Baseball Shots Of The Week – August 19, 2014

Filed Under: Oakland Athletics, San Francisco Giants, Sports

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (72-50)Imagine being told a few years ago that Kole Calhoun would outhit Josh Hamilton. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Josh Hamilton was out of the starting lineup for a second straight day as he is trying to recover from his ongoing slump.

2. Oakland Athletics (73-51)An uncharacteristically poor week for the A's drops them to second. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Athletics placed Jed Lowrie on the 15-day disabled list, with a fractured right index finger.

3. Baltimore Orioles (70-52)The Orioles have played as well as any team over the past month. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

J.J. Hardy returned to the starting lineup over the weekend for the first time in almost a week, after suffering a sprained thumb.

4. Milwaukee Brewers (70-55)Mike Fiers' second big-league start of the year was a gem. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

Brewers homered twice for a 3-2 win over Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers, marking Kershaw's first loss in 14 starts.

5. Washington Nationals (69-53)The Nationals are good and nobody seems happy. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Nate McLouth is out for the rest of the season because of a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

6. Kansas City Royals (68-55)Josh Willingham can't be worse than Raul Ibanez these days. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Last week after the Royals beat the A's to win their series; the Royals have won seven straight series.

7. Seattle Mariners (67-56)Somehow, the Mariners are below .500 against losing teams.(Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

The Mariners are keeping pace in the playoff race.

8. Los Angeles Dodgers (70-56)Hard to believe, but the Dodgers might finish with just one player over 20 home runs. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clayton Kershaw recorded his first loss in 14 starts with a 3-2 loss to the Brewers.

9. Detroit Tigers (66-56)Suddenly, the Tigers are no sure thing to make the postseason. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Andy Dirks re-injured the hamstring and was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday.

10. St. Louis Cardinals (66-57)In a small sample, A.J. Pierzynski has returned to being useful at the plate. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

Yadier Molina, said that he hopes to begin swinging a bat as early as next week.

11. New York Yankees (63-59)Chase Headley has proven to be a fine deadline addition for the Yankees. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Mark Teixeira hit his 361st career home run, tying Joe DiMaggio for 80th place on the all-time list.

12. San Francisco Giants (65-58)Not many bullpens have two quality southpaws like the Giants do in Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Hector Sanchez was diagnosed with his second concussion in a month, which could mean he might miss the rest of the season.

13. Toronto Blue Jays (64-61)It doesn't always feel like it, but R.A. Dickey has been a productive member of Toronto's rotation. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Edwin Encarnacion, who was activated from the 15-day disabled list on Friday.

14. Atlanta Braves (64-60)No team has more extra-inning losses than the Braves this season. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Braves completed a series sweep of the Oakland A's on Sunday.

15. Miami Marlins (62-62)That the Marlins continue to flirt with .500 despite injuries to two of their best starting pitchers is a noteworthy story. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

The Marlins reached the .500 mark on Sunday and matched their total number of wins from last year.

16. Pittsburgh Pirates (64-60)John Axford should help the Pirates bullpen. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Pirates brought back outfielder Andrew McCutchen from the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday.

17. Cincinnati Reds (62-62)The Reds have the league's worst winning percentage in one-run games. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Second baseman Brandon Phillips was activated from the DL before their series vs. the Cardinals.

18. Tampa Bay Rays (61-63)The Rays haven't given up following the David Price trade. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)

Rays optioned reliever Brandon Gomes to Triple-A Durham.

19. Cleveland Indians (62-61)Winning at home is usually a surefire way to a winning record, but the Indians have been just as bad on the road. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Indians placed utilityman Ryan Raburn on the 15-day disabled list.

20. San Diego Padres (58-65)Proof that success in one-run games doesn't always mean much: the Padres entered the weekend with the league's third best mark. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)

Yonder Alonso is out for the season with a torn tendon in the top of his right forearm.

21. Chicago White Sox (59-66)Hector Noesi has been better for the White Sox than anyone expected him to be. (Photo by Brian Kersey/Getty Images)

Jose Abreu ended his home run drought, and on his 78th plate appearance hit a home run agains the Baltimore Orioles.

22. New York Mets (59-66)Travis d'Arnaud has been much improved since moving toward the plate. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Bartolo Colon, was scratched from his next start and placed on the bereavement list.

23. Boston Red Sox (56-67)Too little too late, but the Red Sox started showing some life. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

David Ortiz joined an exclusive club when he hit his 400th home run as a member of the Red Sox. He joins the company of Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski.

24. Minnesota Twins (55-67)Luckily, Byron Buxton's injury doesn't seem as bad as it was first feared. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Phil Hughes went 7 1/3 innings to be the Royals 4-1.

25. Philadelphia Phillies (54-70)One of the big offseason questions for the Phillies: What do they do with Ryan Howard? (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Jerome Williams threw seven innings of one-run ball as the Phillies beat the Mariners 4-1.

26. Chicago Cubs (53-70)Chris Coghlan has revitalized his career so far this season. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Dan Straily made his Cubs debut and it lasted only 5 1/3 innings against the Mets in a 7-3 loss.

27. Arizona Diamondbacks (53-71)Chase Anderson has to be considered a bright spot in an otherwise dim D'backs season. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The D-backs recalled the right-hander from Triple-A Reno and optioned Bradin Hagens to Reno.

28. Houston Astros (52-73)Chris Carter's tear continues. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Astros activated Jesus Guzman from the 15-day DL and placed reliever Darin Downs on the DL with a right oblique strain.

29. Texas Rangers (49-76)Though the Rangers seemed destined for the top pick ... (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)

Rangers are down to a four-man rotation after optioning pitcher Robbie Ross Jr. back to Triple-A.

30. Colorado Rockies (48-76)The Rockies have overtaken them for the league's worst record. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Corey Dickerson was named the National League Player of the Week after leading the Majors in RBIs and total bases.