SAN FRANCISCO — A day after helping the Giants clinch their series in Miami, outfielder Luis Matos is headed back to the minors.
The 23-year-old was the one to get optioned when outfielder Jerar Encarnacion was activated from the IL on Monday. Matos hit a three-run homer to lead the way for a struggling lineup on Sunday, but overall, he’s hitting .167 with a .572 OPS.
Jerar Encarnacion is back from IL, Luis Matos was optioned
It has been a disappointing first two months for a player who had a good offseason, but as the Giants pondered their options, what was most important was the immediate future.
With Encarnacion back, the Giants didn’t see a whole lot of at-bats for Matos. They’ll face four right-handed pitchers in this series, with Mike Yastrzemski getting the majority of the time in right, and Encarnacion will see time at first base – both corner outfield spots and designated hitter.
Yastrzemski had a rough May, and manager Bob Melvin admitted that it might cost him some time. But those at-bats will go to Encarnacion, who has missed the entire season with a hand fracture.
“We’ve seen that when he’s getting a lot of at-bats, he’s productive,” Melvin said of Matos on Monday. “(That happened) last year, as well. For younger players to have to sit around for longer periods of time is really difficult. He hit a big home run for us yesterday but it’s been spotty playing time. It’s probably not great for his development. He even said, ‘I need more at-bats.’ It’s not the last you’ll see of Luis Matos.”
Matos was NL Player of the Week at one point early last season, but he went into a deep slump and finished with a .584 OPS, similar to where he’s at this season.
Still, he won an Opening Day job after playing well in Winter Ball and having a good spring. The Giants hoped he could be a platoon partner for Yastrzemski in right, but Matos is hitting just .128 against left-handed pitchers.
The decision leaves both Casey Schmitt and Christian Koss in the big leagues, although the Giants are more comfortable with those two as part-timers.
Schmitt has been able to carve out a role at first base against left-handers, but the Giants now have a big group there. On Monday, Schmitt took grounders with Wilmer Flores, Encarnacion and LaMonte Wade Jr.
The Giants also could have parted ways with Wade, who has a .542 OPS and just one homer, but they’re not quite ready to make that move. His slump goes back to last season, but moving on from Wade would have left the bench without any left-handed options.
The Giants are still hopeful he can find his stride offensively, although the leash is as short as it has ever been.
“We hope he starts to take off here. He hasn’t to this point,” Melvin added. “There’s been some periods where his at-bats have been a lot better and he’s got nothing to show for it, and that can weigh on you for a guy that’s used to being a productive guy and getting on base and kind of doing his thing.
“It’s going to be about performance here. If he starts to take off here he might see more playing time, and if not, you might see Jerar a little bit more.”
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have called up top prospect Jac Caglianone in the hopes of jump-starting their languishing offense, and the slugging first baseman and outfielder is expected to make his major league debut in St. Louis.
The Royals announced the move during their day off, optioning outfielder Dairon Blanco to Triple-A Omaha.
Caglianone’s promotion comes on the heels of a second straight 1-0 game for Kansas City — it split them with the AL Central rival Tigers — and amid a season in which the Royals have struggled to score runs. They’ve hit a big league-worst 34 homers and have scored 194 runs in all, tied with Pittsburgh ahead of only lowly Colorado.
The 22-year-old Caglianone was the sixth overall pick out of Florida in last year’s amateur draft, when he was considered a two-way player because of his strong left arm. But his future is in the field, where his immense power has the potential to give the long-floundering Kansas City offense the kind of immediate production it has not had in years.
In just 50 games between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Caglianone hit 15 homers with 56 RBIs. He has been hitting .322, and held that average steady even after moving up a level, alleviating some of his swing-and-miss concerns.
Caglianone primarily has played first base, but Vinnie Pasquantino typically holds down that job for Kansas City, and veteran catcher Salvador Perez plays there occasionally when not behind the plate. Pasquantino and Perez also serve as the DH.
The Royals have a pressing need in the outfield, where their hitters are a combined .237 with only seven homers and 46 RBIs in 663 plate appearances. MJ Melendez was optioned to Omaha after his disastrous start to the season, and Hunter Renfroe was hitting .182 before the veteran outfielder was designated for assignment.
The Royals recently called up outfielder John Rave, a fifth-round pick in the 2019 draft, who was hitting .301 with nine homers and 17 steals in 44 games for Omaha. He had two hits in their 1-0 loss to the Tigers.
Despite their struggles at the plate, the Royals are still 31-29 thanks to a pitching staff that has allowed 201 runs, second-fewest in the majors behind the Mets. They open a three-game set in St. Louis, then play three against the White Sox in Chicago, before Caglianone potentially would make his home debut against the Yankees on June 10.
Slowly but surely, the stars of Houston’s 2017 World Series-winning team have scattered about in the years since.
George Springer is in Toronto now, Alex Bregman in Boston and Carlos Correa in Minnesota. Justin Verlander pitches for San Francisco. Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr. are still with the Astros, but it feels like it’s only a matter of time before Houston’s dominance of the AL West comes to an end.
The question is whether anyone else in the division has what it takes to force a changing of the guard.
If it weren’t for Oakland’s division title in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Houston would have a streak of seven straight AL West championships. Only the Braves, Dodgers and Yankees have had runs that long since divisional play began. But last year, the Astros won just 88 games, their fewest in a full season since 2016. Only the mediocrity of the rest of the division kept them on top.
This year, Houston is 32-27, which puts the Astros on pace to win 88 games again. Nonetheless, they trail first-place Seattle by just a half-game.
The challengers all have their problems. The Athletics had an encouraging start but have lost 17 of their last 18. The Los Angeles Angels look headed to a 10th straight losing season. Texas won it all as a wild card two years ago but has been one of the worst offensive teams in baseball in 2025.
This year, Houston is 32-27, which puts the Astros on pace to win 88 games again. Nonetheless, they trail first-place Seattle by just a half-game.
The challengers all have their problems. The Athletics had an encouraging start but have lost 17 of their last 18. The Los Angeles Angels look headed to a 10th straight losing season. Texas won it all as a wild card two years ago but has been one of the worst offensive teams in baseball in 2025.
Agony of defeat
Boston was swept three straight at Milwaukee, with the last two losses coming in walk-off fashion. Christian Yelich hit a 10th-inning grand slam to beat the Red Sox, and the following day Caleb Durbin ended it with a sacrifice fly.
Boston has lost a major league-high seven games in walk-off fashion — and those games account for over a fifth of their 32 defeats.
Line of the week
Junior Caminero went 4 for 5 with two homers, two doubles, five RBIs and four runs in Tampa Bay’s 16-3 rout of Houston. Even after a loss, the Rays have won nine of their last 12 and are just a half-game behind Minnesota for the American League’s final wild card.
Comeback of the week
Minnesota trailed Seattle 6-3 with two outs in the top of the ninth when Willi Castro hit a two-run homer off closer Andrés Muñoz. Then Byron Buxton singled, stole second and scored on a single by Trevor Larnach.
In the top of the 10th, the Twins scored six runs on their way to a 12-6 victory. Seattle had a win probability of 98.9% in the ninth, according to Baseball Savant.
Muñoz had not allowed an earned run all season. He blew another save against Minnesota but ultimately got the win.
Trivia answer
The Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies have never won ANY division titles. The other four teams that have never gone back-to-back are:
— San Francisco Giants (NL West titles in 1971, 1987, 1989, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2010, 2012 and 2021)
— New York Mets (NL East titles in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 2006 and 2015)
— Chicago White Sox (AL West titles in 1983 and 1993, AL Central titles in 2000, 2005, 2008 and 2021)
— Seattle Mariners (AL West titles in 1995, 1997 and 2001)
It's Monday, June 2, and the Brewers (32-28) are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds (29-31). Aaron Civale is slated to take the mound for Milwaukee against Brady Singer for Cincinnati.
The Brewers have been on a roll. They are coming off a series sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies and have won seven games in a row. Despite their hot streak, they are still 5.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs.
The Reds, who are three games behind the Brewers in the NL East, need to get some momentum going. They have won just four of their last 10 games.
Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Odds for the Brewers at the Reds
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Brewers (+102), Reds (-122)
Spread: Reds -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Reds
Pitching matchup for June 2, 2025: Aaron Civale vs. Brady Singer
Brewers: Aaron Civale, (0-1, 6.00 ERA) Last outing (Boston Red Sox, 5/27): 5.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
Reds: Brady Singer, (6-3, 4.60 ERA) Last outing (Kansas City Royals, 5/27): Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Reds
The Brewers have a losing road record this season (14-18) but have won their last 4 games
The Under is 22-14-2 in the Reds' matchups against National League teams this season
The Brewers have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 2.76 units
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Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Brewers and the Reds
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday's game between the Brewers and the Reds:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Milwaukee Brewers at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.
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SEATTLE — Just before Big Dumper put a thump into a soaring flyball, a smattering of “MVP! MVP!” chants broke out from behind home plate.
Given the way Cal Raleigh’s season has started, perhaps the Mariners’ catcher is wholly deserving of such high praise. With a solo shot during Seattle’s latest victory, 2-1 over the Minnesota Twins, Raleigh upped his total to a major league-leading 23 home runs.
“He’s having an excellent season, not only offensively but also defensively,” teammate Randy Arozarena said, with bench coach Manny Acta translating. “What he’s doing right now, it’s great because he’s carrying our offense pretty much.”
That’s no exaggeration on Arozarena’s part. And what Raleigh is doing is also unprecedented.
The 28-year-old backstop from North Carolina with the funny nickname became the first catcher in major league history to reach 20 home runs before the end of May. His 22 home runs entering June tied for the second-most in Mariners history behind only Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr., who had 24 in 1997.
“He just continues to grow and mature in this game,” said Mariners manager Dan Wilson, a former catcher who was on that Seattle team in 1997. “And the pace that he’s on right now with home runs — and he’s not just hitting home runs, he’s still just hitting the ball hard.
“You add that to what he does behind the plate in a game like this — whew, he’s a real special player and he’s doing it all right now.”
According to Baseball Savant, Raleigh ranks eighth among big league catchers in Fielding Run Value.
He also has more home runs than Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge. So it’s no wonder Raleigh has already been worth 3.3 Wins Above Replacement, per baseball-reference.com, less than 60 games into the season for the AL West-leading Mariners (32-26).
“I just wish that he continues to stay healthy and (has) a very long career,” Seattle pitcher Luis Castillo said, with Acta translating. “Because it’s a lot of fun right now.”
Salvador Perez of the Kansas City Royals holds the big league record for home runs in a season by a catcher with 48 in 2021. Raleigh is on pace for 64 this year, which would break the American League mark of 62 set by Judge in 2022.
Sure, there’s still a long way to go in 2025.
But, awfully impressive numbers for someone playing such a demanding and taxing position, where offense is often considered a luxury rather than a requirement.
“Sometimes it’s not playing harder, it’s playing smarter,” said Wilson, a major league catcher for 14 years. “And he continues to play smart baseball whether it’s behind the plate or at the bat. He’s coming up huge for us all over the place.”
LOS ANGELES — Ryan Yarbrough picked up a dazzling World Series ring from his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. Then he went out and beat them.
The New York Yankees starter pitched one-run ball over six innings, struck out a season-high five and blanked the Dodgers’ top four hitters in a 7-3 win.
“I feel like I’m in a really good place right now and really trying to continue that,” Yarbrough said. “I’m having a lot of fun.”
The 33-year-old left-hander made 44 relief appearances between the Dodgers and Blue Jays last season. The Dodgers designated him for assignment on July 29 and the next day traded him to Toronto.
So even though he wasn’t around for their World Series victory over the Yankees last fall, Yarbrough earned a ring. He accepted it from Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes behind home plate during batting practice.
“Trying to keep that a little discreet, especially with where we’re at now, but kind of cool to be able to get that,” Yarbrough said.
He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with New York in March and is 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA this season.
Making his first career start against the Dodgers, Yarbrough recorded 17 swings-and-misses — including seven with his sweeper.
The top four hitters in Los Angeles’ lineup had produced at least one hit in every game this season. That is, until Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernández, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith combined to go 0 for 14 in the series finale against Yarbrough and the Yankees.
New York manager Aaron Boone has called Yarbrough a throwback, noting his 6-foot-5 frame creates a “funky” angle for hitters.
“He’s got a lot of ways to get you out. Just when you think he’s slowing you down, slowing you down, he’s able to speed you up enough,” Boone said. “It feels like it’s hard to get a bead on him.”
It certainly was for Ohtani. He struck out on five pitches ranging from 70-86 mph in the first inning, when Yarbrough retired the side in order. Later, he set down 13 of 15 batters before exiting.
“He’s not going to light up the radar gun, but all his pitches feel like they get on you,” teammate DJ LeMahieu said. “His fastballs look like they get on you and his off-speed looks extra slow. He’s got good stuff and he knows what he’s doing out there.”
Yarbrough conceded his familiarity with his ex-teammates helped, too.
“It was just a matter of execution and keeping them off balance and not putting them in counts where they can really hunt for certain pitches,” he said.
It was also a big night for LeMahieu, who had his first four-hit game since 2021. He drove in two runs and raised his batting average to .239.
The second baseman had three singles and a double on a night when Aaron Judge was the only Yankees player without a hit.
“I feel good. Good to get some results,” LeMahieu said.
LOS ANGELES — Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez jammed his left thumb on a stolen base and was removed from a 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
New York closer Luke Weaver wasn’t able to pitch at all because of a sore hamstring.
Domínguez walked and swiped second with a headfirst slide in the fifth inning. He came around to score on DJ LeMahieu’s one-out single, but was lifted for a pinch hitter in the sixth.
“He couldn’t really swing,” manager Aaron Boone said. “It was (serious) enough for him to come out of the game.”
The 22-year-old rookie left fielder was expected to have tests in New York.
Boone initially planned to use Weaver in the ninth with the Yankees ahead 7-3.
“He had finished warming up and then when he went to stretch felt something in the middle of his hammy, so we had to kind of make a switch on the fly,” Boone said. “Hoping it’s not too serious.”
Tim Hill retired the side in order in the ninth as the Yankees avoided getting swept in a series for the first time this season.
It's Monday, June 2, and the Angels (26-32) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (29-32). Tyler Anderson is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Richard Fitts for Boston.
Yesterday, the Red Sox picked up the win against the Atlanta Braves. It was a game that saw all of the action in the first inning. The Red Sox took a 3-1 lead into the second inning and held on to win 3-1.
Garrett Crochet was phenomenal. He struck out 12 batters in 7.0 innings and only gave up one run on five hits.
The Angels lost 4-2 yesterday against the Cleveland Guardians. After dropping the series to the Guardians, the Angels have now lost three series in a row.
Let's dive into the 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 tipoff, 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 & how to watch Angels at Red Sox
Date: Monday, June 2, 2025
Time: 7:10PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: NESN, FanDuel Sports Network West
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.
Odds for the Angels at the Red Sox
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Angels (+127), Red Sox (-152)
Spread: Red Sox -1.5
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Angels at Red Sox
Pitching matchup for June 2, 2025: Tyler Anderson vs. Richard Fitts
Angels: Tyler Anderson, (2-2, 3.39 ERA) Last outing (New York Yankess, 5/27): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 5 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 3 Strikeouts
Red Sox: Richard Fitts, (0-2, 2.70 ERA) Last outing (Milwaukee Brewers, 5/27): 3.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 2 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 2 Strikeouts
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Angels at Red Sox
The Angels have lost 4 of their last 5 games
Each of the Angels' last 3 road games with the Red Sox have stayed under the Total
The total has gone under in 3 of their last 10 Red Sox games
The total has gone under in 3 of their last 10 Angels games
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Angels and the Red Sox
Rotoworld 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 Monday's game between the Angels and the Red Sox:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Los Angeles Angels at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 9.0.
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Boston Red Sox right-hander Richard Fitts will look to snap a historic losing streak when he takes the mound for Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels.
Fitts, who made his MLB debut last September, has posted an impressive 2.21 ERA over his first eight career starts (40.2 innings). Unfortunately for him, the rest of the club hasn’t held up its end of the bargain.
According to WEEI’s Joe Weil, Fitts is the first pitcher in MLB history to have an ERA under 3.00 with his team going 0-8 through his first eight career starts since ERA became an official stat in 1913.
Richard Fitts is due for a Sox win (hopefully tonight!).
2.21 ERA in 40.2 IP, but somehow the 1st pitcher in MLB history to post an ERA below 3.00 with his team going 0-8 through his first 8 career starts since ERA became official in 1913 (per Elias).
Five of Boston’s eight losses in Fitts’ starts have either been decided by one run or extra innings.
Looking beyond the losses, Fitts has been a bright spot for the underwhelming Red Sox rotation. The 25-year-old has a 2.70 ERA through four starts this season. He tossed three scoreless innings in his return from the injured list last Tuesday in Milwaukee. (Boston lost 5-1.)
The Red Sox acquired Fitts and reliever Greg Weissert in their 2023 trade with the New York Yankees in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo. The deal was a win for Boston as Verdugo struggled in his lone season in the Bronx, then departed in free agency for the Atlanta Braves.
Fitts’ first pitch for Monday’s game at Fenway Park is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.
It's Monday, June 2, and the Rockies (9-50) are in Miami to take on the Marlins (23-34). Germán Márquez is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Max Meyer for Miami.
After a 5-3 loss yesterday against the Mets, the Rockies have now lost eight games in a row. Their last win was a 3-2 win back on May 23rd. The Rockies' 9-50 start is the worst start in the modern era.
The Marlins are hoping to cash in on the misfortunes of the Rockies and pick up a series win. They are last in the NL East and have won just four of their last six games.
Let's dive into the 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 tipoff, 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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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.
Odds for the Rockies at the Marlins
The latest odds as of Monday:
Moneyline: Rockies (+164), Marlins (-197)
Spread: Marlins -1.5
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Marlins
Pitching matchup for June 2, 2025: Germán Márquez vs. Max Meyer
Rockies: Germán Márquez, (1-7, 7.13 ERA) Last outing (Chicago Cubs, 5/27): 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts
Marlins: Max Meyer, (3-4, 4.53 ERA) Last outing (San Deigo Padres, 5/27): 3.1 Innings Pitched, 4 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 2 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts
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 to know ahead of Rockies at Marlins
The Marlins have won 4 straight home games against the Rockies
The Marlins pitcher Max Meyer has an ERA of 3.86 in his last 5 home starts on the mound
With Max Meyer opening the Marlins are up 1.58 units on the Run Line at loanDepot park in 2025
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Marlins
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
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 Monday's game between the Rockies and the Marlins:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Miami Marlins on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Colorado Rockies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.0.
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On May 10 for Double-A Binghamton, Mets prospect Jonah Tongwas perfect -- literally.
In 6.2 innings against the Reading Fightin Phils, the 21-year-old didn't allow any base runners, or much contact at all as he struck out a season-high 13 batters in what was an utterly dominant performance.
But with Tong on a bit of a pitch count, he was replaced for the final out of the seven-inning game, which was secured by TJ Shook as the Rumble Ponies completed the perfect game.
While Tong was untouchable that night, he said that his stuff did not feel as unhittable as it looked -- at least early on.
“Honestly, no. I remember the first batter I think I went to a full count. I think it was Robert Moore, and I was like 'Oh, we’re gonna grind through this one.' Then I was just thinking just take it pitch-by-pitch, try to fill it up," Tong told SNY. "At times I didn’t do that. But it just kind of went really smooth, felt like I was getting really good rhythm.
"And when I went for my seventh inning I was like 'Oh, I got something pretty good going right now.' I was looking at the lineup, and I was like 'Oh sh-t, I think I have a perfect game going on.' And obviously the next two batters I go 3-2 on them and extend the at-bat, and then I’m out of the game. It was really cool. The thing I’m happiest (about) is the no walks with it. I was pretty locked in the entire day. Try and replicate that."
As Tong continues a meteoric rise that saw him excel across three minor league levels in 2024 during what was his first full professional season, he has taken it up a notch this season with Binghamton, where he has a 2.25 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, with an eye-popping 72 strikeouts and only 23 hits allowed over 44.0 innings spanning seven starts.
Tong, a native of Canada, was selected by the Mets in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft. And he's now at the point where he's on the national radar, recently entering the MLB Top 50 prospect lists for The Athletic and ESPN.
And Tong is staying grounded through it all.
After a first season of pro ball he said was challenging due in large part to all the day games in the punishing heat in Florida, the right-hander is in a groove for Binghamton, with him crediting his offseason work and some natural progression as the reason for his success.
Jonah Tong pitching for the Brooklyn Cyclones. / George Napolitano/Brooklyn Cyclones
"This past offseason was just a continuation of the one prior, where it was just focus on your strengths – making sure we’re executing there at a high level," Tong explained. "And then also just getting in the weight room, making strides there. I think that kind of really helped blend into this year. I know my average fastball velo went up, and it’s more consistent, which has been huge.
"It’s just seeing how pitches play up now. Obviously, you can't always get away with stuff. But I feel like right now my fastball is playing really well. I’m really happy to see that. And just continuing to develop the slider and seeing where we’re going with that. That’s been a huge focus."
Tong will always lean on the heater, which he referred to as his "bread and butter," but his entire arsenal is impressive -- including a 12-to-6 curve ball and a developing slider.
Let's have Tong take us through his pitch mix:
"Fastball is always gonna be my bread and butter. Been throwing that same exact thing since I was a kid. I have a lot of faith in it. Big spots – any spot, really, you’re probably gonna see it at some point. Next is my curve ball. It’s kind of my go-to offspeed at times. It’s something I’ve done since I was younger. It’s a bigger shaped breaking ball, it’s slower. Goal with that is just a pitch I can land in the zone, and then expand later in the counts.
"And then my changeup has been probably the pitch that’s seen the biggest strides, although not a whole lot has changed except grip adjustment. So it’s making lower IVB more consistently. So it’s just more depth to it. And that’s been a huge pitch this year. It’s probably been my most consistent strike pitch – especially for my offspeed offering, which has been huge for me. And then my slider is my newest addition. Right now we’re tinkering with shapes, so I can’t really tell you what exactly is happening. We’re tinkering with a few things, but really happy with the progress of that."
As Tong has continued to succeed in Binghamton, he said he's noticed an approach from the hitters that's "a little more refined" than the one used by the guys he faced last year in Brooklyn, noting that he has to "think through the game a little bit more" due to the smaller margin for error.
He also had a chance earlier this season to pick the brain of fellow prospect Nolan McLean, who dominated for Binghamton before being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, where he has hit the ground running.
"He is awesome. Really down to earth guy. Never too high, never too low," Tong said. "Loved watching him pitch. His advice was always pretty straightforward. It was 'Hey man, go out there, throw your best stuff and go have fun with it.' Never taking something too seriously, which I think I’ve tried to take in. He can speak better on this than I can, but I really just admired that approach and tried to emulate that a little bit.
"Now, he’s got some of the best stuff I’ve ever seen, so he’s gonna do great things. I tried to talk to him as much as possible. Another guy is Jack Wenninger – he’s my roommate. Talk to him a lot. Always chirps me about some stuff, but it’s always in good fun. I love watching him pitch. Same thing with Zach Thornton, Jonathan Pintaro. We have a really, really, really good staff here and it’s easy to want to do better every time you go out there just because of how these guys are pitching."
Jonah Tong #38 of the New York Mets throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. / Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images
When it comes to what's next for Tong, it's getting to a point where you can squint and see him in the big leagues for the Mets. That's unlikely to come this season, but Tong impacting the major league club in 2026 seems likely.
Walks have been a bit of a bugaboo for Tong recently, with him issuing four free passes in each of his last two starts after limiting the bases on balls to three or fewer over his prior six starts.
And when asked what he needs to work on the most in order to make the next two jumps -- first to Syracuse and then to the Mets -- limiting the walks was what Tong focused on.
"The most obvious one for me is the walks right now," he said. "They’re definitely there. I do think – and I’m really confident -- that they’re not always gonna be there. It’s just more getting my feet wet and getting into the season. Last year happened for me right out of the gate, and this year it’s just a little bit slower when it comes to that.
"It’s just being more consistent, and knowing that when I’m in the zone we’re gonna have a lot of success. And just feeling confident in that. So I think just being in the zone early and often, and having the ability to put away hitters is something I’ve shown I can do – I just need to do it a little more consistently."
Growing up, Tong and his dad would look at YouTube videos of big leaguers, and said he could probably name 100 pitchers that they focused on. But as far as one pitcher Tong most enjoyed watching and says he's compared to the most, it's Tim Lincecum, who was a strikeout machine during his heyday while winning two Cy Young awards for the Giants.
"The one that everyone always sees is Tim Lincecum. Loved how he threw. They called him The Freak for a reason," Tong noted. "I would say mechanics-wise, that’s probably the one I’m most similar to, although it’s not even intentional. ... but Tim Lincecum is probably the most obvious one to me."
While Tong continues to refine things while working toward his MLB debut and decompresses by playing MLB The Show (he estimates that his record in the game is a tragic 8-19), he hasn't yet allowed himself to think about what it will be like to take the mound at Citi Field as a Met.
"No, not really. It’s always nice to dream," he said. "It’s always nice to imagine yourself out there. I’m trying to live up to just being where my feet are. I’ll let everybody else get excited about that. For me, I’m just really focused on one day at a time. I know eventually I’ll get into that position, but don’t know the timetable. So I’m just gonna take each day as it is."
One thing Tong has thought about is his possible warm-up song, with him joking about the fact that during the first interview he ever did, he didn't know who Celine Dion -- a world-famous native of Canada -- was.
But when Tong reaches the big time, it won't be Dion's voice booming through the speakers.
"I really love Burn It to the Ground by Nickelback," he said. "My goal throughout my career is to do Canadian artists. Not sure how that will change, but that’s been probably my favorite song. I know my dad really wants me to play This Means War by Nickelback, so maybe we’ll sneak that in for him. But not really sure yet."
Zack and Dominique Wheeler are expecting their fourth child any day now and the Phillies have adjusted their rotation this week as a result.
Wheeler had been scheduled to start Tuesday in Toronto, which would have also lined him up for the final game of the Phillies’ road trip this week in Pittsburgh.
Instead, the Phils will start Cristopher Sanchez, Mick Abel and Jesus Luzardo in Toronto Tuesday through Thursday. Starters for the Pirates series are TBD.
The Phillies’ off-day Monday allows for Sanchez to move up a spot while still pitching on the standard four days’ rest. Same with Luzardo on Thursday.
Abel will pitch the middle game, his second big-league start. The 23-year-old right-hander will remain in the Phillies’ rotation until Aaron Nola is ready to return from an ankle sprain, which could mean two starts. Taijuan Walker has shifted to the bullpen, where he’ll stay.
The Phillies bring a four-game losing streak to Toronto but hope to receive the jolt of Bryce Harper’s bat back in the lineup after five straight absences. Harper was hit in the right elbow by a 95 mph fastball last Tuesday and was swollen and sore for days before hitting in the cage over the weekend.
No Wheeler will make the series more difficult against a Blue Jays club that has won a season-high five straight games and is in the midst of its best offensive period of 2025, having scored 39 runs the last four.
The Boston Red Sox will spend June digging themselves out of the hole they put themselves in last month.
They Red Sox enter Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels with a 29-32 record after going 11-17 in May. Although they bounced back by taking two out of three against the Atlanta Braves, their inconsistency makes it difficult to believe better days are ahead.
Their schedule won’t get any easier in June. After the three-game set vs. L.A., Boston will head to the Bronx for its first series against the New York Yankees this season. From there, the team will host the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays and the Yankees before a tough West Coast trip against the first-place Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, and Angels. The Red Sox will wrap up the month at home against the second-place Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds.
Here’s how Boston stacks up against the rest of the league in the latest batch of national MLB Power Rankings:
“Fair or not, the Rafael Devers situation is defining Boston’s season so far. The highest-paid player in the organization’s history, moved to designated hitter against his will, has declined to take ground balls and build more flexibility into the roster. Instead, everyone else is expected to move — more specifically, rookie Kristian Campbell, who is learning to play a corner infield position on the fly and taking grounders before games. Devers, meanwhile, has played a corner spot his whole career. Is it shocking that Campbell might be overwhelmed as he tries to hit as a rookie? He’s batting .120 in May.”
“The Red Sox offense is starting to warm up, and it’s not surprising to see who is leading the charge. He might not be playing the field, but that seems for the best, because Rafael Devers sure has taken to the DH spot: He’d tied for the MLB lead in RBIs (52), which is particularly impressive because he’s also leading the AL in walks. The problem is, of course, everything else with the Red Sox right now: They have fallen all the way to fourth in the AL East.”
“The Red Sox dropped six of seven to close out the month, finishing a miserable 11-17. Their middle-infield tandem of Kristian Campbell (.355 OPS) and Trevor Story (.432) finished last and next to last, respectively, among 169 qualified hitters during May.”
“The Boston bats have gone cold lately, but they still sport the 6th-best offense in terms of runs scored. That offense has helped them hide a bad rotation that lacks any reliable starters after ace Garrett Crochet.”
Clockwise from top left: Last week, Chris Sale was crowned the fastest to reach 2,500 strikeouts. Check the stats of Dodgers pitchers Blake Snell and Clayton Kershaw and Nolan Ryan for a deeper story. (Associated Press; Los Angeles Times)
When is the "fastest" something of a slow roll?
How about last week when pitcher Chris Sale was crowned the fastest to reach 2,500 career strikeouts?
Not to diminish Sale's accomplishment: It took him fewer innings (2,026) to record No. 2,500 than any other pitcher in history. But because of injuries and a reduced workload — both huge, flashing signs of the times — he didn't achieve the feat until his 16th season.
Sale was appropriately humble, telling reporters, "I appreciate it for what it is, but I try not to get too caught up in stuff like that right now."
Perhaps he realizes it took others far less time to reach the 2,500 milestone, including the top two strikeout artists of all time: Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson.
Strikeouts are a single lens in viewing the substantive changes over the last 100-plus years in how pitchers are utilized, record outs and withstand the burden. But they can be an instructive one.
Catch a whiff of this: A certain Dodger currently on the injured list strikes out more batters per nine innings than any other pitcher in baseball history, which in effect is another way to express Sale's "fastest" title.
Blake Snell averages a record 11.1679 strikeouts per nine innings, edging out Sale, who is second all-time at 11.1056 among pitchers who average at least one inning per team game.
The believe-it-or-not distinction might explain why the Dodgers gave Snell a five-year, $182-million free agent contract last offseason. His wicked stuff that features a 96 mph four-seam fastball also could help explain why he's on the injured list for the eighth time in the last eight seasons, this time out since April 6 with left shoulder inflammation.
Snell is the epitome of a highly valued starter in today's game: He accumulates strikeouts at a higher rate than anyone else, gives up fewer hits than anyone else, and elicits only shrugs when someone points out that he has a grand total of one complete game in 213 career starts.
It is revealing that 13 of the top 20 pitchers on the all-time strikeout per innings list are active. The only one who didn't pitch in the 21st century is Ryan at No. 19, just ahead of another believe-it-or-not name, Lucas Giolito.
Among the 33 pitchers to average more than a strikeout per inning, the only one whose career began in the 1950s has a statue outside Dodger Stadium: Sandy Koufax.
Koufax and Snell are two of 10 Dodgers among the 33, a clue as to what the Dodgers front office values in mound performance. Several of the names are less than luminary.
Note: Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani averaged a mammoth 11.40 strikeouts per nine innings in six seasons with the Angels but hasn't pitched enough to qualify for the all-time list. He has recovered from elbow surgery and is expected to return to the mound after the All-Star break for the first time since August 2023.
Sale's accomplishment, then, is sustaining a near-record rate of strikeouts per nine innings for more than 2,000 innings, certainly worthy of note.
An equally valid definition of "fastest" to reach a strikeout milestone would be how long it took to get there. The pitcher that the 6-foot-6, left-handed Sale surpassed was his boyhood idol: Johnson, a 6-10, left-handed flamethrower who ranks second to Ryan on the career strikeout list with 4,875.
Johnson notched No. 2,500 in inning No. 2,108 — 82 more than it took Sale. But he did so in only his 11th season, five seasons "faster" than Sale.
Incidentally — and incredibly — Johnson was only halfway through his career. He retired in 2009 after 22 seasons with 4,135.1 innings and 303 wins.
Granted, Johnson was an anomaly, the only hurler ever to amass more than 200 innings and 300 strikeouts in multiple seasons well into his 30s. At ages 35-38 from 1999-2002, he averaged a staggering 354 strikeouts and 258 innings a season.
The only comparable hurler was Ryan (record strikeout total: 5,714), who also reached No. 2,500 in his 11th season, the milestone whiff coming in inning No. 2,287 when he struck out Andre Thornton of Cleveland while pitching for the Angels in 1978.
Ryan's longevity was even more impressive than Johnson's: 27 seasons from 1966-93, 5,386 innings and 324 wins. No current pitcher will come close to those numbers.
On the other end of the strikeout spectrum are Hall of Fame pitchers from more than 100 years ago who logged vast numbers of innings while striking out far fewer batters per inning. Velocity wasn't nearly as high or as prized as it is today and pitchers were expected to complete games they started.
Sale ranks No. 40 on the all-time strikeout list, and he next will pass Christy Mathewson, who needed a prodigious 4,788 innings to log 2,507 strikeouts from 1900-16. Mathewson is far down the list of strikeouts per nine innings, checking in at No. 689 with 4.71.
Walter Johnson, the legendary "Big Train" out of Fullerton Union High, is third all-time with 5,914 innings and ninth with 3,509 strikeouts in a career spanning 1907-27. But he averaged just 5.34 strikeouts per nine innings, ranking No. 520, a few notches ahead of the less than legendary former Dodgers swingman Elmer Dessens.
Other fabled names associated with blazing fastballs compiled surprisingly low strikeout rates as well. Bob "Rapid Robert" Feller, for example, sits at 6.07 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kershaw, meanwhile, is on the cusp of reaching a milestone that very nearly guarantees entry into the Hall of Fame: 3,000 strikeouts. The career Dodger in his 18th season has 2,974, and he's inching toward the finish line, having struck out six in three abbreviated starts since coming off the injured list two weeks ago.
Although Kershaw has consistently downplayed the significance of reaching 3,000, he told Tyler Kepner of the Athletic last week that it's on his mind.
“Yeah, I’d be lying if I didn’t want to do it,” Kershaw said. “But I think the coolest part is the company you get to be a part of. You know what I mean? There’s just some really special names.”
They include, of course, Ryan and Johnson. Nineteen pitchers have reached the milestone and 17 are in the Hall of Fame, with Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling falling short for reasons that had nothing to do with strikeout totals.
Kershaw is considered a Hall of Fame shoo-in, his earned-run average of 2.51 the lowest of any active pitcher that meets the innings qualification and his 212 career victories an impressive number in today's game.
Snell's candidacy falls into the "way too early to tell" category. Yes, he is the only pitcher to win a Cy Young award in each league, and his 3.18 career ERA sparkles. And, of course, striking out more batters per nine innings than anyone else in history stands out on his resume.
Yet Snell is in his 10th season and he has just 77 wins. Hall of Fame starters with the fewest MLB wins are Dizzy Dean (150) and Koufax (165), the careers of both cut short by arm injuries.
Snell's career should be far from over. He's only 32 and his lucrative Dodgers contract doesn't expire until after the 2029 season. But to have a shot at the Hall, Snell must fulfill the promise that prompted the Dodgers to sign him.
The only active pitchers besides Kershaw considered Hall of Fame locks are Justin Verlander and Scherzer, both hard throwers with the requisite strikeout totals.
Verlander, 42, has 3,457 strikeouts while averaging 8.98 per nine innings. He also has 262 wins — 46 more than Scherzer and 50 more than Kershaw, the next two active pitchers on the all-time list. No one else is close to 200.
Scherzer ranks fifth all-time in strikeouts per nine innings at 10.65, trailing only Snell, Sale, Robby Ray (another believe-it-or-not name) and Jacob DeGrom. Scherzer's career total of 3,408 ranks 11th, just behind Verlander.
Gerrit Cole, 34, appeared on a Hall of Fame track before undergoing Tommy John surgery in March. He won't pitch again until early next season, putting a long pause on his current totals of 153 wins, 2,251 strikeouts and 10.37 strikeouts per nine innings.
The only recently retired starter who might be rehearsing his Hall induction speech is another former Dodger, Zack Greinke, who posted 225 wins and 2,979 strikeouts along with a 3.49 ERA before retiring in 2024 after 20 seasons.
What about Sale, whose rebound from four years of debilitating injuries to win a Cy Young award with the Atlanta Braves was one of baseball's best stories of 2024? He finished in the top five of Cy Young voting seven years in a row from 2012-2018, and his 3.04 career ERA is lower than any active starter besides Kershaw and DeGrom.
“He’s kind of doing Hall of Fame stuff,” Braves manager Brian Snitker told reporters. “That guy is probably as big a baseball fan as anybody, just the history of the game and the competition. He's a ballplayer, and it's really cool to watch.”
Yet Sale has only 141 wins, and that perceived blemish could be an interesting litmus test for Hall voters who profess to recognize that wins are much more difficult to accumulate now that teams routinely limit starters to six or fewer innings.
Strikeouts are king these days, and the Dodgers clearly know it.
The Yankees were able to avoid a sweep with a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday night, but the team now heads back to the Bronx with a couple of injuries to keep an eye on.
Outfielder Jasson Dominguez suffered a left thumb contusion while stealing a base in the fifth inning, and closer Luke Weaver wasn’t available to pitch due to hamstring discomfort.
Both players will be evaluated on Monday during the Yankees’ off day.
Dominguez told reporters after the game that there’s “not much concern” with his thumb, saying he was already feeling better.
The outfielder has played well in his first full season in the big leagues, slashing .247/.346/.420 with six home runs and 25 RBI, posting a 117 OPS+.
As for Weaver, manager Aaron Boone planned to use him in the ninth inning on Sunday night, but Weaver felt something was off while he was warming up in the bullpen.
“He felt something when he had finished warming up, and then when he went to stretch, he felt something in the middle of his hammy,” Boone said, via MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “So we had to make a switch on the fly there. We’re hoping it’s not too serious.”
The Yankees ended up tacking on an insurance run to make it a four-run lead, and lefty Tim Hill was able to close things out.
Weaver has been lights-out at the back end of the Yankees’ bullpen this season, pitching to a miniscule 1.05 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 25.1 innings, notching eight saves.
