The Houston Astros (6-7) travel to the Mariners (4-9) this evening in Seattle in the first game of a three game series.
Astros game three starterRHP Tatsuya Imai will make his thirdstart of the season for the Astros, this time opposite RHP Emerson Hancock and the Mariners.
Friday’s TILT: The Astros and Mariners will play the first game of their three-game series this evening as the Astros look to end their four game losing streak
ON THE HUNT: RHP Tatsuya Imai is making his third career start after hurling 5.2 hutout innings in Sacramento. He carries a 1-0 record with a 4.32 ERA with thirteen strikeouts and seven walks in his first two starts.
ASTROS VS. Hancock: The Astros are facing Hancock for the third time in his career. He has a 1-0 record against the Astros with a 3.38 ERA in eight innings. Both outings were starts.
RIVALRY VS. THE MARINERS: The Astros hold a commanding 132-97 record lifetime against the Mariners and that doesn’t include their three game sweep in the 2022 ALDS. The Astros were 5-8 against the Mariners last season including the decisive three game sweep the Mariners laid on the Astros late in September last season.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros placed RHP Cristian Javier on the 15-day IL (retro 4/9) due to a grade two right shoulder strain and OF Jake Meyers on the 10-day IL (retro (4/9) due to a grade two right oblique strain…to take their spots on the active roster, the Astros have selected RHP J.P. France and OF Taylor Trammell from the Triple A Sugar Land…to make room on the 40-man roster, the Astros transferred RHP Ronel Blanco to the 60-day IL.
Mar 30, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; A Welcome to UNIQLO Field sign at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 10: Detroit Tigers center fielder Javier Báez (28) rounds the bases after hitting a homer during a regular season MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Detroit Tigers on April 10, 2026, at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Tigers certainly had to be happy to get out of Minnesota after a brutal series against the Twins. They were welcomed back to Detroit with similarly chilly temperatures, and also facing off against an old friend. To open their weekend series against the Marlins, they were squaring off against Chris Paddack, who had a brief stint with the Tigers last season. He was up against Keider Montero, eager to prove himself after a rough first game of the season. The Tigers were also down one Parker Meadows, who headed to the IL, while Wenceel Perez was called up for the interim.
With one out in the top of the first, Xavier Edwards laced a triple to right, but despite getting a runner on third that early, the Marlins couldn’t convert the run. The home half started with a classic Pitch Com delay before getting underway. Kevin McGonigle won an ABS challenge, then right afterwards singled. With one out, a wild pitch allowed McGonigle to advance to second. Two outs followed, though, leaving McGonigle stranded.
Brief pause here to point out how visually confusing it is for the Tigers to be wearing solid orange while playing the Marlins. The new Friday home jerseys are nice, though. In the top of the second, Owen Caissie took a one-out walk. Two outs quickly followed. Perhaps the guys were hoping to wrap up early so they could watch the Artemis II splashdown? In the home half, Dillon Dingler got things going with a leadoff single. Kerry Carpenter singled right behind him, pushing Dingler to third. Then Spencer Torkelson came on to bring Dingler home with a single, and put the Tigers on the board first.
With two outs, McGonigle had a nice battle against Paddack that ended in a walk, but the Tigers couldn’t manage to get any additional runs.
Montero had a nice 1-2-3 inning against the Marlins to get through the third efficiently. Colt Keith got the bottom half going with a leadoff single. Unfortunately a Riley Greene flyout was followed by a double play, and the Tigers were still stuck with just one run.
On the first pitch of the fourth inning, Kevin McGonigle made an incredible play, snatching up what could have easily been a base hit and getting it right over to first. Two outs followed, and Montero was just grooving.
The Tigers were three-up, three-down in the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, the Marlins finally got someone on base again with a one-out single from Connor Norby, but two outs followed. The Tigers wasted no time getting things going in the home half as Javier Baez hit a solo home run to left.
With two outs, Keith got a single, but was once again left on base.
In the top of the sixth, Montero continued dealing, and the Marlins used their last ABS callenge unsuccessfully on a called strike. Montero got the Marlins out in order. That was it for him for the night, going 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, on 80 pitches. A really nice outing for him. The Tigers went down in order in the home half, so hopefully the bullpen was sufficiently warmed.
Brant Hurter came in for the seventh and wasted no time or pitches getting through the Marlins in order. The Marlins made a pitching switch in the seventh as well, turning things over to Lake Bachar, who genuinely looks like Blake Snell wearing a wig. Perhaps he is, because he got the Tigers out in order.
Hurter was done after a single inning, being replaced by Kyle Finnegan. Finnegan gave up a leadoff walk to Norby. Graham Pauley then lined into an unassisted double play, and a groundout ended the inning. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Riley Greene singled. Dingler was then hit by a pitch after a bit of a battle. On review, this actually looked like catcher interference but the hit by pitch ruling seemed to stand. Either way, the free baserunner ended up not mattering because the Tigers didn’t score any additional runs.
Kenley Jansen came on for the ninth, of course. Jansen did exactly what the Tigers hired him for, getting the Marlins out in order to hang on for the save. It was his 478th career save, tying him for third most saves of all time.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by teammate Bradgley Rodriguez #72 after a defensive play to end the top of the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on April 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Colorado Rockies (6-7) at San Diego Padres (7-6), April 10, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
Apr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
The Colorado Rockies dropped a hard-fought extra-innings game last night to the San Diego Padres, and the 7-3 final doesn’t quite reflect how close things were, Colorado stayed competitive behind a solid pitching effort and a strong night at the plate from Brenton Doyle, who connected on his first homer of the season. The sting of the loss fades a bit on what is a significant day for the organization off the field, as news of new minority ownership marks a notable moment in franchise history.
It’s been that kind of start for the Rockies — fun, unpredictable, and sneaky competitive (even when the results don’t always follow) — and at 6-7, they’ll look to reset quickly and get back to .500 as the young season continues in San Diego against the 7-6 Padres.
Taking the mound for the Rox tonight is Tomoyuki Sugano. Sugano has been a steady presence early, posting a 1.69 ERA with a 0.84 WHIP through his first 10.2 innings. He’s leaning on his four-seamer (30%) while using his cutter, splitter and sweeper in a fairly even mix (18%-19%). He’s not missing a ton of bats, but with a 51% ground-ball rate and just three walks in 41 batters faced, he’s done an excellent job limiting traffic and keeping things under control.
Opposing Sugano is veteran righty Walker Buehler. Buehler is still working his way back into form and has looked a bit uneven to start the season – seven earned runs and five walks across 6.2 innings of work. He’s been able to generate ground balls, but command lapses have led to traffic on the bases and some short outings. Buehler uses his cut fastball and curveball about half the time but has mixed in as many as seven different pitches this season. That variety adds some unpredictability but also points to a pitcher still searching for a consistent feel.
Colorado’s ultra-aggressive offense will be tested against a pitcher who has struggled early — can they show a bit more patience and take advantage of mistakes?
The Dodgers, more than any other team in the big leagues, are well-equipped for the kitchen sink of predictable and unpredictable problems that the baseball regular season will throw your way. That has to do with a level of organizational depth that only a team that couples the resources and savviness that the back-to-back reigning champs do is able to accomplish. While the focus will be on how that translates into their starting pitching usage, the importance of bullpen options for different moments of the regular season shall not be overlooked. With that in mind, we decided to ask Dodger fans, out of all the appealing options currently in the minors, who they are most excited to see getting that call-up when the inevitable transactions start to occur.
Kyle Hurt won it in a landslide.
A little over five years ago, the Dodgers made one of their better trades for the value it generated in an otherwise routine move. Alongside Alex Vesia, who is now a core piece of this bullpen, the Dodgers also acquired the then-youngster Hurt from the Miami Marlins for the services of Dylan Floro. Ever since then, Hurt has been moving through the system with more than his fair share of bumps and bruises—most notably having to undergo Tommy John surgery back in 2024—after he had shown some promise following a transition from a starting pitcher to a reliever.
Hurt only came back for a cameo in 2025, but was at the very least able to dip his feet in the pool once again, with a little under 10 solid innings for Oklahoma City. That being said, the source of excitement in order for him to win this poll in a landslide is how the right-hander looked in the spring. Hurt showed enticing stuff by earning 12 strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings of work in spring training, at the very least placing his name in the back of many people’s minds as someone who might make an impact for the Dodgers in 2026.
The early results in OKC haven’t been as encouraging. While it’s too early to look at a great number of things, and the strikeouts are still there, the fact that Hurt has walked five hitters in 4 2/3 innings raises some questions about his command—particularly in contrast with what we saw in spring (two walks in 7 1/3 innings). With no transaction imminent, there is still some time for Hurt to right the ship and build on that trust he earned not so long ago.
Strictly from a narrative standpoint, if the Dodgers were to be able to turn Hurt into a productive reliever for them, it’d be particularly entertaining—a trade in 2021 that few people gave much thought to, still reaping benefits on multiple fronts. For the sake of context, while Vesia has become one of this team’s most important relievers, flourishing in the regular season and the playoffs, and Floro has moved around through four different organizations since that trade.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 7: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 7, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (25-55) play their last road game of the 2025-206 regular season, facing off against the San Antonio Spurs (61-19). Dallas last played the Phoenix Suns and could not notch a win despite a valiant effort down many rotation guys. The Spurs are coming off wins over the Philadelphia Sixers and Portland Trailblazers, where they really put the defensive clamps on both teams.
Here are the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs
WHAT: Last road game of the year
WHERE: Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas
WHEN: 7:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
The injury report is long. Dallas is no longer playing around with this tanking stuff. Here is who is not going to play: Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, and Brandon Williams. These guys are questionable as of this writing: Marvin Bagleyand Dwight Powell. All three two way guys are playing as is Cooper Flagg.
Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama are each questionable but it’s important to note that the Spurs are going to need Wembanyama to play either tonight or Sunday to qualify for awards and year end teams. I expect him to play tonight so he continue to heal from his rib contusion.
We’ll see Dallas play hard, but the Spurs have beaten Dallas by double digits every time they’ve played this season. The Cooper Flagg vs Carter Bryant match up is where I’ll have my eye, the latter is just an awesome basketball player.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
Mar 29, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (3) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will see several familiar faces when they take on the Boston Red Sox at Busch Stadium Friday night. According to MLB.com, Dustin May will get the start for St. Louis while Connelly Early takes the mound for Boston. The current schedule doesn’t show former Cardinal Sonny Gray starting against St. Louis this series, but expect to see Willson Contreras in the lineup for the Red Sox. Maybe hitting him with a pitch is a bad idea?
SAN ANTONIO, TX - FEBRUARY 7: Carter Bryant #11 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on February 7, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
Let’s be honest. The Mavericks aren’t looking to win any more games this season. With the sixth-worst record in the league, they don’t want to pass up the Grizzlies and reduce their lottery odds any more—although they did pretty well in last year’s lottery with some long odds, landing them Cooper Flagg. Speaking of the young stud, their strategy is likely to consist of feeding the ball to Cooper and try to get him to score a lot of points, like resulting in efforts like his 51 point outburst on April 3 against the Magic in a game that the Mavs lost 127-138. The injury report for the Mavs has 13 players on it, but most of the players listed are expected to play with some bumps and bruises, including Flagg, who is probable with a sprained wrist.
The Spurs list both Castle and Wembanyama as questionable, but Wemby is expected to play at least 20 minutes in order to cement his eligibility for NBA awards. Since the Mavericks aren’t playing any defense at this point in the season, he could end up playing with minimal contact, which would make Spurs fans happy. I think the plan tonight is to give the starters enough time to work on some sets, and hopefully turn the ball over to Jordan McLaughlin to drive the team home in the fourth quarter.
The is the penultimate game of the season for the Silver and Black, which is a fancy to say that it’s the next to last game. They play again on Sunday, with a matchup against the Nuggets. Depending on the outcome of other games, that game could decide whether the Nuggets are in third place in the west, and in that case, the Spurs might be motivated to play their starters to try and put the Nuggets in the opposite side of the playoff bracket from San Antonio, because a second round matchup with Los Angeles or Houston would be a lot more favorable than facing a team with a proven championship pedigree like Denver.
Just as an aside, did you think we’d be talking about second round playoff matchups when the season started? The Spurs started the season against the Mavericks, winning 125-92, and it was at that point that I started to realize that the team might be good this year, but they’ve really improved by leaps and bounds since then. That’s wild. GO SPURS GO!
Game Prediction:
Carter Bryant scores 30 with 5 blocks, 3 of them on Flagg.
San Antonio Spurs vs Dallas Mavericks April 8, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT Streaming: NBA League Pass TV: KENS Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
The best way to bring fans to Rate Field on a Tuesday night in August: Give away some Pope gear
The White Sox added a signature Pope hat to their list of popular home giveaways this year. Initially launched as a limited-edition item available only to specialty theme night ticket purchasers on August 11 against the Reds at 6:40 p.m. CT, the viral sensation Pope hat created to honor Pope Leo XIV will now be given to all attending fans.
Specialty night ticket purchasers will receive a separate, exclusive item in addition to the Pope hat.
Brooks Boyer, Chicago’s chief revenue and marketing officer, commented on the promotion’s popularity.
“The fans have spoken, and unlike some of our more limited quantity promotions, the White Sox Pope Hat is one we believe all fans should have the opportunity to take home,” Boyer says. “We viewed the promotion as a creative way to celebrate one of the franchise’s most popular fans, and by the overwhelming response we received, White Sox fans certainly agreed.”
Like the slated giveaways, this Pope hat is guaranteed to draw fans in. Even if the product on the field doesn’t have a winning record, Sox fans know that the promotions are always a home run. Come for the giveaways, stay for the food (and maybe the team).
Boston Red Sox pitcher Connelly Early (71) throws a pitch in the second inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The game was scoreless after three innings. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
It’s early April but for tonight, we can say it’s Early-May 🥁 I know the pun is awful, but it kicks off the second of four consecutive series against Midwest based teams. Can the Sox find more momentum off of their first series victory against the Brewers or will the Redbirds emerge on top?
Also Masa taking the opportunity to go sightseeing gives me a good chuckle.
Apr 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez (1) and right fielder Chase DeLauter (24) celebrate after the Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Javier left the game before the start of the second inning after he felt something in his throwing shoulder.
Starting pitcher Cristian Javier of the Houston Astros walks off the field with a member of the training staff before being unable to pitch in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 8, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
“I think it will be good results, hopefully,” Javier said through an interpreter after the game, per MLB.com. “I’m trusting in God that everything comes back fine and I can be able to make my next outing. … I did a couple strength tests [on the shoulder] and they came out pretty good.”
The team is now down two starters as they plan to go to a six-man rotation for a tough stretch on the schedule over the next couple of weeks.
The two injuries come as the Astros are dealing with the loss of two-time All-Star Framber Valdez, who left Houston for a three-year, $115 million contract with the Tigers.
Javier was a key part of the Astros’ starting rotation in 2022-23, posting a 3.59 ERA over those two seasons.
Starting pitcher Cristian Javier of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 8, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
But arm issues became a problem in 2024.
After just seven starts that season, Javier underwent Tommy John surgery and didn’t return until late last season.
Upon his return, Javier posted a 4.62 ERA over eight outings.
Javier has allowed 13 earned runs over just 9 ⅓ innings across three starts thus far this season.
The Astros have lost four games in a row and sit at 6-7 heading into Friday’s game against the Mariners.
Keep that arm loose, Davis Martin, the White Sox offense is going to need you to be stingy tonight. | (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
If I’m the Royals, and even just two weeks into the season the WHITE SOX are tied with me in the standings, I’m much displeased. But thankfully, despite some significant time logged in Kansas City, I am not the Royals.
The good news? Davis Martin is on the hill, and so far this season that has meant some good, good stuff. The unofficially team/spirit captain has been a rock in the rotation in the early going, and with an lineup that comes into the game as exactly replacement level, 0.0 WAR, the righthander will need to be at the top of his game.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. CT, available at the usual TV and radio spots.
Jeff McNeil and Luis Severino returned to Citi Field for the first time since they departed Queens and were treated to tribute videos by the Mets ahead of the team's series opener against the Athletics.
Severino, of course, left after a great 2024 campaign, his only one with the Mets, before signing a lucrative deal with the Athletics that offseason.
The right-hander pitched to an 11-7 record and a 3.91 ERA while making 30 starts for the first time since the 2018 season. He was also solid in the postseason that year, throwing 16.2 innings and going 1-1 with a 3.24 ERA across three starts.
While Severino impacted the Mets for one season, McNeil was in Flushing for eight and experienced plenty of highs and lows. He made two All-Star teams with the Mets, was sixth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018, and was the batting champion in 2022 after batting .326. While his offensive production fluctuated over the years, his versatility on defense was invaluable to New York.
Across his eight seasons with the Mets, he slashed .284/.351/.428 with an OPS of .779 to go along with 80 home runs and 367 RBI.
"I played hard, I played with passion every single day," McNeil told SNY's Steve Gelbs before Friday's game. "I'm a fiery guy, but you know I cared. I wanted to win, I wanted to do well. I think the fans knew that. I just wanted to be known as a player who played the game the right way, gave it his all, and enjoyed being in the Mets organization."
McNeil was traded to the Athletics this offseason for RHP Yordan Rodriguez in what was an organizational re-tool that saw Pete Alonso leave to Baltimore in free agency and Brandon Nimmo traded to the Rangers.
