The Opener

Happy Jackie Robinson Day to baseball fans everywhere! With 10% of the MLB regular season already in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Lorenzen to make season debut:

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen signed a one-year deal with the Rangers last month and has spent the season to this point building up in the minor leagues. Recent reporting has indicated that will end today, however, as Lorenzen is expected to be called up to start tonight’s series opener in Detroit, which is slated to begin at 6:40pm local time, opposite Tigers righty Reese Olson. On top of being Lorenzen’s first start in a Rangers uniform, today will mark the right-hander’s first time returning to Detroit since he was shipped to the Phillies ahead of last summer’s trade deadline. Lorenzen found a great deal of success during his brief time with the Tigers, pitching to a 3.58 ERA and 3.86 FIP in 105 2/3 innings of work prior to the trade.

2. Mariners, Nationals to promote youngsters ahead of debuts:

In addition to Lorenzen’s debut in Texas, today is also expected to mark the major league debuts of youngsters in both Seattle and the nation’s capital. Nationals lefty Mitchell Parker and Mariners outfielder Jonatan Clase will be promoted to the majors for the first time today. No corresponding 40-man moves will be necessary for either player; the Nationals added Parker to the 40-man roster back in November ahead of the Rule 5 Draft, while the Mariners did the same with Clase the year prior.

Parker, 24, is slated to take the ball opposite right-hander Tyler Glasnow and the Dodgers in L.A. at 7:10pm local time this evening. The Nationals’ fifth-round pick in 2020, Parker pitched to a 4.20 ERA in 25 appearances at the Double-A level last year. Clase, meanwhile, made his pro debut with the Mariners at 17 years old back in 2019 and has gotten off to a hot start at the Triple-A level this season, slashing .311/.396/.622 in his first 53 trips to the plate at the level. Should he make his debut this evening he’ll be facing off against the Reds in Seattle, where right-handers Frankie Montas and George Kirby are set to face off at 6:42pm local time.

3. Busch nearing franchise record with Cubs:

Rookie first baseman Michael Busch has been on a heater to open the 2024 campaign. The 26-year-old has slashed an incredible .327/.393/.694 in his first 56 plate appearances with the Cubs, who acquired him from the Dodgers alongside right-hander Yency Almonte this winter in exchange for prospects Jackson Ferris and Zyhir Hope. Yesterday’s game against the Mariners saw Busch go 2-for-4 with a home run off of right-hander Luis Castillo.

That performance was made more notable by the fact that it was the fourth consecutive game in which Busch homered. That puts the rookie just one long ball shy of matching the club’s franchise record for consecutive games with at least one home run, a record that MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian relays is jointly held by Busch’s teammate Christopher Morel as well as franchise legends Sammy Sosa, Ryne Sandberg, and Hack Wilson. Busch will attempt to match that quartet in tonight’s game against the Diamondbacks, where the Cubs will take on right-hander Merrill Kelly in Phoenix at 6:40pm local time.

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. Pitchers’ duel in Detroit:

Two of the AL Central’s very best starting pitchers are set to clash this evening when Twins right-hander Pablo Lopez takes the mound in Comerica Park against Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal. Lopez, 28, is coming off a strong 2023 campaign that saw him make the first All-Star appearance of his career and finish seventh in AL Cy Young award voting after posting a 3.66 ERA and 3.33 FIP in 194 innings of work. He’s performed admirably in his first two starts this year since stepping into the role of staff ace vacated by Sonny Gray, with a 2.84 ERA and 3.05 FIP in 12 2/3 innings of work to this point.

Meanwhile, Skubal is coming off a dominant second-half in 2023 after his midseason return from elbow surgery. In 15 starts last year, Skubal pitched to a sterling 2.80 ERA with an even better FIP of 2.00 while striking out a whopping 32.9% of batters he faced. The southpaw has continued rolling so far this year, with a 32.6% strikeout rate to go with a 2.92 ERA and 3.37 FIP in 12 1/3 innings. Detroit has outperformed Minnesota in the early going this year, posting a 7-4 record (1.5 games behind the Guardians in the AL Central) that gives them an early lead on the 4-6 Twins. This afternoon’s game is set to begin at 6:40pm local time.

2. LeMahieu to be re-examined:

Veteran infielder DJ LeMahieu has spent the entire 2024 campaign to this point on the injured list, prompting the Yankees to lean on Oswaldo Cabrera and Jon Berti at the hot corner. It’s possible LeMahieu could be getting closer to a return, however. Per MLB.com, manager Aaron Boone recently told reporters that LeMahieu will undergo a fresh round of imaging today in order to determine whether or not he’s ready to head out for a rehab assignment. The 35-year-old veteran was roughly league average at the plate in a down season last year but has a strong .285/.358/.430 slash line since joining the Yankees prior to the 2019 season.

3. Cardinals to activate Nootbaar:

The Cardinals’ outfield was hit particularly badly by the injury bug in spring training, as each of Lars Nootbaar, Tommy Edman, and Dylan Carlson opened the season on the shelf. Fortunately for Cardinals fans, that’s about to change. Per The Athletic’s Katie Woo, Nootbaar is set to be activated from the injured list prior to tonight’s game against the Diamondbacks, which is scheduled to begin at 6:40pm local time. A corresponding move will be necessary to make room for Nootbaar on the active roster, and Woo reports that the Cardinals will accomplish that by optioning third-string catcher Pedro Pages to the minor leagues.

Nootbaar carries a .247/.356/.430 slash (120 wRC+) and an excellent 14.5% walk rate in 225 games for the Cardinals over the past two seasons. If the 26-year-old can replicate that past production, he’s sure to provide a major boost to a beleaguered offense in St. Louis that has seen its current outfield mix of Jordan Walker, Victor Scott II, and Alec Burleson all get out to slow starts. They aren’t the only ones who have struggled so far. Veterans Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado have hit a combined .194 with just four extra base hits in 108 trips to the plate.

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. Tigers/Twins game postponed:

The Tigers announced this morning that the club’s scheduled game against the Twins in Detroit this afternoon has been postponed due to inclement weather. Per the announcement, the game will be made up this coming Saturday as part of a straight doubleheader beginning at 1:10pm local time that afternoon. Ticket-holders for today’s game will be able to exchange their tickets to attend Saturday’s doubleheader or any other regular season game “of similar value” in the next 12 months. The series between the two division rivals is now expected to begin tomorrow at 6:40pm local time.

2. Jansen nearing impressive milestone:

Veteran closer Kenley Jansen is among the most reliable closers in MLB history, with a career 2.51 ERA and matching 2.51 FIP over his 15 seasons in the big leagues. This year, the 36-year-old veteran has a chance to further bolster his spot in the annals of MLB history during his next appearance. Jansen’s next save will be the 424th of his career, tying him with longtime Mets and Reds closer John Franco on the All-Time saves leaderboard. That would leave Jansen tied for fifth all-time in career saves behind only Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith, and Francisco Rodriguez. It’s a milestone Jansen could achieve as soon as tonight, when the Red Sox face the Orioles in Boston for a game scheduled to begin at 7:10pm local time.

3. When will Martinez join the Mets?

Veteran slugger J.D. Martinez signed a one-year deal with the Mets nearly three weeks ago, but has seen his start to the season pushed back by what has been termed “general body soreness” to this point. While there had previously been some optimism that Martinez would be able to make his big league debut at some point this weekend, that’s been dashed now that manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com) that Martinez has received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his lower back and will not return to hitting for at least three to five days. While the timing of Martinez’s debut with the Mets remains up in the air, the 36-year-old veteran has a real chance to impact the club’s struggling offense after slugging 33 homers in just 113 games with the Dodgers last year.

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

1. Holliday in Baltimore:

The sport’s consensus No. 1 overall prospect, infielder Jackson Holliday, is reportedly set to be called up to the majors today. The 20-year-old was taken first overall by the Orioles in the 2022 draft and has done nothing but dominate at the plate since, slashing .297/.489/.422 in 20 games down the stretch that year before delivering a .323/.442/.499 line during a 2023 campaign that saw him promoted across four levels of the minors. Holliday hasn’t taken his foot off the gas as the calendar flipped to 2024, with a .311/.354/.600 slash in 15 Spring Training games and an even more impressive .333/.482/.595 line through ten games at Triple-A this season.

The Orioles will not need to make room for Holliday on the 40-man roster, which currently stands at 38, but will need to make a corresponding move on the active roster in order to officially activate the youngster. It’s worth noting that the O’s are short on players who can be easily optioned out. Infielder Jordan Westburg is one candidate, but none of Ramon Urias, Jorge Mateo, Tony Kemp or Ryan O’Hearn can be optioned. O’Hearn technically has an option left but must consent to being optioned as a player with five-plus years of service. The others would need to clear waivers before being sent down.

2. Astros to select Arrighetti:

Another prospect making his big league debut Wednesday will be Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who’ll start this evening’s game against the Royals. Arrighetti, 24, was a sixth-round pick by Houston in the 2021 draft and enjoyed a solid 2023 season that saw him pitch to a respectable 4.40 ERA in 124 2/3 innings of work split between the Double- and Triple-A levels. His  return to the Triple-A level this year has gone quite well across two starts, as he’s yielded just two earned runs in 8 1/3 innings of work while striking out 27% of batters faced.

Arrighetti steps into the rotation at a time of clear need for the Astros, with each of Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Luis Garcia Jr., Jose Urquidy, and Lance McCullers Jr. on the shelf for the time being. In order to officially select Arrighetti’s contract, the Astros will need to make a corresponding move at some point this evening that clears space on both the 40-man and active rosters.

3. Miley to make season debut:

Veteran southpaw Wade Miley, who re-signed with the Brewers on a one-year deal over the offseason, has been shelved to this point in the 2024 campaign by a shoulder impingement. His time on the injured list is poised to come to an end today, however, as MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy notes that the lefty is scheduled to take the mound opposite right-handed youngster Hunter Greene in this evening’s game between the Brewers and Reds in Cincinnati.

The start will kick off Miley’s third season in Milwaukee after he pitched for the club both last year and back in 2018. He’s racked up an impressive 2.91 ERA across 39 starts (201 innings) to this point in his Brewers career and now will enter the club’s new-look 2024 rotation that lacks long-time co-aces Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. Miley is already on the 40-man roster, but the Brewers will need to make a corresponding move to clear space for the 37-year-old on the active roster in order to officially activate him.

With roughly 5% of the 2024 MLB regular season in the books, here are a few things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Solar eclipse to appear over MLB stadiums:

A total solar eclipse will appear in the skies over North America today for the first time since 2017 and the final time until 2044. Baseball fans around the country will be able to enjoy the eclipse, with fans in Cleveland in particular getting a special treat. The Guardians are opening the gates to Progressive Field at 1pm CT, as noted MLB.com. That’s just over an hour before the eclipse will begin, which itself will occur roughly two hours before the club’s game against the White Sox is scheduled to begin at 4:10pm CT.

Progressive Field is one of two ballparks in the path of totality hosting a baseball game today, joining the Rangers’ Globe Life Field. However, the game between the Rangers and the Astros is scheduled to begin at 7:05pm CT, long after the eclipse will have passed over the city of Arlington. The Yankees/Marlins in New York, the Cardinals/Phillies game in St. Louis, the Pirates/Tigers game in Pittsburgh, the Reds/Brewers game in Cincinnati, and the Mariners/Blue Jays game in Toronto will all occur in cities where fans will be able to view an eclipse of at least 90% today.

2. Story to undergo exam:

Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story is set to undergo an exam today to determine the severity of a shoulder subluxation that sent the 31-year-old back to the injured list over the weekend. As chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporters this weekend, it remains unclear if Story will be able to return to the field this season or if surgery will be required on his ailing shoulder.

It’s the latest brutal setback for Story during his tenure in Boston, which has seen him play just 134 games between the 2021 and 2022 seasons due to wrist, heel, and elbow injuries. Even when he’s been healthy enough to take the field during that time, he’s struggled to a slash line of just .227/.287/.398 at the plate. The club figures to rely on a combination of David Hamilton and Pablo Reyes at shortstop for the time being while Story is on the shelf, though it’s possible that a youngster such as Ceddanne Rafaela or Vaughn Grissom could contribute at the position at some point should Story face a lengthy absence.

3. Snell set for Giants debut:

After spending nearly the entire offseason on the free agent market, Blake Snell is set to make his Giants debut today. The reigning NL Cy Young winner, who inked a two-year, $62MM contract that includes an opt-out clause next offseason, will square off against the rebuilding Nationals and right-hander Trevor Williams in front of Giants fans at Oracle Park tonight. Snell tossed 74 pitches in a simulated game against Giants Double-A hitters last week and has been facing live hitters for several weeks now. Still, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle suggests he’ll likely be limited to the 70-80 pitch range in his first outing of the season as he finishes ramping up to larger per-start workloads.

Snell will join Cy Young runner-up Logan Webb, top prospect Kyle Harrison, sophomore Keaton Winn and reliever-turned-starter Jordan Hicks in the Giants’ rotation.

4. Dodgers to add Brogdon:

The Dodgers acquired right-hander Connor Brogdon from the Phillies over the weekend — a buy-low move on a 29-year-old who entered the 2024 campaign with a career 3.55 ERA and 4.04 FIP. Brogdon, who’s looking to rebound from a down year in 2023 and poor start to the 2024 season, has not officially joined the team yet. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Jack Harris of the L.A. Times) that he’ll be doing so today ahead of this evening’s game against the Twins in Minnesota.

Some sort of corresponding move will need to be made to accommodate Brogdon’s addition to the active roster, though his spot on the 40-man was already secured by the club’s decision to designate right-hander Dinelson Lamet for assignment recently. Lefty Alex Vesia and righties Michael Grove and Gus Varland are the only optionable pitchers in the club’s bullpen as things stand, making one of that trio most likely to head to the minors, barring a surprise injury announcement. Brogdon is out of minor league options, so he can’t be sent to Triple-A himself without clearing waivers.

As the weekend fast approaches, here are three things to keep an eye on around Major League Baseball:

1. Randal Grichuk to make D-backs debut:

Outfielder Randal Grichuk is expected to join the Diamondbacks today in Atlanta, according to John Gambadoro of 98.7FM Phoenix. The veteran outfielder signed a one-year, $2MM deal with Arizona this winter but missed spring training after undergoing ankle surgery in January. The D-backs, who recently lost center fielder Alek Thomas to the 10-day IL with a strained hamstring, could certainly use the help in the outfield. Grichuk plays all three outfield positions.

2. MiLB appearances for Edward Cabrera, Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez:

After making his first rehab appearance for Triple-A Jacksonville last week, Marlins starter Edward Cabrera is set to make his second start for the Jumbo Shrimp this evening (per Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald). He is expected to throw four innings today; he went three in his first appearance.

Meanwhile, Justin Verlander is headed for a minor league rehab assignment, according to the transaction log at MLB.com. He is scheduled to make his first appearance at Triple-A on Sunday (per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com), but he was officially sent to join the Sugar Land Space Cowboys this morning.

Finally, Mets DH J.D. Martinez could make his first minor league appearance of the season today, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Martinez agreed to be optioned after signing his one-year, $12MM deal with the Mets, so this would not be a rehab assignment. However, it would essentially serve the same purpose, giving Martinez a chance to ramp up before getting back to big league action.

3. Home openers on the schedule:

After the Cardinals and Twins played their home openers on Thursday, a whole slate of teams will begin their first series at home today. That includes the Yankees, Tigers, and Angels in the American League, and the Braves, Giants, Pirates, and Rockies in the National League. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Guardians will have to wait until next week before finally kicking things off at their home stadiums.

A week into the 2024 season, here are three things to follow around Major League Baseball today:

1. Michael Lorenzen makes another rehab start:

This evening, Michael Lorenzen will make his second rehab start for the Round Rock Express, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rangers (per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News). He threw 50 pitches in his first rehab appearance and could throw 65-70 today. If all goes well, Grant notes that Lorenzen could be activated next week; the earliest he can return from the 15-day IL is Tuesday. When Lorenzen rejoins the rotation, he is likely to push out Cody Bradford, who earned the No. 5 job this spring.

2. MRI results for Victor Robles:

After injuring his hamstring on Wednesday, Victor Robles is set to undergo an MRI today. Pending the results of the scan, it’s possible the center fielder will need at least a short stint on the injured list; both Mark Zuckerman of MASN and Spencer Nusbaum of The Washington Post speculated as much last night.

If Robles does indeed hit the IL, expect an announcement from the Nationals sooner rather than later. The team will take on the Pirates this afternoon at 3:05 pm CT, while manager Dave Martinez will host a pregame press conference at noon. What’s more, the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings play today at 12:05 pm CT, and as TalkNats points out, their lineup announcement could suggest who (if anyone) is headed to Washington to replace Robles on the active roster.

3. Mets, Tigers face off in doubleheader:

There are only six games on the docket in Major League Baseball today, and the Mets and Tigers will face off in two of them. After getting rained out on Tuesday and Wednesday, the two teams will play a doubleheader beginning this afternoon at 11:10 am CT. The second game will begin approximately 30 minutes after the first one wraps up. The Mets (0-4) have now been sitting on a winless record for several days, while the Tigers (4-0) are the only team left standing with a perfect record. Adrian Houser of the Mets and Casey Mize of the Tigers will take the mound in game one, while Detroit will bring up Matt Manning and New York will bring up José Buttó (per Mike Puma of the New York Post) as the 27th men to start game two.

It’s the first Wednesday of the 2024 regular season, and here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around baseball today:

1. Jason Heyward to the injured list?

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic) that outfielder Jason Heyward’s recent scans came back negative, but the team has not yet decided if he’ll require a stint on the injured list. That decision will come at some point today, presumably ahead of this evening’s series finale with the Giants. Heyward has been dealing with back stiffness and has not played since Saturday.

The Dodgers re-signed Heyward on a one-year, $9MM deal this winter following his bounce-back season in 2023. It was his first healthy campaign since 2020. While Heyward and the Dodgers are surely hoping he can skip the IL, his quick return could be bad news for Taylor Trammell, whom the Dodgers claimed off of waivers from the Mariners on Monday. Ardaya notes that Trammell was acquired specifically as a backup option in case Heyward misses time.

2. Tigers, Pirates, and Brewers looking to maintain perfect records

With nearly a week of regular-season play in the books, three clubs have yet to lose a game: the Tigers (4-0), Pirates (5-0), and Brewers (4-0). After sweeping the White Sox in their opening series, the Tigers took game one against the Mets on Monday night before rain canceled their matchup on Tuesday. Casey Mize will take the hill for Detroit this evening, looking to keep the win streak alive. Meanwhile, the Pirates and Brewers sit atop the NL Central. Pittsburgh will send its ace, Mitch Keller, to the mound tonight in Washington to take on Trevor Williams of the Nationals. Milwaukee will start Joe Ross against Chris Paddack of the Twins in what will be Ross’ first MLB appearance since August 2021. The Brewers are hoping to sweep their second consecutive series.

3. Mets, Marlins still seeking first wins

While things are rolling for the Tigers, Pirates, and Brewers, the same cannot be said of the Mets (0-4) and Marlins (0-6), both of whom are still seeking their first wins of the season. New York is hoping to rain on Detroit’s parade tonight, sending Adrian Houser to face off against Mize in his Mets debut. The actual rain, however, might have other ideas; the Mets and Tigers are at risk of getting rained out for the second day in a row. Meanwhile, in Miami, A.J. Puk will hope his second career MLB start goes better than his first as the Marlins try to avoid getting swept for the second series in a row.

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With the 2024 regular season now in full swing, here are three things to watch around baseball today:

1. An IL stint is imminent for Josh Jung:

The Rangers have not yet placed Josh Jung on the injured list, but they will surely do so sometime before this evening’s contest with the Rays. The third baseman suffered a fracture on Monday after he was hit on the wrist while swinging at an offering from Phil Maton. The Rangers were unable to offer a timeline for his return last night, but he will undoubtedly be gone long enough to require an IL stint. Expect an announcement and a corresponding roster move from the team later today.

2. Pitching matchups to watch:

By the end of this evening, all 30 teams will have begun their second (or third) series of the season. That means plenty of interesting starting pitchers and pitching matchups to follow.

Several aces will be back on the bump for their second turn in the rotation, including Logan Webb, Zac Gallen, and Luis Castillo. Perhaps the most compelling matchup to watch will be between Astros Opening Day starter Framber Valdez and Blue Jays Opening Day starter José Berríos. Valdez will be looking to rebound from a mediocre first outing against the Yankees, while Berríos hopes to get his team back on track after last night’s no-hitter.

One more pitcher to keep an eye on is Tigers starter Casey Mize. As long the Tigers and Mets aren’t rained out (a mounting possibility), Mize will make his first start since April 2022. The former top prospect and No. 1 overall pick is returning from Tommy John and back surgery.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

It’s the first chat of the 2024 season! With no shortage of topics to discuss, including injuries, rumors, a recent free agent signing, and a no-hitter, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a live chat with readers this afternoon 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.