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Major League Baseball’s July 31st trade deadline is fast approaching, and once it’s over, fans can expect playoff races to pick up in earnest. With UNC having a large alumni base in the major leagues, let’s take a look at how their seasons are going, and if we will have a chance to watch any in October.
Chris Iannetta
Chris has been a solid catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have been on fire this year at 59-43 and looking more and more like a shoe-in for one of the Wild Card spots in the National League. Iannetta is only hitting .233, but has eight home runs, 24 RBI, and has been worth nearly a win above replacement level. It certainly seems like the 12-year MLB vet will be playing in the postseason.
Andrew Miller
Miller is still as dominant as ever. With a 1.57 ERA and and 74 strikeouts in 54 innings, he is considered one of, if not the best bullpen pitcher in baseball. The Cleveland Indians are leading the AL Central division and are currently in the midst of a seven-game win streak, so it seems like Andrew may have a chance to repeat as the ALCS MVP.
Kyle Seager
Kyle is having a decent 2017 season in Seattle. His numbers have dipped slightly from 2016, where he finished 12th in the AL MVP voting by hitting .278 with 30 home runs and 90 RBI. The Mariners are a disappointing 51-52, but the AL Wild Card is still within reach at 3.5 games back
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Adam Warren
Warren is having another solid year in relief for the New York Yankees. His era is 1.93, and he has 41 strikeouts in 42 innings. Like Miller, Warren has made a solid transition to the bullpen and has been a solid contributor to the Yankees, who currently hold an AL Wild Card spot.
Matt Harvey
The tumultuous career of Matt Harvey has not lost any of its controversy in 2017. He’s made 13 starts with at 4-3 record and a 5.25 ERA. His last start was on June 14 before heading to the 10-day DL with arm fatigue. The Mets seem to be solidly out of the playoff picture, but hopefully Matt can get it going when his arm feels better.
Mike Morin
Mike has also had a tough year out in Anaheim with an era of 6.91 in 14.1 innings. The Angels are five games under .500 but only 5.5 games back from a Wild Card spot. Seeing Mike in the playoffs will be a long shot, but there’s still a chance at least.