MLB Notebook: Lynn gets booted after tossing belt

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)

We’re well into the dog days of summer at this point, and the end of the MLB regular season is starting to become more and more visible. With that in mind, here’s the roundup of the latest news and notes from around the baseball world!

Putting on a Sho

The Los Angeles Angels are a mediocre team. At 61-61, they’re 10 games back of the Houston Astros for the AL West lead, and they’re 7 1/2 games out of a wild card spot. However, they boast a major player in the race for the American League’s Most Valuable Player award.

Tonight's starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani has 40 HR this season. pic.twitter.com/q4kGGVwEHW
— MLB (@MLB) August 19, 2021

Shohei Ohtani blasted his league-leading 40th home run Wednesday night, and also moved to 8-1 on the year with a strong eight-inning performance on the mound.

Surging Yankees Overtake Boston

It’s been an up-and-down season for the Bronx Bombers, but fans of the New York Yankees have reason to celebrate. The team has won six in a row and is now ahead of the hated Red Sox in the AL East standings.

American League East 2021

Mon, October 4 2021, 5:00 PM

Tampa Bay Rays

-286

New York Yankees

+450

Boston Red Sox

+575

Toronto Blue Jays

+1400

Baltimore Orioles

+30000

The Yankees are currently leading the wild card race, but still sit five games behind the Tampa Bay Rays, who are pacing the division.

Lynn Tosses Belt, Gets Booted

Pitcher Lance Lynn became the latest hurler to run afoul of MLB’s search for foreign substances, as he was ejected from Wednesday night’s game between his White Sox and the Oakland Athletics.

Lance Lynn on why he was thrown out of the game:

"He yells at me that he needs to see my belt, so I toss it up and he throws me out... Obviously, I hurt his feelings." pic.twitter.com/rue6MKpa8M
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 19, 2021

Lynn was in the dugout when the umpire demanded to check his belt. Lynn responded by hurling his belt, and the official threw him out of the game. The White Sox, however, hung on to record a 3-2 victory.

Bauer Hearing Rolls On

We’ll close the roundup with the latest on the Trevor Bauer situation. The L.A. Dodgers pitcher is taking part in a hearing that is scheduled to conclude Thursday, and he will be called to take the stand prior to its conclusion. Bauer, who is accused of sexual assault, is expected to exercise his Fifth Amendment rights, and the hearing will determine if a temporary restraining order filed by his accuser will be increased to a five-year term.

MLB