The New York Mets are bringing back left-handed starter Sean Manaea on a three-year, $75-million ...

<p>The New York Mets are bringing back left-handed starter <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4239" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4239">Sean Manaea</a> on a three-year, $75-million contract, <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1871084494184460421">Jeff Passan of ESPN</a> reports.</p><p>Manaea's deal contains $23.25 million in deferred money, a source told <a href="https://x.com/WillSammon/status/1871220042945150993">Will Sammon of The Athletic</a>. The deferrals will be paid out annually in equal amounts over 10 years beginning in 2035.</p><p>The 32-year-old authored a 3.47 ERA and 3.83 FIP over 181 2/3 innings last year while making 32 starts and garnering down-ballot Cy Young consideration.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Manaea originally joined the Mets on a two-year, $28-million contract last winter. He exercised an opt-out at the beginning of this offseason that cut the deal short.</p><p>New York then tendered him a $21.05-million qualifying offer, which was also declined. As a result, if Manaea signed elsewhere, the Mets would've recouped draft-pick compensation.</p><p>Manaea owns a 4.00 ERA and 4.01 FIP over his nine-year career, making 198 starts and 30 relief appearances. He broke into MLB with the Oakland Athletics and has also had one-year stints with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 20: Sean Manaea #59 of the New York Mets pitches during Game 6 of the NLCS presented by loanDepot between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, October 20, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

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Report: Mets re-sign Manaea to 3-year, $75M deal

Who's the best pitcher in baseball right now?   The pitcher you'd trust above all in a must-win g...

<p>Who's the best pitcher in baseball right now? </p><p>The pitcher you'd trust above all in a must-win game.</p><p>Zack Wheeler? He finished second in NL Cy Young voting for the second time in his career Wednesday, and leads the league in fWAR over the past four seasons. Chris Sale's an option after finally winning his first Cy Young, capping his incredible late-career resurgence. Tarik Skubal? He won pitching's Triple Crown and is now a Cy winner, too. Or maybe you're a Paul Skenes person.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>What's not up for debate: none of today's active top hurlers are surefire Hall of Famers, which is both surprising and largely unprecedented in baseball history. Baseball's aces are going extinct.</p><p>So, what's happening?</p><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/756199/cropped_GettyImages-2178623418.jpg?ts=1732029363" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/756199/w220xh124_GettyImages-2178623418.jpg?ts=1732029363 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/756199/w320xh180_GettyImages-2178623418.jpg?ts=1732029363 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/756199/w640xh360_GettyImages-2178623418.jpg?ts=1732029363 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/756199/w768xh432_GettyImages-2178623418.jpg?ts=1732029363 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/756199/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2178623418.jpg?ts=1732029363 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Heather Barry / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p>In short: Teams are simultaneously asking less and more of starting pitchers than ever.</p><p>Less in terms of workload. Cleveland pulled Tanner Bibee from Game 2 of the ALCS after he recorded only four outs, and he was essentially the Guardians' only effective starting pitcher at the time. The move wasn't even that controversial when it was made.</p><p>But teams are asking more in terms of pitchers needing to optimize each offering every time they wind up, thinking of spin rate, vertical and horizontal break, tunnelling, and whatever other buzzwords are going around that we don't even know about yet. All while working against an actual pitch timer that wasn't part of any phase of their development. Oh, and if you can throw 100 mph while doing all of that, even better.</p><p>The average innings thrown by a starter in any given game has been trending down for years:</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Average IP per start" aria-label="Interactive line chart" id="datawrapper-chart-GzvtM" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/GzvtM/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="414" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>There's been some variance the last few seasons - perhaps related to pitchers still recovering from the shortened 2020 COVID campaign - but a starter's now recording two fewer outs on average every time he takes the mound compared to a decade ago.</p><p>This means two things for the future: The definition of true "ace" will have to change, and the bar for Hall of Fame acceptance for a starting pitcher will need to be lowered. (Sale's remarkable career <em>maybe</em> puts him into HOF contention; he'll be a fascinating test case for a contemporary starter when he becomes Cooperstown-eligible.)</p><p>Here's a list of baseball's top starters going back to 1990, in rolling four-year fWAR windows, featuring four HOFers and one who has the numbers but is being kept out (Roger Clemens): </p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="SP WAR leader in 4-year windows" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-N1J0F" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/N1J0F/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="1012" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>We have to account for Johan Santana, who I'd argue should be in the Hall, and who I believe will eventually get there. That's not truly fair, though, as he's unequivocally an outlier in this group as one of five pitchers listed at least three times who either isn't enshrined or isn't currently considered a first-ballot guarantee once eligible. That's staggering and shows how far Santana fell after his world-beating crescendo.</p><p>The list could keep going, but you get the idea. Once you get past Greg Maddux's run in the 1990s, you get a few years of Clemens, whose steroid use is keeping him from enshrinement. There were a couple of interesting cases in the early 1980s in Dwight Gooden and Fernando Valenzuela, who had unbelievable early peaks but couldn't manage the longevity required of their era. Since them, though, it's been a consistent truth: if you were in the conversation for best pitcher in baseball at any point during the 30 years between 1990 and 2019, you were bound for Cooperstown.</p><p>That no longer appears to be the case, and it's one of the consequences of the post-ace era. While we enjoy whatever's left of the magical HOF careers of Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander, we simultaneously acknowledge that bullpen games are the new normal. Even in the World Series, and even when baseball's two richest teams play in the Fall Classic.</p><p>Now, Cooperstown isn't going to stop admitting starting pitchers because of any of this. A HOF resume isn't a static idea; it evolves. Fans will have to adjust their sights, too. Gerrit Cole's likely heading to the Hall, for one. Beyond him, the squinting turns more into closing your eyes entirely in order to imagine what Aaron Nola, Corbin Burnes, Logan Webb, or Walker Buehler (to name a few) would have to accomplish in order for them to get there. And then there's Shane McClanahan and Spencer Strider, too, at the beginning of their promising careers and scheduled to return to the mound next season after Tommy John surgeries.</p><p>The goalposts will need to be adjusted moving forward. Once Wheeler's career ends and we wait the requisite five years for him to be on the ballot, the bar <em>will</em> be lower and his case will likely appear much more solid. We'll likely look back and laugh at the implication he wasn't headed to Cooperstown.</p><p>Baseball's changed monumentally from a generation ago. There was always a chance the golden era of starting pitching fans recently witnessed - prime Kershaw, Scherzer, and Verlander, all dominating at the same time - would be fleeting. But its actual end feels more dire than what could've been imagined.</p>

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Where did all the aces go?

Lando Norris clinched pole position in a rainy, chaotic qualifying session Sunday morning in Sao ...

<p>Lando Norris clinched pole position in a rainy, chaotic qualifying session Sunday morning in Sao Paulo ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix.</p><p>The session was delayed by one day due to heavy rain following Saturday's sprint race, which Norris also won.</p><p>"There was a lot going on," Norris said after qualifying, according to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/clyg165v3nxo">Andrew Benson of BBC Sport</a>. "I was struggling a lot at the start of the session, I worked on it a lot in the session. A little surprised to be on pole but a good result for us."</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Championship leader Max Verstappen was controversially unable to complete a final lap during the second qualifying session due to a red flag caused by a Lance Stroll crash. As a result, Verstappen will start Sunday's race from P17 after qualifying 12th and serving a five-place grid penalty.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Brazilian GP Qualifying 🇧🇷" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-X8FPh" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/X8FPh/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="1091" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><p>After Stroll crashed during Q2, a yellow flag indicator began at approximately 1:37. It wasn't upgraded to a red flag until there was 0:47 remaining in the session, effectively ending Q2. Numerous cars were able to complete their final laps in the time between the yellow and red. Verstappen was not among them.</p><p>"I find it unbelievable," Verstappen said. "The car goes into the wall, broken. It's clearly destroyed, but they wait 30, 40 seconds, and the others can complete their lap times, and of course the ones behind cannot. ... It's so stupid to talk about. It's ridiculous."</p><p>Red Bull team principal Christian Horner <a href="https://x.com/F1GuyDan/status/1853051184182952153">added</a>: "We don't understand why it took so long for the red flag to come out. It's the second day in a row that we've had very late calls whether it was the virtual safety car yesterday or the red flag today. The other red flags were all instantaneous."</p><p>Meanwhile, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who won the last F1 race in Mexico, will start from the pit lane after changing a power unit and gearbox due to a crash, per <a href="https://x.com/andrewbensonf1/status/1853079779261501937">Benson</a>.</p><p>Williams driver Alex Albon won't take part in the race after finishing seventh during the session because his car sustained too much damage when he hit a wall, according to <a href="https://x.com/andrewbensonf1/status/1853082019107856541">Benson</a>. Teammate Franco Colapinto, who was also involved in a wreck, will take part in Sunday's main event.</p><p>The race is slated to start at 10:30 a.m. ET.</p>

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 3: Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren waves to the fans in parc ferme during the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 3, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Norris claims pole in chaotic Sao Paulo qualifying; Verstappen starts 17th

Ha-Seong Kim will become a free agent after declining his mutual option with the San Diego Padres...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12593" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12593">Ha-Seong Kim</a> will become a free agent after declining his mutual option with the San Diego Padres, according to <a href="https://x.com/dennistlin/status/1852745905969184825">Dennis Lin of The Athletic</a>.</p><p>The 2025 option was reportedly worth $7 million.</p><p>Kim, 29, originally signed a four-year, $28-million contract before the 2021 campaign coming out of Korea. The mutual option would've pushed the deal to a five-year, $35-million pact.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Kim hit .242/.326/.380 with 47 homers and 78 stolen bases in 540 career games over four years with San Diego. He won a Gold Glove as a utility man in 2023 and earned down-ballot MVP consideration.</p><p>He posted a .700 OPS (96 OPS+) with 11 home runs and 22 steals in 121 games this past campaign before requiring season-ending shoulder surgery in late September. He played only shortstop in 2024 after moving around the diamond in previous seasons.</p><p>He'll become one of the most sought-after shortstops on the open market this winter alongside <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///wbc/players/4784" href="https://thescore.com/wbc/players/4784">Willy Adames</a>.</p>

DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 16: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the San Diego Padres throws to first base for an out in the seventh inning during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 16, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.

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Report: Ha-Seong Kim declines option with Padres, elects free agency

Cody Bellinger exercised his $27.5-million player option to remain with the Chicago Cubs, sources...

<p><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4899" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4899">Cody Bellinger</a> exercised his $27.5-million player option to remain with the Chicago Cubs, sources told <a href="https://x.com/kileymcd/status/1852749623636439048">ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan</a>.</p><p>Bellinger, 29, signed a three-year, $80-million deal with the Cubs last offseason and can opt out next winter as well. His option for 2026 is reportedly worth $25 million.</p><p>The 2019 NL MVP hit .266/.325/.426 over 130 games this season with 18 homers and nine stolen bases.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He's heading into his third season with the Cubs after originally joining the club on a one-year, $17.5-million deal in 2023. He earned a Silver Slugger award and down-ballot MVP votes that season.</p><p>The two-time All-Star possesses a 120 OPS+ over his eight-year career, hitting 196 homers and stealing 91 bases over 1,005 contests.</p>

DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 15: Cody Bellinger #24 of the Chicago Cubs runs before scoring a run in the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 15, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.

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Report: Cubs' Bellinger exercises $27.5M option

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty experienced a drop in velocity during his last sta...

<p>Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5646" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5646">Jack Flaherty</a> experienced a drop in velocity during his last start, and his team noticed.</p><p>"Obviously everybody knows - the more velocity the better, usually - unless you're going way below hitting speed," pitching coach Mark Prior said Thursday, according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41989757/dodgers-jack-flaherty-attributes-velocity-dip-timing-issue">ESPN's Alden Gonzalez</a>. "Concern, yeah, because obviously he was pitching on regular rest and it was a little bit down. Can he pitch with it? Yeah. ... I feel pretty confident that he can get back to where he was the other time."</p><p>While Prior acknowledged he's "moderately concerned" by the dip in pitch speed, he also stated the issue is not injury-related.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Flaherty attributed the issue to a timing problem in his delivery that he's working on correcting. In Game 5 of the NLCS, his average velocity plummeted to 91.4 mph.</p><p>Flaherty, 29, has been the Dodgers de facto ace since he was acquired from the Detroit Tigers ahead of the trade deadline. He posted a 3.58 ERA and 4.16 FIP over 55 1/3 innings while making 10 starts down the stretch. But he was hit around a bit in three postseason starts, allowing 12 earned runs on 15 hits and seven walks while striking out eight over 15 1/3 innings.</p><p>Flaherty is slated to start Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on Friday. He'll go up against <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2913" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2913">Gerrit Cole</a>.</p>

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Jack Flaherty #0 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up during batting practice on workout day ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

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Dodgers 'moderately concerned' by Flaherty's velocity drop

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is out indefinitely after sustaining a fractured left ...

<p>New Orleans Pelicans guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/46143" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/46143">Dejounte Murray</a> is out indefinitely after sustaining a fractured left hand during Wednesday's season-opening win over the Chicago Bulls, the team announced Thursday.</p><p>Murray tallied 14 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds during his 29 minutes of action against the Bulls.</p><p>The 28-year-old made his Pelicans debut after arriving in a trade from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/11516" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/11516">Larry Nance Jr.</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102785" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102785">Dyson Daniels</a>, and two first-round picks.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Washington product spent the last two seasons with the Hawks. He averaged 22.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.3 rebounds for Atlanta during the 2023-24 campaign.</p><p>The Pelicans were also missing star forward <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/69536" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/69536">Zion Williamson</a> on Wednesday due to illness.</p><p>New Orleans is scheduled to play two consecutive games in Portland against the Trail Blazers on Friday and Sunday.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 13: Dejounte Murray #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on against the Miami Heat during a preseason game at Kaseya Center on October 13, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

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Pelicans' Murray out indefinitely after fracturing hand

The New York Mets named Kodai Senga as their Game 1 starter against the Los Angeles Dodgers in th...

<p>The New York Mets named <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15438" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15438">Kodai Senga</a> as their Game 1 starter against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.</p><p>Senga, 31, missed most of the campaign due to right triceps tightness. His only appearance during the regular season came in late July. After allowing two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out nine over 5 1/3 innings, he exited the game with a calf strain and missed the remainder of the season.</p><p>The former All-Star returned to start Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. He allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out three over two frames in the win.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Left-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4239" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4239">Sean Manaea</a> is scheduled to pitch Game 2.</p><p>The Dodgers announced Jack Flaherty will start Game 1 but have not yet revealed a Game 2 starter.</p><p>Games 1 and 2 will be played at Dodger Stadium, with the series kicking off on Sunday.</p>

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 05: Kodai Senga #34 of the New York Mets throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of Game One of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 05, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Mets tab Senga for Game 1 of NLCS vs. Dodgers

San Diego Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove will miss the National League Division Series against ...

<p>San Diego Padres right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5369" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5369">Joe Musgrove</a> will miss the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, manager Mike Shildt said Friday.</p><p>Musgrove, 31, exited Wednesday's Game 2 of the wild-card series against the Atlanta Braves with elbow tightness. At the time of his exit, the former All-Star had allowed one run on one hit while striking out four over 3 2/3 innings.</p><p>The righty posted a 3.88 ERA and 3.96 FIP over 99 2/3 innings during the regular season and made 19 starts.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>He will still be eligible to return for the NLCS if the Padres advance.</p><p>The Padres already tabbed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8145" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8145">Dylan Cease</a> as their Game 1 starter against the division rival, with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2901" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2901">Yu Darvish</a> scheduled to take the ball for Game 2.</p>

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 02: Joe Musgrove #44 of the San Diego Padres leaves the game against the Atlanta Braves during the fourth inning in Game Two of the Wild Card Series at Petco Park on October 02, 2024 in San Diego, California.

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Padres' Musgrove out for NLDS

The Miami Marlins announced Sunday that Skip Schumaker won't return as manager in 2025.  "After s...

<p>The Miami Marlins announced Sunday that Skip Schumaker won't return as manager in 2025.</p><p>"After several constructive conversations with Skip, (president of baseball operations Peter Bendix), and ownership, we have mutually agreed to part ways, and Skip will not be returning to manage the club next year," Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman <a href="https://twitter.com/Marlins/status/1840542115706638633">said</a>. "The Marlins will immediately begin the process of searching for the next leader to serve as our field manager."</p><p>Schumaker told Marlins players Friday that he wouldn't be returning next year, sources told <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41484762/sources-marlins-skip-schumaker-return-manager-25">Jeff Passan of ESPN</a>. The 2023 NL Manager of the Year missed the final two games of the season due to a family issue.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"It has been a tremendous honor serving as manager of the Miami Marlins. ... I am grateful to Bruce Sherman, as well as the entire Marlins organization and the fans for their support during my time in Miami, and I'll always cherish our 2023 playoff season," Schumaker said.</p><p>Schumaker will be highly sought after as a free agent and continues to be well regarded despite the Marlins' 62-100 record amid another rebuilding season, according to Passan.</p><p>The Marlins originally had a team option on Schumaker's contract for 2025. However, the 44-year-old had his deal restructured and the option removed when Kim Ng resigned from her post as general manager after Miami wanted to hire a president of baseball operations above her.</p><p>Schumaker collected a 146-178 record over his two years with the Marlins. He won Manager of the Year as a rookie after guiding the club to a surprise playoff berth last season. However, they were swept in the wild-card round.</p><p>The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox are the only teams heading into the offseason without full-time managers.</p>

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 03: Skip Schumaker #45 of the Miami Marlins looks on during the second inning of the game against the Washington Nationals at loanDepot park on September 03, 2024 in Miami, Florida.

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Marlins announce Schumaker won't return as manager

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is active for Sunday's game against the New Englan...

<p>San Francisco 49ers wide receiver <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/87611" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/87611">Deebo Samuel</a> is active for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, the team announced.</p><p>After the team's Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Samuel would miss "a couple weeks" with a calf strain. However, the injury will only sideline the 28-year-old for one contest. </p><p>Before he got hurt, the former All-Pro racked up 177 yards from scrimmage with one touchdown in the first two games of the campaign.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Samuel didn't play in the 49ers' 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3.</p><p>The six-year veteran impressed last season, playing 15 games with 892 receiving yards, 225 rushing yards, and 12 touchdowns.</p><p>The Niners are 1-2 heading into Week 4 and are still missing three-time Pro Bowler <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/85079" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/85079">Christian McCaffrey</a>.</p>

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 20: Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates as he runs onto the field during player introductions before an NFC divisional round playoff football game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on January 20, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.

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Deebo to play vs. Patriots

The New York Mets called up Luisangel Acuña, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar Rona...

<p>The New York Mets called up <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12167" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12167">Luisangel Acuña</a>, the younger brother of Atlanta Braves superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8292" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8292">Ronald Acuña Jr.</a>, the team announced Saturday.</p><p>He'll make his major-league debut against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, hitting ninth and playing shortstop.</p><p>Acuña is the 12th-ranked prospect in the Mets' farm system. The 22-year-old has been stationed at Triple-A Syracuse for the 2024 season, hitting .258/.299/.355 with seven homers and 14 steals over 131 games while playing shortstop, center field, and second base.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The Mets acquired Acuña at last year's trade deadline in the blockbuster deal that sent right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/633" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/633">Max Scherzer</a> to the Texas Rangers.</p><p>New York had planned to call Acuña up before <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2909" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2909">Francisco Lindor</a> exited Friday night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies due to back soreness, according to <a href="https://x.com/NYPost_Mets/status/1834915109002424361">Mike Puma of the New York Post</a>.</p><p>In a corresponding move, the Mets optioned outfielder DJ Stewart to Triple-A.</p><p>The Mets continue their three-game set in Philadelphia on Saturday. They're 81-66, seven games back of the Phillies for the division lead and holding a one-game lead over the Braves for the final NL wild-card spot.</p>

West Palm Beach, FL.: New York Mets second baseman Luisangel Acuna throwing a baseball during a spring training game against the Washington Nationals, on February 26, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

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Mets call up Luisangel Acuña

The Texas Rangers are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Kumar Rocker, the team announced ...

<p>The Texas Rangers are calling up right-handed pitching prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15735" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15735">Kumar Rocker</a>, the team announced Monday.</p><p>He will start and make his major-league debut Thursday against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">On Thursday, we Rock. <a href="https://t.co/DmTSivC4Hi">pic.twitter.com/DmTSivC4Hi</a></p>— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rangers/status/1833233944327897550?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>Rocker, 24, is the No. 97 prospect in baseball while ranking second in Texas' system, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/prospects/rangers/">MLB Pipeline</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The former first-round pick owns a 1.96 ERA and 0.79 WHIP over 36 2/3 innings across three minor-league levels in 2024 after returning from Tommy John surgery. He was most recently stationed at Triple-A Round Rock where he allowed two runs over two starts, striking out 18 and walking one.</p><p>Drafted 10th overall by the New York Mets in 2021, Rocker made headlines when the team ultimately didn't sign him, and he re-entered the draft the following year. After playing in the independent Frontier League, Rocker was drafted third overall by the Rangers in 2022.</p>

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 25, 2023: Kumar Rocker #80 of the Texas Rangers throws a pitch during a minor league spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium on March 25, 2023 in Surprise, Arizona.

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Rangers' Rocker to make MLB debut Thursday vs. Mariners

The Boston Red Sox designated corner infielder Bobby Dalbec for assignment Sunday.  Dalbec has st...

<p>The Boston Red Sox designated corner infielder Bobby Dalbec for assignment Sunday.</p><p>Dalbec has struggled this season, with the former highly touted prospect hitting .133/.217/.193 with one homer and three stolen bases over 37 MLB games while primarily playing first base.</p><p>"If you look at the swing-and-miss percentages, he's up there," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, according to <a href="https://x.com/SmittyOnMLB/status/1832806298519237107">MassLive's Christopher Smith</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"He's still a good player. Good defender. Has some pop. He's a good athlete. So we'll (see) what happens in the upcoming days, and then we'll know more."</p><p>The 29-year-old has been with Triple-A Worcester since late June after being optioned to the minors.</p><p>Over parts of five seasons in the majors, Dalbec has posted a .714 OPS with 47 homers and nine steals over 331 contests. He enjoyed a promising start to his MLB career, hitting .243/.308/.511 with 33 dingers in his first 156 games through his sophomore campaign.</p><p>Boston's latest move clears a spot on the 40-man roster to select right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts. Boston also optioned righty Chase Shugart.</p><p>Fitts owns a 4.17 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 116 2/3 innings while making 23 starts and one relief appearance for Triple-A Worcester this year.</p><p>The Red Sox acquired the 24-year-old pitcher from the New York Yankees before the 2024 season in the <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5637" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5637">Alex Verdugo</a> trade.</p>

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 21: Bobby Dalbec #29 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 21, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated Boston 5-2.

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Red Sox DFA Bobby Dalbec

The Chicago White Sox dismissed manager Pedro Grifol and named Grady Sizemore as his interim repl...

<p>The Chicago White Sox dismissed manager Pedro Grifol and named Grady Sizemore as his interim replacement, the team announced Thursday.</p><p>The White Sox also fired bench coach Charlie Montoyo, third base coach Eddie Rodriguez, and assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar.</p><p>Chicago is 28-89 on the season and snapped a 21-game losing streak Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics. However, the club lost again Wednesday in the series finale versus the A's.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>"As we all recognize, our team's performance this season has been disappointing on many levels," general manager Chris Getz said in a statement. "Despite the on-field struggles and lack of success, we appreciate the effort and professionalism Pedro and the staff brought to the ballpark every day. These two seasons have been challenging. Unfortunately, the results were not there, and a change is necessary as we look to our future and the development of a new energy around the team."</p><p>Grifol was in his second season at the helm of the White Sox. He led the team to a dismal 61-101 record in his first campaign.</p><p>He accumulated an 89-190 record as Chicago's skipper.</p><p>"Grateful to Jerry (Reinsdorf), Rick (Hahn), and Kenny (Williams) for the opportunity," Grifol told <a href="https://x.com/CST_soxvan/status/1821565619650670992">Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times</a>. "I have health and a loving family. I have a spiritual foundation that gives me incredible strength, peace, and freedom. This won't break me. As a matter of fact, it only motivates me.</p><p>"The next thing I do in my life, I will do it for the love and passion I have for this game and for the sole purpose of serving others."</p><p>Sizemore served as Chicago's major-league coach under Grifol before being promoted into his new role.</p><p>The former star retired from MLB at 32 after injuries derailed his promising career. Sizemore made three All-Star teams over an eight-year stretch with the AL Central rival Cleveland franchise.</p><p> </p><p> </p>

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 14: Grady Sizemore #24 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Global Life Park in Arlington on August 14, 2015 in Arlington, Texas.

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White Sox hire Sizemore as interim manager after firing Grifol

The Tennessee Titans are bringing in veteran safety Quandre Diggs on a one-year contract worth up...

<p>The Tennessee Titans are bringing in veteran safety <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/50171" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/50171">Quandre Diggs</a> on a one-year contract worth up to $5 million, according to <a href="https://x.com/RapSheet/status/1820241626704294316">NFL.com's Ian Rapoport</a>.</p><p>Diggs' deal guarantees $3 million with additional bonuses based on playing time and performance, Rapoport adds.</p><p>The Seattle Seahawks released the 31-year-old in March. He posted a career-best 95 tackles during the 2023 campaign and had one pick.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Diggs has racked up 24 interceptions while playing five years each with the Detroit Lions and Seahawks.</p><p>The three-time Pro Bowler is set to compete for a starting free safety role with incumbent <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/161841" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/161841">Elijah Molden</a>. Molden is entering his fourth year with the Titans.</p><p>The move reunites Diggs with long-time Seattle teammate <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/83128" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/83128">Jamal Adams</a>, who's competing for strong safety duties alongside <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nfl/players/109234" href="https://thescore.com/nfl/players/109234">Amani Hooker</a>.</p><p>Tennessee went 6-11 last year, finishing last as the only team with a losing record in the AFC South.</p>

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 30: Quandre Diggs #6 of the Seattle Seahawks defends in coverage during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on November 30, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

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Report: Titans, Quandre Diggs agree to 1-year deal

It can't be fun playing for the Chicago White Sox, who are in the midst of a franchise-record 15-...

<p>It can't be fun playing for the Chicago White Sox, who are in the midst of a franchise-record 15-game losing streak and might set a new modern-era record for losses. And yet two days before the MLB trade deadline, All-Star left-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12246" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12246">Garrett Crochet</a> seemingly made it more difficult for himself to get out of the South Side, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3043560" href="https://thescore.com/news/3043560">reportedly</a> demanding a contract extension in order to pitch in the postseason. Why would he do that?</p><p>The 25-year-old is having a Cy Young-caliber breakout campaign, authoring a 3.23 ERA and league-leading 2.42 FIP over 114 1/3 innings in his first season as a starter. But his odds of securing a new deal from a new employer in the middle of the season have to be zero.</p><p>Surely, then, with no team willing to meet the demand, his trade value tanked. Right?</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>White Sox general manager Chris Getz's comments after the deadline suggest otherwise.</p><p>"Garrett has had strong interest from clubs for obvious reasons," Getz <a href="https://x.com/CST_soxvan/status/1818434767152349474">said</a> Tuesday, adding that the White Sox "were having discussions with clubs up until the last hour."</p><p>Getz's explanation is an interesting one since the former big-league journeyman was quick to say he was "surprised" by Crochet's demands. He even criticized the young lefty.</p><p>"That's not exactly the tactic that I would've taken, being a former player, quite honestly," Getz said Monday.</p><p>Of course, Getz, still in his first full year as the club's GM, hit three homers over his mostly forgettable MLB career and would've never been afforded an opportunity to use a tactic like this to secure his financial future. In fact, between getting drafted in 2005 and retiring after 2014, Getz accrued 1.4 WAR in the majors, according to FanGraphs. This year alone, Crochet boasts 4.1 WAR.</p><p>And that's really what this all comes down to. Crochet wasn't thinking about his trade value, or which team might no longer be interested in him because of his request, or even how this demand would be perceived by his current employer. He was thinking, rightly, about himself, while pitching for one of the worst teams ever assembled.</p><p>Crochet is a 25-year-old flamethrower enjoying a breakout campaign who already missed an entire season due to Tommy John surgery. While the stigma around UCL reconstruction has dwindled somewhat, it's still no guarantee that pitchers bounce back from it, and repeat procedures continue to be viewed as steps toward forced retirement.</p><p>The former first-rounder has been nothing short of incredible for the abysmal White Sox, but he's making $800,000 this year - less than teammate Dominic Leone, for instance - and is beholden to salary suppression via arbitration for the next two seasons before being eligible to test free agency in 2027.</p><p>In 2015, a different All-Star pitcher who had missed the previous season due to Tommy John attempted to impose a 180-innings limit on himself. With his team - the New York Mets - hurtling toward postseason contention, he wound up waiving that demand due to pressure from within and outside the organization, and threw a total of 216 innings, including the playoffs. After that, Matt Harvey was never the same. He fell short of 100 frames the next two seasons, sustained multiple injuries, including thoracic outlet syndrome, and attempted a series of comebacks with multiple teams.</p><p><strong>Harvey's career regular-season performance</strong></p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>IP</th>
<th>ERA</th>
<th>FIP</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2012-15</td>
<td>427</td>
<td>2.53</td>
<td>2.65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2016-21</td>
<td>539 1/3</td>
<td>5.92</td>
<td>5.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>That is an incomplete, oversimplified story of Harvey, but it serves as a cautionary and necessary tale for young pitchers. Don't risk further injury before you are able to earn financial security.</p><p>Crochet was not only right to make what some may see as a controversial demand, but he must do everything he can to prevent himself from becoming the next Matt Harvey.</p>

ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 16: Garrett Crochet #45 of the Chicago White Sox reacts after pitching during the 94th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

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Was Crochet right to demand an extension?

The 2024 MLB Draft starts July 14. Here are the names you need to know before the event gets unde...

<p><em>The 2024 MLB Draft starts July 14. Here are the names you need to know before the event gets underway, why you need to know them, and projections on when we might hear their names called.</em></p><h3>Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636267/cropped_GettyImages-2156292387.jpg?ts=1720548880" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636267/w220xh124_GettyImages-2156292387.jpg?ts=1720548880 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636267/w320xh180_GettyImages-2156292387.jpg?ts=1720548880 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636267/w640xh360_GettyImages-2156292387.jpg?ts=1720548880 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636267/w768xh432_GettyImages-2156292387.jpg?ts=1720548880 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636267/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2156292387.jpg?ts=1720548880 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Age</strong>: 21<br><strong>Height</strong>: 6-feet<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 199 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: L/R</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: The No. 1 prospect on MLB Pipeline.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>Bazzana can make history as the first-ever Australian to go in the first round of the draft - and nobody would blink twice if his name gets called to start the event. The 21-year-old tore the cover off the ball after joining OSU this season, posting a 1.479 OPS with 28 homers and 16 steals over 60 games. While his most likely landing spot in the majors is second base, he could have the defensive ability to manage center field.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Bazzana?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-4fCvs" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/4fCvs/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="333" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Charlie Condon, OF/3B, Georgia</h3><p><strong>Age</strong>: 21<br><strong>Height</strong>: 6-6<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 216 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: R/R</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: Firmly one of the big four of the class. Elite power.</p><p>After being undersized out of high school and going undrafted, Condon took his talents to Georgia. He's since grown to a towering 6-foot-6 and bloomed into an elite slugger, hitting 33 homers over 47 games. While he's gotten regular reps both at third base and in center field, he likely projects as a corner outfielder or first baseman in the majors.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Condon?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-atluT" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/atluT/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="332" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632769/cropped_GettyImages-2156409928.jpg?ts=1718318871" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632769/w220xh124_GettyImages-2156409928.jpg?ts=1718318871 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632769/w320xh180_GettyImages-2156409928.jpg?ts=1718318871 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632769/w640xh360_GettyImages-2156409928.jpg?ts=1718318871 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632769/w768xh432_GettyImages-2156409928.jpg?ts=1718318871 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/632769/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2156409928.jpg?ts=1718318871 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Age</strong>: 21<br><strong>Height</strong>: 6-5<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 250 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: L/L</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: Prolific slugger, Gators' all-time homer leader. Arguably the most MLB-ready of the class.</p><p>As it stands, there's very little that Caglianone would have to prove in the minors as a slugger. He's the most MLB-ready prospect in the class. However, some see him as a potential two-way star and, if he's going to get developed as a left-handed pitcher as well, he'll need time. It'll be fascinating to see how early his name gets called, analyze how quickly he could progress through that particular system, and hear what position(s) he gets drafted under.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Caglianone?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-PX3Wm" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/PX3Wm/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="332" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>JJ Wetherholt, SS, West Virginia</h3><p><strong>Age</strong>: 21<br><strong>Height</strong>: 5-10<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 190 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: L/R</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: Might go first overall. Most well-rounded skill set of big four.</p><p>Wetherholt is a highly polished hitter who won the D1 batting title and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year. His chance to go first overall largely depends on what the Guardians want to do in this year's draft. In what might be called an underwhelming class, Wetherholt poses an interesting under-slot option while playing a premium defensive position.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Wetherholt?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-nssKP" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/nssKP/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="332" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636270/cropped_GettyImages-2155205782.jpg?ts=1720549321" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636270/w220xh124_GettyImages-2155205782.jpg?ts=1720549321 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636270/w320xh180_GettyImages-2155205782.jpg?ts=1720549321 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636270/w640xh360_GettyImages-2155205782.jpg?ts=1720549321 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636270/w768xh432_GettyImages-2155205782.jpg?ts=1720549321 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636270/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2155205782.jpg?ts=1720549321 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Age</strong>: 20<br><strong>Height</strong>: 6-3<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 225 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: L/L</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: Top pitcher on the board.</p><p>Smith's fastball tops out at 100mph, and the lefty is what scouts dream of. He's improved his control and posted a very impressive 161-to-34 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 84 innings pitched this past year.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Smith?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-uOflQ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/uOflQ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="332" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest</h3><p><strong>Age</strong>: 21<br><strong>Height</strong>: 6-3<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 210 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: R/R</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: Top right-hander on the board.</p><p>Burns and Smith are head and shoulders above the rest of this year's pitching class. Any team targeting pitching early will leap to the podium to call their names. While Smith is rated slightly higher, Burns' 191-to-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 100 innings is better than the lefty's.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Burns?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-2Agir" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/2Agir/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="332" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/580749/cropped_GettyImages-1493631872.jpg?ts=1686515135" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/580749/w220xh124_GettyImages-1493631872.jpg?ts=1686515135 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/580749/w320xh180_GettyImages-1493631872.jpg?ts=1686515135 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/580749/w640xh360_GettyImages-1493631872.jpg?ts=1686515135 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/580749/w768xh432_GettyImages-1493631872.jpg?ts=1686515135 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/580749/w1080xh607_GettyImages-1493631872.jpg?ts=1686515135 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Eakin Howard / Getty Images Sport / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Age</strong>: 21<br><strong>Height</strong>: 6-5<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 240 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: L/L</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: Might be the most MLB-ready.</p><p>If Caglianone does get drafted as a two-way player or winds up in an organization that's in no rush to get him to the big leagues (as many early picks are), Kurtz is the most likely slugger to make a quick jump to MLB. Because he plays first base, he has less to work on defensively than he would at other premium position and posted a 1.235 OPS with 61 homers throughout college without ever really faltering. </p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Kurtz?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-pPpre" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/pPpre/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="332" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro HS (Ariz.)</h3><p><strong>Age</strong>: 17<br><strong>Height</strong>: 6-2<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 195 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: L/L</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: Ken Caminiti's cousin. Very polished high-school arm.</p><p>Caminiti is an exceptional prospect beyond being the cousin of former NL MVP and three-time All-Star Ken Caminiti. A prep lefty with elite strikeout acumen entering the draft a year earlier than expected, the 17-year-old could hear his name called very early in a pitching class that's not especially exciting.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Caminiti?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-MUfy3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/MUfy3/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="332" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Jurrangelo Cijntje, RHP/LHP, Mississippi State</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636272/cropped_GettyImages-2154341665.jpg?ts=1720549518" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636272/w220xh124_GettyImages-2154341665.jpg?ts=1720549518 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636272/w320xh180_GettyImages-2154341665.jpg?ts=1720549518 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636272/w640xh360_GettyImages-2154341665.jpg?ts=1720549518 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636272/w768xh432_GettyImages-2154341665.jpg?ts=1720549518 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/636272/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2154341665.jpg?ts=1720549518 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> <span class="article-segment--image-attribution">Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</span></figcaption></figure><p><strong>Age</strong>: 21<br><strong>Height</strong>: 5-11<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 200 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: S/S</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: 🚨 Ambidextrous pitcher 🚨</p><p>An ambidextrous pitcher hasn't reached MLB since reliever Pat Venditte, who made his most recent big-league appearance in 2020. Cijntje will look to make a more lasting impression than Venditte, though, as he has the stamina and stuff to handle a starter's workload.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Who will draft Cijntje?" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-1Gfb9" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/1Gfb9/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="332" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();
</script></figure><h3>Noah Franco, LHP/OF, IMG Academy (Fla.)</h3><p><strong>Age</strong>: 18<br><strong>Height</strong>: 6-3<br><strong>Weigh</strong>t: 205 lbs<br><strong>B/T</strong>: L/L</p><p><strong>Reason to know him</strong>: Top-rated legitimate two-way prospect.</p><p>While Caglianone might be considered a two-way prospect, he'll most likely make his way to the majors as a slugger. That leaves Franco, No. 92 on MLB Pipeline, as the top-rated legitimate two-way prospect. Like Caminiti, he reclassified to be eligible for the draft one year earlier than expected, and a team looking to create the next Ohtani will jump at the opportunity to select a player like Franco and give him an extra year in its system to develop him to meet the organization's needs.</p><p><strong>Where he'll go:</strong></p><p><strong>theScore</strong>: 116th overall (SF)<br><strong>MLB Pipeline</strong>: 2nd round or later<br><strong>ESPN</strong>: 2nd round or later<br><strong>The Athletic</strong>: 2nd round or later<br><strong>Baseball America</strong>: 2nd round or later</p>

SEATTLE, WA - JULY 09: A detail view of the MLB Draft Logo during the MLB Draft presented by Nike at Lumen Field on Sunday, July 9, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

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MLB draft: 10 names to know and where they'll go

It's been just over one year since Paul Skenes was drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirate...

<p>It's been just over one year since <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17521" href="https://www.thescore.com/mlb/players/17521">Paul Skenes</a> was drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2023 MLB Draft. Since then, he's not only made the major leagues, but been so dominant that it looks like he's ready for another call-up to a more difficult league. On Friday, he was validated even further and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/2938804" href="https://www.thescore.com/news/2938804">named</a> the All-Star Game's starting pitcher for the National League.</p><p>It's almost unfathomable that, twice already in his young career, Skenes has been sent to the mound and has refused to allow a hit. On Thursday, he was removed from his second no-hitter through 11 games due to pitch count in a bid to become the 25th rookie in MLB history to complete the feat.</p><p>Here's how his starts have looked:</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Date</th>
<th>Opponent</th>
<th>IP</th>
<th>K</th>
<th>BB</th>
<th>ER</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>May 11</td>
<td>Cubs</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>May 17*</td>
<td>Cubs</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>May 23</td>
<td>Giants</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>May 29</td>
<td>Tigers</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 5</td>
<td>Dodgers</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 11</td>
<td>Cardinals</td>
<td>6.1</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 17</td>
<td>Reds</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 23</td>
<td>Rays</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>June 29</td>
<td>Braves</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>July 5</td>
<td>Mets</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>July 11*</td>
<td>Brewers</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>* denotes no-hit bid</em></p><p>Skenes' first-half stats are relatively official now, as he won't play again before the All-Star break. So, it's time to ask: are baseball fans witnessing the beginning of a generational career?</p><p>Here's the full list of pitchers with a sub-2.00 ERA and more than 85 strikeouts over their first 11 career starts:</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pitcher</th>
<th>IP</th>
<th>K</th>
<th>BB</th>
<th>ERA</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Skenes</td>
<td>66.1</td>
<td>89</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>1.90</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>That's it. That's the list.</p><p>Let's now drop the ERA stipulation and include any rookie pitcher with at least 85 punchouts through 11 starts.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pitcher</th>
<th>Year</th>
<th>IP</th>
<th>K</th>
<th>BB</th>
<th>ERA</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Kerry Wood</td>
<td>1998</td>
<td>64.2</td>
<td>98</td>
<td>35</td>
<td>2.92</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hideo Nomo</td>
<td>1995</td>
<td>74.1</td>
<td>96</td>
<td>40</td>
<td>2.30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Herb Score</td>
<td>1955</td>
<td>81</td>
<td>92</td>
<td>58</td>
<td>3.22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>José DeLeón</td>
<td>1983</td>
<td>82</td>
<td>91</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>2.52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Skenes</td>
<td>2024</td>
<td>66.1</td>
<td>89</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>1.90</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Masahiro Tanaka</td>
<td>2014</td>
<td>78.2</td>
<td>88</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>2.06</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dwight Gooden</td>
<td>1984</td>
<td>67.1</td>
<td>87</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>3.07</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stephen Strasburg</td>
<td>2010</td>
<td>63.2</td>
<td>86</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>2.97</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p>Eagle-eyed fans of the sport will note that Wood, Nomo, Score, and Gooden all won Rookie of the Year in their respective leagues, which bodes well for Skenes. Strasburg likely would've won the award if he wasn't placed on an extremely controversial innings limit.</p><p>However, the list is interestingly devoid of Hall of Famers. There are many pitchers with incredibly impressive careers on there, but they lacked the longevity required to make it to Cooperstown.</p><p>That's a crucial distinction to make as baseball fans enjoy the opening stanza of Skenes' hopefully long and storied career. The discourse around teams instituting pitch-count limits isn't slowing down, with some fans still clamoring about the arbitrary century mark. Considering that's almost certainly why Pirates fans have been deprived of watching Skenes throw a no-hitter, the ire is somewhat warranted. But Pittsburgh can't care about that; it needs to continue doing what's best for the young ace.</p><p>Wood, atop the list above and the only pitcher on there with more strikeouts in fewer innings than Skenes, remains a particularly cautionary tale. As a 20-year-old rookie, Wood infamously tossed a 20-K gem but needed 122 pitches to pull it off. It was before we knew about the potential damage that could cause, so it's hard to fault the Cubs too much. But he missed the final month of that campaign with elbow soreness and never really showed that level of dominance again due to injuries throughout his career.</p><p>The answer to whether or not Skenes is generational hinges upon whether or not his longevity can be maintained.</p>

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Is Paul Skenes already a generational pitcher?

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Paul Skenes was named the starting pitcher for the Nationa...

<p>Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17521" href="https://www.thescore.com/mlb/players/17521">Paul Skenes</a> was named the starting pitcher for the National League All-Star team.</p><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Your NL <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AllStarGame?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AllStarGame</a> starting pitcher: Paul Skenes ⭐<br><br>As announced on the <a href="https://twitter.com/dpshow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DPShow</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/Pirates?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pirates</a> rookie gets the nod in his first All-Star Game! <a href="https://t.co/M9QFgH5s1O">pic.twitter.com/M9QFgH5s1O</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1811786542236516679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 12, 2024</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><p>The news comes on the heels of Skenes dominating the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday. He was removed from a no-hit bid with 11 strikeouts and one walk over seven innings.</p><p>With 11 career MLB starts, it's the fewest games any All-Star has ever played, according to <a href="https://x.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1811789717702066338">Sarah Langs of MLB.com</a>.</p><div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><p>The 22-year-old is also the sixth-youngest pitcher to ever start the exhibition contest.</p><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Pitcher</th>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Age (Year.Days)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Jerry Walker</td>
<td>1959</td>
<td>20.172</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fernando Valenzuela</td>
<td>1981</td>
<td>20.281</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dwight Gooden</td>
<td>1986</td>
<td>21.241</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mark Fidrych</td>
<td>1976</td>
<td>21.334</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Vida Blue</td>
<td>1971</td>
<td>21.350</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Skenes</td>
<td>2024</td>
<td>22.048*</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure><p><em>* Skenes' age when game begins on Tuesday</em></p><p>Skenes, who was drafted first overall in the 2023 MLB Draft just over one year ago, is also only the fifth rookie to be named an All-Star Game starting pitcher. He joins Fidrych and Valenzuela, as well as Dave Stenhouse and Hideo Nomo.</p><p>Skenes made his MLB debut in May and has been remarkable ever since, authoring a 1.90 ERA and 2.58 FIP over 66 1/3 innings.</p><p>Now, the rising star is ready to face the best the AL has to offer. </p><p>"I'm guessing it's gonna be (Gunnar) Henderson, (Juan) Soto, and (Aaron) Judge," he told "<a href="https://x.com/dpshow/status/1811793213969084816">The Dan Patrick Show</a>" on Friday. "They're all pretty dang good players so I'll be focused on getting them out by one by one."</p><p>The Midsummer Classic is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16 at 8 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.</p>

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on while pitching during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, May 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

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