Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend:
1. Paredes nursing hamstring issue:
Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes is dealing with an issue in his left hamstring, manager Joe Espada told reporters (including Chandler Rome of The Athletic) last night. It’s unclear whether the Astros plan to send Paredes for testing or simply see how he’s feeling today before making a decision on his status, but Espada indicated the club will have more information on Paredes today. Paredes is enjoying what would be a career year during his first season with the Astros, slashing .255/.353/.478 with a wRC+ of 136 in 67 games. That’s a tough bat to lose from the lineup for any amount of time, but Mauricio Dubon seems to be the most likely candidate to fill in for Paredes if he’s set to miss a day or two. A longer absence that requires a trip to the IL could be more complicated for the Astros to cover, as they have no extra infielders on their 40-man roster at present. Luis Guillorme and Zack Short are among the club’s non-roster depth options at Triple-A who could be called upon if Paredes is going to be out for a while.
2. Series Preview: Giants @ Dodgers
The NL West’s second-place team is headed to Dodger Stadium in L.A. for a three-game set this weekend. The Giants sit just one game behind the Dodgers in the division and will have the opportunity to take control of the NL West for the first time since 2021. In order to do so, they’ll need to beat a Los Angeles team that managed to swipe a series win from San Diego this week despite getting outscored 14-20. The series figures to start with a bang at 7:10pm local time when the club’s ace pitchers face off. Both Logan Webb (2.58 ERA) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.20 ERA) could find themselves in the NL Cy Young award conversation this year, and both are coming off big games after Yamamoto struck out nine Cardinals across six scoreless innings while Webb punched out ten in Atlanta. The series will continue on Saturday with youngster Landen Roupp (3.29 ERA) and veteran Clayton Kershaw (4.35 ERA) on the mound, and things will wrap up on Sunday when lefty Kyle Harrison (4.56 ERA) faces off against righty Dustin May (4.46 ERA).
3. Pitchers’ Duel in Arizona:
Dodgers/Giants isn’t the only noteworthy series in the NL West this weekend, as the Padres are headed to Phoenix for a three-game set against the Diamondbacks. That series will conclude with a pair of veteran pitchers in the midst of excellent seasons on the mound on Sunday. For the Padres, free agent addition Nick Pivetta (3.43 ERA) is taking the mound for his 14th start of the year. Pivetta will hope to turn things around after back-to-back difficult outings and put together his first quality start of June, and he’ll do so against veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly (3.18 ERA). The 36-year-old is set to make his 15th start of the season this weekend as he eyes a return to free agency in the fall, and he’ll look to build on two phenomenal outings against the Braves and Mariners so far this month where he struck out 15 batters across 13 scoreless innings.
It would be nice if the networks figure out that there are more teams than just the nyy. Padres/Dodgers or Yankees/Royals? Easy decision for ESPN and MLB Network. I know the whole Yankees schedule so far.
Hate to say it, but national TV games are going to feature brand name teams more often than not. Fox has Yankees-Red Sox most everywhere possible on Saturday; ESPN has Dodgers-Giants on Sunday.
ESPN’s baseball coverage is garbage anyway. Good riddance to them not re-signing their deal with MLB. Fox Sports and whenever TBS does a broadcast are much better are far better as far as the national games go.
I have to say I wish Peacock would do more games. They put together the local play by play and color teams from the franchises playing that day. It is really good entertainment.
I’ll have to check out Peacock whenever they have a game then. Really tired of ESPN and their barebones coverage…
IMO, Fox is the absolute worst. Joe Davis is marginally tolerable, but with him we get the completely mind-numbing John Smoltz.
no thanks, I hate national broadcasts. As a giants fan no matter who they are playing commentators have zero familiarity with the team and do nothing but talk up whoever they are playing. usually I turn the audio off and listen to the local radio broadcast while I am watching
I’m remembering a game a year or so ago against where Flem was doing play by play and John Kruk and Mike Krukow were doing color together. Rollins was in on it too with the Phillies/Alameda connection. It was a really good game broadcast. Its National but with local crew from both teams.
yeah I remember that one. Sadly most of the national broadcasts though are guys that have no ties to the team and often players that have rarely if ever played against the team (eg AL players from the 80s or guys that played in the east or central NL) and so have nothing invested in saying anything with positivity or familiarity for the team
Crochet will try to turn it around against the Yanks tonight, would it have been a great matchup if Fried was pitching tonight instead of Sunday.
FPG…. Holding breath for 3 series in a row, definitely need tonight though, …. Okay I’m ready to pass out just typing this… Today is feast day of St Anthony??? I know once Wyler comes back the want to probably move one OF. I hope not ,like Duran, and Wyler and CR is even beginning to hit.. Toro doing fine ( great) at first… And Navarez… Unreal!!! Sandy Leon 2018 revisited…
olm – Agree on tonight, it’s by far the most winnable of the three games. Rodon is not gonna have two bad games against them in a row, and Fried is Fried.
The belief is when Wilyer comes back next week Rafaela will play at least some infield and Campbell will get sent down. Remember they insisted when Roman gets promoted he will be there to stay and will start every game. Of course they are known to go back on their word, time will tell.
YES what is it with former Yankees catchers having a great first year in Boston with their bat???
Leyritz had a .904 OPS his first (and only) year with the Sox
Who was the other Yankee catcher that played for the Sox, around the 1980’s I believe? Oh I remember now, Spongehead aka Rick Cerone!
Do you remember Mugsy? Poor guy had to replace Pudge.
Wow… Cerone!!! Great ( what did Eck call hair?? Salad??) Mike Stanley, Tony Peña… I’m sure we’re missing a few to play for both…Mugsy?? Didn’t know that name… John Marzano/ Marc Sullivan… drawing a blank on after Fisk…was it Cerone??
olm – Hair on your head is called “lettuce”, and hair on your face is called “moss”.. It reminds me of an old Dick Van D episode when Rob used a weird concoction on his head to try and grow hair and it ended up turning all his hair into lettuce …. and Laura cried, of course!
Mike Stanley, not to be confused with “Chicken” Stanley or BigFoot Stanley …. damn they had much better nicknames back then!!!
The guy who followed Pudge was Mugsy aka Gary Allenson!! You must be too young to remember him ;O)
I’m jumping out a basement window for not remembering Gary Allenson!!!As stated I went from Tiante, To Steamer… to the el Guapo’ s of my favorite Red Sox to root for… I guess if Tony Fossas back then would have stopped for picture with me it would be him and not Brasier I talk about!!! Honorable mention Jullian T back in 06…
Next weekend the Phillies and Mets 3 game series and all 3 are national games.
@Bill Kane
Sounds pretty boring. A better series to watch would be Detroit @ Tampa. And if you’re looking for one specific game to watch, I’d say Friday’s game with MacKenzie Gore going up against the Dodgers.
I don’t know why but I enjoy listening to the Rays broadcasters. Mets broadcast team is probably my favorite, though. They should probably use that for Sunday Night games.
Right there with you, something about the Ray’s broadcasts keep me in the game, and I’m not even a Rays fan
Enrique Hernández is in the running for the Cy Young with a 2.08 ERA. 55% GB rate is elite as well. I hope the Dodgers keep throwing him out there to pitch.
Thank goodness giants dodgers is finally here. The knowledge of 14 to go against the superteam has been knawing at my confidence. Let’s get some of them done.
What does Kershaw throw now? An eephus pitch?
I did see him throw one of those years ago. Pretty funny, but a mistake I think.
kind of like when Randy Johnson threw one after the foghorn went off in SF…something I’ll never forget, dude looked shook