Category: Baseball

This is my least likely preview. Before the season Baseball America projected Lebron in the top 5 and even mentioned his potential to be #1 overall. Lebron responded to this lofty praise with easily his worst season yet. This included an eye popping 18 errors (that would be a roughly 50 error pace in MLB) and a batting average 55 points lower than either of his first 2 College seasons. Will he fall all the way to 36? Probably not because there’s Gold Glove potential and easy power, but I also wouldn’t rule it out as there are equal questions about the bat and there’s those 18 errors.

Lebron is a 21 year old, 6’2″ 190lbs right handed hitter from the University of Alabama with a pretty flashy tool set: Plus speed and arm, above average to plus power and above average to plus fielding and a somewhat questionable hit tool with plus bat speed and an approach to swinging Austin Powers would be overwhelmed by. As a defender Lebron brings great range and a cannon arm. The errors are a combo of the range getting him into the occasional error, but also that great arm’s accuracy can go a bit haywire at times. His tools should allow him to stay at Short, he’ll just need to clean up the throws and focus if he can clean up those items he could end up being a plus or better defender. His speed has also made him a big threat on the basepaths and he loves stealing bases. He’s been caught stealing TWICE in 3 years. Yeah, that’ll play.

Now onto his hitting and swing. Honestly, I love the swing. A small leg kick, he maintains his eye level pretty quiet setup and that plus bat speed. No changes needed in my opinion. The pitch recognition though is another story. Lebron loves to swing and he will expand the zone. He also struggles with breaking/off speed pitches. He doesn’t miss often on Fastballs, but he misses almost half of everything else. His raw power is probably double-plus, but game power gets held back a bit by the pitch recognition and contact issues. This feels like a guy the late 2000’s front office would kill for, it also seems like the type of hitter this team has had no luck developing. In the video below you get a great mix of game action showing a little of all the good thing Lebron can do.

I have very strong doubts Lebron gets anywhere vaguely close to 36. The tools are just too exciting and someone in the top 20 is probably going to roll the dice. Some Player Development Director will be convinced he can fix the issues. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Lebron dominates in A ball. His tools are probably going to be enough to overwhelm some talent there and, as you can see in the video, he feasts on high Fastballs, which he’ll see plenty of along with breaking pitches still a bit raw and similar to College. Double-A will be where he may first get exposed. But, man, that power in Reading’s homer prone park would be blast to watch, even if he only hits the Mendoza line with a 40% K rate.

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Another night, another trio of MLB same-game parlay predictions for a loaded 15-game slate Tuesday, June 30.

My top MLB picks begin with Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal handing the New York Yankees another loss tonight. 

Today's best MLB SGP picks

Game	SGP Odds
vs	+345
vs	+335
vs	+310

Tigers vs Yankees SGP: Detroit motors to another win

The New York Yankees have dropped eight of their past 10 games while striking out at the highest clip in the majors and ranking last in xwOBA.

They’ll face back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on Tuesday, and the Detroit Tigers are heating up at the dish with the sixth-ranked wOBA and xwOBA for the month of June.

I’m anticipating Skubal to cruise tonight, too.

His 2.59 xFIP is below his 2.74 mark across the past two years, and I’m anticipating statistical correction coming to his .287 BABIP and 74.3% strand rate because they’re worse than his .273 and 80.3% marks during his Cy Young campaigns.

I’d recommend this SGP down to +320.

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

See full analysis of this game in our Tigers vs. Yankees predictions.

Nationals vs Red Sox SGP: Washington pulls off Fenway upset

The Washington Nationalspace the majors in wOBA against lefties, and Boston Red Sox southpaw Connelly Early has surrendered the 10th-highest barrel percentage among pitchers with at least 75 innings. 

Early is also eyeing statistical correction with his 3.59 ERA well below his 4.72 FIP, in addition to his unsustainably high 85.7% strand rate.

The Boston offense doesn’t move the needle with a 27th-ranked xwOBA in June and the sixth-lowest barrel percentage for the season, either.

Still, I expect Early to pitch well enough to contribute to this total going Under the number, and Nationals righty Cade Cavalli has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his past seven starts with a solid 3.57 xFIP.

This SGP is in play down to +315.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NESN, NATS

Padres vs Cubs SGP: Chicago wins fourth straight

San Diego Padres lefty JP Sears posted an underwhelming 4.87 xFIP and a 12.9% strikeout-to-walk ratio across 58 2/3 innings entering 2026, so I’m anticipating him struggling against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.

The North Siders have won nine of 11 while averaging 7.3 runs per game and ranking seventh in wOBA, and they also rank third in wOBA against left-handed pitchers for the season.

Still, this is another inflated total at Wrigley Field, and the teams combined for just five runs in similarly favorable hitting conditions Monday.

Chicago lefty Matthew Boyd is also set up for success in his second start back from knee and shoulder injuries. The Padres are 29th in wOBA against southpaws, and they’re 24th in xwOBA across the past 30 days.

I price the breakeven point of this SGP at +300.

• Time: 8:05 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MARQ, SDPA

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Life comes at you fast. The Red Sox, in the midst of a five-game win streak, remain deep under .500. And in a world in which the owners hadn’t spent the last 20 years devaluing the regular season in a blatant attempt to increase postseason revenue and justify slashing payroll, a team in the Red Sox’ position wouldn’t have any playoff hopes today. But this is 2026, and it’s legitimately possible that the American League’s third Wild Card could be swiped by a team that doesn’t even reach the .500 mark. (Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic)

Thus, the Red Sox, who looked dead and buried one week ago today, are now being called potential buyers at the trade deadline. Their biggest need is obvious: middle infield help. (Mark Feinsand, MLB.com)

Right now the middle infield help is coming in the form of Anthony Seigler, who has started at second base for 10 games in a row. Seigler has bounced back and forth between AAA and the big leagues throughout his young career. What helped him get back to the majors this time was resuming something he’d quit before: switch hitting. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

We know where they certainly don’t need help: the starting rotation. Red Sox starters have now thrown 12 straight quality starts, two shy of the club record set in 1988. “They’ve been phenomenal,” said Chad Tracy. “It’s very similar to my initial time here when we weren’t playing that well, but the starting pitching was so good that you always felt like you were going to look up in the sixth inning and think, ‘We’ve got a chance to win this game.’ I don’t think there’s too many managers who wouldn’t sign up for that.” (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

All the starters have contributed, but Payton Tolle in particular has been a big part of the streak. In fact, he now has teammates publicly lobbying to get him to the All-Star Game. “Just being in that conversation is amazing, but that’s kind of far out of mind for me,” he said. “I guess it doesn’t mean anything until it actually happens.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

Unfortunately, Garrett Crochet won’t be getting a second straight All-Star nod, and he continues to be frustrated by the mysteriously slow rehab process for what was initially thought to be a minor injury. While everyone involved still says there are no structural issues, they are now looking to last year to explain the injury. “I was still kind of experiencing that hangover from last year, and once I started throwing again, maybe my mechanics just weren’t in a great spot,” said Crochet. “And then as the buildup occurred, that just continued to get further from the norm.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)

But the Sox could be getting back another couple of lefty pitchers soon. Jovani Moran will make another rehab appearance tomorrow and then potentially rejoin the big league bullpen. Patrick Sandoval has one more rehab start scheduled and will be reassessed by July 4, when his 30-day rehab clock expires. (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

We’re back with another Reacts Survey, and we’re asking fans if they’d like to see the Brewers make a splashy move or continue their “take bites of the apple” approach at this year’s trade deadline.

The Brewers’ last truly “splashy” move came way back in 2008, when the team traded four prospects to Cleveland to get CC Sabathia. Sabathia then made 17 starts in less than three months, going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA, 2.44 FIP, and 128 strikeouts over 130 2/3 innings, including seven complete games to help the Brewers sneak into the playoffs as the Wild Card.

Since then, the Brewers have made several smaller moves at just about every deadline, including the following moves in recent seasons under David Stearns/Matt Arnold:

• 2018: Acquired Mike Moustakas from the Royals, Joakim Soria from the White Sox, and Jonathan Schoop from the Orioles
• 2019: Acquired Jordan Lyles from the Pirates and Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black from the Giants; traded Jesús Aguilar to the Rays for Jake Faria
• 2020 (COVID-shortened season): Acquired David Phelps from the Phillies
• 2021: Acquired John Curtiss from the Marlins, Daniel Norris from the Tigers, and Eduardo Escobar from the D-backs
• 2022: Acquired Trevor Rosenthal from the Giants and Matt Bush from the Rangers; traded Josh Hader to the Padres for Taylor Rogers, Robert Gasser, Esteury Ruiz, and Dinelson Lamet
• 2023: Acquired Andrew Chafin from the D-backs, Mark Canha from the Mets, and Carlos Santana from the Pirates; traded Luis Urías to the Red Sox for Bradley Blalock
• 2024: Acquired Frankie Montas from the Reds, Nick Mears from the Rockies, Tyler Jay from the Mets, and Aaron Civale from the Rays
• 2025: Acquired Shelby Miller and Jordan Montgomery from the D-backs and Danny Jansen from the Rays; traded Nestor Cortes to the Padres for Brandon Lockridge

As you can see from that list, there are no mega-deals. The closest thing would be trading Josh Hader, which was big for the other team (the Padres) and more so seemed to just upset fans and even the clubhouse. With big trade candidates like Tarik Skubal, Luis Arraez, Casey Mize, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, and Aroldis Chapman (to only name a few) potentially available at the deadline, would you like to see the Brewers make a big move? Or would you rather they continue their “bites of the apple” approach?

Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!

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The Atlanta Braves own a strong 22-14 record vs. left-handed starters this season, and are -150 favorites to add to the win total today against the St. Louis Cardinals.

My Cardinals vs. Braves predictions and MLB picks see value in backing them to do just that on June 30.

Who will win Cardinals vs Braves today: Braves (-150)

St. Louis Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore turned a corner in May, only for the wheels to fall off again in June.

He has posted a FIP of 6.3 or higher in four consecutive starts, none of which came against teams holding onto playoff spots.

Martin Perez recorded a FIP of 2.5 or better in three of his last four and should give the Atlanta Braves a clear pitching advantage.

The Braves (eighth in ISO) also have a lot more power than the Cardinals (23rd) against lefties, and that will be advantageous in hot weather.

Back Atlanta to -160.

COVERS INTEL:Matthew Liberatore ranks in the seventh percentile with a 5.72 xERA.

Cardinals vs Braves Over/Under pick: Under 9.0 (+100)

This total is a little high regardless of the conditions.

The Cardinals have plated just 13 runs over their last six games, and now have to deal with Perez. 

He ranks in the 81st percentile in Pitcher Run Value and owns a 2.36 ERA over eight starts against teams outside of the Top 15 in OPS vs. left-handed pitching.

The Braves are powerful but rank only 23rd in OBP against lefties. There may not be enough traffic to score the necessary amount to push this game Over the total.

I’d play the Under to -110.

Cardinals vs Braves weather

Temperatures could reach the 90s, with a small amount of wind blowing out. Boost to the bats.

Cardinals vs Braves odds

• Moneyline: Cardinals +130 | Braves -150
• Run line: Cardinals +1.5 (-150) | Braves -1.5 (+130)
• Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-120) | Under 9.0 (+100)

Cardinals vs Braves trend

St. Louis has hit the game total Under in 27 of its last 45 games (+9.40 units, 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cardinals vs. Braves.

How to watch Cardinals vs Braves and game info

Cardinals vs Braves latest injuries

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The New York Yankees are -135 favorites to snap their five-game losing skid on Tuesday night.

With Cam Schlittler set to take on a struggling Detroit offense, my Tigers vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks are backing New York to get back in the win column on Tuesday, June 30

Who will win Tigers vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (-135)

The Detroit Tigers are struggling at the plate, ranking dead-last in line-drive rate while hitting .225 against righties over the past two weeks.

It’s not going to get any easier against Cam Schlittler. He's faced nine opponents who rank Bottom-10 in OPS vs. right-handed pitching this season, and owns a 1.34 ERA in those games. He's allowed more than a single run just once in that sample.

Conversely, Tarik Skubal has allowed multiple runs in five straight, including a couple of four-spots. The New York Yankees are missing key bats, but still have juice vs. lefties.

Bet New York to -145.

COVERS INTEL: Skubal hasn't been at the peak of his powers this season, ranking in the 29th percentile in xBA.

Tigers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 7 (-120)

Playing Overs with a pair of elite pitchers on the mound is a scary proposition, but the circumstances call for it.

Temperatures are expected to approach the 90s in this game, making for perfect conditions for the ball to carry in an already hitter-friendly ballpark.

Neither offense has garnered great results of late, but the Tigers lead the majors in fly-ball rate this month, while the Yankees come in at eighth.

If the ball is consistently being put in the air in excellent hitter conditions, the runs should follow.

I’d play Over 7 to -130.

Tigers vs Yankees weather

With temperatures in the high 80s, the ball should carry well in what is already a very hitter-friendly environment. Clear boost to the bats.

Tigers vs Yankees odds

• Moneyline: Tigers +115 | Yankees -135
• Run line: Tigers +1.5 (-190) | Yankees -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 7 (-115) | Under 7 (-105)

Tigers vs Yankees trend

Detroit has only hit the moneyline in 17 of its last 50 away games (-18.20 units, -33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Yankees.

How to watch Tigers vs Yankees and game info

Tigers vs Yankees latest injuries

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PHOENIX — It wasn’t the first time a Giants starter learned of Tony Vitello’s plan when the first-year manager began to implement it or let it be known to the press.

Tyler Mahle first and foremost blamed himself for not realizing that his workload would be limited in his second start back from the injured list, or where his pitch count stood when the fifth inning began in Monday’s 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.

But these are things that shouldn’t require a pitcher to wonder, or even be especially alert.

The Giants, and Vitello, have a pitching coach, an assistant pitching coach and a director of pitching. 

But neither Justin Meccage, nor Christian Wonders, nor Frank Anderson, in addition to Vitello, apparently felt it was necessary to relay to their starting pitcher that he would only have 85 pitches to work with before he took the mound, or that he was 18 away from reaching that limit when the fifth inning began.

“I didn’t know the pitch count, or else I probably would have went about that [last] at-bat differently,” Mahle said. “I thought it was just going to be normal. But I guess I should’ve realized. It was my second start back. It’s not like I was going to throw 100 today.”

Mahle, however, was left to guess. And with that logic, he determined the best plan of attack against Ketel Marte with two runners already on base and one out in the fifth was to pitch around Arizona’s best hitter.

Marte had nine hits in 16 previous at-bats against Mahle, including three doubles and his third homer against him leading off the game. He added a second walk to his ledger on Mahle’s final five pitches, then came around to score on the bases-clearing double from Geraldo Perdomo that followed off Sam Hentges.

The three-RBI knock put the Giants in a 5-1 hole and they never recovered.

“I didn’t realize I was on a pitch limit of like 85 or whatever, so Ketel was up there and he’s done well against me, so I’m like, I’m not gonna give him anything to hit, and then walked him,” Mahle said. “And then I got taken out.”

For whatever surprise came over Mahle when he saw Vitello emerge from the dugout, it would have paled in comparison to the reaction from Logan Webb if his no-hit bid in Milwaukee had stayed intact much longer. Vitello said he planned to pull his ace, also in his second game back from the injured list, despite Webb’s (light-hearted) insistence that he would have gone all the way to 200 to finish the job.

Wires got crossed in Webb’s next start, resulting in him coming out after 99 pitches and Keaton Winn blowing a save and injuring his elbow in the process, pitching in his third straight game.

Now more than halfway into the first season of his unprecedented endeavor as the first college coach to take over a big-league club, Vitello has been asked a few times lately about lessons he’s learned.

A common theme in his answers has been how rare it is to get the entire team together in one room.

“Everybody’s on a different schedule,” he said the other day. “Getting the team on the same page is one of our responsibilities. I don’t want to say it’s tricky, but it’s definitely different than what it was from my prior experience.”

The issues go both ways: When a group of Giants pitchers decided they were going to protest the team’s Pride Night, Vitello said he had “no idea” that they were planning to write Bible verses on their caps, in violation of MLB’s uniform code, stirring a national controversy that has become a three-week distraction.

And it’s not like Mahle was the only player who didn’t have his head in the game Monday night. Victor Bericoto forgot the count and got caught meandering between first and second base, though there’s not much first base coach Shane Robinson could do about that one.

Does that communication sound “inadequate” or “not clear”?

After all, those were adjectives straight from Rob Manfred that the commissioner used to describe the Giants’ organization under Vitello and their equally green president of baseball operations who hired him straight from the college ranks, Buster Posey.

Remember the qualities Posey said he was looking for in Bob Melvin’s replacement? He wanted a manager who was “obsessive about the details.” Does this look like that?

You don’t even have to look that far into the past to find another example of a player expressing surprise at the manager’s decision to pull him from a ballgame.

Rafael Devers, for one reason or another, didn’t think he was about to be lifted for a pinch-runner in last Sunday’s loss in Miami, despite representing the tying run after reaching to lead off the ninth inning.

The star first baseman (and slow runner) publicly upstaged his rookie manager.

At least Mahle had the grace to put the blame on himself.

“Looking back, it was probably obvious that I wasn’t going to throw more than 15 pitches more than my last start after not starting for a few weeks,” Mahle said. “I didn’t even really think about it. It’s pretty normal to progress by 10, 15 pitches, so I should’ve realized that. And I didn’t realize where my pitch count was in that inning. I guess I did throw a lot in that inning.”

Mahle didn’t exactly do himself any favors when he walked the leadoff batter and gave No. 9 hitter Tommy Troy a two-strike fastball that was hittable enough for him to lift it into right field.

Before the fifth, he had been cruising since allowing a leadoff home run to Marte.

The pocket of the order starting with Perdomo was predetermined to be a target for Hentges, Vitello said, especially given Mahle’s pitch count. They were only expecting five innings from him in his last start against the Braves but needed only 70 pitches to make it through 5 ⅔.

“We were gonna go to 85 pitches with him, and I think he landed literally right there on the dot,” Vitello said. “That was the spot we were going to Sam, regardless. If [Mahle] would’ve rolled 1-2-3, he would’ve just started the [next] inning. It didn’t work out. He didn’t throw the ball as well as he did against the Braves.”

Whether or not that feedback was communicated to Mahle, however, was not clear.

And, as he learned, it’s not same to assume on this team.

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The Mets are signing infielder/outfielder Christopher Morel to a minor league deal that includes multiple opt-out dates, per multiple reports.

Morel, 27, struggled badly for the Marlins this season before being released.

In 73 plate appearances over 22 games, Morel slashed .162/.219/.206 (.425 OPS, 22 OPS+) with zero home runs.

He had a .684 OPS in 105 games for the Rays in 2025 after posting a .634 OPS in 152 games with the Rays and Cubs in 2024.

Morel's best season came for the Cubs in 2023, when he had an .821 OPS and 26 homers in 107 games.

The versatile Morel has experience at every defensive position except catcher, but is a below average fielder at nearly all of them.

The Yankees offense keeps finding new lows to achieve. They’ve managed one or fewer hits through seven innings in back-to-back games, have lost five straight, and mustered just 12 hits across their last four games, which is the fewest hits over a four-game span in franchise history. Yes, three of their best hitters are out injured, but this is a lineup that has not looked MLB-caliber for alarmingly frequent stretches of late.

The division-leading Rays had the day off, so New York only sinks a half game in the standings, but there was other action around the AL to recap.

Toronto Blue Jays (40-45) 2, New York Mets (35-50) 1

George Springer is second all-time behind Rickey Henderson on the career leadoff home run leaderboard, but I reckon today was the first time in his professional career that he hit a leadoff Little League home run. Leading off the bottom of the first, Springer looked like he lined a run of the mill single to left field. However, Juan Soto completely whiffed the ball on a half-hearted attempt to field it, allowing the ball to roll all the way to the wall, where A.J. Ewing subsequently booted it and Soto didn’t even bother to throw it into the infield as Springer completed his mad dash around the bases to open the scoring.

They would double their lead in the fifth, Luis Urías leading off with a double, advancing to third on a grounder, and scoring on a Myles Straw sac fly. That was all they would manage against Sean Manaea, who logged one of his better starts of the season – 5.2 innings allowing two runs on three hits and two walks. However, that wasn’t enough to outshine Trey Yesavage and his 6.2 innings of one-run ball on just three hits and no walks. That lone run came courtesy of a Francisco Lindor solo shot to lead off the seventh. The Mets had their chances late, but stranded a pair in each of the final two innings to allow Toronto to snap their six-game losing streak, the Mets joining the Rockies as the only two NL clubs with 50 losses.

Texas Rangers (43-42) 6, Cleveland Guardians (44-41) 3

The Rangers opted for a bullpen game, opener Tyler Alexander and bulk man Chris Paddack combining for five innings of two run ball to get the better of Parker Messick, Cleveland’s standout rookie pitcher suffering a rare stumble allowing four runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings. Josh Jung opened the scoring after leading off the fourth with a double and advancing a base each on a pair of ground outs. Cleveland responded with a pair in the fifth, Gabriel Arias demolishing a leadoff home run before Austin Hedges reached with a single and scored on a Chase DeLauter double.

Cleveland’s final run came courtesy of a wild pitch in the seventh that allowed Brayan Rocchio to score from third, but their pitchers were helpless to stop a five-run onslaught from the Rangers in the final four innings. Jake Burger provided the first with an RBI single in the sixth following singles by Evan Carter and Jung. Two more came in the sixth, Cameron Cauley tripling with one out to set the table for an RBI single from Nicky Lopez and an RBI double from Justin Foscue. Foscue would provide the killer blow in the ninth, his two-run double plating a pair after Alejandro Osuna singled, Cauley walked, and Carter singled, though he was only credited with one RBI thanks to a misplay by Steven Kwan in left.

Seattle Mariners (43-43) 6, Los Angeles Angels (36-50) 2

Cole Young had himself a day, the Mariners’ second year second baseman going 3-for-3 with three RBI and collecting the first multi-homer game of his young career. The first came to lead off the third and the second was a mammoth two-run shot in the sixth to put the final nail in the Angels’ coffin.

Los Angeles actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Zach Neto leadoff double and Denzer Guzman RBI single in the first and a two-out solo shot from Neto in the third. However, George Kirby locked the door from there and would finish the game with eight strong innings allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk against seven strikeouts.

It was all Seattle from that point forward, Young’s first home run cutting the deficit in half. They grabbed their first lead an inning later, Randy Arozarena getting plunked and Josh Naylor reaching on an error by Guzman at third that allowed both runners to advance into scoring position to set up a two-run single from Cal Raleigh. It was still a 3-2 game at that point until the sixth inning rolled around, a Dominic Canzone lead off blast followed by a Naylor walk and Young’s second home run providing more than enough insurance to secure the win.

Former New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza’s tenure came to an unceremonious end last week, with little more than a passive-voice social media post and a combative press conference with General Manager David Stearns. With the team coming off an embarrassing series against the Chicago Cubs and officially falling into the depths of the wild card standings, the club decided to move on.

Some would say this move came too late; others would reserve most or all their venom for Stearns, his formulas, and his questionable roster construction. Either way, the Mendoza era is over, and his legacy is mixed. He’ll always be associated with the incredible 2024 playoff run, but also with a classic Mets collapse in 2025, followed by a classic Mets underperformance in 2026.

Mendoza finished with a 207-200 record as Mets skipper, which is ninth all-time in wins, and his winning percentage (.509) is ranked seventh. He joined Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra, Davey Johnson, Bobby Valentine, Willie Randolph, and Terry Collins as the only managers to lead the team to Game 6 of the NLCS or better.

Of course, looking purely at wins, losses, or winning percentage can be misleading. Mendoza may have a better percentage than Berra (.497) or Collins (.486), but no Mets fan is picking Mendoza over those two. Berra and Collins both won the NL East and the pennant as managers, while Mendoza’s playoff run will always be remembered as lightning in a bottle, aided by an expanded playoff.

The ’24 Mets squeaked into the postseason thanks to a 12-team format implemented in 2022, a benefit many of Mendoza’s predecessors didn’t enjoy. Had that format been around, maybe we’d look at Randolph’s time as manager differently. Randolph was also eventually fired midseason like Mendoza, but the collapses of 2007 and 2008 loom large for his legacy. Had the expanded postseason been around then, Mets fans would have fewer bad memories. Still, Randolph’s NLCS run with the beloved 2006 squad and subsequent flameout echo the Mendoza era.

Mendoza also had the benefit of a star-studded roster during his time with the Mets. Former manager Dallas Green managed a similar number of games (512) as Mendoza, but his best players according to WAR during his two full seasons were Jeff Kent (3.2) and Brent Saberhagen (5.7). Kent, a Hall of Famer, was still young and a few years off from being a perennial All-Star and a regular in the top 10 of MVP voting. Saberhagen was at the end of his best years on the mound with his two Cy Young awards in the rearview mirror. By contrast, Mendoza had healthy prime seasons from Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Juan Soto. Lindor and Soto are on pace for the HOF, while Alonso could have a case if his power numbers continue deep into his 30s.

Jerry Manuel managed 417 games after taking over for Randolph, the closest of any former manager to matching Mendoza’s length of stay. Unlike Mendoza, Manuel’s Mets teams were largely aging and injured. He never reached the playoffs, and certainly didn’t have as memorable a tenure as Mendoza.

Hired to replace Buck Showalter before the ’24 season, Mendoza pledged his allegiance to Gary, Keith, and Ron before the team came out and stunk it up through 55 games. Then, like a miracle, the team flipped a switch and made the deep playoff run. Mendoza finished third in NL Manager of the Year voting and beat the winner, Pat Murphy, and his Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card series.

The ’24 Mets turnaround came at least in part due to Mendoza moving Lindor to the leadoff spot in late May of that season, which helped unlock the lineup for a strong finish. Lindor recorded a .922 OPS with 24 home runs after the change, which was probably one of the single best lever pulls Mendoza made during his tenure.

The Mets opened the ’25 season where they left off in ’24, winning a bunch of games. Under Mendoza’s watch, the Mets were the winningest team in baseball between June 1 ’24 and June 1 ’25. However, Injuries started to pile up, and the team derailed, missing the playoffs with an embarrassing loss to the Marlins in Game 162.

The Mets used an MLB-record 46 pitchers in ’25, prompting criticism from former Mets pitcher Adam Ottavino. A key bullpen arm in the playoff run of ’24 but no longer on the team, Ottovino ripped Mendoza and the club’s approach to handling the pitching staff.

“This is embarrassing, this is actually pathetic, like pathetic. I would’ve never let this happen if I were on the team last year,” Ottovino said regarding the steady stream of pitching injuries. “At least half of these guys wouldn’t have blown out. I would have protected these dudes myself; I would have had to jump in front of them myself. Unfortunately, there was nobody willing to stand up and talk to Carlos (in 2025).”

With a revamped roster for ’26, the Mets have been a disappointment in nearly every way. Injuries to Lindor, Soto, Clay Holmes, and a host of other expected contributors, combined with the lineup’s questionable approach and the general underperformance of an expensive roster, made Mendoza’s firing inevitable.

While Ottavino was quick to criticize Mendoza as early as last year, current Mets players like Lindor felt they had let Mendoza down.

“We failed Mendy,” he said after the firing. “I failed Mendy. I didn’t play to my capability to help him win as many games as we could. And yeah, this one’s on us as well.”

His time as manager ended with a whimper, but Mendoza’s role in the NLCS run stands out in Mets history. Based on results, the top tier of New York managers has to include World Series-winning skippers Hodges and Johnson. The second tier belongs to pennant winners and beloved long-term managers like Berra, Valentine, and Collins. Mendoza’s postseason success and win count probably put him in a third tier with Randolph. Time may soften the lows and sharpen the highs of the Mendoza era. In other words, we’ll always have 2024, even if that’s about it.

A baseball season can go in so many different directions. The San Diego Padres came home from a dismal 4-5 road trip, but no time to feel sorry for themselves. The homestand brought a fierce test against two of the National League’s top World Series contenders.

The Padres swept the Eastern Division-leading Atlanta Braves before losing two out of three to the dreaded Los Angeles Dodgers in a pivotal three-game series last weekend.

Despite going 4-2 on the homestand, the series loss to the Dodgers offered a picture of how fast momentum can disappear. 

Dodgers crashed the party

The Friars have their troubles against the Dodgers. We cannot use the litany of injuries as an excuse because their Opening Day lineup also struggled to score runs. Every missed scoring opportunity has left a bad taste in the Friar Faithful’s mouth.

It is time for the Padres to turn the page and refocus on what they do best. The bats will have to figure out their issues with the Dodgers on their own. No question, the lineup can score runs, but the hitters are failing to make the necessary adjustments against quality pitching. 

The Friars are best when they play small ball.

How did the Padres transform from a power-hitting to a small-ball lineup?

A month ago, the lineup was failing to meet expectations. The offseason signings were awkward fits on the roster. The front office revamped the look; now, the Friars resemble a team with connecting parts.

Still, changes to the lineup do not guarantee success on the field. The new-look Padres had Fernando Tatis Jr. and Samad Taylor at the top of the order. Both players have responded with a hot streak at the plate.

Tatis Jr. has broken out of his season-long power slump by pushing his batting average to .282 with 3 HR and 31 RBI in 82 games. 

Taylor has provided a much-needed spark to the offense since his call-up from the minors. He has posted a .319 batting average with a .793 OPS in 20 games. Taylor has shown excellent plate discipline, especially behind the count with two strikes. The stat that catches your eye is his low chase rate (21.2%). Opposing pitchers are having trouble recording outs against Taylor.

The lineup changes did increase run production, but the bats went cold against the Dodgers. The batters missed several opportunities to take the lead with a clutch hit. The Friars left 47 runners on the bases during the homestand. The lone saving grace is a 4-2 record heading back on the road.

A team with postseason aspirations, the Padres have to do better in run-scoring situations. 

Despite the occasional misstep, the Friars have managed to stay in playoff contention, but they still have work to do. The front office needs to shore up the holes in the lineup if they want to compete for a postseason berth.

Season Record: 42-42

Week Record: 5-2

Series Record: 13–13, 1 split

GAME 78: 4-3 Win @ Miami Marlins

GAME 79: 4-6 Loss @ Miami Marlins

GAME 80: 2-4 Loss @ Miami Marlins

GAME 81: 6-5 Win @ Toronto Blue Jays

GAME 82: 5-4 Win @ Toronto Blue Jays

GAME 83: 7-3 Win @ Toronto Blue Jays

GAME 84: 3-2 Win @ Toronto Blue Jays

The Rangers had a great week even though the Miami series didn’t really inspire hope for it. 

They lost the series against the Marlins but then swept the four game series in Toronto in pretty spectacular fashion. 

Going back to their one win in Miami, Alejandro Osuna had a great use of ABS challenge. he challenged a called strike three to end the inning and ended up getting himself a walk to continue the inning. 

And that’s where the good luck ended that inning because no one seems to know what the actual rule is for blocking the plate. 

They faired much better north of the border. Texas scored in the first inning of all four games and the of the four wins were by one run. Their largest win was actually a bullpen game. 

Ezequiel Duran also had an amazing steal of second that needs to be remembered in Texas Rangers history.

I feel like I say this every good week they have, but I hope they latch on to this and ride the momentum. Should be easier to do since they’re not going into an off day and continuing the road trip in Cleveland.

The Rangers are now first in the division with a .500 record which I’ll celebrate while really that’s kind of crazy to finally be at .500 and that’s what brings you to first place? This division has turned abysmal, but first is first so.

Texas also has the best record in the American League since May 29th.

Morning all and welcome to Tuesday!

The club got their teeth knocked in last night in the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They lost 9-4 in what was probably the worst start to date from rookie Gage Jump. These things happen and Jump was always bound to have a bad start sooner or later. The important thing for him and the A’s is to not let him dwell on a tough outing. The Dodgers’ lineup is chock full of star hitters and worse pitchers have gotten hit harder than Jump last night. How will he respond next time out after experiencing some headwinds?

The series continues tonight and the A’s are desperate for a win. They’re riding a three-game losing streak and at 40-45 are now fourth in the AL West, three games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers, who are themselves hovering around .500 at 43-42. And with two other teams ahead of the A’s in the division the squad can’t afford to fall too far back in the race for the West. They’re still just 2 1/2 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot but again, with multiple teams ahead of them. It’s going to be a challenge to jump everyone if the A’s don’t start getting back to winning.

That’s easier said than done against the reigning World Series champions. The club will try to do just that tonight however. They’ll be hoping that veteran Jeffrey Springs can put together back-to-back quality starts and provide the A’s with a chance to get a victory. He’s had a rough June with an ERA nearing 10 but he’s coming off a solid outing last time out against the Angels. How he fares against the other Los Angeles’ team’s lineup will determine if the A’s can secure win #41 tonight.

The A’s bats will also need to show up more than they did last night. The club is missing four key pieces of the lineup in Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, and Zack Gelof. They’re going to be out for a bit longer so the A’s will need to get better performances from some of the young guys who have been waiting for just this opportunity. Perhaps no one has a better chance to carve out a role than Colby Thomas, who blasted a home run in last night’s loss. Or maybe Joshua Kuroda-Grauer can help stabilize the infield after his great 3-hit debut performance.

First pitch is at 6:40. Have a great day everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Drop Series Opener To Dodgers 9-4
• A’s roster moves: Massive Shakeup
• It’s Harder To Win When You Don’t Understand Your Own Personnel
• A’s Suffer Heartbreaking Defeat Against Giants
• Fun Parallels To 2012 Emerging
• Robbie Ray Stymies A’s as Giants Take Game No. 1
• A’s roster moves: Gelof to IL, Williams recalled
• A’s Squander Chances, Fall to Pirates in Series Equalizer
• As a ballpark rises in Las Vegas, owner John Fisher is pitching his A’s — and himself
• What’s next for the Oakland Coliseum? The future is ‘not bright’
• Alvarado’s return so dominant, he’s inviting a lofty comparison
• Why Front Office And Manager Should Be Embarrassed By Today’s Game
• Some Easy Fixes Rocket Science Aren’t
• Athletics’ Devin Taylor Emerges As All-Around Talent
• From celebratory pool dip to the A’s, Meneses’ journey back to Majors a memorable one
• Athletics Could Deal Hottest Triple-A Bat This Summer
• Status Report: Uncertainty Persists In 5 Places On The Diamond

MLB News and Interest:

• Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. in concussion protocol after collision
• Suzuki delivers Cubs’ MLB-best 10th walk-off win of 2026
• Reds’ Dane Myers taken to hospital after crashing into wall
• Astros to place Jeremy Pena on IL with calf strain
• Reds Planning To Activate Hunter Greene This Weekend
• Max Muncy playing 3B and batting 7th … for both teams?
• The biggest Trade Deadline need for every playoff contender
• Yankees’ Fried to throw live BP that will include Stanton
• Marcus Semien To Miss Extended Time With Grade 3 Hip Flexor Strain
• NEW: Updated Top 100 Prospects list — highest risers, new faces and more
• Rangers Designate Jarred Kelenic, Joe Ross For Assignment
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Some updates on a couple injured A’s:

Another look back at Kuroda-Grauer’s successful debut last night:

Love baseball:

Good morning! The Mariners returned home with a 6-2 win last night over the Los Angeles Angels. Furious George pitched a full eight innings with seven strikeouts, one walk, and just two earned runs, while his run support came in the form of two towering home runs by Cole Young and one from Dominic Canzone.

Bryan Woo takes the mound tonight at 6:40 PM against Angels RHP José Soriano.

In Mariners news…

• Rob Refsnyder has been placed on the 10-day IL with right knee inflammation amid his struggles at the plate.
• Part of the Mariners’ recent offensive decline can be explained by their possession of one of the worst slugging percentages in the league.
• MLB has named Mariners top prospect Kade Anderson as the No. 1 pitching prospect in all of baseball.

Around the league…

• New York Mets infielder Marcus Semien has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 hip flexor strain and is expected to miss at least 4-6 weeks.
• Houston Astros outfielder Jeremy Peña has been placed on the 10-day IL with a mild left calf strain.
• The Texas Rangers have signed RHP Chris Paddack to a major league deal and added him to their active roster.
• The Cincinnati Reds plan to activate RHP Hunter Greene this weekend for his 2026 season debut.
• Minnesota Twins reliever Anthony Banda has been placed on the 15-day IL due to a left lat strain and will miss multiple months.
• The Athletics have placed outfielder Tyler Soderstrom on the 10-day IL with a left hip impingement and shortstop Jacob Wilson on the 10-day IL due to right thumb inflammation.
• Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his back and will be shut down for multiple weeks.
• When the New York Mets activate Jorge Polanco from the IL in the coming weeks, he is expected to assume the role of designated hitter.
• The Chicago Cubs recorded their league-leading 10th walk-off win of the season thanks to outfielder Seiya Suzuki’s deep single.

Becca’s picks…

• An entertaining day of World Cup action brought two wins via penalty shootout, with Paraguay securing a massive upset over Germany and Morocco taking down the Netherlands in both a chaotic and emotional match. Yesterday’s third match also featured a dramatic stoppage-time goal from Brazil to defeat Japan and keep the team’s hopes alive.

This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”

Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (36-44, 13.5 games back)

The Storm Chasers split their 6-game series against the Columbus Clippers. At the plate, Abraham Toro went 7 for 24 with a pair of doubles and homers, driving in 5. Gavin Cross, who has struggled this season, went 7 for 19, with a homer and a double. Rudy Martin Jr., who just got promoted from Double-A, went 4 for 13 with a homer. And finally, Brett Squires was 9 for 19, with a double, triple and a homer.

On the mound, Kris Bubic made a pair of rehab appearances, throwing twice. In those two outings, he threw 3 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out a batter. Ryan Ramsey returned from the injured list and threw 5 innings of 1 run ball, allowing 4 hits and striking out 2. I’d like to see Ramsey get a shot with Kansas City this year, I mean can it be any worse than what Mitch Spence has done so far? Randy Dobnak made another start, going 6.1 innings, allowing 8 hits, 3 runs, striking out 5. Ben Sears threw 4 scoreless innings of relief over two appearances, allowing 2 hits and striking out 2 batters. Sears is a 26-year-old right hander. The Royals drafted him in the 14th round of the 2022 draft out of Houston.

The Storm Chasers remain at home this week, taking on the Indianapolis Indians, the series runs from Tuesday through Sunday.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals (30-43, 18 games back)

The Naturals lost 5 of 6 to the Springfield Cardinals. On the mound, Felix Arronde made a pair of starts, totaling 11 innings, allowing 8 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, walking 1 and striking out 12. Arronde is a profile to keep an eye on, he is only 23 years old. Hunter Patteson went 5.2 innings in his one start of the week, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, walking 4 and striking out 5. Dennis Colleran and Brandon Johnson both had scoreless outings this week as well.

At the plate, outfielder Spencer Nivens went 8 for 22, with 3 doubles and 2 homers, driving in 4. Nivens spent time on the injured list but is slashing .288/.388/.494 this season in 156 at bats. The Royals took him in the 5th round in 2023 out of Missouri State. Carson Roccaforte was 5 for 22 with 3 doubles and a homer.

The Naturals return home this week to take on the Corpus Christi Hooks, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Quad Cities River Bandits (32-39, 12 games back)

The River Bandits lost 4 of 6 to the South Bend Cubs, one of the best teams in High-A. At the plate, outfielder Luke Pelzer had a great week, going 7 for 18. Pelzer was drafted in the 17th round last season out of Illinois-Chicago. He is slashing .344/.408/.498 this season with 22 stolen bases. The 23-year-old could see a promotion soon. Elsewhere, Blake Mitchell was 5 for 21 with a homer and 3 runs driven in.

On the mound, Kendry Chourio made his second start in High-A, going 6 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 run, walking 2 and striking out 4. Through two starts in High-A, against two of the best teams, Chourio has gone 10.2 innings, allowing 9 hits, 8 runs, 6 earned, walking 2 and striking out 14. 23-year-old righty Tanner Jones made 2 starts, totaling 10 innings, allowing 8 hits, 3 runs, walking 3 and striking out 10. Jones is a 6th round draft pick in 2024 out of Texas A&M. David Shields went 6 innings of 1 run ball, allowing 3 hits, walking 1 and striking out 7 in his only start of the week. Shields has struck out 27 batters in his last 16.2 innings.

The River Bandits return home this week to take on the Cedar Rapids Kernels; the series runs from Tuesday through Sunday.

Columbia Fireflies (38-37, 5 games back)

The Fireflies won 4 of 6 against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. At the plate, catcher Jhosmmel Zue went 6 for 18, with a homer and a double, driving in 6 runs. Zue is 22 years old and from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela. Sean Gamble went 5 for 25 with a triple. Gamble has had a good month of June at the dish, slashing .260/.389/.384. Josh Hammond went 9 for 25, including a 4 for 4 game. Hammond also smashed a double and homer. Hammond has been consistently good at the dish this season, with a .293 average for the season, but is hitting .309 in June.

On the mound, Jose Gutierrez had another quality start, going 6.1 innings, allowing 4 hits, no runs, walking 1 and striking out 6. Gutierrez could see a promotion soon as well. Darwin Rodriguez went 7 innings, allowing 5 hits, no runs, walking 1 and striking out 6 in one of his starts during the week. Rodriguez is a 22-year-old lefty from Naguanagua, Venezuela.

The Fireflies return home this week to take on the Fredericksburg Nationals; the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.