Category: Baseball

At first glance, it seems like good news that the Atlanta Braves won’t have to deal with Paul Skenes once the Pittsburgh Pirates come to town since he’s going to be pitching against the Astros during the midweek series. With that being said, the pitching matchups still figure to be pretty tough for the Braves since Atlanta will likely be seeing Braxton Ashcraft for the Pirates. Before he comes to town with Pittsburgh, old friend Kevin Gausman will be returning with the Toronto Blue Jays during the midweek series.

While Atlanta’s lineup has frequently stepped up to the occasion whenever needed, this’ll still be a pretty stern test for the whole week as far as the opposing pitching is concerned. Atlanta’s offense will have to be on point this week if they want to keep this blistering run of form going in the right direction. There’s no reason to doubt them, right? Let’s get into what lies ahead for the Braves this week.

June 2-4: Toronto Blue Jays

Current Record: 29-31Projected Record (via FanGraphs):81-81

Needless to say, this is certainly not where the Blue Jays wanted to be after coming so agonizingly close in 2025 to winning the World Series for the first time since 1993. They’re a distant third place behind the Rays and the Yankees and while all isn’t lost for the Blue Jays at the moment (FanGraphs is still giving them a 43.5 percent chance of making the Postseason and the rest of the American League is pretty mediocre), I’d imagine that they would like to pull away from the rest of the pack in the AL Wild Card race sooner rather than later.

The one thing that’s been holding Toronto back has been their offense — or lack therof. As a team, the Blue Jays have produced a wRC+ of 94 so far this season, which is good for the fourth-worst mark in the American League and the seventh-worst mark in all of baseball. This isn’t to say that the Jays don’t have their fair share of dangerous hitters — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. may be struggling to find some pop in his bat right now but he’s still producing at the plate, nonetheless. Kazuma Okamoto has been bringing the pop with 12 dingers and a .205 Isolated Power number so far. Daulton Varsho has been pretty consistent and reliable and they’ve also gotten solid production out of Ernie Clement and Jesús Sánchez as well.

Outside of that, it’s been pretty tough sledding for the Blue Jays and it’s pretty clear that whatever magic tonic George Springer tapped into to produce a near-career year in 2025 has run out because he’s come crashing back down to Earth in terms of production here in 2026. Atlanta will have the top of their rotation going in this series and this feels like an opportunity for them to help keep this Blue Jays lineup quiet over the course of these three games.

With that being said, this could come down to which team has the more consistent pitching across this series. Old friend Kevin Gausman will be starting the series opener and that’ll be a tough task considering that he’s gotten off to a fantastic start to this season so far. He’s only had one start this season where he just got completely blown up, which was back in early-May when the Rays got him for seven runs (six earned) over 4.2 innings. It’s perfectly possible for this Atlanta lineup to do the same but if he keeps them quiet, it wouldn’t be a huge shock, either. Patrick Corbin is also scheduled to pitch during this season and while this would’ve been a green light for scoring a bushel of runs in the past, apparently the Blue Jays have fixed him because he’s actually been pretty solid so far. This won’t be a cakewalk at all!

Toronto’s pitching staff as a whole is sitting on an ERA- of 95 but a FIP- of 87 — that ERA- is above average but that FIP- number is top-five in all of baseball, which would suggest that they could also be vulnerable to making some mistakes in the field. They’re entering this series with a team OAA of -1 which isn’t horrible but could provide an opportunity for the Braves to take advantage of some gaffes in the field. This could be a (say it with me, now) tricky series for the Braves but it seems like a manageable one for this squad with the form that they’re in.

Tuesday, June 2 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision, Gray TV)
Wednesday, June 3 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
Thursday, June 4 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)

June 5-7: Pittsburgh Pirates

Current Record:32-28Projected Record:85-77

As I mentioned right at the beginning, there’s no Paul Skenes for this series since he’ll be pitching on Wednesday. With that being said, that is very small comfort because Braxton Ashcraft is line to start the weekend series at Cobb County and both of them have been very good to start this season for the Pirates. Ashcraft in particular has been very tough to deal with and through 12 starts, he’s keeping pace with Paul Skenes and (according to fWAR) actually outpacing him a tiny bit as well as Ashcraft has 2.0 fWAR to Skenes’ 1.9. The only knock on Ashcraft’s body of work so far is that whenever he does give up a hit, it’s usually of the Hard-Hit variety and his average exit velocity is around 90-mph. He’s not un-hittable but it’s safe to say that there will likely be some tough sledding ahead once he takes the mound.

I’m also hoping that we’ll get a Mitch Keller/Bryce Elder matchup since that would be Elder’s second “Who’s going to keep getting away with it” matchup this season after he got one over on Justin Wrobleski back at Dodger Stadium. Keller is having a pretty solid year on paper but he’s also had a handful of starts so far where he’s gotten knocked around. In fact, earlier this weekend the Minnesota Twins got him for seven runs on 10 hits over four innings. If that version of Keller shows up then the Braves could be living lavishly against him this weekend. With that being said, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff as a whole has proven to be pretty tough to deal with as they’re carrying an ERA- of 95 and a FIP- of 92 as a staff. They can get the job done and this crew definitely won’t make life easy on the Braves this weekend.

The lineup will have to find a way to produce because the Pirates can definitely hit.They’re currently seventh in all of baseball when it comes to team wRC+ (107) and they’re coming off of a month where they actually went off at the plate a bit and scored the third-most runs in all of baseball during May. They plated 148 runs (trailing just the Yankees and Nationals) and put up a wRC+ of 116 for the month. For comparison’s sake, the Braves scored 139 runs in May and put up a wRC+ of 105. Assuming that they keep it up against Houston, the Pirates offense is going to be coming into town on a bit of a heater.

Brandon Lowe has hit the ground running with the Pirates, Bryan Reynolds is Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz appears to be primed for a big bounce-back season and Spencer Horowitz is looking right at a potential breakout season, himself. They did lose Konnor Griffin to the IL but they got Ryan O’Hearn back as a corresponding move, so there won’t be too much of a dropoff when it comes to the level of production. It’s a lineup full of tough outs and they’ve also finally started to move away from former Braves player Marcell Ozuna as their DH as he has been absolutely scuffling in his new surroundings. Despite that, the Pirates are mashing the ball and Atlanta’s pitching staff will need to be on top of things if they want to keep the Buccos quiet once this weekend’s series rolls around.

Friday, June 5 at 7:15 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
Saturday, June 6 at 4:10 p.m. ET (BravesVision)
Sunday, June 7 at 1:35 p.m. ET (BravesVision)

Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with two months completed, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.

First Place: Cleveland Guardians (34-27)

Top Position Player: Brayan Rocchio (1.9 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Parker Messick  (1.8 fWAR)

Coming into May, the Guardians sat at an even .500 but still found themselves atop the AL Central. A strong month allowed Cleveland to create a little wiggle room between them and the even mark. Their run differential now also sits in positive territory, if only barely at a +1. That said, this still looks more like a division winner by default than a powerhouse. The Guardians continue to rely on strong pitching and timely contributions at the plate, which has been their formula for most of recent memory.

Offensively, Cleveland has largely treaded water, currently ranking 18th in MLB in runs scored. As expected, José Ramírez remains the engine that makes everything go, but shortstop Brayan Rocchio has emerged as the club’s most pleasant surprise. Now in his fourth season, Rocchio is on pace for the best year of his career with a .779 OPS and four home runs. Much of that success can be traced to improved plate discipline, as he has cut his strikeout rate significantly and needs just one more home run to match last season’s total with less than half the games played.

Part of Cleveland’s May surge may also be tied to the arrival of Travis Bazzana. The second baseman enjoyed an impressive first full month in the majors, slashing .327/.416/.500 with three home runs and eight stolen bases. With Steven Kwan and Kyle Manzardo both struggling to produce consistently, Bazzana has helped add much-needed length and athleticism to the lineup.

As fans have come to expect, however, the pitching remains the driving force behind Cleveland’s success. The Guardians rank among the top 10 teams in ERA and the top five in strikeouts per nine innings. Starters Parker Messick and Gavin Williams have led the way. Messick owns a 6-1 record and a 2.24 ERA, while Williams has gone 8-3 with a 3.07 ERA. The bullpen is rounding into form as well, with right-handers Cade Smith and Colin Holderman joining left-hander Erik Sabrowski as trusted late-inning options for manager Stephen Vogt.

Second Place: Chicago White Sox (32-27)

Top Position Player: Colson Montgomery (2.3 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Davis Martin (2.5 fWAR)

Other than Cam Schlittler’s emergence, there may not be a better story in baseball this season than Munetaka Murakami and the White Sox. After years spent buried in the cellar, Chicago has emerged as a young and surprisingly spicy club capable of winning on any given night. The good vibes took a blow with an injury to Murakami but calling up prospect Jacob Gonzalez helps.

The Southsiders were led in May by their three big bats: Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and Colson Montgomery who have the club within one game of the division lead. They may not wow anyone with their batting averages, but they can certainly hit the ball out of the park. The trio has already combined for 48 home runs this season.

On the mound, the White Sox appear to have an ace emerging in Davis Martin. If nothing else, the Texas Tech product is already having a career year. The right-hander is 8-1 with a 2.00 ERA through 11 starts this season. Those eight victories already represent a new career high for the fourth-year pitcher. However, as a unit Chicago’s pitching staff remains a work in progress. The White Sox end May ranked 22nd in baseball with a 4.36 ERA and 25th in walks allowed per nine innings at 3.89.

Third Place: Minnesota Twins (27-33)

Top Position Player: Byron Buxton (2.1 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Joe Ryan (2.1 fWAR)

The Twins end May occupying familiar territory: close enough to .500 to remain relevant, but not quite good enough to inspire much confidence. Minnesota has avoided the complete collapse many predicted after last year’s roster turnover, yet they have struggled to establish any real momentum.

Offensively, Minnesota ranks among the top 10 teams in baseball in runs scored, thanks largely to the brilliance of Byron Buxton. The veteran center fielder has been on an absolute tear this season and was especially dangerous in May, slashing .273/.349/.688 with a 1.037 OPS. Buxton already has 17 home runs on the season and when healthy is one of the best hitters in the majors. Unfortunately for the Twins, the good fortune surrounding Buxton’s health appears it might come at the sacrifice of catcher Ryan Jeffers. Jeffers underwent hamate surgery in mid-May and is expected to miss at least another month.

While the offense has done its part, the pitching staff has been a different story. Minnesota enters June in the bottom third of baseball with a 4.47 ERA and a modest 7.99 strikeouts per nine innings. After a rocky April, Joe Ryan rebounded nicely in May, holding opponents to a .163 batting average and allowing just five earned runs across five starts. However, much like the offense, the Twins also had to navigate an injury scare with one of their key contributors. Taj Bradley missed most of May with pectoral inflammation before returning to the rotation at the end of the month.

The biggest issue, however, is the bullpen. To put it kindly, relief pitching has been a major problem for Minnesota throughout the first two months of the season. Manager Derek Shelton is still searching for answers once he takes the ball from his starters.

Fourth Place: Kansas City Royals (22-37)

Top Position Player: Bobby Witt Jr. (3.4 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Seth Lugo (1.7 fWAR)

With the Yankees’ recent trip to Kansas City still fresh in everyone’s mind, it may come as a surprise to see the Royals sitting near, but not at, the bottom of the division. The Royals entered 2026 expecting to contend. Instead, they have become one of baseball’s biggest disappointments, only spared that title by the team currently sitting below them in the standings.

At the plate, the Royals have largely become a one-man show. That man, of course, is Bobby Witt Jr. The superstar shortstop is putting together another MVP-caliber campaign, slashing .286/.350/.474 with nine home runs while continuing to provide excellent defense at shortstop. Salvador Perez has also launched nine home runs this season, but the veteran catcher has struggled overall. At 36 years old it appears Father Time may finally be catching up to the former perennial All-Star.

Michael Wacha has continued his impressive season on the mound, posting a 2-0 record and a 2.18 ERA during May. Wacha also looked sharp against the Yankees on May 25th, tossing seven innings while allowing just two runs. Unfortunately for Kansas City, the rest of the rotation, outside of Seth Lugo, has not held up its end of the bargain. The Royals rank 24th in baseball with a 4.51 ERA.

The Royals bullpen could become an area of interest as the trade deadline approaches. Right-handers John Schreiber and Daniel Lynch IV have both put together strong seasons. Schreiber owns a 2.86 ERA, while Lynch has posted a 1.93 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Both worked scoreless innings against the Yankees during a series in which New York scored 26 runs over three games.

Last Place: Detroit Tigers (22-38)

Top Position Player: Kevin McGonigle (2.2 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Casey Mize (1.7 fWAR)

The Tigers entered May tied for the division lead at 16-16 and seemingly positioned to challenge Cleveland throughout the summer. It was not quite the start Detroit envisioned, but a club many picked to represent the American League in October still looked very much alive. Then everything unraveled.

The loss of ace Tarik Skubal on May 4th sent Detroit spiraling from contender to the bottom of the weakest division in baseball following a disastrous 6-19 month. Along the way, the Tigers watched their run differential swing from plus-nine to minus-39 as nearly everything that could go wrong did.

The problems have shown up on both sides of the ball. Detroit enters June ranked 28th in baseball in runs scored while sitting squarely in the middle of the pack with a 15th-place team ERA. The Tigers also grade out as a bottom-third defensive club, making it difficult to overcome their shortcomings elsewhere.

The silver lining for Tigers fans, if there is one, is that the AL Central remains remarkably forgiving and a run at the end took the division last season. Top prospect Kevin McGonigle has also looked more than capable in his debut, giving the organization a glimpse of a brighter future. However, luckily for the rest of the league, Detroit increasingly looks like a team whose hopeful season has already slipped away.

The Tanner Scott redemption story took a dark, twisted turn Saturday night.

Not because the Dodgers reliever gave up three runs in the eighth inning to the Philadelphia Phillies, blowing a save opportunity and getting tagged with his first loss of the season. Getting knocked around happens.

But comments directed toward Scott’s wife on social media afterward were beyond alarming. Maddie Scott reposted vile comments from one user in particular that threatened not only her and her husband, but also their newborn son.

“When did it stop being a game?” Maddie Scott wrote on an Instagram story that has expired but was captured by the New York Post. “I don’t speak out often. Ever actually. I promise you, you don’t know what it’s like unless you’re living it.”

Read more:Plaschke: Ryan Ward becomes an unlikely star in memorable Dodger Stadium debut

The answer to her rhetorical question is layered. Maybe baseball stopped being a game when her husband signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers before the 2025 season, elevating expectations.

Maybe the end came seven years ago when a Supreme Court ruling led to sports gambling becoming legal. Or maybe fun and games ceased some 20 years ago when Facebook, Twitter and Instagram launched and anonymous threats could be dispatched by anyone with an account.

Death threats directed toward athletes have become disturbingly frequent. Without giving oxygen to the threats by repeating them, Scott is hardly the first pitcher whose family has been targeted after a loss.

Liam Hendriks of the Boston Red Sox, Lance McCullers Jr. of the Houston Astros, Tayler Saucedo of the Seattle Mariners and Cam Schlittler of the New York Yankees are among those who have endured online attacks in the past year.

Scott took heat last year when he pitched poorly in his first season with the Dodgers. Expected to become the team’s closer, the left-hander had an MLB-high 10 blown saves and did not pitch in the postseason.

This year, however, Scott has bounced back admirably. Even after the loss Saturday, he has a sparkling 2.19 earned-run average and five saves.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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The Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants begin a four-game set tonight, with San Francisco looking to build on Sunday's offensive explosion.

However, my Giants vs. Brewers predictions are targeting Milwaukee's pitching to dominate the series opener amid their impressive form. 

Find out more in my MLB picks for Monday, June 1. 

Who will win Giants vs Brewers today: Brewers moneyline (-140)

The Milwaukee Brewers turn to Shane Drohan, who owns a 2.63 ERA this season, and posted a 2.05 FIP in May. While he's expected to work only a few innings, Milwaukee can comfortably turn the game over to one of baseball's best bullpens. 

The Brewers' relievers have allowed just a 6% barrel rate this season and enter Monday's contest rested after only two bullpen arms were used on Sunday.

The San Francisco Giants don't have the same luxury. The Giants' bullpen owns a 4.88 xERA and 5.40 xFIP over the last week, while Landen Roupp rarely works deep into games.

Milwaukee's bullpen advantage should prove decisive. I'd play this pick up to -155.

COVERS INTEL: Milwaukee's bullpen has held opponents to a .245 BABIP over the last seven days.

Giants vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-120)

My secondary lean is the Under. While the Giants exploded for 19 runs against Colorado on Sunday, that outburst heavily inflates their recent offensive numbers.

Milwaukee's pitching situation remains strong, with Drohan expected to cover the opening innings before handing the ball over to one of baseball's best bullpens.

Roupp has also held his own recently, posting a 2.71 FIP across his last two starts. With Milwaukee's elite relief corps entering rested and San Francisco's offensive form potentially overstated, this game could be lower-scoring than expected.

I'll play this to -130. 

Giants vs Brewers odds

• Moneyline: Giants +133  | Brewers -138
• Run line: Giants +1.5 (-163) | Brewers -1.5 (+156)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+108)  | Under 7.5 (-113)

Giants vs Brewers trend

The Giants have hit the team total Under in 26 of their last 40 away games (+10.15 Units / 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Brewers.

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The 2026 Kansas City Royals are an indisputably bad baseball team. On pace for an eye-watering 102 losses, they have one of the worst bullpens and one of the worst offenses in baseball. They run into a bunch of outs on the bases. They have lost 16 out of their last 19 games one month after losing 11 of 13. This isn’t just a good team playing poorly. We crossed that Rubicon a long time ago.

The big question: why? Why is the team bad, especially when lots of people thought that the Royals would be competitive – maybe even a playoff team – this year? Well, after such a protracted string of losing, general manager J.J. Picollo finally talked to MLB.com about all the losing. And wouldn’t you know it, but no one’s at fault here. Everyone’s doing great. According to Picollo, the front office accomplished their goals in the offseason.

“We felt like there’s a core here that we could rely on for offense,” Picollo said. “Surrounding them with a deeper, better group and more balanced group was the goal. I think we did that.” 

Oh, and it’s not the coaching staff at fault either, either. They’re doing a great job, and besides, changing staff in the middle of the year doesn’t do anything, silly. 

“I have a lot of confidence in our staff,” Picollo said. “You can go back and look at all the historical research on changing coaching staffs. There’s not a lot of strong data on changing coaching staffs mid-season leading to what you need to do. It appeases the fanbase because you’ve made a change, but we have to be logical in our thinking.” 

We’ve already established that the front office did a great job assembling the team, so player quality isn’t the issue here. What about player attitude and teamwork and camaraderie? The good news is that’s not a problem, either.

“Is the work getting done?” Picollo said. “Are the [coaches’] conversations productive with the players? Are they still eager to get to the ballpark and learn and work and play? Are they motivated? Right now, all of my observations are: Yes, they are. If anything, they’re saying, ‘I’ve got to be more accountable, I’ve got to be better. I’m the one not executing.’” 

At this point, we’re getting pretty thin on reasons why the Royals are on a 102-loss pace in June. According to Picollo, it’s not the front office, it’s not the coaches, and it’s not the players. No one is responsible for the state of Royals baseball right now. So if no one is responsible, something else must be at fault. And I fear we are going to hear more and more excuses about this being an injury-bit season, especially after Maikel Garcia’s hamstring injury from Saturday’s game. 

It is true that the Royals have had their fair share of injuries this season. Closer Carlos Estévez pitched one game this year and has been sidelined with injuries since. Second baseman Jonathan India had season-ending shoulder surgery at the end of April. Starting pitcher Cole Ragans first went on the injured list in early May and had a setback during rehab. Fellow starting pitcher Kris Bubic went on the injured list in mid-May, too. Newly acquired reliever Matt Strahm hit the injured list in mid-May, as did Nick Mears a few days ago. And though we don’t know how long Garcia could be out, hamstring injuries are fickle and he could be out anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. 

But I don’t buy this excuse and you shouldn’t either, even though I’m sure the team will use it for why they’re selling at the trade deadline and at the end of the year when the Royals finalize a 90-something loss season. 

The main reason is that the Royals have had objectively fewer injuries compared to other teams. Spotrac keeps a list of total players, total days, and cash total per days missed for the injured list by team. Kansas City ranks 20th in total players on the IL (10, median of 14), 20th in total days missed on the IL (392, median of 518) and 19th in cash total per days missed ($8.49 million, median of $11.1 million). 

And the other reason is that most of the guys who have landed on the injured list are players who the Royals should have expected not to stay healthy all year. Estevez is 33 and his fastball velo has been declining since 2022. Strahm is 34 and his fastball velo has also been declining since 2022. India’s shoulder injury was well known to the club, and he’s only averaged 131 games played per year prior to this season. Ragans only made 13 starts last year. Bubic only made 20 starts last year. 

Are injuries a factor to this season? Yes they are. But the Royals don’t play in a vacuum; they are playing other teams who are also dealing with injuries, and most other teams have had more injuries. But the Royals have backed themselves into a corner here with answering the core question of why they’re bad. According to Picollo, the Royals may have the second worst record in all of baseball despite a solid roster, good coaching, and prepared players. It doesn’t add up.    

The Atlanta Braves are off to one of their hottest starts in franchise history and with no shortage of reasons for this early success.

Atlanta’s pitching staff weathered injury storms while a resurgent offense is once again among the best in Major League Baseball after a pair of challenging seasons in the run-scoring department.

While marquee players like Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, and Michael Harris II have thrived over the first two months, a significant portion of the lineup’s overall success owes to roster construction and versatility – two areas that plagued the club in recent years.

No player better exemplifies those qualities than Mauricio Dubón.

“He’s really been a huge part of this early success,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said.

As Atlanta won 40 of its first 60 games, Dubón drew starts at five different defensive positions, serving primarily as Atlanta’s starting shortstop over the first six weeks while Ha-Seong Kim recovered from an offseason hand injury.

Acquired from the Houston Astros in exchange for slick-fielding but light-hitting shortstop Nick Allen over the winter, Dubón quickly established himself as an essential member of his new team and one of general manager Alex Anthopoulos’ savviest moves.

Dubón, who turns 32 in July, was already known for his excellent fielding, having won a pair of gold gloves at the more recently established utility position, a category introduced in 2022.

“I always told my wife that if I can just play one position, I know I can win a gold glove,” Dubón said. “Then Rawlings came up with the utility gold glove, and I ended up winning two of those. It’s something that I take pride in. For me, it’s always just trying to help the team win.”

Dubón’s knack for chipping in at the plate has also impressed the Braves over the first two months.

Though his season slash line of .250/.307/.370 may not jump off the stat sheet, Dubón has been at his best with runners in scoring position. He is batting .327 with a .920 OPS and 27 RBIs in those 54 plate appearances and quickly established himself as one of the team’s best clutch hitters.

Having a versatile player to plug in anywhere is a weapon that makes Weiss’ job that much easier. In addition to playing multiple defensive positions, Dubón has also started at least one game in every spot in the batting order except for third already this season.

“He just keeps performing regardless of where he’s at,” Weiss said. “That’s not easy to do. There’s a really short list of guys that can do what he does – a guy that can play major-league caliber, really gold-glove defense at shortstop, and then go do the same in center field or left field.”

In his career, Dubón has appeared in at least 20 games at every defensive position except for catcher, the one spot he has yet to see action. He’s played outfield the most, with 365 games, followed by 214 at second base, 137 at shortstop, 53 at third base, and 26 games at first base.

Though most players typically like to have a single position to call home, Dubón has moved around to great effect in his eight-year career with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and now with Atlanta. He has come to realize that the ability to play anywhere makes him one of the most valuable players on any team he suits up for.

“Early in my career, people told me that it has value, then the arbitration process comes and it shows that it doesn’t,” Dubón joked about his defensive versatility. “Then little by little you start playing, winning games and meaningful baseball, (and) it does matter. It’s something that I’m proud of. It’s pretty cool being one of the unique guys in the league that is able to do that.”

Building a well-rounded roster has opened more than a few doors for the 2026 Braves, giving Weiss plenty of levers to pull throughout the game. It is one of the many reasons the club has authored 20 come-from-behind wins, the most in MLB this season.

Dubón was picked up over the winter, the first of a series of moves to create a capable group of reserves. Atlanta then signed veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal with the aim of improving a position group which was among the least productive in baseball a year ago.

Other newcomers include infielder Jorge Mateo, who is swinging the bat well and can play multiple positions while providing elite speed off the bench, as well as spring-signing Dominic Smith, who quickly showcased his value at the plate in the designated hitter spot.

Adding all of that up, the Braves are sitting on one of the best reserve pools since the days of Martin Prado, Omar Infante, Eric Hinske and the like from about a decade and a half ago.

Though Kim is back from injury and back in the fold at shortstop, his slow start at the plate continues to create opportunities for at-bats for Mateo. Dubón, meanwhile, has played more outfield with Harris and Ronald Acuña Jr. each hobbled by leg injuries at different times – and with Jurickson Profar unavailable thanks to a 162-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, his second in as many years.

Weiss has done a fine job of finding opportunities to let his reserve and role players contribute this season. Unlike some of the others, Dubón isn’t as dependent on matchups and platoon splits because he can provide great defense wherever he plays. That along with his penchant for being involved in rallies will lead Weiss to be creative about keeping his super-utility guy in the mix somewhere.

“I’d imagine looking down the road that he’ll bounce around a little bit more, because I want to keep him involved,” Weiss said. “He’s a plus defender all over the field and there aren’t guys out there like that. And he’s gotten huge hits for us, clutch hits. Seems like every time he comes up in a big spot, he comes through.”

Beyond the tangible impact he is having on the Braves, the bilingual Dubón also comes highly regarded as a quality teammate and competitor – a player who helps keep the entire club connected. Those “glue guys” as they are known in the game are critical pieces of a winning team.

“It’s high energy every day,” Weiss said of what Dubón brings. “He’s very well-liked in there and language is never a barrier with him. He connects with all the groups, and that’s important. I talk about winning players and he’s certainly that. He’s got the winning pedigree. He was a big part of a championship team in Houston. I’ve said this before, but that goes a long way with me. He’s been a great addition.”

Dubón, who won the 2022 World Series with the Astros is a big proponent of the team culture the Braves have established and believes that an unselfish kind of baseball can pay serious dividends over the course of a long season.

“I think everybody knows each other and we’re playing for each other,” Dubón said. “We have fun going out there and that’s the biggest thing. Everybody gets along and everybody goes out there and is having fun right now. Everybody is pulling for each other. If one guy doesn’t do it, the other guy will… At the end of the day, we want to win, and we want to win a World Series. I think the biggest thing is trying to help each other out.”

Tacoma Rainiers

The Rainiers are in the midst of a major slide, dropping all six of their games this week after winning just one the week prior. Having now dropped eleven games under .500, Tacoma will have to bounce back in the second half if they hope to get a seat in the playoffs this fall.

After missing most all of the season thus far, Miles Mastrobuoni has officially returned to game action and has been rehabbing with the Rainiers this week. Though it’s unclear at the immediate moment if he’s a candidate to earn his way back on to the big league roster immediately following his rehab stint, because he is out of minor league options, the M’s brass will have to make a decision on whether they want to keep Mastrobuoni in the organization. Perhaps his positional versatility is preferable to Patrick Wisdom’s one-dimensional bat-first profile, but already with a glut of lefties, it’s possible the team will prioritize the handedness advantage Wisdom carries for this roster. It’s a storyline to monitor with big league ramifications.

A popular name amongst writers of the site, utility man Brock Rodden hit the IL this week with a hamstring injury. It sounds as though it’s relatively minor and he’ll be out for just a week or two, but already shorthanded offensively, the Rainiers will have to muster up some additional production at the plate if they hope to stop this skid they’ve been on the past two weeks.

Arkansas Travelers

The Travs dealt with some weather problems this week and only managed to squeeze in five of the six games this series, but with some truly dynamic pitching performances from the rotation’s top stars, the two wins they did manage to lock down were must-see TV. Tulsa’s six game win streak has knocked the Travs down to second place in the standings, but just a game and a half back, Arkansas is well positioned to reclaim their spot atop the division and clinch the first half title.

Turning in his best start as a professional, Ryan Sloan worked six perfect innings against Frisco and tallied eleven punchouts, dominating opposing hitters from the very first pitch. The young righthander has been dialed in over his last four starts and features a sub-two ERA across those outings, commanding the zone beautifully and striking out a healthy amount of hitters. Having turned 20 in January of this year, Sloan’s age-adjusted success at Double-A is rather remarkable and makes him one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball; if his past month is any indication of what’s to come, Sloan could easily pitch his way into the conversation of being a top-ten prospect leaguewide.

Rotationmate Kade Anderson was his usual self on Friday night, working five and a third innings of two-hit baseball. Anderson punched nine tickets on the afternoon and did not surrender any free passes, pushing his K:BB ratio up to a gaudy 67:7 mark for the season. Anderson is arguably the top lefthanded pitching prospect in baseball, and having the one-two punch of he and Sloan puts the Mariners in rarified air with regard to their minor league pitching talent. Most organizations would bend over backwards for one player of their caliber; having two elite pitching prospects waiting in Double-A after promoting an elite 20-year-old shortstop is bordering on an embarrassment of riches, and M’s fans should be incredibly optimistic about the future of this ballclub.

Everett AquaSox

Everett dropped the series four games to two this week, unable to muster up enough offense to best the lowly hops. Everett’s star studded lineup has been central to their success this season, but the usual suspects responsible for the production struggled to find their footing. Hopefully a return to form is in the cards for their upcoming series against a league-leading Eugene squad.

Slugging catcher Josh Caron has been torching the ball recently. Launching three homers in five games this week, Caron finished May with an even .900 OPS on the month and has raised his season mark to .866. Caron’s aggressive approach at the plate has led to him striking out far more than you’d hope to see at the Hi-A level, but if he’s able to maintain this level of pop on his ascent through the minor leagues, his positional value and albeit one-dimensional production might just be enough to get him to the majors in a backup role. It seems likely he’ll finish the season in Everett, but perhaps the M’s prefer to challenge the young backstop with an aggressive promotion to Double-A this summer.

Having officially taken to his new role of backend reliever, Christian Little has been superb for the Frogs this season, and it looks as though a promotion to Double-A is in his not so distant future. Laying claim to a 0.90 ERA on the year, Little worked four clean innings across two outings this week and got the Frogs out of some big spots. A hard-throwing righthander, Little is striking out 35.1% of the batters he’s facing and walking 11.4%, good for a 3.08 FIP. Having already lost Brock Moore to promotion, it seems likely the AquaSox will be losing yet another reliever to the Texas League in the coming weeks.

Inland Empire 66ers

The 66ers only managed to snag a single win this week, dropping the series convincingly to an excellent Lake Elsinore team. It’s been tough sledding for the 66ers in their first year as a Mariner affiliate, and though there have been some breakout performers mixed throughout the roster, it’s largely been a disappointing season. 

Teddy McGraw is back on the mound! Joining the 66ers on his minor league rehab assignment, McGraw logged two clean outings this week as he builds his body back up. McGraw has an extensive injury history and will certainly be handled with an abundance of caution, but when he’s been on the mound, there are very few pitchers in this system that can match his raw ability. Hopefully a move to the bullpen is able to keep him healthy with some more frequency.

Mason Peters continued his dominant 2026 season against the Storm, starting the lone win on the week for the 66ers. Working 3.2 innings and fanning six, Peters lowered his ERA to 1.56 and showed off his dynamic array of offerings all afternoon. His splitter was a true weapon for him and gives him an ideal pairing for his wide assortment of breaking balls. Everett is a tough place to pitch, but considering his level of dominance in the California League, it seems like a promotion is more than justified for the young lefthander.

ACL Mariners

Shortstop Nick Becker launched his first homer of the season this week and raised his OPS up to .846 across his first 20 games. Becker pairs a highly projectable frame with game-changing speed and sits second in the ACL with a flawless 15 bags thus far. Becker’s swing is a bit stiff and probably needs a bit of fine tuning to be fully maximized, but given his immense tools and young age, he remains one of the more tantalizing talents present in this system.

MONDAY

Nolan McLean became the first Met to allow 16+ runs in a two-start span since Jerad Eickhoff in July 2021.

TUESDAY

Juan Soto hit his fourth home run on a pitch at 97+ mph, giving him the most in MLB this season. (source: Sarah Langs / MLB)

David Peterson became the first Met to surrender 11+ hits in a game since Luis Severino against the Brewers during his first start as a Met on March 30, 2024.

WEDNESDAY

Eric Wagaman notched his first Met hit by blasting one of only six Mets home runs at 110+ mph and 415+ ft this season, joining one from Mark Vientos, one from Brett Baty, one from Ronny Mauricio, and a pair from Juan Soto.

FRIDAY

The Mets earned their seventh extra-inning win of the season in just their 57th game. The 1971 Mets are the only team in franchise history to record more extra-inning wins (9) through their first 57 games.

MJ Melendez became the first Met pinch-hitter to hit a walk-off home run since Jesse Winker against the Orioles on August 21, 2024. 

Mark Vientos hit his 61st career home run before turning 27 years old, moving him into a tie for 13th place among Mets leaders before their 27th birthday. The man he tied? Lee Mazzilli, who was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame Saturday afternoon. Vientos doesn’t turn 27 until December, so he’s currently on pace to reach 8th place on that list by the season’s end.

The Mets scored four runs in the first inning, making it their second-biggest first inning of the year behind…well, their literal first inning of the year on Opening Day against Paul Skenes and the Pirates, in which they scored five runs.

SATURDAY

Christian Scott earned his first major league win in his 16th career start. No other pitcher in franchise history had gone more than 12 starts without a win, and no pitcher in baseball had gone their first 15 starts without a win since Liam Hendriks in 2011-12. Hendriks finally got a win in his 18th big league start.

Carson Benge recorded his fifth three-hit game in just his 55th career game. Only one Mets left-handed hitter recorded more three-hit games within their first 55 career games: Jeff McNeil, who had 7. TJ Rumfield is the only other rookie this year to have accomplished the feat, with one of his five three-hit games coming at Coors Field against the Mets on May 6. (If you’re curious, the modern era record belongs to Joe DiMaggio, who recorded three hits in 12 of his first 55 games.)

SUNDAY

Carson Benge became the fourth Met to hit a leadoff homer this season along with Francisco Lindor, Bo Bichette, and Juan Soto. It’s the first time the Mets have had four different players hit a leadoff homer since 2004, when Kaz Matsui hit five and Eric Valent, Jeff Keppinger, and Mike Cameron each hit one.

The Mets also became just the third team to have four different players hit a leadoff home run before their 60th game, joining the 2025 Yankees and the 2007 Rays. (source: Sarah Langs / MLB)

Juan Soto hit the Mets’ first grand slam of the season, and their first since he took Charlie Morton deep in Detroit on September 1, 2025.

Soto became the 14th Met to record nine home runs in a 15-game span, joining: Frank Thomas, Tommie Agee, Lee Mazzilli, Gary Carter, Darryl Strawberry, Jeff Kent, Robin Ventura, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltrán, Lucas Duda, Yoenis Céspedes, Pete Alonso, and most recently, DJ Stewart.

The Mets swept the Marlins for the first time since July 29-31, 2022. It was the first time they swept the Marlins at Citi Field since a four-game sweep on August 5-7, 2019.

Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:

The Mets are 13-11 on days when the Knicks are playing in the NBA Finals.

Red Sox prospect update: Franklin Arias hype train is still rolling originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Do the Boston Red Sox have their shortstop of the future in top prospect Franklin Arias?

If that question prompted an eye roll, we understand. We asked the same question when Marcelo Mayer was in Boston’s farm system, and the No. 4 overall draft pick hasn’t yet lived up to his lofty expectations in the majors. While Mayer has been an outstanding defender wherever he’s been asked to play on the infield, his bat has been a disappointment.

There’s reason to believe Arias will be different. Throughout his minor-league career, Mayer never had the numbers that Arias is putting up this season. Left-handers have always given Mayer trouble, but Arias has hit well against both lefties and righties.

It shouldn’t be long before Arias is promoted to Triple-A, and we shouldn’t rule out a potential MLB debut later this year. Here’s a closer look at how he and the rest of the Red Sox’ top 10 prospects (via SoxProspects.com) have fared so far in 2026:

1. Payton Tolle, LHP

2026 stats: 2-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, 4 BB, 19 SO (three starts at Triple-A Worcester); 2-2, 2.61 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 11 BB, 46 SO (seven starts for Boston)

Tolle has been excellent so far in his second stint with the big-league club. The 23-year-old has been one of Boston’s most consistent arms since being called back up last month, so it shouldn’t be long before he graduates from these prospect rankings and becomes a mainstay in the rotation.

As good as Tolle has looked, he’ll be even better once he takes the next step with his off-speed stuff. He threw 54 four-seam fastballs, 26 sinkers, and 11 cutters with only two curveballs and one changeup during his most recent start vs. the Atlanta Braves.

The sky is the limit for Tolle if he can start getting hitters off balance with his secondary pitches.

2. Franklin Arias, SS

2026 stats: .331/.402/.624, 12 HR, 31 RBI, 15 BB, 22 SO (41 games at Double-A Portland)

MLB ETA: Late 2026

Franklin Arias has done nothing but rake this year in Portland. The 20-year-old wasn’t known for his pop before this season, but he has already set a new career high with 12 homers while keeping his OPS above 1.000.

MLB prospect evaluators have taken notice, including Keith Law of The Athletic. Law put Arias at No. 3 in his top 50 MLB prospects list.

While it’s Arias’ power that has helped him earn national recognition, his plate discipline remains elite. He’s struck out only 22 times with 15 walks in 179 plate appearances. In the field, he still looks like a future Gold Glove shortstop.

It probably won’t be long before Arias earns his promotion to Triple-A, and if all goes well there, we could see him debut in the majors later this year.

3. Anthony Eyanson, RHP

2026 stats: 1-0, 1.35 ERA, 0.660 WHIP, 9 BB, 50 SO (five starts at High-A Greenville; three starts at Double-A Portland)

MLB ETA: 2027

Eyanson was promoted to Double-A Portland after dominating in his five starts at High-A Greenville. The 2025 third-round pick out of LSU has stayed sharp with the Sea Dogs to earn the No. 21 spot in Law’s top 50 prospects list.

Eyanson, 21, is rising through the minor league ranks even quicker than Tolle did in 2025. He also has a more complete arsenal than Tolle with a high-90s fastball, a wipeout slider, a killer 12-6 curveball, and a splitter he has utilized more recently and found success with.

If he continues to perform at this level, Eyanson could get the Tolle treatment and join the MLB club sometime in the second half.

4. Kyson Witherspoon, RHP

2026 stats: 0-3, 5.55 ERA, 1.542 WHIP, 21 BB, 36 SO (nine starts at High-A Greenville)

MLB ETA: 2027

Witherspoon’s first professional season probably hasn’t gone the way that he hoped. The first-round pick out of Oklahoma has struggled with his command through his first nine starts at Single-A, though it appears he’s turning a corner.

Over his last two starts, Witherspoon has allowed just one earned run across 9.1 innings pitched. He struck out 10 hitters in that span, including a six-K performance with 19 whiffs on May 24:

Witherspoon still has the ceiling of a future top-of-the-rotation arm. If he builds off his last two starts and improves his command, that All-Star potential should be on display throughout the second half of his season.

5. Marcus Phillips, RHP

2026 stats: 0-3, 9.00 ERA, 1.958 WHIP, 20 BB, 29 SO (Eight appearances, seven starts at High-A Greenville)

MLB ETA: 2028

Like Witherspoon, Phillips has struggled with his command and has yet to showcase his potential in the pros. The 33rd pick in the 2025 draft has walked an alarming 7.5 batters per nine innings this season. He had control issues while at Tennessee as well, so this isn’t totally surprising.

Phillips is a physical specimen at 6-foot-4, 250 pounds. He has impressive stuff, including a high-90s fastball and a wipeout slider that generates plenty of whiffs. There’s a lot to be excited about with the 21-year-old despite his less-than-ideal start.

6. Jake Bennett, LHP

2026 stats: 3-2, 1.83 ERA, 1.049 WHIP, 6 BB, 37 SO (Eight starts at Triple-A Worcester); 1-1, 4.35 ERA, 1.452 WHIP, 4 BB, 4 SO (Two starts for Boston)

Bennett made his big-league debut on May 1, allowing just one run over five solid innings against the Houston Astros. His second outing didn’t go as well, as he let up four runs in 5.1 IP.

Still, Bennett proved that he’s a more-than-servicable starter when Boston’s rotation needs reinforcements. The 25-year-old’s stuff isn’t what anyone would call electric, but he has found a way to fool hitters and put up impressive numbers in Worcester:

7. Justin Gonzales, RF

2026 stats: .287/.371/.480, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 17 BB, 31 SO (40 games at High-A Greenville)

MLB ETA: 2028

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Gonzales continues to impress in Greenville. The 19-year-old has eight doubles and two triples to go with his seven homers so far this season, and he still hasn’t unlocked his full potential at the plate.

Once Gonzales learns to elevate the ball more consistently, he’s going to be a problem. At his age, with his raw power and impressive hit tool, he might be the most exciting hitter in Boston’s system. He’ll be fascinating to watch as he rises through the minor-league ranks.

8. Juan Valera, RHP

2026 stats: 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 0.857 WHIP, 4 BB, 17 SO (three starts at High-A Greenville)

MLB ETA: 2028

The 19-year-old Valera was one of Boston’s most hyped prospects heading into the season. He reached 102 mph with his fastball while posting impressive numbers across three High-A starts, but he suffered a devastating elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.

Valera had earned a spot in Baseball America’s Top 100 before his injury.

9. Dorian Soto, SS

2026 stats: .254/.315/.299, 0 HR, 5 RBI, 6 BB, 19 SO (17 games at Florida Complex League)

MLB ETA: 2029

Soto has gotten off to a slow start this season in rookie ball. While the 18-year-old Dominican has exciting upside at the plate, he tallied only two homers last year and has yet to hit one over the fence through 17 games this season.

This shouldn’t be a concern. The switch-hitting Soto remains one of Boston’s most exciting young talents, and it’s just a matter of time before he starts to put it all together.

10. Henry Godbout, SS

2026 stats: .277/.410/.492, 7 HR, 14 RBI, 22 BB, 27 SO (34 games at High-A Greenville)

Before the season, prospect expert Ian Cundall of Baseball America identified Godbout as a breakout candidate for 2026. The second-round draft pick out of Virginia has lived up to the hype.

Godbout has continued to showcase his impressive hit tool, and his power has been a positive development. The 22-year-old maxed out at nine homers with Virginia and already has seven through 34 games at High-A.

The bat-to-ball skills are already elite. If the power is here to stay, Godbout should rapidly ascend through the minors:

Another year, another tough month of May that saw the Athletics struggle and knock us down in the standings. It wasn’t as bad as last year when the team lost pretty much every game that month but it was a tough month for the Athletics regardless. Big changes are on the horizon as the team needs to wake up and slap themselves out of this slump. Will they be able to do that now that the calendar has finally flipped to June?

The upcoming changes are hoped to provide the spark that can flip things around for this team. So what do we have to look forward to this coming month of June? Some questions to ask yourself.

1. How long of a leash does Lawrence Butler have?

The right fielder signed a massive contract extension last year that guaranteed him $65 million over the next five years. At the time he was coming off an impressive second-half of the 2024 season that saw him hit .302/.346/.597 with 20 home runs over the final 73 games that year. He looked like an emerging star and the A’s locked him in before he got any more expensive. He was the second recent A to sign an extension, just a couple months after Brent Rooker got his own deal.

His first full big league season did not go smooth however. While he made it into 152 games and became the first Athletic with a 20-20 season since Coco Crisp, his rate stats fell across the board. Perhaps some of that can be attributed to injury. He dealt with what was at the time diagnosed as a patellar strain in his right knee that ended up being a partial tear, and the stats bore than out. Pre All-Star Butler was hitting .251/.326/.433 but slashed just .203/.268/.351 post-break, and general manager David Forst said he was playing through that issue over the final weeks of the season. He ended up having surgery on that knee (as well as a PRP injection in his other knee) just days after the conclusion of the season.

The hope was that him getting an early start on his rehab and recovery would give him enough time to get ramped up for this season. Instead he was held out of action for the majority of Spring Training, only making it into just four games before the start of the season. He was reportedly facing pitchers and getting at-bats behind the scenes, but that isn’t the same as game action.

The short spring may be a big reason why Butler is hitting just .164 right now. It could be he’s trying to play through an injury to one or both of his knees again, or he just didn’t have a normal offseason so things are out of whack for him right now. Either way it’s getting harder and harder to see him in the lineup on a regular basis when he looks this lost at the plate right now. At the same time it’s hard to see a guy getting paid that much money ride the bench and the staff feel the only way out of this slump is hitting his way out of it. The A’s will need to make a decision one way or another, whether that be an IL placement or asking him to spend some time in the minor leagues to get his bat right. And the A’s would be smart to get to that decision sooner rather than later.

2. What happens at third base when Max Muncy is healthy?

Since injuring his hand back on April 25th after a HBP, the former first rounder has been on the shelf recovering from a fracture. He’s slowly begun to ramp up baseball activities in recent days and has officially begun his rehab assignment. The 23-year-old went 2-for-3 with a home run and 3 RBI on Saturday as the Aviators’ DH before an 0-for-2 showing on Sunday while in the field at third base.

While he’s been out the A’s have given the bulk of the playing time at third base to Zack Gelof, who has taken advantage of his opportunity at a brand new position. The former second baseman is hitting .259/.304/.432 with six home runs and six stolen bases. Perhaps the biggest change for him is he’s not striking out nearly as much as he did the past couple years. He dropped it from 45.5% last season all the way to 24.7%, which would be a career-low for the young infielder. On top of that he’s now got some outfield experience under his belt in addition to learning third base at the big league level. It’s been a successful start to his 2026 season and the A’s would like to keep his bat in the lineup some way.

The way things stand the A’s have a few options. Since both bat right-handed they don’t form a perfect platoon at third base. They could try to continue splitting reps at the hot corner, with Gelof filling in at other positions on days he’s not at third. But that just adds another thing for these young players to deal with.

Another option would be to just give the job to one of them on a full-time basis. Small sample caveat but Gelof has been the better hitter this year between the two. Neither have provided Chapman-esque defense at third so the A’s need production with the bat out of that spot. That said, Gelof is also much more positionally versatile; Muncy has experience at second base, but Gelof has that plus outfield experience now. It wouldn’t be impossible for Mark Kotsay to find spots in the lineup for both of them on any given day, should he so choose.

And a third, perhaps more extreme option would be to make a permanent change at the keystone. Offseason addition Jeff McNeil has had his moments but is only hitting .251/.323/.335 with two home runs this year and the left-handed hitter has predictably struggled against lefties this season. And they don’t make great platoon partners either. Gelof has actually fared better against right-handed pitching in his career. In fact, Gelof is really bad against left-handed pitching, hitting just .167/.244/.257 against them in his career versus a .250/.305/.449 line against same-handed pitching. They could still try out a platoon but history doesn’t indicate that’ll work.

If the A’s are getting ready to shake things up, getting Muncy back into the fold will come at a cost to someone else on the roster. How the A’s balance and juggle playing time on the infield will be fascinating to watch.

3. Can any other young pitchers make an impact for the staff?

The A’s have already promoted one of their top pitching prospects in Gage Jump. They’re set to promote another in Kade Morris, who looks like he’ll be making his major league debut this coming week in the series finale against the Cubs. Mason Barnett has already made his big league debut and pitched for the A’s this year.

The A’s are down two of their three veterans right now, just optioned Jacob Lopez, and are more or less being pressed into giving these younger options their chances. It’s not unheard of for the A’s to get great results from their young pitching that leads them to contention, but with the big bats in the lineup slumping right now the A’s are desperate to get production out of rookies more than usual.

They’ve gotten that and then some with J.T. Ginn, who is looking like he’s breaking out in a huge way for the Athletics. But while Ginn has been a surprising arm, so has fellow righty Luis Morales but for the wrong reasons. A member of the Opening Day rotation, he is now pitching in relief in Triple-A. That’s not the outcome anyone wanted but there’s still plenty of time for him to figure things out and the A’s will almost certainly need him again before this season is through.

Behind them the depth really begins to thin. Righty Jack Perkins has starting experience but has been in a relief roll all season, and not exactly thriving in it. Barnett certainly should be an option again soon enough. We shouldn’t hold our breath for a big promotion for Jamie Arnold. After all, he only has 10 starts in Double-A and while he’s flashed his potential he’s also showing some rookie growing pains. Perhaps he could be a left-handed option out of the ‘pen if the A’s are in contention but unlikely. A more likely name is someone like Braden Nett, who is finally healthy and pitching again for the Aviators. Or perhaps a forgotten name in Luis Medina, who is looking good in the bullpen but was once considered a building block for the rotation.

If the A’s are going to turn things around they’re going to have to do it short-handed for a while while Severino and Civale are hurt. The A’s have spent years accumulating this pitching talent just for this scenario. Now it’s time to see if any of these young arms step up to the challenge in the dog days of summer.

After Babe Ruth made the No. 3 jersey famous, Bud Metheny would become the one of the last New York Yankees to wear the number before it was retired. Outside of being a fun bit of trivia, Metheny would go on to build a legacy far greater than simply being another person to wear an iconic jersey.

Arthur Beauregard “Bud” Metheny

Born: June 1, 1915 (St. Louis, MO)
Died: January 2, 2003 (Virginia Beach, VA)
Yankees Tenure: 1943-46

Metheny was born and lived in St. Louis through his childhood. His family would move to Virginia as he entered his teenage years, and it was there he would star on the baseball team at Calverton High School. Ironically enough, this move was a bit of a homecoming for Metheny as his mother’s family claimed to be descendants of Pocahontas.

After high school Metheny attended college at William & Mary. While playing for William & Mary, the Yankees signed Metheny to a contract that came with an agreement to allow him to finish his degree. Metheny earned his teaching degree in 1939 and would later earn his master’s in education in 1952. His reputation as a good person and star athlete while in college would open doors later in life as well as earn him a spot in the William & Mary Hall of Fame.

Upon graduating, Metheny headed to Kansas City to play in the American Association professional league that summer. A left-handed hitter and outfielder, Metheny impressed to the tune of a .315 average in 95 games. However, this success came at a cost as Metheny injured his knee sliding and missed two months of the season, later requiring surgery in the offseason. This injury would turn out to be the biggest blessing in disguise that Metheny could receive — though it would take some time for that to be realized.

Metheny added some weight during the recovery period from his surgery and used his extra force to have another solid season in 1940, this time for the Newark Bears of the International League. The Bears would win the Junior World Series that season. After the season ended, Metheny made an effort to shed those pounds from the last offseason and was able to lose around thirty pounds.

However, losing weight would have negative effects on the diamond. In 1941, back with Kansas City, Metheny struggled and saw his batting average drop over 60 points and only hit three home runs which dropped his slugging from .451 in 1940 to .307.

Following the worst season of his baseball life Metheny was able to turn things around in 1942. Now 27 years old and married to his college sweetheart, Frances Davis, Metheny slashed .296/.363/.460 which was good for a .823 OPS. The eighteen home runs that season launched him onto the Yankees’ radar, and they picked him up for the next season.

The 1943 season would prove to be the year that Metheny’s baseball dream would come true. Metheny played sparingly over the first two months of the season, but at the start of the summer he found himself right in the middle of the regulars playing a lot of right field as several of his teammates were selected for service in World War II. Metheny was rejected for military service due to the knee surgery he had a few years prior.

Making the most of his opportunity, Metheny played in 103 games, making 86 starts, while batting .261 with nine home runs. The Yankees would win the pennant and face the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Metheny played in two games and got one hit as the Yankees won the series in five games.

Next year would not be as kind to Metheny or the Yankees. Metheny started 128 games between right and left field but saw his average fall to .239. Although he hit a career-high 14 home runs, he also led all American League outfielders with 11 errors.

Metheny held his role heading into the 1945 season and started 126 games, this time all in right field. In his age-30 season, Metheny hit .248 with eight home runs. The Yankees finished fourth in American League, and the writing was on the wall for Metheny heading towards the 1946 season as the Yankees were set to welcome back Joe DiMaggio and others following their service time.

When the club left spring training in 1946 Metheny was with them. However, it did not last long as after three pinch-hit appearances, Metheny was sent down to the minors. He would never play at the highest level again. His final career numbers, all with the Yankees, include 344 hits, 31 home runs, and 12 stolen bases. Two years later, Ruth’s (and Metheny’s) No. 3 was worn for the last time by outfielder Cliff Mapes before the Yankees officially retired the number on June 13, 1948, his final public appearances at Yankee Stadium. The Great Bambino died two months later.

Back in the minors Metheny would spend the rest of the 1946 season through the 1950 season as a player and then a player manager. While still playing in 1947, Metheny was recruited a second time by his old college coach to a teaching and coaching position at Old Dominion University.

It was at Old Dominion that Metheny would build his legacy. Metheny coached the baseball team to a 423-363-6 record in 32 seasons at the helm. He was named the NCAA Eastern Regional Coach of the Year in 1963 and 1964, and in 1980 led the Monarchs over the University of Virginia to win the Virginia State Championship. Additionally, Metheny coached the basketball team to 16 winning seasons and a 198-163 record and served as the athletic director for a time.

After such a long career, Metheny was honored with the baseball complex named after him. This changed in 2024, but the field is still named in his memory. Additionally, Metheny was inducted into the Old Dominion University Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. The baseball team to this day still wears pinstripes at home as a nod to Metheny and his tenure with the Yankees.

When it was all said and done, Metheny was a member of the William & Mary Hall of Fame, the Old Dominion University Hall of Fame, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, and the American Association of College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. On January 2, 2003, Matheny passed away in the afternoon just a few hours after his wife of 61 years passed in the morning.

Happy birthday Bud!

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.