ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 06: The baseball cap of the Atlanta Braves sits in the dugout during the MLB game between the Pittsburg Pirates and the Atlanta Braves on June 6, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Overall, it was another somewhat tough week for the Braves. However, despite another Sunday loss, the Braves did win the weekend in a pretty important series against the Brewers. That is certainly a needed positive. The Braves remain in a fine position, it now just needs to win another series to get back full momentum.
RHP Jared Jones of the Padres was struck in the elbow by a line drive and had to be removed from his start on Sunday. Jones returned to action earlier this year from elbow surgery.
The Yankees (46-30) and the Tigers (33-44) were the favorites to contend for the American League pennant at the start of this season. New York has maintained their status as a favorite to contend for a title while Detroit has struggled. That said, the Tigers may have turned a corner last week. Tarik Skubal is back after a stint on the injured list and the Tigers have responded with three straight wins. Tonight, the two teams open a three-game series in Motown.
Yesterday the Yankees dropped a 4-1 decision to the Reds. It was their second straight loss to Cincinnati as they dropped the series to the National League Central contender. The story of the two games can best be summarized by the following stat: the Yankees were 0-22 with runners in scoring position the last two days. Detroit completed their sweep of the White Sox with a 5-4 win in ten innings yesterday. The three straight wins pulled them within 7.5 games of Cleveland in the division and within five games of the final Wild Card spot.
Gerrit Cole (2-1, 2.57 ERA) takes the mound for the Yankees tonight. The veteran is throwing well allowing just 20 hits over 28 innings this season. Framber Valdez (3-5, 4.09 ERA) takes the bump for the Tigers. The veteran was special in his last outing allowing just a single unearned run over six innings against the Astros. Inconsistency has been the calling card of Valdez, though. He has given up four runs in two of his previous three and three of his previous five starts.
Over their last ten games, the Yankees are 6-4. They have hit.269 in those ten and bashed 17 home runs. Detroit is 5-5 over their last ten and the reason has been a lack of offense. They are hitting just .232 during that stretch.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Tigers
Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
Time: 6:10PM EST
Site: Comerica Park
City: Detroit, MI
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, YES, Tigers.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Tigers
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-136), Detroit Tigers (+113)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+128), Tigers +1.5 (-155)
Total: 8.5 runs
Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Yankees vs. Tigers for June 22
Cody Bellinger was 3-10 (.300) with 1 run scored over the weekend against Cincinnati
Ben Rice has homered in 2 of his last 3 games
Jose Caballero is 6-13 (.462) in his career against Framber Valdez in his career
Kerry Carpenter is 4-9 (.444) in his career against Gerrit Cole
Kevin McGonigle has hit safely in 7 straight games (8-25)
Riley Greene was 2-11 (.182) over the weekend against the White Sox
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Tigers
The Tigers are 37-40 on the Run Line this season
The Yankees are 38-38 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 34 times in games involving Detroit this season (34-39-4)
The OVER has cashed 35 times in games involving the Yankees this season (35-37-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Tigers
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Tigers and the Yankees:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.5
Former Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet once preached about protecting the guts of the ice. He wasn't wrong — but eventually, you need players who can attack through the guts of the ice, too.
That's why the debate between Caleb Malhotra and Ivar Stenberg has become so fascinating.
The Canucks need more than another center to fix this. They need players who can drive play through the middle of the ice for the next decade.
That doesn't mean they should pick one this draft.
Six months ago, this wasn't even a debate. If the Canucks landed the third-overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, Stenberg always felt like the obvious choice.
Today, Malhotra's rise has made that decision far less straightforward.
But at the end of the day, the best player available is still the right choice.
In this case, that's Stenberg.
The Case for Caleb Malhotra
When people talk about Malhotra, the first thing they mention is that he's the best center in this draft. You could even argue he and Viggo Björck have the best chance to become long-term first- and second-line centers from this class.
Honestly, if the Canucks somehow managed to get both, that would be the dream scenario.
But that's a story for another day.
The reality is Vancouver still needs help down the middle. Elias Pettersson has looked closer to a 50-point center than the 90-point version from three years ago, Marco Rossi still needs to prove he can be a permanent 2C on a contender, Filip Chytil is coming off another significant injury, and Aatu Räty and Braeden Cootes are still developing.
That's exactly why the argument for Malhotra is so compelling.
Watching Malhotra, it's easy to see a player who impacts every area of the game. His hands are elite. His reaction time is outstanding. He has high-end vision, a legitimate NHL shot, and competes every single shift.
Malhotra separates himself away from the puck. He's relentless on the forecheck, strong on the backcheck, wins battles, and impacts the game without needing possession.
That's why the Dylan Larkin comparison makes sense — not because he skates like Larkin, but because of the role: a trusted, all-situations center who drives play through all three zones.
Even if Malhotra never reaches that level, his floor still looks outstanding. At worst, you're getting a high-end 2C. At best, a legitimate No. 1 center.
The Canucks would still be getting an outstanding player if they called his name.
Why Stenberg Still Gets the Edge
Here's where the argument shifts.
If Stenberg is still available when Vancouver picks third, that's the pick.
This isn't about drafting the best center — it's about drafting the best player available.
And that's still Stenberg.
Watching the Swedish winger, it's easy to find yourself rewinding the tape. Not because of what he did with the puck, but because of what he saw before everyone else did.
That's what stands out the most. Stenberg doesn't force offence; he creates it.
He arrives early, protects pucks, wins them back, extends possessions and always seems to stay one step ahead. Those are NHL habits, and they're why his game should translate.
There's real substance underneath the skill.
Many scouts believe Stenberg has the second-highest offensive ceiling in this draft behind Gavin McKenna.
That's what makes him so intriguing. You don't often find players who combine elite offensive upside with pro habits away from the puck. He's just as comfortable creating off the rush as he is extending possessions below the goal line.
That's the type of player every team spends years trying to find.
When drafting third overall, that's exactly the type of upside worth betting on.
Malhotra projects as the player every coach wants.
Stenberg projects as the player every opposing coach has to game plan for.
That's the swing worth taking.
Jan 5, 2026; St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; Sweden forward Ivar Stenberg (15) scores an empty-net goal against Czechia during the third period in the final of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship ice hockey tournament at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
One Final Wrinkle
One final wrinkle came when the San Jose Sharks, who currently hold the second-overall pick, acquired Michael Kesselring.
Kesselring doesn't eliminate Chase Reid going second-overall, but it does give the Sharks another NHL-calibre defenceman. If Kesselring stabilizes part of San Jose's blue line, the Sharks may be more willing to pivot away from a defenceman like Reid and target a dynamic forward instead. That decision could completely reshape Vancouver's draft board at No. 3.
If that happens, Stenberg's chances of reaching Vancouver probably become much slimmer.
Still, the chances of Stenberg falling to Vancouver are a whole lot better than McKenna falling to No. 3.
The Final Pick
The Canucks need a center.
They just shouldn't draft one if they believe the best player on the board is still Stenberg.
If Stenberg is the better player, then the answer is simple; take the best player, and figure out the next center later.
This team isn't one player away from contending in the first place. There will be other opportunities to address the middle of the ice through future drafts, trades, or player development. That's a much easier problem to solve than finding another game-breaking talent.
If Stenberg becomes the player many believe he can be, nobody in Vancouver will care that he wasn't a center.
They'll just be glad the Canucks drafted the best player available.
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When Mark Giordano’s 18-year playing career began to transition into its next phase, the veteran defenseman wasn’t entirely sure what the future held beyond his days on the ice.
Although he hasn’t suited up for an NHL game since the 2023-24 campaign, the long-time blue-liner never formally announced his retirement from professional hockey. But after going unsigned through the 2024-25 season, the 42-year-old local product began to realistically map out his next steps in the game.
That’s when Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving—who shares a long history with Giordano dating back to their days with the Calgary Flames—reached out with an opportunity to join the organization's player development pipeline with the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
“They called me a coaching advisor to start,” Giordano said.
What initially looked like a part-time player development role, however, expanded at a rapid pace.
Climbing the Coaching Ladder
Giordano immediately went to work mentoring the Marlies' young defensive corps—a natural fit for a man who won the Norris Trophy in 2019 and logged over 1,100 NHL games on the blue line. But a mid-season coaching shakeup within the organization accelerated his timeline.
When the Maple Leafs parted ways with NHL assistant coach Marc Savard and promoted Marlies assistant Steve Sullivan to the big club, a vacant spot opened up on John Gruden’s bench in the American Hockey League. Giordano seamlessly slid into the role on a full-time basis.
“I worked with the D a lot at the start of the year, I worked with the forwards and the power play at the end of the year. So I gained a lot of experience,” Giordano told The Hockey News amid the on-ice celebrations following the Marlies’ 2026 Calder Cup championship victory. “I think it was good for me to actually see it from a different point of view. I've always been on the D side my whole career. And I had a lot of fun. These guys were a cool group to be around and a really close group. I know everyone says that, but we really came together.”
Winning the Ultimate Prize
Giordano’s resume as a player is incredibly decorated. In addition to his top-defenseman honors, he captured a Spengler Cup and earned a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2008 IIHF World Championship. Yet, outside of those short tournament formats, a major professional championship ring had always eluded the veteran during his lengthy NHL career.
That missing piece of the puzzle is exactly what made watching Giordano hoist the Calder Cup so unique.
“I definitely have the coaching bug,” Giordano admitted. “I've played a lot of different roles, and I think that's where I can help these guys. I've played in the American League. I've been a healthy scratch. I've been a six-seven defenseman. I think my biggest asset to them is I've been in all those shoes.”
What’s Next?
As the Marlies prepare to celebrate their AHL title with fans at Real Sports on Monday, questions will naturally shift to what the future holds for Toronto's coaching staff.
With a Calder Cup now on his resume, a head coach like John Gruden will undoubtedly be in high demand for NHL bench vacancies down the road. But Giordano has quickly proven that he is far more than just a sounding board; he is a versatile mentor capable of contributing to all facets of the game.
It should shock anyone to see Giordano flourish in his role behind the bench. There's a reason he was named the first captain in Seattle Kraken franchise history when he was claimed in the expansion draft.
At 42, Giordano is still incredibly young in coaching terms, and his passion for the whistle is undeniable. While jumping straight into an NHL head coaching gig might be a stretch at this stage of his second career, it shouldn't surprise anyone if he lands an NHL assistant coaching job sooner rather than later.
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Joe Sakic didn’t say much at the end of Colorado’s season—and in hindsight, that silence might have said plenty.
You can certainly credit Sakic for the way he handled the Avalanche’s end-of-season media availability earlier this month, especially in light of recent developments across the Stanley Cup Final picture.
Typically, at the end of a season—particularly for teams that fall short in the playoffs—you get the full medical rundown: the bumps, bruises, injuries that shaped the outcome but only come to light afterward. Sakic didn’t go there. No list. No explanations. No built-in caveats.
In hindsight, it was a deliberate and effective choice to keep the discussion of injuries as minimal as possible. No excuses. The message was straightforward: everyone is expected to be healthy heading into training camp, and that was the extent of it. Whether a team chooses to disclose injuries publicly is ultimately its prerogative. In Colorado’s case, the organization opted for discretion, even if it meant fewer storylines for the media and more room for speculation.
That context becomes more interesting given what the Vegas Golden Knights have since revealed about their own playoff health situation. By all accounts, they were dealing with significant injuries of their own.
Captain Mark Stone played through a torn adductor. William Karlsson underwent surgery for a broken wrist that ultimately sidelined him for the final game of the Stanley Cup Final, a 3-0 loss that clinched the championship for the Carolina Hurricanes. Defenseman Noah Hanifin was managing an upper-body injury that, under normal regular-season circumstances, likely would have kept him out for roughly two months. Brayden McNabb, according to both teammates and management, battled through multiple injuries during the playoff run, including the facial injury he sustained in Game 2 of the Final that quickly made the rounds on social media.
Yet much of the conversation following Vegas’ sweep of Colorado in the Western Conference Final centered on the Avalanche’s injuries. And to be clear, they were real and they mattered. Several key players were clearly playing through issues, including Cale Makar, Artturi Lehkonen, Brent Burns, Sam Malinski, and Nathan MacKinnon, who took a puck to the knee in Game 3 and was noticeably limited afterward. However, he was held scoreless in the series, marking the first time in his playoff career that had happened in a postseason matchup.
But that’s the point.
Vegas was dealing with injuries, too—those are simply the ones they chose to acknowledge publicly. And even then, the focus remained on core pieces, not the full scope of what depth players may have been battling through behind the scenes.
Injuries, however, weren’t the reason Colorado lost control of the series.
The Avalanche surrendered leads in two of the four games, including a 3-0 advantage in Game 3 that ultimately swung the series. At that level, against a team as structured as Vegas, those moments matter more than any post-series injury ledger.
As Jared Bednar noted several times throughout the postseason, that’s exactly what makes the Stanley Cup so unforgiving. It’s not just talent. It’s not just cap construction. It’s not even just surviving four rounds. Everything has to align at the right time.
“It’s partly why I think it is the hardest trophy to win just because of the grind of it all,” Bednar said. “Not only do you have to be good; you have to be healthy, you have to be lucky, you have to be tough, playing through injuries.
“You have to be mentally tough, too, because it is a grind every day; every game is a Game 7. Every game feels like it is Game 7 because you need to win it.”
That reality makes Colorado’s playoff exit even harder to reconcile when set against what was, by almost every measure, the strongest regular season in franchise history.
The 2025-26 Avalanche finished with a franchise-record 121 points, surpassing the mark set by the 2000-01 Stanley Cup-winning team. They also captured the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season club and were dominant at both ends of the ice from start to finish.
Colorado led the league with 298 goals scored while allowing a league-low 197 goals against. Their plus-101 goal differential paced the NHL, and they finished first in both goals per game and goals against per game. On paper and over 82 games, no team was more complete.
That’s what makes the ending so difficult to process.
The Avalanche didn’t lose because they lacked talent. They didn’t lose because they weren’t an elite team. They lost a series where execution, structure, and in-game details ultimately decided outcomes—and Vegas, when it mattered most, was simply sharper in those moments.
In a playoff environment where margins are razor-thin, that’s often all the difference there is.
And if you're the Vegas Golden Knights, it came down to something much simpler: cleaner execution, tighter structure, and the ability to consistently take away the Avalanche’s biggest strengths when it mattered most.
But as the saying goes, there’s always next season.
KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 20: Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez attends the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match between Ecuador and Curacao on June 20, 2026 at Kansas City Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“Those days are going to happen,” Kolek said. “Ideally, they’re definitely not as bad as they were today.”
The Cardinals sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning. In total, Kolek faced 15 batters, allowing nine hits and a walk. He didn’t record a strikeout.
“It’s definitely tough to pitch when you don’t have command over stuff like that,” Kolek said. “So we’re going to clean it up and get right back to it.”
While an injured list stint is still a possibility, Kansas City will continue to evaluate Witt throughout Sunday and even through Monday, when the team begins a four-game series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Manager Matt Quatraro said on Sunday that Witt feels better and is moving around better than he was two days ago.
“We’re going to reevaluate as the day goes on, get him a bunch of treatments and see how he’s feeling before we take off [for St. Petersburg],” Quatraro said.
The Royals honor this tradition in quiet ways. For example, they allow kids in the clubhouse to celebrate with their dads after home wins.
“I think that’s one of the coolest things,” Wacha said. “My dad wasn’t a big leaguer, so I didn’t get to be able to do that type of stuff. But I think it will be something cool. I think it’s cool being in a big-league clubhouse, for sure.
“And hopefully, whenever they are older, we get a lot of pics of them in here. You know, something they can look back on and they’ll think is pretty cool, as well.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 11: A general view at Pride Movie Night with screening of "In The Heights" at Oracle Park on June 11, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
A new week of San Francisco Giants baseball is upon us, so it’s time to take a look ahead and see what’s on deck for this week.
After today’s off-day, the Giants return to Oracle Park to begin a three-game series against the Athletics. After that, they will welcome the Atlanta Braves to town for a rematch of last week’s series.
I don’t know who is doing the schedule this year, but man they sure do love to have the Giants play the same team two weeks in a row.
Anyway, of course I’m most interested in the A’s series. Nothing against the Braves, I just really love the vibes of Giants vs. A’s games, and it’s nice that A’s fans won’t have to travel for this one. Be nice to them if you’re going to a game during this series. Their organization has put them through enough.
Which series are you most interested in this week?
MONTGOMERY, AL - MARCH 31: Kamren James #3 of the Montgomery Biscuits poses for a photo during the Montgomery Biscuits photo day at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Photo by Ethan Lowe/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This was the 11th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Sunday, June 21st).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), the Rays top overall prospect Theo Gillen has taken over at the top performer in the system. His full season stat line is further below.
Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarods is back as the top performing pitcher system. The 22-year old Cremarosa is having a solid debut season within the Rays system. The 2025 8th round pick is currently in Single-A and holds a 2.56 ERA | 2.52 FIP with a 32.0 K% & 4.9 BB% over 52.2 IP.
RUMBLINGS
Kamren James, the Rays 16th round pick in 2022, had a career day on Sunday as he launched three homeruns in a single game. The 26-year old was hitting .209/.294/.341 with 2 HR over 103 PA entering play on Sunday.
Luke Jackson, the Rays 11th round pick from 2025, made his organization debut. Jackson was among Baseball America’s top 500 prospects entering the draft and signed a $497,500 deal with Tampa Bay. The 22-year old is currently in Single-A.
Leonardo Pineda, one of the Rays top international signings from 2024, has been placed on the 60-day Injured List
Daniel Pierce, the Rays top draft pick in 2025, hasn’t played since May 3oth.
Carson Williams since being optioned at the end of May is hitting .288/.358/.507 with a 24.7 K% and 9.9 BB% over 81 PA
FanGraphs should be releasing their list of the Rays top prospects at some point this week.
TEAM LEADERS
Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 120 TBF & PA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
None currently on active roster
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .256, Carson Williams OBP: .342, Carson Williams SLG: .451, Carson Williams HR: 9, Tatem Levins wRC+: 104, Carson Williams SB: 24, Raynel Delgado (Traded to the Astros on 6/10)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 2.27, Evan Reifert FIP: 4.03, Ty Johnson K%: 29.6% Ty Johnson BB%: 8.7%, Chase Solesky WHIP: 1.04, Ty Johnson AVG: .182, Evan Reifert WHIFF%: 14.4%, Ty Johnson
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .309, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27) OBP: .379, Xavier Isaac SLG: .533, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27) HR: 13, Will Simpson wRC+: 141, Austin Overn (Placed on IL on 5/27) SB: 28, Austin Overn (placed on the IL on 5/27)
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.94, Chris Clark FIP: 3.14, Chris Clark K%: 26.5%, Michael Forret (Promoted to Triple-A) BB%: 4.3%, Gary Gill Hill & Santiago Suarez WHIP 0.97, Chris Clark AVG: .186, Michael Forret WHIFF%: 15.4%, Jackson Baumeister
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .340, Theo Gillen OBP: .449, Tony Santa Maria SLG: .591, Theo Gillen HR: 15, Connor Hujsak (Promoted to Triple-A) wRC+: 165, Theo Gillen SB: 28, Theo Gillen
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.90, Jacob Kisting FIP: 2.47, Jacob Kisting K%: 30.4%, Jacob Kisting BB%: 5.2%, Jacob Kisting WHIP: 0.95, Jacob Kisting AVG: .196, Jacob Kisting WHIFF%: 15.0%, Jacob Kisting
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .379, Caden Bodine (Promoted to A+ on 5/19) OBP: .433, Caden Bodine (Promoted to A+ on 5/19) SLG: .614, Caden Bodine (Promoted to A+ on 5/19) HR: 6, Taitn Gray & Cooper Flemming wRC+: 177, Caden Bodine (Promoted to A+ on 5/19) SB: 19, Alberth Palma
Happy Monday, everyone! We hope you had a restful weekend and are ready to take on the week ahead. We’ve got lots of fun little news bites from over the weekend to ease you into your Monday grind. On the good news side of things, Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko Tanaka welcomed their second child and announced the birth over the weekend. In true Ohtani fashion, he then his a massive home run on Father’s Day Eve to help the Dodgers win.
The Phillies continue to have an unprecedented resurgence that should honestly make any team that has struggled in recent months (not naming names…) realize that there is room to turn things around still. This time, they did it with crazy performances from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. On the less cheerful side of things, Justin Verlander was scratched from his scheduled Sunday start due to a hamstring injury and will be heading right back to the injured list.
We’ve got all that and more below, so let’s get right into it!
I love weird stats…According to @EliasSports Justin Dean is the 4th player in the expansion era (1961+) to hit a bases loaded triple as his first career @MLB hit joining: Anthony Bass (05/04/2012 SD), Scott Podsednik (07/15/2001 SEA) and Pedro Martinez (!) (05/22/1994 MTL). https://t.co/v6YeB3dvA9
TORONTO, ON - MAY 4: Dan is seen in the broadcast booth just prior to the Jays vs Texas Rangers game at the ACC. Dan Shulman is the play-by-play voice calling games for the Blue Jays. Story is on his famously deep, silky voice. (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
These clubs have appeared in 5 of the last 9 World Series. Each have run into various road blocks in 2026, but the winner of this upcoming series could potentially springboard to new life in the second half of the season.
Blue Jays Play By Play Man Dan Shulman joins us to discuss the Astros upcoming series at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto.
Q: Let’s start with George Springer. Could he be turning the corner?
A: George has looked better lately. He fouled a ball off his toe earlier this season, fractured it, missed 17 games, and it seemed to take him a while to get his timing back when he returned. But lately there have been signs that he is turning it around. He is drawing a lot of walks lately, and if the power stroke returns too, that would really help the Jays.
Q: For the Astros, injuries have drastically hindered their season thus far. What have been the biggest hurdles for the Blue Jays?
A: They have been decimated by injuries too. Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk both suffered injuries very early in the season. Barger sprained his ankle, returned for one game, and suffered an elbow injury on a throw. He has only appeared in 9 games. Kirk fractured his thumb in early April and just returned last week.
As mentioned, Springer was on the IL and so was Nathan Lukes. Daulton Varsho is on the IL now with a wrist issue.
On the pitching side, Jose Berrios underwent Tommy John surgery, Cody Ponce tore his ACL, Dylan Cease was on the IL for 15 days, Max Scherzer missed more than a month and Shane Bieber is just now nearing a return after some arm fatigue following his Tommy John surgery. So they have had more than their fair share of bullpen games as they try to find 5 starters. They’re getting healthier now but it’s been a huge part of their struggles.
Q: If you had to predict, which Jays “will” or “should” make the All Star Game next month in Philadelphia?
A: I think Ernie Clement should and will. He’s had a very good season, and in my mind, deserves to be the starter at 2nd base for the American League.
Louis Varland has been one of the best relievers in the majors, he should be there and I think he will be. I think Dylan Cease should as well, and likely will. Even with a brief stint on the IL, he’s been one of the better starting pitchers in the AL.
Even though he’s not having an All-Star caliber season, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could get voted in.
Q: Lastly, it’s been a roller coaster with the pitching rotation which Astros fans can relate to. What’s the latest?
A: They need to find 5 healthy, effective starters. Cease and Gausman are a great 1-2 punch. Trey Yesavage has had his ups and downs this year but still gives them a quality starting pitcher. A healthy Bieber would be a great addition. The bullpen has been worked hard, Fluharty and Fisher are among MLB leaders in appearances. But for the most part, it is a strong bullpen.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 10: Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies walks with his interpreter Yuto Sakurai before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies won 6-0. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whenever Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) pitches or speaks to the media, you may notice the man who flanks him. This is Yuto Sakurai, who has served as Sugano’s interpreter for the last two years.
However, before Sakuari worked for Sugano, he had other roles that shaped how he approaches his current work.
Early Life
Sakurai was born in Tokyo, Japan, but moved to the United States at a young age.
“I was probably four or five,” he said. “I remember going to kindergarten in LA, so it was just a short stint in LA that I had.”
And after a few years, his family moved back to Japan where he completed elementary and junior high school. But when he was a teenager, he moved to Vancouver, Canada.
“I wanted to play baseball in the States, but with visa complications, Canada or Australia was my second option,” he recalled. “And I thought ‘Well, the United States is right next door, so close enough.’ And that’s why I chose Canada.”
Sakurai also attended university in Canada, where he initially studied psychology and business but ultimately finished his degree in marketing.
“My friends were all taking business classes, and I thought, ‘Why not take business?’” he said. “And then while doing my business major, I took one of the marketing courses and just fell in love with it. It was a course called ‘Personal Selling’ or something like that. I really enjoyed the negotiation tactics and the communication aspect of marketing, so I think that’s when I kind of shifted.
“Studying wasn’t really my thing,” he laughed. “But in terms of acquiring language, it was one of the good things I was able to do so I guess it all worked out in the end.”
And even though Sakurai isn’t currently working in marketing, he credits the skills he learned with “absolutely” helping him land his roles in Major League Baseball.
“Being in this role, I’ve had to communicate with various people from different departments,” he said, “someone like you from the media or the PR from our team, business and baseball ops people, and then, of course, players. So it has definitely helped me out.”
Pivoting to Major League Baseball
Before Sakurai was hired by Sugano, he worked for another Japanese pitcher, Shun Yamaguchi (山口 俊). Yamaguchi and Sugano played together on the Yomiuri Giants in the NPB, and Yamaguchi was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in December 2019. Unfortunately, his MLB career never quite took off, in part because of the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Yamaguchi made his MLB debut on July 26, 2020 and made 17 appearances that year. He went 2-4 with a 8.06 ERA across 25.2 innings. He was designated for assignment in February 2021 and signed by the San Francisco Giants, but was eventually released in July after not making another appearance in the majors.
“He was supposed to be a starter, but he ended up becoming a middle reliever,” Sakurai recalled. “It was during the 2020 shortened season – the COVID year – so he didn’t really have a chance to play that year. The Giants picked him up, but he never got to the major leagues. I think we played half the season in Sacramento.
“When he signed with the [San Francisco] Giants, I was like, ‘I have a background in Vancouver,’” he continued, “so I thought I could help him out with making the adjustments – coming over here, but also playing. And when I saw the news, I applied, and luckily they saw my email, and that’s how things started.”
After his role with Yamaguchi, Sakurai took a sabbatical from being an MLB interpreter.
But then another opportunity presented itself in 2025.
Connecting with Tomoyuki Sugano
After spending 12 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants, Tomoyuki Sugano signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles as he fulfilled a longtime goal of playing Major League Baseball. However, he needed an interpreter to help him navigate life in the United States.
That’s when Sakurai decided to shoot his shot again.
“I saw Tomo sign with the Orioles last year, and I thought, ‘Why not shoot the GM an email and see what the response will be like?’ And luckily, I got a response, and that’s how the thing started rolling,” he said.
“I had an interview with his agent, Shawn Novak, who speaks both English and Japanese fluently,” Sakurai continued. “And I had two different interviews with him and his agency, and then I was one of the final candidates and then got to speak with Tomo next on Zoom. He asked me a bunch of questions, but it seemed like he was looking for someone who is willing to help not only on the field, but off the field and have a relationship with and hang out with. So I was like, ‘Sure, why not?’”
Sakurai was based in Japan at that time, but moved back to the US when he was hired by Sugano. And part of his role is to help Sugano communicate with coaches, media, etc., but also to help him adjust to life in the US.
“I guess it’s helped – in a good way – that he’s single and didn’t have any family to be with over here,” Sakurai said. “I’m basically kind of replacing the family component there, so we just hang out every day – go out for lunch, go out for dinner, go golf together. Whichever city we go to, we try to find something to do. He likes to go to amusement parks, so we’ve been to a couple different Six Flags in the last year. And just seeing each other every other day kind of helped with the bonding process.”
And the two are pretty much inseparable at this point.
“I’m pretty much with Tomo 24 hours everywhere except for the time I fall asleep,” Sakurai said.
“I wake up and usually he tells me, ‘Let’s meet up downstairs’ or [we’ll] go have lunch or coffee. That’s how my day usually starts. We go grab lunch, and then on a road trip, we come back, take the bus to the stadium, and from there on, you see what’s going on. I’m always with him on the field, and once the game is over, we take the same bus back. And if we don’t end too late, we usually go grab dinner together or have dinner at the stadium and go our separate ways afterwards.”
Perks of being an interpreter
On top of being connected to a legendary pitcher like Sugano, Sakurai has been enjoying being an MLB interpreter.
One of the most surprising things, though, was how ‘normal’ most of these guys are.
“You used to think of all these guys as your childhood heroes,” he said. “I mean, they still are, but how they interact with myself and Tomo, they’re just regular people, too. I was surprised about how a lot of them are very humble. They have respect for each other. No matter who you are, they will treat you with respect.”
And specifically with guys like Mike Trout, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, he has made sure to stay the same and not get too caught up in the moment.
But the biggest lesson he’s learned so far?
“Maybe try not to stand out too much,” he said, “because I am a staff member. I’m not a player, so essentially I have to hide in the shadows, per se, and do my job discreetly and try not to get too ahead of myself.”
Having worked for four organizations, Sakurai has noticed a few differences, but noticed one thing in particular that the Rockies excel at doing.
“I feel like we have a family-like team, per se. Like, the first day of spring training, everybody was welcoming from top to bottom,” he said. “Not all the teams have that, so I really appreciate that component. And even still now, we have a good thing going on. Everybody says hi to each other every single day coming in, and I really like that. It’s a long season to battle, so you want to get along with everybody as much as possible, and I think this organization has the best of it.”
However, Sakurai has one favorite part of the job that’s unique to his particular role.
“When I get to go on the mound with Alon [Leichman],” he said, “talking about what to do with the next hitter and stuff like that in front of 30,000 or 40,000 fans.”
“That’s something that not everybody gets to do – even as players,” he emphasized. “Position players wouldn’t really go up to the mound during the game unless they’re on the field already. So I think that’s my favorite part about this job. But otherwise, pretty much everything you get to do, like talk to the players that you typically see on TV on a daily basis. I get to do what I like to do – play catch with the guys. And last but not least, I like to travel. If it wasn’t for this job, I probably wouldn’t go to places like Cincinnati or Kansas City.”
But at the end of the day, Sakurai feels the same as most players about what he’s looking most forward to for the rest of the 2026 season.
“I think it’s the same with all the players and all the staff for all 30 organizations,” he said. “I think everybody’s ultimate goal is to get that championship ring, and I would love to accomplish that dream with these guys.”
And any advice to anyone who wants to get into this field?
“I think it’s just like any other job or any other dreams that people have,” Sakurai said. “If you put in the work for it, or you have the desire – like, for me, I wanted to work in Major League Baseball, and of course I had to put some effort in – anything is achievable.”
It was a back-and-forth affair in Albuquerque, but unfortunately, the Space Cowboys (HOU) came out on top. DH Nick Kent, second baseman Chad Stevens and catcher Jose Cordova all recorded two hits.
First baseman CJ Alexander got things started for the Space Cowboys in the first with a two-run homer, but Kent answered back in the bottom half with a solo shot of his own. Catcher César Salazar singled to put the Cowboys up 3-1, then Alexander walked with the bases loaded to score another run.
Kent doubled again in the third to score Dew Avans, and then Stevens singled to score Kent. Second baseman Pascanel Ferreras tripled to score left fielder Cavan Biggio in the sixth, and then Mike Antico hit a sac fly to score Stevens. A wild pitch by RHP Ryan Weiss then scored Cordova. Another triple, this time by third baseman Vimael Machín, scored first baseman Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) to give the Topes the lead, but it was quickly erased by a Biggio two-run homer in the eighth to end the scoring.
It was homer-fest in Hartford as the Yard Goats defeated the Fightin Phils (PHI) 7-4. DH Cole Messina (No. 26 PuRP) got things started in the first, scoring catcher Bryant Betancourt on a two-run homer to jump out to an early lead. Unfortunately, the Phils plated four runs in the third — all off RHP Fisher Jameson. Jameson ended up pitching three innings, but only allowed damage in his first inning. The Phils started off the third with a left fielder Bryson Ware homer, then center fielder Pedro León hit a three-run homer to put them on top. Goats’ first baseman Jimmy Obertop hit a homer in the fourth to cut into the lead, and then right fielder GJ Hill homered in the fifth to tie the game.
The first (and only) non-homer score came later in the fifth, when center fielder Conner Capel doubled to score shortstop Andy Perez. Betancourt wanted in on the homer parade, hitting a two-run shot as the final scoring hit.
DH Tommy Hopfe and right fielder Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP) each recorded multiple hits in the Indians’ 9-5 loss to the Canadians (TOR). Belyeu went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, one RBI, one walk and two strikeouts. Hopfe went 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Belyeu got things started with a leadoff homer to put the Indians’ up 1-0. Hopfe then hit a sac fly to score second baseman Roynier Hernandez later in the inning to put them up 2-0. In the third inning, DH Eric Snow hit a three-run homer to put the Canadians over the top. In the fourth, left fielder J.R. Freethy scored catcher Edward Duran on another sac fly, and then Hopfe doubled in the fourth to score Belyeu and Hernandez.
In the sixth and seventh, the Canadians blew things open with a double and two, two-run homers to put them up 9-4. Left fielder Jacob Hinderleider doubled in the seventh to score catcher Alan Espinal, but that ended the scoring and the comeback.
It was a pitchers’ duel for most of the game in Fresno, as the scoring didn’t start until the seventh inning and ended with a walk-off. DH Luis Mendez led the way, going 3-for-4. Rehabbing second baseman Adael Amador and center fielder Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP) each went 2-for-4, and Brito also struck out once.
66ers (SEA) second baseman Dervy Ventura broke through the brick wall that was RHP Austin Newton when he hit a sac fly to score left fielder Ricardo Cova. It was the only run allowed by Newton, who also allowed three hits and struck out two batters in 6.1 innings of work.
In the Grizzlies half of the inning, catcher Jesus Freitez hit a sac bunt, and then right fielder Carlos Renzullo scored on a fielding error by pitcher Ray Cebulski. The walk-off also came off the bat of Freitez, who singled to score shortstop Ashly Andujar (No. 20 PuRP).
Patrick Saunders has covered the Rockies since 1998 and his final game will be this Wednesday, June 24th against the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field. He shares some of his favorite stories from his career as he bids goodbye to the Rockies beat. Thank you, Patrick, for your excellent coverage of Denver sports over the years. You will be missed!
Saturday night’s game ended with a rare 5U out due to an interference call. Kyle Karros fielded a ground ball from Jake Mangum with the bases loaded, and immediately started to look around without throwing anything. Turns out, the foot of Billy Crook grazed his glove while he was running from second to third, triggering runner interference. Crew chief Todd Tichenor explained it as such: “The runner failed to avoid the defender in the act of fielding the baseball; therefore, he’s called out. It’s very simple.” Luckily, the Rockies were on the winning side of the bizarre ending!
TJ Rumfield has been setting toe world league on fire, slashing .279/.359/.483 with 28 extra-base hits in his first 75 games as a Major League Baseball player. He’s making a case for NL Rookie of the Year, and Thomas Harding talked to him about the lessons he learned in the minor leagues that prepared him for this moment.
KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 19: JJ Wetherholt #26 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Folks, I don’t think I got it today. I spent all of Thursday getting ready for a weekend trip, of course not giving myself enough time to do everything I wanted to do, so the entire day was hectic. I arrived at my destination that night, and then drank heavily for three straight nights. I am unfortunately saddled with the inability to sleep when I drink – I am a near guarantee to wake up at 5 or 6 in the morning and then struggle to go back to sleep. There is a bonus: I have avoided many a hangover because it hasn’t kicked in yet when I wake up. The downside is becoming a walking zombie.
Anyway, I drove home Sunday morning, but not to my house. It was Father’s Day after all. I drove straight to my parents house on something like a combined 15 hours sleep over the past three days. Actually 15 is probably optimistic. My dad got a JJ Wetherholt jersey and Masyn Winn bobblehead, so it was incredibly exciting when both hit homers in the 1st. I’m not kidding, we just finished giving him gifts and then the Cardinal game started not even five minutes later. I finally got home at 7 pm. And here we are.
So a quick article it is. But I don’t want to leave you with nothing so, some random observations for you
JJ Wetherholt’s ridiculous season
JJ Wetherholt is answer to the question: what if you just maxed out everything a baseball player does? JJ Wetherholt, at least in his first three months of professional baseball, has been an elite baserunner and elite fielder. It doesn’t matter what stat you use. He is +13 outs above average, which is quite literally 100 percentile among defenders according to Statcast. He is 95th percentile by baserunning value. He has 1.2 dWAR if you prefer Baseball-Reference. And his hitting isn’t bad either.
Wetherholt, now with 3.3 fWAR on the year, is on pace to have the best rookie season by a Cardinals player since Albert Pujols. And it’s pretty much equal to Pujols’ season. He’s on pace for 7.1 fWAR, Pujols had 7.2 fWAR. That’s a rounding error. I have comped him to Chase Utley before in sort of a pie-in-the-sky outcome – that is not a crazy comp. Utley was not a Hall of Famer caliber player because of his offense – well he sort of was – but he maxed out his baserunning and fielding value.
Ignore the power aspect – Citizen Banks Park is a much better park for homers than Busch Stadium, but even accepting that, Utley most likely has more power than Wetherholt ever will – if you look at the season by season wRC+ Utley had, it doesn’t feel THAT crazy anymore. Utley’s peak began with a 134 wRC+, which he followed with a 130 wRC+, and then a 150, then 134, 141, and 128 wRC+. Wetherholt still has work to do, since he’s “only” at a 127 wRC+ right now.
However, he is arguably getting unlucky. Maybe yesterday’s game fixes that. I don’t know. But he entered yesterday’s game with a .360 xwOBA and a .343 wOBA. His 3-5 day with two homers and a HBP rose his actual wOBA to .354. But you know, it probably raised his xwOBA too. Somewhat inexplicably his second homer carried an expected batting average of .030 while simultaneously being a homer in 19 parks. His single carried a .930 xBA and there’s no data on his first homer, but that was more of a no doubter. Point being, I think his xwOBA will still paint him as unlucky.
So that 130-140 wRC+ range doesn’t feel crazy, and we’re talking about a 23-year-old with 71 career games. While his baserunning and fielding really has nowhere to go but down, his hitting may not be a finished product. We really have a special player here.
Have faith in Masyn Winn
Even if I accepted that Masyn Winn was now an 80-85 wRC+ hitter carried by his defense, I have not really understood the discourse about replacing him. Let’s tackle positions that are actually a problem first. I don’t care if there are a lot of 3 win shortstops, that doesn’t make replacing him automatically easy. Wetherholt could most likely handle SS, but his greatest weakness is his arm, so he is very much not a guarantee that it would work and there’s very little chance he’s a better defender at SS than Winn.
I have also been very vocal in thinking he has more in the tank offensively. He’s still just 24-years-old. I don’t think his best offensive days are behind him. I also look at like this: we don’t need Masyn Winn’s bat to better. It’s almost a bonus. I think it can be better, but we’re not dependent on it being better. Winn will still be a valuable player and a worthy starter on a playoff caliber team even if his bat is what it is. Despite a slow start with the bat and with defensive numbers that I think will get better, he’s still nearly on pace for a 3 WAR season.
Is anybody else worried about Gordon Graceffo?
Graceffo is really working on a razor’s edge right now. He is not missing bats, he is walking too many, and he’s not really getting a lot of groundballs either. ERA is the only stat that makes him look good, the rest make him look… unplayable honestly. Every single one of them. His bad game on Thursday was a long time coming, and he has 4 walks to zero strikeouts in his last 3.1 innings of work. I had kind of assumed his advanced stats would start creeping towards his ERA at some point, and they really haven’t.
It’s interesting how much even the analytical fans will trust a good ERA, because I just haven’t seen a lot of talk about Graceffo. By literally any advanced stat and I genuinely think I’m using literally correctly here, we should trust Ryne Stanek more than Graceffo. We should trust Justin Bruhl more! Why can’t he miss any bats???
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 28: Brady Tkachuk #7 of the Ottawa Senators before a face-off during a game against the Colorado Avalanche on January 28, 2026, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
News Around the League
Senators send captain Brady Tkachuk to Florida Panthers after he informed them he would not re-sign with the team. [Ottawa Citizen]
Florida had made an earlier trade with the Seattle Kraken sending Mackie Samoskevich there for a first and second round pick. [Florida Panthers]
What will replace Hockey Night in Canada? Women’s sports! [CBC]
Jonathan Toews annnounces retirement after 16 seasons and three Stanley Cups. [NHL]
Colorado Avalanche News
Zach Stortini named as ECHL expansion franchise (and new Avalanche minor league affiliate) New Mexico Goatheads’ first head coach. [Colorado Avalanche]
ICYMI: Pros and Cons of Jared Bednar returning to the Avalanche bench. [MHH]
The Avs have lost another depth player; this time to the KHL as reports are surfacing that indicate Zakhar Bardakov is leaving for Russia. [Denver Sports]
Goodbye Ross Colton as he is now a member of the Nashville Predators reuniting with former Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland. [Sportsnet]
Defenseman Noah Dobson was dealt for the No. 16 and No. 17 picks, along with pending restricted free agent Emil Heineman.
On Sunday, we saw our first blockbuster trade of this draft season.
The Florida Panthers acquired Brady Tkachuk from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for No. 9 and No. 25 in this year's draft, a 2029 first-round pick (top-10 protected), and a 2027 second-round pick.
The two deals aren't comparable, in the slightest, but it is interesting to look at value.
Dobson, despite being overrated by many within the Islanders' fan base, is an offensive defenseman who recorded a 70-point season at age 24 before a down season.
He was also a pending restricted free agent who forced general manager Mathieu Darche to trade him after the two sides couldn't agree on a contract extension, before he inked an eight-year deal worth $9.5 million annually.
Tkachuk, who won gold with his brother Matthew representing Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics, is a three-time 30-goal scorer, a now former captain, and some teams hate to play against him given his grit.
In terms of the returns, there's no question Darche got back a lot for Dobson, especially given the little leverage he did have.
Victor Eklund, who they took at No. 16, and Kashawn Aitcheson, who they took at No. 17, are likely big pieces of their future alongside Calder winner Matthew Schaefer.
Tkachuk's package is significantly stronger, even if Senators fans don't see it that way right now.
While general manager Steve Staois didn't have leverage and Florida was really the only team he was going to go to, despite having the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes as options, he also didn't have to trade Tkachuk at this moment.
He had two seasons left at $8.205 million annually, and Staios could have forced his star to add more teams to his willing-to-be-traded-to list like Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman did with Dylan Larkin.
Obviously, Brady's dream was to play with Matthew, and with NTC handed out like candy, he made that a reality.
Honestly, is it fair to say that Ottawa got back what Tkachuk is worth if not more?
We are talking about three first-round picks and a second-round pick, with a few of them likely on the move to add a top-six scorer like Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson or St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou.
The real question is, how many more blockbuster trades are coming before Friday's NHL Draft?
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates inspects the ball as he pitches in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates and their ace Paul Skenes are in the midst of an all-time bad string of losses as after Saturday’s contest against the Colorado Rockies the club dropped their seventh straight with Skenes on the mound.
Skenes has been the center of criticism in this stretch with many questioning if he’s slipping in his third big league season. Many have cited his velocity being down, as his four-seamer averaged 98.8 mph as a rookie and 98.2 last season. This season Skenes is averaging 97 mph on his fastball. So there certainly has been a downtick, but the third year pitcher believes that he’s pitching better overall than he has in years past.
“I don’t think I’m necessarily the same pitcher I was my rookie year and last year,” Skenes said. “I do think I’m throwing better. I’m very happy with how I’ve been throwing. I think I’ve evolved. If you’re not getting better in this game, you’re getting worse. I feel I’m better than I was last year. I think there are some numbers that show that; others don’t. But the gut feeling is I’m better.”
In this stretch of losses Skenes certainly has not been dominating opposing hitters the way that fans have grown accustomed to, especially the third time through a lineup where his efficiency starts to slip severely. The commentary team during Skenes’ outing against the Houston Astros suggested that team’s game plans for trying to hit against Skenes could also be why the righty has struggled lately. When Skenes is on the mound, no matter what the count may be, batters are instantly going into protect mode. By taking this approach at the plate the opposing offense is effectively playing a game of attrition. In a batter’s first and sometimes even second time at the plate they’re not necessarily looking for base hits first as much as they’re looking to wear Skenes down by making it longer at bats, where they’re getting six or more pitches.
Paul Skenes tonight:
6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 SO 104 pitches, 63 strikes, 19 whiffs
Some run support would have been nice, but let's finish this one with a W at least. pic.twitter.com/vjbLDFmCo8
Skenes stylistically already racks up a lot of pitches because of the swing and miss work that he implements into his game. That aggressive style compounded with batters looking to draw out long at bats has Skenes getting into high pitch counts early and often. In his last five starts Skenes has thrown 103+ pitches in each contest and gave up two earned runs in each but one of those last five outings. Aside from his games against Philadelphia and Toronto in the last seven starts, Skenes has been fairly efficient in not giving up a lot of runs, but he is certainly being pushed to his limits on the mound.
The team as a whole has largely not been great at supporting Skenes when he’s on the mound. The team’s offense is often dormant in these matchups, and the lack of run support has not helped. Against Philly on May, 17 the Pirates scored zero runs. Against Toronto on May, 23 the Pirates scored two runs and repeated the same low on May, 28 against the Cubs. In Skenes’ start against the Astros the Pirates did a decent job on offense by scoring nine runs, but lost the lead once Skenes came out of the game. Against Houston Skenes gave up one earned run, and three runs were scored during his time on the mound, but the Pirates lost 11-9, so that one is on the bullpen which is it’s own disaster zone right now. This trend of no offense continued in Skenes’ starts against the Dodgers, Marlins and Rockies.
Don Kelly seems to always field the worst possible lineup on nights that Skenes pitches, which isn’t helping matters either. Ryan O’Hearn is regularly missing from the lineup, while poor performers like Marcell Ozuna and Jared Triolo are consistently getting at bats. Henry Davis always catches for Skenes and he is mostly an offensive liability as well. The amount of prospects and random call ups that are on the field for Skenes starts is laughable too. While Skenes has had his own fair share of struggles this season, it’s fair to say that the best product is not always being put on the field to support him either.
Defensively the Pirates are not nearly as sound this year as they were last year either. O’Hearn is being asked to play mostly outside of his natural position, and there have been some shortcomings with him in right field. Oneil Cruz is still not a great defender in center field and to this point has not been able to make the out of the ordinary plays that a Gold Glove defender is capable of. The rotating cast in the outfield has not helped either, and the right side of the infield is average at best but certainly not great.
Baseball is such a cruel game. Why?
Paul Skenes, a generational talent and one of the best pitchers in baseball has not won a game for his team since May 12th
All things considered it could be a lot worst, as Skenes is still statistically right up there with the best pitchers in baseball, but there’s definitely a different feel around him and his most recent starts. Still though his Pirates’ teammates are confident in his abilities with Brandon Lowe saying he’s still pitching incredibly.
“That’s one of the things that everybody in baseball has been clouded by: how great Paul has been in his first two years,” Lowe said. “When you can look at a guy who has a (2.85) ERA, and the media says he’s having a down year … it’s pretty incredible, the numbers he’s been able to put up and what he’s been able to do, for people to question his ability at this point in the season.”
Some have also pointed to Skenes’ involvement in the World Baseball Classic and the hangover period that many players from the tournament have experienced, but Skenes stands by his conditioning and the work he continues to put in, and is not concerned by a perceived slip or downtick in velocity on his pitches.
“I mean, you can still blow it by them with 97 compared to 98,” Skenes said. “I’m feeling better after starts compared to the last couple years. If it weren’t for a couple short outings, I’d have more innings under my belt. I’m conditioned to throw more innings than I have been throwing.”
Kelly echoes his confidence in the work that Skenes does to keep his body in top shape during the season.
“I think we are trying to keep it in perspective,” Kelly said. “I think Paul has still done that, given us a chance to win, even though he hasn’t been maybe at the exceptional level he has been all of his career. He’s had stretches where he hasn’t been like that throughout the last two years. I think the one thing that we do know: The preparation, the work ethic, the man and how he goes about it, he’s always going to give everything he’s got.”
Skenes is scheduled to start against the Cincinnati Reds in a three game home stand following the team’s next series against the Seattle Mariners.
