Worldwide Sports News

Good morning.

• Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz, currently on the injured list, has been seen on social media promoting cockfighting in Puerto Rico, along with Jose and Irad Ortiz Jr., the two brother jockeys who finished 1-2 in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Josh Peter reports.
• Peter follows up by reporting that animal rights groups have been calling for the athletes to face consequences if they are proven to be involved with cockfighting in Puerto Rico. Cockfighting is illegal everywhere in the US, including Puerto Rico, under federal law.
• Jayson Stark writes about what we’ve learned so far at the quarter-mark of the season. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• We’re going to the butcher’s bill early today because it’s long and I don’t have any more animal cruelty stories (thank goodness). Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. The Dodgers are hopeful the former two-time Cy Young Award winner will return before the end of the season.
• Blue Jays right-hander José Berrios will also have surgery to remove “loose bodies” from the elbow, but doctors may have to repair ligament damage in Berrios’ elbow as well. That would likely knock him out for the season.
• Astros second baseman Jose Altuve went to the IL with an oblique strain.
• Red Sox infielder Trevor Story went to the injured list with a sports hernia. He’s expected to miss several weeks. Although a “sports hernia” is less embarrassing to Story than an accounting hernia would have been.
• Mets starter Clay Holmes is out with a broken fibula after getting hit with a 111 mile per hour comebacker line drive. I know that I had considered Holmes as a top trade target for the Cubs this summer.
• The Yankees put lefty Max Fried on the IL with a bone bruise in his throwing elbow.
• The Yankees got some good injury news as former Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole is throwing 99.6 mph in a rehab start and is expected to return to the team after one more rehab start.
• The Dodgers acquired lefty Eric Lauer in a trade with the Blue Jays. Toronto gets cash. Lauer takes the place of lefty Jack Dreyer, who goes on the IL with left shoulder discomfort.
• Travis Sawchik looks at the surprising reason that velocity in MLB keeps increasing, which is that the slower pitches are disappearing. This is likely a big reason for the increase in pitching injuries.
• Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg, who hasn’t played yet this year, is now out for the season with ulnar collateral ligament surgery. Dayn Perry writes that the pressure is now on the rest of the Orioles to step up.
• The Mariners/ Brendan Donovan went on the IL with muscle inflammation in his left groin, so top Mariners prospect Colt Emerson was promoted to make his major league debut. Daniel Kramer with more on Emerson’s debut.
• The Athletics acquired infielder Alika Williams from the Pirates for a minor-league pitcher.
• The Orioles signed outfielder Tommy Pham to a minor league deal.
• Ben Clemens examines the slumping Dodgers lineup, except for Max Muncy, who has been exceptional.
• Thomas Harrington has nine players who are surprisingly leading their teams in hitting. Muncy is one of them.
• Dayn Perry looks what an Astros teardown might look like.
• The Phillies have rebounded under interim manager Don Mattingly and are now over .500. Matt Snyder look at what’s changed.
• One reason is DH Kyle Schwarber’s history home run pace. Scooby Axson shows how Schwarber is challenging the record books.
• Julian McWilliams writes that in addition to being a great slugger, Kyle Schwarber is one of the most beloved players in baseball by fans and players throughout the league. I don’t think he has to convince any of you of that.
• Bob Nightengale profiles Brewers second baseman Brice Turang, whom he says is already one of the best players in baseball.
• Justin Turner is not ready to hang up the spikes, despite no team offering him a deal this winter. So Turner is now playing for Tijuana in the Mexican League, (The Athletic sub. req.) where he’s become a star and a fan favorite.
• Just under a year ago, Wilber Flores hit three home runs in one game for the Giants. Now a free agent, Flores can’t find a team that wants him. (The Athletic sub. req.) So he’s also playing for Tijuana. Sam Blum and Dennis Lim with both Tijuana stories. (If you want a blast from the past, Flores and Turner are teammates on the Toros with Junior Lake.)
• Jay Jaffe looks at the breakout season of A’s catcher Shea Langeliers.
• Can these ten players having rebound seasons keep up the good work?
• Kiri Oler looks at the many factors playing into the Royals offensive surge this year. It also cost Hawaiian Bros Island Grill a lot of money.
• Tim Britton makes up an all-time Subway Series All-Star team. (The Athletic sub. req.)
• MLB beat writer Christina DeNicola writes about her whiffing on the catch of a foul ball back to the press box.
• Pirates reliever Yohan Ramirez caught a home run ball in the bullpen with a traffic cone.
• Tom Hanks met Mr. Met at Citi Field and Mr. Met was decked out like “Wilson” from Cast Away. Theo DeRosa has the details.
• And finally:

The Colorado Rockies have, to put it lightly, struggled over the past few years. However, one bright spot every year is the selection of a team’s All-Star representative(s). The Rockies have only had one representative each year since 2021:

• Germán Márquez (2021)
• C.J. Cron (2022)
• Elias Díaz (2023)
• Ryan McMahon (2024)
• Hunter Goodman (2025).

Looking ahead to this year, one player is making a case for himself to represent the Rockies in the Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia: Mickey Moniak.

Since he was signed by the Colorado Rockies last spring, Mickey Moniak has been a bright spot in the lineup. In 2025, he put up career numbers at the plate but struggled in the outfield. Because of that, he finished 43rd in our Ranking the Rockies series.

Moniak posted career highs in games played (135), runs (62), hits (117), total bases (225), triples (8), home runs (24), RBI (68), walks (22), stolen bases (9) and OPS (.824).

He began the 2026 campaign on the 10-day IL after he sprained his finger diving back into first base on a pickoff attempt during spring training. However, he’s been on a tear since being reinstated on April 3 and is leading in numerous categories, both for the Rockies and around Major League Baseball.

Here’s how he ranks among NL and MLB leaders so far in 2026 (all stats current through the evening of May 17):

In addition to the above stats, Moniak has had four multi-homer games in 2026 — which leads the Majors — and had an 18-game hitting streak from April 15-May 6. And on Wednesday, the 28-year-old fell a single shy of the cycle with a career-high tying five RBI, and his nine total bases were the most for a Rockie on their birthday.

Mickey Moniak vs. The Field

If All-Stars were selected today, Moniak would have a case alongside St. Louis’ Jordan Walker and Washington’s James Wood. Wood was an All-Star last year, while Walker would also make his first All-Star team is selected. Here’s how Moniak stacks against them:

As you can see, not only does Moniak rank among NL outfield leaders, but in some cases, he’s far ahead of the next ranking player. That is particularly true of SLG, OPS and AB/HR.

In addition to Wood, the rest of the 2025 honors belonged to Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL), Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC), Kyle Tucker (CHC), Corbin Carroll (AZ), Kyle Stowers (MIA), and Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD). Acuña, Crow-Armstrong and Tucker were the starters, while the other four were reserves.

Mickey Moniak vs. The Rockies

Not only does Moniak rank among league leaders, but he leads the Rockies in numerous categories — often by a wide margin.

Most of the time, he ranks just above Hunter Goodman, who is making his own case to be the first Rockies back-to-back All-Star since Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon did it from 2017-2019. The thing that would give Goodman the edge over Moniak is that the catcher field is less crowded than the outfield, but Moniak is still leading his teammates in enough categories that position might not matter.

Mickey Moniak 2026 vs. Charlie Blackmon 2019

The last Rockies outfielder to make an All-Star Game was Charlie Blackmon in 2019. (He was also selected in 2017 and 2018.) It was also the last time the Rockies fielded multiple All-Stars.

The rosters were announced on June 30 that year, and here’s how Blackmon stood out entering the reveal:

Blackmon also had two multi-homer games in that stretch, and went on two separate 11-game hitting streaks from April 16-28 and May 1-14.

In 2019, Christian Yelich (MIL), Cody Bellinger (LAD) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) were selected as starters, while Blackmon was selected by his peers as a reserve alongside David Dahl (COL) and Jeff McNeil (NYM).

The case for Mickey Moniak to be an All-Star

The case speaks for itself. Moniak is among league leaders in numerous offensive categories. When you’re in the same conversation as players such as Kyle Schwarber, Matt Olson, Bryce Harper and Max Muncy, you’re doing something right.

That said, Moniak likely won’t be selected as a starter — the last Rockie to have that honor was Nolan Arenado in 2019. However, if Moniak keeps playing the way he has been, he will likely be selected by his peers as a reserve.

Do you think Moniak will be an All-Star, or will that honor go to Goodman? Or do you think the Rockies will have multiple All-Stars for the first time in seven years? Let us know in the comments!

On the Farm

Triple-A:Oklahoma City Comets 20, Albuquerque Isotopes 8

It was not a good day for the Isotopes pitching staff against the Oklahoma City Comets (LAD). Starter Erasmo Ramírez lasted just three innings and gave up nine runs on 10 hits. Bryson Van Sickle then came in and gave up six (four earned) on three hits and Ryan Miller gave up two on three hits. Welinton Herrera (No. 17 PuRP) and Mason Green combined for three shutout innings (Herrera threw two perfect innings with three strikeouts), but then TJ Shook gave up three more in the final inning to seal the blowout loss. The pitching staff gave up three home runs, and only one was a multi-run homer in the fifth inning.

Offensively, Adael Amador went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and two runs scored. Chad Stevens, Blaine Crim and Jose Cordova also recorded multi-hit games, and Crim and Nic Kent also hit homers of their own.

Double-A:Hartford Yard Goats 6, Portland Sea Dogs 5

The Yard Goats fared better than the Isotopes, as they walked off the Portland Sea Dogs (BOS). Starter Konner Eaton struggled, giving up four runs (one earned) on four hits with two walks, five strikeouts and two home runs. Luckily, Carlos Torres bailed him out with two hits and two strikeouts over two innings, and Cade Denton ended up with the win after allowing just one run on one hit with two walks and a strikeout.

Bryant Betancourt ended up being the hero for the Goats, hitting a two-RBI double in the bottom of the ninth.

High-A:Hilsboro Hops 4, Spokane Indians 2

It was a low-scoring affair in Spokane, but the Indians came out on the losing side of it. They jumped out to an early 1-0 lead over the Hops (AZ) in the first, but it was given back in the bottom of the inning. Roynier Hernandez scored on a pickoff error in the third to put the Indians up 2-1, but that was the end of the scoring as the Hops scored twice in the fifth and once again in the eighth. Hernandez was the only Indians player to have multiple hits (2).

On the pitching side, each player gave up at least one run but Hunter Mann’s was unearned in his 2.2 innings of work.

Low-A:Visalia Rawhide 15, Fresno Grizzlies 14

It was a high-scoring affair in Fresno, but unfortunately the Grizzlies weren’t quite able to overcome an eight-run sixth inning by the Rawhide (AZ). The game was tied 2-2 after the first, and then the Grizzlies scored six in the third to go up 8-2. It started with Tanner Thach being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Clayton Gray. Then Derek Bernard reached on an error to score Roldy Brito, and then Jack O’Dowd hit a grand slam. But then the Rawhide scored eight in the sixth with an RBI double by Pedro Catuy, a two-run triple by Ivan Luciano, an RBI single by Jose Alpuria, a two-run homer by Enyervert Perez and then another two-run homer by JD Dix to put them up 11-8 after the inning. Kyle Fossum grounded into a force in the seventh, but Bernard and O’Dowd were able to score. But then Jakey Josepha singled to tack on another run in the eighth, 12-10, and Alpuria doubled and Cunningham singled to put the Rawhide up 15-10. Gray doubled to score Matt Klein, then Brito singled to score Fossum and Gray. And finally Ethan Holliday singled to score Brito, but that was the end of it: 15-14.

Inside Tanner Gordon’s two-day, 6,134-mile journey to rescue Rockies in a pitching pinch | Denver Post ($)

Tanner Gordon flew to and from Albuquerque in place of Jimmy Herget twice last week. After being recalled on April 14, he was optioned down on Tuesday when Herget came off the bereavement/family emergency list. However, he barely touched down before he was summoned back on Thursday when Herget went on the IL with right shoulder impingement. And naturally, after being in five different cities in 48 hours, Gordon had to pitch four innings at PNC Park after starter Chase Dollander went down with an elbow injury in the second inning. He allowed one run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

‘I don’t care if it’s Mars’: Lorenzen’s Coors struggles continue | MLB.com

Michael Lorenzen signed with the Rockies with the hopes of solving Coors Field. Unfortunately, that has not happened yet, as the right-hander has put up a 2-6 record and 7.03 ERA (10.03 at Coors Field). On Sunday, he yielded nine hits and seven runs (six earned) in 4.2 innings in the loss to the Diamondbacks. Lorenzen addressed the media after the game, and we’ll have to see if he’s able to right the ship.

Gianna Girardi — Joe’s niece — is carving her own MLB career with the Rockies | Denver Post ($)

The Rockies’ in-game host has connections both to Colorado and to Major League Baseball. Patrick Saunders caught up with Gianna about her history in both, and how she is making her way in a tough industry.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Last week, I shared how the hitting prospects in the system were doing. Wasn’t really planning for it to be a weeklong thing, it’s just that the Cardinals seem to have that many prospects worth monitoring. And I definitely didn’t cover everyone too. This week, I’ll cover the pitching prospects. Let’s get started.

Memphis

Quinn Mathews, LHP – 25 (VEB’s #4 prospect)

Stats: 8 GS, 28 K%, 18.2 BB%, 40.3 GB%, .250 BABIP, 5.23 ERA/6.59 FIP/5.28 xFIP

Maybe it’s because he got to Memphis so fast, but I am truly confused as to how long it is taking Mathews to adjust to AAA. Maybe it’s the ball and he’s uniquely affected. Maybe it’s just that some pitchers need more development time at some level. Whatever it is, I really wish he could get his walk rate to a level where I would feel comfortable promoting him to the big leagues. 18% is a nonstarter and it’s not like his other stats are good right now either.

Tink Hence, RHP – 23 (VEB’s #10 prospect)

Stats: 8 G, 8.1 IP, 15.6 K%, 20 BB%, 57.1 GB%, .333 BABIP, 8.64 ERA/7.00 FIP/6.79 xFIP

I am suddenly not concerned about Mathews at all after seeing how Hence has pitched this year. He is not currently in Memphis to the best of my knowledge, being sent to the complex league to work out whatever exactly is affecting him right now. The talent is still there. Either the mechanics or the health isn’t however. Hopefully, it works out as well as the Joshua Baez experience.

Tekoah Roby, RHP – 24 (VEB’s #11 prospect)

Underwent Tommy John surgery on July 28th last season. If he pitches at all this year, I doubt he’ll have much time to do more than be a multi-inning relief pitcher.

Brycen Mautz, LHP – 24 (VEB’s #13 prospect)

Stats: 8 GS, 23.8 K%, 13.8 BB%, 40.4 GB%, .250 BABIP, 2.97 ERA/5.01 FIP/5.43 xFIP

Mautz hasn’t really had a walk problem before this season, so there really does seem to be something to having to adjust to pitching with a different ball. And of course harder competition. I’m not worried about Mautz only because he wasn’t really ever on my radar to pitch at the big league level this season except maybe a spot start later in the season. Would have surprised me more if he was immediately good in Memphis.

Ixan Henderson, LHP – 24 (VEB’s #17 prospect)

Henderson was shut down due to a flexor strain in his elbow and was slated to miss at least the first two months of the season. I haven’t heard any updates since spring training.

Hunter Dobbins, RHP – 26 (acquired in the Sonny Gray trade)

Stats: 7 GS, 33.1 IP, 16.3 K%, 8.5 BB%, 52.5 GB%, .290 BABIP, 3.78 ERA/4.66 FIP/5.06 xFIP

Dobbins is currently a bit of a confusing pitcher. His Memphis stats suggest we basically have another Andre Pallante waiting in the wings. Which… actually it’s support by his lone MLB start too. He got a ton of groundballs, but couldn’t locate the zone. Pallante, despite lacking control, walks less than you would think. I don’t think Dobbins is exactly kicking down the door with his performance, though it’s good enough that he’s the clear choice if you need a starter.

Richard Fitts, RHP – 26 (acquired in the Willson Contreras trade)

Stats: 3 GS, 15.1 IP, 17.7 K%, 9.7 BB%, 41.9 GB%, .295 BABIP, 1.76 ERA/3.46 FIP/5.04 xFIP

After three not especially impressive starts – yes I know ERA-wise it was – Fitts suffered an injury to his right lat and will miss the entire season.

Bruce Zimmermann, LHP – 31

Stats: 9 GS, 45.1 IP, 29.4 K%, 5.2 BB%, 41.6 GB%, .333 BABIP, 4.76 ERA/4.64+ FIP/3.65 xFIP

I understand that Zimmermann is this year’s version of Curtis Taylor. I kind of want to see what he’s like in relief though. His K/BB numbers are excellent and it’s clear he can’t start at the MLB level – he’s just too homer-prone. He allowed three homers in yesterday’s game so that FIP is going to get way worse. He had a 6:1 K/BB so that xFIP won’t be hit that badly. Anyway, he was a reliever for 7 total games at the MLB level and he had a 14:0 K/BB ratio. I see more potential in him than Jared Shuster.

Pete Hansen, LHP – 25

Stats: 5 GS, 19.2 IP, 20.5 K%, 9.1 BB%, 48.3 GB%, .328 BABIP, 5.49 ERA/3.06 FIP/4.39 xFIP

Hansen began the year injured, but has worked his way back to full heath at this point. If you focus on his batters faced, they have steadily increased to a season high of 22 in his most recent start, even though he only went 4.1 IP and he managed 5 innings in a previous start. It got momentarily derailed when he got rocked in a start where he lasted just 1.2 IP, hence the high ERA. It’s going pretty well for Hansen so far though. Would like to have another viable player to call up if needed in the Memphis rotation. It’s pretty much just Dobbins right now.

Sem Robberse, RHP – 24

Robberse underwent Tommy John surgery on May 14th of last season, so it’s entirely possible he could be starting rehab in the near future. Very far from being an MLB impact of course.

Hancel Rincon, RHP – 24

Stats: 10 G (3 GS), 20.2 IP, 27.6 K%, 11.3 BB%, 45.6 GB%, .396 BABIP, 6.23 ERA/5.80 FIP/4.19 xFIP

The Cardinals are kind of playing the in-between game with Rincon, where he’s not a starting pitcher, but he’s a little more than a reliever. He has started 3 games, but not been asked to face more than 15 batters in any appearance. I’m not sure if his innings are being limited or if he’s truly not a starter anymore, but I do find it a bit strange they seem to have given up on him as a starter.

Max Rajcic, RHP – 24

Stats: 15 G (1 GS), 28.2 K%, 7.3 BB%, 50 GB%, .288 BABIP, 1.95 ERA/3.41 FIP/3.69 xFIP

His lone start wasn’t a real start, Rajcic is a full-blown reliever. Just wanted to put that out there. Jake Wood has been a big advocate to consider promoting him to the big league and it’s easy enough to see why. Probably not future as a starter and excelling as a reliever at the moment.

Cade Winquest, RHP – 26

Stats: 3 G, 3 IP, 25 K%, 6.3 BB%, 37.5 GB%, .429 BABIP, 12.00 ERA/9.19 ERA/6.72 xFIP

Winquest somehow has three hit by pitches in his three innings of work which do factor into his overall stats. It’s a similar negative penalty to a walk. Despite a solid K%, he hasn’t actually had a good appearance in Memphis yet – he’s allowed a run in each one. He had 2 Ks and no walks or HBPs in one appearance, but also allowed a homer. He is also now injured with an undisclosed injury. So much for bullpen help here.

Ryan Murphy, RHP – 26

Stats (AA): 6 G, 8.2 IP, 37.5 K%, 0 BB%, 36.8 GB%, .222 BABIP, 3.12 ERA/3.95 FIP/3.00 xFIP

AAA: 5 G, 8 IP, 25.6 K%, 7.7 BB%, 45.8 GB%, .391 BABIP, 7.88 ERA/5.77 FIP/3.22 xFIP

For a minor league Rule 5 pickup, this is as good of a start as you can ask for. Yes, I know his ERA and FIP are ugly in Memphis. And it’s unfortunate he’s already allowed four homers this year. But he proved to be too good in AA pretty much immediately which is encouraging for a guy who spent last year pitching only rehab innings essentially.

Ryan Fernandez, RHP – 28

Stats: 12 G, 12.2 IP, 26 K%, 6 BB%, 41.2 GB%, .242 BABIP, 2.84 ERA/3.21 FIP/3.51 xFIP

Ryan Fernandez went from someone they couldn’t send down because he needed to work out his issues at the MLB level to a guy who can’t get called up even if he’s pitching well in Memphis (and a brief time at the MLB level) despite the Cardinals having a bad bullpen pretty quickly honestly. It is nice to have someone who I think deserves to get called up if a spot is needed at least.

Chris Roycroft, RHP – 29

Stats: 14 G, 15 IP, 15.1 K%, 6.8 BB%, 58.9 GB%, .421 BABIP, 7.88 ERA/3.05 FIP/4.55 xFIP

I mean… Roycroft has to be getting close to entering DFA territory if a 40 man spot is needed. In his last four appearances, including last night, he’s allowed 10 earned runs in 4.1 IP. He may have been the punching bag on May 9th because innings were needed and he faced 13 batters, which is 5 batters more than he’s faced in any other appearance. He allowed six runs in that appearance.

Luis Gastelum, RHP – 24

Stats: 18 G, 21.1 IP, 19.8 K%, 12.5 BB%, 44.6 GB%, .255 BABIP, 4.64 ERA/5.39 FIP/5.49 xFIP

People have suggested Gastelum for the MLB bullpen. He doesn’t appear that close to being MLB ready to me. It does not help his case that he is not on the 40 man roster. Typically if you are on the outside looking in with regards to the 40 man, you need to have great stats to get the call-up. He does not have that.

Skylar Hales, RHP – 24

Stats: 15 G, 16.2 IP, 24.1 K%, 16.9 BB%, 54.2 GB%, .348 BABIP, 5.94 ERA/5.76 FIP/4.81 xFIP

Good news. I can adjust many stats based upon how a pitcher pitched the night I’m writing this, but FIP and xFIP are not those stats. And Hales pitched a great inning yesterday and his FIP and xFIP will both drop. He struck out 2 in a scoreless innings with no walks and only a hit allowed. The bad news is that his BB% only dropped to 16.9%, so that’s going to need to fall a lot farther down before you consider a promotion.

Scott Blewett, RHP – 30

Stats: 15 G (GS), 24 IP, 29.4 K%, 9.8 BB%, 46.7 GB%, .362 BABIP, 4.13 ERA/4.02 FIP/3.64 xFIP

Okay we at least have two relief pitchers worth promoting if they are needed. Obviously Blewett is a bit more complicated, not being on the 40 man and not having any options if promoted. The team BABIP in Memphis must be .330 because I am seeing a lot of high BABIPs.

Springfield

Liam Doyle, LHP – 22 (VEB’s #2 prospect)

Stats: 7 GS, 25.1 IP, 29.7 K%, 8.1 BB%, 30.9 GB%, .394 BABIP, 6.04 ERA/3.72 FIP/4.28 xFIP

In Doyle’s last three starts, he has a 37 K% and 5.6 BB%, so I think he’s at the right level. His advanced stats for the whole season are solid, though nothing special and I would expect a higher GB% at some point. But yeah if you were concerned about his first few starts, his last few starts make me think he’ll see Memphis sooner rather than later.

Jurrangelo Cjintje, RHP – 23

Stats: 8 GS, 35.2 IP, 28 K%, 12.2 BB%, 38.7 GB%, .310 BABIP, 6.06 ERA/5.71 FIP/5.09 xFIP

Not the most impressive stats, and you can really see the value in not walking guys when comparing him and Doyle. Doyle doesn’t have a particularly low BB%, and yet he has a significantly lower xFIP than Cjintje pretty much just because of walks. Cjintje also has four HBPs and man I really wish HBPs wasn’t playing such a big role in some of these pitching lines, because a 12.2 BB% is high, but I found it weird how bad his xFIP was. If you add the HBPs to the walks, it’s a 14.6 BB/HBP% which is really bad. He did strike out 10 in his most recent appearance so clearly there’s a lot of potential here.

Cooper Hjerpe, LHP – 25 (VEB’s #15 prospect)

Hjerpe underwent Tommy John surgery on April 15th last season. I haven’t seen any updates on his rehab, but he should probably pitch this season and I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him in the MLB bullpen in September.

Chen-Wei Lin, RHP – 24

Stats: 7 G (5 GS), 27.1 IP, 31.5 K%, 12.1 BB%, 44.6 GB%, .359 BABIP, 3.95 ERA/3.90 FIP/4.32 xFIP

Everyone raise your hand if you thought Lin was going to outpitch Cjintje after a month and half of play. Now stop lying because you guys did not vote him onto the top 20 prospect list this past season. He’s still walking too many batters, but at least he’s striking out nearly a third of hitters and his walks are in a better place than last season certainly. Let’s hope he keeps this up.

Mason Molina, LHP – 22

Stats: 7 GS, 29.2 IP, 29 K%, 12.2 BB%, 34.2 GB%, .324 BABIP, 3.94 ERA/3.75 FIP/4.74 xFIP

Molina is now in his third organization and at least two of them have been pretty aggressive in promoting Molina, which is interesting because he was a 7th round pick. He’s advanced like a Day One pick. He started 11 games at Low A for the Rangers before they promoted him, and 12 total games at High A before the Cardinals put him in AA. Because the dude can miss bats.

Braden Davis, LHP – 23

Stats: 8 GS, 31.2 IP, 24.7 K%, 13 BB%, 43.8 GB%, 7.18 ERA/5.08 FIP/4.46 xFIP

If I wrote this before yesterday’s start happened, there’d be a lot more reason for optimism about Davis, but he had a horrendous start yesterday, walking five and only striking out two while giving up 5 runs. His FIP is going to be a lot worse and so will his xFIP. So that one’s a bummer. I also felt they were particularly aggressive with Davis, as he made just 8 starts at High A last year.

Brandt Thompson, RHP – 23

Stats: 7 G (4 GS), 28.1 IP, 26.6 K%, 8.1 BB%, 47.4 GB%, .303 BABIP, 3.81 ERA/4.03 FIP/3.91 xFIP

I can’t be the only one whose first instinct on seeing this guy and his stats and thought: “Who’s this guy?” Honestly, there wasn’t much reason before this year to pay attention. He was a 17th rounder in 2024 and spent most of 2025 in A ball, only striking out 19.8% of hitters in Low A. He struck out 39% of batters in High A, but it was just 15 innings. But he also was promoted to Springfield as well, and had a 1.00 ERA, albeit with a 15% K rate. Clearly that 39% K rate told us more than I think I would have guessed at the time as well as his permanent promotion to Springfield. These are great stats. This is a late round gem, even if he ends up hitting a wall. He’s not even old for his level. Score one for the scouting department on this one.

Darlin Saladin, RHP – 23

Stats: 11 G, 15.2 IP, 32.9 K%, 16.4 BB%, 51.4 GB%, .444 BABIP, 6.89 ERA/3.37 FIP/4.59 xFIP

Saladin appears to be a full-time reliever, which is a bummer after his 2024 season, but appears to be the right choice. He didn’t have a great 2025, he would have started being old for his level if they kept him at High A, so they both promoted him and moved him to the bullpen. He’s been wild. Hasn’t allowed a homer, but a crazy high BABIP. Yesterday he threw a scoreless inning with two strikeouts, so his FIP and xFIP will see some improvement. Just needs to control the walks.

Austin Love, RHP – 27

Stats: 13 G, 18 IP, 27.7 K%, 13.3 BB%, 48 GB%, .289 BABIP, 5.21 ERA/4.99 FIP/4.14 xFIP

Okay, well the Cardinals know more than me. News at eleven. Love has been pretty bad lately, and in fact gave up four runs in a relief appearance yesterday. I don’t know if he’s working on something, I don’t know if he’s fighting through an injury, but the Love I wanted to promote has exited the building.

Michael Watson, LHP – 24

Stats: 13 G, 18.1 IP, 37.5 K%, 12.5 BB%, 43.6 GB%, .343 BABIP, 4.42 ERA/5.08 FIP/3.54 xFIP

Most of you probably know this – hell most of you probably don’t pay attention to this – but when I list the age of a player, I am listing the age they are considered for that year. Which can lead to thinks like me calling Watson 24-years-old despite not turning 24 until June. If he was born a month later, he’d be considered 23. That’s just the way it works. Anyway, he actually allowed three of his four homers in his last appearance, which really dragged down his numbers.

Jack Findlay, LHP – 23

Stats (High A): 7 G, 6.2 IP, 30 K%, 6.7 BB%, 55.6 GB%, .389 BABIP, 4.05 ERA/2.56 FIP/3.80 xFIP

AA: 6 G, 8.2 IP, 25 K%, 9.4 BB%, 57.1 GB%, .238 BABIP, 2.08 ERA/2.91 FIP/4.08 xFIP

Oh hey I made a good call. In a post earlier this year, I said Love should be promoted to Memphis. That has not aged well, I also said Findlay should be promoted to Springfield. It happened less than a week later. And Findlay has rewarded that promotion so far.

Mason Burns, RHP – 24

Stats: 13 G, 19.1 IP, 29.1 K%, 12.7 BB%, 62.8 GB%, .209 BABIP, 1.40 ERA/4.39 FIP/3.86 xFIP

Again, let’s give a hand to the scouting department. Burns was drafted in the 14th round of the 2024 draft. Granted, if you told me a later round draft pick had made it to AA, I wouldn’t be that shocked if it was a reliever. Thompson is shocking to me because he’s a starting pitcher. That’s taking nothing away from Burns however, who has been a three true outcomes guy: strikeout, groundball, or walk. He’s allowed two homers in 19.1 IP and has been supremely unlucky to do so since 25% of his flyballs allowed have been homers (average is 12%)

Randal Clemente, RHP – 24

Stats: 10 G, 13.1 IP, 43.1 K%, 18.5 BB%, 44 GB%, .667 BABIP, 10.13 ERA/3.19 FIP/2.96 xFIP

Uhhhh, what in the hell? How is this line even possible? This is legitimately an unbelievable line. I don’t know what to do with this. He has allowed 24 balls in play, which is a crazy low number considering he’s thrown 13.1 IP. Out of those 24, 16 have been hits. Does he occasionally just want to make things hard and just yell “I’m throwing three fastballs right down the middle” because how can you be this unhittable and have a .667 BABIP against. I want to write 2,000 words about this.

Anyway, that’s a good place to end. Hunter Hayes does not have stats worth sharing but he did strike out four and walk none a 2.1 inning relief appearance yesterday, so hopefully that means he turned a corner.

Hello and happy Monday, folks. A new week begins, but that means we’re closer to a long weekend. So we’ve got that going for us, which is nice.

What we don’t have going for us at the moment, though, is quality outings from Brayan Bello. The birthday boy was unfortunately shelled on Sunday, as he gave up eight earned runs in five innings en route to the loss against Atlanta. Bello will not be pitching in this upcoming series in Kansas City, which is set to begin tonight at 7:40 p.m. EST.

My question to you folks is simple: what’s next for Bello?

He had two very solid outings preceding yesterday’s disaster, as both of those appearances featured an opener from the bullpen eating the first inning before handing things over to number 66. Is this simply a matter of reverting back to that strategy, or do you think the problems with Bello go deeper than that? Do we have to ride things out with him—especially with Crochet still on the mend—or do we have to consider sending him down to Worcester to get his act together? I want to hear from you.

Be good to each other and go Sox.

Last week saw to divisional matchups in the National League West, and NL West teams lost the two series against other NL teams outside the division. The San Diego Padres dropped two of three against the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Colorado Rockies lost two out of three against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But the division mostly took out any such frustration against the American League. The Dodgers and Padres, the two teams at the top of the standings and the only two teams in the division with a winning record, swept the Angels and Seattle Mariners, respectively, over the weekend. The San Francisco Giants won two out of three against the A’s in West Sacramento. The Arizona Diamondbacks did lost two of three to the Texas Rangers, but overall the division went 9-3 in interleague play for the week.

Divisional notes

The Dodgers and Giants split four games in Los Angeles, with the Giants winning the first two games. On Tuesday, Eric Haase homered twice off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the first player to homer against Yamamoto twice in the same game. Haase is just the fourth catcher in Giants history to hit two home runs in a game against the Dodgers, and the first since Bob Melvin on September 22, 1987. Haase is the only Giants catcher with such a game at Dodger Stadium. Sean Keane has more on Haase’s big game at McCovey Chronicles.

Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly at age 37 pitched the first complete game of his career on Thursday night, his 178th career start, in a 9-1 rout of the Colorado Rockies. The folks at AZ Snake Pit have more. Kelly had just the second complete game at Coors Field since the start of 2023, along with Stephen Kolek of the San Diego Padres on May 10, 2025. There are 94 complete games in the history of the ballpark, which is now in its 32nd season.

Jake Cronenworth out with a concussion. Padres have gotten contributions from other players, like Miguel Andujar and Gavin Sheets (three go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning), which Thomas Conroy chronicled at Gaslamp Ball.

Rockies right-hander Chase Dollander exited his Thursday start and was placed on the injured list on Friday. There’s no timetable yet for his return, but optimism that he won’t need surgery. From Evan Lang at Purple Row:

Dollander described his injury as “just a very minor UCL sprain. That’s just what the MRI showed. I have a little information around the ligament, nothing to be too concerned about. Just thanking God that it wasn’t more than that. Obviously, it’s probably the best case scenario. Trying to look at the positive side.”

NL West standings

Dodgers 29-18, – –
Padres 28-18, 0.5 GB
D-backs 22-23, 6 GB
Giants 20-27, 9 GB
Rockies 18-29, 11 GB

The week ahead

Three different intradivisional series this week, in San Diego and Arizona.

• Dodgers: at Padres, at Brewers
• Padres: vs. Dodgers, vs. A’s
• D-backs: vs. Giants, vs. Rockies (4 games)
• Giants: at D-backs, vs. White Sox
• Rockies: vs. Rangers , at D-backs (4 games)