Michael Harris Is Better Than Ever
Braves outfielder Michael Harris II picked up four hits on Friday against the Dodgers, pushing his batting average back over .300. The 25-year-old has a career-best 139 wRC+ through 38 games. Harris, already in his fifth big-league season, seems to be making good on the prospect pedigree that had him atop Atlanta’s system before his 2022 debut.
Harris was just 21 years old when he was handed the Braves’ everyday center fielder gig. He performed well in his first taste of the majors, slashing .297/.339/.514 across 441 plate appearances. He fell just one homer shy of a 20/20 campaign. Harris earned NL Rookie of the Year honors, beating out teammate Spencer Strider.
Atlanta signed Harris to an eight-year, $72MM extension in August of that first season. It looked like a good bit of business for both sides. Harris secured a significant payday after just four months as a big leaguer. The Braves locked down a promising young outfielder for the rest of the decade. With Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies also signed to relatively inexpensive long-term deals, the organization had its core in place for the foreseeable future.
Harris took a slight step back in the power department in 2023, but was still 16% better than league average at the plate. He improved his strikeout rate to 18.7%, down from 24.3% as a rookie. Harris regressed again in 2024. His wRC+ slipped below 100 for the first time. After two years hitting above .290, Harris hit .264 in 110 games. He missed a significant chunk of the year with a hamstring injury.
The 2025 campaign was a bounce-back from a health perspective. Harris played a career-high 160 games. The volume helped him finally reach his first 20/20 season. The rate stats were concerning, though. Harris slashed .249/.268/.409 across 641 plate appearances. His walk rate, already among the lowest in the league, fell to 2.5%. Harris chased pitches out of the strike zone more than ever.
The game plan against Harris was pretty clear last year. Pitchers attacked him with four-seamers and sinkers. Harris hammered fastballs as a rookie, but began to struggle against the heat. He posted a career-worst -4 Run Value vs. four-seamers in 2025. Sinkers were an even bigger issue. No hitter performed worse on any pitch than Harris against sinkers, with a league-low -17 Run Value. It was the worst mark since Tigers infielder Jonathan Schoop posted a -18 Run Value against four-seamers in 2022. Unsurprisingly, Harris saw sinkers at a career-high 20.9% clip.
Getting exploited by fastballs is a big problem at the highest level. It can be a career-ending flaw. Harris was on the verge of being a glove-only asset stuck at the bottom of the lineup. He seems to have solved his fastball issues in 2026. He’s hitting .318 against sinkers this season. He’s also obliterating four-seamers, with a .700 SLG and a silly 70.6% hard-hit rate. Harris is doing damage like never before, regardless of pitch type. He ranks in the 99th percentile in hard-hit rate and average exit velocity. Harris has a robust .326 xBA and a hefty .614 xSLG.
Harris has made subtle tweaks to his stance and setup. He’s moved up in the box and closer to the plate. His feet are a couple of inches further apart than last year. He’s also opened his stance by seven degrees compared to 2025. The adjustments, combined with career highs in bat speed (75.1 mph) and fast swing rate (51.4%), have produced a massive 16.5% barrel rate and a career-best 19.2% pulled air rate.
There are still some process flaws here. Harris is once again chasing more than ever. He’s offering at 43.1% of pitches outside of the strike zone, the eighth-highest mark among qualified hitters. Harris’ 51% groundball rate is his highest since 2022. And while he’s hit safely at a solid rate against sinkers, it’s been strictly singles. Those are more nitpicks than major concerns, though.
The quad injury has sapped Harris’ speed, which might cost him a shot at another 20/20 season, but the power looks legit. Health permitting, he should cruise past his career high of 20 home runs. The adjustments he’s made this year suggest he’s back to being an offensive force in a lineup that looks like one of the best in baseball.
Photo courtesy of Brett Davis, Imagn Images
The Opener: Ewing, Bolte, Imai
Yesterday’s Opener highlighted Baltimore’s struggles against left-handed starters. Through six innings on Monday, it was more of the same. Ryan Weathers carried a no-hitter into the seventh. Two baserunners spelled the end of Weathers’ night, and reliever Brent Headrick immediately gave up a three-run homer to Coby Mayo. Baltimore held on for its first win against a lefty this year.
1. Ewing gets the call
The Mets are expected to call up outfield prospect A.J. Ewing for a series against the Tigers. The 21-year-old was only recently bumped up to Triple-A. He’ll head to the big leagues after just a dozen games with Syracuse. MLB Pipeline ranks Ewing behind only right-hander Jonah Tong in the Mets’ system. The 2023 fourth-round pick has mashed at every minor league stop. Ewing put up a 147 wRC+ across three levels in 2025. He racked up 70 steals in 124 games. The lefty-swinging Ewing will look to revive an offense that ranks dead last in OPS and wOBA against right-handed pitching. New York is tied for last in scoring with the Giants.
2. Bolte joining A’s
The Athletics are also calling up an outfield prospect. Henry Bolte is expected to join the club against the Cardinals on Tuesday. The 22-year-old has destroyed Triple-A pitching this season, hitting .348 with 12 home runs in 37 games. A second-rounder in 2022, Bolte has steadily worked his way up the Athletics’ system. He’s consistently posted strong offensive numbers, including on the base paths. Bolte has stolen 40+ bases in back-to-back seasons. Strikeouts have been the main drawback, though he’s shown improvement there. Bolte punched out at a massive 34.7% clip in 2024. He trimmed it to 28.9% in 2025, and it’s down to 22% this year.
3. Imai back in the big leagues
Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai is expected to get the ball on Tuesday against the Mariners. He missed just over a month with what the team described as arm fatigue. The NPB import has made three MLB starts, bookending a scoreless appearance against the A’s with two disastrous outings. One of the blowups came against this Seattle lineup. Imai didn’t escape the first inning, walking four and hitting a batter. He has 11 walks in 8 2/3 innings. Imai has a ghastly 54.1% strike rate through three starts, more than 9% below league average. The righty returns to the lineup during a crucial four-game set against an AL West foe. Houston has lost all five games against Seattle this year.
Photo courtesy of Rhona Wise, Imagn Images
The Opener: Olson, Workman, Orioles
Kyle Schwarber has entered the chat. The Phillies’ DH has five home runs in his last four games, propelling him to the top of the league leaderboard. Schwarber is now tied with Aaron Judge with 16 home runs. Munetaka Murakami is one back after “only” homering once over the weekend.
1. Olson moves into the top 10
Braves first baseman Matt Olson was in the lineup for the 823rd consecutive game on Sunday. He moved into the top 10 on the all-time leaderboard, breaking a tie with Gus Suhr (h/t Sarah Langs of MLB.com). Olson’s streak dates back to May 2021. If he can keep it going this season, he’ll pass Eddie Yost (829) and Stan Musial (895) to move to eighth place. The 32-year-old Olson is unlikely to chase down Cal Ripken Jr., but he’s been a remarkably consistent presence in the Atlanta lineup. The veteran has posted a 117 wRC+ or better in each of his first four years with the Braves.
2. “Tater” launches first home run
Tigers infielder Gage Workman broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning on Sunday against the Royals with a two-run homer off Nick Mears. It was the first long ball as a big leaguer for the 26-year-old, whose middle name is synonymous with home run. Workman was a fourth-round pick in 2020. Detroit lost him in the Rule 5 draft last year, but he failed to stick for too long with the Cubs and White Sox. Workman has put together some strong campaigns in the minors, including an 18-homer, 30-steal season at Double-A in 2024. He’s getting a chance in the big leagues with Kerry Carpenter on the IL. “He has crushed Triple-A pitching pretty much all season and has earned his right to be on a callup list whenever the opportunity came open,” manager A.J. Hinch told reporters, including Jason Beck of MLB.com.
3. Orioles struggling against southpaws
Baltimore will welcome the Yankees to Camden Yards for a three-game series. The Orioles will have two shots to beat a left-handed starter for the first time this season. Per Roch Kubatko of MASN, the club is 0-9 with a .569 OPS against southpaws this season. Ryan Weathers will get the ball for New York on Monday. Max Fried is lined up for Wednesday. Baltimore has multiple lefty mashers performing below career norms. Pete Alonso is hitting .195 with two home runs in 45 plate appearances vs. lefties. He has an .828 OPS against them for his career. Taylor Ward had a massive .311 ISO against lefties last season. That number is down to .167 this year. All sample sizes are relatively small right now, and even more so for handedness splits, but it’s been a slow start for the Orioles against lefties.
Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee, Imagn Images
Mets Sign Xzavion Curry To Minor League Deal
The Mets have added right-hander Xzavion Curry on a minor league agreement, according to his MLB transaction tracker. The veteran appeared briefly with the Marlins last year. He opened this season with Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League.
Curry has pitched in parts of the past four seasons with the Guardians and Marlins. He joined the Rockies’ organization midway through 2025 on a minor league deal, but didn’t reach the majors. Curry stumbled to a 7.97 ERA over eight starts with Triple-A Albuquerque.
Cleveland took Curry in the seventh round of the 2019 draft out of Georgia Tech. The righty missed all of 2019 with injury, then didn’t pitch in 2020 with the minor league season getting canceled. He would finally make his pro debut in 2021. Curry made quick work of the lower levels of the minors and reached the big leagues by 2022. He struggled in two starts that year, but emerged as a reliable member of the bullpen the following season. Curry posted a 4.07 across 95 innings in a swingman role.
Miami nabbed Curry off waivers in August 2024. He pitched well in nine appearances (one start), allowing six earned runs over 18 innings. Curry didn’t break camp with the club last season, but was called up in late March. He gave up a couple of runs over three frames and was sent back to Jacksonville in early April.
Curry’s pitch mix has shifted over his time in the big leagues, but the consistent theme has been a wide arsenal. He’s primarily relied on a four-seamer and two breaking balls. The veteran has also shown a changeup, splitter, and the occasional sweeper. Curry has an underwhelming 8.7% swinging-strike rate for his career. He’s struck out just 15.5% of the big leaguers he’s faced. Curry’s 4.38 career ERA comes with an xFIP and SIERA above 5.00.
Photo courtesy of Jim Rassol, Imagn Images
Orioles To Give Jackson Holliday Reps At Third Base During Rehab
Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday is expected to start at third base for Double-A Chesapeake on Sunday. It’ll be his third professional appearance at the hot corner. Holliday is working his way back from a hamate bone fracture. The 22-year-old has been almost exclusively a second baseman at the big-league level.
“We talked to him, see where his head is at, and he was for it,” manager Craig Albernaz told reporters, including Roch Kubatko of MASN. “I think if you look at our roster, versatility is something that we need.”
Holliday was one of three notable hamate injuries in the spring, along with Francisco Lindor and Corbin Carroll. While Lindor and Carroll were ready for Opening Day, Holliday has struggled to make it back to the majors. He’s had his rehab paused multiple times due to soreness in his surgically repaired hand. Holliday was in the Baysox lineup on Thursday after a two-week absence from minor league action.
It’s been three years since Holliday has appeared at third base. He played there for one game apiece at High-A and Double-A during the 2023 campaign. Holliday has made 188 starts at second base as a big leaguer. He’s made seven starts at shortstop. The defensive metrics have not been kind to Holliday. He posted -10 Defensive Runs Saved as Baltimore’s primary second baseman in 2025. Holliday ranked in the 5th percentile with -8 Outs Above Average. He’s been worth -2 DRS in his limited time at shortstop.
The Orioles haven’t just been missing Holliday in the infield this season. Third baseman Jordan Westburg has yet to suit up after being diagnosed with a partial UCL tear during Spring Training. He was recently shut down from baseball activities due to elbow pain, per Kubatko. Albernaz relayed that Westburg has a follow-up appointment on Monday.
Holliday’s injury opened up playing time for Jeremiah Jackson. The 26-year-old got off to a strong start as the primary option at the keystone. Jackson had a .768 OPS at the end of April, punctuated by a grand slam on the final day of the month. He’s just 3-for-23 so far in May, but he’s mostly held his own as an everyday player. Jackson has been worth 4 DRS at second base.
It hasn’t gone so well for Westburg’s replacement. Coby Mayo is hitting .163 with a 29.9% strikeout rate through 33 games. The 24-year-old has the seventh-lowest wRC+ (42) among hitters with at least 100 plate appearances. Mayo has posted -3 DRS at third base. He’s now at -7 DRS in 42 big-league games at the position. Weston Wilson and Blaze Alexander have also chipped in at third base, with uninspiring offensive results.
Getting Holliday up to speed at third base would give Albernaz the option to keep Jackson in the lineup. Jackson himself has big-league experience at the hot corner, but Baltimore may prefer to keep his glove at second base. At the very least, it’ll add some lineup flexibility once Holliday is ready to return.
Photo courtesy of Wendell Cruz, Imagn Images
NL Central Notes: Woodruff, Lockridge, Suarez, Lowder
Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff was back with the club for a series against the Yankees after having fluid removed from his shoulder. He’ll play catch this weekend as he nears a return to the mound, relays Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.
Woodruff’s progression is encouraging, considering how he looked in his most recent outing. The veteran was removed after just six batters during an April 30 start against the Diamondbacks. His fastball was down more than 7 mph. Woodruff was soon placed on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.
The 33-year-old Woodruff has dealt with shoulder and lat injuries for the past three years. He missed all of 2024 due to shoulder surgery. Even before the outing against Arizona, Woodruff’s velocity was down slightly from last season. He’s several years removed from averaging mid-90s with the heater.
Despite operating at a lower velocity, Woodruff has been effective. He’s working with three fastballs these days, adding a cutter to his four-seamer and sinker. The veteran is throwing his changeup more than ever. Woodruff delivered a 3.20 ERA with a career-best 32.3% strikeout rate in a dozen starts last year. The strikeouts are down this season, but he has a solid 3.60 ERA through 30 innings.
Here’s more from around the division…
- Brewers outfielder Brandon Lockridge seems to have escaped serious injury after crashing into the wall on Friday against the Yankees. He was carted off the field and needed nine stitches to address a deep cut near his knee. Lockridge was back in the clubhouse on Saturday and hopes to return after close to a minimum stint on the IL, per McCalvy. Manager Pat Murphy was less optimistic, expecting the outfielder to miss at least a month. Blake Perkins was recalled to take Lockridge’s spot on the roster.
- Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez took 50 swings on Thursday as he works his way back from a strained oblique, relays FOX 19’s Charlie Goldsmith. The veteran infielder hasn’t played since April 22. Suarez was off to a difficult start in his second stint with Cincinnati, slashing .231/.300/.363 across 100 plate appearances. After matching a career high with 49 home runs in 2025, he’s left the yard just three times this year.
- Also from Goldsmith, Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder isn’t dealing with any structural damage in his shoulder. He received an injection and could throw a bullpen on Sunday. Lowder left after three innings on Thursday against the Cubs. He hasn’t been placed on the IL yet. Cincinnati got lefty Nick Lodolo back on Friday. He took the spot of right-hander Chase Petty, who is scheduled to start at Triple-A on Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Benny Sieu, Imagn Images
Mariners To Reinstate Bryce Miller, Adjust Rotation
Right-hander Bryce Miller will make his Mariners season debut on Wednesday against the Astros, reports Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times. Miller opened the year on the injured list after straining an oblique in the spring. Divish adds that Seattle will initially go to a six-man rotation, then potentially move to a piggyback situation with Miller and right-hander Luis Castillo.
Injuries have derailed Miller in back-to-back seasons. An elbow issue slowed him for much of 2025. The righty first went on the IL with elbow inflammation in mid-May, but returned after less than three weeks. He made two starts, then went right back on the injured list. Miller came back in August. He remained healthy to close the year and contributed some important innings in the postseason.
Miller made it through just one Spring Training appearance before going down with the oblique injury. His absence opened the door for Emerson Hancock. The former prospect has had chances in the rotation in recent seasons, but they have never amounted to much success. Hancock had a 4.50 ERA or worse in each of his three years as an occasional member of Seattle’s staff.
The 2026 campaign has been a complete reversal for the 26-year-old Hancock. He’s been one of the more surprising breakouts of the young season. Hancock had a mid-2.00s ERA with more than a strikeout per inning heading into Friday’s outing against the White Sox. He allowed five earned runs over six innings in Chicago, but still emerged with his third win. MLBTR’s Steve Adams dug into Hancock’s stellar season in this article for Front Office subscribers.
A decision on Hancock and the rest of the rotation was coming as Miller neared his return. Instead of bumping Hancock or the struggling Castillo, Seattle is keeping everyone in the mix, at least for now. As Divish points out, the club doesn’t have an off day until May 21. Rolling with a six-man rotation will afford the group some extra rest during an arduous stretch of the calendar.
By performance, Castillo deserves to be booted from the group. The righty tossed six scoreless innings against the Yankees in his season debut. Since then, he’s been crushed for 24 earned runs over six outings. Castillo ranks in the fourth percentile for average exit velocity and in the seventh percentile for hard-hit rate. The 33-year-old might be hitting the wall at this stage of his career. Castillo is still due $22.75MM next season, plus $25MM in 2028 if certain thresholds are met, so Seattle is incentivized to find a way for him to add value. The piggyback setup with Miller might help Castillo get back on track.
Photo courtesy of Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images
Giants Place Logan Webb On 15-Day IL, Recall Trevor McDonald
Giants right-hander Logan Webb is heading to the injured list with right knee bursitis, the team announced. Fellow righty Trevor McDonald is coming back up to the big leagues. The Webb move is retroactive to May 6. San Francisco expects the ace to return when he’s first eligible, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports.
The Padres pounded Webb for six earned runs over four innings in his most recent start. The two-time All-Star was forced to depart after the knee injury flared up. “I’ve dealt with it for a little while, but it’s still no excuse,” Webb told reporters, including Henry Schulman of MLB.com. Webb will now get a couple of weeks to recover from the issue.
Webb has been one of the more durable starters in the league since becoming a permanent member of the Giants’ rotation. He’s made at least 32 starts in each of the past four seasons. The righty has paced the National League in innings for three straight years. Webb’s last IL stint was back in 2021, when he missed time with shoulder and back injuries.
The volume has been there for Webb this year, but the production has been underwhelming, even before the rough showing against San Diego. He’s posted a 5.06 ERA across eight starts. Webb’s strikeout rate has ticked down to a below-average 20.2%. A 7.2% walk rate would be a solid outcome for a lot of pitchers, though it’s Webb’s worst mark since the shortened 2020 season. The veteran is still getting groundballs at a massive clip (58.5%). His xFIP and SIERA are right around 3.50, which suggests Webb has pitched better than his results.
McDonald was sent down after his lone start on Monday. He’s right back with the Giants after a few days at Triple-A. McDonald is lined up to make his next appearance against the Dodgers in a series that kicks off on Monday. San Francisco was off on Thursday, so Webb wasn’t scheduled to pitch again this week.
The 25-year-old McDonald has excelled in his brief big-league chances. He tossed three hitless innings in his 2024 debut. The righty delivered a 3.60 ERA over three appearances last season. In his two starts, he held the Dodgers to a run over six innings, then piled up 10 strikeouts against the Rockies. The strong close to the year wasn’t enough to earn McDonald a roster spot out of camp. A 6.94 ERA in Spring Training didn’t help matters. McDonald will now get a couple of starts to make his case to stay in the majors.
Photo courtesy of Stan Szeto, Imagn Images
Dodgers Claim Charlie Barnes
The Dodgers announced the claim of left-hander Charlie Barnes off the Cubs’ waiver wire. Chicago designated Barnes for assignment earlier this week. To create room on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles shifted Tommy Edman to the 60-day injured list.
Barnes had been up and down a couple of times with the Cubs. He’s made one big-league appearance this season, covering the final three innings of a blowout loss against the Phillies in early April. It marked his first MLB outing in five years.
The 30-year-old Barnes didn’t stick long after debuting with the Twins in 2021, but he put together several solid seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization. Barnes delivered 25+ starts of a low to mid-3.00s ERA in three consecutive seasons with the Lotte Giants from 2022 to 2024. The 2025 campaign didn’t go as smoothly, as Barnes made just eight starts. He posted a 5.32 ERA with his worst strikeout rate and highest walk rate during his time in the KBO.
Barnes showed a slightly different arsenal in his return to the majors. He was sinker-first during his stint with the Twins, followed by a changeup and slider. Barnes only threw a handful of four-seamers during his 38 innings in Minnesota. This time around, he led with the heater. Barnes’ fastball averages under 90 mph, but he used it more than 40% of the time in his outing against Philadelphia. He also mixed in the sinker/changeup/slider trio, while debuting a sweeper.
Edman is working his way back from offseason ankle surgery. He faced live pitching for the first time in early April, stepping into the box against teammate Blake Snell during a simulated game. Manager Dave Roberts has maintained that the club doesn’t expect Edman back until the end of May. The move to the 60-day IL doesn’t come as a surprise.
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