Category: MLB

Hello and happy Monday, folks.

The Red Sox do not play today, and neither does the Scotland national football soccer team. However, their fans sure as hell have made their presence in Boston known—especially within and around Fenway Park.

Scotland The Brave being played in Boston—must be any ol’ weekday. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that tune on the bagpipes around here….

Anyways, a huge shoutout to the Tartan Army, man. My question to you: do you like the Tartan Army as much as I do? I mean, I’m loyal to the Irish, but we didn’t quality for the World Cup (WE ALMOST DID THOUGH), so I gotta pick and choose my spots.

Use this space to talk about what you want, be good to each other, and go Sox.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (34-35)

BUFFALO 5, SYRACUSE 4 / 7 (BOX)

Thanks to a rain delay that turned into an early completion, Syracuse fell below the .500 mark. Jonah Tong did not pitch particularly well, allowing four runs on eight hits over 5.0 innings, but silver lining: he only walked a single batter, just the second time all season. Buffalo pitched CJ Van Eyk wasn’t much better, allowing three runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings, but that’s the luck of the draw sometimes.

·  LF Nick Morabito: 0-2, R, K, HBP

·  3B Yonny Hernández: 1-4, K

·  1B Andy Ibáñez: 2-3, 2B

·  CF Cristian Pache: 0-3, RBI

·  2B Jackson Cluff: 1-3, R, K

·  SS Grae Kessinger: 0-3, 2 K

·  C Ben Rortvedt: 3-3, R, 2B

·  DH Hayden Senger: 1-2, 2 RBI

·  RF Matt Rudick: 2-3

·  RHP Jonah Tong: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, L (1-5)

·  LHP Jefry Yan: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (24-39)

SOMERSET 7, BINGHAMTON 6 / 10 (BOX)

Trailing for most of the game after taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the eight, the Rumble Ponies came back from a four-run deficit in the middle innings thanks to a two-run Jose Ramon double in the fifth and a two-run Jacob Reimer homer in the seventh. After Binghamton failed to score in the bottom of the tenth, a throwing error by Kevin Villavicencio allowed Somerset’s automatic runner to score.

·  C Chris Suero: 1-4, 2 R, HBP

·  DH Jacob Reimer: 1-4, R, HR (6), 2 RBI, BB, 2 K

·  CF Jose Ramos: 3-5, 2 RBI, K

·  LF Vincent Perozo: 1-5, R, 2B, 3 K

·  RF Jaylen Palmer: 1-4, BB, K

·  SS Wyatt Young: 0-5

·  3B Kevin Villavicencio: 1-4, R, RBI, BB, K, E (1), CS (2)

·  1B TT Bowens: 2-4, R, 2B, RBI

·  2B Diego Mosquera: 0-4, 2 K

·  LHP Max Green: 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Zach Peek: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

·  RHP Carlos Guzman: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Saul Garcia: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, WP

·  RHP Dan Hammer: 0.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, HBP, L (4-1)

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (25-37)

BROOKLYN 7, FREDERICK 4 (BOX)

The Cyclones put up a five-spot in the bottom of the third, with all nine batters coming up to the plate in the inning. Mitch Voit drove in a run with a single into left, and a few batters later, stole home when Daiverson Gutierrez drew a walk and the Frederick infield fell asleep. Even if he hadn’t, he would’ve come home to score, as JT Benson whacked a three-run homer over the left-center wall to make it a 5-0 game. Both teams would score a bunch more, but in the end, Brooklyn stood tall.

·  SS Mitch Voit: 3-4, R, 2 RBI, 3 SB (21, 22, 23)

·  3B Yonatan Henriquez: 0-4, E (4)

·  LF John Bay: 0-2, R, 2 BB, K

·  C Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-3, R, BB

·  RF JT Benson: 1-4, 2 R, HR (2), 3 RBI

·  2B Colin Houck: 1-4

·  1B Trace Willhoite: 1-4, 2 K

·  CF Sam Biller: 1-3, 2 R, BB

·  DH Nick Roselli: 1-4, RBI, 2 K

·  RHP Jose Chirinos: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, W (1-1)

·  RHP Justin Armbruester: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, H (2)

·  RHP Bryce Jenkins: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, BLK, HBP

·  RHP Danis Correa: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, H (1)

·  LHP Gregori Louis: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, S (1)

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (29-33)

ST. LUCIE 3, PALM BEACH 1 (BOX)

It wasn’t exciting, but the St. Lucie Mets got the job done. Simon Juan put the team on the board with a solo homer in the top of the first, the team plated an insurance run in the top of the third- which came in handy because Palm Beach scored a run of their own in the bottom of the inning- and then they plated one more in the top of the eighth. Cam Tilly was solid for three-and-a-third innings, and the bullpen behind him blanked the Cardinals.

·  SS Elian Peña: 1-4, 2 R, K

·  CF Trey Snyder: 2-4

·  2B Antonio Jimenez: 0-4, RBI, K

·  LF Yohairo Cuevas: 0-3, RBI, BB, 2 K, SB (4)

·  RF Simon Juan: 1-4, R, HR (5), RBI, 3 K

·  C Chase Meggers: 0-3, 2 K

·  3B Jeremy Rodriguez: 0-3

·  DH Jackson Hauge: 0-3

·  1B Jack Scanlon: 0-2, BB, 2 K

·  RHP Cam Tilly: 3.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, HBP, E (2)

·  RHP Christian Rodriguez: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, W (3-1)

·  RHP Miguel Mejias: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, H (2)

·  RHP Joe Scarborough: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, S (5)

Rookie: FCL Mets (11-16)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Jose Chirinos

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Kevin Villavicencio

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Hall of Famer Billy Williams, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 1938 – Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds stuns the baseball world by pitching his second successive no-hitter in five days, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers, 6-0, as Brooklyn plays the first night game ever at Ebbets Field. In front of 38,748 fans, including spectator Babe Ruth, Vander Meer strikes out seven and walks eight, including three one-out walks in the 9th inning, and other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1928 – Ty Cobb of the Philadelphia Athletics steals home for the 54th and final time in his 24-year career to extend his major league record. It comes in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians. 
• 1962 – Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente trade grand slams in a wild battle between the Braves and Pirates, but it is Clemente’s that ignites a seven-run rally in the eighth for a 9-8 Pirate victory.
• 1964 – The St. Louis Cardinals make one of their best trades ever, acquiring outfielder Lou Brock from the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Ernie Broglio and Bobby Shantz and outfielder Doug Clemens. As a member of the Cardinals, Brock will set the all-time stolen base record and reach the 3,000-hit mark. Broglio will soon be felled by arm injuries and will only win seven more games in the majors, while Shantz and Clemens will only make marginal contributions.
• 1969 – En route to setting the National League record of playing in 1,117 consecutive games, Billy Williams, after fouling a pitch off his foot in yesterday’s contest, hobbles to the plate as a pinch-hitter in the Cubs’ 7-6 loss to Cincinnati at Crosley Field. The contest marks the first time “Sweet Swingin’ Billy” has not been in the starting lineup during the 878 games of the streak.
• 1977 – In an unpopular move, the New York Mets trade franchise pitcher Tom Seaver just moments before the trading deadline. The Mets send Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds for four lesser players: infielder Doug Flynn, outfielders Steve Henderson and Dan Norman, and pitcher Pat Zachry. Seaver will go on to win 75 games for the Reds in five and a half seasons. 
• 1983 – In one of the worst trades in franchise history, the St. Louis Cardinals send first baseman Keith Hernandez to the New York Mets in exchange for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownbey. The deal is motivated by Hernandez’s penchant for cocaine, which he will overcome in New York.

Cubs Birthdays:Ken Henderson, Champ Summers, Ty Cline, Gene Baker, Babe Dahlgren, Charlie Dexter. Also Notable: Billy Williams* HOF, Wade Boggs HOF.

Today in history:

• 1215 – King John of England signs the Magna Carta at Runnymede near Windsor in Surrey, limiting royal authority and establishing the principle that the king and his government are not above the law.
• 1775 – George Washington is appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army a day after Congress establishes the force.
• 1842 – John C. Frémont sets off from Kansas River on his first expedition of the Oregon Trail with frontierman Kit Carson as his guide.
• 1844 – Charles Goodyear patents the vulcanization of rubber.
• 1869 – World’s first plastic celluloid is patented by John Wesley Hyatt in Albany, NY.
• 1878 – World’s first moving pictures captured on camera using 12 cameras, each taking one picture, to determine if all four of a horse’s hooves leave the ground.
• 1921 – Bessie Coleman earns her pilot license in France becoming the 1st African-American woman and Native American to hold one.
• 1951 – Joe Louis scored his last knock out victory.
• 1980 – US Open Men’s Golf, Baltusrol GC: Jack Nicklaus sets new tournament scoring record 272 (-8) to win his 4th Open title, 2 strokes ahead of Isao Aoki of Japan.
• 1984 – American boxer Thomas Hearns retains WBC light middleweight title with 2 round KO of Roberto Durán of Panama at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas; marks first time in his illustrious career Durán knocked out.
• 2012 – Apple I computer sells for a record $374,500.
• 2015 – Stanley Cup Final, United Center, Chicago, IL: Chicago Blackhawks defeat Tampa Bay Lightning, 2-0 for a 4-2 series victory; Blackhawks’ 6th Championship.

Today in music history:

• 1965 – Bob Dylan records the single “Like a Rolling Stone” (#1 in Rolling Stone magazine’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”).
• 1973 – “Let’s Get It On” single released by Marvin Gaye (Billboard R&B Song of the Year, 1973; No. 4 overall).
• 1974  – “Back Home Again”, the 8th studio album by John Denver, is released (Billboard Album of the Year, 1975).
• 1974 – Novelty song “The Streak” by Ray Stevens hits #1 on UK pop chart.

*pictured.

The Detroit Tigers’ road series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field was cut short on Sunday by bad weather, resulting in a de facto sweep by the home team over the two games they did manage to play. It is a bit of a shame, since the Guards would have been without their three best hitters, but it is what it is.

Next up, the Motor City Kitties head to Houston to face the Astros for the second leg of their current road trip, seeking to snap their two-game losing streak. The ‘Stros have not been very good this season so far but are coming off a series win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman despite dropping the final game on Sunday.

To open things up, right-hander Troy Melton will take the mound for the Olde English D looking to continue his tightwire act so far this season. The 25-year-old has looked pretty decent this year as far as outcomes are concerned, but his FIP is 5.36 (vs 2.81 ERA) and his strikeout rate sits at 13.7% (3rd percentile) while accumulating zero fWAR in 25.2 innings.

However, the Tigers are 3-1 when he starts, so one cannot complain as long as the wins keep stacking up.

Melton has faced Houston just once in his young career — a perfect one-inning appearance last year on Aug. 18 in which he threw just nine pitches, with six going for strikes, resulting in one strikeout. His team went on to win that one, 10-0.

Opposite him is fellow righty Kai-Wei Teng, who permanently moved from his relief role in mid-May to a starter and has made a total of seven starts so far. The 27-year-old’s last three appearances have been unimpressive to say the least, posting a 7.71 ERA and 6.39 FIP over 14 innings of work, allowing 17 hits (three home runs) and nine walks — plus a pair of hit batters — while striking out 13 over that stretch.

Monday will be Teng’s first-ever appearance against the Olde English D.

Take a look below at how the two match up in the opener of the weekday series at Daikin Park.

Detroit Tigers (29-42) vs. Houston Astros (33-40)

Time (ET): 8:10 p.m.
Place: Daikin Park, Houston, Texas
SB Nation Site:The Crawfish Boxes
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 73: RHP Troy Melton (3-0, 2.81 ERA) vs. RHP Kai-Wei Teng (3-5, 3.71 ERA)

MELTON

TENG

Last Week’s Results

• Monday: Brewers 15, Athletics 14
• Tuesday: Athletics 7, Brewers 5
• Wednesday: Athletics 4, Brewers 3
• Friday: Brewers 6, Phillies 0
• Saturday: Phillies 9, Brewers 8
• Sunday: Brewers 4, Phillies 0

Division Standings

• Brewers 43-26
• Cardinals 38-31 (5.0 GB)
• Cubs 37-34 (7.0 GB)
• Pirates (8.5 GB)
• Reds (10.5 GB)

Last Week

• Brewers: 3-3
• Cardinals: 3-3
• Cubs: 3-3
• Pirates: 2-4
• Reds: 2-4

Top Pitching Performance of the Week

This past week was filled with a lot more offensive performances than it was with pitching. Of course, half of the week, some could say you could put an asterisk on, as they played at a Triple-A stadium. Naturally, in the first game back in an MLB ballpark, we get the best outing from a Brewers pitcher all week. Yet again, Jacob Misiorowski earns this week’s top pitching performance after his dominance on Friday night.

On what was the first of many more strikeouts to come, Misiorowski hit 104.5 mph on the radar gun to retire Kyle Schwarber. He then went on to strike out 14 more batters to tie the second-most strikeouts in a game by a Brewers pitcher. That wasn’t even the best part; Misiorowski tossed a complete-game shutout in 95 pitches, making it the most strikeouts in a Maddux (a complete game of fewer than 100 pitches).

Top Hitting Performance of the Week

As I previously mentioned, it was quite the week for the Brewers’ offense as they benefited from the small field of play in Las Vegas. Overall, throughout the last week, the offense posted 41 runs and somehow only came away with three wins. There were many phenomenal performances throughout the course of this week, but none was more impactful than Jackson Chourio’s efforts at the plate. Over this past week, we saw Chourio hit .457 with a .943 SLG. He crushed five home runs, including a two-home-run performance on Saturday’s loss to the Phillies, drove in 10 hitters, and struck out only five times.

Some honorable mentions for top hitting performances of the week:

• Blake Perkins went 2-for-4 against Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez on Sunday with a three-run home run and a double, continuing to see the ball well over his career against the southpaw.
• Andrew Vaughn shone in the slugfest that was the opening game of the Las Vegas series, as he went 4-for-6 at the plate with four RBIs, a double, and a home run.
• Jake Bauers carried the majority of the load in the Crew’s win on Friday night as he smashed a three-run blast in the series opener against the Phillies.

Injury Notes & Roster Moves

• The time has officially come as the Brewers will be calling up their No. 4 prospect, Cooper Pratt, for the start of their series against the Guardians on Tuesday night.
• Brandon Woodruff’s return is nearing as he threw 68 pitches in 3 2/3 innings in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday. He will have one more minor league appearance before potentially rejoining the Brewers rotation.
• DL Hall received an anti-inflammatory injection on Friday for his minor pectoral injury. He’s expected to return in late July.
• Brandon Lockridge is also nearing a comeback as he underwent a platelet-rich plasma injection in his knee on Thursday after experiencing some setbacks while working out. He will still have to complete a rehab assignment before moving forward.
• Quinn Priester’s struggles on his rehab assignments continue, as he threw 73 pitches and gave up five walks in 2 2/3 innings. He was scheduled to pitch again in the minors, but has since gone back on the IL. The team is currently reevaluating the plan moving forward.
• Jacob Waguespack was traded to the Detroit Tigers for cash.

On Deck

• Monday: Off Day
• Tuesday: vs. Guardians (6:40 p.m.)
• Wednesday: vs. Guardians (6:40 p.m.)
• Thursday: vs. Guardians (1:10 p.m.)
• Friday: @ Braves (6:15 p.m.)
• Saturday: @ Braves (3:10 p.m.)
• Sunday: @ Braves (12:35 p.m.)

Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! I hope that, despite the poor play of the Orioles, you were able to have a nice weekend. I went to the game on Saturday, and the weather was just great. It was hot in the sun, but for a 4 p.m. game much of the stadium was in shade. That’s about the only good thing I have to say about that game. Well, it was nice to see Pete Alonso hit a home run and have an all-around good day.

Yesterday’s game was another drag. The Orioles had so many chances at the plate but couldn’t capitalize. Trevor Rogers looked good, which is refreshing. It was a shame to see Rico Garcia have another bad outing, but I try to be rational about that one. He was never going to get through the season with a 0.68 ERA. Through his first 24 games, Garcia gave up just two runs. That is not sustainable. He has not allowed runs in three of his last four games. I’m ready for his regression to be over. If you want to read all the ugly details of yesterday’s 9-3 loss, check out Tyler Young’s game recap.

Since their impressive 7-3 homestand, the Orioles have gone 6-7. They won one series, split one, and lost two. It’s been frustrating, but not terrible. Even so, if you feel like you’re ready for a little vacation from the Orioles, this is your week. They are off today and kick off a nine-game West Coast road trip on Tuesday in Seattle. From Seattle, they head to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers and Angels. I don’t have to tell you that this is going to be a very tough trip. They will face two first-place teams, one of which is the best team in baseball. And baseball on the West Coast is always a tough task.

Of the nine games being played, three start at 4 p.m. Eastern time. The rest begin around 10 p.m. This is a good chance to decompress from the team. Or, you can stay up way too late. Then if they lose, you can be mad at both them and yourself as you struggle to get to work the next day. I might be speaking from experience.

Links

After a decade with the Mets, Alonso is embracing his new home – MASN Sports
I really enjoy Pete Alonso as a person. And I enjoy it when people say nice things about Maryland, so this is a good story.

Weekend series loss: O’s Sunday notes after losing the series finale to San Diego – Steve on Baseball
Steve Melewski wraps up the disappointing homestand after a disappointing weekend series

Despite strong start by Rogers, Orioles end disappointing homestand with 5-2 loss to Padres – Baltimore Baseball
Rich Dubroff has yesterday’s game story with team quotes.

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! I’m sorry to say that you have no Orioles birthday buddies. Not a single Oriole was ever born on June 15th. There are two Hall of Famers born on this day in history, however. Wade Boggs (68) and Billy Williams (88) are celebrating today, so happy birthday to them.

On this day in 1997, the Orioles completed a sweep of the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta. The game went into extra innings tied at 3-3, when Lenny Webster hit a game-winning two-run homer. The Braves and Orioles came into the series with 42 wins each, tied for the most in baseball. The Orioles left with a 45-19 record, 8.5 games better than the next team in the American League. 1997 was fun.

In 1999, Will Clark got his 2000th hit as a member of the Orioles. It came in the 10th inning of a 2-2 tie with the Royals. Three batters later, Charles Johnson hit a walk-off single. Clark ended his career with 2,176 hits, 153 of which came with the Orioles.

In 2013, the Orioles lost to the Red Sox, 4-3, on a gorgeous Saturday in Baltimore. It was the only game of the four-game series that the Red Sox won. I don’t recall anything about that game except that I checked the score one time during my wedding reception. I do remember the wonderful weather. Happy anniversary, Paul!

And one year ago today, the Orioles beat the Angels, 11-2. Scott Blewett was the opener ahead of Cade Povich and allowed both Angels runs. He blew it. Jordan Westburg and Ramón Urías hit two-run homers. Gary Sánchez had a grand slam. Ramón Laureano and Coby Mayo also had RBI hits.

I know this is not baseball, and you’re probably not interested, but it was incredible to see a World Cup match played in Philadelphia last night. I personally was unable to secure tickets, but just seeing the enthusiasm surrounding the match was something awesome to watch.

Compare that to the lethargy displayed by the Phillies yesterday and it’s the definition of two ends of a spectrum.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Even with his recent struggles, Don Mattingly believes that there is room to improve for Justin Crawford against left handed pitching ($).
• Andrew Painter is having some struggles as a starting pitcher, so here are some options the Phillies could look at to help.
• The Phillies are doing much, much better under Don Mattingly, but even they admit they could (and should) have done the same under Rob Thomson ($).

MLB news:

• Catchers, since adopting the one knee stance, are seemingly getting hit in a more….sensitive area more often ($).
• The Brewers are already good. They’re now going to promote one of their top prospects to reinforce the lineup even further.
• Another in a recent run of hamate bone injuries, the Royals will now be without Vinnie Pasquantino for over a month.
• Another injury for the Royals, Cole Ragans needs further testing on his injured left wing. The Royals are a mess.

Joe Ryan was famously traded from the Rays to the Twins at the 2021 deadline as part of the deal that brought Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay for its postseason push and veteran leadership in a clubhouse that saw its future in Wander Franco. Fast forward a few years and Ryan looks like an ideal candidate to add to the Rays rotation.

If you’ve been following this series, we can cut to the chase: While Ryan isn’t quite on Tarik Skubal’s level as a frontline starter, the acquisition cost could be comparable because the acquiring team would control him through 2027 rather than just the remainder of this season.

Ryan profiles as a strong number two starter thanks to a deep arsenal, deceptive release traits, and an ability to generate swing-and-miss with multiple shapes, including a sweeper nicknamed The Alien.

He’s coming off a career high in innings last season (171) and is currently on pace to land in a similar range this year. As his fastball usage has declined, Ryan’s overall performance has continued to improve, and he’s arguably having the best season of his career. He’s someone who could help take this rotation to the next level late this summer and into the postseason.

For a Rays club that will carefully manage the workloads of Shane McClanahan, Griffin Jax, Steven Matz, and Drew Rasmussen, adding another durable starter like Ryan would provide both quality and much-needed stability.

Similar to what I wrote about in the Rays trading for Skubal, I think it starts with one of Brody Hopkins or Nathan Flewelling. I don’t think the Rays would entertain moving Theo Gillen for a year and a half of Joe Ryan. Given the trajectory of Gillen’s stock, he may already be too valuable to include in that type of deal.

The market for starting pitching is always competitive, so it would require a mild to moderate overpay to acquire Ryan. A package centered around Hopkins or Flewelling likely wouldn’t be enough on its own. The Rays would probably need to include another prospect from the next tier to make their offer competitive. This next tier of prospects includes:

• SS Daniel Pierce
• C Caden Bodine
• RHP Michael Forret
• INF Cooper Flemming
• RHP Anderson Brito
• RHP Santiago Suarez
• RHP TJ Nichols

It would sting to give up one of them in addition to Hopkins or Flewelling, but that’s the cost of a higher end starter at most trade deadlines.

Minnesota has the luxury of patience. With another season of team control remaining after 2026, they don’t have to move Ryan. That leverage is exactly what makes him such a difficult player to acquire, but also what makes him one of the most appealing targets for a team like Tampa Bay that’s trying to maximize both this postseason run and next year’s rotation. Joe Ryan may not be the best pitcher available, but his extra year of team control means he could cost nearly as much to acquire as Tarik Skubal.

St. Paul Saints 14, Toledo Mud Hens 10 (box)

It may look like a football score, but Toledo fell to St. Paul 14-10 on Sunday. The Mud Hens drop the series against the Saints, 5-1, with five straight losses.

The good news is Max Clark had a three-hit game, as did Ben Malgeri, who was a triple shy of the cycle. Jace Jung also went deep, and Eduardo Valencia had a multi-hit game despite striking out three times.

The Mud Hens led after each of the first four innings and held an 8-6 lead until back-to-back four-run frames in the seventh and eighth.

Beau Brieske got the start and gave up three hits, including two doubles, in the first. Matt Seelinger was next and struggled through 1.1 innings, allowing a pair of home runs. Nick Sandlin came out of the bullpen next and delivered a strong four-strikeout performance over the next 1.2 frames.

Ricky Vanasco struggled out of the gate in the fifth, walking the leadoff man and giving up a pair of singles for a run. He picked off a runner for the second out, but a walk and a wild pitch brought in another run. Vanasco walked the leadoff man again in the sixth, but he retired the next three batters in order.

Scott Effross allowed four of the six batters he faced to reach base in the seventh, although one of those came on catcher interference. Still, Effross hit two batters, the second coming with the bases loaded. The second out came on a game-tying sacrifice fly, so that’s not really a net positive either.

Brennan Hanifee entered the game and promptly gave up the lead with a two-run single. Both runs were charged to Effross. Hanifee gave up four runs on five hits in the eighth, making it a 14-8 game.

Toledo got a little two-out rally going in the ninth, starting with a four-pitch walk that needed a challenge to confirm. Gage Workman and Malgeri delivered back-to-back singles, the second scoring a run, and Valencia doubled in another run. Tha wasn’t enough, though. Trei Cruz popped up to the catcher to end the game.

Clark: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, BB

Anderson: 0-3, 2 R, 2 BB

Malgeri: 3-5, 2B (17), HR (9), 2 R, 4 RBI, K

Coming Up Next: The Mud Hens are on the road next week against the Rochester Red Wings, starting Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. ET.

Canceled: Erie SeaWolves vs. Akron RubberDucks

Erie and Akron got through three innings, but rain canceled this game before it could reach the minimum required to be official. Erie takes the series, 4-1.

The SeaWolves led 4-0 before the rain came. Seth Stephenson led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single, and John Peck singled him in two batters later. Chris Meyers led off the second with a solo home run.

In the second, Andrew Jenkins singled softly into right, and Stephenson bunted safely again — what is the defense thinking? Peyton Graham doubled in both runners off the wall in left.

Kenny Serwa had a 1-2-3 first. He worked around a dropped third strike and a double off the left-field wall in the second. Serwa struck out the next batter and fielded his position to catch the runner in a pickle between third and home for the second out. Another grounder to the right side led to a scoreless frame. Serwa went 1-2-3 again in the third, and that’s where things ended.

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves are on the road next week against the Harrisburg Senators, starting at noon ET on Tuesday. A special shout-out to my guy Devin Fitz-Gerald, the son of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School head coach Todd Fitz-Gerald, who was recently promoted to Double-A Harrisburg.

Canceled: West Michigan Whitecaps vs. Lake County Captains

Another rain-canceled game. West Michigan drops the series, 3-2.

Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps are back home next week against the Lansing Lugnuts, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 9, Clearwater Threshers 3 (box)

Jake Miller went three full innings in his third rehab start as the Lakeland Flying Tigers defeated the Clearwater Threshers, 9-3, to end the series tied at three games apiece.

Miller was excellent, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out three batters. His slider and sweeper were on point, drawing eight combined called strikes and whiffs on 12 pitches (66.6%). The velocity hasn’t returned yet, as he’s still sitting 90-91 mph, but it’s pretty early in the rehab process.

The offense gave Miller some early run support, scoring seven runs before he came out of the game. Beau Ankeney was on an absolute tear. He got things going with a solo homer in the first, singled in the third and hit a three-run homer in the fourth.

Edian Espinal went deep in the third to drive Ankeney and himself in, making it 3-0.

Zach MacDonald led off the fourth with a single and stole second and third. Jack Goodman doubled him in, and Jordan Yost kept things going with a single before Ankeney’s second homer.

Charlie Christensen took over for Miller in the fourth and struck out nine batters over the next 4.2 innings. He induced 13 whiffs, which is good for the third most of any Single-A pitcher today. Eight came on the slider, three on the sinker and two more on the cutter.

Clearwater was a little more comfortable with his arm angle the second time through the order and got to Christensen for a pair of runs in the sixth with a string of hits, but Lakeland got those runs back in the top of the seventh. MacDonald drove in Espinal on a sacrifice fly, and Yost walked with the bases loaded.

A leadoff double led to a third Clearwater run in the eighth. Pedro Garcia took over for Christensen and got the final four outs of the game. He allowed just one hit and threw a wild pitch, but everything else was good.

Yost: 1-4, RBI, BB

Ankeney: 3-5, 2 HR (7), 3 R, 3 RBI, K

Miller: 3.0 IP, H, 0 R, BB, 3 K

Christensen (W, 2-0): 4.2 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K

Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers are back at home next week against the Dunedin Blue Jays, starting Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET.

A strong weekend in Toronto left the Yankees back where they want to be, alone in first place in the AL East, and with the best record in the American League for good measure. Despite falling behind the Rays by as many as five games last month, New York has surged to put themselves back in front by one game as we near the halfway point of the year.

That the Yankees would lead the division at this point is not a huge surprise, but the rest of the AL East is. The Rays being the Bombers’ primary opponent in the race for the division is not something most would have predicted before the season, and it’s downright shocking to see the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Orioles all well below .500 in mid-June.

There’s a lot of baseball left to be played, but it’s also no longer early, and the division has stratified into a two-horse race. Will it stay that way all season?

None of Toronto, Boston, nor Baltimore has at any point in 2026 looked like the clubs they hoped to be entering the year, but we’ve seen several examples in recent seasons of teams that looked out of it in the middle of the year suddenly turning things around and rallying back into contention. Teams like the 2024 Tigers and Mets spring to mind, with both clubs finding themselves underwater halfway through the season before second-half sprints. The 2025 Guardians somehow won the AL Central after falling 15.5 games behind Detroit, while the 2024 Astros faced a 10-game division deficit in mid-June yet wound up winning the AL west comfortably. Hell, even the 2025 Yankees give us a helpful reminder of how teams can claw their way up the standings, having erased a 6.5-game August deficit to tie the Blue Jays in the AL East.

Can any of the Yankees’ non-Rays foes make this more than a two-team contest? Prior to the year, most would have bet on Toronto giving the Yankees the stiffest challenge all year, and indeed the Jays are in third place, albeit ten games back of first. Toronto has not looked like much in 2026, but I think they are the team the Yankees should be most wary of, other than the Rays. Injuries have wreaked havoc on Toronto’s roster, and though the Jays still do have a huge number of players on the IL, it’s plausible the team will ultimately find itself healthier in the second half and in better position to make a run.

The Orioles, in fourth, shouldn’t be fully discounted either. Baltimore’s young lineup has performed closer to expectations than last year, running the third-best wRC+ in the AL, though their pitching has left a lot to be desired. If the O’s can figure out how to prevent runs, they could prove to be a threat, but the smart money is on them not pitching enough to bother the teams at the top of the division this year.

And then there are the Red Sox, in the midst of a tumultuous campaign that’s seen them dismiss their coaching staff and lose a whole lot of games. Boston’s roster is still littered with interesting talent, but a dreadful start and the early loss of Garrett Crochet have probably just left Boston too far back in the standings, 13 games out at 29-39.

What do you think? Do you see the AL East remaining a two-horse race all year? Or will another contender emerge during the summer months?

The Yankees are off today, traveling back home for a three-game set with the White Sox, and we’ll have a fairly light day on the site. In the morning, Kevin recaps Sunday’s American League action, while Andrés writes up a Yankees great as part of our Yankees Birthday series in Andy Pettitte, and Madison puts out the call for this week’s mailbag.

Today’s Matchup

Offday.

It was just a series in early June, and no, the two best pitchers in baseball this year did not square off against each other.

Yet it's hard to minimize the symbolic power of the Milwaukee Brewers and Jacob Misiorowski's ' weekend conquest of Cristopher Sánchez and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Misiorowski pitched the game of his life Friday, June 12, a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts that set all kinds of high-water marks for maximum velocity and utter, bloodless efficiency.

Two days later, after the Phillies squared the series, Jackson Chourio jumped on the great Sánchez for a leadoff home run, jump-starting a series-winning 4-0 victory that dealt Sánchez just his third loss in 15 starts.

By weekend's end, The Miz had a firm lead over Sánchez - who posted a 55-inning scoreless streak, a record for a left-hander earlier this month - in virtually every key pitching category. And the Brewers clawed their way into the No. 2 slot in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

"I’m happy for the guys to be in a battle like this with a team built for the World Series," says Brewers manager Pat Murphy. "That’s what this whole thing’s about – to be in these environments as much as you can, keep your poise."

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Atlanta Braves (-)

• A second IL stint for Ronald Acuña Jr. due to barking hamstring.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)

• Kyle Harrison overcomes 10-run Vegas debacle to outpitch Cristopher Sánchez.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers (-1)

• One of these times, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will get his no-hitter - or perfect game.

4. New York Yankees (+1)

• Now 14-10 against AL East after winning series in Toronto.

5. Tampa Bay Rays (-1)

• Craig Kimbrel wobbly in first two appearances off IL.

6. Cleveland Guardians (-)

• How does one replace Jose Ramírez? You simply hope he's a fast healer.

7. St. Louis Cardinals (-)

• Alec Burleson having a first half worthy of MVP consideration, non-Ohtani division.

8. Chicago White Sox (+2)

• Uhhh they just took a series off the Dodgers. This is getting alarming.

9. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)

• Adolis Garcia's likely season-ending injury will have them scouring for outfielders on trade market.

10. San Diego Padres (-1)

What a week for Samad Taylor: First major league homer, nine hits, eight RBIs.

11. Chicago Cubs (+1)

• Win three in a row for first time in five weeks.

12. Seattle Mariners (-1)

• Should get that Big Dumper back this week.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (-)

• Gabriel Moreno's hot streak means eight consecutive starts, six at catcher.

14. Washington Nationals (+4)

• 8-1-1 over their last 10 series.

15. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1)

• Paul Skenes has given up eight home runs, nearly matching the 11 he yielded last season.

16. Toronto Blue Jays (-1)

• Catcher Tyler Heineman designated for assignment as Brandon Valenzuela (seven homers, 115 adjusted OPS) proves worth during Alejandro Kirk's absence.

17. Texas Rangers (-)

• Corey Seager misses third straight game with "mild concussion symptoms."

18. Miami Marlins (+4)

• Max Meyer goes 15 starts without a loss, longest streak to start season since...Tony Gonsolin in 2022.

19. Athletics (-)

• After 100-degree temperatures, a rock-hard infield and balls flying at altitude in Summerlin, Yolo County never looked so good.

20. Cincinnati Reds (-4)

• A homer in every game from Noelvi Marte can't prevent fifth consecutive series loss.

21. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

• Nine-game West Coast swing seems to have a lot more sink than swim potential.

22. Houston Astros (-1)

• Mike Burrows has highest batting average against (.297), second-most homers given up (18) in AL.

23. New York Mets (-)

• Sean Manaea graduates to starter; no opener necessary. "He's earned it," manager Carlos Mendoza says.

24. Minnesota Twins (-)

• Outfield prospect Tyler Fedko getting big league call-up.

25. Boston Red Sox (-)

• Aroldis Chapman cashes in 29 consecutive save chances, tying career high.

26. Detroit Tigers (-)

• Weird return: Tarik Skubal beaten by Guardians, who lose three players in the effort

27. Kansas City Royals (+1)

• Oof: Vinnie Pasquantino undergoes hamate surgery, out up to six weeks.

28. Los Angeles Angels (+1)

• Another physical malady strikes Grayson Rodriguez, as he leaves start with back injury.

29. San Francisco Giants (-2)

• Pitching staff ranks 22nd with 4.52 ERA. Not much Pride, indeed.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

• Chase Dollander UCL injury a major setback to pitching rebuild.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings:Brewers Misiorowski rise in NL standings

San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. is scorching at the plate to open the month of June. Manager Craig Stammen has been reluctant to lock his superstar into one defensive position at either second base or right field because it might limit the offense’s potential. With the need for more run production amid key injuries, the Padres may be forced to place Tatis Jr. at one position to acquire another bat.

In June, Tatis Jr.’s offensive production is .359/.390/.513 with a HR and three RBI, which makes him the lineup’s hottest hitter. Despite his production, the offense still needs another proven batter. Keeping his right-handed superstar at one position allows the front office to pursue potential hitters available on the trade market.

Stammen delays selecting position for Tati

Stammen appears to be indifferent to making such a move. He likes the versatility his lineup offers. However, if the offensive slump continues, it may force the Padres to make a deal.

Granted, Tatis Jr. progressed through the minors as a shortstop before moving to the outfield and becoming a Gold Glove winner. But Jake Cronenworth sustained a concussion that forced Stammen to move Tati back to the infield at second base.

He has deployed Tatis Jr. back in right field and inserted Sung-Mun Song at second against tough right-handed starting pitchers. The latter is a decent fielder, but Song has struggled at the plate. He is hitting .190 with eight hits in 42 at-bats. His offensive struggles will garner further scrutiny if the team’s poor play extends much longer. 

Injuries too much to overcome

The loss of Cronenworth has been a major void, as he looked to regain his offensive proficiency after a slow start to the 2026 campaign. The second baseman was placed on the concussion injury list in early May. Cronenworth has begun light baseball activities, including soft running, fielding, and tossing drills. But there is no guarantee that he will return to the lineup this season.

Now, the Friars are in dire straits with the loss of Ramon Laureano from the starting lineup. He underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. The recovery time is four to five months, which means Laureano will miss the remainder of the 2026 season.

Unfortunately, the injury might have ended his playing career in San Diego, as he is eligible to become a free agent at season’s end. To replace Laureano in the lineup, Gavin Sheets is expected to play the majority of the time in left field.

A decision has to be made

It seems like the front office is delaying adding another piece to the roster until they get confirmation that Cronenworth will not return this season. Choosing a position for Tatis Jr. allows them to do their due diligence on the price needed to trade for a bat. 

The Friars need to find a way to generate more run production from the bottom of the lineup. Adding another hitter will lengthen the batting order. 

It does not matter whether the Padres acquire a second baseman or corner outfielder, as long as they solve their offensive issues. 

But do not wait too long, or your top trade targets might get dealt. 

A low scoring, back and forth affair took a turn in the top of the eighth inning during which the Rays broke a 3-3 tie with a five-run inning punctuated by a pair of blasts from Caminero and Mesa Jr. The Rays left Anaheim with a series loss, but were able to salvage the last of three games against the Halos, avoiding the sweep.

Across nine innings, the Rays used six different pitchers in what was a scheduled bullpen day. The staff did their job and kept this game close long enough for the offense to break out. Legumina opened ahead of Seymour, tossing 1.2 innings. He surrendered the first run of the game in the bottom of the second and struck out one.

Seymour followed and provided 3.1 innings of two run baseball. He walked and struck out three. Kelly, Kimbrel, Cleavinger, and Baker combined to toss the final four innings. They allowed no runs and punched out seven.

Prior the eighth the Rays managed to score three runs. In the third, the Chandler Simpson singled home Mesa Jr. and Aranda to give the rays an early 2-1 lead. The following inning, Williamson hit his first homer of the season and extended the Rays lead to 3-1.

The Angels bounced back and eventually tied the game in the fifth and the 3-3 score would hold until the eighth inning. Sam Bachman came on to replace Brent Suter and promptly issued a leadoff walk to Mullins. Caminero followed with a blast to left field, his fifteenth of the year.

Leading 5- and with one out in the inning, Palacios doubled and later scored thanks to a two out RBI-single by Feduccia. Mesa Jr. then got in on the action and clubbed his second homerun of the season. The blast extended the Rays’ lead to 8-3.

That score would hold and the Rays eventually left victorious. At the plate Arana, Mullins, and Mesa Jr. all tallied a pair of hits. In total, the Rays had eleven hits on the day along with four walks. they struck out only four times.

They Rays will face the Dodgers Monday night as Nick Martinez will pitch opposite Eric Lauer. The Dodgers will enter the night with a record of 45-27 while the Rays enter at 41-27. Both teams hold the second best record in their respective leagues. Should be a fun series.

It’s easy to forget how good pitching can help produce good hitting. The correlation isn’t always guaranteed, isn’t always direct or obvious, but every once and awhile those two different facets of the game sync for a team, and it becomes perfectly clear how much one needs, or feeds, off the other. 

Defenders are also hitters. The Giants field eight two-way players who not only watch, but prepare, for every pitch thrown by the pitching staff. Every missed fastball and spiked slider in every prolonged at-bat in every drawn-out inning takes its toll over a long game or long series. There’s a trickle down effect to all that standing around — it’s not just the pitcher who struggles. It’s hard for the other players to stay vigilant, to stay sharp as the mind wanders and the body tires. Errors are made. Mistakes seem to compound. Outfielders and infielders are like the rest of us, they’re fans of baseball. They love to be involved, to see action. Good pitching gets them gassed up!  

Jung Hoo Lee said as much about Logan Webb’s performance before his run-saving, wall-colliding catch in the 8th inning.

Webb had recorded 23 Chicago hitters in the game so far and wanted a 24th. At the time, the Giants had a three-run lead — but the Cubs had just scored their first run on a throwing error by first baseman Casey Schmitt, and threatened with a runner on second base. Webb’s pitch count had eclipsed the century mark. Manager Tony Vitello went out to the mound to go get his starter and was turned back by his starter. Webb wanted to finish the inning, and even in the far reaches of right field with the afternoon sun in his eyes, Lee could see that.

His teammate’s determination to right the ship was evident from the first frame when he got Pete Crow-Armstrong to swing through a fastball on the sixth pitch of the first at-bat of the game, then turned-two on a comebacker after back-to-back singles.

All game Webb attacked the zone, refused to give into hitters, buckled down with runners on base. He struck out 7 without walking a batter. The last time a Giants starter not named Logan Webb had thrown six complete innings and not walked a batter was Landen Roupp on May 19th, nearly a month ago. The last time a Giants starter not named Logan Webb had even pitched six complete innings (to be clear, a pretty unremarkable feat) was Trevor McDonald on May 27th against Arizona, nearly two-and-a-half weeks ago. Webb had done it twice, throwing 7 shutout frames on June 3rd against Milwaukee, and throwing 8 innings of 1 run ball on June 8th against Washington. Over his entire MLB career, Webb had never thrown 8 complete innings in consecutive starts — until today, thanks to Jung Hoo Lee. 

Michael Busch lined a first-pitch 4-seamer towards the first archway in right. Lee booked it into the corner at the crack of the bat. One eye tracked the ball in flight, the other tried to ignore the disconcertedly solid brick wall that was fast-approaching. We all know the history there. Lee would’ve been forgiven if he pulled up short, not wanting to risk another shoulder injury, another season-ending collision with a stubborn vertical plane. Instead he risked it, secured the baseball, then got decked.

Webb’s start didn’t need that 24th out to be vindicated — he had already gone above and beyond — but the fact that he insisted he stay on the hill, and Lee insisted on catching the baseball, wall be damned, is the kind of symbiosis this team has been lacking. 

Landen Roupp threw 105 laborious pitches and didn’t even make it through the 5th on Friday night. The offense responded with lackluster support, recording just 4 hits and 1 run. On Saturday, Trevor McDonald unraveled in the 4th, with three walks, one hit batter, and two wild pitches in a game in which the batting order managed just a single run again. The starters set a terrible tone. They sunk down into the muck and dragged the rest of the team with them. 

But behind a vintage Webb, the bats responded in kind. They didn’t necessarily look fierce, just dynamic, with balls in play to go along with walks and stolen bases and sac bunts. They blooped and blasted and blooped again. In other words, they got on base, got aggressive, and good things happened. 

San Francisco’s three-run 5th inning started with a single by Lee who took second on Daniel Susac’s bunt. The line-up had been hitless, 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position, over the weekend until Drew Gilbert’s bloop double to left.

Then came the blast. 

Matt Chapman’s seventh homer of the year was his sixth in June. He’s racked up 20 RBIs in the first two weeks of the month. His slash line in 54 plate appearances: .415/ .519/ .902.  

Chapman worked a lead-off walk in the 7th. Another sac bunt by Luis Arraez moved him to second to score on Bryce Eldridge’s RBI lob into left.

In the 8th, Casey Schmitt stole second and was promptly knocked home by Susac single. 

The offense looked focused for the most part. There wasn’t much hemming and hawing, not much dilly-dallying. They played off script by manufacturing some opportunities. They didn’t swing too big, or try to do it too much at once. Small ball, you know. When a runner moved into scoring position, the next guy up punched him home. Webb held the Cubs hitless in 6 at-bats with a runner in scoring position, and the Giants went 4-for-7. 

Sweep dodged!

A.J. Ewing showed again Sunday why the Mets were aggressive in calling him up from the minors when they needed a center fielder earlier this year.

The 21-year-old helped lead them to an 8-1 win over Atlanta at Citi Field, coming up just a triple shy of the cycle.

Ewing has consistently impressed with his speed and defense, but his offense has been choppy, and he began Sunday with just one hit in his prior 11 at-bats.

But against Atlanta, he delivered an opposite-field double in a four-run first inning, hit a single to center in the third and then a homer to right in the fifth.

Carlos Mendoza called Ewing’s performance at the plate versus tough Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder “impressive.”

“I just want to be myself and stay as simple as possible,’’ Ewing said.

“It shows how he handles stuff, especially after a couple of tough games,’’ the manager said.

Mendoza likened Ewing to fellow rookie outfielder Carson Benge in that both have been able to maintain level heads despite going through the ups and downs of their first season in the majors.

“Similar to Carson, you can’t tell if he went 0-fer or had a good game,’’ Mendoza said. “It’s his ability to stay consistent. He’s gonna use the whole field. He hit a homer to the pull side, play defense and run the bases. He’s a mature guy and is learning, adjusting and developing at the big league level.”

In the never-ending game of musical chairs that is the Mets rotation, Tobias Myers is scheduled to start Monday’s series opener against the Reds in Cincinnati, Mendoza said.

Myers has been at Triple-A Syracuse, where he pitched 2 ²/₃ innings and threw 36 pitches Thursday.

Despite the somewhat limited action, Mendoza said Myers could be stretched out a bit.

“He’s gonna go,’’ Mendoza said when asked if Myers would be used just as an opener. “We’ll see how the game unfolds. We’ve got a pitch count in mind.”

After that, Mendoza said the Mets would figure out the next two games in Cincinnati, although Christian Scott and Nolan McLean are lined up for them.

Myers, acquired along with Freddy Peralta from Milwaukee in the offseason, hasn’t pitched more than two innings in a game in the majors since going 2 ²/₃ on May 2.

President of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday that Myers’ “role is going to be whatever we actually need at that point. … He could pitch at the front of games, it could be more in the swing capacity that we saw at points this year.’’

Coming off an ugly start in his previous outing, Peralta allowed three hits to open Sunday’s game, as the Braves pounced on his four-seam fastball.

So Peralta and catcher Luis Torrens shifted, and he used his four-seamer less, and his curveball, slider and sweeper more.

It helped Peralta get through five innings, although he needed 90 pitches to do so.

“I was able to make pitches when I needed to,’’ Peralta said. “I was looking forward to [pitching] at least six, but some things happened.”