I’m hoping to be back home before game time, but in case I’m not, here is a GameThread.
Astros @ Blue Jays Game Thread
Nationals hand Phillies' bats a dud — but Alan Rangel looks strong
Nationals hand Phillies' bats a dud — but Alan Rangel looks strong originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
WASHINGTON — Just about the only thing that could cool off this red-hot Phillies lineup was a 92-minute rain delay.
And, as it turns out, a solid left-handed starter. Again.
The Phillies have masked their struggles against southpaw starters lately, but the larger issue remains.
The only lefties they have scored three or more runs against this season are Kyle Freeland (7.36 ERA), Nick Lodolo (6.12 ERA), Anthony Kay (4.61 ERA), Patrick Corbin (4.73 ERA), Shane Drohan, who has made only five starts, Sean Manaea (4.64 ERA) and David Peterson (6.09 ERA).
Not exactly a list of pitchers thriving this season.
In their other 17 games against left-handed starters, the Phillies have scored just 11 earned runs.
One of those outings came against one lefty who carved them up earlier this year, Foster Griffin.
On March 30, Griffin held the Phillies down over five innings, while the Nationals pounced on Taijuan Walker in a 13-2 Washington win.
A lot has changed since then, except for their issues against lefty hurlers.
Almost three months later, the Nationals left-hander had everything working again in the Phillies’ 4-1 loss to Washington. He attacked the Phillies all evening, starting 20 of the 26 batters he faced with a first-pitch strike.
That is a difficult formula for hitters against Griffin, who developed a seven-pitch repertoire during three seasons in Japan.
He is not overpowering, and it works. He’s got a 3.15 ERA in 16 starts this year.
Griffin threw 71 percent strikes, kept the Phillies off balance and worked 7 1/3 innings of four-hit, one-run ball. He walked nobody and struck out nine.
Superb.
The Phillies finally broke through in the seventh on a Brandon Marsh solo homer. Marsh continues to give the offense quality at-bats against lefties, and his shot cut Washington’s lead to 2-1.
It also gave the Phillies some hope as they prepared to face one of baseball’s shakier bullpens.
That hope did not last long.
With James Wood leading off the bottom of the seventh and two right-handed hitters set to follow, Don Mattingly turned to right-hander Seth Johnson rather than lefty Kyle Backhus.
Wood singled. Then former Phillies farmhand Curtis Mead hit a two-run homer.
The Nationals’ lead grew to 4-1, and that was the final.
For the Phillies, it was a tough finish because they got nearly everything they could have asked for from Alan Rangel.
The club recalled Rangel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley earlier in the day, then used Tim Mayza as an opener before handing the ball to the 27-year-old right-hander.
Rangel was not dominant.
But he delivered one of the more encouraging outings the Phillies have gotten from this spot in the rotation in about a month.
He allowed one run over five innings and gave the Phillies a chance.
Rangel brings a new look to the staff with a funky, hide-the-ball delivery from a steep over-the-top slot. His 69-degree arm angle would be the most vertical in Major League Baseball among qualified pitchers, even steeper than Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage at 66 degrees.
The Phillies’ right-handed starters behind Zack Wheeler have struggled this season. Rangel’s first outing offered a possible sign that the club has another internal option worth exploring.
He filled the zone. Rangel threw first-pitch strikes 62 percent of the time, landed 71 percent of his pitches for strikes and generated a 41 percent chase rate.
For him, it will likely come down to execution more than simply throwing strikes.
Several Nationals hitters swung through or fouled off changeups above the zone. They also chased fastballs out of the zone. That could have something to do with Rangel’s unusual release point, which makes the ball tougher to pick up.
His next chance to start, or work in bulk behind an opener, will likely come Saturday in Queens against the Mets.
That lineup could have Francisco Lindor back by then.
Monday’s result did not go the Phillies’ way.
But Rangel gave Mattingly something to carry into the next turn.
Cubs, Mets rained out; split doubleheader Wednesday
For the second straight day, there will be no Cubs baseball due to weather:
Game times Wednesday will be 12:10 p.m. CT and 6:10 p.m. CT (the originally scheduled game is the 6:10 p.m. game).
At this time we don’t know who will be starting for the Cubs or Mets, as no announcement has been made. I’d think the Cubs would go with Edward Cabrera (tomorrow’s scheduled starter) and Javier Assad (Wednesday’s scheduled starter), with today’s starter Shōta Imanaga going Tuesday.
The bullpen, for whatever that’s worth, should be well rested.
But that’s just speculation, we’ll find out later.
Some interesting postponement notes from BCB’s JohnW53:
The last time the Cubs had consecutive games postponed by rain or cold was April 20 and 22, 1977. Both were at home.
The first followed two losses to the Phillies. The second, after a day off, preceded two wins over the Reds.
They lost both make-up games, the first of doubleheaders, on July 27 vs. the Reds and Aug. 14 vs. the Phillies.
…
Their last back-to-back postponements of any kind were Sept. 12-13, 2008, at Houston due to Hurricane Ike. Games were played Sept. 14-15 at Milwaukee. Carlos Zambrano pitched a no-hitter in the first one.Games at Miami scheduled for Sept. 3-5, 2004, were postponed due to Hurricane Frances. One was played at Miami on Sept. 10 as part of a doubleheader. The two others were played at Chicago as a doubleheader on Sept. 20.
Six games, all at home, three each vs. the Pirates and Reds, were postponed Sept. 11-16, 2001, due to the 9/11 attacks, and played Oct. 2-7.
Games at Montreal scheduled for Sept. 20-21, 1991, were postponed due to damage to Olympic Stadium. They were played at Chicago as a doubleheader on Sept. 22.
Six games, three at Philadelphia and three at home vs. the Mets, were postponed April 3-9, 1990, due to a strike. The three vs. the Mets were played in April, June and September; the three at Philadelphia, Oct. 1-3.
Games at St. Louis on Aug. 6-7, 1985, were postponed due to a strike. They were played on Sept. 5 and 9.
As was the case yesterday, feel free to use this thread as an open thread for baseball or other discussion within the rules of the site. Back tomorrow with more Cubs baseball!
Mets-Cubs game postponed as pounding rain blankets Queens
The start of the Mets’ seven-game homestand is on hold.
Monday night’s game in Queens against the Cubs has been postponed due to pouring rain and severe thunderstorms in the afternoon, with a split-admission doubleheader now set for Wednesday.
The games will start at 1:10 p.m. and 7:10 p.m.
The Mets are coming off series losses to the Reds and Phillies, losing their last two games to Philadelphia by a combined score of 21-5.
On Sunday, David Peterson was the latest Mets pitcher to blow a game for the team.
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He allowed five runs (four earned) across four innings on six hits and logged two walks and five strikeouts.
It won’t get any easier for the Mets in the near future as they’re set to host the Cubs and Phillies.
The Mets (34-43) are six games back of the final wild-card spot yet that would requiring jumping seven teams to get there.
Monday's Mets-Cubs game postponed due to rain
The Mets announced that Monday's game against the Chicago Cubs has been postponed due to rain.
The game will be made up as part of a split-admission doubleheader on Wednesday. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m.
Kodai Senga was scheduled to face left-hander Shota Imanaga, but now he will go up against RHP Edward Cabrera (4-4, 5.21 ERA).
As for Wednesday's doubleheader, Nolan McLean and Sean Manaea will start for New York, while Imanaga and Javier Assad will go for Chicago, but who will pitch in the afternoon and who will pitch the 7:10 p.m. start are to be determined.
The Mets (34-43) come into the Chicago series having dropped each of their last two series against Cincinnati and Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Cubs(40-37) have won six of their last nine.
New York may have Francisco Lindor back for Wednesday's twin-bill, as the shortstop will play another rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday. Manager Carlos Mendoza said the plan will be to "reassess" Lindor after his third minor league appearance as he works his way back from a calf strain, leaving the door open for him to rejoin the big league club.
Astros at Blue Jays Game Discussion: 6/22/2026
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (37-42) begin a 3-game series vs. the Toronto Blue Jays (38-39) at Rogers Centre in Toronto tonight.
RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.10 ERA) starts for the Astros vs. Jays RHP Dylan Cease (4-3, 2.71 ERA). Tonight will be Brown’s 4th career start/app. vs. TOR, and Cease’s 9th career start/app. vs. HOU.
ROAD TRIPPIN: Tonight is the 1st game of a 7-game road trip for the Astros, during which they will visit TOR (3G) and DET (4G), respectively.
Road Success: The Astros are 10-6 in their last 2 road trips combined. They have have posted a 16-12 record on the road since going 1-9 on their 1st road trip of the 2026 season.
Road Raking: The Astros lead the AL in road batting avg. at .252. They also rank 2nd in road SLG (.420) and OPS (.745) and 3rd in road HR (52) and OBP (.326).
ASTROS-BLUE JAYS: The Astros were 4-2 vs. TOR in 2025 (3-0 at home, 1-2 at TOR). HOU pitched very well vs. TOR last season, posting a 1.86 ERA (11ER/53.1IP) vs. them in 6 games while allowing just 31 hits in 53.1 IP for a .169 opponent batting avg.
Jays hitters were just 32×189 vs. HOU pitching overall last season.
Recent Success: The Astros have won 6 of 8 and 8 of their last 11 vs. TOR.
BROTHER BROWN: Tonight will be RHP Hunter Brown’s 4th start of the season and his 2nd since a lengthy stint on the Injured List due to a right shoulder strain (4/1-6/15). In his 1st start off the IL on June 16 vs. DET, he allowed just 1 run in 5.2 IP on 3 hits and 3 walks with 7 K’s in a 4-2 Astros win.
For the season, Brown has been strong in his 3 starts with a 1.10 ERA (2ER/16.1IP) while allowing just 8 hits in 16.1 IP (.145 opp. avg.) with 24 strikeouts.
2025 Review: Brown had an outstanding season in 2025, going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA, earning All-Star honors and a 3rd-place finish in the AL Cy Young voting.
MAKING THE JAYS BLUE: RHP Hunter Brown has had success vs. TOR in his young career. He enters tonight with a 15.0-inning scoreless streak vs. the Jays, which is the longest active streak vs. them.
In his last 2 starts vs. TOR, he hurled 7.0 scoreless innings on April 21, 2025 in HOU and 6.0 scoreless innings on July 1, 2024 at TOR (both wins).
In 3 career starts vs. TOR, Brown is 2-1 with a 1.42 ERA (3ER/19IP) and an 0.73 WHIP. He has allowed just 7 hits in 19.0 IP vs. TOR.
THE SLOW TURNAROUND: Over the last month, from May 21-June 21, the Astros are 17-11 (.607), which is the 2nd-best record in the AL in that span.
Top Records since May 21 (AL)
1. Yankees 16-10 (.615)
2. Astros 17-11 (.607)
3. Blue Jays 16-12 (.571)
RECENT STROS: The Astros have won 4 of 5 and 6 of their last 9 games.
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid 1st half to his season, currently leading all of baseball with a 1.067 OPS. Additionally, he leads the AL in HR (25), SLG (.640) and TB (181), and ranks 2nd in batting avg. (.322), OBP (.428) and RBI (56).
Alvarez was the AL Player of the Month for May, is hitting .388 (26×67) in June with 5 HR and 17 RBI a 1.124 OPS (.468 OBP/.657 SLG).
ALL-STAR VOTING: Yordan Alvarez currently leads all AL DH’s in All-Star voting. His 1,974,459 votes rank 2nd in the AL and 3rd overall in the Majors.
YORDAN/ROGERS CENTRE: In his last 14 games at Rogers Centre, Yordan Alvarez has 7 HR and 16 RBI, hitting .375 (18×48) in that span with an .875 SLG and a 1.349 OPS.
OKERT’S 0’S: LHP Steven Okert has not allowed a run in his last 15.0 innings, which is the longest scoreless streak by an Astros hurler this season.
His streak, which spans 12 appearances, is the longest consecutive inning scoreless streak in a season since AJ Blubaugh ended the 2025 season with a 19.0-inning scoreless streak. In Okert’s current streak, which began on May 23 at CHC, he has allowed just 4 hits in those 15.0 innings pitched.
HADERADE: In his 8 appearances since coming of the IL on June 3, opponents are just 2×26 off LHP Josh Hader.
Hader has posted a 1.13 ERA (1ER/8IP) and is 5-for-5 in save opportunities (.077 opp. avg., .038 WHIP).
POSITIVE IMPACT: Since SS Jeremy Peña returned to the lineup on May 18, the Astros have gone 18-13, while Peña has hit .293 (34×116) with 5 doubles, 6 homers and 18 RBI in 31 games. Prior to that date, Peña played in only 10 of the Astros first 48 games of the season, with the Astros going 19-29 in those contests.
ROSTER MOVE: RHP Bryan Abreu has been placed on the restricted list, effective today.
RHP Logan VanWey has been recalled from Triple A Sugar Land and will join the Major League club today.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1966 – In the Dome, a home record crowd of 50,908 fans attend to see future HOFer Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers take on the Astros. The Dodgers win the game, 5-2, but the Toy Cannon, Jimmy Wynn, has a banner day, going 4-for-4 off Koufax with a HR and 2 doubles in the losing effort.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, June 22, 6:07 p.m. CT
Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto, CAN
TV: Space City Home Network, ESPN Unlimited
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Game Thread: Our ace is on the mound!
Go Rays!
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Washington Nationals vs Philadelphia Phillies Game Thread
Blake Butera did not downplay the magnitude of this series. While he said this one counts the same as the rest, the players are aware of what is at stake in this 4 game set against the Phillies. This is a major measuring stick series for this group which surprisingly finds themselves in wild card contention.
With a lefty opener, the Nats are going with a unique lineup. Luis Garcia Jr. is hitting 8th to avoid the opener, while Curtis Mead hits second. Jacob Young is back in center field after an injury scare the other day. Dylan Crews will play in left, while Daylen Lile does the DH duties. Foster Griffin will toe the slab in DC.
The top of the Phillies lineup is red hot right now. Bryce Harper just hit for the cycle and Kyle Schwarber already has 29 homers. Brandon Marsh is hitting 6th to extend what can sometimes be a top heavy lineup. Rafael Marchan will catch instead of JT Realmuto. Tim Mayza will open, while Alan Rangel will be in a bulk role.
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Game Info:
Stadium: Nationals Park
Time: 6:45 PM EST
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
Weather permitting, this should be one heck of a matchup. The old champion of the division takes on an up and coming challenger in the Nats. This series will be full of storylines, however it goes. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
Astros Place RP Bryan Abreu on Restricted List, Recall RP Logan VanWey
Today, the Houston Astros announced that they had placed RP Bryan Abreu on the restricted list, and recalled RP Logan VanWey from Triple-A Sugar Land to replace him on the active roster.
No reason for moving Abreu to the restricted list was given.
Abreu, 29, has allowed 1 ER in 7 appearances since a 3-run blow-up June 2 vs. Pittsburgh. He allowed a solo HR in a 9-3 loss to the Tigers June 15 in a game that had long been decided.
Abreu last pitched on June 20, pitching a perfect inning in an 8-1 loss to the Guardians.
For the season, Abreu is 2-3 with 5 SV, a 6.39 ERA and 1.82 WHIP. Abreu’s career ERA is 2.92 and career WHIP is 1.22.
VanWey, 27, has only pitched 3 innings for the Astros this season and has not allowed a run. All 3 of his innings were closeouts of losses. In those 3 innings, he has allowed 1 hit, no walks and struck out 5.
This season at Triple-A Sugar Land, VanWey is 2-3 with a 6.20 ERA and 1.66 WHIP. In 24.2 IP, he has allowed 32 hits, 9 walks, and struck out 34. VanWey figures to be a long man in the Astros pen.
MLB Power Rankings: Harper and Schwarber fuel Phillies rise, Marlins feasting in June
Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have a game for the ages, Paul Goldschmidt is defying age, the Marlins are stepping up, and a host of big names are set to return from the injured list.
As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.
One programming note before we get started: I’ll be on vacation next week, so Dave Shovein will be providing his insight and analysis.
Let’s get started!
▶ Check out Matthew Pouliot’s latest Top 300 ROS update for fantasy baseball!
Rankings are from the morning of Monday, June 22
1) Atlanta Braves
Last week: 1
In a potential playoff preview, the Braves took two out of three from the Brewers over the weekend. They handed Jacob Misiorowski his first loss since April 19 on Friday before Ozzie Albies played the role of hero on Saturday.
OZZIE ALBIES WALK-OFF HOMER! pic.twitter.com/QWpKEZTNQB
— MLB (@MLB) June 20, 2026
2) Los Angeles Dodgers
Last week: 2
The Dodgers have lost consecutive games for the first time since May 12. Obviously there’s no reason for panic here, but the club might have to make a decision about Emmett Sheehan soon. After giving up six runs in a lopsided loss to the Orioles on Sunday, Sheehan’s ERA sits at 5.32 for the year.
3) Milwaukee Brewers
Last week: 3
After missing nearly two months following a procedure to drain a cyst from his right shoulder, Brandon Woodruff is set to rejoin the Brewers’ rotation on Monday against the Reds. This likely means Shane Drohan going back to the bullpen, especially with Robert Gasser back on the scene.
4) New York Yankees
Last week: 4
Paul Goldschmidt’s return to the Yankees didn’t garner much in the way of headlines this offseason, which was understandable given how he performed last year, but he’s recaptured some of his old magic this season. The 38-year-old has already surpassed his home run total from last year and his .896 OPS is his highest since his MVP season in 2022.
I couldn’t finish this Yankees section without showing Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart of the NBA Champion New York Knicks throwing out the first pitch last week. These guys are the best buddy comedy going right now.
Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart toss out first pitches at Yankee Stadium after securing the New York Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years pic.twitter.com/V7eFvdriys
— MLB (@MLB) June 17, 2026
5) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️
Last week: 8
Having a player hit for the cycle and hit three homers in the same game isn’t just something you can do in MLB The Show. It also happens in real life, as we saw with Bryce Harper (first career cycle) and Kyle Schwarber (fifth career three-homer game) on Saturday against the Mets. Harper and Schwarber are just the second pair of teammates to reach these feats in the same game, joining Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri of the 1932 Yankees.
BRYCE HARPER TRIPLES TO COMPLETE THE CYCLE! pic.twitter.com/prfwNsDL1b
— MLB (@MLB) June 21, 2026
6) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️
Last week: 5
After winning two out of three against the Nationals over the weekend (with a couple of big swings from the returning Jonny DeLuca), now the Rays have a chance to end June on a high note. They’ll play seven out of their next 10 games against the Royals, with the other three coming against the banged-up Diamondbacks.
7) St. Louis Cardinals ⬇️
Last week: 6
After a quiet month of May, JJ Wetherholt is slashing .333/.403/.500 this month. Yes, he slugged two homers in a wild win over the Royals on Sunday, but the most impressive thing this month is that he has more walks (six) than strikeouts (five). The National League Rookie of the Year race is far from over, as Sal Stewart of the Reds, Carson Benge and Nolan McLean of the Mets, Bryce Eldridge of the Giants, and Konnor Griffin of the Pirates will have something to say about it, but Wetherholt is the clear favorite right now.
8) Cleveland Guardians ⬆️
Last week: 9
The Guardians have lost four out of six since José Ramírez went down with hamate bone surgery. Travis Bazzana is certainly doing his part to help pick up the slack offensively. He’s hit safely in five straight games, during which he’s launched three homers.
9) Chicago White Sox ⬇️
Last week: 7
No rest for the weary here. After getting swept by the Tigers over the weekend, now the White Sox are set to square off against the Guardians to begin the week. After a long wait, catcher Kyle Teel is finally ready to make his season debut.
10) Chicago Cubs ⬆️
Last week: 12
PCA continues to enjoy a ridiculous month. He’s hit .550 (11-for-20) over the past seven days, including the first cycle of his career last Monday. He’s now homered in five out of his last seven games.
11) Seattle Mariners ⬆️
Last week: 14
It’s been an uneven few days for the Mariners, as they lost two out of three to the Red Sox over the weekend, but they also got Cal Raleigh back from the IL and Logan Gilbert is showing ace form once again. We’ve been saying it for a while, but the Mariners should be better than their record shows.
12) Miami Marlins ⬆️
Last week: 15
This is not a misprint. With the best record in baseball this month, including a four-game winning streak, the Marlins are on the verge of our top 10. The club will have to hope that 2026 breakout Liam Hicks won’t have to miss much time as he deals with a lower-back strain.
13) San Diego Padres ⬇️
Last week: 10
After abbreviated stints with the Royals and the Mariners, Samad Taylor has been a shot in the arm for the Padres’ offense, slashing .362/.423/.447 across 13 games. He’s hit safely in each of his starts with the club and has recently moved up near the top of the order. For a team who has struggled to find offense, they are literally riding the hot hand as far as it will take them.
14) Washington Nationals ⬇️
Last week: 11
Selected No. 2 overall in the 2023 MLB Draft, Dylan Crews hasn’t had the smoothest transition to the majors, but maybe just maybe we’re seeing what made him so highly-coveted. The former Golden Spikes Award Winner has three homers and 10 RBI over his last 10 games. While his patience leaves a lot to be desire, he’s making lots of solid contact. His .268 xBA and .489 xSLG indicates that he’s deserved better than his results would indicate. The Nationals’ lineup is already potent as it is, but it would be something if Crews begins to meet the hype.
15) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️
Last week: 13
Jordan Lawlar is back on the IL with a hamstring injury while Ryne Nelson is dealing with a flexor strain and Michael Soroka has a strained right glute. The Diamondbacks were looking forward to returns from Corbin Burnes and A.J. Puk, but they both suffered setbacks while ramping up their respective rehabs. If you’re around the .500 mark, you have a chance in this modern playoff structure. And that’s pretty much where the Diamondbacks find themselves. However, the injuries just might be too much to withstand.
16) Pittsburgh Pirates
Last week: 16
Scary moment in Sunday’s game, as Jared Jones was hit the elbow by a comebacker. He had a very emotional reaction, understandable given his return from Tommy John surgery, but fortunately X-rays came back negative.
Initial imaging for Jared Jones is negative, but Jones will be reexamined in Pittsburgh by team medical staff tomorrow @mearshannah_ with an update from the @pirates ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QOzhpGpWQe
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) June 21, 2026
17) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️
Last week: 19
The Blue Jays went 4-1 on their road trip and now they’ll return home for a 10-game homestand as they finally get Shane Bieber back from the IL on Tuesday. With a big four featuring Cease, Bieber, Yesavage, and Gausman, it would be surprising if we didn’t see the Jays rise in the rankings moving forward.
18) Athletics ⬇️
Last week: 17
This weekend’s series against the Angels was a wild one, so it’s hard to pick just moment, but this catch from Colby Thomas is a ton of fun. It also makes my back hurt.
COLBY THOMAS CATCH OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE! pic.twitter.com/68AI95ZNIw
— MLB (@MLB) June 21, 2026
Something to watch this week: Zach Gelof owns a 24-game hitting streak, three shy of Arizona’s Ildemargo Vargas for the longest in MLB this season.
19) Cincinnati Reds ⬆️
Last week: 20
The pendulum is starting to swing the other way again. Fresh off taking two out of three from the Yankees, the Reds are set to welcome Elly De La Cruz back on Tuesday and Hunter Greene has begun a minor league rehab assignment.
20) Minnesota Twins ⬆️
Last week: 22
To their credit, the Twins aren’t going away. They’ve won six out of their last seven as they attempt to quell the annual trade rumors involving Byron Buxton. While Buxton remains the centerpiece of this offense, Josh Bell has enjoyed a healthy turnaround over the past month. He’s hitting .337 with four homers and 19 RBI over his last 23 games.
21) Texas Rangers ⬇️
Last week: 18
Wyatt Langford has been a force since returning from the injured list, hitting .317 with five homers and 12 RBI in 15 games.
22) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️
Last week: 21
The Orioles took two out of three from our No. 1 team in the Dodgers over the weekend, but they’ll be without a key piece this week after Adley Rutschman was hit in the head by a throw and had to go on the 7-day concussion injured list. Talk about some awful luck.
Adley Rutschman has been placed on the IL four times in the past 365 days:
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) June 21, 2026
June 21, 2025 — Left oblique
Aug. 21, 2025 — Right oblique
April 11, 2026 — Left ankle
June 20, 2026 — Concussion
This injury is about as unlucky as they come after this play: pic.twitter.com/k4m6oJtBrk
23) Houston Astros
Last week: 23
Things are actually looking up for the Astros. They’ve won three straight series for the first time this season and they also have their ace Hunter Brown back in the fold.
24) Detroit Tigers ⬆️
Last week: 26
The Tigers pulled off a sweep of the White Sox over the weekend as they try to climb their way out of the hole they dug while Tarik Skubal was on the shelf.
WALK IT OFF MATTY V ‼️ pic.twitter.com/IxaFmjiBXN
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) June 21, 2026
The Tigers will be tested in a big way in the coming days, as they’ll play six out of their next 10 games against the Yankees. They also have a four-game set against the aforementioned Astros.
25) New York Mets ⬇️
Last week: 24
The Mets were hoping they got an ace with the acquisition of Freddy Peralta this offseason, but after giving up a career-high 10 earned runs on Saturday against the Phillies, he’s now sporting a 4.83 ERA on the year. Even with Francisco Lindor expected to return this week, time is running out for this team.
26) Boston Red Sox ⬇️
Last week: 25
The Red Sox are signaling to the baseball world that it’s almost #HugWatch time.
Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray make love at first base pic.twitter.com/uD7GfzuFxW
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 18, 2026
Appropriately enough, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras are likely trade candidates leading into the deadline. Aroldis Chapman and Jarren Duran are among the other names to watch on this roster.
27) Kansas City Royals
Last week: 27
Jac Caglianone is starting to find his way against major league pitching. The 23-year-old has seven homers and 16 RBI this month to go along with a stout .379/.468/.742 batting line. He’s homered in each of his last three games.
28) Los Angeles Angels ⬆️
Last week: 29
Mike Trout appears on track to get voted into the All-Star Game by the fans, but now he’s on the injured list with a right hamstring strain. Hopefully he’s able to make it back in time, as it would be extra special to see him play in Philadelphia, just a short drive from his hometown of Millville, New Jersey.
29) San Francisco Giants ⬇️
Last week: 28
Oh, what a mess the Giants continue to be. Not only were they swept by the Marlins over the weekend, but Rafael Devers decided to go all Roger Dorn and try to waive off a pinch-runner in the ninth inning on Sunday. Giants rookie manager Tony Vitello tried to be diplomatic after the game, but the vibes are just awful here.
Rafael Devers didn't want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the ninth pic.twitter.com/PR3DCOFd3M
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 21, 2026
30) Colorado Rockies
Last week: 30
Want to watch an inside-the-park home run? Let’s watch an inside-the-park home run.
OMG JAKE
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) June 21, 2026
INSIDE THE PARK HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/KMScxcVZDz
My favorite thing about this might have been Jake McCarthy’s comments after the game. As he told Thomas Harding of MLB.com, “I was tired — I was trying not to throw up.”
Where to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Minnesota Twins: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Monday, June 22
The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 49-29 record, face the Minnesota Twins, who are third in the AL Central with a 38-41 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -155 moneyline compared to the Minnesota Twins' +125. Starting pitchers are Eric Lauer for the Dodgers, with a 5.37 ERA, and Zebby Matthews for the Twins, with a 4.78 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Minnesota Twins
Date: Monday, June 22
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET / 4:40 p.m. PT
Where: Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
TV Channels: Twins.TV Presented by Progressive, SportsNet LA
Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Team records
Los Angeles Dodgers: 49-29 (first in NL West)
Minnesota Twins: 38-41 (third in AL Central)
Odds
Spread: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5
Moneyline: Minnesota Twins +125 / Los Angeles Dodgers -155
Over/Under: 9.5
Starting pitchers
Los Angeles Dodgers: Eric Lauer (2-5, ERA: 5.37, K: 40, WHIP: 1.31)
Minnesota Twins: Zebby Matthews (3-4, ERA: 4.78, K: 34, WHIP: 1.18)
Series: Game 1 of 3 (series tied)
Weather: 75°F at first pitch
The Braves travel out west to face the Padres
The Atlanta Braves are headed out west to face the Padres and they could use a series victory to get back on track. The. The Braves did take two from the Brewers, but they won in games where the Braves did not produce much offense.
The Braves will likely need their offense to kick it into gear tonight since Grant Holmes is on the mound. Holmes has arguably had the worst two game skid in his career his last two outings. In his last two starts he combined for only 5.2 innings pitched while giving up six runs, eight hits, and walking five hitters to only four strikeouts. He also got saved a few times when he loaded the bases multiple times where a lot more damage could have been done.
It is no secret now that Holmes struggles the second time through the order. The average hitter is hitting .320/.395/.660 against him. If a hitter had that slash line for an entire season, they would get MVP votes. For reference, if a hitter had an OPS of 1.055, they would have the second highest OPS in MLB behind the otherworldly Yordan Alvarez.
No player on the Padres has faced Holmes in more than five at-bats, so there is not a lot of past matchup data to draw conclusions from. Ty France has seen Holmes the most and in his five at-bats is hitting .400 with a 1.100 OPS. Manny Machado has a hit against Holmes both times he faced him.
Unless something crazy happens, it is likely that we will see a lot of bullpen arms used today. It will be interesting to see if it will be a planned long reliever like Didier Fuentes or someone like that.
Michael King will be taking the mound for the Braves. The last time King faced the Braves it was his first start of 2025 where he only lasted 2.2 innings when he gave up four hits to include a HR, four walks, three earned runs, and three strikeouts. The Padres ended up winning that game, but it was not because of King.
King has been very good this season when looking at his on the field surface numbers. He has a 3.60 ERA in 85.0 innings over fifteen starts with a WHIP of 1.188. His underlying metrics show a different story with his expected ERA (xERA) being 4.79 which is in the bottom 25.0 percent of pitchers. He also has an expected batting average against (xBA) him of .252 which places him in the bottom 37.0 percent of pitchers.
Hopefully King’s regression to the mean will start tonight with the Braves. The difficulty with King will be that his best skill this season is preventing hard contact, and that is what the Braves’ greatest strength is offensively.
Every player on the Braves’ active roster outside of Eli White has faced King before. Rowdy Tellez leads the team with fourteen at-bats against King, but likely won’t get the start. Unfortunately, no one on the Braves has established success. Albies has a HR in two at-bats, and Kim has a hit in his one at-bat, but everyone else has an OPS that is .715 or lower against King.
On paper, the Padres seem to have the advantage in this game, but you never know when one of the Braves start to get hot. That seems to be the trend this season. Dominic Smith had a spurt, Matt Olson had a hot streak, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris have been steady, and Ozzie Albies seems to now be heating up.
Grab your coffee because the first pitch is at 10:10 pm EDT.
Game Info
Game Time: Monday, June 22nd, 10:10 pm EDT
Location: Petco Park, , San Diego, Ga
Watch: ESPN
Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
Ask Pinstripe Alley: Yankees mailbag questions request
It’s been an up and down week for the Yankees, as they took a series against the surprise contender White Sox but dropped their weekend series to the Reds scoring just three runs in their two losses. There were still plenty of highlights to point out, from Cam Schlittler dominating for another six innings of shutout ball with 13 strikeouts to further his early Cy Young case or Ben Rice clobbering another couple of balls to jump up to 22 homers on the year and moving him back up to fourth in MLB.
Now that we’re officially into summer though, it’s time to start getting serious about the team’s place in the standings and how to improve their chances of going the distance. The team sits in first place with a two-game lead over the Rays, but even if you believe that the gap should be a little wider based on the quality of their wins the fact of the matter is Tampa has been neck-and-neck with them thus far. Rumors of a Tarik Skubal all-in rental are floating, but would an absolutely overwhelming rotation solve the team’s issues in the lineup and bullpen? Are their prospects good enough to outbid the other teams seeking his services, and can they do anything else if they go that route? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of June 25th will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
Where to watch New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers: Live stream, start time, TV channel, odds for Monday, June 22
The New York Yankees, ranked first in the AL East with a 46-30 record, face the Detroit Tigers, who are fourth in the AL Central with a 33-44 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -125 moneyline compared to the Detroit Tigers' +105. Starting pitchers are Gerrit Cole for New York, with a 2.57 ERA, and Framber Valdez for Detroit, with a 4.09 ERA.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers
Date: Monday, June 22
Time: 6:10 p.m. ET / 3:10 p.m. PT
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
TV Channels: Detroit SportsNet, YES
Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports
Team records
New York Yankees: 46-30 (first in AL East)
Detroit Tigers: 33-44 (first in AL Central)
Odds
Spread: New York Yankees -1.5
Moneyline: Detroit Tigers +105 / New York Yankees -125
Over/Under: 8.5
Starting pitchers
New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole (2-1, ERA: 2.57, K: 24, WHIP: 1.00)
Detroit Tigers: Framber Valdez (3-5, ERA: 4.09, K: 67, WHIP: 1.35)
Series: Game 1 of 3 (series tied)
Weather: 74°F at first pitch
Yankees recall Yerry de los Santos ahead of Tigers series
The New York Yankees announced on Monday that they called up right-handed relief pitcher Yerry de los Santos to the major leagues to shore up their bullpen ahead of their series with the Detroit Tigers. The team made the announcement via X.
The hard-throwing sinker-changeup specialist takes Elmer Rodríguez’s place after his spot start on Sunday. De los Santos beats Yovanny Cruz, who was also in contention for a spot on the major league roster.
De los Santos has already been called up twice this year, pitching in a couple of games and completing 5.1 innings with a solid 1.69 ERA. He has walked three and struck out six hitters.
The 28-year-old has enjoyed a fairly successful campaign in Triple-A so far with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, posting a 3.41 ERA and a 3.14 FIP in 31.2 frames. He boasts a 27.7 percent strikeout rate and a 6.2 percent walk rate.
Cruz has also been solid in Triple-A this year with a 3.46 ERA and a 31.3 strikeout rate, but has been crushed to the tune of a 5.68 ERA this month and has pitched just five games in June. Perhaps he’s dealing with an undisclosed and minor issue, or just going through a bit of a slump.
During his career in the majors, de los Santos has shown a live arm and has always been seen as a promising pitcher, but an inability to get lefties out has limited his ceiling. So far, he has a 5.01 FIP vs. lefty hitters and a 3.12 mark vs. righties in MLB.
However, he appears to have made some strides in that department this year in the minor leagues, where he boasts a .164 batting average against while facing lefties and a .253 mark vs. righties. Whether he can keep up those gains against some of the most talented hitters in the world remains to be seen. If he pitches well, de los Santos could have a chance to stick around for a while.