Welcome to The Pregame Lineup, a weekday newsletter that gets you up to speed on everything you need to know for today’s games, while catching you up on fun and interesting stories you might have missed. Thanks for being here.

Starting today, MLB Players’ Weekend will be a premier showcase of the personalities behind pro ballplayers and their unique interests off the field. For many players, that includes highlighting their charitable efforts in the communities they play in or the ones they come from.

Mariners star Julio Rodríguez, a proud native of the Dominican Republic, took the opportunity to share the story of his latest offseason visit to his homeland, where he went to oversee the culmination of a months-long toy and athletic equipment drive for children in his hometown of Loma de Cabrera. While there, he and celebrity barber/social media personality Vic Blends met a young baseball player and his grandmother and saw how rundown their home was. Here’s an excerpt from Daniel Kramer’s feature on how Rodríguez helped them rebuild:

What Rodríguez discovered was an elderly woman whose home was quite literally in shambles due to recent flooding one month prior that left it seemingly uninhabitable. Yet, here she was -- Agripina Polanco -- living in these conditions in the entire span since the environmental forces struck, with her grandson, who Rodríguez estimated was 12 or 13 years old.

The house’s skeleton was cracked down the middle from the roof to the front doorframe, where a door was replaced by a bedrest, which was moved aside each time someone needed to enter or exit.

Rubble from landfill was scattered across the floor, necessary to block out the flooding, which quite literally shrunk the living space from the ground up, to the point where 6-foot-3 Rodríguez was forced to crouch for the entirety of his visit.

A barely operating refrigerator was perched on cinder blocks. No one was sure if there was running water, but they guessed it was unlikely.

“Julio goes in there,” said Brian Mejia, one of Rodríguez's business representatives at Octagon who was also present, “and he's like, ‘Oh my god, Brian. Like, this lady can't live in these conditions.’ It was really damp and wet. It was dark. It was just not livable.”

Read the full article here.

With multiple special events, the return of an injured phenom and a battle for first place between two National League powerhouses, this figures to be one of the most exciting weekends of the regular season. Let’s highlight a few matchups you absolutely don’t want to miss:

• The return of Players' Weekend also coincides with the return of The Miz. Brewers rookie flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski, who has been sidelined all month by a left tibia contusion while his teammates have reeled off 12 straight wins, will take the mound tonight against the Reds. Misiorowski will be wearing customized cleats that honor his dad and their support of the Wisconsin Parkinson Association.

• Out in California, the Padres and Dodgers will square off for a three-game set at Dodger Stadium as they prepare to meet six times in 10 days for what could very well determine who will ultimately win the NL West. The Padres enter tonight’s series opener one game up on the Dodgers in the standings and winners of five straight, while Los Angeles has dropped four in a row. Perhaps it will be Freddie Freeman’s customized bats that help his team get back on track.

• The Mariners and Mets -- two teams currently in position for Wild Card spots in their respective leagues -- will put a capper on the weekend in the Little League Classic, presented by New York Life, Sunday night on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET from historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa. In case you missed it, Little League legend Mo'ne Davis got us into the spirit a little early when she threw out the ceremonial first pitch Thursday at Nationals Park to former LLWS opponent and current Nats rookie Robert Hassell III.

So sit back, fire up MLB.TV and enjoy an absolutely jam-packed weekend of baseball.

-- Ed Eagle

D-backs left-hander Jalen Beeks didn’t record a pop fly while closing out the Rockies on Thursday night at Coors Field. But he did pop a fly. Like, into his mouth.

Upon delivering his second pitch of the bottom of the ninth, Beeks quickly turned off the mound and began coughing. He later described the issue: “Yeah, l swallowed a fly when I lifted my leg.”

Mmm, yummy.

Beeks said he gagged a little bit, but some water and time were all he needed to get over his insect incident.

We’ve witnessed numerous bug-ballplayer run-ins in recent years. Maikel Garcia was stung by a bee during an at-bat just a few weeks ago. A similar misfortune befell Nolan Arenado last season. We saw a wasp charge at Cody Bellinger during the 2020 World Series, and, famously, midges got all up in Joba Chamberlain’s grill during a 2007 postseason game in Cleveland.

“No big deal,” Beeks said. “Good story for later, though.”

-- Brian Murphy

Last month, Citi Field was the venue for a K-pop concert, featuring a four-member Korean girl group called BLACKPINK. Sixty years ago today, the first home of the Mets hosted a four-man group from across the pond.

It only lasted 30 minutes, about the same amount of time it takes to watch two innings of baseball today. No one could see very much, and they heard even less because of the screaming. So much screaming.

The Beatles played for 55,600 frenzied fans at Shea Stadium, a watershed moment immediately dubbed "the most spectacular concert in American history" by one British music newspaper, a night that intertwined the band and the stadium for posterity. It wasn't the first concert at a baseball stadium -- the Beatles have more ties to baseball than you may think -- but that night in Queens changed the Beatles, transformed the entertainment industry and made "very big and very strange" Shea an internationally recognized landmark.

The Mets are marking the anniversary tonight, honoring John, Paul, George and Ringo, at the ballpark built in old Shea's shadow, Citi Field, when they host the Mariners at 7:10 p.m. ET.

-- Dan Rivkin

MLB stars are ready to style and profile as Players’ Weekend gets underway.

At the heart of the three-day event is the gear, with custom bats, cleats and other personal flourishes. After the weekend, select game-used items will be auctioned off to benefit a charity of the player’s choosing.

The bats are likely to draw the most attention, and for good reason. After all, it’s not every day you get to see someone swing a “Star Wars”-inspired lightsaber bat or one designed to look like a cheeseburger.

Thursday gave fans a sneak peek, as Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott and Tigers ace Tarik Skubal both gave a nod to their kids with their footwear. Stott rocked Elmo-themed cleats for Philadelphia’s game against the Nationals, while Skubal went with a Scooby Doo-inspired pair for his start against the Twins.

Be sure to check out MLB Network’s Players’ Weekend Special tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET. Anchored by Greg Amsinger and Albert Pujols, the special will feature exclusive interviews with Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Pirates starter Paul Skenes.

-- Thomas Harrigan

Inspired by Beeks' run-in with a bug up above ... do you feel the need to shield your head from unwanted insects? If you live near Cincinnati, you’re in luck! Reds City Connect Floppy Hat Giveaway Night takes place before tomorrow’s big-time showdown against the Brewers at 6:40 p.m. ET. (While you’re at it, come out to Great American Ball Park all weekend: Friday night features fireworks, and kids can run the bases after Sunday’s game.)

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