The Opener: D-backs, Lewis, Saves Leaderboard

Because the commerce deadline inches ever nearer — and because the market begins to produce some activity — listed here are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day as we speak:

1. Mena to debut for Arizona?

As famous by Alex Weiner of AZSports last night, Diamondbacks pitching prospect Cristian Mena was within the massive league clubhouse previous to final night time’s sport with the Dodgers. Supervisor Torey Lovullo merely famous that Mena was on the membership’s taxi squad for his or her street journey to Los Angeles and didn’t elaborate additional on the right-hander’s standing, however with no beginning pitcher scheduled for tonight’s sport and Mena having final pitched on June 26 on the Triple-A stage, it appears probably that the 21-year-old may very well be making his massive league debut. Mena is already on the 40-man roster, that means solely an energetic roster transfer can be crucial so as to add him to the membership’s combine.

Arizona acquired the teenager from the White Sox over the offseason within the commerce that despatched outfielder Dominic Fletcher to Chicago. He ranks because the Snakes’ No. 11 prospect per MLB.com and No. 14 prospect per Baseball America. Mena has struggled to a 4.90 ERA and 5.66 FIP with a ten.4% stroll price in a hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. If Mena had been to be recalled for a begin this night, it’s unclear whether or not that may be a spot begin or if he can be becoming a member of the rotation alongside Zac Gallen, Brandon Pfaadt, Slade Cecconi, and Ryne Nelson on a extra everlasting foundation.

2. Lewis to bear MRI:

The harm woes by no means appear to cease for Twins infielder Royce Lewis. The teenager departed Minnesota’s sport in opposition to the Tigers yesterday as a result of left groin tightness. Dan Hayes of The Athletic relayed final night time that Lewis is ready to bear an MRI and extra testing on the difficulty. Hayes went on to notice that Lewis appeared to count on that he’ll be positioned on the injured listing, though he added {that a} crew supply indicated that the membership expects any keep on the IL to be a comparatively brief one.

At the same time as time on the shelf turns into more and more acquainted for the 25-year-old, dropping him for any period of time will sting for the Twins. Lewis is slashing a sturdy .287/.351/.678 in 97 journeys to the plate this yr, good for a 176 wRC+. Whereas that’s not an particularly massive pattern dimension, he’s performed nothing however hit at a famous person stage when wholesome sufficient to take the sphere ever since his debut again in 2022. In 94 profession video games within the majors, Lewis has a cumulative slash line of .303/.361/.584 with 27 homers in simply 379 journeys to the plate. Ought to Lewis miss time, Jose Miranda would take over at third base.

3. Historical past on the Saves Leaderboard:

Orioles right-hander Craig Kimbrel recorded the 437th save of his profession final night time, tying him for fourth place on the all-time saves leaderboard with six-time All-Star Francisco Rodriguez. The one gamers in MLB historical past with extra saves than Kimbrel now are Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, and Lee Smith, all three of whom are within the Corridor of Fame. Sitting only one save behind Kimbrel and Rodriguez is Pink Sox nearer Kenley Jansen, who has been the topic of persistent trade rumors relationship again to the offseason however has shut out the noise to dominate this yr with a 2.22 ERA, 2.10 FIP, and 16 saves in 28 appearances. Kimbrel has been equally spectacular this yr with a 2.37 ERA and a pair of.70 FIP to go together with 19 saves in 34 appearances.

The pair of 36-year-olds may each proceed their ascent up the all-time leaderboard as quickly as tonight as Jansen seems to be to tie Rodriguez himself together with his subsequent save whereas Kimbrel seems to be to take sole possession of fourth place on the leaderboard. Jansen’s Pink Sox are set to face the Marlins in Miami at 6:40pm native time this night, whereas the Orioles will face the Mariners in Seattle at 7:10pm native time.