The Opener

As everyone digests last night’s likely relocation news regarding the A’s, here are three other things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Tatis Returns

Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. is expected to return to the major league club today after serving an 80-game suspension for PED usage. Tatis, who is slated to be the club’s everyday right fielder following the signing of Xander Bogaerts to man shortstop this past offseason, missed the entire 2022 season between the aforementioned suspension and a trio of surgeries: two to repair a fracture in his left wrist and one on his left shoulder after it sent him to the injured list twice during the 2021 campaign.

Despite his injury and suspension-related woes since the end of the 2021 season, Tatis figures to be an impact player for a scuffling Padres team. San Diego is currently in third in the NL West with a 9-11 record and will surely appreciate a jolt from Tatis, particularly given the struggles of fellow phenom Juan Soto in left field.

2. What’s next for Scherzer?

Mets ace Max Scherzer was ejected from his start yesterday after three innings of work thanks to a failed foreign substance check. That ejection comes with a mandatory 10-game suspension during which the club is not allowed to replace Scherzer on the roster, though MLB has not announced any discipline to this point. Scherzer intends to appeal the suspension if and when it is levied and insists the substance on his hand was a legal combination of rosin and sweat.

Scherzer, a slam-dunk future hall of famer with three Cy Young awards, 3210 strikeouts and a 3.12 ERA (135 ERA+) under his belt for his career, has scuffled a bit in the early going this season, posting a 3.72 ERA and 5.65 FIP far below his usual standards. Should he miss time due to a suspension, right-hander Kodai Senga will be the last member of the club’s projected 2023 starting rotation standing, with each of Jose Quintana, Justin Verlander, and Carlos Carrasco currently on the injured list. Jose Butto, Joey Lucchesi, and Denyi Reyes are among the potential options to take Scherzer’s turn in the rotation should he be suspended.

3. Donaldson Undergoes MRI

Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson underwent an MRI on his right hamstring yesterday after a setback in his rehab process. Donaldson, 37, appeared to be on the verge of returning to the big league club prior to his setback, but now will be shutdown for an indeterminate amount of time. More info on the severity of Donaldson’s setback and his new timetable for return could become available ahead of the club’s game this afternoon.

Donaldson struggled in five games this season, recording just two hits and a walk while striking out six times in 17 plate appearances prior to his current IL stint. While that’s a minuscule sample size, Donaldson’s offensive struggles date back to last season, when he hit .222/.308/.374 and posted a 97 wRC+ that marked the first below-average full season of his career with the bat. The Yankees still have a plethora of infield options at their disposal, with DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, Oswaldo Cabrera, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa all capable of mixing and matching in the infield alongside Anthony Volpe at shortstop and Anthony Rizzo at first base.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Mookie to return to the infield?

Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts is set to return from the paternity list today, manager Dave Roberts tells reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic). Of more significance than Betts’s return, however, is where he’ll be playing: Roberts notes that he expects Betts to start “somewhere in the infield” upon his return, with shortstop standing as a distinct possibility. Betts came up through the minors as a second baseman, but moved over to right field upon reaching the majors in Boston to accommodate Dustin Pedroia.

Still, he’s appeared at the keystone in 35 games across six seasons of his career, including at least once during every season he’s spent in LA. Five of those appearances have already come during the young 2023 season. It’s a move that’s understandable for the Dodgers, who have a plethora of potential outfield options on the roster but few infield options outside of their starting unit, particularly with Chris Taylor currently sidelined by a left side injury and Miguel Rojas having exited last night’s game with a hamstring issue.

2. MLB Debuts in Oakland and Cincinnati:

Both the A’s and Reds will turn to one of the top young arms in their farm system to start today’s game. Oakland is calling up flamethrowing righty Mason Miller, while the Reds have already activated righty Levi Stoudt for his own debut.

Miller, 24, was a third-round pick in 2021 who’s turned heads with a triple-digit heater and a dominant 11-strikeout, zero-walk showing in his first start at Triple-A this season. Injuries have limited him to just 45 1/3 innings since being drafted in ’21, but A’s GM David Forst has already indicated that this is more than a spot start; Miller will remain in the rotation moving forward. Time will tell how he acclimates and what type of workload the A’s are comfortable with after he pitched just 31 2/3 innings between the minors and the Arizona Fall League in 2022.

It’s a different story for Stoudt, whose outing has already been confirmed as a spot start by Reds skipper David Bell. Like Miller, Stoudt a former third-round pick (2019). He’ll be the first of the four players Cincinnati acquired from the Mariners in exchange for Luis Castillo to make his Reds debut. He pitched to a tidy 2.63 ERA between Double-A (five innings) and Triple-A (19) following last summer’s trade and has a 4.09 ERA through three Triple-A starts in ’23, albeit with a more concerning 10-to-9 K/BB ratio.

Both Miller and Stoudt are potential long-term rotation options for their respective clubs, providing baseball fans a potential glimpse into each team’s future.

3. MLBTR Chat:

Yesterday, MLBTR’s Steve Adams fielded questions during a live chat (transcript here). If you still have unanswered questions about the beginnings of the 2023 season, you’re in luck, as MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting another chat today at 5pm CT. You can submit a question in advance here, and you can use the same link to check back in this evening and participate live once the chat begins. In addition, be sure to check out the newest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors podcast, which dropped earlier today!

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Incoming updates on pitcher injuries:

A handful of updates on pitchers are expected around the league today, led by a pair of aces who exited their starts yesterday: Jacob deGrom left his start with the Rangers after four innings with wrist soreness, while Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy) that Corbin Burnes left his start against the Mariners with a left pec strain. Both aces are expected to be evaluated later today.

We could also receive updates on Reds right-hander Hunter Greene, who left yesterday’s start with a right tibia contusion, with Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer noting that initial x-rays came back negative. Meanwhile, Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters (including MLB.com’s Anne Rogers) that Kris Bubic would require a second opinion after tests yesterday revealed a flexor strain for the young lefty.

2. Kershaw goes for No. 200:

Pitcher wins aren’t exactly en vogue among front offices and analysts in 2023, but they still hold an important place in the hearts of many fans and in most pitchers themselves. That’s particularly true when it comes to milestones; round numbers always grab our attention and are often cited when looking back at a player’s career through a historical lens.

Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for the 405th time in his career tonight (402nd start), and with a victory, he’ll become just the 121st pitcher to ever reach 200 wins in his career. In an era where teams have shorter leashes for starters and are more reliant on bullpen arms than ever before, reaching such heights is extra difficult. Howard Cole observes (Twitter link) that Kershaw would become just the third pitcher to ever accumulate 200 wins solely in a Dodgers uniform, joining Hall of Famers Don Sutton and Don Drysdale.

Kershaw’s place in Dodgers lore is already cemented, but this will be another feather in his cap and another achievement on his own eventual case for Cooperstown enshrinement. So far in 2023, his 16th Major League season, the 35-year-old Kershaw has a 3.50 ERA and 17-to-4 K/BB ratio in 18 innings.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

We’re now around 10% of the way through the 2023 regular season, with plenty of interesting early season trends to discuss. If the beginning of this season has spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

As the third week of the 2023 regular season begins, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today.

1. Baty to be recalled:

The Mets are reportedly poised to call up top prospect Brett Baty later today, prior to the club’s 9:10pm CT game against the Dodgers. Baty, 23, has torn up Triple-A in the early going this season to the tune of a .400/.500/.866 slash line. Of course, the club will have to make a move to make room for Baty on the active roster, though he does already have a 40-man roster spot.

The club’s only optionable bat (beyond stars Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, both of whom are locked into the everyday lineup) is Luis Guillorme, leaving the option of sending him to Triple-A one potential route. The Mets could also have an injury they’ve not yet made known, which would pave the way for an IL stint to open that roster spot. Outside of that, it’s possible the club could designate a player like outfielder Tim Locastro or even struggling third baseman Eduardo Escobar, who figures to lose substantial playing time to Baty, for assignment.

2. Fried set to return:

Rotation reinforcements are coming in Atlanta, as ace Max Fried is poised to return from the 15-day injured list today to make this evening’s 8:40pm CT start against the Padres. Fried suffered a hamstring strain on Opening Day and left his first start of the season early. Now that Fried is set to rejoin the team, the rotation appears to be set, with right-hander Bryce Elder settling into the fifth spot over rookies Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd after he impressed with a 1.53 ERA over 17 2/3 innings while filling in for Fried.

Throughout the early part of the season, the Braves have been able to utilize a nine-man bullpen by carefully managing their roster so only four starters are on the active roster at a time. With Fried’s activation, the club’s ability to do that seems set to come to an end, meaning the roster move to make space for Fried could shed some light on the club’s preferred bullpen structure when able to utilize eight relievers.

3. Rangers to unveil City Connect uniforms:

The Rangers are expected to unveil their City Connect uniforms today, following the Braves’ announcement earlier in the month. Later in the season, the Mariners, Reds, Orioles, and Pirates are expected to announce City Connect uniforms, joining 14 clubs that had unveiled jerseys of their own over the past two seasons. The Rangers unveil their jerseys as the club is out to one of its best starts since the team’s most recent playoff run back in 2016, with the club currently 9-6 with a 1.5 game lead in the AL West. You can read more about the jerseys unveiling and related promotions here.

As MLB’s regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the weekend:

1. Jackie Robinson Day:

Tomorrow is Jackie Robinson Day, an event across the baseball world that commemorates the day the Hall of Famer and cultural icon first stepped onto the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 and, in doing so, integrated Major League Baseball. This year, the day is also celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Jackie Robinson Foundation’s creation. As is tradition, all players, coaches, and managers across baseball will wear 42 in honor of Robinson. Additionally, a panel discussion will be available live on MLB.com at 9:30am CT tomorrow featuring commissioner Rob Manfred, six time All-Star CC Sabathia, Robinson’s granddaughter Sonya Pankey, and Devin Johnson, who serves as President of Lebron James’s SpringHill Company. More details on the events planned to celebrate Robinson and his legacy can be found here.

2. Rays Streak Continues Without Springs:

The Rays won their game against the Red Sox yesterday to tie the 1987 Brewers and 1982 Braves for the modern opening win streak record, with all three clubs having opened their respective seasons 13-0. The Rays will attempt to secure a record-breaking 14th victory against the Blue Jays this evening at 6:07pm CT. In the meantime, however, Rays left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who left yesterday’s game with ulnar neuritis, will be undergoing further evaluation. It’s an injury which has a wide range of possible recovery times, with more minor issues only requiring a short stay on the IL, while those that require surgery can have a recovery timeline of three months or longer.

3. Arcia Injury Opens The Door For Grissom:

With shortstop Orlando Arcia out due to a microfracture in his wrist, the Braves have lost their everyday shortstop who opened the season on a tear, slashing .333/.400/.511 in 13 games prior to the injury. In his place, the club is seemingly poised to call up youngster Vaughn Grissom, who was optioned to Triple-A alongside prospect Braden Shewmake after the pair lost out on the shortstop gig to Arcia. Grissom was called up midseason last year and largely impressed with a 121 wRC+ in 41 games as Atlanta’s primary second baseman while Ozzie Albies was injured. The biggest concern regarding Grissom appears to be his defense, which has drawn considerable criticism, leading the Braves to task infield coach Ron Washington with working on defense at short with Grissom over the offseason.

As the regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Rays approach history:

With yesterday’s win over Boston, the Rays improved to 12-0 on the season. That twelve-game winning streak not only ties the record for longest in franchise history, it puts them just one win away from tying the modern MLB record for a win streak to open the season. The 2004 Devil Rays won 12 straight games in 2004, while the aforementioned MLB record is held by the 1987 Brewers and 1982 Braves, both of whom went 13-0 to open the regular season. The Rays will try to tie the Brewers and Braves today at 12:10pm CT this afternoon, as Jeffrey Springs takes on former Ray Corey Kluber.

2. Twins injury struggles continue:

The Twins opened the 2023 season dealing with a heap of injuries to their positional group, as each of first baseman Alex Kirilloff, second baseman Jorge Polanco, shortstop Royce Lewis, and outfielder Gilberto Celestino opened the season on the injured list. Two weeks into the season, that quartet has been joined by outfielders Max Kepler and Joey Gallo. Now, infielder Kyle Farmer is set to join them after being struck in the jaw by a fastball in yesterday’s game against the White Sox. He underwent surgery on his lower lip and bottom four teeth following the game. Star outfielder Byron Buxton was involved in a collision at second base in yesterday’s game, but appeared to avoid serious injury. The Twins will likely have an update on him today.

The club is expected to select outfielder Kyle Garlick later today to replace Farmer on the active roster, joining Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, and Edouard Julien in holding down the fort while much of Minnesota’s everyday lineup battles injuries.

3. Who’s taking the ball for the Brewers?

Following ace Brandon Woodruff’s placement on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, the Brewers called up right-hander Janson Junk to replace him in the rotation. Junk struggled through his start yesterday, allowing five runs (four earned) over 4 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks. After the game, manager Craig Counsell did not name a starter for today’s game against the Padres. With Aaron Ashby, Adrian Houser and Jason Alexander all on the IL and Ethan Small pitching in relief this season at Triple-A, the club may be forced to settle for a bullpen game today unless they’re willing to clear space on the 40-man roster to further tap into their minor league depth. Speculatively speaking, veteran righty Colin Rea, in Triple-A with the Brewers, would be properly rested if the team wants to go that route.

As the MLB season continues to move swiftly along, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Prospects set to make MLB debuts:

The big news of the prospecting world is that top Rays pitching prospect Taj Bradley is expected to make his MLB debut today in a start against the Red Sox. The Rays, of course, have opened the season on a historic tear, winning their first eleven games in a row. Bradley will be tasked with preserving that win streak against Chris Sale tonight at 5:40pm CT. Bradley has a 2.66 ERA in 317 2/3 minor league innings of work, including at 3.82 ERA in 82 innings of work at the Triple-A level. He currently ranks as the game’s No. 42 prospect at Baseball America.

Looking beyond Bradley, two AL Central prospects could make their MLB debuts today. The Twins are set to call up top infield prospect Edouard Julien to replace Joey Gallo on the active roster ahead of their 12:10pm CT game against the White Sox this afternoon. Julien, BA’s No. 97 overall prospect, has a phenomenal .437 OBP in the minors to this point in his career, fueled by a 20.2% walk rate. He’s opened the season with a .290/.421/.548 slash and a pair of homers in his first 38 plate appearances with Triple-A St. Paul.

Meanwhile, Guardians right-hander Peyton Battenfield is slated to start this afternoon’s game against the Yankees and righty Clarke Schmidt at 12:10pm CT. Battenfield isn’t considered one of the organization’s premier prospects, but he was very solid in 28 Triple-A starts last year, posting a 3.63 ERA with a 17% strikeout rate and a walk rate of 8.9%.

2. Seager update expected today:

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager left yesterday’s game with hamstring tightness, and manager Bruce Bochy said the team expects to know more about the severity of Seager’s injury and his potential timetable for return today. The Rangers’ star was off to a hot start to open the season, slashing .359/.469/.538. Ezequiel Duran and Josh H. Smith are among the potential options to fill in at shortstop for the Rangers if Seager misses any time. Marcus Semien has spent the bulk of his career at shortstop, but Bochy said last night that he’d likely keep Semien at second base should Seager be sidelined (Twitter link via Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News).

3. MLBTR Chat:

Yesterday, MLBTR’s Steve Adams fielded questions during a live chat (transcript here). If you still have unanswered questions about your favorite team or the league as a whole in the early going of the season, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting another chat this evening. You can submit a question in advance here, and you can use the same link to check back in and participate live once the chat begins.

In addition, the second episode of the MLB Trade Rumors podcast is now available! MLBTR’s Simon Hampton hosts MLBTR’s Steve Adams as they answer listener questions and discuss the undefeated Rays, recent prospect promotions, and the Angels’ bullpen. You can listen to today’s episode on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

As the regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Wright to make season debut:

Braves right-hander Kyle Wright figures to make his season debut today, starting this evening’s game against the Reds. Wright was slowed during camp due to shoulder soreness, but dominated for Atlanta in 2022, posting a 3.19 ERA (128 ERA+) with a 3.58 FIP in 180 1/3 innings of work, a performance strong enough to earn him downballot votes in NL Cy Young Award voting. To make room for Wright on the 26-man roster, the club will need to make a corresponding move of some sort before tonight’s game. Wright figures to help stabilize a Braves rotation that has battled injuries and uncertainty early in the 2023 season, with Max Fried suffering a hamstring strain during his first start of the season and rookie southpaws Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd both struggling in their first taste of big league action.

2. Marquez to be reevaluated:

Rockies right-hander German Marquez left his start yesterday after just 62 pitches due to forearm tightness. While both Marquez himself and manager Bud Black expressed optimism that the issue is a minor one, any discomfort in a pitcher’s forearm is cause for concern. While it’s unknown if Marquez will undergo any imaging at this point, the plan is for right-hander to be reevaluated today. Should Marquez miss any time, Peter Lambert and Noah Davis are both possible options to take his turn in the rotation. Both are already on the 40-man roster and are stretched out as starters in Triple-A.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

If the beginning of the regular season has spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

In addition, the next episode of the MLB Trade Rumors podcast is set to release tomorrow morning. MLBTR readers are encouraged to submit questions to be answered on the podcast by sending an email to mlbtrpod@gmail.com. In the meantime, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

As the baseball season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. How much time will Cruz miss?

The Pirates suffered a massive blow yesterday as their young star shortstop Oneil Cruz suffered a fractured ankle sliding into home plate against the White Sox. In 401 major league plate appearances since the start of the 2022 season, Cruz has slashed .234/.302/.444 with 18 home runs and 13 stolen bases. More details about the specifics of Cruz’s injury and timetable for return could be available later today, though it already seems all but certain Cruz will miss significant time. The Pirates figure to go with Rodolfo Castro at shortstop while Cruz is on the shelf, though it’s possible a call-up from the minors such as Tucupita Marcano or Chris Owings could factor in as well.

2. Potential injury updates ahead of Rays/Red Sox game:

A four-game set between the Red Sox and the Rays figures to begin this evening, with the possibility that both clubs will have injury updates available before the game on players who recently underwent imaging. Red Sox outfielder Adam Duvall injured his wrist on a diving play in center field yesterday, and though an X-ray was done on Duvall after he was removed from the game, no results have been announced to this point. Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe notes that infielder Bobby Dalbec is expected to join the club in Tampa, meaning he could be the next man up in the event that Duvall requires a stint on the injured list. As for the Rays, shortstop Taylor Walls did not play over the weekend after suffering an elbow injury on Friday, and is set to undergo imaging today. Young infielder Jonathan Aranda is traveling with the team and figures to take Walls’s spot on the roster should he require an IL stint.

3. Adell tearing up the minors:

Former top prospect Jo Adell has long struggled to make the jump from the minor leagues to the majors, as shown by his career wRC+ of just 68 in 161 big league games. After getting an extended run of playing time in 2022, Adell finds himself somewhat buried on the Angels’ depth chart, as the club sports a trio of everyday outfielders in Mike Trout, Taylor Ward, and Hunter Renfroe. That hasn’t stopped Adell from making a case for himself to get another opportunity in the early going this season, however, as he has hit seven home runs over his past six games for the Salt Lake Bees, Anaheim’s Triple-A affiliate. According to the Bees, Adell’s streak of six consecutive games with a home run was a record for the franchise. It’s somewhat difficult to imagine Adell receiving everyday starts in Anaheim this season barring an injury in the outfield, but it’s possible he could work his way into the Angels’ outfield mix later in the season if his hot start continues. In the meantime, Adell will try to keep his homer streak alive for a seventh game on Tuesday in Las Vegas.

As the second weekend of the 2023 season begins, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Brewers Vs Cardinals Today

A particularly noteworthy match-up is set to occur this evening, with the Cardinals headed to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers at 7:10pm CT tonight. The Cardinals have opened the season 2-4 despite being the preseason favorites for the NL Central, allowing the Brewers, the expected second-best team in the division, to pull ahead in the early going of the division race with a 5-1 record. Jack Flaherty is set to take the mound for the Cardinals against Brewers co-ace Brandon Woodruff. Flaherty, who’s attempting to make it through his first healthy season since 2019, struggled with his control in his first start of the season, walking seven Blue Jays and hitting a batter, but he nonetheless managed to walk away with the win after five no-hit innings of work.

While Flaherty’s performance will certainly be of interest, perhaps the biggest storyline of the game to keep an eye on is whether or not Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill will play following the drama between him and manager Oli Marmol. Marmol benched O’Neill in Wednesday’s game against the Braves after he was thrown out at home plate by Ronald Acuna Jr. in Tuesday’s game, with Marmol indicating to the media that O’Neill’s perceived lack of hustle could preclude him from more playing time than just Wednesday’s game.

2. Florial DFA to come due this weekend:

Last week, the Yankees designated outfielder Estevan Florial for assignment in order to make room for righty Colten Brewer on the 40-man roster. While Florial has mostly struggled in brief cups of coffee in the big leagues since first coming up in 2020, posting a .579 OPS in that time, he’s only managed to get into 30 big league games in his career to this point. With a career .793 OPS in the minors and 125 stolen bases in 580 minor league games, Florial certainly seems likely to draw attention from the other 29 big league clubs, making a trade or waiver claim the most likely conclusion to his DFA. If he does manage to pass through waivers unclaimed, however, the Yankees can send Florial outright to Triple-A.

3. Will lingering free agents find a home?

Yesterday, MLBTR’s Anthony Franco took a look at the most notable free agents remaining on the board a week into the 2023 season. The list ranges from players who went unsigned all offseason, such as Miguel Sano and Mike Minor, to more recent additions to the pool, such as Leury Garcia and Darin Ruf. Two areas of free agency that could be worth keeping an eye on in particular are first base, where the Phillies may be without not only Rhys Hoskins but also his replacement, Darick Hall, for the time being, and starting pitching, where clubs are always looking for depth and teams such as the Yankees, Mets, and Braves have already seen multiple members of their rotations hit the injured list this season.