Category: MLB

This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”

Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (55-58, 12.5 games back)

The Storm Chasers won 4 of 6 in their series against the Toledo Mud Hens. On the mound, Henry Williams, who I talked about a lot of last week, followed up with another good start this past week. He went 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing 3 hits, 3 walks, striking out 6. Lucas Braun, who was the centerpiece in the Lane Thomas trade, made one start, going 6 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, striking out 3. Eli Morgan threw 3.2 scoreless innings in two relief outings, striking out 3. Carlos Duran threw 2 scoreless innings, striking out a pair. Connor Thomas threw 2 scoreless innings.

At the plate, Brett Squires went 10 for 25, smacking 2 doubles and 3 homers, driving in 8 runs. Jacob Berry, who the Royals just got from the Marlins, went 4 for 9 with a pair of doubles and a homer. Berry is a 25-year-old first baseman. The Marlins took him 6th overall in 2022 out of LSU. He has never made it to the big leagues, and is slashing .258/.380/.385 on the season, with 18 stolen bases. Gavin Cross went 7 for 20 with 2 doubles and a homer as well.

The Storm Chasers stay on the road this week, taking on the Columbus Clippers. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals (44-62, 23 games back)

The Naturals lost 4 of 6 to the Wichita Wind Surge. At the plate, Spencer Nivens went 9 for 22 with 6 doubles on the week, he also stole 3 bases. Luke Pelzer went 8 for 22, scoring 3 times and stealing 2 bases. Pelzer’s hitting hasn’t slowed since being promoted. Carson Roccaforte went 6 for 23, smacking 2 more homers. Javi Vaz returned from injury and went 2 for 4 with a double.

On the mound, Steven Zobac made one start, going 3 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, striking out 3. Unfortunately, he has been placed on the IL once again. Drew Beam made one start, going 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, striking out 3 batters. Brandon Johnson went 4 scoreless innings, over 3 relief appearances, striking out 8 batters. Johnson is a 27-year-old right hander from Mississippi; the Royals took him in the 9th round in 2022. Augusto Mendieta threw 4.1 scoreless innings, striking out 7 in two relief outings. Mendieta is a 21-year-old right hander from Mexico. The Royals signed him when he was 18 years old.

The Naturals hit the road this week, taking on the Springfield Cardinals, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Quad Cities River Bandits (53-51, 10 games back)

The River Bandits won 4 of 6 against the Peoria Chiefs. At the plate, Blake Mitchell went 6 for 19, smashing 3 homers and a double. He also walked 9 times; he stole 2 more bases and drove in 4 runs. Zion Rose played in 3 games this week in Quad Cities. The Royals 1st overall pick in 2026 went 3 for 12 with 5 stolen bases, including 4 in one game. He also worked 2 walks. Rose played left field in all three games. Chris Brito went 7 for 22 with two doubles and a homer. Derlin Figueroa went 6 for 22 with two homers and a double.

On the mound, Blake Wolters was really impressive, going 6 innings, allowing 2 hits, no runs, striking out 11. It was a positive sign for Wolters, who was promoted earlier this season, has struggled in Quad Cities. David Shields went 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, 4 runs (1 earned), striking out 9. Shields has hit a wall lately but bounced back nicely this week.

The River Bandits return home this week to take on the Fort Wayne TinCaps. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Columbia Fireflies (55-51, 9.5 games back)

The Fireflies won 4 of 6 against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. On the mound, the Fireflies threw a combined no-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader. Michael Lombardi threw 4.2 innings, walking 2, striking out 8. Jhon Reyes threw 2.1 innings, striking out 2. Lombardi and Reyes are both 22-year-old right handers. Lombardi was the Royals second round pick in 2025, out of Tulane. He has a 3.17 ERA in 76.2 innings this season, striking out 109. Reyes is from the Dominican Republic, the Royals signed him when he was 19. He has an 8.84 ERA in 38.2 innings this season, striking out 34.

At the plate, Josh Hammond went 11 for 21, with two doubles and three runs driven in. Hammond is hitting .305 on the season. Sean Gamble went 4 for 18 with two doubles and a triple, driving in 6 runs. Camden Johnson the Royals 9th round pick last month out of Oklahoma, went 4 for 12, with 2 runs scored, 3 runs driven in and 3 stolen bases.

The Fireflies hit the road this week, taking on the Wilson Warbirds, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country. 

While nothing’s certain until it’s clinched, the Cubs seem headed to a postseason spot, whether it’s a Wild Card berth (and they currently have the first Wild Card spot and lead over the Diamondbacks and Phillies by 5.5 games) or the NL Central title. Thanks to the Padres defeating the Brewers Monday, the Cubs crept to within five games of the division lead.

Now that the Cubs’ starting rotation has been solidified with the acquisitions of Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes, and will be further bolstered when Edward Cabrera returns from the injured list, who do you think should be the Game 1 starter for whatever postseason series the Cubs are in?

Matthew Boyd certainly has a case to be that starter, as he was last year. On the other hand, one of the reasons for the acquisition of Gausman was his outstanding record in last year’s postseason with the Blue Jays.

You could even make a case for Shōta Imanaga, given how well he’s pitched for the last couple of months.

Or would it depend on the round and/or the Cubs’ opponent?

Vote for your choice and let us know your reasoning in the comments and I’ll have the final results of this survey later in the week.

After taking two of three from the Braves, the Yankees enjoyed a day off on Monday before welcoming the Mariners into town. It was a mostly full day of baseball beyond them, with plenty of important games coming down to the ninth inning and beyond. Between never-before-seen calls and extra innings, let’s take a look at how things shook out around the American League.

Tampa Bay Rays (72-46) 10, The Athletics (47-72) 6

An eighth-inning rally had the Rays in business and then some on Monday against the A’s. With New York taking the day off, they worked hard to earn the free half-game.

The action was apparent from the get-go, as the A’s were up 2-1 after the first inning. Both Jacob Lopez and new Ray Freddy Peralta would settle in following the early noise, working seven and six innings, respectively. Already up a run, the Athletics seemed to take control in the seventh, when doubles from Zack Gelof and Jacob Wilson helped to put them up 6-2.

That control only lasted until the Rays came to the plate next. Down by four, Tampa Bay flipped the game upside-down with an eight-piece in their half of the eighth. Unsurprisingly, Junior Caminero was right in the middle of things with a three-run homer, his 34th on the season.

Continuing to put runners on, the Rays tied the game with a single from Chandler Simpson, and took the lead on another from Taylor Walls. Throw in some insurance runs from the top of their order, and the Rays were suddenly up by a score of 10-6. After falling behind for much of this game, it had suddenly flipped into a major win for the Rays out west.

Other Games

Toronto Blue Jays (57-63) 2, Boston Red Sox (64-54) 1: In a game that the Blue Jays won, thanks in part to Charles McAdoo’s solo homer, Boston’s lone run was the story of the game. In the seventh, the Red Sox scored a run on a player that failed to tag up from third base, because the Blue Jays made the third out on a different runner, and failed to appeal the other runner, deemed a “timing play.” It was a once-in-a-lifetime circumstance, but water under the bridge nonetheless, as the Jays took this one despite the drama.

Houston Astros (60-59) 6, San Francisco Giants (49-79) 3 (10 innings): The Astros and Giants found themselves in extra innings on Monday. Things remained quiet for much of this game, thanks in large part to San Fran starter Blade Tidwell’s solid day on the mound. Houston struck first, but the Giants clawed back thanks to homers from Jung Hoo Lee and Drew Gilbert. After completing nine innings knotted at three, the Astros took charge in their half of the tenth, thanks to RBI from Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes.

Texas Rangers (59-59) 4, Los Angeles Angels (45-73) 1 (10 innings): Not unlike their counterparts in the Lone Star state, the Rangers took a win in 10 innings to open up their week. Mike Trout’s 20th homer of the season and a RBI knock from Elias Díaz had this game squared up after regulation. In the Texas half of the tenth, singles from Brandon Nimmo and Jake Burger were the fuel that pushed them past the Angels in a hard-fought AL West battle. For Texas, Mackenzie Gore also racked up nine Ks in his 5.1 innings of solid work.

Game Recaps

In Soroka’s IL return, Perdomo exits with knee injury by Steve Gilbert [Dbacks.com]

The Diamondbacks on Monday celebrated the return of right-hander Michael Soroka, who held the Rockies scoreless through 4 1/3 innings, but it wasn’t all good news for Arizona on the injury front.

Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo was forced to exit the D-backs’ 9-0 win at Chase Field before the top of the fifth due to left knee soreness.

PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks on Monday celebrated the return of right-hander Michael Soroka, who hel

The extent of the injury was not announced, but losing Perdomo for any period of time would be a blow for the Diamondbacks. The shortstop is not only a key part of the Arizona lineup, but he is also the captain of their defense.

Diamondbacks avoid post-Dodgers letdown, clobber Rockies in Soroka’s return by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

After playing in front of 46,000 fans against the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, the Arizona Diamondbacks had to avoid a letdown in a different environment, facing the lowly Colorado Rockies in a sparsely-crowded ballpark on Monday.

They did, as the Diamondbacks jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning off a Nolan Arenado grand slam against his former club. The D-backs tacked on three more in the second inning against Rockies starter Gabriel Hughes, who needed 62 pitches to get through the first two frames.

Diamondbacks News

How the Diamondbacks Plan To Use New Pitcher Zack Littell by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

Lovullo said Littell would be used primarily as a bullpen arm for the time being. 

The D-backs have some arms capable of throwing multiple innings, but Littell’s ability to go well beyond a traditional two- or three-inning long reliever will allow him to serve a unique role and preserve the rest of Arizona’s bullpen if needed.

Littell has a 6.18 ERA as a starter this year, but a 3.18 in relief. He’s delivered four-plus innings as a reliever in all but one of his nine appearances in that role, and has even served as a “bulk starter” behind a short-outing opener.

“We feel like right now he is stretched out. And we know that he can give us 100 pitches if he pops out of the bullpen,” Lovullo said.

Diamondbacks make ‘brutal decision’ to designate Paul Sewald for assignment by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

The Arizona Diamondbacks decided to designate relief pitcher Paul Sewald for assignment on Monday after he was removed from the closer role.

Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro first reported the news.

Sewald meant a lot to the Diamondbacks as the closer for most of this season and a clubhouse leader, but he was not performing well enough to hold onto a leverage role.

Around the League

The postseason schedule is out. Here’s what you need to know [MLB]

Rule check: Red Sox-Blue Jays delayed for unusual run scoring play by Keegan Matheson [MLB] {Ed. Note: This play was wild, but the biggest thing I appreciated about it was that the umpire actually explained to the fans what was going on. Love that!}

Congress asks MLB to take action after Bryce Harper betting video by David Purdum [ESPN]

“We write to demand an end to the MLB and MLBPA policies that enabled this type of predatory promotion,” Blumenthal and U.S. Reps. Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., said in a letter sent to the league and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

In November 2024, FanDuel sent a Cameo video featuring Harper to a VIP customer. The bettor later sued the sportsbook, claiming it had taken advantage of his gambling addiction. Harper has denied knowing how FanDuel would use the video or the circumstances with the customer’s betting.

Max Scherzer Headlines a Big Weekend for Strikeout Feats by Jay Jaffe [FanGraphs]

Even by the standards of his recent, injury-marred seasons, Max Scherzer’s 2026 campaign has been a rough one. The 42-year-old righty has made two trips to the injured list, and through the end of July had taken just seven starts and allowed more than a run per inning. Even on a Blue Jays team destined to be retooledahead of the trade deadline, he was clearly in no shape to be any contender’s hired gun. Nonetheless, Scherzer’s last two starts have been bright spots, and on Saturday evening, he notched career strikeout 3,516, officially moving him into the all-time top 10. 

Scherzer wasn’t the only pitcher who reached a strikeout milestone this weekend. Aaron Nola, who started for the Phillies opposite Scherzer at Citizens Bank Park, collected his 2,000th career strikeout. Elsewhere, in a matchup that pitted the third- and fourth-ranked pitchers on the active strikeouts leaderboard, namely Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole, the latter notched his 1,000th strikeout since joining the Yankees. Then on Sunday, Jacob Misiorowski became the first pitcher to notch his 200th strikeout of the season.

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The Atlanta Braves are -130 favorites to even their series against the New York Mets tonight.

With Martin Perez poised to regress, my Mets vs. Braves predictions and MLB picks see value in backing the road team to win again in Game 2 on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Who will win Mets vs Braves today: Mets moneyline (+110)

Martin Perez is sporting a 1.42 ERA over the past month despite a 3.87 xFIP and 4.37 SIERA. Regression is about to come knocking, and the New York Mets are a great bet to force the issue.

They have hit lefties extremely well over the last 30 days, ranking fourth in ISO and sixth in wOBA.

New York plated at least three runs against Perez in the last two matchups, and I expect more of the same tonight.

Nolan McLean is in excellent form, posting a 31% K-rate and 3.02 xFIP across the last 30 days.

Back New York to +100.

COVERS INTEL:Perez ranks in the 39th percentile in xERA, and should have trouble slowing down a red-hot Mets offense.

Mets vs Braves Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-110)

Perez has held opponents to a .184 batting average on balls in play and stranded more than 90% of baserunners the past month. 

He's been around a long time and owns a career .303 BABIP and 71.4 LOB%. Suffice to say, these results are not sustainable. 

The Mets are a likely candidate to bring those numbers back to earth in their current form.

While McLean is an excellent pitcher, he possesses a 4.01 ERA against teams ranking Top 10 in xwOBA and OPS against righties — and the Atlanta Braves fit the criteria.

Play to -113.

Mets vs Braves home run prediction: Mike Yastrzemski (+625)

Mike Yastrzemski is riding a power surge. He owns a strong 22.5% barrel rate over his past 10 games and has hit 11 balls at least 300 feet during that span.

He's left the yard a couple of times along the way while picking up four additional near home runs. 

He's been disciplined at the plate, posting a 7% swinging strike rate. That should help him hang in there against McLean and his high-end strikeout prowess.

I’d back this down to +575.

Mets vs Braves weather

The bats will see a slight boost with temperatures in the 80s and winds blowing west.

Mets vs Braves odds

• Moneyline: Mets +110 | Braves -130
• Run line: Mets +1.5 (-190) | Braves -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-105) | Under 8.5 (-115)

Mets vs Braves trend

New York has won 11 of its last 15 away games (+8.20 units, 53% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Braves.

How to watch Mets vs Braves and game info

Mets vs Braves latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

LOS ANGELES — Freddie Freeman said there was "no concern" about the Los Angeles Dodgers despite their recent struggles.

One night later, the veteran first baseman helped prove it.

Freeman collected three hits and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Dodgers rallied past the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Monday, snapping a stretch during which they had dropped eight of nine games.

The victory came after manager Dave Roberts acknowledged before the game that the Dodgers haven't played like contenders during the past month.

"We're a wild-card team right now," Roberts said before Monday's game. "We've gotta get going and play with urgency. … The 'We’re gonna be OK and we’re good,' – that’s not good enough. Clearly it’s not, given how we’ve played over the last month."

Freeman drove in two runs, including the eventual winner after Shohei Ohtani singled and stole second in the seventh inning. He also knocked in Ohtani earlier in the game as Los Angeles erased an early three-run deficit.

"It was nice," Freeman said after the victory. "Fifty thousand-plus on a Monday night, it felt like the fans were trying to will us to a win tonight."

The opportunity for the Guardians to save their season starts tonight.

After these three games against the Tigers, the Guardians’ schedule gets pretty easy for a while. Managing to win this series would be potentially a huge kickstart to a chance for a run. Cleveland is 6-0 against Detroit this season so one more win clinched the season series.

There are somehow six teams worse than Cleveland at ABS this season. Tampa being the worst at it definitely makes me feel better about Stephen Vogt.

AROUND MLB:

The Twins won.

The third home run in as many days for Jackson Merrill was the most important one yet. The center fielder stepped to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with a runner on base and one out with the San Diego Padres trailing the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1. When the at-bat was over, Merrill had collected his 19th home run of the season and put the Padres ahead, 3-2 en route to a series opening win over the Brewers at Petco Park on Monday night.

Merrill homered in each of the last two games in the previous series against the Houston Astros. He had been 0-for-2 on the day prior to his at-bat in the bottom of the seventh. Manny Machado popped out to start the inning and Ty France followed with a single to left field. Merrill hit a 1-1 pitch from Logan Henderson to straightaway center field that traveled 431 feet to give the Padres their first lead of the game.

Adrian Morejon, maybe the most dominant left-handed reliever in the game, came on for the top of the eighth inning. He allowed one hit but faced the minimum with a strikeout and a ground ball double play to finish a scoreless inning. Mason Miller came in for the top of the ninth inning and allowed a two-out walk, but pinch runner Brandon Lockridge was thrown out by catcher Freddy Fermin attempting to steal second base to end the game.

Casey Mize made his second start for San Diego and the first at Petco Park since being traded by the Detroit Tigers at the Trade Deadline. Mize had a much better second outing, completing six innings and allowing two runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts. He was hurt by one pitch when Christian Yelich connected on a two-run home run in the top of the second inning that gave Milwaukee a 2-0 lead. The Padres answered in the bottom of the second when France hit a solo home run to cut the deficit to one run.

Yuki Matsui followed Mize with a scoreless seventh inning before Morejon and Miller came on to complete the game.

San Diego plays Milwaukee in the second game of the series today at 6:40 p.m.

Padres News:

• Jackson Merrill and Bradgley Rodriguez may be the two youngest players on the San Diego roster, but both players are having significant impacts on the results on the field.

• Joe Musgrove is getting closer to making his return to the MLB mound and says he is feeling good.

• The matchup between Mason Miller and Jacob Misiorowski will have to wait until the postseason after the Brewers starter threw on Sunday.

• Nick Pivetta will not be able to keep his player option, but is still looking to make an impact for the Padres this season.

Baseball News:

• The Philadelphia Phillies got a one-run win over the St. Louis Cardinals after Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

• Former star shortstop Tim Anderson announced his retirement.

• Tarik Skubal made his first start as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

• Dean Kremer pitched the Minnesota Twins to a win over the Baltimore Orioles.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rays fans and fans across the country.

We’re back with a new Breaking T shirt, featuring Milwaukee’s young outfielder.

As you may have seen on Sunday, 21-year-old outfielder Luis Lara made two of the best catches we’ve seen all season, saving the day as the Brewers beat the Twins in extra innings.

The cherry on top? The second of those earned MLB’s Play of the Week.

That’s why our friends at Breaking T created a brand-new “Air Luis Lara” shirt.

Luis Lara has some serious ups in Milwaukee.

• Officially licensed by MLB Players, Inc.
• Super-soft, durable t-shirts and hoodies
• Designed and printed in the USA
• Free returns and exchanges

Click here to get an Air Luis Lara shirt, and be sure to check out their full line of Brewers’ merchandise here.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country.

Welcome back to another edition of our Reacts Survey! In this week’s poll, we’re asking fans to decide which outfielders they would like to see in the lineup upon the return of Sal Frelick in the coming weeks.

With Jackson Chourio locked into left field, the Brewers have two positions remaining for three viable outfield candidates — Frelick, Luis Lara, and Garrett Mitchell.

Frelick, 26, went on the IL right out of the All-Star break with an arm injury. Now on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville, he’s probably about one week away from returning to the team.

Frelick, who hasn’t been nearly as elite defensively this season as in years past, has also struggled at the plate, with career-worst numbers across the board. Over 90 games, he’s hitting .236/.301/.330 with four homers, 34 RBIs, 33 runs, and six steals.

Lara, 21, agreed to a contract extension before even appearing in the big leagues, and he’s already proven why he’s worth it. Across 25 games, he’s been fantastic defensively — just look at his two catches on Sunday — and while his numbers at the plate aren’t great (.235/.338/.338 with no homers, 11 RBIs, eight runs, and two steals), his value in the field is far more important, especially given Milwaukee’s defense-first philosophy.

Mitchell, 27, hasn’t been good in recent weeks, but his season numbers are still solid, and he’s held his own defensively. Across a career-high 108 games, the center fielder is hitting .253/.352/.410 with eight homers, 50 RBIs, 50 runs, and 11 steals.

So, which combo would you like to see upon Frelick’s return? Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!

Note: We’re specifically asking about a lineup to face right-handed pitching, as Frelick and Mitchell both bat lefty and Lara is a switch-hitter.

Good morning.

Shawn McFarland writes that a big opportunity for the Texas Rangers began with an extra innings win in Anaheim last evening.

MLB dot com’s Jacob Gurvis writes that MacKenzie Gore pitched well to set the tone for Texas in the opener of their road trip.

McFarland writes that, despite the possibility for injury, the Rangers are once again utilizing Wyatt Langford in center field to give the lineup a shot against left-handers.

Evan Grant writes that Jordan Montgomery returned to the big leagues but now he has to work his way back to being good at being a big leaguer.

Look who has come crawling back to Cal Quantrill as Gurvis notes that Nathan Eovaldi hit the injured list yesterday with elbow inflammation.

And, Grant writes that long-time suit Neil Leibman leaves the Rangers as an ownership stake-haver whose decisions led us to BZZR.

Have a nice day!

At Oklahoma State, coaches used to joke that Nolan McLean and Carson Benge were "The Power Gingers," a pair of red-headed kids who, as two-way players, could do seemingly anything on a ballfield. Here’s a glimpse...

As a pitcher, Benge had more strikeouts at OSU than McLean, weird since McLean now sits among the National League’s strikeout leaders. And McLean, so strong that some folks in Stillwater were shy about shaking hands with him, slugged more home runs in college than Benge, who at 23 years old is one of the most impressive rookie position players in the majors. 

The stage is different now that the Power Gingers have gone from star college teammates to a crucial part of the future for the Mets, but their relationship is still as tight as when they built a strong bond as road roommates at OSU in 2023. 

"He hasn't changed much as we've gotten older, and it's super cool that we're now playing together at the big league level, and that we've been pretty close ever since he was on campus," said the 25-year-old McLean. "He's always been an outgoing, super-gifted and talented player, just kind of oozing with athleticism. And it's shown on a big league stage as well."

"It’s cool they were teammates here and it’s even cooler they’re teammates there," Oklahoma State head coach Josh Holliday said. "They were tight. Nolan’s good for Bengey and Bengey’s good for Nolan." 

These days, McLean and Benge drive together to Citi Field for games. They live in the same apartment building. In college, they bonded, in part, over video games – Rocket League was a favorite – and they still try to play every day, whether it’s before night games or following a day game. 

Who’s better at Rocket League? "I am, no question," Benge said. "He’ll say the same thing. He’s got me in Call of Duty, but I’m better in Rocket League."

"I mean, Carson, he’s almost just as good at Rocket League as he is at baseball," McLean said. "But I do have him beaten in all the other games."

How would each describe the other as a roommate? "Good," said Benge. "Clean. We just kind of chilled and played video games."

"Got up at similar times, went to bed at similar times," McLean said. "We got close pretty quick. Carson’s easy." 

As both players have been navigating the early days of their big league careers this season, it’s helped having a familiar face around. Major League Baseball is, obviously, a difficult job, and the Mets are enduring a disappointing season.

"Yeah, the game’s kind of built around failure and we’ve both had our struggles this year," McLean noted. Since McLean reached the majors in 2025, he had some intel for Benge when Benge started this season in Queens. 

"What little experience I had, being able to tell him what to expect, just like around the clubhouse, around the stadium, traveling," McLean said. "That's the hard stuff, you know? The baseball stuff's easy for us because that's what we're used to doing. It's the transition into the everyday life and the move."

McLean said he offered Benge insight on what he’d experience "when he got to the field. How guys act. What to wear is a big one. How to deal with the media. You’re going to be asked a million questions. But Carson is a super-chill dude and he’s capable of handling himself."

McLean is originally from North Carolina, so when he went west for college, he craved a certain culture as he tried to play both football and baseball initially.

"It’s 20-plus hours away from home, so the environment was important to me," McLean said. "As soon as I stepped foot on campus, it felt like home." 

There were plenty of former OSU greats around, from Josh’s brother, Matt, a seven-time MLB All-Star, to Robin Ventura, the former Met star and one of the best college baseball players ever. 

"Josh would have people over all the time and it was just like a family environment," McLean said. "It was definitely special for our team."

Cowboy coaches knew all about Benge long before he was a college prospect – Benge’s older brother, Garrett, played for Oklahoma State and was part of the Cowboys’ 2016 College World Series team. Garrett Benge later played three seasons in the minors.

"I knew (Carson) from the time he was 12," said Holliday. "His sophomore year of high school, playing summer baseball, I saw him swing and I said, 'Oooh, that’s different.' What a pretty swing – loose, flat, uncanny, line-drive hitting kid."

Benge was also a standout pitcher, which should come as no surprise to any Met fan who has seen him throw from the outfield. Last month, Benge threw out Freddie Freeman at the plate with a throw clocked at 100 miles per hour, the fastest outfield assist by a Met in the Statcast Era (since 2015), according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.

Benge had Tommy John surgery as a freshman at OSU and started playing the outfield. He still pitched in college, too, but it became clear his future was as a position player.

"I think he could have pitched in the big leagues if that’s what he wanted to do," McLean said. "But I think he was too gifted a hitter to not stick with hitting."

And McLean was too gifted on the mound not to stick with pitching, even if he was once dubbed "Cowboy Ohtani" (as in Shohei Ohtani) for his prodigious power. He hit in the minors until 2024 and, somewhat famously, homered in his final at-bat as a pro at Double-A before focusing solely on pitching.

Folks at OSU still talk about McLean’s otherworldly grip strength, which is ideal for hitting, sure, but is also part of what makes McLean so good at generating spin on his breaking pitches.

At OSU, McLean also got a reputation for a big-time work ethic. "Nolan is as mature as it comes," said OSU assistant coach Victor Romero. "He was here taking care of business. He showed an interest in nutrition and how to get lean. He’s invested in himself."

"My dad always told me, 'You got one shot at it, make the most of it,'" McLean said. "So from a pretty young age, I’ve always been super-fascinated, every day, in what’s going to make me better. I’ve got to thank my dad for instilling that hard work into me.

"But it's also helpful when you go to places like Oklahoma State and then get drafted by the Mets when the resources are just at an all-time high and you can kind of take it all in."

Both places feel like home to The Power Gingers. Who knows if they might get another familiar teammate on the Mets – Gabe Davis, who pitched at OSU from 2023-25, was acquired from the White Sox in the Huascar Brazobán deal.

Benge enjoys the feeling when he goes back to Stillwater. Last winter, he was on campus and texted Holliday: "Are you here? I’ve got something for you." Benge wanted to show Holliday his new puppy, a Newfoundland named Bear.

"Josh loves dogs, so I figured I’d pay him a visit with my new one," Benge said. "She’s getting big."

"I was down in the (batting) cage and his puppy is running around the cage," Holliday said. "He’s a loose, fun soul."

"It looks like they’ve both found their fit," Holliday added. "Super proud of them."

Jim Jarvis currently has a notable line, at least compared to earlier in the season. He started out massively outhitting his xwOBA, but that’s done now — he’s at a .274 wOBA (69 wRC+) and .271 xwOBA. His defense-plus-positional adjustment rounds to zero runs above average. Combine that with 0.1 runs of above-average baserunning (sadly it’s not 0.0), and he’s at 0.0 fWAR.

But, the Braves don’t have too many other options. Ha-Seong Kim, well, even the Braves won’t go that far. (And, the more Jarvis plays, the more time Kim is likely going to need to get back into the swing of things.) The other obvious option is just playing Mauricio Dubon at shortstop, but the Braves haven’t committed to that either.

So, when we get to the playoffs (barring an epic collapse, which lurks on the peripheries of probability), will the Braves still be of the inclination to give Jarvis a start? What do you think?