Category: Baseball

The Dodgers have one more series to go to finish off their May schedule, hosting the Philadelphia Phillies for three games at Dodger Stadium. Philadelphia got off to a terrible start and fired their manager, but are 20-8 since under old friend Don Mattingly, while the Dodgers have won 12 of their last 14.

The start of May was a little bit of a struggle for the Dodgers, dropping seven of their first 11 games and winning only one of their first four series. Since then they’ve won four straight series.

Among the highlights this month were Andy Pages hitting three home runs in Houston, the Dodgers scratching together a win over Chris Sale, a lopsided sweep in Anaheim, the Pages sacrifice fly off Mason Miller in San Diego, part of a week of two road series wins over the playoff-contending Padres and Brewers, and sweeping the Rockies while taking a combined no-hitter into the eighth inning on Wednesday.

There have been other moments too, including Roki Sasaki having the best start of his MLB career, and the first career saves for both Will Klein and Kyle Hurt. I’m sure I’m missing a few others.

Today’s question is what is your favorite Dodgers moment of this May?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 57 games into the 2026 season and they have been a pleasant surprise so far. If the season ended today they wouldn’t make the playoffs but they are only 2 games out of the NL wild card spot. The team has been a surprise but who on the team has been the biggest surprise so far ? 

I think Brandon Lowe has been the most pleasant surprise on the team so far. The Pirates acquired him in a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and the Houston Astros. His deal this season is a one year deal worth $11.5 millio.n

When the Bucs made the deal in the offseason, it was an upgrade at the second base position, but I don’t think anyone expected him to bring this much power. Through his first 50-plus games, Lowe has a batting average of .265 and an OPS over .900.

Lowe leads the team in home runs with 14. The Pirates were ranked dead last in home runs last year with only 117. His power has greatly improved the offense, which already has 61 homers on the season. The 31 year old also ranks 11th in the Majors in home runs .

Lowe also leads the team in RBIs with 36. The 36 RBIs is enough for 16th in the Majors. Lowe has been strong with people in scoring positions and has been the main power source for the offense.

Lowe’s power is what is most surprising about him because of his time in Tampa Bay he has never been known for being a power guy. He did have that massive year in 2021 where he hit 39 home runs and 99 RBIs. This year in Pittsburgh feels like that year, and he has been a big reason why the Pirates are above .500 right now. 

Oneil Cruz has also been a surprise because of the rough year he had last year, he has been putting up big time numbers with a dangerous speed to power combo. Spencer Horwitz has been hot of late and he has been a nice surprise as well with 6 home runs and 25 RBIs. 

A big pitcher surprise has been Braxton Ashcraft who has the best ERA on the team with 2.75. With Skenes struggling of late, Ashcraft’s performance has been huge for what is already a deep starting rotation. 

Comment below who you guys think has been the most pleasant surprise on the team so far.

Worcester Red Sox 1, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders 0 (BOX)

Jack Anderson has had his ups and downs throughout this season, even making a stop in Boston for a few days back in April. Thursday night was one of those “ups”, striking out eight batters and allowing just one hit over 4 2/3 innings. That would be the only hit that the RailRiders (NYY) could muster on the day, as the bullpen was just as dominant. Since Anderson was one out short of a win, that went to Seth Martinez (1 1/3 innings), and Tommy Kahnle got his fourth save. Kahnle’s ERA is down to 1.47 on the season and will deserve a call-up at some point.

Worcester got the lone run of the game in the top of the first, thanks to an Anthony Siegler home run. Siegler played 34 games for the Brewers a year ago, and will probably get a shot in Boston at some point. I’m not sure if anyone has been following Kyle Harrison this season, but it would be nice to get a contribution in 2026 from one of the players the Brewers sent back for him.

INF Anthony Seigler dating back to 4/30 (16 games) with Worcester:

.362 BA
1.055 OPS
18% BB / 11% K
.425 xwOBA
180 wRC+

Hitting the ball hard (91.9 EV / 41.3% HH) and feasting against RHPs (1.126 OPS, .462 xwOBA) over that span.

He deserves another shot in the majors soon… https://t.co/st3BRkINqe

— G.G. (@ggeiss_mlb) May 28, 2026

On Friday at 7:05, Michael Sansone (1-3, 5.57) will be on the bump for the Woo Sox.

Portland Sea Dogs 10, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 9 (BOX)

A wild game in Binghamton (NYM) on Thursday. The Sea Dogs went down 9-2 after four innings before putting up a six-spot in the fifth inning, capped by a bomb to center field from designated hitter Johanfran Garcia to bring Portland within a run.

Johanfran Garcia two-run home run and we’ve got a game! 108 MPH exit velo, 418 feet. Crushed.

The Boston Red Sox prospect has eight home runs and 19 RBI in Double-A this season. pic.twitter.com/TaD6laiJ27

— Hunter Noll (@Hunter_Noll) May 28, 2026

Tyler McDonough’s RBI double in the seventh tied the game, and an RBI groundout from Will Turner was the game-winner in the eighth. Marvin Alcantara and Brooks Brannon each had two hits on the day, along with two RBI.

John Holobetz and Patrick Halligan combined for the nine runs allowed early in this one. Cooper Adams got his fifth win, and Joe Vogatsky his second save.

Portland hands the ball to Dalton Rogers (0-0, 1.69) at 7:00 on Friday.

Greenville Drive 3, Asheville Tourists 2, 10 inn. (BOX)

The Drive made it three-for-three, working our way down the Red Sox’ affiliates, walking off the Tourists (HOU) 3-2 in ten innings on Thursday. The runs were not particularly noteworthy for Greenville, scoring on a sacrifice fly, a throwing error, and a walk-off wild pitch. Freili Encarnacion had two hits on the day.

Devin Futrell provided a strong start, striking out six and allowing two runs over five innings. Ben Hansen delivered four shutout innings in relief, and Brandon Neely threw a clean tenth inning to get his second win.

On Friday, the Drive will play at 6:45 and have not yet announced a starter.

Hickory Crawdads 7, Salem RidgeYaks 3 (BOX)

The RidgeYaks could not complete the minor league sweep on Thursday night, falling 7-3 to the Crawdads (TEX). First baseman Frederik Jimenez had a big day at the plate for Salem, with an RBI double in the fifth and a solo home run in the seventh. Andrews Opata also had a two hit day, with an RBI.

Jason Gilman was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Jose Bello (0-1, 2.82) gets the ball at 6:35 on Friday for the RidgeYaks.

I went to my second Kansas City Royals game of the season on Wednesday night. I was in great company and just love being at a live baseball game, I was as depressed about the team leaving Kauffman Stadium after a 7-0 loss at the hands of the New York Yankees as I have been in a long time.

I came into the season believing that the back-to-back winning seasons were signs of real improvement, and I liked a lot of the decisions J.J. Piccolo made this offseason. While there is still time to turn the season around, the Royals are somehow only 5.5 games back of the third Wild Card spot, it feels pretty hopeless after another sweep at the hand of the Bronx Bombers. The Royals are 22-34 entering Friday’s game against the Texas Rangers, and it’s going to take a miracle run for the team to reach the preseason expectations that many of us had for them, including the expectations the team itself had.

There is plenty of blame to go around for the start of the 2026 season, and I have a feeling we will continue to spend a lot of time unpacking all the failures and implications of those failures for the rest of the summer. There are not too many positives to look at right now, but one of the bright spots on the team is star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. Witt is holding up his end of the bargain, looking like the best version of the all-around talent that we have seen the past few years.

His defense has been incredible this year. He is either first or second to Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete-Crow Armstrong among all defenders in most advanced defensive metrics. He is on pace to win both the Gold Glove for AL shortstop for the third time, and the Platinum Glove for best AL defender for the second time. It truly amazes me how much growth Witt has shown as a defender since his rookie season, and is giving me hope that someday Cater Jensen will be able to improve his defense as well.

His offense is also going strong. He is hitting 30% above league-average, and is doing so as the only regular in the lineup hitting above league-average. In fact, Elias Diaz in 23 plate appearances is the only other Royals hitter who has posted an above-average mark so far this year. Witt is drawing more walks in 2026 while striking out slightly less, which is a great combination to have as a hitter. We are also due for a Witt goes nuclear month, which will raise his overall numbers as well. Witt might win another Silver Slugger this season, which would be his third one of those.

Witt enters Friday with 3.4 fWAR, which is the highest mark in the AL. He is 0.6 WAR ahead of the position player in second place, Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. The Astros have had a disappointing start to the season and Alvarez normally misses some timer each season with various injuries, so I think there’s a real chance that Witt has significantly more WAR than any AL player by the end of the year. He will need to if he is going to win MVP in 2026; voters have come a long way, but I assume they would still rather vote for a player whose team is in the playoff picture than one who is fighting to stay out of last place in the AL Central.

I want Witt to collect as much personal hardware as he can and four awards in one season will strengthen his future Hall of Fame candidacy. Despite the team struggling around him, Witt has held up his end of the bargain and played like a superstar. It’s been refreshing to watch him play so well this year amidst all the disappointment and struggles coming from the rest of the Royals.

Witt right now has more fWAR than the rest of the Royals position players combined, 3.4 WAR compared to 1.6 WAR. Third baseman Maikel Garcia has had a fine start to the year with 1.3 WAR of his own, but so many Royals position players are currently producing at or below replacement level. Issac Collins, Vinnie Pasquantino, Salvador Perez and Nick Loftin are all currently below replacement level, while Starling Marte, Michael Massey, Lane Thomas and Elias Diaz each have .1 WAR. Having eight position players at or below replacement level is a disaster for Kansas City; Witt’s production is helping keep the wheels from completely falling off to start the year.

Not only do I want Witt to collect as many awards as he can, I want him to stay in Kansas City for as long as he can. He can opt out of his deal after the 2030 season, which including 2026 is five seasons away. That feels like a long ways out from now, but I know how quickly time flies in the life of a sports fan. Injuries can happen or Witt and the front office could get sideways and he demand a trade. We just don’t know what the future holds. I want Witt’s career to resemble George Brett’s, which featured frequent trips to the postseason with Brett as the best player on the team. Right now, Witt’s career is taking more of a Mike Trout path; amazing player on a terrible team who has barely played in the postseason.

I don’t want to ignore or take for granted the great season that Witt is having so far, and I don’t want the Royals too either. Each year Witt is on the Royals, the team should be trying to compete for a spot in the postseason. While this year is technically not lost yet, it is certainly on life support. If the team can save the season then great, but if not the front office needs to figure out how to not let another superstar effort from Witt go to waste.

Your 2026 New York Mets: I just didn’t do my job

“I just didn’t do my job. I didn’t get to my spot. And that’s on me.” -David Peterson [MLB]

The Mets continue to look for answers for what has been a dreadful start to the season…

“We still believe in those guys, we feel good with the rotation. They are just going through a stretch here with Nolan [McLean] and the back-to-back outings not going his way, but you still trust those guys that we have. We have got to help those guys get through it. They have been pretty good for us in keeping us in games.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]

…with incongruent statements that support the current starting pitchers…

“I would say [Peterson’s Tuesday outing] was just a little bit of an anomaly. I think the last three or four outings have been really good and it’s just continuing to refine the locations of his pitches and understand where weak contact happens and just continue to work on some of those smaller details with him.” -pitching coach Justin Willard [New York Post]

…while leaving room to make changes….

“I’m pretty sure there’s going to be a conversation. But we’re going to need all of them. We’re going to need [Peterson] to throw important innings for us. Whether it’s as a starter, whether it’s coming after an opener or pitching out of the bullpen, we’re going to need innings from him. … And Sean, another good outing for him. So I’m pretty sure there’s going to be a discussion here what’s next when it comes down to the next turn in the rotation.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]

…while it doesn’t feel this way, the starters rank 11th in the league with a 3.83 FIP which is, you know, okay…

“It’s tough,. It’s part of baseball, but we know we have to perform better.” -Freddy Peralta [The Athletic]

…so this is a lot of focus on the rotation this week…

“I want to be on a team that I know is going to put all the effort in getting a championship sooner or later. I feel that way here.” -Freddy Peralta [The Athletic]

…while the Mets offense is currently 29th in the league with a 85RC+

“If something happens later, there’s nothing I can do. Just be ready for everything.” -Freddy Peralta [The Athletic]

Nolan McLean does have a 4.40 ERA but he also running a 11.01 K/9, 2.79 BB/9, 111 Pitching+, 3.03 xFIP and subjectively been a joy to watch, he’ll be fine

“It’s just bad pitching, honestly. If I’m just gonna be straight up, I just haven’t been pitching my best, and I gotta be better.” -Nolan McLean [New York Post]

“[McLean’s] gonna get back on track. He’s got too good of stuff for this to keep going. … It just sucks it happens on back-to-back outings, especially in the middle of this stretch.” [New York Post]

One of the themes of the offseason was we wanted to acquire players who put the ball in play…

“The Mets liked Polanco for his bat; he had a 134 OPS-plus last season and tends to put the ball in play (something they set out to improve from last year’s club).” -Will Sammon [The Athletic]

…Me sowing: Haha fuck yeah!!! Yes!! Me reaping: Well this fucking sucks. What the fuck.

“The biggest thing is our ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark. It’s hard to score three or four (runs) on just singles. You’ve got to be able to drive the ball, and right now we’re having a hard time doing that.” -Carlos Mendoza [The Athletic]

David Stearns talking like he’s been asked to do a satirical impression of a person who attended Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School is a lot easier to take when we’re winning

“We absolutely have to look at our risk assessment on injured players, or players who get injured once they’re here. Certainly, we know we’re taking a level of risk when we bring players in with injury histories. We’re feeling that risk right now.” -David Stearns [The Athletic]

Lost to some during this tough stretch is Juan Soto is currently running a 173 wRC+ just like we would want him to

“I’m just trying to do damage. I can’t control if it’s going over the wall or not.” -Juan Soto [MLB]

“[Soto’s] locked in. And he’s one of the best, if not the best at what he does. … He’s just a special player doing his thing.” -Carlos Mendoza [MLB]

“It’s special seeing [Soto]go to work every day. Basically check a box that he’s going to hit a homer or do something cool that day.” -Carson Benge [MLB]

“I just keep thinking to do damage every time. The difference is the results. Sometimes I get the results. Sometimes I don’t. I just feel good. I’ve been seeing the ball well. I’ve been swinging the bat well. Just do damage whenever I can.” -Juan Soto [MLB]

Yeah man, watching this season thus far I feel like ‘I am stretched out well enough’ too

“I feel like I am stretched out well enough,” -Sean Manaea [New York Post]

Always a good sign when your manager has to seperate quotes using the word ‘sucks’ in a week

“I mean, [every losing streak are] all frustrating. Especially when you’re not playing well. They’re all the same, to be honest with you. Yeah, it sucks.” -Carlos Mendoza [New York Post]

But don’t worry, the major league team isn’t the only thing that ‘sucks’ in the organization this season

“If there’s a frustration, it’s being aware of [what’s going wrong on offense], feeling like you’re making some adjustments and then still not getting the result relative to the type of adjustment that you feel like you made.” -Mets director of major league hitting Jeff Albert [NJ]

“Because it’s not reality. At the end of the day, you gotta figure out a way to not just produce offensively, but execute and win games.” -Mets director of major league hitting Jeff Albert [NJ]

“We have a very good group that we’re putting on the field every day. I don’t think our thought process or expectations really change because every team goes through injuries and things like that. Everybody in the room is a professional and we have a job to do and everyone’s focused on trying to get that done.” -Mets director of major league hitting Jeff Albert [NJ]

I can behind community being number one but can you maybe make raising that 64 wRC+ a little higher on your priority list [Bloggers Note: The prior statement was with tonguefirmly in cheek, I have not looked into it but I’m sure the ‘4 Thru 9 Foundation’ and ‘Metropolitan PGA Foundations’ are noble causes]

"Just giving back to the community is number one"

Marcus Semien talks about partnering with the Mets and taking over the Annual Poker Showdown with @HankAzaria, previously hosted in prior years by Jeff McNeil pic.twitter.com/26bBVZAWQA

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 28, 2026

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Another juicy Friday awaits. A full 15-game MLB slate sits before us, and I managed to find three of my favorite props across tonight’s action.

We will be filling our cards with plenty of plus-money plays and a handful of props carrying serious value.

Some of the league’s biggest names are in fantastic spots this evening, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Rafael Devers, and Brandon Lowe.

Let’s have some FUN with our MLB player props for Friday, May 29. 

Best MLB player props today

Rafael Devers Double (+267) | Home Run (+328)

Why on Earth would we be sprinkling on San Francisco Giants slugger Rafael Devers to record a double and a home run instead of targeting his bases or hits, runs, or RBI props?

Well, typically, there is minimal value on a guy in a prime spot, especially when that prime spot happens to be Rafael Devers vs. Michael Lorenzen in Coors Field.

I am not paying -125 for over 1.5 bases or -104 for over 2.5 HRR when I can sprinkle on two props north of +250. If I think Devers is due to boom, I am expecting the ceiling.

And what is a missed home run? Typically a double.

The Giants slugger has turned it on this month, generating 68.18% hard contact, a 22.73% barrel rate, and a .369 wOBA over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.

On the other side, Lorenzen has been getting torched by lefties lately, allowing 50% hard contact, a 21.1% barrel rate, and just a 26.3% ground ball rate over his last 60 batters faced. Those left-handed hitters also own a .452 xBA, .924 xSLG, and .466 xwOBA against him.

If you are nervous about taking these props, pay the juice on the bases line, but I think there is far more value on the double and home run.

• Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Rockies TV

Brandon Lowe Over 1.5 Hits, Runs, RBI (-114)

I got pretty filthy backing Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe tonight. I am all over his hits, runs, RBI prop, along with his double and home run props. I was basically forced into the double because of the price, and I always back any hitter I am on to leave the yard.

This evening, the Pirates slugger takes on Minnesota Twins right-hander Taj Bradley, who has allowed left-handed hitters to elevate the ball all season long. Over the last 60 lefties he has faced, opponents are producing a 22.2% barrel rate, 58.3% fly ball rate, and a .570 expected slugging percentage.

On the other side, in Lowe’s last 30 matchups against right-handed pitching, he owns a 60% hard-hit rate, 20% barrel rate, and 55% fly ball rate. Not to mention, he also carries 73% arsenal coverage against Bradley’s offerings.

If, for some reason, the Pirates slugger just misses a home run but still finds an extra-base hit, I am banking on it being a double. Similar to Devers' above.

So why not just take the over on his total bases? Well, in 82 elite ratings, Lowe has gone over 1.5 HRR 60.98% of the time, according to Batters-Box. I trust those trends, but if you want the plus money, I fully endorse it.

• Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Apple TV

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (-102) 

Talk about a mouthwatering spot for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the Toronto Blue Jays star takes on Trevor Rogers and the Baltimore Orioles on Friday evening. The face of the 6 enters tonight with an elite rating on Batters-Box, where he continues to sport some delectable trends in elite spots.

In 34 elite ratings away from home:

• 1+ Hit: 76.47%

• 2+ Bases: 50%

• 2+ Hits, Runs & RBI: 55.88%

Guerrero Jr. also owns the highest arsenal coverage for an elite-rated player on today’s slate, mashing nearly 100% of Rogers’ offerings this season.

The southpaw has struggled in 2026 after his breakout campaign in 2025, and right-handed hitters have given him hell. Over the last 60 righties he has faced, opponents are generating 53.2% hard contact with a 14.9% barrel rate, while he has allowed 2.70 HR/9. Those hitters also own a .402 xBA, .745 xSLG, and .475 xwOBA against him.

At nearly even money for a hitter sporting a .432 wOBA and 178 wRC+ against left-handed pitching this season, I want to be involved with Guerrero Jr. tonight.

And yes, as always, sprinkle the home run.

• Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SportsNet 1

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The 1947 World Series between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers was littered with talent. The biggest name (for more reasons than just his incredible abilities on the baseball diamond) was Jackie Robinson. But there were also the people some modern-day baseball fans might know from the movie “42” based on Robinson: Pee Wee Reese, Eddie Stanky, Dixie Walker, Spider Jorgenson, and Ralph Branca. There were also the usual names waltzing around the Yankees dugout: Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Tommy Henrich, and Phil Rizutto.

Among the names who played all seven games in that World Series was George McQuinn, who was toward the end of his playing days but still found a way to power the group to another championship.

George Hartley McQuinn
Born: May 29, 1910 (Arlington, VA)
Died: December 24, 1978 (Alexandria, VA)
Yankees Tenure: 1947-48

George McQuinn was born in Arlington, Virginia, and began playing baseball at the age of seven. He started playing first base at the age of 12 after he saved up enough money to buy a George Sisler model first baseman’s glove. He continued playing baseball throughout his childhood and eventually attended Washington-Lee High School, where he would not just play, but star in baseball and basketball. After his high school career ended, he had the opportunity to play for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, but ultimately turned it down to pursue the professional route.

McQuinn began playing for a semipro team in Northern Virginia before his manager arranged a tryout, and he showed enough skill to earn a contract with the New Haven Profs of the Class A Eastern League. However, he only received 19 at-bats in limited playing time before being released. But that wasn’t the end of the road for him. In fact, it was only the beginning.

One of the veteran infielders for the Profs, Joe Benes, saw something in the 19-year-old McQuinn, so he recommended him to Yankees scout Gene McCann, who signed McQuinn to a contract with the Wheeling Stogies, the Yankees’ farm club in the Class C Middle Atlantic League. He was then promoted for the 1931 season to the Scranton Miners of the Class B New York-Penn League thanks to an impressive .288 batting average, and he lit up those ranks, too, driving in over 1o0 runs with five homers and a .316 average.

McQuinn continued to make an impression and was eventually invited to spring training with the Newark Bears of the International League, which, at the time, was the Yankees’ top minor league team. But because of another player occupying the first base position, McQuinn was shipped north of the border to the Toronto Maple Leafs (no, not the hockey team). And while he started well with Toronto, he was brought back to Binghamton, where he had previously played a season, and he went on to win the New York-Penn League’s Most Valuable Player award.

After returning to Toronto for the 1934 season up until 1936, McQuinn was consistently written about as a potential call-up, but doing so would require the Yankees to have room at first base. And there were some in baseball circles who thought that maybe the Yankees would consider trading Lou Gehrig — yes, two-time MVP, American League Triple Crown and batting title winner, seven-time All-Star, seven-time World Series winner and Hall of Famer, Lou Gehrig — in order to bring McQuinn up. Obviously, that did not occur, but it’s certainly a wild alternate history to think about.

In 1936, the Cincinnati Reds purchased McQuinn’s contract from the Yankees on a condition that they could return him by June 1st. And it was at that point that the left-handed first baseman from Virginia got his shot in the majors.

But the story then isn’t a fairytale. McQuinn, at 25, despite all his time in the minors, was not good in his first 38 games as a professional, slashing .201/.262/.284 for an OPS+ of 51. He registered only 13 RBI, no home runs, 10 walks, 27 hits and seven extra-base hits in 134 at-bats. He was so bad, reportedly, because of the Reds pushing him into a thought process that was foreign — trying to focus on pulling the ball instead of hitting all over the diamond. Because of his inability to adjust, he was sent back to the Yankees’ system for further fine-tuning.

McQuinn went back to Toronto after his major league stint and hit .329 over the rest of the 1936 season, then hit .330 again, leading his Bears to a 109-43 record and a pennant win by 25.5 games. And while McQuinn was lighting up the Yankees farm team, Gehrig was still going strong for the big club, playing every single game for the team from 1936 to 1938. So there was no room to squeeze McQuinn into the lineup, and no reason to either, considering what Gehrig was doing at the plate with an average OBP of .454 and an OPS at 1.075 from the ages of 33 to 35.

After the 1937 season, McQuinn was eligible to be drafted by another team and was picked up by the St. Louis Browns, who gave him his first big league shot. This time, he took advantage of it: he played 148 games and set a career-high in batting average as he slashed .324/.384/.477 at the age of 28. McQuinn had the second-highest OPS of anyone on the Browns, showing the world that he was finally on the scene, finishing 21st in the AL MVP Award race.

McQuinn played for the Browns from that 1938 season to 1945 when he was 35 years old. In 1939, he was voted to his first All-Star Game and finished 13th in the MVP race following a season in which he played every game at first base and batted .316 with an OPS of .898 and a career-high 94 RBI. In 1940, he was selected for his second All-Star Game in a row. And since that season, he earned two more All-Star appearances and another top-20 finish in the MVP voting race. From 1941 to 1945, McQuinn slashed .266/.355/.406 for an OPS of .761 and an OPS+ of 111. He hit for a cycle in 1941 and led the AL in fielding percentage for the second season in a row, earning a reputation as the best defensive first baseman in the league and never once dipping below the 99.1 percent mark with the Browns. McQuinn was going to be traded to the Dodgers, who he would eventually face in the 1947 World Series with the Yankees, but he could not clear waivers, so the trade was nullified.

In 1942 and 1943, McQuinn had back issues, which caused his average to drop below expectations, and he also avoided service in World War II because of them, allowing him to stay in baseball while other big-name stars at the time went to fight overseas. And in 1944, when the Browns won the American League pennant against the weakened Yankees (who still gave them a run for their money up until the last day of the season) and faced the National League Pennant-winning Cardinals in the World Series, McQuinn not only continued his All-Star performance from the regular season (the fourth of his career), but he also did everything he could to win his Browns a championship, slashing .438/.609/.750 with one home run, five RBI and seven walks in the six-game series that was eventually lost.

In 1945, McQuinn’s last season with the Browns, he did what everyone expected him to do, even though the Browns did not return to the World Series. And following that season, the 36-year-old McQuinn was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics for another first baseman, Dick Siebert, in a deal that was catastrophic for both parties. Siebert could not come to terms with St. Louis and eventually retired, while McQuinn had his first below-average full season in the majors, frustrating A’s fans and leading to conversations that he should have retired. In fact, he almost did had it not been for his wife talking him out of it.

Following his release from the A’s thanks to manager Connie Mack, McQuinn finally got his chance to play for the Yankees 17 years after he entered their farm system in 1930. He took over first base when Tommy Henrich went to left field to cover for an injury, and McQuinn stayed there for the next two seasons.

In his first season in 1947, McQuinn’s spark returned. At the age of 37 and in 144 games, he hit over the .300 mark for the first time since his 29-year-old season in 1939. His on-base percentage rocketed to a career-high .395, and his slugging percentage of .437 was the highest since 1941. It was, statistically, the best season of his career. He finished sixth in MVP voting, the highest finish of his career, and was once again voted into the All-Star Game to represent the Yankees this time. And not only was he incredible in the regular season, but when the Yankees won the pennant in 1947 to face the Dodgers in the World Series, he was lauded as “the storybook story behind the Yankees’ surprising success … in 1947,” according to a sportswriter cited in McQuinn’s profile from the Society for American Baseball Research.

McQuinn didn’t hit super well in the World Series, batting .130, a large disappointment for fans of the game at the time considering his body of work in the regular season, but he still walked away a World Series champion, the first and only of his career after a grueling seven-game series.

The Yankees wanted to bring back McQuinn for one more season, and they did after a bit of a holdout from the 38-year-old. But due to back issues and simply old age, it was clear that McQuinn’s last hurrah came in 1947 (and what a last hurrah it was). He played in only 94 games with the Yankees in 1948, batting .248 with an OPS of 102. Due to his poor form and general wear and tear, the Yankees had no other choice but to release the veteran first baseman at the end of the year, and McQuinn retired as a result. He ended up managing in the Boston Braves organization from 1950 to 1958, then became a scout for the Washington Senators and eventually the Montreal Expos, before officially retiring from baseball in 1971. McQuinn passed away from a stroke in 1978 at the age of 68 in Alexandria, Virginia, at a hospital, but he led an incredible baseball life that had a playing career finished by exactly what every player dreams of: An excellent final full season and a championship to remember against some of the best players to ever play the game. Happy birthday, George!

Today marks Joe Biagini’s 36th birthday.

Biagini joined the Jays as a Rule 5 draft pick before the 2016 season and, somewhat unexpectedly, became a key bullpen contributor. He appeared in 60 games with a 3.06 ERA and served as a long reliever, pitching two innings in 13 of those outings.

He was also known for his engaging interviews and unique sense of humor.

2017 began promisingly with Biagini in a setup role in the bullpen, posting a 2.12 ERA by the end of April. However, injuries in the starting rotation forced Joe into a starting role. His initial starts were solid, but his performance soon declined.

Over nine starts, he struggled with a 6.70 ERA before returning to the bullpen.

In 2018, Biagini began the season in the rotation, making five starts with a 7.71 ERA before returning to the bullpen, where he was less effective than in his rookie campaign. In 2019, he rebounded somewhat, posting a 3.78 ERA in 50 relief appearances.

At the trade deadline, Biagini and Aaron Sanchez were dealt to the Astros in exchange for Derek Fisher, whose time with the Jays was largely forgettable.

Biagini appeared in 17 games for the Astros across 2019 and 2020. Afterward, he joined the Cubs as a free agent, spending most of the season in Triple-A.

He returned to the Blue Jays organization in 2022, spending the year with the Buffalo Bisons.

Joe was a fan favourite. The team did him no favours by abruptly moving him into the rotation without time to build up his arm. He was a rare athlete who consistently showed a personality with the media.

Happy Birthday, Joe. Wishing you a great day.

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Bill Risley turns 59 today.

Risley, a right-handed reliever, debuted with the Expos in 1992, appearing in just three games over two seasons. After being claimed off waivers by the Mariners, he pitched in 82 games across two years and posted a 3.28 ERA.

The Mariners later traded Risley and Miguel Cairo—who would enjoy a lengthy career, though not with Toronto—for Edwin Hurtado and Paul Menhart.

Risley spent three injury-plagued seasons (back, gall bladder, and arm issues) with the Jays, pitching in 72 games and recording a 4.83 ERA.

Over his career, he made 157 appearances, posted a 3.98 ERA, and notched one save.

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Steven Matz turns 35 today.

Matz began his career with the Mets, spending six seasons with the team before being traded to the Jays for Yennsy Díaz, Sean Reid-Foley, and Josh Winckowski—none of whom made a significant impact in New York.

Matz enjoyed a strong season with Toronto in 2021, going 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA across 29 starts. The Jays finished 91-71 that year, just one game shy of a Wild Card spot.

After the season, he departed in free agency, signing a four-year, $44 million deal with the Cardinals. He was 15-14 with a 4.24 ERA with them. Since then he’s pitched for the Red Sox, and this year, the Rays.

Happy Birthday, Steven.

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Today, Trever Miller turns 53.

He appeared in six relief outings for Toronto in 2011, a brief stint amid his 13-year MLB career.

In total, Miller pitched in 694 games (including five starts), with a 4.18 ERA and 11 saves.

Happy Birthday, Trever.

Cristopher Sánchez is like the beginning of Shoresy and he declared that he would never allow a run again. In his last 44.2 innings of work, the Sanchize has left opponent offenses in despair.

This sequence to Miguel Andujar was not Sánchez’s best work but I think it captures how streaks like this can work sometimes. He may not always be at his best but pure stuff can be the difference.

He missed on two uncompetitive changeups to Andujar that make the count 2-0. With the likelihood that a hitter is in swing mode with two outs and a runner on, Sánchez goes back to the changeup and it wasn’t a good one but still gets a whiff.

Because it’s probably smart not to throw four straight changeups to a hitter seeing you a third time, he perfectly locates a front hip sinker for a called strike and it perfectly set up a down and away changeup if Sánchez can make it somewhat competitive.

What a player.

Brad Keller’s Righty Problem

Keller was great against everyone in 2025 but it was especially the case for righties. He was able to throw a four-seam, slider, sinker, and sweeper very effectively to limit righties to a .466 OPS allowed for the season.

He has not been able to recapture that same magic in 2026 with righties hitting three home runs off of him already, the same amount as 2025, and have a .730 OPS against him overall.

The Phillies did make some pitch usage tweaks from his Cubs tenure. He has backed off the four-seam to throw a lot more sinkers and a few more sweepers. Right-handed hitters have put three four-seam fastballs in play off Keller. Two singles and a Seiya Suzuki home run. There are some tough variance issues going for him.

There might need to be an adjustment on which glove side breaking ball he should use. The sweeper has a .600 slugging allowed from right handed hitters with a 22.5% whiff. The slider hasn’t allowed an extra base hit.

Against righties, he is throwing the sweeper 28% of the time and the slider 19%. Given the success his sweeper had last year, it shouldn’t be backed off entirely but getting the slider up might be a better way to limit the damage.

Keller’s season overall has been a mixed bag. He was signed to be their sure-fire 8th inning arm because he seemed to carry the rare high floor for a non-closer. But the groundball rate has dropped over 11% from last season with a big increase in flyballs and line drives. It’s not exactly a good sign.

There is also the potential that his 3.80 ERA and 4.12 FIP are a little unsustainable because he has the second-highest HR/FB rate of his career at 18.2%. Keller was at 7.8% with the Cubs last year and never went higher than 15% as a starting pitcher with the Royals. There might be some regression to the mean here but it’s still not what you want out of a reliever making $11 million a year.

Edmundo Sosa has started 3 out of their last 4 games in Left Field

The Phillies have not been able to find a fourth outfielder and have essentially made Edmundo Sosa that despite his inexperience playing the position. Otto Kemp was the first crack but in two different stints with the club is 2 for 25 with no extra base hits.

Felix Reyes got a crack at it in between and didn’t do much either. He homered off Chris Sale in his first-ever big league at bat but only went 6 for 38 with a .421 OPS overall. Dylan Moore got 12 at-bats as a utility player and did not record a hit. It’s now Sosa, who has a .558 OPS overall and barely knows the position because they have no one else.

The bench is wasting two roster spots on Kemp, who can’t beat Sosa out for time in left field, and Garrett Stubbs as their third catcher. Given the issues the offense has and the age of their core players, that just does not seem like a sustainable way to manage the roster. They are essentially playing with ten or eleven players right now and that probably ends up being a bad thing as this season heads into the summer months.

The NCAA baseball tournament kicks off today. In between Braves games, let’s watch your school play and get to know some potential draft picks. The ones on our watch list are gonna sign and in some cases paid handsomely. The Braves have the eighth highest draft pool next July. So why not join Atlanta and call Truist home? If you’re not familiar, this weekend there will be 16 double elimination regionals. The seeded/hosting teams are all a good watch, and we’ll lay out who to watch here.

Los Angeles Regional

Who to watch: Roman Martin, UCLA

Martin is a 6’2” third baseman with UCLA who will likely be listed as a shortstop on MLB boards, He has a .336/.452/.536 line and 7 homers in 56 college games. The top-ranked Bruins are coming off a Big Ten Tournament Championship win over Oregon, mainly because college football doesn’t own a globe. He’s #63 on Baseball America’s board. The word on Martin is that he crushes the fastball, but not so much the secondaries.

Morgantown Regional

Who to watch: Tyler Bell, Kentucky

Tyler Bell is a shortstop that was already drafted in the second round. Baseball America has him at #15, while MLB’s list has him #4. The USA team veteran has played all over the infield. He’s a switchhitter with power. The only downside is that while he does everything well, he is not elite right now in any of them. No matter, bar a disaster he’ll make it to the Show. 

Hattiesburg Regional

Who to watch for: Eric Becker and AJ Gracia, Virginia

Eric Becker is a shortstop (that will be a pattern here) who has also played with Team USA. The tall lefty has a career 1.053 OPS and 24 home runs. Baseball America has him #22. AJ Gracia is a lefty outfielder with some pop as well. 43 career home runs, 1.032 OPS, and a 150/125 BB/K rate. Baseball America has him #10, which might be right in that sweet spot for the Braves.

Chapel Hill Regional

Who to watch: Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee

Per Baseball America: “Kuhns has a fastball that averages 94 mph and has been up to 98 with the physical projection to expect more velocity in the future. He has a high-spin curveball in the 78-82 mph range that eclipses 3,000 rpm at its best, and he will also mix in a low-80s slider, a cutter around 90 mph and a mid-80s changeup.“

College Station Regional

Who to watch: Gavin Grahovac, Chris Hacopian, and Caden Sorrell, Texas A&M; Mason Edwards, USC

Texas A&M have a loaded roster with Baseball America’s #6 Hacopian, #17 Sorrell, and #43 Grahovac. Chris Hacopian has played all over the diamond and might have one of the more impressive resumes. He crushed at Maryland, played two good summer league seasons, and finished up at Texas A&M with a .938 OPS. Caden Sorrell is an athletic lefty outfielder with power to all fields. Gavin Grahovac plays first base and is coming off shoulder surgery last season. He’s answered any power questions with a 1.141 OPS and 23 home runs. Mason Edwards is a thin lefty pitcher with a microscopic 1.43 ERA in 15 games. Nearly two-thirds of his outs come by strikeout. His fastball sits 91-93 and touches 96.

Lincoln Regional

Who to watch: Cade Townsend, Ole Miss

Cade Townsend sports 5 decent pitches. The big one is the fastball, which sits 95-96 MPH and reaches 98. Cade has a 4,76 K/SO rate in the SEC.

Auburn Regional

We aren’t tracking anybody here for now. But that’s only for now.

Atlanta Regional

Who to watch for: Drew Burress and Alex Hernandez from GeorgiaTech. Brendan Brock from Oklahoma

Do you know anybody that likes home runs? The Braves, you say? Atlanta has the eight biggest pool and Baseball likes Drew Burress, an outfielder for Georgia Tech, as their eighth best. And he has 58 of them and a career 1.208 OPS in the tough ACC.

Alex Hernandez is a second baseman and outfielder in his 20 year old season and already has a season of summer league ball. He’s another collegian sporting a 1.000+ OPS. He feels like a John Gil type. Brendan Brock is a catcher with wheels and a very good bat.

Lawrence Regional

Who to watch: Brady Ballinger, Kansas; Ryder Helfrick and Hunter Dietz, Arkansas

The Braves have the ninth pick, and Baseball America like Ryder Helfrick at seven. Helfrick is a strong guy with pull-side power potential. The contact skills are a work in progress, but at 34 career homers and a .945 OPS the power is there.

Hunter Dietz is a massive lefty pitcher at 6-6. Dietz touches 98 MPH on the fastball and 80 MPH on the curve. Whoa. If the Braves want late first round pitching, this might be their guy. Brady Ballinger is a first baseman who came out of the JUCO ranks, but blossomed at Kansas. He has power and a great eye.

Tallahassee Regional

Who to watch: Coastal Carolina, Cam Flukey

Cameron Flukey is Baseball America’s #4. Let’s talk about him anyway. Flukey is a 6-6 righty with an excellent arsenal already. Per BA: He averaged 95 mph with his fastball and touched 98 while showing above-average riding life. Flukey did an excellent job attacking the zone with his fastball, which helped him cut his walk rate significantly. He throws two breaking balls: a mid-70s curveball with 12-to-6 shape and a mid-80s gyro slider that gets increased usage against righties. Flukey also mixes in an occasional mid-80s changeup vs. lefties. With improved command, a projectable frame and a deep four-pitch mix, Flukey profiles as a first-round talent with a chance to be one of the first arms off the board.“ Well, if you want near-ready pitching talent.

Tuscaloosa Regional

Who to watch: Justin Lebron, Alabama

Justin Lebron is a shortstop with defensive skills and power. Lebron hit 44 home runs and an a .982 OPS in the difficult SEC. BA feels that he is a plus defender.

Austin Regional

Who to watch: Carson Tinney, Ethan Mendoza, and Aiden Robbins; Texas

Aiden Robbins is an outfielder with a 1.076 OPS at Texas. He also hit over .300 in the summer leagues. Carson Tinney is a massive catcher with 40 home runs and a 1.157 OPS at Texas. He should have the skills to stick at catcher. Mendoza is an interesting late round middle infielder.

Eugene Regional

Nobody yet. Watch some old PAC rivalries though.

Starkville Regional

Who to watch: Ace Reese

Reese is a third baseman in the SEC and USA squad. He has a MLB build already and 48 homers and a 1.067 OPS to back it up. BA likes him at #11, putting him right in that Braves first round pick zone.

Athens Regional

Who to watch: Daniel Jackson, Georgia

Daniel Jackson plays catcher, but also plays elsewhere. He appeared in 45 games with 36 starts at five different positions (12-C, 10-RF, 8-DH, 4-LF, 2-1B) as a sophomore. Jackson has been thermonuclear for the Bulldogs, with 27 home runs this season alone and a .391 average.

Gee, winning for the 31st time sure was a lot easier than winning for the 30th time turned out to be. It took 11 tries to win number 30. But then the Cubs came right back and won their 31st, despite the immensely talented Paul Skenes being in their way. I love this for so many reasons. Obviously, winning is always more fun than losing. I love that there was such a dread that the team needed to win in that 11th try because it was a foregone conclusion that the 12th was going to be a loss. I love because I’d had this one in my head as soon as I saw the matchups. The May 1 Colin Rea over Skenes win in 2025 was memorable for me because I dropped my daughter off at an airport that day. I listened to the game in the car, at a McDonald’s and on the road. I knew. I knew this one wasn’t set in stone.

The Cubs had a number of hitting stars in the game, but unsurprisingly, the brightest star on this night in Pittsburgh was Ian Happ. Ian remains the most polarizing Cub I can think of. I will again say that Happ belongs in the middle of the lineup because he has unquestionably been the Cubs’ most productive hitter this season. Michael Busch was their most productive hitter in 2025, with a nod to extensive split protection. He’s been their most productive hitter in May and so I’m totally fine with him sitting in the third spot in the order. But none of that diminishes that Happ remains their most productive hitter year to date.

Happ had another huge series against an NL Central foe. That’s been the calling card of his career. He has a long history of tormenting his division mates. Ignoring the A’s, who he has only 54 plate appearances against (with a .985 OPS), his three highest OPS are against the Pirates (.953), Reds (.946) and Cardinals (.905). The Brewers have held him to .767, just a bit below his career mark of .789. Happ is best in the games that matter most during the regular season. Those games against his division foes. That’s not a bad thing.

With two singles and a homer, Ian’s OBP and SLG are both above his career averages. All of these years after Moneyball, we still have to occasionally remind people that though batting average may be underrated in the modern game, it is not mandatory for being a productive hitter. I’m going to say this for all of the remaining 105 games of the regular season and however many postseason games this team plays in. As long as Ian is on this team, he belongs in left field the overwhelming majority of the games. Everyone should get days off and fortunately this team has decent depth. But this team is best with Ian on the field. I can certainly see a path forward in 2027 that doesn’t include Ian on the Cubs, but while he’s here he should play. Also know that even those paths forward without Ian in 2027 don’t necessarily make the team better.

My other note in this game is: Once again, the high leverage situations really didn’t materialize. Without looking at exactly how Baseball Reference sets the baskets relative to leverage stats, we generally think of them as late in a close game. Myself, I think of the sixth and the seventh as medium leverage and the eighth and ninth as high leverage and then adjust upward or downward based upon the score. The Cubs briefly had a 3-0 lead, threatened to give that away before escaping 3-2. The seventh inning was arguably a high leverage situation, definitely at least medium with a one run lead. Then the Cubs scored three in the eighth and blew it open.

The Cubs have just 10 saves in 57 games. That places them in a tie for 25th in MLB, the bottom 20 percent of all teams. In that bottom 20 percent, the only other team with a winning record is the Pirates with a matching 10 saves in 57 games. The Dodgers have just three more saves, but have won close to two-thirds of their games and have the largest run differential in baseball. It’s so odd for the Cubs to so consistently not have high leverage situations.

Three Positives:

• Ian Happ. Three hits, one a two-run homer.
• Colin Rea was very sharp and kept the Cubs in this game while the offense got started. Two earned over 5.1 innings. Just four hits and three walks allowed.
• Seiya Suzuki didn’t exactly scorch the ball, but he had two singles and two runs batted in. He scored once.

Game 57, May 28: Cubs 7, Pirates 2 (31-26)

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

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Ian Happ (.337). 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, R
• Hero: Colin Rea (.196). 5.1 IP, 23 BF, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 ER, 5 K (W 5-3)
• Sidekick: Seiya Suzuki (.182). 2-5, 2 RBI, R

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.086). 1-5
• Goat: Moisés Ballesteros (-.077). 0-2
• Kid: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.071). 1-4, BB, R

WPA Play of the Game: Ian Happ hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth to extend the lead to three runs. (.201)

Pirates Play of the Game: Tyler Callihan doubled with a runner on first in the sixth, cutting the gap to one. (.148)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 56 Winner: Ian Happ received 125 of 138 votes

Game 55 Winner: Alex Bregman received 52 of 84 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

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

• Michael Busch +21
• Alex Bregman/Ian Happ +9.5
• Michael Conforto/Nico Hoerner +9
• Jameson Taillon/Phil Maton -9
• Matt Shaw -10
• Dansby Swanson -12
• Seiya Suzuki -26.5

Current Win Pace: 88.11 wins

Up Next: The first series of the year against the Cardinals (29-25). Whoever wins the series will leave town ahead of the other, probably in second place. The Cardinals have lost four straight and with a -10 run differential, there remain questions as to how good they actually are. They’ve played 24 games against teams currently under .500 (12-12) while the Cubs have only played 12 such games (6-6). Neither team is capitalizing when they get the chance.

Shōta Imanaga (4-5, 4.04, 64.2 IP) makes his 12th start of the year. He’s lost his last three, allowing 17 earned runs in 17.1 innings. The Cardinals are 6-5 against left-handed starters. As a team, the Cardinals have a 95 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. This feels like a good matchup for Shōta to get back on track.

27-year-old Andre Pallante (5-4, 3.76, 55 IP) will make his 11th start of the year for the Cardinals. He’s 2-1 over his last three while pitching very well (5 ER in 17.2 IP). He’s struck out 15 and walked only four in there. Despite being a guy who’s been around for a while, I don’t have any memory of him.

Last August 9, he started a game against the Cubs and only recorded five outs while surrendering six runs on seven hits. Michael Busch took him deep and Dansby Swanson and Carson Kelly each had a three hit day. That game was in St. Louis, so for the second straight day, the Cubs look out an opponent they beat on their own field last year.

Look for another good game and series out of Happ.

Go Cubs!

What on Earth is wrong with José Ramírez?! So far in 2026, he’s slashing .226/.343/.396 – that comes out to just a .739 OPS and a 108 wRC+. Definitely low for a hitter that’s been ~.850 OPS and ~130 wRC+ for a decade. So what’s going on? Is this the beginning of the end of José’s time as a perennial MVP candidate, or is it something else?

The first thing we want to take a look at when gauging if a hitter is on the decline is their plate discipline and contact data. Is the player still making good swing decisions, and are they making contact with the ball when they do swing? Next, we want to look at the quality of that contact. Are they impacting the ball still, and if so, at what level? Is their contact in the optimal launch angle window, or are they popping the ball up or hitting it straight into the ground? Then, we look at luck indicators. Are they finding more gloves than average with their batted balls? I’ll be the first to tell you, as someone that spends a somewhat unhealthy amount of time pouring over baseball related data, the case of 2026 José Ramírez is a complicated but interesting one.

Has José’s plate discipline declined? For the purposes of this research, I decided to compare the data from 2026 so far with two other data sets: José’s career averages, and his 2024 season (since that is arguably his best most recent season). It’s important to keep in mind that when comparing to 2024, things being just a little below that is still keeping him in the top levels of offensive production for his career, because of how good that season was. Let’s look at some numbers. The first one is Chase % (how often he’s swinging at pitches outside the zone). José has a career average Chase % of 26, and so far in 2026 it’s been 29.5. So a little higher, but if we compare to 2024 he’s actually chasing a bit less, as in that season it was 31.6. When compared to the rest of the league this season, the 29.5 rate is actually right around league average. So while that might help him some, that difference really isn’t too significant when we bring in some context. José’s BB % for his career sits right around 10, in 2024 it was 7.9, and so far in 2026? It’s 14.8. This is a massive increase and a good indicator that his patience is still very much intact, especially when combined with the low change in Chase %. The biggest reason for this is pitchers just aren’t throwing him as many strikes. The % of pitches he’s seen in the ABS zone has gone from a career % of 47.4 (47.5 in 2024) to just 45.2 so far in 2026. So actually, this is a very positive sign. It shows a significant adjustment by José in response to changed league pitching strategy toward him.

This doesn’t explain everything though. So let’s look at the contact and contact quality next. His career Contact % is 86.8. In 2024 it was 86.4, and so far in 2026 it’s 86.2. These differences are so small that it could easily just be statistical noise, but that’s a good sign. There’s no meaningful difference in the number of swings and misses he’s having, but let’s narrow it down further. The contact that matters the most is contact on pitches in the zone, as those are the ones easiest for a hitter to drive. His Z-Contact % (The % of pitches in the zone he makes contact with when swinging) for his career is 91.7, in 2024 it was 92.2, and so far in 2026 it’s 93.3. This is another good sign, and it’s an example of still elite bat to ball skill. This is where we’d now want to get into the quality of the contact. After all, hitting the ball more means very little if those batted balls are more weak grounders and pop-ups.

The best place to start for quality of contact is exit velo and bat speed. This is where we see our first really interesting data point. José has never been a bat speed demon by any means, and in fact is usually around the bottom ⅓ or so in the league. His career average is 71 mph, and he averaged 71.6 in 2024. So far in 2026, he’s down to 70.1. This is a noticeable drop, but when we look at his average exit velocity, he’s gone from a career 88.8 and 89.2 in 2024 to 90 in 2026. Since José has never been reliant on bat speed in his career, the fact that the average exit velocity has stayed consistent (and even increased) is the more important factor here.

So what gives here? So far everything has been the same or better than before, right? Basically yeah. There’s 2 more major areas we need to look at, and it’s here where I believe our answer lies. The first data point I want to bring up is launch angle. To get the numbers out of the way early, his career average Launch Angle is 18. In 2024 it was 19.6, and so far in 2026 it’s 20.6. The magnitude of this change isn’t large, but there’s an important subset of his batted balls we want to look at – pulled fly balls. Pulling fly balls is how a lot of hitters generate their home run value, and few have done it better over the last several years than José Ramírez. According to Statcast, in his career, José has pulled the ball in the air 26.6% of the time. In 2024, it was 29.8, and so far in 2026 it’s 28.7. So we’re down a little bit from 2024, but honestly still a very elite level of pulled fly balls. But if we isolate to just the pulled fly ball outcomes and look at the average exit velocity and average launch angle, we have a career average of 35 LA and 94.3 EV, in 2024 it was 34 LA, and 97.1 EV, and in 2026 so far it’s 37 LA and 93.2 EV. These numbers are a small drop, but we can combine it with new Statcast bat tracking data to see José’s attack angle on his swing has increased slightly from 12 (in 2024 and his career average) to 13 so far in 2026. We also see a small jump in the infield fly ball rate – 12.2% for his career, only 10.9% in 2024, and is back up in 2026 so far to 12.5%. It looks like he’s just slightly undercutting the ball a bit, and making less consistent flush contact. We can look at Squared-Up% (or Squared-Up Swing% on Fangraphs) and see he’s squaring the ball up less. His career mark is 29.7, it was 28.5 in 2024, and so far in 2026 it’s 25.7. This is likely a major cause of a lot of the warning track fly balls we might be seeing, or some balls that might’ve been hits staying up just a little longer and being caught. 

This brings us to our last major area we need to go over – luck. José is posting a .367 xwOBA so far in 2026. If that holds, it would be the 3rd best mark of his entire career, only falling short of 2020 and 2021. His actual wOBA though is .039 below the expected results, likely due to a few well struck balls ending up right at fielders, or maybe a few fielders making some nice running/jumping/diving catches to rob him of some hits, or even the wind knocking down a would be homerun on a cold windy day. A negative .039 xwOBA difference is pretty massive. It’s the equivalent of anywhere from a .040 to .070 OPS point drop all on its own. When you consider José’s excellent base running and ability to consistently stretch singles into doubles, he’s a player that often outperforms expected results with his outcomes, making the negative difference all the more devastating for translating into results. We can see this even more when we specifically look at the expected results on the pulled fly balls we broke down earlier. His career xwOBA on pulled fly balls sits at .560, in 2024 it was .646, and so far in 2026 it’s .557. So the batted quality of the fly balls is right at career average levels, but the results have lagged behind. The actual wOBA has been .824 for his career, .989 in 2024, but only .676 in 2026. Make no mistake – these numbers are still elite numbers all things considered, but the bad batted ball luck with the decrease in squared-up contact explains a large portion of the lower results we’re seeing.

Now that it seems we’ve isolated where the change is coming from, it brings up the question “is this correctable, or is this the beginning of the end?” Looking at the whole body of data, I would say he’s just in an unlucky stretch that’s compounded by it happening when he’s also just a little bit off with his contact. There is absolutely nothing here that screams career decline, or that he is suddenly a washed up hitter. While it certainly is possible that this could be the result of an aging hitter, the under the hood numbers suggest he’s making some of the best contact of his career, and just has nothing to show for it so far. It seems more likely he may just be a slight attack angle or timing adjustment away from being back to his reliable old self. So no need to press the panic button yet, and as we see the weather continue to heat up, I believe José will too.

The 2026 Kansas City Royals season has taken a difficult turn, and Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco are not pretending otherwise. This episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast navigates a bleak stretch of baseball with the honesty and perspective that have defined the show through the tough times.

The episode opens with the latest roster moves, including the minor-league additions of bullpen veterans Luke Jackson and Genesis Cabrera. The hosts assess what that depth actually provides for a team currently on pace for 98 losses, and whether organizational decisions at this stage of the season reflect a coherent plan or simply roster management for its own sake. The Bailey Falter start controversy, the Evan Sisk trade, and the outfield and rotation struggles all factor into a candid conversation about where this team has fallen short and why.

Road performance and diminished resilience after losses are identified as particular concerns, and Jacob and Jeremy work through what the remaining schedule realistically offers for a team that has struggled to capitalize on opportunities throughout the year.

The episode’s most expansive segment shifts to the broader baseball landscape, with a thorough breakdown of the MLB collective bargaining proposals currently on the table. Increased minimum salaries, pre-arbitration pools, spending floors, and the ongoing revenue sharing debate all get detailed treatment. The hosts examine what a proposed salary cap could mean specifically for small market teams like the Royals, and how the spending models of clubs like the Dodgers and Padres illustrate the competitive imbalance at the heart of these negotiations. It is a timely and substantive conversation that goes well beyond the typical frustration with league economics.

Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

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– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social

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As most baseball fans know by now, Major League Baseball is staring down the barrel of a work stoppage after this season. We have known that CBA negotiations would be tense for a while. After the success of the big money Dodgers, the idea of a salary cap has come up more than ever. Over the past couple days, we saw the opening proposals from the MLB and the MLBPA.

I wanted to break down the proposals, talk about how far the two sides have to go, and discuss what it means for the Nats. The great Jeff Passan actually wrote a good piece explaining the situation. It really seems like the only question is how long will the lockout last, not whether there will be a lockout.

The MLBPA and MLB have made their first proposals in what's expected to be a prolonged labor negotiation. All that's at stake is the future of baseball.

Free at ESPN: A breakdown of what all of it means, what you need to know and where everything stands. https://t.co/e0wzrJQGnb

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 29, 2026

The last time owners pushed for a salary cap was back in 1994. If you have been following the game long enough, you would know that was a disaster. A work stoppage interrupted the season, and there was no World Series in 1994. The Expos, the Nats predecessors, were rolling that year, but never got to go all the way. That was a big turning point in the downfall of that franchise.

Over 30 years later, the owners are pushing for a cap again. In their initial proposal, the owners proposed a $245.3 million cap and a $171.2 million floor. The plan would also include a redistribution of the TV revenue to make this possible. Right now, 6 teams are above that cap and 15 teams are below the floor. This would seriously change baseball forever.

MLB proposes the first salary cap since August, 1994, at $245.3 million, with a salary floor of $171.2 million.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 28, 2026

Honestly, the cap is lower than I thought it would be and the floor is higher. This proposal would really force Mark Lerner to spend money. Right now, the Nats are $77 million below the proposed floor. If something like this passes, the Nats would have to extend players, trade for larger contracts and sign free agents. As a fan of the Nats, that is fine by me.

For fans of bigger market teams and the players association, this proposal will not make them happy. Right now, the Dodgers and Mets are both $50 million over the cap. They would have to shed serious payroll and not spend any money to be compliant. That would make their fans and the players upset.

Now, we turn to the player’s proposal. They have proposed a $150 million floor, but obviously have no cap with it. The players also want to increase the minimum salary, which is an idea I can get behind. Guys like James Wood are making peanuts compared to what they deserve. Lastly, they want the CBT threshold to go from $244 million to $300 million. That last proposal just seems like a non-starter given the concerns about parity. This would allow teams like the Dodgers to spend even more.

The MLBPA made its first proposal to MLB today in collective bargaining. Among the topline issues:

– A "competitive-integrity tax" for any team that does not spend $150M
– Increase minimum salary from $780,000 to $1.5M
– Increase in base CBT threshold from $244M to $300M

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) May 27, 2026

It is clear that the two sides are very far apart. They do have some common ground, especially when it comes to revenue sharing. Both sides seem to know that there needs to be more revenue sharing for this system to work. The Dodgers TV deal can’t absolutely dwarf any other teams. That is not a viable system, and both sides know it.

So what happens if/when the lockout comes. Well, any player on the 40-man roster is pretty much out of commission. This could have some impact on what the Nats do later in the season. Yohandy Morales will be Rule-5 eligible after the season, so they have to put him on the 40-man anyway. That means his potential big league call up won’t be affected by this. 

However, for players like Seaver King and Jackson Kent, this could leave them in the minors longer than they otherwise would be. The organization is not going to want to have them on the 40-man and not play games in the minors next year. By the way, the minor leagues are not impacted by this other than the 40-man roster players. I really enjoy minor league baseball, and fans might have to lock into that, at least to start next season.

Many people have theorized that this lockout could cost us all of next season. While I think the start of next season will be delayed, I have faith that they will figure it out. Once games are missed, the pressure will amp up on both sides to get something done. It won’t be pretty, but I believe we will see Major League Baseball at some point in 2027.