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Elite Cardinals closer linked to Red Sox as potential trade target

Elite Cardinals closer linked to Red Sox as potential trade target originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are trending toward being buyers ahead of the 2025 MLB trade deadline. If they do make moves to strengthen their roster, pitching should be the priority.

Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow echoed that sentiment on Thursday, telling WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show that the club would likely focus on improving the starting rotation. However, bolstering the bullpen should also be a point of focus for Boston’s front office.

A strong bullpen is often the key to postseason success. As great as veteran closer Aroldis Chapman has been this season, the Red Sox could use another reliable arm to stabilize the back end.

So, who should be on Breslow’s radar?

ESPN’s Jeff Passan named an intriguing option as the “best match” for Boston with the deadline looming: St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley.

“Red Sox relievers walk too many hitters and don’t strike out enough. Take away Aroldis Chapman — the best reliever in the AL this season — and the Red Sox have a middle-of-the-pack bullpen,” Passan wrote.

“Getting Helsley from St. Louis would give Boston arguably the top setup-closer combination in baseball and go a long way toward supporting a rotation that has been among the game’s best over the past month.”

Helsley, who turns 31 later this month, has been among MLB’s best relievers for the last four years. The hard-throwing right-hander is a two-time All-Star who received Cy Young votes last season and in 2022.

While he hasn’t been as dominant this year (3.19 ERA, 1.39 WHIP in 31 appearances), Helsley would pair perfectly with Chapman and take pressure off overworked Red Sox relievers Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock, and Brennan Bernardino. He’d also be a rental, so Boston may be able to pry Helsley from St. Louis for a relatively affordable price if he and the Cardinals can’t come to terms on an extension this month.

Passan believes adding a Helsley-like reliever and a starter before the deadline would make the Red Sox legitimate contenders.

“Boston has the makings of a very good team in the second half,” he added. “…Everyone is contributing. A reliever or two and another starter would make the Red Sox the sort of contender they envisioned being at the beginning of the season.”

The Red Sox have also recently been linked to Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan, though it will likely take a significant haul to acquire the All-Star righty. Ryan, who’s in the midst of his best statistical season, is under team control through 2027.

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for 6 p.m. ET on July 31.

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Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker to compete in 2025 MLB Home Run Derby

Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker to compete in 2025 MLB Home Run Derby originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Brent Rooker had mentioned he’d be open to competing in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby for some time, and on Thursday, the Athletics star’s wish came true.

The 30-year-old enters Thursday’s game against the Atlanta Braves with 19 home runs this year and is on pace to have 30-plus home runs for the third consecutive season – he’d be just the third A’s batter, along with Khris Davis (2016-18) and Jason Giambi (1999-2001), to accomplish the feat since 1999.

The 2024 Silver Slugger Award winner is having himself quite a week after also being named to his second All-Star Game on Sunday as an American League reserve. Along with the 19 long balls, the designated hitter also has a .270 batting average and 50 RBI this season.

Rooker will be the first player to represent the Green and Gold in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson competed in 2021 and he’ll look to be the first Athletics batter to win the event since Yoenis Cespedes won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014. Cespedes and Mark McGwire are the only A’s players to win the event.

The other competitors already announced for the event include Cal Raleigh, James Wood, Byron Buxton, Oneil Cruz, Junior Caminero and Ronald Acuña Jr.

It won’t be much of an All-Star “break” for Rooker, but it’ll definitely be one to remember for the A’s slugger.

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How Roman Anthony is helping fuel Red Sox' resurgence

How Roman Anthony is helping fuel Red Sox' resurgence originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are red hot. They’ve won six straight games and eight of their last 10. With a 49-45 record, they are four games above .500 for the first time all season.

They entered Thursday tied with the Seattle Mariners for the third and final wild card playoff spot in the American League. Playing meaningful baseball in October is a real possibility for the franchise.

What’s fueling Boston’s recent resurgence? A couple things.

The starting pitching has improved. Garrett Crochet has been an ace all season, but now other pitchers like Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello are giving quality starts more consistently. The schedule also has been quite favorable for the Red Sox. Their last nine games have come against the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies might not even win 40 games this season.

In fairness to the Red Sox, you have to take care of business regardless of the opponent, and they’ve taken advantage of this opportunity in their schedule.

One player who’s taken full advantage of the schedule is Roman Anthony. The No. 1 ranked prospect in baseball is finding his groove at the plate, and he’s been a major catalyst for Boston’s recent success.

Why Bregman believes Roman Anthony can be a ‘superstar for a long time’

Anthony made his Red Sox debut June 9 against the Tampa Bay Rays. It took him a while to get acclimated to the majors. He tallied just two hits and struck out eight times in his first 27 at-bats.

But in July, Anthony has been on a tear offensively. He has almost matched his June hits total in 29 fewer at-bats.

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Anthony has collected at least one hit in seven of his eight games played in July. He currently has a six-game hit streak with 11 total hits and four multi-hit games during that stretch.

Anthony is seeing the ball at the plate at such an impressive level right now. The ball is exploding off his bat, evidenced by his average exit velocity of 94.7 mph, which is the second-highest of any Red Sox player this season, per Baseball Savant. His average exit velocity is also the fourth-highest of any player in the majors. Anthony’s hard-hit rate (percentage of batted balls hit with an exit velocity of 95 mph or higher) of 55.1 is the second-highest on the team.

Anthony’s plate discipline has gotten better, too. His chase percentage — which measures how often a batter swings at pitches outside the strike zone — is 19.6, which is below the MLB average of 28.6 percent.

What has Red Sox manager Alex Cora seen from Anthony during this uptick in performance?

“Obviously getting hits helps, but I think the process and the quality of at bats has been there since Day 1,” Cora told the WEEI Afternoons show on Wednesday. “The kid — he controls the strike zone, he hits the ball hard, he doesn’t deviate from his plan, and kind of like (Jackson) Merrill last year in San Diego, right?

“They took him overseas in the opening series — I think it was Japan — and they didn’t expect him to be part of the roster, and all of the sudden he became a force for them. This kid is becoming a force for us. And I was kind of stupid pinch hitting (for) him in his first big league start. We’re not doing that anymore. Now he’s hitting second, he’s hitting third, he’s playing good defense in right field.

“(Wednesday) he’s going to play left field. And we keep challenging him. He’s a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish now and in the future. And we’re very happy with the progress.”

Anthony is already playing a prominent role in the lineup — 78 of his 95 at-bats have come as the No. 2 or No. 3 hitter. Add in his quality defense, and Anthony has quickly become a player the Red Sox need to have in the lineup every single game, regardless of whether the opponent is starting a lefty or a righty.

If the Red Sox are going to reach the postseason for the first time since 2021, they’ll need Anthony to continue to be a force at the plate. It’s a lot to ask of a kid who just turned 21, but he’s shown an ability to make adjustments as needed.

Now that Anthony is getting hot at the plate, the next challenge for him is keeping it up against better competition. The next four series for the Red Sox are against playoff-caliber teams in the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Cam Schlittler brings heat and hope to Yankees in winning MLB debut

NEW YORK — One game into his major league career, Cam Schlittler is the hardest-throwing member of the New York Yankees’ rotation.

Schlittler used his 100 mph fastball to shut down Cal Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners during an eye-opening debut Wednesday night, pitching the Yankees to a 9-6 victory before a throng of friends and family members in the crowd.

“Obviously, it’s been my goal my whole life,” Schlittler said. “I don’t think I’ve really processed it yet.”

One of the team’s top-rated prospects, the 6-foot-6 Schlittler struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win. He threw New York’s seven fastest pitches this season and his average fastball velocity of 97.9 mph was the highest for a Yankees pitcher this year.

But it was his poise and improved secondary pitches that really impressed manager Aaron Boone.

“You see his stuff really plays,” Boone said. “I see a lot of potential.”

Boone called it “a great first step” and said Schlittler will get another big league start, likely after the All-Star break.

“He was sick,” said Yankees teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr., who homered twice and drove in four runs.

Schlittler was called up from Triple-A to pitch in place of injured Clarke Schmidt, who is expected to undergo a second Tommy John surgery on his right elbow that would sideline him for the rest of this season and much of next year.

So there’s a genuine opportunity for Schlittler to stick in the rotation for a Yankees squad trying to catch Toronto atop the AL East.

“Obviously, just trying to get the first one under my belt and then whatever happens. I’m just fortunate that they gave me that opportunity,” Schlittler said. “Just take it day by day and see what happens.”

Staked to an early 3-0 lead, Schlittler gave up three runs and four hits — including solo homers by J.P. Crawford and Jorge Polanco.

The 24-year-old right-hander walked his first batter but settled down quickly and froze Raleigh, the major league home run leader, with a 100 mph heater for his first strikeout in the opening inning.

“He was nasty,” Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez said.

That baseball was one of two sitting in Schlittler’s locker after the game, both keepsakes inscribed and encased above the Yankees’ championship belt for the night.

Schlittler said the strikeout ball will probably end up in his room back home eventually, but first he planned to give it to his parents.

“I know they’ll cherish that,” he said.

Schlittler, who walked two, ending his outing with another strikeout of Raleigh before leaving with a 6-2 lead in the sixth to a standing ovation as his parents hugged in the Yankee Stadium stands.

Schlittler was born in Massachusetts but said he always wanted to play for the Yankees. They selected him in the seventh round of the 2022 amateur draft from Northeastern in Boston, right in the heart of rival Red Sox country.

The pitcher said his girlfriend and cousin were on hand in addition to plenty of friends, and he left 23 tickets for his supporters. But he said he wasn’t all that nervous come first pitch.

“I think probably had more jitters this morning, honestly,” Schlittler said. “I know my dad just in general gets more nervous than I do when I throw.”

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Luisangel Acuña back up with Mets; Travis Jankowski DFA'd

Luisangel Acuñais returning to the Mets ahead of Thursday's doubleheader against the Orioles in Baltimore.

Travis Jankowski was designated for assignment to make room on the roster.

Acuña replacing Jankowski makes sense, since the two have a similar skill set.

While Acuña is a natural infielder, he's gotten exposure in center field and played one game there for the Mets earlier this season. And manager Carlos Mendoza said on Thursday that Acuña will be relied on in center when needed.

"From the very beginning when we sent him down to Triple-A, we knew we were looking at somewhere between 40-to-50 plate appearances," Mendoza explained. "Got up to 53, got consistent playing time. And we knew how important he is to this ball club -- the versatility, the speed. So there's a lot of upside there.

"He was a big part of this team the first couple of months. We got to a point where we felt like 'Hey, let's get him some everyday playing time.' And now it's time for him to be back up here and continue to help us win baseball games. Got exposure in center field as well, and that'll be kind of like his role here, too. Playing everywhere, speed. He's a big part of this team."

In 158 plate appearances over 65 games for the Mets this year, Acuña has hit .241/.293/.283 with 11 stolen bases, six doubles, and 23 runs scored while getting playing time at second base, third base, shortstop, and center field.

In an additional move, the Mets added right-handed pitcher Austin Warren as the 27th man for Thursday's games.

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Craig Breslow reveals Red Sox' priority at MLB trade deadline

Craig Breslow reveals Red Sox' priority at MLB trade deadline originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are right in the middle of the American League playoff race with the July 31 MLB trade deadline approaching.

The Red Sox have won six straight games and eight of their last 10, moving them into a tie with the Seattle Mariners for the third and final wild card spot entering Thursday. With a 49-45 record, Boston is four games over .500 for the first time all season.

The Red Sox need to capitalize on the recent improvement and give the clubhouse a jolt by being buyers at the trade deadline.

What might the Red Sox prioritize adding at the deadline? Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow was asked that question during an interview with WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show on Thursday.

“It kinda depends on where we are, so we have to zoom out a little bit and try to figure out who we are, what do we have coming back and what do we think is sustainable,” Breslow said. “A month and a half ago, we would have talked a ton about starting pitching and getting more consistency and finding someone who slots in toward the top of the rotation behind Garrett (Crochet).

“And then you look at what Lucas and Brayan have done over the last month and a half, and you start to feel confident in the way the starting pitching is coming together.

“That said, you can never have too much (starting pitching), so I think that’s probably what we would prioritize. But we’ve seen what (Richard) Fitts has done, (Hunter) Dobbins is getting healthy, (Tanner) Houck is getting healthy. We have some depth, but I think if there’s the opportunity to provide some impact starting pitching, and add that to the group, that’s probably where we’d focus.”

Red Sox starters have a 4.18 ERA this season, which ranks 10th out of 15 AL teams. Boston starters also have allowed the third-most hits, fourth-most runs and the fourth-most walks among AL teams.

Walker Buehler, who the Red Sox signed in free agency last offseason, has been a major disappointment. Tanner Houck has struggled, too, after being an All-Star in 2024.

On the bright side for the Red Sox, recent outings from Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello have been encouraging. However, a good portion of that success has come against lackluster opponents. It remains to be seen whether those two starters can pitch at this level on a consistent basis.

Even if they do maintain that level of performance, the Red Sox still need another ace in their rotation to go along with Crochet. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported this week that the Red Sox are among the teams “monitoring” Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan as a potential trade candidate.

Red Sox ‘monitoring’ Twins pitcher ahead of trade deadline: Report

Ryan would not be a rental because he’s under team control through 2027, which makes him an ideal trade target. Crochet and Ryan would be a formidable 1-2 punch.

Whether it’s Ryan or a similar player, the Red Sox must prioritize another impact starting pitcher — not only to compete for the playoffs this year but also in future seasons. So if that kind of pitcher is available in the coming weeks, the Red Sox need to be bold and make an aggressive push.

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Phillies Talk: Chase Utley discusses 2025 team and much more

Phillies Talk: Chase Utley discusses 2025 team and much more originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Chase Utley hopped on the Phillies Talk podcast to discuss his golf game, the current state of the team and what’s next for him.

“The Man” also discussed the trade deadline, Phillies Wall of Fame and much more with NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Sean Kane and Spencer McKercher.

Watch the episode right here.

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Rays slugger Junior Caminero to compete in Home Run Derby, start at third base in All-Star Game

Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced Wednesday he will take part in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta, then learned hours later he will start at third base for the AL squad in the All-Star Game the following night.

In between, Caminero belted his 22nd homer of the season in the seventh inning of a 7-3 win in Detroit.

Caminero, who turned 22 on July 5, leads all American League third basemen in homers during a breakout season. He is hitting .254 with 58 RBIs for the Rays, who moved within four games of first-place Toronto in the AL East on Wednesday night.

“I’m going to put on a show. I’m going to try to put on a show just to give the fans the opportunity to get to know me, see my power,” Caminero said. “Just being there with all those other All-Stars, it’s going to be something very special.”

Caminero is the sixth player to commit to the Home Run Derby, joining the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh, James Wood of the Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Twins, the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz and Ronald Acuna Jr. of the host Braves. Two more contestants are still to be announced, and Buxton’s status is unclear after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch during Wednesday night’s win over the Cubs.

New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., also headed to the All-Star Game, said Wednesday night he’d be interested in participating if asked. Chisholm hit two homers in a 9-6 victory over Seattle to give him 17 this season.

Caminero was picked earlier this week as the All-Star replacement for Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps. Caminero learned he will start at the hot corner after Cleveland’s José Ramírez opted out of the Midsummer Classic so he could rest an ailing Achilles tendon.

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen to replace Ramírez on the AL roster.

The only Rays players besides Caminero to participate in the Home Run Derby have been Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Randy Arozarena, who reached the finals two years ago before losing to Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

“We get to see (Caminero) do probably a modified Home Run Derby every time he takes batting practice. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for his family,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Somewhat of a coming-out party for him. Hopefully, he gets the recognition that we’ve all seen in the talent and the ability to hit the ball a long way.”

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Zach McKinstry picked as AL All-Star sub; Tigers tie Dodgers for most Midsummer Classic picks

The Detroit Tigers have the best record in the majors. Now they are tied for having the most All-Stars, too.

Zach McKinstry was picked Wednesday to replace Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who has been dealing with a rib injury. The infielder-outfielder will join Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres and outfielders Javier Báez and Riley Greene — all AL starters — and staff ace Tarik Skubal, who also is among the candidates to start the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta.

The five All-Stars for Detroit is tied for the most with the World Series champion Dodgers, who have DH Shohei Ohtani, catcher Will Smith and first baseman Freddie Freeman starting for the NL along with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Yamamoto is scheduled to start Sunday for Los Angeles, so Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott has been picked to replace him.

McKinstry was among several replacements announced Wednesday for the Midsummer Classic.

Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes was chosen for the AL team in place of starting third baseman José Ramírez, the seven-time All-Star, who wants to spend the week rehabbing an Achilles injury; Twins right-hander Joe Ryan was selected as the replacement for Astros pitcher Hunter Brown; and Brewers closer Trevor Megill was added to the NL team in place of teammate Freddy Peralta, their scheduled starter for Sunday’s game against Washington.

The shuffling of replacements gives the Astros four All-Stars in Paredes, Peña, Brown and pitcher Josh Hader. The Brewers have two in Megill and Peralta. And the Twins have two with Ryan joining two-time All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton.

“This was the goal in the offseason,” said Megill, who struck out Freeman, Andy Pages and Tommy Edman in order in the 10th inning to secure the Brewers’ 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Wednesday. “Just worked my butt off for it, and here we are.”

The four replacements make six total and 71 players players between the two All-Star teams. The other sub announced was Rays third baseman Junior Caminero for Boston’s Alex Bregman, who has been dealing with a strained right quadriceps.

The Tigers have been one of the surprise stories of the first half of the season. After going 86-76 and tying for second in the AL Central last season, they are off to a 59-35 start even after a 7-3 loss to the Rays in their series finale Wednesday night.

The versatile McKinstry has been a big reason why.

Along with playing every infield position besides catcher, and both corner outfield spots, McKinstry entered Wednesday hitting .283 with seven homers and 27 RBIs. The 30-year-old needs just three more homers and nine RBIs to set career highs.

Peña, who is hitting a career-best .322 with 11 homers and 40 RBIs in 82 games for Houston, has been out since June 28 with a fractured rib. He had hoped to return by the All-Star break but has not been cleared to resume baseball activity.

Paredes, his teammate, is headed to his second straight All-Star Game in his first season in Houston. He is hitting a career-best .255 with 19 homers and 49 RBIs for the Astros, who have a comfortable lead over Seattle in the NL West.

“My main focus is to work hard for the team and be able to give the most I can for the team,” Paredes said, “but as you can see now with the results that I’m getting ... those results allow me to get to the All-Star game, so it feels good.”

Ramírez was hit by a pitch in a game against Toronto on June 26 and has struggled at the plate since, though he said Wednesday that it was an Achilles injury that’s been bothering him. Even with the slump, Ramírez began the day hitting .299 with 16 home runs, 44 RBIs and 24 stolen bases through 87 games for Cleveland.

“Everybody wants to go to the All-Star Game and especially for the support from the fans,” Ramírez said. “But I feel the best thing for the team is to be able to be resting (those) days and be able to contribute to the team in the second half.”

The 29-year-old Ryan, whose name has surfaced in plenty of trade talk recently, was one of the biggest snubs when the initial All-Star Game rosters were announced. The right-hander is 8-4 with a career-best 2.76 ERA across 18 starts, and he’s struck out 116 against just 21 walks over 104 1/3 innings for the Twins.

“The last couple years, I’ve had really good numbers at voting, then I’ve kind of scuttled the last two outings or so. I can see why optically it might not look as good,” Ryan said. “But putting it together, it was kind of a shock not to be in (this year).

“At the same time,” he said, “there’s so many good pitchers in the league right now. You’ve just got to hang with them and if you don’t like it, play better. That was kind of the mindset I was trying to shift into, but to get the news and be excited to go, it makes everything kind of go away and you just think about the future and going forward.”

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Kevin Ginkel tabbed for saves as Diamondbacks lose another closer to injury

In this week's Closer Report, the Diamondbacks lose another closer to the injured list. The Padres send two relievers to the All-Star game. And Raisel Iglesias appears to be getting back on track in Atlanta. There's much more to cover as we run down the last week in saves.

Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

Tier 1: At the Top

Josh Hader - Houston Astros

Hader has been hurt by home runs of late, with five of his seven allowed on the year coming over the last month. After notching his 25th save against the Dodgers on Saturday, he took the loss on Tuesday, giving up a grand slam in the tenth inning after a scoreless ninth. Still, the 31-year-old left-hander has been the most valuable closer in baseball, posting a 2.38 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, and a 63/9 K/BB ratio across 41 2/3 innings to earn his sixth All-Star honors.

Tier 2: The Elite

Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Edwin Díaz - New York Mets
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Jhoan Duran - Minnesota Twins
Emmanuel Clase - Cleveland Guardians
Robert Suarez - San Diego Padres

Muñoz, making his second All-Star appearance, is a close second behind Hader. He locked down two saves this week with a pair of clean outings against the Pirates. The 26-year-old right-hander has recorded a spectacular 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a 45/13 K/BB ratio over 34 innings.

Díaz, now a three-time All-Star, continues his dominant season with three scoreless outings, picking up a save and a win. The 31-year-old right-hander has allowed just one earned run over his last 24 innings since the start of May. Meanwhile, Chapman extended his scoreless appearance streak to 16 games, striking out two batters against the Nationals on Sunday. The 37-year-old veteran left-hander has been so dominant this season, earning an eighth All-Star selection, that it's fair to speculate whether the Red Sox should trade him regardless of their standings in the playoff race, given the return they could potentially get.

Duran struck out three batters over two innings and picked up the win against the Rays on Saturday. He was then unavailable to pitch on Tuesday due to an illness before returning Wednesday to lock down his 14th save against the Cubs.

Clase blew a save on Sunday against the Tigers, then bounced back against the Astros on Monday with a clean inning for his 19th save. After pitching in a tie game Tuesday, his third straight day on the mound, he got the day off Wednesday as Paul Sewald stepped in for a save.

Suarez, replacing Chris Sale for his second All-Star selection, picked up two saves this week with a pair of clean outings. The 34-year-old right-hander is up to 26 saves with a 3.72 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and a 41/12 K/BB ratio across 38 2/3 innings. Setup man Jason Adam joins him on the NL All-Star roster for the first time with a 1.58 ERA over 45 2/3 frames.

Tier 3: The Solid Options

Mason Miller - Athletics
Devin Williams - New York Yankees
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Félix Bautista - Baltimore Orioles
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Will Vest - Detroit Tigers
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
David Bednar - Pittsburgh Pirates
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Camilo Doval - San Francisco Giants
Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Ryan Helsley - St. Louis Cardinals
Carlos Estévez - Kansas City Royals
Pete Fairbanks - Tampa Bay Rays
Kyle Finnegan - Washington Nationals
Kenley Jansen - Los Angeles Angels

Miller didn't see a save chance this week. He tossed a clean inning with one strikeout in a non-save situation against the Giants on Sunday. In New York, Williams struck out two batters in a perfect inning for his 12th save on Sunday, then converted his 13th with two more strikeouts in a clean frame against the Mariners on Wednesday.

Megill collected three saves and a win this week, with three clean outings against the Marlins and Dodgers. His 21 saves match his season total from 2024 while posting a 2.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and a 43/15 K/BB ratio across 33 2/3 innings.

Bautista added a win and a save, then struck out the side in a tie game in the ninth against the Mets on Tuesday. The 30-year-old right-hander is enjoying a strong comeback season, converting 17 saves with a 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 48/20 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers converted no saves as the team rides a six-game losing streak. Scott tossed a clean eighth inning with two strikeouts against the White Sox last Thursday, then gave up two runs in the eighth against the Astros on Sunday before blowing a save Wednesday against the Brewers. Meanwhile, Vest picked up two saves, striking out the side against the Rays on Tuesday for his 15th of the season. With Vest getting the day off on Saturday, Tommy Kahnle picked up his ninth save, first since June 4.

Pagán continued his stellar season with another save in a scoreless outing against the Phillies on Friday. The 34-year-old right-hander is up to 19 with a 2.92 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and a 45/12 K/BB ratio across 37 innings. Pagán could also be on trade watch depending on where the Reds are in the standings by the end of the month.

Bednar didn't get a save chance this week. He made one appearance, striking out the final batter in the eighth inning against the Royals on Monday for his first outing since July 1. It was a similar situation for Palencia, who needed just five pitches in his only outing this week.

Doval gave up a run on two walks and a hit in a non-save situation against the Athletics on Sunday, then worked around a walk to record his 14th save against the Phillies on Monday. But it was top setup man and bullpen breakout Randy Rodriguez who earned All-Star honors with a 0.69 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, and a 54/8 K/BB ratio across 39 innings.

Hoffman extends his modest scoreless streak to six games as he continues to recover from a terrible May in which he allowed 15 runs over 10 innings. He converted two saves this week to give him 22 on the year.

Helsley tossed a clean inning with one strikeout for a save against the Cubs on Saturday, then worked around a hit and a walk for his 18th save on Tuesday against the Nationals.

In Kansas City, Estévez gave up a run last Thursday, but held on for a four-out save against the Mariners. He then fell in line for a win against Pittsburgh on Tuesday before picking up his 25th save Wednesday. Meanwhile, Fairbanks recorded five outs to fall in line for a win against the Twins on Sunday for his only appearance this week.

Finnegan made a pair of scoreless appearances in non-save situations. And Jansen has extended his streak to 11 outings without allowing an earned run, picking up a win against the Rangers on Monday and his 16th save on Wednesday.

Tier 4: Here for the Saves

Dylan Lee/Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Kevin Ginkel - Arizona Diamondbacks
Matt Strahm/Orion Kerkering - Philadelphia Phillies
Robert Garcia - Texas Rangers

No save chances for Atlanta this week. Lee and Iglesias will presumably continue to work in a committee for saves. Iglesias could work his way into the primary role again, with no runs allowed over his last 9 2/3 innings since giving up three runs on June 5. He's posted a 14/1 K/BB ratio in that span.

The Diamondbacks lost yet another closer with Shelby Miller hitting the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain. The team had already lost AJ Puk and Justin Martinez to season-ending injuries. Ginkel has hardly been effective this season, posting a 9.00 ERA across 20 innings. But he's expected to step in for most save chances. He picked up a save on Monday against the Padres with a scoreless inning. Left-hander Kyle Backhus, mentioned in last week's column, could be someone to watch if Arizona goes to a matchup-based committee.

Jordan Romano hadn't recorded a save since May 29. He got the save chance Tuesday against the Giants with a two-run lead, but gave up three runs on an inside-the-park home run to blow the opportunity and take the loss. Philadelphia should be a team in the market for a closer at the deadline, much like last season when they acquired Carlos Estévez.

There isn't much more clarity in Texas. Garcia has not been sharp on the mound and has just one save over the last month. He took a loss Friday against the Padres. Chris Martin also took a loss this week against the Angels, while both Shawn Armstrong and Hoby Milner were charged with blown saves.

Tier 5: Bottom of the Barrel

Calvin Faucher/Ronny Henriquez - Miami Marlins
Seth Halvorsen - Colorado Rockies
Grant Taylor - Chicago White Sox

Relievers On The Rise/Stash Candidates

Braydon Fisher has emerged as an excellent reliever for the Blue Jays and a big part of the team's recent success. The 24-year-old right-hander made his major league debut this season, posting a 2.30 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 36/7 K/BB ratio across 27 1/3 innings. Working his way up the high-leverage ladder, he's picked up four holds and three wins for Toronto. While Yariel Rodríguez has been effective in a setup role, it could be Fisher in line for saves should Hoffman ever be unavailable. In Pittsburgh, Isaac Mattson has been effective for the Pirates. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.89 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and a 21/7 K/BB ratio across 19 innings while working his way into high-leverage work. With both David Bednar and Dennis Santana expected to draw trade interest at the deadline, Mattson could be someone to watch for save chances down the stretch.

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Jasson Dominguez bringing confidence, an 'amazing skillset' to Yankees' leadoff spot

It's only a small sample size, but the Yankees may have something batting Jasson Dominguez in the leadoff spot.

Wednesday, manager Aaron Boone put out the same lineup he wrote for Tuesday's game -- the first time he's had the same lineup in back-to-back games since April 1-2 -- and received similar results, all with the 22-year-old outfielder hitting leadoff.

After going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the series opener against the Mariners, Dominguez turned it around in Wednesday's 9-6 win. He went 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs and a walk, all while showing off the various skills he brings to the field that have made him one of the organization's top prospects for a number of years.

He was asked what skills he brings to the leadoff spot and Dominguez while showing appreciation to Boone for trusting him in that position.

"I’m able to walk and get those hits and run the bases. That helps me in that spot to be able to perform as a leadoff hitter," he said. "It means a lot when the manager trusts in you and makes me want to play harder."

Dominguez also showed off skills that don't necessarily show on the box score. He took extra bases on the basepaths, scoring from second on a Cody Bellinger single and getting home from first on an Aaron Judge double. And he was clutch, driving in a run of his own with runners on second and third in the sixth inning when the Mariners cut the Yankees' lead to 6-4.

"JD always has confidence. He’s got an amazing skillset and super talented," Boone said of Dominguez's recent performance. "I would say, and I’ve said this a lot, the first few months of the year here, maybe hasn’t been spectacular but it’s been real steady. He gives you a mature at-bat, h continues to improve in the outfield. You’re really seeing his baserunning be a real factor. Speed on the bases scoring first to home...It’s pretty much every at-bat, he has been really dialed in going back to Toronto. He was excellent and I feel like he’s gotten hot this past week."

In that four-game Toronto series, in which the Yankees were swept, Dominguez was one of the few bright spots. He went 9-for-18 with three RBI and three runs scored. If you include the two games he played against the Mets, those numbers improve to 11-for-22 with a two-homer game added in. By the way, in that two-homer game, Dominguez led off.

"Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate," Dominguez said. "I feel like all the work I’m putting in is paying off."

Again, it's only a small sample size. He's appeared in four games (three starts) this season as the leadoff hitter and he's now 8-for-21. We'll see where Boone pencils in his young outfielder in the series finale on Thursday, but batting leadoff needs to be in consideration.

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Yankees cut 2-time batting champ DJ LeMahieu with nearly $22 million left on contract

NEW YORK — DJ LeMahieu was cut Wednesday by the New York Yankees with almost $22 million remaining on his contract, one day after the two-time batting champion got demoted to the bench.

“It's been a tough couple days. Some hard conversations," manager Aaron Boone said before New York's 9-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners. "But in the end, feel like this is the right thing to do at this time."

LeMahieu, who turns 37 on Sunday, was designated for assignment and fellow infielder Jorbit Vivas was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

New York has seven days to trade or release LeMahieu, or send him outright to the minors - an assignment he would have the right to refuse in favor of free agency.

It's very unlikely another team would claim LeMahieu off waivers because he's still owed $21,612,903 from the $90 million, six-year deal he signed with the Yankees prior to the 2021 season. New York must pay him $6,612,903 for the rest of this season and $15 million in 2026.

“Tough decisions," general manager Brian Cashman said. "It ultimately comes down to how this roster sits and what’s best. You want to provide your manager with enough chess moves.”

LeMahieu, a three-time All-Star, was batting .266 with two homers, 12 RBIs and a .674 OPS. He made his season debut May 13 after recovering from a left calf strain and had a .310 average in his last 31 games since June 1.

A versatile defender in the past, LeMahieu has made all 35 of his starts at second base this year - even though he's got plenty of experience at third and the Yankees essentially have a hole there.

Going back to the winter, LeMahieu expressed a preference to play second or first because third base “had become an issue physically” at this stage of his career, Cashman said.

So that's why LeMahieu played second exclusively throughout his minor league rehab assignment and was inserted there when he came off the injured list.

All-Star infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. began the season at second base, his most natural position, after playing third for the Yankees last year. But he got hurt in late April and when he returned in early June from a right oblique strain, he moved back to the hot corner for a while as LeMahieu stayed at second.

“We gave him runway to see what he looked like, to see if this dimension with the current setup was going to be workable,” Cashman said. "At some point, you make some tough decisions.”

LeMahieu won three Gold Gloves at second with Colorado from 2014-18 - and another one in a utility role with the Yankees in 2022. But his range has been diminished by toe, foot, hip and calf injuries in recent years.

The athletic Chisholm, meanwhile, has made some wild throws from third base lately while hindered by a sore shoulder. So on Tuesday, Boone moved Chisholm back to second and put LeMahieu on the bench.

Boone said LeMahieu didn't ask for his release and was willing to start working out at other positions - including third base - to provide options.

But a day later, after multiple meetings with Boone and Cashman this week, LeMahieu's 6 1/2-year tenure with the Yankees came to an unceremonious end.

“Looking at what the next few weeks could unveil, kind of Cash and I decided today like, it was probably the day to go ahead and do it," Boone said. "I just feel like now and how our roster’s built, maybe this gives us some more flexibility in the short term.”

Boone said third base going forward will be “some kind of combination" between Vivas and light-hitting Oswald Peraza, who started at the hot corner for the second consecutive night Wednesday.

Boone also said backup catcher J.C. Escarra could even “figure into that mix.”

Regardless, Cashman will be looking for a third baseman as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.

New York added depth by signing infielder Nicky Lopez and third baseman Jeimer Candelario to minor league contracts this month.

LeMahieu won his first batting title in 2016 with the Rockies and his second with New York in 2020, when he hit .364 with 10 homers and 27 RBIs in 50 games during the pandemic-shortened season.

“As widely respected a player as we’ve had - and understandably so,” Boone said. “He’s earned that with just his professionalism, his toughness, his play on the field and just kind of the quiet way he goes about things. There’s a lot of guys that have an immense amount of respect for DJ.

“Sometimes you have to make hard decisions.”

In another move, the Yankees opened a roster spot for right-hander Cam Schlittler by designating reliever Geoff Hartlieb for assignment. Schlittler was selected from Triple-A to start Wednesday night against Seattle in his major league debut.

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MLB plans to use robot umpire challenge system in All-Star Game next week

NEW YORK — Major League Baseball plans to use its robot umpire technology for ball-strike challenges in Tuesday's All-Star Game at Atlanta, another step toward possible regular-season use next season.

MLB said Wednesday it intends to make the All-Star announcement Thursday.

Teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges during the spring training test, with 617 of 1,182 challenges successful in the 288 exhibition games using the Automated Ball-Strike System. ABS was installed at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams, and an animation of the pitch was shown on video boards displaying the challenge result for spectators to see.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said last month that the ABS system was likely to be considered for regular-season use by the 11-man competition committee, which includes six management representatives.

“I do think that we’re going to pursue the possibility of change in that process and we’ll see what comes out at the end of that,” he said. “The teams are really positive about ABS. I do have that unscientific system that I use: my email traffic. And my distinct impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more prone to complain of balls and strike calls via email to me referencing the need for ABS.”

During the 2024 regular season, 10.9% of called pitches in the strike zone were ruled balls and 6.3% of called pitches outside of the strike zone were ruled strikes, according to MLB Statcast.

MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019.

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Yankees' Cam Schlittler 'under control' in MLB debut: 'He earned this opportunity'

Cam Schlittler got the news on Monday that he would be making his major league debut for the Yankees on Wednesday night against the Seattle Mariners.

The right-hander said it was a "great feeling" when he found out he got the call and it was even better that he was able to join the team on Tuesday, a day before his start, to "get his feet wet" as he and manager Aaron Boone both put it after the game.

"It was really good to get here Tuesday and kind of just get my feet wet a little bit, see how guys go about their business and just kinda (see) the expectations around here," Schlittler said.

That full day of being around the team certainly helped calm the 24-year-old's nerves ahead of his debut, though he admitted to having "more jitters" Wednesday morning. Those jitters soon went away when he arrived back at the ballpark, focused for his first major league start.

After walking the first batter he faced, losing J.P. Crawford on a full count, Schlittler dialed back in and retired the next three batters, including two via strikeouts and showing off his 100 mph fastball in the process.

It's a pitch that Boone has been impressed with since watching Schlittler in spring training.

"Especially when he went up against some of the better lineups… you saw it play and that’s kinda been his calling card coming through," Boone said of the right-hander's fastball. "His size really works for him."

But the fastball wasn't the only pitch that Schlittler relied on. Of course, tempting as it is to try and blow hitters away with triple digits, Schlittler mixed in his secondary pitches as well and did so effectively.

"It’s about being under control and being solid with the secondary stuff and I thought that was as big a deal as anything tonight -- the secondary stuff was solid for him," Boone said. "I thought it was a really composed outing."

After the game, Schlittler mentioned that since the Yankees last saw him in spring training he's since ditched his splitter and gyro and added a cutter to give him a four-pitch mix of fastball, cutter, curveball and slider.

"I’ve seen really good results with it," he said.

He sure has as the 6-foot-6, 225-pounder was called up after pitching to a 2.82 ERA across 15 games (14 starts) between Double-A and Triple-A this season.

"He earned this opportunity, not just because there’s a bunch of guys down, but because he’s absolutely the guy that’s put up the numbers and done the work here in these first few months now at the higher level to get this opportunity," Boone said. "He’s got a big arm and he continues to get better."

After his scoreless first inning, Schlittler pitched well and was aided by a quick 3-0 lead to keep the pressure to a minimum. He exited after 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven on 75 pitches (52 strikes). One of those seven strikeouts came on the last batter he faced, All-Star Cal Raleigh, who leads MLB with 36 home runs and is having one of the greatest seasons for a catcher.

Schlittler struck him out swinging on a 98 mph fastball up and away after striking him out looking in the first. Raleigh finished 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

"I liked the matchup… I just felt like his heater could play," Boone said. "... To be able to get out of there on a high note with some score leverage, I was gonna let him get Raleigh."

When Schlittler walked off the field, he was given a well-deserved standing ovation, although he was too focused on the game to look up and soak the moment in.

"I think I kept the head down, probably should’ve looked up more, but again just fortunate for all the fans and family cheering me on," he said while adding, "it was really loud."

"It’s really good to go out there and put the team in a position to win and just kind of live out that dream," he continued. "... Obviously just trying to get the first one under my belt. Whatever happens I’m just fortunate to be here and get that opportunity and just take it day by day and see what happens."

Boone confirmed after the game that Schlittler will make his next start for the Yankees, taking the spot of Clarke Schmidt, who is out for the rest of the season.

"His stuff really plays and I thought his calm and poise and focus was excellent," the skipper said.

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Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s two homers fuel Yankees' 9-6 win over Mariners

The Yankees' offense remained hot and Cam Schlittler had an impressive major league debut as New York extended its winning streak to three with a 9-6 win over the Mariners.

Manager Aaron Boone put out the same lineup on back-to-back games for the first time since early April and it worked out as the Yankees have now scored 19 runs on 26 hits in the first two games of this series.

Here are the takeaways...

-Yankees prospect Schlittler made his major league debut Wednesday and the flamethrowing righty did not disappoint.

With one out and a man on first in the opening frame, Schlittler struck out Cal Raleigh with a 100 mph fastball on the black, looking for his first major league strikeout. He would strike out Randy Arozarena to end an electric first inning. Prior to Wednesday, the fastest pitch from a Yankees pitcher was a 98.5 mph sinker by Yerry De Los Santos. Schlittler threw six pitches in the first that were faster than that.

Schlittler got the full Yankee Stadium experience, allowing a line drive homer to J.P. Crawford that went 344 feet over the short porch. The second solo shot allowed was a no-doubter off the bat of Jorge Polanco that went 417 feet just inside the right field pole.

Schlitter came out for the sixth inning and after a ground-rule double to Julio Rodriguez, the young right-hander struck out Raleigh for the second time. Boone pulled his young pitcher to a standing ovation from the Yankee Stadium crowd.

Other than those two long balls, Schlittler was impressive. He threw 5.1 innings (75 pitches/52 strikes), allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

-The third earned run allowed by Schlittler was thanks to Jonathan Loaisiga. Arozarena took the first pitch Loaisiga threw and deposited it into the right field stands to cut the Yankees lead to 6-4. He then allowed a two-run shot to Cole Young -- the first of his career -- in the seventh. Loaisiga has now allowed six home runs this season, the most he's given up in one year since 2019.

Luke Weaver came on and dominated. Weaver picked up five outs, allowing just one baserunner (HBP) and striking out three.

Devin Williams pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to lock down the Yankees' third consecutive win and their first series win in July.

-The Yankees' offense broke out in a big way with 10 runs on Tuesday and had a great start on Wednesday. They put up three runs in the first inning thanks to RBI singles by Cody Bellinger and Giancarlo Stanton, and an RBI groundout by Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Chisholm would add a solo shot in the third and a two-run shot in the fifth to give the Yankees a 6-2 lead. The Yankees second baseman has 10 home runs since returning from the IL on June 3. Only Raleigh and Aaron Judge have more in the AL, with 13 homers each.

-After the Mariners cut the Yankees' lead to 6-4, New York's offense put up a three-spot in the sixth thanks to the top of the order. After Austin Wells hit a leadoff double and Oswald Peraza reached on an error by Rodriguez, Jasson Dominguez singled home Wells and Judge doubled in two more.

Four Yankees had multi-hit games with Dominguez having the best game, finishing 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs and one RBI.

-Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Wednesday that he still believes in Anthony Volpe, and the young shortstop did pick up a single -- but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a double -- and finished 1-for-4.

Game MVP: Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Chisholm's homers came whenever the Mariners cut into the team's lead. They were clutch and with the bullpen's woes, the Yankees needed every run they could get.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Mariners wrap up their three-game set Thursday night in the Bronx. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Marcus Stroman (1-1, 7.45 ERA) will take the mound while All-Star Bryan Woo (8-4, 2.77 ERA) will be on the bump for Seattle.