One of the biggest clouds hanging over the 2026 Major League Baseball season is the soon-to-be-expiring collective bargaining agreement between the MLB Players Association and the 30 team owners. The animosity between both sides, after comments were reported in the media, has many fans wondering whether a possible work stoppage could begin on December 1st when the deal expires.

On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the first proposals exchanged this week between the owners and the players, most notably the owners’ desire to implement a salary cap. While it is an encouraging sign that both sides are negotiating earlier than expected, are the differences between the two sides too large to overcome?

Later, Jake and Jordan discuss the incredible month of May from Philadelphia Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez, who is currently riding a historic scoreless innings streak. They also highlight the other outstanding starters in the Senior Circuit who are putting together great seasons and could make NL Cy Young voting extremely difficult. The guys then close out the show by making their picks for this week’s The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

1:48 - The Opener: CBA negotiations
13:02 - Early responses to the offers
28:54 - We Need To Talk About: Cristopher Sánchez
39:23 - NL Cy Young race is stacked
43:28 - The Good
50:47 - The Bad
55:53 - The Uggla

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Over the weekend, the Houston Astros pitched the first no-hitter since the 2024 season against their state rivals, the Texas Rangers. While the combined no-hitter thrown by Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert, and — in his MLB debut — Alimber Santa was the fifth in franchise history, we’re left wondering why there was so little buzz surrounding the now-rare occurrence.

On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jordan Shusterman is joined by Shea Station podcast host Jolly Olive to talk about the feat by the three Astros pitchers, including whether the no-hitter has lost its luster, why Houston might finally be figuring things out and why Santa’s debut can be tied to a feat last accomplished in 1892. They then discuss the other side of the no-hitter by taking a look at the offensive problems the Rangers have had this season.

Later, Jordan and Jolly draft the most disappointing teams so far this season, with the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox among the teams selected. They also dive into the Chicago Cubs’ rough 10-game losing streak, Abner Uribe’s controversial post-save antics and preview everything you need to know about the Women’s College World Series, which starts Thursday.

2:33 - The Opener: Astros throw first no-no of 2026
18:12 - Field Report: Cubs’ losing streak hits 10
26:53 - Disappointing team draft
52:28 - We Need To Talk About: Uribe’s antics
57:23 - Women’s College World Series preview

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:

🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social

🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ

📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq

⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz

🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_

It’s been a very long time since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series. It was the last time that Gerrit Cole appeared in a Major League Baseball game. That all changes tonight, when the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner makes his season debut in the Bronx for the New York Yankees and hopes to regain the form that made him the ace of the staff.

On this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss the significance behind Gerrit Cole’s return to the Yankees, including his search for redemption after his last appearance on the Yankee Stadium mound, how close he came to leaving the club and why he’ll slide perfectly into the rotation. With a big series against division rival the Tampa Bay Rays starting tonight and a need to get back to winning ways, the Yankees hope their ace will get them back on track.

Later, Jake and Jordan talk about the Cleveland Guardians mopping the Detroit Tigers and how their different philosophy when it comes to roster construction is paying off so far in 2026. They then discuss the Milwaukee Brewers sweeping the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field to leapfrog them in the NL Central standings, as well as J.P. Crawford being willing to make a position switch so he can stay with the Seattle Mariners. The guys then make their picks for this week’s edition of The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

1:18 - The Opener: Gerrit Cole returns
19:34 - Around The League: Guardians mop the Tigers
28:45 - Brewers overtake the Cubs
34:43 - We Need To Talk About: Crawford eyes change
42:35 - The Good
50:21 - The Bad
54:48 - The Uggla

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app:

🎧 Apple Podcasts

🎧 Spotify

🖥️ YouTube

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv

And check out Jake, Jordan & the show on X or Instagram:

🌤️ @CespedesBBQ: https://bsky.app/profile/cespedesbbq.bsky.social

🐦 @CespedesBBQ: https://x.com/CespedesBBQ

📷 @CespedesBBQ: https://www.instagram.com/cespedesbbq

⚾ @Jake_Mintz: https://x.com/Jake_Mintz

🧢 @J_Shusterman: https://x.com/j_shusterman_