ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 19: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with third base coach Victor Estevez #7 after hitting a home run in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nats dropped the first game of the Rays series in a fairly sleepy contest. In each of the last two games, the Nats ferocious offense has been quiet. They will look to bounce back and avoid a rare series loss. As we saw last night though, this Rays team is a tough nut to crack.
With a lefty opener, Blake Butera is making some lineup changes. Curtis Mead and Andres Chaparro are both in the lineup at third and first base. James Wood will move to DH, meaning Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews will be in the outfield. After being scratched due to illness yesterday, Cade Cavalli feels better and will toe the rubber this afternoon.
The Rays only have one personnel change. We will see Victor Mesa Jr. for the first time. He will replace Jonny DeLuca. Other than that it is the same group, though Cedric Mullins will be higher in the lineup. It will be a bullpen game for the Rays, with Ian Seymour starting things off.
Rays 6/20
Y. Díaz DH J. Aranda 1B C. Mullins CF J. Caminero 3B R. Palacios 2B C. Simpson LF V. Mesa Jr. RF H. Feduccia C T. Walls SS
The Nats have done a good job staying consistent and not having many large losing streaks. They will look to stay resilient today and get back in the win column. To do so, they will need to take advantage of their chances. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
CJ Kayfus hit a three-run homer in the first game but Steven Perez got lit up in relief.
Bo Naylor went 2 for 4 with two homers including an inside-the-parker to walk it off, where the Railriders’ outfielder seemed to forget what the score was. Oops. Franco Aleman had another scoreless outing.
Ralphy Velazquez has raised his Triple-A OPS to .700… now to see if he can take the next step.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 9: Pitcher Troy Melton #52 of the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on June 9, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Troy Melton gave the Tigers six innings of one-hit ball on Saturday, leading them to a 4-1 victory and a series win over the Chicago White Sox. Dillon Dingler and Jake Rogers both had great games by their respective standards, and contributions from Kevin McGonigle, Spencer Torkelson, James Outman, and Tyler Holton were key in this one. Kenley Jansen locked up his 485th save to finish this one off.
Things did not begin well for Troy Melton, but they would get much, much better after the first batter. The second pitch of the game was a fastball on the inner half of the strikezone and Sam Antonacci lifted it to right field for a solo shot. Melton retired Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi, and Colson Montgomery without difficulty from there, though the only thing he was commanding decently was the fourseamer early on.
Antonacci robbed Dillon Dingler of a flare single with a leaping grab at second base in the bottom half. That helped lefty Sean Newcomb to a 1-2-3 bottom of the first.
The White Sox continued to take their hacks at first pitches from Melton in the second, but it only led to two quick outs. Melton started to find the handle on his cutter and slider, but still had zero feel for the splitter. Braden Montgomery waited out a few errant splitters and drew a two-out walk. Jake Rogers tried to backpick him and Torkelson couldn’t handle the throw. Montgomery took second while Melton challenged the pitch correctly as Rogers was otherwise occupied. Rogers got the error despite the ball being right to Torkelson. It ultimately didn’t matter as Melton carved up Tristan Peters with a good curveball for a swinging strike three and his first strikeout of the game.
Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter, getting a rare start against a lefty, grounded out weakly in the bottom of the second, while in between them, Spencer Torkelson whiffed on a Newcomb fastball to strike out. The lefty wasn’t showing much beyond a good, well located fastball, but early on that was plenty.
Drew Romo flew out to start the third. Melton, trying to get inside on Antonacci, hit him, but Miguel Vargas flew out to center field, and Benintendi grounded out to first in another quick inning for Melton. The right-hander finished the third at 39 pitches.
Hao-Yu Lee flew out to right to open the bottom of the third and Jake Rogers took a called striked three. The White Sox had their bullpen warm as Newcomb was only scheduled to throw around 45 pitches, but things were going well, and Will Venable stuck with Newcomb against Zach McKinstry, who whiffed on 96 mph up to complete three perfect frames.
Melton got a weak fly out from Colson Montgomery to open the fourth, mixing in some good curveballs now. Grichuk bounced a cutter to McGonigle at third for the second out. Jacob Gonzalez bounced out to Lee at second just as Melton’s pitch count topped 50.
Will Venable did turn to RHP Tyler Davis in the bottom of the fourth. He walked Kevin McGonigle on four straight pitches, and the Tigers had the leadoff man on. Dillon Dingler got tied up with a good fourseamer and popped out on the first base side in foul territory. Vierling pulled a pair of two strike pitches just foul of third base, and battled his way back to 3-2 and through a 10 pitch AB before Davis yanked a fastball wide to issue a walk. Davis then fired three straight balls to Riley Greene. Greene swung at a fastball on the inner edge, pulling it foul, and then got jammed, blooping one to Montgomery at shortstop for the second out. That left it up to Torkelson, and Davis continued to be pretty wild, walking him on five pitches.
And so, Kerry Carpenter stepped into a perfect matchup for him, and Venable wanted none of it, turning to lefty Joe Rock instead. And after starting Carpenter with Newcomb facing him the first time, AJ Hinch now turned to fan favorite, Jahmai Jones. He fouled a ball off his shin and was in obvious pain, and then struck out on a slider that backed up and never broke into the zone as boos rained down from the crowd.
Good times.
James Outman took over for Jones, playing center field as Vierling moved over to right field. Melton got Braden Montgomery to open the fifth, but then walked Peters on four straight. That brought Chris Fetter out for a quick factory reset. It worked, as the right-hander carved up Romo with a nasty curveball for a swinging strike three and his second punchout. Melton fell behind against Antonacci, worked it back to 3-2, and then missed the lower outside corner to walk him. It was initially called a strike three, but Antonacci correctly challenged it. So it was Melton versus Vargas, and the Tigers’ starter came after him, blowing him away with 98 mph to strand both runners in the first stress of the outing.
Rock got a weak flyout to right from Lee in the bottom half, then a grounder from Rogers. McKinstry hung in there to draw a walk and turn the lineup over. Rock slung a pair of sliders in for strikes to get ahead of McGonigle, but the rookie eventually got a fastball and lined it up the middle for a single and the Tigers first hit of the game. Dingler followed suit, inside outing a fastball in and lining it for an RBI single to right field. McKinstry scored and McGonigle went first to third with ease. Tie ballgame. Vierling popped up a slider to shallow center field, and we were onto the sixth in a 1-1 game.
Melton was at 71 pitches to start the inning, so this was probably his final frame. Hao-Yu Lee made a nice diving stop to get Benintendi on a hard grounder to start things off. Melton dusted Colson Montgomery with a good slider for the second out, and then did the same thing to the right-handed Grichuk for his fifth strikeout of the game on his 84th pitch.
The breaking stuff really came around as the game progressed and they ditched the splitter. As usual, Melton’s strength is the mix of stuff he can throw, and the fact that he rarely makes a mistake over the middle. He issued three walks as a result, but only allowed one hit, Antonacci’s solo shot which started the game. He racked up 11 whiffs, getting one or more with six different pitches.
6.0 IP, ER, H, 3 BB, 5 K.
Riley Greene made an opposite field bid on a Rock slider as the lefty continued to pour them in, but it fell shy on the warning track for the first out of the bottom of the sixth. Torkelson got a sinker and smoked it to the wall in right center field for a one-out double. Outman got a breaking ball first pitch and torched a hard grounder through the right side of the infield for an RBI single. Nice job there, and the ball was thrown away by right fielder Braden Montgomery so Outman beat feet to second base. Lee lifted a deep sac fly to right field, allowing Outman to tag and take third, but that left it up to Jake Rogers. If I don’t sound confident there, it’s because I was not at all confident. Instead, Rock fired an 0-1 fastball in there and the Tigers backup catcher ripped an RBI single to left center field. 3-1 Tigers. That move to take second from Outman paid dividends.
Rock was clearly shook, and then Tigers fans decided to serenade the airwaves with Take Me Home, Country Roads, perhaps learning from the absolutely epic World Cup invasion of fans who know how to produce chants, sing songs together, and generally live it up. Of course, the John Denver staple has recently spread well beyond West Virginia and the Blue Ridge Mountains. As a result, Rock walked Zach McKinstry. Unfortunately, McGonigle smoked a line drive right to Gonzalez at first, ending the inning.
Tyler Holton took over in the seventh, and Venable pinch-hit Chase Meidroth in for Gonzalez. He bounced out, but Braden Montgomery bounced one down the first base line for a double. Junior Perez then hit for Tristan Peters. Holton carved him up with a backfoot cutter for the second out of the inning. Drew Romo grounded out to McGonigle, and that was that. Still 3-1 Tigers.
It was quickly 4-1 Tigers, because Dillon Dingler was up first against RHP Trevor Richards. A 1-1 fastball got vaporized 430 feet to straightaway center for the best catcher in baseball’s 17th home run of the season. DING DING.
Vierling, Greene, and Torkelson went in order from there, and we were onto the eighth with a 4-1 lead.
Hinch stuck with Holton against Antonacci, and the left-handed hitter ripped a leadoff single to right to open the inning. Vargas lifted a shallow fly ball to right field to Greene. The wind was blowing the ball toward the foul line, but Greene caught it and then dropped it on the transfer. Third base umpire Rob Drake thought otherwise and ruled a no catch, but Greene immediately fired to second to get Antonacci, who had no chance. Edgar Quero hit for Benintendi, and Holton popped him out to Lee at second. That left it to the dangerous Colton Montgomery, but Holton absolutely carved him up despite Rogers missing a call that should have been challenged. A sweeper that started at the shortstop’s head dropped in for strike three to end the top of the eighth.
Outman pulled another sharp grounder ball to the right side to open the bottom half against lefty Chris Murphy. Antonacci slid for it but couldn’t hang on, and it bounced away for a leadoff single. Lee flew out to center field, but Outman got a big jump and swiped second base easily. Rogers struck out, and McKinstry lifted a fly ball to center to end the inning.
So, it was Kenley Jansen time again. The big right-hander notched his 484th save on Friday night, but the three hitters he faced wouldn’t be seeing him again in this one.
Grichuk grounded out to McKinstry at shortstop to start the inning. Chase Meidroth dropped down a perfect bunt down the third base line on the first pitch he saw for a single. Jansen got right in Braden Montgomery’s kitchen, and he popped out to McGonigle. That left it to Perez, as the Tigers led Meidroth take second base. Jansen got a little wild and walked Perez, and no one liked that as Drew Romo came to the plate as the potential game-tying run, but he lifted a fly ball out to Outman to end the game.
Nice to get a series win. Melton and Dingler were great. Outman and Rogers had good games. Tyler Holton did a great job. And Jansen gets save number 485. The Tigers will hunt the sweep of their AL Central foes on Sunday.
RHP Keider Montero will take on a tough right-hander in Davis Martin at 1:40 p.m. ET on Sunday.
MIAMI — With Tyler Mahle’s pending return to the rotation, the Giants faced a coming logjam of starting pitchers. The odd man out, despite his objections: Adrian Houser.
“I mean, I’m not going to be happy with it, but I understand,” Houser told The California Post after manager Tony Vitello delivered the tough news Saturday. “I signed here to be a starter. I didn’t sign here to be in the bullpen.”
With Tyler Mahle’s pending return to the rotation, the Giants faced a coming logjam of starting pitchers. The odd man out, despite his objections: Adrian Houser.
Yet, that is precisely where the 33-year-old right-hander will find himself only three months into his Giants tenure, at least for now. In 14 starts, Houser was 2-6 with a 5.73 ERA with a 1.573 WHIP, the highest of his career and the third-worst mark of any starter with at least as many innings.
“He wants the same thing as everybody else,” Vitello said. “He wants to do better.”
Houser, in particular, has struggled against lefties and in the first inning. Left-handed hitters are responsible for nine of the 12 home runs Houser has allowed while batting .339 with a 1.042 OPS, compared to right-handers’ .218 average and .540 OPS.
In his last start, Houser served up a 473-foot home run to the Braves’ Drake Baldwin in the first inning, raising his ERA in the first frame to 9.64. His ERA in the fifth, when the lineup typically turns over for a third time, swells to 12.46. But in between, he owns a 2.79 mark.
“He’s really found a rhythm in the middle of outings,” Vitello said. “The first inning has given him trouble. Third time through the order has given him trouble. Those are things he’s done well before in the past.”
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That track record, most recently featuring a 3.31 ERA in 21 starts last season for the Rays and White Sox, led president of baseball operations Buster Posey to award Houser a two-year, $22 million contract to round out their starting rotation with Mahle, another free-agent addition.
Mahle hasn’t been any better — 1-7 with a 6.04 ERA in 11 starts — but could be a trade piece at the deadline. He is only under contract for the rest of this season at a rate of $10 million.
Houser, on the other hand, will attempt to convince Vitello and the Giants brass that he belongs in the rotation. Of his 187 career appearances, 139 have come as a starting pitcher.
Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
“I proved last year that I’m a starter, and I’ve done it in years past, too,” Houser said. “At the end of the day, it’s still the same goal — you’ve got to get outs. I’m gonna do everything I can to get back in the rotation because I signed here to be a starter, not a bullpen guy.”
Houser talked with The Post following a “good day of catch play,” where he was getting hands-on advice from director of pitching Frank Anderson. The team believes his struggles against left-handers has more to do with pitch selection than mechanics.
“The sinker’s been getting damaged a little bit, and that’s kind of been the root cause,” pitching coach Justin Meccage told The Post. “So a little more four-seam usage. Really, a true mix of all four pitches. And moving the fastball around the different quadrants.”
Because of his release point, lefties tend to see the ball better out of Houser’s hand than a typical righty, Meccage said. Too predictable of a pitch mix makes it even easier to tee off on.
Houser talked with The Post following a “good day of catch play,” where he was getting hands-on advice from director of pitching Frank Anderson. The team believes his struggles against left-handers has more to do with pitch selection than mechanics. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
“So you’ve got to disguise pitches to create an unpredictable look,” he said. “Make that [swing] decision really hard as long as possible. That’s where the sequencing comes into play.”
Houser has started to incorporate his four-seamer more, but teams still have stacked lefties at the top of the lineup, leading to his troubles in the first inning.
A simple solution, it would seem, would be to use a left-handed opener in front of Houser if and when he returns to the rotation. The idea has been bandied about among Giants coaches, but Houser said he hasn’t been approached about it.
He would be about as receptive to it as he was about his new assignment in the bullpen.
“I’m not big on it,” Houser said. “I like to stay in my routine.”
So much for that routine, at least for now.
Houser, having only thrown one inning before his last start was interrupted by rain, will be available in the bullpen beginning Saturday, Vitello said. How he will be used remains to be determined, though they expect to need some length behind Mahle in his return Wednesday.
Given Houser’s objections and his status as a player Posey handpicked to fill a role that has suddenly changed, it made for a test for how the rookie manager would deliver hard news.
“There’s no real easy way to tell somebody they’re being demoted or moving to the bullpen or someplace they don’t want to go to,” Houser said. “He handled it the best he could.”
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Jun 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of a tifo during the game between the Texas Rangers and the San Diego Padres at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 06: Manager Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros looks on during batting practice prior to the game against the Athletics at Daikin Park on June 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Joe Espada has done a far better job than you think.
Much has been made again this season over Astros manager Joe Espada’s performance. For the third straight year, Espada has been asked to take a highly injured roster filled with Triple-A players and get elite results.
In his first season, he was able to keep the team together through it’s first half struggles and lead them to a Division Title.
In his second season, he kept an injury ravaged team in the hunt all season, and missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.
Now in his third season, and managing on the final year of his contract, Espada has again had to deal with a team devastated by injuries in both importance and volume. The Astros record is not where fans or management want, but it is hard to win Major League games with half your roster being Triple-A talent.
Many media and fans alike have stated that they believe Espada is on the hottest of seats, and others have called for his outright immediate termination.
So exactly what kind of job has Espada been doing? The numbers (thanks to our friends at @TigersData) are going to surprise you:
This chart from @TigersData on X shows two different metrics. The first is Bullpen Situation and the second is Pinch Hitter situation.
In Bullpen Situation, the grade is based on going to the bullpen with runners in scoring position (RISP) and 2 outs, and whether or not the new pitcher stranded the runner(s) or allowed the inherited runner(s) to score.
In this situation, Joe Espada ranked 9th in MLB, with his move to a new pitcher stranding the runner(s) 15 out of 20 times.
In Pinch Hitter Situation, the grade is based on going to a pinch hitter with RISP and either the batter reached base or drove in at least one runner.
In this situation, Espada ranked 11th in MLB, with his pinch hitting decision being successful 7 out of 16 times.
That would cumulatively make him a Top 10 manager in MLB based on game altering decisions that managers are entrusted to make.
Now let’s peel the onion back a little further.
This chart from @TigersData shows the expected change in Win Probability that the manager’s decisions in those bullpen and pinch hitting situations created.
Here, you will notice that despite the fact Espada ranked 9th and 11th in Bullpen and Pinch Hitting actual success, the expected win probability added was negative, rating at -0.43. That left him 20th in the ranking.
How can this be?
It’s because Espada has been getting success with players who were not expected to succeed.
When considering the Astros injury-depleted roster, you must understand that often times, Espada has been required to make pinch-hitting decisions with Triple-A players more than any manager should be asked to. Yet, he has chosen the right player at a Top-11 rate.
He has chosen the right bullpen arm to be a stopper in an inning at a Top 9 rate, despite the injuries and underperformance of the bullpen that left it with an MLB-worst ERA through the first two months of the season.
Analytically, his choices have been expected to fail. They are succeeding.
Espada is maximizing the talent on his team, directly in the face of what the metrics say he should be getting from those plyaers.
Forget making chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what, he’s making Chicken Cordon Bleu.
Espada has the respect of the clubhouse, he knows his players, and he is getting the most from them.
Those are the marks of a manager who should be extended and appreciated, not one who should constantly have his job security or job worthiness questioned.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 19: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves slides into home plate in the sixth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park on June 19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Join us and discuss the game in the comments below, as the Braves look to take a big series win behind Chris Sale.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA- MAY 08: Mitch Bratt #38 of the Reno Aces pitches against the Sacramento River Cats during the first inning at Sutter Health Park on May 08, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Introduction
There were three rookies getting their very first taste of the big leagues on the D-Backs’ active roster in Ryan Waldschmidt, Tommy Troy, and most recently LuJames Groover. They represent a growing youth movement for the D-Backs that has helped fuel them into the postseason chase alongside their usual veterans. It hasn’t been completely smooth sailing for the trio as they have a combined 0.5 bWAR, a .237/.329/.338 slash line, and none of them currently has an OPS+ over 100. Of course, Waldschmidt is the only one with over 100 ABs so a small sample size qualifier is in effect, but they’ve all had the expected growing pains to one degree or another as they become more accustomed to the speed and skill that’s required at the big league level. However, all three of them are obviously position players and their emergence made me wonder if there were any pitching prospects who might make their debut and contribute to the team at some point this year. Of the team’s top 30 prospects, nearly half are pitchers of some kind with half of those sitting either at AAA Reno or AA Amarillo, giving them a realistic opportunity to make their debut this season. I am excluding players that have already made their debut like Yilber Diaz and ones that have injuries precluding them from contributing like Cristian Mena who will miss the remainder of the season. Additionally, since beginning writing this article, both Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka have gone down with injuries, adding more urgency to these prospects’ debuts.
Mitch Bratt
The youngest of the three players listed here, the organization’s 14th-ranked prospect is also arguably having the best season of the three on the list too. In 11 starts with Reno, he’s pitched to an impressive 2.84 ERA, a 0.947 WHIP, and a .190 BAA. That’s particularly noteworthy given the elevated offensive environment the entire Pacific Coast League represents and that it’s Bratt’s first taste of the highest levels of the minor leagues. Since coming over from the Rangers as part of the Merrill Kelly trade, he has done nothing but impress the club – prompting them to add him to the 40-man roster in the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. That move definitely increases the likelihood for Bratt to make his debut this season alongside his left-handedness for a starting rotation that leans righty pretty heavily, but given his age (he’ll turn 23 in July) and his lack of experience at AAA, he faces an uphill battle to get a call this year. But if and when he does make his debut, he’ll need to take advantage of his excellent control to make up for a lack of velocity on his fastball that usually sits in the 90-93 range that he can place excellently.
Kohl Drake
The other headliner in that Kelly trade at last season’s Deadline, Drake has gone in the other direction so far with his new organization. Drake was the Rangers’ 13th-ranked prospect before the trade and immediately slotted in at nearly the same place within the D-Backs’ system this year. Unfortunately, while he’s the more experienced player between he and Bratt with 21 starts at AAA, he has looked overmatched there to this point. He struggled to a 7.15 ERA in seven starts between Reno and Round Rock last year with a WHIP of 1.705 in those appearances. Those numbers have all worsened so far this season with a 7.83 ERA and 1.759 WHIP in 14 starts and he’s particularly struggled walking batters with 4.3 walks per nine. Even by the inflacted PCL standards, those kinds of statistics just simply aren’t very competitive. Still, he’s shown enough potential at the lower levels that if the coaching staff can fine tune his pitch mix and control, he could compete for a backend rotation spot at the end of this season or the beginning of next season.
Spencer Giesting
By far the most dark horse candidate on the list, Giesting has never been a ranked propsect, but has absolutely feasted in his time with Reno so far this season with a 2.87 ERA and a 0.973 WHIP in six appearances and 12.1 IP. Originally an 11th round pick out of the University of North Carolina, Giesting was mostly deployed as a starter for the beginning of his pro career with decent results at the lower levels with a 3.67 ERA at AA last year, but struggled as a starter at AAA with a 6.47 ERA. But since moving to the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever (MIRP in the FanGraphs parlance), the lefty has been a completely different player – increasing his strikeout rate from 8.7 per nine to 13.8 this year. He isn’t currently on the 40-man roster which likely does slightly decrease the likelihood of making his debut, but he’s also Rule 5 eligible this season and has opened enough eyes that the team will probably have to protect him from being scooped by an opportunistic club. Even still, it isn’t often that you’re able to develop a mid-rounder into a productive bulk reliever, but the “deceptive lefty” may be able to parlay an unusual delivery into a bullpen role that could desperately use such a pitcher.
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 02: Reliever Matt Moore #55 of the Los Angeles Angels delivers a pitch during a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 2, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 5-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have been searching under every rock to build up their pitching depth after recent injuries have decimated their staff. After acquiring Connor Seabold and Randy Dobnak earlier this week, today they signed veteran pitcher Matt Moore to a minor league deal.
Not to be confused with the former Chiefs quarterback of the same name, Matt Moore has spent 13 years in the big leagues with the Rays, Giants, Rangers, Tigers, Phillies, Angels, Guardians, and Marlins. The 37-year-old has a career 4.39 ERA, spending his early career as a starter, but transitioning to a reliever later in his career.
The lefty was once one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and was an All-Star for Tampa Bay in 2013 as a starter. He had Tommy John surgery the next year, but bounced back to have a solid season in 2016. He missed most of the 2019 season with a knee injury, and played in 2020 with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan.
He returned to the States in 2021, and converted to the bullpenin 2023, posting a 1.95 ERA in 63 games with the Rangers. He last pitched in the big leagues in 2024, making 51 appearances with the Angels, posting a 5.03 ERA. Moore signed with the Red Sox last year, but experienced arm soreness and was released before ever making an appearance in the organization.
The Royals are currently without starters Kris Bubic and Cole Ragans, as well as relievers Nick Mears and Carlos Estévez.
Top prosecutors across the US are taking action against Major League Baseball for issuing warnings San Francisco Giants players for displaying Bible verses on their hats during a Pride Night game.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Saturday morning that he sent an investigative subpoena to the league “to determine how their selective enforcement of uniform rules may discriminate against Christians.”
It comes after Missouri Attorney General
San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp John Hefti-Imagn Images
“By forcing players to promote political and religious beliefs that they disagree with on pain of discipline, MLB is betraying a core tenet of American law and civic culture,” Hanaway said.
On Thursday, DOJ Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon announced that her office had referred the matter to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for investigation.
“They don’t mind when players are taking a knee and exhibiting all kinds of stuff on the job, but when people are pushing back on being forced to promote a sexual practice that is against their religion, they’re threatening them,” Dhillon told The California Post.
The controversy erupted after Giants pitchers Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker wrote “Gen 9:12-16” on their rainbow-themed Pride Night caps during a game last week against the Chicago Cubs. The Bible passage references God’s covenant with Noah and describes the rainbow as a sign of that promise.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier Getty Images
After an MLB spokesman confirmed the players had received a uniform warning, the league later clarified that the warning was “not disciplinary” and “had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message.”
The league noted that MLB’s uniform regulations prohibit players from writing any messages on apparel or equipment and that similar warnings have been issued for personal messages such as “Dad” or “Happy Mother’s Day.”
Dhillon rejected the MLB’s rationale, pointing to the fact that the league allowed players to wear “Black Lives Matter” patches on uniforms, calling it a “double standard.”
Uthmeier praised the federal inquiry and said Florida would determine if MLB’s uniform rules discriminated against Christians. The league has two teams in Florida, while many more hold spring training in the Sunshine State.
Missouri AG Catherine L. Hanaway Office Of The MIssouri Attorney General
“Major League Baseball claims it does not tolerate discrimination based on religion, yet its actions tell a different story,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
His office asked MLB to produce documents by July 23 on uniform rules, enforcement history and other internal documentation. The subpoena was issued under the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
In her letter to the MLB, Hanaway said she would open a probe unless the league promised not discipline players for refusing to wear Pride Night uniforms and for writing Bible verses on hats. Missouri also has two MLB teams.
“As America’s pastime, baseball should not discriminate against the moral, political or religious beliefs of any player,” she said.
The Post contacted the MLB for comment.
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Jun 7, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy (31) is unable to come down with a line drive in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
The Colorado Rockies always seem to a find their way into an outfield logjam. Admittedly, it took them slightly longer this year, but with Mickey Moniak beginning a rehab assignment with the Triple-Albuquerque Isotopes on Thursday—while Brenton Doyle and Jordan Beck are potentially nearing their own rehab assignments—things are about to get more crowded.
The Rockies currently have six players on the active roster designated as or able to play as outfielders. Including the three on the injured list, they’ve fielded nine different outfielders this season. The team also has two prospects in Triple-A that are getting closer and closer to big league call-ups. Once Moniak returns to the active roster—which is expected to happen as early as this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates—the Rockies will have decisions to make when it comes to their outfield.
Here are the outfielders the Rockies have used to far.
Willi Castro, 1.0 rWAR
The switch-hitting Willi Castro is mostly an infielder for the Rockies this year, regularly playing a serviceable second base with a smattering of shortstop. However, he has decent experience playing in the outfield and has made nine appearances with 27 innings in the outfield. Most of his reps have come in left field, though he’s also had time in center. During that time he has five putouts with an assist and took part in a double play.
At the plate, Castro has turned into a consistent contributor. As of today he’s hitting .282/.359/.409 with 13 doubles, five home runs, and 32 RBIs, a 24.6% strikeout rate, and a 9.4% walk rate.
Troy Johnston, 0.2 rWAR
Johnston’s big personality and quality hitting has been one of the most delightful adds to the Rockies roster this season. Johnston is hitting .312/.373/.440 with three home runs, 34 RBIs, a 17.7% strikeout rate, and a 7.7% walk rate. His 21 doubles are the second most in Major League Baseball.
Defensively, Johnston has been… an adventure, worth -5 defensive runs saved, -2 outs above average, and a -2 fielding run value. Most of his reps have come in right field, though he’s fared slightly better in left. The less said about his glove-work at first base, the better.
Before hitting the injured list with an oblique contusion, Doyle had been hitting just .207/.279/.270 with just four doubles, one home run, and four RBIs. He had also stolen nine bases. In center field his defense had been—by the standard he has set in previous seasons—poor with -2 defensive runs saved, zero outs above average, and a -1 fielding run value.
Much like Doyle, Jordan Beck was off to a difficult start in 2026 before landing on the injured list. Beck was hitting only .183/.227/.305 with five doubles, one triple, one home run, and ten RBIs until getting sidelined with a hamstring strain. While hitting well against left-handed pitchers, his bat against right-handed pitchers was dire with just three total hits in 44 at-bats.
Beck’s defense has been fine this season, though he does better in left field than he does in right. As a left fielder he’s been worth two defensive runs saved with both zero outs above average and fielding run value. In right field he’s worth zero defensive runs saved and outs above average with a -2 fielding run value.
The surprise in-division trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks this off-season that brought Jake McCarthy into the fold seems to be paying off. McCarthy is hitting .288/.332/.445 with 12 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 27 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases.
Defensively, McCarthy has been a bit of a mixed bag. His truly excellent sprint speed and range makes him an ideal fit for center field, but he’s hindered by a weak arm. In center field he’s worth -4 defensive runs saved, zero outs above average, and has a fielding run value of one. With the emergence of other center field options, McCarthy has recently been playing more left field where he’s worth one out above average but zero defensive runs saved.
Tyler Freeman, -0.5 rWAR
Tyler Freeman has been one of the Rockies’ most consistent hitters over the last two seasons. While he doesn’t have much power—despite three home runs this season—he doesn’t strike out much and gets on base. He’s hitting .267/.348/.366 with just an 11.9% strikeout rate.
Freeman has found himself as a regular in right field for the Rockies, but his defense has dragged down his player value by wins above replacement into the negatives. He has a strong, but inaccurate arm and is worth -5 defensive runs saved and -1 outs above average. Freeman has made some legitimately good plays in right field this year, but more often than not his defense is subpar.
Before hitting the injured list with ankle tendonitis and foot swelling, Mickey Moniak looked to be a potential All-Star candidate for the Rockies. He was hitting .280/.335/.607 with nine doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, and 28 RBIs—though most of his success came against right-handed pitchers.
Like Freeman, Moniak’s value in 2025 suffered immensely due to poor defense. In 2026, Moniak was already worth -2 outs above average and fielding run value in right field over just 66 innings. However, a move to left has cleaned things up immensely. Moniak’s left field defense has been perfectly serviceable with zero defensive runs saved but one out above average and fielding run value. Ironic considering he can’t hit against lefties (5-for-28).
Sterlin Thompson, -0.2 rWAR
The first of two outfield MLB debuts this season, Florida product Sterlin Thompson (no. 13 PuRP) has been taking good at-bats but hasn’t quite unlocked the results to go along with them. Thompson is hitting .234/.319/.391 with four doubles, but recently hit his first two home runs and even got to experience some walk-off heroics.
Thompson has played a lot of defensive positions in his collegiate and professional career, but seems to have settled largely in left field. Right now he’s worth -1 in both defensive runs saved, outs above average, and fielding run value. Interestingly, Thompson has more big league starts as a designated hitter than he does in the outfield.
Cole Carrigg, 0.2 rWAR
One of the Rockies’ top prospects, Cole Carrigg (no. 4 PuRP) was a surprising relatively early call-up this season after a red-hot start in Triple-A Albuquerque. While he’s not quite hitting for average while slashing .222/.333/.528, four of his first eight big league hits are for extra bases and three have been home runs. Carrigg has more home runs and RBIs (8) than Brenton Doyle in a fourth of the games played and is four years younger than his center field teammate.
While his defense still needs to be refined, Carrigg has both the speed and range for center field and an absolute cannon of an arm—one of the best in the Rockies’ system and on par with Doyle’s. He represents one of the more difficult decisions the Rockies might need to make when Doyle begins a rehab assignment. Do you go with the two-time Gold Glove winner, or do you go with the much younger prospect with higher upside?
The Rockies have used nine different outfielders so far this season, but those outfielders have combined for just 0.8 wins above replacement per Baseball Reference. That’s also being generous by including Willi Castro, who has accumulated most of his WAR in the infield. Without Castro, the group is worth -0.2 rWAR.
It’s worth noting just how bad the group as a whole has been defensively. The Rockies outfield group is the second-worst in Major League Baseball with -20 defensive runs saved and are in the bottom ten league-wide when it comes to outs above average (-6) and fielding run value (-7).
At the plate there have been plenty of contributions, but outside of Moniak and Freeman it’s all been from newcomers. Doyle and Beck have both struggled at the plate before their respective injuries and now it feels like the pair—once potential pillars of the team’s future—could now be very replaceable. Especially when there are two more top prospects preparing to break down the door in Triple-A Albuquerque right now.
After a disastrous MLB debut last season, a newly sober and bulked up Zac Veen (no. 9 PuRP) has been tearing the cover off the ball with the Isotopes. He’s hitting .328/.416/.573 with 18 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs, and 48 RBIs. He’s seeing the ball well, drawing walks, and still has the speed to make him dangerous despite his new size. Veen can also play all three outfield positions.
Meanwhile, with the emergence of TJ Rumfield as a potential first baseman of the future, 2024 first round pick Charlie Condon (no. 1 PuRP) has been getting plenty of work in right field this season with the Isotopes. After a slow start, he’s also found his power stroke and is hitting 261/.392/.517 with 13 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, and 44 RBIs.
It would be shocking of president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and his new-look Rockies front office wasn’t already using the information above to plan for the Rockies’ future in the outfield. However, the time to start making decisions with this crowded group is coming up quicker than expected. Two rookies have already made their debut with another on the way and Veen is making a strong case for another crack at the bigs. Three injured outfielders are coming closer to returning.The trade deadline is less than two months away.
You can’t carry 11 outfielders on a 26-man active roster. At the same time, simply saying “trade everyone you can and designate everyone else for assignment” isn’t necessarily realistic. Sometimes trades don’t materialize, or a return simply isn’t good enough. On the other hand, do you designate someone like Brenton Doyle for assignment if you can’t trade him when he is capable of elite center field defense when healthy?
What does the outfield group look like—both starters and bench players—after Moniak is reinstated? What does that group look like after the August 3rd trade deadline? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
A bipartisan crowd of NYC Council members are crying foul over the slew of streaming services gobbling up Mets and Yankees games -- and demanding the feds explore ways to improve the availability of baseball and other pro sports on free TV.
A bipartisan crowd of NYC Council members are crying foul over streaming services gobbling up Mets and Yankees games — and demanding the feds find a way to improve the availability of pro sports on free TV.
Councilmen Frank Morano (R-Staten Island) and Harvey Epstein (D-Manhattan) introduced a non-binding resolution on June 11 calling on Congress to review MLB’s antitrust exemption — which allows it to essentially operate as a monopoly — and “promote the availability of professional sports programming on free, over-the-air broadcast television.”
The measure stems from growing frustration over the increasing number of games being placed behind streaming paywalls and spread across a confusing web of subscription services.
A bipartisan crowd of NYC Council members are crying foul over the slew of streaming services gobbling up Mets and Yankees games — and demanding Congress explore ways to improve the availability of baseball and other pro sports on free TV. AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
It notes both Yankee Stadium and Citi Field were built with significant public funding, providing MLB and the feds the chance to study the 1922 Supreme Court antitrust precedent and determine whether current broadcasting practices serve the public interest.
It also makes sense to grow the sport, the pols said.
“If a kid can’t easily watch the Mets or Yankees, that kid is less likely to become a lifelong fan,” said Morano, a longtime Mets fan. “The future of baseball depends on the next generation being able to experience the game.
“New Yorkers shouldn’t need five subscriptions just to watch their hometown team.”
The measure stems from growing frustration over the increasing number of games being placed behind streaming paywalls and spread across a confusing web of subscription services. Getty ImagesCouncilmen Frank Morano (a Republican from Staten Island pictured), and Harvey Epstein (D-Manhattan) introduced a non-binding resolution calling on Congress to review MLB’s antitrust exemption — which allows it to essentially operate as a monopoly — and “promote the availability of professional sports programming on free, over-the-air broadcast television.” Robert Miller
Most Mets and Yankees games are predominantly televised on their respective pay-service regional networks, SNY and YES, and on free TV, but fans also must shell out additional bucks for streaming services like Apple TV+, which holds exclusive rights to MLB’s Friday Night baseball package and costs $12.99 a month.
Amazon also holds regional streaming rights for 21 New York Yankees games this year, while Netflix scored rights to the Home Run Derby and other exclusive MLB games.
In the mid-1970s, nearly all Mets games and most Yankees games were on free TV.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 09: Joey Bart #14 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits an RBI single scoring Konnor Griffin #6 against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the six inning at Oracle Park on May 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves are giving former Georgia Tech catcher Joey Bart his debut, catching and batting seventh. Bart was once a top prospect in baseball, but has settled in as a bat first serviceable veteran behind the plate. Michael Harris makes his return to the lineup, batting fifth and playing center in a huge boost to the Braves. Baldwin will DH and bat second, with Mauricio Dubon leading off and playing center. Jorge Mateo starts at shortstop and bats ninth.
Kyle Schwarber currently leads the big leagues in home runs with 25, and while he's only gone deep twice in his last 12 games, there's reason to believe No. 26 is around the corner.
Schwarber is consistently getting under the baseball, and he's up against Freddy Peralta tonight. The righty has allowed 1.26 HR/9 over his last five appearances, and Schwarber has taken Peralta yard twice in 15 at-bats.
He's homered four times over his last six games and six times across his previous 12 contests. The Chicago Cubs star carries a mind-boggling .640 ISO in the last week into today's matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The matchup isn't overwhelmingly favorable, but Crow-Armstrong is squaring up everything right now and generating the type of contact that can overcome even solid pitching.
I'll play this pick up to +400.
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, Sportsnet
Home run pick: Bryan Reynolds (+379)
Bryan Reynolds is tearing the cover off the baseball right now, carrying a .571 ISO and 29.4% barrel rate over his last six games. His average exit velocity during that span sits at 98.1 mph, and Reynolds has gone deep three times over the last week. Tonight's matchup only adds to the appeal.
Reynolds will face Tomoyuki Sugano at Coors Field, where the ball tends to carry due to the high elevation. The right-hander has allowed 1.80 home runs per nine innings across his last two starts while surrendering a 38.5% hard-hit rate. He's also struggled immensely against left-handed hitters, allowing 2.27 home runs per nine innings.
Lock this one in. I'll play this pick up to +300.
Time: 9:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, Rockies.TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 10-66, -17.58 units
Today’s HR parlay
Kyle Schwarber
Bet Now +8703
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Bryan Reynolds
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Kyle Schwarber
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Bryan Reynolds