With a busy day across the big leagues, I've found huge value in my MLB same-game parlay predictions.
Bryce Miller is in line for another quality start against the Detroit Tigers, while Braxton Ashcraft should also toss a gem against the Atlanta Braves.
Mariners at Tigers SGP: Dingler Keeps Raking (+415)
Dillon Dingler is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. Over the last week, he owns a 63.6% hard-hit rate and 18.2% barrel rate. During that span, he's posted a .476 ISO while going 7-for-21 with 10 RBIs. Another hit should be well within reach here.
Bryce Miller has averaged nine strikeouts per nine innings across his last two outings, and he's cashed the Over in two of his last three starts. The Detroit Tigers own a 22.6% strikeout rate against right-handed pitching this season and struck out 10 times in the series opener.
Keider Montero is averaging 8.49 strikeouts per nine innings over his last two appearances, and the Seattle Mariners carry a 22.5% strikeout rate on the road this season. They're also 24th in MLB in team strikeouts, creating another favorable spot for Montero to rack up punchouts.
Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Mariners.TV, DSN
See full analysis of this game in our Mariners vs. Tigers predictions.
Pirates at Braves SGP: Ashcraft Deals (+430)
Braxton Ashcraft has been one of Pittsburgh's most reliable starters lately, posting a 2.34 xERA and 2.30 FIP across his last two starts while limiting opponents to a 6.3% barrel rate.
The right-hander has also shown excellent command, issuing just 0.73 walks per nine innings during that span, which bodes well for both Ashcraft Under legs.
Oneil Cruz rounds out the SGP after posting a 16.7% barrel rate and 92.3 mph average exit velocity over the last week. The Pittsburgh Pirates slugger is 6-for-14 in June, with five of those hits coming via singles.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SportsNet Pittsburgh, BravesVision
See full analysis of this game in our Pirates vs. Braves predictions.
Rays at Marlins SGP: Caminero Stays Hot (+288)
The Tampa Bay Rays send Shane McClanahan to the hill today against the Miami Marlins. He owns a 2.82 FIP across his last 10.1 innings of work and has cashed the Under on earned runs allowed in both starts. McClanahan has also limited opponents to a barrel rate below 10% during that span.
The matchup is favorable as well. Miami is hitting just .199 over the last week while carrying a .299 wOBA. McClanahan has surrendered only seven hits across his last two starts, putting both Under legs in a strong position.
Junior Caminero rounds out the SGP. The Rays slugger owns a 66.7% hard-hit rate and .500 batting average over his last six games, recording a single in three straight contests.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rays.TV, Marlins.TV
See full analysis of this game in our Rays vs. Marlins predictions.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
SGP picks: 0-1, -1.00 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The New York Mets visit the San Diego Padres tonight, and I'm expecting first-inning fireworks at Petco Park.
That matchup will headline my top MLB picks today for the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.
Here are my best NRFI predictions and YRFI picks for Saturday, June 6.
Best NRFI/YRFI predictions today
Pick
Odds
/ - NRFI
-115
/ - NRFI
-115
/ - YRFI
-105
Mariners at Tigers: NRFI (-115)
The Seattle Mariners hand Bryce Miller the ball today, and he's been dominant over his last two outings, posting a 1.87 xERA while walking just 0.90 hitters per nine innings.
While the Detroit Tigers have been red-hot offensively, Miller's command and impressive 20.8% hard-hit rate across his last 10 innings should keep them at bay in the first.
As for Detroit, they hand Keider Montero the baseball, and he's been incredibly reliable. He owns a perfect 11-0 NRFI/YRFI record in 2026 and has posted a 2.85 FIP and 2.36 xERA across his last two starts.
Those underlying numbers suggest he's well positioned to continue that success against Seattle.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Time: 1:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DSN, Mariners.TV
Orioles at Blue Jays: NRFI (-115)
The Baltimore Orioles send Kyle Bradish to the mound in Game 2 of the series, and he's allowed a run in the first inning just once in 12 starts.
Bradish owns a 3.58 xERA across his last 13 innings of work and a hard-hit rate of just 30% during that span. Additionally, 52.5% of the contact against him in his last two outings has been on the ground, suggesting he's doing a good job of keeping hitters from elevating the baseball right now.
Braydon Fisher, meanwhile, will be the opener for the Toronto Blue Jays before they turn it over to the rest of the bullpen. He has a 2.15 FIP at home this season, and Fisher has yet to allow a first-inning run across the three starts he's made.
His 2.95 xERA over the last month only adds appeal here.
I'll play this pick up to -130.
Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
Where to watch: MASN, Sportsnet
Mets at Padres: YRFI (-105)
New York Mets SP Nolan McLean has allowed a 42.9% hard-hit rate over his last 27 innings of work, and he owns an alarming 6.30 FIP during that span.
The San Diego Padres have only scored 11 times in the first inning this season, but this is a favorable matchup against a pitcher who has struggled to limit hard contact and owns an 8-4 NRFI/YRFI record.
As for Griffin Canning, he has a 6.79 xERA across his previous two starts while allowing a 53.1% hard-hit rate and 15.6% barrel rate. In other words, Canning is getting absolutely torched lately, and he's also walked 3.69 hitters per nine innings over his last 11 2/3 frames.
Between the consistent hard contact and inability to pound the zone, the Mets could jump on him early.
I'll play this pick up to -140.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Padres.TV, SportsNet New York
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 15-30, -4.35 units
What is a NRFI prediction?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) picks add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The New York Yankees have teed off on left-handed pitching all season long.
My Red Sox vs. Yankees predictions expect their success to continue against Ranger Suarez on Saturday.
Let's take a closer look at my MLB picks for June 6.
Who will win Red Sox vs Yankees today: New York Yankees (-135)
Ranger Suarez has started four games against teams ranking Top-10 in OPS vs. left-handed pitching – and they didn’t go so well. He allowed 13 runs and posted a 6.13 ERA during those games.
The New York Yankeeslead the majors in OPS against lefties so they’re a prime candidate to cause Suarez problems.
Even without Aaron Judge, they’re well-equipped to do so. They have five lefties in their projected lineup – Suarez has struggled against left-handed hitters – as well as lefty masher Paul Goldschmidt.
Look for the bats to lead the Yankees to victory. Playable to -145.
Red Sox vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-110)
The Yankees rankTop-3 in OPS, ISO, OBP, xWOBA, and hard hit rate when facing left-handed pitching. They’re an elite offense across the board and should do plenty of damage against Suarez.
The Boston Red Sox are capable of chipping in a few runs. They have hit righties very well over the past four weeks, sitting ninth in wOBA, ninth in ISO, and fourth in batting average.
Will Warren has a brutal track record against the Sox as well. He allowed 15 runs over three starts against them last season while averaging just 14.3 outs.
Play the Over to -120.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 24-19, -0.68 units
Over/Under bets: 20-21-2, -3.71 units
Red Sox vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Red Sox +115 | Yankees -135
Run line: Red Sox +1.5 (-175) | Yankees -1.5 (+150)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-110) | Under 8.5 (-110)
Red Sox vs Yankees trend
New York has hit the Game Total Over in five of their last seven games (+3.9 units, 52% ROI) Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Yankees.
How to watch Red Sox vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Saturday, June 6, 2026
First pitch
7:35 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Red Sox starting pitcher
Ranger Suarez (2-3, 3.38 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (7-1, 3.22 ERA)
Red Sox vs Yankees latest injuries
Red Sox vs Yankees weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
A busy Saturday in the MLB features a full 15-game slate and tons of juicy MLB player props to pick from.
Shohei Ohtani, Jeremy Pena, and Jacob Misiorowski are all featured in my favorite MLB picks for Saturday, June 6.
I’ll break down why all three will dominate on the diamond today.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Jeremy Pena
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-142
Jacob Misiorowski
Over 8.5 strikeouts
+120
Shohei Ohtani
Over 1.5 total bases
-116
Jeremy Pena Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
Jeremy Pena has been on fire this past week, batting an even .500 with Over 1.5 hits, runs, and RBI in four straight and nine of his last 12 outings.
Pena and the Houston Astros will face Athletics starter Kade Morris, who is set to make his MLB debut on Saturday.
The 23-year-old has not exactly been impressive in Triple-A this season, posting a 4.45 ERA and 1.47 WHIP over 11 starts, but the Athletics are desperate for arms of any kind with starters Luis Severino and Aaron Civale both sidelined.
Pena is hitting .304 vs. righties this season, and a ridiculous .375 at Daikin Park.
A scorching Pena facing a 23-year-old making his MLB debut? Play this one up to -150.
The Milwaukee Brewers sophomore leads the majors in strikeouts (108) and K/9 (13.7), while ranking first among starters in WHIP (0.79).
Misiorowski has punched out at least eight batters in eight straight starts, with Over 8.5 strikeouts in five of those contests. He’ll enjoy the upper hand against the Colorado Rockies tonight, one of five teams in the MLB to average more than nine Ks per game.
Misiorowski’s Whiff% is in the 98th percentile, thanks to his four-seamer and curveball, which are both getting whiffed nearly 50% of the time.
Seventy-four of Misiorowski’s 108 strikeouts have come by way of his fastball, which averages out at 99.9 mph. He’ll match up very well against the Rockies, who have struck out 190 times against the four-seamer this year — more than any other team in the majors.
I’m playing this prop up to +100, and I’d recommend looking at Misiorowski Under 1.5 earned runs as well.
Time: 9:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rockies.TV, Brewers.TV
Shohei Ohtani Over 1.5 total bases
After getting off to a sluggish start, Shohei Ohtani has officially returned to his MVP form.
The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar leads the majors with a .362 batting average over the last 30 days to go along with a stunning 1.056 OPS.
Ohtani has smacked Over 1.5 total bases in six of his last eight games and is poised to pad his stats tonight against the rival Los Angeles Angels and their brutal pitching staff.
Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz posted a 7.85 ERA and 1.81 WHIP over six starts in May, while his xBA and Hard-Hit% both rank in the Bottom 25th percentile this season.
Kochanowicz throws his sinker nearly 40% of the time — a pitch that Ohtani is hitting .313 against when facing righties. He’ll be backed up by the worst bullpen in the majors, which sports a 5.14 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.
I’d play this prop to -130. You could also look at the extra-base hit market, where Ohtani’s getting pretty juicy odds.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ABTV, SportsNet LA
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 1-4, -3.1 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses with the Los Angeles Rams mascot prior to the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on December 21, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Many football fans will hate-watch the Los Angeles Rams in 2026 following their blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett. The Rams have become the NFL’s version of the Dodgers, a star-studded powerhouse willing to do whatever it takes to win, and being disliked comes with the territory.
If you know anything about the MLB, you already know that the Dodgers are pretty darn good. This is a team that has won back-to-back World Series and has five 100-win seasons in the last decade. Much of their latest success can be attributed to superstar Shohei Ohtani, who, like his team, is also pretty darn good.
All great hated teams like the Dodgers have that one player who can do it all, and Ohtani is that guy for them — and he was a luxury addition for them, like Garrett is for the Rams. He signed with Los Angeles in the 2024 offseason after the team was coming off an early postseason exit. Since then, he has won two straight NL MVP awards while leading the two-time reigning champs, with a third in sight.
Seeing the rich keep getting richer drives opposing fanbases bananas, and there is little that anyone can do about it, no matter how much they complain.
It almost feels unfair when the elite squads add the best players in their sport, but they’re only playing by the rules. Don’t hate the player or the game; instead, hate the league powers that be who have allowed it to happen.
No one should hate on the Rams or Dodgers for having the killer instinct that most everyone lacks.
Historic: The 2026 Rams are now the first team in NFL history to have a roster with the most recent NFL MVP and most recent Defensive Player of the Year.
Perhaps the aggressive roster-building strategy from both teams can be attributed to where they play. Los Angeles is a crowded entertainment market as it is, and more so on the sports scene.
This is a city forced to choose between multiple teams in each of the four major North American sports leagues. If you cannot figure out a way to stay nationally relevant in L.A., you risk becoming an afterthought in an oversaturated market or becoming the Angels.
The Rams were already must-see TV following their NFC Championship run last season. They have an NFL-record seven primetime games in tow, and that was before acquiring Garrett. Whether or not this is their year, their all-in approach will draw more eyes to them than ever before.
That is why Hollywood’s current sports scene is unmatched.
So go ahead and hate away, ya stinky rotten haters. Get the popcorn ready if you must because this is the price of embracing an all-in mentality. The Dodgers have thrived for years under that spotlight, and the Rams appear destined to follow in their footsteps this season. It’s lonely at the top, but in L.A., attention is money, and no one’s spending it better than the Rams and Dodgers.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Christian Scott #45 of the New York Mets prepares to pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on June 05, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets shut out the Padres 5-0 behind a strong performance from Christian Scott, who earned his second major league victory. Jared Young and Luis Torrens both homered for the Mets and Bo Bichette contributed a key RBI triple in the third. The Mets’ bullpen was solid yet again with Huascar Brazobán helping Scott navigate out of trouble in the sixth and Luke Weaver and A.J. Minter logging a scoreless inning apiece.
A four-hit night from Kyle Schwarber powered the Phillies to an 8-6 victory over the White Sox, as the Phillies find themselves in playoff position for the first time since April 7.
Despite the Phillies’ incredible turnaround since Don Mattingly took over as manager, Mattingly still has mixed feelings due to the reason he is in his current position to begin with.
Over at The Good Phight, they opined that the Phillies may need to change up their lineup again to kickstart the struggling offense.
Mauricio Dubón drove in three of the Braves’ six runs in their 6-3 win over the Pirates at Truist Park.
Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach is throwing on flat ground but still has “a long way to go” in his recovery timeline.
The Nationals’ high-octane offense was at it again as they walloped the Diamondbacks 14-1.
Nationals lefty DJ Herz, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, made his first rehab appearance yesterday in the Florida Complex League.
The Marlins were blanked by Drew Rasmussen and the Rays 5-0 in Miami.
Marlins top pitching prospect Thomas White has been diagnosed with a capsular sprain in his throwing shoulder and may miss the rest of the 2026 season.
MLB owners are framing the salary cap as a way to end local TV blackouts, as their proposal to the union involves eliminating the territory system that defines the current media landscape in baseball.
Ginny Searle of Baseball Prospectus took a look at the current playoff odds picture and how it has changed from Opening Day. Not surprisingly, the Mets’ playoff odds have dropped the most of any team.
Michael Baumann of Fangraphs wrote about the Gerrit Cole contract now that there are just two and a half years remaining on his pact with the Yankees.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 13: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs before the game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 13, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tides gave up three runs in the first inning and it was basically over from there. At least starter Trace Bright nearly threw a quality start despite that first-inning run outburst, holding the Stripers scoreless for the rest of his 5.2-inning performance. But two runs apiece off Cameron Weston and Josh Walker put the game out of reach.
Norfolk’s offense was a no-show. They managed only four hits, though two of them were solo homers by Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Luis Vázquez. Tides hitters struck out nine times and walked only once, and they had only a single at-bat all game with a runner in scoring position. Heston Kjerstad and Creed Willems each went 1-for-4.
Um…ouch. You didn’t misread that score. The Baysox really did lose 19-3. They were down 10-1 by the third inning, then gave up eight runs in the ninth inning. Before delving into the box score, I assumed that all those ninth-inning runs came against a position player on the mound, but sadly, no. It was an actual pitcher, Daniel Lloyd, who gave them all up, including a grand slam and a two-run homer. His ERA rose from 4.63 to 7.23 in a single outing. He’ll have better nights.
Starting pitcher Luis De León, one of the Orioles’ top pitching prospects, had the worst performance of his professional career. In 2.1 innings, he was torched for 10 (ten!) runs, on nine hits and four walks. Like Lloyd, the outing blew up his season ERA, from 4.89 to 6.80. Meanwhile, Chesapeake’s offense was held in check besides Ethan Anderson’s solo homer and Carter Young’s two-run single, which did little to change the final result.
High-A: Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees) 14, Frederick Keys 13
What a humdinger this one was. The Keys, one night after getting held hitless through six innings, certainly found their bats again with a 13-run explosion. They scored seven runs in the fifth inning alone and at one point led this game 10-3. But the Renegades responded with a seven-run frame of their own in the eighth to steal the game away.
Let’s start with the positive stuff. Nearly every Keys hitter did something good, sparked by rehabbing leadoff man Enrique Bradfield Jr., who reached base three times, scored three runs, drove in two, and stole a base. Unheralded hitters like Douglas Hodo (4-for-5 with a homer) and Colin Yeaman (3-for-5, two RBIs) had big days. Top prospects Wehiwa Aloy and Ike Irish went just 1-for-9 combined, but Aloy drove in three runs and Irish one. The Keys went 7-for-22 with runners in scoring position.
Now for the bad news, which was, obviously, the pitching. Four of Frederick’s five pitchers gave up at least three runs, including starter Caden Hunter. The quintet issued nine walks in the game. Reliever Raimon Gomez particularly struggled, giving up five runs in less than an inning, while Jacob Cravey took the loss by allowing the last three.
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 6, Augusta GreenJackets (Braves) 0
Thank goodness for the Shorebirds, who kept the O’s affiliates from being swept on this day. It was a whale of a performance from Delmarva’s pitching staff, led by left-hander Stephen Still, a recent free agent signing out of independent ball. Still worked 5.2 scoreless innings and struck out nine. Relievers Brendan Parks, Eccel Correa, and Zac Lampton combined to complete the shutout.
This was a 0-0 game into the late innings before the Shorebirds erupted for three runs in the seventh and three more in the ninth. First baseman Miguel Rodríguez broke the scoreless tie with a two-run single, and later Braylon Whitaker contributed a two-run knock of his own. Jaiden Lo Re, a fifth-round pick last year, hit his first Low-A home run, off of a guy named Landon Beidelschies. I can’t decide which of those names is more fun.
May 22, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) reacts after the game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Last week, when I was reading Sam’s piece about the messy state of much of the American League, I was struck by how many teams now mired in a rut were considered by many prognosticators to be contenders coming into the season. The AL East was supposed to be a four-horse race between New York, Boston, Baltimore and Toronto, with Tampa Bay bringing up the rear; instead, it’s been the Rays and Yankees vying for the lead, with the Orioles, Blue Jays and Red Sox still on a long march to .500 ball.
If we look over to the AL Central, the Tigers offer a harrowing picture of how fast baseball can come at you. Although they did fritter away a huge division lead to the Guardians last year, they exacted revenge on them in the Wild Card Series, and took the Mariners to Game 5 in a tightly contested ALDS. In the offseason, they declared their intent to claim the division title by signing Framber Valdez on February 4th. Four months later, they now find themselves nearly sharing the cellar with the Royals — themselves a preseason dark horse candidate — with a 26-38 record, 9.5 games out of first place.
The National League offers even more examples of unmet expectations. The Mets had a weird offseason resulting in many awkward fits on the roster, but the collection of talent was undeniable. No one would have batted an eye if they had brute-forced their way to a 90-win campaign this year. Instead, they’re last in the division, 14.5 games back of the first-place Braves, and 5.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot, trailing everyone in the Senior Circuit except for the Giants and Rockies. The Cubs haven’t collapsed to that extent, but compared to their preseason hype—FanGraphs gave them the highest playoff odds in their division—their 33-31 record is certainly underwhelming; they’ve been extremely streaky at best. And while the Phillies have done well to scrape their way back up the standings after a horrific start and the ousting of their manager, they’re still barely hanging on to a Wild Card spot under interim skipper Don Mattingly with a -20 run differential.
What does this all mean? The most obvious, and nonetheless true, answer, is that baseball is unpredictable. However, although it certainly has its fair share of random variance, that isn’t to say that teams have absolutely no control over how their seasons will play out. If that were the case, why even spend so much time and money trying? Even in a topsy-turvy season like this one, certain teams are making good on their preseason promise – think of the Dodgers, Braves, Brewers, and (perhaps to a lesser extent) the Guardians and Mariners.
Turning our focus to the Yankees specifically, why have they fared relatively well in a season where so many other would-be contenders have not? My view is that design and luck are equally involved; and cleanly separating the two is harder than you’d think.
First things first: I think the Yankees are, on the whole, a well-run organization. Shocking, I know. But with the sheer amount of criticism directed towards the front office, manager, and coaching staff every day, it’s easy to lose sight of this. By and large, the Yankees do things right. They’ve developed core talent (Schlittler, Rice) and solid role players (Warren, Schmidt, Volpe, Wells). They’ve shelled out for top-of-the-market talent when the opportunity arises (Judge, Cole, Fried, Rodón, Bellinger). They’ve made savvy trades for impact players (Chisholm, Bednar, Cruz) while retaining their most coveted prospects (Lombard Jr., Rodríguez, Kilby, Lagrange). They haven’t remained contenders for the better part of a decade now out of sheer luck; their success is deserved in many ways.
But while the Yankees have done a lot of things right, they’ve also had a lot of things go right for them (at least until Judge’s stress fracture). This becomes apparent when you consider the various pitfalls that befell other teams this year. Say, for example, you’re trying to build a contender on the backs of highly regarded young talent – that’s great! But consider the Orioles. Adley Rustchman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and Samuel Basallo are definitely a fearsome foursome. But for a team with postseason aspirations, the trick is to have them all be good at the same time, and that hasn’t happened yet.
That isn’t a comment on the talent of the four youngsters; I fully expect all four to have productive careers. It’s a comment on the unpredictability and non-linear-ness of player development. Even the most highly regarded prospects can struggle at the MLB level, and even young stars can take a step back after a breakout year. The fact that both Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler have built on their strong showings last year and are posting elite numbers this year does suggest that the Yankees’ player dev is working well. But the fact that both young stars’ upward trajectories are so closely aligned, I think, is close to a miracle — at least, it’s not something that you can engineer, or count on.
Likewise, there is an element of luck with any aspect of roster-building. Marquee free agents or trade acquisitions can bomb (Bo Bichette) or get injured (Dylan Cease, Garrett Crochet); you can try to gauge which players are at risk, but you can’t predict them with 100% accuracy, and that’s where chance gets involved. And when you trade prospects for big-league pieces, there’s always the risk of the player you got underperforming while the prospects you traded away flourish (Caleb Durbin for Kyle Harrison; Dustin May for James Tibbs III). It’s easy to criticize these moves with the benefit of hindsight, but the reality is that there’s always risk involved, and the Yankees are not impervious to that.
So, when you consider the fact that the Yankees have managed to stay competitive for as long and as consistently as they have, it’s important to acknowledge the things they did right — and the things that went right for them. Hopefully, the Yankees’ brass themselves do so too. If they focus only on the former while paying no mind to the latter, that would lead to complacency and a false sense of security — something that they might already be guilty of.
Jun 5, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubon (14) hits a two-run home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Mauricio Dubón and the Atlanta Braves had a successful night after Friday’s 6-3 defeat of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Braves improved to 43-21 and are 20-11 at Truist Park. Dubón continued his hot streak, and in four at-bats, he recorded two hits, three RBI, and two runs.
He’s homered in three straight games and is hitting well over .300 with runners in scoring position. Dubón and the Braves aim to ride the momentum as the series continues this afternoon at 4:10 ET.
More Braves News:
Walt Weiss provided an update on the injured Spencer Schwellenbach, who “has a long way to go” in his recovery timeline.
Cade Kuehler struck out eight on Thursday down on the farm. More in the minor league recap.
In MLB Pipeline’s latest mock draft, the Braves are projected to take a LHP and an outfielder.
The New York Yankees have officially placed Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured list with a stress fracture in his rib. The move is retroactive to June 2.
From the Feed:
Cast your vote here for Braves Player of the Game.
Chris Sale spoke with 680 The Fan to discuss Didier Fuentes.
Jun 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) pitches during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Roki Sasaki did not figure in the decision on Friday night, through no fault of his own as he struck out his MLB-high 10 Angels in seven scoreless frames. The right-hander has allowed five total runs (four earned) over 24 1/3 innings in his last four starts, with 29 strikeouts against only five walks.
You might have seen after Sasaki’s seventh inning on Friday, he was seen in the dugout smiling and laughing in a long conversation with Dodgers strength and conditioning coach Travis Smith. Maddie Lee at the Los Angeles Times wrote about Sasaki’s maturity in his second major league season, as well as his relationship with Smith and the coaching staff:
“This year, especially, I feel like we’re focusing on talking about game plan and sequencing, because I feel healthy right now,” Sasaki said. “Last year I got hurt, so I’m thinking about my mechanics, all that stuff. So this is a big difference right now.”
Jay Jaffe earlier in the week at FanGraphs looked at Sasaki’s strong May performance, and dug into the details. “Sasaki’s better command and reconfigured repertoire have made for a most welcome development.” Jaffe wrote.
After Wednesday’s win in Arizona, during which Ohtani allowed two hits and a walk in six scoreless innings and also reached base five times while batting, catcher Will Smith said, “He’s the best player that’s ever walked this earth,” per Katie Woo at The Athletic.
(Original Caption) Reds-Braves. Cincinnati: Braves owner Ted Turner gives some over the dugout advice to his field general, Eddie Haas, before his Atlanta team took the field against Cincinnati, April 30. Atlanta won the game, 8-4.
Yesterday, it was reported that Eddie Haas, former Atlanta Braves manager – and long-time member of the organization – passed away on June 4 at 91.
Eddie has had a brief MLB career, debuting with the Chicago Cubs in 1957 and then playing in 41 games with the Milwaukee Braves across the 1958 and 1960 seasons. The outfielder hit his only career home run with the Braves in 1960. He twice played with the organization in the minors, including the last three seasons of his playing career, ending in 1964 at age 29 playing for the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate in Denver.
Haas transitioned to coaching after his playing career ended and debuted as manager with the Braves organization in 1966 in Yakima Valley. He’d managed each season in the Braves organization until 1973 when he transition to minor league hitting instructor. He joined Atlanta’s major league staff in 1974 and spent four seasons with the big league club before returning the minor league managerial ranks in 1978.
Haas would take over as manager at Triple-A Richmond in 1981 where he would manage until midway through the 1984 season when he returned to the big leagues, joining manager Joe Torre’s staff. After Torre was dismissed following the ‘84 season, the organization named the then 50-year-old Haas as Torre’s replacement.
Haas would spend only 121 games at the helm of Atlanta, going 50-71, before being relieved of his duties by Bobby Wine.
Haas would remain in the game as a scout, joining the Montreal Expos organization in 1986 where he’s stay through 1994 before joining the Boston Red Sox in 1995 where he’d work until retiring after the 2003 season.
Bill Shanks was the first to report the news of Haas’ passing, which was first covered on The Feed.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 04: Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants up to bat against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on June 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close this weekend, which means it’s time to make our picks for Player of the Week!
It should come as absolutely no surprise that my pick for this week is Jung Hoo Lee! As of the time I am writing this, Lee has a 12-game hit streak going, and he’s racked up 20 in the last seven games alone. I’m always a huge fan of Lee, but this last couple of weeks have made me even more of one. I’m still kicking myself for not buying his jersey while I was at the park this year.
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue their series against the Chicago Cubs this morning at 11:20 a.m. PT.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 20: Colorado Rockies outfielder, Zac Veen walks back to the dugout after striking out during the first 2026 spring training game at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 20, 2026. The Arizona Diamondbacks went onto beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) was the player I hoped would be my favorite Rockie by now.
Hope can be an unfair thing to put on a prospect. Prospects are projections, not guarantees. Their timelines are rarely clean, and prospects should not become stand-ins for what we wish our baseball team was.
But fans do this anyway.
I did it with Veen.
And it was easy. The Rockies drafted him ninth overall in the 2020 MLB Draft as a first-round talent out of high school, and the tools flashed enough during his early minor-league days to make the hype feel reasonable.
There were warning signs, too: High-velocity fastballs, chase, and injuries all complicated the path. But for a franchise desperate for anything resembling a future, Veen became an easy place to put that hope.
Spring training 2025 put the hype on full display, bat flips and all. The disappointment when Veen did not break camp with the Rockies was real, but he went to Triple-A, kept hitting, and quickly got the call.
Veen hit .118/.189/.235 with a .424 OPS and a 37.8% strikeout rate across 37 plate appearances, and the pitch-level shape was not much kinder. Fastballs beat him, breaking stuff neutralized him, and pitchers had a clear path through the zone. Veen was soon optioned back, and while he finished the year with a measured rebound in Albuquerque, the timeline had split from the dream.
By the end of 2025, Veen was no longer the same prospect.
Spring 2026 showed he was not the same person either.
Physically, Veen looked almost unrecognizable. This was not the same wiry kid. He showed up built out. The energy was still there, but the body was different: thicker, stronger, and more physically mature.
If spring 2025 was about hype, spring 2026 was about transformation. And the unseen transformation mattered more.
“Definitely one of the bigger, main things was sobering up,” said Veen. “I had a pretty big substance abuse problem for a few years. But I’m completely clean and sober.
“There were times last year where it was out of hand. Coming home in the offseason, I had to look in the mirror and make some adjustments. And I definitely got closer to God, and it made me want to be the best version of myself in every aspect.”
Scouting reports describe the machine. Stats show the output. But they cannot show what it means to look in the mirror and decide something has to change.
For a little while, the baseball gave that change some joy.
Then the momentum was stopped by another injury. Veen landed on the 10-day IL on March 25 with a right knee contusion, went on a rehab assignment on March 31, and was activated and optioned to Triple-A on April 4.
The Rockies have not handed him anything. The new body, the honesty, the spring moment — all of it has to become baseball evidence.
And now, Veen is giving us reason to pay attention to the baseball again.
The present-tense case
Across 192 at-bats in Triple-A this year, Veen is hitting .318/.416/.489 with an .927 OPS, seven home runs, and 37 RBI. If the season ended today, his .505 slugging percentage would be his highest since 2021 with Fresno. Veen also has 13 stolen bases, second on the team.
The PCL and Albuquerque always demand some skepticism, but his overall line still grades out at a 122 wRC+, and he is hitting .360/.452/.562 with a 1.014 OPS away from Isotopes Park.
Against lefties, Veen is hitting .318/.396/.529 with a .925 OPS. Against righties, the slugging is lighter, but the on-base skill is carrying the profile at .318/.440/.486 with a .926 OPS.
For a left-handed corner outfielder, handling lefties creates a cleaner path to starts instead of protected usage.
But the surface line is not the most interesting part.
The real case is in the underlying shape: improved approach, more walks, and evidence that the fastball question is becoming less glaring.
Profile repair, not power breakout
Veen is not simply bigger now and therefore hitting the ball harder. His average exit velocity is roughly the same, and his 2025 Triple-A contact quality was stronger in several places: a .393 xSLG last year compared to .368 this year, and a 47.9% hard-hit rate compared to 43.4%.
The difference is the offensive shape. The walk rate has nearly doubled from 8.4% to 15.5%, the OBP has jumped from .359 to .422, and the strikeout and whiff rates have stayed in the same range. He is getting to a better line without needing every improvement to come from raw contact quality.
May showed the adjustment
May was the eye-opener outside the strike zone.
Veen saw more pitches outside the zone in May than he did in April and swung at far fewer of them. That was the adjustment: stop helping pitchers, force more pitches into the zone, and let the strength and athleticism play from better counts.
The results moved with it. As the strikeout rate dropped and the walk rate climbed, the production followed: Veen went from a .353 OBP and .393 slugging percentage in April to a .495 OBP and .617 slugging percentage in May.
Over the past two weeks, Veen has swung at 55% of the pitches he has seen, and there has been regression in the approach. He is still producing, hitting .444 with a .714 slugging percentage to start June, but a hot streak is not the same thing as development fully holding.
The approach gains need to show up more consistently because big-league pitchers already know how to beat him — even if there is progress there, too.
The fastball question
Veen’s first major-league look gave pitchers a clear plan, which makes the Triple-A fastball data meaningful.
The fastball data is encouraging because the worst version of the problem has started to recede. In 2024, Veen was underwater against four-seamers across the board, with a .274 xwOBA, .158 xBA, and 25.5% whiff rate. The contact quality started to recover in 2025, but the approach remained aggressive: he swung at four-seamers 51.2% of the time.
This year looks more like a hitter choosing better fastballs to attack. That swing rate has dropped to 43.9%, while the .354 xwOBA and .279 xBA are both his best marks of the three-year sample. The whiff rate has also fallen to 19.7%. The .371 xSLG is not as loud as last year’s .437, so seeing that slugging return toward 2025 levels would be a logical next step if the improved discipline holds.
If the fastball progress is the green light, the slider remains the warning label. Veen is still swinging at sliders 60.6% of the time, with a .200 xBA and 36.0% whiff rate against the pitch in 2026. That gives big-league pitchers a clear place to test him.
Veen’s 21.8% Triple-A strikeout rate is playable, but Triple-A strikeout rates usually climb in the majors. Based on the typical FanGraphs translation, his rough major-league expectation is closer to 26–27%.
Still workable, but the margin gets thinner. The walks have to come with it, the power has to show up, and the chase cannot balloon.
That is the line between progress and arrival.
The development is showing up in the right places: better decisions, better fastball results, more walks, and usable production. Veen is doing enough damage to start making another major-league look feel realistic.
The old version did not arrive on schedule. This one might.
Different timeline, different hope
The baseball case is stronger than it has been in a while, but this is where I keep coming back to Veen’s words.
He talked about looking in the mirror, making adjustments, getting closer to God, and wanting to become the best version of himself. None of that fixes chase rate. None of it guarantees another big-league role.
But the person matters.
Getting sober is hard. Not being sober is harder.
I know.
And maybe that is why the hope feels different now. The old hope was mine. It was about the player I wanted Veen to become for the Rockies.
Now the hope feels different. It is less something I am putting on him and more something I want for him.
I want Veen to feel hopeful about himself — not just about another call-up or a role with the Rockies, but about the life he is building.
The baseball still matters, and it is interesting again. But maybe the best part is that baseball no longer has to carry the whole story.
The Albuquerque Isotopes (33-28) got strong pitching performances but lost 1-0 to the Salt Lake Bees (31-29).
Blake Adams was excellent despite taking the loss. The right-hander allowed one run on three hits over five innings, walking one and striking out nine on 86 pitches. His only walk came in the first inning, and that runner scored on Josh Lowe’s RBI double for the game’s only run. Mason Green followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings and three strikeouts, keeping Albuquerque within one.
Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) was the standout on offense, going 3-for-4 with two singles and his second triple of the season. The triple came off a 95.6 mph fastball and left the bat at 109.8 mph. Drew Avans added two singles and Vimael Machín had the other hit, but the Isotopes could not turn the traffic into runs, going 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine on base.
Albuquerque had more hits, more stolen bases, fewer errors, and one fewer strikeout than Salt Lake, but the one run was enough. Isotopes pitchers also walked four batters, one more than the Bees, and the first of those walks came around to score.
The Hartford Yard Goats (29-24) scored six runs in the ninth inning to beat the Portland Sea Dogs (28-26), 8-7.
GJ Hill carried the offense. He went 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBI, and two runs scored. His solo shot in the second gave Hartford a 2-0 lead, and his three-run homer in the ninth cut Portland’s lead to 7-5. Hill is now hitting .220 with a .738 OPS, seven home runs, and 24 RBI.
Bryant Betancourt finished the comeback with a two-out, bases-clearing double in the ninth to put Hartford in front. It was his 12th double of the season, and he is now hitting .257 with an .810 OPS and 33 RBI. The Yard Goats had only five hits but drew 11 walks and turned their biggest chance into the deciding inning.
The game nearly got away from Hartford in the sixth, when Griffin Herring (No. 10 PuRP) allowed all seven Portland runs while recording just two outs. His ERA jumped to 14.85 after the outing. The bullpen recovered from there, with Cade Denton throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts and Andrew Baker striking out the side in the ninth for his fourth save. Baker now owns a 2.57 ERA.
The Spokane Indians (23-32) piled up 13 hits and went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position in a 12-5 win over the Hillsboro Hops (24-31).
Robert Calaz (No. 6 PuRP) led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI, two runs, a walk, and his eighth stolen base of the season. He is now hitting .262 with a .729 OPS. Jack O’Dowd also had a big night, going 2-for-5 with his fourth home run, two RBI, and two runs scored. O’Dowd is hitting .412 with a 1.245 OPS.
Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP) added the biggest swing of the sixth inning with a two-run homer, his fifth of the season, and finished with three RBI. Roynier Hernandez went 2-for-5 with his fourth homer and is now hitting .306 with a .827 OPS. Alan Espinal also reached four times, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two RBI, and a stolen base.
Jackson Cox (No. 16 PuRP) got the win after striking out 11 over five innings. He allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits, did not walk a batter, and has a 4.23 ERA on the season. Austin Emener handled the final four innings for his first save, allowing one run with two strikeouts. Spokane pitchers struck out 13 and did not issue a walk.
The Fresno Grizzlies (29-26) gave up seven runs in the fifth inning and lost 9-4 to the Lake Elsinore Storm (32-23).
Marcos Herrera took the loss after allowing nine runs on 11 hits over 4.2 innings. He walked four, struck out four, gave up two home runs, and his ERA rose to 9.28. Bryson Van Sickle kept the game from getting further out of hand, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings with one walk and one strikeout. He lowered his ERA to 2.84.
Carlos Renzullo had the biggest swing for Fresno, going 2-for-3 with his fourth double of the season and three RBI. He is now hitting .280 with a .725 OPS. Roldy Brito (No. 11 PuRP) went 2-for-4 with his 15th double and two runs scored, pushing his average to .332 with an .883 OPS. Tanner Thach added a hit and is hitting .357 with a 1.008 OPS.
Fresno had eight hits and went 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position, but Lake Elsinore had 14 hits, two homers, and 26 total bases. The fifth inning decided it.
On MLB.com, Thomas Harding explains the scoring change that took a home run away from Rockies rookie TJ Rumfield and turned it into a four-base error on Jo Adell. It is a tough break for Rumfield, who now has seven homers instead of eight, but the play gives him a pretty strange story about the homer he had for three days before MLB took it off the board.
In a Rockies On SI piece, Laura Lambert looks at the state of Colorado’s pitching staff as Ryan Feltner returns from the IL and Jimmy Herget and Victor Vodnik move closer to rehab outings. The article does not frame the Rockies as suddenly fixed, but it does point to a little more stability with Feltner returning to a decimated rotation and bullpen reinforcements on the way.
On Arizona Diamondbacks On SI, Alex D’Agostino looks at five possible left-handed bats Arizona could consider if it buys at the deadline, including Rockies first basemen TJ Rumfield and Troy Johnston. The piece notes both would fit the Diamondbacks’ need for a first base/DH bat, while also acknowledging the complication of trying to make an intra-division trade with Colorado.
I could post more PCA stories (and I probably did too many), but after I went through and posted the supportive and the mixed stories about his play, I came across a couple of closed-minded, well, fellows, who were looking for a new target for the shooting range. One guy’s title was “The rollercoaster Pete Crow-Armstrong experience is becoming far too much for Cubs.” He was below the “mixed” line, but only because his title was harsher than what he wrote. I do think that he either didn’t absorb what was happening or totally missed it with this short paragraph: “Even with the heroics on Thursday, PCA needs to reminded that he can’t give up on the play the way that he did once he realized the fly ball landed behind him. There’s no excuse, that was a bad look for Crow-Armstrong. Not the first he has had this season.”
Yes, PCA stood there in one spot, but he didn’t give up on the play. Running the video back few times, Happ and Suzuki were even with PCA at full speed, and as fast as he is, I don’t think he could have run them down in the next 60-70 feet. Plus, you don’t want three hands reaching for the ball. So, I think this author was “reaching’” in an attempt to match his tough-guy title.
“Athletics slugger Shea Langeliers hit one deep to center, and PCA could track the ball. Instead, he stood with open arms in the field trying to locate it. To make things worse, the ball landed way behind him.“ 1) Hopefully the first phrase was a typo because he couldn’t track the ball, or he would have made the catch. 2) I’m not an authority or a coach, but I was under the impression the main thing to do (other than scream ”I lost it!!!“ in front of 40,000 fans) is to hold your arms out in a non-waving position to signal to the other outfielders that he’s in trouble — that’s how Happ and Suzuki got the jump on getting to the ball. I mean, he could have dropped to the ground in a fetal position and waited out the play.
Here’s more: “MLB fans never hesitated to troll the slugger for his mistake.”
“How do Cubs fans still defend this bum?” one fan asked.
“Bro completely lost the ball in the lights and just stood there like it was someone else’s problem. Brutal,” wrote another fan.
“Then he just stares at it like a kid in t-ball,” another fan commented.
That’s only part of the comments IN the story. It doesn’t seem professional to use several comments by trolls to support your weak story. So it is a rather empty article without clear or original thought.
I’m sorry — I don’t think I’m here to critique other writers’ stories in detail, but I couldn’t let these two go as regular links below.
In much better news, I went to the Dodgers-Diamondbacks game Thursday night. Folks, you know how bad Dansby Swanson has looked at the plate? That is nothing compared to what I saw from Kyle Tucker — off-balance swings, weak contact on bad pitches, taking strikes. Beyond clueless. Dave Roberts seems to be one the nicest guys in baseball, but for him to say this about Tucker, “I think that it speaks to his toughness and fight to still try to perform,” Roberts said. “But it still wasn’t right, as far as not even close to being locked in.” That was almost a public flogging compared to his usual upbeat comments. TUCKER. LOOKS. BAD. That simple.
And I got a walk-off, too — Ketel Marte HR inside the foul pole. And that collision between little Vargas and the brick wall of Muncy? THAT was brutal. And no, I’m not becoming a D-Backs fan — I’m just passing the time until the Cubs come to town.
*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 5, 2026
Kevin Druley (Deadspin): Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Redemption Could Be Exactly What Chicago Cubs Needed. ““In the past I might have dwelt on that, and that always ends up affecting how you go about the rest of your day,” Crow-Armstrong said. “People having my back, me not hiding from the next at-bat, yeah, I’m growing up a little bit and I’m proud of that, but I’ve got to keep it going for the rest of the year.”“
Shaan Donahue (Just Baseball): Who Is Pete Crow-Armstrong as a Hitter? “It’s time to dive into the ever-fascinating Pete Crow-Armstrong and figure out exactly who he is as a hitter.”
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Jed Hoyer Reminds Us of the Other Major Consideration for Major Trades at the Deadline. “The World Series odds are such a driving force when it comes to doing harm to the future of your organization (which is, by definition, what these trades are: some level of long-term damage in exchange for near-term help).”
Jed Hoyer on trade deadline aggressiveness: “Your World Series odds are probably going to be correlated to your odds of getting a bye and getting a bye is such a big deal…A lot of that aggressiveness is based on that ability to get the bye.” 1/2
Even though a wild card-ish team could desperately need him more than a 1st place team, it's the one in first that might land him. In other words, the Cubs need to get moving up the standings if they want to add in a big way! 3/3
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs urged to pay whatever price it takes to acquire Tarik Skubal. “ESPN’s Jeff Passan is urging the Cubs to acquire Skubal for whatever price the Detroit Tigers ask for. It would be a bold move, but for the Cubs, with a struggling rotation, Skubal is just what they need to become a legitimate World Series contender.”
Joey Mistretta (Clutch Points): Cubs’ perfect trade offer for Red Sox’s Aroldis Chapman. “Breaking down the perfect trade proposal the Chicago Cubs could offer the Boston Red Sox for star reliever Aroldis Chapman.” (**Uh-no.**)
Jared Wyllys (Allchgo.com): Cubs’ skid won’t end until offense comes back to life. “Though the pitching staff has suffered myriad injuries, none of that matters all that much when the team isn’t scoring runs. In May, the Cubs ranked 27th in OPS, with or without runners in scoring position.”
Alex Bregman pushed back on the idea that seeing more breaking balls has led to his slow start to 2026, via @sahadevsharma.
“I really don’t think bat speed has anything to do with it. I think mechanics are everything, to be honest… I don’t really think the pitch type matters… pic.twitter.com/9WRQgoqnxX
— Baseball Is Dead (@baseballisdead_) June 2, 2026
Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports.com): How Two Returning Starters Could Strengthen the Cubs Rotation. “This has linked Chicago to potential trades for starters, but if these veterans could return at a strong level, then they may be able to keep some of their top prospects.”
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): A Certain Power-Hitting Cubs Prospect is Up to Number 67 in Baseball. “Josiah Hartshorn’s breakout this year has been so impressive – so complete – that I think it’s useful to highlight the REALLY WILD stuff when it happens, even if it keeps happening.”
Food For Thought:
Samuel McClain (April 15, 1943 – June 15, 2015), better known as Mighty Sam early in his career, and later billed as Mighty Sam McClain, was an American soul blues singer and songwriter. He was born in Monroe, Louisiana.[2] As a five-year-old, he began singing in his mother’s Gospel Church. McClain left home when he was thirteen and followed local R&B guitarist, Little Melvin Underwood through the Chitlin’ Circuit, first as his valet and then as lead vocalist himself at 15.
While singing at the 506 Club in Pensacola, Florida, he was introduced to the record producer and DJ, Papa Don Schroeder and in 1966, McClain recorded a cover version of Patsy Cline’s “Sweet Dreams”. Several recording sessions at Muscle Shoals produced the further singles. For 15 years, first in Nashville, Tennessee, then in New Orleans, McClain worked at menial jobs. McClain toured and recorded in Japan in 1989.
That’s at least three hours south of me. A friend saw one two hours to the northeast. Maybe they are closing in!
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 5: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates his two-RBI double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning of an MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 5, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
There was a whole lot of goodness in the Orioles 13-3 beatdown of the Blue Jays on Friday night, and perhaps just one small (for now) thing to worry about.
First, the good news. The Orioles looked amazing, even if it took a little while for the offense to get it going.
Adley Rutschman’s solo homer in the first inning is all they could muster against Blue Jays starter Trey Yesavage through the game’s first five innings. But they caught fire in the sixth, plating five runs and putting the game out of reach for a Blue Jays lineup that got shut down in the second half of the evening.
Rutschman was the star, going a perfect 4-for-4 with the homer, two doubles, and five runs driven in. His season totals are looking mighty fine after that performance. But he didn’t do it all alone. Coby Mayo hit a two-run dong. Jeremiah Jackson entered as a pinch hitter and had two hits and two RBI. Colton Cowser had two more hits and made a nice throw from right field. Gunnar Henderson reached base twice, scored two runs, and put pressure on the defense with his speed. It was just a really impressive group effort up and down the lineup.
The pitching was also good! Brandon Young got the win, tossing 6.1 innings and allowing three runs on seven hits, no walks, and four strikeouts. Then, the trio of Grant Wolfram, Yennier Cano, and Anthony Nunez combined for 2.2 shutout innings to close out the win.
The only thing we really need to be worried about is Samuel Basallo. He was the DH in this one, but exited early due to “right abdominal discomfort.” O’s manager Craig Albernaz described the decision to remove Basallo as “precautionary,” and that they will know more on Saturday. Sam Huff is already with the team as a member of the taxi squad, though he would need to be added to the 40-man roster if he is needed.
Losing Basallo for any amount of time would hurt. The rookie has been such an impactful part of their offense. He has also allowed Rutschman to get out from behind the plate more frequently, either as the DH or on the bench. Upending that balance could have some negative downstream effects. Fingers crossed this ends up being a day-to-day thing.
Links
Orioles injury updates and some mailbag questions | Roch Kubatko We got some positive injury updates this week. Chris Bassitt should be OK to make his next start. Ryan Helsley is set for a rehab stint next week. Dylan Beavers is hitting in the cage. And Dean Kremer is running and throwing live batting practice. Getting the team healthier would be a big boost!
The Draft is just over 5 weeks away! Here’s the latest mock | MLB.com The Orioles have the seventh overall pick in this year’s draft, which makes things a bit more interesting. Clearly, you can get good players deeper than that. Look no further than Henderson. But the draft is most exciting in the top half of the first round. Here are a bunch of names to get familiar with.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
The late Merv Rettenmund (b. 1943, d., 2024) was born on this day. The outfielder spent six seasons in Baltimore during the club’s Golden Age from 1968-73. He put together three different seasons with bWARs of 4.2 or better, with his standout campaign coming in 1971. That got him some down ballot MVP votes, finishing in 19th place for the award.
This day in O’s history
1993 – Cal Ripken Jr’s consecutive games played streak nearly comes to an end when his spikes get stuck in the grass and twist his knee. Although his knee will be badly swollen the next day, he plays anyway.
2010 – The Orioles beat the Red Sox 4-3 in 11 innings, ending a ten-game losing stream and giving interim manager Juan Samuel his first victory at the helm.
2012 – The Orioles beat the Red Sox 2-1 to retake sole possession of first place in the AL East.
SEA vs 
DET
PIT vs 
ATL
TB vs 
MIA
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- NRFI
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- YRFI
COVERS INTEL:
Jeremy Pena
Jacob Misiorowski
Shohei Ohtani
