Our Mariners just took a gut-punch, falling 5-3 to the Cincinnati Reds, a tough loss that stings, no doubt about it. But even as we’re picking ourselves up after that one, there’s a bigger, league-wide issue bubbling up, especially for pitchers, and it’s something every fan needs to be aware of as the MLB trade deadline barrels down on us.
The Trade Deadline Grind and Looming Pitcher Concerns
Man, the trade deadline is right around the corner. It’s always a crazy time, but if you’re playing fantasy baseball, you know your league’s deadline is probably even sooner! This is crunch time to figure out who’s an asset about to tank in value. And the biggest threat to a pitcher’s value right now? Innings limits. We’re not talking about those old-school, hard shutdowns anymore. It’s more about a “softer curtailing of innings” as these guys hit unfamiliar workloads. How do teams do it? Skipped starts, early hooks from games, or those infamous “phantom IL stints.” It hits the up-and-coming starters the hardest, especially on teams whose playoff hopes are already dashed. Every team’s got about 60 games left, meaning pitchers should have roughly 60 innings left. We’ve gotta anticipate who’s going to get the leash pulled, because it’s coming.
Key Arms Teetering on the Edge
We’ve got some serious concerns for a few pitchers around the league, and the reports are enough to make you wince. Take **Jacob Misiorowski** for the Brewers. The guy is 24, sitting at 115 innings this year. His career high is 141.1, so on pure numbers, you might think he’s good. But here’s the kicker, the part that screams trouble: he was pulled after just four innings his last time out! There were conflicting reports about arm fatigue, and that’s a massive red flag. The Brewers are probably trying to save some of those big bullets for their own playoff push, but at what cost to his workload right now?
Then there’s **Chase Burns**, a 23-year-old for the Reds. He’s at 107.2 innings this year, just shy of his 111 career high from college. Last year, he hit the IL right when he approached that previous high, then came back as a reliever for the final month. The Reds probably want to extend him further this season, but let’s be real, they have less to play for now than they did then, which makes a workload reduction a real possibility.
And don’t forget **Braxton Ashcraft** from the Pirates, age 26. He’s at 116.1 innings, with a career high of 118. He’s hit a recent rough patch, and it looks like his command is slipping as he gets closer to that innings mark. If the Pirates don’t start making a real run for it soon, and the source says they’re “on the outside looking in right now,” a hard shutdown for Ashcraft is probably on the table. Even **Kyle Harrison**, another 24-year-old Brewer, is getting a medium risk flag, sitting at 83.2 innings this year with a career high of 124.1.
So yeah, while our M’s just dropped one 5-3 at home, the whole league is watching these arms closely. We’ve still got a lot of baseball left, and the way teams manage their pitchers in the coming weeks could define a lot of seasons. Let’s hope our guys stay healthy and keep throwing gas!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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