As the 2025 regular season continues, here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on today:
1. Cubs 40-man roster move incoming:
Reports surfaced last night indicating that the Cubs are poised to call up top catching prospect Moises Ballesteros today. Ballesteros is unlikely to catch much in this first taste of big league action, as he appears poised to serve as the club’s DH for the time being while Seiya Suzuki covers for the injured Ian Happ in left field. The 21-year-old Ballesteros has been among the best hitters at Triple-A this year despite his young age, crushing the ball at a .368/.420/.522 clip across 150 plate appearances. Ballesteros is not yet on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, and with no obvious 60-day IL candidates it appears that they’ll need to designate a player for assignment today. Ballesteros’s first game in the majors, assuming he makes his debut today, will come against Valente Bellozo (3.50 ERA in four starts) and the Marlins at 6:40pm local time in Chicago.
2. Cardinals go for ten in a row:
The Cardinals took an eight-game winning streak into Philadelphia yesterday and emerged with a 3-2 victory over the Phillies to extend that streak to nine games. It’s the longest winning streak of the season so far and has thrust them into the thick of the race for the NL Central crown. They’re currently one game behind the Cubs, but to stay hot on the North Siders’ heels and extend the streak to ten straight wins they’ll need to take down Phillies southpaw Jesus Luzardo, who has posted a 2.11 ERA in eight starts during his first season with the club. The Cardinals, meanwhile, will counter with veteran righty Sonny Gray and his 3.50 ERA across eight starts. Tonight’s game in Philadelphia begins at 6:45pm local time.
3. Twins go for nine in a row:
Minnesota is looking to extend its own impressive win streak, which currently sits at eight games. The Twins took the final two games of their recent series in Boston before sweeping a struggling Orioles club and a strong Giants team in their visits to Target Field. Next up is a rematch with the Orioles — this time in Baltimore. The Twins will send 24-year-old righty Simeon Woods Richardson (4.01 ERA in 33 2/3 innings) to the mound against former Twins prospect Cade Povich (5.55 ERA in 35 2/3 innings) in the series opener, which is scheduled for 6:35pm local time. Minnesota tagged Povich for five runs in six innings when the two squared off last week. The Orioles scored two runs off Woods Richardson in a shorter, 4 2/3-inning start.
Despite rattling off eight straight wins, the Twins have only picked up 2.5 games in the division race. The Tigers, Guardians and Royals have all been playing well recently, leaving Rocco Baldelli’s club 5.5 games out of the division lead. Minnesota has, however, wiped out a 5.5-game deficit in the Wild Card chase with this streak. The Twins are currently tied with the A’s and Red Sox for the final Wild Card spot in the American League.
Maybe this lackluster braves team can go on a crazy win streak like the cardinals and twins have. It’d be nice 🤦🏻
Perhaps the Braves should go out and get J.D. Davis, one of your favorite players. He can fix the lineup.
And JD is a former Met. This must happen.
That has to be a lot of fun. I think after about 8 games, you get into “The pitcher that blows it is buying everyone dinner when it ends” territory. Don’t be that guy!
Cubs should roll over these Marlins but this is baseball, you never know…
Hopefully Ballesteros gets his first hit tonight, extra special since he’s playing at Wrigley.
The win streak has the Twins finally over .500. This is eerily similar to last season’s start. Which ain’t end so well
Who goes, Lopez or Turner?
Turner should, Lopez probably will.
Guys—Happ is the guy that goes to IL. That has pretty much already been announced.
That’s the move to get Ballesteros to the majors and it is 26 man related, not 40.
Turner or Lopez only can go in another, totally separate move if it happens.
To get Ballesteros on the 40 man, since there are no apparent 60 day IL moves to be made, my guess is that Ethan Roberts is DFA. He should clear pretty quickly and be stashed back in the minors off the 40 man. In the case of a claim or trade—it would be a fairly insignificant subtraction.
We were talking about the 40 man spot, not the obvious 26 man spot. No need to talk down to people that are not beneath you.
Sorry Hiflew—wasn’t intended to come off that way….if you are truly meaning the 40 man move–I just think it’s going to come from the minors (guess Roberts) not the majors as yet another move would have to be made. Example: Shaw recalled, Lopez DFA in your scenario.
Until they are gone—Turner is the right handed hitting first baseman and Lopez is the defensive replacement at third.
I’m sure that will be upgraded at some point, just not attached to the Ballesteros promotion.
Once again–apologies if that read differently than intended.
That’s okay. No harm done. I have made the same mistake way too many times myself.
Cardinals beat a good one in Sanchez last night. Luzardo is tough but Sonny seems to have his velocity and command much better recently over what we saw in spring and first couple starts.
Cardinals Fans are extremely proud of our Cardinals team’s current 9 game winning streak!
Earlier in the season, with the loss of all extra inning games and numerous one run games, manager Oli Marmol received an abundance of heat through the process of those losses.
However, through this 9 game winning streak, Oli Marmol, just as he deserved the heat he’d received earlier in the season for his miss management, —— he deserves an extreme amount of credit for his leadership and management through the Cardinals winning streak!
As I’m eating my early season words, I’m hoping Oli Marmol’s new leadership style will continue throughout the rest of the season.
17dizzy: The Cardinals seem to be following in the Mets footsteps. Last year was supposed to be a pull back season with the goal of competing in 2025. Sounds like what the Cards are doing this year. I’m not saying the Cards are going to replicate what the Mets did last year, but you never know.
Will 2025 be a year that has a team winning double digit such as cardinals and or Twins win 10+ in a row and then match that in losses? Happened in 1987 with a 13 game streak both ways. I am curious to see how it plays out! I guess for the trade rumors both these teams are now in for a playoff push.
As Tommy Lasorda once said, you’re going to win a third of your games and you’re going to lose a third of your games. It’s what you do with the other third that will determine where you finish.
Tell that to the Rockies lol
Cubs offense is good right now, but that waiver wire bullpen is going to melt in July, August and September.
Cubs are slumping, Happ on the rack. Ballesteros is a nice addition but the Cubs have a few holes with Happ out.
No extension for Tucker either. Holding up the big trade.
“Meanwhile” has to start the sentence, not come in the middle between commas.