A little backstory for those unfamiliar with Abrams’ career path: CJ Abrams was a first-round pick for the San Diego Padres in 2019 and quickly became one of the organization’s top-ranked prospects. He made his MLB debut in 2021 for the Padres; however, he only played 46 games for the team before being shipped off to Washington, D.C. alongside James Wood, MacKenzie Gore, Robert Hassell III, Luke Voit, and Jarlin Susana in exchange for Juan Soto.

Abrams’ rookie season in San Diego and DC was mediocre at best (75 OPS+ and 0.1 WAR in 90 games played), but the young shortstop progressed significantly in his following three seasons in the MLB. Abrams played 433 games between 2023 and 2025 and averaged 19 HRs, 36 SBs, a 105 OPS+, and a 3.4 WAR each season, and even earned himself an All-Star nod in 2024. While these numbers may not be extraordinary, they clearly indicate a trend of progression in overall production.

In 2026, the now 25-year-old shortstop has been arguably the best-performing infielder in all of Major League Baseball. Abrams’ impressive stats (.367/.458/.717, 6 HRs, 4 SBs, 231 OPS+, and 1.1 WAR) will likely lead to his second career all-star appearance.

Abrams is familiar with strong starts, as his 2024 All-Star season began similarly to this season. That year, Abrams was one of the best-performing shortstops in baseball through the first couple of months of the season, putting up an impressive stat line (.297/.377/.634, 7 HRs, 6 SBs) through his first 25 games played before regressing in the second half of the season and ending the season with a much more pedestrian stat line (.246/.314/.433, 20 HRs, 31 SBs).

The Nationals, currently 8-10 and 3rd in the NL East, do not have serious playoff hopes this season; however, if Cj Abrams continues this level of performance throughout the majority of the 2026 regular season, it would be a pleasant sight for Nationals fans who haven’t experienced any success since winning the World Series in 2019.

Thank you for reading! Make sure to stay tuned for more articles coming soon!

Andy Pettitte’s age-25 season in 1997 is his best overall season; however, he received no accolades for this season. He did not win Cy Young, MVP, or Golden Glove, nor did he make the AL All-Star team. This got me thinking: “What is the best season in modern MLB history to not win any accolades?” For this article in particular, I decided to focus exclusively on pitchers, as Andy Pettitte was the inspiration for this exercise.

My criteria for this list are quite simple:

Timeframe: 1960-Present (Modern Baseball)

bWar >= 8.4 (Top 250 season for a pitcher in MLB History)

NOTE: 8+ bWAR is “MVP Quality” according to Baseball Reference

The player did not make an All-Star team or win any single-season award (MVP, Cy Young, GG, SS) for their performance in the selected season.

Andy Pettitte, 1997, New York Yankees, 8.4 bWAR

240.1 IP, 18-7, 2.88 ERA, 166 SO, 2.96 FIP, 1.240 WHIP, 156 ERA+

The above stat line did not result in a single accolade in 1997 for Andy Pettitte, and, even with revisionist history, I’m not sure he should have won any. The only egregious error award-wise for Pettitte’s 97’ season was the All-Star game. While Pettitte’s stats were not out of this world, by the time of the All-Star game (9-5, 3.10 ERA, 91 SO), he was clearly one of the best pitchers in the American League and deserving of a slot on the team.

Looking at the season-long awards, Cy Young and MVP, Pettitte unfortunately ran into a juggernaut in Roger Clemens. The Rocket’s 97’ season is possibly the best single-season pitching performance of the past 4 decades. While Pettitte’s 8.4 bWAR has him tied for the 250th best single season for pitchers since 1876, Clemens’ 11.4 bWAR (tied for the 10th highest since 1901) dwarfs this accomplishment. In other years, Pettitte may have taken home some hardware, but unfortunately, he had no shot against the Rocket.

Fortunately for Pettitte, his trophy case is pretty full. By the time of his retirement in 2012, Pettitte had 3 All-Star appearances, 5 World Series rings, and an ALCS MVP award to his name; none of those awards were for the 250th-best pitching season of all time, however.

Kevin Appier, 1993, Kansas City Royals, 9.3 bWAR

238.2 IP, 18-8, 2.56 ERA, 186 SO, 2.90 FIP, 1.106 WHIP, 179 ERA+

Kevin Appier, in 1992 and 1993, had a combined WAR of 17.3, ERA of 2.52, strikeout total of 336, and zero accolades. Appier failed to make the AL All-Star team in neither 92’ nor 93’ despite being clearly deserving of a spot in both seasons.

Unlike Pettitte in 97’, Appier is well within his rights to have a grievance with the AL Cy Young voters. Appier lost the 1993 AL Cy Young award to Jack McDowell of the Chicago White Sox. This one is pretty obvious in my opinion. The only claims McDowell has over Appier are his 22 wins to Appier’s 18 and McDowell’s 4 shutouts to Appier’s 0; however, Appier has the advantage in every other category. In fact, Appier led the entire American League in 5 separate categories (WAR, ERA, ERA+, FIP, HR/9). McDowell didn’t even have the second-best season in 93’ as Randy Johnson (6.6 WAR, 3.24 ERA, 308 SOs) was clearly the only competitor to Appier.

Two seasons later, Kevin Appier was finally awarded a spot on the AL All-Star team; his first and last appearance on an All-Star team. Kevin Appier had the 163rd-best season for a pitcher in MLB history in 1993, but he won zero accolades for it.

Dick Ellsworth, 1963, Chicago Cubs, 10.2 bWAR

290.2 IP, 22-10, 2.11 ERA, 185 SO, 2.63 FIP, 1.025, 167 ERA+

Dick Ellsworth’s 1963 season might be the single best example of a “one-season wonder” in the history of modern baseball. Ellsworth was an average at best pitcher during his 13-year MLB career from 1958 to 1971. However, for one season in 1963, Dick Ellsworth was one of the best pitchers of all time. In fact, Dick Ellsworth’s 10.2 bWAR in 1963 (the 45th highest of any pitcher since the 19th century ended and tied for the 100th highest of any pitcher in MLB history) was greater than his combined WAR in his other 12 MLB seasons.

Despite his incredible performance throughout the 1963 season, Ellsworth did not receive a single accolade. He was not selected as one of 7 pitchers to make the NL All-Star team, despite having a sub-2 ERA by the time of the game. He did not win the NL MVP. He did not win the MLB CY Young award. He won no awards for one of the best pitching seasons in MLB history. Who exactly stood in his way? A 6’2” Jewish man from Brooklyn, New York: Sandy Koufax.

Koufax had an incredible 1963 season, posting a 10.7 bWAR (29th-highest for a pitcher since 1901) and taking home the NL MVP award, as well as the MLB Cy Young award unanimously. Ellsworth was great, but Koufax (25-5, 1.88 ERA, 306 SO, 0.875 WHIP) was just simply better.

Ellsworth made the All-Star team the very next season in 1964; however, for his 1963 season, Dick Ellsworth received no accolades.

I find this phenomenon (which I am coining a “Pettitte Season”) of a player receiving no accolades for an all-time great season absolutely fascinating. If you feel the same way, let me know of some more examples in the comments. I will be working on a version for hitters as well, so make sure to look out for that coming soon.

Jordan Lawler, SS/OF, 23, Arizona Diamondbacks

Lawler, a former 1st-round pick for the Dbacks, was touted as a five-tool shortstop when he was drafted at just 18 years old. Five years later, Lawler is expected to play his first full season in Arizona; however, the Diamondbacks have indicated that he will likely spend most of his time in the outfield due to their crowded infield consisting of Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, and Nolan Arenado.

Lawler, in 55 PAs, had a .333 batting average and hit 4 HRs while sporting an impressive 1.067 OPS. The Diamondbacks have high expectations for the young hitter after he batted. 313 (AVG), hit 11 HRs, and stole 20 bases in AAA last season.

Sal Stewart, 1B/3B, 22, Cincinnati Reds

Stewart, a former 1st round pick in 2022, was impressive in limited appearances for the Reds in 2025. He only appeared in 18 games but managed to knock 14 hits, 5 of which left the park. Furthermore, he was called upon in the postseason when Cincy took on the defending World Series champion Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Round. Stewart had only 5 PAs, but he made the most of his time, knocking 2 hits, batting in 4 runs, stealing a base, and earning a walk.

Stewart continued to show signs of excellence in Spring Training this past month. In 18 games, the 22-year-old held a .333 BA, knocked 3 HRs, stole 4 bases, and produced a 1.067 OPS. Sal Stewart is a popular breakout candidate, as he is expected to be the Red’s primary 1B or DH.

Leo De Vries, SS, 19, Athletics

You probably have heard the name “Leo De Vries” before, whether it be from his inclusion in the massive trade that sent Mason Miller to San Diego, his naming being amongst the top 10 in practically every “Top Prospect” list for 2026, or his amazing cards in the past two MLB The Show games.

De Vries, at only 19 years old, had a remarkable spring training. Appearing in 18 games, the SS had a batting average of .426 and an OPS of 1.183, while hitting 3 HRs, knocking in 12 runs, and stealing 3 bases.

De Vries will most likely not make his major league debut in 2026 for the Athletics; however, he is an important name to watch in the minor leagues, as he is without a doubt one of, if not the, most exciting young prospect in all of Major League Baseball.

Thank you for reading! Make sure to stay tuned for more content coming soon on all platforms @TheSkippersView.

However, I have unwavering dedication to the field of video game journalism and felt the need, nay, the obligation, to dive into RTTS and give the people my full, unbiased opinion on my experience playing the game mode.

Was that believable? I was damn near ready to run through a brick wall just writing all that. Realistically, the MLB The Show servers were acting up (like they always do during the Early Access portion of the game’s cycle), so I decided to play some RTTS since the mode isn’t dependent on an online connection.

From entering the game mode, you will notice a menu selection screen that is pretty much identical to what we have all seen in previous installments. After selecting your position, allocating skill points, and customizing your character, you are prompted to either select your college and MLB team of choice or let fate decide. Then, the “fun” starts as you are thrown into your first high school game.

I was really hoping one of my biggest issues with MLB The Show 25’s Road to The Show would be fixed, and while it was partially addressed, I was still disappointed with the experience as a whole. The game’s story has you believe that you are a generational talent from a local high school about to attend one of the premier college baseball programs in the country, yet your attributes do not reflect that narrative whatsoever. For immersion purposes, I wanted to be leagues ahead talent-wise of my peers when I’m playing the high school games; however, MLB The Show has me strutting onto the field with 45 overall contact and 43 overall power attributes. Now, pitchers do behave more like high schools throwing a limited array of pitches at much slower velocities, which is a nice change, but it’s simply not enough to save the experience for me, personally.

As you progress in your career, you play a few college games, then get drafted, and play a year or two in the minors before finally making it to the bigs; a very similar trajectory to last year. Now, I am not asking SDS to blow me away with a complex story line full of M. Night Shyamalan-esque twists and turns, but I am asking them to just pay a tad of attention to detail within the game mode. Fans who are paying between $70 and $100 to play this game should not feel like they are playing last year’s game except there are a handful of new colleges I can attend for the 15 minutes RTTS lets you play college ball.

You might have noticed that I haven’t touched on gameplay yet, and that’s because, yep, you guessed it, gameplay is the same as it has been the last few years. Again, I am not asking SDS to overhaul core gameplay mechanics every time they release a new game. However, I am asking them to address key gameplay glitches that have plagued the game for over 10 years.

Every year I create a third baseman in RTTS. Every year I hope that SDS has fixed a couple of weird gameplay mechanics that render fielding near unplayable (in my personal opinion). Every single year I am disappointed, and I end up traversing the menu to turn off fielding appearances. At this point, it is simply unacceptable.

In conclusion, if you were excited to dive into RTTS after SDS promised a new, fresh experience, I would temper expectations. There is still fun to be had in the mode; however, key flaws that fans have complained about for years have yet to be addressed, which proves the theory that SDS does not care about the RTTS game mode since it lacks microtransactions and brings home significantly less money than Diamond Dynasty.

I know this article is a little different than the review I posted last year, but I really felt like a straight-up gameplay review would have been redundant. I hope you enjoyed reading the article, and if you disagree, make sure to let me know in the comments below. See you guys next time!

In this blog, I wanted to go through \ all of the confirmed new “Legend Players” that have been added to the game, as well as every “Legend Player” that was playable in MLB The Show 25, but has been removed from MLB The Show 26.

Removed Legends:

Tony Clark

Preston Wilson

Jordan Zimmerman

Jason Kipnis

Ryan Ludwick

Joe Nathan

Mike Lowell

Jason Bay

Fernando Valenzuela

Tim Raines

Brandon Webb

Reggie Sanders

Prince Fielder

Matt Holliday

It is important to note that these are only the confirmed players who will not be returning, and it is possible that this list is significantly longer in actuality. It has been heavily rumored that Frank Thomas and Rickey Henderson (among others) have been removed from the game since they do not have any Diamond Dynasty cards on launch day.

Added Legends:

Andruw Jones

Albert Pujols

Dustin Pedroia

Grady Nettles

Roy Campanella

Jeremy Burnitz

Felix Hernandez

Phil Rizzuto

Red Schoendienst

Jeff Conine

Dave Roberts

Fred Lynn

Overall, I think the new additions are solid, but a little top-heavy. It’ll certainly be fun to play with Pujols and King Felix for the first time in years, but losing Rickey Henderson and Frank Thomas, among others, definitely stings for loyal fans of this series.

Thank you for reading, and make sure to stay tuned for more MLB The Show 26 content coming soon!

Spencer Jones - OF

Whether it be from an overzealous Jasson Dominguez/Trent Grisham hater pleading with the front office to promote the 24-year-old lefty to the big leagues, or from the countless trade rumors he has been involved in over the past few years, every Yankees fan knows the name Spencer Jones by now.

Jones has been impressive in Spring Training the past two years, putting up a 1.305 and .927 OPS in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Now, in 2026, he has been doing more of the same as he has already hit 4 HRs in just over 20 at-bats while sporting an impressive 1.392 OPS.

Spencer Jones split time between the Yankees’ AA (Somerset) and AAA (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) affiliates in 2025, putting up similar stats in each league (.274 BA, 16 HRs, .984 OPS in AA and .274 BA, 19 HRs, and .897 OPS in AAA).

Despite the crowded outfield in the Bronx, Jones is expected to make his long-awaited MLB debut this summer and, if his Spring Training performance is any indication, he could be a valuable bench piece for the Yanks in 2026.

Carlos Lagrange - SP

As one of the few highly-touted prospects to survive the trade deadline over the past few seasons, Carlos Lagrange has performed quite well in his first Spring Training for the Yankees. The consensus Top 100 prospect in the MLB has pitched 5.2 innings, striking out 6 batters and only surrendering a single earned run courtesy of a solo home run.

The 6’7” flamethrower split time between A+ and AA ball and actually performed considerably better against the better competition, putting up a 3.22 ERA in 15 starts compared to a 4.10 ERA in 8 starts in A+.

At only 22 years old, Lagrange is unlikely to pitch in the major leagues for another couple of seasons; however, he is a key name to keep an eye on in the Yankees’ minor league system. The Yankees have done a solid job developing homegrown pitchers as of late (Luis Gil, Will Warren, Cam Schlittler), and hopefully that trend continues with Lagrange.

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5. New York Yankees

Trent Grisham, OF, L

Aaron Judge, OF, R

Cody Bellinger, OF, L

Ben Rice, 1B, L

Giancarlo Stanton, DH, R

Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B, L

Ryan McMahon, 3B, L

Jose Caballero, SS, R

Austin Wells, C, L

While this might not be the best lineup the Yankees have ever put together, it is still without a doubt potent. The reigning MVP is doing a lot of heavy lifting, making this squad a top five lineup, but regardless, the sheer potential for HRs is enough to give the Bronx Bombers a nod.

4. Seattle Mariners

Brendan Donovan, 3B, L

Cal Raleigh, C, S

Julio Rodriguez, OF, R

Josh Naylor, 1B, L

Randy Arozarena, OF, R

Dominic Canzone, DH, L

J.P. Crawford, SS, L

Victor Robles, RF, R

Cole Young, 2B, L

This Mariners lineup is very similar to the one they had in the back end of the season in 2025 (Brendan Donovan notably replacing Eugenio Suarez at 3B), which is a pleasant sight for Seattle fans considering the 2025 Mariners finished top five in the MLB in OPS+. This lineup is a balanced attack of right- and left-handed hitters right in the prime of their careers (most players in the projected lineup are between 28 and 31 years old).

3. New York Mets

Francisco Lindor, SS, S

Juan Soto, LF, L

Bo Bichette, 3B, R

Jorge Polanco, 1B, S

Marcus Semien, 2B, R

Brett Baty, DH, L

Francisco Alvarez, C, R

Luis Robert Jr., OF, R

Carson Benge, OF, L

It is hard to deny the star power that the Mets will be deploying this season; however, it is equally as hard to deny their potential holes. Lindor, Soto, and Bichette are a very solid top three; however, the hitters in the middle of the lineup, such as Baty and Alvarez, worry me. Ultimately, I think this team will be very good in 2026, but I am not nearly as optimistic as some Mets fans are.

2. Atlanta Braves

Ronald Acuna Jr., OF, R

Drake Baldwin, C, L

Matt Olson, 1B, L

Jurickson Profar, DH, S

Austin Riley, 3B, R

Ozzie Albies, 2B, S

Mike Yastrzemski, OF, L

Michael Harris II, L

Maurico Dubon, SS, R

This Braves lineup is really stacked, in my opinion. While the Mets might be slightly better in the top half of the order, the Braves are as well-rounded as they come. Dubon is certainly a weak spot, but Ha-Seong Kim is expected to fill his spot once he becomes healthy.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani, DH, L

Kyle Tucker, OF, L

Mookie Betts, SS, R

Freddie Freeman, 1B, L

Will Smith, C, R

Max Muncy, 3B, L

Teoscar Hernandez, OF, R

Andy Pages, OF, R

Hyeseong Kim, 2B, L

Was there really any doubt in your mind who would round out this list at number one? Anytime there is a team that has fans’ diapers full complaining that the sport of baseball itself is being “ruined” by how talented one club’s roster is, then that team is typically going to be number one on most power ranking lists. Enough said.

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Eleven New Colleges Added to RTTS

MLB The Show 25 allowed users to play for one of eight officially licensed colleges (LSU, Tennessee, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, South Carolina, TCU, Texas, and Vanderbilt) in the game’s Road to the Show game mode. The addition of college gameplay in the MLB The Show series is something that fans of the series have been asking for over the past two decades. Unfortunately, MLB The Show 25’s introduction of college ball left much to be desired. As previously mentioned, users could only choose from an array of eight schools, and furthermore, the actual college portion of RTTS was limited. SDS seems to be addressing at least part of the issue that plagued MLB The Show 25 by adding eleven new schools, four of which were revealed to be Michigan, Stanford, Florida, and Arkansas.

Upgraded Front Office in Franchise Mode

In a similar vein to RTTS, MLB The Show 26 seeks to introduce a feature that MLB The Show 25 half-heartedly introduced. While The Show 25 introduced new menus for the offseason, The Show 26 promises to deliver a much-needed “New Trade Hub” and “Modernized Lineups and Rotations” system. Despite this claim, the footage of the trade hub shown in the trailer looks awfully familiar for fans of franchise mode. Hopefully SDS sticks to its word, and franchise mode is an improved experience compared to previous entries in the series.

New Player Card/Attribute Design

This isn’t exactly game-breaking news; however, it is definitely worth noting. MLB The Show has abandoned its traditional “vertical bar graph” method of displaying player attributes in favor of a series of horizontal bar graphs. I know, truly innovative stuff coming from SDS HQ. However, one thing of note that can be observed from the trailer showing off this new display is a significant tweak to the fielding/reaction attribute. Reaction time as an attribute is now separated into four attributes, denoted by direction. Each player will now have a left, right, backward, and forward reaction attribute instead of one all-encompassing reaction stat. In addition, catchers will have a new “pop-time” attribute. These both seem to be part of the “Ratings Overhaul” that MLB The Show 26 is promising to deliver.

“Bear Down Pitching”

This introduction seems to be the biggest “actual gameplay” change that is highlighted in the first gameplay trailer for The Show 26. Unfortunately, the trailer didn’t really dive deep into what exactly “Bear Down Pitching” is, but hopefully pitching gets a major overhaul. Many fans have complained about the varying skill gaps in pitching over the last few MLB The Show games, so hopefully SDS found the sweet spot, but for now, we just have to wait and see.

World Baseball Classic

WBC will once again be present in MLB The Show 26. The implementation of WBC federations and players will be exclusive to the Diamond Dynasty game mode, and it is safe to assume that the content will be similar, if not identical, to what we saw in MLB The Show 23. What the trailer did tell us is that all 20 WBC federations will be present, and a new stadium in the Tokyo Dome will be introduced.

New Legends

The trailer concluded by revealing two new Legend players that will be present in, at the very least, the Diamond Dynasty mode of MLB The Show 26. The players revealed were Félix Hernández and Albert Pujols. Not much else was revealed in the trailer except for the fact that these two individuals will be present in Diamond Dynasty. Personally, I predict that either or both of these players will be Live Series Collection Rewards when the game fully releases.

MLB The Show 26 officially releases on March 16th (early access is available on March 12th at 9 PM). Stay tuned for more articles about MLB The Show coming soon!

Honorable Mentions:

Tigers and Pirates

I am grouping these two clubs because I had a difficult time ranking them for the same reason: They are incredibly top-heavy because they employ the undisputed best starting pitchers in their respective leagues (Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes), but lack the necessary depth to crack my list. Personally, I am more intrigued by the Pirates’ non-Skenes starters (Mitch Keller, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, and Jared Jones) than I am with the Tigers’ non-Skubal starters (Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Reese Olson, and Troy Melton), but for the sake of this list, they will both reside in the “Honorable Mentions” category.

5. Seattle Mariners

I really love the starting five that the reigning AL runner-ups are trotting out for the 2026 regular season. Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo, and Logan Gilbert performed very well in 2025. While George Kirby and Bryce Miller underperformed last season, I have faith in their talent and ability to bounce back this season. Miller performed exceptionally well in his 14.1 IP in the 2025 playoffs, and I believe he will carry over that success into 2026. Where this team lacks depth is beneath their top 5. Emerson Hancock is currently slated as Seattle’s 6th starter, and he was incredibly underwhelming in his 90+ IP last regular season. One or two injuries to the Mariners’ top 5 pitchers could hinder their ability to repeat as AL West champs.

4. Toronto Blue Jays

As much as it pains me to admit this, the Blue Jays are well-positioned in the pitching department for 2026. The reigning AL Champions replaced Chris Bassitt, Eric Lauer, and Max Scherzer with Dylan Cease, a (hopefully) fully healthy Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage in their projected starting five. Where Toronto really has an advantage over other ball clubs is its depth, as Jose Berrios, Eric Lauer, and Cody Ponce are still rostered and expected to give Toronto solid innings if injuries arise. I am not super bullish on this Toronto squad heading into 2026, but there is no denying that the Blue Jays have a dangerous rotation right now.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

It truly speaks volumes that a team could lose such an impactful player as Ranger Suarez in the offseason, make no flashy move to replace him, and still be so well positioned for next season. The Phillies are returning three starting pitchers that finished top ten in NL Cy Young voting the prior year: Christopher Sanchez (2nd in NL Cy Young, 15th in NL MVP), Jesús Luzardo (7th in NL Cy Young), and Zack Wheeler (9th in NL Cy Young). Additionally, Philadelphia is expecting a healthy Aaron Nola (who is only one year removed from an All-Star appearance in 2024), veteran Taijuan Walker, and Andrew Painter to round out their starting rotation. If the Phillies can weather the storm while Wheeler misses time with his shoulder injury, they will hold one of the more dangerous rotations in the MLB come playoff time.

2. Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox have the deepest starting rotation in the American League and even give our number one team a run for their money in terms of depth. The Red Sox have completely retooled their starting rotation from last season, building around the 2025 AL Cy Young runner-up: Garret Crochet. The Sox added Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez to a rotation that already included Crochet and Bryan Bello. Additionally, the Sox have Kutter Crawford, Patrick Sandoval, and Johan Oviedo available in case of injuries. Last year, arguably the biggest knock on the Sox was their lack of pitching depth behind Crochet, which the front office addressed and then some this offseason.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Like pretty much any MLB power ranking list, the reigning back-to-back World Series Champion Dodgers find themselves on top. The Dodgers have a surplus of riches in the starting pitching department. LA has five elite starters in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Shohei Ohtani, all expected to throw 100+ innings in 2026. This does not include 26-year-old Emmet Sheehan, who put up an impressive 2.82 ERA in 12 starts last season. There is not much to say about this Dodgers team except, of course, they are number one!

Thank you for reading, everyone! As always, make sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more content coming soon!

Question 1:

Coco Crisp ended his 15-year MLB career in 2016 playing for which two teams?

Question 2:

Two Seattle Mariners pitchers received MVP Votes for the 2013 season: Felix Hernandez and who else?

Question 3:

What year was the MLB Comeback Player of the Year award introduced?

Question 4:

After being released by the Athletics on August 7, 2009, Jason Giambi signed with which NL team two weeks later?

Question 5:

The 2004 Yankees had two players who finished top 10 in the AL MVP voting: Mariano Rivera, and which outfielder (who finished 2nd)?

Question 6:

Which Dodgers 3B failed to make the All-Star Game in 2004 but still finished 2nd in the NL MVP voting?

Question 7:

This 35-year-old outfielder led all Texas Rangers hitters in bWAR in 2018, primarily acting as a DH. Who was it?

Question 8:

Which player won the 2008 Home Run Derby held at Yankee Stadium?

Question 9:

The middle infield for the 2013 Reds consisted of Brandon Phillips at 2B, and which 27-year-old at SS?

Question 10:

Despite playing his first MLB Season in 2018, Shohei Ohtani did not make an All-Star team until which year?

Answer Key:

1: A’s and Cleveland

2: Hisashi Iwakuma

3: 2005

4: Rockies

5: Gary Sheffield

6: Adrian Beltre

7: Shin-Soo Choo

8: Josh Hamilton

9: Zach Cozart

10: 2021

The truth of the matter is that while this move is not the move that most Yankees fans were expecting or hoping the front office would make, it is a necessary one. Weathers is a young, inexpensive, quality pitcher who will serve an important role on this Yankees squad, especially in the beginning part of the season, while some of the other key members of the starting rotation recover from their respective injuries (Rodon, Cole, Schmidt). Additionally, I am a believer in the old baseball adage that you can never have too many left-handed pitchers.

Now, into the nitty-gritty: what do the Yanks do from here? If you haven’t been following the drama involving the MLB’s top free agents this offseason as they pertain to the New York Yankees, allow me to briefly recap:

Cody Bellinger:

After one season in New York, Bellinger and the Yankees reportedly have reached an impasse in negotiations. According to John Heyman, the Yanks offered Bellinger a 5-year deal totalling $155 million, while the outfielder is looking for a deal that keeps him under contract for 7 years. As a result, the two parties are allegedly in a standoff.

Kyle Tucker:

Perhaps the top prize of this offseason’s free agent pool, Kyle Tucker, is receiving attention from several contending ball clubs. The Mets have reportedly offered the outfielder a 3-year contract worth $50 million per season, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, while the defending AL champion Blue Jays have offered the former Astro and Cub a more long-term contract. As always, the Dodgers are involved as well.

Bo Bichette:

After much speculation, the Blue Jays’ star infielder has seemingly narrowed his preferred destinations down to three: the Red Sox, the Phillies, and the Blue Jays. The Jays and Sox have both made big acquisitions on the pitching end, bringing in Dylan Cease and Ranger Suarez, respectively, but whiffed on inking free agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

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What do these three players have in common? They were all connected to the Yankees in the fall and are now all seemingly headed to play for other ball clubs. There is a world where these three high-profile free agents all sign with AL East teams that are not the New York Yankees. Which begs yet another question: What are the Yankees doing? Personally, I have no clue, but more concerningly, it seems like the Yankees’ front office doesn’t either.

1990s MLB Trivia

Question 1:

In 1997, the Florida Marlins became the fastest expansion team to win a World Series at the time. Which player recorded the game-winning hit in Game 7 of that series?

Question 2:

The 1994 MLB season was cut short by a players’ strike. Which team held the best record in baseball when play stopped?

Question 3:

In 1996, the 2nd player in MLB history joined the 40-40 club. Who was that player?

Question 4:

In 1998, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire captured national attention during their home run chase. What was the combined total of home runs hit by both players that season?

Question 5:

Which National League pitcher led the league in ERA for three consecutive seasons (1993–1995)?

Question 6:

The Colorado Rockies’ inaugural season was in 1993. Who hit the first home run in franchise history?

Question 7:

Who was the only catcher to win the MVP award, in either league, during the 1990s?

Question 8:

Which Cincinnati Reds player made 8 all star teams, 3 Gold Glove awards, and 6 Silver Slugger awards from 1990-1999?

Question 9:

The Yankees dynasty started by defeating which team in the 1996 World Series?

Question 10:

Who was the first pitcher to throw a no hitter in an interleague game?

ANSWER KEY:

1: Edgar Rentería

2: Montreal Expos

3: Barry Bonds

4: 136 (McGwire: 70 and Sosa: 66)

5: Greg Maddux

6: Eric Young Sr.

7: Ivan Rodriguez

8: Barry Larkin

9: Atlanta Braves

10: David Cone (vs. Montreal Expos)

Hyperbole and my annoying nerd fandom aside, I found the response to Game 7 on social media shocking. Obviously, there were a number of people doing their best Magic Johnson impression (if you are unfamiliar, do yourself a favor and check out Magic’s X page anytime there is a big sports game), stating how awesome the game was; however, a number of people were beside themselves that the Dodgers had yet again won the World Series. I simply could not relate to this sentiment. Yes, the Dodgers had won back-to-back World Series, a feat that hadn’t been achieved since the New York Yankees’ three-peat 25 years ago. Yes, the Dodgers had the highest payroll in the MLB. Yes, this was the Dodgers’ third World Series victory since 2020. Yet, I didn’t view the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series victory the same way I viewed the Golden State Warriors’ 2018 NBA Championship win or Alabama winning three NCAA championships in 4 years between 2009 and 2012.

Prior to winning the past two World Series, the Dodgers won what many consider a fraudulent 2020 World Series and lost back-to-back World Series in 2017 and 2018. The core that appeared in the World Series in 2017, 2018, and 2020 is wildly different from the team that appeared in 2024 and 2025. Yeah, it’s still the Dodgers, but it is not an early 2000s Yankees or 2015-2019 Warriors dynasty. Simply put, this iteration of the Los Angeles Dodgers was not the dynasty that many were claiming it was.

What exactly constitutes a “dynasty” in the MLB, you ask? In my eyes, it’s simple: a team that is a perennial contender for 5+ years that wins at least three championships while retaining the same core of star players. Dynasties are interesting to look back on, but when you are in the presence of one (and you’re not a fan of said team), it can be quite frustrating from a fan perspective. Everyone was tired of the Yankees winning the World Series in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but now, many look back on that era fondly. The same can be said for the aforementioned Golden State Warriors teams.

It is easy to hate a dynasty team. They are hoarding all the best players, winning championships year in and year out, and dominating media coverage. Luckily for baseball fans, the MLB hasn’t really had a dynasty since the Evil Empire Yankees 25 years ago. Yes, an argument could be made for the Red Sox winning 4 championships between 2004 and 2013, but those runs had two pretty distinct cores and didn’t really have that “dynasty feel.” The closest thing the MLB had to a dynasty was the San Francisco Giants. The Giants won 3 World Series between 2010 and 2014. The thing that really saved the Giants from getting on the nerves of baseball fans in that era was not winning any back-to-back World Series. An interesting storyline grew out of the Giants’ only winning the World Series in even years and narrowly avoiding the coveted back-to-back World Series Champion title. Now, with the Dodgers winning back-to-back titles with a dominant core of superstars, including perhaps the best baseball player to ever walk this earth in Shohei Ohtani, it seems the MLB is ready for its first true dynasty in over two decades.

And why exactly do I sound so excited about a team that I have no rooting interest in becoming a dynasty? Well, my friend, every dynasty comes crashing down sooner or later, typically when least expected. Thanos won in Avengers: Infinity War, but who got the last laugh in Avengers: Endgame? Drago might have literally killed Creed in the beginning of Rocky IV, but who knocked Drago out in the end and essentially ended communism in the Soviet Union? And finally, Luke Skywalker might have gotten his hand cut off in The Empire Strikes Back, but who threw that wrinkly bastard to his death (shut up about the sequels I’m cooking right now) and blew up the Death Star for a second freaking time? My point is, the sweetest part about a dynasty is its eventual fall to the lovable underdog, but it has to happen naturally. That’s why I was so bothered by MLB fans for both prematurely crowning the Dodgers as a dynasty and pushing the narrative that the Blue Jays, with the 5th highest payroll in the league, were somehow a scrappy underdog. The ending to Die Hard wouldn’t be as satisfying if one of Hans Gruber’s goons shot him in the back during the first act instead of John McClane shooting him out a window in the end, right? My message: Be patient. If the Dodgers keep winning, let them; it will only make their inevitable collapse that much sweeter.

Question 1:

In 2012, this player became the youngest MLB player to achieve a 30 HR and 30 SB season at the age of 20 years old. Who was that player?

Question 2:

In the 21st century (as of 2025) only one pitcher has won the MVP award and thrown 250 or more strikeouts in that season. Who is that player?

Question 3:

Two different Minnesota Twins players won the AL MVP award in 2006 and 2009. Who were those players?

Question 4:

In the 21st century (as of 2025 and excluding 2020), which NL World Series winning team had the lowest regular season win total for a World Series winning team?

Question 5:

Curtis Granderson played for 7 teams in his 16 year MLB career. Which team did he play the most seasons for?

Question 6:

Before 2024, when Luis Gil and Paul Skenes both took home the Rookie of The Year Award for their respective league, the last time two pitchers won the award was in 2011: A SP for the Rays and a Closer for the Braves. Who are those players?

Question 7:

Which 1-time MVP, 4-time All star, and 3-time World Series champion spent his entire 14-year career with the Boston Red Sox?

Question 8:

During their 2013 World Series winning postseason run, this Red Sox first baseman led the team with the most strikeouts (21) in the postseason. Who was that player?

Question 9:

During their 2008 AL Pennant winning regular season, this outfielder led the team in stolen bases. Who was that player?

Question 10:

In 2019, the Padres had the worst record in the NL West. Which outfielder led the team in bWAR (2.4)?

Thank you all for reading! Let us know how many you got correct in the comments below. Also, make sure to let me know if you have any suggestions for this series. As always, stay tuned for more articles coming soon!

ANSWER KEY

1: Mike Trout

2: Justin Verlander

3: Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer

4: 2006 Cardinals

5: Tigers

6: Jeremy Hellickson and Craig Krimbel

7: Dustin Pedroia

8: Mike Napoli

9: BJ Upton

10: Hunter Renfoe

The winner of this game will advance to the ALCS to play the Toronto Blue Jays in a 7-game series to decide the AL Pennant winner. Both teams are in quite a drought in terms of ALCS appearances. The Tigers haven’t made the Championship Series since 2013 (where they lost to the Red Sox), and the Mariners haven’t made an ALCS appearance since 2001 (where they lost to the Yankees). Regardless of who wins between the Tigers and Mariners, the Jays will hold home-field advantage since they held the best regular season record in the American League. The question remains: who would the Blue Jays rather face in the ALCS?

The Tigers are led by last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner (and the favorite to win the 2025 AL Cy Young), Tarik Skubal. However, despite having as dominant of an ace as any team could ask for, the rest of the Tigers’ starting rotation and bullpen is rather pedestrian. Detroit’s #2 in their rotation is Jack Flaherty, who struggled in the regular season (89 ERA+, 3.85 FIP, 0.9 WAR), and their #3 is Casey Mize, who was slightly above average in the regular season (107 ERA+) but the team does not seem overly confident in his ability to pitch in the postseason (2 games, 6.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.75 SO/BB). With Skubal scheduled to pitch Game 5 of the ALDS on Friday, it is likely that the Jays won’t have to face him until Game 3 of the ALCS (when the series goes to Detroit). While Toronto’s pitching is not their strong suit, they will have the advantage in Games 1 and 2 if Skubal is unable to pitch. Considering the way the Jays attacked the Yankees’ aces, the Jays’ hitters are likely salivating at the chance to face Flaherty and Mize at home in Toronto.

The Tigers hitters have been rather unimpressive through the postseason as well. Only one batter, Javier Baez, has a batting average over .300, and only two hitters have an OPS greater than .800, Baez and Gleyber Torres. Granted, the Tigers have had the difficult task of facing the dominant Seattle Mariners’ pitching rotation, which I will get into next.

Even without their 2025 All-Star starting pitcher, Bryan Woo (who is dealing with a pectoral injury and was left off the ALDS roster), the Mariners’ pitching rotation is exceptional. Their 2025 postseason sample size is smaller than the Tigers since they did not play in the Wild Card series, but the statistics are impressive nonetheless. Logan Gilbert pitched 6.0 innings, struck out 7, and only surrendered 1 run. Luis Castillo tossed 4.2 innings, surrendering only 1 hit (and 4 BB) and striking out 3 batters. George Kirby was decent in his one ALDS start with 5.0 IP, 8 SO, and only 2 ER allowed. Seattle’s relievers (Matt Brash, Carlos Vargas, and Gabe Speier) have been serviceable, striking out 11 batters and surrendering 7 runs (unearned) in 7.0 IP combined. However, their closer, Andres Munoz, has followed up a spectacular 2025 regular season with a perfect ALDS thus far, appearing in 3 games (4.0 IP) and surrendering no base runners. If Woo can return to the rotation for the ALCS (given the Mariners’ win on Friday), the Mariners’ pitching advantage would be that much greater.

Onto the hitting, the Mariners haven’t been uber effective on offense thus far, but I feel they are in a better position moving forward than the Tigers. AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh has carried over his regular season success to the postseason, as he is batting .438 with 7 hits, 1 HR, and 4 RBIs. Outside of Raleigh, the lineup has been decent at best in the ALDS, but their roster has a few more hitters with solid postseason experience compared to the Tigers. Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, and Randy Arozerana have all been underperforming in 2025 but have considerable postseason experience.

In conclusion, Blue Jays’ fans should likely be rooting for Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers to prevail in game 5 of the ALDS on Friday. Seattle’s depth at pitching is best suited for a 7-game series. A Tigers’ victory on Friday would put the Blue Jays in an advantageous spot to advance to the 2025 World Series.

Thank you for reading, and make sure to stay tuned for more articles coming soon!

#5 – 2021 AL Wild Card Game

The first and only time the Yankees and Red Sox faced off in the one-game wild card format was in 2021. The game was a relatively easy victory for Boston at Fenway as Nathan Eovaldi held the Bronx Bombers to 1 ER in 5.1 IP en route to a 6-2 Boston victory. Boston ended up losing to the Houston Astros in the ALCS, so this game did not have the incredible impact on baseball history as some of the other entries on this list. Probably the most iconic moment from this game was Giancarlo Stanton’s 1st inning double that Yankees’ long-time play-by-play radio announcer, John Sterling, erroneously called a home run (even as Stanton was clearly standing on second).

#4 - 1999 ALCS

Back in 1999, the Yankees and Red Sox met in the postseason for the first time (officially), with each team looking to advance to the World Series. The Yankees were coming off a World Series victory in 1996 and 1998, while the Red Sox were looking for their first World Series berth since 1986. The Yankees won the series handily 3-1, but it was intense nonetheless. The Yanks won games 1 and 2 by a combined 2 runs, and a highly anticipated Roger Clemens vs Pedro Martinez game 3 matchup surprisingly resulted in 14 runs and 24 hits as the Sox won their only game of the series. This series was fun, but the iconic matchups we have all come to love were still a few years away at this point.

#3 2018 ALDS

This series beat out the 1999 ALCS simply by how shocking it was. The Sox staved off a late comeback by New York in game 1 to secure a 5-4 victory. In game 2, the Yankees bounced back, winning 6-2 thanks to an incredible performance from Masahiro Tanaka on the hill and a 4 RBI effort from Gary Sanchez. Game 3 took a turn when the Red Sox utterly dominated the Yankees, winning by a score of 16-1. It was the biggest postseason loss the Yankees had ever suffered at home, and it completely demoralized the fan base. The Sox went on to win game 4 in the Bronx by a score of 4-3 before ultimately running the table and taking home their 4th World Series championship in under 15 years.

#2 2003 ALCS

Depending on which team you root for, #1 and #2 could be swapped on the list. This series was iconic. It went all seven games. Each game was a nail-biter. Every hit seemed massively important. And, of course, you cannot mention this series without mentioning game 7. Red Sox manager Gray Little infamously kept his starter, Pedro Martinez, in the game one inning too long, allowing the Yankees to put up 3 runs and tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Naturally, the game couldn’t be decided in just nine innings, so the game went to extras tied at 5 before 3rd baseman Aaron Boone hit a walk-off home run off a Tim Wakefield knuckleball to send the Yankees to the 2003 World Series. If it wasn’t for what happened in 2004, this would easily be number 1 on this list.

#1 2004 ALCS

The 2004 ALCS might be the perfect baseball series (for non-Yankee fans). A matchup between two bitter rivals for a chance to play in the World Series. Two teams that played an iconic, hard-fought, seven-game series the year prior that ended in an extra-innings walkoff home run! The Yankees had added the 2003 AL MVP to their already stacked roster, a player that Boston infamously traded for the same offseason but was denied due to an unprecedented ruling from the MLBPA! However, this is baseball, not a soap opera. Regardless of how interesting the backstory is, the game is played on the field. So how about that game? Well, the Yankees’ offense looked utterly dominant through the first 3 games of the series. They scored 32 total runs in the first three games of the series, winning each of the games as well to take a 3-0 advantage over Boston. The Sox came back to win game 4 in Boston in an extra-innings thriller and did the same thing the next night to make it only a 3-2 series lead. With the series back in New York, Curt Schilling (in his infamous bloody sock game) dominated the Yankees’ offense as the Sox tied the series up 3-3. Game 7 lacked the drama of the 2003 ALCS, but the Red Sox had done the impossible and beat the Yankees to advance to the 2004 World Series after being down 3-0 in the series. It was the series that officially ended the late 90s and early 2000s dominance of the New York Yankees and helped the Red Sox end their long World Series drought. This wasn’t just the best postseason series in Yankees and Red Sox history; it was the best postseason series in MLB history!

The Yankees and Red Sox will add another chapter to their storied history this season. Who do you think will come away victorious? Let me know in the comments below. Thank you for reading and as always stay tuned for new articles coming soon!

The Royals and Guardians, barring an unprecedented winning streak, have virtually no chance of taking over the Detroit Tigers for the lead in the AL Central, given they are 8.5 and 10.5 games behind, respectively. The Rangers are in a similar boat, as they are currently 6.5 games behind the AL West-leading Houston Astros. Despite this, these three teams all have a legitimate chance at playing postseason baseball.

Texas Rangers (4.5 GB)

Starting with the 3rd place squad in the AL West, the Rangers are led by their elite one-two punch of veteran starting pitchers. Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom have both been performing at a Cy Young level in 2025 and will be a dangerous sight for opposing teams in the postseason. The one issue is the Rangers need to qualify for the postseason first! The former 2023 World Series champions missed the playoffs last season and are struggling to stay above .500 in 2025. Texas’ biggest weakness thus far has been their underperforming offense. They currently rank 25th in the MLB in AVG (.236), 24th in WRC+ (93), and 23rd in OFF (-36.5). Star shortstop Corey Seager and 2nd-year standout Wyatt Langford have performed well in 2025, but the same cannot be said for the rest of the lineup. The Rangers will need either the rest of their hitters to wake up or some well-timed hitting streaks to earn a Wild Card spot this season.

Cleveland Guardians (5.0 GB)

The first of the two AL Central teams in the 2025 Wild Card hunt, the Cleveland Guardians, are suffering a similar fate as the aforementioned Texas Rangers: offensive woes leading to a subpar overall record. The Guardians only have two hitters currently on their roster with an OPS+ above 100 (Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo). Unfortunately for Cleveland, the pitching hasn’t been much better. Putting aside the fact that multiple pitchers on the roster are being investigated for betting against themselves, the rotation has been mediocre. Outside of Gavin Williams, who has been very effective this season, the starting rotation has been average at best. The bullpen overcame some early-season woes, particularly star closer Emanuel Clase, but it is not nearly strong enough to carry this flawed squad. Ultimately, the Guardians will likely not make the postseason in 2025, and that’s alright. This team is positioned to be a major threat in the coming years with a multitude of solid young players to surround their star, Jose Ramirez.

Kansas City Royals (3.0 GB)

Our second team from the AL Central, and the team closest to earning a Wild Card spot by record, is the Kansas City Royals. The Royals are easily the best of the bunch and have the best shot at overtaking one of the current Wild Card teams. Bobby Witt has been incredible this season, and the surrounding cast of Maikel Garcia, Salvador Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino (who has been on an absolute tear as of late if you happened to miss it) have aided in making this lineup dangerous. The Royals, however, are not a perfect team. They have a very weak outfield offensively, and the loss of Cole Ragans could prove to be detrimental if he is not in full form for the end-of-season postseason push. The Royals, like the Guardians, are still a very young team, and while making another solid run in the postseason would be nice for the Kansas City faithful, 2025 is not the end-all be-all. I believe the Royals will ultimately fall short of making the postseason this year; however, I don’t think that will become a trend in the coming seasons.

Thank you for reading! Stay tuned for more articles coming soon!

SPENCER JONES, OF, 24 Years Old

Jones might not be the top-ranked prospect in the Yankees system (that spot is reserved for SS George Lombard Jr.); however, he has been the most discussed prospect the Yankees have currently. Jones started the 2025 season in AA for the Somerset Patriots, the team he plagued the entirety of 2024 with, and excelled. Through 49 games, Jones had a .274 batting average and hit 16 HRs, nearly matching his total of 17 home runs through 124 games in 2024. When Jones was called up to AAA, he did not slow down at all. Through 37 games, Spencer Jones has a batting average of .297 and an OPS of .995, and he has hit 14 HRs. It seems that Jones, in his age 24 season, is finally realizing his potential as an elite power hitter. Additionally, his walk-to-strikeout ratio has greatly increased since 2024, a number that alarmed many when discussing his inevitable jump to the MLB. In 2024, Jones walked 54 times but struck out 200 times. So far in 2025, however, Jones has nearly matched his total number of walks from the 24’ season with 49 and only struck out 120 times in 38 fewer games. Jones’ performance led many skeptics to believe that he should have been traded at the 2025 trade deadline. In my opinion, Jones is a talent that should not be sold for a veteran rental. Spencer Jones has spent four seasons in the Yankees farm system and will likely be a member of the MLB roster soon, and I, for one, am excited to see how he will perform in the major league setting.

GEORGE LOMBARD Jr., SS, 20 Years Old

While Lombard might not be the popular topic of conversation amongst Yankees fans the way Spencer Jones is, the 20-year-old SS is the number one ranked prospect in the Yankees’ farm system. He started the season in A+ ball playing for the Hudson Valley Renegades, where he performed incredibly well. His .329 batting average, .983 OPS, 11 SB, and solid defense in the field through 24 games quickly earned him a promotion to AA. When he arrived at the Yankees’ AA affiliate, the Somerset Patriots, Lombard struggled to match his impressive stat line from A+ ball. Through 83 games, Lombard is batting .212 with a .674 OPS. He has still been dangerous on the basepath, stealing 18 bases, but he hasn’t been able to get on base nearly as much as he did in the lower levels of minor league baseball. Lombard is still 3.6 years younger than the average AA player, which is a healthy reminder not to overreact to the 20-year-old’s slow start with the Somerset Patriots.

CARLOS LAGRANGE, RHP, 22 Years Old

The Yankees’ top-ranked pitching prospect and number two ranked prospect overall is an impressive starting pitcher. Lagrange started the 2025 season in A+ with the Hudson Valley Renegades, where he put up a pedestrian 4.10 ERA but held a 1.032 WHIP and an incredible 13.8 K/9. Lagrange struggled with the deep ball, surrendering 19 HRs in only 8 starts; however, he struck out 64 batters while only walking 12. These numbers earned him a promotion to AA, where he continued to impress. In 10 starts and 55.0 IP as a member of the Somerset Patriots, Carlos Lagrange has a 3.44 ERA, a 5-3 record, and a 12.1 K/9. Unfortunately, his WHIP jumped to 1.273 along with his BB/9 rate, which jumped from 2.6 to 6.1. Carlos Lagrange is a flawed prospect, to say the least, but he is still very young, and his strikeout statistics are a reason alone to be excited about his future with the New York Yankees.

Thank you for reading, everyone, and make sure to stay tuned for more articles coming soon!

I am not as bullish on the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays as some others seem to be. The Jays' record is impressive; however, their run differential is only +44, the worst amongst the six division leaders in the MLB. Additionally, an MLB team has not won a World Series with a regular season win differential below +100 since the 2015 Kansas City Royals, and a team with a run differential below +50 hasn’t won it since the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals. Obviously, run differential isn’t the end-all-be-all when it comes to analyzing a team’s performance, as actually winning games is far more important than the fashion in which you do so; yet, it can be used as an indicator for if a team will experience sustained success. Let’s take a look at the two World Series winning teams I mentioned before: The 2006 Cardinals’ rotation was led by star Chris Carpenter in a season in which he finished 3rd in Cy Young voting and had the backing of an above-average bullpen consisting of Jason Isringhausen and Adam Wainwright. The 2015 Royals had one of the best bullpens of all time, with Greg Holland and Wade Davis sharing closer duties while Kelvin Herrera, Ryan Madson, and Franklin Morales rounded out the rest of the bullpen. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, they do not have what these teams had.

While the Jays' offense is certainly solid, it is not good enough to make up for their lackluster pitching rotation in the long term. While the team’s top three pitchers (Kevin Gausman, Eric Lauer, and José Berríos) have been pretty good this season, holding a combined 3.88 FIP, and the remainder of the rotation (Chris Bassitt, Bowden Francis, and Max Scherzer) has been far from atrocious, they lack a true ace. Oftentimes a team’s bullpen can make up for their lack of elite starting pitching; however, that is not the case for the 2025 Blue Jays. In fact, their bullpen represents the weakest aspect of their entire team. Of their relief pitchers (minimum 40.0 IP), nobody has an ERA below 3.15 or a WHIP below 1.000. The Jays’ closer, Jeff Hoffman (signed a 3-year deal with Toronto last season coming off an All-Star season), has been plain bad this season. He has saved just 26 games this season and blown a career-high 5 saves already this season. Hoffman had blown only 6 games in his entire career prior to joining the Jays. Additionally, his ERA+ has fallen below 100 for the first time in his career since the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The Blue Jays are currently the favorite to win the AL East and have the 7th-best odds to win the World Series. The Blue Jays are certainly a good team with a potent offense; however, I don’t believe the team will be a threat to win the World Series or the American League given the state of their starting rotation and bullpen.

Thank you for reading and make sure to stay tuned for more blogs coming soon!

Instead of jumping straight into “why” Williams has been performing so poorly in 2025, let's start with an easier question: how are Williams’ numbers so bad? Simply put, opposing batters are hitting the ball harder than ever against Devin Williams and are striking out less. From his 2020 AL ROY-winning season to his last season as a Brewer in 2024, Williams held a 40.8 K% and a 28.7% HardHit rate. In 2025, Williams’ K% has plummeted to a career low of 29.9%, while his HardHit rate has jumped up over 7 points to 35.8%. This combination has led to more runners on base, more pitches thrown, and significantly more runs allowed by Williams than in previous seasons.

Interestingly, Williams has been pitching in significantly lower-leverage situations than he did in Milwaukee, making his poor statistics even more confusing. For 2025, Williams’ gmLI (average leverage index when entering the game) is 1.39. For reference, Williams’ gmLI in his last 3 seasons with the Brewers was up around 2. Additionally, Williams’ pitch selection has not altered much since his days in Milwaukee. Devin Williams still relies almost exclusively on his 4-seam fastball and changeup, and the frequency at which he throws those two pitches this season has been roughly the same as any other given year in his previous 5 full seasons in the MLB. Furthermore, Williams has been throwing his fastball and changeup almost as effectively as any other season in his career. His 5 offspeed run value puts him in the 94th percentile of qualified pitchers, and while his -1 run value for his fastball places him in the 34th percentile, that placement is actually better than his 2020 AL ROY award-winning season. As a matter of fact, Williams’ entire Baseball Savant chart is alarmingly similar to his previous seasons. The only difference: In Milwaukee, Devin Williams was one of the best closers in baseball. In New York, he’s been one of the worst

.

It seems that Williams’ approach to pitching is roughly the same this season as it was in Milwaukee. He is throwing the same pitches, walking a similar number of batters, and being used in a similar role. The difference arises when you take a look at the real outcomes of his appearance. Williams is striking out fewer batters and, therefore allowing more hits and more runs. The cause of this? Is it the pressure of pitching for a more illustrious franchise and a more competitive team with higher expectations? Is it the Yankees’ subpar pitching coaches that have consistently failed to develop talented pitchers over the past three years? Has Williams simply been “figured out” by opposing hitters? Or, has Williams been unfortunately unlucky this season? Whatever the reasoning may be, Williams must improve in the second half of the 2025 season, or his time as a high-usage relief pitcher for the New York Yankees will be short-lived.

Thank you for reading and make sure to stay tuned for more articles coming soon!