The Minnesota Twins suffered another frustrating defeat, falling 7-2 to the Washington Nationals, marking their third consecutive series loss since the All-Star break. This loss was particularly significant, given that the Nationals are one of the league's weakest teams. The Twins, who aimed to capitalize on a favorable schedule against struggling opponents, managed only a 4-5 record against the bottom three teams in the National League. Rookie pitcher Travis Adams struggled, giving up four runs in a crucial fifth inning, which contributed to the loss.

Offensively, the Twins were quiet, scoring just five runs in the three-game series against a Nationals pitching staff that ranks among the league's worst. Despite a highlight from Matt Wallner, who hit a 452-foot homer, the Twins found it difficult to sustain momentum. With the trade deadline approaching, speculation abounds about potential trades as the Twins attempt to salvage their playoff hopes. They will face the Boston Red Sox in a series that could shape their direction moving forward.

Seattle Mariners RHP Andres Munoz has emerged as a top-tier relief pitcher this season, leading the majors in saves and maintaining a perfect 0.00 ERA as we approach June. His performance has solidified his role as a fantasy favorite, especially considering his past injury history. With 17 saves already, Munoz is on track to surpass his previous career high of 22 saves. The Mariners' bullpen, while ranked 10th in the league with a 3.43 ERA, relies heavily on Munoz, who accounts for nearly all of their saves this season. Teammates Carlos Vargas and Gabe Speier are also contributing, with Speier being noted for his strikeout potential.

Other noteworthy relief options include Jason Adam of the San Diego Padres, who boasts impressive stats and a strong fantasy point tally. Meanwhile, Will Vest from the Detroit Tigers has also shined, converting saves and maintaining a low OPS against left-handed hitters. Not all news is positive, as some pitchers like Yankees RHP Devin Williams are struggling, highlighting the volatility of relief pitching in fantasy leagues.

The 2025 MLB season has officially kicked off, featuring 28 of the 30 MLB teams on Opening Day. Highlighting the event are the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, last year's World Series participants. Notably, Lars Nootbaar stands out as the only USC alum on an active MLB roster, having played 109 games for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2024. Garrett Stubbs, previously the No. 2 catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, has been optioned to Triple-A. Other former Trojans like Kyle Hurt and Tyler Gilbert are sidelined with injuries, while Blake Sabol starts the season in Triple-A with the Boston Red Sox.

The roster also features notable coaches from USC, including Yankees manager Aaron Boone and Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior, emphasizing USC's lasting impact in Major League Baseball.

Alan Trejo made his mark in Texas Rangers spring training history by being the first player to utilize the Automated Ball Strike (ABS) replay challenge system. In a 5-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals, Trejo challenged a strike call during the eighth inning, but the review confirmed the umpire's call, resulting in a strikeout. Manager Bruce Bochy found the challenge entertaining, noting the quick pace of the review.

The game featured several notable performances, including pitcher Dane Dunning, who showed promise by throwing two scoreless innings. However, Leody Taveras continued to struggle against left-handers, grounding out and flying out in his at-bats. Alejandro Osuna also had a mixed performance, making a base-running mistake but redeeming himself with a sliding catch. As the Rangers prepare for the upcoming season, their ability to utilize the ABS system and address player performances will be crucial.

The Boston Red Sox have made a significant move by acquiring catcher Blake Sabol from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for international signing bonus pool allocation. Sabol, who is 27 years old, has shown potential with a .313 batting average over 11 games with the Giants.

Though his major league career has seen him batting .243 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs in 121 games, Sabol spent the majority of the 2024 season at Triple-A Sacramento. In order to accommodate Sabol on their 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated right-handed pitcher Chase Shugart for assignment.