Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

The Cubs had an excellent week after dropping the first game of their series in Philadelphia. Following that loss, they reeled off five straight wins over the Phillies and Mets and outscored those teams 39-13 in the five games. So they got excellent pitching and lots of hitting, too.

Here’s who was hot and not for the Cubs over the past week.

Three up

Nico Hoerner continues his MVP-level play

Nico had a pair of three-hit games over the past week and overall hit .346/.357/.577 (9-for-26) with two home runs, four runs scored, two stolen bases and 11 RBI. He leads all of MLB with 21 RBI following Sunday’s walk-off sacrifice fly.

Beyond that, Nico continues to play his usual stellar defense. Here are two outstanding plays he made on Friday.

First, a diving stop of this ground ball [VIDEO].

Then, a leaping grab of this line drive [VIDEO].

Carson Kelly had some big hits

Kelly started four of the six games, but his biggest hit was, of course, the pinch-hit three-run homer he hit on Saturday [VIDEO].

Overall, Kelly batted .333/.412/.733 (5-for-15) in the five games in which he played, with two home runs, two walks and six RBI. He’s got to be one of the best free-agent signings the Cubs have made over the last few years. The team has a mutual $7.5 million option with him for 2027. Most mutual options get declined, but I’d love for the Cubs to find a way to keep him another year.

Shōta Imanaga looks like he’s back to his 2024 form

Imanaga had a brilliant, dominant outing against the Phillies last Wednesday, throwing six innings, allowing three hits and a run, striking out 11 [VIDEO].

After a somewhat-rough first start this year, Imanaga has a 1.06 ERA and 0.529 WHIP over his last three starts, with three walks and 24 strikeouts in 17 innings — and only one home run allowed in that span.

Keep that up and the Cubs ought to offer him a contract extension.

Hat tip to Riley Martin, who has been really good in relief since being called up. Over the week, Martin threw 3.1 shutout innings. He faced 11 batters and retired 10 of them, and is rapidly joining Craig Counsell’s circle of trust. I really like what I’ve seen from Martin so far — good pitch mix, good mound presence, attacks hitters.

Another hat tip to Moisés Ballesteros, who went 6-for-10 with a home run in five games over the past week.

Three down

Michael Busch continues to struggle

Busch had a good year in 2024 and a great 2025. Last year he smashed 34 homers during the regular season and four more in eight postseason games. That’s a pretty good established track record over more than 1,000 plate appearances.

Thus his .164/.262/.192 slash line in 84 PA, with no home runs, seems somewhat inexplicable. Good hitters do occasionally have struggles, but generally not for this long.

Here’s hoping he breaks out of it during the Phillies series at Wrigley this week.

One of these days, Alex Bregman will break out

Bregman hasn’t been bad… he just hasn’t been all that good, yet. He does draw walks, three of them over the week giving him a .357 OBP in the six games. Going 7-for-25 gave him a .280 BA, which also isn’t bad… but all of those hits were singles, and Bregman has only three extra-base hits this year (a double and two home runs).

Historically, Bregman has been a slow starter, as his career .762 OPS in March/April is his lowest of any month. Hopefully, he will heat up as the calendar turns to May. (Before that would be okay, too!)

Pete Crow-Armstrong is also off to a rough start

PCA had a slow beginning to his season in 2025, too, batting just .211/.286/.263 (12-for-57) with no home runs over his first 15 games, before he had a breakout series at Dodger Stadium, hitting a double, triple and two home runs.

This year, in 21 games, pretty similar: .222/.276/.309 (18-for-81) with one home run. He’s also been caught stealing three times in seven attempts.

The Cubs get to Dodger Stadium this weekend. Perhaps that will get him going.

PCA does continue to play stellar defense. Here’s a nice running catch he made on Sunday [VIDEO].

The defense alone gives him 0.7 bWAR so far this year, and he leads all of MLB in defensive bWAR with 0.8.

Tacoma Rainiers

The Rainiers were able to secure a much needed series victory against the true Sacramento ball club by a score of 4-2, downing the River Cats with good pitching and just enough offense. The bats are starting to get things going with a bit more consistency, and despite having had their coffers raided by the big league squad, the team remains on the upswing with plenty of talent left on the roster.

105 mph left-on-left roundtripper from Colt Emerson!

MLB's No. 7 prospect (@Mariners) has an extra-base hit in 3 of his past 4 games for Triple-A @RainiersLand: pic.twitter.com/KcisbLn8mx

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 19, 2026

Mandatory Colt Emerson check-in: It’s going good. Emerson launched his second homer of the year with yet another oppo shot in Saturday night’s contest, taking a lefty-lefty fastball and crushing it the other way. Additionally, he’s dramatically improving his comfort at the plate, drawing six walks in the series and punching out just twice. The offensive game is coming along nicely, and his glove has been the best Tacoma has seen in many, many years. Sneakily, he’s been running a lot more than he has in the past; he’s already up to six bags on the year after going 14/19 last season.

Brock Rodden rakes. Now batting .344 in his first 18 games at Triple-A. pic.twitter.com/5TRIh2qQ6a

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 17, 2026

We are still #RidingWithRodden here at Lookout Landing, and the utility man has been proving us right the past week and change. Logging eight hits on the series, Rodden has shaken the dust off from his tough start and is lighting things up at the plate right now, a great sign for a typically steady producer. Since April 5th, he’s bumped his slash from .229/.216/.343 to his current .311/.349/.472, a dramatic change in that time frame regardless of sample size. He looks like a prime candidate to serve a similar role to Leo Rivas, as he brings a history of playing 2B, 3B, and SS in the minor leagues.

Arkansas Travelers

The Travs were unable to dethrone the mighty Drillers this week, dropping four of six to the Dodgers affiliate that’s loaded with talent from top to bottom. Some weeks you just get beat, and despite some solid performances from the household names on this Arkansas roster, it was pretty clear Tulsa is the better team right now.

Kade Anderson was awesome in Tulsa. Final line: 5IP, 3H, 1R, BB, 5K, 64 pitches, 44 strikes.

In his first 3 professional starts:
0.64ERA, 14IP, 8H, 4BB, 22K. pic.twitter.com/pj604blCGc

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 18, 2026

Kade Anderson continues to shine atop this rotation, paying homage to his LSU days and working as the Friday night starter for a strong crop of arms. Despite surrendering his first run of the season, Anderson worked five innings of one run ball and struck out five along the way. Not quite as flashy as his dazzling performance last week, but wildly effective nonetheless.

Lazaro Montes lasers a solo HR! 113mph EV. Great at-bat. pic.twitter.com/NPhwOYQ6zD

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 7, 2026

Lazaro Montes is starting to get things moving this season, gathering a hit in each of the six games on the series. Swatting a trio of doubles and walking twice, Laz is yet another Mariner farmhand shaking off some rust and coming into form. A fully productive Montes would do wonders for this Traveler lineup, and recent returns are looking very promising.

Charlie Beilenson strikes out 2 in the 6th. Travelers up 4-2. pic.twitter.com/AoT9dmnFLS

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 18, 2026

An unheralded relief prospect, Charlie Beilenson has been nails to start the year. Yet to allow a run and punching out 11 across 6.2 innings, Beilenson’s allowed just four baserunners all season and looks like an interesting relief depth piece for this system. Expect him to make an appearance in Triple-A at some point this season.

Everett AquaSox

The Frogs dropped the series against a very good Eugene team, playing them close all series despite only managing two games in the win column. Everett is lacking a bit in the starting pitching department, but a stout bullpen has picked the staff up, and the offense is starting to get the ball rolling with more regularity. This team is better than their 7-8 record reflects and should be well within reach of a playoff spot by the end of the season.

Lucas Kelly was dominant today. 2.1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 7K, 34-25. pic.twitter.com/UAS2vMr0ko

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 19, 2026

Lucas Kelly got popped earlier this season with a tough outing that killed his ERA, but since then, he’s been absolutely disgusting on the mound and is looking like a weapon in the back of this bullpen. In his last 3.2 IP, he’s fanned 10 and allowed just one hit with zero walks. His low release and high octane velocity makes him a brutal look for opposing hitters, and he appears to have reworked his breaking balls a bit to give him a better out pitch outside of the heater. Kelly worked with the same trainers that Brock Moore did over the offseason, perhaps a promising sign of actual change considering the impact both have had for this team thus far.

Brock Moore is just unreal right now. Strikes out the side in the 9th. Frogs win! pic.twitter.com/w8Divq4eCi

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 18, 2026

Speaking of Moore, he continues to be untouchable. 14 K’s across 5.1 IP. Still no walks.

To help  contextualize this achievement, Moore walked 28 batters in under 19 innings of work last season and had an ERA north of nine. A truly unbelievable turn around for the former Oregon Duck, who now looks every bit of a lock-down bullpen arm that could move exceptionally quick through the minors.

Inland Empire 66ers

Inland Empire salvaged a split this week against the lowly Visalia Rawhide, with both teams struggling to show consistency in any facet of the game. The 66ers have had some guys pop, but the bright spots have unfortunately been few and far between. Hopefully they’re able to get things turned around sooner than later.

7th strikeout through 4 innings by Mason Peters. pic.twitter.com/m7pOxp0b7b

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 18, 2026

Mason Peters continues to dazzle as one of the few reliable rotation pieces for this 66ers squad, consistently befuddling Cal League hitters with his arsenal of spin. Tallying another seven punchouts across four innings of work, Peters allowed just one run, a solo shot, and is striking out the world despite his lackluster heater. There’s plenty of room for him to add some strength to his frame, and if he’s able to increase the velocity a tick or two, he’s going to pose a major threat to opposing hitters.

Jackson Steensma strikes out the side in the 5th. Filthy. pic.twitter.com/bIIcS4MG4x

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) April 15, 2026

Another 2025 draftee, Jackson Steensma has been lights out to start the year, looking like yet another promising arm from last year’s class. The App State right hander didn’t pitch in 2025 due to injury, but he’s now dominating in the professional ranks and looking like a potential steal as a ninth round selection. He’s yet to surrender a run on the season and has struck out ten in six innings with just one hit allowed and one walk. He was a name Scott Hunter mentioned during his draft day press conference as a guy the team liked, and he has absolutely looked the part in the early goings of 2026.

MONDAY

The Mets were shut out for the fourth time in just 17 games this season. It’s only the second time in franchise history they’ve suffered four shutout losses in their first 17 games, having done so back in 1963.

The Mets were shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since August 9-10, 2024, in Seattle, and were shut out in three of four games for the first time since May 2-5, 2018 against the Braves and Rockies.

Joey Gerber became the first reliever ever to rack up five strikeouts while allowing no earned runs in their Mets debut. The most recent pitcher to record five strikeouts in their Mets debut out of the bullpen was Franklyn Kilome, who did so in his MLB debut in Atlanta on August 1, 2020.

TUESDAY

Francisco Lindor hit his 14th leadoff home run as a Met, tying him with Brandon Nimmo for third place on the franchise leader board behind Curtis Granderson and José Reyes, who are tied for first with 21.

The weekly McLean update: Nolan McLean now has a 2.13 ERA and 85 K through his first 12 career games. The only other pitchers to match those numbers in their first 12 games are: Paul Skenes (1.93 ERA, 97 K), Masahiro Tanaka (2.02 ERA, 92 K), and Hideo Nomo (2.05 ERA, 109 K).

The Mets mustered five or fewer baserunners for a third-straight game. It’s only the fourth time in franchise history they’ve managed that unfortunate feat, joining: August 1-3, 2014, September 4-6, 1978, and July 4-5, 1963.

WEDNESDAY

With Dalton Rushing’s eighth-inning blast off Devin Williams, the Mets allowed a grand slam at Dodger Stadium for the first time since May 29, 2000, when future Met Shawn Green took Al Leiter deep in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Chan Ho Park (another future Met who knows a thing or two about grand slam stats) the win.

FRIDAY

The Mets scored just four runs on 14 hits. That’s the fewest runs they’ve scored on 14+ hits since July 24, 2021, in a 10-3 loss against the Blue Jays at Citi Field which featured a combined 2 HR, 5 RBI, and 5 H from current Mets Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien. Friday was also the first time they’ve lost by 8+ runs while getting 14+ hits since an 18-9 loss on April 27, 2012, at Coors Field.

SATURDAY

Carson Kelly became the first batter to homer off Brooks Raley since August 13, 2023, when Matt Olson took Raley deep at Citi Field.

SUNDAY

The Mets suffered their first walk-off loss at Wrigley Field since almost exactly five years ago on April 22, 2021, when Jason Heyward hit a tenth-inning single to Mets right fielder Michael Conforto — the same man who delivered the game-tying RBI single in a Cubs uniform on Sunday. That loss came in the final game of yet another sweep at Wrigley, where the Mets are now 23-48 since 2003.

The Mets have scored 19 runs over their past 11 games, the fewest for the franchise in an eleven-game span since June 2-15, 2018. That tough stretch offensive rut was effectively broken for the 2018 team on June 16, when they received a big three-run homer in Arizona from — of course — Michael Conforto.

The Mets have now scored two or fewer runs through nine innings in 14 of their first 22 games, tying an unfortunate club record set in 1967.

The Mets have lost 11 games in a row for the first time since August 28-September 8, 2004. That losing streak also involved the Dodgers, as it began with the Mets dropping two in a row against L.A at Shea Stadium.

Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:

The 1991 Mets are the only team in franchise history to go on both a winning streak of 10+ games (10, July 1-July 13) and a losing streak of 10+ games (11, August 9-August 21).

Cam Schlittler vs. Boston is a beef that just won't die. And the New York Yankees right-hander from Walpole, Massachusetts is ready to steer into it when he makes his first career start at Fenway Park.

Schlittler, the Yankees' 25-year-old fireballer who emerged as a playoff hero last season and a rotation mainstay this year, told news media that he and his family have received death threats prior to his scheduled start on Thursday, April 23.

Schlittler, who attended Northeastern and has a 1.95 ERA in five starts this season, is expecting a very rude welcome at Fenway Park, the latest twist in a saga of Area Man Gets Drafted By Hated Rival.

"Most normal fans could care less, right?," Schlittler told the New York Post. "It’s just those diehards that just have nothing else in their lives other than baseball or sports that really care about this, and the fact that I play for the Yankees makes it worse for them."

The Schlittler-Boston feud jumped off in earnest in October, when he dominated the Red Sox in a winner-take-all Game 3 in the AL wild-card series at Yankee Stadium, striking out 12 over eight shutout innings. As the champagne flew in the Yankees' clubhouse, Schlittler revealed the extent he'd been beefing with Red Sox fans leading up to the start.

"I didn’t like some of the things they said today," Schlittler said after Game 3. "I'm not going to get into it, but there’s a line I think they crossed a little bit. Again, I’m a competitor and I’m going to go out there and make sure I shut them down.

"We’re aggressive back home and we’re going to try to get under people’s skins. They just picked the wrong guy to do it to. And the wrong team to do it to."

Schlittler later tweeted, "Drinkin' dat dirty water," a reference to the Red Sox's victory song. A month later, he peacefully attended a Boston Bruins game at TD Garden, showing he still has some allegiance toward New England.

Come Thursday, though, it's business as usual.

"(You’d) think after last time," he told The Athletic, "how much they were talking before, that they might be trying to quiet it down a little bit."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Yankees' Cam Schlittler keeps clashing with Red Sox fans

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

The Bronx is burning banana-ing.

On April 25-26, the Savannah Bananas are swinging into Yankee Stadium for a pair of a-peel-ing games against their rivals, the Party Animals.

And if you’d like to be there, last-minute tickets are available for both games at the House that Jeter Built.

Better yet, they’re reasonably priced considering how much Bananas seats typically retail for.

Based on our findings, the lowest price we could find on tickets for this weekend’s Banana Ball Bronx battles was $91 including fees on StubHub at the time of publication.

100-level seats start at $135 including fees.

As fans may recall, this will be the potassium-friendly club’s second visit to the Big Apple; they previously dropped into Aaron Judge’s home last September.

Per usual, the unconventional club delivered an unforgettable, one-of-a-king experience tailored specifically to hometown fans at those late summer contests.

Just a few of the most notable highlights included their signature choreographed dances, a singalong with “Hamilton” star Miguel Cervantes and appearances by former Yankee Nick Swisher, former World Series-winning Yankees manager Joe Torre and Super Bowl-winning Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who cosplayed as an umpire.

Yes, really.

That’s not to mention the players on stilts, kooky rules (if a fan catches a foul ball, that’s an out!), catchers on bean bag chairs, elaborate walk-ups to the batter’s box and strict two-hour time limit to ensure the game doesn’t go too long.

“It might not look like anything you’ve seen in a baseball game, but it shouldn’t; this is Banana Ball,” Bananas/Firefighters player Noah Bridges told Yankees beat writer Jon Schwartz.

“…I feel pretty confident that we…gave [fans] more than enough to make it one of the most memorable days they’ll ever have at a ballpark.”

What will happen this time? Who will show up?

While we can’t say for certain, we do know the best way to find out is live.

For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about seeing the Savannah Bananas at Yankee Stadium in 2026 below.

Savannah Bananas 2026 Yankee Stadium ticket prices

A complete breakdown of all the best prices on tickets for both Savannah Bananas 2026 Yankee Stadium games (along with dates and start times) can be found here:

Bananas game date	Ticket prices start at	100-level tickets start at
Saturday, April 25 7 p.m.	$95(including fees)	$135(including fees)
Sunday, April 263 p.m.	$91(including fees)	$152(including fees)

Savannah Bananas 2026 schedule

Once the short stint in the Bronx wraps, the Bananas will hit ballparks all over North America from May through October.

Some of their most notable stops include Atlanta’s Truist Park (May 8-10), Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium (May 30-31), Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark (June 19-21), Chicago’s Wrigley Field (July 24-26) and Minnesota’s Target Field (Aug. 7-8).

They’ll return to the East Coast for two nights at the New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium on Friday, Aug. 28 and Saturday, Aug. 29.

To find the game that makes the most sense for you, check out the Savannah Bananas’ complete 2026 schedule here.

Yankees giveaways 2026

Hoping to catch the Bronx Bombers…and maybe score a freebie while you’re at it?

Check this out.

Our team compiled a complete calendar of all Yankees giveaway home games, including dates, opponents, giveaways, special events and links to buy tickets below.

Yankees 2026 giveaway dates
Orioles vs. YankeesSaturday, May 2 Star Wars Day – Max Fried Mandalorian Bobblehead
Blue Jays vs. YankeesThursday, May 21 Cap Night
Rays vs. YankeesFriday, May 22 Giancarlo Stanton Basketball Jersey Night
Guardians vs. YankeesTuesday, June 2 Charles Fazzino’s America250: A New York Yankees Celebration Poster Night
Red Sox vs. YankeesSaturday, June 6 Military Appreciation Night – Red, White & Blue Yankees T-shirt
White Sox vs. YankeesThursday, June 18 Yankees Soccer Jersey Night
Guardians vs. YankeesSaturday, June 20 Aaron Judge MVP Bobblehead Day
Twins vs. YankeesFriday, July 3 Fireworks Night
Twins vs. YankeesSaturday, July 4 Yankees 4th of July Cap Day
Pirates vs. YankeesMonday, July 20 Yankees T-Shirt Night
Braves vs. YankeesSaturday, Aug. 8 Old-Timers’ Day
Blue Jays vs. YankeesFriday, Aug. 21 Cody Bellinger Bobblehead Night
Blue Jays vs. YankeesSaturday, Aug. 22 Hello Kitty Yankees Bobblehead Day
Astros vs. YankeesThursday, Aug. 27 George Costanza Calzone Bobblehead Night
Orioles vs. YankeesFriday, Sept. 25 Josh Hart Yankees Bobblehead Night
Orioles vs. YankeesSaturday, Sept. 26 CC Sabathia Night

JAY-Z at Yankee Stadium

Savannah’s favorite team isn’t the only exciting guest headlining Yankee Stadium this summer.

JAY-Z is also swooping in for three unique shows celebrating the anniversaries of his classic albums. You can grab tickets for each concert here:

JAŸ-Z Yankee Stadium dates
Friday, July 10performing “Reasonable Doubt”
Saturday, July 11performing “The Blueprint”
Sunday, July 12the “extra innings” show

About the Savannah Bananas

After forming in 2016, the “exhibition barnstorming baseball team” made a name for themselves by embracing “exhibition” and “barnstorming” while halfway ditching “baseball.”

The team now plays Banana Ball which has quirky rules like fan-caught foul balls counting as outs, games not being allowed to exceed two hours in length and batters stealing first base.

Yet, still, that’s barely scratching the surface of the innovative game’s showmanship.

Simply put, we recommend following Savannah’s Instagram to see what hijinx the entertaining team is up to. Be warned though- their clips are so fun you just might end up scrolling for hours.

Savannah Party Animals

The Bananas aren’t the only attraction at Banana Ball games.

Their opponents, the Savannah Party Animals, also bring fun and skill to the field.

“I think there are some guys that are obvious fits for the Bananas, and some guys that are obvious fits for the Party Animals,” coach Nate Fish told Savannah Now following team tryouts.

“We need the games to be really competitive. We can’t load up one team. It’s not like the (Harlem) Globetrotters and the (Washington Generals). The games aren’t scripted. The games are highly competitive. Anyone can win. We have to take a look at balance to do that.”

Savannah Bananas 2026 roster

Who are the stars that make up the Bananas squad? Want to pick a favorite right now?

We’re here to help.

You can find the team’s colorful players (complete with fun facts) right here.

Fun events for the family in 2026

Get yer wholesome entertainment here!

We’ve got five shows that are guaranteed fun for the whole family below.

• “The Price Is Right Live”

• Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus

• Disney On Ice

• Monster Jam

• Blue Man Group

Want to go to a concert instead this year? Check out our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2026 to find the show for you.

Prefer some good ol’ fashioned comedy? Click here to see our favorite comedians on tour this year.

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Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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Detroit Tigers (12-10) vs. Boston Red Sox (8-13)

Time/Place: 11:10 a.m., Fenway Park
SB Nation Site: Over the Monster
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 4.05 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (2-1, 4.43 ERA)

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (12-8) won 7-4 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land jumped out to an early lead getting a Perez RBI single in the first and Price solo HR in the 2nd inning. Bielak got the start and allowed 1 run over 2.1 innings. The offense added on with an Alexander RBI double in the 5th and Price RBI single in the 7th. In the 8th, the Bees tied the game at 4 forcing extra innings. In the 10th, the offense picked up 3 runs and Munoz threw a scoreless inning as Sugar Land won 7-4.

Note: Santa has a 1.13 ERA this season.

• CJ Alexander, RF: 3-for-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Carlos Perez, DH: 1-for-5, RBI
• Cavan Biggio, 1B: 1-for-4, R, BB
• Collin Price, C: 2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Daniel Johnson, CF: 1-for-5, R, RBI
• Riley Unroe, SS: 1-for-4, 2B, BB
• Jax Biggers, 2B: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI

• Brandon Bielak, RHP: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Joey Mancini, RHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• Amos Willingham, RHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Logan VanWey, RHP: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (SAVE)

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AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (9-6) won 7-3 (BOX SCORE)

Dombroski started for the Hooks but struggled allowing 3 runs over 2.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the second inning on a Baez sac fly. In the 6th, they had a huge inning scoring 6 runs on a Baez sac fly, Bush RBI single, Ferreras walk, Guillemette walk, Encarnacion RBI single and a run scoring on an error. The pen was great closing out the 7-3 win.

Note: Bush is hitting .324 this season.

• Will Bush, DH: 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Trevor Austin, 3B: 0-for-3, R, BB
• Pascanel Ferreras, SS: 0-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Garret Guillemette, C: 0-for-4, RBI, BB
• Yamal Encarnacion, CF: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, SB
• Tyler Whitaker, RF: 1-for-1, R, 3 BB
• Luis Baez, LF: 0-for-3, 2 RBI

• Trey Dombroski, LHP: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Julio Rodriguez, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Nic Swanson, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (WIN)
• Alex Santos, RHP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• Railin Perez, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

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A+: Asheville Tourists (4-11) lost 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville jumped out to an early lead scoring 3 runs in the first inning on a Schiavone RBI double, Hernandez RBI single and Walker RBI single. DeVos got the start and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs, 1 earned. The offense picked up another run in the 6th on a Hernandez RBI single. Ogando struggled out of the pen allowing 5 runs as the Dash took the lead. The offense got one in the 9th but it wasn’t enough as Asheville fell 8-5.

Note: C. Hernandez is hitting .452 this season.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB
• Jason Schiavone, C: 1-for-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Cesar Hernandez, DH: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI
• Kyle Walker, 2B: 2-for-4, SB
• Narbe Cruz, SS: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
• Caden Powell, LF: 1-for-3, R, BB
• Alberto Hernandez, 3B: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

• Nolan DeVos, RHP: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
• Joan Ogando, RHP: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
• Eurys Martich, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Raimy Rodriguez, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

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A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (3-12) lost 12-5 (BOX SCORE)

The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning on a Huezo RBI double. Aguilar got the start but struggled allowing 4 runs over 3 innings. The pen continued to struggled with Smith and Wells allowing another 8 runs. The offense got a few back with a run on a wild pitch in the 5th and a Forrester RBI single in the 6th. In the 7th, Huezo added a 2 run home run but it wasn’t enough as Fayetteville fell 12-5.

Note: Huezo has a .866 OPS this season.

• Anthony Huezo, RF: 2-for-5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
• German Ramirez, SS: 1-for-4, R
• Nehomar Ochoa, 1B: 2-for-2, R, BB
• Brandon Forrester, 2B: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB, SB

• Luis Aguilar, RHP: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Aubrey Smith, RHP: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Jackson Wells, RHP: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Leomar Rosario, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

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Today’s minor league starters:

SL: OFF

CC: OFF

AV: OFF

FV: OFF

There’s no sugarcoating it: the Yankees’ bullpen has looked real shaky to start the year. As a collective unit, their 4.22 ERA ranks 17th in MLB through Saturday’s action, and only four teams have blown more saves than their five. Exacerbating the issue is that their two late-inning options—David Bednar and Camilo Doval—have been only so reliable, with Doval in particular sporting an unsightly 7.56 ERA.

Granted, the bullpen wasn’t exactly considered a strength coming into the year, but there were reasons for optimism; full seasons from Bednar and Doval, along with the departures of the scuffling Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, were supposed to stabilize the bullpen. The Yankees’ front office talked a big game about the 2025 Trade Deadline haul standing in for their offseason and an explanation for why they made no additions beyond the already-dismissed (and unused) Cade Winquest. However, things have not played out how they projected, and the flakiness of the relief corps was recently on full display against the Rays and Angels.

Despite this, all hope is not lost. While the surface results are discouraging, a look under the hood reveals that the bullpen isn’t pitching all that badly. Doval and Jake Bird may be running ERAs over 7.00 just now, but they’ve also been running into some bad fortune. The same can be said of Bednar, whose peripherals are actually indicative of an elite reliever in his prime. And on the bright side, the other relief options, including Tim Hill, Brent Headrick, and Fernando Cruz, are performing well. All in all, there’s enough talent here to keep the Yankees’ bullpen from becoming a weakness.

First, let’s take a closer look at Doval. The first thing that jumps out when looking at his stat line is that his ERA is nearly three full runs higher than his FIP in 8.1 innings of work. That would be cause for hope in itself, except that his FIP of 4.68 is still pretty bad. The main culprit so far has been giving up too many dingers, as Doval’s 2.2 HR/9 is by far the worst mark of his career; he was at a 0.6 HR/9 across 259.2 innings from 2022 through 2025. The dingers might have more to do with luck than any change in talent level, as his HR/FB% is an unsustainably high 22.2 percent, more than double his career mark. If we assume that Doval hasn’t suddenly become homer-prone, we can expect his ERA going forward to look more like his xFIP of 3.05.

Doval’s pitch data confirms that, ability wise, he’s the same pitcher he was in 2025. His pitch mix—a cutter and a sinker, both in the high 90s, along with a wicked high-80s slider—has remained the same, and he’s generating basically the same movement on all of them. He hasn’t been making tons of mistake pitches, either; his Meatball percentage is actually the lowest mark of his career. It’s just that, for whatever reason, opposing batters have punished his mistakes harder than ever. Will this trend continue? I don’t know, but Doval’s track record suggests that if he’s doing what he always does, the on-field results are going to trend upwards. I’d say it’s too early to be that worried about his performance.

With Bird, on the other hand, I understand the apprehension — and so, it seems, do the Yankees, given his recent demotion. Bird lacks Doval’s track record, and his recent results have been especially bad; the less said about his disastrous, brief run with the 2025 Yankees, the better. However, everything about Bird’s 2026 stat line suggests that he’s been more unlucky rather than outright bad. He has a 28.1-percent strikeout rate against a 3.1-percent walk rate, and he’s given up only one home run so far, good enough for a sterling 3.27 FIP. The reason why his ERA is a full four runs higher than that? A .400 BABIP and a 52.1-percent LOB rate, both aberrant and likely to normalize going forward.

Now, I’m not advocating for Aaron Boone to give Bird just as long a leash as Doval. There’s a reason why the Yankees deemed him to be the most expendable in the bullpen when they needed a fresh arm, sending him down on April 14th. But it would be a mistake to cut him outright. There’s something within Bird’s profile that’s compelling, and the Yankees wouldn’t have dealt for him last year if that wasn’t the case. Bird has the upside to be a dependable middle-inning option, and it’s worth finding out if he could actually become one; his peripheral numbers so far definitely suggest that he can.

Compared to Bird and Doval, Bednar is a much easier sell. While his ERA sits at a mediocre 4.15, basically everything else on his FanGraphs page is pristine. His K-rate sits at a healthy 28.6 percent, and he has yet to allow a single homer. Those two factors have allowed Bednar to post a spectacular 2.08 FIP despite a career-high BB rate (11.9%). The cause of his middling ERA is obvious: a .440 BABIP allowed, which is impossibly high for even the most hapless relievers. And no, Bednar isn’t getting hit hard; his hard contact rate is just 16 percent, less than half of the MLB average, and he hasn’t given up a single Barrel. Mark my words: El Oso will be just fine.

Perhaps the most encouraging feature of this year’s bullpen is that the other contributors have done quite well so far. Brent Headrick is pitching like an elite relief option, and Tim Hill continues to be ruthlessly efficient and always dependable. Fernando Cruz is walking too many guys, but he’s missing enough bats to not get burned, and even Paul Blackburn has been quietly solid in handling low-leverage work. Sure, Ryan Yarborough, Yerry De los Santos, and Angel Chivilli all project to be somewhere between bad and terrible, but no team can boast an entire bullpen’s worth of lockdown relievers. (Just ask the 2025 Dodgers.)

The Yankees have enough good stuff going on here to have an above average relief corps. They may never be as intimidating as the bullpens of those mid-to-late 2010s Yankees squads of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, but by and large, they’ll probably be good enough to get the job done.

There are some weeks where finding the three players that played well is rather difficult. With the Phillies, this is one of those weeks. Nothing went right, but on we shall march.

Three up

Cristopher Sanchez – Man, when your defense lets you down, it can make a good week look a whole lot worse. The Saturday matchup of Sanchez and Chris Sale looked really good on paper and on the mound, but the runs given up by Sanchez were because of errors and bleeders. He was excellent, but the Phillies still lost since they also can’t score runs right now. Needless to say, Sanchez is still an Ace.

Bryce Harper – When Harper is in the middle of one of his hot streaks, the team should be winning games. We’ve seen how cold he gets and how the team responds, so the fact that they are losing while he’s hitting the ball is an issue.

Kyle Schwarber – Three home runs in a week is a good week! It’s just too bad that he is striking out so, so much that it’s becoming somewhat alarming. I saw somewhere that someone complained of the strikeouts and how the Phillies probably have buyer’s remorse because of it, to which I say “Poppycock!” Imagine how this offense might look if they didn’t have his power.

Three down

Jesus Luzardo – Luzardo has been pretty awful this season, something that is noticeable once you consider he signed a big money extension prior to the season. You still give him that contract ten times out of ten, knowing he’ll probably right the ship soon enough, but he’s been way too hittable with his stuff so far. There’s a lot of red on his Savant page right now, so alarm bells should be quieted a bit, but this was a bad start for him this week.

Bryson Stott – Alec Bohm has been the target of the fanbase’s ire this year, rightfully so, but Stott has been rough lately. His week this week was mostly “eh”, but his season is lacking. There is little on base ability and almost to no power coming from his offensive production. I’ve been on the “extend Bryson Stott” train for a while, but that looks like it might be losing some steam.

Alec Bohm – What else is there to say? He’s bad. The legal issues he is in right now with his parents has to be having some kind of impact on his ability to prepare to play baseball, and that is something that would lead anyone to be in a bad headspace, but the production has to be pick up lest the team make a more significant change that just “giving him a breather”.

Tension, injuries, and tough results — the Royals are dealing with more than just what’s happening on the field.

In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, hosts Jacob Milham and Jeremy “Hokius” Greco break down a challenging stretch for the Kansas City Royals, highlighted by clubhouse questions following Salvador Perez’s social media activity and what it may signal about team dynamics. The discussion explores leadership, communication, and how off-field narratives can impact performance during a difficult start to the season.

On the field, the hosts analyze the Royals’ 7–14 start, digging into roster changes, injury setbacks to key contributors like James McArthur and Bailey Falter, and the continued search for consistency. Despite the struggles, there are bright spots, including encouraging offensive progress from rookies Carter Jensen and Jack Caglianone, along with deeper dives into player metrics like exit velocity and overall development trends.

Looking ahead, Jacob and Jeremy evaluate the team’s season outlook, potential trade scenarios, and what a path forward could realistically look like for Kansas City. The episode also touches on MLB streaming frustrations, highlighting how fan experience is being impacted off the field, and includes a thoughtful discussion on mental health and leadership in professional sports.

Blending honest analysis, context, and perspective, this episode gives Royals fans a clear-eyed view of where the team stands — and what comes next.

Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

BlueSky
– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social

Twitter / X
– Podcast: @RoyalRundownPod

The Nationals were aggressive with their assignment of Devin Fitz-Gerald this season, sending the 20-year-old infielder straight to High A Wilmington after just 10 games at Low A in 2025 with the Rangers. So far through 13 games, the youngster from the MacKenzie Gore trade has been even better than advertised, hitting .333 with a .982 OPS and 2 home runs, even swiping 10 bags in the process. The switch-hitting youngster hasn’t looked overmatched at all and is actually reaching even higher highs than he achieved in 2025.

The numbers Fitz-Gerald is putting up at High A for his age aren’t unprecedented, but they are rare. Only 2 other 20-year-olds also currently have at least a 180 wRC+, those being Caleb Bonemor of the White Sox and Wyatt Sanford of the Pirates, and Fitz-Gerald has the cleanest batted ball profile of the three. In 2025, only 3 20-year-olds with at least 60 plate appearances had a 180 wRC+ or higher at High A; George Lombard Jr., a Yankees shortstop prospect and a consensus top 50 prospect; Josue Briceno, a Tigers catching prospect and top 50 prospect; and Kevin McGonigle, the Tigers’ major league shortstop and a consensus top 2 prospect in baseball.

The prospect I want to compare Fitz-Gerald to for now is McGongile, who fast-tracked his way through the minor leagues last season and cracked the Tigers’ big league roster in 2026, where he is raking to the tune of a .892 OPS. McGonigle wasn’t just the best 20-year-old at High A in 2025; he was the best hitter period, with his 215 wRC+ in 171 plate appearances leading all High A hitters. His swing decisions were elite, with a 95th percentile whiff rate, 98th-percentile strikeout rate, and 74th-percentile walk rate, and the result was a 100th-percentile wOBA of .469.

Left: 20 year old Nats INF prospect Devin Fitz-Gerald at High A to start 2026 (12 Games)
Right: Tigers SS and consensus top 2 prospect Kevin McGonigle’s High A numbers when he was 20 years old (46 Games in 2025)
Not gonna place unfair expectations on DFG, but he’s not far off👀👀 pic.twitter.com/n0sYNPC6SK

— Paul Cubbage (@PaulCubbage23) April 19, 2026

In regard to Fitz-Gerald, while he isn’t quite at McGonigle level as of now, he isn’t far off either. His swing decisions have also been great, with an 85th-percentile whiff rate, 95th-percentile strikeout rate, and 65th-percentile walk rate, resulting in an 88th-percentile wOBA of .425. Both Fitz-Gerald and McGonigle have patient plate approaches, with Fitz-Gerald swinging 42% of the time at High A and McGonigle 46%, and the result is both taking their fair share of walks and doing damage when they get their pitches.

The area Fitz-Gerald lags behind McGonigle is in the power department, where his .185 ISO is a sizable ways away from McGonigle’s .276 ISO at High A. While we won’t get a look at the full sample of exit velocities for Fitz-Gerald until he hits a level where it is provided publicly, the issue could also stem from him not pulling enough of his fly balls quite yet, as his 7.5 pulled flyball% is in the 17th-percentile of High A hitters. Thankfully, this is a coachable issue, and once he starts tapping into his pullside power, he is going to be an even more dangerous hitter than he is right now.

While it would be unfair to place Kevin McGonigle’s level of expectations on Devin Fitz-Gerald at the moment, it is fair to say he should start getting some of the same love as guys like McGonigle, Lombard, and Briceno soon on prospect publications, as he is making a joke out of High A pitching at the moment.

While the MacKenzie Gore deal was criticised at the time for netting the Nationals 0 top 100 prospects, it now appears likely two prospects from that deal, Gavin Fien and Devin Fitz-Gerald, will be on top 100 lists, with outfielder Yeremy Cabrera making a case to appear on it as well.

Morning A’s fans!

We had a bit of a rough weekend as the Athletics dropped two of three to the Chicago White Sox. That’s a bit embarressing considering their poor roster but it’s a good remind that anything can happen in baseball. All the A’s can do now is turn the page and look ahead and prepare for tonight’s contest.

They’re back on the road for another series in a different city. This time they’re headed to Seattle to take on the division-rival Mariners for three games. Seattle is off to a slow start so far this year with just a 10-13 record so far that places them fourth in the division. The M’s were a favorite pick for lots of baseball people to win the division for the second straight season but they’re not going to be handed the division. They came into this year with a target on their backs.

Tonight’s series kicks off with a matchup between J.T. Ginn and Emerson Hancock. Both young right-handed pitchers, Ginn is coming off a pair of quality starts since joining the rotation and he’d like to keep that roll going. Hancock meanwhile is off to a great start for the Mariners as he’s sporting a 2.28 ERA through his first four outings. Not an easy matchup for the A’s offense but it won’t be getting much easier during the rest of the series.

Tuesday will see Jacob Lopez get the ball for his fifth start. The left-hander has struggled so far this season especially with his control. The rest of the starting rotation is mostly pulling their weight and one has to wonder how long the team will keep trotting Lopez out there if these control problems persist. A big start here would go a long way towards assuaging any concerns the coaching staff may be developing for their lefty. Meanwhile Seattle will send Luis Castillo to the mound for his fifth start as well. The veteran right-hander got knocked around hard a couple outings back that has skewed his ERA but he’s generally performed the way he usually does so far. The A’s have seen plenty of Castillo over the years.

And wrapping the series up on Wednesday afternoon will be a matchup between right-hander Aaron Civale and Logan Gilbert. Civale, signed to a one-year deal to help stabilize the backend of the rotation, has done that and then some so far in his first season with the A’s, pitching to a 3.54 ERA through four starts. He got knocked around last time out though, allowing 11 hits to the White Sox in an eventual loss, so he’ll be looking to get back on track with a strong outing on Wednesday. Gilbert meanwhile is off to a so-so start to his season with a 4.03 ERA so far, but he’s done well in limiting walks with just five free passes in five starts. The A’s will need to take advantage of those when they draw them.

Could be a tough series, but the A’s need a bounce back after this weekend. Other than that, game is at 6:40 tonight. Have a great week everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• Do-Overs For (Almost) Everyone In The AL West
• A’s drop series to White Sox
• Bullpen and Wind Sink A’s Shot at Series Win
• A’s out-hit Rangers in 6-5 victory
• Today Is A Day Of Special Meaning — For More Than One Reason
• Denzel and Co. add to highlight reel as A’s defense turns away Rangers
• A’s top prospect Leo De Vries pops his first two homers of the season at Double-A
• Armchair 101: The Challenge Of Judging Decisions In Real Time
• AN Exclusive: Blogfather Observes The Wild Denzelope In Its Natural Habitat
• AN Exclusive: Blogfather Toes The Rubber With Pitching Coach Scott Emerson
• AN Exclusive: Blogfather Catches Up With Starting Pitcher Jacob Lopez

MLB News and Interest:

• Ohtani’s on-base streak reaches 51 straight games
• ‘Gonna get loud’: Mets head home as skid hits 11
• Zack Wheeler On Track For Late April Return
• Aaron Boone: Cole needs more rehab outings
• Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier Projected To Return In 5-7 Weeks
• Guardians’ Austin Hedges gets engaged on field following game
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Thoughts?

Is Shea Langeliers the real face of the A's franchise? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/mPFOc2QBtM

— SleeperAthletics (@SleeperAth) April 19, 2026

Another top prospect to consider:

Everyone is focused on 22 year old Jamie Arnold and for good reason, but don’t forget about the 20 year old at the same level doing this… https://t.co/NH0v2i9Osf

— Straight A’s (@StraightAs123) April 19, 2026