Jun 16, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (16) reacts after stealing second base against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Earlier this week, we asked you a question about who should be the Phillies’ third All-Star, assuming that both Cristopher Sanchez and Kyle Schwarber are locks to make you. You responded:
Marsh has had an outstanding season, hitting .323/.357/.500 through Wednesday’s games. Having been platooned for most of his tenure in Philadelphia, Marsh has enjoyed consistent playing time for the first time in his career, playing in 70 of the team’s 75 games this year and even posting some of the best numbers against left-handed pitching he’s ever had (.279/.318/.410 through Wednesday).
It’s more than enough to be considered an All-Star.
His issue, of course, will be the crowded group of National League candidates for the outfield spots the league has. A simple search of outfielders in the National League based on fWAR puts Marsh way down at 16th best thanks to many metrics not liking his defense this season. Yet the All-Star Game isn’t about how well you play defense. It’s about how you hit the ball and Marsh’s 131 wRC+ is 21st in the NL. He’s been great at the plate and should be rewarded by staying home and playing at Citizens Bank Park in July.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Kendrys Morales #36 of the New York Yankees in action against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium on June 11, 2019 in New York City. New York Yankees defeated the New York Mets 12-5. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Kendrys Morales, Yankees legend.
Okay, that is a stretch for a player who appeared in only 19 games for the franchise, a number only slightly larger than the group that accompanied him when he escaped Cuba. However, the second part of that sentence is what makes his story legendary. Like many of his fellow countrymen of the time, and those now after the 2018 agreement between Major League Baseball and the Cuban Baseball Federation was revoked after just one year in existence, Morales had to defect from Cuba to another country before coming to America to chase the dream of playing baseball at the highest level.
Born Kendrys Morales Rodríguez in Fomento, a city less than 300 air miles south of Miami, Morales quickly rose to fame as a promising switch-hitter. Growing up on the island, Morales played mostly third base or outfield. The Cuban national team saw so much promise in Morales that he made the team as a teenager.
Making the team as a teenager came with plenty of pressure, but playing in the politically charged country of Cuba added further layers that are hard for an outsider to understand. With the pressure of a looming global baseball tournament in America, the Cuban government ramped up efforts trying to catch players attempting to defect from the country.
At the age of 20, Morales found himself in the middle of that unrest. After several people he trusted approached him about defecting for a chance to play in the United States, he finally agreed to discuss the possibility further. One of those trusted contacts reported Morales to the government, resulting in a ban from the national team.
Feeling betrayed, hurt, and who knows what else, Morales made it his new goal to get out of Cuba and chase the professional dream in the states. After a baker’s dozen of failed attempts, Morales and at least 15 others finally made it to the Dominican Republic. After establishing residency Morales was able to turn his attention to the next part of the plan, securing a professional contract.
The then-Anaheim Angels were game, signing Morales to a six-year deal.
The Angels viewed Morales as a first baseman and had him play there when not leaving the glove on the bench altogether and letting him be the designated hitter. Morales made his debut on May 23, 2006. Against Vicente Padilla and the Rangers, he recorded three hits, including the first of what would be 213 long balls of his career. Morales bounced between the majors and Triple-A from 2006 through 2008, looking like a classic Quad-A player. He dominated the minors while struggling to establish himself in the majors, though flashes of power remained evident.
Mostly position-less, and needing a chance to get his opportunity, the Yankees would be the ones who helped Morales get his break when they signed Angels first baseman Mark Teixeira, opening a spot for the soon to be 26-year-old. In that first full year of playing time Morales slashed .306/.355/.569, good for a .924 OPS with a career-high 34 home runs and 139 OPS+ as the Halos won the AL West. He finished fifth for AL MVP, trailing only Teixeira and a trio of future Hall of Famers: Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera, and winner Joe Mauer. The Angels fell to the Yankees in the ALCS, New York pitching keeping him in check with a .522 OPS in the six-game triumph.
Morales was enjoying some similar success to start the 2010 season until he brutally broke his left ankle while jumping onto home plate to celebrate a walk-off grand slam in May. The break required multiple procedures and complications caused Morales to miss the entire 2011 season. It is also worth noting that Kendrys was known as Kendry Morales up until the 2010 season due to a spelling error on his paperwork, a mistake he did not correct until the season he missed recovering from injury.
Morales picked up right where he left off when he returned in 2012, hitting .273 with 22 bombs. Following the year the Angels traded him to the Seattle Mariners. Morales kept right on hitting. In his last year before free agency, he hit .277 with 23 home runs. Morales reached free agency but got a qualifying offer from Seattle and teams did not want to give up a draft pick to sign the veteran designated hitter. Due to this, Morales waited until the June deadline passed to sign with Minnesota. Then just over a month later the Twins traded him back to Seattle.
After a weird and disappointing season Morales needed a fresh start and signed a two-year deal with the Royals prior to the 2015 season. The Royals proved right to add the veteran hitter, as he was one of just three Kansas City hitters to top the 20-homer threshold, joining mainstays Salvador Perez and Mike Moustakas. He would win the first and only Silver Slugger of his career thanks to a 127 OPS+. Morales hit two homers in the playoff opener against the upstart Astros and would bat .268/.311/.561 through the first couple round as the Royals successfully defended their AL pennant. He was more quiet in the Fall Classic against the Mets and was limited to pinch-hit duty once the series shifted to Queens, but he nonetheless won the only World Series of his career.
Following the 2016 campaign, Morales again hit free agency and got a deal in Toronto to replace their own slugging DH Edwin Encarnación. In two years up north, Morales posted a .249 average and hit 49 home runs as the Jays’ competitive window came to a close..
Right before the start of the 2019 season the Blue Jays traded Morales to the Oakland Athletics, who needed a stopgap after their rising star first baseman Matt Olson got injured. Morales struggled in Oakland and after 34 games and only one big fly, the A’s traded Morales to the injury-plagued Yankees, who were at the forefront of their “Next Man Up” year and in need of a 1B/DH type with Giancarlo Stanton and Greg Bird on the shelf.
It started off decently enough, as Morales registered hits in his first three games, including a homer off Ryne Stanek on May 17th in a 4-3 walk-off win.
It didn’t stick. Morales had an appalling 5-for-47 showing with no extra-base hits across his next 15 games, and though he broke out with a three-hit game in the doubleheader opener against the Mets on June 11th, that would turn out to be his swan song. He suffered a calf injury, went on the IL, and never returned. In a somewhat-amusing twist of fate, Morales was once again replaced by Encarnación, as New York swung a trade with the Mariners to bring the veteran aboard on June 15th. Once Morales was healthy again, the Yankees designated him for assignment, releasing him on July 2nd.
Morales retired following the 2019 season after failing to find another opportunity. A true professional hitter, he finished his career with a .265/.327/.453 slash line and 213 home runs across 13 big-league seasons. Not bad for a kid from Cuba who had to risk everything just for a swing at the game he loved at the highest level.
Happy birthday, Kendrys!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 10: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on June 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hirschuber/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the first real rough patch of play from Atlanta this season, the Braves did well to beat Jacob Misiorowski in the midst of a truly legendary run of pitching and the Brewers in game 1 of a home series against a rival at the top of the NL. Doing so with Martin Perez on the mound is a huge coup for Atlanta. Now they get to pitch Chris Sale, facing a tough lefty from the Brewers, Kyle Harrison, with the first of two chances to secure a series win. One point of intrigue facing Harrison is whether Drake Baldwin can continue to absolutely obliterate left-handed pitching has a lefty bat, as we are now going on two seasons of him producing equal or better results against left-handed pitching.
As for Harrison himself, the lefty has been magnificent this season, with the Brewers having developed him from a solid fourth starter to a real impact arm after trading with the Giants for him last year, at least so far this season. He is similarly two-pitch dominant to Sale, with his tertiary changeup making up 9% of his usage. He pitches heavily off of his four-seamer with solid velo and good arm-side run, with a strong mix of his slurvey breaking ball. The change has been hit pretty hard, so its no surprise he sticks to the heat and the slurve. That said, this arsenal has been good for a 3.05 FIP and a 3.16 xFIP. He has added some velo and dropped his changeup usage since leaving the Giants, which accounts for some of the jump in effectiveness. This will be a tough matchup, but hopefully those Drake Baldwin reverse splits and righty-handed Ozzie can get some runs across to support Sale.
Chris Sale has been characteristically fantastic this season, despite the one disaster start early in Anaheim, but the Braves have been unable to win his last two outings. Sale has been pretty normal Sale in those outings, but the run support hasn’t been there. Sale’s fastball velo has actually been UP 1.1 MPH over his last two seasons at the age of 37, which is pretty cool, although also slightly disconcerting from a durability standpoint. With that velo jump, however, his fastball has been as effective as it has been since 2018, according to Statcast, and his changeup has been effective as well. While the strikeouts have been down a tick, they are still plenty frequent. In short, Chris Sale has looked to be at the peak of his powers this season and lets hope he stays that way for a good long while.
Cam Schlittler struck out 13 Reds hitters but still saved his best fastball for exposing an online troll.
In an appropriately savage move, the Yankees ace revealed Friday night a taste of the line-crossing hate that athletes face when he published unfiltered to his Instagram story the messages sent to him by a Red Sox fan using the handle “Kyle_Lynch11.”
Schlittler captioned the post “rent free” while including two crying laughing emojis.
Cam Schlittler’s response to a trolling Red Sox fan. @camschlittler_/Instagram
The verbal attacks started before Schlittler’s historic start against the Red Sox in the playoffs last season and continued through his Friday night masterpiece.
A patient Schlittler only replied once in the thread, writing “stop gazing lil bro” at 1:14 p.m. Friday, roughly six hours before his first pitch at Yankee Stadium.
The most common message was calling Schlittler a “p—y.”
The fan wrongly predicted the “Reds are gonna light u up tnite” before Schlittler struck out 13 in six scoreless innings and lowered his ERA to a Whitey Ford-like 1.64.
The trolling started Oct. 3, 2025, when the fan messaged Schilittler to “wait till we got our full squad u clown.” The thought was that “Roman (Anthony) will own u.”
This prediction did not ring true. @camschlittler_/Instagram
The fan was angry that Schlittler – a Walpole, Mass. native who grew up as a Red Sox fan – was pitching for the Yankees. As if he had a choice in where he was drafted and developed.
“Never forget where u came from,” one message read.
Schlitter instead made sure Red Sox fans never forget him with his historical MLB playoff debut, when he struck out 12 in eight scoreless innings to clinch the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Wild Card Series.
Cam Schlittler dominated the Reds on Friday. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Schlittler is the American League Cy Young betting favorite in just his second season and has seemed to especially enjoy feasting on the Red Sox and their fans. Now we have a taste of why.
This one particular fan’s message thread didn’t appear to send any of the “death threats” that Schlittler previously told The Post he and his family – including a father who is a police chief in Massachusetts – have been besieged by as part of a rivalry-gone-wrong.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves meet this afternoon, and I'm eyeing a clean first inning with two solid arms on the hill.
That matchup will headline my top MLB picks today for the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.
Here are my best NRFI/YRFI predictions for Saturday, June 20.
Best NRFI/YRFI predictions today
Pick
Odds
/ - NRFI
-148
/ - YRFI
-116
/ - NRFI
-121
Brewers at Braves: NRFI (-148)
Two solid arms take the hill as the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves square off tonight. Kyle Harrison gets the ball for Milwaukee and owns a stellar 10-3 NRFI record this season. The left-hander has held opponents scoreless in the first inning in five of his last six starts and tossed six scoreless frames last time out.
Chris Sale has been equally reliable early in games, carrying an 11-2 NRFI record and producing three consecutive scoreless first innings. The southpaw also owns a 2.30 FIP across his last three appearances, while neither offense has scored in the opening frame in each of its last two contests.
Since the price is already steep, I'd only play this pick up to -150.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BravesVision, Brewers.TV
Guardians at Astros: YRFI (-116)
I'm expecting the Houston Astros to jump on Joey Cantillo tonight. The left-hander has posted a 5.40 FIP over his last two starts while allowing 2.70 home runs per nine innings during that span.
Houston has been one of baseball's best first-inning offenses, batting .301 in the opening frame while compiling a 50-27 YRFI record. The Astros also scored in the first inning on Friday, and this matchup sets up nicely for another fast start. Cantillo has surrendered a run in the first in back-to-back starts, too.
Play this pick up to -130.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Space City Home Network, Guardians.TV
Nationals at Rays: NRFI (-121)
Cade Cavalli gets the ball for the Washington Nationals tonight, and he's consistently stayed out of trouble in the first inning. He tossed a scoreless opening frame his last time out and owns an impressive 11-4 NRFI record this season. Cavalli also draws a favorable matchup against a Tampa Bay Rays lineup that's been held scoreless in the first inning in three consecutive games.
Meanwhile, Ian Seymour hasn't allowed a run in the first inning through his first two appearances as a starter, and while Washington has been productive offensively overall, the Nationals have failed to score in the opening frame in four straight contests.
With two starters navigating the first inning effectively and both offenses struggling to get going immediately, there's value in another clean opening frame. I'll play this pick up to -130.
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Rays.TV, Nationals.TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 18-36, -4.84 units
What is a NRFI prediction?
NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) picks add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI pick is a prediction that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're predicting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.
A YRFI pick is the exact opposite. You're predicting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.
NRFI and YRFI picks add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for those looking for a quick resolution.
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.
The first-place New York Yankees face the last-place Cincinnati Reds today. It’s no surprise New York is favored, but the MLB odds are wildly slanted toward the Bronx Bombers at -210.
The favorite being nearly unbettable still opens the door for a flier on an underdog. That’s why my Reds vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks are looking for a Reds upset and a big payday.
Who will win Reds vs Yankees today: Reds moneyline (+182)
The New York Yankees are 10-5 since Aaron Judge went down with an injury, which has scuttled seasons in the past.
This time, they simply turned Ben Rice into Judge. The Cincinnati Reds are starting southpaw Andrew Abbott today, however.Rice has been a mere mortal and less a Judge clone against lefties, hitting 19 points lower and slugging 126 points less.
New York also doesn’t have the lopsided starting pitcher edge you’d expect from these odds. Will Warren is 7-1, but the Yankees have scored 6+ runs in nine of his 14 starts. He’s 6-0 in those, 1-1 when getting five or fewer from his offense.
COVERS INTEL: Will Warren has been essentially an average starter this season, despite the gaudy record. None of his pitches are in the top-third of MLB in run value. Among the most common underlying metrics, only xERA and barrel rate (both 68th percentile) are in the top third, and just barely.
Reds vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 9.5 (-113)
We’ll hedge our risky moneyline bet by taking the favorite in the Over/Under.
Abbott has been Cincinnati’s most reliable pitcher and hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his last nine starts. Rice has never faced him, and only 38-year-old reserve Paul Goldschmidt has seen him more than 10 times. Ryan McMahon (1-for-9) is the Yankee next-most familiar with the lefty.
The Reds are in a teamwide batting slump since Elly de la Cruz got hurt and were shut out on Friday night. They have now scored four or fewer in seven of the last 10 games.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 22-27, -2.91 units
Over/Under bets: 28-25, +2.04 units
Reds vs Yankees weather
It will be mostly sunny skies with a high near 83°F, a steady western wind of 10-20 mph, and 0% chance of precipitation.
Reds vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Reds +186 | Yankees -194
Run line: Reds +1.5 (-104) | Yankees -1.5 (+100)
Over/Under: Over 9.5 | Under 9.5
Reds vs Yankees trend
The Reds have been held Under their team total in 14 of their last 20 games for +7.35 units and a 31% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Yankees.
How to watch Reds vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Saturday, June 20, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
Reds.TV, YES
Reds starting pitcher
Andrew Abbott (4-4, 3.95 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Will Warren (7-1, 3.47 ERA)
Reds vs Yankees latest injuries
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.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 19: Mike Soroka #34 of the Arizona Diamondbacks (right) talks to a trainer during the second inning of the MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at Chase Field on June 19, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Soroka left the game in the second inning due to a leg injury. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Carroll, Bullpen Pull Snakes Through Emotionally Taxing Day First, the Diamondbacks learned that they have lost Ryne Nelson for the remainder of the season. Then, in-between the first and second innings, they lost Michael Soroka to injury. Then, in the eighth inning, Jordan Lawlar left the game with a tight hamstring and will now undergo imaging today, previous to a likely stint back on the IL. But Corbin Carroll was firing on all cylinders and the bullpen dug deep to lift the Diamondbacks to a victory over the Twins.
So, talked to @Dbacks Ryne Nelson. Says he first felt the discomfort in the 3rd inning of his last start but didn’t feel it on every pitch so waited until the end of the outing to say something. When he tried to play catch in the days after the start it didn’t feel good so…
The Next Steps for Ryne Nelson On Friday, the Diamondbacks put Nelson on the injured list with a sprained right elbow. The game plan for now is to rest and see how he feels in four-to-six weeks.
Lawlar Exits Game with Hamstring Injury Having just returned to playing after languishing on the 60-day IL, Jordan Lawlar is headed back to the IL after running out an infield single in the pivotal eighth inning of Arizona’s comeback win.
A.J. Puk Sustains Capsule Sprain The MRI results are back and things are not good for A.J. Puk. Puk will be shut down for the next four weeks and then re-evaluated. If all goes well and Puk is able to restart his throwing ramp-up without any setbacks, a return to the majors seems possible by the back half of August.
Padres-Rangers Game Starts with Only Two Umpires Because of travel issues, Emil Jimenez and John Bacon were the lone umps ready to go by first pitch. Gabe Morales and Mike Muchlinski arrived and joined them on the field in the middle of the first, about the same time Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta was being ejected from the game.
Jackson Churio’s Big Step Forward Jackson Chourio got a late start to his season. A fractured metacarpal in his left hand, suffered during the run-up to the World Baseball Classic but not definitively diagnosed until three weeks later, knocked him onto the injured list just hours before the Brewers’ Opening Day game, and he didn’t make his season debut until May 4. Since then, the 22-year-old outfielder has not only been one of the majors’ top hitters, he’s shown notable improvements in a few key areas while helping to propel the Brewers into first place in the NL Central.
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - MAY 31: Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Justin Thomas Jr. (4) at bat during the NCAA Division I Regional baseball game between the Creighton Blue Jays and Arkansas Razorbacks on May 31, 2025, at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (31-41) lost 9-3 (BOX SCORE)
Hendrickson started for Sugar Land but had some trouble allowing 7 runs, 5 earned, over 4.2 innings. The offense got on the board scoring 2 runs in the 2nd inning on an error and a Biggio RBI single. They got another run in the 5th on a Dezenzo RBI single. The pen allowed a couple more runs and the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Sugar Land fell 9-3.
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (30-37) lost 8-6 (BOX SCORE)
Hertzler started for the Hooks and pitched well allowing 1 run over 4.1 innings. Torres relieved Hertzler but struggled allowing 4 runs. The Hooks got on the board in the 6th inning on a Bigger RBI single and Sullivan RBI double. The offense rallied to tie it in the 8th scoring 4 runs on a wild pitch, a Sullivan RBI single and a Brutcher 2 run single. Unfortunately the Missions scored 2 runs in the 9th and the Hooks were unable to respond as they fell 8-6.
A+: Asheville Tourists (18-48) won 10-9 (BOX SCORE)
Asheville got the scoring started in the 4th inning scoring 2 runs on an error and a Hernandez RBI double. Smith got the start and pitched really well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings with 4 strikeouts. Asheville retook the lead in the 5th on a Walker RBI single. In the 6th, Nunez added an RBI single. After the Hot Rods scored 2 runs in the top of the 7th, the offense got 2 more runs in the bottom of the 7th on a Trujillo 2 run home run. A Hernandez solo HR extended the lead in the 8th but in the 9th, the Hot Rods scored 5 runs to take the lead. Asheville rallied in the bottom of the 9th tying the game on a Perez 2 run home run and then walking it off on an Ochoa RBI single.
Francisco Frias, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (33-33) won 10-8 (BOX SCORE)
Perez started for the Woodpeckers and had a rough first inning allowing 3 runs. The offense responded with 2 runs in the first inning on a fielder’s choice and Gomez groundout. The outing got worse for Perez as he allowed 7 runs over 4.1 innings. After falling down 8-1, the Woodpeckers got a run back in the bottom of the 6th on an Alvarez double. The offense rallied for 4 runs on a Ramirez RBI single, Vasquez sac fly and Huezo 2 run home run. The offense would rally again in the 8th tying the game on a Luciano solo home run and then taking the lead on a Vasquez 2 run home run. Weber closed it out striking out 5 over 2.1 innings as the Woodpeckers won 10-8.
Jun 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; The Texas Rangers celebrate after left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) hits a home run against the San Diego Padres during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
These Go-Gos (Luis Aparicio, Sherm Lollar, Nellie Fox) weren’t feeling the ho-hos on this day 67 years ago, when a doubleheader loss in Boston dropped them into fourth place. | (Photo by TPLP/Getty Images)
1926 In a game with the Yankees that the White Sox won 4-3, a record was set for the largest crowd to see a game at Comiskey Park before the upper deck was added in 1927: 43,000. In fact, so many fans were in the park, they were allowed to ring the outfield wall — standing on the playing field!
That may have contributed to Chicago’s eventual winning run in the eighth inning, as Willie Kamm’s drive went into the fans on the field; it was scored as a double, and drove home Earl Sheely.
1945 In the eighth inning of a game in St. Louis, a brawl broke out between White Sox and Browns players. As pitcher George Caster was leaving the mound he fired the ball toward the Chicago dugout, but missed, hitting the adjacent wall. White Sox players charged onto the field, and several of the Browns charged the Chicago dugout where they attacked White Sox batting practice pitcher and ex-Marine Karl Scheel, whom they beat for several minutes, claiming he had been riding them all game. When that confrontation was broken up, the game resumed with no one being ejected, although many fans came on the field and the game was delayed for several minutes.
Scheelwas carried to the clubhouse for first aid, and several Browns ended up being fined by the league. The White Sox won the game, 4-1.
1959 The White Sox were swept in a doubleheader mauling (8-2, 9-0) at Boston, dropping them to 33-30 and to fourth place. On June 14, the Go-Gos were in first place, but five straight losses later the White Sox had dropped 1 1/2 games off the pace.
The good news was a win on June 21 would see the South Siders slip to two games back of first, but in a quirk of the doubleheader era saw the club jump back up to second place. They would shuffle between second and third in the AL for about a month before taking the top spot back over, pretty much for good, on July 14.
1973 White Sox relief pitcher Cy Acosta became the first American League pitcher to make a plate appearance in the designated hitter era, striking out in the eighth inning of an 8-3 win over Nolan Ryan and the Angels at Comiskey Park. Rich Hand was the Angels pitcher who struck him out.
Acostacame to bat because manager Chuck Tanner pulled Dick Allen after a six-run seventh inning and moved Tony Muser from DH to first base. That meant the Sox gave up the DH and Acosta took Allen’s spot in the batting order.
1977 In a play that twisted the fate of a promising player, Kevin Bell tore his knee sliding into home to end the fifth inning of a A’s 7-1 win at Comiskey Park. Bell tried to tag up on Alan Bannister’s fly out to left field, but was cut down by Tony Armas’ throw from center field — and the immovable object that was Manny Sanguillen at home plate.
Bell, a first round choice (No. 7 overall) of the White Sox in 1973, had made mincemeat of the minor leagues, carrying an OPS in the mid-.800s into his MLB cup of coffee in 1976. While the majors may have been the place his stardom was ground down into replacement play, this injury nipped any star potential in the bud.
Despite the loss, the White Sox remained in a tie for first in the AL West at 35-28.
1980 Tigers outfielder Al Cowens attacked Sox relief pitcher Ed Farmer. In the 11th inning of a game at Comiskey Park, Cowens ran towards Farmer after hitting a ground ball instead of running towards first base, and the two initiated a melee on the mound. One year earlier and then with the Texas Rangers, Farmer had broken Cowens’ jaw on an errant pitch, so tensions were high and patience thin.
Chicago police went looking for Cowens after the game to press assault charges.
Farmer, who had polycystic kidney disease, ended up on the bottom of the pile, where his cysts burst and his kidneys weakened. He would pitch in the All-Star Game the next month, amid his greatest season, but Farmer said from the moment after the brawl he felt weaker, and was never the same pitcher.
1986 In what he admitted was one of the biggest mistakes he’d ever made, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf approved the firing of manager Tony La Russa. La Russa and his staff simply didn’t get along with new GM Ken Harrelson and his unusual ideas, and with the team struggling on the field, the decision to let him go was made.
La Russa won more than 500 games for the White Sox as well as the 1983 Western Division championship, and was hired by the A’s just three weeks later. He eventually took both Oakland and St. Louis to the World Series, winning three titles, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014.
Doug Rader, who infamously coined the phrase of the White Sox “winning ugly” in 1983 as Texas Rangers manager,went 1-1 as the interim skipper before Jim Fregosi was hired for the spot.
La Russa came back to manage the White Sox in 2021 and most of 2022 before retiring in September due to health reasons.
Harrelson resigned his position after one season in charge of the White Sox. That year the club went 72-90, ending up in fifth place in the Western Division.
2006 The White Sox set the team mark for the most runs ever scored in the third inning of a game, when 11 men crossed the plate against the Cardinals. Chicago-area native Mark Mulder was the victim of the onslaught, which saw the Sox win in Chicago, 20-6. The South Siders sent 16 men to the plate and had 11 hits in the inning.
The 20 runs scored is tied for the fifth-most runs ever scored in a game by the South Siders.
2009 The White Sox won the first Civil Rights Game ever to be played as part of the regular-season schedule, beating the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, 10-8.
The White Sox rallied from down 5-0 to score eight runs in the middle innings, fueled by solo shots in the fifth (Scott Podsednik and A.J. Pierzynski) bookended by three-run blasts in the fourth (Gordon Beckham) and sixth (Alexei Ramírez). The Reds crept back to within 8-7 before Podsednik and Ramírez tapped in three runs between them in the eighth.
To honor the Civil Rights Era, both teams wore 1965 replica uniforms for the game.
The Civil Rights Game was discontinued after the 2015 season. Apparently, racism was solved. Perhaps it’s time to bring it back.
Overall, the White Sox played in the most Civil Rights games (three), and tied with the Dodgers for the most wins in the series (two).
2010 With a 6-3 win at the Nationals, the White Sox finished up a road trip winning eight of nine, tied for the seventh-best in franchise history. The club took two of three in Wrigley Field, then left Chicago and swept three-game sets in Pittsburgh and Washington.
The road trip ended with the White Sox back at .500 (34-34) for the first time since April 7 (1-1). Their winning ways would continue back at home, with a streak that would reach 11 straight and contribute to a stretch of 26 wins in 31 games that shot the White Sox into first place.
The Houston Astros host the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, looking to wrap up their third straight series win, while the Guardians face the possibility of a fourth series loss in the last five.
Cleveland has lost seven of the last 10, and now first baseman Kyle Manzardo is battling back problems.
That's why my Guardians vs. Astros predictions and MLB picks are looking at a Houston win.
Who will win Guardians vs Astros today: Astros -1.5 (+152)
The odds make it tough to love the Houston Astros, as the moneyline is currently too steep.
If it drops to -120, it's worth taking the runs back. However, Houston has won nine games in June by a total of 31 runs—more than three runs per win.
The Cleveland Guardians have lost nine June games, also by 31. So there's good reason to believe a Houston win will cover the run line.
Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo has allowed batters a .343 average, 1.032 OPS, and production 74% over league average in his last four starts, posting a 9.00 ERA and WHIP over 2.00.
COVERS INTEL: Cantillo's underlying metrics are worse than his standard line. His fastball is in the bottom 2% in MLB for effectiveness and the bottom 13% for velocity. He's in the bottom third in baseball in walk rate, chase rate, barrel rate, and overall pitching run value.
Guardians vs Astros Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-103)
Houston's offense is getting hot. Yordan Alvarez leads the league in batting, slugging, OPS, OPS+, and homers. Jose Altuve looks like he's rounding into form in his third week since returning from injury.
He homered and drove in four in Friday's series opener.
Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti was the pitcher of the month for May but has yet to win in June, posting a 6.19 ERA and .286 average against in three starts this month.
Houston's bullpen has pitched 19 innings in the last three games. Cleveland's is more rested but has a 4.76 ERA and 2.29 WHIP over the last three.
Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 22-27 -2.91 units
Over/Under bets: 28-25, +2.04 units
Guardians vs Astros weather
Notes on the weather and its impact.
Guardians vs Astros odds
Moneyline: Guardians +133 | Astros -138
Run line: Guardians +1.5 (-163) | Astros -1.5 (+156)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-100) | Under 8.5 (-108)
Guardians vs Astros trend
The Houston Astros have covered the Run Line in 16 of their last 25 games (+6.00 Units / 17% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Astros.
How to watch Guardians vs Astros and game info
Location
Daikin Park, Houston, TX
Date
Saturday, June 20, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Guardians starting pitcher
Joey Cantillo (5-3, 4.38 ERA)
Astros starting pitcher
Spencer Arrighetti (7-2, 2.57 ERA)
Guardians vs Astros latest injuries
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.
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Xavier Neyens is drafted by the Houston Astros with the 21st pick during the first round of the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
As Major League Baseball and the players’ association near the end of their collective bargaining agreement in less than 6 months on December 1, questions over a potential lockout loom. It was reported today that the MLB has proposed widespread changes to it’s annual draft.
MLB today proposed an overhauled domestic amateur-entry system that removes high school players from the draft, makes college players eligible after sophomore year, shortens the draft from 20 to 12 rounds, and cuts bonus pool from current $358.7M to $200M, sources tell ESPN.
The likelihood of the proposition being accepted as-is may not be high, but it confirms the rumors that sweeping changes could be made to players’ entry in to professional baseball and it could have massive effects on the future of college baseball.
First, the MLB wants to institute a separate international draft. Currently, international players are allowed to sign with whichever Major League team offers them a contract, with bonus pool limitations for spending, similar to the current draft. The signing period runs between January 15 and December 15, with prospects being required to be at least 16 years old to sign and turn 17 by September 1 of the next year. It’s basically free agency. An international draft would require players to be 18 and consist of 12 rounds.
How could that affect LSU? Well, instead of the process being essentially open game, it could bottleneck crops of players in particular drafts. It likely would not matter much to the top-end talent who will get paid on the higher end of slot values, but with middle-to-lower talent, prospects could choose to go to school for two years, earn NIL, and hope to develop within collegiate baseball programs to improve their abilities and, eventually, their draft stock. It would be fairly similar to the decision that high school players are faced with, although they are not only competing with their peers for draft positions, they’re also in the same crop as college players. Is it likely that college baseball sees a large influx of international players come to America to play college baseball? Probably not, but changes like this could certainly matter so some players from outside of the country.
You may have noticed that I mentioned that the international players could choose to go to college for two years. That’s because part of the proposed changes to the typical MLB draft entail changing the eligibility requirements to simply two years in college. Currently, players that attend four-year colleges are eligible upon finishing their junior year or turning 21 years old within 45 days of the draft. Although they’re the vast minority, there are some sophomores that make the cut for the age requirement, often referred to as “draft eligible sophomores” or “super sophomores”. Derek Curiel is a prime example.
The two year rule would go along with the most impactful change that would immediately affect NCAA Baseball. High school players would no longer be eligible to enter the MLB Draft. Every graduating senior must attend college and would be eligible after their sophomore season. In the 2025 draft, 96 high school baseball players signed professionally after being drafted. With the rule change, all of that top-end talent would enter the collegiate ranks, bettering college baseball as a whole.
While the entire sport would benefit from more high-level players taking the field from the SEC to the mid-majors, LSU, specifically, would be ecstatic to actually land all of the commitments that they receive. Over the years, they have been gutted by the MLB draft and, at times, forced to turn to the transfer portal as a saving grace. This past season was a perfect example. Jay Johnson lost 8 signees to professional baseball, a few of which were slight surprises. With a change like the one proposed, coaching staffs would have a much better idea of who will make it to campus, much like football and basketball.
To further illustrate the immense amount of talent that has skipped over LSU, here are the commits from Jay Johnson’s first four classes that signed professionally. Four have already made it to the MLB, three of which are everyday players (or in the rotation in Misiorowski’s case). For the others, their current level in the minors and their prospect rankings in their respective organizations are included, along with when they were drafted.
2022
OF Justin Crawford (1st rd, Phillies) – Made his MLB debut this season, playing in 69/75 games so far in 2026 with 200+ at-bats as Philadelphia’s center fielder.
RHP Jacob Misiorowski (2nd rd, Brewers) – After bursting on to the scene and making his Major League debut in 2025, Misiorowski has started 28 games over the past two seasons and has dominated. His ERA this season is 1.34 through 87.0 innings pitched and he has topped out at 104.5 mph just days ago.
LHP Robbie Snelling (1st rd, Padres) – Made his MLB debut in May for the Marlins with one start where he threw 5.0 innings. Currently ranked as Miami’s #2 prospect.
3B Tucker Toman (2nd rd, Blue Jays) – High-A/#40 Toronto
SS Mikey Romero (1st rd, Red Sox) – AAA/#11 Boston
LHP Michael Kennedy (4th rd, Pirates) – High-A/#18 Cleveland
2023
C Blake Mitchell (1st rd, Royals) – High-A/#1 Kansas City
2024
SS/OF Konnor Griffin (1st rd, Pirates) – Called up to make his MLB debut for Pittsburgh early in the season on April 3rd. Has played in 51 games and is hitting .270 with just under 200 at-bats while typically starting at shortstop.
LHP Cam Caminiti (1st rd, Braves) – High-A/#1 Atlanta
LHP Boston Bateman (2nd, Padres) – High-A/#9 Baltimore
3B Kale Fountain (5th rd, Padres) – A/#18 San Diego
2025
SS Brady Ebel (1st rd, Brewers) – A/#13 Milwaukee
SS Quentin Young (2nd rd, Twins) – A/#12 Minnesota
OF Dean Moss (2nd rd, Rays) – A/#29 Tampa Bay
SS Jaden Fauske (2nd rd, White Sox) – A/#7 Chicago White Sox
RHP Miguel Sime (4th rd, Nationals) – High-A/#17 Washington
LHP Briggs McKenzie (4th rd, Braves) – High-A/#6 Atlanta
C Landon Hodge (4th rd, White Sox) – Rookie ball/#19 Chicago White Sox
RHP River Hamilton (11th rd, Tigers) – Injured list/Ranking NA
It’s clearly visible how impactful just a fraction of these players could have been for the Tigers. Although the current state of the MLB Draft has not prevented Johnson from bringing two national championships home in his first five seasons in Baton Rouge, it’s hard not to imagine how incredible a few of these players could have been in purple and gold. Can you imagine a rotation in 2023 that included both Paul Skenes AND Jacob Misiorowski? Konnor Griffin and Steven Milam could have been one of the best middle infield in college baseball history. Briggs McKenzie and Miguel Sime would have been a revelation as starting pitching options as LSU’s entire rotation was injured at some point in 2026.
Johnson has been very vocal about how impossible it is for colleges to compete with the inflated amounts of money that MLB teams are offering high school prospects nowadays. They do their best, but when you have to get through 82 selections in the draft before the slot value drops below seven figures, it’s an uphill battle that they’ll never win.
Taking the option to sign professionally away from high school graduates would change that, though, and LSU would be set to benefit as much, if not more than anyone.
KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 19: Tyler Tolbert #2 of the Kansas City Royals reacts during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
“You never know when your name is going to be called,” Tolbert said. “You just have to be ready.”
That was the case throughout the game for Tolbert. In the sixth inning, after failing to get down a pair of bunts with a runner on third, he drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to deep center.
“To stay in the moment and be able to concentrate on that pitch, that was big for him,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “That ball was smoked.”
“It’s a mental thing,” Tolbert said. “A lot of people are like, ‘Save your energy.’ But for me, it’s a mindset thing. My whole life, I’ve been a starter. It just gets my mind and body ready, like, ‘Hey, we’re playing a game. Let’s get in that mode. We’re not sitting around and hanging out. Turn the switch on.’”
If playing one game shorthanded means the Royals can give Witt more time to recover and see how he feels, they’ll do it. Avoiding an IL stint means they would avoid the minimum 10 days without their best player. But they also don’t want to risk a long-term injury, so there are a lot of factors at play.
“It’s going to be what the conversations are with him and [team] Doc [Vincent] Key,” manager Matt Quatraro said. “It’s not a surgical thing. I know they can put a brace on it. It’s going to be a lot of get the swelling out of there and understand how he feels, and those conversations are going to have to be honest between all of us.”
Kansas City made the playoffs in 2024 and won 82 games a year ago, but the club has cratered in ’26. The Royals aren’t going to launch a full-scale rebuild when they have Bobby Witt Jr. in his prime, but they badly need to retool.
With starters Cole Ragans (controllable through 2028) and Kris Bubic (pending free agent) both injured, their best chance to do that is dealing veteran hurlers Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha, each of whom is signed through 2027 with a ’28 club option.
Perez’s power is gone. It just up and disappeared over the winter. And for a player who already couldn’t run, wasn’t much use defensively, and never walks, that was the last Jenga piece. The power was the only tangible skill Perez had left.
And it’s definitively gone. Last year, Perez’s barrel rate was in the 91st percentile and his hard-hit rate was in the 70th percentile. Those numbers are in the 45th and 44th percentiles now.
From last year to this, Perez has lost 1.4 mph of average bat speed and his fast swing rate has been cut nearly in half, from 30.5% to 16.9%. Another hitter could live with those numbers; Perez’s bat speed figures are in the same neighborhood as Kevin McGonigle’s and Kyle Tucker’s. But if power is your carrying tool, that little power won’t carry you very far. Maybe Perez is dealing with an injury from which he’ll recover, but for a 36-year-old who’s spent nearly 12,000 innings behind the plate, Occam’s Razor points in another direction.
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Good morning everyone and happy Saturday!
The Mariners bats struggled to get going last night against the Red Sox, with left-hander Ranger Suárez tossing six no-hit innings in a 6-2 M’s loss. The squad will try to get back into the win column tonight against young lefty Connelly Early.
It’s looking like a sunny Father’s Day weekend in Seattle. What plans do you have on tap for the next couple of days?
If you’re in the Pittsburgh area, LL commenter BlackbirdFly is organizing a reader meet-up for next week’s series!
Around the league…
The United States Department of Justice has opened an investigation into Major League Baseball after the league issued a warning to a handful of Giants players for altering their hats on Pride Night.
Now that we are almost halfway into our first season with the ABS challenge system, Matt Martell at Fangraphs took a look at how teams are strategizing when to use their valuable challenges.
With eight games taking place down on the farm, there was no shortage of action. In five of the eight games, Atlanta’s minor league teams scored five or more runs, so there was plenty of offense to go around. Let’s dive in.
In what was easily the most entertaining game of the day on Friday, Gwinnett won game one of their doubleheader against Louisville in extra innings.
Before we get to the theatrics, let’s figure out how we got to that point.
Garrett Baumann got the start in game one and took a step backwards after a string of solid outings at the triple-A level. In 3.2 innings of work, Baumann surrendered six runs on eight hits. The upside is that he only issued one free pass in the short outing.
It’s an unfortunate start following his first triple-A start on June 11 in which he spun five innings of one-run ball while striking out five. Hopefully it’s just a minor setback for Baumann as he continues to adapt to the competition at the level.
Trailing 6-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Aaron Schunk — who went 3-3 on the day — singled before advancing to second on a Ben Gamel walk to put a runner in scoring position. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners over before a Jim Jarvis sacrifice fly brought Schunk home and cut the deficit to 6-3. In the next at-bat, DaShawn Kiersey Jr. singled on a sharply hit ground ball to the second baseman to plate Gamel and make it a 6-4 game.
Heading into the bottom of the seventh down by two runs, Cal Conley would play the initial hero in this one.
Similar to the fifth inning, Schunk singled and Gamel walked to lead things off before Conley tripled both runners home to tie the game. While there were no outs in the inning with the winning run just 90 feet away, the Stripers failed to bring Conley home, sending the game into extras.
With Joel Payamps on the mound, Louisville tagged the righty for a pair of runs in the top of the eighth to take the lead once again.
However, Payamps offense luckily bailed him out with some late inning sparks.
With Brett Wisely starting on second base, Brewer Hicklen led off the frame with a walk and three batters later, Schunk worked a two-out walk to put the winning run at first base.
What proceeded could best be described as a gift by Gwinnett and a calamity for Louisville.
Jose Azocar — who pinch-ran for Gamel in the seventh — popped up to shallow right center field, during which the second baseman made a sliding attempt to catch the pop up. However, the ball ricocheted off his glove and got past the centerfielder, allowing Wisely, Hicklen and Schunk to score and give Gwinnett the walkoff 9-8 win to start their day.
Hoping to build off the high of walking off game one, Gwinnett ultimately fell short after getting shutout in game two.
Despite a solid outing from Owen Murphy in which he tossed six innings, giving up two runs and striking out six, the Stripers offense must have used all of its magic in game one as Gwinnett totaled just five hits in the second game.
While there wasn’t much to write home about in the second contest, Murphy put up his second consecutive solid performance in which he has tossed at least six innings while allowing two or fewer runs. He has also struck out 16 across 12 innings, while only walking two batters.
It’s a small sample size, sure. But it’s still encouraging to see from one of the top arms in the system as he continues to try and adjust to triple-A.
Columbus didn’t have much of a fighting chance in this one as the Shuckers tagged the Clingstones pitching staff for eight runs in the second inning.
Cedric De Grandpre got the start and, simply put, had as bad of an outing as you’ll see. Across just 1.1 innings of work, Biloxi tallied seven runs on five hits while working a pair of walks in less than two frames. It was an abysmal start for De Grandpre, who was making his first start of the season at the double-A level.
Trying to battle back from an 8-1 deficit, the Clingstones really never had a chance to catch up offensively, as they were limited to just three runs compared to Biloxi’s 14.
David McCabe had the lone extra base hit on the night, a double, while Patrick Clohisy registered the only RBI for Columbus.
On an initial positive note, Columbus had a chance to redeem themselves in game two. However, Mother Nature got in the way and forced this one to be suspended in the third inning tied at 1-1.
Prior to the game being called due to the weather, Patrick Clohisy registered the only hit, while Will Verdung drove in the lone run for the Clingstones on a sacrifice fly.
Friday’s game two will be completed on Saturday prior to the regularly scheduled game.
(34-31) Rome Emperors 5, (30-35) Hudson Valley Renegades 4
Much like their triple-A counterparts, Rome came away with a walkoff victory on Friday as well.
The Emperors had to battle out of an early 2-0 hole in this one as the Renegades tagged starter Briggs McKenzie for a pair of runs in the first inning, and two more later on in the third frame to extend their lead to 4-0.
While the baseline stats might not have been there for McKenzie, his stuff looked as excellent as ever — culminated with an excellent breaking ball to get an inning-ending strikeout in the bottom of the first inning.
Rome managed to cut the deficit to 4-3, but failed to produce any meaningful offense until their final trip to the plate.
Following a Collin Burgess strikeout to begin the inning, Tate Southisene and John Gil laced back-to-back singles to put the tying run in scoring position. Southisene proceeded to score on a wild pitch to knot things up before Owen Carey called game.
With the bases-loaded and one out on a 1-1 count, Carey took a fastball up in the zone and lined it into right field to plate Gil and give the Emperors the victory.
It was an all-around great day for Augusta on Friday as the GreenJackets got excellent pitching on the mound and a banner day at the plate en route to a 16-3 victory.
Before we get into the offensive performances, let’s talk about the pitching staff for Augusta.
Landon Beidelschies got the start and had one of his better performances this season. While it was only across four innings, the lefty allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three. The main thing for Beidelschies, however, is that he kept his offense in the game long enough for the GreenJackets to break out.
Reliever Adiel Melendez got the win after tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just one hit and striking out one in the process. Melendez has sneakily been excellent as of late, as the undrafted lefty out of the University of Montevallo has lowered his ERA to 2.45 across 21.1 innings to go along with 22 strikeouts. He’s a guy to keep an eye on to get the bump up to Rome in the near future given his age and recent success.
Fellow relievers Kade Woods (0.2 innings, one earned run) and Daniel Brooks (1.1 innings, three strikeouts) managed to keep Hub City at bay following the performances from Beidelschies and Melendez.
Back to the action at the plate, Augusta tallied 16 runs on 16 hits in what was one of the better offensive performances of the year.
To give you an idea of how good the bats were, the GreenJackets scored at least one run in every inning except for the fifth.
The bulk of the offense came courtesy of four guys — Alex Lodise, Luis Guanipa, Tanner Smith and the big man, Junior Garcia who had a career night.
Lodise homered twice and doubled while driving in three, and Smith registered three hits including a homer to go along with his three RBI. Luis Guanipa produced a lot for the offense as well, tallying four hits and crossing the plate three times on Friday night.
The biggest night belongs to Garcia who tallied not one, not two, not three — you get the idea — but seven total RBI on the night, thanks in part to a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to left center field to give Augusta an 11-2 lead at the time.
A loss for the FCL Braves resulted in one of the more unique box score you’ll ever see.
Despite the Braves outhitting the Rays 10-8, the Rays more than doubled the Braves’ score while walking a staggering 18 times over the course of nine innings.
The Braves got the offensive party started in the top of the first as Diego Tornes tripled in the first at-bat of the game. While Tornes was eventually gunned down trying to steal home, Manuel Campos later stole second and third base before scampering home on an errant throw to third on his steal attempt to make it a 1-0 game.
From there, things went back and forth until the seventh inning where the Rays tallied six runs, followed by four more runs in the eighth.
On the day, Tornes had a solid outing as he also laced a double and drove in a pair of runs and also scored a run. Campos went 3-4 with a double and two RBI as well, while third baseman Mario Baez doubled and scored a pair of runs for the Braves.
(2-12) DSL Braves 13, (4-10) DSL Red Sox Blue 15
Sherrintley Da Costa Gomez, LF: 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB
There must have been something in the water on Friday as yet another minor league affiliate’s offense broke out in huge fashion.
Every member of the DSL Braves lineup registered at least one hit on Friday, while all but two tallied at least one RBI to their credit as well in what was a massive offensive showcase for both squads in this one.
While the Braves came up short by a 15-13 final, there were plenty of individual performances to write home about.
Sherrintley Da Costa Gomez and Jose Nelo each launched solo homers on the day to pace the offense, while Jorwin Pulido registered three hits including a double and two RBI to his credit as well.
Da Costa Gomez’ arrow continues to point upward, as he is carrying a .351 average along with an OPS of 1.192 — both of which lead the team.
Jose Manon also drove in two of the team’s 13 total runs, while Starlyn De La Cruz got a pair of knocks and scored twice himself. Meanwhile his plate discipline has also been sharp, as he has eight walks to 11 strikeouts in 33 at-bats thus far.
As most of these types of games are, the pitching left a lot to be desired. Jesus Cova got the start and lasted just one frame, giving up three runs on one hit and a pair of walks in the process.
It’s been a really rough go of it thus far for the DSL squad as they’ve only won two of their first 14 games this season. However, seeing an outing like this from the offense suggests perhaps things may be about to change in their favor moving forward.
/
- NRFI
/
- YRFI
/
- NRFI
COVERS INTEL: Will Warren has been essentially an average starter this season, despite the gaudy record. None of his pitches are in the top-third of MLB in run value. Among the most common underlying metrics, only xERA and barrel rate (both 68th percentile) are in the top third, and just barely.
