The Opener

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

1. Altuve to return?

Astros star Jose Altuve has yet to play this season thanks to thumb surgery he underwent after suffering an injury during the World Baseball Classic. That could change soon. On the heels of Altuve beginning a rehab assignment last week, manager Dusty Baker told reporters (including The Athletic’s Chandler Rome) that the second baseman was returning to Minute Maid Park for a workout during yesterday’s off-day, and could be activated from the injured list as soon as today if said workout goes well.

Adding Altuve back into the club’s lineup on a daily basis should be a boost for an Astros offense that ranks bottom five in the majors in terms of OPS this season. Despite those offensive woes, Houston has played to a 24-19 record, though that figure is only good enough for second place in the AL West, behind the 26-17 Rangers. Mauricio Dubon has filled in admirably for Altuve, hitting .309/.333/.389 in 156 plate appearances while playing above-average defense per both Defensive Runs Saved (5) and Outs Above Average (1).

2. Severino expected to be activated:

Also expected to make his 2023 regular season debut this weekend is Yankees right-hander Luis Severino, who as noted by Bryach Hoch of MLB.com was announced by manager Aaron Boone as the club’s likely starter for Sunday’s game against the Reds. The 29-year-old Severino pitched just 18 innings between the 2019, 2020, and 2021 campaigns but returned to the mound for 102 strong innings last season, posting a 3.18 ERA and 3.70 FIP with a 27.7% strikeout rate.

If Severino can make a similar impact for the Yankees this season, that would be a huge development for the Yankees, who have seen minimal production from their rotation outside of Gerrit Cole. Nestor Cortes, Jhony Brito, and Clarke Schmidt all have ERAs north of 5.00, Domingo German was recently suspended for violating the foreign substance ban. Neither Carlos Rodon nor Frankie Montas has thrown a pitch this season.

3. Mets roster moves incoming:

Last night, it was reported that the Mets are expected to select the contract of veteran catcher Gary Sanchez before this evening’s game against the Guardians. Seeing as Sanchez isn’t on the 40-man roster, the Mets will have to clear space both on the 40-man and active rosters to accommodate him. Speculatively speaking, Sanchez could take the place of current backup catcher Michael Perez, who has appeared in just two games for the club while filling in for the injured Tomas Nido.

Sanchez, who went 8-for-26 with nine walks and ten strikeouts in 37 Triple-A plate appearances with the Mets, would likely be an upgrade over the 30-year-old Perez, who sports a career 53 wRC+ over 598 plate appearances since the beginning of his big league career in 2018. Sanchez has a career wRC+ of 109 across his 666 games in the majors, with the majority of those coming as the primary catcher for the Yankees.

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. Freeman approaching milestone:

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman sits at 299 career home runs. With his next trip around the bases, he’ll become just the 155th player in MLB history to hit 300 home runs in his career, joining Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Joey Votto, Evan Longoria, Paul Goldschmidt, and Nolan Arenado as the only active players to reach the milestone. Freeman is playing up to his usual excellent standards so far in 2023, with a .310/.382/.511 slash line that puts him right in line with his career averages.

2. Will Sanchez be promoted?

Rumors percolated yesterday that the Mets were considering a promotion to the big league club for veteran catcher Gary Sanchez, who is in Triple-A on a minor league deal. Sanchez, who spent seven seasons in New York with the Yankees, has posted a 1.077 OPS in 32 plate appearances for the club’s affiliate in Syracuse. Sanchez would take the spot of Michael Perez on the roster if promoted, forming a tandem with longtime top prospect Francisco Alvarez for the time being. The Mets, of course, would need to re-evaluate their catching tandem upon the return of Omar Narvaez, who is due back from a calf strain sometime next month. The potential promotion for Sanchez comes against the backdrop of his looming opt-out, which he can exercise tomorrow.

3. Stripling exits:

Giants right-hander Ross Stripling exited yesterday’s start against the Phillies with lower back tightness, as relayed by MLB.com’s Maria Guardado. The 2023 season has been a struggle for Stripling so far. The 33-year-old righty owns a 7.24 ERA and 6.74 FIP in 32 1/3 innings, with five starts and four appearances out of the bullpen. The Giants have an off-day today, meaning it’s possible that Stripling’s status going forward won’t be made clear until tomorrow. With that being said, if Stripling is set to miss time, that could open the door for left-hander Sean Manaea to return to the rotation. Manaea has struggled similarly to Stripling so far this year, with a 7.81 ERA and 6.74 FIP in 27 2/3 innings of work split between six starts and three appearances out of the bullpen.

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. German facing discipline:

Yankees right-hander Domingo German was ejected from last night’s game following a foreign substance inspection. Home plate umpire James Hoye told reporters following the game that German’s hand was “the stickiest (he) had ever felt,” noting it “was definitely not rosin.” That leaves German almost certainly facing a 10-game suspension during which the Yankees would not be allowed to replace the 30-year-old righty on the roster. It’s the second time this season that German has been questioned for foreign substance use. He was twice warned — also by Hoye — to wash his hands in a game against the Twins last month, during which German flirted with a no-hitter. Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli was ejected after the umpiring crew allowed German to continue pitching and criticized the crew’s decision after the game.

German has had a solid 3.75 ERA in nine starts for the Yankees this season, but now a club that’s already missing Luis Severino, Carlos Rodon, and Frankie Montas figures to go without yet another starter for ten days. If German does end up suspended, right-hander Randy Vasquez is on the 40-man roster as a potential depth option for the rotation, though he’s posted a concerning 5.50 ERA in eight starts at the Triple-A level. Long reliever Ryan Weber could also get a start. Severino has already made a pair of minor league rehab starts, he’s another option if the Yankees feel he’s had sufficient time to build back up.

2. Guerrero to undergo MRI:

Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left last night’s game against the Yankees dealing with right knee discomfort, as manager John Schneider tells reporters (including Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet). Guerrero will undergo an MRI, with the Blue Jays likely to make decisions regarding the path forward for Guerrero afterwards. Toronto’s superstar first baseman is off to a phenomenal start in 2023, with a .312/.385/.516 slash line that’s good for a 150 wRC+.

Losing Guerrero for any amount of time would be a sizable blow for a Blue Jays club that currently slots in at third place with a 24-18 record in a very competitive AL East. Should Guerrero miss time, Santiago Espinal and Cavan Biggio could see more playing time off the bench, though the club does have first base prospect Spencer Horwitz, who is slashing .317/.443/.442 at the Triple-A level this season, on the 40-man roster.

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 first seven weeks 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.

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. Williamson to make MLB debut:

Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson is expected to make his big league debut today in Colorado, either starting the game or following an opener. Williamson is already on the 40-man roster, though a move will of course be necessary to make room for him on the active roster. A second-round pick by the Mariners in the 2019 draft, Williamson was a key piece of the return in the deal that sent Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker to Seattle ahead of the 2022 campaign. During his time with the Mariners, Williamson posted a 3.25 ERA in 113 2/3 innings spread across three levels of the minors, including a 3.48 ERA in 67 1/3 Double-A innings that was accompanied by a 33% strikeout rate.

Williamson has struggled since joining the Reds organization. In 2022, he posted an ERA of 4.11 between Double-A and Triple-A while seeing his strikeout rate dip to 24.8% at the Double-A level. That figure fell even further after his promotion to Triple-A, where he punched out just 19.1% of batters last year. This season, the 25-year-old lefty has posted a 6.62 ERA with a strikeout rate of just 16.4% in 34 innings in Triple-A. Despite Williamson’s struggles, he’ll get his first big league opportunity thanks to a calf injury that figures to keep Nick Lodolo sidelined for at least a month.

2. Miller to receive second opinion:

A’s righty Mason Miller will reportedly seek a second opinion today on the forearm tightness that’s kept him out of action recently. With few details on Miller’s injury available, it seems likely that his situation will be clearer after he’s examined further in Dallas today. A third-round pick by Oakland in the 2021 draft, Miller impressed in his first taste of big league action, posting a 3.38 ERA and 3.12 FIP in 21 2/3 innings of work across four starts. During that time, Miller posted a 25.9% strikeout rate and a walk rate of 8.2%.

Missed time for Miller is a blow for Oakland, as he is the club’s only starter with an ERA south of 5.00. In fact, Miller and lefty JP Sears are the only starters with an ERA south of 7.00. Behind Sears, the A’s are currently going with Ken Waldichuk, Kyle Muller, Drew Ruckinski, and Luis Medina while Miller is on the shelf.

3. MLBTR chat today:

With over 25% of the 2023 campaign now in the books, there’s still a handful of surprise teams in good positions in the standings, and many expected playoff contenders struggling. 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.

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

1. McLain to make MLB debut:

Reds infield prospect Matt McLain is set to be promoted to the majors today, leaving him in line to make his MLB debut. A first round pick by the Reds in the 2021 draft, McClain is widely considered to be a top 10 prospect in the Reds’ farm system, and a borderline top 100 prospect in all of baseball. Transactions will be required before this evening’s game against the Rockies to clear both 40-man roster space and active roster space for McLain.

After a solid season in Double-A last year where McLain posted a .232/.363/.453 slash line that was good for a 116 wRC+, McLain has torn the cover off the ball in Triple-A so far this season. In 173 plate appearances, McLain is slashing a fantastic .348/.474/.710 with a whopping 193 wRC+. With 12 home runs and nearly as many walks (29) as strikeouts (34), McLain has showed total mastery of the Triple-A level, and now appears poised to become the regular shortstop in Cincinnati for the time being, displacing Jose Barrero and Kevin Newman.

2. Chisholm to visit specialist:

Marlins center fielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is currently dealing with turf toe and is set to visit a specialist today to determine the extent of the injury. Missed time for Chisholm would be a considerable blow to a Marlins outfield that is already without Jesus Sanchez and Avisail Garcia. While Chisholm hasn’t quite lived up to expectations with his bat, with a wRC+ of just 92 in 159 plate appearances this season, he’s exceeded expectations with his glove in center field, posting +3 Outs Above Average so far this year, a figure that sits in the 92nd percentile of all regulars. If Chisholm misses time, the club figures to go with a combination of Garrett Hampson and Jon Berti in center field.

3. Diaz to undergo MRI:

Rays infielder Yandy Diaz left yesterday’s game against the Yankees in the first inning due to groin tightness. With Tampa’s off day today, Diaz is expected to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Rays fans are surely hoping that Diaz’s MRI comes back clean, as the 31-year-old is slashing an incredible .321/.429/.593 that’s good for a 188 wRC+ while mostly playing first base for the Rays. Should Diaz miss time, the club could hand the keys to first base to Luke Raley or shuffle the infield to create more starts for Taylor Walls while the team’s current best hitter is on the shelf.

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. Perez to make MLB debut:

Top pitching prospect Eury Perez is poised to make his MLB debut in a start for the Marlins this evening against the Reds. A consensus top 15 prospect in all of baseball, Perez is getting called up directly from the Double-A level without any Triple-A experience. Despite his atypical path to the majors, Perez has certainly justified his shot in the majors. The 20-year-old right-hander has posted a strikeout rate above 30% at every stop on his journey through the minor leagues, with walk rates under 10% and a career minor league ERA of just 2.85. That includes a hot start to the 2023 season where Perez has dominated Double-A pitching to the tune of 2.32 ERA in 31 innings of work across six starts.

In Miami, Perez joins an excellent Marlins rotation that features reigning NL Cy Young aware winner Sandy Alcantara along with Jesus Luzardo, Edward Cabrera, and Braxton Garrett. Perez is not yet on the 40-man roster, meaning the Marlins will have to clear space for their top prospect before he can be added to the active roster to make tonight’s start.

2. Scherzer to return to the mound:

Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer was scratched from his start with the Mets earlier this week due to neck spasms. The news that Scherzer isn’t fully healthy came as little surprise considering his significant struggles to open the 2023 campaign. Through five starts this season, Scherzer has managed just 22 2/3 innings with a 5.56 ERA and an even uglier 6.31 FIP. A strikeout rate of just 20.8% combined with a 10.4% walk rate help to explain the uncharacteristic struggles Scherzer has dealt with to open the season, as those numbers are a far cry from the 31.8% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate he’s sported throughout the last decade of his illustrious career.

A healthy and effective Scherzer would be a game changer for the Mets, who rank in the bottom 10 of the league with a 4.73 ERA as a team and sport a record of just 18-20 so far this season after losing Carlos Carrasco and Jose Quintana to injury early in the season. The veteran righty will look to get his season back on track against the Nationals on Sunday.

3. Franco to be reevaluated:

Rays fans suffered a scared yesterday evening when star shortstop Wander Franco exited the club’s 8-2 victory with neck tightness. Though the plan is for the 22-year-old phenom to be reevaluated today, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times notes that both Franco himself and Rays manager Kevin Cash have expressed optimism that Franco could return to action as soon as today, indicating that the issue is likely a minor one.

Any missed time on Franco’s part would be devastating for the Rays, as Franco has been the very best player in all of baseball in terms of fWAR so far this year, as his 2.4 figure leads the majors. In 163 plate appearances this season, Franco has slashed a phenomenal .318/.374/.554 with 12 stolen bases while playing elite defense at shortstop. While defensive metrics are fluky on a season-to-season basis, it’s nonetheless worth noting that just four players have bested Franco’s +5 Outs Above Average so far this season.

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

1. Glasnow removed from rehab start:

Oft-injured ace Tyler Glasnow was on track to return to the Rays sometime this month as he began his second rehab start of the season in Triple-A yesterday. Unfortunately, Glasnow was removed from yesterday’s rehab start after just one inning due to left side tightness. According to Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Florida, the issue was very mild but the club and player both decided not to push things further, with the Rays noting that there was “no upside” in continuing the start this early in Glasnow’s rehab process.

The Rays are surely hoping Glasnow’s side tightness doesn’t become a more significant setback in the coming days, as Glasnow is one of the league’s premiere talents when healthy. His 2.75 ERA since the start of the 2019 season would certainly be a welcome addition to a Rays rotation that currently sports just three regular starters in Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, and Zach Eflin.

2. Senzatela to be evaluated:

Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela was removed from yesterday’s game after 2 2/3 innings of work due to forearm tightness. Senzatela, who missed much of last season due to a torn ACL, had only recently returned to the rotation, with last night’s abbreviated outing marking just his second start of the 2023 campaign. Senzatela noted after the game that he was specifically experiencing soreness near his elbow and expressed concern about the injury, which will be evaluated further today.

Senzatela, who is currently in the second year of a five year, $50.5MM contract extension, has figured to be a key stabilizing force in a Rockies rotation that recently lost German Marquez to Tommy John surgery and Noah Davis to elbow inflammation. Now, Senzatela’s presence in the rotation going forward is yet another question mark for the Rockies, whose 4.73 ERA as a club ranks 8th worst in the majors.

3. Seager to begin rehab assignment:

The Rangers have been without Corey Seager for exactly one month due to a hamstring strain, but he’s slated to head out on a minor league rehab assignment beginning today. The 29-year-old Seager, who inked a ten-year, $325MM contract in free agency two offseasons ago, got out to a blistering start with Texas this season, slashing .359/.469/.538 with a homer, four doubles, and more walks (nine) than strikeouts (seven) in his first 49 plate appearances of the season.

Texas has turned to young Ezequiel Duran to hold down the fort in Seager’s absence, and 23-year-old has responded with a .305/.340/.474 slash in exactly 100 plate appearances this year. Manager Bruce Bochy recently told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that he planned to find “creative” ways to keep Duran in the lineup even when Seager returns. It’s indeed been a strong start, though with just one walk in those 100 trips to the plate and a sky-high .379 average on balls in play, there’s likely some regression in store for the former top prospect.

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.