The Mets defeated the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 5-4 on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field.
Here are the takeaways…
--Juan Soto came into the game on a 1-for-23 skid, but he snapped out of it in a big way. After hitting a double earlier in the game, Soto came up with the game tied at 4-4 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lefty JoJo Romero hung a 1-2 breaking ball, and Soto crushed it for a solo homer to give the Mets the lead.
Four of Soto's 14 home runs this season have come off of left-handers.
--It looked like the Home Run Derby was taking place at Citi Field early in this one. First, Alec Burleson, hunting for a first-pitch fastball, drilled a solo home run with two outs in the first inning. Burleson homered in all three games in the series.
The Cardinals hit two more home runs in the second, including a long Lars Nootbaar solo shot and a Jimmy Crooks two-run shot that followed a Masyn Winn double down the third base line that appeared to be foul.
Not to be outdone, the Mets hit a pair of their own off Cardinals starter Hunter Dobbins in the first inning. Bo Bichette demolished a two-run homer to quickly give New York the lead, and Jared Young went back-to-back.
After that power display in the early innings, the Cardinals led 4-3.
--Christian Scott gave up those early homers, but he battled to give the Mets 4.2 innings. The right-hander allowed four earned runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking one. He did not allow a run after the second inning.
-- The Mets answered back in the bottom of the fifth. Soto doubled to right-center, and he came around to score on a Young single, as the throw home got away from the catcher Crooks.
Young had a pair of hits and two RBI, continuing to prove himself as a formidable bat in the middle of the Mets' lineup.
-- It was a good day for the Mets' bullpen. A.J. Minter (1.1 IP), Brooks Raley (1.0 IP), Luke Weaver (1.0), and Devin Williams combined to go 4.1 scoreless innings without allowing a hit.
Game MVP
Soto, who had a pair of hits and hit the game-winning home run.
Jun 11, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) receives congratulations from third baseman Colt Keith (33) after he hit a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Don’t call it a comeback, but the Tigers bounced back for an 11-0 victory over the Twins on Thursday afternoon.
After a rough loss on Wednesday, the Tigers were happy for two things: no immediate rain in the forecast, and a chance to redeem themselves on the Thursday afternoon rubber match. They still had a chance to come away with another series win. To get there, they had Keider Montero on the mound, up against the wildly named Zebby Matthews. Zebby. I really need to dig into the lore there.
Montero got things started well for the Tigers, getting the Twins out 1-2-3. In the bottom of the inning, Kevin McGonigle continued to perform well with a leadoff double. A flyout from Gleyber Torres pushed McGonigle to third, and then a sac fly from Riley Greene brought him home, putting the Tigers on the board in the first. Dillon Dingler got on with a single, but they weren’t able to bring the second run in.
Royce Lewis was the first baserunner for the Twins with a two-out single in the second, but he was quickly sent packing as the final out of the inning ended the threat. The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom half, and hopefully, they remember how important insurance runs are given their recent history, and try to score a few.
It was another two-out single for the Twins in the third as Trevor Larnach got on, but the next at-bat was an out to turn things over. The Tigers, unfortunately, went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the inning.
Josh Bell got a one-out single in the fourth, then with two outs, a wild pitch from Montero allowed Bell to advance to second. Even with a runner in scoring position, though, the Twins weren’t able to make anything happen. With one out in the home half, Dillon Dingler doubled, and with two outs, a Colt Keith single brought him home.
Keith then stole second, and obviously Spencer Torkelson got my memo about adding runs, because he knocked a home run into left. Zach McKinstry walked, but the Tigers didn’t have any more runs in them for the inning. They were up 4-0 at the end of four.
Victor Caratini walked to start the fifth, but Montero got the next three out in order. The Tigers weren’t done adding to their lead. In the home half with one out, Gleyber Torres homered to right.
Montero continued to have a dialled in game, going through the Twins in order in the top of the sixth. In the home half, Kerry Carpenter got a leadoff single, then Keith followed that up with a home run. He got the silent treatment in the dugout after breaking that season long dry spell. Seriously, it seems almost impossible to not homer until June 11. McKinstry got a one out single, but no additional runs scored. The Tigers were up 7-0.
Royce Lewis got a one-out single in the top of the seventh and that was the end of the day for Montero, who was replaced by Tyler Holton. Montero’s final line was 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K on 96 pitches. Once again he attacked the zone relentlessly and was very efficient, with the fourseam, knuckle curve, and changeup doing the heavy lifting.
Caratini then singled off of Holton, but two outs followed getting the Tigers out of the jam. Zebby’s day was done, being replaced by Cody Laweryson. With one out, Riley Greene joined the home run party as well.
Dingler singled. Carpenter singled. Unfortunately Keith then batted into a force out to get Carpenter out. And a final out ended the inning.
The Twins went 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth. In the home half, catcher Alex Jackson came in to pitch and he was no Jake Rogers, giving up a home run to McKinstry. I think almost everyone has one at this point except maybe Rogers, who walked.
With one out, Wenceel Perez came in to pinch hit for Torres, and the first thing he did was hit a two-run homer while hitting right-handed against the right-handed pitching catcher. Say that three times, fast. Why not! Homers for the bench, too!
With a fairly safe lead here, the Tiges probably could have turned things over to Jake Rogers, but they let Beau Brieske come in for the ninth to try and get some stress free work in on his command. Brieske got the side out in order to bring home the game and series win. Love to see it!
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 10: Foster Griffin #22 of the Washington Nationals pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on June 10, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Due to the bullpen collapse it will be mostly forgotten, but Foster Griffin had yet another rock solid start yesterday. He has been such an outstanding addition to the rotation, and signing him out of Japan has proven to be an outstanding deal for Paul Toboni. On the season, Griffin now has a 3.46 ERA in 78 innings.
Foster Griffin goes 6 innings of 1-run ball on 100 pitches. He's going to be 8-2 with a 3.46 ERA and 1.090 WHIP.
While Mark understandably got ahead of himself assuming Griffin had an 8-2 record when the Nats got up by 8 runs, he has had a stellar season at 7-2. The Nats could not have asked for anymore when they signed Griffin on a 1-year $5.5 million deal this offseason.
Griffin was a first round pick by the Royals all the way back in 2014. However, the lefty struggled to meet first round expectations. He steadily climbed the ladder, but never truly stood out. In 2020 and 2022, Griffin had a couple cups of coffee in the big leagues, but was never able to stick. That is when he made the career changing decision to play in Japan.
He signed with the Yomiuri Giants, the most famous team in Japan. Griffin completely evolved as a pitcher while he was overseas. He had three outstanding seasons in Tokyo, posting a 2.57 ERA in 315.2 innings. Griffin also added a sinker, a sweeper and a splitter while he was in Japan. That gave him a 7 pitch mix that dominated in Japan, and after 2025, he wanted to see if it could dominate in the MLB.
Due to his lack of big velocity or flashy stuff, Griffin’s market was not overly lucrative. While teams lined up to give KBO star Cody Ponce multi-year deals, Griffin did not generate that kind of interest. Teams were willing to give him a flier though, and he ended up signing with the Nats, who gave him a spot in the rotation.
While analysts in the US did not give much thought to Griffin, those who follow the NPB closely felt the Nats got a steal. Yakyu Cosmo, who is a popular English language NPB outlet, said that Griffin’s deep mix and strong command made him bullish about MLB success. He also said that Griffin reminded him of Seth Lugo.
Griffin’s results and stuff have been very Seth Lugo like this season. He has a 3.46 ERA, and is slightly overperforming his underlying numbers. That is more or less what Lugo has done the past three seasons in Kansas City. Both use insanely deep arsenals to keep hitters off balance and deceive their way to success.
Having a deep pitch mix is en vogue these days, and Griffin is at the forefront of this revolution. Lance Brozdowski, an analyst I really enjoy, has been talking about starting pitchers increasing their mixes for years now. Griffin is one of those guys, and is able to have success despite none of his 7 pitches being elite.
looksmaxxing /ˈlʊksˌmæk.sɪŋ/ (noun)
Official definition: Maximizing the number of pitches in a pitcher’s arsenal to increase the number of looks a hitter must process, reducing their ability to recognize patterns and make adjustments.
Griffin’s craftiness makes him very fun to watch. He is able to mix and match at will and understands how his pitches play off of each other. Griffin does a great job tunneling all his pitches to give hitters as little time as possible to make a decision. Batters have to decide whether they are seeing a 4-seamer, a sinker, a cutter, a curve, a sweeper, a changeup or a splitter so quickly. A lot of those pitches look very similar out of the hand as well and then end up in completely different places.
This dilemma Griffin puts hitters into is a big reason why he has actually put up fairly strong strikeout totals. Griffin has 74 strikeouts in 78 innings, which is quite solid. You would not usually expect a guy who averaged 91.3 MPH on their fastball to have 8.54 K/9. However, that is exactly what Griffin is doing and it is because of how crafty he is.
There are some regression red flags here though. Griffin’s FIP sits at 4.75 and his xERA is 4.30. However, Griffin’s xFIP of 3.79 paints a more generous picture. A big reason as to why these numbers are high is because of how many home runs Griffin allows. He has given up 15 long balls on the season, and is allowing 1.73 HR/9. That has been the one Achilles heel in his game.
With Griffin’s mediocre stuff, he has to command the ball well. When he misses over the heart of the plate and the hitter guesses the right pitch, it tends to go far. I would expect Griffin to post an ERA around 4.00 from here on out, but even that would be overperforming pre-season expectations.
Paul Toboni only signed Griffin to a one-year deal, so he will have to make a decision on the lefty at the trade deadline. Griffin is likely to be a sought after rental in a market filled with pitching needy teams. However, if the Nats stay around .500 and in the Wild Card mix, it could create a bit of a dilemma.
If the Nats wanted to, they could offer Griffin a 3-year extension to try and keep him around. I tend to think that Griffin is likely to be moved at the deadline. If that is the case, it would be a bummer because I have really enjoyed watching him pitch. I would be very open to a Griffin reunion in the offseason as well.
Not every move Paul Toboni has made has worked out, but this one has been a complete win. Griffin has been a steady presence at the top of the Nats rotation and should provide value moving forward whether that is with the Nationals or in a trade.
Jun 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Tommy Troy (9) reacts after striking out against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The Dbacks were swept on Thursday for the second straight series against the Marlins dating back to last season and are now back at .500 on the season. They were shut out for the second straight day for the first time since July of last season. Not great notes.
Merrill Kelly did his job today going 6 strong innings allowing only 2 ER’s as he rebounded nicely from his previous start. Kelly did a great job today moving the ball around, changing speeds, and making big pitches when he needed to. He had some nice quick innings, and was able to limit the traffic on the bases. A very Merrill Kelly-esque start.
The offense simply could not get anything going today against the Marlins pitching as they were held to just 3 hits. I had the sense the offense may be in trouble today when the pregame was talking about how good of a splitter Marlins starter Phillips has as that really seems to be a pitch that causes this offense trouble. The Dbacks had some chances today with runners on base, unfortunately they couldn’t come through with the big hit going 0-7 with RISP and 2-30 on the series with RISP. Honestly there is really nothing to report here on the offense that is positive so I’m not really going to try.
You have to be leaving this series feeling like this was really a missed opportunity for this team. Especially given how well things were rolling just a couple of weeks ago when they were 7 games over .500. The Dbacks had an opportunity in this series against a young team with 2 pretty under-the-radar starting pitchers going for the Marlins. Especially after they battled well in the first game aginast Meyer and that felt like a game they could’ve won. Unfortunately it was the other 2 starters that really stymied the Dbacks offense as they failed to score the final 2 games of the series allowing the Marlins to complete the sweep.
The Dbacks will head to Cincinnati this afternoon as they desperately need to get this offense back on track. At lease the ballpark there has been good for offensive production in the past, and the team will get a couple of guys with ERA’s in the 4’s and 5’s, but no matter where they are or who they are facing the at bats really need to improve. Especially with guys on base. Here’s to hoping things will get better tomorrow.
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 11: Zebby Matthews #52 of the Minnesota Twins reacts after giving up a solo home run to Gleyber Torres of the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning at Comerica Park on June 11, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Twins were probably looking to end this stretch against American League Central opponents on a high note by taking the rubber match against the Detroit Tigers. However, the Tigers came out swinging early and often against Zebby Matthews, and… well… if you were planning to write home about this game, I wouldn’t.
Detroit started the scoring off right away in the first. Four pitches from Matthews to three batters and the score was 1-0 thanks to a Kevin McGonigle (no relation to Professor McGonagall from Harry Potter) almost-homer-but-ended-up-a-double, a Gleyber Torres fly-out to scoot McGonigle to third, and a sacrifice fly from Riley Green to bring him in. After sending the Tigers down in order the next two innings, the Kittens heated up again in the fourth: a Colt Keith (what an 1880s name) single brought in Dillon Dingler (surely he wasn’t teased about his name as a kid) and a Spencer Torkleson homer took the score to 4-0.
Thanks to the bullpen game last night, the Twins continued to ride Zebby for a couple more innings, whose velocity was down by a couple MPHs today. Torres hit a homer of his own to right field in the fifth while Keith hit his first bomb of the year – a two-run shot – in the sixth to knock the score up to 7-0.
The Twins offense notched a handful of hits here and there, but couldn’t piece anything together against Detroit starter Keider Montero, who made it into the seventh inning and was pulled in favor of Tyler Holton. Minnesota’s best chance to plate a run came here with runners on second and third with a couple outs and… well… they didn’t score, but Austin Martin struck out instead.
Cody Laweryson allowed a Greene homer in relief in the eighth while position-player-pitching Alex Jackson took the mound in the ninth to get knocked around and the final score was 11-0.
W: Keider Montero (3-4) L: Zebby Matthews (2-4)
The Twins return home to take on the St Louis Cardinals (they’re good: 37-28) for a weekend interleague set, beginning with a 710p Central start tomorrow night. Joe Ryan gets the call for Minnesota while Kyle Leahy will go for the Louis of Saints. I like their alternate uniforms.
STUDS
I guess Royce Lewis? 2-3, K
Alex Jackson: Twinkie Town “Stud” Participation Ribbon for pitching
duds
Zebby Matthews: 6 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, BB, 4 K, 3 HR
the remainder of Twins that participated in today’s game, namely: Trevor Larnach, Byron Buxton, Orlando Arcia, Kody Clemens, Josh Bell, Brooks Lee, Victor Caratini, Tristan Gray, Ryan Kreidler, Austin Martin, Cody Laweryson
COTG
falcontimmy was the only other TTer in the game thread today and kept the Twims honest, which I always appreciate.
SAN FRANCISCO — In some fairytale far, far away, the Giants’ miraculous comeback Wednesday was the demarcation point of a turnaround on a larger scale.
The walk-off grand slam didn’t merely complete a comeback from a 9-1 deficit in the eighth inning, these heroics could be the first of many from their heralded rookie on an equally daunting uphill climb back to the postseason from where they stood when the day began.
The Giants’ Bryce Eldridge celebrates after hitting a walk-off grand slam Wednesday against the Nationals. AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn
Hey, in the words of Matt Chapman, stranger things have happened.
“Whatever little reset button our position players hit when there was some frustration with what was going on on the mound was perfect,” manager Tony Vitello said. “I hope we can carry that over.”
In reality, fans should cherish Bryce Eldridge’s face-of-the-franchise moment — a raucous ending to one of the zaniest games at the corner of Third & King — because it is more likely to be an exclamation point in the middle of a paragraph than the beginning of a new chapter.
As the Eldridge era begins, the Giants sit 13 games below .500, eight out of a playoff spot. All-Star ballots are out; it’s not early anymore. Only one team in baseball history has risen from these ashes to make the playoffs: the 1914 Boston “Miracle” Braves.
Eldridge may be the franchise’s savior. But he’s not a miracle worker.
In many ways, the Giants have begun to show their true colors over the past month or so. Their lineup was never going to be as bad as its performance in April suggested. On the flip side, the relatively stress-free first month from their underinvested pitching staff was a predictable mirage.
Take, for example, their most recent win.
As Vitello said afterward, “It’s not easy to repeat as many runs as we put up in two innings,” and nobody should expect the Giants to pull off another caper like this one. (They had been 0-30 when trailing by any margin after just six innings.)
It would be easier to repeat when trailing by, say, only three runs, which is what the margin was when Robbie Ray left the game with two on and two outs in the sixth. The inherited runners became the 32nd and 33rd to score against the Giants’ bullpen this season, tied for sixth most in the majors, before the Nats proceeded to pile on five more.
The Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee and Eric Haase celebrate after the team’s walk-off grand slam Wednesday. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
As underwhelming as the Giants’ offense has been to begin the season, their fate was probably sealed this offseason when the front office failed to address the bullpen after trading Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval and losing Randy Rodriguez to elbow surgery.
Since ending April with the second-best bullpen ERA in the majors, Vitello’s any-role-goes relief corps has posted a 5.35 mark that ranks third from the bottom.
That isn’t a playoff-caliber bullpen when starting from scratch, let alone when needing to close the gap the Giants face.
Still, inside the clubhouse, Giants players are adamant they are a better team than their record indicates, despite their minus-51 run differential. And that may be the case.
“I don’t think our record reflects the energy in this clubhouse and how we feel about each other and we feel about our season,” Chapman said after their 2-1 win Sunday night against the Cubs in Chicago. “We feel like there’s a lot of baseball left, and there’s a lot of good that can happen.”
Chapman, Willy Adames and Rafael Devers all have long track records and have begun to show signs of life. The lowest OPS of the bunch now, at least, starts with a seven.
Eldridge, officially, has given Vitello every reason to keep him in the lineup every day — and maybe even move him up, a possibility the manager agreed there’s “potential for.”
Eldridge and Giants teammates enjoy the game-winning grand slam Wednesday against the Nationals. AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn
They could have a homegrown All-Star represent them in Philadelphia if Casey Schmitt keeps up his breakout campaign. Barry Bonds was the last Giant to reach 15 home runs as quickly.
Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Arraez are battling it out among the National League batting leaders, giving the Giants two of the top five. They are the first pair of Giants teammates with active hitting streaks of 11 games or longer since Angel Pagan and Pablo Sandoval in 2012.
As a team, believe it or not, the Giants became the first to 1,000 total bases in their win Wednesday. (The Dodgers passed them later that night.)
They had a league-low 13 home runs through their first 23 games of the season. The walk-off blast by Eldridge was their seventh grand slam in their past 23 games — their 36th homer.
So they may be capable of providing more exclamation points.
But, still, it’s unlikely this story ends in the postseason.
Tarik Skubal is back on the mound. His agent, Scott Boras, already has a name for what got him there so fast.
"The Skubal scope," Boras called it after Skubal became the first known MLB player to undergo a procedure using the NanoNeedle Scope 2.0. The minimally invasive device is the size of a toothpick and it helped remove a loose body from the two-time Cy Young Award winner’s left elbow.
Skubal, who is scheduled to start Saturday, June 13, needed just 12 days to get back on the mound for a full bullpen and just 32 days from surgery to his rehab start on June 7. The new technology knocked weeks off a surgery and rehab that normally takes more than two to three months.
It marked the beginning of a new way to treat one of baseball’s most stubborn and frustrating pitching injuries.
"Any time you can get in and out without leaving much of a trace at all, it’s a huge benefit," said Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the orthopedic surgeon behind some of the biggest procedures in professional sports.
ElAttrache, the team doctor for the Los Angeles Dodgers and NFL's Los Angeles Rams, had been waiting for the right case to try the NanoNeedle. Skubal, dealing with a single loose body and having the motivation of being in his final year of a contract, was it.
The right time, the right pitcher
The timing mattered as much as the technology. A pitcher who stops throwing in April or May doesn’t just pick up where he left off. He must reset back to spring training to ramp up. For Skubal, who is set to become one of the most coveted free agents on the market this offseason, every missed start carried extra weight.
"The nature of the procedure is one thing," ElAttrache said, "but the timing is the other."
Launched just last September, the NanoNeedle Scope 2.0 is made by Arthrex, a Florida-based medical device company. Traditional elbow surgery requires a scalpel to cut through the skin and tissue before a surgeon can even get inside the joint. The NanoNeedle punctures through like a needle, causing far less damage going in. Surgeons still need to pump fluid into the joint to inflate it so the camera can see what it’s working on. The NanoNeedle needs a fraction of what a traditional scope needs.
The less fluid pumped in, the less the joint swells, it lowers the pain and a pitcher is ready to throw quicker.
Ryan Keller, Arthrex’s senior product manager, said the NanoNeedle uses roughly one-seventh the fluid of traditional arthroscope. Keller said studies show patients who undergo the procedure rarely need so much as a Tylenol afterward.
Skubal wore a battery-powered patch called Jumpstart over the wound site, another Arthrex device. It sends a small electrical charge through the skin to kill bacteria and speed healing.
Before the procedure, Skubal had been pitching with a loose body that was starting to lock his elbow mid-delivery.
"You can imagine how disconcerting that is," ElAttrache said, “to have in the back of your mind, as a random warning that your elbow is going to lock in the middle of throwing 99 miles an hours."
A pitcher managing that can’t fully convince himself the problem is gone until he is throwing free and easy again. One the surgery was done and the swelling stayed down, he didn’t have to spend his first bullpen session wondering if he was going to feel it again.
He could just pitch
"You can’t get rid of the apprehension if your elbow is still sore," ElAttrache said. "He was able to get rid of that apprehension within his first bullpen throwing session."
Los Angeles Dodgers’ left-hander Blake Snell had the same procedure, but his case was more involved. ElAttrache said the recovery won’t match Skubal’s pace, but he expects it to cut Snell’s time off roughly in half.
He won’t be the last pitcher that benefits from it. Loose bodies keep coming. Already this season Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene and the Dodgers' Edwin Diaz have had them. It has become one of baseball’s most persistent and least glamorous injuries.
And until now, one of its most disruptive.
How the NanoNeedle will change sports injuries
The NanoNeedle won’t fix everything, but it can be used for other injuries.
ElAttrache said it won’t replace Tommy John surgery, but since it can go where other traditional tools can’t, it can help with shoulder injuries, meniscus tears and with spots that do not show up clearly on MRIs. A surgeon can now look directly at those areas with something the size of a needle and barely leave a mark.
And it’s advancing. The NanoNeedle Scope 3.0 is coming before the end of the year. Keller said it will have better image quality. Eventually he thinks it could replace traditional arthroscopy entirely.
Bigger than just baseball
ElAttrache’s mentor was Frank Jobe, the surgeon who invented Tommy John surgery.
Arthrex is getting publicity because of Skubal and Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who had surgery with the NanoNeedle before the 2024 Paris Olympics. But they also are also pushing into cardiovascular, obstetric and pediatric medicine.
So, a tool that will help save a pitcher’s contract year might end up changing how traumatic orthopedic surgery is for kids in the future.
ElAttrache has seen it before and it’s part of what drives him.
"The things you develop to help these famous athlete end up helping the masses," ElAttrache said. "Especially for kids. I see this as something that will be very useful to help kids."
Jun 2, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Over the past four weeks, the Jays are 14-12 with a 3.97 ERA
Hot
Kevin Gausman: 5 starts, 2-1, 3.14ERA. In 28.2 innings, batters hit .243/.278/.411 with 3 home runs, 5 walks and 31 strikeouts.
Two quality starts, one good start that went five innings and a couple of less great starts. At 35 he’s still a very good starting pitcher.
Louis Varland: 11 games, 2-0, 6 saves, 0.64 ERA. In 14.0 innings, batters hit .163/180/.204 with no home runs, 1 walks and 14 strikeouts.
He also had 2 holds. Louis allowed one earned run over the last 4 weeks (and two this season). I’m pretty amazed at the just one walk, as he had walked quite a few before that. He’s been amazing. We are very lucky to have him.
Braydon Fisher: 13 games, 3 as opener, 0-0, 2.08 ERA. In 13 innings, batters hit ..156/.240/.289 with 2 home runs, 5 walks and 18 strikeouts.
He had 2 holds. Yeah, he’s been terrific. He gave up one run in each of two appearances, and that was it.
Tyler Rogers: 12 games, 0-0, 2 saves, 1 blown save, 4.50 ERA. In 6 innings, batters hit .346/.414/.423, with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts.
Tyler had 7 holds. He gave up three runs in those 12 games, 2 in one games, and 1 in the next. I really enjoy watching him.
Adam Macko: 12 games, 1 as opener, 2-0, 3 holds, 1.50 ERA. In 12 innings batters hit ..244/.292/.333 with 1 home run, 2 walks and 8 strikeouts.
He was good and now he’s in Buffalo. The life of a reliever with options.
Cold
Patrick Corbin: 5 starts, 1-2, 5.48 ERA. In 23.0 innings, batters hit .269/.343/.484 with 4 home runs, 10 walks and 18 strikeouts.
There were also 8 stolen bases, with no one caught in the last four weeks. He’s averaged 4.6 innings per start. Maybe Spencer Miles should stay in the rotation and Corbin should go to the pen. He had one QS, one game that would have been a QS if he had pitched one more inning and three that were poor starts.
Jeff Hoffman: 12 games, 2-2, 5.91 ERA. In 10.2 innings, batters hit .268/.348/.439 with 1 home run, 4 walks and 18 strikeouts.
He had 2 holds. He had one blowup appearance (more than one run against, and it was epic) and two games where he allowed one run and 8 with no runs allowed.
Yariel Rodríguez: 9 games, 0-1, blown save. 8.64 ERA. In 8.1 innings, batters hit .343/.452/.543. with 2 home runs, 6 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Also had a hold. He’s been DFAed again. No one will pick him up off waivers. I don’t know if it is time to release him and let him earn his money at home, or store him in Buffalo.
Connor Seabold: 5 games, 0-0, 8.10 ERA. In 3.1 innings, batters hit .375 /.444/ .375, with 2 walks and 1 strikeout
Had a hold. He’s been DFAed.
Inbetween
Dylan Cease: 3 starts, 0-2, 4.60 ERA. In 15.2 innings, .193/.270/.449, with 4 home runs, 6 walks and 28 strikeouts.
Three starts, he had one Quality start, one bad start and one in between. The ERA is high, but the other numbers are good….almost two strikeouts an inning. And of course, there was a IL stint in between.
Trey Yesavage: 5 starts, 1-2, 4.30 ERA. In 29.1 innings, batters hit .180/.278/.330 with 2 homers, 14 walks and 29 strikeouts.
Trey had two QS. one game that was an inning short of a QS and two very poor starts. There were no steals against him in those five games. In fact there has only been 1 steal attempt with Trey on the mound, and it was successful.
Mason Fluharty: 14 games, 1-0, 2 as opener, 2.31 ERA. In 11.2 innings, batters hit .261/.320/.413 with 2 home runs, 3 walks and 17 strikeouts.
He had 3 holds. He’s very good vs LHH .514 OPS, but not good against RHH (883).
Spencer Miles: 6 games, 1 start, 4 opener, 2-1, 3.80 ERA. In 21.1 innings, batters hit .184/.262/.276 with 2 homers, 8 walks and 23 strikeouts.
Spencer also had a hold. He had one blow up outing, (6 earned in 3 innings), one where he gave up 2 earned in 1.1 innings, and another where he allowed one run in 4.1.
Also Pitched
Max Scherzer: He pitched yesterday, and you likely remember it.
Tommy Nance: 3 games, 0-0, 0.00 ERA. In 3 innings batters hit ..273/.273/.273, with 0 home runs, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
Austin Voth: Pitched in that one game, gave up 5 earned in 3.1 innings. Now he’s in the minors with the Twins.
Simeon Woods Richardson: Threw 4 innings in that one game, allowed just 1 hit with 3 strikeouts.
Chad Dallas: Pitched in 1 game, gave up a run in 3.2 innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts.
Chase Lee: Pitched in 2 games. In 2 innings, he gave up 2 earned, on 1 hit, a home run, 4 walks and no strikeouts.
Tanner Andrews: Pitched in 2 games. Batters hit .111/.273/.111. And didn’t give up a run.
Hayden Juenger: Pitched in 2 games. Gave up 3 earned in 2 innings. Batters hit .286/.400/.429, 2 walks, no strikeouts.
IL
Joe Mantiply: Pitched in two games. 0.00 ERA. in 1.2 innings, batters hit .333/.429/.333. Might be back before the season’s over.
Yimi García: Could be back in the next week or so.
Cody Ponce: Will miss the season.
Shane Bieber: Could be back next week?
José Berríos: Had Tommy John. Might be back by the end of next season.
Ricky Tiedemann: They haven’t talked about him in awhile, which is never a good thing.
Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio (11) is out on second after Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Isaac Collins (6) grounds into a double play during the fifth inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday September 4, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are back in town this weekend, as they’ll host the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game set beginning Friday night. The Brewers, at 41-25 on the season, sit in first place in the NL Central, 3.5 games ahead of the Cardinals entering Thursday’s play. They’re coming off a 4-2 road trip in which they swept the Rockies and dropped two of three against the A’s in Las Vegas.
On the other side, the Phillies sit at 37-31 and in second place in the NL East, eight games behind the NL-leading Atlanta Braves. After getting out to a dismal 9-19 start that resulted in the firing of manager Rob Thomson, the Phils have rattled off a strong month-and-a-half, with a 28-12 record since April 27 under interim manager Don Mattingly.
The Brewers are currently without starters Quinn Priester, Logan Henderson, and Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff is expected to rejoin the team in Milwaukee this weekend, and he’ll potentially make his return next week against the Guardians. Priester continues to struggle with his command during his rehab assignment, while Henderson is targeting a July return. Relievers Jared Koenig, Angel Zerpa, Rob Zastryzny, Brian Fitzpatrick, DL Hall, and Carlos Rodriguez are also out, with Zerpa out for the season, Fitzpatrick evaluating whether to get Tommy John surgery, Hall out until late July, Rodriguez with a TBD return, and Zastryzny and Koenig on their way back. Outfielder Brandon Lockridge is also nearing a rehab assignment as he recovers from a knee injury.
UPDATE: While I was writing this, Priester was returned from his rehab assignment again and remains on the IL.
Seems like not great news for Quinn Priester: He’s been returned from rehab assignment again and remains on the IL. He had been pitching in rookie ball in Arizona.
The Phillies are without outfielder Johan Rojas, who is out for the season after a suspension followed by a torn right UCL. Left-hander Kyle Backhus just began a rehab assignment, and outfielder Adolis García is considered day-to-day with a pulled muscle in his throwing arm. Lastly, top prospect Aidan Miller (MLB No. 14), who is with Philadelphia’s Triple-A affiliate, is out until August with a back injury.
Offensively, the Brewers are led by Jake Bauers, Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, and Christian Yelich. Catcher Gary Sánchez’s power made a return during the team’s recent road trip, while Andrew Vaughn continues to mash against lefties. Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, Joey Ortiz, Blake Perkins, and Luis Rengifo round things out. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .254/.340/.389 (.729 OPS ranks eighth) with 57 homers (27th), 352 runs (third), and 68 steals (third).
The Phillies’ big 1-2 remains Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber leads the majors with 24 homers this season, as he’s hitting .239/.358/.575 with 100 strikeouts to 42 walks over 65 games. Harper, who has 15 homers, is hitting .267/.376/.517. Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh have eight homers each, and Marsh leads the team with a .326 batting average. The aforementioned García is hitting just .195 but he does have seven homers, and Trea Turner and Bryson Stott both remain speed threats with 26 steals between them (14 for Turner, 12 for Stott). J.T. Realmuto is in the midst of another down year, and he’s sharing time behind the plate with Rafael Marchán and Garrett Stubbs. Edmundo Sosa, former Brewer Steward Berroa, and prospect Justin Crawford (the son of Carl Crawford) round out the squad. As a team, the Phillies are hitting .228/.298/.389 (.687 OPS ranks 27th), with 86 homers (ninth), 276 runs (24th), and 54 steals (tied for 10th).
After all of the injuries, Milwaukee’s bullpen leaders as it stands are Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Grant Anderson, and Aaron Ashby. Chad Patrick has also been effective in his bullpen role (though he did allow three runs in Wednesday’s loss). Rookie Coleman Crow appears to be moved to the bullpen, too, and newbies Joel Kuhnel and Drew Rom round things out. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.47 team ERA (fourth), including a 3.50 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.43 bullpen ERA (eighth). They’ve struck out 639 batters (tied for second) over 591 1/3 innings.
Jhoan Duran leads the Phillies’ bullpen, as he has a 1.99 ERA and 17 saves in 18 chances this season. José Alvarado and Brad Keller are tied for the team lead with 30 appearances apiece, though Alvarado’s 5.25 ERA over 24 innings isn’t ideal (Keller’s 3.38 ERA over 29 1/3 innings is much better). Orion Kerkering has also been solid, with a 2.10 ERA over 25 2/3 innings. Tanner Banks (6.08 ERA over 23 2/3 IP), Tim Mayza (3.41 ERA over 29 IP), Chase Shugart (3.48 ERA over 20 2/3 IP), and Jonathan Bowlan (3.92 ERA over 20 2/3 IP) fill the rest of the ‘pen. As a staff, the Phillies have a 4.01 team ERA (12th), including a 4.14 starter ERA (13th) and a 3.79 bullpen ERA (12th). They’ve struck out 641 batters (first) over 606 1/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, June 12 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (7-2, 1.50 ERA, 1.91 FIP) vs. RHP Andrew Painter (1-7, 6.21 ERA, 5.09 FIP)
Misiorowski continues to mow down hitters at a crazy rate, as he leads the majors with 116 strikeouts over just 78 innings. He also sports a league-best 0.808 WHIP, allowing just 4.7 H/9. He’s allowed a whopping one earned run since the end of April, spanning 45 1/3 innings over seven starts. In that time, he has a perfect 6-0 record and 65 strikeouts, including at least eight strikeouts in all of those appearances. He’s coming off a seven-inning outing against the Rockies, in which he allowed an unearned run on four hits, three walks, and a hit batter, striking out eight. Miz’s only career appearance against the Phillies came last September, when he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk, striking out four over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision.
Painter is a highly regarded prospect who has unfortunately dealt with injuries early in his career. Even so, he’s just 23, though he hasn’t had much success here in his rookie season. Across 12 appearances (11 starts), Painter has totaled 58 innings, with a 6.21 ERA, 5.09 FIP, and 47 strikeouts. He’s lost each of his last three outings, allowing 12 runs over 14 1/3 innings against the Guardians, Dodgers, and White Sox. This marks Painter’s first career appearance against Milwaukee.
Saturday, June 13 @ 6:10 p.m.: LHP Shane Drohan (3-1, 3.11 ERA, 2.71 FIP) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.86 ERA, 4.21 FIP)
Drohan, who made his MLB debut as a starter but then followed with 10 bullpen outings, is set for his third turn through the rotation since rejoining this month. He has a 3.11 ERA, 2.71 FIP, and 37 strikeouts across 37 2/3 innings this season, and the Brewers dominated in both of his recent starts. In those games, he allowed five runs on nine hits and three walks, striking out nine over 10 1/3 innings as the Crew won 16-2 against the Giants and 12-4 against the Rockies. This marks Drohan’s first career appearance against Philadelphia.
Nola, 33, is in his 12th MLB season, all of which have been with the Phillies. While “even year” Aaron Nola was very much a thing entering this year — he had a 2.37, 3.28, 3.25, and 3.57 ERA in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, respectively, compared to a 3.87, 4.63, 4.46, and 6.01 ERA in 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2025, respectively — he hasn’t had a very “even year” kind of year in 2026. Across 13 starts, he has a 5.86 ERA, 4.21 FIP, and 68 strikeouts over 66 innings. He got roughed up in his last appearance, allowing five runs on six hits and four walks while striking out four over 4 1/3 innings against the White Sox. Nola has made 15 career starts against Milwaukee, with a 7-3 record, a 3.09 ERA, and 101 strikeouts over 90 1/3 innings, though he got roughed up last September, allowing six runs in five innings in a loss.
Sunday, June 14 @ 1:10 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (7-1, 2.72 ERA, 3.11 FIP) vs. LHP Cristopher Sánchez (8-2, 1.54 ERA, 1.85 FIP)
Harrison, who has a 2.72 ERA, 3.11 FIP, and 77 strikeouts across 59 2/3 innings this season, is coming off his worst start as a Brewer, though that can be blamed at least in part on the environment of Las Vegas Ballpark. He went just 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits and a pair of walks with four strikeouts on 71 pitches, but the Brewers were able to pull out a 15-14 comeback win in 12 innings. Harrison has made a pair of starts against the Phillies while with the Giants, one in 2023 and one in 2024. In those games, he’s totaled six runs allowed on 17 hits and two walks, striking out 10 over 8 1/3 frames.
Sánchez, 29, has developed into one of the best pitchers in MLB. After finishing second in NL Cy Young voting and leading all pitchers with an 8.1 bWAR in 2025, he’s doing it again in 2026. Across 14 starts, he leads the league with 93 1/3 innings and a 5.0 bWAR, sporting a 1.54 ERA, 1.85 FIP, and 113 strikeouts. After allowing no runs in the month of May, he eked out an NL Pitcher of the Month Award over Misiorowski. Sánchez is coming off his worst start in a while, though, as he allowed all of two runs over seven innings, still picking up 10 strikeouts in a 5-2 win over the Blue Jays. Sánchez has made three career appearances (two starts) against the Brewers, with a 2.03 ERA and eight strikeouts over 13 1/3 innings.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, June 12: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, June 13: Brewers TV & nationally on FS1; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, June 14: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Phillies and Brewers both got out to sluggish starts and both have turned it on over the last month-plus to push themselves well over .500. This should be a fun series with some great pitching matchups. Give me the Crew to eke out two of three.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 09: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs to first after hitting an RBI single in the seventh inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Only a few months away from turning 37, Freddie Freeman seems intent on materializing one of the smoothest “declines” in baseball, if we can even call it that. The Dodgers’ star first baseman isn’t the same hitter he was when he joined this team back in 2022, but you wouldn’t really know it from looking at his numbers. Preparing for a matchup against Mitch Keller, a pitcher against whom Freeman is batting .500 in 18 at-bats, he is in the middle of his finest stretch this season, having recorded a hit in 13 out of his last 15 appearances, once again maintaining an OPS in the mid .800s.
When he takes the field today, it’ll be Freeman’s 66th appearance in 69 games. That level of availability indicates a durability ever more important in the context of this current season, with Shohei Ohtani receiving more days off, Betts facing his issues, both health and production-wise, and even Kyle Tucker not quite hitting the ground running as many expected he would.
Freeman and many Dodger left-handed hitters have enjoyed a terrific first two games in this series against the Pirates, particularly when you adjust the expectations for having faced Paul Skenes. A brief rundown of the Pirates’ numbers against lefty hitters shows why that success shouldn’t come as a surprise. Pittsburgh’s staff has allowed a 5.14 ERA against left-handed hitters, the fourth highest in the big leagues. Mitch Keller, today’s starter, is one of many Pirates pitchers whose stats plummet when facing lefties. Eighteen of the 22 extra-base hits given up by Keller in 2026 have come against left-handed hitters.
CLEVELAND, OH - JUNE 08: New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra (28) pursues a foul ball during the second inning of the Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians on June 8, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Austin Wells’ injury has put the Yankees in quite a difficult spot. It’s safe to say that right now, their catching situation is among the worst in the league because even when Wells was healthy, he was sporting a woeful 54 wRC+. And that’s the starter behind the plate.
The cold, hard numbers show just how bad the Yankees’ catchers have been this year, especially since the start of May. Per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, since May 1, the team’s backstops had a combined 8 wRC+, a slash line of .130/.205/.165, and a strikeout rate of 30.7 percent before Wednesday’s matinee in Cleveland, and they hadn’t even reached base in June. That’s just rough.
Wild stat: Since May 1, Yankees catchers have a combined 8 wRC+, a slash line of .130/.205/.165, and a strikeout rate of 30.7%. They have a combined 15 hits and 11 walks since May 1.
In June, a Yankees catcher has yet to reach base. 0-for-22, 0 BB, 10 K
Since the Yanks are reluctant to try Ben Rice behind the plate, which is fair and understandable for many reasons ranging from catching defense to not overloading Rice with the burden of learning a pitching staff, they really need to bring in someone, even if it’s not a star.
The in-house solutions are J.C. Escarra, who entered Wednesday’s game with a 25 wRC+, newly promoted backup option Alí Sánchez, a non-roster invitee in spring who had a 22 wRC+ for his career in the majors and an 88 mark in Triple-A before taking the field, 26-year-old career minor leaguer Abrahan Gutiérrez, and Miguel Palma. Payton Henry could have earned a call-up, but he’s currently on Scranton’s injured list.
The Yankees have trusted Wells for years, almost blindly, to the point of trading multiple catching prospects over the years because he was the unquestioned starter. He was, after all, a 2024 AL Rookie of the Year finalist. He’s at a bit of a crossroads, though, with just 0.2 fWAR and a horrible .533 OPS this year before going down with cervical headaches.
It appears his stint on the injured list will be short, but even if that’s the case, it’s becoming increasingly clear that he needs some sort of competition for playing time and at-bats. Given the bleak outlook of the position in the organization, a trade shouldn’t be ruled out. It would actually be the best idea, all things considered.
Of course, getting an impact catcher via trade in the middle of the season is not exactly realistic. Teams just don’t give those away so easily. However, the Yankees should be on the market for a backup-type backstop who can start for stints and not embarrass himself. Think about how even an 80-wRC+ catcher would improve the bottom of the lineup.
You probably won’t see any deals for Adley Rutschman, Hunter Goodman, or Dillon Dingler, for example, but perhaps a veteran who’s still a decent hitter, or a failed prospect behind the plate with a decent floor, could become viable options for New York. They need catching help badly, and if Wells doesn’t return to form eventually, the position could become the team’s Achilles heel heading into the stretch run and October.
Right now, the Yankees have several areas in which they could potentially improve. They could definitely use a late-inning reliever or two, for example. No need is as big as the one they have behind the dish, though, and they need to do something about it.
By now, it’s well-established that the organization loves a good framer who can handle the pitching staff well. There’s a lot of catching talent around the league, so it’s just a matter of finding the right fit with a team that is actually willing to part with one.
It won’t be as easy as it sounds, even if the hypothetical player in question is not a star, because many clubs are contending or in a weird gray area in which they are close enough to contention that they won’t want to part with assets. But the Yankees need to make an effort, even if it means overpaying a bit. Bringing in a catcher who can compete with Wells and play some decent baseball when he’s not around is a must.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 5: Starting pitcher Ryan Feltner #18 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field on June 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The rookies pulled through for the Colorado Rockies as they secured a series victory with a 3-2 victory on Tuesday. Pitching was great for both teams, and things didn’t really happen until the final two innings. TJ Rumfield had a go-ahead home run and Sterlin Thompson later delivered the walk-off single. Now, the Rockies look to sweep the Cubs to close out the homestand.
Ryan Feltner (2-1, 4.22 ERA) takes the hill for the Rockies, looking to continue his string of quality starts. Since returning from the injured list, Felter has allowed just one run on five hits over 12 innings with six strikeouts and two walks. He has done a good job of throwing strikes and getting soft contact. Even more important has been the ability to keep composure on the mound to not let things spiral out of control. In his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers, he ended up throwing 37 pitches in the second inning, but worked out of the jam and went back to being efficient for six innings. He has made one career start against the Cubs back in 2022, where he allowed three runs on six hits over 5.1 innings.
Edward Cabrera (3-3, 4.99 ERA) makes the start for the Cubs, his second since returning from the injured list last week. After a solid run in Miami, the Cubs acquired Cabrera in a trade over the offseason to solidify the rotation. He has been decent for the Cubs, but it’s been a little inconsistent as he has had a hard time preventing runs. After two scoreless outings to begin the year, he has allowed at least three runs in every start since, including a season-high eight runs in his previous start against the San Francisco Giants. He can get wild at times, resulting in several walks, but he also has utilized his deep arsenal to get strikeouts. Cabrera has made four career starts against the Rockies, posting a 4.22 ERA over 21.1 innings. Three of those starts have come at Coors Field with a 3.12 ERA.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 9: Jalen Beeks #68 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field on May 9, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have placed lefthanded reliever Jalen Beeks on the 15 day injured list with back spasms, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled righthanded reliever Luis Curvelo from AAA Round Rock.
Beeks was one of the legion of relief arms the Rangers signed to one year deals this past offseason. He has a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings over 29 games so far this season, although with a 5.41 FIP, owing to the fact he’s allowed six homers already this season. He last pitched on Tuesday, in the opener in the series against the Royals, when he faced five batters, retired two of them, and gave up three hits, including a homer.
Curvelo started the season in AAA, but has now been recalled three times, with a stint on the major league injured list mixed in. He has allowed five runs in 7.1 IP over 7 games.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 09: Jac Caglianone #14 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates his two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium on June 09, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals still have a chance to win the series this afternoon.
Michael Wacha get the start. He gave up six runs in five innings against the Rangers in Texas, his worst start of the year. Jac Caglianone gets moved up to the cleanup spot and Kameron Misner gets his first start in a Royals uniform.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JUNE 5: Martin Perez #33 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on June 5, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’ve been kind of checked out during this series. The Braves’ 2026 season has been very exciting so far, but there’s just been a confluence of events that have sort of made me pay less attention than to any other set so far this season:
The start time is kind of weird and runs right across me putting the kids to bed. The pitch clock and other aspects of games this season have made it so games were either starting late (West Coast trip games) or largely decided by kid-bedtime, these scheduled 7:40 pm ET starts mean the meat of the action happens then.
The pitching management in the first game was just as clear of a, “Yeah, we don’t really care about this game” signal as possible.
Yesterday’s game was just a low-energy, nothing carries meh-fest.
Anyway, put all that together, and the Braves are on the brink of getting swept on Chicago’s South Side… unless they can salvage a game. It’s a weird position for this team — this is only their third series loss, the first time they’ve lost the first two games of a series, and only their fourth time they’ve lost consecutive games (including a three-game losing streak in early April, which is their longest of the year so far).
But, standing in the way of the potentially-added excitement of avoiding a sweep by the White Sox, of all teams… is the fact that Martin Perez is starting.
As I’ve noted before, Martin Perez just kind of does something to my perception and ability to enjoy a game. I can’t really put my finger on what it is, exactly, it’s more je ne sais quoi (or, in this case, the opposite of that — is there a similar concept but with a negative connotation?) To be clear, it’s not even that I think Perez is especially bad, or bound to implode; his line on the season is 73/98/96 (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) which is slightly better than average, and as a starter over his last four turns in the rotation, he’s at 105/94/99. A league-average starter performance for very cheap isn’t anything to sneeze at, but I’m not proverbially sneezing because of the outcome. It’s just…
Perez mainly throws three pitches, sprinkling in another two here and there. The movement profile on every pitch is poor. For example, he throws a slower changeup than most guys (because he throws slower than most guys), yet it somehow has less drop than even an average changeup. You’d think that maybe with a lack of stuff, there’s a command improvement, but Perez isn’t really hitting targets well, either. You can go to Baseball Savant and see his pitch plots — there’s nothing pinpoint there except for the curve, which he throws less than ten percent of the time. The cutter is a get-me-over mess and his sinker is largely thrown middle-middle. He doesn’t get much chase, he doesn’t get many whiffs, but he also doesn’t really avoid walks. As I’ve described before, his starts feel like plinko or pachinko — what happens is ultimately just up to whether the balls guys hit off him happen to be squared up and/or towards a defender. Sometimes they are, and the team is fine, even if he has poor peripherals on the day. Sometimes, they aren’t, and woof.
Perez actually spent a while throwing the ball for the White Sox last year, so he’ll be facing some old teammates. He didn’t have a very remarkable 2025, as he made just 11 appearances (10 starts), with a very fortunate 86/99/118 line. He went down in mid-April with a flexor strain, missed most of the season, and then returned for about a month in mid-August before he was shut down with a shoulder strain in mid-September.
The White Sox haven’t announced a starter. They might be doing another opener-esque thing. If so, Anthony Kay may be the starter. If he is, it’ll be kind of a mixed bag for the Braves. Kay hasn’t pitched all that well after a two-year stint in Japan (105/128/120), but the Braves also haven’t hit well at all when another team has used an opener against them. Kay was crushed by the Phillies in his last start, snapping a streak of three straight where he had allowed exactly one run… even without particularly good peripherals in the process. The White Sox used an opener for Kay a couple of times in April and then seemingly abandoned the idea, but maybe they’re trying it again after seeing how the Braves didn’t really do anything against Erick Fedde in the opener of this game. In any case, given the Perez pachinko, it’ll be up to the Braves to snap out of their offensive doldrums to avoid the sweep.
