Category: MLB

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Mets sign reliever Jose Marte

The Mets have signed right-handed reliever Jose Marte to a minor league deal.

According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the contract is for two years.

Marte, 28, had right shoulder surgery last September and is working his way back.

In 19.1 innings over 14 appearances last season for the Angels, Marte had a 2.33 ERA (4.10 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP while striking out 10 batters.

Marte's fastball was a high-octane one last year as he averaged 96.5 mph with his four-seamer and 96.3 mph with his sinker. In addition to the four- and two-seam fastballs, Marte features a slider (which he used nearly 40 percent of the time in 2024) and a changeup.

During his four-year career, all with the Angels, Marte has a 5.56 ERA and 1.78 WHIP with 41 strikeouts in 43.2 innings over 39 games.

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NFL announces key offseason program dates for all 32 teams

Offseason programs will be starting for teams with new coaches next week and the NFL has announced the key dates for all 32 teams.

All teams will open their programs with two weeks of meetings and conditioning work before they can advance to on-field work. That work will include up to 10 organized team activities and a mandatory minicamp. In addition to starting their work ahead of other clubs, teams with new coaches are also permitted to hold a voluntary minicamp.

The dates for all teams are listed below:

Arizona: First day - April 22; OTAs - May 28-30, June 3-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Atlanta: First day - April 22; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-11.

Baltimore: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-29, June 3, June 5-6, June 9-12; Mandatory minicamp - June 17-19.

Buffalo: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-29, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Carolina: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Chicago: First day - April 7; Voluntary minicamp April 21-23; OTAs - May 20-22, May 27-30, June 9-11; Mandatory minicamp June 3-5.

Cincinnati: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-29, June 2-4; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Cleveland: First day - April 22; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 3-4, June 6, June 16-19; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Dallas: First day - April 14; OTAs - May 19-20, May 22, May 28-30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Denver: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-29, June 3-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Detroit: First day - April 22; OTAs - May 28-30, June 3-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Green Bay: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Houston: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 28-30, June 2-3, June 5. Mandatory minicamp - June 10-11.

Indianapolis: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 28-30, June 3-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Jacksonville: First day - April 8; Voluntary minicamp - April 21-23; OTAs - May 19, May 21-22, May 27, May 29-30, June 2-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Kansas City: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-29, June 2-4, June 10-13; Mandatory minicamp - June 17-19.

Las Vegas: First day - April 8; Voluntary minicamp - April 21-23; OTAs - May 19, May 21-22, May 27, May 29-30, June 2-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Los Angeles Chargers: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 3-5, June 16-18; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Los Angeles Rams: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5, June 9-10, June 12; Mandatory minicamp - June 16-18.

Miami: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27, May 29-30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Minnesota: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5, June 16-18; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

New England: First day - April 7; Voluntary minicamp April 22-24; OTAs - May 19-20, May 22, May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 9-11.

New Orleans: First day - April 14; OTAs - May 20-22, May 27, May 29-30, June 2, June 4-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

New York Giants: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-29, June 2-3, June 5, June 9-10, June 12-13; Mandatory minicamp - June 17-19.

New York Jets: First day - April 7; Voluntary minicamp - April 21-23; OTAs - May 20-22, May 28-30, June 2-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Philadelphia: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10.

Pittsburgh: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-29, June 3-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

San Francisco: First day - April 22; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-11.

Seattle: First day - April 22; OTAs - May 27, May 29-30, June 2, June 4-5, June 9, June 11-12; Mandatory minicamp - June 17-19.

Tampa Bay: First day - April 21; OTAs - May 27-30, June 2-5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Tennessee: First day - April 22; OTAs - May 27-28, May 30, June 2-3, June 5; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

Washington: First day - April 22; OTAs - May 28, May 30, June 3-4, June 8; Mandatory minicamp - June 10-12.

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Campbell makes Red Sox history with electrifying start to MLB career

Campbell makes Red Sox history with electrifying start to MLB career originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It has been a week to remember for Boston Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell.

The organization’s No. 2 ranked prospect made the Opening Day roster and recorded his first MLB hit in a win over the Texas Rangers. His first big-league home run came two days later.

On Wednesday, the Red Sox announced they signed Campbell to an eight-year contract extension worth $60 million. The 22-year-old second baseman celebrated the occasion with two doubles and a victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Campbell stayed hot on Thursday, helping the Red Sox to an 8-4 win in their series finale vs. Baltimore. He went 2-for-4 at the plate with his second homer of the season:

Through seven games, Campbell leads Boston in hits (10) and doubles (four). He is tied with Wilyer Abreu for the team lead in homers.

The fourth-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has made franchise history with his torrid start to the campaign. According to Elias Sports, Campbell is the first Red Sox player to have at least 10 hits, six extra-base hits, and four walks in their first seven games to start their career.

Those numbers have made Campbell the early odds-on favorite to secure the American League Rookie of the Year award. While he already looks like a star in the making, his own teammates could give him stiff competition for the honor later in the year. Fellow top Red Sox prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer are expected to make an impact with the big-league club at some point this season.

The Red Sox will look to earn their third consecutive win Friday when they welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Fenway Park for their home opener.

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Walker silences boobirds with 6 shutout innings to complete sweep over Rockies

Walker silences boobirds with 6 shutout innings to complete sweep over Rockies originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There were boos every time he took the mound at BayCare Ballpark during spring training.

There were boos on Opening Day when his name was announced for the first time this season at Citizens Bank Park.

And again, there were boos when he was announced as the starting pitcher for Thursday’s series finale against the Rockies.

“It would affect anyone, really,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said about the boos in his office before the game. “But I think he handles it really well.”

At the end of the sixth inning, as the Phillies were inching their way towards their first sweep of the season, Taijuan Walker celebrated while walking off the mound after striking out Hunter Goodman. He made his way to the dugout and for the first time in a long time, wasn’t met with boobirds. In fact, he was met with 34,097 Phillies fans rising to their feet to applaud his outing.

Six scoreless innings. Three hits. Four punch outs. 74 pitches.

3-1, Phillies.

It’s Walker’s first win since May 11 last season. 327 days. He made 16 starts in the interim.

Even with minimal help offensively, this was Walker’s day. If you’re the 32-year-old, you couldn’t ask for a better start to the season.

After a series of infield mishaps for the Rockies in the second inning, the Phillies found themselves with the bases loaded for the second time in under 24 hours. And just like the former … they weren’t able to bring any runs across the plate.

Well, at least Max Kepler tried. Brandon Marsh grounded out to Rockies Pitcher Antonio Senzatela and with a fielder’s choice to catcher Jacob Stallings, Kepler was initially called safe. After review, the ruling was overturned.

The afternoon of offensive oddities continued in the fourth with J.T. Realmuto. After Realmuto collected his second single of the day, Bryson Stott had what could’ve been a knock into right field, except it hit the Phillies’ catcher on the base path.

Third time is always the charm, right?

Kyle Schwarber led off the fifth inning and should’ve been out on a routine pop up to left fielder and former Phillie, Mickey Moniak. Moniak dropped the ball, putting Schwarber aboard. He scored on a Bryce Harper double two batters later.

Schwarber added a little breathing room with a 444-foot bomb to the second deck in right center field. He’s currently on the longest hitting streak of his career to open the season and is leading the club with four home runs.

These are the games the Phillies need to be winning. Back-to-back series wins, including a sweep, is the expectation when you’re going against subpar teams like the Nationals and Rockies. Now 5-1 on the season, they’re going to face their first big test this weekend with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers coming to town for a three-game series. The Dodgers are currently sitting a pretty 8-0 at the top of the NL West and are coming off of a walk-off win against the Braves. They’ll be hungry for more.

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Some diehard baseball fans in sports-crazed Sacramento welcome Athletics and hope they stay awhile

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Van Thompson walked through the busy concourse shortly before first pitch and sang along to the national anthem, a white Athletics ball cap in hand covering his heart.

Susan Falcon took her dog out on the other side of town near a bustling coffee shop and raved about the positive vibe the A’s have brought to California’s sports-crazed capital city in such a short time.

On the fly, former minor league pitcher Jarod Pavese packed up two of his three daughters and the boyfriend of one and headed north from Southern California’s Riverside County for a last-minute spring break trip to cheer their Chicago Cubs in the series finale.

“It was very spontaneous. We try to be as spontaneous as we can but not really,” 17-year-old high school senior Gianna Pavese said, sitting with her boyfriend Gavinn Schulze, dad and 12-year-old sister Kat in row 10 of section 104 on a sunny spring day. “It’s really exciting. It was just spur of the moment.”

Despite some kinks still to be worked out, the A’s relocation is providing fans who might not regularly go to games a big new opportunity to see the big leagues live.

After its 57-year Oakland run ended last September in a painful split for fans — many of them lifelong A’s supporters — the club has insisted this stay in West Sacramento will be temporary until a new stadium in Las Vegas is supposed to be ready in 2028. The A’s even declined to adopt the Sacramento in its official name while here for the next three years — they are simply the Athletics, with no city attached.

That hasn’t squashed curiosity or enthusiasm so far.

Bryan Haywood of Bozeman, Montana, attended his first-ever major league game at age 46. He and friend and fellow Montanan Chris Anderson of Livingston made the trip to Sacramento.

“It was amazing,” Haywood said.

Thompson lives in Sacramento and is a big fan of the NBA’s Kings. He wanted to show his support for the new team in town.

“I came with an A’s fan,” he said. “I’m a Kings fan, I just came to support the cause.”

Falcon has spoken to plenty of people who plan to cheer the A’s, or already have for years and finally get to do so from right nearby.

“Sacramento loves the A’s, they’re elated, they’re so excited, they’re going to wear the colors, they’re going to show up, they’re going to do everything,” she said. “They will be there.”

Business partners Dan Niccum and Ken McGuire are crossing their fingers the A’s never leave their new Northern California home. They plan to hold onto their four second-row seats however long the club stays. Niccum doesn’t expect the A’s to relocate to Las Vegas anytime soon — because “it’s a pipe dream what they’re doing in Vegas right now” — even though the A’s say that will be for the 2028 season.

“They’re here for at least four or five years, and so we’re here for the duration,” Niccum said. “We are excited to be here.”

How visiting teams feel about playing in a minor league park and how it tests the patience of A’s players over time remains to be seen. There were 12 home runs hit, eight by Chicago.

Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, for one, hardly wants to be one to speak out negatively about the A’s new Northern California home. Swanson prefers to be supportive of the situation, to see the glass half-full and just be grateful to play at this level. Even if there are many kinks to be worked out after the initial homestand at Sutter Health Park, where the visiting team’s clubhouse is through an opening in the center-field wall.

Swanson’s dear friend since their college days at Vanderbilt is A’s pitcher Tyler Ferguson, so the Cubs infielder has heard plenty about the progress at Sutter Health Park.

Attendance for the initial three-game set at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento was 31,556 after the opener Monday had a sellout of 12,119.

“Obviously they’ve done as much as they can in order to make it as best as it can be. Obviously give everyone props for being able to make it happen,” Swanson said. “We all think it might be easier than it is but it’s not and everyone’s doing the best they can.”

He took time out of his pregame routine to sign some autographs. And Swanson figures opposing players might as well stay positive and supportive because there’s nothing that can be changed at this stage regarding the A’s playing in a minor league ballpark. The club will share the venue with the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.

Yet many A’s fans are far from ready to let go of nearly six decades of memories in the East Bay. And for the home opener, some sported T-shirts reading “I’d Rather Be At the Oakland Coliseum.”

Manager Mark Kotsay hopes some of them eventually will eventually make the 85-mile trek north. Even after a forgettable first series in which the A’s were outscored 35-9.

“I definitely feel the energy. It’s tough for them to love us after we performed the way we did,” Kotsay said. “But I do think that this city is excited. There’s a lot of excitement to bring baseball to this part of California that Major League Baseball hasn’t been. ... We also want those that are still in Oakland to make that drive two hours north and come watch us as well.”

A’s outfielder Lawrence Butler sat on the podium in a makeshift press conference room with the A’s logo behind him on a banner that also said Las Vegas. Butler is in it for the long haul and looks to be a face of the franchise for at least the immediate future, having signed a seven-year, $65.5 million contract.

So far, he appreciates how the city has embraced the A’s. From popular restaurants, welcoming hotel staff, to supporters on the Sacramento State college campus and folks on the street, there’s plenty of chatter about the team.

The iconic yellow Tower Bridge visible beyond right field lit up in green for the first night game in spirit of the new team in town and to give a festive green-and-gold A’s vibe.

“Pretty quiet, low-key city, but I’ve figured out that there’s a lot of stuff to do, a lot of good places to eat at. I haven’t fully explored all of those places yet,” Butler said. “I’m hoping to, but it feels like it’s a nice, cool, low-key city. What I’ve gotten from it is that they really love their sports teams. We’re another sports team coming here so I’m pretty sure they’ll show out tonight and show us a lot of love.”

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Mets vs. Blue Jays: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 4-6

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Blue Jays play a three-game series at Citi Field beginning on Friday at 3:10 p.m. on SNY.

Preview

Will Francisco Lindor (and the rest of the lineup) break out?

Through their first six games, the Mets' offense has been largely absent for five of them. And during Wednesday's comeback win over the Marlins, it was Pete Alonsowho rescued them with a three-run homer in the eighth inning.

Aside from Alonso (1.090 OPS), Juan Soto(.836 OPS), Brandon Nimmo(.780 OPS), and Luis Torrens (.978), it has been a struggle for everyone else.

Lindor has just two hits in his first 20 at-bats, but he's showed signs the last two games, with an RBI single on Tuesday and a laced single down the right field line on Wednesday.

While Lindor might be perking up, Mark Vientos looks like he's in a fog. Vientos is 2-for-24 and totally out of it at the plate. During Wednesday's game in Miami, he spent the entire day seemingly in-between -- swinging at a fastball at his eyes, watching hittable middle-middle fastballs go by, and waving at secondary stuff down and away.

Meanwhile, Jesse Winker (.466 OPS), Brett Baty (.214 OPS), and Tyrone Taylor (.286 OPS) haven't contributed much.

So the Mets will be looking to bust out at home, where the temperature will be mild on Friday and Sunday, but with rain in the forecast all weekend.

New York's bullpen has been elite

The starting rotation has been solid, but the Mets' relief corps has been fantastic early on.

With the exception of Danny Young (whose roster spot is tenuous and could be lost once Dedniel Núñez is ready), and A.J. Minter (who had a wobbly outing on Wednesday), everyone else has excelled:

  • Edwin Diaz: Zero runs and just one runner allowed in 2.0 innings
  • Max Kranick: 3.2 perfect innings
  • Jose Butto: 3.2 scoreless innings
  • Huascar Brazoban: 5.0 scoreless innings
  • Reed Garrett: 2.1 scoreless innings
  • Ryne Stanek: 1.1 scoreless innings, hit 100 mph on Wednesday

That the above pitchers have been great out of the gate should not be surprising, since they all possess plus stuff.

Moving forward, it's fair to believe that Minter will be very good and that Núñez -- who was one of the Mets' best relievers last season -- will add a serious jolt, potentially making this unit a truly dominant one.

The Blue Jays are streaking

The Jays are on a four-game winning streak and have a 5-2 record, but their run differential suggests they've been a bit lucky so far.

Aug 8, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates his to run home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre.
Aug 8, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first base Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates his to run home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. / Gerry Angus-Imagn Images

Toronto has scored 32 runs (the most in the American League entering play on Thursday) and allowed 31 runs (the fourth-most in the AL and seventh-most in baseball).

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hasn't homered yet in seven games, but the slack has been picked up by George Springer (1.187 OPS) and Andres Gimenez (1.131 OPS), who have helped carry the offense.

Bo Bichette is also having a solid bounce back year so far, hitting .310 with a .754 OPS.

The Mets' defense needs to lock it up

New York has left a lot to be desired in the field, as they've mixed in oodles of physical and mental errors.

Among them: A two-error game from Lindor that decided Tuesday's tilt with the Marlins, a Taylor misplay in center field, Soto kicking the ball around a bit in right field, Baty uncorking a bad throw home where he was rescued by Torrens, and Vientos air-mailing a throw home and thinking a fair ball that he fielded was foul.

Lindor and Taylor are too good to be concerned about, but the same can't be said for Baty -- who is continuing to learn second base on the fly -- and Vientos.

Vientos has worked incredibly hard to become passable at third base, but the fact remains that he was among the worst defenders there last season, worth -7 runs and in the sixth percentile, via Baseball Savant.

The main thing Vientos has to do is make the routine plays, which he hasn't done enough of so far in 2025.

Can the Mets get to Bowden Francis?

The Mets will face Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, and Francis -- who is set to get the ball in the series finale on Sunday.

Francis was strong in his season debut, allowing just two hits (both were home runs) over 6.0 innings while walking three and striking out four against the Nationals.

Last season against the Mets, Francis was nearly unhittable.

Francis carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning before it was broken up by a Lindor home run in what turned out to be an enormous Mets win.

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Francisco Lindor

Lindor is ready to break out, and he'll start doing it during the home opener.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

David Peterson

Peterson was impressive against the Marlins during his first start of the season, allowing two runs in 6.0 innings while striking out nine.

Which Blue Jays player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

Like Lindor, Guerrero is due to erupt. It's hard to believe he'll still have zero home runs at the conclusion of this series.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Sandy Alcantara trade buzz; crazy win over Marlins

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Wednesday, in case you missed it...

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Historic number Verlander is chasing ahead of Giants home debut

Historic number Verlander is chasing ahead of Giants home debut originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander isn’t ready to answer a question that nearly every pitcher in Major League history has not had to worry about. 

When he met with local reporters on Monday in Houston, Verlander was asked if he will go into the Hall of Fame in a Detroit Tigers or Houston Astros cap, but he said that’s a bridge he will cross down the line. The fact that it even was asked was a reminder of just how different all of this is for his current franchise. 

The newest Giants starter punched that ticket to Cooperstown years ago, and now there really only are two questions that remain about his candidacy — well, aside from the issue of the cap on his plaque. Will the voting be unanimous in a few years, and will Verlander go in as a member of the 300-win club?

Verlander, who is at 262 wins, has no control over the former, but he makes no secret of the fact that he’s chasing the latter. 

“It’s definitely a goal, it definitely pushes me a bit,” he said on the “Giants Talk” podcast this spring. “But the fire is still there. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. It would be different if it was like five wins away from it and it was like, ‘Alright, let’s go back out there for another season.’ But it’s still a ways off. 

“I have that drive. I want to put in the work that’s necessary. And I still have fun.”

That last part was clear in Houston, where Verlander pitched for seven seasons and won two rings and two Cy Youngs. 

He was late to his media session because he was busy working on things in the visiting bullpen. Before throwing, Verlander caught up with former teammate Jose Altuve, and he spent plenty of time the next two days exchanging handshakes and hugs in the outfield during batting practice. 

Verlander won 73 games in Houston, which only is about a quarter of his career total, but still is a staggering number for most of his teammates. Landen Roupp and Hayden Birdsong, the two young starters on staff, have combined for six career wins, and Birdsong quickly shook his head when asked if starters in the minors are even having conversations about historic win totals these days. 

“No,” he said. “Not at all.” 

Robbie Ray is just five ahead of Verlander’s Houston total for his entire 12-year career. Logan Webb broke through in 2021 and has been one of the best pitchers in baseball ever since, but his victory on Tuesday night only got him to 56.

Webb is a throwback, and a two-time NL innings leader, but he still is part of a different generation, one that has learned to not care as much about the “pitcher win.” 

He still aims to go nine every time out, but he knows the way starting pitchers are evaluated has changed over the last decade. When Webb finished second in Cy Young voting two years ago, he won 11 games. Blake Snell, the Cy Young, won 14. 

“He’s probably going to be one of, it not the last guy, to have a shot at it,” Webb said of Verlander. “It’s just maybe the way the game is going, but it’s cool to see him try to get that. I know he’s very motivated to do that and wants to play three or four more years to be part of that club, which is a very exclusive club. It’s a cool thing for him and a cool thing for us to see him try and chase that. I think he has the same aspirations that he had when he was 28 years old.”

Verlander, who turned 42 this spring, took a no-decision in his first start with the Giants. When he toes the rubber for the home opener on Friday, he’ll be 38 wins away from becoming the 25th player to win 300 games in the big leagues. Perhaps there will be some change to the rules or the game, or some extreme outlier years down the line, but at the moment, it seems Verlander will be the last to ever take a shot at joining the club. Even getting to 200 seems out of reach these days.

The active wins leader after Verlander is Max Scherzer, who is at 216 and just went on the IL after the first start of his 19th season. After that is Clayton Kershaw (212), who also is on the IL and likely to retire in the next year or two. After those three, there’s a long drop to Gerrit Cole (153), who is 34 years old and just had Tommy John surgery. No active pitcher under 30 even has 100 career wins. 

“I guess you could see it happening,” Verlander said. “Every generation kind of has been pushing in that direction. Heck, I might be the last one to 250. It’s just crazy how the game has changed for starting pitching.”

Verlander won 124 games before his 30th birthday and had a 21-win season as a 36-year-old and 18-win season as a 39-year-old. The pace has slowed as he has dealt with injuries in his forties, but he’s healthy now and confident that a bounceback season is coming.

At 5-1, the Giants look like they might give Verlander more chances for a “W” than most anticipated, and Bob Melvin is well aware of what the number means to his No. 2 starter. You can bet he will have it in mind at times if Verlander is close to qualifying for a win, and Webb said the manager isn’t alone. 

“We do want to try to win as many games as we can, but for us, just watching Justin try to get to 300 is the coolest thing,” Webb said. “And I know the guys in here — the position players and the relievers — they want to help him get there, too.”

Even in the most optimistic scenario, Verlander will need three or more seasons to get a shot at 300. He picked up 13 wins in 27 starts two years ago, and he has made no secret of the fact he believes he can pitch into his mid-forties.

Verlander already is the oldest active player in the four major professional sports, and he doesn’t intend to stop anytime soon. That was part of the appeal for president of baseball operations Buster Posey, who texted Verlander a message after the one-year deal became official this offseason. 

“Wouldn’t it be something if you won your 300th game in a Giants uniform.”

As he thought this spring about his entire 20-year career and what’s ahead, Verlander kept coming back to that text and the unpredictability of baseball. He doesn’t know what’s ahead, but he knows what he’s chasing. 

“It just really stuck out to me,” he said of Posey’s text. “You just never know where this game takes you, and wouldn’t that be something.”

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Reds at Brewers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 3

Its Thursday, April 3 and the Reds (2-4) are in Milwaukee to open a series against the Brewers (2-4).

Nick Lodolo is slated to take the mound for Cincinnati against Nestor Cortes for Milwaukee.

The Reds limp into town searching for offense after being shut out 19 innings. On back-to-back days Cincinnati was on the short end of 1-0 games against the Rangers. Yesterday, Hunter Greene was exceptional throwing seven innings of one-run ball, but Jack Leiter and the Texas pen were better limiting the Reds to three hits.

The Brewers picked up their second win of the season last night, winning 3-2 against the Royals in eleven innings. Brice Turang's suicide squeeze plated Oliver Dunn with the winning run for Milwaukee.

Lets dive into tonight's matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Reds at Brewers

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:40PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: FDS, FDS

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Reds at the Brewers

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Reds (-104), Brewers (-116)
  • Spread:  Brewers 1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Reds at Brewers

  • Pitching matchup for April 3, 2025: Nick Lodolo vs. Nestor Cortes
    • Reds: Nick Lodolo (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/29 vs. Giants - 6 IP, 2ER, 5H, 0BB, 1K
    • Brewers: Nestor Cortes (0-1, 36.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/29 at NYY - 2 IP, 8ER, 6H, 5BB, 2Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Reds at Brewers

  • The Brewers are 1-5 on the Run Line this season
  • Cincinnati has scored 7 runs in their 4 losses this season but has scored 17 runs in their 2 wins
  • Nestor Cortes gave up 5 HRs to the Yankees in his first start of the season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Reds and the Brewers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Reds and the Brewers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Brewers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brewers -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Rangers v Hibs: Pick of the stats

Rangers v Hibs: Pick of the stats
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  • Rangers are unbeaten in their last 24 league meetings with Hibs (W17 D7) since a 2-1 defeat in February 2018 under Graeme Murty.
  • Hibs have lost their past 11 league visits to Rangers by an aggregate score of 27-7 since a 1-1 draw in December 2018 under Neil Lennon.
  • Rangers have lost their past four home games in all competitions – the longest losing run at home in the club's history.
  • Hibs are unbeaten in their past 15 league games (W10 D5), the longest unbeaten run within a single season in the Scottish top fight in the 21st century by any side other than the Old Firm clubs. Hibs started the day of the first game in this run (14 Dec) bottom of the table, but now find themselves third.
  • Rangers have conceded 2+ goals in each of their past five league games (11 conceded in total); in their entire history, only from December 1893 to April 1894 have they ever conceded twice or more in six successive league fixtures.
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Diamondbacks at Yankees prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for April 3

Its Thursday, April 3 and the Diamondbacks (4-2) are in the Big Apple looking for the three-game sweep of the Yankees.

Merrill Kelly is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Carlos Carrasco for New York.

Zach Gallen was the story last night as the veteran hurler tossed 6.2 innings of three-hit ball while striking out 13. Arizona pitchers struck out 16 Yankees in total on the night. Aaron Judge, Ben Rice, and Jasson Dominguez each K'd three times. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ripped his second home run of the season in the first inning off of Carlos Rodon.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Diamondbacks at Yankees

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: New York, NY
  • Network/Streaming: Dbacks.TV, YES

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Diamondbacks at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (-109), Yankees (-110)
  • Spread:  Yankees 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for April 3, 2025: Merrill Kelly vs. Carlos Carrasco
    • Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (1-0, 1.69 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/28 vs. Cubs - 5.1 IP, 1ER, 3H, 4BB, 1K
    • Yankees: Carlos Carrasco (0-0, 13.50 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/29 vs. Milwaukee - 2 IP, 3ER, 5H, 0BB, 2Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Diamondbacks at Yankees

  • The Yankees have struck out 30 times in the last 2 games
  • Anthony Volpe has 4 hits this season and all are home runs
  • Arizona picked up just three hits in yesterday's win
  • The Yankees are 3-2 overall this season and 3-2 on the Run Line

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Yankees

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Diamondbacks and the Yankees:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Arizona Diamondbacks at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Astros at Twins prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 3

Its Thursday, April 3 and the Astros (2-4) are in Minnesota to open a series against the Twins (2-4).

Hunter Brown is slated to take the mound for Houston against Joe Ryan for Minnesota.

Houston yesterday wrapped up a dismal series against the San Francisco Giants with a 6-3 loss. Seven batters in Houston's starting lineup on Wednesday finished the day hitting under .200 for the season. No shock the Astros scored just six runs over the course of the three games.

Yesterday the Twins bats broke out in Chicago against the White Sox. Byron Buxton smacked picked up two hits including his first home run of the season and Minnesota defeated the Sox, 6-1.

Lets dive into this afternoon's matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Astros at Twins

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 4:10PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: SCHN, Twins.TV

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Astros at the Twins

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Astros (+102), Twins (-121)
  • Spread:  Twins -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Astros at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for April 3, 2025: Hunter Brown vs. Joe Ryan
    • Astros: Hunter Brown (0-1, 3.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/28 vs. Mets - 6 IP, 2ER, 4H, 3BB, 7Ks
    • Twins: Joe Ryan (0-0, 1.80 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/28 at St. Louis - 5 IP, 1ER, 5H, 0BB, 5Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Astros at Twins

  • Houston is 1-5 on the Run Line this season
  • Minnesota has won two in a row outright and covered the Run Line in each of the 2 games
  • While offense has been an issue for Houston (12 runs in 6 games), pitching has been an issue for Minnesota (32 runs against in 6 games)
  • Jose Altuve collected 2 hits Wednesday and is hitting .391 this season

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for this afternoon’s game between the Astros and the Twins

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Astros and the Twins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Houston Astros at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
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Rockies at Phillies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 3

Its Thursday, April 3 and the Rockies (1-4) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (4-1) in the finale of their series.

Antonio Senzatela is slated to take the mound for Colorado against Taijuan Walker for Philadelphia.

Yesterday, Zack Wheeler was dominant for Philly throwing seven innings and giving up just one run and three hits while striking out 10. Michael Toglia struck out four times for Colorado. Trea Turner picked up three hits to raise his average to .333.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rockies at Phillies

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 1:05PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: Rockies.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rockies at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Rockies (+179), Phillies (-217)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for April 3, 2025: Antonio Senzatela vs. Taijuan Walker
    • Rockies: Antonio Senzatela (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/29 at Tampa Bay - 4 IP, 0ER, 9H, 2BB, 0K
    • Phillies: Taijuan Walker (0-0)
      2024 - 19GP, 83.2 IP, 3-7, 7.10 ERA, 58Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Phillies

  • Kris Bryant picked up his first hit of the season yesterday and it raised his average to .071
  • Philadelphia is 4-1 on the Run Line and has scored at least 5 runs in each of their 4 wins
  • Colorado's bats did not make the trip to Philly as the offense has mustered but two runs through the first two games of the series

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Rockies and the Phillies

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Rockies and the Phillies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Phillies -1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Red Sox at Orioles Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 3

Its Thursday, April 3 and the Red Sox (2-4) wrap up their series in Baltimore against the Orioles (3-3).

Tanner Houck is slated to take the mound for Boston against Charlie Morton for Baltimore.

Yesterday, Garrett Crochet threw eight scoreless innings and the Bosox blanked the Orioles, 3-0. Not sure which is the bigger headline but Rafael Devers picked up his first hits of the Spring AND did not strike out.

Lets dive into this afternoon's matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Red Sox at Orioles

  • Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
  • Time: 1:05PM EST
  • Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, Maryland
  • Network/Streaming: NESN, MASN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Red Sox at the Orioles

The latest odds as of Thursday:

  • Moneyline: Red Sox (-114), Orioles (-106)
  • Spread:  Red Sox -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Orioles

  • Thursday’s pitching matchup for April 3, 2025: Tanner Houck vs. Charlie Morton
    • Red Sox: Tanner Houck (0-1, 6.35 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/28 at Texas - 5.2 IP, 4ER, 7H, 3BB, 2Ks
    • Orioles: Charlie Morton, (0-1, 10.80 ERA)
      Last outing: 3/28 at Toronto - 3.1 IP, 4ER, 7H, 1BB, 3Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Red Sox at Orioles

  • The Red Sox have lost 4 of their last 5 games but are 4-2 on the Run Line this season
  • The Orioles have alternated wins and losses this season and, in every win, they have covered the spread, but they have failed to do so in every loss
  • 2B Kristian Campbell is 6-16 this season for Boston

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Red Sox and the Orioles

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Red Sox and the Orioles:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Baltimore Orioles on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Five takeaways from Giants' excellent 2025 season-opening road trip

Five takeaways from Giants' excellent 2025 season-opening road trip originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The Houston Astros run a promotion at Daikin Park that borrows from the old “steal a taco” campaign from the World Series. If an Astro steals a base, every fan will get a coupon for five free wings from Pluckers Wing Bar as they exit the park. There’s a funny graphic that flashes across the scoreboard when the wings are clinched, but they had to wait until the second inning of the final game of their series with the Giants to use it.

Jeremy Peña drew a one-out walk and successfully snagged second against backup catcher Sam Huff. What was so notable about it — aside from the free wings, of course — was the fact that it was the first attempt against the Giants all season. They’re the only team in the Majors with fewer than three attempts against them. 

While opponents aren’t running, the Giants are. Seemingly every year they talk in the offseason and spring of being more aggressive on the bases, and through six games they’ve finally gained an edge in an area where they’ve been thoroughly outmanned in recent seasons. 

The Giants allowed the third-most stolen bases in the big leagues last year and ranked 29th in the Majors on the offensive side. They were minus-78 on the bases, and you have to go back to 2021 for the last time they stole more bases than they allowed. They didn’t even run that much that season, but with Buster Posey in the squat, they allowed just 53 stolen bases. Two years later, that number ballooned to 124, and they stole just 57.

Last season, the Giants allowed 146 stolen bases, but that wasn’t on their catcher. Patrick Bailey won a Gold Glove Award despite working with a pitching staff that was generally slow to the plate and did a poor job of holding runners. Bailey has made four starts this season — including a pair against Elly De La Cruz and the Cincinnati Reds — and has yet to get a chance to test his arm. That’s a good thing.

“My shoulder is going to feel a lot better,” he said, laughing. 

Bailey said the credit goes to his pitchers. They are doing a better job of holding runners, led by Opening Day starter Logan Webb, who watched the opposition succeed in 21 of 26 attempts last year. Webb has spent years trying to patch that hole in his game and has dropped about 0.2 seconds off his times to the plate thanks to a mechanical change this spring. 

“I’m just trying to give him a chance,” Webb said of Bailey.

Given Bailey’s skill set, there’s no reason why the Giants shouldn’t excel at controlling the running game if their pitchers do their part. That would flip a deficiency into a huge strength for a team that’s 5-1 to start the season. 

“Something we put an emphasis on this spring is being quicker to the plate, and I think for the most part our guys have been good,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ve had some leads as well. But I think it’s the emphasis and understanding that especially with a staff that gets a lot of groundballs, if we can keep guys from going to second base, the groundball is always in play, too.”

The Giants also stole six bases on the trip, with Mike Yastrzemski leading the way with a pair. They attempted a double-steal Wednesday, and both runners scored when Heliot Ramos smoked a ball into the gap. Perhaps it’s time to come up with a wing-related promotion for Oracle Park? The running game was one area that really stood out on a successful trip that featured strong pitching and clean baseball. Here are four more:

Living Up To The Hype

Through five wins, Melvin still hasn’t gotten to use his preferred trio in the final three innings, but all that has done is show off the depth of the bullpen. 

When Ryan Walker’s back flared up, Camilo Doval stepped in and threw a 1-2-3 ninth. Walker looked like his normal self on Monday and Tuesday, but that workload sidelined him Wednesday. Doval again stepped in for the quick save. 

Randy Rodriguez was the hero earlier in the game by getting out of a jam, and he had a tantalizing first week. Erik Miller has three scoreless appearances and whipped 99 mph past Yordan Alvarez earlier this week. Tyler Rogers is doing what he does; he’s appeared in four of six games and hasn’t allowed a run. 

Melvin plans to have Doval and Rogers set up for Walker once everyone resets. If this version of Rodriguez is your fourth right-hander in the pen, you’re in tremendous shape, and so far the Giants haven’t paid for carrying just one lefty. 

The bullpen had a 1.74 ERA on the trip and allowed just 13 hits in 20 2/3 innings. It looks like it’s going to be one of the best and deepest groups in baseball. 

Get A Bigger Trophy Case

Jordan Hicks was painting the corners on Monday, and his catcher made sure that home plate umpire Todd Tichenor came along for the ride. During Hicks’ dominant second inning against the Astros, Bailey provided a reminder of why he’s known as the game’s best pitch-framer: 

A couple of times on the trip, Giants relievers made a face at the umpire after a close pitch was called a ball. Both times the call was correct, but Bailey had pulled the pitch into the zone, making it look better than it was. Nobody is better at it, and it’ll be a very, very easy Gold Glove case if runners continue to shy away from testing him.

The Giants have had four Gold Glove catchers in franchise history. None of the previous three — including Posey — won a second one, but Bailey entered the year as the heavy favorite in the National League and nothing has changed through six games.

Taking The Next Step? 

On April 4 last year, Heliot Ramos was in Reno, playing right field and batting fifth for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. On Friday, he will get a huge ovation at Oracle Park, where the home fans are hopeful that a superstar is developing before their eyes. 

With apologies to Wilmer Flores, the biggest offensive development on the trip was Ramos continuing to show that last season was no fluke — and that even better days might be ahead. Ramos had the best OPS in the NL last year against left-handed pitchers, and early on this season he has three homers against righties. He comes home with an even 1.000 OPS, and he has played strong defense in left field. 

It’s enough to make you wonder where this is headed. Will he break the 30-homer drought and keep going for 40? Will he graduate from All-Star to MVP candidate? 

It’s been six games, but Ramos has raised his ceiling.

“It’s huge,” Matt Chapman said. “I think you’re going to see him take another step forward this season. When he’s hitting the way he’s hitting and playing that great defense, it’s just another guy that’s going to help us win a ton of baseball games.”

Finding Their Fit

On Monday afternoon, Casey Schmitt stood near the bag at first and fielded some grounders as the Giants took batting practice. He did the same on Tuesday, and in the seventh, he jogged over to play the position in a game for the first time since summer ball six years ago. A day later, he was the starting first baseman against Cy Young candidate Framber Valdez. 

Without Jerar Encarnacion, the Giants have an odd bench. There’s a backup catcher, a right-handed-hitting outfielder, and two righty infielders who don’t have much exposure to first base. They also have a lineup full of true everyday players for the first time since the Bruce Bochy years, and that’s made it hard for Melvin to keep everyone involved. 

Playing first base against lefties is a way for Schmitt to get on the field, and he said he was thrilled about that. It will be harder to find reps for Christian Koss, who made just one appearance on the trip.

Hayden Birdsong was the last member of the Opening Day roster to play in 2025, and that will continue to be a puzzle for the staff. The Giants don’t want to harm his development as a starter, and they believed that they could find enough innings early on to keep him stretched out. Birdsong threw a bullpen session in Cincinnati to prepare to back up Hicks in Houston, but Hicks worked so quickly that he got through six innings the first time out, and the lead was turned over to Doval in the seventh. 

Birdsong did end up pitching Wednesday, but threw just two innings and 26 pitches. The staff wanted to reward young players who earned the Opening Day roster honor, but it has been difficult to find time for them all. It would be a surprise if the same 26 players are on the flight to New York in a week. 

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