PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks activated outfielder Corbin Carroll from the 10-day injured list before Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals.
Carroll, sidelined since June 18 with a chip fracture in his left wrist, returned to his customary leadoff spot and was starting in right field against the Royals. He was injured when he was hit by a pitch thrown by Toronto’s Justin Bruihl.
Carroll said before Saturday’s game that his wrist felt better the last couple of days and he played in a minor league game on Friday in the Arizona Complex League to test it out.
The 2023 National League Rookie of the Year has 20 home runs, a major league leading nine triples and a .255 batting average this season. To make room for Carroll on the roster, the Diamondbacks optioned utilityman Tim Tawa to Triple-A Reno.
Keller has also been connected to the Cubs over the past few weeks.
After a rough start to the season, Pittsburgh has won six of their last seven games. But according to Hiles, a source believes the chances of the veteran starter being moved are as high as 70 percent.
That certainly doesn’t come as a surprise, as Keller has been one of the biggest bright spots for the last-place Pirates so far this season.
Despite a 3-10 record, the one-time All-Star has actually pitched extremely well on the year, putting together a quality start in 12 of his league-high 18 outings while pitching to a 3.64 ERA.
The Mets are set to receive a big boost in their rotation, with Kodai Senga and Sean Manaeaclosing in on a return to the club, but they certainly need to add some reliable arms to the mix over the next few weeks.
Keller would likely cost a pretty penny in a potential deal, as he is under contract through 2028.
NEW YORK — Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt likely needs a second Tommy John surgery that would sideline him for the remainder of this season and much of next year, a huge blow to New York’s injury-riddled rotation.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the announcement Saturday before his team’s Subway Series game against the New York Mets at Citi Field.
Schmidt had an MRI on Friday and was placed on the 15-day injured list because of right forearm soreness, one day after his start in Toronto was cut short following three innings.
The 29-year-old right-hander, who had Tommy John surgery in May 2017, is 4-4 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts this season for a scuffling Yankees club that had lost five consecutive games.
The Mets' rotation depth has been tested considerably over the last month due to a laundry list of injuries, but a pair of valuable and dependable pitchers could make their awaited return to the mound just before the All-Star break arrives.
While the situation remains fluid, manager Carlos Mendoza said ahead of Saturday's game against the Yankees that the earliest injured starters Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea would be able to pitch in uniform again is next week's road series against the Royals, which begins on Friday.
Senga, who suffered a hamstring strain on June 13, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday. Mendoza said on Friday that the goal is for the right-hander to throw around 60 pitches, and if all goes well, he would be in line to rejoin the Mets' staff on normal rest.
As for Manaea -- who's been sidelined all season due to elbow and oblique ailments -- he's slated to make one more Double-A rehab start next Tuesday. The veteran left-hander received a cortisone shot last week after test results revealed a loose body in his elbow, but he's already been cleared to pitch.
The upcoming appearance with Binghamton will mark Manaea's sixth rehab outing, and he's expected to stretch out to 75-plus pitches. He last threw on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three across three frames in Binghamton. Overall, he's pitched to a 6.00 ERA (15 innings).
Luckily for Senga, there's nothing wrong with his arm, and the Mets are equally excited to have him back in the fold. He's produced a stellar 2025 campaign thus far, with a pristine 1.47 ERA over 13 starts. He's also struck out 70 batters, while holding opponents to a .195 average.
It looks like the Yankees will be without another valuable rotation arm for an extended period.
An initial MRI on Clarke Schmidt's right elbow revealed that the starter is likely dealing with a torn UCL, which is expected to require Tommy John surgery.
The team is sending him for further testing on Saturday to confirm the disappointing news.
"He's gonna have to have surgery," manager Aaron Boone said. "He's getting second opinions and things now, but obviously not great news on that front -- we'll see what goes on here in the next couple of days."
Schmidt left Thursday's outing against the Blue Jays after just three innings, and he was placed on the injured list just one day later with what the team called right elbow tightness.
“Earlier on in the game it felt okay,” the righty told reporters. “As the game progressed, it sort of tightened up a little bit on me. I felt like the whole night I was kind of guarding it a little bit on the breaking balls, really not ripping them or trying to get a lot behind them."
While the beginning to Schmidt's season was delayed a few weeks due to rotator cuff tendinitis, he's produced numbers reflective of a new and improved pitcher.
As one of the Yankees' most reliable starters, the 29-year-old has logged a 3.32 ERA across 14 starts, and he wrapped up June with a laudable 1.95 ERA across five outings.
"He's become a real good starting pitching in this league," Boone said. "It's a tough blow, but every team has their share of these things that happen and we've gotta be able to absorb it and hopefully get some guys back in the mix soon."
The team is still working through who will take his spot in the rotation.
“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” said White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago. He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate. He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.”
“I’ve come to the realization that it could be six months, or it could be three years,” he said in an interview with The Athletic. “But I’m ready. And however long it takes, I’m going to be here fighting it.”
He made his MLB debut with the White Sox during the remarkable 2005 season, with six saves and a 2.75 ERA during the regular season. He was especially critical in the playoffs, racking up four more saves and closing out the final game of the World Series, which gave the team their first title in 88 years.
Jenks had 173 saves during six seasons with the White Sox.
The California native pitched the 2011 MLB season with the Boston Red Sox.
Jenks is survived by his wife Eleni Tzitzivacos, their two children, Zeno and Kate and his four children from a prior marriage, Cuma, Nolan, Rylan and Jackson, according to the White Sox.
Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker started his first six appearances of the season due to a sore lower back injury to Ranger Suarez. When Suarez was healthy enough to return to the starting rotation about a month into the season, Walker was moved to the bullpen for a couple of games, and even earned a save. Then out of necessity, manager Rob Thomson had to re-insert the 32-year-old back to the starting five for a pair of starts at the end of May. After posting a 2.54 ERA in his first six starts, Walker allowed seven earned runs in a total of nine innings his next two starts.
Then up came Mick Abel for six starts and after an impressive beginning, the rookie had faltered of late, allowing nine earned runs his past two starts that totaled just 4.2 innings. Following his latest start on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, Abel was sent down to Lehigh Valley, creating an opening in the starting rotation. Guess who? That’s right, Walker will take the mound for the start Tuesday in San Francisco.
“I think it can be very difficult,” said Thomson of Walker’s bouncing around. “I think it depends on the guy. I think it can be very difficult. In Walk’s case, I think he’s handled it very professionally. He’s been a great team guy throughout this whole thing. I think it can wear you down.”
The difficulties don’t just land on the player, Thomson admitted. Having to tell his veteran righty that his role is constantly changing isn’t all that much fun, either. “Yeah, I do (feel bad) to tell you the truth. Because you’re asking a guy to be a great teammate, which he is, but it can be uncomfortable for some people.”
In his eight starts this season, Walker has a 2-4 record. In 37.1 innings, he’s allowed 38 hits, 15 earned runs (3.62 ERA), three homers, 16 walks and has struck out 30.
After Walker’s start on Tuesday, Thomson will have a little time to think about that fifth spot as the All-Star break approaches after next Sunday’s game in San Diego. Thomson has been a bit secretive about the plans for Andrew Painter, but he certainly could be an option.
Aaron Nola is still a ways away and Abel will make starts at Lehigh Valley and if he corrects himself, that could be another possibility. In the meantime, it’s Walker’s turn. Again.
Any worries for Ranger Suárez?
In his last outing against the Atlanta Braves, starter Ranger Suárez was a little down on his velocity. While noted, it really doesn’t seem to concern his manager. How could it? Consider in his last 10 starts heading into Saturday, Suárez has pitched 68.1 innings, allowed 48 hits, struck out 30 and walked just five. His ERA during that time is a ridiculous 1.19. What more could a team want?
“That he pitches just like he’s been pitching, really,” said Thomson on his hopes for Suárez moving forward. “Hopefully there’s more velo, but if there’s not I’m fine with that – him just getting outs (is all I want).”
Joe Ross won’t be getting Walker treatment
Of the 151 games he’s pitched in the majors going into Saturday, hulking righthander Joe Ross had started 87 of them, including 10 last season in Milwaukee and one this year with the Phillies. But he is not going to do the roller-coaster ride between starting and bullpen work that Taijuan Walker has had to do this season for the Phillies.
“He’s a guy that one of things that we agreed upon when we signed him was that he was either going to start or relieve. We were not going to bounce him back and forth,” said Thomson. “I think if you did it once, like put him in the rotation and left him there he’d be fine with it, but we’re in a spot now with having Mick (Abel) come up, hopefully (Andrew) Painter comes, (Aaron) Nola comes back. I think we’re in a position, unfortunately, some guys have to bounce back and forth.”
But not Ross. He’ll stay in the pen.
“His velo really went up last year when he went to the pen (in Milwaukee). We saw a little bit of it. I think he was 97, 98 last year at times. We haven’t seen that but we’ve seen 95 and 96s. When he’s up there it’s pretty good. He’s had some good outings for us.”
All-Star talk
Obviously the Phillies could send three starting pitchers to the All-Star in Atlanta on July 15 in Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez and Christopher Sanchez. After that, Rob Thomson seems pretty confident in two of his players getting there in shortstop Trea Turner and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.
“I think both those guys have, to tell you the truth (earned it),” he said. “I’m not sure if there’s anybody else but I think those guys have. Turner has hit for average, gets on base, now he’s hit a few home runs lately. And Schwarber, the two of them basically carried the club for a little bit. Some guys were scuffling and those guys were getting hot. Schwarber with all his home runs and his walks, getting on base. Both those guys have had a good year.
Hockey Mentality
Apparently there was a little verbal exchange among Phillies players and one or more people in the stands after Friday’s 9-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. It centered around second baseman Bryson Stott.
“I didn’t see it in the moment but I heard about it afterwards, Rob Thomson said. “From what I heard someone said something to Stott or about Stott and his teammates were protecting him.”
The Mets have long scouted and signed international talent from across the globe, but it took quite some time for them to find a player from one particular continent.
According to reports, the Mets signed their very first European prospect on Saturday, agreeing to an amateur contract with Italian teenager Matteo Marelli. Both sides made the deal official with a ceremony at a baseball field in Rovigo, a city in northern Italy.
Marelli, who turned 19 back in February, is a right-handed pitcher who competed at MLB's European Development Tournament (EDT) in the last two years. He was discovered by scout Rosario Chiovaro, who's the son of an Italian immigrant and worked for the Mets since 2020.
“I’m super proud to bring an Italian into the organization for the first time,” Chiovaro recently told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “I hope that Matteo goes back and tells his teammates and tells his coach how well we treated him, and I think that can help the Mets moving forward -- just that we’re going to have a global footprint and a global impact in more markets.”
While he received a scholarship to pitch at Arizona Western College -- they don't compete at the Division I, II, or III level -- Marelli's deal with the Mets will reportedly send him to the Dominican Summer League.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, Marelli played for two teams across three seasons in the Italian Serie A league, logging a 5.15 ERA with 98 strikeouts across 108.1 innings (39 games). His velocity has also jumped from 88 mph to 94 mph over the last year, according to Chiovaro.
Matteo Marelli's signing became official today in Italy. He's the first European amateur signing in Mets history.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts visits with relief pitcher Noah Davis (56) and catcher Will Smith (16) on the mound after hitting Davis hit the Astros' Christian Walker (8) during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on Friday. The Dodgers lost 18-1. (Kevork Djansezian/Los Angeles Times)
Muncy is expected to be sidelined for six weeks with a bone bruise in his left knee but that won’t push them into the market for another third baseman between now and the July 31 trade deadline.
“I don’t think that changes much, knowing the certainty of Max coming back at some point,” manager Dave Roberts said.
The faith in Muncy is justified by his track record, the former All-Star missing three months last year but setting an all-time playoff record by reaching base in 12 consecutive plate appearances on the team’s World Series run.
This doesn’t mean the Dodgers shouldn’t be looking to strike a major deal over the next three-plus weeks.
They still have to address their greatest obstacle to become their sport’s repeat champions in 25 years. They still have to address their starting pitching.
Every sign points to the Dodgers taking a passive approach in dealing with the issue, as they continue to point to the anticipated returns of Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.
Glasnow pitched 4 ⅓ innings for triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday and Roberts said he expected the 6-foot-8 right-hander to rejoin the rotation on the Dodgers’ upcoming trip to Milwaukee and San Francisco.
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws in the outfield before a game against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on June 4. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Snell pitched to hitters in live batting practice on Wednesday and is scheduled to do so again on Saturday. The left-hander could be on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment by next week.
Glasnow and Snell are former All-Stars, but how much can the Dodgers rely on them?
Unironically nicknamed “Glass,” Glasnow hasn’t pitched since April. The $136.5-million man has never pitched more than the 134 innings he pitched last year, and even then, he wasn’t unavailable for the playoffs.
Snell made just 20 starts last year with the San Francisco Giants but was signed by the Dodgers to a five-year, $182-million contract over the winter. He made only two starts for them before he was placed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.
Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell throws the ball against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on April 2. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Ideally, the Dodgers’ postseason rotation would consist of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow and Shohei Ohtani. There’s no guarantee that will materialize, considering that Yamamoto and Ohtani have their own complicated medical histories.
Yamamoto pitched heroically in the playoffs last year but only after missing three months in the regular season. Ohtani returned from his second elbow reconstruction last month but has been used as an opener so far. Ohtani is expected to pitch two innings on Saturday against the Houston Astros, and the team doesn’t envision using him for more than four or five innings at a time in the playoffs.
Every pitcher is an injury risk, and the Dodgers know that. But just because they won the World Series last year with three starting pitchers — they resorted to bullpen games when Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler couldn’t pitch — doesn’t mean they can lean as heavily on their relievers and expect the same results. The approach has resulted in more postseason disappointments than championships, so much so that when Ohtani was being recruited by the Dodgers before last season, Mark Walter told him he considered his previous 12 years of ownership to be a failure.
Ohtani will celebrate his 31st birthday on Saturday. He might not be showing his age yet, but Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts have. Freeman will be 36 in September and Betts 33 in October. The window in which the Dodgers have three MVP-caliber players in the lineup is closing, which should inspire a sense of urgency.
The front office’s reluctance to shop in a seller’s market is understandable, considering the most attractive possibilities are by no means sure things. Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves is on the 60-day injured list with a fractured rib. Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins has been up and down in his return from Tommy John surgery. Then again, the Dodgers made a smart buy in Flaherty last year and the gamble resulted in a World Series.
At this point, it’s up to Glasnow and Snell to perform well enough to convince the Dodgers they don’t need any more pitching. Until Glasnow and Snell do that, the team should operate as if it has to do something.
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw looks toward his family after his 3,00th career strikeout. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Bill Plaschke has decided that Clayton Kershaw is the greatest pitcher in Dodgers history. Given the distinct eras in which they both pitched, and the completely different roles starting pitchers have today, it is really impossible to definitively conclude who is the absolute greatest. I think the best we can say is that, without much doubt, Sandy Koufax had the greatest five-year stretch of any pitcher in baseball history, and at his peak, was the most dominant pitcher in the history of the game. Kershaw, on the other hand, has had the greatest career and consistency of performance by any Dodger pitcher ever. And perhaps, Bill, it is best if we just leave it at that.
Drew Pomerance Tarzana
With all due respect to Bill Plaschke, why does Clayton Kershaw have to be "greater" than Sandy Koufax, or Don Drysdale for that matter? Can't we just enjoy all their greatness as part of Dodgers history without anointing one greater than another? Don't forget, Drysdale pitched six consecutive shutouts and 58 scoreless innings. What's greater than that?
Rhys Thomas Valley Glen
In what should have been the easiest article to write in Mr. Plaschke’s illustrious career, Bill completely whiffs when comparing Kershaw to Koufax. Baseball’s dramatic evolution over the last 60 years makes it impossible to compare the greatness of both men. Sandy and Clayton represent the best in Dodgers baseball and there is no need to celebrate the greatest Dodgers pitcher of the 21st century at the expense of the greatest Dodgers pitcher of the 20th century.
Rob Demonteverde Brea
Special 'K ' night
In the game when Clayton Kershaw got his 3,000th strikeout, the Dodgers had a Hollywood ending when Freddie Freeman drove Shohei Ohtani in for a walk-off victory. It was fitting that strikeout number 3,000 came at the expense of Vinny Capra — Vinny as in Vin Scully, and Capra as in legendary filmmaker Frank Capra.
Ken Feldman Tarzana
Discriminating concern
The Dodgers are going to lose on their defense of their DEI programs for the simple paraphrasing in the reason set forth by Chief Justice Roberts that the way to end discrimination is not more discrimination … which is what the Dodgers engage in. They have touted it over and over again publicly.
The irony is that DEI is the absolute last thing the organization would think about in assembling and paying those on its 40-man roster.
Strangely, the Dodgers' supposedly brilliant owners and management fail to realize that absent DEI, just hiring the best applicants would produce plenty of diversity in their baseball organization.
Kip Dellinger Santa Monica
All credit to the Dodgers for their DEI programs. I hope that they don’t back down. I have not been a fan of billionaire hedge fund CEOs. However, if Stephen Miller’s stooges are going after Mark Walter, I can only have new respect for him. Good for you, Mr. Walter.
Noel Park Rancho Palos Verdes
The king's return
LeBron James maxed out his pay, taking $52 million for next season, leaving the Lakers with $6 million to spend on free agents and trades, which won’t get much in today’s NBA.
Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan and Tom Brady are examples of superstars who took pay cuts to help their teams build a championship roster.
Such is the difference between a team player and, well, whatever LeBron is. I guess he must be more worried about making his next mortgage payment than winning championships.
Jack Nelson Los Angeles
Breaking news: LeBron James has decided he will allow his employer, the Los Angeles Lakers, to pay him a reported $52.6 million next season.
In other news, the sun once again rose this morning and Earth continues to rotate properly on its axis.
Richard Turnage Burbank
Let me get this straight. Two weeks ago LeBron James decried the "ring culture" in the NBA. Fast-forward to James opting into his $52-million player option and his proxy, Rich Paul, releases a cryptic statement indicating James expects the Lakers to make the necessary improvements to make them a championship team. Thought rings didn't matter, LeBron?
A new broom does not have to sweep clean! Even with their flaws and mistakes, Rob Pelinka and rookie coach JJ Redick earned at least a stay of execution. They have accomplished “enough” to earn the eventual trust of the new boss in town.
With this massive shift in ownership, having some semblance of continuity is not a bad idea.
Rick Solomon Lake Balboa
Mixed emotions
For over 20 years, there has not been a single NHL player I detested more than Corey Perry, especially when he played for that other local team. I have called him (words unsuitable to print here) more than any player in any sport. Hopefully his stay is no more than one season … unless he helps the Kings win the Stanley Cup. In that case — love ya, Corey. Always have and always will.
Erik Schuman Fountain Valley
As a die-hard Kings fan, I have mixed feelings on their signing Corey Perry. But, I suppose, in the team’s desperation to make it out of the first round, they signed a player that guarantees that they will be next year’s Stanley Cup Final runner-up!
Nick Rose Newport Coast
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith and pitching coach Mark Prior watch from the dugout during the ninth inning of the team's lopsided loss to the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium on Friday. (Kevork Djansezian/Los Angeles Times)
They are two longtime Dodger villains, hated for two vastly different reasons.
As the last remaining position player from the Houston Astros’ trash-can-banging, and (in the eyes of most Dodgers fans) World Series-stealing 2017 championship team, Jose Altuve always receives a rude welcome from the fans at Chavez Ravine.
As one of the most productive visiting players in Dodger Stadium history, Christian Walker often shuts them up.
In the Houston Astros' 18-1 Independence Day rout on Friday, both added another tortured chapter to the Dodgers’ history against the team. Altuve went three for three with a double, two home runs, two walks and five RBIs. Walker went four for five with one long ball and four RBIs.
The Houston Astros' Jose Altuve celebrates with Christian Walker after hitting a two-run homer against Dodgers in the third inning at Dodger Stadium on Friday. (Kevork Djansezian/Los Angeles Times)
On a day starting pitcher Ben Casparius once again struggled (giving up six runs in three innings), reliever Noah Davis gave up 10 runs in the sixth inning alone (the most the Dodgers had surrendered in one inning since 1999), and most of a sold-out crowd stuck around for every painful minute (waiting in somber silence for a postgame fireworks show), that was plenty to lift the surging Astros to most lopsided defeat the Dodgers have ever suffered at Dodger Stadium.
Six weeks ago, the retooled Astros were one game above .500 and 3 ½ games out of first place in the American League West; seemingly missing the other 2017 stars who have departed the franchise since their sign-stealing scandal came to light five years ago.
But now, they have won 27 of their last 37, own the second-best record in the AL, and are suddenly looking like unlikely title contenders; even after turning over almost the entirety of the roster from that infamous 2017 season.
“Certainly, there’s been some history with our organizations,” manager Dave Roberts said pregame when asked if any lingering feelings remained from the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. “But if you look at it in reality, most of those guys are gone. So it certainly doesn’t have any bearing on this series this weekend.”
Instead, in a historically harrowing defeat on their home diamond, the Dodgers had bigger concerns to worry about Friday, with Altuve and Walker at the top of the list.
Altuve received his typical reception from the Dodgers faithful, serenaded with booming boos and loud chants of “cheater!” for each of his at-bats. However, he followed Isaac Paredes’ leadoff homer in the first with a double off the wall, then took Casparius deep for a two-run home run on a curveball in the third.
Those low-lights marked another frustrating night for Casparius, whom Roberts said will likely return to the bullpen moving forward after posting an 8.24 ERA in his last five outings as a starter and bulk-inning pitcher.
“Obviously, when you're a starter, there's more preparation that goes into the other side, as far as preparing for a starting pitcher versus a reliever, so I think there's some [of] that,” Roberts said of Casparius’ struggles as a starter, compared to the 2.93 ERA he had as primarily a reliever to start the year. “But at the end of the day, he's just got to execute better. There might have been 60 throws tonight, and probably only a handful executed where he wanted them to be. And that's tough to do.”
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani looks subdued while watching from the dugout as his team loses 18-1 to the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium on Friday. (Kevork Djansezian/Los Angeles Times)
Even when Casparius exited, however, Altuve wasn’t done, adding an exclamation point with a three-run homer in the Astros’ 10-run sixth — the most runs the Dodgers (56-33) had allowed in one inning since Fernando Tatis’ historic two grand slam inning in April 1999 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Walker, meanwhile, was every bit as dangerous.
A 34-year-old slugger who dominated the Dodgers (and, most confoundingly, Clayton Kershaw in particular) during an eight-year career with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walker was already emerging from an early-season slump in his first year with the Astros (53-35) entering this weekend’s series.
Then, back in the friendly confines of Dodger Stadium, he orchestrated a monster performance of his own from the five-spot of the Houston order.
In his first at-bat, Walker plated Altuve with a single the other way. Then, two batters after Altuve’s big fly in the third, Casparius left a fastball down the middle that Walker whacked for his 28th career home run against the Dodgers — and 20th at Dodger Stadium.
Only nine other players have hit that many home runs as visitors at the ballpark during their careers, a list that includes Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Mike Schmidt and Willie Stargell, as well as Barry Bonds.
“It’s just one of those funny baseball things,” Walker told the Astros TV broadcast afterward. “No real explanation. Maybe good lights, I see the ball well? I honestly have no idea. It’s fun playing here.”
Walker also made a contribution in the sixth-inning onslaught.
After Davis gave up one run on two singles and two walks, the recently called-up right-hander plunked Walker with the bases loaded to force in another score, losing his grip on an 0-and-2 sweeper that left him visibly rattled on the mound.
Sensing Davis’ frustration, Roberts came to the bump for a motivational pep talk; eliciting memories of the mid-game hug he delivered to journeyman reliever Yohan Ramirez last season in Cincinnati.
This time, however, the mound visit had little effect. In the next at-bat, Davis threw a hanging sweeper that Victor Caratini belted for a grand slam. What was already a laugher became a full-fledged Fourth of July disaster.
The Mets, in need of healthy starting pitchers, opted to keep Brandon Sproat down with Triple-A Syracuse and gave Justin Hagenman the start against the Yankees on Friday night. While Hagenman allowed four runs over 4.1 innings in a 6-5 win, Sproat made the most of his start in the minors.
The 24-year-old had one of his best outings of the season, throwing five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against a Worcester team featuring former top prospect Kristian Campbell (who's back down in Triple-A after making Boston's Opening Day roster) and Vaughn Grissom (95 MLB games with Atlanta and Boston).
Sproat allowed just two hits over the five innings of work, one to Campbell in the third and another to Karson Simas in the fifth inning. The right-hander threw a total of 89 pitches (51 strikes) and walked one. His fastball peaked at 99.3 mph.
Sproat has now thrown 11 straight scoreless innings, following his six scoreless innings on June 28, and lowered his ERA to 5.05 in what's been an up-and-down year in Triple-A.
While he was considered an option to pitch in the Subway Series matchup, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said Thursday prior to the team's series finale against the Brewers that his "preference is to not bring up a top prospect for a spot start."Frankie Montas is scheduled to pitch Saturday, but Sunday's plans are still undetermined and looking like a potential bullpen game.
If Sproat keeps up this hot stretch, he could force Stearns' hand and get called up sooner than later.
Meanwhile, Syracuse went on to win the game 4-0 and scored all four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, including a three-run homer from Gilberto Celestino. Luisangel Acuña went 2-for-4 with a strikeout, boosting his average in the minors to .303 over 33 at-bats. Francisco Alvarez went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, a walk, and a run scored. Drew Gilbert, who's hit three homers this week, went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Brooks Raley ended up earning the win, tossing a scoreless inning with a walk and a strikeout. He's yet to allow a run over 6.1 IP with 11 strikeouts during his rehab.
Brooks Raley gets the strikeout to get out of the jam in his rehab outing for Triple-A Syracuse! pic.twitter.com/SuBt9KMWaS
Out in Binghamton, top prospect Jonah Tong struck out 10 Hartford batters, but got the loss in a 4-1 defeat after allowing two runs over 5.2 innings.
Overall, he threw 92 pitches (56 strikes) and allowed four hits and two walks. His season ERA took a small jump up to 1.83 from 1.73 with the outing.
Tong is now 6-4 over 15 starts and 78.2 IP for Double-A Binghamton with an impressive 125 strikeouts and 0.93 WHIP. He was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Month for June, after taking home the honor in May, and will play in the MLB All-Star Futures game on July 12. He'll be joined in Atlanta by Binghamton teammate Carson Benge, who was recently promoted to Double-A after owning an .897 OPS in 60 games for High-A Brooklyn.
Benge went 0-for-4 on Friday night as the Rumble Ponies bats were pretty quiet in the loss, totaling just five hits, including two from Jett Williams and one from Ryan Clifford.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy is hit in the knee as he tags out Chicago White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor trying to steal third on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
When Max Muncy first went down on Wednesday night, clutching his left knee and writhing in pain after a collision with Chicago White Sox baserunner Michael A. Taylor on a steal attempt at third base, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes couldn’t help but let his mind go to a dark place.
“Obviously, [there were] a lot of emotions,” Gomes said. “From a coping mechanism in my head, it was like, ‘OK, he’s done for the year. We’re gonna have to figure out what the next path is. We have to be prepared for whatever is coming.’”
What came the next day, however, was unexpectedly good news.
Despite having his knee bent awkwardly, gruesomely inward, Muncy escaped with only a bone bruise. There were no ligament tears. No structural damage. No season-ending catastrophe.
Dodger Max Muncy grimaces as he holds his left knee after colliding with White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
“We’ve had a lot more [injury situations] where we’ve gone in optimistic and then come out the other side not as optimistic,” Gomes said. “So it was nice to have that turned on its head and know that, ‘Hey, he’s gonna be out there.’”
On Thursday, Muncy said he is expected to miss roughly six weeks. But even that timeline would give him a month-plus before the playoffs to try and rediscover the swing that made him one of the hottest hitters in baseball the past two months.
And because Muncy’s injury was to the lower half of his body, manager Dave Roberts noted, the hope is that “it’s not something that should affect the swing” when he does return.
“With the time we have, there’s nothing pressing as far as needing to rush him back,” Roberts said. “I think we’re in a good spot.”
That’s why, as of Friday, Gomes had shelved those contingency plans that were running through his mind 48 hours earlier. His front office wasn’t urgently scouring the trade market looking for an instant replacement.
Instead, Gomes and Roberts insisted the Dodgers’ trade deadline plans are unlikely to be altered in the wake of Muncy’s injury — with the team content to rely on internal options now, while awaiting Muncy’s return later this year.
“Knowing the certainty of Max coming back at some point,” Roberts said, “I don’t think that will really impact our thinking going into the deadline.”
“Even if [his recovery] is way slow,” Gomes added, “you have a full month of baseball before we hit the playoffs. So we’re giving him that time to get back into a good place and try to set a good foundation, like we try to do with all of our guys, to be prepared for that stretch run.”
Fans cheer after Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy hit a three-run homer against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on June 22. (Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times)
Trade speculation surrounding the Dodgers’ third base position is nothing new.
Lately, however, Muncy had quieted such noise with one of the best stretches of his career. Before getting hurt, he was batting .308 over his past 46 games with 12 home runs, 48 RBIs and more walks (32) than strikeouts (26).
“When he’s not in the lineup,” Roberts said, “our offense tapers off.”
Whether Muncy can return to such levels of production, of course, won’t become clear until well after the deadline passes. But finding impact bats on this year’s trade market might not be an easy task, especially at third base.
Nolan Arenado has long been linked to the Dodgers in trade rumors. But he has career-lows in batting average (.247) and OPS (.701) this year, and is still due some $40 million over the next two-and-a-half seasons on his contract.
The Cardinals' Nolan Arenado watches his double in the sixth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland on June 27. (Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)
Lower-profile names such as Eugenio Suárez, Ryan McMahon and Ramón Urías (who could be a better roster fit for the Dodgers as a utility weapon) could also be moved. But the Dodgers won’t be desperate to overpay for an impact bat knowing Muncy should be back well before the start of the playoffs.
“Obviously, he’s been so dialed in, one of the best hitters in the game over the last six weeks, so there’s always some [question of], ‘How are we going to get back to that spot?’” Gomes acknowledged of Muncy.
“But I don’t think that is something that Max has never done before,” he added, referencing Muncy’s ability to contribute to last year’s World Series run despite missing three months in the regular season with an oblique injury. “So there’s a comfort level. We have some time. We’ll make sure that he’s eased back in. We have enough technology that he can take at-bats and see pitches before he ever has to go out on rehab and is back in a major-league game. We should be getting some approximation of what his swing was, and then use that time to get into a rhythm.”
In the meantime, the Dodgers plan to incorporate Tommy Edman at third base, where he has 94 career big-league appearances (mostly in 2019 and 2020 with the St. Louis Cardinals, before Arenado’s arrival there).
“It’s a position I’m comfortable with,” Edman said Friday, after taking grounders at third at the start of his pregame work. “The hops [there] are weird, so you gotta play a little bit more one-handed … But it’s still the infield. You still gotta work on the footwork, just like you would at second and short. Catching the ball, getting behind your throws. It’s a lot of the same concepts.”
Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas will also see time at third, typically against left-handed pitching, while triple-A prospect Alex Freeland could offer depth from the minors if needed.
Hyeseong Kim, meanwhile, should also get a bump in playing time at second base on days Edman is at third.
“It’s gonna be a good opportunity for him,” Roberts said of Kim. “It’ll be good to know more and get him some more experience.”
When the deadline rolls around at the end of the month, the Dodgers will have more information to work with — not only on the state of Muncy’s rehab, but also about how their lineup fares without him.
With a top-five farm system in the sport, according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, they will have the ammunition to make a splash if needed.
But for now, their expectation is that Muncy’s injury won’t force them into a drastic midseason roster makeover. They are hopeful that what initially appeared to be a season-altering moment will be nothing more than a temporary speed bump in their pursuit of a second consecutive title.
“We’re playing good baseball as a team. We’re in a good position division-wise right now,” Gomes said. “So if we keep doing that, we can weather [Muncy’s absence].”
