The Mets are officially making a change to their pitching staff.
David Peterson will be sliding back to the bullpen as of this weekend, and Sean Manaea will receive an opportunity in his spot in the rotation as the bulk arm the next time around.
Peterson had been enjoying success during the early part of May, but he was roughed up his last time out, allowing six runs on a season-high 11 hits across five innings of work in a loss to the Reds.
Manaea, on the other hand, has turned things around nicely after a brutal start to the season.
From potential coaching staff changes to roster moves, the Colorado Avalanche are going to have to make some tough choices this summer as they reflect on getting swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals. Thankfully for them, the salary cap will be increasing by $8.5 million for 2026-27. The cap will be $104 million, while the floor will be $76.9 million.
With that nice chunk of change added, the Avalanche now has $2.979 million to work with. Not the number many expected, considering the cap increase. The main issue is that few contracts are coming off the books, which raises questions about what they plan to do this summer if they want to shake up the roster.
Now, this isn’t a “predicting the Colorado Avalanche's 2026 Offseason Moves” piece or what I think they should do; I am working on that, but I’m still working out some signings and trades to look over. This is more of a thought I want to put in people’s heads about what people on social media and insiders think will happen to this roster.
The Avalanche are set to have five unrestricted free agents come July 1st: Joel Kiviranta, Brent Burns, Brett Kulak, Jack Ahcan, and Nick Blankenburg. They have two restricted free agents in Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov.
Every single player who was brought up about why the Avalanche lost to the Knights is under contract. Nazem Kadri still has three seasons left at his new $5.6 million cap hit that the Flames retained. Martin Necas' new eight-year $92 million contract kicks in. Sam Malinski’s new four-year $19 million contract also kicks in.
Outside of players' contracts running out, the only other cap relief they are receiving is Josh Manson’s cap hit going from $4.5 million to $3.95 million with his new two-year $7.9 million contract extension. The money looks better each season, following as the cap will go up, but if you look past this summer, you see why.
This season, Artturi Lehkonen, Ross Colton, Nicolas Roy, and Cale Makar are in the last year of their contract. Now, Makar is the least worrisome, and many insiders have speculated that the team's focus is on getting an extension done this summer. Still, if you want to retool this team and pick and choose where management thinks they can get better, trades will need to come with their cap situation.
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft is scheduled for June 26 and 27, with the Avalanche focusing mainly on Day 2, as they have no draft picks until the fourth round. So the Avalanche will have some time to scout some later-round players before they decide where to make some space for the roster this free agency.
The Philadelphia Phillies open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scheduled starting pitchers are Zack Wheeler for Philadelphia, with a 1.67 ERA, and Justin Wrobleski for Los Angeles, with a 3.07 ERA.
How to watch Philadelphia Phillies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
There’s a nostalgic feeling to how the Vancouver Canucks’ new management team is starting to shake out. With Ryan Johnson as the Canucks’ new General Manager, Daniel and Henrik Sedin now co-Presidents of Hockey Operations, Alex Edler reportedly helping out with Vancouver’s development camp, and Manny Malhotra being eyed as the franchise’s next head coach, it appears the Canucks are taking a sentimental route when it comes to forming the leadership behind their next era.
With culture and environment being a priority heading into Vancouver’s first stage of their rebuild, it looks as though the Canucks will be drawing heavily from the experiences faced by those late 2000s to early 2010s teams that took Vancouver to the Stanley Cup Final.
These four players are very unlikely to re-join the Canucks organization at this stage in their careers. However, if they did, they would fit seamlessly with the team’s nostalgic trajectory.
Kevin Bieksa
You knew this one was coming.
While the likelihood of Bieksa leaving his position as a Sportsnet analyst feels highly unlikely at this stage, the Canucks bringing the grizzled defenceman back would make a lot of fans happy. Bieksa evidently still has strong feelings towards the organization that he retired with after signing a one-day contract with them, and paired with the way he speaks of culture in the dressing room, he’d be a great addition to the new-but-familiar look of the Canucks organization.
Alex Burrows
He’s in the Ring of Honour for a reason.
A hard-worker who fought his way up to the NHL, right into a spot on the Sedins’ line, Burrows would be a great coaching hire for the Canucks — regardless of whether he’s an assistant, head coach, or even in Abbotsford. The ex-Canuck currently operates as a player development consultant for the Montréal Canadiens, even getting a shout-out from head coach Martin St. Louis at the beginning of his team’s Eastern Conference Final series.
While Burrows would be a great candidate on paper for the Canucks, there’s a reason why he left his role as assistant coach for the Canadiens — wanting to spend more time with his family. Coming back to Vancouver would only make that more difficult.
Jeff Tambellini
Tambellini was reported to have been part of the Canucks’ GM search at the end of April, though evidently, the former Canuck was not the organization’s final selection.
The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations has spent nearly six seasons in an NHL front-office, as he also put in three years as the Seattle Kraken’s Director of Player Development.
With the Sedins’ promotion causing a noticeable vacancy in the player development space, a former Canuck like Tambellini would be an interesting hire for Vancouver.
Roberto Luongo
The Florida Panthers’ Special Assistant To The General Manager would be an interesting name to add to Vancouver’s organization, especially given that he has now won two Stanley Cups with his current team in his advisor role. A former player whose place in the Canucks’ Ring of Honour has sparked debate, specifically about jersey retirement in this context, Luongo’s name was thrown around during Vancouver’s GM search — though there were no specific reports connecting him to the role.
There’s no secret that a Luongo hire would be fun, but that would require the ex-Canucks goaltender to either move his family back to Vancouver, or return on his own.
Feb 12, 2020; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Former NHL player Kevin Bieksa speaks during the Sedin's retirement ceremony for twin brothers Daniel Sedin (22) and Henrik Sedin (33) of Sweden as their Vancouver Canucks jerseys are retired to the rafters of Rogers Arena prior to a game between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Realistically, these four hires are extremely unlikely — but they’re still fun to think about.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The New York Yankees, second in the AL East with a 34-22 record, face the Athletics, who are second in the AL West at 27-29. The New York Yankees are favored with a -153 moneyline compared to the Athletics' +127. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Carlos Rodón for the Yankees, with a 4.15 ERA, and Luis Severino for the Athletics, with a 4.23 ERA.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 07: Nick Mears #31 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 07, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Royals’ bullpen took another hit on Friday when the team announced Nick Mears has been placed on the Injured List with right shoulder impingement. The Royals recalled reliever Eric Cerantola from Triple-A Omaha to replace him on the roster.
Mears pitched on Tuesday, giving up two walks and two hits among the six Yankees batters he faced in a 7-0 loss. The Royals already had relievers Carlos Estévez and Matt Strahm on the Injured List, in addition to starters Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic. Mears had appeared in 21 games this year with a 5.12 ERA and 15 strikeouts and 11 walks in 19.1 innings.
Cerantola had been up in a previous stint with the Royals, appearing in two games with five strikeouts, while giving up four walks and three runs in three innings.
The Carolina Hurricanes can advance to the Stanley Cup Final with a victory over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference finals. The Hurricanes lead the series 3-1. Carolina is favored in Game 5 with a -244 moneyline compared to the Canadiens' +199.
How to watch Montreal Canadiens vs. Carolina Hurricanes
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 23: Pitcher Chris Paddack #56 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on during game one of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on May 23, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chris Paddack has logged a pair of starts for the Cincinnati Reds since they picked him up as an emergency band-aid for their starting rotation, and he’s been perfectly fine in those outings. He’s thrown exactly 5.0 IP in each, allowed a total of 4 ER in those 10 IP, and has 8 strikeouts against just 4 walks.
That’s about as good as anyone could have hope for from him given how much he’d been shelled as a starter for the Miami Marlins, and the Reds will ask for more from him on Friday evening in Great American Ball Park as the roaring Atlanta Braves come to town.
To date, Atlanta boasts a collective .334 wOBA offensively, and that’s the third best mark of any club in the game (behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees). They also have the most wins in the sport (38) and best win percentage (.667) of any team, and that’s enough to make any pitcher – let alone Paddack – shake in their boots a little bit.
Of course, the Reds offense has become something of a force itself lately, too. In fact, over the last 30 days it’s been Cincinnati’s offense (.322 wOBA) that’s been better than that of Atlanta (.315). So, maybe we’re just in-line for a good old fashioned shootout in GABP tonight.
Grant Holmes will start for the Braves, and first pitch is slated for 6:40 PM ET.
Here’s how the Reds will line up for this one, with Spencer Steer starting at 2B and Matt McLain out of the lineup to begin:
The New York Yankees are rolling and are the rightful favorites against the Athletics tonight.
Luis Severino’s walk and barrel issues give New York’s power-heavy lineup the cleaner scoring path, and that's why my Yankees vs. Athleticspredictions are laying the run line instead of paying the -155 moneyline tax on the Bombers.
Who will win Yankees vs A's tonight: Yankees -1.5 (+108)
I see the New York Yankees' run line price as generous and would play it down to -110.
Luis Severino’s contact profile is a bad fit against New York. His 45th-percentile hard-hit rate and 35th-percentile barrel rate are real concerns against a Yankees lineup built to punish mistakes, led by an MLB-best 11.1% barrel rate and an overall depth of hard-hitting bats.
Carlos Rodon also adds separation on the mound. His 2.96 expected ERA and .153 expected BA allowed point to a sharper current form than Severino’s, giving New York the cleaner starter and louder offense.
New York has a strong path to crooked innings, and the A's aren't a dead offense against left-handed pitching.
While Rodon’s contact profile is excellent, his 18.6% walk rate creates risk against an Athletics lineup with plenty of pop.
Severino is the bigger trigger. His high walk rate is also a risk factor in this matchup.
I project the Yankees to drive the total, and the A's to do enough to get this Over. I'd play this to -130.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 24-19, +4.56 units
Over/Under bets: 28-15, +15.34 units
Yankees vs A's odds
Moneyline: Yankees -155 | A's +145
Run line: Yankees -1.5 | A's +1.5
Over/Under: Over 9 | Under 9
Yankees vs A's trend
The Yankees have covered the F5 run line in 31 of their last 50 away games (+9.50 Units / 16% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. A's.
How to watch Yankees vs A's and game info
Location
Sutter Health Park, Sacramento, CA
Date
Friday, May 29, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
YES, NBC Sports California
Yankees starting pitcher
Carlos Rodon (0-2, 4.15 ERA)
A's starting pitcher
Luis Severino (2-5, 4.23 ERA)
Yankees vs A's latest injuries
Yankees vs A's weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The stars are out in Southern California as the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers host the Philadelphia Phillies tonight, with the game to be broadcast on Apple TV at 10:15 p.m. ET.
With ace Zack Wheeler on the mound and a red-hot, fully rested bullpen behind him, my Phillies vs. Dodgers predictions like this visitors in a low-scoring contest.
Read on for my full analysis and pick against the total with my MLB picks for Friday, May 29.
Who will win Phillies vs Dodgers tonight: Phillies (+100)
This game offers a choice between fool’s gold and pure gold.
Fool’s gold: Los Angeles Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski and his 3.07 ERA. He doesn’t make batters miss (second percentile whiff rate, fifth percentile K rate) or induce grounders (36.7%), so all that glitters ain’t.
Pure gold: Zack Wheeler, 1.67 ERA. It’s the third consecutive season his ERA is under 2.75. He limits free passes (88th percentile walk rate) and generates a 98th percentile chase rate.
The Philadelphia Phillies have been destroying southpaws (135 wRC+ in May) and face a hittable one, so I’d play it up to -105.
COVERS INTEL:With winds of 6-12 mph blowing out, Wrobleski’s high fly-ball rate (44.4%) is an issue against a Phillies lineup that makes loud contact (38% hard-hit rate against LHP this month).
Phillies vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-120)
This spot makes for an appealing Under as both bullpens are fully rested following Thursday’s off day.
Philadelphia has an unreal 2.00 SIERA and 28.9 K-BB% in relief over the last 20 days. LA holds a 2.94 FIP in that span and recently had an incredible 38-inning scoreless streak from the bullpen snapped.
The Phillies have cashed the Over just nine times in 26 away games, whereas the Dodgers have done so 11 times in 28 home games.
Interim manager Don Mattingly has changed the Phillies’ identity, and they’ve gone 2-14 O/U in the last 16 games.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 16-17, -5.33 units
Over/Under bets: 26-9, +16.54 units
Phillies vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Phillies +105 | Dodgers -116
Run line: Phillies +1.5 (-205) | Dodgers -1.5 (+177)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-120) | Under 7.5 (+100)
Phillies vs Dodgers trend
The Phillies have hit the Under in six consecutive games. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Phillies vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Friday, May 29, 2026
First pitch
10:15 p.m. ET
TV
Apple TV
Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (4-0, 1.67 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (6-2, 3.07 ERA)
Phillies vs Dodgers latest injuries
Phillies vs Dodgers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
If the St. Louis Blues are looking to maximize skill at pick No. 11, look no further than forward Wyatt Cullen.
Cullen is a dynamic offensive forward who is one of the most interesting players in the 2026 NHL draft class.
Cullen is the son of former NHL player Matt Cullen, and while that alone is interesting, the most intriguing element of his game is his recent growth spurt. In the past year or two, Cullen has grown several inches, and although wherever you read might post a different height, the upcoming NHL combine will soon confirm his height.
At the moment, Cullen is listed between six feet and 6-foot-2.
But outside of the shocking growth spurt, Cullen is an outstanding playmaker.
Playing with the USNDTP this season, Cullen posted 16 goals and 45 points in 40 games, and in USHL action with NTDP, Cullen posted six goals and 16 points in 15 games. At the U-18s with Team USA, Cullen posted three goals and a team-leading nine points in five games. His nine points ranked third in the tournament, as two players tied with 12 points.
Cullen’s game revolves around his skating. He is fast and agile, using his edge work to create space and protect the puck. He is a dynamic playmaker, always looking to make passes into high-danger areas.
Cullen’s skating is matched by his deceptive hands, which make him a threat in transition. Blending the ability to create offense in transition and on the cycle can make Cullen a very effective NHL player. While both elements need polishing, it’s not uncommon for a player as young as Cullen.
In fact, Cullen is one of the youngest players in the draft and narrowly made the cutoff, as he was born on Sept. 8, 2008, missing it by seven days.
The final part of Cullen’s game is that a scout believes he might be best deployed as a center. According to the Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis, he spoke to a scout who said, “(I was) talking to scouts that actually thought he was a center based off of how proficient he is in his own zone, how much time he spends there stealing the puck off guys to then just find out he’s actually a winger surprised a few people. That’s how good a game he has.”
The Blues are in desperate need of a highly skilled and possibly game-breaking forward. Cullen comes with less certainty than wingers like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, but with three first-round selections, the Blues can take a gamble on Cullen’s upside.
Cullen is set to join the University of Minnesota in the NCAA for the 2027-28 season.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 24: Jorge Mateo #2 of the Atlanta Braves bats against the Washington Nationals in the eighth inning at Truist Park on May 24, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves have lost three of their last five games, and their offense has been a roller coaster. They scored seven and ten runs respectively in their last two wins, but scored zero runs twice and one run in the other game. Still, their offense ranks as second in MLB in total runs scored.
The Braves will have a chance to build on their ten run performance from yesterday when they face off against Chris Paddack who is struggling to a 6.86 ERA. His expected ERA (xERA) is much better at 4.32, but us still to a point that the Braves on paper should be able to tag him for some runs.
Mike Yastrzemski has done very well against Paddack in his career. In twenty-five at-bats he has three HRs, a .400 average, and 1.324 OPS. Ozzie Albie has been successful as well with a .364 average and 1.000 OPS in eleven at-bats.
A big question mark before the lineup card dropped was whether Dominic Smith would DH since Walt Weiss has been known thus far to not use the same lineup everyday. Smith has had a fantastic season, but has struggled to a .182 average against Paddack in eleven at-bats, but has a HR. Another lineup move that many likely had their eyes on was who was going to play SS. Jorge Mateo has been on fire by his standards this year. He has started nineteen games and has multi-hit games in eight of them. That being said, the reason he got the start yesterday was likely due to the pitcher being a lefty. Ha-Seong Kim has clearly struggled this season, but he also has not fully ramped up.
As it turns out, Smith did end up being in the starting lineup and will bat fifth. Mateo also got the start proven against the idea what Weiss may be using his as the main option for lefties moving forward. Chadwick Tromp will get the start a week after his walk-off magic in the eleventh inning.
Grant Holmes will take the mound the the Braves to face the Reds. No Reds player has faced Holmes more than seven at-bats, but most of the ones that have had success against him. Of the nine players to face him, six of them have at-least a .333 average.
TJ Friedl is the player to keep an eye on. In his four at-bats against Holmes, he has two HRs.
Interestingly, Freidl will be batting ninth against Holmes. As can be seen in the graphic above, the Reds will be wearing their city connect jerseys this evening.
The Braves look to jumpstart their offense tonight. First pitch is at 6:40 EDT
Australian goes down 0-6 6-2 6-2 6-3 to Jakub Mensik
No 8 seed will rue a golden chance to advance in Paris
Alex de Minaur was blown out of the French Open just when opportunity had knocked deafeningly for all the would-be contenders.
With Jannik Sinner’s sensational exit having made everyone believe their chance could be at hand, de Minaur’s enduring dream was this time dynamited by young Czech powerhouse Jakub Mensik 0-6 6-2 6-2 6-3 in the third round.
Undeniably a key factor in the Phillies’ turnaround after an atrocious start to the season, a recently recovered Zack Wheeler is winning the current round of a battle against Father Time by being one of the more dominant starters in the National League since his return to a big league mound in late April. Although it is not always the case, for Wheeler in particular, the level of dominance he has presented has been enough to make the Phillies unbeatable in his starts.
The Dodgers will be the seventh team to go up against Wheeler this season, and evidently the best he has faced. Los Angeles will try to accomplish what each of the previous six failed to do, which is to beat the Phillies, who are 6-0 in Wheeler starts.
Justin Wrobleski might not have been the first pick for such a lofty task, but the southpaw carries an edge in this particular matchup. The Phillies offense is redefining the meaning of “top-heavy,” with two-thirds of their lineup carrying an OPS of .656 or lower. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and Brandon Marsh have carried this offense, all three of them lefties. Now, Harper and Schwarber are scary hitters regardless of who they’re facing, but you’d still prefer a lefty there.
This lack of anything even remotely resembling a bit of depth is why Philly enters play on Friday with the fifth-worst team wRC+ in the sport, relying primarily on their pitching to carry this team.
Apr 14, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Adolis Garcia (53) reacts after striking out against the Chicago Cubs in the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
When Adolis Garcia came into camp after signing with the Phillies, the team had specific ideas on what they wanted him to work on in the hopes that he could recapture his past form. Garcia tweaked his batting stance and worked on improving his plate discipline to try and cut down on his high chase rate. So far, he has done exactly that, as his 28.1 % swing rate on pitches outside of the zone is the lowest it’s been since 2023, which was the best season of Garcia’s career and the last time he was an above average hitter. He’s also cut down his overall swing rate to 43.4% from 52.2%, cut his whiff rate down to 12.9% from 14.6%, and his 83.7% rate of contact on pitches inside the zone is the best of his career. Through the first two months of 2026, he’s accomplished all of the goals he and the Phillies laid out for him this spring.
Season
Swing Rate
Chase Rate
Whiff Rate
Zone Contact Rate
2025
52.2%
35.7%
14.6%
79.4%
2026
43.4%
28.1%
12.9%
83.7%
So why is he in the midst of the worst season of his career after a particularly brutal month of May where he hit .141 with a .447 OPS and 33 strikeouts in 24 games?
To attempt to understand that conundrum, we must first look at what made Garcia successful in the past. In that All-Star 2023 season, Garcia was one of the most aggressive hitters in baseball, swinging early and often as evidenced by his swing rate of 48.6%. He did not hit for a high average at just .245 overall, but his .508 slugging percentage was tenth best among all hitters with at least 600 plate appearances. Garcia still swung and chased at a high rate, but he did damage on the pitches he got to hit.
Fast forward to 2026, and Garcia’s .312 SLG is among the worst in baseball, and he has the worst barrel percentage of his career by half. His new swing and approach have resulted in the intended plate discipline improvements but have had unintended side effects.
Cutting back on his aggressiveness has limited Garcia’s ability to do damage on the increased amount of pitches he’s seen in the zone. Even in a poor 2025 season where Garcia had the worst SLG of his career to that point, his expected SLG of .427 was right around league average and his 11.6% barrel rate was above average. In 2026, those numbers are dramatically lower, with Garcia carrying a .350 xSLG and a 7.1% barrel rate that would both be his career worst for a full season. He’s especially struggling to catch up to fastballs, as his .284 actual SLG and .378 xSLG against heaters are both the worst marks of his career. He hasn’t been any better on breaking balls, with a .292 SLG and .294 xSLG that are also the worst of his career and a 39.4% whiff rate that is the second worst of his career.
Garcia is hitting more line drives at a career best 24.4% rate, but his flyball rate has plummeted ten percentage points to a career worst 36.2%. He’s also pulling the ball at a career worst rate of 37.8%, continuing a declining trend that started in 2024. His isolated power of .111 is another career worst mark and is over a 50-point dropoff from last season. Simply put, Garcia is not impacting the ball even close to the way he used to and has been worse at it than even his disappointing 2025 season.
Season
SLG
xSLG
Barrel %
ISO
2025
.394
.427
11.6
.168
2026
.312
.350
7.1
.111
Now, some of this can be contributed to the obvious factor: age. At 33-years-old coming off of two below average seasons, it’s quite likely that Garcia is in decline and will never reach his previous heights but rather will continue to get worse. But the steep drop from even his poor 2025 suggests that maybe something else is at play here. There’s not much to contribute to luck either, as Garcia’s .276 BABIP is only slightly below the league average of .287 so far.
Perhaps trying to change Garcia into a different hitter has made him worse than he already was in two disappointing seasons. A hitter trying to become more patient at the plate is not necessarily a bad thing, as it usually leads to more quality plate appearances. But that’s not the case for everybody. Some hitters thrive on being aggressive. Garcia is one of those hitters. By trying to cut back on that aggressiveness, Garcia and the Phillies have inadvertently taken away the few things he was still good at even in his worst years.
Maybe better results with the new approach will come eventually. It isn’t exactly “early” in the season anymore as we’ve passed the first unofficial checkpoint of Memorial Day, but there are still 106 games to go. That’s still plenty of time for something to click and everything to fall in place.
Or maybe the Phillies and Garcia need to accept that he is what he is at the plate and let him go back to leaning on his strengths, even if the result is another below average season. Because even below average is better than what Garcia is right now.
COVERS INTEL:
