Category: MLB

Max Muncy drove in a pair of runs with a first-inning single and also walked twice on Friday night. The Dodgers third baseman leads his National League peers at the position in several offensive categories this season, hitting .265/.371/.518 with a 147 wRC+ and 16 home runs two days shy of the halfway point of the season.

Muncy also had a sizable lead in the first round of All-Star voting as he tries to make his third career All-Star Game. Muncy is also excelling on defense this year, and talked to Rowan Kavner at Fox Sports about his season, including the strides he’s made at the hot corner after moving back to the position in 2022:

“When I’d do my work, I’d feel very free with the glove, not afraid to field [the ball] at different positions, field it off-balance, field it on the wrong foot,” Muncy told me. “And then when the game would come, I just couldn’t find that freedom. The ball would get hit to me, and I would tense up. My feet would get stuck. I would be scared to field the ball one-handed, even though that’s how I do most of my work.”

Links

• Will Smith was eligible to return from the injured list before Friday’s series opener, but his neck inflammation still lingers. The Dodgers catcher will not be activated this weekend, manager Dave Roberts said Friday. Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register has more.
• Ben Clemens at FanGraphs sought context for how relievers handle inherited runners, using the run expectancies of every situation when a pitching change is made. Among the standouts is Dodgers left-hander Alex Vesia, who has allowed only three of his 19 inherited runners to score.
• Pablo Goldstein at LA Material wrote about a feud between two Dodgers fans and their dogs after a pair of Pups in the Park incidents at Dodger Stadium.

Good morning Birdland,

The west coast road trip is not going well for the Orioles. After dropping two of three in Seattle, they have now lost the opener in Los Angeles, and it happened in particularly brutal fashion. The game was actually pretty great up until the ninth inning. Our guys dug out of an early hole. Trey Gibson settled in. The middle relievers (Andrew Kittredge, Tyler Wells, and Yennier Cano) were very good. Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso contributed key home runs. And the team was able to hand Ryan Helsley a 5-3 lead going into the ninth inning.

Then, it all fell apart.

Helsley struggled again. He gave up a home run to Mookie Betts to cut the lead in half. Then he issued two walks with a pop out sandwiched in between. Despite his struggles, he was one out away from getting the Orioles a win anyway. But it wasn’t to be. Dalton Rushing singled into right field. The tying run scored easily. Tyler O’Neill’s throw home got away from Samuel Basallo, and the winning run crossed the plate.

Both Helsley and Basallo took some blame after the game. That feels fair enough overall. Helsley did not pitch well. Four of the six batters he faced reached base. And Basallo needs to catch the ball from O’Neill. It was not a horrible throw, though both he and Craig Albernaz claim it took a bad hop in front of the catcher. Even still, that getting past him was a killer.

Albernaz will likely get some blame from fans too. “Why go with Helsley there? He didn’t look great last series. He’s fresh off the IL. And the Orioles need wins! Cano could have stayed in.” Sure, but you signed this guy to be your closer. He had been really good prior to the injury, his velocity looks fine, and it was a save opportunity. You hand him the ball.

Unfortunately, he was bad. That has been a trend for this Orioles team. When the moment gets big and they need someone to come through, they often wither rather than rise. This west coast trip was going to test them and see if they had what it took to climb back into contention. Right now, it doesn’t seem like it.

Links

Trey Mancini’s MLB comeback was all about who was in the stands to see it | The Baltimore Banner
It really is impossible to not love Mancini. He always came off as the nicest guy during his time with the Orioles, and it was such a bummer to see him struggle with the Cubs. The fact he was willing and able to put in so much work and effort to get back up to the big leagues is the stuff movies are made about.

Two years since peak, Orioles approaching a pivotal crossroads | The Baltimore Sun
Yeeeah, we may have already passed the crossroads and found out we took a wrong turn. This season isn’t sunk yet, but there is very little evidence to suggest this roster is capable of a playoff run.

A deeper dive into the mailbag while the Orioles are on the West Coast | Roch Kubatko
A few Albernaz questions in this one. A struggling team and some bubbling clubhouse issues will start to make people uneasy about a skipper.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Félix Bautista turns 31 today. When not injured, the hard-throwing righty is one of the best closers in MLB. He’s got a 2.01 ERA over 156 appearances with the Orioles between 2022 and ‘25. Unfortunately, he is on the IL right now.
• Thomas Eshelman is 32 years old. He’s one of the many former Astros draft picks that Mike Elias has given a chance in Baltimore. From 2019 through 2021, he pitched in 31 games for the O’s. He is now a pitching coordinator within the organization.
• Kevin Gregg turns 48. His time in Baltimore lasted two seasons from 2011 and ‘12. In season one he was the team’s closer, and then in the follow up campaign he was more often a middle-inning arm. Perhaps the lasting image of Gregg in an Orioles uniform will be the brawl he got into with David Ortiz back in 2011 when the Hall of Fame slugger took exception to being pitched inside to.
• Paul Bako is 54 today. He was the Orioles backup catcher during the 2007 season.
• Juan Castro is also 54 years old. He was one of many players that spent time at shortstop for the Orioles in 2008 after the team traded away Miguel Tejada in the offseason and failed to replace him.
• Phil Huffman turns 68. He pitched in two games for the Orioles in 1985, which was his first time back in the majors after debuting with the Blue Jays six seasons earlier.
• Tony Chevez is 73 years old. His only MLB experience was a four-game stint with the Orioles in 1977.
• The late Andy Etchebarren was born on this day (b. 1943, d. 2019). He was a catcher with the Orioles for 12 seasons between 1962 and 1975. In that time he made two all-star games, won two World Series titles, and helped the 1971 pitching staff to become only one of two to ever have four 20-game winners on one team.

This day in O’s history

1964 – Baltimore slugger Boog Powell fractures his wrist in a collision with an outfield fence. The injury will put him on the shelf until September 5th.

Good morning, baseball fans!

Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close this weekend, so it’s time for us to pick our Player of the Week!

This week, I’m giving the honors to Luis Arraez!

And not just because he’s the only Giants player currently with any chance of being an All Star Game starter (though that helps and you really should get your votes in while you can!)

Arraez has had quite the week, particularly in the series against the Atlanta Braves. He combined for five hits and four RBI in Wednesday’s double-header, including a home run, his third of the season. That’s enough for him to be my pick for this week!

Who is your pick for Player of the Week?

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants continue their weekend road series against the Miami Marlins this afternoon at 1:10 p.m. PT.

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Not every favorite deserves to be favored.

Several of Saturday's MLB matchups feature teams trading at inflated prices based on reputation, while others offer value thanks to favorable pitching matchups, stronger recent form, or bullpen advantages.

Here are my favorite MLB picks for Saturday, June 20.

MLB moneyline picks for June 20

Matchup	Pick
White Sox vs Tigers	+113
Reds vs Yankees	+170
Blue Jays vs Cubs	-100
Padres vs Rangers	-133
Brewers vs Braves	+104
Giants vs Marlins	+144
Nationals vs Rays	+144
Mets vs Phillies	+150
Guardians vs Astros	+113
Pirates vs Rockies	+170
Angels vs A's	-138
Orioles vs Dodgers	+245
Twins vs Diamondbacks	+127
Red Sox vs Mariners	+117

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 6-20.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 20

White Sox vs Tigers: White Sox (+113)

White Sox win probability: 46.9%

Detroit is starting Troy Melton against an undecided Chicago arm. With a highly volatile pitching landscape on both sides, the value lies entirely with the White Sox bullpen, which holds a firm edge (4.03 SIERA) over Detroit's relievers (3.50 SIERA).

Reds vs Yankees: Reds (+170)

Reds win probability: 37%

Andrew Abbott faces Will Warren in the Bronx. While New York's lineup commands respect, laying a heavy -178 premium on Warren is a massive value trap. The math requires backing Cincinnati at a steep +170 price against an unproven starter.

Blue Jays vs Cubs: Blue Jays (-100)

Blue Jays win probability: 50%

Patrick Corbin's recent 4.10 xFIP aligns nicely with a pick'em price. The core advantage lies in the late innings, where Toronto’s bullpen (3.44 xFIP-, 3.46 SIERA) heavily outclasses a highly unstable Cubs relief unit that is currently sporting a 4.23 SIERA.

Padres vs Rangers:  Rangers (-133)

Rangers win probability: 57%

Walker Buehler goes up against Nathan Eovaldi. Eovaldi provides a stable floor for Texas (4.57 SIERA), whereas Buehler faces a potent Rangers offense. Texas's price of -133 is highly reasonable for a strong home team in this spot.

Brewers vs Braves: Brewers (+104)

Brewers win probability: 49%

Kyle Harrison squares off against Chris Sale. While Sale is an elite force for Atlanta, the Braves are priced too tightly against a dominant Milwaukee bullpen that leads the slate with a 3.23 SIERA and a blistering 12.48 K/9.

Giants vs Marlins: Giants (+144)

Giants win probability: 41%

Trevor McDonald faces Max Meyer. Miami is a steep -150 favorite here, which is an immediate fade against any competent team. San Francisco’s superior bullpen efficiency (3.41 SIERA) makes the road underdog a mandatory play at +144.

Nationals vs Rays: Nationals (+144)

Nationals win probability: 41%

Miles Mikolas takes the mound against an undecided Tampa Bay starter. Since the Rays are forced into an uncertain pitching situation and carry a mediocre 3.79 bullpen SIERA, grabbing a substantial +144 head start with Washington is the smart choice.

Mets vs Phillies: Mets (+150)

Mets win probability: 40%

Freddy Peralta faces Cristopher Sanchez. This is a strict price play against an inflated line. The Phillies are taxed too heavily at -156, leaving clear value on Peralta and the Mets at a +150 return.

Guardians vs Astros: Guardians (+113)

Guardians win probability: 47%

Joey Cantillo matches up against Spencer Arrighetti. While Arrighetti gives Houston a stable floor, their bullpen remains a risk of regression. Cleveland at +113 offers better value than laying juice on a volatile home team.

Pirates vs Rockies: Rockies (+170)

Rockies win probability: 37%

Laying -178 on the road is too much juice. Paul Skenes is elite (2.42 SIERA), but Pittsburgh's bullpen has been highly unstable with a 4.35 SIERA. Coors Field variance, combined with a weak Pirates relief unit, makes the underdog price on the Rockies a solid value. 

Angels vs A's: Athletics (-138)

Athletics win probability: 58%

The Athletics' bullpen is currently a top-tier weapon, boasting an elite 3.21 SIERA and a massive 11.20 K/9 over the last two weeks. They hold a massive late-game advantage over the Angels, making the -138 price tag very reasonable at home.

Orioles vs Dodgers: Orioles (+245)

Orioles win probability: 29%

Los Angeles is a fade at a massive -257 Dodgers' tax. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is sharp, but the Dodgers' bullpen has underperformed its 3.20 SIERA with a 6.00 ERA over the past two weeks. This astronomical line leaves no choice but to back Baltimore at massive plus money.

Twins vs Diamondbacks: Twins (+127)

Twins win probability: 44%

Taj Bradley faces Zac Gallen. Arizona's bullpen has been a weak link over the last two weeks, posting a 4.11 SIERA. Minnesota brings a dominant relief unit that excels at generating swing-and-miss (11.03 K/9), making them a great +127 target.

Red Sox vs Mariners: Red Sox (+117)

Red Sox win probability: 46%

Seattle's bullpen has completely collapsed over the last two weeks, posting a 4.66 SIERA and walking a brutal 5.91 batters per nine. Boston’s relief core is significantly tighter (3.72 SIERA), making the Red Sox the clear value choice at plus money.

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.

The College World Series final is here, and the MLB Draft is not far behind it. 

That combo made me ask a simple Rockies question: Are there any  players in Omaha this weekend who could soon be wearing Rockies purple? 

North Carolina and Oklahoma open a best-of-three championship series tonight — Saturday, June 20 — at 5 pm MDT at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska.

Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, June 21, and Game 3, if necessary, would be played Monday, June 22. 

The 2026 MLB Draft is scheduled for July 12-14 in Philadelphia as part of All-Star Week festivities. The Rockies currently hold six picks in the first 200 selections: No. 10, No. 37, No. 38, No. 76, No. 104 and No. 136. 

Colorado’s 2026 draft picture starts at No. 10, but none of the players taking the field in Omaha this weekend are expected to be in that conversation. 

The top of the 2026 class is generally centered around names such as Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, Vahn Lackey and Jackson Flora, all of whom have spent much of the year near the top of public draft boards. Those players are not part of this championship series. 

That does not mean there is no draft relevance in Omaha. The Rockies have multiple picks after the first round, and several players in this matchup could reasonably fall into the range where Colorado will be selecting. Teams build a lot of organizational depth in this part of the draft, and a few of the more interesting names are wearing North Carolina or Oklahoma uniforms this weekend. 

Owen Hull, OF, North Carolina 

Baseball America rank:No. 73
MLB.com rank:No. 158
Potential Rockies selection:No. 76, with No. 37/No. 38 becoming a possibility if the helium keeps building

Owen Hull is one of the more recognizable draft names in this series, and his profile starts with a pretty clear player type: a left-handed hitting outfielder with center-field experience, plus speed and a contact-oriented bat.

On the 20-80 scouting scale, MLB.com grades Hull with a 50 hit tool, 45 power, 60 run, 45 arm, 50 field and 45 overall. That lines up with the statistical profile. This is not a huge raw-power outfielder, but there are enough contact, athleticism and center-field traits to make the profile interesting.

Baseball America has Hull at No. 73, while MLB.com has him at No. 158, but his stock appears to be moving closer to the higher end of that range. Hull has already been discussed as a possible second-rounder, and with some mocks pushing him up to the 58th overall pick.

Hull will turn 22 in July, so he is not a young prospect, but he has hit everywhere. Across 636 career college plate appearances between George Mason and North Carolina, Hull has hit .374/.484/.575 with a 1.059 OPS, 41 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs and 62 stolen bases. He also has 92 career walks against 97 strikeouts.

This season, Hull has hit .398/.506/.614 with 26 doubles, eight home runs, 47 walks and 44 strikeouts in 310 plate appearances. That is more walks than strikeouts, a 14.2% strikeout rate and plenty of extra-base contact without selling out for power.

MLB.com noted his physicality, plus speed, improved power and strong postseason run in a recent look at draft prospects gaining momentum in Omaha. The swing questions and age caveat are real, but the production, athleticism and center-field experience make Hull an interesting fit once the Rockies get past their first few picks.

The roster-fit is the question. If Cole Carrigg and Sterlin Thompson — or Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), Jared Thomas (No. 5 PuRP), Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP), Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP) — are part of the next Rockies outfield mix, Hull may not line up as neatly with the depth chart, and Colorado’s bigger organizational need is probably on the mound.

That should not take him off the radar, especially if the bat keeps pushing him up boards, but it is part of the conversation.

Jason DeCaro, RHP, North Carolina 

Baseball America rank:No. 90
MLB.com rank:No. 125
Potential Rockies selection:No. 76, No. 104 or No. 136

Jason DeCaro is one of the more interesting pitching names in this series for Colorado.

The public rankings put DeCaro more naturally around Colorado’s No. 104 or No. 136 picks, but that range may be moving up (a common theme). Baseball America recently mocked DeCaro at No. 65.

The appeal is the starter profile. DeCaro is just 20 years old on draft day, but already has a three-year track record in North Carolina’s rotation. He has a durable 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame and works with a four-pitch mix: fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. The fastball is not overpowering, usually sitting in the low 90s, but it has been up to 97 mph and can generate weak contact with its shape and running life.

The secondaries give him more ways to work through a lineup. His curveball is generally viewed as the best of the group, with solid depth and enough upside to miss bats when he lands it. He also throws a low-80s changeup with fade, a slider and enough feel to sequence his mix instead of relying only on velocity.

In 2026, DeCaro has a 2.28 ERA with 84 strikeouts, 38 walks and a 1.28 WHIP over 87 innings. The strikeout rate is solid rather than dominant, and he does not project as a huge swing-and-miss arm right now. But the workload, age, run prevention and rotation track record point toward a starter candidate.

The Rockies need starting pitching, and the future of Colorado’s rotation is murky. DeCaro does not have overwhelming stuff, but he checks several starter boxes: size, age, workload, pitchability and a full arsenal.

His delivery and pitch mix are worth a look on video.

Jake Schaffner, SS, North Carolina 

Baseball America rank:No. 91
MLB.com rank:No. 91
Potential Rockies selection:No. 76 or No. 104

Jake Schaffner is a clean middle-board fit, and the more you look at the profile, the more interesting it gets.

Both Baseball America and MLB.com rank Schaffner No. 91, which puts him directly in the Rockies’ No. 76/No. 104 window. Baseball America also recently mocked Schaffner at No. 75, one pick before Colorado’s fourth selection.

Like Hull, Schaffner appears to be moving up boards. The public rankings still place him in the 90s, but recent mock-draft placement suggests teams may be higher on him than that.

The profile is built around contact, speed and defensive reliability. Schaffner hit .352/.467/.551 with six home runs, 19 doubles, 47 walks, 30 strikeouts and 28 stolen bases this season after transferring from North Dakota State to North Carolina. That is a 9.3% strikeout rate in 324 plate appearances, which is hard to ignore.

The larger track record backs it up. Across 813 college plate appearances, Schaffner owns a .353/.448/.486 line with 37 doubles, 13 triples, nine home runs, 89 walks, 95 strikeouts and 60 stolen bases.

The swing helps explain the numbers. Schaffner has a short, compact left-handed stroke, and he does not have much wasted movement. He is not trying to sell out for power, and the approach shows up in the strikeout totals. This looks more like a contact, line-drive and gap-power bat than a home-run profile, but there is value in that if the hit tool carries into pro ball.

The defensive question is the arm. Schaffner has the actions, athleticism and reliability to handle shortstop now, but multiple reports note that his arm strength could push him to second base or third base in pro ball. For the Rockies, that may not be a bad outcome. Colorado needs a second baseman, and Schaffner’s profile could fit there.

Schaffner is probably not a future superstar, but there is a little “ballplayer” quality here: low strikeouts, good at-bats, defensive value and enough athleticism to impact the game without needing one loud carrying tool.

He will probably get drafted by the Brewers.

Other options in the Rockies’ pick range 

A few other players from the matchup show up on public boards as possible middle-round options.

Ryan Lynch is the highest-ranked arm in this group, with a low-slot fastball/slider foundation and some reliever risk. Camden Johnson is a corner-infield bat, while Brendan Brock’s value depends partly on whether he can stay behind the plate.  

Jaxon Willits hit .305/.400/.505 with seven home runs, six triples, 17 doubles, 37 walks, and 51 strikeouts this season at Oklahoma. He is a switch-hitting infielder with approach, some power growth, and a possible second-base fit. It is also worth mentioning that Willits is the older brother of 2025 No. 1 overall pick Eli Willits. The Rockies took Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) at No. 4 in the 2025 draft.

LJ Mercurius is a later-range Oklahoma arm with a fastball that can touch 97 mph, a slider/changeup mix and enough starter background to be interesting. The question is whether the command points him toward a rotation or a relief role. 

Future names to file away 

The 2026 draft names are the focus, but some of the higher-end talent in this series may be in future classes. 

For North Carolina, Caden Glauber is the big one. The freshman right-hander has gone 11-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 103 strikeouts over 84 ⅔ innings. Sawyer Black, an outfielder, is another UNC underclassman to remember. 

Oklahoma has two freshman arms worth tracking in Cord Rager and Xander Mercurius. Rager is a 6-foot-6 left-hander who has already played a major role in the Sooners’ postseason run. Mercurius, LJ’s younger brother, is a longer-range right-handed arm with future draft intrigue. 

So, will any of them become Rockies? 

There is no way to know. Draft boards move, bonus-pool strategies matter and teams do not always line up with public rankings. 

But one thing is certain: there will be plenty of good baseball this weekend (and maybe Monday) in Omaha. 

North Carolina is led by Hull, DeCaro and Glauber, while Oklahoma has a deep roster led by Brock, Willits and the Mercurius brothers. Schaffner, Lynch, Johnson, Gallaher, Rager and others add more names to know across the two rosters. 

Maybe one of them eventually becomes a Rockie. Maybe none of them do. 

Either way, there are real future pros in this series, the national championship is on the line and the draft conversation is just warming up. 

On the Farm

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 9, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 3

The Albuquerque Isotopes beat the Sugar Land Space Cowboys 9-3 on Thursday night, improving to 38-35 while Sugar Land fell to 31-41. Albuquerque never trailed, got a long first-inning homer from Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) and broke the game open with a five-run fifth.

Veen supplied the first swing. After Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) walked with two outs in the first, Veen jumped a first-pitch 90.6 mph fastball from Josh Hendrickson and crushed it to right field. The ball left the bat at 104.4 mph and traveled 455 feet for Veen’s 11th home run of the season and a 2-0 lead.

Evan Shawver got the rare start and allowed two runs in the second, but Eiberson Castellano stopped the inning by striking out Shay Whitcomb on an 83.9 mph curveball below the zone. Castellano gave Albuquerque 4.1 innings, allowing two hits, one earned run and four walks while striking out six. He improved to 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA.

The Isotopes put the game away in the fifth. Veen singled, Chad Stevens followed with another hit, and Nic Kent drove both home with a triple to right. Ryan Ritter added another triple later in the inning, lining a 96.5 mph ball into the right-center gap for his first triple of the season and two more runs.

Veen finished 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs. Ritter went 1-for-3 with a triple, two RBI, two walks and a stolen base, while Kent added two hits and two RBI. Mickey Moniak went 0-for-5 in his second rehab start and is 0-for-8 through two games with Albuquerque. John Brebbia, TJ Shook and Seth Halvorsen each threw a scoreless inning to finish it out.

Double-A: Reading Fightin Phils 4, Hartford Yard Goats 2

The Reading Fightin Phils beat the Hartford Yard Goats 4-2 on Thursday night, improving to 29-38 while Hartford fell to 38-28. Reading built an early lead, and Hartford’s offense did not get much going until Conner Capel’s two-run homer in the seventh.

Jake Brooks gave Hartford length, but took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits over seven innings. He walked two, struck out three and allowed one homer, with his ERA moving to 4.17. Reading scored once in the first, once in the third and twice in the fourth before Brooks settled in and finished seven.

The Yard Goats’ only real swing came from Capel, who hit his 12th home run of the season in the seventh with one on and one out. The homer cut the deficit to 4-2, but Hartford did not score again. Bryant Betancourt had one of Hartford’s better offensive nights, going 1-for-3 with a walk. Aidan Longwell also reached twice with a hit and a walk, but the Yard Goats finished 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left six on base.

High-A:Vancouver Canadians 12, Spokane Indians 5

The Vancouver Canadians beat the Spokane Indians 12-5 on Thursday night, improving to 28-39 while Spokane fell to 29-38. Spokane had 12 hits and a three-run homer from Ethan Hedges (No. 29 PuRP), but Vancouver kept adding on and finished 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Jordy Vargas (No. 21 PuRP) took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out five, but Vancouver made him work and pushed across runs in the second, third and fourth before breaking the game open later against the bullpen.

Hedges gave Spokane its biggest swing in the third. With Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP) and Roynier Hernandez aboard, Hedges hit his fifth home run of the season to left-center field, tying the game 3-3. He finished 3-for-5 with three RBI. Spokane added two more in the fifth after Vancouver had pulled ahead 9-3. Jack O’Dowd brought in Belyeu with a sacrifice fly, and Alan Espinal followed with a sharp single to center to score Hedges. That was as close as the Indians got. Spokane went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base. Vancouver finished with 12 runs, 13 hits, two homers and 12 RBI.

Vancouver did most of its damage against Francis Rivera, who allowed five runs, three earned, over three innings. Tyler Hampu finished the game with two innings, allowing two runs while striking out five.

Single-A: Inland Empire 66ers 16, Fresno Grizzlies 4

The Inland Empire 66ers beat the Fresno Grizzlies 16-4 on Thursday night, improving to 29-38 while Fresno fell to 36-31. Inland Empire scored seven runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth, turning a manageable early deficit into a blowout.

Angel Jimenez started for Fresno and took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out six and gave up Dervy Ventura’s two-run homer in the second, but the game got away in the fifth after a hit batter and back-to-back doubles from Aiden Taurek and Cesar Quintas.

Bryson Van Sickle followed and had a rough inning, allowing eight runs on seven hits and three walks while recording three outs. Grif Hughes gave Fresno its cleanest inning, striking out two in a perfect ninth. By then, the game had already been decided. Inland Empire finished with 16 runs, 16 hits and seven extra-base hits.

Fresno’s offense had moments, but not enough to keep up. Kyle Fossum singled in Tanner Thach in the fourth, and the Grizzlies added three more in the ninth on a bases-loaded walk to Cameron Nelson, an Ashly Andujar (No. 20 PuRP)groundout and a Luis Mendez infield single. Nelson went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI, Carlos Renzullo had two hits, and Mendez added a hit, a walk and an RBI. Fresno went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.

Rockies Cole Carrigg and Kyle Karros thriving, thanks to their buddy system | denverpost.com ($)

In this Denver Post piece, Patrick Saunders writes about how Cole Carrigg and Kyle Karros have arrived in Colorado with different personalities but a shared history that has helped both settle into the majors. Carrigg brings the “hair on fire” energy, while Karros offers the calmer counterweight, and the two have leaned on that balance since their climb through the Rockies’ system. Their friendship now gives the Rockies’ young roster a built-in support system at the big league level.

As Condon heats up in Triple-A, could he be nearing a call-up? | MLB.com

In this MLB.com piece, Thomas Harding writes about Charlie Condon’s recent surge at Triple-A Albuquerque and whether it could move him closer to a Rockies call-up. Condon entered Friday with a .343/.425/.971 slash over his previous nine games, with six home runs, four walks, 16 RBI and triples in back-to-back games. The article also frames his development beyond the bat, noting his recent work in right field and Paul DePodesta’s emphasis on making sure prospects have a solid foundation before reaching the majors. The big question is less whether Condon is forcing his way into the conversation and more whether the Rockies can create enough playing time when the big league roster gets healthier.

Weekly Pebble Report: Cam Nelson is finding his footing with the Rockies in Fresno | purplerow.com

In this week’s Pebble Report, Eli Whitney looks at Cam Nelson’s emerging offensive profile in the lower levels of the Rockies’ system. Nelson’s patience is the carrying tool, as he leads the California League in walks and ranks near the top of the league in on-base percentage. The piece also traces Nelson’s path from Wake Forest to Fresno and frames him as a player whose value comes from getting on base, scoring runs and fitting a clear role.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks! 

Today’s Reflections

I’m sure that someone has come up with the phrase before me, but Cub Tracks is really enjoying PCA-Mania. It doesn’t flow off the tongue like Fernandomania, but I’m going to go with it.

With a day off mid-week, that gives baseball writers a lot of time to write a lot of articles — some are repetitive, and I have tried to give you the best out there. So many PCA articles. So many Dansby Swanson articles. And as you see below, articles on roster moves, injury updates, trade talk, whether to go with youth for a little bit, and even a couple on a hot prospect.

One trade idea that I will save you from reading is trading Seiya Suzuki for Aaron Nola (but if you want further laughs, here’s the link). I’m mentioning it because the idea came from a Chicago sports journalist (George Ofman), not one from Philadelphia. I’ve voiced my opinion a number of times about Jameson Taillon this year. I would rather have a rotation of five Taillons than to have Nola, who hasn’t shown any glimpse of improving from his horrible performance over the last two seasons. A big trade is supposed to improve your team (even for prospects). This trade for a pitcher with four years and $100 million left on his contract would wreck the team.

Silly season has certainly arrived, folks!

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

Wednesday’s game, and PCA-Mania en masse:

• Field Level Media (Deadspin): Seven-run inning carries Cubs to series victory over Rockies. “The Cubs took two out of three in the series, the first home series win for Chicago since a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds the first week of May.”

• Jacob Zanolla (Bleacher Nation): Pete Crow-Armstrong Goes Deep for the Fourth Time in His Last Five Games. “Pete Crow-Armstrong is on another planet right now.”
• Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Pete Crow-Armstrong is So Locked In That Even the Gods Are Helping Him. “”I thought it was foul,” you could see Pete Crow-Armstrong say in the dugout Wednesday night. But that was after circling the bases on a home run that counted, and rightfully so.”
• Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Pete Crow-Armstrong’s latest comments show exactly why he’s become a Cubs leader. “The Cubs are finally showing signs of life, but PCA knows there is still plenty of work left to do.”

Opinions on how to fix Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson:

• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {$}): How the Chicago Cubs are trying to help Nico Hoerner get out of his offensive funk. “In many ways, as Nico Hoerner goes, so goes the Chicago Cubs’ offensive production.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs say they’re sticking with Dansby Swanson in everyday lineup, then homer gets ‘blue whale’ off his back. “After the Cubs signaled that the slumping shortstop would stay in his everyday role, Swanson hit a home run as part of the team’s seven-run second inning in a win over the Rockies.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Dansby Swanson briefly quiets doubters, but is his defense enough for Cubs? “Over his first three seasons with the Cubs, Swanson has largely been a league-average bat.”
• Jared Bloom (Sporting News): Opposing pitchers have figured out how to keep this Cubs slugger’s bat quiet. “At least his glove is still elite.”

Plenty of various Cubs talk:

• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Pete Crow-Armstrong Excelling by Shifting Obligation to Opportunity. “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, or so goes an old saying that has been attributed to a number of different sources, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear. It’s all a matter of perspective, really.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Ballesteros optioned to Triple-A; Cubs recall Justin Dean. “Ballesteros has run into the kind of struggles typical for a young player in the Majors, and playing time has become sporadic amid some recent roster developments.”
• Tommy Erbe (OnTapSportsNet): Roster Move: Get To Know Newest Chicago Cub, Justin Dean. “With Moises Ballesteros being optioned to Triple-A Iowa, the Chicago Cubs and fans will get their first look at Justin Dean.”
• Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): Can Matthew Boyd Save the Cubs’ Rotation? “With Matthew Boyd nearing a return, the Cubs could soon get a much-needed boost to a rotation that has been searching for stability.”
• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Get Positive Edward Cabrera News, But Can He Finally Step Up? “The Chicago Cubs should have Edward Cabrera back for his next start after he was forced to leave the game early on Wednesday.”
• Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Should Cubs Youngsters Matt Shaw and Pedro Ramirez Play Every Day for a While?. “With multiple key Cubs hitters struggling mightily, two young players whose path to playing time was murky a month ago now have a clear lane—and the team is starting to seem open to letting them have it.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Instead of youth movement, Cubs wait for Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman to produce. “When Hoyer sat down in Wrigley Field’s home dugout this week for a media briefing, he seemed surprised by the amount of time spent on an underperforming offense, the possibility of benching Swanson and Bregman’s lack of impact.”

• Billy Heyen (Sporting News): Cubs linked to trade for $75 million, 8-1 starting pitcher from AL East. “One name that now continues to pop up as someone who will be available, below the rung of the Tarik Skubal level of deal, is Boston Red Sox righty Sonny Gray.”
• Conor Liguori (Sporting News): Cubs reveal ‘top priority’ for MLB trade deadline. “Chicago has a very clear need.”
• Garrett Kerman (Clutch Points): Cubs’ perfect trade offer for Angels’ Reid Detmers. “Discover the Cubs’ perfect trade package for Angels ace Reid Detmers and why Chicago must make this move before the deadline.”
• Anthony Vlahovic (LastWordOnSports.com): The Next Great Cubs Slugger Could Be Emerging in the Minor Leagues. “As the minor league season heads into late June, Josiah Hartshorn is giving Cubs faithful plenty of reason to believe he could be their next great homegrown middle of the lineup mainstay.”
• Mike McGraw (Daily Herald): Should Cubs make plans for Hartshorn? Not so fast, Hoyer says. “Jed Hoyer says minor-league outfielder Josiah Hartshorn will not be rushed to the parent club despite a great start to the season.”

Food For Thought:

Larry “Mud” Morganfield (born September 27, 1954) is an American blues singer. He is the eldest son of Muddy Waters and the half-brother of Big Bill Morganfield. He was raised by his mother and seven uncles, with occasional visits from Muddy, and never really got to know his father. Despite growing up surrounded by music, Morganfield did not consider becoming a professional musician until after his father’s death in 1983. At that time, Morganfield was driving trucks for a living, but the strain was wearing on him. He suggested that a recurring dream of Muddy Waters performing on stage helped prompt him to begin performing the blues professionally.“

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

Meet the Mets

The Mets were off last night due to World Cup action in Philadelphia, but Francisco Lindor and Tyrone Taylor both began their rehab assignments with the Rumble Ponies last night.

MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo recently conducted a Reddit AMA in which he discussed the Mets’ potential deadline plans, amongst other topics.

Around the National League East

Not even Jacob Misiorowski can stop the 2026 Braves, as Atlanta defeated the Brewers and their Cy Young candidate 3-2.

The Marlins fought back from a late deficit to emerge victorious over the Giants 4-3.

Miles Mikolas came out of the bullpen and surrendered five runs in six innings to doom the Nationals to a 5-2 loss to the Rays.

Cade Cavalli was scheduled to start for Washington yesterday, but he got scratched due to food poisoning.

The Good Phight noted that the Phillies have dominated weak opponents while struggling against the top teams thus far in 2026.

Around Major League Baseball

Justin Verlander has been limited to just one outing in his return to the Tigers this year, and now the future Hall of Famer will miss more time due to a hamstring strain.

Bobby Witt Jr. was out of the lineup yesterday due to a grade 1 MCL sprain, but the Royals are hopeful that he will be back on the field shortly.

Shohei Ohtani was away from the Dodgers last night “on paternity,” though he was not officially placed on paternity leave.

Padres and Rangers fans tuning into the game between the two squads yesterday were treated to an unusual sight at the beginning: just two umpires on the field.

Neither Gods nor men can compel Jazz Chisholm to wear a cup.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Seth Ashby sung the praises of Luke Weaver and the rest of the Mets bullpen.

Joe Sokolowski compiled quotes from an exciting week in New York sports history—one in which the Mets won four games.

This Date in Mets History

The Mets got four homers—including one from Steve Trachsel (yes, the pitcher)—en route to a win that further cemented their dominant lead in the NL East on this date in 2006.

The Detroit Tigers opened up their three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox with a 4-3 win on Friday night. Tarik Skubal ran into some trouble in his second start after returning from the injured list, but the offense had just enough oomph and the bullpen served up 3 1/3 innings of one-hit ball to secure their first win against the ChiSox this season in four tries.

On Saturday afternoon, right-hander Troy Melton will climb the hill for the home team seeking a bounce-back after his worst outing this year. The 25-year-old was shelled by the Minnesota Twins in his previous start, surrendering four runs — all four scored on solo home runs — on eight hits but zero walks while striking out five over five frames in a game in which he still earned the win thanks to the offense in a 10-4 final.

Melton looked good the last time he saw the White Sox this season, earning a quality start for his seven innings of one-run ball on six hits and a walk while striking out just one in a game the Tigers ultimately lost in extras, 4-3. Hopefully, he can bring his A-game again and help his team clinch a series victory.

No starter for Saturday’s game has been announced as of the time of writing. Take a look at Melton’s pitching summary below in the meantime.

Detroit Tigers (31-44) vs. Chicago White Sox (39-35)

Time (ET): 1:10 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:South Side Sox
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 76: RHP Troy Melton (3-0, 2.81 ERA) vs. TBA

MELTON

You just can’t come up with enough superlatives to describe Cam Schlittler. The flame throwing righty struck out a career-high 13 batters in the series opener against the Reds to widen his lead in the AL Cy Young race. His six scoreless innings and home runs by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ben Rice proved the catalysts in the Yankees’ 5-0 series opening win in the Bronx as they look to win all four series on this lengthy homestand.

The Rays, Blue Jays, Guardians, and Mariners all took the field on a beautiful Friday, so let’s see how those games shook out.

Tampa Bay Rays (42-30) 5, Washington Nationals (39-37) 2

After getting swept in three games at Chavez Ravine, the Rays received a reprieve returning home to host the Nationals’ second-worst pitching staff in the majors. The Griffin Jax starting pitching experiment has been largely successful and that continued tonight, the Rays’ converted reliever allowing two runs on four hits and no walks with five strikeouts in five innings. The Nationals meanwhile tried to take a page out of the Rays’ book by starting with an opener — something that has generally mitigated Miles Mikolas’ struggles as he pitches as the piggyback bulk reliever. It didn’t tonight, the former Cardinal allowing five hits on nine runs in six innings.

Washington actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead early courtesy of solo home runs from CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr., the former to lead off the second and the latter coming with two outs in the third, while their opener PJ Poulin allowed just a single in the first two innings. However, things turned south the moment Mikolas entered the game to start the third. He walked Hunter Feduccia and allowed a Yandy Díaz single, both with one out, to set up a three-run homer off the left foul pole from Jonathan Aranda.

The Rays then tacked on insurance runs in the fourth and the eighth. In the fourth, Taylor Walls singled Richie Palacios home after the latter reached on a one out double. Jonny DeLuca wrapped up the scoring by going yard to lead off the eighth as the Rays remained within three games of the Yankees for first.

Other Games

Chicago Cubs (40-36) 16, Toronto Blue Jays (37-39) 2

The Blue Jays had to feel good coming off a three-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway, but those smiles were promptly wiped off their faces with a drubbing in the series opener at Wrigley. The Cubs put up 16 runs on three crooked numbers — seven in the first, four in the sixth, and five in the seventh. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays managed just two runs both courtesy of George Springer on an RBI single in the third and home run to lead off the sixth.

The Cubs sent 12 batters to the plate in the first. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, and Matt Shaw all drew walks and Seiya Suzuki clubbed a two run double. Carson Kelly demolished a grand slam followed by three straight two out singles from Dansby Swanson, PCA, and Bregman. By the time the dust had settled, there was a seven-spot on the board all charged to Kevin Gausman, who lasted just two innings.

Reliever Brendon Little was the victim of the Cubs’ four runs in the sixth. Kelly and Swanson drew back-to-back walks with the bases loaded, PCA hit and RBI single, and Bregman an RBI ground out. Tyler Rogers then gave up five runs in the seventh, though all were unearned thanks to a fielding error by Davis Schneider at second. The inning quickly unraveled for Rogers as he gave up a walk, four singles, and a triple by Justin Dean with the bases loaded. Outfielder Myles Straw was actually one of their more effective pitcher as he converted the final four outs of the contest without giving up another run.

Houston Astros (36-41) 9, Cleveland Guardians (40-36) 3

Tatsuya Imai logged one of his best starts in an Astros uniform, striking out 11 across six innings of three-run ball. All three of those runs came in the third on an RBI double by Brayan Rocchio and a two-run homer from Rhys Hoskins. Jeremy Peña and Jose Altuve had the big days on offense for Houston Peña went 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs and an RBI single while Altuve went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and the most impactful hit of the game, a three-run homer in the sixth.

Boston Red Sox (30-43) 6, Seattle Mariners (39-38) 2

We had a good old fashioned pitchers’ duel between Ranger Suarez and Bryce Miller. Miller gave the Mariners five strong innings allowing a run on three hits to go with seven strikeouts. However, it was Suarez who impressed the most, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning before a double and two walks swiftly ended his outing at 6.1 scoreless. Caleb Durbin was the standout performer on offense for the Red Sox, going 3-for-4 with a double and a solo home run. Marcelo Mayer wasn’t that far behind him going 2-for-4 with three driven in. Boston scored four of their six runs in the seventh. A Julio Rodríguez two-run homer in the ninth averted the shutout, but in the end they were just a pair of consolation runs.

There was no game last night, which was weird. Having Brazil playing a World Cup game in Philadelphia will do that to a city, but hey, at least there won’t be any strange days off for a while.

Right?

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Andrew Painter struggled with his fastball in the major leagues. There is a plan to help him rediscover that weapon at Lehigh Valley ($).
• The left handers the Phillies have in their bullpen have been an issue ($). Jose Alvarado might be at the top of that list.

MLB news:

• The Braves and Pirates made a trade the other night, Joey Bart heading to Atlanta to help with catching depth.
• Jacob Misiorowski has gotten good as fast as he throws his fastball. His ascendance is truly something to behold.
• The trade deadline chatter is starting to pick up steam, so that means we need to figure out the top ten names that might be on the move and where they might fit best.

Fresh off another masterful performance last night, it’s still amazing to think about how there were 219 players selected in the 2021 MLB Draft before Cam Schlittler. The details will fade in memory. No, he was not remotely this kind of pitcher at Northeastern in the Colonial Athletic Association. But the Yankees’ scouts deserve credit for nabbing not one but two players from New England who had tools that popped. The development from Schlittler and Ben Rice (12th round, 363rd overall) is nothing short of impressive. They have bigger goals in mind than strong first halves, to be clear. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Today on the site, Scott will take the occasion of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders traveling to Columbus to face the Clippers to remember the many years that they were in fact a Yankees affiliate. Peter will tackle the Rivalry Roundup, Jonathan will remember a “Next Man Up” Yankee for today’s birthday feature, and Michael will ponder the question of whether the Knicks’ championship run increases or decreases the pressure on the 2026 Yankees.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Cincinnati Reds

Time: 1:35 p.m. EST

TV: YES Network, Reds.tv

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. Do you think Cam Schlittler will top his 13-strikeout game from last night at some point this season?

2. How far do you think Team USA will advance in the World Cup now that they’ve secured an appearance in the knockout round?

Rochester Red Wings 6, Toledo Mud Hens 2 (box)

Dylan File was knocked around badly in the early innings and the Hens offense couldn’t take advantage of plenty of baserunners in this one.

Rochester got to File for two in the first, three in the second, and another in the third.

The Hens got on the board in the top of the second when Eduardo Valencia doubled, and a pair of fly outs advanced him around to score. They loaded the bases with two outs in the third but couldn’t score.

In the fourth, Corey Julks dumped a pop-up into right field for a single. He eventually scored on a Max Burt sacrifice fly after Cal Stevenson had singled him to third. Max Clark followed that with a single, but again the Hens left the baserunners stranded.

Brenan Hanifee, Jack Little, and Tanner Rainey all did a nice job locking down the Red Wings the rest of the way, but the bats just couldn’t mount a comeback.

Clark: 2-5, 2B

Julks: 2-3, R, RBI

File (L, 4-4): 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 H, BB, K

Coming Up Next: The series is tied 2-2, with first pitch on Saturday set for 6:45 p.m. ET.

Erie SeaWolves 7, Harrisburg Senators 3 (box)

The SeaWolves took advantage of eight walks issued by Senators pitching to win again on Friday.

The game started with Seth Stephenson getting hit by a pitch, and that’s a bad idea for any opponent. He immediately stole second and took third on a throwing error from Harrisburg’s catcher. Peyton Graham walked and stole second, drawing the throw, and Stephenson took advantage of an error on the second baseman to race home. Thayron Liranzo later singled in Graham for a 2-0 lead.

Andrew Jenkins led off the second with a double, and with one out, Aaron Antonini walked. Stephenson singled in Jenkins and got Antonini to the third, and then stole second base again. A sacrifice fly from Graham plated Antonini. Liranzo blasted his eighth homer of the year to open the third, and it was 5-0 SeaWolves.

Max Alba got through three innings without issue, but gave up three in the fourth. He settled back in to pitch the fifth, and struck out five overall on the night.

Chris Meyers doubled and scored on a Jenkins sac fly in the fifth. In the seventh, Meyers and Jenkins singled, and Meyers scored on a wild pitch to make it 7-3 where it ended. Dariel Fregio and Eric Silva each tossed a pair of scoreless frames to keep the Senators down.

Graham and Stephenson now have 32 stolen bases on the season apiece.

Liranzo: 2-3, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2 BB

Jenkins: 3-4, R, RBI, 2B

Meyers: 2-5, 2 R, 2B, K

Alba: 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:00 p.m. ET start in Harrisburg on Saturday with the series all tied up.

West Michigan Whitecaps 3, Lansing Lugnuts 1 (box)

Lugnuts pitching had a lot better night on Friday, but it still wasn’t enough as Carlos Marcano and the ‘Caps bullpen outdueled them in this one.

Marcano gave up a few singles that led to two runs in the third, but was otherwise very good. He struck out six, walking one in 4.2 innings of work.

Meanwhile, the offense was pretty quiet until they broke through in the sixth. Caleb Shpur led off with a single, and with one-out, Bryce Rainer smoked a single to center. Garrett Pennington stepped in and launched a three-run shot to left center field for a 3-2 lead.

Preston Howey contributed with three scoreless innings to get the win. Inohan Paniagua returned from the injury list to close this one out to earn his second save.

Rainer: 2-4, R, K

Pennington: 1-4, R, 3 RBI, HR

Marcano: 4.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, BB, 6 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 3-0 lead in the series headed into a 7:05 p.m. ET game on Saturday. It will be Star Wars Night, if you’re so inclined.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 10, Dunedin Blue Jays 1 (box)

Beau Ankeney was a one man wrecking ball in this one, while Cale Wetwiska returned off the injury to make a short start on Friday.

Wetwiska allowed a run in the first, and then tossed a pair of scoreless innings. The 2025 seventh rounder looked at full strength though, sitting 95 mph with his lively fourseamer and getting some ugly swings on the cutter.

In the bottom of the first, Jordan Yost was hit by a pitch to start things off. Edian Espinal walked with one out and Jesus Pinto reached on an infield single to load the bases with two outs. A walk to Anibal Salas forced a run in, though that was all they’d get.

In the second, Ankeney smoked a two-run shot the opposite way. In the third, Carson Rucker singled and took second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Zach MacDonald launched a two-run shot to right center field to make it 5-1.

Ankeney destroyed an inside fastball in the fourth, launching it 440 feet to left center field. That was the 10th home run of the year for the 23-year-old first baseman.

A bases clearing double in the seventh from Jordan Yost was the capper that made it 10-1. Eliseo Mota, Jorge Guzman, and Yendy Gomez were all pretty sharp in relief.

Ankeney: 3-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR

Rucker: 2-4, R, BB, K

Yost: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, 2B, BB

Wetwiska: 3.0 IP, ER, 2 H, BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: The series is tied up heading into a 6:00 p.m. ET start.

FCL Tigers 8, FCL Phillies 4 (box)

Paul Wilson’s second rehab start went well, as the Tigers’ 2023 3rd rounder fired a pair of perfect frames with two strikeouts to start this one off. His curveball-slider combination was working, though his command was pretty rusty, and he topped out at 95 mph with the fastball.

RHP Ryan Hall, the Tigers 2025 fifth rounder, made his pro debut as he works his way back from injury. That went less well as he gave up three runs.

A rehabbing Patrick Lee homered in the top of the first for the Tigers, and Jose Dickson launched a grand slam in the second to lead the offense.

Lee: 1-3, 2 R, RBI, HR, 2 BB, 2 K, SB

Dickson: 2-4, R, 5 RBI, 2B, HR

Wilson: 2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K

The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): Jazz Chisholm Jr. had to exit Thursday’s game against the White Sox after fouling a ball into his groin, but he insists that he will continue not wearing a cup. He said fielding grounders is where you’d really want to wear some protection, but that he trusts his hands enough to not make a change in spite of the pain he suffered on Thursday. He admitted he has never worn a cup in his career including when it was required in the minors. Aaron Boone confirmed that “a lot of these guys don’t wear cups,” as they feel that doing so limits their range of movement or is just plain uncomfortable.

That’s certainly a risky gamble to take as we saw with Jazz. At least he showed no signs of continued discomfort last night, homering off Rhett Lowder to kick off the Yankees’ scoring in a 5-0 win.

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees suffered another bullpen meltdown on Thursday, Fernando Cruz and (more impactfully) Tim Hill loading the bases in the eighth before Camilo Doval came in and gave up a grand slam on the first pitch he threw. These latest struggles thrown what has been a glaring need all season into sharper focus with the Trade Deadline approaching. The Yankees have internal options including converting top prospect Carlos Lagrange into a reliever to potentially help the major-league bullpen this year if he can sufficiently adjust to the role. But they would also be well-suited to target relievers with a proven track record of success at the highest level.

The Athletic | Chris Kirschner ($): Alongside the bullpen, the top target in the coming weeks will be a right-handed catcher. Austin Wells may have hit two home runs in his latest rehab game at Triple-A, but he and J.C. Escarra have both largely struggled to produce at the plate, both lefties in particular looking helpless against southpaw pitching. The name that keeps popping up is the Twins’ Ryan Jeffers, who was slashing .295/.408/.541 with seven home runs, 26 RBIs, a 163 wRC+, and 1.7 fWAR in 37 games before suffering a broken hamate bone in his left hand on May 19th. He has an eight-week expected recovery timetable, but it is always terrifying for a hitter coming back from a broken hamate. He’s middle-of-the-pack when it comes to framing in his career but quite poor at blocking and throwing, which could stand at odds with the Yankees emphasizing defense over anything else at the catcher position.

MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: The Yankees announced that right handed pitcher Peter Strzelecki has opted out of the minor-league deal he signed on May 23rd and will become a free agent. He made just six appearances at Triple-A since joining the organization, allowing four runs in 4.2 innings though he did strike out over 40-percent of the batters he faced. The 31-year-old is hoping for his first taste of the big leagues since making 10 relief appearances for the Guardians in 2024. He pitched 83.2 innings for Milwaukee, Arizona, and Cleveland between 2022 and 2024, posting a 3.44 ERA, 3.49 FIP, and 86 strikeouts across 77 appearances.

The San Francisco Giants are embroiled in a scandal completely of their own making. And it just keeps getting worse.

The San Francisco Chronicle published a piece on Friday that confirms what I said in my opinion post on Thursday. The players were not forced to wear the Pride hats that members of the team defaced on Pride Night. Nor did they do so out of any semblance of a feeling of being discriminated against.

No, no. It was an entirely unforced error. And one that they had, apparently, spent weeks planning. Per the Chronicle’s reporting. And what’s worse is that manager Tony Vitello apparently knew about it the whole time and even helped the players navigate how they would perform their very optional protest.

You know, the protest of the thing they weren’t being forced to participate in. The one that they chose to make a “personal” stand on to display their own homophobia, rather than just opting out of wearing the hats and moving on with their lives.

And then, you know, complaining about not being able to move on with their lives because they were being forced to face the consequences of their own actions. I guess we should all just accept that they hate us and let them move on. But I’m not interested in doing that.

So yes, they spent weeks planning this protest without ever once, seemingly, even taking a single moment to ponder how that would play out among the fanbase that supports them. Really shortsighted work on their part.

But what gets me is that Tony Vitello reportedly knew the whole time. Not only did he know, he helped them plan it. You know, the person who should have known better. The person who should have advised against it. The person who most assuredly either informed the ownership group, or neglected to do so which would be even worse.

Which means that we can safely assume that the ownership group was aware of the planned protest and through their lack of actions allowed it to proceed.

Firing Tony Vitello would be the absolute least that the Giants organization could do to make amends at this point. He is so very clearly in over his head on a human level, that it almost doesn’t even matter how poorly he is doing on a baseball level. And he is also failing at that.

So yes, Vitello should absolutely be the first firing from this shameful ordeal. But he should not be the last, and if they do fire him we should not accept his scapegoating as enough.

Because the rot starts well above him.

As I said on Thursday, it’s time to clean house and Vitello would only be the first move in that. But it would be a meaningful one.

Friday night should not have required late dramatics for the Dodgers.

But boy, what a stunning finish it created.

After leading by three runs early, then falling behind by two runs entering the ninth, the Dodgers rallied for a wild 6-5 walk-off win over the Baltimore Orioles –– one that finished, fittingly, with a game-winning hit from the Dodgers’ most frustrated player.

Before he came to the plate with the game on the line, catcher Dalton Rushing had endured eight innings of anguish. He was 0-for-4 on the night with three strikeouts. He had fanned twice on low sliders, including one in a wasted bases-loaded opportunity in the bottom of the third. 

After two pitches against Orioles closer Ryan Helsey, he was back in a two-strike hole again, having chased yet another slider in the dirt that sent him stepping out of the box in another moment of rage.

But then, the left-handed hitter looked up and caught a glimpse of the Dodgers’ dugout.

Mookie Betts was cheering him on. The rest of his teammates were pounding the top railing.

“When you’re in that moment right there, nothing that’s happened the first four at-bats … matters,” he said afterward. “I look in the dugout and all those guys care about is that next pitch, and the next pitch after that.”

Thus, Rushing took a deep breath, then took the next pitch –– another slider –– high for a ball that kept the at-bat alive.

The next pitch after that: A fastball on the inner half that had Rushing jammed, but that he still got enough of to send a single into right field.

“Honestly, I just wanted to spoil any pitch besides a slider, especially after chasing one in the dirt,” Rushing quipped. “I had a feeling that they were gonna throw another one. And the whole mindset was, foul off a fastball and just try to move the slider forward through the middle of the field. And luckily, pulled a heater inside, caught it in the loop, and Dodgers win.”

Indeed, what happened next was the most pandemonious moment of the Dodgers’ season to date.

Pinch-runner Alex Call came racing home from the second. Then, outfielder Tyler O’Neill’s throw from right got past catcher Samuel Basallo, who gave a seemingly weak effort to corral a high, awkward hop.

The ball ricocheted off Basallo’s glove, trickled into the dugout, and allowed the winning run in a suddenly delirious Chavez Ravine.

“Great way to end the night, especially after the frustration early,” Rushing said, wearing a wild smile and cooler-soaked jersey as he addressed reporters from his locker postgame. 

“It’s a great feeling. I think it honestly just feels great that we won that baseball game.”

What it means

Rushing was not the only one frustrated early, after the Dodgers had let a 3-0 lead in the second inning turn into a 5-3 deficit by the seventh.

Along the way, there was the wasted bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the third, the low point of a night the Dodgers left 12 men on base and went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position. 

There were back-to-back home runs off Roki Sasaki in the sixth, turning what had been a gem of an outing up to that point (he had retired 16 of his first 19 batters with six strikeouts) into a disappointing 5 ⅔-inning, three-run dud.

Then, there was a go-ahead two-run single from Orioles No. 9 hitter Jeremiah Jackson in the seventh off reliever Will Klein, giving Baltimore a two-run lead it would carry into the ninth.

But, with the Dodgers on the verge of one of their most disappointing defeats of the year, Mookie Betts hit a home run (his third hit of the game) to cut the deficit to one. After that, Max Muncy and Ryan Ward both drew walks to set up Rushing’s heroics with two outs in the inning, lifting the Dodgers (49-27) to their fourth-consecutive one-run win.

“Tonight shouldn’t have been a game, in my opinion,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We kept them around. We’ve let a lot of teams hang around … But at the end of the day, we are winning baseball games. So that’s a good sign.”

Who’s hot

Even before Friday, Rushing had not been hot for the better part of two months, following up his blistering start to the season (.385 average, seven home runs, 16 RBIs in his first 12 games) with a prolonged slump ever since (.209 average, one home run, five RBIs in 30 games since April 27).

Against that backdrop, he repeatedly berated himself in the dugout following his poor swing decisions earlier in the contest. At one point, he tried to snap a bat over his knee.

“Still working on that,” Rushing deadpanned when asked how he is learning to better control his animated emotions.

“It’s just part of the process,” Roberts added. “The learning process, the experience part.”

Another meltdown might have happened in the ninth, if not for the glimpse Rushing caught of the bench in the face of the game’s last strike. 

The faith he felt from Betts, he noted, was particularly helpful as he tried to reset.

“I see Mookie, [and he had] just all the confidence in the world in me,” Rushing said. “For a guy like that, a guy that’s lived in that moment, he’s succeeded in that moment, he’s failed in that moment, he knows what it feels like, it’s pretty special.”

Betts was in the middle of the mob that formed around Rushing at the game’s raucous conclusion, as the team walloped the second-year catcher in one of the season’s most joyous scenes.

“For him to flush it all and to flip his entire game and help us win a ballgame was huge,” Roberts said. “After he, you know, vents, he does a good job of collecting himself to get back into the next play.”

Who’s not

The Dodgers, of course, didn’t want to need a three-run ninth-inning rally given the way the game had started.

But on a night they were without Shohei Ohtani (who was away from the team for the birth of his second child), Teoscar Hernández (who is set to begin a rehab assignment next week as he nears his return from a hamstring strain) and Will Smith (who had a cortisone injection to address his lingering neck injury), the team’s young replacements missed a chance to pull away.

With the bases loaded and no outs in the third, each of Ward, Rushing and Alex Freeland went down swinging, unable to lay off low sliders from Trey Gibson that cost the Dodgers a golden opportunity to break the game open.

In the end, however, both Ward and (especially) Rushing got their chance for redemption.

“That third inning, very forgettable at-bats,” Roberts said, “To their credit, they made the adjustments later.”

Up next

The Dodgers and Orioles continue this series on Saturday night when Yoshinobu Yamamoto (7-4, 2.52 ERA) returns to the mound following his near no-hitter last week. He will face off against Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers (3-7, 5.86 ERA).