Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Rays return to the Trop:
Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg is set to host its first MLB game since 2024 today. The renovations for the Rays’ current home stadium are now complete, and the club is poised to celebrate with a game against the Cubs later today. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10pm local time, with staff ace Shane McClanahan set to make his second start of the year after returning to the big league mound for the first time since 2023 last week. McClanahan’s opponent will be veteran right-hander Jameson Taillon, who pitched around plenty of traffic on the basepaths to post 4 2/3 scoreless frames for the Cubs his last time out. As noted by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, gates will open at 2:10pm local time for today’s game and fans are asked to be in their seats by 3:30pm local time for pregame ceremonies.
2. Trout day-to-day:
Future Hall of Famer Mike Trout has begun the season healthy, which is good news on its own given how often he’s been injured in recent years. Better yet, he’s looking good at the plate with a .212/.435/.424 slash line and a strikeout rate of just 26.1% after punching out more than 30% of the time last year and posting a career-low wRC+ of 120. While Trout seems to be back to something resembling his old self, Angels fans got a big scare yesterday when he left the game after being hit by a pitch on his hand. Fortunately, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com (among others) relayed yesterday that x-rays on Trout’s hand came back negative, and that he’s day-to-day after the incident. Trout noted to reporters (including Bollinger) that his hand was swollen after the incident. While it’s fortunate he appears to have avoided a serious injury, he still might be sidelined for a couple of days or so if the swelling persists. If Trout does end up missing time, Bryce Teodosio could get some looks in center field.
3. Pitchers’ Duel today in the AL West:
An early meeting between two division rivals will see two of the most impressive pitchers in baseball face off on the mound today. The Mariners are headed to Globe Life Field in Texas for a 7:05pm local time game against the Rangers, and Seattle will be sending star right-hander Logan Gilbert to the mound coming off a 2025 season where he was limited to just 25 starts but turned in a solid 3.44 ERA with a 3.35 FIP. He’ll be facing off against veteran righty Jacob deGrom, who enjoyed his first healthy season in years last season and managed a 2.97 ERA in 172 2/3 innings of work that year. So far, neither deGrom nor Gilbert has gotten the results they’ve wanted in 2026, though they’ve gotten strong peripheral results. Will one or both be able to turn those peripherals into production tonight?
‘The renovations… is now complete’? Glitzy new web design — still no editor…
I come here for baseball news, not to nitpick small writing mistakes. Get a life.
considering writers are paid to be good at writing it only follows that they should take enough pride not to make a mistake on EVERY ARTICLE. Nobody gives Steve or Mark crap because it’s rare. Nick is every article. Is it life or death? No. But should mediocrity be settled for “just because”? Probably for the best that we say no
Blancos – If writers aren’t good at writing, then they shouldn’t be writers. You must be an effort trophy kid.
Prov- You boomers need new material; you make the same three corny jokes ad nauseum.
@Calce. You’ll have to excuse Sammy, he subscribes to PLAYBOY for the articles
Dolemite:
I don’t just look at it. I read the articles. I especially like it when they mention the girls’ interests, like ‘Betsy loves surfing.
The tulip lace bra has ruffled underwired cups, creating a curvier you, for evening’s bare neckline.
Except he doesn’t just make small writing mistakes. He makes blatant factual errors. And he’s the only writer on this site who is so consistently careless.
Same web design as before.
Renovations finished almost 18 months after Tropicana Field was severely damaged by Hurricane Milton. Rays’ first homestand back at their regular park has Cubs for 3, then Yankees for 3.
I’m gonna miss those Steinbrenner Field slugfests. Now it’s back to the UglyDome pitcher’s park.
So Shane McClanahan pitched yesterday, and he’s pitching again today?
TJS gave him extra-durability
He pitched on 3/31. Time flies
Trout looks good. Maybe with 130 games of trout level play, the angels can repeat the 2002 season. New hero every other day. Adam Frazier yesterday. Josh Lowe today, Logan ohoppe tomorrow. Yoan on Wednesday. Sweep of the cowards (braves)
gold – Wait until Grissom gets called up, he will join the hero list!
Adell’s catch was the start of the video
Yes Grissom can hit. Moore is walking a lot at slc.
Finally some depth. 🧡🧡🧡
Cowards?!…Shots fired lol
Gilbert vs the Rangers always turns out awful for Texas.
Since 2021, the Rangers have whiffed nearly 100 times against him.
This year they are fanning nearly 10 times a game after nine games.
Sure looks like past is prologue.
Let’s hope it continues today.
Most guys that batting .200 and slugging .400 would be said to be struggling. But apparently that’s the threshold set for Trout to be looking good at the plate.
Not particularly because most people would also look at his other stats like his 11 walks, 2 homeruns, and .435 OBP as well.
Struggling to the tune of a 153 OPS+.
Was scrolling the comments to see who would be the one to say, “How is .212 looking good at the plate?” You guys always come through.
dd
”
Most guys that batting .200 and slugging .400 would be said to be struggling. But apparently that’s the threshold set for Trout to be looking good at the plate.”.
If you look at wOBA, which counts walks, singles, doubles, triplés, and home runs, instead of whatever you’re looking at, you’ll see that Trout has been 50% better than the league average hitter so far this year.
MLBTR Fans Fantasy League Week 2 Update:
Results:
Salzilla 7 Flanster 4
WadeBoggsWildRide 3 Gywnning 9
MeowMeow 4 lwalt27 7
Sean P 5 Stpofsd 6
StudWindfield 5 Ignorant SOB 7
Oppo Nacho 7 RunDMC 5
Trades:
Hoerner/Stott for Marsee/Gorman
McLain for Pepoit
Herrera for Flaherty
Semein/Leiter for Bichette
I’ll add in standings next week.
Hey now there’s no hurry to include the standings >.>
Mariners have a big few big series coming up. Against Texas and Houston.
Nick Deeds try not to make a mistake challenge
Level? Impossible
I think there should be a rule that if I pitcher hits a batter in the head no matter the intention, they should be booted (and potentially suspended) for 5 days.
One, it would discourage “up and in”, which is crazy, but from a watching perspective (just like ABS), we’d get a replay to see if it grazes the head (like a VAR on soccer hand balls) and that would make people angry which is good for the sport and good for watching.
Call it the bk rule.
bk – I don’t mind a brush back pitch or two, but I agree with you about throwing at the head. Woo threw at Trout’s head twice in the first inning the other night and hit him with the second one.
Playing baseball can kill you, and then again, driving to Walmart, could kill you to. Long season. Trout is going to get 130 games in, with great results. With soler, trout, Lowe, lots of pressure off the team to do to much. Kurt should be there for the next handful of years. He great
@gold masters. Kurt could bolt he’s on a one year deal. That’s why he took the job, because it’s boosts his stock more than it hurts it. Although with the lockout potentially he might’ve not have enough time could be a quick offseason.
Note: new rule: if the pitcher throws a ball at your head, you are allowed to throw your bat back at him.
This message been approved by gm
And by Bert Campaneris
I see a few rules being suggested for others who throw at someone’s head. So I decided to add my own. And yes, I know it’ll never happen.
If a pitcher throws at someone’s head, that pitcher has to bat first the next inning. This way the opposing team can determine if it was on purpose or not. And render judgement accordingly.
I do miss some of baseballs old ways. Some.
Leave it to the baseball Gods. I see no problem with this.
“If a pitcher throws at someone’s head, that pitcher has to bat first the next inning. ”
Dumb