Category: Baseball

The winter wails of “Are the Dodgers ruining baseball?” pretty much established the Dodgers as the team other major league owners love to hate. If there is one thing most owners love more than winning, it is cost control. That is why they covet a salary cap.

The team other owners love? It might just be the Angels.

For owners, costs go beyond the salaries of major league players. In 2021, Major League Baseball eliminated 43 minor league teams affiliated with MLB organizations. Why, owners wondered, should we continue to pay two dozen entry-level players to fill out a roster when only two of them might be legitimate prospects?

And what could be more efficient than turning over player development to colleges? The NFL has no minor league. The NBA has one. Even after those 2021 cuts, MLB teams remain affiliated with 14 minor leagues.

Read more:Reds pitcher Wade Miley accused of being drug supplier for Tyler Skaggs

That brings us to the Angels. In football and basketball, a first-round draft pick almost always goes from college one year to the NFL and the NBA the next. In baseball, even a first-round draft pick can spend several years in the minor leagues.

The Angels just called up second baseman Christian Moore, who could make his major league debut Friday in Baltimore, and pitcher Sam Bachman. That means the Angels’ roster now includes eight of their first-round picks — including each of their past five, all 25 or younger.

None of them spent even 100 games in the minor leagues, and almost all of that limited time was spent at the highest levels of the minors. This time last year, Moore was preparing for the College World Series with eventual national champion Tennessee. The Angels gave him 20 games at triple-A Salt Lake, in which he hit .350 with a .999 OPS, and summoned him to the majors.

Of the nine players likely to take the field for the Angels on Friday, the team drafted six in the first round: Moore (2024), first baseman Nolan Schanuel (2023), shortstop Zach Neto (2022), and outfielders Jo Adell (2017), Taylor Ward (2015) and Mike Trout (2009). The bullpen would include Bachman (2021) and Reid Detmers (2020).

This is not the only way to win. None of the Dodgers’ past five top draft picks are even in the major leagues, and the team’s current roster includes only two Dodgers’ first-round draft picks: catcher Will Smith (2016) and pitcher Clayton Kershaw (2006).

No matter, of course, because the team’s current roster also includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Total cost for that quartet: $1.6 billion. Total signing bonuses for the eight Angels first-round picks: $30 million.

And there is no evidence to show what we might call the Angels Way — drafting polished college stars capable of getting to the majors in a hurry — is a way to win. The Angels are trying to rebuild without investing heavily in scouting and player development. They have not posted a winning season in 10 years.

As the Angels open play Friday, they are one game under .500. They played .360 ball in April and .500 ball in May, and they have played .700 ball so far in June. They are 4 ½ games out of first place in what appears to be baseball’s weakest division, the American League West.

What the Angels are trying means you absolutely cannot miss on your top draft picks. Although each of their first-rounders this decade now has made the majors, to this point only Neto has displayed star potential. It’s still early, of course, and a team that learned that Ohtani and Trout alone cannot deliver October is hoping to develop a broader base of talent.

Read more:Can the Angels' offense be saved? It probably (mostly) depends on Mike Trout

The Angels will try again in a few weeks. They have the second overall pick in the July draft. They could aim to fill their Anthony Rendon-sized third-base hole with Oregon State’s Aiva Arquette. On Thursday, prospect analyst Keith Law of The Athletic projected the Angels would take Tennessee left-hander Liam Doyle.

"Everyone expects the Angels to take Doyle or (LSU left-hander) Kade Anderson,” Law wrote, “and then put whoever they select in the majors before the ink is dry on the contract."

That would make nine first-rounders on the major league roster. That, certainly, would be efficient. Negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement start next year, and the Angels Way could embolden owners to eliminate even more minor league teams.

The fans might be rooting for the star-studded Dodgers. The cost-conscious owners are rooting for the Angels.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Runs were hard to come by in Thursday's series finale between the Yankees and Royals.

With the score knotted at zero in the eighth inning, the Yankees needed a spark if they were to sweep the Royals in Kansas City. Would it come from Aaron Judge? Paul Goldschmidt? Anthony Volpe?

No, it was not-often-used Pablo Reyes, starting at second base on Thursday, who ignited the team and eventually scored the team's lone run in their 1-0 win.

Leading off the inning against Lucas Erceg, one of the Royals' best relievers, Reyes lined a single into right field. With two outs and Reyes on second after a Trent Grisham ground out and Ben Rice walk, Goldschmidt came up in what would be the difference-making at-bat. The former NL MVP smoked a liner at first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, but the ball bounced off his glove and into shallow right field.

Pasquantino retrieved the ball and threw it to first to a covering Erceg, but Goldschmidt beat out the throw. Reyes, who was rounding third, stumbled and took a few steps back to third before changing directions and heading home. Erceg threw home in time to catcher Freddy Fermin, but the backstop lost the ball as he went for the tag, allowing Reyes to slide in safely.

PABLO REYES COMES HOME WITH THE FIRST RUN!

CHAOS IN KANSAS CITY! pic.twitter.com/lKrZjjuJ0G

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 13, 2025

"We’ll take it," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the play after the game. "We only scored one run tonight. I thought we had a lot of good at-bats. Number of guys in the lineup stung the ball; we just couldn’t break through. Some good at-bats off Erceg [in that inning] to punch through. 

"There’s a rain delay, it's getaway night. To grab a run right there, especially Pablo. Him starting it off, leadoff hit and coming around to score. We’re all excited for him."

"There’s two outs, so in my mind, just do anything I can to score," Reyes said of the play via an interpreter. "I lost my balance there and at the same time, I heard [third base coach] Luis Rojas telling me, ‘keep going, keep going.’ I noticed there was hesitation on the pitcher, and just kept going and did the best I could there."

Reyes has not seen much playing time this year, appearing in just 24 games and getting 31 at-bats. Entering Thursday's game, the 31-year-old was 5-for-28 (.179) with two RBI. He's the utility infielder/outfielder who allows Boone to maneuver players in late-game situations.

So when he got the rare start, Reyes said it helps that he stays ready for these opportunities.

"I just try to keep my head up, working hard and just get ready for the opportunity and try to enjoy," Reyes said. "When I get the opportunity, I try and enjoy it to help my teammates and try my best to win the game. That’s the only thing I can control. Working hard every day and when the opportunity came, I just try and take advantage of that and play the game the right way."

Reyes admitted there was panic when he first stumbled around third base, and initially wanted to get back to third to make sure he didn't run the team out of the inning but once he saw the play developing, he took his chance.

"Really happy for him. He’s a good player and he can swing the bat," Boone said of Reyes. "He hasn’t gotten the opportunity just because guys have been healthy. I’ve leaned on [Oswald] Peraza as that backup in the infield. He’s capable of that. I felt good about him leading off that inning. He hasn’t had a lot to show for it offensively, but I believe in the bat. A really good at-bat off Erceg to start us off going the other way.

"He’s always ready, he’s always a supportive teammate. And just happy for him to have a really big hand in this one and he did some really good things on defense too."

Aside from his chaotic scamper home in the eighth, Reyes made a really great play at second, attacking a slow chopper that got past the pitcher and shoveling the ball to first for the second out of the seventh inning. It was an all-around great day for Reyes who hasn't had many chances to show the fans what he can do.

But that ability to impact a game with his bat, his glove and on the basepaths will give Boone and the Yankees organization a decision to make when Giancarlo Stanton returns from his rehab assignment.

As someone at the end of the bench, Reyes' spot on the team is in jeopardy, but the Dominican Republic native isn't thinking about that. He just focuses on what he can control and stays ready when his number is called.

"The way I look at it, that’s something I can’t control. Movements like that, that’s for the front office," Reyes said. "For me, what I can control is come in here, prepare every day the right way, work hard every day and prepare for opportunities like this tonight."

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees and Boston Red Sox play a three-game series at Fenway Park starting on Friday night...

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Preview

Payback

This weekend's series will be the second in as many weeks between the two rivals, but the Yankees will hope the results are different this time around. After dropping two at Yankee Stadium, New York will look to bounce back in the season series with three in Boston. The teams are largely the same from a week ago, but there are a few new wrinkles added in -- more on that later.

Although the Red Sox enter Friday 9.5 games back of the Yanks in the AL East standings, New York needs to take advantage of the below-.500 club.

The Roman Anthony effect

One huge change to the Red Sox is the addition of top prospect Roman Anthony. The Red Sox called up the slugging outfielder on Monday and will get his first taste of the rivalry this weekend. Or will he?

The Yankees are set to use three southpaws this weekend (Ryan Yarbrough, Carlos Rodon, Max Fried) and Red Sox manager Alex Cora may stay away from using the left-handed youngster. We'll have to see what the lineups this weekend look like, but the Red Sox are 2-1 since Anthony's call-up, and although the rookie is 1-for-12 in his first three big league games, his two-run double was the catalyst for their win on Tuesday.

Rodon gets a redo

Rodon has been great this season, but on the mound in the rubber game against the Red Sox last Sunday, the southpaw pitched a dud.

The left-hander pitched just five innings, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks, which helped Boston clinch the weekend series for the Red Sox. Rodon will get a chance to redeem himself this weekend when he toes the rubber in Boston. Rodon is scheduled to pitch Saturday and, depending on how Friday's game goes, the veteran starter could be the difference in whether the Yankees win or lose the series, again.

Yankees bullpen in flux

The Yankees' bullpen is beat up, to say the least. While they await Luke Weaver's return, Mark Leiter Jr. has struggled in recent games and they've optioned Yerry De los Santos back to the minors to get a fresh arm in the bullpen for this weekend's series. Who did they call up? Why, Scott Effross, of course.

Effross pitched in just three games last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery and suffered a hamstring injury this spring that has kept him off the team this year. The team feels Effross is ready to return to The Show, but he's struggled in the minors this season. In five Triple-A appearances, the veteran right-hander has allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and two walks across 5.2 innings.

The return of Giancarlo Stanton?

The biggest question mark for the Yankees this weekend is whether Stanton will be in the lineup. Stanton has started three straight days in Triple-A and could potentially be ready to be activated.

Boston will only deploy one left-hander this weekend -- Garrett Crochet on Friday -- so perhaps Stanton won't be in the lineup at all this weekend. But if he's activated, he could be a potential bench threat that the Yankees haven't had all year.

Predictions

Who will be the MVP of the series?

Aaron Judge

Judge is on a season-long tear and there's no reason to think it won't continue in Boston.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?

Max Fried

After a rocky start in LA, Fried has bounced back to be the ace the Yankees need.

Which Red Sox player will be a thorn in Yankees' side?

Rafael Devers

Devers is a career .272 hitter with 30 home runs and 77 RBI against the Yankees. Enough said.

The Yankees secured the series sweep over the Kansas City Royals with a 1-0 win on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Here are some takeaways...

- With Aaron Judge receiving his first day off of the season, the Yankees' offense wasn't able to get much of anything going against Royals right-hander Seth Lugo -- managing just two walks and a hit while striking out twice over the first five innings.

New York finally started a bit of a rally in the sixth when Trent Grisham lined a single and Paul Goldschmidt drew a two-out walk -- but after a pitching change and a 28-minute rain delay, Kyle Isbel ranged into the left-center gap and made a terrific catch to rob Cody Bellinger of extra-bases.

- Fortunately for the Bombers, Will Warren was up for the task of matching Lugo. The rookie right-hander worked around back-to-back singles leading off the second and then a one-out triple in the fifth as he cruised through the first five innings as well.

Warren came back out of the sixth despite sitting through the delay, but Aaron Boone pulled him out a man on and the red-hot Vinnie Pasquantino coming to the plate. Tim Hill entered and got him to easily ground out -- closing the youngster's final line at four hits and a walk over 5.2 shutout innings.

It was a much-needed, efficient outing for Warren after he issued four free passes in back-to-back starts.

- Hill was helped out by some strong defense in the seventh -- first Anthony Volpe ranged to his right and unleashed a throw from deep in the hole to gun down Salvador Perez at first, then Pablo Reyes came charging in from second and shoveled to first with a glove flip to erase Jac Caglianone with the second out.

- The Yanks were finally able to break the tie during the next half-inning, as Goldschmidt lined one off the first baseman's glove and Reyes came in to score on an error by the catcher after stumbling down the line.

- Jonathan Loáisiga delivered a scoreless eighth then Devin Williams closed the door in the ninth to secure the three-game series sweep and shutout victory -- it was New York's league-best fourth 1-0 win of the season.

- Judge came off the bench and pinch-hit with a man on and nobody out in the top of the eighth, but he was punched out on strikes on a questionable call at the bottom of the zone.

- J.C. Escarra received the start behind the plate and enjoyed himself a strong showing -- singling to lead off the third and then cracking a two-out double to right-center in the ninth.

Game MVP: Pablo Reyes

Reyes made a nice play in the field and scored the game's lone run on a wacky play.

Highlights

WHAT A PLAY BY ANTHONY VOLPE! pic.twitter.com/xjkqdZ9erW

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 13, 2025

PABLO REYES COMES HOME WITH THE FIRST RUN!

CHAOS IN KANSAS CITY! pic.twitter.com/lKrZjjuJ0G

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 13, 2025

What's next

The Yanks ship up to Boston for a three-game weekend set with the Red Sox.

Ryan Yarbrough (3-1, 4.17 ERA) takes the mound against Garrett Crochet (6-4, 2.35 ERA) at 7:10 p.m.

Mets top prospect Jett Williams continues to rake at the Double-A level.

After smashing two home runs on Wednesday, Williams kept the ball in the ballpark but instead was causing havoc on the bases, going 3-for-4 with a double and two triples. He drove in two runs, came in to score three times and drew a walk. Oh, and he stole a base for good measure, his 18th this season.

Williams' great day at the plate helped the Binghamton Rumble Ponies rout the Richmond Flying Squirrels, 11-0. The Mets' No. 1 prospect raised his batting average to .298, which is the highest it's been since May 2.

In 52 games with Binghamton, Williams is slashing .298/.407/.530 with an OPS of .937 to go along with 16 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 23 RBI.

If the infielder continues to hit like this, a promotion to Syracuse may be in the works sooner rather than later.

Williams wasn't the only Mets prospect to have an offensive outburst on Thursday -- as Ryan Clifford launched a solo shot in the third inning en route to going 2-for-5.

The homer was Clifford's 12th of the season and the fourth in his last six games.

Brandon Sproat takes loss with Syracuse

Sproat made his 13th minor league start on Thursday and while he was solid, he wasn't efficient enough to leave with a chance for victory.

The young right-hander threw 89 pitches (61 strikes) across 5.1 innings but allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

Sproat was chugging along, allowing one run -- via a ground out -- through the first four innings but the fifth inning saw Scranton/Wilkes-Barre take advantage of their speed.

After Bryan De La Cruz led off with a single, the outfielder stole second and third with one out. Sproat then allowed the go-ahead run on an Ismael Munguia single. A wild pitch allowed Munguia to advance to second before Jorbit Vivas singled him home with two outs.

It was a tough luck loss for Sproat, whose offense behind him mustered up just one run in the 6-1 loss.

Drew Gilbert, one of the Mets' top prospects, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on the night.

Sproat now has a 3-5 record with a 5.31 ERA with Syracuse this season.

Tyrone Taylor has been terrific for the Mets this season. 

With Jose Siri remaining sidelined due to a tibia injury, the veteran outfielder has gotten his opportunity to start just about every day in centerfield and he’s taken full advantage of it.

Even on days he doesn’t start, he keeps finding ways to make his mark. 

On Wednesday night, Taylor entered the game as a late-inning defensive replacement and he gunned down Luis Garcia Jr. trying to score on a single to center, helping keep David Peterson’s shutout alive. 

A few hours later, he was back in the lineup for Thursday's series finale -- and he came through again. 

With a man on first and two outs in the sixth, Taylor ranged deep into the right-center gap and layed out to make a tremendous diving grab to rob Garcia of an extra-base hit and keep Washington off the board again.  

These are just the latest additions to what’s been a season-long highlight reel for Taylor. 

YOU BETTER CALL TYRONE!

WHAT A CATCH BY TYRONE TAYLOR! pic.twitter.com/5BeHEmYtmo

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 12, 2025

“At this point nothing surprises us with him,” Carlos Mendoza said. “As soon as the ball was hit, looking at him and [Juan] Soto and how far both of them went into the gap, I thought it was going to be at least a double. 

“He kept closing the gap and then for him to make that spectacular play like that, it’s not the first time we’ve seen it from him but that goes to show you he’s elite out there -- he’s a special player and a special defender, one of the best in the game.”

Statically, Taylor is up there among the best in baseball -- he’s currently ninth among CFs with four defensive runs saved and ranks in the 89th percentile with three Outs Above Average, according to Baseball Savant. 

If he’s able to stay healthy and can keep this rolling, there’s no reason he shouldn’t at least be in the mix to take home his first career Gold Glove award come season's end. 

“He works so hard at his craft and is such a good defender,” Brandon Nimmo said. “He’s really saved a lot of games and a lot of runs for us. Just look at this game and how we ended up winning by one run, that catch was extremely important, what an amazing play.

"You know you’re getting the best effort Tyrone has every single game -- he’s doing great, I couldn’t be more proud of the center fielder and the baseball player he is.”

Brandon Nimmo’s early-season struggles appear to officially be behind him. 

The left-handed hitting outfielder lifted another home run during Thursday afternoon’s win over the Nationals at Citi Field -- helping the Mets secure their sixth consecutive victory and back-to-back series sweeps. 

Nimmo’s now gone deep three times over the last two games, and he’s driven in a total of 14 runs against Washington this season. 

“You always love to have the results,” he told SNY's Steve Gelbs postgame. “It’s nice to have the process and we keep trusting it. Fortunately I’ve been here long enough that I understand how Citi Field plays early in the summer and it’s fun starting to see the ball fly now.

“It’s just about trusting the process and now we’re getting some good results.”

While some of those results certainly have to be credited to the ball carrying more -- you also have to give a tip of the cap to manager Carlos Mendoza for flipping the order around when the Mets needed a spark. 

Nimmo appeared to be trying to do too much out of the cleanup spot -- but he’s quickly found himself a new home, setting the table for Juan Soto and Pete Alonso in the second spot in the order. 

After picking up two more knocks on Thursday, the 32-year-old is now hitting .381 with three doubles, four homers, eight RBI, a .458 on-base percentage, and a 1.196 OPS in 12 games in the two-hole.  

“It’s been really nice, I’ve been able to get on-base and contribute,” he said. “I’m just trying to help out however I can, whatever the situation dictates -- but it’s always nice hitting in front of Soto and Alonso, they’re two of the best hitters in the game.”

And it’s not just Nimmo who has been enjoying the new configuration -- as Soto is finally looking more and more like himself and Alonso continues picking up big hit after big hit when this group needs it the most.

Jeff McNeil has been on an absolute tear of late as well -- lifting a homer of his own Thursday to bring his OPS up to .911 on the season.

They'll look to keep the good times rolling during a weekend set with the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays. 

While the Mets will have some decisions to make in regards to their rotation after the injury to Kodai Senga, they'll at least bulk up their bullpen.

According to multiple reports, the Mets are set to call up RHP Max Kranick from the minors to take Senga's spot on the team when they officially place him on the injured list.

Kranicks has had a lot of success with the Mets earlier this season. He's pitched to a 3.51 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP in 22 appearances this year. His last appearance was back on June 2 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. That game saw Kranick allow one run on one hit while striking out two batters in his one inning of work.

The 27-year-old was lights out to start the 2025 season. He pitched to a 2.65 ERA in March/April but May was not as kind overall. He allowed seven earned runs across 14.2 innings (4.30 ERA) of work, but finished May strong by pitching 5.1 scoreless innings in his final three appearances that month.

Kranick made two minor league appearances since his option to Triple-A Syracuse, and he allowed two earned runs across 2.1 innings pitched. His last minor league appearance came on June 10 against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, when he allowed two runs on three hits over 0.2 innings.

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Rays play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

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5 things to watch

Starting rotation shakeup coming?

Kodai Senga left Thursday's game with a hamstring injury that will land him on the IL, and the calculus will change with him missing time. But the Mets will still have seven starters for five spots when Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are back.

With Montas making one or two more rehab starts before returning and Manaeaset to make his third rehab start on Sunday, things could get very crowded very soon.

And with New York not planning to utilize a regular six-man rotation in the immediate future, it's fair to wonder how they'll make everything fit.

It's logical to believe that Tylor Megill will slide to the bullpen or get sent to Triple-A Syracuse when room is needed in the rotation. He has minor league options remaining, meaning the Mets can send him down without running the risk of losing him.

Beyond Megill (who starts on Saturday), the next candidate to possibly lose his rotation spot -- as unfair as it is -- would almost certainly be Griffin Canning, who carries a 3.22 ERA into his start on Sunday.

Playing time on the infield

The Mets are currently juggling four players for two infield spots, with Jeff McNeil, Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio, and Luisangel Acuña jockeying between second base and third base.

In the case of McNeil, who has been on fire, he'll start pretty much every day -- and the Mets have the option to use him in center field, where he started on Wednesday.

That leaves Baty, Mauricio, and Acuña as the main players battling for at-bats.

The Mets have the option of using any of them at DH, but most of the time, that has been given to Jared Young and Starling Marte.

Is Francisco Alvarez finding it at the plate?

Before being placed on the paternity list for the birth of his daughter, Alvarez was showing signs of breaking out.

He was hitting 320/.346/.480 in 26 plate appearances over his last six games, including one homer and one double.

Things haven't come easily at the plate for Alvarez after returning from a broken hamate bone, and that has included him chasing lots of pitches well out of the zone.

But Alvarez has looked better lately. And if he can build on that -- especially if he can tap into some more power -- he could help take the Mets' lineup to another level.

Rays are in the thick of the playoff race

The Rays were a bit of an afterthought before the season, but they're once again right in the thick of things in the playoff race.

Tampa is in third place in the AL East and trails the first-place Yankees by 6.0 games, but they're currently holding the third Wild Card spot -- and are only 2.0 games behind the Blue Jays for the top Wild Card spot.

Junior Caminero (.776 OPS) and Brandon Lowe (.742 OPS) have helped the Rays go, and former Mets prospect Jake Mangum has been strong in his first taste of the majors. Mangum is hitting .304 with a .339 OBP and 10 stolen bases in 33 games.

The Rays also have a very good closer in Pete Fairbanks, who has a 2.30 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 27.1 innings -- and has yet to allow a home run this season.

Drew Rasmussen is healthy and dealing

Tampa's rotation is anchored by Rasmussen, who has undergone three serious elbow surgeries and is now back and dominating.

In 13 starts over 69.0 innings this season, Rasmussen has a 2.22 ERA and 0.89 WHIP and has allowed just 48 hits.

And Rasmussen has been especially sharp lately.

He made four consecutive scoreless starts spanning May 17 to June 3, before giving up two runs over 6.0 innings in his most recent start on June 8 against the Marlins.

Rasmussen gets the ball on Saturday.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Brandon Nimmo

Nimmo has been heating up, including a two-homer game on Wednesday against the Nationals, and add another longball on Thursday.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Clay Holmes

Holmes has allowed just seven runs over his last four starts.

Which Rays player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Jake Mangum

He has the right combination of contact-ability and speed.