Category: Baseball

Competitive baseball—what a thought! It’s been a beautiful stretch for the O’s, who, after getting swept by the AL East-leading Rays the week before, returned the favor in emphatic fashion, then pulled off a series split against the Blue Jays. They started May by losing five of six series and ended it with a 7-3 homestand. They’ll look to carry that energy to Boston, where the opposition is in considerably worse shape.

The Boston Red Sox enter this series at 25-33, last in the American League East. The 2026 Red Sox offense has been called by longtime observers the worst they can remember in nearly 50 years of following the team, with serious concerns about the lack of power production up and down the lineup. The rotation, heavily upgraded over the offseason with the additions of Ranger Suárez and Sonny Gray, has been a relative bright spot — meaning the O’s will need to be sharp at the plate to take advantage of Boston’s overall mediocrity.

Adding to the notes of organizational chaos, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora on April 25, after a 10-17 start to the season, replacing him with Worcester Red Sox skipper Chad Tracy on an interim basis. The vibes are not immaculate in Boston these days, which is totally fine by me.

Game 1: Tuesday, June 3, 6:45 PM
RHP Shane Baz (2-5, 4.48 ERA, 57 SO) vs. LHP Connelly Early (5-2, 2.95 ERA, 57 SO)

Through his first eight starts, Baz carried a 5.48 ERA and a 1-5 record while failing to locate his offspeed pitches and giving up tons of contact. But like the team in general, something has changed for him over the last three weeks. In those three starts, he’s allowed just five runs in 20 innings with 19 strikeouts. His best start of the bunch came against his former employer: a season-high nine strikeouts with just one run allowed over seven innings against the Rays, to bring his ERA down to 4.48. Baz, who signed a five-year, $68 million extension before throwing a pitch for Baltimore, looks like he may finally be settling in.

Connelly Early had a remarkable rookie debut in 2025: four dominant regular-season starts and a crackling postseason appearance against the Yankees, raising him up to another planet in terms of visibility. In 2026, the nice surface ERA of 2.95 masks some messier underlying numbers: his FIP has risen to 4.46, his strikeout rate is way down (from 13.5 to 8.4 per nine), his walk rate is up, and he’s allowed nine home runs in 60-plus innings. Early was a fifth-round pick for Boston out of the University of Virginia in 2023. Like his name suggests, the Orioles will want to test him early (heh) before he settles in.

Game 2: Wednesday, June 4, 6:45 PM
RHP Chris Bassitt (4-3, 5.06 ERA, 36 SO) vs. LHP Payton Tolle (2-2, 2.61 ERA, 46 SO)

Chris Bassitt’s struggles were another recurring theme in the first two months of this season, but there’s reason for optimism: the Orioles gave him six days of rest last time out, and he showed glimpses of his old self with six innings of one-run ball against Toronto. His upward trend is not as clear as Baz’s, though: over his last five, he’s interspersed two starts of one run or less with three or three runs allowed or more. Which version of Bassitt shows up against a Boston team desperate for a win could be of the more interesting questions of this series.

Another Red Sox starter in his second year of pro ball, the expertly mustachioed Payton Tolle is a product of Stillwater, OK, just like the Orioles’ second baseman Jackson Holliday. I couldn’t find proof that the two know each other, but I’d be surprised if they didn’t. Tolle electrified Fenway in his 2026 season debut against the Yankees, striking out the first five batters he faced and finishing with 11 K’s over six innings. The 23-year-old was a second-round pick by the Red Sox in the 2024 draft out of TCU, where he was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Year. Statcast loves him: his xBA allowed sits at .183 and his barrel rate against is just 5.8%—e.g., he’s not just getting lucky. This is the kind of matchup that could get uncomfortable quickly for the Orioles offense if they fall behind early.

Game 3: Thursday, June 5, 6:45 PM
LHP Trevor Rogers (2-6, 6.84 ERA) vs. TBD (probably RHP Brayan Bello (2-5, 5.62 ERA, 40 SO))

It’s mysterious and frustrating that the guy who lit pitching on fire last season with a franchise record 1.81 ERA in 18 starts now has an ERA above six. But after an Opening Day seven-inning shutout against Minnesota, Trevor Rogers has just stunk, allowing four runs or more in six of ten appearances. Is it health? Is it pitch tipping? Bad luck? None of the above? It’s great to have Baz and Kyle Bradish back in the fold, but a competitive Orioles run will take more than this from their once and presumptive ace.

Brayan Bello is a tale of two seasons. In games he’s started, he has a 9.68 ERA; coming in behind an opener, he has a 0.71 ERA in 25 1/3 innings. It’s unclear what’s going on, and whether Boston will use an opener ahead of him here, but overall, his numbers work out to hittable. His xBA against is a concerning (for Boston, appealing for Baltimore) .307 and his hard-hit rate is 42%. He’s not striking out many hitters, either, especially in his starter version: just 18 in 30 2/3 innings. The Orioles need to take advantage.

There’s the matchups. The Orioles have a chance to keep stacking wins here against a club in genuine disarray. Boston’s pitching can keep them in games, but their hitters ain’t helping. If Baltimore keeps swinging the bats the way they did against Tampa Bay and Toronto, this is a very winnable series.

How many games do you think the O’s take? Let us know in the comments.

The Yankees were on the couch on Monday, alongside most of the league, but there were still a couple of notable teams on the docket for them to scoreboard watch. Their biggest challenger for the AL East in the Rays were one of those two, and boy did they get into a barn burner of a game.

Detroit Tigers (23-38) 10, Tampa Bay Rays (36-21) 9

The Tigers have been unequivocably the biggest disappointment of the league in 2026, falling off of a cliff the moment that Tarik Skubal went down with an injury, but they played up to their competition against Tampa. They started out with a bang in the first inning, getting two singles ahead of Riley Greene’s double to bring them both home for a 2-0 lead, and they tripled that advantage in the third when Dillon Dingler, Kerry Carpenter, and Greene went back-to-back-to-back off of Griffin Jax. Jax lasted until the fourth, and his ERA spiked by over a run after getting hammered in this one.

The Rays had plenty of fight in them still though, and they started clawing back in the fourth inning when Junior Caminero launched a two-run shot to get them on the board. The Tigers tacked on two additional runs in the fifth and sixth via solo homers from Dingler and Hao-Yu Lee, but Tampa answered back with three more in the bottom of the sixth. Brenan Hanifee was brought in to start the frame, but issued back-to-back walks to lead off and then coughed up a slider over the middle to Ryan Vilade who crushed a three-run blast.

Two more pitchers would enter before Detroit got out of that inning, but they came away without any more damage to hold onto an 8-5 lead. After the seventh saw minimal action from both sides for once, Detroit was back at it in the eighth with RBI doubles from Dingler and Carpenter to push the lead back to five. Even here the Rays had an answer, working the bases loaded on three walks in the bottom of the eighth before Nick Fortes doubled home two and Ben Williamson drove home another two on a single — all with just one out. They were then gifted another baserunner with an error on a fielder’s choice, but Jonathan Aranda and Richie Palacios couldn’t come up with the game tying hit.

After rallying this far to pull within a single run, the Rays ran out of gas right near the finish line. Caminero grounded out to start the ninth, and then two straight strikeouts closed the game out. The Tigers walked away with a wild win, and the Yankees moved to within a game of Tampa in the process.

Other Games

Seattle Mariners (32-29) 3, New York Mets (26-34) 2 (10 innings)

Due to the light schedule, the Mariners are our only other team that we care about with a game on Monday, so why not give them the full-game treatment? The Mariners and Mets treated us to the polar opposite of the Tigers-Rays game, featuring low scoring and some quality pitching performances.

The Mets rolled out an opener in Austin Warren to start the game and he got through his first inning swimmingly, but after hitting the first batter of the second passed the baton over to bulk pitcher Sean Manaea. Manaea needed a double play to get out of the second, and Colt Emerson smashed a solo shot in the third inning to put Seattle ahead early, but Manaea settled down from there to give New York five innings of work with just the one long ball blemishing his line.

On the other end, Emerson Hancock got the start for Seattle and was cutting right through the Mets for the first four innings. Not a single Met managed to get on base, but his perfect game bid came to a close in the fifth as Jared Young launched a home run to lead off. Hancock rebounded to strike out the next two batters and get a flyout to end the inning, but he must’ve felt déjà vu in the sixth as Marcus Semien greeted him with another leadoff blast. That made it 2-1 New York, and despite rounding out his night well with three straight outs those two mistake pitches had Hancock on the line for a loss all of a sudden.

The Mariners went to work bailing out their starter though, with Josh Naylor adding to the leadoff damage with a solo shot in the seventh inning. Neither side could get any momentum for a rally in the eighth or ninth, leading us to extra innings. Gabe Speier took the ball with the Manfred runner on board and proceeded to strike out Juan Soto and Mark Vientos to put the pressure on A.J. Ewing to do something. Ewing couldn’t get the job done, popping up to short and giving Seattle the chance to walk this thing off with ease. Patrick Wisdom struck out to make it a little more difficult, but Cole Young lined a single out to left to bring the runner in and start the celebration in T-Mobile Park.

This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”

Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (26-30, 8.5 games back)

The Storm Chasers lost 5 of 6 at home to the Memphis Redbirds. On the mound, Mitch Spence had a very rough two starts. In total, he went 8.2 innings, allowing 22 hits, 15 runs, 4 homers, walking 1 and striking out 7. On the positive side of things, Ryan Ramsey had a quality start. The 25-year-old lefty, and 2022 13th round pick by the Royals, went 6.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 runs, walking 2 and striking out 6.

At the plate, Brett Squires, who has been a name of discussion the last couple of weeks, went 5-for-20 with two more homers and a double. Kameron Misner was 7-for-22 with a homer and four walks. Abraham Toro went 9-for-17 with three doubles.

The Storm Chasers hit the road this week to take on the Columbus Clippers. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals (22-28, 9.5 games back)

The Naturals got swept in their 6-game series in Tulsa, against the Drillers. At the plate, it was a tough week for all the hitters. Spencer Nivens was 5-for-13, Colton Becker was 4-for-15 with a homer and a double.

On the bump, Ethan Bosacker had a good start, he went 5 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 run, and a pair of strikeouts. Caden Monke threw 3.1 scoreless innings in two appearances. Justin Lamkin didn’t appear this week, no word on if it was an injury or managing his innings. Hopefully we will know soon, as he is moving quickly through the organization.

The Naturals are back home this week for the Midland RockHounds, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Quad Cities River Bandits (22-26, 8.5 games back)

The River Bandits split their 6-game series against Cedar Rapids. Jordan Woods and Max Martin were both promoted from Columbia last week. Martin threw a scoreless inning and a third in his only appearance of the week, striking out 3 batters, he also took the win. Woods, went 4 innings, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs in his one start of the week. Both pitchers were dominating in Low-A ball. David Shields threw 5 innings of 2 run ball in his only start of the week. Josh Hansell threw 4 scoreless innings over 2 appearances with 4 strikeouts.

At the plate, Blake Mitchell was 5-for-20 on the week, with a double and two homers. On the season, Mitchell is slashing .201/.424/439. Tyriq Kemp was 4-for-21 with 5 stolen bases. Outfielder Nolan Sailors hit a pair of doubles and triples and stole 5 bases as well.

The River Bandits play a seven-game series at home against the South Bend Cubs, with a doubleheader on Friday because of an earlier season rain out.

Columbia Fireflies (23-28, 6 games back)

The Fireflies split their 6-game series against the Charleston RiverDogs. Right hander Luis Valdez got promoted last week. The 21-year-old from Nizao, Dominican Republic came up from rookie ball in Arizona. In his one appearance last week, he allowed 2 hits and 2 runs in just 2/3 of an inning. Kendry Chourio went 5 innings, allowing 1 run and 6 hits, while striking out 3 in his lone start of the week. Michael Lombardi threw 3 scoreless innings as well.

Yandel Ricardo was smashing the ball all week, hitting .471, with two doubles and a homer, while stealing 4 bases. Sean Gamble continues to heat up, going 4-for-16 on the week, with a homer and triple. After a brutal start to the season, the 19-year-old outfielder is starting to find a rhythm the last two weeks. Josh Hammond went 6-for-22 with a double.

The Fireflies are on the road this week, playing the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Game Recaps

Diamondbacks Stifle Dodgers For Massive Series Opening Win by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

It was not an easy day at the office for Eduardo Rodriguez, but you’d never be able to tell that by his pitching line. The left-hander labored heavily in the early going, fending off base traffic, allowing an earned run in the third inning and scraping his way through with the help of some quality infield defense.

“We made some nice defensive plays behind [Rodriguez], but he pounded the zone. He set his tone with his fastball and then went to work and started pitching from there,” Lovullo said. “Overall, this day was set up by E-Rod and finished by some really heady, smart baseball plays.”

Rodriguez buckled down to throw his seventh Quality Start of the season. He allowed just the one earned run over the course of six innings, striking out three against one walk and five base hits. Two doubles in that troublesome third inning were the only blemish.

D-backs get contributions across the board to top red-hot Dodgers by Jesse Borek [DBacks.com]

If the win showed anything, it was that the current iteration of the club is one that will rely on its veterans, upstart youngsters and stars equally. Eduardo Rodriguez, in his 11th MLB campaign, tossed six innings of one-run ball to stymie a scorching-hot Dodgers offense, but he was backed by third-year outfielder Jorge Barrosa, who made a pair of running grabs that saw him lay out on the center-field turf. Homers from the 24-year-old Tommy Troy (the first career blast from Arizona’s No. 4 prospect), the 35-year-old Nolan Arenado and the 32-year-old Ketel Marte first tied the game, then gave the D-backs the lead and then iced it, respectively.

Once the bullpen door swung open, Taylor Clarke, Brandyn Garcia and Paul Sewald all delivered scoreless frames.

Diamondbacks News

Corbin Carroll says mom took care of Seattle homecoming; has caught up with Alek Thomas by Payne Moses [Arizona Sports]

With the Dodgers in town for a four-game series and top of mind, it will mark the first time the clubs meet since former D-backs outfielder Alek Thomas was shipped to L.A.

Carroll and Thomas made their respective MLB debuts within four months of each other in the 2022 season, and the former said he’s had a few conversations with the latter since the May 12 trade.

“Just kind of asked him how he was liking what he was working on, when he was doing his swing stuff. And yeah, he was complimentary. He said he liked what (the Dodgers’ coaching staff) were working on and saw he got into maybe an ACL game the other day, maybe trending towards getting back to really competing,” Carroll said. “I always wish a guy like that you’ve played so long with and had so much, just so many experiences with, you wish him all the best.”

Diamondbacks option Tim Tawa, make room for Pavin Smith’s return by Wendy Lopez [Burn City Sports]

After going 11-2 across four series against the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants, the Snakes couldn’t carry that momentum into their series against the Seattle Mariners. They suffered a three-game sweep, marking the club’s struggles against teams above .500, as they are 8-19 against such opponents.

Facing the defending champions, who are currently 38-21, the challenge only gets tougher.

The first baseman does have strong numbers against Los Angeles, however, hitting .364 with a .409 slugging percentage over seven games (22 at-bats) against the Dodgers last year. Having Smith back could help spark an offense that needs to break out of its slump following the Seattle series.

Shohei Ohtani Creates a Massive Challenge for Diamondbacks by Jack Sommers [SI]

Shohei Ohtani is making a serious run at winning the NL Cy Young award. Ohtani threw six hitless innings against the Rockies May 27. He has the lowest ERA of any pitcher with 50 innings or more pitched (0.82). He’s allowed one earned run in his last 18 innings and given up seven hits,

D-backs No. 11 prospect Mena set to undergo shoulder surgery by Jesse Borek [MLB]

Before his 2026 season could ever really get out of the starting blocks, Cristian Mena has seen it likely come to a close. The D-backs’ No. 11 prospect is set to undergo shoulder surgery in the coming days, a procedure that manager Torey Lovullo admitted is likely to knock him out for the rest of the year.

It’s been an arduous road back to the mound for one of the D-backs’ prized pitching prospects. Mena last appeared in game action last June 6, working an inning out of the club’s bullpen, before landing on the injured list with a right shoulder strain the following day. Five days prior — one year ago to the day — he picked up his first Major League win after tossing a pair of scoreless innings against the Nationals.

Around the League

10 big questions as Trade Deadline season approaches by Mark Feinsand [MLB]

Which teams are likely to be sellers?

The Giants and Rockies were the only teams more than seven games out of a playoff spot entering the week, and given the National League’s performance this season — 11 of 15 teams have winning records — it seems unlikely that either San Francisco or Colorado will climb back into the race.

MLBPA negotiator sees clear distance between 2 sides of CBA by Alden Gonzalez [ESPN]

Said Meyer: “We do not accept the premise that there’s some existential crisis going on.”

Even if he did, the MLBPA is adamant that a salary cap won’t fix it. The league is adamant that it would. A middle ground is elusive, and where the two sides go from here is hard to determine. In his statement, Caplin said the league is “ready to listen if the MLBPA wants to counter our proposal at the bargaining table.” Meyer said no meeting is scheduled but would be “in the near future,” adding that the two sides can still bargain on several non-economic issues.

He believes players will remain united against a cap.

“Our union has never been broken and never will be,” Meyer said. “Our players have what they have, including being the only sport that doesn’t have this ultimate restriction, the salary cap, because our players have always been the most unified. And that’s gonna continue.”

The Tigers Have Collapsed, but Not Because of Their Rotation by Jay Jaffe [FanGraphs]

Jansen and company certainly share a lot of responsibility for the team’s struggles in one-run games, but Detroit’s biggest problem has been an increasingly decrepit offense that’s scoring a major league-low 3.72 runs per game, with a very respectable March and April followed by an abysmal May: 

In their last 19 games, the Tigers have averaged just 2.52 runs, scoring more than four just once; they haven’t scored more than six runs in a game since May 3. While left fielder Riley Greene (.301/.391/.426, 134 wRC+), shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle (.286/.390/.410, 130 wRC+), and catcher Dillon Dingler(.226/.313/.458, 115 wRC+) have been quite effective overall, Greene and Dingler were the team’s only two regulars with a wRC+ of 100 or better in May; everybody else besides McGonigle had a wRC+ of 82 or lower. First baseman Spencer Torkelson (.214/.317/.403, 104 wRC+ overall) has cooled off after a strong start, going from a 123 wRC+ and a 28.3% strikeout rate in March and April to an 82 wRC+ with a 36.3% strikeout rate in May. Third baseman/designated hitter Colt Keith is in the midst of a power outage, batting .280/.324/.342 (88 wRC+) without a homer this season; he sank from a 114 wRC+ in March and April to 57 in May. Beyond that, injuries to Torres, Parker Meadows, Zach McKinstry, Javier Báez, and Kerry Carpenter have been a significant part of the story, costing the team depth in both the infield and outfield.

2026-27 Club Options: NL West by Anthony Franco [MLB Trade Rumors]

Michael Soroka, RHP: $10MM mutual option ($1MM buyout)

Arizona added Soroka on a $7.5MM free agent deal. He’s playing on a $6.5MM salary and will collect a $1MM buyout at season’s end. Soroka has already added another $500K in incentives by making 10+ starts and could get up to $2MM in bonuses if he reaches 25 starts.

Soroka has been a surprisingly key piece of Torey Lovullo’s rotation. He carries a 3.25 ERA with a 23.5% strikeout rate against a tidy 5.5% walk percentage over 61 innings. Durability is an ever present question with the Canadian-born righty, who hasn’t reached 100 frames in a season since 2019. If Soroka can hold anything close to this level over the full schedule, his side will easily pass on the option. He should command at least two years and would have a case for three if he stays healthy, as he’s one of the youngest pitchers (29 in August) in what looks like a bad free agent class.

Good morning! The Mariners secured their seventh win in a row and second-straight walk-off last night, this time with Cole Young as the hero as his single sent Randy Arozarena home from third. Emerson Hancock held the New York Mets to just two hits off two home runs, and a lights out bullpen night helped the Mariners get the win.

Logan Gilbert takes the mound tonight at 6:40 PM for game two against the Mets.

In Mariners news…

• Don’t miss out on the cutest bobblehead of the season: Andrés Muñoz and his cat, Matilda. The special giveaway benefits Seattle Area Feline Rescue and will be available for the July 21st Mariners game.
• The Mariners are finally playing up to their lofty expectations thanks to their seven game win streak.
• Despite Cal Raleigh’s absence, the Mariners have used power and pitching to take over first place in the AL West.

Around the league…

• Minnesota Twins RHP Bailey Ober has been placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation, adding another challenge to an already-depleted Twins rotation.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks have activated first baseman Pavin Smith from the 60-day IL after completing his recovery from left elbow inflammation.
• Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol has undergone back surgery and could be out for the remainder of the season.
• The Cincinnati Reds have officially placed shortstop Elly De La Cruz on the 10-day IL with a strained right hamstring. Top infield prospect (and former Mariners prospect) Edwin Arroyo has been recalled in a corresponding move and will make his MLB debut.
• The Chicago White Sox have announced their 2026 Alumni Home Run Derby participants, which include fan favorites Jose Canseco, Alexei Ramirez, Gordon Beckham, Leury Garcia, Scott Podsednik and Daniel Palka.
• The recent struggles of the Detroit Tigers are a result of their major-league low 3.72 runs per game.
• Chicago Cubs RHP Ben Brown has perfected a new pitch that is fueling his breakout season.
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded reliever Justin Lawrence to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for cash considerations.

Last week, in our most recent edition of Rangers Reacts, we asked a simple question: have you given up on the 2026 season?

Over half of you — 53%, to be exact — said yes, you have given up already.

I will note that the timing of when this question went out probably had an impact — the Rangers had just gotten swept in Anaheim, and were losing three of four at home to the Astros, including being no hit.

Still, after a pair of middling seasons, its understandable to see what the Rangers have done so far in 2026 and assume it is more of the same.

On the national front, the question was posed as to who the best healthy pitcher in baseball is right now.

Jacob Misiorowski captured almost a third of the vote, with Paul Skenes second.

On the question of which team has been the biggest disappointment, the Mets were the clear “winner,” getting almost half the vote.

And finally, as to the team that has been the most pleasant surprise, the Rays and the ChiSox were the top picks.

Patience, they say, is a virtue.

Especially if you’re a prospect in the Dodgers’ organization.

On a team that has won back-to-back World Series with a veteran MLB roster, and continues to boast one of the most highly-touted farm systems in the entire sport, big-league roster spots can be scarce, and MLB opportunities hard to come by.

Right now, that dynamic is applying to two young standouts in particular.

River Ryan (a right-handed starting pitcher ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the organization by MLB Pipeline) and James Tibbs III (a left-handed-hitting outfielder ranked 10th) are having to wait their turns.

Ryan, of course, is the more familiar name to Dodgers fans.

A former two-way prospect in the Padres system who was acquired to little fanfare in exchange for the then-DFA’d Matt Beaty in 2022, the right-hander blossomed into one of the most talented pitchers in the Dodgers’ highly ranked pipeline, rising quickly to make his MLB debut in 2024 –– when he had a 1.33 ERA in four tantalizing starts.

That rookie campaign, however, was cut short because of Tommy John surgery.

And after spending all of last year recovering from the procedure, Ryan is still waiting to make his return to the big leagues.

The Dodgers were always going to be cautious with Ryan’s workload this year, especially early in the season, given the limited number of innings he will likely be able to pitch in 2026. That became even more true after he suffered a hamstring injury in April that sidelined him for a month.

Team officials have said repeatedly they want him to build a “foundation” in triple-A Oklahoma City before bringing him up to the big-league roster.

But, since returning to action three weeks ago, the 27-year-old has looked dominant.

He has given up just one earned run in his last three starts. He has built up from four innings to five to –– for the first time in his professional career –– six in his most recent outing last Thursday. He also racked up eight strikeouts in that latter game while –– for the first time this season –– not issuing a walk or hit batter.

“It was great to see him get to six innings,” Gomes said. “The stuff coming out of hand is awesome.”

Whether it has nudged him closer to a long-awaited call-up remains less clear.

With the Dodgers in the midst of a 19-games-in-20-days stretch right now, it’s possible that the need for an extra starter may arise at some point in the next couple weeks. But the team also currently has a locked-in six-man rotation, including newly-acquired veteran Eric Lauer. As long as that remains the case, it could be difficult to recall Ryan, as it would force them to play an arm short in the bullpen.

“We’re gonna keep building him up and try to build a nice foundation,” Gomes reiterated this week, “before we look to do anything there.”

Thus, Ryan might have to remain patient right now, even as he flashes a six-pitch mix headlined by a fastball that has touched 100 mph of late.

“I think the good thing about River, and what we try to tell our guys, is part of the benefit of being in our organization is that you’re gonna have really good resources, and the small downside is that there’s a lot of really good players,” Gomes said. “So I think it’s, keep your feet where they’re at and continue to perform. I think River also knows, when we optioned him out of camp, a lot of this is this is a guy that’s coming off Tommy John. We have to be mindful of his innings and workload, and not just be short-sighted, of like, ‘Oh, well, he’s pitching great now.’”

A similar dynamic is playing out with Tibbs.

A former first-round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants who was tried twice in a two-month span last year, Tibbs has found an obvious comfort level in the Dodgers’ organization.

Last year, he impressed with double-A Tulsa, posting a .900 OPS with seven home runs and 32 RBIs in 36 games after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline.

This year, the 23-year-old has elevated his game to a different level in Oklahoma City, batting .322 with a Pacific Coast League-leading 17 home runs –– including five over his last four games.

The start of that homer streak coincided with Teoscar Hernández’s hamstring strain last week, an injury that created an opening on the Dodgers’ big-league roster for a left-handed-hitting outfielder.

The club, however, opted to call up long-time prospect Ryan Ward, giving the once-overlooked slugger his first extended runway at the MLB level.

“I just think Ward-o has done this for a while and he’s certainly earned [this opportunity],” Gomes said. “It’s good to get him back up and into the mix and hopefully get a really opportunity here.”

Something working against Tibbs right now: He hasn’t played the outfield since May 7, while battling what The Athletic first reported is a minor forearm injury to his throwing arm. Instead, he has spent the last weeks exclusively as a designated hitter.

Still, just like Ryan, Tibbs’ time will come at some point.

“He’s performing great, obviously,” Gomes said. “The numbers are fantastic.”

For the Dodgers, it’s a good problem to have.

For their two most standout prospects so far this year, it means being patient a little bit longer.

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The hottest topic in Mariners-ville the last two weeks has been the decision by the Mariners front office to combine the starts of Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller into a “piggyback” start. Both pitchers have had their struggles so far in 2026, so the idea of letting each pitcher throw 4-5 innings at most using maximum effort seems like a pretty good solution on paper. In execution, it seems it could have been communicated a bit better to the players themselves who both expressed confusion after the first two starts, but have now seemed to accept this method into their lives and the Mariners have gone 2-1 in these piggyback starts. Rick Rizzs has been calling it “the twirling tandem” which rolls off the tongue better.

So I hit y’all with a bunch of pitching-related questions in the FEED last week, so let’s tally them up and throw some rankings on them using my patented and very scientific Mariners Hot Take Ranking System:

FIRST QUESTION

Do you like the concept of piggybacking starting pitchers IN THEORY? (Y/N)

The Noes have it, and I’m kind of surprised since this site has historically supported advanced stats and new approaches but maybe this one was a bridge too far. Rating this take as BRASH because all takes on this subject are heaters it seems.

SECOND QUESTION

Do you like the concept of piggybacking starting pitchers IN PRACTICE (Y/N)

The Noes once again have it, but this one is less surprising given the resulting drama and speculation about this decision causing a rift in the clubhouse. We saw Castillo visibly upset in the dugout after being pulled while still pitching well with a lead and we heard Miller’s initial version of “I’m just here to help the team win” said through gritted teeth and clenched fists. So I rate this one a BEAVAN because it’s to be expected.

THIRD QUESTION

Are the results so far good enough to override player/clubhouse vibes concerns? (Y/N)

The Yeses have this one by quite a bit. RESULTS BASED ANALYSIS, OH YEAAAAHHH. Now we’re cookin’. Wins are wins, babyyyy. Since RBA is the antithesis of advanced metrics/SABR in baseball, which is the approach LL was built upon, I have to give this a CLIFF LEE for this surprising heel turn into traditional baseball analysis. They don’t ask how, they ask how many.

FOURTH QUESTION

Would you prefer a 6-pitcher rotation instead of piggybacking? (Y/N)

The Noes have this one nearly unanimously. The six-pitcher rotation is officially dead in the dirt. I give this one a BOSIO because it’s the more conventional option when a team has this many viable starters, but it clearly impacts the rhythm of every starter instead of just the “twirling tandem.”

Finally, we did a quick poll:

Given how questions one and two went, these results are not surprising. The peopLLe have spoken and in spite of the positive results through three starts, y’all do not like the piggyback approach. Once again I must slap a BRASH rating here because of the lack of willingness to accept a new idea founded on getting the best result possible from two struggling pitchers. I get it, no one wanted to see Miller and Castillo upset and even though things appear to have been smoothed over PR-wise, the initial bad feelings could certainly linger and we’d all be the last to know about it.

Finally, I’ll just add that from a fan perspective, attending Sunday’s game for the third piggyback start was very fun to witness. When Miller is dealing like he was on Sunday, he is a true thrill to watch. And then knowing that around halfway through the game we’d get to watch Castillo in closer mode? Also thrilling! So purely from the spectator perspective, I find it very entertaining.

All right, folks, thanks for chiming in with your opinions and takes in the FEED. We’ll see where the twirling tandem takes us next or perhaps there will be a new drama bomb of some sort next week. Keep tabs on the FEED for more prompts and polls like this one.

Many good things have contributed to the amazing start to the season for the Braves. One of the biggest factors is how well many of the depth position player signings and acquisitions have worked out for Atlanta, such as Dominic Smith and Jorge Mateo. But the best of all was the trade for Mauricio Dubon, whose versatility has been extremely valuable for the Braves. Alex Anthopoulos has always made good moves on the margins, and this year is no different.

Braves News

Hurston Waldrep looked decent to good in his first rehab appearance of the season.

Braves have some pitching matchups ahead this week versus the Blue Jays and Pirates.

The Braves sent Anthony Molina and Carlos Carrasco to the Stripers. Carrasco eventually elected free agency.

Tate Southisene continues to show good power potential in the minors.

Mark Bowman looks at when Spencer Schwellenbach could return for the Braves.

MLB News

Elly De La Cruz is likely out 2-4 weeks.

The Brewers continue to emerge as the best in the NL with the Dodgers and Braves with another impressive win.

The Feed

In a fun “Where are they now” segment, here is an update on Andrelton Simmons.

Blown bullpen loses are never fun for anyone involved, but they are never to the level of life or death, especially in the month of May. While fans have always let players hear their displeasure at the outcome of the game, gambling and social media have unfortunately taken things to a different level.

Saturday, Tanner Scott came in to protect a two-run lead against the Philadelphia Phillies, and allowed a three-run homer, which ultimately gave the Phillies the win. On Sunday, Tanner’s wife Maddie Scott shared the messages she got, per Christian Orozco of the New York Post:

“When did it stop being a game?” Maddie wrote on her Instagram Story in response to a message from a user who said “gun shot your family tonight.”

“I don’t speak out often. Ever actually,” she said. “I promise you, you don’t know what it’s like unless you’re living it.”

Some of the messages got even more disturbingly graphic, with threats made not only to Tanner and Maddie, but also to their newborn son.

Social media allows fans to connect to each other and to players, but the dark side is the worst of humanity also come out via that medium. Steve Henson of the L.A. Times adds some additional thoughts on the why, here.

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic has some news and notes on all things Dodgers, including this fun quote from Ryan Ward after his first major league home run –

“I’m probably going to smell for a little bit,” Ward said. “It was all over the place.”

That is in reference to the celebration in the clubhouse after the game on Sunday, which included alcohol and condiments, apparently.

The win on Sunday also gave manager Dave Roberts a birthday win.

The article also highlights the changes Roki Sasaki has made that are helping him to improve as a pitcher, and regain his fastball.

“It feels like it’s all put together right now,” Sasaki said Saturday through interpreter Kensuke Okubo.

By working with strength coach Travis Smith, Sasaki has filled out his frame and the team is seeing a return to the pitcher that Sasaki was in Japan.

“I think early this season, after every throw, he was looking at the radar gun to see what the velocity was,” Roberts said. “Now, there’s just a confidence that the throw is good, the feel is good, and that’s his validation”

Ardaya also has some notes on how Kyle Tucker might finally be coming out of his funk at the plate.

The biggest news in San Francisco Giants promotions this week came on Sunday, when center fielder Jonah Cox was stunningly promoted to the Majors straight from AA Richmond. But it seems that the Cox move has kickstarted promotion season for the rest of the Giants Minor League Baseball players. Because on Monday — the off-day for all the non-rookie ball teams — the Giants reportedly promoted a trio of exciting prospects.

Most notable is shortstop Jhonny Level, who has been promoted from Low-A San Jose to High-A Eugene. Level is the total package, and has been flying up prospect lists lately — ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel just ranked him as the No. 41 prospect in all of baseball. Despite having only turned 19 two months ago — making him more than two years younger than the average competition he’s been playing against in the California League — Level laid waste to Low-A pitchers. Among the 64 Cal League hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this year, the switch-hitter ranked sixth in batting average (.325), 18th in on-base percentage (.392), second in slugging percentage (.576), second in home runs (10), and eighth in wRC+ (134). He also has just a 16.6% strikeout rate, has stolen 11 bases in 13 attempts, and is playing very strong defense at shortstop. His 10 home runs are the most in the Giants Minor League system this year.

While Level’s promotion is very exciting, it brings up some roster logistics questions, as he’ll now be sharing a Eugene roster with last year’s first-round pick Gavin Kilen. My guess is the Giants will do what they did with Level and Kilen when they briefly shared time on San Jose’s roster at the end of last year: have each play a little bit of time at second base, with some designated hitter thrown in there as well.

The Giants made some space in Eugene for Level by promoting fellow infielder Jean Carlos Sio to AA Richmond. Sio, a 22-year old left-handed hitter, had mostly played second base for the Emeralds this year, but had also seen time at shortstop and left field (in recent years he’s also played third base, right field, and center field). Sio got a late start to the year due to injuries, and had only played 16 games for Eugene this year … but he was phenomenal in those 16 games (.936 OPS, 154 wRC+, four home runs in 65 plate appearances), and they came after 28 stellar games at the level to end the 2025 season. He’s really started to turn into an exciting prospect.

Sio isn’t displacing another infielder in Richmond, but he is still displacing a player: left-handed pitcher Matt Wilkinson. The 23-year old southpaw, aptly nicknamed “Tugboat,” came to the Giants last month in the shocking Patrick Bailey trade. In nine AA starts split between the San Francisco and Cleveland organizations, Tugboat had a 1.87 ERA and a 2.93 FIP, with 49 strikeouts against 13 walks in 43.1 innings. Now he’ll get a chance to see how his stuff plays with AAA Sacramento, which has been piecing together games lately without a full rotation, with Trevor McDonald currently in the Majors and Seth Lonsway injured.

The Giants may be playing horrible baseball, but these are some exciting moves in the Minors!

Kansas City is keeping stadium negotiations private for now and not revealing any figures.

Lucas and Vasquez have both said newly generated sales taxes from a taxing district around the proposed stadium would primarily pay for the bonds. Lucas told reporters that Kauffman Stadium’s sales taxes were used to help project how much that might be.

“Our projections are based off of revenues that are generated at Kauffman Stadium today, and it would be based off of ancillary development in the Crown Center/Washington Square Park area,” Lucas said in April, noting the funding to pay for bonds would not come from the general fund or the city’s earning tax.

“I’m proud of the city manager and his staff and what they’re building up, and I think that’s how we can deliver a good, fiscally responsible project that is based largely on people who are spending at a baseball stadium,” Lucas added.

On Sunday, Michael Wacha became the 10th active pitcher to reach 300 career starts.

“I think I’ve said a bunch of times, he’s the best starting pitcher teammate I’ve ever seen,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “I mean, he’s into every single pitch in the dugout when he is not pitching. He’s extremely intense and into his starts, obviously, and he prepares as well as possible. He’s the consummate pro.”

Wacha loves pitching for the Royals and is hopeful to continue making starts as his career continues to unfold.

“Just love this game,” Wacha said. “And I love competing out there on the mound. You know, I’m already looking forward to the next one.”

Pete Grathoff brings up the famous Buddy Bell quote.

“I never say it can’t get worse,” Bell said after the Royals had lost to the White Sox 4-0 in April 2006. “This game is too hard to play. There’s always something lurking around the corner.”

It’s an oft-repeated phrase among Kansas City sports fans, and it unfortunately resonates today. Not only did the Royals lose that game Saturday, but third baseman Maikel Garcia, the WBC MVP, left with a hamstring injury.

And things just seem to be getting worse for the Royals.

David Lesky talks about who is to blame (or not blame) for the Royals’ poor performance.

One thing I would like to head off is spending the next four months pointing fingers and arguing over who is to blame. I am of the belief, and have actually lost subscribers over it (which is super fun), that Matt Quatraro isn’t the problem. As all managers do, he has done things I wouldn’t have, but my point has always been that managers, unless there’s clubhouse unrest or they’re making asinine decisions, are generally not THE problem. Ultimately, the game is played on the field. You don’t like the lineup? I’ve long been someone who gets beyond frustrated by lineup complaints. You don’t like a pitching decision? That’s fine, but I’ll say that your decision is all theoretical, while you know what happened in the decision was actually made, and if you’re upset, it was likely negative.

Matthew Swigonski at Kings of Kauffman also plays the blame game.

Caleb Moody at Kings of Kauffman is unhappy that the Royals will continue to trot out Erceg as closer.

He also talks about some of the historical indicators around the multiple losing streaks.

Jay Jaffe explores why the Tigers have fallen apart this season.

The posturing between the MLBPA and MLB owners as they begin negotiations on the new CBA continues.

Reds star Elly De La Cruz hit the IL with a hamstring strain.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan wanted no part of this bunt fielding play.

Old friend Dairon Blanco signs in the Mexican league.

Serena Williams is coming back to tennis.

Patrick Mahomes’ rehab seems to be going well.

We had two blockbuster trades in the NFL yesterday.

First, the Cleveland Browns traded EDGE Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for EDGE Jared Verse, a 2027 first round pick, and more.

Second, the Philadelphia Eagles traded WR AJ Brown to the New England Patriots for a 2028 first round pick and a 2027 fifth round pick.

The New York Giants are bringing back their former start Odell Beckham Jr.

Longtime NBA coach Rick Adelman died.

AI company Anthropic has filed for IPO.

GoPro is in danger.

I aspire to be like this Capybara.

Your song of the day is Hey I Don’t Know by KONGOS.

When the Colorado Rockies traded with the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder Jack McCarthy back in January, their logic was fairly clear.

First, he brought a left-handed bat to platoon with righty CF Brenton Doyle; second, he has outfield versatility that would allow him to play all three positions and give Doyle a day off; and third, he is fast (99th percentile in sprint speed) with a career K% of 19.2%, which means he can play the kind of fast baseball manager Warren Schaeffer was looking to develop at Coors Field.

(Plus, the Rockies would have him for an even-numbered year, a point illustrated by his FanGraphs page, since he has historically struggled in odd-numbered years.)

With the season, roughly, one-third over, it’s worth taking a moment to consider how McCarthy has adjusted to baseball at elevation.

All numbers are current as of Sunday, May 31, 2026.

What the offensive numbers show

So far, McCarthy has appeared in 49 games and has 158 plate appearances. He’s slashing .282/.323/.444 with a 99 wRC+. Those numbers include 10 stolen bases and three home runs. And while Statcast indicates he does not hit the ball hard, he does get on base consistently.

Currently he has a 5.7% walk rate and a 19.0% strikeout rate. While the BB% is unremarkable among Rockies hitters, only Tyler Freeman and TJ Rumfield have better scores. He leads the Rockies in stolen bases.

He’s also shown an ability to hit left-handed or right-handed pitching. Against righties, he has a 126 wRC+, and against lefties, that number falls to a respectable 93 wRC+. So in that way, he has given Schaeffer the kind of platoon ability that the Rockies are committed to this season.

For McCarthy, that’s just part of his game.

“I think it’s an easy excuse to say, ‘You know, he was a tough lefty,’ and it’s hard to not swing at this pitch or whatever,” McCarthy said.

“But I’ve always wanted to get the opportunity to face (lefties), and I think all hitters feel that way. I just think it’s the same principles. It’s just getting good pitches to hit, putting a good swing on them, and maybe not giving them too much credit, where, ‘Oh, the ball is coming from behind my head,’ or ‘It’s a different type of angle.’ I think the fundamentals and the principles still apply, regardless of where (the pitch) is coming from.”

Plus, he’s enjoyed working with Rockies hitting coach Brett Pill.

“He’s a guy who definitely knows what he’s talking about,” McCarthy said, “but also understands how hard this game can be. I think it’s good to be around people who have been through it, and understand that sometimes it doesn’t make sense, and what you’re feeling or what you’re going through is is normal.”

McCarthy has also improved over the course of the season. In March and April, McCarthy had a 91 wRC+; that number grew to 104 in May, probably due, at least in part, to seeing more playing time with Doyle on the IL with an oblique injury.

And what does he think of Coors Field now that it’s his home park?

”I think it’s a really fun place to hit,” he said.

What the defensive numbers show

On the defensive side, McCarthy’s is holding his own as well.

The Rockies original plan involved using McCarthy primarily in left with occasional stints in center, and having Jordan Beck become the primary right fielder. However, injuries derailed that strategy, so here’s how the 354.2 innings McCarthy have spent in the outfield break down:

• Left Field: 141.0 innings; -1 DRS; 0 OAA; 0 FRV; 1.000 FP.
• Center Field: 202.2 innings; -1 DRS; -1 OAA; 0 FRV; .987 FP.
• Right Field: 11.0 innings; 0 DRS; -1 OAA; 0 FV; 1.000 FP.

So by those metrics, McCarthy has been fine. (He has posted slightly better numbers than Troy Johnston, Brenton Doyle, and Mickey Moniak.)

One notable drawback is McCarthy’s arm, which ranks the worst among center fielders according to Statcast.

Still, he’s noticed the challenges of playing in Coors expansive outfield.

“Obviously, I think with the bigger field and the ball carries a little more, so maybe the outfield you could say is more challenging,” McCarthy said.

And he’s had to make adjustments.

“Maybe you’re in a place — like we went from New York in April — where it’s cold and windy, to here, so maybe the ball is probably going to carry more, especially when it’s warmer here,” he said. “So maybe you take that into your adjustment in the outfield, where your positioning, or maybe what your first step is.”

But becoming more familiar with his new ballpark helps.

“I think over time, too, we get used to it. We have the advantage of being here 81 games a year. So I think there’s acclimation.”

What the mullet shows

If there’s a thing Rockies fans appreciate, it a good mullet. After all, they had years of watching the respective flows of Charlie Blackmon, Connor Joe, and Troy Tulowitzki. (Read this for the definitive Rockies mullet analysis.)

And, as it turns out, McCarthy has a mullet of his own.

“I’ve had long hair for a while now,” he said, “but this past offseason, I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll just try to cut it into a mullet.’ My wife doesn’t mind, so I wear a hat for a living anyway, so even if it looks egregious, I just, you know…”

And then he laughed.

Combine McCarthy’s look with his “Stairway to Heaven” walkup song, and you’ve got a player with personality.

What McCarthy has contributed

Clearly, it’s too early in the season to draw too many conclusions. However, in trading for McCarthy, the Rockies needed a utility outfielder and a player who could get on base.

He has delivered on both fronts.

When Brenton Doyle, Jordan Beck, and Mickey Moniak went on the IL, McCarthy seamlessly slid into the centerfield job while making consistent contributions at the plate.

Now the question is whether he can continue at this level as the rest of the 2026 season unfolds.

This week on the internet

Okay, I thought this was funny.

The chatter’s box: Troy Johnston interview | Just Baseball

Patrick Lyons caught up with Troy Johnston to get his thoughts on a variety of subjects, including podcasting, joining the Rockies, and his time in the minor leagues.

Colorado Rockies 2026 Player Survey: Mickey Moniak | Mile High Sports

Drew Creasman checks in with Mickey Moniak. Among other subjects, he discusses the best play he’s made, how he prepares, and the ideal off-day.

Guess which Phillies outfielder is up there with Cobb & Hornsby? | MLB.com

This is not a piece about the Rockies — I get that — but Mike Petriello’s analysis of Brendan Marsh’s BABIP is worth your time.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Today’s Reflections

What a roller-coaster in St. Louis. Saturday night, it looked like things were returning to normal. Then the old/new bats of the 10-loss days returned, and Jordan Wicks doesn’t appear to be more than AAAA quality starter. Maybe the Athletics and Giants can bring six games of rebounding for the Cubs.

Jim Bowden speaks, stories get written, I normally roll my eyes. But I am here to provide the news for your pleasure, no matter what I think. 😉

Ben Brown has cemented himself as the Cubs’ No. 1 SP. By A LOT. Boyd’s return will be greatly welcomed. Busch, PCA, Bregman are starting to show life. Where have Hoerner and Suzuki gone, though? Will Swanson’s bat EVER show up? Will Palencia ever get more than one save opportunity a month?

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

Let’s enjoy the gushing from Saturday night’s game:

• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong is learning to balance the emotional aspect of baseball. “Fans have probably noticed Pete Crow-Armstrong’s latest celebration when he’s on the bases or rounding them — his hands behind his head, elbows out as he stretches back.”
• Benjamin Adducchio (Clutch Points): Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong reveals what he learned from unfulfilled Dodgers trash talk. “Pete Crow-Armstrong had a monster night for the Cubs Saturday. The slugger revealed something else about his personality.”

• Tommy Erbe (On Tap Sports Net): WATCH: Pete Crow-Armstrong Ruffles Feathers, Exposes Tarps Off Crew. “Pete Crow-Armstrong not only hit a dinger to the fans chanting “overrated” at him, but also inadvertently revealed a fan’s ineptitude throw.“
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cardinals fan’s pathetic attempt to show up Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong needs more attention. “Best fans in baseball…cough, cough.”

• Manny Randhawa (MLB.com): Overrated? PCA responds with 4-hit night — and souvenir to Tarps Off crew. “The contest began in an inauspicious manner for Crow-Armstrong, who struck out swinging to open the game.”
• Zoe Grossman (Chicago Cubs On SI): Pete Crow-Armstrong Has Breakout Night in Cubs’ Win Over Cardinals – 3 Takeaways. “The Cubs bounced back with a crucial 6-1 win over the Cardinals on Saturday night.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Pete Crow-Alexander Has Been EXTREMELY Good for Well Over a Month Now. “Last night’s performance, complete with incredible timing on his homer and a truly incredible catch to end the game, may have been the best game of the season for Pete Crow-Armstrong, but it’s actually just a continuation of something he’s been doing for a LOT longer than I think most people realize.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Ben Brown doubled his pitch arsenal, giving the Cubs’ staff a needed boost. “Brown entered this season with two pitches added to his arsenal — a changeup and sinker — and a new mindset. ….. Now, with injuries forcing him into the rotation, he’s making a case to stay there.”
• Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs, pitcher Ben Brown benefits from some great defense in win against Cardinals. “PCA, Suzuki show off some nifty glove work”
• Eric Smithling (Yardbarker): Ben Brown’s move to starting rotation continuing to pay dividends for Cubs. “Ben Brown is still providing relief for the Chicago Cubs. Only now, he’s doing it from a starting role.“

Skubal trade talk:

• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GM. “But what would it cost to acquire Skubal in a trade? Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic revealed what it could cost for the Cubs to add Skubal in a deal this season.”
• Ernesto Cova (Yardbarker): There’s a new threat to trade for Tarik Skubal. “The Chicago Cubs could go all-in for Tarik Skubal.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Proposed Tarik Skubal trade would weaken Cubs’ bench, but finally give them an ace. “As Detroit’s free-fall continues, the two-time Cy Young winner will be a hot commodity; Jed Hoyer tasked with choosing between 2026 and the coming years.”

• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Happy With Matthew Boyd’s Rehab Start – Can He Now Return to Form? “The Chicago Cubs should be getting back a key piece of their rotation this week.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): It’s June and We Still Don’t Quite Know Enough About Cubs Closer Daniel Palencia (This Year). “As a whole, I like to think the Chicago Cubs bullpen is actually leveling out quite a bit; the (majority) of the group feels like it’s in a good place, with increasingly defined roles.”
• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Trying to stop slump, Cubs’ Dansby Swanson stuck staring at subpar stats: ‘It’s everywhere you go’. “The Cubs’ shortstop is having a rough go at the plate. And while he’s searching for fixes, he has to see the reminders of his struggles on scoreboards across baseball.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): It’s time the Cubs acknowledge a painful truth when it comes to Jordan Wicks. “The results speak for themselves.”
• Michael Canter (Cubs Insider): The Rundown: Brown Continues Stellar Run, Farm System Breakdown, Harper Reacts to CBA Negotiations. “It’s an off day and the Cubs have been struggling, so I’m going to turn my attention to the future, namely three topics: Ben Brown, Chicago’s farm system, and the CBA negotiations.”
• Anthony Kerr (Da Windy City): “Craig Counsell’s gamble may have finally unlocked the Cubs’ Ian Happ. “A brief reset appears to have sparked one of Happ’s best stretches of the season and could offer a lesson for the rest of Chicago’s lineup.”
• Dan Freedman (Forbes.com): Pete Crow-Armstrong Of The Cubs Is Back To Playing The Game His Way. “PCA proved over the course of the past week is that he is as professional as they come.”
• Jared Greenspan (MLB.com): How Brown’s new two-seamer is fueling a breakout season. “Brown is armed with a new two-seam fastball, which he designed over the offseason.”
• Joey Mistretta (Clutch Points): Craig Counsell gets 100% real on Cubs’ ‘bad break’ in loss to Cardinals. “Craig Counsell shared his thoughts on the Cubs’ loss to the Cardinals and a “bad break” that occurred during the game.“
• Zach Lutz (Just Baseball): Michael Busch Is Back to His Old Self at the Plate. “Busch started the year off slow, but the Cubs first baseman was one of the NL’s best hitters in May.”
• Zoe Grossman (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs’ Bats Stifled & Wicks Flops Again as Cardinals Claim Key Series – 3 Takeaways. “Coming off the high of Saturday’s win, the Chicago Cubs made their Sunday Night Baseball debut with a chance to win a series in the enemy territory that is Busch Stadium.”
• Sean Holland (Cubs Insider): Bats Go Quiet as Cardinals Take Series. “(The Cubs) were forced to go with a bullpen game, and the results were predictably disappointing.”

• Joe Harris (MLB.com): Wicks’ short start sets tone as Cubs wrap tough May. “He allowed three runs on four hits and struck out one of the 10 batters he faced.”
• Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Former Cubs CF Doug Glanville heaps praise on current CF Pete Crow-Armstrong. “‘‘I’m always very impressed and blown away by his perspective that is well beyond his years,’’ said Glanville, now an ESPN radio analyst.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune {$}): Column: Pete Crow-Armstrong joins the long list of Chicago Cubs villains in St. Louis as Cardinals take series. “There’s always room for a good Chicago Cubs villain in their rivalry with the St. Louis Cardinals, from Dusty Baker to Carlos Zambrano to Kris Bryant to Pete Crow-Armstrong, the latest to throw his hat into the ring.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Dansby Swanson knows what he needs to fix at the plate… so when will he do it? “The Cubs shortstop is really going through it at the plate this year.”
• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs have a massive pitching problem that Shota Imanaga can’t fix on his own. “Imanaga’s 4.37 ERA isn’t terrible, but his recent struggles have made it clear that the Cubs need to find a way to upgrade the rotation to not put as much stress on him.”
• Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Alex Bregman’s bat starting to heat up, but Cubs want more slug. “Third baseman only has four homers so far this season.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Cubs fans continue to beg for a move Jed Hoyer isn’t going to make anytime soon. “It’s just not going to happen (at least not at this point).”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune {$}): Column: Streaking Chicago Cubs are making May a most confusing month. “It’s not uncommon for a team to go through hot and cold streaks, but the 2026 Chicago Cubs appear to have taken things to a different level.”
• Mike McGraw (Daily Herald): Role reversal: Why the White Sox are suddenly so much more fun than Cubs. “If we tweak the criteria a bit, the Sox are clearly more fun than the Cubs right now ….. The White Sox have won some exciting games recently ….. When things so south for the Cubs offense, their hitters seem to get caught up in the frustration.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs’ silence on forgotten offseason signing likely seals another Jed Hoyer failure. “Where is he?”
• Anthony Kerr (Da Windy City): Cubs fans are done waiting for Craig Counsell to fix this bullpen problem. “Phil Maton’s latest blown outing against the Cardinals only added to growing concerns about his role in high-leverage situations.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune {$}): Column: With scrutiny of Craig Counsell heightened, Chicago Cubs keep Pete Crow-Armstrong in the leadoff spot. It was a loaded question that Craig Counsell brushed off like a fly on his coffee cup. Pete Crow-Armstrong was back in the leadoff spot Friday night in St. Louis. Could he see Crow-Armstrong hanging there for the rest of the year?“

Food For Thought:

Peter Gage (born 12 February 1946) is a British blues vocalist, harmonica player and pianist. The younger Gage started his musical career as vocalist and harmonica player in a London band “The Sloane Squares”, led by Gwyn Headley, in the mid-1960s. The Sloane Squares were well known for their tight music and live shows, and were supporting Jimi Hendrix when they were spotted by Jet Harris, the former Shadows bass player, who asked them to become his backing band.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

Happy Tuesday, OTM! Our Red Sox start a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles tonight, who are two games above last place in the American League East. This season hasn’t gone as expected for us, but we’re still just three games back in the Wild Card hunt (expanded playoffs are dumb). My question to you is, what would it take for you to buy in? Is it a trade for a bat? Is it a 10-game winning streak? Another manager firing? Theo Epstein himself taking the POBO role? I’m an optimist, so I’ll convince myself there’s a chance they make a run until at least August, but I’m also insane, so your mileage may vary.

Talk about what you want and be good to one another. Go Sox.