On the day the manager was let go with the Mets in last place in the NL East with a 34-47 record, Stearns was short when asked if he believed he still had ownership’s support to continue in his position: "Yes."
When asked what makes him think that, Stearns said it came from the conversations that he has with Cohen.
"Steve and I are talking on a regular basis," he said. "And he’s certainly indicated that I have his support."
As far as the decision to fire Mendoza – with the disappointing start to the season following a terrible collapse in last season’s campaign, when they finished the year 38-55 after having the best record in baseball on June 12 – and install Andy Green as the interim manager for the remainder of the season, Stearns said it was made in consultation with ownership.
"Any decision like this, of this magnitude for an organization, is an organizational decision," he said. "And we were aligned that this was the right thing to do."
Asked if the owner approached the front office about firing the manager or if it was the other way around, Stearns declined to get into specifics.
"I’m not gonna get into the specifics of Steve and my conversations," Stearns said. "We talk pretty much every day about the performance of our team.
"And we came to the decision that this was the right move."
Stearns said he took responsibility for his role in the Mets’ poor start to the season, but expressed his confidence in the roster he assembled.
"Clearly we’ve fallen short," he said. "I still have confidence in the talent that’s in our room, and believe in the talent that’s in our room, but belief on its own does not lead to results. And I understand that.
"We need better play, we need better production, and my focus now, and, Andy’s focus right now, is going to be doing everything we can to put our guys in the best position to succeed."
Stearns, who has said he considered his job to be done in partnership with Mendoza, said he had not considered stepping down from his role when asked directly.
"I believe that we are building the foundation of an organization that can deliver what we all want," he said in response to a question about stepping down. "I don’t believe that our record on the field this year is indicative of some of the advances we’ve made in the organization. But clearly our record is nowhere good enough."
While he said that he shared and "understood our fans' frustration and anger" in the way things have turned out, Stearns added that he understands their "skepticism" in his ability to turn things around.
"If I were sitting in the fan seat, I would share that," he said of the skepticism. "From my perspective, what I can do and what I will do, is for as long as I’m sitting in this seat, work as hard as I can with the people around me to do everything we can to push this organization forward. And I think we’re gonna be able to do that."
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Baseball Gods are so often cruel and unrelenting.
The Cincinnati Reds battled the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series in Great American Ball Park earlier this week, and they battled them pretty well. Twice they got near perfect starts from starters only for their offense to similarly be stifled, and once they battled back after they once looked buried.
Losses are losses, plain and simple, but they went toe to toe with the best team in the league and lost 2-1 (in extras), 2-0, and 6-5. They were close, but close simply doesn’t count in the sport of baseball.
They’ve fallen 5 games under .500 for the first time all season, and that’s after peaking at 9 games over .500 at the start of May. They’re an abysmal 2-15 vs. NL Central foes so far, too, showing just how far they’ve fallen down the pecking order of baseball’s most competitive division.
You’d think the Gods might throw them a bone here or there. Instead, their next foe on the schedule is none other than NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who’ll start Friday’s series opener between the Reds and his Pittsburgh Pirates.
Skenes has actually been better in 2026 than he was during his award-winning 2025 in many ways. He’s sporting a 0.93 WHIP that’s better than his 0.95 mark from last season, and his 5.94 K/BB is improved from his 5.14 mark in ’25. So, the Reds have that going for them this evening. You may also recall that in 6 career starts against the Reds, he has held them to an abysmal .474 OPS and 0.53 ERA across 34.0 IP, with an absurd 45/4 K/BB.
Yikes!
The Reds will roll out lefty Andrew Abbott and hope he can keep the team in the game until the point where Skenes hands the ball over to the bullpen (should that ever actually have to occur). First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET as the Reds try desperately to rescue their season after dropping it into the porta potty.
Here’s the order in which the Reds will be retired by Skenes to start:
The weekend here here, as is a fresh set of games filled with a ton of nuke missile opportunities!
My MLB player props are backing a couple of smaller names to go deep in my favorite home run predictions for Friday, June 26.
UPDATE: Added another HR pick + parlay.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Travis Bazzana
+578
TJ Rumfield
+640
Owen Caissie
+640
💲Today's HR parlay
+35522
Home run pick: Travis Bazzana (+578)
Cleveland Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana has been one of the few bright spots in this lineup as of late, owning a .769 SLG and a 1.202 OPS, while generating a 45% hard-hit rate and a 15% barrel rate over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.
The young Aussie draws Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo, whose entire pitch mix is valued below league average, per FanGraphs. Bazzana owns a 68.5% arsenal coverage against Castillo’s full mix.
Castillo is nearly 50% fastballs, a pitch type the young second baseman has handled well this season, posting a .921 OPS while generating nearly a 42% hard-hit rate.
Beyond the below-average arsenal, Castillo has been getting tagged by left-handed hitters on the road, allowing a 71.4% elevation rate and a 43.7% hard-hit rate. Over his last 60 lefties faced, opponents have produced a 48% hard-hit rate, a 12% barrel rate, a 66% elevation rate, along with a .490 xSLG and .357 xwOBA.
For those who read my MLB player props for today, we are also on Kyle Manzardo to leave the yard as well.
Rumfield has been on fire lately, posting a .692 SLG, 1.092 OPS, .365 ISO, and just a 13% strikeout rate over his last 60 at bats against right-handed pitching.
The Twins right hander, on the other hand, has been getting torched by left-handed hitters.
Over the last 30 lefties he has faced, opponents are generating a 60% hard-hit rate, 25% barrel rate, and 75% elevation rate.
Even if you zoom out to the last 60 left-handed hitters, the numbers are nearly identical, with opponents owning a .708 xSLG and .418 xwOBA. Looking at his last three starts overall, Bradley owns a 6.19 xERA while allowing a 54% hard-hit rate and 16% barrel rate to opposing hitters.
This should be a fun one. I fully expect Rumfield to produce something above 105 mph off the bat this evening, whether it stays inside the ballpark, leaves it, or ends up in someone's glove.
The young slugger owns 74% arsenal coverage against McGreevy's entire pitch mix. As of late, Caissie has been eyeing up everything. Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Caissie has produced a 55.6% hard-hit rate, 27.8% barrel rate, .430 wOBA, .679 SLG, and a 1.012 OPS.
McGreevy has had some issues against lefties this season, posting a 5.67 xERA and just a 10% strikeout rate over the last 60 left-handed batters he has faced. During that stretch, lefties have posted a .358 xBA, .569 xSLG, and .382 xwOBA against him.
It is going to be a sweaty one with Caissie hitting toward the bottom of the order, but he has been seeing the ball extremely well, consistently producing loud contact. McGreevy has also been allowing plenty of hard contact, with opponents elevating the baseball against him.
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CARD, MIAM
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 65-219, +17.10 units
Today’s HR parlay
Travis Bazzana
Bet Now +35522
TJ Rumfield
Owen Caissie
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 24: Carson Palmquist #51 of the Washington Nationals pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on June 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In case your head has been under a rock lately, you would know that the Nationals bullpen is god awful. It feels like we are at the point where Paul Toboni needs to just throw stuff at the wall and hope something sticks. Along those lines, I am taking a look at a few even remotely interesting AAA arms.
Carson Palmquist got sent down yesterday, so we can’t see him for a couple weeks, unless there is an injury. However, I would be very surprised if Palmquist is not given a shot very quickly once he is eligible. He was the opener on Wednesday, and did a very nice job. The funky lefty got through 3.1 innings, allowing just one run.
Carson Palmquist almost through a quality start, I understand he's supposed to be the opener, but let the hot hand cook. The Nats finished that inning blowing the lead and a move to the bullpen again could come soon.
Hats off to Carson Palmquist in his Nationals debut. 🧢
Unlike so many guys in this bullpen, Palmquist did not look scared out there. Maybe it was because it was early in the game, but I loved how he attacked hitters. Palmquist does not throw hard, but he has a super funky motion and a really low arm slot. The Nats have given him a sinker, and that pitch was very effective for him.
With Palmquist not being available for a few days after he threw 3.1 innings, I get why he got sent down. However, once he is eligible, slotting him into the role they are using Mitchell Parker in feels like a no brainer. Since joining the Nats organization, Palmquist has posted a 3.27 ERA in AAA and had a good big league outing. That already should place him above Parker in the pecking order.
The next guy I want to talk about is Eddy Yean, who is a bit of a wild card, but has good stuff. Yean is not on the 40-man roster, but that should not be a huge issue, since there is no shortage of DFA candidates. What I like about Yean is that he brings much needed velocity to the table. He averages 97 with a heavy sinker that gets a ton of ground balls.
The Pirates are cooking with their pitching prospects right now. Eddy Yean looks flat-out nasty. pic.twitter.com/exLFuupNLv
This data is from last year, but the 25 year old has pretty much the same mix. His ERA of 3.50 in AAA is good, not great. However, we are in such a dire situation that it is worth giving him a shot. Yean is striking out 25% of hitters and his 4.50 walks per nine innings is not good, but it is also not a complete disaster.
Yean is extremely fastball heavy, but he does have a slider and changeup. Those pitches can be nasty, but the heater is his bread and butter. I am not going to sit here and say Eddy Yean is going to be some huge answer, but he has better stuff than the likes of Lovelady and Parker.
There are also a couple relievers down in the minors that have already shown they are not great big league answers, but may get a shot anyway because the situation is so dark. The first one is Zak Kent, who got called up today for Gus Varland. While Kent posted an ERA over 6 with the Nats in his four outings, his WHIP was only 1.06.
Kent has an interesting 4-seam fastball that moves more like a cutter. Interestingly, his velocity has been up since being sent to the minors. His heater went from 92.2 MPH in the MLB to 93.4 in the minors. Kent also has a slider and curveball which can generate whiffs. I don’t think he has closer stuff or anything, but he has a more interesting and diverse arsenal than Varland.
Another pitcher in this retread category is Cole Henry. Last year, Henry showed a ton of promise, especially in the first half. Coming off of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery, he was a great story. However, he faded down the stretch last year and was rough in the MLB this year.
Cole Henry might be my favorite storyline of the Nats season. Guy is a certified stud. pic.twitter.com/0pw6mkeNhK
With the state of this bullpen though, he should get another shot at some point. Since going back to AAA, Henry has been effective, with a 2.45 ERA in 11 outings. He has been pounding the zone, only walking 1 batter in 11 innings. That is a good sign, since control had been an issue for Henry. However, the righty has not been getting a ton of whiffs in AAA, only striking out 7 in 11 innings. If he can find more whiffs, Henry could get back into the mix soon.
The last group of guys I want to talk about are the wild cards. A lot of these guys are unlikely to be up that soon, but could make an impact at some point. One pitcher who could be up soon though is Riley Cornelio. Right now, the Nats are using Cornelio as a multi-inning relief arm. However, I think he should be a one inning pitcher.
This is due to the fact that he is exclusively a 2 pitch guy. Cornelio only throws a fastball and a slider. With a mix that shallow, I want him letting both pitches rip and making them as nasty as possible. That means having him throw in shorter spurts. Cornelio may be up again soon, but I don’t think he is fully maximized as a bulk arm.
If you want to look way down the road, Robert Cranz is a name to watch. Cranz was fantastic in High-A and Double-A, but has had an ugly first 3 outings in Rochester. Despite the abysmal results, he does have good stuff. His fastball is extremely unique, and he has some nice secondary pitches to go with that.
Let’s take a look at the recently promoted Robert Cranz and the recently moved to the bullpen Riley Cornelio, for no reason whatsoever. pic.twitter.com/54E9LVJAcf
However, he still needs a lot more seasoning in AAA. If he can go on a run in these next couple months, he could be in the show by the end of the season though. Cranz is more of a guy to keep an eye on for 2027 though.
The guys I have already discussed are probably the primary options I like the most. None are very great, but it is worth trying. We truly have nothing to lose here because it cannot get a whole lot worse.
Some other names worth monitoring are converted position player Erick Mejia, Luke Young, who has good results and stuff, but not great strikeout or walk numbers and Jack Sinclair. Max Kranick is also on the mend from an injury and will step into the bullpen at some point. If the Nats are somehow in a playoff race down the stretch, Jarlin Susana and Luis Perales are two flamethrowers who could be unleashed.
As we go through the internal options, it is clear the situation is not pretty. Maybe a couple of these guys can step up and be upgrades, but there are no easy answers. At some point, Paul Toboni is going to have to make a big splash for a true alpha in the bullpen. The 2027 bullpen simply has to be much better, or else things will start to get real awkward for this new regime.
The Cubs enter this series trailing the Brewers by 6.5 games in the NL Central. With half a season to go, that’s not an insurmountable lead.
And yet, the Cubs were swept by the Brewers last month at Wrigley Field and outscored 19-5 in the three games. They’ll need to make some sort of better statement in this series.
At the end of the weekend, the Cubs will trail by either 3.5, 5.5, 7.5 or 9.5 games. So… winning one or two would be a useful result, and an unlikely Cubs sweep would make the division race really interesting. The Cubs are the hottest team in MLB right now, on a 10-3 run. So… you never know.
For more on the Brewers, here’s Harrison Freuck, manager of our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball.
The Milwaukee Brewers have found their groove over the last month-plus. After getting out to a slow, injury-riddled start, they’ve gone 33-15 since the beginning of May to expand their NL Central lead.
Jake Bauers currently leads the small-ball offense with 14 homers and 48 RBI on the year, with Brice Turang at 11 homers and Jackson Chourio at 10. William Contreras, Gary Sánchez, Christian Yelich, Andrew Vaughn, and Garrett Mitchell have also played key roles offensively, with Cooper Pratt, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, and Joey Ortiz rounding out the position player group. Pratt, whom the Brewers signed to an eight-year extension before he even set foot in the majors, has looked solid in his first week-plus with Milwaukee, as he’s picked up seven hits in nine games and stolen four bases while providing above-average defense. After all, it couldn’t get much worse than the recently released Luis Rengifo (.205/.280/.254 with no homers and below-average defense over 57 games).
On the pitching side, the Brewers have their top three starters in Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, and Brandon Woodruff set to pitch this weekend. Miz has been simply incredible, with a 1.45 ERA and 138 strikeouts over 93 innings, while Harrison is also pitching at an All-Star level with a 2.50 ERA and 87 strikeouts over 72 innings. Woodruff missed the last month and a half, but he came back with a great start against the Reds on Monday, allowing just one hit and striking out 10 over six frames. The bullpen is anchored by Aaron Ashby, Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Chad Patrick, with Grant Anderson, Craig Yoho, and Joel Kuhnel rounding things out.
This should be a fun weekend series in Milwaukee. Give me the Brewers to take two of three.
Fun facts
Here we are, halfway through the season and already the Cubs are playing a second series against the division-leading Brewers.
They lost all three when the teams met at Wrigley Field on May 18-20. Those were the third through fifth of the 10 straight losses that saw the Cubs tumble from first place, ahead by 2.5 games, to fourth place, 4.5 behind.
The teams have played 459 games, with the Brewers leading, 233-226. They have outscored the Cubs by just 12 runs, 2,077-2,065.
The Cubs are 107-120 at Milwaukee. They split six games last season, winning two of three in May and losing two of three in July.
They are 2-11-1 in series at Wisconsin since 2021, including being swept in three games the first year. Their last sweep visiting the Brewers was in the final three games of 2015. This will be their 26th series at Milwaukee since then.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Friday: Colin Rea, RHP (5-5, 4.99 ERA, 1.399 WHIP, 4.83 FIP) vs. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP (8-3, 1.45 ERA, 0.753 WHIP, 1.66 FIP)
NOTE: One of the TBD games is likely to be started by new acquisition David Peterson, though at publication time the team had not announced which one. The other is likely going to be a bullpen game, though perhaps the team will surprise us. As always, we await developments.
Times & TV channels
Friday: 6:45 p.m. CT, Apple TV (how to watch). Announcers: Alex Faust (play-by-play), Ryan Spilborghs (analyst), and Tricia Whitaker (reporter).
Saturday: 6:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Sunday: 1:10 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
Don’t get swept.
Seriously, though, despite pitching matchups that appear to favor the Brewers, I do think the Cubs should be able to win at least one of these games.
Up next
The Cubs return to Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the San Diego Padres beginning Monday evening.
My MLB moneyline picks for June 26 contain all of my favorite looks and leans for tonight’s full slate.
See why my free MLB picks are topped by the Angels.
MLB moneyline picks for June 26
Matchup
Pick
Astros vs Tigers
-106
Reds vs Pirates
-174
Nationals vs Orioles
-127
Rangers vs Blue Jays
-104
Mariners vs Guardians
-12
Diamondbacks vs Rays
-130
Phillies vs Mets
+150
Yankees vs Red Sox
+106
Royals vs White Sox
-126
Cubs vs Brewers
-223
Rockies vs Twins
+153
Marlins vs Cardinals
-100
Athletics vs Angels
+115
Dodgers vs Padres
-133
Braves vs Giants
-117
Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 26
Astros vs Tigers: Tigers (-106)
Tigers win probability: 52%
Neither team has been killing it offensively, both sitting under a 100 wRC+ over their last 12 games. However, for the Tigers, Keider Montero has been very serviceable over his last five outings.
The right hander owns a 2.81 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and just a 2% walk rate during that stretch.
On the other side, Spencer Arrighetti has been struggling, posting a 5.79 ERA over his last five starts.
With both offenses looking pretty lifeless, I will ride with the Tigers.
Reds vs Pirates: Pirates (-174)
Pirates win probability: 64%
Real simple, Paul Skenes versus a Reds offense that has been frozen solid. Over their last 21 games, Cincinnati owns just an 86 wRC+, a .298 wOBA, and a .666 OPS. Yikes.
Meanwhile, the Pirates play their best ball at home and the offense has been humming. Parlay it with something else or take the run line. It is the Pirates.
Nationals vs Orioles: Orioles (-127)
Orioles win probability: 56%
Despite the Nationals’ hot offense, Trevor Rogers has hit his stride over his last five outings, posting a sub 3.00 ERA, a sub 1.00 WHIP, and a sub 6% walk rate. He has been much more in control lately and pitching with confidence.
On the other side, Andrew Alvarez has been allowing a lot of hard contact over his last few outings, and with the Orioles’ bats starting to heat up, this could get ugly.
Rangers vs Blue Jays: Rangers (-104)
Rangers win probability: 51%
I have a hard time trusting the Rangers offense, but they have been on fire as of late.
Over their last 21 games, they own a 112 wRC+, a .330 wOBA, and a .747 OPS. They draw Patrick Corbin, who is back to his old form, posting a 6.64 ERA, 5.21 xERA, and a 1.75 WHIP over his last five outings.
I expect Joc Pederson and Jake Burger to lead the way for the Rangers tonight.
Mariners vs Guardians: Guardians (-102)
Guardians win probability: 50%
I already like a lot of Guardians bats this evening against Luis Castillo, who has been inconsistent all season long.
Both offenses have been ice cold recently, but the few bright spots in that Cleveland lineup, namely Travis Bazzana and Kyle Manzardo, should be enough to swing this spot against a struggling right hander.
Castillo has really struggled with left-handed hitters, and over his last 60 lefties faced, opponents have posted a 48% hard-hit rate, a 12% barrel rate, and a 66% fly ball rate.
Give me the Guardians.
Diamondbacks vs Rays: Rays (-130)
Rays win probability: 56%
I do not care that the Rays hung two touchdowns on the Royals Thursday afternoon, they now draw Zac Gallen, who has been nothing short of rough all season. The right hander enters today with a 7.68 road ERA, 6.00 xERA, and a 1.84 WHIP, while allowing nearly a 48% hard hit rate and a 12% barrel rate.
Those are loud contact issues showing up consistently, not noise.
Give me the hot Rays in this spot.
Phillies vs Mets: Mets (+150)
Mets win probability: 40%
This is an interesting spot with the Mets, who recently made a coaching change, putting the classic “fired coach bump” into play. Getting +150 here adds to the appeal.
"Vibes" play of the day.
Yankees vs Red Sox: Red Sox (+106)
Red Sox win probability: 48%
Some would say there is no way the Yankees go into Fenway and lose to this Red Sox team, but they did last night. Now Payton Tolle takes the mound for Boston, a pitcher who brings real grit and tenacity to the mound.
This is the type of spot a guy like Tolle tends to show up for.
The Yankees offense has gone cold, posting an 80 wRC+, a 30% K rate, a .644 OPS, and a .143 ISO over their last six games. Meanwhile, Boston has been just a bit better on the other side.
Royals vs White Sox: White Sox (-125)
White Sox win probability: 56%
I am not a big narrative guy when it comes to baseball, but a lot of White Sox players have been snubbed for the All-Star Game. I think the team gets some frustration out against Royals’ Mitch Spence, who has already been a punching bag this season.
Plus, the White Sox have just been playing far better at home than anywhere else. Get your revenge, fellas.
Bonus: Colson Montgomery Over 1.5 H+R+RBI (EVEN), and sprinkle the HR
Cubs vs Brewers: Brewers (-223)
Brewers win probability: 69%
If you want value on a hot team, take the Cubs, but Jacob Misiorowski is the truth.
The Cubs come in with four poorly-rated hitters in this matchup, and this feels like a spot where their hot streak cools off. Minimal thoughts here, just based on how dominant Misiorowski has been.
Colin Rea is on the bump for Chicago, carrying a 7.19 road ERA and a 1.60 road WHIP.
Give me the Brew Crew.
Rockies vs Twins: Rockies (+153)
Rockies win probability: 40%
I get it, Tomoyuki Sugano is on the mound for Colorado, but Taj Bradley has been just as inconsistent. Both offenses have been swinging it well lately, and neither pitcher has shown much stability.
You are essentially getting two hot lineups against two arms you cannot fully trust right now, which opens the door for value. At this price, I will take a shot on the Rockies.
Marlins vs Cardinals: Marlins (-100)
Marlin win probability: 50%
I am already riding Owen Caissie in this matchup, so why not ride the entire Fighting Fish train?
Michael McGreevy for the Cardinals has been abysmal over his last five outings, posting a 5.33 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Meanwhile, the Marlins have been the hottest team in baseball this month.
At near even money, I will take a shot on the Fish.
Athletics vs Angels: Angels (+113)
Angels win probability: 46%
The Athletics offense has cooled off this week, while the Angels have started to heat back up. Over their last six games, the A’s sit below a 100 wRC+, while the Angels have posted a 129 wRC+, along with a .353 wOBA and .811 OPS.
I also like what I have seen from Walbert Urena in recent outings, carrying a 2.41 ERA on the year while not allowing much hard contact.
Dodgers vs Padres: Dodgers (-133)
Dodgers win probability: 57%
Has Roki Sasaki been rough in the big leagues? Yes, but the underlying metrics suggest he should be performing better than what has shown up in the results.
Over his last five outings he owns a sub 3.00 xERA, 1.06 WHIP, a 28% strikeout rate, and an 8% walk rate. He has actually been pretty solid all things considered.
On the other side, Walker Buehler has also been steady, but his BABIP sits above .400 over his last three outings while he has allowed nearly a 50% hard hit rate.
I trust Shohei Ohtani and Max Muncy to lead the way for the Dodgers this evening, who come in with elite ratings on Batters-Box.
Braves vs Giants: Braves (-117)
Braves win probability: 54%
This is the game the Atlanta Braves bats wake up.
With Trevor McDonald on the mound for San Francisco, this sets up as a prime rebound spot for an ice cold Braves lineup. McDonald over his last three outings owns a 6.17 ERA, 5.59 xERA, a 1.89 WHIP, and nearly a 15% walk rate.
The Giants offense has not exactly been scorching either, but I am willing to trust the better lineup in a spot where the opposing arm has been consistently shaky. Give me Atlanta here.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Jun 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) is congratulated by designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) after the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
It is very likely that, for the rest of your life, no matter how long you may live, you will never see a week of Phillies baseball like the one you witnessed over the last seven days.
There was a cycle. A three-home run game. Three legendary comebacks never before pulled off in the history of the sport.
Were these things to happen during an entire season, it would be a curiosity. For them all to happen in the same week?
Bonkers.
Let’s recap a memory-making week by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Saturday, June 20: Phillies 15, Mets 3
Back in early May, the idea of the Phillies scoring 15 runs in a week, let alone a single game, seemed ludicrous.
But the offense has been much better since the start of June. Their 129 runs scored entering this weekend’s series against in New York, are tied for 2nd-most in MLB. Their 35 home runs are tied for 4th, their .266 batting average is tied for 6th, and their .787 OPS is 8th.
However, the Phils are suddenly excelling in an area that has historically been their biggest bugaboo — hitting with runners in scoring position. In June, their .337 average and 1.030 OPS are 1st in baseball. They’ve hit 10 homers with RISP, which is tied for 3rd.
And while most of that damage wasn’t necessarily done last Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park, a healthy chunk of it was.
Kyle Schwarber hit three home runs, including two in the same inning, both of which went 450+ feet.
It was the fifth time in his career he’s hit at least three dingers in a game, tied for the 2nd-most games with at least three bombs in MLB history.
If that had been the only storyline, that would have been enough. But, oh no, there was more.
Bryce Harper also made history by becoming the 11th player in Phillies history to hit for the cycle.
Oh, and he had it all wrapped up by the end of the 5th inning.
How often does a player hit for the cycle and his teammate hit three blasts in the same game? Not too often!
The @Phillies are the second team in MLB history to have a player hit for the cycle (Bryce Harper) and a player hit 3 homers (Kyle Schwarber) in the same game.
The other was the Yankees on June 3, 1932 (Tony Lazzeri cycle, Lou Gehrig 4 homers). pic.twitter.com/PxG7mhZF61
It was one of those games that 200,000 people will say they attended over the course of their lives. A generational game.
Sunday, June 21: Phillies 6, Dodgers 2
There’s always a little juice when your team is playing on Sunday Night Baseball, especially at Citizens Bank Park.
Zack Wheeler continued his remarkable recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome with a stellar start against the flailing Mets: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K. His ERA fell to 2.11.
Harper, swinging the same 35-ounce bat that helped him slug for the cycle the night before, piled up three more hits, including another homer, and finished a triple shy of a second straight cycle.
How often has a player hit for the cycle and then come within one hit of a second straight cycle the following game? Not often!
Bryce Harper finished tonight's game a triple short of a cycle after hitting for the cycle in his last game. The last player to finish one element short of a cycle the game after hitting for a cycle was teammate, Trea Turner, when they were Nationals teammates in April 2017. pic.twitter.com/BXsNyB9A9E
Oh, and Schwarber went deep again, his league-leading 29th of the season.
Things haven’t even begun to get weird yet.
Monday, June 22: Nationals 4, Phillies 1
There wasn’t much to write home about in this “scheduled” loss, as the Phils started lefty reliever Tim Mayza and followed up with new No. 5 starter Alan Rangel.
Rangel was actually pretty good: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 Ks. You’ll take that every time.
Brandon Marsh hit a solo home run, a portent of more to come in what would be a ridiculous series for the Phils’ outfielder.
Let’s just consider this game the “eye” of the storm.
Tuesday, June 23: Phillies 14, Nationals 9
In what will likely go down as their craziest win of the season, the Phils fell behind 5-0 after Jesus Luzardo got dinked and dunked in the early innings. Although he compiled 13 strikeouts and didn’t give up an extra base hit, he did allow five runs in his first four innings.
But the Phillies started to chip away.
Edmundo Sosa, inserted into the DH spot minutes before first pitch after Schwarber announced he was dealing with lower back stiffness, hit a two-run shot in the 5th to get the Phillies on the board. He followed that up with an RBI fielder’s choice in the 7th to make it 5-3.
In the 8th, J.T. Realmuto, who was hitting just above .200 when he came to the plate, smacked a liner to right field with the bases loaded.
Wood came as close to catching that ball as a human can without actually catching it, didn’t he? Suddenly, the Phils had a 6-5 lead. It felt like it was going to be a garden variety late-game comeback victory!
But Nats second baseman Jorbit Vivas shocked Orion Kerkering with a three-run blast just moments later to suddenly put the Nationals back on top 8-6.
In the 9th, the Sosa and Justin Crawford both struck out. With two outs and no one on, Trea Turner was down to his final strike before lining a single to left-center field. Then, Brandon Marsh shocked the world.
A shell-shocked Brad Lord then completely fell apart. Two more Phils reached base before Bryson Stott blew everyone’s mind with this three-run blast that somehow stayed inside the right field foul pole.
The Phillies still were not done. In all, the Phils would score 8 runs in the 9th inning, and it all started with no one on base, two outs, and two strikes on Turner.
Before the Phillies tonight, no team had trailed with 2 outs in the 9th and then scored 8 runs to win in almost 40 years.
How long ago was it? The 1988 Royals were the last team to do it. And who was pitching against them?
Matt Stairs became a Phillies legend because no one in their right minds every would have thought he would author one of the biggest postseason home runs in franchise history.
While newly acquired outfielder Derek Hill clearly hasn’t reached that level of notoriety, his heroics in the 9th inning of Wednesday night’s game at the very least earned him a prominent spot in the team’s video yearbook.
Trailing 4-3 in the 9th inning, the first two batters to come to the plate failed to reach base. Schwarber, who did not start for the second straight game due to his stiff back, felt well enough to pinch hit in the 9th and worked a 9-pitch walk to put the tying run on first.
Hill had not made much of an impression in his four weeks with the team, good or bad. But once again, down to their final out, a Phillie hit a go-ahead home run in the 9th inning, this time an improbable opposite-field dinger off the bat of Hill.
How unusual is it for a team to start a 9th inning trailing, have their first two hitters make outs and come within one strike of losing and still win the game? Glad you asked.
The @Phillies are the only MLB team in the modern era to be down to their last strike with nobody on base in the 9th inning 2 games in a row but win both. pic.twitter.com/VvyHwxa65k
For the second time in this four-game series, the Phils trailed the Nationals 5-0, this time after the third inning. Cristopher Sanchez uncharacteristically just didn’t have it at the start of this one, and it felt like the Nats were finally going to pull out a victory.
Honestly, they should have been on the verge of a four-game sweep. Unfortunately, bullpens are still a real and important need for every baseball team, and they don’t have one.
Once again, the Phils started chipping away. Marsh hit another homer, this time a two-run shot in the 6th to make it 5-2. The Nats’ ‘pen melted down in the 7th, walking in two runs and allowing the Phils to tie the score 5-5.
Enter, the 9th inning. No, the Phillies weren’t trailing this time, nor were they down to their final strike. Instead, the former National, Harper, who had been listening to taunts from fans all game, stamped an exclamation point on this improbable week of baseball.
The Phils enter their weekend series against a Mets team that fired manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday trailing the Atlanta Braves by just four games in the NL East.
What an insanely fun week, the likes of which we will never see again.
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 14: Walker Buehler #10 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 14, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
An old friend’s making good in a division rival is usually the start of a tenuous relationship, but especially given the sizeable gap between the Dodgers and Padres, and more importantly, all that Walker Buehler did for the Dodgers, one can’t help but feel glad, even excited, for Walker Buehler’s 2026 rebound campaign. The right-hander who’ll face his former club for the second time in his career is simply not the pitcher he once was, which hasn’t stopped him from being damn near one of the more consistent starters for the Padres this season—that probably tells you a lot about why they haven’t been able to keep pace in the race for the NL West.
Buehler’s 3.28 FIP is the best mark among Padres’ starters this season, a result of keeping the ball in the park. Through his last six starts, Buehler has allowed just one home run, and if we take the Dodgers’ starter on this Friday night matchup, for instance, Rok Saaki has an HR/9 of 1.7, which is more than double that of Buehler’s (0.6). Any assessment of Sasaki has to take into account the ups and downs of his 2026 campaign, although that particular difference is the reason Sasaki has been more heavily punished in his worst outings than Buehler.
Focusing on Sasaki, the young right-hander has another crack at carrying the improvements he’s shown at home on the road this season. As evidenced by his last start away from Dodger Stadium, allowing seven earned runs against the White Sox, Sasaki has been lit up on the road this season, owning a 6.19 ERA across 32 innings.
The team finds itself in the AL West basement at 34-48 heading into Friday’s home game against the Athletics.
This franchise has spent a lot of time looking up at its AL West opponents during the past few decades, so this is a familiar feeling for the Angels’ faithful.
Mike Trout has been having a solid season for the Angels, but the team is mired in last place. Getty Images
And it appears that this persistent mediocrity has driven Angels fans to alcohol more than nearly any other MLB franchise. Action Network analyzed a survey from nearly 3,500 U.S. MLB fans to find out which fan bases drink the most before and during games, and Angels fans had the third-highest heavy in-game drinking rate in MLB.
The survey found that 15.8% of Angels fans consume five or more drinks during a game, behind only White Sox fans (18.5%) and Nationals fans (16%).
Angels fans have not had much to celebrate this season. AP Photo/William Liang
Angels fans also average 2.3 drinks per game, third most in MLB, and 71% of Angels fans have at least one drink while at their games.
It isn’t just alcohol that Angels fans are indulging in during games. The study found that they consume 1.7 hot dogs per game, tied for third most.
And Angels fans are known to be prolific pre-gamers. The 1.5 drinks they consume before games begin is tied for second most in MLB, and the study found that 45% of fans have at least one drink before games. The study reported 11.10% of fans have at least five drinks before first pitch.
Perhaps the Angels will turn things around this season, and fans are drinking to celebrate rather than to commiserate. Perhaps not.
Trout has given Angels fans something to cheer about this season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 30: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians scores on a single hit by Bo Naylor during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field on August 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Two teams hanging around .500 and the top of their respective divisions meet at Progressive Field tonight.
The Mariners are 41-41 with a +4 run differential, 16th in wRC+ at 101, 26th in Baserunning runs above average at -3.7, last in Defense at -31.4, sixth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.78 (3.56 FIP) and eighth in bullpen ERA at 3.59 (3.54 FIP).
The Guardians are 42-39 with -8 run differential, 24th in wRC+ at 92, 14th in baserunning runs above average at 1, 11th in Defense at -5, fifth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.73 (4.07 FIP) and 14th in bullpen ERA at 3.88 (3.82 FIP).
Put the ball in play! That’s my advice.
MATCHUPS:
Game One, Friday 7:10PM ET Luis Castillo, RHP 5.22 ERA vs. Joey Cantillo, LHP 4.05 ERA
Game Two, Saturday 7:10PM ET Logan Gilbert, RHP 3.29 ERA vs. Slade Cecconi, RHP 4.48 ERA
Game Three, Sunday, 1:40PM ET George Kirby, RHP 3.94 ERA vs. Gavin Williams, RHP 3.82 ERA
Watch out for Dominic Canzone 154 wRC+, Randy Arozarena 134 wRC+, Luke Raley 122 wRC+ and J.P. Crawford 115 wRC+ from the Mariners.
Jun 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees pitcher David Bednar (53) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
It’s approaching the halfway point of the season, and we have a pretty good idea of who these Yankees are. Their starting rotation is a top-five group in Major League Baseball, possessing both elite talent at the front and enviable depth at the back. The offense is a bit more top-heavy, but still plenty powerful, and the fact that they’ve managed to stay afloat despite missing Aaron Judge says plenty about the overall quality of the lineup. Comparatively speaking, it’s clear that the bullpen is the weakest link on the team.
However, when you step back and compare them with other bullpens around the league, the Yankees’ relief corps haven’t been all that bad. Through Tuesday’s action, they own a collective 3.39 ERA, the fifth-best mark in the majors. That ERA isn’t all smoke and mirrors, either, as their 3.69 FIP places them eighth in MLB. By fWAR they slip to ninth, but that’s mostly due to their low innings total, which is in turn a byproduct of the starting pitching holding up their end of the bargain. Just looking at the stats, it could be argued that the Yankees have a top-10 bullpen.
Reader, I know you put your phone down just now. How could this Yankees bullpen, who makes your blood boil and your stomach churn on a near-nightly basis, be a top-10 unit? Believe me, I know how you feel. This bullpen doesn’t inspire me with confidence, either. But that doesn’t mean we should dismiss data pointing to the contrary. In fact, a closer look reveals that two things can be true at the same time: There are concrete reasons why this bullpen doesn’t feel dominant, but at the same time, they do enough things well to be effective.
First, about the optics of this bullpen. My hypothesis is that it feels unreliable mainly because they lack strikeouts. Their K rate is a lackluster 22.5 percent, 15th out of 30 teams, and basically the same as the league average for relief pitchers (22.4 percent). Fernando Cruz leads the team with a 30.2-percent strikeout rate, which is certainly a robust mark; however, it’s only the 18th-best figure in MLB this year. No other Yankees reliever sniffs the top 30. There’s no sugarcoating it; this bullpen is pedestrian at generating strikeouts.
I can’t speak for everyone, for me, the less punchout-heavy a bullpen is, the more stressful the watching experience becomes. This isn’t to say that it’s always fun to watch high-strikeout relievers–most of them have a tendency to lose the zone and start walking dudes by the dozen–but there’s a certain reassurance that comes with knowing that the guy on the mound has a 40-percent chance of striking out any given batter. No contact, nothing left up to the vagaries of the BABIP gods, just pure outs. The Yankees, as currently constructed, don’t have a single guy like that. No wonder they feel a little shaky.
Fortunately, the bullpen does enough things well to make up for their lack of strikeouts. They don’t walk guys; their 8.8-percent walk rate is sixth-best in the majors. They manage contact well; their 18.4-percent soft contact rate ranks third, and their 28.3-percent hard contact rate is the best in MLB. They keep the ball in the yard; their HR/9 is a stingy 0.85, fourth-best among all teams. Put that all together, and you have a highly effective unit that succeeds without a ton of strikeouts.
This doesn’t mean that Brian Cashman should forgo upgrading the bullpen at the Trade Deadline. It’s not an especially deep group, as new additions Camilo Doval and Jake Bird have struggled, and Tim Hill appears to have lost his magic. Paul Blackburn has had his moments here and there, but his track record only inspires so much confidence and it’s telling only long man Ryan Yarbrough has a lower Leverage Index among the regular relievers than Blackburn. Right now, I count three relievers who are firmly within the Circle of Trust: David Bednar, Brent Headrick, and Fernando Cruz. With Bednar firmly entrenched in the closer role, that leaves Aaron Boone with just two reliable options to turn to in the middle-to-late innings. Adding a high-strikeout fireman would do wonders for this bullpen (and my blood pressure).
That being said, it’s important to recognize the solid work that the existing group has put in so far. Though they may not seem like it, or be easy to watch, this Yankees bullpen has been quite effective. The fact that they’re still the weakest link on this team doesn’t reflect poorly on their performance; it just goes to show you how good this team is.
The Mets' disastrous first-half of the season finally reached it's tipping point on Friday morning, as the team announced that they've fired manager Carlos Mendoza.
Mendoza was in the midst of his third year at the helm in Queens.
Behind an absolutely magical turnaround, he led them to an 89-73 finish and an NLCS appearance as a rookie manager during the 2024 season.
But Mendoza Mets would miss the postseason after a second-half collapse last year, and that disappointment carried over to this season after a winter of wholesale changes.
New York holds a 34-47 record following their ugly four-game series sweep at the hands of the Cubs.
Though things didn't end as Mendoza or the Mets hoped, the skipper penned a statement on Friday afternoon thanking Steve and Alex Cohen, David Stearns, Mets fans, and everyone throughout the organization.
"New York will always hold a special place in my heart," he wrote. "I leave with tremendous gratitude, pride in what we accomplished together, and confidence that the future of this organization is bright. I wish the Mets and their fans nothing but success in the years ahead."
Carlos Mendoza issues a statement following his departure from the Mets:
"I would like to thank Steve and Alex Cohen. They are tremendous owners who care deeply about their people, their families, and the entire organization. I am grateful for the opportunity they gave me to… pic.twitter.com/3p449WFUFw
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 24: Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on June 24, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees rebounded from a recent three-game losing streak to secure the final two games of their series against the Tigers. They couldn’t keep that momentum rolling into the series opener against the Red Sox as countless mental errors piled up en route to a 6-3 loss. As such, we have to go back to that series at Comerica to find a candidate for Sequence of the Week, that distinction belonging to Ryan Weathers in the rubber game.
We join Weathers with two outs in the bottom of the second on Wednesday. Paul Goldschmidt led off the game with a home run off Tarik Skubal, but Weathers handed it right back with a Spencer Torkelson double, Hao-Yu Lee walk, and Zach McKinstry RBI single. That put runners on first and second with the score tied, 1-1; every run crucial with the back-to-back reigning AL Cy Young on the mound for the home team.
With the nine-hole hitter Jake Rogers at the plate, it becomes imperative that Weathers go right after him and halt the early rally here to avoid turning the lineup over to AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner Kevin McGonigle. Weathers starts Rogers with a first pitch sweeper, Austin Wells setting a target on the outside edge as they attempt to steal a called strike one.
Instead, Weathers pulls this pitch down and in, and it lands a full two feet away from his intended aim of back-dooring the pitch. Had he landed a fastball in the zone before this, there’s a much higher chance that Rogers would have chased this pitch, but as a first pitch offering, there was nothing to set it up.
Despite failing to execute that sweeper to his spot by a wide margin, Weathers tries the same backdoor tactic again.
He’s lucky that Rogers gives up on this pitch early, because it ends up right down the middle for a called strike. Had Rogers been sitting on another breaker, there’s a good chance he would have crushed this pitch having gotten a good look at its movement profile on the prior pitch.
Now that Weathers has shown Rogers two straight off-speed pitches that break toward the batter, he has the situation set up to start a changeup down the same tunnel as the sweeper he just threw so that he can fool Rogers with a pitch that now breaks away from him.
The process is sound but the execution not so much. He yanks this changeup just like he did with the first pitch changeup, and it ends up well below the zone for ball two. The pitch starts as a ball out of Weathers’ hand and only travels farther away from the zone, making for a straightforward take from Rogers.
This pitch wasn’t as poorly executed as the result might suggest, and it appears has found the right seam orientation at release based on the sharp, late breaking movement downward. The pitch must have felt good coming out of his hand, because he shakes off Wells to get back to the changeup.
This one is an absolute doozy, as evidenced by Rogers spinning out and falling into the dirt as he whiffs wildly over the top. He’s obviously selling out for the fastball here, and is made to look silly by an absolutely disgusting changeup.
After seeing such an out of control hack from Rogers, the only logical choice would be to try to replicate that pitch.
Weathers throws the perfect changeup, on the corner down and away with wicked sinking and fading movement. Even if Rogers takes this pitch, it’s called strike three. However, that’s a moot point as Rogers once again swings and misses super early and over the top as if he is anticipating a fastball. Weathers strands both the runners, giving his offense the chance to grab the lead again as Goldschmidt crushed his second homer and Jasson Domínguez went yard off Skubal as he continues to look much improved batting righty.
Here’s the full sequence:
Weathers needed this turnaround start badly having allowed at least five runs in four of six starts before this game. In allowing one earned run across six strong innings, Weathers’ ERA sinks back below four, Weathers crucially keeping the ball in the yard amid his home run issues. Weathers and Will Warren are currently fighting for their spot in the rotation with Max Fried’s return from injury on the not-too-distant horizon, and a performance like this is certainly a mark in Weathers’ favor.
If, on Opening Day, I had told you the Cubs would be 44-37 after 81 games, you’d have probably been a bit disappointed. That’s an 88-win pace, which is good, but fewer wins than last year and probably not enough to win the NL Central.
The thing is, I think a lot of Cubs fans are hugely disappointed in the team right now. They’ve generated enough offense, I’d think, to win more games than that. They currently rank sixth in MLB in runs with 399 (and they’re only 10 runs behind the third-ranked Pirates). That’s just less than five runs per game. Generally, if you can score around 800 runs in a season, you’re going to win 90+ games.
Except if the pitching staff isn’t doing its job, you’re not. And this pitching staff has been riddled with injuries. I don’t need to recount all of those to you, you are quite familiar with them. And right now, the team has allowed 362 runs, which ranks 16th, exactly league average. What’s worse, though, is that they have served up 123 home runs, most in MLB. The A’s are second at 120, and as you know, they play in a minor-league park that’s known for long balls.
The weirdest part about this very odd Cubs season is how they got to 44-37.
First 16 games: 7-9, 73 runs scored, 69 allowed Next 23 games: 20-3, 142 runs scored, 90 allowed Next 29 games: 7-22, 93 runs scored, 151 allowed Next 13 games: 10-3, 91 runs scored, 52 allowed
That is…
I mean, what team does that in half of a single season? That’s a .500 club for a couple of weeks, the best team in baseball for three weeks, the worst team in baseball for four weeks, and the best team again for two weeks.
Hitting? Pitching? As you can see, it’s both. During the 20-3 streak, the team averaged more than six runs a game and allowed fewer than four. Then they spent nearly a month scoring only a bit more than three per game (and scored 1 run or fewer nine times), but also allowed 5.2 per game.
In the current 13-game stretch, they’re back to pounding the ball — seven runs scored per game — and also have had solid pitching, allowing four per game.
Where does this team go from here?
Acquiring David Peterson will help. As has been written elsewhere, he’s an extreme ground ball pitcher who will be helped by the Cubs’ elite infield defense. We just spent four days watching how bad the Mets infield defense is (and that’s not a one-year problem, either).
But clearly, the team needs another starting pitcher, too. Today we stand 38 days from the trade deadline. The Mets, incidentally, should be one of the teams selling, and Freddy Peralta pitched well enough Thursday (and for most of the season) that he should be a Cubs trade target. Peralta, too, would be helped by the Cubs defense. There are other pitchers out there that I’m sure Jed Hoyer & Co. are targeting.
They could use some relief help, too. If I’m Hoyer I’m on the phone with my old buddy Craig Breslow in Boston, seeing what it would take to get Aroldis Chapman. Hey, it worked 10 years ago. Chapman isn’t the pitcher he was in 2016, but he is still an effective MLB reliever and he could close games in Daniel Palencia’s absence.
Other than that, the offense has begun to click again. If the team can get Alex Bregman, Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch going, it could be a real juggernaut in the season’s second half.
That second 81-game stretch begins tonight in Milwaukee. Hopefully this Cubs team can play better against the Brewers than they did last month in Chicago.
May 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos tosses his bat after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Phillies could have easily been swept by the Washington Nationals. They generally played poorly for most of the four-game series, but thanks to some late-inning magic against a garbage fire bullpen, they ended up winning the series.
Speaking of garbage fires, there’s the New York Mets. Since defeating the Phillies last Thursday, they’ve lost six games in a row, some of them in embarrassing fashion. But hey, at least some people in the stadium managed to enjoy themselves.
These Norwegian fans are having the time of their lives watching Cubs-Mets 🙌 🇳🇴
However, if there’s one thing the Mets have been able to count on in recent years, it’s beating the Phillies at Citi Field. The Phillies have lost ten straight games at the stadium including two games in the 2024 NLDS. With the Mets in freefall, if the Phillies can’t find a way to win a game this weekend, it seems possible that they might never win there again.
…..And as I was writing this, it was announced that the Mets have fired manager Carlos Mendoza.
Steve Cohen on the Mets moving on from Carlos Mendoza:
“I want to express my deepest gratitude to Carlos Mendoza for his leadership and unwavering commitment. He represented this organization with integrity and dedication throughout and I wish him and his family all the best.… pic.twitter.com/HTnHZ20RkZ
This is not a positive development for the Phillies, as the Mets may likely experience a “new manager bounce” this weekend. On the other hand, it gives me a reason to use this clip:
Opposition research: Mark Vientos
In 2024, the Mets thought they had a young star on their hands. In his first full season, Mark Vientos put up an OPS of .837 with 27 home runs. And he went on to destroy the Phillies in the NLDS, going 9-16 with two home runs.
He’s continued to perform well against the Phillies. Last year, he batted .313 with two home runs against them, and in the series last week, he was 2-5 with a homer. However, he hasn’t hit all that well against anybody else in that time, and combined with horrendous defense, he’s been one of the least valuable players in the league.
Things aren’t trending in Vientos’ direction either. He’s batting just .179 in June and went 1-10 in the series against the Cubs.
Statistically, Mark Vientos has been the WORST player on the Mets this year.
Defensively, the Mets accepted that he couldn’t hack it at third base so they moved him to first this season. However, he’s proven to be equally bad there, committing a league high six errors. Mets fans are now openly pining for Pete Alonso.
Immediately after Mark Vientos made an error at first base, the New York Mets fans started chanting “Pete Alonso” 😭 pic.twitter.com/9ozIHoodby
"I'm not going to go nuts and get angry right now because we're beyond that. This is way beyond the anger stage."@sal_licata reacts to the Mets' four-game sweep at the hands of the Cubs:
Last week’s answer: The three relievers to earn wins in the Phillies’ sweep of the Mets in September 2007 were Tom Gordon, Antonio Alfonseca, and Geoff Geary. MG77 and Morris Buttermaker each named one of them.
This week’s question: The Phillies last win at Citi Field was a 12-2 romp on September 20, 2024. Which Phillie had four hits and four RBIs in that game?
Vote for the Phillies! Just not necessarily the ones you expected
It’s kind of hilarious that Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott have all reached the second round of All-Star voting while Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber did not. While Marsh clearly deserves inclusion on the team, it wasn’t that long ago that fans wanted both Bohm and Stott traded away for anything they could get. (Can you imagine the reaction at the end of April if someone told you that Alec Bohm might be an All-Star?)
Alec, Brandon, and Bryson are one step closer to starting the All-Star Game in Philly 🤩
Harper and Schwarber both have a good chance to be named to the team as reserves, although they could always get excluded due to the “every team gets a guy” role and whether or not Dave Roberts feels he has to choose a rookie with six starts under his belt.
Additional thought about the series
Late inning comebacks are really fun, and the Mets also do not have a great bullpen. (Sure, it’s better than the Nationals’ relief group, but I don’t think it’s possible to be worse.) That said, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the Phillies to simply get out to an early lead and sustain it for the entire game.
They should have an opportunity to score early runs. The Mets are calling up rookie Zach Thornton to start one game, and it seems likely either Kodai Senga or Christian Scott will get the ball at some point. Either way, the Phillies won’t be facing a top-notch array of pitchers this weekend.
I am slightly worried that the Mets can’t possibly continue to play as poorly as they have been, and they might be somewhat motivated by getting their manager fired. On the other hand, the Phillies can’t keep losing every game at Citi Field, right? In the end, while I’d love to see the Phillies extend the Mets’ misery, I think I’d be happy if they can come away with one win this weekend. That’s not too much to ask for, right?
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