Jun 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (right) looks on as Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Los Angeles had two hits in eight at-bats with runners in scoring position, but neither hit did not drive in a run. Shohei Ohtani did not score from second base on the Andy Pages double in the third inning, mostly because the ball was nearly caught in center field. The Dodgers scored their only run of the game in that inning, though on a ground out.
The other non-run-scoring hit with a runner in scoring position was a Miguel Rojas infield single in the second inning that moved two runners up 90 feet to load the bases. Believe it or not, 22 of the Dodgers’ 137 hits (16.1 percent) with runners in scoring position failed to score a run this season. But that’s right in line with MLB as a whole (16.4 percent), so this happens more often than you — or at least I — might have thought.
The bigger drain on offense was all eight of those at-bats with runners in scoring position came in the first three innings, with nary a threat over the final six innings.
But despite all that, the Dodgers still led 1-0 into the sixth inning. But home runs in three consecutive innings spoiled that hope. Arizona was hitless in two at-bats with runners in scoring position, both in the first inning. But they found a workaround with the long ball.
The Dodgers have allowed three home runs in a game five times this season, never more than that to date, though one of those contests was last Tuesday’s blowout of the Colorado Rockies that saw Rojas give up two of the three home runs in an inning he entered with a 14-run lead.
The Dodgers have won three of the five games in which they allowed three home runs. They are 12-0 when hitting at least three home runs, four of those games in the last week. MLB teams as a whole this season have a .238 win percentage when allowing at least three home runs, including .279 when allowing exactly three home runs.
Eric Lauer allowed one home run, a solo shot for the only run he allowed in his Dodgers debut last Tuesday, the aforementioned blowout of the Rockies. He led the American League with 11 home runs allowed at the time the Toronto Blue Jays traded him to Los Angeles.
Lauer’s mound opponent on Tuesday, right-hander Michael Soroka, has allowed four home runs in his 11 starts this season. Only two of those home runs were hit in his 34 1/3 innings at Chase Field, during which he has a 1.57 ERA.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 27: Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 27, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves are back home after another successful road trip. They’ll face Toronto and Pittsburgh now at home, but Toronto comes first and former Brave Kevin Gausman will take the mound Tuesday.
Gausman has essentially pitched at a star level since leaving the Braves, as they seem to have done the right scouting, but couldn’t quite get the development right with him. The 35 year old righty is essentially a two-pitch pitcher, throwing his four-seamer and sinker over 90% of the time, with a token slider for a different look. The fastball sits around 94 with good extension and great life, particularly in the horizontal axis. His splitter has strong horizontal break as well and he throws it below the zone often for a bunch of whiffs. He’s a very good pitcher, but a righty probably is better for the Braves’ current platoon splits, so hopefully they can hit him well.
Bryce Elder will be on the mound and while he has looked more like an enhanced Bryce Elder than prime Corey Kluber of late, he is having a good year and giving the Braves a chance to win when he takes the mound. He is coming off of his worst start by far, as a lack of strikeouts, bad defense, and BABIP luck resulted in 6 runs over 3.1 innings. He’ll hope to bounce back against a Toronto lineup that has talent but has been a huge disappointment this season, with a bottom 10 team wRC+ of 94. Hopefully they stay disappointing and don’t find their talent again while in Atlanta. This seems like a solid bounce-back opportunity for Bryce and the Braves might need that from him against Gausman.
Relief Pitcher Taylor Clarke with catcher Aramis Garcia. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Inspiration.
In May, the Diamondbacks had 17 quality starts. Quality starts often require the bullpen to pitch less innings. Those starts should keep them rested. More importantly, the interesting question is whether the Diamondbacks relievers pitch better in games in which the starter executed a quality start? Let’s look at that question. Data from Baseball Reference, FanGraphs, and Baseball Savant.
The 17 Quality Starts in May.
There were seven relief pitchers with at least 14 PAs in those quality starts (Pfaadt was not considered because of too few PAs in quality starts).
Zero Earned Runs. Three relievers (Jonathan Loaisiga, Brandyn Garcia, and Taylor Clarke) allowed zero earned runs. That could imply that they were not challenged by their batters. To test that idea, I looked at stats (OBP, SLG, and RBIs/PA) for the batters they faced. I found seven dangerous batters: Luis Arraez, Jake Burger, Oneil Cruz, former Diamondback Jake McCarthy, Bryan Reynolds, Casey Schmitt, and Juan Soto. To my surprise, they each had exactly four PAs against those dangerous batters. My conclusion is they were indeed challenged and pitched admirably. The following table shows the dangerous batters they faced.
Side Note: In 2022, Jake McCarthy was voted Rookie of the Year by the AZ Snake Pit. After last season’s career low .591 OPS, the Diamondbacks traded him during the offseason. This season with the Rockies, Jake McCarthy had a career best .784 OPS and a career best .149 RBIs/PA. Those career best statistics made him a dangerous batter.
Win Probability Added (WPA). In May, which of the seven pitchers made the most impact as measured by WPA? To my surprise, despite allowing earned runs, Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald ranked third and fourth ahead of Loaisiga. Another note is that two games (13 and 21 May) were responsible for Juan Morillo ranking last in WPA. The following table shows their WPAs.
Quality Starts in the Entire Season.
Now, let’s look at the big question, “This season, did the Diamondbacks relievers pitch better in quality starts?” Each of their game-WPAs were placed into one of two bins: games with quality starts and games without quality starts. Each reliever had between 7 and 9 quality start games, with the exception of Thompson, who had 5. Sample size was not an issue.
The following table shows the WPA for each reliever.
The answer is that it depends on which relief pitcher.
Three relievers pitched better in quality starts (Clarke, Garcia, and Loaisiga). It makes sense that those three allowed zero earned runs in May’s quality starts.
One Reliever pitched about the same in both, with a slight edge to no-quality starts (Ginkel).
Three relievers pitched better in non-quality starts (Thompson, Sewald, and Morillo).
Summary.
In May, three relievers allowed zero earned runs in their quality starts, despite facing dangerous batters. They were Jonathan Loaisiga, Brandyn Garcia, and Taylor Clarke. This season, some relievers pitched better in games with quality starts (Loaisiga, Garcia, and Clarke), and some relievers (Morillo, Sewald, and Thompson) pitched better in games with non-quality starts. One reliever (Ginkel) pitched about the same in each type of game.
Last week the MLBPA and MLB each submitted their initial offerings to each other as they staked out their arguments for what the terms of the next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) should contain. There are a lot of interesting elements to those proposals we’ll talk about in detail over the coming weeks and months, but in today’s “Reading the CBA Leaves” I’m focusing on one in particular: MLB’s proposal for a salary floor.
MLB formally proposed a salary cap of $245.3 million and a salary floor of $171.2 million. The cap is a non-starter. The 2026 first tier for the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) kicks in at $244 million. The idea that MLB would cap salaries at a substantially less than inflation increase above that is laughable. But the more interesting number for discussion today is the proposed salary floor, which almost looks compelling until you start to dig into it a little bit.
The devil really is in the details here. Baking those fixed costs into the salary floor allows MLB to offer a floor that looks reasonable while actually just reallocating items the players have already won to bolster a floor that frankly isn’t high enough with those elements included.
In 2027, the salary floor would be set at $171.2 million, meaning that 12 teams would be required to increase payroll by a combined $617 million to meet the floor, enabling more clubs to pursue free-agent players and retain their homegrown stars.
Those 12 teams, based on 2026 Opening Day payrolls, are the Marlins, Guardians, Rays, White Sox, Cardinals, Nationals, Pirates, Twins, Brewers, Athletics, Rockies and Reds.
It all sounds well and good that 12 teams would need to increase salaries by $617 million, but Feisand goes on to note that “eight clubs – the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, Red Sox, Padres and Braves – would be required to reduce payroll by a combined $578 million.” That’s a recipe for relatively flat salary numbers for players with a heavy hand in redistribution.
Which payroll number you use matters more than just the bonuses and benefits that are included, as Jon Becker of Fangraphs noted when he looked at team salaries last year:
Please note that for contracts with significant deferrals, the league’s Labor Relations Department (LRD) will recalculate their value to a significantly lower number than what is displayed on the RosterResource pages to account for the discounted rate. For each year, we show the money that ultimately will be paid out to each player. So, for example, RosterResource lists Shohei Ohtani’s real-dollar payroll value for 2025 as $70 million, even though his 10-year, $700 million contract is heavily deferred.
The CBT payrolls shown on RosterResource, and in the AAV column for each player, do accurately reflect how the league discounts contracts. I wrote more about Ohtani’s deal in particular here. Ken Rosenthal wrote more about the nuances of Ohtani’s contract’s three values ($700 million, about $460 million, and about $280 million) here; RosterResource only accounts for the first two values, while the league’s LRD calculation reflects the third.
CBT payrolls include ancillary expenses that the real-dollar payrolls don’t, including player benefits (estimated at $17.5 million this year), payment into the $50 million pre-arbitration bonus pool ($1,666,667 per team), and minor league salaries for 40-man roster players (estimated at $2.5 million per team).
You should read that whole piece, and pay special attention to how using the CBT numbers for salaries impacts the amount of compensation going to players. It really is telling that MLB’s proposal would be based on a calculation that shows the 2025 Athletics paid their players $115.3 million in 2025 as opposed to the $76.5 million the LRD number indicates they paid their players. Here is the full chart from Becker’s piece:
And therein lies the rub, this isn’t a move towards competitive equity and a fairer playing field. This is an attempt to fix labor costs under the guise of moving to a more fair playing field. So of course the league is using a dataset of payroll values that is most favorable to the ownership group and includes all sorts of additional compensation the players would probably argue are distinct from their salaries.
The average baseball team is worth $2.9 billion, more than double MLB’s $1.3 billion average from a decade ago, per Forbes’ annual estimates. But some franchises are appreciating at a much slower rate than others. When they put their teams up for sale in recent years, the owners of the Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins were disappointed by the bids that came in.
What’s perhaps most irksome to baseball owners, however, is that they keep getting trounced by owners in other leagues. The average National Basketball Association team is worth $5.4 billion, and the average National Football League team $7.1 billion, per Forbes
Drellich continues:
The owners are emboldened not only because they see a problem — they also believe they see a solution.
Every day, they watch other leagues make use of the system they want in baseball. The NBA, NFL and National Hockey League all have a salary cap and floor. MLB does not.
The leading reason MLB valuations trail is a lack of “payroll certainty,” according to Sal Galatioto, president of the sports banking firm Galatioto Sports Partners.
It is an audacious move for a league with an estimated $12.5 billion value to attempt an increase in franchise values across the board by orders of magnitude by limiting the cost of player labor across the board. It is perhaps a sign of the times that the owners and MLB believe they can define what counts as salaries in the most favorable possible terms to owners as the negotiations begin.
The terms of the debate matter a lot and $171 million just isn’t what it used to be, especially when those terms result in a salary floor that is actually closer to $128 million.
The White Sox are having fun, and we should, too! | (Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images)
White Sox fans, you’ve been hurt, and don’t I know it.
You hesitate to recognize the 2026 White Sox as postseason contenders, which, based on the trauma of the 2024 season alone, is valid. You don’t trust the front office or the organization as a whole, and may harbor anger towards the team. You’re exhausted from growing attached to a lineup, a player, or the cultural climate, only to have it ripped from you. You’re unwilling to expose your defenseless baseball bosom, which has been weakened more gravely than Jerry Reinsdorf’s aging brain, to any sense of hope. You’re tired of being gacha’d like a three-year-old with their own mobile phone, because Chicago Sports Network charges $20 per month to watch White Sox games if you don’t have cable. It feels rotten to be nickel-and-dimed in the current day and age for a team that has let you down so far into your baseball grave that you can no longer see the sun.
I’ve been there, right where you are. I took an entire year off baseball, not watching a single game, which caused psychic damage to my innermost self. I came into this season with a barrel of wishes and not much to lose, my bar aflame in the depths of hell and being used as a leaning post by Arnold “Chick” Gandil. Re-entering the fold, I was primed for pain and ready for losses in the high nineties, feeling dissatisfied with the 6-13 start, my brain burning with knowledge of the team’s potential. My doubt was the suit of armor I was clad in, but it rusted quickly in April and completely corroded by mid-May, revealing that classic pinstripe jersey underneath.
The White Sox haven’t just obtained a pulse; they’ve gained a new life and are already sprinting on the base paths.
This isn’t the same old Chicago White Sox, and only one active position player on the roster remains from the accursed 2024 squad. With Jacob Gonzalez as the 11th player to make their Chicago debut this season, this is a brand new team.
And boy, is it a fun squad! If you permit yourself to enjoy it again, White Sox baseball is a paramour, gathering you back into its arms with seductively dramatic dingers, magic wands in the hand of a smiling dingus (affectionately, from a fellow dork), projectile run-killing missiles from the outfield to home plate, walk-offs, winning months, and excited players, having fun. They celebrate one another. They play until the game is over.
Bewilderingly, even the national media are noticing the Good Guys, and not just because of Munetaka Murakami. Even during the modern-era South Siders’ best year, the harsh criticism never stopped, and the national media discredited the 2005 White Sox every step of the way, right up to the very end. When they swept the World Series, critics yawned, complaining that it was boring. Usually, this team can’t please everyone, but before this season, they couldn’t please anyone.
Just as Big Media wants to dislike the White Sox and is usually actively rooting against them, fans feel they have earned the right to hate on their team because they put in the time to learn the stat lines. I agree with this. Like you, I’m critical of the White Sox. As a lifelong fan, I’ve been hurt before, but I’ve also hopped on board for the greatest rides. I was there in the ’80s, but don’t remember much. In the early ’90s, the strange feeling of watching Comiskey’s demolition is drowned out by memories of my love for Frank Thomas and his dingers, and fireworks after the game. I never got busted for smoking Marlboro Reds in the nosebleeds in the late ’90s, but I should have been. In the early ’00s, I wised up and started getting better seats. Mid-season 2004, I knew the team could go all the way. It was easy to see in the way the guys played after the All-Star break, and I was lucky to watch them sail that headwind directly into a 2005 World Series title, never running out of steam along the way. That’s what this current White Sox team reminds me of: post-All-Star break 2004. This current team has the power, drive, and unity to go deep into the postseason, and maybe even all the way.
Will the White Sox win a World Series this year? I don’t know. Can they?
Yes, they can.
Look at how they play. They give it their all until the game is over. They’re 12-6 in one-run games this season, a stat that would make the 2024-era past you do a spit take. This past weekend, with the White Sox up by enough against the Tigers and no one on base, Sam Antonacci made a killer outfield catch when there was nothing at stake. That’s the energy in the entire clubhouse, and you can see it in every sprint to first, every low-stakes catch, and every pinch hit. They believe in one another and are finally a team that’s good enough to have fun.
Something was missing the last time the White Sox were in a position to think about the playoffs. While 2021 was dynamic and exciting, it felt like we were watching many individual players who lacked a team mentality. That vibe is long gone. Every cog in this machine is operating for the greater whole, and every game is important. This is evident in every play.
The White Sox have turned the tide and have been putting the spanking the AL Central, a feat that’s not small to this team. Once the next series is done in Minnesota, a test is nigh for both players and fans. A daunting 13-game gauntlet against four formidable playoff contenders is in our immediate future, and it will define who this White Sox team is, for all of us, fans and players alike. June 5 is the start of the series with the Phillies, then it’s the Braves, Dodgers and Yankees. It won’t be easy, but the White Sox aren’t stopping any time soon.
At the start of this season, the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t just sweep the White Sox; they obliterated them and left no opportunity to the wind. Despite this, Brewers manager Pat Murphy said about the White Sox, “Mark my words right now: That Chicago White Sox team will be something to be reckoned with in that division.”
I’d like to believe he’s onto something.
No matter what happens, let’s permit ourselves to enjoy this ride. This team is a pure pleasure to watch, and I haven’t had this much fun watching baseball since 2005. In the present moment, the White Sox are a squad of remarkable talent, and they’ve made us fall in love with the South Siders again, despite how shattered our fandom had become.
You can wait until the June gauntlet is over to decide whether you believe in this White Sox team. I believe now.
Jace Avina of the Somerset Patriots is present before a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on May 31, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
It wasn’t a great week to be a pitcher in the Yankees’ organization. Several highly touted pitching prospects scuffled across all levels in some of their worst outings of the season, but they were picked up by some strong hitting performances up and down the system.
Dax Kilby made his season debut, George Lombard Jr. began to heat up, the DSL season is kicking off, and so much more on another week on the farm.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
Record: 28-27, 5.5 GB in the International League East after a 2-4 week against the Worcester Red Sox (Red Sox)
Run differential: +18
Coming up: Away @ Syracuse Mets (Mets)
It wasn’t a fun start to the week for Scranton, but they finished strong. They lost four consecutive games to start the week, scoring nine total runs in those games, but got two terrific pitching performances on Saturday and Sunday to salvage a pair of games.
Spencer Jones (6-for-22, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB) returned to the level after his cup of coffee in the big leagues and went back to anchoring this offense. Tyler Hardman had a few big hits, but is in an adjustment period after his promotion, while many of the veterans struggled with the rest of the offense. We saw the best week yet from George Lombard Jr. since his promotion, as he mashed his first two homers at the level in a week that saw him reach base 10 times across six games.
It was an up-and-down week for the rotation. Adam Kloffenstein struggled on Tuesday, but bounced back to deliver six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts on Sunday. Dom Hamel got blown up on Wednesday, Elmer Rodríguez (5 IP, 5 R, 3 ER, 5 K) finished a disappointing month with an uneven outing on Friday, and Brendan Beck tossed six shutout innings despite uncharacteristic command issues on Saturday. The best performer of the week was Carlos Lagrange, who toned down the four-seamer velo to pitch a season-high 5.2 one-run innings on Thursday.
Yovanny Cruz hasn’t been fazed since his first taste of the big leagues, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts in two games this week. Bradley Hanner and Kervin Castro continued to be rocks in the bullpen, along with Dylan Coleman continuing to navigate poor command with zeroes. The hotshot name is Eric Reyzelman, who allowed a run in 2.1 innings this week while maxing out at 98 on his four-seamer.
Record: 26-25, 2 GB in the Eastern League Northeast after a 3-3 week against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies)
Run differential: +35
Coming up: Away @ Harrisburg Senators (Nationals)
Despite taking a big hit in the run differential department, Somerset had a solid week, holding serve in a very underwhelming EL Northeast Division that’s still ripe for the taking. Some high-scoring shootout victories on Tuesday and Friday partially overshadowed an overall poor week for the pitching staff, which allowed at least seven runs four consecutive days to start the week.
The bats continue to rake. Jace Avina continues to be a star at the level, Garrett Martin added to his Eastern League-leading home run total, and Nick Torres returned from injury and didn’t lose a step, going 4-for-12 with a double and four walks in four games after missing six weeks with injury. Despite continuing to pace their league in hitting, the bottom of the order is looking shallow. A-ball call-ups Connor McGinnis, Kevin Verde, and Santiago Gomez (who’s been sent down to High-A Hudson Valley) have struggled in brief stints in the infield.
Ben Hess is being built up extremely slowly from injury, tossing a pair of multi-inning outings this week without completing three innings. Behind him in those two starts, Trent Sellers and Chase Chaney bounced back from rough outings to throw five solid innings.
Outside of those three, it was a really rough week. Cade Smith allowed six runs in 3.2 innings on Wednesday, Xavier Rivas allowed 11 runs in 4.1 innings on Thursday, and Jack Cebert allowed seven runs in four innings on Friday. The best outing came from Kyle Carr, whose topsy-turvy season continued with a quality start on Saturday, where he tossed 6.2 innings, allowed one earned run, and struck out 10, a new career high.
The bullpen has suddenly become an issue. With Reyzelman promoted and arms like Will Brian and Chris Kean struggling, there aren’t many guys consistently putting up zeroes. Harrison Cohen adds a boost after being sent down from Scranton following a rough first two months, but Hayden Merda, a former 17th-round pick in 2022, is performing best, having gained four ticks on his fastball after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, and is suddenly one of the best relievers in Double-A, posting a 34.9 K-BB% in 21 innings.
Record: 23-27, 9.5 GB in the South Atlantic League North after a 2-4 week against the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays)
Run differential: -3
Coming up: Away @ Frederick Keys (Orioles)
I told you it wasn’t a good week for most of the pitchers in the system. In Hudson Valley’s 2-4 week against Bowling Green, they allowed at least seven runs in the first five games, while giving up at least 10 three different times. Winning a Thursday shootout and Sunday’s series finale was all that stopped this week from being catastrophic.
For several weeks, the only player hitting well for the Renegades was Kaeden Kent, but as he’s cooled off in the back half of May, two other 2025 bats picked him up by finding their power strokes. Undrafted free agent Eric Genther (6-for-21, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB) has hit four homers in the last two weeks after managing just one in his first 40 pro games, while fifth-rounder Core Jackson (5-for-12, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 2B) has hit three home runs in four starts since coming back off the injured list after hitting just two through 54 career games.
Chase Hampton’s rehab continues to progress. He got a pair of starts up in Hudson Valley on Tuesday and Sunday, where he combined to allow three runs in 7.2 innings with six strikeouts. Bryce Cunningham allowed three runs in 4.1 innings as a piggyback on Tuesday, while Franyer Herrera K’d eight in 5.2 innings in the same role on Sunday. Luis Serna and Sean Paul Liñan struggled, and Rory Fox had an uneven outing. Allen Facundo allowed five runs on four walks and a HBP in the first inning on Thursday, but rebounded to toss five shutout innings after that.
The piggyback outings by Cunningham and Herrera ate up a lot of relief innings, but Jack Sokol and Tony Rossi stayed steady, while Brandon Decker has quietly turned into a solid reliever with a 2.31 ERA across 23 innings.
Record: 25-26, 6 GB in the Florida State League West after a 3-3 week against the Daytona Beach Tortugas (Reds)
Run differential: -3
Coming up: Home vs. Palm Beach Cardinals (Cardinals)
Tampa had the opposite week that Somerset did. While they also went 3-3 against their opponents this week and salvaged a split on Sunday, they won two of their three wins by at least six runs, while losing three close games by a combined five runs.
The usual suspects, Jackson Lovich (4-for-10, 2B, RBI) and Hans Montero (5-for-23, RBI, 4 BB, 2 2B), continued to be anchors of this lineup, but the big story right now continues to be the emergence of Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek, who finished May with a stellar .305/.409/.516 slashline after hitting two more home runs this week. The former 20th-round pick could be a candidate for a promotion soon. FCL call-up Luis Puello (6-for-22, 3 XBH, 4 RBI) also continues to be a revelation, while Willy Montero and Engelth Urena slowly heat up.
Thatcher Hurd and Wyatt Parliament were both called up for their Single-A debuts, and they didn’t go well. Hurd allowed 10 runs in 2.1 innings, while Parliament was more manageable with three runs allowed in four innings. On a brighter note, Mac Heuer (5 IP, 0 R, 7 K), Henry Lalane (5 IP, 0 R, 7 K), and Brennan Stuprich (5 IP, 0 R, 4 K) all had superb outings. We also saw an improved outing from Justin West in long relief (5.2 IP, 2 R) and a so-so outing from Tyler Boudreau.
It was a nice bounce-back week for the bullpen. Pedro Rodriguez got back on track, while Jose M. Rodriguez and Jose Martinez continued to pitch well. Greysen Carter continues to throw strikes, while Parker Seay is now up to 24 strikeouts in 16.1 innings.
Record: 11-11, 6 GB in the FCL North after a 2-3 week.
Run differential: +19
It was another week of missed opportunities for the FCL squad, as they faltered late on Tuesday against the division-leading Blue Jays before splitting the next four games against the Phillies and Tigers, only looking impressive in a 12-4 win on Saturday.
Wilberson De Pena continues to be one of the best hitters in all of rookie ball, leading the FCL with seven home runs in 95 plate appearances. Richard Matic continues to carry his elite 2025 in the DSL over, providing a boost with Leni Done cooling off.
With Jose Castro still out, the team has gotten needed reinforcements in a rehabbing Logan Maxwell and former seven-figure international prospect Francisco Vilorio, who made his season debut on Monday after missing the first month with injury. 2025 first-rounder Dax Kilby even popped up early in the week to start a rehab assignment, but hasn’t played since Thursday.
With Hurd and Parliament moving on, there’s more of an emphasis now on the progressing international prospects. Omar Gonzalez continued to be very consistent on the mound, while Sabier Marte delivered his best start of the year with eight strikeouts in four shutout innings. Manuel Cruz, Edinzo Marquez, and Austin Breedlove are the top arms in the bullpen.
Monday was Opening Day in the DSL, so check out our daily minor league roundup for results. Once we get a full week down, check back here for full breakdowns.
Not every minor leaguer can just show up at a particular level and start mashing immediately. Sometimes, you need an adjustment period.
A hitter that personifies that is Jace Avina, a former 14th-round pick out of high school in 2021 by the Brewers, who made his way to the Yankees’ organization in a November 2023 trade that saw Jake Bauers head to the Brew Crew.
As he’s progressed from Single-A to High-A to Double-A, Avina’s struggled with early inconsistency. He had some truly dreadful months in his first year in Hudson Valley in 2024 before conquering the level in early 2025. He spent the last few months of that year and most of April 2026 figuring out Double-A pitching with Somerset.
But since the beginning of May, Avina’s been one of the best hitters in all of MiLB. On a team with several formidable sluggers and in an offense leading the Eastern League in homers and runs, he’s stood out with a .339/.429/.679 slashline on the month, sporting an impressive 189 wRC+ while displaying his tremendous pull-side power.
This week in particular, he sprayed the ball all around the field and reached base in 13 of his 27 plate appearances, while picking up an offense that scuffled more this week than usual.
Just four days prior to his 23rd birthday, he’s in a position where he could be considered for a promotion to Triple-A later in the summer and could even be a potential Rule 5 consideration down the road. That’s not too shabby for someone who signed for under $300,000 out of high school.
May 20, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) walks back to the dugout after striking out during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
It needs to be asked: Is Manny Machado elite anymore?
The San Diego Padres’ third baseman has had a great career, making seven All-Star teams, winning three Silver Slugger awards, two Gold Gloves, and four finishes in the top five of MVP voting. But at age 33, it seems like he may no longer be a great player.
2025 marked his third straight season with an OPS under .800, although his .795 mark was still good enough to earn the Silver Slugger award, mostly thanks to hitting 27 home runs. In 2026, he’s still hitting home runs (10) but that’s about all he’s doing at the plate. His .174 batting average is about 100 points lower than last year, and he’s striking out at a career high rate. To top it off, the onetime Platinum Glove winner isn’t even grading out well defensively.
"It's been tough… I'm a baseball player, I'm not a theorist." Manny Machado on what's going on with his offensive struggles. "@FriarTerritorypic.twitter.com/v2glLXDUgB
He’s not alone in his struggles. Fellow All-Stars Fernando Tatis, Jr. and Xander Bogaerts are also hitting below their career averages. They’ve been offset somewhat by better-than-expected production from Ty France and Gavin Sheets, but it seems unlikely that the Padres will be able to sustain their winning if the stars don’t start performing like it.
Machado has seven more years on his current contract, so the Padres certainly hope that his struggles are temporary. Then again, at his age, elite status might be permanently behind him. Considering how poorly he’s played this year; they’d probably be happy if he could just find a way to be a good player again.
Pennant year song battle
Patriotism (or anti-patriotism) wins the day. It’s a Mistake finally loses the crown at the hands of I Didn’t Raise My Boy to be a Soldier by the Peerless Quarter. Can they hold on to the title now that Memorial Day is behind us?
The next contender is in honor of Wednesday night’s starter Cristopher Sanchez and how many players scored runs against him in May. From 2008, it’s No One by Alicia Keys.
Vote for the winner:
Additional thought about the series
A 4-2 record on a trip through San Diego and Los Angeles is more than respectable, but it seems unlikely that they’ll be able to keep winning on pitching alone.
Adolis Garcia seems to be receiving the most criticism – and he certainly deserves criticism – but the Phillies’ offense has far more than one hole. The player who should be receiving the most flak is the one who is supposed to be a franchise cornerstone (The Phillies and Padres could compare notes on albatross contracts) and has been batting in the top two of the order all season despite poor results. (To be fair, there’s no obvious choice to replace him there.)
When Trea Turner struggled in Spring Training, I wasn’t concerned, because it seems silly to get worked up about Spring stats for an eleven-year veteran. But the struggles carried over into the regular season, and he got even worse in May, putting up a .529 OPS for the month.
While all the Phillies' right-handed bats are struggling, none are worse than Trea Turner's expectations.
"We've seen downs from him before. This is starting to look like an albatross of a contract."
With two home runs against the Padres, there was some hope that he might be turning things around, but a 2-12 showing against the Dodgers doused those hopes. A low BABIP indicates there might be some bad luck involved, but you also might think that a top of the order hitter who is slumping might try to walk more. However, he only took five free passes in the month of May.
Like Machado, Turner is owed a lot of future money by the Phillies, so they’d better hope this isn’t a permanent age-related decline. And no, before anyone suggests it, we shouldn’t give him another standing ovation to get him back on track.
It goes without saying that the Twins’ bullpen is in need of some juice. They have seemingly found a few strong building blocks, including Yoendrys Gomez, who has been a revelation for this team after the Twins pulled him out of thin air. Others have done enough to keep the team afloat, but the bullpen as a whole ranks 24th in ERA and 29th in strikeout rate. The team desperately needs to add velo and stuff. Thankfully, there are two young prospects right across the river who look like they could solve some of the bullpen problems down the stretch.
RHP Marco Raya
Currently sitting at #17 on MLB Pipeline’s Twins prospect rankings, Marco Raya’s hype has worn off over the past couple years after struggling to adjust to the upper levels of the minor leagues. However, Raya’s stuff is as good as ever this year, and he has begun to find more success with the Saints in May.
Although his fastball is averaging 96 MPH this season, deadzone tendencies and inconsistent command have led to poor results. Instead, Raya has been relying on two excellent breaking balls in the mid 80s. With more than 12 inches of horizontal break and spin rates around 2,800 RPM, his sweeper has generated a 44% whiff rate this season. Raya pairs it with a curveball that sits at a similar velocity, but has more of a 12-6 shape. He also mixes in a power changeup in the low 90s that has been a weapon against lefties, but his struggle to command the pitch has forced him to limit its usage.
After posting a 9.98 ERA in his first 11 appearances with 11 walks and 15 strikeouts, Raya has since hit his stride, working a 4.02 ERA and 1 walk to 17 strikeouts in his last 8 outings. He has the highest graded stuff on the Saints and is currently holding a 40 man spot, so a major league debut could be on the horizon.
RHP Alejandro Hidalgo
It has been a rocky road of a minor league career for Alejandro Hidalgo. Signed out of Venezuela, he spent the first two years of his pro career in the Angels’ system before being shipped to Minnesota for Gio Urshela ahead of the 2023 season. His time in the Twins’ system did not get off to a good start. At 20 years old, Hidalgo ran a 5.24 ERA as a starter in High-A Cedar Rapids before a shoulder injury costed him the entire 2024 season. He returned in 2025 with much improved stuff, playing at both High-A and Double-A. This season, he has moved to the bullpen and taken his stuff to a whole new level at age 23, showing flashes of absolute dominance in the upper minors as he is now just across the river from Target Field.
Hidalgo leads with a dangerous fastball at 95-97, and at 18 iVB from a lower release point, the heater possesses elite carry. He has a cutter in the upper 80s that may be his best whiff pitch and also has a reliable changeup in the mid 80s that he uses to attack lefties. An occasional sinker is mixed in, but it’s mainly a three pitch arsenal, all of which are undoubtably big league pitches if he can command them.
This projection is more of a work-in-progress, as Hidalgo currently sits at a 6.75 ERA this season. Home runs and walks have both been major issues, but the stuff is some of the best in the system and cannot be ignored. He has struck out 43 batters in 28 innings of work while walking 14 this season.
Both Raya and Hidalgo have their flaws, but they also have electric stuff that can only be matched by a few other pitchers in the organization. There are a lot of questions to be answered over the next few months as the Twins hope to get David Festa and Garrett Acton back from injury. Will Kendry Rojas settle into a more traditional bullpen role? Will Kody Funderburk recapture his dominance from the end of the 2025 season? There are lots of pieces to fit into this puzzle, and these two flamethrowing prospects in the Saints’ bullpen have a chance to make a big impact.
SEATTLE — Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor exited a 3-2 win against the New York Mets in 10 innings with back spasms, according to manager Dan Wilson.
Naylor hit a tying home run off reliever Brooks Raley in the seventh, but by the time he rounded the bases and returned to the Seattle dugout, his back had stiffened up.
Patrick Wisdom, who pinch hit for Luke Raley later in the inning, replaced Naylor at first base to start the eighth.
“I believe it was more on the swing, on the home run,” Wilson said. “And when he got back in, it was tight.”
Wilson said Naylor’s status is day-to-day.
The 28-year-old slugger got off to a frigid start this year, hitting .102 with two RBIs through Seattle’s first 15 games. He turned it on in May, though, batting .296 with one home run, three doubles and nine RBIs across 108 at-bats.
Acquired last July in a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Naylor batted .299 with nine homers, 33 RBIs and 19 stolen bases in 54 games for Seattle in 2025. He signed a five-year, $92.5 million contract last November.
ST. LOUIS — On his son Nolan’s birthday, Jacob deGrom got the whole family a gift he’ll never forget.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner tossed five scoreless innings to earn his 100th career win as the Texas Rangers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1.
“It’s really cool,” deGrom said. “As a kid, your goal is to just play major league baseball and for it to become a reality and win 100 games in the major leagues, it’s kind of crazy to think about. Today was Nolan’s third birthday, so I’ll always remember that being my 100th night on his third birthday.”
The right-hander notched his 99th victory May 10 when he threw seven scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs.
In his first three attempts at reaching the century mark, the 37-year-old deGrom (4-4) went 0-2 while allowing 12 runs over 15 innings. He finished 1-3 with a 5.72 ERA in five May starts, but it was different after the calendar flipped to June. He yielded just four hits and struck out eight to help the Rangers win their fourth straight game.
“I was trying not to do too much,” deGrom said. “Having the meeting, talking to (catcher) Danny (Jansen) I was like, `Hey, tonight we’re hitting the glove as many times as we can. Mechanics are what they are. We’re throwing everything else out the window. We’re going back to how I used to pitch.’”
Selected in the ninth round of the 2010 amateur draft, deGrom debuted for the New York Mets in 2014 and was the NL Rookie of the Year.
Despite going 100-69 with a 2.61 ERA in 260 career starts, deGrom only has made 30 starts five times in his first 12 big league seasons, and 2025 was his first time making 30 starts since 2019.
“He’s never really felt 100%,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I’ve said it before, he should be a Hall of Famer. I think he’s going to be a Hall of Famer. That’s how dominant he’s been throughout his career, and he’s still got a couple of years left in him, too.”
DeGrom is the 16th active pitcher to reach 100 career wins after Texas teammate Nathan Eovaldi became the 15th on July 30, 2025, against the Los Angeles Angels.
Now, our brave heroes enter the dark lords’ realm in an attempt to overthrow their plan to cover AL lands in a twenty-eighth darkness.
I know some folks are disturbed by my series Preview of doom. I’m doing a thing. We all have to do a thing to reverse the curse against the New York Nazgul. Wear your lucky underwear, grab the Guardians hat that they win when you put it on, wear a clove of garlic, eat some lembas, something.
We should get Steven Kwan back tonight which hopefully sends Stuart Fairchild back to the shadow. The trial run was a nice idea but I have never seen a hitter look so overmatched.
Daniel Espino starts in Columbus tonight. I will be interested to see how many innings he goes.
AROUND MLB:
Tigers beat the Rays, Royals won and Twins beat the White Sox.
Loaded Tuesday slate this evening with mispriced prop opportunities, and I am leaning into some familiar power bats in Yordan Alvarez, Nick Kurtz, and Kyle Schwarber to get things rolling.
Read on for our MLB player props and MLB picks for Tuesday, June 2.
The big fella has been demolishing baseballs. Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, he's posted a 64.4% hard-hit rate, a ridiculous 42.9% barrel rate, and a 78.6% elevation rate (fly balls + line drives).
Not to mention, he owns 100% arsenal coverage against Chandler's pitch mix, per Batters-Box.
The Pirates' rookie has struggled against left-handed hitters this season, allowing a 15.2% barrel rate while generating just a 29.1% ground-ball rate and a 52% fly-ball rate. Lefties have tagged him for a .510 xSLG and .365 xwOBA.
If you need another mouthwatering stat, Chandler is throwing his fastball nearly 54% of the time. Alvarez owns a .468 xBA, 1.136 OPS, and 67.4% hard-hit rate against fastballs this season.
I think he leaves the yard tonight. I'd play this prop up to -115 if I had to. Anything around the number above is still a go.
Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SCHN, SNP
Nick Kurtz Over 1.5 Hits+Runs+RBI
Another complete misprice by the books, as Athletics star Nick Kurtz’s hits, runs, RBI prop is hovering around even money. The young star in the making enters tonight’s slate with the number one rating on Batters-Box, where he sports some of the most mouthwatering trends any numbers nerd has ever laid eyes on.
In 86 elite ratings, he clears this prop 62.79% of the time. In 45 elite ratings on the road, Kurtz jumps to nearly a 70% hit rate. Not to mention, he has gone over this prop in eight of his last 10 elite ratings on the road. Oh, and he brings 81% arsenal coverage into a matchup with Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon.
The veteran arm enters today with one of the weakest pitcher ratings on the slate. He also carries poor matchup grades in wOBA, ISO, hard contact, strikeout rate, and ground ball rate. Among today’s starters, Taillon is allowing the second-highest hard contact rate at 41.9%.
That is not all. Over his last 60 left-handed hitters faced, he is allowing a 41.9% hard contact rate, 19.1% barrel rate, and 73.8% elevation rate. During that stretch, those hitters have posted a .386 xBA, .770 xSLG, and .444 wOBA.
Based on the trends, I would personally take this prop up to -120.
Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee, NBCSCA
Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (-116)
Sadly, no plus money props for you all today, unless you count the home run props on every batter listed. Even if it is not mentioned, I always include the home run angle.
The Padres starter has struggled to miss bats against left-handed hitters this season, which has me firmly on Schwarber tonight. When you think of the Phillies slugger, you think of a true three-outcome profile.
Vasquez owns just an 8.3% strikeout rate against the last 60 lefties he has faced. In that span, those hitters are posting a 46% hard-contact rate, a 10% barrel rate, and a 68% elevation rate.
Despite an off stretch due to illness, Schwarber still owns a 1.133 OPS, .482 wOBA, and a 33.3% barrel rate over his last 30 plate appearances at home. In 98 elite home ratings over the last three seasons, he has cleared this prop 55% of the time.
I would take this up to -120 if I had to.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TBS
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 177-313-29, -0.10 units
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 New York Yankees are massive home favorites against the Cleveland Guardians, but I’m not laying a taxed price into this specific contact matchup.
Cam Schlittler has ace-level indicators, but Cleveland’s projected lineup has enough low-strikeout bats to make his best skill less automatic.
Here are my Guardians vs Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, June 2.
Who will win Guardians vs Yankees today: Guardians +1.5 (+100)
I see the Cleveland Guardians' moneyline case, but the run line is the better bet.
Cam Schlittler has been excellent, but numbers this sharp are not sustainable forever, and this is the right matchup to test him. His 94th-percentile chase profile meets a Cleveland lineup that rarely expands, and the Guardians own MLB’s second-lowest whiff rate at 22.9%.
The proof of concept is the Tampa Bay Rays, baseball's lowest-whiff team, being the only opponent to tag Schlittler for 3+ earned runs this season.
I’d play Cleveland +1.5 to -115.
COVERS INTEL:Cleveland’s projected lineup has three hitters with a strikeout rate of 12% or lower: Travis Bazzana, Chase DeLauter, and Brayan Rocchio.
Guardians vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-105)
It goes without saying that if I expect the Guardians to make Schlitter labor some, then I should like a low total going Over. I do, and I'd play this to 8 at +100.
On the other side of things, like we've hit on often with the New York Yankees, giving them free passes is an issue. Joey Cantillo’s12.7% walk rate is a problem, as it gives a group with patience and power a chance to create traffic.
For the most part, you're looking for both teams to score three or more runs, and I'm comfortable backing that here.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 25-21, +3.59 units
Over/Under bets: 29-17, +14.07 units
Guardians vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Guardians +200 | Yankees -250
Run line: Guardians +1.5 | Yankees -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Guardians vs Yankees trend
The Guardians have hit the F5 Run Line in 28 of their last 40 away games (+15.10 Units / 31% ROI)
How to watch Guardians vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
CleGuardians.TV, YES
Guardians starting pitcher
Joey Cantillo (4-2, 3.57 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Cam Schlittler (7-2, 1.50 ERA)
Guardians vs Yankees latest injuries
Guardians vs Yankees 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 Phillies (30-29) and Padres (32-26) start a three-game series in Philadelphia as both teams look to get back in the win column. Both teams had a day off yesterday ahead of this matchup.
Philadelphia needed a day off after their six-game west coast trip. The Phillies lost two of three to the Dodgers and swept the Padres for a 4-2 record. The Phillies will turn to Aaron Nola, which has resulted in four wins over his last five starts as he has 21 strikeouts to five walks.
San Diego is 1-6 over the last seven games and are currently riding a two-game losing streak. The Padres have been outscored 33-18 in the past seven games and scored more than three runs two times. San Diego is 8-3 when Randy Vasquez pitches this season, but dropped the previous two.
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 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 & how to watch Padres at Phillies
Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Time: 6:40 PM EST
Site: Citizen Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB 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.
Odds for the Padres at the Phillies
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: San Diego Padres (+123), Philadelphia Phillies (-148)
Spread: Padres +1.5 (-176), Phillies -1.5 (+145)
Total: 8.0
Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Phillies
Tuesday's pitching matchup (June 2): Aaron Nola vs. Randy Vasquez
The Padres’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .280 with 58 hits and 102 total bases over 207 at-bats
The Padres’ Kyle Tucker is hitting .242 with 50 hits and 45 strikeouts over 207 at-bats
The Phillies’ Corbin Carroll is hitting .287 with 58 hits and 108 total bases over 202 at-bats
The Phillies’ Geraldo Perdomo is hitting .224 with 43 hits and 30 strikeouts over 192 at-bats
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 Padres at Phillies
The Padres are 32-26 ATS
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 19-40 ATS
The Padres are 33-24-1 to the Under, ranking second-best
The Phillies are 32-25-2 to the Under, ranking fifth-best
The Padres are 13-11 ATS on the road
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 8-22 ATS at home
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Phillies
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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 Tuesday's game between the Padres and the Phillies:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Phillies on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phillies at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 8.0
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Feb 26, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (59) walks to the dugout after a pitching change in the first inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Braves, who lead the NL East by 9.5 games and are leading the league in designating Carlos Carrasco for assignment, have made a roster move before tonight’s game with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The #Braves today selected RHP Carlos Carrasco to the major league roster.
Lookie lookie lookie, here comes Cookie. I don’t quite understand why MLB doesn’t just allow teams to hold 14 pitchers on the active roster, but I really, really believe they need it. Carlos Carrasco is a perfectly fine long reliever. Just let him have the Josh Tomlin spot in the bullpen. It’s bad enough we have people out there talking about trading Ronald Acuña when this place exploded last year at the thought of not signing an extension. We don’t need this, Alex. I’m not quite this level internet annoyed, but come on.
You know who he is. Carlos Carrasco has gotten 22 outs this season. That’s just over 7 outs per DFA. He has a 2.45/4.17/3.75 line this season and 0.0 WAR. Come on Braves, quit making Carlos follow you guys around the country in a rented Escalade.
Yordan Alvarez
Nick Kurtz
Kyle Schwarber
COVERS INTEL:
