Category: MLB

The Washington Nationals planned to trade him.

They let everyone know he was available.

If someone was willing to meet their price, 25-year-old shortstop C.J. Abrams was all theirs.

No one made an offer compelling enough to entice Paul Toboni, Nationals president of baseball operations, to move him, but instead of Abrams pouting when he arrived to spring training, he actually felt invigorated.

The key was the communication between Toboni and Abrams. Toboni was up-front with Abrams, telling him that they set a high bar for rivals if they wanted him, but if anything ever got close, he promised to let him know. And if Abrams had any questions, or wanted to confirm or dispel rumors, please call.

“It meant a lot," Abrams told USA TODAY Sports. “I was able to ignore things out there because I was in communication with Paul."

MLB EXPANSION: One owner thinks more teams would be 'stupid'

Said Toboni: “That’s something I tried doing with [starter] MacKenzie Gore too, and going forward I will keep doing that. They deserve to be in the know. I’ve come to realize that in most cases it’s not the fear of being traded, but what mostly bothers players is being completely in the dark. I never met a player, or a coach, or a front office guy who was too transparent."

“I told both of them if there’s something out there that just isn’t true, I’ll let you know. And if you have any questions, and there is some truth, we’ll talk about it," Toboni said. "I told MacKenzie there’s a world where you’re traded, and a world you’re not. We think super highly of you, so they’d have to clear a really high bar. If a team surpassed it, we’ll consider it. If not, you’ll be here."

The Texas Rangers met it, sending five prospects for Gore just three weeks before spring training.

Abrams stayed put, and becomes the best trade Toboni never made in his first season with the Nationals.

Abrams is playing his way right onto the All-Star team. He leads all National League shortstops in virtually every offensive category, hitting .291 with a .392 on-base percentage, .544 slugging percentage, .936 OPS, with 12 homers and 47 RBIs.

“He was really good before," Toboni said, “but now he’s turned himself into an awesome, awesome player. He’s working his tail off."

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The Dodgers are a heavy favorite over the Phillies on Sunday afternoon, but it's deserved. 

Find out why my MLB picks for every moneyline on May 31 are topped by Los Angeles, and why the Nationals could pull off an upset earlier in the day.

MLB moneyline picks for May 31

Matchup	Pick
Blue Jays vs Orioles	-122
Twins vs Pirates	+133
Padres vs Nationals	+113
Red Sox vs Guardians	-104
Angels vs Rays	-170
Braves vs Reds	+122
Marlins vs Mets	+144
Tigers vs White Sox	-122
Brewers vs Astros	-163
Royals vs Rangers	-108
Giants vs Rockies	-110
Yankees vs A's	-133
Diamondbacks vs Mariners	-127
Phillies vs Dodgers	-194
Cubs vs Cardinals	+104

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for May 31

Blue Jays vs Orioles: Orioles (-122)

Orioles win probability: 55%

Kyle Bradish has quietly put together three quality starts in his last four appearances. He'll be backed by an Orioles lineup that's seventh in OPS since May 15. 

No matter who the Blue Jays turn to to start this game, they'll be in trouble in Camden Yards. I'll back Baltimore to -140.

Twins vs Pirates: Twins (+133)

Twins win probability: 43%

With Zebby Matthews (2.37 ERA) and Braxton Ashcraft (2.75 ERA) both pitching well, and both lineups in the bottom third in OPS over the last two weeks, this game could come down to which bullpen outshines the other. 

Minnesota's relief corps (3.08 ERA since May 15) gives the Twins the edge over Pittsburgh (4.26 ERA), so play Minny to +110.

Padres vs Nationals: Nationals (+113)

Nationals win probability: 47%

There's isn't much to like about Griffin Canning's form this year (7.54 ERA). Zack Littell counters, and his 2.19 ERA in May shines by comparison.

The Nats' bats are also doing much better over the last two weeks, ranking fourth while San Diego is 24th.

Playing Washington to +100.

Red Sox vs Guardians: Guardians (-104)

Guardians win probability: 51%

Tanner Bibee brings an ugly 0-7 record into this one, but the Guardians lineup hits lefties well (eighth in OPS), and the inconsistent Ranger Suarez comes to town today.

Cleveland's bullpen also holds the edge in xERA (eighth vs. 18th) over the last two weeks, so I'll back them to -120.

Angels vs Rays: Rays (-170)

Rays win probability: 63%

It's been a brutal month of May for Jack Kochanowicz (7.52 ERA), and the Angels bullpen has been a dumpster fire these last two weeks, ranking dead-last in xFIP.

Shane McClanahan owns a sparkling 1.33 ERA in May, and is backed by the Rays' 12th ranked bullpen by the same metric, so this is a tremendous mismatch. I'm willing to play this all the way to -210.

Braves vs Reds: Reds (+122)

Reds win probability: 45%

Spencer Strider has given up five home runs over his last two starts, and the Reds are fourth in longballs at home this year.

Nick Lodolo is fresh off his best start of the season (one ER over six innings vs. the Mets), so I'm buying low on him and Cincinnati. Take the Reds to +110.

Marlins vs Mets: Marlins (+144)

Marlins win probability: 41%

Both Janson Junk (7.00 ERA in May) and Nolan McLean (6.92 ERA) are in poor form, but the Marlins have the Mets beat in bullpen xFIP these last two weeks (sixth vs. 23rd), as well as OPS (11th vs. 22nd). 

Back the Fish to keep New York in the NL East cellar to +125.

Tigers vs White Sox: White Sox (-122)

White Sox win probability: 55%

Keider Montero has failed to go six frames in three straight, while Sean Burke has had three short outings in his last four overall. That will expose two bullpens in the bottom third in xFIP over the last two weeks to these lineups.

However, the Tigers can't hit water if they fell out of a boat right now, ranking dead-last in OPS since May 15. Even with Munetaka Murakami on the shelf, I'll back the South Siders to -140.

Brewers vs Astros: Brewers (-163)

Brewers win probability: 62%

I refuse to believe Tatsuya Imai has suddenly "figured it out" for the Astros after tossing six scoreless innings as part of a no-hitter last Tuesday. His ERA is still a sky-high 6.17.

He can't hang with Jacob Misiorowski (1.83 ERA), so back the Brewers to -200.

Royals vs Rangers: Rangers (-108)

Rangers win probability: 52%

I keep waiting for Michael Wacha's 2.69 ERA to float up and greet his 3.96 xERA. Maybe the Rangers' ninth-ranked bats by OPS - despite being no-hit last Tuesday - will help that happen?

I'm willing to find out at these odds, and will play this to -120.

Giants vs Rockies: Rockies (-110)

Rockies win probability: 52%

It's been a rough month of May for Robbie Ray (7.11 ERA). Tanner Gordon has shown flashes of promise this year, and this is a light-hitting Giants lineup.

I'll take a swing on the Rockies to -120.

Yankees vs A's: Yankees (-133)

Yankees win probability: 57%

Jacob Lopez is a southpaw taking on a Yankees team that's tops in the majors in OPS vs. lefties in 2026, and is pitching in one of baseball's most hitter-friendly parks. This could get ugly.

New York up to -160 is the play.

Diamondbacks vs Mariners: Mariners (-127)

Mariners win probability: 56%

Merrill Kelly's high ERA figures to come down as the season progresses after some early blow-ups, but his bullpen may let him down today, as this unit is 25th in xFIP since May 15.

Early returns on 2026 Bryce Miller are positive, so I'm a buyer on Seattle to -140.

Phillies vs Dodgers: Dodgers (-194)

Dodgers win probability: 66%

It's been a rough rookie season for Andrew Painter (5.40 ERA), and things won't get easier vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a Dodger lineup that's tops in the majors in OPS over the last two weeks.

The Dodgers are playable to -220.

Cubs vs Cardinals: Cardinals (+104)

Cardinals win probability: 49%

Matthew Liberatore's strikeouts are on the rise in May, with 19 over his last two games alone, and the Cubs have fanned left and right over last two weeks with the fourth-most Ks.

Jordan Wicks and his 5.71 ERA don't inspire much confidence. Back the Cardinals to -120.

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.

Back in March, Jarren Duran was one of the best stories at the World Baseball Classic. Patrolling center field for Mexico (he represented them in 2023 too, though that one’s best forgotten, going 0-for-5 as a bench player), he was an absolute force. Four games, three home runs, five RBIs, two stolen bases. He hit .333 with a .412 OBP, and slugged 1.000. That’s a tournament OPS of 1.412.

He came back to Ft. Myers looking like a changed player. The spring numbers backed it up. The buzz was real. Everyone talked themselves into the idea that 2026 was going to be the year Jarren Duran not just arrived, but served as a baseball dominator.

Then the regular season started.

By the time we hit mid-May, Duran was hitting .162. His OPS had dipped below .500 at one point. The same guy who’d been launching balls over the wall for Mexico in March was rolling over breaking balls and getting punched out on fastballs he used to barrel up. His adjusted high leg kick was seemingly messing up the entire mechanical structure in his swing. The WBC hadn’t been a preview. It had been a very small sample of Duran at his ceiling, mistaken for his floor.

To be fair to everyone who bought in, the tournament version of Duran was real…at one point. Still, 15 at-bats against international rosters in early March, before pitchers are stretched out and before the humidity in Florida has had a chance to stiffen anyone up, doesn’t tell you that much about how a guy is going to hold up against five months of a major league rotation. The WBC is great baseball. It’s just not the same thing. And the gap between a 1.412 OPS in March and a .497 OPS in April isn’t actually that surprising if you step back and look at it honestly.

Over the final two weeks of May, Duran has finally started doing what the WBC version of him had been doing all March. On May 19th in Kansas City, he crushed a three-run homer in the ninth inning to put a bow on a 7-1 win—the Sox’s most convincing offensive performance in weeks. Two days later, he came back with a go-ahead, two-run shot in the seventh to complete a sweep. In between those two, he roped a 114.1 mph rocket to right-center field for his first triple of the season, a ball that left his bat looking like it was shot out of a cannon. Seven-for-nineteen over that five-game stretch. Three doubles. One triple. Two homers. Six RBIs.

Then the Twins came to Fenway and swept the Sox in three games. Duran went quiet—including a strikeout looking with the bases loaded to end a game on May 23rd. It didn’t hold.

He kept it going against Atlanta. A 106.9 mph leadoff shot off Spencer Strider on May 26th—412 feet, gone in every ballpark—was his 10th career leadoff homer, tying Jacoby Ellsbury for second-most in Red Sox history. Only Mookie Betts has hit more. The next night: four hits, another homer, an 8-0 Sox win.

His season line is still a project. Through 212 at-bats he’s hitting .217 with a .675 OPS. The ten stolen bases and nine home runs are real production, but anyone who watched him grind through April knows how much damage that stretch did to the overall numbers. One good week doesn’t rewrite the story. The WBC hangover was real and the early-season hole was deep.

But the direction is right. The contact has looked different lately. That 114.1 mph triple didn’t come from a broken swing. He dropped the leg kick for a toe-tap in late April but has seemingly brought it back. Whatever he’s been working on with the leg kick—whether it’s a timing mechanic or just a different method for comfort—it looks like it’s clicking.

Mike Carlucci wrote about Duran’s season by the numbers not even two weeks ago—he preceded this hot streak just enough to warrant revisiting it.

He was genuinely great at the WBC. Three home runs in four games against that competition isn’t nothing. But the reasonable expectation for 2026 was always something between that 1.412 OPS in March and whatever rock bottom looked like in April. He’s a dynamic, disruptive leadoff presence when he’s right. He’s a problem at the top of the order when he’s not. Right now, for the first time since he got back from Mexico, he’s starting to look like the right version of himself.

Duran didn’t blink through the worst of a months-long slump this season so far. The Angry Lizard is pounding on more infield clay once again.

Today’s Reflections

I don’t want to make accusations or give blame for something that I might be misreading. This is far from a scientific study, but in the full three articles about Shōta’s struggles below, there are parts of three sentences, one per article, about Jameson Taillon. And I don’t see many (if any) punishing articles like this about Taillon. Quick stat check: Shota is 0-4 in his last four games with nine HR given up, his ERA went from 2.32 to 4.37, and his FIP went from 2.81 to 4.41. Taillon is 0-3 in four games with 10 HR, ERA from 3.94 to 5.37, FIP from 5.63 to 6.56. Just, where are all the Taillon articles?

*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.

I have no idea who the media is going to jump on after Friday night ….. :

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune {$}): Shota Imanaga implodes again as Chicago Cubs drop series opener to St. Louis Cardinals 6-5. “Ian Happ didn’t know how to explain how he came out of his slump to homer in three straight games. But Shota Imanaga was back to his old ways, and thus, so were the Cubs.”
• Joe Harris (MLB.com): Imanaga continues to struggle with long ball as Cubs fall to Cardinals. “Three of the five hits Imanaga allowed to the Cardinals left the yard, accounting for all five runs the left-hander yielded in a 6-5 loss.“
• “Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs starting pitchers’ home run troubles a major cause for concern. “The Chicago Cubs’ pitching staff’s home run problem has become glaring.”

Or it’s the coaching:

• Tyler Courtney (Last Word On Sports): Is Cubs Coaching Pressure Starting To Build in 2026?. “While the team has had multiple 10-game winning streaks, those have not told the whole story of the season. Much of the blame has been on the coaching staff for various reasons.”

Then let’s throw some more stuff at the wall and see if it sticks:

• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs might continue reclamation project haul with latest Twins’ bullpen arm cut loose. “It’s a name if nothing else.”
• Paranjoy Goswami (Total Pro Sports): MLB Rumors: Chicago Cubs Emerge As Perfect Destination For Boston Red Sox Star. “A Boston Red Sox outfielder is likely to end up with the Chicago Cubs after the trade deadline, according to an MLB analyst.” “According to Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report, the Boston Red Sox will deal with the overload of outfielders on their roster at the deadline.”

• George Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): By George, what a history: The Cubs’ Ben Brown grew up in historic Long Island home. ““George Washington may or may not have walked through our door one day,’’ said Brown, who grew up on Long Island, New York. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”“
• Nick Deeds (Cubbies Crib): Cubs may quietly be witnessing the emergence of a homegrown bullpen weapon. “He’s throwing up scoreless innings left and right.”
• Warren Mayes (AP): Happ homers again, but Cardinals survive with 6-5 win over the Cubs. “It was the third consecutive game Happ has hit a homer.”

Food For Thought:

Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin’ Wolf, was an American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player. He was at the forefront of transforming acoustic Delta blues into electric Chicago blues, and over a four-decade career, recorded blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and psychedelic rock. He is regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians ever.

Burnett became a protégé of Delta blues musician Charley Patton in the 1930s. In the Deep South, he began a solo career by performing with other notable blues musicians of the day. By the end of the decade, he had established himself in the Mississippi Delta. Burnett was recruited by A&R man Ike Turner to record for producer Sam Phillips in Memphis. His first record “Moanin’ at Midnight” (1951) led to a record deal with Chess Records in Chicago. Between 1951 and 1969, six of his songs reached the Billboard R&B chart.

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.

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 8, Durham Bulls (TBR) 5 – F/10

The Tides broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth on a Ryan Noda RBI double and José Barrero’s 11th home run of the year. The rally put them up, 5-3, then Ryan Long immediately allowed three runs in the next inning to re-tie it. That score held until the bottom of the 10th, when Creed Willems got to be the hero. He walked it off with a three-run homer to send the fans home happy.

Starting pitcher Trace Bright had his best start at the Triple-A level with a six-inning, two-run effort. He allowed five hits and two walks. He struck out five.

Box Score

Double-A: Erie SeaWolves (DET) 4, Chesapeake Baysox 0

The Baysox were held to four hits, one each from Aron Estrada, Ethan Anderson, Thomas Sosa, and Frederick Bencosme. Estrada’s hit was a double. Bencosme also worked a walk.

Luis De León pitched 4.1 innings with four hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. He allowed two runs, but just one was earned. In the fifth inning, the defense made two errors in the same play, one each by Sosa and Maikol Hernandez. It was part of a two-error game for Hernandez.

Box Score

High-A: Frederick Keys 3, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (PHI) 1

Caden Hunter made his first start for the Keys after six games with the Shorebirds. He pitched 4.1 innings with two hits and two walks. He struck out nine. Great high-A debut, Caden!

The game was scoreless until the eighth inning when Colin Yeaman (Yeah Man!) doubled with Vance Honeycutt, Elis Cuevas, and Victor Figueroa on base. That put the Keys up, 3-0. Prior to the eighth inning, they had exactly one baserunner.

Carson Dorsey pitched the final three innings and allowed one run on four hits.

Box Score

Low-A: Fredericksburg Nationals 9, Delmarva Shorebirds 6

It was another rough start for Esteban Mejia. He was knocked out of the game after five walks and just two-thirds of an inning. He was charged with four runs, two earned. His season ERA is now 8.16. The season has not gone well for him so far.

The Shorebirds scored six runs on just seven hits. They bunched four of those hits and three walks into a four-run third inning. One of those walks was from the rehabbing Enrique Bradfield Jr, who had a hit and two walks in the game. Elvin Garcia had three hits in the game and Junior Aybar picked up two.

Box Score

Today’s Schedule

• Norfolk vs Durham, 1:05. Starter: Christian Herberholz
• Chesapeake @ Erie, 1:35. Starter: TBD
• Frederick @ Jersey Shore, 1:05. Starter: Yeiber Cartaya
• Delmarva vs Fredericksburg, 2:05. Starter: Christian Rodriguez

Good morning, baseball fans!

Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close today, which means it’s time for us to pick our favorite highlight of the week!

As I mentioned yesterday, I wanted to shout out two players this week and I gave yesterday’s honors to Rafael Devers for his grand slam in last Sunday’s game. Which means today’s honors go to Harrison Bader for HIS grand slam in last Saturday’s 10-3 win over the Chicago White Sox!

While the team may not be racking up the wins the way I might want them to, I cannot complain about multiple grand slams in the same week! (And yes, I know this was technically last week but I have to pre-write these so I get to include the former week, okay?)

Anyway, what was your favorite highlight of the week?

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants wrap up this road series against the Rockies this afternoon at 12:10 p.m. PT.

After a promising—but still losing—April, the Colorado Rockies slid into May and… certainly had themselves a month of some kind.

It’s been a weird and rough May. The Rockies are 8-19 in May. They have just one series win for the month while polishing off the final weekend of May against a bizarrely struggling San Francisco Giants and have won consecutive games just twice. Michael Lorenzen, Kyle Freeland, and Edouard Julien have had a month from hell, the roster has suffered a glut of injuries to several key players, and top prospect Ethan Holliday (no. 2 PuRP) just got shut down for the season.

But hey. It hasn’t been all bad!

It’s important to remember that at this point last year, the Rockies were 9-49. Now at 22-37—tied with the Detroit Tigers for the worst record in the league—they have more than doubled their win total and many of the games they lose are still at least close.

Throughout the month, we’ve also seen debuts of both new Rockies and prospects. Chad Stevens and Keegan Thompson both received the call, while prospects Sterlin Thompson (no. 13 PuRP) and Welinton Herrera (no. 17 PuRP) made their Major League debuts.

There have also been some solid results on the existing big league roster. Relievers Antonio Senzatela and Jaden Hill continue to put up strong numbers out of the bullpen, first baseman TJ Rumfield is quietly one of the best rookies in the National League, and Hunter Goodman—despite his strikeout woes—continues to tear the cover off the ball when he gets a hold of one.

And then there’s Ezequiel Tovar, who is finally climbing his way out of a brutal slump to thunderous applause and late-game heroics.

Tovar has increased his walk rate, dramatically cut down on strikeouts, and is finally making strong contact with the baseball. On Friday night, he had a game to remember with a steal of home plate and two home runs, including the game winning walk-off blast. Tovar now has three home runs in May after having just one all season until recently, and getting to see him finally get to put on that incredible purple coat was a thing of beauty.

With that being said, here’s what our staff here at Purple Row had to say this week:

To Read: Rockpiles

• Monday:Checking in with Warren Schaeffer through 54 games | Sam Bradfield
• Tuesday:The Rockies and the amazing purple-colored home run coat | Renee Dechert
• Wednesday:The Colorado Rockies and the late-game woes | Skyler Timmins
• Thursday:Jaden Hill is quietly emerging as the Rockies most reliable reliever | Cory Cohen
• Friday:Zach of all trades: Agnos pitches when and where needed for Rockies | Joelle Milholm
• Saturday:Luis Arráez would lead the Rockies in WAR. He’s not the only “What-If” who would | James Riggenbach

To Read: News

• Rockies injuries:José Quintana leaves Rockies-Diamondbacks game with injury | Evan Lang
• Rockies roster:Rockies recall LHP Welinton Herrera, place José Quintana on IL | Evan Lang
• Rockies injuries:Colorado Rockies injury report, May 25, 2026 | Renee Dechert
• Rockies injuries:TJ Rumfield hit by pitch, leaves Rockies-Dodgers game | Joelle Milholm
• Weekly Pebble Report:Pedro Lopez takes himself and the Isotopes forward | Evan Lang & Skyler Timmins
• Rockies prospects:Sterlin Thompson reflects on his first week in the big leagues | Sam Bradfield
• Rockies prospects:Ethan Holliday to miss remainder of 2026 season | Evan Lang

Weekly Discussion Topics

Now that May is finally ending, what are your expectations or desires for June? What record do you think the Rockies will finish the month with? Do you think we’ll see any more important transactions or call-ups? Let us know in the comments!

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

Tell ya what, I am kinda tired of watching the Guardians not score runs.

They lost to the Red Sox 9-1 yesterday. Travis Bazzana has a 150 wRC+. Everybody else could use to step it up.

Angel Martinez has foot inflammation and will get an MRI today. Stuart Fairchild looked real bad but he’ll have a chance to show he can hit a lefty or two today.

Matt Seese and Nick Karavolos talked over the latest CBA proposals on the Disgusting Baseball Podcast.

AROUND MLB:
The White Sox won again over the Tigers, and the Royals and Twins lost.

They had a lavish press conference in Sacramento this week featuring balloons, baseball caps, politicians and even future Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker, letting Major League Baseball know they have the money, the land and the passion to be part of their exclusive club.

They have a star-studded staff of advisors in Nashville, an office constantly pumping out press releases, and even though they have no actual ownership, already chosen a team name.

They have already started seeking investors in Vancouver. They have everything set but the shovels in the ground in Salt Lake City.

Everywhere you turn, whether it’s in Charlotte, Portland, Orlando or Montreal, there’s a clamoring to be prepared the moment MLB announces it is ready to expand.

Well, what if everyone is wasting their time?

What if, after all of these years of hype and promises, MLB is not ready to expand in 2031, 2032 or 2033?

What if expansion simply doesn’t happen?

USA TODAY Sports asked a handful of MLB owners and owners and executives for their take on the potential of expansion, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the situation.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen, I really don’t," one longtime MLB executive said.

Said one owner: “Expansion would just be stupid."

Said another owner: “It’s not anything that’s being discussed right now, I know that."

Indeed, expansion has not been addressed in the early collective bargaining agreement talks between MLB and the players union. It’s expected to be tabled until after a CBA agreement is reached.

So, once there’s a new CBA, whenever that is, just why wouldn’t there be expansion?

MORE: C.J. Adams was best trade that didn't happen

The players union would love it, with 52 new jobs coming to MLB. The owners would love it, with expansion fees for each team expected to be perhaps $3 billion.

Commissioner Rob Manfred would love it, wanting expansion as part of his legacy, and already on record wanting to add two more teams before he leaves office in January 2029.

“When people want your product," Manfred said last week on the Pat McAfee Show, “I think it’s kind of incumbent on you to try to figure out a way if you can deliver that product to them."

The schedule makers would love it, knowing it’s much easier to comprise a 162-game schedule featuring 32 teams than 30. And the players would love it, with expansion bringing massive realignment, reducing travel and the frequent cross-country flights.

Yet, as several owners and executives say, the biggest problem with expansion is that it doesn’t make sense financially.

“Why would we want to subsidize two more small-market teams?" one executive said. “I don’t understand it. The economics don’t add up."

I’m generally ambivalent about the City Connect uniforms, but the Dodgers’ version has to be one of the worst ones out there right now. Why would Freddie Freeman have a uniform that has an “05” on it instead of just “5”?

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Daniel Robert will not pitch in 2026 after a procedure to help with his irregular heartbeat. He’s doing much better.
• Some minor housekeeping on the roster as Max Lazar needed to end his rehab, necessitating Zach Pop to be designated for assignment.
• The right handed issues are continuing for the Phillies, issues that are going to have to be addressed soon ($).

MLB news:

• Munetaka Murakami is going to miss some time with a hamstring injury. Too bad as he’s been the real deal.
• Here is an injury I’ve never heard of before: Eury Perez will miss at least eight weeks with a gracilis strain.
• The Rockies’ top prospect, Ethan Holliday, will miss the rest of the season after needing foot surgery ($).

It is a terrible time to be a Detroit Tigers fan, clear and simple. After a 7-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox at Rate Park on Saturday afternoon, the team has just six wins in May and is burying themselves in the league cellar before summer even begins.

On Sunday, AJ Hinch will send right-hander Keider Montero to the mound to try and prevent a sweep at the hands of their hated intradivision rivals. The 25-year-old has been solid filling in the void for Justin Verlander but has struggled recently, putting up a 6.46 ERA and 6.72 FIP over his last three starts, stretching across 15 1/3 innings with a win, a loss and a no-decision in a team loss.

The last time Montero faced the Southsiders was last year on Sept. 5, when he surrendered two runs on four hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out a pair over 3 1/3 innings in a 9-6 loss.

He will be up against fellow righty Sean Burke, who has been solid — but a bit wild — in his third major league campaign. The 26-year-old’s last outing was a seven-inning effort that saw him surrender a pair of runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight Minnesota Twins in a 5-3 11-inning loss.

Funny enough, Burke’s last start against Detroit last summer on June 5 yielded similar numbers. He threw seven frames of two-run ball on seven hits (one home run) and one walk while striking out five in a 3-2 victory that took 10 innings.

Here is how the two match up on Sunday.

Detroit Tigers (22-37) vs. Chicago White Sox (31-27)

Time (ET): 2:10 p.m.
Place: Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois
SB Nation Site:South Side Sox
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 60: RHP Keider Montero (2-3, 4.09 ERA) vs. RHP Sean Burke (2-3, 3.90 ERA)

MONTERO

BURKE

Hello, friends.

We were right on the verge of the Orioles really kicking us in the teeth there, weren’t we? If they followed up on sweeping the Rays by losing the first three games to the Blue Jays all in extremely excruciating fashion, that would have started to feel like the season was over again. No way they could come back from that, could they? Then, another miracle comeback and they managed a 6-5 walkoff win over the Blue Jays. Check out Andrea’s recap of the game for more of the lovely totals.

It’s extra fun that the Orioles pulled off the bulk of the rally against Jeff Hoffman, the reliever who went out of his way to beef with them not long ago. This was probably because the Orioles backed out of signing him to a contract two offseasons previously over medical concerns. In some ways, that attempted contract is another indictment of Mike Elias’s free agent judgment. Hoffman has largely stunk with the Jays, a 4.44 ERA not counting yesterday’s disaster.

The Orioles still need to find a way to win today in order to salvage a series split. That would have been a decent outcome even before the series began, and after the way the first two games went it feels essential in some ways, for the team to show that they can pick themselves back up after a pair of morale-draining (at least for many fans) losses.

Don’t forget that this is a weird start time game of 12:15. That’s because this one will be on the streamer Peacock. If you don’t subscribe, tough luck! You can’t watch the Orioles today. Maybe you can still get the radio broadcast. Kyle Bradish is set to start for the Orioles, with righty Spencer Miles starting for the Jays. Miles has been used mostly in relief but it’s been a 3+ inning bulk role, so they might be looking to use him for starter-ish innings instead of merely as an opener.

This team has its share of problems. It has also shown that, at least on the basis of a game or three here and there, it can overcome enough of its problems to win. Can they manage this consistently enough to ascend closer than two games back in the wild card race? That’s the question that stands before them until they either win enough to answer yes or lose enough to make it clear that the answer is no. Although many of their losses have made it feel like the answer must be no, so far they have done just enough to hang around on the periphery.

I think we can all agree we haven’t seen the best possible version of these guys. There’s just no guarantee the best version will ever show up or stay for long if it does.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Orioles rotation must show more than flashes (The Baltimore Sun)
The jumping-off point for this article was specifically Trevor Rogers’s start from Friday’s game. You could just as easily make the same comment about the offense and the bullpen. And also the defense, which hasn’t even really shown flashes.

Brandon Young’s new splitter grip: From drawing board to the mound in just days (Steve on Baseball)
This is a free one on Steve Melewski’s Substack. It’s a little early to say that Young’s new splitter grip is a definite improvement, but the initial results have been encouraging.

Updating on Helsley and Cano (School of Roch)
The closer will be starting a rehab assignment soon. It won’t fix all of the Orioles problems to have him back. It should help stabilize the bullpen a bit. Hopefully! As for Cano, he doesn’t think there’s anything lingering from Wednesday.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

In their 59th game of the 2025 season, the Orioles beat the Mariners, 5-1, to raise their record to 23-36 for the season. This was the fourth straight win in what ended up being a six game winning streak. Tomoyuki Sugano allowed one run in seven innings, and for the hitters, Adley Rutschman led the way with three hits and two runs scored. The Orioles are four wins ahead of those guys. It would be nicer if that was more like seven or eight. Hopefully they get to that point eventually.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2024-25 pitcher Matt Bowman, 1988-92 outfielder Joe Orsulak, and 1976-86 pitcher Tippy Martinez. Today is Martinez’s 76th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you as well! Your birthday buddies for today include: poet Walt Whitman (1819), actor Clint Eastwood (1930), Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham (1948), and rapper DMC (1964).

On this day in history…

In 1669, notable historical diarist Samuel Pepys ceased keeping his diary, claiming his eyesight had grown too poor – though Pepys lived until 1703. His diary is famous for chronicling both the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague of London.

In 1889, a dam failed near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, leading to the deaths of over 2,200 people as the water raced down through the town.

In 1921, white supremacists in Tulsa, Oklahoma began a two-day terror campaign that killed at least 39 Black people and destroyed what was, at the time one of the wealthiest Black communities in the country, dubbed “Black Wall Street.”

In 2005, an article in Vanity Fair revealed the identity of Watergate’s “Deep Throat” – W. Mark Felt, who at the time of Watergate was Deputy Director of the FBI.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on May 31. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (28-27)

ROCHESTER 5, SYRACUSE 3 (BOX)

Syracuse rallied late but came up short, ultimately unable to come back from Jack Wenninger’s rough outing. Errors from Christian Pache and Nick Morabito didn’t help matters either.

• LF Nick Morabito: 1-5, K, E (1)
• DH Ji Hwan Bae: 2-4, BB, K, SB (17)
• 2B Christian Arroyo: 2-4, R, HR (5), RBI, BB, K
• 1B Ryan Clifford: 2-4, R, 2B, BB, K
• 3B Andy Ibáñez: 1-5, R
• SS Yonny Hernández: 1-4, BB
• CF Cristian Pache: 0-3, RBI, BB, E (3)
• C Ben Rortvedt: 0-4, 3 K
• RF Matt Rudick: 0-2, BB
• RHP Zach Peek: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• RHP Jack Wenninger: 4.0 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, L (3-3)
• LHP Matt Turner: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Ofreidy Gómez: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (18-32)

BINGHAMTON 4, PORTLAND 3 (BOX)

Another walkoff win for the Rumble Ponies, this time in regulation. Chris Suero scored the winning run, stealing third then scampering home on a throwing error. Vincent Perozo went deep in the win, while the rehabbing Jorge Polanco struck out twice in his two plate appearances.

• REHAB ALERT: 1B Jorge Polanco: 0-2, 2 K
• LF Jaylen Palmer: 0-2, K
• SS Marco Vargas: 0-4, 2 K
• DH Chris Suero: 1-3, R, BB, SB (15)
• 3B Jacob Reimer: 0-4, K
• RF Eli Serrano III: 0-3, BB, K, SB (4)
• CF D’Andre Smith: 2-2, R, BB, SB (5)
• 2B Nick Lorusso: 0-2, R, BB
• C Vincent Perozo: 1-3, R, HR (2), 3 RBI, 2 K
• LF-1B TT Bowens: 0-3, E (3)
• RHP Bryce Conley: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
• RHP Douglas Orellana: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• RHP Carlos Guzman: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Brian Metoyer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, W (2-1)

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (16-33)

BROOKLYN 8, WILMINGTON 1 (BOX)

An absolute shellacking by the Cyclones in this one. Homers from Mitch Voit and John Bay highlighted an eight-run outburst, more than enough to support Irving Cota and Tanner Witt’s piggy-backed outing.

• 2B Mitch Voit: 2-4, 2 R, HR (6), RBI
• RF John Bay: 1-2, 3 R, HR (7), RBI, BB, K, SB (13)
• C Ronald Hernandez: 1-4, RBI, 2 K
• DH Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-3, R
• CF Yonatan Henriquez: 3-4, 2 R, 2 2B, RBI, K
• SS Colin Houck: 1-4, RBI, 3 K
• LF JT Benson: 2-4, 3 RBI
• 1B Trace Willhoite: 0-4, K
• 3B Nick Roselli: 1-4, 2 K
• RHP Irving Cota: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• RHP Tanner Witt: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, W (3-0)
• THP Parker Carlson: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• LHP Gregori Louis: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• RHP Dakota Hawkins: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• RHP Hoss Brewer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (24-26)

ST. LUCIE 6, BRADENTON 3 / 10 (BOX)

Annoyed they missed out on the extra-inning fun on Friday, St. Lucie got in on the action with a 6-3 win over the Marauders. The Mets had a 2-0 lead that they blew in the seventh and eighth, but they managed to score four in the top of the tenth on a triple, a fielder’s choice, a single, and an RBI groundout. Christian Rodriguez gave up a run but made the lead stand up in the bottom half. Randy Guzman was the offensive star, homering and driving in two as part of a three-hit day.

• SS Elian Peña: 0-5, R, RBI, K, SB (15)
• 2B Antonio Jimenez: 1-5, R, K
• RF-1B Randy Guzman: 3-5, R, HR (9), 2 RBI
• 1B-CF Yohairo Cuevas: 0-3, 2 BB, K
• DH Julio Zayas: 0-4, RBI, BB, K
• LF Branny De Oleo: 1-5, K, CS (6)
• C Francisco Toledo: 0-4, R
• 3B Jeremy Rodriguez: 0-2, R, 2 BB, 2 K, SB (3)
• CF Sam Robertson: 1-3, K
• PH-RF AJ Salgado: 1-1, R, 3B, RBI
• RHP Emilio Obispo: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• RHP Joel Lara: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, H (1)
• RHP Miguel Mejias: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, W (3-0), BS (1)
• RHP Christian Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

Rookie: FCL Mets (9-9)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Randy Guzman

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Jack Wenninger

He showed up 23 years ago as the lovably grounded steward of one of baseball’s soaring sports franchises.

Remember the first thing Arte Moreno did as Angels owner? He lowered the beer prices!

“I’m not going to think about it,” he said boldly and decisively. “I’m going to.”

The second thing he did was hand out sombreros in honor of his Mexican heritage and status as the first Latino majority owner in America’s major professional sports.

“Being Mexican American, I’d like to reach out to Mexican Americans,” Moreno said. “But also to everyone.”

The third thing he did was answer a question about the Dodgers with a question.

“Who?” he said, “The Angels won the World Series. We are the No. 1 baseball team in the world. There is no reason for us to look over our shoulders.”

It was the most delightful introductory news conference I’ve ever attended, Moreno saying all the right things, doing all the smart things, and ultimately embracing his new purchase’s greatest asset.

“My responsibility is to take care of the Angel fan,” he said. “My job is to make sure we live up to the tradition. My job is to make people comfortable here.”

Twenty-three years later, those first impressions have long since been replaced by lasting erosions.

On nearly every weighty promise, with the exception of those beer prices, Arte Moreno has failed.

Take care of the Angels fans? Those fans profanely chant at him, loudly protest against him, universally despise him.

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

Make sure the team lives up to its tradition? He has taken a glittering inherited World Series championship culture and frittered it into an unrecognizable lump that is undeniably the worst in baseball, 11 straight years out of the playoffs, 10 straight sub-.500 seasons, nobody that bad.

Make people comfortable at Angel Stadium? The only way that is happening now is if Moreno isn’t there.

Arte, please, listen to your customers, heed your record, recognize the inherent sadness of a 79-year-old man being chased out of his own home.

Sell the team.

You’ll make a ton of money while escaping a ton of heat. You can buffet your ownership legacy by handing this civic jewel to someone who will appreciate it. The reputation rehabilitation that once worked for Shelly Sterling in selling the Clippers to Steve Ballmer, it can work for you.

Sell the team.

You made Shohei Ohtani disappear, you made Mike Trout anonymous, you made bright hopes vanish by betting on broken former stars like Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton and Vernon Wells and Anthony Rendon.

Now it’s time for you to go.

Sell the team.

The experts will say the Angels should not be sold until a new labor agreement is signed, potentially increasing their value. C’mon, the worst franchise in baseball still has an estimated worth of $2.75 billion, a 1,400% increase from the $183 million Moreno originally invested.

Wouldn’t it be worth it to sell as soon as possible before the stands empty and the chants grow and commissioner Rob Manfred gets involved?

Just ask Frank McCourt what happens when a commissioner gets involved.

Sell the team, and here’s guessing at least one local titan would be interested, that being Rams owner Stan Kroenke. Under the daily leadership of Kevin Demoff, Kroenke’s well-run Rams have joined the Dodgers as this city’s two premier sports operations, and just think about what SoFi Stan could do with a storied baseball franchise in baseball-loving Orange County.

The Angels were once the Rams. Heck, the Angels were once the Dodgers.

Moreno, who declined to be interviewed for this column, bought the Angels shortly after they won the 2002 World Series, and watched them win five American League West titles in the next seven years, twice finishing one step from the World Series.

But, following the 2007 season, the great Bill Stoneman retired from his general manager position and the direction of the club slowly began to change. Moreno, once satisfied with being just another suds-loving die-hard, became more involved in player acquisition while surrounding himself with inexperienced general managers who struggled along with him.

Every time Moreno tried to make a big splash, he wound up soaking wet. Pujols couldn’t reverse aging. Hamilton couldn’t stay clean. Wells couldn’t play, period.

In a brief moment of clarity in 2014, they won the West, but were swept out of the division series by the Kansas City Royals as Pujols and Trout combined to go three for 24.

They haven’t sniffed the playoffs since while undergoing seemingly constant leadership changes that have allowed their culture to slowly rot.

The team has gone through four different general managers since Stoneman, and five different managers since Mike Scioscia left the team eight years ago, and this lack of stability points directly at the owner who just can’t let people do their job.

An owner, by the way, who several years ago personally canceled a trade that would have brought them the Dodgers’ Andy Pages.

But nothing is more damning to the Moreno era than the handling of arguably the greatest player in baseball history. When Ohtani joined the Dodgers two seasons ago everyone celebrated him as the new kid in town, yet he had previously played in Anaheim for six years! It’s as if those six years never existed! This, even though Ohtani spent them alongside a guy who was once nearly as accomplished.

Read more:Letters to Sports: Angels have a strange way of showing they're 'very competitive'

Ohtani and Trout never synced their skills between various injuries and surgeries, but still … years from now historians will still marvel how two of the greatest players ever could play together for a half dozen years and never once step on an October stage.

Only in Anaheim. Then, to complete arguably one of the most wasted tenures in the history of sports, Ohtani was unconscionably allowed to walk to Chavez Ravine as a free agent with the Angels getting nothing in return.

They should have traded Ohtani during his final season there, but Moreno wanted to squeeze every last dollar out of his marketing power. Then, once Ohtani became a free agent, he reportedly would have considered returning to Anaheim, but Moreno wouldn’t match the Dodgers offer.

The departure of Ohtani for zero prospects, zero young stars, nobody … seriously damaged the remaining shreds of trust between their many loyal fans and the team.

That bond was further strained this winter when the Angels settled a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of the late Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who died in 2019 of a drug overdose. The settlement was reached during jury deliberations after a trial that jurors later indicated showed the Angels’ negligence. The jurors were simply trying to determine the amount of punitive damages when the settlement was announced.

The belief that the Angels could have done more to save Skaggs’ life was yet another giant crack in Moreno’s crumbling foundation.

As a final insult in this downward spiral, this spring Moreno amazingly told the Orange County Register that for his fan base, winning wasn’t their priority.

“They want affordability,” Moreno said. “They want safety, and they want a good experience when they come to the ballpark. Believe it or not, winning is not in their top five.”

The Angels have since contextualized that quote to point out that Moreno was talking about what fans were seeking in deciding to attend a specific game, not about their fandom in general. And over the years, even his biggest critics have acknowledged that Moreno is a hardcore fan who wants to win.

But, again, still, the sound bite sizzled. Winning not in the top five? Are you kidding me?

To be fair, the Angels’ fan experience is still generally outstanding. Parking is easy, food is good, ushers are nice, it has the potential to be great fun. Then again, there was a recent rodent infestation in a concession stand, painting even the best parts of their operation as Mickey Mouse.

All told, the Angels are a glorified minor league team with no apparent vision and no obvious hope for the future and not worth the money at any price.

Arte Moreno has taken a crown jewel and turned it into a punch line.

The Halos have gone to halo, the Big A is now the Big L and, somewhere, a rally monkey weeps.

Sell the team.

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

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Columbus Clippers 3, Toledo Mud Hens 1 (box)

Sawyer Gipson-Long posted his best outing of the season, but the Hens’ bats slumbered on Saturday.

The right-hander has been up and down since rehabbing a preseason injury, and is still not far removed from rehabbing the Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2024 and most of the 2025 seasons. If he was back throwing 93-95 mph we’d be pretty enthusiastic about giving him a look, but his fastball is still sitting around 92 mph this spring.

Gipson-Long gave up three singles that led to two runs in the top of the first inning on Saturday, and then locked down the Clippers entirely the rest of his outing. He went five innings, allowing just two more hits and no walks, while striking out eight. He racked up 12 whiffs on 44 swings, getting them with his fourseamer, slider, and changeup for the most part.

In the bottom of the first, Gleyber Torres led off by lining out to second baseman Juan Brito. Kerry Carpenter drove a ball 380 feet to center field, but Kahlil Watson was there to haul it in.

Ben Malgeri led off the second with a solo shot, his seventh homer of the season. 2-1 Clippers.

Torres struck out on a high fastball in the third, while Carpenter walked. The latter was then pinch-run for by Tyler Gentry, and appears set to return to the Tigers on Sunday. Torres grounded out in the fifth and took a called third strike in the seventh.

In the top of the seventh against the Hens’ Matt Seelinger, Nolan Jones tripled and then scored on an Angel Genao sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Tanner Rainey spun the final two innings for the Hens, allowing just a walk while striking out two.

Malgeri: 2-3, R, RBI, HR, BB, K

Gipson-Long (L, 2-3): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 2:05 p.m. ET start on Sunday.

Erie SeaWolves 4, Chesapeake Baysox 0 (box)

Sean Hunley tossed a good short start, while Izaac Pacheco provided the power as the SeaWolves won on Saturday.

The SeaWolves got started in the bottom of the second when Justice Bigbie led off with a walk. Andrew Jenkins singled him to second, but Pacheco grounded into a force of Jenkins at second. E.J. Exposito walked to load the bases, and Bigbie scored on a Bennett Lee ground out. That was all they got but it was 1-0 SeaWolves.

Hunley went 4.1 innings of scoreless ball, scattering four hits and no walks, while striking out three. Tyler Owens followed with five straight outs, three by strikeout.

In the bottom of the fifth, Seth Stephenson, who has been scuffling the past week since returning from injury, singled with one out and the Baysox’s third baseman threw the ball away. The lightning fast Stephenson raced all the way around to score on the play, as the Baysox right fielder had to collect the ball and then fired wildly for his own throwing error.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bigbie was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Pacheco smashed towering shot to right center field for his fifth homer of the season, and it was 4-0, where it would end.

Yosber Sanchez, Trevin Michael, and Wandisson Charles were all solid in relief, allowing no hits the rest of the way.

Pacheco: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, K

Bigbie: 1-2, 2 R, BB

Graham: 1-3, BB, 2 K, 2 SB

Hunley: 4.1 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 0 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves can split the series with a win on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m. ET.

Lansing Lugnuts 7, West Michigan Whitecaps 6 (box)

The West Michigan Whitecaps are, like their parent club, a disaster area. Winners of just four games in May, they dropped another one on Saturday, and also parroting the Tigers, they were yet again walked off. The Whitecaps bullpen has been the major culprit all along.

The ‘Caps lineup got right to work. Ricardo Hurtado walked with one out, and Garrett Pennington singled. Bryce Rainer smashed a missile high off the big wall in right center field for a two-run double. That ball was estimated to have flown 435 feet if not interrupted by said high wall. The double was undercut by the fact that Mr. Rainer had never hit a ball like that and not gotten a home run out of it, and he should have been standing on third base on the play instead. A Clayton Campbell single got Rainer to third, and a Jackson Strong sac fly made it a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the second, Woody Hadeen drilled a single to right field and Hurtado doubled him to third. Pennington stepped in and roped an opposite field double to score both runs and make it 5-0.

Rayner Castillo was better in this one as well. The right-handed sinkerballer hasn’t recovered the mid-90’s velo on his sinker fully yet, but he allowed a solo shot in the third and no more. Castillo punched out six, walking two and allowing three hits total in his outing.

Preston Howey, freshly rehabbed in Lakeland, handled the fifth and sixth, allowing a solo shot in the latter that made it 5-2. He got the first two outs of the seventh before departing.

In the top of the seventh, Hadeen, also freshly rehabbed, led off with a single and Hurtado was hit by a pitch. The Lugnuts went to Luis Carrasco out of their pen, and he punched out Pennington and Rainer. However, Campbell and Strong both drew walks to force in another run. 6-2 Whitecaps.

The ‘Caps Juanmi Vasquez took over in the eighth. The lefty was the return from the Blue Jays for Connor Seabold. He gave up two unearned runs in the inning after a Pennington error.

In the bottom of the ninth, Jalen Evans took over for the save. He gave up a leadoff single, and with one out, wild pitched the runner to second. Still, it was a 6-4 lead, and he struck out the next hitter. Needing one more out, Evans surrendered an RBI single, and then a two-run walkoff shot from Dylan Fien.

Pennington: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 K

Hadeen: 2-5, 2 R

Rainer: 1-5, R, 2 RBI, 2B, 2 K, SB

Castillo: 4.0 IP, ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Sunday with the Lugnuts up 3-2 in the series.

Palm Beach Cardinals 7, Lakeland Flying Tigers 6 (box)

Palm Beach locked up a series victory, walking off the Flying Tigers on Saturday.

Caleb Leys was shaky in his start, giving up three runs over the first 2.1 innings of work. Jan Carabello cleaned up the third, threw a scoreless fourth, and then allowed two runs in the fifth.

At that point it was 5-2 Palm Beach after the Flying Tigers scored two in the fourth. Zach MacDonald had led off with a single, then stole second and third base. Jude Warwick plated him with a sacrifice fly. Edian Espinal then followed with a solo shot to right. The second baseman turned catcher has been an interesting story to follow in Lakeland this spring.

Jordan Yost walked to start the sixth inning and MacDonald was hit by a pitch. They were each given 90 feet on a balk, and after Nick Dumesnil struck out and the Cardinals went back to the bullpen, Warwick came through with a lined single to center to plate both runners and took third on an error on the play. Espinal lifted a sac fly to score Warwick and tie the game 5-5.

Carson Rucker was then hit by a pitch and left the game. Jack Goodman was plunked next, and Javier Osorio walked to load the bases with two outs. Unfortunately, Jesus Pinto grounded out to strand all three.

In the seventh the Flying Tigers seized the lead briefly when Yost walked to start the inning and took second on a wild pitch. MacDonald and Dumesnil both struck out, but once again it was Warwick with an RBI single to center to give them a one run lead.

Unfortunately, Eliseo Mota allowed a run in the seventh that tied things at 6-6, and in the ninth, Luke Hoskins blew the save.

Warwick: 2-3, R, 3 RBI

Yost: 0-2, 2 R, 3 BB, SB

MacDonald: 1-4, 2 R, 2 K, 2 SB

Leys: 2.1 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 0 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 12:30 p.m. ET start on Sunday with the Cardinals up 4-1 in the series.

FCL Tigers 5, FCL Blue Jays 3 (F/7)(box)

The rehabbers helped carry the day on Saturday. Jack Penney cracked a two-run shot with fellow rehabber Nolan McCarthy aboard in the first inning.

Owen Hall gave up two runs, one earned, in 3.1 innings of work. He walked one and struck out one on the day.

It was 3-2 Blue Jays, but in the seventh Martin Tamara and Angel de los Santos singled, and McCarthy walked this one off with a three-run shot.

De Los Santos: 1-3 R, BB

Penney: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR

McCarthy: 1-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB

Hall: 3.1 IP, 2 R, ER, 2 H, BB, K