Hi, everyone! And welcome to Write-Up for Yesterday, BttP’s guide to what the heck happened yesterday in baseball. We’re not gonna just hand you some scores here, because we trust you know how to type the letters E-S-P-N into your internet machine. Instead, we hope to give you a fuller and richer understanding of important goings on from yesterday in baseball. The big stories, and the noteworthy performances–good and bad.

STORYLINES AND NEWS CYCLE EPHEMERA

Now you can add Bud Selig alongside Princess Leia and Michael Jackson on the list of famous holograms, thank to the “virtual Bud,” which will surely be just one highlight among many at the new “Bud Selig Experience” in Milwaukee. The Brewers should hope that virtual Bud is better received than the Virtual Boy (which elicited reactions of “dizziness, nausea and headaches”). No word yet on whether a fake Bud hologram will take the stage at Coachella.

Effectively Wild hosts Ben and Sam have reunited thanks to Sonoma Stompers spring training being underway. On Tuesday’s edition of the show, Sam gleefully described how Ben is extremely stoic and non-demonstrative in real life. Episode 1 Ben had “ten times the energy!”

Speaking of stoic and non-demonstrative, this happened on Tuesday:

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard hit the ball haard on Wednesday. Your move, Colon.

Later that night, the Cards’ Peralta came through in the clutch. Or something:

Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr had recently bitched and complained about angry fans who “bitch and complain” about the team’s failures. It’s only fair that we report that he apologized for his comments on Tuesday, conceding that “perhaps we waited a year or two too long to try and go into this transition.” Fortunately for Amaro, no other sports town embodies “forgive and forget” like Philadelphia.

The first round of AL All-Star voting was announced on Tuesday. The Royals’ transition from Cinderella to Ripley apparently hasn’t scared off fans from placing Royals first or second at every position, including two outfielders. The current leaders: Cabrera (1B), Altuve (2B), Moustakas (3B), Escobar (SS), Cruz (DH), Perez (C), Cain, Trout, Gordon (OF)

NL All-Star voting was announced Wednesday. Missouri’s other team falls just short of also having a first- or second-place slot at every position. 1B is the exception, and a permanent one, now that Matt Adams’ quadricep injury has him possibly out for the year. Leaders: Gonzalez (1B), Gordon (2B), Carpenter (3B), Peralta (SS), Molina (C), Harper, Holliday, Stanton (OF).

Mike Aviles’ four-year-old daughter was recently diagnosed with leukemia, so his Cleveland teammates shaved their own heads as a show of support.

On Wednesday, Mike Trout had scored and took a breather on the bench. Erick Aybar’s affectionate arm-around-the-shoulder already made for an amusing visual. But then Trout tosses his gum, and gives a priceless reaction. The comedic timing was unintentionally perfect, but we never did see what had happened. I’d like to think a Wilhelm scream was heard in the dugout.

Today, the Stompers will play a game at the San Quentin State Prison, which will be for a better cause than you might think. By the way, have you picked up your Stompers merchandise yet (promo code BP)? Or read the Q&A with their new baseball ops dept?

On Wednesday’s Effectively Wild, Ben and Sam welcomed Dan Brooks, of Brooks Baseball fame. Along with helping answer listener emails, he was there to help promote the Saber Seminar, to be held in Boston in late August, with all proceeds going to the Jimmy Fund for cancer care and research.

TWEETS AND POSTS WE LIKED

Jake is on the wobbly chair @sammillerbp @benlindbergh https://t.co/9PRhn53h43

— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) May 25, 2015

Today's DET-OAK game was first since 1900 in which both starting pitchers went 3+ innings and neither allowed a hit (via @EliasSports)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 27, 2015

ARTICLES WE LIKED

Grant Brisbee on how he fell in love with baseball cards all over again.

Matthew Trueblood on whether foreign substances should get amnesty.

Sam Miller on Rickey Henderson’s OBP. A bit old now, but still entertaining. Like twilight Rickey. (Premium BP, but you’re already a subscriber, or will be, right?)

TODAY’S BEST PITCHING MATCHUPS

Only eight games on the schedule, so let’s try these:

Chris Sale (CHW, 4.21 ERA) vs Tyler Wilson (BAL, 4.50) (Game 1, 1 ET). Second start for Wilson, Baltimore’s 2014 minor league pitcher of the year.

Eduardo Rodriguez (BOS, —) vs Nick Martinez (TEX, 1.96) (8 ET). Rodriguez is Boston’s #4 prospect.

Corey Kluber (CLE, 3.49) vs James Paxton (SEA, 3.52) (10 ET). Kluber may be turning a corner on the year.

Our apologies to the cast of Entourage, but that’s all the time we have for today. Thanks for reading.