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It has been a rough week for sentimentality for Los Angeles Dodgers fans. First, longtime backup catcher Austin Barnes was designated for assignment Wednesday. Then Sunday, longtime utilityman Chris Taylor was released. Not key players, but the two were stalwarts on the Dodgers’ roster, Barnes since 2015 and Taylor since 2016, the latter coming over from the Seattle Mariners. Barnes had a slash line of .214/.233/.286, and Taylor .200/.200/.257. Barnes made way for top catching prospect Dalton Rushing, while Tommy Edman’s return from the injured list forced out Taylor. The theme of the moves was an urgency for the Dodgers, who are tied for the best record in the National League at 29-18 and are just one game ahead of the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants in the NL West.
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Today’s Headlines
Brewers Halt Twins’ Win Streak At 13
When this whole joyous trip started, the Minnesota Twins were wallowing. At 13-20 following games of May 2, they had the American League’s third-worst record. Funny what a 13-game winning streak will do to those fortunes. But no winning streak lasts forever, and the Twins’ baker’s dozen of consecutive victories came to an end with a 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. That was the longest winning streak in the early stages of this MLB season and the longest since 2023. Right-handed starter Freddy Peralta allowed just three hits over five innings, and center fielder Jackson Chourio robbed a potential game-tying home run by Royce Lewis in the eighth inning. Isaac Collins and Sal Frelick each drove in a pair of runs for the Brewers, who avoided a three-game sweep. Frelick’s RBI single in the second off Zebby Matthews snapped the Twins’ 35-inning scoreless streak, the longest in the Minnesota history of the franchise. The Twins’ winning ways put them in second place in the AL Central and the fourth-best record in the AL.
Phillies’ Alvarado Suspended 80 Games For PED Use
The Philadelphia Phillies‘ shaky bullpen was dealt a huge blow when left-handed reliever José Alvarado was suspended 80 games after testing positive for exogenous testosterone. Alvarado will be eligible to return just after the All-Star break, but will not be able to participate in the postseason due to the PED suspension. Alvarado has been a stalwart of the Phillies’ bullpen, posting a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings and seven saves in seven opportunities. Now, the Phillies are in need of shoring up the back end of the ‘pen, likely through an external move. The Phillies rank 23rd in MLB in bullpen ERA at 4.57. The team ERA is 3.77.
Phils’ Abel Outshines Skenes In Debut
Mick Abel got the call of a lifetime when he was promoted to make his MLB debut for the Phillies against the Pittsburgh Pirates. But the right-handed starter, the Phillies’ No. 8 prospect per MLB Pipeline, had to sink just a little bit when he saw he was matched up with Pirates phenom Paul Skenes. All Abel did was strike out nine, tying a club record for a debut, as the Phillies beat the Pirates 1-0. Abel allowed five hits and didn’t walk anyone. His nine K’s tied Curt Simmons‘ effort in 1947. Abel became the third person in MLB history to pitch six shutout innings and strike out nine in a debut, joining the Pirates’ Nick Kingham (2018) and the Chicago Cubs‘ Shota Imanaga (2024). The game’s only run came in the fifth inning when Brandon Marsh grounded to shortstop, scoring Nick Castellanos. Skenes was too shabby, either, notching his first career complete game, allowing three hits, while walking one and striking out nine in eight innings.
Angels Sweep Dodgers
Travis d’Arnaud grew up in Long Beach as a fan of the Los Angeles Angels, which is one of the reasons why he chose to sign with his childhood team this offseason via free agency. And as he approaches the twilight of his career, he knows his moments in the limelight will be few and far between. But d’Arnaud got one of those moments in the final of the Freeway Series as he hit the go-ahead homer as the Angels swept three games from the Dodgers. Zach Neto and Taylor Ward also homered, but it was d’Arnaud’s first blast of the year that snapped a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning. That came just a half-inning after Will Smith tied it for the Dodgers with a three-run homer. The Angels’ three-game sweep of the Dodgers was their first since 2010.
Woo Leads Mariners To Vedder Cup Sweep
The first official series of the Vedder Cup is in the books, and the grunge city came out on top. Behind right-hander Bryan Woo’s strong seven innings, the Seattle Mariners beat the San Diego Padres to take all three games this weekend. Woo allowed five hits and one run, walking none and striking out five to improve to 5-1. Six Mariners drove in runs, including Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez in the top of the ninth. This series was the opener of a 10-game road trip for the Mariners, who now travel to the Chicago White Sox for three games before finishing with four against the Houston Astros.
Bellinger Slams Door On Mets
Could Cody Bellinger be on the verge of a breakout with the New York Yankees? The outfielder, who had just four multi-RBI games since the start of April, drove in six, including a grand slam, as the Yankees topped the New York Mets 8-2 in the Subway Series. The Yankees took two of three in a battle of the teams that entered the weekend with the second-best records in their respective leagues. Bellinger had a two-run double in the first inning, then hit his ninth career grand slam in the eighth inning. The game was tied 2-2 when the Yankees erupted for six runs and scored, getting the go-ahead run when Mets first baseman Pete Alonso threw home wildly following Jorbit Vivas‘ grounder, allowing Jasson Domínguez to score. Paul Goldschmidt singled home another run, setting the stage for Bellinger’s blast.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Immaculate Quantrill
For the first time in 2025, we have an immaculate inning. That was turned in by Miami Marlins right-handed starter Cal Quantrill, who struck out Jonathan Aranda, Christopher Morel, and Kameron Misner on just nine pitches in the fourth inning.
Baddoo Flashes Leather Twice
Akil Baddoo used to be an everyday player for the Detroit Tigers. But as the talent improved on the MLB roster, he was pushed down the ladder. He opened this season at Triple-A before being recalled this week. In his first start in left field of 2025, he showed he can play a little defense, turning in two gems of catches in the same inning, then doubling off Bo Bichette at second base following the second one to have a hand in all three outs of the first inning.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ One day after firing manager Brandon Hyde, the Baltimore Orioles designated right-handed starter Kyle Gibson for assignment and placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list due to a left shoulder impingement. Right-hander Kade Strowd and outfielder Dylan Carlson were promoted from Triple-A, with Strowd making his MLB debut vs. the Washington Nationals. It is the second IL stint for O’Neill, who missed two weeks with neck inflammation. Gibson lasted just two-thirds of an inning in Saturday’s 10-6 loss to the Nationals, allowing six runs and seeing his ERA balloon to 16.36 in 12.1 innings.
⚾ Houston Astros right-handed starter Hayden Wesneski will have Tommy John surgery and won’t be expected back until at least the trade deadline in 2026. Wesneski was one of the pieces acquired in the Kyle Tucker trade with the Chicago Cubs.
⚾ The Texas Rangers signed two-way South Korean high schooler Seong-Jun Kim as an international free agent. Kim is a shortstop and right-handed pitcher who will graduate from high school in January, at which point he will join the Rangers.
⚾ Rangers outfielder Evan Carter was put on the 10-day IL due to a strained right quad. Outfielder Kevin Pillar was activated from the IL after having an inflamed lower back.
⚾ Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed reliever Kirby Yates was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained right hamstring. The Dodgers called up right-handed reliever Lou Trivino from Triple-A. Trivino was recently DFA’d by the San Francisco Giants and signed a minor-league deal with the Dodgers.
⚾ Miami Marlins shortstop Xavier Edwards went on the 10-day IL with a strained middle back. Infielder Otto Lopez came off the IL following his sprained ankle.
⚾ The Brewers optioned right-handed starter Tobias Myers to Triple-A and called up right-handed reliever Easton McGee.
⚾ The Twins called up right-handed starter Zebby Matthews and outfielder Carson McCusker from Triple-A. Left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe went on the 15-day IL with a strained extensor muscle in his left forearm. McCusker made his MLB debut by pinch-hitting vs. the Brewers.
⚾ Veteran second baseman Kolten Wong announced that he was retiring at age 34. Wong hasn’t played since 2023, when he split time with the Mariners and Dodgers.
Articles You Should Read
Hyde’s firing shifts all the heat to Elias, he must be bolder — Kyle Goon, Baltimore Banner
Royals promote top prospect Caglianone to Triple-A — Keith Law and Melissa Lockard, The Athletic
White Sox make Cubs look great by self-destructing in City Series — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune
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