SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres flips his bat after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning at Petco Park on July 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres haven’t had a win like this in quite some time. It’s been a while since the Friars have won in such thrilling fashion. The last time that happened was when San Diego came back against the Atlanta Braves after being down 5-0. The Padres got off to an early lead, scoring two in the first, before starter Walker Buehler struggled in the second inning. He surrendered four runs to the Toronto Blue Jays in the top of the frame.
The Friars immediately tied it in the bottom of the frame. They then hit the go-ahead run in the third to make it 6-4. The club knocked in one more run in the fourth to lengthen their lead before Vladimir Guerrero Jr. tied it on a three-run shot against Bradgley Rodriguez. The Padres got their go-ahead run on a solo homer from Ty France. That one run was all they would need as Mason Miller blanked the Jays to slam the door shut.
Taking the mound
Kevin Gausman (TOR) v. Germán Márquez (SD)
Despite sporting a below-average 4.32 ERA, Gausman has looked good this season for the Jays. That higher mark has been due to some recent struggles. In his last seven starts, the righty’s surrendered 27 runs toward a 6.51 ERA. In his last three, Gausman has surrendered 11 runs.
The Padres have historically hit quite well versus Gausman. Chief among them is Fernando Tatis Jr., who has two homers and a career .400 batting average. Additionally, France and Manny Machado both have batting averages over .300 against the Toronto right-hander.
Márquez dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks in his first start since coming off the IL. The veteran right-hander pitched five shutout innings, walking just three batters. Since returning from his IL stint, the righty has given up just two runs across eight innings pitched.
Only one of Toronto’s batters (Daulton Varsho) has more than 10 career at-bats against Márquez. The Jays haven’t had much success against the veteran apart from George Springer (.444 batting average in nine at-bats). Márquez has had his knuckle curve working lately. He’ll look to keep that up against the Jays this afternoon.
Batter up!
The offense looked fantastic last night, showing real fight throughout the whole game. The club scored in each of the first four innings and had some great at-bats against Toronto. The club walked a ridiculous eleven times, showing plate discipline they haven’t had most of the year. They’ll need to keep that consistent in order to win the rubber match today.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, LF
Ty France, 1B
Miguel Andujar, DH
Luis Campusano, C
Sung-Mun Song, 2B
Merrill has had a very productive turnaround lately, hitting .321 in his last seven games and .288 over the last 15. He went 2-for-3 with two walks in last night’s game against Toronto. Hopefully, the center fielder will be able to continue that production after the All-Star break.
Relief corps
Despite Buehler going just 2 innings, the San Diego bullpen was saved by the unlikeliest of heroes. Matt Waldron made his return from the IL yesterday and pitched three shutout innings. He dominated, striking out three and stranding two hits. Yuki Matsui, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller filled out the final four innings for San Diego, though Matsui struggled.
With the All-Star break beginning after the conclusion of today’s game, the bullpen will get some rest no matter how many arms the Friars need to turn to. Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio and Wandy Peralta will be the readily available options for San Diego.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 15, 2025: Emiliano Teodo #82 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch during the eighth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 15, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have placed righthanded pitcher Chris Martin on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled righthanded reliever Emiliano Teodo.
This is the third trip to the injured list this season for the 40 year old Martin, and its possible he will not be activated again. Martin, who planned to retire after 2025 but opted to return for one more season, has a 9.00 ERA in 14 innings over 16 appearances this season, and has battled a shoulder issue throughout. It would be great if rest and rehab can get him back to being a semblance of the pitcher he was previously, the reality is that he may simply be done.
To replace him the Rangers are turning to righthanded flame thrower Emiliano Teodo. Teodo can reach 100 mph on the radar gun, but has had a challenging relationship with the strike zone in his career. It was hoped that he would be able to step up in 2025 and be a meaningful part of the Rangers’ bullpen, but he instead had an awful year plagued by injury and ineffectiveness.
Teodo is up now less because he’s shown he’s ready and more because the Rangers need arms and their options are limited. He has a 3.76 ERA in 40.2 innings over 35 games, with 35 walks, 8 hit batters, and 10 wild pitches to go with 52 strikeouts. He’s allowed just 4 earned runs in 15.2 IP since the beginning of June, but has walked 16 batters in those 15.2 innings. He’s also struck out 16 batters in those 15.2 innings, but having a 1:1 K:BB ratio isn’t generally a good thing for a pitcher.
Clay Burdette brings one of the best exit velos in Division I to the White Sox organization. | (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
It was a back-to-back, strong-armed outfielders move from the White Sox in the seventh round, nabbing Clay Burdette from Xavier University with the No. 195 pick in the 2026 MLB draft.
Just three years ago, Burdette was regarded as one of the three best shortstops in Ohio, but blossomed as a right fielder after a transfer from Ohio State to Xavier. Ranked No. 248 on MLB’s board, the White Sox had fears that Burdette would be gone by their eighth-round pick and nabbed him despite his lower overall rank.
It’s not immediately apparent why Burdette was so slightly regarded in the MLB rankings. He boasts a strong arm for right field and the speed to see time in center. Burdette also has a proven combination of raw power and top-notch bat speed, with exit velocities among the best in Division I.
Playing in a more minor conference, as the Big East is regarded in baseball, Burdette doesn’t have a big track record of plate appearances against top-notch pitching. He also has some selectivity and swing-and-miss issues that could rear up, with 50 Ks in 2026 against just 23 walks.
For you Xavier fans, Burdette’s selection in the seventh round makes him the highest-drafted Musketeers position player ever.
On the surface, Burdette kills it with his scouting ratings, particularly for an seventh-rounder, with his running ability leading the way at 60. But a hit tool of 40 drags his overall evaluation down to 40. Seems like a chip Burdette needs to put on his shoulder.
Expect Burdette to hit the ground running and get some time in a Kannapolis later this summer, as a player who’s been overlooked of late trying to prove his mettle.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 11: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners hits a single in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 11, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners will play today to try to avoid going 0-6 on this road trip and being swept into the All-Star Break. Honestly? Things don’t feel great.
Lineups:
Dear Rays, you are in first place, I know things are tight around there with the stadium and all but surely you can make a gameday lineup graphic.
News:
Can you tell from the tone here Shannon is over it?
Nothing new on the Mariners injury front. Julio has continued to work out in Seattle and the hope remains he will be ready to return late this week. Donovan is expected to begin his rehab assignment in the next few days. Pitching plans have not yet been shared.
Programming note: It’s also the MLB Draft and ALSO the Futures Game today, because MLB remain unable to market their product nor its future. You can find separate threads for those events on the site.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 07: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 07, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees’ fight back in the first two games of this series has been nothing short of admirable. They overturned late two-run deficits on both days, scoring three runs in the ninth in the opener and four in the eighth yesterday. The home runs are starting to fly again against a Nats bullpen that is seriously holding the rest of its team back. The Yankees are hoping to close out their first half in the best way possible: with a sweep.
Will Warren will have to be miles better than his last time out against the Rays, when he coughed up six runs on three home runs in four innings. The league is starting to figure out his fastball and he needs to find a way to vary his pitch mix more. I am surprised he has barely thrown the changeup and curveball given the above-average raw characteristics of each pitch — perhaps they can help him become less predictable. In 18 starts, Warren in 7-4 with a 4.15 ERA (101 ERA+), 3.96 FIP, and 94 strikeouts in 93.1 innings.
Cade Cavalli was the hot-head pitcher involved in the bases-clearing brawl with Willson Contreras and the Red Sox last week, making his first start after serving his five-game suspension for his inflammatory remarks. The former top pitching prospect for the Nationals, Cavalli missed all of the 2023 and 2024 seasons to Tommy John surgery. He has faced the Yankees once and it was by far the worst start of his major league career — eight runs on eight hits including four home runs in 2.1 innings at the end of last August. He’s a different pitcher this year with a four-seamer that averages 97 and tops out at 100 and a knuckle curve that’s gotten whiffs on almost 40-percent of swings. In 19 starts, Cavalli is 5-4 with a 3.88 ERA (110 ERA+), 3.35 FIP, and 105 strikeouts in 92.2 innings.
The Yankees make several changes to the lineups that have faced lefty openers in the last two games. Austin Wells celebrates his 27th birthday with a return to the lineup after homering in two of his last three appearances. Ryan McMahon’s bat is heating up and his glove at third is a welcome return following Amed Rosario’s mishaps. José Caballero replaces Anthony Vople at shortstop. Max Schuemann comes in to play right, moving Jasson Domínguez to DH to give Paul Goldschmidt a day off.
The Yankees haven’t shown they can handle superstar James Wood — 3-for-5 with a home run in each of the first two games — so it’s a matter of silencing the rest of the Nationals lineup. They also make a handful of changes from the starting nine yesterday. Abimelec Ortiz plays DH, moving Luis García Jr. to first and Curtis Mead to the bench. Keibert Ruiz starts over Drew Millas behind the plate while José Tena replaces Nasim Nuñez at second.
How to watch
Location: Nationals Park – Washington, DC
First pitch: 1:35 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Nationals.TV
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | WJFK 106.7 The Fan (WSN)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JULY 04: Guinness World Records adjudicator Thomas Bradford poses for a photo with members of the Texas Rangers front office and Budweiser after presenting a certificate for the world's largest glass of beer prior to the game between the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers at Globe Life Field on July 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Day two of the 2026 MLB Draft: The Texas Rangers will be selecting sixteen players today, in Rounds 5 through 20. We will be updating through the day as each selection is made.
As a reminder, if a team selects a player in the first ten rounds, but doesn’t sign the player, they lose the bonus pool money referable to that pick. Thus, the players in the first ten rounds are almost certainly going to sign, and players taken in the back half of the first round are often less-heralded players who will sign for less than the slot value, which allows teams to apply the savings elsewhere (such as, in the case of the Rangers, Brody Bumila, their third round pick who has indicated he’s been offered first round money).
Players taken after the tenth round are less likely to be signed, since a team doesn’t lose any of their bonus pool money if they don’t sign those players. A player taken after the tenth round can sign for up to $150,000 without it counting towards the bonus pool.
5th Round— Michael Anderson Jr., DH/RHP, Penn State.
Ranked #263 on the Baseball America top 500, Anderson is a 6’3”, 230 lb. righthanded hitting and throwing senior who spent two years playing for Rhode Island, then transferred to Arkansas, where he went 0 for 8 in four games. He transferred from Arkansas to Penn State for his senior season, slashing .358/.470/.742 in 232 plate appearances with 20 homers, 23 walks and 30 Ks. He has big power and bat speed, but there are concerns about his ability to make contact and his tendency to chase. Anderson is slow and while he’s played first base in the past, he was just a DH for Penn State this year.
Anderson was announced as a two way player, and pitched in 8 games (8.2 IP) as a freshman for Rhode Island, as well as appearing in two games for Penn State. He’s hit 97 mph on the mound, and when he was in the transfer portal there were some who thought he had more potential on the mound than as a hitter. He presumably will get a chance to work out of the bullpen as well as hitting.
6th Round — Aidan Brainard, RHP, University of Nevada
Brainard is a 6’3”, 210 lb. righthanded senior who played for Northeast Community College in Nebraska and then Regis University in Denver before spending his senior season at Nevada-Reno. Between his junior year at Regis and his senior year at Nevada he put up a 6.77 ERA in 115.2 IP, striking out 125, walking 71, and hitting 22. It would appear that control is something he needs to work on.
7th Round — Caden Aoki, RHP, University of Georgia
Aoki is a 6’0”, 185 lb. righthanded throwing pitcher for the University of Georgia. He just finished his fifth year of college ball, having appeared in four games for Notre Dame as a freshman, then been part of the USC starting rotation for three years before transferring to Georgia for his fifth season. In 9 starts and 11 relief appearances for the Bulldogs he logged 86 innings, striking out 110 and walking 27, though also allowing 14 homers.
Here’s a “three things to know” piece from the Athens Banner-Herald about Aoki, who turns 24 later this year. It would appear he has no eligibility remaining, which means he’s almost certainly signing for somewhere in the $10-25K range. He also has a sweet mustache:
8th Round — Kolby Branch, SS, University of Georgia
Branch is a 23 year old, 5’11”, 202 lb. righthanded hitting infielder born in Allen, Texas, who graduated from Lovejoy High School and spent his freshman year at Baylor before transferring to Georgia, where he just finished his senior year. I guess the Rangers are buying Bulldogs in bulk. Branch was #43 on the BA top 100 senior sign list. 5th round pick Anderson, as a point of reference, was #4.
As a senior he slashed .291/.394/.628 in 234 plate appearances, with a whopping 72 Ks and 40 walks. For his college career, he has a .296/.397/.555 slash line.
9th Round — Kaden Carpenter, OF, Utah Valley State
Carpenter is a 6’4”, 225 lb. left handed hitting and throwing outfielder from Provo, Utah, who spent his first three years as a starter for Utah before transferring to Utah Valley State for his senior season. He’s #48 on the BA list of the top senior signs. I’m a big fan of his song “Rainy Days and Mondays.”
Carpenter had his best season as a senior, slashing .338/.467/.706 with 17 homers, 44 walks and 58 Ks in 255 plate appearances. Of course, he also was playing in the WAC, rather than the Pac 12 and then Big 12. His career slash line in college was .308/.421/.554.
10th Round — Evan Morrison, SS, Grand Valley State
Morrison is a 5’11”, 200 lb. lefthanded hitting shortstop who turned 23 in April. He’s from Ontario and was at the University of Waterloo, then McPherson College in Kansas, and then, for the past two seasons, at Grand Valley State, part of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which includes such powerhouses as Davenport, Wayne State, and Wisconsin-Parkside.
As a senior, Morrison slashed .410/.476/.590 with, according to B-R, 28 walks against 7 strikeouts in 288 plate appearances, and was 27 for 35 on stolen base attempts. He’s also pitched in the past. He did not make the B-R top 100 senior sign list, and is probably a guy getting a $10K signing bonus and who will be plugged in to play whatever position is needed wherever they need somebody.
The 2026 MLB All-Star Game festivities kick off at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, with tonight's Home Run Derby.
Kyle Schwarber (+344) tops the field of eight in the MLB odds, but he has company in the form of Junior Caminero (+456).
Let's dive deeper into the Home Run Derby odds for Monday, July 13, and don't miss Colby Marchio's Home Run Derby predictions!
Odds to win the 2026 Home Run Derby
Player
2026 HRs
Kyle Schwarber
32
+344
Junior Caminero
28
+456
Munataka Murakami
20
+488
Jac Caglianone
15
+669
Jordan Walker
22
+681
Ben Rice
29
+809
Bryce Harper
20
+826
Willson Contreras
20
+1199
Odds as of 7-13.
2026 MLB Home Run Derby field and favorites
Kyle Schwarber currently holds the lead in the season-long home-run race, so it makes sense that he's favored in this competition, especially in his home stadium. Ben Rice is his next-closest competitor, yet he sits third from the bottom in this market.
Junior Caminero is in close pursuit following a recent power surge that saw him hit 11 dingers between June 23 and July 4. He was the Home Run Derby runner-up to Cal Raleigh in 2025.
Munataka Murakami would probably have more homers by now but for a multi-week injury. He is one to watch for on Monday night.
2026 MLB Home Run Derby rules
The Home Run Derby timer that's been in place since 2015 has been abolished, and a new format has been put in place. Here's a quick breakdown of how it works:
Round 1: 20 swings for each batter.
Round 2 & Finals: 15 swings for each batter.
Each swing, homer or not, counts. There are no "outs."
If a player homers on his final swing in any round, he may keep going until he does not homer.
No bonus rounds.
No "bracket" for the first round.
Tiebreakers: home run distance in Round 1, three-swing "swing-offs" in Rounds 2 & Finals.
Only six players have won the Home Run Derby and recorded the most home runs in the regular season in the same year. Cal Raleigh (2025) was the last to pull it off.
The Home Run Derby title has been shared by two players twice in the event’s history (1986, 1989).
Ken Griffey Jr., Yoenis Cespedes, and Pete Alonso are the only players to successfully defend their Home Run Derby title in back-to-back years.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 11: Curtis Mead #45 of the Washington Nationals celebrates as he runs the bases after he hits a home run against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After back to back bullpen meltdowns, the Nats look to get off the mat yet again and try to avoid the sweep. Staying above .500 going into the All-Star Break feels big for the morale of this team. On paper, this pitching matchup should be favorable as well.
The Nats are going with a lefty heavy lineup against righty Will Warren who historically has lefty issues. Dylan Crews is the only true righty in the lineup. Abimelec Ortiz will be making his MLB debut and hitting third. Jose Tena will be in the field today at second base. Jorbit Vivas will get the start over Curtis Mead and Keibert Ruiz will be behind the plate. Cade Cavalli is back from suspension and gets the start today.
The Yankees are making a couple changes as well. Trent Grisham will move up to the leadoff spot with a righty on the mound. Ryan McMahon will start at third base and Jose Caballaro will be at short. Max Schuemann will start in right field and Austin Wells is back behind the plate. As mentioned, Will Warren is on the mound.
This is a big game as we enter the break. The difference between being over and under .500 is massive. To prevent a sell off, this team needs to get off the mat and perform. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
PHOENIX, AZ - JUNE 23: Tyson Grulkowski #54 pitches during the 2026 Draft Combine at Chase Field on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the 112th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft the Atlanta Braves have selected Wisconsin prep right hander Tyson Grulkowski. Grulkowski is a cold weather arm with a mix of frame and stuff where he is an intriguing add for the Braves system.
Bio
Name: Tyson Grulkowski
Position: Right Handed Pitcher
Hometown: Muskego, WI (Muskego HS)
School: South Florida
Height: 6’5
Weight: 225
Bats/Throws: R/R
Rankings
Baseball America: 217
Perfect Game: 206
Pipeline: N/R
ESPN: 222
Overslot: 333
My Own: 263
Consensus: 227
Fastball 50/55
It’s presently an average to above average pitch up to 95 MPH but he sits more low 90’s. Grulkowski will have a chance to grow into more strength on his large frame and add to that velocity.
Slider 60
His best pitch is a slurvy breaking ball that is a legit plus offering for him.
Changeup 45
The change is very lightly used, but he has shown enough that it’s not hard to project it to at least become a fringy pitch for him with continued work.
Command 50
The command will need to continue to be refined but I believe it could get to future average grade for him.
Overall Thoughts
This feels like another arm like Cole Dennis, a possibly overslot prep arm with traits for growth that won’t break the bank as the Braves continue to fill the system. Grulkowski is years away and may need to start out in the FCL, but he will have middle of the rotation ceiling if things really work out, and will have a chance for backend starter/reliever otherwise.
Los Angeles, CA - June 16, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz works out before an MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz officially started a minor league rehab assignment on Saturday night, tossing a scoreless inning for Class-A Ontario with two strikeouts and a single allowed.
— Ontario Tower Buzzers (@towerbuzzers) July 12, 2026
Player of the day
Tyler Gough walked four but also struck out five in his three scoreless innings for Great Lakes.
The 22-year-old right-hander, who was acquired from the Mariners for left-hander Robinson Ortiz on November 16, has pitched 13 scoreless innings since joining Great Lakes. After missing nearly two months on the injured list, Gough between Ontario and Great Lakes has a 0.81 ERA in eight starts and 33 1/3 innings, with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Rain washed away Oklahoma City’s Saturday game against the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres), which served as a blessing for the Comets.
Oklahoma City’s scheduled starter was Landon Knack, but he was called up to eat innings Saturday after the Dodgers used a bullpen game on Friday. The move to necessitate space on the 40-man roster with Knack coming off the 60-day injured list was Charlie Barnes, the scheduled Sunday starter for the Comets, was designated for assignment.
Oklahoma City and El Paso will make up Saturday’s rainout on August 26, which means they only have to cover nine innings on the mound this weekend instead of 18.
Double-A Tulsa
Peter Heubeck gave up seven runs and couldn’t finish the first inning in the Drillers’ blowout loss to the Springfield Cardinals, which was shortened by rain to only six innings.
Taylor Young hit a two-run double in defeat.
Josue De Paula and Mike Sirota left the Drillers to head to Philadelphia for the Futures Game on Sunday. Kole Myers had two singles and two RBI while playing left field on Saturday, with Kendall George in center field and Zyhir Hope in right field.
High-A Great Lakes
Charles Davalan hit a game-winning home run in the eighth inning in the Loons’ victory over the Dayton Dragons (Reds). His two-run shot turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead and culminated a Great Lakes comeback from once down 2-0.
— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) July 12, 2026
Class-A Ontario
Tower Buzzers outfielder Landyn Vidourek walked with the bases loaded, bringing home the winning run in the eighth inning to beat the Inland Empire 66ers (Mariners). Ontario walked four times in the inning, two against Caleb Franzen and two by Jean Muñoz.
Corner man Easton Shelton, playing first base, homered again on Saturday. His 25 home runs are a whopping 10 more than the second-place home run hitter in the California League (his teammate, outfielder Ching-Hsien Ko).
Transactions
Triple-A: Reliever Kyle Hurt, who had steadily climbed Dave Roberts’ bullpen trust tree with a strong first half in Los Angeles, fell off his lofty perch of late and was optioned to Oklahoma City on Saturday when Landon Knack was activated off the 60-day injured list and Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment. In his first 18 appearances for the Dodgers this year, through the end of May, Hurt had a 1.00 ERA, 2.23 xERA, 21 strikeouts and four walks. But since the start of June, Hurt in 14 games had a 10.13 ERA, 5.28 xERA, 17 strikeouts, and 12 walks, and allowed six total runs over his last two games.
Double-A: 19-year-old infielder Reyli Mariano was promoted to Tulsa from the Arizona Complex League for roster coverage, and played all five defensive innings at second base in his Double-A debut, going 0-for-1 with a walk.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 21: Pitcher Chasen Shreve #45 of the New York Yankees is hugged by catcher Austin Romine #28 after the final out of the 9th inning in an interleague MLB baseball game against the New York Mets on July 21, 2018 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Yankees won 7-6. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For Yankees fans who watched the team during the mid-2010s, Chasen Shreve inspires a lot of emotions, most of which are negative. Acquired via trade for one of the organization’s biggest could-have-beens in Manny Bañuelos, he spent parts of four seasons in pinstripes. At times, the lefty looked like a dominant pitcher who was going to anchor the Yankees’ bullpen for years; at other times, he may as well have been throwing batting practice. No matter how he pitched, though, there was never a doubt that he left it all out on the field, and for that, Shreve ought to be remembered fondly for his contributions to several teams — some of which were certainly better than others.
Chasen Dean Shreve Born: July 12, 1990 (Las Vegas, NV) Yankees Tenure: 2015-2018 (majors); 2022 and 2024 (minors)
A native of Las Vegas, Shreve put himself on the map while at Bonanza High School, being named to the Nevada All-State second team for his senior season. He then went on to play for the College of Southern Nevada, where he played alongside then-catcher Bryce Harper during his JUCO season between high school and the draft. Both players were then selected in the 2010 MLB Draft, with Harper of course going first overall to the Washington Nationals, and Shreve falling to the 11th round, where he was selected by the Atlanta Braves.
Over the next three years, Shreve steadily climbed the farm, making his MLB debut for Atlanta on July 19, 2014 — just over a week after his 24th birthday. Between a five-cameo appearance across the final week of July and an extended run during September, he flashed great potential as a reliever, allowing just one run in 12.1 innings across 15 appearances. His performance against right-handed bats — he limited them to just a .167/.200/.208 slash line — despite being a southpaw inspired hope that he might be more than just a lefty specialist.
That hope would not be tested in Atlanta, however. Looking to add some rotation depth, the Braves rang in 2015 by flipping a pair of relievers, the youngster Shreve and the veteran David Carpenter, to the Yankees in exchange for the injured former top prospect, Manny Bañuelos (seriously, the deal went through on January 1, 2015). While Carpenter was at the time the name that drew more attention, as the Yankees had some openings in the bullpen due to the departure of David Robertson in free agency and the trade that sent Shawn Kelley to San Diego, Shreve was ultimately the one who played a bigger part of the 2015 bullpen.
After making his Yankees debut on April 6th, Shreve made himself an instant fan favorite just four days later. Thanks to a Chase Headley homer in the bottom of the ninth, the Yankees and Red Sox found themselves headed to extra innings having already exhausted their bullpens, with the Yankees already having used four pitchers to get through regulation. After Chris Martin, Justin Wilson, Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller, and Carpenter came and went, manager Joe Girardi turned the ball over to the rookie Shreve in the 12th.
He went an efficient 3.1 innings, allowing just three hits while striking four. While the Bombers ultimately lost, as Esmil Rogers allowed the Red Sox to rally in both the 18th and the 19th innings, it certainly wasn’t Shreve’s fault.
While he never had to go that long again, Shreve became a reliable multi-inning bullpen weapon for Girardi, capable of going one or two innings on a regular basis. Through September 5th, he had a 1.86 ERA, and had 60 strikeouts in 53.1 innings for a team that went on to win a playoff spot. Unfortunately, in what would become a pattern, Shreve utterly collapsed in September; across his final nine appearances, he managed to go just five innings, walking six batters and allowing four home runs. Because of this, his end-of-season numbers did not quite represent his full-season performance: 3.09 ERA, 4.92 WHIP, 1.406 WHIP.
Shreve was not used in the one-game Wild Card loss to Houston and never quite hit those heights ever again. He struggled out of the gate in 2016, posting a 5.21 ERA before hitting the injured list in May with a left shoulder strain. After returning in July, he bounced between Triple-A Scranton and the Bronx, and while his MLB numbers over that stretch don’t seem pretty — he had a 5.14 ERA in 14 innings — they don’t tell the full story: half of his eight earned runs came in one disastrous inning on August 16th, as Shreve, Adam Warren, and Blake Parker combined to allow eight runs to turn a 6-4 lead into a 12-6 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
More pleasantly, Shreve’s next appearance saw him come on in relief of Ben Heller in the bottom of the 10th on August 30th. Handed a bases loaded jam with just one out, Shreve struck out Kendrys Morales and got Salvador Perez to fly out to secure his first of two career saves.
Shreve spent all of 2017 and the first half of 2018 on the Scranton shuttle, unquestionably on the periphery of the bullpen picture and outside of their eventual playoff plans. On July 21, 2018, he recorded his second career save, this time against the New York Mets. After Aroldis Chapman began the inning by allowing a walk, a single, two walks, and a hit batsman, Aaron Boone called on Shreve to preserve a 7-5 lead with the bases loaded and nobody out. He traded two outs for one run on a ground-ball double play, then got Wilmer Flores to bounce back to the pitcher, to rescue Chapman and preserve the win.
That, however, would be Shreve’s last big highlight in pinstripes. Less than a week later, the Yankees sent him and Giovanny Gallegos to St. Louis Cardinals for international bonus pool money and an apparent Quadruple-A first baseman named Luke Voit. And while I’m sure that Yankees fans don’t exactly look upon this trade with regret, I will never not be touched by Shreve’s interview immediately after being informed of the trade — a reminder that, at the end of the day, these guys are people first and foremost.
Following his Yankees career, Shreve bounced around quite a bit. He spent the remainder of 2018 and all of 2019 in the St. Louis organization, then signed with the Mets for what would be the shortened 2020 season.
2021 was spent with the Pirates, the first half of 2022 with the Mets, and the final two months in Scranton on a minor-league contract with the Yankees (though he never made it back to the Bronx). The Tigers picked him up for 2023, his last extended run in the Majors, before designated him for assignment in August; he finished that season in the Reds organization. He began 2024 in the Rangers’ system, spent July with Scranton, and August with the Rockies, where he made one final big-league appearance. He made one last attempt to crack an MLB roster by accepting an invitation to spring training with the Braves in 2025, before being released in April.
While he has yet to officially announce his retirement, Shreve is not currently in an MLB organization. If this is in fact it for him, Shreve can hang up the cleats content in the knowledge that while he never quite recaptured the dominance he flashed early in his career across 11 different seasons, he was nonetheless an important part of some memorable Yankees squads.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
HOOVER, AL - MAY 21: Infielder Ace Reese #3 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs hits the ball during the SEC Baseball Tournament Quarterfinals game between Mississippi State Bulldogs and Georgia Bulldogs on May 21, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Mariners posted some genuinely difficult Meccha Chameleon the other day. If you aren’t familiar with Meccha Chameleon, it’s the hot friendslop game of two weeks ago, and what I’m learning from this post is to avoid playing Meccha Chameleon with the Mariners social team at all costs, because I can’t paint like that.
The Athletics officially placed All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz on the 10-day IL with a strain in his right thumb. White Sox first baseman Tristan Peters, fresh off his cycle on Friday night, was named as the replacement on the All-Star roster.
If I had a nickel for every time a Phillies pitcher was rightfully upset with the league for not adding them to the All-Star roster because of a scheduled Sunday start, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
Diamonbacks pitcher Zac Gallen will not make his scheduled start against the Dodgers today and is expected to hit the IL with elbow inflammation.
The Orioles were relieved to find out yesterday that closer Ryan Helsley will not need UCL surgery, as the ligament is intact and there is just inflammation surrounding it.
Feb 18, 2026; Sarasota, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Nestor German (89) poses for media day. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 3, Syracuse Mets 2
Nestor German was the story in this Tides win, twirling a dazzling outing of seven shutout innings, the longest outing of his professional career. He had more strikeouts (six) than baserunners (five), and it came against a Syracuse lineup in which all nine batters were guys with major league experience, including blink-and-you-missed-them former Orioles Cristian Pache and Vidal Bruján. It was German’s second straight scoreless start. What a performance by the Orioles’ #11 prospect (per MLB Pipeline).
Tides cleanup hitter Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit his 17th homer with Norfolk, and Heston Kjerstad went 0-for-3 but contributed a sac fly. Leadoff man Enrique Bradfield Jr., who as of yesterday is no longer the only EBJ in the organization, went 0-for-3 with a walk.
The Tides nearly blew a 3-0 lead in the ninth when lefty Andrew Magno had a rare bad outing, giving up two runs to raise his season ERA to a still-awesome 1.04, but he held on for his sixth save. Before that, Yaramil Hiraldo, whom the O’s activated from the IL and optioned yesterday, worked a perfect eighth.
The Baysox dominated on every side of the ball, not only erupting for nine runs on 10 hits but also throwing a two-hit shutout. It was maybe their most all-around well-played victory of the season.
Let’s start on the mound, where #4 prospect Luis De León had the kind of outing that makes scouts drool over him. Just like Nestor German, he delivered the longest outing of his professional career, but he one-upped German by tossing eight scoreless innings. Wowza! Before tonight, De León’s career high for innings in a game was six, and even that he only did once. Also like German, De León had more strikeouts (five) than baserunners (three). I think it’s safe to say this was the best outing of his professional career. For good measure, reliever Juan Rojas struck out the side in the ninth.
Then there’s the Chesapeake offense, which certainly brought the lumber on this night. Leadoff man Douglas Hodo III set the tone with a homer, a double, and five RBIs. Three other Baysox had multi-hit games, including Aron Estrada, Griff O’Ferrall, and recently acquired Dom Keegan. Thomas Sosa added a homer. The Baysox went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position. They scored two of their runs against former O’s minor league Carter Rustad, who was traded for Johnathan Rodríguez in March.
High-A: Frederick Keys 6, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies) 4 — Game 1, 7 inn.
In their regularly scheduled Saturday game, the Keys scored six unanswered runs to rally back from an early 3-0 deficit. The top five hitters in the lineup were a combined 7-for-14, which my rudimentary math skills tell me is a .500 average. Wehiwa Aloy starred with two hits, including his 13th home run. Victor Figueroa, Randal Diaz, and Colin Tuft each added an RBI. The Keys also had four steals in five attempts.
Tall lefty Boston Bateman picked up the win with a solid five-inning effort, giving up three runs and striking out six. Righty Trent Turzenski, making his first appearance in High-A this year, worked a scoreless ninth for the save. The seven-inning game clocked in at under two hours (1:58).
High-A: Jersey Shore 2, Frederick 1 — Game 2, 7 inn.
The Keys had to settle for a doubleheader split, dropping the nightcap in a makeup of Thursday’s rainout. The productive offense from the opener disappeared in game 2, with Frederick managing only two hits in their seven innings of play. Aloy provided one, an RBI single in the third, and #9 hitter Alfredo Velásquez had the other. Jersey Shore starter Ramon Marquez, the Phillies’ #9 prospect, racked up nine strikeouts in five innings.
The BlueClaws, like the Keys, also had only two hits, but unfortunately they came back-to-back in the second — a single and a two-run homer — to provide the margin of victory. That spoiled an otherwise strong outing by Keys lefty Caden Hunter, who went five frames, walked three, and struck out eight. This game was even quicker than the first one, at just one hour and 50 minutes.
Orioles #2 prospect Ike Irish did not play in either game of the doubleheader, although no injury has been reported.
Yet another stupendous pitching performance by an O’s affiliate on this night. You love to see it. This time it was Christian Rodriguez who delivered the goods, firing seven scoreless innings. That matched a career high for the 24-year-old righty. Rodriguez scattered five hits, walked one, and struck out four. When is the last time that three different Orioles minor leaguers pitched 7+ innings on the same day? I would venture to say it’s been a long time, if ever. Relievers Adrian Heredia and Luis Beltrán completed the combined shutout with a scoreless inning apiece, combining for five strikeouts.
The Shorebirds’ offense erupted for a 13-hit attack, including three apiece by center fielder Braylon Whitaker and catcher Adriander Mejía. Home runs by Félix Amparo, Jose Perez, and Andrés Nolaya helped lead the Delmarva rout.
MESA, AZ - NOVEMBER 09: Patrick Clohisy #24 of the Atlanta Braves hits an RBI single in the ninth inning during the 2025 Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game between the American League Fall Stars and the National League Fall Stars at Sloan Park on Sunday, November 9, 2025 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
AJ Smith-Shawver, SP: 2.1IP 5H 2ER 3BB 2K, 7.71 ERA
The Stripers clawed their way back to .500 with a dominant win over the Redbirds thanks to a strong pitching effort by the Gwinnett staff, and some explosive hitting.
AJ Smith-Shawver got the rehab start and was okay – clearly running out of gas around the 40 pitch mark for the second start in the row. AJ’s mechanics seemingly disappeared at time, with his pitching shoulder often dipping making his arm whip around more which led to his velocity decreasing a bit as he sat more in the 95-96 range. Smith-Shawver was strong up until that 40 pitch mark – seeing just two over the minimum as he entered the third inning. It was the third that the command wavered, walking two and surrendering three singles and driving in two runs. He was replaced by Carlos Carassco (3IP 1H 0R 4BB 2K) who needed just one pitch to end the bases loaded, 1 out threat that Smith-Shawver left. Carlos was strong, working around some walks, to register three one hit innings. Following Carlos was Anderson Pilar (2.2IP 0H 0R 0BB 4K) who was dominant – striking out four over 2.2 scoreless innings of work himself. Finally, it was Joel Payamps (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K) who worked the final inning and secured the win for the Stripers.
Offensively, it was a barrage for the Stripers who hit three home runs and collected 11 hits. Rowdy Tellez continued his hot form – by driving in two with a single in the first inning. He added another pair of runs in the third inning when he connected on his 10th home run of the season. The following inning it was Jair Camargo who added a solo shot in the fourth to push the Stripers lead to 5-2. Two innings later it was Patrick Clohisy, who was making his Triple-A debut, who connected on a two run home run himself to push it to 7-2.
Finally, Sandy León and Cal Conley drove in the final two runs of the game, both in the bottom of the eighth, to extend the Stripers dominant lead to 9-2.
An absolutely brilliant pitching performance by the Clingstones pitching staff did the heavy lifting in a tight 3-2 over the Barons.
Brett Sears got the start and put together a really strong start, registering 18 whiffs across 6.2 innings of work. He allowed a total of just four hits including a double, and solo home run. Sears saw just one over the minimum until the fifth inning when he ran into his first bit of trouble when he allowed a one out, run scoring double. He would then get back on track, getting the next five outs before allowing that solo shot in the seventh inning. Sears would get replaced by Owen Hackman (1.1IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K) who was…also dominant, striking out three over his 1.1 innings of work, including striking out the final two batters he would face. Tyler LaPorte (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K) worked the final inning, picking up his fourth save of the season, as he pounded the zone throwing 8 strikes on 10 pitches while picking up four whiffs.
Offensively, the Clingstones got just enough done to secure the win. Drew Compton got the fun going in the first inning as he singled in Luke Waddell, who had earlier doubled, to give Columbus the 1-0 lead. The Clingstones would then be held scoreless the next three innings until Dalton McIntyre singled in Ambioris Tavarez to drive in the second run of the game. It was one inning later when this time Tyler Tolve drove in what was eventually the game winning hit via a dribbler to third that allowed Will Verdung to score.
The talented Emperors offense ran into an absolutely dominant pitching performance by the Hudson Valley Renegades – striking out 12 times, while collecting just four hits. They went a painful 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 on base.
Matieu Curtis got the start and put the Emperors in a good place as he struck out seven across just 2.2 innings of work. He struck out the side in the first inning, while working around a pair of walks in the second while picking up another two strikeouts. After picking up his sixth strikeout at the start of the third, the first blemish occurred as Curtis allowed a one out double, stolen base, and a balk drove in the first run of the game for the Renegades. Drew Christo (2IP 4H 3ER 1BB 2K) relieved Matieu in the third and surrendered what ended up being the game winning solo home run to his first batter seen. Drew would go on to surrender three more runs in his two innings of work before he was replaced by Jarret Whorff (1.1IP 3H 2ER 0BB 1K) who ran into double himself – allowing another pair of runs in his innings of work. Jacob Shafer (2IP 1H 1ER 2BB 2K) was the final pitcher utilized for the Clingstones and allowed a run himself across a pair of innings. In totality, the Clingstones pitching staff surrendered seven runs on nine hits hits and five walks.
Offensively, it was a struggle. The Emperors made things interesting in the first inning, loading the bases but were unable to cash in on any real opportunities until the fourth inning when Dixon Williams led off a double. Dixon would steal third, and then come into score on a wild pitch. That would end up being the only run scored. They would threaten throughout the game but never get the big hit that they needed. Starting pitcher Rory Fox for the Renegades was dominant – striking out nine across five innings of work.
(48-36) Hickory Crawdads 13, (48-38) Augusta GreenJackets 4
Luis Guanipa, CF: 2-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, .307/.364/.465
The GreenJackets were unable to overcome porous defense, as they committed five errors, while the pitching staff allowed an appalling fourteen walks and nine hits.
Davis Polo got the start and it just wasn’t his day – as he allowed five runs, four earned, threw two wild pitches, allowed a run to score on a balk, and allowed a stolen base. As he lasted just a single inning, the game quickly fell apart as the GreenJackets had to turn to the bullpen to cover at least eight innings. Adiel Melendez (2IP 3H 3R 2ER 0BB 2K) was the first man up, surrendering three total runs across two innings of work. Logan Forsythe (1.1IP 0H 3ER 2BB 1K) replace Adiel, and surrendered three earned runs despite not allowing a single hit. The GreenJackets then turned to Lews Sifontes (1IP 2H 1R 4BB 0K) who struggled with his command – walking four in his single inning of work. With the game all but settled at this point, the GreenJackets turned to a pair of position prospects who not only saved more arms, but had the best results on the mound. Joe Olsavasky (2.2IP 0H 1ER 4BB 2K) was the first one up, surrendering an earned run in his 2.2 innings of work. Hayden Friese (1IP 1H 0R 1BB 1K) was the only player on the team to record a scoreless inning.
There wasn’t much the GreenJackets could do to overcome that bad defense and poor pitching, but still did an admirable job – scoring four runs on eight total hits. They were held scoreless until the seventh inning when Luis Guanipa collected his 16th double of the season – driving in Cooper McMurray. Conor Essenburg would follow that up with a sacrifice fly that drove in Michael Martinez to give Augusta a pair of runs. They added on another run in the eighth when Cody Miller walked, took second and then third on a pair of wild pitches before being driven in by Austin Machado on a ground out. Their final run scored came in the bottom of the ninth, when it was again Luis Guanipa that singled and drove in Cooper McMurray for the GreenJackets fourth run.
DENVER, CO - JULY 1: Hunter Goodman #15 of the Colorado Rockies hits a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field on July 1, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I have always found the Home Run Derby to be one of the most exciting events on the baseball calendar every year. There is something simple and satisfying about seeing people swing as hard as they can and smash baseballs as far as possible.
This season a combination of factors have transpired that have conspired to somewhat dampen my particular enthusiasm for the event.
The rules have changed such that participants no longer have a time limit but instead a limited number of swings.
Losing out on the frenetic pace of recent derbies was one thing but having a Rockies hitter who had a legitimate case to participate be snubbed has somewhat dimmed my excitement for this otherwise incredible event.
There are still plenty of exciting names in the derby (Jordan Walker!) and it will still be fun to baseballs get smashed but, for me, I worry something will feel missing from past years.
So, that brings me to our question:
If you were commissioner, would you make any changes to the Home Run Derby?
Would you want changes to the actual rules of how the Derby is played or perhaps a difference in the participant selection process?
Kyle Schwarber
Junior Caminero
Munataka Murakami
Jac Caglianone
Jordan Walker
Ben Rice
Willson Contreras
Cal Raleigh
Teoscar Hernandez
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Juan Soto
Pete Alonso
Giancarlo Stanton
