It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Cubs baseball. Those two 10-game winning streaks feel like they were a long time ago as the Cubs dropped their 10th game in a row Tuesday night, falling 12-1 against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. It’s honestly an impressive amount of variance in their streakiness. The Cubs are in uncharted territory:
The Cubs are now the first team in MLB history to post two winning streaks of 10 or more games and a losing streak of 10 or more games by May 26. History.
There’s a lot of offensive blame to go around, but today I wanted to focus on the hitting fortunes of one player in particular: Moisés Ballesteros. Ballesteros started off the season red hot with a .338/.392/.620 slashline, including five home runs en route to a 183 wRC+ through his first 79 plate appearances in March and April. That’s cooled off considerably with the rookie hitting just .100/.200/.160 with just one home run and a wRC+ of 18 through 59 May plate appearances. Today, let’s take a closer look at Ballesteros’ struggles at the plate, because the real hitter is probably somewhere between these two extremes.
The good news is this snapshot of Ballesteros’ skills and expected results is pretty positive for the young hitter. It would be nice if the Chase % and Whiff % were a little lower (more on that in a second) but the underlying metrics, including a 90th percentile Hard Hit %, an 11.7% Barrel %, an above league average K% of 18.7% and a similarly above average BB% of 11.2% are all pieces to build and hope on for Cubs fans, so what changed in May?
The below charts make a pretty compelling case that at least in the last 15 games or so, it’s just bad BABIP luck, first up Ballesteros’ 15-game rolling wOBA, BABIP and Hard Hit %:
This is far and away the closest correlation of three stats, but the Hard Hit rate has recovered in the last 15 games or so and nothing tracks closer to Ballesteros’ actual wOBA than his BABIP. That’s going to be a running trend in these charts. As a reminder, wOBA is a fancy on-base percentage that gives you more credit for extra base hits and BABIP measures your batting average on balls in play, literally, was it a hit or not. BABIPs tend to coalesce around a mean, but that mean is different for different players. Ballesteros currently has a pretty limited sample for his MLB BABIP, last season he ran a hot .349 through 66 plate appearances. He’s currently sitting at a .256 through 138 plate appearances. For reference, during his last two full seasons in MiLB he ran BABIPs of .323 and .315 through full season samples.
So that .256 is quite unlucky relative to Ballesteros’ previous results and it’s not being driven by hard hit rate, at least not recently. What about ground ball rate?
Adding ground ball rate to the equation helps us understand a bit of the problem, it’s inversely correlated to Ballesteros’ recent results, although it’s a little all over the place early in the season. A number worth keeping an eye on for sure, although maybe not as closely tied to Ballesteros’ overall results as his hard hit rate is.
Last, but certainly not least,
Last, but certainly not least, we can look at that wOBA and BABIP result correlated with Ballesteros’ strikeout rate. Again, like with his ground ball rate, we can see that when Ballesteros is striking out more, he’s getting worse results.
In the last month, Ballesteros’ BABIP luck has been pretty bad. That appears to be correlated with both an increased strikeout rate and an increased ground ball rate. So I wanted to see if there were possible explanations for either, and as you can see below Ballesteros is seeing a few more breaking pitches as the season progresses. It looks like an adjustment the league is making to him, he’ll need to adjust back:
The silver lining is that we may already be seeing Ballesteros adjust, just without the results yet. Check out his last 10-games of work (minus yesterday, which did have some weak contact and two strikeouts):
That’s a lot of hard contact along with more walks that strikeouts. Critically, it’s also a lot of hard contact in the air (admittedly sometimes too high in the air, but in the air).
It’s going to be a season of adjustments for Ballesteros, but I’m cautiously optimistic the young hitter is in the process of figuring out this most recent adjustment. His BABIP in May has been .114, that screams positive regression on the horizon.
Aug 4, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Bailey Falter (36) on the mound against the Boston Red Sox in the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images
After a blowout on Tuesday, the Royals announced that starting pitcher Bailey Falter has been designated for assignment. Falter gave up seven runs to the Yankees, recording just seven outs. Mason Black was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Falter appeared in five games this year, giving up 15 runs in 9.2 innings for a 13.97 ERA.
The Royals acquired Falter last summer from the Pirates for first baseman Callan Moss and pitcher Evan Sisk. Falter had been a useful pitcher for Pittsburgh in 2025, with a 3.73 ERA in 22 starts, but a low strikeout rate and a 4.91 FIP suggested perhaps he had been a bit lucky. He gave up 15 runs in 12 innings with the Royals before they shut him down in August with a bicep contusion.
The Royals decided to bring Falter back on a one-year, $3.6 million deal, hoping he could help provide some rotation depth. He gave up five runs in 3.1 innings over his first two starts before the team put him on the Injured List with elbow inflammation. He returned in mid-May, and was used for a spot start last week against Boston as the Royals suffered injuries to their starting rotation. He was called on to start again for the Royals on Tuesday, but immediately ran into trouble, giving up three home runs.
“I’ve been in the bullpen the past few days, been trying to do my bullpen routine,” Falter said. “Trying to stay ready, just in case I do get in the game. And then just another last-minute start. Kind of just throws a whole wrench in the plan.”
Falter ends his Royals career with the third-highest ERA in club history for anyone with at least ten innings. His contract is guaranteed, meaning the Royals are on the hook for the rest of his salary, unless he is claimed off waivers (minus the league minimum if he clears waivers and pitches for another MLB team).
Worst ERA, Royals club history (min. 10 IP) Justin Grimm 13.50 (12.2 IP) Albie Lopez 12.71 (22.2) Bailey Falter 12.46 (21.2) Blaine Boyer 12.05 (21.2) Allen McDill 11.70 (10)
Black was up earlier this year for the Royals and pitched 4.2 shutout innings over four games. The 26-year-old right-hander had a 6.53 ERA in 13 relief outings for Triple-A Omaha with 14 striekouts and 10 walks in 20.2 innings.
PITTSBURGH — Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd is scheduled to make the first of what is expected to be two rehab starts for Triple-A Iowa, the team said.
Boyd has been on the injured list since May 4 with a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery. He was injured when he sat down on the floor to play with his children.
Boyd is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in five starts this season. He was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time in his 12-year career last season.
Boyd threw a 52-pitch simulated game prior to a 12-1 loss the Pirates.
May 22, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chad Patrick (39) and catcher William Contreras (24) celebrate a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
After dropping two of three to the Dodgers, the Brewers enter today’s finale against the Cardinals with a chance to complete a sweep and end their six-game homestand on a high note. Chad Patrick will go for Milwaukee opposite Dustin May.
This is Patrick’s first start since May 4, although it’s probably more of a multiple-inning opener situation than a true start for the right-hander, who hasn’t thrown more than four innings since April. Here’s what Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy said about his role a couple weeks ago:
“We know he’s a multiple-inning guy, but this role that he’s in right now could be used at the front end for four innings, or in the middle of the game for three or four innings, or in that one-inning role,” Murphy said.
Patrick has been excellent since moving to the bullpen, allowing just three total hits over 9 2/3 shutout innings while striking out nine.
Dustin May is the opposite of Patrick in that he’s made it through six innings in six of his last eight appearances. May’s season-long numbers (5.00 ERA, 1.426 WHIP) don’t look great, but that’s largely because he got shelled in his first two outings of the season. Since then, he’s been remarkably consistent, limiting opponents to three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts.
Christian Yelich is back in the leadoff spot after going 3-for-5 last night. In fact, today’s lineup is… exactly the same as yesterday’s, which is kind of funny for a team that started the season with 47 straight unique lineups. Joey Ortiz and Andrew Vaughn will both come off the bench for the second straight game.
Today’s first pitch is set for 12:40 p.m. As usual, you can catch the game on Brewers.TV, WTMJ 620, and the Brewers Radio Network.
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox placed left-hander Noah Schultz on the 15-day injured list and recalled right-handed prospect David Sandlin from Triple-A Charlotte.
Schultz is dealing with patellar tendinitis in his right knee, something he said before Chicago’s game against Minnesota that has been “nagging” him for about a week.
“It’s just something that you want to catch before it gets worse,” said Schultz, who added that he tried playing through a similar injury last season.
The move to place Sandlin on the IL is retroactive after he allowed six runs and six hits in four innings in an 8-5 loss at San Francisco. Schultz is 2-4 with a 5.82 ERA this season in his first eight major league starts since being promoted on April 14.
Sandlin was 0-0 with a 0.75 ERA while allowing opponents to hit .200 against him in four starts with Charlotte this season.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound righty began the season on the injured list with a right forearm injury and was reinstated after two rehabilitation starts. Rated the No. 18 prospect in the White Sox’s system by MLB.com, Sandlin was acquired from Boston on Feb. 1 in a deal that also sent right-hander Jordan Hicks to Chicago for right-hander Gage Ziehl and a player to be named.
Sandlin was an 11th-round pick by Kansas City in the 2022 amateur draft out of the University of Oklahoma.
NEW YORK — Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene took another step in his rehab from elbow surgery when he threw 15 to 20 pitches during a side session at the club’s spring training facility in Arizona.
Greene, who was the Reds’ Opening Day starter in 2023 and 2025, had bone chips removed on March 11. Cincinnati expected him to be sidelined 14 to 16 weeks.
“It’s really kind of cool to see him throw a side,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “He’s got some work to do.”
Francona said Greene and left-handed pitcher Brandon Williamson, who is on the 60-day injured list due to shoulder fatigue, will join the Reds for their six-game homestand before returning to Arizona to continue their rehab.
Right-handed starter Rhett Lowder, who hasn’t pitched since May 7 due to pain in his shoulder, threw long toss and is scheduled to throw to hitters.
Closer Emilio Pagán (strained left hamstring) and catcher Jose Trevino (left hamstring injury) are scheduled to get imaging. The imaging will provide the Reds an idea of how far along Pagán is in his recovery from the injury he suffered while pitching May 5. Francona said the testing for Trevino, who has been sidelined since May 17, will indicate how much activity he can handle.
“He’s kind of chomping at the bit to run,” Francona said.
We've got another beautiful slate filled with plenty of great matchups for us to sink our teeth into with our MLB player props.
This afternoon, I will be diving into a few total bases props, while also sprinkling on home runs from guys like Aaron Judge, Brandon Lowe, and Julio Rodriguez.
Let's dig in with my full MLB picks for Wednesday, May 27.
Through 80 elite ratings, his trends have been outstanding:
1+ hit: 80%
2+ bases: 47.5%
Home run: 28.75%
Lowe has also surpassed 2+ bases in seven of his last elite ratings.
Tonight, he draws Chicago Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon, who brings poorly rated matchup numbers in ISO and strikeout percentage to the table. All season long, the veteran starter has allowed left-handed hitters to elevate the baseball, owning just a 25.6% ground ball rate, and over his last 60 left-handed hitters faced, that number still sits at just 28.6%.
Not to mention, those lefties are making 47.6% hard contact with a 19.1% barrel rate, while Taillon owns a 4.05 HR/9 during that span.
With Lowe seeing the ball extremely well lately, sporting a .310 ISO and 18.1% barrel rate, getting this prop near plus money is mouthwatering.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Julio Rodriguez Over 1.5 total bases (-114)
It may have been two years since the last time I placed a wager on Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez, but today is a new day, and he finds himself in an all-time spot this evening against Athletics southpaw Jeffrey Springs.
The young star has been destroying lefties this season. Over his last 30 plate appearances against them, Rodriguez sports a .893 SLG, 1.326 OPS, and .560 wOBA, while making 54.5% hard contact with an 18.2% barrel rate.
On the other side, Springs has been getting torched by right-handed bats, carrying a 6.19 xERA and 4.98 xFIP over his last 60 batters faced, while allowing just a 32.6% ground ball rate and 2.92 HR/9. During that span, right-handed hitters own a .379 xBA, .692 xSLG, and .396 xwOBA against him.
Rodriguez also owns near 90% arsenal coverage against all of Springs’ offerings, so from top to bottom, this is a great spot for the young fella to have success at the dish.
I always mention that I am not a fan of paying juice for most props if I don't have to, but I think this spot is well worth it. At -114, this is a solid price for the matchup.
Time: 3:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Mariners.TV, NBC Sports California
Aaron Judge Over 1.5 total bases (-112)
Well, you can call me a liar, because I am piling on props that require laying some juice.
However, when it comes to New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge, this is the norm. The reigning AL MVP enters with the third-highest matchup rating on the day over on Batters-Box. When elite, Judge holds some of the most appealing and trustworthy trends in baseball, especially because of the sample sizes.
In 160 elite ratings away from home, Judge records:
1+ hit: 71.88%
2+ hits: 33.31%
2+ total bases: 49.38%
Home run: 30%
He has also surpassed 2+ bases in six of his last 10 elite ratings on the road.
This evening, he draws Kansas City Royals left-hander Noah Cameron, who brings poorly rated matchup numbers in strikeout percentage and ISO. Early this season, the southpaw has struggled against right-handed hitters, allowing 45.9% hard contact with a 10.1% barrel rate, while opposing hitters are elevating the baseball 67.9% of the time.
Despite the sluggish start against left-handed pitching this season, Judge is still making 57.6% hard contact with a 21.2% barrel rate against southpaws. This matchup is simply too juicy to pass up.
Be sure to sprinkle his home run prop as well for a little added fun.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Royals.TV
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 160-282-26, +1.8 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson has been placed on the injured list with a lower back strain.
The Brewers announced they were putting Henderson on the 15-day injured list, though the move is retroactive. The Brewers recalled pitcher Coleman Crow from Triple-A Nashville to fill Henderson’s spot on the roster.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy said he did not expect Henderson’s stint to be longer than the 15 days.
“I don’t think so. Hopefully not,” Murphy said before a 6-0 win against St. Louis. “It warranted enough that it hasn’t calmed down. They don’t think from the MRI it was bulging or anything like that, so they’re confident they can get it put down, get it to calm down.”
Henderson pitched five shutout innings in a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, but said after the game that the right-hander’s back had been bothering him.
“I would say in the third inning, or going back out for the fourth, I just tweaked something,” Henderson said. “I was fighting through it the rest of the game. I was trying to leave it all out on the field there. After the game, I didn’t feel my best and I just haven’t recovered the way I want to.”
Henderson is 2-1 with a 2.74 ERA in five starts. He has struck out 30 and walked six over 23 innings.
Henderson said he had not played catch in a couple of days, but did not have a timeline for a return to throwing.
“Hopefully soon,” he said. “I think we’re making a little bit of progress on it. We don’t want to make it turn into something longer than it needs to be, but at the same time being cautious and try to come back being 100% myself.”
Crow is 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA in two starts with Milwaukee. He is 4-1 with a 4.89 ERA in seven appearances with Nashville.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Phillies -1.5
Price: 45¢ (+122) at Polymarket
If I'm laying a run line, I want it with the road team... and one of the hottest pitchers in baseball, in Cristopher Sánchez. The left-hander hasn’t allowed a run in an absurd 37+ innings, and the Philadelphia Phillies have outscored opponents 21-2 over that stretch while going 3-1 ATS.
Another strong angle fading the Padres today, outside of facing Walker Buehler, is the schedule: The Friars are the only team making a cross-country trip for their next series, heading from San Diego to Washington to open a Friday set.
That 2,300-mile flight is one of the longest travel spots on the MLB board. It’s a strong getaway angle while also backing arguably the most in-form pitcher in baseball right now.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: SDPA, NBCSP
Jon Metler's expert pick: Rays moneyline
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
There haven’t been many bad spots to back the Tampa Bay Rays this season, but Wednesday sets up especially well. I price the Rays closer to 59-cent (-144) favorites against the Orioles.
At first glance, Baltimore’s lineup appears to have a platoon edge against left-hander Steven Matz, with right-handed power bats like Taylor Ward, Pete Alonso, and Tyler O'Neill near the top of the order. But Matz’s profile is built to counter that type of lineup; his sinking fastball and changeup work at the bottom of the zone, taking away the pull-side power those hitters rely on.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay can stack seven left-handed bats against right-hander Trey Gibson, and those hitters benefit from the more favorable dimensions at Oriole Park at Camden Yards following the left-field wall changes.
Time: 6:35 p.m. ET
How to watch: FS1
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Rockies/Dodgers Under 8.5
Price: 55¢ (-122) at Polymarket
Shohei Ohtani has been nearly untouchable at Dodger Stadium, allowing one earned run or fewer in all 11 of his regular-season home starts since joining the team.
Overall, he owns a ridiculous 0.73 ERA across his eight starts this season, with seven of those games staying Under the total. He's also backed by a Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen carrying a 1.29 ERA over the last two weeks, while the Colorado Rockies rank dead last in wRC+ during that stretch.
Tomoyuki Sugano may look like an amateur compared to Ohtani, but his numbers are far more respectable away from Coors Field, and eight of his 10 starts have gone Under.
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET
How to watch: SNLA, COLR
Neil Parker's expert pick: White Sox moneyline
Price: 51¢ (-104) at Polymarket
The Chicago White Sox rank fifth in wOBA against left-handed starters this season and second in overall xwOBA while averaging 4.9 runs per game in May. Chicago righty Davis Martin is also dealing and sports an elite 2.04 ERA and 1.02 WHIP backed by a high-end 2.85 xFIP and 22.4 K-BB%.
As a result, I give the edge to the White Sox on the mound and at the dish. The Minnesota Twins are countering with lefty Connor Prielipp, and in addition to him coming off his worst start of the season, the rookie’s 4.03 ERA and 4.34 xFIP are run-of-the-mill marks.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 12: Didier Fuentes #72 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the fifth inning during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on May 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Normally this is a series that we update after the draft, and then again upon the end of the season. Well, you have to stay hip to the trends and with several outlets already updating their top 30 lists after a full month of the season, we wanted to make sure we provided you with the same kind of content here. So without further ado, here’s a look at the Braves new look top 30.
Rank
Player
Change
1
Didier Fuentes
+2
2
Cam Caminiti
-1
3
JR Ritchie
-1
4
Eric Hartman
+20
5
John Gil
+4
6
Tate Southiesene
0
7
Diego Tornes
-2
8
Owen Murphy
-4
9
Briggs McKenzie
-2
10
Luke Sinnard
-2
11
Luis Guanipa
+2
12
Connor Essenburg
+2
13
Isaiah Drake
+3
14
Alex Lodise
-4
15
Herick Hernandez
+5
16
Garrett Baumann
-4
17
Dixon Williams
+9
18
Ethan Bagwell
+7
19
Jhancarlos Lara
-9
20
Rayven Antonio
+1
21
Owen Carey
-4
22
Michael Martinez
NR
23
Cade Kuehler
+3
24
Raudy Reyes
+4
25
Juan Mateo
NR
26
Cody Miller
-10
27
Jose Perdomo
-6
28
Jose Manon
NR
29
Edelson Cabral
NR
30
Carter Holton
-1
1. Didier Fuentes – RHP
2026 Stats: 3-0, 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 24 K, 7 BB in 19.2 IP (Atlanta), 1-1, 2.16 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 20 K, 6 BB in 16.2 IP (Triple-A)
Reasoning: Fuentes ceiling, combined with the fact that he has been having success in the big leagues already gave him a strong case for taking the top spot in the system.
2. Cam Caminiti – LHP
2026 Stats: 1-2, 5.19 ERA, 1.38 ERA, 43 K, 18 BB in 43.1 IP
Reasoning: Cam stays near the top with his now six pitch mix (four-seam, two-seam, cutter, sweeper, splitter, changeup), but falls to 2 only because of the continued improved command by Didier Fuentes.
3. JR Ritchie – RHP
2026 Stats: 1-1, 4.56 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 21 K, 16 BB in 25.2 IP (Atlanta), 3-1, 1.36 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 31 K, 16 BB in 33 IP (Triple-A)
Reasoning: Ritchie drops a spot mostly because of the emergence of Fuentes on the big league level, rather than anything Ritchie has done wrong. He should still at least be a competent #4 starter.
Reasoning: Eric surges 20 spots because of his continued production with his hit tool, continued patience at the plate, and BOOMING power. Not only is the production at the plate impressive, the process behind the production is strong as well.
Reasoning: Gil’s rise is because he has shown the power spike we saw at the end of 2025 has successfully carried into this season. It’s now easier to see him becoming an impactful big leaguer as opposed to the guy who hit just six homers from 2023 through July 2025.
Reasoning: Tate stays at six after a very impressive start to his season. Tate has shown a very strong hit tool to go with a great approach at the plate which has resulted in a very strong .426 OBP. He’s also shown lots of success on the field, and on the base pads.
Reasoning: The reason Tornes dropped two spots is more about the emergence of Hartman, Gil, and Southisene than anything he has done. His stats in his first eight games aren’t great, but we continue to hear and see good things about him and his underlying metrics.
8. Owen Murphy – RHP
2026 Stats: 2-4, 5.75 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, 45 K, 29 BB in 40.2 IP (AA + AAA)
Reasoning: Owen has struggled out the gate with the command of his fastball which has led to some early season struggles. That said, his fall is mainly due to the rise of the players above him. His potential remains unchanged, with serious upside as a #3 with the improved velocity on his four-seam.
9. Briggs McKenzie – LHP
2026 Stats: 0-0, 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 5 K, 2 BB in 6.1 IP (FCL)
Reasoning: McKenzie’s two spot drop is also because others have emerged. He’s only made two FCL starts after a slight delay to his year, but he has looked pretty much as expected so far.
10. Luke Sinnard – RHP
2026 Stats: 0-2, 3.00 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 14 K, 1 BB in 12.0 IP (FCL + High-A)
Reasoning: The delayed start of the season for Luke combined with the hot starts of the positional players above him, is the reason why Luke has fallen to 10 overall. He still remains an intriguing, high-upside starting pitcher.
11. Luis Guanipa – OF
2026 Stats: .308/.351/.527, 7 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 29 RBI, 21-24 SB, 10 BB, 21 K in 188 PA (Low-A)
Reasoning: After two lost years due to injury, Guanipa is finally healthy and producing in 2026. The power that we last saw in 2023 has returned as well.
12. Conor Essenburg – OF
2026 Stats: .196/.362/.326, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 1-2 SB, 12 BB, 24 K in 58 PA (FCL + Low-A)
Reasoning: Conor has shown an approach well beyond his age as he’s put up quality at-bat after quality at-bat to start his career. That approach, along with his impressive EV numbers make him a very intriguing corner outfield prospect for the Braves.
13. Isaiah Drake – OF
2026 Stats: .280/.360/.451, 9 2B, 7 HR, 24 RBI, 14-19 SB, 20 BB, 49 K in 197 PA (High-A)
Reasoning: The progress with the hit tool continues, as all three numbers in his slash line are on pace to be new career highs for a full season.
14. Alex Lodise – SS
2026 Stats: .250/.332/.413, 4 2B, 3B, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 9-9 SB, 19 BB, 58 K in 208 PA (Low-A)
Reasoning: It’s been a bit of an up and down start for Alex who has flashed impressive power, tied first for home runs on the team, and impressive exit velocities, but has struggled to have consistent quality at bats. The defense has been as advertised.
15. Herick Hernandez – LHP
2026 Stats: 0-1, 1.83 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 29 K, 12 BB in 19.2 IP (Double-A)
Reasoning: Currently out on the IL, Hernandez has shown that he can keep missing bats in his first taste of the upper minors. Command is still his biggest question mark going forward.
16. Garrett Baumann – RHP
2026 Stats: 3-3, 5.86 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, 46 K, 23 BB in 43.0 IP (Double-A)
Reasoning: Garrett has struggled just a bit with his command which has seen his walk rate more than double, and his home run rate nearly double. He’s also the victim of some bad luck as his BABIP is a robust .390.
17. Dixon Williams – INF/OF
2026 Stats: .257/.374/.465, 6 2B, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 9-13 SB, 18 BB, 27 K in 101 PA (High-A)
Reasoning: All Williams has done this year is produce when he’s been on the field, despite splitting his time between first (8 games), second (7), third (2), center (6), and DH (5).
18. Ethan Bagwell – RHP
2026 Stats: 2-0, 2.20 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 42 K, 12 BB in 41.0 IP (Low-A)
Reasoning: Ethan climbs after showing a continued ability to land his fastball in the upper third to go along with a sweeper that he’s been able to locate on both sides of the plate to lefties and righties.
19. Jhancarlos Lara – RHP
2026 Stats: 1-0, 7.43 ERA, 2.55 WHIP, 18 K, 24 BB in 13.1 IP (Double-A)
Reasoning: One of the biggest drops in the system, Lara started the year out at a level lower than he finished last season and has struggled more than ever before with his command. On a positive note, he has looked much better in May than April – though he still has a 2.10 WHIP and 8 walks in 6.2 innings this month.
20. Rayven Antonio – RHP
2026 Stats: IL – Full Season
Reasoning: After a promising 2025, Rayven will miss the entire season.
21. Owen Carey – OF
2026 Stats: .267/.340/.444, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1-1 SB, 4 BB, 7 K in 50 PA (High-A)
Reasoning: The main reason for Carey’s four spot drop is that he simply hasn’t been able to play. He’s been out with injury since April 19th.
22. Michael Martinez – OF
2026 Stats: .352/.456/.722, 2 2B, 6 HR, 3-5 SB, 10 BB, 12 K in 68 PA (FCL + Low-A)
Reasoning: After tearing apart the FCL, Michal earned a promotion to Low-A Augusta where he’s put on an impressive power display.
23. Cade Kuehler – RHP
2026 Stats: 4-1, 4.31 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 34 K, 13 BB in 39.2 IP (High-A)
Reasoning: Kuehler really struggled through April, but has since been dominant. Over his last three starts he has pitched 17.1 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts. Considering he missed 2025 with injury, he may have just been shaking off the rust early in this season.
24. Raudy Reyes – RHP
2026 Stats: IL – Full Season
Reasoning: Raudy will miss the season due to Tommy John surgery.
25. Juan Mateo – INF
2026 Stats: .314/.368/.390, 4 2B, 2 3B, 8-11 SB, 9 BB, 26 K in 114 PA (Low-A)
Reasoning: Mateo, who just turned 19 within the last week, has been showing off his advanced feel for hitting against older pitching. He doesn’t walk much, and there isn’t a lot of power yet – but you can’t argue with his feel for hitting, especially when there is still plenty of time to grow into more power.
26. Cody Miller – INF
2026 Stats: .200/.292/.327, 9 2B, 4 HR, 15-18 SB, 16 BB, 60 K in 193 PA (High-A)
Reasoning: Cody is one of the biggest fallers as he’s struggled to produce at the plate with rising strikeout rates and decreased contact rates. The pressing at the plate has led him to increase his chasing, leading to a sub .300 OBP.
27. Jose Perdomo – SS
2026 Stats: 0-6 in 2 games (Low-A)
Reasoning: After two injury plagued seasons, Perdomo came into camp in the best shape the Braves have seen him since signing. Unfortunately he was injured in the second game of the season, and it is expected to cost him a lengthy stay on the IL.
28. Jose Mañon – SS
2026 Stats: N/A (DSL)
Reasoning: The biggest signing of this last signing period, Jose has yet to start his season but has been talked about quite positively by coaches.
29. Edelson Cabral – OF
2026 Stats: N/A (DSL)
Reasoning: Cabral was one of the top international signings in this year’s class for the Braves, though like Manon he hasn’t played any games yet as the DSL season hasn’t begun. Still we continue to hear very positive signs about the young outfielder.
30. Carter Holton – LHP
2026 Stats: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 2 BB, 6 K in 4.2 IP (FCL)
Reasoning: Carter has made a pair of rehab assignment for the FCL Braves as he returns from Tommy John surgery.
KANSAS CITY, MO - MAY 26: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Sydney Schneider/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It seems like a long time ago now, but the Royals were in the playoffs as recently as 2024. They vanquished the Baltimore Orioles, setting up a matchup against the Yankees in the ALDS.
The series was quickly developing a villain for Royals fans – Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. He had a cocky attitude and was unafraid to speak his mind. He had a controversial “safe call” in Game 1 when replays showed he might have been out, drawing the ire of Royals fans. Following a Game 2 win for Kansas City, Chisholm fanned those flames by calling the Royals “lucky.”
“It still feels the same, that we’re going to win it. I don’t feel like anybody feels any different. We’re going to go out there and do our thing still, we still don’t feel like any team is better than us. We had a lot of missed opportunities tonight, so they just got lucky.”
Still, the Royals were heading back to Kansas City with a chance to take the series at home and shut Chisholm up for good. Instead, the Yankees took the next two games to advance to the ALCS. A tough series, but the Royals looked like they were the young guns on the rise.
The Royals traveled back to New York the next April and were promptly swept. When the Yankees came to town that June, and Chisholm was still beefing with Royals infielder Maikel Garcia, who had drawn ire from the Yankees in the 2024 ALDS for an aggressive slide. It didn’t matter. The Royals still lost. Again and again. In six games against the Yankees in 2025, the Royals lost all six, scoring a total of 11 runs.
In 2026, there has not even been an illusion that the Royals are on the same level as the Yankees. Kansas City has stumbled out of the gate, including a three-game sweep in the Bronx where the Yankees outscored them 24-6. The beatings continued this week in Kansas City with a devastating ninth inning loss on Monday, and a shellacking on Tuesday that was effectively decided just as fans were getting comfortable in their seats.
So if you’re counting at home, the Royals have lost 13 games in a row to the New York Yankees. That is the worst stretch by any Royals team against their pinstriped enemies – the previous record was a 12-game losing streak by the 1997-98 Royals.
That’s right, no other Royals team has been as thoroughly dominated by the Yankees as this team.
Not the expansion franchise when it was first getting started with a collection of castoffs from around the league.
Not the up-and-coming Royals when they took on George Steinbrenner’s high-priced collection of free agents like Reggie Jackson.
Not the late-90s Royals, adrift without an owner, facing one of the greatest Yankees dynasties ever assembled.
Not even the slap-hitting clubs under Trey Hillman with Kyle Davies on the mound did this.
This team.
They’ve lost close games and blowouts. They’ve lost with Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Cole Ragans, and Kris Bubic on the mound. They’ve certainly lost with Bailey Falter on the mound (dear lord what were they thinking putting him out there?)
Worst ERA, Royals club history (min. 10 IP) Justin Grimm 13.50 (12.2 IP) Albie Lopez 12.71 (22.2) Bailey Falter 12.46 (21.2) Blaine Boyer 12.05 (21.2) Allen McDill 11.70 (10)
Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Ben Rice have each hit four home runs during this streak – Chisholm has hit two. The Royals are hitting .177 as a team over those 13 games. Maikel Garcia is hitting .106. Kyle Isbel is hitting .083. Isaac Collins has yet to get a hit in 13 tries.
The 2024 Royals did not feel like a fluke at the time. Even in defeat, the Royals looked like they belonged on that field. They had a superstar MVP candidate, a great pitching staff, some rising stars, and seemed like a team that would pay their dues that year, but use it to fuel them for deeper runs in subsequent years.
Now, less than two years later, the gap feels wider instead of narrower.
Sure, the Yankees have gotten better. They’ve spent more. But the Royals were supposed to have gotten better too. They’re spending a near-club record $140 million on payroll this year.
The most concerning part isn’t that the Royals keep losing to the Yankees. The Yankees are one of the best teams in baseball. Plenty of clubs lose to them.
It’s that the matchup has become so predictable.
The Yankees patiently wait for a hittable pitch. The Royals do not.
The Yankees hit mistakes over the wall. The Royals do not.
The Yankees turn a baserunner into a crooked number. The Royals turn baserunners into stranded runners.
The Yankees punish thin margins. The Royals have to play perfectly just to stay close.
In October 2024, the Royals looked like a young club knocking on the door. In May 2026, they look like a joke. They will have to spend the rest of this season proving the 2024 season wasn’t just dumb luck.
May 26, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Ryan Waldschmidt (15) and Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Jorge Barrosa (1) and Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) celebrate after the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images | Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
Diamondbacks News
Marte Stays Hot, Diamondbacks Fell Giants Ketel Marte hit the farthest home run at Oracle Park this season during the seventh inning on Tuesday, as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the San Francisco Giants 7-5.
Eduardo Rodriguez’s Odd Start E-Rod’s latest start was a gritty quality start that he managed to pull off despite not having his best stuff. But, when he needed to make the big pitches, he did. This is the E-Rod of old, the one that Arizona thought they were signing a few winters ago.
Brandon Pfaadt Could Become Valuable Bullpen Arm As starters are going deeper into starts and some arms are nearing return, it is going to be important to find Pfaadt’s best role, sooner rather than later.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 28, 2026: Hunter Greene #21 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the first inning of a spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on February 28, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Chase Burns has been a revelation for the Cincinnati Reds this season, the former #2 overall draft pick emerging as a legitimate rotation-carrying ace during the first third of the season. Andrew Abbott, an All Star in 2025, has turned the corner after a rough start and once again looks a more-than-competent mid-rotation arm. Even Nick Lodolo looks potentially back to form after his 6.0 IP of ER ball against the New York Mets to start this week.
Still, this Reds rotation revolves around Hunter Greene, even though he’s been sidelined all season after needing cleanup surgery in his prized right elbow right before the start of the 2026 season. Ever since going under the knife, it’s been expected that he would return to the Reds at some point in July, and yesterday he took the first huge on-mound step towards making that a reality by firing his first bullpen session.
Greene posted some footage on his Instagram page, which the Reds later relayed on Twitter.
Despite the ‘knowns’ I laid out in the opening paragraph about Cincinnati’s starting rotation, several pertinent caveats need to be added to them.
For one – as the Reds TV crew began to dive into during last night’s start against the Mets – is that Burns is going to run smack into an innings limit at some point this year. He threw just 66.0 IP last year and only topped out at 100 IP during the 2024 season with Wake Forest, and he’s already thrown 64.1 IP so far this season. Finding a way to keep him from throwing 160, 170, 180 IP and still being able to contribute down the stretch for the Reds this year will take some serious rotation juggling at some point, and Greene’s return in July could help throttle that in a way where Burns is still a rotation option in September.
The Reds will also ultimately get to play that game with Rhett Lowder, who is nearing a return soon from his shoulder clicking after missing almost the entire 2025 season with other injury issues, too. How they work him back in, throttle Burns a bit, add Greene back in, and decide what to do with pending free agent Brady Singer amid his struggles will be quite the job for Derek Johnson and Tito Francona, but having too many healthy arms is a problem any management would kill for during the dog days of summer in a baseball season.
Anyway, Greene’s making the right kind of progress, and that’s fantastic given that there’s nary a guarantee when it comes to getting pitchers back from arm surgeries.
Michael Harris II had four of the Braves nine hits last night including his 12th home run of the season as Atlanta opened their three-game set against the Red Sox with a 7-6 win at Fenway Park. Spencer Strider gave up first inning home runs to the first two batters he faced - Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela - but settled down after that allowing just one more run over five innings to improve to 3-0 on the season. Ranger Suarez allowed five earned runs over five innings to earn his third loss in five decisions.
Tonight’s pitching matchup features Bryce Elder taking the ball for Atlanta and Connelly Early for the Sox. Elder is 4–2 with a 1.97 ERA while Early counters with a 4–2 record and 3.33 ERA. Early will face a Braves’ lineup that ranks first in baseball in hits (491), second in home runs (74), third in batting average (.260), and third in runs scored (289). The Sox offense is the issue in Beantown this season “highlighted” by their 41 home runs (#29 in baseball) and 200 runs scored (#30 – dead last).
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.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Braves vs. Red Sox
Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Time: 6:45PM EST
Site: Fenway Park
City: Boston, MA
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, BravesVision, NESN
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: Braves vs. Red Sox
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Atlanta Braves (-109), Boston Red Sox (-110)
Spread: Braves -1.5 (+149), Red Sox +1.5 (-181)
Total: 8.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Braves vs. Red Sox for May 27
Red Sox: Connelly Early Season Totals: 54.0 IP, 4-2, 3.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 50K, 19 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Braves vs. Red Sox
Matt Olson homered last night but is just 2-21 (.095) over his last 5 games
Ronald Acuna Jr. is 1-16 (.063) over his last 4 games
Austin Riley is 6-13 (.462) over his last 4 games
Willson Contreras is riding a 9-game hitting streak (16-35)
Wilyer Abreu is 7-27 (.259) over his last 6 games
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: Braves vs. Red Sox
The Braves are 34-21 on the Run Line this season
The Red Sox are 21-32 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 25 times in Atlanta’s 55 games this season (25-27-3)
The OVER has cashed 24 times in Boston’s 53 games this season (24-28-1)
Expert picks & predictions: Braves vs. Red Sox
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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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 Wednesday’s game between the Braves and the Red Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Braves on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Braves on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 8.5.
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Texas Rangers pitching coach Mark Connor watches a pitcher warm up for the ninth inning as the Rangers played the Los Angeles Angels at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Friday, May 11, 2007. The Rangers lost 6-3. (Photo by Sharon M. Steinman/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
The most successful players in the world aren’t only successful because of their innate abilities. Sure, some of those who walk this planet can naturally throw a ball harder than others, but being able to throw a ball hard and honing the craft enough to make it to the major league level are two very different things. And that’s where coaches come in.
Every single player who has walked away with a major award at the highest level has likely had many influential coaches in their baseball lives. And there have been a handful of big names who credit Mark Connor as their guiding light.
Mark Peter Connor Born: May 27, 1949 (Brooklyn, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1984-87, 1990-93 (all as coach)
Connor was born in Brooklyn and played college baseball at both Belmont Abbey College and Manhattan University. He was a right-handed pitcher and ended up drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 22nd round of the 1971 MLB Draft out of Manhattan. He would only play two pro seasons, the first with the Low-A Auburn Twins in 1971 and the second with the Low-A Wisconsin Rapids Twins in 1972. He was primarily used as a reliever, pitching in 20 games (and starting only three) with a 4-5 record in 1971, finishing with a 2.78 ERA. His second season saw him post a 3.83 ERA and a 3-3 record in 32 games with zero starts.
The major drop-off in ERA from one year to another was caused by a brutal injury to Connor’s pitching shoulder in that first season with Auburn. In a future interview with Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) during his time with the Baltimore Orioles, he talked about having completely blown out his shoulder and having to take lots of painkillers and medicine to try to ease the inflammation.
However, he also spoke about that injury sparking a desire in his brain to figure out why he got hurt and how improving pitching mechanics can help prevent injuries.
And thus, Connor’s future in baseball was decided: his time would be spent in the dugout, the bullpen, and in the clubhouse as a scout and pitching coach.
Following the end of his playing career, Connor headed to the University of Tennessee-Knoxville not just to earn his Master’s Degree, but also to be the Volunteers’ pitching coach under manager Bill Wright. He was a member of the staff from 1974 to 1978 and saw four seasons of success with the team going 29-15 (1974), 32-16 (1975), 33-17 (1976), 24-24-1 (1977), and 25-21 in 1978. And following his time in Knoxville, he received a call to come help a major league squad — the New York Yankees.
Connor didn’t automatically start with the big club. Instead, he was brought in to be a scout in 1979 and worked his way into the pitching realm with the Yankees’ minor league teams the following seasons. He first worked with the Greensboro Hornets from 1980 to 1982, where he threw batting practice to a crop of hopefully-future Yankees players. One of those hopefuls who became a legend in his own right within the organization, Don Mattingly, was with Connor as he moved up the minor league ranks from Greensboro to Columbus with the Clippers in 1983. He even gave Connor his nickname, “Goose,” as Connor would serve up batting practice to the left-handed hitters on the team, and they would be smashed into the street called “Goose Creek” over the fence.
Connor started in 1984 with the Clippers, but was promoted to pitching coach for the Yankees on June 18th after the firing of Sammy Ellis, marking the first time he worked with a major league squad. He would be working alongside Jeff Torborg and under manager Yogi Berra, becoming the 20th pitching coach that George Steinbrenner had in his 12 years (to that point) as the club’s owner.
Until August of 1985, Connor was with the Yankees, but he was soon demoted to the Fort Lauderdale Yankees, where he also served as pitching coach. That demotion was temporary as he returned to the Yankees in May 1986 as the team’s pitching coach, holding the position through the 1987 season. Such was the turbulent life under Steinbrenner at the peak of his meddling days.
Through his first few seasons, Connor worked with the likes of Ron Guidry, Phil Niekro, and Dave Righetti, and with Tommy John at the end of his career. John was one of the players who said he owed a lot to Connor’s brain and understanding of the pitching motion, mentioning in his book “T.J.: My Twenty-Six Years in Baseball” that because of what Connor did for his motion, it added multiple seasons to the end of his career.
“He knew what to look for in my motion and had an intuitive understanding of the way I threw the baseball.” – Tommy John
Connor eventually returned to Tennessee to become the head coach of the Volunteers program in 1988 and 1989. His tenure as manager, though, did not yield great results, as he finished with a 44-65 record and finished in ninth and 10th in the SEC, respectively.
Following his return to college and a less-than-ideal time as head of a program, Connor found himself back in the Bronx first as a bullpen coach in 1990, then as the pitching coach in 1991 and 1992, and back to the bullpen coach in 1993. He played a role in a bit of notable Yankees history as well, advising Jim Abbott on September 4, 1993 to “work the outside more and mix in breaking pitches” since his velocity had been lacking of late. The southpaw had been rocked in his last start by the burgeoning Cleveland offense. This time around, he no-hit them.
However, following the 1993 season, just before the Yankees’ dynasty was to begin in the late 90s, the team decided not to renew Connor’s contract, and his time in the Bronx ended. Connor spent the rest of his career elsewhere.
The rest of Connor’s career was linked to another key player in Yankees history — Buck Showalter — whom he met first in Triple-A Columbus when Showalter was in his late-20s. Connor coached under him in 1992 and 1993 with New York as the Yankees slowly resurrected themselves from their early-’90s nadir before a staff overhaul by Steinbrenner that led to Connor’s dismissal.
In 1996 and 1997, Connor was the pitching coordinator for the expansion Arizona Diamondbacks, who had hired Showalter as their future manager when Steinbrenner forced him out of New York as well. Connor assisted Showalter and company with the 1997 expansion draft that birthed the first D’Backs roster, and continued to help with scouting duties during that period before becoming the big-league pitching coach from 1998 to 2000 under Buck. And while a 65-97 season in 1998 wasn’t an ideal start to his time as pitching coach, the 1999 season proved worth it for Connor, as he helped lead a staff anchored by the Big Unit Randy Johnson, who won back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards under Connor’s tutelage in 1999 and 2000.
Showalter and Connor were let go after a disappointing 2000 season following their National League West title in 1999, and while Showalter had a couple of years off, Connor went north of the American border to Toronto and coached the Blue Jays in 2001 and for the early part of the 2002 season. His stint with the Blue Jays did not last past June, as he submitted his resignation following the firing of manager Buck Martinez.
Then, when Showalter returned to the top step of the dugout, this time in Arlington with the Texas Rangers, he came calling to his old friend Connor, and he took the job down south as the bullpen coach from 2003 to 2005, and then served as the pitching coach in 2006 before Showalter was, once again, fired by management after a disappointing season and four straight years of no playoffs. While Showalter was on his way out, the new manager, Ron Washington, decided that Connor was worth keeping around, given his previous work. He remained the pitching coach for Texas until 2o08, when he was fired, but he didn’t leave the organization until 2010, staying with them as a Player Development Consultant.
Connor’s final stop on a major league coaching staff came under Showalter in Baltimore in 2011. But his tenure there was short-lived, as he resigned from his position as pitching coach for personal reasons, a move the Orioles brass was not aware of until it happened. Three months following the surprise departure, he was rehired by the Rangers as a Special Advisor to Baseball Operations and also served as their Minor League Special Assistant for Pitching from 2012 to 2018.
Mark Connor lived and breathed baseball, and he lived and breathed pitching. He worked with so many influential hurlers in his time as a bullpen coach and pitching coach for multiple organizations, and while he wasn’t with the Yankees during the glory years of the late ’90s, he still had a part to play in the team’s development to success. Happy birthday, Mark!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
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