Slugger Adolis García sits again as Rangers look for him to make 'mechanical changes' at the plate

ARLINGTON, Texas — Slumping Rangers slugger Adolis García was held out of Texas’ lineup for the third consecutive day Sunday, with president of baseball operations Chris Young saying the club wants the 2023 ALCS MVP to make some mechanical changes.

“We need him to kind of commit to some of these changes that we think will get him back to the ’23 version of himself and help him be the player that we know he can be,” Young said before Texas’ series finale against St. Louis.

García is hitting .155 in the last 20 games with 25 strikeouts. He is hitting .207 overall, with seven homers and a team-high 27 RBIs on a team that has struggled offensively. He ranked 14th in the majors with 122 home runs over the past four seasons.

García, who has started 55 of Texas’ 60 games in right field this season, missed only one other game before this weekend, with manager Bruce Bochy saying Friday that García was being given a mental break.

“It’s about the mental reset and coming back with more energy,” García told reporters Saturday. “I’m working on some stuff without the pressure of having to do something up there.”

García, 32, is in the final year of a two-year contract.

The anticipated return of Evan Carter to the active roster on Tuesday, joining Wyatt Langford, Alejandro Osuna and Sam Haggerty, further crowds the field of Rangers outfield regulars as García tries to return to the lineup.

“It’s going to be performance-driven at this point,” Young said.

Texas also made three roster moves before Sunday’s game. Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (triceps fatigue) was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to last Thursday, catcher Tucker Barnhart was designated for assignment and right-hander Codi Heuer was selected from Triple-A Round Rock.

Shane Bieber's second rehab start on Thursday brings hope for Guardians' rotation

CLEVELAND — Shane Bieber will make his second rehab start on Thursday with the possibility of the 2020 American League Cy Young winner rejoining the Cleveland Guardians rotation by late June or early July.

The right-hander — who had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last April — is scheduled to start for the Double-A Akron RubberDucks after throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings in an Arizona Complex League game on Saturday. Bieber, who turned 30 on Saturday, faced nine batters, allowed one hit and struck out five.

Chris Antonetti, Cleveland’s president of baseball operations, was pleased that Bieber was averaging 93 mph on his fastball.

“It was really fun to watch Shane just get back out in a competitive setting,” Antonetti said before the Guardians faced the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. “He’s worked on adding some complementary pitches or changing the way some of his pitch profiles look. So his changeup in particular had maybe more depth than it’s had in the past.”

After spending most of his time at the team’s spring training complex in Goodyear, Arizona, Bieber is likely to remain in Northeast Ohio for the remainder of his rebab. The Guardians top affiliates are in Columbus, Akron and Eastlake, Ohio, which are all less than a two-hour drive from Progressive Field.

The plan is for Bieber to throw up to 50 pitches again on Thursday before ramping things up.

With the two-time All-Star likely to pitch every five days, it is possible his return to the rotation could occur between June 25 through 29, when the Guardians have a homestand against the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals.

“We have a pretty good plan in place, but the one thing we want to make sure, especially with Tommy John, is that we’re really deliberate in helping him get back to a point where once he returns, he’s able to pitch for the balance of the season without issues,” Antonetti said.

Bieber’s return — whenever it is — should provide a lift for a rotation that has struggled the first two-plus months of the season. Guardians’ starters went into Sunday’s game with the fourth-highest ERA in the American League (4.25).

Tanner Bibee is 4-5 with a 3.86 ERA while Ben Lively will have Tommy John surgery later this week.

Bieber agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract last fall with a $16 million player option for 2026.

Cleveland (31-26) enters Sunday six games behind Detroit in the AL Central, but has one of the three wild-card spots.

“I think we’re right in the mix. I think what we’re seeking to do is be a little bit more consistent in all areas of the game, whether that’s starting pitching, our bullpen, defense, offense, all of those areas,” Antonetti said.

“I think we’ve seen periods of what we’re capable of doing, but we feel like we still have our best baseball yet in front of us and that’s part of something that goes along with being a young team.”

Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto all homer as Mets complete sweep of Rockies

The Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field, winning Sunday afternoon's affair by a score of 5-3.

Here are the key takeaways...

-Have a series, Francisco Lindor. The Mets shortstop homered for the third time of the three-game series in the bottom of the fifth inning, a solo shot to left that put the Mets up 4-3 after the Rockies had just fought back to tie the game.

Lindor ended up with six hits and three RBI in the series, and the Mets have now won each of the last 26 games in which Lindor has homered.

-Don't look now, but Juan Soto is starting to find his power stroke. After homering on Saturday, Soto went yard again, this time lifting a solo shot to give the Mets a late insurance run. Soto now has 10 home runs on the season, with his OPS now at .792.

-Clay Holmes has been terrific for the Mets over the first two months of the season, and he was mostly excellent again on Sunday afternoon. Holmes was plagued by a pair of long balls, as Orlando Arcia hit a solo shot in the third inning (just out of the reach of a leaping Tyrone Taylor) and Tyler Freeman hit a two-run homer in the top of the fifth, but he was otherwise excellent.

Holmes pitched 7.0 innings for the first time in his career, allowing just three earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and no walks. Holmes has now allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his 12 starts.

-On the other side, Colorado starter Carson Palmquist was dealing early, striking out six Mets over his first 3.0 scoreless innings of work. But the Mets got to him in the fourth, putting two runners on before Pete Alonso provided the power, launching his 12th home run of the season to right field to give the Mets a 3-1 lead.

Palmquist went 4.2 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits, striking out eight while walking two and allowing a pair of homers.

-Edwin Diaz snapped a streak of hitters going 0-for-their-last-30 against him, but the closer struck out three hitters in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save.

-A day after exiting the game with a calf cramp,Brandon Nimmo was not in Sunday’s starting lineup, with manager Carlos Mendoza saying the club wants to be overly cautious due to the trickiness of the calf.

-Starling Marte made his third appearance of the season in left field, scoring a run on Alonso's homer, and Nimmo would eventually come into the game as a defensive replacement, a sign that all is good with the outfielder.

Who was the game MVP?

While the stars (Alonso, Lindor, and Soto) provided the pop, Holmes gets the nod for his first-career 7.0-inning performance.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets have a four-game 2024 NLCS rematch with the Los Angeles Dodgers up next, beginning on Monday night at 10:10 p.m. on SNY.

Paul Blackburn, who has been rehabbing from a knee injury, will make his first start of the season, while the Dodgers haven’t announced a starter.

Yankees recall RHP Carlos Carrasco with bullpen in need of fresh arm

Carlos Carrasco is back in the big leagues.

According to Jack Curry of the YES Network, the Yankees are promoting the veteran right-hander, who will join the team in Los Angeles ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Dodgers.

With the Yankees using six relievers in Saturday’s 18-2 blowout loss to the Dodgers, Carrasco gives them a fresh arm who can deliver multiple innings, if needed, behind Sunday’s starter Ryan Yarbrough.

Signed to a minor league deal in February, Carrasco ended up having a role in the starting rotation due to key injuries to starters like Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil.

In eight games (six starts), Carrasco pitched to a 5.91 ERA with a 1.531 WHIP. Carrasco was designated for assignment in early May, but elected to accept an outright assignment to Triple-A, rather than become a free agent.

A corresponding move has not yet been announced.

Mets vs. Rockies: How to watch on SNY on June 1, 2025

The Mets go for a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, with first pitch on SNY set for 1:40 p.m. from Citi Field.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...


Mets Notes

  • Brett Batyis slashing .318/.400/.455 with five RBI and five runs scored over his last seven games
  • Edwin Diazhas allowed just one earned run since his appearance on April 11 -- a span of 17.2 innings over 17 games
  • Clay Holmes, in his fist season as a full-time starter, has a 2.98 ERA and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 11 starts

ROCKIES
METS
Jordan Beck, LFFrancisco Lindor, SS
Sam Hilliard, CFStarling Marte, LF
Ezequiel Tovar, SSJuan Soto, RF
Ryan McMahon, 3BPete Alonso, 1B
Brenton Doyle, DHBrett Baty, 3B
Keston Hiura, 1BLuis Torrens, C
Orlando Arcia, 2BMark Vientos, DH
Tyler Freeman, RFTyrone Taylor, CF
Jacob Stallings, CLuisangel Acuña, 2B

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here

What we learned as Birdsong, Matos fuel Giants' win vs. Marlins

What we learned as Birdsong, Matos fuel Giants' win vs. Marlins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The first game of June would have fit right in with just about every game in May.

The Giants failed to score more than four runs for a 14th consecutive game, their longest streak since 1976, but the pitching was once again good enough to clinch a victory. Luis Matos hit a three-run blast and Hayden Birdsong and the bullpen did the rest as the Giants won 4-2, escaping Miami with a series win over the last-place Marlins. 

San Francisco went 4-5 on a trip that wasn’t all that difficult on paper, beating the Marlins and Washington Nationals but getting swept by the Detroit Tigers. They’ll fly home for a homestand that will require a lot more from the struggling lineup. The San Diego Padres are coming to Oracle Park for four, followed by a weekend series with the Atlanta Braves, who just got Ronald Acuña Jr. back.

The Giants scored just 18 runs on the nine-game trip, but they allowed only 18. Things got a bit hairy in the late innings Sunday, but Tyler Rogers got out of one jam and Camilo Doval picked up his second four-out save in three days. 

Let Duane Cook

It seemed like there was a bit more juice behind Duane Kuiper’s home run call in the fourth, and it would be hard to blame him. The Giants had hit just three homers on the three-city road trip before Matos went deep.

The homer was Matos’ fourth of the year and first since May 5. He had been hitless over 18 at-bats in his previous seven appearances, and Sunday was a good time to break out of the slump for multiple reasons. The Giants expect to get Jerar Encarnacion back when they return home, and they’ll have to make a roster move. They could move on from struggling first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr., but given how right-handed their bench is, it would make more sense to option a young player who isn’t getting much time. 

The homer was just Matos’ fourth hit this season against left-handed pitching, but three of them have been homers. 

Saved By The Submarine

For the second time in three days, Bob Melvin had to turn to Rogers to get another pitcher out of a jam rather than take on a clean eighth inning. 

Jordan Hicks got the call with a three-run lead in the seventh, but he walked the bases loaded. Rogers entered with one out and immediately got a grounder, but it was hit so high off the artificial surface that there was no play at first and a run scored. After a strikeout of Jesus Sanchez, Rogers got Otto Lopez to ground out and keep it a 4-2 game. 

The appearance was the 28th of the year for Rogers, and he has been charged with a run in just three of them. He has a 1.71 ERA, and with two strong months to open the year, he has lowered his career ERA to 2.85 over seven seasons. 

Keeping Up

All of a sudden, there’s a bit of a competition in the rotation. Kyle Harrison will get at least one more turn in the rotation as Justin Verlander’s pec heals, and he threw so well on Friday that there’s some pressure for the other young starters to keep up. Given that Harrison was the incumbent coming into camp, it wouldn’t be crazy for him to keep a rotation spot whenever Verlander returns if he keeps pitching like this. 

There are no easy moves, though. Landen Roupp had a dominant month, and while Birdsong’s first two starts didn’t fully live up to his expectations, he was sharp Sunday. The right-hander struck out five, walked none and allowed just one earned in 5 1/3. He has a 2.37 ERA overall this season. 

Roupp’s spot seems secure, although he sneakily already has surpassed his total for innings pitched in the big leagues last year. He’s about 20 away from his total across levels last year, and at some point the Giants will have to deal with that. For now, they’re dealing with a good problem. Their three young starters are all pitching so well that there’s no reason to rush Verlander back until he truly feels 100 percent. 

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Miguel Vargas is heating up, Cole Young makes his debut

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, where I review my favorite waiver wire adds and drops for each week of the MLB season.

The premise is pretty straightforward. I’ll try to give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When I list a player, I’ll list the category where I think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. I hope it will help you determine if the player is a fit for what your team needs.

For a player to qualify for this list, he needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. I understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and I can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

Waiver Wire Hitters

Jordan Beck - OF, COL: 35% rostered
(HOME PARK BONUS, PROSPECT GROWTH)

The Rockies are coming back to Coors Field for the three games next week and are on the road in Miami for their other three, so now may be the time to add Beck back if he was dropped this week. He's a young hitter with some power and speed who has a 15.3% barrel rate on the season. His exit velocities aren't great, but he's pulling and lifting the ball more this year, which is going to help him get to his power. He still has just a 70% contact rate and 14.4% swinging strike rate, so the batting average will likely regress, but the power is intriguing, and you can slot him into your lineup every time the Rockies are at home. Another outfielder to add for recent production and a strong schedule is Jesus Sanchez - OF, MIA (3% rostered). He gets five right-handed pitchers this week, including two starts against the Rockies' staff, so that puts Sanchez firmly on the radar. The got a late start to the season due to injury, but is hitting .275/.366/.425 in May with three home runs, 12 runs scored, 11 RBI, and four steals in 22 games. He still hits the ball on the ground far too much for my liking, but he has taken a more passive approach this season, cutting his chase rate and swing rate by a good deal, which makes me think this solid average with modest speed/power profile could be real.

Max Muncy - 3B, LAD: 34% rostered
(HOT STREAK, RBI UPSIDE)

At the beginning of May, Muncy started wearing glasses during games to help with an astigmatism in his right eye. He didn’t know if it would help him at all, but he said he was willing to try anything if it might help his game. Well, since May 5th, Muncy is hitting .250/.370/.422 with five home runs, 24 RBI, two steals and a 12/13 K/BB ratio in 21 games. We’ve seen Muncy has good stretches before and even the batting average during this hot streak isn’t great, but he’s putting the ball in play and driving in runs. That kind of power and RBI production is useful in any format. If you're looking for a third baseman in deeper formats, Jose Tena - 2B/3B, WAS (0% rostered) has been posting a solid batting average of late, hitting .286/.368/.429 over his last 15 games with nine runs scored, four RBI and one steal. He is among the leaders on Statcast’s Rolling wOBA Leaderboard and has a 7/7 K/BB ratio over that stretch which highlights his strong swing decisions. As you can tell from the numbers above, he’s not bringing you tons of value, but in really deep formats, a player who is playing regularly and making good swing decisions and getting on base can be valuable.

Chase Meidroth - 2B/3B/SS, CWS: 32% rostered
(EVERY DAY JOB, MODEST STEALS UPSIDE)

In 23 games in May, Meidroth is hitting .290/.365/.366 with 13 runs scored, seven steals, and a 12/11 K/BB ratio, so he’s another hitter I’m highlighting on here who is making good swing decisions and succeeding due to a strong understanding of the strike zone. He had never stolen more than 13 bases in a season at the minor league level, so that number is a bit shocking to me, but he can run a bit and is a smart baseball player on a bad team that has no problem taking chances on the bases. Meidroth is also hitting leadoff and playing every day, so he could accumulate runs and steals while hitting for a solid batting average. That works in a lot of leagues. If you were interested in a more volatile option for speed, you could turn to Connor Norby - 2B/3B, MIA (12% rostered). The Marlins infielder has been working with hitting coaches on some swing modifications and that has led to a .282/.322/.435 slash line in 22 games in May with two home runs, 13 RBI, and two steals. He stole 16 bases last season between the minors and MLB, so he’s not a burner, but he will swipe some bags. The issue is that, even in this strong stretch, he has a 27% strikeout rate, so the swing and miss will likely always be in his game and lead to some cold streaks.

Alec Burleson - 1B/OF, STL: 29% rostered
(PLAYING TIME REGAINED, POWER UPSIDE)

After losing playing time early in the season to Jordan Walker, Burleson got back to a point where he was starting essentially every day against right-handed pitching. Then Walker started working himself back into playing time and the Cardinals have started to play Ivan Herrera at DH. On Saturday, the Cardinals put Walker on the IL, so we should see Burleson back into a full-time role. He has done his part too. In 18 games in May, Burleson is hitting .328/.371/.608 with four home runs, 10 RBI, and one steal. The Cardinals have been a solid offense so far this season, and Burleson can be a big component of that. He won't play versus lefties, which makes him a better fit in daily moves leagues, but he can be solid in NFBC-type formats when you can change your lineup mid-week as well. We just have to keep an eye on the playing time and ensure it remains. Gavin Sheets - 1B/OF, SD (20% rostered) had been in a similar boat, but he has started playing against some lefties recently as well. Sheets is hitting .285/.331/.510 on the season with nine home runs, so he has been productive for the Padres this year. He's hitting in the middle of a lineup that features a lot of strong bats, which means he has a good chance for RBI upside. His multi-position eligibility also makes him a bit more valuable, and he's an add I like in daily moves leagues.

Roman Anthony - OF, BOS: 29% rostered
(TOP PROSPECT, POTENTIAL CALL-UP)

The screams for the Red Sox to promote Roman Anthony are only getting louder as the big league team struggles to find any offense without both Alex Bergman and Triston Casas. The issue is that the Red Sox still don’t have space in the outfield for Anthony, and Rafael Devers has not yet agreed to take reps at 1B. It’s coming to a point where Boston may have no choice but to move Gold Glove CF Ceddanne Rafaela back to the infield just to get Anthony’s bat up. You simply can’t be in a big market like Boston and have your big league team playing this poorly while the top prospect in ball of baseball is hitting .309/.441.514 with eight home runs, 40 runs scored, and 23 RBI in 50 games at Triple-A. Anthony has never posted a swinging strike rate above 9% at any step in the minors other than 50 games at High-A in 2023, so he should be a solid batting average asset upon being called up with good power potential and the ability to swipe 5-10 bases. Once he’s up, Boston is HIGHLY unlikely to send him back down. Another big money stash option would be Jac Caglianone - 1B, KC (13% rostered), who the team promoted to Triple-A recently. He's gone 12-for-37 at the level with five home runs and 10 RBI in nine games. The Royals have also been playing him in the outfield to expedite his path to the big leagues, and with the team waiving Hunter Renfroe, we may see Caglianone get a shot in the coming weeks. Keep in mind that he has played only 43 games above High-A and had a nearly 13% swinging strike rate in Double-A, so this may be a similar situation to Nick Kurtz as well, where we see good power but some stretches where the swing-and-miss takes over as he adjusts to MLB pitching.

Ryan O'Hearn - 1B/OF, BAL: 22% rostered
(CONSISTENT PLAYING TIME, POWER UPSIDE)

Ryan O’Hearn is a boring veteran who has also been criticized because he was “blocking” the path of many of the Orioles’ top prospects for the last couple of years. However, at this point, Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby are gone, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser play every day when healthy, Heston Kjerstad has not hit at the MLB level, and the team clearly doesn’t trust Coby Mayo as a defender, so maybe we should just embrace O’Hearn for the value that he does bring. Much like Burleson, O’Hearn isn’t going to play against lefties, but unlike Burleson, we know for certain O’Hearn will be in there against right-handed pitching. He hits clean-up for the Orioles and is having one of his best seasons by trading a little but of contact for a slightly more pull-happy approach. He’s more of a line drive hitter, so the home run production will come and go, but the quality of contact has been really good, and this lineup should improve when Cowser and Westburg return soon.

Marcelo Mayer - SS, BOS: 21% rostered
(RECENT CALL-UP, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

With Alex Bregman suffering a "significant" quad strain, the path for Mayer to finally reach Boston became clear, and he was called up last Saturday for his MLB debut. Since then, he has started every game at third base and gone 5-for-19 with two extra base hits and on run scored. In Triple-A, Mayer hit .271/.347/.471 in 43 games at with nine home runs and 43 RBI. Just like what we discussed above with Jac Caglianone, there will be struggles for Mayer to adjust to MLB pitching, and his power is not going to immediately carry over. That being said, unlike power-first guys like Caglianone and Nick Kurtz, Mayer is an MLB-ready hitter from a plate discipline and contact perspective, and is going to be a strong fantasy add in deeper formats. In shallower leagues, he may not be as valuable this year since the power and speed numbers won’t be that great.

Miguel Vargas - 1B/3B/OF, CWS: 17% rostered
(POST HYPE PROSPECT, EMERGING POWER)

I'm not sure what more Vargas has to do to be rostered in more leagues. Three weeks ago, he appeared in my article on hitters to add based on their plate discipline and contact rates. Vargas is chasing at a super low rate, making 85% contact overall and rarely swinging and missing. He's pulling the ball slightly less this season and has focused less on lifting the ball, which is a good change. He doesn't smoke the ball, but a 90 mph average exit velocity is pretty good, and he's playing every day in Chicago. The production he's put up over the last month matches the process, with him hitting .275/.343/.604 in 24 games in May with seven home runs, 17 runs scored, and 15 RBI. The team context is not good, but the playing time and production have been solid. Another multi-position option, but one primarily for speed, is Jose Caballero - 2B/3B/SS/OF, TB (15% rostered), who has 11 steals in 21 games in May. He may lose his starting spot in two-ish weeks when Ha-Seong Kim returns, but the Rays have shown confidence in playing him basically anywhere on the field, which could help him keep making four starts a week and helping with your stolen base totals.

Brett Baty - 3B, NYM: 17% rostered
(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, HOT STREAK)

With Mark Vientos continuing to look lost at third base, there's a real chance for Baty to emerge as the regular third baseman for the Mets with Vientos shifting to DH. In 20 games in May, Baty is hitting .290/.333/.581 with five home runs and 16 RBI. He's also pulling the ball 45% of the time as he starts to get a little more aggressive in the batter's box. That's huge for him because a lot of his early-season struggles were connected to being too passive and getting himself into terrible counts. In deeper formats, we are going to see Shay Whitcomb- 3B, HOU (1% rostered) get a chance in Houston this year now that Chas McCormick is on the IL. Whitcomb has been tearing up AAA to the tune of 18 home runs and a .275/.357/.599 slash line. He has can play multiple positions on the infield as well as shift into the outfield, and with Zach Dezenzo also hurting his hand on Saturday, there could be a chance for Whitcomb to push for playing time here.

Cam Smith - 3B/OF, HOU: 17% rostered
(POWER UPSIDE, PROSPECT GROWTH IS NOT LINEAR)

Cam Smith is continuing to hit, going 23-for-75 over the last month, which is a .307 average. Unfortunately, the increased batting average is coming with a huge dip in fly ball rate, so he has no home runs and just seven RBI over that stretch. Smith is a young player who jumped straight to the big leagues from High-A ball, so he’s adjusting to MLB pitching and starting to have some success. I'm willing to bet on him continuing to adjust and finding the power stroke again.

Matt Wallner - OF, MIN: 12% rostered
(POWER UPSIDE, RETURN FROM THE IL)

The Twins lineup got fully healthy this weekend with the return flor Byron Buxton and Wallner, who has been out six weeks with a hamstring strain. Wallner was crushing the ball in Triple-A and should immediately return to his everyday role against right-handed pitching. What that means for Kody Clemens - 1B/2B/3B, MIN (3% rostered) is anybody’s guess. Clemens has been on fire of late and can move all over the field, so there’s still reason to be adding him because he can starts 4-5 times a week in a super utility role. However, I’d keep my bids light until we know for sure what his role is.

Parker Meadows - OF, DET: 12% rostered
(POWER/SPEED UPSIDE, POTENTIAL RETURN FROM THE IL)

It sounds like we might get Meadows back in the Tigers’ lineup this week. The young center fielder was one of my favorite targets in the preseason before a nerve issue in his arm sidelined him. He’s been hitting well and playing full games in the field at Triple-A, and I expect him to come back into a near full-time role for the AL’s best team. If you wanted to wait in shallow leagues to see what his role really is, that’s fine, but I would add him now in deeper formats.

Jake Meyers - OF, HOU: 10% rostered
(SPEED UPSIDE, STARTING JOB)

A few weeks ago,I published an article on hitters who were being more aggressive and swinging at the first pitch more often this year than last year. Myers popped up for me on that leaderboard, and I explained in detail why I’m a fan of his new approach, so you should read that article to check out the analysis; however, I think he’s a solid add for steals and something close to a .270 batting average. Another outfield speed option is Sal Frelick - OF, MIL (19% rostered) who has been a bit underrated in fantasy circles this season despite hitting .297 with 11 stolen bases. He’s gone 18-for-48 over the last two weeks with three steals while driving in nine runs for a Brewers offense that is slowly waking up a little bit. He’s primarily a batting average and stolen base asset, but he does help a little bit everywhere and is a really solid, deep league player and a fine fifth OF in shallow formats.

Carlos Santana - 1B, CLE: 8% rostered
(BATTING AVERAGE, RBI UPSIDE)

Every year, Carlos Santana has strong stretches where his batting average spikes and he drives in a bunch of runs in the middle of a batting order. We are in one of those stretches right now. Over the last month, he has gone 23-for-75 (.307) with four home runs and 21 RBIs. The batting average will likely regress in the coming weeks, and this isn’t a pick up necessarily to hold for the remainder of the season, outside of deeper formats, but Santana is a solid veteran hitter, who can be helpful for you when he’s riding hot streaks like this. It also seems like Eric Wagaman - 1B/3B/OF, MIA (3% rostered) is heating up again. He’s hitting .286 over his last two weeks, going 14-for-49 with one home run but just five RBI since the lineup around him is not great. That limits him to just deep leagues.

Addison Barger - 3B/OF, TOR: 7% rostered
(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

I was a fan of Addison Barger in the spring when he was all over the spring training leaderboards, and then I read about how the Blue Jays tried to change his swing upon his arrival in the big leagues and how it didn't work. He has now gone back to a more "free" swing that he says stops him from overthinking in the box and just lets him be loose. We obviously love to hear that, and I think Barger has a profile that the Blue Jays need. So many of their hitters are contact-first bats (Bichette, Clement, Springer, Kirk). I think Barger is a nice fit as more of a pull-heavy hitter who tries to do damage when he swings. That may lead to a .250 type of hitter, but I believe in his batted ball quality and think he could push to be the Blue Jays' third baseman for the season. Barger’s teammate, Ernie Clement - 2B/SS/3B - TOR (4% rostered) has only been seeing the ball well lately, going 28-for-94 (.298) over the last month with three home runs, 14 runs scored, and 12 RBI. The impending return of Andres Gimenez could make plane time a bit complicated, but Anthony Santander heading to the IL means that Barger could move to DH and allow both Clement and Gimenez to play the field every day again. Clement proved himself to be a solid batting average asset last season and his multi-position eligibility makes him valuable in deeper performance.

Carlos Narvaez - C, BOS: 7% rostered
(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, TBATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

It seems as though Narvaez has emerged as the starting catcher and one of the better rookies in the AL. He was known primarily for his plus defense when he was acquired from the Yankees in a trade this off-season, but he's hitting .285/.349/.457 in 166 plate appearances with five home runs and 17 RBI. He provides top-tier defense behind the plate and is going to start about two-thirds of the games for the Red Sox while hitting near the middle of the order. He should be rostered in all two-catcher leagues. Henry Davis - C, PIT (0% rostered) has also become the starting catcher for the Pirates with Joey Bart on the concussion IL. Davis has gone 7-for-24 (.292) over that span with one home run and four RBI. It’s not elite production, but he has some prospect pedigree, is showing minor improvements, and Bart has had a few concussions before, so it's unclear how long he may be out for.

Cole Young - 2B/SS, SEA: 6% rostered
(RECENT CALL-UP, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

On Saturday, the Mariners called up their 3rd-ranked prospect, Cole Young, who’s the 43rd-ranked prospect in baseball, according to MLB Pipeline. He’s a high contact rate hitter who doesn’t have tons of power but could push 15+ steals in an everyday role. He’s seen a slight uptick in his power this season, but he’s probably a 10+ HR bat right now who has a good feel for the zone and gets a slight boost in OBP leagues. The Orioles also called up Coby Mayo - 3B, BAL (6% rostered) with Ryan Mountcastle headed to the IL with a hamstring injury. Even though Jordan Westburg is returning, Mayo should be set as the near every day 1B/DH for a few weeks while Mountcastle is down. This could finally be the chance for him to get regular run in a big league lineup. The only potential concern is if Colton Cowser and Tyler O’Neill both come back and the Orioles decide to push Heston Kjerstad to DH versus righties

Robert Hassell III - OF, WAS: 6% rostered
(PROSPECT CALL UP, SPEED UPSIDE)

The Nationals called up Hassell last week after having to place both Jacob Young and Dylan Crews on the IL. So far, the former top prospect, who is one of the players who came over in the Juan Soto trade years ago, has gone 10-for-37 (.270) with one home run, six RBI, and one steals. He was hitting .288 with four home runs, nine steals, and a .742 OPS in Triple-A this season and had made clear gains in his exit velocity and shown a little bit more pop than in years past. I don't expect him to hit for much power at the big league level, but he could be useful in deeper formats. Fantasy managers in deep leagues could also add Andrew Benintendi - OF, CWS (3% rostered). We know he’s not going to set the world on fire, but he’s going to play every day and had shown some solid power earlier in the season before getting hurt. It’s boring but functional in deeper formats.

Thairo Estrada- 2B, COL: 6% rostered
(OFF THE IL, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

He’s back. Estrada was a big late-round favorite of mine early in the season now that he’s in Colorado. I think he hurt his fantasy value by playing through injury last year, but he’s a .270 15/15 type of talent who will not be playing in Coors Field. A fractured wrist could impact some of that power, but Estrada hit a solid 7-for-23 during his rehab assignment and could be a solid source of batting average and speed while being the likely every day starter at second base for the Rockies.

Dane Myers - OF, MIA: 5% rostered
(OFF THE IL, SPEED UPSIDE)

The Marlins brought Dane Myers off the IL this week. He had hit .337/.375/.482 with seven steals in 29 games and should play everyday, so if you’re in a deeper league and need some speed, he’s a solid gamble. Injuries to Anthony Santander and Daulton Varsho may have also opened up playing time chances for Alan Roden - OF, TOR (1% rostered), who started the year up in Toronto before heading back to Triple-A and lighting up the box scores with a .375/.467/.625 slash line, three home runs, and three steals in 16 games. In shallower formats, I’d want to wait to see what Toronto is doing a bit more, but in deeper leagues, I’d gamble and add Roden this weekend.

Ha-Seong Kim - SS, TB: 4% rostered)
(IL STASH, SPEED UPSIDE)

If you have space for a bench stash, Kim is another possible option if you need speed. He's currently in Triple-A on a rehab assignment, so it feels like maybe two more weeks until we see Kim back up, but he should play every day for the Rays, who may also then ship him away at the trade deadline. Even if that happens, Kim would have value wherever he winds up, so now may be the time to stash him. Another middle infield option primarily for speed is Otto Lopez - 2B/SS, MIA (8% rostered), who stole 20 bases for Miami last season. He has hit just .237 since coming off the IL and has just five steals on the season, but I think his true talent is as a 20-25 steal middle infielder, and so that has value if you’re OK with the counting stats being pretty modest.

Waiver Wire Pitchers

Ryan Weathers - SP, MIA: 38% rostered
I’m surprised that Weathers still makes the cut for this list. He has come back off the IL and faced the Cubs twice and Padres once and allowed just three runs in 15/2 innings while striking out 15. His spring training velocity has held, and his command has been tremendous early on. I like him as an upside play and think he needs to be rostered in all formats.

Daniel Palencia - RP, CHC: 37% rostered
Palencia has seen his roster rate shoot up almost 30% after securing five of his last five save opportunities. The right-hander has limited experience and some previous control concerns, but he throws hard and has a 1.74 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 20.2 innings this season. At this point, it’s hard to see him losing the closer role to either Ryan Presley or Porter Hodge when he returns. However, I do expect the Cubs to go out and trade for a veteran reliever at some point. That still gives Palencia a few weeks as the unquestioned closer on one of the best teams in baseball.

Eury Perez - SP, MIA: 36% rostered
Eury Perez looks set to make his season debut this week after throwing five shutout innings in his final Triple-A start on Wednesday. During his rehab starts, he has showed off a new sinker that should help him as a second fastball variation and a pitch to attack righties with inside. He’s a young arm with the upside to be a 30% strikeout rate pitcher with a low 3.00 ERA; however, we have to remember that he missed all of last season after Tommy John surgery, so his command figures to be inconsistent this year, and the Marlins are going to be cautious with his innings. His potential for wins is also capped on Miami, so while I like adding Perez, I just want you to do it with some caution.

Bubba Chandler - SP, PIT: 32% rostered
Is Tuesday the day? Mike Burrows’ spot in the rotation comes up on Tuesday at home, and there are some rumblings that Bubba Chandler could make that start. We have no idea if it’s true, but it seems like it’s only a matter of time before Chandler is up in the Pirates rotation. He has dominated the level this year, and has nothing left to prove. I know waiting is hard, but if you have the bench space for a stash, I think Chandler is the one.

Shelby Miller - RP, ARI: 24% rostered
Justin Martinez is back and throwing 100 mph, but I think it's premature to assume that he will simply be given the closer's role. There's a good chance they use Miller to help lessen some of Martinez's workload after coming back, by using him in the eighth inning or mixing in Miller for some save opportunities as well. If somebody in your league has dropped Miller, I'd put in a small bid just until we see how this situation plays out.

Edward Cabrera - SP, MIA: 22% rostered
Cabrera has long tantalized with his upside and disappointed with his command, but he is making some pitch mix changes that caught my attention. I dug into him for my starting pitcher news column this week, so I'd encourage you to check that out for a more detailed breakdown.

Zebby Matthews - SP, MIN: 19% rostered
We waited for months to get Zebby in the Twins rotation, and then he pitched seven combined innings in his first two starts. Well, the Twins let him go seven innings in just his last start alone, and while the overall stat line isn’t great, Matthew’s struck out seven and pitched deep into the game. He also really only got dinged up in the first inning when both Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena got him for home runs. He settled down after that, and if I’m getting Zebby with the ability to go six or more innings then I’m in.

Landen Roupp - SP, SF: 17% rostered
Last week, everybody was talking about Hayden Birdsong and Kyle Harrison moving into the rotation, but Roupp just keeps chugging along. He threw four great innings against the Tigers on Wednesday, but the fifth inning was a mess of errors and some hits, and he was chased from the game early. Still, over his last 26 innings, he has just a 1.73 ERA, 11.19 WHIP and 21 strikeouts. With the exception of his last start, he’s been going five innings or deeper pretty consistently, and I think he’s a pretty safe option.

Richard Fitts - SP, BOS: 8% rostered
Fitts was added back to the rotation last week instead of continuing his rehab assignment, and while he was limited to just three innings, we should expect him to build back up in the coming weeks. With Tanner Houck on the IL, I expect Fitts to officially take Hunter Dobbins' place in the rotation for the foreseeable future. Before straining his pec in April, he showed off improved velocity and a much deeper pitch mix that features a new fastball variation and sweeper. I’m a believer in Fitts.

Slade Cecconi - SP, CLE: 3% rostered
Cecconi was not great on Saturday against the Angels, but he was also pitching on nine days rest due to a groin injury, and I often think added rest like that can backfire on a starter. I covered Cecconi's increased velocity and new pitch mix in my starting pitcher column for last week, so I'd encourage you to check that out for my thoughts.

Sawyer Gipson-Long, SP: 1% rostered
Is in a similar situation to Fitts. He’s likely to come up this week to take Jackson Jobe’s spot in the rotation, but could likely still use some more rehab stints. I like Gipson-Long as an arm, so I wanted to highlight him here, but I’d be trying to just watch him this week rather then add him since he missed all of last season after elbow surgery.

STREAMING STARTER PITCHERS

MUST BE 40% ROSTERED ON YAHOO OR UNDER (ranked in loose order)

Week of 6/2

Strong Preference

PitcherRoster%Opponent
Max Meyer37%vs COL, at TB
Eury Perez36%at TB
Zebby Matthews20%at ATH
Gavin Williams40%vs HOU
Jameson Taillon30%at DET
Ryan Weathers26%at TB
Lucas Giolito16%vs LAA
Edward Cabrera4%at TB

Fairly Confident

Jose Soriano23%at BOS
Dean Kremer6%at ATH
Hayden Birdsong35%vs ATL
Jack Lester33%at TB
Cade Horton26%at WAS, at DET
Ryan Yarbrough2%vs BOS
Lance McCullers15%at PIT, at CLE
Slade Cecconi3%vs HOU
Luis Severino32%vs MIN, vs BAL
Shane Smith26%vs DET, vs KC

Some Hesitation

Ben Brown26%at DET
Cade Povich2%at SEA
Colton Gordon1%at CLE
Landen Roupp17%vs SD
Brayan Bello19%vs LAA
Andre Pallante7%vs KC
Emerson Hancock5%vs BAL
Grant Holmes36%vs ARI
Adrian Houser5%vs KC
Ryan Gusto4%at PIT
Patrick Corbin12%at TB

If I'm Desperate

Richard Fitts8%vs LAA, at NYY
Sawyer Gipson-Long1%at CWS, vs CHC
Chris Paddack16%Vs TOR
Tomoyuki Sugano35%at SEA, at ATH
Jacob Lopez1%vs MIN, vs BAL
Tanner Gordon0%at MIA
Kyle Freeland2%at MIA
Davis Martin4%vs DET
Jonathan Cannon4%vs DET, vs KC
Aaron Civale2%at CIN
Steven Kolek14%at SF, at MIL
Tyler Anderson18%at BOS, vs SEA
Randy Vasquez13%at MIL
Kyle Harrison11%vs SD

ICYMI in Mets Land: Kodai Senga wraps up dominant May, bats stay hot

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Saturday, in case you missed it...


Phillies notes: Abel set to return to rotation, Walker's new role in bullpen

Phillies notes: Abel set to return to rotation, Walker's new role in bullpen originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

When you come out of your MLB debut with six scoreless innings, nine strikeouts and the first win of your career … chances are, you’ll be back.

Just two weeks later and Mick Abel is set to return to the Phillies’ starting rotation during their upcoming road trip. Rob Thomson noted Sunday that Abel will start Thursday in Toronto to close out the series against the Blue Jays.

Abel had two starts in Lehigh Valley during the interim and didn’t miss a beat, allowing one earned run in 10.2 innings with 16 strikeouts.

“A lot of times, you don’t see that,” Thomson said. “You see kind of an adrenaline dump when you go back down and things kind of go hairy. But he was really good and consistent.”

This stint could also develop into more than just another solo start.

“It all depends on (Aaron) Nola — and how well Mick does,” Thomson said. “But we’re going to assume Mick’s going to do well.”

So where does that leave Taijuan Walker?

He’s heading back to the bullpen — and it’s clear that the flip-flopping from rotation to relief has reached the end of its course.

Walker heads to the bullpen with a different role than last time and Thomson wants to see what Walker is capable of when length is swapped for a leverage spot.

“I think he has a chance to make us a lot better out of the ‘pen,” Thomson said.

It’s going to be an adjustment in Walker’s routine before he’s available in consecutive games. He’ll be available either Tuesday or Wednesday in Toronto.

Here’s what the rotation will look like against the Blue Jays:

Tue., Zack Wheeler vs. Bowden Francis
Wed., Cristopher Sanchez vs. Jose Berrios
Thu., Abel vs. Chris Bassitt

Additionally, the Phillies on Sunday recalled right-handed pitcher Seth Johnson from Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 26-man roster, Jose Ruiz was designated for assignment. Johnson has a 4.91 ERA through 33 innings with 42 strikeouts.

Blue Jays' Springer tagged out by A's on blooper-worthy play

Blue Jays' Springer tagged out by A's on blooper-worthy play originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer had a bit too much spring in his step on Sunday against the Athletics.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning at Rogers Centre, Springer attempted to go from first to third on Alejandro Kirk’s RBI double — and, at first, it seemed like he did. A’s third baseman Max Schuemann approached Springer from behind and tagged him as he hopped up and down on the bag.

Springer originally was called safe, but the A’s challenge resulted in the play being overturned and Springer making the third out of the inning with Toronto trailing by a run.

The Blue Jays ended up taking the lead anyway after Springer’s blunder when Addison Barger gave Toronto a 5-4 advantage with a three-run homer in the eighth.

It’s unclear, however, if Springer was hopping up and down after tweaking his ankle on the play, or if he just felt bouncy during a pivotal Blue Jays rally. For what it’s worth, Springer remained in the game — and Schuemann smiled on his way back to the A’s dugout after what certainly was a heads-up play.

The bizarre sequence of events is why no two trips to the ballpark are the same, and Springer likely gave many in Toronto and watching at home a sight they’ve never seen before.

Going bananas: Why Savannah Bananas tickets cost more than a Dodgers-Yankees rematch

The Savannah Bananas' Dakota Albritton walks on stilts through the crowd outside Angel Stadium on Friday.
The Savannah Bananas' Dakota Albritton greets fans outside Angel Stadium on Friday while standing on stilts. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

In a region where baseball is king, the long-awaited rematch of last year’s World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees is unfolding. Ohtani. Judge. Two of the game’s best, facing off once more.

But just down the 5 Freeway in Anaheim, the home of Disney, the hottest ticket in baseball this weekend belongs to a stilted pitcher, juggling infielders and a yellow-suited, top hat-wearing carnival barker.

For back-to-back nights, more than 45,000 fans packed the Big A to see the Savannah Bananas — a team born from a small-time collegiate summer team that became a tour de force that has forever changed baseball. It was one stop during the Bananas’ most audacious barnstorming effort since their baseball traveling show hit the road just a few years ago.

The Savannah Bananas celebrate amid confetti after beating the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday.
The Savannah Bananas celebrate amid confetti after beating the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

These tickets were only available through a lottery — reserved months in advance. And when they went on sale, all were gone in an instant. The only way in was through the resale market, where just hours before first pitch on Friday, the lowest price (fees and taxes included) for a pair of tickets on StubHub was $209.52.

Meanwhile, two lowest price StuHub tickets for the Dodgers versus Yankees game were available for $171.72.

All for the sake of “Banana Ball.”

This baseball game is a ballyhoo. One rooted in the thrills, energy and pageantry of early 20th-century carnivals, but with a 21st-century twist — the atmosphere of a TikTok reel brought to life. It’s the showmanship of Ringling Brothers Circus combined with the athletic flair of the Harlem Globetrotters.

Read more:Meet the Savannah Bananas, who've captivated fans and MLB. 'We exist to make baseball fun'

But above all, it’s a brand built on Walt Disney’s blueprint— not just to entertain, but to make the audience feel.

“When you look at all the touch points — the joy, the fun, the dancing, the celebrating — and think about all the different stages, just like Walt, we think about all the stages: from the parking lot to the plaza, to the upper deck, to the dugouts,” said Bananas owner Jesse Cole, the man in the top hat. “How do we make someone feel something?”

Instead of lounging in a cushy, air-conditioned owner’s suite, Cole is in the dugout hours before showtime — a Disney-like archetype, his energy as vibrant as his layered, all-yellow suit, braving the afternoon heat.

The Savannah Bananas' founder and owner Jesse Cole lead the crowd in a cheer.
Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole leads the crowd in a cheer as his team takes on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

“Nonstop,” Cole said, describing Banana Ball in a nutshell. Refusing to sit, not wanting to lose an ounce of edge, he added, “It’s all about energy. We want to give people energy, delivering it every second, from the moment we open the gates at two o’clock until the last fan leaves at 11.”

While gates opened at 2 p.m., fans began arriving as early as 11 a.m. — clamoring for a shot at Banana-themed merchandise, many leaving the team tents with bags in both hands. In the parking lot, two young boys passed the time playing catch, gloves in hand.

As the afternoon wore on and the temperature climbed to 91 degrees, crowds trudged through the heat, some seeking refuge beneath the oversized Angels helmets at the stadium entrance, all for a chance to meet their favorite Banana Ballers. At the pregame plaza party, fans collected autographs, posed for photos and presented handmade gifts to players.

Savannah Bananas mascot Split marches through the crowd before the team's game against the Firefighters at Angel Stadium
Savannah Bananas mascot Split marches through the crowd before the team's game against the Firefighters at Angel Stadium Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

When the gates opened, the LaCaze family pointed out their 9-year-old daughter’s favorite player, David “DR” Meadows. Decked out in her signed Meadows jersey, Carrigan LaCaze ran into his arms, with glove and oversized baseball clutched tightly and began speaking with him as if they were old friends.

“I ran to DR, and we started hugging and just started talking for a while because I missed him,” Carrigan LaCaze said. “Tomorrow is actually one year on the dot since I met him.”

A Christmas road trip planned around the holidays, the family of four traveled across three states from their home in Alexandria, La., to Anaheim for two reasons: to visit Disneyland and see the Bananas. It was their second game — the family first saw the Bananas in the club’s hometown of Savannah, Ga., when Carrigan, who is battling cystic fibrosis, was granted a Make-A-Wish experience so meaningful it was a no-brainer to relive it.

“It’s great,” her father, Pierre LaCaze, said of the player interactions. “We've gotten to keep track with some of them during the course of the year. We come back, we see them again. You know they’re truly about the fans.”

Rainer Easton tries to catch a yellow "Banana Ball" from the stands.
Rainer Easton, 11, tries to catch a yellow "Banana Ball" from the stands before the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

The Bananas don’t sell tickets. They sell connections, moments and memories.

For Cole, meetings are a constant brainstorming session on how to keep fans engaged and interacting. That’s how he measures success. He says when the focus shifts to transactions, the game begins to lose its meaning.

“Our success is not judged by revenue,” Cole said. “It’s not judged by sales. It’s judged by the moments we create.”

But the numbers don’t lie.

The last time the Bananas came to Southern California, they played in front of 5,000 fans at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga in 2023 — a far cry from now selling out 18 major league ballparks and three football stadiums with capacities over 70,000.

Fans fill the stands as the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters in front of a sold out crowd at Angel Stadium.
Fans fill the stands as the Savannah Bananas take on the Firefighters in front of a sold out crowd Friday at Angel Stadium. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

Attendance has soared year after year. Last season, the Bananas drew one million fans. This year, that number is expected to double, with more than three million people on the waitlist for their ticket lottery. Every game since February has sold out and every date in June and July is as well.

Michael and Melinda Schulteis, a husband and wife from Mission Viejo, were there the last time the Bananas came to town. When they heard the team was returning, they knew they couldn’t miss it.

“The intimate atmosphere at the last event was great,” Melinda Schulteis said. “But I’m curious, because they do such a good job putting on events, what touches are they going to add to still keep it close and intimate and give us another great experience?”

Read more:What is Banana Ball? Here are the Savannah Banana rules of the game

As the Bananas’ success and reach have grown, spilling out from cozy minor league parks into stadiums not built for intimacy, the games still feel like family gatherings. Whether serenading players with stadium anthems like Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” or the waving of phone lights to Coldplay’s “Yellow,” the crowd moves in sync, no matter the tune.

While they’re a privately owned team and don’t disclose revenue figures, they’ve confirmed generating millions. Much like their box office appeal, their social media reach extends into the millions as well.

The Savannah Bananas perform a kick line.
The Savannah Bananas perform a kick line before taking on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

Their antics — choreographed dances, lip-synced walk-ups, backflip outfield catches — have attracted nearly 10 million followers on TikTok, almost double the combined total of the Dodgers and Angels. That viral mastery, and the parasocial bonds it fosters, is part of what makes every game feel tight-knit.

With his glove by his side, hoping to catch a foul ball for an out — one of the many offbeat rules of Banana Ball — Michael Schulties was disappointed he missed his favorite player, RobertAnthony Cruz, whom he first discovered on social media through his baseball coaching channel, better known as “Coach RAC.”

Cruz, who drew the longest meet-and-greet line, is a former minor leaguer in the Nationals’ farm system and a local — born just an hour away in Fontana. The game was a homecoming for Cruz, who joined the Bananas in 2023.

With more than 70 family members and friends in attendance — and even more social media direct messages asking for tickets — playing in big league stadiums has become a dream come true, especially for a former minor leaguer whose baseball ambitions nearly died when he never got the call to the show.

The Savannah Bananas pitcher Correlle Prime throws a pitch.
Savannah Bananas pitcher Correlle Prime delivers at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

Behind all the gimmicks, wackiness and absurdity, the roster is still filled with ballplayers — many of them with unrealized MLB dreams — now finding a second life through Banana Ball. And for Cruz, it’s the happiest he’s ever been in the sport.

“I never would have imagined playing in this capacity,” Cruz said. “Banana Ball didn’t even exist when I was pursuing my dream of professional baseball. To be here, to see a sold-out crowd at a stadium that I went to growing up all the time, it's very special.”

As the team travels the nation, sold-out crowds and newfound stardom have become the norm for Cruz.

“I’m not surprised by anything anymore,” Cruz said. “If you told me that we're playing on the moon next year, I'd be like, 'All right, cool. Let me know when and where, and I'll be there' … I wouldn't be surprised if this thing continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.”

Read more:It's time for Banana Ball! The story of the Savannah Bananas

Despite their growing success, the Bananas’ brand of baseball remains polarizing — an easy target for detractors of zaniness, gatekeepers of fun and opponents of pizzazz who either don’t understand it or refuse to see its appeal.

“Anybody that criticizes this, we’re not for them,” Cole said. “There’s tradition in baseball, perfect. They’ve got Major League Baseball. … For people that want to come out and have fun, not take themselves too seriously and see something they've never seen before — and hopefully see the greatest show in sports — we built something for you.”

The formula works. And again, the numbers don’t lie.

The Savannah Bananas' Jackson Olson and teammates raise their arms celebrates a Troy Glaus base hit.
The Savannah Bananas' Jackson Olson celebrates a Troy Glaus base hit while the Bananas take on the Firefighters at Angel Stadium on Friday. Comedian Bert Kreischer celebrated behind the Bananas in the dugout. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

Yes, the Savannah Bananas’ brand of baseball is far too outlandish ever to be compared to the major leagues — from flaming baseballs, rump-shaking umps and dress rehearsals. That’s the point. It all feels like something conjured from the wildest dreams of the late Bill Veeck’s imagination found a home, in a good way.

With many of the Banana Ball’s 11 rules — like an automatic strike when hitters step out of the box or ejecting bunting hitters because bunting “sucks” — are grounded in some sports-based logic, the innovations remain sacrilegious to baseball purists.

But for a fleeting moment in December, Major League Baseball and Banana Ball were almost linked.

In Banana Ball, the Golden Batter rule allows teams, once per game, to send their best hitter to the plate regardless of where they fall in the batting order.

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred caused a stir when he floated a potential seismic rule by floating, making an offhand comment about the golden batter rule. Manfred later clarified it was merely “a very preliminary conversation” among members of the league’s competition committee and had not been formally discussed by the full ownership group.

A far-fetched idea, but Manfred has ushered in sweeping changes, from the widely praised pitch clock to the more contentious extra-inning “ghost runner.”

“Anything that's best for the fans, I'm all in,” Cole said of its potential. “I know Major League Baseball won't do it because of traditions, but ... we've had a lot of fun doing it.”

The Firefighters run on the field before taking on the Savannah Bananas.
The Firefighters run on the field before taking on the Savannah Bananas at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

But MLB would be behind the Bananas, who already introduced their version of the rule last season with a typical flair and showmanship. Their spin on it is a batter summoned from the dugout wearing a James Brown-esque cape and a gleaming golden helmet — an honor that went to Joe Lytle, who came to bat in the top of the ninth for the Bananas' Anaheim opponent, the Firefighters.

Ultimately, in a game where the score isn’t the end-all, be-all — but the fun is — the Bananas beat the Firefighters 5–2.

Like any other Bananas game, the festivities took center stage. It began with the “First Peel,” a signature ceremony in which a young fan bites into a banana to declare whether it’s good or bad — setting the tone for the night.

Read more:How do the Savannah Bananas draw sold-out crowds? Five fun facts about the team

Heisman Trophy winner and USC legend Matt Leinart threw out the ceremonial first spiral (because, of course, he did). And in true fashion, Angels World Series MVP Troy Glaus made a surprise cameo as a pinch hitter.

But what was more important was the trip to Anaheim, a fitting one for Cole and Co.

The team that opened its season lip-syncing “Be Our Guest” from the Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast” — and its owner, cut from the same theatrical cloth as Disney — were celebrated a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland.

Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole provides color commentary before a between innings baby race.
Savannah Bananas founder and owner Jesse Cole provides color commentary during the baby race between innings at Angel Stadium on Friday. (Luke Johnson / Los Angeles Times)

Greeted by fans in yellow gear, Cole’s creation — the Bananas — marched in step down Main Street U.S.A., alongside Walt’s own — Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck.

“When I walked underneath the castle and over the bridge and in front of thousands of people, they were all there for us,” Cole said. “Then I look and see Walt’s statue, holding the hand of Mickey, and I see that and I’m like, 'This is special.'”

It was a full-circle moment for Cole, who became “immersed in the magic” after his first trip to Disney World as a kid — and who now says, “In a perfect world, I’d play catch with Walt on Main Street.” Serendipity.

“For me, that was an emotional moment — to know that we have worked so hard to create something that means something to people, that they come from all over the country just for a chance to see us,” Cole added.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Hernández: How Japan media track down Ohtani's home-run balls

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, hits a solo home run as New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried, center, reacts and catcher Austin Wells watches during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani, left, watches the flight of his a solo home run in the first inning as Yankees pitcher Max Fried, center, reacts. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Shohei Ohtani was about halfway through his home-run trot when Taro Abe stood up from his second-row seat in the Vin Scully Press Box and tucked his green scorebook under his right arm.

“Let’s go,” Abe said in Japanese.

Abe, a writer for Japan’s Chunichi Sports newspaper, was followed into the concourse of Dodger Stadium’s suite level by four other reporters from his country. They were on a mission: Find the person who caught Ohtani’s home-run ball.

There was nothing special about this blast, which was Ohtani’s second on Friday in an eventual 8-5 victory over the New York Yankees. The homer was Ohtani’s 22nd of the season and reduced the Dodgers’ deficit at the time from three to two.

“We have to do this every time,” Abe said.

This practice started a couple of years ago, when Ohtani was still playing for the Angels. The appetite for Ohtani content was insatiable in Japan, but the two-way player started speaking to reporters only after games in which he pitched. Naoyuki Yanagihara of Sports Nippon and Masaya Kotani of Full Count figured out a solution for their problem: They started interviewing the fans who caught his home-run balls.

Read more:Hernández: 'I have no words for it.' Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani inspires awe and confidence

The feature was received well by their readers and gradually spread to other publications. Now, besides the homers that land in bullpens or any other place inaccessible to fans, a group of Japanese reporters will be there to interview the person who snagged the prized souvenir.

Neither Yanagihara nor Kotani was on this particular journey into the right-field pavilion, as Yanagihara was temporarily back in Japan and Kotani remained in the press box. Both of their publications were represented by other reporters. I was there too.

One of the reporters, Michi Murayama of Sports Hochi, looked at me curiously.

“You’re coming?” she asked.

Abe joked: “He’s coming to write how ridiculous the Japanese media is.”

As we walked down a carpeted hallway by the suites down the first-base line, Abe turned around and asked if anyone had seen who caught the ball.

No one had.

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, left, hits a solo home run off Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried, right.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hit a pair of home runs off Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Before departing from the press box, reporters usually study replays of the homer to find identifying features of the ballhawk. But in this case, the scramble for the ball was obscured by a short barrier that divided a television cameraman from the crowd.

Abe led the pack out of an exit near the Stadium Club. When we re-entered the ballpark at the loge level, we heard a familiar chant: “Fre-ddie! Fre-ddie!”

The reporters stopped to watch the game from behind the last row of seats. Freeman doubled in a run to reduce the Dodgers’ deficit to one, and pandemonium ensued. A young woman clutching a beer danced. Strangers exchanged high-fives. Others performed the Freddie Dance.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone removed Max Fried from the game, and called Jonathan Loáisiga from the bullpen. It was time for us to move on.

Seniority heavily influences professional and personal interactions in Japanese culture, which was why when we reached the top of the right-field pavilion, the two-most-junior reporters were told to find the ball-catching fan and return with him. Iori Kobayashi of Sports Nippon, 25, and Akihiro Ueno of Full Count, 27, accepted their fates without question.

However, the veteran Murayama noticed they weren’t making any progress, and soon she was in the middle of the pavilion with them. She came back soon after to tell us we were in the wrong place.

“We have to go down to the Home Run Seats,” she said, referring to seats directly behind the right-field wall that are in a separate section as the rest of the pavilion.

The ushers there were helpful, describing how the ball struck the portable plastic wall behind the cameraman, rolled under the barrier, and was taken by a boy in a gray jersey. Murayama found the boy and said he would speak to the group when the inning was over.

“They usually come after the inning because they want to watch the game too,” Abe said.

Read more:Shohei Ohtani homers twice and Dodgers pull off another comeback against Yankees

While we waited, Eriko Takehama of Sankei Sports approached Abe and showed him a picture of a fan holding up a piece of the plastic wall that was struck by Ohtani’s homer. The piece had broken off, and the fan told Takehama that he was taking it home.

“Do you want to talk to him?” Takehama asked Abe. “He said he caught a ball three years ago.”

Abe declined.

While watching Max Muncy taking first base on an intentional walk, Abe said, “Everyone has a story. You ask them where they live, where they work and there’s usually something interesting. We’re writing human-interest stories with Ohtani as a cover.”

This story would be about a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Monrovia named Fisher Luginvuhl. With his mother standing nearby, the Little League catcher gushed, “It’s like the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

The reporters circled the boy and photographed him holding up the ball. They exchanged numbers with Luginvuhl’s father so they could send him links to the stories they produced.

While the reporters worked together to locate Luginvuhl, they were also in competition with each other to post the story first. Murayama wrote hers on her phone as she walked. Ueno sent audio of the six-minute interview to the Full Count offices in Japan, where the recording was transcribed by an English-speaking reporter, who then used the quotes to write a story.

Walking to the right-field pavilion and back was exhausting. I mentioned this to Abe, and he reminded me, “This was my second time doing this today.”

Abe wrote 13 stories on Friday night, 10 of them about Ohtani, including two on fans who caught his homers.

Just as we returned to the press box, the next hitter was announced over the public-address system: “Shohei Ohtani!”

Abe laughed and braced for another long walk.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Dodgers remind baseball world how good they can be in blowout win over Yankees

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 31, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers third base Max Muncy.
Max Muncy, right, celebrates with Shohei Ohtani, center, and Freddie Freeman after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning of the Dodgers' 18-2 win over the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It was a statement, a reminder and a warning all wrapped into one.

The Dodgers might not have been playing their best baseball entering this weekend’s World Series rematch against the New York Yankees.

But in a ceaseless offensive onslaught in the opening two innings on Saturday, things seemed to suddenly, profoundly and perhaps permanently change.

The Dodgers didn’t just beat the Yankees in a nationally televised late-afternoon contest to clinch a weekend series win at Dodger Stadium. They executed a slaughter in broad daylight. Four runs scored in the first inning. Six more came around in the second. And by the end, their 18-2 victory did more than set up the chance for a sweep in Sunday’s series finale.

Read more:Hernández: 'I have no words for it.' Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani inspires awe and confidence

It sent a shot across the bow to the rest of the baseball world, signifying that for all of the Dodgers’ shortcomings of late, they might finally be clicking into top gear.

“We've sort of been playing middling baseball for a while now,” manager Dave Roberts said. “So maybe it took a club like the Yankees to get us to, you know, reset and step our game up. And we've done that for these last couple nights.”

Granted, the Dodgers hadn't exactly been struggling to hit. Entering Saturday, they were second in the majors in runs scored, second in OPS and first in batting average. They had been getting monster production from Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith. And, largely on the strength of their lineup, they were leading the National League West, still on a near 100-win pace in their pursuit of a second consecutive World Series title.

Still, over much of the last month, it had felt as if something was missing.

The team’s injury-ravaged pitching staff had put a strain on their recent play, leading to an 11-12 slide entering this weekend’s marquee Yankees matchup.

And their offense was picking up only so much of the slack, weighed down by early slumps from Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Michael Conforto, as well as inconsistent performances from other bottom-half hitters.

Michael Conforto, left, celebrates with Hyeseong Kim after scoring on an RBI double by Tommy Edman.
Michael Conforto, left, celebrates with Hyeseong Kim after scoring on an RBI double by Tommy Edman in the second inning Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

“The last couple weeks have certainly been a grind, with all the stuff we've been going through,” Roberts said. 

It led to a malaise epitomized by a lack of signature moments. Not since knocking off the Detroit Tigers at the start of the regular season had the Dodgers won a series against a legitimate title contender. They were just 10-9 overall against opponents with winning records.

Roberts downplayed that notion Friday.

“We know that we have a good ballclub, and I don't think that us not winning series against X amount of teams with winning records is an indictment on our ballclub,” he said. “I don't think we're thinking too much about that.”

Then again, with the Yankees coming to town as winners of 16 of their previous 20 games, this still felt like something of a litmus test — even if Betts was out with a fractured toe and the pitching staff remained far less than full strength.

Read more:Mookie Betts dealing with fractured toe, won't start against Yankees this weekend

“We try to win each and every game, of course,” Ohtani said in Japanese on Friday night, “but I think it’s a special atmosphere.”

Two games in, it has produced a couple of special results.

After coming from behind to steal Friday night’s opener, the Dodgers (36-22) wasted no time Saturday putting their foot firmly on the Yankees’ neck.

In the bottom of the first, Ohtani, Freeman, Smith and Muncy all singled within the first five at-bats against rookie Yankees starter Will Warren, scoring two runs. Conforto later added a sacrifice fly, before Tommy Edman hit a hard ground ball that got past third baseman (and former Dodgers farmhand) Jorbit Vivas for a run-scoring double, punctuating an inning in which the Dodgers batted around.

In the second, the Dodgers sent all nine batters to the plate again. After walks from Hernández and Freeman, Muncy hit a three-run homer to right, chasing Warren from the game with his 200th career long ball. Edman doubled home another run with two outs. Then Hyeseong Kim got the Dodgers to double digits, hitting his second home run of the season.

Max Muncy hits a three-run home run in the second inning for the Dodgers on Saturday.
Max Muncy hits a three-run home run in the second inning for the Dodgers on Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

By the time the Yankees (35-22) recorded their first hit on Austin Wells’ leadoff single in the third, it was already 10-0.

“You could say it was a statement,” Muncy said. “For us to do it without Mookie also, I think that’s huge for everyone trying to pick up the slack in the lineup. It’s just a really good day offensively all around. Even last night was a really good night offensively for us. So, just having several good games in a row, it’s big for the boys.”

As starting pitcher Landon Knack cruised through six strong innings with the big lead — he gave up his lone run on a fourth-inning solo blast from Aaron Judge, his first of two long balls on the day — the Dodgers kept adding on.

In the fifth, Freeman plated a run with his 525th career double, tying Willie Mays and Ted Williams for 46th most all-time.

Then, Muncy went deep again, continuing his recent surge by belting another three-run homer high off the right-field foul pole, tying a career-high with seven RBIs on the day.

Over his last 19 games, Muncy is now batting .300 with five home runs, 24 RBIs and a .991 OPS.

“Just trying to build on the positives,” he said. “The last several weeks I thought have been really good for me, and today was a very good game. Try to build on it, keep the momentum moving forward.”

Muncy isn’t the only Dodgers hitter heating up. Edman snapped a recent cold streak with three hits. Kim also had four hits, plus two stellar defensive plays: doubling off a runner at second base with a diving effort from shortstop in the third inning, then throwing out Judge at second with a perfect throw from deep center after shifting to the outfield. Andy Pages maintained his strong form with a solo home run in the seventh. Dalton Rushing hit his first career home run in the eighth.

“It's contagious,” Roberts said. “People talk about [how] hitting is contagious and winning, losing, all that stuff. And there's just guys that want to get up to bat. I'm sure they feel it. It's just that adrenaline, that emotion in the dugout.”

The Dodgers’ biggest stars, meanwhile, have continued to dominate.

Ohtani, coming off his second live batting practice as a pitcher before the game (he threw 29 pitches over two simulated innings), had two hits, moving his OPS to 1.062.

In the National League, only Freeman has a better mark in that category, finishing Saturday at 1.078 (to go along with his NL-leading .374 batting average) after his own two-hit showing.

Couple all that with the impending returns of pitchers such as Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen — all of whom could be back within the next month or two, and in some cases sooner — and the Dodgers are starting to look more like the juggernaut they were supposed to be all along.

“It's certainly sweet to win any game [by an 18-2 score],” Roberts said. “But to beat those guys, it's always good. It always feels good to beat the Yankees. You know, they're the class of the American League right now. And anytime you can beat those guys, you feel good.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Yankees pitching no-shows for second consecutive game in 18-2 loss to Dodgers

Despite Aaron Judge's two home runs, the Yankees' pitching staff just didn't have it, falling to the Dodgers, 18-2, on Saturday night in Los Angeles.

The Yankees had just seven hits on the day, with Judge providing three of them.

Here are the takeaways...

-It was a first inning to forget for Will Warren and the Yankees. The young right-hander had to throw 39 pitches in the first frame, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks. It was a death by a thousand paper cuts for Warren as the Dodgers hit single after single to keep pushing runs across. Warren struck out Shohei Ohtani with two outs and the bases loaded to get out of the inning and save his outing.

But Warren's start wouldn't last much longer. After two walks to lead off the second and a grounder, Max Muncy knocked Warren out of the game with a three-run shot to put the Dodgers up 7-0. It's Muncy's 200th career homer and the Dodgers' 13th unanswered run dating back to Friday's comeback win. Warren finished throwing 57 pitches (29 strikes) across 1.1 innings. He allowed seven runs on six hits, four walks, while striking out two. It's the most runs allowed by Warren this season, and the first time he's allowed more than three runs since April 28. The outing raised Warren's ERA from 4.09 to 5.19.

-The Yankees bullpen did not fare much better against the Dodgers. The combination of Brent Headrick, Ian Hamilton, Mark Leiter Jr., Yerry De los Santos, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver -- yes, the top relievers in the pen -- and position player Pablo Reyes were tasked with getting the final 20 outs. Headrick allowed three runs in his 0.2 innings while Leiter Jr. gave up four runs in his 0.2 innings of work. Weaver allowed a solo shot to Andy Pages in the seventh before Reyes allowed three in his inning of work.

-Tommy Edman doubled to drive in a run and then Hyeseong Kim homered to put the Dodgers up 10-0 after two. Muncy launched his second three-run shot of the day in the fifth to put LA up 14-1.

-On the offensive side, the Yankees didn't have much to hand their hats on. Judge blasted his 20th homer in the fourth, the second in as many games, to put the Yankees on the board. But other than that, the Yanks could not figure out Landon Knack who allowed just one run on five hits and three walks in six innings while striking out six. Judge would get a hold of another one in the eighth, his 21st longball of the year, this one going 425 feet.

Game MVP: Max Muncy

The utility infielder had himself a day, going 3-for-5 with his two homers and driving in seven runs.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Dodgers complete their three-game set on Sunday night. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.

Ryan Yarbrough (2-0, 3.06 ERA) will be on the mound as the Yanks take on Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-3, 1.97 ERA)

Brett Baty's bases-clearing triple 'sets the tone' for Mets, Kodai Senga in win over Rockies

Brett Baty is starting to become a dangerous hitter in the Mets' lineup, and Saturday was just another notch in the young infielder's belt this season.

With the bases loaded and one out in the first inning, Baty -- hitting in the No. 5 hole -- stepped up to the plate. Pete Alonso came up empty with the bases loaded by striking out, and the Rockies were one pitch away from getting out of the early jam. But this is a different Baty, a more confident hitter.

After swinging through a fastball for a foul and taking a curveball for a ball, he stayed back on another Antonio Senzatela curve and lofted it to left-center field. Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle ran toward the wall but the ball kept traveling, and it ultimately hit the top of the padding and away from him.

Baty had cleared the bases with a triple to put the Mets ahead 3-1, en route to an eventual 8-2 win against Colorado.

"I thought I hit it pretty hard, but it looked like [Doyle] had a beat on it," Baty said after the game. "I thought, at least I’ll get one run in. It ended up hitting the wall. It was huge."

Baty said he was looking heater but wanted to just hit any ball hard that was over the plate, and he did. The ball went 398 feet, just a couple of feet from a grand slam. But more impressively, it was hit 104.1 mph off the bat.

"I like the aggressiveness," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Baty's at-bat. "First pitch went out there and swung through a fastball and he kept attacking. Put a really good swing on it and went left-center. Starts with the aggressiveness in the strikezone and he continues to do that."

With the Mets' issues with runners in scoring position well-documented and the team trailing 1-0 before coming to the plate, Baty's bases-clearing triple came at the best time for everyone, especially starter Kodai Senga.

Once Senga got the lead, the right-hander dominated, retiring 17 straight Rockies and pitching into the seventh inning. Baty, the catalyst for the Mets' offense on Saturday, said he believes it helped Senga get into rhythm.

"Four runs in the first is always big and I think it gave Kodai the confidence to just go out there and pump strikes and let his stuff play," he said.

Mendoza went a step further and called Baty's hit a tone-setter.

"[Baty] came through right away with the bases loaded to set the tone with a bases-clearing triple there," Mendoza said. "Not only offensively but defensively. Made a couple of plays, the line drive right at him, but the slow roller was really good the way he charged it, got rid of it.

"Pretty good play by Pete with the good footwork, with the stretch and the pick. But Brett, the defense, the at-bats, the conviction. Confident player. He’s hitting fifth today, first inning gets an opportunity and comes through."

Baty's second triple of the season rewarded his manager for moving him up in the lineup. And although it was his only hit on Saturday, it was obviously a big one, and another example of the young hitter's maturation in the majors. His hit was his fifth RBI to put the Mets in the lead this season, tied for the fourth-most on the team. He recorded 16 RBI over 21 games in May.

In 16 starts since being recalled from Triple-A on May 5, Baty is slashing .304/.350/.625 with 10 runs, one double, one triple, five homers and a .975 OPS.