MLB Notebook: Cabrera closes in on 500 homers

Detroit Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera (24) points to the first base umpire on an appealed check swing. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

One of the cool things about baseball is the continued significance of certain records and milestones. No matter what happens in the game, when a Major League Baseball star closes in on a nice round number, it’s fun to watch, and two such achievements top this week’s MLB Notebook.

Cabrera Closes In On 500 Homers

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera had a rough start to the 2021 season, one that led many to suggest he was finished as an effective player. However, he’s come back with some strength, and the dinger he clubbed Wednesday night in Baltimore was the 499th round-tripper of his career.

Miguel Cabrera belts number 499 and now just sits one back of 500 career homeruns! pic.twitter.com/Z6LngODzAz
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 12, 2021

In addition to being a home run away from 500, the veteran is also 50 hits away from 3,000 and sure looks like a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

10 Straight Strikeouts

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes is far from a household name, but he did something Wednesday that made many around baseball take notice. He struck out 15 Chicago Cubs over eight innings, and 10 of those punchouts came consecutively.

🔟😤

Corbin Burnes ties an @MLB record with 10 consecutive strikeouts. #MakeItMajor pic.twitter.com/hkIoU1s7xF
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 12, 2021

Each K in that stretch came with a swinging strike three, and Burnes’ exploit tied a record also held by Aaron Nola and Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.

Atlanta Surges Into the NL East Lead

The NL East has been up for grabs for most of the season, and this past week saw the battle for a division title take another turn. The Atlanta Braves suddenly caught fire, winning seven of eight games as of this writing to tie the Phillies. Meanwhile, the Mets remain one game behind despite dropping nine of their last 12 contests (including three in a row at Philadelphia).

National League East 2021

Sun, October 3 2021, 5:00 PM

Philadelphia Phillies

+150

Atlanta Braves

+175

New York Mets

+190

Washington Nationals

+5000

Miami Marlins

+25000

A Tough Week for Stars

Several of the sport’s biggest names were forced to the sidelines for various reasons this week. Mookie Betts was put on the injured list with a right hip injury, while Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto took a foul tip to his mask and Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon was sidelined with a sore arm.

Prior to today’s series finale at MIN, the Sox made the following 3 roster moves:

- Placed Carlos Rodón on the 10-day IL (retroactive to 8/8) with left shoulder fatigue;
- Recalled Matt Foster from Charlotte;
- Sent Yasmani Grandal to Birmingham on an injury rehab. assignment.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) August 11, 2021

Rodon’s injury is particularly unfortunate, as he was set to start Thursday’s "Field of Dreams" game against the Yankees.

MLB