Boston, MA - May 28: Boston Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle throws in the first inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on May 28, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
If you were to ask a random group of Red Sox fans what the most fun part of the 2026 season has been so far, many might come back from the slim pickings and respond with some version of “watching Payton Tolle pitch.” It’s certainly not a bad answer, but in typical 2026 Red Sox fashion, there hasn’t exactly been much winning when he’s on the mound despite his very solid 2.70 ERA. Some of this has been the lack of run support, some of it has been the bullpen blowing his games, and some of it has been him not going deep enough in starts to bridge directly to the high leverage relievers.
Last time out on the mound in Tampa, in was because Tolle gave up a season high four earned runs over six innings of work, putting this putrid Red Sox offense in a position where it could not recover.
If the Red Sox are going to win tonight, they’re probably going to need something closer to the Payton Tolle they got in his last outing at Fenway back on June 3rd against the Orioles, when he gave them six shutout innings of work.
Here’s the lineup that will be “supporting” Tolle tonight against Dylan Cease and the Blue Jays:
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
RED SOX
George Springer – DH
Masataka Yoshida – DH
Ernie Clement – 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela – CF
Vladimir Guerrero – 1B
Wilyer Abreu – RF
Alejandro Kirk – C
Willson Contreras – 1B
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Jarren Duran – LF
Nathan Lukes – RF
Caleb Durbin – 3B
Davis Schneider – LF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa – 2B
Andres Gimenez – SS
Marcelo Mayer – SS
Myles Straw – CF
Connor Wong – C
Dylan Cease – RHP
Payton Tolle – LHP
⚾️ First Pitch: 6:45pm — Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy Edman (25) takes live batting practice prior to the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
LOS ANGELES — Tommy Edman was activated off the 60-day injured list on Tuesday after missing the first 73 games of the season following right ankle surgery in November. They get back a multi-positional player who started 32 of 33 postseason games in his first two years with Los Angeles.
To make room on both the active and 40-man rosters, infielder Santiago Espinal was designated for assignment.
The Dodgers were methodical with Edman’s rehabilitation from surgery, hoping to finally put behind them the injury that has plagued the switch-hitting utility player since 2024, even before the St. Louis Cardinals traded him to Los Angeles.
Edman had a busy three weeks on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City, playing 14 of 18 games for the Comets. He hit .275/.351/.392 with a 94 wRC+ in 57 plate appearances, with a home run, triple, double, and stolen base. Edman fared better batting left-handed while on rehab, hitting .300/.378/.450 in 45 plate appearances while he had two hits in 11 at-bats batting right-handed in Triple-A.
During his seven-year career, Edman’s splits have gone the other way, hitting .273/.314/.495 with a 118 wRC+ batting righty against left-handed pitching, and .254/.313/.373 with a 90 wRC+ batting left-handed.
With Oklahoma City, Edman started five games at second base, made two starts each at third base, left field, and center field, and also started three times as designated hitter. He’s expected to play multiple positions now that he’s back with the Dodgers, and will start on Wednesday afternoon against Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan.
Espinal hit .268/.276/.375 in 36 games and 60 plate appearances with the Dodgers, with seven starts at third base, four starts at second base, and one at designated hitter. Espinal was previously designated for assignment this season on May 25, but returned within a few days after injuries to both Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández.
Edman’s history against left-handed pitching made Espinal’s role redundant.
Now with both Edman and Alex Freeland active, the Dodgers have two switch-hitters — Freeland is stronger batting left-handed — with plenty of versatility. Freeland can play all over the infield, and Edman can add outfield as well to his infield duties.
Espinal’s second Dodgers tenure ended with a four-game hit streak, with five singles in his last eight at-bats.
Joe DeMayo and guest co-host Steve Gelbs drop the latest episode of The Mets Pod, as the Mets continue their step forward and step back moves.
Steve and Joe cover the shaky starting rotation, including ups and downs from Freddy Peralta, an injury to Christian Scott, the return of Kodai Senga, and the improvement of Sean Manaea.
The guys also talk Bo Bichette getting hot, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing's effect on the clubhouse, and when to expect Francisco Lindor back on the field. Later, Joe goes Down on the Farm for an exclusive interview with rising Mets pitching prospect Jonathan Santucci, and then the show goes into the Mailbag to answer questions about Mark Vientos, Luis Robert Jr, trade deadline options, and Steve's all-time favorite celebrity interviews during Mets games.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 10, 2026: Peyton Bonds #25 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights bats during the third inning against the UCLA Bruins at Bainton Field on April 10, 2026 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Rutgers Outfielder Peyton Bonds has received an invite to the 2026 MLB Combine, where he will get the chance to show his athletic ability in front of scouts from every team in the MLB, according to a post by Richie O’Leary of The Knight Report.
Bonds has been with the Scarlet Knights since 2025, after transferring in from Campbell, where he played for just one year in 2024, when he was named to the CAA all-freshman team.
In his second season with the team in 2026, Bonds played in 36 games, posting a .352 average. He finished the season with 50 hits, six home runs, 29 RBI’s, and 13 stolen bases. In the field, Bonds recorded 80 put-outs and 1 assist.
The combine itself is set to take place over three days, June 23- June 26, at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. The MLB Draft will take place on July 11-13. Bonds has the potential to be one of the highest Rutgers draft picks in recent memory, thanks to his skill and possibly his well-known last name. As of right now, Rutgers has had 72 total players drafted to the MLB, with a good chance at making it 73 with Bonds.
Bonds’ deep ties to the MLB are well-documented. His father, Bobby Bonds II, played in the MLB for 11 years. His grandfather, Bobby Bonds, is a three-time MLB All-Star. However, the biggest star of the Bonds family was his uncle, Barry Bonds, MLB’s all-time leader in home runs
Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt takes batting practice during spring training workouts Monday, February 17, 2025, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
A lot has happened in the last couple of days! Coming off of a series win over the weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Brewers have a brand new shortstop to debut as they welcome the Cleveland Guardians to town.
Cooper Pratt is, of course, in the starting lineup tonight, and Luis Rengifo has been designated for assignment. Pratt will bat eighth, and with a glimpse into what the Brewer infield might look like in the coming weeks, David Hamilton will start alongside him at third base. If I had to guess, Hamilton and Joey Ortiz will move into a platoon situation at third base, but we’ll see how often Pratt and Ortiz are in the lineup together and, when they are, who will play where.
In Milwaukee’s lineup alongside Pratt and Hamilton this evening we will see Christian Yelich at designated hitter, Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Jake Bauers in the outfield, William Contreras behind the plate, and Brice Turang and Andrew Vaughn on the right side of the infield, so tonight is a win for the “get Bauers and Vaughn into the lineup no matter what” folks. Cleveland’s lineup is notably absent their biggest weapon, as the typically ultra-durable José Ramírez was placed on the injured list on Sunday with a broken hamate bone. Old Friend Rhys Hoskins gets the start at first base, while a former Brewer farmhand, David Fry, will start in right field and bat cleanup. (Fry, who was a 2024 All-Star, was drafted by the Brewers in 2018 and sent to Cleveland in 2021 for J.C. Mejía. A rare front-office miss.)
On the mound for the Brewers is the lefty Robert Gasser, who is making his fifth start of the season. He got beat up a bit his last time out, but that game was on the moon in Las Vegas, so I’m willing to give it a pass; I actually thought Gasser did a pretty solid job against the Athletics until they broke through with two homers in the fifth inning. In his previous outing in a real ballpark, Gasser had his best outing of the season: on June 3 in San Francisco, he held the Giants to one run on five hits in five innings.
The Guardians counter with the right-handed Slade Cecconi, who has had mixed results this season. Cecconi sports a 4.83 ERA in 72 2/3 innings, but his FIP is significantly better at 4.28. He’s also been much better lately; Cecconi has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts, a span in which he’s gone 2-1 with a 3.16 ERA in 37 innings. Cecconi isn’t a hard thrower (he sits at about 93 mph with his fastball), and he doesn’t strike out a whole lot of batters, so hopefully the Brewers will be able to take advantage tonight.
A couple of injury notes: Brandon Woodruff is headed to the Quad Cities to start for the Timber Rattlers tonight and is slated to throw about 85 pitches. Additionally, Logan Henderson, who hasn’t pitched since May 22 because of a back strain, is throwing bullpens. The news isn’t as good on Quinn Priester: he’s got a meeting scheduled to determine the next step in recovery for his thoracic outlet syndrome. (The vibes aren’t good here.)
Jun 15, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Josh Smith (8) pinch hits against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Texas Rangers lineup for June 16, 2026 against the Minnesota Twins: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Zebby Matthews for the Twins.
Texas looks to even the series against the Twins. Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran are both starting.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Langford — LF
Nimmo — RF
Duran — SS
Burger — 1B
Smith — 2B
Osuna — CF
Diaz — C
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -132 favorites.
CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 3: Eugenio Suárez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds blows bubbles with his gum in the infield against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on July 3, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Reds fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
There have been precious few updates regarding the back problem that send Ke’Bryan Hayes to the injured list after he last played on May 20th. We know it’s both a chronic problem and that the Cincinnati Reds placed him just on the 10-day IL instead of the 60-day, but he’s nearing a month on the shelf already and the latest update on Reds.com slated him with a ‘TBD’ return date that was last updated on May 22nd.
That’s the unknown with Hayes. The knowns, of course, are that he hasn’t hit in a half-decade, is on the cusp of being 30 years old, and has dealt with this very same back problem time after time for years. In other words, much like it did at the time the Reds oddly chose to trade for him and his long-term contract, none of that screams should be the team’s everyday 3B going forward.
While it remains to be seen whether the contract there keeps him around for another shot or if he’s designated for assignment before it’s over (a la Mike Moustakas, Jeimer Candelario, Shogo Akiyama, et al), it’s pretty clear the Reds need to plan accordingly.
What we also know is that Nathaniel Lowe is slated to be a free agent again at season’s end, removing another corner infielder from the current mix for the 2027 season. We also know that TJ Friedl, earning $3.8 million in his first trip through arbitration this year, seems like a pretty obvious non-tender candidate given that he hit so poorly that he was optioned to AAA Louisville.
In Hayes, Lowe, and Friedl, that’s a trio of players who were expected to be regulars in 2026 that the 2027 club likely won’t have, for their own reasons. Now, you can pencil in Edwin Arroyo as a replacement on the position player side as he continues to evolve into a big leaguer, and in theory he could be in the mix at 3B. Sal Stewart could presumably be the everyday 3B, but that would take Spencer Steer out of the turbid OF mix as he’d be needed at 1B everyday with that mix. The DH options in that scenario would likely be just rotating through the rest of the down-roster guys, with none of them obvious bat-first guys who deserve to be hitting even on their ‘days off.’
To me, it seems pretty clear that beyond the 2026 season, the way this current Reds roster is constructed still has a glaring need for a big bat somewhere. The versatility of Steer and Stewart means that bat could come at 1B, 3B, or even in a corner OF spot, which gives the front office flexibility in who they choose to pursue.
But what if there’s already someone on the roster right now who profiles like a pretty perfect fit there?
What if there’s a guy who can play 3B, some 1B in a pinch, or serve as the regular DH who’s deeply familiar with the way the Cincinnati Reds work? Heck, he may even be a guy who has only ever signed contracts with the Reds in his entire big league career!
What if he’s coming off the first real injury of his career, one that cost him a month and sapped a little bit of his production? What if that made locking him up for another year ASAP the absolute bargain of the century?
What if last night, when Eugenio Suárez clubbed two homers – one a grand slam – should serve as the perfect reminder that the Reds, right now, have an absolute masher in the heart of the lineup, a guy who would be a great piece of a 2027 lineup that will have Elly De La Cruz once again in his dwindling time with the Reds before he reaches free agency?
What say you…should the Cincinnati Reds try to keep Eugenio Suárez beyond this season?
You might remember that during Monday’s game, Craig Counsell went out to the mound with the trainer to talk with Daniel Palencia. Palencia ultimately stayed in the game, striking out three Rockies.
Evidently the team found an issue, because today Palencia was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
To replace Palencia on the active roster, the Cubs recalled right-handed pitcher Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa.
Here’s hoping this is nothing serious with Palencia. The Cubs haven’t had many save opportunities anyway so far this year. I’d guess the Cubs would go with closer-by-committee if there are any coming up.
Palencia is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA (5 ER/16.2 IP) with three saves in 19 relief appearances with the Cubs this season.
Hollowell made one relief appearance with the Cubs this season, tossing 1.2 innings and allowing two runs on two hits. With Iowa this season, he is 2-0 with a 3.63 ERA (7 ER/17.1 IP) in 15 relief appearances.
Jun 13, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez (1) kneels on the ground from an injury while at bat against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images | Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
The Guardians announced that Angel Martinez has a non-displaced foot fracture, placed him on the IL and called up Petey Halpin.
Martinez was having a solid season with a 97 wRC+, 11 homers, 9 steals and 0.9 fWAR. His defense looked solid in the outfield, also. It’s a real shame because Martinez seemed to have a good shot at being the first Cleveland outfielder to it 20 home runs since Tris Speaker (ok, not that long, but it feels like it).
Halpin returning is an interesting choice, as one might have suspected that Kahlil Watson would get a look. Halpin has an 82 wRC+ at Columbus and Watson has a 126 wRC+ there. It may indicate some doubts about Watson’s glove in centerfield. Both Halpin and Watson have whiff and chase concerns. Halpin has consistently put up .770 OPS’s against RHP in Columbus, so I would guess, for now, he will platoon with Stuart Fairchild in center field while Steven Kwan moves back more of a strictly left field role. Halpin offers good speed and great defense, so there’s a solid floor there the Guardians are relying on for the time being. They may also be holding off on Watson’s debut to allow his family time to travel and making it a home debut for when they come off this road trip. We will see.
Typically, such injuries require 6-12 weeks of recovery time, so the Guardians can likely put Martinez on the 60-Day IL if they need a roster spot. I’d guess we probably won’t see Angel in the outfield until the end of August, which is a real bummer.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 5: Center fielder Brenton Doyle #9 of the Colorado Rockies makes a leaping catch at the wall as shortstop Ezequiel Tovar #14 looks on in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Coors Field on August 5, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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With the halfway mark of the season coming, and the trade deadline approaching fast, Colorado Rockies fans are thinking about rebuilding and roster construction. It’s possible the Rockies make some trades, but it’s also quite possible that they keep some core players to build around for the future.
Over the last few years, Brenton Doyle and Ezequiel Tovar have won Gold Gloves; Hunter Goodman won a Silver Slugger and was an All-Star in 2025; and Jordan Beck has shown flashes of brilliance. All four have at one point or another been thought of as part of the Rockies future. But that could also mean they are viewed as potential trade chips to bring back a haul of prospects to build a better team in the future.
But let’s ask a hypothetical question this week: If you could only keep oneof those four players to build around, who would you keep?
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 15: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 15, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 7-0. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Vidal Bruján #2 of the New York Mets bobbles the ball during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on June 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Prior to tonight’s game against the Reds, the team designated infielder Vidal Bruján for assignment and added Zack Short, whom they claimed off waivers yesterday, to the major league roster. The team also added Kodai Senga back to the roster to make the start tonight, and optioned Jonathan Pintaro to Triple-A.
Bruján had just one hit in 11 at-bats for the club during his tenure, slashing .091/.167/.091 in nine games. Despite Francisco Lindor’s injury, which could have opened the door to more playing time for a club with few options at shortstop, he didn’t see the field much and was ineffective when he did. The team will instead opt to give Short a chance. Short performed marginally better than Bruján this season, collecting six hits in 36 at-bats for the Tigers before being DFAed. He hit .167/.304/.222 for Detroit this season.
The club also activated Senga off the IL to make the start tonight. Pintaro, who came in yesterday in relief of Tobias Myers, served as the corresponding roster move. The right-hander ate valuable innings in last night’s defeat, hurling 3 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. On the season, he’s allowed three earned runs in 10 1/3 innings for New York. Senga, meanwhile, will look to get his season back on track after struggling before his injury. In five starts, he posted a 9.00 ERA.
MILWAUKEE — Cooper Pratt has reached the major leagues 2 ½ months after the Milwaukee Brewers signed the shortstop prospect to an eight-year, $50.75 million contract.
The Brewers called the 21-year-old Pratt up from Triple-A Nashville before opening a three-game series with the Cleveland Guardians. They made room for Pratt by designating third baseman Luis Rengifo for assignment.
Brewers officials showed their faith in Pratt when they signed him on April 3 to an eight-year deal that includes club options for 2034 and 2035. The $50.75 million contract includes escalators that could raise the value by $10 million if he repeatedly finishes high in MVP voting and the team exercises those two options.
Pratt won a Gold Glove as the top shortstop in the minor leagues in 2024 and has continued to play outstanding defense ever since. His hitting is more of a work in progress.
Pratt was hitting .241 with a .349 on-base percentage, six homers, 32 RBIs and 17 steals in 58 games with Triple-A Nashville this season. He batted .238 with a .343 on-base percentage, eight homers, 62 RBIs and 31 steals in 120 games with Double-A Biloxi last year.
“We believe in the bat,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said when Pratt signed his contract. “We believe in the glove, certainly. This guy is really toolsy, too. He’s very athletic. He’s a big, physical kid, so we think there’s a chance to grow into some power. And he can really run. When you have that kind of athletic foundation, it’s a really good thing.”
The Brewers can afford to be patient with Pratt’s bat as long as he fields the way he did in the minor leagues.
Milwaukee has received little offensive production from the left side of its infield all season, yet the Brewers lead the NL Central by 4 ½ games over St. Louis as they chase their fourth straight division title. The versatile David Hamilton had been splitting time with Joey Ortiz at shortstop and with Rengifo at third base.
Hamilton is batting .231 with a .316 on-base percentage, .320 slugging percentage, three homers, 11 RBIs and 14 steals in 58 games. Ortiz is hitting .207 with a .299 on-base percentage, .262 slugging percentage, one homer, 14 RBIs and five steals in 60 games.
Rengifo was hitting .205 with a .280 on-base percentage, .254 slugging percentage, no homers, 19 RBIs and three steals in 57 games.
Pratt was one of two Brewers prospects to sign a lucrative long-term deal this year while still in the minors. Luis Lara, a 21-year-old outfielder playing for Nashville, signed a seven-year deal worth $31 million.
Tommy Edman (2B/OF Dodgers): Rostered in six percent of Yahoo leagues
Having hit .275/.351/.392 in 14 rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Edman is finally back with the Dodgers after offseason surgery to repair the ankle injury that limited him throughout 2025. He'll be a part-timer initially and probably won't make an immediate impact in shallow leagues. However, he should prove to be rather valuable over the final three months.
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Edman hasn't really been at full strength since 2023, when he hit 13 homers and stole 27 bases for the Cardinals. The Dodgers acquired him at the 2024 trade deadline, even though he was still recovering from wrist surgery that had kept him out all season. They then gave him a five-year, $74 million contract extension prior to 2025 after just 37 regular-season games and a strong run in the postseason. Last year, he started strong before the ankle injury but then turned in his worst season to date, finishing at .225/.274/.382 in 97 games. It's fair to wonder if he'll return to previous form after all the missed time. The Triple-A stint wasn't particularly encouraging in that regard, as he struck out 28 percent of the time and had a 26 percent hard-hit rate.
A big part of what makes Edman worth betting on, if not now then in a couple of weeks, is that he's a Dodger. He should eventually turn into a lineup fixture for the best offense in baseball. Even last year, when he wasn't at his best, he had 49 runs and 49 RBI in his 97 games. With Dodger Stadium boosting homers for righties and lefties alike, the switch-hitting Edman has gone deep 12 times in his 60 home starts the last two years. It's unclear if he'll reemerge as a strong basestealer right away or at all, but he's always been exceptional when he chooses to run, having gone 115-for-133 on the basepaths in his career. After 13 games without trying a steal, he did collect one in his final Triple-A game on Sunday. He might not be more than a fringy mixed leaguer if he declines to run, but it'd be nice to have him stashed and see how fares the rest of the month.
Blaze Jordan (1B/3B Cardinals): Rostered in 17 percent of Yahoo leagues
Finally bailing on Nolan Gorman, the Cardinals called up Jordan last week to take over at third base. The 23-year-old's bat demanded it, as he was hitting .313/.373/.548 with more extra-base hits (31) than strikeouts (29) in 252 plate appearances for Triple-A Memphis. His glove... well, that might still be an issue.
From 500-foot homers at 13 years old to his first Major League homer
Jordan has split time between third and first every year since the Red Sox made him a third-round pick in 2020. Expectations have always been that he'd wind up at first or as a DH for the long haul, but third base is what the Cardinals have open for now. Range is the issue for him at the hot corner, but he'll handle what he gets to and make strong throws. Having an excellent shortstop next to him in Masyn Winn will help.
Offensively, Jordan still doesn't show as much power as his frame suggests, but he's gotten quite a bit better there this year. His hard-hit rate jumped from 34 percent in his 85 games in Triple-A last year to 42 percent this season, yet his strikeout rate still held steady at 11-12 percent. He hits too many groundballs, mostly because he's just really good at making contact; breaking balls that would produce missed swings much of the time instead turn into foul balls and groundouts when Jordan gets a piece. Jordan will have to become more selective to turn into a major threat. As is, though, he's still probably a contributor. As much contact as he makes, he'll be a nice RBI guy once he settles into the middle of the order.
Garrett Mitchell (OF Brewers): Rostered in five percent of Yahoo leagues
Last time Mitchell was featured here was on Apr. 7, when he was rostered in 15 percent of leagues. That the number has gone down makes some sense, as he slumped in the first half of May and faced playing time questions as Christian Yelich and Andrew Vaughn returned from injury. Mitchell, though, seems back on solid footing. He's batting .307/.366/.560 with three homers in 22 games since May 14. He also seems to have overtaken Sal Frelick on Milwaukee's outfield depth chart, keeping him in the lineup when the team opts to play Jake Bauers in a corner or gives Blake Perkins a chance against a lefty.
Mitchell is probably going to remain streaky going forward. He strikes out far too much, and though his exit velocity numbers are impressive, he's developed a bad habit of hitting too many balls on the ground this season. Mitchell’s Statcast page is truly remarkable. He's in the 96th percentile of major leaguers in bat speed and the 97th percentile in sprint speed. And he's in the first percentile in strikeout rate. In truth, he's probably swinging a little too hard. It's kind of nuts that he can be in the 91st percentile in chase rate yet in the second percentile in whiff rate. It's basically just him and Munetaka Murakami with that profile this year.
What's made Mitchell fairly disappointing for fantasy purposes this year is that he's just 6-for-11 stealing bases through 59 games. He'd been 23-for-28 in 141 career games coming into the season. Obviously, it's not a matter of speed. Still, Mitchell hasn't been willing to take chances lately; he hasn't attempted a steal since May 29 after being caught on his last two tries. Mitchell would need to get back to stealing bases to be an impact player in mixed leagues, but as is, he's still worth playing until his next injury arises.
Waiver Wire Quick Hits
- The Brewers didn't exactly wait until Cooper Pratt got hot to call him up. In fact, his .655 OPS in Triple-A this month is about 100 points lower than Joey Ortiz's .748 mark in the majors. Overall, he'd come in at .241/.349/.386 with six homers in 58 games for Nashville. He did have 17 steals in 18 attempts, but it's hard to see him being of much use in mixed leagues in the short term.
- There's no denying that Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien is a mess right now. Since opening the year with 13 consecutive scoreless appearances, he's posted a 6.88 ERA in his last 17 outings, walking 10 and hitting four batters in 17 innings. His K rate is a modest 20 percent during the span, and his usually strong groundball rate has collapsed. As good as he looked early on, he really shouldn't be closing for a major league team right now. If the Cardinals had a clear No. 2 reliever, he'd probably be worth stashing right now, but JoJo Romero, Ryne Stanek and George Soriano could all be candidates for saves if they pull the plug on O'Brien. I'd like to recommend Soriano as a sleeper, but I can't help but think Oli Marmol might default to the more veteran options.
Jun 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar (53) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Despite featuring a closer who has, at times, underperformed and lacking a clear bridge to him in the late innings, the Yankees’ relief corps has posted the third-lowest ERA in the AL. Yes, a big reason for that statistic is the fact that New York’s starters have done their part, allowing their counterparts in the bullpen to toss the second-fewest innings in the league as manager Aaron Boone has been able to put his relievers in position to succeed. But it’s also a testament to the overperforming veterans who’ve buoyed the bullpen as a whole.
As I do each month in a given season, I’m going to take a look at the Yankees’ relievers to identify how Boone is deploying each and offer a verdict as to how much trust we can place in them moving forward.
Statistics below are as of June 15th.
The Closer
David Bednar
Recent stats (since May 15th): 11.2 IP, 3.86 ERA, 14 SO, 3.62 FIP, 4 Saves (in 5 opportunities)
After a sloppy start to the year, Bednar appears to have settled in. He’s rolled off eight straight scoreless outings, including a stretch of four hitless appearances to start the month of June. A few of those goose eggs put up by the Yankees’ closer came in games where the Yankees led by more than three runs, negating a save opportunity and perhaps providing an easier avenue for outs against an overpowered opponent. Still, zeroes are zeroes.
Bednar’s peripherals anticipated some positive regression after his early struggles, and that has started to come to fruition. Opponents are chasing on pitches outside the zone 39.4 percent of the time and putting the ball on the ground 59.8 percent of the time when they make contact, both of which are in the game’s upper echelon. Expect the eight-year veteran to continue an upward trajectory as he remains unchallenged for the ninth.
The Set-Up Man
Fernando Cruz
Recent stats (since May 15th): 14.2 IP, 1.23 ERA, 16 SO, 2.56 FIP
Cruz has gradually become the Yankees’ de facto set-up man. It’s not hard to see why. The 36-year-old has built on a breakout 2025, pitching to a 2.01 ERA in 34 games (only five MLB pitchers have made more appearances) while bringing an explosive intensity to the mound that has helped galvanize his teammates. As was the case last year, the only scary part of his game is control; Cruz has walked five batters over his last three appearances, creating the kind of traffic that can quickly lead to big innings.
Confidence level: High
Until proven otherwise, Cruz’s splitter remains an unstoppable force. Opponents are hitting just .117 against the pitch and are showing no signs of adjusting to its confounding vertical drop. The walks are a concern but, for now, he remains in the driver’s seat.
Recent stats (since May 15th): 11 IP, 4.09 ERA, 8 SO, 3.38 FIP
In Doval, the Yankees have a textbook case of analytics versus outcomes. The former Giants closer’s 2.76 expected ERA is sparkling; his 5.06 season ERA, not so much. FIP, looking at a 25:5 K:BB ratio but four home runs in 26.2 innings, is in between at 3.74. The good, old-fashioned eye test tells us that we have a pitcher with impressive stuff and strong control who struggles far too often to command the zone (his nearly 50 percent hard-hit rate backs this up as well). Where does that leave us?
Confidence level: Low
While Doval has pitched better of late, holding opponents off the board in his last five outings, there’s been far too much boom-and-bust in the right-hander’s game since he joined the Yankees at last year’s deadline (and before) for him to garner much trust. While he’s lost the set-up role with which he entered the season, Doval has remained in the late-inning mix and, considering his recent success, should see more opportunities, but we’re still in breath-holding mode when he enters in high leverage.
Brent Headrick
Recent stats (since May 15th): 12 IP, 1.50 ERA, 14 SO, 2.27 FIP
Headrick has been one of the sport’s biggest surprises at reliever and, considering the chasm between expectation and performance, arguably the biggest reason the Yankees’ bullpen has been as successful as it has so far this year. He’s one of those five pitchers with more than 34 appearances and has posted a 1.87 ERA while shouldering that heavy workload. Opponents are hitting below the Mendoza line against both his four-seamer and slider, the two pitches he throws nearly 85 percent of the time.
I’ve been skeptical of Headrick’s staying power in the column. And, while most metrics expect some regression, at some point you have to accept that the man is for real. Boone is using him often as a stopper in the middle innings, and to great success. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see if he ends up throwing the southpaw into more eighth-inning work.
Tim Hill
Recent stats (since May 15th): 9.1 IP, 9.64 ERA, 7 SO, 6.00 FIP
It finally happened, folks: Hill had a bad month. When I wrote my last installment of this series a month ago, he had an even 1.00 ERA. It’s jumped all the way up to 3.95 after a doozy of a stretch that saw two different four-run blow-ups and a run of nine outings in which he escaped just three without putting runs on the board. While the sidewinder’s ground-ball rate has remained typically pristine, he’s allowing more hard contact and no longer getting by on the strength of his all-world sinker.
Confidence level: High
Hill has tossed off perfect outings his last four times out, lending credence to the notion that his nine-appearance implosion was just a fever dream. Between his track record since joining the Yanks last year and the specificity of his role in the middle innings, I remain confident in the 36-year-old’s ability to deliver. All signs point to his MLB-best 69.6 percent ground-ball rate continuing to carry the day.
Jake Bird
Recent stats (since May 15th): 7.2 IP, 5.87 ERA, 10 SO, 5.84 FIP
The Yankees just keep running Bird out there. He’s floundered since coming over at last year’s deadline, never settling in and bouncing between the bigs and Triple-A. He’s allowed 12 runs in 21 innings this year, a ratio that’s simply noncompetitive.
Confidence level: Low
Bird is a black hole in the Yankees’ bullpen right now, mostly entering in pretty close games and mostly exiting with the team worse for wear. He’s thrown more than 20 pitches just once this year, meaning he doesn’t even offer many bullets for a garbage time role. The 30-year-old’s roster spot should be considered tenuous at best, particularly since he can still be optioned down to the minors.
The Long Reliever
Paul Blackburn
Recent stats (since May 15th): 12.2 IP, 1.42 ERA, 10 SO, 3.03 FIP
After mostly using him in blowouts or bulk-type roles early in the season, Boone has experimented with inserting Blackburn for shorter appearances in closer games. The former starter has acquitted himself nicely, dropping his season ERA under 3.00 while avoiding any multi-run outings despite pitching more than one inning in six of his eight appearances over the past month.
Outside of a strong ground-ball rate, there’s not much to indicate Blackburn has transformed himself from a middling starter into a top-tier reliever a la Luke Weaver. Still, the Yankees are getting great value out of the 32-year-old on a one-year, $2 million contract.
The Mop-Up Man
Ryan Yarbrough
Recent stats (since May 15th): 7.2 IP, 3.52 ERA, 4 SO, 4.02 FIP
Clearly jumped by Blackburn in the pecking order, Yarbrough is an afterthought in the Yankees’ bullpen. He’s pitching about once a week, usually in a game that’s not particularly close. His outcomes remain serviceable but, after an excellent run last year that netted him a return engagement, it appears the honeymoon is over.
Confidence index: Low
The last man out of the bullpen is a dangerous place to be. It appears Yarbrough is sticking around because there’s no one in line to replace him who would offer more value (or who the team would not prefer to stash at Triple-A for the time being). If the Yankees add another bullpen piece — either from the minors, off another team’s scrap heap, or by bouncing a struggling Ryan Weathers to the bullpen — the veteran lefty is at serious risk of a DFA. Perhaps his best case to stick around is the team’s ability to option Bird down to Triple-A without passing him through waivers.
