The Opener

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.

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

1. Lopez likely headed to IL:

Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez exited his start yesterday with what was termed right shoulder tightness at the time of his departure, but after the game he revealed to reporters (including Phil Miller of the Star Tribune) that he’s actually suffering from a right lat strain. Lopez told reporters that he’s set to undergo imaging to determine the severity of the strain, but Miller added that the right-hander sounded resigned to the fact that he would almost certainly be placed on the injured list. Losing Lopez, who has a 2.82 ERA and 2.97 FIP so far this year, is a tough blow, but the Twins are better equipped to lose a front-line starter than most organizations, with younger arms like David Festa and Simeon Woods Richardson ready to go at Triple-A. Twins starters are fifth in the majors with a collective 3.43 ERA this season.

2. Tigers 40-man move incoming:

The Tigers are expected to activate right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long from the 60-day IL today. Detroit’s 40-man roster is already at capacity, meaning someone will need to be pulled off the roster in order to make room for Gipson-Long. The Tigers have no obvious 60-day IL candidates, so the most likely outcome is that they’ll have to designate a player for assignment today. Of course, it’s also at least possible that a player currently on the 10- or 15-day IL has a longer path to recovery than is currently publicly known. Another possibility would be working out a trade that creates 40-man roster space, though that seems especially unlikely at this stage of the calendar.

3. Woodruff exits rehab start:

Right-hander Brandon Woodruff’s path back to a big league mound after missing the 2024 season due to shoulder surgery has been a long one. An ankle injury at the tail end of his time rehabbing that shoulder injury caused the Brewers to reset his rehab clock, and while he was expected to finally be on the verge of making it back to the big leagues after yesterday’s rehab outing, another potential setback occurred once again when he was struck by a line drive on his right elbow.

Woodruff left the game after the incident, and while MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy notes that initial x-rays were negative, Woodruff is set to receive more extensive testing from the team’s medical staff today. Fortunately for the Brewers, they’re suddenly deep in starting pitching at the moment, with a full rotation of five starters in the majors plus multiple depth options like Logan Henderson and Tobias Myers at Triple-A.

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

1. Vientos undergoes imaging:

The Mets won a tight game over the Dodgers last night, but the celebration was belied by an air of unease after infielder Mark Vientos suffered a hamstring injury in the top of the tenth inning while running to first base. Vientos told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com) he wasn’t sure how severe the injury was, but he immediately underwent testing after being removed from the game. Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged to reporters that the injury “didn’t look good,” but the club would just have to wait and see the test results, which are expected to come back later today.

The 25-year-old Vientos was a breakout star for the Mets last year but has slumped through 53 games this season, hitting .230/.298/.380 (93 wRC+) with shaky defense. He’d lost playing time at third base to Brett Baty but has seen plenty of time at DH. If he ends up missing time, some combination of Starling Marte, Jared Young and infielder Ronny Mauricio will see more reps. Mauricio, who missed all of 2024 due to an ACL tear, is reportedly being called back to the big leagues today which further lends credence to the idea that Vientos could be IL-bound. After a slow start to the season in the minors as he shook off some rust, he’s caught fire in Triple-A, hitting over .500 in nine games to boost his season-long minor league line to .323/.384/.508 in 19 games.

2. Caglianone to debut:

It’s an exciting day for fans of the Royals, as 2024’s No. 6 overall pick is poised to join the roster. Jac Caglianone has emerged as one of the top power-hitting prospects in baseball as he’s utterly torched minor league pitching this season. After a slow start to his pro career at High-A and in the Arizona Fall League last season, he’s kicked things into high gear in 2025 with a .322/.389/.593 slash line across 50 games at the Double- and Triple-A levels. He’s already crushed 15 homers in just 229 plate appearances, including six in dozen games at Triple-A.

Primarily a first baseman during his years in college, Caglianone has begun getting work in at the outfield corners in the run-up to his debut and appears likely to get the opportunity to cement himself as a cornerstone of the Royals’ lineup in the outfield. Caglianone’s first game in the majors is slated to begin at 6:45pm local time this evening in St. Louis, where the Royals will be taking on Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante (4.23 ERA).

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

We’re now officially into the month of June, leaving less than two months until the July 31 trade deadline. The rumor mill has already begun to kick up in recent days, ranging from club plans for the deadline to specific connections between players and teams with even a few actual trades sprinkled in. 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.

On the heels of an early morning trade, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Burnes to undergo MRI:

The Diamondbacks suffered a major injury scare yesterday when right-hander Corbin Burnes exited his start against the Nationals due to discomfort in his elbow. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated following the game that Burnes was set to undergo an MRI, but the team has already decided the right-hander will not participate in its upcoming road trip. It’s at least possible that means nothing more than a single skipped start for Burnes, but there’s also a clear chance of an injured list stint that will have its length determined by today’s MRI. Arizona’s marquee free agent has been sharp in his first year in the desert, with a 2.66 ERA and 3.89 FIP across 11 outings. He’s been particularly strong of late, working to a 1.67 ERA with a 26.6% strikeout rate across his past seven games. Eduardo Rodriguez is expected back from the IL in the near future and could take Burnes’s spot in the rotation if he’s facing a lengthy absence.

2. Yankees banged up:

The Yankees experienced a couple of injury scares of their own yesterday. As relayed by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, outfielder Jasson Dominguez departed yesterday’s win over the Dodgers due to a left thumb contusion, while right-hander Luke Weaver did not appear in the game at all due to hamstring discomfort. The team plans to evaluate both players on today’s off-day, though Hoch relays that Dominguez himself suggested that his injury isn’t cause for “much concern.”

Weaver, on the other hand, was queued up to finish off last night’s game even after it was no longer a save situation but was subbed out for lefty Tim Hill after he (in the words of manager Aaron Boone) “felt something in the middle of his hammy” while warming up. It’s unclear if the Yankees plan to send Weaver for imaging, but it would make sense for the club to be careful with their closer given his phenomenal 1.05 ERA across 24 outings.

3. Blackburn to be activated for 2025 debut:

In more positive injury news, the Mets will get reinforcements from the shelf today when right-hander Paul Blackburn is activated to start tonight’s game against the Dodgers. Blackburn, 31, began last year in Oakland but was traded from the A’s to the Mets midseason. The right-hander hasn’t pitched yet this year due to knee troubles, but he should provide a breather to a Mets rotation that has pitched incredibly well this year despite being without not only Blackburn but also Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea. Blackburn’s first start will come opposite Dodgers right-hander Dustin May, who sports a 4.20 ERA and 3.92 FIP through ten starts this year.

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

1. Trout to be activated:

After nearly a month of the shelf due to a bone bruise in his left knee, Mike Trout is returning to the Angels today. Theo DeRosa of MLB.com was among those to note that the Angels plan to activate him from the 10-day injured list, bringing him back into a lineup that could certainly use his bat after the club dropped to fourth place in the AL West recently with a 25-30 record. It will be worth monitoring in the coming days how often Trout is used in right field as compared to DH, but regardless of his usage in the field, Angels fans will be happy to have the three-time MVP and 11-time All-Star back for his value at the plate. Trout’s .179/.264/.462 slash (95 wRC+) in 29 games this year would be by far the worst season of his career, but his nine home runs in just 121 plate appearances were very impressive. He’s also been weighed down by a paltry .159 average on balls in play that’s sure to improve over time.

2. Ramirez’s hit streak continues:

That Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez is having an excellent season is so unsurprising it’s barely even worth noting. The superstar has just two seasons since 2017 where he’s posted a wRC+ below 140, and this year is no exception; he’s hitting .318/.371/.527 with a 152 wRC+. Predictable as Ramirez’s general greatness may be, even he doesn’t rattle off a 21-game hitting streak on the regular. After going hitless on May 4, Ramirez collected hits in both halves of a May 6 doubleheader and has maintained the streak ever since, slashing a phenomenal .393/.446/.655 with a strikeout rate of just 10.9% during that time. If Ramirez can get a hit in today’s game against Jose Soriano and the Angels, he’ll tie the 22-game hit streak Bobby Witt Jr. put together earlier this season for the longest streak of 2025.

3. How low can the Rockies go?

We’re just days away from the calendar flipping to June, and it remains to be seen if the Rockies will even get their tenth win of the season before then. In a season that seems likely to continue reaching new historic lows, the Rox recently lost their 21st series in a row when they were swept by the Cubs earlier this week. That’s the longest stretch of consecutive series losses in MLB history (hat tip: OptaSTATS), and it actually stretches into last season, as the Rockies have only completed 18 series so far this year. The Rockies will go for their tenth win and attempt to avoid a 22nd consecutive series loss this weekend, but they’ll do so with a tough matchup against the Mets in Queens.

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

1. Doubleheader in Philadelphia:

Yesterday’s game between the Phillies and Braves was postponed, making way for a split doubleheader to occur today. Fans with tickets to yesterday’s game will be able to attend this afternoon’s game, which begins at 1:05pm local time, while the start time of 6:45pm for this evening’s game remains unchanged. It will be a great day for fans of intriguing pitching matchups, as this afternoon’s game will feature standout Atlanta rookie AJ Smith-Shawver (3.67 ERA) pitching opposite Phillies southpaw Cristopher Sanchez (3.17 ERA). That game will only serve as the appetizer, however, with the main course being a clash between the first- and second-place finishers in NL Cy Young award voting last year: Braves lefty Chris Sale (3.36 ERA) and Phillies righty Zack Wheeler (2.42 ERA).

2. What’s next for the Red Sox?

The Red Sox have today off, but after yesterday’s frustrating 6-5 loss to the Brewers they find themselves on a five-game skid in the standings. Boston is 9-15 over its last 24 games and finds itself sliding down the standings, 4.5 games back of an AL Wild Card spot and 9.5 games behind the division-leading Yankees. It’s a far cry from the lofty expectations that came with an offseason where the Sox brought Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman into the fold. It’s common for clubs in these situations to take off-days as opportunities to evaluate whether there are changes that need to be made. Top prospect Roman Anthony is continuing to bang on the door at Triple-A, while certain veterans like shortstop Trevor Story and right-hander Liam Hendriks are struggling in their current roles. First base remains an area without a long-term plan since the season-ending injury to Triston Casas (though Abraham Toro has at least popped a trio of homers while filling in). Could changes be on the horizon in some capacity?

3. Series Preview: Rays @ Astros

While the Red Sox figure to spend today licking their wounds after a tough stretch, two of the biggest beneficiaries of Boston’s recent slide will kick off a four-game set that could have notable implications on the AL playoff picture. The Astros are in a three-way tie with the Guardians and Twins for the AL’s three Wild Card spots at the moment, with each club sporting an identical 30-25 record. The Rays, meanwhile, have propelled themselves back into contention with a solid stretch of play recently that’s pushed them to a 28-27 record and just two games back of that trio.

That creates high stakes as the Rays head to Daikin Park in Houston for this weekend’s series, which will kick off at 7:10pm local time with Tampa Bay righty Shane Baz (4.94 ERA) on the mound opposite Houston rookie Ryan Gusto, who sports a 4.53 ERA through 12 appearances (six starts). A much stronger pitching matchup is on the docket tomorrow, when Ryan Pepiot (3.55 ERA) takes the mound for the Rays opposite Framber Valdez (3.39 ERA). Right-hander Zack Littell (3.97 ERA) will take on rookie Colton Gordon (5.52 ERA) in the lefty’s fourth career big league start, and the series will wrap up Sunday with the Rays’ Taj Bradley (4.38 ERA) on the mound opposite Astros ace Hunter Brown (2.00 ERA).

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

1. Harper to be re-evaluated following HBP:

The Phillies endured a scary moment last night when superstar Bryce Harper exited in the first inning after a wayward pitch from Atlanta ace Spencer Strider struck his elbow. Notably, the afflicted elbow was the one that required Tommy John surgery prior to the 2023 season. The Phillies later labeled the issue a right elbow contusion, and manager Rob Thomson confirmed to reporters following the game that x-rays on Harper’s elbow came back negative (link via MLB.com’s Paul Casella). Thomson added that Harper “was certainly in a lot of pain,” however, and would need to be re-evaluated today. No player can reasonably be expected to replace a perennial MVP candidate like Harper, but if he requires some time away to recover, Alec Bohm could slide over to first base as Edmundo Sosa takes reps at the hot corner.

2. Seager to return:

The Rangers have seemed hapless on offense for much of this year, in part because superstar Corey Seager has only been able to anchor the lineup for 26 of the club’s 56 games due to multiple trips to the injured list. Texas is on the cusp of getting his bat back in the lineup, however. Manager Bruce Bochy told the Rangers beat last night that he “fully anticipates” Seager to return from the injured list today (link via Kennedi Landry of MLB.com).

That Seager will be activated off the IL is especially exciting for the Rangers given that they’ve also recently lost center fielder Evan Carter and DH Joc Pederson to the injured list. Seager’s return to the lineup at shortstop should free up utilityman Josh Smith to play elsewhere, though it’s at least plausible that the Rangers could give Seager some starts at DH in the short-term to help ease him back into full baseball activities.

3. Bart under evaluation following head injury:

Pirates catcher Joey Bart was struck in the head with a backswing behind the plate last night, and Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that he was still undergoing evaluation following last night’s game. The power that made Bart an impactful player for the Pirates last year has not yet shown up in 2025, but he’s still slashing .240/.347/.308 with a solid enough wRC+ of 90 across 44 games. Henry Davis is on the roster as the backup catcher, should Bart require a day or two, but a longer absence for Bart would require a non-roster catcher like Brett Sullivan to be selected to the roster as a backup to Davis. Fellow catcher Endy Rodriguez is also on the injured list after requiring stitches in his throwing hand last month.

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

1. O’Hoppe being monitored:

The Angels’ loss to the Yankees yesterday ended on a worrying note when catcher Logan O’Hoppe was struck on the helmet with a backswing and departed the game shortly thereafter. As noted by Sam Blum of The Athletic, manager Ron Washington told reporters that O’Hoppe’s removal from the game was precautionary, but that he’s being evaluated further nonetheless. It’s unclear if O’Hoppe is in MLB’s concussion protocol, but if the club has any concerns they’ll surely place him on the 7-day concussion-related injured list.

O’Hoppe, 25, has posted a stout .267/.299/.533 batting line (131 wRC+) this year and is already just six homers shy of his career-high 20. The Angels have just recently rattled off a long enough winning streak to put them back on the periphery of the AL Wild Card conversation, making any potential absence for their slugging backstop all the more concerning.

2. Rays going streaking:

Speaking of winning streaks, it wasn’t long ago that the Rays found themselves near the bottom of the AL standings after going 7-10 throughout the first few weeks of May. They took the final two games of their series against the Astros before sweeping the Blue Jays over the weekend, however, and yesterday they won the first game of their series against the Twins. That six-game win streak was enough to get the club back over .500 for the first time since April 4.

The Rays are still a game back of the final AL Wild Card spot, but the encouraging stretch of play has to be a relief for fans in Tampa after last year’s disappointing 80-82 finish. With righty Taj Bradley (4.61 ERA) set to take the mound opposite Minnesota righty Joe Ryan (2.68 ERA) this afternoon, will the Rays be able to keep the good times rolling?

3. MLBTR chat today:

All of the league’s teams have now completed around one-third of their schedule, but there’s still plenty of baseball left to go and more than two months remaining until the trade deadline on July 31. 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.