Sure, it may be the first Sunday of the NFL season, but there are still plenty of MLB news tidbits and notes to dive into, including thoughts on the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves.
St. Louis Cardinals news: Ryan Helsley makes a statement
There have been plenty of things that have gone wrong in St. Louis in 2023, including the health of closer Ryan Helsley, who missed almost three months of the season with a forearm strain. However, Helsley is showing that he’s healthy again and can be a part of the Cardinals’ plans next season and beyond.
On Saturday night, the 29-year-old right-hander earned his first save since June 7 to help the Cardinals secure a series win over the Cincinnati Reds. It marked the second of back-to-back nights of pitching for Helsley, another good sign in his recovery and return.
You can read his thoughts about his return and the time off because of the injury here.
New York Yankees news: Derek Jeter gives praise to Anthony Volpe
It was a meeting of the generations on Saturday at Yankee Stadium as Jeter returned to the Bronx for Old-Timers’ Day. While he was there, he had good things to say about Volpe, a player the Yankees hope will carry the torch for them at shortstop for years to come.
“The thing that probably stands out the most just from talking with different coaches is the fact that whether he’s had an up and down game or week or month offensively, he doesn’t take it to the defensive side. That says a lot about his maturity, but he’s gonna get better,” Jeter told reporters about Volpe.
Volpe and the rest of the next generation of Yankees got to see some of their former idols in person on Saturday, including David Wells, who wasn’t afraid to share his thoughts about this version of the Bronx Bombers that has underwhelmed in 2023.
MLB news: Atlanta Braves could clinch postseason spot on Sunday
Atlanta, finishing up a series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has a magic number of one heading into Sunday’s action. The Braves would be the first team to wrap up a trip to the playoffs, with the Los Angeles Dodgers having a magic number of eight to clinch the NL West.
Learn more about the current MLB postseason picture here.