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Recapping a totally insane week of Phillies baseball

Jun 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) is congratulated by designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) after the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images

It is very likely that, for the rest of your life, no matter how long you may live, you will never see a week of Phillies baseball like the one you witnessed over the last seven days.

There was a cycle. A three-home run game. Three legendary comebacks never before pulled off in the history of the sport.

Were these things to happen during an entire season, it would be a curiosity. For them all to happen in the same week?

Bonkers.

Let’s recap a memory-making week by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Saturday, June 20: Phillies 15, Mets 3

Back in early May, the idea of the Phillies scoring 15 runs in a week, let alone a single game, seemed ludicrous.

But the offense has been much better since the start of June. Their 129 runs scored entering this weekend’s series against in New York, are tied for 2nd-most in MLB. Their 35 home runs are tied for 4th, their .266 batting average is tied for 6th, and their .787 OPS is 8th.

However, the Phils are suddenly excelling in an area that has historically been their biggest bugaboo — hitting with runners in scoring position. In June, their .337 average and 1.030 OPS are 1st in baseball. They’ve hit 10 homers with RISP, which is tied for 3rd.

And while most of that damage wasn’t necessarily done last Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, a healthy chunk of it was.

Kyle Schwarber hit three home runs, including two in the same inning, both of which went 450+ feet.

It was the fifth time in his career he’s hit at least three dingers in a game, tied for the 2nd-most games with at least three bombs in MLB history.

If that had been the only storyline, that would have been enough. But, oh no, there was more.

Bryce Harper also made history by becoming the 11th player in Phillies history to hit for the cycle.

Oh, and he had it all wrapped up by the end of the 5th inning.

How often does a player hit for the cycle and his teammate hit three blasts in the same game? Not too often!

It was one of those games that 200,000 people will say they attended over the course of their lives. A generational game.

Sunday, June 21: Phillies 6, Dodgers 2

There’s always a little juice when your team is playing on Sunday Night Baseball, especially at Citizens Bank Park.

Zack Wheeler continued his remarkable recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome with a stellar start against the flailing Mets: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K. His ERA fell to 2.11.

Harper, swinging the same 35-ounce bat that helped him slug for the cycle the night before, piled up three more hits, including another homer, and finished a triple shy of a second straight cycle.

How often has a player hit for the cycle and then come within one hit of a second straight cycle the following game? Not often!

Oh, and Schwarber went deep again, his league-leading 29th of the season.

Things haven’t even begun to get weird yet.

Monday, June 22: Nationals 4, Phillies 1

There wasn’t much to write home about in this “scheduled” loss, as the Phils started lefty reliever Tim Mayza and followed up with new No. 5 starter Alan Rangel.

Rangel was actually pretty good: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 Ks. You’ll take that every time.

Brandon Marsh hit a solo home run, a portent of more to come in what would be a ridiculous series for the Phils’ outfielder.

Let’s just consider this game the “eye” of the storm.

Tuesday, June 23: Phillies 14, Nationals 9

In what will likely go down as their craziest win of the season, the Phils fell behind 5-0 after Jesus Luzardo got dinked and dunked in the early innings. Although he compiled 13 strikeouts and didn’t give up an extra base hit, he did allow five runs in his first four innings.

But the Phillies started to chip away.

Edmundo Sosa, inserted into the DH spot minutes before first pitch after Schwarber announced he was dealing with lower back stiffness, hit a two-run shot in the 5th to get the Phillies on the board. He followed that up with an RBI fielder’s choice in the 7th to make it 5-3.

In the 8th, J.T. Realmuto, who was hitting just above .200 when he came to the plate, smacked a liner to right field with the bases loaded.

Wood came as close to catching that ball as a human can without actually catching it, didn’t he? Suddenly, the Phils had a 6-5 lead. It felt like it was going to be a garden variety late-game comeback victory!

But Nats second baseman Jorbit Vivas shocked Orion Kerkering with a three-run blast just moments later to suddenly put the Nationals back on top 8-6.

In the 9th, the Sosa and Justin Crawford both struck out. With two outs and no one on, Trea Turner was down to his final strike before lining a single to left-center field. Then, Brandon Marsh shocked the world.

A shell-shocked Brad Lord then completely fell apart. Two more Phils reached base before Bryson Stott blew everyone’s mind with this three-run blast that somehow stayed inside the right field foul pole.

The Phillies still were not done. In all, the Phils would score 8 runs in the 9th inning, and it all started with no one on base, two outs, and two strikes on Turner.

Oh, but the Phillies were not done.

Wednesday, June 24: Phillies 5, Nationals 4

You never seek a folk hero coming.

Matt Stairs became a Phillies legend because no one in their right minds every would have thought he would author one of the biggest postseason home runs in franchise history.

While newly acquired outfielder Derek Hill clearly hasn’t reached that level of notoriety, his heroics in the 9th inning of Wednesday night’s game at the very least earned him a prominent spot in the team’s video yearbook.

Trailing 4-3 in the 9th inning, the first two batters to come to the plate failed to reach base. Schwarber, who did not start for the second straight game due to his stiff back, felt well enough to pinch hit in the 9th and worked a 9-pitch walk to put the tying run on first.

Hill had not made much of an impression in his four weeks with the team, good or bad. But once again, down to their final out, a Phillie hit a go-ahead home run in the 9th inning, this time an improbable opposite-field dinger off the bat of Hill.

How unusual is it for a team to start a 9th inning trailing, have their first two hitters make outs and come within one strike of losing and still win the game? Glad you asked.

And yet… there would be more.

Thursday, June 25: Phillies 10, Nationals 5

For the second time in this four-game series, the Phils trailed the Nationals 5-0, this time after the third inning. Cristopher Sanchez uncharacteristically just didn’t have it at the start of this one, and it felt like the Nats were finally going to pull out a victory.

Honestly, they should have been on the verge of a four-game sweep. Unfortunately, bullpens are still a real and important need for every baseball team, and they don’t have one.

Once again, the Phils started chipping away. Marsh hit another homer, this time a two-run shot in the 6th to make it 5-2. The Nats’ ‘pen melted down in the 7th, walking in two runs and allowing the Phils to tie the score 5-5.

Enter, the 9th inning. No, the Phillies weren’t trailing this time, nor were they down to their final strike. Instead, the former National, Harper, who had been listening to taunts from fans all game, stamped an exclamation point on this improbable week of baseball.

The Phils tacked on three more runs for insurance, including another home run by Hill, his second in as many nights.

It’s hard to believe. Three straight games. Three straight 9th inning, go-ahead home runs by the Phillies.

Had this every been done before? You already know the answer, don’t you?

In all, this will go down as one of the most bonkers series in franchise history.

The Phils enter their weekend series against a Mets team that fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday trailing the Atlanta Braves by just four games in the NL East.

What an insanely fun week, the likes of which we will never see again.

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Hello old friend; Dodgers visit Walker Buehler’s Padres

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 14: Walker Buehler #10 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 14, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

An old friend’s making good in a division rival is usually the start of a tenuous relationship, but especially given the sizeable gap between the Dodgers and Padres, and more importantly, all that Walker Buehler did for the Dodgers, one can’t help but feel glad, even excited, for Walker Buehler’s 2026 rebound campaign. The right-hander who’ll face his former club for the second time in his career is simply not the pitcher he once was, which hasn’t stopped him from being damn near one of the more consistent starters for the Padres this season—that probably tells you a lot about why they haven’t been able to keep pace in the race for the NL West.

Buehler’s 3.28 FIP is the best mark among Padres’ starters this season, a result of keeping the ball in the park. Through his last six starts, Buehler has allowed just one home run, and if we take the Dodgers’ starter on this Friday night matchup, for instance, Rok Saaki has an HR/9 of 1.7, which is more than double that of Buehler’s (0.6). Any assessment of Sasaki has to take into account the ups and downs of his 2026 campaign, although that particular difference is the reason Sasaki has been more heavily punished in his worst outings than Buehler.

Focusing on Sasaki, the young right-hander has another crack at carrying the improvements he’s shown at home on the road this season. As evidenced by his last start away from Dodger Stadium, allowing seven earned runs against the White Sox, Sasaki has been lit up on the road this season, owning a 6.19 ERA across 32 innings.

Friday’s game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Padres
  • Ballpark: Petco Park, San Diego
  • Start time: 6:45 p.m. PT
  • TV: Apple TV
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Angels fans finally win something in hilarious new national ranking

Angels fans are no strangers to needing to drown their sorrows.

The team finds itself in the AL West basement at 34-48 heading into Friday’s home game against the Athletics.

This franchise has spent a lot of time looking up at its AL West opponents during the past few decades, so this is a familiar feeling for the Angels’ faithful.

Mike Trout has been having a solid season for the Angels, but the team is mired in last place. Getty Images

And it appears that this persistent mediocrity has driven Angels fans to alcohol more than nearly any other MLB franchise. Action Network analyzed a survey from nearly 3,500 U.S. MLB fans to find out which fan bases drink the most before and during games, and Angels fans had the third-highest heavy in-game drinking rate in MLB.

The survey found that 15.8% of Angels fans consume five or more drinks during a game, behind only White Sox fans (18.5%) and Nationals fans (16%).

Angels fans have not had much to celebrate this season. AP Photo/William Liang

Angels fans also average 2.3 drinks per game, third most in MLB, and 71% of Angels fans have at least one drink while at their games.

It isn’t just alcohol that Angels fans are indulging in during games. The study found that they consume 1.7 hot dogs per game, tied for third most.

And Angels fans are known to be prolific pre-gamers. The 1.5 drinks they consume before games begin is tied for second most in MLB, and the study found that 45% of fans have at least one drink before games. The study reported 11.10% of fans have at least five drinks before first pitch.

Perhaps the Angels will turn things around this season, and fans are drinking to celebrate rather than to commiserate. Perhaps not.

Trout has given Angels fans something to cheer about this season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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Series Preview: Mariners at Guardians

CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 30: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians scores on a single hit by Bo Naylor during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field on August 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Two teams hanging around .500 and the top of their respective divisions meet at Progressive Field tonight.

The Mariners are 41-41 with a +4 run differential, 16th in wRC+ at 101, 26th in Baserunning runs above average at -3.7, last in Defense at -31.4, sixth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.78 (3.56 FIP) and eighth in bullpen ERA at 3.59 (3.54 FIP).

The Guardians are 42-39 with -8 run differential, 24th in wRC+ at 92, 14th in baserunning runs above average at 1, 11th in Defense at -5, fifth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.73 (4.07 FIP) and 14th in bullpen ERA at 3.88 (3.82 FIP).

Put the ball in play! That’s my advice.

MATCHUPS:

Game One, Friday 7:10PM ET Luis Castillo, RHP 5.22 ERA vs. Joey Cantillo, LHP 4.05 ERA

Game Two, Saturday 7:10PM ET Logan Gilbert, RHP 3.29 ERA vs. Slade Cecconi, RHP 4.48 ERA

Game Three, Sunday, 1:40PM ET George Kirby, RHP 3.94 ERA vs. Gavin Williams, RHP 3.82 ERA

Watch out for Dominic Canzone 154 wRC+, Randy Arozarena 134 wRC+, Luke Raley 122 wRC+ and J.P. Crawford 115 wRC+ from the Mariners.

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The Yankees’ bullpen isn’t elite, but it’s solid

Jun 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

It’s approaching the halfway point of the season, and we have a pretty good idea of who these Yankees are. Their starting rotation is a top-five group in Major League Baseball, possessing both elite talent at the front and enviable depth at the back. The offense is a bit more top-heavy, but still plenty powerful, and the fact that they’ve managed to stay afloat despite missing Aaron Judge says plenty about the overall quality of the lineup. Comparatively speaking, it’s clear that the bullpen is the weakest link on the team.

However, when you step back and compare them with other bullpens around the league, the Yankees’ relief corps haven’t been all that bad. Through Tuesday’s action, they own a collective 3.39 ERA, the fifth-best mark in the majors. That ERA isn’t all smoke and mirrors, either, as their 3.69 FIP places them eighth in MLB. By fWAR they slip to ninth, but that’s mostly due to their low innings total, which is in turn a byproduct of the starting pitching holding up their end of the bargain. Just looking at the stats, it could be argued that the Yankees have a top-10 bullpen.

Reader, I know you put your phone down just now. How could this Yankees bullpen, who makes your blood boil and your stomach churn on a near-nightly basis, be a top-10 unit? Believe me, I know how you feel. This bullpen doesn’t inspire me with confidence, either. But that doesn’t mean we should dismiss data pointing to the contrary. In fact, a closer look reveals that two things can be true at the same time: There are concrete reasons why this bullpen doesn’t feel dominant, but at the same time, they do enough things well to be effective.

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First, about the optics of this bullpen. My hypothesis is that it feels unreliable mainly because they lack strikeouts. Their K rate is a lackluster 22.5 percent, 15th out of 30 teams, and basically the same as the league average for relief pitchers (22.4 percent). Fernando Cruz leads the team with a 30.2-percent strikeout rate, which is certainly a robust mark; however, it’s only the 18th-best figure in MLB this year. No other Yankees reliever sniffs the top 30. There’s no sugarcoating it; this bullpen is pedestrian at generating strikeouts.

I can’t speak for everyone, for me, the less punchout-heavy a bullpen is, the more stressful the watching experience becomes. This isn’t to say that it’s always fun to watch high-strikeout relievers–most of them have a tendency to lose the zone and start walking dudes by the dozen–but there’s a certain reassurance that comes with knowing that the guy on the mound has a 40-percent chance of striking out any given batter. No contact, nothing left up to the vagaries of the BABIP gods, just pure outs. The Yankees, as currently constructed, don’t have a single guy like that. No wonder they feel a little shaky.

Fortunately, the bullpen does enough things well to make up for their lack of strikeouts. They don’t walk guys; their 8.8-percent walk rate is sixth-best in the majors. They manage contact well; their 18.4-percent soft contact rate ranks third, and their 28.3-percent hard contact rate is the best in MLB. They keep the ball in the yard; their HR/9 is a stingy 0.85, fourth-best among all teams. Put that all together, and you have a highly effective unit that succeeds without a ton of strikeouts.

This doesn’t mean that Brian Cashman should forgo upgrading the bullpen at the Trade Deadline. It’s not an especially deep group, as new additions Camilo Doval and Jake Bird have struggled, and Tim Hill appears to have lost his magic. Paul Blackburn has had his moments here and there, but his track record only inspires so much confidence and it’s telling only long man Ryan Yarbrough has a lower Leverage Index among the regular relievers than Blackburn. Right now, I count three relievers who are firmly within the Circle of Trust: David Bednar, Brent Headrick, and Fernando Cruz. With Bednar firmly entrenched in the closer role, that leaves Aaron Boone with just two reliable options to turn to in the middle-to-late innings. Adding a high-strikeout fireman would do wonders for this bullpen (and my blood pressure).

That being said, it’s important to recognize the solid work that the existing group has put in so far. Though they may not seem like it, or be easy to watch, this Yankees bullpen has been quite effective. The fact that they’re still the weakest link on this team doesn’t reflect poorly on their performance; it just goes to show you how good this team is.

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Carlos Mendoza thanks Mets, fans in statement following departure as manager

The Mets' disastrous first-half of the season finally reached it's tipping point on Friday morning, as the team announced that they've fired manager Carlos Mendoza.  

Mendoza was in the midst of his third year at the helm in Queens. 

Behind an absolutely magical turnaround, he led them to an 89-73 finish and an NLCS appearance as a rookie manager during the 2024 season. 

But Mendoza Mets would miss the postseason after a second-half collapse last year, and that disappointment carried over to this season after a winter of wholesale changes. 

New York holds a 34-47 record following their ugly four-game series sweep at the hands of the Cubs. 

Though things didn't end as Mendoza or the Mets hoped, the skipper penned a statement on Friday afternoon thanking Steve and Alex Cohen, David Stearns, Mets fans, and everyone throughout the organization. 

"New York will always hold a special place in my heart," he wrote. "I leave with tremendous gratitude, pride in what we accomplished together, and confidence that the future of this organization is bright. I wish the Mets and their fans nothing but success in the years ahead." 

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A look at the 2026 Cubs at the season’s halfway mark

Let’s look at the season this way for a moment.

If, on Opening Day, I had told you the Cubs would be 44-37 after 81 games, you’d have probably been a bit disappointed. That’s an 88-win pace, which is good, but fewer wins than last year and probably not enough to win the NL Central.

The thing is, I think a lot of Cubs fans are hugely disappointed in the team right now. They’ve generated enough offense, I’d think, to win more games than that. They currently rank sixth in MLB in runs with 399 (and they’re only 10 runs behind the third-ranked Pirates). That’s just less than five runs per game. Generally, if you can score around 800 runs in a season, you’re going to win 90+ games.

Except if the pitching staff isn’t doing its job, you’re not. And this pitching staff has been riddled with injuries. I don’t need to recount all of those to you, you are quite familiar with them. And right now, the team has allowed 362 runs, which ranks 16th, exactly league average. What’s worse, though, is that they have served up 123 home runs, most in MLB. The A’s are second at 120, and as you know, they play in a minor-league park that’s known for long balls.

The weirdest part about this very odd Cubs season is how they got to 44-37.

First 16 games: 7-9, 73 runs scored, 69 allowed
Next 23 games: 20-3, 142 runs scored, 90 allowed
Next 29 games: 7-22, 93 runs scored, 151 allowed
Next 13 games: 10-3, 91 runs scored, 52 allowed

That is…

I mean, what team does that in half of a single season? That’s a .500 club for a couple of weeks, the best team in baseball for three weeks, the worst team in baseball for four weeks, and the best team again for two weeks.

Hitting? Pitching? As you can see, it’s both. During the 20-3 streak, the team averaged more than six runs a game and allowed fewer than four. Then they spent nearly a month scoring only a bit more than three per game (and scored 1 run or fewer nine times), but also allowed 5.2 per game.

In the current 13-game stretch, they’re back to pounding the ball — seven runs scored per game — and also have had solid pitching, allowing four per game.

Where does this team go from here?

Acquiring David Peterson will help. As has been written elsewhere, he’s an extreme ground ball pitcher who will be helped by the Cubs’ elite infield defense. We just spent four days watching how bad the Mets infield defense is (and that’s not a one-year problem, either).

But clearly, the team needs another starting pitcher, too. Today we stand 38 days from the trade deadline. The Mets, incidentally, should be one of the teams selling, and Freddy Peralta pitched well enough Thursday (and for most of the season) that he should be a Cubs trade target. Peralta, too, would be helped by the Cubs defense. There are other pitchers out there that I’m sure Jed Hoyer & Co. are targeting.

They could use some relief help, too. If I’m Hoyer I’m on the phone with my old buddy Craig Breslow in Boston, seeing what it would take to get Aroldis Chapman. Hey, it worked 10 years ago. Chapman isn’t the pitcher he was in 2016, but he is still an effective MLB reliever and he could close games in Daniel Palencia’s absence.

Other than that, the offense has begun to click again. If the team can get Alex Bregman, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch going, it could be a real juggernaut in the season’s second half.

That second 81-game stretch begins tonight in Milwaukee. Hopefully this Cubs team can play better against the Brewers than they did last month in Chicago.

As always, we await developments. Go Cubs.

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Yankees Sequence of the Week: Ryan Weathers (6/24)

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 24: Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on June 24, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Yankees rebounded from a recent three-game losing streak to secure the final two games of their series against the Tigers. They couldn’t keep that momentum rolling into the series opener against the Red Sox as countless mental errors piled up en route to a 6-3 loss. As such, we have to go back to that series at Comerica to find a candidate for Sequence of the Week, that distinction belonging to Ryan Weathers in the rubber game.

We join Weathers with two outs in the bottom of the second on Wednesday. Paul Goldschmidt led off the game with a home run off Tarik Skubal, but Weathers handed it right back with a Spencer Torkelson double, Hao-Yu Lee walk, and Zach McKinstry RBI single. That put runners on first and second with the score tied, 1-1; every run crucial with the back-to-back reigning AL Cy Young on the mound for the home team.

With the nine-hole hitter Jake Rogers at the plate, it becomes imperative that Weathers go right after him and halt the early rally here to avoid turning the lineup over to AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner Kevin McGonigle. Weathers starts Rogers with a first pitch sweeper, Austin Wells setting a target on the outside edge as they attempt to steal a called strike one.

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Instead, Weathers pulls this pitch down and in, and it lands a full two feet away from his intended aim of back-dooring the pitch. Had he landed a fastball in the zone before this, there’s a much higher chance that Rogers would have chased this pitch, but as a first pitch offering, there was nothing to set it up.

Despite failing to execute that sweeper to his spot by a wide margin, Weathers tries the same backdoor tactic again.

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He’s lucky that Rogers gives up on this pitch early, because it ends up right down the middle for a called strike. Had Rogers been sitting on another breaker, there’s a good chance he would have crushed this pitch having gotten a good look at its movement profile on the prior pitch.

Now that Weathers has shown Rogers two straight off-speed pitches that break toward the batter, he has the situation set up to start a changeup down the same tunnel as the sweeper he just threw so that he can fool Rogers with a pitch that now breaks away from him.

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The process is sound but the execution not so much. He yanks this changeup just like he did with the first pitch changeup, and it ends up well below the zone for ball two. The pitch starts as a ball out of Weathers’ hand and only travels farther away from the zone, making for a straightforward take from Rogers.

This pitch wasn’t as poorly executed as the result might suggest, and it appears has found the right seam orientation at release based on the sharp, late breaking movement downward. The pitch must have felt good coming out of his hand, because he shakes off Wells to get back to the changeup.

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This one is an absolute doozy, as evidenced by Rogers spinning out and falling into the dirt as he whiffs wildly over the top. He’s obviously selling out for the fastball here, and is made to look silly by an absolutely disgusting changeup.

After seeing such an out of control hack from Rogers, the only logical choice would be to try to replicate that pitch.

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Weathers throws the perfect changeup, on the corner down and away with wicked sinking and fading movement. Even if Rogers takes this pitch, it’s called strike three. However, that’s a moot point as Rogers once again swings and misses super early and over the top as if he is anticipating a fastball. Weathers strands both the runners, giving his offense the chance to grab the lead again as Goldschmidt crushed his second homer and Jasson Domínguez went yard off Skubal as he continues to look much improved batting righty.

Here’s the full sequence:

Weathers needed this turnaround start badly having allowed at least five runs in four of six starts before this game. In allowing one earned run across six strong innings, Weathers’ ERA sinks back below four, Weathers crucially keeping the ball in the yard amid his home run issues. Weathers and Will Warren are currently fighting for their spot in the rotation with Max Fried’s return from injury on the not-too-distant horizon, and a performance like this is certainly a mark in Weathers’ favor.

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If not now, when? Phillies vs. Mets series preview

May 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos tosses his bat after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Phillies could have easily been swept by the Washington Nationals. They generally played poorly for most of the four-game series, but thanks to some late-inning magic against a garbage fire bullpen, they ended up winning the series.

Speaking of garbage fires, there’s the New York Mets. Since defeating the Phillies last Thursday, they’ve lost six games in a row, some of them in embarrassing fashion. But hey, at least some people in the stadium managed to enjoy themselves.

However, if there’s one thing the Mets have been able to count on in recent years, it’s beating the Phillies at Citi Field. The Phillies have lost ten straight games at the stadium including two games in the 2024 NLDS. With the Mets in freefall, if the Phillies can’t find a way to win a game this weekend, it seems possible that they might never win there again.

…..And as I was writing this, it was announced that the Mets have fired manager Carlos Mendoza.

This is not a positive development for the Phillies, as the Mets may likely experience a “new manager bounce” this weekend. On the other hand, it gives me a reason to use this clip:

Opposition research: Mark Vientos

In 2024, the Mets thought they had a young star on their hands. In his first full season, Mark Vientos put up an OPS of .837 with 27 home runs. And he went on to destroy the Phillies in the NLDS, going 9-16 with two home runs.

He’s continued to perform well against the Phillies. Last year, he batted .313 with two home runs against them, and in the series last week, he was 2-5 with a homer. However, he hasn’t hit all that well against anybody else in that time, and combined with horrendous defense, he’s been one of the least valuable players in the league.

Things aren’t trending in Vientos’ direction either. He’s batting just .179 in June and went 1-10 in the series against the Cubs.

Defensively, the Mets accepted that he couldn’t hack it at third base so they moved him to first this season. However, he’s proven to be equally bad there, committing a league high six errors. Mets fans are now openly pining for Pete Alonso.

Does any of this mean that he won’t have a few big hits against the Phillies this weekend? Of course not!

Hating on the Mets

There’s not that much I can write about the Mets that their own fans haven’t already said.

Let’s see what Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld has to say about that.

Trivia

Last week’s answer: The three relievers to earn wins in the Phillies’ sweep of the Mets in September 2007 were Tom Gordon, Antonio Alfonseca, and Geoff Geary. MG77 and Morris Buttermaker each named one of them.

This week’s question: The Phillies last win at Citi Field was a 12-2 romp on September 20, 2024. Which Phillie had four hits and four RBIs in that game?

Vote for the Phillies! Just not necessarily the ones you expected

It’s kind of hilarious that Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott have all reached the second round of All-Star voting while Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber did not. While Marsh clearly deserves inclusion on the team, it wasn’t that long ago that fans wanted both Bohm and Stott traded away for anything they could get. (Can you imagine the reaction at the end of April if someone told you that Alec Bohm might be an All-Star?)

Harper and Schwarber both have a good chance to be named to the team as reserves, although they could always get excluded due to the “every team gets a guy” role and whether or not Dave Roberts feels he has to choose a rookie with six starts under his belt.

Additional thought about the series

Late inning comebacks are really fun, and the Mets also do not have a great bullpen. (Sure, it’s better than the Nationals’ relief group, but I don’t think it’s possible to be worse.) That said, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the Phillies to simply get out to an early lead and sustain it for the entire game.

They should have an opportunity to score early runs. The Mets are calling up rookie Zach Thornton to start one game, and it seems likely either Kodai Senga or Christian Scott will get the ball at some point. Either way, the Phillies won’t be facing a top-notch array of pitchers this weekend.

I am slightly worried that the Mets can’t possibly continue to play as poorly as they have been, and they might be somewhat motivated by getting their manager fired. On the other hand, the Phillies can’t keep losing every game at Citi Field, right? In the end, while I’d love to see the Phillies extend the Mets’ misery, I think I’d be happy if they can come away with one win this weekend. That’s not too much to ask for, right?

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Two-start pitchers: Tarik Skubal headlines a plethora of elite options as we turn the page to July

Hello and welcome to the 14th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2026 MLB season.

I will continue to be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week providing my insights and recommendations on which options should be started or benched.

The fantasy baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. As we creep toward the All-Star break, it’s easy to fall into bad habits and not spend as much time on teams that have struggled out of the gate, but now is not the time to panic or give up. Keep putting in the work and plugging away, striving to improve each week, and you’ll reap rewards at the end of this season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

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Someone from the Cubs is likely to make two starts next week (vs. Padres, vs. Cardinals), but as of Friday afternoon we still have no idea who that will be. It won’t be Colin Rea or Matthew Boyd, that much is sure. With Edward Cabrera (hamstring)and Ben Brown (neck) hitting the injured list though, the Cubs are going to have to get creative. Both Javier Assad and Shota Imanaga pitched in Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Mets, so one of them is likely to get the ball on Monday with the other going on Tuesday. That leaves Jordan Wicks and David Peterson to try to get through the weekend on Saturday and Sunday against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Imanaga is an every-week start regardless of whether or not he goes twice. Assad would be much more appealing if he’s lined up to start Monday.

The Astros have shifted to a six-man rotation, at least for the time being, so with six games on tap for next week none of their hurlers are scheduled to pitch twice. If anything changes, or if someone gets skipped this time through, Peter Lambert would be the beneficiary and he would get a two-start week (vs. Twins, vs. Rays).

The Royals only play five games next week, so unless they plan on skipping someone in their rotation, no one is going to get a two-start week. If they do decide to adjust their rotation, Noah Cameron pitches on Tuesday and would draw the two-start week (vs. Rays, vs. Phillies). We’ll update here if anything changes.

The Mets are currently rolling with a six-man rotation and only have six games on the docket, so it’s unclear if anyone is going to pitch twice. They also canned manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday morning, so major changes to the rotation could be coming. Nolan McLean is scheduled to pitch on Monday and would draw the two-start week (at Blue Jays, at Braves) if the Mets do shake things up. There’s no actionable takeaway though as McLean should be an every week start in all leagues regardless of matchup.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of June 26 and are subject to change.

American League

▶ Strong Plays

Tarik Skubal, Tigers, LHP (at Yankees, at Rangers)

Since returning from the injured list, Skubal hasn’t been quite as good as he has been over the past two seasons – posting a 4.96 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 21/2 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings in his three starts. He has served up six home runs during that stretch, a trend that’s unlikely to continue as he continues to shake off the rust. You can’t sit Skubal for a two-start week, even if it includes a matchup against the Yankees in New York. With the Tigers’ playoff hopes sinking by the day, he’ll have the added motivation of auditioning for interested clubs over his next few starts as the trade deadline approaches.

Ranger Suarez, Red Sox, LHP (vs. Nationals, at Angels)

The Red Sox as a club have been a major disappointment this season, but there has been nothing disappointing about what free agent acquisition Ranger Suarez has given them. Through 15 starts he holds a brilliant 2.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and an 84/25 K/BB ratio across 82 2/3 innings of work. He should be an every week start in all formats, so just sit back and enjoy the added production from a two-start week. As a bonus, the matchups fall in his favor this week and he’s likely to finally tally his fourth victory of the season.

Jacob deGrom, Rangers, RHP (at Guardians, vs. Tigers)

As the old adage goes, as long as deGrom is healthy enough to take the mound, he’s an elite option and should be locked into all fantasy lineups. That has been the case once again this season as the 38-year-old hurler has registered a 3.55 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and a 106/20 K/BB ratio across 88 2/3 innings through his first 16 starts. Just sit back and enjoy the added production from a two-start week this time around. He represents one of the top overall plays on the board this week.

Parker Messick, Guardians, LHP (vs. Rangers, vs. White Sox)

The 25-year-old southpaw has enjoyed tremendous success in his rookie campaign, going 7-4 with a 2.67 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and a 101/29 K/BB ratio across 94 1/3 innings through his first 16 starts. He seems to be getting better as the year goes on also, striking out at least nine batters in each of his last two starts – including a matchup against the White Sox. Those that have Messick should be using him every week, so there’s no real actionable takeaway here. He’s easily one of the top options on the board for this week.

Bryan Woo, Mariners, RHP (vs. Angels, vs. Blue Jays)

Woo hasn’t been quite as dominant as we have come to expect from him this season, pitching to a pedestrian 4.26 ERA with a strong 1.04 WHIP and a 92/18 K/BB ratio over 93 innings. His issues have come on the road recently, giving up five or more runs in each of his last three outings away from T-Mobile Park. Fortunately for fantasy managers, he’ll make two starts at home this week against offenses that rank in the middle of the pack. Expect Woo to do some work at correcting that ERA this week. It should be all systems go in all leagues for the Mariners’ right-hander.

Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays, RHP (vs. Mets, at Mariners)

So far, so good for Yesavage through his first 11 starts on the season. The 22-year-old right-hander holds a strong 3.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 58/30 K/BB ratio over 60 2/3 innings. It’s not quite the elite production that he flashed at the end of the 2025 season, but it’s been more than good enough for fantasy managers. He should be an every week start in all fantasy leagues until he gives us a reason to think otherwise. You just get the bonus of double the production and a pair of strong matchups to boot this week.

Griffin Jax, Rays, RHP (at Royals, at Astros)

Since making the jump to the Rays’ rotation at the end of April, Jax has put together a 2.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and a 43/13 K/BB ratio over 45 innings in his 11 starts. That’s pretty great work. It’s even better when you account for most of the damage coming in one six-run disaster against the Tigers. Otherwise, he has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his other 10 starts. Look for the good times to continue this week, making Jax a very strong option in all leagues.

Ryan Weathers, Yankees, LHP (vs. Tigers, vs. Twins)

It has been exciting to see what Weathers can do when he’s able to stay on the mound. Through 15 starts on the season, he boasts a solid 3.95 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 95/24 K/BB ratio across 86 2/3 innings. He went through a tough stretch in late May through early June where he allowed five or more runs in three straight outings, but has righted the ship with two very strong outings his last two times out. One of those was against the Tigers who struggle mightily against left-handed pitching and who he’ll take on once again on Monday. He’s an easy start in all leagues this week.

Sean Burke, White Sox, RHP (at Orioles, at Guardians)

Burke has done a very nice job for the White Sox this season, posting a solid 3.71 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and an 87/30 K/BB ratio over 87 1/3 innings of work through his first 16 appearances (12 starts). He enters this two-start week in especially good form, allowing just one run in each of his last two starts while registering a 14/2 K/BB ratio over 13 2/3 innings against the Yankees in New York and the Guardians at home. Go ahead and ride the hot hand here as Burke looks like a very strong play in all league sizes this week.

Tanner Bibee, Guardians, RHP (vs. Rangers, vs. White Sox)

Despite the fact that he has won just two games on the season, Bibee has pitched very well overall – compiling a 3.78 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and an 81/29 K/BB ratio across 95 1/3 innings. Winning games is going to continue to be a struggle while the offense is without Jose Ramirez, but Bibee looks to be a rock solid option in all formats with two home starts on the docket. He should be started in all leagues without hesitation.

▶ Decent Plays

Gage Jump, Athletics, LHP (vs. Dodgers, vs. Marlins)

This one is tough and really depends on what you’re looking for. Jump has been one of the breakout stars of the 2026 season so far, registering a 2.06 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 35/10 K/BB ratio over 35 1/3 innings through his first six starts for the Athletics. The major problem this week is that he’s making both of his starts at home in West Sacramento, and the first one comes against the vaunted Dodgers’ offense. The strikeouts are going to be there regardless, and I think he easily soars into the double digits there for the week. That’s probably enough to use him in 15 teamers already. Just understand that there’s more ratio risk involved here than we’re used to seeing from Jump this season.

Shane Baz, Orioles, RHP (vs. White Sox, at Reds)

It has been a rough go for Baz as of late, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) over 17 innings in his last three starts. During that stretch he saw his ERA climb from 4.09 to 4.31. Now he has to battle a couple of offenses that hit well against right-handed pitching and his second start comes in a strong hitting environment in Cincinnati. If you’re not worried about ratios and want to use Baz as a full volume play to attack wins and strikeouts, that’s probably fine in all league sizes. Good ratios from him would just be a bonus this week and shouldn’t be the expectation.

Zebby Matthews, Twins, RHP (at Astros, at Yankees)

Aside from the inflated ERA, Matthews has done a nice job through his first eight starts for the Twins, compiling a 1.19 WHIP and a 39/11 K/BB ratio over 49 1/3 innings while notching three victories. Two disaster starts against the Tigers and Pirates – both on the road – are what has brought down his overall line. He’s coming off of a strong start at home against the Dodgers, which should inspire some confidence. He has struggled on the road though and now has to take on a pair of strong offenses in hitter’s parks. I could really go either way with this one. I’m fine betting on the talent winning out here, but be aware that one of these starts could turn into another seven-run explosion.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Ryan Johnson, Angels, RHP (at Mariners, vs. Red Sox)

Johnson has been pretty disastrous overall this season, registering an 8.84 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and a 15/9 K/BB ratio over 19 1/3 innings through his first six appearances (three starts). He did flash his upside his last time out though, firing six innings of one-hit, shutout baseball with eight strikeouts against the Orioles. Is that a trend that can continue this week? That’s up to you and your risk tolerance to decide. The matchups are actually pretty good and the strikeouts should be there even if he does struggle. I could understand taking the plunge in 15 teamers.

Erick Fedde, White Sox, RHP (at Orioles, at Guardians)

Maybe the White Sox are onto something having Fedde work behind an opener instead of as a traditional starter. Over his last four bulk outings, he holds a 2.20 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and a 14/6 K/BB ratio over 16 1/3 innings. He’s not giving you much length and he’s never really been an asset in strikeouts, so unless you’re hunting for wins it’s really tough to see the upside, especially with the WHIP damage that Fedde is likely to inflict.

National League

▶ Strong Plays

Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates, RHP (at Phillies, at Nationals)

Ashcraft has been an absolute stud for the Pirates and for fantasy managers through his first 16 starts on the season. He sits at 7-3 with a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 107/22 K/BB ratio across 96 2/3 innings. For someone who was undrafted and plucked off the waiver wire in the majority of leagues, that’s excellent work. He enters his two-start week in good form also, having allowed just four runs in total over his last three starts while posting a 10/0 K/BB ratio in last week’s victory over the Mariners. There’s no reason that he should be sitting on any benches this week, start him with complete confidence.

Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks, LHP (vs. Giants, vs. Brewers)

Rodriguez was supposed to have made two starts this past week, but Thursday night’s rainout threw a wrench into those plans and pushed back his second outing. It’s not all bad though, as the rejuvenated southpaw gets to make a pair of home starts including a stellar draw against the Giants to start the week. He’s still an every week start in all leagues until he gives us a reason to think otherwise.

Sandy Alcantara, Marlins, RHP (at Rockies, at Athletics)

This one is fascinating to try to decipher. Alcantara has pitched decently overall this season, as his overall line has been dragged down by four disastrous outings in which he was shelled for six runs or more. Since the calendar flipped to June though, he has delivered five straight quality starts, lowering his ERA from 4.66 to 4.01 in the process. You’d like to think that trend continues this week, but he has to pitch in the two most hitter friendly ballparks in all of baseball in Coors Field and Sutter Health Park. When Alcantara is going well he can succeed in any environment and I’m inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt here. I’d throw caution to the wind and start him in all formats this week.

Eric Lauer, Dodgers, LHP (at Athletics, vs. Padres)

As we mentioned last week, the Dodgers finally get a seven-game week this week which means that Lauer is scheduled to make two starts. Any time we get a Dodgers’ pitcher going twice they’re a must-start for fantasy purposes. Since joining the Dodgers, Lauer has posted a brilliant 2.54 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 16/8 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings. He was even used as a bulk reliever his last time out, which only adds to his win equity if that trend continues. He’s a very strong streaming option in all leagues this week.

▶ Decent Plays

Grant Holmes, Braves, RHP (vs. Cardinals, vs. Mets)

Overall this season Holmes has done a decent job for the Braves, posting a 4.17 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and a 65/37 K/BB ratio over 73 1/3 innings through his first 15 starts. He hasn’t made it out of the fifth inning since June 6 though and has really struggled with his command his last two times out. If he can get through five innings, he’s always a threat to earn a victory with the Braves’ offense backing him, but he hasn’t looked sharp recently. The matchups are good enough that I’d still probably roll the dice with him in 15 teamers and hope for the best. In 12’s it would really depend on what alternative options I had available.

Brandon Sproat, Brewers, RHP (vs. Reds, at Diamondbacks)

The overall numbers for Sproat this season have been underwhelming, but it looks like he actually may be rounding into the form that piqued the interest of fantasy managers coming into the season. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed three earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts and he’s coming off of a brilliant outing against the Reds in Cincinnati where he allowed just one hit and struck out 10 batters over six scoreless frames. The talent has always been there, and I’m inclined to roll with him until he shows any signs of slowing down.

Aaron Nola, Phillies, RHP (vs. Pirates, at Royals)

It’s disappointing to see what has become of Aaron Nola, who was once an ace-level option for fantasy purposes. Now, he’s nothing more than a source of strikeouts. He holds a miserable 5.58 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 80 2/3 innings on the season, with his 82 punchouts the only thing that’s keeping him on the fringe of mixed league consideration. The matchups are intriguing enough this week that I’d be willing to go back to the well here. If he secures a victory and gets 10 strikeouts, it’ll be well worth the potential ratio hit.

Shane Drohan, Brewers, LHP (vs. Reds, at Diamondbacks)

Drohan has pitched well for the Brewers this season, registering a 3.12 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and a 52/17 K/BB ratio across 52 innings in 16 appearances (six starts). The ceiling isn’t terribly high here, but I don’t think there’s a major risk of ratio damage either if rolling him out for two starts. He should get you somewhere in the range of 8-12 strikeouts while posting decent ratios and giving you a shot at a victory. If you’re trying to stream two-start pitchers to add volume, he makes for a very attractive target this week.

Bubba Chandler, Pirates, RHP (at Phillies, at Nationals)

Could it be that we’re finally starting to see Chandler put it all together and figure out how to have sustained success at the big league level? Small sample size caveat, but over his last four starts, the right-hander has posted a 2.82 ERA and an 18/8 K/BB ratio over 22 1/3 innings, going at least five innings and surrendering two earned runs or fewer each time. The talent has never been in doubt, so I’m tempted to ride the hot hand here and roll with him in all leagues for this two-start week.

Rhett Lowder, Reds, RHP (at Brewers, vs. Orioles)

If you’re desperate for volume in deeper leagues and looking to gain ground in wins and strikeouts, Lowder isn’t the worst dart throw. His overall line on the season doesn’t look very appealing, but he has allowed just eight runs over 16 2/3 innings over his last three starts, going at least five innings and striking out at least five batters in all of them. That included a matchup against the Brewers his last time out. I think he could get you 10+ strikeouts and a shot at a victory this week, though his WHIP will probably leave a lot to be desired.

Tyler Mahle, Giants, RHP (at Diamondbacks, at Rockies)

It could be my own personal bias here, but I’m still desperately clinging to hope that Tyler Mahle can turn his season around and be the pitcher that we all thought he could be. He sits at 1-7 with a 5.49 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 62 1/3 innings on the season. That’s terrible. The only category that he has been an asset in is strikeouts with 61. The matchups are tough too, taking on a pair of divisional opponents in extreme hitter’s parks. So why the optimism? After a long stint on the injured list, Mahle looked sharp this past week, firing 5 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball against the Athletics. It’s not much to go on, but it’s just enough that I’ll probably buy back in and roll the dice in 15 teamers.

▶ At Your Own Risk

Eury Perez, Marlins, RHP (at Rockies, at Athletics)

We saw mixed results from Perez in his first start back off of the injured list, as he allowed just one run on three hits over 4 2/3 innings against the Rangers. He only struck out one batter in that start though and was pulled after only 68 pitches. It was probably just the Marlins easing him back into action and he should be able to work deeper when he takes the mound on Tuesday. The problem is that he has to pitch at Coors Field and Sutter Health Park this week which is horrifying considering his issues giving up the long ball. There’s a chance he slides through unscathed this week, but the chances of him doing serious damage to your ratios are extremely high. I’d only use this one in leagues where I could handle the ratio damage or where I was in a tough spot and needed to take these types of chances.

Kyle Leahy, Cardinals, RHP (at Braves, at Cubs)

Leahy has struggled to find consistency this season, posting a middling 4.24 ERA, a catastrophic 1.51 WHIP and a 62/28 K/BB ratio over 76 1/3 innings through his first 15 starts. If the matchups were better, I’d consider him as a streaming option for his two-start week, but taking on the Braves and Cubs on the road is a bit terrifying. If your ratios are already in shambles and you don’t care about the WHIPping that he’s likely to provide, go ahead. Otherwise, I’d lean towards other alternatives this week.

JP Sears, Padres, LHP (at Cubs, at Dodgers)

Sears has pitched well in his lone start with the Padres this season and now gets another opportunity to pitch out of the rotation with Lucas Giolito heading to the injured list. He may wind up having some mixed league value at some point over the next few weeks, but these matchups are particularly brutal, having to take on the Cubs and Dodgers on the road. If you want to throw caution to the wind and hope for the best, go right ahead. Just understand the ratio risk you’re incurring when doing so.

Nick Lodolo, Reds, LHP (at Brewers, vs. Orioles)

Thus far, 2026 has been a season to forget for the Reds’ 28-year-old southpaw. In nine starts, he holds a miserable 5.59 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and a 38/18 K/BB ratio across 46 2/3 innings. That’s simply not going to cut it for fantasy managers. If there’s a glimmer of hope, he went four scoreless innings his last time out against the Brewers and struck out six. Maybe that’s him finally rounding back into form? Even so, he’s very difficult to trust at the moment, especially if you can’t even count on him going five innings. He’d leave him shelved if possible.

Griffin Canning, Padres, RHP (at Cubs, at Dodgers)

I had such high hopes that Canning could be a viable mixed league option once he was healthy enough to join the Padres’ rotation. He has been anything but. Through 10 appearances (eight starts) he sits at 1-5 with a hideous 7.38 ERA and 1.66 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings. Maybe in neutral matchups you could talk yourself into using him as a volume option, but these matchups are the polar opposite of neutral. Having to battle the Cubs at Wrigley Field and the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium is simply asking for ratio damage. Stay away from this one.

Miles Mikolas, Nationals, RHP (at Red Sox, vs. Pirates)

Every time that Mikolas is scheduled to make two starts, he stares at fantasy managers from the waiver wire and tries to entice them into rolling the dice. It’s almost never a good idea. The 37-year-old hurler holds a 5.24 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 44/17 K/BB ratio over 77 1/3 innings on the season and has won a grand total of two ballgames. The upside in wins and strikeouts is low, and the risk of ratio damage is high. Do with that what you will.

Kyle Freeland, Rockies, LHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Giants)

Never Rockies. Especially not for two starts at Coors Field, regardless of how good the matchups look. Freeland owns a horrendous 7.50 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and a 61/17 K/BB ratio over 72 innings on the season. He has allowed five or more earned runs in three of his last five starts. There’s just no reason to do it. Stay far, far away.

Sean Sullivan, Rockies, LHP (vs. Marlins, vs. Giants)

Never Rockies. Especially not for two starts at Coors Field, regardless of how good the matchups look. Sullivan owns a horrendous 8.25 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and a 7/7 K/BB ratio over 12 innings on the season. There’s just no reason to do it. Stay far, far away.

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Friday Jays Notes

Jun 25, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement (22) tags out Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) at second base to complete a double play during the sixth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Happy Friday. I’m getting ready to be away for the weekend doing the bike ride. Thanks to very generous people I’m up to $4,052 raised, 21st our of 362 riders.

There isn’t much for Jays news. Jamie Campbell is reporting that Adam Macko is being recalled from Buffalo. No word on who is being shipped out.

The team is three games under .500 and I don’t think I’d bet that they’ll ever be over .500 the rest of this season.

Ernie Clement has been named to the All-Star team receiving the most votes of any AL player, which is pretty cool. And there will likely be more Blue Jays on the AL team. There are Jays ‘finalists’ at every position. Most of them clearly don’t deserve to be All Stars, but often, when you let people vote, you don’t get the best candidate winning. Obviously, we vote a lot up here in Canada.

The Mets and Bo Bichette are in Toronto on the weekend and they have fired their manager. The Mets are 34-47, deep in last place in the NL East and 9.5 games back of the Wild Card. That and a $358 million payroll (and a $124 million luxury tax bill) will get a manager fired. So Carlos Mendoza is looking for a new job and Andy Green gets the job of trying to get the team going.

I hate when we play against teams who have just fired their manager. The players seem to work hard for the new chief.

The owners have made a new proposal for the players, which they know will be rejected. In it:

  • New contracts for free agents can only be five years long for guys switching teams (and for $202 million at the most) and six years for players staying with their team (and for $265 million at the most).
  • No deferred money allowed anymore.
  • Qualifying offers will disappear.
  • Players will be able to become free agents at age 30 if they have five years of MLB playing time.
  • Minimum salary will go up to $1 million for players with two or more years of service time.

I always wonder why owners think they have to protect themselves from themselves but that’s where we are.

Have a good weekend

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SB Nati0n Reacts results: Pirates need Konnor Griffin back in the lineup

In the most recent edition of polls conducted by Bucs Dugout fans were asked what has been the biggest loss from the Pirates’ lineup; who’s been missed more, Oneil Cruz or Konnor Griffin? The poll results are in and the majority of Pirates fans that voted said that Griffin was a bigger loss for the team with 57% of the votes reflecting that.

Griffin the former top prospect in baseball was really starting to come around right up until he was sidelined with a right elbow strain injury. The Pirates have approached his rehab cautiously as he just returned to action with the Altoona Curve earlier this week. Still though his presence in Pittsburgh has certainly been missed.

Jared Triolo has taken a majority of the starts at shortstop since Griffin was moved to the IL, and he just doesn’t provide the same spark that the latter does in the lineup. Griffin was already proving to be a very capable defender in the middle infield and was finally showing signs of growth at the plate against major league pitchers. Triolo is probably the most versatile defender on the Pirates, but he’s also an anchor in Pittsburgh’s lineup. His slugging percentage is at a career low .269 while his batting average is just .228 through 48 games played. Triolo is also not a huge threat on the base pads as he only has 5 stolen bases on the season, while Griffin left Pittsburgh with 14 steals which ranks 12th in the National League.

In 51 games played Griffin has a slash line of .270/.327/.402 with 51 hits, four homers, 22 RBIs and the aforementioned 14 steals. His return to Pittsburgh will be a welcomed one, as fans are dying to see what he can do back from injury.

Cruz has certainly been a fixture that’s been missed in Pittsburgh as well. The Pirates’ converted center fielder was having arguably his best season at the plate before being sent to the IL with left hand fractures.

At the time of his injury Cruz was slugging .472 with a .264 batting average. His 14 homers and 21 steals made him a standout in Pittsburgh’s lineup, as the power and speed combination was on full display in the first half of the season. Luckily for Pittsburgh fans (perhaps this influenced the vote) Jake Mangum who has taken a majority of the reps in center since Cruz’s departure has been a positive for the Pirates. He certainly doesn’t bring the same skillset that Cruz possesses but Mangum has been a spark plug with a .291 average and .335 on base percentage.

FanDuel Sports Network has the current betting odds for projected award winners at the end of the MLB season and the Pirates’ rookie Griffin currently has +2000 odds to win the National League’s Rookie of the Year honors. If the rookie can pickup where he left off before landing on the injured list he should be in a great position to take home some hardware and to get back to helping the Buccos in their race to make the postseason.

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Astros Fans, Are You Ready to Trust Tatsuya Imai?

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JUNE 25: Tatsuya Imai #45 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch against the Detroit Tigers during the bottom of the first inning at Comerica Park on June 25, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Bust. Disaster. Another Dana Brown failure. Bum. DFA that clown.

These are the things Astros fans were saying about Tatsuya Imai after his third start of the season.

Imai’s 3rd start of the year was an epic failure. He only got one out against division-rival Seattle. He allowed 3 runs on 4 walks and a hit. He was all over the place.

Fans had already seen Imai have a meltdown in his first start of the season. After cruising through 2 innings, he suddenly lost the plate in the 3rd and couldn’t get out of the inning. In 2.2IP, he was charged with 4 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks.

After his third start, he was IL-bound with arm fatigue. Fans screamed it was really the team’s way of getting a lousy pitcher out of the rotation.

The vitriol against Imai was strong. Even members of the media were absolutely destroying him as a total bust after three starts in a new country.

Imai had the stuff, but people couldn’t see it. They only saw the results.

He was clearly struggling to adjust to the American lifestyle, fans didn’t care.

No one on the team spoke Japanese, and Imai’s English and Spanish weren’t very good, so he didn’t understand anything being said. Didn’t understand the movie dialogue, the music, words from the wait staff or really from anyone.

He was in the country about 3 months, and was struggling. Fans and media didn’t give a rip. They were tearing into him over anything and everything they could.

With Imai sporting a 7.27 ERA for $18M this year, they all felt justified.

Imai spent the next month recovering from arm fatigue and trying to figure out why his command had suddenly left him.

While Imai mentioned Yusei Kikuchi’s success with the Astros as a reason he wanted to sign in Houston, it had become clear Imai was not comfortable with what he was being asked to do. He felt he was being asked to defer to the hitter’s strengths instead of attack with his own.

At first he didn’t share this, but during his IL stint, he did. The team decided to oblige him, and allow him to do whatever he felt would make him be successful.

He pared back his arsenal. Fans and media crushed him again.

Media and fans had the same question: Didn’t we hear Taylor Trammell say in spring training that Imai’s splitter was the nastiest thing he had ever seen? Why is he refusing to throw it? It was hard to argue with the logic. Imai just didn’t like the way the pitch was feeling to him. His command on that pitch needed work. He was going with his bread and butter.

Imai’s first two starts back from the IL weren’t great. However, in his second start back, there was a noticeable change.

Imai was more aggressive in his May 18 start against Minnesota, one that was cut short because of a long rain delay. In 4.2 IP, he allowed 3 runs (all on two HRs allowed) on 5 hits. He struck out 5 He also didn’t walk a batter.

Imai had allowed 14 walks in his first 4 starts, covering just 12.2 IP. Not allowing any walks stood out. He likely would have gone deeper into the game had the long rain delay not happened.

In his next start against Texas, Imai was terrific. He threw 6 no-hit innings in what would be a combined no-hitter for the Astros. He did walk 4, and only struck out 2, but he did get 8 ground ball outs.

In his next start, he was matched up with Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers. Misiorowki has been setting records for most pitches thrown over 100 MPH with seemingly each start. Which Imai would the Astros get? The one who has throws 2 outings without allowing a run, or the one who melted down, lost control, and got chased early?

Imai held his own in that matchup, allowing only 2 runs (on a 2-run HR) on 3 hits in 6 innings. he walked 2 and struck out 5. Houston lost 2-0, but Imai gave a strong effort, and showed he wasn’t afraid or intimidated by the big stage.

In his next start, he would allow just 2 runs in 5 innings, and struck out 8 in a 13-2 win over the Athletics.

Maybe Imai had turned the corner? People were cautiously coming around. Maybe he can be a decent mid-rotation guy after all, they mused. Maybe, they weren’t convinced yet.

Then another disaster start struck.

Staked to a 9-0 lead before throwing a pitch, in what seemed like the easiest path to a win you could ever ask for, Imai lost his command again.

He didn’t make it out of the first inning, giving back 5 of the 9 runs the Astros scored in the top of the 1st on 4 hits and a walk. He recorded only 2 outs. It caused the Astros to rifle through their bullpen for 25 outs.

Fans were furious. They wanted him DFA’d. Optioned to Sugar Land. Anywhere but on the Astros.

Of course, $18M investments don’t get thrown away for poor early returns.

Imai would rebound strongly against Cleveland, with 6 innings of 3 run ball, striking out a career-best 11. He didn’t walk a batter.

Imai was dominant again yesterday, with 6 shutout innings of 2 hit ball, he walked 1 and struck out 10.

Imai became the first Astros pitcher this season with back to back starts of at least 10 strikeouts.

Imai’s numbers on the season still aren’t great. He’s 5-3 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP in 11 starts. So let’s try and peel the onion back and see the trend:

Imai has made 11 starts, but his last 7 (even with the KC clunker) tell a different story: In the last 7 starts, he’s 4-2 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Those are much stronger numbers.

He also has 42 K in 34.1 IP. That is 11K/9. That’s a very strong number. He only walked 11 batters in that time. That’s 2.89 BB/9, quite respectable. His 3.8 K/BB ratio is excellent.

He’s now performed well in 5 of his last 6 starts, and his last 2 have been terrific. That blip in Kansas City is starting to look like a blip, and not something that he is going to give you every 3 starts or so.

But with such a small sample size, how confident are you when he takes the mound of which Imai you will get? The blip or the guy who looks like he can be a legit #2 behind Hunter Brown?

Are you ready to trust Tatsuya Imai yet?

Posted on

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Joey Cantillo has a new trick, don't overlook Jake Bennett

Welcome to Waiver Wire Watch, our weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire guide. We'll be doing things a little differently this season, with Eric Samulski publishing the initial waiver-wire article on Friday afternoon. Then James Schiano updates it every Sunday to make sure you get the most up-to-date information.

The premise of the article is pretty straightforward. We'll give you some recommended adds each week based on recent production or role changes. When we list a player, we'll list the category where we think he’ll be helpful or the quick reason he’s listed. We hope this helps you determine whether the player fits your team's needs. Not every "trending" player will be a good addition for your specific roster.

To qualify for this list, a player needs to be UNDER 40% rostered in Yahoo! formats. We understand you may say, “These players aren’t available in my league,” and we can’t help you there. These players are available in over 60% of leagues and some in 98% of leagues, so they’re available in many places, and that can hopefully satisfy readers who play in all league types.

⚾️ Baseball is back on NBC: MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters

TJ Rumfield - 1B, COL (42% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, GREAT SCHEDULE)

We're not entirely sure why Rumfield's roster rate has dropped so low. He's hitting .286/.356/.584 in 21 games in June with five home runs, 12 runs scored, and 15 RBI. No, he doesn't barrel the ball or hit it overly hard, but he makes tons of contact and hits in an incredibly hitter-friendly ballpark. He also gets seven games at Coors Field this upcoming week, so now is not the time to leave him on the wire. Another Rockies option for this week could be Troy Johnston - 1B/OF, COL (10% rostered). Right now, he seems to only be facing right-handed pitchers, but the Rockies will face six of them this upcoming week. In June, Johnston is hitting .328/.406/.500 with 11 RBI in 18 games. Like Rumfield, he also hasn't been barreling the ball a ton, but he has more walks than strikeouts this month, which shows his tremendous plate discipline. He's worth a look this week.

Dylan Crews - OF, WAS (36% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, HOT STREAK COMING)

We know many people dropped Crews a week or two ago when the results weren't coming, and we almost did too, but his quality of contact had been so good that we decided to hold on, and Crews has started to pick things up, going 7-for-23 with six runs scored and one home run in his last six games. He's hitting just .208 in 21 games in June, but that comes with a 12% barrel rate, 46% hard-hit rate, and 90.6 mph average exit velocity. That, in part, is why he also has a .275 xBA and .521 xSLG. We're going to be on the quality of contact winning out. Daulton Varsho - OF, TOR (31% rostered) is also off the injured list and is hitting .320/.379/.640 with two home runs, six RBI, and three steals in 11 games in June. He's still pulling the ball a ton, but no longer sporting as extreme a launch angle as we saw from him last year. That should help with the batting average, and he's clearly ready to run.

Lawrence Butler - OF, ATH (35% rostered)

(EVERYDAY PLAYER, POWER-SPEED UPSIDE)

Butler seems to have settled back into a regular role against right-handed pitching after Brent Rooker's injury freed up some playing time for the Athletics. In 19 games in June, he's hitting .277/.320/.468 with two home runs, nine runs scored, and one steal. Even in his "bad" year last year, he still put together a 20/20 season. Yes, there remains some swing-and-miss in his game, but this could have just been a case of him needing to get his knees fully healthy after offseason surgery.

Nasim Nunez - 2B/SS, WAS (32% rostered)

(STOLEN BASE UPSIDE, HOT STREAK)

Nunez had an 18% roster rate last week when he made the waiver wire article, but he continues to produce, so his rate continues to rise. We expected Nunez to be a burner who gave you little else, but he's now hitting .379/.429/.483 in 19 games in June with 10 RBI and nine steals. Yes, he's not going to continue to run a .550 BABIP, but his bat speed is up, he's hitting the ball harder, and he runs fast, so there's a good chance he always has a higher than average BABIP. There's a good chance that he's at least a .250-.260 hitter the rest of the way, and that's going to be massive for people who need stolen bases.

Jake McCarthy - OF, COL (25% rostered)

(HOT STRETCH, GOOD SCHEDULE)

We mentioned two Rockies to add before their seven-game week at home, so now it's time to mention two more. McCarthy has been a full-time player for the Rockies for a while now. In June, he's hitting .324/.368/.507 in 17 games with two home runs, nine runs scored, eight RBI, and two steals. He hits leadoff and has 12 steals on the season, so he should provide average, runs, and steals during a full week in Coors. You could also add Cole Carrigg - OF, COL (14% rostered), who is hitting .271/.379/.542 in his 14 MLB games with three home runs and 11 RBI. The only issue is that, since Mickey Moniak has come back, Carrigg has only played against lefties. Now, it's also only been three games so far, so it's not 100% clear what the Rockies' plan is going forward, but Carrigg could very well be on the short side of a platoon.

Kody Clemens - 1B/2B/OF, MIN (24% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

Clemens had a rough week, and his roster rate fell, but we'd caution you against abandoning a player too quickly. In 20 games in June, he's still hitting .256/.301/.513 with five home runs, 12 runs scored, 12 RBI, and one steal. That comes with a 9.5% barrel rate and a 48% hard-hit rate. He hits third essentially every day for the Twins and is eligible at plenty of positions, so he's a great option in deeper formats, but we understand if you wanted to move on in shallower leagues.

Sunday update: Clemens went 2-for-7 over the weekend with a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI. Don't overlook his steady production.

Samad Taylor - 2B/OF, SD (21% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, STOLEN BASE UPSIDE)

Samad Taylor is 10-for-23 in his last six games with two steals, but his roster rate has also gone up by just 1%. Perhaps people don't believe this is real, and we don't blame them. It probably isn't, but it's real for right now. Taylor was called up from Triple-A when Nick Castellanos was designated for assignment and has hit the ground running (literally), hitting .379/.438/.448 in 16 games with 11 runs scored, 11 RBI, one home run, and six steals. He also had just a 27% hard-hit rate in Triple-A and a league-average 85% zone contact rate. He’s hitting the ball on the ground 60% of the time with the Padres and has the speed to beat out infield singles, so the batting average and stolen bases could be there, and the Padres are hitting him second in the order, so why not take a gamble while he's running this hot?

Francisco Alvarez - C, NYM (20% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, POWER UPSIDE)

Alvarez has plenty of talent, but can't seem to stay healthy. The 24-year-old is back from the injured list now and is hitting .319/.360/.574 in 13 games with four home runs and eight RBI. In his 50 games this season, he has a career-high 16.8% barrel rate and his highest bat speed ever. He’s pulling the ball 49.6% of the time, which is up from his 39.2% career average. He has just an 18.4% Pull Air rate, which ranks 121st among hitters with 100 batted-ball events this season; yet that has risen to 27.8% since coming off the IL, which could be part of what's unlocking his power. He's one-catcher viable. In Pittsburgh, Endy Rodriguez - C, PIT (2% rostered) has seemingly grabbed the starting job away from Henry Davis. Rodriguez has gone .260/.339/.425 over 18 games in June with three home runs and nine RBI. He also has a 16.7% barrel rate and 56% hard-hit rate over that span. was a former top prospect before two years of injuries and could be worth a gamble.

Joshua Baez - OF, STL (18% rostered)

(POTENTIAL CALL-UP, POWER UPSIDE)

We like to get ahead of prospect stashes on the waiver wire, but this is a rough time of year. Most incentive deadlines have passed, and teams are still deciding if they are buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, so we may not get any major prospect promotions until after the All-Star game. That being said, it might be time for Baez to be stashed. He had a four-home run game last week and now leads the entire International League with 26 home runs in 69 games. That also comes with a .273/.343/.626 slash line and 13 stolen bases to create a nice power/speed combo. There are some lingering concerns about his contact since he’s struck out nearly 31 percent of the time at the Triple-A level this season, but when you have that kind of power and speed, you can still produce fantasy goodness. You could look to stash Yohandy Morales - 1B/3B, WAS (2% rostered), who is now up to 16 home runs and 50 RBI on the season to go along with a .311 batting average and a .923 OPS in 69 Triple-A games. He’s ready for a chance at big league pitching, but with Curtis Mead playing well at third base, the Nationals will need to use Morales as a DH or a first baseman.

Jasson Dominguez - OF, NYY (16% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POST HYPE UPSIDE)

Dominguez may only be hitting .250 in 10 games since coming off the IL with a 12/1 K/BB ratio, but he does have two home runs and four steals over that time, so you're starting to see some of the power and speed upside that people were excited about. He figures to get regular playing time even when Trent Grisham returns from the IL and has been hitting in the top half of the lineup for one of the best offenses in baseball. His roster rate needs to be higher. Another risky outfield option is Heriberto Hernandez - OF, MIA (2% rostered), who is hitting .274/.318/.613 in 17 games in June with six home runs, 11 RBI, and a 57.1% hard-hit rate, which is 15th in baseball among hitters with 40 plate appearances in June.

Henry Bolte - OF, ATH (15% rostered)

(RECENT HOT STRETCH, POWER UPSIDE)

It took a little while for Bolte to get going at the MLB level, but he's hitting .323/.416/.477 in 21 games in June with two home runs, five steals, and seven runs scored. That comes with a 12.2% barrel rate and 53.7% hard-hit rate. Bolte is sporting a .487 batting average, so it will likely regress closer to his .252 xBA, but the rookie had improved his contact rates in the minors this season, and that seems to be carrying over. There is swing and miss in his game, so this may not be the smoothest ride, but it's fun right now.

Blaze Alexander - 2B/3B/SS/OF, BAL (15% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, STATCAST DARLING)

It seems that Blaze Alexander may have finally won himself a starting role. After putting up strong production in a part-time role, Alexander seems to have supplanted Coby Mayo at third base. He appeared in Eric’s article last week on hitters to target based on their May results, and, since June 1st, he's been the best hitter on the Orioles, slashing .388/.436/.633 in 18 games with two home runs, nine RBI, seven runs scored, and two steals. He's making better-than-league-average contact in the zone with a better hard-hit percentage than league average as well. There is an intriguing profile here, and icould be an add in 12-team formats now that the playing time is there. We also had Caleb Durbin - 2B/3B, BOS (26% rostered) on here last week. He broke his pinky earlier in the week, but still hit a home run off Cam Schlittler on Thursday. In 20 games in June, Durbin is hitting .324/.356/.618 with five home runs, 12 runs, 10 RBI, and three steals. This may be coming together.

Sunday update: Durbin had three more hits over the weekend and certainly seems to be over the hump.

Blaze Jordan - 1B/3B, STL (10% rostered)

(STARTING JOB, BATTING AVERAGE POTENTIAL)

There's this idea that Blaze Jordan is a top-tier power hitter, likely because he was hitting mammoth home runs in high school home run derbies. However, he has never hit 20 home runs in any minor league season. He had 11 in 57 games at Triple-A this season, so he may have been on his way, but he has just one in 12 games since being called up with the Cardinals. That being said, he's also hitting .286/.298/.476 with 12 RBI and a 46% hard-hit rate. Jordan won't walk much, which will hurt him in OBP leagues, but he's playing every day in St. Louis right now and is worth a shot in 15-team leagues.

Victor Caratini - C, MIN (10% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, BATTING AVERAGE UPSIDE)

This is a short-term add with Ryan Jeffers eventually coming back, but Caratini has been red hot right now. In 16 games in June, he's hitting .377/.450/.679 with four home runs, 11 RBI, and 11 runs scored. That's with a 16% barrel rate and 46% hard-hit rate. If you need a stopgap at catcher, he's a good one. Joe Mack- C, MIA (4% rostered) has also been producing lately, hitting .327/.397/596 in 17 games in June with four home runs, 11 runs scored, and 12 RBI. He's still more of a defensive catcher, but the bat isn't nothing, as evidenced by his 12% barrel rate and 44% hard-hit rate in June. He's going to be Miami's catcher for the rest of the season, so there is some security there.

Anthony Volpe - SS, NYY (6% rostered)

(REGULAR PLAYING TIME, POWER/SPEED UPSIDE)

The power hasn't been there for Volpe this season, with one home run and a 37% hard-hit rate. However, there has been far more contact in the zone. In 18 games in June, he's hitting .276/.354/.345 with seven runs scored and three steals. He has seven steals in 31 games since being activated this season, so the shoulder injury isn't stopping him from running. He continues to start every day at shortstop with Jose Caballero moving all over the field, and that should continue for the foreseeable future. Even if we don't get the previous power back, a .250 hitter with speed is still valuable in an offense like this. Across town, the Mets also recalled Ronny Mauricio - 2B/SS/3B, NYM (0% rostered), with Marcus Semien landing on the injured list. He was just 7-for-32 in his 10-game MLB stint before fracturing his thumb, but he had a productive season in the minors and has plus raw tools. He might be a good gamble in deeper formats for a Mets offense that is starving for production.

Cooper Pratt - SS, MIL (6% rostered)

(PROSPECT CALL-UP, MODEST UPSIDE)

The Brewers called up Cooper Pratt this week to turn the shortstop reins over to their young prospect. The 21-year-old was slashing .241/.349/.386 batting line in Triple-A, which is not exciting, but he had been hitting better before his call-up. He's also gone 7-for-27 in his first nine games with two RBI and four steals. Eric recorded a video last week with more thoughts on Pratt’s fantasy upside.

Sunday update: Pratt drew two walks, doubled, and stole a base on Friday night. We like him as a play in OBP-leagues if you need speed.

Lars Nootbaar - OF, STL (6% rostered)

(OFF THE TIL, STATCAST DARLING

People really don't want to pick up Nootbaar. We know he's another boring outfielder who is set to come off the injured list following offseason surgery on both of his heels. We know that you've been waiting for that Nootbaar breakout for a long time, but he remains a solid/productive player who should be in an everyday role on a solid Cardinals team. In 17 games since coming off the injured list, he's hitting .288/.386/.492 with two home runs, 12 runs scored, and seven RBI. He's a productive player and will continue to settle in. Another veteran, oft-injured outfield option is Trevor Larnach - OF, MIN (8% rostered). Larnach has enjoyed a nice month of June, hitting .333/.406/.509 in 18 games with two home runs, 10 runs scored, and eight RBI. He has just a 32.7% hard-hit rate over that stretch, but his .308 xBA suggests that his success has not just been luck. The Twins will also only face one lefty this upcoming week, which is good news for Larnach.

Kyle Karros - 3B, COL (2% rostered)

(EVERY DAY PLAYER, GOOD SCHEDULE)

Oh hey, look, another Rockies hitter ahead of their seven-game week at home. Karros has been quietly productive over the last month, hitting .345/.406/.517 in 20 games with one home run, 13 runs scored, and six RBI. As the son of an MLB player, he has a good understanding of the strike zone and a disciplined approach at the plate. The power isn't tremendous, but the batting average could be pretty good in Coors Field, especially with the favorable schedule. Nick Loftin - 2B/3B/OF, KC (4% rostered) could be a short-term option with Maikel Garcia out. In 18 games in June, he's hitting .306/.389/.565 with three home runs, 11 runs scored, and 11 RBI. He is sporting a career-high barrel rate and hard-hit rate, but little has changed with his approach, so we're not going to expect this to last. However, if you need production right now, he's playing and hitting well. We prefer Michael Massey - 2B/OF (4% rostered), who is hitting .315/.333/.507 in 20 games in June with three home runs, 11 runs scored, and 12 RBI. Massey has increased his bat speed and exit velocities and is a better bet to produce for the rest of the season.

Donovan Walton - 2B/3B, LAA (2% rostered)

(HOT STREAK, STARTING JOB)

If you want the ultimate hot streak play, it's Donovan Walton. We never expected Walton to be a full-time player and still don't, but he's been a starter for almost the whole month of June because his bat is red hot. He's hitting .340/.364/.604 in 18 games with three home runs, eight runs scored, and 10 RBI. This is a 32-year-old who swings at most everything and has a .217 career average in 98 MLB games, so we'd only add in deeper formats if we had an open spot and don't hold when the cold streak comes. His teammate Christian Moore(2B, LAA - 1% rostered) has been cold since being called up, but we're still intrigued by his talent and the prospect of playing time. The 23-year-old had made some real adjustments at the plate in Triple-A, making more contact and better contact, and was slashing .333/.468/.585 with nine homers, 45 RBI, and 10 stolen bases in 252 plate appearances. We're not sure why the Angels would throw a new defensive position at him along with a call-up, but if Walton or Denzer Guzman cool down, as we expect, Moore could move back to the infield. This is a highly talented young hitter who's getting another shot. We should probably give him one too.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers

Joey Cantillo - SP, CLE (39% rostered)

Joey Cantillo appeared in that same article above, thanks to a new cutter he has started to lean on. We've always been a fan of Cantillo's potential upside because of his changeup and curve, but his four-seam fastball is pretty average despite elite extension. The added cutter could make a huge difference, and he has looked good lately. We'd add him for upside here.

Sunday update: Cantillo had another fantastic start on Friday night striking out nine Mariners over six innings with two walks. He allowed just one run and it came on a solo home run from Colt Emerson. That cutter remained effective with better than a 70% strike rate and 50% chase rate as a big part of his attack against left-handed batters. Some cutters are more fastball-ish and others act more like sliders. Cantillo's is more like a slider and him generating that level of chase with it is very encouraging.

Sean Burke - SP, CWS (38% rostered)

Eric wrote about Sean Burke in this week’s streaming starting pitcher article, so we encourage you to check that out for more details on his pitch mix and fantasy value. He has a good two-start week this week with the Orioles and Guardians on tap.

Anthony Kay - SP, CWS (35% rostered)

We had Kay on here last week because we believed that his recent poor stretch was because he faced the Phillies, Dodgers, and Yankees in consecutive starts. Over that stretch, his ERA jumped from 3.77 on June 1st to 4.61 now. He had a good first start this week against the Guardians and will face the Royals on Sunday. Then he gets the Guardians and Red Sox in his next two starts. I think his reward for that tough stretch is a nice run of production coming.

Sunday update: Kay is on the mound as this article is coming out, which is why his roster rate looks like it's soared. After one inning, he allowed one run and four-hard hit balls.

Yoendrys Gomez - SP/RP, MIN (24% rostered)

Gomez has been really good since joining the Twins and has emerged as their clear closer. Eric recorded a video with some detailed thoughts last week.We also know that Alex Lange - RP, KC (23% rostered) continued to deliver saves for the Royals, but it just doesn't seem as believable. An 11.3% K-BB% and 12% swinging strike rate are not really what we'd like to see from a closer. Plus, his 13% barrel rate allowed and 4.12 SIERA. You can roll with this while it's working, but don't expect it to last.

Sunday update: Lange got torched for five runs in a mop-up role on Friday night against the White Sox. We never trusted him and certainly don't at this point.

Grant Taylor - RP/SP, CWS (17% rostered)

The case for Taylor here is that the White Sox are a legit playoff contender, and Seranthony Dominguez has just been really bad lately. At some point, the White Sox may WANT to use Taylor as their fireman, but he may NEED to be used to close games. If he gets that role, he could be a legit stud. Adrian Morejon - RP, SD (16% rostered) is just an option if you need ratios and some sneaky wins from a good reliever.

Sunday update: Taylor blew the Royals away on Saturday with four strikeouts over two perfect innings. He nearly tossed an immaculate inning in the eighth and set the White Sox up for a walk-off win in the ninth. His fastball sat at 101 mph, he threw a first-pitch strike to all six batters he faced, and flashed his whole four-pitch arsenal. We sound like broken records, but Taylor would instantly vault into being one of the most dominant closers in the league should the White Sox decide to put him in that role.

Jake Bennett - SP, BOS (15% rostered)

Bennett is coming off a nice outing against the Rockies in Coors, throwing six shutout innings with nine strikeouts and no walks. He showed the ability to be what Nick Pollack refers to as a SWATCH (Southpaw With a Tight Changeup). He started to do that a bit on Monday and also peppered the top of the strike zone with four-seamers. He doesn't throw hard, but this is a five-pitch mix that, if commanded well, could be successful from the big left-hander. There will be some ups and downs, but Bennett is intriguing. We would NOT start him this upcoming week against the Yankees, but he gets the Angels, White Sox, and Rays after that, which could be a decent run.

Sunday update: coming off his gem in Coors, Bennett threw a quality start against the Yankees on Saturday with three strikeouts and two walks out-dueling Gerrit Cole for a win. He commanded his changeup beautifully and was efficient pounding the zone with his fastball and sinker. He's a fun option right now with a soft upcoming schedule.

Eric Lauer - SP, LAD (13% rostered)

This isn't some Dodgers' magic, but Lauer did throw six no-hit innings against the Twins and has been really solid since coming over to the Dodgers. We should note that, even in his six no-hit innings, it was with three walks and two strikeouts. It was not some dominant outing. However, Lauer was good for the Blue Jays last season and could be a solid deep league streamer while he's on a roll like this. We just don't love that he goes to Sacramento next week.

Reynaldo Lopez- SP/RP, ATL (11% rostered)

With JR Ritchie down in the minors, Lopez is getting another chance in the starting rotation. He's been solid overall this year, posting a 3.50 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, and 39/21 K/BB ratio in 43 2/3 innings. We know what he did for Atlanta when he was healthy in 2024, and so, with the starting pitching landscape what it is, he's not a bad gamble right now. He gets the Cardinals at home in his first start next week.

Sunday update: it took López 57 pitches to complete three innings on Friday night against the Giants. He allowed four hits, one run, and struck out one batter. His curveball was sharp, but his slider was not. His fastball sat around 94 mph and was hit very hard. He's nothing more than a flier at the moment.

Elvis Alvarado - RP, ATH (9% rostered)

Alvarado was Eric's featured relief pitcher in this week’s MLB Notebook. In that article, Eric said, "Alvarado has battled command issues in the past and then posted an 8.38 ERA in his first 10 appearances this season before being sent to Triple-A. Since being recalled on June 6th, he looks like a different pitcher and, even after a poor last outing, has a 2.70 ERA and 47% strikeout rate in 10 innings. This version of him feels different. Since Alvarado has returned, he has showcased better command of his four-seamer but also has been able to get ahead in the count with his slider and sinker. He’s started to use his slider more as an early-count called strike pitch in addition to a whiff pitch, which has given his pitch mix another dimension that he didn’t have last year. Alvarado may only have two saves since being recalled, but he has the third-lowest SIERA among qualified relievers at 0.67 and has the best K-BB% at 47.1%.

Sunday update: Alvarado pitched the ninth inning of the Athletics' six-run win against the Angels on Friday and appears to be their preferred option at closer. That's great because we love the stuff.

Ian Seymour - SP, TB (9% rostered)

Oh, man. Is it happening? We've had Seymour on this list for two weeks, but it's just been a bet on the future because Eric wrote about him as one of his favorite late-round starting pitcher targets this offseason,which you can read here for full thoughts on his arsenal. Yet, Seymour hadn't quite delivered on his chances as a starter, and his stuff hasn't looked as crisp as Eric wrote about in his streaming starting pitcher article two weeks ago. Then it all seemed to click on Thursday. Yes, it was the Royals without Bobby Witt Jr., but Seymour looked good with his four-seamer upstairs and changeups low in the zone. We're choosing to believe that this is the beginning of the breakout.

Brandon Sproat - SP, MIL (8% rostered)

OK, we have to talk about the six innings of shutout ball against the Reds, where Sproat struck out 10, didn't walk a batter, allowed one hit, and had 18 whiffs. We should also note that Sproat has not issued more than two walks in his last four starts. On Tuesday against the Reds, Sproat's command of his four-seamer was exceptional, and he did a great job of keeping it at the top of the zone. The sweeper stayed low and away from righties, and he had four whiffs and a 38.5% CSW on that pitch. The curveball was always low and under the zone (sometimes too low), but we'd rather that than leaving it up. He also mixed in sinkers and cutters to allow the four-seamer to play up more as a whiff pitch, and you can see how this can all work. His start before that at Cleveland was really just one bad inning, and the previous start in Sacramento was good, so maybe this is Sproat coming into his own? We'd rather take a shot on guys like Sproat and Seymour than low-upside streamers like Andre Pallante (who we like).

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Is a bigger Mets purge needed after firing of Carlos Mendoza?

With the Mets spiraling out of control -- and with manager Carlos Mendoza not under contract beyond this season -- New York essentially ripped the band aid off on Friday, firing Mendoza and naming Andy Green the interim manager for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Back in April, the message the Mets gave was that there was really no reason to blame their struggles on Mendoza -- to make him the fall guy for what the club hoped were issues that were temporary. It was quite apparent that they did not plan to fire Mendoza.

But after the team treaded water for a bit and even played a few games over .500 for a decent stretch across May and June, things devolved over the last week as they lost game after game in humiliating fashion while falling 10.0 games back of the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.

Barring a miracle, their season is over before the calendar flips to July. And since Mendoza almost certainly would've been gone after the year, letting him go now made sense. Maybe it creates a spark. Maybe it doesn't. But continuing to do nothing about what this team had become would've been malpractice. 

While it's not fair to lay this season at the feet of Mendoza, it is fair to point out that he didn't seem to be helping matters.

Specifically, the continued mental mistakes and physical errors on the field were shocking -- to the point where Mendoza described the team's performance after Wednesday's doubleheader sweep as "embarrassing."

There were also guys running through stop signs at third base, and -- in one instance -- showing no remorse for it after. Players forgot how many outs there were numerous times, constantly challenged ball/strike calls at odd times, failed to back up home plate, overthrew cutoff men, and did baffling things on the field -- including recently, when Juan Soto attempted to bunt with runners on first and second.

But the Mets' season isn't in disarray because of the above, and it isn't in disarray because of the now-departed Mendoza.

The Mets are where they are due mainly to a combination of poor roster construction, injuries, and underperformance.

So with Mendoza now gone, what's next? 

A trade deadline sell-off seems to be a foregone conclusion, but do the Mets need to do more than just deal players who are set to be free agents after the season? In other words, are there far deeper issues at play than a struggling roster?

Feb 11, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; David Stearns, Mets President of Baseball Operations, watches pitchers warm-up during spring training.
Feb 11, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; David Stearns, Mets President of Baseball Operations, watches pitchers warm-up during spring training. / Jim Rassol - Imagn Images

One thing that stuck out after Thursday's loss to the Cubs was who the face of it was afterwards.

The only position player who spoke following the game was Eric Wagaman, a journeyman who has a grand total of 25 plate appearances as a Met and who will very likely not be a big part of the team going forward. Given that the Mets' season is falling apart, it would've made sense for a more prominent member of the team (or multiple prominent members) to be available to speak about it.

Perhaps the Mets' leadership in the clubhouse behind closed doors is sound. But the front-facing leadership has felt rudderless, which really shouldn't be a shock when you consider that most of the players who were long-tenured members of the team left as free agents or were traded this past offseason.

And that is still at the top of many fans' minds, as evidenced by the loud "PETE ALONSO" chants that rang out at Citi Field late during their Game 2 loss to the Cubs on Wednesday.

Alonso, who is now an Oriole, has 18 homers, 55 RBI, and an .815 OPS for Baltimore this season in the first year of a five-year deal.

Meanwhile, three of the four key offensive players David Stearns brought in are on the IL. Jorge Polanco has been out since April 15 due to an Achilles issue. Luis Robert Jr. has been out since April 27 because of a back injury. Marcus Semien recently joined them on the IL because of a hip injury.

All three players were struggling before hitting the IL, and their absences have led to daily lineups that include the likes of Wagaman, MJ Melendez, and Jared Young.

The injuries have also meant players being used out of position, or at spots where they should really only be used in a pinch. Examples of that? Mark Vientos getting starts at first base and Brett Baty manning right field, where their presence hurt the Mets badly during their four-game sweep to Chicago.

There have also been major starting rotation issues. The freak leg injury to Clay Holmes hurt, but underperformance -- especially by Sean Manaea, the recently-traded David Peterson, and Kodai Senga --has been the main culprit.

It's also fair to wonder if the mostly-new coaching staff is getting the most out of this roster.

To that end, Stearns said earlier this week that he's "pleased" with the coaching staff's process.

"I think our staff and our coaches are working incredibly hard every day to get these guys going," Stearns explained. "And I think in certain areas they're as frustrated as anyone that we haven't seen better results."

May 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) speaks to first baseman Mark Vientos (27) after this at bat against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park.
May 23, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) speaks to first baseman Mark Vientos (27) after this at bat against the Miami Marlins during the sixth inning at loanDepot Park. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Even the minor league performance has been worse than expected this year, with many of the Mets' top prospects -- including Jonah Tong, Jacob Reimer, Will Watson, Dylan Ross, and Ryan Lambert --struggling badly. Perhaps that's a blip, given the strong performance overall in the minors during the first few years of Stearns' tenure.

But questions about Stearns' process in building the roster, the effectiveness of the coaching staff, and many players on the big league club remain.

There also doesn't seem to be a soul to this team, which is not surprising given how many of them were thrown together this past offseason. It takes time for things to gel. Sometimes, things don't gel at all.

So what now?

I was among the people this past February who thought Stearns did a good enough job putting the club together. I, like many, thought the Mets would make the playoffs and be a legitimate World Series contender. I, like many, was wrong.

Amid the offseason of change, though, I wrote last November that the Mets needed to add two legitimate starting pitchers to guard against possible underperformance from all of their bounce back candidates. They did not. I also wrote that they should bring back Alonso -- even if it took a five-year deal to do so. His power mattered. His connection to the fans mattered. But the Mets did not even make an effort to bring him back.

In fairness, it seems that everything that could've possibly gone wrong this season has gone wrong. The underperformance, the injuries, the bad luck. But this is where the Mets are now, with no clear answers beyond the fact that Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing are keepers as part of a rather small core.

Beyond that, nearly everything should be in question.

In addition to trading pending free agents such as Freddy Peralta, Brooks Raley, and A.J. Minter, should the Mets try to fast-track a retool by also dealing Luke Weaver and even Devin Williams?

Should they trade Clay Holmes if he gets healthy before the deadline, or try to work out an extension for him to stay? As things stand, Holmes has a player option for 2027 that he seems very likely to decline.

Is something more drastic needed to shake things up, such as pondering a trade of Francisco Lindor? Lindor, who has been a terrific, accountable, tough Met, certainly didn't seem off-limits this past offseason.

What about the future of Semien, who is under contract through 2028 but was borderline unplayable before his injury?

One thing does seem clear -- at least for now -- which is that Stearns will get the chance to turn this around. If he gets it right this time, the mess that is the 2026 season will eventually disappear into the rearview. If he doesn't, there won't be another fall guy to sacrifice.