Category: Baseball

Houston Astros @ Texas Rangers

Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 7:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

The Shed

RHP Mike Burrows vs. RHP Jacob deGrom

Go Rangers!

The Cincinnati Reds have brooms on their mind tonight in Queens, as they’ve already taken the first two games of the three game series against the New York Mets on the road in Citi Field. Now, they’ll send Andrew Abbott to the mound in the best form of his season to help make it happen.

Dating back to April 30th, Abbott has fired 28.0 IP across 5 starts, yielding just 3 ER in the process (good for a 1.29 ERA). He’s out-pitching his peripherals – something he’d done repeatedly over the last two excellent seasons – and is once again making it known that his approach to inducing weak contact might actually be a path to success given his left-handed arsenal.

Huascar Brazoban is who stands in the way of the red-hot Reds offense, at least to begin things. He’s a reliever by trade, so we’ll maybe see just a pair of innings from him before the Mets lean deeper into their bullpen.

First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET. Lineups for both clubs are listed below!

The Cincinnati Reds, ranked third in the NL Central with a 29-25 record, face the New York Mets, who are fifth in the NL East with a 22-33 record. The New York Mets are favored with a -120 moneyline compared to the Cincinnati Reds' +100. Starting pitchers are Andrew Abbott for Cincinnati, with a 3.97 ERA, and Huascar Brazobán for New York, with a 1.73 ERA.

How to watch Cincinnati Reds vs. New York Mets

• Date: Wednesday, May 27

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET / 4:10 p.m. PT

• Where: Citi Field, Flushing, Queens, NY

• TV Channels: SNY, Reds.TV

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Cincinnati Reds: 29-25 (No. 3 in NL Central)

• New York Mets: 22-33 (No. 5 in NL East)

Odds

• Spread: New York Mets +1.5

• Moneyline: New York Mets -120 (52.2%) / Cincinnati Reds +100 (47.8%)

• Over/Under: 8.0

Starting pitchers

Cincinnati Reds: Andrew Abbott (4-2, ERA: 3.97, K: 38, WHIP: 1.46)
New York Mets: Huascar Brazobán (3-1, ERA: 1.73, K: 19, WHIP: 0.92)

Weather: 81°F at first pitch

Ballpark: Capacity: 42,136 | Roof: Open | Surface: Grass

Andrew McCutchen is out of a job. 

The five-time All-Star was designated for assignment by the Rangers on Wednesday to open up a roster spot for free agent infielder Nicky Lopez. 

After getting nine hits in 21 at-bats, including a home run and three doubles, during a brief spring appearance, McCutchen, 39, made Texas’ Opening Day roster after signing a minor league deal in March. 

He was plugged into the Rangers’ lineup as their designated hitter on Opening Day.

McCutchen, who won the 2013 National League MVP with the Pirates, has struggled in two months since then, hitting just .192 with one home run in 92 plate appearances. 

He’s been even worse of late, getting just two hits in his last 22 at-bats dating back to May 7. 

McCutchen will now hit the waiver wire, where another team could take a flier on the veteran bat.

If he clears waivers, the Rangers could attempt to keep him in the organization, although McCutchen will likely look elsewhere for a big-league role.

McCutchen’s possible end in Texas comes after he was spurned by Pittsburgh, the franchise that drafted him No. 11 overall all the way back in 2005, over the offseason. 

After spending his first nine MLB seasons with the franchise, McCutchen returned to the Pirates ahead of the 2023 season. 

Despite maintaining that he wanted to come back in 2026, the Pirates looked elsewhere, bringing in veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna and first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. 

McCutchen would later voice his displeasure at not being invited to the Pirates’ annual preseason fan fest in January.

If this is it for McCutchen, he would finish his career hitting .271/.364/.455 with 333 home runs and 220 stolen bases. 

After blowing a lead in the ninth on Monday and a drubbing last night, the Royals once again find themselves on the verge of a sweep at the hands of the Yankees. Kansas City has not been able to rebound from a slow start and now has too many pitching injuries. At least today they have someone they planned to have starting games for them this season to begin with. Can the Royals win one against the Yankees? Can they blow it again? Does it even matter at this point? Find out tonight!

It does look like a lopsided pitching matchup with Gerrit Cole vs. Noah Cameron. However, Cole has not rebounded to his Cy Young levels since returning from Tommy John last season. This will be his second start of 2026 and in the first one he was able to limit hits but did not get much swing and miss while walking more than you would like. For his part, Cameron got off to a rocky start this spring and has two consecutive quality starts with the last one being an impressive outing.

It is a very standard lineup from KC today with Jensen behind the dish:

Detroit Tigers (21-34) vs. Los Angeles Angels (21-34)

Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Halos Heaven
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Casey Mize (2-3, 2.47 ERA) vs. RHP José Soriano (6-3, 2.44 ERA)

Player	G	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	FIP	fWAR
Mize	8	43.2	25.1	6.4	34.8	2.52	1.5
Soriano	11	66.1	27.9	10.2	51.9	3.09	1.6

Labor negotiations are underway between Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association.

And already, the Dodgers are getting caught up in the middle of the mayhem.

With the league’s current collective bargaining agreement set to expire Dec. 1 of this year, the MLBPA made an opening proposal to the league on Wednesday, in the first big step of new CBA negotiations.

In it, the MLBPA proposed the institution of a “competitive integrity tax” that would penalize lower-spending teams that don’t clear a $150 million payroll threshold. The MLBPA’s proposal also included raising the threshold at which bigger-spending teams are charged competitive balance taxes –– aka, luxury taxes –– from $244 million this year up to $300 million next season.

That, unsurprisingly, is where the Dodgers came in.

In a statement released to multiple outlets from MLB, the league pointed to the two-time defending champions to counter the MLBPA’s tax-related suggestions:

“The MLBPA’s proposal would reduce the amount [of money] transferred to lower-revenue Clubs, weaken the Competitive Balance Tax, and lead to even more payroll disparity than exists today. For example, under the Union’s proposal, the Dodgers would pay less in luxury tax payments, giving them an additional $70 million to spend on payroll.”

That the Dodgers have become a political football in what are expected to be heated CBA talks is not surprising.

In the last two years, their on-field success and unprecedented roster spending have raised concerns about MLB’s competitive balance and financial parity.

Last year, the team set a new MLB record with a $415 million luxury-tax payroll. This season, they are projected to top that total with $419.6 million currently on the books, according to Cots Baseball Contracts.

For reference: The Marlins have a league-low projected luxury-tax payroll this year of just $82 million –– less than one-fifth the Dodgers’ unprecedented amount.

“We appreciate the union making a set of proposals and we look forward to continuing the bargaining process and working towards solving the competitive balance problem our fans are telling us needs to be addressed,” the league’s statement said. “We understand their proposals are designed to benefit players. Unfortunately, they do not address and in fact exacerbate the competitive balance problem our fans are telling us we must address.”

There has been much speculation that the league will push for a strict salary cap in the new CBA –– as opposed to the soft cap currently in place that allows teams like the Dodgers to spend as much as they want, so long as they pay taxes on every dollar spent over the CBT threshold.

The expectation is that talks will be contentious and that the league will lock players out when the CBA expires at the start of December, potentially putting the start of next year under threat.

The Dodgers, because of their gaudy (albeit legal) spending and rise to dynasty status over the last half-decade, figure to loom large throughout the process.

One proposal in, they are already being invoked in negotiations.

Braves go for another series win in a rematch of pitchers-and-teams-they-faced-two-weekends-ago (but not the same pitching matchup as in any of those games).

Go Rays!

Mets lineup

Carson Benge – RF
Bo Bichette – SS
Juan Soto – LF
Mark Vientos – 1B
Marcus Semien – 2B
A.J. Ewing – CF
Eric Wagaman – DH
Brett Baty – 3B
Luis Torrens – C

SP: Huascar Brazobán (RHP), followed by Jonah Tong (RHP)

Reds lineup

Blake Dunn – RF
Elly De La Cruz – SS
JJ Bleday – LF
Sal Stewart – 3B
Eugenio Suarez – DH
Nathaniel Lowe – 1B
Spencer Steer – 2B
Tyler Stephenson – C
TJ Friedl – CF

SP: Andrew Abbott (LHP)

Broadcast info

First pitch: 7:10 PM EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

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Where to watch: MASN/MASN+, FS1 (National)

Probable pitchers: RHP Trey Gibson (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 4 K) vs. LHP Steven Matz (4-1, 3.70 ERA, 33 K)

The Orioles haven’t had a lot of opportunities for statement wins in 2026. And yet, after a dramatic, extra-inning walk-off winner on Monday, and a well-rounded victory yesterday, tonight is a chance for such a statement. Tonight the O’s go for the sweep against the best team in the American League. 

Heading into this series, the Orioles were trying to shake the stench of disappointment that has clung to them throughout the 2026 season. A series win over an equally disappointing Tigers team was a nice break from demoralizing series losses to Washington and Tampa Bay. And yet, the O’s still came into this series against the AL-leading Rays seven games under .500 and seemingly far off the postseason pace they hoped to set at the beginning of the season. 

While Baltimore will still be below .500 if they complete the sweep tonight, doing so would be the best sign the Orioles have shown all season that this team is, in fact, better than last year’s immensely underwhelming squad. The O’s already secured only their second series win against a team above .500 with last night’s 6-1 victory over Tampa. A win tonight would give them their first sweep over a good team and only their third three-game winning streak of 2026. 

Attempting to lead the O’s to that statement-making victory is rookie Trey Gibson. Similar to rookies like Cade Povich and Brandon Young in 2024 and 2025, Gibson has been thrust into a rotation spot more out of necessity than overwhelming readiness. In his first career start in Yankee Stadium, he made it through 4.2 IP, putting together a line of 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 HR and 2 K. His only other appearance came in relief, pitching the final two innings of a 4-3 loss to the Athletics while allowing one run. 

With his sinker and slider, Gibson has shown flashes of having two pitches that he can use to attack major league hitters. He may have to reach deeper into his arsenal tonight, however.  Rays stars Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz all crush sinkers and the latter two also hit well against sliders. 

Opposing Gibson is veteran left-hander Steven Matz. The almost 35-year-old is enjoying a strong start to his first season in Tampa, allowing 2 or fewer earned runs in six of his eight starts this season. Baltimore has struggled against southpaws this season, ranking 25th against LHPs with a .215 average and 24th with a .347 slugging percentage. 

After pitching four innings of one-run ball a week ago against the O’s, Matz has a 3.76 ERA and .248 BAA vs. Baltimore. That record is noticeably worse at Camden Yards, where Matz has a 5.02 ERA and .271 BAA in five appearances. Newest Orioles Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward both have good track records against Matz, as Ward is 1-for-3 with a three-run HR and Alonso is 3-for-8 with a homer and three RBIs. 

Orioles Lineup

1. Taylor Ward (R) LF
2. Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
3. Adley Rutschman (S) C
4. Pete Alonso (R) 1B
5. Coby Mayo (R) DH
6. Leody Taveras (S) CF
7. Tyler O’Neill (R) RF
8. Blaze Alexander (R) 3B
9. Jeremiah Jackson (R) 2B

Rays Lineup

1. Chandler Simpson (L) LF
2. Junior Caminero (R) 3B
3. Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B
4. Yandy Díaz (R) DH
5. Richie Palacios (L) 2B
6. Ryan Vilade (R) RF
7. Cedric Mullins (L) CF
8. Carson Williams (R) SS
9. Hunter Feduccia (L) C

Hoping to avoid a sweep at the hands of American League West Rival Seattle Mariners, the A’s took the field today at Sutter Health Park for game three of the three game set. Taking the mound today for the A’s was Jeffrey Springs, who faced off against Logan Gilbert for the Mariners.

Springs had a questionable start, giving up a hit, and error and a bomb in the first. Before the A’s came to bat, they were behind 3-0.

Springs seemed to settle down until the top of the fourth when he gave up a two out single and then a walk. Then Colt Emerson tripled, driving in Cole Young and Jhonny Pereda. That brought the score to 5-0.

Zack Gelof’s one out double in the bottom of the fifth inning was the first extra-base hit of the game for the A’s. Carlos Cortes walked with two outs. But a Nick Kurtz fly out ended the inning with Gelof and Cortes stranded.

Joel Kuhnel replaced Jeffrey Springs in the top of the sixth.  Springs final line was five innings and two earned runs on six hits and just one walk. He struck out seven. Cole Young greeted Kuhnel with a one out base hit. Johnny Pereda walked moving Young to second. Colt Emerson grounded into what looked to be a double play, but a throwing error by Darrel Hernaiz allowed Young to score. That increased the Mariners lead to 6-0.

Tyler Soderstrom doubled with one out off Logan Gilbert who remained in the game to pitch the sixth. But Henry Bolte grounded out to end the inning. Luis Medina replaced Joel Kuhnel in the seventh and gave up a single but that was all. Medina continued to pitch the seventh but gave up a walk to Cole Young and a base hit to Pereda. Julio Rodríguez worked a full count with two outs and then homered to left center field. Cole Young and Colt Emerson scored increasing the M’s lead to 9-0 headed into the bottom of the eighth. The A’s went down quietly in the eighth.

José Suarez replaced Luis Medina in the top of the ninth. Naylor greeted him with a base hit to right field. With one out Victor Robles singled. But Suarez stiffened and shut them down without scoring.

The A’s momentarily came to life in the bottom of the ninth again today. Jonah Heim walked and Henry Bolt singled. Jeff McNeil grounded into a double play, scoring Heim. Zack Gelof singled, but Darrel Hernaiz grounded into a force to end the game.

The loss drops the A’s out of first place for the first time since April. They’ll need to right the ship or the season could sail away.

Mariners 9, Athletics 1

Ice cream on a sunny day: Logan Gilbert, +0.22 WPA

Razor scooters or baseball helmets to the shin: Julio Rodríguez, -0.06 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day:

The Texas Rangers designated Andrew McCutchen Wednesday, and it could be the last roster move of the former MVP’s career.

McCutchen, 39, batted .192 with one home run and five RBI in 83 plate appearances over 37 games for Texas. He was 2-for-18 as a pinch hitter.

The Rangers signed him as a minor league free agent in March, added him to the opening day roster and now have seven days to trade, release or outright him to the minors.

Finding another big-league job at 39 with a .192 average won’t be easy.

McCutchen is one of the more decorated players of his generation.

The five-time All-Star won the National League MVP in 2013 and the Roberto Clemente Award in 2015, spending nine seasons in Pittsburgh before the Pirates traded him to the San Francisco Giants in 2017.

He went back to PNC Park for three more seasons from 2023-25 before signing with Texas this spring. Over 18 major league seasons, he hit .272 with 333 home runs and 1,156 RBI.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Andrew McCutchen DFA'd by Rangers: What's next for former MVP