rerank of the top-100 prospect list, and despite multiple names graduating off for the Cubs, they STILL have SEVEN prospects on the new list: 17. Cade Horton, RHP30. Matt Shaw, INF35....

Running Down the Roster One-by-One in Search of Tradable Cubs Players

If you're looking for something to read today, consider checking out Matthew Trueblood's latest at North Side Baseball. In his sober look at the Cubs, underscored by a depressing contrast to the current status of the Brewers, Trueblood pretty much...

The Marlins Just DFA’d Tim Anderson

Remember when there were heated debates about the best shortstop in the city of Chicago? Well, now Javier Baez is slashing .183/.209/.247 (26 wRC+) with the Tigers and Tim Anderson was just designated for assignment by the Miami Marlins. Tim...

Let’s Win a Series for America (Or Something): Cubs vs Phillies – Series Preview

Cubs vs Phillies — This week, the Chicago Cubs are hosting the Philadelphia Phillies for three games at Wrigley Field, culminating in a Fourth of July finale at 1:20. All three games will be carried nationally (first via TBS and...

Cubs Land Three Top Prospects in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game!

With Cade Horton out injured and Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ben Brown, and Jordan Wicks all already in Chicago, the focus of the Cubs farm system has arguably been turned to three names: Owen Caissie (Triple-A), Moises Ballesteros (Triple-A), and Matt Shaw...

Stray Hostility About the Big League Team, Positivity About the Minor League Teams, Hager Signing, and Other Cubs Bullets

The Cubs this week host the best team in baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies (albeit without two of their top bats in Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber). I don't see the series as much of a litmus test for the already-floundering...

Chicago Cubs “Taking Incoming Inquiries” About the Possibility They Could Wind Up Selling

Jon Morosi is doing his laps lately, and I appreciate him for it. Appearing this afternoon on Parkins & Spiegel on 670 The Score, Morosi was asked about the Cubs as sellers, and in essence, have they already engaged in...

Latest News

Rays vs. Royals: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

Ryan Pepiot will take the ball for the Tampa Bay Rays (42-42) when they visit starting pitcher Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals (47-39) in a series opener on Wednesday, with first pitch at 8:10 PM ET.If you're planning...

Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

On Wednesday at 10:10 PM ET, Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers (52-33) take on Ketel Marte and the Arizona Diamondbacks (41-43) at Dodger Stadium.The article below will give you everything you need to know to watch Los Angeles...

Putintseva vs. Siniakova Prediction at the Wimbledon – Thursday, July 4

In Wimbledon Round of 64 on Thursday, No. 35-ranked Yulia Putintseva takes on No. 36 Katerina Siniakova.Siniakova is the favorite against Putintseva, with -125 odds against the underdog's +100.Wimbledon InfoTournament: WimbledonRound: Round of 64Date: Thursday, July 4Venue: AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying...

Snigur vs. Ostapenko Prediction at the Wimbledon – Thursday, July 4

On Thursday, Jelena Ostapenko (No. 14 in the world) takes on Daria Snigur (No. 130) in the Round of 64 of Wimbledon.Ostapenko is favored (-400) in this matchup, compared to the underdog Snigur, who is +290.Wimbledon InfoTournament: WimbledonRound: Round of...

Jabeur vs. Montgomery Prediction at the Wimbledon – Thursday, July 4

In Wimbledon Round of 64 on Thursday, we have a matchup featuring No. 161-ranked Robin Montgomery against No. 10 Ons Jabeur.Jabeur has -556 odds to defeat Montgomery (+350).Wimbledon InfoTournament: WimbledonRound: Round of 64Date: Thursday, July 4Venue: AELTC Wimbledon Qualifying and...

Draper vs. Norrie Prediction at the Wimbledon – Thursday, July 4

On Thursday, Jack Draper (No. 28 in the world) takes on Cameron Norrie (No. 42) in the Round of 64 of Wimbledon.In this match, Draper is favored (-278) against Norrie (+210) .Wimbledon InfoTournament: WimbledonRound: Round of 64Date: Thursday, July 4Venue:...

Wozniacki vs. Fernandez Prediction at the Wimbledon – Thursday, July 4

On Thursday, Leylah Annie Fernandez (No. 25 in the world) takes on Caroline Wozniacki (No. 91) in the Round of 64 of Wimbledon.In this match, Fernandez is favored (-165) against Wozniacki (+130) .Wimbledon InfoTournament: WimbledonRound: Round of 64Date: Thursday, July...

Mariners vs. Orioles: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Seattle Mariners (47-39), led by J.P. Crawford, host Gunnar Henderson and the Baltimore Orioles (53-31) at 10:10 PM ET on Wednesday.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV options for the Seattle-Baltimore matchup.When is...

Angels vs. Athletics: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

Davis Daniel takes the mound for the Los Angeles Angels (36-47) when they visit starting pitcher Joey Estes and the Oakland Athletics (30-56) at 9:40 PM ET on Wednesday.Keep reading to see how to watch the Los Angeles-Oakland matchup in...

Where to Watch Real Salt Lake vs. Houston Dynamo: TV Channel, Start Time and Live Stream

Christian Arango (No. 1 in MLS, 16 goals), leads Real Salt Lake at home versus Houston Dynamo's tough defense which has given up 23 goals (third in the league). The game is on Wednesday at 9:30 PM ET.Watch every MLS...

more cubs news