MLB News & Moments You Should Know – May 16

Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.

Today’s Headlines

Somebody Please Explain the Cardinals to Me

Stick with me here. Last week, the Cardinals demoted Willson Contreras from catching duties, claiming (and receiving a lot of criticism) that he had “a lot to learn” about the struggling St. Louis pitching staff. Monday night, Contreras returned behind the dish after clarifying that actually, he didn’t change anything.

Contreras’ return to catching came with Jack Flaherty taking the mound, who entered the game with a 6.18 ERA.

Of course, Flaherty went 7 shutout innings with 10 strikeouts and only gave up three hits, crushing the division-leading Brewers 18-1.

The Cardinals are 7-1 in their last 8 games, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Take That, Tungsten!

Shohei Ohtani finished just a double shy of the cycle, including a monster shot in Baltimore. And the Angels won!

456 FT
114.6 MPH

FROM THE STARTING PITCHER https://t.co/fyOI7P49Zl

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 15, 2023

Best Moments From Yesterday

Uh, I think Aaron Judge is Back?

Aaron Judge returned from the IL last week, and hit two home runs in Toronto Monday night, including one that went 462 feet. It’s the first multi-homer game from Judge since…Saturday.

It's a terrible night to be a baseball in Toronto.

That's 30 career 2-homer games for @TheJudge44. pic.twitter.com/a6C4Z9lOTM

— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2023

Muncy Takes the Home Run Lead

Max Muncy also had a couple of round-trippers on Monday night. The Dodgers’ infielder leads all of MLB with 14 big flies on the season.

Max Muncy retakes his place atop the home run leaderboard with a 2-homer night! pic.twitter.com/PkJabl9IBx

— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2023

Hut, Hut, Hike!

Ryan Noda has been low key excellent for the A’s this season, with a 21% walk rate and 144 wRC+. Monday night, he flashed his defensive chops with…well, you just have to see it:

The no-look, between-the-legs shovel pass! pic.twitter.com/U0vrejfqIX

— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2023

Brenton Doyle Has Himself a Game

The Rockies needed every ounce of a career day for Brenton Doyle, who hit two homers and had this web gem as the Rockies defeated the Reds 9-8:

OH!

Doyle rules! pic.twitter.com/XWzPOOD1XY

— MLB (@MLB) May 16, 2023

Injuries

Joc Pederson was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 13, after being hit by a pitch on the hand on Friday. In a corresponding move, the Giants activated Mike Yastrzemski from his trip to the IL.

Manny Machado had to leave the Padres’ game after being hit in the hand with a pitch.

Cody Bellinger had to leave the game after an absolutely incredible catch up against the wall. Hoping for the best for the Bellinger Renaissance season, as he was hitting .270/.338/.496 with nine homers in the early going of 2023.