Category: Baseball

This might be the easiest top three we have had in a while. Guess that is what happens when the team is playing good baseball – you have players performing well!

Three up

Bryce Harper – I usually don’t mess around with leaderboards on the bigger numbers until Memorial Day. I’ll use them for searching for specific things that are more granular in nature, or if I’m looking for something that fits my very specific purpose in life. So today, I changed things up and brought up the Fangraphs leaderboards for hitters. Most of the time, filtering by wRC+ shows you the best hitters in the game currently and you’d expect to see the same names. Judge, Ohtani, Yordan – these are the names that are familiar at the top. Twelfth in the game right now? Bryce Harper, holding a 159 wRC+ on the year. His season has been outstanding thus far, this week a particular example (.429/.520/1.048 in 25 PA). Sometimes, we just forget how good Harper really is.

Kyle Schwarber – Want to know who’s eleventh on said leaderboard? One Kyle Schwarber, two points ahead of Harper with a 161 wRC+. He’s on his patented heater, smashing five home runs this week, which is truly what happens when this offense is clicking. Overall, the offense hit 14 home runs on the week altogether. Not too shabby.

Brandon Marsh – It’s hard to leave off a guy who hit .519/.533/.593 on the week, so Marsh gets the third nod here. Sure, we’d rather a lot of those hits be of the extra base variety, but thinking back to when they were doing nothing at the plate during their losing streak, singles are great too.

(bonus!) Cristopher Sanchez – I mean, you can’t leave a guy off a top three that had two starts in which he didn’t allow a run over 15 innings in a week, or over 20+ innings in his last three starts. Sanchez is locked back in at the moment.

Three down

Andrew Painter – Here’s a question: if the team had a viable option in Lehigh Valley that they believed could come to the majors and make a few starts effectively, without overtaxing the bullpen each time that turn in the rotation came around, do you think they’d give Painter a quick timeout in the minors? He was dreadful against the Athletics, which we still should contextualize as just one start, but it showcased some of the concerns that are surrounding the young starter. It’s still very early to worry about anything LONG long term, but this wasn’t a good week for him.

Jesus Luzardo – Luzardo had zero idea where the strike zone was for much of his Friday night start. It was reminiscent of his midseason hiccup last year, which is a shame because he had three really good starts in a row. Of course, the usual undercurrent of pitch tipping was there, but he just kind of stunk Friday.

backup catching – When J.T. Realmuto got hurt, one might not have expected the backup catchers to bring all of the value Realmuto brings to the team, but maybe some kind of semblance of offensive aptitude. Yet this week is a stark reminder: when Realmuto gets hurt and has to miss any chunks of time, the Phillies are in real trouble behind the plate. At least Garrett Stubbs can contribute on the mound…

Tacoma Rainiers

Tacoma squandered a series split with an extra-innings loss in Sunday’s contest, dropping the six game set by a score of 4-2. Despite the loss, the series still managed to provide plenty of outstanding performances offensively, perhaps providing a glimpse at a few bats that could be up with the Mariners awfully soon.

Colt Emerson had a great week at the plate and looks to be making strides in adjusting to Triple-A pitching. The young shortstop collected ten hits this week, one of which was a massive homer he launched out to dead center. Though he’s still striking out more than you’d like to see, at just 20 years old, it’s tough to knock Emerson too much for any early season shortcomings. He’s clearly making progress, and that’s ultimately what matters most for his future as a Seattle Mariner.

Brennen Davis was a monster at the plate this series, taking full advantage of the hitter-friendly stadium in El Paso. Logging 12 hits on the week, Davis’ six doubles and two homers raised his season OPS up to .965 and make him an incredibly attractive candidate to serve as the right-handed platoon mate to Luke Raley or Dom Canzone. He’s a guy I’d expect to get some run with the major league team this year.

Arkansas Travelers

The Travs pulled off yet another series win this week, taking this one by a score of 4-2 over an excellent Tulsa team. This team is playing great baseball right now, and now with both a reliable rotation and complete lineup, they’re looking more and more like the favorite for a first-half crown. There’s still a long way to go, but their turnaround in such a short timeframe has been remarkable.

Kade Anderson continued his bid for top pitching prospect in baseball this week, working another 5.2 innings of one run ball that featured just three baserunners allowed and nine strikeouts. It’s unbelievable how good he’s been across his first 30 innings of professional baseball, seemingly requiring zero time to adjust to the increased difficulty. Whether it’s Tacoma with the Rainiers or the M’s in the big leagues, don’t be surprised if he’s pitching in the PNW sooner than later.

Ryan Sloan posted one of his better starts in Double-A this week, allowing just one earned run across five frames. Striking out six and walking none, Sloan’s needed some time to get acclimated with Double-A, but this was a great bounceback for him after a bit of a stinker last week. He remains right up there with Anderson in terms of overall potential despite his surface numbers not looking nearly as shiny.

Everett AquaSox

Everett had a dominant week in Hillsboro this week, taking all but one game from the Hops in the weekly slate. This offense has been truly relentless.

There is no other place to start than with Felnin Celesten and his scorching hot bat. Collecting another ten hits this week, Celesten has been on an absolute tear for the better part of three weeks and looks like the superstar player many have thought he’s capable of being. Maintaining a gaudy .484/.553/.839 slash on the month, Celesten has seemingly flipped a switch and ascended to new heights. He’ll head to Arkansas sometime this summer to try his hand against the Texas League.

Luke Stevenson didn’t have his best week offensively, but his plate discipline and power give him such a high floor that even his down stretches are productive. Rocketing two more homers this week, Stevenson seems like a lock to follow the aforementioned Celesten up to Arkansas this summer, a level that will be a massive test to see if his bat-to-ball shortcomings rear their head against the improved stuff. Still just 21 years old, Stevenson will be rocketing up prospect boards come time for midseason reranks.

Inland Empire 66ers

The 66ers caught a series win this week, taking four of six against a very solid Lake Elsinore team. Hopefully they are able to take this win and build on it, as up to this point, it’s been tough going for this 66ers squad.

Mason Peters continues to log essentially the same start every week, and fortunately for the 66ers, that start has been consistently excellent. After another four innings with six punchouts and one walk, Peters held his season ERA at 2.25 and owns a 37:6 K/BB ratio through his first 24 innings. The M’s seem to have something really exciting here.

Grant Jay had a really nice week at the plate. An uber-physical catcher with a massive throwing arm, Jay has tremendous power to pair with an uppercut swing that’s catered for launching the baseball as far as humanly possible. This does lead to quite a bit of swing-and-miss, but he’s been able to make it work thus far and has posted excellent numbers this month. Slashing .350/.458/.750 over his last seven games, watch for Jay as a late round sleeper that could pop.

ACL Mariners

The Baby M’s had their first full slate this week, netting an even 3-3 record across their first six. This team has some super exciting names on it, and though it’s going to be several years before they end up contributing at the big league level, many of these players will be leading the next wave of great Mariner prospects.

Yorger Bautista has been dialed in at the plate to kick off his 2026 season. Already with a walkoff bomb under his belt, Bautista has led the way for the M’s offensively and seems to be well adjusted right now. Though the strikeouts are still a touch high, he’s slashing .286/.375/.571, good for a .946 OPS. He’s a tantalizing talent that should absolutely be on people’s radar as a breakout candidate.

Worcester: L, 2-3 (BOX SCORE)

Alec Gamboa went from making his Major League debut earlier in the weekend to pitching five innings of one-run baseball for the WooSox in the finale against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees AAA). Unfortunately, Jack Anderson would come in and let up what would become the game-losing home run, but let’s not pin that all on him. The WooSox looked listless with runners on at the plate, stranding eleven and having just one run until the ninth inning. At least a lot of guys got their knocks, though, with everyone but Kristian Campbell having at least a hit, and even he reached on a walk. It just wasn’t enough to capitalize overall, and the WooSox lost a close one.

Portland: W, 11-4 (BOX SCORE)

For those excited for last year’s third round draft pick Anthony Eyanson to skyrocket through the system , you have reason to be: he looked good in his AA debut, and despite going just four innings he struck out four Fisher Cats (Blue Jays AA) and allowed just a run on three hits and a walk. Eyanson, a product of LSU (Geaux Tigers!), was pretty much untouchable in his time in Greenville to start the year and was given a well-deserved promotion following a combination of his results and his fastball being nasty, topping out at 98. The 21-year-old wasn’t quite as dominant in his first time facing Double-A bats but was also backed up by a great offense, including a white-hot Brooks Brannon having an incredible game: 4 for 4 with a home run, two doubles, a walk and five total RBIs. While the catcher was a big reason for the Sea Dogs’ success, Franklin Arias also had a great day with four hits as his average creeps back up over .350.

It is worth wondering how quickly Eyanson climbs the organization with him already achieving success in college, being seasoned through that success, and being awesome so far in his professional career. This is the same organization that saw Payton Tolle go from Greenville to the Majors in the same season just 12 months ago, so, really, the sky may be the limit.

Greenville: L, 11-14 (BOX SCORE)

The Drive are having a disastrous season defensively thus far, and that nightmare continued in Greensboro (Pirates High-A) as the team has still won just one game in May. They’ve now allowed at least ten runs four times this week, and have scored at least nine runs and still lost in three of those. A big part of this game starting off on the wrong foot was due to the Drive finding themselves down 10-0 at some point due to the Grasshoppers treating Luis Cohen’s start like it was batting practice, and it didn’t get better from there, as Joey Gartrell eventually had to just wear some of it while eating some mop-up innings before tempering the lineup down for the remainder of his appearance. Greenville made it appear close by hitting two home runs in the ninth, but this game was never even within striking distance.

Salem: : W, 3-13 (BOX SCORE)

Another game that wasn’t within striking distance due to a towering righty from Georgia, Leighton Finley, making light work (Orioles A) of Delmarva for his five innings. Finley actually may have been able to go longer in this one if he wasn’t already at 73 pitches through 5; he has never pitched into the sixth in his professional career as of yet. He departed with a 13-2 lead thanks to the RidgeYaks’ six hits with runners in scoring position, and while you, the reader, or I could have at least generated some outs with that lead, it’s good that these professional pitchers were also able to do so without the game even coming close.

Have a mysterious Monday.

The Milwaukee Brewers will enjoy what feels like their 20th off day on Monday in Milwaukee before hosting the San Diego Padres for three games beginning Tuesday evening. The Crew, coming off a big three-game sweep of the Yankees, is sitting at 22-16 on the season, tied with the Cardinals for second place in the NL Central. The Padres, coming off a 2-2 series split with the Cardinals, are 24-16 this season and find themselves tied atop the NL West with the Dodgers.

After getting Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn back last week, the Brewers are still waiting on Christian Yelich to rejoin the lineup. It seems possible — if not likely — that Yelich could be ready for this series. The team also lost outfielder Brandon Lockridge on a nasty slide that injured his right knee on Friday night, an injury that is likely to keep him out for at least a few weeks/a month, though it seems he avoided the worst-case scenario as initial X-rays came back negative. For the pitching staff, Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and lefty relievers Angel Zerpa, Rob Zastryzny, and Jared Koenig are all out. Woodruff is set to resume throwing this week, meaning he could be back in the next week or two, while Priester’s return is TBD after dealing with shoulder soreness during his rehab assignment. Zerpa is out for the season as he’ll undergo Tommy John surgery today, and Zastryzny and Koenig are both targeting late May/early June returns.

The Padres IL is a balanced mix of pitchers and position players. On the pitching front, San Diego is without Jhony Brito (midseason), Joe Musgrove (second half), Nick Pivetta (midseason), Bryan Hoeing (out for season), and Yu Darvish (out for season) with serious injuries. Germán Márquez is also out until at least June with a forearm injury. On the offensive side, the team is without Jake Cronenworth, who is in concussion protocol, and catcher Luis Campusano, who went on the IL last week with a big toe fracture, keeping him out until at least late May.

Brice Turang leads Milwaukee’s offense through the first month-plus of the season, as he has six homers, eight doubles, and is hitting .298/.422/.511 overall. William Contreras and Chourio round out the heart of the lineup, while Jake Bauers and Gary Sánchez have also been key contributors, especially on the power front. The returning Vaughn is another major boost to the lineup, and Tyler Black, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, Blake Perkins, Luis Rengifo, and Joey Ortiz round things out. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .240/.333/.353 (.686 OPS ranks tied for 24th), with 26 homers (tied for last), 195 runs (eighth), and 40 steals (tied for fourth).

The leaders of San Diego’s offense are probably not who you’d think. Xander Bogaerts leads the team with seven homers, and Manny Machado is right behind him with six (though he’s hitting just .191/.294/.353 on the season). Ty France has had quite a bit of success, albeit in a small sample size, as he’s only played in 23 games, while Jackson Merrill, Gavin Sheets, and Ramón Laureano have also been key pieces offensively. Fernando Tatis Jr. has no homers, though he has driven in 15, scored 14 runs, and has 10 steals through 39 games.
Freddy Fermin, Miguel Andujar, Rodolfo Durán, Sung-Mun Song, Nick Castellanos, and Bryce Johnson round out the active roster. As a team, the Padres are hitting .223/.297/.370 (.667 OPS ranks tied for 27th), with 39 homers (20th), 170 runs (tied for 19th), and 40 steals (tied for fourth).

Aaron Ashby leads Milwaukee’s bullpen with 19 appearances, spanning 26 innings with a 2.08 ERA, a perfect 7-0 record, and 41 strikeouts. Grant Anderson and DL Hall have been the other fairly reliable arms, while Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill have also been solid pieces, even if their ERAs may not show it. Jake Woodford has been a key low-leverage piece for Milwaukee, with Shane Drohan and Brian Fitzpatrick rounding things out. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.43 team ERA (fourth), including a 3.44 starter ERA (sixth) and a 3.42 bullpen ERA (eighth). They’ve struck out 366 batters (fifth) over 338 1/3 innings.

Mason Miller leads the Padres’ pitching staff in virtually every category. Across a team-high 18 appearances, he’s a perfect 12-for-12 in save chances with just two runs allowed (0.96 ERA) and 38 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings. Adrian Morejon, the only other reliever with 18 appearances, has a less-than-sterling 5.57 ERA, while Wandy Peralta (3.00 ERA over 18 IP), Bradgley Rodriguez (1.83 ERA over 19 2/3 IP), and Jason Adam (1.50 ERA over 12 IP) are the other key pieces. Ron Marinaccio (4.37 ERA over 22 2/3 IP), Jeremiah Estrada (3.97 ERA over 11 1/3 IP), and Yuki Matsui (2 2/3 scoreless innings in one appearance since IL stint) round out the bullpen for San Diego. As a staff, the Padres have a 4.07 team ERA (15th), including a 4.55 starter ERA (23rd) and a 3.50 bullpen ERA (ninth). They’ve struck out 350 batters (12th) over 358 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Tuesday, May 12 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (0-2, 5.87 ERA, 6.00 FIP) vs. RHP Matt Waldron (1-1, 7.71 ERA, 5.43 FIP)

Entering his 10th career start (12th career appearance) in his second season, Sproat is still seeking his first major league win as he’s 0-4 with a 5.44 ERA thus far in his young career. The 25-year-old righty had a solid outing against the Cardinals in his last appearance, going four scoreless innings, allowing three walks, a hit, and a hit batter to go with five strikeouts on 76 pitches. This marks Sproat’s first career appearance against San Diego.

Waldron, 29, is in his fourth MLB season, all with the Padres. After making 27 appearances (26 starts) in 2024, he’s had a 7.71 ERA over five appearances (four starts) in 2025 and 2026. Waldron tossed five innings after an opener in his last appearance against the Giants, picking up the win, allowing just one run on two hits (including a solo homer) and striking out seven on just 67 pitches. Waldron has never pitched against the Brewers.

Wednesday, May 13 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (3-2, 2.45 ERA, 2.63 FIP) vs. RHP Michael King (3-2, 2.76 ERA, 3.87 FIP)

Misiorowski, 24, is also in his second major league season, though he’s had quite a bit more success compared to Sproat. Over 23 career appearances (22 starts), Miz has a 3.60 ERA, 3.22 FIP, and 157 strikeouts over just 110 innings, including an MLB-leading 70 strikeouts over 44 innings this year. He’s coming off back-to-back wins against the Nationals and Yankees, totaling 11 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits and four walks allowed, striking out 19, including 11 against the mighty New York lineup. This marks Misiorowski’s first career appearance against San Diego.

King, 31 later this month, is in his eighth MLB season and third with the Padres after spending the first five with the Yankees. The former 12th-round pick has made eight starts this season, with a 2.76 ERA, 3.87 FIP, and 45 strikeouts across 45 2/3 innings. He took a no-decision against the Cardinals in his last outing, going six innings with one run allowed on two walks and a hit (a solo homer), striking out six in a 2-1 loss. King has made three career starts against Milwaukee, including a pair while with the Padres. He’s 0-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 27 strikeouts across 18 2/3 innings in those games.

Thursday, May 14 @ 12:40 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (3-1, 2.41 ERA, 3.28 FIP) vs. RHP Griffin Canning (0-1, 6.75 ERA, 3.56 FIP)

Harrison, 24, has had a great start to his Milwaukee tenure after being acquired this offseason from the Red Sox. Over seven starts this year, he has a 2.41 ERA, 3.28 FIP, and 41 strikeouts across 33 2/3 innings, allowing two runs or fewer in all seven outings. He took a no-decision in an abbreviated start on Saturday night against the Yankees, going just four innings with two runs allowed on four hits and four walks, striking out six. Harrison has made three career starts against San Diego, all during his time with the Giants. He’s totaled 16 innings, with a 1-1 record, a 7.31 ERA, and 13 strikeouts against the Padres.

Canning, who turns 30 on Monday, is in his seventh MLB season and first as a Padre after agreeing to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. After missing the second half of last season and the beginning of this year due to left Achilles surgery, Canning was activated earlier this month and has made two starts this season. After going five innings and allowing one run on three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in his season debut against the White Sox, he got hit hard for six runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out five in a loss against the Cardinals in his last outing. The longtime Angel made his only career appearance against Milwaukee while with Los Angeles, taking the loss in a 2024 start where he went five innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks to go with four strikeouts.

How to Watch & Listen

Tuesday, May 12: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Wednesday, May 13: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Thursday, May 14: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Prediction

The Padres have been a consistent threat over the last several years, making the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. This should be a fun midweek battle, but I’ll take the Crew to win two of three to wrap up the homestand.

Thanks to everyone who asked questions for today’s off-day mailbag! I especially appreciate the slightly unhinged ones.

Speaking of which, since I do not have an answer to the question of why God hates the Mets (though after a few months here, I must admit I can’t dispute the premise), I figured I would focus on some slightly less existential ones for now. Here’s what I’ve got…

“As Gary and Keith discussed, why not bring up [A.J.] Ewing and [Nick Morabito]? At least that gives me a look at a possible future. What good are retreads Slater and Ibanez?” – @FAN5577

I think the main concern with bringing up either of those guys is rushing them: Morabito has only been in Triple-A since Opening Day, and Ewing only has 12 games there (though he is hitting .326 with an .827 OPS, so he seems to have adjusted quickly). Their numbers are good, yes. But as we saw with Carson Benge early in the year, the jump from Triple-A pitching to major league pitching is substantial and requires time for adjustment.

The risk in calling up Ewing and/or Morabito would be that they are called upon to help a struggling team, find themselves unable to do so, and need to be sent back down with less confidence as the big-league team continues to flounder. Now, of course, they could also adjust quickly. They could thrive. But having watched the Nationals and Orioles thrust young players into key roles out of need over the last few years – or even watched the way the Red Sox have struggled counting on young guys to make leaps for them this year -- I can say that relying on young players to fix things is a risk to the franchise in the present and the future.

Still, to your point, calling up one or both of those guys at least ensures that more at-bats on this struggling Mets team will go to players who are likely to be part of good Mets teams to come. Austin Slater, Andy Ibañez, Vidal Brujan and whoever else they funnel into these spots are not the answer now or in the future. They are Band-Aids. And I think one can argue they should be ripped off in favor of more substantial roster interventions.

But more substantial roster intervention would require a shift in posture from David Stearns and his front office, who, to this point, have preached patience with a historically expensive roster. If they suddenly decide that the Mets’ slow start means they should prioritize the future over success this year, then yes, calling those players up makes sense. But it does not seem the front office is there yet. And if it gets to the point of surrender, calling up young players will be the least significant move it will probably make between now and the trade deadline.

“Is there anything to point to in spring training or otherwise that might help explain why the team is so impacted by significant injuries so early this year? Or is it just bad luck?” – Fir Douglass on BlueSky

I think the Mets are so impacted by injuries because they built their roster around a few players who have a history of injury. Period. End of story. Stearns took a risk this winter: As part of his roster remodel, he bet that the Mets could keep Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. healthier than any of their previous teams ever had. Even with careful handling in spring training and beyond, they couldn’t. Robert’s back has not yet allowed him to do baseball activities. Polanco’s bursitis lingers, flaring up seemingly whenever he threatens to make progress, and is not the kind of injury that will simply go away.

Juan Soto, I think, is pure bad luck. He has so little history of injury and returned so quickly that his calf issue seems to be a blip. As for Francisco Lindor, I think the Mets might have to confront a new reality there: Between the back issue at the end of last season, his elbow cleanup in October, the hamate bone break in spring training, and now the calf injury, the 32-year-old is no longer as invincible as the guy who has played at least 158 games in six of his 12 seasons (and all 60 during the Covid campaign).

Ronny Mauricio, Mike Tauchman,and Jared Young seem to fall more in the bad luck category. But if it weren’t for the injuries to the players they were needed to replace, their injuries would not be substantial enough to derail the Mets like the others.

No one can predict injuries. Every player expects to be healthy. But I think it is the job of the front office to make sure their team is not counting on players to be healthier than they have ever been, and the Mets look like victims of their own optimism so far.

“How can Cohen justify leaving Stearns in his role? He created this mess of a roster. He can’t be trusted to fix it, can he?” -- @Big_John1906

Everything I have heard about Steve Cohen’s stance during the last few weeks is that it is largely one of patience. Stearns would not have told MLB.com he is not firing Carlos Mendoza had Cohen not ok’ed the message. And Cohen does not have a history of dramatic reactivity.

That being said, Cohen knew what he was doing when he told reporters in spring training that he is annoyed that his team has not won regularly during his tenure. He was not bloviating when he said the Mets “have to make the playoffs.” With a roster as expensive as his, that standard seems more than fair.

All of which is to say, I think Cohen gives Stearns a chance to fix this between now and the end of the season. If they miss the playoffs, I do not think he will get more chances beyond that.

“If you were Stearns, what would you do in this situation?” – Brian Bardin on BlueSky

I have thought about this a lot, and I am aware there are always things we don’t know about why some moves have been made and not others. For example, while I have heard the Mets are in contact with teams about potentially moving a pitcher for help, I do not know exactly what offers they have had or considered, so exactly what kind of roster shakeup is available to them is not entirely clear to me.

Still, the first thing I would do is go to Cohen and say, do you want me to try to save this season at any cost, or do you want me to operate with an eye toward the future. If he says the former, I would take advantage of my financial flexibility and pursue a major trade for a big contract that might bring in a new veteran presence and might also bring in some kind of bullpen help or starting depth if I shouldered enough of the money.

There are several veterans around the sport who look uncomfortable with their current teams. Rafael Devers looks hapless with the frustrated San Francisco Giants. Trevor Story is struggling, even as he is vocally frustrated with Red Sox management: Could the Mets pair a deal for him and his contract while grabbing an outfielder from Boston’s longstanding logjam? The Orioles could use some infield depth, and while the Mets might not have it to offer, perhaps some kind of mutual shakeup is possible there. If that sounds like throwing good money after bad, it might be. But if the whole season is going to be bad money anyway, might as well see if a fresh start for a player with a strong track record can help revive him and the Mets at once.

Mostly, I would hunt for a first baseman who can hit for power. There are plenty of them around and securing one would not eliminate Polanco’s usefulness when and if he is healthy. Polanco, famously, has never been a full-time first baseman anyway. Bumping him into more of a utility role deepens the team immediately.

Absent options there, I would make clear that a $400 million-dollar roster is not a place to experiment, but rather a place where every spot is earned.

For example: Sean Manaea is neither starter nor effective short reliever. The Mets do not need a long reliever, since they have Tobias Myers. Keeping Manaea on the roster means working around him when the only thing the Mets should be worried about is winning games.

Besides, it does not seem fair to Manaea, who simply does not look right. When he is right, his velocity is better and his stuff is sharper. Whatever he and the team insist about his health, he has been off since spring training, throwing in the high 80s. I would see if the loose bodies he decided not to get surgically removed are still affecting that elbow, and I would suggest he remove them. He is not helpful in the bullpen as is, and the Mets need as many effective relievers as they can get. And his best chance at an effective future is likely a total physical reset.

I would also be decisive about Kodai Senga’s future. The veteran right-hander threw a bullpen this week, which means he is starting to build his way back from the lumbar spine inflammation that landed him on the injured list after several bad outings. But rosters paid nearly $400 million should not be proving grounds, and Senga has not proven he is an asset. Perhaps he could use a fresh start elsewhere. Perhaps he and the Mets have both needed one for quite some time.

Speaking of which, I would also stop patching holes with veterans trying to reestablish themselves. Tommy Pham,Slater, and the rest have been solid players throughout their careers. But they are not hitting well now, and the Mets do not have enough at-bats to give them to allow them to figure things out while playing in games the Mets must win to save their season. I would call up whichever prospects (Morabito, Ewing, Ryan Clifford) I think are most ready and let them prove they cannot handle it until injured veterans come back. The playing time they need is available in the big leagues now. I think I would let them take it.

And finally, I would tell the entire lineup, top to bottom, to take more pitches. I know the Mets are built around aggressive hitters. But that aggressiveness has not yielded good results. They are not stringing enough hits together to create consistent offense, so they need to find ways to get men on base. No more first-pitch outs from the bottom of the order down a run. If the Mets are built around hitters who cannot work the count and succeed offensively, they need to be built around different hitters. Seeing pitches does not have to come at the expense of making contact, and seeing pitches is the most proven recipe for success this sport has ever had.

If you’re a golfer, odds are you’d do just about anything if you had the chance to tee it up with Tiger Woods—especially in the mid-2000s during the peak of Tiger Woods’ career. That was the situation former MLB player Jeff Francoeur found himself in before a spring training game while on the Atlanta Braves.

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Francoeur, a huge golfer, was just 22 years old and about to play his first full season with the Atlanta Braves. So asking his manager if he could play hooky to go play golf would’ve been a bold move. Luckily, he had an even bigger golfer on his team—John Smoltz, who was legendary for his golf escapades en route to a Hall of Fame Career, was buddies with Tiger Woods and heard about the offer Francoeur had to play with Tiger.

Smoltz put in a good word with legendary Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, and well, we have to just let Francoeur tell the story because he does a great job. Have a listen to Francoeur’s chat on a recent episode of Tim Kirkjian’s podcast with his son, Jeff.

How hilarious is that? Imagine your manager having your back that hard? Then after the game, reporters probably asked Cox about Francoeur’s sudden injury in the first inning, and Cox double-downed on it and called his infielder “day to day” with a “high ankle sprain.”

The extra cherry on the top of the story? This was 2006, when Francoeur played in all 162 games, making him only the fourth Braves player in franchise history to do so. The media must’ve been impressed by Francoeur’s iron-man-like streak, especially how he recovered so quickly from that spring training injury.

RELATED: Kevin Kisner reveals how Bryson DeChambeau messed up Team USA's Ryder Cup text chain

We still have a few more follow-up questions as golf sickos ... who else was in the group with Francoeur and Woods? How did Tiger play that day? We'll have to get Francoeur on our podcast, The Loop, soon so we can dive deeper into this hilarious story.

Make sure to follow The Loop wherever you get your podcasts (below)—we'll have Smoltz back on our podcast soon to talk some golf and baseball.

Heading into the offseason, Nats fans knew that one of the biggest needs on the team was behind the plate. Paul Toboni knew too, with the Jose A Ferrer for Harry Ford trade being his first major move. However, Ford did not make the team and is struggling in AAA. Meanwhile, neither Keibert Ruiz nor Drew Millas are hitting their weight in the big leagues.

The only positive development we have seen behind the plate is the fact that Keibert Ruiz has become competent defensively. That is actually a big win for the organization, and something I thought was impossible. With the help of Bobby Wilson, Ruiz now has a +2 fielding run value. 

The big problem for Ruiz this year has been the bat. Outside of a monster game against the Twins, the bat has shown no signs of life. He is hitting .205 with a .224 on base percentage. The crazy part is that Ruiz is pretty easily the best option behind the plate right now.

Ruiz has been in a 50/50 timeshare with Drew Millas this year. While Ruiz has been far from great, he has been better than Millas and deserves more playing time. It just feels like Millas makes at least one massive mistake in every game he plays. Yesterday it was his awful challenge. Millas challenged a pitch 3 inches off the zone, wasting the Nats last challenge. Later in that at bat, there was a pitch in the zone that was called a ball, but Millas could not challenge.

Millas has been a complete liability on both sides of the ball this season. In his brief call ups in the past, Millas showed promise on both sides, but has been exposed as a regular big leaguer. His plate discipline and blocking have completely cratered this season. As we saw yesterday, his baseball IQ is also shaky.

This would be a perfect time for the Nats to call up Harry Ford if he were performing. However, Ford has had a disastrous start to the season. After having a good season in AAA last year, the 23 year old catcher looks to have regressed a lot. He is hitting just .192 with a .572 OPS, and that number has risen a lot lately.

His strikeout rate is up nearly 10% and he is not hitting the ball as hard. It has been a real disaster for a guy who was supposed to come in and be the catcher of the present and future. The only thing that has remained a constant is his ability to draw walks and not chase. He needs his hit and power tools to get closer to big league average though.

If you want to be optimistic about Ford, he has been better in May. He has gotten on base in his last six games, and hit his first home run of the season the other day. Ford has a .778 OPS in the month of May, but that number has mainly been driven by walks.

It has been a brutal start, but with the way Millas is playing, Ford should only be a couple more good series away from a call up. Eventually we need to see what Ford has to offer. The Nats traded a good reliever for him, so we want to see a return on investment.

However, with the way Ford has started the season, it would be irresponsible to call him the nailed on catcher of the future. Scouts already had some questions about him before the season, and those concerns have only grown now. Besides his plate discipline, Ford does not have a standout trait. Hopefully his numbers last year were not just a product of the hitter friendly PCL. 

If the Nats wanted to spend some money on a catcher, this offseason could be a good time to do it. I was really impressed with what I saw from Ryan Jeffers of the Twins when they were in town. Jeffers has been a solid starting catcher for a number of years, but is having a career year this season. He is also just 28 years old. Carson Kelly and Tyler Stephenson are also going to be on the market.

While the Nats are already paying Keibert Ruiz, we all know he is not the catcher of the future. With his improved defense, he could stick around the roster as a backup, but his bat has not been there for three seasons now. 

Another catcher on the Nats books with big league experience is Riley Adams. He had been the backup the past few seasons, but the new regime picked Drew Millas over him. I think Adams is better, but he has not played since April 26th, so he must be dealing with an injury.

When the Nats picked up Harry Ford, I hoped that would be the answer to their catching woes. The early returns on that have not been positive. It is also clear that neither Keibert Ruiz or Drew Millas are the guy going forward. Beyond that, there is not a whole lot to love. Caleb Lomavita is tracking like a backup catcher, and Sir Jamison Jones has had moments, but remains a massive project.

Paul Toboni and the Nats are going to have to keep taking dart throws at catchers until they find an answer. Hopefully we can find one soon because I miss having a good catcher on this roster.

About seven or eight years ago, there was an established adage/joke among baseball fans, and it went something like this: the MLB season doesn’t officially start until Mike Trout leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. At the time, Trout was the undisputed best player in the league, and eventually other players’ hot starts would fade—leaving Trout standing alone at the top of the leaderboard.

It’s 2026 now, so maybe it’s time to give it a good ol’ update. Let’s say, oh, something along the lines of: the MLB season doesn’t officially start untilBobby Witt Jr. leads the league in Wins Above Replacement. In any case, the season has officially started, because if you go look at the Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference version of WAR, you’ll find that Witt has indeed accrued more WAR than any other American League player.

Over on Bluesky, Kevin O’Brien of Royals Keep posted Witt’s season batting percentiles and wondered if this could be the year that Witt wins the MVP. Yes, it’s just May, but again, Witt is already leading the league in WAR. Is it his to lose? Is it finally his time?

But something Kevin said in the post also stuck with me: “[Witt] doesn’t have the home runs (yet),” Kevin wrote. And while it’s very clear that Witt is an excellent and extremely valuable baseball player, I think that idea deserves a little more exploration as it pertains to Witt’s MVP chances.

There have been arguments about MVP forever, with some of them semantic and some of them philosophical. It’s the “most valuable player” award, but are we talking overall value or value to the team? To what extent do we reward individual accomplishment or positional difficulty? Do past MVPs factor into it? What about pitchers? Are there certain kinds of player who are rewarded more often?

These are all interesting arguments, but the reality is that the Baseball Writers’ Association of America—the MVP voters—essentially consider the MVP to be a “best player” award, and they generally only award a pitcher if that player is clearly the best player. But there are some other things at play, too, and I have a chart to illustrate them: the position player winners of the AL and NL MVP award dating back a dozen years, with 2020 and Shohei Ohtani’s awards thrown out for obvious reasons.

First, the best way to get an MVP award is by being the best player, but the thing about that is that there are other great players also trying to be the best player. Kris Bryant’s 2016 is a prime example here: a 7.5 fWAR season is, in the context of other MVPs, just ok. But no one else in the NL was as good, and so that 7.5 fWAR cleared. Witt, on the other hand, has had to content with Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh the last two years, both of whom put together historically great campaigns. Just no fighting that.

Second, MVP award winners clear a gigantic offensive bar. The average position player MVP winner since 2014 has had a batting average of .314 and has swatted 42 home runs en route to a wRC+ of 176. That’s the average hitter. In Witt’s best season (so far) in 2024, he was double-digit home runs away and seven points of wRC+ away from both figures.

Third, there is simply a bias towards offense in MVP award voting. Most votes go how the WAR total goes, with nearly all winners on this list ranking as the top or second-best WAR in both Fangraphs and Baseball-Reference versions. There were only three players who won

MVP and ranked below second place in either fWAR or bWAR: Mike Trout in 2019, Bryce Harper in 2021, and Paul Goldschmidt in 2022. In all three situations, the voters prioritized bat over glove, overlooking WAR to do so. In 2019, it was Alex Bregman and Marcus Semien who lost out. In 2021, it was Trea Turner and Fernando Tatis Jr. who lost out. And in 2022, it was Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado who lost out.

Witt’s game particularly vulnerable to the biases of MVP voters. Witt is a very good hitter who also happens to be the best defensive player in baseball and also one of the deadliest basestealers in the league. But Witt is not going to hit 50 home runs. He’s not going to walk at a 15% clip. He’s probably never going to hit a 169 wRC+ again. There’s a reason that none of the platinum glove winners have ever won an MVP; Arenado came the closest, but again, even though he accrued more WAR than Paul Goldschmidt, voters thought Goldschmidt’s offense was more important than Arenado’s defense.

So, is it Witt’s year to win MVP? I doubt it. That’s not because I don’t think Witt is good; on the contrary, I think Witt is clearly the best player in baseball because how he can impact the game every second he’s on the field. I’m just jaded about the process and about what voters value. I hope it is Witt’s year to win MVP, because he certainly deserves it for how good he’s been over the last two plus seasons.

Baseball's greatest rivalry is back on display for four games.

The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers will face each other in a four-game series beginning Monday, May 11 at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers are looking to defend home field in LA, just as the Giants did weeks ago in the Bay. San Francisco won two during a three-game series with Los Angeles on April 21-23 at Oracle Park.

On the field, the two go into the series with opposite records. While the Dodgers are 24-16, the Giants are 16-24. While Los Angeles is tied for first in the NL West, San Francisco sits in fourth place.

It's the Giants, though, who have the all-time series lead, although slim at 1,290-1,288-17 during regular-season meetings. It's Los Angeles with the edge in the postseason, beating San Francisco, 3-2. The last laugh goes to the Giants, who have one more championship than the Dodgers, 10 'chips to nine.

However, the Dodgers are favored to win in 2026, and tie them at 10. Los Angeles has won back-to-back World Series in 2024 and 2025. The Dodgers' run of three World Series wins in the last six seasons is how the Giants climbed the ranks during their run of three World Series wins between 2010 and 2014.

The Orioles were on the wrong end of a four-game sweep the last time they played New York. Baltimore is guaranteed to avoid the same fate in this series as the Yankees are only in town for three.

Baltimore lost three in a row before picking up a 2-1 win on Sunday. The Orioles found a way to win despite another low offensive output. Baltimore has only eclipsed four runs in two of their last 10 games. The Yankees won each of the last four matchups by at least five runs.

Samuel Basallo and Adley Rutschman have attempted to keep the ship afloat while several Orioles struggle. Pete Alonso appeared to experience a jolt during his return to New York. Gunnar Henderson has yet to find his groove, but this series would mark a fine time to get things going.

Rico Garcia remains a bright spot for a bullpen that has been asked to carry a heavy load. Bassitt technically didn’t start on Sunday, but he turned in his best appearance of the year. Perhaps that appearance will help set the tone for a rotation that has disappointed to this point of the season. A healthy Trevor Rogers should help the cause as well.

The Yankees will look to take out some frustration on the Orioles after getting swept out of Milwaukee. The Brewers beat New York 4-3 during the series finale on Mother’s Day.

Game 1: Monday, May 11, 6:35. MASN

RHP Brandon Young (3-1, 4.35 ERA) vs. LHP Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.03 ERA)

Brandon Young is the only starter that the Orioles have officially named for this series. Young settled after an early hiccup and delivered a quality start his last time out against the Marlins. The Orioles need Young to turn in consistent outings with Cade Povich joining Rogers, Dean Kremer and Zach Eflin on the injured list. The righty did not face the Yankees in the previous series.

The Orioles tallied three runs against Weathers last week but only one of the three runs were earned. Alonso tagged a solo homer in the fourth, but Weathers cruised to his second victory of the season.

Game 2: Tuesday, May 12, 6:35. MASN

TBD vs. RHP Will Warren (4-1, 3.46 ERA)

The Orioles have yet to announce a starter for Tuesday’s game. Trevor Rogers recently told reporters that he does not expect to go on a rehab assignment after hitting the 15-day IL with an illness. Rogers would be eligible to come off the injured list for this appearance, and he recently threw a bullpen that could lineup with a start on Tuesday. Trey Gibson is currently with the team after pitching two innings of relief on Friday.

Warren coasted to his fourth victory against the Orioles last week. The Yankee starter tossed 6.1 innings while limiting Baltimore to three hits, two runs (one earned), and one walk. Warren struck out nine batters, but Alonso did manage to take him yard.

Game 3: Wednesday, May 13, 6:35. MASN

TBD vs. LHP Max Fried (4-2, 2.91 ERA)

Kyle Bradish could start Game 3 after tossing seven strong innings on Friday. The righty struck out 10 batters while limiting the Athletics to three runs, but Baltimore’s offense failed to pick him up after a frustrating fifth inning. Still, the results were the most encouraging that Bradish has delivered this season. The Orioles would absolutely love for Bradish to reestablish himself as a top-of-the-rotation arm, and he could have an opportunity to do just that in the series finale.

Baltimore had a chance to really get to Fried last week, but they let him off the hook with some poor performances with runners in scoring position. Fried still allowed three earned runs over 5.1 innings, and he followed that outing with another pedestrian outing against the Brewers. Fried is still no joke on the mound, but the Orioles must take advantage if they catch him during another rough patch.

How do you think the Orioles will do in this three game series against the Yankees? Give us your prediction in the comments below!

Good morning! A frustrating 2-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox last night saw a Logan Gilbert gem erased in the eighth inning, and a lack of Mariner run support gave Chicago the series win.

George Kirby will take the mound tonight at 5:10 PM in a new four-game series against the Houston Astros. The Mariners will hope to bring the success of their previous Astros series into this one and wake up some of the lineup’s important bats. Who are you hoping to see as a difference maker in this series?

In Mariners news…

• The Mariners have recently switched around their batting order amid Cal Raleigh’s hitting slump.
• In the May update of Baseball America’s Top 100 prospect rankings, the Mariners now have two of the top 10 with shortstop Colt Emerson moving up to No. 4 and LHP Kade Anderson moving up to No. 9.

Around the league…

• Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson left the team’s game early yesterday due to a left shoulder sprain.
• Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz joined the legendary Barry Bonds as the only two players in franchise history to have at least 10 home runs and 10 steals through the Pirates’ first 41 games of the season.
• Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is set to be activated today after recovering from a right oblique strain for the past month.
• San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb has been placed on the 15-day IL for the first time in five years with right knee bursitis.
• Detroit Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter has been placed on the 10-day IL with a left AC joint sprain.
• New York Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon made his 2026 debut yesterday after beginning the season on the IL due to a bone spur in his left elbow.
• The Los Angeles Angels have signed lefty reliever Rob Kaminsky to a minor league deal.

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The Seattle Mariners have struggled on the road this season, winning just seven of 18 games.

While they’re favored to get a win tonight, my Mariners vs. Astros predictions expect the home team to keep it close.

Let’s break down my daily MLB picks for May 11.

Who will win Mariners vs Astros today: Astros +1.5 (-135)

The Houston Astros have been very effective against right-handed pitching. They rank third in wOBA and OPS, trailing only the Yankees and Braves in those categories — the two highest scoring teams in the majors.

Their problem is not generating runs, but preventing them. That shouldn’t be an issue today with Peter Lambert on the mound.

He has allowed just six runs through 22 1/3 innings of work, and just held the powerhouse Dodgers scoreless over seven innings.

While there are signs he’s due for a little bit of regression, the Seattle Mariners (21st in runs per game, 27th in average) are unlikely to force the issue.

COVERS INTEL: Peter Lambert owns a 22.2% hard-hit rate, the lowest among today’s projected starters 

Mariners vs Astros Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-115)

George Kirby owns a rock-solid 1.10 WHIP, 57.6% ground-ball rate, and Lambert’s the only probable pitcher who has allowed hard contact less frequently this season.

Kirby’s ability to limit barrels and keep the ball down makes him incredibly difficult to produce offense against.

He has conceded three runs or fewer in seven of eight starts this season, and has given up two or less in five straight.

Lambert is sitting down a career-high 9.27 batters per nine innings by way of strikeout. That should serve him well against a Mariners squad that owns the second-highest K rate against righties.

Mariners vs Astros odds

• Moneyline: Mariners -140 | Astros +120
• Run line: Mariners -1.5 (+115) | Astros +1.5 (-135)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Mariners vs Astros trend

The Seattle Mariners have hit the game total Under in 12 of their last 19 away games (+5.50 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Astros.

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I’d prefer to not talk about the entire weekend as it pertains to baseball. The Yankees got utterly spanked in Milwaukee, suffering their second sweep of the season. For that reason alone there was very little to cheer about the past few days.

But to make it worse, the godforsaken Tampa Bay Rays continued their infuriating start. Oh. Look at me. I have a +20 run differential through 39 games and am somehow playing .667 ball. Their a couple blowout losses from a neutral run differential.

Nothing like being in second place in the AL East because of the Rays’ loathsome devil magic. I cannot accurately describe how much Tampa infuriates me.

Tampa Bay Rays (26-13) 4, Boston Red Sox (17-23) 1: Boston is useless. The one time we need them to do something, they shrivel up and die. Tampa split the first two games of this weekend set and wasted no time in the rubber match. Junior Caminero hit a solo shot in the first. In the third, a pair of singles plated two more runs and, lo and behold, that’s all the Rays needed on the day.

On the mound, Nick Martinez continued his mesmerizing season. 5.2 innings of one-run ball lowered his season ERA to 1.70, just a speck lower than his career 4.04 mark. After he departed, three Rays relievers combined to hurl 3.1 scoreless frames. Of course. Ladies and gentlemen, the first place Tampa Bay Rays.

Toronto Blue Jays (18-22) 1, Los Angeles Angels (16-25) 6: Jays fans rejoice. Y’all managed to score a run off Angels ace Jose Soriano. And in the first inning, no less. Kazuma Okamoto doubled in Daulton Varsho and the Jays had the Angels on the ropes early. But then, Soriano did Soriano things. One of the early season favorites for the AL Cy Young Award, Soriano allowed not a run the rest of the way, departing after 7.2 frames.

At the dish, former Yankee Oswald Peraza provided all the offense the Angels ended up needing. His two-run home run in the top of the fifth made it 2-1 Angels. They added two more that inning, with lone runs in the sixth and ninth cementing their win over last season’s Junior Circuit champs.

As an aside, if I tried, I don’t think I could describe how much Peraza learning to hit major league pitching makes me want to gnaw on the floorboards. After Sunday, Peraza is hitting .282 with an .815 OPS. Last year, in his most extended stint as a Yankee, he hit .152 with a .452 OPS in 71 games. You can’t predict baseball, Suzyn.

Other Games

Cleveland Guardians (21-21) 4, Minnesota Twins (18-23) 5: This one was tight into the middle innings, at which time the Guards and starter Gavin Williams fell apart. Double, single, double, single off Williams in the fifth made it 3-1 Minnesota. Not finished, after Williams managed to get two outs, the Twins added two more run-scoring singles to extend the lead to 5-1. Give Cleveland credit. They clawed their way back into it, with runs in the fifth and sixth cutting the lead in half. Then in the eighth, they scratched another run across and even put the winning run in scoring position. Alas, Rhys Hoskins grounded out to end the threat. That was their last best chance.

Detroit Tigers (19-22) 6, Kansas City Royals (19-22) 3: The American League Central, mediocrity is thy name. Detroit and the Royals faced off on Sunday Night Baseball and, after fighting one another to a draw early, the Tigers’ offense broke through in the late innings for the win. The big blow came off the bat of Gage Workman. Coming in to tonight with zero career home runs in limited action, the Tigers’ #99 channeled his inner Aaron Judge when called on to pinch-hit in the sixth. His tw0-run dinger broke a 3-3 tie and sent the Tigers to victory.

Seattle Mariners (19-22) 1, Chicago White Sox (19-21) 2: The Mariners offense managed to score early, scraping a lone run across in the first. Then, it went into hibernation, making nary a dent in the run column the rest of the way. Predictably, one run was not enough to win, though it looked like it might for most of the game. But in the bottom of the eighth, recent Yankee friend Randal Grichuk tied the game with a solo home run before a Miguel Vargas sacrifice fly later in the inning scored the eventual game-winning run. Tough times in Seattle, with Cal Raleigh hitting .161 with a .573 OPS after Sunday’s game.

Texas Rangers (19-21) 3, Chicago Cubs (27-14) 0: Listen, beating the Chicago Cubs these days is a big deal. No duff. It helps that Texas sent Jacob deGrom out for Sunday’s game. The multi-time Cy Young Award winner was in vintage form, stymieing the Cubs for seven shutout innings with 10 strikeouts, allowing a paltry three hits and no walks. A fourth inning fielder’s choice put Texas on the board. An Evan Carter two-run home run in the eighth provided the insurance and closed out the scoring.

The modern MLB Draft format only really started in 1987, as there used to be multiple drafts in each year, with January and June drafts plus secondary drafts for each. That means we are entering the 40th draft under the current format, though the number of days and rounds has changed at times in those 40 years.

I thought with this being the 40th draft, now would be a good time to take a look back at some of the best and worst picks that the Atlanta Braves have made during that time. The majority of the best picks will be all over the place, while the majority of the worst picks will come from the top two rounds.

The only qualification for making this list is the player had to have signed as a part of that draft. For that reason, you won’t find Anthony Rendon on the best picks list. For the same reason you won’t find Carter Stewart on the worst picks list.

Best Picks

1. Chipper Jones, SS, 1990 – It’s not easy for a #1 overall pick to make this list, let alone top it – but Chipper Jones wasn’t ordinary by the standards of the top overall selection. The Hall of Famer, and one of the faces of the Braves dynasty run was an MVP, Batting Champion, and World Series winner who hit .303/.401/.529 with 468 homers as a career-long Brave.

2. Freddie Freeman, 1B, 2007 – It’s easy to forget that Freddie Freeman wasn’t the Braves top pick in the 2007 class, or even the most hyped prospect out of that group thanks to Jason Heyward. However the Braves second rounder has carved out a future Hall of Fame career, hitting .299/.385/.509 with 370 homers, an MVP, Gold Glove, and 3 World Series rings – including one World Series MVP. Though he if now in his fifth season with the Dodgers, Freeman’s contributions to the Braves and helping lead them from rebuilding organization to 2021 World Series champs won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

3. Brian McCann, C, 2002 – The second round pick in 2022, Brian McCann took over the Braves catching job in 2005 and held it through the 2013 season, before leaving to sign with the Yankees. He returned home to play his final season as a Brave in 2019, posting a career .262/.337/.452 slash with 282 homers. The seven-time All Star even won a World Series ring with the 2017 Astros. McCann reached the Hall of Fame ballot in the 2025 voting, but was removed after receiving just 1.8% of the vote.

4. Adam Wainwright, RHP, 2000 – The 29th pick in the 2000 draft never saw Atlanta, thanks to being traded to the Cardinals for JD Drew after the 2003 season. Still he deserves to be ranked high on this list as a player who will be getting considered for a possible spot in the Hall of Fame. Waino spent his entire career in St. Louis, going 200-128 with a 3.53 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 2202 strikeouts over 2668.1 innings. He might have had even better counting stats, but missed all of 2011 and parts of 2015 and 2018 with injuries, along with the shortened 2020 season. He retired after the 2023 season at the age of 41.

5. Craig Kimbrel, RHP, 2008 – Craig Kimbrel was actually drafted out of his Alabama JUCO twice by the Braves, though he didn’t sign as a 33rd round pick in 2007. He did sign as a third rounder in 2008, and went on to become arguably the greatest closer in franchise history. A current Met, he has a career 2.63 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 440 saves, and 1293 strikeouts over 830 innings pitched. Out of his 440 saves, 186 came in a Braves uniform, and he pitched to a 1.43 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with the team. He was traded to the Padres just before Opening Day in 2015, right at the start of the Braves rebuild – a move that netted the Braves another member of this list with the Competitive Balance Round A pick that was part of his return. He will likely be considered for the Hall of Fame once that time comes for him.

6. Kevin Millwood, RHP, 1993 – An 11th round pick in 1993, Kevin Millwood reached the bigs in 1997, and had his breakout in 1999 when he finished third in Cy Young voting. He was a bit more up and down over the next three seasons with the Braves, before they flipped him to the Phillies after the 2022 season for catcher Johnny Estrada. Overall he went 169-152 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 2083 strikeouts in 2720.1 innings, earning 29.8 bWAR. Millwood was an All Star just once, in 1999, but twice received Cy Young votes, and led the AL in ERA with Cleveland in 2005.

7. Jason Schmidt, RHP, 1991 – An eighth round pick in 1991, Jason Schmidt became a top prospect for the Braves. He hadn’t quite broken out yet in 22 big league games, when the Braves flipped him to the Pirates in 1996 for Denny Neagle. Schmidt ended up going on to win 130 games with a 3.96 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 1758 strikeouts over 1996.1 innings. He was a three-time All Star, and led the NL in ERA in 2003 when he finished second in the Cy Young voting with the Giants. Overall he posted 29.5 bWAR, which turned out to be a steal in the eighth round.

8. Andrelton Simmons, SS, 2010 – Andrelton Simmons was taken in the second round in 2010, and by 2012 had become the Braves starting shortstop. Although he was a career .263/.312/.366 hitter with 70 homers, he was a highlight machine that became the best defensive shortstop – and possibly even player, in baseball. That led to Simmons posting 36.5 bWAR. Like Kimbrel he was traded in 2015, after the season, to the Angels as the Braves got further into their rebuild.

9. Jermaine Dye, OF, 1993 – A 17th round pick in 1993, Jermaine Dye quickly became a top prospect for the Braves. They brought him up in 1996 and saw him slash .281/.304/.459 with 12 homers in 98 games. Unfortunately the Braves were in win-now mode at that time, and after the year sent him to the Royals in the deal that brought in Michael Tucker and Keith Lockhart. Dye went on to slash .274/.338/.488 with 325 homers in 14 big league seasons with four teams. He was a two-time All Star that finished fifth in AL MVP voting in 2006, when he hit 44 homers with 120 RBI for the White Sox. Dye, who put up 20.3 bWAR, also won a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and was the World Series MVP in the White Sox 2005 title run.

10. Austin Riley, 3B, 2015 – The player acquired with the Competitive Balance pick received in the Craig Kimbrel trade is Austin Riley. The 41st pick in the 2015 draft, a former two-way high school star, Riley has been a two-time All Star and Silver Slugger, as well as winning the 2021 World Series. For his career Riley is hitting .267/.332/.486 with 174 homers – and won’t turn 30 until the start of next season. He has already produced 22.5 bWAR for the Braves.

11. Ryan Klesko, LHP, 1989 – A fifth round pick in 1989, future Braves slugger Ryan Klesko is actually listed as being drafted as a left-handed pitcher. That is because he was seen as a guy with real potential on the mound, though his impressive power ended up continuing his development as a bat. Klesko slashed .279/.370/.500 with 278 homers over parts of 16 big league seasons. The one-time All Star, who won a ring as a member of the 1995 Braves, put up 26.9 bWAR – a number that would surely be higher if not for his well below average defense bringing that total down. Klesko hit 20+ homers in four of the five seasons he played 100+ games with the Braves, before being traded to the Padres after the 1999 season in the deal that brought Reggie Sanders, Wally Joyner, and Quilvio Veras to Atlanta.

12. Michael Harris II, CF, 2019 – The third round pick in 2019 rose quickly through the minors out of high school to win the Rookie of the Year in 2022 – despite losing his 2020 season to the Covid shutdown. After posting OPS marks of .853 and .808 in his first two years, injury and issues with his swing resulted in marks of .722 and .678 in his next two years. Harris did come back on in the second half of last year, and presently has a .841 OPS this year, while also being one of the top defensive centerfielders in the league. For his career he is a .275/.309/.454 hitter with 80 homers, and is still in just his age-25 season with 15.2 bWAR produced.

13. Spencer Strider, RHP, 2020 – A fourth rounder in that weird 2020 draft, Spencer Strider has quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game. After finishing second in the Rookie of the Year to a teammate, and fellow member of this list in 2022, Strider finished fourth in the Cy Young voting in 2023. Unfortunately Tommy John hit him after just two starts in 2024, and he spent 2025 trying to get himself back into form. An injury has kept him to just one start, which had to be at Coors Field, so far this year as we wait to see what version of Strider is really in there right now. Overall he is 39-24 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 632 strikeouts in 458.1 innings.

Honorable Mention:

Marcus Giles, 2B, 1996 (53rd round), Kris Medlen, RHP, 2006 (10th round), Mike Stanton, LHP, 1987 (13th round), Tommy Hanson, RHP, 2005 (22nd round), Adam LaRoche, 1B, 2000 (29th round), Jonny Venters, LHP, 2003 (30th round), Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP, 2021 (2nd round), Drake Baldwin, C, 2022 (3rd round)

AJ Smith-Shawver, JR Ritchie, and Hurston Waldrep have not done enough to qualify for the list, but this group could move their way up in the coming years – just like other recent draftees Schwellenbach and Baldwin can.

Worst Picks

1. Mike Kelly, OF, 1991 – The year the Braves turned around to start their great 90s-00s run, they were given the second overall pick. They went for a college star from a top program, with a pick they were hoping could front the lineup with Chipper Jones. However things didn’t quite work out for Kelly, as he produced just 0.3 fWAR over 327 big league games. That 1991 draft produced guys like Manny Ramirez, Shawn Green, Cliff Floyd, Aaron Sele, and Doug Glanville among others. One of those guys would have helped that special run much more than Kelly did. It is worth noting that the Braves picked second because the AL and NL alternated years with the top pick for the worst team, and if they picked first they likely would have taken generational pitching prospect Brien Taylor – whose career never really got going due to an injury in a bar fight.

2. Tyler Houston, C, 1989 – Houston was the second overall pick in 1989, and he produced 1.4 fWAR over 700 big league games. Similar to Lilliquist, that’s just not enough impact this high, and he was selected second when Frank Thomas and Charles Johnson were among the Top 10 picks. That doesn’t even include Mo Vaughn and Chuck Knoblauch in the first round.

3. Derek Lilliquist, LHP, 1987 – The sixth pick in the famous Ken Griffey Jr. class had a 262 game big league career over the course of eight seasons, including 41 starts for the Braves and producing 4.7 fWAR. The reason he made the list is because a couple of picks later Kevin Appier was selected. A few of the other players in that first round include Craig Biggio, Delino DeShields Sr., Mike Remlinger, Travis Fryman, and Pete Harnisch. When you’re picking that high, you’re hoping for a little more impact than a guy who ended up being a journeyman reliever.

4. Sean Gilmartin, LHP, 2011 – This was a questionable pick right from the start, as the Braves used the 28th pick on a soft tossing lefty that was a college ace. Gilmartin did appear in 81 big league games over six seasons with three different teams, pitching to a 4.34 ERA in 112 career innings. There were plenty of other options in that first round including Blake Snell, Trevor Story, Joe Musgrove, Michael Fulmer, Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Chafin, and Joe Panik.

5. Jason Hursh, RHP, 2013 – The 31st pick in 2013 was seen as a questionable pick at the time, as most thought he would end up being a reliever. That ended up being exactly what happened, as he ended up moving to the bullpen within two years of being drafted. Hursh appeared in 11 big league games with the Braves, during the 2016 and 2017 seasons – while the team was rebuilding, and pitched to a 8.25 ERA in 12 innings. The very next pick ended up being Aaron Judge, while Sean Manaea, Michael Lorenzen, and Corey Knebel were among the other first rounders taken after Hursh.

6. Jamie Arnold, RHP, 1992 – The 21st pick of the 1992 MLB Draft, Arnold actually appeared in 50 big league games with the Dodgers and Cubs after becoming a free agent after the 1998 season – though he racked up a 5.73 ERA in those games. The reason he makes this list is because the next two picks in that draft were Rick Helling and Jason Kendall, a pair of players that put up 61.9 bWAR over their careers. Charles Johnson again went within the next 10 picks, this time signing with the Marlins.

7. Matt Lipka, SS/OF, 2010 – The 35th pick in 2010 was a former two sport star in high school that the Braves wanted to continue developing as a contact and speed oriented prospect. It never worked out, as he topped out at Triple-A and never truly settled into one defensive position. Some of the other options here included Noah Syndergaard, Nick Castellanos, and Taijuan Walker.

8. Ryan Cusick, RHP, 2021 – A year after taking Jared Shuster in the first out of Wake Forest with mixed reactions, the Braves doubled down on Wake arms. Cusick was met with an even tougher reaction when announced, and so far he hasn’t really done much to prove the team right. As of now he is in Triple-A with the Phillies organization, but he owns a career 5.55 ERA in his minor league career. The Braves were widely expected to take Gavin Williams with this pick, but he came off the board one pick earlier by Cleveland, and they pivoted to Cusick over Jackson Merrill and Carson Williams among others. This would rank higher on the list if not for the fact the Braves traded him to then-Oakland as part of the deal that brought Matt Olson in to replace Freddie Freeman.

9. Braden Shewmake, INF, 2019 – The Braves surprised people when they took Texas A&M infielder Braden Shewmake with the 21st pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. That pick was one I was known to be very critical of at the time, and to date he has played in 39 career big league games since the start of 2023 – though he is on the Astros active roster at the moment. Shewmake has a career .447 OPS, though he is five for 16 with a pair of homers this year. Anthony Volpe and Michael Busch were the best players in the remainder of that first round, though Gunnar Henderson was the first pick of that second round.

10. Cole Phillips, RHP, 2022 – The Braves used a second round pick on an injured prep pitcher in 2022 named Cole Phillips. He was seen as a potential first rounder that spring, before his injury happened. He wasn’t expected to pitch until at least mid-to-late 2023, but has never pitched in a professional game almost four years later. Some of the other second rounders that year included Jacob Misiorowski, Roman Anthony, and Chandler Simpson.

11. Joey Devine, RHP, 2005 – The Braves used the 27th pick in 2005 on a college closer that they thought they could quickly get to the big leagues to help fix a bullpen that was a problem at the time. Devine was actually rushed to the big leagues, making his debut in August, but never did much in a Braves uniform. He did have one great season in Oakland, pitching to a 0.59 ERA in 42 appearances, but only pitched in 93 games as injuries took their toll on him. The Braves could have taken Colby Rasmus, who went with the very next pick, or fellow first rounders Clay Buchholz or Jed Lowrie instead.

12. Beau Philip, INF, 2019 – Philip is the rare second round pick to make this list, but that is because he was seen as a head scratching pick at the time. Most expected Philip to go somewhere between the fifth and seventh rounds, but the Braves took the Oregon State product with the 60th pick. He played 352 games in the Braves system, posting a career OPS of just .615. Some of the names drafted after him in that second round include Kyle Stowers, Josh Smith, and Jared Triolo. The only reason Philip isn’t even higher on this list is the fact that he took an underslot bonus of $700k to sign, which saved the Braves about $450k – money that was used to sign Michael Harris.

13. Jared Shuster, LHP, 2020 – The 25th pick in the weird 2020 MLB Draft, Shuster was a pick who was met with mixed reactions from the jump when the Braves took him out of Wake Forest. He has pitched in 66 big league games, including four with the Cardinals this year, though has a 5.12 ERA in 149.1 career innings – including 11 starts with the Braves in 2023, before going to the White Sox in the Aaron Bummer deal. After Shuster, Tyler Soderstrom was the next pick, and Jordan Westburg, Austin Wells, and Carmen Mlodzinski also came off the board in the next six picks.

The results of these Cubs games are getting more stratified. Four of the last five losses have felt pretty lopsided. Even in that other game, the Cubs allowed nine runs. You do expect to lose nearly 100 percent of the games in which you allow nine runs. Also, the Cubs have only lost five of their last 25 games. The Cubs either feel a little overmatched, or they find a way to win the game. When those proportions are 4 to 1, you have to feel pretty good about your chances to make a very deep run in the season.

As a blogger, the way these losses are going doesn’t make a lot to talk about. This feels like a just throw it away and move on, just like Saturday’s game. The larger concern out of this, to the extent that there is one, is the offense getting stifled for two straight games. I’m not ready to worry about it. Certainly, before Sunday’s game we talked about it. When healthy, Jacob deGrom has been a borderline Hall of Fame pitcher. The only question that will ever exist with him is if the body of work is large enough to justify his inclusion.

Even with the two shutouts over the weekend, the Cubs still own the top team on base percentage in baseball. Their slugging still sits fifth. The net result has their team OPS at fourth overall. By pretty much any objective measure, they have a top five offense. The offense failed them this weekend. But I do not think this was some kind of gateway drug to a punchless offense and a lot of losses. There are more tough games ahead, but I expect the team to bounce back quickly.

Your mileage may vary, and all of our expectations are probably drifting upwards, but none of us suddenly thought this team was heading for 110ish wins.

Three Positives:

• Nico Hoerner had a single, a double and a stolen base. He should have been on Team USA. He’s a great bench player for a team like that.
• Phil Maton faced four batters, retiring them all and striking out two.
• Michael Busch had a single in three plate appearances.

Game 41, May 10: Rangers 3, Cubs 0 (27-14)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Jameson Taillon (.111). 5.1 IP, 22 BF, 4 H, 2 BB, ER, 4 K (L 2-2)
• Hero: Phil Maton (.082). 1.1 IP, 4 BF, 2 K
• Sidekick: Nico Hoerner (.071). 2-4, 2B

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Moisés Ballesteros (-.130). 0-4
• Goat: Daniel Palencia (-.110). 0.2 IP, 4 BF, 2 H, 2 ER, K
• Kid: Seiya Suzuki (-.110). 0-4

WPA Play of the Game: Evan Carter hit a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning to increase the Ranger lead to three. (.114)

*Cubs Play of the Game: Jameson Taillon faced Josh Jung with no outs and runners on first and second in the first inning, the game scoreless. He coaxed a double play ball, contributing to a scoreless first. (.085)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 40 Winner: Ethan Roberts received 40 of 91 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Michael Conforto +13
• Michael Busch +11
• Shōta Imanaga +10
• Dansby Swanson/Jacob Webb/Caleb Thielbar/ -6
• Matt Shaw -9
• Seiya Suzuki -15

Current Win Pace: 106.68 wins

Up Next: A rare off day Monday, following 10 games in a row and 23 games in 24 days. Tuesday night, they face the Braves (28-13) in Atlanta. Colin Rea (4-1, 4.03, 38 IP) makes his sixth start (ninth appearance) of the year. Last time out, he allowed one run on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He’s been better at home (2.66 v 5.60) but also better at night (2.77 v 675) than during the day time.

30-year-old Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.34, 37.1 IP) makes his eighth start of the year. The first round (22nd overall) pick of the Dodgers (2014) allowed five runs in five innings in a start against the Rockies. Better away (3.63 v 5.40) than home. Also better during the day than at night (3.86 v 4.56).

The Braves are tough.

Find a way and get back in the win column.

Go Cubs