All systems nominal: Cal Raleigh (=.09 WPA)
Scrub the launch, we’ve got a problem: Luis Castillo (-.25 WPA)
Game Thread Comment of the Day:
8-12: Chart
Cubs Minor League Wrap: Matthew Boyd makes a rehab start
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs plundered the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 11-10 in ten innings.
Matthew Boyd started this game on a rehab assignment. He got into trouble in the second inning when he gave up three runs, but was strong otherwise. The final line on Boyd was three runs on four hits over 3.2 innings. Boyd struck out six and walked just one, which is the most positive number. He threw 64 pitches and 46 were for strikes.
Will Sanders did not pitch as well, but ended up getting the win despite blowing an 8-3 lead. Sanders pitched four innings and allowed five runs on eight hits. He struck out five and walked three. One of those three walks was intentional.
Iowa scored three runs in the top of the tenth and Ryan Jensen got the save because he only gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning. Jensen gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits over one inning. He struck out two, walked one and hit one batter.
In defense of all these pitchers, the wind was howling out to left at 15 miles per hour.
Second baseman Pedro Ramirez had a big day. First, he had an RBI single in the top of the first inning. Next, Ramirez hit a three-run home run in the second inning, his fifth on the young season already. (His career-high for a season is eight.) Finally, he knocked in the third run in the top of the tenth with an infield single. Ramirez went 4 for 6 with two steals. He had the five RBI and scored twice.
Shortstop Ben Cowles cranked a solo home run in the eighth inning. Cowles also had an RBI double in the third inning and a sacrifice fly in the tenth. Cowles went 2 for 4 with the sac fly and the three runs batted in.
Third baseman James Triantos was 2 for 6 with a double to lead off the game. He scored on the Ramirez single. Triantos also stole a base.
Left fielder Owen Miller was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored once and drove in one.
Center fielder Brett Bateman was 2 for 5. He scored twice and had one run batted in.
The Ramirez home run went 394 feet.
Ben Cowles’s RBI double.
Cowles’ home run.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies stuffed and mounted the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins) on their mantel, 10-9.
Starter Nick Dean put the Smokies behind early when he gave up three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Dean’s final line was three runs on two hits over four innings. One of those two hits was a two-run home run. Dean walked two and struck out four.
The Smokies fell behind 8-2 when Erian Rodriguez got shelled for five runs in the fifth inning.
But the Smokies fought back and scored six runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game. However, Tyler Ras allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth to give Pensacola the lead back. Ras then got the win when the Smokies struck back with two runs in the top of the ninth. The final line on Ras was one run on two hits over 2.1 innings. He walked two and struck out four.
Vince Reilly pitched the bottom of the ninth and got the save. He issued a leadoff walk, but that runner was thrown out trying to steal. Reilly struck out the other two batters he faced to close out the win.
First baseman Edgar Alvarez gave the Smokies an early lead with a solo home run in the top of the second. Alvarez was 1 for 2 with three walks and two runs scored.
DH Alexis Ramírez hit a two-run single in the top of the ninth that ended up being the difference in the game. Ramírez went 1 for 4 with a walk and a sacrifice fly in the eighth, giving him three runs batted in tonight.
Right fielder Andy Garriola was 2 for 3 with an RBI double in the second inning. He was also hit by a pitch. Garriola reached on catcher’s interference and scored in the six-run eighth inning.
Some Smokies highlights from the eighth inning.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs won their sixth-straight game, 7-5 over the Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins).
Starter Nazier Mulé gave up just one run on four hits over 3.1 innings. Mulé walked three and struck out four.
Brayden Spears pitched the next 2.2 innings and got the win because Mulé didn’t go five innings. But Spears deserved the W because he allowed no runs on just one hit and no walks. Spears struck out three.
Kenyi Perez pitched the final two innings and picked up the save. Perez did not permit a hit or a run, but he did walk two and hit a batter while striking out two.
DH Owen Ayers homered in his fourth-straight game and his fifth on the year. Ayers’ home run came with a man on in the fourth. He was 2 for 5.
Third baseman Reginald Preciado hit a two-run double in the third inning. He was 1 for 4.
South Bend only had four hits in this game, but scored seven runs because they walked eight times and were hit by pitches twice. The Sky Carp also committed two errors which led to four unearned runs.
Ayers’ home run.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans suffered a direct hit by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 9-4.
Starter Noah Edders went three innings and took the loss after allowing one run on three hits. He struck out five and walked one.
The game got out of hand when reliever Riely Hunsaker gave up five runs in the fourth inning and one more in the sixth. Hunsaker’s final line was six runs, four earned, on six hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out four.
First baseman Josiah Hartshorn went 1 for 4 with a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth. Hartshorn also walked once.
Myrtle Beach managed just four hits, but drew nine walks.
Dodgers trade for pitcher Chayce McDermott
The Dodgers made a trade on their off day Thursday, acquiring right-handed pitcher Chayce McDermott from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league pitcher Axel Perez.
McDermott, 27, started this season in Triple-A Norfolk, where struck out nine of his 28 batters faced (a 32.1-percent strikeout rate), but also walked six and allowed four runs in his 5 1/3 innings. He was designated for assignment last Saturday when Baltimore brought up catcher Maverick Handley.
In parts of two seasons in the majors, McDermott pitched in five total games in 2024-25, but allowed 18 runs on 17 hits, including four home runs, and 14 walks in just 12 2/3 innings, with 12 strikeouts.
Drafted in the fourth round out of Ball State in 2021, McDermott had strikeout rates over 30 percent in each of his first four minor league seasons, including a 3.78 ERA in 100 innings for Triple-A Norfolk in addition to making his major league debut in 2024.
In March 2024, McDermott was named among a group of players outside of Baseball America’s top 100 prospects who could make an impact in the majors. From Eli Ben-Porat:
McDermott’s slider is excellent, with great depth and some sweep, and produced excellent results, both from a contact-quality standpoint, as well as plenty of whiffs and chases. He has a curveball with distinct shape from the slider, which isn’t a dominant pitch, but fits well within his arsenal. He rounds it out with a changeup to lefties, giving him plenty of weapons to work with.
In 2025, McDermott mised the first six weeks of the season with a lat strain, and posted a 6.18 ERA and 23.1-percent strikeout rate in 59 2/3 innings between Triple-A and Double-A in addition to his four games with the Orioles.
McDermott is the third major league pitcher acquired by the Dodgers since the start of the regular season, not including trading for minor league pitcher Griff McGarry on Tuesday. They also traded for Jake Eder on April 1, the same day they claimed Grant Holman of waivers. McDermott takes the 40-man roster spot opened up this week when Holman was claimed off waivers by the Tigers. Now, McDermott will join Eder and McGarry as part of the Oklahoma City Comets pitching staff in Triple-A.
McDermott has 56 days of major league service time and one option year remaining, having used options in 2024 and 2025.
Perez, 20, is a 6’4 right-hander signed out of the Dominican Republic last year. He had a 5.48 ERA in 10 games and 23 innings last year in the Dominican Summer League with in his professional debut, with 32 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Guardians rookie Parker Messick has no-hit bid broken up in 9th inning of 4-2 win over Orioles
CLEVELAND (AP) — Parker Messick took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, José Ramírez homered for the third time in four games and the Cleveland Guardians opened a seven-game homestand with a 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.
Making his 11th major league start, Messick (3-0) faced one batter more than the minimum through eight innings before Leody Taveras led off the ninth with a grounder that just eluded diving second baseman Juan Brito and went into right field for a single.
Blaze Alexander followed with a line-drive single to center before the rookie left-hander was removed to a standing ovation from the crowd of 14,748.
Taylor Ward’s single off closer Cade Smith loaded the bases, and Gunnar Henderson’s sacrifice fly drove in Taveras. Pete Alonso hit an RBI double that put runners at second and third with one out.
Smith then retired pinch-hitter Colton Cowser on a fly to center and Samuel Basallo on a grounder for his fourth save.
The 25-year-old Messick walked two and equaled a career best with nine strikeouts. He was charged with two runs in eight-plus innings, his longest outing in the majors. He threw 112 pitches, 78 for strikes.
The most recent no-hitter in the majors was Sept. 4, 2024, when Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers combined to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0 at Wrigley Field.
Cleveland has the longest current gap between no-hitters. The team’s last one was Len Barker’s perfect game on May 15, 1981, against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Chase DeLauter walked in the first and Ramírez drove a first-pitch fastball from Shane Baz (0-2) into the right-center stands to give Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
Steven Kwan hit an RBI single in the fifth and George Valera added a run-scoring single in the sixth.
Up next
Orioles RHP Chris Bassitt (0-2, 9.00 ERA) faces Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (0-2, 6.38) on Friday.
Thoughts on a 9-6 Rangers win
Rangers 9, A’s 6
- There was just way too much going on with this game.
- It was disorienting. It was confusing. It was befuddling.
- It was windy.
- The wind was out of control. It was wild. It was nuts.
- It huffed and puffed and blew a couple of potential home runs down.
- It also blew a high pop fly to right field by Josh Jung into the right field stands for a go ahead homer that we thought would be the difference in the game.
- Then it wasn’t because of a ball lost in the sun and a ball blown back towards the infield and what seemed to be a game the A’s should have won but were trying to lose but then were going to win, only to then lose.
- Four runs from your resilient Rangers in the top of the ninth turned a 6-5 deficit into an9-6 lead and eventual win.
- And Cal Quantrill made his Rangers debut. Got a win, even. Madness.
- These are the games that I’m used to the Rangers losing in Oakland.
- I guess it’s a good thing it was played in Sacramento.
- Jack Leiter maxed out at 98.3 mph with his fastball, averaging 96.2 mph. Robert Garcia’s fastball touched 96.8 mph. Tyler Alexander hit 92.4 mph with his fastball. Jakob Junis’s fastball topped out at 92.9 mph, Jacob Latz reached 95.2 mph with his fastball. Cal Quantrill’s fastball hit 94.5 mph.
- Ezequiel Duran had a 107.3 mph groundout and a 102.9 mph single. Wyatt Langford had a 105.6 mph groundout. Josh Smith had a 105.0 mph double. Brandon Nimmo had a 103.2 mph fly out and a 100.0 mph single.
- Back above .500, back in first place, and on to Seattle.
Orioles barely avoid being no-hit in 4-2 loss to Guardians
Guardians’ rookie Parker Messick took a no-hitter into the 9th inning, but couldn’t complete the first Cleveland no-hitter in 25 years, settling for a 4-2 victory over the Orioles, Thursday.
Messick game into the bottom of the 9th with only two walks allowed and nine strikeouts on 106 pitches. He tried to sneak a cutter past Leody Taveras, only for the Orioles’ CF to slash to the ball back up the middle toward right-center, just out of the reach of 2B Juan Brito, for the Orioles first hit of the night.
The relief of no longer having a 0 in the hit column helped spark a mini rally for Baltimore in the top of the 9th. Guardians’ manager Stephen Vogt left Messick in to face Blaze Alexander, who rewarded that decision by lining a single to center field. That forced Vogt to turn to closer Cade Smith, who allowed the O’s to further claw back in the game. Taylor Ward worked a full count against Smith, and then loaded the bases when he line a 3-2 fastball into center.
Gunnar Henderson then came to the plate representing the tying run for Baltimore. The star SS just missed hitting a game-tying grand slam as well, getting just out in front of a Smith splitter and sending a 355-foot sac fly to deep right-center. Pete Alonso then took his own chance at being the Orioles’ hero, attacking a first-pitch fastball and sending it ricocheting off the top of the wall in right field for an RBI double. Had Alonso’s sinking line drive been five feet higher and five feet to the left, it would’ve been a three-run homer that tied the game. Instead, he had to settle for putting the tying run at second with one out.
As minds in Birdland began to turn to the Orioles magical no-hitter to walk-off winner Houdini act last September against the Dodgers, Colton Cowser stepped in as a pinch hitter. After fouling off some tough pitches from Smith, Cowser just got under a ball, sending a hard-hit shallow fly to left-center for the second out. That left the fate of the comeback to rookie Samuel Basallo, who sent a 108mph grounder screaming up the middle, only for Brito to grab it and toss the ball over to first for the final out.
The fact that the O’s made Thursday’s loss look respectable came as a surprise after Messick left them utterly befuddled for eight innings. The stocky, 25-year-old lefty had Orioles swinging through fastballs, flailing and changeups and pounding easy groundouts to shortstop all night. The only really loud outs of the game on a Ward flyout in the 3rd that died right up against the centerfield fence, and a nifty snag in foul territory by José Ramírez in the 8th. The complete lack of good swings from the Orioles against Messick made it look like they could go 100 ABs against the southpaw and never sniff a hit.
To say Orioles starter Shane Baz had a bad outing in Cleveland would probably be a little harsh, but he certainly paled in comparison to his counterpart, Messick. Coming off a lackluster outing against the Giants, Baz didn’t start the game with his best stuff against the Guardians. After punching out Steven Kwan to start the game, he walked Chase DeLauter on five pitches and then made a big mistake to perennial All-Star Ramírez. Baz threw a first-pitch fastball down the heart of the plate, and the Guardians’ all-time leader in games played smashed it to deep left-center for a two-run blast.
The 26-year-old right-hander quickly but that blunder behind him, though. He got out of the first thanks to a diving stop by Jeremiah Jackson at second and a lineout to Pete Alonso. The Polar Bear then made a great snag on a grounder to start the 2nd, before Baz punched out Austin Hedges on a foul-tipped cutter and ended the inning with a pop out to short.
The Orioles’ right-hander breezed through the 3rd inning thanks to a pair of grounders and a pop-up to the catcher. He’d open the 4th by striking out Kyle Manzardo looking, before giving up a single to George Valera, ending a streak of seven consecutive Guardians retired. The O’s defense would pick up their starter to end the 4th, as Coby Mayo stabbed a hard-hit grounder at third and started a 5-4-3 double play.
Baz picked up his fourth punchout of the night to begin the 5th, snapping off a knuckle curve below the zone to get Juan Brito. After getting Hedges to ground out on another good knuckle curve, the hard-throwing Texan ran into some bad luck to end the 5th.
Shortstop Brayan Rocchio grounded a ball to the right side that just barely eluded the pocket of Jackson’s glove, skipped off the glove into right field and allowed Rocchio to skamper to second for a double. After a double with an xBA of .120 kept the inning alive, Kwan lined a single to RF Johnathan Rodríguez. The Orioles’ outfielder fired a frozen rope to home plate, beating Rocchio, but the Cleveland infielder just barely slid under the tag of Samuel Basallo to score the Guardians’ third run.
Cleveland would add their fourth run against Baz in the 6th, thanks to another rally started by Ramírez. The Guardians’ best player led off the inning by working a 10-pitch walk. He then moved to third on a line drive by Manzardo to right, before scoring on a single to left off Valera’s bat. The Oriole’s starter would limit the damage, finishing the inning with two more Ks and a groundout to short. That closed Baz’s line at 6 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB and 6 K.
The Orioles will look to end their second three-game losing streak of the season tomorrow when Chris Bassitt takes the bump in Cleveland. First pitch is set for 6:10pm ET.
St. Louis Cardinals Should Be Concerned about Nolan Gorman’s 2026 Start
There is a lot to like about the 2026 season so far for the St. Louis Cardinals. Through the first 18 games, the team has a winning record and several players are off to a great start. One of the exceptions is Nolan Gorman and the early numbers reveal there is real reason for concern as 2026 is starting to look a lot like 2025.
Full disclosure: I am not a numbers expert like some of my colleagues here. I’m interested in the metrics, but don’t pretend that I can interpret them like the many in our community that also probably did a lot better in algebra than I did in school, too. However, I decided to dig in to see exactly how much progress (or not) that Nolan Gorman has made with his new approach. I did not like what I learned.
I decided to compare how Nolan started the 2025 season compared to what he’s done in 2026 through the same amount of games. So far during the 2026 season, Nolan Gorman has 11 hits in 53 at-bats with 2 home runs and 9 RBI’s and a .208 average and .611 OPS. Through the first 18 games of 2025, he had an almost exact same stat line. Gorman had 10 hits in 53 at-bats with 2 home runs and a .189 average. Nolan’s walk rate and walk-to-strikeout rate was also slightly better at the start of the 2025 season compared to what we’ve seen in 2026. His hard hit rate and barrel percentage are also slightly down from 2025.
Nolan’s power numbers and hard hit rate being down is not really a surprise based on what manager Oli Marmol told us during out interview with him just prior to the season.
“When you talk about what we’re doing with him and what he’s doing in order to prevent that from changing…more contact, not doing that at the expense of bat speed. You have to start somewhere and that’s why I wanted to lay that out last year….the bat speed is going to drop a little bit while we try to figure out how to get him through the zone and impacting the baseball at a higher rate.”
Nolan Gorman showed signs of improvement during Spring Training, but the first 18 games of the season have not seen that trend continue. If anything, he’s regressed somewhat although 18 games is a very small sample size. I suppose I would be delusional to hope that we’d see the Nolan Gorman that we saw at the start of the 2023 season when he began on a tear. Through the first 18 games of 2023, Nolan had a .319 batting average, already had 6 home runs and 18 RBI’s with an OPS north of 1.000. The 2023 version of Nolan Gorman was a confident one while the 2026 Nolan we’ve seen so far looks…well, “uncomfortable” would be the word that comes to mind.
I have to wonder if the key to Nolan Gorman rediscovering himself might be what’s happened with Jordan Walker. When asked about how he’s been able to turnaround his approach and results, Jordan has said that he doesn’t want to think about it too much. On one of the pregame broadcasts earlier this week, I recall Jim Hayes talking to hitting coach Brant Brown. When asked about Jordan Walker, Brant said that he’s not discussing too much about mechanics unless he sees a red flag. The only change he says he’s made is talking to Walker about how he will now be pitched with the opposition knowing he’s a threat. Other than that, he doesn’t want Walker to overthink his new success. The at-bats I’ve seen Nolan Gorman take this season, he looks like a player that’s trying to apply someone else’s approach.
I think that Nolan Gorman is a player that really needs to have some success and he needs to have it soon. Jordan Walker now has his confidence back and he goes to the plate expecting to do damage. We know that Nolan Gorman is capable of being that type of impact player, too. I daydream about a St. Louis Cardinals lineup where both Gorman and Walker are offensive threats. Walker is on his way to living up to his massive potential. Will Gorman be able to jumpstart his flatline start to 2026? We can only hope.
Yankees' Anthony Volpe picks up first hit of rehab assignment; George Lombard Jr. notches another multi-hit game for Double-A
Anthony Volpe continues his road back to the Yankees with his second rehab start playing for the Somerset Patriots on Thursday night.
The Yankees shortstop played five innings and finished 1-for-3 with a strikeout on the night. After going hitless in his two at-bats on Tuesday -- batting against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler -- Volpe has the first hit of his rehab assignment.
Batting second in the lineup, Volpe grounded out to third base in his first at-bat. In his second at-bat in the third inning, Volpe swung and missed on a 3-2 pitch down in the zone. He's struck out three times in his first five at-bats since starting his rehab assignment. But Volpe got the barrel on the ball in his third at-bat, this time coming in the fifth.
On a 3-0 count, Volpe had the greenlight and drove the ball up the middle for a base hit.
Anthony Volpe gets his first hit on his rehab assignment! pic.twitter.com/PPdiY98U3l
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 17, 2026
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that the plan is for Volpe to play back-to-back games on Thursday and Friday. The shortstop will take Saturday off before taking the field again on Sunday.
From there, Volpe will head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where his workload will increase.
Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. started at third base for the Patriots on Thursday before shifting over to shortstop once Volpe's night was done.
Lombard's scorching-hot start to the minor league season continued, as he went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk through six innings of Thursday's game.
Over his first 10 games, Lombard is hitting .425 and has five multi-hit games this season.
Mariners Game #20 Preview and Discussion: SEA at SDP
The Mariners are back under the lights tonight after a game where for some reason, who can say really, the ninth inning absolutely did not happen. Seriously. Eat some chicharron, drink a Russian imperial stout, and smile through it all. That’s how we get through 162 games together.
Lineups:
Luis Castillo takes the mound tonight for the final match of this weird 3-game road trip. Luis actually leads MLB in swings-and-misses (3,426) since 2017, the year he made his debut. Here’s hoping he adds to that lead tonight. Offense-wise, it’s a fairly conventional lineup for Dan Wilson’s Mariners. J.P. Crawford is back in the lineup after getting the day off yesterday, and there’s been some slight jiggling in the 7-9 holes, but otherwise it’s the same lineup that put 6 runs on the Dads last night.
Walker Buehler takes the mound tonight for San Diego. Buehler had a to-ugh time in Boston last year, and his 2026 hasn’t been any better. Sporting an ERA of 4.97, the two-time All-Star has been scuffling out of the gate. With luck, the Mariners can put the hurt on him and get his ERA north of 5.
Game Information:
First Pitch: 5:40 pm PT
TV: Mariners TV with Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink in the booth with Brad Adam on the field.
Radio: Seattle Sports 710 AM with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr. on the call.
Game 19: Seattle Mariners at San Diego Padres
Seattle Mariners (8-11) at San Diego Padres (12-6), April 16, 2026, 5:40 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.
Listen: 97.3 The Fan
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Mariners broadcaster explains why she used AI for formulating question in viral video
Baseball reporter Angie Mentink is handling her viral 15 seconds with grace, poking fun at herself after a video was posted on social media showing her using Google Gemini to formulate postgame questions.
A social media account posted a video of her during a Mariners game as she asked the AI assistant for some help with questions.
The video quickly generated plenty of reactions, despite its lack of context or the voyeuristic nature of how it was taken, after it was posted on X.
@AngieMentink do you know of any good questions to ask after a tough loss? Asking for a friend… pic.twitter.com/Gwr0i8B6Qc
— Cole Smith (@Cole_Smith04) April 16, 2026
But Mentink, who has been a member of the Mariners broadcast team since the late 1990s, took the whole thing in stride.
“Currently asking AI how to handle going viral for using AI,” Mentink wrote on X. “In all seriousness, I’m late to the AI party. Earlier this season I experimented with AI to see if it had any questions to add to my list for my postgame coverage. We’ve come a long way from pen and paper when I started in 1997.
“Always learning.”
Mentink is a well-liked and well-respected part of the Mariners broadcast, and many have noted that it’s an impressive feat that she’s even back to work this season after suffering a “ministroke” in February and a “severe and unmistakable stroke” a day later that left her paralyzed on the left side.
To add to the conversation, MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer noted in a post on social media that the video was “not” from Wednesday’s game and that “Mariners TV doesn’t do walk-off interviews after losses.”
“No, this was a stroke victim back at work for the first time — weeks ago — trying to regain her bearings,” he wrote.
The Mariners will be back on the diamond on Thursday to finish up a three-game set with the Padres before returning to Seattle to host the Rangers this weekend.
Astros vs. Rockies Game Thread: Game 20, 4/16/2026
The Houston Astros (8-11), who enter tonight’s game on a seven-game home winning streak, look to secure a series sweep tonight in the finale of their three-game series vs. the Colorado Rockies (6-12).
Astros starter RHP Ryan Weiss (0-2, 7.36 ERA) will transition from the bullpen to the rotation to make his first Major League start tonight as he opposes the Rockies and their opener RHP Juan Mejia (0-2, 5.40 ERA).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Ryan Weiss, who’s made five relief appearances this season, is back pitching in the United States in 2026 after spending the last two seasons in the KBO.
He made 46 career starts in Korea for the Hanwha Eagles and posted a 3.16 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP and 305 strikeouts in 270.1 innings over those two seasons.
The Astros signed him to a Major League deal in December.
VS. THE ROCKIES: The Astros were swept by the Rockies last week in a three-game series at Coors Field (April 6-9), which was the Astros first sweep at the hands of the Rockies since a four-game series from May 28-31, 2012. After the 2012 season, the Astros have not lost a season series against the Rockies, winning seven times and splitting twice.
FLEET WEEK HOUSTON: In honor of Fleet Week Houston, a ceremonial first pitch will be thrown out by U.S. Navy Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Tarren Foreman from Lufkin, Texas. A special Play Ball Call will be made by Admiral Karl Thomas, Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
TONIGHT’S SPECIAL GUESTS: Astros closer LHP Josh Hader will host a group of kids from BEAR at Thursday’s game as a part of his Hader’s Heart program. The group will also get to experience BP and talk with Hader on the field prior to the game.
TAXI SQUAD ADDITION: The Astros have added RHP Peter Lambert to the Major League Taxi Squad.
A former Rockie, Lambert has spent his 2026 season at Triple A Sugar Land, posting a 1.84 ERA (3ER/14.2IP) in three games (two starts).
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Astros lead the American League in several key offensive categories: Runs, AVG, OPS, OBP, SLG, Total Bases
THE ORDER: The Astros have used 19 different batting orders in their 19 games so far this season.
Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the batting order (batting second).
HOT START: LF Yordan Alvarez ranks first in the AL in extra-base hits (13), total bases (48), OPS (1.250), SLG (.762) and OBP (.488), ranks tied for first in walks (17), tied for second in RBI (17), tied for third in doubles (6), and tied for fourth in batting average (.333) and runs scored (15).
MR. 2000: 2B Jose Altuve has appeared in 1,994 career games and is looking to become the third player in franchise history to reach 2,000 career games, which would join him with Craig Biggio (2,850) and Jeff Bagwell (2,150).
Only four active players have reached 2,000 career games: Andrew McCutchen (2,274), Carlos Santana (2,212), Freddie Freeman (2,197) and Paul Goldschmidt (2,081).
HARD TO HIT: RHP Kai-Wei Teng, just the second Taiwanese-born player to appear with the Astros in their history, has held opponents to 5×34 on the season for a .147 opponent average.
Overall, Teng has gone 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA (3ER/9.2IP), a 0.93 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings in relief.
ON THE MEND:LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) is currently on a rehab assignment with Double A Corpus Christi and is next scheduled to pitch tomorrow for the Hooks…Sousa was an integral member of the Astros bullpen in 2025, posting a 5-1 record with four saves and 2.84 ERA (16ER/50.2IP) in 44 appearances.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 16, 7:10 p.m. CST
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Massive brawl breaks out between fans during Yankees-Angels game: ‘Holy s–t!’
The Bronx was burning — particularly in the stands.
A massive brawl broke out in the seats on a steamy 87-degree Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium during the top of the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 11-4 loss to the Angels.
In a video posted to X, a group of fans was seen throwing punches in the second deck down the left field line as several people tried to intervene and de-escalate the situation.
Early in the clip, one man grabbed another by the throat before he was restrained and brought to the ground.
Another fan wearing a gray Gerrit Cole jersey threw a flurry of punches, with none of them appearing to connect as the rowdy bunch worked its way down the section’s stairs.
fight in my section
— matthewpic.twitter.com/H3SOZp7dz2
(@batistanem516) April 16, 2026
“Holy s–t!” one fan could be heard saying in the clip.
One fan in a red shirt is seen being restrained toward the end of the 20-second clip as cooler heads seemingly prevailed.
Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger, who was the closest fielder to the melee, appeared to turn his head and observe the brawl in between pitches.
The brawl unfolded as the Angels staged a comeback in the sixth inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-4 lead.
Los Angeles would later break the game open, powered by Mike Trout’s historic fifth home run of the four-game series and a grand slam from Jo Adell.
The Yankees start a three-game series with the Royals on Friday night before heading on the road to face the rival Red Sox in Boston.
Bullpen and Wind Sink A’s Shot at Series Win
The Athletics entered the fourth and final game of their series against the Texas Rangers seeking a third straight win and a series victory, but the Rangers instead earned a split with a 9-6 win in a wild, wind-swept finale.
Making his second home start of the season, A’s left-hander Jacob Lopez was sharp early, only throwing 25 pitches, striking out two and allowing just one walk over his first two innings. Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter was similarly sharp, issuing just one walk to A’s designated hitter Shea Langeliers in his first two innings of work.
The Rangers broke through in the third. With one out, shortstop Ezequiel Duran doubled, and right fielder Brandon Nimmo followed with an RBI single to make it 1–0, but Lopez retired the next two hitters to limit the damage.
The A’s attempted to answer back immediately. With two outs in the bottom of the third, second baseman Jeff McNeil was hit by a pitch and then Langeliers got the A’s first hit of the game, a single to left. First baseman Nick Kurtz walked to load the bases for left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, who smacked a hard line drive that Nimmo caught in right field to end the hosts’ two-out rally. Through the first few innings, A’s hitters made plenty of hard contact off of Leiter, but failed to score.
Lopez worked around a leadoff double by Josh Jung to keep the Athletics deficit at one. The bottom of the fourth was another wasted scoring chance for the “Green and Gold”. After Carlos Cortes and Lawrence Butler singled, Leiter buckled down, getting the next two hitters to groundout to escape another jam unscathed. It marked the second-straight inning in which the A’s left multiple runners in scoring position.
In the fifth inning, Lopez lost his command, issuing three straight walks. With the bases loaded, Rangers first baseman Jake Burger continued his strong series with a sacrifice fly to double the lead to 2–0. The Rangers left two runners on as Lopez got third baseman Josh Jung to fly out to end the inning.
In the bottom of that inning, the A’s finally broke through against Leiter. Langeliers walked and then with two outs, Soderstrom hit a ground-rule double to right. Shortstop Jacob Wilson blooped a two-RBI single to right field.
He then stole second and scored on Cortes’ second single of the game. In a matter of minutes, the A’s turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead.
Lopez turned in arguably his best start of the season, only allowing two runs on three hits in five innings. In the sixth inning, A’s manager Mark Kotsay turned things over to his bullpen. Right-handed reliever Luis Medina quickly gave up the lead in his highest-leverage relief appearance of the season. Second baseman Josh Smith’s RBI double scored Joc Pederson, who had walked, to tie the game at three apiece.
The Rangers’ momentum carried over to the seventh. Facing A’s reliever Scott Barlow, Jung hit a fly ball that the wind carried over the short right-field fence for a go-ahead two-run home run. Barlow followed the home run by walking the next two batters, continuing the team’s issues with walks.
The A’s threatened in their half of the seventh, opening with back-to-back singles, but two Rangers relievers combined to retire the next three hitters. In the bottom of the eighth, the wind that hurt the A’s earlier helped them. The Rangers intentionally walked Langeliers, choosing to pitch to Kurtz with the bases loaded and two outs. Kurtz hit a fly ball that left fielder Wyatt Langford lost in the wind as it dropped in front of him. All three runners scored on the misplay, giving Kurtz a bases-clearing hit and the Athletics a 6-5 lead heading into the ninth.
Three outs away from taking the series, the hosts turned to right-hander Justin Sterner for the save opportunity. The decision backfired as the Rangers scored four runs on four hits against Sterner, responding to the A’s three-run frame the inning prior. The tying run scored on Sterner’s throwing error after he fielded a bunt and threw to third, where the ball was not caught by third baseman Darell Hernaiz. Texas added insurance runs before the Athletics came up empty in their final at-bats.
The Athletics will look to bounce back quickly as the Chicago White Sox arrive in Sacramento for a three-game weekend series to close out the home stand. Aaron Civale will make his first home start of the season, as he seeks to carry over his road success to Sutter Health Park. Civale will be opposed by White Sox right-hander Davis Martin, who is 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA.
Colorado Rockies game no. 19 thread: Juan Mejia vs Ryan Weiss
The Colorado Rockies are riding a season-high six-game losing streak as they prepare for their series finale against the Houston Astros. Despite woes from multiple sources—starting pitching deficiencies, injuries, and a sputtering offense—the games have been close.
The Rockies could use a win tonight, not only to snap their losing streak but also because of what lies ahead: a four-game weekend wraparound series against the dreaded Los Angeles Dodgers. A loss tonight could open the Rockies up to the possibility of an 11-game losing streak… or worse.
With difficult outings from José Quintana and Michael Lorenzen eating into the bullpen, and Kyle Freeland on the injured list, the Rockies find themselves mixing things up on the mound. As such, they’ll be utilizing an opener tonight.
That opener will be right-handed reliever Juan Mejia. Mejia currently holds a 5.40 ERA over seven appearances and 8.1 innings this season with four walks and just five strikeouts. After impressing during the World Baseball Classic for the Domincan Republic, Mejia has struggled to find his footing. His last time out—at the beginning of this Houston series—he pitched a scoreless inning but also gave up two hits. Prior to that he had given up three earned runs in 0.1 innings against the Padres.
The Houston Astros also appear to be running a bullpen game this evening, and right-handed reliever Ryan Weiss will make the start for them. Weiss currently holds a 7.36 ERA over five appearances with 15 strikeouts over 11 innings of work.
Weiss has just one career appearance against the Rockies and it did not go well for him. Earlier this season at Coors Field he gave up seven runs—six earned—on eight hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. Weiss’ primary offering is a four-seam fastball that averages 95.7 MPH, and his secondary pitches consist of a sinker, a changeup, and a sweeper. He also throws the very occasional curveball.
First Pitch: 6:10pm MDT
TV: Rockies.tv
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)
Lineups:
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