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Jasson Dominguez's three homers power Yankees to 10-2 win over Athletics

Jasson Dominguez smashed three of the Yankees' four home runs and Will Warren had the best start of his career, as New York beat the Athletics, 10-2, on Friday night in West Sacramento.

Here are the takeaways..

-The Yankees offense could not capitalize on a fast start. Aaron Judge -- after having his 38-game on-base streak snapped on Wednesday -- started a new streak with a first-pitch double off the left-field wall that put Trent Grisham (who reached on a walk) to third with no outs. But Ben Rice (popout), Paul Goldschmidt (groundout to the pitcher) and Jasson Dominguez (strikeout) could not get the runners home.

They couldn't get it done in the second inning either. With runners on second and third with two outs, Grisham popped out to end the threat.

New York figured out the solution to their clutch-hitting problems: hit home runs. Goldschmidt (417 feet) and Dominguez (398 feet) would go back-to-back with two outs in the third to put the Yanks up 2-0. But that wouldn't be the end of the homers.

-Dominguez would have himself a day at the plate. In addition to his solo homer, he would go yard a second time in the seventh, this time from the right side. The Martian took a Hogan Harris curveball 431 feet over the center field wall. The young outfielder finished 3-for-4 with seven RBI and had his first multi-homer game as a big leaguer, and his seventh-inning longball was his first from the right side.

His at-bat in the eighth with the bases loaded saw him launch his first career grand slam. He also became the youngest player in Yankees history to have a three-homer game.

-Warren was dealing early. He struck out four in his first three innings. The young right-hander wouldn't allow his first base runner (walk) until one out in the fourth inning. After a single, Warren would pitch out of the jam by striking out Shea Langeliers and JJ Bleday in succession. After that, Warren was in cruise control, pitching into the sixth inning when he allowed a leadoff double. Warren settled down, getting the next three batters out and pitching through six innings for the first time in his big league career.

Warren would pitch into the eighth inning, but it was noticeable he was out of gas. He was pulled after allowing back-to-back singles with one out. One of his runners would come around to score after Mark Leiter Jr. came in, but the book was closed on Warren's night pretty quickly.

The young hurler pitched 7.1 innings (87 pitches/59 strikes), allowing one run on four hits, one walk and striking out seven batters.

-There was an odd series of events in the fifth that could have cost the Yankees a run. With men on first and second, and one out, Goldschmidt lofted a ball into shallow left-center field. Bleday clearly trapped the ball and Grisham ran home, but Rice was called out at second on the force because the third base umpire ruled Bleday had caught it, and he went back to first. After a lengthy discussion, the umps ruled it a trap, but sent Grisham back to third and Rice to second.

Dominguez would get Grisham home anyway with a sac fly.

-Every Yankee in the starting lineup -- aside from Grisham -- had at least one hit with Rice (2-5), Dominguez (4-3), Goldschmidt (2-4), J.C. Escarra (2-4) and Jorbit Vivas (2-5) picking up multi-hit games. Judge finished 1-for-4 with a walk as his batting average dipped to .396, the first time he was batting under .400 since April 22.

Game MVP: Jasson Dominguez

Hitting three homers and driving in seven runs will get you this honor 99.9 percent of the time. (Kudos to Warren, though)

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Athletics play the middle of their three-game set on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

Carlos Rodon (4-3, 2.96 ERA) will take on JP Sears (4-2, 2.93 ERA).

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Red Sox owner John Henry flies to Kansas City to meet with disgruntled slugger Rafael Devers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Rafael Devers made his feelings known on Thursday. On Friday, it was Boston Red Sox owner John Henry's turn to share his opinions with the disgruntled slugger.

A day after Devers told reporters about his refusal to play first base, Henry, team president Sam Kennedy and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora.

Boston has an opening at first base after Triston Casas ruptured his left knee tendon and had season-ending surgery. Red Sox management approached Devers - who was moved from third base to designated hitter this spring - about filling in at first, and Devers declined.

After he homered and drove in two runs in Thursday's 5-0 win over Texas, Devers told reporters, “They came to me and talked to me about it. I know I’m a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there.

“In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove. I wasn’t going to play another position other than DH. Right now, I don’t think it would be an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position.”

Devers is in the second year of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract. He was Boston's regular third baseman before the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman, considered a defensive upgrade, in the offseason.

Devers was reluctant to give up third, but was told he didn't have a choice.

“John spoke directly with Raffy,” Breslow said before Friday's game against the Royals. “(He) felt like it was important, based on the situation that unfolded yesterday. (That included) an honest conversation about what we value as an organization, and that means to be great teammates for each other.”

Breslow would not give details about the conversation, but said: “John had a productive conversation, and that’s where we stand right now.”

Devers started at DH on Friday.

“(Where he plays) is kind of secondary, I think, to the other conversations,” said Breslow, who spent 12 years as a pitcher in the majors, including five with the Red Sox. “That decision was never going to be made on a couch in an office in Kansas City.”

Cora said it would be an ongoing discussion.

“Obviously, having everybody here and in the same place, it means a lot, not only for us that are on the ground, but the players and to Raffy too,” the manager said. “So I thought it was good.”

When asked if Devers would start taking grounders at first, Cora responded tersely.

“No, that’s not the plan right now. The plan is to keep having conversations,” he said.

The question now is whether those conversations will lead to a solution Devers can embrace.

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Angels setup man Ben Joyce is transferred to 60-day injured list because of inflamed shoulder

ANAHEIM, Calif. — What was originally thought to be a minor shoulder injury was serious enough for the Los Angeles Angels to transfer reliever Ben Joyce to the 60-day injured list on Friday.

The 24-year-old right-hander, whose 105.5-mph fastball to strike out Dodgers utility man Tommy Edman last September was the hardest pitch thrown in the major leagues in 2024, went on the 15-day injured list because of shoulder inflammation on April 11.

Joyce tried to play catch in late April and again on Tuesday but was shut down both times because of discomfort. He is scheduled to visit a doctor and will likely undergo more imaging next week.

“It’s just not getting better,” Joyce said before Friday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles. “It’s frustrating for me and everyone else involved. I just want to pitch and be part of the team.

“I don’t know exactly what the concern level is. We’re evaluating it as we go. But at this point, it’s been a month (on the IL), so even if we start a throwing program, it’s going to be another 30 days. So it makes sense right now to go on the 60-day IL.”

Joyce opened the season as Kenley Jansen’s primary setup man and went 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA in five games. He went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 31 appearances last season, striking out 33 and walking 14 in 34 2/3 innings.

The loss of Joyce has left manager Ron Washington with only two reliable relievers to hold late narrow leads - Jansen and right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn. Angels relievers entered Friday with a 7.15 bullpen ERA, the second-worst in baseball.

“Tremendously,” Washington said, when asked how much Joyce’s absence has impacted the bullpen. “When he went down, it affected us, and we’re still trying to find our footing in the bullpen. He’s an impact-type pitcher. He was the kind of guy we could use to finish an inning, give us another inning, and we miss that.”

Washington said it is unclear who will be responsible for holding leads in the sixth and seventh innings.

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Francisco Lindor 'all about vibes' with new walk-up song after Mets produce plenty of hits

Just moments before Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor stepped up to the plate for his second at-bat on Friday night, fans at Citi Field were treated to a little surprise. The speakers didn't blast his tried and true walk-up song of "My Girl" by The Temptations -- instead, another Motown hit played for a new crowd sing-along.

His choice of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" didn't yield another hit, as he struck out swinging on five pitches. But by setting the tone with a leadoff home run in the first inning, there was no valley low enough for a Mets lineup that ultimately produced four long balls in a 7-2 win over the Cubs.

The blast from Lindor came on an 0-2 fastball from Cubs starter Jameson Taillon, and the ball landed in right-center for his fourth leadoff shot of the season. He finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base, and raised his average to .297 and OPS to .861. Earlier this week, Lindor became just the ninth shortstop to reach the 50-WAR threshold since 1970.

"I just try to get a good pitch to hit and get on base for the guys," Lindor said after the game. "I have two really good hitters behind me and the lineup is deep. So, just get on base for them and let them do what they do best. It just so happens they've been going out. I'll enjoy it and then turn the page."

Lindor wasn't the only one who displayed some pop. Brett Baty produced the Mets' second leadoff homer in the second, driving a ball to the left-center field bleachers. Jeff McNeil joined in on the fun shortly thereafter, drilling a solo shot to right. New York's four-homer night was capped off by a mammoth solo blast from Juan Soto in the fourth that landed near Shea Bridge.

The Mets' overall success at the plate was recently credited to "controlled aggression" by Brandon Nimmo, and Friday's results backed that claim. Of the team's 13 total hits, a whopping dozen came with two strikes. It was their 11th game with double-digit knocks this season, and third with four homers.

SNY's Gary Cohen suggested "My Guy" by Mary Wells as a clever alternative walk-up tune for Lindor, considering that his wife gave birth to a boy back in March. But Lindor is pleased with hearing the duet from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and hopes fans warm up to his minor plate adjustment.

"I think it's a fantastic song and hopefully the fans can vibe to it too," Lindor said. "I'm all about vibes and that's the vibes right now. I didn't fully change it because I had some pushback from some people here. I'm a people pleaser. I pleased the ones who pushed back on me. But I think that song is a banger."

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Mets flaunt power with four homers in 7-2 win over Cubs

The Mets opened their six-game homestand with an early-inning power surge, clubbing four home runs in a 7-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night at Citi Field.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Francisco Lindor recently became just the ninth shortstop to reach the 50-WAR threshold since 1970, and he wasted no time showcasing his elite skills in the field and at the plate. He took an infield single away from Cubs star Kyle Tucker in the top of the first by snagging an excuse-me chopper barehanded and throwing across his body for the out. Then, in the bottom half, he smacked a 0-2 fastball from Cubs starter Jameson Taillon that landed in the bullpen for his fourth leadoff home run this season. The Mets led 1-0 after one.

-- Taillon entered Friday with a sharp 1.96 ERA in six career starts against the Mets, but it sure didn't take long for the veteran right-hander's mark to rise. He gave up another leadoff homer in the second -- this time to Brett Baty, making his second straight start at third -- and then proceeded to watch designated hitter Jeff McNeil bump the Mets' lead to 3-0 witha solo shot to right. The second inning also featured a little surprise from Lindor, who changed his walk-up song to "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for his second at-bat. The result? A swinging strikeout.

-- Of the Mets' seven knocks through three innings, six came with two strikes. But one ball in play that brought home a pair of runs in the third didn't register as a hit. With the bases loaded and one out, Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson botched a tailor-made double-play on a chopper from Luisangel Acuña, airmailing the throw down to first after stepping on second for the force out. The throwing error allowed Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Alvarez to score and increase the lead to 5-0. Taillon was knocked out after four innings.

-- Clay Holmes finally fell victim to the long ball in the fourth, as Tucker took a 1-1 sinker deep to right-center to cut the Cubs' deficit to four. It was the first homer allowed by the closer-turned-starter this season, and it came on his 168th batter faced. But the Mets made sure that Holmes entered the fifth with a five-run lead -- Juan Soto joined the power show by crushing a solo shot to the Shea Bridge. It was the superstar slugger's eighth homer of the season and third this week.

-- Holmes appreciated the run support he received in his previous start against the Cardinals -- big cushions simply weren't handed to him as a high-leverage reliever. This time around, he limited the damage and generated massive run on his sinker, completing six solid innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts. There were a few mistakes across his season-high 93 pitches -- he allowed three hits and walks apiece plus a wild pitch -- but his season ERA dropped to 2.74, and he's now produced three quality starts.

-- The Mets turned to Ryne Stanek for the seventh, and he retired the Cubs in order on 11 pitches. Dedniel Núñez got the ball to start the eighth and struck out two, but he also walked a pair that created a jam. With two outs, Reed Garrett entered and neutralized the threat by getting Seiya Suzuki to fly out to left-center.

-- Soto showed off his tower power in the fourth and opposite-field approach in the eighth. After Lindor reached first on an infield single and stole his fifth bag of the season, he found his way home on a line drive off Soto's bat that narrowly avoided Swanson's glove. The RBI knock marked Soto's 11th multi-hit game this season. New York produced 13 total hits, and a whopping 12 of them came with two strikes.

-- Jose Butto assumed the ninth and immediately fell into trouble by committing a pitch clock violation and allowing a solo homer and a single. But the right-hander regrouped by striking out three to cap off a strong night from the staff.

Game MVP: Francisco Lindor

Lindor's glovework and power in the first inning set the tone, and his new walk-up song set social media ablaze. Only time will tell if the classic hit from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell sticks around at Citi Field, but the Mets' shortstop is now hitting .290 with an .848 OPS.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets (25-14) will play the middle game of their series against the Cubs on Saturday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 p.m. on FOX.

Tylor Megill (3-2, 2.50 ERA) is slated to take the mound for his eighth outing of the season. Chicago has yet to announce its starter, but rookie Cade Horton is expected to make his MLB debut.

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Mets prospect Nolan McLean pitches seven scoreless innings in Triple-A debut

Right-hander Nolan McLean had himself an impressive debut for the Syracuse Mets on Friday night.

The Mets' No. 3 overall prospect, according to Joe DeMayo, breezed through seven scoreless innings for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate. McLean threw just 78 pitches (57 strikes) to get through seven innings unscathed. He allowed seven hits (all singles) but did not walk a batter, while striking out seven against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimps.

McLean was promoted to Triple-A on Tuesday after dominating the prior level. In five starts with Binghamton, McLean pitched to a 3-1 record, a 1.37 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He pitched 26.1 innings across those five Double-A starts and struck out 30 batters.

The 23-year-old left with Syracuse up 4-0, thanks to hits from up and down the lineup. Veteran first baseman/DH Jon Singleton picked up an RBI groundout in the first before Jared Young homered to give McLean a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Luis De Los Santos hit an RBI double in the sixth and Mets No. 10 prospect Drew Gilbert launched a solo homer in the seventh, his second of the year.

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The pope is a White Sox fan: Baseball and the conclave collide in the holiest fandom twist

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Every so often, baseball and the outside world collide in ways that feel more mythic than real. On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman reveled in one such moment: when the brand-new pope turned out to be a Chicago White Sox fan.

Let’s break down why this story became instant baseball legend.

A new pope is big news. But this one hits different. As Mintz says, “All of religious history has led up to this. Yes, my dear friends, the pope is a White Sox fan.” 

It’s the sort of news that, as podcasters, you can’t wait to get behind the mic for. “There just isn’t a better feeling,” Shusterman notes, than being gifted “so much incredible stuff to talk about.”

When news broke that Pope Leo XIV hails from Chicago, speculation erupted: Cubs or White Sox? Initially, reports — and even the Cubs’ own social media! — leaned Cubs, but then the story pivoted.

It wasn’t until the pope’s own brother appeared in an interview that the truth emerged. “He’s always been a White Sox fan,” the brother declared. Despite the family split (mother: Cubs; father: Cardinals), the pope stayed loyal to the South Side. 

Mintz summarizes the stance: “He’s not just, yeah, he liked the White Sox, and then they move on. He’s like, yeah, I don’t know where all this Cub stuff is coming from. He’s always been a White Sox fan.”

As Shusterman adds, “This man is not just, you know, grew up and thought Luis Aparicio was cool. This guy … has been into the Sox for a long time now.” 

The ultimate proof? A photo from the 2005 World Series featuring His Holiness at a White Sox game, Nokia phone in hand, basking in the glory of Chicago’s first championship in generations.

“Going to a World Series game as a fan is an expensive thing to do," Mintz says. "... This is someone who had opinions on Mark Buehrle. Now he’s the pope.”

Does it fit? Jake and Jordan think so. “The White Sox are what you would call a poverty franchise," Mintz says. "And what is the pope supposed to do if not take care of the poor?” 

They laugh, but there’s truth there: A team starved for hope and leadership now has a weird, cosmic link to the Vatican’s top spot.

The hosts muse about what this could mean for the franchise. “If the White Sox, along with his guidance … can rise,” Jordan says, “maybe some divine influence will help.” 

The White Sox themselves quickly embraced the connection. They sent a custom jersey and hat straight to the Vatican and invited the pontiff to his “cathedral” at 35th and Shields.

Don’t expect the pope to be rocking a fitted cap from the balcony or tossing out a first pitch, at least not according to precedent. But Pope Francis (a fan of Argentina’s San Lorenzo) held up plenty of soccer scarves and jerseys, so maybe we’ll see Pope Leo XIV do the same. 

Mintz can't resist asking: “If the pope comes out here and is like, ‘I don’t want robo umps,’ does that move the needle?”

But as Jordan and Jake both note, the larger point is the narrative: “Some things are bigger than baseball,” the White Sox said in a statement, “and in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican.”

This intersection of faith and fandom is the kind of bit that only baseball can provide. The new pope is a White Sox fan — documented and witnessed. Cubs fans might grumble, but for a franchise starved for miracles, this moment offers hope, humor and maybe, just maybe, a prayer for the South Side.

For more of the latest baseball news and debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Harper scuffling, Phillies blanked to begin series in Cleveland

Harper scuffling, Phillies blanked to begin series in Cleveland originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies had scored first in nine straight games entering Friday’s series opener in Cleveland and were in business immediately with a Bryson Stott walk and Trea Turner single.

Right-hander Gavin Williams had two on, nobody out for Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos, a situation which more often than not produces runs but didn’t on Friday night. Harper advanced them with a groundout, Schwarber struck out looking and Castellanos went down swinging to end an eight-pitch at-bat.

It was the Phillies’ first and best opportunity of the night in a 6-0 loss. They went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and had no extra-base hits, a quiet offensive night for a team that had scored 70 runs in its last 11 games.

Harper was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and has been in a rut the last six series, going 11-for-63 (.175) with three doubles, a homer, six RBI, nine walks and 19 strikeouts since April 21. It’s been slightly less noticeable because so many other Phillies have hit during that stretch and the team has gone 9-7, but their former MVP hasn’t been himself.

Part of it is the way Harper has been pitched. He’s seen the lowest percentage of pitches inside the strike zone of any player in baseball, 42% compared to a league average of 50%.

And the only player in the National League who has seen a higher rate of breaking balls than Harper (42%) is Castellanos (45%).

The pitch Harper grounded out on in the first inning was a curveball at the bottom of the zone. The pitch he struck out on in the third inning was a curveball well below the zone. He struck out looking in the fifth on a backdoor curveball that caught the upper-outside corner for a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play with Trea Turner. Harper went down on three pitches in the eighth, striking out on a sweeper at his back foot.

Harper’s numbers overall against the breaking ball this season (.237 BA, .458 SLG) are similar to 2022-24 (.253 BA, .469 SLG), but the last few weeks haven’t been pretty.

Aaron Nola’s night started well with three scoreless innings and two quick outs in the fourth before Kyle Manzardo took him deep to center field. The fifth inning, his last, went walk, flyout, two-run homer, single, single, single to put the Guardians up four and load the bases with one out.

Nola allowed four runs in five innings and is 1-6 with a 4.89 ERA.

The Phillies are 22-16 after the first loss of this week’s road trip to Tampa and Cleveland. They’ll look to even the series Saturday night in Ranger Suarez’ second start. Cleveland counters with right-hander Tanner Bibee, who dominated the Phils two seasons ago with seven scoreless, two-hit innings.

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Mets Injury Notes: Sean Manaea throwing at 120 feet, Frankie Montas scheduled for bullpen on Friday

Prior to Friday's matchup between the Mets and the Chicago Cubs, manager Carlos Mendoza gave updates on three of his rehabbing pitchers...

Sean Manaea

Since Manaea's last update of throwing from 105 feet earlier in the week, the left-hander is now up to 120 feet and "feeling good."

"I think he was scheduled to play catch off the mound, not with the catcher squatting down, but off the mound," Mendoza said.

There's still no timetable for Manaea's return, let alone a rehab assignment, but New York is hoping he doesn't suffer any setbacks from his oblique injury this time around after getting shut down in mid-March due to discomfort.

He resumed throwing on April 14 after getting a platelet-rich plasma injection.

Frankie Montas

There continues to be good news with Montas, who is waiting to make his Mets debut this season.

Following his third bullpen session on Tuesday, the veteran right-hander is scheduled for another one on Friday. After that, the next step is hopefully facing live batters.

"He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen today, I think it’s his fourth one, so hopefully by the end of next week he’s facing hitters," Mendoza said.

Paul Blackburn

The closest one of the three to returning to the big league club is Blackburn, who is currently on a rehab assignment.

After two starts with High-A Brooklyn, the right-hander moved up to Triple-A Syracuse where he pitched 3.2 innings on May 6, giving up one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five.

He's scheduled to throw again on Sunday with Syracuse in Jacksonville.

"I think he’s up to 50-some pitches now," Mendoza said. "He’s continuing to progress well."

The skipper added that the goal is for Blackburn to reach 70-75 pitches, which he will likely reach after two or three more starts, before the Mets make a decision.

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Chet Lemon, joyful Tigers World Series hero and L.A. Fremont High product, dies at 70

Former Detroit player Chet Lemon throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a 2016 Tigers baseball game
Former Detroit Tigers player Chet Lemon throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Chicago White Sox on June 5, 2016, in Detroit. Lemon, who played for both teams, died Thursday. (Duane Burleson/Associated Press)

Chet Lemon, a product of Los Angeles Fremont High during its heyday who became a three-time All-Star outfielder and a World Series champion during a 16-year major league career, died Thursday at age 70 after a decades-long fight with a blood disorder.

Lemon was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics at age 17 in 1972 and starred with the Chicago White Sox from 1975-81 and the Detroit Tigers from 1982-90, finishing with a .273 batting average, 215 homers, 396 doubles and 884 runs batted in.

He was the center fielder on the Tigers' 1984 World Series championship team — making a spectacular catch to cement a Game 3 victory over the San Diego Padres — and became a favorite of eventual Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson.

“After watching Chester the last several years, I have to say without a doubt, he’s the best center fielder I’ve seen in my 31 years in the game,” Anderson said in 1984. “Chester is a Pete Rose type. He never complains. He’s always there and he plays each game as if it were the seventh game of the World Series. Chester doesn’t know any other way to play and that’s his greatest asset.

Detroit right fielder Chet Lemon takes a low-five from teammates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a home run
Detroit Tigers right fielder Chet Lemon takes a low-five from teammates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a home run on April 22, 1982, in New York. (Ray Stubblebine / Associated Press)

"Combine all that with his little-boy desire to want to play every day and it is no wonder Chester has all those fans who sit in the bleachers in the palm of his hand.”

The Tigers and White Sox both posted condolences on X.

“The Detroit Tigers join all of baseball in mourning the passing of Chet Lemon,” the Tigers statement read. “While he was a World Series champion and All-Star on the field, perhaps his biggest impact came off of it. That includes creating the Chet Lemon Foundation and dedicating much of his post-playing career to youth baseball development. Our thoughts are with Chet’s family, friends and all those he coached, mentored and inspired.”

Former Tigers catcher Lance Parrish was one of several former teammates who remembered Lemon fondly.

“Chet was the kindest of men and always had that great smile on his face,” Parrish said in a statement. “He was also a fierce competitor on the baseball field and a great teammate. I loved him like a brother.”

Detroit's Chet Lemon races to first to beat the throw after hitting a ground ball during the 1984 World Series
Detroit's Chet Lemon races to first to beat the throw after grounding to San Diego shortstop Garry Templeton during Game 3 of the World Series at Detroit's Tiger Stadium on Oct. 12, 1984. (Ron Heflin/AP)

Chester Earl Lemon was born in Jackson, Miss., on Feb. 12, 1955. He was the oldest of Ralph and Gloria Lemon's four children and the family moved to Los Angeles when Chet was a child. Fremont High was a City Section power that produced a string of major leaguers including Bob Watson, Willie Crawford, Bobby Tolan and George Hendrick under legendary coach Phil Pote.

Pote had become a scout with the A's by the time Lemon graduated from Fremont and they made him the 22nd overall pick in the June draft. Lemon hit well in the minor leagues but was a poor fielder at third base and shortstop. The A's traded him to the White Sox in 1975 while he was in triple-A.

"I was ready in 1975 but had nowhere to play," Lemon told White Sox Interactive. "I was an infielder and Oakland had guys like Sal Bando and Bert Campaneris in those positions. I had heard a lot of talk about teams being interested in me. When I found out about the deal, I thought it was a great move. I was finally going to get my chance — and in a big market as well.”

The White Sox moved Lemon to center field and he flourished, cracking the starting lineup in 1976, setting a still-standing AL record with 512 putouts in center field in 1977 and making the American League All-Star team in 1978 and '79.

“It was a great feeling to be recognized as one of the best players,” Lemon said of his All-Star selections. “What also was nice was getting to know the other guys. You realize that they are all just like you."

Lemon's best season came in 1979 when he led the AL with 44 doubles and set career highs in batting average (.318) and RBIs (86). He also led the league in a less glamorous category: hit by pitches. It was the first of four seasons he was hit more than any other batter in the league, and he was plunked 151 times during his career, ranking 25th on the all-time list.

Read more:Scout's honor: It's Phil Pote

Why? He crowded the plate.

"I don’t think I realized I was that close to the plate,” he said. “You know, I actually didn’t mind being pitched inside. I felt I could always turn on pitches. If you look at my hits, like all those doubles, I think you’ll find that I went down the left-field line in most of them."

Lemon was traded to Detroit after the 1981 season for outfielder Steve Kemp. Three years later, Lemon became an All-Star for the third time and helped the Tigers win the World Series for the first time since 1968.

“Chet Lemon is the best center fielder in the game today,” Anderson said in 1984. “He isn’t the fastest, but he’s the best at it because he works harder at it than anyone else.”

Detroit centerfielder Chet Lemon takes a fly from Terry Kennedy during the seventh inning of Game 4 of the World Series.
Detroit centerfielder Chet Lemon takes a fly from Terry Kennedy to end the Padres half of the seventh inning in Game 4 of the World Series at Tiger Stadium on Oct. 13, 1984. Detroit beat San Diego 5-2. (Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press)

Lemon continued to produce for the Tigers until 1991 when they released him at the end of spring training. Lemon noticed that it was taking him longer to recover from injuries and went to a doctor.

"I remember saying to myself, ‘Am I getting old?’ because I always took care of myself,” he said. “In spring training 1991 the Tigers discovered that I had too many red blood cells in my body. The Tigers thought the numbers they got were wrong. My stomach was always hurting. I thought maybe I had an ulcer or it was just stress. The doctors couldn’t find out what was causing it. They finally did an ultrasound and discovered that I had tiny blood clots in my portal veins.

"About 30 minutes after they discovered that, I was rushed to intensive care, hooked up to machines and given blood thinners. Not only did I have blood clots but I had too much blood and it was too thick, like a slush."

Read more:'We’re not guaranteed 3,000 at-bats.' What it's like to have a one-game MLB career

Lemon nearly died from his blood disorder, polycythemia vera, spending three months in the hospital.

“Just trying to turn over in bed was agonizing," he said. "I was being fed intravenously. I did not want to eat, I couldn’t eat. I lost about 60 or 70 pounds and was down to about 130 pounds.”

Lemon was a Jehovah's Witness and declined to receive blood transfusions. Surgery was ruled out because he was on blood thinners to prevent clots. Still, Lemon recovered and eventually coached high school baseball near his home in Apopka, Fla.

He started the Chet Lemon School of Baseball in Lake Mary, Fla. in 1993, became president of the Amateur Athletic Union district near Orlando, and from 2001 to 2008 coached at Eustis High School, leading the team to a state title in 2003.

Former Detroit player Chet Lemon is presented with a framed Tigers jersey by Willie Horton before a game on June 5, 2016
Former Detroit player Chet Lemon is presented with a framed Tigers jersey by Willie Horton before a game against the Chicago White Sox on June 5, 2016, in Detroit. Lemon was honored as part of Negro League weekend at Comerica Park. (Duane Burleson / Associated Press)

Future MLB stars Prince Fielder, Zack Greinke, Casey Kotchman, and brothers Rickie and Jemile Weeks trained under Lemon, who also established the Chet Lemon Foundation, which provides support for people affected by strokes and aphasia.

“He was a coach, a friend and a mentor who will be highly missed by many in our Central Florida baseball community,” Central Florida coach Rich Wallace told the Orlando Sentinel.

Lemon suffered strokes in recent years that left him unable to walk or talk. He attended the 40th anniversary of the Tigers' World Series title in Detroit in September 2024. He was in a wheelchair but enjoyed the reunion.

Read more:Wes Parker has fond memories of his Dodgers career, and no regrets that he ended it

"Chet was a cherished teammate and friend," former teammate and Hall of Famer Alan Trammell said in a statement. "I'm so thankful for the time we spent together last summer when the 1984 team had its 40th reunion at Comerica Park. Today is a sad day for us. He will be dearly missed."

Lemon is survived by his wife of more than 30 years, Gigi, and their daughter, Brianna. Lemon's first wife was Valerie Jones, with whom he had four children: Geneva, Chester Jr., David, and Marcus, who played 11 years of minor league baseball.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets' A.J. Minter out 10-12 months due to 'super frustrating' lat muscle surgery

The Mets will play the remainder of the 2025 season without their biggest bullpen acquisition of the winter, as veteran lefty A.J. Minter is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery next Monday to repair a torn left lat muscle that ripped entirely off the bone.

Minter has experienced a string of bad luck dating back to last summer, as he suffered a torn labrum in his left hip in August that shut him down and required a cautious ramp-up period this spring. While he made 13 appearances for the Mets in April, he threw in back-to-back games only twice. His last outing came against the Nationals on April 26.

Now, the 31-year-old southpaw is facing yet another unconventional spring training regimen in 2026. His rehab process is expected to last 10-12 months, and only time will tell how long it takes for him to completely heal and pitch at a high level for the big league club again.

"It's super frustrating, because I was starting to feel so good. I wish I knew what caused it," Minter explained before Friday's game against the Cubs. "If I had to guess, I was feeling so good that I gained so much more range of motion in my hips. It was allowing me to get a little more extension on the mound. Maybe it put more stress on my arm, I don't know.

"My velocity was increasing at a pretty rapid rate, that maybe had something to do with it. There's so many scenarios. I wish it wouldn't have happened. The frustrating thing is, I was feeling so good and excited to help this team... But now my thought process is to come back, get my body in the best shape possible, and help the team next year."

Minter signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets in January and wasted no time living up to his value. In his first month with the team, he registered a sharp 1.64 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 11 innings. He also posted one of the game's top strikeout rates (34.8 percent).

While the two-year contract does include an opt-out clause after this season, it's safe to say that the Mets don't need to think about Minter possibly exercising it anymore.

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John Henry, Craig Breslow meet with Rafael Devers in Kansas City

John Henry, Craig Breslow meet with Rafael Devers in Kansas City originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Rafael Devers’ defiant comments about a potential move to first base prompted a visit from Boston Red Sox brass before Friday’s series opener against the Kansas City Royals.

Red Sox owner John Henry, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, and president/CEO Sam Kennedy flew to Kansas City to meet with their disgruntled slugger. Manager Alex Cora joined the group as they discussed Devers calling out Breslow and the team for asking him to make another position switch.

Breslow said Henry did most of the talking during what he called a “productive” exchange.

“There were conversations. John, Sam and I flew out earlier today,” Breslow told reporters at Kauffman Stadium. “It was actually John who spoke directly with Raffy. We felt like it was important based on the situation that unfolded yesterday to come out here and have an honest conversation about what we value as an organization and what we believe is important to the Boston Red Sox. That being great teammates for each other.”

Cora echoed Breslow’s statement before Friday’s game.

“It was a good conversation,” he said. “(Devers) expressed his feelings. John (Henry) did the same thing. The most important thing here is we’re trying to accomplish something big.”

Breslow asked Devers about moving from designated hitter to first base after Boston’s everyday first baseman, Triston Casas, went down with a season-ending knee injury. With Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro as the only big-league-ready first basemen in the organization, Devers was among the most sensible options to fill the void.

Although Devers said he wouldn’t be open to playing first base, Breslow noted that the conversations with the three-time All-Star would continue.

Toro is the Red Sox’ starting first baseman for Friday’s series opener against the Royals.

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Giants' offense silenced by Chris Paddack in tough series-opening loss to Twins

Giants' offense silenced by Chris Paddack in tough series-opening loss to Twins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It took the Giants 18 batters Friday night before they picked up their first baserunner — a Christian Koss single — and that perfectly summed up their 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Twins starter Chris Paddack dominated the Giants, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning before Koss lined a solid base hit to center field with two outs in the frame.

The Giants’ only run of the game came when Matt Chapman connected for his eighth homer of the season in the seventh inning, taking Paddack deep to left.

Paddack, who hadn’t pitched beyond the fifth inning this season, allowed three hits and one earned run in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out six Giants batters.

Jordan Hicks made his eighth start of the season and he pitched well overall, but his first-inning struggles bit him again.

Hicks found himself in immediate trouble, giving up a leadoff triple to Byron Buxton to begin the game and the next batter, Trevor Larnach, brought the center fielder home with an RBI single.

Hicks settled down, giving up runs in the fourth and fifth, but the Giants’ offense couldn’t figure out Paddack, making any comeback attempt futile.

In six innings, Hicks allowed seven hits, three earned runs, while striking out six. He didn’t walk any batters, a positive sign for the 28-year-old.

But Hicks and the Giants will have to figure out how to address his first-inning woes. He entered Friday’s game with a 12.86 ERA in seven starts. He lowered that number to 12.38 after his latest outing, but he still put San Francisco in an early hole.

Overall, Hicks has a 5.82 ERA this season, and while the Giants are committed to let him start games, they might have to consider a rotation change as they compete for an NL playoff spot.

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Dodgers continue 'to bet on' Michael Conforto, but can he break unthinkable early slump?

The skill Michael Conforto has been best at this season is probably the last one he ever hoped to master.

“To be good at dealing with a slump,” the 32-year-old veteran outfielder said, “is not something that you necessarily want.”

Then again, when you’re batting .135 on the season, have a lone single in your last 40 at-bats, and have gone a month with as many as hits as double-play grounders (seven each), there’s little else for Conforto to do right now than grit his teeth, hold up his head and believe that — some day, some how — things will finally turn around.

“This game will kick you down. It will kick you when you’re down. It can be cruel,” Conforto said. “So sometimes, you just have to lean on what you know you are as a player, and all the support you have around you … and keep going straight ahead, keep working.”

Read more:Dodgers lose to Arizona in first real test in 'the best division in baseball'

Conforto was first kicked down a month ago.

After starting his season with a six-game hitting streak, and batting .308 with six extra-base knocks (including two home runs) over his first eight games, the man manager Dave Roberts deemed as his “pick to click” in the preseason instead started firing blanks.

Beginning April 6, Conforto went on a nine-game strikeout binge, fanning 13 total times in a three-for-27 stretch that erased any confidence he had built with his hot start.

Ever since, the game has kept giving him a stiff boot every time he’s tried to get his numbers back up again.

Conforto recorded three hits over six games in mid-April, only to immediately endure an 0-for-31 stretch (including 15 strikeouts) that ranked as one of the 10 longest hitless streaks in the Dodgers’ history in Los Angeles — a rut that even a few games using a torpedo bat to couldn’t snap him out of.

He rolled a single through the infield last Monday in Miami, looking to the heavens with a sigh of relief after his first hit in 10 games. But it didn’t prove to be a spark. Despite feeling better about the competitiveness of his at-bats and the quality of his contact this week, he entered Friday on another 0-for-9 skid, the cruelty of his season reaching new lows in the Dodgers’ loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.

In his first at-bat, Conforto hit a changeup on the screws, rocketing a 101-mph fly ball to deep center. The drive traveled 397 feet, the second-farthest he has hit a ball this season. But it found the deepest part of Chase Field’s ocean of an outfield, tracked down by center fielder Alek Thomas just in front of the 407-foot marker in straightaway center. He frustratedly gnawed on a piece of gum as he trotted back to the dugout.

His next time up, Conforto smoked the ball again, clobbering a 110.9-mph line drive that represented his hardest exit velocity of the season. Before he was even out of the batter’s box, however, he watched All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte climb the ladder and rob him with an athletic leaping snag, turning a ball with an expected batting average of .860 into yet another out.

After a leadoff walk in the seventh, Conforto got one more chance in the eighth. The Dodgers had a rally going, scoring twice to trim a five-run deficit to three. When he stepped in, he represented the tying run with runners on the corners and one out.

Read more:Shaikin: Agent Nez Balelo 'wouldn't do anything different' with Shohei Ohtani's $700-million deal

Though he fell behind 0-and-2, he got a good pitch to hit, finding the barrel on an inside fastball for a 95-mph grounder. But once again, Marte was there, fielding and throwing the ball in one turning motion to start a double play that ended the inning.

It was three well-struck balls, for three slump-extending outs.

“I’m definitely frustrated,” Conforto said from his locker postgame. “Happy with a couple hard-hit balls today. Frustrated to be in position to keep a rally going and not being able to beat that ball out. It’s frustrating. It makes me sick.”

Conforto’s overall numbers this season have had the same ill-inducing effect.

The Dodgers' Michael Conforto bats during a game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
The Dodgers' Michael Conforto entered Friday with a .135 batting average, the second-lowest among qualified MLB hitters. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

His .135 batting average entering Friday is the second-lowest among qualified MLB hitters, one point above Washington’s Josh Bell and 35 points worse than anyone else. His .225 slugging percentage is also next-to-last in the big leagues. His .503 OPS and negative-0.6 mark in wins above replacement rank bottom five. His whiff and strikeout rates are well below league-average.

“If I could tell you exactly why these things happen, it would be a lot easier to come out of them,” Conforto said, somewhat unsure himself of how his numbers have remained so bad for so long. “They signed me because I have good zone [discipline] and an ability to get on base and have some power and spray the ball all over the field. It’s more about just being me and not chasing results.”

Perhaps most frustrating is that Conforto has actually felt more like himself lately.

With Thursday’s performance, he has now recorded a hard-hit ball (one with an exit velocity greater than 95 mph) 14 of the last 21 times he has made contact. He has struck out only twice in his last four games, and continues to draw walks at one of the league’s best rates, his 20 free passes trailing only Shohei Ohtani for the Dodgers’ team lead.

Given the $17 million investment the Dodgers made in him this offseason, and a 10-year career track record of productive (albeit injury-plagued and often inconsistent) offense, he hasn’t been demoted to the bench yet.

Internally, the Dodgers remain hopeful he is on the verge of a rebound.

“He’s obviously way better than he’s been,” co-hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc said this week. “He’s a quality hitter. Long history of being really good. I think he’s gonna be just fine.”

Still, until the hits start falling, the mental toll of it all will only continue to mount.

“I think we’re right on the edge of getting things back,” Conforto said. “There’s just been a few of them where, you hit it [well], you look up and there’s somebody there. It just seems to happen more when you’re not going right.”

The biggest compliment Dodgers coaches have paid Conforto recently is how he’s handled this unthinkably bad start.

Van Scoyoc described Conforto, a one-time All-Star with the New York Mets whose career has tailed off since missing all of 2022 with a shoulder injury, as a “pro” who is “ready for every at-bat” and “never throws a fit” about his lack of results.

Roberts said it’s still “easy to bet on him because the head is still there, the work is still there.”

“He's just got to keep taking good at-bats, and they'll fall,” Roberts said. “A guy that's been around for so long, I think he can handle this five weeks of adversity."

If it goes on much longer, of course, it could lead to more pressing roster questions.

Read more:Hernández: Shohei Ohtani pitching this season initially felt like a luxury. Now it's a necessity

With both Conforto and third baseman Max Muncy struggling, the Dodgers have lacked much consistent left-handed-hitting depth beyond Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. If neither of them can get going over the next couple of months, it might force the club to evaluate other options as the trade deadline nears.

That’s why the coming weeks seem critical to Conforto. He’s finally hitting balls harder again. He has eliminated some of the indecision at the plate that contributed to his 14 looking strikeouts this season, 12th-most in the majors. He feels like a breakthrough is close, even as his numbers remain at all-time lows.

“Putting together better at-bats, hitting the ball hard, I’ve just got to keep going out there, keep focusing on that,” he said. “Hopefully, [I will] find a couple holes and get it rolling.”

If it doesn’t happen soon, however, it’s fair to wonder if it ever will.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Cade Horton, Clayton Kershaw & Joc Pederson

A 23-year-old flamethrower about to make his major league debut and a three-time Cy Young Award winner nearing the end. Maybe it's worth picking up both.

FANTASY BASEBALL WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS

Cade Horton (SP Cubs) - Rostered in 17% of Yahoo leagues

Needed because of Shota Imanaga’s hamstring injury, Horton is being called up to make his first major league start Saturday against the Mets. The Cubs’ first-round pick in 2022, he’ll debut after going 2-1 with a 33/13 K/BB in 29 innings over six starts for Triple-A Iowa.

Especially with his velocity up some this season, Horton has one of the best one-two punches in the minors in his mid-90s fastball and slider. He’s currently averaging 95.8 mph with his heater, up from 94.1 mph in his five starts with Iowa last year before he suffered a season-ending lat strain. Horton also possesses a curve and changeup, but he’s used his top two pitches a combined 88 percent of the time in his Triple-A outings. He might be able to get away with a similar mix his first time around the league in the majors, but he will eventually need his changeup to emerge as a factor.

Aside from that, Horton’s flaws come down to control and his flyball tendencies. The former issue should go away with experience, but the latter problem is getting worse as he continues to eschew his changeup. In Triple-A this year, Horton is sporting just a 31% groundball rate. Most of the flyballs against him haven’t been hit very hard, but major leaguer hitters are sure to fare better there.

Horton probably isn’t up for good just yet. If his performance warrants, the Cubs will certainly consider going forward with him after Imanaga returns, but even if he sticks initially, he might not show enough consistency to avoid a return trip to the International League later. I do think it’s a good idea to grab him now in mixed leagues; it’d be risky to play him against the Mets but a likely second start against the White Sox is plenty tasty. He’s not a finished product, but if he immediately gets his walk rate down in the majors -- which is something that happens now as pitchers benefit from getting away from the prying eyes of the ABS system -- he could be a difference maker.

Clayton Kershaw (SP Dodgers) - Rostered in 29% of Yahoo leagues

Are we really writing off Clayton Kershaw? How else is the future Hall of Famer still out there available in 70% of leagues a week and a half ahead of his 2025 debut?

Making his way back from foot and knee surgeries, Kershaw has already completed four minor league rehab starts. The last was supposed to be his third in Triple-A, but because of weather issues, he ended up throwing six hitless innings against hopeless 18-year-olds in the Arizona Complex League instead. In all, he’s allowed four runs in 17 innings thus far. His velocity is down about two mph from last year, but no one seems surprised by that. Most likely, he’ll have a little more zip in the majors.

Tempered expectations for Kershaw are surely warranted at this point. He’s 37, his seven starts after returning from shoulder surgery last year weren’t great and there were signs of cracks in the armor as far back as 2023. Still, betting against the greatest pitcher of his generation when he’s still toiling for baseball’s best team seems like a bad idea. Even if Kershaw is hitting harder than usual, he’s going to be in line for more wins than most while probably remaining an asset in WHIP. 70% unrostered is nuts.

Joc Pederson (DH Rangers) - Rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues

Finally pulling out of the worst stretch of his career, Pederson went 2-for-3 on Tuesday and hit his hardest ball of the season, a 109.8-mph automatic double. On Wednesday, he did it again, finishing 2-for-2 with a new hardest-hit ball of the season, a 111.7-mph automatic double. In all, Pederson has hit nine balls 100 mph in his last seven games. He did so a total of eight times in his first 25 games.

Of course, Pederson still has quite a hole to dig himself out of. He was hitting .052 and slugging .069 at one point. He’s yet to homer, and he’s somehow totaled only two RBI in 105 plate appearances. Even now, he’s hitting just .132/.240/.209. Still, he hasn’t been striking out more than usual at any point. It’s been a lack of hard contact, especially in the air, that’s been his issue, and it seems to have resolved itself. His last 50 plate appearances have produced a .364 xwOBA.

As a platoon DH with little steal ability, Pederson’s fantasy ceiling in regular 5x5 leagues is capped. Still, he was a fine contributor with his .275 average and 23 homers in Arizona last season, and he’s in another good situation on a Rangers team that has remained patient with him in the cleanup spot throughout his long slump. He’s well worth plugging in next week with the Rockies coming to town, and it should be worth sticking with him as his resurgence continues.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- For good reason, the Cubs’ Porter Hodge is the reliever everyone is stashing this week after Ryan Pressly’s meltdown. However, the Rangers’ Robert Garcia is also worth a try. Luke Jackson has inspired little confidence in Texas, and there wasn’t really any reason to expect that he would in the first place. That Garcia is a lefty works against him, but righties have hit just .248/.301/.336 against him in his career and he hasn’t given up a homer to anyone in 36 2/3 innings dating back to last Aug. 4.

- Ryan Weathers (forearm) is close to making his season debut after throwing five scoreless innings for Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. The velocity boost he experienced this spring has stuck around during his rehab stint, and though he’s in a bad situation in Miami, he might eke out some mixed-league value anyway. He’s just nine-percent rostered at the moment.