ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after being tagged out at home during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 14, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This Mariners season is all but mathematically dead and no one is happy. High expectations carry a hefty fallout. Rick Rizzs, the man who has called more Mariners games than anyone else not named Dave Niehaus, is hanging up his headphones and microphone in about 13 days. I wanted more for him out of this season than for any other reason. But, such is the life of a fan of a cosmically cursed and deeply silly baseball team. They even managed to ruin Bill Simmons’s fantasy baseball team, which almost certainly means he lost money (If you’re unaware, he’s been crashing out about how bad the team has been all season via social media and his podcast. Why anyone would ever bet money on the literal Seattle Mariners is beyond my comprehension). So, there’s that, at least.
After the rage dissipates and the tears dry, there is one thing to look forward to: INSUFFERABLE OFFSEASON DISCOURSE.
Did I say look forward to? Well, your mileage may vary. How about offseason projections and planning? That sounds nicer, right? For this exercise, let’s go ahead and pretend that a strike isn’t looming. La la la, everything is fiiiiiiine in Labor Agreement Land, la la laaaa.
The first step in planning is choosing a direction to go and here are four options you can choose:
Option 1: Full tear down
“Nuke the site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure.”
While rebuilding T-Mobile Park to get rid of swirling winds, brutal mid-day shadows, and fix whatever the hell is wrong with the batter’s eye isn’t an option any time soon, tearing down and rebuilding the Mariners roster is one possible option. If you choose this option, please specify whether Jerry Dipoto and Justin Hollander stay or go. Also, you can choose up to three (3) players to remain on the roster to anchor the rebuild. Everyone else must go.
Option 2: Soft rebuild
This option would involve moving two to three of the team’s top players (either in WAR or by payroll) and then using the returns to augment the soft rebuild or “reshuffling.”
Option 3: Keep the core and soldier on (AKA the 54% approach)
This has been the offseason approach since 2022 and
Option 4: Dealer’s choice
Don’t like any of the first three options? Let’s hear your own plan, boss!
Post your preferred option in the comments and detail your plans, either realistic or as pie-in-the-sky as you want. Let’s get innovative in the hopes that the Mariners will, too.
REMINDER!
Even though the Mariners are ass in a can, that doesn’t mean you should skip the annuaLL tradition like no other: The Fifth Annual TIM CANTU MemoriaLL SoftbaLL game this Sunday, Sept 20. We’ll start at 10 AM at Green Lake Ballfield 1 and then go “watch” the Mariners play the Rockies at 12:10 PM at Growler Guys on Lake City Way. Let’s have some actual fun playing some ball and then commiserate over this cursed season and also watch the Seahawks at 1:25 PM, I guess. You know Tim wouldn’t have it any other way. Well, the getting together part, that is. Not the Mariners being bad part.
In our last Lone Star Ball Reacts survey, we asked y’all which of the Rangers’ pending free agents you would most like to see the Rangers bring back.
Cal Quantrill, who has exceeded expectations, first in a long relief role, then while filling in in the rotation, was the clear pick, getting a majority of the vote.
I will note that bringing Quantrill back could be a challenge, as the Rangers currently have six starting pitchers — Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker and Cody Bradford — under team control for next season. That makes it hard for the Rangers to offer Quantrill a viable path to a rotation spot for 2027, barring injuries or trades.
On the national questions, the Tampa Bay Rays got a plurality — and almost a majority — of the vote in regards to what team will advance from the American League to the World Series.
In the National League, the Brewers narrowly edged out the Dodgers as the team that will advance.
Sep 13, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Jack Sinclair (49) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels during the ninth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It’s clear what the Phillies’ strength is: The starting rotation. They get a good outing from their starter about 80% of the time. They also have a good closer in Jhoan Duran, provided that the game is not tied when he enters. It’s those innings in between that have proven difficult for the Phillies to maneuver through. I’m not overwhelmed by manager Don Mattingly’s ability to adeptly deploy his relievers, but I also have to admit that the relievers on hand haven’t given him many easy answers.
Orion Kerkering and Brooks Raley have likely pitched themselves out of consideration, and at the moment, it appears that Mattingly has the most trust in Jonathan Bowlan, Jose Alvarado, and Alex McFarlane. However, Bowlan has shown signs of wearing down, Alvarado – while overall better lately – is still allergic to clean innings, and McFarlane is an untested rookie. It’s hard to feel too confident in any of them.
In the playoffs, the Phillies will likely have Andrew Painter available to pitch out of the bullpen, but counting on a rookie starter to come in and get key outs in relief is no sure thing either. Over the next two weeks, they really need at least a couple of players to assert themselves as a real late-inning option.
Opposition research: Jack Sinclair
The Phillies’ bullpen has been bad, but we can at least say it hasn’t been as bad as the Nationals’. Remember the last time the Phillies visited Washington, and they kept making those late-inning comebacks? That was pretty representative of how the season has gone for the Nationals’ relief corps.
The Nationals have almost completely turned over their bullpen throughout the season and lately have tried out rookie Jack Sinclair in a late-inning role.
Sinclair was a 2021 draft pick who slowly made his way through the Nats’ minor league system. He’s never put up great numbers in the minor leagues, mostly due to a high walk total. But considering that everyone else they’ve used in relief has failed, the Nationals figured why not give him a shot.
Early returns have been strong as he had scoreless outings his first four appearances, and then against the Angels, he was givn his first save opportunity which he converted despite allowing a run.
Will Sinclair allow the Nationals to avoid the late-inning meltdowns against the Phillies this time around? It’s worth remembering that he’s a 27 year old rookie with a mid-90s fastball who had problems with walks in the minors.
In other words, if the Phillies are trailing late, I wouldn’t necessarily turn the game off.
Hating on the Nationals
Are the Nationals going to be an actual threat in the National League East in the coming seasons? It looks like they have a couple of good building blocks in James Wood and C.J. Abrams, but would it shock anyone if those two found their names in trade rumors once again this offseason?
I don’t get why the nationals would do this, they have a good foundation of young talent with James Wood and CJ Abram’s so why would they trade them and not let them continue to develop especially with them having 3+ years before they hit the FA market https://t.co/llbIfGHXaE
Wood has had a strong season but has spent a large chunk of the second half on the IL, so there are worries about him holding up for a full season after his performance trailed after the break in 2025. And the team has already gotten fed up with Abrams’ defense and is trying to move him to second base.
Considering they already traded emerging players in their mid-20’s in Luis Garcia, Jr. (who has been great for the Yankees) and Curtis Mead (who has been injured), you wonder how attached the Nationals are to any of their players.
If the Nationals want to carry out a perpetual rebuild, it’s fine by me.
Remembering a guy who played for both the Phillies and Nationals
Matt Stairs certainly got around in his career. He began his major league career in 1992 with the Montreal Expos, and by the time he was done, played for 12 (or 13 if you want to consider the Expos and Nationals as separate entities) teams.
Happy 58th birthday Matt Stairs. He has the most pinch-hit HRs in MLB history with 23. He has also played for more MLB teams (13) than any other position player (actually 12 franchises as he played for both the Expos & Nationals. Here is a complete run of his Topps base cards. pic.twitter.com/vTRevq8IWc
It isn’t clear why he couldn’t find a long-term home. Maybe teams were disappointed because it seemed like he should have hit for more power, since he only topped 30 home runs once in his career. He might have started his career a little too early before on-base percentage became more valued, which is especially ironic since he spent five seasons on the A’s.
In August 2008, the Phillies traded for him, hoping to bolster their bench for the stretch run and playoffs. He hit two home runs in the regular season and then hit another in the playoffs which you might remember.
Matt Stairs has the MLB record for pinch-hit home runs.
After 2009, the Phillies chose to move on from the 42-year-old Stairs. He moved to San Diego for a season, and then to Washington for 2011. Unfortunately, at 44 years old, Stairs couldn’t hit anymore. After 74 plate appaearances in which he batted .174, the Nationals released him, and his career was done.
Additional thought about the series
There’s a debate whether you’d rather face a team that’s out of contention, or a team that’s already clinched a playoff spot. For the stretch run, the Phillies are going to get a taste of both. Their next six are against the Mets and Nationals, while they have to finish up against the Brewers or Rays.
Obviously the Brewers and Rays are far better teams, but they might be coasting along or trying to conserve some innings for their top players by the team the Phillies face them. On the other hand, I’m sure the Mets and Nationals would love to salvage some pride by hurting their division rival’s playoff chances.
Regardless of how much the Nationals want to play spoiler; when it comes down to it, the Phillies have Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler scheduled to start against a team that’s eleven games under .500. They need to win these games.
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 30: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays and Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners talk prior to the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday, August 30, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Colton Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I know it isn’t an off-day, but I have stuff going on today, so I thought I’d put up an open thread.
As always, use it to talk about what you’d like. I’m going to do a couple of hours of pitcher fielding practice. Actually, I’m pretty sure I don’t have the ability to beat out a runner to first, while trying to catch a ball and hit the bag (inside of the bag) all at the same time. But if anyone wants to come to Calgary to try it with me. I guess we need three people. Maybe a fourth to do first aid.
After a 17 and 11 August the Jays are 7-6 in September. The really hot streak seems to be over. Thankfully the Guardians aren’t tearing things up either.
11 games left. I was going to say that I want every one of them to mean something, but I’d be ok if the Jays clinch with a couple of games left.
Alberts Šmits will have a chance to make the New York Rangers’ opening-night roster out of training camp, but it certainly won’t be easy.
One left-handed defenseman role is up for grabs going into training camp this week, with Matthew Robertson holding the edge over Šmits and Urho Vaakanainen.
During rookie camp, Šmits was asked about what he thinks his chances are of making the opening-night roster.
“I’m just going one day at a time,” Šmits said in response.
Given the shortened training camp, it will likely be hard for Šmits to work his way up the depth chart and surpass Robertson, who earned a full-time role with the Rangers last season.
Chris Drury already made clear that the Rangers are going to be patient regarding Šmits’ development, which likely means they aren’t in a rush to bring him up to the NHL if he isn’t prepared for it.
“We're gonna do right by him and the long-term health and well-being of him as a Ranger,” Drury said of Šmits. “This is not a sprint for him. We hope he's a rock-solid defenseman for the Rangers for the next 15 years. We're not going to put him in positions or situations that he can't handle. So excited to add him, but again, not going to do anything that's not in the best interest long-term for him.”
The 18-year-old defenseman was highly touted as one of the more pro-ready players in the 2026 draft class, leading him to be selected with the fifth overall pick by the Rangers.
Even if Šmits doesn't make the Rangers’ roster out of training camp, he’ll begin the 2026-27 season playing in the American Hockey league for the Hartford Wolf Pack.
CINCINNATI — Freddie Freeman wasn’t in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup the game against the Cincinnati Reds as he deals with right knee soreness.
Even though the first baseman hasn’t been in the lineup for three of the last five games, manager Dave Roberts said putting Freeman on the 10-day injured list to get him ready for the postseason — which would be similar to what they did with Shohei Ohtani — isn’t an option at this point.
“I don’t think (the rest) needs to be 10 days, but could it be more than one? That’s a fair question,” Roberts said. “I’ve got to kind of talk to the training staff, Freddie, and ultimately make that decision. But I don’t think IL makes sense.”
Roberts said he didn’t think Freeman would have nagging problems with the knee during the postseason if the knee can be managed properly. Freeman is batting .293 but is 3 for his last 30 with nine strikeouts.
Their bigger concern is making sure they clinch one of the top two seeds and a first-round bye.
The Dodgers have a 3 1/2-game lead over Atlanta for the second seed. Milwaukee (93-57) has the NL’s top mark.
“Given where our guys are health wise, to get that week would be huge. We’ve still got to play well to finish out the season to get to that point,” Roberts said.
Ohtani, who has been on the 15-day IL since Sept. 8 due to right biceps inflammation, is to hit off a tee in Los Angeles. It will be his first swings since going on the IL. Roberts said Ohtani has been lifting, working out and getting treatment the past couple days.
With Ohtani not on the seven-game trip, there has definitely been a different vibe around the clubhouse.
“It feels different because he’s such a presence when he’s on the field,” Roberts said. “The last series wasn’t indicative, but I think that we’re playing good baseball for the most part. We know we’re better with Shohei. Probably the fans are disappointed, but I don’t think we really felt it.”
The bigger concern might be with reliever Edwin Díaz, who has allowed six earned runs over 3 1/3 innings in four rehab outings with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Díaz not only is dealing with neck inflammation, but also control issues. Díaz signed a three-year, $59 million contract during the offseason and has struggled in his first year in Los Angeles.
The right-hander will have another outing, but Roberts did leave open the possibility that Díaz could be left off postseason rosters.
“He needs to pitch better. It hasn’t been good,” Roberts said. “The baseball card looks great. But it’s like, where we’re at, there’s got to be something for us to be able to hang our hat on. And he knows that. He wants to pitch well.”
Aug 9, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Joe Boyle (36) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Rays acquired Joe Boyle, the towering, hard-throwing reliever, from the Athletics as part of the trade for Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez. Since then he’s pitched just over 70 innings for the Rays, spending most of his time in Durham.
This year Joe Boyle has made meaningful strides in his command while retaining the stuff that made him an intriguing pitching prospect. In limited major-league opportunities, his topline numbers haven’t been great but there’s no question has major league stuff and the upside that goes with it. Boyle has developed enough command to support an increasingly sophisticated arsenal, and his ability to adjust that arsenal on the fly is what makes his starter projection particularly interesting.
Before joining the Rays, Boyle posted a 15.7% walk rate in the majors and an 18.9% walk rate in the minors. Since joining the organization, those numbers have fallen to 12.1% and 14.4%, respectively. This is meaningful growth driven by some mechanical adjustments, usage rates, and shape changes.
Boyle has gone from a high three-quarter slot delivery through 2024 to a low three-quarter slot delivery in 2025 and 2026. The lower slot seems to suit him better, giving him a more repeatable delivery and helping him find the zone more consistently.
The adjustment appears to have given Boyle a more consistent foundation from which to repeat his delivery and attack the strike zone. His zone rate has gone from 44.2% in AAA in 2024 to 46.9% in AAA so far in 2026 – despite shifting toward a more secondary-heavy mix, with his non-fastballs historically less likely to land in the zone. And because he has the quality stuff to stick in a rotation, the next step was to revamp his arsenal to attack both sides of the plate.
Here are Boyle’s Triple-A usage rates to righties and lefties in each of the last three seasons:
Boyle is now throwing a wider variety of shapes – most of them relatively new given his change in slot – and he’s still filling up the zone at a higher rate than ever before. He has more advanced feel and pitchability than he gets credit for. Boyle’s command gains coupled with an expanded arsenal are more exciting than either development would be on its own.
Some interesting things have happened with Boyle’s usage and cut-slider shape during the 2026 season so far that give even more reason to be excited. The changes become even more interesting when we look at how he’s using each pitch against right- and left-handed hitters.
Apr-Jul vs RHB
Aug-Sep vs RHB
Apr-Jul vs LHB
Aug-Sep vs LHB
Four-Seam
42.3%
30.3%
47.3%
34.3%
Cut-Slider
33.7%
33.1%
33.4%
38.2%
Offspeed
1.5%
2.0%
15.0%
13.7%
Two-Seam
12.4%
17.5%
0.5%
6.4%
Breaking Ball
10.1%
17.1%
3.7%
7.3%
The biggest thing that stands out to me is that Boyle’s fastball usage has fallen below 50% against both sides of the plate for the first time in his professional career. His cut-slider is now his highest usage pitch and for good reason: it’s the pitch he commands best. I wondered what it would look like if he pitched off of his cut-slider back in January because he has the best location consistency of that pitch.
Boyle’s cut-slider has gradually evolved since he joined the Rays. Before joining the organization, the pitch looked more like a traditional two-plane slider, with velocity in the mid-to-upper 80s. By April of 2025, it had developed a tighter, gyro shape. Since his August major-league call-up this season, Boyle has pushed the pitch even further toward a harder, cutter-like offering. It now sits in the low 90s and, for the first time, is more vertically oriented. The pitch’s zone rate has increased from 52.5% to 60.6% with the new shape, while maintaining a whiff rate in the 35-40% range. That suggests Boyle has improved his ability to locate the pitch without sacrificing its bat-missing ability.
Since returning to Durham with this new cut-slider shape, Boyle has cut his walk rate to 7.3% across 19.1 innings in four appearances. His strike rate has also climbed from 57.7% to 64.1%, moving from below average to roughly league average. While the sample is small, the trends are encouraging – Boyle is throwing more strikes.
The growth we’ve seen from Boyle makes me more confident he can stick as a major-league starter, and potentially more than just a back-end option. The stuff has always been there; now his command is becoming good enough to let that arsenal play consistently. The most exciting developments this season have been his ability to improve his zone rate while increasing his secondary usage and his ability to manipulate his cut-slider shape in-season.
The Rays could always simplify Boyle’s arsenal in relief, where his fastball and cut-slider combination would give him a relatively straightforward path to success. But the organization’s continued investment in his expanded arsenal suggests they see more than a relief role in him. His improved command and ability to manipulate pitch shapes are precisely what give him a chance to remain in a rotation. Whether that opportunity comes down the stretch in 2026 or beyond, Boyle has developed into a legitimate candidate for a major-league rotation spot.
The 2026 Major League Baseball season has less than two weeks to go, and most of league's major awards have runaway favorites – with new faces expected to win the MVP and Cy Young honors in each league.
Both expected Cy Young winners are in their second MLB seasons: Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees and Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers. Each right-hander sports an ERA below 2.00 entering Tuesday and have fans amped about the next generation of aces in MLB.
Triple Crown incoming? The 29-year-old has proven himself as one of the greatest sluggers of the era and should win this award easily, having already set a career-high with 38 home runs. He's the runaway favorite, but Houston getting back into the postseason would even further ice this for Alvarez.
Also in the running: Junior Caminero (Rays), Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals)
NL MVP: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs
With Shohei Ohtani injured this summer, PCA has locked this up as he closes in on the seventh 40-40 season in MLB history. The 24-year-old is putting together one of the greatest years ever, with a 9.3 fWAR while leading the National League in slugging and OPS.
Also in the running: Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)
AL Cy Young: Cam Schlittler, Yankees
We knew Cam Schlittler was good after his impact as a rookie in 2025, but nobody could have fathomed the 25-year-old would be this good in his sophomore season. The right-hander is having one of the greatest pitching seasons could be the first Yankees pitcher with a sub-2 ERA since Ron Guidry in 1978. Even more impressive is his leading the AL in innings (184.2) and starts (31).
Also in the running: Dylan Cease (Blue Jays)
NL Cy Young: Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers
A controversial All-Star selection as a rookie last season, The Miz has been by far the NL's best pitcher at age 24, leading the league in ERA (1.95), strikeouts (236) and WHIP (0.80).
Also in the running: Chris Sale (Braves)
AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle, Tigers
Things didn't go as planned for Tarik Skubal's final season in Detroit, but McGonigle's breakthrough is the major positive to take away from this year. The Tigers signed McGonigle to an eight-year, $150 million extension and the infielder who was 21 on opening day is currently approaching 7 WAR on the season.
Also in the running: Parker Messick (Guardians), Munetaka Murakami (White Sox)
NL Rookie of the Year: Sal Stewart, Reds
Stewart has been invaluable for the Reds, primarily playing the corner infield positions while also seeing time at second base, racking up 31 home runs with 107 RBIs and 15 steals.
Also in the running: JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals), Nolan McLean (Mets)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 21, 2026: Tate Southisene #19 of the Atlanta Braves warms up during the third inning of a Spring Breakout game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
It’s that time of year again, folks. Sure, the Postseason is right around the corner and that’s exciting all but it’s also a fun time for keeping track of prospects as well. The Arizona Fall League will get underway on October 3 and there will be plenty of representation of the Atlanta Braves’ farm system on the Glendale Desert Dogs, as the Braves will have eight representatives on the squad.
The 2026 Arizona Fall League rosters have been unveiled and they feature a dozen of MLB's Top 100 prospects!
We already knew that Tate Southisene would be participating but ow we know who’ll be joining him in wearing Braves uniforms out in Arizona this fall. Tanner Bauman, Owen Carey, Isaiah Drake, Owen Hackman, Tyler LaPorte, Briggs McKenzie and Logan Samuels will all be heading out to the desert to take part in the AFL this Fall. Carey, Drake, McKenzie, and Southisene are the consensus Top 30 Braves prospects who will be going there, with Southesine being able to claim that he’s a Top 100 prospect while he’s out there.
For more information on how things have gone for these prospects (and more) so far this season, Matt Powers has been doing season recaps for all of the minor league teams, so I highly suggest that y’all check those out. Here’s Augusta,Rome, and Columbus and you can be on the look out for Gwinett’s season recap next week.
MLB announced the rosters for the 2026 Arizona Fall League on Tuesday, featuring 12 players in MLB.com's top 100 prospects, ahead of the minor league showcase's opening day on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The AFL has six teams – with each representing five MLB organizations – that play 30 games during the course of a month in Arizona. Every MLB team has at least seven players participating in this year's AFL, according to the league.
The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14 in Peoria at the spring training home of the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners. All six teams reach the "postseason" with the top two getting a bye to the semifinals. The AFL Fall Stars Game will take place on Nov. 8 with the league's Home Run Derby that day.
Past MVPs of the Arizona Fall League include Ronald Acuña Jr. (2017), Kris Bryant (2013) and Nolan Arenado (2011). Last year's winner, Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers, is expected to win the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2026.
Here's a look at every team's roster for the 2026 AFL:
WICHITA, KS - AUGUST 16: Jason Schiavone #44 of the Corpus Christi Hooks rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the Wichita Wind Surge at Equity Bank Park on Sunday, August 16, 2026 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Lathe Cobb/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The Houston Astros player development department has named C Jason Schiavone the Astros 2026 Minor League Player of the Year, RHP Bryce Mayer the Astros 2026 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, OF Anthony Huezo the Astros 2026 Minor League Baserunner of the Year, IF Max Holy the Astros 2026 Minor League Defender of the Year and IF Yamal Encarnacion the Astros 2026 Standard Award recipient. All five players will be recognized in a pregame ceremony at Daikin Park on Sunday, September 20.
Schiavone, 23, has batted .246 (104×422) with 84 runs, 23 doubles, 31 HR, 87 RBI, 90 walks, 29 stolen bases and a .907 OPS in 118 games between High A Asheville (35 games), Double A Corpus Christi (79 games) and Triple A Sugar Land (four games). He leads the Astros minor league system in OPS, slugging percentage (.521), RBI and home runs, while also ranking second in runs, fifth in OBP (.386), fifth in doubles, fifth in walks and eighth in stolen bases (min. 200 AB). Schiavone was also named the Astros Minor League Player of the Month in April and May. The Astros selected the catcher in the 11th round of the 2024 MLB Draft from James Madison. The 23-year-old is rated as the Astros number six overall prospect by MLB.com.
Mayer, 24, has gone 6-4 with a 3.21 ERA (35ER/98IP) in 23 appearances, including 20 starts between Double A Corpus Christi and Triple A Sugar Land. The right-handed pitcher also recorded 132 strikeouts, a 1.19 WHIP and a .202 opponent batting average. Mayer ranks first strikeouts per nine innings (12.12), first in ERA, first in opponent batting average, second in WHIP and seventh in walks per nine innings (4.32) in the Astros minor league system (min 90 IP). Mayer has now earned the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year in consecutive seasons. He was also the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Month in July after he recorded a 0.47 ERA (1ER/19IP) with 29 strikeouts for the month. The 24-year-old was drafted by the Astros in the 16th round of the 2024 MLB Draft from the University of Missouri. He is rated as the Astros number eight overall prospect by MLB.com.
Huezo, 20, batted .242 (105×433) with 79 runs, 31 doubles, four triples, 22 HR, 73 RBI, 58 walks, 47 stolen bases and an .825 OPS in 112 games between Single A Fayetteville, High A Asheville and Double A Corpus Christi. The 20-year-old stole 47 bases and was caught only 12 times for a 79.7 percent success rate. He ranks third in the Astros minor league system in stolen bases this season. Huezo was drafted by the Astros in the 12th round of the 2023 MLB Draft from Etiwanda High School in California. The 20-year-old is rated as the Astros number 10 overall prospect by MLB.com.
Holy, 24, appeared in 110 games this season between High A Asheville and Double A Corpus Christi, making starts defensively at shortstop (100), second base (five) and third base (five). He committed just 10 errors in 391 total chances for a .974 fielding percentage, while turning 42 double plays. Holy was signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent on July 20, 2024, from Central Missouri University. He is rated as the Astros number 29 overall prospect by MLB.com.
The Astros Standard award, which was established this season, highlights a player who represents the core values of the organization in a positive way both on and off the field. Encarnacion, 23, spent the entire season with Double A Corpus Christi, batting .266 (93×349) with 61 runs, 18 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 48 RBI, 37 walks, 48 stolen bases and a .720 OPS in 95 games. The 23-year-old was signed by the Astros as an undrafted free agent on January 15, 2021, from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 2: Manager Warren Schaeffer #4 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after a 6-5 win against the Baltimore Orioles at Coors Field on September 2, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Back in early September, we asked Purple Rowers to tell us the stories they wanted to read, and we got some great suggestions. Among those questions was this one from DaveN5280:
While this probably falls into the “playing time distribution” category, I’m pretty sure a lot of us here on PR want to know where all those lineup construction and late-inning PH decisions are coming from. Is it just old-school “lefty-righty” kinda stuff from Schaef and the bench coach or hitting coach? Or is it coming from real data provided by the analytics dept and/or GM—level direction to always “optimize the situation?” And is there any awareness of how these decisions in the 6th/7th innings affect the game situation in the 8th/9th?
Or maybe that’s a deeper dive that should be covered in an off-season story 🤷♂️
I don’t know how many people know this, but Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer is a chess enthusiast — he loves strategy. (In fact, Schaeffer and CJ Cron used to play regularly.) I share this because I was thinking about his chess background while listening to his rationale for the line ups he constructs.
When I asked this question, on Saturday, September 5, the Rockies had lost to the St. Louis Cardinals the night before. With that game over, Schaeffer was looking to the evening’s game against LHP Matthew Liberatore.
I have decided largely to run this as a transcript — I want you to have a sense of Schaeffer’s thinking — but I have corrected players’ nicknames for clarity’s sake and done some light editing.
Here’s my question: What’s your approach whenever you’re setting up a lineup?
This is Schaeffer’s answer:
It’s multifaceted.
There’s a lot of work and time that gets put into it.
Jake (McCarthy’s) going to lead off. Period. That hasn’t moved. That hasn’t changed in a very long time because he sets the tone. He’s been good against lefties. He doesn’t punch out. When you flip the order over, he can offer thump. He can drive runs in, which you’ve shown that he does.
Then after that, so let’s see here.
Today we’re facing a left-handed pitcher, so that third time through, the left-handed pitcher coming through, which is tough on a pitcher. We all know that. If you match him up with guys that are more likely to do damage against him, which today it’s Connor Norby right-handed, it’s Hunter Goodman right-handed, TJ Rumfield in the four hole, he’s left-handed.
It makes it difficult when you go left, right, right, left for them to match up later in the game.
A lot of the stuff that is constructed, especially in the lower part of the lineup, because Goodman’s going to hit three most days, Rumfield’s going to hit four most days, McCarthy’s going to lead-off most days, Moniak’s going to hit second against a right-handed pitcher, especially at home, because that’s where he does all his damage, and you want him up that third time through against the right-handed pitcher.
The bottom of the lineup is constructed a lot of the time for later-game matchups.
Today, Rumfield’s in the four, Cole Carrigg’s in the five, switch hitter. Jordan Beck is in the six.
So you’ve got right, right, left with Troy Johnston.
Right, right, Adael Amador, Ezequiel Tovar.
This is just being totally open with you.
I had it earlier, where at first I had Amador, Johnston, Tovar, and then I flipped it because I thought it was too easy of a for them to match up with their left-handers in the pen with Johnston hitting there.
So you could go left-hander at Troy, who I’m probably not going to hit for Tovar in the nine, and then left-hander at McCarthy, who I’m not going to hit for, and they get the matchup that they want in that spot. So you try to avoid that as much as you can.
That’s why a lot of our times our our I would say five-through-nine looks different on a daily basis. It’s later game matchups that you’re thinking about.
It’s knowing what the other club does as well and who’s available in their bullpen.
Sometimes you’re wrong. Like last night, I didn’t think that O’Brien was going to come in in the ninth inning. He had thrown back to back against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Long night flight, and he went three in a row for the first time in his career. Good for him, and he was he was nails. But that was something that was different. I wasn’t prepared for it.
Now I wouldn’t have done anything different, but that just it’s a testament to you can plan and plan and plan, and then sometimes it just the game throws itself at you.
MLB.com’s Thomas Harding asked this question: How much of it is information that’s given to you, looking at usage and everything else for the other bullpen. How much of it is gut?
Here’s what Schaeffer said.
When I construct the lineup, both (information and intuition) are in play. You know, for me, it’s hard.
Maybe even if Goodman’s struggling, it’s hard for me to take him out of the three-four hole because he’s a force to be reckoned with at any moment.
You’ll see Moniak not quite as much in the two-hole on the road against right-handed pitching because he’s typically better at home. These are just things that exist. I don’t know. It’s both (information and intuition). I’m having a tough time thinking of like gut stuff that overrides matchup stuff.
Everybody knows who hits and who doesn’t hit.
And you want your guys, typically your better hitters, one through five. That’s it basically.
And I think maybe some people could want to say, “Move McCarthy out of a leadoff spot against left-handed pitching because that spot’s coming around, and you want the right-hander at the top,” but not me. That’s more gut. That’s more gut because there is something to leaving a guy like that in a spot that he’s comfortable with, and he doesn’t even think about it, and he knows he’s earned it, and he does a really good job at it, so it’s good to have that spot covered.
I love talking about lineup construction.
I’ve evolved in my in my thought process on lineups, as well, especially with when you get to the big leagues and the late-game matchups are so important to get, and especially with the way our team is built. We need the best matchups, and we’ve been doing it all year.
And our offense has been really good all year, just in general, compared to the league. And a lot of that is late-game matchups.
You prepare also for where you’re going to pinch hit, and you know who you’re going to pinch hit, and when and where. And the lineup is constructed based on that as well at certain points.
It’s definitely been good because when I was in the minor leagues and old school thought. . . . But old school, people used to say, some teams can be constructed like that, where one through nine, they know. Like the Dodgers, they know one through nine what the order they’re going to be in every night, pretty much, for the most part over the past five years.
And there’s something to that. There’s something to a guy knowing, “I’m going to hit third and play first base every day.”
We’re not built like that. Our team is not built like that. We need matchups.
The Rockies won that game, 10-7. Here’s the box score, so you can judge for yourself how Schaeffer’s line-up strategy went.
Closing thoughts
Obviously, line-up construction doesn’t win a baseball game. Rather, it’s a strategy for maximizing talent.
And as Skyler Timmins showed recently, the Rockies hitting problems are not due to platooning; rather, they are the result of not having enough effective right-handed hitters. As Skyler wrote: “With Goodman and Karros on the Injured List, Freeman in Triple-A, and the other options not exactly thriving on either side of the platoon, it’s showing cracks in the offense. More than ever, the Rockies need better right-handed hitters.”
It’s also easy to see the value of switch hitters given how the Rockies are constructed. Switch hitters give Warren Schaeffer another tool in his strategy arsenal. When Willi Castro is healthy, the Rockies have three of them (and I wondered throughout the Cardinals series if his bat would have made a difference). I expect the Rockies to give Amador serious innings throughout September. If he can hit, they will have found their second base man and solidified another switch hitter in their arsenal.
That’s what I learned. Let us know what you think in the comments!
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 30: Atlanta Braves pitcher Joe Jimenez sits on the dugout steps prior to the MLB game between the Colorado Rockies and the Atlanta Braves on August 30, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Late last night, the news got out that Reynaldo López would be heading back to the IL with shoulder inflammation and that JR RItchie would be coming up as a result. Ritchie will reportedly be making the start on Wednesday, so none of these moves were particularly surprising when the Braves announced it.
However, Atlanta ticked on an encouraging rehab assignment for a relieve that we haven’t seen for a very long time.
The #Braves today recalled RHP JR Ritchie to Atlanta and placed RHP Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. Additionally, RHPJoe Jiménez tonight begins a rehabilitation assignment with the Gwinnett Stripers.
Well, would you look at that! Joe Jiménez is beginning a rehab assignment. I’d imagine that a lot of folks probably expected to see Robert Suarez’s name here considering that he’s been the one that we’ve seen most recently on a big league mound for the Braves.
With that being said, Jiménez had been throwing live BP recently and and there had been indications that he was doing that just to finally get back on the mound before the 2027 season. That honestly might still be the case as far as this rehab assignment goes, as it would be asking a ton of Jiménez to return at this juncture of the season with a Postseason run on the horizon.
Still, it’s good to see that Jiménez appears poised to make a return to the Braves — whether it’s this season or next. It’s been a long, long road to recovery for Jiménez and hopefully there are no more setbacks for the veteran reliever.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16, 2025: Jonathan Santucci #12 of the New York Mets prepares to pitch during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Washington Nationals at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 16, 2025 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Had the McNeil Rule not been activated, MJ Melendez would be our Hitter of the Week. He hit .381/.519/1.000 with four homers this week and has been on an absolute tear over the last couple of weeks. Since August 1st, he is hitting .301/.368/.707 in 33 games with 12 doubles, 1 triple, and 12 home runs. Because Melendez is not eligible, Vidal Brujan is instead the Hitter of the Week.
The Mets traded for the veteran back in January, sending cash to the Minnesota Twins to complete the exchange. Not that he had much of a chance making the big league club, but he performed poorly in spring training, making it moot, and was assigned to Triple-A Syracuse. He ended up spending only a few weeks there before the Mets called him up to Queens, as Ronny Mauricio hit the injured list with a broken thumb at the beginning of May, joining Francisco Lindor.
Brujan did not play much, and when he did, his stats were unimpressive. A former top prospect in the Rays’ minor league system around the beginning of the decade, the same thing happened every time Tampa Bay gave him an opportunity. They eventually gave up on him, leading to a trade in November 2023 to the Miami Marlins. Almost a year later, the Marlins traded him to the Chicago Cubs for cash. He didn’t last the season with Chicago and was claimed by the Braves on waivers that August. Designated for assignment by Atlanta in January, he was claimed by the Minnesota Twins. Designated for assignment by them a week after being claimed, he was finally traded to the Mets for cash.
A light-hitting utility infielder, it is hard to imagine too many scenarios where the Mets would be in need of his services in 2027 at the major league level. He has performed fairly enough in Syracuse, and if he were re-signed and re-assigned there in the future, I’d have no problems with it, but at the same time, if he was signed elsewhere, I would lose no sleep over it.
Jonathan Santucci
Week: 1 G (1 GS), 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (Triple-A)
Now that the Single-A seasons are over, our player pool has decreased by 50%. As such, with only pitching performances from the Binghamton Rumble Ponies and Syracuse Mets to choose from, and of those two teams, Jonathan Santucci had the best week. In past weeks, Santucci’s performance might not have passed muster to be Pitcher of the Week, but here we are.
The left-hander really struggled after being promoted to Triple-A Syracuse at the beginning of August. In his first four starts, he posted a 7.71 ERA in 14.0 innings, allowing 16 hits, walking 16, and striking out 18. He seems to have settled down and adapted a bit, posting a 3.00 ERA over his next three starts, allowing 15 hits, walking 2, and striking out 19 over those 15.0 innings. The drop in his walk rate stands out the most, shrinking the free passes he issued eightfold, from 16 to 2. Seemingly, a biproduct of issuing fewer free passes and throwing in the zone more, Santucci’s home run rate has increased over this “good” streak, allowing four homers in those 15.0 innings as opposed to the 1 that he allowed during his “bad” string of starts. Hopefully, that does not continue and become a trend.
With four Pitcher of the Week wins, the McNeil Rule is being activated. Santucci is the second player—and the first pitcher—to have the McNeil Rule activated this season. He is the first pitcher to be McNeil’ed since Jonah Tong in Week Eleven of the 2025 season (June 3-June 8) and the first left-handed pitcher since Zach Thornton a few weeks earlier in Week Nine (May 20-May 25).
American baseball player Slow Joe Doyle, New York Highlanders pitcher, United States, circa 1908. (Photo by FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before he was known as Slow Joe, Judd Bruce Doyle was a right-handed pitcher growing up in the middle of Kansas. Like most of the time, his love of baseball was not born in an organized league, but in the school lot and in local games in his community featuring players of all ages.
Judd Bruce Doyle Born: September 15, 1881 (Clay Center, KS) Died: November 21, 1947 (Tannersville, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1906-1910
Born before the turn of the century, Doyle was small even by the standards of the time. He was reported by most accounts at 5-foot-8 and 150 pounds. However, growing up working on the family farm made Doyle what many call country strong or stout. Despite having some strength behind his small frame, Doyle relied on changing pace and his arm slots to keep hitters off balance, much like former Yankee folk hero Nestor Cortes. Doyle and his mix of overhand and submarine deliveries tossed a drop ball, rise ball, changeup, and the legendary spitball.
Doyle’s professional baseball journey started right after he graduated from Clay Center High School in 1901. This kicked off a five-year run through the amateur ranks. In 1902, Doyle suited up for the Fort Worth Panthers and the New Orleans Pelicans. Then, in 1903, Doyle joined the Baton Rouge Red Sticks in the Cotton States League. In his first season in Baton Rouge, Doyle went 16-9 and helped the team win the league championship. He started the 1904 season back in a Red Sticks jersey, but would finish that season and play the 1905 season for the Wheeling Stogies.
After playing well for the Stogies, Doyle finally landed the coveted contract with a professional team when his rights were sold to the New York Highlanders in August of 1905. Slow Joe burst onto the scene a few days later, making his debut on August 25, 1906. In his first start, Doyle threw a six-hit shutout against the Cleveland Naps. He followed that up with another shutout against the Washington Senators in his second game. The rookie appeared in nine games total, tossing 45.1 innings with a 2-1 record and 2.38 ERA.
Following the hot start to his career, Doyle came into the 1907 season expecting to be a big part of the Highlanders rotation. Doyle appeared in 29 games, making 23 starts. This led to what would stand as his career-high 193.2 innings with an impressive 2.65 ERA and an 11-11 record. Doyle led the Highlanders with 15 complete games and 94 strikeouts. It was also during this run that his reputation for slow playing really took hold. The Washington Times referred to Doyle as the Human Snail due to his long stretches between pitches.
In 1908, Doyle’s third season, Slow Joe was officially the name adopted and used by the press as an unofficial, official name. Doyle’s arm did not handle the large workload from the year before well, and he was limited to 12 games, only four starts, and only 48 innings. Despite being effective when he pitched, the lack of availability started to be the story.
Doyle asked for extra days of rest between starts in 1909, and it led to a rebound. He pitched in 17 games, making 15 starts, tossing 125.2 innings, and going 8-6 on the year. Still just 27 years old, Doyle’s arm simply could not handle the workload of a normal pitcher of the time.
The Highlanders had Doyle on their roster to start the 1910 season but ended up cutting him halfway through the year. The Cincinnati Reds signed Doyle, and he pitched the final part of the season for them. After making five relief appearances for the Reds, Doyle’s major league career was over at just 28 years old after the 1910 season.
Beyond his memorable nickname, Slow Joe Doyle holds a legendary status among modern sports collectors due to one of the rarest and most valuable printing blunders in baseball history: the 1910 T206 “Slow Joe” Doyle error card. During the production of the iconic tobacco card set, the American Lithographic Company accidentally designated Doyle as playing for “Nat’l” rather than “Amer” in his New York uniform. After catching the mistake, the printers pulled the printing plate, scrapped off the “Nat’l” letters, slapped the plate back into the machine, and continued printing. Today, fewer than a dozen authentic copies are known to exist, making it more rare than the famed Honus Wagner T206 card.
