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Elephant Rumblings: Leo De Vries Getting Third Base Reps

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 22, 2026: Leo De Vries #14 of the Athletics in the field during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Hohokam Stadium on March 22, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Morning everyone!

The A’s have an off day today as they head to the East Coast for the third time this year. That’s a lot of miles that the team is running up in the early going. On the bright side they’re getting those games out of the way early. The only other times the team will travel that far this season will be in August for three games in Boston against the Red Sox, and September in Tampa against the Rays. Other than that most of the team’s road trips won’t go father than the Midwest, so that’s a positive. Both Philly and Baltimore are struggling so far this year and the A’s could be catching them at the right time. After going just 3-3 on this most recent home stand, a winning record on this upcoming road trip would do wonders for this young squad.

Anyway, checking in down on the farm we’ve gotten an update regarding top prospect Leo De Vries. A shortstop by trade, the organization has begun getting the 19-year-old some reps at the hot corner down in Double-A. Whether this is the new long-term plan for him or just an effort to get him to the big leagues faster isn’t yet known, but it’s an interesting development and one that a lot of people speculated could happen this season.

On paper it makes sense as well. With the presence of Jacob Wilson at De Vries’ natural position of shortstop the team needs to find a position that won’t be blocked this summer/next spring. While incumbent third baseman and former first rounder Max Muncy has shown improvement in his second season, there’s still a lot to be desired from both his bat and especially his glove at the hot corner. Muncy currently ranks as one of the worst defenders at third base this year and the eye test confirms it. Luckily they’ve managed to get some offense out of the position but upgrading the defense at a critical position on the infield would go a long ways.

That’s where this move of De Vries from shortstop to third comes in. Before this season De Vries had only every played shortstop (outside of five games in the AFL back in 2024). There’s been a small contingent of scouts that don’t believe that short is De Vries’ ultimate home. The Athletics’ getting him some playing time at third base doesn’t mean that they’re making that positional switch with him now, just that the team is desperate to get him to the big leagues as soon as possible.

Makes sense. After a slow-ish start from the top prospect in Double-A De Vries has been looking much better in the box and frankly shouldn’t be too far off from a promotion to Las Vegas, who is relying on fellow top prospect Tommy White at the hot corner right now. White has himself had a good start to his season and is looking good facing Triple-A pitching for the first time, but there are questions about his long-term defensive home as well.

It’s only been three games that De Vries has played third base this year. He’s still getting the majority of the reps at shortstop for the Rockhounds, but this could be a development to watch over the coming weeks and months. A player that De Vries has been compared to plenty of, Manny Machado, also began his career as a shortstop before moving to third base in deference to J.J. Hardy. Hardy was a much better fielder than Wilson is now but it’s just worth remembering that it’s not unheard of for a shortstop to move to third base. In fact, it could ultimately be his best position. You never know until you try him out there.

No game today but we’ll be back with coverage tomorrow evening when the team takes on the Phillies for the first of three. Until then, have a great day A’s fans.

A’s Coverage:

MLB News and Interest:

Best of X:

Could Morris actually be the next in line for a call up?

Definitely check this out:

Owch. Hopefully that changes soon with some good prospects coming down the pipe:

ICYMI:

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Knicks Bulletin: ‘He’s an Unc’

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 24: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks look on during the game on January 24, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Tip-off time can’t come soon enough.

But hey, it’s just less than 10 hours away, so hang in there.

Here’s the latest ahead of Game 1 tonight.

https://x.com/i/status/2051131319984234549

Mike Brown

On OG Anunoby’s defensive versatility:

“OG is just unique and special. He gives us, like Josh, the ability to throw different defenses at our opponents. He can guard [all five positions], and we always try to mix it up with him. He did that the last series guarding [Hawks center Onyeka] Okongwu at times, and we’ll continue to try to do it going forward. So wherever we need to adjust, no matter who he’s guarding, at this point in the season, we have a pretty good feel of what we need to do to shore up this area, shore up that area or help him when he’s guarding this point guard or guarding this center.”

On the 76ers’ guards posing problems:

“They’re athletic, quick, dynamic, explosive. They can score from all three levels. They can play the pick-and-roll, they can get out and finish in transition. Maxey is the No. 1 guy in transition in the league. They pose a big problem for us with them on defense.

“They’re really good in passing lanes. Great anticipation, long arms, quick, explosive, great at all those things, which equates to a lot of turnovers for teams. Their guards can give anybody a handful of problems on both ends of the floor.”

On Mitchell Robinson’s importance this series:

“[Robinson] can be big [for us]. Mitch is unique, so no matter who we play, Mitch is extremely important to what we’re trying to do — the way he offensive-rebounds, the way he’s a vertical threat in the pick-and-roll game, the way he protects the rim, his versatility guarding — he can switch onto some ones and some twos. He can’t guard those guys whole possessions, but he can switch onto those guys and make it tough. All that stuff is extremely important for us this series or no matter who we play, so we need him to bring it at a high level, as well as everyone else.”

Jalen Brunson

On building from first-round lessons:

“When you go through a playoff series and you find a way to win, you’re moving on, you see where you’re pushed. You see where you have to get better. You build off that. I think we found a way to build off the two losses that we had. Even going back to Game 1 (of the Hawks series), the way we finished that fourth quarter was how we lost Game 2. When you lose, it’s all about how you evolve and adjust to get better.”

Josh Hart

On Knicks fans traveling to Philadelphia:

“I expect it to be similar, because Knicks fans travel. They’re probably the best fans in the NBA in terms of traveling and going to games. It might be cheaper to do that than go to the Garden. They love New York Knick basketball, they’re passionate about it, and we love it. We need them to come out and support.”

“Knicks fans travel. They are probably the best fans in the NBA in terms of traveling and going to games. Might be cheaper to do that than to go to the Garden. That’s our fans. They love New York and basketball and are passionate about it. We need them to come out and support home games, but obviously on the road.”

On New Yorkers’ persistence:

“Good thing about New Yorkers, man, they’re persistent. They don’t care, bro. They’re going to do it, man. And for a lot of people, everything revolves around money. So, you know, if they get a good price for those tickets, they’re going to sell them, and New Yorkers are passionate about the Knicks and they’re going to come out and show love.”

“Good things about New Yorkers, they are persistent. They are going to do it, man. For a lot of people, everything revolves around money. If they have the tickets, they are going to sell them. New Yorkers are passionate about the Knicks. They are going to come out and show up.”

On how to stop Tyrese Maxey:

“Probably just asking Tyrese to slow down a little bit. That’d be nice. The style defensively is gonna be totally different. CJ, he doesn’t have that quick acceleration at his old age, so you can be a little bit more physical with him. He’s an Unc. Tyrese and Edgecombe, they’re on the young side. They’re quick, they’re explosive, so there’s definitely a different style of defense. Gonna tell them to slow down a little bit so I can get my hands on them and be physical. It’s a fun matchup.”

On first-round wins meaning nothing:

“Not a damn thing, ‘cause that’s not the goal. The goal isn’t to advance through one series or two series. That’s not a goal that we have individuals or as a team. So to be honest, that’s pretty irrelevant. We’ve gotta make sure do what we’re supposed to do and we focus on advancing through this series. Down the road, hopefully we can appreciate that stat but as of right now it’s pretty irrelevant.”

Mitchell Robinson

On the NBA’s reprimand for his post after the Game 6 ejection:

“Honestly, I forgot. I wasn’t paying attention.”

On Joel Embiid ‘dirty player’ talk:

“No, I don’t. I really don’t live in the past. It is what it is. I just move on.”

Nick Nurse

On scouting the Knicks after eliminating Boston:

“What did we go 2-2 against [the Knicks]? Nobody could win at home? Yeah we’ve played them a lot. It seems like it’s been a while now, though, this season. I mean, listen: I think they’re very good. I think their starting lineup is incredible. I think they’ve continued to bolster their bench. I think they can play in a variety of ways: They can play one-big, two bigs. Brunson’s obviously a big problem. The rebounding’s a big problem. [They’re] a much bigger team in general all-around than [the Celtics]. I think they’re very, very good, and it’s gonna be a tremendous challenge.”

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John Sterling, iconic Yankees broadcaster, dies at 87

John Sterling, the iconic voice of the Yankees who began broadcasting games for the team in 1989, has died at the age of 87.

Sterling initially retired early in the 2024 season, but he returned later that year to broadcast games against the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series. 

He was on the call for five Yankees World Series titles, and called legendary moments like Aaron Judge’s AL-record-breaking 62nd home run of the 2022 season. His personalized home run calls and signature "Theeeeeeee Yankees win" have become part of Yankees lore.

The Yankees released the following statement:

“We pause today — along with millions of Yankees fans around the world — to recognize the passing of one of our own. John Sterling breathed life and excitement into Yankees games for 36 years while wearing his passion for baseball and the Yankees on his sleeve. He informed and entertained generations of fans with a theatrical and unapologetic style that was uniquely his own.

“John treasured his role as the voice of the New York Yankees, and his enthusiasm for the art of broadcasting perfectly complemented our city and our fans. The symmetry between John and his audience was both undeniable and magical, and his signature calls will resonate for as long as we put on pinstripes — especially after every Yankees win.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Sterling family, as well as his long list of loved ones and friends.”

Sterling also called games for the Nets and Islanders in the late 1970’s, among many other broadcasting roles.

Following the news of Sterling’s passing, tributes began flooding in:

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Dusty May to the NBA? Magic reportedly interested after firing Jamahl Mosley

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 15: Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines looks on against the Purdue Boilermakers during the first half of the 2026 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game at the United Center on March 15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hours after losing in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, the Orlando Magic have fired head coach Jamahl Mosley.

And you can fire up those Dusty May rumors … now.

Despite entering the NBA Playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, Mosley and the Magic built a 3-1 series lead over the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons. But Orlando blew that series lead in historic fashion, collapsing in Game 6 after building a 24-point advantage early in the game. Over the final 23 minutes, the Magic were outscored 55-17, and outscored 31-8 in the fourth quarter alone.

The collapse was completed on Sunday, as the Pistons rolled to a 116-94 victory to complete their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.

Now Mosley is out, and early reports indicate Orlando is focusing on Michigan head coach Dusty May. According to longtime NBA insider Marc Stein, “[l]eague sources say that the Magic are admirers of Michigan’s Dusty May and would have a level of interest if he were indeed available.”

There are, however, some significant potential hurdles. First, as Stein notes, is the notion that the “expectation at this point in the college game is that May will stay” at Michigan, who knocked off Connecticut for the national championship. In addition, the Magic could have some potential rivals for May’s services, as there are other jobs available in the NBA. New Orleans, Portland, and Chicago all have open spots, and the NBA world is waiting on a decision from Steve Kerr, who could step away from Golden State.

Then, of course, there is this question: Does May even have NBA aspirations, after winning a title at Michigan?

May led Michigan on a romp through March Madness to win the program’s first national championship since 1989. The Wolverines are expected to lose Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, and Morez Johnson to the 2026 NBA Draft, where all three are projected as top-20 picks. Only Johnson could return. Michigan already has an impressive transfer portal haul lined up, but it’s going to be a completely new team, which is par for the course in this era of college hoops.

May reportedly won’t sign a contract extension at Michigan until July. Is Michigan a better job than the Magic at this point? It feels that way coming off the national championship run, but the NBA will always have allure.

If the Magic can’t land May, expect former Bulls coach Billy Donovan to also draw interest.

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If Jarrett Allen can turn the page, so can the Cavaliers

CLEVELAND, OH - MAY 3: Jarrett Allen #31 and Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers look on against the Toronto Raptors during Round One Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 3, 2026 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliersemerged from the rock fight against the Toronto Raptors. It was far from the prettiest series on the first-round slate. The number of times I thought this team was dead in the water was more than two hands can count.

After RJ Barrett’s moonshot homage to Kawhi Leonard, it seemed like this Cavaliers team was bound to also pay homage to previous iterations of the franchise’s past and fold in Game 7. However, just when it looked like the Cavaliers were going to succumb to the pressure, they came out in the second half led by Jarrett Allen and others to show that this Cavs team will not be lumped together with those shortcomings of years prior.

Allen and the Cavaliers’ recent playoff outings share a common thread. One that can be summarized by shortcomings. Allen has been the poster child for the Cavaliers being called a soft team. Ever since the Cavaliers were bounced by the New York Knicks in 2023, the label of weak-minded has followed this team through the years. The following year, it was the Celtics, last year it was the Pacers, and for all intents and purposes, it looked like it was going to be the Raptors this time.

Then, coming out of the half tied at 49 apiece, Allen emerged like a man possessed. He single-handedly authored a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds in the third quarter alone, that sparked a 38-19 run.

This, alongside others like Max Strus, Jaylon Tyson, Sam Merrill, and Dennis Schroder, the Cavaliers came out with an edge. Those guys just understood the mentality shift the team needed after the first half of the Cavaliers succumbing to the moment. The team was too talented to be meandering at the level of the Raptors. Those guys understood this and really energized the group.

As the Cavaliers look ahead to a series against the Detroit Pistons starting Tuesday night, they should use their second half as a sign of turning the page. Riding the high would be the wrong take to walk out of Game 7 with. That edge we saw from Cleveland is something they really haven’t shown in the postseason — that counter punch was never in their arsenal.

The beauty of a series is that each one provides things to learn, but also things you can leave behind in the context of that series. Look no further than the 2025 playoffs; the Cavaliers, fresh off one of the more dominant round one series in recent memory, looked like a shell of that team, losing in the second round in short order. There is a chance to be reborn, so while the Cavaliers should carry over the mentality they showed in the second half of Game 7, they should leave behind the version of themselves that saw them fall to the Raptors in several games due to mental lapses.

If Allen’s narrative-changing outing can provide a template and inspiration for the Cavaliers, then this team has the chance to live up to its potential and talent level. The Eastern Conference is far from touting clear title contenders as it currently stands. In this parity era, anything is possible if a team gets hot. The Cavaliers certainly have a runway to the NBA Finals if they can meet the level of play we saw in the second half of Game 7.

There is always time in life to reinvent yourself, changes can always be made, and series in the playoffs are more of a snapshot than being emblematic of who a team will be. To match the physicality of Detroit, the Cavaliers will need to turn the page from the Toronto series, while keeping that edge that showed them what they are capable of.

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After much scrutiny, Nick Nurse pushed the right buttons vs. the Celtics

As this season played out, most Sixers fans were probably unmoved or even disappointed with head coach Nick Nurse.  The ones that were unmoved were probably set in their ways that the team was stuck in a holding pattern, waiting out the big contracts of Joel Embiid and Paul George and there wasn’t much the head coach could do. While the calls for Nurse’s firing were never overly loud, the growing amount of skepticism amongst the fanbase that Nurse could pull the Sixers out of the rut of mediocrity they had fallen into were enough of an indictment.

Had the Sixers fallen in the first round to Boston, it would have been three straight years without winning a playoff round for the franchise. A team that was known for second-round exits was on the cusp of not even getting to the second round with regularity and fading back into NBA purgatory. That’s the same spot they were in back when they lost to Boston 14 years ago in the second round. Say what you want about the last 8-10 years of Sixers basketball, they’ve at least been nationally relevant and worth talking about come May. They just haven’t done a lot of winning in May. Armed with a fully healthy rotation by the time Embiid returned last weekend against Boston, it was up to Nurse to maximize his roster and at least see if his team could strike some fear into the Celtics, if not win the series.

By the time the series was over, there wasn’t much doubt as to who the better team was. Sure, Jayson Tatum didn’t play in Game 7, but the Sixers thoroughly outplayed the Celtics in their three wins in the series prior to Saturday night. They led most of the way on Saturday and withstood every push the Celtics made to steal the game. You don’t win three games on the road in a best-of-seven playoff series as the lower seed by accident. The narrative had flipped completely from Game 1 to Game 7 as the Sixers went from heavy underdogs to just flat-out better than the Celtics. It was a shocking twist that can mostly be attributed to Nurse coaching circles around Joe Mazzulla.

A lot of people will tell you that basketball is the sport in which coaching matters the least. You can only have five players on the court at one time and often times the team with more talent is the one that prevails. While there is merit to that, it shouldn’t diminish the amount of credit owed to Nurse for Philly’s surprising rally from 3-1 down against the Celtics.

Development of young players and maximizing the usage of role players are often times two things a coach in any sport can score some points with his fans over. VJ Edgecombe looked timid in Philadelphia’s blowout loss at home in Game 4. The rookie was anything but those two adjectives for the rest of the series. He scored in double figures in all three of the final three games in the series. His field goal attempts increased in each game as did his three-point attempts. He rebounded well for a guard for the entire series. The rookie was playing with a lot of confidence as the series reached its conclusion and contributing immensely on both ends of the floor. Edgecombe had a +19 rating in Game 7, making him the team leader in the +/- department in the series-clinching win.

It’s fair to still have questions about Philadelphia’s bench after the series win. But the Sixers might have bowed out in five games had it not been for an outstanding Game 5 from Quentin Grimes as a reserve. Andre Drummond didn’t stuff the stat sheet, but for the first time in a playoff series it didn’t feel like the minutes without Embiid on the floor were a nightly sweat. If you do want to look at the statistical performances of Drummond, be sure to circle his 26 minutes with 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting, eight rebounds and +12 rating off the bench in the Game 2 victory before Embiid returned. Philly might not be the deepest team left in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, but if Nurse can hit the right buttons out of the ones he does have to push, the Sixers can be successful with a shorter rotation.

Another key for Philadelphia in the first round was Paul George deciding to turn back the clock. It is possible that the 25-game suspension George served allowed the veteran wing player to recharge a bit and he came back with a renewed focus that resulted in him locking in on basketball in ways we’ve never seen him do in a Sixers uniform. However, a veteran like George, who’s played on teams in both Los Angeles and Indiana that went to the conference finals, might not have recommitted himself to this Sixers team if he didn’t think they were capable of a deep playoff run. Nurse has cultivated an environment of cohesion that has resulted in a more connected Sixers team. That has made it easier for everyone to buy into what their roles are. At least some of that culture has to be responsible for George’s recent uptick in production.

With all of this said, we must still acknowledge the obvious that Embiid was the best player in the series. The big man became the first player in NBA history to score at least 100 points in a playoff series he did not play the first three games of. Of course, you need talent to win in any sport. But Nurse has raised the ceiling of his roster in the blink of an eye. A world once existed in which Nurse was the fall guy for problems that could primarily be attributed to Daryl Morey and Elton Brand. That world no longer exists. Nurse has exceeded all of our expectations this season.

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Astros Prospect Report: May 3rd

JUPITER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: Tommy Sacco Jr. #91 of the Houston Astros at bat during a spring training game against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (17-16) lost 9-6 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land got on the board in the 1st inning scoring 2 runs on a Price 2 run single. They got 2 more runs in the 3rd inning on a Biggio 2 run home run. Bielak got the start and went 5 innings allowing 2 runs. The offense scored 2 more runs in the 6th on a Price solo home run and Strahm RBI double. The pen relieved Bielak in the 6th but struggled allowing 7 runs as Reno took the lead. The offense was unable to rally as Sugar Land fell 9-6.

Note: Price has a .844 OPS this season.

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (13-14) won 7-5 (BOX SCORE)

Dombroski started for the Hooks but had some troubles allowing 5 runs over 3.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the first scoring 2 runs on a Whitaker 2 run single. The Hooks responded again in the 4th scoring 4 runs on a Sacco solo home run and Encarnacion 3 run double. In the 5th inning, Sacco connected on another solo home run to extend the lead. The pen was solid tossing 5.1 scoreless innings as they closed out the 7-5 win.

Note: Chirinos has a 2.45 ERA this season.

A+: Asheville Tourists (6-21) lost 6-5 (BOX SCORE)

DeVos started for Asheville and was solid allowing 2 runs over 4.2 innings while striking out 6. Asheville got on the board in the 4th on a Batista RBI single and then tied things in the 6th on a Schiavone solo home run. In the 7th, Brutcher gave Asheville the lead connecting on a 3 run home run to right field. Wohlgemuth came on in relief but struggled allowing 4 runs as the Blue Rocks took the lead. Unfortunately the offense was shut down the rest of the game as Asheville fell 6-5.

Note: Brutcher is hitting .278 this season.

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (10-17) lost 2-1 (BOX SCORE) 

Carrera got the start for the Woodpeckers and pitched well tossing 4.2 scoreless innings. Smith came on in relief and went 3 innings allowing 2 runs. The offense got on the board in the 8th on an Alvarez RBI single but that was it from the offense as the Woodpeckers fell 2-1.

Note: Neyens has a .939 OPS this season.

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: OFF

CC: OFF

AV: OFF

FV: OFF

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Good Morning San Diego: Padres win close game against White Sox to avoid sweep

San Diego, CA - May 3: Griffin Canning #17 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Chicago White Sox at Petco Park on May 3, 2026 in San Diego, CA. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)

Griffin Canning made his first start as a member of the San Diego Padres AND it came at Petco Park in front of the Friar Faithful. Canning ended with a no-decision, but left the game after five innings, allowing just one run on a solo home run to Drew Romo, with seven strikeouts. Canning did not look good to start the game, but that could be due to his return from an Achilles injury that cost him the majority of the 2025 season. It would be understandable if the Southern California native had a hard time controlling his emotions in front of a large contingent of supportive family and friends. While Canning did not get the win, he did walk off the mound after the top of the fifth inning after striking out the side to get his team back to the plate in the bottom of the frame. San Diego did allow the Chicago White Sox to tie the game late, but Xander Bogaerts came through with an infield single that allowed the Padres to take a one-run lead at 4-3. Mason Miller came into lockdown the ninth inning and the win, which prevented San Diego from suffering its first sweep of the season. The Padres will hit the road to San Francisco to take on the Giants at 6:45 p.m. today.

Padres News:

  • With Canning being added to the roster so he could pitch in the game on Sunday, a move had to made to clear space and that came in the form of a German Marquez being added to the injury list.
  • With the new owners of the Padres being announced this week, Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball looked at the details behind the move and what the process looks like going forward for Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones.
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Mets at Rockies: How to watch on SNY on May 4, 2026

The Mets open a three-game series against the Rockies in Colorado at 5:40 p.m. on SNY.

Mets Notes

  • Bo Bichette is hitting .300 with a .341 OBP over his last 10 games
  • Carson Benge is slashing .290/.333/.452 with one homer and two doubles over his last 10 games
  • Juan Soto has a .904 OPS in 11 games since returning from the IL
  • Luke Weaver has allowed just two runs in his last seven outings, spanning 7.2 innings

Today's Lineups

METS
ROCKIES
Juan Soto, LF-
Bo Bichette, SS-
MJ Melendez, RF-
Mark Vientos, 1B-
Brett Baty, 3B-
Marcus Semien, 2B-
Carson Benge, CF-
Francisco Alvarez, DH-
Luis Torrens, C-

What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package via MLB or Amazon. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone.

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB?

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps:

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider.
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account.
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY.

How can I watch the game on the MLB App?

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices.
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.” 
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available. 

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.

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Canadiens Make Roster Move After Game 7 Win

After defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 7 by a 2-1 final score, the Montreal Canadiens have made a roster move.

The Canadiens have announced that they have assigned defenseman Adam Engstrom to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Laval Rocket. 

While Engstrom has been on the Canadiens' roster, he has not appeared in a playoff game for them this spring. Now, with this news, he is heading back to Laval for the time being.

Engstrom played in his first 15 career NHL regular-season games this season with the Canadiens, where he had one assist and a plus-2 rating. 

In 45 regular-season games this year with the Rocket, Engstrom had 10 goals, 24 assists, 34 points, and a plus-14 rating. This is after he had five goals and 27 points in 66 games with the AHL squad during the 2024-25 season. 

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Blake Mitchell is having the weirdest (in a good way!) seasons of all time

SURPRISE, AZ - MARCH 20: Kansas City Royals catcher Blake Mitchell (2) is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Texas Rangers during a Spring Breakout game on March 20, 2026, at Surprise Stadium at Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Royals selected Blake Mitchell with the eighth overall selection in the 2023 Major League Baseball draft, a somewhat surprising pick at the time. High school catchers are an extremely risky demographic with a high failure rate, but the Royals believed in his hitting ability. To Mitchell’s credit, he had an excellent debut in 2024, hitting well in A-ball and forcing his way to High-A by the end of the year.

Unfortunately for Mitchell, he fractured his hammate bone last February and 2025 was therefore a bit of a lost season for him. He displayed the same command of the strike zone and propensity for striking out as he did in his debut season, but the recovery from the fracture sapped much of the power from his swing.

A lot of eyes were therefore on Mitchell this year. Could he develop as a hitter? Would he get his power back? Additional organizational pressure was also on Mitchell thanks to the unfortunate fact that Kansas City’s three previous first round picks before him—Asa Lacy, Frank Mozzicato, and Gavin Cross—have flamed out in the minor leagues, with the Royals officially releasing Lacy this year. No team can endure drafting so high for so long and get nothing out those valuable picks, least of all a small market team.

So has Mitchell advanced? Well, he’s having a season for the ages, that’s for sure.

Let’s start with what kind of hitter Mitchell is, because that’s important. The Royals have, traditionally, valued defense, baserunning, athleticism, and contact ability. They have not valued power or plate discipline. But Mitchell is made up almost entirely of the latter two. Interestingly, the Royals knew it when they drafted him, comparing him to Bryce Harper.

And Harper, well, Harper is great, but he’s not a traditional Royals hitter. Harper knows the zone, has a swing built for home run power, and isn’t afraid of striking outs. As a result, he walks a lot, hits a lot of home runs, and strikes out a lot. Those three events are sometimes called the “three true outcomes” because all three events happen independently of the defense. For his career, Harper’s plate appearances have resulted in one of those three outcomes 43.6% of the time, which is a lot, but not quite the extreme upper end. The real platonic ideal of the “three true outcomes” hitter of recent years has been Joey Gallo, who has walked, struck out, or crushed a homer in 58.7% of his career plate appearances. That’s a huge percentage.

But Gallo can’t hold a candle to what Mitchell is doing, because Mitchell is achieving one of the Three True Outcomes an almost unbelievable 70.3% of the time.

The above video is really the key to understanding why this is happening at all. Mitchell generates crazy bat speed with a fly-ball swing, which translates to elite exit velocity figures and verrrry long homers. As a result, pitchers stay away from him, and Mitchell is more than happy to draw walks when they’re not giving him something to hit. At the same time, Mitchell isn’t a guy to choke up on the bat and look to poke pitches to the opposite field and is perfectly content with a full-throated swing—even if he ends up whiffing.

Mitchell’s triple slash in High-A is really funny because of this: .213/.479/.508. With a 33% walk rate, he’s gotten 31 walks on May 3; Salvador Perez has walked 31 times in a whole season just once. But he’s also struck out 30.9% of the time, which is just a crazy situation.

Walking a lot, striking out a lot, and hitting a lot of home runs is a relatively common combo. But what Mitchell is doing so far this year is literally unheard of. No qualified hitter in MLB history has ever ended up with a walk rate and a strikeout rate north of 30%. Heck, lowering that figure to a 20% walk and strikeout rate only yields 10 hitter-seasons since 1970 (not counting 1994 and 2020):

SeasonNamePABB%K%AVGOBPSLGwRC+
1998Mark McGwire68123.8%22.8%0.2990.4700.752205
1996Mark McGwire54821.2%20.4%0.3120.4670.730190
2018Mike Trout60820.1%20.4%0.3120.4600.628188
1987Jack Clark55924.3%24.9%0.2860.4590.597176
1999Mark McGwire66120.1%21.3%0.2780.4240.697168
1971Willie Mays53720.9%22.9%0.2710.4250.482157
1989Jack Clark59422.2%24.4%0.2420.4100.459151
2007Jack Cust50720.7%32.3%0.2560.4080.504145
1999Jim Thome62920.2%27.2%0.2770.4260.540142
1977Gene Tenace58121.5%20.5%0.2330.4150.410134

Now, let’s be fair: we’ve only had a month-ish of baseball so far, and the chances of Mitchell having his own bizarre 30/30 season over the full year are basically nil. But Mitchell does have 330 plate appearances in High-A ball overall, and he’s walked 23.3% of the time and struck out 32.4% of the time.

What’s the takeaway here, then? For starters, I don’t think High-A is challenging him nearly enough, and if it were up to me I’d promote him to Double-A tomorrow. Mitchell needs to cut down on his strikeout rate if he wants the best chance to succeed in the big leagues, but right now he can sleepwalk to being the most dangerous hitter on the team by simply murdering mistake pitches and spitting on the ones that aren’t in the zone.

The other takeaway here isn’t really a takeaway but an invitation to examine if Mitchell might indeed be able to succeed in the big leagues with a big ol’ strikeout rate. I have thus far been very skeptical of Mitchell for this reason, but he’s starting to show a level of plate discipline and game power where it just might work. I mentioned Gallo earlier, but his career .194/.319/.456 line, while bizarre, kept him in the league for a decade. Could Mitchell be a sort of Gallo at the plate? Maybe! The other potential guy to look at is Munetaka Murakami, the rookie Japanese slugger who has a 144 wRC+ despite a 33.1% strikeout rate because he walks almost 19% of the time and hits dingers left and right. Like, the White Sox could not care less that he’s only hitting .223.

I’d love it if Mitchell could wrangle his strikeouts down to a more manageable level. At the same time, it’s almost more fun to consider a world in which the Royals are the ones with the ridiculous Three True Outcomes player. Can the Royals develop such a hitter? That is another question, one that I don’t really like my gut answer to. I guess we’ll just half to wait and see.

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Brewers vs Cardinals Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Cardinals are one of the league’s hottest teams, winning six of their past seven games.

My Brewers vs. Cardinals predictions expect the offense to lead them to another victory on Monday night.

Let’s break down my MLB picks for May 4.

Who will win Brewers vs Cardinals today: Cardinals moneyline (+100)

Chad Patrick owns a sparkling 2.47 ERA, but his underlying profile is littered with red flags.

He's posted a 5.52 xFIP, 5.56 SIERA, and a +2.6% K-BB% — the lowest mark among today’s projected starters.

He’s also allowing a 50% fly ball rate, which could be trouble against a St. Louis Cardinals offense that sits sixth in ISO and second in HR/FB vs. right-handed pitching over the past five weeks.

Look for Cardinals' bats to do plenty of damage.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Seven of St. Louis’ projected starters own a wOBA of at least .397 against righties throwing Patrick’s three most-used pitches.

Brewers vs Cardinals Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)

The Cardinals rank ninth in runs per game and fourth in homers, with the emergence of young bats like JJ Wetherholt and Jordan Walker really lengthening their lineup. 

Patrick’s high fly-ball rate could be a problem, especially on a warm day with the wind blowing out.

The Milwaukee Brewers are also well positioned to produce. Kyle Leahy has conceded multiple runs in all six starts, and 3+ runs in four of six.

He’s giving up damage consistently and has not lasted six innings once. The fourth-ranked Brewers offense should cause him problems.

Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 11-5, +3.88 units
  • Over/Under bets: 6-10, -5.06 units

Brewers vs Cardinals odds

  • Moneyline: Brewers -115 | Cardinals -105
  • Run line: Brewers -1.5 (+140) | Cardinals +1.5 (-160)
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-115) | Under 8.5 (-105)

Brewers vs Cardinals trend

The Cardinals have hit the Moneyline in 13 of their last 22 games (+6.85 Units / 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Cardinals.

How to watch Brewers vs Cardinals and game info

LocationBusch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
DateMonday, May 4, 2026
First pitch7:45 p.m. ET
TVFS1
Brewers starting pitcherChad Patrick
(2-1, 2.57 ERA)
Cardinals starting pitcherKyle Leahy
(3-3, 5.52 ERA)

Brewers vs Cardinals latest injuries

Brewers vs Cardinals weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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How to watch Philadelphia 76ers-New York Knicks, Game 1: TV, live stream info for tonight's NBA playoff game

The Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks will open their Eastern Conference Semifinals series Monday night at Madison Square Garden on NBC and Peacock.

The third-seeded Knicks advanced from the first round with a playoff franchise-record 51-point victory over the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6, becoming the only team in the NBA to win a series in each of the past four seasons.

The 76ers, the seventh seed, eliminated the Boston Celtics and became the 14th team in NBA history to win a series after trailing 3-1. Philadelphia is also the first No. 7 seed to beat the No. 2 in the East since the first round was expanded to seven games in 2003.

New York Knicks v Atlanta Hawks - Game Three
New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers series preview, predictions: Can Embiid, 76ers upset another rival?
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges will be critical for the Knicks in this series.

Teams that win in Game 1 have won 75.3% of playoff series in NBA history. The Knicks are seeking to make the conference finals for the second consecutive season. The 76ers are trying to make the conference finals for the first time since 2001 (when they reached the NBA Finals and lost to the Los Angeles Lakers), the third-longest conference finals drought behind Washington and Charlotte.

See below for additional information on the 76ers-Knicks game and how to watch the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock.

Click here to sign up for Peacock!

How to watch 76ers vs. Knicks, Game 1:

  • When: Monday, May 4
  • Where: Madison Square Garden in New York
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • TV: NBC
  • Live Stream:Peacock
  • Series: Opening game

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks game preview:

The 76ers defeated the Celtics largely on the return of Joel Embiid, who returned from an emergency appendectomy on April 9 to play in the final four games of the series. Embiid had 34 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in Game 7. Embiid led the series with 28 points per game and paced the Sixers with 9 rebounds per game and 7 assists per game.

"What changed in this series was Joel Embiid came back, and they were a completely different team,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said.

When Embiid starts Game 1, it'll be his fifth consecutive game, his longest stretch since six in a row from Dec. 30-Jan.9. Since December 2023, he hasn't played in more than six consecutive games.

Tyrese Maxey also has been a major factor for Philadelphia, averaging 26.9 points, 6.6 assists and a 40.9 minutes (most of any remaining player in the playoffs), and 16-year veteran Paul George made 22 of 40 3-pointers against Boston.

Philadelphia 76ers v Boston Celtics - Game Seven
Knicks vs 76ers – Game 1 NBA Playoffs – predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for May 4
New York Knicks vs Philadelphia 76ers Game 1 Preview

The Knicks are aiming for their first four-game winning streak in the playoffs since 1999 (when they won a franchise-record six consecutive in reaching the NBA Finals).

“It really came down to our defense," New York point guard Jalen Brunson said of the Game 6 victory. "It allowed us to play fast. Allowed us to play in transition. And we made shots. Most importantly, it shows us what we’re capable of defensively. I think that’s really important.”

The Knicks also outscored the Hawks by 105 points in the First Round, the third-largest margin in a playoff series in NBA history behind Cleveland over Miami in the first round last year and Denver over New Orleans in the 2009 first round.

Karl-Anthony Towns had his second triple-double of the series in Game 6, becoming the first Knick with multiple triple-doubles in the same playoff series. OG Anunoby was also a presence for New York, averaging a personal-best 21.5 ppg in a playoff series while making 17 of 30 3-pointers and grabbing 8.7 rpg.

How to watch the NBA on NBC and Peacock:

NBC Sports will present up to 23 games in the First Round and 11 games in the Conference Semifinals across either NBC and Peacock, or Peacock and NBCSN. Playoff programming concludes with exclusive coverage of the Western Conference Finals on NBC and Peacock.

RELATED:Ludacris, NBC Sports team up for ‘It’s Time’ spot promoting NBA Playoffs return to NBC

Which playoff rounds will be available on Peacock?

Peacock’s NBA Playoffs coverage spans multiple rounds, including Round 1, the Conference Semifinals, and the Western Conference Finals, with coverage evolving as the postseason progresses.

Will Peacock show both Eastern and Western Conference playoff games?

Yes. During earlier rounds such as Round 1 and the Conference Semifinals, Peacock will carry a mix of Eastern and Western Conference playoff games.

How to sign up for Peacock:

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, Originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits—Peacock is here for whatever you’re in the mood for.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

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Mets visit Rockies for three as weather looks dicey

A general view of Coors Field from behind home plate on a rainy day with a tarp covering the infield

Coming off a series win in Anaheim over the weekend, the Mets (12-22) still own the worst record in baseball. Weather permitting, they’ll have an opportunity to overtake the Rockies (14-21) in a three-game series against them that’s scheduled to begin this afternoon in Denver.

The forecast for the next three days is the biggest story at the moment. There’s a chance of rain in Denver this evening, which is why the start time of the game was moved up to 5:40 PM EDT. Things are likely to get much dicier after the series opener, though, as there’s a high probability of rain for most of the day on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, there’s almost certainly going to be continued precipitation, and it might be cold enough for that to be snow.

If the second game of the series gets postponed, it might be possible for the teams to squeeze in a frigid doubleheader if the field at Coors Field is playable by a reasonable time on Wednesday. If not, both teams have an off day on their schedule on Thursday, and neither would have onerous travel ahead of them heading into the weekend. The Rockies are set to head to Philadelphia for a three-game series this weekend, and the Mets are scheduled to finish their road trip with three games in Arizona.

As for the Mets’ attempt to turn around their miserable season, well, at least they beat one of the other worst teams in baseball over the weekend. They’ll need to do the same against the Rockies in this one, but given the struggles of nearly every hitter in their lineup and the Rockies’ recent three-game sweep of the Mets in Queens, you really can’t take anything for granted here.

Thanks to his pair of two-run home runs in the series finale yesterday, Mark Vientos joined Juan Soto and MJ Melendez as the only Mets hitters with an wRC+ over 100. Melendez leads the way with a 177 wRC+ in 39 plate appearances, but he’s sporting a .474 BABIP and a 33.3 percent strikeout rate. Soto has a 158 wRC+ on the season and is on a six-game hitting streak. And Vientos is at a 107 wRC+ thanks to his big day at the plate, having entered the game with just an 84 wRC+. Francisco Alvarez is the only other Mets hitter who’s healthy and hovering around league average with a 98 wRC+.

With the Giants having plummeted to last spot in Major League Baseball in runs per game, the Mets rank 29th with 3.47 runs scored per game. Even in winning their series against the Angels over the weekend, they only have averaged 4.00 runs per game. League average so far this season is 4.50 runs per game, which means there’s still a lot of work to do. The fact that Vidal Bruján’s career numbers at the plate (.543 OPS, 54 wRC+) wouldn’t look too out of place in the Mets’ lineup if he were to be included in it is still pretty damning.

The Mets haven’t been spectacular in terms of run prevention, either, but they’ve been much better at it than they’ve been at scoring. At 4.38 runs allowed per game, the team has the 14th-lowest mark in baseball, one that obviously makes them slightly better than the aforementioned league average.

The Rockies, meanwhile, have allowed 4.91 runs per game, the seventh-highest rate in the sport. Their home ballpark always plays a role in that, of course, but the their struggling pitchers didn’t have much of a problem shutting down the Mets’ lineup in their recent series in Queens. The Mets managed just four runs total across that three-game series as Colorado swept them.

Rockies hitters have scored 4.29 runs per game, which isn’t all that impressive but is still quite a bit better than their counterparts in the Mets’ lineup. Among those with at least 50 plate appearances, Mickey Moniak is by far their best hitter this season, as he’s hit .327/.374/.724 with 11 home runs and a 185 wRC+.

Four other Rockies are hitting above league average by wRC+: Troy Johnston (124), Hunter Goodman (114), Edouard Julien (110), and Tyler Freeman (103). And two hitters are just below league average: Jake McCarthy (97) and TJ Rumfield (97).

The team isn’t without its own struggling hitters, as Willi Castro (68 wRC+), Brenton Doyle (49 wRC+), and Ezequiel Tovar (36 wRC+) have been pretty easy outs.

If these teams don’t play all three of these games this week and neither one gets into the playoff mix, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a game or two canceled entirely and not made up later in the season. Being that it’s early in the year, it seems more likely that one game today and a doubleheader on Thursday would be the worst case scenario in terms of scheduling, but if the Mets end up playing 160 or 161 games this season, this would be why.

Monday, May 4: Opener + David Peterson vs. Tomoyuki Sugano, 5:40 PM EDT on SNY

Peterson (2026): 30.1 IP, 29 K, 14 BB, 2 HR, 6.53 ERA, 3.68 FIP, 164 ERA-

The Mets haven’t specified who their opener will be in the series opener, but Peterson’s traditional start against the Nationals his last time out couldn’t have gone much worse. He gave up seven runs, all earned, in just three-and-two-thirds innings. Having found better success in the two outings that preceded that, both of which came out of the bullpen after an opener, the Mets will be hoping for similar results in this game.

Sugano (2026): 31.2 IP, 21 K, 9 BB, 5 HR, 2.84 ERA, 4.73 FIP, 60 ERA-

Coming off a so-so debut season in Major League Baseball last year with the Orioles that saw him finish the season with 157.0 innings pitched and a 4.64 ERA, Sugano signed a one-year deal with the Rockies over the offseason. The underlying metrics suggest that his impressive ERA is not sustainable, but the Mets have had a hard enough time this year when facing struggling pitchers. Maybe they’ll surprise us and beat a pitcher who’s off to good start.

Tuesday, May 5: Freddy Peralta vs. Michael Lorenzen, 8:40 PM EDT on SNY

Peralta (2026): 38.1 IP, 42 K, 16 BB, 4 HR, 3.52 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 88 ERA-

Freddy Peralta has continued being himself, and his ERA was helped by his own error in his most recent outing, one that resulted in two of the three runs he allowed being unearned and helping to turn the game into a loss for the Mets. Peralta has completed six innings twice in his seven starts with the Mets and is averaging a bit more than five-and-one-third innings per outing. That’s on brand, as are his current ERA and FIP.

Lorenzen (2026): 34.0 IP, 24 K, 9 BB, 6 HR, 6.09 ERA, 5.09 FIP, 129 ERA-

Lorenzen gave up just one run on seven hits in seven strong innings against the Mets on April 24. Since then, he’s made one start that saw the Reds get him for four runs in five-and-a-third innings. But he’s been particularly bad at home, which isn’t uncommon for pitchers in Colorado. Lorenzen has an 8.56 ERA at Coors Field this year in just 13.2 innings of work. Here’s hoping the Mets can take advantage of that.

Wednesday, May 6: Christian Scott vs. Jose Quintana, 3:10 PM EDT on SNY

Scott (2026): 6.1 IP, 9 K, 5 BB, 1 HR, 4.26 ERA, 5.68 FIP, 107 ERA-

After a disastrous return to the major league mound that saw him totally lose the strike zone, Scott returned when Kodai Senga went on the injured list and had a solid second start. He went five innings, gave up three runs, two of them earned, on three hits, struck out eight, and impressively didn’t walk anyone.

Quintana (2026): 24.1 IP, 12 K, 11 BB, 5 HR, 4.07 ERA, 6.31 FIP, 86 ERA-

The former Met pitched well when the Rockies were in Queens recently, as he gave up just one run in five-and-one-third innings with five strikeouts, two walks, and just two hits allowed. And it might surprise you to read that he has a 3.98 ERA since the Mets chose not to pursue him in free agency following the 2024 season. He’s done that despite a 5.05 FIP over that span, but the difference in those metrics is more pronounced this year than it was last year with the Brewers.

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Matt McLain still hasn’t found his 2023 form, again

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 20: Matt McLain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after hitting a double in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 20, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds clearly began to put an emphasis on defense at some point over the last year. It was the driving reason behind their acquisition of 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes from Pittsburgh at last season’s trade deadline, a move that locked them into a glove-first (if not glove-only) player for a handful of guaranteed years into the future.

Of the 116 MLB players who have logged at least 650 PA since the start of the 2025 season, none have a lower total wRC+ than Hayes’ 55. However, his DEF – per FanGraphs – has been the 6th best in the time, and clearly the team feels that what he provides at the hot corner with the glove is enough to offset his bat (for the time being).

Chalking up a position like 3B to being glove-only is rare in this day and age, as that has typically been reserved for players who also carry a pretty potent bat. It helps that Cincinnati sports Elly De La Cruz right next to him at short, since the combined output of those two positions wouldn’t totally make you blink if, say, you were getting Elly’s production out of 3B and Hayes’ out of SS.

Things get complicated when you begin to realize that the Reds don’t just have one infield position being chalked up to being glove-only, but they’ve had two – and had it that way for quite awhile now.

If we circle back to that list of 116 MLB players who have logged at least 650 PA since the start of 2025 – the one where Hayes ranks at the bottom on the wRC+ leaderboard – you’ll find Matt McLain ranking as the second worst by that metric. He owns a 76 wRC+ over that time (in a larger 720 PA sample), and while that’s still light years better than the 55 of Hayes, it’s an unavoidable fact that the Reds are now rolling out just about every single day the two lightest-hitting regulars in all of baseball together.

There are parallels between the two beyond that. Back in 2023, Hayes had seemingly cemented himself as a 3+ WAR per season regular after hitting .271/.309/.453 with 15 homers for the Pirates, good for a 101 wRC+ that more than complemented his elite defense. McLain, meanwhile, broke into the big leagues that year in a huge way with a .290/.357/.507 line in 403 PA that had FanGraphs value him at an identical 3.2 fWAR to that of Hayes that season.

Both, though, have hit significant hiccups since. Hayes has dealt with a back issue off and on that’s cost him time, and McLain famously lost his entire 2024 campaign after oblique and shoulder problems. So, ever since those duel 2023 breakouts, the two have looked like complete shells of themselves.

FanGraphs has at least loved McLain’s defense enough this season to value him at just 0.0 fWAR despite a 71 wRC+, one that has featured one game in which he hit 2 homers and 33 others in which he’s hit zero. He’s mired in a 3 for 31 slump since that game towards the end of April, and his collective work has Baseball Reference valuing his 2026 season a -0.5 bWAR so far.

McLain will turn 27 this summer, so it’s not as if he’s still got a ton of ‘maturing’ left to do. The question, as it was last year, is just how long it will take him to find his 2023 form again after major shoulder surgery, and the timetable to find out whether that’s a reality is beginning to extend a lot further than I think a lot of us imagined it would. In the meantime, we’re also now getting a glimpse at what prospect Edwin Arroyo can do two years removed from his own similar shoulder surgery, and the former consensus Top 100 overall middle infielder is off to a roaring .305/.386/.489 start in 160 PA with AAA Louisville in his age-22 season.

It’s not yet time to pull the plug on McLain completely. His glovework provides legit big league value at both 2B and SS, and those don’t grow on trees. But as he inches closer to both being 27 years old and to his first trip through the arbitration process, the clock is certainly ticking on just how much longer the Reds can wait to find out if he can truly be a co-star on this team as they try like heck to establish a recurring winner.