The Yankees suffered a tough blow just one batter into Thursday's game, as they lost Jasson Dominguez for at least a couple of weeks with a left shoulder injury after a scary collision with the left field fence.
While it’s unfortunate to see Dominguez go down during his shot back with the big league team, it does present an opportunity for another youngster to come up and get his chance.
Jones has joined the Yanks for Friday’s series opener with the Brewers, and he won’t have to wait long to debut, as he’s been inserted right into the lineup batting sixth as the DH.
“He fits in really well with the guys,” Aaron Boone told reporters pregame, via YES Network. “He’s gotten off to a really nice start this year down in Triple-A, has been really productive with the bat, and earned the opportunity to be here.
“I think we’re all very excited for him -- obviously, being a first-round pick and working his way through our system, him being here today, it’s well-deserved.”
Jones still has some swing-and-miss in his game, but his at-bats certainly have improved to start this season, as he's reached an impressive .336 rate and has a .958 OPS over Scranton's first 33 games of the season.
Of his 31 hits, 18 have gone for extra bases, and he's driven in 31 runs thus far.
The slugger will have a tall task ahead of him facing Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski in his big-league debut, but Boone is looking for him to keep his same approach at the plate.
“Tonight he's DHing, so I just want him to focus on having good at-bats,” he said. “Obviously, we’re going up against a great pitcher here tonight, but just as much as you can, you take what you've been doing and apply it up here.
“Obviously, he has the ability to impact games, but it’s just about keeping things small and focusing on the at-bat.”
While Jones is handling DH duties out of the gate, he won't strictly be relegated there, as Boone feels comfortable throwing him out in the field and will pick and choose his spots to do so.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 04: Ozzie Albies #1 celebrates with Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves after their back-to-back solo home runs during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are starting their most hyped series of the year as they face the loaded Los Angeles Dodgers team. Few probably thought before the season started that the Braves would be the team with a better record going into this series.
There have been several reasons why the Braves have been successful, but the offensive rebounds of key players has played a huge role in the early season success. Players like Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies, and Dominic Smith have had surprising rebounds, and the steady players like Matt Olson and reigning ROY Drake Baldwin have chipped in like they hoped they would.
The Braves will be facing Emmet Sheehan on the mound, and believe it or not he debuted back in 2023 and that was the only season he faced the Braves in. No player on the Braves roster in 2023 has faced Sheehan in more than two at-bats so it is hard to make a conclusion on how well they will do against him. The one player that draws the eye is that Ozzie Albies got a hit both times he faced Sheehan.
With the day off the other question was if Michael Harris’ quad will allow him to play CF or not. With him back in CF it allows Walt Weiss to put together the optimal lineup that would include Dominic Smith or Sean Murphy. We did see Harris play LF to give his quad some rest, but ideally we don’t want to see anyone other than him defensively if he is actually healthy. With Sean Murphy back it also brings the question of what the standard lineup will be versus both LHP and RHP starter. Tonight’s lineup may shine a light on that question.
Michael Harris will be in CF after all in a really fun lineup that has him in the cleanup spot with Baldwin hi and Dominic Smith getting the DH nod.
Chris Sale is on the mound for the Braves, and even though he is one of the more seasoned veterans of the league the Dodgers’ players shockingly don’t have many at-bats against him. Teoscar Hernández leads the team with eighteen at-bats, but then it drops all the way down to nine at-bats, which old friend Freddie Freeman has against Sale. Freddie Freeman has had success in those nine at-bats with an OPS of 1.222, and Hernández has a .818, but no one else is better than .708.
Shohei Ohtani has an OPS of .708 in eight at-bats. Even with this solid Dodgers lineup, the edge appears to go to Chris Sale here.
Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer reacts after allowing a solo homerun to San Diego's Victor Caratini at Petco Park in 2021. (Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
Trevor Bauer wants to pitch in the majors again — so much so that he's willing to start over in the lowest levels of the minor leagues and work his way up.
And he's willing to do it without being paid.
That's the hypothetical Bauer proposed Friday on X: A talented former Cy Young Award winner signs a minor league deal with an MLB team for a "$0 salary" and can be cut at any time at no financial risk to the organization.
Since his last MLB start on June 28, 2021, as a member of the Dodgers with a $102-million, three-year contract, Bauer has been accused of sexual assault by four women. He served a 194-game suspension for violating the league’s sexual assault and domestic violence policy. He has denied all the allegations and has never been charged with a crime.
While some might think signing Bauer might be a risky move for an MLB organization, Bauer feels his plan is foolproof in that regard.
"Hypothetical: You’re the owner of an MLB team," Bauer wrote. "I offer to take $0 salary and sign a minor league contract and go to Low A. If the 'he sucks now' crowd is right and I get lit up, you cut me, lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club.
Hypothetical: You’re the owner of an MLB team. I offer to take $0 salary and sign a minor league contract and go to Low A.
If the “he sucks now” crowd is right and I get lit up, you cut me, lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club.
If the “clubhouse cancer” crowd is…
— Trevor Bauer (トレバー・バウアー) (@BauerOutage) May 8, 2026
"If the 'clubhouse cancer' crowd is right, you see it immediately at Low A and cut me. You lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club. If there’s massive negative PR, which we already know there won’t be, you just cut me and move on. The story is dead in a couple days, you lose $0, and there’s no risk to the big league club."
In the comments on Bauer's post, someone challenged him on the notion that "we already know there won't be" any negative PR if he is signed. In response, Bauer pointed to his current stint with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League to support his argument.
"Where has the negative PR been?" wrote Bauer, who is 3-1 this season and pitched a no-hitter for the Ducks late last month. "I’m playing in America. In New York of all places. Most 'hostile' media market in the United States. Stadiums are sold out when I pitch. There’s no boycotts. No media frenzy. Where is it?"
Bauer wrote in his proposal that if none of the negatives he laid out earlier happen, then the organization can promote their cost-free pitcher through the ranks, re-evaluating him every step of the way, until he reaches the big leagues — "if I earn it," he wrote, "which you'd be 100% in control of deciding."
"If you don’t think I’m good enough, you lose $0 and there’s no risk to the big league club," Bauer wrote. "You could take away my 'antics'. You could take away my social media. You could ask anything of me. If I don’t comply, you cut me, lose $0, and there’s no risk to the big league club."
One X user asked why Bauer doesn't just take away his "antics" on his own.
"Because no teams actually care about that," Bauer responded. "They enjoy the content. And I’m not going to rob baseball fans of great baseball entertainment just to solve a problem that only exists in the minds of x bots."
Informed that the MLB Players Assn. might have an issue with him playing for free, Bauer replied, "Who gives a crap about what mlbpa does or doesn’t want?"
This isn't the first time Bauer has made what he considers to be a low-risk proposal for an organization to bring him back into the league. In 2024, Bauer spoke with The Times' Bill Shaikin about an offer he made to play for the league minimum.
"The reason for that was, I want to go back to work, and I am trying to find any way that I possibly can to limit the risk and exposure for a team," Bauer said. "I realize there are a lot of other things, outside of the on-field stuff, that go into whether to sign me. So I figured that, if I could limit the on-field risk as much as possible, perhaps that offsets some of the other perceived risks."
It remains to be seen whether any club is willing to take up Bauer on his current offer.
"What logical reason is there to not do this?" Bauer wrote. "At worst, you cut me and there’s no risk to the big league club. At best, you get a Cy Young winner for $0 who you know can still pitch and could help the big league team if and when you see fit."
Former Miami Marlins president David Samson weighed in on Bauer's proposal in a post on X.
"This will never happen," Samson wrote. "First of all, no team wants to sign him. Secondly, no player is allowed to play for $0. And finally, no team wants to sign him."
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 07: José Tena #8 of the Washington Nationals is showered with ice water after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Nationals Park on Thursday, May 7, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After their first home series win of the season, the Nats hit the road looking to keep up the momentum. The Nats have been road warriors, with a 12-7 record away from home. However, series openers have been an issue for them lately. They will do battle with the Marlins for the first time this season.
With a lefty on the mound, Blake Butera made a few alterations. James Wood will be off his feet today, getting the start at the DH spot. That means Joey Wiemer will be out in right field. Curtis Mead will remain the first baseman and hit second. After his fantastic game yesterday, Keibert Ruiz will get another start behind the plate. Foster Griffin will toe the slab for the Nats.
it was revealed to us in an email we get from our comms team
The Marlins have a highly touted prospect making his MLB debut tonight. Robby Snelling, the number 32 prospect in baseball, will be pitching tonight. The lefty has been outstanding in AAA, possessing big time swing and miss stuff. He will be throwing to a rookie catcher as well in Joe Mack. The Marlins middle infield duo of Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards have been outstanding this year, and are at the top of the Marlins lineup.
The Nats come into this series with some good vibes after finally exorcizing their home demons. Now they hit the road to play a divisional foe. This will be a good test for the boys, as the Marlins are a team that will punish you if you are not up for the fight. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
Pope Leo XIV (C) reacts wearing a Chicago White Sox baseball team cap as he meets newly wedded couples during the weekly general audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on June 11, 2025. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
The Mariners take their talents to the South Side of Chicago tonight, where temperatures will be in the high 50s, with winds under 10 mph and no rain in the forecast. Could the Mariners possibly play a normal game at Guaranteed Rate Field?
Emerson Hancock will take the ball for the sailors, fresh off one of the great games of recent Mariners history in which he struck out 14 and walked none over seven innings against the Royals. It brought his K%-BB% up to 25.2%, good for fourth among qualified starters, ahead of names such as Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.
Sean Burke will pitch for Chicago, hoping to continue the improvements he’s shown this season, thanks in no small part to the devlopment of his sinker into a real weapon.
Lineups
That sound you hear is the collective sigh of relief across the Northwest upon seeing the most normal starting lineup since the season’s early days. Brendan Donovan has been activated off the IL, and Cal Raleigh will get the start at catcher.
This is their best collection of nine hitters, and they’ve only used it five prior times, and not since April 17th.
The White Sox’ main attraction right now is power hitter Munetaka Murakami, who will play first base and bat second. But I’m curious to get a look at this Jarred Kelenic kid in right field. His stats pages don’t indicate a strong record of production, but he’s apparently a former #6 overall pick.
Game Info
First pitch: 4:40 PDT TV: Mariners TV Radio: Old reliable
Apr 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles infielder Pete Alonso (25) hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images | Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images
The Orioles are back home after a brutal 2-5 road trip. Tonight starts a six-game homestand with three games vs the Athletics followed by three games vs the Yankees. It would behoove the Orioles to get off to a good start against the A’s.
The A’s are, in fact, a first-place team. They are just one game above .500 in the extremely lackluster American League. So far this season, the Orioles have scored more runs than the A’s but have also given up way more. Kyle Bradish, tonight’s starter, has been part of that problem with his 5.03 ERA in seven starts.
Starting for the A’s is lefty Jacob Lopez. It’s bad news that he’s a lefty, but good news that he’s given up even more runs than Bradish. In seven games (six starts), Lopez is sporting a 6.60 ERA. His WHIP is 1.900. Both of tonight’s starting pitchers have walked a ton of guys this year. This is kind of an even match up.
I haven’t given up on Bradish turning it around. He has the track record! Also, what choice do we have but to hope he gets better? There aren’t exactly a lot of other options.
With the lefty on the mound, Samuel Basallo has the day off. After his game-losing error yesterday, Coby Mayo is slotted in as the DH tonight. At least from there, only his bat can hurt us. Blaze Alexander will take third in his place. Lefty batting Dylan Beavers is also out of the lineup. Maybe tonight will be the night Tyler O’Neill finally starts mashing lefties.
Orioles lineup
Taylor Ward (R) LF Gunnar Henderson (L) SS Adley Rutschman (S) C Pete Alonso (R) 1B Tyler O’Neill (R) RF Coby Mayo (R) DH Leody Taveras (S) CF Jeremiah Jackson (R) 2B Blaze Alexander (R) 3B
Athletics Lineup
Nick Kurtz (L) 1B Shea Langeliers (R) C Tyler Soderstrom (L) LF Brent Rooker (R) DH Carlos Cortes (L) RF Jacob Wilson (R) SS Lawrence Butler (L) CF Zack Gelof (R) 3B Jeff McNeil (L) 2B
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 02: Jacob Lopez #57 of the Athletics pitches against the Cleveland Guardians in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on May 02, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yesterday, the Athletics put together one of their most impressive performances of the season to salvage the final game of the team’s three-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies. The A’s hit four two-run home runs, providing more than enough run support for starting pitcher J.T. Ginn, who allowed just one run on four hits over eight innings— the longest outing by an A’s starter this season.
Now, the first-place Athletics are in Baltimore to begin a three-game weekend series against the Orioles tonight. Having lost their previous two series, these next few games are a prime opportunity for the A’s to snap this series-losing streak and maintain their lead atop the American League West. However, the Orioles will be a tough opponent, as they feature a talented offense led by standouts Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and marque offseason acquisition Pete Alonso. After winning two of three at the Miami Marlins, the Orioles seek to continue their winning ways against the A’s.
Left-hander Jacob Lopez will take the mound tonight for the visitors. The 28-year-old has been the weakest link in the A’s five-man rotation this season. Lopez enters his seventh start with a 2-2 record, 6.60 ERA, a 1.90 WHIP and a horrific 23-to-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He did not fare well in his last start against the Cleveland Guardians, allowing six runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings.
The team briefly moved him to the bullpen earlier this season, skipping one start before quickly moving him back into the rotation. If Lopez has another bad outing tonight, that could be the last start he gets for a while. The A’s may move him back to the bullpen or demote him to Triple-A to fix his command issues. In response, the team could call up another pitcher and give him the chance to start a few games.
The A’s are going with the same starting lineup for the second-straight day. It seems like this has become manager Mark Kotsay’s preferred lineup against opposing right-handed pitchers. Zack Gelof is starting at third base once again. He has more than earned everyday playing time, contributing consistently at the plate and seamlessly adapting to center field and now third base — two positions he had not played at the Major League level before this season.
Kyle Bradish will make his eighth start of the season for the Baltimore Orioles. The 29-year-old is off to a poor start this year, carrying a 1-4 record, 5.03 ERA and 1.82 WHIP into tonight’s outing. Like Lopez, Bradish struggled in his last start, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks in four innings. In the wake of scoring 12 runs last night, the A’s offense is primed to generate more runs against the Orioles’ talented but vulnerable starter.
Beyond Henderson and Alonso, the Orioles boast several power threats throughout their lineup. As a result, Lopez will have to be careful against a group capable of launching balls onto Eutaw Street.
Given that both starting pitchers have struggled through the season’s first month, tonight’s matchup could be a high-scoring affair. As such, the A’s offense needs to get to Bradish early to force the Orioles to turn to their bullpen sooner than they would like.
A Friday night win would be a great start to Mother’s Day weekend. Let’s go A’s!
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: Ryan Waldschmidt #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at bat during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on March 10, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 38.
Selected OF Ryan Waldschmidt (No. 15) from Triple-A Reno.
Reinstated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Reno: INF Tyler Locklear
Designated for assignment: OF Alek Thomas
The buzz about Waldschmidt has become increasingly loud of late. MLB Pipeline has listed him as the team’s best prospect, and in the top fifty overall in baseball. He’ll be making his debut less than two years after being picked by the Diamondbacks in the 2024 draft. Waldschmidt was the 31st overall selection, out of the University of Kentucky. We have Corbin Carroll to thank for him, since the D-backs earned the additional slot courtesy of Carroll winning Rookie of the Year the previous season.
2025 proved to be a breakout year for Waldschmidt, as he destroyed the ball, in particular after a mid-season promotion to Double-A Amarillo. If that is undeniably a hitter-friendly venue (the team OPS was .777), his line of .309/.423/.498 for an OPS of .921, while still only aged 22, was still very impressive. He then batted .302 with an .836 OPS in spring training, but did not make the Opening Day roster, and was sent to Triple-A Reno. In 34 games for the Aces, Waldschmidt has a triple-slash of .289/.400/.477 for an .877 OPS. Though as can never be said often enough, expect those numbers to take a sizable hit in the majors. But the peripherals look pretty damn good:
— Diamondbacks Prospects 🐍 (@dbacksprospectz) May 8, 2026
I think it is no coincidence that the team waited until now to promote Ryan. By doing so, the team avoided him being potentially eligible for “Super Two” status. This allows certain players to reach arbitration after 2+ years service time, rather than the usual 3+. Last year, the cutoff was quite high: players needed 2 years, 140 days to qualify, which basically means they needed to be called up in the first 32 days of the season. We’re now on day #44 of this season, so even if the cut-off point is lower, Waldschmidt should be on normal progression through the arbitration process.
To make room for Waldschmidt, the move may signal the end of Alek Thomas’s time in Arizona. A second-round pick in 2018, he made his debut for the Diamondbacks in 2022, so is in his fifth major-league season with the team. He initially looked promising through his first two seasons, and was a key component of the D-backs’ run to the World Series in 2023. Nobody can forget him coming off the bench (below) to hit a key, game-tying home run facing Craig Kimbrel in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Phillies, likely saving the D-backs from a 3-1 deficit in the series.
But, sadly, it has more or less been downhill since then for Thomas in Arizona, through a brutal combination of injury – a strained hamstring cost him much of the first half the next season – and ineffectiveness. While his defense has typically been reliable and often brilliant, the struggles at the plate basically canceled out anything Alek could produce with his glove. Since the start of 2024, Thomas has appeared in 210 games, but been worth just 0.1 bWAR, due largely to an OPS+ of just 75. This season has been worse still: 28 appearances and only a 54 OPS+. With Thomas now perhaps out of minor-league options (there’s some debate over that), being designated for assignment was the only alternative.
We’ll see how the move works out for Arizona. It’s possible Thomas might get through waivers and go down to Reno. But if Waldschmidt lives up to expectations, the prospects of Alek finding his way back onto the 40-man roster, and then to the big leagues, are not something on which I would want to bet.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Spencer Jones #68 of the New York Yankees signs autographs prior to a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Atlanta Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
The idiot that said, “Harper is coming” asks:Do you have any ideas on who could be the back end of the bullpen partner with Bednar by the end of this season? Is it someone from within, or someone acquired in trade? And who?
How about we consider options for both, since there are plenty of candidates to talk about. Internally, the Yankee bullpen has seen its greatest success with its firemen, the pitchers rushing into jams in the middle-to-late innings or evading some self-created trouble. Brent Headrick and Fernando Cruz are the staples here, but the revamp that the team gave their bullpen at the deadline hasn’t worked out quite so well in supplementing them, forcing them to take more and more responsibilities on their shoulders. These might be the names we’d want to elevate to full-time set up duty, but they run the risk of burning them out by the time summer arrives if that workload continues.
To give one of them room to shift into that role, the Yankee could elevate Yovanny Cruz (1.72 ERA in 15.2 innings at Triple-A) and mix him into the middle-inning cacophany. There’s also the impending rotation crunch to consider, as Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole’s return will push one of the regular starters this season down into the ‘pen. Ryan Weathers seems the likeliest candidate, with Will Warren flashing some potential middle of the rotation development this season. In either case, Fernando Cruz seems the better candidate for a traditional set-up man, as Headrick has excelled at stranding runners this season whereas Cruz has looked better being given a fresh frame to work through.
Externally there’s many avenues the team could take, but they’re cloudier at the moment with so many AL teams jumbled up in the standings. With just four teams sitting above .500 and the bottom pairing of the Astros and Angels only three games out of the final Wild Card should the season end today, getting many of those mediocre teams to commit to selling will take some time. Even a would-be easy candidate in the Phillies a mere week or two ago look more lively after firing Rob Thomson and winning eight of their last ten games. However, nice as it’d be to trade for Jhoan Duran they might not be able to shop at the top of the market (though with how aggressive they’ve been in playing their best options this year, who knows). Milwaukee’s Trevor Megill was a name floated over the offseason, but he hasn’t gotten off to the best start and the Yankees might be gun shy about dealing with the Brewers after the Devin Williams saga last year. A candidate I think could shine with some Matt Blake spin is Miami’s Tyler Phillips, a swingman who has gotten some chances late in games for the Marlins and showcases potential, but has worked a bit too many walks. Ultimately, it’ll come down to who separates themselves from the pack and if there are teams that could contend but would be willing to retool for next year before we can get any definitive names, but the good thing is that there will always be someone willing to deal out bullpen help.
OLDY MOLDY asks: Should we stop believing that Spencer Jones will get called up before September or can he hit enough dingers to force the issue?
I have good news and bad news. The good news is that Spencer Jones’ day has come, as he was promoted today and will likely see some action over the course of this weekend. The bad news is it came at the expense of Jasson Domínguez, who crashed into the left field wall on Thursday and was put on the IL for a low-grade AC sprain. With Domínguez already taking the place of Giancarlo Stanton on the roster after he was put on the IL, the door was open for Jones to finally make his MLB debut. How long will his first stint in pinstripes last? Undetermined for now, as a Stanton injury can always snowball into a significant amount of time missed and Domínguez looked to be in severe pain on the play that took him out of the game, but the mere fact that he’s here in May is a sign of two things: the team believes he deserves a test against Major League pitching, and they’re willing to run the roster that gives them the best chance to win every day.
Jones may not get much playing time at the moment — the starting outfield of Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Trent Grisham is still intact and Grisham is finding more and more green grass to land on after getting incredibly unlucky at the start of the year. The avenue for a starting gig just isn’t there yet, but the team is willing to disrupt Jone’s tear at Triple-A (he owns a .958 OPS with 11 home runs in 33 games played) to field him over a more conventional stopgap. It makes sense that the role would be realized once it was made for Domínguez, who similarly had gaps in his game that the team wanted him to work on in the minors, but it is still a surprise to see and could prove to be a signal that other top prospects can contribute this season should they continue making the case.
Trent Grishams Mustache asks: Will Volpe get all of SS reps in AAA with Lombard playing 3B and maybe 2B or do they prioritize Lombard and have Volpe cross train at 2B?
For the moment it looks like this will be the case, though our own John Griffin made the case recently for why the Yankees should consider shifting Volpe around, and noted in his article that Aaron Boone walked back some initial comments on his demotion about locking him into the role saying “right now, he’s going to play shortstop.” So for now Volpe will get comfortable at his old position while George Lombard Jr. flexes his defensive prowess by covering second and third base, which he did earlier in the year when Volpe was rehabbing with him down in Somerset as well. If Lombard is being seriously considered for a role in the majors this season it makes sense that they’d give him that chance to win a spot through versatility, but Volpe’s track record implies that he’d be closer to a call-up and could also use the practice if Lombard long-term looks to be the shortstop of the future. It’ll be an interesting case to monitor, but as of right now nothing out of the ordinary is happening down on the farm with those two.
Hello and welcome to the seventh installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.
I will be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.
It feels like we just drafted our teams, yet the weather is warming up around the league and balls are starting to fly out of the ballpark with more regularity as we steamroll into the middle of May.
We now have actual actionable data that we can use to make decisions on these pitchers, as most of them have taken the mound five or six times already. A pitcher can get lucky and post quality results despite poor underlying numbers through a couple of starts, but it’s much more difficult to sustain that over a longer stretch of time.
This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.
Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:
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It’s possible that someone could make two starts for the Braves next week (vs. Cubs, vs. Red Sox), but I’m not even sure they know who it would be at this point. They skipped Grant Holmes on Wednesday, opting to go with Martin Perez in that spot instead. Either of them could pitch on Tuesday and wind up pitching twice. It’s also possible that JR Ritchie could start on Tuesday and he could wind up pitching twice. The most likely scenario, has further chaos ensuing there with each of those options taking the ball once and no one ending up with a two-start week. We’ll update here if we get any further clarification throughout the weekend.
We aren’t quite sure what’s going to happen with the Royals in regards to the availability of Cole Ragans this week, which throws their rotation into flux. It’s possible that he overcomes his “pitcher’s elbow” that he’s battling and is able to take the ball on Tuesday, which would line him up for a two-start week (at White Sox, at Cardinals). It’s also possible that he winds up on the injured list and someone else makes those starts. We could also see SethLugo start on regular rest on Tuesday and wind up with the two-start week. Stay tuned.
Another rotation that’s in flux is the Angels following the injury to Yusei Kikuchi. It’s possible they could promote someone from Triple-A Salt Lake to start in his place on Monday, or that Alek Manoah could potentially be ready to return from the injured list. Those options would potentially line up for two starts (at Guardians, vs. Dodgers), though with those matchups it’s not an avenue that we would want to explore anyways. It’s also possible that the Halos simply go with a bullpen game on Monday.
Going Twice…
Note: Probable pitchers as of May 8 and are subject to change.
American League
▶ Strong Plays
Ryan Weathers, Yankees, LHP (at Orioles, at Mets)
We’re finally seeing what Weathers can do when he stays healthy over a prolonged stretch and it has been glorious. The 26-year-old southpaw holds a pristine 3.03 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 45/10 K/BB ratio over 38 2/3 innings through his first eight starts. That’ll absolutely play in all leagues. He gets a pair of quality matchups this week and is benefited by both of them being away from the cozy confines of Yankee Stadium. Weathers represents one of the top overall options on the board this week.
Bryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (at Astros, vs. Padres)
Woo has dealt with a bit of bad luck through his first eight starts, leading to an elevated 4.02 ERA, but his 1.00 WHIP and 38/8 K/BB ratio hint that better things are on the horizon. This lines up as a very strong week for the 26-year-old hurler as he should be able to pick up his third win while pling up ample strikeouts and working to bring down that inflated ERA. He's an easy start in all leagues.
Jeffrey Springs, Athletics, LHP (vs. Cardinals, vs. Giants)
Springs has excelled through his first eight starts for the Athletics this season, registering a 3.87 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 39/12 K/BB ratio across 44 frames. He has one disaster in there against the White Sox (seven runs in five innings), but otherwise has been pretty consistent each time out and effective both home and on the road. I don’t love that both starts are coming at Sutter Health Park, but getting to take on the Giants in one of them makes up for that. I’d be starting Springs with complete confidence in all leagues for this two-start week.
George Kirby, Mariners, RHP (at Astros, vs. Padres)
Kirby has been outstanding through his first eight starts for the M's this season, posting a 2.94 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 39/12 K/BB ratio over 52 innings. We'd ideally like to see a few more strikeouts, but the extra volume from a two-start week will more than make up for that. He should be an automatic start in all leagues this week and each week going forward.
▶ Decent Plays
Peter Lambert, Astros, RHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Rangers)
Through his first four starts, Peter Lambert has pitched like he wants to keep his spot in a depleted Astros’ rotation. The 29-year-old hurler has registered a stellar 2.42 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and a 23/11 K/BB ratio across 22 1/3 innings. The 3.34 xERA is pretty favorable as well. Now he gets to make two starts at home against familiar divisional foes, both who rank in the middle of the pack against right-handed pitching. I couldn’t go quite as far to say Lambert is a great start for this week, but he’s completely viable and someone that I would be happy to use in leagues of all sizes.
Brandon Young, Orioles, LHP (vs. Yankees, at Nationals)
We have seen a mixed bag from Young through his first four starts in the O’s rotation. He has had one brutal start where he was lit up for 10 runs (four earned) against the Astros. Otherwise, he has won each of his other three tries with decent overall results. If he wasn’t forced to battle the Yankees to start the week, I’d even go as far to say that he’s a sneaky streaming option in shallower leagues. If you’re trying to make up ground in wins and strikeouts, I do think there’s viability to using Young this week. My apologies if he gets pummeled by the Yankees though.
Joey Cantillo, Guardians, LHP (vs. Angels, vs. Reds)
Aside from his questionable WHIP (1.37), Cantillo has been terrific in eight starts for the Guardians this year with a 3.43 ERA and 37 strikeouts over 39 1/3 innings while picking up a pair of victories. The Angels and Reds both rank in the upper half of the league against southpaws, but both matchups coming in Cleveland helps to balance that out. He also draws strong opposing pitching matchups here, so his chances of earning that third win look pretty high this week. I’d be comfortable starting Cantillo in both 15 and 12-team formats this week.
Bailey Ober, Twins, RHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Brewers)
Ober continues to defy logic and put up decent results despite his limited velocity this season, posting a 4.19 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 32 strikeouts over 43 innings. I still believe there’s a correction coming here at some point, but I don’t hate using him as a streaming option while things are going well. A pair of home matchups against the Marlins and Brewers aren’t anything to worry about, giving him a nice shot at earning a victory this week with six or seven strikeouts. That’s perfectly fine to use in all leagues if you have a spot available and need volume.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Erick Fedde, White Sox, RHP (vs. Royals, vs. Cubs)
It has flown a bit under the radar, but Fedde has actually pitched pretty decently in his return to the White Sox. Through his first seven outings, he holds a respectable 3.79, a downright useful 1.13 WHIP and a 24/13 K/BB ratio over 38 innings. He has yet to win a game, but that’s more the fault of the White Sox’ offense than it is Fedde. The matchups are a mixed bag, with the Royals grading out positively before finishing the week with a tough battle against the Cubs. The issue is that if you’re streaming fringe starters, you’re usually looking for wins or strikeouts – or preferably both. Fedde hasn’t offered either this year. That isn’t to say that he can’t sneak a win in one of these starts, but you’re fighting an uphill battle. If you’re desperate for options in 15-teamers, I could see going here.
Jack Flaherty, Tigers, RHP (at Mets, vs. Blue Jays)
How the mighty have fallen. Flaherty was always a lock for fantasy purposes during his two-start weeks, but these days he can’t locate his fastball and owns a flabbergasting 1.65 WHIP to go with his 5.56 ERA and league-leading 26 free passes and five hit batsmen. He has also yet to win a game, despite pitching for the Tigers. The strikeouts are the only thing he has provided of value with 42 punchouts in his first 34 innings. The only glimmer of hope here is that he posted a 10/1 K/BB ratio over five innings against the Red Sox his last time out. If you believe there is more of that to come, you can roll the dice and use him for two starts here. Just don’t come back complaining when he throws your ratios into a blender.
Brayan Bello, Red Sox, RHP (vs. Phillies, at Braves)
Bello has been an unmitigated disaster for the Red Sox through his first seven appearances on the season, posting a miserable 7.44 ERA and 1.93 WHIP over 32 2/3 innings. The one thing that you’d expect from Bello, strikeouts, haven’t even been there with just 24 punchouts on the year. He probably saved his rotation spot his last time out with seven strong innings of one-run ball against the Tigers. Is that enough to trust him going forward? For me, it’s not. The Phillies’ offense has been heating up against right-handed pitching and the Braves crush everyone these days. Rolling out Bello for two starts is just screaming for ratio damage.
Lance McCullers Jr., Astros, RHP (vs. Mariners, vs. Rangers)
Remember when McCullers opened the second with one great start and everyone thought he could be back to being a viable fantasy option? Good times. He now sports a 7.41 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 34 innings and only continues to get the ball every fifth day because the Astros don’t have enough healthy arms to field a rotation otherwise. While the matchups are decent and there’s a chance he could sneak through here with strong strikeout numbers and a chance at a win, I’m not subjecting my ratios to the risk that he provides. If you want to gamble, more power to you.
National League
▶ Strong Plays
Paul Skenes, Pirates, RHP (vs. Rockies, vs. Phillies)
While many first and second round fantasy selections have been busts through the first eight weeks or so of the season, Skenes has been the exception. The star right-hander boasts a scintillating 2.36 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and a 46/7 K/BB ratio across 42 innings while securing five victories already. Fantasy managers should never consider benching him for any matchup, especially for a two-start week that includes a home tilt against the Rockies. He has been perhaps the best pitcher in all of baseball through his first eight starts on the season and he’ll get a chance to improve upon those numbers as the top overall play on the board this week.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers, RHP (vs. Giants, at Angels)
It’s rare that we get a week where a Dodgers’ pitcher is lined up for two starts given that they’re rolling with a full six-man rotation, but it looks like Yamamoto will get the honor next week with a pair of juicy matchups to boot. He has been exceptional through his first seven starts, registering a 3.09 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and a 40/10 K/BB ratio over 43 2/3 innings. He’s locked into fantasy lineups every week regardless of matchups, but this will be one of the few weeks where he’ll provide you with double the volume. On a week that looks scant for quality options, Yamamoto looks like one of the best plays on the board this week
Freddy Peralta, Mets, RHP (vs. Tigers, vs. Yankees)
Peralta has been as good as advertised through his first eight starts in a Mets’ uniform, compiling a 3.12 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 43/18 K/BB ratio across 43 1/3 innings. He’s an easy start for fantasy managers each and every week, so there’s no decision point here, though the matchups are going to be tough this week. He gets the benefit of both starts being at home, but has to tangle with a pair of strong offenses in the Tigers and the Yankees. He should be used in all leagues regardless of the poor matchups, just understand that his ratios may check in a bit higher than we’re used to seeing this week.
Zack Wheeler, Phillies, RHP (at Red Sox, at Pirates)
So far, so good for Wheeler through his first three starts since returning from the injured list, posting a 3.12 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and an 18/6 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings. If he can keep that up, Phillies’ fans and fantasy managers everywhere will be thrilled with the overall results. The Pirates actually rank as one of the better offenses in baseball against right-handed pitching this season while the Red Sox check in as one of the worst. This looks like a prime week for Wheeler to add a win to his ledger while piling up double digit strikeouts.
Robbie Ray, Giants, LHP (at Dodgers, at Athletics)
Like his rotation-mate Logan Webb, Ray draws a brutal set up matchups for his two-start week, having to battle the Dodgers in Los Angeles and the A's in West Sacramento. Unlike Webb though, Ray has been great this season, posting a sub-3.00 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP with 40 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. The ceiling is lower than you'd like this week given the poor matchups, but that's no reason to sit one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball. Make sure to start him in all leagues this week.
▶ Decent Plays
Eury Pérez, Marlins, RHP (at Twins, at Rays)
With as good of stuff that he has, it’s frustrating to see Pérez sitting with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP over his first 41 1/3 innings on the season. The hope remains that as he gets further removed from his injury, the consistency will come and the results will improve. This looks like a good week for him to bring those ratios down with a pair of road matchups against middling offenses. He has punched out six or more batters in each of his last four starts, so even in the worst case scenario, he should deliver 10+ strikeouts here with a shot at a win. You have to trust the process and use him in all formats for this two-start week.
Logan Webb, Giants, RHP (at Dodgers, at Athletics)
Webb hasn't exactly pitched like an ace through his first eight starts on the season, registering a troublesome 5.06 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and a 42/15 K/BB ratio across 48 innings. Now he draws a brutal two-start week where he has to battle the Dodgers in Los Angeles before taking on the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. Yikes. Even with the poor performance and the difficult matchups, I have a hard time sitting Webb for a two-start week. You have to give him time to correct the ratio damage that he has already inflicted. The worst thing you can do is sit him and have him win a game with strong ratios and plus strikeouts on your bench. It may be a tougher click than usual, but keep him active this week.
Michael Soroka, Diamondbacks, RHP (at Rangers, at Rockies)
The overall line for Soroka on the season doesn’t look great, with a 4.14 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 37 innings, but a lot of that damage was done in one eight-run disaster against the Brewers in Milwaukee. He also gave up four runs against the Phillies in Philadelphia. In his other five starts (all at home), Soroka has allowed two or fewer earned runs each time. Is the home/road thing a trend or simply small sample variance? That’s for you to decide. The Rangers and Rockies both rank middle of the pack against right-handed pitching and that second start will be at Coors Field. In 15-teamers, I feel confident enough that I’d probably roll him out there. In 12’s, it would really depend on what type of alternative options I had available. That home/road split though would definitely be in the back of my mind though.
Chad Patrick, Brewers, RHP (vs. Padres, at Twins)
Patrick has actually been a bit of a disappointment this season, posting a 3.45 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 20/16 K/BB ratio over 31 1/3 innings. He has really struggled to throw strikes consistently and isn’t working deeply into games, which hurts when he isn’t working behind an opener. With the added volume of a two-start week, you probably still want to be using him in all formats, but the overall upside here this week is much lower than I would’ve expected from Patrick a couple of weeks ago.
Colin Rea, Cubs, RHP (at Braves, at White Sox)
Aside from a tough matchup against the Dodgers where he was shelled for six runs, Rea has done a really nice job since joining the Cubs’ rotation. Overall he holds a 4.03 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and a 35/12 K/BB ratio across 38 innings while notching four victories. The WHIP is a problem for sure and having to battle the Braves in Atlanta to open the week isn’t ideal. A home matchup against the White Sox to finish the week helps to offset that. I think he’s fine as a streaming option if looking to add volume for the purpose of making up ground in wins and strikeouts. Just understand that he could actively be hurting your WHIP while he’s in there.
Brady Singer, Reds, RHP (vs. Nationals, at Guardians)
Usually a viable streaming option in two-start weeks, Singer hasn’t quite been as reliable this season. Through eight starts, he holds an unhealthy 5.63 ERA and 1.64 WHIP over 38 1/3 innings. He has a strong track record of success, though his 5.78 xERA and 4.58 xFIP show that he has more or less earned that brutal line so far this season. He has been much better in his three starts at home, which could bode well for that soft matchup against the Nationals to start the week. The Guardians’ lineup isn’t intimidating either though, so I don’t hate traveling on the road to face them. My gut tells me that he should be a decent option this week, that he should approach double digit strikeouts while having a shot at earning a victory and avoiding any major blowups. That flies in the face of the numbers we have seen thus far though. I’d probably take the plunge in 15’s while leaving him on the shelf for 12’s.
▶ At Your Own Risk
Michael Lorenzen, Rockies, RHP (at Pirates, vs. Diamondbacks)
The “Never Rockies” mantra was seemingly built for fringe options like Lorenzen. There’s just no reason to go here in home or split weeks. Could he sneak past the Pirates with a decent outing, sure, but you can’t like his chances of silencing the Diamondbacks at Coors Field on Sunday. There isn’t enough upside in that veteran right arm to justify the ratio risk that you would be taking on by using him for these two starts. Just say no, there are better options available.
Matt Waldron, Padres, RHP (at Brewers, vs. Mariners)
While he was terrific his last time out, Waldron holds an unappealing 7.71 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 18 2/3 innings in his first four outings for the Padres this season and is far too inconsistent to trust for fantasy purposes. Maybe in the deepest of leagues if you're desperate for volume and need to chase strikeouts, otherwise he's a clear player to avoid this week.
The Mets have talked to several teams about trading Freddy Peralta, per a report from Bruce Levine of The Score Chicago, who adds that the team sees June 1 as a target date for either getting back in the playoff race or moving Peralta. Levine followed that up by clarifying that the Cubs, who he named in the initial report, hadn’t spoken directly to the Mets about Peralta.
The concept behind the rumor is plausible, as it would probably make sense for the Mets to move their pitchers on expiring contracts sooner rather than later if the team doesn’t think it’s going to contend. And while it could make sense for the Mets to work out a contract extension with Peralta, it’s hard to see the team committing to seven or eight years, a number that the 29-year-old floated during spring training.
Through his his first eight starts as a Met, Peralta has a 3.12 ERA and a 3.73 FIP, and he’s thrown 43.1 innings for an average of just over five-and-one-third innings per start. The Mets acquired him and fellow right-handed pitcher Tobias Myers in a trade with the Brewers that sent prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat to Milwaukee.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 7: Brendan Donovan #33 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on April 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Seattle Mariners announced Friday that they have activated UTIL Brendan Donovan from the 10-day injured list. Correspondingly, they’ve optioned C Jhonny Pereda back to Triple-A Tacoma. One sharp game in Double-Arkansas was proof enough on his rehab stint for the Mariners to activate Donovan, who should immediately slot back in atop the M’s lineup for their series against the Chicago White Sox.
Donovan’s return also should have an impact on the defensive woes of the Mariners, albeit not clearly a dramatic one. Leo Rivas can recede into his bench role once more, hopefully smoothing some of the overexposure he’d suffered in recent weeks. Donovan has been an adept defender in his career as a utility man, but will likely handle everyday work at third base once more. He’s been historically sat against tough lefty arms, but the M’s aren’t flush enough to easily shelve him for their existing righty bats.
Pereda’s demotion suggests Seattle expects Cal Raleigh to return behind the dish imminently. Raleigh has not hit with any acumen in the past few days since a side issue sidelined him for a few days. While his MRI appeared clean, it’s been tough sledding for the Big Dumper. Mitch Garver has also caught consecutive games for the first time since early August of 2023 as a member of the Texas Rangers.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals exits the game after being injured during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals announced they have placed pitcher Cole Ragans on the 15-day Injured List with left elbow impingement. Ragans exited his start on Wednesday after four innings with what was reported as soreness and tightness in tricep and the back of his elbow. Anne Rogers reported he had “valgus extension overload”, also known as “pitcher’s elbow” that can result from repetitive throwing. Yordano Ventura suffered a similar injury in 2014 and missed one start. Bailey Falter is also suffering from the same injury and has been out since April 3.
Ragans had twice had Tommy John surgery in his career – in 2018 and 2019, when he was with the Rangers. He told reporters on Wednesday, “I know what I’ve been through, the elbow stuff. I know it’s not what I’ve been through before.” Ragans has battled injuries throughout much of his career so far, missing half of last season with a rotator cuff strain.
To replace Ragans in the rotation, the Royals recalled pitcher Stephen Kolek, who gave the Royals six innings on Tuesday, allowing just three runs. In six starts with the Royals over the last two seasons Kolek has given them six Quality Starts, defined as outings with six or more innings, with three or fewer runs allowed.
The Royals also recalled pitcher Steven Cruz from Triple-A Omaha and returned Eric Cerantola to the Storm Chasers. Cerantola made his Major League debut on Wednesday, and appeared in two games this week, allowing three runs in three innings. Cruz has given up eight runs with seven strikeouts and four walks in five innings in a previous stint with the Royals this season.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 7: Daniel Susac #6 of the San Francisco Giants hits a triple against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Oracle Park on April 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are five San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball teams in-season right now — the Dominican Summer League season doesn’t start for a few more weeks — and all five were in action on Thursday. It was a fun, fun day, so let’s jump straight into it.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
A bit of a catcher carousel on the farm. Major Leaguer Daniel Susac (No. 20 CPL) began a rehab assignment with AAA Sacramento and, in return, Sacramento returned Ty Hanchey to High-A Eugene. Eugene also activated Jancel Villarroel (No. 42 CPL) off the Injured List and, with those 2 returning, released Luke Shliger, their 6th-round pick in 2023. Completing the carousel was Zach Morgan, who was moved from AA Richmond to Sacramento.
Richmond also placed RHP Brad Deppermann on the 7-Day IL, while welcoming in LHP Dale Stanavich, who was moved up from the Arizona Complex League as he looks to get his season actually started.
AAA Sacramento (19-15)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Reno Aces (Diamondbacks) 6-3 Box score
The Giants offense is catastrophically awful. You know the things I’m about to tell you, but I’m telling you them anyway, for emphasis: the Giants are below league average in batting average; the Giants are dead last in on-base percentage; the Giants are 28th in slugging percentage; the Giants are dead last in runs per game by more than half a run; the Giants are dead last in home runs hit, with 7 different teams at least doubling their total.
They’ve already called on their reinforcements in Sacramento when they called up Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) and Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) on Monday. But now there are new reinforcements on the way, as Daniel Susac (No. 20 CPL) began his rehab assignment on Thursday. Playing at designated hitter, Susac picked up right where he left off in the Majors before getting injured: he came to the plate 4 times, he left with a hit 3 times, and he cleared the fence 2 times.
Suffice to say, Susac’s rehab isn’t going to last very long if it looks like that, and the Giants offense stands to benefit from his return. I don’t envy Tony Vitello figuring out how to make the Susac/Rodríguez/Patrick Bailey catcher triad work, but sadly I’m not getting paid millions of dollars to make those decisions. Either way, it will be great seeing Susac back in San Francisco, and my guess is he’ll be activated by the time the Giants start their series with the Dodgers on Monday.
He wasn’t the only reinforcement to go deep, either, as center fielder Harrison Bader led off the first inning with a big fly, which was great to see. Bader, who finished 1-4 with a strikeout, is deeper into his rehab than Susac — this was his 3rd game with the River Cats — but is probably further away from getting activated. He professed a desire to have a lengthy rehab stint to make up for the time he lost in Spring Training, and given how bad he was before hitting the IL this year, I’m guessing the Giants are more than inclined to accommodate that.
It wasn’t just the Major Leaguers who did work, though, as third baseman Buddy Kennedy had yet another delightful game, hitting 2-4 with both a home run and a double, giving him dingers on back-to-back days.
Kennedy has been consistently excellent all year, and now has a .920 OPS, a 147 wRC+, and just a 13.7% strikeout rate. What a nice emergency depth piece he is to have around.
On the pitching front, LHP John Michael Bertrand did something you very rarely see in this era: he pitched deep into a game and didn’t record a strikeout. Bertrand went a whole 6.1 innings in this one, and didn’t strike out any of the 27 batters that he faced. He had strong control all game, with just 1 walk issued, but allowed 7 hits (including a home run), which tagged him for 3 earned runs.
A 28-year old who was taken in the 10th round in 2022, Bertrand has the funkiness and ground ball rate (50.9%) to potentially get outs at the next level, but it still is jarring seeing someone strike out so few people. On the year, he’s struck out just 17 of 152 batters, en route to a 4.64 ERA and a 6.18 FIP.
RHP Dylan Smith continued his strong season, as he tossed 1.2 no-hit innings with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts. The 2021 3rd-round pick by the Tigers, who was acquired at the start of the season, is down to a 2.13 ERA and a 3.40 FIP. He’s walking way too many batters (5.7 per 9 innings), but striking out quite a few as well (10.7 per 9), while running a 53.8% ground ball rate. That underscores how good he’s been, as all of the damage against him came in 1 blow up performance; he hasn’t allowed a run in his other 8 appearances. He’s on the 40-man roster, so could be an option in the MLB bullpen soon.
A day after beating Akron 5-4 thanks to a magical 9th inning rally, Richmond again beat Akron 5-4 …. this time while withstanding a nearly-magical 9th inning rally by their opponent.
Fresh off of being named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Month for April, RHP Darien Smith had his worst start of the year … which highlighted just how great his season has been, because it was a pretty nice start!
Smith allowed 2 runs in 4.2 innings, which marked the 1st time this year he’s ceded multiple runs in a game. But he did a decent job throwing strikes, and had a delightful 6 strikeouts against just 1 walk. The damage came on the hit front, where he only gave up 4, but that included both a home run and a double.
That was a change of pace for Smith, a 26-year old undrafted free agent in his 2nd season. He’s had some issues with walks this year, but has mostly done his damage by limiting hits: in 29.2 innings this season, the Southeastern alum had allowed just 18 hits. He’s only ceded 4 extra-base hits all year, though 3 of them have been home runs, which is part of why his FIP (4.18) is so dramatically behind his majestic ERA (1.52).
Smith gave way to LHP Dale Stanavich, who made his Richmond debut. Stanavich, a 26-year old who was taken in the 8th round in 2022 by the Marlins, signed a Minor League deal with the Giants at the start of the season, and took a few weeks to debut. He made a pair of appearances in the ACL, before getting sent up to AA, a level he excelled at last year before running into troubles in AAA.
It was strikeouts that led Stanavich to success in AA: between stints there in 2024 and 2025, he had a stunning 100 strikeouts in just 68 innings. And the switch from the Southern League to the Eastern League didn’t seem to change that: in Stanavich’s Squirrels debut he faced 5 batters and struck out 4 of them, with the other being a walk. That’ll play!
Also nice relief outings from RHPs Manuel Mercedes and Dylan Hecht, who have been having tough seasons, while RHP Cameron Pferrer had another difficult outing that ballooned his ERA to double digits.
No crazy days on offense, but a lot of good ones. There were 5 different players in the lineup who reached base multiple times, including a trio of hitters who had multi-hit games: designated hitter Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL), shortstop Aeverson Arteaga, and catcher Adrián Sugastey.
Harber hit 2-4 with a double and 2 strikeouts, as he continues to get up to speed following a lengthy injury absence to start the season. Not surprisingly, Harber has been striking out quite a bit — a predictable situation given his tardiness to start the season, and the fact that swing-and-miss has always been a little bit of a struggle for him. He’s rocking a 32.7% strikeout rate to start the year, and that will certainly need to come down at some point. But the strikeouts aren’t keeping him from racking up the hits: he has a .327 batting average, and in 11 games already has 7 doubles (though he’s still looking for his 1st AA home run).
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 8, 2026
Arteaga hit 2-3 with a double, though he also committed his 4th error of the season. The stunning renaissance continues for the 23-year old, who has raised his year-over-year OPS by more than 400 points, from .508 to .929, and his wRC+ by nearly 100 points, from 49 to 144. What a recovery!
As for Sugastey, he hit 2-4 as he continues to show great bat-to-ball skills. That’s never been a question for the 23-year old from Panama, but his struggles to hit for power and draw walks have been. Those issues remain this year, which is how he has just a .669 OPS and a 72 wRC+ despite a .267 batting average.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) May 8, 2026
High-A Eugene (22-7)
Eugene Emeralds lost to the Vancouver Canadians (Blue Jays) 3-2 Box score
Eugene has been an exciting team this year, but this was a boring game. Not a lot to highlight or talk about. The best performance came from the piggy-backing starter, RHP Niko Mazza, who continues to show off dramatic improvements with his strikeout stuff. Mazza struck out a whopping 7 batters in just 3.2 innings, and now has 12.7 Ks per 9 innings … after having just 8.7 in his debut last year at a lower level. Where did that come from?!
Some of it has come from just committing to being more wild, it seems, as Mazza has taken a step backwards in the control department, where he already wasn’t good. That was certainly the case on Thursday, when he walked 4 batters, which brought his walks per 9 up to a staggering 7.4. He is certainly living on the extremes of not putting the ball in play, for better and for worse!
If Mazza can control the walks, he’ll become very, very good, as the 2024 8th-round pick has been nearly unhittable this season. He allowed just 1 hit in his 3.2 scoreless innings, and has now allowed just 12 hits in 22 innings. That’s resulted in a stellar 2.86 ERA, though the walks have pushed his FIP to 4.12.
Things weren’t so good for the 1st starter, LHP Tyler Switalski. The 22-year old struck out 5 batters in just 3.2 innings, but that’s where the good news ended, as he also allowed 6 hits, 3 walks, and 3 runs. After being virtually unhittable to start the year, the 2024 16th-round selection has fallen on some hard times. Check the dramatic splits:
Most notably, Switalski has now given up 4 home runs, after allowing just 3 all of last year, which was his debut season. Still and all, it’s been a very encouraging year for the West Virginia alum, who has a 3.42 ERA and a 4.14 FIP. After striking out just 7.6 batters per 9 innings last year (in Low and High-A), Switalski has pumped that number all the way up to 12.3 … while also lowering his walks per 9 from 3.7 to 3.1.
Not much on offense, where the Ems only had 5 hits on the day. First baseman Jakob Christian (No. 40 CPL) had the only extra-base hit, as he went 1-4 with a double and a strikeout, as he continues to hit the ground running. Christian missed the 1st month of the year with an injury, but has had no rust to shake off: through 5 games, he’s hitting 7-14 with 4 doubles, 2 walks, and just 3 strikeouts. The strikeouts are the thing to keep an eye on: the 2024 5th-round pick can do serious damage with his right-handed bat, but has had a huge strikeout issue so far in his career.
Third baseman Walker Martin had a nice game, hitting 1-3 with a walk and his 8th stolen base of the year, though he also struck out once and committed his 10th error of the season. After a nice start to the season, his numbers have started to head in the wrong direction, as he has a .722 OPS, a 106 wRC+, and a 31.6% strikeout rate.
Low-A San Jose (18-12)
San Jose Giants lost to the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) 12-8 Box score
Thursday was a mixed bag for the Baby Giants, as it was a game where one of their stars shone very, very, very brightly …. while one of their other stars almost single-handedly lost them the game.
Let’s start with the bad, which transpired on the mound: in his 1st start since an 8-strikeout masterpiece, RHP Argenis Cayama (No. 13 CPL) was unable to make it out of the 1st inning. He gave up a single on his very 1st pitch, and that was a sign of what was to come: the next batter homered, the next batter doubled, the next batter homered, the next batter singled, and then Cayama walked 2 to load the bases. He finally settled in with a pair of ground outs — both of which scored runs — before allowing another walk, throwing a wild pitch, issuing another walk, and getting yanked from the game.
In all, Cayama gave up 6 hits, 3 walks, and 7 runs in just 0.2 innings, didn’t record a strikeout, and threw just 20 of 35 pitches for strikes. And with that, his ERA nearly doubled in 1 game. Bad games happen, though, and if you want to know how much of an outlier this one was, Cayama entered the contest with 30 strikeouts against just 1 walk. Time to shake it off.
But the great performance was nearly as great as Cayama’s blow up was bad, and it came from the predictable player: shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL). Level continued his assault on Cal League pitchers, going 2-3 with a 3-run home run, 2 walks, and 1 strikeout.
JHONNY BE GOOD! Jhonny Level with a no-doubter, and we've got a ballgame on our hands. pic.twitter.com/Ac46fqMaP9
The 19-year old switch-hitter has now had multiple hits in 13 of the 25 games he’s played in this year, and is at or near the top of the Cal League ranks in nearly every statistical category. A .997 OPS and a 147 wRC+ are blissful as is, but they only get better when you add in the 16.7% strikeout rate, the strong defense at shortstop, and the whole being more than 2 years younger than his average peer thing.
You really couldn’t ask for a better start to the season than the one Level has had, and his 16 extra-base hits have left no doubt that his lack of height does not mean a lack of power. I’m guessing the Giants will be plenty patient with him, but I’m also guessing the “when do we promote this guy?” discussions have already commenced.
The other star was someone who is heating up in a huge way: third baseman Dario Reynoso, who hit 1-2 with a solo home run and 2 walks. After failing to go deep in his 1st 30 games with San Jose, Reynoso has now put the ball over the fence 4 times in the last 6 games, including 3 days in a row. He’s on fire!
The recently-turned 21-year old is rocking a 1.011 OPS and a 157 wRC+, with a hilarious 22.1% walk rate (high walk rates have always been a part of his profile). His strikeout rate is a still-concerning 29.5%, though it’s worth noting that that figure represents a notable improvement over last year at both Low-A and the ACL.
Right fielder Jose Astudillo, on the other hand, has never had a strikeout issue, and that continued on Thursday, when he went 2-3 with a hit by pitch. A recently-turned 22-year old from Venezuela, Astudillo started the season late but has hit the ground running: in 5 games, he’s 7-18 with 2 walks and just 1 strikeout, though he’s still searching for his 1st extra-base hit.
Clawing back into this one. RBI single off the bat of Jose Astudillo, and it's a 8-3 ballgame. pic.twitter.com/a5FA3fcikj
Those were the stars, as no one really had a great game on the mound after Cayama’s brutal start. RHP Ben Bybee had a nice game though, in his 2nd career outing. It wasn’t as good as his professional debut — 3 no-hit innings is hard to top — but last year’s 8th-round selection showed off some nice stuff by striking out 4 batters in 3.1 innings. The 22-year old from Arkansas also allowed 3 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run, and threw 29 of 43 pitches for strikes.
It has taken no time at all for shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL) to prove that he is the real deal. The real deal who deserved to be the No. 1 ranked international signee this year. The real deal who deserved to skip the Dominican Summer League and come to the states as a 17-year old. The real deal who is worth dreaming on.
Hernández’s 4th professional game was his best, as he hit 3-5, drew a walk, and smashed a solo home run. He’s 5-16 with 3 home runs, 2 walks, and just 2 strikeouts to start his career. That seems …. really good. Really good for a 19-year old first baseman, but really good for a defensively-gifted shortstop who turned 17 in December. As with Jhonny Level’s hot opening weeks, we’re going to need to see this maintain for a while before we start dreaming about early promotions, but … my goodness. You just don’t see this often at all.
Top International prospect @SFGiants Luis Hernandez with a first inning homerun against the reds. This is the first bit of ACL for me and seeing Hernandez and he does not disappoint. Bully power and one of the best hit tools here. Also one of the youngest 🚀 #ProspectOnepic.twitter.com/fAyvqydmr6
Hernández was far and away the bright spot in this game, as he was the only player with an extra-base hit. But there were other good performances as well. Catcher Yohendry Sanchez hit 2-5 with a walk and a strikeout, as the 19-year old is 5-9 to start his stateside career. Third baseman Yulian Barreto went 1-4 with a walk, a hit by pitch, and a strikeout (though he also had an error), and is 5-12 with 2 walks and 2 hit by pitches as the 18-year old begins his 2nd season, and his first in the US.
Second baseman Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) hit 1-4 with a strikeout as he tries to shake off the rust of missing a chunk of the spring with a hamstring injury. The 18-year old switch-hitter has been slow-played to start the year due to that injury, as he’s yet to play a full game. This was the 1st time in his career that he played a defensive position other than shortstop, as he and Hernández are going to split time at the six, though it’s worth noting that González is probably the strongest defensive shortstop in the system.
Only 1 pitching day that stood out, but it sure did stand out, as RHP Chen-Hsun Lee was dynamic. A 24-year old from Taiwan, Lee is finally healthy: the Giants signed him in 2023, but he appeared in just 4 games before being shut down, and missed all of 2024 and 2025. He struggled in his 2026 debut, but not in his follow-up on Thursday, when he allowed just 1 hit in 3 scoreless innings, while striking out 6 batters. Yup, that works!
Sacramento: 6:45 p.m. PT vs. Reno (SP: Carson Whisenhunt) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Akron (SP: Cesar Perdomo) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Vancouver (SP: Luis De La Torre) San Jose: 7:00 p.m. PT vs. Fresno (SP: Braydon Risley)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
After an uneven .500 road trip, the Dodgers return home to Chavez Ravine to welcome one of the best teams in MLB, the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are tied with the surging Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees for the best record in baseball.
The Dodgers offense, who has been hot and cold, will start off with a tough challenge right off the bat. The Braves will send Chris Sale to the mound on Friday night. Sale is 6-1 with a 2.14 ERA and has allowed one run or fewer over at least six innings in six of his seven starts this season, including his last outing in Colorado when he allowed one run on three hits with a season high 11 strikeouts. Over his last four starts, Sale is 4-0 with 33 strikeouts and just seven walks. It will be a real test for the offense which is coming off a game in which they scored 12 runs but still isn’t quite firing on all cylinders.
Emmet Sheehan will take the mound for the Dodgers and is coming off a start in which he allowed three earned runs in the first inning against St. Louis. He has one career start against the Braves which was in 2023 where he allowed one run on three hits over four innings.
Braves first baseman Matt Olson is leading the National League in homers, with four of his 13 coming in the last six games. Second baseman Ozzie Albies has been hot as of late, owning a .386 BA with a 1.115 OPS over his last 15 games. The Braves as a team lead the NL in home runs with 55.
Some things could be in the Dodgers’ favor. The Braves are coming off their first series loss of the season to the Mariners in Seattle this week. Atlanta also hasn’t fared well at Dodger Stadium in recent years, with the Dodgers taking 21 of 27 games, including playoffs. The Braves swept the Dodgers in 2023 at Dodger Stadium but have lost their last seven games there. Chris Sale also hasn’t historically performed well against the Dodgers, having a 1-2 record with a 6.65 ERA lifetime, and in his two starts in L.A. he’s 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA.
