TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 17, 2026: Spencer Jones #68 of the New York Yankees puts on his helmet prior to an at bat during an intrasquad scrimmage game on Billy Martin Field 1 at the Himes Complex on March 17, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
With outfielder Jasson Domínguez headed to the injured list after crashing into the outfield wall earlier this afternoon, the New York Yankees have opted to promote top prospect Spencer Jones, according to reports.
Soon after, it was reported that, following the bullpen day, the Yankees were recalling Kervin Castro from the minors as well; he likely will be taking Brendan Beck’s spot on the roster, as the right-hander will probably be sent back to Scranton so he can remain stretched out as a starter.
Yankees are calling up big power/speed OF prospect Spencer Jones The Post has learned
By this point, Yankees fans are well-acquainted with Jones, whose rise through the minor league system has come under more scrutiny than any of the organization’s recent prospects, with the possible exception of the man he is replacing. Originally taken with the 25th overall pick of the 2022 draft, the 6-foot-7 left-handed outfielder has steadily climbed through the organization, tantalizing scouts and fans alike with a power potential that is truly only rivaled by now-teammate Aaron Judge – and a similarly high strikeout rate. After yet again making adjustments in an attempt to improve his contact rate, this time by drawing on Shohei Ohtani’s swing as inspiration, Jones has continued to, well, be himself so far this spring, posting a .258/.366/.592 slash line in 33 games, smashing 11 homers and striking out a whopping 46 times.
While Jones was the last outfielder on the 40-man roster not injured or already in the majors, it seemed at first glance like necessity might simply force the organization’s hand. The presence of veterans Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera in Scranton, however – not to mention the ability of Cabrera, Amed Rosario, and Jose Caballero to play the corner outfield spots – means that the Yankees didn’t have to bring him up to ride the pine as the team’s fourth outfielder. And with Giancarlo Stanton already on the shelf – the whole reason the Martian was up in the first place – and Ben Rice missing the last four games due to a hand contusion, it’s clear that the Yankees are finally looking to see if their former top prospect can make the jump to The Show and, like White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami, simply outhit his strikeout woes.
Exactly how the Yankees will line up remains to be seen. Expect Jones to play the outfield more consistently than Domínguez did, however, as defense has been the youngster’s calling card ever since he was drafted. Whether this means that Aaron Judge will get more DH days, or that they will cycle the DH spot through Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Rice (when he’s healthy, that is), we’ll know soon enough.
The Yankees are also calling up Venezuelan RHP Kervin Castro, who will return to MLB, per sources.
Castro, 27, last appeared in MLB in 2022 (Cubs, Giants).
He posted a 1-0 record with a 3.14 ERA in 14.1 innings and 10 strikeouts at Scranton Triple-A.
Kervin Castro, a 27-year-old pitcher out of Venezuela, was added to the Yankees’ 40-man roster last winter to avoid him being taken in the Rule 5 Draft — which is, coincidentally, how the Yankees acquired him from the Astros in 2023. Although he lost the competition for the final bullpen spots, he has pitched well enough in Scranton, posting a 3.14 ERA in 14.1 innings, that the Yankees feel comfortable bringing him up to reinforce a bullpen that needs some fresh arms after an unexpected bullpen day. This is not Castro’s MLB debut, however: he scattered 20 appearances with the Giants and Cubs between 2021 and 2022, allowing 15 runs in 25.2 innings.
The Mets failed to complete the sweep of the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon, losing by a score of 6-2.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Making his 12th career start (third this season) and still searching for his first career win, Christian Scott looked primed to do that after needing just nine pitches to retire the side in order, with two strikeouts, in the first inning. It was a reversal of fortune for Scott, who had to waste a lot of bullets in the first inning of his first two starts this season.
Scott set down the next four batters he faced before Kyle Karros doubled for the Rockies’ first hit of the game. Scott retired the next two after a couple of long at-bats to leave the inning unscathed.
-- Prior to that, the Mets gave the right-hander the lead by scoring two in the second against former Met Jose Quintana thanks to an Andy Ibañez sacrifice fly and Tyrone Taylor’s RBI single. Austin Slater began the inning with a single as he and Ibañez, as well as Vidal Brujan, were all in the lineup against the left-hander. Slater was the only one of the three to get a hit, finishing 2-for-3.
-- New York had another chance to get to Quintana in the third after Juan Soto tripled high off the right-field wall with one out. But after Bo Bichette walked, Mark Vientos grounded into an inning-ending double play to thwart the threat.
-- From there, the Mets’ bats went quiet as Quintana, who pitched 5.1 innings of one-run ball against New York at Citi Field two starts ago, managed to do it again against them. This time, Quintana lasted 5.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits.
-- Still, Quintana left the game with his team down 2-1 because of the job Scott was able to do. The rookie allowed a run on three hits and two walks in 4.2 innings while striking out six, but was pulled after a season-high 82 pitches (53 strikes).
Scott pitched well enough to get that elusive first win, but he’ll have to wait until his next outing to try again. Nevertheless, he lowered his season ERA to 3.27.
-- Huascar Brazoban was the first man out of the bullpen and after finishing off the fifth inning, he went back out for the sixth. With New York still clinging to a one-run lead inside Coors Field, Brazoban issued a one-out walk and then unleashed a wild pitch to put the tying run at second base. After a strikeout and another walk, Brazoban gave up a double to Jake McCarthy that tied the game and knocked him out.
-- Austin Warren then entered and loaded the bases with a walk before getting a strikeout to end the frame. Warren faced the minimum in the seventh and gave way to Craig Kimbrel in the eighth.
-- A day after scoring 10 runs on 15 hits, the Mets offense went back to old habits, mustering just six hits and going scoreless after the second inning. They went 1-for-9 with RISP and bypassed a great chance to take the lead in the seventh when Soto came up with runners on first and second. Soto was precisely who New York wanted up in that spot, but he popped out to shortstop to end the inning. Soto finished 1-for-4 atop the lineup.
-- The Mets' inability to tack on runs cost them when Kimbrel loaded the bases to start the eighth on two singles and a walk. McCarthy, who tied the game in the sixth, untied the game two innings later with a grand slam to put Colorado ahead for the first time all game, 6-2. Kimbrel's ERA is now 7.56.
Game MVP: Jake McCarthy
McCarthy tied it, then untied it with one big swing in the eighth inning.
RICHMOND, VA - APRIL 21: Jonah Cox #8 of the Richmond Flying Squirrels runs to third base during the game between the Somerset Patriots and the Richmond Flying Squirrels at CarMax Park on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. (Photo by Matthew Mitrani/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Just three games for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates on Wednesday, as High-A Eugene and the Arizona Complex League Giants both had the day off. Let’s get into the action that did occur, though, as it was pretty nice!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
Not much news. RHP Evan Gray, who hasn’t pitched yet this year, was moved from High-A Eugene to Low-A San Jose, as his season looks ready to commence. To make space in San Jose, RHP Melvin Pineda was moved from Low-A to the Arizona Complex League roster.
AAA Sacramento (18-15)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) 9-5 Box score
The River Cats started the post-Eldridge/Rodríguez era with a whimper on Tuesday, but responded with a very nice win on Wednesday. The biggest hit belonged to third baseman Buddy Kennedy, who smacked a 2-run home run in a critical 6th inning, when Sacramento flipped a 5-2 deficit into a 7-5 lead.
Kennedy, who finished the day 2-5 with 3 runs batted in, is up to an .881 OPS and a 139 wRC+, while maintaining just a 14.2% strikeout rate. As a 27-year old signed as a Minor League free agent over the winter, he probably doesn’t have a way to play his way onto the roster, but he’s having the type of performance that will make the Giants more than comfortable adding him to the roster should an injury facilitate it. I’d assume his play was also part of what made them comfortable DFA’ing Tyler Fitzgerald, which left the Giants with no infielders on the 40-man roster in AAA.
Left fielder Turner Hill continues to look comfortable at the level, as he hit a perfect 3-3 with a double and a walk, though he was caught stealing. Hill, a recently-turned 27-year old UDFA who has a whole lot of Jared Oliva in his game, probably should have been in AAA on merit, but roster logistics sent him back to AA Richmond to start the season. When the Giants called up Drew Gilbert and Will Brennan (the latter was just returned to Sacramento), Hill was called to fill in at the top Minor League level. He’s more than held his own through 14 games, as he has an .809 OPS, a 121 wRC+, just a 7.8% strikeout rate, and 3 stolen bases. Hopefully he’s in Sacramento to stay.
Designated hitter Harrison Bader made his 2nd rehab appearance and went 0-3 with a strikeout, though he did draw a walk and was hit by a pitch. It seems like Bader will have a lengthy rehab stint, as he professed a desire to make up for some of the time he lost in Spring Training …. which hopefully explains his ice cold start to the season. Usually when position players rehab, they’re back in the Majors as soon as they’re back in game shape, but for Bader I’m guessing the Giants will wait until his results are looking good.
Not a very good pitching performance, which started with RHP Spencer Bivens serving as an opener. Bivens again struggled, giving up 3 hits (including a home run and a double) and 2 walks in just 2 innings, which tagged him for 4 runs (3 earned). Bivens, who struck out 2, has now given up at least 3 runs in 4 consecutive outings … during that time he’s thrown 6.2 innings and ceded 12 hits, 3 walks, 13 runs, and 11 earned runs. That’s tanked his ERA to 7.27 and his FIP to 6.67. In 6 weeks, Bivens has gone from looking like a likely Opening Day roster-maker to a potential roster casualty if the Giants need to open up a spot on the 40 (which currently isn’t an issue, since they only have 39 players).
After Bivens was LHP Seth Lonsway, who was not sharp. Lonsway threw just 36 of 68 pitches for strikes while giving up 3 hits, 3 walks, and a hit batter (plus an error) in 3.1 innings, though he managed to limit the damage to just 1 run, while striking out 4. A 27-year old whom the Giants took in the 6th round in 2021, Lonsway has really been having a tough go of it this year, as he has a 6.97 ERA and a 5.69 FIP. That underscores a bigger issue, which is that he is walking a lot of batters and having a very hard time striking people out. Among the 43 Pacific Coast League pitchers who have thrown at least 20 innings this year, Lonsway is 39th in strikeouts per 9 innings (5.2), and 40th in walks per 9 (5.7).
RHPs Tristan Beck and Wilkin Ramos both had nice games though, with Beck allowing just 1 hit in 1.2 shutout innings, with 2 strikeouts, while Ramos had a hit and a strikeout in a scoreless inning. Ramos, who isn’t on the 40-man roster, has sneakily been having a very nice season, as he lowered his ERA to 2.04 (though his FIP is 4.58).
Covering the Giants means I hear a lot of people say, “they should just call up all the prospects from AAA and AA, no way they would be worse than the current players.” The realistic answer to that is: yes they can be, and yes they would be. Shockingly so.
But.
But, but, but.
You kind of have to wonder what would happen if the Flying Squirrels could replace the Giants, because they just seem to have an overflowing cup of magic that San Francisco could greatly benefit from. Richmond keeps winning and winning and winning, and it’s starting to feel like every win is outrageous and full of fairy dust.
Wednesday was no exception. The Squirrels entered the bottom of the 9th inning trailing 4-2. Second baseman Aeverson Arteaga, who had a brilliant game, drew a leadoff walk to bring the tying run to the plate. That tying run just happened to be the hottest hitter in Richmond … and perhaps in the Eastern League who, like Arteaga, was having a brilliant game: right fielder Jonah Cox.
Cox got ahead in the count 2-0, then pounced on a get-it-in fastball, lifting it past the fences and tying the game.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 7, 2026
But Richmond wasn’t content to just get the game to extra innings. They wanted to send the fans home happy before the Manfred Man shenanigans commenced. And so, with one out, third baseman Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL) bopped a double to get the winning run in scoring position.
And then, with 2 outs (and 2 strikes!), catcher Drew Cavanaugh sent everyone home in a frenzy by cracking a walk-off double.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 7, 2026
Needless to say, Cox was the biggest star of the game, and for good reason. He finished the day 3-3 with a sacrifice fly, which gave him 3 runs batted in … and he stole his 17th base of the season.
What Cox has done is, in my opinion, the most incredible story on the farm this year. I’ve said it many times this year, but I’ll say it again: he entered the year as a Jared Oliva type, who could play great defense across the outfield and steal a million bases, with the hope that he could maybe hit juuuust well enough to survive. You can build a nice career in the Majors that way, as evidenced by the Giants seeing their 2017 6th-round pick, Bryce Johnson, on the Padres this past week.
But what happens when a glove-and-cleat player hits, hits, and hits some more, and is suddenly one of the best offensive players in the farm? I’ve been saying for a few weeks that hopefully we find out with Cox, and now we’re nearing the point where his sample size is big enough to put some serious stock into … the next time he steps into the batter’s box, it will be his 100th plate appearance of the year.
Just to show you how stark the difference is, look at his year-over-year increases, and how they stack up against the rest of the league. And as you look at these shocking figures, remember that he spent last year in High-A, not the AA level that he’s currently annihilating. His 2025 numbers are compared to 67 Northwest League hitters who had at least 200 plate appearances, while his 2026 figures are relative to the 91 Eastern League hitters with at least 80 plate appearances.
Anyway, the point here is clear: Cox has been the Eastern League’s best hitter, and he’s doing it in every way imaginable, while also being one of the best hitters in the league and avoiding strikeouts. That seems mighty sustainable … perhaps not the Bondsian numbers, but very good ones, at the very least. If you’re still not convinced, I recommend reading Roger Munter’s most recent mailbag, which really lays out a lot of reasons to believe in Cox’s renaissance. Maybe one day the Giants lineup will be anchored by Cox and Daniel Susac, and we can really thank the A’s.
As for Arteaga, he’s not quite having the season that Cox is having, but his improvement year-over-year is just as dramatic, given how bad he was last year. Arteaga went 2-2 in this game, while drawing a walk, laying down a sacrifice bunt, and smacking a double. A year after having a .508 OPS and a 49 wRC+ at the same level, Arteaga is up to an .891 OPS and a 134 wRC+ (though it’s worth noting his strikeout rate has gotten a little worse, at a not-good 27.3%).
Given how catastrophic his 2025 was (when he was returning from an injury that cost him virtually all of 2024, it’s worth noting), it’s easy to forget how young and promising Arteaga still is. He only turned 23 in March, and he still has some serious defensive chops. For now, he’s getting the chance to turn himself into a utility infielder, as shortstop Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL) has surpassed him on the priority chart, so Arteaga is no longer just a shortstop, but also a second and third baseman as well (although, on cue, Ahuna had a rough game, hitting 1-4 with 2 strikeouts and 2 errors).
On the pitching front, RHP Trystan Vrieling had a really nice start, perhaps his best of the year. The forgotten player in the Camilo Doval trade, Vrieling got the start and ceded just 3 baserunners (2 doubles and a walk) in 5 shutout innings, while striking out 4 batters, and throwing 47 of 71 pitches for strikes.
Vrieling, a 25-year old taken in the 3rd round in 2022, hasn’t been very sharp in his 1st full season in the organization, as he has a 4.00 ERA and a 4.76 FIP in his 2nd pass through AA. Both his strikeout and walk numbers have moved in the wrong direction year-over-year though, interestingly, he’s dramatically increased his groundball rate, from 35.9% to 52.2%. You don’t see that kind of jump very often!
RHP Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL) didn’t have the type of game that will get him sent back to Sacramento, where he began the year before roster logistics pinched him down a level. He gave up 2 doubles and 1 walk in just 1 inning of work, getting tagged for 2 runs without a strikeout. You don’t see him have many outings without a strikeout!
Low-A San Jose (18-11)
San Jose Giants beat the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) 12-2 Box score
A lot of the Giants prospects came out of the gates with extremely hot seasons. But for a few others, they took a little bit of time getting settled in, and just now are starting to take off. One such player? Third baseman Dario Reynoso.
Wednesday was a spectacular day for the 21-year old righty, who reached base in all 5 of his plate appearances, hitting 3-3 with a home run, a triple, and 2 walks, while driving in 6 runs. Hard to do much better than that, though here’s a video reminder as to why Minor League stats need to be taken with a few grains of your preferred salt.
Blinded by the light. Cam Nelson loses one in the lights, and Dario Reynoso clears the bases with a triple. Giants take a 12-2 lead to the ninth. pic.twitter.com/0H4NxMxloM
Reynoso, who was signed in 2023 out of the Dominican Republic, has started to find the power that he showed last year in the Complex League. After going homerless in his 1st 30 games with San Jose (spanning the end of last year and the start of this year), he’s now gone deep 3 times in his last 5 games, including on back-to-back days. Suddenly, after having an isolated slugging of just .064 with the Baby Giants in 2025, Reynoso is up to .206 this season, and that’s given him a .956 OPS and a 146 wRC+.
For the second straight night, Dario Reynoso has gone deep! Giants up 6-0 in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/mqclEZRuwB
The strikeout rate is still scary high, but it’s also improved over last year’s mark, and not just last year’s Low-A mark … a year ago, Reynoso had a 38.6% strikeout rate in San Jose, and a 31.7% mark in the Complex League. This year, that number is 30.8%. That’s something to work on, but there’s certainly the foundation of a very exciting player in there.
Left fielder Damian Bravo continued his heater, as he went 2-4 with a double, a hit by pitch, a stolen base, and a strikeout. The 22-year old, taken in the 15th round out of Texas Tech in July, now has 3 straight multi-hit games, with 4 extra-base hits in that time. He started the year 7-39 with 1 home run and 2 doubles … since then, the righty is 22-62 with 4 home runs, 1 triple, and 8 doubles, which has brought his OPS up to .905 and his wRC+ to 115.
Undrafted first baseman Hayden Jatczak continued his stellar debut season, as he hit 2-4 with a pair of doubles and a walk, boosting his OPS to .973 and his wRC+ to 148. The righty has absolutely put on a show with the bat this year, though he will turn 25 later this season and is confined to first base (for now, at least). It will be fun to see how he performs at higher levels, and maybe we’ll get to see that soon.
Speaking of debuting players, RHP Jordan Gottesman had the best game of his young career, as he was dominant through 5 shutout innings, giving up just 2 singles and 2 walks, while striking out 5 batters. Gottesman threw 45 of 71 pitches for strikes, and has really started to find his groove. Check out the splits for last year’s 6th-round selection:
First 3 games: 10.2 innings, 7 hits (3 home runs), 5 walks, 6 earned runs, 13 strikeouts Next 3 games: 14.1 innings, 11 hits (1 home run), 4 walks, 2 earned runs, 14 strikeouts
The home runs will certainly have to come down — they explain why he has a 5.97 FIP despite a 2.88 ERA — but it’s been an encouraging rookie season for the 23-year old from Northeastern.
RHP Ubert Mejias struck out 3 batters in 2.1 scoreless innings, with 2 hits and 0 walks. Mejias’ numbers have been dominant this year: in 21.2 innings, he’s allowed just 13 hits and 4 walks, while striking out 26 batters, en route to a 2.49 ERA (3 home runs have given him a 4.82 FIP, though). The cold water is that Mejias is 25, but he only signed in 2023 after defecting from Cuba. He’s starting to settle into his role as a reliever, after beginning his career as a starter.
Sacramento: 6:45 p.m. PT vs. Reno (SP: John Michael Bertrand) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs Akron (SP: Darien Smith) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Vancouver (SP: Tyler Switalski) San Jose: 6:00 p.m. PT vs. Fresno (SP: Argenis Cayama)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
After the New York Yankees lost one of their long-ballyhooed prospects to injury on Thursday, May 7, they called up the latest much-anticipated rookie to the major leagues.
Spencer Jones, the 6-foot-7 power-hitting, base-stealing lefty swinger with a penchant for striking out, will be called up to the Yankees roster, the New York Post first reported. Jones' promotion comes hours after left fielder Jasson Dominguez suffered a sprained shoulder crashing into the wall making a first-inning catch in their 9-2 victory over the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
Jones, 24, was drafted 25th overall out of Vanderbilt in 2022 and has hit the ball very hard and far from the jump, with an .848 career OPS and 83 homers in 415 career minor league games.
The pattern continued this spring, as Jones posted a .958 OPS and hit 11 homers for Class AAA Somerset. Yet his swing-and-miss habit has hung around, as well, as he's struck out 32.4% of the time in his 142 plate appearances. That rate is almost identical to his 32.7% career mark.
But that-swing-and-miss is accompanied by a maximum exit velocity of 117.4 mph, tops in Class AAA this season.
Jones also brings an athletic dimension to his game, with a career-best 43 steals in 55 attempts in 2023; he stole 29 in 35 attempts across Class AA and AAA last season. He was ranked the No. 46 overall prospect by Baseball America in 2024, but has since fallen out of the top 100; Jones is currently the consensus No. 6 prospect in the Yankees' system.
Meanwhile, Dominguez suffered yet another frustrating setback in his efforts to stick as a full-time major leaguer. He hit the chain-link fence hard reeling in a drive by Rangers leadoff batter Brandon Nimmo, held onto the ball, but stayed down on the ground for several minutes, eventually walking to a cart to leave the field.
He underwent concussion tests, which were negative, and an MRI that revealed a low grade AC sprain, manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the Yankees victory. Dominguez, the former top 20 overall prospect, had six hits in 30 at-bats after his recall late last month.
Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn gets the start today against the Phillies | Scott Marshall-Imagn Images
The Athletics will finish off the three game series with the Philadelphia Phillies this afternoon before continuing this road trip in Baltimore. The A’s squandered a (lower case) quality start by Jeffrey Springs yesterday to add to a 1-4 last five games at home and on the road.
But they hope to turn that around when J.T. Ginn gets the start for the A’s today. Ginn is 0-1 with a 4.30 ERA over five starts and eight overall appearances in 2026. He’ll go up against 23-year-old righty Andrew Painter for Philadelphia. He is 1-3 on the season with a 5.28 ERA over twenty-nine innings. He will face this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s A’s:
NEW YORK — New York Yankees left fielder Jasson Domínguez sprained his left shoulder while crashing into the wall as he caught Brandon Nimmo’s drive leading off the first inning of Thursday’s game against Texas.
After the Yankees’ 9-2 win over the Rangers, the team said Domínguez has a low grade AC sprain of his left shoulder, and will be put on the injured list. Concussion tests thus far were negative.
Domínguez, playing outfield for the Yankees for the second time this season, ran 81 feet to catch Nimmo’s 101 mph shot. He gloved the ball 375 feet from the plate as his shoulder hit hard against the video advertising board.
Domínguez’s sunglasses flew off as he fell to the warning track chest first, prompting center fielder Trent Grisham to come over as manager Aaron Boone jogged out to check on Domínguez along with head athletic trainer Tim Lentych, assistant athletic trainer Jimmy Downam and director of sports medicine and rehabilitation Michael Schuk.
Domínguez cupped his head in his glove and sat up after about a minute. He pointed to his shoulder and craned his neck as he was being examined, then walked to a cart under his own power and was seated as the cart drove away.
Cody Bellinger moved from right to left, Amed Rosario switched from third base to right and Ryan McMahon entered the game at third.
The Yankees are calling up one of their top offensive prospects, Spencer Jones.
According to multiple reports, the Yankees will replace Jasson Dominguez, who will be placed on the IL after crashing into the left field wall during Thursday's game, with Jones.
Jones has 11 home runs with 41 RBI and seven stolen bases while batting .258 across 33 Triple-A games.
Following Thursday's 9-2 win over the Rangers, manager Aaron Boone was asked about potential Dominguez replacements, and when it came to Jones, specifically, the Yankees skipper spoke about the young slugger's improvements as the year has progressed.
"Got off to an ok start and then hit a snag," Boone said. "The last three, four weeks have been having a lot of consistent at-bats. The power’s been there, less swing and miss. Those are some of the things we were seeing in spring training.
"Second week of Triple-A, where he struggled a bit with the swing-and-miss. He’s cleaned that up. I think I saw he leads all of minor leagues in RBI. He’s put himself in the mix. That doesn’t mean that’s the way we go, we have to talk about it, but the signs have been encouraging."
Those signs were encouraging enough for the call to be made, but the swing-and-miss has been the knock on Jones for years.
He's struck out 46 times already this season after striking out 179 in 116 games a year ago, and 200 times in 122 Double-A games in 2024.
But Jones also brings an athleticism that rivals Aaron Judge. He stole 29 bases a season ago and plays outfield very well.
"That’s a large man that hits the ball very far," Cody Bellinger said of Jones after Thursday's win. "Freak athlete, too. I didn’t know the speed. Very athletic, moves very well, yeah, just a good baseball player."
The Yankees begin a three-game series in Milwaukee starting Friday. Brewers young flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski will take the mound in the series opener.
Starts like these are going to happen to a rookie.
Think back to Cole Hamels 20 seasons ago, in his rookie 2006 campaign. He allowed seven runs in two starts that season. In 2015, during Aaron Nola’s rookie campaign, he made two starts where he allowed six earned runs.
On Thursday night, Phillies rookie right-hander Andrew Painter had his own version, allowing seven runs over three and two-thirds innings. The Phils had few answers offensively, and the night felt over before it ever really began.
Through seven outings, the Florida native has posted a 6.61 ERA. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but those were few and far between in Philadelphia’s 12-1 loss to the Athletics in the series finale.
ROCKY START
They say leadoff walks always come back to bite. It kept biting Painter.
Painter walked Athletics leadoff hitter Nick Kurtz on five pitches. His command was scattered from the start, and he struggled to reel it back in against Shea Langeliers.
Painter opened the at-bat with a sweeper almost a foot off the plate, which the Athletics’ backstop swung at for strike one. Painter followed with another sweeper up and in.
On 0-2, Painter threw a heater to essentially the same spot. Langeliers, who had been on paternity leave over the last few games and did not arrive in Philadelphia until 8:30 a.m. Thursday, jumped on it and sent it deep into the left-field seats. It left the bat at 108.4 mph.
In a blink, it was 2-0 Athletics.
RINSE AND REPEAT
It did not end there.
Painter walked Tyler Soderstrom. Then he started Brent Rooker 0-2, but the Athletics’ DH worked the count full and was ready for virtually the same fastball Langeliers got. Rooker pulled his hands in and drove it out of the yard.
4-0 Athletics. In the first.
The walks continued to bite Painter. He started the third inning with another walk to Soderstrom. Rooker then drove a ball to the fence, but Justin Crawford made a nice grab, moving Soderstrom to second. Carlos Cortes knocked him in on another fastball to make it 5-0.
Then Painter started Jacob Wilson 1-2, went to a middle-in sinking heater and the Athletics’ shortstop left the yard, too.
7-0 Athletics. Basically an insurmountable lead.
FASTBALL ISSUES RETURNED
Painter’s struggles with his heater go back to his last start in Miami, when he allowed three earned runs over five innings and did not accumulate a single swing-and-miss on the pitch.
0-for-19.
He allowed four hard-hit balls on the 12 fastballs put in play.
A similar issue surfaced Thursday. Painter generated just three swings-and-misses on 15 swings against the fastball. The Athletics put eight of them in play, five were hard-hit and they averaged 99 mph in exit velocity.
Painter’s fastball averaged 96.2 mph entering the start, ranking in the top 25 percent of heaters in baseball by velocity. But velocity alone has not been enough to get it by hitters lately.
The consistent baserunners to begin innings and the traffic that followed made it harder for Painter to dig into his repertoire. His pitch mix is what can make him a strong big-league pitcher, but until he controls innings better, he will continue to pitch from uncomfortable spots.
BATS SILENCED
The entirety of the Phillies’ offense Thursday came from Kyle Schwarber, who had two hits, including a solo roundtripper.
It is not as if they never hit the ball hard.
The Phillies put 14 balls in play against Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn and averaged 93 mph in exit velocity. They just had little luck. But Ginn’s final line does not lie.
He delivered a 96-pitch, eight-inning outing, allowing one run, walking one and striking out eight. He was not overpowering, but he kept Philadelphia’s bats off balance.
He also continues to carry one of the most intriguing home-road splits in baseball. In five road outings, Ginn has a 1.50 ERA. Across four outings at home, that ERA is 7.62.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 06: Don Mattingly, interim manager for the Philadelphia Phillies, stands on the mound with J.T. Realmuto #10, Alec Bohm #28, Bryce Harper #3 and Edmundo Sosa #33 during a pitching change in the seventh inning against the Athletics at Citizens Bank Park on May 06, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are the lineups for the series finale against the Athletics. Let’s discuss!
BRONX, NY - APRIL 20: New York Yankees radio broadcaster John Sterling stands on the field during his retirement ceremony prior to a regular season game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees on April 20, 2024 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s still hard to believe that John Sterling is no longer with us. The longtime voice of the Yankees who died at age 87 this past Monday was, in my book, among the greatest broadcasters of all time. He brought unforgettable moments to life with his signature theatrical flair, delighting and entertaining generations of Yankees fans, all while never taking himself or his job too seriously.
Sterling was an institution, having called 5,651 total games for the Yankees, the vast majority consecutively. He was always there; as indelibly stitched into the Yankee tapestry as the walls of the Stadium itself. He may be gone, but he’ll never fully go away.
I’m a broadcaster too; albeit a far less prolific one. As of today, I have served as a play-by-play commentator for 109 games—so I’ve still some way to go before I reach 5,651. But over that comparatively short amount of time, I’ve learned a lot from Sterling about broadcasting; not just as a profession, but as an art.
Like any profession or art, you learn by copying. I can probably name a hundred or more commentators I’ve listened to and made a mental note of something they did that I wanted to borrow for myself. Quite frankly though, I don’t think John Sterling is on that list. That’s because when it came down to it, his style was inimitable.
Sterling defied comparison, particularly with his contemporaries. There’s a reason John Sterling vs. Vin Scully always felt like apples and oranges. Both were, above all, storytellers, and great ones at that. But while Scully was baseball’s poet laureate, trusted to call the World Series for the whole nation, Sterling’s appeal was more personal. Scully personified the Dodgers, but transcended them too. Sterling was somewhat more akin to a local talk show host; fitting given that was how he started in the radio business. He just happened to also call the World Series eight times.
Of course, Sterling had his detractors, largely because his magic didn’t carry outside of Yankee fandom. Fans of rival teams couldn’t get into his schtick the way we could. I used to defend his honor against them, thinking it was such a shame they couldn’t understand his oeuvre, but ultimately it was only fitting. Sterling wasn’t hoping to appeal to fans of the Red Sox, or Royals, or Rockies. He was there for us, and it didn’t particularly matter what the rest of baseball felt about it. When Sterling screwed up by prematurely revving up his signature home run call for a warning-track flyout, fans of other teams had a field day with the soundbite; but we’d just shrug our shoulders and say, “That’s baseball, Suzyn.”
I’m far from the first person to notice this contrast, but it remains striking that such a whimsical guy (a most happy fella, if you will) who was often seen as a caricature wound up being the enduring voice of the Yankees—a team so exceedingly bought into its own hype as to exhaust everyone around them. Just as “it is high, it is far, it is caught” became a meme to denigrate Sterling’s occasional buffoonery, the “27 rings guy” became a meme to mock the median Yankee fans’ sense of unearned superiority, relentlessly encouraged by the franchise’s own rhetoric about itself. All this, of course, as they have failed to back up the talk with championships in recent seasons.
It’s hard to see the Yankees as exceptional these days. Sure, they still haven’t had a losing season since the early 1990s, but that was never the rubric for success their fans use. Predicating your mythology on winning championships is only so effective when the championships have dried up. By the Yankees’ own logic, the two-time defending champion Dodgers have usurped them as the Evil Empire, signing most of the league’s most coveted free agents and winning those trophies—including one against the Yankees, which felt then and continues to feel now like a coronation for Los Angeles as the new kings of baseball.
Now, let me clear. I don’t actually care about that. I like the Yankees, and I like that they win a lot, but I don’t care if they’re exceptional or not. I want them to win the World Series, but I don’t generally expect them to. And given how much harder winning a title is in the 2020s, I don’t necessarily think the Aaron Judge Era will be ‘wasted’ if he never wins one here. The Yankees were never guaranteed to be the greatest forever. And I’m cool with that. But their postseason defeats become all the more enervating when the team relentlessly postures about being first among equals.
And it makes it all the more miraculous that a man like Sterling was tapped to be their voice. Sterling was in the broadcaster’s chair for every last game throughout one of the Yankees’ greatest dynastic periods; and as a lifelong fan has an intimate connection with many more. But that decorated history—and his intimate connection to it—never negatively colored his work. He didn’t buy into his own hype, at least not fully. (The home run calls definitely got long in the tooth after a while, but it was still always interesting to see what he would come up with for a new face in the Bronx, since your first guess was usually wrong.)
Ultimately, the contrast was this: the Yankees saw their games as conquest—Sterling saw them as theatre. I prefer Sterling’s perspective.
Circling back to my perspective as a broadcaster, I mentioned that while I don’t attempt to directly emulate Sterling with my calls or my methodology—as a child of the internet, I could never manage his entirely analog style of prep—I certainly believe him to be a great example for the rest of us. John Sterling never pretended to be anyone other than himself. He was genuinely, authentically, himself. And since he embraced that so fully, I could never get too upset when he made a gaffe on the air.
Upon reflecting on my short time broadcasting in the wake of Sterling’s death, I recognized that originality to be his greatest quality, and one I should embrace in my own work. I shouldn’t get too caught up in the details and grade myself so harshly, as I’m wont to do. The most important question is: first and foremost, did I call this game the way I like to call games? Did I narrate with enthusiasm, passion, and a good sense of humor? Do I think my audience enjoyed themselves listening to me? If yes—and the answer is usually yes—then I succeeded.
John Sterling always passed that test. He was an inspiration to every aspiring broadcaster seeking to find their voice, and while I’ll miss him, I’ll always be thankful for his example. Rest easy, John.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 01: Starting pitcher Jake Bennett #64 of the Boston Red Sox throws against the Houston Astros during his MLB debut in the first inning at Fenway Park on May 01, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jake Bennett knows that he’s probably going back to Worcester in the very near future. Sonny Gray is back. Garrett Crochet will likely be back soon. Ranger Suarez probably won’t even go on the IL. Payton Tolle doesn’t want to relinquish his rotation spot, nor does Brayan Bello, who hopefully has turned a Nick Pivetta-esque corner after shining in a bulk role against the Tigers. Unfortunately, there’s just not that much room for Bennett, a guy who is young, and unrefined, and easy to send west on the pike. And he’s probably ok with that; he knows he’ll have plenty of chances.
But I also have no doubt that, buried somewhere in the back of Bennett’s brain is another idea, one he’s probably been thinking about for the last five days: he knows that there’s a chance — a small chance but a real one nonetheless — that he could pitch well enough tonight to stay up. It would take a lot for him to dislodge one of the names ahead of him, even the struggling Brayan Bell0. He’ll need to show more than promise, he’ll need to show dominance. Double-digit strikeouts, flirtation with a no-hitter, something like that. It will have to be something big. It’s not very likely, but he knows it’s possible.
Jake Bennett pitched the biggest game of his life when he made his MLB debut against the Astros last week. Six days later, he’s pitching the biggest game of his life again.
Jared Jones continues to work his way back to the Major Leagues.
Jones made his second rehab start in the minor league for the Pittsburgh Pirates, suiting up for Triple-A Indianapolis.
The 24-year-old right-hander totaled three innings of one-run ball against the Omaha Storm Chasers.
Jones allowed five hits, walked one, and struck out two. He threw 54 pitches, 35 for strikes.
The outing was the second time Jones has competed on the mound against another team since September 27, 2024.
He delivered three scoreless innings for the Bradenton Marauders and struck out five last week.
The road hasn’t been easy for Jones, who experienced arm issues during spring training last year and missed the entire season.
Pirates insider Jason Mackey said on 93.7 The Fan on Wednesday that Jones likely needs four to five rehab outings before re-joining the team.
That would slot Jones for a late May, early June return to the Pirates rotation.
Pittsburgh needs depth in its pitching staff, especially the bullpen. Jones’ return could bump Carmen Mlodzinski back to the bullpen, where he’s spent the majority of his MLB career.
Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Braxton Ashcraft entered Thursday with ERA’s under 3.02, with Skenes the lowest at 2.36
Jones topped out at 100 mph for the Indians in a decent outing, but is only halfway to taking an MLB mound again.
General Manager Ben Cherington said on his radio show last Sunday that the Pirates view Jones as a starter long-term. The Pirates could consider a six-man rotation, managing innings for Ashcraft, Mlodzinski, and Bubba Chandler.
It would also tinker with Skenes and Keller’s routines, which the Pirates may not want to adjust.
Jones is in line to make his next rehab start next week.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals tags out Kody Clemens #2 of the Minnesota Twins at home plate during the second inning at Nationals Park on May 7, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Boy did the Washington Nationals catchers eat their wheaties in this series! After a massive game from Drew Millas last night, Keibert Ruiz one upped him, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and a homer. Ruiz’s homer in the 7th inning gave the Nats a lead they would not relinquish thanks to some solid work from the bullpen.
Keibert Ruiz’s struggles at the plate have been well documented at this point, but in this contest, the Nats catcher exercised some demons. He was hitting rockets all over the yard all afternoon. In his first two at bats, Ruiz drilled RBI doubles. Then, after the Nats gave up their fragile one run lead in the top of the 7th, Ruiz immediately responded by hitting a solo homer to right.
He had 8 total bases on the day and raised his OPS to .633 for the season. Ruiz has actually made major defensive improvements this season, but it was tough for fans to pay attention to that with how bad he was at the plate. Today, he delivered in a massive way.
This game was a back and forth affair throughout. The Twins jumped out to an early 2-0 in the second, but the Nats responded with two runs of their own in the second. Then the Twins would get their lead back after a pair of hits in the fifth inning. Jake Irvin did not have his best stuff in this one, and his velocity was down, but he kept the Nats in the game.
After some Keibert Ruiz heroics and some sloppy Twins defense in the bottom of the 5th, the Nats came away with a 5-3 lead. However, as was the norm in this game, the Twins immediately answered back with a Ryan Jeffers home run. That was the end of the line for Jake Irvin in this one and he handed the ball over to Richard Lovelady.
Lovelady was erratic with two walks and a hit by pitch. However, he did get two outs, including a big strikeout with the bases loaded. That set up a matchup between Byron Buxton and Orlando Ribalta with no room for error. After getting to a 3-2 count, Ribalta fired a perfect slider to strike out Buxton and get out of the inning.
It was a 5-4 game, and the lead felt very tenuous. That anxiety proved to be well placed, as the Twins tied the game in the 7th, with old friend Josh Bell delivering a pinch hit down the line to tie the game.
However, as we discussed, Keibert Ruiz quickly restored the Nats lead. The Nats took advantage of a shaky Twins bullpen for a second straight day. After the Ruiz homer, the boys strung together three straight hits, capped off by a Curtis Mead RBI single to get an important insurance run.
Mead has been really solid for the Nats lately. The Aussie has been providing the Nats with quality at bats and solid production lately. While he is only hitting .220, his OPS is in a nice spot, at .758. With the Nats lack of right handed bats, I think Mead should get more playing time over Luis Garcia Jr., who is struggling right now.
With a 7-5 lead, it was up to the bullpen to hold their nerve. PJ Poulin and Gus Varland did just that. After Poulin got the first two outs in the 8th, Varland came in and got a four out save. He blew away James Outman to secure the victory, and the Nats got their first home series win of the season.
Gus Varland closes it out and the Nats take the game 7-5 to win their first series at home this season! pic.twitter.com/9BuC8onr09
These Nats have done a nice job keeping their heads above water. They are now just two games under .500 at 18-20. This was a series they should have won, and they did just that, dispatching a mediocre Twins team two nights in a row after dropping the first game.
Now, the Nats head to Miami where they will face the Marlins for the first time this season. On paper, this is another opportunity for a series win. They seem to have finally conquered the home demons, and now they head back on the road where they have excelled this season.
SWR seen here dancing to Chappell Roan music, I assume. | Getty Images
I wrote in my preview about Simeon Woods Richardson’s struggles so far this year, and this start was no different. It didn’t matter what pitch he threw, the Nationals saw the ball well, weren’t chasing, and made him work for every one of the few outs he could get. As the titular Chappell Roan once said, sometimes you have to “stand face to face with I told you so.”
The Twins had their Coffee early today, jumping out to score two in the second inning and likely could have had three. Nationals starter (and Bloomington native) Jake Irvin allowed a single, walk, and HBP to load the bases for new clutch hitter Brooks Lee, who delivered a two run single to break the seal. Kody Clemens tried to score on a short fly ball, but two-time Gold Glove finalist Jacob Young made a Femininomenon-al throw to nail Clemens with plenty of time to spare.
A Ryan Jeffers two-out double gave the Twins a chance to add on in the third inning, but forgot that Austin Martin’s Guilty Pleasure is getting thrown out on the bases. Martin blew through the stop sign at third to end their second straight inning with a preventable out at home plate. Regardless of the mistakes, the Twins were off to a good start, hitting the ball around the field and leading 2-0.
Simeon Woods Richardson had something to say about that, though. There wasn’t any individual issues that set him back, but a single here, double there, sac fly over there just kept piling on and his inability to strike batters out meant there was no way out of these jams without allowing runs. The Nats dinked and dumped their way to a 5-3 lead by the time SWR was done and the Twins simply don’t have the relievers to withstand their starter giving up that many runs. It’s like trying to see through a Kaleidoscope.
The Twins had a chance for a big 6th inning, but were unable to capitalize on free bring the game within one. New Nats pitcher Dicky Lovelady (this one isn’t even a joke, it’s just straight up his preferred nickname) hit Matt “cement bones” Wallner and walked Luke Keaschall. A perfect sac bunt by Kody Clemens and Brooks Lee walk juiced the bases with one out for Gray and Buxton, both of whom Casual-ly struck out to end the threat.
Luckily, Minnesota’s Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl(positive) Ryan Jeffers wouldn’t let the Twins die. After crushing a homer and a double in his previous two ABs, Jeffers got on his Pink Pony (Club) and hustled to second on a soft 55 MPH squibber up the first base line. Pinch hitter Josh Bell followed with a double off the left field wall to knot the game at five apiece.
You’ll be shocked to hear this, but the Twins’ bad bullpen almost immediately gave the lead right back. Keibert Ruiz decided that his Kink is Karma and got a slow John Klein fastball down the heart of the plate and ordered it Hot to Go out to the right field bleachers. A double from All-Star James Wood and a couple soft singles gave the Nats one more to put them up 7-5 for good.
After getting hit around and lacking general control of the strike zone all afternoon, SWR was lifted after 4.1 innings and allowing four hits, two walks, and five runs while striking out just two batters. He got just a single swing-and-miss on a non-fastball. His poor results today should drop him below Dodgers’ pitcher Justin Wrobleski for the worst strikeout rate in the league. Among the 125 pitchers with at least 30 innings, he’s also in the bottom five in ERA, FIP, xFIP, SIERA, batting average against, WHIP, home run rate, win probability added, and fWAR. There’s no way to spin it, he’s been downright terrible. Unfortunately, with Zebby Matthews struggling, Kendry Rojas on a strict pitch limit, and Andrew Morris and John Klein transitioning to bullpen roles, there’s no one readily available to replace him.
Mar 30, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) celebrates his three run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are back in town, as they’ll take on the New York Yankees with Jackson Chourio ready to suit up for the first time at home this season. Milwaukee is coming off a series split with the Cardinals, as the second game of the series was rained out and rescheduled for early July. The Crew is now 19-16 on the season, tied for third place in the NL Central (though the rest of the division is all in action on Thursday).
On the other side, the Yankees have won six of their seven games this month, including taking two of three from the Rangers entering the weekend. They’re now 26-12 on the season, giving them the best record in the American League.
Also of note: This is the first matchup between these two teams since the Yankees crushed the Brewers to begin the 2025 season. In that three-game set, the Yankees won 4-2, 20-9, and 12-3 and hit 15 home runs thanks to the magical torpedo bats.
With the return of Chourio and first baseman Andrew Vaughn, the Brewers’ injured list suddenly looks much more manageable. While Garrett Mitchell and Brice Turang both missed a game due to illness this week, it doesn’t seem like anything serious. The only injured regular position player is Christian Yelich, who is expected to take live at-bats next week, with a return in the coming weeks still likely. The pitching staff is currently without Quinn Priester, Brandon Woodruff, Rob Zastryzny, Jared Koenig, and Angel Zerpa. All but Zerpa and Priester are hoping to return before the end of May — Koenig may be delayed until early June, while Priester is TBD after returning from his rehab assignment with shoulder discomfort and Zerpa is out for the season (and part of 2027) with Tommy John surgery scheduled for May 11.
As good as the Yankees have been, they’re without a few key names currently. Beyond Carlos Rodón, who is slated to start in Sunday’s series finale (see below), they’re currently without Gerrit Cole (rehabbing from Tommy John, slated to return in late May/June), Clarke Schmidt (Tommy John, out until late 2026), Giancarlo Stanton (TBD), and Angel Chivilli (TBD). First baseman Ben Rice is day-to-day with a left hand contusion, and outfielder Jasson Domínguez exited Thursday’s game in the first inning after a hard collision with the outfield wall. He’s currently in concussion protocol and is undergoing an MRI on his left shoulder. Lastly, left-hander Ryan Weathers, originally scheduled to start on Thursday, had a viral infection that pushed his start back to Monday against the Orioles, meaning the Brewers won’t face him this weekend.
Despite all the runs they’ve managed to score this season, the Brewer offense remains light on homers. Turang, Jake Bauers, and Gary Sánchez sit tied atop the team leaderboard with five homers each, with William Contreras and Sal Frelick adding three each. The addition of Vaughn and Chourio will hopefully give the offense more life, as the team swapped them in for the light-hitting DFA’d Greg Jones and optioned Blake Perkins to Triple-A. Mitchell, Tyler Black, David Hamilton, Brandon Lockridge, Joey Ortiz, and Luis Rengifo round out the position player group. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .243/.337/.359 (.696 OPS ranks 20th), with 24 homers (29th), 181 runs (ninth), and 38 steals (tied for third)
Aaron Judge and Rice have been the big boppers in New York this season, with 15 and 12 homers, respectively. Cody Bellinger and former Brewer Trent Grisham add five apiece. José Caballero and Jazz Chisholm both have some pop but are also providing the speed, with 13 and 11 steals, respectively. Austin Wells, J.C. Escarra, Paul Goldschmidt, Ryan McMahon, Amed Rosario, Max Schuemann, and Domínguez round out the roster. As a team, the Yankees are hitting .244/.338/.456 (.794 OPS ranks second), with 61 homers (first), 209 runs (second), and 39 steals (tied for first).
Grant Anderson (18 appearances, 3.18 ERA), Aaron Ashby (17 appearances, 2.35 ERA), and DL Hall (15 appearances, 1.59 ERA) have been the cornerstones of Milwaukee’s bullpen this season, as they lead the team in both appearances and ERA. Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill have both shown flashes of their 2025 selves, but they’ve also had some stinkers on the mound. Jake Woodford has become a solid late-game, low-leverage option, and youngsters Shane Drohan and Brian Fitzpatrick round things out. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.60 team ERA (fifth), including a 3.53 starter ERA (sixth) and a 3.67 bullpen ERA (ninth). They’ve struck out 327 batters (tied for 10th) over 310 1/3 innings.
Brent Headrick (20 appearances, 1.37 ERA), Fernando Cruz (17 appearances, 2.63 ERA), and Tim Hill (17 appearances, 1.13 ERA) lead the Yankees in both appearances and ERA this season. David Bednar is 10-for-11 in save opportunities with a 3.52 ERA, while Camilo Doval and Jake Bird have both gotten out to rough starts, with a 5.79 ERA and 5.11 ERA, respectively. Veterans Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn round out the ‘pen. As a staff, the Yankees have a 3.04 team ERA (first), including a 2.97 starter ERA (first) and a 3.16 bullpen ERA (third). They’ve struck out 331 batters (ninth) over 337 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, May 8 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (2-2, 2.84 ERA, 2.98 FIP) vs. LHP Max Fried (4-1, 2.39 ERA, 2.72 FIP)
Misiorowski has continued to impress even with some shakier outings along the way. He’s coming off one of the best starts of his career, as he went 5 1/3 no-hit innings against the Nationals before being pulled with cramping. He’s reportedly OK though, and we’ll see if he can make it through his full start this time around. Misiorowski, who debuted midseason last year, missed the season-opening series with the Yankees a year ago, meaning this is his first career appearance against them.
Fried, 32, is in his 10th MLB season and second as a Yankee. After finishing fourth in AL Cy Young voting and leading the majors with 19 wins a year ago, he’s started strong once again in 2026. Over eight starts, he’s pitched a league-leading 52 2/3 innings, allowing 14 runs on just one homer with 43 strikeouts. After a pair of scoreless appearances totaling 14 innings against the Red Sox and Rangers, he had a bit of a rougher start in his last outing against the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. Fried has made six career starts against Milwaukee, with a 3-1 record, a 2.84 ERA, and 29 strikeouts over 31 2/3 innings. That includes a 4 2/3 inning appearance last March, when he allowed six runs (just two earned) on seven hits and a pair of walks.
Saturday, May 9 @ 6:10 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (3-1, 2.12 ERA, 2.87 FIP) vs. RHP Cam Schlittler (5-1, 1.52 ERA, 1.74 FIP)
As impressive as Misiorowski has been, Harrison has been even better. He has an ERA at 2.12 to go with a 2.87 FIP, and he’s struck out 35 batters over 29 2/3 innings. The former third rounder went six strong against the Nationals last weekend, allowing one run on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts to pick up the win. Like Misiorowski, this will mark Harrison’s first career appearance against New York.
Schlittler, 25, has quickly become a star for the Yankees. In just his second major league season, he’s already picked up an AL-leading five wins over his first eight starts, with a sterling 1.52 ERA, 1.74 FIP, and 53 strikeouts across 47 1/3 innings. He’s allowed one earned run or fewer in each of his last four appearances, spanning 25 2/3 innings in wins over the Royals, Red Sox, Rangers, and Orioles. This will mark Schlittler’s first career appearance against Milwaukee.
Sunday, May 10 @ 1:10 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (0-1, 4.50 ERA, 0.76 FIP) vs. LHP Carlos Rodón (18-9, 3.09 ERA, 3.78 FIP in 2025)
Henderson, 24, made his second MLB start of the season (and seventh of his career) on Sunday against the Nationals. Filling in Brandon Woodruff’s spot in the rotation, he looked great, going six innings with two runs allowed on three hits and no walks while striking out eight on just 76 pitches. He unfortunately took his first career loss in that one, but he’ll look to bounce back here. Henderson is another guy who has never faced the Yankees in his career.
Rodón, 33, is slated to make his 2026 debut in the series finale. The 11-year veteran has missed the first month-plus of the season as he recovered from an elbow surgery. He posted a 3.09 ERA, 3.78 FIP, and 203 strikeouts across 195 1/3 innings last season, finishing sixth in AL Cy Young voting. The former No. 3 overall pick has made three rehab appearances, with a 3.38 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 16 innings. Also of note, he maxed out at 83 pitches in his last appearance, meaning we can expect him to target 85-90ish pitches in this one. Rodón is 2-1 with a 2.42 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 22 1/3 innings in five career appearances against Milwaukee.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, May 8: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, May 9: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, May 10: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
This should be a really fun series, with three solid pitching matchups and two of the better all-around teams in the league going head-to-head. Give me the Brewers to eke out two of three as the return of Andrew Vaughn and Jackson Chourio in Milwaukee gives the team a little extra life.
