The Opener

Two months after Opening Day, here are three things to keep an eye on around the world of baseball this Tuesday:

1. Angel Hernandez retires:

Umpire Angel Hernandez, a controversial figure in Major League Baseball for more than 30 years, is hanging up his hat. He issued a statement via MLB on Monday evening confirming his decision. Hernandez said umpiring in the majors was a “childhood dream” come true, but cited spending “more time with my family” as the primary reason for his retirement. However, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports that Hernandez “reached a settlement to leave Major League Baseball,” effective immediately. Bob Nightengale of USA Today adds that the sides had “spent the past two weeks negotiating a financial settlement before reaching a resolution over the weekend.”

Hernandez was one of the most senior umpires in the league, but he has long had a reputation for making incorrect calls and unnecessary ejections. In recent years, he has been in and out of the headlines as he attempted to sue Major League Baseball for racial discrimination. He ultimately lost the suit and his subsequent appeal.

More on Hernandez and his retirement will likely trickle out in the coming days, such as statements from his fellow umpires and the commissioner’s office, and perhaps more news about the terms of his settlement.

2. Cristian Javier, José Urquidy to undergo imaging:

Astros manager Joe Espada says his starting pitchers Cristian Javier and José Urquidy will undergo imaging today (per Chandler Rome of The Athletic). The team will likely offer an update on their respective injuries ahead of tonight’s game against the Mariners. Javier landed on the injured list on Monday (retroactive to May 24) with right forearm discomfort. Urquidy, who has been out all season with a right forearm strain he suffered in spring training, recently left a minor league rehab start with the same issue: more forearm discomfort in his pitching arm.

The Astros have had to deal with several injuries to their starting pitchers this season, though thankfully for Houston, Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander are back in the rotation, as is Ronel Blanco, who was recently suspended for 10 games for violating MLB’s foreign substances policy. Hunter Brown and Spencer Arrighetti currently round out the big league rotation, while recent minor league signing Eric Lauer offers additional depth.

3. MLBTR chat today:

This past weekend brought the news of Ronald Acuña Jr.’s season-ending injury and a report that teams are planning for NPB star Roki Sasaki to be posted this winter. If you have any questions about how your favorite team is playing so far, or perhaps questions that look ahead to the July 30 trade deadline or the upcoming offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a live chat with readers today at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after it is completed.

Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around baseball this Memorial Day:

1. Astros to recall José Abreu

The Astros are set to recall veteran first baseman José Abreu from Triple-A ahead of their game with the Mariners this evening. Abreu himself first made the announcement, while manager Joe Espada later confirmed the news (per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle).

The former AL MVP agreed to be optioned to the Astros’ spring training facility in West Palm Beach after a dreadful performance this April (.099/.156/.113 in 22 games). Evidently, the team has decided that he showed enough improvement to warrant his return to the majors. Abreu himself called the demotion “the best thing I’ve ever gone through,” expressing gratitude for the opportunity to clear his head and fix his swing (per Chandler Rome of The Athletic).

The 37-year-old played a couple of games at Triple-A Sugar Land this weekend, and although he went 0-for-7, Astros GM Dana Brown said, “It’s not really about the hits. We want to make sure he’s getting quality at-bats. Sounds like he had a few quality at-bats” (as relayed by Rome).

2. Nationals to activate Lane Thomas:

Nationals manager Dave Martinez told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman of MASN) that right fielder Lane Thomas “should be ready” to return from the injured list in time for this afternoon’s game against the Braves at Truist Park. Thomas has not played since April 23, when he exited with a left knee sprain. He will likely take Jesse Winker’s spot in the lineup today, as Winker takes a day off with a cramp in his left quad (per Zuckerman), but Martinez did not comment on any potential transactions to open up a spot for Thomas on the Nationals’ 26-man roster.

Although Thomas was off to a slow start before his injury, slashing .184/.250/.253 in 22 games, Washington will surely be pleased to have him back on the active roster. The 28-year-old was the team’s most productive player in 2023, hitting 28 homers, swiping 20 bags, and scoring 101 runs while racking up 3.1 FanGraphs WAR. Even if he continues to struggle, Thomas is a sure bet to contribute with elite speed and a powerful arm in right field.

3. Jorge Polanco to undergo MRI:

Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco will undergo an MRI today after exiting with right hamstring tightness on Sunday, reports Shannon Dryer of Seattle Sports. The 30-year-old missed seven games earlier this month with a similar issue.

Polanco spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Twins, developing a reputation as a consistent, productive hitter. From 2019-23, the first five years of an extension he signed during the 2018-19 offseason, he hit 89 home runs with a 117 wRC+ over 544 games. However, he has struggled in his first season with the Mariners, slashing .195/.293/.302 with a 78 wRC+ in 46 games played. The M’s will hope his MRI comes back negative, and in a best-case scenario, perhaps a few games off his feet will help Polanco clear his head and break out of his uncharacteristic slump.

As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world heading into the weekend:

1. Series Preview: Rangers @ Twins

A pair of AL contenders who have struggled a bit more than expected so far in the 2024 campaign are set to face off in a weekend series starting this evening as the Twins host the Rangers at Target Field for a three-game set. The Twins currently sit 6.5 games back of the Guardians for the AL Central crown with a 26-23 record despite having come into the season as the defending division champions, while the reigning World Series champions in Texas have fallen below .500 with a record of just 24-27 but are just three games back of the Mariners in what has turned out to be a surprisingly weak AL West division. Both teams have also faced particularly deep struggles recently as the Twins have lost seven of their last ten while the Rangers have lost eight.

The series is set to begin at 6:10pm local time this evening, when Twins righty Bailey Ober (4.40 ERA) takes on Rangers journeyman Jose Urena (3.29 ERA). Veteran Michael Lorenzen (3.61 ERA) is set to take on Twins right-hander Chris Paddack (4.47 ERA) tomorrow, while it’s unclear who will start for Texas on Sunday opposite Minnesota’s struggling staff ace Pablo Lopez (4.72 ERA).  With Jon Gray, Nathan Eovaldi, and Cody Bradford all currently on the injured list, it’s possible the club will be forced to turn to a young arm such as Jack Leiter, Owen White, or Cole Winn to make a spot start.

2. Ramos nearing return:

The White Sox lost infielder Bryan Ramos to the injured list just over a week after calling him up to the majors due to a left quad strain, but it appears the 22-year-old youngster is nearing a return to action. As relayed by Scott Merkin of MLB.com, general manager Chris Getz told reporters yesterday that Ramos would be activated from the IL at some point this weekend. That’s great news for the club, as Ramos has experience at both second and third base and figures to offer a noticeable upgrade offensively over either Nicky Lopez (52 wRC+) or Danny Mendick (69 wRC+) upon his return. Ranked by Fangraphs as the #54 prospect in the sport, Ramos held his own with a decent .281/.294/.344 slash line in his first ten games, good for a wRC+ of 78. In 77 games at the Double-A level last year, Ramos slashed an impressive .271/.369/.457 with a wRC+ of 122.

3. Who’s starting for the Braves today?

The Braves have not yet decided their starter for today’s game against the Pirates, manager Brian Snitker told reporters (including Mark Bowman of MLB.com) last night. The club’s recent doubleheader against the Padres has left the rotation in need of a spot start, but the club’s recent decision to option right-hander Bryce Elder to the minor leagues means that their on-paper sixth starter won’t be available to take the ball unless he replaces an injured player on the roster. Assuming the club will look for another alternative in its minor league system, each of Huascar Ynoa, Allan Winans, and Dylan Dodd have been working out of the rotation at the Triple-A level for the club this year and have enough rest to be a potential option for today’s spot start.

Ynoa is the most accomplished of the three at the big league level after pitching in parts of four MLB seasons including a 107 ERA+ showing in 91 innings of work back in 2021. That being said, Ynoa has struggled to stay healthy in recent years and has been lit up for a 6.52 ERA in 9 2/3 innings of work at Triple-A so far this year. He’s also on the minor league IL and hasn’t pitched in an official game since the middle of April. That could lead the Braves to offer the start today to either Winans or Dodd, both of whom made their MLB debuts last year and have pitched to decent results at the Triple-A level this year. Dodd has not yet appeared in a big league game this season, while Winans surrendered seven runs (six earned) in five innings of work during a spot start earlier this year. All three arms are already on the 40-man roster, but the Braves would still need to clear space on the active roster in order to accommodate today’s starter.

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

1. Lowe to undergo MRI:

Yesterday’s game against the Red Sox took a rough turn for the Rays as outfielder Josh Lowe was pulled after the first inning due to what manager Kevin Cash called a right side strain. The injury is particularly worrisome given the fact that Lowe was sidelined an oblique strain earlier this season, although Lowe himself noted to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that he’s “hopeful” this issue isn’t as significant as his previous injury. Lowe has been snakebit early in 2024, already dealing with hip inflammation and hamstring tightness in addition to his oblique issues. When healthy enough to take the field, he’s hit fairly well: .240/.296/.440 (108 wRC+) in 14 games. Richie Palacios received most of the reps in right field while Lowe was shelved previously and could be in line to do so again if he returns to the injured list.

2. Kelly nearing throwing program:

Diamondbacks veteran Merrill Kelly has been sidelined since late April by a shoulder strain and is currently on the 60-day injured list, meaning he’ll spend at least another month on the shelf. Fans in Arizona received some reason for optimism last night, however, as Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that Kelly is set to undergo an MRI this week that will serve as a progress check regarding his ailing shoulder. Piecoro also adds that, per manager Torey Lovullo, the right-hander could resume throwing in the near future if the test results look good. With both Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez on the 60-day injured list, Zac Gallen, Jordan Montgomery, and Brandon Pfaadt have been joined by depth starters Ryne Nelson and Slade Cecconi in the starting rotation.

3. Neto to undergo testing:

Angels shortstop Zach Neto was removed from yesterday afternoon’s game against the Astros due to what the club termed right elbow soreness. Fortunately, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register relays that, according to Neto himself, the club’s training staff didn’t believe the injury to be a serious one. He’ll still be sent for precautionary testing, as Neto notes that he’s had issues with his elbow previously in his career. Either Luis Guillorme or Luis Rengifo could be tabbed to handle shortstop in Neto’s absence if he requires time to rest his elbow. If he winds up taking a trip to the injured list, veteran utility infielder Niko Goodrum is on the club’s 40-man roster in the minor leagues as a potential depth option. The 23-year-old Neto, whom the Angels drafted 13th overall in 2022, is hitting .249/.302/.420 (104 wRC+) with six homers and six steals. He’s been particularly hot of late, hitting .309/.350/.577 in 103 plate appearances over the past month. Neto has also drawn solid marks for his glovework through his first 133 big league games, dating back to last season.

On the heels of some overnight transaction news, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today…

1. Gray to undergo MRI:

Rangers right-hander Jon Gray is set to undergo an MRI exam after departing yesterday’s game prior to the sixth inning due to a bout of groin tightness. As noted by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Gray told reporters last night that he does not expect to miss a start, though the MRI suggests that the Rangers have at least some level of concern. Being cautious with Gray makes plenty of sense for the Rangers, as the 32-year-old righty has essentially emerged as the club’s ace with Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Nathan Eovaldi all on the injured list.

In ten appearances, Gray sports a sterling 2.08 ERA (188 ERA+) with a 2.46 FIP and a solid 24.1% strikeout rate. That sort of production in the rotation would be difficult to replace if Gray required a trip to the IL himself, even as the Rangers are set to activated righty Dane Dunning today to start tonight’s game against the Phillies.

2. Roster move coming and hit streak to watch in Arizona:

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters (including Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic) last night that a roster move is coming for the club today. Lovullo did not get into specific details regarding the impending move, although he did note that it’s “possible” the club opt for a bullpen game this evening against the Dodgers. Tonight’s start had previously been slated to be taken by right-hander Ryne Nelson, who has a brutal 7.06 ERA through seven starts this season despite a decent 4.17 FIP.

If Arizona does opt for a bullpen game, it’s not clear if that would indicate that Nelson is being removed from the roster or simply having his start pushed back. Among the hurlers who could potentially be slated to join the roster, lefties Brandon Hughes and Andrew Saalfrank as well as righty Cristian Mena have all pitched fairly well at Triple-A this season and are currently on the 40-man roster, while lefty Blake Walston could be a multi-inning relief option for the club who is also on the 40-man.

While the D-backs’ rotation is a source of intrigue at the moment, so is the hitting streak of their star second baseman. Ketel Marte went 1-for-5 last night to push his MLB-best hit streak to 20 straight games. It’s one of the least conventional hit streaks you’ll see, as Marte has only two multi-hit games over the course of this 20-game run. His .262/.300/.523 slash during this run is strong (123 wRC+) but also not quite the blistering production one might expect from someone on such a good run. In fact, he posted better rate stats in 28 games before his hitting streak than he has over the course of the streak (thanks in large part to a pair of four-hit games and a trio of three-hit showings). Marte will have one of his toughest tests of the streak thus far when he faces off against Dodgers righty Tyler Glasnow.

3. Young lefties square off in Kansas City:

Two of the AL Central’s most impressive young arms are set to face off in a pitchers’ duel later today as Royals lefty Cole Ragans takes on Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Ragans, 26, dominated to a 2.64 ERA in 12 starts with the Royals down the stretch last year after being acquired from the Rangers. This year’s 3.70 ERA doesn’t quite stack up to that level, but the lefty sports an excellent 2.58 FIP thanks in part to an excellent 27.6% strikeout rate  and improved 7.8% walk rate.

Ragans is facing a tough assignment, as Skubal has been among the very best pitchers in the big leagues this year. The 27-year-old has been nothing short of dominant through nine starts this season, with a 1.80 ERA and an MLB-best 1.95 FIP in 55 innings of work. Skubal has struck out 31.6% of batters faced this season while walking a microscopic 3.5%. The two youngsters are set to face off this afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10pm local time.

With 30% of the 2024 regular season now in the books, here are three things that we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Devers approaching history:

Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers has been on an otherworldly tear as of late. Over Boston’s last six games, Devers has hit an excellent .292/.346/1.042 with a homer in six straight games. That home run streak is good for the Red Sox franchise record and makes him one of just 33 players in MLB history to hit a home run in at least six games in a row, per MLB.com.

The all-time record, which is shared by Don Mattingly, Dale Long, and Ken Griffey Jr. stands at eight consecutive games with a home run. Should he hit a seventh consecutive homer tonight, Devers would join six other players who have achieved a seven-game home run streak: Barry Bonds, Jim Thome, Kendrys Morales, Kevin Mench, Joey Votto, and Mike Trout. Devers and the Red Sox are currently in Tampa for a series against the Rays, with right-hander Zack Littell set to take the mound opposite Boston today. Littell already contributed one homer to Devers’ streak during his last start — one of just four homers surrendered by Littell this season.

2. Ross to the IL?

Brewers right-hander Joe Ross exited his start against the Marlins last night after just one inning due to what Milwaukee has termed a low back strain. It’s not only an unfortunate birthday surprise for Ross, who turns 31 today, but difficult news for a Brewers team that has already lost DL Hall and Jakob Junis to the injured list to say nothing of season-ending injuries for Wade Miley and Brandon Woodruff. Through nine starts this season, Ross has pitched to a 4.50 ERA and 3.94 FIP in 42 innings .

Manager Pat Murphy indicated to reporters last night (per MLB.com’s Injury Tracker) that a trip to the shelf could be in the cards for Ross, though the righty suggested they’ll wait until they see how he feels today before making a decision. Should he wind up sitting down for the next 15 days, Aaron Ashby, Tobias Myers, and Janson Junk are the starting depth options the Brewers have at their disposal on the 40-man roster.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

The 2024 season is now in full swing, and we’ve seen a handful of names traded at an unusually early stage of the season (e.g. Luis Arraez, Luis Guillorme, Robbie Grossman). If you have questions regarding your favorite club’s start to the campaign, or perhaps questions that look ahead to this summer’s trade deadline and the 2024-25 offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a live chat with readers today at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after it is completed.

As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Doubleheader in Atlanta:

A game between the Padres and Braves was rained out on Saturday, and the lost contest will be made up for today in the form of a split doubleheader. Game 1 is scheduled for 12:20pm local time while Game 2 is scheduled for 6:20pm local time, with fans who had tickets to Saturday night’s postponed game eligible to use them during today’s second contest this evening per MLB.com.

Game 1 will feature a pitchers’ duel between right-handers Dylan Cease (2.45 ERA) and Reynaldo Lopez (1.34 ERA). while Game 2 will see young righty Randy Vasquez (6.32 ERA) face off against veteran southpaw Chris Sale (2.54 ERA). Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud was sidelined this weekend due to dizziness after a foul ball struck his mask, and while he’s expected to be back in action today, Atlanta would likely need to add another catcher to the roster if he’s suffered any sort of setback.

2. Cardinals roster move incoming:

The Cardinals are poised to promote right-hander Ryan Loutos today for what would be his major league debut if he makes it into a game. The Cardinals will need to clear space on both their 40-man and active rosters to accommodate the addition of Loutos, who signed with St. Louis as an undrafted free agent back in 2021 but has impressed with a 1.72 ERA and 3.06 FIP in 13 appearances at the Triple-A level for the club this year.

The 40-man roster move could be a relatively simple one, as catcher Willson Contreras is a candidate for the 60-day injured list after suffering a fractured arm that will reportedly sideline him for around ten weeks. The player who Loutos will replace on the active roster is less clear, although speculatively speaking it could make some sense for the Cardinals to swap out optionable right-hander Nick Robertson for a fresher arm on the heels of Robertson throwing 58 pitches across three innings of work during last night’s game.

3. Who’s joining the White Sox rotation?

The White Sox are reportedly planning to designate veteran right-hander Brad Keller for assignment today following a tough start in the Bronx over the weekend where he allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits, including four home runs, and a walk over four inning. Keller, 28, will have the opportunity to elect free agency in search of another opportunity should he not be traded or claimed before clearing waivers.

What remains unclear is how the White Sox plan to replace the veteran righty in their rotation. Right-hander Michael Soroka is stretched out to start but was only just moved to the bullpen last week to accommodate Keller. Lefty Jared Shuster has starting experience and has looked good in seven multi-inning relief appearances, but he’s thrown in the vicinity of just 25 pitches per outing in recent weeks and would likely need to be stretched out further to be a realistic starting option. That could leave the club to turn to a hurler not currently on the active roster such as Nick Nastrini or Jonathan Cannon, both of whom made their MLB debuts earlier this season but have since been optioned back to Triple-A Charlotte.

As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world this weekend:

1. Series Preview: Twins @ Guardians

A series that could have major implications in this year’s race for the AL Central crown is set to begin this evening, as the Twins are set to visit the Guardians in Cleveland for a three-game set. Tonight’s game will feature Minnesota youngster Simeon Woods Richardson (3.24 ERA) taking on right-hander Triston McKenzie (3.54 ERA). Cleveland has not yet announced who will take the ball tomorrow opposite Bailey Ober (3.77 ERA), but Tanner Bibee (4.34 ERA) will start opposite Chris Paddack (4.89 ERA) during the series finale on Sunday.

Minnesota was widely expected to be the team to beat in the AL Central this season, but the club fell toward the bottom of the standings after a brutal 7-13 start, while the Guardians were white hot out of the gate with a 18-7 start over their first 25 games. Since then, the Twins have heated up, going 17-6 during a stretch that included a 12-game win streak. The Guardians, meanwhile, have started to come back down to Earth with a 9-10 record over their past 19 games. Even so, they still lead the AL Central with a 1.5-game lead over the second-place Royals and a 2.5-game lead over the Twins, who sit in third place. Will this weekend’s series shake up the Central?

2. Heyward nearing return:

Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward is done rehabbing from the low back issue that’s kept him out of action since late March, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Jack Harris of the L.A. Times) last night. While the veteran wasn’t active for yesterday’s game against the Reds, Roberts indicated that he would be activated from the injured list “soon,” setting up a potential move over the weekend. Heyward impressed with the club in 124 games last year, slashing a respectable .269/.340/.473 in a platoon role.

Heyward’s return raises the question of who the Dodgers will send out to make room for him on the roster. Veteran utilitymen Enrique Hernandez and especially Chris Taylor have struggled badly this season, but neither can be optioned and would thus have to be designated for assignment to move off of the roster. That would be a major decision with Taylor in particular, as he’s under contract for 2025 with a $13MM salary that would essentially become dead money. Another possibility would be to send either James Outman or Andy Pages to the minor leagues, as both youngsters do have options remaining. Of the two, Outman appears to be the more likely candidate given that he has slashed just .147/.250/.266 in 124 trips to the plate this year.

3. Walker under evaluation:

Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker left last night’s game against the Mets in the fourth inning after taking a comebacker off his foot. As noted by Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies announced Walker’s injury as a left foot bruise. Gelb added that Walker had managed to avoid a broken toe but the club was unsure if the veteran would make his next start. The right-hander is expected to be evaluated further today to determine next steps. In the event that Walker does require some time off due to the injury, the Phillies are fortunate to have an excellent solution to that problem in the form of right-hander Spencer Turnbull. Turnbull started the season as a member of the club’s rotation while Walker was on the injured list and dominated in the role, with an excellent 1.67 ERA and 3.21 FIP in 32 1/3 innings of work across six starts.

As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Lee receiving second opinion:

Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee exited Sunday’s game against the Reds due to a dislocated shoulder suffered while trying to catch a fly ball off the bat of Jeimer Candelario at the wall. Since then, Lee has undergone an MRI that (as noted by MLB.com’s Maria Guardado) that revealed structural damage in his shoulder. That’s a worrisome discovery, but Lee and the Giants will not determine next steps until a visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles that’s scheduled for later today. The 25-year-old has flashed strong defense in the outfield while slashing .262/.310/.331 (89 wRC+) in his first taste of big league action.

2. Series Preview: Pirates @ Cubs

Thanks to a quirk in this year’s schedule, the Pirates and Cubs are set to face each other their second series over the past week with a four-game set starting at Wrigley Field this afternoon. Over the weekend, the Cubs took two of three from Pittsburgh in a series that notably included the debut of top pitching prospect Paul Skenes, who ultimately allowed three runs in four innings of work but struck out seven batters in his first big league appearance.

Skenes will get a second bite at the apple in Chicago, but not before fellow youngster Jared Jones (2.68 ERA through eight starts) takes on Cubs ace hurler Justin Steele (4.73 ERA through three starts) this afternoon. On Friday, Skenes (6.75 ERA) will face veteran righty Kyle Hendricks (10.04 ERA), and the series will wrap up over the weekend with a pair of tough match ups for the Pirates as Bailey Falter (4.15 ERA) and Mitch Keller (3.93 ERA) face off against Shota Imanaga (0.96 ERA) and Jameson Taillon (1.61 ERA) respectively.

3. Pending DFA resolutions:

Astros right-hander Brandon Bielak and Pirates right-hander Roansy Contreras were both designated for assignment five days ago. While the DFA window technically lasts for a whole week, outright waivers are typically a 48-hour process, meaning if either player is going to be traded it’ll very likely be today. If no trades are agreed upon, they’ll be run through the waiver wire and made available to all 29 other clubs.

The 28-year-old Bielak pitched  to a 4.05 ERA in 142 1/3 innings from 2021-23, striking out 19.2% of his opponents against a 9.8% walk rate. Metrics like FIP (4.76) and SIERA (4.65) aren’t as bullish on that stretch as his ERA, but he’s a fairly experienced righty who’s familiar pitching in long relief and out of the rotation. Meanwhile, Contreras is a former top-100 prospect who gave the Bucs 98 innings of 3.67 ERA ball to begin his career. He’s since struggled and been dropped to the bullpen, however. Both pitchers are out of minor league options, so any team that acquires either pitcher will need to add him directly to the MLB pitching staff in some role.

As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Suspension looms for Blanco:

Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco was ejected from his start against the A’s last night following a foreign substance check by the umpires. Given that players ejected due to a failed foreign substance check are subject to an automatic ten-game suspension, it’s likely that MLB will announce that punishment for the right-hander later today. Blanco indicated last night that he intends to appeal any suspension levied against him, although no suspension for violating the league’s foreign substance policy has been overturned since the automatic suspension was put into place back in June of 2021.

A noteworthy quirk of the suspension is that teams are not allowed to replace players suspended for foreign substance use on their active rosters. That makes the loss of Blanco, who n0-hit the Blue Jays during his first start of the season and has posted a 2.09 ERA through eight starts this season, even more devastating as they will essentially be forced to use a 25-man roster for the next week and a half. Houston had been planning to go with a six-man rotation over the next few weeks because they only have one off-day between now and June 6. Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, and Spencer Arrighetti could perhaps hold things down while Blanco is out but a challenging part of their schedule may now prove to be even tougher.

2. Hoerner to be re-evaluated:

Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner was a late scratch from yesterday’s game against the Braves due to tightness in his left hamstring, and manager Craig Counsell told reporters (per MLB.com’s Injury Tracker) after the game that Hoerner had felt some discomfort during batting practice. Counsell added that Hoerner would be re-evaluated today, while Hoerner suggested that his injury was day-to-day.

An absence of any length for Hoerner is a notable blow to the Cubs, as the second baseman had been tabbed to cover shortstop with Dansby Swanson on the injured list due to a right knee sprain. Utilityman Miles Mastrobuoni made his first career big league start at shortstop last night in Hoerner’s absence, with Nick Madrigal covering second base. Shoulder Hoerner be in for a longer absence, it’s possible the Cubs could look to add a player better suited to shortstop, such as youngster Luis Vázquez, to the roster as a stopgap option. Vázquez, 24, has not yet made his major league debut but is already on the 40-man roster and has hit a solid .280/.381/.424 at the Triple-A level this year.

3. Winn to undergo MRI:

Giants right-hander Keaton Winn departed last night’s game against the Dodgers in the fifth inning due to what the team described as forearm tightness, as noted by Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Winn is slated to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue later today. Any sort of issue with the forearm is a somewhat ominous diagnosis, although Winn told reporters (per MLB.com’s Injury Tracker) after the game that he doesn’t believe the issue is serious, instead attributing his dip in velocity to fatigue.

Winn, 26, has struggled badly through nine starts for the Giants with a 6.17 ERA despite a decent 4.38 FIP. While a trip to the injured list could afford the youngster an opportunity to reset, it would be a devastating below for a Giants rotation that’s already down to just four healthy pitchers with Blake Snell, Alex Cobb, Tristan Beck, and Robbie Ray all already on the injured list. Should Winn require a trip to the shelf, right-hander Mason Black appears to be the most likely candidate to step into the rotation in his stead.