The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line looked like it was going to be a much different and improved unit after the draft in April. General Manager Omar Khan drafted Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick. The Steelers’ offensive line desperately needed upgrades at tackle and center and that’s exactly what Khan did via the draft with Fautanu and Frazier. However, much of the excitement about the team’s new-look offensive line has slowly faded as the regular season approaches. Broderick Jones, 2023 first-round pick, struggled in preseason action and both Fautanu and guard Isaac Seumalo are dealing with injuries.
After Nate Herbig, Pittsburgh’s potential starting center, suffered a season-ending injury, Frazier stepped in as the team’s Week 1 starting center. Frazier starting at center could certainly be a good thing, but outside of him and right guard James Daniels, there are a lot of uncertainties on the offensive line just a week before the regular season starts.
Both tackle positions are a concern as Fautanu is working his way back from a knee injury and is listed as the backup left tackle behind Dan Moore Jr., and Jones’ struggles at right tackle in the preseason weren’t pretty.
Another big question mark on the offensive line is at left guard. Seumalo, who is arguably Pittsburgh’s best lineman, is expected to miss time with a pectoral injury. On the Steelers’ depth chart, Spencer Anderson is listed as the backup left guard.
Anderson was the 251st pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and didn’t start any games during his rookie year. Instead of an offensive line with solid guards, a second-round pick center and two first round tackles, The Steelers might open the season with Moore and a seventh-round pick starting on the line. Gerry Dulac believes that if Seumalo’s injury was season-ending, there would be a significant position change on the offensive line.
“If Seumalo’s injury required surgery and caused him to miss the entire season, it is likely the Steelers would have moved Fautanu to guard.”
Moving Fautanu from tackle to guard in his rookie season would potentially stunt his growth as a tackle in the NFL. While Fautanu did play a little bit of guard in college, he was drafted to play tackle and, seeing how Jones has handled playing right tackle in the NFL after spending his college career on the left side, Pittsburgh should try to keep Fautanu in one spot.
Steelers Are Better Off Letting Fautanu Develop At One Position
Transitioning from college football to the NFL is hard enough as it is. The speed of the game is faster and learning a new playbook isn’t easy. NFL rookies have from late April to early September to make those adjustments and growing at a specific position on top of that is a hefty task.
Fautanu moving to guard to fill Seumalo’s role, while recovering from a knee injury in his rookie season, would be extremely difficult. Even moving from one tackle spot to the other is difficult and Fautanu is supposed to be the right tackle for the next decade.
Eventually, the Steelers will want both of their first-round pick tackles to be in the starting lineup. As of right now, Fautanu is listed at left tackle and Jones at right tackle. That is not going to be permanent and they are expected to flip sides, but either way, drafting offensive linemen and then having them learn new positions is a strange tactic that hurts their development.
The Steelers Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons will be a good test for the offensive line and hopefully provides a different result up front than last season and the 2024 preseason.
Football fans, rejoice. Week 1 of the 2024-25 NFL season is finally here, and we’ve got you covered with news, notes and predictions for every game on the loaded slate. You’ve waited long enough for football to return to your lives, so we won’t make you wait any longer. Let’s break down every
NFL game in Week 1 and take a look at the most glaring mismatches you can exploit in each matchup. Baltimore Ravens @ Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Sept. 5, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC Spread: Chiefs -3 Total: 46.5 The Chiefs begin their quest for the first three-peat in NFL history against the Ravens on Thursday night, and this might be a better team than the one we saw last year. Kansas City traded away L’Jarius Sneed, but it upgraded Patrick Mahomes’s weapons by adding Marquise Brown, Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Steve Spagnuolo returns to pilot what should be an elite defensive unit for the second year in a row. As for the Ravens, they replaced their top two running backs with Derrick Henry, but they lost three starting offensive linemen, three high-impact defensive players and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
It might take Baltimore a few weeks to get rolling with all the losses it suffered in the offseason. Mismatch to exploit: Chris Jones vs. Ravens offensive line It’s hard to imagine Baltimore having immediate success in the running game while working in three new offensive linemen, especially with Jones lining up on the other side. Henry, who’s almost 31 years old, is also coming off a career-worst 4.2 yards per carry. Take a look at his under rushing yards. Prediction: Chiefs 27, Ravens 17 Philadelphia Eagles vs. Green Bay Packers Friday, Sept. 6, 8:15 p.m. ET, Peacock Spread: Eagles -2.5 Total: 48.5 The NFL ventures to Brazil for the first time for Friday night’s NFC bout between the Eagles and Packers, and this game is all about the offenses. Philadelphia has an All-Star team on offense with Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley and Jahan Dotson now in the fold. As long as this new-look offensive line can hold up without Jason Kelce, the Eagles should be one of the highest-scoring teams in the NFL this season.
The Packers are also expected to light up the scoreboard in 2024-25 considering how Jordan Love looked down the stretch last season. The receiving corps is the same as last year, but the Packers upgraded at running back by adding Josh Jacobs. Mismatch to exploit: Jacobs vs. Eagles linebackers The Eagles might have an elite offense this year, but they have a glaring weakness at the linebacker position. Nakobe Dean, Zack Baun and rookie Jeremiah Trotter Jr. are going to be their top three options with Devin White ruled out for the game. Jacobs to go over his rushing + receiving yards prop seems like a good look. Prediction: Eagles 31, Packers 28 Tennessee Titans @ Chicago Bears Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET, FOX Spread: Bears -4.5 Total: 44.5 Speaking of all-hype teams, the Bears enter the 2024-25 season with sky-high expectations. No. 1 pick Caleb Williams will be making his first NFL start, and he’s set up to succeed right away with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and D’Andre Swift at his disposal. Chicago’s defense is solid at every level with Montez Sweat, T.J. Edwards and Jaylon Johnson. The Titans moved off Mike Vrabel in the offseason and replaced him with Brian Callahan. Will Levis has taken over as the starting quarterback, and he has a pair of new weapons to feed in Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard.
Jeffery Simmons, Ernest Jones IV and Sneed will pace an underrated defense. Mismatch to exploit: Caleb Williams vs. high expectations Williams is an exceptional talent, but he freestyles with the ball in his hands and always tries to make something out of nothing. He’ll need to learn that doesn’t work consistently in the NFL, so maybe target him to throw an interception or lose a fumble in Game 1. Prediction: Titans 23, Bears 19 Arizona Cardinals @ Buffalo Bills Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET, CBS Spread: Bills -6.5 Total: 48.5 It’s hard to imagine the Cardinals are the team generating more hype than the Bills in this matchup, but that’s what we’re seeing across the football world. Arizona’s offense should be fantastic with a healthy Kyler Murray, James Conner, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride leading the way, but the defense still leaves a lot to be desired.
Many expect the Bills to take a step back after losing Stefon Diggs to the Texans, but that’s disrespectful to Josh Allen’s greatness. The new wide receiving corps of Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel should be more than enough to keep this offense humming, and James Cook should be in for a big year on the ground. Mismatch to exploit: Josh Allen vs. Cardinals defensive line The Cardinals ranked 31st in the NFL last season in points allowed per game, and that likely won’t change with the lack of talent they have on that side of the ball, especially along the defensive line. Allen is going to have a ton of time to throw or take off and run in this matchup, so give a look to Buffalo’s team total over. Prediction: Bills 31, Cardinals 26 Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET, FOX Spread: Falcons -3.5 Total: 42.5 This is one of the most fascinating matchups on the Week 1 slate.
Kirk Cousins makes his Falcons debut after suffering a torn Achilles last season, and he has a plethora of dynamic weapons to feed with Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts. Atlanta also added Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons in the offseason to bulk up its defense. The Steelers are beginning a new era with Russell Wilson at the helm, and they have blue chippers at every level on defense with T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick and new linebacker Patrick Queen. If Wilson has a bounce-back season, Pittsburgh could surprise some people. Mismatch to exploit: Steelers experience vs. Falcons newness The Falcons were the all-hype team this offseason, but that doesn’t always pan out in Week 1.
They’re working in new head coach Raheem Morris, two new coordinators and a new quarterback coming off a major injury. Meanwhile, Mike Tomlin is entering his 18th year as the Steelers head coach. Don’t be surprised if Pittsburgh pulls off the upset. Prediction: Steelers 23, Falcons 20 Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET, FOX Spread: Saints -4 Total: 41.5 The Panthers are hoping for a bounce-back campaign after going 2-15 last year, and they pegged Dave Canales as the man to get it done. Even if Canales is an upgrade over Frank Reich, Bryce Young needs to improve if Carolina has any chance of being competitive this season.
The Saints return with their mediocre coach-quarterback combo of Dennis Allen and Derek Carr, but those aren’t the only issues facing this team. New Orleans, which is normally strong in the trenches, looks to be below average along both its offensive and defensive lines. Mismatch to exploit: Dennis Allen and Derek Carr vs. expectations Never trust this version of the Saints when they’re expected to win. New Orleans went 4-8-1 against the spread and only 7-6 straight up as a favorite last season, and the Panthers should be better than they were in 2023. Prediction: Saints 17, Panthers 16 Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET, FOX Spread: Vikings -1.5 Total: 41.5 Following a few wildly intriguing games, now we have to move on to the Giants and Vikings. Daniel Jones has a new toy at his disposal in rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, but New York is severely lacking in talent outside of him now that Barkley is gone.
The Giants do have an elite defensive line with Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, but there isn’t much else to like. The Vikings downgraded at quarterback from Cousins to Sam Darnold, but Justin Jefferson and new running back Aaron Jones should still have success in this offense. The defense, though, might be one of the worst units in the NFL this season.
Mismatch to exploit: Malik Nabers vs. Vikings secondary Nabers has been tearing it up in camp all preseason, and he’s ready to break out as one of the most talented young wide receivers in the league. The Vikings don’t have much talent in the secondary, and the Giants will feed Nabers out of the gates. Prediction: Giants 20, Vikings 19 New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals Sunday Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET, CBS Spread: Bengals -7.5 Total: 40.5 Uncertainty is always a theme of Week 1, and that’s especially true in this matchup. The Bengals have a ton of question marks on offense with Joe Burrow still dealing with his wrist injury and Ja’Marr Chase uncertain for Sunday due to his ongoing contract dispute. We have no clue what this passing attack is going to look like, and New England’s biggest strength is its secondary. As for the offense, the Patriots might have the worst group in the NFL. Jacoby Brissett will start at quarterback, and he’s surrounded by an uninspiring group of weapons and an abysmal offensive line.
This is going to be an ugly watch. Mismatch to exploit: Bengals defensive line vs. Patriots offensive line This Patriots offensive line has the chance to be one of the worst units we’ve seen in years, and here come Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Look out for Hendrickson and Hubbard to go over their sack props. Prediction: Bengals 17, Patriots 13 Jacksonville Jaguars @ Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET, CBS Spread: Dolphins -3.5 Total: 48.5 If you like explosive plays and points, this is going to be the game for you. The Dolphins return with a dynamic offense led by Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.
They’ll light up the scoreboard early in the season under Mike McDaniel. Miami improved its defense by adding Jordan Poyer, Calais Campbell and Kendall Fuller, but the pass rush will suffer without Bradley Chubb on the field. The Jaguars remodeled their wide receiver room with Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr., but their success on offense will depend on Trevor Lawrence taking the next step and the offensive line keeping him upright. Mismatch to exploit: Dolphins passing attack vs. Jaguars secondary The Jaguars ranked 26th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game last season, and their solution was to add Darnell Savage and a washed-up Ronald Darby.
McDaniel had a full offseason to scheme up an offensive game plan for this one, so take a look at Hill and Waddle to go over their receiving yards props. Prediction: Dolphins 30, Jaguars 20 Houston Texans @ Indianapolis Colts Sunday, Sept. 8, 1 p.m. ET, CBS Spread: Texans -2.5 Total: 48.5 These should be two fun offenses if everyone stays healthy. C.J. Stroud returns after a historic rookie season with Nico Collins, a healthy Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs now in the fold. The Texans also added Joe Mixon in the offseason, and they have some serious talent on defense with Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. and Azeez Al-Shaair. Anthony Richardson is back for the Colts after his exciting rookie season was cut short by injuries.
His upside is enticing, but he’s appeared in only 28 competitive football games since 2020. We’ll believe it when we see it. Mismatch to exploit: Texans passing attack vs. Colts secondary The Colts had trouble limiting explosive passing plays last year, especially against the Texans. Stroud put up 648 passing yards and four touchdowns in two games against Indy, so take a look at his over passing yards in this matchup. Prediction: Texans Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS Spread: Seahawks -6 Total: 41.5 Both the Broncos and Seahawks enter the season with new faces and question marks on offense. With Wilson out of town, Denver will be rolling with rookie first-round pick Bo Nix as its starting quarterback.
The Seahawks still have the same offensive personnel around Geno Smith, but new head coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb will kickstart a new era in Seattle. On defense, Denver doesn’t have much to write home about aside from Pat Surtain II, while the Seahawks have a ton of upside with Devon Witherspoon, Leonard Williams and Riq Woolen under Macdonald.
Mismatch to exploit: Bo Nix vs. Mike Macdonald Macdonald is a defensive mastermind who led the Ravens to one of the most ferocious units in the NFL. He’s going to have a lot of fun coaching up this young, talented defensive unit in Seattle, and that’ll start in Week 1 against a rookie QB. Take a look at Nix to throw a pick or go under his passing props. Prediction: Seahawks 27, Broncos 13 Las Vegas Raiders @ Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, Sept. 8, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS Spread: Chargers -3 Total: 40.5 The Jim Harbaugh era in Los Angeles gets underway with an early division battle against the Raiders.
Even though the Chargers have a special talent at quarterback in Justin Herbert, this is likely going to be a run-heavy team behind new additions Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Keenan Allen is gone, so it’ll be up to Josh Palmer and Ladd McConkey to pace the passing attack. Harbaugh has plenty to work with on the defensive end with Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa and Derwin James, too. The Raiders are also going to pound the rock under Antonio Pierce, but the question is whether they have the personnel to do it effectively with Zamir White and Alexander Mattison leading the RB room.
Las Vegas has a ferocious defensive line led by Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins. Mismatch to exploit: Raiders run-heavy offense vs. Chargers defensive line The Chargers have dangerous pass rushers on defense, but their run defense might be an issue to start the season. The Raiders are going to feed White on the ground just as they did in 2023 when he rushed 84 times for 397 yards over the last four games of the season. White to go over his rushing yards prop could be the play. Prediction: Chargers 19, Raiders 16 Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns Sunday, Sept. 8, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX Spread: Browns -2.5 Total: 41.5 In a matchup between two defensive-minded teams, it’s no surprise to see one of the lowest totals of the week. The Browns allowed fewer than 14 points per game at home last season, while the Cowboys might struggle early in the season considering CeeDee Lamb didn’t get a full offseason of practice in.
Nick Chubb is still recovering from his knee injury, so the Browns will start the season with Jerome Ford leading the backfield. Deshaun Watson needs a bounce-back season to revive his career, but he hasn’t shown any signs of returning to the elite quarterback he once was. The first team to 17 points should win this one. Mismatch to exploit: Cowboys running game vs. Browns front seven Dallas will start the season with Ezekiel Elliott and Rico Dowdle as its top two running backs. Good luck getting anything going on the ground against this ferocious Browns front seven. Take a look at all the Cowboys rushing unders being offered. Prediction: Browns 16, Cowboys 13 Washington Commanders @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Sept. 8, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX Spread: Buccaneers -3.5 Total: 43.5 The Commanders are starting a new era with rookie QB Jayden Daniels.
He’s going to establish himself as one of the most dynamic rushing quarterbacks in the league right away, but it might take some time for him to become an efficient passer behind a questionable offensive line and with only one proven wide receiver in Terry McLaurin. The Buccaneers return with the same offensive core of Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Rachaad White, but they could take a step back without Canales calling the shots. Mismatch to exploit: Buccaneers running game vs. Commanders front seven Washington still has a fantastic defensive line, and it added an elite run-stopper in linebacker Bobby Wagner.
That’s bad news for White, who averaged an unimpressive 3.6 yards per carry last season. Give a look to his rushing yards under. Prediction: Buccaneers 24, Commanders 23 Los Angeles Rams @ Detroit Lions Sunday, Sept. 8, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC Spread: Lions -3.5 Total: 50.5 This one should be fun. In a rematch of last year’s NFC wild-card matchup, the Rams and Lions are ready to light up the scoreboard behind their explosive offenses.
Detroit has the whole package with a veteran quarterback in Jared Goff, a thunder-and-lightning backfield with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, two star receiving options in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta and an elite offensive line. As for the Rams, they’ll be airing it out all season to Puka Nacua and a healthy Cooper Kupp. Kyren Williams also returns after a fantastic 2023 season, but the defense comes with multiple question marks with the departure of leading tackler Ernest Jones IV. Mismatch to exploit: Lions offensive line vs. Rams defensive line
Detroit’s offensive line is the most dominant unit in the league, and it’s going up against an unproven front seven on the other side. Montgomery and Gibbs should both have monster games on the ground, so take a look at their rushing yards props and anytime touchdown props. Prediction: Lions 38, Rams 27 New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 9, 8:15 p.m. ET ABC/ESPN Spread: 49ers -4.5 Total: 43.5 What a way to close out the Week 1 slate. The Jets’ hype machine is back up and running now that Aaron Rodgers is healthy, and he’s surrounded by two insanely talented weapons in Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall. The defense also projects to be one of the best units in the NFL with Sauce Gardner, Quinnen Williams and C.J. Mosley leading the way.
The 49ers return almost an identical team from last year, but Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams all missed extended time in the preseason. It might take San Fran a few weeks to get over its Super Bowl hangover. Mismatch to exploit: 49ers offense vs. rust This isn’t going to be the same 49ers offense we’re used to seeing. Aiyuk and Williams just started practicing after lengthy contract disputes, and McCaffrey is nursing a calf injury. Without much practice time under their belts, maybe give a look to the 49ers to go under their team total in the first half against a strong defense. Prediction: Jets 23, 49ers 21
NBA icon Michael Jordan will never speak to Scottie Pippen again after Pippen said in his book that he regretted not offering Jordan condolences after James Jordan was killed in 1993. ESPN’s Stephen A.
Smith spoke to Jordan in November 2021 after Pippen’s book came out. “His father passed away after the first three-peat,” Smith said. “So you had year one without Michael Jordan, year two. You had the three years you were with him for the second three-peat to express your condolences. You never did it. Michael Jordan never even thought about that until he saw it, and then he realized, ‘Wait a minute, you didn’t give me condolences on purpose. I didn’t even think about this.’ He’s (Pippen) crossed the line. Him and Jordan, it’s over. Take it from me. It’s over.” Here’s what Pippen wrote in his book that made Jordan furious. “
Another opportunity, if you can call it that, came during the summer of 1993, and I feel horrible every time I think about it,” Pippen wrote. “Michael’s father, James Jordan, had been murdered. The two were inseparable. When I heard the news, I should have reached out to Michael right away. Instead, I went through the Bulls’ PR department, and once they told me no one from the organization had been in contact with him, I gave up. Having lost my own dad three years before, I might have been able to offer Michael some comfort.
To this day, he and I haven’t spoken about his father’s death.” Jordan and Pippen won three NBA championships before James Jordan was killed and three more after. Pippen had multiple chances to talk to Jordan about James Jordan’s death, but he never did. “As soon as I heard the news, I contacted Tim Hallam, the PR guy for the Bulls,” Pippen wrote. “I was hoping Tim could let Michael know how badly I felt for him and his family. I couldn’t call Michael myself.
I didn’t have his number. Besides, he had a strong support group around him. He didn’t need to hear from me. What could I possibly say others couldn’t? “Tim told me no one from the organization had been in contact with Michael. When I heard that, I should immediately have tried another way. I knew plenty of people who could have easily gotten a message to him. Instead I told myself I was off the hook because I had made my ‘attempt.’ I would express my condolences the next time we saw each other, at training camp in October.
“Looking back, I wish I could blame my youth for being so incredibly insensitive. I can’t. There is no excuse. A friend of mine lost his father and I didn’t say a word to him. I will have to live with that for the rest of my life. “Why didn’t I make a stronger effort? Perhaps I didn’t want to deal with Michael’s grief. Just as I didn’t deal with my own grief when my dad passed away three years earlier. I’ve always been good at running away from that kind of pain. Too good.” Jordan and Pippen won six NBA titles together on the Chicago Bulls and three-peated twice. Sadly, they won’t speak ever again and that is Pippen’s fault.
Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby has remained steadfast regarding his desire to feature only for the Pittsburgh Penguins during his NHL career.
Is there a scenario in which he would rethink his remaining time in the NHL? For an article published on Tuesday, Travis Yost of TSN suggested Crosby could wait to see how the rebuilding Penguins start the 2024-25 season before he makes any decisions about his short-term and long-term futures. “Imagine for a moment that the Penguins struggle early,” Yost explained. “It is precisely Crosby’s loyalty to the franchise that would suggest a trade could be fruitful: the returns even for a rental of Crosby would be extraordinary, and under the same assumption that Crosby’s loyalty is unwavering, he would return back to Pittsburgh (with possibly more help rostered as soon as 2025-26) on his retirement deal.
Rebuilds can take years; a move of this magnitude could accelerate that timeline.” Crosby is on track to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 of next year. While it seemed a guarantee as recently as August that he and the Penguins would confirm an extension by the start of the preseason, Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now noted on Tuesday that “people don’t keep good news quiet” and that the Crosby situation has become downright “weird.
” As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Penguins at +120 betting odds to qualify for the postseason tournament next spring. Yost thinks Crosby could consider using his full no-movement clause to choose a temporary home by the March trade deadline if it seems that Pittsburgh will miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season. “Pittsburgh is not in cap distress,” Yost added, “…The space they maintain increases the likelihood of a deal — they can retain some of Crosby’s salary to juice the return on a trade, typical of what you see in deadline moves.”
Specifically, it’s believed Pittsburgh could fetch multiple first-round draft picks, a “top prospect” and “a young NHL player” in return for Crosby if he agreed to serve as a rental for a club willing to let him pursue a fourth career Stanley Cup ring. Of course, Crosby and/or the Penguins could silence such talk at any point via the announcement of an extension. Fair or not, fans assume Crosby’s camp is saying plenty by saying nothing publicly regarding his future.
Atlanta Braves second baseman Whit Merrifield passed the concussion protocol and should be available to play on Wednesday, despite taking a 94-mph fastball to the helmet during the team’s 3-0 win against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
However, the three-time All-Star was fuming in the aftermath of the incident. Merrifield exited Tuesday’s contest in the seventh inning after being hit by Rockies rookie Jeff Criswell’s heater. According to a report by David O’Brien of The Athletic, the 35-year-old “wobbled on one knee, yelling angrily toward Criswell while he was down, before finally walking slowly to the dugout.” O’Brien wrote that the situation left a welt “just behind his left ear at the top of his neck.” “Where the game’s at right now, it’s just ridiculous,” Merrifield said.
“I hate where the game’s at right now with that.” The 2010 ninth-round pick’s outburst continued, coming on the heels of a host of teammates getting hit by pitches in recent weeks. Catcher Travis d’Arnaud and third baseman Austin Riley were plunked by fastballs in back-to-back contests on Aug. 18 and 19 vs. the Los Angeles Angels. The backstop missed five games with a forearm contusion, and the latter was put on the injured list with a broken hand from which he’s still recovering. Star centerfielder Michael Harris exited Atlanta’s Aug. 25 game after being hit in the hand but was able to return to action two days later.
“We lost Riley, we almost lost Mike, we almost lost d’Arnaud in a span of two or three weeks,” Merrifield, who’s a player rep on the league’s Competition Committee, said per the report. “The way pitchers are throwing now, there’s no regard for throwing up and in. The guys are throwing as hard as they can, they don’t care where the ball goes. And it’s just… it’s bulls–t.” Merrifield, who began the year with the Philadelphia Phillies but was released in July and signed by the Braves 10 days later, was far from done with his venting.
He pointed to numerous other incidents when hitters were seriously hurt after being beaned by an up-and-in heater. “No repercussion on [Criswell’s] part, and I mean, without being overly dramatic, that was my life on the line right there,” Merrifield said. “So, I’m sick of it, it’s happening way too much. I watched Taylor Ward get hit in the face last year and have to get reconstructive surgery. Justin Turner got hit in the face last year. It’s happening at an exponential rate. Guys are getting hit in the hand, Mookie Betts broke a bone in his hand this year. It’s just ridiculous, and it has to be fixed. Or, God forbid, something terrible’s going to happen.”
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