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The All-Star break is fast approaching. Major League Baseball teams are having to decide if they are buyers or sellers at the deadline, and fans are beginning to ponder if this really will be their year.
Our weekly awards are back for their twelfth edition as we pick the best, worst, and most remarkable out from the week in baseball…
Performance of the Week
The Dodgers are flying. After a torrid April, the World Series runners-up in 2017 are looking a real threat to make the postseason once again. A lot of that is down to the remarkable season from Matt Kemp.
Kemp has done plenty of great things this season, but few are greater than the pinch-hit grand slam he delivered this week.
Defensive Play of the Week
It’s not easy getting J.D. Martinez out. Max Kepler managed it, though, with this stupendous five-star grab, diving forward in right field.
https://twitter.com/statcast/status/1009805731401535490
The catch had the lowest probability of any Twins catch this season, and there are few better hitters to save this sort of play for.
Start of the Week
Madison Bumgarner is back. The Giants’ ace hadn’t enjoyed the best time on the mound since his return from the disabled list earlier this month, but reminded us just how good he is with a dominant eight shutout innings this week.
Padres hitters had no answer for Bumgarner as he commanded the zone with a mix of fastballs, cutters and curves. The 2014 World Series MVP will need plenty more starts like this if San Francisco are to contend this season.
Nightmare of the Week
Brandon Morrow was a revelation for the Dodgers last season, and has been excellent for the Cubs this season.
http://gty.im/963071058
He ended up on the disabled list this week, however, thanks to injuring himself as he got undressed (taking his trousers down, to be specific). Morrow isn’t expected to be out long, but the cause of the injury will be remembered for years, even if it doesn’t impact the Cubs much.
