MLB Power Rankings: Freddie Freeman leads Dodgers, the Cardinals and Twins are rolling
Featured in this week's MLB Power Rankings, Tarik Skubal is close to perfect, Jasson Dominguez makes history, the Cardinals and Twins are streaking, the Jung brothers square off on Mother's Day Weekend, and the Pirates and Rockies change managers.
Let's get started!
(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)
Eric Samulski,
**Rankings are from the morning of Monday, May 12**
Last week: 1
Freddie Freeman is the hottest hitter on the planet right now. Despite an ankle injury that isn't 100 percent, the 35-year-old is hitting .475 with five homers and 22 RBI over his last 16 games. He has 10 multi-hit games during that span and has raised his season batting average from .250 to .376 along the way.
Last week: 2
On Saturday night, Stephen Kolek threw a shutout at Coors Field as the Padres crushed the Rockies 21-0. It was the largest margin of victory for the Padres in franchise history and one of the most lopsided shutout wins of all-time.
largest wins in a pitcher's individual shutout:
8/21/1883 Old Hoss Radbourn 28-0, Providence Grays
6/28/1887 Charlie J. Ferguson 24-0, PHI
5/27/1885 Mickey Welch 24-0, NYG
7/6/1883 Will White 23-0, CIN
Today Stephen Kolek 21-0, SD
8/13/39 Red Ruffing 21-0, NYY (8 inn)
9/15/1901…
Last week: 4
After running away with the Cy Young Award last season, Tarik Skubal has been even better so far this season. The southpaw owns a 2.08 ERA through eight starts and carried a perfect game into the sixth inning in his most recent start against the Rangers on Friday.
Tarik Skubal generated 32 whiffs today - the most by any pitcher in a start this season! pic.twitter.com/ihatlZH4if
Last week: 3
New York sports talk radio was having a cow over the first few weeks of the season, but it turns out that Juan Soto is going to be just fine. What a concept! Soto is slashing .282/.383/.718 with five homers through 10 games this month.
Last week: 8
Joe DiMaggio was the youngest player in Yankees history to hit three home runs in a game…until Jasson Dominguez pulled off the feat against the Athletics on Saturday.
First career 2-homer game ✅
First career 3-homer game ✅
Jasson Domínguez is out of this world! pic.twitter.com/ssyNNOiTto
Last week: 5
The Cubs have cooled a bit over the past week having lost back-to-back series. Their high-powered offense has been held to two runs or fewer in three of out their lost four games, but the back-end of the bullpen is the real concern here.
Last week: 9
I already deemed Freddie Freeman as the hottest hitter on the planet, but Kyle Schwarber is in the middle of something special right now. After his two-homer game on Sunday against the Guardians on Sunday, he's now reached base in 46 consecutive games. That's the longest such streak by a Phillies player since Bobby Abreu from 2000-2001.
A Schwar💣 on #SundayNightBaseball! pic.twitter.com/d8OgEI0aHb
Last week: 6
The Giants were swept by the suddenly red-hot Twins over the weekend despite Heliot Ramos' best efforts. The 24-year-old has homered in back-to-back games and is slashing .419/.500/.767 over his last 13 contests.
Last week: 10
Awesome moment from the Mother's Day edition of the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, as Stephen Vogt's wife, Alyssa, asked him a very important question.
Vogter had a visiting reporter ask him a question on tonight's broadcast. 😂#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/7pmImAwVkC
I so felt that pause and momentary panic from Mr. Vogt. Also, how cool is it that the manager also gets the sunflower seed treatment from his players/coaches? It's good to be humbled.
Last week: 12
The Royals remain one of the hottest teams in the majors despite dropping back-to-back games to the Red Sox to close out the weekend. Led by a pitching staff with the second-lowest ERA in the majors, Kansas City is 16-4 over their last 20 games.
Last week: 7
The Mariners were swept by the Blue Jays over the weekend, including another distressing start from Bryce Miller. The good news is that George Kirby is inching his way back to the Mariners' rotation as he returns from shoulder inflammation. He made his second rehab start on Saturday and could be back with the Mariners next week.
Last week: 13
In the wake of his very public and awkward rejection of playing first base, Rafael Devers is 9-for-15 (.600) with two homers and eight RBI over his last four games. He slugged an absolute bomb of a go-ahead homer on Sunday as the Red Sox cooled down the Royals.
Last week: 23
Our biggest riser of the past week, the Cardinals have won eight straight to surge into second place in the NL Central, just one game behind the Cubs. Victor Scott II has been right in the middle of it, as he's hit safely in 11 straight games. With his elite range in center field and his top-tier speed, the Cardinals have found themselves a keeper.
Last week: 11
It was great to see Corbin Burnes bounce back after his recent shoulder scare, but the biggest news to start the week is that Jordan Lawlar is reportedly on the way to join the big club. The 22-year-old has been quiet with the bat this month in Triple-A, but still owns a healthy .336/.413/.579 batting line with six homers and 13 steals across 37 games on the year. He'll presumably bounce around the infield to start, giving breathers to Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, and Eugenio Suárez.
Last week: 15
The Braves have had a couple of chances over the past week to reach the .500 mark, but have fallen short. Still, they are 19-14 since that 0-7 start to the season.
Last week: 24
The other big riser of the week, the Twins have also won eight straight to climb over .500. Unfortunately for them, everyone (outside of the White Sox, anyway) have also been playing well.
Last week: 17
The Astros have yet to be more than three games over .500 or two games under .500, so they continue to sit in the middle of the pack. Getting a healthy Yordan Alvarez back could help push them back into contention. Alvarez, who is working his way back from a muscle strain in his hand, could potentially return from the injured list this week.
Last week: 14
In a fun scheduling quirk, the Jung brothers (Rangers third baseman Josh Jung and Tigers infielder Jace Jung) squared off on Mother's Day weekend. The brothers were both playing third base on Saturday, so naturally they played a game of Tic-Tac-Toe. Josh homered on Mother's Day, so he gets the edge this time.
Brotherly competition never stops 😂 pic.twitter.com/BJKz99bMRR
Last week: 16
After giving up seven runs or more in all three games against the Yankees this weekend, the Athletics now have a 5.81 ERA (28th in MLB) at home this season as opposed to a 3.74 ERA (sixth-best) on the road.
Last week: 19
In a 4-for-39 slump going into Sunday's action, Christian Yelich decided to switch it up by using a pink bat to honor his mom. And sure enough, he went yard. Sources say that if he doesn't keep using it, he's grounded.
Christian Yelich hit an opposite field solo homer with his pink Mother's Day bat with his mom's name, Alecia. 💕 pic.twitter.com/Fb77MhmwHG
Last week: 21
The Blue Jays might have something in Addison Barger. While it isn't apparent from his results so far, the 25-year-old hits the ball extremely hard. Among players with at least 25 batted ball events, he ranks third among hitters in average exit velocity, behind Shohei Ohtani and Oneil Cruz, and ahed of Aaron Judge, Rafael Devers, and Pete Alonso. Not too shabby.
Addison Barger has FIVE hits this series.
They've ALL been hit over 107 MPH 💣 pic.twitter.com/TPRI2Efz1e
Last week: 18
The Reds have lost seven out of nine, as well as their ace Hunter Greene due to a groin strain. Fortunately, the injury shouldn't keep him on the shelf for long.
Last week: 20
Give the Rays some credit for their creativity. They gave out commemorative ponchos for their first-ever rain delay on Saturday.
Here's the ponchos #Rays are giving out: pic.twitter.com/VErMqxeGTD
The Rays took two out of three from the Brewers this weekend, giving them their first series win at home since April 11-13.
While the final line didn't show it, Michael Soroka pitched well in his return from the injured list last Wednesday against the Guardians, striking out eight before running out of steam late. This week, he'll face the Braves (his former team) for the first time in his career.
Last week: 25
Things aren't looking a heck of a lot better here even after taking two out of three form the Angels over the weekend, but one bright spot has been the recent progress from 21-year-old Jackson Holliday. With a recent change in his batting stance, he's hitting .324 with two homers and a double over his last 11 games. He's starting to earn a more prominent place in the order for a team who needs a boost in the worst way.
Last week: 26
No team has struck out more often than the Angels this season (27 percent). And making matters worse, they also have the lowest walk rate (six percent) in the majors.
Last week: 28
Sandy Alcantara has been speculated as an obvious trade candidate this summer, but the results haven't been there so far. He actually looked great on Sunday against the White Sox until serving up a go-ahead three-run home to rookie slugger Tim Elko. Still, a step in the right direction for the former Cy Young Award winner.
Last week: 27
Derek Shelton took the fall last week for the Pirates' miserable start to the season. The failure goes well beyond anything Shelton did, but ownership can't fire themselves. The club took two out of three from the Braves over the weekend under interim manager (and former bench coach) Don Kelly, so the Pittsburgh-area native is off to a good start.
Last week: 29
The White Sox have Pope Leo XIV on their side, which should provide some hope to fans, no?
Before he became the Pope, he was cheering on the White Sox at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series on FOX 🙌 pic.twitter.com/7I3GROAXYR
Last week: 30
The Rockies made a managerial change of their own this weekend, as they parted ways with longtime skipper Bud Black. The change comes on the heels of an embarrassing 21-0 loss to the Padres on Saturday night, though at least Black to go out as a winner on Sunday.
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Miami Herald
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Somerset's Rebhan, Stevens are the Dade 3A-1A Softball Pitcher, Player of the Year
Taylor Rebhan and Ava Stevens had waited for such a moment since they began playing for the Somerset Silver Palms softball team in middle school. After coming up short at state each of the past two seasons, they Stallions left no doubt this year on their way to their first ever state championship. 'Every year we got so close and finally actually did it,' said Rebhan, a junior shortstop and University of Louisville commit. Rebhan and Stevens were each key to the triumph as they have been to building one of the best programs in the state over the past few years. Rebhan with her excellent glove at shortstop and prolific hitting at the plate, and Stevens with dominant performances in the pitching circle. And so, Rebhan and Stevens are once again the Miami Herald's Miami-Dade County Softball Player and Pitcher of the Year for Classes 3A-1A. Rebhan is the 3A-1A Player of the Year after another stellar hitting season in which she hit .430 with five home runs, seven doubles, four triples and compiled 24 RBI. Stevens is the 3A-1A Pitcher of the Year after going 17-4 with 97 strikeouts in 144 innings pitched. She also hit .400 and scored 34 runs while driving in 15 more. Stevens made more of an emphasis on becoming the most dominant pitcher she could entering her sophomore season and accomplished the goal with clutch performances throughout the postseason. 'My approach to failing improved. I'm used to hitting good every year, but this year I didn't hit as well,' Stevens said. 'But my pitching was most important. I handled it better. Just adjusting to knowing I had to do my job pitching and my team will pick me up was important.' Stevens is likely to be offered by multiple Division-I schools once schools can after September 1. Rebhan has the tools to be one of the next great players to come from South Florida and showed it again this season. But things didn't start so well for the Stallions overall. Somerset Silver Palms lost three of its first five games before an eight-game winning streak put it back on course toward a state title. 'The beginning started rough. I don't think, in the beginning, we had the confidence we could make it this far,' Stevens said. 'We felt like we're not this bad and we have to show that these teams we were playing aren't on the same level we are.' With Stevens and Rebhan set to return next season along with several other players from a core which has been together for the past three years, Somerset's state title could only be the first in a sustained run of success. 'We've all been playing together since we were in sixth or seventh grade,' Rebhan said. 'We all know each other and how are mindsets work. So to finally win this together was great. We know we can beat any team together. We just have to come in with the mentality that we can lose to anyone, but we can beat anyone.'
USA Today
2 hours ago
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Rockies chase MLB record that predecessors in pain 'don't wish on anyone'
Rockies chase MLB record that predecessors in pain 'don't wish on anyone' Show Caption Hide Caption Seattle Mariners' newest player shares promotion with family Cole Young announces his move to the big leagues playing for Seattle Mariners during an emotional phone call with his family. CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox lived a full season through the despair, embarrassment and stigma that comes with being the worst team in the history of baseball. Now, less than a year later, here comes the Colorado Rockies who are threatening to obliterate the White Sox's modern record of 121 losses. The Rockies, even after their first three-game sweep in 13 months over the Miami Marlins, had a 12-51 record entering June 7 – equaling the worst start in baseball dating back to 1901 – and are on pace to go 30-132 in the brutal NL West. So, good times on Chicago's South Side where that 2024 season could vanish into the night and be wiped from the record books? 'I hope they don't break the record," White Sox GM Chris Getz tells USA TODAY Sports. 'I don't wish that upon anyone. I really don't." Come on, really? Not even with a chance to scrub your name from infamy? Not to be linked forever to the 1962 Mets? 'You'd hate to see it, you really would," Getz says. 'It's so grueling. You know how much it hurts and don't wish on anyone. 'That's not something, that I think, is good for anyone." You go around the White Sox clubhouse, and you hear the same sentiment from everyone still around from that horrific season. 'No one wants to see that," White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi says. 'You don't feel for guys while you're playing, but off the field you do. I know they're in a pretty tough division, but there's still a lot of games left. I hope they don't lose that many games. 'I'm just glad it's not us again right now." It's not as if the White Sox suddenly are contender with a 22-43 record, but they look like the '27 Yankees compared to these Rockies. The Rockies became the third-quickest team to reach 50 losses behind only the 1884 Kansas City Unions and 1876 Cincinnati Red Stockings. They have already had four eight-game losing streaks. They have been swept 10 times and shut out eight times. The Rockies are going so bad that it was pointed out on social media that golfer Scottie Scheffler's three PGA victories from May 4-June 1 equalled the Rockies' win total in that span. The Rockies, after their first series sweep in 57 tries, retaliated by saying their three victories in 72 hours were more than Scheffler's total for the week. Touche! 'We lost a lot of games last year, but we were in a ton of them, too," White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn says. 'We were in a lot of close games, a lot of one-run games. But losing those close games made it tough." The White Sox were 13-29 in one-run games last season, with 11 walk-off losses. They blew 56 leads last season, including 12 games in which they had at least a three-run cushion. 'Last year it seemed like everything that could go wrong," Benintendi says, 'did go wrong.'' It got a whole lot worse when the White Sox dumped everyone they could at the trade deadline, going just 14-50 the second half of the season, with just seven victories combined in July and August. The Rockies, on the other hand, have been getting blown out on a regular basis until this past week. They've lost 13 games by at least five runs in the first two months, with three games by 10 or more runs. The Rockies have already been outscored by 183 runs entering June 7's game. 'I don't know what's better," Getz says. 'You're getting teased that you might pull one off here, and then all of a sudden it's taken away from you. And then there's the games like the Rockies have had where you're down early with a fair amount of distance. Those aren't fun either." The Rockies, unlike the White Sox, really don't have any players besides infielder Ryan McMahon that are expected to attract much trade interest. So, the good news is that it's quite possible they keep their team intact. The bad news is that they play in the NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants – and are already 25 ½ games out of first place. So as embarrassing it may be, it provides the Rockies plenty of time to look in the mirror for a reality check. 'Sometimes, when you're going through something like this," Getz says, 'it's an opportunity to learn more about your organization and where you need to take it. We took advantage of that last year. It allowed us to clear a runway to make some decisions that we felt like would help us in the future. 'My message to them is that although you're going to endure something that is not easy, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Take advantage of the situations where you identify areas that you really, truly need to improve, and go ahead and attack it." The key, the White Sox will tell the Rockies when they see them July 4-6 at Coors Field, is to not let the mounting losses become such a mental burden, leaving you defeated before even stepping onto the field. 'I know what they're going through, it's tough," says White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas, who got the bad break of being traded from the Dodgers to the White Sox at last year's deadline. 'You're blessed to play in the big leagues, you put in the work, you try to win every day, and it doesn't happen. 'It's such a tough game, but you can't let it get you down." Certainly, the Rockies didn't have any expectations of contending this year. Maybe they were hoping not to lose 100 games for the third consecutive season. Maybe they were hoping to at least be within 10 games of a wild-card berth entering September. But it's not as if they were Atlanta or Baltimore with World Series aspirations and are suddenly in disbelief with a losing record. 'The biggest thing is you have to stay focused on getting better each day," says Vaughn, who was recently demoted to Class AAA. 'You got to make each day important. You have to work on something to improve on each day, and not let anything get in the way. That's the biggest thing." It's no different than for the manager, coaching staff, front office executives and ticket sales reps, reminding yourselves that as painful as these losses are now, it will make winning feel that much better. There was a time when the Houston Astros were a laughingstock, too, losing 106, 107 and 111 games three consecutive seasons from 2011-2013. Since 2017, they've reached the postseason eight consecutive years with two World Series titles and four pennants. 'Although we knew last year wasn't going to be a good season in regard to our record," Getz said, 'there were still opportunities to add players at the deadline or areas to improve in the organization. So, you take a step back and try to emotionally stay big-picture focused. In doing so, it allows you to work through it and find the positives, even though they're not showing uo on your major-league club. 'But we were able to highlight some areas that we felt could help us long term, and I hope they've got situations like that as well." Who knows, maybe one day, maybe years and years from now, the White Sox and Rockies can each look back and remind themselves that the pain they endured paved the way to future glory. Maybe they can even laugh about it. Or maybe, they will never ever talk about it. 'The big thing is," Vaughn says, 'to forget about it. It happened in the past. I don't think about it anymore. 'Really, why would you want to?" Paying it forward Paul Olden, 71, the New York Yankees public address announcer, was moved when he read that former major league player Eric Anthony discovered that former Dodgers great Willie Davis was his father. Olden reached out to Anthony last week, and the two talked for nearly 20 minutes as Olden got off the subway and walked into Yankee Stadium. He told Anthony that he had a present for him. Olden, who grew up in Los Angeles and was a huge fan of Davis, had one of Davis' broken bats from his historic 31-game hitting streak in 1969, which remains a Dodgers record. The bat had remained in an umbrella holder in Davis' home all of these years. Now, it will have a new home. 'I've gotten a lot of enjoyment from owning a bat from a childhood hero,'' Olden said, 'now it is time to pass it on to someone who needs it more than I do." Olden told Anthony his favorite memories about his father, sharing pictures, and stories when they were together after Davis' retirement. 'It shows what kind of person Paul Olden is," Anthony said. 'To care about wanting me to have that bat shows he is selfless. I appreciate very much Paul's generosity. 'I will keep and cherish that bat for the rest of my days." Olden, who has been with the Yankees since they moved to their new ballpark in 2009, came up as a radio reporter and then a broadcaster for the Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, New Jesey Nets and UCLA. He also was the PA announcer for 12 consecutive Super Bowls. He became famous for being the radio reporter who asked Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda what he thought of Dave Kingman's performance – when he hit three homers against the Dodgers in 1978 – launching into a profanity-laden tirade. Olden can't recall quite how he got possession of Davis' bat more than a half-century ago, but it stayed with him no matter how many times he moved. 'I knew a lot of people inside the Dodgers," Olden said. 'I sold programs at Dodger Stadium. I was always at the stadium. We used to hang out after games with the Dodger players after games in the parking lot, Lot 5. That was a close-knit group. Well, someone got word that Willie was my favorite Dodger, and I somehow got the bat. 'I made connections with him long after his playing days at the Santa Anita racetrack when they named a race after him. I kept that bat all of these years. I used to practice my golf swing with it, put weighted donuts on it to build my arm strength. It's been my steady companion most of my broadcast career. 'I loved the bat. 'But now, well, it's time for Eric to have it.'' D-backs disaster The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to be snakebitten when it comes to signing free-agent starters, and you wonder how hesitant they'll be to ever again swim in the deep free-agent waters for starting pitchers. They wanted to keep up with the Dodgers when they signed former Cy Young pitcher Corbin Burnes to a franchise-record six-year, $210 million contract in December, only for Burnes to need Tommy John surgery. It ends this season, and maybe 2026, too. It's just the latest calamity for the Diamondbacks. Their last four marquee signings: Corbin Burnes: 6 years, $210 million. 11 starts: 3-2, 2.66 ERA. Jordan Montgomery: 2 years, $47.5 million. 21 starts: 8-7, 6.23 ERA. Eduardo Rodriguez: 4 years, $80 million. 19 starts, 4-7, 5.99 ERA. Madison Bumgarner (in 2020-24): 5 years, $85 million. 69 starts, 15-32, 5.23 ERA. Montgomery underwent Tommy John surgery this spring and Rodriguez is 1-3 with a 7.05 ERA this season. Burnes' injury all but assures he'll remain in Arizona for the final four years and $140 million of his contract instead of exercising his opt out after the 2026 season. It also means that the Diamondbacks have to re-sign either Zac Gallen or Merill Kelly, who are free agents at the season's conclusion, if they plan to remain competitive. Can you spare some runs? Since the Pirates won't trade ace Paul Skenes, can he least file a lawsuit against his employers for failure to provide run support?. Skenes, 4-6 with a 2.05 ERA has allowed only 19 earned runs in 13 starts this year, but the Pirates have somehow lost eight of those games. In his last five starts, he is yielding a 1.04 ERA, and has just one victory. In his last seven starts, he has g a 1.77 ERA, and the Pirates are 2-5. Skenes is the first pitcher to lose twice in a single season allowing no more than one run or walk with eight or more strikeouts in eight innings since Pedro Martinez in 2000, and only the third in the last 111 years. Incredibly, he still has yet to give up more than six hits in any of his 36 career starts with a 2.00 ERA, but has only 15 victories while the Pirates have gone 20-16. 'Unfortunately," Skenes told reporters after his last start, 'it's baseball.'' And unfortunately, nothing may change the next 4 ½ years he remains under the Pirates' control. Around the basepaths – Despite Atlanta's frustrating season in which they're in danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2017, manager Brian Snitker's job appears to be safe for the remainder of the season. He has led Atlanta to seven consecutive postseasons and a World Series championship. Snitker's contract expires after this year when he's expected to retire as manager and then move into a special assistant role. Snitker, who has spent 49 years with the organization, deserves to be wildly cheered when he's introduced during the All-Star Game pre-game introductions in Atlanta on Dave Roberts' NL coaching staff. – There's a tremendous amount of frustration in Texas these days with their struggling offense. Future Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy is in the last year of his contract and also is considering walking away after the season. If he retires, former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker is the favorite to be be his replacement. – The Boston Red Sox may be playing sloppy and mediocre baseball, but manager Alex Cora's job is safe. – The Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres are expected to the most aggressive teams at the trade deadline. The Phillies will be looking for a center fielder and bullpen help, the Mariners are once again desperate for offense, the Cubs are seeking a front-line starter and relievers, and the Padres are searching for a left fielder. – No matter where Atlanta is are at the trade deadline, the team isn't expected to be a seller at the deadline – with the possible exception of DH Marcell Ozuna, who's a free agent after the season. Atlanta still has a fabulous young nucleus, Cy Young winner Chris Sale back for another season, a healthy Spencer Strider and MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. a year removed from ACL surgery. – Just when the buzzards started hovering over the Orioles – hoping to grab starters Zach Eflin and Tomoyuki Sugano, closer Felix Bautista and center fielder Cedric Mullins – Baltimore pulled off a six-game winning streak. The Orioles' talented young offense could keep them in the wild-card race. – Scouts say that the talent in this year's amateur draft is down this year, particularly at the college level, but that the 2026 draft has a chance to be phenomenal. – The White Sox, who had a chance to trade center fielder Luis Robert for prospects last winter, badly need him to start performing or they could be stuck with him and his $15 million contract for the rest of season. He has two $20 million club options that certainly won't be picked up unless he has a magical second half. – MLB officials are optimistic that the roof will be repaired at Tropicana Field – at the tune of about $56 million – in time for the Rays to open the 2026 season where they will remain at least through 2028. – After trading All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker and allowing Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman to walk, the Astros are back in first place and could be the team to beat in the AL West. – The Tucker trade has worked out quite nicely for both sides. While Tucker is hitting .283 with 12 homers and 45 RBIs for the Cubs, third baseman Isaac Paredes is hitting .242 with 14 homers and 37 RBIs and rookie outfielder Cam Smith is hitting .245 with three homers and 18 RBIs for the Astros. – White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, 89, erased all of the speculation that the White Sox would be up for sale any time soon, but does have a succession plan in place beginning in 2029, or perhaps even 2034 when he will turn 98 years old. Reinsdorf, who has been hounded by minority owner Justin Ishbia for years to sell controlling interest of the club, finally agreed to potentially sell it to him beginning in 2029, but not a single day earlier. If Reinsdorf or his family still own the team in 2034, Ishbia has the right to purchase the club without Reinsdorf's approval. In exchange, Ishbia is contributing capital this year and in 2026. The plan was put in place months ago, as The Athletic's Jon Greenberg reported, but was not announced until the final day of the owners' meetings on Thursday. The Chicago Bulls, owned by Reinsdorf, will remain in the family where his son, Michael, is president and COO. – Ever so quietly, four of the five players who were suspended a year ago for gambling on baseball were reinstated this week. Tucupita Marcano, who bet on games in which he was playing, still is banned for life. The other four: LHP Andrew Saalfrank of the Arizona Diamondbacks and RHP Michael Kelly of the Athletics both rejoined their former teams, with Kelly immediately joining the A's bullpen and Saalfrank sent to the D-backs' minor-league complex. LHP Jay Groome of the San Diego Padres and infielder Jose Rodriguez of the Philadelphia Phillies were immediately non-tendered. – The majority of players, managers and coaches aren't in favor of having the automatic ball-strike (ABS) challenge system put in place for the 2026 season and hope to wait at least another year, but commissioner Rob Manfred said he hopes it's implemented next season. The competition committee consists of 11 people – six major league personnel officials, four player representatives, and one umpire. So even if the players all vote against it as expected, it could still pass if the league officials all approve. – The Pirates already are drawing interest in versatile infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa. – The Miami Marlins actually lost money this week just staffing baseball games at their ballpark this week against the Colorado Rockies. Their total paid attendance for the three-game series: 19,768. – Classy gesture from Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson who told the Seattle Mariners that he'd be honored to have his jersey No. 51 retired, but only if it occurs next season so that it doesn't interfere with Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame celebration this year. He also wanted to remind Mariners fans that he did not leave Seattle on his own volition but was traded to Houston in July 1998. He signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Diamondbacks in the offseason where he won four consecutive Cy Young awards and a World Series. It's considered perhaps greatest return on a multi-year contract in free agency history. 'I was traded," Johnson said. 'I didn't walk away. I think that is something I hear from fans still occasionally." – Eyeglass wear companies should be beating down Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy's door for advertisements. Muncy was hitting .180 with no homers, four RBIs and a .531 OPS in the first 28 games of this season before he tried wearing glasses. Since the glasses? He's hitting .268 with nine homers, 31 RBIs and a .991 OPS. – New York Yankees reliever Mark Leiter Jr. can't stop raving about the impact Aaron Judge has had on him and everyone in the Yankees' clubhouse. 'He's unbelievable,'' Leiter said. 'He's the best player on the planet, but he's even a better person. You already know how good he is as a player, but he blows you away what kind of person he is, what kind of leader he is, and makes every single guy in the room feel good. Pretty special human being. It's an honor to be his teammate, to be honest with you." – Does any bullpen have more fun than the Minnesota Twins? When they arrive, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune, they pull out cans of Red Bull, gather around in a circle, drop to one knee, with bullpen catcher Frank Nigro then pouring a shot of Red Bull into their mouths. Nigro proceeds by throwing empty cans against the wall before a fiery speech. – How historic was the D-backs' 11-10 victory over Atlanta when trailing 10-4 entering the ninth inning last week? It was the first time Atlanta lost a game when leading by six or more runs after eight innings since July 17, 1973, spanning 766 games. And it was the first time Arizona had a comeback of six or more runs in the ninth in franchise history having gone 0-419. – Boston Red Sox starter Walker Buehler, who signed a one-year, $21.05 million contract, realizes that he hardly has lived up to expectations with his 4-4 record and 5.18 ERA in 10 starts. 'This organization put a lot of faith in me this offseason," Buehler told reporters after lasting just two innings in his last start, 'and I've been [expletive] embarrassing for us." Then again, how do you think fellow Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito feels? He signed a two-year, $37 million deal after the 2023 season, missed all of last season after elbow surgery, and now is 1-1 with a 6.42 ERA, pitching just 32 ⅔ innings in seven starts. – Pretty cool for former Angels starter Clyde Wright, who began coaching Kyle Hendricks when he was 12 years old, to be at Angels Stadium to congratulate Hendricks on winning his 100th career game Friday night, matching Wright. 'I told him, it only took 23 years after our first lesson," Hendricks told reporters. – The Dodgers have become a traveling secretary's worst nightmare this season, much less manager Dave Roberts. They have made 22 transactions through the first week of June, and have already employed 13 different starting pitchers. They have had 20 pitchers go on the injured list this season, and still have 15 on it. Their bullpen leads the major leagues in innings pitched (270) while their starters have thrown the second-fewest innings. 'Not ideal," Roberts says. – The Yankees, who are pulling away in the AL East, now are expected to have slugger Giancarlo Stanton back for the first time this season. Stanton is scheduled to undergo a rehab assignment next week. – No one is winning at small ball more than the San Diego Padres. They have won an MLB-leading 22 games this season when scoring no more than two runs, with 11 shutout victories. – Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has an MLB-leading 24 home runs, also has become the first to volunteer for the Home Run Derby this year in Atlanta. Raleigh is halfway to Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez's record for homers by a catcher with 48 in 2021. – Don't look now, but here come those homeless Tampa Bay Rays once again. They entered Saturday with a 13-3 record since May 20 with the pitching staff yielding a 1.96 ERA. They have held opponents to four or fewer runs in 17 consecutive games. If the season ended today, they would be in the postseason, but with no idea where they'd play their home games. – Max Fried is doing his best Ron Guidry impersonation since joining the Yankees. He's 8-1 with a 1.78 ERA in 13 starts this season, and is 21-3 with a 1.67 ERA in 30 career starts against the American League. In Guidry's first 13 starts of the 1978 season, he was 10-0 with a 1.57 ERA, finishing the season with a 25-3 record and 1.74 ERA. – Everyone is telling Atlanta ace Spencer Strider that he needs to be patient just four starts into his return after undergoing elbow surgery 14 months ago. Sorry, but Strider, 0-4, 5.68 ERA, refuses to listen. 'I don't have the ability to be patient, honestly," Strider told reporters this week. 'We've got to win games, and when it's my turn to pitch, I've got to give us a chance to win. If I can't do that, then I don't know what value I'm providing, besides reps.' Remember when Phillies starter Jesus Luzardo was cruising along with a 5-0 record and a 2.25 ERA in his first 11 starts this season, giving up a total of just 19 runs? Well, he has given up 20 earned runs in his last two starts alone, recording just 17 outs. It is the most runs given up in back-to-back starts by a Phillies' pitcher since Bill Hubbell in 1922. – Veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel's return to Atlanta lasted all of one game. He was DFA'd after giving up one hit and one walk in one inning. – Just when you think it's impossible to make Shohei Ohtani look bad at the plate, along comes Mets starter David Peterson. Ohtani's last seven at-bats against Peterson: five strikeouts and two singles. – How did Fredi Gonzalez celebrate his return to Atlanta as the third base coach after being dismissed as manager in 2016? Gonzalez and manager Brian Snitker drove to see their mentor, Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox, at his home in Atlanta. – Kansas City Royals rookie Jac Caglianone, who made his major-league debut this week in St. Louis certainly has had a whirlwind tour these past 12 months. He has played for the Florida Gators, Quad City River Bandits, Surprise Saguaros, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Omaha Storm Chasers and now the Royals. – The Cincinnati Reds may want to start lobbying to be placed in a different division away from the Milwaukee Brewers when MLB undergoes realignment. The Reds have lost 20 of their last 25 games to the Brewers in Cincinnati, and 30 of 40 games overall. – There's nothing more entertaining than listening to Angels manager Ron Washington's pre-game media sessions, and he delivered a beaut this past week in Boston. 'I still have my passion because there's so much youth in the game today and they need guys like me," Washington, 73, said. 'We are a dying breed. I'm not talking about the managing part of it. I'm talking about trying to get them to understand how the game is played, how you come out here every day and give your best, how you become a great teammate. 'All of that stuff is part of baseball, but the glamour stuff has taken over. Back in the day, if you hit a home run and you do what these kids do today, you'd get one in the neck. And everybody in baseball knows it was going to happen.' And just how long does Washington plan to stick around? 'It's simple, I'm going to leave the game of baseball when Ron Washington is ready,' he said. 'Think I'm going to let some 20- or 19- or 22-year-old run me out of the game of baseball? What I do, I'll adjust. I'm not going to change who I am. When I feel like I can't do that, then I'll go home.'' Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Yankees' Austin Wells has big four-RBI night — but still falters in key spot
Access the Yankees beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees. Try it free This year has mostly been a struggle for Austin Wells, who began to live up to his promise last season before falling in the latter part of the year. And even on a night when the catcher had perhaps his most productive night of the year, it ended in disappointment in a 10-7 loss to Boston. After Wells kept the Yankees in the game with a three-run homer and an RBI double off tough left-hander Garrett Crochet earlier in the game, the lefty-swinging Wells came up short with a chance to tie it in the bottom of the eighth, when he struck out against former Yankee southpaw Justin Wilson, stranding pinch runner Anthony Volpe at second base to end the inning. 3 Austin Wells rounds the bases after hitting a three-run homer during the second inning of the Yankees' 10-7 loss to the Red Sox on June 7, 2025. Robert Sabo for the NY Post Still, maybe his success against Crochet will spark the lefty-swinging catcher. 'I expect so much of him offensively and think so much of him offensively,' Aaron Boone said. 'He's capable of that right there against the very best left-on-left.' Wells gave the Yankees their lone lead of the night with a three-run blast off Crochet — who had allowed just one homer to a left-handed hitter all season prior to Saturday night. 3 Austin Wells reacts after striking out in the eighth inning of the Yankees' loss to the Red Sox. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST But Wells couldn't coerce another solid start from Ryan Yarbrough, who has been a surprisingly strong revelation since arriving in spring training after opting out of his deal with the Blue Jays in March. After Yarbrough was knocked around for five runs in the top of the third and two more in the fourth, Wells tried to get the Yankees back in the game in the bottom of the fourth, this time with a booming double the other way to left-center. It came again off Crochet, who had also given up only one double to lefties all year. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND YANKEES STATS 3 Austin Wells celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the Yankees' loss to the Red Sox. Robert Sabo for the NY Post 'I got two pitches to handle,'' said Wells, who is hitting the ball harder than he has previously in his career, but doesn't have a lot to show for it. Although he has 10 homers, his average has hovered slightly above .200 for most of the season. With Carlos Narváez in town with the Red Sox after being traded by the Yankees in the offseason and off to a start that has put him in the conversation for the American League All-Star team, Wells' shaky offensive output has been highlighted more of late. The Yankees are steadfast in their belief that Wells will live up to his potential on offense, as he has continued to impress behind the plate. 'Hopefully it's those little things that kind of get him rolling to where he gets hot,'' Boone said of Wells' at-bats on Saturday.
