The Mets avoided a sweep by beating the Seattle Mariners 7-1 on Wednesday afternoon to end the Mariners' eight-game winning streak.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Seattle starter George Kirby, who had already been struggling over his last three starts, entered Wednesday’s game with an 0-2 record and an 8.49 ERA in three starts against New York. That number only went up after another rough outing for the right-hander.
-- The Mets got started with an unearned run in the top of the first inning thanks to first baseman Josh Naylor’s throwing error, following singles by Bo Bichette and Juan Soto, which allowed Bichette to score.
But the big inning for New York came in the fourth and it all started with a one-out walk to MJ Melendez. Singles by Luis Torrens and Carson Benge loaded the bases before Bichette’s single, his third hit of the game, drove in two runs.
Bichette finished 4-for-4 to bust out of an 0-for-16 slump that had been plaguing him for the last week. And although he’s still hitting just .226 with a .590 OPS, Bichette will look to use this game, his 19th career four-hit game and first with the Mets, as a jumping-off point to get his season on track.
-- Still not done in the fourth, New York, with runners at the corners, executed a double steal to perfection. Soto set things in motion when he took off for second base, which drew a throw from catcher Jhonny Pereda and allowed Benge to break for home as soon as he saw the throw to second. Soto was safe, despite Seattle challenging the call, and the Mets went up 4-1.
Their good fortune continued on Jared Young’s grounder, which doinked off the first base bag and eluded Naylor for a double that brought home Soto for the fourth run of the inning. It was on Young’s ball to first base that Naylor made the throwing error that cost the Mariners a run in the first inning.
With Kirby’s afternoon done, New York continued to add on, scoring a run in the fifth inning on a double by Melendez and another in the eighth inning on Bichette’s sacrifice fly.
-- The Mets banged out 14 hits, led by Bichette, but A.J. Ewing also had a three-hit game, the first of his career, and Torrens finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Ewing also had a steal to join Soto and Benge.
-- On the mound for New York was Freddy Peralta, who served up a leadoff home run to J.P. Crawford in the first inning but nothing else for six strong innings. It was the fifth time this season that Peralta got through the sixth inning and it came on the heels of an outing where he lasted 4.2 innings.
The right-hander had to deal with traffic on the bases for much of the game, but he was bailed out with two double plays turned behind him despite entering the game with just one double play to his name all season.
Peralta ended his outing with his first 1-2-3 inning of the game and struck out six while walking two and giving up six hits. He threw 101 pitches (57 strikes) and lowered his ERA to 3.38.
-- Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver and Joey Gerber, who was recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day, finished out the game with three scoreless innings.
Game MVP: Bo Bichette
Bichette finally broke out with a big day and will look to continue it in San Diego.
After an off day on Thursday, the Mets continue their road trip by starting a three-game series with the San Diego Padres on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m.
RHP Christian Scott (1-0, 2.97 ERA) will go for New York and will be opposed by RHP Michael King (4-4, 3.18 ERA).
MILWAUKEE, WI - JUNE 01: Backyard Baseballs Pablo Sanchez cheers on Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers (9) during a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Francisco Giants at American Family Field on June 1, 2026 in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking to secure a series win over the San Francisco Giants after convincing victories in the first two games. It’s Backyard Baseball Night at the ballpark, and there will also be postgame fireworks.
After a circuitous avoidance of announcing who would be pitching in tonight’s game that would make Abbott and Costello blush, the Brewers finally made the roster move, recalling LHP Robert Gasser to make the start tonight. Reliever Rob Zastrzyny was placed on the IL with a trapezius strain. Zastryzny said it’s a relatively minor strain, but he’d been fighting through soreness trying to get back and will need some extra time to let the issue calm down.
Another note from Pat Murphy is that outfielder Brandon Lockridge should be ready to head out to Triple-A Nashville on a rehab assignment “fairly soon.” Lockridge, along with Blake Perkins, took at-bats against Brandon Woodruff in his four-inning live BP this afternoon. The Brewers will wait to see how Woodruff recovers in the next day or so before determining next steps.
Gasser will be making his third start of the season for the Brewers. The first two did not go particularly well, walking six batters in 8 1/3 IP and posting a 6.48 ERA and a demotion to Nashville.
On the key for Gasser to be successful at this level, Pat Murphy said, “Strikes. He has to be able to command the baseball. Free bases aren’t a thing up here; it’s just not. You can do that wherever else you want, whatever team you pitch on, you can do whatever you want. If you’re going to pitch here, you’re not going to give up free bases, just not going to happen.”
On the other side, the Giants will have their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound. Webb hasn’t had his best year, posting a 4.82 ERA so far. Still, he’s finished in the top 10 of Cy Young voting each of the last three years, so he has the capability on any given night to put together a dominant performance.
For the Brewers lineup that will face Webb, there is no Jackson Chourio in the order. It’s just a regular off day for him, Pat Murphy confirmed. Christian Yelich is back in the leadoff spot, and Andrew Vaughn returns to the lineup after getting the night off last night and will be batting second. Brice Turang, William Contreras, Jake Bauers, and Garrett Mitchell make up the middle of the order. Sal Frelick, Luis Rengifo, and David Hamilton round out the bottom of the order. Joey Ortiz has been out of the starting lineup each of the last three days.
The Giants will roll out a similar lineup to the last couple of games. Casey Schmitt, Rafael Devers, Luis Arraez, and Willy Adames make up the top four spots in their order. The big-time prospect Bryce Eldridge is batting seventh.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. for the third consecutive night, once again on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
RICHMOND, VA - MAY 10: Richmond Flying Squirrels Pitcher Joe Whitman (49) pitches in during the game between the Akron Rubber Ducks and Richmond Flying Squirrels on May 10, 2026, at Carmax Park in Richmond, VA. (Photo by Bradley Rex/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
For the first time all year, all seven of the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates were in action on Tuesday. So let’s dive into a whole lot of action!
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
The big news on the farm was that the Giants used the off day to make a whole lot of promotions, and many of them involved big name players. Most notably, shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) was promoted from Low-A San Jose to High-A Eugene. To make space for Level, infielder Jean Carlos Sio (No. 44 CPL) was promoted from Eugene to AA Richmond. And Richmond’s pair of star pitchers, LHPs Joe Whitman (No. 26 CPL) and Matt Wilkinson were promoted to AAA Sacramento.
Wow!
Some other promotions: RHP Yunior Marte (No. 25 CPL) and LHP Charlie McDaniel have been promoted from Eugene to Richmond to fill in those roster spots. RHP Ryan Vanderhei joins them from the bullpen. Also moving from High-A to AA is catcher Onil Perez, who takes the place of Adrián Sugastey, who landed on the 7-Day IL. After a stint in the ACL due to visa issues, outfielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL) has rejoined Eugene now that they’re back from their jaunt to our northern neighbors.
AAA Sacramento (33-23)
Sacramento River Cats lost to the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) 6-1 Box score
Quite a bust of a game for the River Cats, who are at the time in the season where their roster is constantly in flux thanks to the churn of the Major League team, to make no mention of the promotions coming up from AA.
Giants fans who are hoping for some reinforcements on the pitching front will be sorely disappointed by this game. RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 9 CPL) continues to struggle in his search for sharpness in AAA, though he’s finally back to being fully stretched out as a starter. He went 5 innings in this game, but gave up 7 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs, while only striking out 3 batters.
Like I said, he’s fully stretched out again, as he threw 94 pitches in this game … the downside being that he needed 94 pitches to get through 5 innings, and only threw 60 of them for strikes. Tidwell looked really good when called up to the Majors earlier this year, posting a 3.00 ERA and 3.51 FIP in 12 innings, while mostly working in single-inning relief. He’s really struggled since getting optioned back to Sacramento though, as he’s worked his way back to a starter’s workload: in 6 games following his optioning, Tidwell has pitched 22.1 innings and allowed 29 hits, 9 walks, and 17 earned runs, though he does have 27 strikeouts.
The bullpen options weren’t inspiring either, as Sacramento sent a pair of rehabbing relievers to the mound in RHP Jason Foley and LHP Reiver Sanmartin. Foley gave up 2 hits — including a 2-run home run — in an inning of work, with a strikeout. Sanmartin also pitched 1 inning, and allowed 3 hits, 2 runs, and 1 earned run, with a strikeout. For Foley, it was his 1st hiccup in what has otherwise been a great rehab stint with Sacramento: those are the only runs he’s allowed in 7 outings. For Sanmartin, the struggles have been constant, as he’s ceded 9 hits, 2 walks, 9 runs, and 7 earned runs in just 5 innings. I would guess that he’ll be optioned when his rehab ends, whereas Foley — who was signed to a Major League deal and doesn’t have options — will head to San Francisco’s bullpen. Either way, the Giants have some moves to make, as both of those pitchers — plus outfielder Jared Oliva — are set to come off the 60-Day IL soon.
In happier pitching news, RHP Ryan Walker retired all 5 batters he faced, with 3 strikeouts. San Francisco’s former shutdown closer has done well since getting optioned, allowing just 7 baserunners and 1 run in 6.1 innings, with 7 strikeouts. LHP Juan Sánchez (No. 41 CPL), who I think had been on the Development List but it just hadn’t been listed, pitched for the 1st time in more than 2 weeks, and struck out the only batter he faced.
The offense really did nothing of note, as evidenced by the 1 run scored. Catcher Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) made his return to Sacramento after getting optioned and hit well, going 1-2 with a double, a walk, and a sacrifice fly. It will be good to see him get regular playing time behind the dish now that he’s back in AAA, though it’s a bummer that it will come at the cost of the recently-promoted Drew Cavanaugh (No. 19 CPL) who has been lights out. Oliva, playing in right field, made his 3rd rehab appearance and went 0-3.
The Squirrels won this game the good old fashioned way: with the heart of their lineup hitting the heck out of the baseball. Richmond’s 2-4 hitters all had multi-hit games that featured home runs, as they combined to knock in 7 of the team’s 8 runs.
That threesome started with left fielder Parks Harber (No. 17 CPL), who went 2-3 with a 2-run blast, a walk, and a strikeout. Harber may have lost the start of the season due to an injury sustained during Spring Training, but he’s wasted no time getting up to speed. His stunning ability to hit the ball hard has translated to a huge amount of success in his debut AA stint, as the 24-year old UDFA — who came to the Giants in the Camilo Doval trade — has been one of the best hitters in the Eastern League.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 3, 2026
Among the 121 EL hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this year, Harber is 7th in batting average (.323), 16th in on-base percentage (.390), 10th in slugging (.577), 13th in ISO (.254), 10th in OPS (.967), and 9th in wRC+ (153). Just as excitingly, Harber — whose primary pink flag has been a swing-and-miss issue — is making more contact than before. While his year-over-year strikeout rate has increased by the tiniest bit (23.0% to 23.3%), his swinging strike rate has dropped from 12.0% to 9.3%, despite moving up a level.
It’s been a great season for Harber and, despite the late start limiting him to just 32 games, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s in AAA soon. He’s also playing almost exclusively in left field these days, and while that’s probably due to the roster logistics in Richmond (3 of their top 4 Opening Day outfielders have since been promoted), it also puts him in better position to make an MLB debut this year, since we know the Giants are more likely to have openings in the corners of the grass than the corners of the dirt.
Then it was center fielder Bo Davidson (No. 4 CPL), who had a much-needed dynamic game, hitting 2-4 with both a solo home run and a double, while also committing an error and striking out once. Davidson had been mired in quite a slump, as he ended May hitting 2-28 over his final 8 games, and had just 1 home run in the month … after 5 in April. So it was great to see him start June with a bang, and remind us of just how much talent there is in his bat.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 3, 2026
Davidson’s season numbers have dipped to a .742 OPS and a 94 wRC+, though a pair of stop-and-starts (1st due to the birth of his child, and then due to an injury) could be factoring into the struggles. Still, Davidson has shown more reasons to be excited than concerned and, like Harber, hasn’t seen his strikeouts go up this year (though unlike Harber, his swinging strike rate has gone up a bit … he’s been struggling a little bit to catch up to higher velocity at the level). While Davidson has seen the other Richmond outfielders — Jonah Cox, Scott Bandura, and Turner Hill — all get promoted, he remains the top outfield prospect in the system for a reason.
And finally it was the cleanup hitter, DH Charlie Szykowny, who hit 2-4 with a solo blast and 3 runs batted in. Szykowny is more than holding his own at the level, as the 2023 9th-round pick is sporting an .810 OPS and a 116 wRC+. It’s been a remarkably well-rounded season for the left-handed hitter, as he’s hitting for a good average (.271), drawing a decent amount of walks (8.0%), showing off some power (.192 ISO), and really limiting strikeouts (17.0%). If it weren’t for his age (he turns 26 later this month) and his position (he’s really just a first baseman these days), Szykowny would probably be jumping up on prospect lists … but even so, I’d still bet on him having a future in the Majors in some form or fashion.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 3, 2026
While that trio had a great day, the same cannot be said for shortstop Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL), who had a day to forget, as he went 0-4 with 3 strikeouts and 2 errors. Shake it off, Maui!
Right fielder Jean Carlos Sio (No. 44 CPL) made his AA debut and fit right in, hitting 2-4 with a strikeout. Sio, a recently-turned 22-year old left-handed hitter who really broke out last year, dominated in High-A this year, despite starting the season injured. He only played 16 games for the Emeralds before his promotion (though he played 28 games there last year), but managed 4 home runs in that time, and a 153 wRC+. He can play all over the diamond, so he’ll fit right in for a Squirrels team that has had their roster depleted.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 3, 2026
Also making his AA debut was RHP Yunior Marte (No. 25 CPL). It wasn’t the sharpest debut for Marte, but he did show off a lot of great things, primarily by striking out 7 batters in just 4.2 innings. That said, he gave up 6 hits, 2 walks, and 2 runs, while throwing 50 of 80 pitches for strikes.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) June 2, 2026
Marte, who came to the Giants last year in the Mike Yastrzemski trade, didn’t exactly dominate High-A, but he pitched well in 9 games for Eugene, with a 3.74 ERA and a 4.03 FIP. Strikeouts aren’t usually a big part of his game, so it was fun to see him have so many on Tuesday … that said, he has the tools to pump up his strikeout numbers, so hopefully this is the start of that happening.
Unfortunately, a bad day for the bullpen, as all 4 arms the team used — RHPs Ben Peterson, Will Bednar (No. 24 CPL), Dylan Hecht, and Tyler Vogel — were far from their sharpest.
High-A Eugene (37-15)
Eugene Emeralds lost to the Everett AquaSox (Mariners) 8-5 Box score
With Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) promoted to Eugene, the Emeralds are now a supremely talent-stacked team. Just on the position player front alone, Eugene boasts 7 starters who were listed in our CPL, which only ranks 44 prospects … and that includes a whopping 5 players in the top-20.
Level made his High-A debut on Tuesday, playing second base in deference to Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL). Level and Kilen briefly shared a roster last year in San Jose, with the pair splitting time between shortstop, second base, and designated hitter, and I’d expect that to continue now that they’re teammates once more. I do think ultimately that Kilen ends up at second base long-term (though he made one hell of a play from deep in the hole in this game), while Level, to my eye, has a slightly better chance of sticking at short (but I think would make a fine defender pretty much anywhere on the diamond, honestly).
The 19-year old switch-hitter wasted no time getting on the board in Eugene, hitting 2-5 in his debut, while striking out once and getting caught stealing for just the 3rd time this year (he has 11 successful thefts). Level’s time in Eugene will be must-watch TV for a variety of reasons, and I’ll say that he looked very comfortable in these at-bats. He is, remarkably, more than 3.5 years younger than his average peers in the Northwest League, so even just holding his own at the level will be cause for him continuing to fly up prospect lists. And if he plays well? Well, that will set him up to make his AA debut at the start of next year, right as he’s turning 20, and my goodness would that be exciting.
While the bulk of the excitement came from Level’s debut, the star performance came from one of Eugene’s other hot prospects, center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL). It was a sensational game for the just-turned 23-year old, who hit 2-4 with both a 2-run home run and a double. Even that underscores how good his at-bats were, as the double was about a foot or 2 away from being an opposite-field home run, while the dinger was a crushed no-doubter.
Dakota Jordan cranks out his 7th HR of the season to extend Eugene’s lead. He’s also now up to 37 RBI already! #SFGiantspic.twitter.com/jv58NhPNKQ
It’s been a mixed bag of a season for the 2024 4th-rounder. The overall numbers have been good, as the righty has an .805 OPS and a 118 wRC+, and continues to take incredibly well to center field, a position he rarely played in college. He’s hitting the ball as hard, if not harder than anyone else in the Northwest League, though the underlying concerns about his swing-and-miss issue have certainly shown themselves this year, as he has a 29.7% strikeout rate and a sky-high 16.8% swinging strike rate. There’s work to be done, but the swings he had on Tuesday are a reminder of how much potential there is. Here’s to June being a bounce-back month: after posting an .896 OPS in April, Jordan had just a .684 mark in May, and this was his 1st home run since May 3.
The other nice hitting game belonged to catcher Jancel Villarroel (No. 42 CPL), who hit 2-3 with a double, a hit by pitch, and a strikeout in this game. A 21-year old who came to the Giants a few months ago in the Kai-Wei Teng trade, Villarroel missed the 1st month of the year with an injury, and then started the season slowly, hitting 3-22 over his 1st 6 games of the season. But he’s quickly put all of that behind him, and now seems to be lining up the hits every day … the right-hander is up to a .790 OPS and a 114 wRC+, with just a 19.6% strikeout rate.
Not a good day on the mound, as RHP Hunter Dryden got absolutely rocked, giving up 8 hits, 3 walks, and 1 hit batter in 4 innings, while getting torched for 8 runs and 7 earned runs, with just 2 strikeouts. A 23-year old taken in the 17th round in 2024, Dryden has run into a midseason wall following a really nice start to the season. He had a 1.88 ERA in April, but followed it up with a 4.91 ERA in May, and will need a few good starts to course correct his June marks. In total, it’s a 4.91 ERA and a 4.73 FIP on the year, and while the strikeouts are good (42 in 36.2 innings), he’s really struggled with both walks (22) and home runs (4).
RHP Cole Hillier pitched a perfect inning of relief with 2 strikeouts, and needed just 12 pitches. The 25-year old UDFA is having a really tough season, so this performance was nice to see.
Low-A San Jose (30-22)
San Jose Giants beat the Inland Empire 66ers (Mariners) 7-4 Box score
With the promotion of Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL), the Baby Giants become a significantly less potent offensive team. Well, in theory, at least. In actuality? It seems the players did not get that memo, and made up for Level’s departure with a dynamic offensive day. San Jose used the long ball in this one, bopping a quartet of homers to get the job done.
The biggest day belonged to third baseman Dario Reynoso, who hit 3-4 with a pair of solo home runs, plus an RBI single (the only stain on his otherwise brilliant day was that he committed a pair of errors).
Level was San Jose’s top prospect, but Reynoso has been arguably their best offensive performer this year, as the 21-year old from the Dominican Republic is now up to a .986 OPS and a 143 wRC+. What’s been most notable for Reynoso is how he’s been able to tap into his power lately. Despite hitting 10 home runs in 53 games in the ACL last year, he ended the season with 15 games in San Jose and 0 big flies. Then he began this year with 15 more games without a home run.
And since then? 8 home runs in just 25 games (he also has 6 doubles and 2 triples in those 25 games, after 3 doubles and 0 triples in the 1st 15). And with that, Reynoso went from being one of the league leaders in average and walk rate, to also being one of the league leaders in power: among the 84 Cal League hitters with at least 100 plate appearances, he’s 16th in batting average (.301), 17th in walk rate (16.4%), and 4th in isolated slugging (.259). The only issue in an otherwise stellar season is that, as has always been the case, Reynoso is swinging and missing a lot — on the year, he has a 29.9% strikeout rate and a 14.1% swinging strike rate. On the bright side, both of those numbers represent big improvements over last year.
But he’s not the only player who continued a hot season with a big fly, as right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) hit 3-4 with a solo home run and an error, while first baseman Hayden Jatczak went 1-3 with a 3-run blast and a walk.
Like Reynoso, Maldonado took his time finding his power stroke in San Jose. The 22-year old, taken in the 7th round last year, had 0 home runs through his 1st 26 games in San Jose, spanning the end of last year and the start of this year. But since ending that drought, the right-hander has 9 dingers in just 28 games, making him 2nd behind only Level on the farm this year. On the whole, it’s a .907 OPS, a 119 wRC+, a 20.7% strikeout rate, and some strong defense for Maldonado in his 1st full season. He’s really impressed.
As for Jatczak, really, we’re all just waiting to see if he can hold these numbers at higher levels. The UDFA is quite old for the level, as he’ll turn 25 in August, but he’s certainly starring in his debut season, with a .934 OPS and a 132 wRC+. Perhaps we’ll soon see how he performs against more age-appropriate competition.
Home runs aren’t the only way to have star performances, and that was shown on the mound by none other than RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL). Martinez, who has a fairly strong argument for top pitching prospect in the organization, added to that argument on Tuesday, striking out 9 batters in 4 exceptional innings.
It wasn’t a perfect outing, as Martinez needed 74 pitches to get through those 4 innings, and threw just 49 strikes. But 9 strikeouts is 9 strikeouts, and he only allowed 4 baserunners (2 hits and 2 walks) and an unearned run (all 4 of San Jose’s allowed runs were unearned, thanks to 5 errors).
The 21-year old hasn’t had the smoothest follow-up to his sensational breakout campaign in 2025, as he has a 5.20 ERA and a 4.38 FIP through 9 starts with San Jose this year. But if you need reasons for optimism, Martinez — who was one of the top strikeout artists on the farm last year — has bumped up his Ks this season. With a staggering 59 strikeouts in just 36.1 innings, Martinez’s K/9 rate (14.6) is 2nd among the 43 Cal League pitchers with at least 30 innings thrown this year. He’s not particularly hittable when batters swing, even when they put the ball in play; he really just needs to get the walks in check, as he’s issued 22 of them.
A much-needed nice day for RHP Cooper McGrath, who gave up 2 baserunners in 2 shutout innings, with 2 strikeouts. Last year’s 18th-round pick has had a tough debut season, with a 9.31 ERA and an 8.14 FIP. But it’s early!
Arizona Complex League (11-11)
ACL Giants lost to the ACL Padres 9-2 (7 innings) Box score
A fairly nondescript game. But it was yet another day that ends in “Y,” so it was another day with an extra-base hit for shortstop Luis Hernández (No. 6 CPL), who went 1-4 with a triple and a strikeout. The 17-year old sensation now has a staggering 17 extra-base hits in just 98 plate appearances, while also striking out just 16.3% of the time, en route to a 1.033 OPS and a 138 wRC+. I had high hopes and expectations for the kid, but even so, this is stunning! With Josuar González (No. 2 CPL) still sidelined with a hamstring injury, Hernández is also getting to play at shortstop every day, which is surely good for his development as well.
The only player to reach base multiple times for the Giants was designated hitter Rayner Arias (No. 38 CPL), who hit 2-3. That was great to see, as Arias entered the day hitting just 3-39 with 18 strikeouts. It’s been an absolutely brutal few years for the former top-10 prospect, though a reminder that development takes all paths, and he only turned 20 a month ago. The future could still be bright!
Not a very good pitching performance, but there was at least some excitement from LHP Carlos De La Rosa (No. 30 CPL), as the 18-year old struck out 4 batters in 3 innings, though he also ceded 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs. It’s been a tough stateside debut for De La Rosa, who was part of the Camilo Doval trade, as he has a 7.00 ERA and a 4.84 FIP, with a whole lot of walks. But he’s sporting a 47.9% groundball rate, and has 22 strikeouts in 18 innings, so it’s easy to see where the hype is coming from.
Dominican Summer League Black (1-1)
DSL Giants Black beat the DSL Blue Jays Red 6-0 (7 innings) Box score
The shutout was a very DSL shutout, as the Giants Black squad gave up just 3 hits, but walked 7 batters in as many innings. LHP Santiago Guerrero, an 18-year old from Mexico, exemplified that in his professional debut, as he pitched 3 innings and gave up all 3 hits plus 2 walks, but also struck out 3. RHP Luis Hernandez, a 20-year old in his 3rd DSL season was even funnier, as he walked 4 batters in just 1.1 innings … but didn’t allow any hits or runs, and struck out 2.
The best day on offense belonged to left fielder Franco Willias, a 21-year old from the Dominican Republic who is also in his 3rd DSL season. Willias, who is trying to get out of the DSL after posting a 114 wRC+ in 2024 and a 115 wRC+ a year ago, hit 2-4 with a triple, a stolen base, and a strikeout. Designated hitter Diego Villegas, a 22-year old who is the rare 6-year DSL player, had a funny game. After hitting just 1-5 in the season opener, Villegas took the “don’t swing” approach, and drew walks in all 4 of his plate appearances. Honestly, just refusing to swing is probably a great way to have a high OPS in the DSL.
As long as we’re talking about those walks in the DSL (seriously: between that pair of 7-inning games, the Giants DSL squads issued 14 walks and drew 11), we need to mention RHP Frainer Mejias, a 20-year old in his 4th DSL season. Mejias didn’t pitch well, but he did pitch funny: he tossed 2 no-hit innings with 2 strikeouts, but gave up 3 walks and 2 hit batters, resulting in 1 run. Remember when I said that you could have a high OPS by just not swinging in the DSL? His teammate, RHP Johan Rengifo, made his pro debut and threw just 6 of 24 pitches for strikes, while giving up 1 hit, 3 walks, and 2 runs, and recording just 1 out.
The offense was much better! The pair of bats at the top of the lineup in particular shined, with right fielder Yoxander Benitez hitting a perfect 4-4 with a double and a stolen base, while center fielder Jose Valdez went 1-2 with a double, 2 walks, and a stolen base. Benitez is a 19-year old from Aruba who is trying to find his groove after 2 disappointing years to begin his career (88 wRC+ in 2024; 80 in 2025), while Valdez is a just-turned 17-year old in his debut season, who also hit well in his 1st pro game, when he went 2-5 with a double. A nice start to his career!
Second baseman Yeison Oviedo and designated hitter Brandon Vasquez both hit 3-4. Oviedo, who doubled, is an 18-year old who has a very difficult debut season last year; Vasquez is a 19-year old who has struggled in both of his 1st 2 years in pro ball.
Finally, left fielder Angelo Ugueto, a 17-year old from Venezuela who was an intriguing part of this year’s signing class, hit 1-2 with a triple, a walk, and a strikeout. He had hit 1-4 with a walk in his debut.
Sacramento: 6:45 p.m. PT vs. Tacoma (SP: Matt Wilkinson) Richmond: 4:05 p.m. PT vs. Erie (SP: Cesar Perdomo) Eugene: 7:05 p.m. PT vs. Everett (SP: Jacob Bresnahan) San Jose: 1:05 p.m. PT vs. Inland Empire (SP: Jordan Gottesman)
Reminder that almost all MiLB games can be watched on MLB TV
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 19: Samuel Basallo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles laughs prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Blaze Alexander will bat ninth and play center field tonight as the Orioles look to secure a road series victory over the Red Sox. Alexander will be flanked by leadoff hitter Taylor Ward and Tyler O’Neill.
Samuel Basallo will bat sixth and serve as the DH against lefty starter Payton Tolle. Jackson Holliday will play second base, and Coby Mayo will bat fifth against the southpaw. Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Pete Alonso will round out the lineup.
Tolle will enter the game with a 2.61 through 41.1 innings. Baltimore starter Chris Bassitt’s ERA (5.06) sits at almost double, but the veteran has looked sharp of late. The Orioles would love to see another quality start from the 37-year-old.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 29: Stephen Kolek #32 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field on May 29, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After yet another heartbreaking loss yesterday, the Royals will attempt to win the series against the Reds this evening. Getting the series would be a nice way to start this road trip for a team in desperate need of some positive momentum.
It will be Stephen Kolek taking the ball for Kansas City today. He has been a little uneven in his five big league starts this year but has been brilliant when he is pitching well. That extreme ground ball rate along with the Royals solid infield defense can really work wonders and is doubly helpful in a park as homerun friendly as Cincinnati’s.
Kolek will be facing Chase Burns, the Reds’ young fireballer. He is only 23 and his fastball sits near 99 and can touch the low triple digits. Burns was the second overall pick in 2024 out of Wake Forest and made it to the majors by June of 2025.
No Maikel Garcia in the lineup for the fourth game in a row, that means Carter Jensen is back in the leadoff spot versus a right-handed pitcher.
Texas' high school baseball has as rich a history—arguably more than any other state—and on Wednesday, another chapter was added to that legacy.
Fort Worth Christian (North Richland Hills, TX) shortstop Grady Emerson has been named the 2025-26 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year following a standout senior season.
Emerson was surprised at school today by his teammates, friends and family who presented him with the award. He also received a surprise video call from MLB All-Star and World Series champion Eric Hosmer, who called and congratulated him on the honor.
An early first-round projection in the upcoming MLB Draft, Emerson originally committed to TCU. He flipped his commitment from the Horned Frogs to the Longhorns on November 25, 2024.
Emerson now joins an elite group of past winners, including Alex Rodriguez, Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Witt Jr., and countless others.
“Grady Emerson’s track record of performance is outstanding, including four stints with U.S. national teams and a dominant senior season at Fort Worth Christian,” Jim Callis, Senior Writer at MLB Pipeline, said in the release. “He’s the best high school prospect in the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft and a strong candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick by the White Sox. Grady is also a fine student and coaches and scouts rave about his intelligence and character. He’s a deserving winner in the fine tradition of Gatorade National Baseball Players of the Year.”
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Texas commitment led the Cardinals to a 32-7-1 record this season, batting .532 with 42 RBIs, nine doubles, four triples, and seven home runs. Emerson was a force on the base paths, recording 21 stolen bases, and was just as stout defensively, with 37 putouts, 17 double plays, and no errors on the year.
On top of his play on the field, Emerson is a stand-up person off the field and in the classroom. He maintained an A average in school while playing baseball and volunteering at The North Texas Food Bank and Mission Arlington.
Emerson has also donated his time to leading training sessions and defensive coaching camps for youth baseball. With his parents' company, Always Family Senior Home Care, during the holiday season Emerson will also deliver home care services.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY: From April 14-May 8, the Cubs won 20 of 23 games. Tonight’s game will be their 23rd since then. They have won five. A loss tonight would complete their first 5-18 span 2021, when they did it June 14-July 8, then nine overlapping times between July 21 and Aug. 29. They were 5-18 in at least six spans in 2012, four in 2010, 10 in 2006 and 13 in 2000. The Cubs’ last 6-17 spans were in 2022, when they two overlapping sets of two. They had 13 in 2021 and five in 2013. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
A WEIRD HOME/ROAD SPLIT: Cubs now are 7-6 at home vs. the Athletics — and 10-2 at Oakland (7-2) and Sacramento (3-0). The Cubs lost the opener of three games at home against the A’s twice before: the first two times they met at Wrigley Field, in 2004 and 2010. Each time, the Cubs won the next two games to take the series. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SIGNS OF LIFE IN PCA: Pete Crow-Armstrong is on a seven-game hitting streak in which he is batting .367/.441/.567 (11-for-30) with three doubles, a home run and five runs scored. His OPS of .718 is at its highest level since May 8 (.721).
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Ken Holtzman throws the second no-hitter of his career as the Cubs defeat the Reds in Cincinnati 1-0. Holtzman also scores the only run of the game after reaching on an error. It happened 55 years ago today, Thursday, June 3, 1971.
Colin Rea hit a bit of a rough patch early in May but his last two starts were at least decent. That’s what we expect from him, right?
Rea threw the last three innings of the Cubs’ 18-3 thrashing of the A’s March 31, 2025 in Sacramento, allowing four hits and no runs. In doing so he picked up a save, one of three he has in his career.
No A’s batter has more than five at-bats against him, and that’s Brent Rooker, who’s 3-for-5 with a home run. Stop Rooker and this could be a fine evening of pitching.
Jeffrey Springs is the A’s best starter so far this year… which isn’t saying much. He has a 4.07 ERA and 1.191 WHIP in 66.1 innings, with 12 home runs allowed. He can usually be counted on for giving his team six innings, though, as he’s gone that many or more six times in 12 starts.
Last year against the Cubs, April 2, 2025 in Sacramento, Springs allowed five runs (four earned) in three innings, including a home run by Seiya Suzuki.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Kodai Sengatook the mound for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday for his latest rehab start, and it wasn't much better than his last outing.
The Mets right-hander pitched five innings for the first time on his current rehab assignment, but allowed three runs on six hits, two walks, two hit batters and two wild pitches against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre while striking out five. Senga tossed 91 pitches (54 strikes) and topped out at 95.7 mph. His ERA is now 5.19 across his three rehab starts.
Earlier this week, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expected Senga to throw around 85 pitches, but the team will need to see how he does and how he feels afterwards before they decide on what Senga's next step will be.
In his previous start with Syracuse, Senga allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, two walks and one hit batter while striking out five. He tossed 80 pitches through his 3.2 innings, and while the workload has increased, the results have been less than encouraging.
Senga was placed on the IL in late April with lumbar spin inflammation, and the Mets hoped the he could be inserted into a rotation that is in need of arms after Clay Holmes went down with injury.
HOUSTON, TX - JUNE 02: Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (15) is congratulated by teammates after hitting a three run homer in the top of the fifth inning during the MLB game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros on June 2, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a completely different offense than they were a year ago.
Calling it a night and day difference doesn’t do it justice.
A year after falling in the bottom five of most offensive categories, the Pirates are a top-five offense in baseball.
The team is second best in baseball in on-base percentage (.338), tied for second in hits (8.8), fourth in batting average (.255), tied for fourth in OPS (.740), and fifth best in baseball in runs per game (5.1).
It’s not an opinion, but a fact.
The most drastic improvement? Power.
Pittsburgh hit an MLB-low 117 home runs last season. The next closest team was the rival St. Louis Cardinals (148), who beat out the Bucs for last place by a jarring 31 homers.
This season? The Pirates are on pace to top 117 by mid-July.
Don Kelly’s team owns 71 home runs in 61 games, on pace for over 180 homers in 2026.
The Bucs hit three longballs on Tuesday in Houston and are getting contributions up and down the lineup. Brandon Lowe hit his 15th of the season, and Oneil Cruz smacked his 14th, both three-run long balls, to power the Pirates to a 10-6 victory.
Endy Rodriguez started the scoring with a two-run shot. Initially ruled a triple, the call was overturned to a home run following a video review for his first of the season.
Cruz led the Pirates in home runs last season, but only amounted 20 in 135 games. He is on pace for a 30/30 season and the best year of his career.
Lowe leads all Pirates with 15 and ranks tied for fourth in the National League, one year after hitting 31 with the Tampa Bay Rays in 134 games.
Bryan Reynolds finished second on the team in 2025 with 16 round-trippers. Lowe is one away. It’s June 3.
Five Pirates have hit six or more home runs, and Marcell Ozuna, who has been relegated to a part-time player, has hit five.
The Pirates offense is more balanced, and created lineup protection for veterans mainstays like Reynolds and Cruz.
Spencer Horwitz is having an eye-popping season with seven home runs and a .385 on-base percentage, eighth highest in the National League.
The Pirates were one of four teams to score at least 300 runs through May. The others are all World Series contenders (Braves, Dodgers, Yankees).
This season marked the first time the Pirates won 30 games before the end of May since 2013.
The expectation was that the Pirates’ offense would be good, but not THIS good.
Could this be the best offense since the 1979 “Lumber Company” Pirates?
The last World Series championship team led the NL in runs (775) and hits (1,496). Led by 1979 MVP Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, and Bill Robinson, the Pirates only hit 148 home runs.
This year’s club should well exceed it, albeit in a different era of baseball and how the game is played.
Lowe, Reynolds, Cruz, and even Ryan O’Hearn all have legitimate cases to make the All-Star Game.
Pittsburgh has an offense that has proven through the first third of the season that it can be sustained.
The club is +35 in run differential and sits in second place in the very difficult NL Central.
It’s not an illusion. It’s no fantasy. It’s not a dream. The Pirates’ offense is good for the first time in a long time, and they’re not looking to wake up from this dream.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 31: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammate Joc Pederson #3 following their team's win over the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Field on May 31, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for June 3, 2026 against the St. Louis Cardinals: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Andre Pallante for the Cards.
Texas is looking to sweep the Cardinals in St. Louis, as well as extend their winning streak to six games and get back to .500. Skip Schumaker is rolling with the same lineup as yesterday.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Burger — 1B
Duran — SS
Osuna — LF
Carter — CF
Higashioka — C
Lopez — 2B
6:45 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 02: Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres celebrates his two-run home run in the third inning with Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 02, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (32-27) at Philadelphia Phillies (31-29), June 3, 2026, 3:40 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, Penn.
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The Good Guys’ offense ran on Sam Antonacci energy, as the rookie spark plug went 4-for-4 in a dominant win over the Twins. | (David Berding/Getty Images)
After two frustrating losses to begin the series, the White Sox responded exactly how good teams are supposed to: They punched back.
Erick Fedde spun five shutout innings, the offense piled on 12 hits and eight walks, and the Sox steamrolled the Twins. Sure, they lost the series, but they leave Minnesota with a +11 run differential and at least a little dignity restored.
The Sox jumped all over Taj Bradley from pitch one. Sam Antonacci singled, Miguel Vargas walked, and Andrew Benintendi slapped a base hit, and suddenly the sacks were packed with nobody out. Colson Montgomery, who had a rough game, whiffed on three pitches, but Chase Meidroth worked an eight-pitch walk to push home the first run and keep his on-base streak alive at 17.
Rookie Jacob Gonzalez delivered the big blow of the frame, slapping a single the other way to plate two more.
The Twins then gift-wrapped another run on a soft Tristan Peters grounder and some classic Minnesota bumbling. The Good guys were up 4-0.
Fedde could have pitched in slippers with that early cushion. The righthander, finally in the win column, was on cruise control. He mowed down the first 11 Twinkies and breezed through three innings on just 30 pitches. Minnesota didn’t sniff a baserunner until he walked Trevor Larnach with two outs in the fourth, and didn’t surrender a base hit until Luke Keaschall finally broke up the party with two gone in the fifth. The veteran’s final line: five scoreless, two hits, a walk, two Ks. Efficient, effective, and with 61 pitches, he barely broke a sweat.
The Sox kept loading the bases and then leaving them there, stranding runners in the second, third, and fourth. Montgomery had a day to forget with four strikeouts, seven left in scoring position, and a golden sombrero for his troubles.
The South Siders finally broke it open in the sixth, thanks to some generous Twins defense. Rikuu Nishida reached on an error, took second on another, and Antonacci cashed him in with a double for 5-0.
The bullpen relieved Fedde after five frames and ensured there would be no drama. Grant Taylor took care of the sixth and seventh, mowing down six of seven and picking up three Ks. Chris Murphy cleaned up the last two, dodging a couple of late baserunners to lock down the shutout.
The bats added some finishing touches in the eighth. Antonacci doubled again, Vargas singled him home, and Benintendi put the cherry on top with a two-run Benny Bomb to right-center. 8-0, let’s go!
Antonacci, Vargas, and Benintendi did the heavy lifting at the top, combining to go 7-for-10 and reaching base 13 times. The offense also did exactly what was discussed in our game thread: they were patient and worked the free passes. Eight walks later, Minnesota’s pitchers were begging for mercy.
Despite the big lead, the Sox went just 5-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left a pile of runs on the table, but after the first two games, nobody in the clubhouse was about to gripe. The guys gets a breather on Thursday, then it’s off to Philly for the weekend.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 29: AJ Smith-Shawver #32 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday, May 29, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Abdoul Sow/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Not to fear, Braves fans, the starting rotation’s depth is soon to get stronger.
AJ Smith-Shawver will be facing hitters soon, the final step before beginning a rehab assignment. He is throwing high intensity bullpen sessions currently and is not too far behind Hurston Waldrep (who made his first rehab start Monday) according to #Braves MGR Walt Weiss.
While we are waiting for the return of some more helpful hands like Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep, Smith-Shawver is another young dominant arm that is expected to make an impact in Atlanta’s rotation.
After suffering a torn UCL that cut his strong stint (3.86 ERA) short last May, he’s making significant progress in his high-intensity bullpen sessions and looking to take the final step in facing live hitters before he’s assigned to rehab and find his way back in Atlanta’s clubhouse.
Waldrep started his rehab stint this past Monday, so the two are not far behind in each other in terms of progression.
It isn’t often that a pitcher gives up a game-tying run and receives a long and loud standing ovation.
But it isn’t often that a pitcher accomplishes what Cristopher Sanchez did over the last month plus.
The gifted Phillies left-hander saw his scoreless streak rise to 50 2/3 innings – fifth-best of all-time – in the team’s 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
Sanchez, who did not allow a run in five starts in the month of May, began the game with six scoreless innings before allowing a pair of two-out hits and a run in the top of the seventh inning. Ty France doubled down the left field line and scored on a base hit by Jackson Merrill. That hit tied the game at 1-1 but J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber had Sanchez’ back. They both clubbed solo homers in the bottom of the inning to put the Phillies ahead and get Sanchez the win.
Sanchez, who leads the majors with a 1.46 ERA, passed Hall of Famer Bob Gibson (47 consecutive scoreless innings in 1968) on his way to fifth place on the all-time list. Sanchez walked just one and struck out eight in seven innings of work. He appeared frustrated with himself after giving up the two hits and losing his scoreless innings streak in the seventh, but the Citizens Bank Park crowd of 40,453 sure appreciated him. As France reached home plate, the entire ballpark rose to its feet and saluted Sanchez with hearty applause.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sanchez had been named National League Pitcher of the Month for May. He pitched 39 scoreless innings over five starts in the month. He struck out 45 and walked just three.
While impressed with Sanchez’ streak, teammates have come to expect greatness from him. The 29-year-old Dominican finished second in the NL Cy Young voting last season.
“To tell you the truth, I don’t think a lot of us are talking about it,” Bryce Harper said of the streak before the game. “It seems simple and normal for him to go out and there and pitch and do his thing, so we’re not thinking about it too much.
“He’s a super special pitcher and person, as well. Nothing against the streak or anything, but he’s been doing it for so long, it feels like he’s been on a streak the last couple of years. It’s just all come together for him and it’s a lot of fun to be part of. It’s really cool.”
After the Phils went up, 3-1, in the bottom of the seventh, the Padres cut the lead to one with a run against reliever Brad Keller in the eighth. Jhoan Duran protected the one-run lead in the ninth for his 14th save.
Sanchez improved to 7-2 on the season and the Phillies improved to 32-29. They are now 16-16 at home, heading into Thursday afternoon’s series finale. The Phils and Padres have played five times over the last week with the Phillies winning all of them. Three have been one-run victories.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, first in the NL West with a 39-22 record, face the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are third at 32-28 record in a key divisional matchup. The Dodgers are favored with a -193 moneyline compared to the Diamondbacks' +160. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Shohei Ohtani for Los Angeles, with a 0.82 ERA, and Zac Gallen for Arizona, with a 5.16 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
