Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world this weekend:
1. Twins await updates on Buxton, Correa while eyeing 12th straight win:
The Twins lost two stars in worrying fashion yesterday when center fielder Byron Buxton and shortstop Carlos Correa collided in the outfield and hit the ground. Correa exited immediately, and Buxton departed the game an inning later. Both were placed into MLB’s protocol to be evaluated for concussion-like symptoms, the Twins announced. Bench coach Jayce Tingler told reporters that more information would be available today (link via The Athletic’s Dan Hayes).
Minnesota has won 11 consecutive games and pushed right back into the playoff conversation after a slow start. Buxton has been everything they could ask for in 2025, slashing .261/.312/.522 with 10 homers, an 8-for-8 showing in stolen bases, and excellent defense in center field. Correa’s offensive numbers are below-average, but he’s heated up over the past couple weeks (.328/.343/.406 his past 17 games). Harrison Bader and Brooks Lee appear likeliest to cover center field and shortstop during any potential absences, although Bader exited Wednesday’s doubleheader with groin tightness and was out of yesterday’s lineup. Willi Castro can handle either position, as can former top prospect Austin Martin, who’s raking in Triple-A after opening the year on the injured list. Neither Castro nor Martin is an ideal long-term fit at either position from a defensive standpoint, but they give the Twins some short-term cover.
The Twins will look to push their winning streak to 12 tonight in Milwaukee when they send righty Joe Ryan (2.74 ERA) to the mound against Brewers rookie Chad Patrick (3.19 ERA). Minnesota sends Pablo Lopez (2.77 ERA) to the mound Saturday against a TBD Brewers starter. Sunday, Minnesota will reportedly call up top prospect Zebby Matthews (1.93 ERA in Triple-A) to take on Milwaukee’s top starter, Freddy Peralta (2.66 ERA).
2. Harper, Schwarber nearing milestones:
Wednesday’s doubleheader between the Cardinals and the Phillies left two of Philadelphia’s best hitters on the cusp of major milestones. Bryce Harper hit an RBI single in Game 1 to knock in the 999th runner of his career, putting him just one step away from 1,000 career RBI. Kyle Schwarber, meanwhile, hit the 299th home run of his career in Game 2, putting him just one away from being the 163rd big leaguer in history to hit 300 career homers.
The Phillies were off yesterday, but this weekend’s matchup with the Pirates in Philadelphia will provide both sluggers with the opportunity to make quick work of those milestones. They’ll face southpaw Andrew Heaney (3.15 ERA) at 6:45pm local time this evening to kick off the weekend series. Righty Carmen Mlodzinski (5.20 ERA) and ace Paul Skenes (2.63 ERA) will take the mound Saturday and Sunday.
3. Fascinating Fenway matchup:
The Red Sox welcome the Braves to Boston this weekend, and tonight’s game (scheduled for 7:10pm local time) will serve as something of a full circle moment. Last winter, the Red Sox traded southpaw Chris Sale to Atlanta, and the oft-injured ace not only went on to have his healthiest season in five years but win his first Cy Young Award and capture the NL Triple Crown for the Braves.
After seeing one ace left-hander whom they acquired from the White Sox revitalize his career, the Red Sox responded by … acquiring another ace left-hander from the White Sox: Garrett Crochet. The 25-year-old Crochet has been brilliant in Boston, logging a 1.93 ERA and 28.9% strikeout rate in nine starts (56 innings). Sale, meanwhile, has a solid if unspectacular 3.97 ERA in nine outings but much stronger peripherals (2.91 FIP, 2.93 SIERA, 30.2 K%, 6.1 BB%). Will Boston be able to overcome their former ace with the new kid in town on the mound? Sale and Crochet square off tonight in a fascinating showdown that carries a bit more intrigue than the standard pitchers’ duel.
Lots of info on the Braves there.
In most cases, no news is good news.
Bart – It was news to me that Sale was traded last winter. Could have sworn it was the winter of 2023-2024. LOL!
Austin Martin is not an option for the Twins after returning to the minor league injured list on May 8th. He reinjured the hamstring that had him previously on the injured list the day he returned to the Saints lineup.
The two most injury-prone players collide for the Twins? That’s some serious bad luck, hopefully these guys are alright.
Schwarber is going to crank out 50 bombs at the pace he’s going, good on him he’s having a great season.
You might be mistaken: Royce Lewis was not involved in the collision
Is anyone on the roster safe from being called injury prone? Twins gonna Twins.
Royce Lewis another Twin that has been injuey-prone.
Acoss – Who would have imagined a guy with just 153 homers in his first 7 seasons would match that amount in less than 3 1/2 years.
I’m really happy for him, staying healthy has been huge. Sox never should have let him walk.
Fever,
Schwarber even played 1B when he got traded to the Red Sox. I respect that a lot, especially when you at least give it a shot. Red Sox should have kept him…
Rivalry weekend and Red Sox and Yankees aren’t playing each other? No Dodgers-Giants tilt? What a sad state the league has turned into…
I think the fans of New York put more into a Mets Yankees series then the Red Sox especially this year after the Soto offseason.
Mets – Agreed, the Sox/Yanks rivalry has been missing after the ’21 WC game.
It’s just not a rivalry when one team has sucked.
It’s “rivalry” weekend only in the sense that MLB is trying to push it as that. In reality there is no “rivalry” between the Phillies and the Pirates, the Tigers and the Blue Jays, or the Padres and the Mariners
Jays/Tigers was a rivalry. Not anymore.
@its_happening
Should have kept the Motor City Kitties in the East.
Agreed but when Tampa came in it was either Toronto or Detroit going to the Central. Would rather see two new teams and get back to East/West like the old day.
My cousins moved from Detroit to Toronto.
Rsox – Very true, it’s just not a rivalry when one (or both) teams suck.
It’s a shame because the Phillies and Pirates could have some great “Battle for PA” games if the Pirates didn’t suck.
It seems like MLB is going for more of a regional or state matchup than an actual rivalry. Mariners-Padres don’t really fit that mold but the bulk of the matchups do (Yankees-Mets, Nats-Orioles, Dodgers-Angels, Rays-Marlins, Guardians-Reds, Phillies-Pirates, Rangers-Astros, etc).
I agree that MLB could find a better promo heading than “rivalry.” It doesn’t really fit.
The Yankees Mets game is being sold as the second highest regular season game in Yankee history tonight.
ren – Agreed.
I mean who was even alive and following baseball when the Braves were in Boston? They’d have to be at least 80 now.
Was watching Kristian Campbell taking reps at 1B pre-game from my office in Greenville. We always have a live cam on the big league field. Also worth noting Mayer is playing 2B tonight in Worcester. Think we have our temporary answers for a couple of big questions.
Seattle to San Diego is about the same distance as Boston to Tampa.
They do play in the same spring training facility.
I hadn’t thought of the fact that they share the spring training facility in Peoria. Good point.
MLB is dropping espn. Mostly espn aired Yankees Red Sox series, even if either team was not in contention. A welcome change to see other teams.
York – It’s better this way, the later they play each other the more intense the games.
@Fever Pitch Guy
There’s only 3 in September when the games should be more intense. Last 2 weeks of the season will be a snooze fest for the Yankees. Play the garbage team O’s 7 times and the Black Sox 3 times. Yankees could probably play their B-team and still walk into the playoffs.
York – Red Sox are lucky, they don’t play the Tigers again until the final weekend of the season.
Tigers will have clinched already and therefore will be resting Skubal and other regulars that weekend.
But wow the Red Sox could have a brutal September schedule ….. Cleveland, Arizona, Athletics, Yankees, Tampa, Detroit and Toronto …. at least they will hopefully have Anthony and Mayer by then.
The Oakland/Sacramento one should be interesting.
I have never been able to call the Yankees vs Red Sox a rivalry. It takes two to tango, and getting beat down for nearly 100 years with only sporadic flickers of competition doesn’t seem to me as worth recognizing.
That’s Jerry s way, let the great pitchers go.
It’s not quite Pedro vs. Clemens,but it’s real cool. Crochet will need to keep his pitch count down, because the way the Sox bullpen is blowing late leads recently he may have to go 9.
I’d say 8. I have the most faith in Chapman right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s super high.
cd – Yes it’s a fantastic matchup and certainly Crochet’s biggest game in a Sox uniform. Unfortunately no Acuna or Casas though.
Crochet has gone 8 just once, back during the first week of the season. He’s on extra rest tonight so no excuses, he needs to man-up.
FPG
Acuna s injuries are robbing him/us of a H.o.F. caliber career. The Sox lack of an adequate backup 1st base option shows a tremendous lack of vision by Breslow and co.( Let’s face it ,Casas is injury prone)The Devers fiasco , I believe he is being selfish and spiteful, could have and should have been handled much differently. I was so hoping Devers would go on his own to Cora and offered his services for 1stbase. I believe that’s what a team player, a leader would have done. The respect that would have come with that gesture , now it seems like the opposite of that. Boo !
cdc – Agree with you on Acuna, such a spectacular player to watch when healthy!
Red Sox management doesn’t believe in having a plan or thinking before making decisions, so not surprised there was no backup for Casas. Devers should have been allowed to learn first base years ago, and shouldn’t have been told to burn his glove because he would never be allowed to play the field again.
Raffy’s situation cannot be understood with context, Fangraphs is one of many sites that does a great job of capturing all the events of the past that led to this year’s drama.
Dark days in Boston for sure!
I would think the Fenway faithful give Sale a big round of applause tonight. Before his plethora of injuries,some kind of bizarre,
( fell off a bike) he did close out the 2018 World Series.
cd – Agreed, Sale didn’t leave via free agency or ask to be traded. I’m sure he will be warmly greeted, and the Sox usually do a nice video montage on the jumbotron in situations such as this.
How about Harrison Bader this season, hitting the ball well, Twins landed a good one, I was hoping the White Sox would sign him to replace Robert.
The real question is whether the Red Sox can hold off the Braves after the 7th inning.
Sha – If it’s Wilson or Bernardino and Chapman covering the 8th and 9th, they’ve been solid this season.
How is this a “rivalry”?
The Braves used to play in Boston, so I guess they think it’s a rivalry.
“Meanwhile” has to start the sentence, not come in the middle between commas. How do you mess this up twice in one article?