Sports
What Bruce Meyer’s Promotion Means for the 2027 MLB Lockout
The recent change in leadership in the Major League Baseball Players Association matters to most fans for only one reason.
The effect it could have on the pending lockout by MLB owners.
Union members promoting labor lawyer Bruce Meyer to MLBPA Executive Director after the stunning resignation of former ballplayer Tony Clark won’t change the players’ overall strategy. Their goal remains to get the best deal possible, which means not accepting a salary cap under any circumstances.
It’s funny to hear arguments about how players in other pro sports that have a salary cap receive a higher percentage of revenue than baseball players, and “Why don’t MLB players realize this and just agree to a salary cap?” Even if it were true, it defies credibility to assert that MLB owners are threatening a lockout, where games could be lost, along with perhaps an entire season, because they want an economic system that guarantees more money to the players. All to champion “competitive balance.” I’ve got a major league team in Montreal to sell you if you believe that one.
Not that there was a good time for Clark to go, but it does seem like a bad time for players to go to the bullpen, with team-by-team union meetings happening in Spring Training, and collective-bargaining negotiations set to begin in earnest soon thereafter. But better now than a year from now.
Multiple union reps reacted with disbelief on the record when Clark announced Tuesday he was resigning because of a personal scandal that became public knowledge. And it wasn’t the scandal that everybody knew about: Clark has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, a woman he hired to work for the MLBPA.
A family love triangle would have been bad enough. A distraction at the minimum. Worse, a judgment on Clark’s judgment. But could it get worse than that? Sure!
The previous scandal with Clark related to a federal investigation of his alleged mishandling of union finances. It would have been the lowest-hanging fruit for owners to strip Clark of any ability to lead. If not at the bargaining table, certainly in the media and the court of public opinion, owners would have used Clark as leverage against the players. It was a curious decision by the MLBPA to stick with Clark for as long as they did after the first investigation became public 15 months ago. Especially considering the union’s recent mediocre performance in negotiations.
Clark was compromised already.
It could be worse: Earlier in 2024, several union reps tried and failed to fire Meyer as Clark’s first lieutenant. They viewed Meyer as too beholden to the wealthiest players, something a tool of agent Scott Boras, and not inclusive enough of minor leaguers, who in recent years joined the union and have a powerful voice in it.
Not that Clark’s reputation was much different as it related to marginal players. But if the Meyer insurrection had worked, the MLBPA might not have either of their top two leaders.
Cutting out Meyer might have been short sighted, but it doesn’t mean the unhappy faction didn’t have a point. For all of the moaning by owners about the competitive balance gap between the richest teams and smallest spenders, there’s a growing wealth gap between the richest players and the middle guys. The squeeze has been on for some time. A higher percentage of players than ever are making close to the league minimum salary.
Are these concerns going to guide Meyer in negotiations? They should; the MLBPA has many more members in it now thanks to the minors. That also means more opportunities for cracks to develop.
On the owners side, are the Dodgers and the Yankees going to keep solidarity over the Pirates and Guardians? Are the wealthiest players going to look out for the 19th man on the roster, or some lifers in Double-A?
If everybody wants a short lockout, both sides will have to keep the little guy in mind.
Sports
Guardians' Travis Bazzana strives to heat up in finale vs. A's
Apr 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (37) before the game between the Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana is breathing a sigh of relief after recording his first major league hit in Saturday’s game against the Athletics, snapping an 0-for-12 spell to start his career.
Bazzana will look for more production at the plate on Sunday afternoon when Cleveland vies for a sweep of its three-game series against the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
The Guardians selected Bazzana with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft after his standout college career at Oregon State. While his first full season in the organization in 2025 was hampered by an oblique injury, it did not delay his fast track to the majors. The 23-year-old from Australia made his debut on Tuesday.
A .407 hitter in his final college season, Bazzana got his first major league hit when he singled off Hogan Harris in the seventh inning of Cleveland’s 14-6 win over the A’s on Saturday. Bazzana even accomplished two goals in one swing — the single also gave him his first two RBIs.
“It was a competitive at-bat, and I was confident he was going to go at me with the fastball right there — I got a good one,” Bazzana said.
With his first hit out of the way, Bazzana hopes to catch the slipstream of his teammate Chase DeLauter, who’s been on a tear at the plate. DeLauter extended his hitting streak to seven games and has reached base in 11 straight after recording a single in the second inning on Saturday.
With 8-5 and 14-6 victories secured on Friday and Saturday, the Guardians already have snapped a stretch of three straight lost series. Now they will turn to left-hander Parker Messick (3-0, 1.73 ERA) to try and complete the series sweep.
The 25-year-old out of Florida State has instantly made a name for himself since debuting in August 2025, allowing two or fewer runs in 10 of his first 13 career starts.
On April 16, Messick took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Baltimore but was removed after giving up two runs and two hits over eight innings. Sunday will mark his first-ever appearance vs. the Athletics.
Messick will oppose A’s right-hander Aaron Civale (2-1, 3.23 ERA), who spent the first four full seasons of his career in Cleveland before being traded to Tampa Bay in 2023. He then split time between the Rays, Milwaukee and both Chicago teams before joining the Athletics on a one-year deal this past offseason.
Civale, 30, is 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four career starts against the Guardians. He was a late addition to the A’s roster in February but has emerged as one of their most consistent starters.
“Overall, he keeps us in games right now, and that’s a good sign,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said after Civale’s last start on Tuesday.
The A’s lost to Kansas City 4-1 in 10 innings, but Civale threw five shutout innings in a no-decision.
–Field Level Media
Sports
After late rally, Royals bid for rare road sweep of Mariners
May 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Lucas Erceg (60) shakes hands with catcher Carter Jensen (22) following a victory against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images As Emerson Hancock was warming up Saturday, he caught himself watching some of the video tributes on the scoreboard at T-Mobile Park for Randy Johnson, whose No. 51 jersey was retired by the Seattle Mariners in a pregame ceremony.
Hancock then went out did his best impression of the “Big Unit.”
The former first-round pick struck out a career-high 14 batters over seven innings but didn’t get a decision as the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 3-2 victory in 10 innings.
The Royals, who came to Seattle with a 3-12 road record, will try for a sweep of the three-game series Sunday afternoon. They’ve already clinched their first road series victory of the season.
“You know a lot of these games are going to be close when you’re playing good teams,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “Today the pitching really held up and the offense came through. (Friday) it was more the opposite. When things are going well for you, you’re winning games no matter which way you have to do it.”
Hancock, whose previous best was nine strikeouts set March 29 against Cleveland in his first start of the season, allowed one run on six hits and didn’t walk a batter.
“Congrats to Randy on an incredible career,” Hancock said. “It was an honor for me to pitch on a night like this. You just want to go out and execute the best you can.”
Catcher Cal Raleigh was a late scratch for undisclosed reasons, so Hancock worked with veteran backup Mitch Garver instead.
“He and Garve had an incredible game plan, mixing hard and soft,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said.
Wilson described Raleigh, coming off a record-breaking season with 60 home runs, as having “just a little soreness.” He said the catcher would undergo additional testing Sunday but refused to disclose what part of Raleigh’s body was ailing.
The Royals tied the score in the ninth inning.
Salvador Perez led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Lane Thomas, who advanced to second on a balk by Mariners closer Andres Munoz. With one out, Jac Caglianone lined a single to left-center, with the ball bouncing between the legs of outfielder Julio Rodriguez and rolling all the way to the wall, allowing Thomas to score and Caglianone to take third.
Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly in the 10th produced the winning run after ghost runner Michael Massey stole third base on a pickoff attempt by Garver.
“Not exactly how we drew it up,” Quatraro said.
The Mariners took the lead in the fifth as Leo Rivas scored on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. They blew a chance at a big inning when Randy Arozarena forgot the count and was picked off first base.
“It was kind of a crazy game with the balk and Randy losing track …” Wilson said. “You don’t play this game without embarrassing things happening at times.”
Sunday’s series finale is set to feature Royals left-hander Kris Bubic (2-1, 3.74 ERA) against Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (0-2, 6.35).
Bubic took a no-decision Tuesday against the Athletics in a game the Royals won 4-1 in West Sacramento, Calif. He went five innings and allowed one run on four hits, with four walks and six strikeouts. Bubic is 1-0 with a 7.27 ERA in four career starts against Seattle.
Castillo is coming off an 11-4 loss at Minnesota in which he gave up seven runs over five innings. He’s 3-2 with a 3.47 ERA in eight previous starts versus the Royals.
–Field Level Media
Sports
White Sox pursue sixth straight victory, sweep of Padres
May 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami (5), right is congratulated by center fielder Tristan Peters (29), left, and catcher Drew Romo (36) after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images While the Chicago White Sox’s power duo of Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery didn’t homer on Saturday night, their ability to hit the long ball has fueled the team’s longest winning streak in four years.
Chicago beat the host San Diego Padres 4-0 on Saturday night for its fifth straight victory and will go for a series sweep on Sunday afternoon.
Murakami leads the majors with 13 homers, and Montgomery is tied for 13th with nine. They’ve homered in the same game seven times in the team’s first 33 contests, the most by any teammate duo within the first 35 games of a season in MLB history.
“When you have guys in the middle of the order that are able to change the score with one swing, obviously it’s going to make a big difference,” White Sox manager Will Venable said.
Add Miguel Vargas’ six homers to the mix and you have three players teaming for 28 of the club’s 40 homers, which are good for a ninth-place tie in MLB.
Murakami, in his first season in the majors after playing in Japan, only figures to be more dangerous as he learns more about the pitchers, most of whom he’s facing for the first time.
“There’s still a lot of learning curve of the game,” he said through an interpreter.
Murakami and his teammates will try to provide plenty of run support Sunday for left-hander Anthony Kay (1-1, 6.12 ERA), who’s coming off a no-decision Monday in his team’s 8-7 home win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Kay permitted seven hits and four runs in four innings, walking two and striking out two. This will be his first career start against San Diego.
The Padres announced a change to their rotation after Saturday night’s game. Manager Craig Stammen said right-hander Griffin Canning would be activated from the injured list to make his first start of the season.
Canning, who was 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA last year for the New York Mets before suffering a season-ending ruptured Achilles, is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox.
Stammen said that the plan to start Canning on Sunday actually came to fruition earlier in the week.
“We just wanted to split Michael (King) and Randy (Vasquez) up a bit,” Stammen said.
Besides adding depth to a rotation that has battled injuries to start the season, Stammen also is looking for better, more consistent approaches from his hitters. San Diego has just nine runs in a four-game losing streak and was blanked at home Saturday for the first time this year.
“While there are some good at-bats in there, there are also some not-so-good at-bats in there,” Stammen said. “We have to figure out a way to stick nine good ones together through the entire lineup.”
The Padres are batting just .235 with a .307 on-base percentage this season, ranking 21st and 25th, respectively, in the majors. Their 29 homers are tied for 24th.
–Field Level Media
Guardians' Travis Bazzana strives to heat up in finale vs. A's
After late rally, Royals bid for rare road sweep of Mariners
