Category: Sports News

There have only been a handful of games in which to judge anything done by Don Mattingly so far. There really isn’t any discernable difference between him and Rob Thomson on much of anything that either does, but one thing does sort of stick out – he’s not a fan of letting starters go too long.

On Thursday, Cristopher Sanchez was yanked after 85 pitches even though they were having a bullpen game in the second part of the doubleheader. The night before, Jesus Luzardo only threw 88 pitches. It should be said that both of at least pitched in the seventh inning, Luzardo allowed to finish it, Sanchez yanked before he could do the same. Sanchez was at least a little annoyed by the decision, but Mattingly stood by it.

Which brings us to our question of the day: what are your feelings on the few instances we’ve had to judge Don Mattingly on how he’s going to handle this pitching staff? Again, not much to go off of, but the initial decisions at least may give some idea of what’s to come.

The Rockies definitely had the Braves for the first seven innings. Ah but in the last three games, the leading team didn’t finish the job. Michael Harris II was headed for the Injured List as well, don’t you know. Then, he came on to pinch hit.

Yup, pretty standard Braves heroics at the end. Here Michael Harris is again with a go-ahead pinch-hit double in the sixth inning on April 24th.

Here are the Braves scoring four in the seventh of a tie game.

Here’s Michael Harris hitting two home runs after being down 4-1 after one inning. The Braves went single, single, walk, single, double to grab three runs and a 4-2 win in April 19th and on and on.

This team is scoring runs, y’all. They’re third in homers, fourth in xwOBA, fourth in wRC+, and for the most part aren’t making dumb mistakes. We probably shouldn’t turn our back on them after they give up six runs in Denver. You could talk me into closing the door on Grant Holmes as a starting pitcher, but not this offense.

Alright, the Cardinals are back on top of the world following a road sweep of the Pirates and a game one win against the Dodgers on Friday. Today my main objective is to keep the good vibes rolling and focus on what has gone well across the organization so far in 2026! I will sprinkle in a few analytical points, but this is mostly just a fun list of the things going well thus far from top to bottom in the Cardinals organization. Let me know what I missed! 

The Cardinals’ strong start has not been driven by one fluky breakout. Across the major league roster and multiple minor league levels, there are real signs of progress. Here are eight of the most encouraging developments so far.

8. Triple-A Power Bats

Jimmy Crooks, Blaze Jordan, Cesar Prieto, and Joshua Baez have all hit 6+ home runs and are running isolated slugging percentages of .247 or greater through Memphis’ first 30 games. 

They all have warts as prospects, but I do not remember a time when the Cardinals had this much power percolating in the upper minors. The big birds have had a surprising amount of home run pop with the 7th most in baseball entering play on Friday, but after years of talking about needing to find power, there are finally options emerging at every turn. 

7. Minor League Pitchers Missing Bats

While most of the focus on minor league development is on individual performance, I thought it would be interesting to see how the minor league pitching staffs are doing in the aggregate. With the renewed focus on missing bats over the last few years on the player acquisition side, are the results starting to flow through? The below table shows the aggregate strikeout rates for each of the Cardinals’ full season farm teams, year-over-year.

Sure enough, every level in the system has seen an increase in strikeout rate year over year. The 25.9% aggregate K rate ranks fifth in baseball, tied with Seattle. This ranking is up from 11th in 2025 and 18th in 2024. 

It is interesting that this trend is most pronounced at the A and High-A levels, where a greater proportion of the players were acquired during the Bloom era. 

6. Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera Solidifying Status as Impact Bats

After excellent 2025 seasons, both Herrera and Burleson are essentially matching last year’s production, with 2026 wRC+ marks of 141 and 123, respectively. There is nothing fluky about either of their stat lines as both have xwOBAs in the top 30 in baseball. I am a big fan and believer of both players, but neither has a particularly long track record of major league success, so the good offensive starts have been encouraging.  Despite bad luck on batted balls, Herrera is 10th in the majors in OBP thanks to a 17.5% walk rate and an MLB-leading total of HBPs. While some of the players further up the list have grabbed more headlines this year, Burly and Herrera have been a tough combo in the middle of the lineup. 

5. Riley O’Brien Being Awesome 

O’Brien emerging as a dominant closer was not completely out of nowhere, but certainly has been a welcome surprise. He ranks third in relief pitcher fWAR at .7. With a leaky bullpen and underwhelming pitching staff overall, O’Brien has been critical in helping the Cardinals in their early run at relevance. He ranks fourth among relief pitchers in ERA going back to the beginning of last season at 1.85. The advanced metrics are positive for O’Brien as well.  His Stuff+ has ticked up from 106 to 110, but thanks to his improved command, his Pitching+ is up to an elite 115. The ZiPS projection system likes what it sees, as O’Brien has improved his pre-season projected FIP from 3.99 to 3.55.

O’Brien is slowly establishing himself as a part of the team’s future core, or as one of their most attractive trade assets.

4. Rainiel Rodriguez Doing His Thing

It has been a relatively quiet start for some of the Cardinals higher-upside hitting prospects. Ryan Mitchell is striking out like crazy in low-A and Daniel Ortiz was injured in his first Double-A game. The system’s offensive star, Rainiel Rodriguez, is living up to his impossibly high expectations as he is running a 141 wRC+ in High-A as a 19-year-old. Even after a rough week, he maintains a 17/19 BB/K ratio and an isolated slugging percentage of .208. As a point of reference, Jordan Walker ran a 124 wRC+ with a 27% strikeout rate in his age 19 season in High-A. Nothing is guaranteed, but Rodriguez remains on a beeline for top 10 prospect in baseball status, if he keeps up his current trajectory. 

3. Tanner Franklin Emerges

Tanner Franklin has exploded onto the scene in Peoria. Through his first five starts with the High-A club, he is striking out 34.6% of the hitters he faces while walking only 7.7%. Coming into the year, the biggest questions for the converted reliever were whether he could maintain his stamina and control as he moved into the rotation. Despite being on a limited pitch count (seemingly around 60 or 70), he has completed four innings twice and walked 2 or fewer batters in every start. Baseball America has already referenced Franklin as a pitcher trending toward top 100 status. 

2. JJ Wetherholt Power

In his first 30 games, Wetherholt has lived up to the lofty expectations he had coming into the year. His defense has been surprisingly good, but his power has unexpectedly stolen the show. Coming into the season, many people, myself included, would have been happy if Wetherholt could contribute a slightly above average offensive line based on his excellent plate discipline and hit tool. It seemed reasonable to expect the power to come more slowly as he adapted to MLB pitching. Wetherholt has not only popped 7 home runs, he has posted a new career high exit velocity (108.7 MPH) and improved his 90th percentile EV from 103.7 MPH in Triple-A to 103.9 MPH in the bigs. Wetherholt with power is ridiculously fun to watch and also has the ceiling of a bona fide superstar.  

1. Air Jordan

No surprises here as Jordan Walker, even after a cold stretch, remains the story of the first month of the 2026 season. Walker has improved his Barrel % from the 66th to the 97th percentile year over year. His Launch Angle Sweet Spot has improved from the 5th percentile to the 84th percentile. Overall, he is getting the ball in the air 60.5% of the time after living in the low 50s his first three seasons. Walker has drastically improved his launch angles without sacrificing his otherworldly exit velocity metrics. He ranks fourth in baseball in average EV (95.5 MPH), third in EV90, and 8th in HardHit% (59.2%). 

None of this guarantees anything over a full season, of course. But for an organization that has spent the last few years searching for impact talent, swing-and-miss arms, and a clearer path back to relevance, the first month of 2026 has offered plenty of reasons to buy in… Or at least to enjoy the ride for a while.

ESPN’s updated list of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects shows a lot of movement within the organization’s top ten.

The very top of the list remains unchanged, as Konnor Griffin maintains his status as the top Pirates’ prospect and the top prospect in baseball. Griffin is on pace to graduate from prospect status as he continues to grow in his Major League career, but for the time being he’s the top dog for Pittsburgh.

First-year pitcher Seth Hernandez was previously ranked third for the Pirates but his dominant start to his career has him ranked as the second best prospect on ESPN’s updated list. So far this year the 19-year-old righty has a 2-0 record with a 1.23 ERA across five starts. Hernandez is coming off a week where he was named the FSL Pitcher of the Week and his most recent outing saw him strike out nine batters.

Moving up the list from four to three is Edward Florentino who is off to a hot start with High-A Greensboro this season. At just 19-years-old, the Dominican product is already in his third season of Minor League baseball and is excelling at a fast pace. Wyatt Sanford (4), Hunter Barco (5) and Esmerlyn Valdez (6) also found themselves moving up the most recent rankings. Barco is on the verge of working his way off this list as he’s made it to the majors and is looking better in recent outings. Valdez figures to be at the top of the list for the next prospect to be promoted as he’s already in Triple-A Indianapolis and is off to a hot start at the plate. It’s possible that he ends up in Pittsburgh as another depth piece for the team’s outfield.

Second baseman Termarr Johnson (7) and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia (8) are the only two young Bucs that find themselves moving down the list. Johnson is in his first season with Indianapolis and has been struggling at the plate. Through 27 games, he has a .161 batting average, has struck out 25 times and has zero homers. Garcia looked to be a promising prospect when he was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, but he too has struggled at the plate with Indy. He’s currently on rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton.

Catcher Rafael Flores (9) and Antwone Kelly (10) round out the franchise’s top 10 list. Flores has been in conversation a lot recently as fans and critics have been discussing the poor play from Pittsburgh’s catchers. Flores has been performing better at the plate in Indy than Joey Bart and Henry Davis have been with the Pirates. Davis had his first two homers of the season against the Cincinnati Reds so he likely won’t be on the move, but there is an argument to be made that Flores should be promoted. Kelly was previously not in the top 10, but following some strong outings in Indy, he creeps in to the number ten spot.

The Pirates have the fifth overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft and will be looking to add more promising talented to their already stacked Minor League system.

Rangers 5, Tigers 4

• Back to .500, guys.
• Not a great start from MacKenzie Gore.
• Gore had some issues throwing strikes and struggled to put batters away. Gore generated just six swinging strikes in his outing out of 94 pitches. And despite throwing 94 pitches, he only faced 18 batters and registered 11 outs.
• Gore needed a whopping 49 pitches to get through the first two innings, despite facing just eight batters. After a quick 1-2-3 third inning, he couldn’t get out of the fourth. With two on and two out in the inning, he walked Spencer Torkelson, then gave up singles to Wenceel Perez and Hao-Yu Lee, getting chased from the game with three runs in and two runners on base.
• Go ahead, Mr. Wenceel.
• Cole Winn got out of the inning with a strikeout, but was pulled with one out in the fourth after a walk, a wild pitch and a single. Jalen Beeks got a grounder from Riley Greene, but the Rangers weren’t able to turn two, such that Texas, which had been up 4-0 just an inning and a half ago, was suddenly faced with a 4-4 tie.
• Beeks, by the way, got dinged with a blown save for allowing an inherited run to score in the fifth inning on a ground out. That doesn’t seem fair.
• In any case, it seemed like doom awaited.
• DOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
• Doom didn’t await, though. At least not for the Rangers.
• The collection of no-names in the Rangers pen once again banded together to keep their opponents off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
• Well, they do have names. Along with Beeks, there was Tyler Alexander, Jakob Junis, and Jacob Latz.
• Beeks, Alexander, Junis and Latz are all sporting sub-2 ERAs on the year. Gavin Collyer and Peyton Gray have yet to allow a run. The only active members of the Rangers bullpen with an ERA over 2 are Winn (5.27) and Cal Quantrill (6.43).
• The Rangers’ offense, once again able to do some damage now that they are away from the Shed, got up early with a Brandon Nimmo leadoff single and a Josh Jung two out RBI single. They seemed poised to chase Tigers starter Jack Flaherty in the third, when a Danny Jansen homer was followed by three straight walks and another Josh Jung RBI single.
• They scored a third run in the inning on a Joc Pederson sac fly, but Jake Burger popped up for the second out. Alejandro Osuna then battled Flaherty for ten pitches, but ended up fanning to end the inning.
• Still, Osuna ended up coming through with the winning hit later in the game, doubling to left field with Jake Burger on second in the eighth, giving the Rangers the ultimate winning margin in the game.
• Brandon Nimmo left the game with hamstring soreness for the second game in a row, which is not ideal. It did, however, result in Ezequiel Duran moving from second base to right field, which set up this great play in the seventh:

• MacKenzie Gore hit 96.9 mph with his fastball, averaging 94.6 mph. Cole Winn hit 95.9 mph with his fastball. Jalen Beeks’ fastball touched 93.6 mph. Tyler Alexander’s sinker topped out at 91.3 mph. Jakob Junis reached 92.2 mph with his sinker. Jacob Latz maxed out at 96.0 mph with his fastball.
• Jake Burger had a 108.4 mph double. Josh Jung had a 106.9 mph ground out. Ezequiel Duran had a 105.9 mph ground out. Corey Seager had a 105.5 mph double. Brandon Nimmo had a 103.2 mph single and a 101.6 mph single. Danny Jansen had a 102.7 mph home run and a 101.6 mph fly out.
• The road trip has started on a positive note.

With the Dodgers back in St. Louis this weekend, Katie Woo at The Athletic wrote about a pep talk last June in St. Louis that Kiké Hernández gave to Miguel Rojas, who was struggling both at the plate and mentally:

“I wanted to change the mentality, because if he didn’t, he was going to be on the way out,” Hernández explained. “Not because it was going to happen, but because he was going to do that to himself. I basically told him, ‘I’ve been where you are right now, and it’s not a good way to live. If you put a stop to it, and you say the season starts tomorrow and that’s the mentality you bring in each and every day, you’re going to be much more enjoyable.’”

Mike Petriello at MLB.com wrote about Max Muncy, who over the last 12 months has been one of the best hitters in baseball.

Teoscar Hernández wears the Autism Awareness logo on various pieces of baseball equipment, in honor of his son Teo, who is on the autism spectrum. Hernández talked to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register:

“I think that’s the best that I can do to support that and let people know they’re not alone – that we can continue our lives regardless of any family member that has autism.”

The New York Black Yankees were a Negro Leagues team that existed from 1931 to 1948. True to their name, they called Yankee Stadium home from 1940 onwards until their demise. They were not a particularly successful franchise, with a 258-497 overall record, but they count among their alumni such legends as Satchel Paige, Ted Radcliffe, Willie Wells, and many more. Today, we celebrate the birthday of a player who isn’t quite at the same status as those luminaries, but had a very nice career of his own. 

George Giles
Born: May 2, 1909 (Junction City, KS)
Died: March 3, 1992 (Topeka, KS)
Black Yankees Tenure: 1936-37

George Giles was a precocious talent. He was only 17 years of age when he got his first taste of (semi-) pro baseball with the Gilkerson’s Union Giants, an independent barnstorming Black team that played mainly in the Midwest. He was the starting first baseman on one of the most successful iterations of the club, and many of his teammates on the 1926 squad, like Lefty Brown and Steel Arm Davis, were/would go on to be Negro League stars. 

If that wasn’t impressive enough, consider this; the Kansas City Monarchs, one of the most successful Negro league teams, signed Giles the following year. He started 59 games for them and hit .269/.330/.360, good for a 92 OPS+. Not bad at all for an 18-year old playing in the highest level available to him — and Giles was just getting started. In 1928, his OPS+ improved to 113, and from there the speedy Giles settled in as a comfortably above-average regular, making up for his rather pedestrian power numbers (career .112 ISO) by consistently posting high averages and OBPs (career .316 and .386, respectively). 

When Giles joined the New York Black Yankees in 1936, he was still only 27, but his career was in its twilight. His first season was pretty rough, as he struggled to the tune of a .273/.356/.356 line (84 OPS+). However, he managed to rebound in 1937, posting a prime DJ LeMahieu-esque .327/.395/.453 line (114 OPS+) in 39 games. Unfortunately, despite Giles’ best efforts, the fortunes of his ballclub followed the opposite trajectory; the Black Yankees enjoyed a 30-19 campaign in 1936, but struggled to a 23-33 finish in 1937. It’s unclear whether he was released or traded, but by the time the 1938 season rolled around, Giles was no longer a Yankee. He spent what would be his final year in pro baseball with the Pittsburgh Crawfords, hitting .298 in 59 plate appearances across 14 games.

I realize that this summary of Giles’ playing career is painfully short. Unfortunately, there simply isn’t much readily available information on his exploits as a player, despite the fact that he was a very good hitter who was an All-Star in 1935. It is nothing short of a travesty that his story, along with countless other Black players of his time, has been neglected for so long. While long overdue, it’s at least heartening to see the recent wave of recognition and renewed attention that the Negro Leagues is receiving. One can only hope that more details about Giles and his career surface in the coming years.

Indeed, a Giles renaissance might already be burgeoning. This 2021 piece in the Manhattan Mercury (the local newspaper for Manhattan, KS, where Giles lived most of his life) offers a vividly rendered glimpse into Giles’ career and life, including quotes from Giles himself from past interviews for the Mercury and other local outlets. The whole piece is fascinating, but Giles’ recollections of the abhorrent conditions he endured as a Black ballplayer on the road are particularly striking. In one quote, he says he used to lay newspapers on the beds of seedy motels, claiming that it warded off bedbugs. In another, he remembers how when he played against a white team in his barnstorming days, his opponents stayed at a hotel, while his team was forced to change into their uniforms in a farmer’s barn. It’s truly depressing stuff, but it needs to be told.

Given the countless hardships he endured as a player, I can only hope Giles lived a full and fulfilling post-playing life. The Mercury article gives me hope that this was the case. After working a number of jobs, Giles opened a small inn named George’s Motel in Kansas which served the Black community, providing the kind of accommodations that were unavailable to him during his playing days. And in his autumnal years, he got to witness his grandson Brian Giles — no, not that one — make his MLB debut in 1981 with the New York Mets. What a moment that must have been for him.

A final detail from that Mercury piece — when asked whether George would have been proud to see his grandson surpass his achievements by reaching the major leagues, Brian rejected that premise, saying, “Actually, I think he was more successful, doing what he did in times that presented African-American ballplayers (with challenges).” As we try to properly appreciate the Negro Leagues and Black ballplayers of the past, this perspective is something we must not forget. It’s not enough to say that the Negro Leagues were major leagues in terms of quality of play; we must also acknowledge the various ways in which Black players and their communities were held back by racism — and question the notion that those are relics of the past.

All stats from Seamheads.com.

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

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Saturday’s MLB slate is loaded, and there’s no shortage of betting angles if you know where to look. From clear mismatches like Atlanta and San Diego to plus-money shots with sneaky value, these MLB picks focus on pitching edges, lineup production, and where the market might be off.

Let’s break down the best moneyline plays for May 2.

MLB moneyline picks for May 2

Matchup	Pick
Orioles vs Yankees	-138
Blue Jays vs Twins	+117
Diamondbacks vs Cubs	-150
Guardians vs A's	+108
Reds vs Pirates	+117
Brewers vs Nationals	-127
Astros vs Red Sox	+113
Phillies vs Marlins	-113
Giants vs Rays	-127
Dodgers vs Cardinals	-138
Rangers vs Tigers	-127
Braves vs Rockies	-222
White Sox vs Padres	-203
Mets vs Angels	+108
Royals vs Mariners	-138

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 5-2.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for May 2

Orioles vs Yankees: Yankees (-138)

Yankees win probability: 58%

New York owns the edge where it matters most—run prevention and power. Baltimore is allowing too many runs and dealing with key injuries, while the Yankees bring a deeper lineup and more reliable pitching. Kyle Bradish hasn’t been sharp enough to trust here, and with New York’s ability to capitalize on traffic, this is a spot where the better team should take control.

Blue Jays vs Twins: Twins (+117)

Twins win probability: 46%

Toronto’s offense just isn’t getting it done. Bottom-tier power and inconsistent contact make it tough to trust them, even with Dylan Cease on the mound. Minnesota has the better offensive profile and enough pitching stability to hold serve. With more reliable run production, the Twins have a clearer path to win this game.

Diamondbacks vs Cubs: Cubs (-150)

Cubs win probability: 60%

This is a clean mismatch. Arizona’s pitching staff has been one of the worst in the league, and Ryne Nelson hasn’t shown he can slow down a quality lineup. Chicago brings elite on-base ability and consistent production, paired with a steady arm in Shota Imanaga. The Cubs should control this game from the start.

Guardians vs A's: Guardians (+108)

Guardians win probability: 48%

Cleveland doesn’t need to be explosive here—they just need to be competent. Oakland’s pitching is extremely shaky, and that opens the door for even a contact-heavy offense to generate enough scoring. With the Guardians holding the edge on the mound and in overall run prevention, they should grind out a win.

Reds vs Pirates: Reds (+117)

Reds win probability: 46%

Cincinnati has more ways to score, even if the batting average doesn’t jump off the page. They bring power and speed, while Pittsburgh leans heavily on contact without much upside. Rhett Lowder has been more efficient than Carmen Mlodzinski, and that slight pitching edge, combined with a more dynamic offense, gives the Reds the advantage.

Brewers vs Nationals: Brewers (-127)

Brewers win probability: 56%

Washington can put up runs, but their pitching is a problem. Milwaukee has the more reliable arm and a clear bullpen edge, which matters in a game that could get loose late. Even without full offensive strength, the Brewers do enough at the plate and prevent runs at a higher level, making them the safer side.

Astros vs Red Sox: Astros (+113)

Astros win probability: 47%

Houston’s offense is the difference. They consistently generate baserunners and apply pressure, while Boston lacks the same level of production. Even with some pitching concerns, the Astros lineup is capable of outscoring problems. If this turns into a higher-scoring game, Houston is clearly better equipped to handle it.

Phillies vs Marlins: Marlins (-113)

Marlins win probability: 53%

Aaron Nola’s struggles are too significant to ignore. With a high ERA and too many baserunners allowed, he’s not someone you can trust right now. Miami has been the more balanced team, with stronger lineup metrics and steady pitching from Max Meyer. Until Philadelphia shows signs of life, fading them remains the sharper play.

Giants vs Rays: Rays (-127)

Rays win probability: 56%

San Francisco simply doesn’t hit enough to win games like this. A lack of power and poor OPS numbers limit their ceiling, even with solid pitching. Tampa Bay is more balanced offensively and can manufacture runs in different ways. In what projects as a lower-scoring game, the Rays have more paths to come out on top.

Dodgers vs Cardinals: Dodgers (-138)

Dodgers win probability: 58%

There’s a clear class gap here. Los Angeles brings elite production across the board, while St. Louis struggles to prevent runs. Even if Roki Sasaki hasn’t been perfect, this is a favorable spot for him to settle in. The Dodgers’ offensive firepower and overall depth should be too much for the Cardinals to handle.

Rangers vs Tigers: Tigers (-127)

Tigers win probability: 56%

Detroit has the edge offensively, with better on-base skills and more consistent production. Texas continues to struggle generating runs, which puts added pressure on Kumar Rocker. While both starters are capable, the Tigers’ ability to create scoring opportunities gives them the higher floor in this matchup.

Braves vs Rockies: Braves (-222)

Braves win probability: 69%

This is one of the biggest mismatches on the board. Atlanta is elite offensively and pairs that with strong pitching, led here by Chris Sale. Colorado simply doesn’t have the arms to keep this lineup in check. Even on the road, the Braves should dictate the pace and overwhelm the Rockies.

White Sox vs Padres: Padres (-203)

Padres win probability: 67%

San Diego has the advantage on the mound with Michael King, and that’s where this game tilts. The White Sox offense doesn’t consistently apply pressure, making it difficult to back them against quality pitching. With a steadier bullpen and enough offense, the Padres should separate over the full game.

Mets vs Angels: Angels (+108)

Angels win probability: 48%

The Mets’ offense is a major concern, sitting near the bottom of the league in nearly every key category. That lack of production makes it tough to support them, even with decent pitching. The Angels have more power and a more functional lineup, giving them the edge in a game that likely comes down to who can actually score.

Royals vs Mariners: Mariners (-138)

Mariners win probability: 58%

Seattle’s pitching gives them the edge here. Emerson Hancock has been efficient, and the Mariners as a staff do a better job limiting damage. Kansas City doesn’t generate enough offense to overcome that gap. In what projects as a tight game, Seattle’s run prevention and slightly cleaner execution make them the more reliable side.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

As several Colorado Rockies search for traction on offense, it makes sense that the next wave of Albuquerque names has started to become more interesting. 

Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) has been part of that conversation. Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), too. Sterlin Thompson (No. 13 PuRP) is a quieter name, but maybe a more intriguing one than first appears. And with several players on the current roster still trying to find their footing, a call-up does not have to be a final judgment. Sometimes, it is just a reset for one player and a test for another. 

So the better question is not simply who should come up. 

It is this: What actually translates? 

The Albuquerque warning label 

Minor league numbers matter. They are evidence. They are not answers. That is especially true for Rockies prospects in the Pacific Coast League, and especially true when Albuquerque is involved. A hitter producing there means something, but it comes with a giant Isotopes-shaped warning label — not just because the ball flies, but also because the jump to major-league stuff and sequencing is where those numbers get stress-tested. 

The PCL can inflate outcomes. MLB pitchers expose process. 

That does not mean every good Albuquerque line is fake. It means the first question should be less “Who is hot?” and more “What skill is showing up?” 

Or, maybe more precisely this:How is the player accessing that skill? 

A first filter, not a final answer 

For a quick first filter, I looked at two imperfect but useful ideas: Impact Frequency and Chase Frequency. These are not replacement stats. Rather, they are trait-and-approach metrics. They are meant to help explain why the more familiar numbers look the way they do. 

Impact Frequency is hard-hit balls divided by total pitches seen. It is not traditional hard-hit rate, which is usually measured per ball in play. This raises a different question: How often does a hitter turn his overall pitch environment into loud contact? 

Chase Frequency is chase-zone swings divided by total pitches seen. Again, not traditional chase rate. This is more of a translation-risk check. Will big-league pitchers see enough chase in the profile to nibble a hitter to death? 

With a 300-pitch filter, the shape gets clearer. Carrigg and Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) rank 32nd and 33rd in Triple-A in Impact Frequency. Thompson and Condon are a step behind, at 78th and 79th. Then the picture flips in Chase Frequency: Thompson ranks 10th and Condon 22nd, while Carrigg sits 173rd and Veen is, well, the bottom. 

That does not mean Carrigg and Veen are better hitters. It does not mean Thompson and Condon lack impact. It means they are accessing their offense differently. 

That is the point. 

Carrigg and Veen are finding loud contact a bit more often, but with more swing-decision risk attached. Thompson and Condon are getting there through “approach” first. That does not make one path automatically better than the other. It just tells us what still needs to be tested. 

Thompson: approach first 

Thompson is the cleanest example. He has 117 plate appearances in this sample, a strikeout rate around 22%, and a walk rate around 17%. That lives somewhere in the Edouard Julien neighborhood: walks, patience, and forcing pitchers into the zone. 

The walks matter because they are frequent. The contact matters if it is hard. 

The risk is that the approach has to travel intact. If Thompson expands more against major-league pitching, the profile can get thin quickly. The patience is the foundation. Without it, the strikeouts become louder, and the offensive floor drops. 

Condon: patience with damage 

Condon is similar, but with more damage attached. His .267/.409/.851 line is not just a slugger-in-Albuquerque line. With a walk rate around 17% and a strikeout rate around 19%, plus a 22nd-place Triple-A rank in Chase Frequency, the offensive idea makes sense. He is not just swinging big: He is controlling the zone. 

The trap is that power is his calling card, and it is not fully popping yet in this snapshot. If chasing more power pulls him away from the approach, the profile gets riskier. I would rather see him keep the approach than sell out for more power. 

But if the power truly develops alongside that approach? 

Watch out. 

Carrigg: aggressive, but not reckless 

Carrigg is almost the opposite question. His traditional line explains the interest: .340/.402/.864 with 18 stolen bases. The Statcast layer adds to it. 32 hard-hit balls on 403 pitches is a real signal for a switch-hitter whose appeal already includes speed, arm strength, and defensive flexibility. 

But Carrigg is not doing this the Thompson way. His nine walks in 117 plate appearances put his walk rate around 7.7%, while his strikeout rate sits around 14%. He is more aggressive, more willing to enter the chase band, and currently making enough contact for it to work. 

That “currently” is doing some work. If the contact backs up, the aggression gets harder to live with. Carrigg’s profile is exciting because the bat is touching the ball often enough to let the speed, defense, and hard-hit frequency matter. If that contact slips, the whole equation gets tighter. 

Veen: the counterweight 

Veen is the counterweight. His .258/.340/.716 line is not terrible, and the Impact Frequency says the talent is still there. But 37 chase-zone swings on 377 pitches is not nothing. 

Big-league pitchers wont need to beat him in the zone when he is willing to meet them outside of it. 

What comes next? 

This is still only a first filter. Launch angle, pull rate, zone contact, whiff rate, and whether the hard contact is turning into actual damage all matter from here.

Carrigg hitting the ball hard is interesting. Carrigg hitting the ball hard on the ground is a different conversation.

Condon controlling the zone is interesting. Condon doing damage when he gets a pitch to hit is the next question. 

There are roster questions, too. If Ezequiel Tovar goes down, Chad Stevens probably makes the most sense for the Rockies. It is a less-splashy move, but it fits the infield need. If Jordan Beck goes down, the conversation changes. That is when Thompson, Carrigg, and Condon really enter the picture. 

I am glad I am not the one making these decisions. I am impulsive. I like to dream.

But if Thompson, Carrigg, and Condon keep playing this way, it no longer feels crazy to think we could see all three in Denver at some point this year. Not because Albuquerque numbers should be taken at face value. Not because any one of them is a finished answer. Because each is starting to show a skill set worth testing. 

There is something here. Maybe even several somethings. 

But this is still development, not arrival. 

On the farm

Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes 26, El Paso Chihuahuas 8

Well, that escalated. Albuquerque set a new franchise record for runs in a 26-8 win over El Paso. It was also the most runs the Chihuahuas have ever allowed, and only the third time since 2005 that a PCL team has scored at least 26 runs in a game. Sterlin Thompson, Zac Veen, and Braxton Fulford all homered as the Isotopes piled up traffic all night. El Paso issued 13 walks, and Albuquerque kept turning those chances into damage. Sean Sullivan gave the Isotopes a useful start, allowing three earned runs over five innings. It was not spotless — eight hits, four walks, one strikeout, and a homer — but five innings of three-run ball plays just fine in Albuquerque.

Double-A Reading Fightin Phils 11, Hartford Yard Goats 3

Hartford fell behind early and never really got the game back under control. Reading scored twice in the first, added four more in the third, and kept tacking on in an 11-3 Yard Goats loss. The Fightin Phils improved to 12-12, while Hartford dropped to 10-14. Carson DeMartini and Bryan Rincon both homered for Reading, and Rincon also stole home as part of a double steal in the sixth. For Hartford, Aidan Longwell was the bright spot. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI, factoring into all three Yard Goats runs. Benny Montgomery and Conner Capel each added RBI singles.

High-A Spokane Indians 7, Eugene Emeralds 1

Spokane handled Eugene 7-1, improving to 9-15 while the Emeralds dropped to 18-6. Ethan Hedges got the Indians started early with a two-run homer in the first, his fourth of the season, and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a walk. Roynier Hernandez also homered, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. The pitching was the real story, though. Lebarron Johnson Jr. allowed one run on one hit over three innings, walking one and striking out three. Ben Catlett took it from there and was dominant, throwing six scoreless innings with two hits allowed, one walk, and 11 strikeouts.

Single-A Stockton Ports 7, Fresno Grizzlies 3

Fresno jumped ahead early, but Stockton took control late in a 7-3 Grizzlies loss. The Ports improved to 12-13, while Fresno fell to 14-11. Jack O’Dowd had the best offensive night for Fresno, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Clayton Gray also went 2-for-5 and scored a run, while Roldy Brito doubled and scored. Tanner Thach drove in Fresno’s first run with a sacrifice fly. The game turned in the sixth, when Stockton scored four times to flip a 3-2 Fresno lead into a 6-3 deficit. Ethan Cole took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, over two innings. Michael Herrera started and struck out seven over four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk. O’Dowd continues to be one of the more productive bats in the lower levels, now sitting at a 1.078 OPS after another multi-hit game.

Rockies Early-Season Success Is Bad News for the Rest of National League West | SI.com

In this piece by Scott Roche, the Rockies’ 14-18 start is framed as a small but real warning to the rest of the NL West: Colorado may not be good yet, but it is no longer automatic. The piece leans on improved pitching depth and early competitiveness against division opponents as signs of progress.

As his son becomes MLB manager, Jim Tracy recalls pivotal moments from ’09 Rox | MLB.com

In this piece by Thomas Harding, Jim Tracy looks back on the 2009 Rockies through a few small moments that ended up feeling much bigger with time: the pitch, the at-bat, and the catch. It’s a nice little nostalgia trip, with a fun current-day wrinkle now that Tracy’s son Chad is getting his own big-league managerial shot in Boston.

Rockies Still Disrespected in Latest Power Rankings | YARDBARKER.com

Seth Dowdle has some fun with the Rockies still hanging near the bottom of ESPN’s power rankings despite a recent Mets sweep and a split with the Dodgers. Is it disrespectful? Maybe. Is it also what happens when you lose 119 games the year before? Unfortunately, yes.

Tovar’s struggles against fastballs continue in Rockies’ loss to Braves | MLB.com

In another piece by Thomas Harding, Ezequiel Tovar’s early slump gets a closer look, with fastballs standing out as a particular issue. Tovar points more to timing than a broken swing, which gives the Rockies something specific to work through as he tries to get back on track.

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