Archive for Mining the News

Mining the News (9/12/25)


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American League

Angels

Mike Trout has been dealing with knee pain

[Trout] also hasn’t played defense since April, due to lingering soreness after tweaking his surgically repaired left meniscus.

… and might rework his swing to cut down on his strikeouts.

The Angels have approached Trout about making swing changes surrounding his leg kick and hip placement, and while he has been open to them, he’s yet to actually implement those changes.

He’s described his mechanical issue as his back side collapsing. This, Trout said, causes his head to move back, which makes pitch recognition more difficult, and creates an “uphill” swing. Hence, copious strikeouts and a lack of hard contact.

It’s a problem he’s dealt with for years, he said, and acknowledged “I don’t know” when asked if it’s a product of aging.

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Mining the News (9/5/25)


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• Clay Davenport examined the drop in hitter production from AAA to the majors. From 2021 to 2025, he found the following adjustments.

Stat: Adjustment
AVG: -.040
OBP: -.046
SLG: -.099

Additionally, he found:

There is a small tendency for young players to do a little better than older players.

A good read on what has and hasn’t changed for hitters making that last transition to the majors.

American League

Guardians

• The team is going with a six-man rotation.

Cleveland will deploy a six-man rotation for the foreseeable future, manager Stephen Vogt said on Tuesday ahead of the Guardians’ 11-7 loss to the Red Sox. Joey Cantillo will start in Wednesday’s series finale at Fenway Park, joining Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Cecconi, Logan Allen로건 and Parker Messick in the rotation.

“We’re going to go with the six-man rotation for a little while,” Vogt said. “Just with the starting pitching, where they are innings wise and where they are in their career. And we have 24 games in 24 days, so we thought it was a good opportunity for us to get them … they’ll all be on five days’ rest throughout this long process.”

Rangers

Jacob Latz will stay in the rotation.

Bochy said Latz will remain in the rotation for the foreseeable future, a relatively new development considering he has just six career starts in 78 appearances.

The last few weeks have been an adjustment for Latz, who didn’t even find out he was starting against the Diamondbacks until Monday. Even so, he said he was ready to go regardless of when his number was called, whether it was as a starter or out of the bullpen.

In five starts (23 relief appearances) this summer, the 29-year-old lefty has a 3.38 ERA (4.32 xFIP), 1.17 WHIP, and 7.5 K/9 in 24 IP.

White Sox

Brooks Baldwin adjusted his approach during the season.

But the switch-hitter also has executed something offensively that’s tough to do in-season – make meaningful changes to approach and technique and have them work immediately. Baldwin showed off those changes yet again with three hits against the Twins, as the White Sox (51-88) won for a third straight time and won a third straight game at Target Field (dating back to April 24) for the first time since 2021.

“It’s hard to adjust in season, but sometimes you have to do it when things aren’t going the right way,” Baldwin told MLB.com. “I made the choice to change and stick with it and go with it the rest of the year, and it’s done well.

“Just like the approach wise and kind of stance at the plate, spread out and get a little wider and shorten everything up a little bit and stay to the opposite field. It’s not really like I’m trying to hit everything to left field or left-center, but mentally I’m trying to stay on the ball that way. And then if it presents itself to pull it, you can still pull it.”

All his stats are showing 1H to 2H improvements

Stat: 1H, 2H
BB%: 5%, 8%
K%: 28%, 22%
OPS: .628, .802
Contact%: 77%, 80%,
avgEV: 90.4, 90.7

National League

Braves

Ha-Seong Kim 김하성 believes his struggles stem from coming back too early from his back surgery.

Kim believes coming back quickly from that surgery contributed to his back issues this season, but said he’s fine now.

Bryce Elder reworked his slider.

Elder noted the work on his slider as a reason for his stronger efforts.

He said he’d always thrown one that was “kind of nose-down gyro,” but that over time, he began to throw it differently. Elder “really looked into the nose being up, and the ball was just spinning right in the heart of the plate and people were hitting it.”

The slider was a pitch he felt was his top swing-and-miss offering, but he wasn’t getting those whiffs at the same level.

However, Elder has noticed progress with the slider since about the end of June. Six of his top seven single-game whiff rates with it this season have come since the calendar flipped to July — including Wednesday’s 38.4 percent — giving that credence.

I couldn’t find any signs of improvement on his end. Additionally, he is not throwing his slider as much. Before August 1st (beginning of Elder’s hot stretch), he threw his slider 38% of the time and 29% after that point.

Cardinals

Nolan Gorman implemented a change in early June.

Gorman didn’t play in any of the three games against the Royals. Instead, he took a couple of workout days in the batting cages and tried to put his trust in what felt comfortable. He ditched the toe-tap swing he started with at the beginning of the season and reverted to a leg kick while committing to a more selective approach.

Soon after, tangible results followed.

“Knowing where I was with playing time, I knew I couldn’t just go try to fix something every single day,” Gorman said. “I had to trust one thing and run with it. In Kansas City, that’s where I really started feeling good. That’s where I felt things really flipped. I was like, ‘I need to run with this, I need to keep it.’”

When evaluating Gorman, the Cardinals’ coaching staff likes to look at chase rate, strikeout percentage and walk rate to ensure Gorman is improving his plate discipline and fine-tuning his approach. Similar to nearly every power hitter in the modern game, with homers come strikeouts. Swing-and-miss will essentially always be a part of Gorman’s game, but it doesn’t have to define it.

Before the change, he was batting .187/.280/.297. Since the adjustment, .231/.329/.446.

• The manager wants Jordan Walker to take the team’s advice and improve several aspects of his game.

Not only would the Cardinals like to see a strong finish to the season from the former top prospect in MLB, but they also want to see [Walker] be more receptive to making the changes needed to potentially make him more consistent at the plate. And, quite frankly, the club’s patience seems to be wearing thin with the 23-year-old outfielder’s receptiveness to the changes they have asked him to make.

“We have not seen the consistency that we would have hoped for by now,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Our hope is that changes. He’s still young, and this could flip at any moment. We’ve seen other players where that’s the case — on this team or another — where they are an offseason away. But there’s real work to be done and there’s a real level of dedication and consistency that needs to come with that.

“I need to see Jordan have a sense of urgency for the things that need to take place to give him consistent results. That goes with his moves toward the ball, his preparation in the cage and his approach in games.”

“Real adjustments have to be made, physically and approach-wise,” he said. “[Brown] is doing a really nice job of providing him ways of doing that. Now, he has to take hold of that and put it in play.”

Cubs

Michael Soroka’s fastball velocity is in the mid-90s.

That’s encouraging since Soroka’s velocity dropped 3 mph after joining the Cubs

Dodgers

Roki Sasaki will remain in the minors to gain some consistency.

Given the results, and that the Dodgers have no immediate need for him at the big league level, it seems likely that Sasaki will remain with Oklahoma City for at least another start.

“Guys here are pitching well,” manager Dave Roberts said before Sasaki’s outing. “I’m not sure what that means for Roki after this one. Let’s just get through this one. Pitch well, [get] healthy, and then we’ll make a decision.”

After sitting around 96 mph with his four-seamer in his previous two starts, Sasaki averaged 94.4 mph with the pitch on Tuesday. He maxed out at 96.9 mph.

“The velocity needs to be consistent. The strike throwing needs to be consistent. Just having overall command,” Roberts said recently. “The focus certainly is different in the big leagues vs. Triple-A, which is totally fair. But I do think that where he’s at, performing and dominating Triple-A hitting is something we should expect.”

Teoscar Hernández’s groin and foot aren’t yet healed.

Concerns about Hernández’s focus go away if he’s hitting. This is not a storyline if he is putting up the .840 OPS he put up a year ago, or the .933 OPS he had before landing on the injured list in May with a strained groin. That halted what was set to be a strong encore to last year’s success. So did a bruise he suffered when he fouled a ball off his left foot more than a month after returning. The resulting struggles raised one of two questions: either Hernández was still hurt (or trying to avoid reinjuring himself) or the injuries had disrupted whatever rhythm he’d had to start the season.

Hernández’s groin and his foot are “100 percent,” he said.

“For me, it’s more being on the field,” Hernández said. “For me, being hurt is more frustrating than having a bad year. I’d rather be on the field and having a bad year than not being on the field and just fighting back and forth.”

Pirates

Nick Yorke will play some outfield.

Nick Yorke, the team’s No. 11 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, was recalled as part of the expanded September rosters and got the start at first base on Tuesday.

Yorke could also play second base and corner outfield, Kelly said pregame …


Mining the News (8/28/25)

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American League

Athletics

• Zack Gelof, Jacob Wilson윌슨, Darell Hernaiz, and Brett Harris with “shuffle” positions and starts.

On Monday, Gelof, Hernaiz and Harris were all in the A’s starting lineup, with Hernaiz manning third base and Harris at first base on a rare day of rest for Nick Kurtz. Those three will likely shuffle around the infield over the final month of the season as the A’s seek to get a closer evaluation of the trio of homegrown players.

“Wilson will also need some rest as we go,” Kotsay said. “There will be enough opportunity to utilize a rotation. It’s about performance, and we’ll also look for the best matchups for those opportunities as well.”

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Mining the News (8/22/25)


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American League

Astros

• Spencer Arrighetti’s fastball velocity is down 2 mph.

Here is your friendly reminder to follow Lance Brozdowski’s substack. (Editor note: SERIOUSLY, Lance is SOOO good, check out his YouTube, too!)

Astros Spencer Arrighetti has struggled since his return from a fractured right thumb (8.59 ERA, 4.57 xFIP, 10% K-BB). His velocity is down 2 mph, sitting 92.2 mph in these three post-IL starts compared to 94.2 mph last season. He started throwing a sinker to right-handed hitters since returning, perhaps as a way to mitigate the velocity drop.

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Mining the News (8/13/25)


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American League

Athletics

Colby Thomas is being more athletic in the batter’s box.

“Darren and I sat with [Thomas] and we made some adjustments,” Kotsay said. “I wanted him to get a little bit more athletic in the box.”

What exactly does “more athletic in the box” mean?

“Well, I’m usually really wide,” Thomas said. “I’ve skinnied up a little bit just so I can be a little more adjustable with my legs. A little more athletic.”

In addition to practicing the new stance in batting practice, Thomas said he worked with Bush one-on-one in the batting cage a few hours before Thursday’s game. Later, in his first at-bat of the game, Thomas crushed his first homer.

The only number that matters right now is finding a way to lower his 52% K%. Read the rest of this entry »


Mining the News (8/9/25)


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Note: Real life had me busy this week (moving my daughter to college), so I was adding news when I could. I wish there was more.

American League

Royals

Ryan Bergert added a “kick-change”.

But the Royals also acquired the 25-year-old Bergert thinking about their future rotation. He showed why on Tuesday, with a 90-95 mph fastball that averaged 19 inches of induced vertical break. His sweeper showed a ton of movement despite Bergert not having the best command of his breaking pitches, and he flashed his new kick-changeup.

The difference in spin is obvious over his last two starts.

The STUPH models loved his changeup in his Kansas City debut giving it a 128 Pitching+ and 77 BotOvr.

Tigers

• The manager is considering Troy Melton in high-leverage relief appearances.

If the Tigers turn at some point to pitching chaos, or some rendition of it, Melton becomes big. Even if they don’t, Melton potentially looms large in situational work.

Asked if Melton could work into higher-leverage opportunities, Hinch said, “I think so. I mean, the stuff’s there. I think it’s about experience and strike throwing and being able to still use his whole arsenal. …

“I don’t know where it ends in terms of usage. I think the No. 1 goal in putting him towards the bullpen is to maybe pitch him a little bit more often. As he pitches more often, the outings are going to come where he can get the ball in his hand in that leverage that you’re talking about. He certainly has the stuff. I think he has the DNA. I think he has the makeup. It’s just all new for him.”

National League

Braves

Grant Holmes is hoping scar tissue will heal his torn UCL.

Holmes consulted with three doctors, including Dr. Neal ElAttrache and a Braves team physician. The hope is that the rehab will help the UCL grow back together.

“If I’m not mistaken, I think ElAttrache said it was more about kind of letting the scar tissue over,” Holmes said. “Since it’s been injured, just let the scar tissue over. There was a small tear in there.”

Holmes to his torn UCL …

Cubs

Ben Brown could be used as a starter.

Counsell said Ben Brown, who relieved Soroka on Monday and allowed just one run in four innings, was an option to make starts.

Cade Horton’s starts will be limited for the rest of the season.

In Wednesday’s 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, Horton was dominant. The rookie tossed 5 2/3 scoreless frames, striking out six and walking none, having allowed just two hits. He needed just 67 pitches to get through his start and was pulled because the Cubs continue to monitor what’s already a career-high workload.

“We want a healthy Cade Horton,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We want a strong Cade Horton for the rest of the season. So we’re going to have to make some tough decisions, that’s just part of it. It’s the right thing to do for the team and for Cade.”

Horton understands the thinking, and while he said he feels good, he knows there’s more at stake to consider. His focus is just taking the ball when it’s given to him and attacking hitters while he’s on the mound.

Padres

• The team wants to give Mason Miller a chance to close.

Still, Suarez is the Major League saves leader, and the Padres don’t see much reason to move away from that formula. In his Padres debut on Friday, Miller pitched the eighth and Suarez got the ninth. Suarez again got the ninth on Sunday, and Miller seems to be on board with that plan.

“I’m happy to be here,” he said. “Hoping to make [the bullpen] an even bigger strength. … Whatever I can do to help the team win, I’m ready to do.”

Eventually, that will include closing games, with Shildt adding: “There will be opportunities for Mason to take that role down at some point.”

Phillies

Andrew Painter is not being promoted because he lacks command and can’t get lefties out.

Tuesday was one of those nights. The RailRiders loaded up on lefties, playing eight against Painter. Southpaws are among his biggest problems; entering Tuesday, lefties batted .311 with an .881 OPS against him.

The pitches Painter trusts against lefties did not deliver. He could not locate his fastball, which spun arm-side up. The changeup, he thought, wasn’t competitive. The curveball was off.

Aaron Nola will start in the majors on August 17th or 18th.

Aaron Nola made another rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He’s scheduled to pitch again next Tuesday in Buffalo, N.Y., with the IronPigs. He will then join the Phillies in Washington. It puts him on track to return either Aug. 17 or 18.

The team is prioritizing defense and starting Edmundo Sosa more.

When possible, in recent games, Thomson has turned to Edmundo Sosa over Otto Kemp at third base. The manager said it’s to prioritize defense. On the infield, that has grown into a team strength this season.

Pirates

Dennis Santana is the team’s closer.

And when it comes to mapping out who will factor into the ninth moving forward, Santana is the guy right now.

“He’s going to get the bulk of the opportunities there,” Kelly said. “He’s earned that, the way that he’s thrown.”


Mining the News (7/18/25)

American League

Astros

Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia have advanced further in their rehab than J.P. France and Spencer Arrighetti.

During the team’s pregame radio show on Sunday, general manager Dana Brown said Javier is ahead of Garcia, but expressed hope that both pitchers would contribute in the second half.

France and Arrighetti are still in the live batting practice phase of their recoveries, a step behind Garcia and Javier.

It’s difficult — if not impossible — to envision any of the four pitchers returning before the July 31 trade deadline, putting Brown in a precarious position. Houston could use starting pitching help, but if their internal reinforcements are back at full strength, the need may be mitigated.

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Mining the News (7/11/25)

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Mining the News (6/29/25)

American League

Blue Jays

• No one has a clue when Anthony Santander will return.

OF/DH Anthony Santander (left shoulder inflammation)
ETA: ???

This is the mysterious one. Santander has still not started to hit at the Blue Jays’ complex in Dunedin, Fla., and until he does, there won’t be much of a timeline. It’s possible this stretches on closer to the Trade Deadline, but for now, the Blue Jays have to plan on life without Santander in the lineup.

An issue with Santander will be his playing time since he’s locked in as the DH. I’ve been holding him in some formats where I need power (and none is on the waiver wire), but it’s getting to the point I need to move on.

Orioles

Cade Povich could be activated next Monday.

Left-hander Cade Povich, who’s on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation, could be activated as soon as Monday, and Mansolino was optimistic about him.

“I think everything’s progressing,” Mansolino said. “We’re planning on starting him here soon on a rehab assignment, so that will pop up here soon. As long as all goes well, we’ll see him do that and from then, we’ll figure it out.”

Red Sox

• In AAA, Kristian Campbell will focus on playing first base.

Twins

Willi Castro has been dealing with a sore wrist at various times this season.

Willi Castro was a late scratch Sunday with a sore right wrist, one that could prevent him from playing in the next two or three games. Castro felt the soreness when he woke up Sunday morning, but noted it’s not the first time he’s experienced the issue.

Castro underwent an X-ray, which showed no fracture. The utility man previously experienced wrist soreness a season ago.

“I’ve had that pain before, but (Sunday) was the day that it got worse,” Castro said. “But I’ve played with that pain before, last year, this year. It’s nothing. The good thing is it’s nothing fractured or anything like that. They told me it’s probably (going to) swell. Probably 2-3 days I’ll be fine to go back in and play. … The good thing is nothing is broken. Just try to heal it.”

National League

Phillies

• The team is considering moving Otto Kemp to left field when Bryce Harper returns from the IL.

The Phillies seem intent on finding out whether Kemp is a viable option in left field. If so, that would provide a way for the team to keep him in the lineup even once Bryce Harper (right wrist inflammation) returns from the injured list.

In that scenario, Kemp and Max Kepler would form a platoon in left field, with Kemp starting against lefties and Kepler starting against righties. Kemp would essentially be filling the role previously held by Weston Wilson, who was optioned to Triple-A last week.

• Bryce Harper will play through wrist pain for the rest of the season.

The Phillies have been vague about Harper’s recovery from inflammation in his right wrist. They have not established any timetable for Harper’s return. They have not detailed his treatment for an injury that bothered him late last season. Harper was not with the team earlier this week during a four-game trip to Miami; the team said he’d travel but changed course because officials said Harper could do more work at Citizens Bank Park.

He is nearing a return — the biggest test will be how his wrist feels with increased swinging. Harper, who answered questions Friday for the first time in two weeks, clarified this: The pain in his wrist is not due to a structural issue. He’s met with various doctors who have assured him he would not need surgery — now or in the offseason — to fix it.

Harper is all but certain to play through some continued pain this season; the goal is to make it tolerable. Harper said the best treatment has been rest. He’s now comfortable with beginning more activities on the field.


Mining the News (6/12/25)

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American League

Mariners

Dominic Canzone will be part of the right field rotation.

Prior to the game, manager Dan Wilson noted that Canzone would be “in the mix” for at-bats as part of a right field rotation moving forward.

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