Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:
1. Eflin injury spurs Orioles roster moves:
Orioles right-hander Zach Eflin is expected to land on the injured list as he undergoes imaging to determine the cause of his elbow discomfort, which has prompted the team to select the contract of veteran righty Albert Suarez. Baltimore will need to make a 40-man roster move, as Suarez is currently in Triple-A on a minor league deal. He’s been effective for the O’s when called upon over the past two years, with a 3.59 ERA and 4.07 FIP across 145 1/3 innings of work. While Eflin’s rotation spot eventually figures to go to Dean Kremer, Suarez can provide length out of the bullpen for a few days until Eflin’s spot in the rotation comes up, at which point Kremer can take over. Details on both Eflin’s MRI and the corresponding move for Suarez could be available as soon as today.
2. DeLauter nursing foot injury:
Guardians outfielder Chase DeLauter has kicked off his rookie season in a big way, slashing .273/.304/.818 with an MLB-best four home runs. Unfortunately, last night’s game against the Dodgers put a bit of a damper on his torrid start. DeLauter fouled a pitch from Shohei Ohtani off his foot in the first inning, forcing him to leave the game. Jacob Gurvis of MLB.com notes that x-rays came back negative. DeLauter was already scheduled to have today’s game off according to manager Stephen Vogt. With the Guardians off Thursday, the first big test for DeLauter’s injury will be whether he’s in the starting lineup against the Cubs on Friday. C.J. Kayfus replaced DeLauter in the outfield yesterday and would likely continue filling in until he’s ready to return to the field.
3. Skenes looks to move past rough first start:
Reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes kicked off the 2026 season with a rare clunker when he allowed five runs in the first inning while recording just two outs before being pulled. It was just the second start of Skenes’ career where he’s surrendered five earned runs, and the first one saw the righty go six innings despite those struggles. Skenes had no help from his defense during last week’s start, of course, and far fewer than five runs would have scored if not for defensive lapses from center fielder Oneil Cruz. Even so, Skenes wasn’t at his best; he faced a total of nine hitters, walking two of them and plunking another. He’ll look to rebound today against lefty Andrew Abbott and the division-rival Reds in a game scheduled for 12:40pm local time in Cincinnati.
Orioles are trying to leapfrog the Braves for most injured staff. Man, they just can’t catch a break so far.
replay of last year’s competition for injuries for the Orioles and Braves.
The problem actually is catching too many breaks. Sorry had to
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
The Red Sox season is over.
There, I feel better.
hayzee – Have some faith! It only takes around 87 wins to make the postseason. They are playing like crap because Cora didn’t properly prepare them, eventually they will be prepared. Like 2019.
“SERENITY NOW!”
Quick, hand me a paper bag!
John Henry visits Frank Costanza to tell him George is dead:
John: “Mrs Costanza? My name is John Henry, I’m afraid I have some very sad news about your son”.
Frank: “What the hell did you trade Chris Sale for? He led the league in strikeouts twice, 7 straight years of Top 6 Cy Young voting, he’s got a rocket for an arm ….. you don’t know what the hell you’re doing!”
John: “He is a great pitcher, no doubt about it. But my analytics people loved Vaughn Grissom’s bat. They kept saying Vaughn Grissom, Vaughn Grissom”.
4 games into season and its already “over”. RS fans at mlbtr are so depressing.
Breslow, please know that I’m joking. Red Sox fan since 1963 when that Yastrzemski fellow won the AL batting title. Sound my name out.
Everyone knows youre kidding, its the mindframe Im talking about. Its just different with Boston fans for some reason. Optimism is sparse.
Carl replaced a pretty good hitter but I forget his name.
Feels like every Guardians hitting prospect is snakebitten, but hopefully Delauter will be back in the lineup against the Cubs
How To Withstand Crochet:
Be very patient.
Take your two wins and stop beating the pee out the Ped Pox.
Can MLB fix how errors are counted? If every time we have to mention that Skenes’ start was affected by Cruz’s “misplays,” then can we just call them errors? Who cares if it didn’t touch his glove—those are balls that every single person in the stadium expects to get caught. Really aggravating how MLB charges errors.
Cruz failed at ss and now cf
Should only be a dh , I don’t care how fast he runs or how strong his arm is . If you can’t catch the ball get him out of there. Another ball misplayed last night.
What do you do with Ozuna if Cruz is the full time DH
Marcell is making $12 million this year, they aren’t likely to bench him over Cruz
Don’t know how bad an outfielder Ozuna is but may be worth a try.
Watched Nick Castellanos in Philly last year and he is known as a defensive liability.
Cruz so far is a bigger liability than him.
Put Reynolds in center n move Cruz to corner on days DH not available
Crappy solution but not much else they can do if they want to improve some defensively
Last two days vs the Reds, we put up with his defense when he hits like he did on these last two games.
Tigers:
No.
Tigers, I don’t disagree, but if every misplay was called an error, pitchers’ ERA’s would improve so dramatically that MLB would have to lower the mound again.
I fail to see how lower ERAs is a problem. Runs are still getting on the board either way. Who cares if they are earned? Oh yeah, the pitcher does.
Tigers-Cruz ran into Reynolds yesterday and should have had the error but it touched Reynolds’ glove.
I’ll never understand how someone who plays baseball professionally can’t make routine catches in the OF. Every player in the league should be able to make those catches. It’s not hard, most of us have done it since we’re 10. Or hit the cutoff, throw to proper base, backup plays, etc. these people have been playing baseball for over 10 years. Figure it out already
How long until Patrick Wisdom gets called up four home runs in AAA including a 440 foot one last night.
I never believed this whole Skenes hype anyway. I’m not saying he’s an industry plant but they sure marketed him and so many people bit the hook.
over one bad start which wasn’t helped by two misplays by Cruz?
Did you even watch the game?
Sliderwithfumungacheese…you truly are dumb. Look at skenes 3 seasons. Everyone is due bad games in a career. You are a troll sitting in a basement with a soiled diaper.
Get a life
I think you’re a plant growing out of someone’s backyard toilet 🚻
Very intellectually lazy of you, Poopface
I never believed this whole Skenes hype anyway.
As a prospect sure but he was the best pitching prospect in baseball and the first overall pick. Maybe you’re one of those people that don’t believe in prospects until they prove it.
After he won ROY and Cy Young? I hope you believe in the hype now. If you don’t believe in a ROY and Cy Young in their first two years, you don’t believe in anyone.
Slider just plants these posts to get reactions.
I see.
@Mendoza
Not true. I post my astute opinions based on years of years of watching Americas third best sport. Skenes lacks that fire to will his team to win, like the great ones. Curt, Randy, Pedro, Roger.
Hes liked because of his race and his wife. Hes an average pitcher who will crash like a Mark Prior.
Maybe you live in the wrong ERA? Who even is Paul Skenes wife?
Googling…
He isn’t married. But is in a relationship with Olivia Dunne. The Pirates got a Ryan O’Hearn, Brandon Lowe, and some more to help contention because of Skenes.
Mendoza..slidrrwighsalmenla is a plant..a plant based THING. Like the movie
And you are just an average troll.
Get a life
What does basketball have to do with Paul Skenes?
Whyhazee, you could be a Rockies or Twins fan instead…then you wouldn’t be disappointed by their expected dismal play.
At least Lewis is showing signs of life
Skenes’ awful start was substantially helped by 2 misplays by Oneil Cruz that resulted in 4 runs
Skenes might go 7 scoreless w 15ks today
Feel sorry for Reds
Have to ask why Kelly decides to rest our 2 main offseason pickups on the same day when Skenes is pitching?
Lineup looks as bad as ones he had to deal with last year that gave him little run support.
I thought we got rid of Shelton but appears Kelly has this same idiotic idea that players need to have days off.
Because Kelly is a graduate moron of the school of Shelton
IMO: Cruz should be gone. The question really is if they have someone better. He is a crazy freak of talent who has limited success here. If I was a betting man I would say a great portion of it is mental.
Hes not going to have real success until he cuts the strike outs. career around 32% strike out rate. of course his small sample so far 2026 doesn’t matter. RF is probably where he should be but working it out in the lineup with the current roster would be difficult.
Some say hes probably better suited for DH but IMO bat isn’t good enough for a competing team. (our current DH may not be either) maybe less pressure on the defense would help that. Also hate to waste his arm, but his arm only matters if he gets the ball in a timely fashion.
Dodgers would surely be willing to give cash considerations for him at the very least.
I used to say that about his arm but I have never seen an accurate throw from him.
He will never not be a liability in the field unless he can play first base.
and of course he goes 2 for 5 with a home run… guy is making me look like a jack wagon.. well more than normal… I think I can live with that 😀
How sad Alec Bohm must be. He is suing his parents, yes his parents, because they stole $3 million from him and used millions more to fund their lifestyle and their real estate purchases.
The O’s gave their fans (and New Yorkers, too) a heartwarming story last night. Pete Alonso hit his first home run for Baltimore, doing so off his old Mets teammate Jacob deGrom. Didn’t help the O’s cause as they choked away the game after Eflin’s elbow started barking.
Skenes will improve as season goes on but right now Alcantara looks like he is early CY Young favorite in NL. Hope Pirates in near future either re-sign Skenes or get a good haul for him and don’t just let him leave like Angels did with Ohtani.