On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
Fans in Kansas City are awaiting news on the status of their first baseman after Vinnie Pasquantino exited Saturday’s game with what the Royals announced as a right hamstring strain. The club added that Pasquantino will continue to be evaluated, and MLB.com’s Anne Rogers adds the club expects to know more Sunday about the severity of the issue, including whether or not the slugger will miss time due to the issue. For his part, Pasquantino told reporters (including Rogers) this evening that he feels “fine.”
“I don’t want to put any timeframe on it, but I don’t think — my gut tells me it’s not going to affect anything,” Pasquantino said, “But my gut is not the medical staff. So we’ll get it evaluated [Sunday] and we’ll see.”
While it’s certainly visible that the issue proves to be mild enough that Pasquantino doesn’t miss significant time, it’s somewhat difficult to imagine him being back in the lineup in time for Opening Day, which is just five days away. Even a relatively mild strain could be cause for a short stint on the injured list, though if Pasquantino manages to avoid the IL it wouldn’t be the first time he’s successfully defied the conventional wisdom when it comes to recovery time. The first baseman suffered a broken thumb in the final days of August last year and was slated to miss between six and eight weeks, but wound up coming back just a month later to participate in the club’s Wild Card series against the Orioles.
Of course, returning in time for Opening Day is not as significant as returning to the field for the Royals’ first playoff appearance since their 2015 World Series championship was last year. With a long season ahead, it would hardly be a surprise if the Royals decided to proceed cautiously with one of their top hitters. A career .267/.335/.445 (114 wRC+) hitter who posted a 108 wRC+ last year, only AL MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. and veteran slugger Salvador Perez were more valuable for Kansas City last year at the plate than Pasquantino.
Fortunately, the club is better equipped to handle an injury of this sort now than last year. Adding Jonathan India to the club’s offense should offer another solidly above-average bat to contribute regularly and extend the lineup even if Pasquantino misses time. The club coincidentally added veteran Mark Canha in a Friday trade with the Brewers. While Canha appeared likely to be tasked with shoring up the club’s outfield depth entering the season, if Pasquantino misses time, the 36-year-old should be able to slide into the first base job fairly seamlessly and provide at least average production at the position while Pasquantino recovers. An injured list stint for Pasquantino could also open the door for out-of-options first baseman Nick Pratto, a lefty-swinging former top prospect who seemed unlikely to break camp with the club, to fill in and either platoon with Canha or at least spell him on days the Royals would like to utilize him in the outfield.
More must-reads:
- Brewers trading away 10-year veteran ahead of key deadline
- Who are the best MLB switch-hitters of all time?
- The 'MLB Comeback Player of the Year Award winners since 2005' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Yankees’ Aaron Boone identifies Cam Schlittler’s quality that blows him away
The New York Yankees are gaining ground in the AL East, and part of that surge comes from an unexpected source — rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler. Following New York’s 5-4 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre, manager Aaron Boone singled out the one thing about the young pitcher that truly stands out. Schlittler, making just his second big-league start, impressed not only with his fastball and command but also with the confidence he exuded in a high-stakes divisional matchup. Boone emphasized that mentality as a major asset for the team moving forward. The Yankees skipper praised Schlittler’s poise in pressure moments after just his second career start. The YES Network posted the moment to X (formerly Twitter), where Boone shared his admiration for the 6-foot-6 starter’s demeanor. “The one thing that strikes me about Cam is his confidence… He’s not afraid.” That confidence translated into results on the field. Schlittler held Toronto to two earned runs on seven hits over five innings, helping the Yankees snap the Blue Jays’ franchise-record 11-game home win streak. The win cut Toronto’s division lead to just three games and kept New York’s momentum building. The right-handed pitcher, a seventh-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, made his long-awaited MLB debut for the Yankees on July 9, 2025 against the Seattle Mariners. In that outing, he threw 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits — including a pair of solo home runs — while walking two and striking out seven. He energized the Yankee Stadium crowd by touching 100 mph with his fastball and earned a standing ovation for his performance. It’s no surprise the team is taking notice. With ace Max Fried nearing a return and the MLB trade deadline approaching, Schlittler’s performance could influence the front office’s next steps. The Yankees are balancing long-term planning with the urgency to contend, and Boone’s confidence in the 24-year-old flamethrower might reduce the need for outside reinforcements. For a team chasing championship number 28, mental toughness matters. Boone’s public praise positions Schlittler as more than just a feel-good story — he may be a key arm in a legitimate playoff push. With the Yankees rotation still searching for consistency, confidence could be the intangible they’ve been missing. As the MLB trade deadline looms, Schlittler’s emerging value could make him more than just a stopgap in the rookie ranks — he’s quickly proving himself too important to move.
Chicago Blackhawks reportedly set to trade 25-year-old goaltender to Stars rival, Edmonton Oilers
Browns make official Deshaun Watson move before training camp
Most Cleveland Browns fans do not expect to see Deshaun Watson play another snap for their beloved yet perpetually tortured franchise. He is not going anywhere until after the 2025-26 season, however. Will this controversial, declining and largely unhealthy quarterback have a chance to audition for another job at some point in this upcoming campaign? Before answering that question, the three-time Pro Bowler has to get on the practice field. And that will take a while. As expected, the Browns placed Watson on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 29-year-old ruptured his right Achilles tendon in an Oct. 20 loss versus the Cincinnati Bengals. He then suffered a re-tear in January, causing many to wonder if he will suit up at all this season. Watson is nonetheless maintaining a presence in Cleveland’s QB room and is determined to return in 2025. Second-year defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. joins him on the PUP list, and wide receiver David Bell is landing on the Active/Non-Football Injury list. Rounding out the series of roster moves, the Browns are waiving WR Jaelen Gill. The team begins training camp practice on Wednesday, with plenty of matters to address. Although Watson will command attention as long as he is on Cleveland, fans are eager to know who the starting quarterback will be when the Brownies host the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. A tight and intriguing QB competition is set to unfold, following a confounding offseason. Browns have to figure out their QB situation Cleveland acquired former first-round pick Kenny Pickett in March, signed veteran and 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco in April, selected Dillon Gabriel in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft and then snatched Shedeur Sanders in the fifth. Given the assets the organization spent to obtain the three younger signal-callers, the cleanest thing to do is part ways with the 40-year-old Flacco and head into the season with three quarterbacks. And yet, because of his wealth of experience, many would probably argue that the Super Bowl 47 MVP deserves to start under center until one of the others earns the job. Pickett appears to be the early favorite, but there could be plenty of twists and turns before summer’s end. The Deshaun Watson element also adds another layer to this perplexing saga. If the 2016 national champion does return to action during the 2025-26 campaign, then Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski will have a decision to make. It may not be a difficult one, however. During his first three years with the Browns, Watson has completed only 61.2 percent of his passes for 3,365 yards and 19 touchdowns. The squad is 9-10 in games that he starts. Regardless of how his recovery progresses, it seems safe to say that No. 4 and his five-year, $230 million contract will serve as a black eye on a Browns organization that is already covered in gashes.
Is Giants' Joe Schoen already having second thoughts about Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders decision?
Caitlin Clark drops mic on Kelsey Plum's Instagram post
Caitlin Clark might be the most popular figure in women's basketball right now, but she continues to draw shots left and right, both on and off the court. The Iowa product has stayed even keeled and mostly unrattled, but that doesn't mean she won't fight back. That's why, in the light of Kelsey Plum's recent comments, she decided to take matters into her own hands and clapped back at her with a simple, six-word message. Plum shared a picture of her during the WNBA's All-Star Weekend, which showed half of a Nike logo in the background. Clark was quick to spot it and just wrote "Thank u for the Nike ad." This happened just hours after Plum seemingly took a shot at Clark and her Team Clark teammates for reportedly not getting involved in their pre-game protest. “The T-shirt was determined this morning. Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that,” Plum revealed. “That really needed to be mentioned,” Sabrina Ionescu added while both laughed. WNBA All-Stars warmed up with a T-Shirt that read 'Pay us what you owe us,' ahead of their new CBA agreement, which is expected to be signed in the offseason. WNBA players get around 9 percent of the league's revenue, and they're asking for a bigger share since most of them also have to play overseas during the offseason because of the salary disparity. Plum is the vice president of the WNBPA, so it's not surprising to see her so involved in the protest and the demands. Then again, it's hard to understand the reasoning behind the tattle telling, as not only does it show that there might not be a united front ahead of these negotiations, but it also drives attention away from where it should be.
Knicks Predicted to Part Ways With Karl-Anthony Towns in Blockbuster Three-Team Trade
The New York Knicks are looking to make more moves to upgrade their depth as they figure to be one of the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference next season. Of course, the Knicks made their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2000 last season and with the amount of injuries to top players in the East, the Conference is wide open entering next season. Because of this, the Knicks have emerged as one of the favorites to win the East thanks to their core led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Despite this, Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman recently created a three-team mock trade that would see the Knicks move on from Towns. In the trade, the Knicks would add Jrue Holiday, Robert Williams III and a 2028 first-round pick via the Portland Trail Blazers while they would send Towns and Pacome Dadiet to Portland. The Trail Blazers would also send Duop Reath to the Atlanta Hawks in this proposed mock trade. While the Knicks are looking at ways to improve their depth, moving on from Towns would be a tough decision for them to make despite his struggles, especially on the defensive side, during the playoffs last season. It would also be a tough decision to swap Towns for Williams III due to his injury history, especially with Mitchell Robinson’s injury history as well and the Knicks’ lack of true center depth. While that may be the case, adding a veteran point guard in Holiday to the second unit could be a good addition to the Knicks’ bench and Williams III would also give them more size. Despite this, it is highly unlikely that the Knicks will move on from Towns this summer and likely into next season as they see their core being able to help them compete for a championship next season.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
