The Opener

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

1. Series Preview: Brewers @ Cubs

The Brewers and Cubs are at the front of the pack in the NL Central with respective records of 19-11 and 19-13. That one-game gap in the standings means that this weekend’s three-game set between the clubs at Wrigley Field could allow Chicago the opportunity to take the lead over Milwaukee or allow the Brewers to take a more commanding lead in the divisional race.

This afternoon’s game will see youngster Hayden Wesneski (0.87 ERA) make his second start of the season after moving out of a multi-inning relief role to cover for injured rookie Jordan Wicks. Wesneski will take the ball opposite right-hander Joe Ross (5.40 ERA) at 1:20pm local time this afternoon. Saturday’s game will feature Brewers youngster Tobias Myers (4.50 ERA) facing Cubs veteran Jameson Taillon (1.50 ERA). Javier Assad (1.97 ERA) is expected to take the mound for Chicago on Sunday, and Milwaukee has announced staff ace Freddy Peralta (3.21 ERA) as their probable starter for the game amid a five-game suspension for throwing at Rays outfielder Jose Siri. Peralta is currently appealing.

2. Eovaldi to undergo MRI:

The Rangers’ rotation may have been dealt a major blow yesterday when veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi exited his start against the Nationals in the sixth inning due to a bout of right groin tightness. As noted by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters that the club is “being cautious” with the 34-year-old, and that he may “need some rest” before returning to the rotation. Grant adds that an MRI has been scheduled for today to determine the severity of Eovaldi’s injury.

Eovaldi has excelled with a 2.61 ERA and a solid 3.55 FIP across seven starts this season. In the event of an IL placement, the Rangers could turn to Jack Leiter or Owen White could take the ball in Eovaldi’s stead, though both former top prospects struggled in cups of coffee at the big league level earlier this season.

3. Mets 40-man move incoming:

The Mets are set to begin a three-game set against the Rays today, and Game 2 of the series tomorrow will mark the big league debut of one of the club’s top pitching prospects. Right-hander Christian Scott has emerged as a consensus top-100 prospect after posting a 3.20 ERA with an excellent 38.3% strikeout rate in five starts at the Triple-A level this year, and he’ll be promoted to the big leagues to take the ball opposite Rays righty Zack Littell (3.27 ERA) on Saturday.

The Mets will need to make corresponding moves to accommodate Scott on both the 40-man and active rosters. The transaction to clear space on the 40-man roster could be telling regarding the timetable of veteran lefty Brooks Raley, who is facing a potentially lengthy absence due to an elbow issue that may ultimately require surgery. If the Mets expect Raley to be out until July, they could transfer him to the 60-day IL to make room for Scott without needing to risk losing a player from the organization.

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. Who will start today for the Orioles?

The Orioles are looking to secure a four-game series win over the Yankees after winning the first two games but dropping Game 3 last night. With the clubs tied for first in the AL East, the division lead is on the line. Baltimore has yet to announce who will take the mound opposite Yankees southpaw Carlos Rodon (2.48 ERA). The most obvious choice would be right-hander Kyle Bradish, who is expected to make his 2024 debut this week after missing the first five weeks of the season with a UCL sprain. The righty enjoyed a breakout 2023 season that saw him post a 2.83 ERA and 3.27 FIP across 30 starts en route to a fourth-place finish in AL Cy Young award voting.

Things could get tricky for the Orioles if Bradish isn’t ready to go yet. Recently activated lefty John Means would be on just three days of rest if he took the ball. The same goes for right-hander Albert Suarez. Left-hander Cole Irvin would be on regular rest, but he’s started just one game on regular rest this season and didn’t make it out of the fifth inning, allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Twins.

2. Buxton to undergo MRI:

Oft-injured Twins center fielder Byron Buxton could be staring down another trip to the injured list after he was pulled from yesterday’s game against the White Sox due to a bout of knee soreness. As noted by Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune, Buxton is set to undergo an MRI when the Twins return to Minneapolis today according to manager Rocco Baldelli. Buxton suffered the knee injury on an attempted steal of second base.

Buxton has hit .250/.300/.391 for an essentially average 99 wRC+. Even so, he’d be sorely missed by Minnesota in the event he requires a trip to the injured list. After all, his +3 Outs Above Average this season ranks in the 94th percentile per Statcast, making him a valuable player even with a league-average bat. Should Buxton require a trip to the shelf, the Twins would likely turn to Austin Martin in center field. The youngster hit .226/.294/.371 (93 wRC+) in his first taste of big league action earlier this season but was just optioned to Triple-A to make room for Carlos Correa.

3. Matz to undergo MRI:

Buxton isn’t the only player set to undergo imaging today, as The Athletic’s Katie Woo notes that Cardinals lefty Steven Matz is also set to receive an MRI. As noted by MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, the news regarding Matz comes on the heels of manager Oli Marmol noting that the lefty has been dealing with lower back tightness since a brutal seven-run, 4 1/3 inning start against the Diamondbacks on April 23.

The issue seemingly impacted Matz during his start in Detroit earlier this week, as his velocity was down while he allowed four runs in 3 1/3 innings of work on just 73 pitches before being removed from the game. Should Matz require a trip to the IL, the Cardinals could turn to lefty Zack Thompson to round out their rotation as they did while Sonny Gray was on the shelf earlier this season. Another option could be to call up a player on the 40-man roster who has not yet made their MLB debut, such as top prospect Sem Robberse, who’s out to a brilliant start in Triple-A.

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. Article XX(B) opt-out opportunities today:

The most recent collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the MLBPA included a trio of automatic opt-out dates for certain big league veterans who landed minor league deals over the winter. Today is the second of those three uniform opt-out dates, though the opportunity currently applies to far fewer players than it did the first time around, when more than 30 veterans were eligible to opt out.

This time, just seven players are eligible for the uniform opt-out opportunity: Angels outfielder Jake Marisnick, Blue Jays first baseman Joey Votto, Cubs outfielder David Peralta, Rangers right-hander Shane Greene, Red Sox right-hander Michael Fulmer, and Red Sox catcher Roberto Perez. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco took a look at each of those players’ performance this season and the case for them to opt out. Any player in the aforementioned group who decides to remain with his current organization will get their third and final automatic opt-out opportunity a month from today on June 1.

2. Brewers, Rays face potential suspensions:

Things got heated during Milwaukee’s 8-2 victory over Tampa Bay last night when Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta and manager Pat Murphy were both ejected from the game after Peralta hit Rays center fielder Jose Siri with a pitch. Later in the game, the benches cleared when a skirmish broke out between Siri and Brewers right-hander Abner Uribe which included Uribe landing a slap on Siri before the two were separated. Both Uribe and Siri were ejected from the game following the incident, and it appears likely that suspensions for both players could be in the cards later today. Randy Arozarena would likely slide over to center field in Siri’s absence, while a combination of Joel Payamps, Trevor Megill, and Hoby Milner would likely take on late-inning duties with the Brewers while Uribe serves a suspension.

3. Sanchez to undergo MRI:

Before the eventful later innings of the game had gotten starter, veteran catcher Gary Sanchez was removed from the first inning of the Brewers’ game last night with a bout of right hamstring tightness. Murphy told reporters (including Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) after the game that Sanchez will undergo an MRI on his hamstring to determine the severity of the issue. Rosiak also notes that Eric Haase was pulled from last night’s game at the Triple-A level and would likely take the place of Sanchez, who is in a backup role behind All-Star backstop William Contreras with Milwaukee, should he require a trip to the injured list. Sanchez has been a solid source of power off the bench for the Brewers this season but has hit for a low average, slashing .208/.283/.458 with three doubles and three homers in just 53 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. Astros, Rockies promoting prospects:

The Astros are off to their worst start in recent memory this season with a 9-19 record. Even though it remains early in the 2024 campaign, it’s becoming more and more difficult to imagine the club returning to the ALCS for a ninth consecutive season without some changes. It’s possible that needed change could be coming today, when first base/outfield prospect Joey Loperfido will reportedly be called up prior to tonight’s game against the Guardians. Loperfido is off to a sizzling start at Triple-A, slashing .287/.393/.713 with a whopping 13 homers in 123 trips to the plate.

Loperfido likely isn’t the only prospect getting the call to the big leagues today. The Rockies are expected to call up top outfield prospect Jordan Beck prior to this evening’s game against the Marlins in Miami. The 23-year-old Beck has gotten off to a hot start of his own with a .307/.405/.594 slash line in 121 trips to the plate and figures to take the roster spot of outfielder Nolan Jones, who is likely to hit the injured list today. Beck will try to provide a spark for a struggling Rockies offense that ranks just bottom three in the majors with a 79 wRC+. Neither Beck nor Loperfido is currently on his club’s 40-man roster, meaning Houston and Colorado will both need to make a corresponding 40-man move to accommodate their incoming youngster.

2. Darvish to be activated:

The Padres are set to activate veteran right-hander Yu Darvish from the injured list to take on the Reds, manager Mike Shildt told reporters (including MLB.com’s AJ Cassavell) last night. Darvish, 37, was placed on the IL two weeks ago due to tightness in his neck following a pair of difficult starts against the Cubs and Dodgers that saw him surrender a combined seven runs on five walks and eight hits in eight innings of work. Despite that pair of rough outings, Darvish has been solid overall this season with a 4.18 ERA and 3.79 FIP in 23 2/3 innings of work that have seen him strike out 21.8% of batters faced. The Padres will need to make a corresponding active roster move to accommodate Darvish’s return. The veteran righty will try to get back on track opposite former teammate Nick Martinez.

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

1: Series Preview: Yankees @ Orioles

The top two teams in a crowded AL East division are set to clash for the first time this season in a four-game set that starts tonight. The Orioles host the Yankees at Camden Yards starting at 6:35pm local time, when right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (4.45 ERA) will face fellow righty Clarke Schmidt (3.55 ERA). Dean Kremer (4.61 ERA) and Corbin Burnes (2.55 ERA) are set to take the mound opposite Nestor Cortes (3.50 ERA) and Luis Gil (4.01 ERA), respectively, over the next two days. The Orioles have yet to announce who will face lefty Carlos Rodon (2.48 ERA) in the series finale, but right-hander Kyle Bradish (2.83 ERA in 2023) will likely make his season debut that day.

Baltimore sits just one game back of New York entering play, but the Yankees that have been the hotter team of late. New York took two of three from the Brewers in Milwaukee this weekend, while the Orioles lost two of three to the A’s. In particular, the Yankees enjoyed scorching hot weekends from a trio of key sluggers who had struggled so far in 2024: Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Rizzo combined to go 16-for-41 with five homers, one of which was the 300th of Rizzo’s career. Will the Orioles pitching staff, which could be without closer Craig Kimbrel for the time being, be able to cool off the Bronx Bombers?

2. Yoshida exits game with injury:

Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida exited yesterday’s game against the Cubs after jamming his hand on a swing, as noted by MLB.com’s Injury Tracker. The club had not scheduled imaging on Yoshida’s hand after last night’s game, with Yoshida telling reporters via an interpreter that the current plan is to “just wait and see how it feels” today before determining next steps. If Yoshida were to be forced to take a seat for a few days by the injury, it would be an unfortunate turn of events as the 30-year-old had just begun to heat up after a slow start to the season with a .318/.375/.477 slash line in his last 13 games. Should Yoshida miss time, the club could turn to outfielder Rob Refsnyder or perhaps newly acquired first baseman Garrett Cooper to take the outfielder’s at-bats, which have primarily come as a DH this season.

3. Royals roster move incoming:

The Royals are off to a 17-12 start that has them just 2.5 games back of the Guardians for the AL Central lead. Kansas City’s rotation of Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans, Michael Wacha, Alec Marsh, and Brady Singer has combined for a 2.98 ERA that ranks third in the majors. With Marsh having been placed on the injured list last week, however, the club will need to turn to a new arm to take the ball against the Blue Jays in Toronto today.

Per Jaylon T. Thompson of the Kansas City Star, that fresh arm will be right-hander Jonathan Bowlan. Bowlan made his MLB debut last year and has just three innings of big league experience under his belt. He’s impressed this season with a 2.57 ERA and a 25% strikeout rate through four Triple-A starts and will look to continue that momentum in the majors opposite righty Yariel Rodriguez this evening. Bowlan is already on the 40-man roster, but the Royals will need to make an active roster move before tonight’s game to accommodate the addition of the righty.

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

1. Martinez to debut:

The Mets are expected to activate veteran slugger J.D. Martinez for his club debut today, as manager Carlos Mendoza indicated earlier this week. The club won’t need to make a 40-man move to accommodate Martinez but will need to clear space on the active roster prior to tonight’s game against the Cardinals. Martinez, 36, lingered on the free agent market deep into Spring Training but ultimately landed in Queens on a one-year deal just before Opening Day.

Despite that relatively modest contract, Martinez was among the most fearsome hitters available in free agency this winter. A six-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger award winner, the veteran has a .293/.359/.550 slash line since he first joined the Tigers more than a decade ago. The 2023 season saw Martinez revamp his swing to prioritize power over contact, and it resulted in him slugging .572 with 33 homers in just 113 games for the Dodgers last year. That power production should allow Martinez to transform a Mets lineup that offers little in the way of slugging outside of first baseman Pete Alonso.

2. Early season pitchers’ duel in Boston:

The Cubs are set to open a three-game set against the Red Sox in Fenway Park at 7:10pm local time this evening, and two of the league’s best performers to this point in the 2024 campaign are set to face off on the mound. Boston is set start Kutter Crawford, whose 0.66 ERA in 27 1/3 innings of work this season is the lowest among all right-handed starters in the majors (min. 20 innings). Meanwhile, Chicago will counter with offseason addition Shota Imanaga, whose 0.84 ERA in 21 1/3 frames is the lowest among all lefty starters with that same qualifier this season. While each hurler’s start to the 2024 season has been surprisingly dominant, both appear to have mostly earned that strong production to this point in the season; Imanaga’s 2.06 FIP leads all starters, while Crawford’s 2.26 figure is only bested by Tanner Houck among righty starters.

3. Rizzo approaching milestone:

Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo has struggled somewhat early in the 2024 campaign, slashing just .242/.312/.354 in 109 trips to the plate. He’s heated up in recent days, however, slashing .294/.333/.647 with two home runs in his past five games. In addition to bringing his season line closer to league average, Rizzo’s pair of long balls have put a notable milestone in sight. With 298 homers now under his belt, just two more will make him the 161st member of the 300 home run club in MLB history.

With the Yankees headed to Miller Park for a three-game set against the Brewers this weekend, Rizzo could be in prime position to reach the milestone in the coming days. The 34-year-old slugger is plenty familiar with the Brewers’ ballpark from ten seasons with their division-rival Cubs and is a career .243/.319/.482 hitter with 17 homers in 314 trips to the plate in his time hitting in Milwaukee. In addition to his solid track record against the Brewers, Rizzo will benefit from park factors this weekend: Miller Park has the fifth-most homer-friendly ballpark in the majors for left-handed batters in recent years per Statcast, just behind Rizzo’s home ballpark of Yankee Stadium.

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.