DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 29: Matt Gage #93 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after an outfield play to end the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 29, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants are making yet another move, as it seems they have a daily quota to fulfill. This one, unfortunately, was mandated by injuries. Before their Wednesday game against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Giants announced that left-handed reliever Matt Gage had been placed on the 15-Day Injured List, while right-handed reliever Dylan Smith had been recalled from AAA Sacramento to take his place.
It’s a hit to a bullpen that is already struggling, as Gage has been one of their most reliable arms. The veteran southpaw, whose IL stint is for right knee inflammation, and is retroactive to June 2, has a 2.63 ERA on the season, third on the team (minimum: 10 innings pitched) behind only Joel Peguero (2.38) and Keaton Winn (2.45). That said, it hasn’t been the prettiest low ERA, as Gage has just 19 strikeouts in 24 innings, with 13 walks and three home runs allowed. That’s resulted in a fairly ugly FIP (4.76), which suggests the ERA could be primed for some regression.
Still, he’s been a trustworthy arm out of the ‘pen for Tony Vitello, and that’s more than most players have been able to say this year. Gage pitched during Monday’s blowout loss, and it seems the injury flared up then, and was likely partially responsible for the five baserunners that he allowed in an inning of work.
Replacing him is Smith, who returns to the roster after a very brief stint earlier in the year. A 3rd-round pick in 2021, Smith was sent to the Giants right before the start of the season in a DFA/cash trade with the Detroit Tigers. He’s pitched decently in Sacramento, with a 3.98 ERA, a 4.43 FIP, and 23 strikeouts to 10 walks in 20.1 innings. Smith, who turned 26 last week, has pitched once for the Giants this year, and faced three batters while getting two outs and walking a hitter during an extra-innings victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 10.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 01: Nasim Nunez #26 of the Washington Nationals is caught trying to steal second base by Xavier Edwards at Nationals Park on June 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well that was certainly a gut punch. The Nats just got swept at home by a Marlins team that had lost five straight entering the series. For whatever reason, the Fish just seem to have our number. That is especially true of Marlins pitchers who have contained this offense better than any other team.
In this series, the Nats only scored 7 runs in the three games. Today, they only managed 1 run on 3 hits. The one run they did score was due to Otto Lopez booting what could have been an inning ending double play. That elite offense which has been so consistent all season long was nowhere to be found in this series.
Part of that is due to the Marlins pitching staff. The Marlins threw the ball well in all three games, and saved their best performance for last. Emerging ace Max Meyer just carved up this Nats lineup with elite breaking balls. The sweeper and slider were both working well for the 27 year old, who has pitched like an All-Star this year. He struck out 7 and also got 7 ground outs.
There were a couple missed opportunities for the Nats offense, but for most of the day, they were just being dominated. Keibert Ruiz, Jacob Young and Luis Garcia Jr. were the only ones who looked like they had a chance for most of this series. Young hit the only Nats home run of the series, while the contact oriented Marlins hit 8 homers.
While the depth pieces have been solid for this Nats offense, this group really goes as CJ Abrams and James Wood go. When the big guns are rolling, this offense is elite. However, when they go quiet, the house of cards begins to fold. In this series, the duo went 3/23 with 9 strikeouts. Today it felt like Wood and Abrams were both trying to do too much to spark the struggling offense.
Daylen Lile had a good game yesterday, but he has been in an extended slump since his massive series against the Reds with his family in the house. Lile’s increased chase rate is alarming. Last season, he chased 26.7% of the time, which is slightly less than the average hitter. Impressively, he was able to do this while being very aggressive in the zone. This season, Lile’s chase rate is up 10% to 36.7% which is in the 14th percentile.
We are going to do a deeper dive on Lile, but the Nats need him to step up. He was a big part of this offense at the end of last season, and has gone on some very impressive runs this season as well. However, his season has been slightly underwhelming so far, especially offensively.
On the mound, the Nats were lucky to only allow 4 runs. The Marlins were putting constant pressure on Nats pitchers. Nationals pitchers were constantly falling behind hitters and nibbling as well. They walked 8 and gave up 10 hits. Usually when that happens, you are allowing at least 6 runs. However, the Marlins were not great with runners in scoring position. Fortunately for them, the Nats offense was in no mood to make them pay.
Final: Marlins 4, Nationals 1
The Nats continue to have some trouble hitting in day games. The pitching staff has reverted to some old habits, falling behind in counts. They are swept by the Marlins and fall back under .500.
Sweeps happen in baseball, but this stings. However, what happens next is what will truly define this season. The Nats are at a crossroads right now. They can either bounce back and keep their exciting season rolling on this west coast trip, or this could be where everything goes off the rails.
Last season, the Nats entered June only two games under .500 before everything unraveled. Another June swoon would be so discouraging for a Nats fanbase that was beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. It could also have major implications on CJ Abrams’ future. If the Nats fold again in June, it makes it much easier for Paul Toboni to stick to his original timeline and trade CJ Abrams.
However, if the Nats prove that this was just a blip, we could push forward with Abrams and try to maximize his window. It may sound melodramatic, but how the Nats respond to this sweep could legitimately decide the future direction of this franchise for years to come.
The Cleveland Guardians, ranked first in the AL Central with a 35-27 record, face the New York Yankees, who are second in the AL East with a 36-24 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -160 moneyline compared to the Cleveland Guardians' +134. Starting pitchers are Gavin Williams for Cleveland, with a 3.07 ERA, and Gerrit Cole for New York, with a 0.00 ERA.
How to watch Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees
Date: Wednesday, June 3
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET / 4:05 p.m. PT
Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
TV Channels: Amazon Prime Video, Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive
CINCINNATI, OH - MAY 31: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the Atlanta Braves bats during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Sunday, May 31, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves have a similar look to yesterday’s lineup against the Toronto Blue Jays, with a few additions to spice it up a bit with a new game plan to secure tonight’s win.
Ha-Seong Kim will be taking Jorge Mateo’s spot at shortstop in hopes of turning his slump around after a mediocre showing since his mid-May return.
On both offense and defense, his performance has taken a decline, currently averaging a .089 at the plate and a .269 OPS. It is necessary to put Kim in every other rotation, not only to give him extra opportunity to improve, but also rest Mateo and focus on fixing what mechanics aren’t working.
You’ll also notice Mauricio Dubón, Eli White and Chadwick Tromp are set to join Atlanta to help secure a series win early-on. Ronald Acuña Jr. will continue to lead off and take over DH.
Now, we hinted at this in the pitching preview, but the majority of the Braves’ lineup finds success in reaching base and knocking in RBIs against Toronto’s Patrick Corbin.
Even Kim has nine RBIs and a homer with a .977 OPS against him in his 17 total at-bats.
Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies are two major concerns for Corbin, as both have three solo shots apiece against him and over 10 RBIs.
If the rest of the Braves offense takes advantage of finding their perfect pitch against Corbin’s six-pitch arsenal early on, this matchup is a winnable one, though they’ll need to set the tone early with Grant Holmes on the mound.
Since the Blue Jays are missing some key pieces, they’ll fight to the finish and try to make it as close as they did in game one to rattle the team and shift the momentum.
With an absent George Springer from Toronto’s lineup, Nathan Lukes is taking the lead off spot, with Jesús Sánchez taking over as DH and batting fourth in the lineup. In his seven plate appearances against Holmes, Sánchez averages a .286 but also gets comfortable taking his base when facing him with a .946 OPS.
The Blue Jays might not have been looking like the team that faced the Dodgers in last year’s finals matchup, but that doesn’t mean they won’t play like they have something to prove. And the Braves, well, they just need to beat them to it and start off hot.
Starting at 7:15 p.m EDT. Tune in to watch how tonight pans out.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 28: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox takes the mound for the first inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 28, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TV: NESN
First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. ET
The Red Sox still cannot figure out ways to win at Fenway Park. Boston dropped the series opener against the Baltimore Orioles and remains the only club in baseball to not win 10 games at home so far.
Payton Tolle looks to get the Red Sox there after a short but solid outing last time out against the Atlanta Braves.
Here’s who the Red Sox will send to the plate Wednesday night.
The Orioles counter with Chris Bassitt. The right-hander has given the Red Sox problems for years to the tune of a 3.59 ERA in his career against them. With that said, Boston chased him after allowing eight runs in two innings last June for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Carlos Lagrange of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on May 22, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Yankees’ bullpen, contrary to popular belief, hasn’t been a weakness so far. Well, statistically at least. The unit ranks tenth in MLB with a 3.59 ERA before Tuesday’s game, which is not bad. Of course, true contenders want to be much closer to the top of the league, and that hasn’t been the case with this group.
However you split it, though, the Yanks want another true shutdown reliever or two, and if they go out to the trade market to bring them in, the cost in prospects would be high. That’s probably why they have decided to speed up Carlos Lagrange’s potential call-up by moving him to the bullpen.
Lagrange, to this point, had been OK as a starter in Triple-A Scranton. Not particularly good, and certainly not bad. Just OK, which is fine for a 23-year-old pitcher with big velocity but control issues pitching at that level for the first time in his career.
The right-hander has a 4.41 ERA in 49 innings of work, with an impressive 29 percent strikeout rate but also an 11.5 percent walk rate. While that last number might look a tad high, it’s actually solid considering Lagrange’s reputation as a thrower as opposed to a pitcher.
The main issue so far with Lagrange, at least this season in Triple-A, hasn’t even been walks: it’s been a lack of better command. In his most recent start in Scranton, he threw 30 fastballs, and 21 were strikes, for example. That’s not bad if we speak strictly about control:
A very businesslike performance by Carlos Lagrange tonight en route to a season-high 5.2 innings of work.
5.2 ip 3 h 1 r/er 1 bb 6 k 1 hr
Good pitch mix: 30 four-seamers, 21 changeups, 16 sliders, 14 sweepers, 5 sinkers. 55 of the 86 went for strikes, including 21 of those…
He can overwhelm hitters in the low minors just by pumping 103-mph heaters and that filthy slider of his, but he needs more to consistently get Triple-A batters out, and he’ll certainly need even more to be a solid major leaguer. That ‘more’ is, quite simply, command. He has the raw stuff to be a difference-maker on any staff, but MLB hitters will test him in ways he didn’t think were possible.
The lack of good command, which is basically hitting his spots and not just throwing the ball in the zone, has resulted in more hard contact against Lagrange. Last year, the flamethrower allowed 0.46 home runs per nine innings in Double-A Somerset, but that number has soared to 1.47 in 2026 in Scranton. It’s the first time in his career he has been over 1.00 in a relevant sample.
Perhaps the fact that Lagrange is prone to leaving some meatballs over the plate from time to time played a big role in the Yankees’ decision to move him to the bullpen, at least for 2026. Yes, their lack of elite relief pitching talent on the roster aside from one or two exceptions might have contributed, too, but they also believe that the righty could be less vulnerable in short spurts as a reliever. They probably think his top-notch velocity can be an asset even if command is not ideal, and they are probably right… as long as he doesn’t hurt himself with walks at the highest level.
If Triple-A hitters can make him pay if he gets wild, you can be sure the same is true, even to a greater extent, for MLB batters. When it’s time for him to test his skills against top competition, he will need to show that he has, indeed, made strides.
The 2026 campaign has been positive for the pitcher even though the results have been far from elite. His development, however, is not done. Lagrange still needs to do a better job preventing the long ball, and that will come with reps, time, and innings. Circumstances might force the Yankees to call him up in the summer, once he has become familiar with his new role, and to be completely honest, it suits his current skill set better than starting.
The Nick Castellanos experiment in San Diego is over after just 39 games.
The Padres designated the veteran outfielder for assignment on Wednesday after an abysmal first two months of the season in which he slashed .191/.221/.339 for an OPS of .560 in 122 plate appearances, career lows across the board in his 14-year big league career.
INF/OF Samad Taylor has been called up from Triple-A El Paso in the corresponding roster move.
The timing of the move comes as the Padres are currently in Philadelphia for a three-game series, where Castellanos played four seasons before he was released in February ahead of the final year of a five-year, $100 million contract that began in 2022. During his time in Philadelphia, Castellanos averaged .260 with a .732 OPS and hit 82 home runs.
He emerged as a key player during the Phillies' 2022 NLCS run and was an All-Star for the second time in his career the following season, but his relationship with the organization and then-manager Rob Thomson became strained in 2025 after his antics — such as drinking an El Presidente beer in the dugout after being removed from a game — made more headlines than his declining production.
"Apparently, they thought it was just best for the organization that my personality wasn’t in the clubhouse," Castellanos told reporters recently of his unceremonious end in Philadelphia.
Castellanos last appeared in a game for the Padres on May 31 against the Washington Nationals, where he went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base.
What's next for Nick Castellanos?
This could spell the end of Castellanos' career. The 34-year-old currently ranks in the bottom third of the Majors in fielding run value, bat speed, squared-up percentage, arm value and arm strength. His liability on defense was a factor in his fallout with the Phillies a year ago and the Padres tried to mitigate that by getting him some reps at first base and DH this season, but he still posted an OAA (outs above average) value of -4. Though he has never been a strong fielder, Castellanos' bat has always been able to make up for his defensive shortcomings; but that simply hasn't been the case the last two seasons.
That said, it wouldn't be the biggest surprise if some team in need of pop at the plate takes a chance on Castellanos in hopes he can return to form.
NL West outlook
The Padres were able put together a solid start to the season despite struggles at the plate from Castellanos as well as their core of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado thanks to stellar performances from their starters and league-best bullpen, but they've struggled down the stretch. Since losing two of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 18-20 to fall back into second place in the division, they've lost seven of their last 10 and enter Wednesday on a three-game losing streak and find themselves trailing LA by six games.
San Diego is currently tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the top NL Wild Card spot.
Jun 2, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (7) reacts after hitting a two run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
I always say it is hardest to blog about a middling team. A bad team, lots to talk about. A good team, lots to talk about. One in the middle?
I think the Jays will get better. I think getting Alejandro Kirk back will help a lot. I think getting, you know, five actual starting pitchers will help. Teams tend to do well on bullpen days, but I think using everyone in the pen in one game out of five (or in the Jays’ case, two games out of five) puts a lot of stress on the relievers. As much as I like the old days when Mark Eichhorn could throw 160 innings in a season, Tom Henke could throw 90 innings, and Duane Ward could throw 110, it was a different game back then. Having Louis Varland pitch in every other game isn’t a recipe for long-term success.
It would also help if we could get 4-5-6 runs a game. Yesterday, we had nine hits, including a home run, and we still only scored three runs. Until we start scoring consistently, we really can’t blame the pitching for a mediocre record. There is hardly anyone on the offense who is heading better than we would have expected, except for Yohendrick Piñango (and I don’t know of anyone who expected he would get playing time in the majors this year.
Even defensively, we haven’t been the team I expected. Gimenez has been terrific at short. And Daulton Varsho seems to be coming back to what we expected. But Ernie Clement has been a -5 runs above average at second base, and I didn’t see that coming. Jesus Sanchez and Piñango look like two guys who are new to playing the outfield.
Anyway, I do think things will get better with some of the guys coming off the IL. I don’t know if it will be better enough, but the AL has been pretty crappy, and we aren’t far out of a playoff spot, just one game back at the moment. Some or one of those teams hovering around the .500 mark are going to have to get better; maybe it will be the Jays. They had a great second half last year. Who is to say it can’t happen again?
Baseball America has made some changes to its top 100 prospect list, and Jays prospect Nolan Perry has jumped on the list at #85. BA says:
Perry is one of this season’s biggest risers. He’s used a dynamic combination of speed and spin to flummox hitters at both Class A stops, and his ERA entering June 2 sat at a sparkling 1.37. He’s punched out 72 hitters in 46 innings and has the makings of a future rotation piece if he can bring his changeup forward.
Of course, Trey Yesavage is one of ten players from their list to have graduated off their list.
Beyond that, Arjun Nimmala has moved up from #65 to #48 (Jo Jo Parker has moved down, 41s
Another Wednesday, that means it must be Ohtani on the bump day.
Just a few weeks ago people were wringing their hands about Shohei Ohtani being stellar on the mound, but putrid at the plate. Well, the two-way superstar has definitely turned things around with his bat.
In Tuesday night’s game, his first two at bats were a double and a triple. His reappearance of his old self at the plate came into play later, when he was intentionally walked in the seventh inning – which is the first time in 26 games that he had been walked intentionally. He later came around to score what would be the winning run. In his last five games, Ohtani is 11-for-22 with a homer, a triple, and two doubles.
On the pitching side, Ohtani sits at 5-2 with a 0.82 ERA. Despite tossing six no-hit innings last week against the Colorado Rockies, Shohei didn’t actually have one of his best outings. He had a season low 56% strike rate and walked a season high four batters. He stated after the game he “just really couldn’t find it”.
Only seven current Diamondback players have faced Ohtani before, and all combined have 21 at bats against, with no homers and no RBI amongst them.
The Dodgers will face Zac Gallen, whom they have seen plenty of times. Gallen has been much better at home so far this season, going 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA as opposed to a 7.57 ERA on the road. The Dodgers did see him to start the season where they tagged him for four runs, but not until the fifth inning, which included a three-run homer off the bat of Andy Pages.
The Diamondback have been tough so far this series, with Arizona taking the first game 4-1, and almost completing a comeback, losing 6-5 in Tuesday’s game.
In that game, five relievers were needed to hold on to that win. Ohtani would do well to go deep into the game, at least the six he usually goes. Gallen is one of the weaker pitchers in the Diamondbacks arsenal, and Dodgers have done really well against right handers this season. Ohtani last pitched at Chase Field last September, where he went six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
Jun 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) celebrates with first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) after scoring a run in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
The Tigers did the seemingly impossible on Wednesday afternoon as they wrapped up their series against the American League’s top team with a sweep, winning 7-2.
I’d be very curious to know if someone in the Tigers’ front office has promised their firstborn child to an Etsy witch, or something, because I don’t know who the June Tigers are, but they are not the same team that dragged their feet and bats through the whole month of May. I am not complaining, because if there’s one thing I love, it’s fun (and winning) baseball. The Tigers had already won the series heading into the Wednesday afternoon game, but they were hoping to come away with their first sweep in, like, a million years. To get there, they had Troy Melton on the mound, up against Nick Martinez for the Rays.
Gleyber Torres got things going in the first with a leadoff double. A Kevin McGonigle flyout advanced the runner to third, and then a Dillon Dingler single brought Torres home for the first run of the game.
With two outs, Riley Greene singled, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert another runner for the inning. In the home half, Junior Caminero got a one-out single, followed by a Jonathan Aranda walk. Yandy Diaz then singled, bringing in Caminero and tying the game. They’d have to settle for just the one run, but it was the first time the entire series they weren’t trailing the Tigers.
The second inning started with two outs, but Jake Rogers then hit a solo home run to left to push the Tigers back into the lead.
Cedric Mullins fought back in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run to re-tie the game. Nick Fortes then followed that with a single, but the Rays weren’t able to convert another baserunner.
Kevin McGonigle got the third started with a single. With one out, Kerry Carpenter singled into center, the ball deflected off the glove of Chandler Simpson. Riley Greene walked, and then a Spencer Torkelson sac fly brought McGonigle home.
In the home half, Aranda used the ABS to get himself a leadoff walk, but Yandy Diaz then grounded into a double play. That made things a fair bit easier for Melton to get out of the inning.
Matt Vierling started the fourth with a single, then advanced to second on a sac bunt from Rogers. Gleyber Torres then singled. With two outs, Dillon Dingler hit a three-run home run to push the Tigers into the lead by a wide margin.
The Rays did little to fight back in the bottom of the inning as they went 1-2-3 back to the dugout.
Martinez’s day was done as the game headed into the fifth, and he was replaced by Mason Englert. Greene got a leadoff single, but was then eliminated in a double play off the bat of Torkelson. A pop-out ended the inning. In the home half, the Rays once again went three-up, three-down.
In the sixth, Jake Rogers got a one-out single. A wild pitch from Englert allowed Rogers to advance to second. Two outs followed though, leaving the baserunner stranded. The Rays had another 1-2-3 inning.
Dingler got a free bag in the seventh after getting hit by a pitch. That’s certainly one way to keep him from hitting home runs. Carpenter grounded into a force out to eliminate Dingler. Then, with two outs, another wild pitch by Englert allowed Carpenter to advance to second, but the Tigers left another runner stranded. Bold of them to think a four-run lead is enough considering history. The Rays, however, didn’t do much to stage a comeback in the bottom of the inning, as they were set down in order.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the eighth. Melton was back out again for the home half, and despite extra effort to get through the first innings, he was looking dialled in and relaxed. He plowed through the side like he was just coming into the game. Just awesome stuff.
Torres started the top of the ninth with a single, continuing to swing a hot bat since his return. McGonigle doubled right behind him, pushing Torres to third. Dingler lined out directly to Caminero on third but Torres was lightning fast getting back, making sure he avoided the double play. A sac fly from Carpenter brought Torres home. Melton was done after eight, with a final line of 8.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR on 94 pitches. Drew Anderson came out of the pen to replace him. Anderson got the side out in order, and the Tigers walked away with a sweep.
Jun 3, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Ben Williamson (15) fields a ground ball in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
After so much time spent winning to start the season, defying expectations and climbing to the top of the American League, it’s safe to say no one had “lose a whole series to the worst team in the league” on their June bingo card. Yet the Rays have struggled consistently against the Tigers in this series, either forcing them to claw back runs to almost tie up a game, or to go completely shut-out against one of Detroit’s most inconsistent pitchers. It’s The Outer Limits. It’s Weird Baseball. And frankly, we don’t want it to continue. The Rays were just hoping to come away with a win in the series heading into Wednesday afternoon’s game, and they were doing it with Nick Martinez on the mound, up against a recently returned from the IL Troy Melton for the Tigers.
Gleyber Torres got things going in the first with a leadoff double. A Kevin McGonigle flyout advanced the runner to third, and then a Dillon Dingler single brought Torres home for the first run of the game. With two outs, Riley Greene singled, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert another runner for the inning. In the home half, Junior Caminero got a one-out single, followed by a Jonathan Aranda walk. Yandy Diaz then singled, bringing in Caminero and tying the game. They’d have to settle for just the one run, but it was the first time the entire series they weren’t trailing the Tigers.
The second inning started with two outs, but Jake Rogers then hit a solo home run to left to push the Tigers back into the lead. Cedric Mullins fought back in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff home run to re-tie the game. Nick Fortes then followed that with a single, but the Rays weren’t able to convert another baserunner.
Kevin McGonigle got the third started with a single. With one out, Kerry Carpenter singled into center, the ball deflected off the glove of Chandler Simpson. Riley Greene walked, and then a Spencer Torkelson sac fly brought McGonigle home. In the home half, Aranda used the ABS to get himself a leadoff walk, but Yandy Diaz then grounded into a double play. That made things a fair bit easier for Melton to get out of the inning.
Matt Vierling started the fourth with a single, then advanced to second on a sac bunt from Rogers. Gleyber Torres then singled. With two outs, Dillon Dingler hit a three-run home run to push the Tigers into the lead by a wide margin. The Rays did little to fight back in the bottom of the inning as they went 1-2-3 back to the dugout.
Martinez’s day was done after four, and he was replaced by Mason Englert. His final line for the game was 4.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HR on 5o pitches. A really rough start. Those numbers pretty much tell you the whole story, as does the short leash Kevin Cash used before pulling him. Greene got a leadoff single, but was then eliminated in a double play off the bat of Torkelson. A pop-out ended the inning. In the home half, the Rays once again went three-up, three-down.
In the sixth, Jake Rogers got a one-out single. A wild pitch from Englert allowed Rogers to advance to second. Two outs followed though, leaving the baserunner stranded. The Rays had another 1-2-3 inning.
Dingler got a free bag in the seventh after getting hit by a pitch. That’s certainly one way to keep him from hitting home runs. Carpenter grounded into a force out to eliminate Dingler. Then, with two outs, another wild pitch by Englert allowed Carpenter to advance to second, but the Tigers left another runner stranded. Bold of them to think a four-run lead is enough considering history. The Rays, however, didn’t do much to stage a comeback in the bottom of the inning, as they were set down in order.
In the eighth, the Rays got the Tigers out in order, which was a rare treat in this game. Unfortunately they did the same thing themselves in the bottom of the inning. Hard to make a comeback when you can’t even get a baserunner on.
Torres started the top of the ninth with a single, continuing his hot streak in his first series back from the IL. McGonigle doubled right behind him, pushing Torres to third. Dingler lined out directly to Caminero on third but Torres snuck back, narrowly avoiding the double play. A sac fly from Carpenter brought Torres home. The Tigers would have to settle for one, but it was another run the Rays would have to try to get back. Melton was done after eight, and Drew Anderson came out of the pen to replace him. Anderson got the side out in order, and the Tigers walked away with a sweep, while the Rays would have to ask themselves some difficult questions.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 07: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field on May 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rhett Lowder took the mound in a professional baseball game on Tuesday night for the first time in nearly a month. What he produced didn’t matter nearly as much as how he felt after getting in the work with AAA Louisville, and apparently he’s feeling just fine.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, Lowder came out of his 5.0 IP outing against the Memphis Redbirds feeling as he was supposed to feel as a starting pitcher, and will rejoin the Cincinnati Reds to make a start on Sunday when the team is in St. Louis facing the Cardinals. So said manager Terry Francona, per Sheldon.
Lowder yielded a trio of runs in his rehab outing, but he threw 70 pitches, logged 8 strikeouts, and didn’t walk a soul in an outing more reminiscent of him at his finest.
What we’ll be anxious to see now, though, is just how much the ‘clicking’ in his shoulder that shut him down early in a May 7th start against the Chicago Cubs was something that caused him to stumble a bit against big league pitching prior to hitting the shelf. Between that start and his previous one – a brutal 1.1 IP outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he was hammered for 8 ER while walking the world – he allowed a whopping 11 ER and 8 walks against just 2 K in 4.1 IP combined.
In part due to Lowder’s scheduled return, Chris Paddack has seemingly been bumped from the starting rotation for the time being. He’ll be available in relief in the meantime, though it remains to be seen what kind of role he’ll have when Lowder is activated in time for Sunday’s game.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 12: Anthony Seigler #48 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he takes batting practice during a spring training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 12, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Note: a version of this article was originally published on February 25, 2026.
Who is he and where did he come from?
He’s Anthony Seigler. Do you think the Red Sox don’t have enough infield depth pieces? You’re in luck, because here’s another one.
This particular infield depth piece started 25 games at third base for the playoff-bound Brewers in 2025 after making his MLB debut in July. The 26-year-old lefty from Cartersville, Georgia was a first round draft pick for the Yankees (three picks in front of Triston Casas!) and spent the first five years of his professional career in that organization. The Yankees-Red Sox crossover comps don’t stop there, because he is just the second Navajo player of all-time to make a Major League roster, joining none other than Jacoby Ellsbury.
Is he any good?
Stop me if you’ve heard thus one before: he’s exactly okay. Which is fine! Seigler has not quite found it yet at the plate in his short Major League career, batting just .194 with one extra base hit (a double) in his 62 at-bats. He fared a lot better at Triple-A, slashing .285/.414/.478 in 2025 and then a similarly healthy .295/.425/.471 this year. This is bolstered by his ability to draw walks, as his percentage as a pro approaches 20 percent. He’s patient, quick, and can pull a ball when he does hit it. Check out his Prospect Savant page for this hot chart (minimum 700 pitches seen.)
Clearly, Seigler has more work to do about getting that ball out of the park.
One more thing about Seigler: he’s played all over the diamond, splitting most of his minor league innings between catcher and second base before spending more time at third in 2026. And if that’s not enough versatility for you, he was drafted as a two-way player who also pitches, something that is great in, uhhh, emergency situation. But, I wouldn’t put too much stock in it, as he was only called upon to take the mound once in 2025.
Here’s his first Major League hit. He has a really interesting swing here, as he appears to choke down a little. Which, if you’re hitting well, great! With Seigler, though, you almost wonder if an adjustment is needed.
But believe it or not, Seigler has even cooler highlights than his first Major League hit. That’s because, not only is he a two-way player, he’s a two-way player who throws with both hands:
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 02: Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners leads off first base against the New York Mets during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on June 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nine is a big number.
The Mariners will look to stretch their win streak to nine this afternoon with a third consecutive sweep. At about four games is when I start to consider consecutive wins a streak, though I’d listen to arguments that three or five should be the minimal threshold. But it’s not until now, where eight turns to nine, that I start to really pay attention. There have many eight-game win streaks in franchise history. The ongoing streak is the 13th.
But there have only been seven streaks of nine or more (eight if you want to count the one that spanned 1994 to 1995), with the 2001 Mariners (15) and 2022 Mariners (14) topping the list. A win today and yeah, this is officially one of the best streaks in team history.
George Kirby will get the chance to do it. He was having an impressive, albeit bizarre start to the season, with a 3.23 FIP on the back of a league-leading 57% grounder rate through his first nine starts. His last three, however, have been harder to watch, plagued by homers and whatever alchemy the Royals are performing in Kansas City. This would be as good a time for a classic Kirby bounce back outing as any.
The lineup looks fairly standard. Josh Naylor is back, after spasming is back with a monster homer Monday. Jhonny Pereda will get the start behind the dish after a monster homer Tuesday. And Julio Rodríguez, Cole Young, and Randy Arozarena are still in there, for the 63rd game of the season. The Mariners and the Braves are the only teams with at least three players who have played in every game this season.
In other news, three Mariners prospects (including Wednesday’s nine-hole hitter Colt Emerson) ranked in Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospect List. Emerson (3rd) is joined by Ryan Sloan (7th) and Kade Anderson (9th — there’s that number again) to round out the best, top-level prospect group in the league. For more, Max Ellingsen has you covered.
Lineups
Game Information
First Pitch: 12:40 p.m. PDT
TV:Mariners.TV, with Aaron Goldsmith, Ryon Healy and Angie Mentink
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.
May 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) reacts against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Carson Benge – RF Bo Bichette – SS Juan Soto – DH Jared Young – 1B Brett Baty – 3B Marcus Semien – 2B A.J. Ewing – CF MJ Melendez – LF Luis Torrens – C
SP: Freddy Peralta – RHP
Mariners lineup
J.P. Crawford – SS Julio Rodriguez – CF Josh Naylor – 1B Randy Arozarena – LF Luke Raley – RF Cole Young – 2B Dominic Canzone – DH Jhonny Pereda – C Colt Emerson – 3B
SP: George Kirby – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 3:40 PM ET TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
