Carlos Martínez records his 200th strikeout - A Hunt and Peck

Carlos Martínez is a very good pitcher. It is part of the reason we here at Viva El Birdos adore him so much. It is not the only reason, mind you, but a reason. Carlos seems to improve his craft ever year and this season he has blown past his prior season high in strikeouts of 184, set in 2015. It seems likely he will continue to add to this year’s total of 200 on Friday. Adding about ten or twenty more on Friday would be very nice indeed.

what else is going on in baseball...

• Indians defeat Tigers for 21st straight win | MLB.com
• Indians are chasing history and 1916 Giants | MLB.com
• Indians won their 21st straight game, and we’re in love | SBNation.com
• Indians' dominance rewrites story of 2017 season | ESPN
• Amazingly, The Indians Are Even Better Than They Seem | FiveThirtyEight
• Here Is Your Fly-Ball Revolution | FanGraphs Baseball
• Red Sox fans removed after unfurling banner about racism at Fenway Park | SBNation.com
• How Tim Tebow became the greatest value in minor league baseball | ESPN

what the cardinals are up to...

• Ortiz: Sierra still longs to have his mother in the stands | Jose de Jesus Ortiz | stltoday.com
• Ortiz: Wainwright, Molina showing young Cardinals the way | Jose de Jesus Ortiz | stltoday.com
• Reds rookie pitcher outpitches Cardinals rookie pitchers in 6-0 blowout | Viva El Birdos

KNOW THINE ENEMY...

the cincinnati red stockings

• Reds get grand slam from Eugenio Suarez, back Tyler Mahle to shutout Cardinals | Red Reporter

the nl central

• Are the Cubs Underachieving? | FanGraphs Baseball
• Zach Davies, Major League Outlier | FanGraphs Baseball

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