Mickey Gasper has seen a remarkable turnaround since his recent stint in Class AAA, leading to him taking leadoff duties for the Minnesota Twins against the Cleveland Guardians. After struggling early in the season, Gasper's confidence has soared, showcasing a more relaxed approach at the plate. Although he didn’t hit successfully in his first game at the top of the order, his manager, Rocco Baldelli, praised his ability to get on base and energize the offense. With injuries affecting the lineup, Gasper's role could expand as the Twins explore different batting combinations to spark their struggling offense.

Despite his initial struggles, the Twins' management is optimistic about Gasper, who recently homered twice in AAA before returning to the majors. His understanding of the leadoff role, emphasizing quality at-bats to set the tone for his teammates, demonstrates his growth as a player. As the Twins navigate through injuries and slumps of other players, Gasper's adaptability and recent performance make him a player to watch as the season progresses.

In a wild game at Coors Field, the Washington Nationals edged out the Colorado Rockies, 12-11, marking Colorado's seventh consecutive loss. The Rockies, struggling with an abysmal 3-16 record, faced off against a Nationals team that jumped to a 12-2 lead before the Rockies rallied with a strong seventh inning, narrowing the gap to 12-10. Key performances included Sean Bouchard's two-run triple and Jordan Beck's three-run triple, although the Rockies ultimately fell short despite having the tying run at third base in the ninth.

Chase Dollander, touted as a future ace for Colorado, endured a challenging outing, allowing four home runs and ballooning his ERA to 7.36. Meanwhile, Washington's MacKenzie Gore dominated the Rockies' lineup, striking out 13 batters. The teams are set for a split doubleheader on Sunday, following a snowed-out game the previous day.

The New York Yankees made history with a stunning offensive display as they welcomed back former pitcher Nestor Cortes, now with the Milwaukee Brewers. In a remarkable first inning, the Yankees hit four home runs, including three back-to-back-to-back homers from Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Aaron Judge on the first pitch they saw. This marked the first time in MLB history that a team homered on the first three pitches of a game. Tyler Wells capped off the inning with another homer, giving the Yankees a commanding lead early on. Despite the onslaught, the Brewers showed resilience by scoring in the second inning, demonstrating their ability to chip away at the deficit.

Nestor Cortes faced a nightmarish return to Yankee Stadium, allowing four home runs in just the first inning against his former team, the New York Yankees. The sequence began with consecutive homers from Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Aaron Judge, with Judge hitting a staggering 468-foot blast. Cortes's struggles continued as Austin Wells added another home run, making it an unforgettable inning for the pitcher and a triumphant one for the Yankees.

Cortes managed to finish the inning without further disaster, striking out Trent Grisham after allowing two additional Yankees players to reach base. This outing has raised concerns about Cortes's form, especially given it was his return to a stadium where expectations are high. The Yankees capitalized on his mistakes effectively, showcasing their power-hitting capabilities early in the game.

Mark Leiter Jr. of the New York Yankees and Dennis Santana of the Pittsburgh Pirates faced setbacks in salary arbitration, with Leiter being awarded $2.05 million instead of his requested $2.5 million, while Santana will earn $1.4 million compared to his $2.1 million request. The arbitration decisions reflect a broader trend, with teams winning three out of the last four cases. Notably, Mickey Moniak of the Los Angeles Angels successfully negotiated a $2 million salary against a higher request, while Alex Vesia of the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided arbitration altogether by agreeing to a $2.3 million contract.

The arbitration results for Leiter come off a mixed season where he posted a 4.50 ERA in 60 appearances, including a strong postseason showing. Santana's performance was also solid, with a 3.89 ERA over 62 appearances for the Yankees and Pirates last season. As the arbitration period continues, several players, including Brendan Donovan and Nathaniel Lowe, are slated for hearings, adding more intrigue to the offseason.