The Opener

Typically, The Opener (and MLBTR in general) focuses purely on baseball. Today, however, we’re making a rare pivot to the larger sports world as the NBA will hold its draft this evening at 7pm CT. Given that, unlike MLB, the NBA allows trading of draft picks, draft day often serves as the catalyst for a bevy of deals and rumors. Our sister site, Hoops Rumors, is set to provide the same type of coverage we at MLBTR offer during peak transactional periods in the baseball calendar, such as the trade deadline and the winter meetings. Yesterday, a three-team deal between the Celtics, Wizards, and Grizzlies saw Kristaps Porzingis, Marcus Smart, and Tyus Jones change teams. With more sure to come in advance of this evening’s draft, basketball fans who enjoy MLBTR’s content should check in at Hoops Rumors for up-to-the-minute coverage and analysis of the moves and rumors throughout the day.

As we approach the halfway point in the 2023 regular season, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Giants looking to tie Reds’ streak:

The Giants have won their past 10 games, catapulting them to second place in the NL West, just two and a half games behind the division-leading D-backs. Now in possession of the top Wild Card spot in the National League, they’ll look to extend their winning streak to 11 games, tying a Reds club that has Thursday off for the longest active streak in the Majors. In order to do so, San Francisco will need to topple red-hot Padres lefty Blake Snell, who’s allowed just two runs in his past five starts — a total of 30 innings that has seen the former AL Cy Young winner post a hearty 45-to-13 K/BB ratio. They’ll also likely do so without outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, who’s headed for an MRI on his ailing left hamstring today, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link).

2. Transactions loom in Boston:

The Red Sox are poised to have a busy day before this afternoon’s game against the Twins, as reports indicate that pitching prospect Brandon Walter will make his MLB debut in Minnesota today. That’s not the only expected movement on the club’s roster, however, as catcher Reese McGuire suffered a strained oblique during yesterday’s game, prompting reports that Boston plans to select catcher Caleb Hamilton to the roster today. A 40-man roster move will be necessary to make room for Hamilton, though only an active roster move will be required to clear space for Walter.

Hamilton made his MLB debut with the Twins last season, spending time at catcher, first base, and DH. He struggled in that brief call-up to the big leagues, slashing just .056/.227/.222 in 23 plate appearances. In the minors, the 28-year-old has fared better, though he still posts below-average offensive numbers with a slash line of .206/.316/.377 in 114 games at the Triple-A level. Hamilton figures to back up Connor Wong for the Red Sox while McGuire is on the shelf. As for Walter, the 26-year-old lefty dominated Double-A hitters last season with a 2.88 ERA in 50 innings, though he’s failed to do the same in Triple-A. In 69 1/3 innings at the minor leagues’ highest level, Walter has posted a worrisome 6.49 ERA, albeit with a slightly more palatable 4.74 FIP in 2023.

3. Calhoun headed to the IL:

Yankees outfielder Willie Calhoun is likely headed to the injured list today, as Calhoun himself told reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch). While the team hasn’t made a timetable for his return official, Calhoun compared his current injury to one he’s had in the past, which he said required a PRP injection and 3-4 weeks on the shelf, a timeline which would leave Calhoun out past the All-Star break. Hoch speculates that infielder Oswaldo Cabrera could replace Calhoun on the active roster.

Calhoun’s been a roughly league average bat for the Yankees this season, slashing .239/.309/.403 with a 96 wRC+ in 149 plate appearances. Even with those mediocre numbers, however, New York still figures to miss Calhoun’s presence on an offense that’s already scuffling badly without team captain Aaron Judge. Only Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres and Jake Bauers, have posted above average seasons by measure of wRC+ in at least 100 at-bats besides the injured Judge. Even that group has struggled recently, with only Bauers posting an OPS above .800 in June. The Yankees figure to try and right the ship against the Mariners this evening.

As the 2023 season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Swanson getting x-rays:

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of yesterday’s game against the Pirates, and Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports reports that Swanson’s wrist was swollen after the game, prompting the club to send him for x-rays yesterday. Results of the testing seem likely to be announced ahead of today’s series finale against the Pirates.

The Cubs have recently surged to just 3.5 games back after winning nine of their last 11 games. Swanson’s been a major part of that success, as he’s combined elite defense at shortstop with a solid .263/.351/.399 slash line, good for a wRC+ of 109. In the event that Swanson does miss time, Nico Hoerner figures to slide over from second base to shortstop with Christopher Morel, Nick Madrigal, and Miles Mastrobuoni among the club’s options to man the keystone.

2. Wade to undergo MRI:

Also undergoing testing is San Francisco’s LaMonte Wade Jr. The first baseman was scratched from yesterday’s lineup against the Padres thanks to side tightness, and Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area notes that he’s scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue. Like the Cubs, the Giants have been on a substantial hot streak, winning nine straight games in part thanks to Wade’s offensive contributions. It’s been a career year for the 29-year-old, who’s batted .280/.415/.463 (147 wRC+) in 272 plate appearances.

Should Wade miss time, the Giants could shift third baseman J.D. Davis over to first base, with Casey Schmitt or David Villar taking over at the hot corner. Still, the loss of Wade would be a major blow to the club’s infield depth, particularly with versatile infielder Wilmer Flores already on the injured list.

3. Red Sox infielder could make MLB debut:

MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported yesterday that infielder David Hamilton is set to join the Red Sox ahead of today’s game in Minnesota to provide insurance against infielder Pablo Reyes making a trip to the injured list. Reyes was scratched from yesterday’s lineup due to an abdominal issue. Per Cotillo, it’s unclear if Hamilton will be activated today, but in the event that he is, he’ll be poised to make his major league debut after slashing .255/.339/.486 in 237 plate appearances this season. A 40-man roster move would not be necessary to accommodate Hamilton, as he is already on the 40-man roster. The 25-year-old Hamilton joined the Red Sox organization as one of the two prospects they effectively purchased in the Dec. 2021 Hunter Renfroe/Jackie Bradley Jr. trade.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Bader to return:

The Yankees figure to welcome center fielder Harrison Bader back from the injured list today against the Mariners, as previously reported. The club won’t need to make an active roster move to accommodate Bader, as the club optioned infielder Oswaldo Cabrera to Triple-A after Sunday’s game against the Red Sox, prior to yesterday’s off day.

The Yankees are hoping for a boost from Bader in the midst of a difficult June where they’ve gone 5-9 over 14 games, slipping to 39-33 and 10.5 games back in the AL East. Bader has played just 26 games due to injuries this season, but when he has been on the field he’s paired excellent defense in center with a .267/.295/.511 slash line, good for a wRC+ of 118. With both Bader on Aaron Judge on the shelf, the club has relied on Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Willie Calhoun in the outfield in recent days.

2. Lugo to return:

Also returning from the injured list today is Padres right-hander Seth Lugo, who the club has announced as today’s starter against the Giants. The club will need to make an active roster move to accommodate Lugo before tonight’s game, which is set to start at 8:45pm CT this evening. Lugo has pitched fairly well for the club as a member of the rotation this season, posting a 4.10 ERA and 3.95 FIP in 41 2/3 innings of work across eight starts. While that ERA is roughly league average, it’s bogged down by a disastrous five-run, two-inning start immediately prior to Lugo’s placement on the IL, which caused the figure to balloon up from 3.18.

Lugo rejoins the rotation as the Padres struggle to stay competitive in the NL West, with a 35-37 record that puts them in fourth place. As San Diego looks to bounce back in its four-game set against the Giants after losing the first game last night, Lugo will be counted on for a solid return to the rotation, particularly given the uneven results from the typically-reliable Yu Darvish (6.89 ERA in his last six starts) and Joe Musgrove (4.22 ERA this season) at the front of the rotation.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

With just six weeks to go until MLB’s trade deadline, the paths forward for many teams remain murky, even as some organizations set themselves apart from the pack.. If the events of the season so far have spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, 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 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Davis reaches the majors:

As was reported yesterday, the Pirates are expected to promote catching prospect Henry Davis before today’s game against the Cubs. The first overall pick in the 2021 draft, Davis is a consensus top 100 prospect in the game who was ranked as highly as #46 by Baseball America entering the 2023 campaign. Those strong rankings came even after some outlets soured on Davis somewhat thanks to a difficult stint in Double-A last year, where he hit .207/.324/.379 in 136 plate appearances. Davis has left little room for doubt with his performance so far in 2023, however, crushing minor league competition to the tune of a .284/.433/.541 slash line in 232 plate appearances split between the Double-A and Triple-A levels.

While Davis has spent most of his playing career as a catcher, it appears that may not be his position in the majors, at least on a full-time basis. Manager Derek Shelton already acknowledged yesterday that the club’s current catching tandem of Austin Hedges and Jason Delay would remain on the active roster following Davis’s promotion, while Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette expands on that comment, noting that the expectation is that Davis will play primarily in right field while also getting occasional starts behind the plate. A 40-man roster move will be necessary to accommodate Davis, though that can easily be accomplished by transferring right-hander Vince Velasquez, who will not pitch again in 2023, to the 60-day IL.

2. Nootbaar to return:

The Cardinals have been without outfielder Lars Nootbaar for the entirety of June thanks to a lower back contusion, but the outfielder could be on the verge of returning, with multiple reports indicating that Nootbaar will rejoin the Cardinals against the Nationals in Washington, potentially as soon as today. That’s great news for St. Louis, as Nootbaar’s fantastic .380 on-base percentage in 184 plate appearances this season should help bolster an offense that ranks just 9th in the NL with a team-wide OBP of .322.

It’s currently unclear which players in the Cardinals lineup will see reduced playing time thanks to Nootbaar’s return. With Nootbaar on the shelf, Tommy Edman has moved from the infield to center field, a position he’s taken to rather well. He’s flanked on either side by Jordan Walker and Dylan Carlson on most days, while Paul DeJong, Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Gorman mix and match up the middle. Given the versatility of Edman and Donovan, the club has plenty of flexibility with regard to how it can juggle its position players upon Nootbaar’s return.

3. Candelario to be re-evaluated:

The Nationals could be without one of their key offensive contributors in the coming days, as manager Davey Martinez told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman of MASN) that third baseman Jeimer Candelario suffered a bone bruise on his right thumb on Saturday. Martinez notes that the club plans to re-evaluate Candelario ahead of this evening’s game against the Cardinals. While the Nationals, sporting an NL-worst record of 27-43 that’s set them back 18 games in the NL East, will hardly have hopes of making the playoffs dashed by Candelario missing time, the switch-hitter suffering an injury that causes him to miss significant time would be a major blow nonetheless.

That’s because Candelario figures to be one of the more interesting bats available to potential buyers at the trade deadline. After a difficult 2022 season that saw him non-tendered by the Tigers over the offseason, Candelario has bounced back in a big way with the Nationals, slashing .256/.336/.452 in 283 plate appearances while playing quality defense at third base. Should Candelario miss time, Michael Chavis and Ildemaro Vargas appear to be the most likely options to cover for him at the hot corner.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Dodgers’ prospect to debut:

According to Juan Toribio of MLB.com, the Dodgers are set to call up right-hander Emmet Sheehan to make his major league debut today. Sheehan, who ranks 13th in the Dodgers’ system per MLB Pipeline, was picked in the sixth round of the 2021 draft and has impressed over the past calendar year, posting a 2.83 ERA in High-A last season before making six strong starts in the Arizona Fall League (3.54 ERA, 29.3% strikeout rate). In 2023, Sheehan has improved on those performances, pitching to a sterling 1.86 ERA in 53 1/3 innings at the Double-A level while striking out a whopping 41.7% of batters faced. Now Sheehan figures to be tasked with taking the ball at Dodger Stadium against the club’s biggest rival. The youngster will need to be added to the 40-man roster, but with an open spot available, the Dodgers will only need to make an active roster move to accommodate Sheehan.

2. Angels’ infield woes:

After putting Zach Neto on the injured list earlier in the day with an oblique issue, the Angels saw their infield depth taken apart in last night’s game against the Rangers, as discussed by Sam Blum of The Athletic. Gio Urshela exited the game with a hip injury and spoke to reporters on crutches after the game, indicating he expected to miss time. Meanwhile, third baseman Anthony Rendon was struck in the wrist by a pitch and left him unable to swing the bat for the rest of the game, though he did stay in the game on defense due to the lack of options on the bench. Rendon is set to undergo testing today to determine the severity of his injury.

The injuries come at a brutal time for the Angels, who have surged in recent weeks to a 39-32 record, just one game back of a Wild Card spot in the AL. If Urshela and Rendon both join Neto on the shelf, however, the club’s infield will be in dire straits. Jared Walsh can take over for Urshela at first base while Luis Rengifo and Brandon Drury combine to cover second and third, leaving shortstop to Andrew Velazquez. Michael Stefanic and Livan Soto are both infield options on the 40-man roster who could provide depth behind that group.

3. Steele poised to return tomorrow:

Per MLB.com, Cubs left-hander Justin Steele did a light workout on the mound yesterday in preparation for what the club plans on being his return to the starting rotation tomorrow against the Orioles. Though the Cubs have not yet announced a starter for tomorrow’s game, manager David Ross confirmed to reporters that the hope is for Steele to take the ball. Steele went on the injured list at the beginning of the month with a mild forearm strain, meaning the Cubs will need to make an active roster move to accommodate him.

Steele’s return would be a major boon for a Cubs team that has struggled to a 31-37 record this season but is coming off a sweep of the division-leading Pirates that put them within 3.5 games of the crown in a weak NL Central. In 12 starts this season, Steele has impressed with a 2.65 ERA and 2.84 FIP across 68 innings while slotting into the front of Chicago’s rotation alongside right-hander Marcus Stroman.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Clevinger exits with injury:

The White Sox announced yesterday that right-hander Mike Clevinger, who exited his start against the Dodgers in the fifth inning last night due to injury, was dealing with what the club termed “right biceps soreness.” In conversation with reporters, including Scott Merkin of MLB.com, Clevinger said the injury “kind of scared” him at first, but that initial tests after the game went well. The right-hander figures to get imaging done today to determine the severity of the issue.

In 62 2/3 innings this season across 12 starts Clevinger has posted a 3.88 ERA (112 ERA+), though his 19.5% strikeout rate and 9.5% walk rate contribute to a much less desirable 4.89 FIP. Should Clevinger miss significant time, it would be a blow to the club’s rotation and send a potentially valuable rental starter on a 30-39 White Sox team to the shelf with just over six weeks until the trade deadline. Right-hander Jesse Scholtens, who sports a 3.24 ERA in 16 2/3 big league innings this season, seems likely to take Clevinger’s place in the rotation if he were to miss a start.

2. Fleming to meet with specialist:

On the heels of Rays left-hander Josh Fleming hitting the shelf for at least “several weeks” due to an elbow problem, Fleming is expected to meet with specialist Dr. Keith Meister today for an in-person examination. In comments to reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times), Fleming noted that a ligament issue was possible, which would leave the door open to potential Tommy John surgery in a worst-case scenario.

Though Fleming has struggled to a 4.62 ERA and 5.87 FIP in 48 2/3 innings this season, those numbers were sent soaring after the Dodgers torched him for eight runs in his most recent appearance — after which he hit the IL. Floating between the rotation and long relief behind openers this year, Fleming has average more than 4 1/3 innings per appearance, and in eight of his 11 trips to the mound he’s held opponents to two, one or zero runs. He’s pitched at least three innings each time out. The Rays have already lost Jeffrey Springs for the season and won’t see Drew Rasmussen return to baseball activities until closer to the All-Star break. They’re currently sporting a rotation group of Shane McClanahan, Tyler Glasnow, Taj Bradley, Zach Eflin, and Yonny Chirinos. A lengthy absence from Fleming would remove a useful depth arm from the mix.

3. O’Neill meets with doctor:

Also meeting with a doctor to determine next steps today is Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who has been out since early May with a low back strain. As noted by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, O’Neill received two injections to reduce inflammation in his back after heading to Los Angeles for a second opinion earlier this month, with O’Neill noting that he was “pain-free” for the first time in months. The outfielder is set to meet with the doctor who delivered those injections today for an exam. If cleared to return to baseball activities, O’Neill could begin his rehab process as soon as tomorrow.

In 2021, O’Neill proved to be a revelation for the Cardinals, winning a second consecutive Gold Glove in left field while hitting 34 homers with a .286/.352/.560 batting line. Unfortunately, O’Neill has struggled since then, with a .228/.303/.380 slash line (95 wRC+) in 125 games, including 29 games this season where he’s posted a brutal 73 wRC+ and a 34.3% strikeout rate. With O’Neill joined by fellow outfielder Lars Nootbaar on the shelf, the Cardinals are currently using Tommy Edman in center field, where he’s flanked on most days by Dylan Carlson and Jordan Walker.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Tigers vs Braves doubleheader:

Yesterday’s game between the Tigers and Braves at Comerica Park was postponed yesterday due to rain, leaving the clubs to partake in a doubleheader today, the first game of which will begin at 12:10pm CT this afternoon. Fans who had tickets to yesterday’s game can read about their options for exchanging the tickets here. Last night’s expected starters, right-handers Reese Olson and Spencer Strider, will start the first game of today’s doubleheader, while Michael Lorenzen will take the mound for the Tigers in game two. Atlanta’s game two starter has not yet been announced, though Evan Woodbery of MLive notes that AJ Smith-Shawver has previously been listed as the Braves’ starter for the game.

2. Giants to promote Matos amid injuries:

After outfielder Mitch Haniger and third baseman J.D. Davis both suffered injuries that took them out of yesterday’s game for the Giants, San Francisco appears poised to promote one of their top prospects in Luis Matos. As noted by Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, both Matos and infielder David Villar could be active tomorrow, though Kapler noted that Davis’s injury may not require a stint on the IL, leaving the club to call up just one of the duo. It would be Matos’s first call up to the big leagues, though the outfielder is already on the 40-man roster.

A consensus top 100 prospect heading into the 2022 season, Matos saw his stock drop last year when he hit .211/.275/.344 in 92 games at High-A. The 21-year-old has rebounded in a big way in 2023. After posting an excellent .304/.399/.444 slash line in 133 Double-A plate appearances this season, Matos was promoted to Triple-A where he’s proceeded to mash to the tune of a .398/.435/.685 slash line in 116 plate appearances.

3. Bido to debut for Pirates as Cubs monitor Happ:

Joining Matos in his potential major league debut is Pirates right-hander Osvaldo Bido, who is poised to start today’s game against the Cubs. The 27-year-old Bido has posted a rather pedestrian 4.55 ERA in 55 1/3 innings of work at Triple-A this season across twelve appearances (10 starts). In three seasons at the level in his career, Bido sports a 23.7% strikeout rate, though it’s paired with an elevated walk rate of 12%. Bido is not yet on the 40-man roster, but the Pirates have multiple vacancieis, meaning only an active roster move will be necessary to promote Bido.

On the other side of the diamond the Cubs are set to monitor the health of left fielder Ian Happ, who was pulled from the game with a right calf issue, as noted by MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. The loss of Happ for significant time would be a significant blow to a Cubs team that is already without center fielder Cody Bellinger. Youngster Christopher Morel took over for Happ in left field during last night’s game and could continue to see playing time in the outfield if Happ misses additional time.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. 2023 Subway Series begins:

The annual clash between New York’s AL and NL teams begins today as the Yankees head to Citi Field to face the Mets. It’s been a difficult season for both teams so far. The Yankees are stuck in third place in the AL East, nine games back of the Rays for the division crown, despite a strong 38-29 record. In the NL, the Mets have sunk to fourth place with a 31-35 record that registers as a massive disappointment for the club that entered 2023 with an MLB-leading $359MM payroll, per RosterResource. What’s more, both teams are currently playing without superstar sluggers, as both Pete Alonso and Aaron Judge have hit the injured list in recent weeks.

The two-game set begins tonight at 6:10pm CT, with Luis Severino taking the mound for the Yankees while the Mets counter with Max Scherzer. The second game of the series features an even more intriguing pitching matchup, as former Astros teammates Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Mets and Yankees, respectively.

2. Gray scratched from today’s start:

Rangers starter Jon Gray has been scratched from today’s start against the Angels with a blister issue, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters (including Kennedi Landry of MLB.com). The starter for today’s game in lieu of Gray hasn’t yet been announced, though Landry noted that left-hander Cody Bradford, who has made two spot starts for the Rangers previously this season, was spotted in the Rangers’ clubhouse yesterday. Bradford has a 7.20 ERA with eight strikeouts and three walks in 10 innings of work for Texas this season. If Bradford were to start today’s game, an active roster move would need to be made to accommodate him.

Gray has posted an excellent 2.32 ERA in 12 starts this season (albeit with a less-encouraging 4.16 FIP). Gray has been especially dominant over the past month, as the veteran hurler has pitched to a sterling 0.84 ERA across his last six starts. That stretch was highlighted by his most recent start, a complete game in St. Louis where Gray struck out 12 Cardinals and allowed just one run. For now, it seems the decision to skip Gray’s start is being considered precautionary, and the Rangers don’t expect an IL stint to be necessary.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With just seven weeks to go until MLB’s trade deadline, the paths forward for many teams remain murky, even as some organizations set themselves apart from the pack.. If the events of the season so far have spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, 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 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Nevada legislature resumes discussions:

The bill in Nevada’s state legislature that would provide $380MM in public money to fund a stadium in Las Vegas for the A’s was put on hold last week when the legislature adjourned Thursday night. As noted by Jacob Solis, Tabitha Mueller, and Sean Golonka of The Nevada Independent, that adjournment is set to end today, allowing negotiations on the stadium bill to begin once again.

The ongoing special session was called by Governor Joe Lombardo, though members of the legislature have become frustrated by the lack of amendments to the bill since the end of the legislature’s regular session on June 5. Amendments that have been suggested include ensuring the A’s home games are not exempt from the state’s 9% Live Entertainment Tax and requiring the A’s to match their past donation commitments to California food banks with similar commitments in Nevada.

2. Pasquantino to undergo MRI:

Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino recently landed on the injured list due to shoulder soreness, which MLB.com’s Anne Rogers notes has similarities to an injury that kept him out of action for three weeks last season. While he’ll undergo an MRI today to get a clearer idea of the injury’s specifics, Pasquantino himself noted that his shoulder feels “pretty much the same” as it did during last season’s injury. The 25-year-old is one of just five above average hitters for the Royals this season by measure of wRC+. While Pasquantino is on the shelf, Nick Pratto figures to move from the outfield back to his natural position, first base.

3. Rangers vs. Angels Series Preview:

The Rangers and Angels begin a four-game set today that could have major implications in the race for the AL West crown. As things stand, the Rangers have a commanding lead in the division, with a five-game lead over the second-place Astros and a six-and-a-half-game lead over the third-place Angels. That said, the Angels appear to be the hot hand at the moment. The club has won six of their last seven as they arrive in Texas, where the Rangers are coming off a difficult series loss to the AL-leading Rays.

Tonight’s game will begin at 7:05pm CT when Angels lefty Tyler Anderson, who has struggled to a 5.62 ERA in 57 2/3 innings this season, takes the mound against Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning, who was excellent in a bullpen role before joining the rotation and posting a 2.97 ERA and 4.02 FIP across six starts. Looking to the rest of the series, Angels righty Jaime Barria will take on Rangers righty Jon Gray in Game 2. Game 3 will see a duel between lefties Reid Detmers and Andrew Heaney. Game 4 will see a pitching duel between each team’s top starter: Shohei Ohtani and Nathan Eovaldi.

With 40% of the 2023 regular season in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. How serious is Alvarez’s injury?

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez exited yesterday’s loss to the Blue Jays after the first inning with what was termed right oblique discomfort. Speaking to reporters after the game, manager Dusty Baker (as relayed by MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) told reporters that the club plans to re-evaluate their prized DH today, but called the injury a “tough blow.” As McTaggart notes, even a mild oblique issue seems likely to shelve Alvarez for at least a few games, as it did for Jose Altuve earlier this month when he missed four games with a mild oblique strain. A more significant strain, of course, could require a stint on the injured list.

Alvarez, who turns 26 at the end of the month, is having another sensational season at the plate for the Astros. The slugger has mashed to a .272/.384/.579 slash line in 242 plate appearances this season, good for a wRC+ of 165. While that sort of production will be next to impossible to replace fully, the Astros seem likely to offer more consistent at-bats to Corey Julks in the event that Alvarez misses time.

2. Eloy exits:

White Sox slugger Eloy Jimenez left yesterday’s game after feeling discomfort in his lower left leg while running the bases in a loss to the Yankees last night. Manager Pedro Grifol told reporters, including Scott Merkin of MLB.com, that Jimenez would be re-evaluated today and is considered day-to-day for the time being. A former top prospect, the talented Jimenez has found success when on the field throughout his big league career, with a wRC+ of 122 in the majors, but has struggled to stay on the field consistently in recent years, with just 174 games played since the start of the 2021 season.

In 2023, Jimenez has slashed .257/.315/.434 (105 wRC+) while splitting time between the DH slot and the outfield for the White Sox, though he’s been limited to just 35 games by two stints on the IL this season: one for a hamstring strain back in April and another after undergoing and appendectomy last month. Jimenez’s injury comes as the White Sox struggle to stay competitive in a weak AL Central, as the club is just 3.5 games back of the division-leading Twins despite a weak 28-36 record. Should Jimenez miss time, that would likely open up additional starts for the likes of Jake Burger and Clint Frazier.

3. Urias to return on Sunday:

The rotation picture in LA has begun to crystalize with Noah Syndergaard heading to the injured list yesterday. That leaves young right-handers Michael Grove and Bobby Miller secure in their rotation spots for the time being as they prepare to take the ball against the Phillies this weekend. Taking the ball to close out the series this weekend will be left-hander Julio Urias, who has been on the injured list since the middle of May with a hamstring strain. Last week, Urias threw a 30-pitch bullpen session, leading to speculation that he could return in the near future. That’s now coming to fruition as Urias figures to start Sunday’s game in Philadelphia.

Urias’s return could provide a boost to the Dodgers’ pitching staff as the club as the club looks to stop their current skid. Losers of 6 of their last 10 games, the Dodgers have seceded ground in the NL West race to the Diamondbacks in recent days, with Arizona currently holding a 1.5 game lead over Los Angeles in the division. That being said, Urias has struggled in 2023 to meet the lofty expectations set by his work in previous seasons. After posting a 2.63 ERA (158 ERA+) in 495 1/3 innings of work between 2019 and 2022, Urias has seemingly taken a step back through ten starts in 2023, with a 4.39 ERA that’s barely league average by measure of ERA+ (101) and a worrisome 5.31 FIP.