LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 14: Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics throws a pitch in the second inning during a regular season game against the Colorado Rockies at Las Vegas Ballpark on June 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s came away with the first W in the first game of the series last night, riding a fantastic outing from their rookie starting pitcher to their 37th win of the season. They’ll have a chance to bump that number up a digit and get back to the .500 mark tonight. First they’ll have to take care of business against their division rival, the Los Angeles Angels.
The team will turn to lefty Jeffrey Springs this evening, hoping the veteran can turn things around. It’s been a rough June so far for Springs as he’s allowed 15 runs over his past three starts.
Why make major changes after yesterday? It’s the same batting order as last night, though with one change. Lawrence Butler returns to the starting nine, playing right field. That’ll send Carlos Cortes to the DH spot and send Jonah Heim to the bench. Other than that, same lineup as yesterday. Let’s hope for the same early result.
Los Angeles will counter with their ace in Jose Soriano. The right-hander, now in his fourth season, has dominated this year and will bring a 2.79 ERA into this contest. He’s already successfully faced the A’s once this year so they’ll be hoping for some revenge tonight.
And the Halo’s lineup this evening looks like this:
TOMBSTONE, AZ - FEBRUARY 27, 2014: A sign hangs over the entrance to the site of recreated gunfights in historic Tombstone, Arizona, known as 'The Town Too Tough to Die.' The town, featuring staged gunfights and reenactors dressed in 1800s western attire, is a popular tourist attraction. It is the site of the famed 1881 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.' (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
TWINS
DIAMONDBACKS
Trevor Larnach – LF
Ketel Marte – 2B
Byron Buxton – CF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Kody Clemens – RF
Corbin Carroll – RF
Josh Bell – DH
Gabriel Moreno – C
Royce Lewis – 1B
Lourdes Gurriel – LF
Brooks Lee – 3B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Victor Caratini – C
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Tristan Gray – SS
Jordan Lawlar – CF
Luke Keaschall – 2B
LuJames Groover – DH
Connor Prielipp – LHP
Michael Soroka – RHP
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
Recalled from Triple-A Reno: RHP Yilber Díaz
Placed on the 15-day injured list: RHP Ryne Nelson (strained right elbow; retro to June 16)
Well, that was an unexpected surprise this afternoon. There had been no apparent word of any problem with Nelson after his last start. He went a solid seven innings and 95 pitches on June 15th, getting the win against the Angels. However, Nelson said the issue popped up in the third inning, but he was able to pitch through it at the time. It’s a problem affecting a flexor tendon, the ones which let you curl your fingers. According to Jack, it’s “strained but not torn,” and he will be shut down for at least 4-6 weeks, before getting another MRI. There will also need to be significant time thereafter to get him back up to starting length. September seems likely for a Nelson return.
For now, Yilber Diaz returns from the wilderness, for his first appearance in the majors since a solitary game last year, on April 25. He allowed three runs on four hits and three walks over three innings, which largely sums up the control issues Diaz has had. He had an excellent winter in the Venezuelan league, with a 1.08 ERA over 16.2 innings, with a K:BB of 23:8. Reno hasn’t been quite as kind: a 4.50 ERA and a 43:21 K:BB across 32 innings. It’s really a question of whether or not he can throw strikes. Major-league hitters are going to be more patient than the ones in Triple-A. Although Diaz’s time here is likely to be relatively brief.
That’s because the team will need a starter to replace Nelson’s spot in the rotation. That should have been – as noted in ish95’s preview – on Sunday. Presuming the team sticks with that (and the off-day yesterday gives them a bit of flexibility), that will probably mean the return of Brandon Pfaadt from Reno. It might still be a relatively short outing, because Pfaadt was still very much getting stretched back out down there. He last outing lasted only 3.1 innings and 45 pitches. I’d therefore expect something around 60 pitches on Sunday, so hopefully the rest of the bullpen will be lightly used tonight and tomorrow. They might be busy in the series finale.
And, no, I will not be discussing the World Cup at this time… 🙁
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Angels on June 6. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was away from the team Friday for the birth of his second child.
He was out of the lineup for the series opener against the Orioles, but the Dodgers did not opt to put him on the paternity list, temporarily playing down a player instead. The team said it expects Ohtani back at some point this weekend.
Ohtani pitched Wednesday, so he should be back with the team well before his next turn in the rotation.
With Ohtani out, rookie Ryan Ward served as the designated hitter Friday, batting seventh. And right fielder Kyle Tucker moved up to the leadoff spot that Ohtani usually occupies.
Entering Friday, Ohtani owned the second-highest OPS (.962) in the National League, among qualified hitters. And his 1.47 ERA ranked No. 2 among pitchers who have thrown at least 50 innings, despite giving up seven combined earned runs in his past two starts.
Ohtani has been pitching through a blister on the middle finger of his right hand. And last week he missed a game to address a bout of inflammation in his left knee, which he thinks may have stemmed from mechanical problems in his pitching delivery.
Will Smith to get injection for neck
Catcher Will Smith (stiff neck) will get an injection to address his neck injury, manager Dave Roberts said. Recent imaging came back “fine,” Roberts said, and didn’t reveal anything “really bad.”
Smith said last week, before undergoing imaging, that he was diagnosed with an “inflamed disk.”
Smith — remaining on the injured list past the minimum stint, despite the Dodgers’ initial optimism — will be sidelined through the weekend, and he may not make the trip to Minnesota on Monday, which kicks off a three-city trip.
Edwin Díaz throwing off mound
Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz pitches against the Washington Nationals in April. (Nick Wass / Associated Press)
Closer Edwin Díaz (elbow surgery) has progressed to throwing off the mound. He threw a 15-pitch bullpen on Friday, all fastballs, at 91-93 mph, Roberts said.
“Really positive day for Edwin,” Roberts said.
When Díaz underwent the procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow in late April, the Dodgers eyed a post-All-Star break return. And they won’t push for an aggressive build-up, with the long-term in mind.
Short hops
Left fielder Teoscar Hernández (strained left hamstring) is on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment early next week, Roberts said. ... Left-hander Blake Snell (elbow surgery) is progressing in his throwing program after undergoing a NanoNeedle scope procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow in mid-May. He is close to throwing off a mound, Roberts said.
Your Diamonbacks starter tonight is one Michael Soroka, a Canadian from Calgary who was a goalie in youth hockey because OF COURSE he was. Soroka throws a low-90s fastball, a sinker, and a breaking ball that Savant calls a slurve, FanGraphs a curve. All three of them are effective pitches. An All-Star before injuries derailed him for a few years, Soroka was coming off two so-so seasons when the Diamondbacks signed him to a one year, $7.5M contract. So far it’s working out pretty darn well.
United Here Local 17 will be holding a concessions strike on Monday for the Twins/Dodgers game at Target Field. They’re asking fans to bring their own snacks. Here’s a reminder of what you can/can’t bring, by Kamie Roesler.
At issue are the fact that many concession workers are paid minimum wage ($16.37/hour in Minneapolis) and none have employer-provided health insurance. They’re also upset that Delaware North uses several volunteer vendors at the stadium. (Charities can provide volunteer staff and get a percentage of their sales.)
They’re also upset that Delaware North just fuquing sucks and always has. Remember, this is the company that, after they lost their contract to provide services at Yosemite National Park, SUED THE PARK SERVICE for the rights to names like “Yosemite National Park.” (It was a shakedown, and Delaware North got $12 million from it.)
Delaware North had the gall to issue a statement blaming the union’s “greed” in complaining about the free labor. Oh, I think we know who’s got the “greed” going on here. (For one thing, since Delaware North IS using volunteer labor, they could then take that savings and pay their regular workers more!)
This company has sucked since forever, Matt’s mentioned it here and Zach here and I did years ago but I can’t find it. Of course TEAMS could demand that companies pay players a certain amount, but TEAMS aren’t going to do that because they are all bast***s.
So I wish the strikers well, although I don’t think they’ll get anything. The poor never win in ‘Murica.
Are the Diamondbacks asking for massive amounts of public money? Are they a professional American sports team? The latest giveaway is at least $500 million, and could be more. Neil deMause, as usual, has you covered.
Some minor-league baseball players in York, PA, got snippy and refused to play in Pride-themed uniforms. Apparently also, some Giants players recently prayed away the gay by writing Bible quotes on their Pride-themed hats. Which quote? Was it this one?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Nah, I doubt it was that one.
The recently-swept Rangers remain the only MLB team that doesn’t have a Pride night. They do, as of this year, have a statue based on a guy who loved posing for despicable photos to stand against integrating public schools. FanGraphs’ Davy Andrews has a very thorough story here.
Finally, not baseball, but Minnesota sports-related: the Lynx have a rookie, Olivia Miles, who is absolutely dazzling the heck out of everybody in the league. Here’s a The Guardian piece on Miles. Here’s one from our siblings at Canis Hoopus. I liked this summation of sports fandom by Thilo Latrell Widder:
“Being good when you expect it is standard, and stressful. Being bad when you’re anticipating good is soul crushing. Being bad when you could see it coming is an exercise in futility. Only being good when you thought you’d be awful is fun.”
Jun 17, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers to the plate in the fifth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger...
Shohei Ohtani was not in the Dodgers’ lineup on Friday night, with the team announcing he was away on paternity leave for the birth of his second child.
The two-way star is expected to rejoin the club later during this weekend’s series against the Baltimore Orioles, the Dodgers added in a statement.
Because of that, Ohtani is not being placed on the official paternity list for now, leaving the Dodgers’ roster a man short for Friday’s series opener at Dodger Stadium.
The leave signifies the arrival of Ohtani’s second child, after he and his wife, Mamiko, welcomed a daughter last April.
Shohei Ohtani was not in the Dodgers’ lineup on Friday night, with the team announcing he was away on paternity leave for the birth of his second child. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A new baby will only be the latest significant development in what was already shaping up to be an historic season for the four-time MVP.
Entering Friday, Ohtani ranked second in the National League in OPS as a hitter, trailing only Juan Soto with a .963 mark to go along with 15 home runs, 42 RBIs and a .296 batting average.
On the mound, the right-hander has also been one of the best pitchers in the sport, owning a 7-2 record and 1.47 ERA. While Ohtani isn’t qualified as a pitcher (with only 73 2/3 innings through the team’s first 75 games), only Milwaukee Brewers flame-thrower Jacob Misiorowski has a lower ERA among pitchers with at least 70 innings.
Lately, Ohtani has been playing through some minor physical issues.
In his last several starts, he has battled a blister on his right middle finger. While he has insisted it hasn’t impacted him, it has become visibly bloody on several occasions.
More concerning was the left knee inflammation that Ohtani forced Ohtani out of one game early last week, and sidelined him for another game a day later.
Ohtani said he believed the knee issue was the result of flawed pitching mechanics during a June 10 start in Pittsburgh, the day before his knee began to swell up on him.
But, even with manager Dave Roberts saying this week that the issue wasn’t completely behind the 31-year-old superstar, Ohtani made his next pitching start as scheduled on Wednesday, when he tossed six innings and took an at-bat late in the game after not starting as DH.
Turns out, behind the scenes, he had even more important matters to attend to.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 10: Miles Mastrobuoni #21 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June10, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners announced today they have selected INF/OF Weston Wilson from Triple-A Tacoma and designated INF/OF Miles Mastrobuoni for assignment.
Wilson, who’s played parts of seasons in the big leagues since 2023, was signed to a minor-league contract by the Mariners five days ago, on June 14, and played just two games with the Tacoma Rainiers before coming up. His most significant big-league experience came with Philadelphia in 2025, when he appeared in over 50 games for the Phillies. Like Mastrobuoni, Weston is a true superutility player who can play both infield and outfield – he’s largely played third base and left field – but unlike Mastrobuoni, he is a right-handed hitter. Boston will be throwing three lefties over the series in Seattle, prompting the move. Wilson will be in the lineup tonight, giving J.P. Crawford a rest day as he continues to work back from a stint on the IL with an injured hand.
It’s a really tough break for Mastrobuoni, who like Jhonny Pereda before him, was simply a victim of the numbers game. The Mariners are incredibly lefty-heavy as a roster and team are deliberately stacking left-handed starters against them for that reason, relegating players like Luke Raley, who struggles against lefties, to the bench.
It’s especially tough for Mastrobuoni – who my phone’s transcription app refers to as “Mister Bunny” or “Master Boney” depending on who’s speaking – as he played a pivotal role in the Mariners’ series win yesterday, making a spot start in left field – a position he doesn’t know well – and contributing at the plate. I have written before about how Mastrobuoni was one of the rare productive pinch-hitters for the Mariners last year, something he was working his way back to for brief time with the team after being recalled on June 10. Postgame yesterday, Mastrobuoni received praise from his manager, Dan Wilson, as well as his teammates, many of whom spoke on the importance of the role players like Mastrobuoni have on a team as decimated by injuries as the 2026 Mariners.
Starter Bryan Woo, who was helped out by several plays made by Mastrobuoni in the outfield, praised Mastrobuoni as a reflection of team health overall:
“It’s just the DNA of a good team and also close-knit clubhouse that you have guys that go down, and the next guy comes up and does his job and helps the team run, and that’s all you can really ask for, regardless of whether you see the results on the field or not. Like Mastro coming out and playing the left field that he did today – I don’t know if he’s played left field since coming up, he’s played first and third, also positions that he’s not comfortable at, and he goes out in left field and makes play after play after play. So it’s just, staying ready, and then when the opportunity comes, taking advantage of it.”
Colt Emerson was even more direct.
“Guys like that are the reasons why we succeed and we win games.”
Now it will be up to Weston Wilson – not to be confused with Will Wilson, another third baseman who stepped in at times to help the Mariners before going on the 60-day IL with his own injury, a fractured thumb – to continue that streak of role players who help the team win games while several players remain on the shelf.
During an outing against the San Francisco Giants last September, Treinen had “Charlie Kirk” written between two cross symbols on the side of his Dodgers hat days after Kirk was assassinated at an event on a college campus in Utah.
As he first told the Los Angeles Times, and later confirmed to The California Post, Treinen received a warning from a league official following the outing regarding an MLB policy against putting messages of any kind on game uniforms.
Dodgers reliever Blake Treinen said he was “chastised” by Major League Baseball last year, after writing Charlie Kirk’s name on his hat in a game following the conservative political activist’s killing. Getty ImagesDuring an outing against the San Francisco Giants last September, Treinen had “Charlie Kirk” written between two cross symbols. x/@@JonnyRoot_
“They called me and said that they have issues with people writing stuff on the hats,” Treinen told the California Post on Friday.
“The writing on the cap violates our rules and consistent with normal practice we have warned the players about future violations,” MLB said in an initial statement that was widely released to media outlets Monday.
“To be clear, this routine verbal warning not to wear the hat in future games is not disciplinary and had absolutely nothing to do with the content of the message,” the league added in a follow-up statement on Tuesday.
In Treinen’s case from last year, he said he was not otherwise disciplined, but was told by MLB that he could be fined for putting any message on his uniform again.
In Treinen’s case from last year, he said he was not otherwise disciplined, but was told by MLB that he could be fined for putting any message on his uniform again. x/@@JonnyRoot_
During the Dodgers’ own Pride Night game earlier this month, Treinen did not wear the team’s Pride-themed hat when he took the mound for a ninth-inning appearance against the Angels on June 5.
“My job is to abide by the rules,” Treinen told the LA Times regarding that decision. “Ultimately, the only rule we have is to wear our team-issued uniform. So that’s what I chose to do.”
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 12: Tatsuya Imai #45 of the Houston Astros throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (35-41), who have won three of their last four series, will open a three-game weekend series with the Cleveland Guardians (40-35) tonight at Daikin Park.
RHP Tatsuya Imai (3-3, 6.43 ERA) will make his 10th start of the season tonight for the Astros opposite RHP Tanner Bibee (2-7, 3.96 ERA) and the Guardians.
ABOUT IMAI: RHP Tatsuya Imai has proven to be tough to hit at the Major League level, as he’s held opponents to a .227 (29×128) average with 37 strikeouts in 35.0 innings…he’s had flashes of brilliance, including starting a no hitter on May 25 at TEX (0ER/6IP) and fanning nine on April 4 at ATH (0ER/5.2IP)…in January, the Astros signed Imai to a three-year deal…in 2025, he was an All-Star for the Seibu Lions in the NPB in Japan, where he went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA (35ER/163.2IP) in 24 games.
VS. THE GUARDIANS: The Astros and Guardians have played each other in the regular season 100 times in their franchise histories, with the two teams splitting those matchups with 50 wins apiece…those games have also been evenly split in Houston (25-25) and Cleveland (25-25), which includes a 22-22 record at Daikin Park.
MAKING THE PLAYS: The Astros have committed the fewest errors (29) and own the best fielding percentage (.989) in the AL…1B Christian Walker has led the way, as he has not committed an error in 75 games and 529 total chances.
ON ASSIGNMENT: RHP Ronel Blanco, who’s recovering from right elbow surgery, began a minor league rehab assignment for the FCL Astros earlier today…he worked 3.0 scoreless innings in his start, allowing one hit and one walk with five strikeouts.
WEISS OUTRIGHTED: Announced on Wednesday, RHP Ryan Weiss cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple A Sugar Land…Weiss was designated for assignment by the Astros on June 12.
ON THE LEADERBOARD:DH Yordan Alvarez leads MLB in OPS (1.070), SLG (.642), and total bases (176), and ranks tied for first in extra-base hits (39)… in the AL, he ranks first in batting average (.325), first in hits (89), first in homers (24), second in RBI (55), second in OBP (.428), fourth in walks (46) and seventh in runs (50).
ON-BASE MACHINE: OF Yordan Alvarez is on a 24-game on-base streak (dating back to May 22), in which he’s batting .371 (33×89) with nine homers, 24 RBI, 15 walks, a .462 OBP and a 1.181 OPS…this ranks as the fifth-longest streak of his career and his longest since he posted a 26-game streak from Aug. 2-Sept. 2, 2024.
WALKER, TEXAS HAMMER: 1B Christian Walker ranks third in the AL in RBI (52), behind only 1B Nick Kurtz (57) and teammate DH Yordan Alvarez (55)… he also ranks tied for sixth in the AL in extra-base hits (33) and in total bases (139), and tied for seventh in homers (18).
BACK WITH A VENGEANCE:SS Jeremy Peña is batting .288 (30×104) with four doubles, four home runs, 21 runs scored, 15 RBI and an .801 OPS in 28 games since being activated from the IL on May 18…the Astros are 16-12 since his return.
SEÑOR CIEN: IF Isaac Paredes, who recently reached 500 career hits and 100 career homers, recorded his 100th career double on Tuesday vs. DET…he is now just the fourth Mexican-born player in MLB history with 500 career hits, 100 doubles and 100 home runs, joining IF Vinny Castilla, IF Jorge Orta and IF Aurelio Rodríguez.
WHAT A RELIEF: LHP Josh Hader is 1-0 with four saves and a 1.29 ERA (1ER/7IP) in seven appearances this season…he’s allowed just three baserunners (one walk, two hits) and has fanned 11…
Hader had a delayed start to the season, missing the first two months with left biceps tendinitis.
ON THE FARM: Astros No. 10 prospect OF Lucas Spence had the first two-homer game of his career last night for Double A Corpus Christi…Spence is having a strong season with the Hooks, hitting .270 with 10 doubles and 30 RBI in 41 games…in 14 games in June, Spence is hitting .377 with five doubles, four homers, 19 RBI and a 1.115 OPS.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1972 – RHP Larry Dierker makes history with a one-hit, 3-0 shutout over the Mets in the ‘Dome…Dierker’s gem gave the Astros one-hitters in back-to-back games for the first and only time in franchise history as Jerry Reuss had one-hit the Phillies, 10-0, the day before…the back-to-back one-hitters also tied an MLB record, which has only happened 12 times in modern MLB history.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, June 19, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JUNE 12: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks off the mound after the third out of inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field on June 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, the slump is on. While it’s not surprising for any team to slump for a few games, and even less surprising for an injury-laden squad to do so, it’s still been quite a turnaround for a team that held baseball’s best record for quite a while. After going 1-6 in their last seven games, with three consecutive series losses (two shortened by rain), the Braves are now a full game behind the Dodgers in the best record race. They’re a half-game ahead of the Brewers, who come to town for a holiday weekend series.
If you were hoping that maybe the Braves could change their fortunes with a new series, well… uh… maybe shunt those hopes onto tomorrow. Because, tonight, the pitching matchup involves Martin Perez and Jacob Misiorowski.
The Miz, as he is affectionately called these days, has basically been eating MLB batters for dinner. He already had an impressive debut in 2025, putting up 1.2 fWAR and a 104/88/89 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) in 15 appearances (14 starts), but 2026 has been worlds apart. Through 14 starts, Misiorowski has completed 87 innings with a 33/40/49 line. We used to talk about Chris Sale and Spencer Strider video game numbers, and, honestly, these are even better than those numbers. The Miz has 3.9 fWAR and it’s not even July yet; he leads MLB in pitching fWAR, FIP-, and xFIP-, and is second by a smidge in ERA- to boot. While his April was very good, things have taken a turn for the sublime when the calendar turned to May. In his last eight starts, Misiorowski has an 80/9 K/BB ratio, and a 4/18/38 line. Those don’t even seem like real numbers.
He’s coming off one of the greatest MLB pitching performances ever, a near-perfect game where he faced the minimum (but had a hit off him) and threw just 95 pitches while striking out 15 Phillies. Those Phillies weren’t mired in terrible offensive doldrums and the Miz diced ‘em up. What will happen to the Braves? Well, watch and witness, I guess.
To do battle against Misiorowski, the Braves will deploy Martin Perez. At one point, this was tabbed as a Chris Sale-Miz matchup, but the Braves are definitely not yet (or ever?) in the “give Chris Sale as many starts as humanly possible” operating mode, so… Perez it is. To his credit, Perez has taken over the “unexpectedly pretty good starter” position from Bryce Elder, and his season line now sits at 0.8 fWAR and a 70/93/94 line in 62 total innings, which is certainly way better than anyone was expecting out of him. Due to the phenomenon I still think of as Perez pachinko, it’s pretty hard to know exactly what you’re going to get out of him other than a relatively short outing, but maybe he can help keep the score fairly close if nothing else.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 08: Tsung-Che Cheng #1 of Team Chinese Taipei celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Chinese Taipei and South Korea at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Lehigh Valley IronPigs 5, Worcester Red Sox 4 (BOX)
After falling behind 3-0 early, the Woo Sox battled back to tie the game on three solo home runs. Max Ferguson hit his first of the year, Tyler McDonough his second, and Tsung-Che Cheng his seventh. Cheng had a big day, going 3-for-5. Mikey Romero and Allan Castro also contributed two hits apiece, part of a 13-hit effort from the Woo Sox. Kristian Campbell (.217 BA) was 1-for-4.
Starter Raymond Burgos went five innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out four. Devin Sweet fell to 1-4 in relief, allowing two runs in the sixth inning to the IronPigs (PHI) for the loss.
Worcester will play at 6:45 this evening and has not yet announced a starter.
The Sea Dogs matched the Woo Sox effort with 13 hits of their own against Somerset (NYY) on Thursday, and were able to pull out a one-run affair. Portland got two-hit efforts from Marvin Alcantara, Will Turner, Brooks Brannon, and Stanley Tucker. A home run from Will Turner capped a four-run second inning, as well.
Will Turner gives Portland the lead with a solo shot.
The Boston Red Sox prospect has nine home runs and 21 RBI in Double-A this season. pic.twitter.com/RXyPU9CMmK
Hayden Mullins struggled in the start for the Sea Dogs, allowing nine baserunners and three runs in three innings. Michael Sansone got the win, going 5 ⅔ innings, and allowing three runs, before giving way to Cade “don’t call me George” Feeney for the save. Yes, Mister Matthews.
John Holobetz (3-3, 4.70) will toe the rubber at 6:00 tonight.
Jersey Shore BlueClaws 8, Greenville Drive 5 (BOX)
A 1-1 game entering the fifth, things got ugly fast against the BlueClaws (PHI), when they exploded for a seven run inning. Tyler Davis allowed six of those runs, getting the loss. The Drive fought back a bit in the eighth inning with four runs, including a Luke Heyman home run, part of a two-hit day. Yophery Rodriguez also homered, his 11th, in the loss.
The Drive will send Kyson Witherspoon (2-3, 5.28) to the hill at 7:05.
Salem RidgeYaks 10, Fredericksburg Nationals 5 (BOX)
The RidgeYaks had just six hits on the day, but still managed to get ten runs, thanks to eight walks from Fredericksburg (WAS) and two errors.
Salem got three runs apiece in the second, seventh, and ninth innings. Right fielder Andrews Opata homered in the ninth inning to break the game open. Avinson Pinto and Andruw Musett each had two RBI games.
Control was not the story of the day in this one, as Salem pitching walked twelve, to go along with the eight from the Nationals. Six of those walks came from reliever Joey Gartrell. Cole Tolbert didn’t allow an earned run in three innings as the starter, and Harry Blum got the win with 2 ⅔ hitless innings.
Brady Tygart (0-0, 5.79) takes the mound at 6:35 tonight for the ‘Yaks.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 17: Otto Lopez #6 of the Miami Marlins bats against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Marlins defeated the Phillies 12-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You probably don’t remember the hiccup in time when infielder Otto Lopez was a San Francisco Giant, but it did happen. For 5 weeks or so, the team had a 25-year old second baseman who had hit .300/.365/.413 in 2,255 minor league plate appearances. Then, they designated him for assignment and he was claimed by the Marlins. Since then, he’s hit .275/.322/.395 across 2+ seasons (1,343 plate appearances) and with some well above average defense has amassed 7.8 fWAR. This year, he’s playing at an All-Star level: .336/.368/.473 (132 wRC+), 2.9 fWAR. He’s been exactly as valuable as Luis Arraez, but was this another miss by the previous front office?
You know, it’s pretty interesting to chart how we got to the “Aw, geez, I’m just trying to figure it out; baseball is hard” dynamic of the current front office. A general disgust and distrust of computer numbers and “phantom” value, certainly some anti-Dodger sentiment mixed in, and the inability to find a proper post-Bochy figurehead in the dugout; but mainly, the missteps and misfires piled up. I think six seasons was good and plenty for that experiment, but I’m starting to wonder if Buster Posey & Zack Minasian are simply speedrunning the Zaidi era.
Both Posey & Zaidi were both wiz kids in their respective areas of the industry. Both hired similarly inexperienced GMs to work under them. Both hired new managers after their first season on the job — those managerial choices were extremely controversial (for wholly different reasons, of course). Those managers were both well-groomed and appearance-focused. They both were prone to word salad. They both ticked off beat writers and fans alike for basically the same reason. Their managerial choices were somewhat inscrutable, though Gabe Kapler’s strategizing worked out more often than Vitello’s has. But, Buster has undermanaged and understrategized with the roster while Zaidi overmanaged and overstrategized. Both have had managers receive their vote of confidence only to see that manager lose control of the clubhouse (or, in Vitello’s case, never really seem to have had it at all). The key difference might be the upcoming minor league talent, which appears to be thriving a lot more under the new regime.
I mention all this because the Miami Marlins, led by Peter Bendix as the President of Baseball Operations, and now Gabe Kapler as their GM, seem to be what it would’ve looked like if the Zaidi era had gone right. A steady stream of important trades and savvy waiver & rule 5 pickups coalescing into a scrappy team that doesn’t cost much but stays competitive. Part of that is “analytics,” sure, but I’m not blind to the Marlins having a lot of useful inventory to sell over the years and get back some quality, well-scouted (both by human scouts and data analysts) major league talent. Their primary starting lineup does not scream home grown:
C —1st round pick (2021) 1B — Acquired in trade with Orioles for Trevor Rogers (2024) 2B — Acquired in trade with Rays for a pair of minor leaguers (2022) 3B — International free agent signing (2019) SS — Waiver claim (2024) LF — Acquired in trade with Orioles for Trevor Rogers (2024) CF — Acquired in trade with Padres for Luis Arraez (2024) RF — Acquired in trade with Cubs for Edward Cabrera (2026) DH — Rule 5 pick (2024)
For this, the Marlins have a middle of the pack lineup (97 wRC+). I didn’t look at the pitching side, but that’s the 10th best in MLB heading into this series. If you’re the Marlins, you need to be able to stay on top of the roster by constantly reinventing it, but if you’re the Giants, all you really have to do — and, it’s not easy, as they’ve shown — is build a roster that is then supplemented by free agents rather than need to rely on them. A quick comparison.
C — Rule 5 pick (2025) 1B — Acquired in trade with the Red Sox for a bunch of dudes (2025) 2B — Free agent (2026) 3B — Free agent (2024) SS — Free agent (2024) LF — 2nd round pick (2020) CF — Gilbert: trade, Bader: free agent RF — Free agent (2023) DH — 1st round pick (2023)
Of course, the real comparison point is the results. Since Buster Posey took over, the Giants are 112-124. The Marlins over this same span are just 116-121. Well, okay, that’s not right. The other comparison point is the cost. The Giants have committed $376.2 million since the start of last season while the Marlins have only committed $144.7 million. There’s also a bit more of a lottery ticket/upside play going on with the roster — and if any of the younger players really blossom, they become trade bait that can help refresh the system and the cycle can start anew.
Has the Marlins’ approach been better? Hard to say. But the Giants have been penny wise and pound foolish. Ditching the thought of Kevin Gausman only to spend a lot more money finding a #2 starter. Their inability to draft, develop, or acquire younger players has necessitated resorting to free agency again and again.
But this ship has sailed. The Giants have turned away from the analytical approach and the notion of building a roster from the bottom up — unless, of course, Randy Winn has really transformed the Giants’ farm system into a real winner, because that would really be nice, and there wouldn’t have to be much too much consternation when a player leaves the Giants and is productive elsewhere.
Who: San Francisco Giants (31-43) at Miami Marlins (37-38) Where: loanDepot park | Miami, Florida When: Friday at 4:10pm PT, Saturday at 1:10pm PT, Sunday at 10:40am PT National broadcasts: None
Projected starters Friday: Landen Roupp (RHP 5-7, 4.24 ERA) vs. Lake Bachar (RHP 0-0, 2.97 ERA) Saturday: Trevor McDonald (RHP 2-4, 4.64 ERA) vs. Max Meyer (RHP 7-0, 2.75 ERA) Sunday: Logan Webb (RHP 4-4, 3.46 ERA) vs. Ryan Gusto (RHP 0-2, 7.24 ERA)
Players to watch
Marlins
Liam Hicks: In June, he’s been just slightly better than Otto Lopez, posting a 159 wRC+ to Lopez’s 152. He’s done so by hitting for a bit more power (.189 ISO) and a higher on base (.422) thanks to impressive walk and strikeout rates (13.8% and 10.8%, respectively). On the season, he’s hitting .280/.362/.477 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI, a 10.2% walk rate and 9.5% strikeout rate. The Marlins got him in the Rule 5 draft from Detroit. The 27-year old left-handed first baseman/catcher has been another impressive find by the Marlins’ front office.
Kyle Stowers: He was the main piece of the Trevor Rogers deal with the Orioles back in 2024 and quickly became their middle of the lineup hitter, posting an impressive .912 OPS last season in 457 PA. He started this year on the IL and got off to a fast start (6-for-his-first-15), but it was a rough April and May after those first four games (.198/.276/.331 in 134 PA). However, in June, he’s picked it back up, with a line of .241/.323/.537 in 63 PA. He’s hit 4 homers and driven in 16 over this span, too. He has an .841 career OPS against the Giants, too (44 PA).
Lake Bachar: Don’t be fooled by the name. He might sound like a sixth-billed sitcom star from the 80s, but he has swing-and-miss stuff throughout his arsenal. A ~95 mph four-seamer hitters have just a .190 BA against; a 2,669 rpm slider with a 45.5% Whiff rate, a similarly wipeout sweeper, a curveball that has a 37.5% whiff rate, a splitter, and a sinker. He’s basically a reliever, but because the Marlins have two starters on the IL (Janson Junk and Eury Perez), they’ve resorted to opener/bullpen game situations, and you can see how this arsenal makes him a perfect option. This month, Bachar has appeared in 5 games, starting 3 of them, and in 10.2 innings combined he’s struck out 13, walked 3, allowed just 3 hits and a run (0.84 ERA / 1.78 FIP).
Giants
Jung Hoo Lee: .364/.391/.364 in 6 games (23 PA) at loanDepot park and in the last calendar month (so, since May 17th; 80 PA) he’s hitting .468/.475/.597 with a homer, a triple, 5 doubles, 3 stolen bases, just 1 walk (oof), but only 3 strikeouts.
Luis Arraez: .349/.385/.454 in 105 games (446 PA) at loanDepot park is a good sign, I think. Also, in the last calendar month (so, since May 17th; 129 PA), he’s hitting .339/.362/.513 with a pair of homers, 4 triples, and 6 doubles. He spent about 7 months in a Marlins uniform but was an All-Star for them in 2023 (.354/.393/.469 over the whole season). Chances are he’ll be the Giants’ sole representative this season… unless he’s traded before the All-Star Game.
Logan Webb: He certainly looks like he’s returned to form after that IL stint. He’s made just 2 starts in his career at loanDepot park (yes, the ‘p’ in park is lower case), but they came in 2022 & 2023; so, is his 6.35 ERA in 11.1 innings a portent or a fluke? The Giants are hoping for the latter, of course, and Miami’s middle of the pack strikeout rate and high groundball rate for a lineup (43.8% — 5th in MLB) certainly suggests that a Logan Webb who’s on point will be setup to have another great game.
Prediction time
This section sure has gone off the rails, hasn’t it? I blame myself, of course, but it would be nice if I could put a poll down here in place of any rambling narrative I think up at the last minute, don’t you think? Anyway, the Giants took 2 out of 3 from the Marlins back in April, which seems impossible given how bad the team has been this season, and the Giants have also taken the series in Miami the last two seasons, which also seems impossible, given how tough the Marlins have been on the Giants, historically.
Yhe Marlins are running out two relievers to stanch the bleeding in their rotation, but they’re also 23-16 at home this season with a +30 run differential. Hmm. But the Giants also have their two best starters going in the series, and even if one of them is unsalvageable bigot, I’ll still say the Giants manage to win the series.
TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 13: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on June 13, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees finally conquered one of their personal demons last weekend, winning a series at the Rogers Centre for the first time since September 2023. Principal to their success was the performance of the pitching staff, holding their hosts to just four runs across the final two games. Cam Schlittler was the catalyst for that stretch of shutdown pitching with his seven innings of one-run ball on Saturday to nullify another dominant start against the Yankees from his opponent, Kevin Gausman.
We join Schlittler with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. The score is tied, 1-1, following a Kazuma Okamoto solo shot in the third that Jasson Domínguez canceled out with a clout of his own to lead off the following half-inning — the only hit that Gausman would give up in his seven innings of work. With Domínguez having made it a new ballgame in the top-half and having seen how untouchable Gausman was on this given day, the pressure is on Schlittler to keep putting up zeroes.
However, he’s gotten himself into some trouble with runners on second and third with one out, Brandon Valenzuela drawing a one-out walk and advancing to third on a Yohendrick Piñango double. Schlittler then got Charles McAdoo to line out to pull within an out of escaping the jam. Schlittler could really use a strikeout, but stepping to the plate is a pesky hitter who has always been difficult to punch out in Andrés Giménez.
Schlittler’s typical M.O. against lefties is to attack early with the cutter, hoping to get to two strikes, where he can then target up and away with the four-seamer or up and in with cutters hunting the chase, whiff, and strikeout. True to form, Schlittler starts Giménez with a first pitch cutter up and in at 96 mph.
Giménez must be hunting something either low in the zone or out over the plate, because he never looks interested in offering at this cutter up and in that catches a lot of the strike zone. It’s still a devilish pitch at 96 and command to that location, and any contact would likely saw Giménez’s bat off at the handle.
Now that Schlittler has show Giménez an in-zone fastball with late movement down and in, he sequences the four-seamer trying to throw it out of the same tunnel as the previous pitch. If he can achieve that, it should look like a cutter that is going to break into the hitting are, only to then hold its vertical plane above the strike zone. The idea is to fool Giménez into chasing and whiffing under a pitch that looks the same as the previous one but does not break the way the hitter is expecting.
Of course, you actually have to execute to your spot for this strategy to work. Instead, Schlittler sails this four-seamer way above the zone. It’s a classic overthrow and a completely non-competitive pitch that achieves nothing in this encounter with respect to setting up future pitches.
Perhaps Schlittler didn’t like the way that four-seamer felt coming out of the hand, because he goes right back to the cutter with the count 1-1. Giménez was passive against the first one up and in so maybe Schlittler can extract a similar result with similar execution.
Schlittler commands this cutter to almost the same spot he hit with the first pitch of the AB except just a few inches higher. Interestingly, Giménez does swing this time at a pitch that is much harder to hit than the one he took for strike one. He has no chance of putting this pitch in play and only manages to foul it back with the handle of his bat.
With Giménez now showing a willingness to offer at the high fastball, and with the count to two strikes, all of the momentum is in Schlittler’s favor. The plan has become conveniently simplified: continue to pour in high heaters and let Giménez get himself out.
This is a perfectly located 1-2 four-seamer. It’s close enough to the zone to extract a chase but high enough to make solid contact almost impossible. Similarly, at 99 mph and in on Giménez’s hands rather than elevated but out over the plate, the hitter has zero time to pull his hands in and somewhat miraculously gets off an emergency hack to fight the pitch off foul and stay alive.
Two fastballs elevated above the zone and two chases — Schlittler simply needs to keep climbing the ladder just one rung higher than the previous pitch and eventually Giménez will be unable to raise his swing high enough to make contact.
Ask and you shall receive. Schlittler goes incrementally higher with this 96-mph cutter, and at last Giménez can’t adjust. Schlittler gets the swinging strikeout to strand the pair of baserunners in scoring position and hand it over to his offense with the score still knotted at one apiece.
Here’s the full sequence:
This sequence showcased several of Schlittler’s many talents. He has a unique ability to get chases and whiffs in bunches when he throws the four-seamer or cutter above the zone, which in addition to precise command suggests to me that his pitches just don’t move how hitters are expecting them to. We also noted that Schlittler recognized how Gausman was shutting down his teammates, necessitating that the likely All-Star be extra precise with his locations whereas he might have been able to attack the zone more freely had he been pitching with the lead.
Schlittler by his own admission was not at his sharpest in this game as evidenced by a season-high four walks. Still, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that Schlittler held Toronto to just one run across seven strong innings, a feat that very few starters in today’s game are capable of producing. I sometimes find myself falling into the trap of taking Schlittler’s ability for granted that he can go this deep in the game on a day when he doesn’t have his best stuff and/or command.
Boston, MA - May 13: Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela wears the Wally the Green Monster head after hitting a home run in the sixth inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Philadelphia Phillies at Fenway Park on May 13, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Even with the returns of Cal Raleigh and J.P. Crawford, the Mariners continue to be beset by injuries. Julio Rodriguez was held out of Thursday’s game with a minor hamstring injury and Luke Raley missed the entire series against the Orioles thanks to the flu. Somehow, the only part of the team that hasn’t been affected by injury is the starting rotation. We’ll see the return of the piggybacking strategy this weekend to alleviate the issues the six-man rotation caused over the last few weeks.
The Red Sox entered this season looking like one of the stronger teams in the AL East. They had navigated an awkward transition away from their older core, graduated a bunch of top prospects in 2025, and brought in a bunch of talented players during the offseason. Things quickly went off the rails. Manager Alex Cora was fired at the end of April after the team had limped to a 10-17 start to the season. Injuries to Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony further depleted the talent on the roster and the lineup has been one of the most punchless in baseball. Things have gone so bad in Boston, the team is already considering selling at the trade deadline despite the gross mediocrity plaguing the entire American League.
Player
Position
Bats
PA
K%
BB%
ISO
wRC+
Mickey Gasper
DH
S
103
19.4%
6.8%
0.075
83
Ceddanne Rafaela
CF
R
272
20.2%
5.1%
0.163
116
Wilyer Abreu
RF
L
307
19.9%
8.5%
0.152
106
Willson Contreras
1B
R
292
26.0%
9.2%
0.253
153
Jarren Duran
LF
L
297
29.0%
6.7%
0.180
76
Caleb Durbin
3B
R
229
14.0%
5.7%
0.130
53
Isiah Kiner-Falefa
2B
R
132
13.6%
9.1%
0.084
96
Marcelo Mayer
SS
L
208
17.8%
7.7%
0.086
61
Connor Wong
C
R
92
228.0%
8.7%
0.101
103
It turns out, it’s really difficult to replace superstars like Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers. Those players were shipped out of Boston in the name of payroll flexibility, but the team has done an extremely poor job of replacing that talent on their roster. The result is an offense that has scored the fewest runs in the AL with a 90 wRC+. Sure, Roman Anthony was supposed to be a core piece in the lineup, and he has missed more than a month due to a sprained finger, but he had only produced a 91 wRC+ before getting injured. The lone bright spot has been the excellence of Willson Contreras. Acquired from the Cardinals to fill the gaping hole at first base, he’s been one of the best at the position in baseball this year, blasting 16 home runs and running a career high 157 wRC+.
The real problem for the Red Sox is guys like Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Caleb Durbin all taking a hefty step backwards this season. Combined with the lack of development from former top prospect Marcelo Mayer and you can see why the team has struggled to consistently score runs this year.
After a stint in Philadelphia where he was constantly overshadowed by the bigger names in the Phillies’ rotation, Ranger Suarez signed a huge five-year, $130 million deal with the Red Sox this offseason. He wasn’t a big name prospect, doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, but he owns a 3.25 ERA and 15.2 fWAR since joining the starting rotation full time in 2021. Excellent command, a bit of deception, and a deep repertoire all combine to help him run excellent strikeout-to-walk ratios while also limiting the amount of hard contact he allows. His sinker is one of the best in baseball and his curveball provides plenty of whiffs when he really needs to get a strikeout.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Connelly Early
75.2
22.0%
8.9%
15.7%
40.7%
3.81
4.99
Emerson Hancock
79.2
24.0%
5.4%
12.5%
41.5%
3.28
3.80
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
38.9%
34.3%
93.8
104
109
94
0.336
Sinker
13.7%
51.1%
92.3
96
103
85
0.354
Changeup
24.9%
3.4%
83.6
102
68
78
0.330
Curveball
15.1%
3.4%
79.9
105
59
77
0.390
Slider
7.4%
7.7%
86.8
100
Sweeper
0.9%
28.3%
82.2
100
Connelly Early made his big league debut last fall, showcasing strong strikeout stuff with good command. Ranked fourth overall on this year’s Red Sox prospect list, his first full season in the majors has been a little shaky this year. He moved through the minor leagues extremely quickly after being drafted in the fifth round in 2023, so it’s possible his struggles this year are simply normal speed bumps in his development trajectory. He’s got a deep six-pitch repertoire and likes to mix and match his pitch mix to avoid becoming too predictable. He’s got a pair of strong fastballs, an excellent changeup, and a trio of breaking balls to attack batters with.
Pitcher
IP
K%
BB%
HR/FB%
GB%
ERA
FIP
Payton Tolle
58.1
25.4%
6.8%
6.4%
34.4%
2.93
3.08
Logan Gilbert
86.2
26.6%
5.8%
12.3%
32.9%
3.43
3.79
Pitch
Usage vRHB
Usage vLHB
Velocity
Stuff+
Whiff+
BIP+
xwOBA
Four-seam
51.7%
41.4%
96.1
126
123
106
0.190
Sinker
20.4%
34.0%
95.0
98
94
114
0.394
Cutter
14.2%
19.9%
88.4
102
105
156
0.240
Changeup
4.3%
0.0%
88.5
Curveball
9.4%
4.7%
82.3
120
Payton Tolle raced through the Red Sox farm system last year. After being drafted in 2024, he made his pro debut the following spring and was eventually pitching in the big leagues by the end of the season. His fastball is one of the best in all of baseball; he throws hard from the left side, the pitch has tremendous carry at the top of the zone, and his 6’ 6” frame provides a ton of extension down the mound. His secondary pitches are still a work in progress but his plus plus fastball has enough quality that he can get by without a breaking ball or offspeed pitch. If he ever develops a consistent secondary weapon or two, watch out.
The Big Picture:
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Mariners
39-37
0.513
—
+23
L-L-W-L-W
Athletics
37-38
0.493
1.5
-46
L-W-L-L-W
Rangers
35-39
0.473
3.0
-12
L-W-L-L-L
Astros
35-41
0.461
4.0
-41
W-L-L-W-W
Angels
30-46
0.395
9.0
-44
L-L-W-L-L
Team
W-L
W%
Games Behind
Run Diff
Recent Form
Rays
41-30
0.577
+6.0
+5
L-W-L-L-L
Guardians
40-35
0.533
+3.0
-7
W-W-L-L-W
Blue Jays
37-38
0.493
—
-13
L-L-W-W-W
Athletics
37-38
0.493
—
-46
L-W-L-L-W
Twins
36-40
0.474
1.5
-24
L-W-W-W-W
Rangers
35-39
0.473
1.5
-12
L-W-L-L-L
The Athletics wound up losing their series against the Pirates earlier this week but started off a four-game set against the Angels with a win last night. The Rangers were swept by the Twins, slipping down the Wild Card standings into a tie with Minnesota; Texas hosts the Padres this weekend. The Astros just took two of three from the Tigers and will get an opportunity to affect the AL Central standings even further with a series against the Guardians.
Jun 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (16) celebrates with teammates hits a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins in the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
The Phillies 3-9 record against the current three NL division leaders — Braves, Dodgers and Brewers — tells a pretty clear story.
Those three clubs are all significantly better than Philadelphia.
It was clear to see on the field in the two series against Atlanta, the series in Los Angeles and in the Phils’ trip to Milwaukee.
Here is how the Phils have fared against clubs currently holding down a playoff spot in the National League:
Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2)
Atlanta Braves (1-5)
Milwaukee Brewers (1-2)
San Diego Padres (6-0)
Washington Nationals (2-1)
That’s a collective 11-10 record, although more than half of those victories came against one team, the Padres.
If you factor in the American League playoff teams they’ve played, it looks like this:
Chicago White Sox (2-1)
Cleveland Guardians (1-2)
Athletics (2-1)
That would improve their record against current playoff teams to 16-14, 10-14 against teams not called the San Diego Padres.
Where the Phillies are doing real damage is against everyone else, which, makes a lot of sense.
Arizona Diamondbacks (1-2)
Boston Red Sox (2-1)
Cincinnati Reds (1-2)
Colorado Rockies (4-2)
Miami Marlins (5-1)
Pittsburgh Pirates (3-0)
San Francisco Giants (4-2)
Texas Rangers (1-2)
Toronto Blue Jays (2-1)
They’ve gone 23-13 against teams that currently do not hold a playoff spot. The Marlins came to town this week and the Phils bludgeoned them by a combined score of 15-2 in the first two games until Miami beat up on a now-demoted rookie starting pitcher, Andrew Painter.
Here’s the good news. The schedule look mighty nice heading into next month’s All Star break.
3 vs. NY Mets (33-41)
4 @ Washington Nationals (39-36)
3 @ NY Mets
4 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (37-37)
3 @ Kansas City Royals (30-45)
3 @ Cincinnati Reds (35-38)
3 @ Detroit Tigers (30-44)
Over their next 23 games, they play four games against teams with a winning record, next week in DC against the Nats. Their opponents have a combined record of 204-241 and a winning percentage of .458. The Phillies have a better record than all of them.
It’s a recipe for the success they’ve experienced since Don Mattingly took over as skipper to continue into the All Star Break.
The Cincinnati Reds, ranked fifth in the NL Central with a 35-38 record, face the New York Yankees, who are first in the AL East with a 45-28 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -285 moneyline compared to the Cincinnati Reds' +225. Starting pitchers are Rhett Lowder for Cincinnati, with a 4.60 ERA, and Cam Schlittler for New York, with a 1.82 ERA.
