Category: MLB

Game two of the series with the Twins, where it is 12C today.

It has to be a better game than yesterday’s, right?

Ernie Clement gets his first day off of the season.

Lineups:

Go Jays Go.

If you’ve paid any attention to St. Louis Cardinals baseball for the past two decades, the announcement today was a foregone conclusion. The team has just confirmed that Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina have been elected into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame because of course they were. In addition, the veterans committee elected Bill Sherdel who had 153 wins as a Cardinals during his era from 1918 through 1929.

Earlier Friday, the Cardinals revealed they would be announcing the new Hall of Fame members during a live broadcast on Cardinals.tv. Brian Jordan, George Hendrick were also nominated alongside Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.

That announcement was among the least surprising things ever as both Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina will be given their inevitable red jackets later this season. Brian Jordan and George Hendrick were both impactful players in their eras, but they’re simply not Albert and Yadi. When you look at their career statistics, it’s obvious why this announcement today was so obvious.

Albert Pujols

Games: 3,080 Batting average: .296 Hits: 3,384 Home runs: 703 RBIs: 2,218 Runs scored: 1,914 Doubles: 686 On-base %: .374 Slugging %: .544 OPS: .918 Stolen bases: 117

3× MVP 11× All-Star 2× World Series champion Rookie of the Year 2× Gold Glove, 6× Silver Slugger

Yadier Molina

Games: 2,224 Batting average: .277 Hits: 2,168 Home runs: 176 RBIs: 1,022 Runs scored: 817 Doubles: 408 On-base %: .327 Slugging %: .399 OPS: .726 Stolen bases: 70

10× All-Star 2× World Series champion (2006, 2011) 9× Gold Glove Award 4× Platinum Glove Award Silver Slugger (2013)

Bill Sherdel was a member of two National League pennant-winning Cardinals teams, in 1926 and 1928, winning the World Series in 1926.

Mark your calendars now for Saturday, September 12, 2026 and plan to beat the crowds into Busch Stadium as the ceremony will be held there instead of the typical Ballpark Village location. The Cardinals know the crowds will be massive, so this was the perfect decision.

The only question that remains is if Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina will enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2028 when they are both eligible. I’m not objective, but I think the answer to that question is almost as obvious as this one today. They are both legends that deserve to be enshrined in every hall they are eligible to enter. End of story.

According to Vince Mercogliano of The Athletic, Jed Ortmeyer is out as New York Rangers’ director of player development. 

Ortmeyer has served in this role with the Rangers since 2017, before Chris Drury became the Rangers’ president and general manager. 

During Drury’s exit interview, he vaguely answered whether or not he’s considering changes to their player development staff. 

“We are looking at every different department and areas as to what we can do better,” Drury said. 

Some of the players drafted by the Rangers under Ortmeyer who still remain on the roster today include Braden Schneider, Alexis Lafrenière, Noah Laba, and Gabe Perreault. 

Mercogliano reports that there’s no official word yet on a new director of player development, but Tanner Glass is a name to monitor if they decide to promote from within. 

Go Rays!

Detroit Tigers (16-16) vs. Texas Rangers (15-16)

Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park
SB Nation Site: Lone Star Ball
Media: Detroit Sportsnet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-2, 5.33 ERA) vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore (2-2, 4.35 ERA)

Player	G	IP	K%	BB%	GB%	FIP	fWAR
Flaherty	6	25.1	23.0	18.0	30.8	6.04	-0.1
Gore	6	31.0	31.6	11.3	40.5	4.05	0.4

Entering May, believe it or not, the Yankees will be playing only their third series of the 2026 season against a divisional rival. The Baltimore Orioles roll into town fresh off a series win against the Houston Astros that felt more like a par than a birdie, given how the Houston season has trended—not to mention the beatdown Baltimore suffered in the finale of that series yesterday, allowing 11 runs in the second game of a doubleheader.

Will Warren will oppose the Orioles in the first game of this series, and the right-hander carries a very peculiar and incredibly beneficial streak into this game. In each of Warren’s last three starts, the Yankees have managed to score 10 or more runs, reserving their highest outputs for the former eighth-round pick. After a rough start to the year, it looks as though Warren turned a corner in his last two performances, both of which were quality starts with a combined 17 strikeouts.

The Yankees will face Cade Povich, whom they went up against twice last season and scored six runs in 9.2 innings. Here’s a little more on him from Jeff’s series preview:

Warren will go up against Cade Povich, the 26-year-old who is still trying to find his footing in the major leagues. His 2.19 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched is as good of a start as he could ask for, but he has only pitched in two games, with only one of them being a start. And his career against the Yankees hasn’t been stellar, with an ERA of 4.58, and the last three of his starts all finished with an ERA over 5.00.

Looking at the Yankees lineup, you’d only know they’re facing a lefty due to the spot Amed Rosario is in, but otherwise it’s about the regulars being able to show they can still perform against same-handed pitching—early in 2026, the Yankees have fared significantly better against righties.

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium — Bronx, NY

First pitch: 7:05 pm ET

TV broadcast: YES | MASN

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280, 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM

Online stream: MLB.tv

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Back in our borough. #RepBXpic.twitter.com/3OPX6BR3Gq

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 1, 2026

Series opener in the Bronx. pic.twitter.com/RS133mGEB1

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 1, 2026

Where to watch: MASN/MASN+

Probable pitchers: LHP Cade Povich (1-0. 2.19 ERA, 7 K) vs. RHP Will Warren (3-0, 2.59 ERA, 37 K)

After hovering around .500 for much of the season’s first month, the Orioles travel to the Bronx looking to make a statement against the AL East leaders. Per Baltimore Sun beat reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer, the O’s have had an exactly .500 record nine times this season. If they want to make tonight the 10th time, they’ll need to best a Yankees team that is 8-2 in their last game and are a game and half up on the Rays for the best record in the AL.

Looking to get the O’s back in the win column is recently recalled left-hander Cade Povich. The southpaw has been sharp in his two previous MLB starts this season, limiting the Pirates to two runs over 5.2 innings in his season debut, before 6.2 innings of one-run ball on his 26th birthday against the Giants. In Povich’s only previous start in Yankee Stadium, he delivered a solid line of 4.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB and 5 K in a game the Orioles went on to win in extra innings.

Limiting the long ball will be the key to the Orioles’ lefty navigating this potent Yankees offense. New York is only 25th in all of baseball with .213 average against LHPs while also having the sixth-worst strikeout rate. However, when they do make contact off southpaws it tends to be loud. They lead MLB with 18 HRs off lefties, while also ranking eighth with a .420 slugging percentage. Povich’s career 1.4 HR/9 against the Bronx Bombers is on the high side, but its free passes that have often caused him the most trouble against New York. In 19.2 IP against the Yankees, Povich has issued 17 walks.

The Yankees counter Povich with a 26-year-old of their own, as right-hander Will Warren will toe the rubber first tonight in the Bronx. In four starts against the O’s last year, it was a mixed bag for Warren. He put up a worrying 4.95 ERA across 20 innings against Baltimore last year. However, the Yankees did win both of his starts in New York against the Orioles, including an 8-4 win in Warren’s final start of 2025.

The O’s went 4-9 last year against the Yankees after winning the season series in both 2023 and 2024. If Baltimore wants to return to the playoffs in 2026, they need to beat good teams like New York, and they get their first opportunity tonight in Yankee Stadium.

Orioles Lineup

1. Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
2. Taylor Ward (R) LF
3. Adley Rutschman (S) DH
4. Peter Alonso (R) 1B
5. Samuel Basallo (L) C
6. Dylan Beavers (L) RF
7. Leody Taveras (S) CF
8. Coby Mayo (R) 3B
9. Blaze Alexander (R) 2B

Yankees Lineup

1. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
2. Ben Rice (L) DH
3. Aaron Judge (R) RF
4. Cody Bellinger (L) LF
5. Ahmed Rosario (R) 3B
6. Jazz Chisolm Jr. (L) 2B
7. José Caballero (R) SS
8. Austin Wells (L) C
9. Trent Grisham (L) CF

TONIGHT’S GAME:The Houston Astros (12-20) and Boston Red Sox (12-19) begin a 3-game weekend series at Fenway Park tonight.

RHP Mike Burrows (1-3, 6.25 ERA) will start for the Astros vs. LHP Jake Bennett (MLB debut). Tonight will be Burrows’ 1st start and 2nd career appearance at Fenway Park.

ABOUT BURROWS: RHP Mike Burrows, who is from Waterford, CT, will make his 7th start of the season tonight and his 2nd vs. BOS.

One month ago today, he earned his first win in an Astros uniform in a 6-4 victory over the Red Sox on April 1 in Houston (5 IP, 2 ER, 6 S0).

Punchouts: In his last 2 starts, Burrows has seen an uptick in his strikeout totals with 8 K’s in 5.0 IP in his last start on Saturday vs. NYY and 7 K’s in 4.2 IP in his April 19 start vs. STL.

Connecticut Connection: Burrows posted eye-opening numbers as a pitcher at Waterford High School, posting a 6-0 record in his senior year (2018) with an 0.38 ERA with 98 strikeouts in just 44.0 IP. He was a Red Sox fan while growing up.

ROSTER MOVE: Following yesterday’s doubleheader, RHP Jason Alexander was returned to Triple A Sugar Land. Alexander served as the Astros 27th man for the doubleheader.

VS THE SAWX: The Astros swept the Red Sox in a 3-game series at Daikin Park, Mar. 30-April 1.

Over the past 10 seasons (since 2017), HOU is 33-22 (.600) vs. BOS overall.

FUN AT FENWAY: Despite being swept in a 3-game series in their last visit here (Aug. 1-3), the Astros have had recent success at Fenway Park.

HOU has won 6 of their last 9 games at Fenway. Prior to last year’s series in Aug., HOU had swept the Red Sox in 2 consecutive visits to Fenway, Aug. 28-30 of 2023 and Aug. 9-11 of 2024 (both 3-game series).

Additionally, the Astros are 16-9 (.640) in the regular season at Fenway Park since 2017, which is the best win pct. in the Majors at this venue in that span (min. 10 games).

Houston is also 4-3 at Fenway all-time in the postseason.

ROADIES: Tonight is the 4th game (1-2 thus far) of a 6-game road trip for the Astros.

HOU was 1-2 in BAL on the first stop of the trip.

SPECIAL MOMENT: The first 2 members of the Astros Youth Academy to make it to the Major Leagues faced each other yesterday in BAL when Brice Matthews singled off Orioles’ RHP Cameron Foster in the 5th inning of Game 2 of the DH. Matthews was called up to the Majors in 2025 while Foster made his debut in April of 2026.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH?:Yordan Alvarez is a strong candidate for the AL Player of the Month Award for March/April as he has had a torrid start to his season, currently leading, or tied for the lead, in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories – .356 BA, 12 HR, 27 RBI.

Additionally, Alvarez also leads the AL in OPS (1.199), SLG (.737), OBP (.462) and Total Bases (87) and is T-1st in WAR (2.0).

HISTORIC HOMERS: Yordan Alvarez is off to one of the most prolific starts in franchise history. His 12 HR through the club’s first 32 games of the season are the tied for 2nd-most in franchise history (Lance Berkman, 13, 2002).

SOCKING THE SOX: Yordan Alvarez has some of the best career numbers in MLB history vs. the Red Sox (min. 130 PA)

Top BA vs. Red Sox (since 1901)

1. Yordan Alvarez – .417*

2. Will Clark – .403

3. Lyman Bostock – .386

Top OPS vs. Red Sox (since 1901)

1. Yordan Alvarez – 1.305*

2. Babe Ruth – 1.147

3. Lou Gehrig – 1.100

*includes postseason

ROAD WARRIOR: In 11 road games (8 starts) this season, Brice Matthews is 10×31 (.323) with a HR, 7 RBI and 5 BB, slashing (.323/.417/.516) for a .933 OPS.

In his young career, Matthews is hitting .291 in 18 road games (14 starts) with 5 HR and 16 RBI with a .381 OBP and a .618 SLG (.999 OPS).

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: With 238 career HR, Jose Altuve needs one more to tie Lou Whitaker for 7th place all-time among 2nd basemen. Altuve also needs 3 RBI to become the 5th player in franchise history to reach 900.

TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1969 – At just 24 years old, RHP Don Wilson hurls his 2nd career no-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Reds at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. In his historic gem, Wilson tallies 13 K’s. Ironically, the Reds Jim Maloney had no-hit the Astros in the previous game. In 2019, Wilson was part of the very first class inducted into the Astros Hall of Fame (posthumously).

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Friday, May 1, 6:10 p.m. CT

Location: Fenway Park, Boston, MA

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

New city, new series!

⚾️: 6:10pm CST
📺: @SpaceCityHN | @peacock
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 & 740 AM | Spanish: 102.9 HD2#ChaseTheFight x @reliantenergypic.twitter.com/vU4Q32r315

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 1, 2026

Back home in the Fenway Greens. pic.twitter.com/sYwkYHmOIv

— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 1, 2026

The San Francisco Giants head to Florida today to begin a three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be left-hander Robbie Ray, who enters today’s game with a 2.70 ERA, 4.23 FIP, with 35 strikeouts to 14 walks in 33.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 6-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Saturday, in which he allowed one run on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks in five innings.

He’ll be facing off against Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan, who enters today’s game with a 3.91 ERA, 3.20 FIP, with 25 strikeouts to 13 walks in 23 innings pitched. His last start was in the Rays’ 6-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, in which he allowed just three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings.

Game #32

Who: San Francisco Giants vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Where: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida

When: 4:10 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

For much of this early season, two of Jed Hoyer’s key bullpen acquisitions had not done well. Phil Maton spent time on the injured list and didn’t throw well when he pitched. Jacob Webb had not had good outings most of the year to date.

Friday, both of them pitched well when the Cubs needed them most, combining for three scoreless innings and five strikeouts as the Cubs held on to defeat the Diamondbacks 6-5, their ninth straight win at Wrigley Field.

This one started out like it was going to be an easy win. After Colin Rea allowed hits to the first two D-backs batters, he struck out the next two and got the third on a fly to right, and then the Cubs offense got to work. Nico Hoerner led off with a double and Moisés Ballesteros walked. Nico took third on a force play by Alex Bregman, and Ian Happ walked to load the bases.

After Seiya Suzuki struck out, Michael Busch’s two-run single gave the Cubs the lead [VIDEO].

Happ took third on that hit and Carson Kelly was the next batter. He popped a ball into short center, and… [VIDEO].

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen something like that. Those are two good fielders — Alek Thomas and Ildemaro Vargas. And yet, they just let Kelly’s ball drop untouched. Happ scored, and the Cubs needed every single run they got in this game.

The D-backs went out 1-2-3 in the second, and when Hoerner’s turn to bat came up in the bottom of the inning, Matt Shaw was sent up to bat instead. Here’s what apparently happened to Nico [VIDEO].

Here’s what the injury was said to be:

Per #Cubs, Nico Hoerner left the game with left sided neck tightness.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) May 1, 2026

Here’s what Craig Counsell had to say after the game:

"It may be a day or two, but I think it'll be fine after that."

Craig Counsell provides an update on Nico Hoerner after he exited today's game with left-sided neck tightness. https://t.co/y4pZtzuAGZpic.twitter.com/fckVX7ALzJ

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 1, 2026

Fortunately, it doesn’t sound too serious, and that’s good news.

The D-backs got a run back in the third and the Cubs put another three-spot on the board in the fourth. Kelly led off with a single and Pete Crow-Armstrong followed with a single to center. When Kelly took off for third, PCA hustled his way to second [VIDEO].

Dansby Swanson singled, scoring Kelly [VIDEO].

PCA stopped at third on that hit, but soon he too scored, on this wild pitch by Zac Gallen [VIDEO].

Swanson took second on that wild pitch and two outs later scored on this double by Bregman [VIDEO].

So the Cubs had a five-run lead after four innings. Easy peasy, right?

Of course you know baseball doesn’t work like that. I was honestly surprised Counsell sent Rea out to begin the sixth inning, given that he’d thrown 94 pitches through five. He allowed a leadoff single and then struck out Nolan Arenado.

Here’s more on Rea’s outing [VIDEO].

That brought Ryan Rolison into the game. Rolison, as you know, had thrown pretty well so far as a Cub.

Not in this game, though. Rolison walked the first man he faced and that is never, ever good, especially when there’s a runner already on base.

Then Jorge Barrosa hit about the craziest double you will ever see [VIDEO].

It appeared Bregman thought the ball was going to roll foul, which it did not. What I didn’t understand is why he didn’t just pick the ball up and step on third base. That might have killed the D-backs inning right there. Instead, a run scored to make it 6-2 and the next hitter, Geraldo Perdomo, smashed a three-run homer into the basket in left and just like that, it’s a one-run game.

Rolison allowed another single and then struck out the next two D-backs to end the inning.

After that the bullpens for both teams slammed the door. The last 11 Cubs went down in order, one of them on this really nice play by Tim Tawa on a line drive by Bregman in the seventh [VIDEO].

That ball looked like an easy double, it was smacked hard and into the corner tailing away from the fielder. A tip o’ the cap to Tawa.

But the Cubs bullpen was just as stingy. Maton retired the side 1-2-3 in the seventh, two by strikeout, on only 11 pitches. That’s the guy the Cubs thought they were getting when they signed him. If he can keep this up that’s a huge boost to the pen.

Jacob Webb got the D-backs in order in the eighth and I was reasonably sure Counsell would call on Hoby Milner to close things out, as two left-handed hitters were due up. But Webb came out for the ninth and when the bullpen got up it was Corbin Martin warming up, not Milner.

Webb walked the leadoff hitter, Vargas, in the ninth. Maybe that was better than another hit, Vargas went 4-for-4. He’s having himself quite the year so far. But Webb settled down and struck out Corbin Carroll, got pinch-hitter Ketel Marte to hit into a force play, and then faced Gabriel Moreno.

Webb struck out Moreno to end the game [VIDEO].

This is what Counsell has preached all year — that the “next guy up” has to do his job, injuries or no, this team needs contributions from all 26 men on the roster. In getting solid outings from Maton and Webb, the Cubs might have finally gotten the bullpen to reach some equilibrium. Good stuff.

Here are some postgame remarks from Busch [VIDEO].

With the win, the Cubs moved to within half a game of the Reds for first place in the NL Central, pending the result of the Reds/Pirates game this evening. Meanwhile, the Cubs will go for the series win Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and Ryne Nelson goes for the D-backs. Game time is again 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.

This is not the first time the Nats have come back home with a lot of momentum following a successful road trip. They will look to actually keep the good times rolling at home this time. The Nats are 3-10 at home, a record they are desperate to improve. However, the Brewers will want another crack at the Nats after they were swept by the Nationals in Milwaukee.

There is one fairly big surprise in this Nats lineup. Curtis Mead is hitting third despite facing a right handed pitcher. Blake Butera liked the matchup and wanted to ride the hot hand in Mead. He will be at first while Luis Garcia Jr. is at DH. Jorbit Vivas will be at second, while Brady House is at third. Drew Millas remains behind the plate. Jake Irvin will be on the hill for his second start against the Brewers.

🫡

→ https://t.co/iUBDqlACVspic.twitter.com/ATwFdORWfA

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 1, 2026

The Brewers are turning to their flame throwing ace Jacob Misiorowski in the one. The Miz is one of the game’s premier strikeout artists, but he can be erratic at times. With Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio out of the lineup, the Brewers lineup does not look as fearsome. However, it still features the likes of William Contreras and Brice Turang.

📍 Washington

📺: https://t.co/eycfmE2vgm
📻: WTMJ#ThisIsMyCrew  x @NicoletLawpic.twitter.com/l85eZGtS3t

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 1, 2026

Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV and Fox 5 WTTG

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

The Nats have had a ton of success on the road this year, but it has been a different story at home. They will look to change that against the Brewers, a team they swept on the road. It will be tough with the Miz on the mound, but this offense has proven they can produce. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

I know we’re all baseball fans here but I’m not sure Boston is on the edge of its seat for this game at Fenway tonight and more so for a puck drop across town. If you’re here with us, we thank you tremendously! We do have an MLB debut for Jake Bennett!

⚾️ First Pitch: 7:10pm — Fenway Park, Boston, MA

📺 TV: NESN+

📻 Radio: WEEI

Back home in the Fenway Greens. pic.twitter.com/sYwkYHmOIv

— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 1, 2026

New city, new series!

⚾️: 6:10pm CST
📺: @SpaceCityHN | @peacock
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 & 740 AM | Spanish: 102.9 HD2#ChaseTheFight x @reliantenergypic.twitter.com/vU4Q32r315

— Houston Astros (@astros) May 1, 2026

San Diego Padres president of baseball operations/general manager A.J. Preller signed shortstop Xander Bogaerts to an 11-year/$280 million contract on Dec. 9, 2022. He had a storied career with the Boston Red Sox before becoming a free agent and signing with San Diego. With Boston he won five Silver Slugger awards, was an All-Star four times and won the World Series twice. Padres fans were hoping that the Bogaerts who played for the Friars would be that same guy. Unfortunately, a series of injuries has interrupted all of his previous seasons prior to this one.

2023-2025 with the Padres

In 2023, Bogaerts had a recurrence of a wrist injury that had bothered him in the past and it plagued him for at least half of the season. He also had a calf injury toward the end of the season. He played in 155 games and hit .285 with a .790 OPS. His lowest season numbers in six seasons. His 19 home runs were consistent with his home runs totals his last two seasons in Boston. His best season was 2019 when Bogaerts hit 33 home runs and 117 RBI. He only had 58 RBI in 2023.

In 2024, Bogaerts played in 111 games due to a shoulder injury and hit .264 with a .688 OPS. His home run total dropped from 19 to 11 and RBI from 58 to 44. His arm strength was down from previous seasons, probably secondary to the injury. It should also be noted that Bogaerts played 85 games at second base rather than shortstop. Although his defense was average at best, the biggest issues were offensive.

In 2025, Bogaerts continued to have issues with his shoulder and also sustained hamstring and foot injuries that limited him to 136 games. His average was .263 with a somewhat improved OPS of .719. All still well below what was his normal for the past several years of his time with the Red Sox.

He again had 11 home runs with 53 RBI. His bat speed is up while his arm strength is improved despite still recovering from shoulder issues.The drop in power and production was the subject of many discussions among Padres fans and local media. Bogaerts has a superstar contract but was not delivering anything close to superstar production.

Defensively, Bogaerts has always had above average range but his injuries affected his throwing ability and he frequently bounced throws from the shortstop position. He did go from 15th percentile in arm strength in 2024 to 31st percentile in 2025. 

Bogaerts in 2026

In 29 games and 109 at-bats, Bogaerts is hitting .275/.352/.431 with a .783 OPS. He has five homers, leading the team, and 17 RBI (one behind Ramon Laureano). Bogaerts has walked 13 times with 18 strikeouts. His expected offensive numbers (per Baseball Savant) show that he has been somewhat unlucky and should have better stats (.288 average and .458 slug).. He also has the lowest K-rate (13%) in his career. Bogaerts has the best walk rate of his career (10.7%) so far.

Since becoming a Padre there has been an unexpected development in his career, a change in his ability to steal bases. 

Prior to 2023, Bogaerts never had more than 15 stolen bases in his time in Boston. Since joining the Friars, Bogaerts has 19/22, 13/16 and 20/22 steals respectively. In 29 games so far in 2026, he has three stolen bags without being caught.

Xander Bogaerts numbers so far this season makes him one of the 4 top offensive players for the Padres. He is the best performing of the regular starters with only Luis Campusano, Miguel Andujar and Ty France having a better batting average. Ramon Laureano comes closest with a .762 OPS and he has one more home run.

If we continue to see this version of Bogaerts for the majority of the season, it will undoubtedly add to the success of an currently underperforming offense that is still finding ways to win.

The ability to stay healthy and stay on the field will play a big role. Manager Craig Stammen has shown a determined intention to get his players regular rest and that could be a major factory in keeping the regulars healthy and on the field.

Xander Bogaerts has been making an impression on both sides of the ball. His desire to show Padres fans what a healthy player could do brings a new appreciation for the 33-year old shortstop.

The first month of the 2026 season is in the book. The main priority for the San Diego Padres is still rectifying their starting rotation. Injuries have made it impossible to figure out the rotation beyond Michael King and Randy Vasquez in the top two spots.

The next order of business is deciding the future of Walker Buehler, German Marquez, and, to a lesser extent, Matt Waldron. None of them has been consistent at all to claim the third starter role and complement King and Vasquez.

Performance does matter.

A Canning and Giolito sighting could be coming to Petco Park

With the order of the rotation still up for grabs, the front office has some sorting out to do. Reinforcements like Griffin Canning and Lucas Giolito are working their way back to the majors.

Canning is close to making his season debut after rehabbing a ruptured left Achilles tendon suffered last June. He has made four starts with the Padres Triple-A affiliate, El Paso Chihuahuas. 

Canning has a 1-1 record with a 3.60 ERA. He has struck out 18 batters in 15 innings pitched. Circle the second week of May for him to become a viable starting-pitching option.

Newly signed Lucas Giolito will need approximately 25 days to get his arm and body ready to pitch in the majors. All of Giolito’s training will take place with the Friars Single-A affiliate, Lake Elsinore Storm. 

In his first start, he exited the contest after being hit by a comebacker to the mound. Giolito is reported to be fine with a bruised pitching hand and will make his next start. Before Giolito left the game, his velocity was between 90 and 91 mph, which was lower than expected but not alarming. The Friar Faithful can expect him to be available to start by the third week in May.

Canning and Giolito offer plenty of value in a starter role because of their high-end pitching repertoire when healthy. The Friars do not need them to be elite with an under 1.00 WHIP, but each must stay consistent on the mound to keep the Padres close in every game.

Will a starter move to pen?

The decision on who stays or leaves the organization may hinge on which pitcher can work out of the bullpen. The candidate must be able to warm up quickly and pitch successfully in situational baseball. 

Their role is to go against only two or three hitters in an opposing lineup, but recording those outs could be the difference in a victory. Buehler, Marquez, and Waldron have all worked out of the bullpen at some point in their major league career, but are primarily known as starting pitchers. 

The one negative with this possible move is that none of them throw a high-90s pitching arsenal, which is essential to becoming an effective reliever. 

The rotation will remain in order at least through the interim. It gives Marquez and Buehler another chance to state their case to remain on the roster. Padres manager Craig Stammen wants to be put in a tough situation because his starting pitchers are performing well.

Ultimately, performance on the mound will dictate whether the starting rotation needs changes. The Padres need more consistent starting pitching to remain in contention for a postseason berth.

Next month could usher in a different look for the rotation. 

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Following an ugly 10–17 start to the season for the Boston Red Sox, manager Alex Cora and his staff were dismissed on April 25.

The Red Sox offense has dried up in 2026, ranking 24th in runs per game as of May 1. They also sit 29th in wRC+ and 28th in wOBA. 

This is a lineup averaging 0.83 fewer runs per game year-over-year — the worst drop in MLB.

Conspiracy Hour🕵️‍♂️

There are a few theories as to why the bats have gone cold, and some point to a lost edge tied to the Red Sox's base coaches.

Buster Olney brought this to light earlier this week, suggesting Boston’s dip in run production might be correlated to the recent implementation of coaches’ box rules:

One of the interesting theories about the struggling Red Sox offense in rival front offices is that Boston has been impacted significantly by the enforcement of the coaching boxes. The Red Sox were regarded by some other teams as being extraordinary at ascertaining grips/relaying…

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) April 30, 2026

The theory suggests that prior to 2026, Red Sox coaches were relaying signs to hitters, taking advantage of loose enforcement around the coaches’ box. Reading pitcher grips and passing that information along would provide a meaningful edge.

Baseball, more than any sport, rewards those edges — margins are tight, and anything within the rules gets exploited. With MLB now enforcing coach positioning more strictly, that edge may be gone, and the offensive drop-off reflects it.

Cora's Checkered History🗑️

The timing isn’t exactly shocking. Cora was the bench coach for the Houston Astros during the 2017 trash can scandal, and the Red Sox were also tied to a sign-stealing controversy involving Apple Watches that same year.

Yahoo’s Zach Coe also referenced a 2025 incident between the Los Angeles Angels and Red Sox, where tensions flared involving then first-base coach José David Flores, with sources suggesting sign-stealing concerns.

It adds context when you consider why a left-handed pitcher like Tyler Anderson would be that upset with a first-base coach:

Coaches and players chirping before the game. Everything is going great at Fenway. pic.twitter.com/TAMQZUvjYC

— Section 10 Podcast (@Section10Pod) June 4, 2025

Call it bending the rules or finding an edge, but Cora might be the most creative manager at increasing expected value.

However, like any good bettor, Cora knows those edges aren’t infinite, and he is running out of outs.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.