Category: MLB

Chances are if you are reading this article, you’re close to done with Bo Naylor. If you’re ok waiting longer and seeing if he can figure things out, welcome to the ranks of the few, the proud, the patient to a fault.

Here we are on May 6th and Bo Naylor has a 6 wRC+ and a 23.5/7.1 K/BB%. Among MLB players with 80 or more plate appearances this season, Bo and Ke’Bryan Hayes are the worst hitters so far. Interestingly, both Naylor and Hayes have expected weighted on-base averages of around .300 and actual weighted on-base averages of .180-.190. Hayes has a batting-average on balls in play of .123 and Bo is at .155. A wOBA of around .300 would be around 90 wRC+, which would be more than acceptable for a catcher in MLB (and for Hayes with his excellent defense, but this article isn’t about Ke’Bryan Hayes).

So, is Bo simply unlucky? Well… pretty much. Naylor has the lowest swinging-strike rate of his career, he is not going outside the zone more than his career norms, he has career highs in zone-contact rate and overall contact rate, and he’s running a career high barrel rate. His batted-ball date for groundballs, fly balls and line drives looks solid, also. I really hate to tell you this, guys, but Bo Naylor seems to be simply having one of the most unlucky starts to a season we’ve ever seen.

It’s obviously notable that pitchers on the Guardians do not seem to throw as well with Bo behind the plate. Guardians’ pitchers have an ERA of right around 4 with Bo and a 3.34 ERA with Austin Hedges. How much of that is Bo’s fault is virtually impossible to say. Bo is around average in blocking and pop-time, and in the 72nd percentile for framing. He’s not been good with catching would-be basestealers, but neither has Austin Hedges, so I’d tend to blame this on the pitchers and those coaching them on how to hold runners. Overall, Bo still looks like an average defender by the numbers, and, if the team has issues with his pitch-calling and/or receiving, it’ll be up to them to come to grips with that. They could always call pitches from the dugout as needed.

Of course, as luck would have it, the Guardians do have two catchers absolutely lighting up the statsheets as hitters in Triple-A Columbus. Kody Huff has a 140 wRC+ and an 18.9/11.1 K/BB% with a .333 BABIP. Cooper Ingle has a 246 wRC+ with a 19/33 K/BB% with a .480 BABIP. Recently, Guardians executive James Harris made it clear the team does not believe Ingle is not ready to play catcher at the major league level. When will that change – who can say? As for Huff, of course, there is no way to know that 140 wRC+ would translate at all to the majors. But, in general, Huff has a great defensive reputation. Does there a come a point where the Guardians just acknowledge that Bo is immensely snake-bit as a hitter and admit some frustrations with his pitch-calling and handling?

To be honest, I find that unlikely. I think until the time would come where Bo’s underlying metrics come more in line with his actual production, we are going to see him continue to get the lionshare of plate appearances to try to figure things out. And, while I am not opposed to getting a look at any player who is dominating in Triple-A, I think that patience is probably the right decision here.

Throw your tomatoes, folks. We are going to get more Bo for a while. Let’s all just hope he can start to right the ship – and hope the same for Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo while we’re at it.

The Astros Curse has now taken Carlos Correa for the season, further testing the depth of the organization.

We have made the following roster moves. pic.twitter.com/dDafvUEa4X

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 6, 2026

Whitcomb was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land Monday when the team recalled C Cesar Salazar in light of an injury to starting C Yainer Diaz.

The injury to Correa allows the Astros to recall Whitcomb while bypassing the mandatory waiting period.

Whitcomb is batting .269 for the Space Cowboys with an .835 OPS. He has produced 4 HR, 10 RBI and 4 SB in 13 games and 52 AB for Sugar Land.

Whitcomb was sparsely used in his previous stint with the Astros this season. In 10 games, he 1 for 13 with a 3-run HR.

With the latest Baseball America Top 100 prospect rankings dropping this morning, the Mariner farmhands were well represented up and down the list. Featuring five of the M’s top prospects, both Colt Emerson and Kade Anderson found themselves inside the top ten of all minor leaguers, with Emerson appearing at #4 and Anderson at #9. In fact, if prospects who have already made their major league debuts are removed from the list, those numbers improve to #3 and #6 respectively, with Konnor Griffin, Trey Yesavage, and Payton Tolle all on the cusp of graduation. It’s clear the industry is bullish on the 1-2 punch atop this system, and with their combination of talent and youth, it’s easy to see why.

Kade Anderson great again. Final line: 5.2IP, 4H, 0R, 0BB, 8K, 16 whiffs, 74 pitches, 56 strikes.

In first 5 professional starts:
0.37ERA, 24.1IP, 13H, 1R, 4BB, 38K pic.twitter.com/zvXuG8YZYM

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) May 2, 2026

Ryan Sloan, the Mariners #3 prospect by most outlets, appears on the list at #20, though his non-debuted rank would push him all the way up #12 overall. Sloan was challenged with an aggressive promotion to Double-A this season and has looked more human than many expected him to after a dominant spring, but still just 20 years old, his package of physicality, command, and stuff makes him one of the best pitching prospects in the game.

Ryan Sloan threw it very well today. One mistake on a 2-run HR. Final line: 4.2IP, 3H, 2R, 2BB, 7K, 74 pitches, 49 strikes, 14 whiffs. pic.twitter.com/OLZN8iI1XH

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 26, 2026

The final two M’s to make the list, both Lazaro Montes (#60) and Michael Arroyo (#87) are excelling in Double-A Arkansas and have looked good to begin this 2026 season. Montes, who’s off to an exceptionally hot start, is flaunting his tremendous power seemingly every game, and Arroyo, whose numbers aren’t entirely reflective of how he’s played thus far, is still commanding the strike zone well and is incredibly polished at the plate. Both are in line to compete for a big league promotion some time in the next calendar year.

Lazaro Montes is on FIRE. pic.twitter.com/HLoRN55lvv

— Mariners Player Development (@MsPlayerDev) May 4, 2026

All five prospects featured in the rankings play at the Double-A level or higher, a fantastic indicator for the overall health of this system. All of these players are well below the average age of their competitors, and they’ve been capable of holding their own despite their youth. There is a promising young core of Mariner talent biding their time in the minor leagues, and fans should be ecstatic about the future prospects of this ballclub. 

Carlos Correa was scratched from last night’s game following an injury to his ankle in batting practice. As it turns out, that will be the last time that Correa is seen on the field this season in an Astros uniform. Correa suffered ligament damage in his ankle and will have surgery. According to reports, he will be out six to eight months following the surgery.

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after tearing a tendon in his ankle, he told reporters in Houston. He will soon undergo surgery and be out six to eight months.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 6, 2026

The Astros have called up Shay Whitcomb to take his place on the active roster. Presumably, this means that Isaac Paredes will become the everyday third baseman and Jeremy Pena will slot into the shortstop position when he returns from the injured list. The injury is another crushing blow in a season that has seen a number of things go wrong for the Astros.

In particular, this is a devasting injury for Correa as he had a good road trip and seemed to be settling in as the new leadoff hitter and team leader. Nick Allen took his place at shortstop last night and will continue to play there until Pena returns from the injured list. Reportedly, Pena is ready to begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend.

Jeremy Pena Could Start Rehab Assignment This Weekend https://t.co/QRQauSnFnP

— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) May 4, 2026

As for the Astros, this takes a bit of wind out of their sails even though they are 4-4 in their last eight games. They will finish off with the Dodgers this evening and then begin a seven day road trip against the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers. Those seven games will go a long way in determining whether the Astros will remain in the hunt or fall further behind in the standings.

Go Rays!

The St. Louis Cardinals will try to wrap up their 3-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium after game 2 was postponed due to weather. The Cardinals will send Andre Pallante to the mound while the Brewers starter looks to be Brandon Sproat who was scheduled to be the starter Tuesday night before the weather postponement. First pitch is scheduled for 12:15pm at Busch Stadium and the game will be broadcast on Cardinals.tv.

Last of three in Tampa. If they light a match on the way out, I will not shed a tear.

I hate afternoon weekday games, it messes up the day.

There are some updates:

• Addison will be addisoned to the roster Friday. They haven’t said who is going to leave the roster. I’m think Sosa but I don’t know.
• The team got a new MRI on José Berríos and are ‘still thinking things through’.
• Max Scherzer’s forearm ‘isn’t responding the way he hoped’. That’s age Max, nothing responds the way you hope.
• Kirk is ‘on schedule’.

Today’s lineup:

Go Jays Go. I could really use a win today.

The Texas Rangers (16-19) face the New York Yankees (25-11). The Yankees won the series’ first game 7-4 on Tuesday. Scheduled starting pitchers are Nathan Eovaldi for Texas, with a 4.76 ERA, and Will Warren for New York, with a 2.39 ERA.

How to watch Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees

• Date: Wednesday, May 6

• Time: 7:05 p.m. ET / 4:05 p.m. PT

• Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

• TV Channels: MLB Network, Amazon Prime Video, Rangers Sports Network

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Texas Rangers: 16-19 (No. 3 in AL West)

• New York Yankees: 25-11 (No. 1 in AL East)

Odds

• Spread: New York Yankees -1.5

• Moneyline: New York Yankees -203 (64.2%) / Texas Rangers +168 (35.8%)

• Over/Under: 8.5

Starting pitchers

Texas Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi (3-4, ERA: 4.76, K: 39, WHIP: 1.34)
New York Yankees: Will Warren (4-0, ERA: 2.39, K: 46, WHIP: 1.06)

Weather: 63°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 47,309 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 season after injuring his ankle taking swings in the batting cage.

Correa told reporters Wednesday, May 6 that he "felt a pop" before Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and went down in pain. He'll need season-ending surgery to repair a torn tendon in his left ankle. Recovery time is expected to be between six and eight months, he said.

A three-time All-Star, Correa, 31, was hitting .279/.369/.418 with three home runs and 16 RBI for the Astros this season.

Carlos Correa said he will need a 6-to-8-month recovery following upcoming tendon surgery on his left ankle. pic.twitter.com/st1dmKa3E5

— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 6, 2026

Correa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 draft by the Astros, returned to the club last season in a trade with the Minnesota Twins after spending the first seven seasons of his MLB career in Houston.

He becomes the fourth member of the Astros' opening day lineup to hit the injured list – joining catcher Yainer Diaz (oblique strain) and outfielders Joey Loperfido (quad strain) and Jake Meyers (oblique). In addition, starting shortstop Jeremy Peña hasn't played since April 11 due to a hamstring injury he suffered in spring training.

Correa had moved back to shortstop from third base earlier this season to cover for Peña's absence. The Astros will likely turn to light-hitting Nick Allen to take over the everyday job at short until Peña is healthy enough to return.

Houston is also without ace starting pitcher Hunter Brown and All-Star closer Josh Hader, who are among 15 players on the team's injured list.

Despite a powerful offense that ranks eighth in the majors at 4.95 runs per game through May 5, the Astros have a 15-22 record and are four games behind the first-place Athletics in the American League West division.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Astros lose SS Carlos Correa for rest of season with torn ankle tendon

Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa has a torn tendon in his left ankle that will require season-ending surgery, per reports. The injury was suffered during pregame batting practice on Tuesday.

When Correa hit the free agent market after the 2021 season, he had agreements on $300 million contracts with both the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants, only for both agreements to be scuttled due to concerns about his right ankle. Correa ended up signing with the Minnesota Twins for 2022, then entered into a 6 year, $200 million deal with the Twins for the 2023-28 seasons. The Twins traded Correa back to Houston at the 2025 deadline.

The Astros have a 15-22 record currently, which has them in fourth place in the American League West. Their record is the second-worst in the A.L., ahead of only the Anaheim Angels. The Astros currently have 13 players on the major league injured list, and Correa, once he goes on the i.l., will make it 14.

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The Atlanta Braves and Seattle Mariners clash this afternoon at T-Mobile Park, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.

My Braves vs. Mariners predictions are eyeing Atlanta’s elite offense to hit around Bryan Woo in the rubber match.

Read more for my MLB picks for Wednesday, May 6.

Who will win Braves vs Mariners today: Braves moneyline (+120)

The Atlanta Braves have been one of the best teams in the big leagues early on, ranking towards the top of the Majors in nearly every offensive category and also in ERA.

Martin Perez takes the hill today, and the veteran has dominated. He sports a 2-1 record and 2.22 ERA in four starts. He’s held the Seattle Mariners lineup to a .227 average across 75 at-bats, and Perez hasn’t allowed more than four earned runs in a start this season.

As for the M’s, they send the struggling Bryan Woo to the mound, who is far from his dominant self. He owns a 4.61 ERA, surrendering 13 earned runs across his previous two outings.

He’s barely faced the core of this Braves lineup, but the team is hitting .280 against him in 25 at-bats. Plus, the last two teams that lit him up were the Kansas City Royals and St. Louis Cardinals, and neither has swung the bats as consistently as Atlanta.

They should jump on him early in the finale.

Braves vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-104)

Game 2 of this series on Tuesday was a low-scoring affair, ending 3-2 in favor of Atlanta. With Perez on the hill, I do expect the Braves to give up minimal runs, with most of the offensive damage here coming from the visitors.

Five of the last eight meetings between these two teams have cashed the Under, and the series opener was also relatively low-scoring, ending 5-4. Atlanta’s bullpen is absolutely lights out, compiling a 3.21 ERA. Seattle’s is even better, posting a 3.15 ERA.

Even if Woo does give up his fair share of runs, the Mariners pen has the ability to at least limit the damage when he departs.

Braves vs Mariners odds

• Moneyline: Atlanta +119 | Seattle -131
• Run line: Atlanta +1.5 (-175) | Seattle -1.5 (-158)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+109) | Under 8.5 (-121)

Braves vs Mariners trend

The Atlanta Braves have hit the Moneyline in 23 of their last 30 away games (+15.35 Units / 40% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Mariners.

How to watch Braves vs Mariners and game info

Braves vs Mariners latest injuries

Braves vs Mariners weather

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The Okomoto Train got us on the board yesterday for a good one, and Wednesday's slate has a plethora of +EV home run picks and other great MLB player props.

After double-dipping with the Dodgers in the early afternoon, I'm grabbing Miami Marlins infielder Otto Lopez in a cushy matchup against Baltimore Orioles starter Brandon Young and the suspect bullpen behind him.

These are my favorite home run predictions for Wednesday, May 6.

Best MLB home run props today

Home run pick: Kyle Tucker (+542)

This one checks a lot of boxes, starting with the price. A fair number for a Kyle Tucker HR today is around +440/+450, so there’s plenty of meat on the bone.

Next is the matchup. Lance McCullers Jr. is one of the pitchers to fade today. His BlastContact% and HR/FB rates are among the worst in baseball, and he’s coming off a season-high 99 pitches. For a pitcher who has struggled to stay on the field, that kind of workload could show today.

Additionally, the Houston Astros' bullpen is always one to target and may need to cover innings. Houston relievers are also allowing the second-most HR/9 in baseball.

Finally, there’s a former-team revenge angle in an afternoon game, and Tucker has already taken him deep in just three at-bats.

• Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Space City Home Network, SportsNet LA

Home run pick: Otto Lopez (+800)

I need a piece of the bats vs. the Baltimore pitching today, and I'm landing at Otto Lopez at a giant +800 price. 

Brandon Young is my lowest-rated starting pitcher on the slate. He gives up squared-up contact at a high rate, and hitters generate some of their fastest swings against him. Only two other starters have a worse BlastContact% than the Baltimore arm, and his xFIP suggests the damage is sustainable.

Young also won’t go deep, handing things off to a bullpen that gives up home runs and owns the second-worst ERA in baseball over the last two weeks. The Baltimore pen could also be down three or four key arms.

It’s a controlled setting indoors, and Lopez is already 1-for-2 off Young with a home run.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Marlins.TV, MASN

Home run pick: Shohei Ohtani (+280)

Let’s double up in Houston vs. McCullers and a struggling bullpen that will be without its closer, Bryan King, who threw 37 pitches yesterday.

Ohtani gets one of the best BlastContact% matchups on the board today and has seen McCullers 23 times. He hasn’t crushed him, but there’s still a lot of information he’s taking into this matchup.

The fair price on this HR is around +250, and it’s tough to pass up the expected value on arguably the best left-handed power hitter in baseball.

McCullers has allowed three home runs over his last 10 innings at home. Historically, he’s been tougher on left-handed hitters, but LHHs are getting the better of him this year, and multiple seasons of injury may be catching up to the right-hander.

• Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Space City Home Network, SportsNet LA

Today’s HR parlay

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Framber Valdez was having a rough night, but the Detroit Tigers pitcher insists he didn't take his frustrations out on Boston Red Sox batter Trevor Story.

Valdez had given up 10 runs, including back-to-back solo home runs in the previous two at bats, when Story took the plate in the top of the fourth inning on Tuesday at Comerica Park.

What happened next wasn't intentional — at least that's what Valdez said after the Tigers' 10-3 loss.

Read more:A star pitcher at USC, he was cut after six years in the minors. Then Banana Ball came calling

Not everybody believes him.

With his first pitch of the at-bat, Valdez hit Story with a 94-mph fastball in the numbers on the back of the Red Sox shortstop's jersey. Story wasn't happy as plate umpire Adam Beck stepped between him and the mound.

The benches cleared and the bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown and order was quickly restored. Valdez was ejected from the game but later said the situation wasn't as it may have appeared.

Benches clear in the 4th inning of the Red Sox-Tigers game in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/8CigiKH63L

— MLB (@MLB) May 5, 2026

“It was not intentional,” Valdez said through an interpreter. “It might look like it, but it wasn’t. I was trying to throw strikes after the two consecutive home runs. I was trying to go back in the zone and that pitch came out of my hand.”

Story wasn't buying it, telling reporters "it's pretty undisputable” that Valdez had meant to hit him.

“I was in there ready to hit and it showed up way behind me and off the numbers,” Story said. “We all know what’s what.”

Interim Red Sox manager Chad Tracy agreed that the hit-by-pitch seemed intentional.

"I thought it was weak, and I thought everybody saw it," Tracy said. "Their side, our side, I think everybody saw it. And yeah, it was weak."

Read more:Shohei Ohtani pitches well, but Dodgers offense goes back to sleep in loss to Astros

While Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said he couldn't judge his pitcher's intent, he called the incident "a low moment of a frustrating night."

"We play a really good brand of baseball here. That didn't feel like it," Hinch said. "It's not judging intent; I have no idea. But I know when you go out on the field and you end up sort of in those confrontations, you usually feel like you're in your right. And it didn't feel good being out there."

Valdez now faces a possible suspension from MLB, with the Tigers already missing several starting pitchers because of injury.

A two-time All Star, Valdez spent his first eight MLB seasons with the Houston Astros. In his first year with Detroit, Valdez is 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA in eight starts.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.