Opener: Tigers, Snell, Middleton

With the calendar now turning to June, here are three things we’ll be watching around the baseball world throughout the day:

1. Tigers roster moves incoming:

The Tigers are set to promote a third base/outfield prospect Justin Henry Malloy To the big leagues today. Corresponding moves will be needed to make room on the active rosters and 40-man rosters, though one has already emerged, with Detroit reportedly selecting the former No. 1 overall pick. Spencer Torkelson To Triple-A Toledo.

Torkelson, 24, enjoyed what looked like the second half of last year with the Tigers as he hit .261/.345/.576 with 16 home runs in his last 48 games. Unfortunately, that solid production didn’t carry over into the 2024 campaign, and the slugger has hit a paltry .201/.266/.330 with just four home runs in 54 games so far this season. ancient warrior Geo Urshela And Mark Kanha They are among the first base options who could replace Torkelson.

Malloy is in his second season with the Tigers organization after coming over from the Braves in the Joe Jimenez trade and has done nothing but reach the Triple-A level since arriving in Toledo. He slashed .277/.417/.474 last season and has put up a very similar .252/.410/.473 slash line in 45 games this season. Malloy has plenty of experience at the hot corner, but the Tigers said before the season that he would play the outfield exclusively this year.

2. Snell to IL?

NL Cy Young Award winner Blake SnellThe 2024 campaign has been nothing short of disastrous. The San Francisco southpaw has already spent some time on the injured list due to an adductor strain and has an ugly 9.51 ERA with an 11.8% walk rate against a 26.1% strikeout rate across six starts this season. This all came before Snell suffered a hip injury yesterday that required him to leave his start against the Yankees in the fifth inning.

Snell is scheduled to undergo an MRI today and appears poised to make a second trip to the injured list since signing with the Giants. with Alex Cobb, Robbie Ray, Keaton WayneAnd Tristan Beck Already on the IL, the Giants will only have three starters in their rotation: Logan Webb, Kyle HarrisonAnd Jordan Hicks. Long diluted Spencer Howard He could play a big role during bullpen games for the Giants and Triple-A arms Mason Black, Landen RobAnd Kai Wei Teng They could all be options to replace Snell in the club’s rotation.

3. Middleton’s meeting with Tommy John specialist:

The Cardinals were without a veteran reliever Keenan Middleton, who signed with the club to a one-year, $6 million agreement over the offseason for the entire regular season to this point. It now appears possible that Middleton’s absence from the club’s squad could continue for the entire season. Middleton is said to be preparing to meet UCL expert Dr Christopher Ahmed for a second opinion. In addition to costing Middleton the remainder of the season, the surgery would almost certainly prompt the Cardinals to decline the $6 million club option for 2025 on the veteran right-hander in favor of a $1 million buyout.