Category: MLB

Detroit Tigers (12-10) vs. Boston Red Sox (8-13)

Time/Place: 11:10 a.m., Fenway Park
SB Nation Site: Over the Monster
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Pitching Matchup: RHP Jack Flaherty (0-1, 4.05 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (2-1, 4.43 ERA)

The Nationals were aggressive with their assignment of Devin Fitz-Gerald this season, sending the 20-year-old infielder straight to High A Wilmington after just 10 games at Low A in 2025 with the Rangers. So far through 13 games, the youngster from the MacKenzie Gore trade has been even better than advertised, hitting .333 with a .982 OPS and 2 home runs, even swiping 10 bags in the process. The switch-hitting youngster hasn’t looked overmatched at all and is actually reaching even higher highs than he achieved in 2025.

The numbers Fitz-Gerald is putting up at High A for his age aren’t unprecedented, but they are rare. Only 2 other 20-year-olds also currently have at least a 180 wRC+, those being Caleb Bonemor of the White Sox and Wyatt Sanford of the Pirates, and Fitz-Gerald has the cleanest batted ball profile of the three. In 2025, only 3 20-year-olds with at least 60 plate appearances had a 180 wRC+ or higher at High A; George Lombard Jr., a Yankees shortstop prospect and a consensus top 50 prospect; Josue Briceno, a Tigers catching prospect and top 50 prospect; and Kevin McGonigle, the Tigers’ major league shortstop and a consensus top 2 prospect in baseball.

The prospect I want to compare Fitz-Gerald to for now is McGongile, who fast-tracked his way through the minor leagues last season and cracked the Tigers’ big league roster in 2026, where he is raking to the tune of a .892 OPS. McGonigle wasn’t just the best 20-year-old at High A in 2025; he was the best hitter period, with his 215 wRC+ in 171 plate appearances leading all High A hitters. His swing decisions were elite, with a 95th percentile whiff rate, 98th-percentile strikeout rate, and 74th-percentile walk rate, and the result was a 100th-percentile wOBA of .469.

In regard to Fitz-Gerald, while he isn’t quite at McGonigle level as of now, he isn’t far off either. His swing decisions have also been great, with an 85th-percentile whiff rate, 95th-percentile strikeout rate, and 65th-percentile walk rate, resulting in an 88th-percentile wOBA of .425. Both Fitz-Gerald and McGonigle have patient plate approaches, with Fitz-Gerald swinging 42% of the time at High A and McGonigle 46%, and the result is both taking their fair share of walks and doing damage when they get their pitches.

The area Fitz-Gerald lags behind McGonigle is in the power department, where his .185 ISO is a sizable ways away from McGonigle’s .276 ISO at High A. While we won’t get a look at the full sample of exit velocities for Fitz-Gerald until he hits a level where it is provided publicly, the issue could also stem from him not pulling enough of his fly balls quite yet, as his 7.5 pulled flyball% is in the 17th-percentile of High A hitters. Thankfully, this is a coachable issue, and once he starts tapping into his pullside power, he is going to be an even more dangerous hitter than he is right now.

While it would be unfair to place Kevin McGonigle’s level of expectations on Devin Fitz-Gerald at the moment, it is fair to say he should start getting some of the same love as guys like McGonigle, Lombard, and Briceno soon on prospect publications, as he is making a joke out of High A pitching at the moment.

While the MacKenzie Gore deal was criticised at the time for netting the Nationals 0 top 100 prospects, it now appears likely two prospects from that deal, Gavin Fien and Devin Fitz-Gerald, will be on top 100 lists, with outfielder Yeremy Cabrera making a case to appear on it as well.

There are some weeks where finding the three players that played well is rather difficult. With the Phillies, this is one of those weeks. Nothing went right, but on we shall march.

Three up

Cristopher Sanchez – Man, when your defense lets you down, it can make a good week look a whole lot worse. The Saturday matchup of Sanchez and Chris Sale looked really good on paper and on the mound, but the runs given up by Sanchez were because of errors and bleeders. He was excellent, but the Phillies still lost since they also can’t score runs right now. Needless to say, Sanchez is still an Ace.

Bryce Harper – When Harper is in the middle of one of his hot streaks, the team should be winning games. We’ve seen how cold he gets and how the team responds, so the fact that they are losing while he’s hitting the ball is an issue.

Kyle Schwarber – Three home runs in a week is a good week! It’s just too bad that he is striking out so, so much that it’s becoming somewhat alarming. I saw somewhere that someone complained of the strikeouts and how the Phillies probably have buyer’s remorse because of it, to which I say “Poppycock!” Imagine how this offense might look if they didn’t have his power.

Three down

Jesus Luzardo – Luzardo has been pretty awful this season, something that is noticeable once you consider he signed a big money extension prior to the season. You still give him that contract ten times out of ten, knowing he’ll probably right the ship soon enough, but he’s been way too hittable with his stuff so far. There’s a lot of red on his Savant page right now, so alarm bells should be quieted a bit, but this was a bad start for him this week.

Bryson Stott – Alec Bohm has been the target of the fanbase’s ire this year, rightfully so, but Stott has been rough lately. His week this week was mostly “eh”, but his season is lacking. There is little on base ability and almost to no power coming from his offensive production. I’ve been on the “extend Bryson Stott” train for a while, but that looks like it might be losing some steam.

Alec Bohm – What else is there to say? He’s bad. The legal issues he is in right now with his parents has to be having some kind of impact on his ability to prepare to play baseball, and that is something that would lead anyone to be in a bad headspace, but the production has to be pick up lest the team make a more significant change that just “giving him a breather”.

There’s no sugarcoating it: the Yankees’ bullpen has looked real shaky to start the year. As a collective unit, their 4.22 ERA ranks 17th in MLB through Saturday’s action, and only four teams have blown more saves than their five. Exacerbating the issue is that their two late-inning options—David Bednar and Camilo Doval—have been only so reliable, with Doval in particular sporting an unsightly 7.56 ERA.

Granted, the bullpen wasn’t exactly considered a strength coming into the year, but there were reasons for optimism; full seasons from Bednar and Doval, along with the departures of the scuffling Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, were supposed to stabilize the bullpen. The Yankees’ front office talked a big game about the 2025 Trade Deadline haul standing in for their offseason and an explanation for why they made no additions beyond the already-dismissed (and unused) Cade Winquest. However, things have not played out how they projected, and the flakiness of the relief corps was recently on full display against the Rays and Angels.

Despite this, all hope is not lost. While the surface results are discouraging, a look under the hood reveals that the bullpen isn’t pitching all that badly. Doval and Jake Bird may be running ERAs over 7.00 just now, but they’ve also been running into some bad fortune. The same can be said of Bednar, whose peripherals are actually indicative of an elite reliever in his prime. And on the bright side, the other relief options, including Tim Hill, Brent Headrick, and Fernando Cruz, are performing well. All in all, there’s enough talent here to keep the Yankees’ bullpen from becoming a weakness.

First, let’s take a closer look at Doval. The first thing that jumps out when looking at his stat line is that his ERA is nearly three full runs higher than his FIP in 8.1 innings of work. That would be cause for hope in itself, except that his FIP of 4.68 is still pretty bad. The main culprit so far has been giving up too many dingers, as Doval’s 2.2 HR/9 is by far the worst mark of his career; he was at a 0.6 HR/9 across 259.2 innings from 2022 through 2025. The dingers might have more to do with luck than any change in talent level, as his HR/FB% is an unsustainably high 22.2 percent, more than double his career mark. If we assume that Doval hasn’t suddenly become homer-prone, we can expect his ERA going forward to look more like his xFIP of 3.05.

Doval’s pitch data confirms that, ability wise, he’s the same pitcher he was in 2025. His pitch mix—a cutter and a sinker, both in the high 90s, along with a wicked high-80s slider—has remained the same, and he’s generating basically the same movement on all of them. He hasn’t been making tons of mistake pitches, either; his Meatball percentage is actually the lowest mark of his career. It’s just that, for whatever reason, opposing batters have punished his mistakes harder than ever. Will this trend continue? I don’t know, but Doval’s track record suggests that if he’s doing what he always does, the on-field results are going to trend upwards. I’d say it’s too early to be that worried about his performance.

With Bird, on the other hand, I understand the apprehension — and so, it seems, do the Yankees, given his recent demotion. Bird lacks Doval’s track record, and his recent results have been especially bad; the less said about his disastrous, brief run with the 2025 Yankees, the better. However, everything about Bird’s 2026 stat line suggests that he’s been more unlucky rather than outright bad. He has a 28.1-percent strikeout rate against a 3.1-percent walk rate, and he’s given up only one home run so far, good enough for a sterling 3.27 FIP. The reason why his ERA is a full four runs higher than that? A .400 BABIP and a 52.1-percent LOB rate, both aberrant and likely to normalize going forward.

Now, I’m not advocating for Aaron Boone to give Bird just as long a leash as Doval. There’s a reason why the Yankees deemed him to be the most expendable in the bullpen when they needed a fresh arm, sending him down on April 14th. But it would be a mistake to cut him outright. There’s something within Bird’s profile that’s compelling, and the Yankees wouldn’t have dealt for him last year if that wasn’t the case. Bird has the upside to be a dependable middle-inning option, and it’s worth finding out if he could actually become one; his peripheral numbers so far definitely suggest that he can.

Compared to Bird and Doval, Bednar is a much easier sell. While his ERA sits at a mediocre 4.15, basically everything else on his FanGraphs page is pristine. His K-rate sits at a healthy 28.6 percent, and he has yet to allow a single homer. Those two factors have allowed Bednar to post a spectacular 2.08 FIP despite a career-high BB rate (11.9%). The cause of his middling ERA is obvious: a .440 BABIP allowed, which is impossibly high for even the most hapless relievers. And no, Bednar isn’t getting hit hard; his hard contact rate is just 16 percent, less than half of the MLB average, and he hasn’t given up a single Barrel. Mark my words: El Oso will be just fine.

Perhaps the most encouraging feature of this year’s bullpen is that the other contributors have done quite well so far. Brent Headrick is pitching like an elite relief option, and Tim Hill continues to be ruthlessly efficient and always dependable. Fernando Cruz is walking too many guys, but he’s missing enough bats to not get burned, and even Paul Blackburn has been quietly solid in handling low-leverage work. Sure, Ryan Yarborough, Yerry De los Santos, and Angel Chivilli all project to be somewhere between bad and terrible, but no team can boast an entire bullpen’s worth of lockdown relievers. (Just ask the 2025 Dodgers.)

The Yankees have enough good stuff going on here to have an above average relief corps. They may never be as intimidating as the bullpens of those mid-to-late 2010s Yankees squads of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, but by and large, they’ll probably be good enough to get the job done.

Tension, injuries, and tough results — the Royals are dealing with more than just what’s happening on the field.

In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, hosts Jacob Milham and Jeremy “Hokius” Greco break down a challenging stretch for the Kansas City Royals, highlighted by clubhouse questions following Salvador Perez’s social media activity and what it may signal about team dynamics. The discussion explores leadership, communication, and how off-field narratives can impact performance during a difficult start to the season.

On the field, the hosts analyze the Royals’ 7–14 start, digging into roster changes, injury setbacks to key contributors like James McArthur and Bailey Falter, and the continued search for consistency. Despite the struggles, there are bright spots, including encouraging offensive progress from rookies Carter Jensen and Jack Caglianone, along with deeper dives into player metrics like exit velocity and overall development trends.

Looking ahead, Jacob and Jeremy evaluate the team’s season outlook, potential trade scenarios, and what a path forward could realistically look like for Kansas City. The episode also touches on MLB streaming frustrations, highlighting how fan experience is being impacted off the field, and includes a thoughtful discussion on mental health and leadership in professional sports.

Blending honest analysis, context, and perspective, this episode gives Royals fans a clear-eyed view of where the team stands — and what comes next.

Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

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– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social

Twitter / X
– Podcast: @RoyalRundownPod

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (12-8) won 7-4 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land jumped out to an early lead getting a Perez RBI single in the first and Price solo HR in the 2nd inning. Bielak got the start and allowed 1 run over 2.1 innings. The offense added on with an Alexander RBI double in the 5th and Price RBI single in the 7th. In the 8th, the Bees tied the game at 4 forcing extra innings. In the 10th, the offense picked up 3 runs and Munoz threw a scoreless inning as Sugar Land won 7-4.

Note: Santa has a 1.13 ERA this season.

• CJ Alexander, RF: 3-for-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Carlos Perez, DH: 1-for-5, RBI
• Cavan Biggio, 1B: 1-for-4, R, BB
• Collin Price, C: 2-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI
• Daniel Johnson, CF: 1-for-5, R, RBI
• Riley Unroe, SS: 1-for-4, 2B, BB
• Jax Biggers, 2B: 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI

• Brandon Bielak, RHP: 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Joey Mancini, RHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• Amos Willingham, RHP: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Logan VanWey, RHP: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (WIN)
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K (SAVE)

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (9-6) won 7-3 (BOX SCORE)

Dombroski started for the Hooks but struggled allowing 3 runs over 2.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the second inning on a Baez sac fly. In the 6th, they had a huge inning scoring 6 runs on a Baez sac fly, Bush RBI single, Ferreras walk, Guillemette walk, Encarnacion RBI single and a run scoring on an error. The pen was great closing out the 7-3 win.

Note: Bush is hitting .324 this season.

• Will Bush, DH: 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Trevor Austin, 3B: 0-for-3, R, BB
• Pascanel Ferreras, SS: 0-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Garret Guillemette, C: 0-for-4, RBI, BB
• Yamal Encarnacion, CF: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2B, RBI, SB
• Tyler Whitaker, RF: 1-for-1, R, 3 BB
• Luis Baez, LF: 0-for-3, 2 RBI

• Trey Dombroski, LHP: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• Julio Rodriguez, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Nic Swanson, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (WIN)
• Alex Santos, RHP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• Railin Perez, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (4-11) lost 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville jumped out to an early lead scoring 3 runs in the first inning on a Schiavone RBI double, Hernandez RBI single and Walker RBI single. DeVos got the start and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs, 1 earned. The offense picked up another run in the 6th on a Hernandez RBI single. Ogando struggled out of the pen allowing 5 runs as the Dash took the lead. The offense got one in the 9th but it wasn’t enough as Asheville fell 8-5.

Note: C. Hernandez is hitting .452 this season.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB
• Jason Schiavone, C: 1-for-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Cesar Hernandez, DH: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI
• Kyle Walker, 2B: 2-for-4, SB
• Narbe Cruz, SS: 1-for-3, 2B, BB
• Caden Powell, LF: 1-for-3, R, BB
• Alberto Hernandez, 3B: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI

• Nolan DeVos, RHP: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
• Joan Ogando, RHP: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
• Eurys Martich, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Raimy Rodriguez, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (3-12) lost 12-5 (BOX SCORE)

The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning on a Huezo RBI double. Aguilar got the start but struggled allowing 4 runs over 3 innings. The pen continued to struggled with Smith and Wells allowing another 8 runs. The offense got a few back with a run on a wild pitch in the 5th and a Forrester RBI single in the 6th. In the 7th, Huezo added a 2 run home run but it wasn’t enough as Fayetteville fell 12-5.

Note: Huezo has a .866 OPS this season.

• Anthony Huezo, RF: 2-for-5, R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
• German Ramirez, SS: 1-for-4, R
• Nehomar Ochoa, 1B: 2-for-2, R, BB
• Brandon Forrester, 2B: 1-for-2, RBI, 2 BB, SB

• Luis Aguilar, RHP: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Aubrey Smith, RHP: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Jackson Wells, RHP: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• Leomar Rosario, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: OFF

CC: OFF

AV: OFF

FV: OFF

Morning A’s fans!

We had a bit of a rough weekend as the Athletics dropped two of three to the Chicago White Sox. That’s a bit embarressing considering their poor roster but it’s a good remind that anything can happen in baseball. All the A’s can do now is turn the page and look ahead and prepare for tonight’s contest.

They’re back on the road for another series in a different city. This time they’re headed to Seattle to take on the division-rival Mariners for three games. Seattle is off to a slow start so far this year with just a 10-13 record so far that places them fourth in the division. The M’s were a favorite pick for lots of baseball people to win the division for the second straight season but they’re not going to be handed the division. They came into this year with a target on their backs.

Tonight’s series kicks off with a matchup between J.T. Ginn and Emerson Hancock. Both young right-handed pitchers, Ginn is coming off a pair of quality starts since joining the rotation and he’d like to keep that roll going. Hancock meanwhile is off to a great start for the Mariners as he’s sporting a 2.28 ERA through his first four outings. Not an easy matchup for the A’s offense but it won’t be getting much easier during the rest of the series.

Tuesday will see Jacob Lopez get the ball for his fifth start. The left-hander has struggled so far this season especially with his control. The rest of the starting rotation is mostly pulling their weight and one has to wonder how long the team will keep trotting Lopez out there if these control problems persist. A big start here would go a long way towards assuaging any concerns the coaching staff may be developing for their lefty. Meanwhile Seattle will send Luis Castillo to the mound for his fifth start as well. The veteran right-hander got knocked around hard a couple outings back that has skewed his ERA but he’s generally performed the way he usually does so far. The A’s have seen plenty of Castillo over the years.

And wrapping the series up on Wednesday afternoon will be a matchup between right-hander Aaron Civale and Logan Gilbert. Civale, signed to a one-year deal to help stabilize the backend of the rotation, has done that and then some so far in his first season with the A’s, pitching to a 3.54 ERA through four starts. He got knocked around last time out though, allowing 11 hits to the White Sox in an eventual loss, so he’ll be looking to get back on track with a strong outing on Wednesday. Gilbert meanwhile is off to a so-so start to his season with a 4.03 ERA so far, but he’s done well in limiting walks with just five free passes in five starts. The A’s will need to take advantage of those when they draw them.

Could be a tough series, but the A’s need a bounce back after this weekend. Other than that, game is at 6:40 tonight. Have a great week everyone.

A’s Coverage:

• Do-Overs For (Almost) Everyone In The AL West
• A’s drop series to White Sox
• Bullpen and Wind Sink A’s Shot at Series Win
• A’s out-hit Rangers in 6-5 victory
• Today Is A Day Of Special Meaning — For More Than One Reason
• Denzel and Co. add to highlight reel as A’s defense turns away Rangers
• A’s top prospect Leo De Vries pops his first two homers of the season at Double-A
• Armchair 101: The Challenge Of Judging Decisions In Real Time
• AN Exclusive: Blogfather Observes The Wild Denzelope In Its Natural Habitat
• AN Exclusive: Blogfather Toes The Rubber With Pitching Coach Scott Emerson
• AN Exclusive: Blogfather Catches Up With Starting Pitcher Jacob Lopez

MLB News and Interest:

• Ohtani’s on-base streak reaches 51 straight games
• ‘Gonna get loud’: Mets head home as skid hits 11
• Zack Wheeler On Track For Late April Return
• Aaron Boone: Cole needs more rehab outings
• Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier Projected To Return In 5-7 Weeks
• Guardians’ Austin Hedges gets engaged on field following game
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Thoughts?

Another top prospect to consider:

The Milwaukee Brewers are headed back to the Midwest, as they’ll take on the Tigers in Detroit for three games beginning Tuesday evening. The Crew, fresh off a four-game win streak that was snapped Sunday in Miami, will look to get back to their winning ways. They sit at 12-9 on the season but tied at the bottom of a deep NL Central, with all five teams separated by just 1.5 games.

The Tigers, at 12-10 entering Monday’s series finale against the Red Sox, started off ice cold but have bounced back nicely the last week-plus, rattling off six straight wins against the Marlins and Royals before starting the Boston series with a loss but winning on both Saturday and Sunday.

Milwaukee’s injured list features some prominent players, including outfielders Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich, as well as first baseman Andrew Vaughn. Chourio and Vaughn are both expected to return in May, with Yelich likely out until later in the month. Starter Quinn Priester and relievers Jared Koenig, Rob Zastryzny, and Craig Yoho are also shelved. Priester is looking to return in May as he’s likely to ramp up on a rehab assignment this week, while Yoho and Zastryzny could be back soon. Koenig’s injury is likely the biggest concern, as he is dealing with a UCL sprain that, even if it does heal without surgery, will keep him out until mid-May at the earliest.

The Tigers also find themselves without several well-known names. Right-hander Reese Olson is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in February, and Jackson Jobe is out until midseason after getting Tommy John surgery last summer. Veteran righty Justin Verlander is out until late April with hip inflammation, and relievers Troy Melton, Bailey Horn, and Beau Brieske are also out. Utility infielder Zach McKinstry just went on the injured list over the weekend, outfielder Parker Meadows is out until at least midseason after an outfield collision that resulted in a concussion, five stitches, and an arm fracture, and shortstop Trey Sweeney is out indefinitely with a shoulder strain.

The Brewer offense is led by Brice Turang and William Contreras, both of whom are hitting .300 early in the season. Turang has four homers, five doubles, 14 RBIs, 19 runs, and six steals, while Contreras adds two homers, six doubles, 11 RBIs, and 10 runs. Garrett Mitchell, Jake Bauers, Brandon Lockridge, and Gary Sánchez have also gotten out to solid starts, but that’s about it for Milwaukee’s offense; Sal Frelick, Luis Rengifo, David Hamilton, Luis Matos, Joey Ortiz, and Blake Perkins have all struggled in the early going. Greg Jones is the last piece of the puzzle, but with recent news of Tyler Black being activated from the IL at Triple-A Nashville, I would expect he won’t be in a Brewer uniform much longer. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .232/.339/.366 (.705 OPS ranks 14th), with 19 homers, 106 runs, and 33 steals.

Dillon Dingler leads the Tiger offense with five homers this season, as he’s hitting .302/.380/.603 with 18 RBIs and 10 runs over 19 games. Rookie Kevin McGonigle leads the team with 24 hits, as he’s slashing .312/.411/.481 through 21 games. Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson, Javier Báez, Colt Keith, and Gleyber Torres round out the regulars. Depth pieces for Detroit include Jake Rogers, Hao-Yu Lee, Jahmai Jones, Matt Vierling, and Wenceel Pérez. As a team, the Tigers are hitting .243/.324/.380 (.704 OPS ranks 15th), with 17 homers, 94 runs, and seven steals.

Milwaukee’s bullpen is anchored by Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Abner Uribe, Angel Zerpa, and Trevor Megill. All but Megill have at least 10 appearances this season, with Ashby and Anderson leading the way with 11 appearances each. Ashby also has a team-best five wins, with 22 strikeouts over 14 innings and a 3.21 ERA. Anderson’s 3.18 ERA and Hall’s 2.79 ERA lead the bullpen, while Uribe, Zerpa, and Megill have all had their share of slip-ups thus far. Jake Woodford and Carlos Rodriguez round out the Brewer bullpen. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.85 team ERA (11th), including a 3.67 starter ERA (11th) and a 4.07 bullpen ERA (16th). They’ve struck out 189 batters (15th) over 187 innings.

Kyle Finnegan leads the Detroit bullpen with 10 appearances this season, as he’s allowed no runs and struck out four over 10 innings. Will Vest also has 10 appearances, though he’s struggled to a 5.00 ERA (six runs allowed, five earned) over nine innings, striking out 11. Tyler Holton has given up just one run in 9 1/3 innings, and Kenley Jansen remains one of the better closers in the league, with one run allowed and five saves in six opportunities across 5 2/3 innings. Connor Seabold and Brant Hurter have also been solid in limited appearances, with Enmanuel De Jesus and Drew Anderson rounding things out. As a staff, the Tigers have a 3.27 team ERA (fourth), including a 3.29 starter ERA (seventh) and a 3.24 bullpen ERA (seventh). They’ve struck out 176 batters (22nd) over 189 2/3 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Tuesday, April 21 @ 5:40 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (1-1, 3.07 ERA, 4.08 FIP) vs. RHP Keider Montero (1-1, 3.31 ERA, 1.66 FIP)

Harrison, who skipped his last start due to a lingering issue from a fall he took in his last outing, last appeared on Saturday, April 11 against the Nationals. He went 4 1/3 innings in that one, allowing two runs and striking out one as he took the loss for the first time this season. He’ll look to bounce back against Detroit. His only appearance against the Tigers came last September while with the Red Sox, when he went just three innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six in a game Boston ultimately came back to win.

Montero, 25, is in his third MLB season, all with the Tigers. Through three starts, he’s put up the best numbers of his career, with a 3.31 ERA and 1.66 FIP over 16 1/3 innings. He’s struck out 15 and allowed seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits and two walks, notably allowing no homers (which means he’s due — he allowed 1.6 HR/9 over his first two seasons). Montero’s last start was his worst on the young season, as he allowed four runs and struck out five over six innings against the Royals. He made a start against Milwaukee last season, taking the loss as he went five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk but striking out eight.

Wednesday, April 22 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Chad Patrick (1-0, 0.95 ERA, 3.97 FIP) vs. RHP Casey Mize (1-1, 2.78 ERA, 3.13 FIP)

Patrick, who continues to work his magic as his ERA outpaces his FIP by more than three runs, has had a great start to the year. Through 19 innings over four appearances, he’s allowed just two earned runs, striking out nine as he’s managed to scatter 15 hits and seven walks. His last appearance came on Wednesday against the Blue Jays, when he went a season-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits and a pair of walks, striking out two. This marks his first career appearance against Detroit.

Mize, the No. 1 overall pick back in 2018, struggled to begin his career but turned in his best season yet last year, with a 3.87 ERA, 3.89 FIP, and 139 strikeouts over 149 innings as he earned his first All-Star selection. Through four starts this season, he has a 2.78 ERA, 3.13 FIP, and 25 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings. His last appearance came Friday against the Red Sox, when he went 6 2/3 scoreless with seven strikeouts. Mize’s only appearance against Milwaukee came in June 2024, when he took the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits and a pair of walks over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out just one batter in that one.

Thursday, April 23 @ 12:10 p.m.: RHP Brandon Sproat (0-1, 6.88 ERA, 6.25 FIP) vs. LHP Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.08 ERA, 2.07 FIP)

Sproat, who got out to a dismal start as his ERA sat at 14.85 through two appearances, has bounced back nicely in his last two outings. He first went 3 2/3 innings in relief against the Nationals (in that same game started by Harrison), allowing one run on four hits and three walks, striking out three. He then turned his best appearance as a Brewer thus far, allowing one run on four hits and a walk, striking out six against the Blue Jays on Thursday. Still looking for his first career win, he’ll look to do so against the Tigers in his first career appearance against them this week.

Skubal, 29, has rapidly become one of the best pitchers in baseball over the last couple of seasons. The two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner has made five starts this season, with a 2.08 ERA, 2.07 FIP, and 33 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings. He’s won each of his last two starts against the Marlins and Red Sox, combining for 12 2/3 innings with two runs allowed and 17 strikeouts. Skubal has made two starts against Milwaukee, one in each of his Cy Young seasons. He’s picked up the wins both times, combining to go 13 2/3 innings with just one run allowed on nine hits and two walks, striking out 19.

How to Watch & Listen

Tuesday, April 21: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Wednesday, April 22: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Thursday, April 23: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Prediction

This is a tough matchup, as the Tigers are hot and they have the advantage in just about every facet. I’ll take Detroit to send Milwaukee home with a 2-1 series loss.

The Detroit Tigers, ranked second in the AL Central with a 12-10 record, face the Boston Red Sox, who are tied for last in the AL East with an 8-13 record. Boston is favored with a -135 moneyline compared to Detroit's +110. Starting pitchers are Jack Flaherty for Detroit, with a 4.05 ERA, and Sonny Gray for Boston, with a 4.43 ERA.

How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox

• Date: Monday, April 20

• Time: 11:10 a.m. ET / 8:10 a.m. PT

• Where: Fenway Park, Boston, MA

• TV Channels: NESN, Detroit SportsNet

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Detroit Tigers: 12-10 (second in AL Central)

• Boston Red Sox: 8-13 (tied for last in AL East)

Odds

• Spread: Boston Red Sox -1.5

• Moneyline: Boston Red Sox -135 / Detroit Tigers +110

• Over/Under: 8.0

Starting pitchers

Detroit Tigers: Jack Flaherty (0-1, ERA: 4.05, K: 21, WHIP: 1.40)

Boston Red Sox: Sonny Gray (2-1, ERA: 4.43, K: 11, WHIP: 1.28)

Weather: 46°F at first pitch — Sunny — Wind: 9 mph, Out To RF

Happy Marathon Monday! I keep saying it—maybe THIS is the day that kickstarts the Red Sox into gear?

⚾️ First Pitch: 11:10am ET —Fenway Park, Boston, MA

📺 TV: NESN, MLBN (out of market)

📻 Radio: WEEI

TIGERS LINEUP

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The Los Angeles Dodgers look to end a surprising two-game losing skid as they finish up a series with the Colorado Rockies on Monday night. 

Justin Wrobleski takes the ball for the Boys in Blue, while Jose Quintana counters for the home team.

I’m counting on a bounce-back for the reigning World Series champs with my Dodgers vs. Rockies predictions and MLB picks for Monday, April 20.

Who will win Dodgers vs Rockies today: Dodgers moneyline (-255)

Jose Quintana has been brutal through two starts, recording more than twice as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (three). The veteran ranks in the first percentile in xERA (8.88) and K rate (8.1%), and the second percentile in barrel rate (19.2%). 

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been the best team in the league against left-handed pitching (140 wRC+) and should positively feast at Coors Field.

Justin Wrobleski has been supremely effective, allowing a single earned run on four hits in his last 13 innings. He should limit a Colorado Rockies lineup that struggles against LHP (68 wRC+ and 0.2 BB/K). 

COVERS INTEL: Quintana has significantly outproduced his xERA in four consecutive seasons. But with a Stuff+ of 82 and pitching in the confines of hitter-friendly Coors Field, the good luck is likely a thing of the past.

Dodgers vs Rockies Over/Under pick: Over 11.5 (-105)

With temperatures in the upper 70s at Coors, the conditions are ripe for hitters to plate some runs. 

Quintana’s metrics are a disaster, and the Dodgers rake. On the other side, Worbleski’s hot start is aided by an unsustainable .154 BABIP, and his 1.6% K-BB% is concerning. 

This is the fourth game in four days, and both bullpens are taxed. Colorado has seen four relievers toss 30+ pitches in the last three days, and the Dodgers likely burned Edwin Diaz on Sunday. 

Dodgers vs Rockies odds

• Moneyline: Dodgers -255 | Rockies +210
• Run line: Dodgers -1.5 | Rockies +1.5
• Over/Under: Over 11.5 | Under 11.5

Dodgers vs Rockies trend

The Dodgers are 16-4 in their last 20 games against the Rockies. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Rockies.

How to watch Dodgers vs Rockies and game info

Dodgers vs Rockies latest injuries

Dodgers vs Rockies weather

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Another week of baseball kicks off today, starting with the 11 a.m. Patriots' Day game in Boston... and carrying right through the standard west coast matchups.

Our baseball betting experts have their best MLB picks for today based on prices at Polymarket — with our MLB best bets for April 20 keying in on a redemption spot for the scuffling Royals, Tampa Bay causing havoc on the basepaths, plus a pitching mismatch in Cleveland.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Josh Inglis: CLE ML	-113
Jon Metler: TB ML	-113
Joe Osborne: KC ML	+108

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Josh Inglis' expert pick: Guardians moneyline

Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket

The Cleveland Guardians are slight home favorites against the Astros and Spencer Arrighetti, who is making his second straight start after a call-up from Triple-A. I give the starting pitching edge to Cleveland with Slade Cecconi, but the real advantage comes in the later innings: Houston’s bullpen has been a major weakness, and one of their top arms, Bryan King, is unavailable, further thinning the group. The fair price sits closer to -120, and Cleveland should be in a strong position to take control late, especially if Arrighetti takes a step back and they get the Astros' B-bullpen.

Jon Metler's expert pick: Rays moneyline

Price: 53¢ (-113) at Polymarket

The Tampa Bay Rays are trading at 53 cents on the moneyline at Polymarket, and we have a solid edge to exploit, as I price them closer to a 57-cent favorite. I like the Rays in this matchup because they can apply significant pressure on the basepaths against Rhett Lowder, who uses an up-tempo windup and has shown command issues when dealing with baserunners. Tampa Bay can amplify that pressure with speed threats like Chandler Simpson, Cedric Mullins, and Richie Palacios — all left-handed bats facing the right-handed Lowder. If they’re able to disrupt his rhythm with stolen base attempts, it should create opportunities for the middle of the lineup, with players like Junior Caminero standing to benefit.

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Royals moneyline

Price: 48¢ (+108) at Polymarket

Solid price on the Royals today as they're entering the game on a seven-game losing streak. However, six of those losses occurred on the road — and let's not pretend like the Orioles are setting the league on fire right now. Seth Lugo has been awesome to open the season, posting a 1.48 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, and he draws a favorable matchup against a Baltimore lineup that has struggled away from Camden Yards. On the other side, Kyle Bradish has given up a lot of hard contact, contributing to Baltimore's losing three of his four starts.

More MLB best bets for today

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The Chicago Cubs just took two of three from the Philadelphia Phillies last week. Now, the teams open a four-game set at Wrigley Field tonight.

With these teams trending in opposite directions, my Phillies vs. Cubs predictions and free MLB picks have the home team reaching a season-best six-game win streak on Monday, April 20.

Who will win Phillies vs Cubs today: Cubs moneyline (-102)

The Philadelphia Phillies’ offense has hit the skids, part of the reason they’re on a five-game slide.

Philadelphia has scored two runs or fewer in four straight games, getting outscored 37-9 over the last five.

The Chicago Cubs, meanwhile, have outscored their opposition 39-13 during their five-game win streak.

Aaron Nola and Colin Rea will meet for the second straight time after both starters allowed three runs last time out. But the Cubs went to work on the Phillies’ bullpen, winning 10-4.

Expect to see much the same, as the Cubs are hitting .292 against Nola with a .904 OPS.

COVERS INTEL:Nico Hoerner has torched the Phillies this season, hitting .357 in 14 ABs, with a .929 OPS, including a home run, eight RBI and three runs.

Phillies vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Over 8 (+105)

There have been a ton of runs scored between these teams so far this season.

In each of their three meetings, one team has scored in double digits, and the Phillies and Cubs have combined to score at least 13 runs in every game.

In the last 10 head-to-head meetings, the Over has gone 6-2-2, including 4-0-2 in the last six.

Chicago hits Nola well, but the Phillies have dinged Rea too, although on a smaller sample size (41 at-bats). They’re hitting .366 against him, with a .938 OPS and .512 slugging percentage.

Phillies vs Cubs odds

• Moneyline: Phillies -104 | Cubs +100
• Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+170) | Cubs +1.5 (-178)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+127) | Under 8.5 (-133)

Phillies vs Cubs trend

Each of Chicago's last six night games against NL East opponents have hit the Over. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Cubs.

How to watch Phillies vs Cubs and game info

Phillies vs Cubs latest injuries

Phillies vs Cubs weather

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Ontario provided enough offense for the entire Dodgers minor league system on Sunday, but there were also plenty of other highlights.

Player of the day

Christian Zazueta in his first two starts this season dominated the first three innings before faltering a bit in the fourth. But on his third consecutive Sunday start for High-A Great Lakes, the right-hander struck out nine in five scoreless frames.

The reigning Branch Rickey Award winner as the Dodgers minor league pitcher of the year has 23 strikeouts against only four walks this season, with a 2.84 ERA and a whopping 46-percent strikeout rate.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Comets dropped four of six games on the road, including giving up a season-worst 17 runs in Sunday’s loss to the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies).

Starter Cole Irvin gave up seven runs, including three home runs, in his four innings, and Chris Campos allowed two runs in each of the fifth and sixth frames. Jerming Rosario started the seventh inning but didn’t retire any of his six batters faced, all of whom scored.

Double-A Tulsa

Zyhir Hope made his own case for player of the day on Sunday with a career-high-tying four hits in the Drillers’ rout of the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners). Hope singled in each of his first three at-bats before hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning, another opposite-field shot.

Hope also stole a base on Sunday. The outfielder had three four-hit games last season with High-A Great Lakes and another with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2024.

Third baseman Jake Gelof, who hit a walk-off home run on Friday night, homered again on Sunday and also singled and walked.

Kendall George singled twice, walked three times, and stole three bases in four attempts. He has 11 steals in 12 games on the season to lead the Texas League.

Left-hander Luke Fox had his second consecutive scoreless start with four strikeouts in four innings, allowing only one hit, a double. Fox through four starts this season has a 2.29 ERA and 32.4-percent strikeout rate.

High-A Great Lakes

Reynaldo Yean walked three and allowed two singles in the ninth inning, turning a one-run Loons lead to a one-run loss to the Dayton Dragons (Reds).

First baseman Jose Meza walked three times and homered for Great Lakes in the loss.

Catcher Victor Rodrigues singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning. Nico Perez scored said run, his second run of a two-hit day for the second baseman, who had three multi-hit games during the series and totaled nine hits in 22 at-bats against Dayton (.409).

Class-A Ontario

The Tower Buzzers were held scoreless in the first inning, then allowed five runs in the top of the second inning. But Ontario scored in each of the next seven innings to wallop the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies) by 16 runs.

Leadoff man Joendry Vargas reached base six times with two doubles, two singles, and two walks, and scored four times. Right fielder Mairo Martinus also had four hits, including a home run, two stolen bases, and scored three times.

Shortstop Emil Morales reached base five times with a triple, double, single, and two walks, and drove in four runs. Left fielder Ching-Hsien Ko also drove in four runs with a home run, single, and walk, scoring three times.

Third baseman Easton Shelton drove in five runs with his three hits, including a double. Chase Harlan also homered, singled, and walked, drove in three and scored three runs.

Ontario was an eye-popping 16 for 24 with runners in scoring position on Sunday, and were a still-impressive 7 for 21 without runners in scoring position. That’s a formula for scoring 23 runs in eight innings.

The Tower Buzzers are leading the California League in scoring at 8.28 runs per game in the early going, including 8.7 runs per game at home. They lost four out of six to Fresno in a wild series, scoring 16 and 23 runs in the two wins, and gave up 18 runs in two of the losses.

Remember the Bad Bunny halftime show at the Super Bowl that featured, among other things, a couple getting married on the field? Those two are from Ontario, and threw out the ceremonial first pitches before the Tower Buzzers game on Sunday.

Transactions

Triple-A: Reigning Pacific Coast League MVP Ryan Ward got his first call to the majors at age 28.

Class-A: Left-hander Matt Lanzendorfer was activated after missing two weeks on the injured list, and he pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Sunday scores

• Albuquerque 17, Oklahoma City 4
• Tulsa 11, Arkansas 3
• Dayton 6, Great Lakes 5
• Ontario 23, Fresno 7

The week ahead

• Oklahoma City vs. Tacoma (Mariners)
• Tulsa at Frisco (Rangers)
• Great Lakes at Beloit (Marlins)
• Ontario at San Jose (Giants)

Recaps

[AZ Central] Nelson rocked, Carroll exits early in Toronto rout – Nelson’s outing unraveled almost instantaneously. Each of the first seven Blue Jays hitters recorded hits, doing so after just 20 pitches. At that point, it was 4-0, and only three of those first seven hits were well-struck. After walking No. 8 hitter Myles Straw to load the bases, Nelson struck out Brandon Valenzuela before giving up a bases-clearing double to Nathan Lukes. He was gone after that. “The game can be pretty unkind to you at times,” Nelson said. “I felt like we were one or two balls going a foot or so in the other direction away from getting out of it.” Said manager Torey Lovullo: “He just made some mistakes today. He paid for every mistake he made. That’s part of the game.”

[Dbacks.com] Bumped from rotation, Pfaadt saves ‘pen in 1st relief appearance – Pfaadt, who compiled a 5.94 ERA in three starts, made his first appearance of the year out of the bullpen — and it was a beauty. Pfaadt covered the remaining 6 1/3 innings while allowing just one run.“ Without Brandon Pfaadt’s 6 1/3 innings coming in, we would be up against it for another three or four days,” Lovullo said. “The fact that he’s able to throw 84 pitches and protect the entire bullpen and give them a day off, that was fantastic.”

[SI] Brandon Pfaadt Makes Elite 2026 Bullpen Debut in Ugly Circumstances – Six and one-third innings of one-run baseball would generally be considered a dominant quality start. But right-hander Brandon Pfaadt put up those numbers out of the bullpen on Sunday, following the worst outing by an Arizona Diamondbacks’ starter since, ironically, Pfaadt’s own start just under a year ago. Pfaadt had previously allowed eight runs on six hits without recording a single out in a start against the Washington Nationals back on May 31 of 2025. But on Sunday, he was the hero who cleaned up Nelson’s similarly-tough outing.

Team news

[Dbacks.com] Carroll, D-backs downplay star’s back injury following early exit – The television broadcast showed him grimacing after a swing in the bottom of the third inning and then appearing to stretch out his back in right field in the top of the fourth. Both Carroll and manager Torey Lovullo downplayed any concern, and both said he would have remained in the game if not for the lopsided score.“He’s definitely got some low back issues that have been taking place,” Lovullo said. “You know, I told you guys that there were some things that were happening around his body, but he’s just tightly wound.” “It’s just a little tightness,” Carroll said. “It was enough where, in a game like that, I was fine getting out of there — but in a closer game, [I] definitely would have stayed in there.”

[Arizona Sports] Brandon Pfaadt on move to bullpen: ‘Good opportunity to grow’ – With Merrill Kelly returning this past week from the injured list, the D-backs decided to move Pfaadt to the bullpen, a new experience for him with one career relief appearance after an opener in 2023. “It’s a little different, but it’s a good opportunity to grow from and go out there and have a different perspective of the game,” Pfaadt said on Friday. “Probably keep it more extended, stretched out, but obviously depends on the situation and everything, but probably more than likely still built up to a degree,” he added on his role.

[SI] What D-backs’ Series Win Over Blue Jays Told Us — And What It Didn’t – Geraldo Perdomo has been one of the savviest, most mature players on the D-backs in recent years. But he’s had some struggles on both sides of the ball this season. That came to a head in game two, as he made outs on the bases twice and made a costly defensive mistake that led to a run scoring. Manager Torey Lovullo gave Perdomo the day off in the series finale as a result. The manager maintained his confidence in the shortstop, but it is a bit uncharacteristic to see Perdomo make mistakes of this nature.

And, elsewhere…

[ESPN] Mets’ losing streak reaches 11 games; longest since 2004 – The losses are piling up for the New York Mets, and Francisco Lindor thinks the criticism surrounding the team is about to get very loud. New York dropped its 11th consecutive game when closer Devin Williams blew a ninth-inning lead in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs in 10 innings Sunday. It’s the longest slide for the Mets since they lost 11 in a row from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 in 2004. “Eleven losses, that’s a lot, whether it’s in April or any point of the season,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But nobody is going to feel sorry for us. We have got to find a way.”

[MLB] Miller blanks his way to 1 inning shy of franchise scoreless streak record – “Success is a scary place sometimes, where you get complacent,” he said. “So I’m just staying up on everything and always focusing on getting a little better.” Better? It’s hard to imagine Miller being better than this. Forget runs. He is barely even allowing baserunners. He’s faced 38 hitters this season, and only four have reached — two via walks and two via singles. Of those 38 hitters, Miller has punched out 27 of them — a ridiculous 71.1% clip. That 71.1% strikeout rate is the highest by a pitcher in his first 11 appearances of a season since at least 1900. Put it this way: Miller struck out two of the three Angels hitters he faced on Sunday afternoon — and his strikeout rate went down.