DENVER — Turns out, new Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz did have an injury.
It just wasn’t to his knee.
The Dodgers announced Monday that Díaz, their $69 million offseason signing, had been placed on the injured list with loose bodies in his right elbow. He will undergo surgery on Wednesday to address the issue, and is expected to return during the second half of the season.
“Our understanding is that it’s a pretty straightforward procedure,” general manager Brandon Gomes said. “So we’re going to take our time with getting him back, and be mindful of the buildup. Make sure he’s in a really good position to come out and compete at the highest level of what we expect.”
Edwin Díaz of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after an RBI singe from Ezequiel Duran of the Texas Rangers to score Sam Haggerty, to tie the game 7-7, during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Getty Images
The news comes a day after Díaz struggled in his return to the mound — following a nine-day layoff amid concerns over his early-season velocity.
He faced four batters in Sunday’s loss to the Colorado Rockies and didn’t retire any of them, allowing three runs.
Most concerning: His fastball velocity remained down, averaging just over 95 mph and bottoming out with a 92.8 mph heater — one of the 10 slowest of his career.
“Obviously, we all saw the stuff last night, and it sent up red flags,” manager Dave Roberts said.
The alarms grew louder when, after the game, Díaz reported elbow discomfort to the club’s training staff, according to Roberts. That prompted the team to send the 32-year-old for an MRI. The imaging found the loose bodies, but no other ligament damage.
“Given you’re losing your (closer) to a surgery,” Roberts said, trying to be optimistic, “this is, I would say, the best-case scenario.”
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
After all, at least the team now has an explanation for the decline in Díaz’s stuff, after he had previously insisted he felt fine physically –– outside of some discomfort in his surgically-repaired knee following a blown save on April 10.
Still, losing the three-time All-Star for such a prolonged stretch represents a major blow to the bullpen, which will now go closer-by-committee in Díaz’s absence.
“I do feel comfortable with a handful of guys, really, that I feel that can close out games for us,” Roberts said. “So right now, I’m not gonna name a closer.”
Before Monday’s news, Díaz’s decline in stuff had mystified the team. His knee checked out fine following that April 10 outing, when he blew a three-run lead and suffered a drop in fastball velocity. He had thrown a bullpen and multiple flat-ground sessions during his nine-day layoff after that, all of them without experiencing (or, at least, reporting to the team) any pain.
But Sunday renewed concerns over Díaz’s health again.
“That was the first time he felt anything, or there was any signs of (an elbow problem),” Roberts said, with Díaz having already left Denver to return to Los Angeles for this week’s procedure.
“I was hoping more of a dead arm situation,” the manager added.
Gomes echoed those sentiments.
“The elbow popping up was definitely surprising,” he said. “But when the performance had been fluctuating the way we were seeing, it makes sense that there was stuff going on.”
Gomes expressed confidence that, once Díaz returns, his performance won’t be impacted.
When the Dodgers signed the right-hander this offseason, he was considered one of the best closers in baseball, with more than 250 career saves and a 1.63 ERA in 2025.
“This shouldn’t change anything going towards the end of the season and into October,” Gomes said, “when we’ll need him and he’ll be fresh.”
Of the Dodgers’ potential closing options in the meantime, a few of the more logical candidates include right-hander Blake Treinen (who has 82 career saves and hadn’t allowed a run this season before a three-run clunker at Coors Field an inning before Díaz on Sunday), left-hander Tanner Scott (the $72 million signing who was just 23-of-33 in save opportunities during a disappoting debut campaign last year, but has a 1.04 ERA in 10 outings this season) and left-hander Alex Vesia (who has yet to allow a run this year, and collected two saves while Díaz was down last week).
“I think we have a lot of guys capable of pitching in the ninth inning,” Gomes said. “It is a different three outs, but we also have multiple guys that have done it at a high level in the past.”
The Dodgers are hoping to get other bullpen reinforcements in the coming weeks and months, too. Right-hander Brock Stewart is currently on a rehab assignment. Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol are also making progress in their recoveries (though probably won’t be options until closer to the second half of the season, too).
One potential option for the bullpen that Gomes ruled out definitively: Roki Sasaki, who will remain in the rotation despite his 6.11 ERA.
The biggest impact of Díaz’s injury could be how the club handles its bullpen leading up to the ninth inning.
Before, they could optimize match-ups for each of their middle relief arms, knowing they had Díaz waiting in the ninth.
But now, that luxury is suddenly gone, leaving the bullpen unsettled until Díaz returns.
Fort Myers, FL - February 21: Northeastern outfielder Cam Maldonado catches a fly ball for an out. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
It’s time again for the mega Monday San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball roundup. The Giants have an off day today, so why not spend it reading about what happened to their A-ball affiliates on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday?
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
No transactions over the last few days, but one fun bit of news: Low-A San Jose outfielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) was named Player of the Week in the California League. Read on to find out why (spoiler: it’s because he did some absurd things with the bat).
AAA Sacramento (11-8)
Friday: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Tacoma Rainiers 7-6 [box score] Saturday: Sacramento River Cats lost to the Tacoma Rainiers 6-4 [box score] Sunday: Sacramento River Cats beat the Tacoma Rainiers 1-0 [box score]
Quite an uninteresting weekend for the River Cats. The offense was fairly uninteresting — they had just 6 extra-base hits in the 3 games, and in their highest-scoring game they still struck out 15 times. The pitching was also fairly uninteresting, in part because their impressive Sunday shutout was a bullpen game, rather than the result of a star showing from a starter.
The biggest swing of the bat over the weekend came at the start, in the 1st inning of Friday’s game, when Eric Haase launched a 3-run home run, his 2nd big fly of the year.
While the home run was the best thing Haase did, it might not have been the most impressive. With Drew Gilbert and Will Brennan called up to San Francisco, the River Cats are shy on outfielders, and Haase — normally a catcher — was called into left field duty on Friday, which isn’t a position he’s entirely unfamiliar with (he even played a little there during Spring Training). And he showed off that catcher arm from the grass, recording an outfield assist!
Unfortunately, other than that home run, Haase did the same thing as his teammates: struggled, as he finished the weekend hitting 2-8 with 3 strikeouts.
Like Haase, Sacramento’s highest-profile hitters also had strong Fridays and rough weekends. First baseman/designated hitter Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) hit 2-5 with a double and 2 strikeouts in Friday’s loss, but went 0-8 with 4 strikeouts in the other games. Eldridge’s numbers have fallen from gaudy to still really good (.905 OPS, 147 wRC+), but I think it’s very safe to say he’s not forcing the issue right now given the swing-and-miss issues, and the holes in his zone. The update there: 21st percentile in strikeout rate, 19th percentile in whiff rate, 36th percentile in in-zone contact rate, and 34th percentile in swinging strike rate.
Catcher/left fielder Jesús Rodríguez (No. 16 CPL) went 3-4 with a walk on Friday, but over the next pair of games hit just 0-6 with 2 walks and a strikeout. Rodríguez has a .900 OPS and a 142 wRC+, but what probably is really enticing to the Giants is his .344 batting average and his 8.5% strikeout rate. Among the 88 Pacific Coast League hitters with at least 50 plate appearances this season, those numbers rank 9th and 4th, respectively. It certainly feels like the soon-to-turn 24-year old is also soon-to-turn into a Major Leaguer.
A really tough weekend for first baseman/designated hitter Jake Holton, who hit 0-7 with 6 strikeouts. After 3 years of really good results in AA for the Tigers’ affiliate, Holton is getting his first taste of AAA and it’s been an up-and-down experience, as he has a .703 OPS but a 115 wRC+, with sky-high strikeout (31.9%) and walk (23.4%) rates.
It was an uninteresting weekend for starting pitchers, and a great weekend for relievers.
With all due respect to LHPs Seth Lonsway and John Michael Bertrand, the River Cats didn’t use any of their high-profile starters over the weekend. Lonsway pitched on Friday, and couldn’t really fool anyone: he only struck out 1 batter in 4 innings, while allowing 7 hits, 1 walk, 1 hit batter, and 5 runs. He has a 5.73 ERA and a 5.97 FIP through 3 starts and, if you can believe it, has only struck out 2 of the 49 batters he’s faced in 11 innings. Bertrand handled Saturday’s outing, and he was hit very hard, giving up 6 hits (which included 2 home runs and 2 doubles) in 4 innings, while walking 2, striking out 3, and ceding 4 earned runs. That pushed his ERA to 6.32 and his FIP to 7.55, as he’s really struggling with both his strikeout and walk rates but, more critically, has allowed 21 hits (and 4 dingers) in 15.2 innings.
The bullpen was a different story, and the exciting news is that all of the players who could figure into the Major League plans soon pitched well, as the only runs the ‘pen allowed came from prospects who are still a ways off (RHP Braxton Roxby and LHP Nick Zwack). Most notably, Major League LHP Sam Hengtes opened Sunday’s game and tossed a perfect inning with a strikeout. Hentges is now 3 games and 3 innings into his rehab assignment, which has spanned San Jose and Sacramento, and has yet to allow a baserunner. He’ll be a very welcome addition to the Major League club.
RHP Joel Peguero (No. 27 CPL) also had a nice rehab appearance, allowing just 1 walk in 1.1 shutout innings with a strikeout on Saturday, and needing just 13 pitches. Unlike Hentges, Peguero’s spot in the Majors isn’t guaranteed, as he has Minor League options, so he’ll need to pitch his way back onto the roster, and might stay in Sacramento after his rehab ends.
40-man RHPs Spencer Bivens, Tristan Beck, and Dylan Smith all pitched well, as did depth options LHP Juan Sánchez (No. 41 CPL), RHP Gregory Santos, and RHP Wilkin Ramos. Sánchez pitched a perfect inning on 8 pitches, which maintained his 0.00 ERA through 6 appearances, though he has walked too many batters this year.
The Squirrels, it seems, are allergic to losing streaks. They started the year with a loss, and then rattled off 10 straight wins. After seeing that streak come to an end on Thursday, Richmond responded with back-to-back wins on Friday and Saturday, before a storm took out Sunday’s contest. For many years, the Flying Squirrels struggled to put together wins, but that is emphatically not the case this year!
There were a lot of good performers, but there were a standout trio on offense: shortstop/designated hitter Maui Ahuna (No. 33 CPL), third baseman/first baseman Charlie Szykowny, and right fielder Jonah Cox.
Ahuna left the yard for the 1st time in his AA career … and liked it so much he did it a 2nd time. The 24-year old lefty hit 3-7 over the weekend, with 3 walks and 3 strikeouts, and bashed solo home runs in the 9th inning of both games.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 18, 2026
The Giants gave Ahuna, their 4th-round pick in 2023, an aggressive assignment this year, half because they’re high on the defensive ace, and half because of roster logistics with reigning 1st-round selection Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) playing the six in High-A. Ahuna entered this year with limited experience — he played just 11 games in High-A, after just 60 in Low-A — and also a sizable swing-and-miss issue. But there’s life and potential in his bat, and that’s been on display in Richmond, where he’s posted an .822 OPS and a 116 wRC+ through 13 games.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 19, 2026
Ahuna, who played for Tony Vitello at Tennessee, still has a big strikeout issue — his 29.1% K rate underscores the problem, if we’re being honest, given his 17.6% swinging strike rate — but he’s hitting for average, he’s hitting for power, and he’s drawing walks. Add some excellent shortstop defense, and it’s not hard to see why the Giants are so high on this kid!
As for Szykowny, he went 5-8 over the weekend while smashing a home run and a double, getting hit by a pitch twice, and striking out twice.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 18, 2026
The sweet-swinging lefty was one of the hardest prospects in the system for me to evaluate entering the season. His 2025 statistics had no red, or even pink flags. He hit for average (.276) and power (21 home runs, .202 isolated slugging), while suppressing strikeouts (18.6%), en route to a strong season (.816 OPS, 122 wRC+) in High-A. But it was also his age-25 season, which carried a pair of warning signs for the 2023 9th-round pick: he should have been beating up players he was 2.5 years older than, and it felt telling that the Giants kept him at the level all year long, despite his age and numbers.
Ultimately, however, results matter most, and Szykowny is putting on a show with the Squirrels: through 13 games in AA, he has a 1.019 OPS and a 166 wRC+, and has improved — dramatically, in most cases — his average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, isolated slugging percentage, strikeout rate, and walk rate year-over-year. He’ll probably have to keep hitting like this given that he profiles mostly as a first baseman, but it’s pretty exciting seeing such gaudy numbers.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 19, 2026
Speaking of gaudy numbers, that’s exactly what Cox has. The hair-on-fire outfielder hit a dazzling 6-8 over the weekend with both a home run and a double, while stealing 2 bases and striking out twice.
Like Szykowny, Cox spent the entirety of the 2025 season in High-A, though less because the Giants kept him there and more because his numbers mandated it, as he was distinctly average offensively (.731 OPS, 103 wRC+). But a new challenge has brought out the best in Cox, who has been beyond dynamic with the bat in his hands this year, posting a 1.119 OPS and a 195 wRC+, while stealing 9 bases in 10 attempts already. While the numbers will come down eventually — he won’t sport a .531 BABIP forever — the approach is very encouraging. Despite moving up a level, Cox has dropped his strikeout rate from 22.4% (already decent) to 18.0% (very good), the result of his swinging strike rate being cut from 12.0% to 9.9%. Those are very tangible improvements!
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 18, 2026
Just like Ahuna, Cox is a player who can make the Majors on the back of his defense, which is excellent at all 3 outfield positions (and it helps that he’s a menace on the base paths … a Jared Oliva-type role could very well be in his future). And it’s always exciting to see defense-first players hit well. It certainly allows you to dream!
The actual starting pitching was poor, as RHPs Trystan Vrieling and Cesar Perdomo both got rocked (Vrieling gave up 10 baserunners and 2 runs in 3.2 innings, while Perdomo allowed 8 baserunners and 4 runs in 3.1 frames), but the piggy-backing starter in Saturday’s game was an absolute stud, as RHP Darien Smith continued his stellar season. Smith replaced Perdomo and proceeded to throw 5.2 shutout innings, while allowing just 3 hits (all singles) and no walks, with 3 strikeouts.
Smith, a 26-year old undrafted free agent in his 2nd season in the pros, has been utterly sensational this season. He’s given up just 5 hits and 4 walks through 14 innings, with 14 strikeouts. He’s been especially great over the last 2 games, allowing just 4 baserunners in 10 innings, with 12 strikeouts. He’s done an excellent job suppressing walks at every step of his career, and if he keeps that up, he could find himself in AAA at some point this season.
A pair of nice relief efforts on Friday: RHP Brad Deppermann, a 29-year old who signed as a Minor League free agent, made his organizational debut and struck out 2 batters in a perfect inning, while RHP Tyler Vogel threw a perfect 9th inning with a strikeout. Vogel has a 0.00 ERA through 6 appearances this year, with 4 hits, 4 walks, and 9 strikeouts in 6 innings.
High-A Eugene (11-4)
Friday: Eugene Emeralds lost to the Everett AquaSox 7-4 [box score] Saturday: Eugene Emeralds beat the Everett AquaSox 9-3 [box score] Sunday: Eugene Emeralds lost to the Everett AquaSox 10-4 [box score]
The Emeralds lost the weekend, but they certainly showed you the varied attacks they can present. In Friday’s loss, for instance, Eugene hitters stole a tremendous 8 bases, without being caught. But in Saturday’s victory they stole no bases … but hit 4 home runs. Many ways to win (or fall short of winning, as the case may occasionally be).
There were a lot of stars, particularly on offense, as the Ems ended the weekend with 6 dingers. But the biggest weekend belonged to arguably the biggest prospect, both in status and stature: center fielder/designated hitter Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL). After a rough introduction to the level, Jordan has really settled into Northwest League life, and put on a show over the final 3 games of the series, hitting 6-12 with 2 home runs, 2 walks, 1 sacrifice fly, 2 stolen bases, and 3 strikeouts. And let me tell you: they are loud home runs that Jordan hits.
The 2024 4th-round selection had his strikeout issues firmly on display in the 1st week of the season, as he hit 3-17 with 1 home run, 2 doubles, 0 walks, and 11 strikeouts through 4 games. Since then? 15-40 with 2 home runs, 3 doubles, 6 walks, and just 8 strikeouts in 10 games. My goodness!
Those stellar games have brought Jordan’s season numbers to a .931 OPS and a 146 wRC+, and while the strikeout rate will take a while to recover (it’s at 29.2%), it is certainly headed in the correct direction. He also has 4 stolen bases now, without yet getting caught.
I’ve long felt that Jordan is arguably the most exciting prospect in the system. His combination of speed and power is intoxicating, and if he overcomes the swing-and-miss issues, it’s not unrealistic to think he could be a big time star in the Majors. But that’s a long way off. For now, let’s enjoy him catching fire in High-A.
Also catching fire over the weekend was right fielder/center fielder Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL), who has had an up-and-down start to his 1st full season. Last year’s 3rd-round pick was a menace in the box and on the bases this weekend, though, hitting 5-11 with a triple, a double, 4 walks, 4 stolen bases, and 2 strikeouts.
Cohen is such a fun player, with the bat-to-ball skills that we know the front office covets, the ability to play all 3 outfield spots well, and the disruption on the basepaths that we’ve all been wanting the Giants to have more of in recent years. His numbers aren’t great, given that this nice weekend ended a stretch where he’d gone 2-20 over 5 games, but still: a .725 OPS, a 110 wRC+, a higher walk rate (17.6%) than strikeout rate (14.7%), and 9 stolen bases, plus good defense, paint the picture of someone who is very adeptly handling an aggressive assignment.
He’s sharing that assignment with shortstop/designated hitter Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) who has really cooled off after a blistering introduction to the level. Kilen had a quiet weekend, hitting 2-14 with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts, which dropped his OPS to .822 and his wRC+ to 120. After hitting 10-20 with 2 homers, 3 doubles, 3 walks, and just 2 strikeouts in his 1st 5 games, Kilen has scuffled a bit in his next 9, hitting 7-40 with 0 homers, 3 doubles, 2 walks, and 10 strikeouts. Still an excellent 1st full season for last year’s 1st-round pick, but a reminder that red-hot starts usually don’t stay red hot!
Left fielder/designated hitter Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL) continues his inverse production of last season. After breaking out as a high-contact, low-power player in Low-A in 2025, Gutierrez added a whole lot of muscle (perhaps to help combat the injuries that have plagued him in his career), and to this point in the season, his profile has reversed. He played twice over the weekend and hit 3-9 with a home run and 3 strikeouts. Last year, Gutierrez had a .351 average, a 13.7% strikeout rate, and a .101 isolated slugging. But this year? Just a .209 average with an 18.0% strikeout rate, but a .233 isolated slugging. I would expect those numbers (which this year result in a .762 OPS and a 109 wRC+) to find a happy home in the middle of last year and this year, and that could be a pretty nice package for Gutierrez, who is a strong baserunner and defender.
Third baseman Walker Martin had a pretty good weekend, as he hit 4-11 with a home run, 1 walk, 3 stolen bases, and 2 strikeouts.
Martin, a recently-turned 22-year old who was taken in the 2nd round in 2023, has really shown some notable improvements with his contact. The lefty posted a terrifying 41.0% strikeout rate in his debut season in 2024 (which included a 46.3% K rate during his Low-A stint), but lowered that number to a still-very-bad-but-not-as-bad 28.4% clip in Low-A a year ago. So far after moving up a level, Walker has slashed the number further, to just 24.0%, all while posting a career-best .178 isolated slugging, en route to a .784 OPS and a 117 wRC+. Those are really encouraging signs.
The flip side is that part of what made Martin a high draft pick was his athleticism and ability to play the middle infield, but it quickly became apparent that he could not play shortstop at the professional level. He got moved to third base last year, and so far the results haven’t been very good there, either. He committed 2 errors this weekend, which gives him 6 already on the young season.
Also homering: left fielder/right fielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL) who went 2-13 with a solo shot and 3 strikeouts, and first baseman/second baseman Zander Darby, who hit 2-6 with a solo blast, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts, plus a stolen base. Diaz, a 20-year old righty, has a .525 OPS and a 39 wRC+ as he adjusts to a new level; Darby, a 23-year old lefty, has a .933 OPS and a 153 wRC+ as he is shining following a rough introduction to the level a year ago.
On the pitching front, it was another rough go of it for LHP Luis De La Torre (No. 14 CPL), who continues to struggle to adapt to a new level following a breakout 2025. De La Torre took the mound on Sunday and simply could not find the strike zone, as he threw just 32 of 68 pitches for strikes, while walking 5 batters in only 3 innings of action, and only striking out 2. When he did find the zone, things were also bad, as LDLT ceded 4 hits — which included a home run — and got tagged for 4 earned runs, raising his ERA to 8.64 and his FIP to 7.49.
I’d stop well short of calling that worrisome, given that it’s only been 3 starts for someone who is not only getting their first taste of High-A, but who only had a very brief stay in Low-A, where he officially made just 8 appearances (though he also pitched twice in the playoffs). Still, while it’s far from entering concern territory, it is jarring to see: after having 13.2 strikeouts and 3.3 walks per 9 innings in the ACL and Low-A last season, De La Torre has just 7.6 strikeouts against 10.8 walks per 9 innings this year. Hopefully it’s just early season small sample shenanigans!
There were no such shenanigans for Friday’s starter, RHP Hunter Dryden, though he also struggled to find the zone a bit. The soon-to-turn 24-year old only threw 44 of 71 pitches for strikes, and walked 3 batters in 4 innings, but he also didn’t allow a single hit. We always like no-hit appearances here! And Dryden backed it up with 5 strikeouts, too. The 2024 17th-round pick has struggled with walks this year, as he has 7 of them in 10 innings through 3 starts, but he also allowed just 3 hits and 1 run, while striking out 14 batters, which gives him a 0.90 ERA and a 3.61 FIP. A really nice start to his 2nd season in the pros, even though the Giants will certainly be keeping a close eye on the strike-throwing abilities.
It was mostly a bad weekend for the bullpen, with all 3 relievers on Friday — and 3 of 4 relievers on Sunday — giving up runs. Saturday was excellent, though, as the extremely contrasting duo of LHP Esmerlin Vinicio and RHP Gerelmi Maldonado (No. 21 CPL) went back-to-back with excellent results. Vinicio, a recently-turned 23-year old who is built like a chopstick and has funk, gave up neither a hit nor a walk in 2.2 innings, with 1 strikeout, while throwing 21 of 31 pitches for strikes. That kept his ERA at 0.00 and brought his FIP to 2.92. Most importantly, after walking 7.8 batters per 9 innings in Eugene last year, the Dominican pitcher has walked just 1 batter in 7.1 innings. Maldonado who, on the other hand, is built like a tank and throws harder than anyone in the organization, struck out a pair of batters in a perfect inning, lowering his ERA to 4.50 and his FIP to 3.51. For better and for worse, only 4 of the 20 batters Maldonado has faced this year have put the ball in play: in 4 innings he’s issued 6 walks, but struck out 10 hitters.
Low-A San Jose (11-4)
Friday: San Jose Giants beat the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6-2 [box score] Saturday: San Jose Giants lost to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4-3 [box score] Sunday: San Jose Giants beat the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 8-6 [box score]
We’re still in the small sample size theater portion of the season. I’m not sure when it ends. But I’d like to know so we can start counting down to it, and see if right fielder/center fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) is still doing this when we get there.
No one had a better weekend than Maldonado, and no one was particularly close. He got Friday off, but on Saturday hit 1-3 with a home run, a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout. What a good day!
But it was nothing compared to his Sunday, when the right-handed hitter, taken in the 7th round of July’s draft, went a mesmerizing 4-5 with not 1, but 2 home runs. Maldonado also threw in a double for good measure, knocked 5 runs home, and was caught stealing once.
You want to see the spitting image of a guy who has started to figure things out? Last year, after getting drafted, Maldonado played 17 games for San Jose and hit .237/.352/.339 with 0 home runs. Through 9 games this year, the 22-year old was hitting 6-34 with 0 extra-base hits.
And in the last 4 games? He’s 10-17 with 6 home runs and 2 doubles. And in case you missed the news portion of this article, he won Cal League Player of the Week. No duh.
With that absurd string of games, the Northeastern product is up to an 1.123 OPS and a 170 wRC+. It’s earlier than early, but the 2025 draft class is sure looking rosy for the Giants right now.
While Maldonado was the biggest star, shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) remains the top prospect on the team, and while he didn’t have his most dynamic pair of games (he sat on Sunday), that’s only because he’s set the bar impossibly high. Because my goodness did he still have a phenomenal weekend, hitting 2-8 with a grand slam and 2 strikeouts.
Second career grand slam for Jhonny Level is a moonshot! 🌕
The just-turned 19-year old continues to look too good for a level that he is very young for. That doesn’t mean the Giants will be promoting him anytime soon, but if you’re a prospect the best thing you can do is dominate a level, and he is thoroughly and unquestionably doing exactly that. There are 68 Cal League hitters with at least 40 plate appearances, and Level is 1st in batting average (.412), 4th in on-base percentage (.455), 1st in slugging percentage (.804), 1st in isolated slugging (.392, tied with Maldonado), 1st in OPS (1.258), 1st in wRC+ (205, with the next-closest player being 179), and 19th in strikeout rate (20.0%). Just an absurd season thus far.
It was a star weekend for San Jose, as there weren’t a lot of notable performances, but there were a few absolute standout showings, namely from Maldonado, Level, and one pitcher: RHP Argenis Cayama (No. 13 CPL).
Cayama, who had a breakout 2025 in the Complex League but ran into some standard troubles upon a late-season promotion to San Jose had a spectacular start on Friday, tossing 5 shutout innings with just 2 hits and 0 walks allowed, while striking out 4 batters. That’s the Cayama we’ve been waiting to see!
The 19-year old looks noticeably more physical this year, and the results are starting to reflect it. He got knocked around a bit in his season debut, but in the last 2 games has pitched 9 innings with 6 hits, 0 walks, 1 run, and 12 strikeouts. The 2025 breakout players on offense have done much better to start the year than the 2025 breakout players on the mound, so it’s nice to see Cayama holding it down for the arms. He could get a whole lot of attention this year if he keeps this up.
LHP Braydon Risley, last year’s 19th-round selection, started on Saturday and had some good and some bad. In the former category was the 6 strikeouts he had in 4 innings, against just 1 walk. In the latter category was the pair of home runs he allowed, though he only gave up 3 hits and 2 runs total. Risley has started his debut season with 13 strikeouts against just 3 walks in 9.1 innings.
One really nice relief appearance in each game: on Friday, RHP Alix Hernandez struck out a batter in a 9-pitch perfect inning, keeping his ERA at 0.00 with a 2.44 FIP, and giving him 9 strikeouts against 1 walk in 6.1 innings; on Saturday, RHP Mauricio Estrella tossed 3 perfect frames with 4 strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 3.38 and his FIP to 1.81, while giving him 12 strikeouts in 8 innings … and 0 walks; and on Sunday, RHP Garrett Langrell needed just 10 pitches to retire all 4 batters he faced, dipping his ERA to 2.84 and his FIP to 3.71, with 8 strikeouts and 1 walk in 6.1 innings.
SLAMMING THE DOOR: The Cubs allowed 13 runs at Philadelphia last Monday. Since then, they have allowed 13 more in five games. Yesterday was the first game of the season in which they have up one run. They have given up two in nine games and had one shutout, for a total of 11 games with two or fewer runs. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
THE MOISES FILES: In his 38 big league games, Moises Ballesteros has a batting average of .327, with 33 hits in 101 at bats. Only seven players who made their debuts as a Cub since 1898 have had a higher average through 38 games with at least 101 AB — just one of them in the last 78 years: .370: Bill Everitt, 1898; .358: Dwight Smith, 1989; .355: Bill Lange, 1898; .348: Ray Grimes, 1921; .344: Bobby Mattick, 1938-39; .333: Hal Jeffcoat, 1948, and Andy Pafko, 1943-44. Geovany Soto also batted .327 (37 for 113). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
HEY, THIS GUY’S BEEN PRETTY GOOD: Hoby Milner, last seven games since March 31: 0.00 ERA, 0.818 WHIP, faced 25 batters and retired 20 of them.
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Sammy Sosa’s ninth-inning grand slam put the exclamation point on an 8-2 win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Jon Lieber threw eight scoreless innings. It happened 25 years ago today, Friday, April 20, 2001.
This is essentially a pitching rematch of last Tuesday in Philadelphia, although Colin Rea didn’t start that game, Riley Martin did as an opener.
After that, though, Rea threw six really good innings, his only mistake a home run ball to Edmundo Sosa. Rea didn’t walk anyone and struck out five. One more like that, please.
The Cubs hit Aaron Nola pretty well last week in Philadelphia, eight hits, two walks and three runs in five innings. I’d say another one like that, plus a good Rea outing, would equal another win.
Please visit our SB Nation Phillies site The Good Phight. If you do go there to interact with Phillies fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
HOUSTON, TX - AUGUST 30: Houston Astros pitcher Spencer Arrighetti (41) throws a pitch in the top of the first inning during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros on August 30, 2025 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Houston Astros (8-15) begin a 3-game series vs. the Cleveland Guardians (13-10) tonight at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH.
RHP Spencer Arrighetti (1-0, 1.50 ERA) will make his second start of the season as he takes on CLE RHP Slade Cecconi (0-2, 5.03 ERA).
SPENCER’S GIFTS: Tonight will be the 2nd start of the season for RHP Spencer Arrighetti.
He earned the win in his first start on April 15 vs. COL, allowing just one run and thee hits in 6.0 innings of work with 10 strikeouts. It marked his 5th career game with 10+ strikeouts and his 1st since punching out 11 on Aug. 28, 2024 at PHI.
VS. CLE: Tonight will be Arrighetti’s 3rd app. and 2nd career start vs. CLE. He has had some success vs. the Guardians in limited action (0-0, 2.25 ERA, 2 G, 1 GS, 8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 6 BB, 10 SO). His last app. vs. CLE was in relief on Sept. 27, 2024 (hurled 2.1 scoreless frames).
VS. THE LAND: Tonight is the first of six scheduled meetings vs. the Guardians in 2026.
After this 3-game set at Progressive Field, the two clubs will play a 3-game series at Daikin Park, June 19-21.
The Astros were 2-4 vs. CLE last season, going 2-1 here at Progressive and 0-3 at Daikin Park.
ON THE STAND: The Astros went 2-4 on their just-concluded homestand, going 2-1 vs. COL and 0-3 vs. STL, respectively. HOU is 7-6 at home overall in 2026.
QUICK ROADSTOP: The Astros will play just these three games in CLE on the current road trip before returning home for a weekend series vs. NYY.
NEED A WIN: The Astros need a win tonight to snap an 8-game road losing streak.
A PERFECT 10: In yesterday’s game, Yordan Alvarez contiued his torrid start to the 2026 season with his ML-leading 10th HR.
He has now homered in 3 consecutive games for the 4th time in his career (last: July 1-3, 2024). Additionally, his 10 HR match the club record through a player’s first 23 games of a season with Lance Berkman (2002).
Alvarez has also matched his career high by recording an RBI in his 6th consecutive game, doing so for the 3rd time (last: Aug. 6-12, 2024).
ON THE LEADERBOARD: Alvarez currently leads the AL in WAR (1.6), RBI (21), XBH (17) and TB (64), and is 2nd in SLG (.790), OBP (.471) and OPS (1.261).
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have placed IF Nick Allen on the 10-day IL (retro 4/19) due to mid-back spasms.
To take his place on the active roster, the Astros selected IF Braden Shewmake to the Major League roster.
To make room for Shewmake on 40-man roster, the Astros transferred RHP Cristian Javier to the 60-day IL.
RHP J.P. France has been outrighted to Triple A Sugar Land.
NEW ARRIVAL: OF Dustin Harris was claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Saturday and joined the club yesterday.
Harris entered yesterday’s game as pinch-hitter and ended up getting two AB’s (0x2 with two lineouts).
Harris was 3×12 (.250) in six games for the White Sox with 4 walks and 2 SB (.438 OBP).
BEHIND THE DISH: C Christian Vázquez is hitting .375 (12×32) with a .444 OBP and a 1.132 OPS.
He has also tallied 10 RBI in just 10 games (8 starts) and has four catcher caught stealings on the season.
HARD TO HIT: Opponents are just 7×48 (.146) vs. RHP Kai-Wei Teng, who is just the 2nd Taiwanese-born player to appear with the Astros in their history.
Among AL relievers, Teng ranks T-2nd in innings (13.2) and T-8th in strikeouts (14).
Yesterday was his 4th scoreless appearance of at least 2.0 innings this season, tied for the most among AL relievers.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2005 – Craig Biggio collects his 1,000th career RBI in a 6-1 win over the Brewers at Minute Maid Park. Biggio ends up going 2×4 in the game with HR and 2 RBI. RHP Roy Oswalt goes the distance to pick up the win, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits with 8 strikeouts and no walks.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, April 20, 5:10 p.m. CST
Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland OH.
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 17: Brendan Donovan #33 of the Seattle Mariners fields the ball against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on April 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners will be without one of their biggest off-season acquisitions for at least the next week, placing INF Brendan Donovan on the 10-day IL with a groin strain.
Roster moves:
🔹 Will Wilson (#7), INF, selected from Triple-A Tacoma. 🔹 Brendan Donovan, INF/OF, placed on 10-day IL (left groin muscle strain, retro. 4/18). 🔹 Miles Mastrobuoni, INF/OF, transferred to 60-day IL.
Will Wilson gets the call up from Tacoma and will take Donovan’s roster spot. Wilson appeared in 34 games with Cleveland last season, slashing .192/.267/.244.
For those wondering why the Mariners didn’t select Colt Emerson after signing him to a then record-breaking extension, Emerson is currently dealing with a wrist injury that will keep him out of Triple-A Tacoma’s next couple of games. Mariners GM Justin Hollander said they will reassess Emerson on Thursday and see how he’s doing.
SURPRISE, AZ - FEBRUARY 24: Asa Lacy #33 of the Kansas City Royals poses during Photo Day on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The draft can be a bit of a crapshoot. Injuries derail some players, while others have trouble adjusting to the professional level. Asa Lacy experienced both problems. Six years after the Royals made him the fourth overall pick, the team is finally cutting ties, releasing him outright.
Lacy was an absolute stud at Texas A&M University. In 2019, he had a 2.13 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 88 2⁄3 innings, and he pitched for the U.S. Collegiate National team that summer. He was a lefty who filled out his 6’4” frame, throwing regularly in the mid-90s with a wipeout slider.
The pandemic halted the 2020 college baseball season just as it was getting started, depriving scouts of an opportunity to see amateur talent. Baseball still held its draft in June, but the information felt incomplete. Teams at the top of the draft elected to go with safer college talent – the first seven picks were all collegiate players. Both MLB Pipeline and Baseball America ranked Lacy as the #3 prospect, so the Royals appeared to be getting a terrific prospect when they selected him fourth overall, signing him to a $6.67 million bonus.
There was no minor league season in 2020, but the Royals felt so confident in Lacy, they sent him to make his pro debut in High A Quad Cities in 2021. He made 14 starts there and had eye-popping striking out numbers, with 79 punchouts in 52 innings, or one-third of all hitters he faced. But he also struggled with control, walking 41 hitters and putting up a 5.19 ERA. He was shut down in July with a shoulder and lat injury, but returned that fall to pitch in the Arizona Fall League with impressive results.
The Royals promoted him to Double-A in 2022 at the age of 23, but after just two starts he was shut down with a back injury. When he returned, he completely fell apart. Overall, he struck out 35 but walked 42 in just 28 innings – a real-life “Nuke LaLoosh”. After a 10.61 ERA in 15 games, the Royals shut him down. He didn’t pitch the entire 2023 season due to back injuries, and had Tommy John surgery in 2024. He has not pitched in a game since 2022, and was released with a total of 80 minor league innings under his belt.
Looking back, the top of the 2020 draft class looks rather cursed. Top pick Spencer Torkelson has a couple of 30+ home run seasons, but overall has had mixed results. The #2 pick Heston Kjerstad, #3 pick Max Meyer, and #9 pick Zac Veen have been hit by injuries. The #5 pick Austin Martin and #7 pick Nick Gonzales look like utility players. Emerson Hancock, the #6 pick, may finally be coming through at age 27. Meanwhile, the #8 pick Robert Hassell is still in the minors. Still, there were two All-Stars in that draft – #11 pick Garrett Crochet and #19 pick Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Lacy’s release is a reminder that even the most polished amateur arms come with real risk, especially in a draft shaped by uncertainty. The Royals didn’t make an unreasonable bet at the time. Many teams would have done the same. Injuries robbed Lacy of development time, and likely contributed to his command issues. What once looked like a potential cornerstone instead becomes a cautionary tale, another example of how quickly promise can unravel, and how even the “safe” picks are anything but.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 05: Jonathan India #6 of the Kansas City Royals in action during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Kauffman Stadium on April 05, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the midst of a seven-game losing streak, the Royals added injury to insult on Monday. The team announced second baseman Jonathan India has been placed on the Injured List with a left-shoulder subluxation. The team has called up Nick Loftin from Omaha to replace him.
India has continued his struggles from last year, hitting just .167/.310/.313 in 17 games this year. He has just one hit since April 6, going 1-for-20 over that time. He also suffered a left shoulder subluxation last June, and missed a game in the Atlanta series with a shoulder injury.
Loftin was up earlier this year and hit 2-for-9 (.222) with two walks and a double. The 27-year-old utility player hit .303/.385/.455 in nine games with Omaha.
Mar 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) greets outfielder Taylor Ward (3) and shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images | Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
The Orioles made the playoffs in 2024, had high expectations in 2025 only to crash and burn with a losing record. That sounds a bit familiar. They’re off to a decent start this year, but have dropped five of six recently, including three of four on this road trip.
Baltimore Orioles (10-12) vs. Kansas City Royals (7-15) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
The Orioles have the 11th-best walk rate, but the second-highest strikeout rate. As a team, they are are hitting just .201/.295/.316 on the road this year. Baltimore paid a steep price to acquire Taylor Ward, but it has paid off as he leads the league with 11 doubles. Gunnar Henderson is a .299/.360/.478 hitter in 18 career games against the Royals. Big free agent signing Pete Alonso has just two home runs in 23 games. He has never hit fewer than four home runs in a month in which he has played at least 20 games.
Samuel Basallo signed an eight-year, $67 million deal in his first week in the big leagues, but has only hit .157 in 47 MLB games. Baltimore signed Leody Taveras and Jeremiah Jackson off the scrap heap, and both have performed early in the season. The Orioles are missing Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, Tyler O’Neill, Jordan Westburg, Heston Kjerstad, and Ryan Mountcastle to injury.
Kyle Bradish has appeared in just 14 games over 2024-25, after having Tommy John surgery. His 94 mph fastball has been very hittable – opponents are hitting .583 against it this year. But he does not throw it much, instead relying on a sinker, slider, and curve.
Shane Baz has also had an injury-filled past, but made a career-high 31 starts for Tampa Bay before they traded him to the Orioles this past off-season. He signed a five-year, $68 million deal with Baltimore, but is still looking for his first win of the year. Last year he struggled in Tampa Bay’s minor league park, but did much better with a 3.86 ERA in 15 road starts.
Chris Bassitt pitched in the World Series last year for the Blue Jays, posting a 3.92 ERA in 170.1 innings in the regular season. He signed with Baltimore in the offseason and has had mixed results, but tossed five shutout innings in his last start against the Guardians. He has a sinker in heavy rotation, generating a 46 percent groundball rate last year.
Ryan Helsley was disastrous at the end of last season with the Mets, but has resurrected his career with the Orioles, going 6-for-6 in save opportunities so far. The Orioles rely on a bullpen full of young, unproven no-namers, but they are getting results. They have the lowest rate of inherited runners to score in baseball at just 13 percent, and their 3.57 bullpen ERA is tenth in baseball.
The Royals need a win badly, but even a banged-up Orioles squad will prove to be a challenge. It is still April, but it’s getting late early. The Royals need a successful homestand to right the ship, and they need to start winning now.
Feb 19, 2026; PortCharlotte, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Trevor Martin (83) poses for a photo during media day at Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Prior to their series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, the Tampa Bay Rays are calling up right-handed pitcher Trevor Martin from Triple-A Durham.
Martin, 25, was the Rays 3rd round selection in the 2022 draft. During his collegiate days, Martin was a closer for Oklahoma State but the Rays tried him as a starting pitcher for the first few years of his development. Martin easily dismantled hitters in the lower levels but Double-A was too much of a challenge and he was converted back into a reliever last season. This year, Martin has made seven appearances for Triple-A Durham and has yet to allow an earned run over 9.1 IP, registering a 26.8 K% and 14.6 BB% against 41 hitters faced.
FanGraphs ranked Martin as the Rays 42nd best prospect entering the 2025 season and they had this to say regarding the young hurler,
Martin hasn’t sustained his peak 2022 velo and was more 90-94 with his fastball in 2024, but plus vertical break and above-average extension help enable a fastball-heavy approach despite that middling velo. Aside from his curveball, which has movement that pairs with his heater, Martin doesn’t have a secondary pitch that’s performing at an average or better level.
Mason Englert heads to the Injured List with right forearm tightness. The 26-year old has thrown in 9 games for the Rays already this season, registering a 7.11 ERA | 4.77 FIP with a 16.7 K% & 6.7 BB% over 12.2 IP.
In order to clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the Rays transferred recent free agent signing Michael Grove, to the 60-day Injured List.
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 27: Brady Basso #66 of the Athletics pitches during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s announced a small roster move on Monday morning hours before their series with Seattle kicks off. The team is bringing up left-hander Brady Basso to the big league squad for the first time this season, while optioning out right-hander Mason Barnett back to Triple-A:
Basso provides manager Mark Kotsay with another left-handed option out of the bullpen. The 29-year-old began the season in Triple-A with the Aviators in the ‘pen but has gotten hit hard in six appearances. He’s sporting an ugly 9.45 ERA but has had some success in the past before. Let’s hope he can figure it out at the big league level or if his struggles will continue.
Barnett meanwhile returns to Vegas after spending just a couple days with the big league team. The right-handed starter made just one relief appearance for the A’s this weekend, pitching two innings without allowing a run. He’ll now return to Vegas and likely resume his starting responsibilities until the A’s need another arm again. Maybe next time he gets brought back up he’ll actually get a starting assignment or two.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 18: Cleveland Guardians pitcher Cade Smith (36) its congratulated by Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) following the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 18, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Houston Astros come to town tonight, looking to get back on track, while the Guardians look to continue their strong start with another series win.
The Astros are 8-15 and third in wRC+ at 122, ninth in Baserunning Runs Above Average at 1.2, 21st in Defense at -5.4, last in starting pitcher ERA at 6.34 (4.59 FIP), and 24th in bullpen ERA at 5.21 ((4.26 FIP).
The Guardians are 13-10 and 17th in wRC+ at 100, 25th in Baserunning Runs Above Average at -1.5, ninth in Defense at -0.2, fourth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.10 (3.93 FIP), and 29th in bullpen ERA at 6.18 ERA (5.39 FIP).
On paper, looks like the Guardians need to hope the past couple games of bullpen improvement can hang around, then they will have a good chance of keeping that Astros’ offense in check. Putting the ball in play a good bit should help as the Houston defense looks bad, so far. It’s tough to read TOO much into trends for another couple weeks, at least, but surface level, the Guardians have a clear path to take this series.
MATCHUPS: Game One, Monday, 6:10PM ET: Slade Cecconi, RHP 5.03 ERA (4.50 SIERA) vs. Spencer Arrighetti, RHP 1.50 ERA (3.28 SIERA). Game Two, Tuesday, 6:10PM ET: Parker Messick, LHP 1.05 ERA (3.23 SIERA) vs. Ryan Weiss, RHP 4.91 ERA (7.18 SIERA). Game Three, Wednesday, 1:10PM ET: Tanner Bibee, RHP 4.81 ERA (3.96 SIERA) vs. Peter Lambert, RHP 7.20 ERA (2.15 SIERA).
This will be a big series for the Guardians to show that they are more of an alpha team in the AL than the Astros. The Astros are reeling… (Mortal Kombat voice) FINISH THEM.
Also, Jose Ramirez’s official countdown to 300 homers/300 steals: 9 homers left, 3 steals left.
Glossary:
wRC+ – Weighted Runs Created Plus – A measure of determining a player’s run production value while controlling for park effects. 100 is league average.
Baserunning Runs Above Average – A metric including stolen base value, double-play avoidance, and taking extra bases to determine how many runs above average a team is on the basepaths
Defense – This stat gives you how many runs above average a team’s defenders save their team, adjusted for positional value (i.e. a catcher has far more defensive value for a team than a first baseman).
FIP – Fielding Independent Pitching. Essentially, ERA weighted by factors a pitcher can control (strikeouts, walks and homers) while eliminating as much as possible the effects of a good or bad defense.
SIERA – A metric to determine a pitcher’s true ERA based on strikeout rate, walk rate, and quality of batted-balls given up. This number is similar to ERA (3 and under is excellent) in determining player performance.
This past week looked like it was going to continue to frustrate the Yankees, as they opened up with a series where they pulled a split from the jaws of a sweep. The Angels outclassed them on the field, dominated the two wins that they took in the Bronx, and only thanks to the full might of the offense and Jordan Romano completely melting down in the ninth twice did they pull out a pair of walk-off wins. However, the Royals were a needed medicine and the team recovered fast, sweeping Kansas City out of town with a pair of weekend blowouts to boot.
The playing field has leveled out with the Yankees taking a brief dip into their first losing streak of the year, but they’ve clawed back a narrow half-game lead atop the division. The Rays are surprisingly the team they’re fending off after getting swept by them, as the rest of the East is still under .500, and the AL in general lacks standouts in the Central and West. Will the Rays remain a thorn in their side and stick around to challenge them for first, or are the standings so crazy right now that anything goes? Is Ben Rice breaking out into a superstar bat, or do we need to pump the breaks before leading co-MVP chants at the Stadium? Have the worries with Trent Grisham’s bat dissipated after finding the power stroke recently? If you have questions like these, or anything else on your mind, send ‘em in for a chance to be featured in our Yankees mailbag.
Answers will run on Friday afternoon. All questions received by the night of April 23rd will be considered. You can leave your submissions in the comment section below or by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.
CHICAGO – Manager Rob Thomson considered giving Alec Bohm the night off as the Phillies began a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night. But when the lineup was posted, Bohm was in it, batting sixth.
“I thought about it,” Thomson said. “But you know what, he’s going to play the next two days (against a pair of left-handed Cubs’ pitchers) so let’s run him through and see if we can get him going a little bit.”
The Phillies came into Wrigley Field on the heels of a troubling 2-7 homestand.
No one struggled more on the homestand than Bohm, who was just 2 for 29, dropping his season average to .139.
Bohm had a strong spring — .310, three homers, 10 RBIs, .928 OPS — and smacked a three-run homer to help key an opening day win. Since then, he has just nine hits, eight singles and a double, in 69 at-bats.
The hellacious slump has coincided with the news that Bohm has filed a lawsuit against his parents, claiming they mismanaged his finances.
Bohm has declined comment on the matter, citing the personal nature of it all. But it is fair to wonder if the situation has affected his play.
Thomson was asked if he believes that could be the case.
“That I can’t tell you,” he said. “Because I haven’t talked to him about it. My door is always open and I told him any time he wants to come in and talk about it, but he hasn’t.
“His demeanor around the clubhouse and prior to the game is really good, and, actually, during the game it’s really good. I see a lot less frustration out of him when he doesn’t do well. He’s growing up. He’s maturing. We’ve just got to get that swing and that contact point straightened out because we need him. He can hit.”
NOTES
• Catcher J.T. Realmuto, who came out of Saturday night’s game with lower back soreness and did not play Sunday night, was not in the starting lineup Monday night.
“He’s available on an emergency basis tonight,” Thomson said. “I think he’s going to be able to play (Tuesday night).”
• Thomson said he would announce Zack Wheeler’s next start on Tuesday. That start is expected to come in Atlanta, where the Phillies begin a series Friday night.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 16: Yainer Diaz #21 of the Houston Astros tags out Tyler Freeman #2 of the Colorado Rockies at home plate to end the fifth inning at Daikin Park on April 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thomas Nestico of TJStats broke down the top WAR player currently on each team by position and by division.
Today, we are going to look at the catcher position:
Yainer Diaz hasn’t just been the worst catcher on his team. He isn’t just the worst catcher in the AL West. He’s tied as the worst catcher in MLB. That’s a statement.
When Yainer first came up to Houston, his defense would be a work in progress but he showed strong pop times and a powerful arm. At the plate, he had power, hit for a high average, and made strong contact despite a tendency to be a free swinger.
It was expected that as he got older, he would learn better plate discipline and get himself better pitches to hit as a result. Instead, the opposite has happened and Yainer has regressed at the plate badly as a result.
Yainer still swings at nearly everything, often leading to ground ball outs when reaching for pitches he should be taking. He sees less good pitches to hit because the league knows he will swing at anything.
The differences between Yainer’s rookie season of 2023 when he burst on the scene looking like a real catcher of the future to today are startling:
That is an awful lot of red that has turned to blue. The top 7 categories have gone from red to blue.
He still chases at near the same rate, and while his walk rate has improved ever so slightly, it’s still way down the bottom of the league.
It may be something that would be perhaps more tolerable if his defense had continued to improve. Alas, that has regressed also:
These stats are confounding because Diaz is not old enough to have age-related regression in physical ability, and we are not aware publicly of any kind of injury that is causing Diaz to regress. That doesn’t leave a lot of room for interpretation, and the room it does leave isn’t positive.
Meanwhile, Christian Vazquez is hitting .375 (12×32) with a .444 OBP and a 1.132 OPS, with 10 RBI in just 10 games (8 starts) and has four catcher caught stealings on the season.
While it’s unlikely Vazquez continues at this torrid a pace, he should be getting more playing time while he is hot, especially since his defense is such a vast improvement from Diaz’.
To be clear, we are not seeing some dip into the fountain of youth on Vazquez, this is a hot streak.
If we compare Vazquez’ 2025 (.189/.271/.274) to his current 2026 (.375/.444/.688) via the metrics, here is what we get:
As you can see, Vazquez’ offensive metrics really aren’t much different from last year.
His x SLG is nearly identical, as are his exit velocities and barrel rate.
Vazquez’ Hard Hit % is actually lower, as his is Square Up % and his overall bat speed.
His Chase Rate, Whiff Rate and K rate are all up, though his BB Rate is also up.
These numbers tell us that there has been some luck involved in his performance, but also that his willingness to draw walks (8.4% to 10.8%) has helped him get better pitches to hit, and he’s hit them in places that have resulted in base hits (xBA improvement from .210 to .251)
Now for the defense:
While it is likely the Blocks number for 2026 is negatively impacted by limited playing time, the Caught Stealing is something that Vazquez continues to do well in.
Framing could also be a factor of limited opportunity. Sprint speed is down, and that is to be expected in an aging catcher.
Overall, Vazquez doesn’t project as a starting-caliber catcher, but Diaz has been so bad this season, that the Astros really have no choice but to play Vazquez more (especially while he’s hot) if they intend on winning baseball games.
Maybe a short term hit to playing time lights a fire under Diaz, but we will learn a little something about his makeup if it does or it doesn’t.
The numbers match the eye test right now, and neither one lies. It has been a brutal start to the season for Yainer Diaz.
The question is at what point is there accountability.
The Baltimore Orioles (10-12) head to Kauffman Stadium tonight to begin a three-game series against the struggling Kansas City Royals (7-15).
The O’s lost two of three over the weekend to the Guardians in Cleveland. They have lost six of their last ten games. At the core of their issues is a lack of run production. Baltimore has scored just 91 runs this season which ranks T9 among 15 American League teams. They rank T20 in all of baseball. The big boppers in the Baltimore lineup have not been coming up big so far this season. Gunnar Henderson is hitting .204, Pete Alonso .207 with but two home runs, and Adley Rutschman remains sidelined with an ankle injury.
You think run production is an issue in Baltimore? Hah! Kansas City ranks dead last in baseball with a putrid 71 runs scored in 22 games. The next closest team in the American League are the White Sox with 82 runs scored in 22 games. As a result, the Royals have lost seven in a row and now sit last in the AL Central. Bobby Witt Jr. has been on base 29 times in April and has scored only three runs.
The pitching matchup features Orioles righty Kyle Bradish taking on KC right-hander Seth Lugo. Lugo has been a standout performer for Kansas City thus far pitching to a 1.48 ERA. Bradish needs a solid start to get his season on track. The 29-year-old has allowed 12 earned runs in 19.2 innings.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Orioles vs. Royals
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Kauffman Stadium
City: Kansas City, MO
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, FS1, MASN, Royals.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Orioles vs. Royals
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Baltimore Orioles (-115), Kansas City Royals (-105)
Bobby Witt Jr. is 6-15 over his last 4 games with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored
Salvador Perez is 5 for his last 45 (.111) with 1 extra base hit
Taylor Ward is hitting .267 over his last 4 games but .294 in April (17 games)
Jeremiah Jackson has hit safely in 11 of 15 games in April (.315)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Orioles vs. Royals
The Royals are 8-14 on the Run Line this season
The O’s are 8-14 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 12 times in Baltimore’s 22 games this season (12-10)
The OVER has cashed an MLB-worst 7 times in the Royals’ 22 games this season (7-15)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Orioles vs. Royals
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Monday’s game between the Orioles and the Royals:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Royals on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total UNDER 9.0.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
