The Toronto Blue Jays will include designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach in their Opening Day roster, alongside Davis Schneider, Ernie Clement, and Brian Serven. Vogelbach, who signed a minor league deal, could potentially avoid a full $2MM payout if he agrees to an advanced consent. His inclusion is due to Joey Votto's need for extra tune-up time in the minor leagues and a minor ankle injury. Vogelbach's left-handed bat and solid pop against right-handed pitchers make him a valuable addition to the heavily right-handed Jays team.
The New York Mets' first half position player performances have been graded, with Tommy Pham receiving an A- for his impressive hitting, Francisco Alvarez also earning an A- for his home run prowess and growth as a catcher, and Daniel Vogelbach receiving a C- for his lack of aggression at the plate despite his high walk rate.
The Houston Astros defeated the New York Mets 10-8 in a wild rubber game of their three-game series. The Mets' pitching struggles continued as starter Tylor Megill lasted just 2 1/3 innings, allowing five runs. Despite offensive contributions from up and down the lineup, including a three-hit game from Daniel Vogelbach, the Mets couldn't overcome their pitching woes. The loss was their 13th in their last 17 games, during which they have allowed 93 runs and pitched to a 5.09 ERA.
Daniel Vogelbach hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot, in the Mets' win over the Dodgers on Monday. Vogelbach, who has been effective at getting on base but lacked power, believes he can start hitting homers "in bunches." The Mets' offense, which has relied heavily on Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor, showed what it can do when the bottom half of the lineup is clicking. Vogelbach's performance is crucial as the Mets are not committed to him beyond this season.
