Gerrit Cole's long-awaited return fell short of spectacular, but was the solid shot in the arm the New York Yankees badly needed.
Pitching for the first time since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series, Cole pitched six shutout innings against the first place Tampa Bay Rays Friday, May 22 at Yankee Stadium.
Cole missed the entire 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, his right elbow finally giving way during spring training. He underwent a steady and successful rehab since, and rejoined the Yankees after they jumped out to a 30-21 start − but still 4½ games behind the Rays.
Amid that backdrop, he took the Yankee Stadium mound and delivered efficiency, giving up just two hits in six innings, but walking three and striking out just two. Yet he finished striking, fanning Jonathan Aranda looking on a full-count 96-mph fastball.
Thanks to an Austin Wells home run, Cole left with a 1-0 lead.
Cole, who won the 2023 AL Cy Young Award, is in the seventh year of a nine-year, $324 million contract.
Alas, the Yankees bullpen could only preserve the advantage provided by Wells and Cole for one inning. Shortstop José Caballero committed an error on a grounder by leadoff batter Chandler Simpson, and after a Junior Caminero single, Jonathan Aranda followed with a game-tying double off lefty Tim Hill.
Richie Palacios then followed an intentional walk with a go-ahead two-run single, producing a 3-1 lead and chasing Hill.
A hiker looks at the Phoenix skyline from the top of the Hole In The Rock trail during a record heat wave in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 19, 2023. The extreme heat in the northern hemisphere is putting an increasing strain on healthcare systems, hitting those least able to cope the hardest, the World Health Organization said July 19. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Lineups not yet announced
We did previously highlight how well the D-backs’ bullpen is pitching this month. While their ERA has crept up a little from the sub-two figure, it’s still a thoroughly respectable 2.08. That’s fourth-best in the majors, and they are also the only bullpen to have a WHIP below one. Over 47.2 innings, they have allowed only thirty hits (that’s a minuscule .181 average against) and fifteen walks, for 0.944 WHIP in May. However, a league-low BABIP of just .227 is clearly a factor there. They also haven’t allowed a home-run this month: the last reliever to do so was Brandon Pfaadt on April 30th. Let’s hope I’m not tempting fate by mentioning this. It’s why their xFIP – FIP with a normal home-run rate – is a much less impressive 4.30.
But it’s worth nothing that the rotation have been getting on board the performance train of late. As noted the other day, they have been working hard, having thrown 119 innings across nineteen starts. That’s an average of 6.26 IP per start. The next-highest figure for May is the Phillies, down at 5.84 IP/GS. At the other end? The Tigers, barely at four. They have one win in nineteen efforts this year. But it’s not just length, it’s quality length. A 3.18 ERA by the rotation this month is fourth-best, and certainly deserving of more than the eight wins, also in nineteen starts.
It’s when we combine the two that we get the really startling number. Because it’s not often that the D-backs have had both the rotation and bullpen firing on all cylinders. Combined, through 19 games in May, Arizona has an ERA of just 2.86. It has been almost twenty-four years since the Diamondbacks have posted a figure that low over the course of a calendar month. You need to go back to August 2002 to find a lower figure of 2.63. [Kinda fun to look at the contributors – not just the obvious!] There hasn’t even been an ERA for a month under 3.20 since August of 2018. Hopefully that can continue tonight against the cellar-dwelling Rockies.
DENVER, CO - May 16: Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) pitches in the first inning during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies are better than they were a year ago.
That is true. It is also not especially comforting after the last two nights.
On Wednesday, the Rockies carried a one-run lead into the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers and lost 5-4. On Thursday, they wasted an impressive first career start from Zach Agnos in a 2-1 walk-off loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Two games. The same frustrating result.
The season splits make the frustration easy to understand. Colorado is 5-14 in May and has been outscored 122-74 this month, so this has not all been heartbreak. They have had their doors blown off, too. But the pain comes from the games that were there to be won. The Rockies are 5-8 in one-run games, have blown 12 leads, and have four walk-off losses without a walk-off win of their own. Some nights get away early. The ones that stick are the ones they fail to finish.
After Thursday’s loss, Warren Schaeffer did not dress it up. Arizona executed. Colorado did not.
And, yes, that is pretty much it.
The Rockies did not lose because of bad luck, bad vibes, or some complicated baseball mystery. They lost because Arizona made the pitches and plays when it mattered, and the Rockies did not.
Tonight, the Rockies enter at 19-32 and get another chance against an Arizona team that comes in at 26-23 and has won five straight. Colorado is 1-3 against the Diamondbacks this season and has been outscored 21-12 in the series.
Taking the ball for Colorado is 36-year-old veteran righty Tomoyuki Sugano 菅野 智之, who enters at 4-3 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Sugano is coming off his 150th career win in professional baseball after beating this same Arizona team in his last start. The Diamondbacks made Sugano work, but he kept the ball in the yard and gave Colorado a chance. He went 5.0 IP, allowing seven hits and two earned runs with two walks and one strikeout.
Sugano does not miss bats, and the underlying numbers are still flashing warning signs, including a .310 xBA, .589 xSLG, and 7.37 xERA. But he generally avoids walks, and when he keeps the ball in the park, the Rockies have been able to live with the contact.
On the mound for Arizona is 28-year-old right-hander Michael Soroka, who enters at 6-2 with a 3.49 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. In his last outing, Soroka faced the Rockies at Coors Field and gave Arizona 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, two walks, and no home runs while striking out eight. Soroka threw 98 pitches and used a five-pitch mix, led by 38 slurves, 21 four-seam fastballs, and 19 cutters.
The slurve is the pitch that makes his arsenal work. He has thrown it 33.0% of the time this season, and it has produced a 36.9% whiff rate. The four-seamer has been more vulnerable, allowing a .349 batting average and a 47.8% hard-hit rate.
Against Soroka, the assignment is simple: do not let the slurve control the at-bat, and do not miss the fastball.
For Colorado, the rest of the formula is unforgiving: Sugano has to thread the needle, the defense has to be sharp, and the bullpen has to execute well enough to give the Rockies another chance to finish one.
The long-term project is still the long-term project. Nobody needs to pretend otherwise.
But even bad teams should want to win.
And after the last two nights, a win would feel awfully good.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 20: Bryce Johnson #29 of the San Diego Padres hits a single during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park on May 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Athletics (26-24) at San Diego Padres (29-20), May 22, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST
Watch: Padres.TV
Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.
Listen: 97.3 The Fan
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Jul 7, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Kodai Senga began his road back to the Mets by pitching in his first rehab start with Port St. Lucie on Friday night.
While he didn't go long, pitching just 3.1 innings, Senga was okay in his first game action in almost a month.
The right-hander's night started rather precariously. He walked the leadoff man -- thanks to an ABS challenge -- and two batters later, Senga was faced with two runners on thanks to catcher's interference. Senga would get a groundout and fly out to end the first inning. After a clean second inning, Senga would allow the first run after a leadoff single, who advanced to second on a throwing error, and a two-out single plating the runner from third. A stolen base later, and a single pushed across the inning's second run.
Senga ended the third with a groundout and came back out for the fourth where he struck out the first batter he faced before being pulled.
It'll likely be some time before Senga is ready to rejoin the Mets. Before he landed on the IL with lumbar spine inflammation on April 28, Senga was just not getting it done. He was unable to pitch more than 3.1 innings in his last three starts before being shut down.
The Mets will take their time with Senga as they hope to get the right-hander healthy and pitching well before potentially rejoining a rotation that recently lost Clay Holmes. New York could also have Senga rejoin the team and pitch out of the bullpen, but it's unclear the path the organization will take or how Senga will fare in that role.
May 17, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs (59) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images
The Athletics started this weeklong Southern California road trip on the right note, winning three of four against the woeful, last-place Los Angeles Angels. The series win was anything but easy, though, as the A’s needed 10 innings to win each of the final two games.
Tonight, the first-place Athletics head further south to begin a three-game Memorial Day weekend series against the San Diego Padres, who will be a much tougher opponent.
It will be Padres’ closer Mason Miller’s first time facing his former team since he was traded last July. Miller’s success has carried over to his new team, as he is 1-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 15 saves in 22 appearances this season. The 27-year-old flamethrower has accumulated an incredible 45 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched, cementing his reputation as one of the most unhittable pitchers in the league.
While the A’s bullpen could desperately use Miller’s elite repertoire, the team likely made the right decision by trading him last summer. His talent is too good to be wasted on a club that was not playoff-bound, and if top shortstop prospect Leo De Vries — the centerpiece of the return package — reaches his All-Star-caliber ceiling, he could ultimately provide the A’s with a greater long-term impact than a closer who only pitches one or two innings per game.
Tonight, the A’s will send left-hander Jeffrey Springs to the mound as they try to extend their winning streak to four games. The 33-year-old enters his 11th start of the season with a 3-4 record, a 3.93 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and 47 strikeouts across 55 innings pitched. Springs took the loss in his last start against the San Francisco Giants despite allowing just two runs, one earned on five hits over six innings. After going winless so far this month, the A’s southpaw looks to continue pitching well and earn his fourth win of 2026 this evening.
Here’s the A’s starting nine for the game tonight:
Right fielder Carlos Cortes remains in the leadoff spot, a switch made a few days ago that has worked wonders for the A’s lineup. Batting first baseman Nick Kurtz second or third gives him more opportunities to hit with runners on base, creating additional RBI chances for the team’s hottest hitter. Tonight, Kurtz and catcher Shea Langeliers swap spots in the order.
The A’s are still searching for more consistent production from designated hitter Brent Rooker and left fielder Tyler Soderstrom. Meanwhile, Henry Bolte gets another start in center field, with the slumping Lawrence Butler once again relegated to the bench.
This A’s lineup will face Padres’ right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler. The 31-year-old has struggled through his first nine starts with San Diego, posting a 3-2 record with a 5.01 ERA and 37 strikeouts across 41.1 innings pitched.
However, Buehler appears to be turning things around lately. In his last start against the Seattle Mariners, he earned the win after allowing two runs on five hits over five innings of work. The outing before that, he tossed six innings of two-run ball. While Buehler may not be the same pitcher he was during the early years of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the veteran right-hander still has the ability to stymie an opposing lineup on any given day. Will Buehler make it three-straight quality starts or will the A’s offense strike early and often to avoid having to face Miller in a save situation?
Springs will face off against this Padres’ lineup on Star-Wars Night at Petco Park:
Starting off, it is important to note that Fernando Tatis Jr. has yet to hit a home run this season. Hopefully his home run drought continues against the A’s this series. The A’s will see several former players in San Diego’s lineup, including designated hitter Miguel Andújar and left fielder Ramon Laureano. Tatis is not the Padres’ only superstar off to a slow start. Third baseman Manny Machado is also struggling, batting .178 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs.
Springs and the A’s relievers who follow him will need to carefully navigate the top six hitters in the Padres’ lineup, as San Diego’s lineup becomes significantly weaker from spots seven through nine. Padres starting center fielder Jackson Merrill is not playing tonight due to sore ribs, though he is expected to return in the coming days
This will be a much tougher series against a team widely expected to contend for a National League playoff spot this season. If the A’s can win tonight, it would set the tone for the rest of the series and signal that the “Green and Gold” should not be taken lightly. Let’s go A’s!
DENVER, CO - May 19: Colorado Rockies left fielder Mickey Moniak (22) prepates to bat in the first inning during a game between the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies made roster moves on Friday night prior to their scheduled game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Outfielder Mickey Moniak has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right ankle tendonitis. He sustained the injury colliding with the outfield wall while the Rockies were in Pittsburgh. Moniak joins fellow outfielders Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle on the Injured List.
“He suffered that in Pittsburgh when he made a collision with the wall,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “He’s been battling it since then and it’s been tough for him to hit, so we just want to get it right and move forward. He had something similar to this back in 2024, so we’re just going to try to nip this in the bud and hopefully he’ll be back in 10 days.”
Moniak’s injury may help to explain his recent slump. Since the final game of that Pittsburgh Pirates road series, Moniak is just 2-for-23 with a double in eight games. Prior to that he had been hitting .315/.358/.693 with eight doubles, two triples, 12 home runs, and 26 RBIs as one of the Rockies’ best bats.
In a corresponding roster move, the Rockies have recalled outfield prospect Sterlin Thompson from the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.
Thompson (no. 13 PuRP) made his Major League debut last weekend, entering as a pinch hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also made two starts before being optioned back to Triple-A, ultimately going 1-for-8 with one strikeout. Thompson is currently hitting .341/.485/.485 with five doubles, a triple, and four home runs with the Isotopes this season. He has also drawn more walks (31) than he has struck out (30).
Baker, 26, was originally selected by the Phillies in the 11th round of the 2021 draft out of Chipola College in Florida. He has largely pitched for the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws and Double-A Reading Fightin’ Phils since 2022 with a career 5.28 minor league ERA in 196 total appearances.
Purely a reliever, Baker currently has a 2.65 ERA this season in 14 appearances and has 25 strikeouts to five walks in 17 innings with Double-A Reading.
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 22: Miguel Rojas #72 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, May 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Dodgers and Brewers are back at it on Saturday for the middle game of this weekend series in Milwaukee. Roki Sasaki starts for the Dodgers on the mound, with left-hander Robert Gasser pitching for the Brewers.
Fox has the exclusive telecast on Saturday, with Joe Davis on the call.
This is the third Saturday game of the season on Fox for the Dodgers, along with an April 25 home win against the Chicago Cubs followed by a May 2 road loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
May 16, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) pitches during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
The Dodgers (31-19) finish their road trip with a three-game series against the Brewers (29-18) in Milwaukee.
Justin Wrobleski (6-1, 2.49 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) gets the ball for the series opener Friday.
Logan Henderson (1-1, 3.50 ERA, 18 IP), the rookie right-hander, makes his first career start against the Dodgers for the Brew Crew.
Apr 30, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Noah Cameron (65) throws a pitch against the Athletics during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
As Seattle rolls into town, they’re having a really rough time. Even so, I think most Royals fans would trade places with them in a heartbeat. After coming so tantalizingly close to their first World Series appearance as a franchise last fall, the Mariners had a lot of expectations for this season. They even made the big offensive addition most Royals fans wished KC would make by getting Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals. Still, they sit 24-27, third in their division, and one game out of the last Wild Card spot.
The Royals, after hanging in tough following a couple of bad losing streaks, have seen that second losing period just keep extending, and while they were only 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot on Sunday, they’re now firmly 9 games off the division-leading Guardians and 4.5 games from the final Wild Card spot. Realistically, they’re not out of the playoff hunt as they stretch toward the end of May, but they’ve done very little to show us that they’re capable of playing well enough to escape these doldrums. It leaves us as Royals fans reminiscing about the early days when they were just not quite able to finish series off and were a game or two under .500.
Still, the Mariners were the team at the start of the Royals’ lone really good stretch and while KC can’t count on them to get the team out of a third such stretch as they’ll be done playing each other in the regular season after this weekend, perhaps lightning could strike twice? After all, things didn’t look remotely positive when Kansas City showed up in Seattle back at the beginning of this month, either.
To try to find their winning ways, the Royals will send a pitcher who has also been searching for himself a bit. But Noah Cameron actually did seem to kind of find himself in his start against the Cardinals last Saturday. His arm slot is still much lower than last season, but his pitch mix reflected the way that has changed his pitches and led him to rely primarily on his fastball and changeup with some curveballs instead of the cutter and slider, which were so effective last year but have seen their shape ruined by his mechanical changes. He pitched a definitional quality start, allowing 3 runs in 6 innings. But for the first time this season, he didn’t walk a single batter, and for the first time since his initial two starts, he struck out four more than he walked. The Royals’ offense, which has somehow been less than the sum of its parts, probably needs him to find even another gear, but at least it was a start.
The Mariners will counter with Logan Gilbert. Gilbert has really struggled this season, with the worst K-BB% of his career since his sophomore year, but adding nearly 2 home runs per 9 innings pitched. He allowed 7 runs on 3 home runs to the Padres in his last appearance. He didn’t face the Royals in their last series, but faced the Royals twice last year, giving up 2 runs in each start across only 10.1 innings total. He could be vulnerable, and if the Royals want to right this ship, they’ll need to take advantage of it.
Lineups
The Royals are using the same v RHP lineup they’ve used for weeks now, Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez are still prominently in the 3 and 4 spots. I don’t think there’s anything else to say about that. Here’s hoping if we do the same thing something different will result.
Detroit Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling (8) walks off the filed after struck out against Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, May 21, 2026. | Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
May 20, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Chicago White Sox left fielder Sam Antonacci (17) steals second base underneath a leaping Seattle Mariners shortstop Colt Emerson during the third inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
The Mariners begin a six-game road trip today in Kansas City and hope to find a little more consistency between series. The Royals swept the Mariners clean at home over three games. Since then, the Mariners have mastered the art of the “It’s so over/We are so back.” This team has put on such a great Jekyll-and-Hyde performance that they could be nominated for a Tony. But maybe this time the Mariners can win two series in a row, then maybe they can even set their sights on being above .500.
Logan Gilbert climbs the mound tonight looking to bounce back after a rough outing last time against San Diego when he gave up seven runs over 6 2/3rds inning. Gilbert took the loss in his last start, so the hope is that the start of this road trip can be a good chance for him to get back on track and keep the Mariners on track along with it.
Lineups
Good vibes may already be back in order as Victor Robles returns to the Mariners lineup today for the first time since being placed on the IL back in April.
News:
Victor Robles’ return means Connor Joe was sent back to Tacoma. It’s a bummer for Joe, who has shown more than today’s cleanup hitter Rob Refsnyder with the bat as far as hard contact goes, but his lack of defensive flexibility and ability to be optioned ticketed him for a seat on the flight back to Tacoma.
The Royals made a roster move today as well, designating catcher Elias Díaz for assignment and selecting outfielder Tyler Tolbert. Tough reward for a guy who just hit a two-run homer in a Royals loss on Wednesday. The Royals also announced they’ll be sending Cole Ragans out on a rehab assignment, if you’re wondering why the Mariners won’t be facing him again this series.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 16: Bryce Elder #55 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 16, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals are facing on in a battle of MLB’s top two scoring offenses. It is highly likely that no one truly predicted that these two teams would have scored the most runs this far into the season.
The biggest difference between these two teams is that the Braves have also had excellent pitching, whereas the Nationals have been terrible. Bryce Elder is set to take the mound with a top ten ERA of 2.01 and his opponent today, Miles Mikolas has a bottom four ERA of pitchers with at least 40.0 innings pitched with an ERA of 6.91.
On paper, the Braves have the clear advantage in this game, but nothing is ever guaranteed in MLB.
Nov 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A detailed view of a Toronto Blue Jays hat in the sixth inning for game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
The first of three with the Pirates, and I got back from my massage just in time to get the thread up.
50 games in we are much the same as we were a year ago. But that doesn’t mean the rest of the season will go the same.
The Blue Jays performance through 50 games is similar to last season.
