Jason Ross

Shota had 19 whiffs on the day, including six against the fastball. If he was tipping, the Yankees didn't do a good job if all they did was hit two solo home runs and swing and miss a ton.

He stands out like a sore thumb, though. Most of the other prospects the Cubs have, they move them when they get to around 200 PA's of quality at bats at that level. Especially college guys. Cam Smith and Matt Shaw for example. They move these kids quickly. Owen Caissie moved quick. Josiah Hartshorn has moved quick. Rojas moved quick. Kepley hits and yet... Something is a little weird.

Shelby Miller threw today. 1 IP, 4 K (not a typo) He was so quick in striking out the three that they agreed to give him another hitter. He struck him out, too.

Yankees just dealt Doval to Pittsburgh.

Doval is an interesting low buy option here. We won't see him now this weekend and we're starting to see a small trickle of trades. #15 in Pirates system and an unranked on FG.

My guess is the 2nd SP isn't going to be ground breaking. Like a Tyler Mahle. Cheap but offers another depth option in the event someone gets hurt. It would also likely upgrade over Rea. I don't think it affects the pursuit of an impact SP or RP to get Mahle or someone of his ilk.

He's in the zone the same amount and getting the same amount of 1st pitch strikes. His whiff% is down but getting normal chase%. His fastball is in the zone more, but even with ABS, the zone he's throwing that pitch is further down than it was last year. So while ABS might change it a wee bit, the zone has gotten taller for hitters and he's more in the zone, so I don't think it's an ABS thing, and just a small mechanical thing.

I think your last sentence is exactly why I'm very pro-moving him. Kepley doesn't have a pathway here in Chicago beyond whatever concerns I have about swing choices and passivity. If he's a guy you'd love to have on your bench and a team views him as a guy they'd want to start? Sell, baby, sell. We can find "bench OF'er" without much issue. So if someone wants to treat a guy you probably want on your bench like he's a top-100 type you drive him to the airport.

His arm slot is out of whack too. He was sitting 36-37 degrees, then dipped to 29 last year and back to 34.

The good news is that the Royals are telling teams they are not trading Wacha and Lugo. Passan mentioned they should, but that they're angling for a new downtown stadium and believed they want to keep winning (as much as they can) to pressure for one. I have no interest in Michael Wacha. He's a better version of Jameson Taillon was this year but runs the same gambit of "stuff not that great, doesn't strike people out" tightrope. No thanks from me. They can acquire that cheaper (and realistically don't need that controlled) elsewhere while using their bullets for someone better.

Per Sammon: Mets ask for Peralta is top-100 prospect and more.

Ty Southesiene MLB-upside confirmed.

TJS runs 15-18 months now a days for a good handful pitchers to return as teams are generous and cautious. This is his second TJS in a half decade. I would guess that while it's possible he makes a debut around June in '27, the expectation should be August and beyond with the understanding it really may not be until 2028. The Cubs will likely ere heavily on the side of caution.