A quick perusal of some niche MLB stats yields this quirky nugget – Brett Baty of the Mets sits in excellent company when it comes to results on the first pitch of an at-bat.
Baty is 15-for-28 when he hits the first pitch, a .536 batting average. In this slice of baseball life, Baty ranks fourth in the majors behind Kyle Schwarber (.583) and CJ Abrams and Nick Kurtz (.556 each). Old pal Brandon Nimmo is fifth at .513.
To get a window into the craft of hitting, we asked Baty why he thought he’s had such success on the first pitch:
“I think it’s just being aggressive to stuff that I’m looking for and, if it shows up early, then hunt it,” Baty said. “Obviously, we do our homework and we know what the pitcher’s got, but I think it’s just about being aggressive on pitches in the zone and trying to hit the ball hard.”
On the first pitch this season, Baty also has a 1.355 OPS. He’s got two doubles, two home runs, and 10 RBI. Entering Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs at Citi Field, Baty is batting .220 with a .606 OPS overall.
In his career, Baty is a .417 hitter on the first pitch with eight home runs in 123 plate appearances that have ended on the first pitch.
Asked if there were any of his first-pitch hits this year that were particularly memorable, Baty pointed to an at-bat early in the Mets’ 16-7 victory in 12 innings in Washington on May 18 where he “sold out” for a fastball. He was leading off the fourth inning with the Mets trailing, 3-1, against Nationals righty Jake Irvin.
“I was gonna look really silly if it was a curveball or changeup or anything,” Baty said. “I just completely sold out to the heater and it showed up in the window I was looking for and I hit it pretty hard. I was hunting in a certain area.”
Irvin threw a 92.7 mile-per-hour fastball and Baty hit the second-longest home run of his career, a 451-foot shot to center field that landed near a dumpster beyond the wall. It was clocked at 111.2 mph off the bat. Not surprisingly, the ball had an expected batting average of 1.000 and would have been a homer in all 30 MLB parks, according to Statcast.
On the television broadcast that day, Gary Cohen noted that Baty had hit the first 35 home runs of his career against 35 different pitchers. When Baty hit No. 36, Irvin became the first pitcher to give up multiple homers to Baty.
Baty did not realize he was among baseball’s leaders in average on the first pitch. But he was curious about some of the other names on the list. When told that Schwarber, the Phillies’ slugger who leads MLB with 29 home runs, was atop the category, Baty smiled and said, “Of course he is – he’s raking.”
Baty’s former Met teammate, Nimmo, hit a ninth-inning triple on the first pitch of an at-bat on Tuesday, bringing him to 20-for-39 on the first pitch. Nimmo has eight doubles, two triples and two homers on the first pitch this year.
“What’s interesting about Nimmo is that he’s normally viewed as a kind of work-the-count, patient guy, right?” Baty said. “It’d be interesting to ask him if he’s doing anything differently.”
Whatever the case, connecting on the initial offering can be good business for hitters, even in this work-the-count age. So far this season, MLB hitters are batting .334 with a .912 OPS on the first pitch.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 22: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at loanDepot park on June 22, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Sam Navarro/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
Right handed pitcher AJ Russell, who the Rangers drafted in the second round last year, has been promoted to Hub City.
Jack Leiter has undergone surgery to remove the os trigonometry bone and the Rangers are confident he will return to the mound this year. The Rangers’ previous experiences with this surgery haven’t had such speedy recoveries, though.
The Rangers don’t really have a clear replacement to step into Leiter’s spot in the rotation.
Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery are still several weeks away from returning to the rotation.
The three starting pitching prospects on the 40 man roster have not had particularly good starts to the 2026 season.
Corey Seager’s return from the concussion protocol is unlikely before Thursday due to today’s early game against the Marlins.
SAN FRANCISCO — Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof’s 24-game hitting streak came to a quick and painful end Tuesday night.
Gelof flied out to right as the leadoff hitter in the Athletics’ 3-1 loss to San Francisco. In the second inning, the Giants’ Matt Chapman hit a liner off the left-field wall to bring home Willy Adames and give San Francisco a 2-0 lead.
Chapman tried for a double, but the throw from Tyler Soderstrom in left field to Gelof was in time to nail Chapman. But Chapman inadvertently stepped on Gelof’s right hand as the second baseman was applying the tag with his glove hand.
Gelof quickly left the field in obvious pain — ending his night and his streak.
He was unavailable for comment after the game, but manager Mark Kotsay said X-rays were negative and Gelof did not need stitches.
Gelof’s hitting streak matched the longest in the majors in the past two seasons, joining Arizona’s Ildemaro Vargas. It’s also the seventh longest in Athletics franchise history and the second longest since the club moved to California in 1968. Jason Giambi had a 25-game hitting streak in 1997.
Gelof also had his on-base streak of 27 games end, along with a streak of scoring in 13 consecutive games.
The Athletics selected Gelof from the University of Virginia in the second round of the 2021 draft. He had a strong rookie season in 2023, batting .267 with 14 homers in 69 games. He struggled the next two seasons, hitting .211 with 188 strikeouts in 2024 and batting .174 last year, when injuries limited him to 30 games.
Gelof is hitting .282 this season. Before Tuesday’s game, Kotsay said one reason for Gelof’s resurgence was a change in his bat-angle approach to the baseball.
“We’re seeing a player that resembles the guy that came up and really excited us about (his) future,” Kotsay said. “The confidence that he has continues to grow and you see it out there on the baseball field.”
Also on Tuesday, Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, ending a 22-game on-base streak.
The Detroit Tigers are -145 favorites in their series finale against the New York Yankees.
With Tarik Skubal on the mound, my Yankees vs. Tigers predictions and MLB picks are backing the home team to come out on top in the rubber match.
Who will win Yankees vs Tigers today: Tigers (-145)
Ryan Weathers has allowed at least five runs in four of his past six starts, conceding 10 homers along the way. Only once did he avoid a longball during that stretch.
The Detroit Tigersrank 15th in ISO against left-handed pitching, so they have enough power to cause problems for Weathers.
Tarik Skubal owns a sparkling 2.74 xFIP on the season and has effectively limited walks and homers. While the New York Yankees generally excel against lefties, they’re missing a lot of key bats due to injury.
Expect Skubal to capitalize and back the Tigers to -150.
Yankees vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Over 7.0 (-120)
This total is half a run too low.
Homers are a great way to get chunk production, and Weathers is having a miserable time limiting them.
The Tigers rank eighth in ISO and first in flyball rate against lefties in June, so they’re well equipped to put Weathers’ home-run struggles to the test.
Skubal is one of the marquee pitchers in the sport, but he hasn’t been as effective this season while fighting injuries — understandably so.
Temperatures are expected to hover around 70 degrees with winds blowing in close to 10 mph. The weather favors the pitchers slightly, but the weather shouldn't be very impactful.
Yankees vs Tigers odds
Moneyline: Yankees +125 | Tigers -145
Run line: Yankees +1.5 (-170) | Tigers -1.5 (+145)
Over/Under: Over 7.0 (-120) | Under 7.0 (+100)
Yankees vs Tigers trend
Detroit owns a 22-17 record on home soil this season. Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Tigers.
How to watch Yankees vs Tigers and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers (2-5, 4.13 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal (3-3, 3.02 ERA)
Yankees vs Tigers latest injuries
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.
Stop me if you are getting tired of that headline. PCA has been on an unbelievable tear. Sammy Sosa, Derrek Lee, maybe Kris Bryant? Maybe Andre Dawson? How many Cubs have we seen have a run like this? Sammy is the most obvious, but I remember each of the other recent Cub MVPs having their stretches of dominance. With all due respect to the late Ryne Sandberg, his excellence was different. More relentless than flat domination.
PCA has a 1.327 OPS over his 24-game on-base streak. I believe Sammy Sosa’s June 1998 is the gold standard for the modern Cubs. He had a 198 wRC+ and 1.173 OPS. PCA is sitting at 282 and 1.434. There is just under a week to go and a doubleheader in there. This is some kind of hot streak.
One last thing in this PCA appreciation post. Yes, it’s silly that the haters are not voting PCA into the All-Stars. Also yes, his peers and NL coaches will vote him onto the team. I’d rather be the guy the players want to watch than the guys the fans want to watch. Does anyone really care that he might get one or two fewer plate appearances? He’s an All-Star. And he’s going to receive MVP votes again. I couldn’t really care less what the fans of other teams think about him. I assure you virtually all of them would love him if he was on their team.
As to the Cubs, you know where I am. They win these games. An opposing starter struggled and everyone ran to the bat rack and they piled on runs. They are good at those. They are good when the other bullpen blows up. They aren’t very good otherwise. Winning is fun. Scoring nine is fun. Crooked number innings are fun. I enjoyed this one.
The Cubs pitched relatively well before the garbage time of the ninth inning. Jayden Murray facing six batters, striking out two, allowing two hits and three runs was crazy. I hope they can find whatever they think they see. Of course, the bigger story is the same old story there. Edward Cabrera leaves with an injury. It’s a hamstring/adductor injury. We won’t see much (any?) of Cabrera the rest of the season. Matthew Boyd hopefully replaces Cabrera. But that’s a shame when you hoped Boyd would be an add and not a replace.
Of all the things I hate most being right about, it is that the Cubs got through 2025 relatively healthy. The injuries they had were headliners, so you remember them. But they had relatively few secondary injuries. They are being ravaged by them this year and they are particularly concentrated on the pitching staff, having a significant compounding effect. Somehow, this team is more or less on the trajectory that was expected before the season.
Today is a big day. Definitely don’t lose two. It’s a PCA world and we are all just living in it.
Three Positives:
Dansby Swanson actually had the biggest day. Two hits, a homer and a double. A sacrifice fly. Four runs driven in. Pray he’s turned a corner.
Pete Crow-Armstrong. Superstar. Just one hit, but two more walks. Oh and the one hit was a three-run homer. After three straight Cubs didn’t get a hit with RISP, he got a three-run homer. And hey, the Cubs did score two runs on the three not hits with RISP (walk and sac fly).
Carson Kelly stays hot. A hit, two walks, two runs driven in, three runs scored. The Cubs had eight hits, but drew seven walks and had a hit batter. Near constant pressure.
Game 78, June 23: Cubs 9, Mets 6 (41-37)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.174). 1-3, HR, 2 BB, 3 RBI, R
Hero: Carson Kelly (.123). 1-2, 2B, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 3 R
Sidekick: Dansby Swanson (.108). 2-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.082). 1-4, 2B, R
Goat: Michael Busch (-.031). 0-4, BB
Kid: Alex Bregman (-.029). 0-5
Jayden Murray’s ninth inning was in a no leverage situation and didn’t affect WPA.
WPA Play of the Game: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s three-run homer with two outs in the second gave the Cubs a five run lead. (.187)
Cubs Play of the Game: Francisco Alvarez’ two out single with the bases loaded cut a five-run Cub lead to three. (.106)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 77 Winner: Colin Rea 66-55 over PCA (135 votes)
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch +20
Pete Crow-Armstrong +19
Ben Brown +13.5
Carson Kelly +12.5
Michael Conforto +9
Edward Cabrera -9.5
Phil Maton/Dansby Swanson -10
Caleb Thielbar -13
Seiya Suzuki -19.5
Up Next: A double header Wednesday. Shōta Imanaga will start one of the games and Javier Assad the other. They’ll face Nolan McLean and Sean Manaea for the Mets.
The Atlanta Braves are -130 favorites to snap their three-game losing streak on Wednesday, June 24.
My Braves vs. Padres predictions and MLB picks see plenty of value in backing Atlanta in a low-scoring affair against one of the league's worst offenses.
Who will win Braves vs Padres today: Braves moneyline (-135)
The Padres own a league-worst .285 OBP against left-handed pitching. They don’t hit for average, they don’t draw walks, and they lack power to cash in even when able to generate traffic.
Martin Perez has conceded two runs or fewer in 11 of 14 starts, and this is a great spot for him to do so again.
While the Braves possess a lot of power vs. lefties, they sit 19th in OBP. They are also playing in one of the more pitcher-friendly ballparks in baseball, which could take away from some of their home run potential.
Play the Under to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 40-29, +3.0 units
Over/Under bets: 36-29-4, +3.59 units
Braves vs Padres weather
Temperatures are expected to hover in the low 70s with wind blowing side-to-side. No real boost for hitters or pitchers.
Braves vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Braves -130 | Padres +110
Run line: Braves -1.5 (+130) | Padres +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Braves vs Padres trend
San Diego has hit the Under in 16 of its last 23 home games (+8.35 units, 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Padres.
How to watch Braves vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
8:40 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, Padres.TV
Braves starting pitcher
Martin Perez (6-3, 2.78 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
JP Sears (2025: 2-2, 5.47 ERA)
Braves vs Padres latest injuries
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.
Who will win Guardians vs White Sox today: White Sox moneyline (+102)
The Cleveland Guardians head into the finale in the midst of a three-game losing streak, and Tanner Bibee's recent form concerns.
The right-hander has a 4.81 FIP over his last two startswhile allowing 2.19 HR/9. That's a recipe for disaster against the second-best power-hitting team in the majors.
On the other side, Chicago White Sox righty Erick Fedde is throwing the ball well. He's posted a 2.15 FIP across his previous two outings while limiting opponents to a 23.8% hard-hit rate.
Cleveland also has just a .196 xBA over their last seven games and a poor 34.2% hard-hit rate.
Guardians vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-107)
This feels like a game where Chicago scores most of the runs while Cleveland continues to struggle offensively.
Fedde's recent form makes him a difficult matchup for a Guardians lineup averaging just 2.33 runs per game during its current losing streak.
Cleveland's bullpen has been solid lately, posting a 3.95 xERA over the last two weeks, which should help prevent Chicago from completely running away with the game.
The White Sox bullpen hasn't been as sharp, with a 4.63 FIP, but Fedde typically works into the fifth inning and can limit the amount of relief work required.
I can see a 5-2 or 6-2 type game here.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 31-24, +4.65 units
Over/Under bets: 31-23, +3.60 units
Guardians vs White Sox weather
Conditions at Rate Field are expected to be fairly neutral this afternoon, with temperatures around 78°F and moderate winds. While the weather could provide a slight boost to offense, it shouldn't be a major factor in determining the outcome of this game.
Guardians vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Guardians -108 | White Sox +104
Run line: Guardians -1.5 (+144) | White Sox +1.5 (-150)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-100) | Under 8.5 (-104)
Guardians vs White Sox trend
The White Sox have hit the moneyline in 21 of their last 25 games at home (+19.10 Units / 71% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. White Sox.
How to watch Guardians vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
CleGuardians.TV, CHSN
Guardians starting pitcher
Tanner Bibee (2-8, 4.03 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.46 ERA)
Guardians vs White Sox latest injuries
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.
Jun 12, 2026; Summerlin, Nevada, USA; Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris (36) throws the ball during the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at the Las Vegas Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Happy Wednesday A’s fans!
The Athletics remain stirred in mediocrity at the big-league level. The “Green and Gold” have been unable to establish a foothold above .500 and take control of a division whose expected pace-setter, the Seattle Mariners, have fallen short of preseason expectations.
The situation is unlikely to improve unless the team receives more consistent pitching performances from both its starters and relievers to complement its potent lineup. At the moment, starting pitchers J.T. Ginn and Gage Jump are the only two starters the A’s can reliably count on every time they take the mound.
Meanwhile, the A’s bullpen comprises several talented relievers, but no true shutdown guy has emerged since the franchise traded Mason Miller last July. Left-hander Hogan Harris is solid, yet he is overworked and finds himself in trouble more often than not. On Father’s Day, he could not protect his team’s lead, giving up a game-tying three-run home run in the eighth inning.
Dominican right-handers Luis Medina and Elvis Alvarado have the flame throwing stuff to become lockdown arms at the end of games. Both pitchers have flashed their potential at times this season, but remain inconsistent, as evidenced by Alvarado surrendering the Angels’ game-winning home run in the ninth inning of Sunday’s series and homestand finale. Last but not least, Mason Barnett, whom the A’s recalled earlier this month, has been a pleasant surprise, pitching well over his last five relief appearances.
The A’s finally designated veteran right-hander Scott Barlow for assignment rather than waiting for him to blow the lead in another game. The team did not do a good enough job to address its bullpen weakness this offseason, as Barlow did not even last till the All-Star Break and fellow offseason signing Mark Leiter Jr. recently landed on the injured list with a hip injury.
Down on the farm, the options are scarce. A few days ago, the A’s promoted Geoff Hartlieb and Matt Krook, giving these two journeymen relievers another chance to compete in the major leagues.
Yunior Tur, a 26-year-old Cuban right-hander holding his own at Triple-A, could receive his first MLB promotion soon as the A’s continue trying to put together the right mix of bullpen arms. On the other hand, pitchers such as Jacob Lopez, Luis Morales and Michael Kelly performed so poorly for the Athletics earlier this season that they are now trying to rediscover their form in the minors.
Will the team’s bullpen continue to struggle, or can the group turn things around? What is your goal for the Athletics as the end of June nears?
Keep voting for Nick Kurtz. Given the season he is having, he deserves to represent the Athletics at the All-Star Game in the state where he grew up.
Shea Langeliers continues to lead all AL Catchers in All Star voting. 🤩
Nick Kurtz, somehow, continues to trail the lead vote-getter among AL first basemen, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., by nearly a million votes. 😬#Athleticspic.twitter.com/O79mwJoyIk
This past weekend, the A’s Triple-A affiliate Las Vegas Aviators clinched the first half Pacific Coast League championship. They will host the second half champion in the best-of-three LCS beginning on Tuesday, September 22.
This is an interesting breakdown of how Tyler Soderstrom has snapped out of his early-season slump to become a consistent contributor in the middle of the A’s lineup.
Since May 24 (108 PA), only 4 qualified hitters have a higher wRC+ than Tyler Soderstrom
Prior to that date, his previous 209 PA turned out a less than stellar performance, batting under the mendoza line and a 76 wRC+
Aug 16, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Loons were the only team to secure a win in a day of limited action in the Dodgers’ minor league system.
Player of the day
The lack of support around Jaron Elkins shouldn’t devalue what was, by all accounts, an impressive performance, particularly on the basepaths. The Tower Buzzers center fielder reached base three times and was responsible for all three of his team’s stolen bases in a 5-3 loss, without getting caught once.
Elkins is right in the middle of his finest run of form this season, having recorded at least one hit in 15 of his last 16 games. It was his second appearance stealing at least three bags, and the first one since the beginning of April.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Even the temporary reinforcement of having Teoscar Hernández in the heart of the batting order wasn’t enough to help the Comets overcome the Aces in a 5-4 loss. Hernández homered on the first day of his rehab assignment, and OKC threatened with the go-ahead run in scoring position in the top of the eighth inning, but Jack Suwinski struck out to strand a pair.
Pitching-wise, it was a game of command struggles for the Comets, with Ryder Ryan and the bullpen combining to walk 12 batters, seven more than the opposition. Ryan took the loss, allowing three earned runs in just as many innings pitched.
Double-A Tulsa
By all effects, this one was over for the Drillers well before the end of the third inning, having allowed nine runs to the Hooks, all of them charged to starter Patrick Copen, who had his worst performance of the season, conceding not one, not two, not three, but four home runs.
One of the side effects of such a large deficit so early is that the offense can check out, at least to a certain extent. In this particular game, that was transparent, with six of the Drillers’ nine starting hitters finishing the game with multiple strikeouts. Their only run came on a Mike Sirota solo blast in the bottom of the third, his only hit, reaching base for a 59th straight game.
Six was the number here. The Loons beat the Lugnuts by six runs in a 7-1 win. They recorded six doubles to account for all of their extra-base hits, and they were six for 17 with runners in scoring position. It was truly a collective effort with a special shout-out to the bottom of the order: Samuel Munoz and Victor Rodrigues, hitters eighth and ninth, were the only ones to record at least three hits in this performance.
Tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts, reliever Jacob Frost recorded his seventh win of the season since starter Zach Root was unable to complete five full innings, still pitching a solid game, allowing just the one earned run.
Single-A Ontario
Three unanswered runs to begin the game gave the Tower Buzzers an ideal start; the only problem was that the offense fell flat after that, and the bullpen struggled with walks to eventually cough up the lead in the eighth, losing the game 5-3. These late struggles meant that Ontario couldn’t properly take advantage of a good outing from its starting pitcher, Mason Estrada, with five one-run innings.
Individually, although his performance didn’t carry an impact on the game, unable to drive in a run or score one himself, Elkins now has 22 stolen bases on the year. The center fielder stole three bases in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, which also included a walk. First baseman Easton Shelton hit his 22nd homer of the year.
Tuesday’s scores
Reno 5, Oklahoma City 4
Tulsa 1, Corpus Christi 10
Lansing 1, Great Lakes 7
Visalia 5, Ontario 3
Wednesday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (TBD) at Lansing (Steven Echavarria)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Peter Heubeck) vs. Corpus Christi (Bryce Mayer)
6:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Landon Knack) vs. Reno (TBD)
6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Visalia (Junior Ciprian)
Dylan Moore of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs is present during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The big club had a truly thrilling night as they shocked the Nationals, but the affiliates had one that produced emotions of a rather different sort. All of the Phillies affiliates lost last night, and the pitchers faced particular trouble, with only the Threshers allowing fewer than eight runs. The season is long, and memory is short: the affiliates will put this behind them.
Syracuse 9, Lehigh Valley 6
The IronPigs took a lead with a grand slam in the fourth, courtesy of Dylan Moore, but allowed the Mets to score in every inning from the fourth onwards. Christian Cairo went three for five with 2 runs, and Keaton Anthony contributed two hits of his own. All of the IronPig pitchers allowed runs, and all but one allowed multiple. Starter Tucker Davidson struck out nine, but walked three and allowed five hits and three runs.
Altoona 9, Reading 4
The Fightin Phils scored in four consecutive innings, but just one run in each, and none in any other frame. It wasn’t enough to defeat the Curve, who put up nine runs on ten hits. Luke Ritter worked three walks, and Pedro León and Alex Binelas each had a homer and another hit to add to it. None of the four Phils pitchers who took the mound walked away without allowing a run: starter Braydon Tucker allowed four (three earned) through 3.2 pitched.
Brooklyn 8, Jersey Shore 7
The BlueClaws were in pole position after a five run fifth that gave them a 7-2 lead. Unfortunately, they surrendered three in the bottom of the inning, then were held scoreless the rest of the night as the Cyclones walked them off on a single in the 10th. Only Tyler Pettorini had more than 1 hit. Nick Biddison contributed two RBI. All three BlueClaw pitchers had somewhat rough nights, with Cody Bowker allowing three runs and five hits in four innings, Sam Highfill allowing three runs and six hits in three innings, and Gabriel Barbosa allowing two runs, including the winner, across two innings.
Jupiter 6, Clearwater 5
The Threshers kept the Hammerheads from scoring in eight of nine innings. But a six-run eighth for the visitors gave Jupiter the victory in this shark vs. shark showdown. Griffin Burkholder, Juan Villavicencio, and Alirio Ferrebus had two hits apiece. Jonathan Hogart had a rather satisfiying line, with two walks, two runs, a hit, an RBI, and no strikeouts. Starter Cade Obemueller allowed the Hammerheads to scatter six hits over four innings, but, aided by his 8 Ks, he allowed no runs. Tyler Bowen struggled, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks in 0.2 innings.
DSL Rockies 15, DSL Phillies 11
The DSL Phillies fought back furiously, putting up five runs in the seventh and four in the eighth as they tried to catch up to the Rockies. 11 runs, and all scored the hard way: no homers. A valiant effort, but not enough to secure victory thanks to the Rockies’ scoring in six of their eight frames. Juan Parra, Francisco Renteria, Sebastian Saenz, Dayber Cruceta, and Jose Tovar contributed two hits each. The Phillies had four pitchers, each taking two innings, and each allowing multiple runs. They had only five strikeouts on what proved to be a rough night.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JUNE 23: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates hitting a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 23, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees broke their losing streak on Tuesday, narrowly defeating the Tigers 4-3 thanks to a timely two-run shot from Jazz Chisholm Jr. to go ahead for good in the sixth inning. Carlos Rodón did enough to keep them in the game, pitching into the sixth inning and allowing all three of Detroit’s runs, and the bullpen was lights out as David Bednar secured his 15th save of the season. With the win, they put the pressure on the rest of the American League to keep up, so let’s see who managed it.
Tampa Bay Rays (43-33) 5, Kansas City Royals (34-46) 12
Kansas City started off strong early, and then they ran up the score late. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to home runs from Nick Loftin and Jac Caglianone, but Junior Caminero got one of them back in the bottom half on an RBI single to cut the deficit in half. The game stayed in a stand-still from there until the fifth inning, when Shane McClanahan finally buckled. Michael Massey led off with a double and got advanced to third on a bunt, but McClanahan threw the ball away allowing the batter to reach and Massey to score. McClanahan got two more batters to make outs to get on the verge of escaping without a crooked number on the board, but Loftin ripped an RBI single and Caglianone hit his second homer of the game to make it 6-1. All of the runs were unearned due to the error, but given it was McClanahan himself who committed it they might as well have been earned.
We entered pour-it-on territory in the eighth inning, now facing the Rays’ bullpen. A pair of run-scoring doubles, a sacrifice fly, and a wild pitch brought five more runs home and made it an 11-1 blowout. Caminero continued to be the offense for Tampa, this time lifting a solo shot, but Josh Rojas got it right back in the top of the ninth with an RBI double. The Rays finally got their offense cooking in the bottom half, scoring three runs on four hits and a walk, but the rally came nowhere close to closing the gap.
Other Games
Toronto Blue Jays (39-40) 7, Houston Astros (38-43) 9 (11 innings): Houston jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning thanks to homers from Yainer Diaz, Cam Smith, and Taylor Trammell, but Toronto tied it by the seventh thanks to homers of their own from Luis Urías and Daulton Varsho. The Jays then took the lead in the eighth on a two-run single from Kazuma Okamoto, only for the Astros to tie things back up in the ninth thanks to a bases-loaded catchers’ interference and a sacrifice fly.
That brought us to extras, where nothing of note happened in the 10th with both sides going down in order. In the 11th though, Houston finally cashed in with a three-run Joey Loperfido blast.
Toronto got their ghost runner across in the bottom half, but only after a flyout to begin the inning. Two more groundouts closed this one out as Houston continues to crawl closer to the rest of the AL West while Toronto dips back under .500.
Cleveland Guardians (41-39) 1, Chicago White Sox (41-37) 2: The middle innings decided this one, as all the scoring occurred within the fourth through sixth. Colson Montgomery got Chicago on the scoreboard first, flipping a two-out RBI single out to right field. Cleveland countered in the fifth inning with a Kahlil Watson solo shot, but the White Sox recovered their lead in the sixth with a solo blast of their own, this one off the bat of Miguel Vargas. That was all the damage done against Parker Messick as he pitched 7.2 phenomenal innings striking out 10 batters, but it saddled him with a hard-luck loss as the White Sox remain in first place in the AL Central.
Seattle Mariners (41-39) 3, Pittsburgh Pirates (39-40) 2: George Kirby didn’t have his sharpest stuff, scattering eight hits with two walks over six innings, but he managed to limit the damage to just two runs (and only one of them earned). The Pirates built a 2-0 lead by the third inning, but Seattle chipped away with a Cal Raleigh homer in the fourth before Cole Young put them ahead with a two-run shot.
Jun 18, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (22) pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Pitcher Larry Andersen of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during a game. | Getty Images
Larry Andersen’s playing career spanned across portions of three different decades. He’d appear in a pair of World Series with the Phillies, and in 1986 he’d join the Astros several weeks into that magical season, which would culminate in their classic playoff series with the Mets.
Larry joins us for our 28th installment of the Legends Series, exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: I want to start with 1986. Can you believe it’s been 40 years? That doesn’t seem possible.
A: It’s remarkable. The memories are still there and of course Game 6, I appeared in and I’ll never forget that. The intensity was incredible. I pitched three innings that game and the noise in the Astrodome was deafening and I’m actually deaf in one ear completely since birth and it was still the loudest thing I’ve ever heard. I thought my nerves were going to jump out of my body. That was a game for the ages, I just wish it had turned out differently for the fans.
Q: How was it that the Phillies would release you in May and you’d land in Houston a few days later?
A: I was released while in Houston, so I knew what kind of team they had. They were good.
The Hendricks brothers were my agents, and they wanted me to play for the Astros, so they set it up where I went and did a side pitching session in the bullpen for Hal Lanier. They immediately saw that there was nothing wrong with me. I was completely healthy. They were completely baffled with the release.
Q: So, what happened?
A: The Phillies had made a trade and had acquired Gary Redus and relief pitcher Tom Hume for John Denny. So, it came down to keeping me or Tom Hume.
I felt like my stuff at the time was just as good as his, but he was making $800,000 and I was making $300,000, so it was an easy choice.
It was easier for the Phillies to eat $300,000 of salary. I understood that. It’s a business.
I waited a few days for the waiver deadline to pass, and then I was playing for the Astros.
Q: There were so many great characters on the Astros back then. Who comes to mind?
A: Doctor Death, Danny Darwin (laughs). He really helped solidify our pitching staff.
It’s funny, Danny had issues with the Montreal Expos. I was facing Spike Owen, and I threw a pitch inside and it created a brawl. In that brawl, Spike Owen came to the mound and came for me, but the rest of the Expos went after Danny Darwin. He had broken Hubie Brooks’ hand earlier in the year, and they were after him even though I threw the pitch that started it.
I don’t know if Danny ever forgave me for that, because he got absolutely pummeled.
Q: If you guys had prevailed in Game 6, is there any doubt in your mind that Mike Scott would’ve won Game 7, advancing you to the World Series?
A: I think it’s easy to say, absolutely. The Mets knew they were done. They were so hellbent on saying Scott was cheating and were always checking the ball and trying to question the nature of his splitter. It was amazing, they were a mess.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 19: Tre Morgan #72 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses for a picture during the 2026 Tampa Bay Rays Photo Day at Charlotte Sports Park on February 19, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome back to the mailbag!
Most of the responses I got this time were centered around prospects and the state of the farm so far this year, so that will be the theme of this mailbag article.
pdawd (@JeannotShowYo on Twitter/X): Who in the farm has been the most pleasant surprise and what have they added to their game to make unexpected strides?
Nathan Flewelling has been a pleasant surprise on the defensive side. There aren’t many questions about his offensive impact, but his receiving and throwing have noticeably improved.
This year, he’s doing a better job on the receiving end by showing late glove movement when framing pitches compared to last season. It looked “stabby” last year because Flew would hold his glove in the zone too early in the pitcher’s delivery before grabbing it and bringing it back toward the zone. Now he’ll flash the glove early in the delivery, drop it down to the dirt, and then wait until the pitcher is releasing the ball before gliding his glove to catch the ball and bring to into the zone, all in one motion.
But it’s not just his glove. His improved throwing starts with his footwork. Flew’s arm has always been above average, but his exchange and release needed improvement. Last season, he almost always would catch the ball and then jump up into a throwing position. Now, Flew is consistently getting his feet into a throwing position as he’s receiving the ball. The result is a quicker release and more accurate throws to the 1B side of the 2B bag. His caught stealing rate has improved from 13.9% in 2025 to 34.6% in 2026 so far. Some of that improvement could be driven by High-A pitchers doing a better job of varying their delivery times, but the data coupled with Flew’s observable improvement in his defensive actions signal meaningful growth. Like all teenage prospects, he’ll need to continue to work on his consistency – especially as the physical demands of his position challenge him later in the season. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a consensus top 50 prospect by the end of the season.
Dhaffa Ghiffari (@dapuik_ on Twitter/X) and Dylan Hood (@DylanHood69 on Twitter/X): What is a reasonable expectation for Carson Williams and his future? Will the Rays ever commit to him, or will he be traded at the deadline?
Carson still looks like an every day SS thanks to his near 70-grade glove and plus power. He has done a nice job cutting down on the whiff compared to last season by using the whole field a bit more – especially with two strikes. There’s impressive impact on both sides of the ball, and now it’s just a matter of opportunity.
I don’t think he would be traded this season because he’s 3rd on the SS depth chart for the ML side. Maybe they’d trade him if they received a SS in return, for him or in some other trade, but it doesn’t seem likely.
Taylor Walls is having a good season by his standards as he’s leaning into his small-ball skillset, and he’s arguably the best defensive SS of this century. Ben Williamson has shown he’s a competent ML utility guy, but lacks the impact defensively at SS and at the plate. Carson should have an opportunity to compete for the starting job after this season (Editor’s Note: How many times have we said that? – DR), but the 2026 draft and trade deadline could change that.
Flappy Gilmore (@FlappyGilmore on Twitter/X): Do you see a spot on the roster for Tre’ Morgan coming, or is he more valuable as a trade chip at this point?
Tre’ Morgan has had an unfortunate run of injuries over the last couple seasons. He looked solid in AAA last year when he was able to stay on the field, and he has adjusted his approach this season in an attempt to unlock more impact but has missed a lot of time already. He’s back in AAA now after showing some impressive bat speed gains during his rehab assignment, so I’m interested to see what he could look like in a larger sample. The defense is 80-grade at 1B as advertised, and his average hit tool should allow him to carve out some sort of role at the ML level.
The experiment with him in the OF seems to have come to an end, so it’s most likely 1B only – which is fine because the defense really is that good. Unfortunately, I’m not sure the Rays could roster Tre’, Yandy, and Aranda in the majors at the same time. I don’t think Tre’ will be traded this season, and I expect him to get protected from the Rule 5 draft this offseason. His health and availability of reps at 1B in the majors will determine if and when he will have an opportunity to contribute.
Sad Rays Fan (@rays4403 on Twitter/X): Which prospects do you realistically think can make an impact this season?
I don’t think he counts as a prospect anymore, but Jacob Melton could really help this roster. He’s a plus defender at all three OF spots and has near 70-grade power. His adjustments to his approach have helped him unlock more damage by elevating the ball. His injury in early May unfortunately set him back, but he’s healthy now and back in AAA. I think he will be up relatively soon once he gets up to speed in Durham.
Most of the prospects who could impact the ML roster this season are relievers. Alex Cook has a combination of solid stuff and command, and he has been dominant after a couple rough outings to start the year in Durham. Alexander Alberto has plus stuff and deception, and his command year-over-year command gains have earned him a recent promotion to AAA. He’s going to be a minor league free agent if he’s not added to the 40-man roster by the end of the year. Ty Johnson looks like he could be an impactful high-leverage reliever or bulk guy capable of going one time through the order in the majors. I’m not sure how he’d look as a starter given his average stuff and command of just two pitches, but his deception should allow him to carve out a valuable relief role in some capacity.
Also in Durham is Carson Williams who has the makings of an everyday SS, but just needs an opportunity. As long as Taylor Walls is in the organization and healthy, Carson won’t find too many reps at SS. He has been learning 2B and 3B this season, and his tools should translate and allow him to be a plus defender at both positions. His opportunity will likely won’t come until next season.
I would love to say Brody Hopkins could help the team this year, but I don’t think it will happen until 2027. He struggled early on to adjust to the AAA baseball, but has been looking much better over his last handful of starts with more reps using that baseball and some small adjustments to his delivery. His shapes have been sharper with more movement like they had last year, and his strike throwing has started to improve. I’m really excited to see him in the majors next season.
The Chicago Cubs should be well-rested for Wednesday’s doubleheader opener. Two of Chicago’s last three games have been rained out, so it'll be playing for just the second time since Saturday.
The New York Mets could be without Juan Soto following his early exit last night, and my Cubs vs. Mets predictions are taking advantage of that.
The Chicago Cubs have been streaky all season and are on another hot stretch, winning seven of 10 — including Tuesday’s series opener against the New York Mets. The Mets have lost three straight and five of seven.
New York's bullpen worked more than five innings last night and has a doubleheader today, so starter Nolan McLean needs to go deep. He’s gone past five just twice in his last three starts, and McLean has a 6.75 ERA late in games with a .294 average against.
The Cubs are favored, but at the upper limit of when I’d take them. If it gets to -130, I’d cut bait.
The Cubs are being coy about their pitchers for the doubleheader. Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad could start, but they weren’t specifying the order.
Both pitchers are coming off back-to-back strong outings, and the Cubs' pen has pitched four innings since Saturday. Chicago has been hitting, but the last thing a hot team wants is to sit out days.
New York has scored three or fewer runs in five of the last nine games. The offensive boost the Mets hoped to get from Francisco Lindor’s return for the first time since April 22 got muted when Juan Soto left Tuesday’s game with back trouble.
Play this down to 8.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 23-28, -2.05 units
Over/Under bets: 29-26, +2.04 units
Cubs vs Mets weather
Sunny skies and temps in the mid-80s ensure no weather delay today. The hot weather could add some more pop to balls, but the wind of 10 mph shouldn't play too much of a factor.
Cubs vs Mets odds
Moneyline: Cubs -124 | Mets +106
Run line: Cubs +1.5 (-290) | Mets -1.5 (+215)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-124) | Under 8.5 (-158)
Cubs vs Mets trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the game total Under in seven of their last nine away games (+4.85 Units / 50% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Mets.
How to watch Cubs vs Mets and game info
Location
Citi Field, Flushing, Queens
Date
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
MARQ, SNY
Cubs starting pitcher
TBD (Y-Y, X.XX ERA)
Mets starting pitcher
Nolan McLean (4-4, 3.67 ERA)
Cubs vs Mets latest injuries
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.
COVERS INTEL: Weathers has allowed an 11.7% barrel rate, 
