Category: Sports News

The Mets' edition of bullpen musical chairs continued on Thursday afternoon, with right-hander Austin Warren called up and fellow righty Jonathan Pintaro optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Warren, 29, appeared in one game for the Mets in early May, tossing a scoreless inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.

With Triple-A Syracuse, Warren has pitched to 3.94 ERA over the course of 19 games, holding opposing hitters to a .241 batting average. He's also appeared in big league games with the Los Angeles Angels and San Francisco Giants during his career.

Pintaro, 27, made his big league debut on Wednesday night, allowing two earned runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout against the Atlanta Braves.

The Mets have now made a transaction concerning the bullpen in six of the last seven days, as president of baseball David Stearns tries to ensure the Mets have fresh arms available on a daily basis.

Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco found guilty in sex abuse case, receives 2-year suspended sentence originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Wander Franco, the suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop charged in a sexual abuse case, was found guilty on Thursday but received a two-year suspended sentence.

Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship.

Franco, now 24, also faced charges of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.

Judge Jakayra Veras García said Franco made a bad decision as she addressed him during the ruling.

“Look at us, Wander,” she said. “Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don’t like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time.”

Prosecutors had requested a five-year prison sentence against Franco and a 10-year sentence against the girl’s mother, who was found guilty and will serve the full term.

“Apparently she was the one who thought she was handling the bat in the big leagues,” Veras said of the mother and her request that Franco pay for her daughter’s schooling and other expenses.

Before the three judges issued their unanimous ruling, Veras orally reviewed the copious amount of evidence that prosecutors presented during trial, including certain testimony from 31 witnesses.

“This is a somewhat complex process,” Veras said.

More than an hour into her presentation, Veras said: “The court has understood that this minor was manipulated.”

As the judge continued her review, Franco looked ahead expressionless, leaning forward at times.

Franco, who was once the team’s star shortstop, had signed a $182 million, 11-year contract through 2032 in November 2021 but saw his career abruptly halted in August 2023 after authorities in the Dominican Republic announced they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time.

In January 2024, authorities arrested Franco in the Dominican Republic. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave.

He was placed on that list because he has not been able to report to the team and would need a new U.S. visa to do so.

While Franco awaited trial on conditional release, he was arrested again in November last year following what Dominican authorities called an altercation over a woman’s attention. He was charged with illegally carrying a semiautomatic Glock 19 that police said was registered to his uncle.

That case is still pending in court.

After the ruling, Major League Baseball issued a brief statement noting it had collectively bargained a joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy “that reflects our commitment to these issues.”

“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” MLB said.

Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco found guilty in sex abuse case, receives 2-year suspended sentence originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Wander Franco, the suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop charged in a sexual abuse case, was found guilty on Thursday but received a two-year suspended sentence.

Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship.

Franco, now 24, also faced charges of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.

Judge Jakayra Veras García said Franco made a bad decision as she addressed him during the ruling.

“Look at us, Wander,” she said. “Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don’t like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time.”

Prosecutors had requested a five-year prison sentence against Franco and a 10-year sentence against the girl’s mother, who was found guilty and will serve the full term.

“Apparently she was the one who thought she was handling the bat in the big leagues,” Veras said of the mother and her request that Franco pay for her daughter’s schooling and other expenses.

Before the three judges issued their unanimous ruling, Veras orally reviewed the copious amount of evidence that prosecutors presented during trial, including certain testimony from 31 witnesses.

“This is a somewhat complex process,” Veras said.

More than an hour into her presentation, Veras said: “The court has understood that this minor was manipulated.”

As the judge continued her review, Franco looked ahead expressionless, leaning forward at times.

Franco, who was once the team’s star shortstop, had signed a $182 million, 11-year contract through 2032 in November 2021 but saw his career abruptly halted in August 2023 after authorities in the Dominican Republic announced they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time.

In January 2024, authorities arrested Franco in the Dominican Republic. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave.

He was placed on that list because he has not been able to report to the team and would need a new U.S. visa to do so.

While Franco awaited trial on conditional release, he was arrested again in November last year following what Dominican authorities called an altercation over a woman’s attention. He was charged with illegally carrying a semiautomatic Glock 19 that police said was registered to his uncle.

That case is still pending in court.

After the ruling, Major League Baseball issued a brief statement noting it had collectively bargained a joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy “that reflects our commitment to these issues.”

“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” MLB said.

Giants' Bob Melvin provides update on Casey Schmitt's wrist injury after CT scan originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Casey Schmitt wasn’t in the Giants’ lineup for their series finale against the Miami Marlins on Thursday at Oracle Park, but he could be back on the field soon.

The third baseman underwent a CT scan before San Francisco’s 12-5 loss to Miami after he was hit in the wrist during an at-bat the night before, and manager Bob Melvin said after Thursday’s game that the results brought some good news.

“The [CT] scan says there’s no fracture or anything in there,” Melvin told reporters. “It’s still pretty sore. There’s a pretty good bone bruise in there. We’ll see how it responds tomorrow.”

Melvin said before Thursday’s game that if the results on Schmitt’s CT scan were negative, he could have a chance to return to the lineup Friday against the White Sox in Chicago as long as he’s feeling better.

Schmitt was one of three batters to be hit by the Marlins in the Giants’ 8-5 loss on Wednesday. After being drilled on the left wrist by a 95 mph sinker in the ninth inning, he went out for defense in the top of the 10th but wouldn’t have been able to swing a bat in the bottom of the inning.

X-rays on Schmitt’s wrist immediately after Wednesday’s game came back negative, but Thursday’s additional testing brings relief for the 26-year-old infielder. He has swung a hot bat in place of starting third baseman Matt Chapman, who is working his way back from a hand injury sustained on June 8.

Schmitt is one of eight Giants batters to be hit in San Francisco’s last nine games. Asked before Thursday’s contest by reporters about how the team could counteract that issue, Melvin responded with a smirk and said it “depends on the situation.”

Perhaps by coincidence, or perhaps not, Giants starter Hayden Birdsong plunked Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez in the first inning Thursday — a two-out hit-by-pitch that ultimately led to a three-run rally for Miami.

Schmitt has been hit by a pitch three times so far this season, and Giants fans certainly hope this recent scare is the last of it.

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Phillies squander Sanchez's strong start on way to being swept by Astros originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

81 games down. Halfway through the 2025 season.

And Houston, we may have a problem.

Over the weekend, the Phillies put up two thrilling offensive performances against the Mets to take the top spot in the NL East.

Four days, three games and 26.2 consecutive scoreless innings later … the Phillies are searching for any signs of life.

A 2-1 loss to the Astros Thursday marks the third time the Phillies have been swept in the last month.

Houston only needed five runs across three games to get the job done. Any momentum that was building through that Mets series has been squandered, and once again, this club is creating more questions than answers for themselves.

This series has felt like daily déjà vu — lifeless offensive performances that tossed spectacular outings from starting pitching to the wayside.

First, you had a gem from Ranger Suarez, who allowed one run through 7.2 innings.

Wednesday, we were spoiled with more dominance from Zack Wheeler, who also only allowed one run through 6 innings.

Going three-for-three, the Phillies then wasted Cristopher Sanchez’s outing. He went 6 innings, while allowing one run and striking out 11.

A combined three earned runs from the starting pitching and no run support to show for it. Often mentioned are the ebbs and flows of baseball — but it’s important to also acknowledge what the past few days have been — a rut.

It took until the eighth inning to see a run cross the plate with some situational hitting. Bryson Stott worked a leadoff walk and made his way to third when Rafael Marchan singled. Brandon Marsh collected the lone RBI of the series with a sacrifice fly.

Stott was the only runner in scoring position the entire series.

Next? Adding insult to injury. Orion Kerkering has been the most consistent bullpen arm the Phillies have had over the past six weeks. After fighting tooth and nail for that one run to tie the game, Kerkering gave up his first earned run since the first week of May.

Hayden Birdsong details ‘disappointing' outing in Giants' loss to Marlins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Hayden Birdsong tried to send a message early to the Miami Marlins on Thursday, and it couldn’t have aged worse for the Giants starter in a 12-5 loss.

Facing his third batter of the game with two outs and no one on, Birdsong’s 97-mph four-seam fastball hit Marlins second baseman Otto López. Umpires met on the field to discuss the pitch and ultimately gave each team a warning one day after three Giants batters were plunked in an 8-5 loss Wednesday night.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough stormed out of the dugout and expressed his frustrations with the officiating crew, and seconds later, his team responded.

Miami designated hitter Agustin Ramirez doubled to left on the very next pitch from Birdsong. Four pitches later in the following at-bat versus Kyle Stowers, the Marlins outfielder smashed a 440-foot homer to center to give Miami an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Despite how quickly things unraveled for Birdsong within the blink of an eye, he downplayed the hit on López while speaking to reporters after the game.

“Things happen,” he said. “You hit guys and you move on.”

That is exactly what Birdsong and the Giants tried to do.

Ramirez’s two-run homer put the Marlins on top 5-0 in the third, but the Giants’ offense rallied in the bottom of the third and fourth innings, scoring five combined runs to tie things up entering the fifth.

But the clean slate didn’t last long for San Francisco, as Birdsong returned to the bump at the top of the fifth and immediately walked the first two batters. Birdsong finally was pulled and replaced by Giants reliever Spencer Bivens, who struck out the first two batters but couldn’t fully overcome the damage Birdsong left as the Marlins scored three more runs.

“I felt great until the fifth, honestly,” Birdsong said. “Don’t know what happened. But it is what it is. It wasn’t good enough. … It’s disappointing.

“Definitely disappointing for me today just coming in here trying to get a win, and obviously didn’t. I could’ve done better. That’s what you take away from it.”

Birdsong allowed seven runs on four hits and four walks while striking out one over four-plus innings to take the loss Thursday. It’s his second consecutive rough outing, as the 23-year-old has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) over his last 8.1 innings and now is at a 4.13 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 56.2 innings over 18 appearances this season.

“Kind of like the last outing, his veto is kind of all over the place,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said postgame of Birdsong. ” … Birdy’s command wasn’t great today. And then kind of blew up right after that for three runs, so regardless of how that went down, we didn’t respond well. And then the first couple of innings we didn’t look too good either and then all of a sudden came back, scored some runs and now we have a tie game.

“Now there’s a lot more energy in the dugout, but we gave up some runs after that. It is what it is. … That’s kind of not who he is, and it’s just not his best game.”

While Melvin knows and expects better of Birdsong, he couldn’t help but acknowledge the frustrations of being swept by the Marlins. And those same sentiments were echoed by Birdsong, who hopes to get back on track as he tentatively is scheduled for a road start against the Arizona Diamondbacks early next week.

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