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. Cohen to hold press conference:

Mets owner Steve Cohen will be holding a press conference before the club’s game against the Brewers this evening, as Cohen himself announced on Twitter. Cohen’s presser comes as the Mets are in the midst of a brutal June that’s seen them go 7-16 and fall to 8.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. Their chances of an NL East title this season appear even more remote as they’ve fallen to fourth place in the division and sit a whopping 16 games back of the Braves.

With the odds of playoff baseball coming to Queens this season appearing remote, rumors have begun to percolate regarding the Mets as potential sellers, up to and including the idea of veteran ace Max Scherzer changing uniforms before the trade deadline on August 1. It’s not currently known what Cohen’s plans for the press conference are, though as perhaps the most unconventional and publicly active owner in the sport, the presser is sure to be worth keeping an eye on.

2. Central division races tightening:

While the Braves, Rangers, Rays, and Diamondbacks all have relatively healthy leads in their respective division races with Arizona’s 2.5 game lead on the Giants standing as the smallest margin, both the AL Central and the NL Central appear to be extremely competitive in the run up to the All Star break. Following a loss by the Twins to the Braves and a win over the Royals by the Guardians yesterday, Cleveland (38-40) has moved within half a game of the Twins in the AL Central (40-41). With six more games against the Royals prior to the break while the Twins stare down a pair of matchups against Baltimore, the Guardians have a clear path toward taking a lead in the division.

In the NL Central, meanwhile, the Pirates have begun to fall out of the race after going just 4-15 over their last 19 games. That leaves the top dogs in the division as the Reds, who have surged to the front of the division after rattling off 12 straight wins earlier in the month. Milwaukee lurks just half a game behind them, and the Brewers will have an excellent opportunity to separate themselves from the pack in the Central prior to the All-Star break. In their final seven games before the break, they’ll play four against the Cubs (in third place, three games back of the division lead) and three against Cincinnati.

3. Abrams to be re-evaluated:

Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams is set to be re-evaluated this morning following his departure from last night’s game against the Mariners, according to MASNsports.com’s Mark Zuckerman. The young shortstop was struck by a pitch in the right elbow during yesterday’s game, the second time he’s been hit in that spot this week. Abrams missing time would be an unfortunate turn for the Nationals as the 22-year-old looks to continue developing at the big league level in hopes of reaching the promise that made him a consensus top-10 prospect in baseball heading into the 2022 season and a cornerstone of the Juan Soto trade. Utility infielder Ildemaro Vargas took over for Abrams at shortstop last night and figures to fill in should Abrams miss time.

With two weeks remaining until the All Star break, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Manning to return:

The Tigers are poised to welcome one of their young starters back from the 60-day injured list today, as right-hander Matt Manning is expected to start tonight’s game against the Rangers. Manning, out since April with a fractured foot, posted a 4.63 ERA in 11 2/3 innings of work across two starts prior to the injury. He’ll need to be added back to the 40-man and active rosters before he can make his start today, teeing up the possibility of multiple corresponding transactions ahead of this evening’s game.

Detroit’s rotation has been ravaged by injuries. Alex Faedo, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Spencer Turnbull are each currently on the injured list in addition to Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, who both have yet to throw a pitch this season. Those rotation woes could worsen yet, as left-hander Matthew Boyd left yesterday’s start in Texas with elbow discomfort. As noted by Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, manager AJ Hinch indicated to reporters that Boyd will undergo testing today to determine if he will need a trip to the injured list.

2. Muncy to return:

Dodgers slugger Max Muncy is expected to return to the lineup today, with manager Dave Roberts having previously indicated the infielder will play third base upon his return. Muncy’s return figures to provide the Dodgers with a significant power boost, as the 32-year-old has connected for 18 home runs in just 251 plate appearances this season.

Muncy’s return to the lineup figures to displace 25-year-old Michael Busch, who has been covering third base in the absence of Muncy and utilityman Chris Taylor. However, Roberts recently indicated to reporters (including Jack Harris of The L.A. Times) that Busch could continue to draw starts by shifting over to second base following Muncy’s return. That would take playing time from 23-year-old Miguel Vargas, who has struggled to a .150/.246/.300 slash line in 70 plate appearances this month. Busch has also struggled since his June 16 recall from Triple-A, posting a similar slash line of .192/.250/.308 in a smaller sample of 28 plate appearances. Using both players in a timeshare at second base could offer Roberts the opportunity to optimize matchups for the youngsters going forward.

3. MLBTR Chat Today:

With MLB’s trade deadline just over a month away, many expected contenders headed into the season are finding their paths to the playoffs getting slimmer and slimmer. 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 reaches its halfway point, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. College World Series finale tonight:

After a historic Game 2 performance from the Florida Gators saw them trounce the Louisiana State University Tigers 24-4, the College World Series is set to wrap up with a decisive Game 3 tonight. The LSU-Florida showdown will pit several of the expected top picks in this year’s draft against one another. LSU outfielder Dylan Crews and ace Paul Skenes are the consensus favorites for the top spot in this year’s draft, while Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford is also widely expected to be among the first five names off the board. Recent mock drafts from Kiley McDaniel of ESPN and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com have that trio going with the top three overall selections. It’s no guarantee that Skenes will pitch tonight’s game, as he just threw 120 pitches in the prior round of the CWS in a June 22 matchup against Wake Forest, firing eight scoreless frames in an eventual 2-0 victory in the process. LSU will make an announcement on their pitching plans later today, and tonight’s finale will be broadcast on ESPN at 6pm CT.

2. Westburg to debut for Orioles:

Orioles infield prospect Jordan Westburg is reportedly set to make his MLB debut against the Reds at Camden Yards this evening. A former first-round pick and consensus top-75 prospect in the game, Westburg has slashed an impressive .295/.372/.567 in 301 plate appearances at the Triple-A level this season. A 40-man roster move will be necessary to accommodate Westburg before tonight’s game, which is set to start at 6:05pm CT.

Tonight’s game will kick off a significant series for both teams. After failing to gain ground on the division-leading Rays during a two-game set last week, a strong series against Cincinnati could present another opportunity to cut into Tampa’s 4.5 game lead in the AL East as the Rays head out west for a tough series against the Diamondbacks. Meanwhile, the Reds are coming off a tough Braves series that snapped their streak of five consecutive series wins. Cincinnati’s hold on the division lead in the NL Central is tenuous, as the Brewers sit just half a game back prior to the start of a series against the Mets tonight.

3. Smith to return to Mets’ bullpen:

Mets reliever Drew Smith is due back from a 10-game foreign substance suspension today. The move should bolster the club’s bullpen significantly, not only thanks to Smith’s 3.16 ERA in 111 innings of work since the start of the 2021 season, but also because the Mets have been forced to play a man down during Smith’s suspension, as teams aren’t allowed to replace players who are suspended for sticky stuff violations on the active roster.

Reinforcements are desperately needed in Queens, particularly after last night’s game saw the Mets blow a 6-3 lead in the eighth inning against the division-rival Phillies, ultimately losing the game 7-6. Manager Buck Showalter told reporters (including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com) following the loss that high-leverage arms Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley were both unavailable while closer David Robertson was only on the table for a ninth inning that was never played. With Smith set to return, the club should not only have more relief options available going forward, but an additional trustworthy arm for the late innings as they look to rebound from a brutal first half record of 35-42.

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 London Series begins:

The Cubs and Cardinals have arrived in London for a two-game set over the weekend. It will be just the second MLB series ever played in London, after the Red Sox and the Yankees faced off in 2019. The 2023 campaign has been a struggle for both St. Louis and Chicago so far, as both clubs are under .500, though the Cubs have won ten of their last 12 games to lift their record to 36-38, just 3.5 games back in a weak NL Central division. That streak has come on the back of a fantastic starting rotation that includes Marcus Stroman, Justin Steele, Drew Smyly, and a resurgent Kyle Hendricks. The Cardinals have not found any such footing, with the preseason division favorites toiling in last place with a 31-44 record despite a talented roster centered around Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt. Game 1 of the London series will take place at 12:10pm CT tomorrow, while Game 2 will take place at 9:10am CT on Sunday.

2. Maeda to return:

After missing the past two months with a triceps strain, right-hander Kenta Maeda is set to return to the Twins today, starting tonight’s game against the Tigers in Detroit. Maeda joined the Twins prior to the 2020 season in a deal that sent Brusdar Graterol to the Dodgers, and immediately delivered for the Twins with a 2.70 ERA in 11 starts during the shortened season.

That performance propelled Maeda to a second place finish in AL Cy Young award voting behind Shane Bieber, but the now 35-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched up to that standard since. After 21 starts during which he delivered a 4.66 ERA, Maeda underwent Tommy John surgery in September of 2021. He returned at the beginning of the current campaign, but made just four starts with an ERA of 9.00 over 16 innings before returning to the injured list. If Maeda is back to full health, he nonetheless figures to be an asset for a Twins rotation that currently features Sonny Gray, Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, and Bailey Ober.

3. Mets roster move incoming:

According to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo, the Mets are poised to recall right-hander Vinny Nittoli to the roster today. Nittoli is already on the 40-man roster after being acquired in a trade with the Cubs earlier this month. Nittoli has just three innings of major league experience under his belt, but has posted a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings of work at the Triple-A level this season between his time in the Cubs and Mets organizations.

Nittoli will join a Mets bullpen that’s currently shorthanded due to the suspension of Drew Smith for a violation of the league’s foreign substance policy. Smith counts against the active roster during his suspension, which will come to a conclusion in time for Monday’s game against the Brewers. Nittoli is already on the 40-man roster and the club has space on the active roster after optioning right-hander Tylor Megill yesterday, meaning no corresponding move will be required to add Nittoli.

Typically, The Opener (and MLBTR in general) focuses purely on baseball. Today, however, we’re making a rare pivot to the larger sports world as the NBA will hold its draft this evening at 7pm CT. Given that, unlike MLB, the NBA allows trading of draft picks, draft day often serves as the catalyst for a bevy of deals and rumors. Our sister site, Hoops Rumors, is set to provide the same type of coverage we at MLBTR offer during peak transactional periods in the baseball calendar, such as the trade deadline and the winter meetings. Yesterday, a three-team deal between the Celtics, Wizards, and Grizzlies saw Kristaps Porzingis, Marcus Smart, and Tyus Jones change teams. With more sure to come in advance of this evening’s draft, basketball fans who enjoy MLBTR’s content should check in at Hoops Rumors for up-to-the-minute coverage and analysis of the moves and rumors throughout the day.

As we approach the halfway point in the 2023 regular season, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:

1. Giants looking to tie Reds’ streak:

The Giants have won their past 10 games, catapulting them to second place in the NL West, just two and a half games behind the division-leading D-backs. Now in possession of the top Wild Card spot in the National League, they’ll look to extend their winning streak to 11 games, tying a Reds club that has Thursday off for the longest active streak in the Majors. In order to do so, San Francisco will need to topple red-hot Padres lefty Blake Snell, who’s allowed just two runs in his past five starts — a total of 30 innings that has seen the former AL Cy Young winner post a hearty 45-to-13 K/BB ratio. They’ll also likely do so without outfielder Mike Yastrzemski, who’s headed for an MRI on his ailing left hamstring today, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link).

2. Transactions loom in Boston:

The Red Sox are poised to have a busy day before this afternoon’s game against the Twins, as reports indicate that pitching prospect Brandon Walter will make his MLB debut in Minnesota today. That’s not the only expected movement on the club’s roster, however, as catcher Reese McGuire suffered a strained oblique during yesterday’s game, prompting reports that Boston plans to select catcher Caleb Hamilton to the roster today. A 40-man roster move will be necessary to make room for Hamilton, though only an active roster move will be required to clear space for Walter.

Hamilton made his MLB debut with the Twins last season, spending time at catcher, first base, and DH. He struggled in that brief call-up to the big leagues, slashing just .056/.227/.222 in 23 plate appearances. In the minors, the 28-year-old has fared better, though he still posts below-average offensive numbers with a slash line of .206/.316/.377 in 114 games at the Triple-A level. Hamilton figures to back up Connor Wong for the Red Sox while McGuire is on the shelf. As for Walter, the 26-year-old lefty dominated Double-A hitters last season with a 2.88 ERA in 50 innings, though he’s failed to do the same in Triple-A. In 69 1/3 innings at the minor leagues’ highest level, Walter has posted a worrisome 6.49 ERA, albeit with a slightly more palatable 4.74 FIP in 2023.

3. Calhoun headed to the IL:

Yankees outfielder Willie Calhoun is likely headed to the injured list today, as Calhoun himself told reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch). While the team hasn’t made a timetable for his return official, Calhoun compared his current injury to one he’s had in the past, which he said required a PRP injection and 3-4 weeks on the shelf, a timeline which would leave Calhoun out past the All-Star break. Hoch speculates that infielder Oswaldo Cabrera could replace Calhoun on the active roster.

Calhoun’s been a roughly league average bat for the Yankees this season, slashing .239/.309/.403 with a 96 wRC+ in 149 plate appearances. Even with those mediocre numbers, however, New York still figures to miss Calhoun’s presence on an offense that’s already scuffling badly without team captain Aaron Judge. Only Anthony Rizzo, Gleyber Torres and Jake Bauers, have posted above average seasons by measure of wRC+ in at least 100 at-bats besides the injured Judge. Even that group has struggled recently, with only Bauers posting an OPS above .800 in June. The Yankees figure to try and right the ship against the Mariners this evening.

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

1. Swanson getting x-rays:

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning of yesterday’s game against the Pirates, and Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports reports that Swanson’s wrist was swollen after the game, prompting the club to send him for x-rays yesterday. Results of the testing seem likely to be announced ahead of today’s series finale against the Pirates.

The Cubs have recently surged to just 3.5 games back after winning nine of their last 11 games. Swanson’s been a major part of that success, as he’s combined elite defense at shortstop with a solid .263/.351/.399 slash line, good for a wRC+ of 109. In the event that Swanson does miss time, Nico Hoerner figures to slide over from second base to shortstop with Christopher Morel, Nick Madrigal, and Miles Mastrobuoni among the club’s options to man the keystone.

2. Wade to undergo MRI:

Also undergoing testing is San Francisco’s LaMonte Wade Jr. The first baseman was scratched from yesterday’s lineup against the Padres thanks to side tightness, and Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area notes that he’s scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue. Like the Cubs, the Giants have been on a substantial hot streak, winning nine straight games in part thanks to Wade’s offensive contributions. It’s been a career year for the 29-year-old, who’s batted .280/.415/.463 (147 wRC+) in 272 plate appearances.

Should Wade miss time, the Giants could shift third baseman J.D. Davis over to first base, with Casey Schmitt or David Villar taking over at the hot corner. Still, the loss of Wade would be a major blow to the club’s infield depth, particularly with versatile infielder Wilmer Flores already on the injured list.

3. Red Sox infielder could make MLB debut:

MassLive’s Chris Cotillo reported yesterday that infielder David Hamilton is set to join the Red Sox ahead of today’s game in Minnesota to provide insurance against infielder Pablo Reyes making a trip to the injured list. Reyes was scratched from yesterday’s lineup due to an abdominal issue. Per Cotillo, it’s unclear if Hamilton will be activated today, but in the event that he is, he’ll be poised to make his major league debut after slashing .255/.339/.486 in 237 plate appearances this season. A 40-man roster move would not be necessary to accommodate Hamilton, as he is already on the 40-man roster. The 25-year-old Hamilton joined the Red Sox organization as one of the two prospects they effectively purchased in the Dec. 2021 Hunter Renfroe/Jackie Bradley Jr. trade.

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. Bader to return:

The Yankees figure to welcome center fielder Harrison Bader back from the injured list today against the Mariners, as previously reported. The club won’t need to make an active roster move to accommodate Bader, as the club optioned infielder Oswaldo Cabrera to Triple-A after Sunday’s game against the Red Sox, prior to yesterday’s off day.

The Yankees are hoping for a boost from Bader in the midst of a difficult June where they’ve gone 5-9 over 14 games, slipping to 39-33 and 10.5 games back in the AL East. Bader has played just 26 games due to injuries this season, but when he has been on the field he’s paired excellent defense in center with a .267/.295/.511 slash line, good for a wRC+ of 118. With both Bader on Aaron Judge on the shelf, the club has relied on Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and Willie Calhoun in the outfield in recent days.

2. Lugo to return:

Also returning from the injured list today is Padres right-hander Seth Lugo, who the club has announced as today’s starter against the Giants. The club will need to make an active roster move to accommodate Lugo before tonight’s game, which is set to start at 8:45pm CT this evening. Lugo has pitched fairly well for the club as a member of the rotation this season, posting a 4.10 ERA and 3.95 FIP in 41 2/3 innings of work across eight starts. While that ERA is roughly league average, it’s bogged down by a disastrous five-run, two-inning start immediately prior to Lugo’s placement on the IL, which caused the figure to balloon up from 3.18.

Lugo rejoins the rotation as the Padres struggle to stay competitive in the NL West, with a 35-37 record that puts them in fourth place. As San Diego looks to bounce back in its four-game set against the Giants after losing the first game last night, Lugo will be counted on for a solid return to the rotation, particularly given the uneven results from the typically-reliable Yu Darvish (6.89 ERA in his last six starts) and Joe Musgrove (4.22 ERA this season) at the front of the rotation.

3. MLBTR Chat today:

With just six 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. Davis reaches the majors:

As was reported yesterday, the Pirates are expected to promote catching prospect Henry Davis before today’s game against the Cubs. The first overall pick in the 2021 draft, Davis is a consensus top 100 prospect in the game who was ranked as highly as #46 by Baseball America entering the 2023 campaign. Those strong rankings came even after some outlets soured on Davis somewhat thanks to a difficult stint in Double-A last year, where he hit .207/.324/.379 in 136 plate appearances. Davis has left little room for doubt with his performance so far in 2023, however, crushing minor league competition to the tune of a .284/.433/.541 slash line in 232 plate appearances split between the Double-A and Triple-A levels.

While Davis has spent most of his playing career as a catcher, it appears that may not be his position in the majors, at least on a full-time basis. Manager Derek Shelton already acknowledged yesterday that the club’s current catching tandem of Austin Hedges and Jason Delay would remain on the active roster following Davis’s promotion, while Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette expands on that comment, noting that the expectation is that Davis will play primarily in right field while also getting occasional starts behind the plate. A 40-man roster move will be necessary to accommodate Davis, though that can easily be accomplished by transferring right-hander Vince Velasquez, who will not pitch again in 2023, to the 60-day IL.

2. Nootbaar to return:

The Cardinals have been without outfielder Lars Nootbaar for the entirety of June thanks to a lower back contusion, but the outfielder could be on the verge of returning, with multiple reports indicating that Nootbaar will rejoin the Cardinals against the Nationals in Washington, potentially as soon as today. That’s great news for St. Louis, as Nootbaar’s fantastic .380 on-base percentage in 184 plate appearances this season should help bolster an offense that ranks just 9th in the NL with a team-wide OBP of .322.

It’s currently unclear which players in the Cardinals lineup will see reduced playing time thanks to Nootbaar’s return. With Nootbaar on the shelf, Tommy Edman has moved from the infield to center field, a position he’s taken to rather well. He’s flanked on either side by Jordan Walker and Dylan Carlson on most days, while Paul DeJong, Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Gorman mix and match up the middle. Given the versatility of Edman and Donovan, the club has plenty of flexibility with regard to how it can juggle its position players upon Nootbaar’s return.

3. Candelario to be re-evaluated:

The Nationals could be without one of their key offensive contributors in the coming days, as manager Davey Martinez told reporters (including Mark Zuckerman of MASN) that third baseman Jeimer Candelario suffered a bone bruise on his right thumb on Saturday. Martinez notes that the club plans to re-evaluate Candelario ahead of this evening’s game against the Cardinals. While the Nationals, sporting an NL-worst record of 27-43 that’s set them back 18 games in the NL East, will hardly have hopes of making the playoffs dashed by Candelario missing time, the switch-hitter suffering an injury that causes him to miss significant time would be a major blow nonetheless.

That’s because Candelario figures to be one of the more interesting bats available to potential buyers at the trade deadline. After a difficult 2022 season that saw him non-tendered by the Tigers over the offseason, Candelario has bounced back in a big way with the Nationals, slashing .256/.336/.452 in 283 plate appearances while playing quality defense at third base. Should Candelario miss time, Michael Chavis and Ildemaro Vargas appear to be the most likely options to cover for him at the hot corner.

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. Dodgers’ prospect to debut:

According to Juan Toribio of MLB.com, the Dodgers are set to call up right-hander Emmet Sheehan to make his major league debut today. Sheehan, who ranks 13th in the Dodgers’ system per MLB Pipeline, was picked in the sixth round of the 2021 draft and has impressed over the past calendar year, posting a 2.83 ERA in High-A last season before making six strong starts in the Arizona Fall League (3.54 ERA, 29.3% strikeout rate). In 2023, Sheehan has improved on those performances, pitching to a sterling 1.86 ERA in 53 1/3 innings at the Double-A level while striking out a whopping 41.7% of batters faced. Now Sheehan figures to be tasked with taking the ball at Dodger Stadium against the club’s biggest rival. The youngster will need to be added to the 40-man roster, but with an open spot available, the Dodgers will only need to make an active roster move to accommodate Sheehan.

2. Angels’ infield woes:

After putting Zach Neto on the injured list earlier in the day with an oblique issue, the Angels saw their infield depth taken apart in last night’s game against the Rangers, as discussed by Sam Blum of The Athletic. Gio Urshela exited the game with a hip injury and spoke to reporters on crutches after the game, indicating he expected to miss time. Meanwhile, third baseman Anthony Rendon was struck in the wrist by a pitch and left him unable to swing the bat for the rest of the game, though he did stay in the game on defense due to the lack of options on the bench. Rendon is set to undergo testing today to determine the severity of his injury.

The injuries come at a brutal time for the Angels, who have surged in recent weeks to a 39-32 record, just one game back of a Wild Card spot in the AL. If Urshela and Rendon both join Neto on the shelf, however, the club’s infield will be in dire straits. Jared Walsh can take over for Urshela at first base while Luis Rengifo and Brandon Drury combine to cover second and third, leaving shortstop to Andrew Velazquez. Michael Stefanic and Livan Soto are both infield options on the 40-man roster who could provide depth behind that group.

3. Steele poised to return tomorrow:

Per MLB.com, Cubs left-hander Justin Steele did a light workout on the mound yesterday in preparation for what the club plans on being his return to the starting rotation tomorrow against the Orioles. Though the Cubs have not yet announced a starter for tomorrow’s game, manager David Ross confirmed to reporters that the hope is for Steele to take the ball. Steele went on the injured list at the beginning of the month with a mild forearm strain, meaning the Cubs will need to make an active roster move to accommodate him.

Steele’s return would be a major boon for a Cubs team that has struggled to a 31-37 record this season but is coming off a sweep of the division-leading Pirates that put them within 3.5 games of the crown in a weak NL Central. In 12 starts this season, Steele has impressed with a 2.65 ERA and 2.84 FIP across 68 innings while slotting into the front of Chicago’s rotation alongside right-hander Marcus Stroman.

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.