Baseball News
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rangers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
All Star voting is underway, and so our Rangers Reacts survey this week asks, which Texas Rangers player do you think is most deserving of an All Star nod?
Cast your vote below…
MILWAUKEE — Guardians All-Star third baseman José Ramírez had surgery to remove the hook of the broken hamate bone in his left hand.
The team said in a statement that the procedure was performed in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, by Dr. Thomas Graham.
“We knew he was going to need surgery, so earlier today he was able to get it done,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said.
Ramírez suffered the injury during the fifth inning of a 3-1 win over the Detroit Tigers when he fouled out on a pop up to Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler.
It only is the second time in Ramírez’s 14 big league seasons that he has been placed on the injured list.
The seven-time All-Star also broke the hamate bone in his right hand in 2019 and only missed a month. The normal recovery time post-surgery is five to seven weeks.
“That’s part of life. Those are things that are going to happen, so I’m not upset. It’s just part of the game and just got to keep going,” Ramírez said about the injury.
The 33-year-old native of the Dominican Republic has played in a franchise-record 1,681 games. He is also the only player in Cleveland’s 125-year history to have at least 300 stolen bases and 250 home runs.
Cleveland also placed outfielder Angel Martínez on the 10-day injured list due to a nondisplaced fracture in his left foot. Martínez’s injury occurred after fouling off a pitch.
Martínez, who leads the Guardians with 11 homers, could be out four to six weeks, Vogt said.
“He walked in Monday probably knowing that we’d probably get some testing done on Monday if he wasn’t feeling better and he wasn’t,” Vogt said. “MRI and CT scan both revealed a fracture in the foot, so it will be four to six weeks for Angel.”
Outfielder Chase DeLauter sustained a rib injury when he collided with the outfield wall. Tests show bone bruising and a small fracture, but DeLauter was not headed to the injured list, Vogt said.
“It’s very, very, very small, something that’s day to day,” Vogt said. “We’ll see how it feels. Definitely something to tolerate, he can play through. We just have to weight out day-to-day how it’s feeling, kind of gradually see it.”
When the Twins acquired Yoendrys Gómez in their spaghetti vs. wall style of bullpen construction, they also set a team first. Gómez is wearing #94, the number he has worn for most of his career, with Minnesota, and he has become the first Twin in history to wear that number.
Because I will take any excuse I can to write about uniform numbers and the Twins are off today, here’s some discussion about the 10 numbers no Twins (or Senators) have worn and the players who have worn them around the league.
(I should also note before anyone tries to Google this information, their AI Gemini, presumably pulling from my own writing without permission, gets information wrong.)
69
worn by (MLB history): 22 players
best worn by (bWAR): Luis Medina, CLE, 1988
2026 worn by (anyone this season whether still active or not): Blubaugh
As I mentioned in last week’s game thread, most teams don’t hand out #69 due to its sexual connotations. The Twins don’t — a few years ago, they released a spring training roster that had every number except 69 worn — but among those who do, none do so more than the Pirates, who have given the number to eight players. That includes the best player to have ever worn 69, Bronson Arroyo, but he broke out as a pitcher after joining the Red Sox (who made him switch to 61) and hit his prime as a Red (with whom he kept 61). Astros reliever Blubaugh is the only current player to wear the number, and he’s also put up the most WAR in the number with 1.0.
75
worn by: 52 players
first worn by: Mike Walker, CLE, 1988
best worn by: Barry Zito, OAK/SF, 2001-15 (29.7 WAR)
2026 worn by: 9 players
Zito actually wore #53 as a rookie in 2000 before switching to his familiar #75 the following season and subsequently winning the Cy Young for the ‘02 A’s. (You may call them the Moneyball A’s; here, we call them “the team the Twins beat in the Division Series.” And Denny Hocking, not Corey Koskie, caught the series-ending popup… 0/10, bad movie.) Right now, nine players across MLB wear the number; the most recognizable is probably Robert Suarez (ATL RP) or Andrés Muñoz (SEA RP), but my attention is drawn to Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez. Since I live closest to Boston (among MLB cities), he’s the #75 I see most regularly… but he also took over #94 from Yoendrys Gómez for the ‘24 Yankees. And like that, it all comes full circle.
84
worn by: 18 players
first worn by: J.T. Snow, BOS, 2006
best worn by: Dylan Cease, CHW/SD/TOR, 2019-pres (18.5 WAR)
2026 worn by: Cease; Lake Bachar, MIA; Jorbit Vivas, WAS
#84 may have first become recognizable when Prince Fielder took the number, presumably in honor of his birth year, when joining the Rangers for the last three seasons of his career. (Snow similarly took the number for familial reasons: his father Jack, who died at the start of 2006, wore the number for 11 seasons as a wide receiver with the Rams.) It has earned staying power, though, with Cease’s top-of-rotation mainstay in his eighth season and counting.
88
worn by: 22 players
first worn by: Mike Ramsey, LAD, 1987
best worn by: Luis Robert Jr., CHW/NYM, 2020-pres (15.8 WAR)
2026 worn by: Robert; Phil Maton, CHC; Cooper Criswell, SEA
Robert was part of those early-’20s high-digit White Sox squads: along with Robert (#88), they had Eloy Jiménez (#74) and José Abreu (#79) wearing unusual numbers. Robert is a Met now, but among 88s who changed teams, none has done so more than Maton. The Cubs are his eighth franchise, and he has worn the same symmetrical round number for all of them.
91
worn by: 13 players
first worn by: Tim Spooneybarger, FLA, 2003
best worn by: Alfredo Aceves, NYY/BOS, 2008-14 (4.2 WAR)
2026 worn by: Jonathan Pintaro, NYM
I remember seeing Aceves’ unusual #91 at Fenway Park and wondering why more baseball players didn’t wear less-common 90s numbers; years later, I still wonder. Spooneybarger, the first #91, was on the ‘03 Series-winning Marlins but did not pitch after June due to elbow tendinities; Aceves too was on a pennant winner, the ‘09 Yankees, and he pitched in four postseason games, including Game 5 of the World Series. Pintaro, the only active #91, was recalled to the majors on Monday.
93
worn by: 9 players
first worn by: Pat Neshek, PHI, 2018
best worn by: Yimi García, MIA/HOU/TOR/SEA, 2020-5(2.5 WAR)
2026 worn by: Matt Gage, SF
Speaking of that question I wonder about, Neshek became the first MLB player to wear #93 when he debuted for the Phillies in July 2018, making that number the fifth-last to make its debut in MLB.* (If I remember correctly, he chose #93 on a suggestion from a fan — not me this time — on Twitter.) As we get into the higher 90s, player counts are going to become fewer… up until 99, which fortunately does not qualify for this list thanks to Logan Morrison in 2018.
*the last six numbers to make their MLB debuts:
90 (“Once Upon” Adam Cimber, SD, 3/29/2018)
93 (Neshek, PHI, 7/1/18)
80 (Ryan Eades, MIN, 6/8/19)
92 (Génesis Cabrera, STL, 8/15/20)
86 (Jesus Cruz, STL, 8/18/20)
89 (Miguel Yajure, NYY, 8/31/20)
95
worn by: 5 players
first worn by: Takahito Nomura, MIL, 2002
best worn by: Oswaldo Cabrera, NYY, 2022-5 (2.0 WAR)
2026 worn by: Josh Ekness, MIA
Of the five players to have worn #95, two are Yankees and two are Marlins. Nomura, the exception, wore the number 18 years before the next player, Miami’s Trevor Rogers. Since 2020, exactly one player has worn the number each season: Rogers (‘20), the Bronx’s Trey Amburgey (‘21), Cabrera (’22-‘25), and Ekness (’26).
96
worn by: 9 players
first worn by: Bill Voiselle, Boston Braves, 1947
best worn by: Voiselle, BSN/CHC, 1947-50 (4.5 WAR)
2026 worn by: Yovanny Cruz, NYY
Yes, that says “Boston Braves,” and yes, that says “1947.” Voiselle grew up in Ninety-Six, South Carolina, and upon his ’47 trade to the Braves, he received permission from Commissioner Happy Chandler to wear #96 in tribute. He wore the number for the rest of his career, two more seasons with the Braves and one with the Chicago cubs. Unsurprisingly, the only wearer this year, Cruz (who pitched in two games in May), is a Yankee.
Trivia time: what are the only two eligible jersey numbers that have never been worn in the regular season by a Yankees player?
97
worn by: 2 players
first worn by: Joe Beimel, TB, 2005
best worn by: Beimel, six teams, 2005-15 (6.9 WAR)
2026 worn by: Ron Marinaccio, SD
Beimel wore #97 in honor of his son’s birth in that year, and he just missed becoming the first Twin to wear the number: he wore #53 from 2001-3 with the Pirates and #50 in ‘04 with the Twins before switching to his regular digits the following season. Seven seasons after Beimel last pitched in the majors, Marinaccio debuted for (sigh) the Yankees in #97, and he’s kept it after joining the Padres last season. However, right now, he’s known not for his number but for his current suspension for beaning Gunnar Henderson.
98
worn by: 7 players
first worn by: Jae Weong Seo, TB, 2006
best worn by: Randy Vásquez, NYY/SD, 2023-pres (5.0 WAR)
2026 worn by: Vásquez; Maverick Handley, BAL
Handley was designated for assignment in May, so the only current #98 is Vásquez, who has become a solid starter with the Padres after one year as a (sigh 2.0) Yankee.
Trivia answer: surprisingly not #69, which Alan Mills wore for part of 1990. The answer is #00 and #87.
So that’s 10 numbers now which I am eagerly awaiting a new Twin to wear. Here’s hoping!
And on another note: I am planning an article, either for the offseason or another off day, of my all-time Literary Baseball Team, a 26-man roster consisting of the best players from literary fiction. If you have any players or books you suggest I should read, please comment them below!
WASHINGTON — Kansas City Royals right-hander Seth Lugo threw a bullpen session and is expected to start Friday after spending time on the concussion list.
Lugo was hit in the head by a 106.6 mph line drive against Texas. Manager Matt Quatraro said before a night’s game at Washington that Lugo felt good and is expected to return Friday night, when the Royals host St. Louis.
Left-hander Kris Bubic, on the injured list because of elbow soreness, also threw.
The news hasn’t been as promising about left-hander Cole Ragans, who had a setback during rehab from a left elbow injury. Quatraro said Ragans still is having symptoms and remains shut down.
Kansas City optioned right-hander Mitch Spence, who allowed six runs in four innings in a spot start against the Nationals, to Triple-A Omaha. That cleared a roster spot for right-hander Connor Seabold, acquired by the Royals in a trade with Toronto.
Carson Benge – RF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Juan Soto – LF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Mark Vientos – 1B
Francisco Alvarez – DH
A.J. Ewing – CF
Luis Torrens – C
Zack Short – SS
SP: Nolan McLean – RHP
Edwin Arroyo – 2B
JJ Bleday – LF
Sal Stewart – 3B
Nathaniel Lowe – 1B
Eugenio Suarez – DH
Spencer Steer – RF
Noelvi Marte – CF
Jose Trevino – C
Matt McLain – SS
SP: Nick Lodolo – LHP
First pitch: 12:40 PM EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are -150 favorites to secure a series sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon.
The good news for Tampa Bay is Shohei Ohtani is out of the lineup, and he may not be 100% on the mound.
That’s why my Rays vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks call for Tampa to pull off the upset on June 17.
The Tampa Bay Rays will be facing a Shohei Ohtani who’s not fully armed and operational.
He’s battling knee inflammation and wasn’t even a sure thing to make this start until he tested it with a Tuesday bullpen session. He’s out of the lineup, limiting the Los Angeles Dodgers' order that hasn’t been scoring either.
The Dodgers are hitting .228 and slugging .417 over the last week, down from .261 and .441 on the year.
Ohtani’s name recognition always attracts casual money and inflates the odds. The Rays at anything over +130 is worth the risk.
COVERS INTEL: Ohtani blamed mechanics on the mound for the injury, and his curve lost more than 100 revolutions in his last start. He seemed to be making up for it by putting extra on his four-seamer, which led to his worst start of the season. I am going against the grain here because of the odds. The Over/Under is two runs lower than Monday’s opener, and that's too steep of a drop for me,
The pitching matchup of Ohtani against Shane McClanahan looks appealing for the Under, but both are struggling.
Shohei allowed a season-high four runs in just over six innings last time out, and McClanahan has lost his last two starts — giving up eight runs in nine innings.
An easier Over with positive odds is worth a flier and should be played to +100.
The Tampa Bay Rays have covered the run line in 26 of their last 45 games (+10.80 Units / 20% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Dodgers.
| Location | Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 |
| First pitch | 3:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | Rays.TV, SportsNet LA |
| Rays starting pitcher | Shane McClanahan (6-4, 3.23 ERA) |
| Dodgers starting pitcher | Shohei Ohtani (6-2, 1.06 ERA) |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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The Boston Red Sox do not deserve to have any representatives at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game.
It’s going to happen, though…
Major League Baseball, in an effort to maximize fan engagement across all of its markets, requires that each team is represented by at least one player at the Midsummer Classic. Cesar Izturis, Michael Lorenzen, Ty Wigginton, and Brock Holt are some of the names you may or may not know to earn the honor by way of technicality — which is exactly where the local nine should be, no matter how many decent individual performers are on the roster.
Willson Contreras (.304/.396/.570 | 16) has undoubtedly been the club’s best player, but there’s no world in which he should get the nod over New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (.293/.387/.611 | 19) and Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (.240/.378/.560 | 20). Aroldis Chapman (0.44 ERA | 14 SV) barely ever pitches despite being the most dominant reliever in the American League, so he could be edged out by some other guys like Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith (2.48), Tampa Bay Rays closer Bryan Baker (1.91), and Texas Rangers reliever Jacob Latz (1.62 ERA). Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu have been good, but they’re not going to edge out the popular vote guys like Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Byron Buxton, or Julio Rodriguez.
If they’re going to push to send anyone, it should be Payton Tolle.
Tolle hasn’t been their most consistent starting pitcher (Sonny Gray), doesn’t have the best numbers (Ranger Suarez), and wasn’t the obvious choice coming into the season (Garrett Crochet) — but he’s the best possible representative for a club that needs to improve the vibes!
Tolle hit a speed bump last night but is having a remarkable rookie campaign overall — 2.93 ERA, 60 K, 58.1 IP — and happens to be the only human being on this baseball team that can bring a smile to one’s face. If you want someone who can show you just how fun playing in this market can be, go send that guy!
I’d also be inclined to ask him to do some recruiting…
*insert Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant gif*
I don’t know how many of these guys will actually hit free agency due to the whole impending lockout situation, but we can get the ball rolling early on some of these guys!
William Contreras might want to come play with his brother! Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, and Ronald Acuña Jr. are opt-out candidates! Murakami’s short-term deal might end up being a detriment to his current club!
If none of that matters, just reward the guy who actually makes your fanbase happy. It could be that easy.
The Mets lost 5-3 to the Reds, losing the series as well. Kodai Senga lasted just four innings, giving up four runs on two hits and four walks while striking out five.
Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, Faith and Fear in Flushing, MLB.com, New York Daily News, New York Post
Buster Olney listed 12 baseball executives under the most pressure ahead of the trade deadline, and David Stearns (unsurprisingly) ranked very high.
The Mets made a handful of roster moves, including activating Kodai Senga fromt he injured list and designating Vidal Bruján for assignment.
Despite the shaky—and short—start last night, Kodai Senga will likely remain in the Mets rotation.
The Phillies soundly defeated the Marlins 8-2. Jesús Luzardo went seven innings and gave up just two runs, striking out nine Marlins in the process.
The Nationals narrowly beat the Royals 6-4. Curtis Mead drove in three of the Nationals six runs on one big swing, a three run home run in the seventh inning.
The Giants were beating the Braves 3-2 before the game was suspended in the second inning due to rain. The game will be completed today at 2 PM, ahead of the 7:15 PM series finale.
The Giants are open to offers for major players such as Matt Chapman and Rafael Devers, though they don’t plan on trading Logan Webb or their young players.
Jeff Passan lamented the seeming parallel course the beginning of this labor dispute is taking to 1994—a fight that nearly derailed baseball permanently.
Passan spoke to Tom Glavine about these concerns that Glavine (a former executive subcommittee member and face of the players during the 1994 strike) shares.
Yankees prospect Kaeden Kent was born to play baseball—especially given the fact that his dad is impending Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Kent.
Cubs closer Daniel Palencia is heading to the injured list with right elbow inflammation.
The Mariners got two major pieces back from the injured list, activating both Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford ahead of the beginning of their homestand.
The Brewers called Cooper Pratt up to make his major league debut, a couple months after he signed his eight year extension.
Steve Sypa listed another group of Mets Minor League Players of the Week.
Allison McCague published the Pitcher Meter for the first two weeks of June.
The infamous Willie Randolph late night firing in Anaheim was 18 years ago today.
As the Yankees’ bullpen has come under fire over the past few months and emerged as arguably the team’s biggest weakness*, they have continued to carry both Paul Blackburn and Ryan Yarbrough — two pitchers who have spent most of their career as starters (or, well, in Yarbrough’s case, starter-adjacent, thanks to the Rays frequently pairing him with an opener) in their bullpen since Opening Day.
*At least before two-thirds of the starting outfield hit the shelf at the same time.
While not, at the start of the season, a bad move — veteran depth capable of starting is hardly ever a bad thing, and having multiple pitchers capable of going multiple innings while starters are still ramping up early in the season can help teams get through the early season without overusing their bullpen — this decision has frustrated fans over the last month or so. As the high-leverage arms have been overworked, does the team really need to have two low-leverage long men?
Last week, we took a look at Blackburn’s season, breaking down how the Yankees have tried to convert him into a middle reliever, with some success. This week, though, I want to take a dive into Yarbrough’s metrics, and see if he might be a better choice for those medium-leverage innings that Blackburn has been getting. Because, well, Yarbrough’s metrics have been…pulling in different directions, to say the least.
Out of pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched this season, only dominant San Diego closer Mason Miller has allowed less hard contact than Yarbrough, 17.6 to 14.0 percent (these numbers come from FanGraphs’ Statcast heading, which has different values than the ones in the chart above, but the percentiles are the same). His average exit velocity is better than any pitcher except Philadelphia’s Orion Kerkering. The only way his batted-ball profile would be better is if he generated more groundballs — he ranks 214th out of the 375 pitchers that we’re looking at — but at the end of the day, soft contact is soft contact.
At the same time, though, thanks to a fastball that tops out at 87.5 mph, Yarbrough struggles to get strikeouts. He does not get batters to chase pitches out of the zone, he does not generate whiffs inside of the zone, and on top of it, his walk rate is up three percentage points from last year (7.2 to 10.2 percent). While, as we saw last week with Blackburn, pitchers don’t need to have high strikeout rates to be relatively successful, even as relievers, it does leave less room for error.
What we need to remember when looking at Yarbrough’s performance, however, is the fact that he has only made 14 appearances this season, mostly in low-leverage situations; in fact, in 11 of those games, his primary task was “eat the final one to three innings so the rest of the bullpen can get some rest.”*
*This was all written before last night, when Yarbrough made yet another low-leverage appearance, pitching three scoreless innings to close out a 12-2 blowout of the White Sox.
In these situations, regardless of whether you’re up or down big, the primary goal is to just throw the ball over the plate and try to get some (ideally soft) contact in order to reach the finish line as quickly and painlessly as possible. As such, much of this data can be a bit skewed; therefore, it we want to see whether or not Yarbrough can be used in more high-leverage spots, we need to look a bit deeper.
So far this season, Yarbrough has been much better against lefties than he has against righties: right-handed bats have slashed .245/.333/.321 in 60 plate appearances, while lefties have slashed .091/.211/.182 in 38. These are, admittedly, extremely small sample sizes, but this does reflect a pattern. Last year, left-handed bats managed just a .198/.216/.360 line against Yarbrough, compared to a .263/.341/.481 line against righties. To put it another way, over the last two years, Yarbrough turns all righties into 2026 Cody Bellinger (130 wRC+), and all lefties into 2026 Caleb Durbin (53 wRC+).
If the Yankees are inclined to use Yarbrough more often and turn him into a more high-leverage threat, the best route to take would be to use him as a lefty specialist, lining him up to minimize the amount of right-handed batters he faces. However, this isn’t exactly something the bullpen is lacking. Tim Hill has absolutely decimated lefties this year (.177/.190/.210), but has been prone to give up the long ball against righties (.357/.440/.595, with three home runs). Fernando Cruz may not be a southpaw, but his splitter absolutely flummoxes lefties (.120/.267/.200). On a day-to-day basis, there are better options than Yarbrough if they need a left-handed specialist.
As such, for the time being, it’s probably best for the Yankees to continue using Yarbrough as a long man out of the ’pen, solely for the purpose of keeping him stretched out in case they need to dip into the rotation depth again while Max Fried is on the shelf. He may be behind Elmer Rodriguez, and possibly also Brendan Beck, but as we’ve seen, depth can dissipate at the drop of a hat.
Tuesday was as low scoring of an affair as one could as for, as the Dodgers came away with their second 1-0 win since June 5.
In what has been an unbelievable offensive stretch since May 12, Shohei Ohtani kept it going as he provided the only offense for either side, blasting a solo home run against Drew Rasmussen in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ohtani has now homered four times over his last six games and has hit nine home runs over the last five weeks.
Dave Roberts noted post-game that Ohtani has made some recent adjustments at the plate that are helping him not just see the ball better but helping hit the ball with authority to all fields, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.
“It’s just near missing the baseball in the sense of, he was hitting the ball hard — doubles, some singles — and then if he was just missing it a little bit, there was going to be slug,” Roberts said. “Seeing the baseball well, swinging at good pitches. When he uses a big part of the field, there’s just no holding him back.”
There was some concern about Ohtani’s status on the mound after he missed Friday’s game against the Chicago White Sox due to left knee inflammation, but he is cleared to make his scheduled start Wednesday, per Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register.
Justin Wrobleski provided much of the heavy lifting on Tuesday, out dueling Rasmussen with six shutout innings and bouncing back after a rough start in Pittsburgh.
Wrobleski’s pitch count was at just 67 (50 for strikes) after six innings, and Dave Roberts commended the left-hander for his ability to persistently attack the zone and remain ahead in the count, per Hollmon.
“He was attacking all night. That’s who he is,” Roberts said of the left-hander. “Just the dependability with Wrob in the sense that you know that he’s going to go after guys. His first pitch is like his last pitch and he’s the epitome of go as hard as you can for as long as you can — until the manager takes the ball from you. Tonight, we asked [for] six innings and he did that and he passed it to the ’pen and they were fantastic.”
Kyle Tucker has been enjoying a nice little stretch on this current homestand, hitting his first home run at Dodger Stadium in two months on Monday while having three hits and three RBI in the two games against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tucker spoke to the media on Monday where he acknowledged the lofty expectations his contract placed upon him, noting that his time as a Dodger has gotten off to a lethargic introduction, per Fredo Cervantes of The Sporting Tribune.
We enjoyed the Player A and B test so much that we are bringing it back for another round. This time we will take a look at a former Astro and a current Astro. However, I have to set up a few extra ground rules in order for this one to work. First, we are looking at only the rate statistics for their careers. They won’t be exactly alike because no two players are exactly alike, but they will be a lot closer then if we look at the counting numbers.
So, in addition to numbers like OPS, we will be looking at isolated power, isolated patience. secondary average, home run percentage, strikeout percentage, and walk percentage. We use these numbers because one player played a lot longer than the other player. We want to be able to judge their overall quality, but I also want to conceal the identities as much as humanly possible.
The second curveball on this comparison is a look at the fielding numbers. Since these two played a number of different positions and wildly different defensive innings totals, we will be looking at their defensive runs saved (DRS), outs above average (OAA), and fielding run value (FRV) per 1000 innings. Again, they aren’t exactly the same but it should be interesting.
| OPS | ISOpow | ISOpat | SEC | HR% | SO% | BB% | |
| Player A | .681 | .154 | .053 | .249 | 3.15 | 30.0 | 5.4 |
| Player B | .638 | .176 | .052 | .238 | 4.37 | 33.6 | 6.1 |
We could further break these numbers down. For instance, some people are really into the strikeout to walk ratio. These two players are nearly identical in that department. Home run percentage needs a little explanation. It is the average number of homers each player would hit per 100 plate appearances. They are nearly identical when it comes to isolated patience (OBP – AVG) as well. As we said before, no two players are exactly alike, but these two are pretty comparable.
This becomes more true when we consider that both are playing in slightly different eras. It probably wouldn’t surprise you to find out that Player A played in a better offensive era than Player B. If we showed the respective batting averages involved then it would probably give the comparison away. During Player A’s most prolific season, the league hit .254 and he hit .236. The league hit .243 during Player B’s most prolific season. So, even though his average was lower, the gap is not as significant.
By far, the most telling statistic in both cases is the strikeout rate. I don’t have to tell anyone that anything north of 30 percent is not sustainable over time. Usually one of two things will happen with those players. Either they will get drummed out of the league or they will figure out how to make more contact. One of these players was drummed out of the league. One of them is still active.
Remember, usually we offter more descriptive numbers, but the goal here is to keep these two players’ identities a secret a little while longer so that we can compare them without the emotional baggage. We also do that because seeing the numbers first might help put the current Astro in a different context. It could be a context that might help us understand how he should be used. First, let’s look at the defensive numbers.
| DRS/1000 | OAA/1000 | FRV/1000 | |
| Player A | +14.6 | +9.3 | +8.2 |
| Player B | +11.4 | +5.7 | +7.6 |
Before we jump too far on the bandwagon for Player A we should give a little context. Player A played all three outfield positions while Player B played two outfield positions and three infield positions. These represent all of the defensive innings added together. Obviously, this represents a bird’s eye view of the player’s defensive value. A manager would look more closely at how they performed at each defensive spot because that value was not spread evenly across the board.
Also, Player A was likely a little better in the OAA and FRV categories, but they did not track those for three of his seasons in Houston. So, the gap between Player A and Player B is probably wider than what it appears. Naturally, that is a huge clue as to these two players identities, but it also has to be said because the last thing I want to do is misrepresent the facts.
Remember, these numbers are per 1000 innings. Neither player ever reached 1000 innings in any one season, so they are theoretical in nature. Most people consider ten runs to be equal to one win. So, depending on your source, both players could be as much as two wins better than a replacement level player with the glove alone. As we saw above, their bats kept them out of the lineup consistently.
My mea culpa gave away part of the big reveal. Player A represents Jake Marisnick’s numbers as an Astro offensively and his career fielding numbers. Player B represents what Brice Matthews has done to date. Time heals all wounds and often smooths over the edges of our memory. There were very similar conversations about both players and the Matthews conversation is still ongoing.
The general idea is that they both had very good power, very good speed, and were certainly close to elite with the glove. If they could only make more contact then we could pencil them in everyday. Marisnick obviously never figured out the contact part of things and his career fizzled out. Yet, at his best he was a very good part-time player that could make spot starts or serve as a late inning defensive replacement. There were numerous games in 2017 where he pushed George Springer to right field in the late innings to give the Astros the best defensive alignment.
Since the late 2010s were a better offensive period than now, the advantage that Marisnick has on Matthews is not nearly as significant. I should note that Matthews struck out 25 times in 64 plate appearances in March and April, 25 in 91 plate appearances in May, and has seven as a I write this in 27 plate appearances. In other words, the strikeout percentage has improved overall with each passing month.
The decision to play Matthews or not play Matthews is not an easy one. Depending on where you put him, he could be as many as one win better defensively than the player he would be replacing. He could also be one win worse offensively depending on the position. The Matthews conundrum is one every competitive team faces as some point. He will get better offensively with more opportunities. How much better? Is it good enough to justify the growing pains? Make no mistake, the Astros would likely lose more games with Matthews in the lineup than with him out. However, that gap is narrowing as he improves. Depending on whether you are talking about center field, left field, or second base that gap might go the other way when he reaches his ceiling. What does that ceiling look like and how long will it take him to get there? These are things we don’t know the answer to. What if he is just as good as Marisnick was. Would that be good enough for you?
It is important to put your best foot forward when constructing a lineup. The lead-off hitter has been one of the most interesting batting-order roles in baseball history, as the use of the spot has been tinkered with throughout the game’s history.
For the longest time, it was simply the spot where the fast person on the team would reside to get on base by any means necessary and steal second base. Over time, especially in the last decade, that spot in the lineup has evolved to produce more and more power threats to jump-start an offense and ensure that one of a team’s best hitters is getting as many plate appearances as possible in a game.
Whatever archetype a team pursues relies heavily on a single unifying factor: The hitter has to be able to produce.
The Colorado Rockies had the luxury of having one of the greatest lead-off hitters in baseball history for the better part of a decade in Charlie Blackmon. While he didn’t exactly burn rubber with his legs in the latter part of his career, Blackmon exemplified an excellent hitter to get on base by any means necessary while also tapping into power that made him dangerous at the top of the order. However, since his retirement after the 2024 season, the Rockies spent all of 2025 trying to find a hitter who sticks at the top of the order, and that has continued into 2026.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into what’s going on with the lead-off spot this season and who may have the chops to stick there for the near future.
Entering Tuesday, the Rockies are a mixed bag out of the lead-off spot in the lineup. They rank seventh in batting average (.271), but rank 16th in on-base percentage (.331), seventh in slugging percentage (.397) and 23rd with 91 wRC+. As for some of the other prudent stats, the Rockies have a 22.8% strikeout rate (10th) and a 7.6% walk rate (26th).
It’s evident that the Rockies are, as an offense, aggressive when it comes to swings and tend to make much more contact. A highly ranked average makes sense with that philosophy, but it has shown its drawbacks. Lead-off hitters end up with a higher strikeout rate that reflects what the team is going after due to the lack of on-base skills. Colorado lead-off batters have drawn just 26 walks, while the Washington Nationals lead the league with 59.
They are not necessarily the worst things in the world, as making contact generally is the best way to yield results. The Rockies have a .342 BABIP out of the top spot in the lineup, which ranks third in all of baseball, just behind the Nationals (.365) and the Milwaukee Brewers (.345), while being just ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers (.332). There is a good amount of luck at play with BABIP, but the top of the order is finding success swinging the bat and collecting hits.
The main concern has been that when the lead-off hitter reaches, not much happens afterward, as the team ranks 18th in runs scored (40). However, the players batting first are being productive as they have driven in the ninth-most runs in baseball with 37 RBI. So, while they have been generating some traffic for the big hitters behind them, they have done well to cash in on the opportunities afforded by the bottom of the order ahead of them. Even if they have just six home runs, the doubles and handful of triples have made the most of things.
Now, we can turn our attention to the players actually stepping up to the plate in the lead-off spot. In 2026, there have been 14 players to hit in the one spot of the lineup. However, only seven have made a start there, and for today’s purposes, we will briefly touch on the three hitters with the most appearances.
As the Rockies cycled through a few different options in the first spot of the batting order, Edouard Julien got the nod on April 6 and delivered a 2-for-5 day. He continued to find success through April and looked like the unconventional answer to the lead-off spot. However, Julien endured a horrendous May where he went 5-for-69 at the plate. He was dropped to the bottom third of the order on May 18 and, since then, has hit in the lead-off spot just twice as June has been a better month for him.
Overall, Julien has slashed .252/.341/.342 in the top spot of the order with two home runs, 12 RBI, and three stolen bases. He has also struck out 32 times against 15 walks.
Julien’s hit tool and ability to draw walks are what make him a viable lead-off option, but slumps like the one he had in May make him a little more unpredictable and harder to trust in that spot. The majority of his other time spent in the lineup has come in the nine-hole, where he can act as a pseudo lead-off hitter, which is still valuable in its own way.
What better tool for a traditional lead-off hitter than speed? Jake McCarthy has speed to spare at the plate, and the Rockies hoped that McCarthy could thrive at the top of the order when given the opportunity. His first five appearances of the year all came as the lead-off hitter, where he went 2-for-18. Starting with his start on April 3, McCarthy saw his role relegated to the bottom part of the order where, like Julien, he could act as a type of lead-off hitter in the nine-hole to set the table for the Mickey Moniaks and Hunter Goodmans of the world.
As McCarthy continued to play hot through April and through May, he made a start as the lead-off hitter on May 20 and went 2-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored, and a stolen base. He continued to fill the spot until he became ill during the Chicago Cubs series at Coors Field. Since returning, he has moved more into the middle third of the order.
He is batting .238/.279/.400 in the lead-off spot with five doubles, a triple, two home runs, nine RBI, and six stolen bases. He has struck out 18 times against four walks. His contact tools and speed are a great asset that will garner more looks in the lead-off spot as needed, but his numbers suggest that hitting in the bottom third of the order has brought about a lot of success and may be more beneficial to the lineup.
That brings us to the Swiss Army knife of the Rockies lineup, Willi Castro. Bouncing around on defense and in the lineup, Castro has proven to be a useful tool for manager Warren Schaeffer. Castro has mostly been used in the heart of the lineup this season, rotating through the 3-to-6 spots in the lineup. He has been consistent in most spots, but the Rockies have experimented with using Castro in the first and second spots on occasion since May 13. Since that day, Castro has been hitting quite well as he fills in different spots, but the lead-off position has become more prevalent over the last two weeks in June, where he has started 5-of-8 games as the lead-off hitter.
On the year, Castro is slashing .378/.440/.556 with two doubles, two home runs, and eight RBI. He has also shown off a keen eye with eight strikeouts against five walks. Castro’s ability to make quality contact while also being a switch-hitter is a significant advantage for a lead-off hitter. They are also skills that have translated well to batting in the second spot. What’s been fascinating is that, unlike Julien and McCarthy, Castro has done well as the first hitter of the game for the Rockies, where he is 5-for-11 with just one strikeout.
Castro has proven to be one of the quietly consistent hitters for the Rockies over the first two months and has heated up quite a bit more in June. His calm contact approach that can dip into power has made him an intriguing lead-off choice for the near future.
Schaeffer has shown that he is willing to experiment with shaking up the lineup and trying hitters in different spots. For now, Castro will see his fair share of at-bats from the top spot, but that can always change if he cools off. For what it’s worth, Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) could easily be a candidate to get some action at the top of the order at some point. After all, he slashed .285/.336/.455 with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes as the lead-off man.
Lineup construction is a fickle thing and a constantly changing puzzle. But the right guy in the top spot of the order can make a difference in how the offense plays out.
Who would you like to see stick in the lead-off spot? Or what other players would you like to see get a crack at it? Keep things rolling in the comments below!
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 8, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 3
The Albuquerque Isotopes thumped their way to a victory once again as they took down Sugar Land 8-3. Charlie Condon had another two-hit game, including a triple and his 10th home run of the season, a two-run shot. Jose Cordova, who replaced Zac Veen early in the game, went 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Mike Antico had a two-run double in the game while Nic Kent had a pair of hits. Domingo Acevedo tossed 3.2 innings in his start, allowing three runs in the first inning. The bullpen then locked it down the rest of the way, giving up just three hits.
Double-A:Hartford Yard Goats 6, Reading Fightin’ Phils 5
Thanks to a four-run fourth inning and a crucial insurance run in the seventh inning, the Hartford Yard Goats secured a 6-5 victory. Roc Riggio had himself a good night at the plate for Hartford, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a triple. He also drove in a pair of runs, including the game-winning run in the seventh. Aidan Longwell also contributed his 10th home run of the season with a three-run blast in the fourth inning as part of a two-hit day. Konner Eaton made the start on the mound and went just 1.2 innings, giving up three runs on two hits while allowing four walks. Stu Flesland III ended up tossing 4.1 innings of bulk relief, allowing just one run on four hits. Carlos Torres delivered two scoreless innings, followed by Andrew Baker, who secured the save despite allowing a run in the bottom of the ninth.
High-A:Spokane Indians 15, Vancouver Canadians 11
It was a high-scoring affair in Spokane as the Indians scored in all but two innings and survived a rough top of the eighth en route to victory. Spokane had 15 hits with the 1-through-6 batters each collecting at least two. The team slugged four home runs with Jack O’Dowd contributing his sixth of the year, Roynier Hernandez hitting two homers while driving in six, and Alan Espinal adding a two-run homer in the eighth. Max Belyeu also had a pair of doubles and scored four runs. Bryson Hammer had a solid start, going five innings and allowing two runs, but it was Bryan Perez that had the rough night on the mound. Pitching in the eighth, he allowed eight runs on six hits, including two home runs, while recording just two outs. Francis Rivera replaced him to finish the inning followed by a clean ninth to secure the save.
Low-A:Fresno Grizzlies 4, Inland Empire 66ers 3
The Fresno Grizzlies delivered a walk-off victory thanks to Ashly Andujar as they won 4-3. Despite 12 hits, the Grizzlies went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position but the Grizzlies made it count. Tanner Thach led the offense with three hits while Andujar, Kyle Fossum and Carlos Renzullo each had two hits. Jesus Freitez drove in a pair of runs with a solo home run in the fifth inning and an RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game 3-3 before coming around to score the winning run. Austin Newton had a good night on the mound, allowing two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts over seven innings. Dylan Crooks pitched the last two innings and have up the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth, but the offense bailed him out. An interesting thing of note was that neither team issued a walk.
Rockies’ Hunter Goodman Needs More Recognition After First All-Star Ballot Results | Rockies on SI
Be sure to vote for Hunter Goodman for the All-Star ballot because he is very much deserving to start for the NL this season!
Affected by Altitude Episode 214: The Kids are All Right | Rocky Mountain Rooftop
This week, Evan Lang and I talk about the recent rookie call-ups, look through the injury report, and talk Kyle Freeland’s legacy in Colorado.
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The Kansas City Royals lost their 15th series this season, in a 6-4 loss against the Washington Nationals. The NL East club triumphed when it mattered most against Kansas City’s best reliever for much of 2026.
Kansas City Royals left-hander Daniel Lynch IV has been a breakout star this season. Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Washington Nationals, Lynch owned a 1.80 ERA in 30 relief appearances. He limited opponents to a .167 batting average and had issued one hit in his last five outings. In the seventh inning on Tuesday night against the Washington Nationals, Lynch got the call out of the bullpen. With the game tied 3-3, Lynch was tasked with recording a scoreless inning. However, he didn’t get the job done. The Nationals scored three go-ahead runs and regained the lead behind their offense. Lynch didn’t have his best command. He walked two batters before Nationals infielder Curtis Mead belted a three-run homer. Mead hit an 88 mph slider left over the plate for his 11th home run of the year.
Royals Opening Day starter Cole Ragans is getting a second opinion after a setback in his rehab.
After missed a few more days, Ragans had recovered well enough that he was able to return to the mound in a limited capacity. He threw a 23-pitch bullpen session on June 10. The next morning, however, he awoke with discomfort in the arm. He couldn’t make it through playing catch on the field. Now, the Royals want to understand more about the pitcher’s case of VEO. “Ragans met with Dr. (Vincent) Key yesterday,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Tuesday. “He’s still having symptoms, so he’ll continue to be shut down. And we’re going to have him see another doctor in the next couple of days.
Seth Lugo is expected to come off the concussion list this Friday.
The Royals’ promotion of Kendry Chourio is not just a good thing for the organization, but challenges one of the game’s hottest pitching prospects.
“The better pitchers have always let you know when they’re ready to move and ready for the major leagues,” Royals senior director of pitching performance Paul Gibson said. It became clear that Chourio was ready for a new challenge. In his last three starts, Chourio allowed four runs in 16 ⅓ innings. He won each outing and held opponents to a .193 batting average. Chourio will face developed hitters with High-A Quad Cities. The Royals rave about his elite command that features a plus-fastball and two distinct off-speed pitches. “His changeup and his curveball were both good pitches with higher ceiling,” Gibson said. “So like any young pitcher that has the velocity that Chourio has, running through lineups with that fastball-heavy attack is going to be a natural thing.”
Craig Brown talked about Monday’s 7-3 loss in his latest, but sums up the 2026 Royals experience.
I don’t know…You want to point a finger somewhere but damned if I know where to aim. Spence did a credible job getting through the first four innings. The fifth was just a bridge—or and inning—too far. Maybe Matt Quatraro should’ve been quicker with the hook, but…waves hands at the bullpen what would you expect from that move? Quatraro said postgame that they hoped Spence could give the team five. Reasonable. And smart. When you’re talking about needing the Royals bullpen in 2026, four innings of work sounds a helluva lot better than five. More innings, more problems. There was the shoddy defense in left where Collins deflected a bases-loaded single from Luis García Jr. in that fateful fifth. Had he played it cleanly maybe a solitary run scores instead of two. Collins has left me largely unimpressed this season, but tough to get worked up over a gift run when some guy up a few batters later clears the bases.
You want to get ticked off, but it’s kind of tough to give a damn. That’s kind of the whole vibe around this bunch in 2026. It’s tough to give a damn. The thing is, I don’t think I can say anything worse about a baseball team. They’re just wholly uninteresting, uninspiring and uncompetitive.
Royals Keep looks at the team’s struggles against left-handed pitching, dating back to the start of last season.
At first glance, the Royals appear competitive in both batting average and strikeout rate. Yet once again, the same pattern emerges: a lack of impact. Their slugging percentage sits well below the league average, while their home-run rate ranks as the fourth-lowest in baseball during the period examined.
Production with runners in scoring position has not been distributed evenly either. Witt, Garcia, and a handful of timely contributions from Loftin have generated positive results, but much of the rest of the lineup has struggled to convert opportunities into meaningful damage.
That is why Kansas City’s struggles against left-handed pitching cannot be explained by a single statistic or one underperforming player. The organization has two hitters who have consistently demonstrated the ability to thrive in these matchups. It has also received occasional contributions from other members of the roster. What it has not found is a sufficiently broad offensive foundation capable of supporting those strengths.
The Royals rank second to last in The Athletic’s latest power rankings, with a focus on the team’s lone consensus positive.
With 3.0 fWAR in 72 games, Witt found himself ranked No. 9 on FanGraphs’ WAR charts, behind the likes of Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh and Shohei Ohtani.
Today?
First place at 3.9 fWAR in 71 games.
With Judge on the IL, it’s a two-man race to MVP between Witt and Houston’s Yordan Alvarez. If Witt has his way, he’ll be Kansas City’s second player ever to win the year-end award.
For now, he’s pacing toward a third-straight All-Star appearance for a Royals team that has not had much go right for it over the past two seasons.
The Rafael Devers trade has been an unmitigated lose-lose for the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox.
As the stadium completion looms, the A’s still have a foundation to lay in Las Vegas.
Tom Glavine sees parallels between the coming labor fight and the 1994 strike.
Chris Bzozowski looks at some independent ball players, including the Kansas City Monarchs standing tall in the pitching side of the house.
Under the Knife’s Will Carroll looks at another rash of hamate injuries around the league.
Lance Brozdowski ranks his top 50 pitching prospects.
Dave Helling looks at Kansas City’s love and investment in sports at all levels.
Sam Miller breaks down the old reliable of a modern baseball broadcast, the Statcast 3D Powered By Google Cloud pitcher scouting report.
Buster Olney looks at the 12 MLB executives under the most pressure at the trade deadline.
Lionel Messi notched his first World Cup hat trick as Argentina faced Algeria in Arrowhead Stadium.
A deeper look at the overlooked NFL supplemental draft.
NHL viewership reached record heights in 2026 playoffs.
Former YouTube creators are leading the box office charge in 2026.
After turning “Obsession” into one of the most profitable movies ever, director Curry Barker ponders what it means.
Lawrence stands out for welcoming Algeria as their World Cup home team.
The rotting smell of the titan arum drew hundreds of on-sniffers to Winfield, Kansas.
Today’s song of the day is Coal by Dylan Gossett.
Happy Wednesday, everyone! Plenty to get into in our midweek news roundup. We’ve got the return of future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander, who has been out over two months and will finally be back with the Tigers this coming weekend. We have reactions to the first round of All-Star voting, as well as a look at whether or not baseball has a nepotism problem.
All that and much more below, do we’ll just jump right into it.
And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.
Good morning, San Francisco Giants fans. Yesterday’s game against the Atlanta Braves was postponed in between the top and the bottom of the second inning, and will kick off again today at 11:00 a.m. PT, as Game 1 of a doubleheader. San Francisco leads Atlanta 3-2. The original game will proceed as scheduled, at 4:15 p.m. PT … assuming the weather allows it.
Since the first game is on the early side, it’s a combo BP/Game 1 gamethread for you all. For better and for worse.
Assuming that the teams use their scheduled Wednesday starters in the first game — which would make sense given that the added 27th player is only available for the second game — then it should be a matchup between Robbie Ray and JR Ritchie. Ray, a lefty, has made 14 starts, and is 4-6 with a 4.42 ERA, a 5.25 FIP, and 66 strikeouts to 36 walks in 73.1 innings. Ritchie, a 22-year old rookie right-hander, is 1-1 in six games (five starts), with a 3.82 ERA, a 5.15 FIP, and 26 strikeouts to 18 walks in 30.2 innings.
Enjoy the game, everyone.
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Who: San Francisco Giants (29-43) vs. Atlanta Braves (46-25)
Where: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
When: 11:10 a.m. PT
Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area
National broadcast: n/a
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM