As MLB’s regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Who’s starting for the Brewers?
The Brewers have yet to announce a starter not only for today, but for any of the three remaining games in their ongoing four-game set against the Pirates. That’s not necessarily surprising, given the fact that lefties DL Hall and Wade Miley both recently joined right-hander Jakob Junis on the injured list, leaving the club with minimal options to complement Freddy Peralta, Joe Ross, and Colin Rea in their starting mix. Right-hander Tobias Myers was called up yesterday and has maxed out at 93 pitches in the minors this season, while lefty Aaron Ashby and righty Janson Junk could also provide the club with multiple innings over the next few days.
Updates regarding the statuses of both Junis and Miley could be available as soon as today. Miley said last night that he’ll undergo imaging today after hitting the shelf with a bout of elbow inflammation. Junis has been on the injured list since early April due to a shoulder impingement, but things took a scary turn yesterday afternoon when he was struck in the neck by a fly ball while working out in the outfield during batting practice. As noted by MLB.com’s Jake Crouse, Junis was eventually taken off the field in a stretcher and brought to the hospital via ambulance. The Brewers said in a statement following the accident that Junis was “conscious, alert, and responsive” when the club sent him to the hospital for further evaluation.
2. Series Preview: Mariners @ Rangers
A three-game set between the Mariners and Rangers in Texas is set to begin this evening at 7:05pm local time. Right-hander Logan Gilbert (2.33 ERA) is set to take on righty Dane Dunning (3.91 ERA) in tonight’s game, with Bryce Miller (1.85 ERA) and Jon Gray (3.15 ERA) scheduled to face off in Game 2 before Luis Castillo (4.40 ERA) and Andrew Heaney (6.35 ERA) wrap up the series on Thursday.
The trio of games come at a time when both Seattle and Texas are locked in a race for the AL West lead, with the Rangers leading the Mariners by half a game entering play today. The two clubs have taken an early lead over the Athletics, Angels, and Astros, each of whom are at least five games under .500 and three games back of the AL West crown. The surprising struggles of Houston (7-16, five games back) have opened the door for the Mariners to emerge as the primary competition of the reigning World Series champs early in the 2024 season as Seattle looks to return to the postseason after finishing just one game back of a playoff spot last year.
3. MLBTR Chat today:
The 2024 season is now in full swing, and some clubs have gotten off to surprisingly strong starts while a handful of others have unexpectedly struggled to open the year. If you have questions regarding your favorite club’s start to the campaign, or perhaps questions that look ahead to this summer’s trade deadline and the 2024-25 offseason, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will host a live chat with readers today at 1pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, and that same link will allow you to join in on the chat once it begins or read the transcript after it is completed.
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