Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day:
1. Tatis undergoing imaging:
Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch on his hand during last night’s game against the Dodgers, which resulted in a benches-clearing skirmish. Tatis was sent for x-rays after the game, which produced inconclusive results (via Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune). Tatis told reporters (including Acee) that there was a “gray area” in the results and that he was set to undergo additional imaging. The 26-year-old sports a 131 wRC+ overall this year but has been mired in a lengthy slump in recent weeks, slashing just .214/.325/.291 over his past 27 games. An injury for Tatis would only further exacerbate the Padres’ need for outfield help, as they’d likely wind up relying on some combination of Tyler Wade and Tirso Ornelas to help cover if Tatis misses time.
2. Suárez nearing milestone:
Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez is nearing what would be his first career trip into free agency this winter, but in the meantime the slugger is enjoying a strong season at the plate. He’s slashed .237/.313/.533 with a 130 wRC+ so fa this year for Arizona, slugging 22 homers in just 74 games. That puts him at 298 career homers overall, leaving him just two long balls away from becoming the 164th player in history to launch 300 home runs during his career. It’s an exciting milestone that could be right around the corner: Suárez has 18 multi-homer games in his career, including two this season.
Suárez slugger will attempt to reach the 300-homer plateau in favorable conditions this weekend as the Snakes head to Colorado for a weekend series at Coors Field. The D-backs will face lefty Austin Gomber, lefty Carson Palmquist and righty Antonio Senzatela this weekend. Squaring off against two lefties should be favorable for the righty-swinging Suárez, but he uncharacteristically has severe reverse splits in 2025 despite having hit lefties far better than righties over the course of his career overall.
3. Devers reunited with Red Sox in San Francisco:
An awkward reunion is in the cards for this weekend, as the Red Sox are headed to San Francisco less than a week after trading franchise face Rafael Devers to the Giants. Devers, who has gone 2-for-8 with a double and a walk so far as a Giant, has agreed to play first base for his new club after declining to do so in Boston. He’s only appeared at DH in three games with the team so far but has suggested he could be in the lineup at first base as soon as this weekend. The first game of this weekend set is scheduled for 7:15pm local time and will feature a face off between youngsters Hunter Dobbins (3.74 ERA) and Hayden Birdsong (2.79 ERA).
