Category: Sports News

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas left Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves after seven innings, feeling something in his hip earlier in the game.

Rojas said he first felt it coming out of the batters box in the second inning, then again in the fifth inning while trying to turn a double play at second base. He described it as more a dead leg feeling, while manager Dave Roberts called it a “hip flexor, quad thing.”

Either way, Rojas and the Dodgers don’t expect him to miss much time, if at all. Roberts said the plan is for Rojas to start during the series against the San Francisco Giants when left-hander Robbie Ray starts. Ray started Friday night, which lines him up for either Wednesday or Thursday night in Los Angeles. Rojas this season is 10-for-31 with three doubles and a home run against southpaws, though is hitless in his last 12 such at-bats.

Rojas was involved heavily in Friday night’s win. He reached on an error in the fifth inning, and scored the go-ahead run on an elongated headfirst slide at home plate on a single by Shohei Ohtani.

It was also his bobblehead night, with fans at Dodger Stadium receiving a bobblehead commemorating Rojas’s Game 7-tying home run in the ninth inning in Toronto.

The enormity of that moment was evident on Friday, based on the crowd reaction at Dodger Stadium at various moments, including when World Series highlights were shown on screen. About 15 minutes before first pitch, Rojas was running in the outfield and happened to be alone. The cheers serenaded him as Rojas got to center field, stopping to stretch. That’s when the cheers got very loud, with Rojas acknowledged with a wave.

“I can’t really put into words how grateful that I am for this fanbase, and the love that I’ve been receiving these last couple months,” Rojas said. “The whole day was special for me, having my family out there, having friends behind me, getting to see them really excited to get the bobblehead, and get a little bit, kind of like memories about what happened last year. It was pretty cool, and I’m so grateful.”

Aaron Rojas, Miguel’s son, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to his dad before the game.

“He wanted to do it all the way from the mounds,” Rojas said. “It was a really cool moment for him.”

On the mend

Dodgers reliever Ben Casparius has been out since April 13 with right shoulder inflammation. He’s currently on a throwing program at Camelback Ranch in Arizona, with no set timetable yet for his return.

“I don’t know when it is, but he’s on a longer timetable,” Roberts said Friday. “Once he starts facing hitters and goes on a rehab, then it’ll be more of a conversation.”

The San Francisco Giants traded catcher Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians, the teams announced Saturday.

San Francisco will also receive the 29th overall pick in July's MLB draft and pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson. The draft pick is part of the Competitive Balance Round A, which is the only type of pick that can be traded and follows the first round of the draft.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Bailey, Cleveland will option catcher Bo Naylor to Triple-A Columbus. Naylor is hitting .143 with two home runs and seven RBI this season.

Bailey, 26, has won the National League's Gold Glove at catcher in each of the past two seasons.

Bailey is batting .146 with one home run and five RBIs in 30 games this season with San Francisco (15-23), which is tied for the worst record in the NL. The 20th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Bailey has a .599 OPS since the start of 2024, the second-worst of any MLB hitter with 800 plate appearances in that span.

He was recently replaced in this lineup as the Giants adopted a platoon system, with Jesús Rodríguez and Eric Haase filling in for Bailey. Daniel Susac will also be in the mix to be the everyday catcher when he returns from the 10-day injured list as he works his way back from right elbow ulnar neuritis.

Diamondbacks News

Snakes Fall to Mets in Extras
Ryan Waldschmidt made his MLB debut coming off the bench for Arizona. He singled in his first Major League at-bat. However, the spark of the highly-anticipated rookie making his debut was not enough to wake the offense up. The Diamondbacks still managed only one run across ten innings, including failing to score the Manfred Man.

Arizona Promotes Waldschmidt, DFAs Alek Thomas
The highly anticipated roster moves have now been made. Oh, and Tyler Locklear was also activated from the 10-day IL and optioned to Reno.

Diamondbacks Kickstart Outfield Revamp
Will the post-deadline outfield be Waldschmidt, Lawwlar, Carroll, and Robinson?

When, Where and Why Ryan Waldschmidt will Play
Expect plenty of Waldschmidt in center with some time in left if Gurriel gets the day off. The hope is that Waldschmidt’s plate discipline will translate tot he Majors.

The Hilarious Story of the Waldschmidt Call-Up
When expecting a talk about concussion protocols turns into an unexpected call-up.

Why Arizona DFA’d Alek Thomas
With a minor league option left available, did Arizona make the right call?

Other Baseball News

Guardians Acquire Patrick Bailey
Good news for Arizona fans, Patrick Bailey is out of the division. San Francisco will receive left-handed pitching prospect Matt Wilkinson and the 29th overall pick of the 2026 draft (the first selection of Competitive Balance Round A, which are the only types of picks that can be dealt).

Misiorowski Flashes 103.6 mph Heat
Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski set a standard for velocity by a starting pitcher while keeping up his habit of performing best in high-profile situations. Misiorowski threw 10 pitches of at least 103 mph while striking out 11 over six dominant innings in the Brewers’ 6-0 home victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night

Dodgers Continue Revolving Door to Rotation
Blake Snell will be coming off the IL and making his season debut today, just in time for Tyler Glasnow to go to the IL.

Things PROBABLY Can’t Get Worse for the Reds
What a difference a week can make for a team’s fortunes.

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Blake Snell returns to the big leagues as the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.

Snell gives the Boys in Blue a boost, so I’m backing the home team with my Braves vs. Dodgers predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, May 9.

Who will win Braves vs Dodgers today: Dodgers moneyline (-170)

Both starting pitchers are in a similar situation in that they’re recently returning from a prolonged stay on the injured list, and they’ve both been among the league’s best arms when on top of their game. Only one has a favorable outlook, however.

Blake Snell nearly always pitches at an elite level when healthy, so he should be his usual dominant self in a pitch-count shortened appearance today.

There are major red flags with Spencer Strider, who allowed nine baserunners in 3 1/3 innings in his 2026 debut. His stuff wasn’t there (84 Stuff+), a worrying trend since he was last effective in 2023. 

COVERS INTEL: In his 2026 debut, Strider’s average fastball velocity (94.6 mph) was down a tick from a year ago (95.4 mph), and several ticks from his peak (98.1 mph).

Braves vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)

These are two potent offenses playing in weather ripe for hitting. It’ll be 78 degrees at the time of first pitch, with winds of eight mph blowing out to dead center.

The Atlanta Braves have scored more runs (214) than any team other than the Cubs, whereas the Los Angeles Dodgerslead the majors in wRC+ (124) against right-handed pitching. 

Nothing about Strider’s current status indicates he can hold down a star-studded Dodgers lineup. While Snell is an ace, he’ll be on a significant pitch count after tossing 55 pitches in his last rehab start. 

Braves vs Dodgers odds

• Moneyline: Braves +146 | Dodgers -174
• Run line: Braves +1.5 | Dodgers -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Braves vs Dodgers trend

The Dodgers are 8-0 in their last eight home games against the Braves. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Dodgers.

How to watch Braves vs Dodgers and game info

Braves vs Dodgers latest injuries

Braves vs Dodgers weather

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Upon trading for superstar Alex Rodriguez in February 2004 and moving him to third base, the Yankees could rest easy knowing that they had secured a real long-term answer for the hot corner. For the better part of nine years, the Yankees planned their seasons with A-Rod penciled in at third, but by 2014, they ran into a dilemma. Multiple hip surgeries and the aches of age had worn down his ability to man third, and off-field controversy had finally caught up to him, leading to a PED suspension for the entire 2014 campaign. Although A-Rod would return, he was almost exclusively a designated hitter.

In the 13 years since A-Rod’s decline truly began in 2013, the Yankees have cycled through several names in search of an answer. Twenty different players (including A-Rod himself) have accumulated at least 100 PA at third for them since then, and they comprise quite the odd roll call. DJ LeMahieu leads the way in terms of playing time, but the man with the second-most is the focus of our birthday feature today: Chase Headley. A one-time standout in San Diego acquired by Yankees GM Brian Cashman via trade, the switch-hitter falls into a sort of middle ground of memory. New York fans who followed those mid-2010s teams will recall his modest play, but for those who didn’t become diehards until after the fact? His legacy is a little more fuzzy.

Chase Jordan Headley
Born: May 9, 1984 (Fountain, CO)
Yankees Tenure: 2014-17

A Colorado native who grew up a little over an hour outside Denver in Fountain, Headley found his calling card in baseball at Fountain-Fort Carson High School. The valedictorian of his class, he went on to attend the University of the Pacific, where he hit .330/.453/.464 as a freshman and quickly earned national attention. Headley transferred to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and continued to ascend despite an injury in his sophomore campaign. He broke school records in his junior season and helped lead the Volunteers to a 2005 College World Series berth before being selected by the Padres in the second round of the 2005 MLB Draft, just three picks after the Yankees selected somewhat-forgotten Longhorn righty J. Brent Cox.

The third baseman moved up the minor league rankings over two seasons, being named the Texas League Player of the Year with a .330/.437/.580 triple slash for the 2007 San Antonio Missions. He made his MLB debut that same year, appearing in a handful of contests in June when the Padres needed big-league help before returning for a cup of coffee at the very end of the year. He went hitless in his first career game but registered his first knock in his third, a single against future teammate Rich Hill.

Prior to 2008, Headley was named among the top 35 MLB prospects by both Baseball Prospectus and Baseabll America. He spent his spring with Triple-A Portland and earned a more long-term look with San Diego by mid-June. He played in 91 games in ’08, producing a slash line of .269/.337/.420 and an OPS+ of 110. Headley’s first career homer actually came in an interleague game at Old Yankee Stadium, taking reliever Kyle Farnsworth deep on June 18th.

After proving that he could be an above-average hitter at the major league level, Headley became a full-time Padres player in 2009. In 156 games, Headley was still an above-average player at the plate, finishing the year with a .262 batting average and a 102 OPS+.

The biggest problem in Headley’s first full season was the strikeout, as it can be for many young players trying to adjust to life full-time with the best of the best. In those 156 games, Headley finished with 133 strikeouts, which ranked among the top 30 of all MLB hitters. However, he reached double-digit home runs for the first time in his career with 12 and achieved the 60-RBI plateau as well. Headley was also still primarily playing left field since Kevin Kouzmanoff was San Diego’s de facto third baseman.

By 2010, Kouzmanoff had been traded, opening up the hot corner for Headley. It was his natural position throughout his time in college and the minors, and he turned into a terrific defender aet third.

Headley gradually came into his own as a big leaguer across 2010 and 2011. Those years merely represented a prelude for 2012 — a season for the ages and the one he’s best known for around baseball.

In 2012, not only did Headley miss only one game, but across those 161 appearances, Headley put his name on the map amid frequent rumors of a potential trade. He slashed .286/.376/.498 with an OPS+ of 145. He walked a career-high 86 times, stole a career-high 17 bases, and also had career highs in home runs (31), RBI’s (115), OPS+ (145), and WAR (6.4). Those home runs were the most of any NL third baseman, and the RBI’s were also not just the most of his career, but they were also the highest in the National League. In 2012, Headley also received major league honors, finishing with a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award, while also finishing fifth in NL MVP voting.

Entering camp for his age-29 season, the Padres thought they had a star on their hands. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for 2012 to look like an outlier. Headley’s 2013 was marred by injury, though, as he started the season on the then-disabled list due to a hand injury in spring training after a slide into second base, and he played through a torn meniscus in his left knee throughout the year, which he believed contributed to his decline in offensive production. Headley’s OPS+ was still a productive 115, but his power was more than halved to 13 homers. He would never again hit even 15 homers in a season.

At the start of 2014, Headley’s numbers took another dip, and this time, the Padres decided it would be best to move on. So on July 22nd, the Padres traded Headley to the Yankees. In return, they received a replacement in Yangervis Solarte—who had come to spring training as a non-roster invitee and soon became a fan favorite and primary third baseman in A-Rod’s absence—and pitching prospect Rafael De Paula. Flying to New York that day, Headley’s travels meant that he didn’t start, but he entered his first game as a Yankee in the eighth inning, pinch-hitting for Zelous Wheeler. Although he struck out, the game went deep into the night, and a 14th-inning rally found Headley with a chance to win it in his pinstriped debut.

The walk-off was a good omen for Headley’s first foray in pinstripes. He hit .262/.371/.398 with a 119 OPS+ in 58 games down the stretch for the Yankees, winning more fans over with a walk-off homer on September 4th against the defending champion Red Sox for good measure. It was a super-effective start to his career in the Bronx. The only downside was that the 2014 Yankees were a pretty mediocre squad on the whole, featuring some famous names but underwhelming results while missing the playoffs with just 84 wins.

Encouraged by his second half, the Yankees and Headley came together on a four-year, $52 million deal a month after the third baseman hit free agency. It wasn’t a huge investment—certainly not the kind that something closer to his 2012 might have merited—but it still proved to be a bit of an overpay. Headley’s offense plummeted back down to Earth, mustering only a 91 OPS+ across 2015-16 while hitting .256/.327/.703. He was still a useful defender, but the power that he had once shown continued to be lost, save for the occasionalflash. The Yankees were one-and-done as a Wild Card team in 2015, Headley going 0-for-3 in the shutout at the hands of Houston’s Dallas Keuchel.

After missing the playoffs in 2016, the Yankees surged back to the postseason with a surprising new core in 2017 led by a rookie Aaron Judge. Headley was better than he had been the previous two years and actually recorded an acceptable 100 OPS+ on the dot, batting .273/.352/.406 with 30 doubles and 12 homers. Seeking to boost their lineup at the Trade Deadline, the Yankees acquired third baseman Todd Frazier as part of a package from the White Sox, and took advantage of Headley’s always-maintained corner infield versatility by sliding him over to first base, where there was an opening due to Greg Bird’s midseason injury.

When Bird returned in time for the postseason, Headley and fellow odd mid-2010s signing Jacoby Ellsbury found themselves in the odd position of competing for DH time at the bottom of the lineup with incumbent Matt Holliday all but rendered a nonfactor due to an ailing back. Headley went hitless until the ALCS, when he suddenly came alive after the series against the infamous 2017 Astros shifted to Yankee Stadium. He went 7-for-15 across the final five games of the series in what turned out to be his last gasp of production as a big leaguer, delivering a pinch-hit single in the come-from-behind eighth-inning rally of Game 4 and then registering three hits in the 5-0 win in Game 5 that put New York on the brink of the pennant with a 3-2 series lead.

So close to what would have been the first World Series appearance of his career, Headley instead never made it. The Yankees infamously dropped the final two games in Houston and were sent packing.

Headley was still well-liked in the clubhouse, but the Yankees felt that they could only trust his 2017 results so much, even with Frazier vacating third base as a free agent. So when the Padres expressed an interest in young pitcher Bryan Mitchell, the Yankees offered to send him west if San Diego was willing to pick up almost all of the $13 million still owed to Headley for 2018; they had just made the megatrade for Giancarlo Stanton and were looking to get their payroll in order.

After some negotiations, the Padres were game, so Headley found himself back in San Diego. The reunion was brief. He went 6-for-52 (.115) with no power in 27 games, and he was released in May, marking the end of his 12-year career. Since stepping away from the game, he’s led a quiet retirement, understandably content to focus on family and raising his two sons, Colt and Cale, with his wife, Casey.

Happy 42nd birthday, Chase!

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.