# MLB May 2026 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [May 1, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697 "2026-05-01T16:02:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/1 "2026-05-01T16:02:19Z")
The first place Yankees (20-11) kick off a 7 game homestand tonight versus the Orioles. The starting pitching has been great so far and has carried the team, but guys like Grisham, Chisholm jr. and Wells need to start hitting. How is your team doing? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/2 "2026-05-01T16:27:38Z")
O’s. Sitting about .500. Pete Alonso having a slow start, but no one thinks he’s forgotten how to hit. Adley Rutschman seems to have figured out whatever was bothering him the last couple of seasons, so far, currently slashing .356/.406/.661. Taylor Ward has been a solid pickup, hitting .304/.438/.443. Ryan Helsey has been converting every save opportunity that’s come his way, but they’re just not getting him into games. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/3 "2026-05-01T16:35:32Z")
So it’s May. Do the Mets still suck? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/4 "2026-05-01T16:39:20Z")
I think they’re currently the worst for the most money. So impossible to beat for suck. Back to being the NY Mess. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/5 "2026-05-01T16:51:44Z")
Here’s a tiny baseball question that doesn’t deserve its own thread: which current MLB stars would you describe as ‘five tool players?’ ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/6 "2026-05-01T17:06:16Z")
Does **Mike Trout** still count? I think **Fernando Tatis Jr.** qualifies. **Bobby Witt Jr.** is no doubt I think. **Mookie Betts** was one as recently as 2 years ago, so might bonce back. He is only 33. Hopefully qualifies soon: “The Martian”, **Jasson Domínguez** of the Yanks. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/7 "2026-05-01T17:47:29Z")
Five Tools: Bobby Witt Jr. Jose Ramirez Kyle Tucker Mookie Betts (when healthy) Fernando Tatis Jr. Aaron Judge Shohei Ohtani (swapping out “fielding” for “pitching”) Ronald Acuna Jr. Elly de la Cruz Cal Raleigh (maybe the first catcher I’d ever describe that way) Julio Rodriguez Francisco Lindor Pete Crow Armstrong Byron Buxton Cody Bellinger (when healthy) Jazz Chisholm Jr. Jackson Chourio Jose Altuve Mike Trout Wyatt Langford ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/8 "2026-05-01T17:51:42Z")
I think Pete Crow-Armstrong is likely to develop into a 5-tool player, but he’s not quite there yet. He swings at too many pitches out of the zone for me to say he’s there already. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/9 "2026-05-01T18:05:54Z")
The generic definition of ‘five tools’ I see Googling are hitting, power hitting, speed, fielding and throwing. Hitting should really be OBP. Take Trout, for instance. His average isn’t pretty, but he’s slashing .248/.431/.569. Since speed is one of the tools, you’d have to take Judge, Tucker, and Raleigh off the list, and probably a few others. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/10 "2026-05-01T18:40:42Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Since speed is one of the tools, you’d have to take Judge, Tucker, and Raleigh off the list, and probably a few others. Raw speed, maybe. But they’re efficient and successful basestealers. Tucker stole 25 bases last year, and only got caught 3 times. That’s excellent. He’s also a plus baserunner according to Statcast. Aaron Judge isn’t winning any base running awards. I’ll take him off. Likewise for Raleigh, but I’m grading him on ~~his curves~~ the curve. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/11 "2026-05-01T18:54:46Z")
And the Mets bigwigs say there are [no plans to fire Carlos Mendoza](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48648478/mets-standing-carlos-mendoza-10-21-start). You can take that as them standing by their manager, or as the dreaded “vote of confidence.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/12 "2026-05-01T19:38:01Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Cal Raleigh (maybe the first catcher I’d ever describe that way) Cal has come back to earth this season. Currently hitting .192 with only a .667 OPS. Oh yeah he’s slow too as was mentioned. > [@What\_Exit](#): > > Hopefully qualifies soon: “The Martian”, **Jasson Domínguez** of the Yanks. I’m hoping his fielding gets to at least the “not embarrassing” category. So far no word on his elbow that was hit by a pitch. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/13 "2026-05-01T20:21:04Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > How is your team doing? Royals swept the Angels earlier in the week and then won the opener against the A’s, giving all of us KC fans small glimmers of hope. Alas, they lost the next two in Sacramento, and are once again below .400. But only 3 1/2 games out in the pathetic AL Central. Detroit and Cleveland are tied for first, both playing .500 ball. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2026, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/14 "2026-05-02T02:06:04Z")
Yankees starting pitching still dominating. Tonight it was Will Warren. With Cole and Rodon on rehab assignments that’s one aspect they haven’t had to worry about so far. Good news for Jasson Dominguez. His elbow went numb after being hit by a pitch. All tests have been negative so it looks like it’s just a bruise. Hopefully he’ll be back in a game soon. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2026, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/15 "2026-05-02T12:49:39Z")
Japanese import rookie Munetaka Murakami has 13 extra base hits so far this season. They are all HRs. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2026, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/16 "2026-05-03T01:28:39Z")
Ildemaro Vargas of the DBacks went 0 for 4 today in a loss to the Cubs, which ended his 24-game hitting streak. He had hit safely in every game in which he played thus far this season. Meanwhile, the Cubs won their 4th straight overall and 10th in a row at Wrigley. They lead the NL Central, a division where all five teams are over .500. Also, in a game this afternoon, the Reds tied a MLB record by walking 7 consecutive Pirates batters. That happened in the 2nd inning. After a leadoff strikeout, the next seven batters walked. Pittsburgh scored 5 runs in the inning, one of 3 5-run innings they had today in a 17-7 win. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2026, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/17 "2026-05-03T02:03:47Z")
In addition to his first 24 games this season, Vargas also hit safely in the last three games he played last season, so hit total hit streak was 27 games. In other news, the Padres have [reached a deal to sell the team](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/48659063/padres-reach-agreement-sell-group-led-kwanza-jones-jose-e-feliciano) to a group led by Kwanza Jones and Jose E Feliciano. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/18 "2026-05-03T02:32:22Z")
The Dodgers dropped 4 in a row and are now basically tied with the Padres. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/19 "2026-05-03T21:05:40Z")
Yankees ass whipping on the Orioles 11-3. Started off tight but they pulled away late in the game. All of that might be totally unimportant because Ben Rice was taken out with a possible hand injury. He’s currently leading baseball in OBP, SLG, OPS and OPS+. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2026, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697/20 "2026-05-04T04:50:01Z")
Early reports are that Rice is OK. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2026/1029697.md?page=2)