Category: MLB

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (25-34) won 15-8 (BOX SCORE)

Gordon started for Sugar Land and went 5.2 innings allowing 5 runs. The offense got on the board in the 3rd on a Whitcomb RBI single. They scored 5 more runs in the 4th on a Winkler walk, Biggio RBI single, and Whitcomb 3 run double. In the 5th, Sacco added an RBI double. The offense added on late scoring 2 runs in the 7th on a Perez 2 run home run and then blowing it open in the 8th scoring 6 runs on a Price 2 run double, Strahm 2 run single, Perez RBI double and Sacco sac fly. The pen allowed a few runs but held on for the 15-8 win.

Note: Loperfido is hitting .304 in Triple-A.

• Cavan Biggio, 1B: 1-for-3, 3 R, RBI, 3 BB
• Joey Loperfido, LF: 2-for-5, R, BB
• Shay Whitcomb, SS: 3-for-6, 2 2B, 4 RBI
• Collin Price, DH: 1-for-5, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI
• Kellen Strahm, CF: 1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
• Carlos Perez, DH: 4-for-5, 4 R, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI
• Tommy Sacco, 2B: 1-for-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI

• Colton Gordon, LHP: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (WIN)
• Logan VanWey, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
• Cody Bolton, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Jose Fleury, RHP: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (24-29) lost 12-9 (BOX SCORE)

Javier made a rehab start for the Hooks and allowed 2 runs while retiring just 2 batters. He was relieved by David who allowed 4 runs over 1.1 innings. Next in was Mayer who went 4 innings allowing 3 runs while striking out 6. The offense got on the board in the 4th inning scoring 5 runs on an Encarnacion walk and Brutcher grand slam. The pen allowed a few more runs as Arkansas took a 12-5 lead. The offense got 2 runs in the 8th on a Biggers 2 run double. In the 9th, they rallied to score 2 runs on a Brutcher RBI single but that was it as the Hooks fell 12-9.

Note: Schiavone has a .820 OPS in Double-A.

• Trevor Austin, 3B: 1-for-3, R
• Jason Schiavone, 1B: 3-for-4, 2 R, BB
• Joseph Sullivan, LF: 1-for-4, R
• Yamal Encarnacion, RF: 1-for-3, 3 R, RBI, 2 BB
• Drew Brutcher, DH: 2-for-4, 2 R, HR, 6 RBI, BB
• Garret Guillemette, C: 2-for-5
• Jax Biggers, 2B: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

• Cristian Javier, RHP: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Ramsey David, RHP: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• Bryce Mayer, RHP: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
• Alex Santos, RHP: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Michael Cuevas, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• Trey McLoughlin, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (13-39) won 16-15 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got on the board in the first inning on a Thomas solo home run. Santos got the start but ran into trouble in the third inning allowing 6 runs. He was relieved by Rodriguez who allowed a run before Collins allowed another four runs. The offense got 2 runs back in the 5th inning on a Thomas 2 run double. Powell then connected on a solo home run in the 6th inning. In the 7th, the offense rallied getting 10 runs on a Powell RBI double, a run on a wild pitch, Ochoa 2 run home run, Daudet 2 run single. Thomas RBI single and Call 3 run home run. After a run in the 8th, the Grasshoppers rallied for 3 runs in the 9th to tie the game. In the bottom of the 9th, Thomas connected on a solo home run to walk it off as Asheville won 16-15.

Note: Powell is hitting .415 over his last 18 games.

• Justin Thomas, LF-CF: 4-for-5, 4 R, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB
• Ethan Frey, CF: 0-for-3, R, BB
  • Chase Call, PH-RF: 1-for-1, R, HR, 3 RBI
• Caden Powell, RF-LF: 3-for-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
• Nehomar Ochoa, DH: 1-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Kyle Walker, 3B: 2-for-5, R, 2B
• Alejandro Nunez, 2B: 4-for-5, R
• John Garcia, 1B: 0-for-2, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
• Zach Daudet, SS: 1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB

• Yeriel Santos, RHP: 2.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Raimy Rodriguez, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Bryce Collins, RHP: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 0 K
• Colby Langford, LHP: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
• Eurys Martich, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 K (WIN)

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (24-29) won 4-1 (BOX SCORE)

The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on an Alvarez 2 run single. They got another run in the 2nd inning on a Cauro sac fly. Potter got the start and pitched well tossing 3.1 no-hit innings with 7 strikeouts. In the 5th, Neyens connected on a solo home run to extend the lead. Verdugo went the final 5.2 innings allowing one run as he picked up the win for Fayetteville.

Note: Potter has a 2.25 ERA this season.

• Anthony Huezo, CF: 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB
• Xavier Neyens, SS: 2-for-3, 2 R, HR, RBI, BB
• Kevin Alvarez, LF: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, SB
• Josh Wakefield, RF: 0-for-2, 2 BB, 2 SB
• Hector Salas, 3B: 1-for-2, R, BB, SB

• Nick Potter, RHP: 3.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
• Ryan Verdugo, RHP: 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K (WIN)

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Ethan Pecko – 7:35 CT

CC: James Hicks – 6:35 CT

AV: TBD – 5:35 CT

FV: TBD – 5:35 CT

Ryan McMahon’s stat line still does not look impressive. Entering June, the Yankees infielder is still hitting just .207 on the season. However, if you dive a little deeper, McMahon appears to be adjusting his approach and has found more, albeit still limited, success doing so.

The most obvious evidence of improvement shows up in the most traditional statistic, batting average. After hitting a lowly .167 in March and April, McMahon raised that mark to .244 in May. Additionally, during this stretch he also saw his OPS, a stat the Yankees often emphasize, increase by 130 points to .711 for the month.

In March and April, McMahon looked like a hitter trying to do too much. Nearly half of the balls he put in play were worm burners pulled to the right side of the infield or shot up the middle to a fielder standing behind second base. Hitting the ball hard is not the issue. McMahon ranks in the 86th percentile in hard-hit rate and around the 65th percentile in both average exit velocity and barrel rate. Even if you hit the ball hard, the easiest way to tank your offensive numbers is to strike out and hit ground balls into the shift. McMahon was doing both in spades.

However, May looked different. McMahon’s groundball rate dropped from 50 percent to 35.8 percent while his fly-ball rate rose 15 percentage points. Just as important, he began using the entire field. McMahon’s opposite-field rate more than doubled, climbing from 17.8 percent to 38.9 percent, a figure much more in line with his career norms.

The change becomes even more interesting when looking at the quality of contact. During March and April, 31.1 percent of McMahon’s balls in play were classified as hard hit. In May, that figure climbed to 37 percent. The most important number, though, is the strikeout rate, which he managed to cut down by roughly two percentage points.

These changes might not feel significant, but baseball is a game of inches. Within those margins, it is also worth noting that McMahon’s soft-contact rate increased from 2.2 percent to 25.9 percent. At first glance that might seem like a negative, but it might reflect a hitter becoming less concerned with squaring up or pulling everything and more focused on simply putting the ball in play. As countless coaches have preached over the years, you do not always have to hit the ball hard if you hit it where the defense is not.

These changes in contact resulted in a .244/.263/.449 slash line for the month. That’s not a typo — McMahon only walked twice the entire month but was still able to get his stat line from deplorable to decent. The irony is that the numbers turnaround happened during a month that included one of the worst stretches of McMahon’s career. At one point in May, McMahon went hitless in 24 consecutive at-bats.

Despite this stretch, McMahon’s production for May placed him right at league average at the plate with four home runs to his name. In addition, McMahon has been solid in important spots. With runners in scoring position, McMahon owns a .270 batting average, .774 OPS, and 120 wRC+. He has also produced in high leverage situations, slashing .250/.357/.500.

Looking at his career monthly splits, McMahon has often performed better once the calendar turns to May. Across his career, he owns a .231 batting average in March and April before improving to .257 in May, .242 in June, and .261 in July. Let’s be clear: I am not calling this a breakout performance. What I am saying is that if history is any guide, May was a return to form for McMahon.

The second half of the season has often been a different story. McMahon’s career batting average falls to .227 after the All-Star break and drops further to .212 during September and October. Whether that trend is physical, mental, or simply the result of a long season is difficult to know. It is also fair to wonder whether spending his career on Rockies teams that were often out of contention by the time summer arrived may have played some role.

During last year’s playoffs the Yankees saw a glimpse of the player they hoped they were acquiring. Across six playoff games, McMahon hit .286 with a home run, continued to provide strong defense, and while not fast, was a strong baserunner. While that is a small sample size, it reinforced the idea that he can be a useful contributor especially when it matters most.

Before the season, Aaron Boone said it was the coaching staff’s responsibility to help unlock McMahon’s offensive potential. Boone maintained that belief through a brutal start and that painful 0-for-24 skid in May. In mid-April, the manager suggested some of the changes the Yankees had been working on were beginning to take hold. Looking at McMahon’s batted-ball profile now, it is becoming easier to see what Boone and the coaching staff believed they were building toward.

Call me an optimist, but I believe there is a reason eight of his 10 extra-base hits have been oppo-tacos and the strikeout rate decreased. I believe that reason is the adjustment the staff is making to McMahon’s approach. For a player whose primary value is defense, hitting at a league-average level with a 20-home run pace is a solid contribution.

McMahon is not a great hitter, but he is an average one and a good baseball player. The cold streaks are almost unbelievably bad, which is why they tend to dominate the conversation. However, according to the law of averages, most nights McMahon does enough to help you win and, just as importantly, does enough to avoid costing you a game.

Like an old vehicle, McMahon’s offensive engine appears to cough, sputter, and require constant tinkering to run smoothly. The challenge for Yankees fans is remembering that the highs and lows are part of the same player. McMahon will never be the lineup’s biggest engine, but he remains a useful contributor when the bats around him help provide a spark and get him in a position to keep the lineup rolling.

Team News

How did the Diamondbacks look against Shohei Ohtani?

“This is one of those situations where we’ve got to be better in all areas of the game,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve got a chance to come out here tomorrow and salvage a split. And that’s got to be our main focus. This was a rough game. It’s not fun to be a part of.”

https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/how-did-they-do-vs-shohei-ohtani

Poor Pitching Turns Diamondbacks Game 3 vs Dodgers to Ugly Blowouthttps://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/onsi/poor-pitching-turns-diamondbacks-game-3-dodgers-ugly-blowout

Torey Lovullo Doesn’t Think Ohtani Tried to Hit D-backs on Purpose

“I don’t love it,” Lovullo said. “I don’t think there’s any purpose for it, purpose behind it… but, you know, you’re throwing a ball 99 miles an hour near somebody’s head. That’s very dangerous. That’s why I don’t like it.” https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/onsi/torey-lovullo-ohtani-hit-diamondbacks-purpose-dodgers

Marte out of lineup with ‘full body fatigue,’ expected to return Thursday
“He battles this all year long, and you guys know how much he means to this team, I know much he means to this team,” Lovullo said. “But it got to the point where with low back tightness and hamstring tightness, when he gets to this level, there’s a chance he could break, and we’re going to miss him for weeks instead of a day. So I will trade one day for two weeks.”

https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/ketel-marte-out-of-d-backs-lineup-vs-dodgers

Burnes (teres strain) suffers setback, likely out until Sept.
“Those are big, big pieces for us,” Lovullo said. “So it’s a blow, and it’s something that we’re gonna have to deal with. It’s just what we do in this game, and we’ve got very qualified players in that clubhouse, and they’re gonna get some opportunities, and we’ve got five really good starting pitchers right now, and they’re doing a good job. I want that to continue.”

https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/corbin-burnes-suffers-setback-with-teres-strain

Diamondbacks’ Corbin Burnes suffers setback, plan to return this season in doubthttps://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/corbin-burnes-setback

Diamondbacks Place High-Ranked Pitching Prospect on Injured List
It’s a back injury for Bratt — described as back inflammation, according to AZCentral’s Nick Piecoro. Bratt has reportedly been dealing with a nagging issue there since making an awkward throw on a play during one of his starts.

It does not sound like this injury is severe, though no potential timeline has been reported. https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/onsi/diamondbacks-place-high-ranked-pitching-prospect-injured-list

Other Baseball

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred says ‘of course’ he’s worried about repeat of 1994 labor stoppage

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/mlb-commissioner-rob-manfred-says-of-course-hes-worried-about-repeat-of-1994-labor-stoppage-231350620.html

Manfred admits concern MLB labor talks will end in lockouthttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48959766/manfred-admits-concern-mlb-labor-talks-end-lockout

Phillies ace Sánchez sees shutout innings streak end shy of 51https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48960444/phillies-ace-sanchez-shutout-innings-streak-end-shy-51

Giants’ Logan Webb carries no-hitter into 7th inning of 1-0 victory over Brewershttps://sports.yahoo.com/articles/giants-logan-webb-holds-brewers-011937961.html

Ohtani lowers ERA to 0.74 with 6-inning gem — and reaches base 5 times!
https://www.mlb.com/news/shohei-ohtani-pitches-scoreless-gem-vs-d-backs

Shohei Ohtani lowers ERA to 0.74 with 6 scoreless innings, leads NL in OBPhttps://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/shohei-ohtani-lowers-era-to-074-with-6-scoreless-innings-leads-nl-in-obp-041757714.html

Padres designate Nick Castellanos for assignment; Taylor called up
https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/nick-castellanos-designated-for-assignment-by-padres

Joe Maddon on Rays’ Forever Home: Let’s finish what we started
https://www.mlb.com/rays/news/joe-maddon-on-rays-need-for-new-ballpark

Breaking down the All-Star Ballot position by position
https://www.mlb.com/news/guide-to-2026-mlb-all-star-voting

Anything Goes

This day in history:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-4
Congress passed the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote in 1919, and the Battle of Midway in 1942.

This day in baseball:

https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/June_4

White is considered the safest color for a car.

This is because white cars typically stand out against the black roads. Statistics state that white cars are 12% less likely to get into an accident compared to black cars. 

Bees have 5 eyes.

The 3 small eyes on a bee’s head detect light and help them escape from predators approaching from above. The 2 visible front eyes help them with navigation and recognizing shapes.

Pepsi is named after indigestion.

When Caleb Bradham created Pepsi in 1965, he named it after the word “dyspepsia,” or indigestion. Bradham believed that his fizzy drink would help cure indigestion, hence the name, Pepsi. 

In Section 533 of Angel Stadium, high above the foul pole in right field, where fans enjoying pretzels and helmet nachos wore Angels caps and Mike Trout shirts, a kindly usher approached. As a row of kids delighted in mixing cotton candy and frozen lemonade into an only-at-the-ballpark dessert, the usher alerted the parents that a mass of boisterous and predominantly shirtless men soon would be assembling in a nearby section.

Sure enough, as Wednesday’s game reached the fifth inning, a few dozen young men ran to the very back of Section 535, removed their shirts, twirled them over their heads, and chanted “Sell the team!”

As the chants continued, fans flocked from all corners of the stadium like moths to a flame, and the group grew from a few dozen to a few hundred. The “Sell the team” chants dominated, but there were others: “M-V-P” for Trout, “U-S-A,” “We want beer,” two we cannot print about Angels owner Arte Moreno and, for the young men that dared approach with a shirt on, “Take it off!”

Five friends lined up next to one another, their chests painted red, each with a different character in white: S, E, L, L and an exclamation point. I asked the guy wearing the exclamation point on his chest whether he thought the protests would have any impact upon Moreno.

“I would hope it would have an impact,” said Carson Taff, 16, of Laguna Hills, “but it’s really fun to see people out here.”

Indeed, in a stadium that could generously be described as half-empty, the Angels had themselves a new attraction, an organic display of audience participation.

The now-nightly ritual died down an inning after it started. Other kindly ushers, who had directed people to an adjacent section after Section 535 filled up, politely asked everyone to please put their shirts back on before returning to the general stadium population.

The Angels thumped the Colorado Rockies 11-4, but one good night cannot change the trajectory of a miserable season. The Angels still lost the series to the Rockies, the team with which they share the worst record in the major leagues.

Next up: the Dodgers.

Read more:As critters and losses pile up, Angels fans call for owner Arte Moreno to sell team

It is unlikely that fans alone could push Moreno to sell. In 2024, Athletics owner John Fisher heard “Sell the team!” chants — and much worse — from the entirety of the Oakland Coliseum, and from a fan base pleading with him not to move its beloved team to Las Vegas. On Monday, Fisher and the A’s open a six-game homestand at a triple-A ballpark in Las Vegas, an appetizer before their scheduled move into a new stadium there in 2028.

If ever a team could stay the course, this might be the time. In the American League, five teams have winning records. If the playoffs opened today, an AL team with a losing record would be included.

The Angels should resist the delusion. They are seven games out of a playoff spot, but they would have to pass nine teams in the standings to get there. They remain on pace to lose 100 games for the first time in franchise history.

On Tuesday, while the spotlight unfortunately found outfielder Jo Adell when a home run bounced off his head, the Angels attracted little attention for the fundamental mistakes of neglecting to cover third base on one play and second base on another.

To the extent Moreno makes any big decisions in the near future, they are less likely to focus on a potential team sale than on whether he believes his manager and general manager — each of whom is working under a contract that expires at the end of this season — can put the Angels in the best position for future seasons.

On Tuesday, the Dodgers’ lineup included four players over 30 and three under 26. The Angels’ lineup that night included four players over 30 and one under 26.

The Angels need to get on with the future. Their front office scoffs at prospect rankings, where the Angels rate poorly.

So bring ‘em up: When infielder Yoan Moncada is ready to come off the injured list, reinstate him and then trade him for anything you can get. Teams like the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies would like to add a right-handed bat; swallow some of outfielder Jorge Soler’s contract and trade him for anything you can get.

Read more:Plaschke: Memo to Arte Moreno: Sell your fallen Angels

It’s not about what would be an underwhelming return in either case; it’s about clearing roster spaces for infielders Denzer Guzmán and Christian Moore.

And then purge some veteran arms and bring up whatever young ones can help in the Angels bullpen, which has a 5.07 earned run average. Again, this isn’t about a good return in trade — there isn’t going to be one — but about experience and evaluation for the minor league talent the Angels like to talk up.

You want a good return? Get ahead of the trade deadline and dangle José Soriano to contenders that might pay for a live arm now, rather than wait two months to see if they can land Tarik Skubal. Soriano is a win-now addition, but his two Tommy John surgeries make him a risk on a long-term commitment.

In 2023, Moreno granted an interview to Sports Illustrated, in which he explained his decision to put the Angels up for sale, then take them off the market.

“If I’m going to stay,” Moreno said he told his wife, “I have to make a decision that we have to do better. We’re just not doing well enough.”

In 2024 and 2025, the Angels finished in last place, extending baseball’s longest playoff drought to 11 seasons. In 2026, they’re in last place again, desperately needing to get off the treadmill of trying to patch holes with low-cost veterans and crossing their fingers for an 83-win team that might sneak into the playoffs despite a chronic lack of depth.

They are not deep enough, and they are not good enough.

Behind Section 504 at Angel Stadium, you can find a team store with an outlet mall price: 50% off everything. It is a wonderful concept, a place where families can find affordable souvenirs without limiting the kids to a clearance rack.

Alas, when you mention affordability and the Angels these days, what first comes to mind among Angels fans are these spring words from Moreno to the Orange County Register: “The number one thing fans want is affordability … Believe it or not, winning is not in their top five.”

In Section 535, no one was chanting about affordability.

Read more:Shaikin: For Angels fans, new team ownership — and winning — are what they'd like to see most

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale dominates on the mound and typically racks up the Ks.

However, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement is a tough out and hardly ever strikes out, making his strikeout Under a solid value play at -115 tonight.  

Read on for my Blue Jays vs. Braves predictions and MLB Picks for this Thursday, June 4 matchup. 

Blue Jays vs Braves predictions

Blue Jays vs Braves best bet: Ernie Clement Under 0.5 K’s (-115)

The betting market is giving Chris Sale too much credit on this prop, leaving it mispriced on the Under. Ernie Clement matches up well against Sale’s pitching profile.

The Atlanta Braves starter relies heavily on chase and swing-and-miss with his slider to generate strikeouts, but that's a difficult formula against Clement.

The Toronto Blue Jays infielder owns the highest chase rate in baseball, yet maintains a minuscule 14% whiff rate while ranking in the 99th percentile in strikeout rate at just 8%.

Moreover, the Jays' infielder has cleared his Under 0.5 strikeouts prop in seven of his last 10 outings. 

I’d bet Clement under 0.5 strikeouts up to -125. 

COVERS INTEL: Clement owns just a 2.5% whiff rate with zero strikeouts against the four-seamer/slider pitch types when facing left-handed pitchers. Sale owns an 80% usage rate on those pitches. 

Blue Jays vs Braves same-game parlay (SGP)

Kazuma Okamoto has never faced Sale, but profiles well against him. Okamoto crushes the fastball and slider off LHP, owning a .400 average against them with a .667 xSLG. I’ll add  Over 0.5 hits for Okamoto.

For similar reasons, I’ll also add George Springer Over 0.5 hits as well. He owns a .300 average against the fastball/slider from lefties and owns a 26% hit-rate in 30 at-bats against Sale. 

Blue Jays vs Braves SGP

• Ernie Clement Uner 0.5 strikeouts
• Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 hits
• George Springer Over 0.5 hits

Blue Jays vs Braves home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+405)

Sale keeps the ball in the yard, so we’ll make this just a half-unit wager.

However, if there’s one Bluejay who profiles well enough to do damage tonight, it's Okamoto.

Okamoto owns a .400 average with a 65% hard hit rate against the four-seamer/slider combination, which has a 80% usage rate with those pitches.

Additionally, he’s one of the only Bluejays hitting with Power on a consistent basis, ranking in the 96th percentile in hard-hit rate, which has led to a team lead of 13 home runs in 2026. 

Blue Jays vs Braves odds

• Moneyline: Toronto +154 | Atlanta -170
• Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-125) | Atlanta -1.5 (+105)
• Over/Under: Over 7 (-105) | Under 7 (-115)

Blue Jays vs Braves trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the Team Total Under in 19 of their last 30 away games (+7.25 Units / 21% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Braves.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Braves and game info

Blue Jays vs Braves latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Braves weather

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

Overall, it was a pretty abysmal day down on the farm as not a single Atlanta minor league affiliate was able to scratch out a win on Wednesday. With that being said, there were a few individual performances that stood out, so let’s get into it.

(30-29) Gwinnett Stripers 4, (23-36) Norfolk Tide 6

• Jair Camargo, C: 2-3, HR, 2B, 2 RBI, R
• Jim Jarvis, SS: 2-4, RBI
• Aaron Schunk, 1B: 1-4, 2B, RBI, R
• Elieser Hernandez, SP: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Box Score

Gwinnett came up short on Wednesday night, losing to Norfolk as the bullpen blew a tie game in the top half of the ninth inning as the Tide came away with the win.

Elieser Hernandez got the start for the Stripers and despite giving up a pair of runs in the top of the first to give Norfolk a 2-0 lead, he settled in quite nicely and put up a solid outing. Across six innings of work, Hernandez gave up three runs and struck out six in the process.

Trailing by two runs, Gwinnett tied things up in the bottom of the second thanks to a pair of RBI doubles off the bats of Aaron Schunk and Jair Camargo — more on him later.

Norfolk retook the lead by scoring one run in each of the fifth and seventh innings, but the Stripers managed to tie things up yet again, this time with a solo homer from Camargo and an RBI-single from Jim Jarvis to make it a 4-4 game.

However, the Stripers bullpen failed to keep the Tide at bay as Hayden Harris and James Karinchak each gave up one run in the ninth inning to give Norfolk the 6-4 lead, which held as the final in this one.

(24-267) Columbus Clingstones 1, (27-25) Rocket City Trash Pandas 3

• David McCabe, 1B: 2-3, HR, RBI, R, BB
• Logan Braunschweig, RF: 2-4
• Brett Sears, SP: 4 IP, 2 H, 8 K

Box Score

Despite getting an excellent start on the mound from Brett Sears, the Columbus offense failed to match his performance as the Clingstones were held to just the one run on Wednesday.

Simply put, Sears was downright dominant. While he only went four innings, he made the most of them as he only surrendered two hits but managed to strike out a whopping eight batters in the process. Wednesday’s outing marked the fourth straight scoreless start for Sears as he’s watched his season ERA across double-A and triple-A drop to 2.18. While he is 26 at the double-A level, it’s nice to see Sears miss more bats and limit the damage when he does give up a hit or two.

As we mentioned, there wasn’t much to write home about in terms of the Clingstones’ offense in this one. However, they did get off to a hot start as David McCabe launched the first pitch he saw on the day over the left field wall for a solo homer to give Columbus the early 1-0 lead with two outs in the top of the first inning.

The Clingstones did manage to outhit Rocket City by a 7-4 margin, but failed to string together any type of meaningful at-bats as Adam Zebrowski had the only other extra base hit — a double to lead off the top of the second inning.

(28-25) Rome Emperors 3, (21-30) Greenville Drive 9

• Mac Guscette 1-4, HR, RBI, R
• Isaiah Drake, LF: 1-5, 2B, R
• Will Verdung, 3B: 3-3, 2B
• Cedric De Grandpre, SP: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K

Box Score

Keeping with an unfortunate trend across the Atlanta farm system on Wednesday, Rome lost against Greenville by a 9-3 margin.

Cedric De Grandpre — who has been able to put up solid strikeout numbers, but has also had some trouble keeping the ball in the yard this season — didn’t have his best stuff in this one. In his five frames of work, the 24-year-old gave up four runs on five hits, but did manage to strikeout seven batters in the process. To date, De Grandpre has only had two outings in which he has not yielded a run — his season debut on April 2 and a seven strikeout, 10-inning performance on May 16.

Getting back to Wednesday’s action, the Emperors only managed five hits on the day with three of those coming off the bat of Will Verdung who added a double to his tally.

The biggest offensive blow courtesy of the Rome offense came in the bottom of the fifth as Mac Guscette launched his second homer of the year over the left field wall to cut the deficit to 4-1 at the time.

While the offense had a hard time matching the nine runs scored by Greenville, one impressive highlight came in the eighth inning as Cody Miller — who was playing second base — ranged to his right into shortstop territory to slide and make an excellent stop before popping up and making the throw to get the runner at first in what was easily the best defensive play of the day for the Emperors.

(30-23) Augusta GreenJackets 5, (18-35) Delmarva Shorebirds 10

• Cooper McMurray, 1B: 2-3, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB
• Tate Southisene, SS: 1-5, RBI, R, SB
• Conor Essenburg, CF: 1-5
• Junior Garcia, RF: 2-4, R
• Ethan Bagwell, SP: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Box Score

This was a really disappointing loss for Augusta against what isn’t exactly a strong Delmarva team than won just it’s 18th game of the season by beating the GreenJackets.

Things went downhill pretty quick from the jump in this one, as Ethan Bagwell didn’t exactly have his best stuff. The Shorebirds managed to tag Bagwell for one run in the first inning and three runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Bagwell would eventually give up two more runs, bringing his total to six runs allowed on the day in what was easily his worst outing of the year to this point.

The Augusta offense did its best to try and stay in the game. In fact, the GreenJackets actually tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning thanks to a two-run bomb from Cooper McMurray and a pair of run-scoring singles from both Tate Southisene and Conor Essenburg.

However, with Bagwell giving up three more runs and the bullpen also giving up three more runs, it was simply too much to overcome.

One bright spot in terms of pitching was lefty Adiel Melendez who, in 2.1 innings of work, held Delmarva scoreless while striking out three batters. After a couple of rougher outings in late April and early May, the undrafted free agent has come into his own to lower his ERA to 3.68 while striking out 18 in 14.2 innings pitched.

(0-2) DSL Braves 2, (1-1) DSL Astros Blue 6

• Starlyn De La Cruz, CF: 2-3, 2B, R, BB
• Jose Manon, SS: 2-4, 2B
• Sherrintley Da Costa Gomez, LF: 1-2, 2B, R, BB
• Martires Polanco, SP: 4 IP, H, R, 3 BB, 7 K

Box Score

The DSL Braves played their second game of the season on Wednesday, and a handful of players stood out above the rest.

Top international signees Starlyn De La Cruz and Jose Manon had significant days at the plate, as they both tallied a pair of hits, including one double each, on the day. De La Cruz also scored one of the Braves’ two runs on the day as well.

Sherrintley Da Costa Gomez also had a solid day at the plate, going 1-2 with a double and a run scored to his credit to go along with a walk.

On the pitching side of things, Martires Polanco made his debut on the mound for the Braves. Across just four innings of work, Polanco was excellent as the 19-year-old allowed just one hit and one unearned run while striking out seven in the process. He did walk three batters, so his control needs a little refining, which isn’t out of the ordinary for a younger arm.

Days before its opening day of its second full season, Athletes Unlimited Softball League is getting a new influx of cash.

AUSL announced a new group of strategic investors on Thursday, June 4 that includes Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio and MLB Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. Ryan’s partners with Ryan Sanders Baseball – Reid Ryan and Don Sanders – are also investing in the league. 

The Brewers become the first MLB club to invest directly in the AUSL. Folks who were already invested in AUSL include NBA superstar Kevin Durant and his longtime business partner Rich Kleiman.

"The momentum just continues to build. It's building for softball as a whole and the AUSL is seeing that momentum on every level, and so we couldn't be more excited to be bringing in the Brewers and Ryan Sanders. I think it's a testament to their belief in the opportunity and the future ahead," Jon Patricof, the CEO and co-founder of Athletes Unlimited, told USA TODAY Sports. "For us, not only their capital, but their expertise are going to be hugely valuable."

Good morning friends! Happy Mariners off-day to you.

The M’s saw their winning streak snapped yesterday in a 7-1 loss to the Mets. The M’s hit the road now for a stretch, going to Detroit, Baltimore, and Washington.

Importantly, it’s All-Star voting season. In my youth, I held steadfast to only voting for players who deserve it rather than just voting for my favorite players. But in recent years I’ve decided that I don’t care about voting for the “logical” choice. Life is too short to vote for someone else’s guy. Go vote Mariners!

In Mariners news…

• Former Mariners Ken Griffey, Jr. and Harold Reynolds will join former Yankees ace CC Sabathia to host Play Ball Live on the MLB YouTube channel this Friday in advance of the MLB Breakthrough Series in an interactive stream designed to “engage, excite and inspire youth baseball and softball players all over the world.”
• Baseball America released its monthly update of the top 100 prospects in baseball, with M’s right-hander Ryan Sloan officially being crowned the top pitching prospect in the sport.

Around the league…

• Diamondbacks right-hander Corbin Burnes is likely out until September after suffering a teres major strain.
• Nick Castellanos’ tenure in San Diego did not last long, as the Padres DFA’d the struggling outfielder.
• Rob Manfred made his first public comments about the economic proposals made by both sides, emphasizing the need to adjust the financial rules of the game for the sake of competitive balance.
• Young Dodgers right-hander Roki Sasaki is finally starting to reach his potential, writes Jay Jaffe at Fangraphs.
• Matthew Trueblood at Baseball Prospectus wonders what happened to the sidearm four-seam fastball. ($)
• Lukas Vlahos at Amazin’ Avenue has seen enough of Mets first baseman Mark Vientos.
• Kiri Oller at Fangraphs had some fun mapping real-life baseball personalities to the fake world of Pokémon Pokopia.
• Bradley Woodrum at Baseball Prospectus tried to figure out if there is a secret to winning one-run ballgames. ($)

When the White Sox signed Munetaka Murakami, there was hope.

There was optimism.

There was even a healthy amount of “what if?”

What there probably wasn’t was “first rookie since 1901 to hit 20 home runs before June.”

Yet here we are.

The American League announced Wednesday that Murakami has been named AL Rookie of the Month for May, a recognition that feels less like an award and more like an acknowledgment of the baseball fever dream he authored over the season’s first two months.

Before a right hamstring strain landed him on the injured list on May 30, Murakami spent the month terrorizing opposing pitchers. In 26 May games, the White Sox first baseman slashed .244/.382/.556 with eight home runs, 18 RBIs, 21 runs scored, and 19 walks. Among all major-league rookies, he led the way in homers, runs scored, and walks while tying for the lead in RBIs.

The power has been obvious from the moment he arrived. The patience has been nearly as impressive. Even during stretches when the batting average dipped, Murakami kept reaching base and kept hitting the ball with authority. That’s how a player can post a .937 OPS during a month where he hit “only” .244.

And the season totals remain downright ridiculous.

In 57 games, Murakami is slashing .240/.378/.560 with 20 home runs, 41 RBIs, 43 runs scored, and 44 walks. At the time of his injury, he was tied for the American League lead in both home runs and RBIs while ranking near the top of the league in runs scored, slugging percentage, OPS, and walks.

The pace was cartoonish: 58 home runs, 119 RBIs, 124 runs scored, and 127 walks over a full season.

For a franchise that has spent much of the last decade searching for impact hitters, Murakami immediately became one.

His 20 home runs before June didn’t just put him atop the rookie leaderboard. The feat had never been accomplished by a rookie in the modern era. In White Sox history, only Frank Thomas in 1994 and Jim Thome in 2006 had previously reached the 20-homer mark before the calendar flipped to June.

That’s elite company. That’s Hall of Fame company.

It’s also the latest reminder that Murakami’s transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to the major leagues has been far smoother than even the most optimistic projections could have imagined.

The White Sox will gladly trade individual awards for a healthy hamstring and a quick return to the lineup. Still, after two months spent rewriting record books and carrying the offense, Murakami has earned every bit of recognition coming his way.

The American League Rookie of the Month award is simply the latest piece of evidence.

And if his first two months in Chicago are any indication, it probably won’t be the last. Fingers crossed.

Happy Thursday all!

The A’s have taken the first two of three versus the Chicago Cubs after winning Tuesday, coming back in last night’s game and giving themselves a chance at a series sweep. They sit at 30-31, in second place in the AL West by two games and currently occupying the third and final Wild Card spot with a half-game lead over the Texas Rangers. The American League is weirdly bunched together two months into the season. For example, the Boston Red Sox are eight games under .500 but still within three and a half games of a playoff spot (but with five teams ahead of them). The Wild Card race is looking more and more likely it’ll be a year-long affair involving a majority of the teams in the Junior Circuit.

For tonight’s finale in The Windy City, it’ll be J.T. Ginn getting the ball hoping to propel the A’s to a series win. He’s coming off a fantastic performance last time out when he shut down the New York Yankees’ potent offense for six scoreless innings last weekend. The A’s would gladly take more of the same from their young right-hander this evening. The A’s have set themselves up for the sweep and have their best pitcher on the mound. Getting out of Chicago with three wins is very doable.

Off the field, shortstop Jacob Wilson continues to progress from his dislocated shoulder. He was seen taking batting practice at Wrigley Field yesterday afternoon before the game, and from the video it seems like his shoulder is in good shape:

It seems that the team really did avoid a worst-case scenario with Wilson’s shoulder. Many times shoulder dislocations require surgery, or at a minimum any absence is measured in months not weeks. Since he’s been out for a good chunk of time it’s almost certain he’ll be going on a rehab assignment down in the minors, but he’s such a good hitter that he may not need more than a few at bats against lower-level pitching to be ready for an activation.

The A’s defense can not wait until Wilson returns. The shortstop has been out now for three-plus weeks and it’ll certainly be a full month before the team gets him back. Darell Hernaiz has handled shortstop duties in Wilson’s absence and has gone 17-for-58 (good for a .293 average) since taking over regular duties. He hasn’t been a huge liability in the field either, but the team is clearly better with Wilson in the everyday role. It’s good to know that Hernaiz can hold his own in a pinch moving forward.

Next up will be the Houston Astros. We will have a surprise starter on the mound tomorrow, not one of the arms that was just called up earlier in the week:

The promotion of Perkins to the starting rotation will make plenty of A’s fans happy. There was a belief that Friday’s series opener would feature either Kade Morris or Mason Barnett getting the ball for the start but it’ll instead be the right-hander who has been in the Athletics’ bullpen all season long.

The former 5th-round pick came up as a starting pitcher and turned heads on his way to the big leagues but has been used almost exclusively as a relief pitcher over the past two seasons. So far in 17 games for the A’s this year Perkins has a 5.46 ERA across 28 frames. He’s been hit especially hard in recent outings; the right-hander posted a 7.98 ERA in the month of May in just nine appearances out of the ‘pen. They’re not exactly promoting him to the starting five when he’s rolling.

He did make four starts in September to wrap up the year and held his own. There has been a belief that the bullpen is his likely long-term home but it seems the club is finally ready to give him a look here in 2026. With the state of the rotation right now there’s every chance that Perkins can parlay a strong start into another and hopefully follow a similar track as Ginn. High hopes but why not?

Morris and Barnett are as of this posting available for a Saturday afternoon start in the second game of the Houston series but nothing outside of Perkins getting the ball for the series opener in Houston has been confirmed. Neither of them pitched in the first two Cubs games so if one of them makes it into today’s finale, we’ll know Saturday’s starter is likely the other guy. Who would you guys rather start on Saturday in Houston?

Have a great day A’s fans.

A’s Coverage:

• Wednesday Potpourri: What’s Up With Butler, Closer, June Plan?
• Jump Dominant As Athletics Beat Cubs 2-1
• Three Things To Watch For The Athletics In June
• The A’s Inability To Play Well At Home Is Embarrassing
• A’s Unravel in Series and Homestand Finale
• A’s call up pitching prospect Kade Morris
• Road, sweet road? A’s ready for reset after rough homestand
• Ginn’s glow-up: A’s hurler coming into his own at right time
• Three Dark Horse Trade Candidates for Athletics This Summer
• June update: 2026 top 10 prospect rankings for all 30 MLB teams
• Athletics Early MLB Draft Preview
• The A’s may have finally found their new leadoff hitter
• A’s drop the game and Series to the Mariners, fall into second place
• Wilson takes swings in next step toward return from IL

MLB News and Interest:

• Corbin Burnes Suffers Teres Major Strain, Likely Out Until September
• Blue Jays To Acquire Simeon Woods Richardson From Twins
• Breaking down the All-Star Ballot position by position
• Altuve takes live BP, could return as early as weekend series vs. A’s
• Commissioner Manfred discusses exchange of initial proposals to begin CBA talks
• Padres designate Nick Castellanos for assignment; Taylor called up
• The Trade Deadline is 2 months away, but rumors are already swirling around Skubal
• Mets option Tong to Triple-A, recall Gerber to refresh bullpen
• Reds Option TJ Friedl, Recall Noelvi Marté
• Angels Re-Sign Joey Lucchesi On Minor League Deal
• Giants reliever Matt Gage goes on IL with knee inflammation
• The Pirates Finally Have an Offense
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Kurtz is your May AL Player of the Month!

It was always meant to be:

…..oh…. (this was before last night’s game, too):

Even though it’ll be Perkins on Friday, it seems Morris and Barnett are still in the running for a start on Saturday:

The San Diego Padres have truly been stuck in a rut lately. The club has been unable to score enough runs to back their starting pitchers. The Friars struggled through the first six innings before scoring a run against Philadelphia Phillies’ ace Cristopher Sánchez on an RBI-single from Jackson Merrill. The lone run ended the lefty’s historic 50 2/3 scoreless innings streak.

Unfortunately, reliever Jason Adam would immediately give up the game on two mistakes, resulting in home runs to J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber in the bottom of the seventh. Despite the Friars tacking on a run in the eighth against reliever Brad Keller, it wasn’t enough to back starter Walker Buehler’s one-run outing.

The Padres need a win. Badly. They need it any way they can get it. Hopefully that win will come today, and San Diego can salvage the series finale against Philly.

Taking the mound

Zack Wheeler (PHI) v. Lucas Giolito (SD)

The former ace returned from his season-ending surgery in 2025 and picked up right where he left off. Wheeler has pitched to a 2.27 ERA across 43 2/3 innings with a ridiculously low 0.85 WHIP. He’s been a large part of Philadelphia’s recent turnaround.

The righty got rocked by the rival Los Angeles Dodgers in his last start, allowing four runs (each on a solo home run) across six innings of work. San Diego will need to punish his mistakes in order to stave off the sweep.

Giolito had a similar poor outing recently, giving up four runs in just 2 2/3 innings pitched against the Washington Nationals this weekend. After two solid starts to the year, it was a tough watch. Giolito has struggled with command and will need to fix that when facing the Phillies’ sluggers.

His 4.97 ERA is a little misleading. He’s pitched much better than that stat line would suggest, but Giolito has also not done a lot as of late to prove that he deserves better consideration. Hopefully he’ll be able to do that this afternoon.

Batter up!

Ty France has continued to prove his usefulness, going 2-for-4 with a double in yesterday’s game. Fernando Tatis Jr. has also continued to heat up, going 1-for-4 and scoring a run for the Friars.

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
2. Gavin Sheets, LF
3. Miguel Andujar, DH
4. Manny Machado, 3B
5. Ty France, 1B
6. Jackson Merrill, CF
7. Xander Bogaerts, SS
8. Jase Bowen, RF
9. Freddy Fermin, C

Most of the Padres have yet to face Wheeler but, of the ones who have, Xander Bogaerts and Merrill have had the most success. They boast a respective .300 and .286 career batting average alongside a 1.064 and 1.429 OPS against the righty.

Relief corps

With Buehler going six innings, San Diego only used two pitchers to finish out the game, with Adam and Wandy Peralta covering the final two innings. That leaves the ‘pen fresh for today should Giolito falter early again.

Jeremiah Estrada, Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Bradgley Rodriguez will all be readily available to pitch. With the Padres on a losing streak, Miller hasn’t pitched since last Friday. Hopefully he’ll get the chance to come out in the series finale today.

There were lots and lots of hits in Binghamton. There were not many at all down in St. Lucie. The Phillies prospects played a quartet of games against the Mets’ affiliates, and won three of them. Gotta get that rivalry started early.

Rochester 5, Lehigh Valley 3

The IronPigs held their foes scoreless for eight of nine innings. Unfortunately, the one inning they didn’t— a five-run second— was enough to sink them. Starter Tucker Davidson had a rough night, taking the loss. Ryan Cusick pitched four scoreless in relief, and Felix Reyes hit a two-run homer to put Lehigh Valley back in striking distance, but the Red Wings ended up flying to victory over the IronPigs.

Binghamton 16, Reading 11

They were not lacking for runs in New York. The Fightin Phils had a good night at the plate, with Dante Nori going three for six, and Aroon Escobar adding a hit and a pair of free passes. But starter Jean Cabrera struggled, allowing nine hits and nine runs, all earned. His night ended after just 1.1 innings of work. A trio of relievers steadied the ship, but Colin Peluse allowed a quintet of runs in the seventh (four earned), and the Fightins couldn’t recover.

Jersey Shore 5, Brooklyn 4 (1o)

The BlueClaws were kept quiet on offense, at first. They had only one run through six. But they scored a trio in the seventh, then held their Brooklynite foes scoreless in the eighth and ninth to force extras. The Cyclones couldn’t muster a run in the tenth, and that made things simple for the BlueClaws. Tyler Pettorini gamely sacrificed himself via a bunt to put the ghost runner on third, and Luis Caicuto ended it with a single to right. Center fielder Pedro León was three for four on the night, and starter Sam Highfill made the Cyclones dizzy, with 8 strikeouts through five IP.

Clearwater 2, St. Lucie 0

After being rained out yesterday, Clearwater had a doubleheader against the St. Lucie Mets today. And they started it in grand fashion. A trio of Threshers hurlers took to the mound, and not one of them allowed a hit. Tanner Gresham K’d 8 Mets through five innings, Marty Gair continued the no-no in the sixth, and Gabe Craig struck out the side to complete it. The game only ran seven innings due to the Single-A doubleheader rules. Nevertheless, a no-hitter is always to be celebrated, even more so when it comes against the next generation of Mets. The Threshers were themselves held scoreless through five, but plated two runs in the sixth in scrappy fashion, with Griffin Burkholder and Robert Phelps making it to base on a walk and error, respectively, Nathan Humphreys showing that the sacrifice bunt is not a lost art, and Alirio Ferrebus singling to send the first two home.

Clearwater 5, St. Lucie 3

The Threshers continued their no-hitter through nine, in a sense: they held the Mets hitless through the first two innings of the second game. Jaeden Calderon hit a homer in the third to give Clearwater a lead, which they surrendered in the bottom fifth. But the Threshers were not content to settle for a split, even if their half of it was a no-hitter. Instead, they chose late-inning heroics, scoring four in the seventh (and final) inning via a pair of singles, a walk, and a pair of errors. Cody Bowker had 6 strikeouts through four as the Threshers concluded a very successful day in St. Lucie.

Tulsa, Great Lakes,, and Ontario all won, with a highlight for the Drillers’ 16-hit effort in a commanding win over the Sod Poodles.

Player of the day

Now batting .333, Chase Harlan was at the forefront of a winning effort for the Tower Buzzers, managing to hit his eighth home run of the season, anchoring that lineup and helping Ontario move above .500 ball, now sitting at 27-26.

Selected in the third round of the 2024 Draft, Harlan is a month away from turning 20, and a call-up to a higher level might be in the cards for him if he keeps up this kind of production.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Despite having eight of its nine hitters who started the game reach safely at least once and out-homering their opponent two-to-zero, the Comets dropped this one at home by a score of nine to five. Jackson Ferris had a choppy start, allowing three runs in as many innings, and reliever Ryder Ryan was ambushed for another five runs.

Offensively, the standout name for the Comets was shortstop Noah Miller, who homered and tripled, raising his OPS to .811. The other home run for Oklahoma City came from the former Diamondback Alek Thomas, who was making his debut for the Comets, batting eighth and playing center field.

Double-A Tulsa

It was a good day for hitters at the bottom of the lineup, with Chris Newell responsible for half of the Drillers’ RBI in an 8-3 win over the Sod Poodles—this included a two-run shot in the sixth that gave Tulsa the lead for the first time in this game.

Other than standout prospect Zyhir Hope, who went 0 for 5, everyone else chipped in—shortstop Elijah Hainline didn’t record an out across five of his plate appearances with three hits and two walks, while Josue De Paula has now reached base safely in 20 straight games.

Starter Adam Serwinowski overcame his struggles in 2026 to earn his fourth win by allowing just one run in six innings of work. The walks were a bit of a problem, conceding four of them and only two hits, but nothing that would spoil his start. Recently activated reliever Lucas Wepf allowed back-to-back solo shots in the ninth and still didn’t risk this win for the Drillers.

High-A Great Lakes

After squandering an early 3-0 lead, the Loons took advantage of poor defensive work from the Lugnuts by scoring two of their final three runs on a wild pitch and a throwing error, winning the game 6-4. Responsible for blowing the lead and ultimately the winning pitcher of record, Jakob Wright was the bulk man out of the bullpen, covering 4.2 innings and allowing four runs in the process.

One of the more stable performers for the Loons this season, center fielder Charles Davalan had the go-ahead RBI in the seventh, his 29th of the year. Number two hitter Emil Morales had three of the Loons’ eight hits on this one, including a mammoth blast.

Single-A Ontario

There aren’t too many hitters outperforming Chase Harlan across the board in the Dodgers minor league system, and the young third baseman was yet again responsible for a Tower Buzzers win, securing two RBI in a 4-2 effort over the Ports.

Highlighting Harlan’s performance buries the lede, as this game also saw the rare four-inning save for Ontario. Tyler Gough covered the game’s first five innings, allowing just one run, and the Tower Buzzers gave the final four to Jesus Tillero for the final four. Tillero dealt with traffic all the way through, but held onto the lead.

Transactions

The Tulsa Drillers activated right-handed pitcher Lucas Wepf from the injured list.

Wednesday’s scores

• Oklahoma City 5, Round Rock 9
• Amarillo 3, Tulsa 8
• Great Lakes 6, Lansing 4
• Ontario 4, Stockton 2

Thursday’s schedule

• 4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Christian Zazueta) vs. Lansing (Zane Taylor)
• 5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (River Ryan) vs. Round Rock (TBD)
• 5:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Payton Martin) at Amarillo (Daniel Eagen)
• 6:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Stockton (Shotaro Morii)