The Opener

Here are four things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Yankees offense goes cold:

It’s been a tough few days in the Bronx, as the Yankees have lost five straight after getting swept by the Red Sox over the weekend. The culprit of this recent dry spell is clearly the offense, as New York has been shut out in each of its last three games with 29 consecutive scoreless innings. Virtually the entire team has been cold; Jazz Chisholm Jr. is the only player with more than three hits during this five-game stretch, and even superstar Aaron Judge has gone just 2-for-21 with 12 strikeouts. They’ll need to stop the bleeding soon, as they’ve fallen to just 2.5 games up on the Rays for control of the AL East, the team’s smallest lead in the division since May 11. They’ll try to break out of this offensive malaise later today against Angels youngster Jack Kochanowicz, who has  a 5.53 ERA in 14 starts this year.

2. Nationals lose ten straight:

While the Yankees may be the contender struggling the most right now, they’re far from the team in the most difficult spot at the moment. The Nationals weren’t far from contention at the beginning of June but are currently in the midst of a ten-game skid that’s dropped their record to 30-43. They’ve been buried 15 games behind the Mets in the NL East, and even a Wild Card spot is falling out of reach as they sit 9.5 games back. If there’s a silver lining for the Nats, it’s that the Rockies are in town and they’ll get the opportunity to snap this streak today when right-hander German Marquez and his 6.62 ERA in 14 starts this year take the mound. Marquez has endured an extremely difficult season but is entering today after tossing one of his best starts of the year against Atlanta last time out. He struck out seven Braves across five-innings of one-run ball in that showing.

3. Verlander to return:

Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander hasn’t pitched in a month due to a strained pectoral muscle that sent him to the injured list. The 42-year-old righty is scheduled to be activated from the shelf and take the mound for the Giants at 6:45pm local time. Verlander’s on the 15-day injured list, so a corresponding move will only be necessary to clear an active roster spot for the veteran. His opponent today will be a Guardians club with plenty to play for, as they currently sit just half a game out of an AL Wild Card spot. Southpaw Logan Allen will be on the mound for Cleveland and sports a 4.28 ERA across 13 outings this year.

4. Sheehan back from Tommy John surgery:

Elsewhere in the NL West, the Dodgers are set to welcome an arm of some note back to their staff. Righty Emmet Sheehan, out since May 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, is listed as tonight’s probable starter for Los Angeles. He’ll need to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list, but L.A. has an open spot on the 40-man roster, so only a corresponding active roster move will be required. Now 25 years old, Sheehan ranked as one of the system’s top pitching prospects before making his debut in 2023, when he pitched 60 1/3 frames with a 4.92 ERA, 25.8% strikeout rate and 10.5% walk rate. He posted a 2.43 ERA with an outrageous 41% strikeout rate in a similar sample of minor league work that season, and he’s tossed 11 1/3 innings with a 44.7% strikeout rate on his current rehab stint. Sheehan isn’t fully stretched out yet, but he climbed to 63 pitches in his final rehab outing and is expected to join the Dodgers’ rotation.

Here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye on throughout the day today:

1. Devers presser, Giants debut:

The stunning trade that shipped longtime Red Sox star Rafael Devers to San Francisco over the weekend has been the talk of baseball since it happened. Yesterday, Boston officials discussed the deal and what it means for the club going forward amid reactions from media and members of the organization alike. Today we figure to see the other side of the deal for the first time, as the Giants are expected to conduct an introductory press conference for Devers before the slugger makes his team debut versus the visiting Guardians in a game set for 6:45pm local time. One question that remains up in the air is where Devers will play for San Francisco in the short term. While it seems likely that he’s ticketed for work as a DH over the long-term, it’s possible he could be called upon to fill in at third base while Matt Chapman recovers from a hand sprain that’s expected to keep him out of action for quite some time.

2. Stott day-to-day:

Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott was replaced late in yesterday’s game by Edmundo Sosa, and manager Rob Thomson revealed to reporters (including Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer) that Stott hyperextended his elbow on a swing. The 27-year-old was set to get examined by team medical staff, but Thomson acknowledged his second baseman might get at least today’s game against the Marlins off. Stott dealt with a nerve injury in his elbow throughout the 2024 season, and while Thomson suggested it wasn’t clear if there’s a connection between that old issue and his current ailment,  it’s certainly understandable to be cautious. Stott is in the midst of a down season at the plate, hitting just .236/.300/.329 across 66 games. Sosa figures to handle second base for any time that Stott is away from the field.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

With about six weeks to go until the July 31 trade deadline, the first big trade of the summer already happened over the weekend. While it will be difficult for another in-season blockbuster to top the Devers deal, a handful of smaller deals have started to come together around the league as well. Whether you’re looking ahead to the deadline or still trying to sort between the contenders and pretenders, MLBTR’s Steve Adams has you covered in a live chat scheduled for 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

Following a busy Father’s Day weekend around baseball, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the day:

1. Devers trade fallout:

The biggest news of the weekend was the shocking blockbuster trade that sent longtime Red Sox star Rafael Devers to the Giants in exchange for a four-player package that included right-hander Jordan Hicks and southpaw Kyle Harrison. The Giants are off today, so fans won’t get a glimpse of Devers in his new uniform quite yet, but there’s still plenty of fallout to be examined today. The Red Sox will need to fill out their active roster and pencil a new player into the DH slot in the lineup this evening, and the club told reporters (including Chris Cotillo of MassLive) that chief baseball office Craig Breslow and team president Sam Kennedy will discuss the trade in a Zoom call today.

2. Ohtani to make Dodgers pitching debut:

While San Francisco was adding a star slugger to its roster, their rivals in Los Angeles were preparing for their own superstar’s return to his two-way routine. Shohei Ohtani is set to make his Dodgers pitching debut at 7:10pm local time this evening in L.A. when the Padres come to town a kick off a four-game set with right-hander Dylan Cease (4.28 ERA) on the mound. For Ohtani, it will be his first time on a major league mound since August of 2023, when he was still a member of the Angels. He’s likely to pitch just one inning in today’s outing before being relieved by previously scheduled starter Ben Casparius, but that abbreviated outing seems unlikely to dampen the excitement of fans around the game who have waited nearly two years to see Ohtani resume pitching in big league games.

3. Gilbert to be activated:

The current iteration of the Mariners have long been associated with their elite rotation, but that hasn’t been the case this year. Injuries and ineffectiveness have left them to get an uncharacteristic 4.09 ERA out of their starters, good for just 20th in baseball. Fortunately, there’s help on the way. Manager Dan Wilson told reporters (including Dean Kramer of MLB.com) that right-hander Logan Gilbert is set to return from the injured list today for this evening’s game against the Red Sox. Gilbert pitched brilliantly through six starts earlier this season but has been shelved since late April due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. Fortunately, Gilbert is now set to return to the Mariners just six weeks afterwards. He’ll carry a 2.37 ERA and 2.15 FIP across 30 1/3 innings this year into today’s start opposite Lucas Giolito, who has scuffled to a 5.45 ERA in eight starts.

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.

Here are three things to follow around Major League Baseball today:

1. Jacob Misiorowski to debut:

Brewers top pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski is ticketed to make his MLB debut this evening as Milwaukee welcomes its division rival from St. Louis for a four-game set at American Family Field. The 23-year-old Misiorowski will face Cardinals ace and 13-year major league veteran Sonny Gray as Milwaukee looks to take advantage of this series to jump ahead of St. Louis in the standings. The Brewers are currently half a game back of the Cardinals, while the Cardinals are five games back of the Cubs for first place in the NL Central and 2.5 games back of a Wild Card spot.

Misiorowski was a consensus top-100 prospect entering the season and widely considered the most promising pitching prospect in the Brewers organization. Despite several injuries, the Brewers’ rotation has been a strength this season, much like it was last year. They will hope that Misiorowski – who has pitched to a 2.13 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 63 1/3 innings at Triple-A – will help their staff continue to flourish.

2. Yankees monitoring Jazz Chisholm Jr.:

Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., who returned from an IL stint just last week, exited yesterday’s game early with what the team later told reporters (including Greg Joyce of the New York Post) was “left groin tightness.” According to manager Aaron Boone, the Yankees aren’t overly concerned, but considering Chisholm felt discomfort while running the bases, they’ll continue to monitor him and see how he feels before this evening’s game against the Royals. Chisholm has been on fire since he came off the IL last Tuesday, batting .346 with a 1.015 OPS and four stolen bases in eight games. He has also returned to playing third base, after having moved back to second to start the season. His lefty bat, strong baserunning, and defensive flexibility have made Chisholm a terrific asset for the Yankees since he arrived ahead of the deadline last summer, so the team will surely hope he doesn’t need to miss any more time.

3. Freddie Freeman playing through quad injury:

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman suffered a quad injury Tuesday, which manager Dave Roberts relayed to reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic). The skipper suggested the injury was manageable, and indeed, it wasn’t enough to keep him out of the lineup on Wednesday, when Freeman went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run. However, the injury prevented Freeman from running at full speed on a double play ball Tuesday, and Roberts has told him to “not go crazy on the bases” (per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times). While Freeman is no stranger to playing through pain, his latest injury issue is certainly something for the Dodgers to monitor. Hopefully, today’s off day will help him recover before this weekend’s upcoming series against the division-rival Giants.

Here are three things we’ll be watching around baseball today:

1. Can the Giants keep their one-run win streak going?

The Giants have won their last six in a row, bringing them up to within half a game of the Dodgers for first place in the NL West. Making their win streak all the more interesting is the fact that they’ve won each game by just a single run. As noted by Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, this is the longest one-run winning streak in franchise history. Indeed, it’s the longest one-run winning streak by any team since 1989. If the Giants win another one-run game today, they’ll tie the 1927 Cubs for the longest one-run winning streak in recorded MLB history. Robbie Ray, who has been stellar this year for San Francisco, will take the mound against Kyle Freeland of the Rockies.

The Giants are also chasing the record for the most one-run wins in a season, which they set themselves with 42 one-run wins in 1978. They currently lead the majors with 17 one-run victories, putting them on pace for 41 over a full season. However, another one-run victory today would put them on track for a record-breaking 43 by the end of the year.

2. Blue Jays roster move incoming:

As first reported by Trevor Hahn of News Tribune Sports, the Blue Jays will be promoting 27-year-old Will Robertson to make his MLB debut. He is expected to join the team today ahead of this afternoon’s matchup against the Cardinals (per Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith). Toronto has a couple of open spaces on its 40-man roster, but to add the lefty-batting outfielder to the active roster, the Blue Jays will need to make a corresponding move before today’s game at 1:15 pm CDT. Toronto could option either Jonatan Clase or Alan Roden. Neither young outfielder has had much success against major league pitching this year, although Roden was swinging a red-hot bat at Triple-A before his most recent call-up and went 2-for-4 last night against St. Louis. On the other hand, Clase went 2-for-4 with his first home run of the season in the series opener against the Cardinals, and his ability to switch-hit and play center field gives the Blue Jays a bit more flexibility. Alternatively, outfielder Nathan Lukes has been dealing with some neck discomfort. If it’s decided he needs a break of any note, an IL stint could clear the way for Robertson to debut.

In additional Blue Jays news, Spencer Turnbull is expected to make his season debut today. After signing a free agent contract with the club in May, he was recalled on Monday. Eric Lauer will get the start, but MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson suggests Turnbull is likely to enter in relief.

3. Bullpen sessions and rehab outings for injured arms:

Several injured pitchers will take steps toward returning to the majors today, including Justin Verlander, Cody Bradford, Reese Olson, and Marcus Stroman. Verlander, out since mid-May with right pectoral soreness, is with the Giants in Colorado and will face live hitters in a simulated game this afternoon (per Slusser). Similarly, Bradford, who has been out all season with a left elbow sprain, is with the Rangers in Minnesota and will throw a bullpen session today (per Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News). Olson, off to a terrific start for the Tigers before inflammation in his right ring finger landed him on the IL, will also throw a bullpen session today, the team announced.

Finally, Stroman will begin a rehab assignment today at Double-A Somerset, which Yankees manager Aaron Boone relayed to reporters, including Greg Joyce of the New York Post. Stroman has been out for the past two months with inflammation in his left knee. Although there was discussion of Stroman moving into the bullpen during spring training, the team plans to build him up as a starter (per MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch), given the numerous injuries that have thinned their rotation depth.

After catching up on the news from late last night, here are a few things we’ll be paying attention to around baseball today.

1. Justin Martinez, Christian Montes De Oca to go for imaging:

With two outs and a four-run lead in the ninth inning on Monday, the Diamondbacks were forced to pull Justin Martinez, as the hard-throwing right-hander felt tightness in his elbow (per Alex Weiner of AZ Sports). The D-backs would go on to win the game on a walk-off grand slam in the 11th inning, but they’re not out of the woods yet. The words “elbow tightness” are always scary, and especially so for a 23-year-old who hits triple digits and has already undergone Tommy John surgery once in his career. Martinez has not been quite as effective this year as he was in his breakout 2024 season, as higher walk and home run rates have inflated his ERA from 2.48 to 4.11. Nonetheless, losing the righty for any amount of time would be a tough blow for a bullpen that ranks 27th in ERA and a team that has underperformed expectations this season. Arizona should know more about Martinez’s status after he goes for imaging today, but as Weiner notes, the team’s level of concern is high.

To make matters worse, Weiner reports that concern levels are also high for Martinez’s fellow right-handed reliever Christian Montes De Oca. The 25-year-old made his MLB debut over the weekend, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings against the Reds. He was unavailable last night due to discomfort in his right elbow (per Weiner), and he will also go for imaging today.

2. Giancarlo Stanton to begin rehab assignment:

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton has been out all season with injuries in both elbows, but he will make a big step toward his return tonight. The 35-year-old is scheduled to play in his first rehab game with the Double-A Somerset Patriots, which the team confirmed this morning. While injuries have plagued Stanton throughout much of his tenure with the Yankees, he has continued to produce when healthy. In 2024, he hit 27 home runs and drove in 72 in just 114 games, putting up a .773 OPS and 116 wRC+. He also added seven more homers and a 1.048 OPS in the playoffs, helping the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time since 2009. So, New York will surely be happy to have his bat back whenever he is ready, but manager Aaron Boone will have his work cut out for him figuring out how to insert Stanton into the lineup. At this point in his career, Stanton is a DH only, but the Yankees already have a regular DH in Ben Rice. They also have Paul Goldschmidt at first base and a crowded outfield picture that includes Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, and Jasson Domínguez. Ultimately, having too many good hitters is the kind of problem every manager dreams of, but it will be worth watching to see how Boone divides up playing time once Stanton returns.

3. Bullpen sessions for former Cy Young winners:

Max Scherzer and Blake Snell have a few things in common. They’re the only active pitchers to have won a Cy Young in both leagues. They’ve both spent most of the season on the IL after signing a free agent contract with a new team over the winter. Today, they’re both expected to throw a bullpen session as they work toward their returns. Snell, who is currently with the Dodgers in San Diego, threw what the team called a “touch-and-feel” session on the weekend and will throw a proper bullpen today (per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register). Similarly, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports that Scherzer will also throw a bullpen session today, and if all goes well, he could potentially rejoin the Blue Jays after just a pair of Triple-A rehab starts. Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith suggests Scherzer’s bullpen session could be tomorrow instead, but either way, Scherzer is ramping up for a rehab appearance on Friday. Due to injuries, both Toronto and L.A. have struggled to put together complete five-man rotations this year. Needless to say, the returns of Scherzer and Snell would make a big difference for both clubs.

Here are four things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Phillies scuffling:

The Phillies got swept by the Pirates over the weekend, and that crushing series was the latest in what’s been a very tough stretch for the club. Philadelphia has lost five games in a row and nine of their last ten contests. It was hardly a week ago that they were vying for first place in the NL East with the Mets, but now they’ve fallen 4.5 games back in the division and are clinging to the final NL Wild Card spot, just one game up on the Cardinals. The schedule isn’t doing them any favors in the short-term, either: they’re set to start a three-game series against the Cubs tonight, and while club ace Zack Wheeler (2.96 ERA) will be on the mound he’s coming off an uncharacteristic start against Atlanta where he surrendered six runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. Will he be able to turn things around tonight against Chicago and southpaw Matthew Boyd (3.01 ERA)?

2. Angels roster move incoming:

The Angels acquired first baseman and outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. from the Giants last night, but he’s not yet been officially added to the club’s active roster. That could come as soon as today, and when it does the Halos will need to send one of their current players out to make room. It’s possible that could mean optioning a bench piece like Scott Kingery or Matthew Lugo, but it’s also fair to wonder if Jorge Soler could be ticketed for the injured list after he was pulled from Saturday’s game due to groin tightness and missed Sunday’s contest entirely. Regardless of who departs the roster, the move should help balance Anaheim’s outfield mix somewhat given that Wade is a left-handed hitter who can complement the Angels’ entirely right-handed outfield.

3. Pérez returns to Marlins:

The Marlins will welcome right-hander Eury Pérez back to a big league mound for the first time since Sept. 2023. Touted as perhaps the top pitching prospect in the sport prior to his 2023 MLB debut, Pérez suffered a UCL injury during spring training 2024 and missed the entire season as a result. He’s been on the mend for the first two-plus months of the 2025 campaign as well but has now pitched 22 2/3 innings with a 1.99 ERA during a minor league rehab stint.

Pérez debuted at just 20 years old, so the towering 6’8″ righty only turned 22 a couple months back. His debut in ’23 was electric, featuring 91 1/3 innings with a 3.15 ERA, 28.9% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate. Opponents could barely touch Pérez’s offspeed and breaking pitches, and he averaged 97.4 mph on his heater while missing bats at rates commensurate with some of the top veteran starters around the game. Pérez is on the 60-day IL, so the Fish will need to make a 40-man roster move to reinstate him for tonight’s start on the road against the Pirates (set to begin at 6:40pm ET).

4. Series Preview: Dodgers @ Padres

Two of the NL West’s top dogs are set to clash in a three-game set that begins today as the Dodgers head down to San Diego. Los Angeles is clinging to just a one-game lead over both the Padres and the Giants in the division race, which could make this series pivotal for all three clubs. A strong showing for the Dodgers could allow them to stay out in front, while an upset by the Padres could let them wrest control of the division. The Giants, meanwhile, are off entirely today and have what should be a fairly easy set against the Rockies coming up later in the week. That could make them the kings of the hill by the time the dust settles if their two rivals split this series.

The first game in San Diego will begin at 6:40pm PT, when Dustin May (4.09 ERA) takes the mound for the Dodgers opposite Nick Pivetta (3.16 ERA). The Dodgers have not yet announced who will take the ball against right-hander Dylan Cease (4.72 ERA) tomorrow, but the series will wrap on Wednesday with southpaw Justin Wrobleski (7.20 ERA in three outings) facing off against right-hander Randy Vásquez (3.69 ERA).

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world heading into the weekend:

1. Teel to debut:

It’s an exciting day for White Sox fans. Top catching prospect Kyle Teel is slated to be promoted to the majors for the first time today. The centerpiece of the return for Garrett Crochet, Teel was beaten to the majors by infielder Chase Meidroth but is a consensus top-50 prospect in the sport who has slashed .295/.394/.492 in 50 games at the Triple-A level this year. The 23-year-old was drafted 14th overall just two years ago and will become the tenth player from the first round of his draft class to make his big league debut. The White Sox are currently splitting time behind the plate between Korey Lee and Edgar Quero, and it’s not yet clear how playing time will be divided between the three or if one of the other two catchers will be optioned to Triple-A. Teel has begun to take some reps at first base as well. Chicago’s 40-man roster is at capacity, meaning the club will need to make a corresponding move in order to select Teel.

2. Series Preview: Cubs @ Tigers

The two best records in baseball are set to meet for a three-game set this weekend as the Cubs head to Detroit to take on the Tigers. After squeaking into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth last year, things have really come together for Detroit in 2025. Longtime prospect Spencer Torkelson is breaking out, and the addition of Gleyber Torres has been a boon to the team’s infield production.

Meanwhile, the Cubs improved their fortunes by trading for star outfielder Kyle Tucker over the winter, and that addition has been complemented by the breakout of center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Game 1 will see reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal (2.26 ERA) take on Cubs youngster Ben Brown (5.72 ERA). Game 2 will feature Cubs veteran Jameson Taillon (3.76 ERA) on the bump against righty Keider Montero (4.02 ERA), while the series finale will pit top Cubs prospect Cade Horton (3.51 ERA) against right-hander Jack Flaherty (3.72 ERA).

3. Langeliers undergoes MRI:

The A’s are waiting for more information on the status of catcher Shea Langeliers after he departed in the middle of his at-bat due to pain in his left side. The club has termed it a “left flank injury” to this point, and MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos reports that Langeliers underwent an MRI last night for further evaluation. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the catcher wind up on the injured list for at least some time, and if that were to happen the club would likely be left to utilize a tandem of Willie MacIver and Jhonny Pereda — a notable offensive downgrade.

However, manager Mark Kotsay suggested back in spring training that Tyler Soderstrom — who started several games behind the dish in Cactus League play — could still be an occasional option at catcher. He’s considered a sub-par defender there, but on a short-term basis he could fill in. Soderstrom hasn’t caught in 2025 beyond those spring training reps. He also only logged one big league game there in 2024, but he started 21 minor league games at catcher last year and has 165 professional games (not including spring training) at the position.

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Doubleheader in St. Louis:

The Royals and Cardinals saw their game yesterday postponed by rain. That missed game will be made up for today as part of a split doubleheader between the two clubs. Game 1 is scheduled to begin at 12:45pm local time, while Game 2’s first pitch is set for 6:45pm. Tickets for yesterday’s postponed game will be valid for Game 1 today, while fans who had tickets for today’s game will still have valid tickets for Game 2. MLB.com notes that the Cardinals will offer fans who had paid tickets to yesterday’s game a voucher for a future Monday-Thursday Cardinals home game. Notably, this will be the fifth doubleheader of the Cardinals’ season, as they’ve been dogged by inclement weather throughout the year. The twin bill will now serve as the starting point for a series of 28 games in 28 days, a stretch during which the Cards will have only June 16 as a scheduled day off.

2. Game 2 Pitchers’ Duel:

While Game 1 of the aforementioned doubleheader will feature rookie southpaw Noah Cameron (1.05 ERA in four starts) pitching for the Royals against Cardinals veteran Miles Mikolas (3.90 ERA in 11 starts), the main attraction will be Game 2. Cole Ragans is expected to make his return to the mound for the first time since a May 16 start (also against the Cardinals), where he suffered a groin strain that kept him on the injured list for nearly three weeks. A finalist for the AL Cy Young award last year, Ragans has a lackluster 4.53 ERA in nine starts this year despite a terrific 1.98 FIP and a strikeout rate of 37.7%. His opponent today will be breakout southpaw Matthew Liberatore, who boasts a 3.08 ERA and 2.65 FIP for the Cardinals heading into his career-high 12th start of the season.

3. A’s shaking up pitching staff?

The Athletics are currently operating with a four-man rotation, and with the club in need of a fifth starter today, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com relays that right-hander Mitch Spence is expected to take the ball for his first start of the 2025 season. It’s possible he’s being called upon to start a bullpen game, but this could also signal a role change for the righty.

Spence made 24 starts and hurled 151 1/3 innings for the A’s during their final season in Oakland. The former Rule 5 pick opened the 2025 season in the ’pen and has tossed 39 innings with a 4.38 ERA and 3.82 FIP thus far. He hasn’t thrown more than 44 pitches or topped three innings in an outing since early April, however. Are the A’s planning to stretch him out more fully? Athletics starters rank 28th in the majors with a 5.49 ERA, leading only the Marlins (5.50) and Rockies (6.55). Luis Severino (4.54) and Jeffrey Springs (4.72) are the only A’s starters with sub-5.00 ERAs on the season.