SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 10: A detailed view of the Pride cap worn by San Francisco Giants players during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Saturday, June 10, 2023 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I have been struggling to articulate my feelings about what took place at the San Francisco Giants’ Pride Night all week. There’s a lot to say, and a lot of things have already been said. But every time I’ve tried to sit down to write this post, the words have stubbornly refused to come until now.
I used to think that people were reasonable and decent, on the whole. Or at least were capable of being so. I used to think that if I worded my point exactly right, and in a respectful, compelling and logical manner, that I could maybe help to combat some of the hatred and bigotry in this world.
Because surely, it must be based in ignorance, right? And if they knew better, people would want to be better. Surely if they understood the harm that they were causing, they would care and change.
It’s a punch to the gut to realize that actually, a lot of people do understand and they just choose to be hateful and cruel anyway.
And I guess that’s kind of what I’m struggling with at the moment. It leaves me feeling like there isn’t a point to my craft. That nothing I have to say matters when a lot of people would rather shove their thumbs in their ears and pretend like there isn’t a problem. It’s demoralizing.
But I’d be just as much of a coward as those people if I let that silence me, so I will not.
What I want to say is that the players who chose to write bible verses on their Pride Night hats last week knew exactly what they were doing. MLB players are not required to wear the Pride uniforms. Participation is optional.
Which means that Landen Roupp and his band of bigoted buffoons intentionally opted IN to wearing the hats when they absolutely did not have to. And they did so with the full intention of being antagonistic towards a marginalized community in a declaration of bigotry to signal to like-minded people.
It was not subtle.
Ryan Walker said that his intention was to spread his religious beliefs and get more people to read the bible. Why exactly did these players feel like Pride Night was the appropriate time to proselytize? I mean, I know the answer to that. But I’d like to hear them say it with their full chests.
Because it’s not about Christianity or believing in God. The Giants have faith-focused events at Oracle Park every season. They are not excluded. If the players wanted to preach the good word as they understand it, that would be a perfectly appropriate time to do so.
But it wasn’t about that, of course. Faith is often used as a blank check for (poorly) coded-bigotry without consequences. It’s the same way that people like to use the concept of “freedom of speech” to insist that they get to say whatever they want and no one is allowed to do anything about it.
Which is, of course, not how that works.
Freedom of speech doesn’t protect you from personal or professional consequences of being a jerk. Sure, the government can’t arrest you for it, but if people no longer want to associate with you, support you, or maybe even employ you, well…those are consequences of choices.
Choices like having the option to not participate in Pride Night, but choosing to do so anyway just to let people know that you are homophobic. And choices like being someone within the organization that has the power to do something about it and choosing not to. Sure, you’re free to make those choices, but you don’t get a pass from the consequences of them.
So with those things in mind, I cannot help but come to the conclusion that bigotry and cruelty were the point.
And given the fact that the organization has not adequately addressed the situation or made any actual attempt to make amends for the harm that their players caused, I cannot help but come to the conclusion that anyone inside of the organization with the power to do anything about it quietly agrees with them.
The Giants could prove me wrong immediately by holding the players accountable, hosting educational events for players, making donations to local LGBTQIA+ charities, and declaring their unwavering support for all members of the Giants community.
But they have not thus far.
Which implies that the organization is rotting from the top. And I think it’s time to clean house.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: Sam Bachman #40 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 24, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier today, I made a little trade deadline preview where I discussed some of the bigger names and set the stage for August 3rd. Now, I want to talk about 3 under the radar targets. As we know, the Nats bullpen has been a weakness for this team, but relievers tend to be available at the deadline. Sam Bachman, Jaden Hill and Caleb Kilian are the names I will discuss today.
The thing that ties all three of these guys together is that they are flamethrowing righties. Kilian has the slowest fastball at 96.7 MPH, while Bachman averages 98.6 MPH. The Nats need an infusion of stuff at the back end of their bullpen, and any of these guys would bring that.
The first guy I want to talk about is Sam Bachman of the Angels. Bachman was a top 10 pick in the 2021 draft, but he did not have the control or pitch arsenal to stick as a starter. However, he throws absolute fuel and has a wipeout slider. That slider generates whiffs at a 41.8% clip despite Bachman using the pitch over half the time. It is a borderline 80 grade pitch.
New reliever that I am fawning over: Sam Bachman. The slider is close to 80 grade and throws 100 MPH sinkers. Control is subpar, but he keeps the ball on the ground and gets a ton of whiffs. pic.twitter.com/QFXHezCTUQ
— Past The Eye Test (@PastTheEyeTest) May 23, 2026
To go with that, Bachman has the 99 MPH sinker to go with that. The sinker helps him generate ground balls at a 50% clip this year. Having a GB% over 50 and a K% over 25 is a very enticing combination. Bachman’s one big flaw though is his strike-throwing. His 12.5% walk rate is not good, plain and simple. That is a big reason why his FIP is over 4. Bachman’s ERA of 3.31 and xERA of 3.21 paint a prettier picture though.
At just 26 years old, and with plenty of pedigree, there could be more meat on the bone for Bachman. We saw the Blue Jays pick up a hard throwing righty in Louis Varland and transform him from a good reliever to one of the best in the sport. Paul Toboni could try the same thing with Bachman, who is under team control through the 2030 season.
Another high velocity arm Paul Toboni could target is Jaden Hill of the Colorado Rockies. He averages over 97 on his fastball and has a whiff rate in the 88th percentile. Right now his surface level stats are not great, with a 4.97 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. However, you have to consider that he pitches half of his games at Coors Field.
Hill also had a 2.61 ERA and 1.35 WHIP entering June before a few bad outings. Even if June has been rough for him, the Nats should still be calling about Hill. He posted a 3.38 ERA in 28 outings last year, and has been good for most of this season. Hill also has not even hit arbitration yet, but the Rockies are deep in a rebuild and could cash in like the Nats did with Jose A. Ferrer.
Hill has a fastball that averages 97, but his slider and changeup are arguably his two best pitches. The slider is used the most and has a 38.2% whiff rate and .172 average against. Meanwhile, the changeup has a bonkers 46.8% whiff rate. Even the 4-seam fastball gets a lot of whiff, at 29.6%.
Like Bachman, control has been an issue for Hill. His 14.2% walk rate is a serious issue, but last year that number was around 9%, giving me more optimism. If that walk rate is fixed and he takes a leap from getting out of Coors, the 26 year old has a lot to love if you are the Nats.
He is also an LSU product, which the Nats have a few of. Hill could be a hidden gem in DC. Teammates Victor Vodnik and Seth Halvorsen have a similar profile, but I think Hill is the best of the 3.
Lastly, if the Giants are open for business, one player I would take a look at is 29 year old reliever Caleb Kilian. The right hander had some buzz a few years ago, but had some years in the baseball wilderness. Now he is back and has nasty stuff and a ton of team control.
Like all these guys, Kilian throws gas, with a fastball that averages 96.7 MPH. He uses it 50% of the time, and the pitch which has ride and cut sets the tone for his arsenal. Batters are hitting just .157 against the offering. In April, Kilian dominated against the Nats in that crazy extra inning loss.
Along with the heater, Kilian has a knuckle curve and a slider that both have a whiff rate over 40%. Kilian is the biggest strikeout artist of the three guys we will talk about, with a 28.6% K rate. However, even in a pitcher friendly environment, Kilian was quite homer prone, allowing 1.39 HR/9. His walk rate of 11.3% is high, but not horrible for a reliever.
Given his age and shorter track record, Kilian probably will cost the least of these three. He is more of a one-dimensional strikeout artist compared to the other two, but he can punch guys out. In the bullpen, getting whiffs is king. Kilian can do that in a big way.
All three of these guys would slide into the back of the Nationals bullpen and be upgrades. That Louis Varland trade I talked about earlier could be a good comparison point, especially for the first two names. The Jays gave up talented lefty Kendry Rojas and outfielder Alan Roden. A comparable package for the Nats would be Alex Clemmey, Christian Franklin and maybe one other piece because I think Rojas is a bit better than Clemmey.
Trading for pitchers with team control is something I think Paul Toboni should be aggressively pursuing. In the majors and in the minors, the Nats are lopsided towards hitting. That creates an opportunity to make moves for pitching, either at the deadline or in the offseason.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 16: Bryce Eldridge (8) of the San Francisco Giants bats in the heavy first inning rain during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants on June 16, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As many anticipated, Thursday’s game between the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves has been postponed. A storm has been tearing through the southeast, and it put all three games of the series in jeopardy: Tuesday’s game began during rainstorms, and was postponed in the second inning, though it was finished on Wednesday as part of a doubleheader when the rain calmed down. But the weather picked up again on Thursday, so severely that the game was scrapped nearly five hours before it was scheduled to begin.
The Giants (who won the first two games of the series) caught a bad break with the rescheduling process. Rather than schedule a doubleheader for when the Braves visit the Bay Area in a week, MLB opted to maintain the home/road setup, as they always try to do (so that all teams can have the revenue of 81 home games). As such, the game has been rescheduled for Monday, August 31 in Atlanta, at 3:05 p.m. PT. That was originally a travel day for the Giants, after finishing a string of 13 games in as many days. Now, with the rescheduled contest (which comes after a home game on Sunday afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and before a Tuesday night game on the road against the Pittsburgh Pirates), the Giants will play on 23 consecutive days, from August 18 through September 9. That will be quite a test, though thankfully rosters will expand on September 1.
San Francisco is not using the unscheduled off day to adjust their rotation, and will instead just push everyone back. Their weekend series against the Miami Marlins will now feature Landen Roupp on Friday, Logan Webb on Saturday, and Trevor McDonald on Sunday.
Adric watching the Dodgers at Rate Field. June 13, 2026 | Michael Elizondo / True Blue LA
Stop me if you’ve heard this one, but last week in Chicago, Yoshinobu Yamamoto took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. And then…well…as if I needed any more reason to be annoyed by the Savannah Bananas…ex-Savannah Banana Tristan Peters spoiled my fun.
That ball had a family. I had the oddest sense of deja vu. If only I could place my finger on it…along with my simmering, justified resentment towards Jackson Holliday…
I am probably one of the few people on the planet outside the Dodgers organization who happened to be in both Baltimore and the South Side of Chicago for Yamamoto’s attempted dalliances with history. Other random coincidences are that Stephen Nelson was on the call for both games, and I was sitting literally below him at both Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Rate Field.
In all seriousness, if I had a nickel every time I was present for Yoshinobu Yamamoto losing a no-hitter by a home run in the ninth inning, I would have two nickels. It isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice, right? The situation is right up there with “being doomed by a puppet.”
Kidding aside, when I say at some point I became the Forrest Gump of traveling Dodgers fans, I am not kidding. I used to complain about it; now, I just lean into the insanity. While I lack both the mental deficiencies and the physical prowess of Winston Groom’s fictional character, history has a knack for just unfolding around me.
Being who I am and doing what I do, I tend to get it recorded on my phone. The best analogy I have for what it is like to experience these events live compared to through a screen is to ask you to imagine you are forced to wear gloves to interact with the world. And then one day, someone rips off the gloves, and you get to interact directly for the first time.
The downside to this analogy is that events lose their pop over time. Where I was reduced to stunned silence after the Dodgers won the COVID Cup in 2020, I was hooting like a madman when Freddie Freeman met Gibby in 2024. My brain overloaded at the conclusion of Game 7; if I hadn’t been recording, I wouldn’t have realized I was screaming at the end.
Another statistical oddity that unfolded in front of me this past week, which researchers like Sarah Langs ignored, is that Shohei Ohtani led off three straight games at Guaranteed Rate Field/Rate Field with a homer going back to his last visit in 2024 and 2026. Considering this fact, why fans would chant “We want Shohei” when he wasn’t playing in Game 1 of the series is entirely beyond me. There’s tempting fate and then there’s just being dumb.
One might wonder why I don’t have footage of the second home run, and the explanation is simple: I was stuck in The Patio, having an awful, not-succulent pregame meal, and I thought the video on the monitor was a replay from the day before, not live footage of Ohtani homering again. Oops.
There he goes…
This flash update is not just to highlight Ohtani’s homer streak (which ended with catcher’s interference of all things) and Yamamoto’s outings, because oddly enough, the happenings keep happening. Thankfully, I learned to stop trying to embrace my inner Vin Scully relatively early on and let the action speak for itself.
I have always considered myself a traveling correspondent and columnist. You shouldn’t see or hear me (unless the moment is too great, as I am not a robot — see Game 7 2025 World Series Highlights). The game is the story, not me.
If someone could legitimately call me an influencer, I think I would gag and die of embarrassment. To each their own, but it is certainly not mine. However, the events of the past week have put me in a reflective mood.
On this off day, it seems as good an opportunity as any to wind back the clock and share some insights from the road. I do not go out hunting history, because that act is a fool’s errand. I like going to Dodgers baseball games. I like going to see new things. I like catching up with or meeting people I have been bantering online with for years, to finally put a name to a face.
Ian Fleming of James Bond fame famously wrote in Goldfinger: “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it’s enemy action.“ What would Fleming say if something happened six times?
At the risk of jinxing any future brushes with history, let’s revisit the brushes with history that Dodgers pitching keeps having with me in attendance since I have been traveling and writing (on an amateur basis or not) for True Blue LA.
June 19, 2021 – Walker Buehler’s reaches for the brass ring in the desert
When I first got started, the idea that I could be present for a potential no-hitter seemed as alien as the idea that I would eventually visit every Major League Ballpark to see the Dodgers or be at a World Series game where the Dodgers clinched a championship. On my first visit to Chase Field, Walker Buehler unexpectedly tried to grab for the brass ring and came fairly close.
I remember getting overly excited and acutely aware when Walker Buehler kept the Diamondbacks at bay for seven innings. He faultered against David Peralta, of all people, before eventually getting pulled for Mitch White, who coughed up the shutout. However, the cost of experience is wonder. Getting through seven innings unscathed somehow became my general baseline before I started thinking about words like no-hitter or perfect game.
Line before the no-hitter was broken up: 7 IP, 2 BB, 10 K
Final line: W, 7 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 11 K
April 13, 2022 – Kershaw abbreviated snow day in Minneapolis
I have spilled plenty of ink on Clayton Kerhsaw’s Snow Day in April 2022. It was cold, it snowed a little, and the Twins were flailing at everything. I remember how I was getting progressively more excited as Kershaw was perfect through five innings, then six, and ultimately seven, as Gavin Lux really saved Kershaw’s bid and bacon.
And then, poor Alex Vesia was summoned into the game. The reaction from the Minnesotans still in attendance was as visceral as anything I had ever seen in person. Seriously, who gets that angry at Alex Vesia? Unlike the majority of fans in attendance, I had and continue to have no problem with Dave Roberts’ decision to pull Kershaw after seven frames, considering the lack of a true spring training combined with the weather conditions.
Alas, it was not to be. Gary Sanchez singled off Vesia, and he was the only baserunner of the day. Personally, a combo no-hitter or combo perfect game is not a thing; it’s one person, one game. This view has evolved over time, and I get that the league views this position differently.
Final Line: W, 7 IP, 13 K, 21 up, 21 down
July 15, 2022 – Kershaw’s second bite at the apple in Anaheim
If you read Kershaw’s biography, The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness— a title I grow to hate with each passing year (the book is fine, the title needed an editor), you’d be forgiven if you forgot this outing, considering Kershaw omitted when recounting 2022.
I didn’t and wouldn’t, as for my money, it was the stronger start. The Twins were flailing aggressively, but the Anaheim Angels looked lost as even the mighty Ohtani looked clueless in facing Kershaw. For the record, the loud Angels fan in the background of these videos is my friend from law school, a long-suffering Angels fan.
If one were looking for the last truly dominant start of Kershaw’s career, that balmy night with friends in Anaheim is a strong candidate. I have never claimed to be a beat writer, so I leave the day-to-day happenings to Eric Stephen and company. Accordingly, I hadn’t seen another Kershaw in between that truncated outing in April. From my perspective, it was consecutive; therefore, the silent yay and golf clap after his first two innings was an acknowledgment of a perfect game just for me.
No one was ever supposed to know about it. Then he was perfect for five more innings — again. For those wondering, I get the impulse to root against history. I snicker that if history is not made, you generally are just at a stinker of a game, destined to blend together in the sands of time.
Luis Rengifo doubled in the eighth, and the late-Reyes Moronta coughed up the shutout by a solo homer to Brandon Marsh, which was the only other hit in the game, in the ninth.
Line before Perfect Game broken up: 7 IP, 6 K, 21 up, 21 down
August 12, 2022 – Tony Gonsolin’s dalliance with history in Kansas City
One might wonder why I don’t have footage from this moment. Unfortunately, in 2023, my original iPhone was fried, and its backup was lost before I had a chance to fully upload all the videos that I had recorded. Plus, the conditions that night were truly miserable.
Honestly, I was more surprised than anything else at what turned out to be Gonsolin’s best start in a Dodgers uniform. It was horrifically muggy that night in Kansas City, a mugginess that only exceeded the following night. The perfect game bid seemed like an afterthought as Kyle Isbel drew a walk in the bottom of the fifth, and the no-hitter bid ended before it truly had a chance to get interesting with a Vinnie Pasquantino single in the bottom of the seventh. Michael A. Taylor knocked Pasquantino with a double that same frame to end the shutout.
Line before Perfect Game broken up: 5 1/3 IP, 3 K
Line before No-Hitter broken up: 6 1/3 IP, 2 BB, 3 K
Final Line: W, 6 2/3 IP, ER, 3 BB, 3 K
September 6, 2025 – Yamamoto’s Brilliance Wasted
Imagine losing a game after getting 26 no-hit outs. Who would let that happen?
I still flinch whenever I think of this game. Not because of the no-hitter being broken up, but the ultimate conclusion. In part, I also flinch because I was mildly late, as I spent two hours in traffic trying to get pit beef before the game started. I wanted to be seated well in advance of the pregame ceremonies to honor Cal Ripken breaking Lou Gehrig’s record, and sadly, I was not.
The only time my blood pressure rose for this one was after Yamamoto got the 26th (and final) out. Once the ball sailed out, my thoughts turned to the Dodgers’ bullpen, and I wondered if they were capable of getting one final out.
The fans around me were annoying that night. The Baltimore fans, apart from my friend extoling Tanner Scott to remember his roots, would not shut up about the no-hitter starting in the fifth inning. The Dodgers fans near me did not realize there was a potential no-hitter until the seventh inning and then proceeded to not shut up about it.
Line before No-Hitter Broken Up: 8 2/3 IP, 2 BB, 10 K
Final Line: ND, 8 2/3 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 10 K
June 13, 2026 – E6
Woof. That error gets worse every time I see it. Talkin’ Baseball argued that the condition of the field contributed to Mookie Betts’ error. I refrained from saying “Cut Rate Field” while I was in Chicago, but sometimes the shoe fits.
It was the bottom of the third inning when I realized the last time I saw Yamamoto this sharp was, and then I immediately silenced my thoughts before thinking of the word Baltimore. It was just a Saturday in the park, and while I wish I had thought of the Chicago song of the same name, my mind went elsewhere while trying to drown out the Let’s Go White Sox song, the horrible US chant someone made up at the World Cup, and the Brass Bonanza — the goal song for the defunct Hartford Whalers of the NHL.
The Whalers moved to Raleigh and became the Carolina Hurricanes. When they won the Stanley Cup, I had to resist the urge to blast the song on the airplane and succumb to the memes of victory. The song is quite good and quite catchy.
Once again, the local fans would not stop talking about the perfect game starting in the fifth inning, and I was trying to distract myself as I had no one to banter with this time.
“Just a routine ground ball that I missed. I’m not making any excuses. I should have made the play.”
No kidding.
I had a whole diatribe lined up for Betts as I was genuinely angry after E6. I had to strain myself to find some positivity. Yamamoto was far more forgiving than most would have been in the situation. Having previously thrown two no-hitters in Japan, I understand that he had a measure of experience from which to draw grace.
Second, it’s just a regular-season game in June. Had Betts’ blunder occurred when Alejandro Kirk hit his ground ball in the bottom of the eleventh in Toronto on November 1… Let’s instead skip that horrible what-if scenario by reliving the time Betts got it right — especially with his Game 7 bobblehead night coming up on Friday.
Betts has unleashed a couple of web gems since, which doesn’t make up for Saturday’s goof. Nothing will, but I have to live with that fact. His bat has crept above the Uecker line, forestalling any need to vent on that front — for now. In any event, the Dodgers managed not to blow another lead in a no-hitter, which is something positive, I suppose.
Line before Perfect Game broken up: 7 2/3 IP, 7 K
Line before No-Hitter broken up: 8 IP, H, ER, 7 K
Final line: W, 8 1/3 IP, H, ER, 7 K
What’s next? Who knows? Realistically, we will have a proper field report next week. As for travel, I go back on the shelf until after the All-Star Break, when I visit MLB stadiums 29 and 30: New Yankee Stadium and Citizens Bank Park, respectively.
Jun 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Trea Turner (7) reacts after striking out against the Miami Marlins in the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Trea Turner returned to the starting lineup in Wednesday’s series finale against the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, with manager Don Mattingly returning him to the leadoff spot. It was his first time batting leadoff since his season-long slump resulted in Turner being dropped to the No. 2 spot on May 27th.
Turner had a nice game in a losing effort, going 3-for-5 with a run scored in the Phils’ 12-4 loss. But there is much work to do for the veteran shortstop who has spent the entirety of the 2026 season mired in another massive slump.
Slumps are one thing. All players go through them. Great players are able to avoid prolonged slumps. They usually don’t have ones that swallow up half a season.
But once again, Turner is in the midst of an epic slump that has already decimated nearly half of the 2026 season. Coming into Wednesday, Turner’s .595 OPS was 2nd-worst among 22 qualified MLB shortstops. Worse than that, it ranked 151st out of 156 qualified position players in baseball. One year after winning the NL batting title as the only player in the league with an average over .300, his .216 average ranked 139th (it rose to .223 after Wednesday’s 3-hit effort).
Turner is making $300 million. I sure don’t like bringing up that price tag, because all players, now matter how much they’re making, are allowed to slump. But that salary is an indication of just how much the Phillies depend on Turner to be an impact player at the top of the lineup.
There are some who believe Turner gets a free pass in Philadelphia. Perhaps that stems from “The Ovation” he received in August of 2023 when, in midst of almost identical struggles, the fanbase decided to support him with a standing ovation as he came to plate for his first at-bat against the Kansas City Royals.
As he walked up to the plate, he was hitting .236 in 484 plate appearances, with a .289 OBP and .367 slugging percentage. Following the ovation, he hit .339 and put up a 1.069 OPS over his last 47 games.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the fanbase is going to be able to go to that well a second time.
Patience for Turner is running short, but really, there is no alternative other than to keep playing him at shortstop everyday and wait for the turnaround.
At the moment, Trea is simply striking out too much, 22.7% of his PAs right now, a career high. Last year it was 16.7%. His 38.5% hard-hit rate is far below his 42.1% from a season ago, and he’s chasing pitches out of the strike zone at a 36.0% clip, again far higher than last season’s 31.1%. The plate discipline has been a major issue.
His Baseball Savant page is a sea of blue.
Resiliency when down in the count has been the biggest difference between Trea Turner 2025 and Trea Turner 2026.
After 0-1 (2025): .741 OPS
After 0-1 (2026): .334 OPS
After 0-2 (2025): .636 OPS
After 0-2 (2026): .255 OPS
After 1-2 (2025): .592 OPS
After 1-2 (2026): .240 OPS
After 2-2 (2025): .747 OPS
After 2-2 (2026): .385 OPS
Virtually every player, no matter their skill, does worse when down in the count. But Turner’s inability to rally with two strikes is a key difference between this year and last year.
It is not fair to say his tenure in Philadelphia has been a failure. Far from it. Since 2023, Turner is 7th among all MLB shortstops in fWAR (14.7). His .277 batting average is tied for 5th, his 69 HRs are tied for 10th, he’s 4th in runs scored (325) and 7th in OPS (.769).
If you had told me that’s where Turner would rank among qualified MLB shortstops at nearly the midway point of his fourth season with the team, I would have been pleased with it.
But no one is pleased right now because once again, Turner is mired in an epic slump that he appears nowhere close to figuring out.
With the worst of a tropical storm set to arrive Thursday afternoon, the three-game set between the Giants and Braves ended the same way it began — in a rainout.
The game will be made up Aug. 31 in Atlanta with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. ET.
Truist Park has seen more than its share of rain recently. Thursday’s scheduled game between the Giants and Braves was rained out. Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The date is one of three off days the teams share for the remainder of the season.
The Giants were scheduled to have a travel day on their way from San Francisco to begin a road trip against the Pirates and Mets, while the Braves will be in the middle of a homestand with another day off two days later.
The series finale was postponed well before the scheduled 7:15 first pitch, unlike the first game of the series, which was allowed to start in a downpour and ended up being suspended after only an inning and a half and a weather delay of nearly two hours.
In that case, the teams were easily able to squeeze in a doubleheader Wednesday, with the Giants sweeping both games. Making up the getaway day game won’t be so easy.
While the Braves visit San Francisco next weekend, agreeing to play a doubleheader there would have robbed Atlanta of one of 81 lucrative home dates. But making it up in Atlanta will come at a competitive cost for the Giants.
Giants manager Tony Vitello and his team are heading to Miami. AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser
The makeup date will result in the Giants playing 23 games in 23 days, potentially putting a strain on an already-thin pitching staff.
As far as the immediate impacts of the rainout, the Giants will push back everyone in their rotation by a day. Landen Roupp, scheduled to start the series finale Thursday, will instead pitch the first game against the Marlins on Friday, followed by Trevor McDonald and Logan Webb.
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 inches of rain was forecasted to fall in Atlanta between Tuesday afternoon and Friday evening, per the National Hurricane Center.
The worst of it was expected to arrive Thursday afternoon and last through the night; however, when word came of the cancellation, only a few drops had begun to fall.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 17: Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper walks the field prior to the rain delay between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs at SunTrust Park on May 17, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not even half an hour after our (doubt-laden) preview went up, the Braves have announced that tonight’s game against the San Francisco Giants has been postponed due to inclement weather. August is the month for series-salvaging makeups, as this Giants game will now be played on August 31, and the White Sox finale is set for August 20.
Tonight’s game against the San Francisco Giants has been postponed due to forecasted inclement weather. This game will now be played on Monday, August 31st at 6:05 PM ET.
All tickets from tonight’s postponed game will be valid for the rescheduled game on August 31.
Weather permitting, the Braves will be back in action on Friday night when the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers come to town.
What to do in the meantime? Maybe vote for Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris II, and known right fielder Matt Olson (I can’t get over it) for the All-Star game. Thin slate of games today, but maybe NYM vs. PHI might be worth tapping into. Stay dry, Atlanta folks!
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 13: Jasson Domínguez #24 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Saturday, June 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Peter Sarellas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ever since Giancarlo Stanton went down with an injury and Paul Goldschmidt found himself in the starting lineup pretty much every day, the Yankees have had a fairly consistent strategy atop the order. Against right-handed pitchers, Trent Grisham would lead off, and against southpaws, Goldschmidt would. In fact, between Stanton’s injury back on April 24th and Grisham’s injury this past weekend, the Yankees deviated from this pattern just four times, with Ben Rice sitting atop the order on May 16th, May 20th, May 21st, and June 2nd.
Early indications suggest that the Yankees might opt to have Rice lead off against righties, while continuing to bat him second against lefties; indeed, this is exactly what they did last Saturday, the team’s first day without Grisham. I would like to make the case, however, for another batter to sit atop the order: Jasson Domínguez.
Back when he was a top prospect, Yankees fans dreamed of the Martian as a middle-of-the-order bat. During his 2023 cup of coffee, that seemed accurate, as he hit four home runs in just eight games before requiring Tommy John surgery. Aside from that stretch, however, the prodigious power he demonstrated as a 16-year-old has not really materialized at the Major League level, and while there’s still time for that to come around — he is, after all, just 23 years old — that is not the player he is today.
The traits that have developed, though, suggest to me that he could be an effective bat at the top of the order. In 429 plate appearances last season, Domínguez worked 41 walks, good for a 9.6 walk rate that ranked in the 67th percentile. Although he has not yet demonstrated that so far this season, this walk rate matches what analysts have said about him during his years as a prospect: for example, MLB’s top prospect lists said prior to the 2024 season that “he draws more than his share of walks.” And while he’s not been barreling the ball as of yet, he has cut down his strikeout rates both in the majors (14.6 percent, down from 26.8 percent last season) and in the minors (16.1 percent when in Scranton).
Even if it hasn’t resulted in real production as of yet, there’s quite a bit of red on that Statcast profile. Batting in front of a hitter like Ben Rice, the Martian would see a lot of pitches to hit, as teams will want to avoid putting runners on for the Yankees’ first baseman/designated hitter. Even though our sample size is still too small to say with certainty that Domínguez will see positive regression, they provide some reason for optimism that he can at least get on base at a decent clip while providing some power in the gaps and making some plays on the basepaths with his speed — which is exactly what the Yankees could use as a table setter with Grisham out so many hitters out.
Furthermore, using Domínguez as the leadoff hitter against righties allows the rest of the lineup to settle in with some consistency behind him. In particular, this lets Rice bat second on a daily basis, which is what he absolutely should be doing right now as the team’s best hitter with Aaron Judge on the shelf. While the rest of the order behind him will likely see quite a bit of platoon-based turnover — in particular, the Yankees have been sliding Goldschmidt between Rice and Cody Bellinger against righties ever since Judge got hurt and batting Amed Rosario in the middle of the order against southpaws — allowing Rice to anchor the lineup construction in the two hole, much like Judge does when healthy, will go a long way towards getting the most of out this Judge-less lineup.
The independent Minor League Baseball team, York Revolution, is declining to play its Pride Night game Thursday, June 18, and has elected to forfeit its game after players refused to wear uniforms that featured a rainbow design on the team’s jersey.
The Revolution’s forfeited game comes before they were set to celebrate the team’s 11th annual Pride Night by hosting the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
The York Revolution, and independent Minor League Baseball team, took the San Francisco Giants protest to next level after forfeiting their Pride Night game. AP
“This decision was not reached lightly,” the team said in a statement. “Unfortunately, several of our players have refused to wear the scheduled Pride Night jersey and the club decided that hosting the event is more important than forcing players to wear jerseys they are not comfortable with and playing the game.”
The team went on to say that despite the forfeited game, they still plan to have a Pride Night event take place at their stadium, WallShare Park, and it will be a fun and free celebration that will take place between 5:30-9:00.
The York Revolution went on to say that the action by the players is not clear with the team’s vision of making their games the “Most Welcoming Place in York.”
“As a small token of our regret for the last-minute change of plans and support for our LGBTQIA+ representing partners we are making a $10,000 donation to the Rainbow Rose Center to support and further their work in making sure the York community is as inclusive as we strive to make WellSpan Park in York, Pennsylvania.”
The team went on to say that tickets for Thursday night’s game may be exchanged for any of their remaining home games of the 2026 season.
The topic of wearing Pride Night themed apparel during baseball games has been a trending topic that has received backlash over the last month. On June 5, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen was seen wearing the Dodgers regular blue hat while the rest of the team wore the Pride Night themed hat.
It was 50 years ago this week that Arizona won the first of its four NCAA titles in baseball, winning the 1976 College World Series. And one of the most integral members of that championship team is finally getting his flowers.
Dave Stegman, an outfielder who played for the UA from 1973-76 and is among the school’s single-season and career leaders in several categories, is one of 21 people making up the 2026 class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame. He will be formally inducted in February.
College baseball immortality ✅
Legendary Wildcat David Stegman has been selected for induction into the College Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9FKTFvDI4i
Stegman, 72, is the Arizona career leader in runs scored (287) and doubles (72) and held the mark for extra-base hits (110) until Mason White passed him last year. He’s also second in hits (321) and total bases (487), both to current UA coach Chip Hale, and holds the single-season records for runs (91), hits (111) and doubles (30).
In his senior season, Stegman hit .425 and was 3 for 4 with three RBI in the title-clinching win over Eastern Michigan.
Drafted three times, Stegman played professionally for 11 seasons and spent time in the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox. He was inducted into the University of Arizona Athletics Hall of Fame in 1981.
Stegman becomes the fourth UA player or coach to make the College Baseball Hall of Fame, joining Jerry Kindall (2007), Terry Francona (2011) and Frank Sancet (2012).
Portal update
Arizona has earned commitments from a trio of Division I transfers out of the portal as it retools the roster following a terrible 2026 season.
The most recent pickup is ex-GCU right-handed pitcher Garrett Ahern, who comes to Tucson with one season of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Ahern has spent the past two seasons as a starter for the Lopes, going 2-3 with a 5.05 ERA in 46.1 innings this past season, and as a freshman in 2024 he made a pair of relief appearances against the UA.
Arizona has also added ex-Southern Miss righty McCarty English and former Tennessee infielder Ariel Antigua as well as JUCO All-American righty Collin Cobb.
According to 64Analytics, Ahern ranks as the No. 178 player to enter the NCAA transfer portal, which remains open until the end of June.
Of the 12 UA players from the 2026 roster who have entered the portal, three has publicly announced their commitments. Righty reliever Corey Kling is headed to Auburn, utilityman Jackson Forbes is going to San Diego and catcher Roman Meyers is off to Cal Poly.
Current, future Wildcats set for draft combine
The 2026 MLB Draft is July 11-12, and only one Wildcat is for certain to get picked. That’s righty Owen Kramkowski, whom Baseball America ranks as the No. 202 overall prospect which would put him in the 5th- to 7th-round range.
Hoping to improve his stock, especially after a down junior season in which he was 1-8 with a 6.13 ERA, Kramkowski is one 335 players scheduled to participate in the MLB Draft Combine June 23-26 at Chase Field.
Also set to attend is incoming UA freshman catcher Francisco Rivero Jr., one of 140 high school players going to the combine. Rivero, who played for Canyon del Oro High School in Oro Valley, is ranked 368th on Baseball America’s list of the top 500 prep draft prospects.
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski isn’t content with merely being the game’s hardest-throwing starting pitcher.
He’s intent on becoming the best. He already may be there.
The 24-year-old is hitting unprecedented velocities for a starter in MLB’s pitch-tracking era that began in 2008. Over the last month, he’s dominated unlike any pitcher in the last century.
Misiorowski has allowed just one run over his last eight starts heading into his matchup with the Atlanta Braves. He says he can’t come up with a specific moment or decision that sparked this surge.
“It’s more that it finally clicked,” said Misiorowski, who is 8-2 with a 1.34 ERA and 131 strikeouts to lead the majors in the latter two categories. “Everything started settling in and feeling good.”
The fact Misiorowski used the word “finally” to describe an emergence in his first full major league season underscores his exacting standards.
Misiorowski’s rise has Brewers manager Pat Murphy comparing him to Forrest Gump, which prompted a social media post by the pitcher his own face over the Tom Hanks movie character’s body.
“It’s for sure meant to be a compliment for a guy who didn’t put in limits on himself and his naiveté,” Murphy said. “It was a factor in a positive way, where he went out and achieved whatever he set his mind to, and didn’t let the outside forces, weren’t even aware of the outside forces, and didn’t let anything hold him back.”
Misiorowski was selected to the All-Star Game last season after only five starts. He struggled late last year before producing a 1.50 postseason ERA during Milwaukee’s run to the NL Championship Series. Now he’s a Cy Young Award favorite.
Misiorowski is more than just a hard thrower
The eye-popping numbers most associated with Misiorowski come from the radar gun. He reached 104.5 mph — the fastest velocity by any starter in the pitch tracking era — and got to 100 mph on a record 58 pitches during the Brewers’ 6-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
He’s thrown 460 pitches at least 100 mph this season, already surpassing the record for a starter set by Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene with 337 such pitches in 2022.
But his most impressive statistics have more to do with results than velocity.
According to MLB.com, Misiorowski’s 0.17 ERA since May 1 is the best in an eight-start stretch for any pitcher since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913. Against Philadelphia, he became the third pitcher since 1900 to throw a shutout while striking out 15 and allowing no more than one baserunner.
Opponents are batting just .140 against Misiorowski this season. SportRadar says no starting pitcher has allowed an opponent batting average of .166 or below over a full non-pandemic season since at least 1910. Boston’s Pedro Martinez had batters hitting .167 against him in 2000. Opponents hit .168 against Cleveland’s Luis Tiant in 1968.
Misiorowski’s development into a complete pitcher should come as no surprise, considering who he grew up watching.
The pitchers Miz admires most aren’t necessarily smoke throwers
The list of pitchers he admired growing up includes Adam Wainwright, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Chris Sale. While Sale is a hard thrower and Kershaw also had outstanding velocity early in his career, Wainwright and Greinke succeeded without overpowering fastballs.
They had one thing in common.
“Every game, you felt like they could trust them to get a win,” Misiorowski said. “That was the big thing. You looked at those guys and they were going out there and going to perform for seven or eight innings to secure the team a win.”
His appreciation for baseball history includes a baseball card collection he says numbers in the thousands, though he probably owns even more Pokemon cards.
“Since I was a kid, my dad got me into it,” Misiorowski said of his baseball card collection. “It’s huge right now. I think I need to downsize it a little bit, but it’s fun.”
His enthusiasm shows on the mound and in his work ethic. He devoted the offseason to upgrading his leg strength to withstand the rigors of a full season and results are showing in his improved endurance and command.
“He could rest on his laurels. ‘Hey, I was an All-Star in my first year. I pitched in the playoffs. I pitched well. I can do it. I’m fine. I’ll be all right,’“ Murphy said. “Or you can say, ‘I’m going home. I’m going to get stronger. I’m going to do whatever I can do to come back and dominate.’ That’s what he’s done.”
He’s stabilizing an injury-riddled rotation
Misiorowski’s growth has helped the Brewers overcome numerous pitching injuries to build a comfortable NL Central lead. With Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison (8-1, 2.47) leading the rotation, the Brewers rank fourth in the majors in ERA.
Over his last eight starts, Misiorowski has struck out 80 while allowing nine walks and 14 hits over 54 1/3 innings. The only extra-base hit he’s allowed over his last nine starts was a double by Houston’s Isaac Paredes on May 31.
The low walk totals are notable after Misiorowski battled control issues as a rookie. He walked 31 batters in 66 innings last year, but now constantly gets ahead of hitters.
“He’s winning the 0-0 and the 1-1 (counts) a lot,” pitching coach Chris Hook said. “When he doesn’t, it stands out to be like, ‘Oh, God, he didn’t win the 0-0. He didn’t win the 1-1.’ Like that’s weird, for him to go to a two-ball count.”
Once hitters fall behind in the count, they have little chance.
After facing him for the first time last month, New York Yankees slugger and three-time MVP Aaron Judge noted that “he’s almost basically releasing it in the catcher’s glove” due to the extension Misiorowski gets with his 6-foot-7 frame.
MLB Network analyst and two-time All-Star pitcher Ryan Dempster says Misiorowski reminds him of 6-10 Hall of Fame lefty Randy Johnson in that regard because their hands seem right in front of the plate to the batter when they let go of the ball.
“You can tell yourself to swing, but your brain doesn’t quite compute until it’s out of the hand,” Dempster said. “By the time it’s out of his hand, it’s already on you. I haven’t seen a fastball like this since Kerry Wood.”
Wood’s career was derailed by injuries, leading to worries of hard throwers being susceptible to blowing out pitching arms. Dempster notes Misiorowski is playing in an era with lower pitch counts. Misiorowski also produces elite velocity without overthrowing.
“He sure is repeating his delivery, and when you repeat your delivery, you tend to stay healthy,” Dempster said. “Guys who don’t repeat deliveries and get out of whack and something’s a little off, they struggle with that. I really think he will stay healthy, just me personally.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 04: Stuart Fairchild #17 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on before a game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on June 04, 2026 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Guardians 2-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When it rains, it pours. Applicable to the meteorologic phenomenon plaguing Cobb County, this also goes for Cobb County’s Braves, who had two series losses going into the second week of June. They’ve now lost three straight series with last week’s a ghastly road trip and yesterday’s double-header sweep by the San Francisco Giants yesterday. Woof.
The aforementioned rain will all but certainly cancel tonight’s game, where the Braves would be trying to salvage the series. But not hearing anything from the official channels, let’s pretend we’re on for 7:15 pm ET tonight.
(Hopefully not) taking the mound in a monsoon for Atlanta will be Martín Pérez (5-3, 2.90 ERA), who’s been Elder-esque in how much he’s been getting away with it. He’s earned the wins in his last three starts and going 5, 5.1, and 5 innings in each. He’s given up three or fewer runs in each of his last four starts as well.
The opposing pitcher would be Landen Roupp (5-7, 4.24 ERA). In fourteen games started, he’s only gone six innings or more in five of them. He’d be looking to rebound from his last performance, where the Cubs tagged him for four earned runs in 4.2 innings.
It’s a shame this one won’t be played, because known right fielder Matt Olson is batting .500 with three RBI in eight at-bats against Roupp. Austin Riley (fresh off his second three-hit night, yay) is 2-for-5 with a double.
Luis Arraez has a homer off Pérez, but the Giants who have seen him the most are Willy Adames (5-for-19) and Matt Chapman (8-for-25).
What time do they announce this one’s banged, do you think? Taking guesses below.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 10: TJ Rumfield #7 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on June 10, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TJ Rumfield has been a pleasant revelation for the Colorado Rockies in 2026. After a strenuous mixed-bag of players to hold down first base for the last decade, the Rockies may have finally found some stability for the near future, thanks to Rumfield’s excellent play and composure.
During the recent series against the Chicago Cubs, Rumfield hit his 10th home run of the season, joining a small circle of notable rookie Rockies performances before the All-Star break. He became just the second player in franchise history to hit 10 home runs before the All-Star break in his debut season, and just the fourth to have 10 home runs and at least 50 hits. Who were those other players, you ask? Well, let’s take a look back on those three notable rookie performances.
Todd Helton (1998)
Was there any doubt that “The ToddFather” would be on this list?
After an impressive 35-game debut in 1997, Todd Helton continued to shine during his first full season in the big leagues. In the first half of the season, Helton appeared in 82 of 89 games for the Rockies, starting 63 of them. In 302 plate appearances, he slashed .273/.342/.483 with 74 hits, including 16 doubles, a triple and 13 home runs. He also drove in 45 runs while striking out just 32 times and drawing 27 walks.
Oddly enough, Helton didn’t hit his first home run that year until May 5. He ended up with seven home runs that month — four in June, and two more in July before the All-Star break.
Of course, Helton continued to get better after the break with a tremendous second half where he hit 12 more home runs in 70 games and slashed .359/.420/.579 with just 22 strikeouts and 26 walks. He ended up placing second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting behind the Cubs’ Kerry Wood.
Wilin Rosario (2012)
When he debuted for 16 games at the end of the 2011 season, one thing was obvious about Wilin Rosario: He could wallop a baseball. The “Baby Bull” took over as the primary catcher for the Rockies in 2012, as they hoped the rookie’s prodigious power potential could offset the defense that was obviously a work in progress behind the plate.
He appeared in 58 first-half games for the Rockies, starting 49 of them. In 201 plate appearances, he hit .247/.279/.521 with 47 hits. Rosario’s extra-base prowess was evident as he had 10 doubles and 14 home runs while collecting 36 RBI. His strikeout tendencies were also on display as he had 53 strikeouts to just eight walks.
Playing time was scattered in the first month of the season as Rosario appeared in just 10 games as veteran catcher Ramón Hernández took the bulk of starts. Rosario began to take on the bulk of the action in May and rewarded the Rockies with six home runs that month and another six in June before hitting a pair in July, leading into the All-Star break.
Rosario had a much better second half as he matched his first half home run total of 14, but also had a .291 AVG while drawing 17 walks against 46 strikeouts. He finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind Bryce Harper (1st), Wade Miley (2nd) and Todd Frazier (3rd).
Trevor Story (2016)
The first half of Trevor Story’s rookie season is the stuff of legend in Rockies history. Storming onto the scene by securing the Opening Day roster spot helped ease the pain of losing Troy Tulowitzki the year before. Showcasing speed, power, and defense prowess, Story seemed to defy even the highest of expectations from the get-go.
He made his presence known by belting seven home runs over his first six games. By the end of April, he had already reached the milestone of 10 home runs, setting the mark as the first Rockie to have 10 or more home runs before the All-Star break in their debut season. The home runs slowed down a little bit after that, but he added four in May, five in June, and two in July heading into the All-Star break. Through 81 games, Story was slashing .260/.329/.545 with 21 home runs alongside 20 doubles and four triples for a grand total of 83 hits.
Unfortunately, Story’s season was cut short in the second half after a left thumb injury. He had added six more home runs through 16 games with a .340 AVG and 1.115 OPS. Had he stayed healthy, he may have been able to at least place higher than fourth place in the Rookie of the Year voting instead of Corey Seager’s unanimous win.
Just missed the mark
This list is already impressive, but it’s surprising that more Rockies didn’t make the cut. Turns out, the 10 home runs proved more difficult and kept several notable rookies out of the club.
Matt Holliday and Troy Tulowitzki both narrowly missed out on joining the club as each had just nine home runs before the All-Star break in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Holliday also had 71 hits, while Tulowitzki had 90.
Nolan Arenado managed 10 home runs in 2013, with seven of them coming in the first half. He collected at least 66 hits in the first half, including 16 doubles. Garrett Atkins also had seven home runs during his first full rookie campaign in 2005, heading into the All-Star break along with 71 hits.
Since it’s worth mentioning, all four of these players ended up finishing in the top five in Rookie of the Year voting.
How far can Rumfield go?
It’s not likely that Rumfield will smack 11 more home runs to match Story’s record, but with a couple more weeks before the All-Star break, he can at least come close to matching or surpassing Helton and Rosario. Either way, Rumfield’s rookie year has been a joy to watch and sets a solid standard for what a well-rounded rookie hitter can do for a team.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 06: Joe Ryan #41 of the Minnesota Twins pitches during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
FIRST PITCH: 135p Central THE TUBE: Twins.TV, presented by Progressive THE WAVES (ENGLISH): WCCO 830 AM, KMNB 102.9 FM, Cory & Danny Baseball Network, Audacy Application LAS ONDAS (ESPAÑOL): LosTwins.com KNOW THE FOE:Lone Star Ball
After a scheduled off-day mid-series due to SAH-KER, the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers will tangle once more in Texas – where Bob Wills is still the king – with the Twins looking for the series sweep. Minnesota has swept a series twice this campaign: once early in April at home against the Detroit Tigers and another time at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. Matt didn’t get to utilize his talent of writing lyrics yesterday, so I seriously considered doing that with Bob Wills songs, but I couldn’t do it justice. I hope the thought counts.
Texas will trot out Jack Leiter for his fifteenth start this year. It’s been a bumpy road for the right-hander this season, sporting a 4.86 ERA/4.53 FIP in 76 innings of work. His last two outings – one each against the Red Sox and the Cleveland Spiders – resulted in a combined 11 runs (nine earned) in 9.2 innings of work, including 13 hits, five walks, only five strikeouts, and three homers. He’ll be looking to get in the win column again. Hits and homers per nine innings are up compared to last year for Captain Jack. He will not take you home tonight.
Minnesota will counter with Joe Ryan. He may take you home tonight. I don’t know. But I do know he’s been pretty awesome this year for the Twins. The Twins have won five of his last seven games he’s started, and the two losses were by only one run in low-scoring affairs. The keys to the game are 1) for Ryan to go as deep as he can so the bullpen can’t screw it up later in the game and 2) for the offense that showed up on Tuesday night to be in attendance and do the same thing today.
Victor Caratini resumes catching duties after being considered “day-to-day” with neck stiffness this week.
