The Opener

On the heels of trade season kicking into high gear last night, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Will more deals be swung today?

We saw trade season kick off in earnest yesterday as the Marlins and Twins swapped right-handers Dylan Floro and Jorge Lopez, the Dodgers and Guardians swapped righty Noah Syndergaard and infielder Amed Rosario, and the Angels clearly declared themselves buyers by taking Shohei Ohtani off the market just hours before swinging a deal for right-handers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez in the biggest trade of the year so far. With just five days until the trade deadline on Aug. 1, more deals could be announced as soon as today. Recent reports have indicated that infielder Jeimer Candelario is on the Angels’ radar. The White Sox were discussing righty Lance Lynn with multiple clubs yesterday and seem certain to deal him after the Giolito/Lopez swap. A reunion between the Dodgers and right-hander Joe Kelly has also been discussed.

2. Eflin MRI:

Rays righty Zach Eflin exited yesterday’s start after just four innings and went for an immediate MRI on his left knee after experiencing discomfort during a rocky outing (five runs in those four frames). Eflin, who inked a three-year deal worth $40MM in Tampa Bay over the winter, entered yesterday’s outing with a 3.36 ERA on the season and has been one of the team’s most consistent arms. However, he has chronic knee issues that have plagued him dating back to his amateur days. The right-hander had surgery on both knees in 2016 and underwent a second right knee procedure in 2021.

The Rays were already on the lookout for rotation help after losing Jeffrey Springs and Drew Rasmussen for the season. Any absence for Eflin would only accelerate their bid to acquire starting pitching. They were among the teams talking to the White Sox about Lynn as recently as yesterday, and they’ve previously been linked to Marcus Stroman, Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty, among others. The Rays are off today, so an update on Eflin isn’t a guarantee, but his status will be pivotal with regard to their level of aggression as the deadline looms.

3. Cubs’ last stand?

Despite being considered a likely seller by much of the baseball world for much of the season to this point, the Cubs are reportedly still evaluating their approach to the trade deadline on August 1. Muddying the waters on the decision for president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is the club’s play in recent weeks, as the Cubs have won seven of their last eight, making them 8-4 since the All Star break and 12-9 in July. In the event the club decides to sell, Chicago has some of the most interesting rentals on the market this July in right-hander Marcus Stroman and center fielder Cody Bellinger.

The Cubs are six games back of the division lead and 4.5 games back of a crowded NL Wild Card race. That being said, they also sport the NL Central’s only positive run differential and could put themselves back over .500 for the first time since May with a series win in St. Louis this weekend. Lefty Justin Steele takes the mound for the club against tonight opposite Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas for the first game of a four-game set that will take the clubs into deadline day, when Hoyer and his front office will have to make a decision on the Cubs’ course of action.

With just six days until the trade deadline, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Will the Cardinals and Hicks hammer out an extension?

The Cardinals are one of this trade deadline’s few clear sellers with multiple interesting rental options for buyers to pursue. That group of players includes right-hander Jordan Hicks, though Katie Woo of The Athletic indicated that Hicks ultimately may not move at all. The sides are reportedly having discussion regarding a multi-year contract extension that would keep Hicks in St. Louis long-term. While the Cardinals would be expected to move Hicks before the deadline if an extension doesn’t come together, Woo notes that there’s optimism a deal could be done as soon as today. In the event that Hicks signs, the Cardinals would still have a pair of rental relievers to market in Chris Stratton and Drew VerHagen, though neither would be expected to command a return similar to Hicks, who sports a 2.25 ERA and 1.92 FIP dating all the way back to mid-April.

2. Song’s final rehab appearance:

Phillies right-hander Noah Song is expected to throw two innings in a final rehab start for the club’s Triple-A affiliate today, per MLB.com. Song, 26, did not pitch professionally from 2020-2022 due to his service as an officer in the US Navy. The Phillies selected him in the Rule 5 Draft this past offseason anyhow due to his impressive stuff and strong numbers in the minors prior to his military service, giving him an opportunity to reach the big leagues for the first time in his career. That was derailed by a back issue that sent Song to the 60-day IL to open the season. The maximum time for Song’s minor league rehab assignment is set to expire later this week, meaning the Phillies will have to decide whether to add him to the active roster or return him to the Red Sox organization. In 9 2/3 innings of work in the minors this year, Song sports a 3.72 ERA and 29.8% strikeout rate.

3. Astros getting healthy, gaining on Rangers:

After winning the first two games of their current three-game set against the Rangers, the Astros head into the series finale tonight just one game back of their division-leading rivals. A win tonight would put the clubs in a tie for first place in the AL West, and Houston appears likely to get reinforcements from the injured list ahead of tonight’s game, which will begin at 7:10pm CT. Both Yordan Alvarez and Jose Altuve could be activated from the IL today, adding a pair of high-end bats to an Astros lineup that ranks just ninth in the AL with a roughly league average 101 wRC+ since losing Altuve to injury earlier in the month. Alvarez has hitter, slashing .277/.388/.589 (166 wRC+) with 17 homers in 242 plate appearances this season. Altuve has been limited to just 32 games this year due to injuries but has still managed to slash .261/.374/.479 — good for a wRC+ of 138.

As the trade deadline draws ever closer, here are three things we’re keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Draft Pick Signing Deadline:

The deadline for clubs to agree to terms with their picks from the 2023 Amateur Draft is at 4pm CT this afternoon. The vast majority of top picks have signed, with only three in the first 100 selections currently unsigned: Walker Jenkins (No. 5 overall, Twins) Jackson Baumeister (No. 63 overall, Orioles), and Jaxon Wiggins (No. 68 overall, Cubs). In the event that Minnesota, Baltimore or Chicago fail to sign their picks, they will receive a compensatory pick in next year’s draft.

2. Yordan nearing return:

Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters yesterday, including Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle, that star slugger Yordan Alvarez is nearing a return to action and could be activated from the injured list as soon as today. Alvarez has been 10-day IL for just over six weeks due to an oblique strain. The Astros are two games back of the Rangers for the AL West lead with a 57-44 record. In 57 games this season, Alvarez has slashed a phenomenal .277/.388/.589, good for a wRC+ of 167 that ranks behind only Corey Seager and Shohei Ohtani among those with at least 240 plate appearances. Alvarez’s return would seemingly result in reduced playing time for outfielder Corey Julks, who has posted a decent wRC+ of 93 to this point in his rookie season.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

With MLB’s trade deadline just a week from today, the baseball world is buzzing with rumors of deals to come. If you have any questions about your favorite team’s direction as the deadline nears, a trade idea you have in the back of your mind, or are wondering what it would take for your team to acquire a certain player, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at 1pm CT today. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Red Sox infield logjam coming to a head:

Red Sox infielder Pablo Reyes has been on the injured list for just over a month due to an abdominal strain, and most of that time has been spent on a rehab assignment. That rehab assignment is set to expire today, meaning the club will be forced to either roster or DFA Reyes, who is out of options, by the start of tomorrow’s game. That will create a logjam of middle infielders who can’t be optioned on the roster, with Enrique Hernandez, Yu Chang, and Christian Arroyo all also fitting that description.

While this logjam would seemingly create a situation where the Red Sox must trade or DFA a player in that group, MLB.com’s Ian Browne indicated yesterday that Arroyo is dealing with a jammed right thumb. If Arroyo, who hasn’t played since July 18, were to require a trip to the 10-day injured list, that would kick the can down the road for Boston until after the trade deadline on August 1, allowing them to keep all four players in the organization for longer and preserve leverage in trade negotiations.

2. Wainwright to return:

The Cardinals are turning to veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright to start today’s game against the Diamondbacks, as manager Oli Marmol told reporters (including Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). It’s been a disastrous season for Wainwright to this point, as the 41-year-old hurler posted a ghastly 7.66 ERA with a strikeout rate of just 11% against a 7.5% walk rate in 11 starts before going on the injured list with a shoulder strain earlier this month. Upon returning, Wainwright will look to rebound as he sits just two victories away from the 200th win of his enduring 18-year major league career.

3. Series Preview: Reds @ Brewers:

The Reds head to American Family Field in Milwaukee today for a three-game set against the Brewers with the NL Central lead on the line. In back-to-back three-game sets separated by the All-Star break, Cincinnati has ceded significant ground to Milwaukee by losing five of six. Outside of those games against the Brewers, however, the Reds have gone 10-3 in the month of July and are currently riding a five-game win streak. That success has allowed them to stay just half a game back of Milwaukee headed into the coming series.

Tonight’s game will feature young right-hander Graham Ashcraft (5.77 ERA) facing off against journeyman Colin Rea (4.64 ERA), while tomorrow’s game will offer a pitching duel between rookie Andrew Abbott (2.10 ERA) and ace Corbin Burnes (3.48 ERA). The series will wrap with Brewers hurler Freddy Peralta (4.72 ERA) taking the mound against Reds righty Ben Lively (3.88 ERA). The series kicks off this evening at 7:10pm CT.

With the 2023 MLB regular season 60% complete, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Hall of Fame Induction Weekend:

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony for the class of 2023 is set to take place this weekend, with Fred McGriff and Scott Rolen set officially join the ranks of Hall of Famers enshrined in Cooperstown. 50 Hall of Famers will be in attendance in total, with the full list of participants available through the National Baseball Hall of Fame website. A variety of programming leading up to the induction ceremony is scheduled on MLB Network throughout the weekend. The ceremony itself will take place on Sunday at 12:30pm CT and can be watched via MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, or through the MLB app.

2. Mejia to undergo MRI:

Rays catcher Francisco Mejia exited yesterday’s game with the Orioles after the sixth inning after seemingly injuring his knee on a play at the plate in the fourth inning. Following the game, manager Kevin Cash told reporters, including Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times, that Mejia was undergoing an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, which Cash suggested could be a sprain. The only extra catcher on the club’s 40-man roster is Rene Pinto, who Ackert notes is currently with the Florida Complex League on a rehab assignment.

If Mejia misses time and Pinto isn’t ready to go, the club’s other Triple-A options are Blake Hunt, Roberto Alvarez, and Nick Dini. Of the three, only Dini has past experience in the majors. If Mejia’s injury proves to be significant, it could incentivize the club to swing a deal for a catcher ahead of the trade deadline. Joey Bart of the Giants and Yan Gomes of the Cubs were the only two catchers to appear on MLBTR’s Top 50 Deadline Trade Candidates list earlier this month, though Tom Murphy of the Mariners and Austin Hedges of the Pirates both received additional mentions.

3. Cubs infielders getting healthy:

Some positive injury news from the north side of Chicago today, as infielder Nick Madrigal is headed for a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa, per MLB.com. The 26 year old has been on the injured list since the beginning of the month with a hamstring strain. Madrigal isn’t the only infielder who could return to the lineup in the near future, as MLB.com adds that 2023 All Star Dansby Swanson could be activated from the 10-day injured list during this weekend’s series against the Cardinals. Swanson has been out with a bruised heel for just over two weeks to this point.

In 167 trips to the plate this season, Madrigal has hit .278/.335/.364 with a wRC+ of 95 while primarily playing solid defense at both second and third base. Madrigal struggled badly in the early part of the season to the point where he was optioned to Triple-A in mid-May, but since returning to the big leagues he’s improved dramatically with a .328/.408/.466 slash line in 19 games. Swanson, on the other hand, has slashed a solid .258/.343/.409 (108 wRC+) in 367 plate appearances with the Cubs to go along with stellar defense at shortstop but had cooled off in the weeks prior to his injury, with an uninspiring .237/.297/.330 line in his last 30 games.

With the trade deadline just around the corner, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Suarez to return:

The Padres have been without right-hander Robert Suarez since Spring Training due to elbow inflammation. That’s expected to change today, as manager Bob Melvin confirmed to reporters (including Dennis Lin of The Athletic) that Suarez set to be activated from the 60-day injured list prior to this afternoon’s game against the Blue Jays in Toronto. A corresponding move will be necessary to clear space for Suarez on the 40-man and active rosters.

After a lengthy career overseas, Suarez made his MLB debut last year at the age of 31 and threw 47 2/3 excellent relief innings of San Diego, with a 2.27 ERA (168 ERA+) and a 3.22 FIP. That stellar performance led the Padres to re-sign Suarez on a five-year, $46MM deal during the offseason. While that contract hasn’t worked out to this point due to Suarez’s injury issues, he has the potential to provide closer Josh Hader with an elite set-up option as the Padres attempt to work their way back into contention. Alternatively, if the Padres decided to trade Hader, a pending free agent, Suarez seems like a top candidate to slide into the closer’s role in San Diego.

2. Bader to undergo testing:

Yankees center fielder Harrison Bader exited yesterday’s game against the Angels after getting hit in the back with a 95 mph sinker from young right-hander Jose Soriano. According to Greg Joyce of the New York Post, Bader had a welt on his back and a posterior rib contusion following the incident. Bader’s expected to undergo more tests before the Yankees make a decision regarding a potential trip to the injured list. A stint on the shelf for Bader would be disastrous for the Yankees, as the center fielder has been a key player both offensively and defensively while Aaron Judge has been on the IL with a toe injury. Should Bader miss time, the club figures to rely on Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Billy McKinney in center field in his absence.

3. Quintana to make season debut:

Veteran lefty Jose Quintana has yet to throw a pitch in the majors this season after undergoing rib surgery back in March. He was reinstated from the 60-day IL last week, but still has yet to take the mound for the Mets since landing with the club on a two-year deal this past offseason. That’s set to change today, as Quintana is slated to take the ball opposite White Sox right-hander Michael Kopech this afternoon at Citi Field.

When healthy, Quintana has been a solid mid-rotation starter throughout his career with a 3.75 ERA (115 ERA+) and 3.62 FIP in 1055 1/3 career innings. He had a particularly impressive campaign last year with the Pirates and Cardinals, posting a 2.93 ERA that was 39% above league average and backed by a 2.99 FIP. With both Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer not living up to their ace-caliber standards this season and Carlos Carrasco struggling to a 5.35 ERA in 13 starts, a strong performance from Quintana down the stretch could help steady the Mets’ rotation as they attempt to stay relevant in the playoff picture ahead of the trade deadline on August 1.

With MLB’s trade deadline just two weeks away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Are more mid-season extension negotiations on the horizon?

While players and clubs typically try to avoid in-season extension talks, that occasionally changes in the run-up to the trade deadline. The Braves signed catcher Travis d’Arnaud to an extension yesterday, and last year’s deal between the Padres and Joe Musgrove stands as another recent example of two sides coming together on an extension in the midst of trade season. While d’Arnaud isn’t the only player for whom an extension has been a recent topic of discussion, other rumored extension possibilities come with roadblocks. The Red Sox reportedly have interest in an extension with young right-hander Brayan Bello, but Bello has indicated he prefers not to negotiate in-season. On the other hand, veteran hurler Marcus Stroman has expressed a desire to stay with the Cubs, but the club’s front office does not appear to reciprocate that interest.

2. Marisnick to undergo MRI:

Dodgers outfielder Jake Marisnick is set to undergo an MRI with the expectation that he’ll require a trip to the injured list, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Marisnick has appeared in just four games with the Dodgers since signing with the club on a major-league deal last week after stints with the White Sox and Tigers earlier in the season. If Marisnick winds up missing significant time, that would only increase pressure on the Dodgers to add a right-handed outfielder prior to the trade deadline, as the club has begun to rely on a fully lefty outfield of James Outman, David Peralta, and Jason Heyward with Mookie Betts and Chris Taylor taking on more infield work in recent days. In the meantime, Ardaya reports the Dodgers are expected to recall outfielder Jonny Deluca to take Marisnick’s spot on the roster.

3. Recent DFAs to monitor:

Cardinals lefty Genesis Cabrera and Rays right-hander Yonny Chirinos were designated for assignment earlier in the week, and both are more established names than the typical DFA fodder. Cabrera has had a rough stretch in 2022-23 but notched a 3.41 ERA and 28.7% strikeout rate in 92 1/3 innings from 2020-21. Command has always been an issue for him (career 12.2% walk rate), but lefties who average 96 mph and miss bats don’t grow on trees; it’s feasible that the DFA could accelerate talks on a potential trade. Chirinos, meanwhile, has posted a career-low 11.8% strikeout rate this season but nevertheless sports a respectable 4.02 ERA in 66 2/3 innings. Tommy John surgery wiped out most of the past couple seasons for the right-hander, but back in 2018-19 he gave Tampa Bay 223 innings of 3.71 ERA ball with a 21% strikeout rate and terrific 5.9% walk rate. There are workload concerns after he missed so much time from 2020-22, but Chirinos stands as a possible trade candidate who could help teams in need of rotation depth.

Both players’ DFA windows will extend to July 24, but it’s likely the Rays and Cardinals are in ongoing talks with other clubs on the pair of experienced hurlers.

As the second half of the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. O’Neill to return:

Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill has been out since early May with a low back strain, but the 28 year old is expected to rejoin the team ahead of tonight’s game against the Marlins. O’Neill is on the 60-day IL, so a corresponding move will be necessary to make room for him on the 40-man roster. It’s been a difficult season for O’Neill, as he’s slashed just .228/.283/.337 with a 70 wRC+ in 99 plate appearances. In addition to his poor performance at the plate and time on the shelf due to injuries, O’Neill was benched early in the season by manager Oli Marmol for a perceived lack of hustle.

Despite all that, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak indicated yesterday that O’Neill will be the club’s starting left fielder upon his return. With Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker locked into center and right field respectively, that seemingly leaves Dylan Carlson as the odd man out. Still just 24 years old, Carlson was once a consensus top-20 prospect in the sport but has struggled to turn that promise into production at the big league level as he’s slashed just .236/.324/.376 (102 wRC+) in 686 plate appearances since the start of the 2022 campaign.

2. DeSclafani to return:

The Giants and Reds were rained out in the 8th inning of yesterday’s 2-2 game at Great American Ballpark. The game is set to be finished this evening before the second game of the series tonight. According to Mark Sheldon and Allie Kaylor of MLB.com, fans who have tickets to tonight’s game can come early to watch the end of last night’s game in addition to the regularly scheduled game, while fans who had tickets to last night’s game can present them at the ballpark’s box office for a $5 discount on tickets to today’s game. Last night’s game is set to resume at 4:40pm CT.

Once tonight’s regularly scheduled game begins at 6:10pm CT, Giants right-hander Anthony DeSclafani is expected to take the mound after being placed on the 15-day IL earlier this month with shoulder fatigue. DeSclafani was excellent across 11 starts during the first two months of the season, with a 3.48 ERA and 3.67 FIP in 67 1/3 innings of work. Since then, however, DeSclafani has struggled mightily, with a 6.92 ERA and a 5.28 FIP in six starts, half of which lasted just three innings. If DeSclafani’s time on the shelf has helped him rest up and return to form, he’ll be a major asset to a Giants club in the thick of the wild card race despite getting less innings from their starting pitchers than any team in baseball besides the A’s and Rockies.

3. Rays vs Rangers:

Two of the AL’s top teams are in the midst of a key series, as the Rays (60-37) and Rangers (56-39) partake in a three game set at Globe Life Field. The Rangers won the series opener 3-2 last night, a win that put them 3.5 games ahead of the second-place Astros for the AL West crown. By contrast, the Rays’ loss last night leaves the Orioles nipping at their heels, just one game behind Tampa in an extremely competitive AL East division. Tonight’s game is set to begin at 7:05pm CT.

Right-handed youngster Taj Bradley is set to take the mound for the Rays at 7:05pm CT tonight against veteran hurler and former Ray Nathan Eovaldi, who has emerged as the ace of Texas’ pitching staff following the loss of Jacob deGrom to Tommy John surgery earlier this season with a 2.38 ERA in 117 2/3 innings of work. On the other hand, Bradley has had an up-and-down rookie campaign. The youngster sports an ugly 5.43 ERA in 61 1/3 innings despite a much stronger 3.99 FIP thanks in part to brutal results in his last three starts, where he’s allowed 16 earned runs while managing just 12 1/3 innings.

With the trade deadline just two weeks away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Pirates Prospect Promotions:

This evening’s game against the Guardians is shaping up to be a significant one for the Pirates, as the club is poised to call up a trio of prospects prior to the game tonight. Reports began circling over the weekend that right-handed pitching prospect Quinn Priester would be taking the ball for his MLB debut tonight, while last night news broke that he would be joined by catcher Endy Rodriguez and infielder Liover Peguero, the latter of whom will be returning to the big leagues after a one-game cup of coffee last year.

The trio of top 10 prospects in the Pirates system have all generated top-100 prospect buzz throughout their careers in the minors. Rodriguez is the best known of the bunch, as a consensus top 55 prospect in the sport entering the 2023 campaign. Priester, entered the 2023 campaign ranked 60th by MLB Pipeline. Peguero isn’t on any top 100 lists at the moment, though he was a consensus top 80 prospect prior to the 2022 campaign. Rodriguez and Peguero are both already on the 40-man roster, but an opening will need to be created for Priester before he can join the team. Of course, space will need to be cleared for all three on the active roster prior to tonight’s game as well.

2. Reds to promote CES:

The Pirates aren’t the only club promoting a top prospect today. The youth movement in Cincinnati is set to continue this evening with infield prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand set to join the club for tonight’s game against the Giants. Encarnacion-Strand is currently ranked 88th on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list and has had an incredible season in his first taste of Triple-A action with Louisville. In 316 plate appearances at the level, Encarnacion-Strand has slashed .331/.405/.637, good for a wRC+ of 153. The 23-year-old is not yet on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move will be necessary to create space for him.

In promoting Encarnacion-Strand, the Reds will create a bit of a logjam in their infield. With future Hall of Famer Joey Votto raking 77 plate appearances into his age-39 season, the Reds will have to juggle playing time for him, Encarnacion-Strand, Spencer Steer, Elly De La Cruz, Jonathan India, and Matt McLain around the infield. While the DH slot should ease those issues to an extent, with six infielders seemingly due for regular playing time and only five spots in the lineup available to them, the Reds will either have to make difficult decisions regarding their infield mix or lean heavily on the limited experience of both Steer and Encarnacion-Strand in the outfield corners.

3. McClanahan to return:

Rays lefty Shane McClanahan has been on the 15-day injured list since the beginning of the month with mid-back tightness. After just over the minimum time away, he’s poised to return to the mound today in a start against the Rangers tonight in Texas. McClanahan’s return is sure to take pressure off right-handers Tyler Glasnow, Zach Eflin, and Taj Bradley, who have operated as a three-man rotation in McClanahan’s absence.

The lefty was dominant in 17 starts prior to going on the IL, with a 2.53 ERA and 3.86 FIP in 96 innings of work. While those numbers are certainly impressive, they’re actually inflated by a pair of shortened starts during which McClanahan was battling the injury that eventually sent him to the shelf. Through his first 15 starts of the season, McClanahan appeared to be the clear front-runner for the AL Cy Young award this year with a sterling 2.12 ERA in 89 1/3 innings of work.

With the All-Star break in the rear-view, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. The second half begins:

All 30 teams are set return to action today as MLB’s second half begins. With just over two weeks left until the trade deadline on August 1, it seems as though the majority of teams in the league are positioned as potential buyers with only a select few clear sellers. Of course, the standing of a number of teams could still change significantly in the run up to the trade deadline.

The Red Sox and Cubs are two such teams that have yet to set a clear course for the trade deadline, providing additional intrigue to today’s start to a three-game set between the clubs at Wrigley Field. Meanwhile, Anaheim welcomes the Astros to Angel Stadium as they look to make up ground and remain competitive in their last season with superstar Shohei Ohtani under team control. Perhaps the most impactful series set to begin today is the one between the Reds and the Brewers, who will play each other six times before August 1 in a pair of three-game sets that could separate one club from the other in a tight NL Central race.

2. A’s promotions expected:

The A’s are in the midst of an abysmal 2023 campaign that’s seen the club go just 25-67 while ownership works to relocate the team to Las Vegas. With so few reasons for fans in Oakland to get excited over the team this season, the club is providing one today as they are poised to call up both top prospect Tyler Soderstrom and infield prospect Zack Gelof before today’s home game against the Twins. While the club has an open spot on the 40-man roster, with neither Soderstrom or Gelof currently on the roster, they’ll need to make a corresponding move to clear out additional space.

Soderstrom is a consensus top-100 prospect who ranked as highly as 35th on Baseball America’s list entering the 2023 campaign. In 78 games at the Triple-A level between this season and 2022, Soderstrom has slashed .259/.304/.521 with 21 home runs in 342 plate appearances. While those numbers certainly appear impressive on the surface, they’re inflated by the heightened offensive environment of the Pacific Coast League to the point that they’re actually below league average. That’s not a concern with Gelof, who has impressed with a .304/.401/.529 slash line in 69 games this season that’s good for a 122 wRC+, though the 23 year old doesn’t have the excellent prospect pedigree of Soderstrom.

3. Marisnick signing to be made official:

The Dodgers reportedly have agreed to a major league deal with outfielder Jake Marisnick, which figures to be made official as soon as today. A 40-man roster move will be required to accommodate Marisnick when the deal becomes official. A career .228/.281/.385 hitter, Marisnick spent most of his early career with the Astros in Houston but has bounced between a variety of teams in recent years. Since the start of the 2020 campaign, Marisnick has suited up for the Mets, Cubs, Padres, Pirates, White Sox, and Tigers, with the Dodgers poised to be his seventh team in four seasons.

While Marisnick doesn’t provide much value at the plate, he sports a solid outfield glove and some power against left-handed hitters as evidenced by his career .181 ISO against southpaws. That should make Marisnick a strong complement to the club’s heavily left-handed outfield mix that currently includes David Peralta, James Outman, and Jason Heyward while Mookie Betts has spent increased time on the infield dirt.