The Opener

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. Clevinger exits with injury:

The White Sox announced yesterday that right-hander Mike Clevinger, who exited his start against the Dodgers in the fifth inning last night due to injury, was dealing with what the club termed “right biceps soreness.” In conversation with reporters, including Scott Merkin of MLB.com, Clevinger said the injury “kind of scared” him at first, but that initial tests after the game went well. The right-hander figures to get imaging done today to determine the severity of the issue.

In 62 2/3 innings this season across 12 starts Clevinger has posted a 3.88 ERA (112 ERA+), though his 19.5% strikeout rate and 9.5% walk rate contribute to a much less desirable 4.89 FIP. Should Clevinger miss significant time, it would be a blow to the club’s rotation and send a potentially valuable rental starter on a 30-39 White Sox team to the shelf with just over six weeks until the trade deadline. Right-hander Jesse Scholtens, who sports a 3.24 ERA in 16 2/3 big league innings this season, seems likely to take Clevinger’s place in the rotation if he were to miss a start.

2. Fleming to meet with specialist:

On the heels of Rays left-hander Josh Fleming hitting the shelf for at least “several weeks” due to an elbow problem, Fleming is expected to meet with specialist Dr. Keith Meister today for an in-person examination. In comments to reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times), Fleming noted that a ligament issue was possible, which would leave the door open to potential Tommy John surgery in a worst-case scenario.

Though Fleming has struggled to a 4.62 ERA and 5.87 FIP in 48 2/3 innings this season, those numbers were sent soaring after the Dodgers torched him for eight runs in his most recent appearance — after which he hit the IL. Floating between the rotation and long relief behind openers this year, Fleming has average more than 4 1/3 innings per appearance, and in eight of his 11 trips to the mound he’s held opponents to two, one or zero runs. He’s pitched at least three innings each time out. The Rays have already lost Jeffrey Springs for the season and won’t see Drew Rasmussen return to baseball activities until closer to the All-Star break. They’re currently sporting a rotation group of Shane McClanahan, Tyler Glasnow, Taj Bradley, Zach Eflin, and Yonny Chirinos. A lengthy absence from Fleming would remove a useful depth arm from the mix.

3. O’Neill meets with doctor:

Also meeting with a doctor to determine next steps today is Cardinals outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who has been out since early May with a low back strain. As noted by Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, O’Neill received two injections to reduce inflammation in his back after heading to Los Angeles for a second opinion earlier this month, with O’Neill noting that he was “pain-free” for the first time in months. The outfielder is set to meet with the doctor who delivered those injections today for an exam. If cleared to return to baseball activities, O’Neill could begin his rehab process as soon as tomorrow.

In 2021, O’Neill proved to be a revelation for the Cardinals, winning a second consecutive Gold Glove in left field while hitting 34 homers with a .286/.352/.560 batting line. Unfortunately, O’Neill has struggled since then, with a .228/.303/.380 slash line (95 wRC+) in 125 games, including 29 games this season where he’s posted a brutal 73 wRC+ and a 34.3% strikeout rate. With O’Neill joined by fellow outfielder Lars Nootbaar on the shelf, the Cardinals are currently using Tommy Edman in center field, where he’s flanked on most days by Dylan Carlson and Jordan Walker.

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. Tigers vs Braves doubleheader:

Yesterday’s game between the Tigers and Braves at Comerica Park was postponed yesterday due to rain, leaving the clubs to partake in a doubleheader today, the first game of which will begin at 12:10pm CT this afternoon. Fans who had tickets to yesterday’s game can read about their options for exchanging the tickets here. Last night’s expected starters, right-handers Reese Olson and Spencer Strider, will start the first game of today’s doubleheader, while Michael Lorenzen will take the mound for the Tigers in game two. Atlanta’s game two starter has not yet been announced, though Evan Woodbery of MLive notes that AJ Smith-Shawver has previously been listed as the Braves’ starter for the game.

2. Giants to promote Matos amid injuries:

After outfielder Mitch Haniger and third baseman J.D. Davis both suffered injuries that took them out of yesterday’s game for the Giants, San Francisco appears poised to promote one of their top prospects in Luis Matos. As noted by Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, both Matos and infielder David Villar could be active tomorrow, though Kapler noted that Davis’s injury may not require a stint on the IL, leaving the club to call up just one of the duo. It would be Matos’s first call up to the big leagues, though the outfielder is already on the 40-man roster.

A consensus top 100 prospect heading into the 2022 season, Matos saw his stock drop last year when he hit .211/.275/.344 in 92 games at High-A. The 21-year-old has rebounded in a big way in 2023. After posting an excellent .304/.399/.444 slash line in 133 Double-A plate appearances this season, Matos was promoted to Triple-A where he’s proceeded to mash to the tune of a .398/.435/.685 slash line in 116 plate appearances.

3. Bido to debut for Pirates as Cubs monitor Happ:

Joining Matos in his potential major league debut is Pirates right-hander Osvaldo Bido, who is poised to start today’s game against the Cubs. The 27-year-old Bido has posted a rather pedestrian 4.55 ERA in 55 1/3 innings of work at Triple-A this season across twelve appearances (10 starts). In three seasons at the level in his career, Bido sports a 23.7% strikeout rate, though it’s paired with an elevated walk rate of 12%. Bido is not yet on the 40-man roster, but the Pirates have multiple vacancieis, meaning only an active roster move will be necessary to promote Bido.

On the other side of the diamond the Cubs are set to monitor the health of left fielder Ian Happ, who was pulled from the game with a right calf issue, as noted by MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. The loss of Happ for significant time would be a significant blow to a Cubs team that is already without center fielder Cody Bellinger. Youngster Christopher Morel took over for Happ in left field during last night’s game and could continue to see playing time in the outfield if Happ misses additional time.

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. 2023 Subway Series begins:

The annual clash between New York’s AL and NL teams begins today as the Yankees head to Citi Field to face the Mets. It’s been a difficult season for both teams so far. The Yankees are stuck in third place in the AL East, nine games back of the Rays for the division crown, despite a strong 38-29 record. In the NL, the Mets have sunk to fourth place with a 31-35 record that registers as a massive disappointment for the club that entered 2023 with an MLB-leading $359MM payroll, per RosterResource. What’s more, both teams are currently playing without superstar sluggers, as both Pete Alonso and Aaron Judge have hit the injured list in recent weeks.

The two-game set begins tonight at 6:10pm CT, with Luis Severino taking the mound for the Yankees while the Mets counter with Max Scherzer. The second game of the series features an even more intriguing pitching matchup, as former Astros teammates Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole will take the mound for the Mets and Yankees, respectively.

2. Gray scratched from today’s start:

Rangers starter Jon Gray has been scratched from today’s start against the Angels with a blister issue, manager Bruce Bochy told reporters (including Kennedi Landry of MLB.com). The starter for today’s game in lieu of Gray hasn’t yet been announced, though Landry noted that left-hander Cody Bradford, who has made two spot starts for the Rangers previously this season, was spotted in the Rangers’ clubhouse yesterday. Bradford has a 7.20 ERA with eight strikeouts and three walks in 10 innings of work for Texas this season. If Bradford were to start today’s game, an active roster move would need to be made to accommodate him.

Gray has posted an excellent 2.32 ERA in 12 starts this season (albeit with a less-encouraging 4.16 FIP). Gray has been especially dominant over the past month, as the veteran hurler has pitched to a sterling 0.84 ERA across his last six starts. That stretch was highlighted by his most recent start, a complete game in St. Louis where Gray struck out 12 Cardinals and allowed just one run. For now, it seems the decision to skip Gray’s start is being considered precautionary, and the Rangers don’t expect an IL stint to be necessary.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With just seven weeks to go until MLB’s trade deadline, the paths forward for many teams remain murky, even as some organizations set themselves apart from the pack.. If the events of the season so far have 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 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Nevada legislature resumes discussions:

The bill in Nevada’s state legislature that would provide $380MM in public money to fund a stadium in Las Vegas for the A’s was put on hold last week when the legislature adjourned Thursday night. As noted by Jacob Solis, Tabitha Mueller, and Sean Golonka of The Nevada Independent, that adjournment is set to end today, allowing negotiations on the stadium bill to begin once again.

The ongoing special session was called by Governor Joe Lombardo, though members of the legislature have become frustrated by the lack of amendments to the bill since the end of the legislature’s regular session on June 5. Amendments that have been suggested include ensuring the A’s home games are not exempt from the state’s 9% Live Entertainment Tax and requiring the A’s to match their past donation commitments to California food banks with similar commitments in Nevada.

2. Pasquantino to undergo MRI:

Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino recently landed on the injured list due to shoulder soreness, which MLB.com’s Anne Rogers notes has similarities to an injury that kept him out of action for three weeks last season. While he’ll undergo an MRI today to get a clearer idea of the injury’s specifics, Pasquantino himself noted that his shoulder feels “pretty much the same” as it did during last season’s injury. The 25-year-old is one of just five above average hitters for the Royals this season by measure of wRC+. While Pasquantino is on the shelf, Nick Pratto figures to move from the outfield back to his natural position, first base.

3. Rangers vs. Angels Series Preview:

The Rangers and Angels begin a four-game set today that could have major implications in the race for the AL West crown. As things stand, the Rangers have a commanding lead in the division, with a five-game lead over the second-place Astros and a six-and-a-half-game lead over the third-place Angels. That said, the Angels appear to be the hot hand at the moment. The club has won six of their last seven as they arrive in Texas, where the Rangers are coming off a difficult series loss to the AL-leading Rays.

Tonight’s game will begin at 7:05pm CT when Angels lefty Tyler Anderson, who has struggled to a 5.62 ERA in 57 2/3 innings this season, takes the mound against Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning, who was excellent in a bullpen role before joining the rotation and posting a 2.97 ERA and 4.02 FIP across six starts. Looking to the rest of the series, Angels righty Jaime Barria will take on Rangers righty Jon Gray in Game 2. Game 3 will see a duel between lefties Reid Detmers and Andrew Heaney. Game 4 will see a pitching duel between each team’s top starter: Shohei Ohtani and Nathan Eovaldi.

With 40% of the 2023 regular season in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. How serious is Alvarez’s injury?

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez exited yesterday’s loss to the Blue Jays after the first inning with what was termed right oblique discomfort. Speaking to reporters after the game, manager Dusty Baker (as relayed by MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart) told reporters that the club plans to re-evaluate their prized DH today, but called the injury a “tough blow.” As McTaggart notes, even a mild oblique issue seems likely to shelve Alvarez for at least a few games, as it did for Jose Altuve earlier this month when he missed four games with a mild oblique strain. A more significant strain, of course, could require a stint on the injured list.

Alvarez, who turns 26 at the end of the month, is having another sensational season at the plate for the Astros. The slugger has mashed to a .272/.384/.579 slash line in 242 plate appearances this season, good for a wRC+ of 165. While that sort of production will be next to impossible to replace fully, the Astros seem likely to offer more consistent at-bats to Corey Julks in the event that Alvarez misses time.

2. Eloy exits:

White Sox slugger Eloy Jimenez left yesterday’s game after feeling discomfort in his lower left leg while running the bases in a loss to the Yankees last night. Manager Pedro Grifol told reporters, including Scott Merkin of MLB.com, that Jimenez would be re-evaluated today and is considered day-to-day for the time being. A former top prospect, the talented Jimenez has found success when on the field throughout his big league career, with a wRC+ of 122 in the majors, but has struggled to stay on the field consistently in recent years, with just 174 games played since the start of the 2021 season.

In 2023, Jimenez has slashed .257/.315/.434 (105 wRC+) while splitting time between the DH slot and the outfield for the White Sox, though he’s been limited to just 35 games by two stints on the IL this season: one for a hamstring strain back in April and another after undergoing and appendectomy last month. Jimenez’s injury comes as the White Sox struggle to stay competitive in a weak AL Central, as the club is just 3.5 games back of the division-leading Twins despite a weak 28-36 record. Should Jimenez miss time, that would likely open up additional starts for the likes of Jake Burger and Clint Frazier.

3. Urias to return on Sunday:

The rotation picture in LA has begun to crystalize with Noah Syndergaard heading to the injured list yesterday. That leaves young right-handers Michael Grove and Bobby Miller secure in their rotation spots for the time being as they prepare to take the ball against the Phillies this weekend. Taking the ball to close out the series this weekend will be left-hander Julio Urias, who has been on the injured list since the middle of May with a hamstring strain. Last week, Urias threw a 30-pitch bullpen session, leading to speculation that he could return in the near future. That’s now coming to fruition as Urias figures to start Sunday’s game in Philadelphia.

Urias’s return could provide a boost to the Dodgers’ pitching staff as the club as the club looks to stop their current skid. Losers of 6 of their last 10 games, the Dodgers have seceded ground in the NL West race to the Diamondbacks in recent days, with Arizona currently holding a 1.5 game lead over Los Angeles in the division. That being said, Urias has struggled in 2023 to meet the lofty expectations set by his work in previous seasons. After posting a 2.63 ERA (158 ERA+) in 495 1/3 innings of work between 2019 and 2022, Urias has seemingly taken a step back through ten starts in 2023, with a 4.39 ERA that’s barely league average by measure of ERA+ (101) and a worrisome 5.31 FIP.

As the 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world:

1. Make-up games after air quality postponements:

MLB postponed the Yankees’ home game against the White Sox and the Phillies’ home game against the Tigers yesterday due to air quality concerns stemming from wildfires burning across Canada, the smoke from which has begun to pollute the air all across the northeastern United States recently. The teams figure to make up the games today. The game in Philadelphia will begin at 5:05pm CT, replacing what was expected to be a scheduled off-day for both teams. Meanwhile, the Yankees and White Sox will play a single-admission double-header this afternoon, with the first game beginning at 3:05pm CT. Tickets for yesterday’s postponed game will be honored today in Philadelphia, while the doubleheader in New York today is single-admission. Tickets for yesterday’s game can be exchanged for another 2023 regular season game at Yankee Stadium.

2. Alonso to undergo testing:

According to Tim Healey of Newsday, Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is expected to undergo a CT scan today on his left wrist after exiting yesterday’s game against the Braves with a wrist contusion. Manager Buck Showalter said the club will evaluate Alonso’s status today, noting that the initial x-rays were promising but they need to “make sure we know what we’re dealing with.”

Alonso has played each of the club’s 61 games to this point, slashing .231/.323/.546 with an MLB-leading 22 home runs. Should Alonso miss time, youngster Mark Vientos seems likely to take over at first base for the time being. He’s struggled to a .188/.206/.281 slash line so far, albeit in just 12 games and with inconsistent playing time since being called up a bit over three weeks ago.

3. Adell to make season debut:

Former top prospect Jo Adell is expected to make his 2023 debut for the Angels today against Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly, according to MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger. Once a consensus top-5 prospect in the game, the former tenth overall pick has struggled to a .215/.256/.359 slash line in 557 career plate appearances since debuting during the shortened 2020 campaign, good for a wRC+ of just 68.

Of course, Adell is immensely talented, still just 24 years old, and posting a solid 115 wRC+ in Triple-A this season even after a 10-game slump that preceded this call-up to the majors. In his first 45 games at Triple-A, Adell had dominated with a .300/.394/.665 slash line with a whopping 17 home runs in just 199 plate appearances. He’s still striking out too often (29.3% on the year), but if he can sustain anywhere near this level of power production that’ll be a fair trade-off.

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. Nevada legislature to hold special session on A’s stadium deal:

As reported by Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada governor Joe Lombardo issued a proclamation last night that convened a special session of the Nevada state legislature to reconsider SB509, the bill that, if passed, would approve roughly $380MM in public funding for an MLB ballpark in Las Vegas. The special session, which is set to begin 12pm CT, has no specified end time. Per Akers, that means the session could extend beyond today, if necessary to reach a conclusion on the bill.

Failure to get the bill through the Nevada legislature would be a major setback for A’s ownership, as the club will lose its status as a recipient of revenue-sharing if it fails to secure a stadium deal prior to January 15. Success, on the other hand, would remove what appears to be the most significant remaining roadblock as A’s ownership plans to move the team to Las Vegas, though plenty of other, smaller roadblocks would remain.

2. Yankees to place Judge, Cortes on the IL today:

The Yankees plan to place both left-hander Nestor Cortes and outfielder Aaron Judge on the injured list today. Right-hander Randy Vasquez is expected to be called up to take the ball in Cortes’ stead during tonight’s game against the White Sox, though it’s as of yet unknown who will replace Judge on the active roster. Outfielder Franchy Cordero, infielder Oswald Peraza, and catcher Ben Rortvedt are the only Triple-A hitters on the 40-man roster at the moment.

It’s been a difficult season to this point for Cortes. The lefty has struggled to a 5.16 ERA that’s 18% worse than league average by ERA+ over 59 1/3 innings of work. Judge, on the other hand, has followed up his AL MVP-winning campaign with another strong performance, slashing .291/.404/.674 so far in the 2023 season. While Judge’s 188 wRC+ leads the majors, he’s been limited to just 49 games so far this season between his current toe issue and a hip strain earlier in the season.

3. Syndergaard starts as rotation decision looms:

The Dodgers are expected to welcome left-hander Julio Urias back into the rotation in the near future, meaning one of the club’s five current starters figures to depart the rotation. Veteran ace Clayton Kershaw and right-hander Tony Gonsolin are both secure in their rotation spots, leaving a spotlight on veteran right-hander Noah Syndergaard along with youngsters Bobby Miller and Michael Grove headed into the weekend.

Miller has been dominant since receiving the call to the majors, with a 1.06 ERA in three starts. Grove has been hit hard this season, though his 8.14 ERA is skewed by a nine-run meltdown that preceded a stint on the injured list beginning in late April. He returned with improved velocity earlier this week, fanning a season-high seven batters with no walks but still yielding four runs in five innings. Syndergaard has struggled to a 6.54 ERA and 5.23 FIP in 11 starts with the Dodgers after signing on a one-year deal with the club this past offseason. As he fights to keep his spot in the rotation, the veteran right-hander will be tasked with handling a hot Reds team that managed to come back from an 8-3 deficit just last night to beat the Dodgers 9-8.

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. McCutchen approaches milestone:

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen currently sits at 1,997 hits for his career, just three away from becoming the 290th player in major league history to record at least 2,000 hits. Other active players who reached similar territory include Joey Votto, Nelson Cruz, and Miguel Cabrera. McCutchen has recorded a trio of three-hit games so far this season, most recently on May 31 against the Giants. He’s gone hitless over his last two games, though he did draw three walks and connect for a game-winning sacrifice fly in last night’s win over the A’s.

It’s been a resurgent season for the 36-year-old veteran, who has slashed an excellent .271/.373/.442 in his return to Pittsburgh, good for a 124 wRC+. That mark would be his highest in a full season since 2015, when he was an All Star for the fifth time, won a fourth consecutive Silver Slugger award, and finished fifth in NL MVP voting. McCutchen will have another chance to reach the milestone this evening against the A’s and right-hander James Kaprielian.

2. Giants getting healthy:

The Giants open a series against the Rockies in Denver today, with right-hander John Brebbia expected to take the mound as an opener against Rockies righty Dinelson Lamet. San Francisco figures to welcome reinforcements for its starting lineup at some point during the three-game set, as Susan Sussler of the San Francisco Chronicle indicates that the club could welcome both lefty slugger Joc Pederson and infielder Thairo Estrada back from the injured list during the coming series.

The return of the duo would be a huge boost for the San Francisco lineup, as each is among the club’s top hitters alongside the likes of J.D. Davis, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Michael Conforto. Pederson has posted the stronger offensive numbers to this point, with a .235/.351/.494 slash (128 wRC+) in 97 plate appearances prior to going on the injured list last month, working exclusively as a designated hitter. Estrada has been similarly productive, slashing .301/.345/.466 (123 wRC+) in 206 plate appearances while contributing with the glove at second base, shortstop, and left field throughout the 2023 campaign.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With the calendar now flipped to June, the paths forward for many of MLB’s teams remain murky, even as some organizations set themselves apart from the pack.. If the events of the season so far have 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 2023 regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Abbott to debut:

With Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott expected to make his MLB debut in a start today against the Brewers, roster moves to clear space for Abbott on both the 40-man and active rosters will be necessary before this evening’s game. The No. 95 prospect in the game according to MLB Pipeline, Abbott has dominated the upper levels of the minor leagues all season to this point, with a 1.15 ERA in three Double-A starts before the Reds promoted him to Triple-A, where he’s posted a 3.05 ERA in seven starts. He’s fanned 42.7% of his opponents between those two levels. That dominance has already earned Abbott not just his first start in the big leagues, but his second, as manager David Bell has indicated that Abbott will not be a spot starter and get another start this Saturday against the Cardinals.

2. Cortes to undergo MRI:

After revealing that left-hander Nestor Cortes was likely headed to the 15-day injured list with a shoulder issue, Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that Cortes was set to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. After pitching to a 155 ERA+ between the 2021 and 2022 seasons as a regular member of the Yankees rotation, Cortes has struggled so far in 2023, with a 5.16 ERA and 4.60 FIP in 59 1/3 innings of work across 11 starts.

If Cortes has been dealing with a shoulder issue throughout the season that, as Boone describes it, has caused problems with his recovery between starts, it’s no wonder that New York plans to utilize a trip to the IL to hopefully get their lefty’s season back on track. The Yankees are already without Carlos Rodon and Frankie Montas, neither of whom have thrown a pitch in the Majors this season.

3. Lowe day-to-day with back injury:

Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe was initially scratched from yesterday’s game against the Red Sox with what was termed “left leg discomfort,” but after the game manager Kevin Cash (as relayed by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) indicated that the issue actually involved Lowe’s back. Lowe noted to reporters that the issue cropped up after he “felt something” during a slide into third base, and that he wasn’t able to get his back to loosen up after taking swings in the batting cage. Lowe indicated he was hopeful that he would be able to play today, though he admitted that it was “too early to say anything” at this point.

Lowe has struggled after a hot start, hitting .199/.294/.392 overall on the season (96 wRC+). His performance has been particularly brutal since the end of April, with a .167/.255/.267 slash line and just five extra base hits in his past 102 plate appearances. If Lowe were to require a trip to the injured list, options to replace him would include Taylor Walls and Isaac Paredes.

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

1. Olson to make MLB debut:

The Tigers are expected to promote right-hander Reese Olson to start this evening’s game against the White Sox, marking Olson’s MLB debut. A former 13th round pick by the Brewers, Olson was traded to the Tigers in 2021. Since then, Olson has pitched primarily at the Double-A level, posting a 4.24 ERA in 144 1/3 innings of work. He opened the 2023 campaign with a promotion to the Triple-A level, but has largely struggled there this season, with a 6.38 ERA in 36 2/3 innings of work. That ugly figure is inflated by a 15.83 ERA in his first four appearances this season, though the 23-year-old owns a worrisome 12.6% walk rate that has stayed consistent even as his results have improved.

Olson, for whom the club will need to open an active roster spot before today’s game, will step into the rotation in the stead of the club’s injured ace, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. It certainly seems unlikely that Olson will be able to match Rodriguez’s dominant start to the 2023 season (2.13 ERA and 3.17 FIP in 11 starts), but he’ll nonetheless be relied upon to help stabilize a Tigers rotation that has been a clear weak spot for the club this season. Each of Matthew Boyd, Joey Wentz, and Alex Faedo sport ERAs well above 5.00, with Michael Lorenzen standing as the only active member of the rotation having an above average season by measure of ERA+ with a 122 figure. Olson will take the ball in Chicago at 7:10pm CT tonight.

2. Sale to undergo MRI:

Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale exited yesterday’s start against the Reds with shoulder soreness. He’s scheduled to undergo an MRI today to determine the extent of the issue, as noted by MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. While Sale has posted a rather pedestrian 4.58 ERA, exactly league average by measure of ERA+, that figure doesn’t tell the whole story of his 2023 campaign to this point. The 34-year-old veteran had a disastrous April, with a 6.75 ERA in 29 1/3 innings over six starts. Since then, however, Sale has turned a corner, posting a 2.43 ERA, 2.89 FIP, and a 31.3% strikeout rate in 29 2/3 innings over five starts that have been far more reminiscent of his ace-level production in previous seasons.

Should Sale miss time, it would not only be a serious blow to the Red Sox rotation, but surely frustrating for Sale himself, as the veteran lefty managed just 48 1/3 innings across the 2020-2022 seasons while battling a myriad of injuries, including Tommy John surgery. Right-handers Corey Kluber and Nick Pivetta were both recently demoted to the bullpen, and could theoretically step back into the rotation should Sale require a trip to the injured list.

3. Buxton, Correa exit game:

A pair of concerning injury situations popped up for the Twins during last night’s game against the Guardians, as both Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa exited the game. Buxton exited yesterday’s game with rib soreness after being struck by a pitch, and is expected to undergo imaging today, per Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. Meanwhile, Correa exited after re-aggravating the plantar fasciitis that recently kept him out of the lineup for a few days, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic.

Losing either superstar would be a significant blow to the club, let alone both players. That said, the Twins have the remarkable position player depth necessary to weather such a blow, with Donovan Solano and Kyle Farmer both able to come off the bench and step into everyday roles while Matt Wallner and Edouard Julien would both be options to return to the big league club should either Buxton or Correa require a stint on the injured list.