Will Warren continues to impress early on this season, and on Saturday afternoon, the young right-hander delivered arguably his most impressive performance to this point.
It helps that the Yankees offense broke out and spotted him a seven-run advantage through four innings, but Warren still did his job, cruising his way through the Royals’ lineup.
“It’s always nice to go out there with a lead,” Warren said. “You’re not worried about giving up one or two runs -- gave up some leadoff hits, but was able to keep my composure knowing that the boys are banging out there.”
One of those leadoff hits came on the very first pitch, as Maikel Garcia lined a double to open the game, but Warren was able to bear down and retire the next three hitters easily.
The youngster continued cruising from there, pushing the stretch to nine consecutive batters set aside before allowing a leadoff single to Bobby Witt Jr. in the top of the fourth.
Witt was quickly erased, though, as Warren picked him off first.
“I could see him out of the corner of my eye, hopping off the base,” he said. “I had been talking with Ben [Rice] about some stuff and we executed and got him, so I was pretty pumped.”
Warren gave up another knock leading off the fifth, but responded by striking out the next three he faced and then breezing his way through a perfect sixth.
The lone blemish came in the seventh, as the 26-year-old gave up a single, then rookie slugger Carter Jensen jumped him for a two-run shot to right, breaking up the shutout.
Warren rolled a grounder, then finished his day matching his career-high with his 11th strikeout.
He allowed just the two runs on five hits over seven stellar frames.
“The four-seam was really playing well,” Aaron Boone said. “He got a lot of swing-and-miss, the changeup was good today too, I just think it was the overall mix -- it was good to see him take that lead and run with it, really good job.”
Warren pitched to a 2.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts through his first five outings.
While Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are still a few rehab outings away from making their returns, this hot start certainly bodes well for the youngster keeping his spot in the Yankees' rotation.
At least for one day, the Yankees spared themselves the drama.
After each of their previous five wins had come by taking the lead for good in their final at-bats, the Yankees jumped ahead early Saturday and kept piling on — against a lefty starter, to boot — while Will Warren turned on cruise control.
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Cody Bellinger crushed two of four Yankees home runs and drove in five while Warren dominated across seven innings as the Yankees breezed to a 13-4 win over the Royals on a sunny afternoon in The Bronx.
The Yankees (12-9) had not won a game like this since the home opener on April 3, having to grind for everything in between with nothing coming easy — including 11 of their 13 games in that stretch decided by two runs or fewer, the exceptions coming in blowout losses.
But they finally synced strong pitching and strong hitting on the same day, which made for a much-needed laugher — so much so that Aaron Judge, who had played every inning of every game, got the final three innings off — as they tried to finally break out of this early-season funk with their fourth win in the past six games.
New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) watches his two-run homer during the sixth inning on April 18, 2026 at Yankee Stadium. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“Obviously, these games are more ideal,” Bellinger said. “We’ve had a lot of close ones recently, had a crazy series against the Angels. Will did a great job of doing what he does and for us to get a few runs on the board, that was big for us.”
That they did it against a left-hander made it even more encouraging, after southpaws had given them trouble through the early going. Entering Saturday, the Yankees’ .535 OPS against lefties was the second-lowest mark in the majors, and they were 2-4 against lefty starters.
Royals lefty Noah Cameron offered little resistance, though, as the Yankees got to him for seven runs across four innings — keyed by a five-run third inning in which Amed Rosario, Bellinger and Ben Rice all went deep.
New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) is greeted by his teammates in the dugout after he scores on his two-run homer during the sixth inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post
That alone was more than enough run support for Warren, who tied a career high with 11 strikeouts while easily turning in his best start of the season. Getting ahead early and often, he scattered three hits through the first six innings before finally giving up a two-run homer to Carter Jensen in the seventh, the only damage the Royals (7-13) had against him all day.
“It’s nice to go out there with the lead,” Warren said. “You’re not worried about giving up one or two [runs].”
The Yankees have now hit 15 home runs over their last six games after hitting only 14 through their first 15 games, getting back to the kind of offense they are built for.
Bellinger, the left-handed hitter who crushed lefty pitching last season, took Cameron deep for a two-run shot to the second deck in the third inning before adding another two-run homer against righty Mitch Spencer in the sixth that made it 10-0.
“I was joking with him, he had one homer in two months since the start of spring and then two in an hour,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So it’s a funny game that way. But a lot of good swings from him and obviously up and down the lineup. And against a tough lefty, too, so good to see the bats break out like that.”
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) throws a pitch during the first inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Rice’s homer off Cameron marked the third straight game in which he has gone deep, his second left-on-left and seventh overall this season.
“He’s just continuing to solidify himself as one of the really outstanding hitters in the league,” Boone said. “We’re seeing that more and more, whatever hand you throw with.”
Rosario and J.C. Escarra both drove in three runs to help the cause, with Escarra doing so on a double and triple after coming into Saturday 1-for-15 with a single on the season.
The backup catcher got the third-inning rally started when his fly ball to the gap was dropped in a collision between right fielder Jac Caglianone and center fielder Kyle Isbel. He later put an exclamation point on his day with a two-run triple that made it 12-2 in the seventh.
“It’s just being ready — taking lots of swings every single day when no one’s watching,” Escarra said. “It’s great to catch Will and get some knocks in and ultimately help the team win.”
Apr 18, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Jac Caglianone (14) dives but cannot catch a two run triple hit by New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The Royals will probably win another game this year, but you’d be forgiven if you doubted it.
Royals fans were hoping for a different result from the previous six games, and it was different, alright, just not the way they hoped. The Royals were blown out in New York. The Yankees hit four home runs – including two by Cody Bellinger, who was available as a free agent for much of the offseason. The Royals did get a home run from Carter Jensen in the seventh inning, which was nice, but only cut the deficit from 10-0 to 10-2 at that point.
If you want an inning that exemplifies the Royals’ struggles this year, the first had it for you. Maikel Garcia smacked a double down the left field line on the first pitch he saw. Unfortunately, Bobby Witt Jr. struck out swinging, Vinnie Pasquantino struck out looking (on a pitch he probably would have been best served to challenge, even if it was probably ultimately in the strike zone), and Jac Caglianone smashed a line drive at 111 MPH and a launch angle of 21 degrees to center, where it was run down by Bellinger. The ball had an expected batting average of .950, but it was just a long, loud out.
Then, when the broadcast came back from commercial break, we discovered that manager Matt Quatraro had been ejected, likely for arguing that Will Warren should have been called for a balk in the first inning. It was a curious time for the argument to occur, as at least one pitch had been thrown since the alleged balk and had nothing else changed, Caglianone’s flyout still would have ended the inning. As many fans, including your truly, would joke later: maybe Q just saw what was coming and decided he didn’t want to be in the dugout for it.
Things started off pretty good for Noah Cameron; he retired seven of the first eight he saw with a four-pitch walk to Aaron Judge. Then, with one out in the third inning, Caglianone and Kyle Isbel collided on what could have been a routine flyout, leading to a three-base error. Isbel, as the centerfielder, has priority on the play, but without having been on the field, I blame him for not being louder when calling for it. He’s the one who got the error because the ball initially landed in Jac’s glove before being jostled free by the collision. From there, things went off the rails.
Amed Rosario smashed a two-run home run, Aaron Judge took a second walk, and Cody Bellinger smashed his first home run of the day. Giancarlo Stanton hit a grounder for the second out, but Ben Rice hit a home run to make it 5-0 Yankees, and we all knew the game was basically over.
In the top of the fourth, Bobby Witt Jr. led off with a single but was picked off first base after a Vinnie Pasquantino popout and before Jac Caglianone could strike out looking. The Royals struck out 12 times on the day, 5 of those were looking. They didn’t advance a runner until Carter’s home run in the seventh, and not again until Carter’s walk in the ninth and Massey’s subsequent 2-RBI double. Isaac Collins returned to the lineup to collect a golden sombrero from the designated hitter slot. The Royals played some sloppy, sloppy baseball and look badly in need of a reset. The TV broadcast team had hoped the road trip would serve as one for the offense, but it seems to have only made things worse.
Two of Noah Cameron’s three worst starts are against the Yankees, his only two against them. Maybe Q should arrange the rotation such that Cameron never faces them again. Small hat tip to Mitch Spence, who pitched the final four innings of the game. He gave up six runs while striking out 3 and walking 5, but at least the rest of the bullpen got a day off to think about what they’d done this whole road trip.
Tomorrow, as always, is another day. It’s a day where the Royals will battle a left-handed starting pitcher, Ryan Weathers, so don’t get your hopes up too much. Cole Ragans will go for the Royals. If his stuff looks as bad as it didn’t against Detroit, don’t expect the team to be in it for very long. The game will be broadcast on Royals.TV at the same time as today’s contest, 12:35 central.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 17: Brandon Nimmo #24 of the Texas Rangers looks on during the third inning Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 18, 2026 against the Seattle Mariners: starting pitchers are Nathan Eovaldi for the Rangers and George Kirby for the Mariners.
The Rangers look to make it two in a row against the Mariners and three in a row overall. Josh Smith gets a day off.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Langford — LF
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Carter — CF
Duran — 2B
Higashioka — C
6:15 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +110 underdogs.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 18: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees runs the bases after his sixth inning two-run home run against Mitch Spence #54 of the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 18, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Their overall record is still fine, but the Yankees have struggled of late. Even a lot of their wins have required comebacks or them holding on for dear life over the final couple outs. That included Friday night’s series-opening win over the Royals.
On Saturday afternoon in the Bronx, the Yankees finally played a laugher. A hat trick of home runs in the third inning allowed the Yankees to open up a lead over the Royals, and they never let their foot off the gas after that. On the mound, Will Warren had a very nice day, striking out 11 Kansas City batters in his seven innings. Meanwhile, his offense kept things going, as they clubbed 11 hits and four homers in total.
That allowed the Yankees to have a pretty relaxed final couple innings, as they beat the Royals 13-4.
After a quiet first couple innings, the Yankees unleashed a barrage of homers in the third to take control. Things started out with a bit of good fortune, when a deep fly ball from J.C. Escarra ended up dropping in. That was thanks to an error on center field Kyle Isbel, but it was really a combination of Isbel and Jac Caglianone miscommunicating and colliding, causing Isbel to drop it. Just two pitches later, Amed Rosario hit a rocket out to left field to give the Yankees the lead.
After Aaron Judge drew a walk, Cody Bellinger then added a second two-run homer, taking one into the second deck in right field. Two batters after that, Ben Rice hit his third homer in as many games, as he completed the trio of third-inning dingers.
An inning later, Escarra and Bellinger were in on the action again as the Yankees tacked on. With José Caballero on base, Escarra ripped another ball to center, this one going for a RBI double, without any help. Shortly after that, Bellinger punched through a hit to score Escarra.
A couple innings after that, the Yankees got into double digits. In the sixth inning, Caballero set the table again when he led off with a single. He moved to second on an Escarra groundout and then scored when Rosario singled to pick up another RBI. Shortly after that, Bellinger went deep for the second time on the day, hitting a porch job for a second two-run shot.
Warren mostly cruised through the first six innings, but the Royals eventually got on the board in the seventh. With Caglianone on after a single, Carter Jensen homered off Warren to end the Yankees’ shutout.
However even then, the Yankees immediately answered right back. With two runners on, Escarra hit a fly ball to right. Caglianone’s attempt at a diving catch came up short, allowing both runners to score, with Escarra going to third with his first career triple.
Warren’s day ended after that, as the Yankees went to the bullpen for the eighth. His line looked even better before the seventh, but he still had a pretty good day. In his seven innings, he allowed two runs on five hits, while striking out 11 to tie his career-high.
Paul Blackburn replaced him for the eighth and had a quick and easy inning before the offense picked up one final run on a Randal Grichuk sacrifice fly. Blackburn came back out for the ninth and allowed a couple garbage time runs before sealing the deal.
The Yankees and Royals will wrap up their series in the Bronx tomorrow at 1:35 pm ET, with the Yankees trying for the series sweep. Ryan Weathers is expected to go for the Yankees, opposite Cole Ragans for Kansas City.
The Yankees cruised to their second win in a row, beating the Royals 13-4 on Saturday afternoon in the Bronx.
Here are some takeaways...
- Aaron Boone said pregame that Amed Rosario was in the lineup against a lefty over Ryan McMahon because he earned the opportunities. Rosario immediately made the decision pay off, smacking the first of three homers to open the scoring and a commanding advantage in the bottom of the second.
Rosario added an RBI single later in the game, bringing his OPS to .856 on the season.
- The other two homers came left-on-left and landed in the second deck. First, Cody Bellinger crushed a two-run shot, then Ben Rice cranked a 398-foot solo blast of his own, making it 5-0 Yanks. For Rice, it was his seventh homer of the season and his second against left-handed pitching.
Bellinger reached four times, homering twice, doubling, drawing a walk, and driving in five.
- New York tacked on again an inning later, as back-to-back extra base-hits from Jose Caballero and J.C. Escarra resulted in the sixth run of the game. Escarra has gotten off to a bit of a slow start with the bat, but he doubled home Caballero, was gifted a triple that was later ruled an error, and then drove in another with a legit triple in the seventh.
Escarra finished the day 2-for-4 with a pair of extra-base knocks and three RBI.
- Working with the big league for most of the game, Will Warren continued his strong start to the season. The righty found himself in immediate trouble, giving up a double on the first pitch he threw, but he danced around it with a pair of strikeouts and a flyout. Warren cruised from there, retiring the next six hitters before allowing a leadoff single in the fourth.
He quickly erased that baserunner, picking Bobby Witt Jr. off first to close another scoreless frame. The 26-year-old gave up another leadoff hit in the fifth, but then went on another run where he retired the next seven hitters in order before allowing a one-out knock in the top of the seventh.
Two batters later, rookie Carter Jensen broke up the shutout, lifting a two-run homer to right. Warren responded by setting down the next two batters easily, ending his day with just those two runs allowed on five hits and no walks while matching his career-high with 11 strikeouts.
The youngster is down to a 2.49 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 31 strikeouts through five starts.
- Paul Blackburn saved the Yankees' bullpen by eating the final two innings, but he gave up a pair of runs on a walk and two hits in the top of the ninth.
- It wasn't all pretty for New York, as Jazz Chisholm Jr's struggles continued. Boone said pregame that he thought the slumping infielder wasn't too far off the plate, but he went hitless in four at-bats with a pair of strikeouts in this one, bringing his average down to .149 on the season.
- Royals manager Matt Quatro was ejected in this one after arguing Warren balked when he appeared not to come set before a pickoff attempt at second base.
Game MVP: Cody Bellinger
New York's offense exploded in general, but Bellinger paced them with his five RBI.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers tags out Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning at Fenway Park on April 17, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers (10-10) vs. Boston Red Sox (8-11)
Time/Place: 4:10 p.m., Fenway Park SB Nation Site: Over the Monster Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Tarik Skubal (2-2, 2.22 ERA) vs. RHP Brayan Bello (1-1, 6.14 ERA)
It’s Benny and Mune atop the lineup again today. | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
Unfortunately, pleasurable though being on the winning side of a blowout may be, the rules say you have to start the next game all over again at 0-0. That’s a bad break for the White Sox, who had about as many hits last night as they’d had in a normal week over the past four seasons.
Trying to build on the pitching momentum from last night’s fine performance by Davis Martin will be Erick Fedde, who’s having a solid year so far with a 3.63 ERA (4.22 FIP) and 1.063 WHIP. Fedde was particularly strong last time out, giving up just a solo homer to the Royals in five innings.
Trying to tame the Big Sox Machine will be veteran righty Luis Severino, who is having a lousy season so far (0-2 with a 5.59 ERA/4.50 FIP). The problems are mostly of his own making, since at age 32 the two-time All Star is apparently suffering from early onset memory loss and and can’t remember where the strike zone is, walking 16 in 19 1/3 innings.
Severino will face a a Sox lineup that has Andrew Benintendi (who had what was about his season’s worth of hits last night and has hurt Severino at a .342 clip through the years) again in the leadoff spot, and Munetaka Murakami (whose grand slam blast last night is probably still traveling) again hitting second:
Only one batter for the young A’s has ever faced Fedde — but that’s leadoff hitter Jeff McNeil, who’s 7-for-18 against him.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Central, with perfect baseball weather of 73° and almost no wind. Usual broadcast suspects.
MIAMI — The Marlins will get a huge offensive boost soon.
Miami plans to activate Kyle Stowers off the injured list on Sunday, clearing the way for the All-Star outfielder to make his season debut after being sidelined with a hamstring strain.
Manager Clayton McCullough said before Saturday’s game against Milwaukee that Stowers, who was at the ballpark, is ready to go.
“Everything from the rehab checked out,” McCullough said. “He continued to check the necessary boxes. I think certainly there was a physical component with how he felt, how the hamstring was.”
Stowers, who strained his right hamstring in spring training, made five rehab appearances with Triple-A Jacksonville, including outings on Thursday and Friday.
“He got back-to-back, nine-inning games,” McCullough said. “I think he came out of that feeling like he’s in a really good spot physically. Also, I think mentally now he feels like, ‘OK, I’m kind of over this.’”
Stowers is coming off a career-best year in 2025 when he recorded 115 hits, 25 home runs and 73 RBIs in 117 games, earning his first career All-Star nod before a left oblique strain sidelined him for the final stretch of the season.
Before breaking out last season, Stowers was shuffling back and forth between Triple-A Norfolk and Baltimore — which drafted him in the second round of the 2019 amateur draft — trying to establish himself as a major leaguer.
The Orioles eventually dealt him to Miami, where he batted .186 in his first 50 games.
But last season was the start of his ascension.
He began that year by singling in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Paul Skenes and Pittsburgh on opening day. He led Miami in home runs and RBIs while becoming the first Marlins outfielder to be named an NL All-Star since Marcell Ozuna and Giancarlo Stanton in 2017.
This season, the Marlins have started 9-11 and are currently second in the NL East behind Atlanta (13-7), looking to build on the momentum from last year’s surprising 79-83 season. They’re sixth in the league in total hits (171), 11th in runs (93) and 10th in RBIs (90).
“Getting Kyle back in the lineup will really be a nice boost to help lengthen some things out,” McCullough said. “And then also, Kyle is a really steady teammate. A lot of guys lean on him. He’s not usually too up and down. I think he handles things in stride very well. And a lot of that probably is due to just his path of getting here. He’s been knocked down a lot, but he keeps getting up.”
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 13: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on April 13, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Apr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images | Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images
Some news on the day for the Phillies, not all of it good.
Felix Reyes is up, Otto Kemp is down. Johan Duran will head to the IL with a left oblique strain.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 10: Konnor Griffin #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on April 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to grab a win against the Tampa Bay Rays.
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Luis Severino #40 of the Athletics pitches against the Texas Rangers at Sutter Health Park on April 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, last night was rough. But it’s a new day! The A’s get a chance to get back in the win column this afternoon in the middle game of their weekend series hosting the Chicago White Sox. Gotta win today if we want a chance to get the series win this weekend.
Getting the ball today for his fourth start of the year will be Luis Severino. The veteran right-hander has been up and down so far this year. Overall he has a 5.59 ERA through 19 1/3 innings worked and is coming off a tough start last time out. Back at home he got tagged for four runs against the Texas Rangers, continuing a trend of Severino having major troubles at home. Well, he has another home start this afternoon against the White Sox, who just put up a crooked number last night. Things aren’t boding well for Severino in that regard but the veteran can begin righting the ship with a big outing for his team this afternoon.
The A’s lineup for this beautiful day in sunny Sacramento:
Mostly the same lineup as last night, save for a couple tweaks. Shea Langeliers remains in the #2 hole but will not be behind the dish this afternoon. Instead it’ll be Austin Wynns catching Severino this afternoon. Soderstrom returns to left field after DH’ing last night, Lawrence Butler slides over to center field, and Carlos Cortes takes right this afternoon, meaning Denzel Clarke will be on the bench to begin today’s game. He went 1-for-3 last night, but also had two strikeouts. Is an option to Las Vegas in the cards if this continues?
That lineup will be facing Chicago righty Erick Fedde. The veteran right-hander signed a modest one-year deal with the White Sox to be a stabilizing force for them in a young rotation, and the early returns have been positive for them. The 33-year-old has made three appearances (two starts and a “bulk” outing) and has a solid 3.38 ERA through his first 16 innings in a White Sox uniform. Shockingly, in his nine-year MLB career Fedde has only once ever pitched against the Athletics, getting roughed up for six runs in 2 2/3 innings way back in 2022 when he was still a member of the Washington Nationals. Ready for Round 2, Fedde?
The Chicago starting nine for this afternoon looks like this:
And mostly the same lineup for Chicago as well, with a tweak here and there. Why would they mess with a good thing? They just scored nine runs last night. It’d be foolish to mess with a good thing.
But we got this, right A’s fans? We have fallen to third place in the division but a win today (and some help from Seattle and San Diego) and we’re right back at the top of the division. Time to get back in the win column. Let’s go A’s!
Apr 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) hits a three RBI home run during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Many things have not felt quite right for the Atlanta Braves over the past two years. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued the club since its 104-win season of 2023.
Perhaps no single player personifies those struggles more than third baseman Austin Riley.
A two-time All-Star and key member of Atlanta’s World Series championship team, Riley established himself as one of the best third basemen in Major League Baseball by averaging 36 homers and 99 RBIs to go along with a .286/.354/.525 slash line and 5.4 fWAR per season from 2021-2023.
As a result, Riley was rewarded with the largest contract in franchise history in 2023, a 10-year, $212 million extension that runs through 2032. That deal carried with it expectations he has yet to fulfill, due in no small part to events out of his control.
Riley was dealt season-ending injuries each of the past two seasons – a broken right hand in 2024 and a sports hernia in 2025 – both robbing him of at least 50 games and leaving Riley with final numbers that were a far cry from his established norms.
The drop in production and lost time propelled a motivated Riley into this past winter looking to regain the form that made him one of the cornerstones of the franchise. In order to do that, Riley needed to solve the swing issues that plagued him throughout 2025 in particular.
“The offseason was more about just getting back to what I know I’m capable of doing,” Riley said. “The offseason before, I was in a cast for 14 weeks and didn’t really get to start hitting until January. This offseason was like a normal offseason.”
Injuries were a large part of the story, but the past two years were not without moments and stretches where Riley looked and played like the better version of himself. Producing those results consistently was the prevailing issue.
Through his first 54 games of 2024, Riley slashed just .220/.288/.330 with three homers and 20 RBIs. This was easily Riley’s worst extended slump since the final 50 games of his 2019 rookie season, when he hit just .170 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 169 plate appearances.
Over his final 57 games of 2024, Riley seemed like a completely different hitter. He produced in a .292/.354/.588 slash with 16 home runs, 16 doubles and 36 RBIs before his season was cut short after being hit in the right hand by a pitch on August 18.
Riley’s 2025 was a somewhat baffling year both statistically and physically. His final numbers lined up with the previous year, but his walk rate dropped to its lowest level since his rookie season while his strikeout rate spiked to its highest rate since 2019 as well.
Throughout the course of last season, Riley dealt with a nagging lower abdominal issue which eventually required surgery to correct. When he was on the field, he lamented not being able to adequately adjust his swing path. He described the main problem as being “too steep” through the zone, an issue which negatively affected the quality of his contact and sapped his power numbers.
One thing that has not slipped at any point is Riley’s bat speed.
Since the start of 2023 – when MLB began tracking it – Riley owns the 15th highest average bat speed in all of baseball at 75.7 mph. That trails only teammate Ronald Acuña Jr. (76.7 mph) for the fastest on the club and underscores that Riley’s ability to create hard contact remains intact despite injuries and a drop in production.
Elite bat speed is just one of many factors that comprise a good swing, however.
With plenty of data points to analyze, Riley got to work with Braves hitting coach Tim Hyers over the winter. Among the things Riley wanted to address were issues with his stride that could help him be on time at the point of contact and consistently drive the ball to all fields again.
“I actually started hitting a little bit earlier than normal, right around November, and working on a few things with my lower half that are able to put me in a spot to give myself more room for error and just be in the zone earlier and longer,” Riley said of his winter work. “The offseason went well, working with Tim (Hyers). It led into spring, where I felt really good.”
Riley’s spring training numbers were strong. He batted .357 with five home runs and 13 RBIs while posting a .451 on-base percentage and slugging .786 in 17 games. Unfortunately, those results did not carry over into the regular season. Riley was homerless and hitting just .212 with a .564 OPS through 18 games.
After that slow start, Riley clubbed his first home run of the year and added a double during Wednesday’s 6-3 win over the Miami Marlins. He followed up with a two-homer game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday as Atlanta claimed a 9-0 victory.
Those results were due not only to the lower-half adjustments Riley was striving to make over the winter but also owe to honing his approach over the first couple of weeks this season.
“I feel like I am in a better spot when I land (my front foot) to be able to pull the trigger,” Riley said. “Early on, I think I was over-aggressive, then tried to tone it down a little bit. I got soggy with the front side and was trying to find that happy medium.”
Those adjustments can take time to follow a hitter into the game itself. While the work behind the scenes can be focused and methodical in that controlled environment, the paradigm shifts when facing the arsenal of major league pitchers who paid to get hitters out.
Having done so before, Riley understood the degree of difficulty and dedication required to complete the process of incorporating changes at the plate at this level.
“It’s tough because a lot of the stuff I’m working on is stride length and where I’m at (in my swing) when I land (my front foot),” Riley said. “You get in the game with 40,000 fans, adrenaline is rushing, and you’re trying to just slow the game down.”
While his first home run of the season was what many if not most took away from Wednesday’s game, Riley was more enthused about the double to right center field which caromed high off the bricks at Truist Park. That outcome is an indicator that his swing is where it needs to be.
“Staying on the pitch,” Riley said of what felt best about the double. “The last year or year and a half, the way the swing path has been, I was pulling a lot more balls. Obviously, when I’m at my best, I’m driving to the big part of the field. Being able to stay on a slider and hit it with some authority was nice.”
Riley was clearly well aware of where he was hitting the ball a year ago, when his pull percentage on fly balls jumped to a career-high 24.2 percent. Back in 2023 – his most recent 30-homer campaign – Riley was pulling the ball in the air just 16.6 percent of the time versus 23.2 percent to center and 19.2 percent to right field.
Through his first 84 plate appearances this season, Riley’s pull percentage on flyballs is a career-low 13.8 percent, compared to 20.7 percent straight away and 27.6 percent the opposite way.
As Riley rightly pointed out, when he feels his best, driving the ball to center and right field consistently is often the result. His teammates agree with that assessment.
“I’ve watched it since I first got called up and when he’s driving balls to right center, look out,” Braves pitcher Bryce Elder said.
Braves manager Walt Weiss has been on the Atlanta coaching staff for the entirety of Riley’s eight-year career. He’s seen his third baseman navigate the ups and downs of establishing himself as an everyday major leaguer as well as deal with the injury challenges of the past two years.
Weiss is not only encouraged by the recent results but also noted that Riley’s swing is suddenly right where it needs to be, when it needs to be – a dangerous combination.
“Riley’s coming around,” Weiss said. “Austin looks on time to me. The other night, he hit an upper-90s fastball and hooked it into the corner for a double. That’s a really good sign and it just means that he’s more on time. He’s not late. When you’re late, you’ve got to rush and make bad decisions. He just looks more on time to me.”
For his part, Riley has no shortage of motivation to turn this recent success into the type of consistency that he’s been searching for since the start of the 2024 season.
“All the preparation, being hurt the past couple of years, the work I did this offseason, the good spring, you just want to hit the ground running,” Riley said. “Obviously, I hadn’t, but (this is) good momentum to build on.”
Feb 16, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals hall of fame Ozzie Smith (middle) talks with infielders Masyn Winn (0) and JJ Wetherholt (77) during spring training workouts at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
It’s no secret that Masyn Winn is an elite defender. The Gold Glove trophy on his mantle is proof, but how much offense does he need to produce to become a part of the St. Louis Cardinals core? You need look no further than Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith as he and Masyn share a similar trajectory and challenge.
Masyn Winn’s first full season in the majors in 2024 was an impressive one offensively as he had 15 home runs and a respectable .267 batting average with 57 RBI’s. He regressed in 2025 with 9 home runs, 51 RBI’s and a .253 average. The fall back was attributed to a nagging knee injury which he had arthroscopic surgery on during the offseason. For the first 19 games of the 2026 season, Masyn only has 10 hits in 53 at-bats with a .189 average. Yes, the 2026 sample size is still very small, but it doesn’t take a math genius to understand that Winn is trending the wrong way offensively.
If you look at St. Louis Cardinals legend Ozzie Smith’s career, you will see a similar first few seasons. His rookie season with the San Diego Padres had a respectable offensive line of 152 hits and a batting average of .258 in 1978. In the 3 seasons that followed, Ozzie’s production dipped to batting averages of .211, .230 and .222. His trajectory took an immediate jump in 1982 when Smith was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Why? Answer – Whitey Herzog’s approach to small ball. Herzog felt that Ozzie Smith was trying to do too much. Whitey knew that Ozzie would never be a power threat so he made a wager with him for the 1982 season. Herzog would pay Smith $1 for every ground ball he hit. Smith had to pay Herzog $1 for every fly ball he hit. Ozzie’s average in 1982 jumped up to .248. By 1985, Ozzie Smith’s average was .276 followed by .280 in 1986 and .303 in 1987.
Does this mean that Masyn Winn should take Whitey Herzog’s approach of adjusting his swing for more ground balls? Absolutely not. In 1982, Busch Stadium was artificial turf and Whitey was able to create a speed offense that took advantage of that surface. In my opinion, the life lesson is that Masyn Winn may be trying to do too much. Friday night’s game against the Houston Astros was a great example of how Masyn could contribute more offensively adding to his already stellar defensive value. With the bases loaded, he was able to guide a seeing eye single through the left side of the infield giving the Cardinals 2 very valuable runs. Baseball Reference shows that Masyn’s pull rate is up significantly in 2026 compared to his previous 2 seasons. I have to wonder what his results would be if he would start utilizing a line drive approach to all fields.
It’s difficult to compare Ozzie Smith and Masyn Winn’s eras since they’re so different, but I believe the principle of not trying to do too much with your abilities is universal. Now that his knee is healthy, I’d love to see Masyn Winn’s offensive production rise to a level where he can be a solid part of the St. Louis Cardinals lineup. Whitey Herzog used to say that Ozzie Smith’s defense took away 2 hits per game from the opposition which made him more valuable than most hitters. I would not say anyone has the defensive capabilities of Ozzie Smith, but Masyn Winn is already a Gold Glove defender. He doesn’t need much more offense to establish himself as a part of the team’s core moving forward. All he needs to realize is that he doesn’t need to do too much with the bat.
