Category: Baseball

I will talk from time to time about the “shape” of a win. As much fun as these come from behind, walk-off wins are, it would be okay to have some mundane wins too. It’s ironic that Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and Pete Crow-Armstrong have been publicly seen hanging out this year. The Bears set an NFL record for games in a single season in which they were losing in the fourth quarter and eventually won. The Cubs are leading major league baseball in walk-off wins. This was their eighth. Both teams have had a pretty special season in terms of come from behind.

In the long run, the problem is that these types of wins are often a little fluky. The win against the A’s happened, in part, because the A’s had used a lot of bullpen in securing a pair of one-run wins against the Cubs. I’m sure the Bears coaching and management staff would all say that if they have to rely on a lot of last-second wins in the upcoming season, they’ll probably struggle. Yes, there is something a team picks up in terms of confidence and standing up to pressure that comes from these wins. But as we saw in the couple of games where Williams and the Bears didn’t complete their comeback attempts, one bad bounce or one odd play can derail one of those games.

I’m reminded of the Cubs front office pointing out that the best teams aren’t necessarily the best in close games. The best teams win the most games comfortably and don’t have to sweat out one of those unfortunate bad plays. You want to build a model that builds a team that just straight out wins games. Unfortunately, this Cubs team and that Bears team weren’t really those teams. The margins were too close. Everything was necessarily a grind. So here we are. It’s not going to be easy or pretty. But this team is still in the hunt. In for a penny, in for a pound. Let’s take the journey.

A quick hat tip to most of the Cub pitching staff. Two runs allowed in 10 innings is an excellent performance. A homer off of Caleb Thielbar (who did strike out two of the three he faced) and Daniel Palencia’s rough ninth inning was really the only blemishes for the pitching staff. Everyone else was pretty superb. As is so often the case with games like this, there are very few contributions that you could take out of the stack and still see a Cubs win. Every little bit helps.

Three Positives:

• I mean, this was Pete Crow-Armstrong’s game. Four hits, two of them homers. One tied the game in the sixth and one tied the game in the ninth. Very nice.
• Ben Brown threw 5.1 innings, faced just 19 hitters and allowed a hit, a walk and hit a batter. He struck out five. I continue to think any path to staying competitive is going to look just like this 16-20 batters faced for the starter and get out of there. Don’t save bullets or worry about setting things up for facing a hitter three times.
• Jacob Webb threw two scoreless innings. He did have to face eight hitters to get six outs, but he’s been a god send in the bullpen. With he and Brown both throwing, you saw the two most effective Cub pitchers so far in one game.

Game 65, June 6: Cubs 3, Giants 2 (34-31)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Pete Crow-Armstrong (.737). 4-5, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
• Hero: Ben Brown (.310). 5.1 IP, 19 BF, H, BB, 0 ER, 5 K, HBP
• Sidekick: Ryan Rolison (.308). IP, 2 K

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Daniel Palencia (-.305). IP, 5 BF, 2 H, 0 ER, K
• Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.175). 0-4
• Kid: Alex Bregman (-.175) . 0-3, BB, K

WPA Play of the Game: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s game-tying, solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. (.489)

Giants Play of the Game: Bryce Eldrige singled with a runner on first and one out in the ninth, the game tied. (.186).

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 64 Winner: Seiya Suzuki received 61 of 105 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Michael Busch +22
• Ben Brown +11.5
• Pete Crow-Armstrong/Michael Conforto +10
• Carson Kelly +9.5
• Ryan Rolison/Phil Maton/Jameson Taillon -8
• Caleb Thielbar -9
• Matt Shaw -10
• Dansby Swanson -11
• Seiya Suzuki -26.5

Win Pace: 84.7

Up Next: The third and final game of the series. Jameson Taillon (2-5, 5.13, 66.2 IP) starts for the Cubs. He’s allowed nine homers in his last four starts (21 IP). Last time, he was pretty decent over 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk. Hopefully he can do that again. 25-year-old right hander Trevor McDonald (2-3, 4.50, 34 IP) starts for the Giants. Making just his seventh start of the year for the Giants, McDonald has lost his last three starts, allowing 12 earned runs in 15 innings of work.

It’s been a long time since the Cubs won a series. How about now?

Frustration best describes the San Diego Padres’ current stretch in the 2026 season. The team has lost 11 of its last 12 games and fallen into third place in the National League West standings.

The blame can go all around; the Padres offense has been non-existent since Opening Day. The starting rotation has created a mess by allowing games to get out of reach before the bullpen can put the fire out. The hope is that Jhony Brito can provide a much-needed spark, as he is on the verge of returning to the majors. 

Canning and Giolito have been ineffective

The last two weeks have been disastrous for the Friars’ starting rotation. They have posted a 5.12 ERA over the last 12 games. The team finished May with a 13-15 record and enters June with a rousing 0-5 mark. 

Both Griffin Canning (0-4 with a 7.16 ERA) and Lucas Giolito (2-1 with a 4.86 ERA) have been ineffective as replacements for Nick Pivetta and German Marquez in the rotation. Most of their outings start strong, only to unravel with a costly home run or a sudden loss of commanding the strike zone. Neither can recover to limit the damage, nor can they wiggle out of jams. 

The frustration among the Friar Faithful is that both pitchers have regressed and fail to get key outs. Too often, they find themselves ambushed after challenging hitters with mistake pitches that major leaguers rarely miss.

Brito could make season debut in June

The Padres cannot squander too much more ground in the standings, as the call for Brito to come up cannot be too far away. He was activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to El Paso. Brito completed his 30-day rehab window after missing last season for UCL brace and flexor tendon repair surgery. 

The Friars split his rehab assignment between Peoria in the Arizona Complex League and the Friars’ Double-A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions. The results have been encouraging. 

In six starts, Brito posted a 3.33 ERA over 24.1 innings pitched, but he threw between 50 and 60 pitches in each outing. His return to the majors is contingent on Brito restoring his arm strength during his current minor league stay.

Also, the Padres must monitor his walk-to-strike ratio, as his control has been outstanding thus far. Brito has thrown a heavy sinker, changeup, and the occasional fastball that limited hard contact in his rehab starts. 

Adding stability to the starting rotation would be ideal, but not at the risk of Brito sustaining another arm injury. He may have an innings limit as part of the long-term recovery process. The front office must determine whether his value is greater in the bullpen or the starting rotation.

The clock is ticking on the 2026 season. The Friars cannot allow Canning and Giolito to string along more bad outings before making a change. 

Brito is ready to contribute.

It wasn’t exactly the type of night to brag about the hitting prospects that are on the farm for the Phillies, while two injuries occurred that are both something the team is going to want to be careful with in the coming days. Let’s see how the kids did.

Lehigh Valley 3, Rochester 2

Alan Rangel was the star for the IronPigs, going six innings on the mound and only allowing three hits on two runs, striking out eight. He’s seen his role changed quite a bit with the team, bouncing between starter and bulk guy depending on what the big league team wants/needs. Seeing as how he is basically their next points of depth, he’ll need to keep pitching well. For the offense, Bryan de la Cruz had two hits, including an RBI double while Christian Cairo also chipped in two hits.

Binghamton 4, Reading 1

Quite the display of offensive struggle, the Fightin’ Phils managed only one run on five hits as they were shut down by Rumble Ponies starter Jonathan Santucci. Erick Brito had two hits on the day, while Aroon Escobar drove in the only run for Reading with an RBI single. The biggest story of the game was Dante Nori needing to come out after coming up lame on a groundout.

Concerning and something to keep an eye on.

Brooklyn 12, Jersey Shore 4

At least Nick Biddison had two hits, both being doubles. Because boy did the pitching struggle for the BlueClaws. Ryan Drombowski got smacked around in 3 1/3 innings, surrendering eight runs on seven hits. The bullpen did manage to get a few other outs, but Giussepe Velasquez gave up four more runs to seal the loss. Tough night.

St. Lucie 5, Clearwater 1

Speaking of concerning injuries:

Well, I’d probably take the rest of the night off too if I was allowed.

Three hits was all that was produced by Clearwater, a sleepy night for the Threshers. The pitching wasn’t much to write home about either, so let’s just chalk this one up to one to be forgotten.

On April 17, 1976, the Yankees made an announcement unlike any they’d made in over 40 years. For the first time since Lou Gehrig received the honor in 1935, the Bronx Bombers had a new captain. He was a man manager Billy Martin, known more for his temperamental clashing with players than his effusive praise of them, called “a born leader” on the occasion of his anointment. A player who, despite making four All-Star teams, winning Rookie of the Year honors, and earning three Gold Gloves, had his greatest glory ahead of him. The captaincy of baseball’s premier franchise was coming out of unofficial retirement for the great Thurman Munson.

Thurman Lee Munson
Born: June 7, 1947 (Akron, OH)
Died: August 2, 1979 (Summit County, OH)
Yankees Tenure: 1969-79

Munson grew up in Canton, Ohio. As with many star athletes of his era, young Thurman excelled at football, basketball, and baseball, but it was the latter that won his heart. In particular, the art of hitting was his passion. Munson only began catching because he was the only player on his high school team who could handle a fireballing pitcher on the squad. He spurned several football scholarship offers to take a full-ride baseball scholarship from Kent State, where he’d make the College All-American team, hitting .413 his junior year.

The Yankees jumped on that offensive talent, selecting him fourth overall in the 1968 MLB Draft. Munson appeared to arrive to pro ball fully formed, hitting .301 in 71 games at Double A the very year he was drafted. He was even more dynamic in ‘69, hitting .363 for Triple-A Syracuse. That performance was too much for the Yankees to ignore. After a brief cup of coffee in August, the 22-year-old was called up on September 5th to start both halves of a doubleheader behind the dish. He collected three hits and took hold of the Yankees’ starting gig at backstop, a role he would not relinquish.

If 1969 was Munson’s stepping stone to the big leagues, 1970 was his coming out party. He hit .302 with 35 extra-base hits, a level of production at the catcher position that brought him to within one vote of unanimous selection for AL Rookie of the Year. The man who would garner (and, to some extent, foster) an image as a taciturn veteran later in the decade played the role of brash young phenom early in his career. “He was cocky in a good sense, very confident,” his teammate Fritz Peterson said. “He was so talented he could get away with it. He also had quite a sense of humor. All of the players liked him from the beginning.”

Munson’s ascent coincided with the Yankees’ best season since they reached the World Series in ‘64, as their new catcher helped lead them to 93 wins and a second-place finish in the newly-christened AL East. Over the following five years, Munson would prove his rookie season was no fluke. Between 1971 and ‘75, he slashed .284/.345/.408 while taking home three Gold Gloves. Perhaps even more impressively, he averaged over 140 games a year while manning baseball’s most physically demanding position. Munson was not bashful in outlining the catcher’s — and, by extension, his — importance to a baseball team.

“The catcher is the most important man in the game. He does the same kind of job a quarterback does in football. He directs the pitchers and calls the game for them. He must know the capabilities and weaknesses of each batter who comes to the plate. He also acts as kind of a field general because from his position he can oversee the entire field. Even more, he has the important duty of protecting home plate as the runner comes tearing in to try to make the score.”

However, his Yankees would not surpass the 90-win threshold again in those seasons. Amidst that stretch, George Steinbrenner would buy the Yankees from CBS, giving the franchise an ostentatious figurehead and an open checkbook. The Yankees began to see the fruits of new ownership in 1975, when the Boss signed Catfish Hunter to the first big-money free agent deal in baseball history and he won 23 games en route to a Cy Young runner-up finish.

It was the following season, with Munson entrenched as team captain, that the Yankees would take the next step, winning 97 games and taking the East. In a deep and formidable lineup, the 29-year-old almost always hit third and delivered, batting .302 with 105 RBI. That offensive performance, paired with his defensive ability and handling of a surging pitching staff, netted him the 1976 AL MVP, joining Yogi Berra and Elston Howard as the third Yankees catcher to do so.

Munson was a force in the ALCS against the rival Royals, hitting .435 in a series that came down to a decisive Game 5. In a back-and-forth affair that would end in a 7-6 Yankees victory, the Yankee captain collected two separate RBI base knocks that equated to the difference in the game. He was even better in the World Series, going 9-for-17, but the rest of his team would not follow as New York was swept by Cincinnati.

That offseason came with another encouraging announcement for Munson. Steinbrenner agreed to pay him $1.25 million over five years, making him the team’s highest-paid player. Munson disclosed at the time a verbal agreement that Steinbrenner would adjust the contract if needed to ensure he remained atop the team’s payroll no matter who they signed in the interim. It wasn’t much later that he learned of a free agent agreement that would pay veteran slugger Reggie Jackson between $3 million and $3.5 million over the same time period. This broken trust with Steinbrenner contributed not only to a rift in their relationship but the beginnings of a disdain for Jackson and a general calcification of Munson’s already ornery public persona.

The Yankees’ 1977 season would become the stuff of legend. Reggie and Billy fighting in the dugout at Fenway. Jackson’s infamous “straw that stirs the drink” interview. Billy refusing to bat Reggie cleanup. With the Bronx Zoo open for business, Munson may no longer have been the Yankees’ biggest star or most dynamic personality, but he continued to rake, hitting .308 and driving in 100 for the third straight year. It would be Jackson, who Munson had ironically nicknamed “Mr. October” early on the playoffs as he struggled, who rose to the challenge in the World Series, hitting three homers in the clincher and earning the derisive moniker in earnest. But Munson was his usual, reliable self, hitting .304 with a pair of homers to help the Yankees topple first the Royals and then the Dodgers for their 21st title.

The next year brought much of the same. Munson, now in his 30s, was slowed by a series of injuries, including sore knees, nerve damage in his thumb, and bursitis in his right arm. These issues sapped him of his power, as he hit only six homers, the fewest since his rookie season. Munson still hit .297 and appeared in 125 games behind the dish, providing a steadying force as the Yankees overcame a 14-game deficit and Martin’s mid-season departure to take the East in a thrilling, one-game playoff against Boston. In what would become known as the Bucky Dent game, Munson delivered a key RBI double in the seventh to provide some much-needed insurance.

He kept it going in the playoffs, hitting .302 as the Yankees once again defeated Kansas City and LA to repeat.

On August 2, 1979, with the Yankees in the midst of a disappointing campaign and while dealing with knee injuries that were making it difficult for him to catch every day, Munson went to the Canton-Akron airport to work on landings in his new Cessna twin engine jet. After earning his pilot’s license in the 1977 offseason, aviation had become a passion and an avenue for more easily visiting his family back in Ohio during the season. While attempting his third landing of the day, the Cessna clipped three trees before crashing and setting fire, taking the life of its pilot.

The tragedy sent the baseball world into mourning. The brash Steinbrenner, famous for his aphorism that winning was second in importance only to breathing, could not help but puncture that façade.

“There is very little I can say to adequately express my feelings at this moment. I’ve lost a dear friend, a pal and one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever known. We spent many hours together talking baseball and business. He loved his family, he was our leader. The great sport, which made him so famous, seems so very small and unimportant now. And there lies a great lesson for all of us.”  

The Yankees continued to play, in part at the request of Munson’s widow, Diana. The captain’s funeral was held on August 6th in Ohio, with the full team in attendance and his close friends and teammates Bobby Murcer and Lou Piniella delivering eulogies. That evening, they returned to the Bronx to face the Orioles, with Murcer accounting for all five Yankees runs and walking off Baltimore in a cathartic victory.

After his untimely passing, Munson’s legacy has remained central for the team to which he devoted himself for 11 seasons. His number 15 was retired immediately after his death and a plaque was added in Monument Park the following year. His locker remained untouched until the Yankees moved to their new ballpark in 2009, at which point it was transferred to the stadium’s museum. A replica of the locker is also on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Diana Munson remains a fixture of Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium, invariably receiving a strong ovation in memory of her husband. On what would have been his 79th birthday, join us in celebrating the extraordinary life of Thurman Munson.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

Catching up on some minor league news on a Sunday morning, earlier this week a pair of Dodgers minor leaguers won player of the month awards for May. Josue De Paula took home Texas League honors after the best month of his career, while Class-A third baseman Chase Harlan won California League honors for Ontario.

De Paula is the Dodgers’ top prospect, moving up to the fifth-best prospect in baseball this week in the latest Baseball America update to its top-100 rankings.

“As one of the youngest players in the Texas League, the lefthanded hitter is showing the same outstanding hittability and plate discipline, but now he’s turning on balls with more authority and showing that his prodigious raw juice will show up in games,” Josh Norris wrote at BA on Wednesday. ”He’s about as complete a hitter as you’ll find in the minor leagues.”

The 21-year-old De Paula in May hit .340/.410/.650 with a 173wRC+, 14 doubles, six home runs, 29 runs batted in, and 27 runs scored in 25 games for Double-A Tulsa, and also stole seven bases in eight tries. Twenty extra-base hits were eight more than his previous monthly best (May 2024), and his other previous best months were 28 hits (May 2025), 12 extra-base hits (May 2024), five home runs (May 2024), 20 runs scored (April 2025), and 16 RBI (May 2024).

Harlan in May hit .388/.481/.694 with a 185 wRC+ for Ontario, leading the California League in batting average and slugging percentage, with five home runs, seven doubles, two triples, 22 RBI, 16 runs scored, and 16 walks in 22 games.

He had a four-hit game on May 16 against San Jose, and homered in four straight games from May 24-28 against Inland Empire and Visalia.

The Dodgers’ third-round pick out of high school in 2024, Harlan is hitting .335/.455/.571 with a 157 wRC+ with 21 extra-base hits in 45 games for Ontario, and nearly as many walks (35) as strikeouts (39). He turns 20 on July 9.

Meet the Mets

The Mets fell to the Padres 3-2 at Petco Park. The Mets led in a tight contest for much of the night and Nolan McLean delivered a quality start, issuing just one run over six strong innings of work. But Austin Warren gave up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Freddy Fermin in the seventh and an unfortunate Juan Soto double play line out quashed a potential eighth inning rally for the Mets.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, Newsday, New York Post

In a big blow to the Mets, Jorge Polanco’s rehab assignment was shut down when he experienced renewed soreness in his ankle. He will receive more imaging and be further evaluated as the Mets determine the best path forward for him.

Huascar Brazobán will start for the Mets today as an opener with Sean Manaea pitching behind him in bulk relief.

Johan Santana remains the only Mets pitcher to ever throw a complete game no-hitter. Will that ever change?

The Mets granted lefty reliever Anderson Severino his release so he could pursue an opportunity in Japan.

Kodai Senga will pitch another rehab outing in Double-A to help address his control issues, per Carlos Mendoza.

Mark Vientos will have to “compete for at bats,” Carlos Mendoza said in his pregame presser yesterday, citing a “healthy competition” between him, Jared Young, and MJ Melendez. The struggling Vientos started last night against the righty Griffin Canning and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, including one at the hands of Padres closer Mason Miller (also right-handed) to end the game with the tying run on base.

Young has been an unexpected spark for the Mets, especially given his recent power surge, writes Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Around the National League East

Dominic Smith continued his remarkable 2026 season with a home run to help lead the Braves to a 6-3 win over the Pirates.

Andrew Painter continued to struggle, surrendering six runs in 4.2 innings to doom the Phillies to a 6-3 loss to the White Sox.

Zach Pop, who the Phillies designated for assignment on May 30, cleared waivers and elected free agency rather than accept his outright assignment to Triple-A.

Home runs from Curtis Mead and Dylan Crews and a solid start from Zack Littell propelled the Nationals to a 6-1 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Former Met Tyler Zuber got his first career save as he ended a late threat from the Rays to secure the 4-3 win for the Marlins.

Around Major League Baseball

Another injury has struck the Yankees, as Austin Wells has been placed on the injured list due to cervical headaches.

Tyler Glasnow has been out for almost a month and will miss even more time after being transferred to the 60-day injured list.

The current AL playoff picture means that almost nobody is truly out of it, but the Red Sox have good enough pieces to make selling at the deadline an attractive option, writes Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.

On Friday the Dodgers unveiled a permanent display honoring LGBTQ+ trailblazers and former players Glenn Burke and Billy Bean in a pregame ceremony as part of the team’s Pride Night.

This Date in Mets History

The Mets have drafted several notable players on this date in history.

San Diego Padres rookie reliever Bradgley Rodriguez came into the game against the New York Mets in the top of the seventh inning with the game tied, 1-1. He faced Marcus Semien to start his relief outing and was ambushed on the first pitch of the at-bat. Semien hit a first-pitch solo home run to left-center field that just made it over the wall to put the Mets ahead of the Padres, 2-1. Rodriguez bounced back, getting outs from the next three New York batters, but with San Diego on a six-game winless streak, it appeared to be another minor mistake that would lead to another loss.

Freddy Fermin, who has been struggling on offense and defense in recent weeks, changed the outcome of the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Fermin was 0-for-30 heading into what proved to be his game-winning plate appearance. With two outs and Sung-Mun Song on first base, Fermin hit the first pitch of the at-bat over the head of Mets left fielder Juan Soto and into the left field bleachers to put the Padres ahead, 3-2 on his first home run of the season.

Song, who was thrown out between third and home plate to end the bottom of the fifth inning, made an inning-ending play in the top of the eighth to keep San Diego in the lead. Jason Adam was on the mound to start the frame and recorded an out against the first batter he faced. With a one-run lead, he allowed back-to-back singles and New York had Soto coming to the plate with a chance to tie the game with a hit or give his team the lead with a home run. Adam got Soto to lineout to Song at second base. Song was running to his right when he caught the ball and was able to get enough on a throw to Xander Bogaerts who was at the base to double off the runner at second to end the inning.

Mason Miller came on for the bottom of the ninth inning and got the first two outs fairly quickly. He then walked A.J. Ewing but secured the win with a strikeout of Mark Vientos to give the Padres a 3-2 win and snap their six-game losing streak. San Diego will try to make it two in a row and win the series today at 1:10 p.m.

Padres News:

• The Dominican Summer League is about to begin, and the Padres will be represented by multiple players. Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball tells you who and what to watch for this season.

• Things were bad when the Padres could not find consistent offense with a healthy lineup. Things got worse when it was announced that Ramon Laureano would likely miss the rest of the season after hip surgery. That injury, combined with multiple pitching injuries, has Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune wondering if the Padres have enough to reach the postseason.

• The Friar Faithful have continued to sellout Petco Park, which is a testament to how much they believe in the Padres, but they are tired of seeing their home team on the wrong end of the scoreboard. Kirk Kenney of the San Diego Union-Tribune says the fans have some ideas on how to end San Diego’s hitting woes.

Baseball News:

• The Los Angeles Dodgers scored nine runs in the first inning and went on to beat the Los Angeles Angels, 9-2.

• Milwaukee Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski threw 45 pitches at 101 mph or better and led the Brewers to a win over the Colorado Rockies.

• The Chicago Cubs got an extra-inning walk-off win over the San Francisco Giants.

• Lars Nootbaar hit his first home run of the season and helped the St. Louis Cardinals get a 6-5 win.

• Bobby Witt Jr. recorded his 400th RBI and helped the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins.

• Tanner Bibee got his first win of the season with eight shutout innings to give the Cleveland Guardians a 6-0 win against the Texas Rangers.

• Dominic Smith had two hits, one of which was a home run, as the Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park.

• Jacob Gonzalez hit his first MLB home run for the Chicago White Sox and his team went on to beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-3.

• The Washington Nationals continued their recent dominance over NL West opponents with a 6-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Mets wrap up their three-game series as they look to take the series from the San Diego Padres on Sunday at 4:10pm on SNY.

Mets Notes

• Sean Manaea was excellent in his last appearance, pitching five innings of one-run ball against the Seattle Mariners
• Huascar Brazoban will start as an opener
• Bo Bichette is hitting .280 with a .345 OBP over his last seven games while driving in five runs
• Carson Benge has been setting the table well with eight hits over his last seven games

Today's Lineups

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Let’s hope that Garrett Whitlock is able to return to action when he’s eligible on June 9, because the Red Sox bullpen is dealing with a few injury issues. Jovani Moran has been placed on the IL with “a little inflammation on the elbow.” He’s been replaced on the roster by Alec Gamboa, who has a 3.66 ERA with Worcester so far this year. In more concerning news, Aroldis Chapman is dealing with a sore hamstring. “We think he should be good right now,” said Chad Tracy. “Obviously, you saw he was (moving gingerly Friday). We know that. If it got to a point where we feel like we can’t do it, we won’t do it. We’re always talking with Aroldis on that, too.” (Sean McAdam, MassLive)

Moran was recently seen as Brayan Bello’s opener, but that’s not a role the Sox need right now, with Bello having been demoted to AAA. And it’s not just flawed mechanics or pitch shapes that the Sox want Bello working on down there. “When I first got here, he was a guy that had this big personality, and always had a smile on his face, interacting with teammates,” said Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. “You could tell just how he loved to compete and loved to pitch, and I think we lost that a little bit where he was putting a ton of pressure on himself to go out and perform.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

Let’s be thankful that Willson Contreras hasn’t had any big injury issues, or else this team would really be in rough shape. Contreras isn’t just someone who’s been performing on the field, either, but leading through the example of his fiery attitude. “He wants the game played the right way.” said Wilyer Abreu. “He brings that kind of energy to the field every day.” (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

It’s no secret that, should the Red Sox decide to sell at the trade deadline this year, both Contreras and Chapman will be likely candidates to head out the door. But they aren’t the only names being discussed right now. “With three catchers on the big-league roster — Carlos Narváez, Connor Wong and Mickey Gasper — Boston’s surplus is drawing interest. The Red Sox are shopping Wong in particular, according to a league source, and have also fielded calls on relievers Aroldis Chapman, Justin Slaten and Garrett Whitlock.” Now, I’m no big city CBO, but it’s hard for me to see a 30-year-old backup catcher with 4.4 career bWAR bringing much back, but sure, why not, go for it, Craig. (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)

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It’s Sunday, and the sluggers are out in full force with a jam-packed MLB schedule. My home run props hone in on Willy Adames, Shea Langeliers, and Kyle Schwarber.

Read my full MLB player props and MLB picks for Sunday, June 7 below.

Best MLB home run props today

Player to hit a HR	Odds
Shea Langeliers	+280
Kyle Schwarber	+200
Willy Adames	+467
💲Today's HR parlay	+6363

Home run pick: Shea Langeliers (+280)

Not only does Houston Astros starter Mike Burrows rank in the Bottom 3rd percentile for pitching run value, but he’s also tied for second last in home runs allowed per nine innings (2.0).

The right-hander has surrendered multiple home runs in three of his last four starts and won’t have much support from his bullpen, which has allowed 40 dingers this year — second most among all clubs.

Shea Langeliers has hit six of his team-leading 16 dingers off the four-seamer, while nine of the 15 homers Burrows has allowed came off that pitch. I’ll play this up to +260.

• Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCS-California, Space City Home Network

Home run pick: Kyle Schwarber (+200)

Kyle Schwarber is in the 100th percentile in barrel rate and 97th percentile in bat speed, so it’s no surprise that the Philadelphia Phillies slugger is up to 23 homers.

Schwarber is seeing the sinker well, batting .364 with four dingers vs. that pitch type. That works out well for him this afternoon against Chicago White Sox starter Tyler Gilbert, who throws his sinker 37% of the time.

The White Sox pen will also be easy pickings for Schwarber, having allowed 34 homers this year — tied for sixth most. I like Schwarber, but I’m not betting this past +190.

• Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCS-Philadelphia, Chicago Sports Network

Home run pick: Willy Adames (+467)

Jameson Taillon has had a disastrous start to his season for the Chicago Cubs, ranking dead last among all starters with 2.7 home runs allowed per nine innings.

Taillon’s barrel rate ranks among the Bottom 2nd percentile in the majors — a big reason why he’s allowed nine dingers in his last four starts.

It’ll be a good matchup for Willy Adames, who feasts on the four-seamer. The San Francisco Giants shortstop has hit seven of his 11 dingers off the four-seamer, and that’s Taillon’s most common pitch (29%).

Play this prop up to +420 tonight.

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC/Peacock

Today’s HR parlay

Shea Langeliers	Bet Now +6363
Kyle Schwarber
Willy Adames

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Disappointing is probably the best way to categorize Andrew Painter’s season. No one really expected ace-hood from him straight out of the gate, but he has struggled this year. Like any other pitcher, he’s exchanged good starts with poor ones, but those poor ones are far too often. His last five starts have shown this Jekyll and Hyde act where the first three, he gave up five runs in 17 1/3 innings. These last two, he’s allowed ten runs in eight innings.

The question becomes: should he make his next start? The team doesn’t really have much depth below, so optioning him for a while is probably out. Maybe they could skip his next start, or use a bullpen game instead.

Or they might just keep moving forward with him.

Yesterday was fun. The Braves won a game that Braxton Ashcraft started. Dom Smith hit a homer. Austin Riley chipped in with a double. Tyler Kinley pitched a scoreless eighth. And Mauricio Dubon stole home plate.

It’s one of those “steal by association” ones, but stealing home can be difficult without doing that. So do you remember the last Braves’ steal of home plate? I’ll show you anyway.

There is a lot going on here. Abraham Almonte was batting cleanup here (which I don’t have any memory of this happening) and struck out. Yadier Molina, who had a career 374.0 run defense adjustment, throws this short hop to second. And Freddie Freeman races home for the first Braves run of the day. Chip Caray called the play, and it sounds weird already (thankfully?) that he’s calling this Cardinals game from a Braves point of view.

The St. Louis Cardinals and the fans at Busch Stadium welcomed Lars Nootbaar back into action this weekend as he made his season debut. I, personally, was more ready for his return than I expected this offseason, as I simply hoped for a healthy return and a quick trade out of St. Louis. As this season has progressed in a competitive manner, Noot now means more to the struggling lineup with a chance at a playoff spot than he did for a bottom barrel rebuilding team.

Even the most optimistic of fans, myself included, thought that 10 games over .500 in June was a pipe dream, but with how well the team played to this point, the recent swoon has created a feeling of disappointment among Cardinal Nation. The bottom half of the lineup has underperformed even low expectations and their combined struggles are more of a story for a team still sitting in postseason contention. Had the Cardinals been at the NL Central cellar without an MVP candidate in right field and a Rookie of the Year contender at second, having five batters in a rebuilding lineup hitting less than league-average would be unremarkable. However, with focus shifting from 2028 to this year, fans were looking for a boost to the lineup. Enter Nootbaar.

A healthy Lars Nootbaar is best for everyone, short-term or for the future

The impact was immediate. Nootbaar singled in his first major league at-bat since September 27 and most importantly looked healthy running the bases. He hit in his comfortable lead off spot with JJ Wetherholt nursing some soreness and was a major part of the big sixth inning on Friday. The elder statesman of the offense is back at the best time, and his play could impact more than just his future.

As stated, I hoped for a month of hot-hitting Noot and a tough to swallow trade for some to happen near the deadline. I personally feel it is tougher to value hitters on the trade market, but with Noot looking like a change of scenery candidate a la Nolan Arenado, a trade partner may have been easier to find for Bloom. Now, though, with the Cardinals continuing to convince me every week that this is for real, a hot-hitting, healthy Nootbaar may be more valuable to the team if he sticks around for another season.

Nootbaar received a day off in the afternoon game after the evening contest, as scheduled, but JJ Wetherholt remained out of the lineup. This pushed Masyn Winn to the leadoff spot, so as of this writing on Saturday, we do not yet know how all three of these players will be used in the same lineup. Regardless if Noot slides in the top of the order or in the fifth spot, he will be expected to be a run producer and extend the lineup a bit. For a hitter with a career 110 OPS+ and double-digit homer potential, his return could do a lot for this season in multiple ways. Oh. And he hit a go-ahead homer in the 8th inning after entering off the bench. How freaking fun is that?

If Jordan Walker continues his at minimum All-Star season and Wetherholt stays healthy and consistent for a Rookie of the Year finalist, Nootbaar’s presence could push the lineup into a legitimate postseason contender. The whole roster would likely still be built for a first-round exit, but a healthy Noot is a massive step up for the entire outfield’s production. When Nathan Church returns, there is already going to be a squeeze for playing time with Victor Scott II, Nelson Velazquez, and Jose Fermin, but Nootbaar complicates things further.

He is the oldest position player on the team but unlike most teams, his age still starts with a 2, with Noot checking in at the ripe old age of 28. Like Brendan Donovan two deadlines ago, Noot has an additional season of club control beyond this year, meaning Chaim Bloom does not need to rush to make a deal. However, like with Donovan, Arenado, Goldschmidt, Contreras, Gray, Fedde, and Mikolas, there are others in the organization who may benefit from a clear path to playing time at the big league level.

A Nootbaar hot streak and the Cardinals building on a Wild Card lead theoretically puts Bloom in a spot. However, any time he has spoken, be it to us at Blogger Day or in any of his many media appearances, the message has always been future first. He also did not comment on extensions, which would be another interesting turn in the Nootbaar saga since 28 really is not even baseball old. The major question now will be his heels and his overall health. Eight weeks is plenty of time for really anything to happen.

What I am leaning towards mirrors my thoughts to the entire Donovan trade situation. I was in the camp that we knew what Donovan was/is, which is a great player but not a building block for rebuild and it was unfortunately time to cash in on his value. If Nootbaar can come relatively close to mimicking Donnie’s value to a lineup, it makes sense to me to cash in. Where I flip flop, though, is if the rest of the outfield has some remaining questions.

Rather than become a trade piece, Nootbaar could enter into the same stage as Alec Burleson if center field goes unclaimed by a current player. Burleson is locked into first base for the foreseeable future due to the lack of overall depth at the position in the organization, but also because his 27-year-old self has been a consistent performer in the lineup. Until someone pushes Burly out of St. Louis, it makes little sense to deal him for a complete question mark which could happen in Nootbaar’s case. Along with Burly, the two lefties could be the founding fathers of the next era of Cardinal baseball as they help the new guys come along.

Right now, Joshua Baez is the talk of the town for good reason. The dude hits the ball hard and far. Add on his speed and defense, Baez is as close to knocking down the door as possible. He has moved around the grass, spending recent games in center field which could actually spell problems for VSII or Nathan Church rather than for Noot. Left field has also been seen as a potential landing spot for Ivan Herrera, but any progress here could render those talks unnecessary. Of course, Baez could also fizzle, leaving a black hole in left if Noot were dealt to clear the (ahem) runway.

What this comes down to is another minor question of sell or hold at the deadline. I think Lars Nootbaar becomes the center piece of those discussions, maybe in a more intense way than we heard surrounding JoJo Romero next year. Fans may continue to be 50/50 on his future, even after a decision is made one way or the other and I could be convinced by the day. This is where I want to hear from you all.

How should Noot’s future be handled in St. Louis? If they’re true contenders, should he stick around or is he a sell regardless?

Thanks as always!

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The New York Yankees possess one of the league's best offenses against southpaws.

My Red Sox vs. Yankees predictions expect the bats to be on full display against Ranger Suarez. Let's break it all down with my MLB picks for Sunday, June 7.

Who will win Red Sox vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (-170)

Ranger Suarez has allowed 13 runs and posted a 6.13 ERA over four games against teams ranking in the Top 10 in OPS vs. left-handed pitching.

The New York Yankeeslead the majors in OPS against lefties. Even without Aaron Judge, they’re well-equipped to do damage today. They have five lefties in their projected lineup — Suarez has struggled against left-handed hitters — as well as lefty masher Paul Goldschmidt.

Cam Schlittler should get plenty of run support, and he probably won't need much. He has allowed nine runs over seven starts against Bottom-15 opponents in OPS vs. righties. Bet the Yankees to -180.

COVERS INTEL: Ranger Suarez ranks in the 22nd percentile in whiff rate. He's not missing bats at the moment.

Red Sox vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8 (-115)

The Yankees rank Top-3 in OPS, ISO, OBP, xWOBA, and hard-hit rate against left-handed pitching. 

While Judge is a big part of their dominance, the Yankees still have five batters with ISOs above .200 against lefties this season. A lot of juice remains — and the weather is hot and favorable for power.

Schlittler is a fantastic pitcher, but his xERA is almost a full run higher than his ERA. He's poised for a little bit of regression, and the Red Sox rank ninth in ISO and fourth in batting average against righties the past month. Play the Over 8 to -125.

Red Sox vs Yankees odds

• Moneyline: Red Sox +145 | Yankees -170
• Run line: Red Sox +1.5 (-140) | Yankees -1.5 (+120)
• Over/Under: Over 8 (-115) | Under 8 (-105)

Red Sox vs Yankees trend

The Yankees have cashed the Over in five of their last seven games for +3.9 units and a 52% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Yankees.

How to watch Red Sox vs Yankees and game info

Red Sox vs Yankees latest injuries

Red Sox vs Yankees weather

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Mauricio Dubón’s Braves will be looking to end the homestand and first week of June with a 5-2 record with a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon. After two consecutive games with a final score of 6-3, Atlanta has a chance to beat the “series win hangover / complacent in game 3” allegations. C’mon, boys – do it for the home crowd before you’re off to Chicago.

As we can come to expect every fifth day, Bryce Elder (5-3, 2.63 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Braves. His quality start during Tuesday’s series opener against Toronto, where he gave up six hits, three earned runs, one home run, and struck out six, was a nice and much-needed bounceback from his Fenway implosion. In that outing on May 27, he was tagged for nine hits, six runs (five earned), and one walk before coming out in the fourth inning. Outside of that, Bryce just keeps Getting Away With It and is almost daring MLB to make him an All-Star for a second time (if an old friend doesn’t beat him out for a spot…).

The Pirate with the most ABs against Elder is Bryan Reynolds, who is 2-for-8 with a walk. Jared Triolo’s singular hit in four at-bats is a homer. 

To salvage a win before heading to the airport, the Pirates will go to the 23-year-old and Georgia native Bubba Chandler (2-6, 4.89 ERA). Full name Roy Reuben Chandler, his first and only start versus the Braves was September 17, 2025, where he tossed a “dream” start in his home state. He surrendered four hits and only one run in 5.2 innings in a 3-1 win for the Pirates. Drake Baldwin accounted for half of those hits off Chandler, both for extra bases. Drake was driven in after a second inning triple by Chandler’s now-teammate Marcell Ozuna. 

(Also on this day: this was the game where Matt Olson was ejected for the first time in his career over interference on a pop up.)

The rest of the Braves lineup couldn’t do much against Chandler or the rest of the Pirates staff, leaving yesterday’s winning pitcher Spencer Strider on the hook for the loss. Only four current Braves have seen him with a maximum of three at-bats. Ronald Acuña Jr., Olson, and Ha-Seong Kim are hitless, and Michael Harris II has a single in two plate appearances.

But if he was so dominant, you ask, then why does his current ERA start with a 4? He just hasn’t worked very efficiently in the 2026 campaign: he usually only goes five innings and reached six innings once in mid-April. The stuff has been as electric as advertised (with a fastball touching 99 mph), but command has been the issue. Carrying a 14.7% walk rate, he has had innings snowball on him. The Braves were able to solve the Pirates’ second-best starter in Braxton Ashcraft yesterday – let’s see if the Braves can be patient enough for some of their patented big innings to get Chandler out early. First pitch of the series finale is at 1:35 pm ET.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, June 7, 1:35 p.m. ET

Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA

TV: BravesVision

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM