Category: MLB

David Stearns un in making over the Mets roster, and a 12-game losing streak just two weeks into the year might lead an executive to some regrets. 

Stearns insisted Friday he remains confident in the group he put together as the president of baseball operations. 

“It’s tough for me to take two weeks — even two weeks when we didn’t win a baseball game — and say that’s going to dramatically alter who we think we are,’’ Stearns said before the Mets opened a series against the Rockies with a 4-3 loss at Citi Field. 

“I still think we’re a good team,” Stearns said. “I recognize we had a stretch where we did not play good baseball, and it cost us. It cost us repeatedly. I think we’re a good team, and I think we will show that.” 

It hasn’t been evident much so far, as the new-look offense has mostly slumped — outside of a 10-run eruption in Thursday’s win. 

But even that victory was almost spoiled by some rough work by a bullpen that Stearns called “inconsistent,” with an odd mix of starting pitchers and the unreliable Devin Williams closing. 

The rotation has been shaky outside of Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes and the defense, also a focal point of the offseason, has had its rocky moments. 

And it left the Mets with a 9-17 record after Friday’s loss. 

Asked about his attempt to improve the team’s run prevention — a theme in the offseason — Stearns said the results have been mixed. 

“Run prevention as a whole is pitching and defense,’’ Stearns said. “There have been moments it’s really good [and] a couple moments that haven’t been so good. It leads to the record we’re at right now. We’ve had consistent play from different parts of our team.” 

Bo Bichette has shown signs of life at the plate, as has Marcus Semien, but only the Giants entered Friday having scored fewer runs than the Mets and the lineup as a whole has struggled against hard fastballs. 

Stearns pointed to the fact that some of those hitters struggling against high velocity have performed better in those spots throughout their careers and is confident that will happen again. 

But the reality is, even with winning consecutive games following the franchise’s longest losing streak since 2002, the Mets have issues — including being without Francisco Lindor indefinitely with a strained left calf just as Juan Soto returned from a right calf strain. 

“Injuries are part of this and injuries to good players are part of this,’’ Stearns said. “We’ve just got to get through it.” 

Hopefully with more success without Lindor than in Soto’s absence. 

“It’s frustrating,’’ Stearns said of the recent streak. “No one likes to lose and when you lose every single day for two weeks, it’s not a good feeling. We also know — I also know — where we are in the schedule and how long the season is.” 

And that’s why he’s not looking back and wondering what went wrong in putting the team together. 

“We’re not going to wholesale change the evaluation of our team over a two-week stretch,’’ Stearns said. “This is a long season. Going through a 12-game losing streak is difficult and not usual. There’s a reason it doesn’t happen very often, especially this early in the season.”

The Mets have gotten some clarity on Francisco Lindor’s left calf strain — and it’s not good news.

A day after the shortstop landed on the IL, manager Carlos Mendoza said Lindor would be in a walking boot for a week before being reevaluated in three weeks.

Mendoza said he did not yet know the grade of Lindor’s calf strain, as he and team president David Stearns both expressed that the five-time All-Star would be reassessed in 21 days.

Lindor’s injury, suffered during Wednesday’s 3-2 win against the Twins, came as the Mets welcomed back Juan Soto from a 15-game absence (following a calf issue of his own).

“Injuries are part of this, and injuries to good players are part of this,” Stearns said on Friday before the Mets faced the Rockies. “We’re certainly not the only team in baseball that deals with this, and we just got to get through it.”

The Mets did that on Thursday, winning their series against the Twins on the back of a 12-game losing streak, but will now rely on a rather unproven prospect in Lindor’s place.

His injury resulted in a second call-up of the season for Ronny Mauricio, who will look to seize his latest chance after blasting six homers in 15 games for Triple-A Syracuse.

The infielder committed an error in his first start back but has the trust of Stearns to make the shortstop position his own in Lindor’s absence.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS

“He’s going to get opportunity there. He demonstrated to us both in spring training and Triple-A that he can play shortstop, and we’re going to be confident in him at shortstop,” Stearns said.

“I recognize last night was a rough showing, but we believe he can play shortstop and we’re going to give him a chance.”

The 25-year-old’s gaudy minor league numbers haven’t yet translated to the majors, and he went 0-4 at the plate despite the Mets’ 10-8 win.

Mendoza said he is confident Mauricio will figure it out.

“It’s always important when you finally get an opportunity, but [it] also can put too much pressure. The last thing you want is trying to do too much and trying to impress people,” the manager said. 

“I think it’s just ‘go out there, play your game, be yourself.’ That’s all we’re asking him to do. And he’ll do just that. He’s a really good player that just needs to settle in here.”

Following his controversial remarks about Dodgers fans this offseason, Pete Crow-Armstrong told The California Post he’s anticipating a loud round of boos throughout his trip to Dodger Stadium on Friday night.

But if you think the expected response has the Cubs outfielder reconsidering his polarizing stance, think again.

“I don’t triple down,” Crow-Armstrong said. “But I don’t f—king regret s—t.”

In February, Crow-Armstrong, who grew up in Los Angeles, ruffled Angelenos’ feathers when he accused Dodgers fans of being fairweather supporters.

While praising Cubs fans for their passion, he alleged Boys in Blue backers simply show up to the ballpark “to take pictures and whatever.”

A few days later, following backlash, he stood by his statements.

“I grew up going to Dodgers games when they weren’t always good,” he said. “Their fans go in phases. Putting the Giants fan in the coma stuck with me as a kid. Sitting in the stands, nasty stuff goes on. I didn’t always experience that at other ballparks.”

Crow-Armstrong told The Post hours before he and his team took on the Dodgers for the first time since he muttered the shade that his feelings haven’t changed one bit.

“People that I grew up with that say they’re Dodgers fans don’t know s—t about baseball,” said Crow-Armstrong, a Harvard-Westlake School alum. “They don’t pay attention to the team, it’s just a place they go.

“So, again, no shade to diehard Dodgers fans. Because they’re out there. Every team’s got ‘em. But that’s what I got.”

Crow-Armstrong added that he truly feels people in LA head to Chavez Ravine to “take pictures of themselves at the games, just like what they go to Lakers games for and sit courtside and look good.”

“And, do what you do,” he continued. “But Cubs fans don’t do that. We got a fan base that loves being there in 20-degree weather.”

Crow-Armstrong also said he actually got threats over his initial statements.

“I’ve had people telling me that all offseason that my comments about the two fans that put the Giants fan in a coma — ‘I hope you get ready to know what that feels like,'” he said.

But he added he never took any seriously.

The Cubs and Dodgers will square off beginning at 7:15 p.m. Crow-Armstrong will start in center field and bat eighth.

And he said while he’s expecting a lot of trash talk, he won’t be shy about returning it.

“If I give them reason to talk s—t,” he said, “then I hope they take advantage of it and vice versa.”

The Dodgers and Cubs continue their weekend series with another exclusive national broadcast on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday is the Dodgers’ first game on Fox this season, which means no SportsNet LA for the series opener. But they will have Joe Davis on the national call, his first of two consecutive Dodgers Saturday telecasts for Fox.

Roki Sasaki gets the start on his bobblehead night, the third Dodgers player to play in their bobblehead game this season. Will Smith hit a game-winning two-run home run in the eighth inning on March 28, which was also his 31st birthday. Shohei Ohtani had a single and walk in his five plate appearances on April 10.

Right-hander Colin Rea starts for the Cubs.

Saturday game info

• Teams: Dodgers vs. Cubs
• Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
• Time: 4:15 p.m.
• TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smoltz)
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón made his first rehab start for High-A Hudson Valley on Friday night as he recovers from left elbow surgery and he hit the ground running by going 4.1 scoreless innings against the Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets' High-A affiliate.

Rodón allowed a hit, a Mitch Voit leadoff single, a walk and struck out four while throwing 65 pitches (43 strikes). He also hit a batter -- Voit in the third -- but ended his outing without surrendering a run.

At 50 pitches through three innings, Rodón went back out for the fourth inning which took him just nine pitches to complete, ending the frame with a strikeout of Colin Houck. After getting the first out of the fifth, Rodon walked the next batter, on a few questionable calls, and was pulled. He left with a 4-0 lead.

Rory Fox entered in relief and struck out two, stranding Rodón's runner at first base.

Earlier today, I reported on the Cubs roster move replacing Scott Kingery on the active roster with Nicky Lopez.

The Cubs transactions page had noted Kingery was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

Now, there’s been another move. As you know, Caleb Thielbar left Thursday’s game with a hamstring injury. This is how that happened [VIDEO].

Before Friday’s game at Dodger Stadium, the Cubs placed Thielbar on the 15-day injured list and added right-hander Vince Velasquez to the active roster. To make room for Velasquez on the 40-man roster, Kingery was designated for assignment.

The 33-year-old Velasquez has a 3.71 ERA (7 ER/17.0 IP) and 19 strikeouts in four games (three starts) with Iowa this season. He leads the I-Cubs in innings pitched and is tied for second in strikeouts. The right-hander signed a minor league contract with an invite to major league spring training with the Cubs on February 13, 2026.

In 191 career major league games, including 144 starts, with Houston (2015), Philadelphia (2016-21), San Diego (2021), the White Sox (2022), and Pittsburgh (2023), Velasquez is 38-51 with a 4.88 ERA (414 ER/763.2 IP), 822 strikeouts, 307 walks, and a 1.37 WHIP. He holds a 34-19 record with three saves, a 3.27 ERA (158 ER/434.1 IP), and 513 strikeouts compared to 173 walks in 109 minor league games (82 starts) across parts of 12 seasons.

I would think Velasquez will work long relief for the Cubs, which might free up Javier Assad to close — Assad did a real nice job in the 10th inning Thursday. Or Assad could set up for Ben Brown.

Lopez will wear No. 5 and Velasquez will wear No. 56.

As always, we await developments.

Today’s roster move: Here

Friday notes…

• STREAKING: The Cubs’ nine-game winning streak is their longest since they won 11 in a row July 31-Aug. 12, 2016. They had won nine in a row Aug. 6-15, 2015, then lost the 10th game. This is their 35th streak of at least nine games since 1901. They won the 10th in 23 of them. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• WINNING THE ONES YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO WIN: Until tonight, the Cubs have not faced an opponent with a winning record in 11 consecutive games, during which they went 10-1. The Cubs’ last such game was on April 12, when they stormed from behind to walk off the Pirates, 7-6. The Cubs are 3-4 in games this year vs. teams with more wins than losses. The two earlier wins were at home vs. the Nationals, in the second game of the season, and at Cleveland, in their eight game. The losses were to Cleveland, in their seventh and ninth games, and at home vs. the Pirates in their 13th and 14th.
• WINNING WHEN SCORING LOTS OF RUNS: The Cubs are 14-4 when they have scored at least four runs, including 12-1 with six or more. They are 11-2 when they have allowed three of fewer; 5-7 with at least four.
• THE BUSCH LEAGUE:Michael Busch, career at Dodger Stadium: .317/.379/.633 (19-for-60) with seven doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI. Busch batted .235/.333/.412, 8-for-34 with three doubles and a home run at Dodger Stadium while with the Dodgers in 2023. As a Cub in L.A.: .423/.444/.923 (11-for-26) with four doubles, three home runs and nine runs scored.

The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.

Dodgers lineup:

Jameson Taillon, RHP vs. Emmet Sheehan, RHP

Jameson Taillon’s numbers are just about at his career averages. His K rate and BB rate are both up a bit from last year, and he’s already served up six home run balls in just 22.2 innings. His last start, last Saturday against the Mets, was pretty good.

Jamo has not faced the Dodgers in more than three years. The last time was April 15, 2023 at Dodger Stadium, so long ago that Jason Heyward started for L.A. in that game.

Current Dodgers are batting .260 (21-for-79) against Taillon. Kyle Tucker has homered off him and Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez have both gone deep twice. Advice: Keep the ball in the yard tonight please.

This will be Emmet Sheehan’s first full year in the Dodgers rotation, as he missed all of 2024 and part of last year after Tommy John surgery. He got hit pretty hard in his first two starts this year, the last two have been better.

He has never faced the Cubs, and among current Cubs, only Alex Bregman (1-for-4) and Michael Conforto (0-for-3) have faced him.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Dodger Stadium.

Today’s game is on Apple TV (how to watch). Apple announcers: Wayne Randazzo, Dontrelle Willis and Heidi Watney.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Dodgers site True Blue LA. If you do go there to interact with Dodgers fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

The Mariners had a fairly underwhelming homestand, going just 3-3 against a pair of division rivals in the Rangers and A’s, but a walkoff from Josh Naylor on Wednesday salvaged much of the vibes. After an off day yesterday, Seattle embarks on its first Midwest road trip of the year, kicking things off with a rare three-game set at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The last time the M’s squared off against the Cardinals on their turf, they took two out of three in September 2024, and I know I would happily take that this time around.

Lineups:

Hotshot prospect JJ Wetherholt will lead things off for the Cards, and Jordan Walker appears to have finally unlocked his full potential with a monster start to 2026. St. Louis will be sending out a ground-ball-happy righty in Andre Pallante, and with a sensational defensive shortstop in Masyn Winn playing behind him, it would be prudent for the Mariners’ lineup to get the ball in the air. George Kirby will look to build off a strong outing against Texas, and Seattle will be rolling out its usual lineup against right-handed pitching, with Leo Rivas once again at the hot corner while Brendan Donovan is on the mend.

Game Info:

First Pitch: 5:15pm Pacific

TV: Mariners.tv

Radio: Ol’ reliable

The St. Louis Cardinals return home for a short 3-game homestand as the visiting Seattle Mariners come to town. Unfortunately, former Cardinal Brendan Donovan will not see action as he’s on the injured list. Here’s hoping there will be an opportunity for fans to show their appreciate to Brendan at some point. Andre Pallante is scheduled to get the start for the Cardinals while George Kirby will be on the mound for Seattle. First pitch scheduled for 7:15pm central time.

Fresh off a three-game sweep of Boston at Fenway Park, the Yankees begin the second series of this nine-game road trip. The opponent? Another rival club that is off to a rough start to 2026: the Houston Astros. Devastated by injuries to their pitching staff, the ‘Stros come into the series with a 10-16 record. If you’re wondering how it’s going for Houston on the mound, peep the 5.81 team ERA and collective 1.630 WHIP.

Will Warren takes the ball for New York, coming off one of the finest outings of his career (by Game Score, the second-best) against Kansas City. Warren struck out 11 over seven innings of two-run ball. The 26-year-old is off to a solid start in 2026, with a 2.45 ERA through 25.1 frames. Warren has relied heavily on his heat, throwing his four-seamer and sinker a combined 68 percent of the time. He augments those with his sweeper. And against lefties, he adds a curve and a change into the mix.

Meanwhile, Lance McCullers, Jr., one of the few healthy Astros starting pitchers, makes the start for Houston. One of the scant Astros remaining from the controversial 2017 team that knocked the Yankees out of the ALCS during Aaron Judge’s phenomenal rookie year, McCullers’ career has been absolutely derailed by injury, as he’s missed three entire seasons, including 2023 and 2024. This will be his fifth start of the season. His last two outings have been particularly rough, with McCullers allowing a combined 10 runs in 9.1 innings. Walks have been an issue, with five free passes in those 9.1 innings.

With the Yanks facing a right-handed pitcher for the first time in what seems like months, the lefty boppers are in the lineup. Trent Grisham leads off, and Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice sit behind Judge. Austin Wells gets the night off, so J.C. Escarra dons the tools of ignorance. With all the time McCullers has missed, not many Yankees have experience against him. Judge has faced him 11 times, the most for any Yankee. Giancarlo Stanton is the only Bronx Bomber who’s taken McCullers deep.

Let’s keep this whole “immiserate our enemies” thing going. The Yanks kicked Boston while they were down. Here’s hoping they can do it to the H.

How to Watch:

Location: Daikin Park — Houston, TX

First Pitch: 8:10 pm EDT

TV broadcast: YES / Space City Home Network

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 / KTRH 740 AM/99.1 FM HD-2, KTLN-TUDN 102.9 FM

Online stream: MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

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

he Houston Astros (10-16) will play the first of a three-game series with their heated interdivision rival New York Yankkes (16-9), tonight at Daikin Park.

RHP Lance McCullers Jr (1-1, 6.20 ERA) will make his fifth regular season appearance for the Astros tonight opposite the Yankees and starter RHP Will Warren (2-0, 2.49 ERA).

TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Lance McCullers is making his fifth start of the season as he tries to right the ship after three consecutive lackluster starts.

This season, McCullers opened the season with a brilliant seven inning outing, but has since struggled to get through the fifth inning. He did make it through five innings the last time out, but did give up four tuns in the process taking another loss.

HOME-COOKIN’: Tonight is the first game of a brief three game home stand against the Yankees. Even though the team is 10-16 overall, seven of those wins have come at home this season as the team is a respectable 7-6 at home coming into tonight’s game.

VS. THE YANKEES: This series revives a major rivalry between two stalwart American League franchises including three different playoff tilts since 2015. In spite of the dominance in the playoffs, the Yankees hold a 52-36 record all-time. The two teams split the season series last year at three games a piece.

TODAY’S MEDIA AVAILABILITY: The Astros clubhouse will be open to approved media from 3-3:50 p.m….Astros Manager Joe Espada will be available in the Astros dugout at approx. 3:50 p.m.

STALKING THE PUMA: LF Yordan Alvarez has matched the Astros franchise record with 11 home runs in the club’s first 26 games of a season, also reached one other time, by OF Lance Berkman in 2002…should Alvarez homer tonight, he would be the first player in franchise history to hit 12 homers within the club’s first 27 games.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Saturday, April 18, 6:05 p.m. CST

Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX

TV: Space City Home Network

Streaming: SCHN+

Radio: KTRH 740 AM & 99.1 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)

Astros Lineup

SS Carlos Correa

DH Yordan Alvarez

3B Isaac Paredes

2B Jose Altuve

1B Christian Walker

RF Cam Smith

LF Dustin Harris

C Yainer Diaz

CF Brice Matthews

Yankees Lineup

CF Trent Grisham

RF Aaron Judge

LF Cody Bellinger

1B Ben Rice

DH Giancarlo Stanton

2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.

C J.C. Escarra

3B Ryan McMahon

SS Jose Caballero

Devin Williams’ Mets tenure hasn’t quite started as planned. 

The righty has struggled mightily after starting the season with five straight scoreless outings, as he’s been knocked around and has given up runs each of his last four times out. 

The latest came on Thursday, when Williams again ran into trouble, giving up three hits and a run before recording the final two outs in a victory over the Twins. 

His outs were a pair of strikeouts, but not before bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.

The former All-Star closer is now up to an ugly 10.29 ERA and 2.86 WHIP with six walks and 13 strikeouts over his first nine appearances in orange and blue.

David Stearns broke down what he’s seen of late prior to Friday’s series opener with the Rockies. 

“His changeup hasn’t been where he wants it yet -- there hasn’t been that level of consistency he’s used to,” he said. “He’s gone through stretches like this in his career before and we're confident he will get through this.”

One of those stretches came last season when Williams struggled to find his footing for the majority of his lone campaign pitching on the other side of town with the Yankees.  

He did find more success after the team bumped him to a set-up role in front of Luke Weaver, but that isn't something that the Mets have considered with the two to this point. 

“That’s not something [Carlos Mendoza] and I have really talked about,” Stearns said. “I think we’re focused on getting Devin right, regardless of what inning he happens to be pitching in.”

I’m sure most of you are thinking that it’s WAY COOL that after a surprisingly successful road trip (4-2, two series wins!) out west that the home cooking will taste MIGHTY FINE with the Nationals in town. Yes, it’s true that no one is expecting anything from the Nasty Nats this season, the club is a half-game better than our guys at the moment. Let’s not start counting our City Connects before they’re worn.

But worn they will be, tonight, for the first time all season. Last year was an incredibly successful one 8-5, not losing on a home Friday until the end of June and ending up 8-5 for the year; for a 102-loss team, that’s quite a nice clip.

In addition to vibes the White Sox have going for them, there’s also another opener situation happening, as lefty Bryan Hudson starts the game for Erick Fedde tonight. And once again, a DH leads off, only it’s not Andrew Benintendi:

Manager Will Venable continues to concentrate his best power in the middle of the lineup, as Nos. 3-5 boast 22 HRs and the other six hitters just five combined. And for all the surge of the trip west generated, four batters in tonight’s lineup are languishing below the Mendoza Line.

The Nationals are throwing an opener as well, PJ Poulin. I believe he’s opening for Robbie Ray (another southpaw, so not sure that checks out given the lefty-righty fetish in MLB), but seriously I can hardly keep track of the White Sox. We’ll learn together!

Ballgame’s at 6:40 p.m. CT on the usual channels.

It was reported after Thursday’s game that the Cubs had acquired Nicky Lopez from the Rockies for cash considerations. As Lopez was on a minor-league deal with Colorado, there was no immediate 26-man or 40-man roster move needed by the Cubs.

This afternoon, before Friday’s game against the Dodgers at Los Angeles, the Cubs added Lopez to the 26-man active roster and optioned infielder Scott Kingery to Triple-A Iowa. The option was not announced but is listed on the Cubs transactions page.

Kingery had largely just been a pinch-runner this year, but when pressed into service in the field Wednesday, he made two errors that made that night’s win over the Phillies closer than it should have been. Lopez is a better defender.

To make room for Lopez on the 40-man roster, pitcher Porter Hodge, who will miss the entire 2026 season, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Lopez is 31 and a Chicago-area native (Naperville Central HS) who grew up as a Cubs fan. Last year Lopez spent Spring Training with Cubs, was released, signed with the Angels, played four games there, was let go by them and re-signed with the Cubs in late April. He played in 14 games with the Cubs, largely as a defensive replacement, and went 1-for-18. He can play third, short and second and so gives manager Craig Counsell some more flexibility.

Today’s game preview will post at 7 p.m. CT.