Mike Trout is back to MVP form, eye-popping early ABS challenge system trends and Dalton Rushing is crushing at the plate

The Los Angeles Angels split their series with the New York Yankees in the Bronx this past week, and while the team cares about results, what they saw from Mike Trout might be the most encouraging takeaway. The three-time MVP turned back the clock against the Bronx Bombers and had one heck of a series at the dish.

On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman talk about Trout’s performance, which included five home runs in four games, and why it could be a good sign for his 2026 campaign if he can stay healthy. They also discuss Trout sharing the field with Aaron Judge—also a three-time MVP—and the mutual respect the two sluggers clearly have for each other after they both put on a show.

Later, Jake and Jordan dive into a few eye-opening early-season stats from MLB’s newly implemented Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, including who is challenging the most, who is challenging the least and what these trends could be telling us about team strategies. They then close the show by making their picks for The Good, The Bad & The Uggla, highlighting Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing’s strong performance at the plate and an interesting post-playing career from a former dominant closer.

1:07 - The Opener: Mike Trout is BACK
14:23 - What is Trout doing differently?
29:30 - ABS Workout: Early-season trends
51:31 - The Good, The Bad & The Uggla
1:12:30 - Breaking News: Padres are being sold

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