Ronald Acuña Jr. is on tempo to create a completely new membership for baseball’s prime power-and-speed threats.

Acuña stole his fifty fifth base Sunday night time in Atlanta’s 7-6 loss to the New York Mets. The star outfielder additionally has 26 house runs. No participant has ever reached 30 homers and 60 steals in the identical season.

Rickey Henderson got here near beginning the 30-60 membership. He had 28 homers and 87 steals in 1986 with the New York Yankees, then 28 homers and 65 steals when he received MVP honors with Oakland in 1990.

Two gamers are within the 30-50 membership: Eric Davis had 37 homers and 50 steals in 1987 and Barry Bonds had 33 homers and 52 steals in 1990, when he received his first of seven MVPs. Davis additionally had 27 homers and 80 steals in 1986, becoming a member of Henderson as the one members of the 20-80 membership.

If Acuña can end sturdy and attain 40 homers, that may open one other frontier. Nobody has ever had 40 homers and 50 steals in a season. There have been 4 40-40 gamers: Jose Canseco in 1988, Bonds in 1996, Alex Rodriguez in 1998 and Alfonso Soriano in 2006.

TRIVIA TIME

Who is the newest main leaguer to publish a 30-30 season?

RISING

The Houston Astros took two of three in Baltimore this previous week after which received a pair of 11-3 routs at house towards the Los Angeles Angels. Only a 5-4 loss to the Orioles and a 2-1 defeat towards Los Angeles stopped Houston from sweeping the week. The Astros have received 16 of their final 24 and look able to strain AL West-leading Texas down the stretch.

FALLING

Every time it looks like San Diego goes to show its season round and play to its expertise degree, the Padres take a step again. They had been swept in a two-game sequence at Seattle, then dropped two of three towards an Arizona workforce that has been sinking quick for the reason that All-Star break.

San Diego continues to be solely 5 1/2 video games behind the National League’s last wild card, however the resurgence of the Chicago Cubs over the previous month has left the Padres with yet one more workforce to chase. San Diego is in tenth place within the NL.

LINE OF THE WEEK

Speaking of groups forward of the Padres, the Philadelphia Phillies have loved a fast payoff following their deadline commerce for Michael Lorenzen. The right-hander no-hit the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night time in his second begin with the Phillies.

Lorenzen struck out 5 and walked 4, needing 124 pitches to complete his first profession full recreation. He isn’t scheduled to pitch once more till Friday at Washington, when he’ll work on eight days of relaxation.

COMEBACK OF THE WEEK

The Nationals scored six runs within the backside of the ninth Sunday to beat Oakland 8-7. The Athletics truly had an opportunity so as to add to their five-run lead within the prime of the ninth once they had the bases loaded and one out — and a win chance of 99.7%, in keeping with Baseball Savant.

The A’s got here up empty, although, after which the Nats discovered themselves in the identical scenario — bases loaded, one out. Stone Garrett singled house a run, then Ildemaro Vargas hit a sacrifice fly that made it 7-4 however left Washington one out from defeat. After a stroll re-loaded the bases, Dominic Smith drew a stroll to pressure in a run. Then an error on shortstop Nick Allen allowed two runs to attain.

With the sport tied, Jeter Downs — who had walked to start out the Washington rally — singled house the profitable run.

Also on Sunday, the Miami Marlins scored 5 within the backside of the ninth to beat the New York Yankees 8-7.

TRIVIA ANSWER

Cedric Mullins of the Baltimore Orioles had precisely 30 homers and 30 steals in 2021.

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