Category: Baseball

Former New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza’s tenure came to an unceremonious end last week, with little more than a passive-voice social media post and a combative press conference with General Manager David Stearns. With the team coming off an embarrassing series against the Chicago Cubs and officially falling into the depths of the wild card standings, the club decided to move on.

Some would say this move came too late; others would reserve most or all their venom for Stearns, his formulas, and his questionable roster construction. Either way, the Mendoza era is over, and his legacy is mixed. He’ll always be associated with the incredible 2024 playoff run, but also with a classic Mets collapse in 2025, followed by a classic Mets underperformance in 2026.

Mendoza finished with a 207-200 record as Mets skipper, which is ninth all-time in wins, and his winning percentage (.509) is ranked seventh. He joined Gil Hodges, Yogi Berra, Davey Johnson, Bobby Valentine, Willie Randolph, and Terry Collins as the only managers to lead the team to Game 6 of the NLCS or better.

Of course, looking purely at wins, losses, or winning percentage can be misleading. Mendoza may have a better percentage than Berra (.497) or Collins (.486), but no Mets fan is picking Mendoza over those two. Berra and Collins both won the NL East and the pennant as managers, while Mendoza’s playoff run will always be remembered as lightning in a bottle, aided by an expanded playoff.

The ’24 Mets squeaked into the postseason thanks to a 12-team format implemented in 2022, a benefit many of Mendoza’s predecessors didn’t enjoy. Had that format been around, maybe we’d look at Randolph’s time as manager differently. Randolph was also eventually fired midseason like Mendoza, but the collapses of 2007 and 2008 loom large for his legacy. Had the expanded postseason been around then, Mets fans would have fewer bad memories. Still, Randolph’s NLCS run with the beloved 2006 squad and subsequent flameout echo the Mendoza era.

Mendoza also had the benefit of a star-studded roster during his time with the Mets. Former manager Dallas Green managed a similar number of games (512) as Mendoza, but his best players according to WAR during his two full seasons were Jeff Kent (3.2) and Brent Saberhagen (5.7). Kent, a Hall of Famer, was still young and a few years off from being a perennial All-Star and a regular in the top 10 of MVP voting. Saberhagen was at the end of his best years on the mound with his two Cy Young awards in the rearview mirror. By contrast, Mendoza had healthy prime seasons from Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Juan Soto. Lindor and Soto are on pace for the HOF, while Alonso could have a case if his power numbers continue deep into his 30s.

Jerry Manuel managed 417 games after taking over for Randolph, the closest of any former manager to matching Mendoza’s length of stay. Unlike Mendoza, Manuel’s Mets teams were largely aging and injured. He never reached the playoffs, and certainly didn’t have as memorable a tenure as Mendoza.

Hired to replace Buck Showalter before the ’24 season, Mendoza pledged his allegiance to Gary, Keith, and Ron before the team came out and stunk it up through 55 games. Then, like a miracle, the team flipped a switch and made the deep playoff run. Mendoza finished third in NL Manager of the Year voting and beat the winner, Pat Murphy, and his Milwaukee Brewers in the wild card series.

The ’24 Mets turnaround came at least in part due to Mendoza moving Lindor to the leadoff spot in late May of that season, which helped unlock the lineup for a strong finish. Lindor recorded a .922 OPS with 24 home runs after the change, which was probably one of the single best lever pulls Mendoza made during his tenure.

The Mets opened the ’25 season where they left off in ’24, winning a bunch of games. Under Mendoza’s watch, the Mets were the winningest team in baseball between June 1 ’24 and June 1 ’25. However, Injuries started to pile up, and the team derailed, missing the playoffs with an embarrassing loss to the Marlins in Game 162.

The Mets used an MLB-record 46 pitchers in ’25, prompting criticism from former Mets pitcher Adam Ottavino. A key bullpen arm in the playoff run of ’24 but no longer on the team, Ottovino ripped Mendoza and the club’s approach to handling the pitching staff.

“This is embarrassing, this is actually pathetic, like pathetic. I would’ve never let this happen if I were on the team last year,” Ottovino said regarding the steady stream of pitching injuries. “At least half of these guys wouldn’t have blown out. I would have protected these dudes myself; I would have had to jump in front of them myself. Unfortunately, there was nobody willing to stand up and talk to Carlos (in 2025).”

With a revamped roster for ’26, the Mets have been a disappointment in nearly every way. Injuries to Lindor, Soto, Clay Holmes, and a host of other expected contributors, combined with the lineup’s questionable approach and the general underperformance of an expensive roster, made Mendoza’s firing inevitable.

While Ottavino was quick to criticize Mendoza as early as last year, current Mets players like Lindor felt they had let Mendoza down.

“We failed Mendy,” he said after the firing. “I failed Mendy. I didn’t play to my capability to help him win as many games as we could. And yeah, this one’s on us as well.”

His time as manager ended with a whimper, but Mendoza’s role in the NLCS run stands out in Mets history. Based on results, the top tier of New York managers has to include World Series-winning skippers Hodges and Johnson. The second tier belongs to pennant winners and beloved long-term managers like Berra, Valentine, and Collins. Mendoza’s postseason success and win count probably put him in a third tier with Randolph. Time may soften the lows and sharpen the highs of the Mendoza era. In other words, we’ll always have 2024, even if that’s about it.

A baseball season can go in so many different directions. The San Diego Padres came home from a dismal 4-5 road trip, but no time to feel sorry for themselves. The homestand brought a fierce test against two of the National League’s top World Series contenders.

The Padres swept the Eastern Division-leading Atlanta Braves before losing two out of three to the dreaded Los Angeles Dodgers in a pivotal three-game series last weekend.

Despite going 4-2 on the homestand, the series loss to the Dodgers offered a picture of how fast momentum can disappear. 

Dodgers crashed the party

The Friars have their troubles against the Dodgers. We cannot use the litany of injuries as an excuse because their Opening Day lineup also struggled to score runs. Every missed scoring opportunity has left a bad taste in the Friar Faithful’s mouth.

It is time for the Padres to turn the page and refocus on what they do best. The bats will have to figure out their issues with the Dodgers on their own. No question, the lineup can score runs, but the hitters are failing to make the necessary adjustments against quality pitching. 

The Friars are best when they play small ball.

How did the Padres transform from a power-hitting to a small-ball lineup?

A month ago, the lineup was failing to meet expectations. The offseason signings were awkward fits on the roster. The front office revamped the look; now, the Friars resemble a team with connecting parts.

Still, changes to the lineup do not guarantee success on the field. The new-look Padres had Fernando Tatis Jr. and Samad Taylor at the top of the order. Both players have responded with a hot streak at the plate.

Tatis Jr. has broken out of his season-long power slump by pushing his batting average to .282 with 3 HR and 31 RBI in 82 games. 

Taylor has provided a much-needed spark to the offense since his call-up from the minors. He has posted a .319 batting average with a .793 OPS in 20 games. Taylor has shown excellent plate discipline, especially behind the count with two strikes. The stat that catches your eye is his low chase rate (21.2%). Opposing pitchers are having trouble recording outs against Taylor.

The lineup changes did increase run production, but the bats went cold against the Dodgers. The batters missed several opportunities to take the lead with a clutch hit. The Friars left 47 runners on the bases during the homestand. The lone saving grace is a 4-2 record heading back on the road.

A team with postseason aspirations, the Padres have to do better in run-scoring situations. 

Despite the occasional misstep, the Friars have managed to stay in playoff contention, but they still have work to do. The front office needs to shore up the holes in the lineup if they want to compete for a postseason berth.

Season Record: 42-42

Week Record: 5-2

Series Record: 13–13, 1 split

GAME 78: 4-3 Win @ Miami Marlins

GAME 79: 4-6 Loss @ Miami Marlins

GAME 80: 2-4 Loss @ Miami Marlins

GAME 81: 6-5 Win @ Toronto Blue Jays

GAME 82: 5-4 Win @ Toronto Blue Jays

GAME 83: 7-3 Win @ Toronto Blue Jays

GAME 84: 3-2 Win @ Toronto Blue Jays

The Rangers had a great week even though the Miami series didn’t really inspire hope for it. 

They lost the series against the Marlins but then swept the four game series in Toronto in pretty spectacular fashion. 

Going back to their one win in Miami, Alejandro Osuna had a great use of ABS challenge. he challenged a called strike three to end the inning and ended up getting himself a walk to continue the inning. 

And that’s where the good luck ended that inning because no one seems to know what the actual rule is for blocking the plate. 

They faired much better north of the border. Texas scored in the first inning of all four games and the of the four wins were by one run. Their largest win was actually a bullpen game. 

Ezequiel Duran also had an amazing steal of second that needs to be remembered in Texas Rangers history.

I feel like I say this every good week they have, but I hope they latch on to this and ride the momentum. Should be easier to do since they’re not going into an off day and continuing the road trip in Cleveland.

The Rangers are now first in the division with a .500 record which I’ll celebrate while really that’s kind of crazy to finally be at .500 and that’s what brings you to first place? This division has turned abysmal, but first is first so.

Texas also has the best record in the American League since May 29th.

SACRAMENTO –– Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will be doing double duties at the All-Star Game this year, serving as the National League manager for the event thanks to the Dodgers’ pennant win last season.

But whether or not two-way star Shohei Ohtani does the same –– by both hitting and pitching in the Midsummer Classic –– remains to be decided, with All-Star festivities now two weeks away.

Ohtani is already confirmed as the NL’s starting designated hitter for the game, having earned his sixth All-Star selection as the NL’s top vote-getter in the first round of fan balloting this month. He is likely to be selected to the NL’s pitching staff, as well, thanks to his 8-2 record and career-best 1.58 ERA on the mound this season. Of pitchers with at least 70 innings this year, only Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski (1.45 ERA) has a better mark.

For Ohtani to pitch in the game, though, a specific concession will likely have to be made.

Since he will be in the NL’s starting batting order, the only logical time for him to pitch would be at the beginning of the game as the NL starter.

Asked about that possibility on Monday, Roberts said he, Ohtani and the Dodgers had yet to come to a decision.

“He’ll obviously DH and then we’ll go from there,” Roberts said. “I don’t know where he is with the pitching thing. We’ll see.”

Ohtani has only pitched once in an All-Star Game before, serving as the American League’s starter during his first MVP season in 2021 with the Angels. In 2022, he only DH’d in the game because of a scheduled start he had for the Angels immediately following the All-Star break. In 2023, he didn’t pitch while nursing a blister. The last two years, he was recovering from Tommy John surgery.

There will be more deserving, and fitting, options to start this year’s All-Star Game on July 14 in Philadelphia. Misiorowski is the league’s leading Cy Young contender, thanks not only to his minuscule ERA but also a 9-3 record and MLB-most 146 strikeouts. Hometown Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez is also having a standout season, with a 9-3 record, 2.13 ERA and NL-leading 110 innings pitched.

However, if Roberts wants Ohtani to take the mound in the game –– which would line up with his current schedule of pitching every Wednesday, as it falls annually on a Tuesday –– it would likely have to be as the team’s starter.

Otherwise, the four-time MVP would have to find time to warm up while also slotting into the NL’s batting order. An adjustment to the game’s roster rules might also be required, so as not to cost the NL its DH spot in the event Ohtani started the game as a hitter and then later entered as a pitcher in relief.

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C’mon, it was Father’s Day recently, humor me! Max Rajcic has done an admirable job coming out of the Cardinals’ bullpen in the exact role I spoke about earlier this year. I think it’s time the Cardinals elevate another young arm that’s “changing” things up on AAA hitters this year. Sorry, I seem to be in a very pun-oriented mood today.

Luis Gastelum has been awesome over the last month plus! Since May 17th, Gastelum has pitched to a 0.45 ERA and a 1.41 FIP over 20 IP in that span, with a K/BB% of 34.8%. Opponents are batting .121 against, and he’s striking out batters at a 37.7% pace in that time as well. So, whats giving him all this success?

Remember that changeup I alluded to earlier? It’s a true plus-plus offering. He uses it almost 39% of the time and generates a staggering 45.2 Whiff% on the pitch. Opponents have an xBA of .129 and an xSLG of .145! But that’s not all!

Gasetlum also features a 4SFB, Slider, and Sinker that rate out as 100 or better according to stuff+ models.

I think Gastelum could have a profile similar to long-time reliever Tommy Kahnle. Remember in the playoffs when he threw like 45 straight changeups, and nobody could hit it? That’s a similar impact type reliever capable of pitching in high leverage situations, posting a 90.9 LOB% in his last 20 IP, for example.

The one unanswered question seems to be how he would find himself in the big leagues. First, they would have to clear a 40-man spot for his contract to be selected. Then you start to ask, whose spot would he take? Gordon Graceffo has done a solid job this season, and while the underlying data is scary, the surface-level performance is what matters in the here and now, so he probably wouldnt be a candidate without a few consecutive blow-ups. Matt Svanson could be another option. While he has been better as of late, he still hasn’t been the same guy he was a year ago, and that 9th inning against the Diamondbacks was yet another reminder that pitchers who regularly don’t miss bats are subject to weird, fluky snowball innings.

The other might be Max Rajcic himself. His spot in the bullpen, specifically, not his performance, dictates that a demotion is necessary. Rajcic has been solid and a certain upgrade from the Chris Roycroft experience. You can see the bulldog attitude he brings to the mound, and he shows no fear against any batter who steps in the box. His command has been a little shaky at times, but for a young guy trying to establish himself in the big leagues, that’s not all that uncommon. When he’s in sync with his mechanics, the mid-90s fastball plays, and so does the big hammer curveball. There’s certainly still a long runway left with his opportunity to show what he can do.

The most likely outcome, barring injury, would seem to be a trade of a current veteran bullpen arm, and I don’t see that taking place any time soon, for someone like Ryne Stanek, for example. It can still happen at any time, but we just spoke with Chaim Bloom a couple of days ago, and the way he described the industry and its focus is on the amateur draft side of things in the immediate future, and once that and the All-Star break conclude then we should start to hear chatter on such topics start to pick up before the inevitable deals begin to trickle in up to the August 3rd deadline.

We may have to wait a little while longer to see Gastelum, with a lack of immediate openings or opportunities, but make no mistake about it, he’s proven he’s ready for the next level, and it’s just a matter of opportunity opening up for him to seize it, and Cardinals fans will enjoy it when that time comes.

-Thanks for reading

Phillies News:

• We are still going on about the “e-word” with Bryce Harper($$)
• A Phillies Power Ranking Roundup!
• Kyle Schwarber is on a record-setting pace with his Schwarbombs
• A Prospect Roundup hitting on Gage Wood and Francisco Renteria

MLB News:

• Tigers could be the most important team at this trade deadline
• It wouldn’t be a week without a Mets injury, Marcus Semien is the latest
• Make sure you keep voting for All-Star starters!

The second half of the minor league season is officially underway, which means it’s time for my first-half awards for each Brewers affiliate. As a result, this week’s roundup looks a little different.

Instead of briefly touching on nearly every notable prospect, I’m taking a (slightly) deeper look at the standout performers from each Brewers affiliate. Below are my picks for MVP, Cy Young, and Most Improved, along with a couple of news items from the past week.

Triple-A Nashville Sounds

Current record: 42-34
Record this week: 3-3
This week: vs. Gwinnett Stripers
Next week: vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp

Standout performances:

Jeferson Quero: 8-for-19, 2 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K
Luis Lara: 10-for-21, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K
Tyler Black: 5-for-19, 1 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K
Reiss Knehr: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
Craig Yoho: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

News this week: RHP Logan Henderson made a rehab start in Nashville this week, throwing three scoreless innings while striking out seven. Per Curt Hogg, Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Henderson will make one more rehab start before rejoining the Brewers prior to the All-Star break.

MVP: No player has been more valuable to Nashville this season than Luis Lara. He leads the Sounds in hits, batting average, on-base percentage, and OPS. His .326 batting average as a 21-year-old in Triple-A is impressive on its own, but what’s been even more remarkable is his ability to reach base. While the home runs have slowed since his torrid start to the season, Lara’s .438 on-base percentage leads the International League. Add in his elite defense in center field, and it’s hard to argue anyone has had a bigger impact on the Sounds this season.

Cy Young: After struggling to begin the year in Double-A, Tyson Hardin has posted a 3.20 ERA in eight starts since joining Nashville. He’s the latest in a long line of Brewers pitching prospects who don’t light up the radar gun but still miss bats and consistently get outs. With Milwaukee’s pitching staff finally getting healthier, Hardin probably won’t get a chance in the majors anytime soon — he’s also not on the 40-man roster — but if an opportunity does come, don’t be surprised if he looks like he belongs.

Most Improved: It’s cheating a little bit because he’s only played thirty-two games, but Luke Adams has the highest OPS (.956) and slugging percentage (.574) of his career. He needs one more home run to reach his career high of eleven. Adams doesn’t get talked about as much because the Brewers have five other highly-regarded infield prospects, but he’s the Brewers No. 12 prospect and would be higher than that in a lot of organizations.

Double-A Biloxi Shuckers

Current record: 41-33
Record this week: 4-2
This week: @ Montgomery Biscuits (away, Jun 23-Jun 28)
Next week: vs. Chattanooga Lookouts (home, Jun 30-Jul 5)

Standout performances:

Mike Boeve: 9-for-20, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K
Jacob Hurtubise: 9-for-21, 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K
Josh Adamczewski: 9-for-22, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
Blake Burke: 7-for-21, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K
Dylan O’Rae: 5-for-19, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 1 K
Tanner Gillis: 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
Bishop Letson: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K
Jaron DeBerry: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

News this week: Technically last week, but the Shuckers won the first-half title in the Southern League, guaranteeing them a playoff spot.

MVP: Late last season, Blake Burke made mechanical adjustments designed to get the ball in the air more consistently. The results have more than validated the experiment. Burke leads Biloxi in OPS (.874), home runs (18), and RBIs (54), answering one of the biggest questions originally surrounding his prospect profile.

There was never much doubt that Burke could hit, but his newfound power has taken him from being a solid prospect to one worth prioritizing a spot for. With Luke Adams in Triple-A and Jake Bauers and Andrew Vaughn on the major league roster, Burke may not have a clear path to Milwaukee just yet, but he probably won’t be in Biloxi much longer.

Cy Young: The Brewers challenged Bishop Letson by assigning him to Double-A for his age-20 season, and the transition was far from seamless. Over the past month, though, he’s looked much more like the organization’s No. 10 prospect. Letson has posted a 2.35 ERA over his last four starts (23 IP) while continuing to miss bats at a solid rate, and — more importantly — he’s been limiting the big innings that plagued him earlier in the season.

Most Improved: Mike Boeve. Injuries derailed much of his 2024 season, and he entered this year with plenty to prove after posting a .630 OPS in Triple-A. Since returning to Biloxi, Boeve has looked much more like the hitter who reached Double-A in the first place, pairing his usual plate discipline with considerably more extra-base impact compared to last year.

As I mentioned with Burke, the Brewers have a ton of quality infield prospects. Boeve doesn’t have the upside of a lot of them, and a lot of those guys are also better defenders, so he might end up as an odd man out. Still, he’s quietly put together an excellent first half and showing that he belongs at the Double-A level.

High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Current record: 41-29
Record this week: 5-1
This week: vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels
Next week: @ Peoria Chiefs

Standout performances:

Josiah Ragsdale: 10-for-24, 5 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K
Eric Bitonti: 10-for-25, 1 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K
Marco Dinges: 7-for-20, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 5 K
Daniel Dickinson: 5-for-15, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K
Garrett Hodges: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Ethan Dorchies: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Wande Torres: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Braylon Owens: 10.0 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 11 K
Josh Knoth: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

MVP: Andrew Fischer outgrew High-A immediately, slashing .298/.443/.675 with 20 home runs before earning his promotion to Biloxi. In his first ten games in Double-A, he has a 1.150 OPS with four home runs. If he keeps hitting like this, it won’t matter much how often he strikes out. Fischer was widely viewed as one of the most pro-ready bats in the 2025 draft, and so far, he’s looked exactly like that.

Cy Young: Josh Knoth hasn’t thrown as many innings as some of the other candidates, but when he’s been healthy, he’s looked like the best pitcher on the staff. Per MLB Pipeline, the Brewers’ No. 22 prospect has a 55-grade fastball and a 60-grade curveball and slider. If he hadn’t missed all of last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, he’d probably be ranked higher than No. 22.

Most Improved: Braylon Payne

Few players in the Brewers’ system this year have raised their stock more than Braylon Payne. After posting a .736 OPS in his first full professional season, Payne’s hitting .288 with a .982 OPS and 15 home runs — already almost double last year’s mark (eight) The strikeout rate (29.6%) is still higher than you’d like, but the overall offensive profile looks dramatically different than it did a year ago. Payne was drafted for his speed and defense with the idea that he would hopefully grow into power. If he’s hitting like this at 19 years old, watch out.

Single-A Wilson Warbirds

Current record: 40-35
Record this week: 3-4
This week: @ Fredericksburg Nationals
Next week: vs. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Standout performances:

Handelfry Encarnacion: 12-for-27, 4 2B, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 6 K
Brady Ebel: 7-for-18, 2 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 9 BB, 2 K
José Anderson: 7-for-21, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K
Alexander Frias: 8-for-24, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
Juan Ortuno: 6-for-20, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 5 BB, 2 K
Hayden Robinson: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
Andrew Healy: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

News this week: Alexander Frias was promoted from the Arizona Complex League on June 22 after dominating the ACL. The 18-year-old outfielder slashed .441/.518/.678 with 18 extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases in 32 games before earning a spot in Wilson.

MVP: Handelfry Encarnacion has put together the best all-around offensive season on the Warbirds. He leads the club in OPS while ranking second in both batting average and home runs, all while playing nearly every day. Encarnacion doesn’t get talked about as much as some of the Brewers’ higher-ranked prospects, but he’s been Wilson’s most consistent hitter and is someone to keep an eye on moving forward.

Cy Young: José Meneses gets the nod despite not making a single start this season. Instead, the Warbirds have deployed him as a multi-inning reliever, and they’ve been rewarded with by far the best numbers on the pitching staff. Meneses owns a 1.95 ERA with 11.92 strikeouts per nine innings over 22 appearances, covering an inning or two at a time while consistently shutting down opposing lineups. As someone who spent far too much time arguing that Josh Hader deserved serious Cy Young consideration, I have no problem giving this award to a reliever.

Most Improved: José Anderson’s stat line is one of the strangest in the Brewers’ farm system. He’s batting below the Mendoza Line and owns an astronomical 38.9% strikeout rate. The case for Anderson can be distilled into one sentence: he’s 19 years old and has already hit 17 home runs in just 251 at-bats.

You can’t teach power like that.

Anderson has also added 11 doubles, and while his batting average and on-base percentage leave plenty to be desired, his .442 slugging percentage pushes his OPS to a respectable .732. He’s a fascinating player because the massive raw power is tantalizing, but he’s clearly still a project. Like Encarnacion, he’s worth keeping an eye on. If he can trim the strikeouts and improve his on-base ability — easier said than done, I know — he’ll quickly become a prospect that people are talking about as a player with big-league potential.

Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! Did you watch the game last night? It was not great. There were a few good things, like Shane Baz’s seven-inning, two-run start. Colton Cowser played good defense in center field and walked twice. Birthday boy Gunnar Henderson had two hits and a walk.

Other than that, it was another bad night. The run scoring was limited to two Adley Rutschman sac flies, and the team went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left six runners on base. Pete Alonso struck out three times. The bullpen fell apart, giving up six runs over the final two innings. And they got an assist from another Blaze Alexander error that allowed two runs to score when the inning should have ended. If you yearn for more details of last night’s 8-2 loss, check out Tyler Young’s game recap.

Honestly, what is there to even say about these guys anymore? They are now eight games under .500, which ties their season low. They were also eight games under back on May 20th. This is just a bad baseball team.

Now, I’m no stranger to bad baseball teams. In my 47 years on this earth, the Orioles have had winning seasons in just 21 of them. And seven of those were the first seven years I was alive, so they don’t really count from a baseball consciousness perspective. As far as my baseball fan lifespan goes, there have been three stretches of good baseball: 1995-1997 (they were a touch under .500 in ’95, but 2131 made up for it), 2012-2016, and 2022-2024. That’s it. Other than that, a whole lot of losing.

The early aughts were rough, but then it got easy to settle in as fan of a terrible baseball team that everyone knew would be terrible. We got a little bit of hope with your Miguel Tejadas and your Javy Lopezes and the like, but we never got too far into the excitement. 2005 was fun until it crashed, and I was reminded of what it’s like, for a minute, to like a good baseball team. But then the real losing started. Jay Payton. Kevin Millwood. Jeff Fiorentino. César Izturis.

There was so much bad baseball that I can’t account for it all. Those players were bad, but that’s all they were ever going to be. No one expected otherwise. So put the Orioles game on in the background, hon, while we have crabs.

Then, they got good again. And it was incredible. 2012 was amazing. 2014, even better. After 2018, we were told we had to embrace the losing for just a few years in order to build a team that would become a powerhouse. That powerhouse? It lasted two seasons. And now here we are again. And it’s so much worse than 2010. The process failed, the hyped talent isn’t performing. The Orioles are bad again, but this time it’s worse. This time, we were told it would be different. A terrible team that is forced to play Félix Pié every day? Eh, what are you gonna do? A terrible team with Gunnar Henderson looking lost? Unbearable.

We’ve been saying around these parts for a while that they just need to go on a hot streak. And we believed they could do it because these players are supposed to be good enough for that. But maybe it turns out that they’re not. And that we watched them lose on purpose five years ago for nothing. And that’s a tough pill to swallow.

Links

Orioles GM Mike Elias wants to hold on to Adley Rutschman. He’s actually right – The Baltimore Banner
Kyle Goon lays out the argument to not trade Rutschman. I don’t want him traded either.

Akin to Injured List – MASN Sports
If you missed the news, Keegan Akin has been placed on the IL with left elbow discomfort. He was replaced the Josh Walker, who would have had a decent night last night if not for an error by Blaze Alexander. Welcome to the team, Josh! This is what they do.

Déjà vu? Cowser robsDéjà vu? Cowser robs 2nd HR in as many days with spectacular grab 2nd HR in as many days with spectacular grab – MLB.com
Might as well enjoy this homerun robbery from Colton Cowser, there wasn’t much else to like about the game.

Birthdays and History

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have just one Orioles birthday buddy. Jesús Aguilar turns 36 years old today. Aguilar played in 16 games for the Orioles in 2022, a blip in his 10-year career.

On this day in 1997, Mike Mussina won his 100th career game. He pitched eight innings with one run and nine strikeouts. He got some run support from teammate Cal Ripken, who hit a grand slam in the 8-1 win over the Phillies. On the same day, Ripken was elected to his 15th All-Star game with the second-most votes of the year, after only Ken Griffey Jr.

In 2009, the Orioles completed the biggest comeback in team history. Down 10-1, they scored five runs in the seventh and five runs in the eighth, with Jonathan Papelbon giving up the go-ahead double by Nick Markakis. Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie, pinch running for Matt Wieters, scored the tying run. It was a fun one.

In 2012, the Phillies traded future Hall of Famer Jim Thome to the Orioles for a few minor leaguers who never panned out. I had long wanted Thome to be on the Orioles, and he was a little past his prime. But it was exciting all the same as the Orioles went to the playoffs for the first time since 1997.

And on this day last year, the Orioles defeated the Texas Rangers 10-6 on the road. The game was tied 3-3 at the end of the ninth. The Orioles scored three runs in the top of the 10th on homers from Gunnar Henderson and Colton Cowser, but Keegan Akin blew it in the bottom of the 10th. The Orioles scored four more in the top of the 11th and Andrew Kittredge pitched a 1-2-3 11th to lock it down.

Back in 1949, Violet Bidwill had remarried after her husband, Charlie Bidwill, passed away in 1947. It was just months before his Chicago Cardinals captured the 1947 NFL Championship title.

Violet wed Walter Wolfner, who was then named the franchise’s managing director, but Violet was the sole owner of the Cardinals club and made all team decisions. She did not stay home and bake pies, but was present for the owner’s meetings, and after some time, she volunteered and was placed on various league committees.

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Wolfner simply wanted to make money from owning their NFL franchise. He wanted lots of fans and to finally be in the black at the end of each season. Discussions between him and Violet determined that, instead of relocating to a whole new city and state, the Cardinals could remain in the Chicagoland area, where Violet’s entire world had evolved, and Wolfner could please his wife.

By playing their home games at Dyche Stadium, located on the campus of Northwestern University, the venue was much nicer than their current stadium, Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox baseball team, and located in a much better part of Chicago. The thought process was that the Cardinals could perhaps finally build a decent fanbase and regain their financial stability.

The move was brought up and discussed at the January 1959 league meeting with the other owners. During the discussion regarding the move, Chicago Bears’ owner George Halas pulled out a contract.

Enter: The “Madison Street Agreement”

It was identified as the “Madison Street Agreement.”

This was a document dated 1931 and signed by Halas and Dr. David Jones, owner of the Chicago Cardinals. It stated the two clubs would adhere to strict boundaries regarding the City of Chicago.

The agreement was put in place so that the Bears would have control and access to the northern portions of the City of Chicago, and the Cardinals would have control and access to the southern portions of Chicago; and they wouldn’t infringe upon the other team’s ability to gather fans, attend grand openings of new businesses, sell sponsorships and ads, and basically get in each other’s way.

The dividing line was Madison Street, which runs along a long stretch that travels east and west. The Cardinals had every opportunity regarding the southside, while the Bears could go after anything in the northern portion. This prevented the other team from stealing clients who might buy program ads or offer sponsorships. The agreement also prevented the other from playing home games in each other’s protected area.

It was later renewed and signed by Charlie Bidwill after he purchased the Cardinals.

Does this sound like something mobsters would do? Of course it does. Claiming territories and setting boundaries. Chicago is famous for this type of self-regulation. According to Halas, with this signed contract, the Cardinals were prevented from moving their home games north into Evanston, Illinois, and begin play at Dyche Stadium.

The Cardinals filed a lawsuit in Superior Court in Chicago on September 26. The Wolfners also asked NFL Commissioner Bert Bell to intercede.

Why would Halas care? For one, Dyche Stadium was a lot nicer than Wrigley Field, where his Bears played their home games. For one, Wrigley Field was built as a baseball stadium. The Bears owned the majority of fans in the city as far as being the kingpin NFL team, while the Cardinals, although a lot older, were always considered the big brother who couldn’t find success in life, while their younger sibling ruled the region.

The courts threw out the petition because it wasn’t a real contract. After all, it was never a recorded instrument. Bell ruled that the contract was valid, but was between two member clubs and had nothing to do with the league. It was basically regarded as a “gentleman’s agreement.”  

Instead of pressing forward, the Wolfners did not pursue the Northwestern venue. A year earlier, a young Texas oilman named Lamar Hunt approached the Wolfners about selling the Cardinals, to which they made a counteroffer of selling him 20%, but the club would remain in Chicago. Hunt intended to relocate the franchise to Dallas. He turned down their counter, then started the “American Football League.”

In 1959, the Cardinals played four home games at aging Soldier Field on the Chicago lakefront, plus two more home games in Minneapolis, MN. The Minnesota Vikings came along as an expansion team in 1961.

Five years earlier, the Cardinals began playing an annual preseason game in St. Louis called the “Cardinal Glennon Charity Game” at Sportman’s Park, a baseball field that was home to the St. Louis Browns and later the St. Louis Cardinals pro baseball clubs.

With the tie-in to the annual charity game, the fact that Wolfner had his business located in St. Louis, and the flux with the stadium situation back in Chicago, the Cardinals relocated to St. Louis beginning in 1960.

And who knows? If the Cardinals had been able to move to Dyche Stadium, they might still be there. Or at the very least, perhaps have remained in the Chicagoland area.

Barry Shuck is a pro football historian and a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association   

The Detroit Tigers opened up their three-game series against the New York Yankees in the Bronx with a 7-3 win on Monday night. Casey Mize tossed an absolute gem and the offense, powered by two-hit efforts from Kevin McGonigle, Hao-Yu Lee and Zach McKinstry, had no trouble producing runs to take Game 1.

On Tuesday, the Motor City Kitties can clinch the road series behind left-hander Tarik Skubal, who will make his fourth start since returning from cutting-edge nanoscope surgery to clean up his elbow. In his three games since coming back, the 29-year-old has struggled to the tune of an uncharacteristically high 4.96 ERA and 5.85 FIP over 16 1/3 innings of work, surrendering a whopping six home runs over that stretch — four more than he allowed in the 43 1/3 frames he threw before his IL stint.

Skubal’s last start also came against the Bronx Bombers, in which he allowed four runs on four hits (three home runs) and no walks while striking out nine over six innings for his fourth loss of the season in a 4-2 final at Comerica Park. The two-time Cy Young Award winner had not allowed three dingers in a game since 2021, when it happened five times.

For the Yankees, right-handed ace Cam Schlittler will take the mound amidst a Cy Young-worthy season of his own this summer. The 25-year-old second-year hurler has posted a microscopic 0.76 ERA and a tidy 2.46 FIP over his last four games, though his most recent outing saw him surrender four unearned runs to the Boston Red Sox for his fourth loss of 2026 in a 6-3 final.

Here is a look at how the two top-tier pitchers match up on Tuesday night.

Detroit Tigers (26-49) vs. New York Yankees (48-36)

Time (ET): 7:05 p.m.
Place: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York
SB Nation Site:Pinstripe Alley
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 86: LHP Tarik Skubal (3-4, 3.32 ERA) vs. RHP Cam Schlittler (8-4, 1.62 ERA)

SKUBAL

SCHLITTLER

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: Offday (but it didn’t stop the injury bug that’s crushed the majors to hit them, too; recently-promoted and red-hot Garrett Martin hit the IL with an undisclosed injury)

Double-A Somerset Patriots: Offday

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades: Offday

Low-A Tampa Tarpons: Offday

Florida Complex League Yankees:W, 5-2 at FCL Blue Jays

3B Richard Matic 2-5, 2 K
DH Wilberson De Pena 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, K — just keeps raking, 12th homer and 1.051 OPS in 39 games (.352/.407/.667)
C Queni Pineda 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, RBI
2B Leni Done 0-4, 2 K
CF Jose Castro 1-3, BB, K, 2 SB
LF Francisco Vilorio 0-4, 2 K
SS Dexters Peralta 0-4, 3 K
RF Estivenzon Montero 0-4, K
1B Justin Capellan 0-3, K, HBP

Jerson Alejandro 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 3 K, balk — only his third appearance of the season (first was in May) after missing 2025 with an injury
Anthony Mena 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 1 K
Edinzo Marquez 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K — very nice (win)
Alexander Almonte 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K

Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 12-4 vs. DSL Twins

SS Stiven Marinez 0-4, BB, K — one of just two Yanks without a ribbie yesterday
CF Yostin Pena 0-1, 4 BB, RBI, SB, CS — walk-a-palooza
2B Juan Torres 2-4, 3 RBI, K, SF
C Juan Martinez 2-5, 2B, RBI, throwing error — RBI knock to tie it in third after Twins’ early 4-0 lead
1B Cesar Lopez 1-3, 2 BB, RBI, SB
DH Manuel Aguilar 0-4, RBI, 2 K, GIDP, HBP
3B Abrahan Pichardo 0-1, 3 BB, RBI, SF, SB — another walk-a-palooza (10 total for Yanks)
RF Eliezer Adames 1-2, 2B, 2 BB, K
LF Kendry Diaz 3-4, 2 2B, 2 RBI, CS — go-ahead double in the fourth

Hector Moreno 1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 4 BB, 1 K, HR, WP
Fredy Penuelas 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K (win) — picked up Moreno’s tough day was outstanding long relief
Luis Rodriguez 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 4-15 at DSL Colorado

CF Alfiery Matos 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB, HBP — leadoff dinger was first career pro homer
2B Carlos Bello 0-4, RBI, 2 K, SF, throwing error
C Alessandro Rodriguez 1-2, 2 BB, picked off
RF David Carrera 1-2, RBI, K, SF
RF Sebastian Pinto 0-1
SS Germayhoni Beltre 1-3, BB
DH Poly Ojeda 1-2
PH-DH John Rosillo 0-2, 2 K
1B Stalen Ramirez 1-2, 2B
PH-1B Jesus Guerrero 0-1, K, HBP
3B Adrian Feliz 0-2, 2 BB, K, CS
LF Eddison Charles 1-4, 2B, 2 K, SB, 2 fielding errors and a throwing error — bad day in the field

Randy Angomas 1.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R (5 ER), 3 BB, 2 K, HBP (loss) — ’twas not a day for Bombers pitching
Diego Carrillo 3.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 4 K, HBP
Andre Avila 1.1 IP, 3 H, 6 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 3 K, HR
Josue Silvestre 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

The worst-kept secret about the Yankees right now is that they’re hurting for some offensive fireworks. With Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham, and Ryan McMahon all on the IL right now, over a third of the starting lineup is missing and the consequences can be felt in their five-game losing streak. They’ve been on no-hit alert in back-to-back nights now, and in general the lineup has failed to get much of anything going on a consistent basis. Nearly everyone in the lineup is slumping, and as a result they haven’t scored more than four runs in a game in over a week. That just won’t do.

So there’s been many culprits responsible for the offense’s cold streak, but who can pull them out of the doldrums? In an ideal world there would be several hitters getting close to finding their form again, but sometimes you just need one guy to get on a heater to take the pressure off the rest of the team. It doesn’t matter who does it, but someone’s gotta step up and be the one to put the lineup on their back for at least a little bit. Let’s go over some candidates, shall we?

Ben Rice has been the 1B to Aaron Judge’s 1A in the lineup for the majority of the year, but with Judge now out Rice unfortunately entered a pretty big slump regressing back to the mean a bit. His June’s been rough, but he still stacks up as the team’s best hitter this year and thus stands the best chance of carrying the load with some timely homers if he gets back on track. The lack of protection might be a contributing factor to Rice’s slump, but right now there’s no guarantee of any protection coming up and they simply need somebody to get the torch lit.

Aside from Rice, the next best hitter would be Cody Bellinger, and he’s in the right place to find his groove. Bellinger’s got some of the most egregious home/away splits you could ask for going on this season, hitting to a 207 wRC+ in Yankee Stadium while hitting for a 64 wRC+ anywhere else. That latter mark is quite concerning, but seeing as the Yankees are at the start of a homestand as we speak, there’s no harm in keeping the pattern going for another week.

It’s been a major surprise just how well Paul Goldschmidt’s done this year, but the long-time veteran has fit into his role exceptionally since taking on a small one-year deal to return to the Yankees. He’s gotten more playing time than originally expected with Stanton’s injury, and that has only expanded with Judge also out now, but they’ve never needed him more than now with the rest of the offense struggling. He’s been arguably the most successful of the bunch during June, encapsulated by his two-homer day against Tarik Skubal last week, but if he could fully turn on the 2022 Matt Carpenter magic for a bit his Yankees stint could quickly rise to legendary status.

Perhaps though, the answer simply doesn’t lay with the lineup as is. Perhaps the return of Grisham and/or McMahon will be the catalyst that turns things around, and they’re both nearing that point. Grisham could be back during this homestand, with a short rehab stint that could last as long as a single game being all that stands between him and his name being penciled back into the lineup. McMahon is due back shortly after him, and while he hasn’t been as impactful with the bat overall he’s had his moments and could certainly ingratiate himself by slapping a clutch home run to bail out the rest of the position players.

Whoever the answer is, the Yankees would love it if they got to work immediately as they’ve got another game in front of them. Before we get to their attempt to even up this series though, let’s run through what’s in store here first: Jeff considers what Minnesota could have to offer as our trade partner series kicks off, Peter covers the Roundup, Kento honors Jerry Kenney’s time with the Yankees on his birthday, Michael goes through the past week’s action down on the farm, and Andrés examines Henry Lalane’s resurgence and how it could position him as a trade chip this season.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers

Time: 7:10 p.m. EST

TV: Amazon Prime Video, Detroit SportsNet, TBS

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

NBC Sports: In case you missed it, Jazz Chisholm Jr. exited Monday’s game against the Tigers early. While tracking a fly ball, he collided with Jasson Domínguez, taking the outfielder’s arm straight to the head. According to Aaron Boone, he has not been diagnosed with a concussion, but he is in concussion protocol.

The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: The Yankees have not looked good of late, including getting swept in a four-game series at the hands of the rival Red Sox over the weekend. Despite the recent losing streak, the Yankees’ record is right near the top of the American League, and was the best in the AL until the recent defeats. Considering the Yankees’ roster makeup, it’s probably best for them to go all in at the Trade Deadline, with the likes of Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole currently in their 30s.

ESPN | Jorge Castillo: Two of the players whose injury recoveries are most important to the Yankees’ chances are Max Fried and Giancarlo Stanton. In some hopeful news, the two are set to face off in a live batting practice session on Tuesday. Stanton’s timeline is still largely unclear, but if all goes well for Fried he could begin a rehab assignment shortly after this session.

CBS Sports | Matt Snyder: While the Yankees have gotten stinkers out of the rotation, bullpen, and defense of late, the major reason for the recent struggles have been due to a slumping offense. There are several reasons for that, but they’re ones the Yankees are going to have change quickly if they do want to make a run in October. Some of their stars (including their biggest one) are injured, sure, but the supporting cast just hasn’t done much supporting at all during this stretch or for the season at large and that’s a concern that won’t go away easily.

Lastly, the Yankees will have a fresh arm in their bullpen tonight after needing to use six arms to record 22 outs in relief of an ineffective Ryan Weathers yesterday. Yerry de los Santos threw two innings after Weathers left the game, and he’ll now head back to Triple-A. The RailRiders were off yesterday, so the Yankees will have their pick of the litter.

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Another slugfest is expected tonight at Sutter Health Park when the heavily favored Los Angeles Dodgers face the Athletics in Game 2 of their three-game series.

The Dodgers are overpriced tonight (-144), and my Dodgers vs. Athletics predictions and MLB picks are expecting a bounce-back victory for the highly undervalued A’s (+138) on Tuesday, June 30. 

Who will win Dodgers vs A's today: Athletics moneyline (+134)

The market is flat-out wrong, pricing the Los Angeles Dodgers as road favorites tonight based on their uber-pristine surface stats.

Justin Wrobleski is the ultimate regression candidate; his 2.71 ERA is a mirage masked by a fraudulent 4.32 xERA and a bottom-tier 17.8% whiff rate.

Conversely, Jeffrey Springs is dynamically unlucky. His bloated 5.52 ERA hides a much sharper 4.41 xERA and a strong .244 xBA, while his 20.6 % strikeout rate provides a true missing-bat floor.

Take the Athletics to +115 tonight.

COVERS INTEL: The Athletics are batting .261 with a .789 OPS with runners in scoring position.

Dodgers vs A's Over/Under pick:  Over 10.5 (-121)

The elements align perfectly for a high-scoring dog fight tonight.

With 90-degree heat and the wind blowing out at Sutter Health Park, flyball tendencies will be heavily penalized.

Wrobleski lacks a solid bat-missing floor (17.8% Whiff%), while Springs possesses an extreme flyball profile (13th percentile groundball rate).

Combined with an Athletics bullpen surrendering a massive 2.55 HR/9 over the last two weeks, routine flyballs turn into cheap home runs in that bandbox.

These two clubs light up the scoreboard whenever they meet and are 9-1 to the Over in their past 10 meetings.

Hammer the Over to 11 runs and -130.

Dodgers vs A's weather

Hot, humid weather and winds gusting to 10.9 mph make this an ideal night for hitting for the Dodgers and Athletics. 

Dodgers vs A's odds

• Moneyline: Dodgers -144 | A's +138
• Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+108) | A's +1.5 (-113)
• Over/Under: Over 10.5 (-113) | Under 10.5 (+108)

Dodgers vs A's trend

The Over is 9-1 in their last 10 H2H meetings. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. A's.

How to watch Dodgers vs A's and game info

Dodgers vs A's latest injuries

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