WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: Drew Millas #14 of the Washington Nationals is congratulated after hitting a home run during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After yesterday’s comeback win, the Nats have a chance to win yet another series this afternoon. With a win today, they will end May with a record above .500. That would be a huge accomplishment for a group that did not come into the season with high expectations at all.
Initially, Dylan Crews was in this lineup, but he was a late scratch. I would assume that has something to do with the hit by pitch that caught him in the hand yesterday. That means the outfield will be Daylen Lile in left, Jacob Young in center and James Wood in right. Curtis Mead will be back at third base and Jorbit Vivas will slide to second. Keibert Ruiz will do the catching for this game. Zack Littell looks to put a bow on what has been a very strong May for him.
The Padres have made several changes to their lineup. Fernando Tatis Jr. will move to right field after playing second base the first two games. Rookie Sung-Mun Song will play second base today. Gavin Sheets will move to DH and veteran Nick Castellanos will be in left field. Freddy Fermin is back behind the plate for the series finale. Griffin Canning has struggled this season, but he posted a quality start last time out and will look to build off of that today.
Getting a series win would be a great way to close out a successful month of May. The crowds have been outstanding this weekend, and the team is on a roll. Yesterday was an amazing win, and hopefully they can build on that. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 12: A tribute to recently deceased Ted Turner and Bobby Cox on the field with the 1995 World Series trophy before the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs on May 12, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
When I was gallivanting around Washington, D.C. a few weeks ago, I saw that Ted Turner & Bobby Cox had passed away. I wanted to comment on that, as those two fellows had a surprising impact on my “baseball upbringing”, if you will.
Let’s start with Ted Turner. Perhaps best known for starting CNN (a 24/7 news channel? No one will ever get into that), Turner also created the TBS (Turner Broadcasting System) cable TV channel, which was included in cable packages across the nation. Why was this important to baseball fans? Well, alongside James Bond movie marathons & WCW professional wrestling, TBS became the broadcast home of the Atlanta Braves (which Turner also owned). As far as I know, this was the first time an MLB team could be routinely followed out-of-market by a mass audience.
(Side note: Billionaire Ted also established TCM—Turner Classic Movies—and bought out old studio back catalogs simply to fill air time. Without that endeavor, a film like It’s A Wonderful Life would never have been re-discovered and now-revered).
How did this have an impact on me living in northwest Minnesota? You have to remember that I started following MLB—in 1996—when the Minnesota Twins were the joke of the league. In a sense, it is truly amazing I stuck with it at all. But I fell hard for baseball and the Braves were the class of the league in the late-1990s. Granted, I was usually rooting against them and for the underdog (what a world!) New York Mets of Mike Piazza, Al Leiter, & Benny Agbayani vintage. Either way, it allowed me to watch highly-competitive baseball from time to time as opposed to the Twins slogging through their doldrum late-90s.
The manager of those ATL squads? Why, Bobby Cox of course! Excluding the never-concluded 1994 campaign, Cox presided over a mind-boggling run of 14 consecutive division titles for the Braves (1991-1993, 1995-2005). Over 29 skipper seasons with Atlanta & the Toronto Blue Jays, Cox compiled a 2504-2001 record (.556 WP), one World Series title (though not two), four other NL pennants, and a plaque in Cooperstown.
I don’t care how much he leaned on his “Big Three” SP of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, & John Smoltz—a track record like the one he put together speaks for itself. He was also a Gardenhire-esque source of entertainment in that he set the all-time MLB record for manager ejections—even surpassing the notoriously wicked John McGraw in terms of getting the ‘ol heave-ho from the Men in Blue!
A final thought to mull over here as the Twins are set to clash with the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon: in the span of the 1991 to the present—not all that long in the grand scheme of things—cable TV went from nascent curiosity to in 90% of TV-watching homes to the most hated enterprise in business to almost obsolete (we are currently here) to being pined for in an uber-fragmented TV landscape (we are also here). Remarkable—Ted Turner and his irascible-but-brilliant manager were right in the middle of all of it.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 30: Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a hitting a home run in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on May 30, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves can conclude their second consecutive 19-win month if they close out May with a win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Follow along here as the Braves look to complete a 5-1 road trip in the Queen City at 1:40 p.m. EDT on BravesVision.
The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals play the rubber game of their three-game weekend series on Sunday Night Baseball.
Despite earning a split in the first two games, the series has been rough on the Cardinals’ bullpen, and they need a big night from starter Matthew Liberatore. For the Cubs, PCA and Michael Busch will look to continue their hot streaks.
This is less an endorsement of Matthew Liberatore and more an indication of the rough state of this St. Louis Cardinals bullpen. The last two starters have lasted a total of 7 1/3 innings, leaving eight St. Louis relievers to pitch 10 2/3 innings, throwing 164 pitches and giving up six runs.
Even if Liberatore is struggling, he’ll probably have to wear it and pitch into the sixth just to give the pen a rest. He’s done it twice this month and four times this season, and Liberatore is coming off a 101-pitch effort where he struck out a career-high 10. He’s ready for the workhorse role.
Michael Busch Over 2.5 hits + runs + RBI (+210)
Michael Busch has been the best-hitting first baseman in MLB for May and will add to his totals on the month’s final day. He’s hitting 73% better than the league average for the month and has a .955 OPS.
He has six runs, nine hits, and eight RBI over the last week, and he has four hits and four RBI in the first two games of the series. Busch homered and had a two-hit game in his only previous time facing Liberatore.
Pete Crow-Armstrong to hit a home run (+700)
Pete Crow-Armstrong had a big game on Saturday, going 4-for-5, homering, and keeping up a running taunting dialogue with the St. Louis fans. Once he’s fired up, he generally stays that way. Of his 48 career home runs, 12 have come within a day of a previous blast.
PCA has a five-game hitting streak and is hitting .364 with a .917 OPS over that stretch. His seven homers against the Cardinals are the most against any team, and his three homers at Busch match his highest in any visiting park.
How to watch Cubs vs Cardinals and game info
Location
Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Date
Sunday, May 31, 2026
First pitch
7:20 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
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.
Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) throws during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
After a productive six-game homestand, the Dodgers hit the road for a single series, playing the Arizona Diamondbacks for four games at Chase Field in Phoenix in the second meeting of the year between these two National League West rivals.
The Dodgers swept their opening series of the season from March 26-28 at Dodger Stadium. Arizona has been playing much better of late, winning 10 of 11 games before a hiccup this weekend in Seattle, putting themselves squarely in wild card contention.
Emmet Sheehan starts on Monday for the Dodgers, making his first career start at Chase Field. Left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez on the mound for the home team.
The Diamondbacks are 18-10 at home, and have won eight of their last nine games in Phoeni. The Dodgers have won their last four road series.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: First baseman Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres tries to pick off center fielder Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals at first base in the eighth inning at Nationals Park on May 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Nationals held off the Padres for a 9-4 victory after scoring 6 runs in the seventh inning. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (32-25) at Washington Nationals (30-29), May 31, 2026, 10:35 p.m. PST
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PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 26: Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on May 26, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Minnesota Twins looking to grab a win.
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This site’s manager is Brady Klopfer who also does all the minor league reporting, and upon seeing the news posted by Susan Slusser that the San Francisco Giants would be calling up outfielder Jonah Cox, he posted in our work chat: “I’m sorry WHAT,” which suggests to me that we should all treat this news with a lot of surprise.
The 24-year old is hitting .400/.453/.644 with 11 doubles, 5 triples, and 6 home runs for Double-A Richmond this season. He also sports a very interesting 2:1 strikeouts to walk ratio (31:16), which is well within the zone of where minor leaguers start projecting as serviceable major leaguers. But it’s that .400 batting average that will make him famous in the organization, we know that in our bones. The batting average fetishization is strong and .400 is .400. But he’s also quite fast and a proficient base stealer, a skill set the Giants have been sorely missing (they have just 14 stolen bases on the season). If you’re interested in hearing Cox speak, former site contributor Roger Munter interviewed him a few weeks ago for his There R Giants podcast — check it out!
Prior to the season, the McCovey Chronicles community did not include him in the community’s prospect rankings list. As Brady wrote, Cox “was unable to take notable strides on offense,” hitting just .257/.333/.398 in 597 PA last season at Eugene. Slusser had a follow-up post saying that she didn’t think Cox would be in the lineup today, but would be around and available for this finale at Coors Field. Brady’s writeup a couple of days ago explains why he was the next minor leaguer to get the call to the big leagues:
Yet another strong game for right fielder Jonah Cox, who has officially graduated from “hot start” to “leveled up.” It’s been nearly 50 games and 200 plate appearances for the new-look Cox, whose swing has undergone changes that have resulted in dramatic improvements in both the stat sheet and the underlying metrics.
He was back to his old tricks on Thursday, though, as he hit 3-5 with a pair of infield singles and a stolen base, while also knocking a double.
Cox has, stunningly, hit safely in 40 out of 43 games this season, which includes 16 multi-hit games. A year after posting a .731 OPS, a 103 wRC+, a 22.4% strikeout rate, and a 12.0% swinging strike rate in High-A, he has a 1.130 OPS, a 196 wRC+, a 16.9% strikeout rate, and a 10.3% swinging strike rate in AA. He’s even stealing more bases, with 27 in 43 games, after an organization-leading 58 in 126 games a year ago (easier to steal bases when you’re getting on base seemingly every at-bat!).
Just a phenomenal year, and the A’s 2023 6th-rounder is quickly becoming one of the top prospects in the system.
Here’s hoping some of this hot streak carries over to the majors. Whew. What a great pickup for Ross Stripling. Will the move work out? Who’s to say. As the estimable Baseball Jeff reminds us,
Meanwhile, the Giants designated Ryan Borucki for assignment.
Now, before you go and say, “Good riddance!” just know that in addition to being really terrible (4.94 ERA / 4.93 xFIP, -0.2 fWAR in 23.2 IP), he was actually quite good as a LOOGY, holding lefties to a line of .195/.306/.244 (.550 OPS). The problem is, the modern game has phased out the LOOGY because of the three batter rule but also — and more importantly — because of the way lineups are constructed and substituted now. Borucki would’ve been a great guy to have during Buster Posey’s playing days.
10:20am edit: Tristan Beck has also been recalled to take Borucki’s spot on the active roster while Beck will be replacing Will Brennan who has been optioned back to Triple-A.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 30: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on May 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for May 31, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Michael Wacha for the Royals.
The Rangers look to try to sweep the Royals this afternoon. Evan Carter, who got hit in the foot with a pitch on Friday, is sitting for the second day in a row. Alejandro Osuna, who was hit in the finger while bunting yesterday and left the game, is starting.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Jung — 1B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Osuna — LF
Higashioka — C
Lopez — 2B
Helman — CF
1:35 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.
May 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish (38) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Where to watch: NBCSN/Peacock
Probable pitchers: RHP Kyle Bradish (2-6, 3.86 ERA, 61 K) vs. RHP Spencer Miles (2-0, 2.16 ERA, 32 K)
The Orioles have put all of Birdland on an emotional rollercoaster this past week, starting with a Colton Cowser walkoff homer vs. the Tigers and ending with a Pete Alonso walkoff single last night vs. the Blue Jays. In between those two walkoff winners, we saw the Orioles sweep the Rays only to open the Toronto series with two straight frustrating losses. This afternoon’s contest will give the O’s a chance to split the series vs. the Blue Jays and start a new week on a high.
Leading Baltimore into the Sunday finale is the scorching hot Kyle Bradish. The Orioles right-hander has three quality starts in his last four outings and is sporting a 3.49 ERA in May. The 29-year-old’s recent uptick in form has coincided with an increase in curveball usage from the O’s former ace. Through five starts in May, Bradish’s curveball usage has increased from 19.5% to 26.3%. It’s been a much sharper breaking ball that’s been nigh un-hittable for his opposition, with opponents hitting .077 against the curve this month with a 47.3% whiff rate.
Toronto has often caused Bradish problems throughout his career, something he’ll try to reverse this afternoon. The right-handers’ 5.18 ERA vs. the Blue Jays is the seventh-worst against any opponent. Due to his elbow injury and recovery time, Bradish hasn’t faced Toronto since May 15th, 2024, when he went 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB and 3 K in a 3-2 Orioles win. The O’s starter will have to be careful against Toronto outfielder Jesús Sánchez, who is slugging .600 vs. curveballs this season.
Opposing Bradish for the Blue Jays is rookie right-hander Spencer Miles. The former 4th-round pick out of the University of Missouri was primarily used as a reliever early in the season, but has either started or followed an opener in his last four appearances. Miles has only allowed one earned run across those four longer outings, striking out 16 across 15.1 IP.
The Missouri native has a very similar repertoire to Bradish, relying on a hard sinker that sits around 96mph and a high spin rate curveball. Unlike Bradish, Miles uses his arsenal to generate more groundballs than swings and misses, boasting a 55.4% ground ball rate (93rd percentile). That could pose a problem for an Orioles team that grounded into four double plays yesterday and six total in the series.
May 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy (49) talks with pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
To get that series win, the Brewers will send out ace Jacob Misiorowski, who is looking to put a bow on one of the best months we’ve ever seen for a Brewer pitcher. Across five starts this month, Miz is a perfect 4-0 with a 0.29 ERA (one run) across 31 1/3 innings, allowing just 11 hits and six walks with a whopping 49 strikeouts, pushing him to 100 for the season over just 64 innings.
Opposite Miz will be Tatsuya Imai, who is coming off his best start in the majors. After starting his career with an 8.31 ERA over his first 17 1/3 innings (16 earned runs), he went six no-hit innings on Memorial Day against the Rangers, allowing four walks and striking out two as Steven Okert and Alimber Santa closed things out for Houston’s fifth no-hitter in the last five years (including one in the 2022 World Series).
In roster news, the Brewers have reinstated left-handed reliever Rob Zastryzny from the 60-day injured list. To open up the 40-man spot, left-hander Angel Zerpa was moved to the 60-day IL, as he’s out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Right-hander Carlos Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A Nashville to make room on the active roster.
Zastryzny, 34, has been a solid option for the Brewers the last two seasons, pitching to a 2.12 ERA with 25 strikeouts across 29 2/3 innings (though his 4.09 FIP indicates some regression is expected). While he’s missed the entire season with a left shoulder strain, he’s appeared in seven games while rehabbing with Nashville, allowing no runs on two hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts. He’ll add another left-handed option to Milwaukee’s bullpen to go with DL Hall, Aaron Ashby, and Shane Drohan.
Christian Yelich leads things off as the DH today, with Garrett Mitchell, Brice Turang, and Andrew Vaughn following. Jake Bauers bats fifth and starts in left, with Gary Sánchez batting sixth as the catcher to give William Contreras a day off. Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, and Joey Ortiz round things out.
First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
Mar 31, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles fans get a stadium view from above the bullpens prior to the opening home game against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
I’m going to put up the GameThread a bit early today. The game is an early start and there isn’t much for news this morning.
It is Shane Bieber’s birthday. He is 30 today and has exactly 100 decisions in his career, 66-34. Do you think he’ll make it to 100 wins? Often pitchers who don’t throw a lot of innings in their 20s do well in their 30s. Shane’s only thrown 200 innings twice and 100 innings four times, so there should be some left in his arm, when he’s all healed up.
It is a strange balance. The Jays signed Jose Berrios to a long term contract, in part because he was so consistent, throwing a lot of innings every year, but then those innings caught up on him.
Shane is to pitch for Dunedin today, his second rehab start. A couple more starts, and we can start thinking about him joining the Jays again.
Anyway, happy birthday Shane. I hope we see you on the mound soon.
Max Scherzer is making a start for Buffalo today, 1:00 Eastern start. They figure he’ll be throwing 30-40 pitches. So, soon he could be back. Of course, back and effective are two different things.
Today’s lineup. McAdoo plays first, with Vlad getting half a day off, DHing.
And Spencer Miles gets to be a real starter. Nathan Lukes hits in the leadoff spot.
The Seattle Mariners hope to extend a five-game winning streak by picking up a sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks this afternoon.
Bryce Miller has been impressive since returning from injury, and my Diamondbacks vs. Mariners predictions explain his slider will neutralize the visitors while Merrill Kelly has a rough day.
Who will win Diamondbacks vs Mariners today: Mariners -1.5 (+155)
After a brutal start to the season, Merrill Kelly’s posted four consecutive quality starts with a .237 wOBA — but I’m not convinced.
I’m not buying it when a career ground-ball pitcher allowed fly balls (49.4%) and hard hits (41.4%) at the rate he did in those starts — especially not while posting a 0.60 GB/FB ratio.
The Seattle Mariners rank sixth in HR/FB rate (14.6%) over the past two weeks with a 0.88 GB/FB ratio.
Kelly ranks in the bottom percentile in both barrel rate and xERA. I’m backing the Mariners to punish him and cover up to +130.
Diamondbacks vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-114)
While I’m expecting the Mariners to win easily, I am taking the Under to -120.
Bryce Miller has added 2 to 3 mph onto all of his pitches and has tripled his slider usage from a season ago. That breaking ball is generating a 43.3% whiff rate thanks to an additional 2.6 inches of induced vertical break.
That is a devastating equalizer against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have a league-leading 48.2% pull rate over the last two weeks.
Seattle’s pen has been outstanding this month, ranking fourth in xFIP (3.56), sixth in K% (24.4%), and sixth in wOBA (.290).
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 9-12, -3.94 units
Over/Under bets: 13-8, +4.28 units
Diamondbacks vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Diamondbacks +133 | Mariners -138
Run line: Diamondbacks +1.5 (-156) | Mariners -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+100) | Under 7.5 (-104)
Diamondbacks vs Mariners trend
The Seattle Mariners have covered the run line in four of their last five games (+4.80 Units / 96% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Mariners.
How to watch Diamondbacks vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Sunday, May 31, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
DBacks.TV, Mariners.TV
Diamondbacks starting pitcher
Merrill Kelly (5-3, 5.25 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Bryce Miller (1-0, 2.25 ERA)
Diamondbacks vs Mariners latest injuries
Diamondbacks vs Mariners 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.
The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers both saw their win streaks snapped in dramatic finishes last night, and they’re among the likeliest bounce-back candidates on today’s loaded slate.
That leaves the Seattle Mariners with the longest current winning run in the majors, and my MLB player props target all three ballclubs, including wagers on a lights-out effort from Yoshinobu Yamamoto and more fireworks from Randy Arozarena.
The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the majors in ERA and WHIP through the first third of the season — and the scariest part is that Yoshinobu Yamamoto is still ramping up to his very best stuff. His 0.98 WHIP ranks eighth in the league, and I'm buying into the consistency of his strikeout tallies.
Yamamoto has racked up 7+ Ks in five of his past seven outings, and his five-pitch arsenal (and 29% whiff rate) will keep the Philadelphia Phillies off balance today. He keeps his walks low — just 13 this year — and that's allowed him to pitch past the sixth inning in each of his last three starts.
It's also worth noting that the Phillies have scored three runs or fewer in six of their past eight games.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCS-Philadelphia, SportsNet-Los Angeles
Ben Rice Over 1.5 total bases (-105)
Put simply, Ben Rice is seeing pitches like soccer balls this week — and he's getting full value for his swings at the top of the New York Yankees lineup. Rice enters this afternoon's clash with the Athletics on a 10-for-17 tear across his last four games, including a homer, a triple, and three doubles.
He ranks second in the majors with a 1.047 OPS, and he's a standout hitter in just about every statistical category, from his .566 xSLG to his 17.7% barrel rate.
Equally effective against righties and lefties this year, look for Rice to feast against A's starter Jacob Lopez, who drags in a 5.73 ERA and 1.77 WHIP, and I'll take these plus-money odds for another busy day on the bases.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: YES, NBCS-California
Randy Arozarena Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBIs (-105)
After a couple of down years, Randy Arozarena looks back to his best at the plate this season for the Seattle Mariners, and his .292 batting average speaks for itself.
Watch for Arozarena to put an exclamation point on an impressive week here by cashing this Over. He's piled up eight hits across his past six games, cashing this combo prop in three of those outings, and I'm encouraged by his 4-for-8 mark against Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly.
Arozarena's savvy baserunning and his respectable 9.3% walk rate have contributed to 17 runs this month, and the RBI potential is off the charts with the in-form Mariners scoring a combined 40 runs in their last six contests.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DBacks.TV, Mariners.TV
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.
Kenny Lofton #12 of the New York Yankees is safe at home plate. The New York Yankees defeat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 12-1 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Back in the days of Backyard Baseball 2001, Kenny Lofton was unstoppable. With his immense speed, pretty much every ball in play turned into a single, every single turned into a triple, and every ball hit vaguely in his general direction was caught. And so, when the Yankees, looking for another option in center field besides the aging Bernie Williams, signed Lofton to a two-year, $6.2 million contract, I had high hopes for the center fielder.
Needless to say, between injuries and underperformance, Lofton didn’t meet those lofty expectations, and his Yankees career wound up being little more than a footnote in what became, by the end, a journeyman-esque career.
Raised in East Chicago, Indiana, by his grandmother, Lofton was a star basketball player in his youth, who also pitched and played center field on his school’s baseball team. He received a basketball scholarship from the University of Arizona, where, as the backup point guard to five-time NBA champion player and four-time NBA champion coach Steve Kerr, he averaged 4.8 points and 2.6 assists per game, and set the school record for steals. In fact, he is just one of two players to play in both the NCAA Final Four (1988) and the World Series (1995, 2002) — alongside, coincidentally, fellow East Chicago Washington High School alumnus Tim Stoddard.
Despite not being recruited to play college baseball, Lofton tried out, and made, the Arizona team in his junior year. More surprisingly, despite hardly playing — he appeared in just five games and had one official plate appearance — he was taken in the 17th round of 1988 draft by the Astros, who recognized the value of his speed and agility. Although his playing time was limited at first, as he remained at Arizona through 1989 in order to finish his degree and play out his final year of eligibility, Lofton shot through the Astros system, making his Major League debut on September 14, 1991.
Lofton was traded for the first time that winter, as Houston already had a center fielder in Steve Finley. He would go on to spend the next five years in Cleveland, where he lit up the league with his speed. His numbers themselves were impressive enough — a 316/.382/.437 slash line with 325 stolen bases (an average of 65 per year!), along with Gold Glove defense. But where Lofton really made his mark was the pressure he put on defenses, with his ability to punish even the slightest mistakes — such as here, where he scored from second on a passed ball during Game 6 of the 1995 ALCS, helping to send Cleveland to the World Series for the first time in 40 years.
Ahead of the 1997 season, Lofton was traded for the second time in his career, this time to the team that beat Cleveland in ’95, the Braves, in exchange for fellow acclaimed center fielder Marquis Grissom. GM John Hart feared to lose Lofton for nothing as a free agent, but after one year in Atlanta, he returned to Cleveland on a three-year, $24 million deal (the defending AL champs subsequently dealt Grissom to Milwaukee). While Lofton’s second stint in Cleveland wasn’t quite as dominant as his early career, he remained an immensely valuable player, earning two more All-Star nods.
Starting in 2002, Lofton entered the journeyman phase of his career. He signed a one-year deal with the White Sox, believing them to be a team on the rise and Cleveland a team on the decline, but was then sent to the Giants at the Trade Deadline. He had a good run in San Francisco and got the walk-off hit in NLCS Game 5 against the Cardinals to send Barry Bonds and company to the 2002 World Series, which they lost in a seven-game heartbreaker to the Angels. Lofton then signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 2003 season, and was traded to the Cubs at the deadline, reuniting with his manager in San Francisco, Dusty Baker, before experiencing more playoff disappointment.
That winter, the Yankees signed Lofton to a two-year deal, pencilling him in as their Opening Day center fielder and potential successor to Bernie Williams in center field. A hamstring injury caused him to miss time early in the season, and he never quite got going after that. Splitting the center-field job with Williams—a timeshare that neither player felt particularly comfortable in—Lofton played just 83 games, posting a .275/.346/.395 slash line while stealing a career-low seven bases. His one highlight that year came, rather poetically, against Cleveland, as he recorded his 2,000th career hit.
He made just four plate appearances in the ALDS, then went 3-for-10 in the ALCS that we don’t like to talk about here at Pinstripe Alley.
After the season, the Yankees traded Lofton to the Phillies for reliever Félix Rodríguez. In theory, that closed the door on his Yankees story. In truth, though, we almost had a coda. When CC Sabathia, who had been teammates with Lofton in Cleveland, was a free agent in the winter of 2008-09, Lofton reportedly tried to dissuade him from coming to New York, saying only bad things about his time in the organization. (For what it’s worth, getting the clubhouse back in harmony was one of the goals that Brian Cashman outlined for CC in his pitch.)
As a member of the Phillies, Lofton had a bit of a bounceback year, posting a .335/.392/.420 slash line. That winter, he signed with the Dodgers, and the following year, he inked a deal with the Rangers to set the record for most teams played for by a position player. At the Trade Deadline, he was dealt one last time, returning him to Cleveland for his third stint, where he helped lead Cleveland past the Yankees in the infamous “midges” series, before blowing a 3-1 lead to the Red Sox in the ALCS — a fitting cap to Lofton’s inability to get a World Series ring throughout his career.
Lofton wanted to play in 2008 and 2009, but went unsigned both seasons, bringing his 17-year career to an end. He was named to Cleveland’s Hall of Fame in 2010, then fell off the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot after just one season — a result that to this day has people using Lofton as evidence for the flaws in the HOF voting process, as he debuted on a crowded ballot with 10 eventual Cooperstown honorees, plus the controversial-but-elite Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. BBWAA writers were limited to 10 names on each ballot, and Lofton fell by the wayside without earning the minimum five percent to remain under consideration.
Following his baseball career, Lofton started a television production company named FilmPool, Inc., through whom he has found himself in hot water. Four years ago, he was sued by a former employee for sending sexually explicit images to female employees and for firing an employee in retaliation for reporting the aforementioned images. As of now, the results of the case do not appear to be public.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
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