Cal Raleigh’s Freefall, Yankees Panic Meter Rising?, Ohtani Searching for Timing, Padres Defying the Numbers & Rays Taking Over the AL | 167

Episode 167 of Tablesetters is LIVE!

We open with the surprising division leaders in the West as the San Diego Padres and Athletics continue leading their divisions despite major flaws on paper. The Padres rank near the bottom of baseball offensively but keep winning close games through late heroics, while the Athletics remain atop the AL West despite a 4.45 ERA and inconsistent pitching. We discuss Jackson Merrill leading off, Nick Castellanos delivering a huge homer after borrowing a bat from Fernando Tatis Jr., and the strange state of both West divisions.

From there, we dive into the shocking struggles of Cal Raleigh after his 60-homer season in 2025. Raleigh entered Tuesday with a 43-plate appearance hitless streak and one of the biggest OPS drops in baseball. We break down the hard-hit decline, timing concerns, mechanical changes, and whether fatigue from last season’s massive workload could be contributing to the collapse.

We also discuss the growing noise around the New York Yankees despite their solid start. Is the 1-8 record against teams above .500 actually meaningful this early? Plus, Max Fried exits with elbow soreness, José Caballero lands on the IL, and Anthony Volpe returns to the majors after shoulder surgery.

We get into MLB and the MLBPA officially beginning CBA negotiations, the growing conversation around a salary cap and floor system, and the financial imbalance highlighted by the Dodgers’ projected $550 million combined payroll and luxury tax spending.

The Braves continue looking dominant, and Michael Harris II is putting together the best offensive start of his career after major swing and approach adjustments against fastballs.

In “What’s the Word?” we focus on timing with Shohei Ohtani struggling through one of the worst offensive stretches of his career while the Dodgers continue searching for answers offensively.

We also discuss Kyle Schwarber homering in five straight games as the Phillies continue surging under Don Mattingly, and close with the Tampa Bay Rays looking like the best team in the American League behind the resurgence of Shane McClanahan.

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