The Opener

With 15% of the 2024 season in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Pham opt-out decision:

When the White Sox signed veteran outfielder Tommy Pham to a minor league deal earlier this month, the deal came with a stipulation (per The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal) that Pham, 36, could opt out of his deal with the club if not selected to the major league roster by today. Chicago will have to clear a spot on the 40-man and active rosters to accommodate Pham’s addition. The veteran has made it into just three games in the minor leagues to this point, having gone 3-for-13 with a double and three strikeouts at the Triple-A level.

While he’s had minimal time to build up for the regular season, Pham has been a roughly league average corner bat going back to his 2019 season with the Rays. Over the past five seasons, he’s slashed .247/.337/.407 with a 105 wRC+, including a 2023 campaign that saw him slash .256/.328/.446 with a wRC+ of 110. Should the White Sox decide not to select Pham’s contract today, it’s certainly possible that he could find interest with another big league club that has suffered early-season outfield injuries, such as the Cardinals or Cubs.

2. Seager exits following HBP:

Rangers shortstop Corey Seager exited yesterday’s game prior to the eighth inning after being struck in the shin by a pitch in the seventh. As noted by MLB.com’s injury tracker, club manager Bruce Bochy told reporters following the game that Seager’s shin had “swelled up pretty good” following his removal from the game before indicating that the club intended to check on him today to determine next steps. Seager has hit just .256/.347/.313 (93 wRC+) to this point in the season but stormed to a second-place finish in AL MVP voting last year after an incredible campaign with the bat. Should Seager miss time, utility infielder Ezequiel Duran appears to be the most likely candidate to replace him in the lineup, but it’s not yet clear whether there’s a notable injury for the two-time World Series MVP.

3. Crawford to undergo MRI:

Seager isn’t the only AL West shortstop dealing with something, as J.P. Crawford of the Mariners was scratched from yesterday’s game due to an oblique issue he felt during batting practice prior to the game. Manager Scott Servais told reporters (including Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times) following last night’s loss to the Rangers that the club is not yet certain about the severity of Crawford’s ailment, and that he’s set to be sent for an MRI to before they determine next steps. Crawford, 29, has had a slow start on offense (84 wRC+ in 98 trips to the plate) but has fashioned himself into an above-average all-around shortstop in recent years, hitting .258/.350/.380 (112 wRC+) dating back to 2021. Utilityman Dylan Moore started at shortstop for the club last night in Crawford’s stead and could see more time at the position should he require a stint on the injured list, with Luis Urias and Sam Haggerty among the club’s other possibilities on the 40-man roster. Ryan Bliss, a 2021 second-rounder acquired from the D-backs in last year’s Paul Sewald trade, is top minor league option that’s not on the 40-man roster.

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. Bellinger headed for further evaluation:

Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger exited yesterday’s game 7-2 win over the Astros yesterday prior to the bottom of the seventh inning. The 28-year-old had crashed into the outfield wall on a play earlier in the game and was diagnosed with a right rib contusion per a team announcement. Manager Craig Counsell said after the game that x-rays came back negative, but the club will wait to see how the two-time All Star feels today before putting a timetable on his return to action (X link via ESPN’s Jesse Rogers).

Bellinger got off to a slow start this season but has caught fire in recent days, going 10-for-30 with three home runs, a triple, and five walks over his past eight games. That hot stretch has brought his season slash line up to .226/.320/.441 (103 wRC+) despite an fluky low .215 BABIP. Mike Tauchman figures to slide over from right field to center in Bellinger’s absence, with youngster Alexander Canario stepping into the starting lineup in right. A longer absence could open the door for a top prospect such as Pete Crow-Armstrong or Owen Caissie to join the big league club.

2. Kiermaier day-to-day:

The Cubs weren’t the only team to lose their starting center fielder mid-game yesterday, as the Blue Jays removed Kevin Kiermaier from yesterday’s 3-2 loss against the Royals in the sixth inning due to flexor discomfort in his left hip. Per MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, Kiermaier is considered day-to-day for the moment but Toronto had not yet fully evaluated the veteran by the end of last night’s game. It’s the same hip on which Kiermaier required season-ending surgery in July 2022.

It’s been a difficult start to the season for Kiermaier, who has slashed just .193/.246/.246 in 62 trips to the plate this season. Even so, the 34-year-old has continued to provide value to the Jays with his trademark superlative defense in center field. While Kiermaier is down, Daulton Varsho figures to slide over to center field with a combination of Davis Schneider, Cavan Biggio, and Ernie Clement handling left.

3. Where will Cooper land?

Prior to yesterday’s game, the Cubs designated veteran first baseman Garrett Cooper for assignment in a somewhat surprising move. The 33-year-old is coming off a down 2023 season with the Marlins and Padres but has hit .270/.341/.432 (118 wRC+) in limited playing time with the Cubs this season. There are some red flags, as Cooper’s 31.7% strikeout rate would be a career-high over a full season and his .391 average on balls in play is likely to regress.

Even so, Cooper is a former All-Star who has slashed a respectable .264/.336/.445 (112 wRC+) since the start of the 2020 season and boasts a strong .285/.337/.475 slash line against left-handed pitching throughout his career. That could make the veteran an interesting piece for teams in need of help at first base or DH, such as the Red Sox or Astros. The Cubs have one week to either trade, release, or waive Cooper following yesterday’s DFA. Successfully moving him to another team could allow them to get the remainder of his $1.75MM salary off their books, a meaningful sum given their proximity to the first luxury tax threshold.

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

1. Who’s starting for the Brewers?

The Brewers have yet to announce a starter not only for today, but for any of the three remaining games in their ongoing four-game set against the Pirates. That’s not necessarily surprising, given the fact that lefties DL Hall and Wade Miley both recently joined right-hander Jakob Junis on the injured list, leaving the club with minimal options to complement Freddy Peralta, Joe Ross, and Colin Rea in their starting mix. Right-hander Tobias Myers was called up yesterday and has maxed out at 93 pitches in the minors this season, while lefty Aaron Ashby and righty Janson Junk could also provide the club with multiple innings over the next few days.

Updates regarding the statuses of both Junis and Miley could be available as soon as today. Miley said last night that he’ll undergo imaging today after hitting the shelf with a bout of elbow inflammation. Junis has been on the injured list since early April due to a shoulder impingement, but things took a scary turn yesterday afternoon when he was struck in the neck by a fly ball while working out in the outfield during batting practice. As noted by MLB.com’s Jake Crouse, Junis was eventually taken off the field in a stretcher and brought to the hospital via ambulance. The Brewers said in a statement following the accident that Junis was “conscious, alert, and responsive” when the club sent him to the hospital for further evaluation.

2. Series Preview: Mariners @ Rangers

A three-game set between the Mariners and Rangers in Texas is set to begin this evening at 7:05pm local time. Right-hander Logan Gilbert (2.33 ERA) is set to take on righty Dane Dunning (3.91 ERA) in tonight’s game, with Bryce Miller (1.85 ERA) and Jon Gray (3.15 ERA) scheduled to face off in Game 2 before Luis Castillo (4.40 ERA) and Andrew Heaney (6.35 ERA) wrap up the series on Thursday.

The trio of games come at a time when both Seattle and Texas are locked in a race for the AL West lead, with the Rangers leading the Mariners by half a game entering play today. The two clubs have taken an early lead over the Athletics, Angels, and Astros, each of whom are at least five games under .500 and three games back of the AL West crown. The surprising struggles of Houston (7-16, five games back) have opened the door for the Mariners to emerge as the primary competition of the reigning World Series champs early in the 2024 season as Seattle looks to return to the postseason after finishing just one game back of a playoff spot last year.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

The 2024 season is now in full swing, and some clubs have gotten off to surprisingly strong starts while a handful of others have unexpectedly struggled to open the year. If you have questions regarding your favorite club’s start to the campaign, or perhaps questions that look ahead to this summer’s trade deadline and the 2024-25 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. Casas to undergo testing:

The Red Sox suffered a huge blow over the weekend as the club placed first baseman Triston Casas on the 10-day injured list due to a left rib strain. The 24-year-old is reportedly set to undergo an MRI in Boston today to determine the extent of his injury as well as a potential timetable for his return, but manager Alex Cora already told reporters yesterday that he was “concerned” that the youngster may be facing a lengthy absence.

If Casas does end up missing considerable time, it would put Boston’s offense in a difficult position. While certain key offensive pieces like Vaughn Grissom, Rafael Devers, and Tyler O’Neill could be returning to the lineup in the coming days, Casas has gotten out to a .244/.344/.513 start (137 wRC+) and swatted six homers in 90 plate appearances. Bobby Dalbec is perhaps the most likely candidates to take over at first base for the Red Sox in the short-term, though it’s possible the club makes additional roster moves to supplement their waning positional depth in the coming days.

2. Mendick to be selected:

Reporting last night indicated that the White Sox are expected to make a change to their bench mix ahead of this evening’s game against the Twins in Minnesota, with veteran infielder Danny Mendick joining the big league roster. Infielder Lenyn Sosa is set to be optioned out to make room for Mendick on the active roster, but an additional corresponding move will be necessary to clear space on the club’s 40-man.

Mendick, 30, was a 22nd-round pick by the White Sox in 2015 and spent parts of four seasons in the majors with the club before departing for the Mets in free agency last year. He returned this winter on a minor league deal and figures to offer Chicago some versatility off the bench in spite of a meager .242/.298/.354 slash line for his career.

3. White to join the Giants:

Right-hander Mitch White is slated to join the active roster in San Francisco prior to the Giants’ game against the Mets at Oracle Park this evening, as noted by Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. White is already on the club’s 40-man roster, but the Giants will need to make an active roster move to accommodate the righty prior to tonight’s game.

White’s arrival comes on the heels of the Giants making a cash deal with the Blue Jays over the weekend to acquire the 29-year-old. It’s a homecoming for White in more ways than one, as the Bay Area native will return to the NL West after pitching for the Dodgers in parts of three seasons from 2020 to 2022. He posted a solid 3.58 ERA and 3.87 FIP during his time with L.A. but struggled badly upon joining the Blue Jays, with a 7.26 ERA in 65 2/3 innings despite a decent 4.10 FIP.

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. Montgomery to debut:

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery is slated to make the first start of his Diamondbacks career tonight after two starts at the Triple-A level to help the southpaw build up after he missed Spring Training while lingering on the free agent market. Montgomery will take the ball opposite fellow late-signing lefty Blake Snell and the Giants in San Francisco, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15pm local time. The lefty is already on the 40-man roster, but Arizona will have to make a corresponding move to clear space for Montgomery on the active roster before tonight’s game.

The 31-year-old enjoyed an excellent season with the Cardinals and Rangers last year, pitching to a 3.20 ERA in 32 regular season starts before going on to post a 2.90 ERA with Texas in the postseason en route to the first World Series championship in franchise history. Now with the Diamondbacks on a short-term deal, Montgomery will look to avoid the slow starts to the season other late signers such as Snell (12.86 ERA), Cody Bellinger (75 wRC+), and Matt Chapman (82 wRC+) have suffered so far this season.

2. Verlander to be activated:

Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander has been sidelined to this point in the 2024 season amid nagging shoulder fatigue that cost him virtually all of Spring Training. The veteran righty has since made two rehab starts in the minor leagues and built up to 78 pitches, which was enough for the Astros to decide he was ready to make his season debut tonight against the Nationals in D.C. opposite young lefty MacKenzie Gore. Verlander, 41, took a bit of a step back last year from the dominant form he had shown since first joining Houston in 2017 but was still a well above average starter, posting a 3.22 ERA (130 ERA+) and 3.86 FIP in 27 starts between the Mets and Astros. The 510th start of Verlander’s illustrious career is expected to begin at 6:45pm local time this evening.

3. Yankees broadcaster to be honored:

John Sterling has been the radio voice of the Yankees since first joining the club’s booth in 1989 more than three decades ago, but a press release from the club earlier this week announced that the longtime play-by-play man has retired after calling his final game earlier this month. The 85-year-old called more than 5,000 games for the Yankees in total and saw them make the postseason in 24 of his 36 years as the club’s radio voice, including their World Series championships in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009. Sterling will be recognized for his lengthy tenure in the Bronx tomorrow, prior to the Yankees 1:05pm local time game against the Rays.

“I am a very blessed human being,” Sterling said in a statement earlier this week. “I have been able to do what I wanted, broadcasting for 64 years. As a little boy growing up in New York as a Yankees fan, I was able to broadcast the Yankees for 36 years. It’s all to my benefit, and I leave very, very happy. I look forward to seeing everyone again on Saturday.”

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. Leiter to make MLB debut:

The second overall pick of the 2021 draft is set to make his MLB debut today, as the Rangers announced earlier this week that right-hander Jack Leiter will be promoted to make today’s start against the Tigers in Detroit, where he’ll be matched up against veteran right-hander Kenta Maeda. Leiter, who will celebrate his 24th birthday on Sunday, was a consensus top-25 prospect in the sport after being drafted out of Vanderbilt three years ago but has struggled in professional ball with ERAs north of 5.00 in each of the last two seasons.

That being said, the righty has looked good three appearances into his 2024 season, posting a 3.72 ERA at the Triple-A level while striking out an incredible 43.9% of batters faced against a walk rate of just 5.3%. If Leiter has recaptured the form that made him the most dominant pitching prospect on the planet during his college days, that would be a huge boost to a Rangers club that started the season without veteran aces Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom. Leiter’s debut is scheduled for 1:10pm local time in Detroit and 12:10pm CT for fans in Texas.

2. Taillon to make season debut:

The Cubs have weathered plenty of key injuries early in the 2024 campaign, ranging from staff ace Justin Steele suffering a hamstring strain on Opening Day to right fielder Seiya Suzuki being placed on the shelf with an oblique strain earlier this week. The club is slated to move closer to full strength later today when right-hander Jameson Taillon, who is set to be activated from the injured list today, makes his first start of the 2024 campaign. Taillon, 32, is in the second year of his four-year, $68MM contract with the Cubs and posted slightly below average results (93 ERA+) last year after a brutal first half that saw him post a 6.93 ERA and 5.14 FIP in his first 14 starts.

He’ll look to turn the page on that rough performance starting today, when he’ll face off against left-hander A.J. Puk and the Marlins at Wrigley Field in a game schedule to begin at 6:40pm local time this evening. Taillon’s return could see the Cubs push youngster Ben Brown, who has dominated with a 1.23 ERA in 14 2/3 innings of work since joining the club’s rotation, into a relief role, though it’s possible the club could make another move like optioning young lefty Jordan Wicks or going with a six-man rotation if they want to keep Brown in a starting capacity.

3. LeMahieu, Lowe to begin rehab assignments:

A pair of key players in the AL East are on the road to their season debuts today, as MLB.com indicates that veteran Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu is set to begin a rehab assignment as soon as today, while reporting earlier this week indicated that Rays outfielder Josh Lowe is also slated to begin a rehab assignment today. LeMahieu, 35, suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right foot during Spring Training and figures to get the majority of his reps at third base, where Oswaldo Cabrera is off to a hot start, upon his return to action. The 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.

As for Lowe, the 26-year-old missed virtually all of Spring Training due to hip inflammation and an oblique strain. The former top prospect enjoyed a breakout season at the plate with Tampa last year, slashing an excellent .292/.335/.500 in 501 trips to the plate. In 2024, the Rays appear poised to rely on Lowe as their primary right fielder with Randy Arozarena and Jose Siri manning left and center field. Its been an injury-riddled start to the season for the Rays, particularly on the positional side where Lowe is joined by Jonny DeLuca, Taylor Walls, Brandon Lowe, and Jonathan Aranda on the shelf. Despite those injury woes, the Rays have managed to keep their heads above water with a 10-9 record to this point in the season, though that’s only been good enough for a three-way tie for last place in a highly competitive AL East.

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. Knack to debut:

The Dodgers are set to call up pitching prospect Landon Knack today, as manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) last night. Knack, 26, was the club’s second-round pick in the 2020 draft and is expected to make his MLB debut tonight when he takes the ball for a start in Dodger Stadium opposite Jake Irvin and the Nationals. The right-hander enjoyed a breakout season last year as he impressed with a 2.51 ERA and a 24.1% strikeout rate in 22 starts split between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Knack is already on the club’s 40-man roster, but the Dodgers will need an active roster move to accommodate him.

2. Red Sox facing injuries:

Yesterday’s game against the Guardians was a brutal one for the Red Sox, as Boston saw two key players exit the game due to injury. Right-hander Garrett Whitlock exited after the fourth inning due to tightness in his left oblique, while star third baseman Rafael Devers left after the seventh inning due to left knee discomfort. Per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, Whitlock indicated to reporters after the game that he wasn’t very concerned about his oblique, and manager Alex Cora suggested that the young righty will be evaluated further today. The 27-year-old has looked fantastic through four starts this season, pitching to a 1.96 ERA and 3.41 FIP in 18 1/3 innings of work while striking out 22.7% of batters faced.

Devers’ ailment, on the other hand, appears to be more concerning. Cora indicated to reporters after the game that the team is currently discussing whether or not to send the infielder for an MRI due to the sudden onset of the pain during a double play attempt. The club’s most reliable offensive force, Devers has slashed an excellent .280/.354/.517 in 462 games since the start of the 2021 season.

3. Guardians roster move incoming:

Reporting yesterday indicated that the Guardians are set to acquire right-hander Pedro Avila in a deal with the Padres, who designated him for assignment last week. The Guardians have a full 40-man roster, meaning they’ll need to make a corresponding move in order to officially acquire the righty.

The 27-year-old Avila has appeared in five seasons with the Padres since making his MLB debut back in 2019, but the 2023 campaign was Avila’s first with more than two appearances. Last year, the right-hander pitched in a swing role for San Diego with a 3.22 ERA and 3.67 FIP in 50 1/3 innings of work. That ability to provide solid results out of both the bullpen and rotation could make Avila a valuable piece for the Guardians, who are currently without key pieces of both their rotation (such as Shane Bieber and Gavin Williams) as well as their bullpen (such as Sam Hentges and Trevor Stephan).

As MLB’s regular season continues, here are three things for MLBTR readers to keep an eye out for today:

1. Yelich to the injured list?

Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich has enjoyed his best start to a season since 2018-19, hitting .333/.422/.744 with five home runs in just 46 plate appearances. Unfortunately, lower back soreness has limited Yelich to just 11 games so far and could cause him to miss even more time.

As relayed by Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, manager Pat Murphy told reporters yesterday that while Yelich’s soreness hasn’t improved in recent days, the club feels it’s best to wait until the “last minute” before making the decision to place him on the shelf. Murphy went on to indicate that decision would come today. Should Yelich require a trip to the 10-day IL, the Brewers figure to turn to a Triple-A depth option such as Vinny Capra or Owen Miller to fill out the club’s positional mix while mostly relying on Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, and Blake Perkins in the outfield.

2. Blue Jays bullpen getting healthy:

It’s been an uneven start for the Blue Jays, with the club’s 9-8 record putting them in a three-way tie at the bottom of the AL East. A patchwork bullpen that has posted a 5.00 ERA so far in the 2024 campaign has been an Achilles heel. Fortunately for fans in Toronto, it appears plenty of help is on the way. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com suggests that both closer Jordan Romano and setup man Erik Swanson could be activated from the injured list today.

Over the past four seasons, Romano has pitched to a 2.29 ERA and 3.13 FIP while racking up 97 saves in 199 appearances. Meanwhile, Swanson enjoyed a strong inaugural season in Toronto after coming over in the Teoscar Hernandez trade last year. He posted a 2.97 ERA and 3.51 FIP in 66 2/3 innings of work. The high-leverage duo’s return should take pressure off Chad Green and Yimi Garcia and deepen the group overall. Toronto will need to make a pair of active roster moves to accommodate the return of Romano and Swanson ahead of this evening’s game against the Yankees, which begins at 7:07pm local time.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

The 2024 season is now in full swing, and some clubs have gotten off to surprisingly strong starts while a handful of others have unexpectedly struggled to open the year. If you have questions regarding your favorite club’s start to the campaign, or perhaps questions about the summer trade deadline or 2024-25 offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a live chat with readers today at 11am 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.

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.