Recapping Paul Skenes’ debut, Rockies sweep the champs, Cardinals’ deep-rooted problems & Dylan Bundy retires

Ronald Acuña Jr. out for the year, Orioles mop White Sox & Guardians are hot

Coming into the 2024 season, the Atlanta Braves had high hopes to make another run at a World Series title. While they’ve done a good job so far despite losing ace pitcher Spencer Strider for the season, losing star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., for the remainder of the season will be just another test.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss why the loss of Acuña Jr. sucks not just for the Braves but for baseball fans and for the league, as well as why there’s a chance the 2024 National League MVP may not be the same explosive player we’ve grown accustomed to watching when he returns. However, there should still be confidence in Braves General Manager Alex Anthopoulos to find a way to keep the Braves in a position for a postseason spot.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys recap all the action from the weekend including the Baltimore Orioles completing the mop of the Chicago White Sox, the Cleveland Guardians continuing their hot streak with a sweep of the Los Angeles Angles and why there’s nothing to worry about the Los Angeles Dodgers being swept by the Cincinnati Reds.

Jake & Jordan close out this episode by talking about the Cinderella NCAA Division III Birmingham–Southern College Panthers baseball team making the College World Series in pursuit of their first title despite their school shutting down a few weeks ago. Jordan also talks about his big upcoming move.

(1:43) - Ronald Acuña Jr. done for the year

(16:14) - Orioles mop the White Sox

(20:44) - The sweeps

(23:54) - Reds sweep Dodgers

(34:31) - The series wins

(37:22) - Brewers-Red Sox benches clear

(48:56) - BSC Panthers make College World Series

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Rangers are stalling, James Wood is getting close, Orioles-White Sox controversial ending & Harper’s prom-posal

The Texas Rangers won their first-ever World Series in 2023 and it was in part to their scorching hot month of May, when they went 18-9. That was also when fans started taking notice that it could be a special year for them. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case this season for the Rangers as they currently sit below .500 with a negative run differential.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman talk about what’s going wrong with the defending World Series champs, including if they can afford to wait until the trade deadline to bolster their already ailing pitching rotation and why they can’t bank on a healthy Jacob deGrom to return this season.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys talk about the controversial finish to the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox game that saw an umpire make a rare call to end the game, Jake talks about seeing James Wood play in person and a funny interaction he had with future-Hall-of-Famer Dusty Baker in the stands at the game.

Jake & Jordan then give their Good, Bad & Uggla for the week, which includes Bryce Harper helping out a high schooler with his prom-posal, the Toronto Blue Jays bringing back their home run blazer, Maysn Winn’s not-so-enthusiastic reaction to the St. Louis Cardinals’ City Connect uniforms and much more.

(1:57) - Jake recaps his alumni high school game

(9:13) - Orioles-White Sox controversy

(17:00) - O’s swept for the first time since 2022 in regular season

(19:45) - Rangers aren’t doing so well

(23:33) - Listener email

(30:46) - Watching James Wood in person

(42:31) - Dusty Baker story

(46:46) - The good

(52:02) - The bad

(55:13) - The Uggla

(1:03:58) - Weekend preview

Follow the show on X at @CespedesBBQ

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🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

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Oneil Cruz is hitting angry, Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Tucker leading the league, the Royals are turning heads with Jake Eisenberg

The Pittsburgh Pirates made headlines recently when they called up Paul Skenes, the No. 1 pick of the 2023 MLB Draft. Well, the Buccos are making headlines again and this time, it’s thanks to someone in the batters box.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman discuss Oneil Cruz’s historic Statcast night on Tuesday, when he smashed three balls over 115 miles per hour, including two over 120 MPH. Cruz, who missed the majority of the 2023 season due to injury, made an error earlier in the game, which led to him hitting angry, and setting the Statcast world ablaze.

Also on this edition of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, the guys talk about the current home run leader in baseball, Kyle Tucker, and if he’s becoming must-see television for fans. They then get into the current batting leader, Shohei Ohtani, and who in the top ten could possibly keep up this stretch for the rest of the season.

Later, Jake & Jordan welcome Kansas City Royals announcer Jake Eisenberg to talk about the team's surprising success this year behind their phenom shortstop, Bobby Witt Jr., and reliable captain behind the dish, Salvador Perez. Jake gives his defense for why this Royals team has been a long time coming and could be poised for good things this year.

(2:14) - Oneil Cruz hitting angry

(11:34) - Kyle “home run” Tucker

(16:38) - Ohtani leading batting race

(25:44) - Catching up on the Royals

(31:48) - Jake Eisenberg joins the show

(41:49) - Can the Royals maintain success?

(51:15) - Why Bobby Witt Jr. is special

(55:08) - Quick notes from around the league

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Phillies taking advantage, Yankees pitching dilemma, Skenes impresses at Wrigley & Cardinals’ City Connect

The two teams with the most wins in baseball did what they’ve done pretty often this season: win. The Philadelphia Phillies, who lead the National League with 34 wins, and the New York Yankees, who lead the American League with 33 wins, both had successful weekends walking away with sweeps of their opponents.

Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman talk about how the Phillies have taken advantage of their schedule for the first two months and why they could be in for a rude awakening when the competition starts to get a little tougher. They also discuss the potential questions the Yankees will face when Gerrit Cole returns to their rotation.

The guys also get into all the other matchups from the weekend including Paul Skenes’ dominating encore performance at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, Shohei Ohtani hitting his first walk-off in four years, the Baltimore Orioles taking this round of the Bar-B-Cast Bowl against the Seattle Mariners and they give a review of the St. Louis Cardinals’ City Connect uniforms.

(2:14) - The sweeps

(4:25) - Yankees rotation dilemma

(19:23) - Phillies strength of schedule

(27:46) - 3-1 series wins

(37:38) - 2-1 series wins

(52:16) - Cardinals’ City Connect uniforms

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2024 MLB season]

Follow the show on X at @CespedesBBQ

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Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

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Yankees looking to extend Juan Soto, Elly De La Cruz is unreal & listener emails

After the New York Yankees did what they always seem to do, continuing their 20+ years of obliterating the Minnesota Twins, the team made some noise off the field when owner Hal Steinbrenner said he’s looking to possibly extend superstar Juan Soto during this season. That might be easier said than done due to the usual negotiating tactics of Soto’s agent, Scott Boras. Jake Mintz & Jordan Shusterman kick off the podcast discussing the upcoming negotiations between Soto’s representation & the Yankees.

The guys then get into the unreal start that Cincinnati Reds phenom Elly De La Cruz has launched off to on the base paths (including four steals Thursday night against the Dodgers), why his goal of 80 stolen bases seems like easy money and the reason why a certain famous video game helps him elevate his play whenever he’s in Los Angeles.

Later, Jake & Jordan answer some listenr emails where they apologize for doubting Javier Assad, share which teams they’re most optimistic about, give their Good, Bad and Uggla for the week and close out highlighting a few games they’re looking forward to this weekend.

(1:32) - Caitlin Clark’s home debut in-person

(3:56) - Yankees own the Twins + Soto negotiation

(15:14) - Sweeps & mops recap

(31:52) - Listener emails

(45:04) - Good, bad & Uggla

(1:00:21) - Weekend preview

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2024 MLB season]

Follow the show on X at @CespedesBBQ

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.