Mets call up top prospect Jonah Tong, designate Craig Kimbrel for assignment

Needing a healthy arm following the injury to Clay Holmes, the Mets are calling up top pitching prospect Jonah Tong, the team announced Friday.

In a corresponding move, New York is designating veteran relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel for assignment.

Manager Carlos Mendoza had hinted at Tong being called up on Wednesday after he was scratched from his Triple-A start, saying the 22-year-old was "in play" to pitch against the Miami Marlins over the weekend.

New York had also considered bringing Tong up earlier in the week against the Nationals, but opted for LHP Zach Thornton instead. Now, it's possible that Tong will come in after Tobias Myersopens on Friday since the reliever is only stretched out to 35-40 pitches.

Tong struggled in his brief major league stint at the end of the 2025 regular season, going 2-3 with a 7.71 ERA over five starts, but the team is still high on his future. 

The right-hander, who's Joe DeMayo's No. 4 overall prospect in the Mets' system, has had an up-and-down 2026 season with Triple-A Syracuse. He's struck out 55 batters over 38.0 innings, but also owns a 5.68 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. Tong's stats may be a bit alarming, but there is more to the numbers as he's been working on two new pitches.

Kimbrel, 37, has struggled over 14 appearances with the Mets. The veteran is 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA and recently tossed 2.2 innings against the Nationals, but let up an eighth-inning HR in the loss. In addition to the results on the field, the move shouldn't come as too much of a surprise with A.J. Minter nearing a return to the majors.

Tarps off: How the shirtless trend came to MLB, and what's next for the cheap seats

Summer's here, and the time is right for doffing in the seats.

A cavalcade of young, sweaty youths have overtaken Major League Baseball stadiums from coast to coast, extending a trend that has its roots in the bleachers of college football stadium.

"Tarps Off," as the kids call it, first gained traction in October 2025, when a harmless bet resulted in an Oklahoma State fan removing his shirt and twirling it amid a section of lifeless fans at a football game, according to crowd behavior anthropologists.

Soon, the act spread to Wisconsin and UCLA and North Carolina and Virginia Tech, young men channeling a sentiment originally expressed in Petey Pablo's first single from his 2001 debut album:

North Carolina, raise up. Take your shirt off, twist it 'round your handSpin it like a helicopter

Stephen F. Austin club baseball player Bryce Bradford, who helped extend the Tarps Off shirtless fan trend to Busch Stadium throws out a ceremonial first pitch before a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

How 'Tarps Off' came to MLB

Naturally, "Tarps Off" went into hibernation during the winter, yet emerged in the most unlikely of places: Denver's Coors Field.

Barely two months after Punxsutawney Phil allegedly cursed us with a few more weeks of winter, fans of the sad-sack Colorado Rockies brought the tradition to the big leagues on April 8, with a singular fan in Section 329 going guns out as the club aimed to complete a sweep of the Houston Astros.

Soon, a group of young men huddled around the iconic purple row that marks one mile above sea level at the ballpark. The crowd swelled. The Rockies won.

And "Tarps Off" was a thing.

'Tarps Off' goes mainstream

The trend soon accelerated thanks in part to the superstitious culture surrounding baseball. When members of the Stephen F. Austin club baseball team populated a section in the 200 level of Busch Stadium at a May 15 game and the Cardinals rallied for a 5-4, 11-inning walk-off win over the Kansas City Royals, manager Oliver Marmol couldn't help but notice.

And correlate the shirtless bros with a team W.

"Whoever started that in right field, I'll do whatever I need to do to make sure they come every game," Marmol said after the game, in something of a preamble to the Tarps Off Constitution. "Because that was awesome. Not only them, but everybody that showed up today. That was a fun environment."

Marmol didn't stop there, inviting the pectoral preeners into the Cardinals clubhouse and offering to buy tickets to any fan wanting to "sit in the right field loge and bring the energy."

'Tarps Off': What's next?

That created a wave of "Tarps Off" movements. In Anaheim, where "Sell the team!" and "Arte sucks!" chants became de rigueur as owner Arte Moreno pilots the franchise to its 11th consecutive losing season, the chant gained extra spice when paired with the shirtless crowd.

Now, it's been seen in virtually every ballpark, with various between-innings dance cams honing in on men of all ages pumping their fists and waving their shirts and ramping up their Vitamin D intake. It is sure to be a summertime staple, particularly as temperatures reach triple digits and a day at the ballpark becomes not unlike a good schvitz in the sauna.

At some point – and perhaps that point has arrived – it will be viewed as a little too tired, too contrived, too 2025. At the same time, in an era when sports leagues and franchises are shaking down municipalities for new stadiums that expand luxury areas while squeezing out the cheap seats and creating scarcity that drives up ticket prices, "Tarps Off" truly belongs to the people.

The lords of the loge. The vamps of the view section. Even if the practice, rooted in spontaneity, is now remarkably mainstream.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How ‘Tarps Off’ has gone from college football gag to MLB movement

Rockies vs Diamondbacks Prediction: Odds, recent stats, trends, and best bets for May 22

Corbin Carroll delivered the game-winning RBI in the ninth inning for Arizona to beat Colorado, 2-1, in Thursday's series opener. Friday's matchup is the second of a four game series.

The Diamondbacks have extended its winning streak to five consecutive games. In the last week (six games), Arizona is hitting an MLB-best .300 with the second-most hits (60). The Diamondbacks managed four this yesterday and eight walks to eight strikeouts as an offense.

Colorado is in a rough patch with three straight losses and four of the past five. The Rockies pitching staff has a 5.03 ERA (23rd) over the last week and has the second-highest amount of walks (29) in that span (six games). Colorado has been outscored 17-5 in the last three games and 33-22 in the previous six.

Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Diamondbacks

  • Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
  • Time: 9:40 PM EST
  • Site: Chase Field
  • City: Phoenix, AZ
  • Network/Streaming: MLB TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rockies at the Diamondbacks

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Arizona Diamondbacks (-218), Colorado Rockies (+178)
  • Spread: Rockies +1.5 (-117), Diamondbacks -1.5 (-103)
  • Total: 9.0

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Diamondbacks

  • Friday's pitching matchup (May 21): Micheal Soroka vs. Tomoyuki Sugano 
  • Rockies: Tomoyuki Sugano

2026 stats: 47.0 IP, 4-3, 5.59 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 25 Ks, 14 BB

  • Diamondbacks: Michael Soroka

2026 Stats: 49.0 IP, 6-2, 3.49 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 55 Ks, 14 BB

Who’s Hot? Who’s Not

  • The Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll is hitting .282 with 46 hits and 90 total bases over 163 at-bats
  • The Diamondbacks’ James McCann is hitting .203 with 12 hits and 17 strikeouts over 59 at-bats
  • The Rockies’ Troy Johnston is hitting .324 with 48 hits and 67 total bases over 148 at-bats
  • The Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar is hitting .206 with 34 hits and 48 strikeouts over 165 at-bats

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Diamondbacks

  • The Diamondbacks are 30-19 ATS this season, ranking third-best
  • The Rockies are 27-24 ATS this season
  • The Diamondbacks are 25-22-2 to the Over
  • The Rockies are 27-23-1 to the Under
  • The Diamondbacks are 15-8 ATS at home, ranking second-best
  • The Rockies are 14-12 ATS on the road and 9-17 on the ML

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Diamondbacks

Rotoworld Bet Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Rockies and the Diamondbacks:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Diamondbacks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Diamondbacks at -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.0

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)

St. Louis Cardinals Friday Night Game vs Reds Postponed Due to Weather

Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies wait to play as it rains on the at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Aug. 13, 2025. | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals weekend series versus the Cincinnati Reds will have to wait until Saturday as the team just announced that Friday night’s game has been postponed due to weather. Saturday will now see a double-header (weather permitting, of course) with the first game being at 12:10pm central time and the night game scheduled to start at 6:10pm central time. Both games viewable on Cardinals.tv.

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Three young, controllable pitchers the Washington Nationals could trade for

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 16: José Soriano #59 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Saturday, May 16, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

It is clear to see what the Washington Nationals need in the present and the future. The Nats need pitching, and badly. This Nationals offense has shocked the baseball world by leading the entire sport in runs scored through 51 games. However, they have also allowed the most runs in baseball, which is why they are under .500 despite their elite offense.

The Nats starting rotation has not gotten the job done this season. Cade Cavalli has been solid, and Foster Griffin was fantastic before his last couple starts. However, Griffin is a free agent after the season, and there is not much behind those guys. There also are not many surefire solutions to the rotation on the farm. Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora are extremely talented, but both have missed the whole season. The next best pitching prospect is Miguel Sime Jr., who is just 19 and is years away.

At some point, the Nats are probably going to have to make a big move for pitching. Why not do it sooner rather than later? I came up with three pitchers that the Nats could go after that all have multiple years of control after this one. They are three different profiles as well. Jose Soriano is the potential ace of the future that would require a blockbuster package. Reid Detmers is the upside play who has untapped potential. Finally, Carmen Mlodzinski would be a rotation stabilizer who can be very reliable.

The first pitcher I want to talk about is the big fish, Jose Soriano. If Paul Toboni were to bring him in, it would be like when Mike Rizzo traded for Gio Gonzalez. Soriano has been one of the best pitchers in the American League for an awful Angels team. With two years of control after this one, Soriano would be a prime trade candidate.

If the Nats wanted to hold onto CJ Abrams and maximize his timeline, Soriano would be a great player to trade for. The right hander is on the same free agent timeline as Abrams. Soriano has a 2.44 ERA and 3.12 FIP in 66.1 innings, averaging over 6 innings per start. He throws an upper 90’s fastball and gets a ton of ground balls while also getting strikeouts. Soriano has high octane stuff that might be even better than Cade Cavalli’s.

Soriano is also just 27 years old, so he would be a great fit with this group. He and Cavalli would be a high quality one-two punch at the top of the rotation. It would not be Scherzer and Strasburg levels of elite, but it would be very good. Along with his fastballs, Soriano has two swing and miss secondaries, with his curveball and his splitter. Both get whiff rates at a 45% clip. 

I am going to be honest, this is not very realistic and it would take a big prospect package. A package of Ronny Cruz, Luke Dickerson, Landon Harmon and Ethan Petry could be what it takes to get Soriano out of Anaheim. Paul Toboni may not have the stomach to give up that kind of haul this early into his process. However, if he really believed that this group is ready to make a run in 2027 and 2028, this would be an option worth considering.

Another Angels starter worth monitoring is Reid Detmers. After a successful season in the bullpen, Detmers moved back in the rotation this year. On the surface, it seems like the move has not gone that well. Detmers has an ERA over 5 on the season. 

However, the under the hood metrics are fantastic. Detmers has a 3.08 FIP and 3.24 xERA. It is worth pointing out that Detmers has historically underperformed his underlying metrics, but it is clear he is getting unlucky right now. The lefty is striking out over 25% of hitters while walking under 8% of batters. 

The Angels are not known as a savvy organization, so maybe the poor surface level stats have convinced them Detmers is not the answer. If so, the Nats should jump all over this opportunity. Detmers could provide similar results to Soriano without costing as much. A package of Luke Dickerson and Ethan Petry could potentially be enough to get him out of Anaheim.

I really like Detmers’ stuff. His bread and butter is his fastball/slider combination. The heater has a ton of ride at the top of the zone and the slider is his put away pitch. Detmers also throws a gorgeous 12/6 curveball. His best curveballs look like Kershaw’s. He also mixes in a changeup. It is a well rounded mix that I think the Nats could get the best out of. With two years of control after this one, Detmers would be a fun arm for the Nats to grab.

The last arm I want to talk about is a little more boring. Carmen Mlodzinski does not have the flashy stuff of Soriano or Detmers. However, he has been a quality piece of the Pirates pitching staff for a little while now. He has a 3.40 career ERA in 235.2 career innings. With how many pitchers the Pirates have though, Mlodzinski may not have a permanent home in the Pirates rotation though.

The metrics have been split on him this season. He has a 3.96 ERA, a 3.00 FIP, a 4.66 xERA and a 3.89 xFIP. That is a lot of variance, but I think the truth is he is a high-3’s arm. The Nats desperately need reliable arms like that, especially ones with three years of control after this one.

Mlodzinksi’s best pitch is his splitter, which is his most used pitch. He throws it 27.8% of the time, and batters are only hitting .206 against it this season. The righty throws a sinker and a 4-seamer to have multiple fastball looks. He also throws a curveball, a sweeper and a slider, but none of his breaking balls are standout pitches.

I think the 27 year old Mlodzinski would be a good piece in the middle of a rotation. What the Pirates would want in return could be interesting. They want to win now with Paul Skenes, so they would ask for someone more big league ready. If Toboni wants to give up on one of Dylan Crews or Brady House, this could be the type of  deal he may put them in. The Pirates need more offense and the Nats need more pitching, so this type of swap would make sense.

This is more of a thought exercise than anything, but it would be fun if the Nats did some sort of soft buy either at the deadline or in the offseason. It really seems like they are ahead of schedule. However, they still have glaring needs. I think it would be smart if the Nats used their deep farm system and pool of young players to address some of these needs. It will probably not happen, but I wonder if Paul Toboni is thinking along these same lines.

Series Preview: Twins at Red Sox; Round 2 for 2026

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 27: T.C. Bear of the Minnesota Twins waves a flag prior to the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Sunday, April 27, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by James Vigil/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The first matchup of the Red Sox and Twins, in Minnesota, was memorable for two things: Garrett Crochet getting hit so hard he’d eventually land on the IL, and the big breakout (of 2026) for Connelly Early. As they flew home to host the Tigers, the Red Sox stood at a 7-11 record, the opposite of the Twins at 11-7. Boston would then go 15-20 while Minnesota would post a 12-20 record. It’s hard to say the Sox are the “hot” team but they are 12-10 since Chad Tracy replaced Alex Cora, which looks better. How much difference any of the coaching changes actually made is unclear. Perhaps unknowable. Was Jarren Duran really a .500 OPS guy? Probably not! Could Alex Cora “fix” him? Well if he could it was going to take a few weeks because we’re still barely into the upswing, should it continue.

Minnesota is helped by the strong start, a rejuvenated Byron Buxton, and being in the AL Central. As of Thursday May 21st the Twins were just 6.0 games out of first and 1.5 games out of a Wild Card. The Red Sox sit 11 back of the first place Rays, though are just 2.0 away from a Wild Card spot. Even the Chicago White Sox (25-24) and Texas Ranger (24-25) – the teams with the 2nd and 3rd Wild Cards – aren’t running away with it. Boston remains a hot week away from changing the narrative of 2026.

Rookie Connor Prielipp is the first starter for the Twins this series. Only 5 starts into his major league career, the 25-year-old southpaw was originally drafted by Boston in the 37th round of the 2019 draft. He would decide to go to college and the Twins would take him in the 2nd round in 2022. He’s allowed 1 or 2 earned runs in each of his starts, although did allow an addition 3 unearned runs against Cleveland for a total of 4 on the day. He’s battled injuries in college and the minors but works off a four-pitch mix lead by a min-90s fastball, a curveball, slider, and changeup. He’ll face Payton Tolle. What more is there to say? Tolle is coming off 8.0 masterful innings against the Braves. He’s five starts into his 2026 call-up and has seemed dominant at times. Simply “very good” at others.

Saturday is a mixed bag of unknowns. This is likely a Brayan Bello start for Boston. TBD…Total Bello Destruction? Unless they use an opener. I don’t know what that is. Typical Bello Dazzlement? Bello’s ERA sits 7.16 against a FIP of 6.06.

The afternoon game on Sunday is the old vets, granted Bailey Ober is six years younger than Sonny Gray but he’s the veteran of this Twins staff. He’s having a good, healthy 2026. Just skip a start ago he tossed an 89 pitch shutout of the Miami Marlins. He’s not going to blow hitters away (17.2% strikeout rate) but also isn’t handing out free passes (7.3% BB rate). Hitters are slashing just .208/.273/.368 agsint him and hitting the ball with an average exit velocity of just 86.5 miles per hour. The Nationals tagged him for 6 ru5 runs in May and Boston got 4 facing him in April during the series at Target Field, but those are the blemishes. Sonny Gray will need to be on his game. With back-to-back 6.0 inning, 1-run starts he aims to do just that. In his two most recent starts since coming off the IL, Gray has looked more like his old self while striking out 6 and 9, respectively. Grey had trouble against the Twins in April in a 4.0 inning, 5-run affair but both he and the Twins were in different places back then.

Byron Buxton has 15 home runs and 4 steals this season. He’s stayed hot since Boston last saw him.

On the plus side for Boston, Ryan Jeffers is the only Twin to even have 7 homers and he just hit the IL.

The talented but often injured and now slumping Royce Lewis was optioned to Triple A.

Kody Clemens has 4 homers and is hitting .240/.333/.421. With Friday also being a bobblehead of his dad maybe Rocket will be in town for both occasions? He’s come to watch Kody at Fenway before after all.

Josh Bell stole his first base since 2018 and has 1 on the year. His career high is 2 so, watch out.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Friday, May 15: Connor Prielipp (2.88 ERA / 4.19 FIP) vs. Payton Tolle (2.05 ERA / 3.21 FIP)

Saturday, May 16: TBD (— ERA / — FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA / — FIP)

Sunday, May 17: Bailey Ober (3.63 ERA / 4.30 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (2.93 ERA / 3.73 FIP)

When/Where to Watch

Friday, May 22: 7:10 PM ET on NESN

Saturday, May 23: 4:10 PM ET on NESN

Sunday, May 24: 1:35 PM ET on NESN

Cubs call up INF Pedro Ramírez; Matt Shaw to IL

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 03: Pedro Ramirez #75 of the Chicago Cubs bats during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Italy at Sloan Park on March 03, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cubs today announced that one of their top prospects, 2B/3B Pedro Ramírez, has been promoted to Chicago to make his major-league debut. In a corresponding move, infielder Matt Shaw has been placed in the injured list with lower back tightness.

The Cubs signed Ramírez in January of 2021 out of Venezuela for a $75,00 bonus. He signed at the same time and place as fellow Venezuelan Moisés Ballesteros. Since then, Ramírez has been working his way up the minor leagues with a steady, contact-oriented bat, plus speed and an good glove at second and third base. This year, in Triple-A Iowa, he’s started to hit for power with a career-high nine home runs already. In 43 games in Iowa, Ramírez hit .312/.395/.547 with the nine home runs, 19 stolen bases and 40 RBI. This development saw him showing up on several Top 100 prospect lists for the first time.

Ironically. Ramírez hasn’t played since Sunday because of an illness. One assumes he feels better now.

Shaw goes on the IL with back tightness after hitting .242/.291/.400 and playing a lot more than many of us thought after the Cubs signed Alex Bregman in the offseason.

Ramírez is not in the starting lineup today, but he is at Wrigley Field and ready to play.

Astros vs. Cubs Game Thread: Game 52, 5/22/2026

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 15: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros gestures as he leaves the game in the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Daikin Park on May 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

TODAY’S GAME: The Houston Astros (20-31) and Chicago Cubs (29-21) will begin their 3-game series this afternoon at Wrigley Field.

RHP Spencer Arrighetti (5-1, 1.50 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros as he takes on RHP Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.97 ERA).

Houston Area Connection: Both of today’s starters grew up in the Greater Houston area. Arrighetti is a 2018 graduate of Cinco Ranch High School (Katy, TX) while Taillon is a 2010 graduate of The Woodlands High School (Woodlands, TX).

SPENCER’S GIFTS: Since making his season debut on April 15, RHP Spencer Arrighetti has been one of the top starters in the Majors. For the season, he is 5-1 in just 6 starts with a 1.50 ERA (6ER/36IP) and a miniscule .176 opp. avg….

Since April 15, he is T-1st in the AL in wins.

Model of Consistency: Arrighetti has allowed 1 ER or less in 5 of his 6 starts and 2 ER or less in all 6 starts.

Last Start: Arrighetti took a no-hitter into the 8th inning in his last start on May 15 vs. TEX, which ended in a 2-0 win (7.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R).

VS. THE CUBBIES: The Astros took 2 of 3 vs. the Cubs in the only series between the two clubs last season (June 27-29 at Daikin Park).

The Astros last visit to Wrigley Field was a 3-game series in April of 2024 (3-gm sweep by CHC). The Astros are 7-5 in their last 4 series vs. the Cubs (since 2019).

All-Time: The Astros are 385-338 all-time vs. the Cubbies. Their 385 wins vs. them are their 2nd-most vs. any opponent (404-455 vs. CIN).

First Game Ever: The very first official game of the Houston franchise was vs. the Cubs on April 10, 1962, when the Colt .45s defeated the Cubs, 11-2, at Colt Stadium, behind a CG win by LHP Bobby Shantz.

IN THE DAYTIME: Today is the 2nd of 4 consecutive scheduled day games for the Astros. Wednesday’s series finale at MIN had a 12:40 p.m. start and all 3 games this weekend at Wrigley Field will begin at 1:20 p.m.

The last time that the Astros have played 4 consecutive day games was April 2-6 of last season (source: Elias).

ROADIES: Today is the 3rd game (1-2 thus far) of a 10-game, 3-city road trip for HOU. HOU went 1-2 at MIN on the 1st stop of the trip.

After this series in CHC, they travel back to Texas for a 4-game series vs. the Rangers at Globe Life Field (Mon.-Thurs).

ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros have been one of the AL’s top hitting teams on the road in 2026.

Entering today’s game, HOU leads the AL in road batting avg. (.267) and OBP (.336) while ranking 2nd in SLG (.412) and OPS (.749).

RARE VISIT TO WRIGLEY: The current series marks just the 2nd visit to Wrigley Field for the Astros since 2013. The 2013 season is when the Astros were moved to the American League.

ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have selected RHP Alimber Santa (#72) from Triple A Sugar Land.

The Astros optioned RHP Jayden Murray to Triple A Sugar Land following Wednesday’s game.

RHP Cody Bolton cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A Sugar Land yesterday.

THERE IS A SANTA: RHP Alimber Santa has been outstanding for Triple A Sugar Land this season. In his 18 relief appearances, Santa is 4-2 with a 1.42 ERA (3ER/19IP), allowing just 10 hits in his 19.0 innings of work for a .159 opp. avg. He had not allowed a run in his last 6 app. (5.2 IP).

PEN PALS: As a group, the Astros bullpen has had decent run of success recently.

Since May 8, they have a combined ERA of 3.48 (16ER/41.1IP).

Individually, several relievers are currently pitching well:

RHP Bryan Abreu: 0.00 ERA in last 6 outings (6 IP, 0 R).

RHP AJ Blubaugh: 2.18 ERA in last 8 outings (12.1 IP, 3 ER).

LHP Bryan King: 1.74 ERA in last 9 outings (10.1 IP, 2 ER)

LHP Steven Okert: 1.29 ERA in last 7 outings (7.0 IP, 1 ER) and has 7 K’s in his last 3.1 IP (3 app).

BRYAN’S SONG: After a slow start to his season, RHP Bryan Abreu has not allowed a run in his last 6 outings, covering 6.0 IP (3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 SO).

In his last 8 appearances, Abreu has posted a 1.12 ERA (1ER/8.0IP) with 9 K’s.

THE BIG OH: LHP Steven Okert punched out all 3 batters that he faced last night, giving him 7 K’s in his last 3.1 IP (3 app.). He has not allowed a run in his last 5 app. (5.1 IP).

AIR YORDAN: Yordan Alvarez is batting .309 with 11 doubles, 15 HR, 31 RBI and a 1.017 OPS (.412 OBP/.605 SLG).

In the AL, he ranks first in total bases (112), 2nd in OPS and SLG, 3rd in OBP, T-4th in HR and 5th in batting avg.

EE-SOCK: Wednesday night’s HR for Isaac Paredes was #97 in his career. He needs 3 more HR to become the 4th MLB player born in Mexico to reach 100 career HR.

ON THE LEADER BOARD: As a club, the Astros currently rank T-2nd in the AL in hits (422), 3rd in batting avg. (.246) and SLG (.404) and 5th in OPS (.725).

WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: 1B Christian Walker has been one of the top hitting 1st basemen in the AL this season, ranking among all AL leaders in several offensive categories. He is 2nd on the club in HR (11) and T-1st in RBI (31).

Among the AL leaders, Walker ranks T-8th in RBI (31), T-10th in HR (11), 9th in total bases (90) and 11th in SLG (.489).

APPLE TV: Wayne Randazzo, Dontrelle Willis and Heidi Watney will call the action for today’s Apple TV. telecast.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2021 – RHP Lance McCullers Jr. strikes out four batters in the 1st inning in a start against the Rangers in Arlington. He fans Nathaniel Lowe, Adolis García, Joey Gallo and Khris Davis consecutively in the frame, with Gallo reaching safely on a wild pitch.

McCullers becomes the fifth Astros pitcher since the year 2000 to record four strikeouts in an inning and the first since RHP Ken Giles did so in 2016.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Friday, May 22, 1:20 p.m. CT

Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

TV: Apple TV

Streaming: Apple TV

Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

DRaysBay Mailbag

United States Postal Service mail cart with letter carrier satchels positioned against a stone-tiled wall, Presidio Heights, San Francisco, California, April 30, 2025. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) | Gado via Getty Images

I decided to field some questions on X (Twitter) about the Rays and respond to them in a mailbag format article. This edition covers the improvements the Rays have made this season, the decisions facing the Rays in this year’s draft, and what the trade deadline could look like for the team.

Jack McGovern (@jackmcgovern14): Outside of contact rates, pitch usage trends, and the power of friendship, what is the thing that has stood out to you as the biggest difference maker between the 2025 and 2026 Rays?

Run prevention has been the difference maker this season. The team ERA is nearly half a run lower than in 2025 despite similar FIP and xFIP numbers. Some of this can be attributed to being back at the pitcher-friendly confines of Tropicana Field, but a bigger piece may be the defense. The 2026 Rays are converting batted balls into outs more than any other Rays team in the last 15 years. They’re turning batted balls into outs 69.6% of the time while last year it was only 66.8%. That may not sound significant, but over a full season it projects to roughly 120-130 fewer hits allowed than in 2025. That’s nearly five more games’ worth of outs.

Houston (@HoustonBohde): How would you rank Cholowsky, Emerson, and Lackey and their fit within the Rays system?

Sad Rays Fan (@rays4403): What do you think the Rays do at 1.02 and can you break down the profiles of the favorites to be available for the Rays (Lackey and Emerson)?

I’m grouping these two together because they’re related. Roch Cholowsky is the best player available in the draft and he’s in a tier of his own. I’d be surprised if the White Sox did not pick him, and there’s no need to try to get creative with bonus pool money when you’re picking at the top and there’s a clear choice. For me, Grady Emerson is the second-best player available, and then it’s a toss-up between Vahn Lackey and Jackson Flora. Teams don’t draft based on need or fit – especially in the first round. I expect the Rays to take Emerson, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with Lackey or Flora at an underslot deal to land an overslot deal with their comp pick at 33.

Roch has a high upside with above average tools across the board and he plays a plus shortstop. His collegiate track record gives him a relatively high floor. This combination is what makes him a clear number one pick.

Emerson has a fairly similar profile with above average tools across the board, but the power isn’t fully present yet because he’s still a teenager. The hit tool is special though, so he has the highest floor of any high school player in this class and maybe even last year’s class. The inherent risk that comes with picking a teenager is what puts him just behind Roch.

Lackey has been on a rocket ship all year and looks comfortably in the next tier behind Roch and Emerson. He’s a solid receiver with an above average arm, and he should continue to develop into a plus defender thanks to these traits along with his athleticism. He’ll have a bit of hit tool risk, but he hedges that with a disciplined approach that allows him to get into his plus power. The difference in hit tool is what separates Lackey from Emerson for me.

Flora is a big, physical righty with a pair of plus pitches in his mid-to-upper 90s fastball with solid shape from his slot and a hard, upper 80s cut-slider he can throw to both sides of the plate. His feel for spin and emerging offspeed pitch give him a deep arsenal, and his control gives him a strong chance to remain a starter at the next level. There will always be more questions with pitchers coming out of the draft given the greater injury risk and the differences between the college, minor league, and MLB baseballs, but Flora profiles as at least a mid-rotation starter with room for more as he develops his secondary pitches.

Sean Smyth (@Sean_SmythTBR): Given their current performance, what does a realistic trade deadline look like for the Rays?

The Rays always look to thread the needle between buyers and sellers. Emptying the farm for a rental doesn’t align with their philosophy, but they do have quite a bit of shuffling to do with the relatively high number of Rule 5 eligible players this year. Not all of them will need protection, but I do expect them to consolidate some prospects for some major league talent to reinforce the roster.

They’ll likely target both rental pitchers and controllable arms beyond 2026. I don’t expect any major changes to the position player group other than maybe some depth at middle infield. I think we’ll see them package some prospects for a starting pitcher and potentially a reliever depending on how Rodriguez, Uceta, and Wilson progress in their return from injury. Much of the deadline market may depend on which teams commit to selling first; nearly one-third of the league is hovering within three games of .500.

Series Preview: Guardians at Phillies

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 18: Philadelphia Phil and Philadelphia Phillis pose on the field prior to a game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 18, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Two MLB teams who are playing well meet at the Liberty Bell tonight. In the setting of the movie Rocky, the underdog payroll Guardians attempt to land one on the jaws of the high-profile spending Phillies.

The Guardians are 30-22 with a +23 run differential, 13th in team wRC+ at 101, eighth in baserunning runs above average at +2, 11th in Defense at -5.4, sixth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.59 (3.99 FIP), and 13th in bullpem ERA at 3.80 (3.86 FIP).

The Phillies are 25-25 with a -24 run differential, 23rd in team wRC+ at 93, sixth in baserunning runs above average at +2.9, 17th in Defense at -8.3, 22nd in starting pitcher ERA at 4.49 (3.51 FIP), and 16th in bullpen ERA at 4.04 (3.40 FIP).

The Phillies are definitely not as bad as their record or run differential indicates, but their defense is bad and their bullpen is quite shaky. As seen below, the Guardians are seeing their top two starters, so the poor performance of 3/5ths of their rotation, sadly, won’t come as much into play. Cleveland will have to win this series the hard way, if they do it.

MATCHUPS:
Game One, Friday, 6:40PM ET: Cristopher Sanchez, LHP 1.82 ERA (1.92 FIP) vs. Gavin Williams, RHP 3.67 ERA (4.17 FIP)
Game Two, Saturday, 4:05 PM ET: Zack Wheeler, RHP 1.99 ERA (2.37 FIP) vs. Slade Cecconi, RHP 5.16 ERA (4.99 FIP)
Game Three, Sunday, 1:35PM ET: Andrew Painter, RHP 5.77 ERA (4.59 FIP) vs. Parker Messick, LHP 2.45 ERA (3.17 FIP).

This time, the Guardians have drawn a rough slate having to face Sanchez and Wheeler, who are among the top 10 best starters in baseball. The key will be to make them work, get them out of the game as soon as possible, and put the ball in play as often as possible against a bad Phillies’ defense. …Gonna need to score some runs to steal a couple in this series.

The Guardians are led by Travis Bazzana at 133 wRC+, Chase DeLauter at 130 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 130 wRC+, Brayan Rocchio 130 wRC+, Angel Martinez 119 wRC+, David Fry 112 wRC+, Daniel Schneemann 109 wRC+ and Rhys Hoskins 105 wRC+.

The Phillies are led by Kyle Schwarber 168 wRC+, Bryce Harper 138 wRC+, and Brandon Marsh at 124 wRC+. Don’t let Schwarber beat you.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Stash Troy Melton, believe in Carson Benge, and more

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition for your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we 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.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

Spencer Steer - 1B/OF, CIN (38% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, PAST SUCCESS)

Another week with Spencer Steer on this list, but perhaps for the last time. Steer appeared in Eric’s article on hitters to target thanks to their Process+ scores, and over the last month, he ranks 15th in all of baseball in Process+, so we know the decisions behind his performance have been tremendous. We’ve seen Steer be a useful fantasy contributor before, and we like having any member of the Reds lineup who is getting regular playing time. Over his last 25 games, Steer is hitting .316/.381/.453 with three home runs, 17 runs scored, 12 RBI, and three steals. The offense around him has not been producing, so the counting stats are not where we'd like them to be, but they're manageable, and he has an 11% barrel rate over that time, so he's looking pretty good at the plate. A deeper league multi-position option would be Kody Clemens - 1B/2B/OF, MIN (3% rostered).Over the same stretch of time as Steer, Clemends is hitting .292/.378/.486 in 22 games with two home runs, 12 runs scored, nine RBI, and one steal. That's with a solid 17/6 K/BB ratio and a 12.5% barrel rate. He's become the starting first baseman for the Twins and is even getting some playing time versus lefties.

Dylan Crews - OF, WAS (37% rostered)

(FORMER TOP PROSPECT, APPROACH CHANGE)

I know, you've had it with Dylan Crews. He's never been good in the big leagues. I've heard all the criticisms. I also recorded a video this week exploring the changes he’s made in the minors and why they could lead to a breakthrough for him at the big league level.

Gavin Sheets - 1B/OF, SD (35% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, POWER UPSIDE)

We know that Gavin Sheets has a tendency to be a streaky player, and while that can make him hard to roster all season long in shallower formats, it does mean we need to pay attention when he's hitting the ball well. Over his last 20 games, he's hitting .294/.438/.667 with six home runs, 10 runs scored, 10 RBI, and two steals. He's also walking more often than he's striking out and has a 12.5% barrel rate over that stretch. Who knows how long this will last, but it's worth an add in most formats right now. Same goes for Luke Raley - 1B/OF, SEA (26% rostered), who is another player unlikely to keep up his current pace. Raley is tied for 25th in baseball with 10 home runs, despite having just 136 plate appearances, which is about 50-60 below most of the other players inside the top 20 in home runs. He ranks 3rd among hitters with at least 130 plate appearances in HR/FB at 34.5%. His career average is 19.2%, so that's a pretty sizable gap. That being said, Raley’s bat speed is at 75.4 mph this season, which is up from 73.8 mph last year. He also has a slightly steeper swing, which has led to a 14.4-degree launch angle. That’s a significant escalation from his 9.8-degree mark last year. It has led to a significantly higher swinging strike rate and lower contact rate, but Raley is barreling the ball 22.4% of the time and has a 55.3% hard-hit rate, both of which are top ten for hitters with at least 130 plate appearances. However, his 23.7% swinging strike rate and 64.8% zone contact rate are the worst among hitters on the same list. All of which is to say, the power is very real, but the contact issues are a major concern and are likely to catch up to him eventually. Use him while he's crushing the ball like this, but don't expect it to last.

Ezequiel Duran- 1B/2B/3B/SS/OF, TEX (35% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, BATTING ORDER BUMP)

Duran is already more than halfway to his total plate appearances from last season. Injuries for the Rangers have thrust him into a (pretty much) every-day role in Texas, and he has delivered for them. Over the last 20 games, he has the highest wRC+ on the team by a sizable margin and is hitting .315/.370/.562 with three home runs, 15 RBI, and 14 runs scored. This is more about playing the hot streak here, but if you need a multi-position guy to fill in gaps in your roster in a deeper format, he'll do the trick. His teammate Justin Foscus - 1B/2B, TEX (1% rostered) is also emerging as a deep-league option. In 12 games since being recalled from the minors, Foscue is hitting .324/.351/.588 with two home runs and six RBI. He's squaring the ball up more than we've seen from him in the past, with a slightly steeper barrel at contact, which is leading to strong quality of contact. He has always had better than league-average zone contact and swinging strike rates, so if he can maintain this improvement in contact quality while being the starting second baseman while Corey Seager is out, that's going to be worth adding in deeper leagues.

Carson Benge - OF, NYM (32% rostered)

(PROSPECT PEDIGREE, HOT STREAK)

Benge's roster rate has jumped from 15% last week up to 32% this week, so people are finally starting to buy into his recent success, but more should jump on board. Benge is another hitter who appeared in Eric's Process+ article. Sometimes prospects just need a little bit of time to figure things out. Carson Benge got off to a slow start to his MLB career, but over his last 30 games, he's hitting .318/.360/.430 with two home runs, 20 runs scored, 14 RBI, and three steals. He also has a 19/6 K/BB ratio over that span and a 45.5% hard-hit rate, so we like that he's not striking out much and is making hard contact. He's not going to hit for big-time power, but he already has eight steals this season, and the Mets have moved him into the lead-off spot, which is going to be great for his counting stats. He needs to be added in far more places. Benge's teammate Brett Baty - 1B/2B/3B/OF, NYM (10% rostered) is also starting to heat up. In his last 15 games, Baty is slashing .314/.386/.490 with two home runs, seven runs scored, and nine RBI. That comes with a nearly 49% hard-hit rate. We saw this last year when Baty struggled out of the gates and then really turned it on in the second half of the season. He was a favorite of mine heading into the season, so I'm buying back in now.

Zack Gelof - 2B/3B/OF, ATH (23% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POTENTIAL APPROACH CHANGE)

Gelof has been a bit cold this week, but he has still hit .243/.291/.456 in 34 games since being called up, with six home runs and six steals. We may remember the version of Gelof that went 14/14 with a .267 average in 69 games in his rookie season in 2023, but that version is still likely fictitious. However, Gelof has made some changes to his contact profile that should prevent him from being as bad as he was the last two seasons. His swing rate and chase rate are both down this season, and his zone contact rate is up almost 10%. It's still below average, and his Contact Value grade in Pitcher List's Process+ stat is 94 (100 is average), so we know there are still some contact issues, but he's making far better swing decisions to help alleviate that. He ranks 45th in baseball in Process+ since coming up, which makes sense because we're seeing his swinging strike rate fall from 20.4% to 12%. The Athletics also play the entire week at home next week, so it's time to fire up all their hitters. Another option at the same positions could be Richie Palacios - 2B/OF, TB (1% rostered), who now seems like the regular starter at second base against right-handed pitchers with Ben Williamson hurt. It's unclear how long this will last, but Palacios is hitting .268/.384/.341 in 99 plate appearances this season with seven steals. He doesn't hit the ball overly hard, and the Rays have him hitting the ball the other way more than he ever has, but if he's going to post an on-base percentage like that and then run when he gets on, that's going to have some value. The Rays are also scheduled to see only one left-handed pitcher next week, which would mean five starts for Palacios.

Jake Burger - 1B, TEX (17% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, POWER UPSIDE)

Much like Baty, Jake Burger is another player we were high on coming into the season who started hot, then went on a super prolonged cold streak, and now seems to be turning it around. In 16 games since the start of May, Burger is hitting .305/.369/.559 with four home runs, nine runs scored, 14 RBI, and an 11/6 K/BB ratio. He also has a 52.1% hard-hit rate over that span, so he may have fully shaken off the doldrums. The Rockies aren't at home, so TJ Rumfield - 1B, COL (13% rostered) is less exciting, but he's still been really solid all season and ranks 25th in baseball in Process+ over the last month. During that span, he's also hitting .295/.386/.443 with three home runs, 10 RBI, and a 15/10 K/BB ratio. He doesn't have Burger's power, but the contact rates are much better, and Rumfield feels like a better bet for a higher batting average.

Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (16% rostered)

(RECENT CALL-UP, POWER/SPEED UPSIDE)

The A's called up Bolte last week, and with the recent Denzel Clarke hamstring injury, Bolte's spot on the big league roster feels a bit more secure. Their 5th-ranked prospect had been on a tear at Triple-A, batting .348 with a 1.076 OPS, 12 home runs, seven doubles, three triples, 28 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases in 37 games. That came with a manageable 39/17 K/BB ratio, which is important because Bolte has hand contact concerns in the past. He had just a 69 percent contact rate overall last year, but that’s up over 75 percent this year. There will still be some swing and miss in his game, but his teammate Nick Kurtz had just a 70 percent contact rate in the minors in 2025, and that worked when he got called up. Bolte has hit .269/.333/.308 in eight MLB games with two RBI and three steals. He does have a 15.7% swinging strike rate and 81.6% zone contact rate over that span, so those contact concerns are still lingering, but his upside is high enough that we should give him more time to see how he adjusts.

Ryan Waldschmidt - OF, ARI (15% rostered)

(PROSPECT PEDIGREE, REGULAR PLAYING TIME)

Waldschmidt is another top outfield prospect called up recently who has a bit of a safer floor than Bolte due to his swing decisions. In 13 games, he's hitting .300/.378/.400 with four doubles, seven runs scored, six RBI, three steals, and a 12/5 K/BB ratio. He has enough raw power to flirt with a 20-homer pace from this point on and the speed to steal double-digit bases as well. He doesn't swing a lot, with just a 40% swing rate so far in his MLB games; however, he also doesn't chase outside of the zone or swing and miss much, so that's going to be really helpful and also make him a strong asset in OBP and OPS leagues.

Keibert Ruiz - C, WAS (15% rostered)

(BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Did you lose Drake Baldwin or Ryan Jeffers to injury this week? If so, perhaps Keibert Ruiz can be an option for you. Over his last 15 games, Ruiz is hitting .314/.321/.647 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He's splitting time with Drew Millas and will also sit against lefties, so it's not an ideal playing time situation, but Ruiz is lifting the ball a bit more, leading to more barrels and also pulling the ball more often. He's always made an elite level of contact, but he's swinging less now and seems to be more intentional about offering at pitches he can drive. We like that. Maybe Mickey Gasper - C, BOS (1% rostered) is an option in two-catcher formats. He's been DHing a lot for Boston, and while that seems strange, he's also hitting .344/.364/.406 in his 33 plate appearances since being called up. That comes with a 54% hard-hit rate and an elite 96% zone contact rate. This isn't likely to last, but it's working right now and in two-catcher formats, that's sometimes all that matters.

Sam Antonacci - 2B/3B/OF, CWS (15% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, SPEED UPSIDE - MAYBE)

After a slow start, Antonnaci is hitting .316/.396/.405 in his last 25 games with 15 runs scored, six RBI, and four steals. He doesn't have much power and has just a 39.7% hard-hit rate over that span, but he's trying to lift the ball and drive it into the gaps, which we like. He has also started to play against lefties, which the White Sox weren't letting him do early on. He stole almost 50 bases last season, so we always figured the speed would come and be paired with an elite contact profile. That, combined with his multi-position eligibility, makes him a solid add. The results haven't been there for Vaughn Grissom - 2B, LAA (1% rostered), but the contact quality has been good. He has also ranked 23rd in baseball in Process+ over the last month. In that span, he has a 50% hard-hit rate and just an 11% strikeout rate. He's making lots of contact, and he's making hard contact, so the hits have to start falling. Right?

Jake McCarthy - OF, COL (6% rostered)

(EVERY DAY ROLE, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Over his last 25 games, McCarthy is hitting .338/.368/.549 with two home runs, 11 runs scored, 15 RBI, and four steals. He's not hitting anything hard. I mean, he has a 16% hard-hit rate over that span, but he's making consistent contact and running when he gets on base. He has nine steals in 40 games this season and has also started every game this week, even against the left-handed starters. If you need batting average and speed, McCarthy is a great add. Isaac Collins - OF, KC (2% rostered) is another deep league outfield target. On the season, he has a 10% barrel rate, a 43% hard-hit rate, a 42% pull rate, a 45.6% fly ball rate, and a 23.3% Pull Air%. All of this is the profile of a player who is hitting the ball hard and getting it in the air to the pull side. He also has a 73.3 mph bat speed, which is above-average bat speed. He also doesn’t chase out of the zone and has a 9.2% swinging strike rate. He simply needs to be a bit more aggressive. A 20% called strike rate is not great, and he’s swinging at pitches in the heart of the zone just 63% of the time, down from 76% last year.

Nolan Gorman - 2B/3B, STL (5% rostered)

(PLAYING TIME OPPORTUNITY, POWER UPSIDE)

Gorman was featured in Eric’s article this week on players who should see more power production in the future. Also, over the last calendar month, Gorman ranks 22nd in baseball in Process+. He has an 89 Contact Value grade (100 is average), so it's not as if he magically started to make more contact, but his swing decisions have gotten better, and his power has never been questioned. He has a 48% hard-hit rate, a 9.6% barrel rate, a 51% pull rate, and a nearly 30% Pull Air Rate. Yet, his HR/FB rate is basically league average. That profile with a 72.7 mph bat speed and 112 max exit velocity should lead to above-average home runs. Gorman has also flattened his swing this year and started swinging more often in the zone. That hasn’t changed his contact profile much, but a hitter like Gorman who swings and misses a lot probably needs more bites at the apple, so I’m happy to see him being more aggressive in the zone. Could he be a .230 hitter with 25 home runs? Another power option could be Coby Maro - 1B/3B, BAL (2% rostered). It’s a small sample size, but in the last 11 games, Mayo is hitting .265/.359/.471 with two home runs and six RBI. On the season, he has a 46% hard-hit rate, 8.4% barrel rate, and 31.3% Pull Air rate with a 116.5 mph max exit velocity that tops anybody on this list. His bat speed is elite; he’s actually making contact in the zone 5% more often than last year, and his swinging strike rate is 12.4%, which is fine for somebody with his power. Maybe this was just about adjusting an approach that he’s starting to do in recent weeks? Just keep an eye on his playing time with Jackson Holliday back.

Austin Martin - 2B/OF, MIN (5% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Martin has almost the exact opposite profile of Gorman, but is another MIF option now that he has settled into an everyday role with Matt Wallner now in Triple-A. He's started the last four games for the Twins, and only one of those was against a left-handed pitcher, which had been his role early in the season. There's nothing meaningfully different about Martin from previous seasons in terms of his swing or quality of contact. His swing is a bit less steep, so he's making more contact; however, he also has a very passive approach with just a 35% swing rate overall. Martin has speed; he's stolen seven bases in 44 games this season, so his patient, contact-first approach could lead to a good batting average and stolen base production, if that's what you're looking for. We really do wish Curtis Mead - 1B/2B/3B, WAS (1% rostered) was playing more. He has a 47% hard-hit rate, a 9% barrel rate, 21% Pull Air Rate, and a 72.8 mph bat speed. He looks to pull the ball often and gets it in the air 43% of the time. We haven’t seen elite exit velocities from him so far, but he has just a 6.7% swinging strike rate and an 88.4% zone contact rate for his career. A player who can hit the ball with that kind of quality and also make consistent contact deserves more playing time to see if it can be for real.

Edwin Arroyo - SS, CIN (5% rostered)

(PROSPECT STASH)

Sometimes you need to get ahead of prospect promotions before they happen. I think the next impactful hitter to be called up could be Arroyo. It may seem like Edwin Arroyo has been around a while because he was a major part of the Luis Castillo trade four years ago, but Arroyo is just 22 years old. He's hitting .348 with 10 home runs, 33 RBI, and eight steals in Triple-A this season to go along with a 1.025 OPS. With Eugenio Suarez (oblique) on his way back, there may not be any space for Arroyo, but he deserves a shot. Another possible stash would be Yohandy Morales - 1B/3B, WAS (0% rostered). The 24-year-old is now hitting .344/.425/.592 with 10 home runs and 27 RBI in 45 Triple-A games. The power is intriguing, and a clear improvement from his 15 home runs in 128 games last year. He does have a 13 percent swinging strike rate and 72.6 percent contact rate overall; however, both of those were improvements on what he did last year. The bigger news is that Morales has been playing more first base lately, and the Nationals don’t have a clear first baseman at the MLB level.

Pedro Ramirez - 2B/3B, CHC (2% rostered)

(PROSPECT CALL UP)

Ramirez is just a player we're watching this weekend. The top 100 prospect was called up on Friday to replace Matt Shaw, but that just means he's likely to fill a utility role. Still, he was hitting .312/.395/.547 with nine home runs, 19 steals, and 40 RBI in 43 games at Triple-A this season. He has five-category upside, so just keep an eye on how much he plays this weekend.

Michael Conforto - OF, CHC (1% rostered)

(SHORT-TERM OPTION, STRONG SIDE PLATOON)

This is another pick-up that's not a long-term one, but Conforto has been starting against right-handed pitching and hitting in the middle third of the order. Since May 1st, he's batting .345/.441/.793 with three home runs and six RBI in 34 plate appearances. He has a 73% hard-hit rate over that span and some strong bat speed numbers. The Cubs play seven games next week, and only one of those is scheduled to be against a left-handed pitcher, so that could mean six starts for Conforto this week.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Bryce Miller - SP, SEA (39% rostered)

I honestly didn't expect Miller's roster rate to be this low, but please go and add him right this very second. He has looked outstanding in his two starts back off the IL, allowing two runs on nine hits in 11 innings while striking out 10 and walking two. Even though he is now piggybacking with Luis Castillo, he threw 5 2/3 innings in his last outing, so the Mariners are going to let him pitch deep enough into games to pick up wins.

Jared Jones - SP, PIT (37% rostered)

We had Jones listed last week, so we'll reiterate that now is the time to stash him. He will likely make one more rehab start this Saturday and then join the Pirates' rotation at the end of the month.I recorded a video on him this week.

Rico Garcia - RP, BAL (37% rostered)

Garcia has only one ave in the last two weeks because the Orioles aren't winning tons of games, but he remains a really solid relief pitcher. The issue is that they are also using him in high-leverage situations, so he's not just going to be saved for the ninth inning. Still, he's a good add for saves over the next two weeks or so until Ryan Helsley returns. Hogan Harris - RP, ATH (9% rostered) is another option. He has three of the A's last four saves, and while he likely is just the left-handed part of a committe, the A's are a solid team, and that has afforded him some save chances lately.

Jacob Latz - SP/RP, TEX (33% rostered)

Since April 14th, Latz has recorded the only saves for Texas. He's also blown two, but he's allowed only six hits and two walks in his last 13.1 innings while striking out 11 and recording five saves over that time. There haven't been many save chances of late, and he's still a left-handed former starter who throws 94 mph. That's not really the profile of a lockdown closer. We're happy to add him, but not assuming this is a rest of the season type of thing.

Zebby Matthews - SP, MIN (26% rostered)

Listen, I don't know how this is really working. I've talked about it with Nick Pollock on the "On the Corner" podcast, and James and I discussed it on our Q&A. Zebby's fastball has gained some vertical movement, which is great and a clear step in the right direction, but all of his secondaries are slower and didn't add more movement. He changed his curveball shape, but it had just a 6% swinging strike rate in his last outing. Maybe it's just command? He's locating better now. I dunno. You can add him and see if he keeps this up, but this doesn't feel sustainable.

Griffin Jax - SP/RP, TB (28% rostered)

Last week,I broke down Jax’s full arsenal in my streaming starting pitcher column and then suggested you add him now while he was still taking time for everything to click, but man, did he look good against Baltimore this week. He allowed one run on three hits in five innings while striking out six and posting a near 18% SwStr%. I think he has the pitch mix to work as a starter, and I would for sure be adding him over Ben Brown, who is also trying to make the transition to the rotation.

Bryan Abreu - RP, HOU (24% rostered)

Abreu has had the last two save chances for the Astros and has a 1.13 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over his last eight innings. However, his last save opportunity still included a hit batter and a wild pitch, so it hasn't been all sunshine and rainbows. Josh Hader needs a few more rehab appearances, which might be another two weeks in the minors before he's activated. That gives Abreu a bit of a window to snag a few more saves. If you're looking for saves, Clayton Beeter - RP, WAS (5% rostered) was also activated off the IL on Thursday. The Nationals will likely still use multiple pitchers at the end of games, but Beeter was pitching fairly well before the injury. He may split save opportunities with Richard Lovelady - RP, WAS (1% rostered), who has pitched well in Beeter's absence.

Connor Prielipp - SP, MIN (19% rostered)

We're just going to keep saying that Prielipp should be rostered in far more places. He has now gone deeper than five innings in a start and has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any of his appearances. The Twins have also said they are going to try not to overwork him, so they may give him extra days of rest here and there, but he won't be skipped in the rotation, which is a positive. He has a solid enough fastball, a decent changeup, and a wicked slider. There's a lot to like here.

Steven Matz - SP, TB (19% rostered)

Matz returned this week from elbow inflammation, and while it wasn't his best start, he allowed just one run on three hits in four innings. He was up to 67 pitches in this one, which means he should be back to around 80 pitches in his next start. He gets a decent two-start week against the Orioles and Angels next week, so he's a priority add this weekend. Another two-start option could be Anthony Kay - SP, CWS (3% rostered), who has been solid over his last three starts, posting a 1.65 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 14 strikeouts in 16.1 innings. He gets a Twins team that ranks top 10 in wRC+ against lefties, and then a middle-of-the-pack Tigers offense. Neither team slugs particularly well against lefties, so perhaps Kay can avoid enough damage to be worth a look in deeper formats.

Christian Scott - SP, NYM (14% rostered)

Christian Scott is another pitcher whose arsenalI broke down in last week’s streaming starting pitcher arsenal. He didn't deliver like we wanted against the Nationals because he does have some issues with left-handed hitters, but the overall profile here is solid, and he looks like a good streamer in 12-team leagues and a solid add in deeper formats.

Grant Taylor - RP, CWS (11% rostered)

Everybody wants Taylor to be the White Sox's closer, but I don't think that's going to happen. He's simply too valuable for them in a high-leverage, "fire man" role. That being said, he has a 1.78 ERA and 1.14 WHIP on the season in 25.1 innings with 38 strikeouts and five walks. That has also come with one win and one save. He's a good reliever to have on your roster.

Walbert Urena - SP, LAA (11% rostered)

We've had Urena on here a few times, but he's emerging as a solid streaming option this year. His power changeup (at 90 mph) is a really good pitch, and he uses it to both righties and lefties. His last start also showcased plus command of an 87 mph sweeper that missed plenty of bats to righties. He's going to need that sweeper because his fastball is just empty velocity, and will only be successful if he can get ahead with his other pitches and then try to get hitters to chase outside of the zone with elevated four-seamers. He did that on Monday, and he succeeds when he can follow that plan, but it will be dependent on his sweeper command.

Andre Pallante - SP, STL (8% rostered)

This is not an add for this week; I need to make that clear right away, but if you have the space for a bench stash, I like some of the changes Pallante is making, and his schedule cleans up a bit after next week. His fastball is up a tick in velocity and has also added three inches of vertical movement. That's really good, and I think that's going to make him a solid streaming option. But I'm not starting him in Cincinnati this weekend or against the Cubs next week.

Troy Melton - SP, DET (6% rostered)

Like Jared Jones, Melton is a great add right now. He could return to the Tigers' rotation on Sunday or might even return on Tuesday, which would set up a two-start week for him.I recorded a video this week about why I like Melton, so make sure you check that out. Another stash option would be River Ryan - SP, LAD (12% rostered), who continues to look good in Triple-A, throwing five shutout innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, allowing two hits, no walks, and striking out seven. The Dodgers will give Eric Lauer a start on Monday, but Ryan could push for a rotation spot if that Lauer start doesn’t go well.

Nationals Head to Atlanta Looking To Finally Clear .500 Mark

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals watches his a three-run home run against the New York Mets during the first inning at Nationals Park on May 20, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the bats rolling and one of their better starters in Cade Cavalli on the mound, the Nats had a prime opportunity to take 3 out of 4 from the Mets and clear the .500 mark the deepest into a season they have since 2021. Unfortunately, the Mets arms shut down the Nats lineup, allowing just 1 run on a groundout in the 5th inning, and the Nats stranded the tying run on third base in the 9th inning to lose 2-1 and drop back down to one game under .500.

To clear the .500 mark this weekend, the Nationals will have to do it against a Braves club that is going scorched earth to its opponents right now, with their 35-16 record and +104 run differential both being the best in baseball. After a few years of underperforming and missing the playoffs despite a strong ballclub, the Braves have found their identity again in 2026, a team with a strong pitching staff and a deadly lineup. Led by Matt Olson and Ronald Acuna, the Braves have 7 hitters in their lineup with an above-average wRC+, resulting in a team 117 wRC+, second best in baseball.

On the pitching side, Chris Sale has gotten healthy and been a force for the Braves at the top of their rotation, with a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts in 2026. Thanks to a rebound season by Bryce Elder and a rebirth year by 35-year-old Martin Perez, the Braves’ starting pitching has gotten the job done, and their bullpen has been lockdown, leading to their 3.09 team ERA being the best in baseball.

Game One – Friday 7:15 PM EST

WSH: LHP Richard Lovelady (2-2, 2.61 ERA)

ATL: RHP Bryce Elder (4-2, 2.01 ERA)

The Nats will roll with an opener before sending Miles Mikolas out for the bulk work in tonight’s game against the Braves. Lovelady picked up a save Tuesday night against the Mets and now will open up a ballgame three days later.

Elder had a 3.81 ERA in 31 starts in 2023, but after a 6.52 ERA in 2024 and a 5.30 ERA in 2025, it looked like his career as a starter was on the ropes. He’s been proving the doubters wrong so far in 2026, with a 2.01 ERA in 10 starts, but the scrappy Nats lineup will look to inflate that ERA tonight.

Game Two – Saturday 4:10 PM EST

WSH: RHP Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.79 ERA)

ATL: RHP Grant Holmes (3-1, 3.80 ERA)

Irvin looked good on paper in his last start against the Mets, striking out 6 batters and only walking 1, but he allowed 6 hits and didn’t generate many quick outs, resulting in him going just 4 innings and allowing 2 runs. The Nats would take that stat line tonight from Irvin against a deep and dangerous Braves lineup.

Holmes had his best start of the season last time out against the Red Sox, throwing 6 scoreless innings and earning the victory. He doesn’t strike out a ton of hitters, meaning there’s opportunity for the bottom half of the Nats lineup to grind out at-bats and the top half to do the heavy lifting.

Game Three – Sunday 4:10 PM EST

WSH: LHP Foster Griffin (5-2, 4.02 ERA)

ATL: LHP Martin Perez (2-2, 2.85 ERA)

After a pristine start to the season, things have come unraveled for Griffin in his last 2 starts, allowing 14 runs over 9.1 combined innings. The ERA has ballooned over 4, in part to him being kept in the Reds game to try and save the bullpen, and he will look to get that back under the 4 mark against the Braves on Sunday.

Perez has done it all for the Braves in 2026, whether that be opening ballgames by throwing an inning or two, or actually starting games and pitching rather well when he does. He gave up 4 runs in 5 innings to the Marlins last time out, so the Nats will be looking to get to him in a similar way on Sunday.

Holding Court: Mariners at Royals Series Preview

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 13: Bobby Witt Jr. #7 and Carter Jensen #22 of the Kansas City Royals celebrate with teammates after scoring runs during the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on May 13, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After the sweep at the hands of the Padres last weekend, the Mariners managed to get things back on track a bit with a series win over the White Sox. Seattle hasn’t won back-to-back series since going 5-1 on their road trip at the end of April. They’ve been mired in an unfortunate rut, unable to gain any momentum in the standings. Thankfully, they haven’t fallen too far back in the AL West race; on May 1 they were a game behind the A’s and they’ve only dropped a game and a half since then. Now, they’ll get an opportunity for a measure of revenge against the team that swept them at the start of the month.

GameTimeMariners StarterRoyals StarterMariners Win%Royals Win%
Game 1Friday, May 21 | 4:40 pmRHP Logan GilbertLHP Noah Cameron53.8%46.2%
Game 2Saturday, May 22 | 1:10 pmRHP George KirbyRHP Stephen Kolek53.1%46.9%
Game 3Sunday, May 23 | 11:10 amRHP Bryan WooRHP Seth Lugo54.8%45.2%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewRoyalsMarinersEdge
Batting (wRC+)94 (12th in AL)105 (5th in AL)Mariners
Fielding (FRV)5 (4th)-14 (15th)Royals
Starting Pitching (FIP-)99 (10th)96 (7th)Mariners
Bullpen (FIP-)113 (13th)89 (3rd)Mariners

Since sweeping the Mariners to start the month of May, the Royals have taken a nose dive in the standings. They’ve gone 5-11 since that series in Seattle and are now battling with the Tigers at the bottom of the AL Central standings. The offensive production has been particularly brutal; during this 16 game slump, they’ve scored just 3.4 runs per game and the last time they scored more than four runs in a single game was back on May 13. For a team that had designs on challenging for a division title or a Wild Card berth, they’ve been quickly pushed onto the fringe of the AL playoff picture.

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
Maikel Garcia3BR21314.1%8.9%0.12594
Bobby Witt Jr.SSR22217.1%10.4%0.183134
Vinnie Pasquantino1BL20120.4%10.4%0.13168
Salvador PerezCR20120.9%4.5%0.15769
Carter JensenDHL16330.1%11.7%0.170102
Jac CaglianoneRFL16030.0%7.5%0.178108
Isaac CollinsLFR16126.7%12.4%0.10487
Michael Massey2BL9720.6%3.1%0.18569
Kyle IsbelCFL13723.4%5.1%0.138103

During the month of May, the Royals have had exactly two batters with a wRC+ above league average. Bobby Witt Jr. has essentially been trying to carry the entire team on his back; his 160 wRC+ is among the league leaders this month and his 3.3 fWAR on the season leads all of baseball. The other hitter who has been contributing has been Jac Caglianone. He’s managed to get his strikeout rate under control which has helped him run a 113 wRC+ this month. Unfortunately, ugly performances from guys like Maikel Garica (62 wRC+ in May), Vinnie Pasquantino (72), and Salvador Perez (92) have been the big reason why Kansas City has struggled to score runs consistently this month.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Noah Cameron41.219.3%7.5%8.5%29.9%5.403.95
Logan Gilbert56.224.7%5.2%16.4%37.3%4.454.42
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam30.4%35.9%92.38894870.386
Cutter18.7%25.6%89.488118980.396
Changeup25.8%5.8%82.096971140.291
Curveball16.8%10.3%81.510381480.260
Slider8.3%22.4%85.298

Noah Cameron enjoyed a solid debut season last year with an ERA a hair below three and a FIP a hair above four. He wound up earning fourth place in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. A college draftee back in 2021, he quickly moved through Kansas City’s farm system as a polished, low-risk starter. He’s got an excellent changeup that has standout fade for someone with such a high arm slot. His fastball gets pretty good ride thanks to his arm angle, and his two breaking balls are pretty vertically oriented. He can command his entire repertoire fairly well which helps the average-ish raw stuff play up a bit.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Stephen Kolek1717.4%5.8%21.4%50.0%4.244.87
George Kirby62.220.7%6.4%10.5%55.2%3.453.56

Once upon a time, Stephen Kolek was a Mariners farm hand who was plucked away by the Padres in the 2023 Rule 5 draft. He had a decent debut season as a long reliever in San Diego’s bullpen in 2024 and then made the jump back to the rotation last year. He was traded to the Royals at the trade deadline and made five solid starts for Kansas City down the stretch. He was pushed out off the big league roster this spring but the injury to Cole Ragans has allowed him to make a couple of spot starts while the Royals’ ace is on the mend. Kolek doesn’t get many swings and misses. Instead, he relies on generating weak groundball contact with a sinker, changeup, and sweeper that dive off the table. When those batted balls are finding gloves, he can be effective enough to work through a lineup a couple of times. 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Seth Lugo58.220.7%8.5%3.0%36.3%3.682.89
Bryan Woo5923.6%5.2%7.1%31.1%3.513.28
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam15.0%20.1%91.689761130.366
Sinker27.7%20.8%91.4801001080.399
Cutter15.4%16.8%89.982101870.397
Changeup2.0%12.7%84.869
Curveball14.6%20.0%76.0102531120.217
Slider18.2%7.4%84.288
Sweeper12.3%8.9%78.088
Slurve7.1%2.1%77.2102

From a previous series preview: 

Seth Lugo throws the kitchen sink and the bathtub too for good measure. I have eight pitches listed in the table above, but I combined what Statcast calls his curveball and a “slow curve” into one line. And really, his sweeper-slurve is actually one pitch that he varies the speed and shape of based on the situation. That deep repertoire has served him well since making the transition to the starting rotation in 2023. He struggled with his normally excellent command last year, leading to a bunch of additional walks and home runs, but has seemed to have gotten over those issues to start this year. Despite mediocre raw stuff and advancing age, he’s been able to keep batters off balance because they often have no idea what pitch is coming next.


The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Athletics26-240.520-4L-L-W-W-W
Rangers24-250.4901.5+13L-W-L-W-W
Mariners24-270.4712.5+11L-L-W-L-W
Astros20-310.3926.5-56W-L-L-W-L
Angels17-340.3339.5-69L-W-L-L-L

The Athletics managed to take three of four from the Angels this week, winning a pair of extra-innings contests on Wednesday and Thursday to secure the series win. The A’s head to San Diego this weekend to face the Padres. The Rangers managed to keep pace with the Mariners by winning their series in Colorado and have another easy opponent on the docket, the Angels. The Astros haven’t broken out of their doldrums yet, losing a series to the Twins earlier this week; they’ll head to Chicago to face the Cubs this weekend.

This Week in Mets Quotes: Mets are the talk of town after Subway Series win

New York Mets relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) reacts during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field.

Your 2026 New York Knicks: I mean Mets

“Every team is going to deal with adversity. We have got to keep going.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]

…this week the Mets won the Subway Series but lost Clay Holmes to injury…

“It’s really sad what happened to [Clay Holmes]. It’s part of the game. We’re going to support him. We’re going to be right there for him in any kind of way that he needs us, but it just sucks.” -Juan Soto [New York Post]

…but in happier news Luke Weaver pulled off a Houdini act when he /slowing turning my head to check the Knicks score/…  

“I’m not the biggest guy in the room, but I ain’t scared of nobody.” -Luke Weaver [MLB]

…/shakes head/…umm…yeah Luke Weaver came in a bases loaded jam /pumps fist in the air reacting to a OG Anunoby dunk/…

“It’s a cool moment. That’s why you play the game.” -Luke Weaver [MLB]

…uh, where was I, oh yeah Luke Anunoby didn’t give up a run, OH COME ON THAT WASN’T A FOUL, and his teammates were like happy for him or whatever…

“Unicorn stuff .” -Juan Soto [MLB]

“[On Luke Weaver] That was sick. That was fun.” -Mark Vientos [MLB]

“That’s what great players do. Clutch stuff in a big spot. Obviously, we’re chasing some wins right now, and he’s built for that stage. [Weaver’s] got a lot of poise and control and swag, I would say. So yeah, he was ready for that moment.” -Brooks Raley [MLB]

…Brunson’s got to get it going…umm, sorry, Mendoza also was happy for Weaver and I think this was a typo where he actually said ‘unhittable’ but who knows with the way things have been going for Carlos Mendoza these days…

“Weaver was hittable there.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]

…but, anyways, the Knicks, sorry the Mets went 4-3 for the week…

“A lot going on, man. I’m tired.” -Luke Weaver [MLB]

…and, it’s looking bleak because the Mets are down by 22 with 8:19 in the 4th quarter…

“They were ultra aggressive, especially the first time through. You look at pretty much every batter there, they were hacking first pitch. They were looking hard, whether it was the sinker, the cutter, 1-0, they were aggressive. Balls found holes. They attacked him.” -Carlos Mendoza [Mets]

…I mean it’s maybe time to put in the bench…

“It’s always good when you show some fight back.” -Carson Benge [Mets]

…take the loss but at least you can rest the starters…

“There’s a couple of things I was feeling, but I was a little quick [in the first inning]. I just tried to kind of settle in, slow myself down and get in my motion and then continue to try to get ahead with the first pitch and go from there.” -David Peterson [New York Post]

…hey, that’s a couple buckets…

“They made some pretty good swings on some decent pitches. Obviously I didn’t have the best stuff, but that’s no excuse for not going out and competing better than I did.” -Nolan McLean [Mets]

…man, they’re kind of on a run…

“We know that we’ve got to start playing better — period. It’s been rough. It’s been … yeah. But that’s in the past. Now, all we can control is every game, every series — the mentality of winning series. We did that this homestand, and we’ve got to continue to do it.” -Carlos Mendoza [Mets]

…this is getting a little crazy…

“He hit it pretty hard. I went back and just missed it. It hit the palm of my hand. I should have had it.” -Nick Morabito [MLB]

…no WAY, NO WAY MY TEAMS DON’T DO THIS…

“Basically, it all came down to where I was starting my hands. That was the stem of the problem.” -Devin Williams [The Athletic]

…YES, LET’S GO KNICKS, I LOVE NEW YORK CITY, NUMBAH ONE CITY IN DA WORLD!

To drop the Knicks bit, here are two great articles that prove, in the words of Sarah Langs, Baseball Is The Best.

“[In a year full of incomprehensible pain, Joe Raccuia said that watching Ewing makes him feel a little better.] It helps” -Joe Raccuia who was A.J. Ewing signing scout while working for the Mets [The Athletic]

“It was go and be a dad and support a young man in Zach or take care of my health. The doctors at Shirley Ryan assured me that my health was in good hands and that they felt as though I could do it. So it really made my decision very easy. To be honest, as a dad, I’m not going to miss this.” -Paul Thorton on attending his son’s big league debut [New York Post]

Opposition research: Rhys Hoskins

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 15: Rhys Hoskins #8 of the Cleveland Guardians runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field on May 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There was a moment this past offseason when it seemed like the Phillies were considering a reunion with Rhys Hoskins. There was really nothing to the rumors, and it basically seemed to come about because WIP reporter Devan Kaney conflated two different discussions to make it seem like the Phillies were seriously thinking about signing Hoskins.

With the Phillies facing Hoskins’ Guardians team this weekend, and with the Phillies struggling against lefthanded pitching, it’s worth wondering if the Phillies made a mistake in not pursuing their old friend.

Of course, the biggest obstacle to having Hoskins on the Phillies remains: Hoskins can only play first base (and poorly at that) or designated hitter, and the Phillies’ best two offensive players are ensconced at those positions. Any talk about moving either Hoskins or Kyle Schwarber to the outfield should be immediately dismissed. You can get away with that for about seven innings once a week, but it is unfeasible on a regular basis, especially with a centerfielder going through growing pains on defense.

As for Bryce Harper moving to the outfield…he still doesn’t seem especially excited by the prospect. He might have felt some remorse over that decision if Hoskins would have been the team’s answer against lefty pitching, but based on Hoskins’ performance this season, that wouldn’t have been the case.

Hoskins’ stat line is interesting. He is batting .192 (that’s bad) but has an on-base percentage of .353 (that’s good). His overall OPS is respectable, but he’s hit just four home runs, and his slugging percentage is .375, continuing a steady career long decline (also bad). Basically, Hoskins has been elite at taking walks and not much else.

He’s also been very bad against lefthanded pitching, with a .132/.275/.360 slash line. Say what you will about Adolis Garcia, but at least his numbers against opposite-handed pitching are respectable and he plays good defense.

The Phillies’ offseason moves aren’t looking spectacularly successful at the moment, but some of the moves they didn’t make (just wait until they play the Mets) have proven to be wise.

Trivia

Last week’s answer: Before last weekend, the Phillies’ franchise leader for home runs at PNC Park was Jimmy Rollins with five. However, thanks to his two home runs last Friday, Kyle Schwarber is now the leader with six.

This week’s question: Aside from Citizens Bank Park and Milwaukee’s American Family Field, what stadium has Rhys Hoskins hit the most home runs in?

Non-Phillies thought

I’m probably going to see The Mandalorian and Grogu this weekend, but I can’t help but think this movie is coming out about four years later than it should have. It pretty much should have been a two season show, and season two ended over five years ago. Since then, they had to mostly walk back season two’s finale because they didn’t think anyone was going to watch the show without “Baby Yoda.”

The more I think about it, the more I think the season two finale was so well received is because what people really want from Star Wars is more content with Luke, Leia, Han, and company. Recast those roles and give us some adventures immediately after Return of the Jedi before they become the sad sacks we saw in the sequel trilogy. (Or heck, go ahead and retcon those movies!)

You can take my opinions on Star Wars with a grain of salt though. I thought the much-praised Andor was sporadically great but was mostly a slog to get through. And I mostly enjoyed the lesser regarded The Acolyte.

Remembering some guys

The Guardians have a couple of former Phillies in their system who fall into the “that guy is still around?” category.

Connor Brogdon spent five years with the Phillies and always seemed like he was on the cusp of becoming a dominant reliever but could never quite get there. He went from a dominating performance in the 2022 World Series to a guy who was almost guaranteed to walk a couple of batters in every appearance the following season.

It seems that a change of scenery was not all that Brogdon needed. The Phillies traded him to the Dodgers at the start of the 2024 season, but his performance got worse post trade. After another bad season with the Angels in 2025, he signed with the Guardians in the offseason, but struggled to the point where they designated him for assignment.

Kolby Allard wasn’t a Phillie for very long. At the end of the 2024 season, when the team was desperately trying to find a competent arm for their fifth starter spot, they cycled through a bunch of guys, hoping one would stick. Allard was actually one of the better performers, and considering he had a 5.00 ERA that says a lot about the other guys they used.

Allard latched on with the Guardians as a reliever in 2025 and put together a decent season as a middle reliever. But the success didn’t carry over into 2026, and like Brogdon, he was demoted to the minors.

Additional thought about the series

The Guardians don’t have a lot of household names on their roster, but they’re winning games. At 29-22, they’re in first place of the AL Central. It’s somewhat surprising considering that their biggest star, Jose Ramirez is having a down season by his standards.

What the Guardians do have is a group of young players doing well. Travis Bazzana, Brayan Rocchio, Angel Martinez, and Chase DeLauter are all in their early to mid-twenties and are having breakout seasons.

As a Phillies fan, it seems like a foreign concept to have the team’s developmental system produce players who can step in and contribute on the major league level, but apparently it can indeed lead to winning baseball. Maybe the Phillies should try it?