The Opener

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

1. MLB at Rickwood Field to Honor Willie Mays:

The Giants and Cardinals are set to face off this evening in a game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama scheduled for 6:15pm local time. The game, which will be televised nationally on FOX, was initially scheduled as a tribute to the Negro Leagues and their storied history but has taken on additional meaning after the recent passing of MLB legend Willie Mays earlier this week. Mays briefly played a professional in the Negro Leagues during the 1948 season as a member of the Birmingham Black Barons, appearing in 13 games for the club as a 17-year-old in the midst of a season where the Black Barons went on to capture the NAL pennant before losing the final Negro League World Series to the Homestead Grays in five games.

The Black Barons (and, by extension, Mays) called Rickwood Field their home ballpark. First established in 1910, it’s the oldest professional ballpark in the US and two years older than Fenway Park in Boston. More than 75 years after the last Negro League game was played there, Major League play returns to Rickwood Field tonight as St. Louis and San Francisco face off with right-handed youngsters Andre Pallante and Keaton Winn on the mound. Tonight’s game will (as relayed by The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal) feature the first entirely black crew of umpires in AL/NL history and figures to celebrate not only the storied history of the Negro Leagues, but also the life and career of Mays.

2. Abrams to undergo MRI:

Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams was scratched from yesterday’s lineup against the Diamondbacks due to what manager Davey Martinez told reporters (including those at MLB.com) was being termed discomfort in his left wrist. Martinez went on to add that Abrams wasn’t sure what was causing the discomfort, and that the club planned to send their young star for an MRI to ensure all was well. The 23-year-old Abrams has enjoyed a breakout season with the Nationals this year as he’s slashed an impressive .261/.313/.478 with 10 stolen bases and 11 home runs in 66 games this year. That strong slash line comes in spite of a difficult month of May where Abrams hit just .205/.216/.304 in 27 games.

Abrams’s breakout campaign has helped the Nationals to be surprisingly competitive this season, as the club is currently tied with the Cardinals for the second of three NL Wild Card spots despite a lackluster 36-37 record. A significant stretch of time without Abrams would be a brutal blow to the Nationals’ odds of holding onto that position, as his 1.2 fWAR leads the club’s positional corps. Nasim Nunez took over for Abrams at shortstop yesterday and could be the club’s top option to fill in if Abrams requires a trip to the injured list.

3. Toro battling shoulder soreness:

A’s infielder Abraham Toro is dealing with a bout of shoulder soreness, as noted by MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos yesterday. The issue first cropped up during Oakland’s doubleheader against the Twins on Sunday and has caused him to miss each of the past two games. As relayed by Gallegos, Toro was scheduled to meet with team doctors to discuss how to handle the injury but manager Mark Kotsay told reporters after the game that he had no update on Toro’s status and that more information about the infielder would be available today.

Toro, 27, has had a decent season with the A’s this year. He’s posted a roughly average slash line of .256/.298/381 in 71 games for the club this year while splitting time between first base, second base, third base, and left field throughout the year. In the aftermath of the club’s decision to designate J.D. Davis for assignment earlier this week, it appeared likely that Toro would be handed the keys to third base full time, although with Toro now possibly injured, Oakland will have to find a new solution at the hot corner. Infielder Tyler Nevin has handled third base duties so far during Toro’s absence and could be the club’s long-term answer there if Toro misses further time, although rookie third baseman Brett Harris is also on the 40-man roster after getting a 17-game cup of coffee in the majors earlier this year.

With 45% of the 2024 season now in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Cole makes his return:

The Yankees have been without reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole all season due to elbow inflammation, but he’ll return from the 60-day injured list to make his season debut today. The Yankees will need to make corresponding moves on both the 40-man and active rosters in order to accommodate his return.

Cole is scheduled to take the mound opposite Orioles rookie Cade Povich (4.76 ERA in two starts) at 7:05pm local time this evening. Cole, who led the American League in ERA, innings, and WHIP last year, will get a tough assignment in his season debut, as the Orioles have posted a collective slash line of .249/.309/.450. The resulting 116 wRC+ suggests they’ve been 16% better than league-average as a collective unit — a mark that ranks third in the majors behind only the Dodgers and the Yankees themselves.

2. Dodgers to shake up rotation?

Cole isn’t the only notable hurler returning from the injured list today. Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller is also scheduled to take the ball today opposite Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner (5.71 ERA) in Colorado at 8:40pm local time. The return of Miller, who made just three starts before being sidelined back in April but impressed with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts during his rookie season last year, may not be the only change coming to the Dodgers’ rotation in the near future. Walker Buehler told reporters (including Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times) yesterday that the Dodgers are considering getting him some time to reset after he struggled to a 4.64 ERA and 5.54 FIP in his first seven starts back from Tommy John surgery this year.

Manager Dave Roberts said yesterday that an IL stint for Buehler was possible. Rookie Landon Knack, who has a 2.61 ERA in four spot starts at the big league level this year, appears to be the most likely candidate to replace Buehler in the rotation. Looking a bit further out, it’s possible that Clayton Kershaw could be a factor before long. As noted by MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, the veteran lefty is ahead of schedule in his rehab from shoulder surgery and is set to begin a rehab assignment later today. It still appears unlikely that the 36-year-old will be ready to return before the All-Star break, but his approaching return should afford the Dodgers additional flexibility as they navigate a rotation picture without right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the foreseeable future.

3. Westburg day-to-day:

Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg exited yesterday’s game against the Yankees in the second inning last night after colliding with Juan Soto on the basepaths. O’s skipper Brandon Hyde said after the game that Westburg is day-to-day with a left hip contusion. The loss of the 25-year-old for any amount of time stings, as he’s emerged as one of the club’s most impactful hitters alongside Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman.

In 275 trips to the plate, Westburg has slashed .278/.332/.504 with a wRC+ of 137. The impressive showing this year as further cemented Westburg as a key part of an ever-evolving Orioles lineup flooded with quality positional options. Infielder Ramon Urias, who won a Gold Glove award at third base in 2022, would likely take on a larger role again if Westburg ends up needing more recovery time than is currently anticipated.

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

1. Contreras begins rehab assignment:

Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras was off to an otherworldly start this year, slashing .280/.398/.551 (170 wRC+) in 31 games before he was struck in the arm by a swing of the bat from Mets DH J.D. Martinez. The incident left him with a fractured arm that was initially expected to cost him at least ten weeks, but the 32-year-old actually appears to be ahead of schedule. He resumed baseball activities earlier this month, just four weeks after his initial injury, and today (as noted by MLB.com’s Injury Tracker) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Memphis with three at-bats out of the DH slot. When the veteran returns, he’ll be entering into a playoff race for the first time in his St. Louis tenure as the Cardinals have surged to second place in the NL Central with a 36-35 record in his absence after possessing a record of just 15-21 at the time of his injury.

2. Series Preview: Mariners @ Guardians

Neither the Mariners nor the Guardians were popular picks to win their divisions heading into the season, but both have substantial leads in mid-June. Seattle has surged ahead of both the Rangers and Astros to grab a commanding nine game lead in the AL West, while the Guardians’ 44-25 record is not only good for the AL Central lead but also the fifth-best record in baseball this year. They’re up five games over the second-place Royals and 5.5 games over the third-place Twins. Now, the two surprise contenders are set to meet in Cleveland for a three-game set in what could be a preview of a playoff matchup.

The series opens at 6:40pm local time this evening with a pair of right-handed youngsters on the mound when 25-year-old Bryce Miller (3.48 ERA) faces off against 26-year-old Triston McKenzie (4.10 ERA). The youthful pitching matchups will continue tomorrow when 24-year-old Bryan Woo (1.07 ERA through six starts) takes on 25-year-old Tanner Bibee (3.94 ERA), and the series will wrap up on Thursday with veteran Luis Castillo (3.32 ERA) taking on 25-year-old lefty Logan Allen (5.30 ERA). The Guardians will be looking to cool off the Mariners in this series, as Seattle has won seven of their last eight games, while Cleveland has gone just 4-4 over that same timeframe, including dropping three of their last four contests.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

The injury bug has struck a number of clubs recently, with Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Kyle Bradish, Michael Harris II, and Anthony Rizzo all facing extended absences. If you have any questions about how those players’ absences will be handled by their clubs, or perhaps questions that look ahead to the July 30 trade deadline or the upcoming offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a live chat with readers today at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after it is completed.

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

1. Rizzo to undergo imaging:

Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo suffered a right arm injury following a collision with Red Sox lefty Brennan Bernardino at the plate in the seventh inning of last night’s loss to Boston. As noted by ESPN’s Jorge Castillo, Rizzo appeared to be favoring his wrist area in the aftermath of the collision, although MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch relayed that the Yankees termed the issue a “lower right forearm injury.” Rizzo is set to head back to New York today to visit team doctors and undergo imaging to determine the severity of the issue.

The injury is the latest tough blow in what has been a difficult season for Rizzo; the 34-year-old has slashed just .223/.289/.341 with a wRC+ of 84 in 291 trips to the plate this year. That production makes Rizzo one of just eight qualified first basemen to post below average offensive numbers this year, and of that group he’s outproduced only Joey Meneses, Spencer Torkelson, and Elehuris Montero. If Rizzo requires a trip to the injured list, Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu figure to handle the infield corners in his absence.

2. Carroll to remain in Arizona for MRI:

Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll was also removed in the late innings yesterday, with manager Torey Lovullo telling reporters (including Alex Weiner of AZSports) that the 23-year-old was suffering from “left side discomfort.” Carroll will remain in Arizona to undergo an MRI while the rest of the team heads to Washington today ahead of their series against the Nationals. While that might seem somewhat ominous, Carroll remained optimistic and told Weiner that “all indications” suggest the results of today’s MRI will be positive.

Carroll has had a brutal sophomore slump, slashing just .213/.302/.310 (78 wRC+) in 70 games this year. He’s started to catch fire of late, however, with a .333/.435/.487 slash line in his last ten games — making the timing of this injury all the worse. In the event that Carroll is sidelined, Jake McCarthy is the likeliest candidate to take over center field for Arizona, opening up the corners for veterans Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Randal Grichuk.

3. Blue Jays to activate Rodriguez:

Toronto is set to get some reinforcements on the pitching side today, as Francys Romero reports that right-hander Yariel Rodriguez is set to be activated from the 15-day injured list today. Rodriguez, 27, was among the most intriguing free agent signings of the offseason as a young hurler who had impressed in Japan but had not yet appeared in a big league game. The Blue Jays took a chance on Rodriguez with a five-year, $32MM deal, but Rodriguez’s debut campaign has been marred by injury. The righty pitched decently in four starts with the club earlier this year (4.11 ERA, 22.2% strikeout rate) but has missed the past six weeks due to thoracic spine inflammation.

Now that he’s healthy, Rodriguez will likely have the opportunity to step into the club’s fifth starter role in the aftermath of righty Alek Manoah’s impending UCL surgery. Rodriguez dominated in eight appearances at the Triple-A level this year, pitching to a 1.33 ERA in 20 1/3 innings while striking out an excellent 37.9% of batters faced. In order to activate him, the Blue Jays will have to create room on the active roster prior to tonight’s game against the Red Sox, which is set to begin at 6:07pm local time.

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

1. Series Preview: Rangers @ Mariners

It’s been a struggle for the reigning World Series champion Rangers this year, as they’ve played to just a 33-35 record that places them 5.5 games back of the Mariners for the AL West lead and 3.5 games back of the Twins for the final AL Wild Card spot. Texas has begun to heat up recently with a 9-6 record over their past 15 games, a stretch that includes swiping two of three from the Dodgers in L.A. earlier this week. With a three-game set against Seattle on the docket this weekend, the Rangers will turn to lefty Andrew Heaney (4.06 ERA), veteran Nathan Eovaldi (2.68 ERA), and righty Dane Dunning (4.80 ERA) opposite the three-headed monster at the front of the Mariners rotation: Luis Castillo (3.35 ERA), George Kirby (3.81 ERA), and Logan Gilbert (3.19 ERA).

The coming series will be crucial to the defending champs’ chances of turning things around, particularly in the division standings, prior to the trade deadline next month. The  Rangers won’t play the Mariners again until September. A sweep of the series by Texas would place them just 2.5 games back of Seattle in the division and back over .500, while the Mariners would be able to create even more distance in the AL West with a sweep of their own, giving them at least an eight-game lead over their closest competitor. The series kicks off tonight in Seattle and 7:10pm local time.

2. Cole continues rehab:

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is scheduled to make his third rehab start at the Triple-A level today, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including those at MLB.com). Boone added that Cole is expected to throw around 70 pitches, and Cole himself said following his last start that he expected to make one more before returning to the majors. That could signal that Cole will be ready to be activated as soon as next week, assuming there are no hiccups during his rehab outing today.

The reigning AL Cy Young winner has been sidelined since Spring Training due to a bout of elbow inflammation but has looked like his usual dominant self in two rehab starts at the Double-A level. In a combined eight innings of work, Cole has struck out nine batters (32.4% strikeout rate) while issuing zero walks and allowing just one earned run. Cole’s return to the rotation should allow the Yankees to return right-hander Cody Poteet to his role as an occasional spot starter rather than a fixture of the rotation, though the 29-year-old has impressed with a 2.40 ERA in three starts since replacing an injured Clarke Schmidt.

3. 2021 NL Cy Young Award rematch:

Sunday’s game between the Phillies and Orioles will be a particularly interesting one, even aside from the inherent intrigue of seeing two of the league’s heavyweights square off in a hypothetical World Series preview. Right-handers Corbin Burnes and Zack Wheeler are set to face off in Baltimore starting at 1:35pm local time. It will be the first time the pair have faced each other since finishing as the top two in a close 2021 NL Cy Young Award vote that saw each hurler get 12 out of 30 first place votes. Ultimately, Burnes bested Wheeler by a narrow margin to take home the award.

Burnes was traded to Baltimore over the winter and upon joining the Orioles has enjoyed his best campaign since he was crowned the best pitcher in the NL three years ago. In 86 2/3 innings, he’s notched  2.08 ERA and 3.22 FIP, though his 23.6% strikeout rate is a far cry from the 35.6% figure he posted in 2021. Meanwhile, Wheeler recently signed an extension to stay in Philadelphia through 2027. His 2.16 ERA in 87 2/3 frames this season would be a career best, and he sports an excellent 2.90 FIP with a 27.7% strikeout rate.

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

1. Diaz to return:

Mets righty Edwin Diaz is set to be activated from the injured list today. The Mets will need to clear space on their active roster to accommodate Diaz, but Tim Healey of Newsday reported last night that they’ve already done so by optioning southpaw Danny Young to Triple-A. Diaz has been sidelined by an impingement in his right shoulder since the end of May, and his return figures to get plenty of attention due to the struggles he had been facing prior to that injury.

From April 29 until his last appearance prior to going on the IL, Diaz posted a 9.58 ERA and 6.25 FIP in 10 appearances and converted just one of five save chances, leading the Mets to temporarily remove their $102MM reliever from the closer role. Now that he’s returning to action, he’ll aim to get back to 2022 form, when he pitched to an otherworldly 1.31 ERA and 0.90 FIP with a 50.2% strikeout rate and 32 saves in 61 appearances.

2. Dodgers altering pitching plans:

The Dodgers are set to face off against the Rangers in a rubber match this evening, and they had previously been expecting to send right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound against Rangers right-hander Michael Lorenzen (3.05 ERA). However, Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts told reporters (including those at MLB.com) that the club has decided to push Yamamoto’s next start back until Saturday against the Royals. Fortunately, Roberts didn’t indicate that there was a physical issue with the impressive young right-hander. Rather, it seems Yamamoto’s absence from the mound this evening is simply a way to monitor his workload and build extra rest into his schedule as he transitions to a heavier workload in MLB. (NPB starters typically pitch once per week, and Yamamoto has never started more than 26 games during a regular season.)

In the meantime, MLB.com’s Juan Toribio was among those to relay that the club is set to turn to right-hander Michael Grove, who has pitched to a 4.72 ERA in 34 1/3 long relief innings this season, to start what seems likely to be a bullpen game for the Dodgers. Tonight’s game is set to take place in Dodger Stadium at 7:10pm local time.

3. Interleague Pitchers’ Duel:

Another rubber match is set to take place this evening at Fenway Park when the Red Sox take on the Phillies for the final game of their three-game set. It’s not a game that figures to have much immediate impact on the standings, as Philadelphia has carved out a ten-game lead over the Braves in the NL East while Boston sits 11.5 games back of the second-place Orioles in the AL East with a .500 record.

What the game lacks in playoff impact it makes up for with an exciting pitching matchup, however. The Phillies are set to trot out right-hander Aaron Nola, who sports a 2.77 ERA with a 23.1% strikeout rate in 13 starts since signing a $172MM deal to remain in Philadelphia back in November. Meanwhile, the Red Sox counter with righty Tanner Houck, who has been nothing short of dominant so far in what is quickly becoming a breakout season. Houck’s 1.91 ERA is the best among all qualified AL hurlers, and the 27-year-old hurler’s 25% strikeout rate and 2.22 FIP largely back up those fantastic results. The two electric arms are scheduled to face off starting at 7:10pm local time this evening.

We kicked off the morning with a trade of note between the Dodgers and Blue Jays, but here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Woo undergoes MRI:

Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo was set to start last night’s game against the White Sox but ended up a late scratch due to what the club described as a “right forearm issue.” As noted by MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer, the M’s are hopeful Woo will be able to avoid a trip to the injured list, although manager Scott Servis acknowledged to reporters yesterday that an IL stint may end up being necessary. If Woo does require a trip to the shelf, it would be a frustrating turn of events for the Mariners as the young righty has been dominant when healthy enough to take the mound this year, with a 1.06 ERA across six starts. As for possible replacements, lefty Jhonathan Diaz stepped in for Woo last night and allowed three runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings of work. It’s possible the club could stick with Diaz or opt to utilize right-hander Emerson Hancock, who has a 5.24 ERA in seven starts this season.

2. Gallo to the IL:

Nationals first baseman and outfielder Joey Gallo appears to be headed for the injured list today, as manager Dave Martinez told reporters (including Andrew Golden of the Washington Post) yesterday that Gallo “pulled” his hamstring during last night’s game and that the club will need to make a roster move today to replace him. It’s been a tough season for Gallo, who is striking out at a hefty 43% clip while failing to make up for the lack of contact with his usual amount of power. While Gallo sports a career .263 ISO (slugging minus batting average) and a .241 figure from 2021-23, his ISO this year is just .157. With Gallo seemingly headed to the shelf, Joey Meneses could get a larger share of playing time at first, and infielder Trey Lipscomb could also be called up to pitch in at first.

3. Angels dealing with day-to-day injuries:

Two Angels players suffered injuries during yesterday’s loss to the Diamondbacks, leaving their status up in the air. Outfielder Taylor Ward was removed from the game in the eighth inning due to what the team described as “lower back tightness,” while catcher Logan O’Hoppe was pulled from the game two innings prior after being struck in the groin area by a foul ball off the bat of Arizona outfielder Randal Grichuk. O’Hoppe was down for several minutes due to the pain but was eventually able to walk off the field on his own accord.

Fortunately, the Halos appear to have escaped major injuries with both players; Ward told reporters he hopes to be back in the lineup as soon as today, while O’Hoppe indicated that he’s unlikely to play today but was cleared of major injury. If the pair end up needing a few days, Matt Thaiss figures to cover for O’Hoppe behind the plate while Kevin Pillar and Mickey Moniak would likely get extra time in the outfield in Ward’s absence.

With 40% of the 2024 regular season now in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Thorpe to debut:

The White Sox are wasting no time in promoting their centerpiece from the Dylan Cease trade to the majors, as manager Pedro Grifol confirmed over the weekend that right-hander Drew Thorpe will make his MLB debut against the Mariners this evening. The White Sox will need to create space for Thorpe on both the 40-man and active rosters prior to tonight’s game, which is set to start at 6:40pm local time in Seattle. Thorpe will be tasked with taking on Mariners youngster Bryan Woo (1.07 ERA), who has been nothing short of dominant since returning from the injured list last month.

The 23-year-old Thorpe was in the headlines frequently this winter as he was twice included as a key part of the return in blockbuster deals, first headlining the return headed from New York to San Diego for Juan Soto alongside Michael King before the aforementioned Cease deal. Thorpe will be bypassing the Triple-A level entirely to make his way to the majors, but has an excellent 1.39 ERA in 16 starts at the Double-A level with an excellent 29.9% strikeout rate. A consensus top-100 prospect, Thorpe receives consistently high marks for his changeup and command with most services projecting him as a mid-rotation arm in the long term.

2. Rodriguez to debut:

Thorpe isn’t the only starting pitching prospect set to make his MLB debut today, as the Brewers are reportedly expected to promote right-hander Carlos Rodriguez for his major league debut this evening for a game against the Blue Jays in Milwaukee. The game is scheduled for 7:10pm local time and will see Rodriguez face off against veteran lefty Yusei Kikuchi (3.48 ERA) amid what has been a career season for the former NPB hurler. The Brewers will need to make room for Rodriguez on both the active and 40-man rosters prior to tonight’s game.

The 22-year-old has not typically been ranked especially highly by prospect outlets, but after being selected in the sixth round of the 2022 draft he nonetheless made some noise last year by posting a 2.77 ERA with a 29.5% strikeout rate across 25 starts at Double-A last year. Rodriguez received the bump to Triple-A late last year and has now made 13 total appearances at the level, but he’s struggled to a 5.21 ERA with a reduced 24.7% strikeout rate in that time. Still, the Brewers will turn to Rodriguez to take the ball in tonight’s game amid a myriad of starting pitching injuries that have plagued the club in recent weeks.

3. Renfroe injured:

It was a frustrating turn of events for both the Royals and veteran outfielder Hunter Renfroe as he exited yesterday’s loss to the Yankees after fouling two pitches off his left foot amid a 12-pitch duel with lefty Carlos Rodon. Manager Matt Quatraro told reporters (as relayed by Bally Sports Kansas City) that Renfroe suffered a broken toe during the at-bat and that he would be evaluated further before the club decides if a stint on the injured list will be necessary for the veteran. In the short term, any of Nick Pratto, Tyler Gentry, or Drew Waters could feasible replace Renfroe on the roster if he needs a stint on the IL.

The timing is especially unfortunate because Renfroe has been on a hot streak in recent weeks after a dreadful start to the season. The 32-year-old slashed just .150/.218/.263 in 87 trips to the plate prior to May 1 and continued to scuffle early last month but has turned things around in a big way over his last 20 games with an excellent .302/.371/.556 slash line in 70 plate appearances since the middle of May. If Renfroe ends up missing significant time due to the injury, it will only further highlight the need for another bat or two in the club’s outfield mix ahead of the trade deadline this summer; Royals outfielders have posted a collective wRC+ of just 75 this year, third-worst in baseball ahead of only the White Sox and Rockies.

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

1. Biggio in DFA limbo:

After several seasons of struggles as a potential “change of scenery” candidate, the Blue Jays made the somewhat surprising decision to designate infielder Cavan Biggio for assignment on Friday. While the 29-year-old has hit a paltry .200/.323/.291 with an 88 wRC+ in 44 games this season, Biggio entered the current campaign with a career .229/.345/.389 (105 wRC+) slash line, including an above-average figure in a multi-positional role last season with experience at first, second, and third base as well as right field. Biggio is now about halfway through his seven-day DFA window, during which the Blue Jays will either have to expose Biggio to waivers or work out a trade to move him elsewhere.

As a left-handed bat with the ability to play all around the infield and a walk rate that’s been north of 10% every season of his career, Biggio offers plenty of qualities that could make him an attractive bench piece for teams. On the other hand, Biggio’s lack of power production over the past four years could be a red flag, while the roughly $2.78MM left on his contract could make bringing him into the fold a slightly more expensive proposition.

2. Bregman day-to-day after HBP:

Astros fans suffered an injury scare last night when third baseman Alex Bregman was struck on the wrist by a pitch during the club’s game against the Angels. As noted by MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, it’s the second time in the past week that Bregman has been hit in that hand after a pitch got away from Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante on Tuesday. Fortunately, it appears that the veteran infielder got away without a serious injury, as Bregman himself told reporters (including MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) that x-rays on his wrist came back negative and that he’s currently day-to-day.

Houston is off today, giving Bregman at least one day to rest before any further decisions are made. Despite a difficult start to the season for the 30-year-old, the Astros would surely hate to lose Bregman for even a game or two in the midst of his first extended hot streak. The pending free agent is riding an 11-game hitting streak and has slashed a fantastic .381/.447/.833 with five homers, a triple, and two doubles in his past 47 plate appearances.

3. Series Preview: Yankees @ Royals

After struggling through a three-game series against the Dodgers in the Bronx, the Yankees head to Kansas City for a four-game set that could wind up being a postseason preview. The Yankees hold the AL’s best record but have a lead of just 2.5 games over the Orioles in the AL East, while the Royals sit four games back of Cleveland in the AL Central at 39-27. A win for the Royals in this series could help the club make up significant ground against Cleveland while also opening the door for the Orioles to sneak back into first place. A series win by the Yankees would preserve the status quo atop both divisions.

The series is set to begin at 7:10pm local time this evening, when Royals righty Seth Lugo (2.13 ERA) takes on Yankees lefty Carlos Rodon (3.08 ERA). Tomorrow’s game will see veteran Yankees righty Marcus Stroman (3.04 ERA) face off against Brady Singer (2.76 ERA). Journeyman Cody Poteet (1.72 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Yankees on Wednesday in a game where K.C. has yet to announce a starter. The series wraps Thursday with right-hander Alec Marsh (4.05 ERA) on the mound for Kansas City opposite Yankees southpaw Nestor Cortes (3.68 ERA). Looking beyond the pitching matchups, Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including those at MLB.com) that Juan Soto figures to return to the club’s lineup during this series after missing the past three games due to elbow inflammation.

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

1. London Series 2024:

Last year, MLB made its long-awaited return to London after first visiting with a set between the Red Sox and Yankees in 2019. The Yankees swept the two-game set that year, while last season the Cubs and Cardinals split their own two-game set. This weekend, a third pair of teams is set to face off in London Stadium: the Phillies and the Mets. Philadelphia has enjoyed an incredibly hot start to the 2024 campaign thanks to fantastic starting pitching performances, not only from aces Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola but also thanks to breakout performances from Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez. That elite pitching performance in conjunction with particularly strong offensive production from Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm and (prior to his injury) Trea Turner has led Philadelphia to a 44-19 record and a commanding lead in the NL East.

Things haven’t gone quite as well for the Mets this year. Luis Severino and Sean Manaea have posted quality results in the rotation while Pete Alonso, J.D. Martinez and young Mark Vientos have delivered strong performances to the anchor the lineup. However, significant struggles of key players like Edwin Diaz, Jeff McNeil and Jose Quintana have left fans in Queens with little to celebrate as their club has already fallen 16.5 games back of the NL East lead with a 27-35 record. The two-game set is set to begin at 6:10pm London time (1:10pm ET) on Saturday as Suarez (1.70 ERA) takes on Manaea (3.63 ERA), followed by a game at 3:10pm London time (10:10am ET) on Sunday where Quintana (5.17 ERA) takes on Taijuan Walker (5.73 ERA).

2. Soto to undergo testing:

Yaankees superstar Juan Soto departed yesterday’s win over the Twins following a rain delay due to what the team termed left forearm discomfort. As relayed by SNY on X (Video Links), manager Aaron Boone told reporters after the game that Soto’s been dealing with soreness in his forearm for the past week or so and that the club decided to “play it safe” rather than ramp him back up after the rain delay. While that description sounds fairly innocuous, Boone also added a more ominous note that Soto would undergo imaging on the arm today.

Acquired from the Padres in a blockbuster deal over the offseason, Soto has been everything the Yankees could’ve hoped for since the season began. In 64 games, the 25-year-old phenom has slashed .318/.424/.603 (190 wRC+) while leading the majors in on-base percentage, leading the AL in batting average, and clubbing 17 home runs. He’s even delivered solid defense in right field, with +1 Outs Above Average and +1 Defensive Runs Saved. Losing Soto for any amount of time would ramp up pressure in a division where the Yankees hold a 4.5-game lead over the second-place Orioles. If Soto is out, the Yankees could give Trent Grisham additional time in center and move Aaron Judge to right field.

3. Series Preview: Dodgers @ Yankees

The 45-19 Yankees have MLB’s best winning percentage, but the Dodgers are certainly fearsome in their own right with a 39-25 record and a commanding eight-game lead in the NL West. New York’s success has been largely predicated on the elite performance of their starting rotation, which leads the AL with a 2.82 ERA, along with big performances from Soto, Judge and shortstop Anthony Volpe.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have enjoyed elite offensive production from the top four spots in their lineup, occupied by Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith. Their rotation has been merely good rather than elite, ranking eighth in the majors with a collective 3.50 ERA despite strong individual performances from offseason acquisitions Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The set between the two titans is set to begin at 7:05pm local time this evening when Yamamoto (3.32 ERA) takes the mound opposite Cody Poteet, who has allowed three runs in 11 innings (2.45 ERA) in two spot starts this year. On Saturday, young righty Gavin Stone (2.90 ERA) will take on lefty Nestor Cortes (3.46 ERA). The series wraps up Sunday with Glasnow (2.93 ERA) on the mound opposite breakout righty Luis Gil (1.82 ERA).