NEW YORK — Sandy Koufax has won the sixth Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Baseball Digest.
The Hall of Fame pitcher was honored Thursday with an annual distinction that “recognizes a living individual whose career has been spent in or around Major League Baseball and who has demonstrated outstanding character and has made significant contributions to the game.”
Willie Mays won the inaugural award in 2021, followed by Vin Scully (2022), Joe Torre (2023), Dusty Baker (2024) and Bob Costas (2025).
“It’s a great honor to be recognized along with the previous award winners,” the 90-year-old Koufax said in a news release. “I thank the distinguished panel.”
Koufax made his major league debut for his hometown Brooklyn Dodgers in 1955, when they won the franchise’s first World Series championship. After the team moved to Los Angeles, he became one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers during the 1960s.
The left-hander won three Cy Young Awards, an MVP trophy and five consecutive National League ERA titles. He had three 25-win seasons, leading the majors each time, and made seven All-Star teams from 1961-66.
Koufax threw four no-hitters, including a perfect game, and was the World Series MVP twice, after leading the Dodgers to crowns in 1963 and ’65. He also was a member of Los Angeles’ championship squad in 1959.
After retiring at age 30 following the 1966 season because of traumatic arthritis in his pitching elbow, Koufax became the youngest player inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. Later that season, the Dodgers retired his uniform No. 32. He was named to MLB’s All-Century Team in 1999.
“The name Sandy Koufax has become a synonym for ‘great pitcher,’” Baseball Digest publisher David Fagley said. “It’s hard to believe it has been 60 years since he last pitched so brilliantly for the Dodgers but, since his retirement, Sandy has been a remarkable representative of our national game, a symbol of class and dignity.”
Koufax was selected to receive the award in voting by a 21-member panel of longtime MLB participants and observers, including writers, broadcasters, former players and executives.
PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald knows that — in theory — Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike system shouldn’t favor batters or pitchers.
In practice, he thinks one side has gained an advantage.
And it’s not the guys throwing the baseball.
“It’s what (MLB) wanted — people on base,” Sewald said. “Tough time to be a pitcher. Balls flying everywhere, you’ve got a smaller strike zone. But you just go out there and do the best you can.”
So ... is Sewald right? It depends on which numbers you want to use, but it sure seems like the strike zone has shrunk.
Walks have skyrocketed to near historic highs through the season’s first month. There’s no direct evidence ABS is the reason for the increase, but as D-backs catcher James McCann said: “Of course it is. What other rules have changed?”
MLB players have drawn a walk in 9.8% of plate appearances this season, which would be the highest rate since 1950. The rate is likely to come down as the season progresses — pitchers usually have more trouble finding the zone during widespread chilly conditions in northern cities during March and April.
But even adjusted for the time of year, walks have made a massive jump from last season.
Everyone knew the strike zone would change. MLB had to re-write its definition of the zone to accommodate the shift to robot umpires. The Official Baseball Rules long described a zone stretching from the midpoint of the hitter’s torso down to the “hollow beneath the kneecap.” The new zone is more precise. It starts at 27% of a batter’s standing height and stretches to 53.5%. The ABS zone is 17 inches wide, matching the width of home plate. All pitches are measured at the midpoint of the plate.
The spike in walks doesn’t tell the whole story about who is benefiting during the ABS era. MLB’s league-wide batting average is down slightly to .240, a few ticks below the .242 rate through last year’s games in March and April. That pokes a hole in Sewald’s claim that there are “balls flying everywhere.”
The difference in opinion is fascinating as MLB players digest the new rules and new data.
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger isn’t putting too much stock in the early numbers. He said hitters and pitchers are always playing a cat-and-mouse game, and there will eventually be equilibrium.
“I think there’s always an adjustment to something new,” the 2019 National League MVP said. “It’s also such a short sample size. It’s (20-25) games into the season, so numbers skyrocket both ways early on.”
McCann’s not so sure. The veteran catcher said a smaller strike zone will inevitably lead to more walks.
“I think it’s tighter in general,” McCann said. “Umpires are getting instant feedback on what’s a strike or a ball and everything’s becoming much more uniform. That’s what the guys who had used it in the minor leagues told me was going to happen before the season started, and they were exactly right.”
Chicago Cubs star infielder Nico Hoerner had a slightly different take — arguing that hitters might be benefiting in the short-term by laying off pitches at the top of the strike zone — but that all adjustments have an expiration date.
“Getting on base has been emphasized for a long time,” Hoerner said. “Walking is incredibly valuable as a hitter. A lot of pitchers — their approach is to avoid slug at all cost. Sometimes that involves throwing less strikes. But I’m sure there will be a back and forth, just like every trend in baseball.”
If recent history is any indication, MLB rule changes can cause a lasting effect. There was a nearly 50% increase in stolen bases from 2022 to 2023 after a rules package introduced a pitch clock and limits on how many times a pitcher could make pickoff throws.
Stolen bases have remained high in the subsequent years — even after teams adjusted to the new rules.
And when MLB lowered the mound in 1969, the walk rate jumped from 7.6% to 9.1%. It dipped slightly after that but didn’t return below 8% again until 2013.
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough believes the ABS issue is a different animal. He’s watching the trends and doesn’t believe the higher walk rate is here to stay.
Who knows? The next five months will tell the tale.
“I think that we’ll get to a point where it gets close and stabilizes to what it’s been, where relievers are walking around 10%. Starters are going to be more around 8%,” McCullough said. “My hypothesis sitting here now early in the year is that by the time the season ends, (walk rates) will look very much like they have, say the last several seasons.”
PHOENIX — Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami tied a Major League Baseball rookie record by homering in his fifth straight game, crushing a 451-foot shot to right-center field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 10th homer of the season.
“I’ve run out of things to say,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Obviously, he continues to put himself in a really good spot to take good swings on good pitches. He’s making great swing decisions, making a ton of contact and when he hits it, he hits it really hard.”
He added: “Even the singles he’s hitting are hard. The damage is incredible and it’s impressive to watch.”
He is the 13th rookie in big-league history to go deep in five straight, according to MLB.com. The Japanese first baseman also tied the team’s franchise record, a mark shared by A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983).
Murakami’s two-run homer came off Diamondbacks reliever Ryan Thompson in the seventh, cutting Arizona’s lead to 10-7. His 10 homers are second in the big leagues behind Houston’s Yordan Alvarez, who has 11.
Murakami’s 10 homers, eight coming on the road, are the most in MLB history by a Japanese-born player in his first 24 career games.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 17: Taijuan Walker #99 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the first inning during a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on April 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies have released starting pitcher Taijuan Walker, per multiple reports.
In the 2022-23 offseason, the Phillies signed Walker to a four year, $72 million deal that even at the time looked…aggressive. Fangraphs, in their free agent projections for that offseason, had Walker at around 3 years, $42 million. Dave Dombrowski has a history of being willing to overpay, whether in prospects or dollars, for a player he wants, and he apparently really wanted Walker, who had just put up a 3.49 ERA in 29 starts for the New York Mets in 2022.
Walker’s ability had long been tantalizing — a supplemental first round pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2010*, he was a top 10-20 prospect each year from 2012-14, and made his debut in his age 20 season for Seattle in 2013. He struggled to turn promise into results, however, and was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2016 season, along with Ketel Marte, in a five player deal that saw Mitch Haniger, Jean Segura and Zac Curtis go the M’s.
* Walker was selected one pick before the Tigers took Nick Castellanos, two picks before the Rangers picked Luke Jackson, and six picks before the Rangers picked Mike Olt.
A solid 2017 season was followed by a two year stretch where he appeared in just four major league games due to Tommy John surgery. Walker signed a one year deal to return to Seattle for the 2020 season, was traded to Toronto at the deadline, and his 2.70 ERA in 11 starts was enough to garner a two year deal from the Mets. Walker was not good in 2021, but his solid 2022 season meant he hit the market as one of the attractive mid-level free agent starters on the market.
The Phillies got a middling season from Walker in 2023, as he put up a 4.38 ERA and 4.53 FIP in 172 innings over 31 starts (though B-R credits him with a 2.6 bWAR season, largely due to the porous defense behind him). Walker put up a 7.10 ERA in fifteen starts and four relief appearances in 2024, then a 4.08 ERA in 2025, when he was dropped from the rotation in August. This season, in four starts and, in his most recent appearance, a pseudo-start where the Phillies used an opener, Walker has a 9.13 ERA and 7.82 FIP, and has allowed the most earned runs in the majors.
Walker is just 33, and so I imagine he’ll have an opportunity to sign a minor league deal with a club and try to get his career back on track in AAA. Whether he pitches in the majors again, though, remains to be seen.
The National farm system is flush with hitting talent, especially in the middle infield. Names like Ronny Cruz, Yeremy Cabrera, and Devin Fitz-Gerald have gotten off to hot starts to begin the 2026 campaign, making pushes to be on top 100 prospect lists soon. One area that the Nationals’ farm system is lacking, however, is on the pitching side, as with their top 2 arms, Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora, injured, there is no real firepower on the way to help rescue a Nationals pitching staff that is currently getting hammered at the big league level.
Outside of the trade deadline, where we can expect Paul Toboni to be shopping a multitude of Nationals players for prospect packages, the quickest way to restock the farm system with quality arms is the MLB Draft, where the Nats will have the 11th overall pick and $12.3 million in bonus pool money to work with. Let’s take a look at some of the pitching options they have in the first few rounds to add to their system and, hopefully, work their way through the minors quickly.
Flukey is making his return from injury this weekend for the Chanticleers, his first since week one back in February. Flukey was extremely efficient in 2025 thanks to his strong fastball-slider combination, with a blossoming curveball as well. How he looks down the stretch will determine if teams are comfortable taking him in the top end of the first round, but I firmly believe Flukey could be at least the Nationals two-starter one day with proper development.
Carlon joined the Sun Devils rotation in 2026, and his stuff looks sharper than ever, walking 3% less hitters and striking out 1% more than as a reliever in 2025. The heater usually sits mid-to-high 90s, but has been up to triple digits this season, pairing well with his elite slider, plus curveball, and good changeup. If the velocity holds as a starter, Carlon could be in play as an underslot pick for the Nationals who still has the potential to be a two-starter or higher in the big leagues eventually.
The stuff is explosive, and he’s finally broken through on the results side, with a mid-3s ERA and FIP under 3. The walks are still a problem, but he’s showing the ability to succeed despite them. The fastball sits mid-90s, running up to 99 MPH, and his mid-80s slider is as sharp as they come. If the Nationals coaching staff could help him control his stuff, he could be one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in all of baseball.
Riojas’ strikeout stuff has exploded in his junior season at Texas, raising his strikerout rate by 18% from 2025 to 2026. He throws a mid-90s fastball which generates plenty of swing-and-miss, and he has 5 secondary offerings he’ll mix in as well, with the curveball and changeup being the ones which stand out the most. Riojas doesn’t have the “stuff” of some of the other arms in this range, but his wide pitch mix and control make him a solid bet to be a solid big league pitcher one day.
Kuhns has all the traits of a future top-of-the-line arm, but hasn’t quite put them all together at Tennessee just yet. Throws a mid-90s fastball with unique flat movement, a sharp slider, and a changeup that generates plenty of swing-and-miss. Under the old Nationals regime, Kuhns would’ve been a player who never put it all together, but under the new coaching staff, Kuhns is the kind of pitcher they can turn into something special.
Dietz is a 6’6 lefty who has been a weapon for the Razorbacks in 2026, throwing mid-90s with his fastball and working a low-80s slider off it. 2026 is his only full collegiate season, so the sample size is small, but if the Nationals believe in the stuff, he could immediately become one of the nastier arms in the Nationals farm system.
Mendes has mowed down ACC lineups this season with his strong 3-pitch mix of a fastball, slider, and changeup. He sits in the low-90s with the heater, but has gotten it up to 96, suggesting there is a chance for a velocity jump in pro ball. Mendes knows how to pitch, and could be a solid backend starter in the big leagues, with a chance for more if he gains velocity or more pitches.
Dudan made his collegiate debut as a starter in 2026 and has been very successful for the Wolfpack, thanks to his heater, which has been up to 99 MPH, and a devastating slider. He has also added a sinker to his arsenal to keep hitters off his fastball, and a cutter which offers another look from the slider. Dudan’s combination of stuff and performance make him as good a bet as you can find in the third round, with his limited track record being the only thing preventing him from going higher.
Sdao’s stuff hasn’t translated to SEC success quite yet, but it’s a strong bet to translate to pro ball with proper development. He can hold mid-90s on his fastball deep into outings, and has a mid-80s sweeping slider that generates plenty of chase. At 6’3” 170, there is room to grow into his frame and add more velocity to his game as well. Sdao has first or second round grade stuff, but could be a steal for a team like the Nats at the beginning of the third round due to his performance struggles.
Apr 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Prior to Thursday’s game against the Cubs, the Phillies announced that Taijuan Walker was released.
Prior to today’s game against the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies recalled RHP Nolan Hoffman from triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 26-man roster, RHP Alan Rangel was optioned to Lehigh Valley following last night’s game. Additionally, RHP Taijuan Walker was released.
Walker pitched Wednesday night’s game behind Kyle Backhus, allowing five runs, four of them earned, in only four innings. It was not all of his fault; Justin Crawford dropped a shallow flyball that eventually led to a run. But it was clear the Phillies could no longer justify keeping Taijuan Walker on the roster in any capacity.
Walked signed with the Phillies back in December of 2022 for four years, $ 72 million. In that span, he made 89 appearances, 71 of them as a starter, and had an ERA of 5.12 in 402.2 innings with 1.1 fWAR.
Also, welcome back, Nolan Hoffman. Does anyone remember him striking out Cal Raleigh last year?
The Philadelphia Phillies have had the most disappointing start to a season this side of Queens, and somebody was going to pay the price.
First up: Starting pitcher Taijuan Walker.
The Phillies released Walker on Thursday, April 23 and will eat the remainder of his $18 million salary this season, a logical move given his 9.13 ERA in five appearances and the impending return of ace Zack Wheeler.
Walker, 33, signed a four-year, $72 million contract before the 2023 season and had flashes of decent perforance over his four very inconsistent seasons in Philly. In his four starts this season, he gave up seven runs twice and four runs on another occasion, and was already slotted to be the long man in the bullpen.
Now, with Wheeler set to make his season debut Saturday after an extended recovery from August thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, there was no room at all for Walker.
The club recalled right-handed pitcher Nolan Hoffman to add to the back of the bullpen.
The Phillies are off to an 8-16 start, now tied with the New York Mets at the bottom of the NL East. The club has suffered from lack of production from the bottom half of its lineup, and jettisoning Walker won't solve the pitching woes: Jesus Luzardo, signed to a five-year, $135 million extension last month, has a 6.91 ERA in five starts, the Phillies losing four of them.
SAN FRANCISCO — Shohei Ohtani’s career-best 53-game on-base streak ended on a night he pitched six scoreless innings.
It’s something only Ohtani could achieve, but the two-way superstar could be having games like that a little bit less often.
“I’m focused, as a leadoff hitter, to get on base. As long as I feel good overall, the result will follow,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “It hasn’t been the case (lately).”
Before the loss to San Francisco, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear he’s committed to Ohtani’s health and keeping him fresh to perform both on the mound and at the plate for the long haul.
And that may look different by the day or week, depending how Ohtani is feeling.
“I’ll always let the manager make that final decision and I’m always going to be prepared when I’m starting that I’m hitting,” Ohtani said. “But if it makes sense as a team to occasionally put a guy in as a DH or hit later that’s fine as well. I wouldn’t want to same more aside from that.”
For some games, that could mean Ohtani pitches but doesn’t bat as the designated hitter — and Roberts plans to keep his options open.
Ohtani was solid on the mound again for the Dodgers in a 3-0 loss to the Giants, allowing no earned runs for the third time in four starts this season. A week earlier, Ohtani was held out of the lineup while pitching for the first time since 2021 because he was still sore from getting hit by a pitch.
Ohtani batted in his customary leadoff spot and went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, hitting a fly ball to left in his last at-bat. That ended an on-base streak that matched Shawn Green for the second-longest in Dodgers history. Duke Snider owns the team record at 58 games from May 13-July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s streak was the longest in the majors since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight from April 25-July 6, 2006.
“The season’s not over, and I could start another streak and that would be great,” Ohtani said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
The 31-year-old Ohtani saw his batting average drop from .271 to .258. He has allowed one earned run over 24 innings for an ERA of 0.38 and a 2-0 record, surrendering 15 hits with 25 strikeouts and six walks.
“I think if you look at the overall numbers it’s certainly something. I still feel really good about putting his name in the lineup,” Roberts said. “I know the last start I chose not to have him hit and just pitch. I am open to it. We’ll see. It’s something that we’ve certainly flagged, and also you have to look at what’s the option. In years past or last year, you’ve got to kind of weigh, who’s a different option?”
Catcher Dalton Rushing has become a capable fill-in at DH. He’s hitting .414 with seven homers and 13 RBIs.
The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers have dropped four of five. They lost 3-1 in the series opener at rival San Francisco.
Roberts had yet to decide whether Ohtani would play the series finale. He said beforehand he had no qualms about giving Ohtani five at-bats on a day he’s pitching but would consider moving him down in the batting order if that makes sense.
“I think everything should be on the table,” Roberts said.
NEW YORK - APRIL 28, 2012: Andruw Jones #25 of the New York Yankees bats during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on April 28, 2012 in New York, New York. (Photo by SPX/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Yankees were a powerhouse team of the late 1990’s and the early 2000s, powered by some of the game’s best players of all time. However, they weren’t the only team consistently vying for a World Series championship. The Atlanta Braves were the National League’s elite squad: from the 1991 season to the 2000 season, they finished with a win total under 90 only once and over 100 four times, including three straight seasons in 1997, ‘98, and ‘99.
New York and Atlanta continuously found themselves in the biggest moments, including seven combined appearances in the World Series in the 1990s. And when the Yankees played them in 1996 and 1999, they would see a name on the roster that would not just end up as one in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but also one that would be familiar way down the road: Andruw Jones.
Andruw Rudolf Jones Born: April 23, 1977 (Willemstad, Curacao) Yankees Tenure: 2011-2012
Jones’ first taste of Major League baseball came at a young age. In 1993, at the age of 16, he signed as a free agent with the Braves organization, and in 1995, Jones was named the minor league player of the year. Following an outstanding year at the minor league level, Jones was called up to the major leagues and played 31 games in 1996.
In the postseason, though, Jones made his presence felt. He hit two home runs in his first two at-bats of the 1996 World Series. Jones became the youngest player ever to homer in the World Series at 19-years-old, breaking Mickey Mantle’s record of 20 years, 362 days. Jones joined Gene Tenace as the only other player to hit home runs in his first two World Series at-bats.
Jones finished the 1996 postseason with a slashline of .345/.486/.690 for a wRC+ of 210. And after that performance, he became an everyday outfielder for the club. In 153 games played during his rookie season, Jones posted just-below-average hitting numbers playing in right field, garnering a 3.7 fWAR with a slashline of .231/.329/.416. He ended up finishing fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
In 1997, Jones began his full-fledged tear. He finished his first of multiple 7.0+ fWAR seasons and played full-time in the demanding center field position. With some stellar defense (a major theme in Jones’ entire career), he won his first Gold Glove Award and also had his first season above the average mark of wRC+ and OPS+. And from then on, Jones’ career was truly off and running, establishing himself as one of the premier outfielders in the game for a long time to come.
For the rest of his time in Atlanta (1999-2007), Jones was a key piece in some excellent seasons. He posted a slashline of .265/.346/.502 for an OPS of .848, and he won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards for his work in the outfield. He finished in the top 15 of MVP voting in 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2006, with top-10 finishes in 2000 and 2005. That 2005 season was the best year of his tenured career — Jones walked away as the major league leader in home runs with 51, along with being the National League’s RBI leader. He won the Silver Slugger Award for his work at the plate (his only Silver Slugger of his career), and finished second in NL MVP voting, losing a narrow race to then-St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols, who finished the year batting .330 with an OPS over 1.000 and sending 41 baseballs over the outfield fences.
Before the 2008 season, the Braves announced that they would not be bringing the 30-year-old Jones back to the team. So, after the news broke, he signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But after Atlanta, the situation was dire, as Jones showed up to his first spring training with Los Angeles not in baseball shape. And in 75 games with the Dodgers, Jones hit .158 with only three home runs and 14 RBI. Jones also dealt with injuries throughout the year, which was a first for his career. And as a result, after the season, Jones, having voiced his opinion that Dodgers fans had not given him a fair chance from the get-go, said he did not want to return and reached an agreement with the club to be released.
Jones signed a one-year minor league deal with the Texas Rangers and was planning to be used sparingly, but an injury to Josh Hamilton put him in many more games than initially expected. In 82 games, he only hit .214, but he hit 17 home runs and registered 43 RBI for a perfectly average 100 OPS+.
After his single season in Texas in 2009, the Chicago White Sox came calling at Jones’ door before the 2010 season. He signed a one-year deal with them as well, and even though it wasn’t the same Andruw Jones everyone knew and loved, he showed up to training camp in shape and ready to roll. He played in the most games since 2007 (107) and smacked 19 home runs with 48 RBI with an OPS of .827 and an OPS+ of 120.
The final two seasons of Jones’ career were spent in The Bronx, signing a one-year deal initially and then re-signing for another season following the 2011 season. He was still a slightly above-average hitter for the Yankees (his most notable moment was likely smacking a home run over the left field wall in his first Yankees at-bat in 2011), and he played more than expected in 2012 due to an injury to then-center fielder Brett Gardner. His final single-season slashline of his major league career was .197/.294/.408 at 35-years-old.
Jones went and played baseball in Japan for two seasons before attempting to make a return to the majors in 2015 and 2016. However, after no team decided to take a flyer on the former elite center fielder, Jones retired from baseball. He has held a few high-profile positions in baseball, including, most recently, managing Team Netherlands for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And after waiting for nine years on the ballot, Jones was finally elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, receiving 78.4 percent of the vote.
Thirty-four hitters went deep yesterday, and I couldn't land one.
Today, on the small slate, I'm going square and hitting familiar names. No +1100 dingers with 200 points of expected value for me today. It's Thursday, and I'm just playing the MLB player prop hits.
The Phillies have a great backdrop with winds blowing out at Wrigley, and the Yankees can club a Triple-A call-up at Fenway.
These are my favorite home run props for Thursday, April 23.
Best MLB home run props today
Player to hit a HR
Odds
Bryce Harper
+370
Ben Rice
+520
Bryce Harper (+370)
Wrigley Field has to be on the HR card today, as it’s easily the best setting for a dinger.
Double-digit winds are blowing out to left field, which should aid hitters going that way, and Edward Cabrera is a fly-ball pitcher who has been lucky so far with zero homers allowed.
On the Philadelphia Phillies side, both Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper have gone deep vs. Cabrera, but I’ll take Harper at a 110-point discount. Adolis García (+410) also projects well, but I’m not getting cute — sticking with the top-end bats.
There are plenty of lefties in the Chicago Cubs bullpen, and Harper has been better vs. lefties this year. His 42% hard-hit rate leads Philly hitters, and I’m rolling with brand-name bats today.
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, NBCSP
Ben Rice (+520)
The New York Yankees bats have a chance to do damage at Fenway Park today with Payton Tolle starting for the Boston Red Sox.
The lefty is filling in for an injured Sonny Gray, and if his prior MLB numbers are any indication, he’s likely to give up homers.
Tolle allowed five long balls over 16+ innings last year, and Boston could be leaning on its B-bullpen as a decent home dog.
When it comes to Yankees hitters, Ben Rice might not be the obvious top option, but it’s hard not to call him their best bat right now. He’s second on the team in homers and has four over the last seven days. He also leads the club in wRC+, wOBA, and WAR, while slugging .743.
He’s not just hot — he’s been one of the most productive hitters in baseball to start the season. At +520, he’s my favorite look in a strong home-run spot for New York.
Time: 6:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NESN+, YES
Jinglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 5-41, -10.4 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
On this day 87 years ago, Marv Owen tied a White Sox and MLB mark during a rout of the St. Louis Browns.
1919 Perhaps the most talented White Sox team ever opened the season in St. Louis and destroyed the Browns, 13-4. The offense pounded out 21 hits, which remains tied for 40th-most ever by the White Sox in a game. Lefty Williams got the win, throwing a complete game.
Six months later, after winning the American League pennant, the ‘‘Black Sox’’ threw the series and lost to the Cincinnati Reds. Eight players would be banned the following year, including Williams, and the only franchise capable of stopping the emerging New York Yankees juggernaut was decimated.
1939 Marv Owen rapped out four doubles in a 17-4 rout over the Browns, tying Mike Kreevich’s club record as well as the major league mark. Kreevich’s achievement had come two seasons earlier, on Sept. 4, 1937.
Owen led off for the White Sox in the win, going 4-for-6 and scoring four times — but with zero RBIs! Kreevich was also in the lineup for the game and had a big one, tripling and homering as part of a 2-for-5, four-RBI game. The Sox clubbed seven doubles and 11 XBH of their 19 hits in the game.
Sadly, though, this blowout performance was a rare highlight of 1939 for Owen, as he hit only five other doubles all season (slashing .237/.302/.284) and clocked in with a miserable -0.8 WAR for the season.
1949 White Sox lefthander Billy Pierce won his first major league game. Pierce threw almost four innings in relief of starter Al Gettel and got the decision in a 12-5 win over the Browns at Comiskey Park.
Billy would win 186 games with the Sox, make the All-Star team seven times, throw four one-hitters and finish with 211 wins overall in his brilliant career.
1955 The White Sox collected 29 hits and hammered the Athletics, 29-6, at Kansas City. Every starter had at least one hit, including starting pitcher Jack Harshman.
The 29 runs were a major league record that stood until 2007, and remains tied with three other teams for second-most ever. The 23-run margin of victory remains the biggest in White Sox history, and the 29 runs and hits both remain team records.
The Sox hit seven home runs that night, which remains tied for the franchise-most in a game. Bob Nieman went 3-for-4 with two homers and seven RBIs. Sherm Lollar and Minnie Miñoso added five RBIs apiece.
Perhaps most unique of all, with two hits in both the second and sixth innings, Lollar became the only player in MLB history with two hits in two separate innings of a single game.
1981 The White Sox erupted with 21 singles and 26 hits in an 18-5 doubleheader opener win. The Sox scored in every inning but the seventh and eighth, and put up seven-spots in the fourth and sixth. The top of the order (Bill Almon, Tony Bernazard, Carlton Fisk) went 10-for-17 with nine singles. Richard Dotson threw a complete-game win. The White Sox also took the nightcap, 5-3, improving to 7-3 on the season.
The 21 singles and 26 hits remain tied for the second-most in White Sox history. That hit and run total also were the most record in the American League during the 1981 season.
One oddity, this doubleheader was supposed to be on an off-day, but games earlier in the series postponed due to cold and snow forced this busy day.
1990 It was an unusual event, even for an exhibition game. Utility player Steve Lyons played all nine positions for the White Sox during the annual “Crosstown Classic” game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Manager Jeff Torborg moved him all over the field during the contest, won by the Sox, 6-5. It was an incredibly exciting finish, as outfielder Dave Gallagher threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end the game.
1991 A silly citation, perhaps, but when Orioles hurler Dave Johnson hit Carlton Fisk with a pitch leading off the second inning of a 10-4 White Sox win, it was the first hit-by-pitch at new Sox Park.
The New York Yankees, ranked first in the AL East with a 15-9 record, face the Boston Red Sox, who are fifth in the AL East with a 9-15 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -150 moneyline compared to the Boston Red Sox's +125. Starting pitchers are Cam Schlittler for New York and Payton Tolle for Boston.
SPRINGFIELD, MO - APRIL 09: Adam Serwinowski #27 of the Tulsa Drillers pitches during the game between the Tulsa Drillers and the Springfield Cardinals at Hammons Field on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in Springfield, Missouri. (Photo by Shanna Stafford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
It was an action-packed day in the Dodgers minor league system, with an extra game as the Tulsa Drillers played a doubleheader against Frisco. Blake Snell made a rehab outing and took the loss as Ontario faced San Jose.
Player of the day
For nearly five whole innings, Charles Serwinowski was absolutely flawless against the Roughriders, delivering his finest outing of the year. The left-hander kept the ball in the ground, allowing just two flyouts, and quite often, the RoughRiders didn’t even put the ball in play, striking out eight times and walking none.
Adam Serwinowski retired the first 14 batters of the game, leading to his best start of 2026 for the Double-A @TulsaDrillers 💎
Overall, in what turned out to be only a seven-inning affair as the Drillers won comfortably 7-0, nearly half of their outs came by way of the strikeout, with Kelvin Ramirez coming on in the seventh. Serwinowski left the game with a little over 80 pitches, earning his first win of 2026.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Guess who’s hot again? None other than James Tibbs III, who was one of the protagonists of a high-scoring win for the Comets over the Rainiers. The cleanup hitter, Tibbs III, was responsible for the Comets’ only homer of the game in this 9-7 victory, smashing a three-run shot in the third.
The first player to 10 homers this season in the Minors?
It was a lousy day for pitchers on both sides, with the two offenses combining for 19 walks and only 10 strikeouts. Still, under that context, one is encouraged by the fact that Christian Romero allowed just a pair of runs in his five innings of work, another minor leaguer who earned his first win of 2026.
Leadoff hitter Ryan Fitzgerald also had a fine showing, reaching base in three of his five plate appearances with a couple of knocks and a walk. Fitzgerald is now up to a .373 batting average this season.
Double-A Tulsa
Tulsa hammered Frisco on both legs of this doubleheader, winning by a combined score of 17-6. The first of these games was a quick one, which we already touched on in the Player of the Day section—the RoughRiders had no shot against a dominant Serwinowski, and the five runs were more than plenty from the Drillers’ offense, whose only extra-base hit came from their ninth hitter, Sean McClain, a triple by the way. Josue De Paula was their most prolific hitter, going three for four with a run and one RBI.
The 12-6 score might indicate smooth sailing for the second win, but it was the opposite. Trailing 6-1 by the fourth inning, the Drillers had to mount quite the comeback, overcoming a forgetful effort from starter Roque Gutierrez.
Much like it was the case in game 1 of this doubleheader, the Drillers did all of their scoring without the benefit of long balls. Catcher Nelson Quiroz, who came in for the second of these games, earned four hits in five plate appearances, the most in this game. Scoring half of their 12 runs in an eighth-inning rally to take a commanding lead, the Drillers had a great game with runners in scoring position (6-18).
The bullpen also deserves congratulations for shutting the door on the RoughRiders, covering six scoreless frames after the initial blowup. The veteran Nick Robertson, who covered two of those innings, earned the win, and is now 3-0 on the season.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons won 9-5, but what to make of a game in which your starter allows seven walks in just 3.1 innings? Well, that’s what happened with the Loons against the Sky Carp, as Jakob Wright seemed to battle himself more than anything else—considering he only allowed one hit and a pair of runs—keeping the Sky Carp from capitalizing on what could’ve been a truly disastrous outing.
Action on the basepaths was behind this win for the Loons, with just second baseman Nico Perez stealing a whopping four bases in the game, finishing 2 for 3 but reaching base four times, also with a pair of walks. Overall, the Loons were outstanding on the basepaths, stealing six bags and not getting caught once.
Responsible for the Loons’ only home run of the evening, designated hitter Mike Sirota reached base safely five times, going three for four and also earning a pair of walks.
Class-A Ontario
The 4-2 defeat by the Tower Buzzers takes a backseat to Blake Snell’s rehab appearances in San Jose, with the left-hander laboring through 32 pitches in what turned out to be just one inning of work since he didn’t retire any hitters in the second before leaving the game.
Outhit 10-4 in a matchup marked by defensive errors on both sides—seven of them total—the Tower Buzzers didn’t score until the eighth inning, and they did so in the most discouraging way if you’re seeking a comeback, on a couple of outs, a sac fly, and a ground out.
Wednesday’s scores
Oklahoma City 9, Tacoma 7
Frisco 0, Tulsa 5
Frisco 6, Tulsa 12
Beloit 5, Great Lakes 9
San Jose 4, Ontario 2
Thursday’s schedule
9:05 a.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Logan Allen) vs. Tacoma (Randy Dobnak)
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Sean Patick) at Beloit (TBD)
4:35 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Patrick Copen) at Frisco (Winston Santos)
The Los Angeles Dodgers, tied for first in the NL West with a 16-8 record, face the San Francisco Giants, who are fourth in the NL West with an 11-13 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -160 moneyline compared to the San Francisco Giants' +135. Starting pitchers are Tyler Glasnow for the Dodgers, with a 3.24 ERA, and Logan Webb for the Giants, with a 5.10 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after he struck out Casey Schmitt #10 of the San Francisco Giants to end the sixth inning with runners on second and third base at Oracle Park on April 22, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani struck out seven in six scoreless innings on Wednesday night against the San Francisco Giants, continuing his strong pitching start to 2026. He’s gone exactly six innings in each of his four starts and has only allowed two runs, one of them earned.
That gives Ohtani a minuscule 0.38 ERA so far this season, currently atop the National League. He doesn’t lead the majors because Angels right-hander José Soriano has been even more stingy, allowing only one run in 37 2/3 innings for a 0.24 ERA.
Ohtani will be on the leaderboard for one day, until Thursday when the Dodgers play their 25th game. Ohtani has 24 innings, and pitchers need at least one inning per team game played to qualify. He has been atop the NL in ERA after each one of his starts, continuing his league leading on an intermittent basis.
On Wednesday against the Giants, Ohtani’s six scoreless innings gave him 24 innings through 24 Dodgers games, and one more day atop the NL.
Ohtani will fall off the pitching leaderboard on Thursday, when the Dodgers play their 25th game, and will likely continue most of the season. That’s the nature of being a two-way player and in a six-man rotation. It’s going to be hard for Ohtani to get to 162 innings on the season. In his three best pitching seasons with the Angels (2021-23), Ohtani pitched 130 1/3 innings, 166 innings, and 132 innings. He finished fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022, the one year he qualified for pitching leaderboards.
Here are the dates Ohtani has led the NL in ERA to date in 2026:
Bryce Harper
Ben Rice
