The Dodgers walked off the Marlins on Monday night. Manager Dave Roberts emptied his bench to spur the comeback. Catcher Dalton Rushing pinch-hit for Santiago Espinal, walking and scoring the game-tying run. If the game didn’t end on a base hit by Kyle Tucker, the defensive alignment would’ve been interesting in extras. Roberts confirmed to reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic) that it would’ve been Rushing at first base, Max Muncy at second base, and Freddie Freeman at third base.
1. Bazzana gets the call
The Guardians are expected to promote second baseman Travis Bazzana for Tuesday’s matchup against the Rays. The top overall pick in the 2024 draft was off to an excellent start at Triple-A, posting a 152 wRC+ across 117 plate appearances. MLB Pipeline ranks Bazzana as the No. 1 prospect in the Cleveland organization and No. 16 overall. The infielder is slated for everyday reps at the keystone, where the club has struggled to find consistent production. Utilityman Daniel Schneemann has hit well in minimal time at the position, but Juan Brito has struggled to a .176/.250/.255. Brayan Rocchio wasn’t much better, though he’s heated up since moving to shortstop after the Gabriel Arias injury. Bazzana should have plenty of runway to stake his claim to the second base gig.
2. Yesavage makes his return
Blue Jays right-hander Trey Yesavage is slated to make his season debut against the Red Sox. The 2025 postseason star has been sidelined with a shoulder impingement. Yesavage hasn’t exactly dominated during his rehab assignment, posting a 7.50 ERA in 12 innings between Single-A and Triple-A, but the punchouts have been there (28.6% strikeout rate). Yesavage will rejoin a Toronto rotation desperate for healthy arms. The club just lost Max Scherzer to forearm and ankle injuries. He joins Jose Berrios, Shane Bieber, and Cody Ponce on the IL. Yesavage maxed out at 71 pitches during his rehab stint, so he shouldn’t be expected to go more than five innings in his return. He’ll face off against another exciting young AL East arm, with Payton Tolle on the other side.
3. Vargas on improbable run
Diamondbacks utility player Ildemaro Vargas has gone from versatile journeyman to one of the best hitters in the league this season. The 34-year-old just launched four home runs and knocked in 12 en route to NL Player of the Week honors. Vargas is slashing an absurd .367/.383/.722 through 82 plate appearances. He’s riding a 20-game hit streak. Vargas has already matched his career high with six home runs, a mark he set back in 2019 in his first stint with Arizona. It’s hard to imagine Vargas continuing this torrid stretch, but the underlying stats largely back it up. He ranks in the 99th percentile for xBA and in the 89th percentile for xSLG.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
If the Australian Baseball market becomes robust, I hope it’s Cleveland that capitalizes off of it instead of the Dodgers.
I dont have a problem with the Guardians moving to Australia, or the Rockies, or the White Sox or the Marlins . . .
Craig Shipley was the first Australian player to make the major leagues in nearly 90 years when he debuted in the 80s with the… Dodgers.
walteromalley.com/international/g-day-when-the-dod…
Argh!!
Congratulations, Senor Vargas, on winning the 2026 Mr. April award. Now keep it up for the next five months. I’ll take the under on that given his low walk, low power history and career OPS+ of 85. But everyone deserves their 15 minutes of fame, and this is clearly his.
Yeah not much in his profile has changed like exit velo and hard hit rate but he did decrease his ground ball rate by 15% this year so that could at least make him a decent enough hitter come years end.
@For love of the game:
Jeremy Lin agrees
Bazzana is an aggressive hitter, fiery player, reminds me of the great left-hand hitting 2B, Chase Utley.
Bazzana probably wont be a 30 HR player but if he can hit for contact and pop 20HR a year, swipe 30 bags, he will be a great player for the Guards.
But not the same caliber player as Griffin, Wetherholt, Kurtz, Caglione, or Condon. Burns, too, if we include pitchers, all picked after Bazzana.
Id say he has the potential to be an all-star at 2B. A similar player to Brice Turang.
If he develops into a player of Turang’s caliber, Bazzana at 1.1 is a good pick.
Kurtz is the clear outlier and in a redraft its unlikely that any team passes on Kurtz at 1.1 but in Bazzana I still like the pick.
Ralphy Velasquez should get the call this season too.
Messick, Espino, DeLauter, Bazzana and Velasquez — five rookies power the Guards to another AL Central title.