The Colorado Rockies, ranked fifth in the NL West with a 20-35 record, face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are first in the NL West with a 34-20 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -235 moneyline compared to the Colorado Rockies' +190. Starting pitchers are Kyle Freeland for Colorado, with a 7.04 ERA, and Eric Lauer for Los Angeles, with a 6.69 ERA.
How to watch Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The New York Yankees, ranked second in the AL East with a 32-22 record, face the Kansas City Royals, who are fourth in the AL Central with a 22-32 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -200 moneyline compared to the Kansas City Royals' +165. Starting pitchers are Cam Schlittler for the Yankees, with a 1.50 ERA, and Bailey Falter for the Royals, with a 9.82 ERA.
How to Watch New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals
The Cincinnati Reds, ranked fourth in the NL Central with a 28-25 record, face the New York Mets, who are fifth in the NL East with a 22-32 record. Cincinnati is favored with a -130 moneyline compared to New York's +100. Chase Burns starts for Cincinnati with a 1.83 ERA, while the Mets' starter is TBD.
BOSTON - APRIL 18: Travis Lee #38 of the New York Yankees at bat during the game against the Boston Red Sox on April 18, 2004 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. The Yankees won 7-3. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the cruelest stories sports has to offer is that of the player who seemed to have all the tools, seemed to be destined for superstardom—but their body or mind simply wouldn’t allow them. Ill-timed injuries and troubles with mental health have swallowed up the career of many a superstar over the years, and Travis Lee is a prime example. A former second-overall draft pick, Lee was a can’t-miss prospect who never rose to the superstar heights expected out of a player taken at that draft position. Injuries also overshadowed his tenure with the Yankees, which lasted just seven games at the outset of 2004.
Lee was not a bust—far from it. While he missed a lot of time throughout his career, that career still lasted over 1,000 games and nearly ten seasons between Arizona, Philadelphia, New York, and Tampa Bay. But, as he later disclosed in a 2020 interview, the battle to stay physically healthy was waged in tandem with a career-long battle with anxiety.
Travis Reynolds Lee Born: May 26, 1975 (San Diego, CA) Yankees Tenure: 2004
Travis Lee was a college superstar. At San Diego State in the mid-1990s, Lee was a two-time All-American who won the Golden Spikes Award with the Aztecs before winning an Olympic gold medal with Team USA: a 1996 season straight out of a movie. That incredible year continued when the Minnesota Twins made Lee their first-round draftee, selecting him second overall. But then, along came a plot twist.
The Olympics came at an awkward time for Lee and the Twins. They wanted to negotiate the terms of his contract, but also did not want to make the negotiations a distraction for Lee as he competed in Atlanta. While the Olympics were happening, the Twins neglected to extend a formal contract offer to Lee within 15 days of selecting him, which would make him a free agent per the collective bargaining agreement. Normally, this is the sort of rule that isn’t always followed and is almost never enforced. But when ascendant super-agent Scott Boras made Lee and his agent Jeff Moorad aware of this, the Twins had no choice but to admit they had messed up, and surrender the draft pick.
By the letter of the law, Lee was a free agent. In another bizarre twist to this saga, he would ultimately be signed by a team that didn’t even fully exist yet: the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks. They signed him to a four-year deal which would kick off when the D-backs finally had a full team to field in 1998. (This whole ordeal kicked off some heated debates about the draft’s place in baseball’s labor ecosystem, which are fascinating to revisit now.)
The Diamondbacks only had A-ball teams in 1997, so once Lee quickly surpassed the High-A level, he was loaned to the Brewers, who played him at their Triple-A team in Tucson. The next year, he made his long-awaited MLB debut, and collected the first hit—and later, the first home run—in the hist]ory of the franchise.
Lee finished third place in NL Rookie of the Year voting, behind two greats in Cubs phenom Kerry Wood and future Rockies Hall of Famer Todd Helton. Lee hit 22 home runs and finished with a .775 OPS (103 OPS+) while also proving to be an excellent defensive first baseman.
The following offseason, the Diamondbacks established themselves as a contender by signing Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, and Steve Finley. They won 100 games in 1999, but Lee did not take the big step forward that the rest of the team did. He managed just a 77 OPS+ before a lingering ankle injury sidelined him for their NLDS loss to the Mets. (Lee never did play in the postseason.)
Lee spent the first half of the following season shuttling between Triple-A and the majors, but his days in the desert were numbered. The Diamondbacks were thirsty to make another big move, and were eyeing Phillies star pitcher Curt Schilling. In late July, they pulled the trigger, acquiring Schilling for a package of Lee and pitchers Vicente Padilla, Omar Daal, and Nelson Figueroa.
In Philadelphia, Lee’s role stabilized, and he appeared in over 150 games in both of his full seasons there (2001 and 2002). He was a roughly average hitter in that span, hitting 20 homers in 2001. After finishing out his time in the City of Brotherly Love, Lee signed a one-year deal with the other 1998 expansion franchise, the Rays.
Lee’s 2003 campaign was the best of his MLB career. The lefty cut back on his strikeouts, worked more walks, and boosted his slugging percentage by over 50 points, finishing with an .807 OPS (116 OPS+), earning him a raise with a contender: the New York Yankees.
As we mentioned at the top, Lee would only wind up playing seven games with the Bombers because of a shoulder injury that required surgery. It was a shame, since the Yanks got subpar production out of first basemen that season, with Jason Giambi off his game and also missing a bunch of time due to benign tumor in his pituitary gland. Replacement/future MLBPA leader Tony Clark was fine, but ran hot and cold, all but necessitating an August trade for veteran John Olerud.
Lee’s career only lasted a few more seasons. He returned to Tampa Bay in 2005 and pieced together another decent season as a strong-side platoon bat, catching fire in the second half, before taking a step back in ‘06. The following season, he retired after a brief spring training stint with the Nationals.
Lee has enjoyed a quiet life away from baseball in the intervening years. In 2020, The Athletic’s Zach Buchanan reached out to Lee to ask him about his life since the end of his career. That was when Lee revealed to Buchanan that he had struggled his entire career with anxiety. That anxiety largely revolved around his supposed inability to play catch with teammates, a rather minor issue—but to hear him tell it, this fear of having the yips consumed a lot of his mental energy. It was also difficult to convince others that he was struggling since he remained a pristine defensive infielder.
Had Lee played in the current era of professional sports, an era in which athletes’ mental health is taken as seriously as their physical health, he may have had a longer and better career. But Lee isn’t interested in dwelling on the past. He’s enjoying his retirement as a stay-at-home dad and coach to his kids.
The more I looked into the story of Travis Lee, the more engrossed I became. His career began with an incredible draft gaffe, and an unprecedented signing with a team that didn’t even fully exist. He then pieced together a solid Major League career despite dealing with all kinds of physical and mental adversity. It’s easy to play the what-if game with a guy who may have been talented enough to become a perennial All-Star, but future perennial All-Stars become average nine-year big-leaguers all the time. And ultimately, he picked the right time to call it quits and move on. Make no mistake: this is a story of success.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
The Minnesota Twins have caught fire of late, winning six of their past eight games.
With Joe Ryan set to take the mound, my Twins vs. White Sox predictions expect the road team to pick up an important divisional win.
Let's break it all down with my MLB picks for Tuesday, May 26.
Who will win Twins vs White Sox today: Twins moneyline (-115)
Sean Burke allowed 12 earned runs over his last three starts and posted a 5.40 xFIP during that stretch.
It'll be difficult for him to get on track tonight. He's pitched much worse at home, posting a 4.15 FIP in Chicago compared to a 2.85 on the road.
He'll be tasked with slowing down a Minnesota Twins lineup that sits fifth in ISO and sixth in wOBA against right-handed pitching away from Target Field.
The Twins should do damage at the plate, and ace Joe Ryan doesn't need much run support. Back the Twins to -130.
Twins vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-115)
Isolating home games against Top-20 teams in OBP, Burke owns a 6.22 ERA, 6.41 xERA, and conceded multiple runs in four of five starts. Minnesota ranks ninth in OBP, so they fit the profile.
The Chicago White Sox don't have as strong of a matchup against Ryan, but they should still chip in their share of runs.
Ryan's indicators (FIP, xFIP, barrel rate, etc.) are worse on the road than at the pitcher-friendly Target Field, and the White Sox have scored 3+ runs against eight of the last 11 right-handed starters.
Play the Over to -125.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 18-16, -3.08
Over/Under bets: 16-17-1, -3.51 units
Twins vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Twins -115 | White Sox -105
Run line: Twins -1.5 (+150) | White Sox +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-115) | Under 7.5 (-105)
Twins vs White Sox trend
Minnesota has hit the game total Over in 24 of the last 40 games (+9.55 units, 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Twins vs. White Sox.
How to watch Twins vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
Twins.TV, CHSN
Twins starting pitcher
Joe Ryan (3-3, 3.02 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Sean Burke (2-3, 4.08 ERA)
Twins vs White Sox latest injuries
Twins vs White Sox weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 25: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 25, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There have been a lot of fun player development wins this season for the Nats. From Curtis Mead, to Keibert Ruiz and even stars like James Wood and CJ Abrams, plenty of Nats hitters are getting better. However, the most surprising development in my opinion is that Jacob Young has turned into a power hitter.
Over the first few seasons of Jacob Young’s career, fans thought they had a good idea of who he was. Young was a speedy center fielder, who plays amazing defense, but was not a good offensive player. While Young always had solid bat to ball skills and a decent approach, it was not enough to make up for his lack of power. He hit the ball on the ground a ton, and did not hit it very hard.
In his first three seasons, Young hit only 5 homers in over 1,000 at bats. Every home run from the center fielder felt like a shock. This season, Young already has 7 home runs, which is obviously a career high. That shock factor after Jacob Young’s homers is slowly going away. He has shown that he is more than capable of going deep.
Jacob Young had 5 HRs in 1000+ plate appearances over the last 3 years. He’s got 7 through 184 PAs this season.
His launch angle sweet spot has gone from the 3rd percentile last year to the 81st percentile this year.
With Young’s power surge, he is turning into an excellent player who can be more than just a 4th outfielder. His season OPS of .683 is far from elite, but it is good enough with his defense. It felt like Young started the season somewhat slowly defensively, but lately he has been making a ton of great plays, and making them look easy. Young has 8 outs above average this season, which is in the 99th percentile.
We know about JY’s defense though. Today, I want to talk about some of the changes he has made to improve his offense. The biggest one has been getting the ball off the ground. You cannot hit homers when you put the ball on the ground, and Young was doing that a lot last season. His ground ball rate in 2024 and 2025 was 56.5%, which is extremely high. This year, that number is down nearly 20 percent, to 38.8%.
Last night, Dan Kolko implied in passing that the old regime wanted Young to hit the ball on the ground to maximize his speed. As a right handed batter in the big leagues though, you are not going to get a ton of infield hits. When looking at his swing, you can see that he is hunting ground balls. Young was almost swinging directly down on the baseball last year. This season, that swing is much more level.
Who knew you could hit for more power when you aren’t swinging directly down on the baseball pic.twitter.com/YH3RoXzaCd
That plays out in the launch angle numbers as well. Young’s average launch angle has gone from 3.8 degrees to 11.1 degrees. That is a huge transformation to make in one offseason. The Nats center fielder is also swinging harder and hitting the ball harder. While some of the credit goes to the Nats new staff, Jacob Young began this process in the offseason.
He went to Driveline to try and fix his offensive game. It feels like Young has wanted to add more power for a while. Before the 2025 season, he added a bunch of muscle, but it turned out that was not the issue. His problem was his mechanics, and with the help of Driveline and the Nats hitting coaches, he has improved his mechanics a lot.
Check out Jacob Young putting in work at Driveline:
Ironically, the coach he worked with this offseason was Travis Fitta, who is now a hitting coach in the Nats organization. Fitta is the assistant hitting coach in AAA Rochester, where players like Yohandy Morales are thriving. Driveline is known more for their pitching development, but it seems like they are changing the game on the hitting side now too. Andrew Aydt, the Nats assistant hitting coach is also a Driveline product.
If these guys can turn Jacob Young into a 20 home run bat, I do not know what they can’t do. Young seemed destined to be a light hitting 4th outfielder, but the added pop has changed his outlook. It is crazy to see how much this new staff has been able to unlock in players. From Young and Curtis Mead in the majors to Seaver King and Yohandy Morales in the minors, the Nats hitting development is on point.
TEMPE, ARIZONA - MARCH 19, 2026: Braylon Doughty #27 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a pitch during the ninth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Let’s Scout the Lake County Captains!
Welcome back to my annual, unrequested article for Covering the Corner. My name is Mike, and you may have heard me on the Disgusting Baseball podcast rotation with Quincy. If not, here’s who I am.
I’ve been the “datacaster” with the Lake County Captains for 5 seasons. That means I relay pitch-by-pitch data from the ballpark to the server at Major League Baseball. That job requires two things, and affords one advantage to me with respect to scouting.
I have to pay attention to every pitch for every game I work. MLB takes the live reporting very seriously, so our accuracy is important.
I have to pay attention to every player on the roster. Wherever a player appears in this recap, rest assured I have seen this player enough times to have an informed opinion on them.
In exchange, I do get access to some information that does not get publicly shared on the game file. Those include the precise pitch location and velocity. While the client does not tag and identify pitches to me automatically, it does differentiate pitch types, and I have seen enough baseball to inform you what those pitch types are.
Without further ado, let’s break it down. I am using the roster as of May 19, 2026, to define our list (sorry, Justin Campbell fans- you will be reading about him from many people more qualified than me, rest assured). This roster is mostly derived from the MLB Draft, and it contains primarily later-round 2024 selections and higher-round 2025 selections. I will include biographical information as the team provides.
Ratings are based on a 20-80 scale, with 20 being fringe-professional and 80 being elite. Future projections are hard- I will try my best to estimate these, but development is not linear, and at High-A, these players have years ahead of them to develop.
Part 1 will cover the rotation and bullpen. In a future part 2, I will take you through the infield, including catchers. Last but not least, I will scout my favorite position group on the team, the outfield. In part 3, I will also rank this version of the roster in order.
Rotation: Braylon Doughty and The Boys
Another note before we crack into this: minor league rotations yield many kinds of pitchers, from spot-starters to mainstays to single-inning relievers. High-A is not the level for that transition, however. A number of these arms will be better suited for relief roles. Additionally, I am an optimistic evaluator, and I will sell you that vision if I can see it. It’s part of the fun! Please let me know where you land.
Doughty has a starting arsenal, a good feel for the spin, and can place most of his pitches for strikes. Doughty is not given to walking guys, but he has been willing to work outside of the strike zone more than he did in his professional debut last season. Doughty can give up his fair share of hits, despite having good enough stuff to attack the zone. He has used the sinker often, but its shape and velocity currently blends with his changeup.
Verdict: Kitchen-sink Starter (think Seth Lugo), projects to the middle of a MLB rotation. FV:50.
Franklin Gómez, LHP: 6’0”, 220, DoB 7/6/2005 (20 yrs. old), Samaná, DR (Acq. in trade w/ NYM, 2026). Four-seam Fastball: 45/45 (90-92 T94), Changeup 50/55(82-85), Cutter 45/50(86-88), Slider 45/50(79-83), Sinker 45/50(88-91), Control 60/60, Command 55/60.
Gómez is a true throwback, feel-for-pitching lefty in a system that has successfully developed pitchers like him. His five pitch mix is headlined by a changeup that separates well from his fastball offerings. The rest of the arsenal is a mix of 40-45 grade offerings that all play significantly better off each other. He works quickly, recovers from mistakes, and pitches with energy. If his fastball offerings can improve, he shows flashes that remind me of Parker Messick, albeit Gómez is significantly younger for the level.
Verdict: Swingman/ Back of rotation starter with possible upside to the middle of a rotation. FV: 40+.
Schlesinger is an interesting evaluation. He is remarkably hittable for how good his stuff is, especially at this level of competition. He strikes out well over a batter an inning, benefitting from a deceptive low three-quarters delivery and a quality breaking ball. THe low arm slot also adds run to his fastball- but the fastball comes in hot and flat. He gives up loud contact when hitters are ready for the heater, and he does not locate it consistently. His new sweeper changed my evaluation somewhat – I now think he can be a swing-man with upside to the back of the rotation. If he does not end up there, he will be a very difficult at-bat for left handed hitters in a bullpen role.
Verdict: Likely a leverage arm from the bullpen, with upside to be a swing-man/back of rotation starter. FV: 35+.
Hernandez is the most interesting of the remaining rotation arms in terms of whether they can stay starters. He has four pitches that I can identify, and none of them are particularly good for the level. He often pitches himself into trouble, but he has been allowed to work out of his own messes. When he starts, he has more success than when asked to piggy-back. I am intrigued because he has shown toughness on the mound, and he does not give in to hitters.
Verdict: He will remain in pro ball for a while. If his stuff creeps up, he may be a depth starter. FV: 35.
Garcia has thrown out his (pretty bad) changeup and moved to an arsenal that capitalizes on his great feel for spin. His slurve and slider have distinct movement patterns despite carrying similar velocity. Command is not his strong suit, but he controls his breaking balls a bit better than his heat. He is using his fastball more than he should, but his current role requires that of him. Garcia is destined for the bullpen, but the longer he can maintain his role in the rotation, the more excited you should be about his potential- it will mean those two breakers can navigate hitters of either handedness, and that they can perform when they’re not at their best.
Verdict: If you liked Scott Barlow, you will love Jogly Garcia. FV: 35.
Humphries has the ingredients to be a successful pitcher. He has a steep overhand delivery, and his fastball and changeup work well together from that release point. He changed his arsenal in 2025, throwing a cutter/slider hybrid to lefties in addition to his fastball/changeup heavy approach to righties and eschewing the curveball almost completely. Humphries simply cannot consistently command the baseball, and right now his arsenal is akin to a left-handed Eli Morgan. Humphries is a prime example of a future reliever who is in the rotation to figure out the basics.
Verdict: high-risk reliever profile with back of rotation upside if it clicks. FV:30+.
Michael Kennedy is a crafty left-handed pitcher who does not have the requisite control or command to make his pitches work. Much like Josh Hartle, who was acquired in the same trade, Kennedy relies on deception and location to get his results. He struggles to put away hitters unless he is pinpoint, and he often surrenders hard contact. Unless his command and control improve significantly, it will be difficult for him to remain in pro baseball.
Verdict: Something needs to change before you can imagine a role for him. FV: 25+.
The Bullpen, ft. Kendeglys Virguez, Cam Schuelke, and Questions
Virguez is a big-bodied righty who stands out on this pitching staff. He has a relatively conventional delivery, but explosive stuff. His slider gets great depth with little lateral movement, while his fastball gets almost no depth with exceptional run to the arm side. When he throws strikes, Virguez can dominate his innings. However, he gets fewer swings and misses than you might project. I believe this is due to the shapes of his pitches, and he may benefit from trying a different breaking ball or a true sinker in the future. When his command gets away from him, the hittable nature of his fastball causes issues.
Verdict: Keep your eye on this guy- he is someone with the stuff you want in the back of a bullpen. FV: 35+
I am almost certainly not doing Schuelke justice with the arsenal above- he throws a number of pitches from three arm slots. He goes from high three quarters to low three quarters to submarine within the same at-bat. Far from a party trick, he regularly deceives hitters with this approach, and with improved command and control, Schuelke could carve out a MLB role due to these unique traits.
Verdict: If his command holds and improves, this is a guy who can make a career out of his willingness to use new arm slots. FV: 35+.
Zsak was a relatively high pick in 2024, and the expectation was always that he would be a high-octane reliever with command issues. He has been exactly that as a professional. He will have an outing where he is untouchable, and he will usually follow that up with a bevy of walks. He reportedly threw harder as an amateur, but Zsak still generates good ride on his four-seamer and relies on it primarily.
Verdict: He has the stuff to be a bullpen arm, but he needs to show better control and live more consistently in the upper range of his velocity band to be an impact reliever. FV: 30+.
McGuire is the kind of reliever that can stick in an organization for years, and he could even develop into a middle reliever option as a pro due to his propensity to throw strikes and attack the zone. None of his pitches are anything special, but he has a frame that allows for some projection. If he can get a few more ticks up on his fastball, then I would feel much better about projecting him to the majors. For now, he is a useful organizational arm.
Verdict: I am happy to see him enter a game- the stuff needs to improve if he is going to be a big leaguer, but the control and feel for pitching are present. FV: 30+.
This one is for the short kings. Izaak Martinez is not blowing anybody away on the mound, but he is an athletic mover who shows decent command of all three offerings. His fastball is just deceptive enough to get swings and misses above the zone, and his changeup is certainly the star of the show. While Martinez is old for the level, he is skilled enough to make me feel confident that he will finish an inning he starts. I do not see a major leaguer here, but I am glad to see him enter a game.
Verdict: Martinez should be a bullpen arm in the organization for some time. FV: 30.
Cam Walty was a starter through mid-2025, but the arsenal is not deep enough for that to continue. Additionally, the stuff is just okay- he can get outs at this level, but he labors through innings on occasion. His fastball does not generate swing and miss, and the slider/cutter hybrid suffers the same fate in-zone.
Verdict: Walty needs something more in the arsenal to make it out of High-A. FV:30.
The other Martinez has a very similar mix to Izaak. He primarily works with his fastball and changeup, but he can get a bit too predictable. I do not foresee him being a major league arm at any point, and his control needs to improve to keep playing at the level.
Verdict: This Martinez also should acquit himself well in the bullpen for some years. FV: 30.
Luis Flores, LHP: 5’11”, 190, DoB 10/5/2003 (22 yrs. old), Samaná, DR (Int’l free agent, 2021). Four-seam fastball (91-95 T97): 40/40, Slider (83-86) 35/40, Control: 30/40, Command, 30/35.
Flores is a difficult evaluation. Year over year, his stuff has improved considerably, and he now has some similarities to Steven Perez. Unfortunately for him, the main differentiator here is fastball shape. Flores shows the ball early, and hitters are not fooled by his breaking pitch. The end result is loud contact, taken pitches in competitive areas outside the zone, and early identification of pitches that will be sprayed. And he sprays both of his offerings, displaying little feel for the zone.
Verdict: He is a tough watch- the whole is worse than the sum of the parts. He is young, but there is not a lot of upside here. FV: 25+.
Pay attention for analysis of the Rake County collection of hitters soon!
(Editor’s Note: We want to offer a big thank you to Mike for choosing to share his firsthand analysis of the Guardians’ High-A team with our site!)
May 19, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (29) hits the ball into play against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
On Monday night, the Washington Nationals were in Cleveland for the start of a three-game series with a Guardians who just left Philadelphia having won two out of three games while holding the Phils to just four runs.
In the first game of their series, the Nats plated 10 runs on 15 hits in their 10-2 victory. They did it against Tanner Bibee, who entered the game with an 0-7 record and a 4.57 ERA. He lasted just three innings against Washington, gave up seven earned runs on eight hits with just three strikeouts.
Washington did what you’re supposed to do with a lousy pitcher. They bullied and bloodied him.
The Phillies, meanwhile, trudged into San Diego having lost four of their last five with an unreal pitching staff but dragging an offense that has struggled mightily against, well, everyone. They entered their three game series against the Padres facing right-hander Griffin Canning, who had a 7.54 ERA in his first four starts of the season. Canning held the Phils to one run on one hit, a first inning Kyle Schwarber homer, before Brandon Marsh touched him for a two-out, two-run blast in the 7th, helping the Phillies to a 3-0 victory.
They did not bully and bloody a lousy pitcher. They made him look like a Cy Young contender. They managed just three hits off him, and have not compiled at least 10 hits in a game since Friday, May 15, in an 11-9 win against the Pirates in which they totaled 14.
That was 10 days ago.
Through the first two months of the season, Washington leads MLB in runs scored (298), while the Phillies are tied with Toronto for 22nd (216). If you look at all the numbers, you will see a Nationals team that had few expectations coming into 2026 totally outperforming the Phils’ collection of “stars.”
The Nats are outpacing the Phillies in every offensive category. It’s not even close.
But is it real?
To answer that question, ask yourself this.
Would you trade the Nationals offense/position players straight-up, right now, for the Phillies’?
It seems crazy to say out loud, but consider that the Nats appear to have young talent that the Phils could only dream of. You could argue James Wood (.939 OPS, 14 HRs) alone would be worth the swap. C.J. Abrams (.925, 12 HRs), is finally playing like an elite shortstop. Both should be starters in the NL All Star Game at the moment.
Outfielder Daylen Lile is emerging as a young star (.752) in his own right. Catcher Keibert Ruiz (.754) and Luis Garcia Jr. (.719) are starting to produce, and center fielder Jacob Young has found a power stroke he never had before, with seven bombs, 24 runs and 24 RBIs. He’s certainly been more productive than Justin Crawford thus far. And would you rather have Ruiz or J.T. Realmuto at catcher?
Washington is also getting big time production from platoon and part-time players. Curtis Mead, given up by the Phils in the Cristopher Sanchez trade to the Rays, plays first and third base for the Nats and launched two dingers on Monday night, giving him seven on the season with a very healthy .844 OPS in 136 PAs. And waiver claim Joey Wiemer is absolutely destroying left-handed pitching as a right-handed hitting outfielder, with a 1.199 OPS in 43 PAs against them. The Nats claimed him from the Giants back in January, and Wiemer made history by reaching base in each of his first eight plate appearances with the Nationals back in late March.
Wiemer is exactly the type of the player the Phils need and don’t have.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper don’t quite cancel out the production Wood and Abrams are giving the Nats, but it’s relatively close. Lile and Brandon Marsh are essentially a wash in left field, too. At some positions, the Phils have the advantage. You’ll take Bryson Stott over Nasim Nunez, whose 22 steals leads the NL but who will have a hard time staying on the field with a .188/.288/.206 slash line. And at third base, Brady House has a .681 OPS, while Alec Bohm is at .605, but rising (House was sent to AAA by Washington this week to improve his defense). By the end of the season, it’s more likely Bohm’s numbers will be better.
In my heart, I honestly do not believe Washington has a “better” offense than the Phillies. While I am a firm believer in Wood, Abrams and Lile, no one else on that roster deserves much trust yet. That’s why I would not flip the offensive rosters if I could. I truly believe, by the end of the season, the Phils’ offensive numbers will surpass the Nationals’ in most categories.
That being said, it’s hard not to be envious of what Nats fans are watching right now, at least offensively. They’re a fun, entertaining group, hitting the ball hard, playing solid fundamental baseball, and scoring a bunch of runs.
The bats are giving them a chance to win every night.
The same cannot be said of the Phillies.
On the latest Hittin’ Season podcast, powered by WHYY, we discussed this and lots more! Listen to the full podcast below!
Six hundred and fifty-plus episodes in, and the Royals Rundown Podcast is still finding new angles on Kansas City Royals baseball. Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco mark the milestone with one of the more wide-ranging conversations, from a series victory over the Seattle Mariners to a daunting date with the New York Yankees on the horizon.
The episode opens on a high note, recapping the Royals’ series win and the momentum it has generated heading into a critical stretch. Stephen Kolek is the pitching story of the week, delivering a complete game that doubles as one of the more unusual performances of the MLB season. Finishing with two or fewer strikeouts in a complete game is a feat rare enough that the hosts put it in full historical context. The bullpen’s contributions during the stretch also get their due, with the quality start metrics painting an encouraging picture of where the pitching staff stands right now.
The Yankees series preview is where the conversation takes on a sharper edge. Kansas City’s historical struggles against New York, including a 20-1 series record and a current ten-game losing streak against the club, frame a preview that is equal parts analytical and frank. With playoff positioning on the line, Jacob and Jeremy assess what winning this series would mean for the Royals’ postseason outlook and whether this roster is equipped to finally flip the script.
Pitching depth and roster construction also factor in, with a look at Noah Cameron, Seth Lugo, and Michael Wacha, who is approaching his 300th MLB start, alongside injury updates on Cole Ragans, Kris Bubic, and James McArthur. On the transaction wire, the DFA of Elias Diaz, the signing of Luke Jackson, and Tyler Tolbert’s evolving role are all addressed.
Fort Myers, FL - February 15: Boston Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow. The Red Sox held Day 6 of Spring Training at JetBlue Park on February 15, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Marcelo Mayer is now officially the Red Sox shortstop (for now, anyway) but there are a lot fewer questions about his glove than there are his bat. And when it comes to his bat, it isn’t hard to pinpoint where the issues lie: “He’s 1 for 35 since his call-up on changeups, a .029 average that is the worst in the big leagues. He’s 2 for 34 on “shadow zone” pitches near or just below the bottom of the strike zone, including 1 for 19 this season.“ (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
There have been fewer questions about Masataka Yoshida’s bat this season, but still plenty of questions about how he fits into the lineup. As a result, he has a predictably sanguine attitude about the possibility of getting traded. “It’s part of the game, right? If it happens, it happens,” he said. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
Considering the fact that the Red Sox are dead-last in the league in runs scored, we shouldn’t be focused on trading away hitters, anyway. And indeed, we are starting to hear whispers that the Red Sox are “looking for a right-handed bat” on the trade market. (Lauren Campbell, MassLive)
Any deal for big league talent would likely mean sending prospects out of the system, so it’s a good time to read up on Keith Law’s latest scouting report on a few notable Sox names. Here’s what he has to say about much-hyped 2025 draftee Kyson Witherspoon, who has struggled thus far in single-A: “If I had zero history on the guy at all, I’d say he’s a very likely reliever — he doesn’t repeat his delivery, his command is a 45 at best (on the 20-80 scouting scale) and neither the slider nor cutter is an out pitch yet. Given how much the Red Sox have changed him, however, I’m inclined to give him a lot of slack. Changing an arm action like this is a big deal and it might take him most of the year to get comfortable with it.” (Keith Law, The Athletic)
So it sounds like Witherspoon is not going to repeat Payton Tolle’s feat of breaking into the big leagues in his very first season of pro ball. That’s not at all a knock on Witherspoon, as (a) almost no one does that, and (b) Tolle just seems to be an amazing person all around, as evidenced by the fact that he seeks out autographs from just about everyone he meets. “The biggest thing right now is just appreciating where I’m at. Being a part of this organization — it sounds cliché, but it’s an honor.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - APRIL 18, 2026: Ryan Clifford #20 of the Syracuse Mets is congratulated as he walks through the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of the first game of a doubleheader against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders at NBT Bank Stadium on April 18, 2026 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Leah King/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Ryan Clifford has now appeared in 350 games as a member of the Mets organization since being traded here on August 1, 2023 along with Drew Gilbert in exchange for Justin Verlander and cash considerations. Over that period of time, which has seen him play 63 games for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones, 204 games with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies, and 83 games with the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, he has struck out 431 times. He is currently leading the minor league system in strikeouts, tallied the second-most in 2025, and had the third-most in 2024.
Since 2021, when the current iteration of minor league baseball began, Jaylen Palmer has more strikeouts than anybody else in the organization, with 609 punchouts and counting- and if you add his strikeouts from his time in the Chicago White Sox organization last season, that total increases to by 154 to a whopping 763. Scrolling down the list, Ryan Clifford’s name comes in at seventh, tied with Wyatt Young, with 431 strikeouts.
Although he may have catastrophic contact and swing & miss issues, Clifford also recoups some of that value by drawing a large number of walks and displaying in-game power, something very few of the organizational strikeout leaders since 2021 have.
Channing Austin
Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (High-A)
Channing Austin is enjoying an excellent season. In eight games now, he has a 1.17 ERA in 38.1 innings, with 20 hits allowed, 22 walks, and 48 strikeouts. Quickly scanning the surface stats, I was a bit worried that the right-hander would have home/road splits; Maimonides Park (FKA Keyspan Park until 2009 and MCU Park until 2021) has a habit of making some very pedestrian pitchers look like aces.
Last season, the Cyclones had the second-best ERA in the South Atlantic League (3.30), with Noah Hall leading the way with a 2.72 ERA. In 2024, they had the sixth-best ERA (3.94), with Jonah Tong posting the best ERA on the team (3.71). In 2023, they had the second-best ERA (3.72), with Tyler Stuart leading the charge (1.55). In 2022, they had the second-best ERA, with Nick Zwack posting the best (1.84). And in 2021, as members of the “High-A East”, the Cyclones were fifth-best in the league (4.51), with Justin Lasko having the best individual season (2.81).
Sure enough, Channing Austin does have some somewhat noticeable home/road concerns. In 15.2 innings at home, thrown over 3 starts, the right-hander has a 1.15 ERA, with 5 hits allowed, 7 walks, and 18 strikeouts. On the road, he has a 1.19 ERA in 22.2 innings thrown over 5 starts, with 15 hits allowed, 15 walks, and 30 strikeouts. While the earned runs allowed and strikeout numbers are roughly the same, which is good, the amount of hits allowed and the number of walks issued balloon on the road, as opposed to at home. Opposing batters are hitting .094/.200/.170 against him with a .118 BABIP while at home and .188/.327/.250 with a .294 BABIP on the road.
Pulling back the microscope from home/away splits and looking at his overall body of work, again, there are a lot of red flags of concern. A .221 BABIP is not realistically sustainable. An 89.2% LOB%, also not realistically sustainable. A 2.9% HR/FB%? Same thing. With a 39.3% groundball rate and 40.5% flyball rate, hits will start landing.
Brooklyn has habit of making players without premium stuff look like studs. The 2019 NY-Penn champions were led by Garrison Bryant, who posted a 2.39 ERA in 75.1 innings, allowing 49 hits, walking 14, and striking out 75. The year before, Jaison Vilera posted a 1.82 ERA in 73.2 innings with 50 hits allowed, 22 walks, and 78 strikeouts. Harol Gonzalez nearly won the New York-Penn League Triple Crown in 2016 with a 7-3 record, 2.01 ERA and 88 strikeouts. Shifting focus to a player who eventually made the majors, Corey Oswalt posted a 2.26 ERA in 67.2 innings with 55 hits allowed, 15 walks, and 59 strikeouts. Seeing a pattern here? That’s not to say that good pitchers haven’t passed through Coney Island and dominated, but the stadium (and at times, the league) has had a habit of hiding the flaws of players who otherwise weren’t equipped to progress to the top of the mountain of professional baseball.
The 24-year-old Channing does not have premium stuff. His fastball is a solidly average-to-above-average pitch in a vacuum, possessing above-average velocity and flashing above-average induced vertical break readings in the past; the pitch plays down however because of his poor command of the pitch. The same can be said of his slider and curveball, both of which are fringe-average-to-average pitches, also play down because of the poor command. His changeup, which is a decidedly below-average pitch? You guessed it.
You can’t take away what the Brooklyn native has done so far: two months in, roughly one-third of the 2026 season, he’s posted incredible surface numbers. It would be great if that train keeps on rolling, but the totality of the evidence suggests that it probably won’t.
More so than any other American sport, Major League Baseball stadiums have their own characteristics.
One of the biggest variations in ballparks is capacity, with the league's 2026 stadiums ranging from 56,000 (Dodger Stadium) all the way down to 13,416 (A's). While the Athletics' temporary home in Sacramento is in fact a minor league stadium, the team's new stadium in Las Vegas is expected to have a capacity of about 33,000 – which would be the second-smallest in the game.
More than two-thirds of MLB stadiums have a capacity of more than 40,000, while the league's three newest stadiums — Globe Life Field (Rangers), Truist Park (Braves) and loanDepot Park (Marlins) all rank in the lower half for capacity.
In addition to the Athletics' new home in Las Vegas, the Tampa Bay Rays are expected to have a new stadium built perhaps by Opening Day in 2029, which will likely have the lowest capacity of any stadium in the game.
Here's a look at 2026 MLB stadiums ranked by capacity:
The Boston Red Sox offense has been wildly inconsistent, and things don't get any easier against Spencer Strider and the Atlanta Braves.
Boston's struggles won't be undone with Ranger Suarez on the mound, but that does help our Braves vs. Red Sox predictions land squarely on the Under and the Atlanta moneyline in our MLB picks for Tuesday, May 26.
Who will win Braves vs Red Sox today: Braves moneyline (-102)
I don't care if Ranger Suarez has been the best Boston Red Sox starting pitcher in 2026; getting the Atlanta Braves at anything close to even money is too good to pass up.
This is especially the case with Spencer Strider starting for Atlanta. Now, Strider isn't quite pitching at his peak as he continues working his way back from myriad injuries, but the Red Sox lineup is a soft landing for him to build upon some encouraging results.
Boston is batting .253 in May, but that's inflated due to a .313 BABIP. The Red Sox haven't cashed those runners in with any consistency, either, scoring just 71 runs in the month (28th in MLB).
Strider limited the Red Sox to one run over 5 1/3 innings two starts ago, and Atlanta's bullpen grades out as one of baseball's best, with a 3.07 ERA.
Even with Drake Baldwin sidelined, I would play the Braves to -125, as Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies have both handled left-handed pitchers well this season, and both Austin Riley and Ronald Acuna Jr. have historically fared better vs. southpaws than their current wRC+ numbers indicate.
COVERS INTEL: Post-injury, Strider still maintains 95th-percentile ranks in Whiff% and xBA. Expect his elite swing-and-miss stuff to anchor both the Braves ML and Under 8.5.
Braves vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-113)
While I like the Braves to win straight up, this has the makings of a pitcher's duel.
Even if brighter days are ahead for Riley and Acuna against left-handers, Suarez limits damage. The lefty has surrendered one earned run across his last 21 2/3 innings, and even if his outing is brief (as has become something of a custom for him), the Boston bullpen — similar to Atlanta's — has done an excellent job at run suppression this season.
Since April 11, Suarez is 2-1 with a 1.12 ERA and a 2.41 expected ERA. Even against the Braves' vaunted offense, which lacks Baldwin's stable presence in the middle of the lineup, expecting a massive offensive output is foolish.
Paired with Boston's own issues with run production, and I'd happily play the Under 8.5 to -140. If you can get the Under 7.5 at plus money, I'd strongly consider that, too.
Jason Wilson's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 1-0, +0.67 units
Over/Under bets: 1-0, +1.05 units
Braves vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Braves -104 | Red Sox +100
Run line: Braves -1.5 (+156) | Red Sox +1.5 (-163)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+108) | Under 8.5 (-117)
Braves vs Red Sox trend
The Braves have cashed the moneyline in 35 of their last 50 away games for +21.00 units and a 34% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Braves vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
First pitch
6:45 p.m. ET
TV
TBS
Braves starting pitcher
Spencer Strider (2-0, 3.00 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez (2-2, 2.40 ERA)
Braves vs Red Sox latest injuries
Braves vs Red Sox weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Jojo Romero #59 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Athletics during the seveth inning at Sutter Health Park on May 14, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yes, it is still May. Yes, you are reading a trade deadline article. Some say you really should wait until the dust settles on the first half of the season before debating what a team will do at the deadline. I am not one of those people.
What do the Guardians have to offer?
Well, the Guardians have, by most outlets, a top 5 farm system. Even with the graduation of a top 40 prospect (Chase DeLauter) and the imminent graduation of a top 20 one (Travis Bazzana), the Guardians still have three top-100 prospects per MLB Pipeline. That is either as many or more top-100 prospects than 17 MLB teams. That is, of course, not accounting for helium candidates who could very well crack the top 100 within the Guardians farm system this season (Caceres, Watson, Doughty, Campbell). Nor is it accounting for the rising of already top-100-ranked prospects like Velazquez and Ingle, who should both crack the top 50 on MLB Pipeline by their next update. The former, however, is much more likely to crack the top 30 than stay outside the top 50. This is all to say that the Guardians’ system is loaded. They could very easily do whatever they want to at this deadline.
Why this year?
A wonderful question. It is very fair to curb your enthusiasm with the deadline by wondering why this year will finally be the year the Guardians make a splash at the deadline. Well, I’m full of optimism and whimsy and would love to share some of that onto with you. (If you’ve listened to the Disgusting Baseball podcast you’ll know what I’m about to say) The Guardians’ front office is not acting in the ways we’ve all become accustomed to. They’re being aggressive with prospect promotions: Delauter on the OD roster and batting 2nd in the OD lineup, Bazzana called up in April, Velazquez promoted from Akron to Columbus after 36 games. They sent Bo to Arizona a little over a month into the season and immediately traded for a 3x Gold-Glove winner in Bailey. There is nothing that suggests the Guardians aren’t going to be aggressive all year (internally), but I’m pretty confident they’ll be aggressive at the deadline too. (Author’s note: As I was editing this article, the Guardians decided to move Bazzana up to the leadoff spot. Another aggressive move!)
What do the Guardians need?
Well, like most teams, there are a few holes needing to be filled. You may feel inclined to argue with me over some of these assertations, I would ask that you not. I am almost always right and do not appreciate criticism. Kidding! Okay, so the first thing I think they might go after is a starting pitcher. Yes, the rotation has been fantastic (6th in MLB in ERA, 12th in FIP, 9th in K-BB%). Parker Messick and Gavin Williams both look to be bonafide Game 1 starters. But, Bibee has been somewhat shaky (albeit better with Bailey), Cantillo has command issues that could cause an implosion, and Slade is, brutely, not good enough to start a playoff game. Who might be available? Let’s get into that.
SP Trade Candidates (work in progress)
Sonny Gray, BOS (3.27 ERA, 3.66 FIP)
Gray is one of those reliable vets who can give you a good five and fly in a playoff series. He is owed $31M ($20M of which Boston received in the trade) and has a $10M buyout for 2027, so it would require some money invested but that should be possible.
Tarik Skubal, DET (2.70 ERA, 2.10 FIP)
This is mostly a joke. Mostly. But, the Tigers are in freefall. Skubal is a free agent next year, and is making north of $30m this year. There are a laundry list of reasons why this will never happen, chiefly that the Guardians never make landmark trades within the AL Central and this would be nigh impossible for the Tigers to sell to their fans, regardless whom they got back. But, Skubal talks about how much he appreciates Cleveland’s fans all the time and he owes us a trade demand because he hit Fry in the face, right? Right??!!
The bullpen, however, is the much more pressing concern. Although it’s been better recently with the stabilization of Cade Smith and the emergence of Colin Holderman, the Guardians could really use another power lefty (especially with Sabrowski’s injury). They could also, just in general, use another leverage reliever. Who might be available, you ask?
RP Trade Candidates
LHRP Jojo Romero, STL (3.04 ERA, 4.24 FIP)
Romero has been markedly worse this year than he was last year and in 2023. His sweeper usage is down from last year, and his feel for the pitch is a little shaky. His sinker command has been exceptional, however, which should be a good building block for the Guardians. I’m pretty confident that he’s just a few tweaks away from being a stalwart reliever again, and this presents a fantastic buy-low opportunity for the Guardians.
LHRP Brooks Raley, NYM (1.40 ERA, 2.79 FIP)
Raley has been consistently good every year since 2022. Although he has been affected by some injuries in both 2024 and 2025 with New York, he’s still been good. He’s a rental (yay) and old (double-yay), so his price should not be exorbitantly high.
(Author’s note: Hello, me again. These next two are simply being advocated for from a baseball standpoint. I do not condone their past behavior)
Hader’s a fun one. I have no idea what Houston will do at this deadline (but I do have a very fun trade candidate who shares a clubhouse with Hader later on in the article), but Hader seems like he could realistically be traded. He’s on the third year of a 5y/$95m contract, and hasn’t pitched yet. He is slated to make a few more rehab appearances in MiLB before his activation of the 60-day, per Chandler Rome of The Athletic. He’s been one of the best, if not the best, left-handed reliever in baseball since his debut. He could easily take over the closer role from Cade, and Cade could go back to being the all-world fireman that he was in his rookie season. Win-win.
LHRP Aroldis Chapman, BOS (0.51 ERA, 1.85 FIP)
(Editor’s Note: We rarely take an official site position on something, but CtC opposes the idea of acquiring Chapman. Please, NO).
RHRP Garrett Whitlock, BOS (2.79 ERA, 2.89 FIP)
Not a lefty, but Whitlock is an elite reliever. He ranks in the 85th percentile or above in Chase%, K%, and Hard-Hit%. He’s 29 and on the last year of a 4-year extension with the Red Sox. He has club options for 2027 and 2028 at $8.25m and $10.5m, respectively.
RHRP Bryan Abreu, HOU (career 2.86 ERA, 3.21 FIP)
Another Astro! Abreu has, since 2022, been a lockdown leverage guy. From 2022-2025, he had a 2.30 ERA and a 2.79 FIP, pitching 70 innings 3 times. This year has been atrocious for him. His walk rate has ballooned from a career 4.35 BB/9 mark to 10.69 this year. He seems to be cutting his fastball more this year, which has led to an extremely high xwOBA allowed, and a whiff rate that is 12% less than it was last year. Another somewhat reasonable buy-low and hopefully easy-fix reliever. Although, unlike most other organizations, the Astros are probably much less likely to sell low on a pitcher. But, we’ll see.
Onto the (limited) position player candidates. You can always add on hitters at the deadline, especially when you’re the Guardians. The offense has been much better this year than in year’s past, but you can always improve. Let’s start with a fun one.
Yes, this is unrealistic. But, the Guardians appear to be in contention mode and they have all the pieces to make a trade for Alvarez viable. He hasn’t just sneakily been the best hitter in baseball. His xwOBA is 60 (SIX-ZERO) (SIXTY) points higher than the next best hitter. He’s a monster at the plate, and an at worst top 5 hitter in baseball when healthy. He has a career 156 wRC+ in the postseason (7th all-time, min. 150 PA). He’s a monster. He immediately takes you from contender to odds-on pennant favorite. There are not enough positive things that I can say about Alvarez. There are, however, some concerns. He has a somewhat lengthy injury history, which is especially notable considering he’s transitioned into almost a full-time DH. He has played some outfield in the last two years, but I think the Guardians should never play him in the field. He’s a bad defender, even in Houston’s little-league LF. He should really only see the field on days in which Jose *has* to DH. It’s not a perfect fit, but you can move some pieces from your MLB roster (Manzardo, Hoskins) to free up the DH role most days.
For what it’s worth, I really wanted us to get Contreras last offseason. He filled a lot of the holes on this roster that existed at the time, and would’ve been a perfect clean-up hitter. He’s a RHH 1B/DH (who used to catch but doesn’t at this point) who destroys the ball. Is he also a cranky player who occassionally trucks the opposition’s catcher? Yes.
Normally, I’d have more hitters on this list, but the number of productive RHH who would also be feasibly available at the deadline is pretty small, even for being at this point in the season. However, given where the Guardians are at right now, I think that their needs lean more heavily toward relief pitching than offense. They have, theoretically, all the bats you need at all the positions of need in the minors. If Manzardo keeps hitting the way he’s been hitting in the month of May and if Fry and Hoskins keep being productive, there might not be a need for an impact right-handed bat at the deadline.
TULSA, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Kendall George #1 of the Tulsa Drillers takes a lead off first base during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here’s a recap of Sunday and Monday in the minor leagues, including Double-A Tulsa opting to play on Memorial Day for the first Monday game of the season among Dodgers affiliates.
Easton Shelton, first baseman for the Class-A Ontario Tower Buzzers, powered his way to winning California League player of the week. Shelton had at least one hit, one RBI, and one run scored in all seven games last week at Inland Empire (they played a doubleheader on Wednesday), and hit .419/.424/.774 with three home runs, two doubles, 12 runs batted in, and 12 runs scored.
— Ontario Tower Buzzers (@towerbuzzers) May 20, 2026
Shelton, who signed out of high school as a non-drafted free agent in 2023, has scored in each of his last 11 games and driven in a run in eight straight contests. The 20-year-old is hitting .267/.337/.547 with a 111 wRC+ this year, and leads Ontario in home runs (10), RBI (38), and runs scored (33).
Player of the day
Ontario second baseman Kellon Lindsey had five hits, including a triple and double for Class-A Ontario. He scored four runs and drove in a pair from the leadoff spot. In seven games since returning from the injured list, the former first-round pick is 15 for 33 (.455/.486/.727).
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Tyler Fitzgerald hit a three-run home run in the first inning, helping the Comets to a Sunday win over the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks). It was the second home run in three days for Fitzgerald, who since getting acquired by the Dodgers has started seven games in left field, two at third base, two at second base, two at designated hitter, and one apiece at shortstop and right field.
Ryan Fitzgerald, playing first base on Sunday, doubled and scored in the win.
Carlos Duran pitched two scoreless innings of relief to earn the win.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers lost on Sunday to the Wichita Wind Surge (Twins), but rebounded with a Memorial Day rout of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals).
Tulsa scored seven runs in both the first and second innings on Monday. Sean McLain, who tripled and homered in Sunday’s loss, hit a grand slam in the first inning on Monday.
George came out of the game after that, replaced in center field by Chris Newell.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons’ Sunday home series finale against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers) was postponed by rain.
No makeup date has yet been announced. The only time these two teams meet again this season is June 9-14, but that’s at Wisconsin.
Class-A Ontario
Chase Harlan homered twice and drove in five runs in the Tower Buzzers’ Sunday rout of the Inland Empire 66ers (Mariners).
Harlan hit a solo shot in the fourth inning and a two-run homer in the eighth inning. He also had a sacrifice fly and RBI single in his three-hit game. The 19-year-old, drafted by the Dodgers in the third round in 2024, is hitting .333/.460/.507 with a 149 wRC+ this season with nearly as many walks (team-leading 31) as strikeouts (33).
Cam Leiter struck out five in his two scoreless innings. He has 27 strikeouts and five walks in his first 17 innings as a pro this year.
Transactions
Double-A: Right-hander Antonio Knowles demoted to Tulsa from Oklahoma City. Catcher/infielder Bryan Garcia was sent back to the Arizona Complex League after two games active for Tulsa, during which time he did not play
High-A: Right-hander Robby Porco promoted from Ontario to Great Lakes.
Class-A: Right-hander Accimias Morales sent back to Ontario after 18 walks, 10 strikeouts, and eight runs allowed in eight innings for Great Lakes.
COVERS INTEL:
