en-us SportSpyder - MLB https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/news The Yankees should continue to ignore any temptation to trade Tarik Skubal, despite the situation being reminiscent of another involving CC Sabathia. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:29:04 GMT Michael Rosenstein https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891353 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891353 false false There is one key person insulting Alex Bregman’s performance: Bregman himself. “I’ve been terrible and I need to play better. Offensively, it’s been awful.” Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:28:58 GMT Jeff Vorva https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891352 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891352 false false The Toronto Blue Jays has had tough luck with the health of their starting rotation. Enforcements are on their way back and so is a big name in this mock trade. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:28:52 GMT Hunter Cookston https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891350 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891350 false false A frightening tragedy involving a private jet connected to former St. Louis Cardinals MLB star Yadier Molina unfolded on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of two crew members. Molina, 43, shared the heartbreaking news on social media, revealing that the Gulfstream G200 Galaxy aircraft was on its way to Texas to pick up family members... Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:25:28 GMT Lou Landers https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891326 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891326 false false 6/9 Cup of Coffee: Boston's rookie-level affiliates went 1-2 on Monday. Franklin Primera (pictured) lifted the FCL Red Sox to a come-from... Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:24:15 GMT Brendan Campbell https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891314 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891314 false false Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters! Things have not gone well for the Orioles over the last few days. After an impressive run where they won 10 of their last 14 games, the team has now lost three in a row. And they’ve done so in excruciating fashion. On Saturday, Kyle Bradish was very bad. On Sunday, […] Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:23:36 GMT Stacey https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891310 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891310 false false When I ask executives about the Mets, the most common refrain: They are a good team with a strong farm system that got off to a terrible start. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:23:00 GMT Joel Sherman https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891307 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891307 true false The Mets could have fallen into oblivion on their last road trip after losing the first two games in Seattle last week. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:22:54 GMT Mike Puma https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891305 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891305 true false The New York Yankees should cash in their trade chips for this player rather than Tarik Skubal. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:22:25 GMT Matthew Schmidt https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891302 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891302 false false Trent Grisham is on a heater, which couldn't come at a better time for the New York Yankees amid Aaron Judge's injury, and speaks volumes about his performance. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:21:50 GMT Stephen Parello https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891298 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891298 false false One of the more surprising moves of the offseason came last November, when the Blue Jays landed Dylan Cease. It was no surprise Toronto wanted to fortify its starting rotation. But the club came to an agreement on a seven-year, $210 million deal, the largest contract in franchise history… …for a pitcher who had posted a 4.55 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP the year before. The way Cease has pitched this season has given that deal a different tone, though. The 30-year-old enters Tuesday’s matchup against the Phillies with a 3.05 ERA through 11 starts in 2026, with 92 strikeouts in 62 innings. He ranks in the 99th percentile in strikeout rate. Cease has missed his last two turns after landing on the injured list with a hamstring injury, but he will be activated as the Blue Jays look to even the three-game series against the Phils. So what has the right-hander, who has the second-best odds for the American League Cy Young Award, done differently this year? EXPANDED THE ARSENAL In years past, Cease relied mostly on his fastball and slider. This year, he has leaned more heavily on pitches he had thrown before, but not nearly as often. The changeup has become a real weapon against lefties. The sinker has given him another look against righties. In 2025, Cease threw his changeup just 1 percent of the time. In 2026, he has thrown it 11 percent of the time. He has used it just 1 percent against righties, but 18 percent against lefties. Cease, who carries a 36 percent whiff rate, eighth best among 233 qualified pitchers, has seen his swing-and-miss jump with the development of that pitch. The changeup has produced a 56.8 percent swing-and-miss rate, the highest in baseball among pitches thrown at least 100 times. The sinker has also grown. Cease is throwing it 9.7 percent of the time this year, nearly triple last season’s usage. It has missed barrels when hitters have put it in play. Opponents are just 3-for-25 against the pitch with three singles and nine strikeouts. He has put hitters away with the sinker 36 percent of the time, an impressive rate and something to watch against the Phillies’ right-handed bats. The more complete repertoire has helped Cease generate softer contact, a nearly 10 percent increase in groundball rate and a significant drop in barrel percentage. It is a six-pitch mix, but one pitch still stands out. CEASE AND SLIDE Cease’s slider, which he throws 29.4 percent of the time, has been dominant. Opponents are hitting just .130 against it with a .169 slugging percentage. Of the 43 times hitters have put it in play, only one has gone for extra bases. He is throwing the slider a little more than 11 percent less than last year, but it has been more effective. His four-seam fastball, which averages 97.8 mph, has also been used less, but the pitches have played off each other well. His short, over the top arm slot, plus his arm speed provide Cease with great deception. That is where the challenge starts for the Phillies. PHILLIES ATTACK PLAN & PICK TO CLICK The Phillies’ best plan probably does not revolve around hitting the slider. As a club, they are batting .188 against sliders this season. And among their right-handed regulars, not one is hitting better than .212 against the pitch. That is especially important because Cease throws the slider 13 percent more often to righties than lefties. Cease also has a career-high first-pitch strike rate in 2026, which has helped open up his more balanced mix. For the Phillies, the best target should be his four-seam fastball. Opponents are hitting .276 against the pitch. They also have a 48.1 percent hard-hit rate against it, the highest mark of Cease’s career and well above his 41.9 percent career average. Cease is also throwing the fastball for a strike more than ever before. A pick to click could be Trea Turner, who is batting just .197 over his last 15 games. The Phillies’ shortstop has surprisingly hit .338 against four-seamers this season, with 23 hits and three homers. As Turner tries to break out of his skid, it might make sense for him to be aggressive early and hunt the fastball instead of trying to work deep counts against Cease, who has shown he can put hitters away in a variety of ways. That same approach could apply to Kyle Schwarber or Bryce Harper if they get a fastball they can drive. It worked against Monday’s starter Patrick Corbin, who had far fewer ways to finish hitters late in counts. The current Phillies who have faced Cease have combined for a .900 OPS in 60 at-bats against him. Turner leads the group with a .444 average in nine at-bats. Cease has still had command issues at times, posting his highest walk rate since 2023. If the Phillies can take their walks, get into fastball counts and punish mistakes, they will have a real chance to put Cease on the ropes. That would be a good development with Zack Wheeler on the mound. Cease’s numbers change drastically the third time through the order, which could pair with the Phillies’ recent ability t... Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:21:20 GMT Cole Weintraub https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891291 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891291 false false We're getting close to trade season. And in many cases, it's the smaller deadline deals that prove to be the most significant come October. Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:20:30 GMT Karl Rasmussen https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891286 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891286 false false The Milwaukee Brewers and the Athletics squared off in the first-ever Major League Baseball game played at Las Vegas Ballpark last night. The Athletics, who wer Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:19:35 GMT Owen Jonas https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891274 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891274 false false Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup! I’m filling in for Adam this week. As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference […] Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:19:21 GMT Harrison Freuck https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891273 https://sportspyder.com/sports/mlb/articles/56891273 false false