Category: Baseball

The boys are back.

That was the first thing Ethan Hedges (PURP No.29) wanted fans to know about his first big-league spring training — not the level, not the competition, but the company.

“It’s good to be back at the complex, all my boys playing baseball again,” he said.

Hedges arrived in the Rockies system as a polished piece. Colorado took him in the third round of the 2025 draft, 77th overall out of USC, where he was a second-team All-American and a genuine two-way player — a third baseman who also closed games on the mound.

Players who show up that decorated tend to carry an expectation, fair or not, that the adjustment to pro ball will be smooth. Hedges learned otherwise, and he was grateful for it.

“The biggest lesson I learned in 2025 is probably how to overcome struggle,” he said. “I started off a little slow in my first four weeks in Spokane, but just overcoming that and learning how to deal with adversity is something that I took away from that.”

He didn’t frame the slump as a detour. He framed it as a clearing.

“It was almost a good thing to deal with that,” he said. “Dealing with it, getting it out of the way, and then learning how to overcome that.”

It’s a telling way for a young hitter to talk.

The slumps were always coming — the only question was when, and Hedges would rather have met one early than spend a career waiting for it. By the time he reported to his first camp, the worst stretch of his young professional life was already behind him, filed away as information instead of fear.

So far, the lesson is holding. The slow start that defined his 2025 didn’t follow him into his first full pro season — Hedges came out of the gate hot at Spokane, hitting .364/.400/.606 with two homers and seven RBIs over his first nine games and grading out as one of the High-A club’s best early bats.

The grind has come in waves since, the way it does at every level, but the player who once needed a month to find his footing now looks like he expected to hit all along. On the season he’s slashing .269/.347/.406 with six home runs and 33 RBIs — a steady, get-on-base line that fits the contact hitter he described himself as.

“That’s the type of player I am,” he said, “just putting my bat on the baseball and hitting it hard.”

The other half of his game he about without hesitation. On defense, there was no hedging.

“I pride myself on my defense,” he said. “I’m a great defender, and that’s something that I’m always going to take pride in and continue working on, getting better at.”

The camp itself had been a blur in the best way — a lot of bodies, a lot of moving parts, a lot of fun.

“It’s been crazy with everyone here,” he said, “it’s been a roller coaster — but a fun one.”

The ride hit a peak when Hedges was named to the Spring Breakout roster in his first pro spring, a showcase of the organization’s best young talent. For a player still introducing himself to the system, the nod landed as both validation and an invitation to enjoy it.

“It’s awesome. It’s a great experience for me,” he said. “To sign autographs for all the fans out there with my friends — it’s an honor. I’m going to make the most out of it.”

Baseball has a way of humbling players eventually. Hedges already got his introduction. What once felt like a setback now reads more like a prerequisite. The struggle came early, the lesson stuck, and the game moved on. So did he.

Weekly Pebble Report: June 16th-22nd

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (4-2, 39-36 Overall)

The Isotopes took four of six from the Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Houston Astros) in a series that swung between offensive explosions and tight, late-inning theater. Albuquerque survived a 21-run barrage in the lone blowout loss, won two one-run games — one of them in extra innings — and dropped the finale 7-6 despite a furious back-and-fourth. When the lineup and the pitching staff aligned, the Isotopes were tough to beat. They sit at 39-36, holding firm in second place in the PCL East.

⬆️ Stock Up: Kent You Believe It

Nic Kent put together a complete week in the batters box, going 9-for-20 (.450) with two home runs, a triple, a double, five RBIs, a stolen base, and a team-high eight runs scored. Kent homered in each of the final two games of the series, while reaching base consistently from the top and middle of the order.

⬇️ Stock Down: A Junior-Sized Week at the Plate

It was a week to forget for Richie Martin Jr., who managed just one hit in 16 at-bats (.063) across four games with five strikeouts and no walks. He couldn’t find a rhythm at any point in the series, the rare empty stretch on a roster that was otherwise swinging the bats well.

Upcoming

The Isotopes host the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels) for a six game series in Albuquerque.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (4-2, 39-29 Overall)

The Yard Goats took four of six on the road from the Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies), bookending a pair of midweek losses with offensive outbursts on either side. Hartford scored ten runs twice in the series and leaned on a deep, mostly excellent bullpen to hold leads. The Yard Goats clinched a playoff spot after winning the first-half Eastern League Northeast Division title.

⬆️ Stock Up: Capel-ity for Damage

There may not have been a better week anywhere in the system. Conner Capel went 11-for-26 (.423) with six home runs, 14 RBIs and nine runs scored across all six games, including a three-home, six-RBI explosion on June 17 and a two-home, five-RBI follow-up the very next day. Capel homered in three of the six games and supplied the kind of sustained middle-of-the-order thunder that gets a 29-year-old veteran noticed. It was a complete, dominant week from start to finish.

⬇️ Stock Down: Jorge Left Searching

It was a lean six days for Dyan Jorge, who finished 3-for-22 (.136) with five strikeouts. To his credit, Jorge drew a team-high six walks and still found ways to reach base and score three runs, but the lack of contact stood out in a lineup that was otherwise punishing Reading pitching all week.

Upcoming

The Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) come into town for a six game set.

High-A: Spokane Indians (3-3, 30-39 Overall)

The Indians split six games with the Vancouver Canadians (Toronto Blue Jays) at Avista Stadium in a series defined almost entirely by offense — four of the six games featured a combined 17 runs or more. Spokane’s lineup mashed all week; the pitching staff, outside of Nathan Blasick, could rarely hold a lead. The Indians sit at 30-39.

⬆️ Stock Up: O’Dowd He Did

Jack O’Dowd put together the most valuable week of any bat on the roster, going 9-for-22 (.409) with four home runs, 12 RBIs and seven runs scored across all six games. The exclamation point came June 20, when he homered twice — including a walk-off blast in the bottom of the 10th — and drove in five runs in a single game. O’Dowd also paired the power with patience, drawing six walks on the week, and now sits among the Northwest League’s on-base leaders.

⬇️ Stock Down: Perez Goes Up in Flames

It was a week to forget for reliever Bryan Perez, who recorded just two outs in his lone appearance June 16 while surrendering six hits and eight earned runs, including two home runs. In a series where Spokane’s bullpen broadly struggled to keep games in check, Perez’s outing was the most damaging single line of the week.

Upcoming

The Indians will welcome the Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels) for six games.

Low-A Fresno Grizzlies (4-2, 37-32 Overall)

The Grizzlies took four of six from the Inland Empire 66ers (Los Angeles Angels) at Chukchansi Park, with both ends of the series decided by walk-off wins and a 16-4 drubbing the only real blemish in between. Fresno’s offense was steady up and down the order, and the pitching staff strung together several strong starts. The Grizzlies sit at 37-32 as the second half begins.

⬆️ Stock Up: Thach to the Future

Tanner Thach turned in the most complete week of any Grizzlies hitter, going 8-for-24 (.333) with a home run, three doubles and a team-high seven RBIs across all six games. The signature performance came June 18, when he homered and drove in five in an 8-2 win. Thach is now hitting .343 on the season and continues to anchor the middle of the Fresno lineup as one of the most productive bats in the California League.

⬆️ Stock Up: Newton’s First Law

Austin Newton was a model of efficiency across two stars, throwing 13.1 innings while allowing just three earned runs and — most impressively — not issuing a single walk, striking out eight along the way. Newton’s 2.03 ERA for the week was the product of pounding the strike zone start to finish, exactly the kind of command-driven outing the organization wants to see from its young arms.

Upcoming

The Grizzlies head to Southern California for six games against the Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego Padres).

ACL: ACL Rockies (3-2, 26-10 Overall)

The ACL Rockies kept rolling through a five-game stretch, winning three off five to maintain the best record in the Arizona Complex League at 26-10, comfortably atop the ACL East. The offense produced consistently and rarely went quiet, even in the two losses.

⬆️ Stock Up: Alessander The Great

Alessander De La Cruz was nearly impossible to retire all week, going 9-for-18 (.500) with a home run, a triple, three doubles, seven RBIs, and three stolen bases across five games. The outfielder hit safely in every game he player and now sits at a remarkable .407 on the season — one of the most productive bats anywhere in the organizations lower levels. He paired the on-base ability with real impact, racking up extra-base hits in bunches and using his legs once aboard.

⬇️ Stock Down: Ugarte Cools Off

After entering the week as one of the hottest hitters in the league, Ronny Ugarte hit a wall, managing just two hits in 18 at-bats (.111) with six strikeouts over five games. Ugarte’s seasons numbers remain excellent, and a brief slump at this level is nothing to read too much into, but the bat went quiet at a stretch when much of the lineup around him stayed hot.

DSL: DSL Colorado (2-3, 8-7 Overall)

DSL Colorado endured a rollercoaster of a week against a rotation slate of teams, dropping three of five — including two walk-off losses and a wild 14-13 defeat — while also throwing a four-run shoutout in the middle of it. The bats produced runs in bunches even in the losses, but the inconsistent pitching kept the club from stringing wins together. DSL Colorado sits at 8-7, third in the DSL Southeast.

⬆️ Stock Up: Ferrufino Feasts

18-year-old William Ferrufino had a week few hitters at any level can match, going 10-for-16 (.625) with a triple, two doubles, six RBIs and two stolen bases across all five games. The second baseman reached base in every contest — adding three hit-by-pitches to the ledger — and capped it with a four-hit, three-RBI explosion in the 14-13 slugfest. Ferrufino lifted his season average to .326 and looks like one of the most advanced bats on the roster.

⬇️ Stock Down: Guaraco Goes Cold

It was a quiet five games for shortstop Jendry Guaraco, who managed just two hits in 17 at-bats (.118) with five strikeouts and no RBIs. Guaraco still found ways onto the bases — he was hit by a pitch five times this week — but the lack of production at the plate stood out in a lineup that was otherwise scorching in bunches.

DSL: DSL Rockies (1-4, 5-10 Overall)

It was a difficult week for the DSL Rockies, who dropped four of five against, with a lone bright spot coming in the form of a 2-1 win over the DSL Phillies. Late-inning bullpen trouble undid the club more than once, including multi-run meltdowns that flipped winnable games. They now sit at 5-10, at the bottom of the DSL East.

⬆️ Stock Up: Montiel Makes Contact

Adafel Montiel was the steadiest bat in the lineup, going 6-for-13 (.462) with two doubles, three RBIs, and a stolen across four games. The catcher consistently put the ball in play — striking out just twice on the week — and delivered the go-ahead, two-out RBI in the Rockies’ only win. In a week when much of the order pressed, Montiel’s controlled, productive at-bats stood out.

⬇️ Stock Down: De Leon Searches for Answers

It was five games to forget for Amaury De Leon, who managed just one hit in 17 at-bats (.059) while striking out nine times. De Leon worked a few walks to stay on base here and there, but the contact issues piled up across the week and the production never came.

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With summer upon us, I recently found myself alone on a long, quiet drive home after dropping my daughter off for camp with her grandparents. As the miles rolled by and the hum of the tires turned over old memories, I wandered down a self-inflicted rabbit hole about how the brain works. Eventually, I landed on a fun mental exercise: if a buddy had gone into a coma before a Yankees player’s first start in pinstripes and woke up today, how would I explain everything they had missed?

Several players proved better than others at filling time, but one player actually occupied the entire back nine of my drive as I found myself questioning both my own conclusions and the results from my hands-free mobile assistant. That player was none other than tonight’s starter, Carlos Rodón.

Using what you know now about Rodón, how would you describe his time in pinstripes to a friend who has missed this ride? For me, the starting point was to describe him as the Yankees’ new “big” lefty. Essentially the Ozempic CC Sabathia. Yes, I did crack myself up knowing I then have to explain what that meant. But, Rodón is the latest power lefty Brian Cashman has fallen in love with.

That was where that comparison stopped though. Rodón is no CC. However, his overall numbers in pinstripes actually line up well compared to another pitcher from the end of that era and the torch barrier after, Masahiro Tanaka. What numbers could those possibly be? Winning percentage, ERA, and WHIP.

For Rodón and Tanaka, respectively, those numbers in their Yankees careers are .588 and .629, 3.96 and 3.74, and 1.183 and 1.130. It is also worth noting that Tanaka was excellent during his first three seasons. If you isolate his final four regular seasons in New York, however, he posted a .565 winning percentage, 4.27 ERA, and 1.203 WHIP.

Tanaka ended up being a great comparison. In addition to the statistical similarities and being able to say, “we have a regular-season Tanaka chance to win tonight,” their first impressions were literally the exact opposite. Tanaka rode in on a big stallion, taking the city by storm before that dang UCL cut his dominant rookie campaign short. Rodón, on the other hand, got hurt in March and then turned in one of the worst seasons of his career.

Rodón’s debut season also had him send the kiss rejected around the Bronx. That moment, along with his body language when things go either right or wrong, reminded me of another Yankees pitcher: former big-ticket free agent signing A.J. Burnett. The righty from central Arkansas helped the Yankees to the 2009 World Series title, but other than that his time in pinstripes is remembered for the lows.

Burnett was famously intense, and the energy was infectious. However, that infection happened whether the energy was good or bad. Rodón is cut from that same cloth. There might be a game when you watch and say you’re glad the Yankees have that guy as he works himself into and out of a jam. Then the next start he issues five walks, give up a couple long home runs, and give some objects the old Paul O’Neil treatment in the dugout.

Rodón has never hidden his emotions, for better or worse. That emotional volatility has become just as much a part of his Yankees identity as his mid-90s fastball. It is also what makes every turn through the rotation feel like a rollercoaster ride and a true dice roll.

Like a true Yankees fan, my hypothetical friend always wanted to know what the guy has done in October. That is where I had to give them the happy/sad update that the Knicks have won a title, but our Yankees had not.

In addition to not having a ring, in 2024, Rodón went 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA and in 2025 he went 0-0 with a 9.72 ERA in two October starts. Unlike Tanaka, whose performances in the clutch, or when the lights are brightest if you will, elevated him to near-legendary status among Yankees fans, Rodón is still waiting for the playoff run that changes how people view him. A ring would help insulate him from criticism down the road, much like it has done for Burnett, but Rodón still has a lot of work to do to fully earn his pinstripes for most fans.

Essentially, where I landed on any other Tuesday night in June, just after the summer solstice: Rodón is a lot like watching Tanaka pitch in the regular season. However, if he does not have his command, it is hard not to feel like you are watching a left-handed version of Burnett. After a bad first impression, Rodón has proven to be easy to cheer for, even though sometimes he is hard to watch.

Most nights when he takes the ball, he gives the Yankees a chance to win. Some nights he even looks dominant enough that if you pulled out a notebook and pencil you just might find yourself writing down ace-like stuff. But then occasionally, the engine overheats and the tires come off. Either way, tonight the Yankees hand the ball to their big lefty. Here is to hoping we get Dón Dominance tonight, and not a dud.

Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.took a lollipop out to the field on Monday night in the middle of New York's loss to the Tigers in Detroit.

ManagerAaron Boonedidn't find out about it until after the game, and he wasn't pleased.

"Oh yeah, that pisses me off," Boone said on the Talkin' Yanks podcast on Tuesday. "I didn't know about it until after the game. So he and I talked about that. That won't be going on."

Told by the hosts of Talkin' Yanks that Chisholm took an at-bat with a lollipop in his mouth earlier this season in Boston against the Red Sox, Boone was bothered. 

"That was the second time? There was another time? Yeah, that's -- I'm not on that," he said.

Chisholm is hitting .226/.312/.404 (.716 OPS) with 11 homers and 23 stolen bases in 74 games this season.

He was an All-Star last season and also won a Silver Slugger, during a year where he slashed .242/.332/.481 with a career-high 31 homers.

Chisholm's big 2025 campaign led to his spring training proclamation ahead of the 2026 campaign that he was aiming for a 50 homer/50 steal season. 

We recently put out a call in The Feed to take the temperature of Yankees fans on Giancarlo Stanton’s outlook for the remainder of 2026. The story of Stanton’s season is unfortunately the same as it ever was, at least since 2019.

Following a 158-game debut in pinstripes, the former NL MVP had several issues that restricted him to 18 games and a limited postseason role that year. Every season from that point onward has seen some kind of injury wreak havoc on Stanton. He was held to 23 games in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and though only a quad strain held him back in a 139-game 2021, he has failed to exceed 115 in the years that followed. He’s now an exclusive DH, and even his jogging run on the basepaths has led to lower-body injuries like his most recent calf strain.

It’s a conundrum for the Yankees because when healthy, Stanton remains one of the most initimidating hitters in baseball. In fact, just last year, he posted his best season by OPS+ (156) since winning MVP with the Marlins in 2017. And of course, in 2024, his sterling postseason reputation shined brighter than ever, slamming seven homers and four in the ALCS to win MVP honors during the five-game win over Cleveland. Stanton has a .926 OPS and 18 career playoff homers in just 48 games — no small feat since he’s tied with Yankees legends Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson on the all-time postseason list in that category and they did so in far more chances (65 games for The Mick and 77 for Mr. October).

The problem is that dreaded qualifier from the first sentence of that paragraph: “when healthy.” The Yankees just can’t count on that, and they know it. GM Brian Cashman said as much after 2023, and they’ve constantly built their roster knowing that DH time will be open at one point or another for the likes of Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice, and Jasson Domínguez. For Domínguez in particular, the Yanks have been loathe to give up on the 23-year-old despite limited openings in the outfield for this very reason. For a win-now team like the Yanks, unless a trade offer bowls them over, he’s likely more valuable to them as fourth outfielder/DH depth than as a trade chip, given Stanton’s ailments.

Right now, Stanton’s again stuck in IL limbo. He was on the verge of activation the weekend before last, but suffered a setback with his calf. So it’s hard to say when exactly we might see Stanton again in 2026. It’s tough to watch because he’s not only an electric hitter at his best but a great guy off the field who has never tried to shirk responsibilities or anything like that. It’s plain to see that he’s just as disappointed that he’s been unable to stay healthy, and it’s not just because he wants to reach 500 homers (though he obviously wouldn’t mind it). Stanton wants a World Series ring as much as anyone in that clubhouse, or at least on the same level as Judge.

That brings us back to the original prompt. When do you think we’ll see Stanton in 2026? Here’s where the survey stands:

Most fans expect Stanton to return, but not until much later in the second half. The plurality forecast a September return when rosters expand to 28 and there’s a little more flexibility for a DH-only player. The possibility of a healthy Stanton in October has to be tantalizing and is on the Yankees’ radar.

It’s certainly something that a couple commenters considered, like JRbasebal and NeverPlayed:

If Stanton’s body at least allows him to take healthy cuts in a September warm-up, then Yankees brass can make a decision about whether or not they think he can be ready for the postseason.

An example I always think of with this exercise is 1999 Darryl Strawberry, who due to his own more serious personal demons was off the field until September. But there was a DH opening and he hit .327/.500/.612 during that last month, earning a spot on the playoff roster. Skipper Joe Torre pickedhisspots with Straw and he went 5-for-15 with three walks and two homers as the Yanks romped to another championship, with just one loss that October. The other side of the equation is 2022 DJ LeMahieu, who was terrific in the first half but suffered a broken toe in early August that led to a nagging foot injury. Although it was a smaller sample than ’99 Strawberry, the Yankees did give LeMahieu a look at the end of the regular season, but they ultimately decided that they weren’t comfortable enough with how he looked to roster him.* Stanton could find himself in a similar test later in 2026.

*They probably should have done the same with Matt Carpenter. Oh well.

Plenty of respondents were understandably skeptical of Stanton’s ability to recover at this point. After all, he said that he initially felt something in his calf while jogging from first to second on a walk — not even a play in the field. The setback reportedly came on the bases in workouts as well. If these seemingly simple acts are taxing him (even acknowledging that it involves ripple effects from practice too), it’s hard to be confident about both his short- and long-term future.

Pan1953 and The Boss both mused on this awkward situation, albeit while reaching different conclusions:

Whether he returns and mashes in October again or has to figure out a DFA scenario in the offseason as suggested by The idiot that said, “Harper is coming,” it’s going to be a tricky. Stanton is beloved in the Yankees clubhouse, though LeMahieu absolutely was as well when the Yanks cut ties with him last July. I doubt that any such machinations would happen until the offseason at the earliest, given that it doesn’t seem like Stanton will be in play to even get in the lineup again until deep into 2026. And LeMahieu just wasn’t doing much at all as his career came to a close with a 67 OPS+ across his final two campaigns. Stanton clearly offers more.

The big guy may be in IL limbo, but as JRbasebalsaid in a reply later in the thread, the Yankees are on the hook for his contract regardless (I don’t think any kind of trade is plausible). Right now, they have the flexibility to see how Stanton’s rehab goes and to check in on how his bat looks if he can get back into playing shape. If the bat plays, then he plays in some way, shape, or form. If not, then that will be a discussion we can have another day.

The good news about yesterday’s rainout is that the back-to-back canceled games gave the Cubs’ battered bullpen another day to rest and recover heading into their series with the Mets. Healthy arms are a scarce commodity on the North Side of Chicago these days, so anything that gives pitchers a shot at a little more rest and recovery probably allows manager Craig Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy to breathe a sigh of relief.

Speaking of a bit of extra recovery time, most of the Cubs roster will likely get a few extra days to recover in July during the All-Star break. However, there is one Cubs starting pitcher who might have a solid case to pitch in the Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia.

Ben Brown has been one of the best stories in Chicago this summer. He started the season in the bullpen after struggling to get guys out later in games as a starter last season. However, he also added a sinker he’s throwing about 21% of the time this season and that pitch has proven to be a game-changing weapon for Brown. Batters are hitting just .224 off Brown’s sinker and they are slugging an abysmal .245 against it. It’s a visible improvement:

Brown has improved in his effectiveness across the board. He’s sacrificed a bit of pure strikeout stuff and about a percentage fewer whiffs for more effective outs and better results. You can see how that all comes together in this highlight reel from his seven inning, three hit effort in St. Louis at the end of May. He’s basically still using his knuckle curve and four-seamer for most of his strikeouts, but the sinker gives him a way to induce weak contact when necessary [VIDEO].

With a 1.85 ERA off a 2.50 FIP through 68 innings this season, Brown has been outstanding. In eight games and 42.1 innings as a starting pitcher he’s got an even better 1.70 ERA and 2.39 FIP. Opposing batters are slashing just .179/.244/.245 against Brown as a starting pitcher this season.

Brown has been the most valuable pitcher on the Cubs by a wide margin with 2.0 fWAR in 68 innings compared to Shōta Imanaga’s 0.9 fWAR in 86.2 innings. That all seems worthy of a trip to Philadelphia to my eyes. It’s hard to imagine this Cubs team being over .500 without the work that Brown has put in this season both in the bullpen and as a starting pitcher.

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All 30 MLB teams are in action tonight, and I've got MLB picks for all 15 games.

Here are my favorite leans and looks for MLB moneyline predictions for Tuesday, June 23, featuring the underdog Rockies.

MLB moneyline picks for June 23

Matchup	Pick
Astros vs Blue Jays	+120
Royals vs Rays	+170
Yankees vs Tigers	-106
Rangers vs Marlins	-147
Mariners vs Pirates	+115
Phillies vs Nationals	-156
Brewers vs Reds	-102
Cubs vs Mets	-106
Dodgers vs Twins	+160
Guardians vs White Sox	-104
Diamondbacks vs Cardinals	-106
Red Sox vs Rockies	+150
Orioles vs Angels	-135
Braves vs Padres	-106
Athletics vs Giants	+125

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 6-23.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for June 23

Astros vs Blue Jays: Astros (+120)

Astros win probability: 46%

Shane Bieber makes his first start of the season, and while Houston’s offense has been inconsistent lately, this is still a spot I am hesitant to trust a pitcher who has not taken a major-league mound since November 1, 2025.

Early-season timing, rhythm, and command are always questions in a return like this.

On the other side, Peter Lambert has been steady and serviceable for the Astros, giving them a more stable and warmed-up option in this matchup.

In a spot that could swing on execution rather than talent, I prefer the arm that is already in midseason form and operating with a defined recent workload.

Royals vs Rays: Royals (+170)

Royals win probability: 37%

“But Colby, you said you could never trust this offense yesterday.”

Yeah, I still do not fully trust them, but over their last 12 games, they have posted a 135 wRC+, .825 OPS, and a .362 wOBA while also generating a 33.6% hard-hit rate.

Meanwhile, the Rays have cooled off over that same stretch, sitting under a 34% hard-hit rate and below a 6% barrel rate.

Tampa Bay left-hander Shane McClanahan has been inconsistent lately, while Royals right-hander Luinder Avila has also shown some volatility. Away from home, McClanahan has been much sharper, owning a 1.80 ERA, 3.16 xERA, and a 1.08 WHIP.

I will side with the hotter offense in this spot.

Yankees vs Tigers: Yankees (-106)

Yankees win probability: 52%

Casey Mize has been strong for the Tigers this season, but I still cannot trust their offense. Over their last six games, Detroit has posted a 96 wRC+, .682 OPS, and .146 ISO, showing limited impact at the plate.

On the other side, the Yankees offense has stayed consistent, producing a 121 wRC+, .791 OPS, and .348 wOBA over their last 12 games. Carlos Rodon has also been steady overall, carrying a 3.50 ERA on the season with a 3.37 expected ERA.

In this matchup, I will side with the more consistent offense.

Rangers vs Marlins: Marlins (-147)

Marlins win probability: 60%

Cal Quantrill makes his first start of the season after working out of the bullpen, carrying a 3.68 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in that role. Miami’s offense has been productive lately, and this is a spot where I can see their bats staying hot against a below-average arm.

Sandy Alcantara has not been at his sharpest this season, but I would still rather trust him in this matchup than Quantrill. The veteran right-hander's recent profile raises concern, with a 50% hard-hit rate and a 10% barrel rate over his last few outings.

In a game with scoring potential on both sides, I will side with the Marlins offense.

Mariners vs Pirates: Pirates (+115)

Pirates win probability: 46%

I will happily take the Rally Rats in this spot at home. They have played their best baseball all season in their own ballpark and are seeing the ball well lately.

Mitch Keller has been fairly unreliable, but I view this as a spot where Pittsburgh’s offense can be the driving force behind a win.

Seattle has been ice cold over its last 12 games, posting a 70 wRC+, .087 ISO, and just a 31.5% hard-hit rate. George Kirby has also struggled in his recent outings, carrying a 5.60 ERA and a .161 WHIP over his last five starts.

I expect this Pirates offense to get on top of his stuff early and often.

Phillies vs Nationals: Phillies (-156)

Phillies win probability: 61%

Nationals right-hander Zack Littell profiles for trouble in this spot.

At home this season he carries a 6.31 ERA and 6.96 xERA while allowing a 45% hard-hit rate and nearly a 15% barrel rate, all indicators of sustained damage risk. With that in mind, Bryce Harper stands out individually, and it also strengthens the case for backing the full Phillies offense.

On the other side, Jesus Luzardo has been excellent on the road, posting a 1.55 ERA while limiting hard contact consistently.

Even with the elevated price, the underlying profile and matchup point toward Philadelphia as the side worth backing.

Brewers vs Reds: Brewers (-102)

Brewers win probability: 50%

This one came down to the wire last night, but I still believe the Brewers are the right side here.

Cincinnati right-hander Nick Lodolo has been shaky at home this season, carrying a 7.27 ERA and 6.76 xERA while allowing plenty of hard contact and barrels to opposing hitters. On the other side, Brandon Sproat has not been much better, but he limits free passes and benefits from a lower BABIP profile.

Offensively, Cincinnati has been ice cold over the last 20 games, posting an 87 wRC+, 26.3% strikeout rate, and a .675 OPS as a team. Milwaukee, meanwhile, has stayed locked in with a 131 wRC+, .819 OPS, and .182 ISO over that same stretch.

Once again, this comes down to the more consistent offense, and that edge clearly belongs to Milwaukee.

Cubs vs Mets: Mets (-106)

Mets win probability: 52%

My MLB player props are already high on Juan Soto to do damage at the dish tonight, especially given how much Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera has struggled since returning from injury.

On the other side, Kodai Senga has also been inconsistent, so this is less about trusting either arm and more about targeting the spot.

The Cubs have been swinging it well, but I am leaning into the Mets offense to jump on Cabrera early and set the tone in this one.

Dodgers vs Twins: Twins (+160)

Twins win probability: 38%

As surprising as it is to say, the Twins have been rolling lately. Over their last 12 games, they are posting a .380 wOBA, 129 wRC+, and an .811 OPS, showing real life at the plate.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have cooled off over their last six games with a .300 wOBA, 92 wRC+, and .664 OPS.

Los Angeles sends southpaw Justin Wrobleski to the mound, who carries a 4.61 expected ERA on the road while allowing a 43% hard-hit rate and a 9.29% barrel rate to opposing hitters. For Minnesota, Kendry Rojas gets the ball with a 1.26 ERA this season, though the walk rate is a concern.

Even so, given how hot the Twins offense has been, I am willing to take the shot on their bats continuing to produce.

Guardians vs White Sox: Guardians (-104)

Guardians win probability: 51%

Guardians right-hander Parker Messick has been excellent this season, entering today with one of the highest pitcher ratings on the slate. On the other side, Sean Burke takes the mound for the White Sox, and he has not been the most consistent option in their rotation.

Chicago also comes in off a walk-off win last night, which adds a potential letdown spot into the mix. Burke has shown vulnerability to hard contact, and I expect Cleveland to take advantage and get to him early this evening.

Diamondbacks vs Cardinals: Cardinals (-106)

Cardinals win probability: 49%

It is the Cardinals again, and I am very high on Ivan Herrera in this spot against Eduardo Rodriguez. That alone makes it hard to ignore the rest of the St. Louis lineup.

Per Batters-Box, the Cardinals rank as the seventh highest rated offense on the slate, while Rodriguez enters with the fourth-worst pitcher rating in the current season sample. That is a tough combination to overlook.

Arizona’s offense has cooled off over the last few weeks, while St. Louis has been one of the hotter lineups in baseball recently. In a spot like this, I want the offense that is trending up, and that points directly to the Cardinals.

Red Sox vs Rockies: Rockies (+150)

Rockies win probability: 40%

Run it back with the Rockies.

Simply put, the Red Sox have looked lifeless at the plate, while Colorado is starting to find some rhythm offensively. Even with last night coming down to a walk-off win, I am still willing to back the Rockies here at plus money.

At +150, the price is too strong to ignore given the current form on both sides. Colorado’s offense is showing signs of life, and in a spot like this, I am willing to ride the hotter bats and fade a Boston lineup that just has not been consistent.

Orioles vs Angels: Orioles (-135)

Orioles win probability: 57%

Simply put, this is a fade of a struggling arm in a favorable matchup. Ryan Johnson has been ice cold for the Angels, carrying a 12.83 ERA and 2.33 WHIP on the season, making it difficult to trust him in any competitive spot.

On the other side, the Orioles offense has started to heat up, posting a 116 wRC+, .195 ISO, and .339 wOBA over their last 12 games, showing real improvement at the plate.

The Angels lineup does not offer much resistance here either, with only two strong-rated hitters in this matchup. In a spot like this, I will side with the Orioles offense against a pitcher I am fading.

Braves vs Padres: Braves (-106)

Braves win probability: 52%

If German Marquez is on the mound tonight for the Padres, the Braves are an automatic look for me. He owns a 10.38 ERA at home this season while allowing a near 50% hard-hit rate and an 11.11% barrel rate to opposing hitters, which is a tough combination to trust in any matchup.

According to Batters-Box, Atlanta also brings seven elite-rated bats into this spot against him, which is more than enough firepower to create damage throughout the lineup.

Athletics vs Giants: Athletics (+125)

Athletics win probability: 44%

Aaron Civale is on the mound for the Athletics this evening, but I am not fully willing to trust that clubhouse with everything going on around Rafael Devers.

Instead, I am willing to take a shot fading Robbie Ray at plus money. The Athletics offense has been swinging it well lately, and getting value against a pitcher who has not been at his sharpest this season feels like the right side.

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The New York Yankees are -110 favorites on the road against the Detroit Tigers tonight at Comerica Park, with the total set at 7.5 for the middle game of a three-game series.

New York limps in having dropped three straight and four of its last five, while Detroit rides a four-game winning streak.

My Yankees vs Tigers predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, June 23, expect those trends to continue.

Who will win Yankees vs Tigers today: Tigers (-104)

I've faded Carlos Rodon a good deal this season, and I'm doing it again, backing the Detroit Tigers. He has elite strikeout stuff, but there's a notable issue in this matchup.

His Bottom 9th percentile walk rate at just over 13% puts free runners on against a Tigers offense that has heated up as of late and does a good job of putting the ball into play. 

Casey Mize has historically handled this group with a 3.63 ERA across four career starts, including two quality starts against the New York Yankees last season.

That makes sense, too, given his swing-and-miss stuff that has peaked this season with a 25%+ strikeout rate. I'd play this to -120.

COVERS INTEL:Carlos Rodon's average exit velocity allowed sits in the 8th percentile in 2026 at 90.9 mph.

Yankees vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-116)

Both starters carry command issues, and both lineups are built to exploit them. 

Mize returned from his second IL stint of the season last Wednesday and admitted his last outing was undone by too many three-ball counts — allowing three runs in just over four innings against a similar-hitting-profile team in the Houston Astros.

The Yankees lineup still has Paul Goldschmidt turning time back with a .898 OPS and Ben Rice (.389 xwOBA) doing damage. While I think Mize has some success, he'll give up enough here with the Tigers doing the heavy lifting. Play to 8.

Yankees vs Tigers weather

Temps are expected to hover around 70 degrees F come game time, with little chance of rain and slight winds.

Yankees vs Tigers odds

• Moneyline: Yankees -115 | Tigers +100
• Run line: Yankees -1.5 | Tigers +1.5
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5

Yankees vs Tigers trend

The Detroit Tigers have hit the moneyline in 12 of their last 18 games (+5.65 Units / 26% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Tigers.

How to watch Yankees vs Tigers and game info

Yankees vs Tigers latest injuries

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We are aren’t yet to the 2026 season’s halfway point yet, with the Reds having played 77 games so far. We are still at the point where it’s recent memory to point out that TJ Friedl was the team’s starting CF for over half of those games (39), and the team’s leadoff hitter for nearly half of them (35).

It both feels like ages since Friedl was optioned to AAA Louisville after his awful start to the year and that he was an everyday regular for years just minutes ago. However, the timing of his play falling off a cliff coinciding with several other factors begs the question of not just if we’ll see him back with the Reds at some point this season, but if we’ll ever see him in a Cincinnati Reds uniform again.

Friedl, who’ll turn 31 in August, is making some $3.8 million this season after his first trip through the arbitration process over the winter. The nature of the arbitration system dictates that he’ll get at least that, and likely a raise, when he goes through it next winter – if the Reds choose to tender him a contract for the year he’ll turn 32.

As his offensive production cratered this year, it’s worth pointing out that some of the things that also showed significant diminishment, too. His sprint speed dipped to just the 32nd percentile, per Baseball Savant, down to just 26.7 feet per second – decidedly not bueno for a guy with little power who plays a premium defensive position and typically bats atop the order. Just three seasons ago (before his hamstring problems), he was at 28.3 feet per second, and his range metrics were much, much better accordingly. Father time, as we know, may not be linear, but is undefeated.

Beyond that, Blake Dunn has simply been better in CF than Friedl, and has the speed and baserunning chops to lap him. Dane Myers has beenprecisely the addition the Reds hoped from the right-side of the plate in that mix, while the corner spots in the outfield seem seized by JJ Bleday and a resurgent Noelvi Marte. And if the Reds want to add another left-handed outfielder to the mix, they’ve got Hector Rodriguez on the 40-man roster and on a heater himself at AAA right now, too.

Friedl’s path back to the active roster in 2026 seems overgrown with obstacles galore. His age and contract situation make seeing him tendered a contract this winter cloudy, at best. That means the Reds might well try to trade him for whatever they can get before the August 3rd deadline, though for all the reasons I’ve already laid out above they might not get any takers.

TJ owns an .840 OPS in the 15 games he’s played at AAA, so he’s not been nearly as bad down there as he was with the Reds. He has popped 3 homers, and is slugging .492. There’s obviously a chance that there are tweaks he’s made to make him more akin to the guy who posted a 2.4 bWAR season at the big league level just last year while owning a .364 OBP. The issue is, though, that he’s running out of time to make that impression sink in deep enough with the Reds brass before they have to make the call.

So, what say you for this week’s MLB Reacts question? Has TJ played his last game for the Reds, or not?

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The YRFI-NRFI props have been good to me over the last few weeks, so let's try to keep the good juju rolling!

Here are my favorite NRFI predictions and MLB picks for today's slate, featuring a prediction for Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals. 

Best NRFI/YRFI predictions today

Pick	Odds
/ - NRFI	-142
/ - YRFI	-121
/ - YRFI	-121

Guardians at White Sox: NRFI (-142)

This one may be a sweat, but I think it is the right side.

Chicago White Sox right-hander Sean Burke has been vulnerable in the first inning, allowing eight runs across 11 starts this season. However, the Cleveland Guardians have also struggled to generate early offense, ranking 24th in first inning runs and averaging just 0.37 runs in the first inning on the road.

Surprisingly, the White Sox have been even worse at home than they are on the road when it comes to early scoring, producing only 0.43 first inning runs at home.

They draw Parker Messick, who enters today with an elite pitcher rating and has yet to allow a first inning run through 15 starts. Opposing hitters are batting just .100 with a .182 OBP and .140 SLG against him in the opening frame.

I think the top half will be the sweatiest part of this bet, but I still believe the NRFI is the right move here.

• Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CHSN, CLEG

Rangers at Marlins: YRFI (-121)

I am not going to lie to you, Cal Quantrill got me here.

The Texas Rangers starter brings a poorly-rated matchup in wOBA, ISO, and hard contact into this evening, as he draws three elite rated Miami Marlins bats and two more with strong ratings. This will be his first start of the season after working out of the bullpen for Texas.

He owns a 3.68 lifetime ERA, while opposing hitters have posted a .410 SLG and .703 OPS. With the Marlins offense seeing the ball well lately, I trust them in this spot against a struggling veteran profile.

On the other side, Sandy Alcantara takes the mound for the Fish. So far this season, he has allowed 10 runs through 16 innings, carrying a 5.72 ERA. Opposing hitters are slashing .308/.446/.764 against him.

The Rangers bring two strongly-rated bats to the table, which I think is enough to do damage against the former Cy Young winner.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MIAM, RSN

Diamondbacks at Cardinals: YRFI (-121)

This matchup as a whole sets up for an offensive spike, with seven hitters in this game grading out as at least strong on Batters-Box. On the current season dataset, there are five elite-rated bats and two more in the strong tier.

On the mound, the Arizona Diamondbacks send left hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who has struggled in the first inning with a 6.00 ERA, allowing 10 runs across 15 starts. Opposing hitters are posting a .276 batting average, .382 OBP, .534 SLG, and .917 OPS against him. He has also issued 10 walks over that span.

The St. Louis Cardinals counter with Kyle Leahy, who has been more stable early, allowing six runs through 14 starts with a 3.86 ERA and just six walks in that sample.

Arizona has not been swinging the hottest bats of late, but the matchup sets up well enough against Leahy to keep them in play. On the other side, the Cardinals have been red-hot, which is ultimately the angle I am leaning on to do the scoring here.

• Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CARD, ARID

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Five weeks ago, the Giants took 2 out of 3 from these Athletics and were a bad, but not completely embarrassing 20-27. That series ended with a 10-1 blowout that looked so good that all the Giants seemed to get healthy from it. Adrian Houser even got the win thanks to 6 innings of 1-run ball. Since then, the Giants have gone 11-19, Adrian Houser has been demoted to the bullpen, and even the vestiges of the notion that this season might wind up being at least a little entertaining have long since withered away. The Athletics are not a good baseball team (they have the same -54 run differential), but they are a far cry from whatever the Giants are supposed to be.

So, it should be an interesting series at Oracle Park this week! The Giants return home after a 40% decent road trip while the Athletics work their way through a strange part of their schedule. Technically, they’ve just concluded a 13-game homestand, and with these 3 in San Francisco, even though they’re in West Sacramento now, that’s still basically an extension of the homestand. But 6 of these games were technically in Summerlin, Nevada as a special showcase for their future home crowd. They went 4-2 during this stretch, and just 3-4 upon returning to Sutter Health Park.

Anyway, the A’s Shea Langeliers leads all American League catchers in All-Star voting (1,414,697 in the first batch of ballots, +577,408 over Alejandro Kirk) while first baseman Nick Kurtz is 4th in the AL first base vote race, trailing Munetaka Murakami for 3rd by ~150,000 votes. Kurtz has followed up his Rookie of the Year 2025 with another stellar season — 19 home runs in 353 PA with a triple slash of .290/.439/.556. He is the sixth-most valuable player according to FanGraphs’ fWAR (3.5). Langeliers is 28th (2.4 fWAR) on a .271/.333/.521 line — he also has 19 home runs (321 PA). He trails in overall value at the catching position behind Detroit’s Dillon Dingler (3.6 fWAR) and Adley Rutschman (2.3), but there he is leading the pack for the moment. They are the primary engine of the A’s lineup, too, as West Sac is just 10th in runs scored (364) and 7th in wRC+ (105). They’re also one of the worst defenses in the sport (-25.1 Defensive Runs Above Average — 28th in MLB).

Thanks to their ballpark — well, at least in part — the Athletics’ pitching is actually worse than the Giants. Their team ERA of 5.04 trails only Colorado in all of MLB. Their +3.1 fWAR is just half a win worse than the Giants’ pitching value (3.6 — 25th). But the Athletics actually get much better away from their home park(s). Their team road ERA of 3.67 is fourth-best in MLB (though, their 4.18 xFIP is only 14th). They also have a 20-17 road record, which is currently the second-best road record in MLB behind only the Yankees. The Giants are 14-20 at home.

How relieved is John Fisher right now? The Giants are villains, his cursed stadium project is now proceeding apace, and there’s probably going to be a lockout that “right-sizes” labor costs going forward. The hatred towards him will probably fade and who cares about Oakland and those fans? This is the bet the Giants are making, that time plus inertia will carry them through any controversy. Most sports team owners seem to have settled into an adversarial relationship with their fans, realizing that they can treat them like paypigs and come away richer and entirely unscathed. Such is the story of the 21st century and wealthy, right?

But while the Giants and Athletics have owners who are no different from the rest of the world, it’s rare that you get to see former “crosstown” rivals where the fan bases would teeter-totter the moral high ground get shoved together when both franchises are on the same moral plain. It’s a series that far fewer people have cared about than ever before, even if these teams have quickly become a mirror for each other.

Who: San Francisco Giants (31-46) vs. Athletics (38-40)
Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California
When: Tuesday & Wednesday at 6:45pm PT, Thursday at 12:45pm PT
National broadcasts: None

Projected starters
Tuesday: Robbie Ray (LHP 5-6, 4.07 ERA) vs. Aaron Civale (RHP 5-3, 4.91 ERA)
Wednesday: Tyler Mahle (RHP 1-7, 6.04 ERA) vs. Gage Jump (LHP 3-1, 2.37 ERA)
Thursday: Landen Roupp (RHP 5-7, 4.15 ERA) vs. Jeffrey Springs (LHP 3-7, 5.55 ERA)

Players to watch

Athletics

Jacob Wilson: The shortstop dislocated his shoulder and was on the IL before the last series, and up to that point he’d been having “the sophomore slump,” following his 2025 rookie season (where he placed 2nd behind teammate Nick Kurtz) of .311/.355/.444 with .292/.311/.398 through his first 39 games of 2026 (168 PA). Since being activated on June 12th, he’s just 8-for-35 with a homer, 2 doubles and 4 walks and 4 strikeouts (.229/.308/.371), but in the just concluded 4-game series against the Angels, he was 4-for-16 with that homer, one of those doubles, and 2 walks and 2 strikeouts (.250/.333/.500). He also had this cool slide to avoid a tag at home plate:

Jeff McNeil: The Mets’ attempt to shakeup their roster blew up in their faces this season, but it’s not like David Stearns didn’t have some idea of what he was doing. The 34-year old McNeil was clearly on the downside of his career, but he has fallen waaaaay off he cliff, going from a better than league average hitter for his career to nearly 30% below the average. He has, historically, tormented the Giants, but in that series at Sutter Health Park, he was just 2-for-8 with a double and pair of RBI. And since that series, over hist last 96 PA, he’s hitting just .172/.250/.253. But! He’s a career .345/.409/.536 hitter at Oracle Park.

Gage Jump: The A’s Competitive Balance Round B pick of the 2024 draft is already up in the majors and looks like a real stud. He’s the team’s #3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and #38 in the entire sport. It feels like he should be higher? A lefty starter who averages 96 mph with his four seamer and has swing and miss breaking pitches on top of a changeup? Nasty, nasty, nasty. Rafael Devers leads the starting lineup in pitches seen with 95+ mph velocity, experiencing that pitch 26.5% of the time. He’s hitting .231 against that sort of velocity. Luis Arraez is second among the starters at 24.1%, but he’s hitting .431. That they’re both lefties and Gage is a lefty could be a pretty compelling reason why this will be a tough matchup.

Giants

Tyler Mahle: Adrian Houser to the bullpen is what gets Mahle a start coming back from the IL. The Giants need to try to salvage his value because there is a high probability that he is tradeable if he bounces back. He made one appearance for the River Cats, walking 5 while striking out 3 and allowing a run. Okay, so, yeah, maybe it’s unlikely he bounces back.

Rafael Devers: Wednesday’s game against Gage Jump seems like a great time to sit Devers, especially after his emotional outburst on Sunday, but going back to the Cubs series at Wrigley Field (14 games, 62 PA), he’s been working hard to make me eat some crow after writing about how he’s unlikely to hit much better this season: .231/.355/.538 (.893 OPS), 4 homers, 4 doubles, 10 walks, 16 strikeouts.

Willy Adames: That series at Sutter Health Park marked Adames’s turnaround. He had a .592 OPS going into the series and since then (32 games, 137 PA), he’s slashing .230/.285/.532 (.816). Technically, a .285 on base percentage is bad. A 3:1 strikeouts to walk ratio is also bad. That the streak is really only a 20 game segment, as his last 12 games (49 PA) is a bad line of .083/.102/.208. He has just 1 walk and 16 strikeouts. He’sjust 4-for-his-last-48. A total disaster.

Prediction time

The Giants will do something really dumb. An A will hit a home run.

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Jac Caglianone is fully in the running for AL player of the month for June, with just a week left. As of this morning, he is third in the AL in wRC+ behind only his Team Italy teammate Dominic Canzone and Yordan Alvarez, who could become the AL MVP favorite if Bobby Witt Jr. misses significant time with his knee injury. While he’s not a burner and isn’t rated particularly well defensively, he still edges out both of those players in fWAR. Dillon Dingler, with superior defense at the catcher position, is the only player higher than Jac there. Perhaps most importantly for today’s question, though, only two players in the AL have hit more jacks than Jac in the month of June: Nick Kurtz and Byron Buxton.

It’s a good time to jump on the Jac Wagon, is what I’m saying.

But as June wraps up, we all begin to turn our thoughts to the upcoming All-Star festivities. Bobby seems primed to finally get his first start at Shortstop in the Midsummer Classic. It’s not entirely clear which, if any other Royals, might join him on the roster. Jac seems like a possibility, but you don’t actually have to be an All-Star to be invited to participate in the Home Run Derby.

Last year’s derby featured Oneil Cruz, despite the fact that he was not an All-Star. It wasn’t evenly split among AL and NL, with 5 AL players participating to 3 NL. The AL participants were first, fourth, fifth, eighth, and fifteenth on the home run leaderboard for their league. The NL players were sixth, seventeenth, and twenty-second. In fact, the only real criterion for participating is that people have to want to see you smack dingers, and who do you want to watch hit dingers right now more than Jac Caglianone?

To that end, I’ll make a bit of a clarification about the term “deserves” in the following poll. Since there are no criteria, use your own! Maybe you think Jac doesn’t deserve it because he’s barely in the top 25 in the AL for home runs. Or maybe you think he does deserve it because you’re a Royals fan. The point is, vote your heart, but vote. And, of course, don’t forget to vote Jac, Bobby, and the rest of the Royals to the All-Star Game!

Maikel Garcia has been banged up for the last month, and today the Royals finally placed him on the 10-day Injured List with a left hand muscle strain. Before that, Garcia had been dealing with a hamstring strain earlier this month. Infielder Josh Rojas was recalled from Triple-A Omaha.

Garcia told reporters he had been dealing with hand soreness since a series against the Cardinals in mid-May. He exited a game last Tuesday in Washington when he reaggravated the injury, and and was out until Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. He was 0-for-5 that day, but went 1-for-4 last night against the Rays. Garcia has appeared in 69 games this year, and is hitting .261/.320/.373 with three home runs, good for 1.6 rWAR.

Rojas is an eight-year MLB veteran, who has hit .241/.317/.352 in his career with the Diamondbacks, Mariners, and White Sox. He was up briefly for the Royals earlier this year, appearing in two games and going 1-for-5. The left-handed hitter is capable of playing all over the field, and was hitting .251/.313/.445 with eight home runs in 58 games for Omaha.

The Royals are also without shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who is nursing a knee injury but has not yet been placed on the Injured List. That leaves them with Rojas, Isaac Collins, Nick Loftin, Michael Massey, and Tyler Tolbert as the only healthy infielders on the roster, in addition to first baseman Jac Caglianone. Witt is wearing a brace on his knee, but took grounders yesterday and hit for the first time since injuring it on Thursday.

The Cincinnati Reds formally activated Elly De La Cruz from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday morning ahead of the team’s second game against the Milwaukee Brewers of this series. In doing so, the Reds add back their perennial All Star and offensive anchor, hopefully helping hoist a lineup back into respecability after it has limped through the three weeks without him.

In doing so, though, the Reds did not option to AAA the guy who’d been called up to replace him.

Cincinnati opted to keep infielder Edwin Arroyo on the club, instead optioning the struggling Will Benson to Louisville as the other end of the transaction. For once, it finally seems the Reds chose to go with the ‘keep the 26 best players you have on the roster’ method to a roster move than they did ‘make sure guys we want for the future get as many PA as they possibly can’ route they’ve taken so many times before.

With Elly back, it certainly doesn’t look as if the Reds have a clear path to play Arroyo a lot. Elly will take shortstop back, Matt McLain – who posted an .807 OPS in the time Elly was sidelined – will slide back over to his customary 2B. Edwin can play some 3B, in theory, but that’s where Eugenio Suarez and Sal Stewart get most of the reps, while Stewart will have company at 1B with Spencer Steer and Nate Lowe in the mix, too.

If anything, it’s reflection of just how sturdy the team’s outfield is a the moment. Blake Dunn has looked perfectly cromulent in CF, actually hitting RHP better than LHP and providing increased speed and defense at the position over what they’d had earlier in the year. Noelvi Marte has hit .267/.313/.556 (.868 OPS) since being recalled as the team’s primary RF, while JJ Bleday’s breakout season is taking place in LF. Steer, who’ll also see time at 2B, has therefore seen his time as an outfielder dwindle since Marte’s return, while Benson had basically been benched altogether.

What Arroyo does bring to the table for manager Terry Francona is pretty elite defense, should the Reds need it late in the game at any point on the diamond, as well as the ability to hit from both sides of the plate late in games. Benson did not provide either of those things. I also get the impression that Tito would be willing to send Arroyo up there to bunt in a big spot, something that a) I don’t get the feeling he’d do with Benson and b) something that I acknowledge I hope won’t happen at all at any point.

It also begs the question – will the Reds ease Elly back into playing shortstop on a regular basis to help monitor his hamstring issue? Might we see him as the team’s DH a bit more often? If that’s the case, then prioritizing defense up the middle would see Arroyo/McLain take SS/2B as theirs on an often enough basis to make keeping their prized young infield prospect on the roster instead of down at AAA getting 4-5 PA every single day.

We’ll find out in the coming weeks. What’s most important, though, is that the Reds now have their best player back for a crucial stretch of baseball.