May 18, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) reacts with designated hitter Pete Alonso (25) after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Both Adley Rutschman and Samuel Basallo are back in the Orioles lineup tonight against the Mariners. Rutschman will ease back into action as the designated hitter, while Basallo will return to the starting lineup after being available off the bench.
Taylor Ward, Colton Cowser and Leody Taveras will handle the outfield duties. Coby Mayo will get the start at third base with Gunnar Henderson playing to his left. Jackson Holliday will bat ninth and play second base after delivering a grand slam last night. Pete Alonso will bat cleanup and play first base.
The Orioles can split the four-game series with a win tonight. The game will be televised on ESPN.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 07, 2026: Bo Davidson #91 of the San Francisco Giants bats during the eighth inning of a spring training game against the Texas Rangers at Scottsdale Stadium on March 07, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Apologies for the lateness of today’s Minor League Baseball roundup, but my internet was out for a few hours. Five of the San Francisco Giants affiliates were in action on Wednesday, so let’s talk about them!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
A few small moves to talk about. LHP Seth Lonsway, who opened the year with AAA Sacramento but was recently demoted to AA Richmond, was returned back to Sacramento. High-A Eugene RHPs Ryan Slater and Matt Dunaway were both activated off the Injured List. And Low-A San Jose RHP Cody Delvecchio was placed on the 7-Day IL.
AAA Sacramento (39-24)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Astros) 2-1 Box score
A fantastic pitching performance from an unlikely source: LHP John Michael Bertrand. The 28-year old, taken in the 10th round in the 2022 MLB Draft, is finally getting some uninterrupted run in AAA, after more than 300 innings in AA, and brief stints in AAA to end the last 2 seasons. The results have been middling so far, which honestly isn’t surprising for a non blue-chip pitching prospect whose fastball averages exactly 90 mph.
But Wednesday was a fabulous day for the funky southpaw, who breezed through 6 shutout innings, while allowing just 4 singles, 2 walks, and a hit batter, and striking out 6 Space Cowboys. What a fantastic game. The 6 strikeouts were slightly surprising for Bertrand, as, even after that performance, he’s at just 6.5 per 9 innings this year, which is fairly in line with his career averages. His 5.09 ERA and 5.28 FIP are a reminder that it’s very hard to find success at the highest levels without throwing gas … but games like this one are a reminder that there’s more than one way to skin a cat … or more than one way to retire a hitter, to use a more PETA-approved phrase.
RHP Spencer Bivens has returned to the bullpen, after filling in in the rotation for a while. He did quite well in that role, and perhaps it will carry over to his more standard role, as he was strong in this outing, allowing just a single in 1.2 innings, while striking out 3 (he did give up the only run Sacramento allowed, but it was unearned).
Bivens really struggled to open the year, giving up 14 earned runs in 17.1 innings over his first 11 games, with 14 strikeouts. In 6 games since, though, he’s allowed only 5 earned runs in 22.2 innings, with 18 strikeouts. There’s still work to do to get fully back on track, but I suspect he’ll be back in the San Francisco bullpen at some point this year.
A quiet day on offense. The star was once again second baseman Nate Furman (No. 39 CPL), who hit 1-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout. Furman’s AAA debut hasn’t been scintillating, but he’s been solid really the entire year, and is up to a .798 OPS and a 114 wRC+, with just a 13.0% strikeout rate, and 9 stolen bases in 13 attempts. It will be interesting to see what the Giants do with the soon-to-turn 25-year old lefty, as they probably think he’s about ready for an MLB debut … but don’t really have a way to play him. Furman only plays second base (and not particularly well at that), and even if/when the Giants trade Luis Arráez, one can assume it will be so Casey Schmitt can be the everyday player there. We’ll see, though … these things tend to work themselves out.
Here’s a question: has Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL) surpassed Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) on the organization’s catcher depth chart? Obviously Rodríguez would be more likely to get the call if the Giants needed someone tomorrow, but that’s due to being a rostered player. It’s certainly possible that Cavanaugh is viewed more highly by the organization right now, given how brilliantly he’s taken to AAA. He was the designated hitter in this game, and hit 2-3 with a hit by pitch and a strikeout. He’s hitting for average, hitting for power, drawing walks, and limiting strikeouts, and the result is an 1.177 OPS and a 200 wRC+ through 22 AAA games … all with strong defense. My goodness, Drew! Save some hits for the rest of the guys!
Rodríguez, on the other hand, has been struggling a bit since getting optioned (though it’s worth noting that he was decent in his debut MLB stint). He played catcher in this game and went 0-4 with a strikeout … since getting sent back to AAA, the 24-year old righty is just 4-25, with 2 doubles, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts. Still, the future is extremely bright for both of these young backstops.
Richmond’s offense has been a little quiet lately, but that certainly wasn’t the case in this game. The Squirrels had a dynamic offensive game, and just looking at the box score you would have expected them to score a bit more than 7 runs, honestly.
At the middle of it all was the hottest player in the farm, center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL). The 24-year old left-handed UDFA was once again a force to be reckoned with, hitting 1-2 with a home run, a walk, a sacrifice fly, a strikeout, and a team-high 3 runs batted in. Davidson’s revival has been one of the best stories on the farm lately. He got off to a bit of a slow start, and while there were reasons to explain it — he missed time with an injury, he missed time due to the birth of his child, and it’s not uncommon to need an adjustment period at higher levels — it always gives you a little pause, and makes you wonder if a prospect bubble is popping.
Bo Davidson muscles his #SFGiants organization-leading 1⃣2⃣th homer of the year over the left field wall!
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 10, 2026
Davidson’s power was sapped in May, as he had just 1 home run in the month, and just a .664 OPS. But June brought on the real Bo, and he has been completely unstoppable: he’s hit safely in all 8 games this month, compiling a 13-32 line along the way, and smacking a stunning 6 home runs. 6 home runs! In 8 games! In the Eastern League! And that is how, despite the power outage in May, Davidson now leads the Giants farm with 12 home runs, while bringing him up to an .835 OPS and a 114 wRC+. He’s also been swinging-and-missing a lot less lately, which is tremendous to see.
Unlike Davidson, shortstop Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL) has been having a miserable June. He entered Wednesday’s game hitting just 3-24 in the month, with 0 extra-base hits and 12 strikeouts. But Wednesday was a step towards correcting that, as the smooth-fielding lefty went 1-3 with a solo home run and a walk, though he also struck out twice.
Maui goes oppo taco for his fourth homer of the year and we're on the board 💪
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 10, 2026
Ahuna’s AA assignment was simultaneously aggressive and necessary (both due to his age and to the shortstops occupying lower levels), and it’s been a mixed bag. He’s shown signs of offensive life, but he’s also struggled a bit, with just a .229 average, a .693 OPS, and an 85 wRC+. He’s shown some thump, but the concern with his offense has not been alleviated: of the 127 Eastern League hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this year, Ahuna is 122nd in strikeout rate (36.1%), and 120th in swinging strike rate (18.3%).
Also clearing the fence was right fielder Jean Carlos Sio (No. 44 CPL), who had an identical day to Ahuna, going 1-3 with a solo home run, a walk, and 2 strikeouts. Sio, a lefty who only turned 22 in April, is still adjusting to his new level, where he has just a .227 average, a .655 OPS, a 77 wRC+, and a 29.2% strikeout rate. But it’s only been 7 games, and it came after a delayed start to the season due to injury, and just 44 games in High-A across last year and this year. Now he has his 1st AA home run, and maybe that will get him going!
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 11, 2026
Very nice games for left fielder Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) and designated hitter Jack Payton. Harber went 2-3 with a double, 2 walks, and a strikeout, while Payton hit 2-4 with a triple and a strikeout. Harber has quieted down following his electric start to the season, but is still having a great year, with a .923 OPS and a 143 wRC+ (he’s also playing almost exclusively in the outfield right now). Payton, an 11th-round pick in 2023, is struggling to adapt to the level, and has just a .573 OPS and a 54 wRC+ in 30 games, following an early-season promotion.
A fairly uninteresting game on the mound. LHP Greg Farone was so-so, giving up 4 hits (including a home run) in 5 innings, with 3 walks, 2 earned runs, and 4 strikeouts. The 2024 7th-round pick has some really intriguing stuff, but just hasn’t been able to put it together this year, as he has a 6.23 ERA, a 6.42 FIP, with 8.9 strikeouts and 5.3 walks per 9 innings. There’s something there, but it hasn’t really come together at any point this year.
RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) is kind of plodding along back in AA, and he pitched 2 no-hit innings in this one, but walked 2 while striking out just 1. Bednar has improved his AA ERA dramatically year-over-year, from 4.97 to 3.86, but that certainly doesn’t tell the story. His biggest issue has been walks, and those have jumped from 6.8 per 9 innings to 7.3 … meanwhile his calling card, the strikeouts, have tumbled, from 14.9 per 9 to just 10.8. Weird season.
A great game for RHP Shane Rademacher, who struck out 3 batters in 2 scoreless innings, with the only baserunner he allowed coming on an error by his catcher, Ty Hanchey. A 25-year old UDFA, Rademacher has struggled quite a bit this year, with a 6.00 ERA and a 6.96 FIP, but, despite a lack of velocity, he’s pumped up his strikeouts this year, from a lowly 5.9 last season (including just 3.6 during his time in AA), to 9.0 this year.
High-A Eugene (40-19)
Eugene Emeralds lost to Spokane (Rockies) 10-9 Box score
Some fun offensive performances in this one, most notably from a trio of players: right fielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL), catcher Jancel Villarroel (No. 42 CPL), and first baseman Jakob Christian.
Diaz continues to show off some impressive power, as he hit 2-4 with a 2-run home run. The total offensive package still hasn’t quite come together for the right-handed Cuban, who turns 21 next month. He has just a .762 OPS and a 97 wRC+ on the year, but, despite that, he’s showing off some good things, with a lovely strikeout rate (17.0%) and isolated slugging mark (.211). Those are certainly signs that things could click here at some point.
As for Villarroel, all he’s done is get on base once he got healthy (he missed the start of the season). He went 1-3 in this game, smacked a double, and was hit by 2 pitches, though he also struck out twice. Villarroel, a 21-year old acquired in the Kai-Wei Teng trade, hit just 3-22 with 0 extra-base hits, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts in his 1st 6 games of the year (4 with Eugene, and 2 rehabbing in the Complex League). Since then? 31-88 with 11 extra-base hits!
He’s also been adding value in a painful way, as he’s been hit by 8 pitches already this year … doesn’t the poor guy take enough damage being a catcher? The result is an .892 OPS and a 142 wRC+, and I recommend focusing on those numbers anytime you find yourself thinking about how good Teng has been for the Astros this season.
As for Christian, the 2024 5th-round pick had the best day of all, hitting 2-4 with a double, a walk, and a grand slam. My goodness what a day!!!
Jakob Christian more been watching the Big League game…
Just as he’s done his entire career, the 23-year old right-handed hitter from the University of San Diego has been mashing, but also striking out. He has an .817 OPS and a 121 wRC+ on the year, but a slightly terrifying 34.2% strikeout rate. Things to love, and things to improve on.
As for Eugene’s top prospects, center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) hit 1-5 with a double; shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) went 2-4 with a walk and a strikeout; designated hitter Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL) hit 1-5 with a double; and left fielder Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL) went 1-4 with a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout. Shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL), who has hit safely in every game since getting promoted, got a day off.
It was a pretty decent pitching day, save for the performance from RHP Austin Strickland, which cost Eugene the game. Strickland, the pitcher who came over in the Joey Bart trade, allowed 7 hits and a hit batter in just 2 innings, which torched him for 6 earned runs.
The start went to RHP Niko Mazza, who had a funny game. On the surface, Mazza’s performance looked very nice: the 2024 8th-round pick allowed just 5 hits and 0 walks in 5.1 innings, with 6 strikeouts, and 2 of his 3 runs were unearned due to a Villarroel passed ball.
The cold water is that 4 of the 5 hits that Mazza allowed went for extra bases, including a home run, which was his 4th allowed in 45 innings … surpassing his total of 3 allowed during his debut season last year, in 93.1 Low-A innings. It’s been an odd season for Mazza, who has a 3.00 ERA but a 4.45 FIP. He has been one of the organization’s top strikeout starters, as he has a blissful 11.2 per 9 innings, which represents a huge boost over last year’s mark of 8.7 at a lower level. But on the flip side, despite his walkless outing on Wednesday, he’s issued 6.2 free passes per 9 innings, which is a concerning figure. But if he can bring that number down, he’ll be cooking, as he’s only allowed 30 hits in 45 innings, which is elite. Here’s to more performances like Wednesday’s; not only was it his 1st time all year without allowing a walk, it was his 1st time all year without allowing multiple walks.
One other Mazza note: in his 1st 2 starts of the year, he gave up 7 earned runs in 5.1 innings. Since then, he’s allowed just 8 earned runs in 39.2 innings.
A very encouraging appearance from the bullpen for RHP Gerelmi Maldonado (No. 21 CPL). Maldonado pitched the 9th inning and retired all 3 batters he faced on just 12 pitches, with 2 strikeouts. The 22-year old Venezuelan touches triple digits with ease, which has led to a staggering 23 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. But he needs more control outings like this one, as he has a terrifying 21 walks on the year. Always great to see him show good command in an outing.
Low-A San Jose (34-25)
San Jose Giants beat the Stockton Ports (A’s) 15-5 Box score
A dominant offensive performance by the Baby Giants, who put together 15 hits … 10 of which went for extra bases.
Almost everybody had a strong day on the offensive side, but nobody could compete with center fielder Damian Bravo, who is really coming into his own. Last year’s 15th-round pick was a force on Wednesday, hitting 4-5 with 2 home runs and a double. My goodness!
Bravo, a 22-year old right-hander from Texas Tech, started the season fairly slow, but then caught fire. He still only has a 107 wRC+ due to a fairly low walk rate (6.8%), but he’s hitting for average (.283) and power (his 9 home runs are 3rd in the system), and he has an .854 OPS with 6 stolen bases in as many attempts, and solid outfield defense across all 3 positions. Just a fantastic day for a player who is coming into his own.
Speaking of players coming into their own, shortstop Lorenzo Meola (No. 23 CPL) had one of his best days as a pro, hitting 2-5 with both a home run and a double, though he did strike out twice. It’s been a disappointing season for last year’s 4th-round pick, who hasn’t had quite shown the contact ability that many projected, as he has just a .240 averaged and a 28.2% strikeout rate. But all you can ask for is improvement, and Meola has been showing that in a big way. Just look at how he turned his season around in early May:
First 24 games: 18-98, 0 home runs, 6 doubles, 9 walks, 34 strikeouts Next 28 games: 30-102, 5 home runs, 8 doubles, 15 walks, 32 strikeouts
Talk about improvement!
Also clearing the fence was designated hitter Jose Astudillo, who went 3-5 and finished a triple shy of the cycle, while knocking in 3 runs. Astudillo, a 22-year old from Venezuela, has always been a contact hitter, and this year has a .286 average and a microscopic 5.1% strikeout rate. He’s never hit for power though, so this was a notable game: it was his 1st home run of the year, and just his 2nd career home run in 132 Minor League games. That will probably have to change if he wants to have success at higher levels, but it’s always fun seeing elite contact hitters.
Other nice days: second baseman Isaiah Barkett hit 3-6 with 2 doubles and a strikeout, and now has an .859 OPS and a 120 wRC+; right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) hit 3-6 with a double and 2 strikeouts, bumping his OPS to .847 and his wRC+ to 104; and third baseman Dario Reynoso went 3-5 with a stolen base and a strikeout, giving him a 1.008 OPS, a 150 wRC+, and 10 stolen bases.
On the pitching front, it was all about the bullpen. Starting LHP Jordan Gottesman had a day to forget, giving up 6 hits, 2 home runs, 2 walks, 5 runs, and 4 earned runs in 4 innings, though he struck out 5. The 2025 6th-round pick has had an odd year, with a 3.00 ERA but a 5.62 FIP. The strikeouts have been the big issue for him, as he’s ceded 7 of them in just 48 innings.
The nice bullpen outings came from a pair of arms who have been struggling, RHPs Fernando Vasquez and Cooper McGrath. Vasquez tossed 3 shutout innings with 1 hit, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts, while McGrath gave up 2 hits and 0 walks in 2 shutout innings, with 3 strikeouts. Vasquez, a 24-year old from the DR, has a 6.97 ERA and a 6.33 FIP, with more walks than strikeouts; McGrath, a 25-year old taken in the 18th round last year, has an 8.74 ERA and a 7.40 FIP. Here’s to more days like this for each pitcher.
Dominican Summer League Black (5-3)
DSL Giants Black beat the DSL Cardinals 8-3 Box score
For the 2nd game in a row, left fielder Franco Willias went deep. The 21-year old, who is in his 3rd DSL season, hit 2-5 on the day with a strikeout, and lifted his OPS all the way to 1.088, with a 128 wRC+ (those figures paired together tell you how the DSL is playing this year!). Willias hit comfortably above average the last 2 years, but clearly the Giants are looking for a little something extra before trying him out in the states.
Also leaving the yard was catcher Alessandro Duran, who went 2-3 with a 2-run shot, a walk, and a strikeout. Duran, who is about to turn 21, has had an odd career. He was awful in his DSL debut (23 wRC+), fantastic in his follow-up (135 wRC+), and fell back to earth in his 3rd season (82 wRC+). He’s been good this year, but it’s only been 3 games.
And shortstop Keiberg Camacaro, whose brother Alexander is also on the team, had another great day, hitting 2-3 with a double, a walk, and a stolen base. The 19-year old right-hander from Venezuela is off to a great season, with a .989 OPS, a 145 wRC+, and 7 stolen bases already (he only had 7 all last year). Perhaps most notably, he’s striking out just 8.3% of the time, after running sky-high rates in his 1st 3 years.
A standout performance on the mound from RHP Simon Colmenares, who turns 20 in a few weeks. This is Colmenares’ 2nd season, but he only pitched 3 innings last year. After a rough season debut last week, Colmenares bounced back with a brilliant start on Wednesday, throwing 4 shutout innings with just 1 hit and 2 walks allowed, while striking out 6. A great game, in a league where great pitching performances can be hard to find.
Home run tracker
12 — Bo Davidson — [AA] 9 — Damian Bravo x2 — [Low-A] 8 — Lisbel Diaz — [High-A] 6 — Jean Carlos Sio — [1 in AA; 4 in High-A; 1 in ACL] 5 — Jakob Christian — [High-A] 5 — Lorenzo Meola — [Low-A] 4 — Maui Ahuna — [AA] 2 — Franco Willias — [DSL] 1 — Jose Astudillo — [Low-A] 1 — Alessandro Duran — [DSL]
Thursday schedule
Sacramento: 5:05 p.m. PT at Sugar Land (SP: Joe Whitman) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Harrisburg (SP: Charlie McDaniel) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Spokane (SP: Tyler Switalski) San Jose: 7:05 p.m. PT at Stockton (SP: TBD)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 09: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on June 9, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Justin Wrobleski and the Dodgers face the Pirates before heading off to Chicago for a three-game set with the White Sox.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 11: Brett Sullivan #26 of the Colorado Rockies jogs around the bases after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on June 11, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Riding the thrill of a walk-off victory, a series win, and a hot pitcher on the mound, the Colorado Rockies were primed to sweep the Chicago Cubs to close out the homestand. Unfortunately, the Cubs came out swinging to secure a 9-3 victory. Meanwhile, the Rockies’ offense was propelled by a pair of home runs from their left-handed backup catcher.
However, the Rockies have won three of their last four series, which is helping build momentum.
Feltner falters
Much like Michael Lorenzen’s start on Wednesday, Ryan Feltner was excellent to start his day on the mound. Through the first three innings, Feltner returned nine straight batters aided by a pair of strikeouts. At that point, he had retired 22 consecutive batters, the most since Jorge De La Rosa retired 23 in a row back in 2009.
Unfortunately, things unraveled in the fourth inning.
Pete Crow-Armstrong led off the inning with a single and subsequently stole second base. Michael Busch then delivered a one-out single to put runners on the corners, and Ian Happ drew a walk to load the bases. As Feltner’s command began to diminish, he hung an elevated 1-0 slider to Seiya Suzuki, who promptly blasted the ball to left field for a grand slam to put the Cubs up 4-1 at the time.
After escaping the inning, Feltner didn’t last much longer in the fifth. Dansby Swanson led off with a walk and stole second base. After getting PCA to ground out to shortstop, Feltner issued a walk to Alex Bregman, which ended his day. Blas Castaño came in relief and ended up allowing both runs to score to give the Cubs a 6-2 victory after five innings.
Feltner’s final line was 4.1 innings, having allowed six runs on four hits with three strikeouts. The three walks ended up being his downfall as he seemed to struggle finding the zone. He threw 75 pitches with 40 going for strikes. The Cubs also swiped three bases against Feltner, which has been a common thread in his career handling the running game.
Early home runs for the Rox
Facing Edward Cabrera, the Rockies kept up pressure but struggled to get much going against the right-hander. They managed to get two runners aboard in the bottom of the first with one out, but Cabrera got out of the inning unscathed.
Brett Sullivan kicked off the scoring to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when he sent an elevated fastball 434 feet into the second deck in right field for his second home run of the season. Sullivan collected another hit in the fifth inning but was stranded at first base
After falling behind in the fourth inning, the Rockies got one back on a solo shot for the rookie Cole Carrigg. Cabrera left a 3-2 slider of the heart of the plate that Carrigg sent high and deep into the Rockies bullpen to make it 4-2. After flirting with some deep balls in the series, Carrigg finally connected and sent it 418 feet with a 102.2 mph exit velocity and a steep 36-degree launch angle. The only downside to the home run was that Troy Johnston had been picked off right before it happened.
The sixth inning brought a little bit of drama for both teams. In the top half of the inning, with Castaño pitching and a runner on first, Moisés Ballesteros seemingly fouled a ball off his foot. However, the umpires made no signal, and so Castaño threw the ball out to second, which was then relayed to first for a 1-6-3 double play. Cubs manager Craig Counsell came out to ask the umpires to get together to discuss the play, but they stood by their call, leading Counsell to say some choice words and get tossed. Castaño then retired the next hitter to end the inning.
Cabrera’s day then ended in the sixth inning after allowing a lead-off walk to TJ Rumfield and getting Hunter Goodman to line out. He allowed two runs on five hits over 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and two walks on 83 pitches. With Johnston stepping up to the plate, the Cubs turned to Hoby Milner out of the play and he quickly surrendered a double to Johnston. With two in scoring position, Carrigg secured an infield hit to load the bases after it barely touched the chalk beyond third base, with Bregman’s only option of a play to attempt to tag Rumfield at third base.
Kyle Karros was then called upon to pinch-hit, but didn’t send a ball far enough to allow Rumfield to score on a sacrifice fly. After another pitching change, Ezequiel Tovar struck out on three straight pitches to end the inning without a run.
The ball continued to fly for the Cubs as they tacked on to their lead against the Rockies’ bullpen.
In the seventh inning, Bregman snapped a 0-for-27 streak with runners in scoring position by blasting a two-run home run to left field to make it an 8-2 Cubs lead. In the eighth inning, Carson Kelly hit a solo home run off Sammy Peralta to make it 9-2 Cubs.
In total, the Rockies gave up nine runs on 10 hits with eight strikeouts against three walks. The damage came on the three home runs as the Cubs went 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
A little late magic, but not enough
Much like Wednesday’s game, the Rockies were able to make a little bit of noise in the final innings. Johnston had a single in the eighth, but there was more excitement in the ninth. With one out, Sullivan launched his second home run of the game to make it 9-3.
Willi Castro then singled, followed by a Rumfield double to put two runners in scoring position for Goodman. Unfortunately, the magic would end there as he struck out on a slider to end the game.
The Rockies had 12 hits with Sullivan and Johnston both going 3-for-4, while Castro and Carrigg both had two hits. However, the team struck out 11 times, led by Tovar’s three, and drew just two walks. Colorado went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
Up next
The Rockies will head to Las Vegas, where the Athletics are currently playing in the stadium of their Triple-A affiliate. No starting pitcher has been announced for the Rockies. Meanwhile, rookie hurler Gage Jump (2-1, 2.45 ERA) will make the start for the A’s.
Weather permitting, tonight’s game offers the Chicago White Sox a chance to complete a sweep of the mighty Atlanta Braves and further cement their place atop the AL Central. Typing or saying that won’t get old, not after the years of misery leading up to it.
But first, some news and notes. Everson Pereira has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list after his rehab assignment in Charlotte. Pereira suffered a right pectoral strain on April 28th. The big news, however, is that Derek Hill has been traded in a deal with the Phillies. The White Sox acquired minor-league outfielder Dylan Campbell and minor-league infielder José Colmenares in exchange for Hill and $250,000 in international bonus pool money.
Looking to bounce back after a rough time in Philly, Anthony Kay will be on the mound tonight. Colson Montgomery is back in the lineup after dealing with a sore back, so we will have Montgomery squared facing off against Atlanta. As mentioned above, Pereira is back with the Sox and will be playing center field tonight.
Our old friend Martín Pérez (4-3) will be on the mound. Not many changes in the lineup for Atlanta.
First pitch is currently scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CT. You can catch the game on CHSN or ESPN Chicago 1000.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 19, 2026: Alfredo Duno #6 of the Cincinnati Reds runs to second base on a single hit by Leo Balcazar during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Top Cincinnati Reds catching prospect Alfredo Duno is still just 20 years of age, but that’s not stopping him for a second from dominating High-A Midwest League pitching. To date, he’s hitting .266/.388/.526 (.914 OPS), and has chipped in with 11 doubles and 13 homers so far on the year.
Only three hitters in the league have hit more than his 13 dingers so far this year, and this is a catcher we’re talking about, to boot.
I’d wager that none of the three guys ahead of him on the homer list (or, frankly, any of the 95 or so guys behind him) has hit a homer as far as the one Duno launched yesterday, though. That one went as far as I’ve seen at this level, so far that the camera man had a hard time finding exactly how high up the scoreboard beyond the left field wall in Dayton it hit.
That homer came as part of an overall 4-hit night for the youngster, who’s making an incredibly good case that he deserves a shot at AA pitching before season’s end. And as we all know, once you’re at AA, you’re effectively on the cusp of a shot at the big leagues, something that Cincinnati’s catcher of the future certainly is about to become.
It wasn't his best outing, but Christian Scott ate some valuable innings for the Mets in Thursday's series finale against the Cardinals.
The young right-hander had allowed four runs on three home runs across the first two innings, and looked primed for a short outing, but Scott made some adjustments and pitched into the fifth inning without allowing another run. This allowed New York to salvage a game in the series by defeating St. Louis 5-4 on a late Juan Soto blast.
“It was weird, right? What we saw from that team this whole series, they don’t get cheated on fastballs," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "These guys are going to put their best swings at all times and they were super aggressive and you got to give Scotty credit that he recognized that and made some adjustments. Continued to stay on the attack, settled in nicely, but they clipped him there a few times."
The Cardinals launched seven longballs in the three-game series. Against Scott, two came on fastballs up in the zone and the third on a sweeper up on a left-handed batter.
Not great from Scott, but the 26-year-old coming back from Tommy John, was generally happy with how he bounced back after the two homers. After that second longball, Scott allowed four baserunners (two walks, two hits) while picking up five of his six strikeouts.
"Obviously want some pitches back, and whatnot, but I feel like I’ve been doing a better job competing in the strikezone as the season has gone on," Scott said of his performance. "Just got to get my timing down and being able to throw these pitches a little more that are new to me. Being able to do that consistently at a high level. Just focus on doing that."
With the Mets bullpen struggling of late after subpar performances from Freddy Peralta and a bulk relief appearance from David Peterson, and relievers being called up and optioned daily, Mendoza appreciated Scott's outing despite its short nature.
"[Scott's outing was] important, especially with the way the first couple of innings unfolded," Mendoza said. "They were hitting him hard, there was a lot of hard contact there. Again, nice job settling in, get into the fifth inning and we pieced it together. You have to give him credit; he didn’t back down."
After scuffling a bit to start his season, Scott has turned in three pretty good starts. He struck out eight across five one-run innings against the Marlins at the end of May to earn his first career win. He followed that up with 5.2 scoreless innings against the Padres to earn his second career win.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith walks back to the dugout during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 1. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
Dodgers catcher Will Smith described the lead up to landing on the 10-day injured list Thursday as, “a long few days.”
He was diagnosed with an inflamed disk, he said, the root of the pain on the right side of his neck. But when Smith initially woke up with a stiff neck last week in Arizona, he expected it to resolve in a day or two.
He played through it for a couple games in Arizona and the first game against the Angels on Friday, before he was scratched from the lineup the next day.
“That third or fourth day, I felt it was just getting a lot worse,” Smith said.
With rest, he has improved. But Smith still feels tightness through his right trapezius, when he turns his head. While in Pittsburgh this week, he’s gone through a slate of baseball activities — hitting, throwing, running.
“It’s pretty close,” Smith said. “So, hopefully, the day I’m able to come off, I can come back and play, that’s the plan for now.”
The Dodgers backdated the IL move to Monday, so Smith will be eligible to return June 19, when the Dodgers open a three-game home series against the Orioles. In a corresponding move, the team selected the contract of catcher Chuckie Robinson from triple-A Oklahoma City.
“It was just not wanting it to go in reverse,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s certainly probably playable if we needed [it]. But at what cost? Right now, I just don’t think it’s smart to run Will out there just because he’s Will Smith and he’ll do it. We’ve got to take care of his health for this year. So I don’t think it’s a serious thing, but I do think that us taking care of it right now on the front end will pay benefits.”
Roberts plans to start Robinson behind the plate Friday, catching right-hander Roki Sasaki and giving Dalton Rushing a break after serving as the backstop for five straight games. Rushing is scheduled to catch Saturday, Sunday and Monday, before Robinson chips in again Tuesday.
Robinson has some familiarity with the Dodgers’ pitching staff after spending much of last season in the organization, including one major-league appearance, and joining major-league camp this spring as a non-roster invitee.
“The only person I really feel convicted on is having Rushing with Shohei [Ohtani],” Roberts said. “Just because he’s been around Shohei more. Shohei’s pitching is kind of more nuanced. Everyone else, I feel pretty comfortable with Chuckie.”
On Thursday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse has requested a trade and has provided the Pacific Division club with three to five teams he is willing to waive his no-movement clause for.
In a recent article for The Fourth Period, David Pagnotta reported that the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings are among the clubs that Nurse is willing to accept a trade to.
"As per sources, TFP has learned the Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings are two teams he would be willing to sign off for, and the connections seem clear as to why," Pagnotta wrote.
Nurse reportedly being willing to accept a trade to the Penguins is definitely interesting. The 31-year-old defenseman would have the potential to provide the Penguins' left side with a boost if acquired and could work well in their top four.
Nurse would be more than a rental for the Penguins if acquired, as he has a $9.25 million cap hit until the end of the 2029-30 season. That is both a lot of money and term for the veteran defenseman, so there would certainly be risk in the Penguins acquiring him.
However, with the Penguins needing some help on the left side of their blueline, perhaps a Nurse deal could make sense if Edmonton is willing to retain some salary and the cost to acquire him is not high. Despite his expensive deal, he is a solid top-four defenseman and could be a nice veteran for the Penguins to have around. However, there would also be less risky defensemen for the Penguins to bring in to improve their left side.
In 82 games this season with the Oilers, Nurse recorded seven goals, 17 assists, and 24 points.
Jun 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) during the 3rd period in game four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall figures his team has played all season for the opportunity that now awaits in the Stanley Cup Final.
The Hurricanes host the Vegas Golden Knights in Thursday night’s Game 5, with the best-of-seven series even at 2-2. The Hurricanes won Game 4 on the road to retake home-ice advantage, which would include next Wednesday’s Game 7 if the series goes the distance.
Game 6 is Sunday in Las Vegas and will provide the first opportunity for a Cup-clinching win.
‘We’re excited to be at home,” Hall said. “I think our game has been trending in the right direction all series long, doing a lot of really good things. We feel like we’re an in-shape team. We can go as long as this needs to go. The fact we had three short series to start with, we’re confident in where we’re at.”
Home ice hasn’t mattered much in a series in which the only reliable element is its unpredictability. It’s made for an epic finale with nightly blown multi-goal leads, wild swings and close finishes — perfect for fans packed into buzzing arenas and TV viewers but leading to what Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour has described as intensely stressful nights behind the bench.
As Vegas coach John Tortorella said Wednesday: “I don’t think anybody expected this.”
It’s come in a series that was expected to be a defense-first battle but has instead seen 33 goals through four games (8.3 per game), making life tricky for each team’s goaltenders.
Carolina started veteran Frederik Andersen after he had led them in a 12-1 run through the Eastern Conference playoffs, but pulled him in the third period of Game 3 with the Hurricanes down 4-0 before rallying in what ended as a double-overtime loss. Brandon Bussi played well in relief, then got the start in Game 4 with Brind’Amour saying Andersen — who didn’t dress out — needed a break.
Brind’Amour wouldn’t specify a Game 5 starter beyond saying everyone is available.
As for Vegas, Carter Hart has become the first goaltender in Stanley Cup Final history to give up at least four goals in each of the first four games yet two of them were wins. Tortorella said he had no concerns about Hart’s play “at all.”
This Stanley Cup Final has offered a perfect companion to what’s going in the other major American pro sports championship series taking place. On Wednesday night, the New York Knicks rallied from 29 down to stun the San Antonio Spurs in the biggest comeback in NBA Finals history to take a 3-1 series lead.
“I wanted to go to bed,” Tortorella said of watching the comeback. “But when they got it down to 15, you knew something stupid was going to happen. I’m just basically saying the same stupid stuff’s happened in our series.”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 5: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on June 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pirates face off against the Dodgers in the series finale at PNC Park, which means it’s another tough matchup against the defending champs.
While it may not be Shohei Ohtani on the mound for the Dodgers, Justin Wrobleski is taking the bump in hopes of continuing his strong start to the season. The third-year pro out of Oklahoma State is making his 11th start of the season, hoping to pick up his eighth win. In Wrobleski’s last start, the left-hander threw six no-hit innings with four strikeouts. The Diamondbacks rallied late, scoring two in the eighth and one in the ninth, on a walk-off home run from Ketel Marte off Tanner Scott to pull off the victory on June 4.
Mitch Keller is on the mound for the Pirates, which has been a mixed bag for the team throughout the season. In 13 starts this year, Keller has a personal record of 5-3, while the Pirates overall are 7-6. The Bucks lost his last start, where he went 4.2 innings in a 6-3 loss against the Atlanta Braves. Keller was responsible for all six earned runs, and it boosted his ERA to a season-worst 4.81.
Perhaps Keller can rebound in this start, but the Dodgers will make him earn it.
There were many great moments from the Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 season. One of them was the arrival of top prospect Konsta Helenius, as the 20-year-old forward showed that he can already make an impact in the NHL when given the chance.
Helenius appeared in his first career NHL regular-season games, where he had one goal and four points. He also played in four playoff games for the Sabres this spring, where he posted two goals and a plus-1 rating. With this, the 2024 first-round pick showed plenty of promising with the Sabres this campaign, and he is a prime breakout candidate to watch heading into the 2026-27 season.
When looking at how well Helenius played in the AHL this season, too, it is hard not to be excited about his future with the Sabres. In 63 games this campaign with the Rochester Americans, the skilled forward posted 21 goals, 42 assists, and 63 points. This is after he had 14 goals and 35 points in 65 games during the 2024-25 season with Rochester, so he has taken a major step forward in his development.
With Helenius being only 20 years old and already putting up numbers like this in the AHL, the Sabres could really have something special in him. The potential for him to emerge as the Sabres' next big star is there, as he has the skill and offensive talent to be a high-impact forward in the NHL.
It is going to be fascinating to see how Helenius continues to develop his game from here.
Derek Hill did everything a fourth outfielder is supposed to do. Unfortunately for him, Braden Montgomery isn't a fourth outfielder. | (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Chris Getz waited just two games to push the chips all in on Braden Montgomery. Unfortunately, Derek Hill, who picked the wrong poker table to plant himself at, was the casualty in an unusual barter between the White Sox and Phillies. In a wild and unpredictable world where the Sox find themselves having leverage, Chicago exchanged Hill and international bonus-pool money for Philadelphia’s No. 29 prospect outfielder Dylan Campbell and infield prospect Jose Colmenares.
Hill came to the South Side in late September last year from a waiver claim that seemed to be just another one of the Getz’s random pickups that wouldn’t mean much in a few months. And while Hill doesn’t jump off the page as an irreplaceable starter, he’s exceeded expectations. His .213/.284/.375 slash line with eight RBIs, seven walks, and four home runs is sufficient for a pinch hitter, and his versatility makes him a go-to bench guy. His timely hits have made him a valuable piece of the Sox bench, and his glove is serviceable. But the harsh fact of the matter is that there are a lot more Hills than Bradens. Just look at Chicago’s farm system.
This time, the Sox didn’t quite trade Hill for a couple of Vienna Sausages and a cake shake that gets tossed in the trash halfway through, but their return is nothing to boast about. Twenty-three-year-old Campbell was drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round in 2023 because of his ability to use the entire field, along with a plus arm and glove. With the Fightin Phils, he’s hitting .216/.281/.412 with 31 RBIs and a few too many strikeouts for a guy who is known for making good swing decisions.
The South Siders added another middle infielder to their prospect squad in Colmenares, 24, although it’s hard to see a clear path for him to the majors. He’s been bouncing around the minors since 2018, when the Yankees signed him as an international free agent. His .278/.403/.413 slash line paired with 25 walks is refreshing to see after years of stagnation, but his development trajectory won’t do much to ease the sting for Hill supporters.
Hill was a great stopgap for Montgomery, but Getz knows it’s time to stop stalling and start fully believing in these young guys. This trade is the first sign that Getz is done clinging to Quad-A depth pieces and ready to fully commit to the youth movement. If the Sox remain in contention, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take Jerry’s credit card for a spin and make a real run for October.
Seven players currently under contract with the Vancouver Canucks organization are set to hit restricted free-agency pending any upcoming extensions. Only two of these seven played in NHL games for Vancouver this season, while four are eligible for arbitration come negotiation time.
This year, NHL teams are required to extend qualifying offers to their RFAs by June 29, only a couple of days after the 2026 NHL Draft. That means if Vancouver wants to keep any of these seven players, they’ll need to provide them with a qualifying offer that cannot be signed before July 1.
Here are the Canucks’ seven RFAs heading into the 2026 off-season.
Three Canucks RFAs Are Older Than 25
Pierre-Olivier Joseph (26):
Previous Contract: $775k x 1yr
Six-year NHL veteran who has yet to play in a full 82-game season. Scored a goal and five assists in 31 games with Vancouver this season in a depth-defenceman role. Signed a one-year deal with Vancouver in 2025. Arbitration eligible.
Nils Åman (26):
Previous Contract: $825k x 2yrs
Signed with Vancouver in 2022 and has consistently played in at least one game at the NHL level since. Went scoreless in two games with Vancouver this season but led the Abbotsford Canucks in scoring with six goals and 35 assists in 55 games. Arbitration eligible.
Cole Clayton (26):
Previous Contract: $775k x 1yr
Right-shot defenceman acquired by Vancouver via trade with the San Jose Sharks. Put together two goals and five assists in 33 games with Abbotsford and six assists in 32 games with the San Jose Barracuda. Played all throughout Abbotsford’s lineup. Arbitration eligible.
Two Recent Trade Acquisitions Are Up For New Contracts
Jayden Grubbe (23):
Previous Contract: $867k x 3yrs (ELC)
2021 third-round pick acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers. Scored a goal in two games with Abbotsford as well as seven goals and 12 assists in 28 games with the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL. Former captain of the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels.
Jack Thompson (24):
Previous Contract: $800k x 1yr
Right-shot defenceman also acquired from San Jose via trade. Averaged near a point per game in 14 games with Abbotsford (three goals, 10 assists) and put up three goals and nine assists with the Barracuda. Arbitration eligible.
Two Highly-Anticipated RFAs Who Are Awaiting Their NHL Debuts
Chase Stillman (23):
Previous Contract: $863k x 3yrs (ELC)
2021 first-round pick acquired via trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Missed most of the 2025–26 season due to injury but scored three goals and six assists in 24 games played with Abbotsford. Won OHL championship with the Peterborough Petes in 2022–23.
Danila Klimovich (23):
Previous Contract: $833k x 3yrs (ELC)
Five-year AHL veteran drafted in the second round of the 2021 NHL Draft. Scored 18 goals and 16 assists in 63 games in 2025–26. Currently tied with Linus Karlsson for Abbotsford’s franchise lead in career goals scored with 70.
A Look At The 2026–27 Season RFAs
Forwards: Ty Mueller, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Liam Öhgren, Aatu Räty (arbitration-eligible), Ilya Safonov, Anrī Ravinskis (arbitration-eligible)
Defence: Zeev Buium, Elias Pettersson, Kirill Kudryavtsev
Goaltenders: Aku Koskenvuo, Ty Young
Apr 2, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Nils Aman (88) during pre game warm up against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
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May 29, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Twins outfielder James Outman (30) in the batting cage before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Detroit Tigers made a little move after Thursday’s series win over the Minnesota Twins. They transferred Javier Báez to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man roster spot. That spot went to outfielder James Outman, who they claimed off of waivers from those very same Twins.
Báez suffered a high ankle sprain sliding into first base in a game back on April 28. His initial rehab work didn’t progress as the team had hoped, and he was shut down again for a little rest and a round of second opinions at the beginning of June. With the move, Báez won’t be eligible to return until the end of June, but he wasn’t going to beat that timeline anyway.
As for the 29-year-old Outman, he’s a bit of an odd choice for a claim. One has to assume that the Tigers arelooking for a Jahmai Jones replacement, but Outman hits left-handed. You may remember him from a breakout 2023 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he mashed 23 home runs in a part-time role.
Since that point, Outman’s extremely high strikeout rates have kept him bouncing up and down between the major leagues and the Triple-A level. The Twins deal reliever Brock Stewart to the Dodgers for Outman back at last summer’s trade deadline. They DFA’d him back on June 6 to open a spot for Royce Lewis to be recalled to the Twins.
Outman is dangerous against hangers, but has really struggled to drive fastballs the past few years. He swings and misses a ton, and his strikeout rates have been over 40 percent the past two seasons. It’s hard to buy that the Tigers are going to unlock something that the Dodgers and Twins could not, but Outman is a solid corner outfielder who can play a solid center field, so presumably he takes over in center, letting Pérez and Vierling ride the bench until there’s a left-hander to hit against.
Outman is out of options, so he has to be added to the Tigers’ roster. The only sensible corresponding move is a DFA of Jahmai Jones, as they’re not going to run with six outfielders and cut Zack Short. Of course, to DFA Jones would’ve opened up a 40-man spot anyway, so all around this is a bit of a strange one. Outman can’t really hit major league pitching, so it’s hard to say what they’re doing with this claim.
We’ll just have to wait and see what corresponding move is to come.
