Frogs in the MLB: Arrieta gets wins, Carpenter sets records heading into September

Jake Arrieta (P/Philadelphia Phillies) -

On August 24, Arrieta was at Toronto. He pitched a full 6 innings, allowing 4 runs on 4 hits, including 2 home runs. He walked 3 and struck out 3. The Phillies lost 4-2. It was Arrieta’s 3rd loss of the month.

Fortunately, Arrieta ended August better than he started it. On August 29, he was home against Washington and pitched 3 innings. He allowed 4 runs on 4 hits, including 2 home runs, but he got away with a no-decision. He walked 3 and struck out 3. The Phillies won 8-6.

On September 4, he kicked off September with a game in Miami. He went 7 ¹⁄₃ innings, allowing 4 runs on 8 hits, including 2 more home runs. He walked 2 but struck out 11 in a 9-4 Phillies win. That puts him at 10-9 on the season.

Arrieta has an ERA of 3.61 with a WHIP of 1.25. You can see Arrieta’s full stats here. He’ll face the Nationals at home on Monday.

Matt Carpenter (1B/St. Louis Cardinals) -

Carpenter’s power at the plate has subsided just a bit the last two weeks, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t continuing a stellar season. The Cardinals as a whole have had their ups and downs, with no real rhyme or reason to them.

On August 24, the Cards were in Colorado. Carpenter couldn’t manage to get on base, but they pulled off a 7-5 win nonetheless.

On August 25, the team continued the series against the Rockies. Carpenter had a little better luck, with a single to deep right in the top of the 1st. The Cardinals lost 9-1, but they returned for one final game on August 26. Carpenter went 4-for-5 in that game, with 2 doubles that drove in runs from Yairo Munoz. Carpenter scored an additional 2 runs himself, hitting a total of 4 doubles in the game. The Cardinals won 12-3.

Carpenter and the Cards returned to home for two series against the Pirates and the Reds. On August 28, they began a 3-game series against the Pirates, with Carpenter reaching on an infield single to first, and then driven in on a home run by Yadier Molina. He singled again in the bottom of the 7th. The Cardinals won 5-2.

Game 2 was on August 29, and Carpenter walked twice in a 2-0 loss for the Cards. The teams returned the next day for the final game of the series, and Carpenter walked in the bottom of the 5th and was driven in on a single by Jose Martinez. The Cardinals won 5-0.

August 31 Game 1 against Cincinnati, and Carpenter reminded people that the salsa was still hot! He hit a home run in the bottom of the 2nd, bringing Austin Gomber around for the run. Then he reached on a bunt single in the bottom of the 8th, but he was thrown out at second on the subsequent play. The Cardinals still won 12-5.

To kick off September, the teams met for Game 2. The Reds took their revenge, forcing Carpenter to go 1-for-3 with a single to right in the bottom of the 1st. He did manage to steal second, but the Cardinals ultimately lost 4-0.

In Game 3, Carpenter walked 3 times in a 6-4 loss for the Cards. That gave the Reds the series.

The Cardinals hit the road again and were in Washington to face the Nationals over Labor Day weekend. On September 3, Carpenter walked once and struck out 3 times in a 4-3 loss. On September 4, Carpenter hit a single in the top of the 2nd that drove in Paul DeJong and Molina. Then he walked in the top of the 9th and was driven in by Molina to help the Cardinals win 11-8.

On September 5, Carpenter singled in the top of the 1st and was driven in on a home run by Matt Adams. He doubled in the top of the 2nd to drink in Miles Mikolas, and then Carpenter was driven in on a single by J. Martinez. The Cardinals squeaked out a 7-6 win to grab the series.

On September 7, the Cardinals were in Detroit. Carpenter went 1-for-4, with a single in the top of the 3rd. Unfortunately, the Cardinals just couldn’t put much together, and they lost 5-3.

Carpenter currently has a .272 ERA, with 93 runs and 134 hits. He has 35 home runs and 76 RBI. You can see his full stats here.

Andrew Cashner (P/Baltimore Orioles) -

Cashner has struggled recently. On August 25, he was home against the Yankees. He lasted a solid 7 innings, but gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits. He walked 2 and struck out 4. Unfortunately, the Orioles lost 5-1.

On August 13, Cashner and the Birds were in Kansas City. He pitched 5 ¹⁄₃ innings and allowed another 4 runs (all earned) on 9 hits, but that included 2 home runs. He walked 3 and struck out 1. The Orioles lost 9-2.

To kick off September, the Orioles faced a pretty decent Seattle team on the road. Cashner lasted just 4 ²⁄₃ innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits, including an ugly 3 home runs. He walked 2 and didn’t strike out anyone. The Orioles lost 5-2.

Cashner’s ERA is currently 4.89, with a 1.54 WHIP. He’ll pitch at home Wednesday against Oakland. You can see his full stats here.

Bryan Holaday (C/Miami Marlins) -

Holaday has been fairly quiet the last two weeks. Catcher J.T. Realmuto has had a lot of success recently, which is probably why he’s gotten the start over Holaday recently. Holaday only managed 1 hit in his last 3 games, while Realmuto is up to 20 home runs on the season. But the Marlins are definitely keeping Holaday in their back pocket, in case Realmuto’s luck runs out. Also, little Bryan Holaday is adorable.

Holaday currently has 7 runs and 27 hits, with 15 RBI and 1 home run. You can see his full stats here.