Because the 2023 common season continues, listed here are three issues we’ll be keeping track of across the baseball world all through the day at present:

1. Davis reaches the majors:

As was reported yesterday, the Pirates are anticipated to advertise catching prospect Henry Davis earlier than at present’s recreation towards the Cubs. The primary general decide within the 2021 draft, Davis is a consensus high 100 prospect within the recreation who was ranked as extremely as #46 by Baseball America getting into the 2023 marketing campaign. These sturdy rankings got here even after some retailers soured on Davis considerably due to a tough stint in Double-A final yr, the place he hit .207/.324/.379 in 136 plate appearances. Davis has left little room for doubt together with his efficiency thus far in 2023, nonetheless, crushing minor league competitors to the tune of a .284/.433/.541 slash line in 232 plate appearances break up between the Double-A and Triple-A ranges.

Whereas Davis has spent most of his taking part in profession as a catcher, it seems that is probably not his place within the majors, a minimum of on a full-time foundation. Supervisor Derek Shelton already acknowledged yesterday that the membership’s present catching tandem of Austin Hedges and Jason Delay would stay on the lively roster following Davis’s promotion, whereas Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Submit-Gazette expands on that remark, noting that the expectation is that Davis will play primarily in proper subject whereas additionally getting occasional begins behind the plate. A 40-man roster transfer can be essential to accommodate Davis, although that may simply be completed by transferring right-hander Vince Velasquez, who is not going to pitch once more in 2023, to the 60-day IL.

2. Nootbaar to return:

The Cardinals have been with out outfielder Lars Nootbaar for everything of June due to a decrease again contusion, however the outfielder might be on the verge of returning, with a number of stories indicating that Nootbaar will rejoin the Cardinals towards the Nationals in Washington, probably as quickly as at present. That’s nice information for St. Louis, as Nootbaar’s implausible .380 on-base proportion in 184 plate appearances this season ought to assist bolster an offense that ranks simply ninth within the NL with a team-wide OBP of .322.

It’s at the moment unclear which gamers within the Cardinals lineup will see lowered taking part in time due to Nootbaar’s return. With Nootbaar on the shelf, Tommy Edman has moved from the infield to middle subject, a place he’s taken to somewhat nicely. He’s flanked on both aspect by Jordan Walker and Dylan Carlson on most days, whereas Paul DeJong, Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Gorman combine and match up the center. Given the flexibility of Edman and Donovan, the membership has loads of flexibility with regard to the way it can juggle its place gamers upon Nootbaar’s return.

3. Candelario to be re-evaluated:

The Nationals might be with out considered one of their key offensive contributors within the coming days, as supervisor Davey Martinez informed reporters (together with Mark Zuckerman of MASN) that third baseman Jeimer Candelario suffered a bone bruise on his proper thumb on Saturday. Martinez notes that the membership plans to re-evaluate Candelario forward of this night’s recreation towards the Cardinals. Whereas the Nationals, sporting an NL-worst report of 27-43 that’s set them again 18 video games within the NL East, will hardly have hopes of creating the playoffs dashed by Candelario lacking time, the switch-hitter struggling an damage that causes him to overlook important time could be a serious blow nonetheless.

That’s as a result of Candelario figures to be one of many extra attention-grabbing bats obtainable to potential consumers on the commerce deadline. After a tough 2022 season that noticed him non-tendered by the Tigers over the offseason, Candelario has bounced again in an enormous means with the Nationals, slashing .256/.336/.452 in 283 plate appearances whereas taking part in high quality protection at third base. Ought to Candelario miss time, Michael Chavis and Ildemaro Vargas seem like the more than likely choices to cowl for him on the scorching nook.