Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye out for throughout the day:
1. O’Hoppe being monitored:
The Angels’ loss to the Yankees yesterday ended on a worrying note when catcher Logan O’Hoppe was struck on the helmet with a backswing and departed the game shortly thereafter. As noted by Sam Blum of The Athletic, manager Ron Washington told reporters that O’Hoppe’s removal from the game was precautionary, but that he’s being evaluated further nonetheless. It’s unclear if O’Hoppe is in MLB’s concussion protocol, but if the club has any concerns they’ll surely place him on the 7-day concussion-related injured list.
O’Hoppe, 25, has posted a stout .267/.299/.533 batting line (131 wRC+) this year and is already just six homers shy of his career-high 20. The Angels have just recently rattled off a long enough winning streak to put them back on the periphery of the AL Wild Card conversation, making any potential absence for their slugging backstop all the more concerning.
2. Rays going streaking:
Speaking of winning streaks, it wasn’t long ago that the Rays found themselves near the bottom of the AL standings after going 7-10 throughout the first few weeks of May. They took the final two games of their series against the Astros before sweeping the Blue Jays over the weekend, however, and yesterday they won the first game of their series against the Twins. That six-game win streak was enough to get the club back over .500 for the first time since April 4.
The Rays are still a game back of the final AL Wild Card spot, but the encouraging stretch of play has to be a relief for fans in Tampa after last year’s disappointing 80-82 finish. With righty Taj Bradley (4.61 ERA) set to take the mound opposite Minnesota righty Joe Ryan (2.68 ERA) this afternoon, will the Rays be able to keep the good times rolling?
3. MLBTR chat today:
All of the league’s teams have now completed around one-third of their schedule, but there’s still plenty of baseball left to go and more than two months remaining until the trade deadline on July 31. Whether you’re looking ahead to the deadline or still trying to sort between the contenders and pretenders, MLBTR’s Steve Adams has you covered in a live chat scheduled for 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.
World Series games being played in a Spring Training park, how about that!
Seriously though, Tropical Season is fast approaching Tampa and it will absolutely wear down the Rays. I wouldn’t expect any postseason games in Tampa this year.
Imagine if either the Rays or Athletics make it to the World Series, playing in Triple A parks lol
John Fisher and Stuart Sternberg just had an epic “high” at the thought of selling already limited seats at a high premium lol
I wonder, if that somehow came to pass, if the league would designate an alternate home park for those teams. The Rays could play World Series home games out of Miami’s park, with major league sized stands and a roof. The A’s could just slide over to the Giants park (assuming the Giants aren’t the other team).
It would be a mess no matter what, but it would be an absolute joke if the World Series was played in a minor league park.
I’d appreciate the pettiness of the Marlins and/or Giants not approving, sitting back and watching the mess play out. Why would Giants want to make Fisher look better by ‘loaning’ them one of the pearls of MLB ballparks and slapping their logo on it on a grand stage? I can’t imagine a scenario where Giants would do that unless MLB forced them and/or paid an exorbitant amount of money.
@Canuckleball
Don’t worry, it’s the Motor City Kitties vs. the Windy City Baby Bears, this year.
I’d guess it would be the second part. They’d likely be able to negotiate a percentage of the gate revenue. Get some of that World Series money without even being there.
The league might also just force it, but again, I imagine they would financially compensate the hosting team/stadium.
I feel like the league should really want to avoid a minor league park enough to make it happen somehow.
it would be hilarious for Manfraud
The simplest option is to play the entire series away. Sure this would help the other team, but who cares if the Rays or As advance?
Nope, no pussycats!
Doo wah diddy!
Like “…exorbitant amount of money”
Those parks are not built to handle all the press people in the postseason and the cities will also need to accomodate a surge of fans. They’ll have no choice but to move it to a MLB park.
@RunDMC Money speaks if an owner gets offered a piece of postseason revenues they wouldn’t otherwise receive. They’ll also be supported by local politicians because it gives the community a revenue boost as well.
That will be awesome – how could you take their home games away?
They’d have to play all seven games at a neutral site to make it fair.
You think Fisher or Sternberg cares more about their respective homefield advantage for their players and their fans or lining their own pockets more. I have my doubts that they’re even baseball fans.
ALCS.
To whoever came up with, and whoever approved, “Rays going streaking.”: Thank y’all for the laugh.
No dangling participles available.
Dillon Dangler
Rays are in a good position to win the East, as I predicted at the start of the season.
The angels brought in more playoff experienced players, with Chris Taylor.
Watch it happen. Wait it’s already happened, 2025 angel ring. All the angels need now, is Robert Stephenson. Like the 02 angels, a different hero nightly. Some of these players are still adjusting their timing. Wait until Rengifo hits. Wait until soler hits. Jack k. Is an ace. Newman is good.
Lol
Washington doesn’t play O’Hoppe enough. He loves D’Arnaud even though O’Hoppe has far better numbers. On Sunday he sat both O’Hoppe and Neto his best two hitters and they lost 3-0.
I like my O’Hoppes in my 🍺!
I feel like Logan is extremely underrated
11782
as a former Ray, expect Ryan to be lights out tonight. And yes, that trade still ticks me off, even if SP is not an issue for the Rays.
It’s difficult to assess–which is the real Rays team? The one that cannot score, or the one that can combine good pitching with timely hitting? Jansen finally coming around (Rortvedt should be DFA’d for a handful of reasons, but especially after the awful attempt at a bunt the other day), B Lowe coming around, J Lowe finally healthy, Aranda having his breaking-out season, Kim (or Carson Williams) may be able to provide some actual offense at SS.. If Baz and Taj can start pitching consistently well, maybe this is a team to look out for.
Williams should be promoted already.
The Rays are good, when Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe are both in the lineup, they put it together and score some runs.