SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 14, 2025: Alberto Barriga #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks bats during the eighth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Kansas City Royals at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 14, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by David Durochik/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Introduction
Instead of talking about the named and better known prospect in the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system, today I thought I’d take a quick look at three lesser known prospects.
The Baltimore Orioles signed the then 17 year old Jose Mejia as international amateur free agent back in 2023, who then proceed to clobber the Dominican Summer League for 54 games across his 2023 and 2024 season with a triple slash of .307/.425/.409, a 136 wRC+ while walking (14.2 BB%) more than he was striking out (9.0%). In 2025, the Orioles had him play stateside in the complex league, where he’d play in 47 games and put up a triple slash of .274/.418/.411 with a .416 wOBA and a 132 wRC+. More importantly, he’d improve his walk percentage (16.5 BB%) while his strikeout percentage (10k%) saw only a slightly uptick. Mejia would then get a two game cup of coffee in A ball, where he’d go 1 for 5 with a pair of stolen bases thanks to the walk and hit by pitch.
The Dbacks would acquire Mejia (along with two pitchers) from the Orioles in the Blaze Alexander trade, the 20 year old Mejia was assigned to the Visalia Rawhide to begin the 2026 season. In 33 games for Visalia, Mejia hit .299/.449/.486 with a 144 wRC+, a .434 wOBA. His walk percentage an improvement to 19.9%, but he did also see his strikeout percentage jump up to 15 4%. Regardless his hot hitting earned him a promotion to Hillsboro on May 15th. In his seven games in Hillsboro, Mejia is 3 for 25 with 5 walks and two stolen bases, though he has struck out eight times and been caught stealing twice. Considering the lowest wRC+ Mejia has posted prior to his promotion to Hillsboro is a 121 wRC+, I’d expect his current 29 wRC+ not to last very long.
Unless Mejia goes on another month long hot streak, I would expect him to finish his year out at the High A level, though if he’s successful enough the Dbacks could promote him once again to the AA level Amarillo Sod Poodles finish out the last few games of the season. The Diamondbacks are absolutely stacked at second base, so Mejia will likely have to settle on another position for an easier path to the majors
The Diamondbacks signed Barriga as a 17 year old amateur free agent out of Mexico back in january of 2022. Barriga would put up impressive numbers in his pro debut in the DSL in 2022 (253/.342/.361, 120 wRC+) and even more eye popping numbers in the complex in 2023 (.414/.457/.586, 158 WRC+) and above average numbers in 2024 (276/.362/.432 105 wRC+), but he’d struggle after being promoted to A ball to end his 2024. In 2025, Barriga returned to A ball and put up the worst numbers of his career, hitting .199/.326/.296 with a well below average 83 wRC+ and insane 28.8 SO%. The one bright spot by far was his above average 12.9 BB%, the highest of his career since his debut.
Barriga was promoted to A+ Level Hillsboro for 2026, where he’s completely rebounded offensively, and arguably has been the team’s best hitter. Through his first 28 games, the 21 year old catcher is hitting .296/.391/.541 with a 144 wRC+. He’s improved upon his BB% to 13%, while he’s cut the strikout percent back down to an acceptable 22.6%.
The player I like to compare Barriga to is Daulton Varsho, or at least who he was as a prospect. Barriga isn’t quite as undersized as Varsho was, but they’re both undersized surprisingly nimble catchers, though Barriga in my opinion is much more likely to stick at catcher.
Manuel Pena was signed as an international amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic by the Diamondbacks all the way back in January of 2021. He has a solid enough debut as a 17 year old in 57 games played in the Dominican Summer League, putting up a 253/.342/.361 with a .349wOBA and a 105 wRC+, with a solid 11.7 BB% and acceptable 20.7 K%. The following year, he’d come stateside and play in 32 games in the Complex, hitting 284/336/.466 with .364 wOBA and 120 wRC+, though his BB% fell to 7.8% while his K% jumped to 23.4%. Pena would spend the remaining 36 games of his 2022 season in A ball, which began a stretch of four season in a row where he’d fail to put up above average numbers as a hitter. We’ll skip ahead a few seasons, as Pena was okay enough that he did work his way up to AA by the 2025 season. In 143 games last year in Amarillo, Pena hit .288/.326/.460 with a 99 wRC+, a .356 wOBA, 5.1 BB% and 22.3 K%.
In his second go around, Pena is hitting much better. In 43 games this year Pena has 18 homeruns, compared to the 14 he hit the entire season the previous year. He’s hitting .284/.328/.634 with 123 wRc+ and a .406 wOBA. Although his 23.2 K% is a tick higher than the year before, his 6.6 BB% is as well. Interestingly, Pena has the lowest BABIP of his career at .281, which is much lower than next lowest at .310. Pena is still only 22 years old despite being in the system for so long.
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 20: Will Dion #98 of the Cleveland Guardians poses for a portrait during Cleveland Guardians photo day at Goodyear Ballpark on February 20, 2025 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Will Dion will soon make his MLB debut as a left-handed reliever for the Guardians.
Cleveland optioned Logan Allen to Columbus and brought Dion up, adding him to the roster to bring it to 40 players.
Dion has put up a quietly outstanding season at Columbus, with a 1.83 FIP and a 12.46/1.73 K/BB/9 innings since being turned into a reliever this season. Oddly enough, his only trouble has come against left-handed hitters who have put up 1.200 OPS against him this year, while right-handed bats have managed only a .514 OPS. Small sample size? Well, throughout his career, he has put up even splits, so it will be interesting to see if that continues to be the case in a bullpen role.
Dion is only 5’10 but went slightly viral a few years ago for mimicking Clayton Kershaw’s throwing mechanics from his shorter frame.
Dion features a four-seamer that sits at 91, a cutter, a changeup, a curveball, and occasionally a sinker and slider. The changeup is his best out pitch, but he has confidence to throw the cutter and slider in any count.
Dion averages around 21 inches of induced vertical break on his four-seamer which is elite. For comparison, Erik Sabrowski is one of the best pitchers for IVB and averaged 23 inches. It makes a big difference that Sabrowski throws 3-4 mph faster, but Dion’ fastball should still be difficult for hitters to square up. If he can leverage it with getting whiffs on his changeup and curveball, the Guardians have potential for another very effective reliever.
Congratulations to a 9th round draft pick from McNeese state for making the bigs! He will wear 98 and be the first Cleveland baseball player to choose that number. Excited to see what he can do.
Like so many deck chairs being rearranged on the Titanic, the Mets roster carousel continued Tuesday.
Lefty A.J. Minter and Jared Young returned from IL stints, and Eric Wagaman was called up from Triple-A Syracuse.
Gone are outfielders Tyrone Taylor (placed on the 10-day IL with a right hip flexor strain) and Nick Morabito (optioned to Syracuse) and right-hander Jonathan Pintaro (also optioned to Syracuse).
The Mets activated left-handed reliever A.J. Minter off the injured list on Tuesday. Bill Kostroun/New York PostTyrone Taylor has been sidelined. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The Mets will need to make a 40-man roster move to add Wagaman, whose contract was selected from Syracuse.
Young — out since last month with a torn meniscus — had provided a solid left-handed bat off the bench prior to the injury, while Morabito, ranked the organization’s 11th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, was 0-for-11 with nine strikeouts.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 16: The Nike batting gloves of Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves are seen during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on May 16, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The stage is set for both teams in game one.
The Atlanta Braves, who’ve struggled on offense during their last series against the Washington Nationals and dropped the series, are looking to have a full turnaround in their matchup against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway. Spencer Strider will be taking the mound in hopes of topping his season-high strikeout rate (nine) from his last outing against the Miami Marlins across his sixth innings on May 21st.
Notice anyone at the DH spot? That’s right, Manager Walt Weiss has placed Eli White in the spot, shifting from the outfield and making hitting his main focus of the night.
All of the Redsox hitters have less than four at-bats against Strider, but the only numbers marked for production were from Wilson Contreras, who recorded two RBIs with a .500 OPS. Their experience is pretty limited with a healthy Strider on the mound, but with his high number of walks (12) he’s recorded since his return this month, that could be their main opening if their offensive woes continue to last.
Against Boston’s Ranger Suarez, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley have seen their on-base production fare well above .900. They will need to keep that stature and get the remainder of the offense to produce behind Strider if they want to set the tone for the series.
Tarik Skubal took another significant step toward his return Tuesday, throwing live batting practice at Comerica Park before the Detroit Tigers’ game against the Los Angeles Angels on May 26. Skubal simulated 2 2/3 innings by throwing 39 pitches, according to reports. He struck out three and gave up a home run.
That was a welcome sight for a Tigers team that is struggling without their ace.
It's been just three weeks since the two-time Cy Young Award winner had elbow surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow. His recovery and rehab have moved at an unprecedented pace, thanks in part to a new NanoNeedle technology.
Tuesday was Skubal’s scheduled “start day” in his five-day progression back to the mound. His last outing was a bullpen session, during which he threw his full repertoire, A.J. Hinch told reporters.
The Tigers manager said that Skubal was ready to throw to hitters Tuesday morning on his weekly SiriusXM spot. He said that it could be a short sim game.
Skubal has been careful not to get ahead of himself. “I don’t know in the history of the game if there’s been a surgery 15 days ago and I’m throwing a one-inning hypothetical start,” Skubal said last week. “I want to be back as fast as possible. I also want to be healthy.”
While Skubal will need more time before he can rejoin the Tigers’ rotation, Hinch sidestepped a question about a traditional minor league rehab when asked on SiriusXM. He just indicated that Skubal will need "a rehab" to be built up enough to give the Tigers volume when he returns.
Hinch also emphasized that no step will be skipped and Skubal will not be rushed.
The Tigers, however, desperately need him back.
Skubal is one of three sidelined Detroit starters, along with Casey Mize and Justin Verlander. The Tigers are 20-31, 9.5 games behind the Central Division-leading Cleveland Guardians and the owner of baseball’s worst record in May.
Before surgery, Skubal had been pitching like himself. He had a 2.70 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and a 45-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 43 1/3 innings in seven starts.
After cashing my first profitable MLB player props piece here, I'll look to keep the momentum rolling as a few familiar faces grab my attention tonight.
Byron Buxton, Munetaka Murakami, and Kyle Schwarber all find themselves in prime spots to do damage at the dish, so let’s dive into why each of them could be in for big evenings on Tuesday, May 26.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Byron Buxton
Over 1.5 total bases
-110
Kyle Schwarber
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-107
Munetaka Murakami
Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI
-109
Byron Buxton Over 1.5 total bases (-110)
Boots will be grounded for me this evening and I need some action while I suck down a few polish dogs with extra onions.
Twins star Byron Buxton may be the best bat to back on the Southside tonight, as he takes on right hander Sean Burke, who has been getting crushed by right-handed hitters over his last few outings.
The last 30 right-handed hitters Burke has faced own a 14.3% barrel rate with just a 4.8% ground ball rate, while opposing hitters are elevating the ball 95.2% of the time. Those hitters also sport a .387 xBA, .726 xSLG, and .424 xwOBA during that span.
Buxton owns 85.5% arsenal coverage against Burke, while also elevating the ball well over his last 10 games. During that stretch, he owns a 55.2% hard-hit rate and 20.7% barrel rate.
This marks the Twins outfielder’s 36th elite rating on the road. In the previous 35, he has cleared this prop 51.43% of the time and homered 25.71% of the time as well. Of course, I sprinkled on his home run prop.
Overall, Buxton has recorded 2+ bases in six of his last 10 elite-rated spots.
As always, I’m looking out for the “I do not pay juice” crowd. If you are not a fan of laying the -110 here, sprinkle on Buxton’s double and home run props instead. The only way you are losing those is if he triples or strings together multiple singles, plus you are getting a far better number.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, CHSN
Munetaka Murakami Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-109)
Double dipping tonight as I enjoy two props from the nosebleeds.
The second play in a matchup I am all over features the most exciting player in the city of Chicago, Munetaka Murakami. Give me the Over on his hits, runs, and RBI prop set at 1.5.
The White Sox slugger enters tonight with an elite rating on Batters-Box. In 27 elite ratings this season, he has surpassed this prop 55.56% of the time. If you are looking to pair his hit with Byron Buxton’s, Murakami has also recorded a hit in 70.37% of those elite-rated matchups.
Murakami draws Twins right hander Joe Ryan this evening, giving him a great opportunity to take advantage of Ryan’s struggles against left handed hitters. The slugger owns a 1.141 OPS and .481 wOBA over his last 30 plate appearances against right handed pitching.
Ryan enters today with poorly rated matchup numbers in ISO and ground ball rate, giving one of the most dangerous hitters in the White Sox lineup a chance to elevate and drive the ball tonight.
Sprinkle the home run for some extra fun!
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, CHSN
Kyle Schwarber Over 1.5 hits + runs + RBI (-107)
Kyle Schwarber enters today with the highest rating in this matchup, marking his 241st elite rating over the last three years. During that span, he has cleared this prop in 54.17% of those elite ratings.
No different on the road, where he has gone over this number 52.83% of the time across 106 elite ratings.
Despite the slight cold streak following an illness, Schwarber is still making 58.3% hard contact with a 25% barrel rate and just a 16.7% ground ball rate over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.
The slugger draws Padres right hander Randy Vasquez, against whom he owns 57.7% arsenal coverage.
The 27-year-old starter has been giving up plenty of hard contact lately and allowing left-handed hitters to elevate the ball at a high clip. During that stretch, he owns just a 36% ground ball rate allowed, while lefties are making 46% hard contact with a 10% barrel rate against him.
If you are willing to lay roughly -160, you can take Schwarber’s hit prop. But from a value standpoint, I think this is the better play.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, Padres.TV
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 158-276-24, +2.7 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.
Last week’s edition of Rangers Reacts asked folks about whether the 2026 Texas Rangers are meeting your expectations.
They are not:
I whopping 0% of you said the Texas Rangers are exceeding your expectations for 2026.
And perhaps most remarkably, this poll went up before the team was swept in Anaheim, and then no-hit by a collection of Bumpus Joneses in Astros uniforms.
The Mets activated left-handed reliever A.J. Minter and outfielder/first baseman Jared Young off the IL ahead of Tuesday's game against the Reds at Citi Field, the team announced.
In corresponding moves, right-handed reliever Jonathan Pintaro and outfielder Nick Morabito were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
Additionally, outfielder Tyrone Taylor was placed on the 10-day IL due to a right hip flexor strain, with infielder Eric Wagaman called up to take his spot on the 26-man roster.
Mendoza said that there was a "sense of relief" that the team didn't get worse news on Taylor, though the manager did not want to put a definitive timetable on his recovery.
"I think we got relatively good news, especially after what he was expressing after the game last night," said Mendoza. "We were kind of expecting the worst to be honest with you. We just had the news here, it’s kind of like week-by-week here. So hopefully 2-to-3 [weeks], but putting a timetable here I think is too early."
A 40-man roster move will be needed to accommodate the transactions, and will be announced prior to Tuesday's game.
Minter has been out since early last season after needing surgery for a torn lat. His return should bolster a back end of the bullpen that has been a strength for New York over the last month or so.
Young, who is returning from a torn meniscus, excelled for New York earlier this season, hitting .350/.391/.450 in 23 plate appearances over 11 games.
It's fair to believe that the presence of the lefty-hitting Young could eventually cut into the playing time of MJ Melendez, who is hitting .063/.250/.063 in 40 plate appearances spanning 17 games since May 7.
Young is in the lineup at first base on Tuesday, with Mark Vientos on the bench.
With Morabito sent down and Taylor on the IL, the Mets have just three natural outfielders on the active roster, though Young, Melendez, and Brett Baty can play the corner outfield spots.
According to Mendoza, the decision was made to keep Wagaman and send Morabito down because the Mets like Wagaman as a right-handed hitter off the bench and against lefties, where as Morabito need to play every day.
"Just continue to play, I think that’s the biggest thing," Mendoza said about his message to Morabito. "There is a lot to like about the player. We saw flashes of his defense, his speed, but he has to play every day. There’s no reason for him to be here, playing once every two or three days just waiting on lefties. He got a taste, he knows what it’s like here at the big league level, and he knows how important he is to this organization.
"The message is keep going over there, we’ll see you back here."
Through 11 starts for the Milwaukee Brewers, Jacob Misiorowski has thrown 311 pitches at 100 miles per hour or faster — more than every other MLB starter combined.
The rest of MLB’s starters have combined for 170 such pitches through games played on May 25.
Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler leads the way behind Misiorowski with 52 thrown, while Miami’s Eury Perez has tossed 23. Just behind him with 22 is Cam Schlittler, then Chase Burns with 21 and Shohei Ohtani 20.
It’s not just raw numbers that are breaking the speed gun. It’s also Misiorowski’s rate.
He’s thrown 996 pitches this season across his 11 starts. That translates to hitting 100 miles per hour or more on 31.2 percent of his pitches. During his rookie season last year, his rate was 16.7 percent.
Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene, who led starting pitchers in 2025 with 296 hurls above 100 miles per hour, broke 100 at a 16.9 percent frequency last season. Greene, currently out with an injury, would project to roughly 165 triple-digit pitches through the Reds’ first 53 games if he had maintained that rate under a healthy five-man-rotation workload.
In 2022, Greene threw 337 pitches that broke 100 miles an hour, which set the single season record for 100-plus mile per hour pitches thrown by a starter in the Statcast era (2015 or later). If Misiorowski continues at his current pace, he could potentially reach Greene’s record in his next start.
The numbers also highlight the hard-throwing era baseball finds itself in. In 2017, MLB starters combined for 66 pitches at 100 miles per hour or faster for the entire season. This year, even excluding Misiorowski, starters already have 170 — with roughly two-thirds of the season still to play.
Methodology note: 100-plus mile per hour pitch data comes from the Baseball Savant / Statcast API. Starting pitchers were identified as the first pitcher used by each team in a game. Data is current as of 1 p.m. ET, May 26.
Jun 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina pitcher Jason DeCaro (29) pitches the ball during the first inning of the Super Regionals game against Arizona in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
The final postseason of the college athletic season is finally here, and once again, the Diamond Heels of the University of North Carolina will be hosting a regional in the NCAA Tournament. College baseball seems to be drawing more eyes than ever this year, but given that most regular-season games are still on streaming-only platforms and there are a ton fewer places that cover the sport (and especially from an ACC/UNC lens) than for things like football and basketball, I’m certainly not going to judge anybody who’s choosing now to start really paying attention to Scott Forbes’ team. For you, and perhaps for Tennessee/ECU/VCU fans wanting to check out the competition, this will function as the most thorough look at the Diamond Heels that you’ll find on the Internet, at least for free. And hopefully, even if you’ve been following the team and program more committedly than most this season, there will still be some things in here for you to learn and/or talk about ahead of the games in Chapel Hill this weekend.
Overview
For the second straight year, UNC is an arguably under-seeded 5th overall seed after a 45-plus-win season with an elite pitching staff and an offensive lineup that survived a bunch of turnover. They don’t have some of the superlatives of last year’s team; namely, they don’t have a starter as good and consistent as Jake Knapp was nor do they have a big-time power threat like Luke Stevenson provided, but they’re a gritty squad that finds a way to win games — they lost just one series all season, and that was to Virginia to open ACC play. They have probably the best series win in the country after having taken 2 out of 3 against Georgia Tech at home, and in a lot of ways entered the postseason playing their best baseball. They had an up-and-down ACC Tournament — the offense was as live as it has ever been, while starting pitching struggled in their first two games before the entire arm barn ran into the buzzsaw that was Georgia Tech — but still have established themselves as one of the country’s premier squads, as has become tradition for head coach Scott Forbes at this point. Polls have had them at #2 in the country for basically the last month, and Forbes should once again have a team that should be a favorite to make Omaha and a threat to make noise once there.
Lineup
Remember how going into last year, all the talk about UNC was about all the power they were losing and that the Heels were going to have to lean into a different brand of baseball that relied on balls finding grass and guys going station-to-station instead of swinging for the fences? Last year’s team kind of did that, but nowhere near to the extent that it was stated after they took 5 games to hit their first home run. I think this year’s team does it a fair bit more. The slugging percentages are nearly identical; .478 to .487, but the 2025 Heels had 87 home runs in 61 games compared to this year’s 76 in 57. Last year’s team relied a ton on stealing bases to get guys in scoring position; this year, it’s been much more about just making contact and advancing runners with hits — the lineup isn’t as deep with on-base threats as last year’s, but the guys who hit for average do so at significantly higher clips while maintaining similarly high walk rates. This team has the typical discipline of a Scott Forbes club, ranking 13th in the country in total walks and 18th in walk rate, but they’ve cut down some on the high-ish strikeout rates that have annoyed past groups, ranking a respectable 56th in strikeout rate and 20th in K:BB ratio. Here’s an individual rundown:
SS Jake Schaffner (L/R, .362/.465/.580): Transferred to UNC from North Dakota State and has been a mainstay at the top of the lineup. Has a fantastic eye at the plate; has recorded 37 walks to 27 strikeouts. Rarely chases out of the zone and has a real knack for 2-strike hitting, where he can kind of just throw his wrists at the ball and flick it over the shortstop’s head. UNC’s best stolen base threat, has 25 on 28 attempts. Great defensive shortstop with plus range and an arm that plays well enough in college, and his speed has also helped him record 7 triples — the 3rd-highest total in the country.
2B Gavin Gallaher(R/R, .275/.367/.488): The lone everyday returner in the lineup and a team captain. Hasn’t had quite the draft season he would have hoped for, but the numbers are pretty much in line with where he was last year before his postseason heroic gene activated. His feel for and control of the zone have been spotty this year and his pole-to-pole power, while clearly there, hasn’t always played this year, though he’s hit 3 home runs in his last 7 games to bring his season total to 12. The two-time Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player will be aiming to play his best baseball come tournament time once again. He’s moved from playing 3rd the last 2 years to second base this year, and he’s been awesome there — statistically he’s been the best defensive second baseman in the conference.
CF Owen Hull (L/R, .374/.487/.565): Transfer from George Mason and UNC’s batting average leader. Hull is the latest in a pretty legendary run of center fielders at UNC, and after a really slow start to the season, has lived up to the mantle. He’s built like a brick house at 6’4, 215, and while he doesn’t rake like the build suggests (7 home runs on the season), he consistently makes hard ground ball contact up the middle or to the opposite field that creates trouble for infielders. Sometimes he’ll just accidentally hit a rocket because there’s so much latent power in his body. Pairs all that with a decent eye (41:37 K-BB); the strikeouts have gone up as he’s gained more confidence in his swing after he started the season leading the country in walks. Pretty good defender in center field thanks to his athleticism, though he doesn’t have a standout arm or instincts at the position.
C/DH Macon Winslow (R/R, .310/.455/.522): Cross-rivalry transfer from Duke after coach Chris Pollard left. Winslow was good at Duke and has leveled up at UNC, improving both his average and power numbers (10 HR, .967 OPS compared to 9 and .881 last year). Pull-heavy swing and a disciplined approach, working a lot of counts deep and leading the team with 43 walks (to go with 38 Ks). Good defensive catcher who doesn’t get run on very often, but he’s now coming back from an injured wrist that might have influenced him not getting in front of 3 run-scoring wild pitches in the ACC Championship game — his rust will be something to monitor.
3B Cooper Nicholson (R/R, .275/.452/.607): Junior college transfer from Iowa Central CC who has become the team’s power leader, with 15 home runs on the season. Swings for the fences on seemingly every pitch he sees in the zone, which leads to a fair bit of swing-and-miss (team-leading 51 Ks) but ends up being worth it as he leads the team in slugging. Power plays to all fields and he isn’t swinging blindly, with 38 walks. Also has a knack for getting hit by pitches, has racked up 21. Plays a pretty dynamic 3rd base but has had his share of errors — granted, it’s a tough position to play with metal bats, and he hasn’t been worse than Gallaher was last year (.909 fielding percentages for both. That’d be atrocious at any other position, but like I said, 3rd base is really tough in college).
1B Erik Paulsen (L/L, .285/.419/.464): Transfer from Stony Brook. Started the season red-hot and looked like he might just replicate Stevenson’s power and average production one-to-one, but cooled off mightily over the course of April and May. When the swing is working, he’s capable of both pulling inside fastballs and poking outside pitches to the opposite field, but there’s a lot more swing-and-miss lately for a guy who once had elite zone control. It’s rare to say this about a first baseman, but Paulsen is a genuinely great defender at first. He won the CAA’s DPOY award last year at a position that’s usually taken for granted, and watching him play the position it’s easy to see why with his quick actions, footwork, and glove.
LF Tyler Howe (L/L, .250/.386/.368):A freshman from Huntersville who has settled into an everyday spot after some early-season shuffling at the corner outfield positions. The numbers aren’t fantastic but there’s a lot of promise here; he’s got fast hands and a compact, flat swing that reminds me a little of early-career Casey Cook, albeit without the elite zone control or contact rates that Cook already had. Good athlete on the bases and an okay defender with a big arm — has gunned down 3 runners at home from left field.
DH/C Colin Hynek (R/R, .273/.357/.483): The transfer from Georgia Tech has split time with Winslow at catcher, but is usually in the lineup regardless of whether he’s catching or not. Had outstanding power numbers at GSU, but that hasn’t really shown up in Chapel Hill (7 home runs). He has hit 3 triples, though, thanks to a knack for finding gaps in the outfield. Takes his share of noncompetitive at-bats at this level, but when he makes contact, it’s usually very hard. Slightly worse as a defensive catcher and receiver than Hynek — Forbes says his arm is stronger but it doesn’t play as such in-game.
RF Carter French (L/L, .231/.383/.288): For the second straight year, French has taken over as an everyday corner outfielder after the other options just weren’t consistent enough in the field or at the plate. It took him a while to get going this year; his average hovered around or just under .200 until near the end of April, since when he’s been closer to his old self. Controls the zone well and puts the ball in play, and is a plus athlete on the bases and in the field.
You may also see Rom Kellis V, who has been used as a corner outfielder against lefties and had a breakout game in the ACC Tournament semifinal, as well as guys like Jadyn Nunez, Perry Hargett, Michael Maginnis, and Sawyer Black, who have all seen some time as pinch-hitters or corner outfielders.
Pitching
Once again, these Heels have one of the best staff ERAs in the country, led by an ace starter, a second starter who’s been a little up and down but has certainly had big-time moments, and two stud relievers, supported by a deep staff that’s been inconsistent in comparison but decent in the big picture. The names are going to be familiar, as the Heels didn’t bring in a single transfer to the arm barn despite losing starters in Jake Knapp and Aidan Haugh, and so is the formula: starters who don’t have overwhelming strikeout numbers but limit walks and let their defense work, and relievers who get a little nastier and eat up the back innings.
SP Jason DeCaro (R, 2.30 ERA):In his third season as a starter in Chapel Hill, DeCaro has put together his best year yet. He’s looked more or less the same as ever, but he’s improved his consistency and pitchability to be the best version of himself he can be. The fastball sits 91-94 with high spin but not much corresponding movement, but he locates it well to keep hitters off him and set up his sweeper, curve, and changeup, the latter of which has been a money pitch of late. He’ll allow more baserunners than you’d expect, but consistently manages to get the outs he needs. You’d like to see him get a little more length in the postseason; even in very good starts against Georgia Tech and N.C. State to close the season he only went 5 innings.
SP Ryan Lynch (R, 4.44 ERA):Lynch’s transition from relief last year to starting this year has been a little rocky. He’s given the Heels length, leading the team in innings pitched, has the best K-BB of UNC’s high-use arms at 70:29, and has had a few good starts, but opposing offenses have had a lot more success against him as a starter than they did last year — his batting average against of .285 is really worrisome. Features a nasty 94-97 power sinker and a slider that has been off and on this season after being devastating last year, and has added a changeup this year that hasn’t really helped him. The stuff is clearly there to be elite, but it hasn’t been unlocked this season in his draft year — that said, he saved his best for last as a freshman.
RP Caden Glauber (R, 1.93 ERA): Big-time freshman arm who has maybe one-upped what Lynch did as a relief ace last year en route to winning ACC Freshman of the Year and racking up the country’s 3rd-best ERA. He’s pitched 70 innings in relief and has not yet pitched in a game his team didn’t win. Has a lively 93-96 heater with a lot of armside run, a good changeup to throw to lefties, and a decent sweeper/slider, but the money pitch right now is the fastball, which lets him get ahead in seemingly every count he faces. He’s also got a knack for inducing GIDPs when he needs them thanks to the sink on his heater.
RP Walker McDuffie (R, 2.82 ERA): Pitched his way into UNC fans’ hearts last year with his baby face and Wild Thing glasses, and has leveled up his game this year after a slow start. His sweeper continues to be one of the best putout pitches in the country and he leads the team in strikeout rate thanks in large part to it (79 in 60.2 IP). His 92-95 sinker continues to be underrated and he’s been locating it better of late, while he’s also added a changeup to the arsenal that’s been effective against lefties. Reliance on getting swing-and-miss on the sweeper means he walks a few more hitters than is optimal, but he gets enough whiffs that it rarely hurts him.
SP Folger Boaz (L, 7.30 ERA): Has returned to a starting role after pitching out of the pen last year, and results have varied. Got hit around the park in 3 of his last 4 starts, but in fairness those were against Georgia Tech twice and a good N.C. State lineup, and he put together one of his best starts of the season in between those against a dangerous Pitt offense. Throws a 91-93 fastball that’s run as high as 96 in-game as of late, as well as a nasty slider and a sharp cutter, but struggles to get righties out because the changeup lags behind his other offerings.
RP Jackson Rose (L, 2.82 ERA): Another freshman arm who’s been impressive, especially in relief. Hasn’t done great given midweek starting opportunities, but has thrived out of the pen with an 89-92 fastball that he locates well, to go with a nasty changeup. Has a batting average against under .200 and a WHIP comparable to McDuffie’s, albeit in lower-leverage situations and probably including work against worse lineups.
Other names to know include captain Matthew Matthijs, who has had an up-and-down season but is trusted to get outs late in games, and Cam Padgett, a flamethrowing righty who’s done some of his best work in the last month.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 22: Third base coach Pedro Lopez #71 of the Colorado Rockies looks on from the dugout before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 3-2. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Original photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images 5/22/2026
Last Thursday night, Colorado Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer brought Pedro Lopez onto the field at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona with a hug. The 57-year-old from Puerto Rico was making his Major League coaching debut after more than 20 years of coaching in minor league and international baseball.
“I was already in my office back in Albuquerque when Schaeff called me, and you know, actually, we were talking about players,” Lopez recounted. “I never thought he was going to say this, and I kept it quiet. I didn’t tell anybody until maybe a couple of days ago when I held a meeting with the whole team telling them, ‘Hey, I’m not going to be with you guys on Thursday and Friday.’ I didn’t tell anybody where I was going until some of the guys saw me here.”
The Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes manager had been “called up” to serve in the stead of Rockies third base coach Andy González, who had stepped away from the team to attend his daughter’s high school graduation.
You might see a familiar face coaching third for the Rockies tonight 👀
Isotopes Manager Pedro Lopez is filling in as third base coach for the Rockies as they take on the Diamondbacks. pic.twitter.com/b67ZpOxFo5
For Lopez, his Major League coaching debut was also a reunion. Lopez served as both a hitting coach and a bench coach under Warren Schaeffer when the latter was the manager of the Isotopes in 2021 and 2022. Current Rockies assistant hitting coach Jordan Pacheco was also a member of the 2022 Isotopes coaching staff.
“It’s incredible. This whole thing has been special because Schaeff, he’s our manager, but he’s a good friend. He’s my brother. And then you’ve got Chec (Pacheco) in there too,” Lopez said.
“I rode to the ballpark with Schaeff and Giddy (Ron Gideon) and Schaeff brought me out. He said, ‘Hey, come here. I want to show you something.’ I actually thought he was going to talk to me about signs, or where he was going to stand, things to look for. And then we came out here in the dugout before the steps and he gave me a hug. He goes ‘Now you and I, we’re both in the big leagues.’”
It was a meaningful moment for Lopez.
“It meant a lot. It kind of brings tears to my eyes,” he said. “I was telling my wife [Gladys] and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ you know? It was a really touching moment for me. What better time to do it with a friend, with a brother, and having Chec—and actually the whole staff? These guys, they have been amazing.”
Warren Schaeffer reflected on his friend’s special moment.
“That was awesome,” he said. “You know, ‘P-Lo’ has been waiting a long time to coach in the big leagues, and he’s wanted that for a long time. It just seemed like the right opportunity to have him come up and do it. He’s coaching third base every night down in Triple-A, so he’s the guy that’s most ready to take on that role if Andy has to leave. I’m just so excited for him to be able to come up and experience a couple big league games and be right in the thick of it. And I know how it feels to be down there, and you’re on an island down there coaching third base and right in it with the boys in the grind. It was special.”
The Rockies unfortunately lost on Lopez’s debut, but he was right back out there at third base the next day for a Rockies win where his players from Triple-A—Sterlin Thompson (No. 13 PuRP) and Chad Stevens—were heavily involved. Lopez had actually informed Thompson he was being called up earlier in the week.
“When we told Sterlin that he was coming up was pretty cool,” Lopez said.
“He actually made a baserunning mistake the day he got the call, so I brought him in and I told him, ‘If you pull that tomorrow in the big leagues, I’m telling you right now, you’re going to find yourself back in Albuquerque again,’ and he kind of looked at me. Sterlin and I, we go way back. I saw this kid from how he started last year in the first month, and how much progress he made. I keep saying it to this day, I thought last year he was the most improved player of all in Albuquerque. Just to see where he was to where he is now is incredible.”
With the game tied at 2-2 in the ninth inning, Thompson hit a double and was driven home via a Chad Stevens RBI single.
“He had the game-winning send, which was awesome, and the boys just made it so special for him,” Schaeffer said. “It was a great day. It was my favorite day, I think, in the big leagues so far.”
Meanwhile, Lopez was surprised with how he felt during his experience coaching at the big-league level.
“I thought that, ‘Well my knees are going to be shaking, and my heartbeat is going to be going 1,000 miles an hour.’ No, that didn’t happen,” he said. “It was actually cool that I was out there and it was just another game, but I’ll tell you what, it was awesome for me to experience this with Schaeff and Chec and the rest of the coaching staff. It’s incredible.”
Lopez returned to the Isotopes on Saturday, where he is in the midst of one of the team’s strongest starts in recent memory. The Isotopes are 28-23 with one of the best records in the Pacific Coast League. It’s a refreshing change of pace after finishing with 80 or more losses over the last three seasons as part of the Rockies’ bottom-heavy and struggling farm system.
He praised the pitching and defense as key factors in the Isotopes’ success.
“The pitching has been awesome this year if you will look at last year and previous years,” he explained. “One thing we’re doing this year is attacking the strike zone more, and that’s allowing our pitchers to put the ball in play, and the defense is playing well. So, I think that would be the biggest thing.”
Lopez also praised leaders in the clubhouse, many of whom are new arrivals to the organization.
“From the pitching, (Keegan) Thompson was one of [the leaders] and now he’s here. (Parker) Mushinski has been another guy that’s been awesome for us. Too bad right now he’s on the IL,” Lopez said. “If you look at the position players, Stevens is here now, (Blaine) Crim, Vimael Machín has done a terrific job with those guys as well. I think the culture is good. I think these guys are expecting to win every night. It’s a good atmosphere.”
When asked who else could step into a leadership role, Lopez didn’t hesitate to answer.
“I think Charlie will be perfect for that role,” he said. “I think Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) has done a really good job for a kid his age. He handles himself better than anybody I’ve ever seen at that age. He’s really mature. He’s a guy that you don’t have to hold him by the hand to do anything. He goes out there, takes his ground balls — you don’t have to tell him — and then after he takes his ground balls he goes out to right field and gets his live reads during BP. It’s really incredible to me.”
Although temporary, Pedro Lopez was able to take the next step forward on his lengthy coaching journey. Now that he is back with the Isotopes, he can hopefully help the team and farm system take their own next steps as well.
The Albuquerque Isotopes had to settle for a series split on the road as they faced off against the Las Vegas Aviators (Athletics). The roster itself saw a bit of shuffling as Blaine Crim was claimed off waivers by the Texas Rangers, and both Sterlin Thompson and Chad Stevens are currently with the big league team. Still, the veteran contingent propped up the offense while younger prospects like Nic Kent hit three home runs during the week. Pitching continues to be inconsistent, particularly from the younger starters, but Ryan Feltner did excel in his rehab start on Sunday, firing five innings and allowing just one run.
⬆️ Stock Up: Keep on Rolling
It’s becoming somewhat redundant to say the stock is up, but Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) keeps finding a way to keep his up. It was another strong week for Carrigg as he batted .400/.556/.700, going 8-for-20 with three doubles and a home run. His newfound patience at the plate this season continues to thrive as he drew seven walks and struck out five times. The most surprising thing was that he failed to steal a base in the series, getting caught twice. Through 47 games in Triple-A, Carrigg is slashing .358/.424/.551 with 30 strikeouts and 26 walks, and as June approaches, it may be time for the Rockies front office to start seriously considering when to call him up.
Bogged down by a hitting slump that wasn’t yielding results despite quality at-bats, Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) got back into a rhythm in this series. He went 8-for-24, slashing .333/.407/.625, and extended his hitting streak to seven games. His power has been missing of late, but he managed five extra-base hits, including four doubles and a home run. He managed just two RBI and struck out 10 times against two walks, but he was making some better contact, which is a huge step forward after the last month he has had.
The Isotopes are back home to welcome the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres) for a new six-game series. Last time the two faced off in Albuquerque earlier this month, it was a series split.
The Hartford Yard Goats rocketed up the Eastern League standings with a dominant series against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays), winning four of five contests. The series finale was postponed due to inclement weather. Both strong pitching and the offense clicking were the keys to success in the series.
⬆️ Stock Up:Welcome back, Wimmer!
Super-utilityman Braylen Wimmer played his first three games against the Fisher Cats after being reinstated from the Development List. Wimmer went 5-for-13 with three doubles, an RBI, and a stolen base while only striking out twice—both in one game.
⬆️ Stock Up:Goat Stu
After some emergency spot-starts on a depleted Albuquerque Isotopes rotation, left-handed pitcher Stu Flesland III was officially promoted from the High-A Spokane Indians up to Double-A Hartford. Flesland III pitched 3.1 innings in relief of a rehabbing Ryan Feltner, giving up just one earned run on two hits and tallying three strikeouts.
Upcoming:
The Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) are in town as the Yard Goats introduce a throwback alternate identity for the New Britain Rock Cats, whom they played as from 1997 until 2015!
High-A: Spokane Indians (4-2, 19-26 Overall)
The Indians may still be below .500, but a 4-2 series split against their rival Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays) certainly helped them regain some ground. While they did stumble in the series with an ugly 15-0 shutout, the offense also scored nine or more runs in three of their victories.
⬆️ Stock Up:The Jack Attack is Back, Mack.
Catcher and designated hitter Jack O’Dowd made a mighty first impression for Spokane fans. Freshly promoted to the Indians this week, O’Dowd hammered the ball for two home runs in his debut and finished the week hitting 7-for-15 with a double, two home runs, seven RBIs, and two walks.
⬇️ Stock Down:Hampered and Hammered
That 15-0 shutout I mentioned was a rough one for left-handed pitcher Bryson Hammer and right-handed reliever Tyler Hampu. Hammer pitched the first three innings and gave up seven earned runs on two hits and five walks, while Hampu gave up another five earned runs on two hits and three walks over 1.1 innings. Both pitchers gave up back-breaking home runs: a grand slam for Hammer and a three-run home run for Hampu.
Upcoming:
The Indians are on the road for a six game series against the Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels).
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (2-4, 25-20 Overall)
The Grizzlies remain atop their division for now despite a tough series against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Los Angeles Angels) that featured multiple slugfests—the first two games of the series had a combined 34 runs scored—and close contests.
⬆️ Stock Up:Thach continues to smash
This week Thach went 13-for-24 with a double, a triple, two home runs, seven RBIs, four walks, and his first stolen base of the season. With an OPS of 1.004 and leading the team in doubles, home runs, and RBIs, and currently leading the California League in RBIs and slugging percentage, Thach might not have much left to prove at this level.
Tanner Thach with a diving stop and a line drive homer to start the night for the Grizzlies.
— Fresno Grizzlies (@FresnoGrizzlies) May 24, 2026
⬆️ Stock Up:Andujar goes far
With Ethan Holliday (foot) going on the injured list, the Grizzlies needed roster reinforcements. For the final game of their series they summoned 18-year-old infielder Ashly Andujar (no. 20 PuRP), who made an immediate and powerful first impression. In his first game outside of the Arizona Fall League, Andujar went 2-for-4 without striking out, had two RBIs, and clubbed his first home run in Low-A.
The Grizzlies are back at home and looking to put some distance between themselves and the San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants) for the division lead.
The ACL Rockies rattled off four quick wins to stay atop their division in the Complex before getting humbled 9-1 yesterday by the ACL Angels (Los Angeles Angels).
⬆️ Stock Up:No argument here
18-year-old center fielder Cristian Arguelles had a strong week at the plate, going 10-for-19 with two doubles, a home run, and eight RBIs across five games.
Left-handed pitcher Zack Morris—who started the season on the injured list—has been turning in strong work on rehab assignment with the ACL Rockies. Morris turned in 3.2 scoreless innings over two appearances with six strikeouts, one walk, and three hits allowed. Over his assignment he now has four scoreless outings over 5.2 innings.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 27: Atlanta Braves mascot Blooper is seen during the opening day walk prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Red Sox at Fenway Park in 2026 is a very on brand for the year 2026. You walk up Lansdowne Street excited for a game and then they actually start playing.
Boston opens the series at 22-30, last place in the AL East, against a Braves team that is 36-18 with among the best winning percentages in baseball. The Braves essentially put a starting rotation on the IL to open the season and their fans must have thought “here we go again.” Boston hasn’t had as many injuries, just guys who all forgot how to hit.
It’s Monster Week on NESN so Dave O’Brien, Lou Merloni, and Kevin Millar will be broadcasting from atop the famous left field wall on Tuesday. Expect to see Wally and other special guests at well. Will any be right-handed hitters? Mike Lowell was a guest one year I think. At age 36 in 2010 he slugged .367. Believe it or not, that mark, the lowest of his career, would place him fourth among regulars this year (after Willson Contreras, Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Masataka Yoshida) and just ahead of Jarren Duran.
After making just two starts on the season before facing the Sox in Atlanta, Spencer Strider is now a whopping four starts into 2026. His last time out against the Miami Marlins the righty allowed 3 runs in 6.1 innings. All three were solo home runs. He’s given up 4 homers on the season, along with 2 doubles (both against Boston), and a triple. All the rest of his 12 hits allowed are singles. Ranger Suarez missed the Braves in Atlanta but has experience facing them with the Phillies. In three starts last year the southpaw allowed just 2 runs in 18 innings against Atlanta. If you say “but the Braves were bad!” well, uh, in 14 innings over three starts in 2024 he allowed 12 runs and 5 homers. So hopefully there’s a better plan.
Bryce Elder lost a game where he allowed 3 runs in 8.0 innings. The Sox only allowed two on May 16 and that was the game they took out of the three. Boston ran him up to 103 pitches and he was right back down to 87 over 6.0 innings against the Nationals the next time out. Connelly Early led the Sox to a win on May 20th with a 6.1 inning, 3 run performance. He allowed 2 home runs, he’s up to 9 on the season in 10 starts. A solo shot here and there isn’t the worst thing for a pitcher. It’s trouble when there are guys on base. That’s when the big swings start and the Sox offense simply can’t afford to fall behind.
Thursday is the gem of the series in terms of pitching matchups. The old, tall, lefty, former White Sox ace Chris Sale returns to face the new lefty pitcher in Payton Tolle. Wouldn’t a matchup with Crochet have been entertaining too? Well, we’re getting Sale vs Tolle which is no slouch either. Sale has 72 Ks in 62 innings. The Sox are lefty heavy and prone to striking out. He was roughed up by the Angels for 6 runs in early April. He’s been dominant in his other 9 starts. Tolle was the tough-luck loser against the Twins after allowing 3 runs in 6.0 innings but turned things over to a bullpen that had a bad weekend. Against Atlanta before that he went 8.0 innings while allowing just 2 runs. Bring it again, Tolle.
Good news/bad news…Drake Baldwin is on the IL but Ronald Acuna Jr. is back.
Matt Olson leads the league in doubles with 17.
Austin Riley has a .673 OPS on the season (I know, would be amazing at third base here) but it’s at .800 in May after a slow April.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, May 26: Spencer Strider (3.00 ERA / 4.70 FIP) vs. Ranger Suarez (2.40 ERA / 2.98 FIP)
Wednesday, May 27: Bryce Elder (1.97 ERA / 3.29 FIP) vs. Connelly Early (3.33 ERA / 4.73FIP)
Thursday, May 28: Chris Sale (1.89 ERA / 2.94 FIP) vs. Payton Tolle (2.93 ERA / 3.73 FIP)
The Cubs are exactly one-third of the way through the 2026 season.
Nine games ago, at 29-16, they had a .644 winning percentage, which would be a 104-win pace for a full season.
Now? After 54 games and on a nine-game losing streak, their 29-25 record is on pace for just 87 wins.
So which is the real Cubs team? We will find out over the next 108 games, of course, but the way this team has won — and lost — is utterly confounding. Two 10-game winning streaks and a nine-game losing streak, all within the season’s first third?
BCB’s JohnW53 noted this after the eighth loss:
The Cubs have tied for the longest losing streak in MLB history by a team that also had multiple double-digit winning streaks. The 1916 Giants won 17, 14 and 12 in a row (the last two separated by a tie) and lost eight. The losing streak came before the winning streaks, making the Giants 1-9. They were 2-13 when they won 17. The two subsequent streaks came in September. They finished 86-66, in fourth place, seven games out of first.
So now the Cubs stand alone in accomplishing that “feat,” something I’m sure no one connected with the team wanted.
This year’s Cubs aren’t alone in franchise history in roaring off to a great start, then posting a long losing streak.
In 1970, the Cubs began 1-3, then won 11 in a row — all but the last one at Wrigley Field, including two consecutive walk-off victories, one over the Phillies, one over the Expos. In that win over Montreal, the Cubs blew a 6-4 ninth-inning lead, using four different pitchers in that inning, and the Expos led 7-6 going to the bottom of the ninth. In that ninth, Willie Smith doubled in Boots Day to tie the game with one out, then the Cubs loaded the bases with two out with walks by Don Kessinger and Billy Williams. Ron Santo then ran the count full and Expos reliever Carroll Sembera walked him, forcing in the winning run.
The Cubs played around .500 ball for the next two months. Even with that, after defeating the Cardinals 8-3 on June 20, 1970 they were 35-25 and led the NL East by 4.5 games. It felt to many of us who lived through it that this version of the Cubs was going to make up for what had happened the previous year.
And then… the Cubs lost 12 in a row. The first seven of those were at home, including being swept in a doubleheader by the Mets. When the streak finally ended, the Cubs were 35-37 and 4.5 games behind.
They managed to pick up the pace — a little. They stayed close to first place much of the summer and on Sept. 13, they trailed the Pirates 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth when, with two out, Smith lofted a routine fly to center — and Matty Alou of the Pirates dropped it. Smith wound up on second, and three straight singles by Kessinger, Glenn Beckert and Williams won the game. The Cubs were 76-69 and one game out of first place. They won the next day, too, and at 77-69 and one game back, hopes were high.
They lost the next two games, but still trailed by only two games with 14 remaining.
1970 was the last year the Chicago Bears played in Wrigley Field. And by a scheduling agreement between the NFL and MLB, the Cubs were forced to play their final 14 games of 1970 on the road. They were a bad road team that year even while going a good 46-34 at home. On that 14-game road trip, though, they won the first three and at 80-71, were 1.5 games back with 11 remaining. Maybe… ?
Nope. The Cubs lost seven of those 11 and finished second, five games behind the Pirates. Apart from the wacky 1973 NL East race, they wouldn’t get that close to first place in September again until 1984.
What happened in 1970? The bullpen fell apart, mostly. The offense was great. Billy Williams hit .322/.391/.586 with a career-high 42 home runs (he’s the only Cubs left-handed hitter to have a 40-homer season) and had the Cubs won the division, he’d likely have been named MVP (he finished second to Johnny Bench). Jim Hickman was fantastic, batting .315/.419/.582 with 32 home runs and finishing eighth in MVP voting. The Cubs scored 806 runs, second-most in the NL; they hadn’t scored over 800 runs since 1937 and wouldn’t again until 1998. The pitching staff overall allowed 679 runs, third-fewest in the league. Their RS/RA projection was for 94 wins, which would have won the division easily.
The bullpen, though, was terrible. Phil Regan, who had started blowing saves near the end of the 1969 season, had 12 saves in 1970 — and nine blown saves. Right there, converting those save opportunities would have been enough to win the division. The team had 17 blown saves and six walk-off losses (all six in mid-June or later), and while the modern concept of “closer” did not exist back then, that was enough to doom the 1970 Cubs, who were probably a better team overall than the 1969 version. Plus, there was no real dominant team in the division — it was there for the taking. The Cubs just didn’t take it.
The Cubs sure could have used Ted Abernathy in 1970, but for some reason Leo Durocher didn’t like Abernathy. He was traded to the Cardinals for no one you’ve ever heard of and later went on to have three good years for the Royals.
A similar collapse happened to the Cubs in 1985 coming off the 1984 division title year. Rick Sutcliffe had been re-signed to a multi-year deal, which at the time made everyone happy. Ryne Sandberg was coming off his MVP season at age 25, and hopes were extremely high.
The Cubs started the year like they were going to repeat. They were 35-19 and led the NL East by four games after defeating the Expos on June 11, and many thought it could be a 100-win season.
And then… the team lost 13 in a row, which matched a franchise record that had been set in 1944 and equaled in 1982. No Cubs team has lost that many in a row in the four decades since. Four of the losses were by one run. After the streak ended the Cubs were 35-32 and 4.5 games behind the Expos, who were then in first place.
Sutcliffe had suffered a hamstring injury running the bases in a win over the Braves May 19. He came back after just a couple of weeks, but his pitching wasn’t quite up to his previous level. Later in the year he would suffer shoulder and groin injuries. It was the shoulder issues that eventually made Sutcliffe less than the pitcher he could have been.
And then the four other regular rotation Cubs starters also went down with injuries. Scott Sanderson, Dennis Eckersley, Steve Trout and Dick Ruthven all missed time with various maladies. No Cubs starter made more than 25 starts in 1985 (Sutcliffe), and so beyond those five, 59 games were started by Ray Fontenot, Lary Sorensen, Jay Baller, Steve Engel, Ron Meridith, Derek Botelho, Reggie Patterson, Johnny Abrego and whatever was left of Larry Gura, who had come up as a Cub in 1970 (of all years!), was later traded away for (again) no one you’ve ever heard of and who had good years for the Royals and Yankees, pitching in the World Series for K.C. in 1980. By ‘85 he was done and posted an 8.41 ERA in five games (four starts) for the Cubs late in the year.
So it was mostly the rotation going down in ‘85 that doomed the Cubs. They managed to stay marginally in the NL East race until Aug. 2, when a 5-4 win over the Mets made them 54-47 and had them 7.5 games out of first place. Then they lost seven straight and 12 of 14 and that, basically, was that. The Cubs offense did okay in ‘85, finishing fourth in the NL with 686 runs (in a lower-offense environment than 1970), but the pitching was horrific, giving up 729 runs. Only the 96-loss Braves (781 runs) allowed more.
Here are some video highlights from 1985, the title obviously referring to all the injuries:
There are, as you can see, some similarities between what happened in 1985 and what’s happening in 2026, with Cubs starters going down one after another. Only Jameson Taillon and Shōta Imanaga have not yet missed a start this year (and let’s hope they don’t!). The difference now is that the Cubs have better fill-in guys than the 1985 crew I listed above. and hopefully Matthew Boyd will return healthy, soon.
This year’s Cubs also have the advantage of multiple wild-card spots they could qualify for if they don’t win the NL Central, something that was not available in 1970 or 1985. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.
There are 108 games remaining. It would be good to end the nine-game losing streak… today.
The Dodgers opened the series with the Rockies with a 5-3 win as Freddie Freeman helped spark a four-run seventh inning on Monday. Los Angeles has won three straight and five out of the past six.
Colorado on the other hand are on a three-game losing streak and dropped six out of the previous seven. In the last week, Colorado is hitting .222 (18th) and has two home runs (last). The pitching staff hasn't performed well either with a 4.62 ERA in that span, plus a last place ranking over the last 14 days with a 5.44 ERA (10 games).
Los Angeles is 3-2 versus Colorado this season and won two straight. The Dodgers' pitching staff has an elite 2.11 ERA over the last 13 games (1st) and an MLB-best 0.94 WHIP and .187 OBA. In that stretch, the Dodgers have a 10-3 record.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Rockies at Dodgers
Date: Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Time: 10:10 PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
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Odds for the Rockies at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Tuesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-239), Colorado Rockies (+194)
Spread: Rockies +1.5 (-108), Dodgers -1.5 (-111)
Total: 9.0
Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Dodgers
Tuesday's pitching matchup (May 26): Eric Lauer vs. Kyle Freeland
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .273 with 51 hits and 89 total bases over 187 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Will Smith is hitting .242 with 36 hits and 28 strikeouts over 149 at-bats
The Rockies’ Troy Johnston is hitting .323 with 52 hits and 71 total bases over 161 at-bats
The Rockies’ Ezequiel Tovar is hitting .217 with 39 hits and 50 strikeouts over 180 at-bats
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Dodgers
The Dodgers are 28-26 ATS and 11-15 ATS at home
The Rockies are 29-26 ATS and 16-14 ATS on the road
The Dodgers are 31-23 to the Under, ranking third-best
The Rockies are 30-24 to the Under, ranking seventh-best
The Dodgers are 16-10 to the Under at home, ranking fourth
The Rockies are 17-13 to the Under on the road
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Dodgers
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 Tuesday's game between the Rockies and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Over on the Game Total of 9.0
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May 23, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Jarred Kelenic (24) hits a double against the San Francisco Giants during the fifth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Good morning and happy Monday everybody! Sorry about the late links! Traffic, am I right?
The Mariners offense took advantage of windy conditions in Sacramento while the piggyback tandem of Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller stifled the A’s offense to cruise to a comfortable 9-2 win. The squad will look to secure a series win behind Emerson Hancock tonight at 6:40!
In Mariners news…
The Mariners may have won a nice and easy one last night, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t bumps in the road. Luis Castillo started the game and pitched four innings allowing two hits and no runs. Upon learning that he was being lifted to get Bryce Miller into the game for his leg of the piggyback start, Castillo was visibly upset.
Another look at Luis Castillo after learning that his night was done.
Can’t recall ever seeing this kind of frustration in his nearly four years with the Mariners.
"We knew that was part of the plan, and you've got to respect what his decision was." pic.twitter.com/goDRAmc262
Bryce Miller said in a post game interview that he finds the whole situation to be “not very comfortable.” Miller went on to say that he’s grateful for any chance he gets to pitch, but it seems clear that the team’s solution to too many good pitchers, however logical it might be, is having some dire human consequences.
Around the league…
Three Houston Astros pitchers, led by Tatsuya Imai, combined to no-hit the Texas Rangers in Arlington last night. Imai started with six innings, allowing four walks before Steven Okert came in and pitched the seventh, allowing a walk. Alimber Santa pitched the last two innings to close out the effort, securing a pretty unethical looking 9IP, 0H, 0R, 5BB, 4K line.
Part of me wants to say it’s time for Craig Kimbrel to hang it up, but gosh darn it if the man doesn’t keep finding work! Aging or not, something about Kimbrel ending up in the Rays pitching lab terrifies me.
The Chicago White Sox designated outfielder Jarred Kelenic for assignment yesterday, becoming the third team to cut bait with him since his debut. Kelenic is rapidly running out of options in the big leagues, but as a loud and out Jarred Kelenic supporter, I do truly hope he manages to land on his feet with another team, Although, I have a sneaking suspicion there’s only one team left that might try it, and I don’t like the sound of “Jarred Kelenic, Los Angeles Angel,” all that much.
The Kansas City Royals are shutting down Cole Ragans rehab assignment for a few days. Ragans is working back from a left elbow impingement and had a good outing in Triple-A Omaha over the weekend, but didn’t feel right in the days following.
Byron Buxton
Kyle Schwarber
Munetaka Murakami
