The Opener

As the second half of the regular season gets underway, here are three things to watch around baseball this weekend:

1. Weekend matchups:

The two clubs battling at the top of the AL West will face off this weekend, as the Mariners host the Astros for a three-game set. It will be the final matchup between the division rivals until mid-September. Probable starting pitchers for the Mariners are Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Bryan Woo (per Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times), while the Astros are lined up to counter with Hunter Brown, Framber Valdez, and Ronel Blanco (per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). The series begins tonight at 9:10 PM CT.

Since the last time these two teams faced off, the Astros have gained 4.5 games on the Mariners, putting them just one game back in the AL West. With a series win this weekend, Houston would reclaim first place in the division for the first time since 2023. Meanwhile, if Seattle wins at least two of the three games, the Mariners will clinch the season series against the Astros. Winning the season series against a divisional rival became especially important in 2022 when the new CBA replaced tiebreaker games with mathematical tiebreaking procedures. Just last year, the Astros beat the Rangers for the AL West crown because Houston took the season series 9-4.

Over in the National League, the top two Wild Card teams are getting ready for a weekend matchup. If the regular season ended at the All-Star break, the Braves and Cardinals would be gearing up to play in a three-game Wild Card Series at Truist Park. Now, of course, there is still plenty of regular season left to play, which means their face-off this weekend in Atlanta is only a postseason preview.

Spencer Schwellenbach, Charlie Morton, and Max Fried are lined up to pitch for the Braves (per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), while Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson, and Miles Mikolas are in line to start for the Cardinals (per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). The Braves will hope to increase their lead in the Wild Card race with a series victory, while the Cardinals could find themselves just 0.5 games back of the top Wild Card spot if they manage to sweep the three-game set. The first game begins tonight at 6:20 PM CT.

2. Top prospect promotions:

As Martín Gallegos of MLB.com reported yesterday, the Athletics are planning to promote 22-year-old prospect Jacob Wilson, likely as soon as this evening’s contest against the Angels. The A’s selected him with the sixth overall pick in last year’s draft. Presumably, he will take over from Max Schuemann as the everyday shortstop in Oakland. The A’s have open spots on the 40-man and the active roster, so they do not need to make a corresponding move before announcing Wilson’s promotion.

Although a knee injury limited his playing time earlier this season, Wilson has been nothing but electric throughout his brief career in the minor leagues. Quickly rising through Oakland’s system, he has hit .401/.445/.613 (180 wRC+) across four levels. In 19 games at Triple-A this year, he has a .398 batting average with eight doubles, four home runs, and only three strikeouts. Baseball America recently ranked Wilson as the No. 19 overall prospect in the game, while MLB Pipeline has him at No. 50. The Athletic’s Keith Law did not include Wilson on his preseason top 100 prospects list but ranked the young infielder No. 2 in the Athletics system.

Meanwhile, down in Southern California, the Dodgers are reportedly planning to promote top pitching prospect River Ryan, according to The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya. Manager Dave Roberts has not yet announced how he plans to line up his rotation to begin the second half, so it’s possible Ryan could make his first big league start this weekend against the Red Sox.

Baseball America ranks Ryan as the No. 10 prospect (No. 3 pitching prospect) in the organization, while MLB Pipeline has him at No. 4 (No. 2 among pitchers). The Athletic’s Keith Law was particularly high on Ryan entering the season, considering him the best pitching prospect in the organization and one of the top four pitching prospects in the sport. Shoulder issues delayed the beginning of Ryan’s season, but the 26-year-old has looked sharp in five Triple-A outings, pitching to a 2.76 ERA and 3.67 FIP with a 28.8% strikeout rate and a 60.0% groundball rate. L.A. has an open spot for Ryan on the 40-man and active rosters. Although he has limited experience at Triple-A and likely needs a bit more seasoning in the minors, the Dodgers will hope he can provide their beleaguered rotation with some temporary relief.

3. Hall of Fame induction ceremony:

Adrian Beltre, Joe Mauer, Todd Helton and Jim Leyland will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this weekend, with the ceremony set for Sunday at 12:30 PM CT. The festivities will be broadcast on MLB Network. Beltre, Mauer, and Helton were elected by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America for their playing careers, while Leyland was elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee for his work as a manager. An additional 50 Hall of Famers will be present to celebrate their induction. More details about the event can be found on the Hall of Fame website.

As the All-Star break continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. A’s stadium plans to be revealed:

The Athletics are preparing to take a noteworthy step toward their long-term goal of moving to Las Vegas. According to Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Las Vegas Stadium Authority will meet today to discuss the development agreement drafted by the A’s, which will impact how the stadium will be financed as well as construction plans. As Akers notes, the agreement being discussed today is the final one the club needs to reach with the stadium authority in order to unlock the public funding the club secured in negotiations with Nevada lawmakers in May of last year.

2. Rays stadium funding vote:

The Rays’ proposal for a new stadium in St. Petersburg is scheduled for 11:00am local time today, as noted by Colleen Wright of the Tampa Bay Times. Today’s vote among members of the St. Petersburg City Council, should it pass, will approve a combined $429.5MM in spending for both the new stadium as well as an assortment of community benefits such as housing and an African American history museum. That’s not the entirety of the public funding the Rays’ stadium plan involves; they’ll still need the Pinellas County Commission to approve $312.5MM in funding on July 30, which coincidentally is the day of this year’s trade deadline. The Rays announced their plans for a new stadium back in September, which expected a total contribution of $600MM in public spending between St. Petersburg and Pinellas County.

3. Depth starters hitting free agency:

Yesterday saw veteran left-hander Dallas Keuchel and veteran right-hander Domingo German return to the open market after Keuchel cleared waivers following his recent DFA by the Brewers while German opted out of his minor league deal with the Pirates. Both hurlers have enjoyed success in the big leagues previously but have struggled in recent years. Keuchel won the AL Cy Young award back in 2015 and pitched to a 3.25 ERA with a 3.55 FIP between the Astros, Braves, and White Sox from 2014 to 2020. German, who tossed a perfect game against the A’s just last season, has generally been a reliable back-end starter throughout his career with a lifetime 4.41 ERA and 4.50 FIP at the big league level — although that production came with a number of off the field issues.

The recent track record for both pitchers is less encouraging. Keuchel has been picked up a handful of starts for the Twins and Brewers over the past two years, pitching to a 5.80 ERA and 4.88 FIP in a combined 54 2/3 innings of work. German hasn’t pitched in the majors this year and owns a lackluster 5.13 ERA in 11 minor league starts, though his 3.60 ERA in the past month is far more palatable. With the trade deadline just around the corner, both Keuchel and German are candidates for minor league deals. Either would at least provide an innings-eating depth option for teams that miss out on more impactful arms on the trade market.

On the heels of the American League emerging victorious from last night’s All-Star game, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. It’s trade season!

With the 2024 Amateur Draft complete, front offices around the game are now set to fully turn their attention to augmenting their rosters ahead of the July 30 trade deadline. A few notable trades have already occurred this month, such as the Rays flipping right-handers Aaron Civale and Phil Maton to the Brewers and Mets, respectively. The most recent trade of note occurred this past weekend, when the Royals acquired righty Hunter Harvey from the Nationals. If you haven’t already taken a look at MLBTR’s Top 50 Trade Candidates For The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline, it offers an opportunity to brush up on some of the names most likely to be dealt in the coming weeks. Harvey was the 15th player on the list, and other top names who could be on the move this summer include Garrett Crochet of the White Sox (2nd) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the Marlins (5th).

2. Musgrove takes step towards return:

The Padres have been without right-hander Joe Musgrove since late May as the veteran deals with inflammation in his elbow caused by a bone spur. He’s set to make a major step towards his return today, however, as MLB.com’s Injury Tracker notes that he’ll throw the first bullpen session of his rehab today. If that goes well, it will be followed by more intense bullpen sessions throughout San Diego’s road trip after the break. While the 31-year-old has struggled in 10 starts this year with a 5.66 ERA across 49 1/3 innings of work, the Padres are hoping he’ll return to his typical form as a frontline starter when healthy. Entering the 2024 campaign, Musgrove owned an excellent 3.05 ERA and 3.62 FIP in 459 2/3 innings of work since first donning a Padres uniform back in 2021. In Musgrove’s absence, the club is currently deploying a four-man rotation of right-handers Dylan Cease, Michael King, Matt Waldron, and Randy Vasquez.

3. White Sox 40-man roster move incoming:

Last night, it was reported that the White Sox and infielder Nick Senzel are in agreement on a big league deal. Senzel, 29, hit .209/.303/.359 (89 wRC+) while playing third base for the Nationals this year but was released just before the All-Star break began. Even that below-average pace would be an upgrade over struggling ChiSox infielder Lenyn Sosa, who has posted a 74 wRC+ in 52 games while splitting time between second and third base. Chicago’s 40-man roster is currently full, so they’ll need to make a move to open a spot before games resume Friday.

With no obvious candidates to be placed on the 60-day IL who haven’t already been transferred there, it’s possible the club will be forced to designate a player for assignment in order to make room for Senzel on the roster. On the other hand, the White Sox figure to be one of the most active sellers in the league this trade season. Given that, it would hardly be a surprise to see the club make a sell-side trade in the coming days, a move that could organically open a 40-man spot and allow them to add Senzel.

As the festivities of the All-Star break continue, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. 2024 All-Star Game:

The 94th MLB All-Star Game is set to take place in Arlington tonight. Hometown manager Bruce Bochy will manage the American League. The National League team will be managed by Arizona manager Torey Lovullo. The NL club will send Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes (1.90 ERA) to the mound to begin the game, while Bochy will counter with Orioles ace Corbin Burnes (2.43 ERA) to represent the AL.

Last year, the NL eked out a 3-2 win over the AL for their first victory in the All-Star Game since 2012, and they’ll look to make it two in a row this evening at 7pm CT. They’ll do so without Fernando Tatis Jr. in the starting lineup, as the Padres star is sidelined by injury and has been replaced by Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. A similar situation has played out at second base in the AL, where Astros star Jose Altuve has stepped back from the All-Star Game due to a hand injury and ceded his spot in the starting lineup to Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien.

2. Draft Day 3:

Yesterday saw all 30 organizations select a variety of potential future big leaguers in Rounds 3-10 of the MLB draft. The draft will conclude today with Rounds 11-20 starting at 1pm CT. At this point in the draft, most top-tier talents are prep players expected to honor their commitments to play collegiate ball. To have a realistic shot of signing any of them, a club would have to have saved up a considerable portion of their bonus pool from the first two days. Players like right-hander Dax Whitney (committed to Oregon State), outfielder Garrett Shull (an Oklahoma State commit) and shortstop Sawyer Farr (a Texas A&M recruit) are all widely considered to be among the best 50 to 100 talents in this year’s overall draft class but could be tough signs, given bonus pool limitations and strong college commitments.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With MLB’s All-Star festivities fully underway and the 2024 draft reaching its final stage, the attention of MLB clubs will soon turn to the coming trade deadline on July 30. If you have any questions about your favorite team’s direction in the coming weeks or a trade idea you have in the back of your mind, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 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.

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

1. 2024 Home Run Derby:

While the All-Star Futures Game and Day 1 of the MLB Draft both kicked into gear over the weekend, All-Star festivities are kicking into high gear today with this year’s Home Run Derby scheduled to take place at 7pm CT. The event is set to be broadcast on ESPN and features a new set of rules, including the top four hitters from the first round advancing into a bracket-style tournament in the semifinals as opposed to previous years where a bracket was present from the beginning of the derby. MLB.com offers a detailed look at the full rules changes for tonight’s event.

Two-time derby champion Pete Alonso will try to win a third title in five attempts, while Rangers outfielder Adolis Garcia will look to win the derby in his home ballpark. Ken Griffey Jr. holds the record for the most derby wins with three. Bryce Harper (2018) and Ryne Sandberg (1990) are the only two players to ever win on their home field. Alonso and Garcia will be joined in the event by Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez, Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm, Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Braves DH Marcell Ozuna, Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, and Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

2. Draft Day 2:

Day 1 of the MLB draft kicked off with the Guardians selecting Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana with the first overall pick. By the end of the night, 74 picks had been made in total across the first two rounds. Day 2 of the draft, which will cover rounds three through ten, starts at 1pm CT this afternoon. Per MLB Pipeline, outfielder Dakota Jordan (No. 34 in the class) is the top college player still available, while right-hander and University of Iowa commit Joey Oakie (No. 46) is the top high schooler still on the board after right-hander William Schmidt (No. 16 in the class) announced that he’ll be honoring his commitment to LSU yesterday afternoon. The Athletic’s Keith Law, meanwhile, considers second baseman Peyton Stovall (No. 34) to be the top college player while listing outfielder and Auburn commit D’Marion Terrell (No. 52) as the best prep talent remaining.

3. Soroka injury scare:

White Sox right-hander Michael Soroka was pulled from his outing against the Pirates after just one out yesterday thanks to what the team has described as right shoulder soreness. As noted by MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, he’s set to be evaluated further during the All-Star break. It’s a frustrating situation for Soroka, who will celebrate his 27th birthday next month. The righty was among the most exciting young pitchers in the game back in 2019, when he earned an All-Star nod, finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, and even received down-ballot Cy Young consideration.

Soroka suffered four consecutive lost seasons after that, however, making just ten appearances from 2020-23 due to injuries. He was finally healthy entering the 2024 campaign but has not looked like the same pitcher. He’s struggled to a 5.23 ERA and 5.40 FIP and found himself dropped from the rotation in Chicago by mid-May. Soroka has performed nicely in a multi-inning relief role since then, logging a 3.45 ERA (3.37 FIP, 3.07 SIERA) with a massive 36.7% strikeout rate. Granted, he’s also walked 14.1% of his opponents in that time, but it’s still easy to imagine the pending free agent getting some trade interest based on that strikeout rate — if he can show he’s healthy after the break.

As the baseball world wraps up play prior to the All-Star break, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Kiermaier on waivers:

The Blue Jays are 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot in the AL and seven games under .500 after going just 8-14 in their last three weeks of play. That’s led the club to begin considering trading away rental players this summer as they pivot more firmly towards selling, and news yesterday that they’ve placed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on waivers is the latest signal that the Jays are open to shedding some veterans. Waivers are a 48-hour process, so a resolution can be expected today or tomorrow (depending on when the Jays formally placed the veteran on waivers).

Any claiming team would be on the hook for the remainder of Kiermaier’s $10.5M salary, and that hefty price tag makes a claim rather unlikely. It’s certainly feasible that teams would have interest in Kiermaier’s speed and elite defense in a scenario where the Jays eat most of his salary in a trade, but the four-time Gold Glove winner (and former Platinum Glove winner) is hitting just .191/.238/.295 in 72 games this season (51 wRC+). Kiermaier is still owed about $4.5MM between now and season’s end.

2. Futures Game this weekend:

Although play around the league won’t stop until Monday, MLB is kicking off All-Star week festivities tomorrow with the Futures Game. The game, which is scheduled for 3:10pm CT and will be broadcast on MLB Network, is set to feature a number of top prospects from around the game, including catcher Samuel Basallo of the Orioles, infielder Colson Montgomery of the White Sox, and outfielder Spencer Jones of the Yankees in the AL. Meanwhile, the NL will feature top talents like Reds righty Rhett Lowder, Padres catcher Ethan Salas, Pirates infielder Termarr Johnson, and Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews.

The weekend will also feature a Skills Showcase where eight prospects from around the league (Basallo, Johnson, Cubs catcher Moises Ballesteros, Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony, Nationals infielder Brady House, Rangers infielder Sebastian Walcott, Reds infielder Cam Collier, and Rays infielder Tre’ Morgan) will compete in a series of three events designed to show off their hitting talents. You can read more about the event, which is set to air on Sunday at 9:00am CT, in this piece from MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo.

3. 2024 Draft to kick off Sunday:

All-Star week has also begun to feature the MLB draft in recent years, and the first round of this year’s draft is scheduled to begin at 6pm CT on Sunday. All eyes will be on the state of Ohio, as the Guardians and Reds will be picking first and second overall, respectively, after winning the top two spots in the draft lottery over the offseason. Oregon State second baseman Travis Bazzana, Georgia outfielder Charlie Condon, West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt, Florida two-way star Jac Caglianone, Arkansas lefty Hagen Smith, and Wake Forest righty Chase Burns are among the prospects receiving the most buzz ahead of the draft.

As the July 30 trade deadline creeps closer by the day, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Bellinger undergoes testing:

The Cubs were dealt a potentially tough blow in their win over the Orioles last night when Cody Bellinger was struck in the hand by a 97mph pitch from lefty Cionel Perez. According to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, Bellinger’s middle finger was struck by the pitch, and he was removed from the game because he didn’t believe he could throw a baseball. Bellinger is set to undergo testing to determine the severity of the issue.

If Bellinger were to miss significant time, it could have a major impact on the Cubs as they attempt to work their way back into the conversations for an NL Wild Card spot. The club is currently 3.5 games back from a playoff spot despite a lackluster 44-49 record but has started to show signs of life with a 5-1 record in their last six games. The loss of Bellinger, who has slashed .269/.331/.410 in 344 trips to the plate this year while playing all three outfield spots and first base for Chicago this year, would not only throw a wrench into the club’s efforts to contend but also take a potential trade chip off the board for the Cubs in the event that they end up selling. If Bellinger requires a stint on the IL, prospect Alexander Canario could be a candidate take his spot on the active roster and in the outfield mix.

2. Alvarez exits:

Bellinger wasn’t the only star pulled from a game yesterday. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez exited the club’s win over the Marlins due to tightness in his right hip. As noted by Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said he doesn’t think Alvarez’s injury is serious enough to require imaging. That’s certainly good news, although it’s still somewhat concerning for Alvarez to be removed from the game just one day after returning to the lineup following a hit-by-pitch to the knee that occurred on Saturday. If the Astros decide to give Alvarez a few days to rest with the All-Star break just around the corner, players such as Chas McCormick, Joey Loperfido, and Trey Cabbage could get additional reps.

3. Bichette undergoes MRI:

A third star player exited play with injury yesterday when Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette was pulled from the club’s win over the Giants due to soreness in his right calf. That’s the same calf that required a stint on the IL last month. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet relayed after the game that Bichette was undergoing an MRI.

The 26-year-old Bichette has struggled to a  bleak .222/.275/.321 slash line this season, but a club that has fallen 8.5 games out of the AL Wild Card race and has begun to consider selling at the deadline can ill afford to lose one of its most talented players. Bichette’s combination of injuries, underperformance and remaining season of contractual control make him an unlikely trade candidate, especially if the Blue Jays hope to return to contention in 2025. However, an extended absence for Bichette could push Toronto even further towards selling. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is on the injured list as well at the moment but would be a top candidate to step in at shortstop if he’s out for a lesser period of time than Bichette. Currently, Ernie Clement and Leo Jimenez are the top healthy options at shortstop on the active roster.

As the march toward the trade deadline continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Phillies banged up:

While the Phillies welcomed both Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper back from the injured list yesterday, it seems they may now be facing injury issues elsewhere on the roster.  Both right-hander Zack Wheeler and outfielder Johan Rojas exited yesterday’s game. As noted by MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Wheeler exited after just five innings and 76 pitches due to what the club has described as left lower back tightness. Rojas was hit in the right forearm with a pitch during the seventh inning and didn’t come back out for the eighth.

Rojas, who has struggled to a .227/.262/.284 slash line so far, said after the game that he expected to be fine after the incident, but Wheeler’s status is more up in the air. Following the game, Wheeler indicated that while he hopes to make his next scheduled start Sunday, the back issue that took him out of yesterday’s game has been bothering him since late last month. Wheeler is scheduled for one more start before the All-Star break, but if the Phils want to be cautious they could push that outing back until after the Midsummer Classic. The Phillies’ ace has once again been among the very best pitchers in baseball this year, with a 2.74 ERA and 3.28 FIP in 111 2/3 innings of work.

2. Angels roster move incoming:

The Angels’ bullpen has been heavily taxed in their series against the Rangers after right-hander Davis Daniel threw just 3 2/3 innings Monday, followed by righty Roansy Contreras making it through just two innings yesterday. With the club’s relief corps left to cover 12 1/3 innings over the past two games, manager Ron Washington told reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that the club will probably need to make a roster move to freshen up the bullpen. Guillermo Zuniga is the only reliever the Angels have at Triple-A currently on the 40-man roster, making him a strong contender to get promoted. Other options could include turning to a starter such as Zach Plesac as a long reliever or making a 40-man roster move to promote a veteran like Amir Garrett or Bryan Shaw.

3. Doubleheaders in the Midwest:

Rain washed away two games yesterday, postponing a matchup between the White Sox and Twins in Chicago as well as a game between the Cardinals and Royals in St. Louis. Those games will both be made up today as doubleheaders. In the case of the Twins and White Sox, MLB.com’s Scott Merkin and Do-Hyoung Park note that the two games will be played as part of a straight doubleheader beginning at 1:10pm local time, with fans holding tickets for today’s regularly scheduled game welcome to attend both contests. Looking at the day’s matchups, the White Sox will send Erick Fedde (3.13 ERA) to the mound opposite Bailey Ober (4.12 ERA) in the first game, while Game 2 will feature rookie Drew Thorpe (3.71 ERA) and struggling All-Star Pablo Lopez (5.18 ERA).

Meanwhile, John Denton of MLB.com relays that today’s doubleheader between St. Louis and Kansas City will be split, with the first game set to begin at 12:45pm local time and the second set to begin at 6:45pm. Denton adds that tickets for yesterday’s game will be valid for Game 1 of today’s doubleheader. Right-handers Andre Pallante (4.00 ERA) and Sonny Gray (3.30 ERA) are listed as the probable starters for the Cardinals, but Katie Woo of The Athletic noted this morning that rookie Gordon Graceffo was expected to take the ball in Game 2 instead of Gray as the doubleheader’s 27th man (thus giving all their veteran arms an extra day of rest). The Royals will counter with righties Alec Marsh (4.57 ERA) and Michael Wacha (3.74 ERA).

With just three weeks until the trade deadline, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Phillies getting healthy:

The Phillies are expecting to welcome slugger Kyle Schwarber back from the injured list today, and he might be joined by veteran superstar Bryce Harper. The duo were both placed on the injured list late last month due to a groin strain and hamstring strain, respectively, though both issues were described as very mild. Per reporting over the weekend, Schwarber has been running at 100% intensity for several days now while Harper had been running “either at or close to 100% intensity.”

The return of Schwarber and potentially Harper figures to transform a Phillies lineup that has dealt with not only those losses but also the loss of catcher J.T. Realmuto in recent weeks. Schwarber has enjoyed a strong season that’s become typical of him during his time with the Phillies, slashing .250/.373/.447 with 17 home runs in 367 trips to the plate this year. Harper has been even better at the plate, turning in a massive .303/.399/.582 line with 20 homers in 336 plate appearances.

2. Red Sox 40-man move incoming?

The Red Sox optioned left-hander Cam Booser to Triple-A following last night’s game, per a team announcement. Chris Cotillo of MassLive reported last night that Booser’s departure is likely to lead to the Red Sox selecting the contract of right-hander Trey Wingenter today. Wingenter, 30, was acquired by the Red Sox in trade with the Tigers over the weekend in exchange for minor league reliever CJ Weins.

Wingenter, who’s pitched in parts of three big league seasons, has struggled to a 5.28 ERA in the majors despite a much stronger 3.82 FIP. He’s posted strong strikeout numbers but also an elevated walk rate. The deal was reportedly prompted by Wingenter triggering an assignment clause in his minor league contract, meaning the Red Sox would have to add the righty to their 40-man roster shortly after the trade. That’s now expected to happen today, and the Sox will need to clear a 40-man spot for Wingenter.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

We’re now just three weeks from the July 30 trade deadline, and the earliest trades of the summer are now starting to take place, with Aaron Civale, Austin Slater, and Alex Young now having changed uniforms. If you have any questions about the upcoming deadline or your team’s direction with the All-Star break just over the horizon, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a chat with readers 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.

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

1. Rendon to be activated:

The Angels are poised to return one of their highest-paid players from the injured list today… although it’s not the one fans are surely pining to see back in the lineup. Manager Ron Washington told reporters (including MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger) yesterday that veteran third baseman Anthony Rendon “could” be activated from the 60-day injured list today. Anaheim plans to give the 34-year-old veteran alternating starts at third base and DH until he’s healthy enough to resume third base duties on a full-time basis. The Angels will need to clear space for Rendon on the active and 40-man rosters prior to activating him from the IL.

Rendon was a perennial candidate for MVP votes during his time with the Nationals, but frequent trips to the shelf in recent years have limited him to just 219 total games since he signed a seven-year deal with the Halos during the 2019-20 offseason. After a healthy inaugural campaign in an Angels uniform where he slashed an impressive .286/.418/.497 (152 wRC+) during the shortened 2020 season, Rendon has hovered around league average offensively when healthy enough to take the field for Anaheim with a .239/.336/.356 line (95 wRC+). After going hitless in his first five games of the 2024 season, Rendon heated up with a .357/.413/.411 slash for two weeks until he landed on the IL with a partially torn hamstring. The Angels are currently using Willie Calhoun at DH and a platoon of Luis Guillorme and Miguel Sano at the hot corner.

2. D-backs to select pitching prospect:

As was first reported on Friday, the Diamondbacks will call up right-hander Yilber Diaz for a start against the Braves in Arizona this evening. Diaz figures to take the 40-man roster spot vacated by Tucker Barnhart, who was designated for assignment last week, but the club will still need to clear space for the righty on their active roster before tonight’s game.

Diaz, 24 in August, has enjoyed a breakout season. He’s struck out a whopping 33.2% of batters faced in 76 innings of work across the Double- and Triple-A levels this season. The power pitcher’s high strikeout totals have been mitigated somewhat by his elevated 12% walk rate, but he nonetheless has been a generally valuable rotation arm for the club’s upper-level affiliates with a combined 4.03 ERA and a FIP below 4.00 at both levels. The righty’s first assignment in the majors will be a tough one. He’s slated to take the mound opposite veteran lefty Chris Sale, who is in the midst of a resurgent season with Atlanta and sports a 2.71 ERA in 16 starts.

3. Meadows headed to the IL?

Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows suffered a hamstring injury while sliding into second base during last night’s game against the Reds. Manager A.J. Hinch told reporters after the game that the club planned to evaluate Meadows further before making any sort of decision on his status, though he seemed to hint that a trip to the IL was possible when he told reporters (per MLB.com’s Injury Tracker) that he “didn’t love” what he had heard to that point in conversations with Meadows and the club’s medical staff.

Meadows, 24, just returned to the big leagues last week after spending the past two months in Triple-A. His return has been going quite well, as he’s gone 4-for-11 with a double, a home run, and a walk in 12 trips to the plate since being recalled. If Meadows requires a trip to the IL, the club could turn to fellow lefty outfielder Akil Baddoo to take the youngster’s spot on the roster.