The Opener

There’s already been one move made this morning, but here are three things well be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Syndergaard to be re-evaluated:

Dodgers right-hander Noah Syndergaard left yesterday’s start against the Brewers after just one inning with a cut on his finger. After the game, manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) that it’s possible Syndergaard would need a trip to the 15-day injured list, but that they want to give the veteran righty and the club’s training staff more time to evaluate the situation before make a decision.

It’s been a difficult season for Syndergaard so far, as the 30-year-old has posted a 6.12 ERA, 27% below league average by measure of ERA+, with a 4.77 FIP in 32 1/3 innings of work. The peripherals are hardly encouraging, either, as Syndergaard is posting the lowest strikeout and ground-ball rates of his career, along with the highest barrel rate of his career. An IL stint for Syndergaard would likely open the door to Gavin Stone returning to the majors for additional starts after he made his major league debut last week.

2. Kyle Farmer set to return:

After a rash of early season injuries to their position player corps, the Twins are approaching a return to full strength. First baseman Alex Kirilloff and second baseman Jorge Polanco both began the season on the injured list but have since slid into their expected roles since then, and now utility infielder Kyle Farmer, who has missed the past month of action after being struck in the jaw by a pitch, is on the verge of a return as well. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli tells reporters (including Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic) that Farmer could return to action as soon as today. Willi Castro, who signed with the Twins on a minor league deal this past offseason, has taken up Farmer’s utility role while the 32-year-old veteran has been away from the team, slashing .190/.306/.310 (80 wRC+) in 49 plate appearances.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

Yesterday, MLBTR’s Steve Adams fielded questions during yesterday’s live chat, the transcript of which can be found here. If you still have unanswered questions about the beginnings of the 2023 season, you’re in luck, as MLBTR’s Anthony Franco will be hosting a live chat of his own today at 5pm CT. You can submit a question in advance here, and you can use the same link to check back in this evening and participate live once the chat begins.

On the heels of an early morning transaction and some substantial injury news for a division leader, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Jansen approaches milestone:

Veteran closer Kenley Jansen has racked up 399 career saves over his 14 season career to this point, including eight for the Red Sox so far in 2023. Jansen’s next save will make him just the seventh player of all time to reach 400 career saves, joining relief greats such as Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, and Billy Wagner. Jansen’s bid for the illustrious milestone comes in the midst of what has been a phenomenal first season in Boston. The 35-year-old veteran has allowed just one earned run in 11 appearances with sixteen strikeouts, no home runs allowed, and just three walks. Jansen will look to continue his dominance as the Red Sox take on the Braves, for whom the veteran earned an NL-leading 41 saves last season.

2. Judge to be activated:

Reigning AL MVP and Yankees captain Aaron Judge is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list today, after missing time since the end of April with a hip strain. Judge, who recently celebrated his 31st birthday, is slashing .261/.352/.511 with a wRC+ of 134 in 26 games played this season and figures to provide a major boost to a Yankees lineup currently relying on Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu, and Gleyber Torres to carry the offense. Yankees fans are surely hoping the return of their captain can help spark the club, which has gone 19-17 so far this season and 4-6 since Judge last appeared in a game. With Judge on the verge of a return, the Yankees will need to clear active roster space. One potential option would be putting infielder Oswald Peraza on the injured list, as the youngster has missed the last four games with a rolled ankle.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With the regular season fast approaching the one-quarter mark, some of the early season storylines of the 2023 regular season have begun to even out, while other surprising trends are still going strong. If the beginning of this season has spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, MLBTR’s Steve Adams is holding a live chat with readers at noon 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.

As 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. Contreras returns to Wrigley:

The Cubs and Cardinals will meet for the first time this season at Wrigley Field this evening, with Willson Contreras in the middle of the storylines surrounding the bitter rivals. Contreras, of course, departed Chicago this past offseason before signing a five-year deal with the Cardinals to replace Yadier Molina behind the plate in St. Louis. Meanwhile, Chicago signed a veteran stopgap in Tucker Barnhart to pair with Yan Gomes behind the plate as they waited for prospect Miguel Amaya to be ready to take over as the catcher of the future.

A month into the season, the Cardinals are nine games back in the NL Central with the worst record in the National League, and have pulled the plug on Contreras as their starting catcher with mixed messaging surrounding both his role going forward and the club’s rationale in making the decision. Meanwhile, the Cubs called up Amaya when Gomes went on the 7-day concussion injured list last week. The 24-year-old catching prospect has looked solid both at the plate and behind it during his first cup of coffee in the big leagues. Between the Cardinals’ struggles to open the season the Cubs’ record of just 17-17 despite sporting the second best run differential in the NL, both clubs are surely hoping for a big win in this week’s series against their longtime rival.

2. Astros outfielders to return:

The Astros could welcome both left fielder Michael Brantley and outfielder Chas McCormick back from the injured list as soon as today, though GM Dana Brown suggests Brantley could need an extra day before returning to the lineup. The return of both players will be a boon to Houston’s offense; the reigning World Series champions have opened the season with a record of just 17-17 thanks in part to their lengthy injured list. That list includes not only the aforementioned outfielders, but also Jose Altuve, Jose Urquidy, Luis Garcia, and Lance McCullers Jr. Those injuries have left the club relying on Jake Meyers, Corey Julks, and Mauricio Dubon in the lineup and Brandon Bielak and J.P. France in the rotation.

3. Jose Suarez to undergo MRI:

Left-hander Jose Suarez is scheduled to receive an MRI today after leaving yesterday’s start for the Angels in the third inning, having already surrendered seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings of work. The potential injury comes on the heels of an extremely difficult first month for Suarez. MLBTR’s Anthony Franco recently outlined the options the Angels, who are in second place in the AL West with a 19-16 record, had at their disposal regarding Suarez. After yesterday’s start, the 25-year-old lefty has a 9.62 ERA with an 8.29 FIP over his first six starts. Should the lefty miss significant time, Tucker Davidson and Chase Silseth are the most logical candidates to step into the club’s rotation, with Chris Rodriguez on the injured list.

With about 20% of the 2023 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. Mervis to debut:

The Cubs are reportedly set to call up first base prospect Matt Mervis to the major league team ahead of this afternoon’s game against the Marlins. Mervis broke out in a big way in 2022, advancing from High-A all the way to Triple-A over the course of the season, with his strikeout and walk numbers improving as he advanced through the levels of the minors. In all, Mervis has slashed .293/.387/.573 in 367 plate appearances at the Triple-A level, with 21 home runs in just 85 games. While power is Mervis’s primary calling card, he’s also shown remarkable discipline at the plate, with a strikeout rate of 15.8% and a walk rate of 12% at the Triple-A level in his career so far.

Mervis figures to draw regular starts at first base, where veteran Eric Hosmer was signed over the offseason to act as a bridge to Mervis. Hosmer has struggled with the Cubs so far this season, slashing just .250/.294/.363, good for a wRC+ of 79. Hosmer is also striking out at a 24.7% rate that would be a career high for the 33-year-old veteran if it continued over the full season, while walking at just a 5.9% rate that would be his lowest in a full season, with only the shortened 2020 season clocking in lower at 5.8%. A 40-man roster move won’t be necessary to accommodate Mervis, as the club’s 40-man roster stands at 39 currently. Still, a move of some sort will be necessary to add Mervis to the active roster.

2. Wainwright to return:

The Cardinals are set to receive a boost to their pitching depth this weekend when veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright is activated to start Saturday afternoon’s game against the Tigers. Wainwright, who posted a decent 3.71 ERA (104 ERA+) with a 3.66 FIP last season, figures to help stabilize a Cardinals rotation that has been a major reason why the club’s 4.70 ERA is bottom ten in the majors this season. At 41 years old, age-related decline is always a possibility, but Wainwright has already battled back from a difficult stretch of seasons in his mid-thirties to produce a 3.57 ERA (112 ERA+) since the start of the 2019 season, giving reason for optimism that Wainwright can remain productive in this final season of his career. Wainwright’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Cardinals, who have lost six straight games and 13 of their last 16.

3. Glasnow headed for rehab:

Oft-injured Rays ace Tyler Glasnow figures to begin a rehab assignment for the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Durham today, with a return later this month as a potential target. Glasnow has been on the injured list all season after suffering an oblique strain during Spring Training. Though injuries have limited Glasnow to just 212 2/3 innings of work since the beginning of the 2019 season, those innings have been phenomenal, with a 2.75 ERA (151 ERA+) and a 2.87 FIP with a fantastic 36% strikeout rate and a walk rate of just 7.8%.

Upon his return, Glasnow will join a rotation that last Jeffrey Springs to Tommy John surgery earlier this season alongside Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, and Zach Eflin. The likes of Josh Fleming, Yonny Chirinos, and the recently acquired Chase Anderson are among the club’s bulk options who have filled out the rotation so far this season, though McClanahan, Rasmussen, and Eflin are the only regular starters currently on the roster.

As the second month 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. Verlander’s Mets debut:

Reigning AL Cy Young award winner and future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander is set to be activated from the injured list ahead of this afternoon’s game against the Tigers. Verlander signed with the Mets on a two-year deal ahead of his age-40 season, replacing longtime ace Jacob deGrom in the Mets’ rotation, but he has yet to throw a pitch for the club during the regular season due to a teres major strain. Verlander’s debut comes at an opportune time for the Mets, who are 2-8 in their last 10 games and fell to 16-15 after the Tigers swept yesterday’s doubleheader. Verlander will take the ball at 12:10pm CT, looking to help the Mets avoid a series sweep against the Tigers’ Eduardo Rodriguez.

2. Taillon to be activated:

The Cubs are set to activate right-hander Jameson Taillon from the IL  ahead of today’s game against the Nationals. Taillon, who’s been out the past two weeks with a groin strain, signed with the Cubs this past offseason on a four-year, $68MM deal. In his three starts to this point in a Cubs uniform, Taillon posted 4.50 ERA (seven runs in 14 innings) — but with a far more encouraging 16-to-4 K/BB ratio (25.8 strikeout rate, 6.5% walk rate) and 1.93 FIP. Taillon rejoins the Cubs as they’re in the midst of a slide in the standings, going 4-9 over their last 13 games, including a 1-5 record on their current road trip.

3. Braves dealing with injuries:

Braves right-hander Kyle Wright left yesterday’s start with a shoulder injury and is headed to the injured list, his second trip of the young 2023 season. Aside from his expected return to the IL, manager Brian Snitker provided few details regarding Wright’s condition, though more information could be available as soon as today. More information could also be made available regarding outfielder Michael Harris II, who left last night’s game with a knee injury. He isn’t currently set to make a trip to the IL, but he’ll be further evaluated today.

The club is expected to call up left-hander Dylan Dodd, who was tagged for eight runs in 9 1/3 innings in two early season starts, to start this afternoon against the Marlins. It’s currently unclear if Dodd is simply going to make his pre-planned spot start before returning to the minors, or if he’ll stick in the rotation for the length of Wright’s absence. Fellow lefty Jared Shuster and right-hander Michael Soroka are among the other options to take over Wright’s spot in the rotation while he’s on the shelf.

On the heels of a morning trade, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Scherzer’s return:

Mets ace Max Scherzer is set to take the ball in the second game of the club’s double-header against the Tigers this evening. Today’s start will be both Scherzer’s first return to Comerica Park since 2019 and his first start since he was suspended for foreign substance use after being ejected from his April 19 start against the Dodgers. Over four starts this season Scherzer has pitched solidly, though not up to his usual Hall of Fame caliber standards, with a 3.72 ERA in 19 1/3 innings of work.

2. Prospect debuts in the NL West:

A pair of teams out west are set to make their major league debut this afternoon. Gavin Stone will take the ball for the Dodgers against the Phillies in his first major league appearance, while Brandon Pfaadt of the Diamondbacks will suit up against the Rangers in Texas to begin his major league career. Both players are widely ranked among the top 100 prospect in the sport, and both have dominated Triple-A to identical ERAs of 3.00 over the past two seasons, though Pfaadt has done so over 87 innings of work while Stone has only logged 48 innings at the level. Beyond the identical date of their MLB debuts, their similar prospect rankings and their status as potentially long-term division rivals, Pfaadt and Stone were born on the same day (Oct. 15, 1998) and were selected just ten picks apart in the fifth round of the 2020 draft.

3. Sanchez returns to free agency:

Veteran catcher Gary Sanchez opted-out of his minor league deal with the Giants yesterday, deciding to return to free agency after not being called up to the big league club as San Francisco opted to stick with Joey Bart and Blake Sabol behind the plate. Sanchez’s free agency will be one to watch, with a handful of injuries behind the plate early in the season. In addition to San Francisco’s loss of Roberto Perez, the Angels recently lost catcher Logan O’Hoppe for the year, and the Mets will be without Omar Narvaez for at least another month.

As MLB’s regular season continues — and with one transaction already on the books this morning — here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Bryce is back:

Phillies superstar Bryce Harper was cleared to return to the team’s lineup yesterday, and will make his season debut tonight against the Dodgers. A transaction will be needed to make room for Harper on the active roster before tonight’s game, which is scheduled for 9:10pm CT tonight. Harper will look to help Philadelphia rebound from a brutal 13-4 loss last night as lefty Matt Strahm, whose impressive start to the season was recently discussed by MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald, takes on struggling ace Julio Urias. Harper’s return will surely provide a huge boost to a Phillies lineup that ranks just 15th in runs scored and 13th in on-base percentage.

2. Cubs keeping an eye on Gomes:

Cubs catcher Yan Gomes was hit in the head by a backswing during yesterday’s game against the Nationals and departed in the second inning. Manager David Ross told reporters (including The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney) last night that the club would evaluate Gomes today to determine if he is going to miss time. Mark Gonzales reports that catching prospect Miguel Amaya is headed to Washington D.C., meaning he’s the likely replacement in the event that Gomes does miss time. The 35-year-old Gomes has paired strong defense behind the plate with a .294/.310/.529 slash line at the plate in the early going, good for a 122 wRC+, so losing him would be a blow to the Cubs.

That said, the 24-year-old Amaya has long been one of Chicago’s top prospects. He was considered a top-100 prospect in all of baseball as recently as the 2021 season but has been derailed by Tommy John surgery and injuries to his foot and ankle in recent years. Now finally healthy, Amaya has been excellent at the plate in Double-A to open the 2023 campaign, slashing .273/.411/.659 in 56 plate appearances (182 wRC+). Should Amaya be recalled, he’ll be poised to make his major league debut quickly as he shares time with Tucker Barnhart.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With the calendar now flipped to May, some of the surprising early season storylines of the 2023 regular season have begun to even out, while other surprising trends are still going strong. If the beginning of this season has spurred any questions in your mind about your favorite team or the league as a whole, 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.

As the calendar flips to May, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Is Harper back?

Phillies superstar Bryce Harper is reportedly set to visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache today for evaluation with the possibility of Harper returning from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent back in November, on the table as soon as tomorrow. The former NL Rookie of the Year and two-time MVP provided the spark for Philadelphia’s improbable run to the NL pennant last year by launching 22 hits (including six homers) in 17 postseason games. The Phillies could certainly use the boost that Harper would provide, as the club has started the season just 15-14, good for fourth place in the NL East.

2. Will Judge avoid the IL?

After an MRI revealed reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge has a mild strain in his hip, the Yankees decided to be cautious with their captain, who has not played the last three games in order to rest the injury. The club has indicated that the final decision on a potential trip to the injured list is expected to come later today. If Judge is placed on the IL today, the Yankees will be able to backdate the move the maximum of three days, meaning Judge could miss as little as one more week. Still, even that much missed time would be a serious blow to the Yankees team that ranks just 23rd in the Majors in runs scored. New York is tied for last place in the AL East with a 15-14 record.

3. Miguel Rojas to return:

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated yesterday that shortstop Miguel Rojas is set to be activated from the 10-day IL today, so long as he feels good after his last rehab game. The Dodgers swung a deal with the Marlins for Rojas’s services this past offseason with the intention of using Rojas as a glove-first utility player, though Rojas’s initial role became far larger than that thanks to Gavin Lux’s torn ACL during spring training. As the club’s regular shortstop, Rojas scuffled badly to a .125/.200/.156 slash line in 35 plate appearances before going on the injured list. Upon his return, he’ll split time at short with Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts, who has spent more time in the infield in recent days and has passed the eye test so far defensively.

As the month of April approaches its close, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Dodgers roster moves incoming:

The Dodgers are expected to make a handful of roster moves in the near future, with infielder Max Muncy and reliever Brusdar Graterol likely set to come off the paternity list. It’s possible that catcher Will Smith will also be activated from the 7-day concussion IL, but it seems as though he isn’t expected to return to work behind the plate just yet. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic) that if J.D. Martinez, who hasn’t played in a few days due to back soreness, requires an IL stint of his own, Smith could be an option at DH while Martinez is on the shelf.  Each of Muncy, Graterol, and Smith will require a corresponding move to clear space on the active roster, though if Martinez does hit in the injured list that would clear one spot.

2. Injuries to watch this weekend:

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez (neck discomfort) and Giants catcher Joey Bart (groin tightness) have both missed three games due to injury at this point. Given stints on the IL can only be backdated a maximum of three days, it seems likely that each player will be re-evaluated by their club today to determine if they need to make a trip to the IL. Other injury situations to keep an eye on are those of AL MVP Aaron Judge, who left yesterday’s game with right hip discomfort but expects to only be sidelined for a few days, and Twins right-hander Tyler Mahle, who left yesterday’s game with elbow soreness. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters (including The Athletic’s Dan Hayes), Mahle is day-to-day, but was unsure if Mahle would require an MRI.

3. 2022 World Series rematch series:

The Phillies are headed to Minute Maid Park for a rematch of the 2022 World Series against the world champion Astros, with the series set to kick off tonight at 7:10pm CT. Both teams struggled to open the season, spending most of the month under .500. Both now appear to be finding their footing, with the Astros pulling into a first place tie with the Rangers in the AL West while the Phillies rebounded from a 5-10 record to win seven of their last ten, returning the club to an even record. The teams will match up this weekend in Houston, with left-hander Framber Valdez squaring off against right-hander Aaron Nola to kick the series off tonight at 7:10 CT.

With the 2023 regular season around 15% complete, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world today:

1. Marquee pitching matchup in Chicago tonight:

The Rays are headed to the south side of Chicago this evening for the beginning of a three game set against the White Sox. The series will open with a pitchers’ duel between aces, with Tampa Bay sending lefty Shane McClanahan (1.86 ERA) to the mound to face right-hander Dylan Cease (2.73 ERA). The White Sox return to their home ballpark looking to stop a seven-game losing streak, but to do so they’ll have to beat a Rays club that swept them as recently as this past weekend. The Rays, meanwhile, have the best winning percentage in the majors with a fantastic 20-5 record, though the club is coming off its second series loss of the season against the Astros. The game will begin at 6:10pm CT.

2. MRIs scheduled for Marquez, Maeda:

A pair of right-handers are set to undergo MRIs today. Rockies right-hander German Marquez exited yesterday’s game, his first start since returning from the injured list due to a forearm issue, after just 58 pitches due to a triceps injury. Significant missed time for Marquez would be a major concern for a Rockies club that has few quality rotation options beyond the injured right-hander, lefty Kyle Freeland, and perhaps  26-year-old Noah Davis. Further complicating matters is Marquez’s contract situation, as the club holds a net $13.5MM decision on a $16MM option ($2.5MM buyout) for Marquez’s services in the 2024 campaign.

In the American League, Twins veteran Kenta Maeda is set to undergo an MRI of his own after feeling soreness in his elbow during yesterday’s start against the Yankees. After missing the entire 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, the 35-year-old Maeda was tagged for a whopping 10 runs in yesterday’s outing, ballooning his ERA to 9.00 (16 runs in 16 innings). Fortunately for the Twins, the club is deep in potential rotation options who could take over in the event that Maeda misses time, with right-hander Bailey Ober standing as the likely top option. Ober, who posted a solid 3.21 ERA and an even stronger 2.92 FIP in 11 starts last season, came up to the majors for a fill-in start last week and allowed just one run over 5 2/3 innings of work.

3. MLB debuts pending for Bolton, Cosgrove:

The Pirates and Padres each called up a pitcher yesterday who has yet to make their MLB debut. The Pirates, who saw minor league veteran Drew Maggi make his big league debut just yesterday after 13 seasons in the minors, selected the contract of right-hander Cody Bolton yesterday. Bolton, 25 in June, was a longtime starting pitching prospect who recently converted to relief, and has posted a 2.58 ERA at the Triple-A level when coming out of the bullpen. Meanwhile, the Padres recalled lefty Tom Cosgrove, who was added to the 40-man roster this past offseason ahead of the Rule 5 draft. Cosgrove struggled in his first taste of work at Triple-A last year, but has opened the 2023 season with 7 1/3 scoreless innings of work.