Díaz returned to the Dodgers on July 29th after having surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow. The Athletic reports that Díaz's latest setback is "believed to be related to his upper-body," and not an issue with his elbow.
Díaz has an 11.85 ERA and 2.56 WHIP in 13.2 innings pitched over 16 games this year. He has seven saves and a 2-2 record.
Manager Dave Roberts brought Díaz in during the ninth inning with the Dodgers leading 11-2 against the Colorado Rockies on the road. Díaz allowed three runs on four hits before the Dodgers won 11-5.
"Obviously the results weren't good, but I still think him getting out there and pitching major league innings is going to help him,” Roberts said. “We're just still working through some things.
“I just hope he doesn't lose his confidence. He's still working through it. I believe in him. I think the (competitiveness) was there. The fastball was just more thigh-high and more flat. If we can raise that up a little bit ... but I'm not putting a lot of stock in it."
The Yankees placed Max Fried on the IL on Monday due to a bone bruise, but manager Aaron Boone revealed that the team was taking a cautious approach with the left-hander and that they are optimistic about Fried's health.
Speaking with the media ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore, Boone broke down the events that led to the organization's decision to put Fried on the IL.
"Felt it on a pitch in his last start and then a little bit after," Boone said. "We were going through his normal five-day, expecting him to pitch Wednesday. Played catch Saturday, threw a side on Sunday, which actually went ok. We collectively decided that it’s best to keep it calmed down and keep it a smaller issue."
Boone said Fried had an MRI that confirmed that "low-level" inflammation, and that he played catch in New York on Tuesday.
Fried missed two months this season for the same injury, which is a big reason for the Yankees' approach to this latest injury. Carlos Rodon was activated Monday and is starting Tuesday, taking Fried's spot on the active roster. Although Boone said Rodon's return did not directly determine whether Fried was placed on the IL, the stars aligned for the move to be made without the Yankees losing a starter.
Boone repeatedly said Tuesday that this bone bruise is not the same as the last one, but since it has to deal with the elbow, things could change, although Boone does not believe this will take Fried out for the rest of the regular season. When pressed why he felt it wasn't the same, the Yankees skipper said he's going off of what the medical professionals had told him and how Fried has felt.
"I was told that it was good news," Boone said. "And based on how he was doing, he’s probably in line to take his next start; we’re just being cautious with this to have him healthy the rest of the way."
Fried made 10 starts before being placed on the IL in mid-May and made five starts since returning. In those five starts, Fried pitched to a 1.82 ERA. His last start saw him allow one run in five innings against the Mariners.
Judge starting hitting progression
Boone also gave a short update on Aaron Judge, saying the slugger will start his hitting progression sometime this week.
Judge played catch Friday for the first time and now that he's getting ready to take swings, the reigning two-time AL MVP is getting closer to an eventual return.
Judge was placed on the IL with a right rib stress fracture in early June. The 34-year-old was slashing .248/.375/.533 with an OPS of .908 to go along with his 17 home runs and 38 RBI before going down with the injury.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 06: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park on August 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a strange couple of months for Ranger Suarez. He missed a few turns in the rotation back in the middle of July with a groin strain, and even though this will be his fifth start back since that injury, he’s largely faded into the background, even during games he’s pitched. For instance, he was the guy who started on the mound during the 13-inning circus act against the White Sox back on August 6th. He only lasted three innings on an inefficient 70 pitches, and he was largely a footnote by the end of the night.
But as the summertime sunsets start to creep back closer to 8:00pm, we’re getting to that point in the year where the Red Sox are really going to need Ranger Suarez to make an impact. Since coming off the IL, he’s only averaged 70 pitches per start, and on a related note, he also hasn’t received a decision in a game since June. To be clear, Suarez hasn’t been awful when he’s gone out there (he’s allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last ten starts dating back to the end of May), but he also hasn’t looked like a guy you want at the top of your rotation in October, which we know he’s capable of being.
In other words, tonight is one of those nights that will be an interesting check in to see what he’s got in the tank. With the groin injury a full month in the rearview mirror, he should be able to get to 90 pitches in this one if he’s throwing the ball well.
On the other side of the ball, there’s Merrill Kelly, and if you have no idea what to expect from him tonight, you’re not alone. He’s been Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in his 22 starts this season. In eight starts, he’s allowed five or more earned runs, but in 12 others, he’s allowed two or fewer earned runs. That leaves just two outings in which he’s given up three or four earned runs. A very strange season indeed.
Speaking of strange seasons, Roman Anthony is also about to play baseball for the first time in three months up in Portland for the Sea Dogs as he begins his rehab assignment. He’ll bat second and DH. Adding to the excitement up there will be Justin Gonzales making his Double-A debut and batting leadoff.
Below are the lineups for both games, and a comment thread to discuss all the action.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 12: Carmen Mlodzinski #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on August 12, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are back in action tonight as they take on the Detroit Tigers for the second contest in a three-game series.
The Pirates will hand the ball to All-Star Braxton Ashcraft, who is coming off arguably the best start of his career, on August 13. Ashcraft pitched his first career complete game, giving up just three hits and one earned run while striking out 10 in a 13-1 rout over the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. The Pirates hope he can continue the dominance as they face off against the Tigers, who find themselves in the thick of a very tight AL Wild Card race.
The Tigers are tossing the ball to third-year pro Kader Montero, who is enjoying a breakout season. Montero is also coming off a strong performance in his last start on August 13 against the Cleveland Guardians. Montero pitched 6.1 innings, giving up three hits and no runs as the team won 3-0 at Comerica Park. Montero has already surpassed his career high for innings pitched in a season and is throwing the best stuff of his career. He has been crucial for the Tigers in their rotation after the Tarik Skubal trade, and the team will rely on him heavily to get the job done.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 6: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game against the Athletics at Great American Ball Park on August 6, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a rocky start to the 2026 season, there was a time that Cincinnati Reds lefty Andrew Abbott settled into a rather great groove. That time, though, has sadly evaporated, and he’s been nothing more than mediocre – at best – for a little bit now.
Over his last 9 starts dating back to June 26th, he’s pitched to just a 4.66 ERA/4.41 FIP with an extremely discouraging 38/25 K/BB in 48.1 IP. He was shelled for 5 ER in his most recent outing (in just 4.1 IP), and the month of August has seen him allow 11 ER with a brutal 8/10 K/BB in just 16.0 IP (6.19 ERA).
The Reds will surely hope he can find a way to flip that script on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, who boast the second lowest K% against southpaws among the 30 MLB clubs (just 18.3%).
Kyle Leahy gets the starting nod for the Birds, and first pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET.
Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin things:
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 14: Cody Freeman #39 of the Texas Rangers reacts before playing against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for August 18, 2026 against the Washington Nationals: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Jackson Kent for the Nationals.
The Rangers return home after a disappointing, to say the least, West Coast road trip. They play the Washington Nationals today. The Nationals are starting a lefthanded pitcher named Jackson Kent, who I had definitely heard of and knew was a real person before two minutes ago. The newly activated Danny Jansen is behind the plate.
The lineup:
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 2B
Foscue — DH
Jansen — C
Freeman — 3B
Carter — CF
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -147 favorites.
On this day six years ago and with this swing, Tim Anderson set some amazing leadoff home run records. | (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
1910 Red Faber, pitching for the Class-B Dubuque Dubs in the Three-I (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana) League, threw a 3-0 perfect game against the Davenport Prodigals. Faber, 21, would make his MLB debut in 1914 for the White Sox, beginning a Hall of Fame career.
The Cascade, Iowa native never threw a no-hitter, much less a perfect game, in the majors, however.
1977 He was a ship too late to save the drowning South Side Hit Men, but it wasn’t for lack of Steve Renko trying. The tall righthander was acquired from the Cubs for pitcher Larry Anderson and cash, and was basically unbeatable for the final six weeks of the season.
Renko went 5-0 (and the team was 6-2 in his starts, the only losses both by one run) with a 3.54 ERA (117 ERA+) and 3.13 FIP, adding up to 1.3 WAR in just eight starts.
As good as that late deal was in 1977, the White Sox helped curse their 1978 by swapping Renko and catcher Jim Essian to Oakland at the end of spring training for reliever Pablo Torrealba. The pair combined to put up 3.4 WAR for the A’s, while Torrealba was a -0.4 WAR pitcher in 28 games for the White Sox, released midway through the 1979 season and never to pitch in the majors again.
Also on this day, the White Sox held an open tryout at Comiskey Park, inviting some 250 amateurs in hopes of finding a gold nugget. The club found only one: Southpaw Kevin Hickey, who at 22 was already a 16´´softball legend, having led his club to a national title and facing off against many city notables — including Sun-Times columnist Mike Royko. By 1981, the “Hic Man” was in the majors.
1993 For the second straight season and the second time in less than a calendar year, Dan Pasqua broke up a no-hitter late with an extra-base hit.
On Aug. 26, 1992, Pasqua doubled off of Todd Sottlemyre in Toronto’s 9-0 pasting of the White Sox. And on this day Pasqua tripled off of Danny Darwin, who would end up spinning a one-hit complete game against the White Sox, 5-0.
In both cases, the soul-crushing hit came with one out in the eighth inning, putting the hurlers just four batters from immortality.
Also on this day, Frank Thomas drove in his 100th run, setting a new White Sox mark for quickest to 100 RBIs in a season. The mark wouldn’t last long; Thomas broke it one season later, on Aug. 7, 1994.
2020 Continuing an absolute barrage of leadoff home runs, Tim Anderson started another game off with a homer, this time in a 10-4 win over the Tigers in Chicago. Anderson’s homer made him the first White Sox ever to with three leadoff home runs in a six-game span. He also became the fifth player in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run in three straight games against one opponent.
Anderson victimized Matthew Boyd on August 12 and 17, and his record-setter on this day came against Tarik Skubal.
Incredibly, Anderson almost added another leadoff home run against Casey Mize leading off the next day’s game, but his fly deep to right field was caught short of the fence.
Aug 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Derek Hill (49) high fives teammates after win against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
SAN FRANCISCO - JULY 10: Players stand attended during the National Anthem before the 78th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at AT&T Park on July 10, 2007 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Greg Trott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday, we got confirmation that San Francisco would be the host city for Major League Baseball’s 2028 All-Star Game. It’s very cool news and it gives us all something to look forward to as we wait for the Giants’ next competitive window to open in 2030. And, of course, it’s more than just the game itself. There’s the Home Run Derby, the Futures Game, celebrity interactions, the draft, and an All-Star village. So, I figured this would be a good place to gather everything we know about the event so far. I promise I’m not riffing through the entire article, but it’s a lot of riffing.
It will happen in July
No exact date yet, but it’s almost certainly the week of July 12th, which is when the Baseball portion of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will kickoff. That tournament runs July 13-19 at Dodger Stadium.
It will be a factor in the upcoming lockout
Last month, Bruce Meyer, who’s leading the negotiations on behalf of the MLB Players Association, indicated that he knew San Francisco had already been chosen as the site of the 2028 All-Star Game to which Rob Manfred responded, “With all due respect, Bruce does not pick the All-Star Games. He’s not necessarily correct.”
It would be funny if the situation wasn’t so dire. Commissioner Manfred has been a terrible ambassador of the sport, a true antagonist to playersand fans, a bad businessman, and now he’s going to carry water for the owners who want to try to bleed the sport for more profit.
The reason why Oracle Park was chosen as the 2028 site had less to do with the city or the stadium or even that it had been a long time since the game had been hosted there and more to do with proximity to the Olympics. Being an hour away by plane really takes some of the pressure off for making sure as many great players can participate. The sticking point is that the league is trying to negotiate a new CBA along with the details of Olympics participation. If the negotiations drag on, it’s not wild to imagine the owners blaming the players for there being no MLB representation in the summer games or whatever.
A couple of months ago, the United States Department of Justice announced that they had opened a civil rights investigation into whether or not the Giants had violated the rights of the bigots on the roster by allowing dissent and criticism over their bigotry to be communicated in their general direction. As of this writing, this investigation remains open, and it’s entirely possible that it won’t be closed for some time because why should it be closed? As an open case, the Justice Department and the White House can extract concessions or fines from the team to avoid federal intervention of whatever feels right.
Don’t want ICE agents deployed throughout China Basin for All-Star week? Better not think about cutting Sam Hentges, Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, or Ryan Walker. Yes, even in 2028.
And who knows where we’ll be by then in terms of federal overreach. I’m sure some very dutiful bootlicker is already cobbling together some sort of order relating to securing America’s Pastime against non-traditional values that are expressed or advertised throughout San Francisco. As paranoid as this might sound, there’s already precedent. ABC has filed a First Amendment suit against the FCC for matters pertaining to broadcast licensing and similar civil rights investigations into the company’s “DEI policies.” Plus, with the commissioner pitching it as being Olympics-adjacent, “security” or “public safety” can be invoked to do all sorts of wacky things. With the government always willing to threaten the sport’s antitrust exemption and Manfred having already demonstrated that he’ll throw the Giants under the bus at the first opportunity, it’s a recipe for more headaches, possible injustice, and disrupted entertainment.
The Giants will have at least one All-Star
By rule, each team must have a representative. Bryce Eldridge is confident that he’ll be able to participate in the Home Run Derby, but we’ll see. He’s going to sit an awful lot if the lockout drags on as long as the owners want it to, and that could impact his development. I’m sure most fans have penciled in Logan Webb already, but this year already showed a marked decline for the former ace. As I mentioned back in May, it’s possible that his best days are already behind him. Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner were all basically done by 30. Webb turns 30 in November.
I wonder if Webb and Eldridge will have a better opportunity to represent the United States on the Olympic Team rather than as All-Stars representing the Giants.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be hounded to participate in the Home Run Derby
My one memory of the 2007 ASG in San Francisco is of Vladimir Guerrero Sr. winning the derby. He waws my white whale for many years and after the infamous Brian Sabean quote that killed the idea, I took my moments of watching Vlad very seriously. Watching him mash in the Home Run Derby was the only time I was able to imagine what it might’ve been like to have my favorite player (at the time) on my favorite team.
To be clear, I won’t be hounding Vladito, but the chance for a father-son story to crop up in this specific competition is too good to pass up. Obviously, it’s not a guarantee. It’s not that 2028 is far enough where things could change, it’s that 2026 has given us a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who has evolved/de-evolved into a player who would be stealing a derby spot from a more deserving bat. He has just 7 home runs this season — his age-27 season! — and looks like he’ll just barely clear double digits. But also, after hitting 48 home runs in 2022, he’s hit just 118 since.
Some aspect of the team being in San Francisco will be celebrated
It’ll be the 70th anniversary of the team’s move from New York to San Francisco but its 71st season overall. That could mean it’s a San Francisco-tinged celebration or its a Giants history-themed one or if the Olympics of it all simply overwhelms.
Politics will be inescapable
Maybe you’re bent out of shape when I mentioned Pride Night again, but I promise you that I’m not even the tip of the iceberg. I’m the water vapor that might freeze down onto the berg. 2028 is an election year, and July is usually a busy time, not just with party conventions but also big election-changing news. Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024. Kanye West announced his candidacy in July 2020. The United States Postal Service, under full Trump control, and having cut costs to the extent that the service was hobbled, informed states that there would be delays with mail balloting ahead of the election. On July 12, 2016, Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton. On the 23rd, Wikileaks released a tranche of documents to indicate the DNC’s bias against Sanders. We’re likely to be pelted, inundated, possibly overwhelmed by politics. The trendlines of reality don’t suggest that’s going to reverse anytime soon, especially if Donald Trump continues to suggest that he’ll run for reelection when he legally cannot.
This might be the last All-Star Game on FOX TV
All of MLB’s national broadcast rights have been synced to expire at the end of the 2028 season… unless a specific amount of time is missed due to a work stoppage. In that case, an extra year would be added. Still, it might be the last time that John Smoltz is inflicted on us.
Although the FOX Network has been a fine partner with MLB all these years, I’m still miffed about them putting the NFL theme over the baseball stuff to trick viewers into tuning in… and then there’s John Smoltz. But they actually broadcast the baseball game, far better than ESPN. Of course, nobody is as good as NBC/Peacock’s coverage. But what’s probably going to happen going forward is the Balkanization of the broadcast rights. Your MLB.tv subscription will continue to be diluted by other platforms you’ll need to subscribe to: Apple, Peacock, Netflix and then, who knows?
The national anthem will be performed by a Bay Area native
In 2007, Stockton’s Chris Isaak sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” With all due respect to Chris Isaak, I think that can be topped; although, I’m having a tough time coming up with relevant Bay Area acts who will still be notable in 2028. Age has caught up with a lot of our faves, but then again, Patti LaBelle did this in Philadelphia last month and at 82:
Tim Lincecum will be there, right?
It’ll be the 20th anniversary of his first All-Star Game. Even with a large contingent of non-Giants fans in the crowd, that’s still homefield. Barry Bonds will definitely be there, Jeff Kent, too. Lincecum will be there. He’s got to be. I’m not sure in what capacity, of course. I don’t think Dave Roberts </s> would let him deliver the lineup card or whatever.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 25: Pitcher Lucas Erceg #60 of the Kansas City Royals walks off the mound after the top of the 9th inning during the game against the New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium on May 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals were hoping Lucas Erceg could be the shutdown reliever in their bullpen. Instead, he has struggled with his command all year and has been a big reason why they have the second-worst bullpen ERA in baseball. Today, the team finally optioned him to Omaha, calling up reliever Carlos Durán to replace him.
Durán was acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline for pitcher Kris Bubic. The 25-year-old right-hander had a 3.15 ERA in 40 minor league appearances with 64 strikeouts and 29 walks in 45.2 innings. He has appeared in one MLB game before, giving up one hit, three walks, and three runs, while retiring just one hitter in an appearances with the A’s last year.
Durán has a fastball that sits at 96 mph, but he features a plus slider that could make him a valuable weapon in the pen.
The Royals might have an absolute gem in Carlos Duran 👀💎
Durán was originally signed by the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic, but was traded to the A’s in 2025 for outfielder Esteury Ruiz. The A’s let him go after the end of last year, and he returned to the Dodgers on a minor league deal.
Erceg got off to a decent start, but had three big blow ups in late May and has not recovered since. In his last 27 outings, he has given up 26 runs in 24 innings. Overall, the 31-year-old right-hander has a 6.23 ERA, fourth-worst among qualified relievers, his 13.9 percent walk rate is seventh-highest among relievers, and he has the worst strikeout-to-walk ratio in baseball. He has six blown saves this year, more than all but four pitchers.
Erceg had a notable drop in strikeout rate last year, but still maintained a 2.64 ERA. This year, opponents are hitting .333 against his 97 mph fastball. Preston Farr wrote this week about Erceg’s struggles, noting his lack of a change up.
While still mixing in both fastballs at a good rate, Erceg has essentially become a fastball/slider pitcher out of the pen. That drop in changeup usage has completely changed the effectiveness of his sinker against opposing hitters.
The Royals originally acquired Erceg in 2024 from the Athletics in what was a savvy move at the time to get a reliever with several controllable years remaining. But his future in the Royals’ pen is now in doubt unless he can rediscover his stuff in Triple-A. The Royals have him under club control through 2029.
The Little League World Series is arguably the biggest stage young athletes can find themselves on. While only a select few have gone on to enjoy professional baseball careers, every year, the utter joy and passion that these kids exude throughout the tournament in Williamsport captivates audiences.
Of course, their electric talent draws in audiences as well. Unforgettable performances from unlikely sources are always bound to make big waves at the Little League World Series, and this year, we might see yet another.
Rasmus is not only proving she belongs, but outperforming everyone she comes across.
In the regional tournament, Rasmus tossed a complete game shutout en route to a 4-0 win over Tennessee to secure the Southeast regional title. Her line? Just three hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts.
Rasmus is able to keep hitters off balance with a remarkable curveball, which she has attributed to her dad, former Major League pitcher Cory Rasmus.
She's not a bad hitter, either. Through the regional tournament, Rasmus hit .750, going 6-for-8.
Rasmus' efforts helped lift Alabama to their first trip to the Little League World Series in 27 years. That team was led by her father, Cory Rasmus, who went on to pitch for the Angels and Braves.
Does Kinley have any other famous relatives?
Yes, Kinley's uncle is none other than former MLB outfielder Colby Rasmus. The 10-year MLB vet played for five teams between 2009 and 2018, starting his career with the St. Louis Cardinals before joining the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles.
When does the Little League World Series begin?
The Little League World Series starts on Wednesday, August 19 and runs through Sunday, August 30.
Alabama plays their first game at 3 p.m. ET on August 19 against the Northwest representatives, Washington.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 16: Mauricio Dubon (14) of the Atlanta Braves chills in the dugout during his off day during the Sunday afternoon MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday August 16, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Braves are rocking with Sean Murphy at catcher and Mauricio Dubon at short against the righty Matthews for the Twins. I think they should do this more, with Jim Jarvis’ bat turning back into a pumpkin and Murphy in need of live plate appearances.
On the latest episode of The Mets Pod, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo find that hope is a good thing for the 2026 Mets and beyond.
The guys discuss a pitching staff that has stabilized behind young arms, the young psychopaths throwing guys out from the outfield, and a possible new life for Kodai Senga as a relief pitcher.
The Mets Pod Answering Machine delivers voicemails about the future of first base and Jonah Tong, and Joe sits down for an exclusive interview with shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura, a lifelong Mets fan who came to the team in the Luke Weaver trade.
The show wraps with a dip into the Mailbag that dives into questions about Ronny Mauricio.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
AKRON, OHIO - MAY 03, 2026: Seaver King #3 of the Harrisburg Senators runs out a double during the third inning against the Akron RubberDucks at 7 17 Credit Union Park on May 03, 2026 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
In the 4th inning of Sunday’s contest between the Rochester Red Wings and Charlotte Knights, Seaver King fired a 90 mph rocket to first base to finish off an inning ending double play. After the play, the Nats star shortstop prospect was fired up, flexing on his way back to the dugout. This combination of athleticism and energy personifies Seaver King’s play style.
Just from watching the past couple games, I have noticed that Seaver King is a big personality on the field. Got fired up after turning an inning ending double play
The first thing that came out of manager Matt Lecroy’s mouth when I asked him about King was “Seaver is a sparkplug man”. He is one of those players that is easy to pick out as a casual observer because of his loud tools. King just plays the game faster and more aggressively than most players, which should endear him to fans.
However, that has not always been the case for the 23 year old. Last season was a disastrous campaign for the former 10th overall pick. He hit just .244 with a .631 OPS across two levels, particularly struggling in Double-A where he posted a .600 OPS. The chase rates were out of control and he was hitting the ball on the ground too much to tap into his power.
King admitted that his 2025 season was tough, but added that he “would not be here without last season”. It was a reality check for a player whose career had been a steady uphill climb to that point. King went from Division II Wingate University to Wake Forest, where he became a top 10 pick. However, baseball has a way of humbling players quickly.
It is not as if the success had gotten to King’s head. Rather, as he put it, he needed to learn what he can and cannot do. Following a successful stint in the Arizona Fall League and an offseason focused on building consistency, King once again looks like the player the Nats made a top 10 selection.
Right now King is knocking on the door of the big leagues. When I saw him this weekend, the bat sure looked big league ready. He was hammering balls to the opposite field and got on base five times in the two games. King’s biggest moment was a solo home run which he crushed to right field.
Using the whole field has always been a big emphasis for King and that remains the case even with a new hitting braintrust that emphasizes pulling the ball in the air. “Owning the right side of the field” is a motto that King has lived by for most of his baseball life. He wants to add more of a pullside element, but it is clear that he believes that he is at his best when he is using the opposite field.
While pulling the ball might not be King’s game, he clearly wants to hit the ball in the air more. He told me that every swing he takes in the cage is with the intent of putting the ball in the air. Elevating the baseball is at the core of the Nats new hitting philosophy, and King is a success story for this ideology.
Last season, he put the ball on the ground 52.4% of the time. This year that number is down to 44.5% and it has led to a massive surge in power. After hitting 6 homers in 125 games last season, King has 14 in 82 games this year, including 4 in his last 8 games. The explosive shortstop has always hit the ball hard, but now he is putting the ball in the air and doing damage.
That idea of doing damage is at the core of King’s offensive approach. His approach to hitting is both simple and effective, “hit strikes as hard as I can”. In an organization where data has become king, Seaver admits that he is not a guy who dives into the numbers too much.
Ideally, he wants his instincts and explosiveness to do the talking. However, when he does look at numbers, he said he tends to look at things such as chase percentage. That makes a lot of sense, as minimizing chase has been a big priority for the 23 year old.
In Double-A, he was swinging dramatically less at the beginning of the season. King had a lot of success with that approach. However, following his promotion to AAA, his swing happy nature re-emerged. Before his IL stint, King was chasing at 38.9% of pitches at the AAA level. Since he has come back, that number has dropped to the low 30’s but it is still something that gives the Nats some pause, which was mentioned in Spencer Nusbaum’s most recent article.
This weekend, King’s plate discipline was a mixed bag. There were some at bats where he came up with a great plan and forced pitchers into the zone. He did walk in both games I saw. However, there were other AB’s where he was clearly in swing mode. One at bat he swung at a pitch so wild that it got past the catcher and he got on base due to the dropped third strike.
What is different about this year though, is that King is not letting those at bats linger. One thing King told me he has gotten a lot better at is “Not letting bad days dwell into three in a row”. He will have the occasional bad at bat, but King learns from it and locks back in.
Those changes in his mental game are just as important as the physical ones. In fact, those are the changes that make me believe the 23 year old is big league ready. It is unclear if he will be called up this season, but I think he would help the team if given the opportunity.
His bat will be helpful, but I also think the way he plays would breathe life into a Nats team that looks out of gas. As Matt Lecroy put it, King is “an old timey player who gives everything he’s got every day”. The Nats need a guy who will puff his chest after turning a double play and play with reckless abandon. According to Lecroy, King is a guy who takes losses hard even at the AAA level.
In the dog days of summer, this Nats team is in need of a sparkplug. Seaver King’s aggressive and up tempo playstyle would be the perfect solution. If it were up to me, Seaver King would get a shot, but let’s see what the Nats decide to do next.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Pitcher Corbin Burnes #39 of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country.
Since the break, the Diamondbacks’ rotation has been more than a run better than it was in the first half. Our starter’s ERA has dropped from 4.39 (18th in the majors) to 3.31 (ranked 6th), through thirty games. If sustained, that would be the lowest second-half ERA in franchise history. A major factor in that has obviously been the resurgence of Brandon Pfaadt, who has looked – almost literally – like a completely different pitcher since he returned from his spell in Triple-A. But we have seen virtually everyone in the rotation, from Merrill Kelly through to Mitch Bratt, show themselves capable of shutting down the opposition, on any given night.
Things might yet improve further, with the return of Corbin Burnes coming up, with probably a couple of weeks to go for that. While there are no certainties after Tommy John, there’s potential there for the starting pitching to get a major boost down the stretch. So, presuming he takes Bratt’s slot in the rotation, if the Diamondbacks were to make the playoffs – ideally with enough time to get their rotation set for the post-season – it would present Torey Lovullo with a bit of a dilemma. Albeit a nice one: who should start Game #1 for Arizona? Below are the five candidates, good health being taken as read.
Corbin Burnes. The staff ace before he was injured, he has the best career numbers, and also the most postseason experience, with a 2.33 ERA across 27 innings.
Merrill Kelly. Proved his worth during the 2023 run to the World Series, with a 2.25 ERA across four starts, including seven innings of one-run ball in the team’s only WS victory.
Brandon Pfaadt. Has been astonishing during his recent run, but still has a career ERA+ of only 89. Five post-season starts, although still looking for his first W there.
Eduardo Rodriguez. An All-Star this year. Far and away the team’s most valuable pitcher this year (4.4 bWAR), having gone 12-4 so far, with a 2.73 ERA that’s a career best.
Michael Soroka. The best FIP (2.86) among the candidates, and a stellar K:BB ratio of better than four – nobody else in the rotation is even at three this year.
I suspect the poll is likely to skew for Pfaadt, largely because of recency bias (it’s amazing to think that less than two months ago, he wasn’t considered good enough to hold down a long-relief spot out of the bullpen). But y’know something? I’d not be unhappy with any of the five getting the ball. Let’s hope it’s a decision which needs to be made, following the series in San Diego which ends the regular season. There’s a poll below, and as usual, please explain your choice in the comments. Bonus points if you want to line up the rotation and, presuming we only need four man, tell us who would be left off it…
