NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: The field is seen before the home opener between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 03, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Sunday once more, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! When we last met, the Yankees had gotten off to a strong start, sweeping the San Francisco Giants while allowing just one run in three games. Since then, the vibes have continued to be great, for while the Bombers have suffered defeat, a strong pitching performance and some timely offense have gotten them off to a hot start. How have those good vibes transferred to the social media landscape? Let’s find out!
Welcome Home
The New York Yankees had themselves a very Good Friday (gotta get that Easter humor in there), as they celebrated their home opener with a dominant 8-2 victory on Friday over the Miami Marlins. Although it does not generate quite as much social media buzz as when it is the first game of the season, the home opener nonetheless was the biggest topic this week — particularly with Olympic gold medalists Jack Hughes and Aerin Frankel on hand to celebrate the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams with the ceremonial first pitch.
The Yankees’ YouTube account has begun a new series this year, Behind the NY. This past week, the second episode released, titled “The Standard.”
Sightseeing in Seattle
While the Yankees took two out of three on the diamond in Seattle, the broadcasters had some fun sightseeing and hanging out with some old friends. Remember, Dave Sims spent 14 years calling games for the Mariners, and he was thrilled to be around to see soon-to-retire M’s radio voice Rick Rizzs.
Back in spring training, we got a glimpse of the Yankees engaging in some art behind home plate during drills, but never got to see the results. Well, with the off day on Wednesday, the social media team finally decided to grace us with the video, and, uh…yea, these guys aren’t exactly artists.
The Yankees haven’t quite been as good as the Knicks are at posting their Game Belt exchanges on social media, but we still got to learn that Aaron Judge received the belt for his two-run homer in the first inning during the home opener.
Somerset Media Day
The Somerset Patriots shared pictures and videos from their own media day, which took place after the Yankees and their minor league system broke camp in Tampa.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 5: Simeon Woods Richardson #24 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Target Field on April 5, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On a day the Twins really needed some length, starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson gave the Twins everything they could ask for and more. Unfortunately, the bats didn’t do their part, leading to another loss that was well within reach.
Let’s start with the good. Woods Richardson looked sharp all day, despite his stuff being down a touch. Most importantly for him, he attacked the strike zone and was remarkably efficient, pitching into the 7th inning on just 88 pitches.
The lone run off of Sim came on a very well-placed splitter to all-world home run hitter Junior Caminero in the fourth inning. Up to that point, SWR faced only one batter over the minimum. He didn’t run into trouble again until the 7th when a couple of singles put runners on the corners with one out. Woods Richardson was able to get Jonny DeLuca swinging before fireman Kody Funderburk got Nick Fortes to hit a comebacker and end the threat.
Minnesota’s hitters were equally quiet for most of the day against Rays starter Nick Martinez. Martinez has had an up-and-down career, but his strength has always been a filthy changeup, a pitch that the Twins have particularly struggled with early on in 2026. The Twins’ lone run (and hit) off Martinez came from a patented Matt Wallner moonshot, his third of the season, that nearly hit some kids playing in the plaza over right field.
Their next hit didn’t come until the 7th off of old friend Griffin Jax. It was Wallner again who was able to beat out an infield single that rolled into first base, causing Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda to misplay the ball. Wallner immediately wiped that out with the classic Twins Boneheaded Base-running Play of the Day (TBBPoD, if you will. Trademark pending), where he took off for second base while Jax was still holding the ball, leading to an easy pick off.
Knotted at 1 the whole way, the game went to extras where things fell apart for the Twins. Known bad pitcher Justin Topa came in for the Twins in the 10th and immediately gave up a two-run blast to Richie Palacios, his third hit on the night despite having just one prior to this game. He followed that with a single and two walks to load the bases with one out, forcing Taylor Rogers out of the bullpen to get things in order.
Rogers was able to get Chandler Simpson to ground out, but walked Caminero to bring in the Rays’ third run of the inning and give them an insurmountable three run lead. Tampa’s Kevin Kelly retired all three Twins he faced and that was all she wrote.
This is normally the point of the post where I point out a few positives despite the loss, but other than Sim, there’s not much! The hitters only managed 6 hard-hit balls all game. Wallner’s homer was the only Minnesota hit that left the infield. The at-bats by everyone save Trevor Larnach looked pretty poor. Kaelen Culpepper is playing well for the Saints, so that’s something.
To put it simply, Derek Shelton’s go-to top 3 hitters have given them absolutely nothing all season and there’s not much you can expect from this team when that’s the case. We’re just over a week and nine games into the season, but Byron Buxton and Luke Keaschall having an OPS under .500 is going to tank the rest of this lineup. Also, get Kody Clemens out of the leadoff spot. He’s a useful role player who can get incredibly hot, but there’s no reason he should be getting the most PAs on a day-to-day basis.
Don’t worry, things will get easier this next series where the Twins are scheduled to face (checks notes…) back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and All-Star Framber Valdez. No rest for the weary.
Apr 5, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) hits a two run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
The Royals fell behind early and made a couple of pushes to cut the deficit to one run, but couldn’t overcome three and four run deficits, as they dropped the rubber match 8-5 to the Brewers.
Kris Bubic got two quick outs to start the game, but a four-pitch walk to William Contreras set the table for Milwaukee. Christian Yelich hit a slicing ball down the left field line that Nick Loftin dove for, but missed, resulting in an RBI triple for the former MVP. Gary Sánchez followed that up by blasting a two-run homer into the left field seats, and suddenly it was 3-0 Brewers.
Jonathan India led off the third inning, by taking a fastball off the elbow. After a Loftin strikeout, Maikel Garcia smashed his first home run of the season into the Brewers bullpen. A 388-foot shot for the WBC MVP.
Bobby Witt Jr. walked next and stole second. The Royals seemed poised to tie the game. Vinnie Pasquantino singled into right field, but Witt got gunned down at the plate, and the Royals still trailed 3-2 after three innings.
Similar to the first inning, Bubic got two quick outs in the 4th inning, however a two out walk to Brandon Lockridge spelled trouble. Blake Perkins did the damage this time, smacking a double off the left field wall, extending the Brewers lead to 4-2.
Fast forward to the 7th, Royals still down two, Matt Strahm made his first appearance of the series. A leadoff walk, followed by a Luis Rengifo double put the Royals in trouble. Contreras promptly smacked a single up the middle to score two, putting the Royals down 6-2. Despite allowing the first three to reach, Strahm buckled down and didn’t allow any further damage.
Starling Marte led off the bottom half of the inning for Kansas City and smoked a single, India walked and Isaac Collins pinch hitting for Loftin, loaded the bases with a single to right field. Nobody out.
Garcia drove in his third run of the day, singling to left. 6-3 Brewers, still nobody out and Witt, Vinnie and Salvy coming up. But credit to Abner Uribe, and maybe the Royals being out of ABS challenges, he struck out Witt looking.
Former Royal, Angel Zerpa would then get brought into the game, his first appearance against the Royals since being traded in the offseason. Pasquantino came through, perfectly placing a line drive into the left-center gap, scoring two runs. First and second, one out, Royals down 6-5, Salvy up.
Zerpa’s slider just got enough depth for Perez to fly out to deep center, instead of a go-ahead three run home run. 104.5 mph off the bat for Perez. Lane Thomas grounded out to third on the first pitch to end the threat.
After Steven Cruz, pitching for the fourth time in five days, worked around a lot of traffic, getting a scoreless top of the 8th, the Royals had a chance to tie or take the lead. With two outs, India walked, getting on base for the third time today, and Tyler Tolbert came in to pitch run. He got picked off during Collins at bat to end the 8th inning.
Lucas Erceg got the ninth, and similar to Strahm, it didn’t go well. Back-to-back doubles plated the first run and a two out single the second. 8-5 Milwaukee going to the final half inning. The Royals walked eight batters, and every one of them seemed to come back and haunt them. In the bottom of the ninth, the Royals got a two out single from Witt, but nothing else.
The loss puts the Royals back under .500, at 4-5. It was a 3-3 homestand as well. The Royals have been outscored 14-0 in the 9th inning this season so far. Michael Wacha starts in Cleveland tomorrow for the Royals. First pitch is set for 5:10 p.m. CT and can be streamed on Royals.TV.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 5: Richie Palacios #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates a go-ahead two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the tenth inning at Target Field on April 5, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rays beat the Twins today 4-1, and won their first series of the season.
This was a quintessential pitcher’s duel, with both starters pitching at least six strong innings. Nick Martinez, making his second start as a Ray, was especially impressive. He gave up one hit – of course it happened to be a booming home run to Matt Wallner — and walked just one batter. He struck out four, relying on weak contact to get his outs.
So it was fortunate that today was also a day when the Rays infield avoided costly errors, and in fact I’d say they looked pretty sharp. Junior Caminero, whose fielding has been atrocious over these first 10 days, made all his routine plays and even a few tough ones. (He and Chandler Simpson did nearly collide while letting a foul ball drop in the tenth inning, but fortunately it did not lead to damage.)
The Rays had their opportunities through the first nine innings, but were not able to deliver. Their only run during regulation also came on a solo shot, Junior’s first home run and shockingly first RBI of the season.
With Griffin Jax and Bryan Baker keeping holding the Twins scoreless in relief of Martinez, the game headed into the 10th inning. Ben Williamson was the — do we still call them ghost runners? — well the guy on second to start the inning, and Richie Palacios came to bat.
Richie has missed a lot of time the last two seasons with injuries, and was a bit of a forgotten man coming into this season, what a great pick-me-up for him and for the Rays, then, for him to take a 1-0 pitch well over the right field fence to give the Rays a 3-1 lead.
The Rays continued to apply pressure, as Nick Fortes singled and both Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda drew walks to load the bases. Junior Caminero came up with two outs, and patiently took his walk as well, to drive in the fourth run.
Before we could even remember how terrible the Rays bullpen has been in most of this season’s games, Kevin Kelly had retired the Twins to earn himself a save and the team a victory.
We hate to over-extrapolate from very small samples, but Nick Martinez and Steve Matz are looking very good. Ben Williamson has also impressed with his versatility, sharp fielding and reliable bat. Chandler Simpson is on a tear, and perhaps less surprisingly Yandy Diaz has been unstoppable. So, Rays fans have reason to feel optimistic.
It’s great that the team returns, victorious, to re-open Tropicana Field tomorrow.
April 5 Place OF Everson Pereira on 10-day IL (left ankle sprain), retroactive to April 2; promote SS Tanner Murray from Charlotte
April 4 Designate Rule 5 pick RHRP Jedixson Páez for assignment, return to Boston Red Sox. The 40-player roster is now at 39
April 1 Promote RHRP Lucas Sims from Charlotte Knights. The 40-player roster is now at 40
March 28 Trade INF Curtis Mead to Washington Nationals for C Boston Smith
C Korey Lee clears waivers, demoted to Charlotte Knights
March 27 Demote LHRP Tyler Gilbert to Charlotte Knights, claim LHRP Bryan Hudson off waivers from New York Mets. The 40-player roster is now at 39
Sign free agent LHP Chase Watkins to minor league contract
March 26 C Edgar Quero changes number to 26
March 25 Designate C Korey Lee and INF Curtis Mead for assignment. The 40-player roster is now at 38
RHSP Drew Thorpe (Tommy John surgery recovery), RHRP Prelander Berroa (Tommy John surgery recovery) and RHRP Mike Vasil (Tommy John surgery) placed on 15-day IL; LF Brooks Baldwin (right elbow sprain) and C Kyle Teel (right hamstring strain) placed on 10-day IL
Sign free agent 1B LaMonte Wade Jr. to minor league contract, assign to Charlotte Knights
March 23 Sign free agent RHRP Lucas Sims for one year, $1.5 million
March 22 Sign free agent C Reese McGuire for one year, $1.2 million. The 40-player roster is now at 40
Demote LHRP Brandon Eisert to Charlotte Knights
Assign SS Matthew Boughton to White Sox
March 21 Release RHRP Lucas Sims
March 20 3B Alec Makarewicz assigned to White Sox
March 19 Designate Rule 5 pick RHRP Alexander Alberto for assignment, return to Tampa Bay Rays. The 40-player roster is now at 39
RHP Seth Keener assigned to White Sox
March 17 Demote RHSP Jonathan Cannon to Charlotte Knights
Assign C Jorge Corona to White Sox
March 14 Assign RHRP Jarold Rosado, OF Nathan Archer, RHRP Aric McAtee and RHP Morris Austin to White Sox
March 10 Assign RF Drake Logan and IF Bryce Eblin to White Sox
March 9 Demote 2B Tanner Murray, RHSP David Sandlin, and RHRP Wikelman González to Charlotte Knights
Assign INF Jason Matthews to White Sox
March 7 Demote RHSP Tanner McDougal to Charlotte Knights
March 6 Demote RHSP Duncan Davitt to Charlotte Knights
Assign SS Billy Carlson to White Sox
March 5 Assign C Juan Gonzalez to White Sox
March 3 Assign C Grant Magill to White Sox
March 1 Assign OF Ely Brown to White Sox
February 27 Assign C Adam Hackenberg, SS Kyle Lodise, OF Jaden Fauske, C Jackson Appel, CF Samuel Zavala and 3B Anthony DiPino to White Sox
February 26 Assign LHP Tommy Vail, 2B Andy Weber and C Calvin Harris to White Sox
February 26 Assign INF Jeral Pérez to White Sox
February 23 Sign free agent RHP Alexander De Los Santos to minor league contract
Assign RHRP Mark McLaughlin to White Sox
February 22 Assign SS Ryan Burrowes, RHP Luke Bell, SS Colby Shelton, RHP Jonathan Clark and OF George Wolkow to White Sox
February 21 Assign SS Caleb Bonemer, RHRP Nick Altermatt, RHRP Eric Adler, RHP Chase Plymell, 2B Javier Mogollón, 2B Mario Camilletti, RHP Jake Bockenstedt and LHP Jake Palisch to White Sox
February 20 Assign LHRP Garrett Schoenle, SS Jordan Sprinkle, LHP Frankeli Arias, RHP Jackson Kelley, 1B Caden Connor, RHSP Riley Gowens, RHRP Jared Kelley, 2B Darren Baker, 1B Ryan Galanie, RF Rikuu Nishida, CF Matt Hogan and CF Jacob Burke to White Sox
February 13 INF Curtis Mead changes number to 17
February 11 Invite non-roster RHP Jairo Iriarte to Spring Training
February 10 Sign RHSP Erick Fedde to a one-year, $1.5 million contract; place LHSP Ky Bush on 60-day IL
Sold LHP Bryan Hudson to New York Mets
February 6 C Drew Romo and RHP Jairo Iriarte cleared waivers, assigned to Charlotte Knights
February 4 Sign Austin Hays to one-year, $5 million contract; designate LHP Bryan Hudson for assignment
February 1 Trade RHSP Gage Ziehl and a player to be named later for RHRP Jordan Hicks, RHSP David Sandlin, two players to be named later and cash; designate C Drew Romo and RHP Jairo Iriarte for assignment
Sell 3B Bryan Ramos to Baltimore Orioles
January 30 Sign RHRP Lucas Sims to minor league contract
January 29 Invite non-roster LHSP Shane Murphy, INF Sam Antonacci, C Michael Turner, LHSP Hagen Smith, LHSP Noah Schultz, INF William Bergolla Jr., LHP Tyler Schweitzer, RHRP Tyler Davis, RHRP Adisyn Coffey, RHSP Ben Peoples, RHRP Zach Franklin, OF Braden Montgomery, CF Dru Baker, INF Jacob Gonzalez and RHSP Mason Adams to Spring Training
Sign free agent RHRP Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20 million contract; designate 3B Bryan Ramos for assignment
Sign free agent 1B LaMonte Wade Jr. to a minor league contract and invite him to Spring Training
January 26 RHP Ryan Borucki assigned to Chicago White Sox
January 20 Trade CF Luis Robert Jr. to New York Mets for IF-OF Luisangel Acuña and RHRP Truman Pauley
January 15 Chicago Cubs claim INF Ben Cowles off of waivers
January 8 Claim C Drew Romo off of waivers from New York Mets; designate INF Ben Cowles for assignment.
January 7 Chicago Cubs claim LHP Ryan Rolison off of waivers
Apr 5, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora (13) walks to the pitcher's mound during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
It’s important to remember that baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. As a one-time marathon runner (no big deal), starting out too fast is a real concern. Just ask one-time marathon runner Jacob Roy, who went out too fast and ran the final six miles at about 10 minutes per mile after running the first 20 at a sub-seven pace. At the same time, if you start too slow, you get stuck behind slow runners and expend more energy passing people and weaving through traffic. On Sunday, Alex Cora was caught between the two.
Following the 2-6 start, the Red Sox can’t afford to punt wins. They needed to use the whole bullpen to secure the victory on Friday, and went to their high-leverage arms again on Saturday in a tight game. On Sunday, after the Red Sox jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the third, Ranger Suarez gave three runs back in the fourth. After he allowed a lead-off single in the fifth, Cora turned to his bullpen to hold the lead. Weissert gave up the lead, and Cora had to take his foot off the gas by giving the ball to Tyler Uberstine. The rookie did a good job keeping the team in the game in his debut, holding the Padres scoreless over his first two innings.
In the seventh, the Red Sox rallied behind Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida, tying the game at six. That’s where Cora got caught in between. Going to Justin Slaten or Aroldis Chapman would have been like sprinting the tenth mile of a marathon. Cora stuck with Uberstine, electing not to push it and keep some gas in the tank. Uberstine gave up a home run to Jackson Merrill, and the Padres had the lead back.
With the Red Sox trailing, the Padres went to Jeremiah Estrada and Mason Miller. The two relievers were untouchable, and the Padres held on to win 8-6.
Congratulations to Garrett Whitlock on the birth of his child, but it came at an inconvenient time (I hope the whole family is happy and healthy).
Three Studs
Wilyer Abreu
Abreu was a home run away from the cycle and continues to put the lineup on his back.
Masataka Yoshida
Yoshida was 3-4, including two doubles off of lefties. The guy can hit if he gets the opportunity.
Tyler Uberstine
I’m a sucker for MLB debuts, and Uberstine is a cool story. It’s a miracle he’s in the major leagues at all, let alone getting Fernando Tatis Jr. out. Jackson Merrill’s home run was a damper on the outing, but he’s a stud nonetheless.
Three Duds
Greg Weissert
Weissert took over for Suarez with a runner on in the fifth. He struck out the first two hitters he faced, but Jackson Merrill singled on a first-pitch changeup. Manny Machado then took a changeup way off the plate over the Green Monster to give the Padres the lead. Look how far off the plate this is.
That’s the problem with same-handed changeups. While they can be effective in catching a hitter out in front, they’re slow and tend to run right to an area where hitters can drop the barrel and get around the ball for hard contact. That’s what happened here, and Weissert paid the price.
Ranger Suarez
Suarez did a great job getting his cutter in on righties in his first start. Today, he didn’t do that at all. He also still doesn’t have a feel for his changeup, which is typically his best pitch. His two-strike changeups, in particular, were well below the zone and didn’t generate a whiff. Suarez had an unusual spring training with the World Baseball Classic, and the pitch is also showing more depth than last season. Hopefully, as a veteran, he’s able to make the adjustment and execute with the pitch.
Roman Anthony
Anthony came up to the plate with two runners on base in the sixth and struck out. He drew a walk in the third and scored, but hasn’t hit with runners in scoring position so far this season. The expectations for Anthony might be unfair to him, but the Red Sox need him to hit if they’re going to win games.
Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox shortstop Tanner Murphy throws a double play after forcing out Toronto Blue Jays right fielder George Springer (4) during the fifth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images
This series has been pretty grim. The pitching hasn’t been awful, one significant meltdown notwithstanding, but the offence largely hasn’t shown up against a pretty bad pitching staff, and now the Jays find themselves on a 1-5 skid and below .500 for the season.
In case the results weren’t enough, Addison Barger had to leave the game in the sixth, a couple of innings after appearing to hurt himself stretching for first trying to beat out a throw. The issue was described on the broadcast as “bilateral ankle discomfort.” We’ll have to wait and see what that actually means, and whether it causes him to miss time. Hopefully not, as the injuries are piling up at a concerning rate early this season.
Davis Martin. Vladimir Guerrero jr. lined a single in the first, the only Jay to reach through two. In the third, Andres Gimenez worked a lead-off walk. Brandon Valenzuela, in his first MLB at bat, lined a sharp single to right. Two outs later, Vlad walked to load the bases. Addison Barger grounded one over second base, for what looked likely to be a hit, but shortstop Tanner Murray made a great play getting to the ball and throwing him out at first. An Ernie Clement line single was all they managed in the fourth.
The White Sox got on the board against Eric Lauer in the first, although it wasn’t all his fault. His velocity was down, and he was scattering the ball in a way that isn’t like him. It seems like the illness that got his start pushed back from yesterday was sticking with him. Chase Meidroth lead off with a double on a soft grounder hooked into left field. Lauer rallied to get the next two, but then Daulton Varsho misplayed a soft liner by Miguel Vargas, turning a short single that might not have scored the runner into a standup triple. Lauer walked Edgar Quero, but a long Lenyn Sosa fly ball was caught by the track for the third out. It took 28 pitches to get through the inning, and Pete Walker had relivers warming up before the third out was recorded. He gritted his way through the second, working around a single and a walk, then walked Murakami to begin the third. That was the end of his afternoon. The freshly called up Austin Voth took over, allowing the inherited runner to score on a Sosa double but limiting the damage there.
In the bottom of the fourth, Luisangel Acuna lined a single, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on an Austin Hays single, increasing Chicago’s margin to three.
George Springer lined a single in the top of the fifth, but it was erased by a double play. Voth got two outs in the bottom half and issued a walk before being lifted for Joe Mantiply, the other pitcher called up for today’s game, who struck out his man to end the inning.
Martin set the Jays down in order in the sixth. Mantiply returned the trick in the home half, adding a pair of strikeouts.
The Jays had just a little more luck off reliever Bryan Hudson in the seventh. Varsho and Clement lined singles to bring the tying run up. He got the next two outs, though, before giving way to Jordan Leasure. Leasure struck out Springer to end the inning. Spencer Miles worked a smooth 1-2-3 inning, picking up a strikeout. Leasure returned for a clean eighth. Miles gave up a couple of singles in his second inning of work, but got out of it without allowing any runs.
Down to their final three outs, the Jays faced Crhis Murphy. Kazuma Okamoto walked, but that was all they’d manage.
Jays of the Day: Nobody qualifies.
Less so: Springer (-0.10), Lukes (-0.13), and Barger (-0.12) qualify, but really the whole offence can share the credit.
Mercifully, they’re done with the White Sox. Things will undoubtedly get easier as they go home to face… *checks notes* … the Los Angeles Dodgers. Justin Wrobleski (0-0, 6.75) will start game one for the visitors, while Max Scherzer (1-0, 1.50) represents the home team. First pitch is set for 7:07pm ET tomorrow night.
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz (55) argues with home plate umpire James Jean (61) after being ejected from the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
If someone could kindly inform the Orioles that the 2026 season began a couple of weeks ago, I’d greatly appreciate it.
The O’s continued to stumble out of the gate in the new season, putting themselves hopelessly behind after two innings en route to an 8-2 loss and a series sweep by the Pirates. Chris Bassitt had another horrendous performance, the offense again failed to show up, and the Orioles limped out of Pittsburgh as a 3-6 team with a lot of questions and very few answers.
With the Orioles heavily using their relievers in the first two games of the series and likely to use a bullpen game tomorrow, Chris Bassitt came into this contest with two main tasks. #1: Eat up a bunch of innings, and #2: Keep the Orioles in the game. I regret to inform you that he failed spectacularly at both tasks.
Bassitt’s second Orioles start was even more miserable than his rough debut last week, and by the second inning the Pirates were well on their way to the sweep. Right from the get-go, the control-challenged Bassitt seemed to have no idea where the ball was going. He set an ignominious tone by plunking leadoff man Oneil Cruz on an 0-2 pitch. Despite catching a lucky break on a scalded Brandon Lowe liner to first that became a double play, Bassitt failed to take advantage. He walked Bryan Reynolds on four pitches, then threw three straight balls to Ryan O’Hearn.
With the count 3-0, MASN analyst Ben McDonald commented, “I would be real careful right here.” Alas, Bassitt failed to heed Big Ben’s advice and instead grooved a 91-mph fastball right down the middle to O’Hearn, who blasted it 402 feet to dead center for a two-run dinger. It was the first Pirates HR for the former Oriole O’Hearn, who is off to a scalding start for his new club. I miss him. I’m glad he’s getting to play for a more competent team, which is a weird thing to be saying about the Pirates, but here we are.
Bassitt ended up throwing 28 pitches just to finish the first inning, and things only got worse in the second. Facing the bottom of the Pirates lineup — which, as McDonald pointed out, is full of sub-.200 hitters that any pitcher should easily attack — the veteran righty melted down. All nine Pittsburgh batters came to the plate before all was said and done. The inning began with another four-pitch walk, followed by a pair of singles. The second of those came on a bunt, when second baseman Jeremiah Jackson (covering first on the play) failed to put his foot on the bag when receiving the throw. There’s that Orioles defense, baby. Can’t get enough.
With the bases loaded, Cruz scalded a line drive that deflected off the back of Bassitt’s leg for an RBI infield single. The trainers checked on Bassitt, who deemed himself ready to continue. Health-wise, maybe he was. Performance-wise, not so much. With one out, Reynolds lofted a sac fly to the wall in right, making it 4-0, and O’Hearn ripped a double to left-center that brought home two more. Bassitt added a HBP to his ugly afternoon before finishing the inning. He didn’t return for the third.
Bassitt’s final pitching line: 2 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP. He threw just 32 of his 62 pitches for strikes and didn’t strike out anyone. He has a 14.21 ERA through two starts. It might technically be too early to throw him into the Charlie Morton/Kyle Gibson category of “ancient free agent SPs who turned into duds the second they joined the Orioles,” but it doesn’t feel too early.
Down 6-0 after two, all hope was pretty much gone for the Orioles, and it doesn’t help that their offense put up the kind of phoning-it-in performance that’s become all too familiar. They allowed Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft to set a career best in strikeouts with eight, and didn’t manage their first baserunner until a Taylor Ward double to lead off the fourth. Pete Alonso’s RBI double that inning was the only run that Ashcraft allowed. Jeremiah Jackson added an RBI single off reliever Mason Montgomery in the seventh, but that was all the O’s offense scraped across on this day.
Manager Craig Albernaz didn’t stick around long in this game, getting ejected for the first time in his career in the top of the third. Albernaz barked at home plate umpire James Jean after the ump didn’t grant Blaze Alexander a timeout on the first pitch. Seems like a trivial thing to argue about, but maybe Alby was looking for an excuse to leave early. Who can blame him?
If there’s one positive takeaway from this game, it’s Cade Povich, who ate up 5.2 innings of long relief. He didn’t look great, walking three and coughing up a Cruz two-run homer, but he managed to save the bullpen ahead of the Orioles’ series opener against the White Sox tomorrow. Albert Suárez figures to start that game but the O’s will probably need to go through a lot of arms.
There you have it. The Orioles are 3-6 and just got swept by the Pirates. Any hopes of the O’s bursting out to a hot start in 2026 have evaporated, and now they’re going to have to play catch-up, something they were utterly incapable of doing last season. It’s not great.
Apr 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A general stadium view during a rain delayed start of the game between the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
The Yankees are off to a sterling 7-1 start to the 2026 season and have already guaranteed themselves a third consecutive series victory. After sweeping the Giants and taking two out of three from the Mariners in Seattle, they’ve won the first two games of their first homestand of the campaign, beating the Marlins on Friday, 8-2, and then 9-7 last night. They’re eyeing another dusting today with Opening Day starter Max Fried on the mound, as he has yet to allow a run through two starts.
The Marlins aren’t a pushover, but Fried’s toughest opponent today might actually be the weather. It’s lousy today in the tri-state area and the Double-A Somerset Patriots have already postponedtheir series finale in Bridgewater against the Portland Sea Dogs (the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades have since done the same). Similarly, the tarp is on the field in the Bronx, and the Yankees have announced a delay to Sunday’s matinee.
Major League Baseball, however, is going to do everything it can to get this game in against the Marlins because it’s difficult to reschedule interleague series postponements. This is the only Yankees/Marlins series of the year and while the Fish will return to the area for series against the Mets, it would be very annoying to find an offday where they could theoretically play the Yankees.
MLB has time to wait this out until later, as the forecast says it will indeed stop raining before nightfall. At the very least, this isn’t starting until 3pm ET, and later is more likely.
As of 2:35 PM, we are continuing to monitor the weather forecast and will provide updates as soon as there is more information to share. https://t.co/yEL8QEd9TC
Hang in there with us, put on some music or something, and we’ll tune into the series finale together when it actually starts!
Update
This is not a rain-related update, but it is an interesting wrinkle: The Marlins will no longer be starting Chris Paddack as initially expected. Closer Pete Fairbanks’ wife is pregnant and will be induced tomorrow morning, so he will instead start this game with Paddack following.
Pete Fairbanks will go on the Paternity List tomorrow as his wife is set to be induced in the morning.
The #Marlins are having him start today so he can get to his family sooner. Chris Paddack will still throw today
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
I think George Valera might be ready to be activated. The left-handed hitting slugger was perfect at the plate on Saturday, going 3-for-3 with a double and a walk to lead the Clippers offense.
Other standouts included Cooper Ingle, who went 2-for-3 with an impressive opposite field home run and Stuart Fairchild, who went 2-for-3. Nolan Jones went 1-for-2 with a walk and Petey Halpin went 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base.
Starting pitcher Ryan Webb was tagged for four runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings. He walked three and struck out four.
Tommy Mace provided some solid long relief, allowing one run on four hits in 2.2 innings to earn the win. The game was ended during the seventh inning with the Clippers leading by two runs due to poor weather.
Akron’s pitching was the story of this game as the RubberDucks utilized five pitchers to shut out Reading.
Caden Favors led the way, tossing 4.0 shutout frames on just two hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Magnus Ellerts followed Favors with 1.2 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with two strikeouts and two walks. Jack Jasiak retired the lone batter he faced while Hunter Stanley pitched 2.0 perfect innings with three strikeouts and Matt Jachec finished off the shutout with a scoreless ninth inning and a pair of whiffs.
On the offensive side of the equation, three different RubberDucks blasted home runs. Angel Genao went 2-for-4 with a three-run bomb.
Esteban Gonzalez had the other multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a home run and a double while Bennett Thompson impressively homered and walked three times.
Jaison Chourio doubled and walked while Nolan Schubart doubled.
Top draft pick Jace LaViolette’s struggled are ongoing as he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. He still is seeking his first hit of the young season and has struck out in seven of his first eight plate appearances.
Starting pitcher Braylon Doughty was spectacular, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit, striking out two and walking zero.
I’m trying to think of a good adjective to describe this game. Debacle, fiasco, catastrophe, apocalypse? I’m not sure any of them fit. This game was so bad that I’m not sure the word that fittingly describes it has been invented yet.
Prep pitching prospect Chase Mobley was the starting pitcher and he got absolutely annihilated for six runs in 0.1 innings. He only allowed one hit, but he walked three and hit two more.
Eudry Alcantara relieved Mobley and he didn’t fare any better, allowing two inherited runners to score and then giving up six runs of his own in just 0.1 innings. Alcantara was tagged for five hits, two of them home runs and he walked two.
Both Mobley and Alcantara are beginning the year with ERAs of 162.00. It can only get better from there (hopefully).
Offensively, no one had an extra base hit and no one reached base twice. If you watched this game, perhaps you can pray a Men in Black-esque memory wipe device gets invented soon.
Portrait of Luscious "Luke" Easter (1915 - 1979), First Baseman for the Cleveland Indians of the American League during Major League Baseball Spring Training circa March 1949 at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson, Arizona, United States. (Photo by Keystone View Company/FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, that wasn’t good. Here’s hoping game 2 is better
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 05: Steven Kwan #38 of the Cleveland Guardians catches a fly ball hit by Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning in game one of a doubleheader at Progressive Field on April 05, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After last night’s postponed game, the Guardians faced a chilly Sunday double header against the Chicago Cubs. In game one, Slade Cecconi took the mound for Cleveland and Edward Cabrera for Chicago. Both starting pitchers gave it their all, keeping it a scoreless game into the eighth with both teams only notching one hit.
Cleveland’s hit came in the bottom of the 6th with a lead off double from CJ Kayfus.
The Guardians finally got pressure on Cabrera, taking advantage of his walks. After CJ’s lead off double, Steven Kwan hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third. Chase DeLauter worked a 2-2 count and hit into a fielder’s choice. Kayfus was thrown out at home, but CDL reached first safely. José Ramírez worked an eight pitch at bat, including a loud foul ball, before being walked. Kyle Manzardo drew a walk to load the bases and force Cabrera out of the game with 97 pitches. Bo Naylor fought, fouling off the first three pitches from relief pitcher Caleb Thielbar, taking two balls, but ultimately popping up to center leaving three runners stranded.
Slade Cecconi ended the day having given the Guardians 6.0 innings pitched of one hit, one walk baseball. Slade struck out six batters, turning things over to Tim Herrin.
Herrin bookended the inning with strikeouts, sending it to Cleveland’s 6-7-8 hitters. Daniel Schneemann grounded out to first, but Brayan Rocchio worked a 3-2 count, fouling off pitch after pitch. Thielbar’s 10th pitch of the at bat was called a strike. Rocchio challenged the pitch and was awarded first on an overturned strike. Gabriel Arias grounded into a forceout, leaving two outs for pinch hitter David Fry. Fry got into a slider sending it to foul territory where it was caught by left fielder Ian Happ to retire the side.
Connor Brogon replaced Tim Herrin in the top of the eighth, giving up a lead off walk. Matt Shaw hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner. Catcher Miguel Amaya singled to right, breaking up the shutout, scoring the pinch runner from second. The Guardians defense kept the Cubs from tacking on more runs with an amazing play from Gabriel Arias to Kyle Manzardo.
The Guardians turned to the top of the order, hoping to add a run of their own. Steven Kwan was hit by pitch to lead off the inning, but Chase DeLauter grounded into a double play that was confirmed after a challenge. José popped up, leaving the Cubs with a one-run lead.
Peyton Pallette pitched the ninth and once again delivered a great performance. Pallette struck out Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Happ went 0-for-4 on the day, striking out four times. Nico Hoerner was hit by pitch, but it didn’t mean much as Dansby Swanson grounded into a force out to retire the side.
Ultimately the Guardians succumbed to the Sunday/Double Header curse and fell to the Cubs 1-0.
During the Marquee Sports Network broadcast of the Cubs’ 1-o win over the Guardians in Game 1 of Sunday’s doubleheader, Jim Deshaies referred to it as the headline reads: “a throwback from 1968.” That year was known as “The Year of The Pitcher,” with runs down all across MLB. The Cubs won four games by 1-0 that year, and lost six — and all six of the losses were started by Fergie Jenkins.
This game was much like things were back then, particularly the way the Cubs scored their only run of the game — a walk, a pinch-runner, a sacrifice bunt and another hit scoring said pinch-runner.
This game was the Cubs’ first 1-0 win since Aug. 1, 2025, when they defeated the Orioles by that score at Wrigley Field — in just one hour, 49 minutes! This one was a bit longer (2:37) but still satisfying.
Edward Cabrera didn’t allow any hits through five innings and just one overall in six, but he had trouble throwing strikes. That was his biggest issue when he was with the Marlins, and hopefully it won’t continue to be so as a Cub. Today Cabrera threw 97 pitches, and only 51 were strikes. Nevertheless, he had the Guardians off balance enough to get through six scoreless innings.
Edward Cabrera has allowed no runs in 11.2 innings. Only four Cubs yielded none and pitched as many or more innings in their first two starts of a season: 18: Bill Lee, 1934 15: Mike Prendergast, 1916 15: Mike Bielecki, 1991 12: Marcus Stroman, 2023 Randy Wells, in 2009, and Matthew Boyd, in 2025, pitched 11.
And still more:
Cabrera gave up one hit and walked five. Only 10 previous Cubs starters had done that. Four were knocked out in 1.0 to 2.1 innings. The six others, in chronological order: June 22, 1913: George Pierce (5.0, no runs) May 2, 1943: Dick Barrett (7.0, one unearned run) May 30, 1964: Sterling Slaughter (7.0, no runs) April 8, 1978: Ray Burris (7.0, three runs, one earned) Oct. 6, 2001: Julian Tavarez (7.1, two runs, both earned) June 1, 2008: Ted Lilly (6.0, no runs)
The Cubs finally got on the board in the eighth with the plays I noted at the top of this post. Michael Conforto led off with a walk. Dylan Carlson — hey there, finally getting in a game! — ran for him. Matt Shaw laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, with Carlson advancing to second.
Regarding Carlson’s first Cubs appearance, from John:
All players before Dylan Carlson today who did not bat and scored a run in their first game as a Cub, after having played for at least one other MLB team: Doc Marshall, on June 1, 1908 Tony La Russa, on April 6, 1973 (scored the winning run on a ninth-inning walk-off walk to Rick Monday on Opening Day) Leonys Martin, on Sep. 4, 2017 Twelve others turned the trick in their MLB debut as a Cub. Mike Fontenot, on April 13, 2005, was the only one of those since the start of 1974.
Hoby Milner got in trouble with a leadoff HBP in the eighth, but got out of it thanks in part to this slick double play [VIDEO].
The Cubs didn’t score in the ninth and Daniel Palencia came on for the save opportunity, his first of 2026. He had no trouble dispatching the Guardians 1-2-3. Here’s the final out — at 100 miles per hour [VIDEO].
Last fun fact from this game, as noted on the broadcast: The three combined hits in this game were the fewest for any Cubs game since the Cubs and Dodgers combined for just one hit in Sandy Koufax’s perfect game on Sept. 9, 1965.
The Cubs will go for a doubleheader sweep shortly, probably 40-45 minutes after this recap posts. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and rookie Parker Messick goes for Cleveland. All the pitcher preview info and other information about Game 2 can be found in this doubleheader preview article. There will be a “Live!” pitch thread posting at just a few minutes before the first pitch of Game 2.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 30: Ryan Weiss #51 of the Houston Astros pitches in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Daikin Park on March 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With Hunter Brown going on the IL and Cristian Javier’s pronounced struggles, the KBO star may be getting his chance to start for Houston sooner than later.
Ryan Weiss was not a big name on the free agent market this offseason. In fact, he had never pitched in an MLB game.
Astros GM Dana Brown, however, made the decision to sign him out of the KBO, where he had just led his team to Korea’s version of the World Series.
Weiss was coming off his best season as a professional. A 16-5 record with a 2.87 ERA and 1.024 WHIP for Hanwha, including 207K in 178.2 innings. He showed he could throw the innings and miss bats.
He wanted an MLB chance, Brown gave it to him.
When Weiss signed in Houston, he was told he would be given a chance to compete for a starting role. Despite pitching well in spring, it was always going to be an uphill battle for him to win a spot in the rotation to start the year. Before the season started, Manager Joe Espada informed him he would begin the year in the bullpen.
Ryan Weiss on his preference to be a starter: "I haven't communicated that with (the team). I think they know that. I signed as a starter and I've been starting the last couple of years." pic.twitter.com/Mh3z9c2R9z
The Astros, however, have dealt with a litany of injuries to their starting pitching the last two seasons, had a large pair of shoes to fill in the departing Framber Valdez, and were counting on several pitchers (Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Spencer Arrighetti) who were returning from injury shortened seasons. There was a good chance at some point, Weiss’ number would be called to start.
That time may be this week.
The Astros announced today that staff ace Hunter Brown was going on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain. Brown felt something Friday during his throwing program.
Astros manager Joe Espada said Hunter Brown felt something in his shoulder during his throwing program on Friday. He had some imaging done here in Sacramento and flew back to Houston to be seen by team doctors.
While the exact extent of Brown’s injury is not yet publicly known, that it is his shoulder is certainly worrisome. For a pitching staff already without it’s closer (also coming back from a shoulder injury) and one of the starters they were counting on in Javier having extreme command struggles early on, the depth that GM Dana Brown built this offseason is going to be tested quickly.
Espada said today that he doesn’t know who will start for the team tomorrow in Denver when it faces the Rockies for 3 games at Coors Field. Brown was scheduled to make his third start of the season.
Weiss last pitched three scoreless innings on Friday, likely making him unavailable for starter duty on Tuesday on just 3 days rest. However he could certainly be in line for a start later in the week, or the next time Brown’s turn comes along.
It is possible the Astros could use Weiss is a somewhat lesser capacity, knowing he is on short rest for Tuesday but still using him for multiple innings (2, maybe 3 depending on pitch count). A.J. Blubaugh last worked Wednesday and would be on full starter’s length rest, but he is not stretched out enough to go more than three innings right now. Blubaugh also appears to be becoming a more important leverage arm at the back of the Astros pen right now.
A tandem approach with Blubaugh and Weiss could get the team though potentially 5 innings, before ceding to the rest of the pen. Cody Bolton, who pitched 3 innings Tuesday, would also be available for multiple inning duty as well.
While not an ideal plan, it would allow the Astros to get Weiss on Brown’s schedule.
Spencer Arrighetti, whom the team planned to call up once they start their stretch of 13 straight games on April 10, just threw 4.1 innings of scoreless, hitless baseball with 9 strikeouts Friday. He would not be ready to go on Tuesday, and may likely would be utilized that first game on the 10th to push all the current starters back a day.
Losing Brown for any protracted period would be a tough blow for the Astros, but having Weiss able to fill the spot is exactly what the team may need.
That chance Ryan Weiss wanted to be a starter may be now.
Betts drew a walk in his lone plate appearance in the top of the first inning of Saturday's 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals and scored from first on a two-run double from Freddie Freeman, but he exited the game with what was initially described as lower back tightness. Miguel Rojas replaced him at shortstop for the bottom of the first.
Betts underwent an MRI Saturday night, which revealed an oblique strain that the Dodgers believe likely happened on a check swing during his at-bat but that he didn't feel until he started running the bases.
Roberts told reporters that he felt "a little something in (his) stomach" when he learned of the MRI results but felt reassured once he spoke with Betts.
"He's actually in better spirits," Roberts told reporters. "Obviously disappointed, but just the way he feels today, and I think he's had some dealings with that before and said it's better than he recalls past experience. So that was encouraging."
The Dodgers injury report on MLB.com lists Betts' expected return for May. And while Roberts said he "would take the under" on the standard 4–6-week recovery period, he hesitated to put a definitive timeline due to the tricky nature of oblique injuries.
The Dodgers have three main options to turn to in Betts' absence between Rojas, Kim and rookie Alex Freeland. Roberts said he sees Rojas and Kim taking on the bulk of the reps at short and keeping Freeland in an everyday role at second base.
"That's how I'm gonna divvy it up and then we'll see," Roberts said. "We got three starters in Toronto, so Hyeseong will play short against Scherzer, and then we'll probably start two of the three."
As for the lineup, Roberts mused about the possibility of moving center fielder Andy Pages up in the order after starting off the season on tear, going 15-for-30 at the plate with three home runs and 10 RBI through eight games, though Roberts also said he likes the dynamic of the lineup as-is.
But regardless, losing Betts for a stretch of time is a blow for the Dodgers. He had gotten off to a slow start at the dish – as has most of the top of the order – but went 2-for-6 with a two-run go-ahead homer in the third inning of Friday's 13-6 win in DC.
"We were starting to get going a bit," Roberts said. "And he way he's playing defense, he's a big part of what we do. Any time you miss it's going to take some time to get your footing, so disappointed for him. But hopeful that it's not long term."
