Category: Baseball

Mets utility player Jared Young is playing in his first rehab game since undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee in mid-April.

Young’s return to the lineup comes for Single-A St. Lucie, where he’ll be batting second and DHing. 

The 30-year-old was off to a hot start for New York this season, slashing .350/.391/.450 with two doubles and two RBI in 20 at-bats while playing first base, left field and right field.

With the Mets’ offense struggling at the time, Young had been getting more and more at-bats and was impressive in the field as well, with some highlight-reel catches in the outfield.

Tonight’s game is an Apple TV one, because MLB will sellout to anyone offering a bag of money. Trey Yesavage (1-1, 0.68) goes against Brenan Hanifee (0-0, 1.08, making his second start of the season, with 5 relief appearances). It looks like a cloudy day (or a cloudy weekend) in Detroit.

There are a bunch of injury updates:

• Nathan Lukes is to run the bases tomorrow and should start a rehab assignment Monday.
• Alejandro Kirk is ‘catching’ again, as well as throwing and hitting. So he’s getting closer.
• Max Scherzer is throwing.
• Yimi Garcia is throwing again.
• They are still talk about Jose Berrios…..it is possible he’ll have surgery to remove some loose bodies.

And they haven’t made any announcement on tomorrow’s starter or how they plan to get through nine innings. Odds are that Spencer Miles will have a part in it. Some of the plans will depend on how things go today. I’d imagine that Yariel Rodriguez will be part of things too. But even if both are in the game, there will be 4-5 innings left for others.

Tonight’s lineups:

Tarik Skubal is on the IL but he’s throwing already. The Tigers have Casey Mize starting tomorrow. Sunday It is Kevin Gausman and Jack Flaherty who is 0-4 with a 5.73 ERA. It would be nice if he’s 0-5 after it.

It would be nice to win some of these games. Or all of them.

Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell was placed on the injured list with loose bodies in his left elbow, retroactive to May 12, the team announced before Friday's game against the Angels.

According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Snell reported feeling something in the back of his elbow while playing catch Thursday as part of his preparation for his next start.

"We had the test to see if there were any loose bodies, talking through what's next," Roberts said, adding that regardless of whether Snell has surgery or not, "we feel confident he's going to be back with us this year."

Snell, who started the season on the IL with left shoulder fatigue, had been brought back from his rehab assignment early to replace Tyler Glasnow, who was placed on the injured list last week with back spasms. In a 7-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves last Saturday, Snell gave up four earned runs on six hits, with two walks and five strikeouts over three innings and 77 pitches.

In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled left-handed pitcher Charlie Barnes. Snell was scratched from Friday's start and replaced by right-hander Will Klein, signaling that it would be a bullpen game.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The 2026 Cleveland Guardians are, for the most part, precisely the kind of team the Cleveland Guardians have come to always be. They don’t hit for a ton of power – their 42 homers rank 19th overall, their .136 ISO 22nd. They do, though, walk a lot (11.2%, 4th in the game), and they avoid striking out like the plague (19.9%, 3rd lowest).

They sport a middling 96 wRC+ as a team, a mark that’s also 19th overall and slightly ahead of the Reds’ 94 (22nd). They also pitch well, with their team ERA and xERA both ranking about 10th in the game as of the afternoon of Friday, May 15th.

The evening of Friday, May 15th will see the Guardians play host to the Cincinnati Reds as the two Ohio teams reconvene to compete for the mythical Ohio Cup.

Cincinnati will once again turn to Opening Day starter Andrew Abbott, who mercifully has looked much, much more like his old self across his most recent trio of starts after an incredibly rocky month of April. In that trio, he’s fired 17.2 IP and allowed just 2 ER, boasting a 14/7 K/BB and yielding just a lone home run. That’s help him pitch his season-long ERA down to 4.47, and the Reds are surely hoping that he’ll continue to lower that tonight.

Cleveland will roll out righty Tanner Bibee for the start in the series opener at Progressive Field, with first pitch set to fly out of his hand at 7:10 PM ET.

Here’s how the Reds will line up to start this one:

With their “Rivalry Weekend” series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field set to begin tonight, the Colorado Rockies have announced multiple roster moves. Headlining the announcement is the news that top prospect Sterlin Thompson (no. 13 PuRP) has been recalled from the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes for his Major League debut.

Thompson, 24, was selected by the Rockies 31st overall in the 2022 MLB draft from the University of Florida. The former Gator hit .332/.424/.524 over two college seasons while playing mostly right field and second base. Since being drafted, the Rockies organization has had Thompson play a plethora of positions—including first and third base—though he has largely settled in as a corner outfielder over the last two seasons.

Spending an entire season with in Triple-A last year, Thompson hit .296/.392/.519 in 120 games with 28 doubles, eight triples, and 18 home runs. The Rockies added him to the 40-man roster over the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.

Thompson struggled in spring training with a .270 OPS and only one hit in 19 at-bats. He was assigned back to the Isotopes to start the season, where he has completely caught fire.

Through his first 36 games in Albuquerque, Thompson is hitting .344/.491/.496 with five doubles, one triple, four home runs, and eight stolen bases. He has also drawn more walks (30) than he has struck out (28).

Born in Longmont, Colorado, Thompson will be the first Colorado native position player to debut with the Rockies when he takes the field. However, he is not currently in tonight’s starting lineup.

Thompson will wear jersey no. 30.

In a corresponding roster move, utilityman Tyler Freeman has been placed on the paternity list.

Additionally, the Rockies have placed right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander (right elbow sprain) on the 15-day injured list.

Dollander, 24, was off to a strong start this season with a 3.89 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 10 appearances. He originally worked out of the bullpen as a bulk reliever—usually being preceeded by an opener—but has made his last few appearances as a starter.

On Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Dollander left the game in the second inning with what manager Warren Schaeffer called “right arm tightness.”

Left-handed pitcher Sammy Peralta has been recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque.

Peralta, 28, was claimed via waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this season. He currently has a 3.79 ERA in 13 appearances and 19 innings of work.

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My name is Di, and I’m a lifelong Cubs hater.

It’s been 13 years since my Chicagoan status officially shifted from South Sider to North Sider. In that time, I’ve learned a lot about our mortal baseball enemies. Most South Siders within the city limits have suffered the unfortunate obligation of being a spectator for a few games at Wrigley over the course of their lives, and for me, it’s been once with a film cast and crew (seated directly behind a rusty column with my co-stars), once when my musical group was in attendance for the game with the Toronto Blue Jays (we were supposed to sing the Canadian National Anthem), and once recently, post–Wrigley-facelift, for a friend’s birthday. For that, I was a willing participant.

My grueling (but necessary) 2025 absence had me pining for baseball, so I was happy to go to a game, even on enemy turf. Baseball is baseball, right? Attending the game decked out in the opposing team’s gear would still render a stain upon my soul, but now it would be easier to scrub out. I ordered a one-use Cincinnati Reds shirt, donned bright crimson nails, and scowled fiercely the entire time, turning my face a nice shade of scarlet to show my Cubs hatred. Did I pop a blood vessel in my eye? Maybe.

The NL Central is crushing, with their last place team boasting a better record than our current winning record White Sox, and I was excited to fly the L. Birthday Boy was the only person in our group who was an actual Cubs fan, so I was in good company: two Cardinals fans, one real Reds fan from Cincinnati (who unfortunately dropped dead when he tried to enter the stadium – RIP John), and one neutral party. 

Before our incursion into Wrigley, we stopped a few doors down for ice cream that’s shaped like elotes, to pay tribute to my favorite Comiskulerate Park snack. 

Full of novelty ice cream, we arrived at Gallagher Way, the event space abutting the ball park that hosts yoga, game nights, Christkindl Market, concerts and a massive video board that broadcasts mostly Marquee, with free movie nights on some Wednesdays. 

White Sox fans, I hate to say it, but the space is remarkable and the vibes are immaculate when Cubs fans and bar crawlers are absent. It activates a deep longing for the Ishbian Sports complex of our idealistic fantasies, only ours conceptually has a better common space and a pedestrian-only footbridge across the Chicago River, serving to link New-New Comiskey with the new Chicago Fire stadium of our dreams. (Yes, I acknowledge that our current field is beautiful, clean, and fun, but the land is bought and it’s likely happening, so you bet I’m taking my kayak to the future River of Dingers and fishing out some Montgomery balls). [yes, I know, phrasing.]

In my teenage years, I’d frequent the Wrigleyville neighborhood to visit The Metro, which has since undergone a deep makeover, from gutter punk drug haven to a revamped, Evanston-meets-Bourbon Street barfly bonanza. To say it’s transformed dramatically in the past decade would be an understatement. Once upon a time, the confines weren’t just friendly, they were philanderous, like that sinister coworker staring at you from the unlit corner at the corporate holiday party and wagging his eyebrows in a way that makes you keep a hand over your drink for the rest of the night. Now, they’ve overcorrected, and I feel like I don’t belong in this corporate stronghold without my White Sox evening gown and opera-length pinstripe gloves. A place can’t be too clean, but it can be too corporate.

Do I miss the losing era Wrigley, filthy with hammered non-fans? Almost, but no. There’s nothing wrong with using a baseball field as a bar and casually observing the game. If you’re having fun, great, I’m glad, but please don’t argue baseball unprompted with a passing White Sox fan on the street while not even knowing who’s pitching that day. Andstop pissing on my car just because you forgot to unload your bladder into the crumbling trough, while I’m parked with flashers on Clark to pick up my Big Star, Andy. And while we’re at it, have some self respect and trim your beard, you fucking walnut.

Now that it’s clear that I may dislike the Cubs, let’s continue the journey. Walking into Wrigley with a ticket for the nosebleeds had me climbing the recently-renovated stadium steps, and I’m happy to report that I neither have tetanus, nor did I fall into a crack in the cement and become a part of the stadium forever. In fact, the rust was gone, structures appeared sound, and it didn’t smell like piss where I was seated. I could even see my neighborhood.

I can’t report on whether men still have to pee in a trough, because this wasn’t an undercover operation. 

My group was also surprised to learn that Wrigley has finally entered the 1990s era, and installed a real electronic screen. Unfortunately, it was obscured by a pole. That’s two for three, Wrigley, and one of those times, the director sprung for the good seats.

At least they painted over the rust. 

With the Cincinnati Reds putting up a fight, my friend talking trash in my ear, and my husband almost choking on one of his five hot dogs while cheering for the Cardinals for some reason, I noticed something in Wrigley that I’d never seen in my previous accursed visits: The only time the volume was burgeoning around me was when they played the Riders of Rohan theme for a walk-up song on the organ (amazing), and again for the Wendella Boat Race on the big screen (which we couldn’t see). There were thousands of empty seats, but that wasn’t as notable as the lack of enthusiasm. It wasn’t raining or unseasonably cold, and both teams were fighting for the top of the division at the time. And although I actively try to ignore the Cubs, I knew more about them than anyone around me. As I noted the plentiful Reds hats encompassing me, and even a few White Sox hats, it hit me: The prophecy had been fulfilled.

Flash back with me to 2016. Wrigley Field was in the middle of renovations. I was beginning to learn the truth about my nearby neighborhood and its dearth of Cubs fans, punctuated by the astounding sea of White Sox hats signaling to me like beacons in the night. Between the renovations, the corporatization and the World Series win breaking both the tension and the “lovable losers” spell, the Cubs weren’t as fun to the casual fans anymore. It seemed that winning had ended the enchantment for those who don’t love baseball. This isn’t an indictment on fans who left due to the owners’ beliefs, and in fact, I salute you. It appeared that the fans who stuck around seemed bored, despite the great baseball being played.

In my 13 years here, I’ve met a lot of neighbors and have made a lot of North Side friends. White Sox fans, let me tell you that I know two Cubs fans who live on the North side, and one of them worked for the Cubs and moved here from the suburbs. The other is Birthday Boy, who is immune to criticism (but just for today). The actual fans love watching a winning team, and I respect them. They’re few and far between.

Then I thought back to living on the South Side. I knew more Cubs fans who lived on the South Side than I do living a stone’s throw from enemy territory. Granted, none of them knew what a base or a ball was, but they definitely knew how many beers they could drink to get just below the legal drinking limit. This is not to shame ballpark attendees who don’t know baseball, because I’ll always reiterate that gatekeeping is silly and baseball games are fun and should be enjoyed by everyone. However, is it a coincidence that they feel safer going to Wrigley because they don’t have to watch the game? They can do the wave (fine) and make cup snakes in the bleachers (genuinely funny) and eat hot dogs (obviously) in a place that doesn’t pressure them to know what’s going on with the game. They’re invited to the post-game drunkard jubilee on Clark, the bane of any North Sider’s existence, to forget everything they just witnessed. They don’t have to go straight home like we do, because there’s not much to do in the area after a ball game on the South Side, and I wish that weren’t the case.

Maybe the casual Cubs fans like hanging out outdoors with large groups of people who get excited, and being fans of a consistently losing team felt better because there was less pressure to pay attention. Darker still, a portion of these spectators could also feel seen among the flagrant functioning alcoholics, wasted at noon on a weekday and stopping me on Sheffield to tell me that the White Sox suck, even though that year, the White Sox were amazing and the Cubs were atrocious. That’s right, Naperville Nate, in 2021 the White Sox won their division and the Cubs finished fourth in theirs, and just because you’ve never been farther south than Soldier Field doesn’t mean the neighborhood is unsafe, you useless sackbag.

So South Siders, before you judge a North Sider by their zip code, keep in mind that a lot of them are in baseball purgatory. Welcome them with open arms. Forgive. Be like da pope.

Cubs fan friends and neighbors who don’t abuse the sidewalks and actually like watching the ball game, I hope you have a great time this season. I’m glad there are less attendees and less drunkards (for now), but I doubt you can count on that continuing with a tight division with great teams. There are also those Cubs fans who jumped ship due to the Ricketts’ political donations, and I greatly respect that and welcome you to the Black and White side. We’ve had some scrappy winning baseball in the month of May, and while our future is still unclear, the White Sox are playing good baseball. At the risk of sounding like a casual Cubs fan, this team is fun to watch even if they won’t win a World Series this season. 

We ended up leaving the game early while the Reds were still ahead, and although I eventually learned the outcome of the game, I like to pretend that it ended in Cincinnati’s favor. 

South Siders, I can’t recommend going to Wrigley at any time during the baseball season, and I hope we give it to the Cubs during this first Crosstown Classic series. But if not, at least we can say that our team still has a soul. 

The first installment of this year’s Subway Series will look a little different as both sides are dealing with some injuries and sporting some new faces.

Nevertheless, there will still be some big names on the field this weekend, like Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger for the Yankees and Juan Soto for the Mets.

On top of that, the Mets will also have two rookies, who have taken the team by storm over the past week in Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, play in the weekend’s festivities for the first time in their careers.

Not only have Benge and Ewing never played in a Subway Series before, which can be said about a couple of other first-time Mets, but they’ve also never faced the Yankees before and are excited for the opportunity to take on the crosstown rivals.

“I’ve been told that it’s really exciting and that the atmosphere in here is a lot of fun and I’m just excited to play,” Ewing said, fresh off his incredible first series in the big leagues.

“I feel like I expect a lot of fans. A lot of fans and some fun baseball to be played,” Benge added. “... They’re one of the better teams in the league so to be able to go out there and compete is always fun.”

While Benge has been with the club since Opening Day, Ewing was promoted at the beginning of the week and his arrival spurred a series sweep of the Detroit Tigers with the Mets’ offense, scuffling all year at that point, scoring 22 runs in three games.

They enter Friday’s weekend series winners of three out of their last four series played.

“I think we have a lot of momentum, we have a lot of energy right now,” Ewing said. “The guys are excited and I’m excited as well."

But the team’s recent turnaround hasn’t just been Ewing’s doing. Over his last 15 games, Benge is hitting .321 with a .802 OPS and has a hit in nine of his last 10 games.

It was his walk-off single in the 10th inning on Wednesday that won it for the Mets, scoring the ghost-runner Ewing from second base.

“You can’t shy away from those moments,” Benge said. “... Being able to build off that [sweep] and just keep going in our season. We dug ourselves a hole, but I’m sure everyone in here believes we can get out of it, so just building game after game and hopefully things will turn the right way.”

So, with both youngsters playing in their first Subway Series, have either of them gotten any advice for the big weekend?

“Just play your game and don’t change,” Ewing said.

The Yankees'rotation took a big hit on Friday whenMax Fried was placed on the 15-day injured list. 

The team announced an MRI and CT scan on Thursday, followed up by an examination by team physician, Dr. Chris Ahmad, revealed a left elbow bone bruise that will sideline Fried for some time.

“I'm definitely bummed that I'm going to have to be missing some time, but overall happy that it doesn't look like it's going to be anything serious, no surgery required or anything like that," Fried told reporters ahead of Friday's series-opener with the Mets. "The long-term outlook still looks good.”

Fried added that the ligament "looks good," and they are going to let the elbow "calm down" and manager Aaron Boone said that imagining results was "in some ways good news." 

The Yanks announced that renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache would also review the imaging taken on Thursday, which Fried called "due diligence" on the injury. "We're optimistic about it," Fried said.

The cub added that Fried will undergo repeat imaging in "a few weeks (or when asymptomatic) to further determine when Fried can resume throwing." No timetable for a specific return or a rehab scheduled was indicated at this time. 

"We're just gonna focus on the healing, kind of a wide range of recovery," Fried said when asked about a timetable. "We're gonna focus on my treatment and how I'm recovering with things. And as soon as I'm asymptomatic and feeling good, get more imaging just to clarify it and then, hopefully, start throwing immediately and get back as soon as possible."

Boone added that "long-term, feel like we're in an ok spot, so we'll just kinda listen to the body here over the next days and weeks and see what ultimately that timeline leads to."

Asked specifically about whether that range could be in the four-to-six or -eight week ballpark, Fried said he didn't want to give a specific time. 

"We're looking at a little bit of an ambiguous timeline just understanding that everyone's bodies are gonna heal differently," the left-hander said. "If it's a shorter timeline and I'm feeling good, then I'm gonna do everything I can to get back out there.

"But also give the grace of, if it needs a little bit more time, being able to do what I need to do to make sure I'm healthy, that this never happens again. And when I come back, it's for the long haul."

A corresponding roster move was not immediately announced.

Fried left Wednesday’s outing in Baltimore due to elbow soreness after allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while throwing just 61 pitches (34 strikes) across 3.0 innings of work.

The left-hander wasn’t exactly sharp in his last time out either, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks over six innings in a loss to the Brewers. 

Fried told reporters postgame that he wasn’t too concerned and was hoping to be able to toe the rubber his next time around; however, that will not be the case.

It will be a significant loss, as Fried has been a workhorse atop New York’s rotation, pitching to a 3.21 ERA and 1.005 WHIP while throwing a league-high 61.2 innings over his first 10 starts. 

The good news is that the Yanks could receive a boost to the front of their rotation as Gerrit Cole is closing in on his highly anticipated return. Boone said Friday that the right-hander would still need two more rehab starts, and they would not accelerate his timeline due to Fried's injury.

Max Fried is down for the count.

When he gets back up remains to be seen, though the Yankees at least feel they have avoided the worst when it comes to the left-hander’s elbow.

Fried will be placed on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow bone bruise, which was the “initial finding” from a Thursday MRI and CT scan, the Yankees said Friday.

That diagnosis comes with the caveat that the team also sent the imaging to noted surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, which Fried described as “due diligence” rather than a concern there may be a more serious injury, as the Yankees ace said his ulnar collateral ligament “looks good.”

For now, Fried figures to at least miss a month, though he said the timeline was “ambiguous” because he will be shut down for at least a few weeks or when he is asymptomatic, at which point he will undergo repeat imaging to determine whether he can begin throwing again. Typically for pitchers, the time of no-throw is equal to the time it takes to build back up.

“Definitely bummed that I’m going to have to be missing some time, but overall happy that it doesn’t look like it’s going to be anything serious,” Fried said Friday at Citi Field. “No surgery required or anything like that. Never want to go on the IL and miss games, but also understand that the long-term outlook still looks good.”

The Yankees will need someone to replace Fried in the rotation by Tuesday – likely to be prospect Elmer Rodríguez, though the Yankees had not yet finalized that as of Friday. It will not be Gerrit Cole, at least not yet, as the former AL Cy Young winner is likely to make two more rehab starts finishing off his comeback from Tommy John surgery, the next one coming on Saturday at Triple-A.

While rotation depth is an area of strength for the Yankees — they just got Carlos Rodón back from the IL last weekend, with Cole coming soon, Rodríguez and Carlos Lagrange waiting in the wings at Triple-A and Cam Schlittler, Will Warren and Ryan Weathers all pitching well in the big leagues — losing Fried for any time is still a blow. After leaving Wednesday’s start against the Orioles after just three innings because of elbow soreness, Fried had a 3.21 ERA and a 1.6 bWAR, the leader of a rotation that had been the backbone for the Yankees’ strong start to the season.

“It kind of is what it is right now,” manager Aaron Boone said. “In some ways, good news in that the ligament’s in good shape and just a matter of how the timeline’s going to shake out. Long-term, feel like we’re in a good spot. We’ll just listen to the body here over the next days and weeks and see what ultimately that timeline leads to.”

Fried said the injury was caused by “hyperextending” and “the banging of the two bones” around the elbow.

“Just irritated it a little bit, pissed it off,” Fried said. “Now I’m going to let it calm down and get back to it.”

While Fried hopes he can return “as soon as I possibly can,” he also indicated he would be honest with how he was feeling so it does not turn into something bigger by coming back too soon.

“If it’s a shorter timeline if I’m feeling good, then I’m going to do everything I can to get back out there,” he said. “But also, give the grace of if it needs a little bit more time, being able to do what I need to do to make sure I’m healthy, that this never happens again and when I come back, it’s for the long haul.”

Fried mentioned fine-tuning his mechanics to avoid something like this in the future, but he will largely be relegated to getting treatment in the coming weeks before he can ramp back up.

“Every day it’s going to get better,” he said. “But just knowing the risks of pushing it with that sort of thing, you don’t want to push it too far because then it can get pretty bad.”

Good afternoon everyone, it’s time to dive back into the mailbag and answer some of your questions. Remember to send in your questions for our weekly call by e-mail to pinstripealleyblog [at] gmail [dot] com.

RememberBobbyMurcer asks: Should Boone consider giving more starts to Escarra given how poorly Wells is performing on offense at the 1/4 pole?

No, I don’t think it would be beneficial to give more leeway to J.C. Escarra over Austin Wells for a few reasons. At the top of the list, catcher is a unique position that has to account for how well the pitching staff is working with the catcher, and Wells is a key component in the Yankees’ staff being among the best in baseball thanks in no small part to his 97th percentile framing. As for their offensive performance though, nothing Escarra has done in his limited opportunities would give Aaron Boone and company any indication that he’d hitter better: Escarra owns a 47 wRC+ and has struck out at a 23.4 percent rate compared to just a 6.4 percent walk rate, while Wells has a much-closer-to-passable 70 wRC+ and a 15.8 percent walk rate alongside similar strikeout numbers. I don’t think we’ll ever see the Wells that hit for an .800 OPS or better down in the minors as a Yankee at this point, but I do think that he’ll turn his performance at the plate around enough to not be deadweight while orchestrating exceptional numbers for the staff at large.

BetweenThePinstripes asks:The NL currently appears to have stronger teams and greater depth than the AL. For a long time, this balance of power was reversed. Why this recent shift?

The interleague records don’t lie, do they? Outside of the Giants and Marlins, who have gone a combined 6-18 against AL teams this year, every other NL team has either a winning or even record in interleague play thus far, of which there’s been a lot with the more balanced schedules that MLB has concocted over the last couple of seasons. Perhaps that leveling of the schedule has revealed strengths in the NL that were getting ignored for the biases of media outlets that favored the likes of the AL titans the last decade or so, and perhaps the introduction of the full-time DH to the NL has also altered the equation as NL teams can more reliably shop for big bats in free agency with the thought process of having the position as a fallback in the twilight years of a big contract.

The money is, I believe, the biggest factor to consider here. Six of the top ten payrolls in the league belong to NL franchises, with both of the outlier big spenders in the Dodgers and Mets belonging to them. The Yankees and Blue Jays come next with the Phillies in a similar stratosphere as them, and Atlanta a step below that, before it goes down another peg for both the Astros and the Cubs, before we see a glut of teams hovering around the $200 million threshold. The arms race for the top spots in the NL are more competitive right now, and that fuels the need for more depth and a bigger disparity between the haves and have nots, even if some of those teams like the Mets and Phillies have been bad to start the year.

86w183 asks:The Yankees have two choices: one, send Weathers or Warren to the bullpen. The obvious choice would be Weathers who has never thrown 100 innings in a season and threw just 38 1/3 last year. He’s already up to 45 this year. Warren on the other hand threw 166 last year. Two, trade one of them for bullpen help. If they could get Jhoan Duran for Warren that would be very tempting.

Max Fried’s health may not necessitate either of these options, as the team awaits news on his elbow after leaving his latest start early, but if he remains in the rotation after a short IL stint at worst then the first option will be the one the Yankees pick. The Yankees dealt from their starter surplus two offseasons ago to get Devin Williams for Nestor Cortes Jr., and while Cortes had a lot of success in New York I think the writing was on the wall that he wouldn’t remain a key component of the rotation for long. Warren, on the other hand, is an ascending pitcher with a future that looks a lot brighter than sitting at the bottom of most rotations — it’s only in one where former Cy Young contenders are abundant that he sits as low as he does currently.

You don’t trade a pitcher like Warren away for a reliever, even one as good as Duran with another year of control after this season. If Warren were still a prospect that hadn’t touched MLB, or at most gotten a cup of coffee at the level? Then I could see the argument, but Warren has already proved that he belongs and is currently working on proving that he could be among the better pitchers in the league. The team will probably target bullpen help with an aggressive tone this year, and they may even go after Duran if Philadelphia is offering him (currently I wouldn’t bet on it), but this isn’t a situation where dealing from a surplus to get a need makes sense. The team has prospects to spend, and they should do so if they aren’t going to contribute this season.

The Braves are running Sandy Leon out at catcher and Jose Azocar in right field against Connelly Early and the Red Sox in game 1. Spencer Strider will start the game for Atlanta. Austin Riley is batting fifth, facing a lefty starter in Early, with Michael Harris and Ha-Seong Kim behind him. It would be good for the right-handed hitters and Drake Baldwin to carry the load tonight, facing a lefty, as Drake Baldwin has crushed lefties this season.

The Red Sox are hitting their star bat so far this season, Wilyer Abreu at third and starting in right field. Willson Contreras bats cleanup and starts at first base.

Game Info

Game Time: Friday, May 15, 7:15 p.m. ET

Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA.

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

Coming off a 14-run loss is never how you want a series to end, but the Nationals should be content with taking the result of their Thursday night contest against the Cincinnati Reds after winning the first two games. A Luis Garcia Jr. and Daylen Lile takeover saw them glide to a 10-4 victory in Game 1, with an extra innings Lile home run and PJ Poulin appearance coming to the rescue in Game 2.

Baltimore has gone 2-2 through their 1st 4 series in May, most recently taking down the Yankees at home. They’ve shown flashes of brilliance and of dysfunction, and the Nats will look to capitalize on the latter in a 3-game set this weekend.

Game 1 – Friday 6:45 PM EST

WSH: RHP Zack Littell (1-4, 6.94 ERA)

BAL: RHP Shane Baz (1-4, 5.48 ERA)

After two decently successful outings as an opener, Littell finds himself back in the rotation for the series opener. It’s been a far cry from the steady starter that Washington was expecting to get when they brought him in, and he’s heavily struggled to miss bats. Navigating through Baltimore’s hottest hitters will be a challenge, but going up against a fellow scuffling starter makes this matchup more bearable on paper.

Baz was Baltimore’s big trade acquisition over the offseason, but he hasn’t come close to meeting the expectations placed on him. He’s given up 5 earned runs in each of his last 2 starts, with a staggering 8 walks allowed. The Nats need to be patient with him early, and force him to fall back into the command issues that have plagued the start to his Orioles’ tenure.

Game 2 – Saturday 4:05 PM EST

WSH: RHP Cade Cavalli (1-2, 4.02 ERA)

BAL: RHP Chris Bassett (3-2, 5.21 ERA)

Cavalli remains as frustrating as ever, with his two 10-strikeout performances to end April followed up by just 2 and 4 Ks respectively, as well as failing to complete 6.0 innings in either appearance. He hit three Miami batters his last time out, a number that needs to be severely limited against Baltimore if he wants to give the Nats a good chance to win.

It’s been a tale of two extremes for the veteran righty so far in 2026, having allowed 1 or fewer runs in 4 starts this season, while giving up 4 or more in his other 4 starts. His flip-flopping nature through the first 2 months of the season is a trend that the Washington lineup should look to continue, after he was stellar against the Athletics in his last start, throwing 6.0 innings of 1-run ball.

Game 3 – Sunday 1:35 PM EST

WSH: RHP Miles Mikolas (1-3, 7.00 ERA)

BAL: RHP Brandon Young (3-1, 4.15 ERA)

It’s hard to find definitive positives with how Mikolas has thrown the ball in his age-37 season, but one thing that can be said is that his ERA has lowered in every start he’s made since April 8th. While neither was spectacular by any means, his two outings in May have been serviceable, throwing a combined 8.2 innings and giving up 3 earned runs. Asking too much out of him is far from realistic at this point in time, but an adequate appearance that gives the offense a chance to get going would certainly be welcomed.

A disastrous end to the month of April for Young has been followed up by a pair of above average starts to begin May. Neither the Marlins nor the Yankees were able to fully pounce on the 2nd-year righthander, and Washington is next in line to attempt the same feat. Nothing he does is noticeably special, but hitters have generally been unable to put up crooked numbers against him, outside of one 10-run meltdown complements of the Astros.

The Orioles have still not yet gotten one of the key parts of their Plan A on the infield in the 2026 season. Now, we know that they never will. The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka reported on Friday afternoon that Westburg has decided to undergo surgery to repair the partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, ending his hopes of coming back this season. The news is not official as of this writing as the team has not confirmed the decision.

This was the outcome that always seemed obvious from the moment that we started hearing about elbow pain for Westburg. Lest it be forgotten, elbow pain wasn’t even his original problem: He had oblique soreness at the beginning of spring training and it was only when he was rehabbing that other injury that the severity of the ongoing elbow pain became known.

Westburg and the Orioles chose a path involving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, rest, and rehab, rather than going for the surgery immediately. The path does not have a high percentage chance of success in avoiding surgery for MLB players. It’s all too easy to demand major surgery on someone else’s elbow, though. I don’t hold the caution against anyone who tries that. Still, no surprise here. As Westburg’s throwing progression was ramping up, the pain returned.

Only time will tell how much this two month delay in getting the surgery affects Westburg’s readiness for the 2027 season. If his recovery is on the smoother side, it’s possible he could be back to full readiness, or darn close to that point, by Opening Day 2027. If it’s not on the smoother side, the pessimistic timetable might involve Westburg not being able to man a position in the field until around Memorial Day of next season.

It is hard to say that they should build a roster plan for the start of the season that assumes Westburg will be in it. This would have been an easier fit if he had gotten the surgery in March. Instead, this will be an unknown until probably the start of spring training next year, when the GM’s standard first day of camp injury update will indicate where Westburg is in his recovery.

Things just aren’t going well without Westburg this year. He was going to be the regular third baseman. Orioles third basemen are hitting a combined .182/.264/.259 so far this season. That sucks. Third base defense rates as their worst position in Outs Above Average, contributing to the Orioles being a bottom 5 defensive team in the league. Westburg was the answer to both of these things. He can’t play. They’ll have to find a way to do better than this without him.

No one wants to watch a legend fade, and yet that’s often what happens when it comes to larger-than-life figures in the world of entertainment.

Marlon Brando stars in The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Willie Mays stumbles in a Mets uniform.

Michael Jordan lags for the Wizards.

Johnny Unitas lumbers for the Chargers.

Gordie Howe finishes his career a Whaler.

Pelé retires with the Cosmos.

Those are just a few examples.

One happening in front of Kansas City’s very eyes, on a nightly basis, is the end of Salvador Perez. Entering play on Friday, Salvy is hitting just .200/.239/.339. Out of 171 qualified Major League hitters, he ranks 164th in wRC+. And the underlying metrics are…not good.

What makes this even tougher is that Perez has only played for the Royals, and it seems the two cannot break apart. Salvy’s not going anywhere on his own, and the Royals aren’t pushing him out.

It brings to mind Stan Musial hitting only .255 in his last year with the Cardinals.

And Mickey Mantle cratering to a .237 in 1968, his last season, to bring his career average under .300.

And Ozzie Smith butting heads with new manager Tony La Russa, appearing in only 82 games in the 1996 season, his last.

It’s a startling image, watching a once feared batter, the leader of the team, struggle, and struggle badly. To make the situation even tougher: the Royals are trying to win. After making the playoffs for the first time in nine seasons back in 2024, the team took a step back last year but still managed to finish with a winning record. This year was supposed to be a step forward, toward getting back to the postseason, even competing for the division title.

This year has not gone according to plan, and in the middle of it all is the aging legend, the last link between the 2014-2015 teams and this new era.

How should the Royals handle Salvador Perez going forward? There are four ways.

Bench him

This seems like the least likely option. Manager Matt Quatraro gave Perez an off day earlier this year, calling it a mental breather, a comment with which Perez took umbrage.

It only lasted one game. The Royals could approach Perez before benching him, of course, as he is the elder statesman on the team and deserves to not be blindsided by such a momentous decision.

But this won’t happen, for several reasons. One is that Perez feels like he can still produce, so he wouldn’t remain shy about his feelings. He went to X with the mental breather situation, but there are more public ways to express his displeasure.

Secondly, there’s not a great replacement on the roster. I always come back to this: If not him, who? The Royals carry two other catchers in Carter Jensen and Elias Diaz. Jensen has recently struggled and Diaz is 35 and without a hit in the month of May. Neither scream upgrade.

Third, the backlash. As much as readers of Royals Review may want to see Perez ride the pine for a bit, there are even more fans who would become incensed if the organization benched him, with or without his knowledge.

Drop him in the lineup

This is the best option: move him out of the cleanup spot. Sure, he had four hits in the series against the White Sox, but three of them were singles. He homered in his first at-bat Tuesday night, which was great, but there have been more at-bats where he’s swinging at damn near everything, either missing the pitches for ugly strikeouts or grounding into sure double-plays. He has no speed. He never has, but he’s slowed down from that. It looks like he’s standing in quicksand out there.

Again, though: If not him, who?

Dropping him in the lineup would only the be first step. Quatraro would have to revamp the entire lineup because swapping Perez with someone beneath him won’t fix things. Outside of Bobby Witt Jr. and, to a lesser extent, Maikel Garcia, no one is producing. Nick Loftin is playing well, but that’s mainly against lefties.

Stay the course

The most likely scenario: Q keeps Perez in the cleanup spot on a daily basis while sometimes putting him behind home plate and sometimes slotting him in the lineup as the DH.

Opting for this seems like madness. Salvy’s clearly slowing down, needs more time off, and to be put in a less stressful role. Running him into the ground isn’t going to solve this problem.

I’m loathe to write this, but Perez’s poor reaction to getting a mental breather shows he isn’t quite the leader we fans make him out to be. He needs to accept reality, put his team first, and insist on not staying the course.

Only Salvador Perez can prevent this option from happening.

A trip to the injury list

He looks kinda banged up, right? Joel Goldberg mentioned on the Tuesday night television broadcast that Perez has been battling a host of maladies to his hips and groin. That doesn’t sound ideal for anyone let alone a starting Major League catcher.

Maybe he doesn’t need a mental breather but a physical one. Throw him on the IL and see if he heals up.

It at least buys some time.