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Got to attend last night’s Yankees game with my brother, which means we got to continue to indulge in unabashed Knicks-ery, as Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart threw out the first pitch(es):
I think it’s the earliest I’ve gotten into the park since we intentionally showed up with plenty of time in order to visit Monument Park. It was a great day overall as the Yankees poured it on offensively yet again and the pitching was…good enough. Pretty good, really.
But enough homerism, let’s get into it.
Today’s Headlines
Corbin Knocks In Four, E-Rod Wins 100
It was a big day for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday as they hosted the Angels for the rubber game of their three-game set. The Angels got on the board first, scoring a run in the top of the first inning thanks to a Zach Neto solo shot off of the fifth pitch of the game:
picking up right where he left off 💪
⭐️: https://t.co/rxsD40BvNq pic.twitter.com/6H2ZzH2ngV
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) June 17, 2026
I really appreciate the veteran move from Eduardo Rodriguez to just casually reach down immediately to fix something on the mound rather than watch the ball fly. Mike Trout followed the homer up with a single, but E-Rod got a fly ball and a double play to escape without any further damage.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Snakes decided it was their time to strike. Ildemaro Vargas led off with a walk, although it was followed up by two flyouts that left him unable to advance. But then came Tommy Troy to hit his first MLB triple:
Tommy Triples pic.twitter.com/Btxlbwfp4Y
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 17, 2026
Tie game, but hey, there are two outs, right? Well, yeah, you are right, but it didn’t matter. Following the triple, Ketel Marte was hit by a pitch and Geraldo Perdomo walked to load the bases. Enter Corbin Carroll. Exit baseball.
HELLO?!?! HE SHOULD BE AN ALL-STAR.
⭐️: https://t.co/4SLoL8HfgQ pic.twitter.com/MqiejxumWY
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 17, 2026
Carroll’s now hitting .275/.364/.540 (147 wRC+) with 13 home runs and nine stolen bases. Not bad, not bad. The grand slam was followed by a Gabriel Moreno double, but Nolan Arenado flew out to finally end the inning. The Diamondbacks batted around and were only a single shy of a team cycle. That seems kinda rare, you’d think in that situation a single would be easy to come by. Arizona added another run in the third and two more in the fifth on the way to an 8-1 win. But it wasn’t just any ol’ win, it was the 100th career win for Eduardo Rodriguez, who is rocking a 2.45 ERA and a 6-2 record so far this year.
Eduardo is the moment. pic.twitter.com/Sv4qUYlePU
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 17, 2026
It wasn’t one of those weird kinda phoned in wins when a pitcher’s team puts him up a lot early, either: 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, and 5 K. Not bad for a Questionable Start!
Lambert Chops
Peter Lambert has been a bright spot for the most part in a rather dismal pitching staff down in Houston, starting ten games so far with a 3.23 ERA as of the end of yesterday’s game.
Have a day Peter!#ChaseTheFight pic.twitter.com/DSa83X8Po2
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 17, 2026
Lambert deftly navigated the Tigers’ lineup, only giving up his one run (a solo shot from Kerry Carpenter) in the seventh inning. He only had 89 pitches at the end of that inning, and it looked like it might be his first time pitching more than seven innings this season, but alas it was not to be. Wednesday’s game also featured another step on the road to full recovery for Josh Hader, as he pitched back-to-back days for the first time since returning from the IL. His first pitch of the ninth inning was a home run courtesy of Kevin McGonigle, but it was not a portent as Hader proceeded to strike out the next three batters on only 14 pitches. Hader has pitched seven total innings since coming off the IL and that marked his first earned run.
Both Tigers runs in the 4-2 Houston victory came on home runs into the Crawford Boxes, with Carpenter’s being a 1/30 occurrence and KPMG’s a 2/30 (the other park being Fenway.)
Ding Dong, Homer Clock’s Gone
MLB has announced a big change to this year’s Home Run Derby: no more time limit!
News: the Home Run Derby is ditching the clock. MLB is using a "swings" system in this year's derby.1st round: 20 swings2nd and 3rd: 15 hacks.On your last pitch each round, swing til you don't go deep.(Deleted original post which called it an "outs" system.)www.nytimes.com/athletic/737…
— Evan Drellich (@evandrellich.bsky.social) 2026-06-18T01:51:48.203Z
This isn’t really a new system, as it’s more of a return to the previous system before they switched to the timed rounds. I really enjoyed seeing two homers in the air during the clock era as guys frantically tried to run their numbers up (even though I think technically it was against the rules to hit when the ball was still in the air?) but I do think the clock system might have caused guys to overexert themselves in the early rounds, which could end up with some disappointing finishes. Not that the swings method is better, as it could lead to single-digit totals overall. I guess we’ll have to see how things shake out.
By The Numbers
8 Home runs this month so far for Hunter Goodman, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jackson Chourio, and Nick Kurtz.
21 straight games with a hit for Zack Gelof. He’s doing this because I said he wasn’t showing us much in the AMA the other week.
140 games is how long it took Colson Montgomery to hit 40 MLB home runs, setting a White Sox franchise record.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Out Of Position Is A State Of Mind
The Dodgers kept Shohei Ohtani out of the lineup yesterday due to some lingering knee issues he’s been having, and they wanted him to be able to focus just on pitching. But once his six innings on the slab were through (he gave up four runs, all earned, which is a terrible outing by Ohtani standards) he pinch hit for DH Miguel Rojas, which means the Dodgers were sans DH or the remaining three innings.
As you can see, none of the non-Shohei pitchers actually got to (had to?) hit, as Max Muncy stepped in to pinch hit when their spot came back around in the order. But you don’t see that type of thing much anymore even just in the box score.
Things didn’t only get a little weird in LA, though, as Atlanta did…all of this:
That’s all mostly normal utility work except for the Matt Olson to RF bit. He hasn’t played the outfield since 2017, when the A’s had him out there for 91 innings over the course of 12 games. He graded out with 0 OAA and 3 DRS out there, although he did somehow initiate a double play?! If anybody finds that video, let me know.
Ol’ Cannon Carrigg
I assume that’s what they all call Cole Carrigg out in Colorado after unleashing this incredible throw to nab Ian Happ:
I wonder if that’s what Olson did back in 2017…
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Maikel Garcia is continuing to deal with an issue causing pain in his hand that only occurs when he makes poor contact on batted balls. He’s still officially DTD but if I were him I would simply barrel up every single pitch.
⚾ Atlanta will be without Ronald Acuña Jr. for an extended period, as he is a “long way” away from any sort of return window. His current strain is in the same spot as the one that cost him three weeks earlier this season, and they’re not taking any chances.
⚾ Spencer Strider was moved to the 60-day IL, although that is purely a paperwork move as he was not expected back prior to late August anyway.
⚾ The Guardians have officially placed Chase DeLauter on the IL due to a rib fracture. The diagnosis is not new, but he was previously listed as DTD and I am not surprised it was upgraded to a full stint.
⚾ Julio Rodríguez left last night’s game due to a hamstring spasm and is currently listed as DTD. It’s all hamstrings and hamates this year!
⚾ Struggling rookie pitcher Andrew Painter has been optioned to AAA by the Phillies.
Articles You Should Read
We Should Account For Inherited Runners Better – Ben Clemens, FanGraphs
Throwing Uphill – Carlos Marcano, Baseball Prospectus (sub req’d)
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
