Sánchez tossed his 42nd consecutive shutout inning Wednesday, May 27 at San Diego, breaking Grover Cleveland Alexander's mark that had stood since 1911. He eclipsed Alexander's record with his fourth shutout inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
By the time his afternoon was done in the Phillies' 3-0 win, Sanchez pitched seven shutout innings, stretching his streak to 44 2/3 innings and potentially getting into the conversation for the longest of all time: Orel Hershiser's 59-inning scoreless run at the end of the 1988 season.
Sánchez and Hershiser are also the only pitchers since 1913 to pitch a scoreless calendar month of at least 30 innings, with Hershiser pulling it off in September 1988.
Given the Phillies' tradition-rich history - they date to 1883 - and the Hall of Famers who have graced their mound, claiming the club record is no small feat. Yet Sanchez has been nearly untouchable: In his five starts since last giving up a run to the San Francisco Giants on April 30, he struck out 45 and walked three, and posted a 0.74 WHIP.
Sánchez, 29, kept up that epic run against San Diego, striking out nine in seven innings and walking none, exiting with a 2-0 lead. His season ERA is down to 1.47.
Sánchez has tossed one shutout in his streak, a stark difference from Alexander's streak in 1911 - he tossed four consecutive shutouts. In the century-plus since, lefty Cliff Lee has come closest to Alexander's club mark, firing 34 consecutive scoreless innings in 2011.
The New York Yankees (33-22) face the Kansas City Royals (22-33). New York won the series’ first two games. The Yankees are favored with a -156 moneyline compared to the Royals' +129. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Gerrit Cole for the Yankees, with a 0.00 ERA, and Noah Cameron for the Royals, with a 4.72 ERA.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke with reporters on Wednesday ahead of the team's game against the Cincinnati Reds to discuss a number of topics...
Messaging to team amid mental mistakes
During Tuesday's 7-2 loss, starting pitcher David Peterson failed to back up home plate, allowing the runner to advance to third base after Bo Bichette's throw got by catcher Luis Torrens.
The mental mistake was a bad look not just for Peterson, but the coaching staff as well. Because of the error, Mendoza was asked if his and the staff's messaging isn't getting through to the players.
"No, not at all," Mendoza said. "You hate to see it, obviously. It can't happen, especially at this level. Physical mistakes are going to happen, but mental mistakes, especially when you're not playing well.
"As far as the messaging from my end, I know for sure, and the coaching staff and the way we hold people accountable, it doesn't necessarily have to be in front of the camera. As far as the messaging is received, there's not concern there."
Mendoza was then asked what specifically is reinforcing the belief that the messaging is being received, saying it's more clear off the field.
"It's everything behind the scenes, but until we go out there and do it and play better," Mendoza said. "For me to say something here, we got to go out and do it."
The team will need to show it soon as they are currently riding a five-game losing streak and have gone 2-7 since taking the Subway Series from the Yankees.
Mendoza outlined a plan for Polanco over the next couple of days, hoping to see the veteran be able to play one day in the field and the next at DH.
"The good thing is he started his rehab today, played a couple of at-bats, I think he's off tomorrow," Mendoza said. "Then the plan is for him to DH and hopefully get him back-to-back, three or four innings at first base.
"And now, once we get to that point, it's more of like, alright, playing seven innings in the field, going back-to-back, full nine innings as DH. How is he going to feel the next day after he gets four, five at-bats and is on the bases? Today, he was able to get on base and run around a little bit. So now it's, how is he going to feel tomorrow and then we'll go from there."
Polanco has been out since April 14 as he recovers from Achilles bursitis and a wrist injury.
The team ramped up his baseball activities in recent days so he would be ready to see game action, but Mendoza acknowledged that the 32-year-old's goal is to manage the injuries and not have "bad days."
"Yes, it's to a point where he's not going to be 100 percent," Mendoza said. "But as he went through the intensity, the running the bases, the sprinting, and all that, the next day it's like, 'Hey, it's not getting any worse. I feel better.' The biggest thing that it wasn't getting any worse and he was able to manage it. It's like, 'I'm good to go now.'"
Polanco was hitting just .179 with one home run and two RBI over 56 at-bats prior to landing on the injured list.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: Alejandro Osuna #19 of the Texas Rangers looks on prior to the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 24, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for May 27, 2026 against the Houston Astros: starting pitchers are Jacob deGrom for the Rangers and Mike Burrows for the Astros.
Texas will try to keep the offense going after yesterday’s 10 run explosion, with a lineup highlighted by new infielder Nicky Lopez.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Osuna — LF
Nimmo — RF
Jung — 3B
Burger — 1B
Carter — CF
Duran — SS
Jansen — C
Lopez — 2B
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -143 favorites.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 24: Andrew McCutchen #4 of the Texas Rangers looks on after striking out during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 24, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have signed infielder Nicky Lopez to a one year deal, the team announced today. To make room for Lopez on the active roster, the Rangers have designated outfielder/DH Andrew McCutchen for assignment.
I’m really baffled by this move. McCutchen hasn’t hit well this season, slashing .192/.277/.260, including a .186/.300/.302 line against lefthanded pitching, which is especially problematic, given that McCutchen was brought in to be Joc Pederson’s platoon partner.
But Nicky Lopez doesn’t seem to really make the team better. Lopez is a light-hitting utility infielder who had a 4.4 bWAR season back in 2021, and since then has slashed .228/.298/.281 in 1220 plate appearances. He’s also a lefthanded hitter, which means that he doesn’t really replace McCutchen. Lopez was originally with the Rockies to start the season, slashing .333/.387/.519 for their AAA club at Albuquerque before being acquired by the Cubs. Lopez appeared in four games and had five plate appearances for the Cubs, and was released yesterday.
This would seem to open the door for Justin Foscue, who can play second base but who is best suited to 1B or DH, to take over the platoon DH spot from McCutchen. Lopez gives the Rangers an actual utility infielder, something that became an issue when Josh Jung was out and Michael Helman had to play shortstop. This leads me to wonder if there are concerns about Corey Seager or Josh Smith missing more time than has been anticipated.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 20: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Connelly Early (71) pitches in the first inning during a MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals on May 20, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
TV: NESN
First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. ET
The Red Sox nearly came back from a three-run deficit in the series opener against the Braves. The offense has finally put together a few solid performances as of late, though there haven’t been plenty of wins to show for it.
Boston will try to get early run support for Connelly Early, who has allowed no more than three earned runs in each of his last three starts.
Here’s who the Red Sox will send to the plate Wednesday night.
Atlanta counters with a notable challenge in Bryce Elder. The righty has been virtually untouchable through two months to the tune of a 1.97 ERA as the Braves try to take the series.
Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) prepares to dump water over Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) after their win over St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday May 27, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Despite being no-hit through seven innings, Milwaukee’s pitching staff kept the game within reach long enough for the offense to scrape together just enough support. With today’s 2-1 victory, the Brewers secured their first home sweep of the Cardinals since 2011 and widened their NL Central lead to 4.5 games.
Starter Chad Patrick worked around a couple of jams over the first three innings before finally allowing the game’s first run in the fourth. It initially looked like he might escape the inning unscathed after a Jordan Walker leadoff single, as Patrick responded by striking out Nolan Gorman and Masyn Winn back-to-back.
Patrick then worked a full count against Bryan Torres, but his payoff pitch — a 90 mph slider that hung over the heart of the plate — got punished. Torres ripped a line drive into the corner for an RBI triple, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Despite having only thrown 61 pitches, Patrick — who’s been coming out of the bullpen since the beginning of the month — was done for the day. Shane Drohan and Aaron Ashby followed with two shutout innings each, both pitchers allowing only a single hit. The pitching staff showed up today, keeping the score close even though the offense couldn’t manage to provide any run support through the first seven innings.
Not only were the Brewers shut out for most of the game, but Cardinals starter Dustin May was absolutely dominating. May had a no-hitter going through six with zero walks, although the Brewers managed two baserunners on a Jake Bauers hit-by-pitch and a Sal Frelick catchers’ interference.
May kept his bid alive in the seventh by retiring the heart of the Brewers’ order — Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Bauers. Finally, Garrett Mitchell led off the eighth by busting up the no-hitter on a line drive to left field. Torres took a bit of a flat route and the ball flew over his head for a double, giving Milwaukee their first runner in scoring position all game.
Up next was Luis Rengifo, who laid down a beautifully-placed bunt to the third-base side of the mound. The bunt was good enough that he might have beat it out anyway, but neither May nor third baseman Nolan Gorman charged in on the ball. By the time catcher Pedro Pagés got to it, Rengifo and Mitchell were already standing on the corners.
With the no-hitter no longer in play, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol pulled May for JoJo Romero, who got Frelick to ground into a fielders’ choice at second that couldn’t get Mitchell home. Andrew Vaughn pinch-hit for David Hamilton, but he struck out for the second out.
It briefly appeared as if the Cardinals might escape the jam, but veteran star Christian Yelich wouldn’t let that happen. Yelich took two balls that weren’t really close, then grounded Romero’s third pitch up the middle to tie the game.
Frelick, running on contact with two outs, made it around to third, and all of a sudden the Brewers had the go-ahead run on third base for Jackson Chourio. Chourio swung at the first pitch, a low sinker, and hit what was a pretty routine grounder to Winn at shortstop. Winn, who won a Gold Glove last year after a season in which he was credited with just three errors, bobbled the ball on the exchange. By the time he picked it up, not only were both Yelich and Chourio safe, but Frelick had crossed the plate with the go-ahead run.
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 27, 2026
Turang grounded out to end the inning, but the damage was done — Milwaukee led by a run going into the top of the ninth. Trevor Megill came in for the ninth to try and pick up his first save since May 15th in Minnesota. Despite allowing a single to Winn, who stole second and advanced to third on a fly-out, Megill stuck out pinch-hitter Yohel Pozo to end the game.
While things looked pretty bleak for the vast majority of this game, Milwaukee was able to keep the game close and string together a couple hits when it mattered. Sometimes pitchers are just on, and even if that’s not the case the offense won’t always be firing on all cylinders. Good teams lose these games, but great teams grit their teeth and find a way to keep the game close and scrape out a victory. That’s what the Brewers did tonight.
Also, for those of you on Aaron Ashby Win Watch, Ashby pitched the seventh and eighth innings, so he picked up another win. He now leads the league in wins again, with nine. It’s still May.
After a 4-2 homestand, the Brewers will get a well-earned day off before heading to Houston for a weekend series against the Astros. First pitch for Friday’s series opener is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
The surging Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won 11 of their last 13 games, go for the sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies tonight.
With Cy Young-minded Shohei Ohtani taking the mound, my Rockies vs. Dodgers predictions see the Boys in Blue rolling to a comfortable victory.
See my full analysis, Over/Under prediction, and MLB picks for Wednesday, May 27.
Who will win Rockies vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -2.5 (-102)
Tomoyuki Sugano’s 3.86 ERA looks fine on the surface, but his “underlying metrics” are more like an “unmitigated disaster”.
His 7.43 xERA indicates immediate regression. That’s understandable since he ranks in the first percentile in barrel rate and xBA.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the perfect opponent to make him pay, given their league-leading .265 xBA.
On the other side of things, Shohei Ohtani (0.73 ERA) hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start and should hold down a poor Colorado Rockies lineup.
COVERS INTEL: Tomoyuki Sigano’s 80 Stuff+ ranks dead last among starters who have thrown at least 10 innings and pales in comparison to Shohei Ohtani’s 115 Stuff+.
Rockies vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-120)
Colorado has a measly 67 wRC+ against right-handed pitching in the last 20 days. It’s difficult to envision them crossing the plate many times against Ohtani, who suppresses hard contact (92nd percentile barrel rate) and has a masterful 21.6% K-BB%.
The Dodgers have hit the Under in seven of Ohtani’s eight starts.
That’s partly due to his utter dominance on the mound, and partly because manager Dave Roberts has opted to take him out of the lineup when he pitches. That’s likely the case after he was beaned in the hand on Tuesday.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 15-17, -8.53 units
Over/Under bets: 25-9, +15.54 units
Rockies vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Rockies +325 | Dodgers -425
Run line: Rockies (-115) | Dodgers -2.5 (-102)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Rockies vs Dodgers trend
The Dodgers have covered the run line in 10 of their last 13 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Rockies vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
First pitch
10:10 p.m. ET
TV
Rockies.TV, SportsNet LA
Rockies starting pitcher
Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 3.86 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Shohei Ohtani (4-2, 0.74 ERA)
Rockies vs Dodgers latest injuries
Rockies vs Dodgers weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ENOUGH ALREADY: The Cubs are just the 20th team since 1901 to have double-digit winning and losing streaks in the same season. The Guardians were the previous club to do it, winning and losing 10 last season. The 2017 Dodgers, with 11 and 11, and 2008 Guardians, with 10 and 10, were the only other teams since 2000. The Cubs had done it once before, winning 10 and losing 12 in 1970. Their winning streak came before their losing streak, as it did this year. The Dodgers’ wins also came first. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
ALMOST ALWAYS BEHIND DURING THE STREAK: In their 10 losses, the Cubs scored first in only one, the second of the streak, on the South Side against the White Sox on May 17. They gave up the first run in the first inning of six games, the second inning of three and the third inning of one. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TOO MANY HITS: The 15 hits allowed by the Cubs last night tied for their most this season. They gave up 15 on April 13, when they lost at Philadelphia, 13-7. The next night, they began the first of their two 10-game winning streaks. The Cubs are 4-12 when they have given up at least 10 hits, including 1-8 with at least 12. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Jameson Taillon had another rough outing last Friday against the Astros, though he allowed only one home run instead of five. So, progress?
The Pirates hit him hard at Wrigley Field April 12, including three home runs, though he did strike out 10.
Last year Jamo threw six shutout innings against the Pirates Sept. 15 at PNC Park. So, how about another one like that?
Bubba Chandler had a pretty good start to his 2026, but recently has begun to get hit hard. Over his last six starts: 6.00 ERA, 1.593 WHIP. The key for the Cubs might be his walks: Chandler leads MLB with 34 walks in 47 innings. Overall that’s a 16 percent walk rate, which is pretty high.
Be patient hitters tonight, Cubs. As you can see by the chart below, Chandler throws hard, but he doesn’t always know where the ball is going.
Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout. If you do go there to interact with Pirates fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11, 2026: Aaron Walton #11 of the Cleveland Guardians prepares to bat during a minor league spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Welcome back to my annual, unrequested article for Covering the Corner. Below are parts 3 and 4 of my mid-May roster review for the Lake County Captains. I’m also going to organize this mess into a list for reference. I hope that you get some value out of this thought exercise, and that my perspective gives you something to consider. Maybe you’ll find a future favorite player in the weeds here, or a new least-favorite prospect evaluator.
On we go:
The Infield: Class of 2025 on the Left Side
NOTE: All the infielders on this team throw right-handed.
Dean Curley, SS/2B/3B: 6’4”, 230, Bats R, DoB 4/15/2004 (22 yrs. old), Tennessee (CB-A pick, 2025 Draft).
Dean Curley looks like the prototype. He is strong, fast, and light on his feet. His plate patience and discipline has led to many, many walks. Already, it is clear he needs to see better pitchers to determine if his patience is merely passiveness. When he does swing, Curley makes good contact, and he possesses power to all fields. He can identify and attack mistakes in the zone, and he can get to fastballs of any velocity. However, he does swing and miss in the zone a bit more than you would like. Additionally, I have his defense as a present 50, but Curley is prone to throwing errors due to issues with his arm slot and mechanics required to get to a comfortable throwing angle. His arm is strong, but he struggles to make accurate throws while moving to his left. Still, I believe he has the movement skills and athleticism to stick at shortstop, and that this issue can be resolved with continued reps.
Verdict: Curley is a mature, powerful hitter and a prototypical athlete who belongs on the left side of the infield. He may Knoblauch, but there is reason to believe he can develop into a fine defender. FV: 45+.
Luke Hill, SS/2B/3B: 5’11”, 193, Bats R, DoB 4/9/2004 (22 yrs. old), Mississippi (4th Rd, 2025 Draft).
Hill is a solid infielder who can play competently at shortstop, although he is a much better fielder at second or third base. Hill has hit well through his first few months at High-A, showing patience and the ability to recognize pitches he can attack. Like Curley, he has also shown power to all fields despite his smaller frame, currently leading the team in home runs. He has had some impressive exit velocities to all fields.
Verdict: Hill may pan out to be a nice surprise in the early-middle rounds of the 2025 draft. I had him pegged as a utility infielder, but he may become more. Monitor him as he gets promoted, because the early sample is very promising. FV: 40+.
Bennett Thompson is a bat-first catcher with a precocious feel for the zone and a compact, line-drive oriented swing. He is very likely to hit as he moves up, although he is not likely to impact the ball much. However, he is not a smooth operator behind the plate. He often struggles to move in front of pitches, and his arm is middling. This pitching staff is hard to catch, but teams run wild on Thompson no matter who is throwing.
Verdict: Thompson is not a Cleveland type of catcher, at least with the defensive expectations they have. However, the bat and the approach will play, and I am sure there will be interested teams that are willing to let him try catching. FV: 40+.
Nolan Schubart, 1B/LF: 6’4”, 227, Bats L, DoB 5/10/2004 (22 yrs. old), Oklahoma State (3rd Rd, 2025 Draft).
Hit:30/35, Power 60/70, Run 25/25, Field 30/40, Arm 50/50.
Schubart is a three-true-outcome player on offense, and he is learning first base on the fly. His swing is powerful and pretty, but it is also a bit grooved with a permanent uppercut. He generates incredible power, and he knows the zone well enough to wait out his pitch. Too often, he misses his pitch (you will hear this again in the outfield section). As he ascends the ranks, he needs to be able to consistently hit pitches in the middle of the zone, but he shows an approach that can allow him to succeed if he does manage to make just a bit more contact.
Verdict: Schubart is boom or bust. When he gets hot, he can carry an offense, but he needs to be able to survive pitches he can’t handle in the zone to have a more consistent impact. In acknowledging the volatility, FV: 35++.
Logun Clark, C: 5’11”, 205, Bats R, DoB 6/4/2003 (22 yrs. old), Taft Union HS (CA) (16th Rd, 2022 Draft).
Hit: 20/30, Power 30/40, Run 40/35, Field 50/50, Arm 60/60.
Clark is a defense-first catcher who is only catching 1-2 times a week at present. He is a reasonable mover behind the dish, an adequate framer, and a talented thrower with a strong arm.
Verdict: Cleveland loves these types of players, but Clark is a true non-factor at the dish. His defensive chops will keep him in this organization, though. FV: 30+.
Hit:30/40, Power 30/35, Run 50/50, Field 45/50, Arm 40/40.
Howe has occasionally shown a propensity for pulling the ball in the air, maximizing what is an otherwise modest frame. However, the feel for contact has not translated at this level. Defensively, his arm is just good enough to make most throws at shortstop, but he struggles at the hot corner.
Verdict: Howe is almost certainly going to be quality depth for the minor leagues. FV: 30.
Maick Collado, 1B/3B: 5’11”, 185, Bats S, DoB 12/24/2002 (23 yrs. old), Santiago, DR (Int’l free agent, 2019).
Hit:30/40, Power 30/35, Run 40/40, Field 45/50, Arm 50/50.
Collado is already being treated like MiLB floating depth, as he recently spent a few weeks acquitting himself well in Columbus. Collado is not going to wow you at the plate, and he often lacks discipline, but he can occasionally punish a mistake. He is a plus defender at first base, and he makes the occasional flashy play at third base.
Verdict: Collado is already quality depth for the minor leagues, but there is not much of a reason to expect more. FV: 30.
Kevin Rivas, 1B/2B/C: 5’9”, 183, Bats S, DoB 4/7/2003 (23 yrs. old), San Felipe, VZ (Int’l free agent, 2019).
Hit:20/30, Power 30/30, Run 40/40, Field 30/40, Arm 40/40.
Rivas has done everything the team has asked of him. Originally a middle infielder, he converted to catcher to allow the team some flexibility. Catching does not come naturally to Rivas- his games feature many wild pitches and passed balls, and even his bullpen catching leads to on-field delays- but this is the type of player that keeps a minor league system healthy. He has already made cameos at every minor league level above Lake County. He also has a pitching win, thanks in part to his ability to mix speeds and in part to the player below, who hit an improbable 3-run home run to walk off an extra innings game.
Verdict: Rivas is someone the organization values because he can be brought up at short notice. He does that well. These are the kinds of guys that end up coaching. FV: 25.
Jeffrey Mercedes, 1B/2B: 5’8”, 185, Bats S, DoB 10/2/2004 (21 yrs. old), Azua, DR (Int’l free agent, 2022).
Hit:20/30, Power 20/30, Run 50/50, Field 40/40, Arm 30/30.
Mercedes is in an odd situation. He is young for this level, and he looks appropriately overmatched. The team plays him every other day, and the performance often leaves much to be desired. He has been about as effective at the dish as a pitcher, and his glove is limited to the right side of the infield because his arm is underwhelming. For the team to stick a relatively young international signee in High-A would imply that they see potential in him, but there is no doubt that Mercedes is just here to give some guys a breather. On the plus side, he does have a reasonable ERA from the times he has been asked to pitch (although Kevin Rivas has him beat there, too).
Verdict: I’m rooting for him. I call him Jeff. FV: 25.
Hit: 40/50, Power: 50/55, Speed: 60/60, Field 50/50, Arm 50/50.
Surprised at the name? I think many people are, or they will be when they plug in to what Walton is doing. Walton’s performance in High-A has been very strong. He has impacted the ball, hit for average, walked at a healthy rate, and managed his strikeouts to this point. His jumps are reasonable in center field, and he has enough arm to play right field. He is aggressive on the bases, and he moves very well for his size. While Walton appears to be vulnerable to spin in the zone, he does seem to recognize it, and he lays off those pitches enough to get something he can handle. His ability to combat spin will be the key for him going forward.
Verdict: Walton is what they look like, and he is my favorite prospect on this team in terms of present tools because he has shown such a feel for hitting. I’m not quite ready to say he is the best position player prospect on the team, but it is tight between him and two others. FV: 45+.
Hit: 30/40?, Power: 60/60, Speed: 60/50, Field 50/50, Arm 60/60.
Jace LaViolette is a tremendous athlete. If you see him have a good game, you understand why he was a first-round selection. He has tremendous power, he is patient, he moves incredibly well for his size, and he plays a good, comfortable center field. He has everything, and for one game, he will make you think we found a left-handed Aaron Judge with speed.
If you watch one of his bad games, you’ll understand why many analysts were uncomfortable with LaViolette at any spot in the draft. He is currently running a 39%K rate at High-A (it is trending down from a disastrous start to the year). He routinely gets pitches to damage, and he routinely misses them. His swing appears to have a loop, and his operation is stiff. As a result, there is a noticeable hole in his swing, and it happens to be at the center of the zone between the mid-thigh and the belt. He has the whole package except the hit tool. As such, he would be a developmental challenge for any team; but it’s a whole lot of fun when he gets rolling, and it’s hard not to dream on what he could be when you see it all click.
Verdict: LaViolette has tremendous upside, but he also has a subterranean floor. He is easily the second-most exciting prospect on the team in terms of his present tools- because that hit tool is the key between flaming out in the minors and being a star. Accounting for volatility, FV: 40++.
Ryan Cesarini, OF: 5’9”, 211, Bats L, Throws R, DoB 12/16/2002 (23 yrs. old), St. Joseph’s (PA) (14th Rd, 2024 Draft).
Hit: 40/50, Power: 40/40, Speed: 45/40, Field 50/50, Arm 45/45.
Cesarini is an odd case of a player who has put up respectable at-bats, surprising exit velocities, and decent enough defense in the corners. Despite that, he has not received as much playing time as his play seems to warrant. When he does play, he is often a DH, perhaps indicating an injury. His play would not indicate such a thing. Cesarini pulls the ball often, and he sees right-handed pitching very well. He is likely maxed out at 211, and he does seem to be slower than he was last year.
Verdict: There may be something with Cesarini, and it is odd that he is not getting more playing time. Barring a breakout, he will be organizational depth for Cleveland, but I would not be surprised to see a breakout happen. FV: 35+.
Tommy Hawke, OF/2B: 5’8”, 151, Bats L, Throws R, DoB 7/7/2002 (23 yrs. old), Wake Forest (6th Rd, 2023 Draft).
Hit: 40/40, Power: 20/20, Speed: 60/60, Field 50/55, Arm 40/40.
Tommy Hawke can run like the wind, and it’s more about his base running instincts than his natural speed. Unfortunately, his swing is very big, and he tries to slug when he swings at the baseball. This usually does not result in extra bases, but Hawke could easily swipe second and third against this level if he so chose. He is currently playing second base more often than the outfield.
Verdict: Hawke is willing to do the work to remain relevant, and his mentality is a plus for an organization. Still, it’s hard to see him becoming more than depth. FV: 30+.
Hit: 30/30, Power: 30/30, Speed: 60/60, Field 50/50, Arm 50/50.
Gonzalez plays baseball with tremendous energy and joy. He is a good outfielder with a decent arm who can play all three positions, and he can occasionally run into one at the dish. However, he is a maxed out 5’6”, and while he can hit the ball hard, he usually does not.
Verdict: He will be around as someone to play the outfield in various affiliates, but Gonzalez is not a developmental priority for Cleveland. FV: 30.
(Editor’s Note: Thank you, Mike, for another great installment of this series on the Captains. We will have Mike’s final installment, a ranking of the prospects in Lake County, tomorrow)
CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 26: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals celebrates with first-base coach Corey Ray #23 after hitting a single in the third inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It was a getaway day for the Nats, who have their first day off in over two weeks tomorrow. Unfortunately, they played like it was a getaway day with a day off coming. This game was pretty uneventful most of the way, and the Guardians just found a way to execute a little bit more than the Nats.
In a 162 game season, these kinds of losses are perfectly acceptable. It would be nice if the Nats were able to find a way to get the sweep though. Just like last year, the Nats have struggled to finish off sweeps. However, it is tough to get sweeps in the big leagues, especially against first place teams like the Guardians.
Just like the first two games, the offense looked good early for the Nats. They really made Gavin Williams work in the first three innings. The Nats were only able to come out of those first three innings with one run, instead of the big crooked numbers they put up the first two games. CJ Abrams drove in the first run of the game, roasting a double down the line to drive in James Wood.
After that, the Nats normally ferocious offense went into a lull. They allowed Guardians ace Gavin Williams to settle into the game and rack up some very quick innings. Williams’ pitch count was in the 60’s after three innings, but he was able to go seven innings on just 94 pitches.
The Guardians did all their damage in the fifth inning today. It was Guardians ball at its finest, with Cleveland’s pesky bats taking advantage of mistakes and blooping balls into the outfield for hits. The inning started with an error by Curtis Mead at third base. Austin Hedges hit the ball hard, but it was a play Mead had to make.
Since moving to third base, Mead has mostly been solid, and this was his first real mistake. However, the mistake would prove to be costly. A couple batters later, Guardians lead off man Travis Bazzana hit a double to make it second and third with one out. Miles Mikolas then allowed a sac fly to tie the game, which would finish his afternoon.
The normally reliable Richard Lovelady came in with a runner on second. It was just not Lovelady’s day today. He allowed three straight hits and a walk to begin his outing. In the blink of an eye, the game was 3-1 Cleveland. Those would be all the runs the Guardians needed in this one.
The Nats would rally in the 9th, with Curtis Mead and CJ Abrams starting things off. Daylen Lile would get a sac fly to score Mead to make it a one run game with one out. However, Jose Tena and Jorbit Vivas would both strike out to strand Abrams on second.
The duo of Tena and Vivas have been tough to watch lately. Vivas is now 0-23 on the season with runners in scoring position. That is not going to cut it at the big league level. He seems to come up in big spots fairly often, and never delivers.
Jorbit Vivas is 6-for-35 (.171) in May. He's got 4 XBH this month and is 0-for-23 with RISP this season.
Nats don't have a LHH option w/ 3B versatility at Triple-A. That's clearly become an area where they could use help to platoon with Mead.
Tena and Vivas are both out of options, so that could give them some security. However, with the way Abimelec Ortiz, Yohandy Morales and Seaver King are swinging the bat, you have to wonder how much of a leash those guys have.
While this loss left a slightly sour taste in fans mouths, it was a great road trip. The Nats went 4-2 against two first place teams and are still above .500. This is the first time the Nats come back from a road trip over .500 since 2019. That is a crazy stat to think about.
Sweep chance blown, but for the first time (in the regular season) since September 23, 2019, #Nats fans will greet their team coming home from a road trip with an overall record above .500.
This series against the Padres should be an exciting one. We all know the history between these two teams. These two franchises combined to make one of the biggest trades of the 21st century, and it gave the Nats their two best players. It also just seems like crazy things tend to happen when these teams play. So look out, and get to the ballpark this weekend if you can!
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 03: TJ Friedl #29 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on prior to the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedl got 4 PA against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 18th, and he went 0 for 3 with a K and a sac-fly RBI. In the eight days that followed, he got a grand total of jsut 3 PA, with a sac bunt the only thing to show for it.
That I even called him ‘Cincinnati Reds outfielder’ instead of ‘Cincinnati Reds leadoff man and everyday centerfielder’ should’ve been a tell on where Friedl stands on this roster currently, as well as how quickly he has fallen from the ranks of dependability to merely hanging on to his roster spot.
To date, he’s hitting .176/.255/.257 in 169 PA this season. Among the 182 MLB players who have logged at least 160 PA this season, his 43 wRC+ ranks second worst, while his xwOBA – an expected stat – ranks tied for third worst, too. In other words, he hasn’t just been unlucky, he’s just been plain awful at the plate.
Friedl ranks in the 10th percentile (or, in many cases, much worse) in each of xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, Barrel %, Hard-Hit %, Launch Angle Sweet-Spot %, and Batting Run Value so far in 2026. His sprint speed is down to just the 34th percentile, his arm value at 23rd, and that’s been enough to see manager Terry Francona move him out of center and into left whenever he had the gumption to actually put Friedl into the lineup in the first place so far in 2026.
That gumption is once again there on Wednesday, however, as Friedl will return to the lineup in the series finale against the New York Mets as the Reds look to complete the sweep. TJ will start in CF and bat 9th, the hope being this much time on the pine has helped him hit the reset button as hard as physically possible and that maybe, just maybe, there’s a little something left in the tank for the veteran outfielder.
Andrew Abbott will start for the Reds tonight, Matt McLain gets to ride pine to start, and Spencer Steer will get some run at 2B.
Here’s the full Reds lineup for the 7:10 PM ET start:
May 27, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches to the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Well, after a one day only engagement, the offence has gone back on hiatus. It didn’t end up mattering, though, as a combination of solid work from Kevin Gausman and the bullpen and questionable Marlins base running held them to only one run in spite of racking up 11 hits. The Jays are back within two games of .500 and one in the loss column away from a wildcard, somehow.
The Marlins got one off Kevin Gausman early. Xavier Edwards won a 10 pitch battle in the first at bat of the game, lining Gausman’s 10th pitch for a double. One batter later, Otto Lopez snuck a ground ball single up the middle to bring Edwards home. Four of the next five Marlins struck out to get Gaus out of the first and through the second with no damage.
He got into a jam in the third, walking Edwards and Liam Hicks with one out and giving up a line single to Lopez. a double play got him out of it, but it cost him pitches. The fourth was more trouble, as he hit Connor Norby and gave up a ground ball single to Owen Caissie that moved the lead runner to third, but a strikeout and a pop up got him out of trouble once again. Miami managed two more hits in the fifth, but a double play and a ground out prevented either from scoring. That would be the end of Gausman’s afternoon. It took him 95 pitches to get through five. He allowed only one run, but gave up six hits and a pair of walks, while striking out five. It was a messy outing, but he did enough to leave with the game competitive.
Meanwhile, Eury Perez was effectively wild, getting into deep counts but avoiding much hard contact. Vladimir Guerrero jr. reached on a soft line single in the first, and Andres Gimenez had one in the third, but the Jays also struck out seven times in that interval. Guerrero singled again in the fourth, and Kazuma Okamoto was hit by a pitch, but the Jays could not capitalize. Perez got the hook at that point, having taken 73 pitches to get through four. The Jays couldn’t lay a finger on him, striking out nine times without walking and managing just three soft singles.
They fared a little better against the Marlins’ bullpen. Michael Peterson got the first two batters of the fifth, but then Tyler Heineman worked a 10 pitch walk and Nathan Lukes doubled him home to tie the game at one. Peterson intentionally walked Vlad and was replaced by Andrew Nardi to face Daulton Varsho, who he struck out to preserve the lead.
Mason Fluharty started the sixth. He hit Jakob Marsee, but got a fly out from Connor Norby and then some help when Marsee way overshot the bag stealing second and was easily tagged out. Heriberto Hernandez single to replace the base runner, though, and John Schneider called on Jeff Hoffman, who caught Hernandez stealing third after having successfully stolen second. With one out in the bottom half, Okamoto took his revenge for the HBP by taking Nardi deep to the opposite field for a solo home run, putting Toronto in front 2-1.
Hoffman returned for the seventh. Christopher Morel singled, but it was erased when pinch runner Esteury Ruiz was caught stealing second. He got the next batter swinging. Edwards notched his third hit of the afternoon, but another K got Hoffman through with the lead held. John King worked a clean home half of the inning for the Marlins.
Otto Lopez collected his fourth hit of the afternoon off Louis Varland to begin the eighth. That brought his tally to 75 on the year, leading the league by eight over teammate Xavier Edwards. Kyle Stowers follwoed with a ground ball single of his own. Varland fielded a chopper by the next batter himself and almost threw it away into centre field. Andres Gimenez made a game saving catch to record one out and hold the lead runner at third. He then struck Norby out and got Stowers, the runner on first, hung up halfway to second on a delayed steal for an inning ending double play. Pete Fairbanks set the Jays down in order.
It fell to Tyler Rogers to lock down the one run save. He made it look easy, getting through a 1-2-3 inning on seven pitches.
Jays of the Day: Okamoto (0.18), Lukes (0.13), Gausman (0.14), Hoffman (0.12), Varland (0.13), Rogers (0.16)
Less So: Varsho (-0.13)
It’s off to Baltimore for a four game set beginning tomorrow. Patrick Corbin (2-1, 3.86) will start the opener for the Jays. The Orioles haven’t announced pitchers yet. First pitch is set for 6:35pm ET.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 27: Starting pitcher Gavin Williams #32 of the Cleveland Guardians pitches during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Progressive Field on May 27, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well. Gavin Williams was great today! Not in the way he normally is, but he pitched to contact and managed to put together 7 great innings of 1-run ball. Something interesting to note with him these last two starts is his pitch usage. Both of his last two starts have been caught by Hedges, and both have featured uncharacteristically high breaking ball-usage. Against the Phillies, he threw nearly 70% curveball/sweeper, and only went to his 4-seam 11% of the time. He instead threw his sinker 25% of the time. His sweeper had a 62% whiff rate in that start. In the 3 starts preceding that, his fastball was getting killed. He re-introduced his cutter which partially helped, but the sweeper/curveball usage drove down the quality of contact allowed on his 4-seam. That pattern continued today. Gavin was 47% curveball/sweeper today, almost 50% of the time the first time through the order. Felt like he didn’t have great feel for either today, which would explain the decreased usage. Nevertheless, Gavin was fantastic today. He provided a start the Guardians bullpen desperately needed after two abhorrent performances from Bibee and Cantillo in the two days prior. To refresh your memory, those two combined for 5 innings and 11 (eleven) earned runs allowed.
Gavin’s only run came off a C.J. Abrams 2-out RBI double in the 3rd on a, well, questionable 0-2 fastball call from Hedges. The offense finally seemed to wake up today, going 10/32 as a unit with 3 walks to 2 strikeouts.
Bazzana was fantastic, going 2/4 with 2 laced doubles to center. He nearly added a homer to that line, but was robbed by James Wood.
DeLauter (hopefully) is waking up, as he went 2/4 with an unlucky lineout to right in the 1st.
The metaphorical floodgates finally opened up for the Guardians in the 5th with this sequence to both score and give the Guardians the lead.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 27: Bryan Torres #39 of the St. Louis Cardinals hits a triple scoring a run in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on May 27, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game Summary
Over the last three games, the Brewers served a stinging reminder to these upstart Cardinals about who is boss in the NL Central and provided a guidepost on how much more this team has to accomplish on the rebuild path.
The Cardinals reach the 1/3 point of the season with a better-than-expected 29-25 win-loss mark but somehow seems like their vibe has been misplaced.
Today, Dustin May brought his best, taking a no-hitter into the eighth. Two hits chased him, then JoJo Romero relieved, but defensive gaffes complicated the inning and let two runs in, resulting in a final score of 2-1.
Pre-game notes
The standard line-up with Pages catching and RHP on the mound.
May on the mound for the Cardinals. Patrick on the mound for the Brewers. This will be a pseudo-bullpen game for the Brew Crew. They will start Patrick and ride him as far as they can. Figure 3-5 innings, no more than twice through. Patrick has been very effective in short stints.
Day off tomorrow, then struggling Cubs comes to town. Blogger Night on Saturday.
The early innings are quiet, with lots of early swings and few walks
The Cardinals go quick to lead out the game. The league is getting Wetherholt out with early-in-the-count fastballs at the top of the zone that he likes to swing at but can’t drive. Lots of pop outs is the consequence. With all the P4 and F9’s he is accumulating, I’m guessing he is trying to jerk/pull these pitches since he experienced some early HR success. He will need to let these go early in the count and put more pressure on the pitcher. The Cardinals put multiple runners on in the 2nd and 3rd but could not cash in.
On the other side, Dustin May came out sharp, benefitting from the getaway day, swing early and swing often approach employed by many. Through three innings he had allowed zero hits and compiled five strikeouts. The only runners to reach were by HBP and a catcher’s interference.
The Cardinals jump on top as May sails
The Brewers are able to carry Patrick through four innings. In the fourth, the Brewers elected to leave him in to pitch to a LH hitter (Torres) with two out and one on (Walker) and Torres drove one into the corner to break the ice with a two-out RBI triple. Pages K’s the strand that runner, but the Cardinals were up 1-0. Patrick ended up striking out the side. The Brewers effectively traded a run for an out. When you are good, you can do that.
May follows up the Cardinal rally with another zero in the fourth, with two more strikeouts. He has been a bit sharper with command and a tick higher with velo today. Tough AB for the Brewers. 54 pitches through indicates his efficiency, which has not been a feature often so far this season.
The dreaded middle innings arrive
The Brewers take Patrick out after 4 IP, replacing with a lefty, Shane Drohan. The Brewers bullpen is good and well rested, so they are in good shape there. The Cardinals waste a double by Wetherholt as the left-left match-up against Burleson was not a good one.
Lately, as the Cardinals try to stretch their starters through six (against better lineups), they continue to suffer the third time through the line-up (TTTTLU) fate. Really, they aren’t losing games here, but they are putting them out of reach. It remains to be seen if they successfully climb the innings mount or are forced to lean more heavily on an under-manned bullpen.
Of course, May defeats any TTTTLU talk by pitching well. What an interesting twist! First Cardinal starter to pitch into the eighth.
The decisive and bitter end
May’s no -no ended with a lead off double in the eighth. A bunt single misplayed by the infield results in first and third with no out. Romero in. He gets a key infield out that freezes the runner and then a K against pinch hitter Vaughn. Left-left matchup against Yelich results in a two-out RBI to tie. Things worsened when Winn boots a grounder, scoring the winning run instead of ending the inning. Ugh.
Winn gets on and steals second in the ninth but the bottom of the line-up is unable to cash in. Final score 2-1. Swept.
Post-Game Notes
Check out Today on the Farm – Wednesday 5/27 for updates on MiLB action.
One thing is for certain. The Brewers can pitch.
Today, some really poor ABs, especially with runners on. Winn and Burleson lead that class.
The end of this game marks the end of the first third of the season. 54 games down, 108 of them to go (seemingly most of them in August).
COVERS INTEL: Tomoyuki Sigano’s 
