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

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez took a big step in his rehab on Wednesday night while playing for Double-A Binghamton. The backstop caught the entire eight innings and came away with seemingly no issue after a scary moment in Tuesday night's game.

Of course, Alvarez was hit by a pitch while batting for Binghamton on Tuesday. It was to the same hand he fractured, which resulted in trainers coming out to talk to him. The youngster did run the bases immediately afterward and caught the next inning before being pulled. Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza said before Wednesday's Mets game against the Twins that Alvarez was ok, and the catcher proved it.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run single and walked on Wednesday, but it was his defense that was a sight to behold. He threw out two potential base stealers and caught for three different pitchers, including prospect Jonah Tong.

It's unclear how much longer Alvarez will need to rehab but Wednesday's performance will go a long way. The Mets will likely want to see Alvarez catch entire games on back-to-back days while also getting at-bats up in Triple-A Syracuse, which could be the backstop's next destination.

With the Mets returning home for a four-game series against the Cardinals, the organization will be able to meet with Alvarez and plan out his next steps.

Francisco Alvarez brings home two with an RBI single for Double-A Binghamton! 💪 pic.twitter.com/LfEPa9oxhY

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 17, 2025

Francisco Alvarez caught the whole game behind the plate tonight for Double-A Binghamton.

He went 1-4 at the plate and caught two runners stealing 💪 pic.twitter.com/Z92MXrbTJh

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 17, 2025

Aaron Judge snapped his homer-less streak and the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-3, on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series in The Bronx.

Here are the takeaways...

-With the game tied in the seventh inning, Judge chose a perfect time to end his drought of 10 straight games without a home run, sending a 1-0 sinker from reliever John Schreiber to deep center field and parking it 383 feet away from home plate to put New York up by one.

Despite the dry spell, it was still Judge's seventh homer of the season, tied for second most in MLB and just one off the leaderboard.

-After pitching a clean top of the eighth inning with the lead, Fernando Cruz, vying for his first career save, went back out for the ninth with closer Devin Williams unavailable and managed to escape a hairy situation thanks to Cody Bellinger's diving catch in right field for the last out with the tying run at second base.

-Wednesday marked the return of Clarke Schmidt, who made his season debut after dealing with right rotator cuff tendonitis in spring training that forced him to start the 2025 campaign on the 15-day IL.

The right-hander got into early trouble and allowed a run in the first inning on Salvador Perez's RBI single that scored Bobby Witt Jr., who singled and advanced to second after a walk. Schmidt got out of the inning without any further damage and after shaking off some rust, he settled into a nice groove, retiring 11 consecutive hitters at one point.

That streak ended in the fifth inning after the 29-year-old allowed a leadoff single to Drew Waters, followed by an RBI triple to Kyle Isbel. Another run came around to score on a groundout, which tied the game, 3-3.

Schmidt's final line in his first start: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K on 73 pitches (46 strikes) -- definitely one he can build upon for the season.

-After falling behind 1-0, the Yankees took the lead in the third against LHP Kris Bubic with a two-out rally started byJudge, who doubled to left field. Judge had already singled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to five games. He finished 3-for-3 with a walk, RBI, two runs scored and was a triple shy of the cycle. He leads the league with his .409 batting average and 1.322 OPS.

With runners on first and second following a walk, Anthony Volpe went up to bat with a chance to redeem himself after he struck out with the bases loaded in the first inning, and redeem himself he did as the 23-year-old stroked a double to left field that drove in two and gave New York a 2-1 lead.

-There was more two-out magic for the Yanks in the fourth when Oswald Peraza singled with two gone in front of leadoff man Paul Goldschmidt, who also singled.Bellinger, off to a rough offensive start in New York, came through with a double down the first-base line just over the bag and past the glove of Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino that scored the team's third run and gave the Yanks a two-point cushion that Schmidt could not hold.

Game MVP: Aaron Judge

Court was once again in session as Judge snapped a homer-less streak of 11 games with his game-winning home run in the seventh.

Highlights

A 2-run double for Anthony Volpe to give the Yankees the lead! pic.twitter.com/ThkwnPROYu

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 16, 2025

Cody Bellinger makes it 3-1! pic.twitter.com/Rwfv0AUk4K

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 17, 2025

Aaron Judge with his 7th homer of the season for the lead! pic.twitter.com/UN1yQDZzwC

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 17, 2025

What's next

The Yankees head out for a seven-game road trip with the first of a four-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

RHP Will Warren (1-0, 5.14 ERA) goes up against RHP Taj Bradley (2-0, 3.71 ERA).

Clayton Kershaw took the next step to a return from the 60-day injured list, making his first rehabilitation appearance in triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

The longest-tenured Dodger tossed three scoreless innings in a start against the Tacoma Rainiers in a rare Wednesday morning contest, giving up two hits, striking out two and walking none on 30 pitches (22 for strikes). Kershaw underwent left-knee and left-foot surgery — to repair his left big toe — during the offseason. He missed the 2024 postseason because of his toe injury.

“I think anytime with rehab you want to feel healthy, which I do feel good today,” Kershaw, 37, told reporters after the game at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. “Then you want to see your stuff — obviously — play. There's some things that I need to work on still, but for the first [rehab appearance] overall, it was a good step forward.”

The future Hall of Fame southpaw’s fastball velocity averaged 87.5 mph and topped out at 88.8 mph — more than a full mile per hour down from the 89.9 he averaged in 2024. He threw 12 sliders, 10 fastballs, four curveballs and four change-ups, generating five swings and misses.

Kershaw, entering his 18th season with the Dodgers, has struggled to reach the velocity of his younger days when he’d turn up his fastball to the mid-to-low 90s, turning toward increased slider usage and continuing to toy with a fourth pitch: a change-up.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that with Kershaw, it’s not about his arm health, but rather how he’s progressing from his toe surgery. The operation to repair a ruptured plantar plate is not a common operation for baseball players, leading to speculation as to how Kershaw’s recovery would advance.

Read more:Dodgers legend Manny Mota suffers stroke: 'We hope he can recover all his functions'

"I think with a guy like Clayton is more of how he feels,” said Roberts, later adding that training staff reports pointed to Kershaw’s toe being in good shape. "I know he's probably happy with the uptick in velocity, the toe is the last part of it. The body feels good. The arm feels good.”

Pitching coach Mark Prior said Wednesday that Kershaw “turned a page” in the last 10 days, complimenting his performance in Oklahoma City, noting the awkward swings the lefty forced on his offspeed offerings. For Prior, he’s looking forward to seeing a fully healthy Kershaw on the mound.

“[Kershaw’s] like, 'My arm feels good. My arm feels good,’” Prior said. “We just want to see him be able to go out there and compete on a very consistent basis, every week, every six days, seven days, whatever that is, being able to repeat that and continue to build up.”

With Kershaw trending towards a mid-to-late May activation off the injured list, his return will only further complicate the Dodgers starting rotation.

Before being optioned to triple-A to make way for Bobby Miller’s start Wednesday, right-hander Landon Knack made two starts, while left-hander Justin Wrobleski tossed a spot start while the team was in Washington.

Blake Snell, the Dodgers’ prized free-agent acquisition, has already made a trip to the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on April 7. The former two-time Cy Young award winner began a throwing program Monday and has played catch every day since then. Roberts said Wednesday there is no current timeline for Snell’s return.

Right-handers Tony Gonsolin and reliever Evan Phillips are likely the next to return from the injured list. Phillips earned the save for Oklahoma City on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning and appearing in a game for the second consecutive day for the first time in his rehab stint.

Gonsolin made his longest rehab start yet Tuesday, giving up three earned runs while fanning five batters across four innings. Roberts said Gonsolin will throw another rehab start — aiming for the five-inning marker — in Oklahoma City next week, and is on track with his tune-up.

If Miller is optioned back to Oklahoma City after his start Wednesday, the Dodgers will need to fill a spot start next week once again.

Teoscar back in the lineup

Outfielder Teoscar Hernández will return to the lineup against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday after missing the last two games with a stomach bug.

“[I feel] great,” Hernández said pregame Wednesday. “The last two days it's been a little tough, but I feel better. Just to be able to go on the field, feel good, be with the guys and play the game.”

Hernández will start in right field and hit cleanup. The second-year Dodger has slashed .281/.309/.563 to begin the season, tallying five home runs and 16 RBI so far.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Cardinals play a four-game series at Citi Field beginning on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

---

Preview

Is the elite version of Kodai Senga back?

Senga lost most of last season due to injury, but he was the best version of himself during his one regular season start in 2024 -- firing 5.1 innings of two-run ball against the Braves while throwing 52 of 73 pitches for strikes and fanning nine batters.

Of course, Senga left that start after hurting his calf -- an injury that cost him the remainder of the regular season and left him behind the eight ball during the minor postseason contributions he made upon his return.

During Senga's first two starts of 2025, he more than held his own, allowing just two earned runs in 10.0 innings while striking out 12. But during his recent outing against the Athletics, he was utterly dominant, needing just 79 pitches to get through 7.0 shutout innings while walking two and striking out four.

In that start in Sacramento, Senga's ghost fork was extra filthy and his fastball consistently reached 97 mph, topping out at 97.6 -- the fastest he has thrown so far this season.

If Senga consistently resembles the version of himself who was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2023, the Mets -- who now have Clay Holmes pitching very well and Sean Manaea on the horizon -- should be in very strong shape rotation-wise.

The pitching situation

Griffin Canning was scratched from Wednesday's start due to illness, with Huascar Brazoban getting the start as an opener.

With Canning unavailable, the Mets optioned Max Kranick to Triple-A Syracuse in order to call up Justin Hagenman, who was sharp in his major league debut on Wednesday against the Twins.

The Mets will have the option of bringing Kranick back on Thursday as a replacement on the roster for the injured Jose Siri -- if Siri is placed on the IL as expected.

Meanwhile, Canning is set to pitch Thursday's series-opener against St. Louis.

Is Mark Vientos' turnaround in progress?

Vientos hasn't hit much this season, with a .145/.254/.210 triple slash and OPS+ of 37.

Most glaring has been Vientos' lack of power. He has four doubles, but has yet to homer after cracking 27 long balls in just 111 games in 2024.

But Vientos has a six-game on-base streak, has hit safely in his last four games, and has looked more comfortable at the plate recently.

Vientos' strikeout rate is just 19.7 percent (it was 29.7 percent last season), and his outrageously low BABIP of .188 (his career BABIP is .287) suggests he's been incredibly unlucky and is due for a rebound.

The Cardinals have been better than expected

St. Louis attempted to trade cornerstone third baseman Nolan Arenado during the offseason ahead of a season that is expected to be transitional.

But Arenado remains, and the Cards have been solid -- with a 9-9 record and +10 run differential.

Their 94 runs scored were the third-most in baseball entering play Wednesday night, and their pitching has been holding its own.

It seems unlikely the Cards will be a serious playoff threat this year with their eye still very much on the future, but for now, they're a formidable opponent.

Can the Mets get to Sonny Gray?

St. Louis has Andre Pallante, Miles Mikolas, Matthew Liberatore, and Gray lined up to start against the Mets.

Gray, who finished second in NL Cy Young voting in 2023 and posted a 3.84 ERA and 1.08 WHIP last season, has been great so far.

In 23.0 innings over four starts, Gray has a 3.13 ERA and 0.78 WHIP, and has allowed just 15 hits.

He has been a bit susceptible to the home run ball -- allowing four dingers so far -- but his other numbers are excellent, including a minuscule walk rate of 1.2 per nine.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Mark Vientos

The signs of a breakout are there.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Kodai Senga

Senga will look to build off his strong early-season performance, and should be fresh after throwing just 79 pitches in his last start.

Which Cardinals player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Brendan Donovan

Donovan has been on fire to start the year.

The Mets went into their series with the Minnesota Twins playing very well. They hadn't dropped a series since their opening set with the Astros, nor lost consecutive games all season.

Both those things changed after Wednesday's 4-3 loss in extra innings, and largely because of the lack of clutch hits from the Mets' offense. After they took the first game on the back of Juan Soto's power and shoddy Twins defense, the Mets dropped the final two games of the series after going a combined 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position (5-for-28 across the three games).

"It's baseball. You're gonna have ups and downs and right now, going through some downs with runners in scoring position but we’re getting guys on so the more opportunities we get the more we’re going to cash in," Brandon Nimmo said after the game. "Right now we’re finding ways to win games even without it, and I’m proud of that... It’s something I expect to get better and we’re aware of it. Sometimes you go through times where you’re good at it and sometimes you’re not as good at it. I’m just proud that we’ve been able to find ways to win despite it early on."

Most of those hits with RISP came in one inning on Wednesday. Down 3-0, the Mets rallied to score three runs in the eighth inning before ultimately falling in the 10th inning.

"We didn't play good baseball for the first half but then coming back in the eighth, putting a rally together against one of the better arms from them, was really good to get back in the game," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "Overall, we couldn't close the deal today. We didn't get the job done. We've just got to play better."

"I’m proud of the guys for fighting back," Nimmo said, pointing out how they played a day game after a night game and had to prepare to head back home for a four-game series starting Thursday against the Cardinals.

But the Mets (11-7) now have to take on a scrappy Cardinals (9-9) team on the heels of their first losing streak of the season.

Although many of the Mets hitters aren't hitting when it matters, Pete Alonso continues to. The slugger had three more hits on Wednesday, including an RBI double that started the Mets scoring. He's been the Mets' early-season MVP and Nimmo understands the importance of that production.

"He’s swinging it amazing, man. He’s really staying in the zone, he’s taking what they’re giving him," Nimmo said of Alonso. "He’s putting really good at-bats up there... I know he worked really hard this offseason I’m glad it’s paying dividends right away... He looks like a complete hitter up there, which is fantastic. I’m so happy for him. We’ll need that as the year moves on."

Nimmo in center?

With Jose Siri about to hit the IL, the Mets will have to figure out who will pay center field alongside Tyrone Taylor. Mendoza had said Nimmo could see time with Luisangel Acuña, potentially getting a crack in the outfield -- Jeff McNeil is also going to get looks in center while rehabbing in the minors.

Nimmo was asked about the potential shift from left and the veteran outfielder was open to whatever the Mets need him to do.

"I'll play wherever they want me to. If that requires center field, then that's where I'll be," Nimmo said. "We’ll see how they want to write things up as we move forward.

“I honestly don’t care [switching back and forth]. They can switch me back and forth if they want. Wherever is best for the team that’s where I’ll play that day. It doesn’t take any skin off my nose. I don’t have the pride like that. I just want to help the team win. Wherever they want me, that’s where I’ll play.”

Not knowing he would make his MLB debut until the night before he was scheduled to pitch for the Mets, Justin Hagenman pitched admirably in 3.1 innings against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday, with the experience going about as well as he could've hoped for.

"It was fun. It was everything you hope for and more," he said. "Just glad I was able to settle in and kind of treat it like a game and do kind of what I’m used to."

The 28-year-old born in Voorhees, N.J., got the call out of Triple-A because scheduled starter Griffin Canning was under the weather and couldn't go. So, Hagenman made his way to the Twin Cities from Syracuse, and after Huascar Brazoban pitched a scoreless opening inning before walking the leadoff man in the second, Hagenman entered the game for his MLB debut.

Already dealing with a runner on base out of the gates, Hagenman did well by striking out the first batter he faced.

"After you get the first out under your belt, it’s like ‘alright, now we go,’ so it was a good feeling," he said.

Hagenman followed up the strikeout with a flyout before striking out a second batter to end the inning.

In the third, the right-hander froze DaShawn Keirsey Jr. with an outside sinker with the count full, but got into some trouble after a single and double put runners on second and third. However, the Twins failed to score in the inning after the Mets threw out a runner at home on a fielder's choice for the second out and Hagenman ended the threat with his fourth strikeout of the afternoon.

"The beginning, you know first batter, you get up there and it’s just different. I don’t even know how to describe it, but just a little different," Hagenman said. "But felt like I was able to settle in and do what I do best and attack and [got] pretty good results."

"I thought he was really good," said manager Carlos Mendoza. "Threw strikes, mixed well, used all of his pitches. I liked the tempo, he worked quick. I thought he gave us what we were asking of him."

With his family in the stands, able to travel on short notice, Hagenman pitched into the fifth inning and left with a runner on second base after 3.1 innings and 50 pitches (32 strikes) thrown.

A run charged to Hagenman came around to score in the frame after Jose Butto allowed a single to former Met Harrison Bader.

"Super grateful that they were able to make it out," Hagenman said about his family. "You never know and this is a one-time opportunity so super happy that they were able to make it and it was a good time."

After the game, New York announced that Canning will start on Thursday in the Mets' series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. David Peterson will then start on Friday.

Therefore, Hagenman will most likely be sent back down to Triple-A, but not before completing his dream of pitching in the majors. He'll also have a few souvenirs from the game, including the ball he threw for his first pitch and for his first strikeout.

And despite a rough start for the Syracuse Mets in three games so far, the journeyman with a 3.95 career ERA in the minors may have just bought himself a few more spot starts in case of emergency this season with his outing.

"Taking it all in still, but it’s been good," he said.

Nola struggles again, fastball barely above 90 mph in loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Aaron Nola said after his last start on Friday in St. Louis that he needed to get back to throwing strike one and recording out one. He had been falling behind too many hitters and at Busch Stadium he was in the stretch repeatedly from putting the leadoff man on base in four of five innings.

Nola threw a higher rate of first-pitch strikes on Wednesday night but nothing else was improved as he walked four, allowed seven runs over 5⅓ innings and fell to 0-4 with a 6.65 ERA. Nola had never been 0-3 before, much less 0-4.

His fastball velocity was down even farther to 90.4 mph. Nola’s season average is 91.4 and his career average is 92.8. There’s a big difference between sitting 89-91 and sitting 92-94. Granted, it was a frigid night at Citizens Bank Park, neither starting pitcher seemed to have a feel for the ball early and Nola’s velocity has always increased as temperatures have warmed, but this has to be a growing concern for the Phillies. Nola is under contract through the end of 2030, making just over $24.5 million annually. It’s too early to be worrying about a potential decline phase setting in.

“Definitely the worst start (to a season) I’ve ever had by far,” Nola said. “All I can do is keep working and keep trying to have good weeks and compete.”

As most baseball fans know and dislike being reminded, it’s still early. Nola struggled in April in 2017, 2019 and 2023 and was much better the rest of the way all three years. His fastball velocity last April was similar to what it has been this April and he averaged 92.8 after May 1. The Phillies are certainly hoping history repeats itself in that regard.

The Giants jumped Nola for four runs in the top of the first. He walked in one of the runs and left-hander Robbie Ray returned the favor by walking in two himself. The Phillies made Ray throw nearly 40 pitches in the bottom of the first but managed just those two runs.

This was the second consecutive start Nola walked in a run. He’d done it just once in his career prior.

“It drives me crazy,” he said. “It’s unacceptable. Three times in my career I’ve done that and two times in the past two games. I’ve just got to get ahead better. Too many free passes and usually those runs have been scoring. Just making it harder on myself in those situations. Eight walks in two games, it’s not good. I’ll clean it up.”

They scored twice more on a two-run homer in the fourth inning from Bryce Harper but that was it. The Phillies had another brutal night with runners in scoring position going 1-for-9 in the 11-4 loss. They’re 7-for-59 with RISP over their last seven games, a .119 batting average.

Harper is locked in, at least. He said Sunday in St. Louis that a week earlier, he told hitting coach Kevin Long to give him 10 days and he’d be where he needed to be at the plate. Harper narrowly missed a bomb to left-center field that afternoon at Busch Stadium, hitting a ball 394 feet that would have been out in nine of 30 stadiums. It was a flyout to the warning track and the Phillies went homerless in the series.

Wednesday night was the 10th day, and on the 10th day, Harper delivered — not that he hadn’t along the way. He walked twice, hit a game-tying homer in the fourth and singled to bring up the tying run in the sixth.

Other Phillies highlights were few and far between. It always feels uglier when you walk the yard and the Phils walked nine Giants. Joe Ross was hit hard in the seventh inning, allowing four runs as his ERA ballooned to 9.39. Carlos Hernandez walked three, threw 41 pitches in the eighth and ninth and might be a roster casualty Thursday if the Phillies need a fresh arm.

The Phils are 10-8 and have lost six of nine games. They need a win on Thursday afternoon to avoid dropping their third consecutive series and turn to Cristopher Sanchez, who was a double-play machine his last time out.

Suarez makes second rehab start, getting closer to returning to Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Ranger Suarez is getting closer, literally and figuratively.

Suarez is expected to move on to Triple A Lehigh Valley or Double A Reading for his next rehab start after pitching four innings on Wednesday night with Single A Clearwater.

Wednesday was the second start of Suarez’ rehab assignment with the Threshers. He threw 54 pitches and allowed a run, striking out seven. His sinker was in the standard 91-92 mph range throughout the entire outing.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson has said that ideally, Suarez would be built up to 100 pitches before joining the Phillies’ rotation. Suarez made only one start in the Grapefruit League before experiencing low back stiffness so he’s needed another spring training or something close to it.

The 100-pitch mark isn’t necessarily a strict limit Suarez must clear, though. He will likely extend to five innings and 75 pitches in his next rehab start, which would put him on track for 90 pitches the next time out. That 90-pitch outing might end up coming with the Phillies. So it could be two more rehab starts, it could be one more. This is all provided that Suarez checks out OK on Thursday.

Taijuan Walker has filled Suarez’ rotation spot in the interim and made three starts. He was stingy the first time out and avoided damage the second, beginning with 10⅔ scoreless innings. Walker was hit harder on Monday by the Giants, allowing six runs (four earned) and a pair of homers over five innings.

It is unclear what will happen with Walker once Suarez returns. A six-man rotation is a possibility but only if Walker is pitching well enough to make it worthwhile. Teams usually have a pitcher in the bullpen who can be optioned to Triple A for flexibility purposes but the Phillies do not. Their only relievers with minor-league options remaining are Orion Kerkering and Tanner Banks and they wouldn’t send down either pitcher.

If everyone is healthy when Suarez returns, the likeliest arm the Phillies would remove from the active roster could be Carlos Hernandez, who they’d have to designate for assignment.

These things have a way of working themselves out, as managers and general managers always say. The Phillies might need to figure out a way to gain that flexibility in the bullpen before Suarez even returns so Hernandez’ leash could be short. In the meantime, it’s a good sign for the Phillies that Suarez appears to be only a couple of weeks away from contributing in the majors.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided a few injury updates prior to Wednesday’s series finale against the Kansas City Royals.

Here’s what the skipper had to say regarding some key members of the pitching staff, as well as slugger Giancarlo Stanton:

Luis Gil

The reigning AL Rookie of the Year was scheduled to resume throwing this week as he recovers from a lat strain, but after undergoing another MRI, the Yankees decided to push his timeline back another 10 days.

According to Boone, Gil’s rehab is going “fine,” but the right-hander hasn’t quite reached the level of healing needed to resume throwing. 

“It’s just the level of healing. So it’s got to get to, I don’t know, 80 percent,” Boone explained. “When they start, there are checkmarks of when you start the throwing program. It’s going how it should, it’s just we need another 10 days.”

Jonathan Loaisiga

After missing almost all of the 2024 season due to an internal brace procedure to repair the UCL in his pitching elbow, Loaisiga continues to move in the right direction.

“Lo’s in a good spot,” Boone said. “[He threw] his second live. I think he’s got a couple more before he starts his rehab. He’ll travel with us to Tampa so he’ll throw another live this weekend and then one early next week and then be ready to start a rehab assignment. But he’s been a in a good place now for a while. Excited about where he’s at.”

Giancarlo Stanton

Stanton, who has not played this season due to tendinitis in both elbows, will also travel with the club to Tampa, and he is getting closer to taking live at-bats, though Boone said the Yankees don’t have a specific date in mind for when those live Abs might begin.

Jake Cousins

Cousins, who has not pitched yet this season due to a right forearm strain, won’t throw live batting practice for another “couple of weeks,” per Boone, but he will soon begin throwing side sessions.

Hometown kid Trivino settles things down as Giants win another originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

PHILADELPHIA — In the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies put accordion doors in front of the seats in their visiting bullpen, allowing relievers to hide from the elements and raucous fans if they want to. As cold and windy as it’s been in Philadelphia this week, it’s those fans who provide the harshest welcome to Giants relievers when they start warming up. 

The visiting bullpen at Citizens Bank Park is legendary for allowing fans to practically be on top of relievers who are warming up, and Philly being Philly, they aren’t kind about getting that extra access. Lou Trivino learned that the hard way on Wednesday night. 

As Trivino started to get loose, he heard the usual array of personal insults. He couldn’t help but smile, and he kept himself from yelling back. He wanted desperately to inform the fans around him that he’s from Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, a 45-minute drive from the ballpark. He grew up rooting for Pat Burrell and Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard. He’s one of them.

“It’s Wawa or bust,” he said late Wednesday night, providing his credentials. 

As Trivino got loose, though, he found that not everyone around him was bringing taunts. He saw old high school and Legion Ball teammates, and others he hasn’t seen in years. They waved and he waved back, and then he went out and settled what otherwise was the most disjointed game of the year.

Both bullpens got loose in the first inning, and it wasn’t just the area around those mounds where curse words could be heard. The Giants’ bench watched in frustration as Robbie Ray threw 39 pitches in the bottom of the first and walked four despite being gifted a 4-0 lead, and by the bottom of the fourth, the game was tied. 

But Trivino took over in the fifth and had a clean inning. By the time he left the mound, the Giants led 11-4, and that was the final score. Trivino picked up his first win since Aug. 21, 2022, and it was very, very well earned. 

“He had to go through the middle of their order there, through the lefties. It really did settle things down,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He threw strikes, didn’t walk anybody, that was huge to give us two innings like that. And really [Spencer Bivens] at the end, as well, and [Camilo Doval] came in and got a clean inning and threw the ball really well, too.

“What started out a little rough on the pitching end ended up pretty clean.”

Trivino, Doval and Bivens combined for five one-hit innings and five strikeouts. On a night when Ray walked five and Phillies pitchers issued nine free passes, the late-game trio walked just one. That crispness allowed the offense to take over, and the Giants ended up running away with a win on a very ugly night of baseball. 

Ray was a big part of that early, and he said afterward that he had trouble finding his direction to the plate in the first inning because his front side was flying open too fast. He was disappointed that he wasn’t able to adjust on the fly. The Phillies took advantage, striking back for a pair of runs as Ray tried to find his command. 

Ray ended up pitching four innings for the second time on this trip that has seen the lineup score 20 runs in his two starts. Rain halted the first one, and the Giants’ bullpen put a stop to Philadelphia’s momentum Wednesday. 

“They’ve been picking us up,” Ray said. “It’s time to reciprocate.”

If there is an early red flag for this team, it has been starting pitching that is shakier than expected. But the bullpen also might be as good as any in baseball, something Trivino learned the hard way. 

Injuries kept the veteran right-hander out of the big leagues for two years, but he saw San Francisco as an appealing home, in large part because Melvin had him in Oakland. What Trivino did not realize when he signed was how deep the bullpen mix was, and he had to fight harder than expected to make the team. 

Trivino won a job in camp, and he said Wednesday that the win meant more than he ever could have imagined. It came with family members and friends in the stands, and it’ll make it a bit easier to swallow the 36 tickets he’s leaving on Thursday for the series finale. 

The crowd this week has included Trivino’s parents and in-laws, and after the win, he recalled a conversation he had with his father this spring. Every year, it’s the same thing. His father asks how the team is looking, and the son responds that it’s spring training and you just never know. But this March, the younger Trivino felt something different. He told his dad the Giants were going to surprise everyone.  

“I think we’re very good,” Trivino said. “The pitching is outstanding, the hitting is outstanding, the defense is fantastic. It’s great, and it’s a good feeling to be part of something like this.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

The Mets dug out of a late 3-0 hole but fell to the Twins, 4-3, in 10 innings on Wednesday in Minnesota in the finale of their three-game series.

---

Here are the takeaways...

- Trailing 3-0 in the top of the eighth inning, the Mets mounted a furious rally to tie the game. Francisco Lindorled things off with a single, Pete Alonsoripped a double down the left field line to drive in Lindor, Jesse Winker smoked a double to right field to bring Alonso home, and Luisangel Acuña smacked a two-out single off the glove of shortstop Willi Castro to even things up.

Edwin Diaz pitched the bottom of the ninth, and after walking leadoff batter Harrison Bader -- who was caught stealing second base -- Diaz locked in to strike out Edouard Julien (swinging on a slider) and Byron Buxton (swinging on a fastball) to force extra innings.

The Mets had runners at first and second with no one out in the 10th inning, but Winker grounded into a 4-6-3 double play (on a ball that came off the bat around 100 mph) before Brandon Nimmo popped out in foul territory on the first pitch he saw.

In the bottom of the inning, Ty France led off by lining a single to center field off Reed Garrett to win it.

- With Griffin Canning scratched from his start due to illness, Huascar Brazoban served as the opener and pitched well, recording the side in order in the first inning. After Brazoban issued a leadoff walk in the second, he was replaced by Justin Hagenman -- who was called up from Triple-A Syracuse before the game ahead of his big league debut.

Hagenman was impressive, allowing just one run on three hits while walking one and striking out four in 3.1 efficient innings. The only run charged to Hagenman came in to score after he exited, with Badersmacking a single off Jose Butto to left field through the drawn-in infield to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning.

Butto suffered more damage later in the frame, allowing a two-out single to Buxton that increased the Twins' advantage to 2-0.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, an egregiously bad call by the first base umpire cost the Mets a run. On what should've been an inning-ending ground out to first base, Butto received the throw from Alonsoand stepped on the bag -- beating Castro by a full step. But Castro was ruled safe, and while Butto was in disbelief with his back turned to home plate, Ryan Jeffers came around to score from second base.

- The Mets' first real threat came in the fifth inning, when they loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch. But Juan Soto, who was first-pitch swinging, hit a weak grounder between first and second base with the infield halfway in that resulted in an unassisted double play. Lindor was tagged out a few feet off first base before Julien stepped on the bag.

- There were a few unforced errors by the Mets on Wednesday -- one that cost them and one that didn't.

With Winkeron second base and no one out in the second inning, he was waved home on a single to left field by Nimmo-- despite Winker not being in an advantageous spot and Bader fielding the ball in shallow left field. Winker was out at the plate.

In the fifth inning, Acuñaleft second base uncovered on Buxton's single. That allowed Buxton to advance to second, where he was stranded.

- Brett Baty showed some good signs at the plate, contributing a pair of singles. His second hit was a line drive to left field.

Game MVP: Justin Hagenman

In his MLB debut, Hagenman saved the Mets' bullpen and kept them in the game.

Highlights

A 1-2-3 first inning from Huascar Brazobán 💪 pic.twitter.com/vVmFcdV07W

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

Two stikeouts for Justin Hagenman in his first MLB inning and his family loves it 👏 pic.twitter.com/ao3mg06wgg

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

Brett Baty comes home to get the out! pic.twitter.com/KbDdVzyC40

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

Justin Hagenman gets out of trouble in the 3rd with his fourth strikeout in two innings 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7z014VXz49

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

The Mets are on the board!

Pete Alonso stays hot and brings home Francisco Lindor with an RBI double! pic.twitter.com/UrNWtYqQtV

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

Jesse Winker with an RBI double!

The Mets have the tying run at second! pic.twitter.com/FwfHvlZRDg

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

THE GAME IS TIED! pic.twitter.com/nMGJIulZzZ

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

Brett Baty makes a great catch to end the inning 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SBWL1fcH6r

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

After review, Luis Torrens throws out Harrison Bader trying to steal second! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/tPRu2PrwQS

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

Edwin Díaz sends us to the 10th 🔥 pic.twitter.com/VmgAsBllB8

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2025

What's next

The Mets open a four-game series against the Cardinals on Thursday at Citi Field at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

David Peterson or Griffin Canning is expected to get the start for New York, opposed by Andre Pallante for St. Louis.

What we learned as Jung Hoo Lee, Giants' offense erupt in big win over Phillies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA — The Giants have talked a lot over the past two weeks about how they’re winning all different types of ball games. You can add this one to the list: “Win what’s probably going to be the ugliest game of the year.”

On a night when both starting pitchers nearly got knocked out in the first inning and the teams combined for four walks with the bases loaded, the Giants pulled away from the Philadelphia Phillies for an 11-4 win. What ultimately was the winning run scored on an airmailed throw from center field that got past the catcher and a pitcher who wasn’t backing up the plate and bounced into the dugout.

But a win is a win, and they’re piling up right now. 

The Giants poured it on after reliever Lou Trivino settled everything down and they retook the lead. They put up a second four-spot of the night in the seventh inning to get to 13-5 on the year.

Splitting a series at Citizens Bank Park is tough enough, but the Giants will try and get greedy on Thursday behind right-hander Jordan Hicks.

Here are three things to know from a long Wednesday night in Philadelphia … 

Fitzmagic

On the bus ride over from New York on Sunday night, Tyler Fitzgerald had a .237 average and .582 OPS. By the end of Wednesday’s game, he was sitting at .314 and .842, numbers that are better than last year’s breakout. 

Fitzgerald was a single shy for the cycle on Monday and two days later, he had two singles and a double, with two runs scored and an RBI. His slugging percentage is up to .490, which is good anywhere, but downright elite from a second baseman. You know you have a deep lineup when that’s your No. 9 hitter. 

Oh, and he also did this:

HOW DID FITZ CATCH THIS?!?! 😱 pic.twitter.com/SPLmU1yJjp

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 17, 2025

The patience the Giants displayed this spring and over the first couple of weeks of the season is paying off big time. 

Marathon Men

Aaron Nola faced nine batters in the top of the first and gave up four runs on four hits and two walks while throwing 35 pitches. Robbie Ray somehow threw even more pitches in his half of an inning that took 37 minutes and saw both managers get their bullpens up. 

Ray needed 39 pitches to get through the bottom of the first, giving back two of the four runs on walks with the bases loaded. He issued four free passes in the lengthy half-inning and threw just 16 strikes. According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, this was the first game since 2001 in which both starting pitchers walked home a run in the first inning, and just the fourth time it has happened since 1974. 

Because baseball is forever unpredictable, the two faced just seven combined batters in a quick second inning.

Rough Trip

Ray got a strange win on Friday night when the rain led to the official scorer crediting him despite throwing just four innings. He lasted four innings Wednesday, too, and it was a battle to even get that far. 

Ray walked five and struck out five in the first two innings alone and ended up with those five walks and eight strikeouts. He also gave up six hits, including a two-run blast to Bryce Harper that briefly tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Harper walked on four pitches in each of his first two plate appearances and he wasn’t going to wait around; the slider wasn’t even a strike, but he yanked it into the seats in right.

Ray became the first MLB pitcher to walk five and strike out eight in four innings since … Robbie Ray in 2020. He took his first no-decision of the year and his ERA jumped to 4.19.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Dodgers legend Manny Mota, who won a World Series with the organization as a player in 1981 and as a coach in '88, suffered a stroke Monday night.

"He is in recovery, where he is responsive to commands and is resting comfortably," the Dodgers wrote Tuesday on X.

His son, Dodgers broadcaster José Mota, told ESPN Deportes on Tuesday that his "dad never lost consciousness during the incident and is currently doing well."

On Tuesday morning, Mota told Grandes en los Deportes that his 87-year-old father was taken to the hospital after the stroke and that he "responded quickly to treatment." He added that his dad "is responding to commands to move his body and try to speak.”

“He's alert and responding," José Mota said. "Today is crucial. We'll see the results of removing the clot. At his age, it's difficult to predict, but we hope he can recover all his functions.”

Read more:'Los Angeles ... is our home.' Manny Mota, Dodgers have been nearly inseparable for 75 years

A pinch-hitting specialist, Manny Mota appeared in games over 20 MLB seasons, including the final 13 with the Dodgers. Mota, an outfielder from the Dominican Republic, was an All-Star in 1973 and retired in 1982 with a career batting average of .304 and a then-record 150 pinch-hits.

Mota remained with the team in various roles, including coaching from 1980 to 2013, the longest tenure in franchise history, and working with the Spanish-language TV broadcast team from 2013 to 2020.

In 2023, Mota was inducted into the team's Legends of Dodger Baseball, a group that also includes Steve Garvey, Don Newcombe, Fernando Valenzuela, Orel Hershiser and Dusty Baker. Ron Cey is slated to be inducted this summer.

Dodgers minority owners Magic Johnson and Billie Jean King are among those who have taken to X to express their love and support for Mota.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Mets optioned right-hander Max Kranick to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday morning, a move necessitated by calling up Justin Hagenman to pitch against the Minnesota Twins.

While that move may be surprising on the surface, it makes sense considering that the 27-year-old Kranick still had options, so the Mets could send him down without having to try to sneak a player through waivers.

“This is something that we’ve talked to them [about],” Carlos Mendoza said. “Guys that have options, sometimes it has nothing to do with performance. It’s just things that happen through a major league season that are out of their control. It’s not their fault, but it’s just the nature of the business, so here we are.”

Kranick has been terrific in the early going for the Mets, pitching to a 1.54 ERA in seven appearances, combining to pitch 11.2 innings of relief.

And while Mendoza didn’t flat out say it, there’s a decent chance that Kranick is back in the very near future. The Mets have not yet placed outfielder Jose Siri on the IL, and when they do, they’d be able to bring Kranick back right away instead of having to wait 15 days before being able to call him back up, per MLB rules.

“We’ve got to get through today first,” Mendoza said. “Let’s win a series today and we’ll see what happens after the game.”

Hagenman, 28, will make his major league debut at some point during Wednesday’s rubber match against the Twins, with Huascar Brazoban getting the start as an opener. Hagenman was called up to make his debut because starter Griffin Canning had to be scratched because of an illness.

Prior to Wednesday's game, Mendoza said he was confident Canning would be able to pitch on Thursday or Friday, and that indeed will be the case, as the Mets confirmed after the loss to Minnesota that Canning will start on Thursday, with David Peterson pitching on Friday.