Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (20-18)

ROCHESTER 8, SYRACUSE 5 (BOX)

The recently signed Xzarion Curry made his first start as a member of the organization and the right-hander was alright, allowing a pair of runs over five innings. The bullpen took over in the top of the sixth with the score tied 2-2, and that’s where things went downhill. Joey Gerber allowed three runs in the sixth, the recently signed Cionel Perez allowed a run in the seventh, and Anderson Severino allowed two runs in the ninth. Syracuse went down fighting, at least, scoring a run in the sixth and two in the seventh; in that seventh inning, they had the opportunity to mount a true comeback, loading up the bases, but Christian Arroyo struck out to end the inning.

·  DH A.J. Ewing: 2-5, 2B, RBI, SB (5)

·  CF Nick Morabito: 0-3, BB, 2 K

·  RF Ryan Clifford: 2-3, 2 R, 3B, HR (7), RBI, BB, K

·  1B Christian Arroyo: 0-3, RBI, 2 K

·  3B Yonny Hernández: 0-4, K

·  LF Cristian Pache: 1-4, R, HR (4), RBI, 3 K

·  C Hayden Senger: 0-4, 3 K, PB (7)

·  SS Jackson Cluff: 2-4, 2 R, HR (5), RBI, K, SB (3)

·  2B Kevin Villavicencio: 1-3, 2 K

·  PH Ji Hwan Bae: 0-1

·  RHP Xzavion Curry: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

·  RHP Joey Gerber: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, L (1-1)

·  LHP Cionel Pérez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Dylan Ross: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K

·  LHP Anderson Severino: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Alex Carrillo: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (11-22)

GAME ONE

HARTFORD 5, BINGHAMTON 2 / 7 (BOX)

Irving Kota was quite hittable in his four-plus innings of work, allowing five runs on nine hits. The Rumble Pony bats kept them in the game early, with Eli Serrano driving in a run on a double and a second run scoring during the sequence on a fielding error, but that ended up being the totality of their offense for the contest.

·  DH Eli Serrano III: 1-4, 2B, RBI, 2 K

·  3B Jacob Reimer: 0-4, 3 K

·  CF Jose Ramos: 1-2, BB, SB (3)

·  C Kevin Parada: 1-3, K

·  1B JT Schwartz: 0-3

·  LF TT Bowens: 0-2, BB

·  RF Matt Rudick: 0-2, R, BB, SB (2)

·  SS Wyatt Young: 1-3, 2B, 2 K

·  2B Diego Mosquera: 0-2, R, BB, K

·  RHP Irving Cota: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, HBP, L (0-1)

·  LHP Gabriel Rodriguez: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  LHP Jefry Yan: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

GAME TWO

HARTFORD 5, BINGHAMTON 0 / 7 (BOX)

At least they weren’t no-hit? It’s been a few weeks since I wrote a report where Binghamton got no-hit, so I feel like we’re due. Outside of R.J. Gordon allowing five runs in the top of the second, Binghamton’s pitching was solid. The bats, on the other hand? Not so much. With two hits in this contest, Wyatt Young boosted his team-leading batting average to .225. That about says it all.

·  CF Eli Serrano III: 0-2, 2 BB, K, SB (1)

·  DH Jacob Reimer: 0-3, 2 K

·  C Chris Suero: 0-0, 3 BB, SB (7)

·  RF Jose Ramos: 1-3, K

·  3B Nick Lorusso: 1-3, K

·  LF JT Schwartz: 0-3, 2 K

·  2B Wyatt Young: 2-3, CS (1)

·  1B Onix Vega: 0-3

·  SS Diego Mosquera: 0-2, BB, K

·  RHP R.J. Gordon: 1.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, E (1), L (0-1)

·  LHP Matt Turner: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, WP

·  RHP Brian Metoyer: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

·  RHP Douglas Orellana: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

·  LHP Felipe De La Cruz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (8-24)

BOWLING GREEN 5, BROOKLYN 4 (BOX)

With the score tied 4-4 going into the bottom of the ninth, Joe Charles was summoned from the bullpen. The right-hander walked the first batter he faced and then allowed a double, putting the winning run 90 feet away. After escaping leaving a meatball right down Broadway, he got burned by throwing a hanger down and in to centerfielder Theo Gillen, who laced a line drive down the first base line to win it for the Hot Rods.

·  SS Mitch Voit: 0-4

·  2B Yonatan Henriquez: 0-3, BB, 2 K

·  RF John Bay: 0-4, K, CS (2)

·  DH Ronald Hernandez: 2-4, 2 R, 2 HR (3, 4), 2 RBI, 2 K

·  C Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-4, K, E (6)

·  3B Colin Houck: 1-4, K

·  1B Trace Willhoite: 0-2, R, BB

·  LF Vincent Perozo: 2-3, R

·  CF Sam Biller: 1-3, RBI, SB (2)

·  RHP Brady Miller: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

·  RHP Garrett Stratton: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, BS (1)

·  RHP Bryce Jenkins: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

·  RHP Joe Charles: 0.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, L (0-1)

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (14-19)

LAKELAND 8, ST. LUCIE 3 (BOX)

Daviel Hurtado and Nicolas Carreno combined to throw six solid innings, with the former allowing a run on 2 hits over 2.0 innings while striking out 4 and the latter allowing a run on 2 hits and 3 walks over 4.0 innings while striking out 7. Elwis Mijares replaced Carreno in the bottom of the seventh and let the game get away from St. Lucie after allowing five runs to score. The bats were sluggish to start things off, but came alive in the later innings, scoring a run apiece in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings.

 ·  SS Elian Peña: 2-4, R, RBI, BB, CS (3)

·  LF JT Benson: 1-4, 2B, BB, K

·  1B Randy Guzman: 1-4, BB, 3 K

·  RF AJ Salgado: 0-4, 3 K

·  C Julio Zayas: 1-3, R, BB, 2 K

·  3B Sam Robertson: 1-4, K, SB (17), E (4)

·  DH Chase Meggers: 1-4, RBI

·  CF Simon Juan: 3-4, R

·  2B Branny De Oleo: 0-3, BB, 2 K

·  LHP Daviel Hurtado: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

·  RHP Nicolas Carreno: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, WP

·  RHP Elwis Mijares: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, L (2-2)

·  RHP Joe Scarborough: 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Rookie: FCL Mets (1-6)

NO GAME (SCHEDULE)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Ronald Hernandez

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Joe Charles

Last Week’s Results

• Monday: Cardinals 6, Brewers 3
• Tuesday: Postponed (rescheduled for July 7)
• Wednesday: Brewers 6, Cardinals 2
• Thursday: Off Day
• Friday: Brewers 6, Yankees 0
• Saturday: Brewers 4, Yankees 3
• Sunday: Brewers 4, Yankees 3

Division Standings

• Cubs 27-14
• Brewers 22-16
• Cardinals 23-17
• Pirates 22-19
• Reds 22-19

Last Week

• Cubs: 5-2
• Brewers: 4-1
• Cardinals: 3-3
• Pirates: 3-3
• Reds: 2-5

Top Pitching Performance of the Week

Just like last week, our selection here goes to Jacob Misiorowski. Miz made all sorts of history on Friday night when he threw the seven fastest pitches ever thrown by a starting pitcher, but it wasn’t just that he was throwing hard: the Yankees couldn’t hit him, either. Misiorowski threw six shutout innings, struck out 11 batters, and allowed just two hits and two walks while outdueling Max Fried.

As for honorable mentions, there were good pitching performances up and down the roster this week, but I’d like to single out Aaron Ashby, who picked up two more wins this week and threw five scoreless innings across three outings.

Top Hitting Performance of the Week

There are several players worthy of this honor this week, but I’m going to go with Sunday’s walkoff hero, Brice Turang. He hit two of the team’s four homers this week, including Sunday’s winner, and compiled an OPS over 1.000. Sure, Tchaikovsky seems appropriate for the occasion.

Honorable mentions to Jake Bauers, who was 4-for-9 with a homer, a double, and two walks, plus the two “we’re back” guys: Andrew Vaughn, who homered and had a .982 OPS over his first five games back, and Jackson Chourio, who sparked the offense in St. Louis and picked up a team-high eight hits (three of which were doubles) this week.

Injury Notes & Roster Moves

• The biggest news this week was on Monday, when Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn were both, finally, activated from the injured list. In corresponding moves, Blake Perkins was optioned to Triple-A Nashville and Greg Jones was designated for assignment. Jones cleared waivers and was outrighted to Nashville four days later.
• Perkins, though, did not stay in the minors for long. Brandon Lockridge suffered a scary, but ultimately hopefully relatively minor, injury when when he crashed into the wall going after a foul ball on Friday night. On Saturday, Lockridge was placed on the injured list, and Perkins was back with the Brewers after just two games with the Sounds.
• We got a positive update Friday on Christian Yelich, who has been out since April 13th. He has been swinging and running the bases, and the team mentioned that he could be back with the Brewers as soon as the next series.
• Brandon Woodruff was scheduled to begin throwing again on Saturday. We’ll see how he responds, but given that there’s supposedly nothing structurally wrong, he could rejoin the team soon.
• Ángel Zerpa, who was placed on the injured list last week, needs Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season. That surgery is scheduled for Monday.
• Akil Baddoo is getting close, and should go out on a minor-league rehab assignment this week.

On Deck

• Monday: Off Day
• Tuesday: vs. Padres (6:40 p.m.)
• Wednesday: vs. Padres (6:40 p.m.)
• Thursday: vs. Padres (12:40 p.m.)
• Friday: @ Twins (7:10 p.m.)
• Saturday: @ Twins (6:10 p.m.)
• Sunday: @ Twins (1:10 p.m.)

Free of charge for the discerning reader.

Happy birthday to Milt Pappas, and a mighty host of others.

Today in baseball history, in 1955, Ernie Banks hits a grand slam — the first of five on the year — to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 10-8 victory that snaps the Brooklyn Dodgers‘ 11-game winning streakand other stories as well.

Today in baseball history:

• 1904 – Cy Young‘s 23-inning no-hit string ends. The streak included two innings on April 25th, six on April 30th, a perfect game against the Philadelphia Athletics on May 5th, and six innings today.
• 1919 – Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators pitches 12 scoreless innings in a duel with Jack Quinn of the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Johnson allows only two hits and retires 28 batters in a row.
• 1946 – The New York Giants defeat the Boston Braves, 5-1, in the first night game played at Braves Field. The 37,407 fans are surprised as their hometown heroes enter the field wearing shiny satin uniforms designed to reflect the light generated by the electricity used for the evening contest.
• 1957 – Even though the game is practically over before the Pirates come to bat, having given up six runs to the Phillies in the top of the 1st inning, the first Pirate at-bat provides the most memorable moment of the game, Roberto Clemente‘s 440-plus-foot inside-the-park home run. The Phils win the game, 7-2.
• 1963 – Sandy Koufax pitches the second of four career no-hitters to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Francisco, 8 – 0.
• 1972 – Tom Seaver wins his 100th game in a 2-1 New York Mets victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets also acquire veteran outfielder Willie Mays from the San Francisco Giants for pitcher Charlie Williams and $50,000.
• 1980 – 39-year-old Pete Rose steals second base, third, and home in one inning for the Phillies. The last National League player to pull off this feat had been Jackie Robinson in 1954.
• 1990 – Dave Winfield rejects a trade that would have sent him from the New York Yankees to the California Angels in exchange for pitcher Mike Witt. A no-trade clause in Winfield’s contract gives him the right to turn down the deal. Five days later, Winfield will reach an agreement with the Yankees and give his permission for the trade to take place.
• 1998 – Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs sets the major league record for strikeouts in consecutive games (33) by fanning 13 Arizona Diamondbacks in a 4-2 victory. The record for strikeouts in two starts had been 32, set by Luis Tiant in 1968 and matched by Nolan Ryan (1974), Dwight Gooden (1984) and Randy Johnson (1997).
• 2000 – The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs, 14-8, in the longest nine-inning game in National League history: 4 hours, 22 minutes. The game features one of the longest home runs in the history of Wrigley Field. A picture circulated by the Associated Press puts it this way: “Rick Frohock celebrates on the rooftop of a three-story building on Waveland Ave. behind the left-field bleachers of Wrigley Field after catching a home run hit by Chicago’s Glenallen Hill against the Brewers. It was believed to be the first time a ball landed on top of the apartment building.” Hill’s shot is estimated at 490 feet by the next day’s press accounts and eventually measured at 500 feet.
• 2009 – Ryan Zimmerman goes 4 for 5 with two home runs to extend his hitting streak to 29 games, but San Francisco beats Washington, 11 – 7. Randy Johnson strikes out nine for career win number 298. The game features the tallest pitching match-up in history, with the 6′ 10″ Johnson facing Daniel Cabrera, who stands 6′ 9″.
• 2012 – Brandon Inge drives in four runs as the A’s romp past the Tigers, 11-4. Detroit released Inge earlier this season, but he is now on a tear, becoming the first major leaguer since Lou Gehrig in 1931 to drive in four or more runs four times in a five-game span.
• 2016 – Max Scherzer ties the major league record by striking out 20 batters in a nine-inning game against his former team as the Nationals defeat the Tigers, 3-2. He now shares the mark with Roger Clemens (who did it twice), Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson. Scherzer does not issue a single walk in the game.

Cubs Birthdays:Trenidad Hubbard, Jerry Martin, Milt Pappas,* Mel Wright, Gene Hermanski, Dewey Adkins, Jim Connor. Also notable: Charlie Gehringer HOF.

Today in history:

• 330 – Newly built city of Constantinople (Byzantium) dedicated to Emperor Constantine the Great, becomes the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.
• 868 – “The Diamond Sutra”, the world’s oldest surviving and dated printed book is printed in Chinese and made into a scroll.
• 1812 – The Waltz is introduced into English ballrooms; some observers consider it disgusting and immoral.
• 1864 – Battle of Yellow Tavern in Henrico County, Virginia; Union Army prevails and Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart is mortally wounded.
• 1900 – James J. Jeffries KOs James J Corbett in 23 for heavyweight boxing title.
• 1931 – “M” Fritz Lang’s first sound film starring Peter Lorre premieres in Berlin.
• 1947 – BF Goodrich announced the development of tubeless tire.
• 1959 – “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb” by Edd Byrnes & Connie Stevens hits #4.
• 1965 – Ellis Island added to Statue of Liberty National monument.
• 1969 – British comedy troupe Monty Python forms, made up of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.

Special Music Segment! Since you probably didn’t know all the words to “Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb,” here are several that you should know:

• 1963 – “Puff (The Magic Dragon)” single by Peter, Paul & Mary hits #2; Peter Yarrow adapted a poem that college classmate Lenny Lipton had left behind after borrowing Yarrow’s typewriter.
• 1968 – Irish actor Richard Harris releases single “MacArthur Park”; it becomes a million-seller topping the charts in Canada and Australia, and peaking at #2 in US and #4 in UK.
• 1970 – “The Long and Winding Road” becomes Beatles’ last American single release.
• 1974 – ABC Records releases Steely Dan single “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” from the “Pretzel Logic “album; it peaks at #4 in the US, making it their biggest hit.
• 1975 – Capitol Records releases Natalie Cole‘s debut album “Inseparable”; it features two hits “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” and the title track.
• 1981 – Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s musical “Cats” (based on poetry by T. S. Eliot) directed by Trevor Nunn, opens at the New London Theatre in the West End, London; runs for 8,949 performances.
• 1985 – Madonna‘s “Crazy For You” single goes #1.

*pictured.

Is Cristopher Sanchez at the beginning of a Cy Young run? He’s got his ERA down to 2.11 and has looked dominant the past two outings. There’s this guy in Los Angeles is having an arguably better season, but Sanchez has put himself back into the conversation.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Brandon Marsh had another great day at the plate, going 4 for 4 on Sunday. He’s “believing” in himself ($).
• The Phillies made another waiver claim yesterday, bringing Jackson Rutledge into their organization. A good depth piece.
• Keith Law went to see some Phillies’ prospects this weekend and came away with decent looks at Dante Nori, Bryan Rincon and Aroon Escobar ($).

MLB news:

• The Reds have had a nice start to season, but they’re going to be without Rhett Lowder for a little while his shoulder is barking.
• Harrison Bader has been on the injured list since April 15, but it’s starting to look like a return is near in his future.
• The inside story of why the Giants decided to trade Patrick Bailey to the Guardians is really kind of interesting ($).

The rise of Cam Schlittler has not just been one of the most thrilling Yankees stories to watch over the last year, but one of the best stories in all of baseball. Once a mid-rotation starter with modest fastball velocity in college, Schlittler has transformed into a monster, a fire-breathing dragon of a pitcher that mows you down with pure gas every fifth day. It’s still a bit shocking to say, given he was a relative unknown as recently as a year ago, but he’s on the short list of AL Cy Young contenders right now.

But there’s another Yankee pitcher that will make a case for the league’s highest pitching honor. Max Fried hasn’t gone through any kind of meteoric rise over the last year or two, instead steadily continuing to ply his trade as one of the best left-handed hurlers in the sport.

If you had to choose, which pitcher do you think is more likely to actually take home Cy Young hardware this year? Betting markets peg Schlittler as a narrow favorite, but he and Fried are neck-and-neck at the top, and they each look they have a real chance to end up in first.

Schlittler’s bona fides require little introduction. He has been, by most measures, the best pitcher in baseball in 2026, leading the league by distance in both fWAR and RA-9 WAR, unsurprising given he leads the majors in both FIP and ERA. There is no one who seems more likely on a given night to fire seven shutout innings.

Fried, for his part, has not been quite as dominant but has still been excellent. Though he lags a bit in ERA (12th in the AL at the moment), he’s sixth FIP and actually leads the Junior Circuit in expected ERA per Statcast, even outstripping Schlittler himself.

Schlittler’s resume so far is more impressive, and if you’re to base your choice on who has performed best in 2026, there is no comparison. But where Fried has an argument is in his reliability. There are few better bets to reach the 200-inning threshold this year than Fried, who FanGraphs projects to finish the year with 202 frames to his name. Schlittler might have more upside this season, and in any given start, than anyone on the planet, but Fried has the track record and is seemingly the safer bet to complete a full season’s workload.

Ultimately, it’ll be a delight if either Yankee secures the award, and all we’ll have to do here is root for them to finish 1-2 in some order. But if you had to handicap it now, who do you think has the better chance?

On the site today, Sam helps us turn the page on a dreadful series in Milwaukee by previewing the three-game set in Baltimore. Also, John profiles Walt Terrell as part of our Yankee Birthday series, and Kevin recaps a busy Sunday around the American League. And later, Josh wonders what’s gotten into the Tampa Bay Rays, while Madison puts out the call for this week’s mailbag.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles

Time: 6:35 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, MASN

Venue: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD

The first official mock draft has been released by MLB.com and reporter Jim Callis is predicting that the Pittsburgh Pirates will select the best pitcher in the class.

With the fifth overall pick, the Pirates are projected to draft right handed pitcher Jackson Flora out of UC Santa Barbara. This year Flora has been looked at as the consensus best pitcher in the class. The Junior righty has a 9-0 record in 2026 and leads NCAA Division I in earned run average with a 0.73 ERA this year.

Flora is ranked as the fourth overall prospect in this year’s class and has clearly separated himself from the rest of the arms that will be featured during the draft. At 6’5” Flora possesses an athletic build that helps him pack a punch with his fastballs. His heaters are on average in the mid-90’s range and regularly touch triple digits. His mid-80’s slider has developed as another strong pitch in his repertoire, while his changeup has become a solid second pitch in his arsenal.

The California native has enjoyed a solid three-year career at UC Santa Barbara. Flora’s freshman season saw him used mostly as a relief pitcher out of the pen, but he exploded onto the scene as a sophomore in 2025. As a second year player, Flora helped lead the Gauchos to a 36-18 record, and compiled 86 strikeouts with a 3.60 ERA and a 6-3 record as a starter. As the top pitcher in the country Flora and the Gauchos currently have a 32-15 record.

Flora fits the mold of pitchers that the Pirates have liked to bring in over the past couple of years. The tall athletic build coupled with a strong fastball first approach is the blueprint used for most of Pittsburgh’s starters, and Flora could be a great addition to that group if he’s still available fifth overall.

The MLB Draft starts on July 11 during the All-Star break in Philadelphia.

BALTIMORE – There are still a few maxims about playing for the Athletics – late of Oakland, currently of West Sacramento, perhaps soon of Las Vegas – that remain true in this period of franchise limbo.

Best to rent, not buy, as owner John Fisher’s cozy luxury-geared dream ballpark goes up in Las Vegas and the club makes do in what should be the second of three seasons in Yolo County.

Life remains more luxe on the road, with 10,000-seat Sutter Health Park still geared for a Class AAA ballclub despite upgrades to satisfy the big league squatters. And while the roster is no longer an homage to the major league minimum salary, the club’s $91.8 million opening-day payroll still ranks 25^th out of 30 teams.

 Yet it’s undeniable that something has changed as a core of largely homegrown players coalesces. Players can glance around the clubhouse and see not a stopgap or trade fodder, but rather a dude they came up with.

And in some cases, envision playing alongside for many more years.

“When there’s a level of comfort, a level of familiarity with each other, and camaraderie and a good culture in the clubhouse, it makes it easy to go out and have fun and perform at a high level on the field,” All-Star DH and veteran sage Brent Rooker tells USA TODAY Sports.

“We’ve got all those things.”

Forty games into the season, they’ve got something else: The third-best record in the American League and a tenuous hold on first place in the AL West.

At 21-19, the A’s are by no means popping bottles. After all, they reached the one-quarter mark last season with an identical record – and proceeded to lose 19 of their next 21 games on the way to a 76-86 finish.

As if on cue, the club lost All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson to a sprained left shoulder on Sunday, May 11; initial imaging was not definitive but Wilson figures to go on the injured list before the club takes on St. Louis at home Tuesday.

Still, the team at large has an extra year under its belt, a greater familiarity with its temporary home and a stronger conviction in doing its job.

“I feel like last year, all the guys were feeling everything – getting their feet wet in Sacramento, seeing how the ball flies, all that stuff,” says right-hander Luis Severino, whose $67 million contract signed before 2025 marked a capital investment unforeseen when the roster went to pot in the club’s dying days in Oakland. “Now we have a different mentality to go out there and compete.

“We showed the world last year what we can do and this year we just continue to do that.”