ATLANTA, GA - MAY 12: Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves rounds the bases during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves are going for a sweep against the Chicago Cubs, which would cap off a fantastic six-game stretch if the Braves were able to pull it off. Things went well enough against right-handed Cubs starter Colin Rea in the first game and after shaking things up against the lefty Shota Imanaga in the second game, the Braves are going back to their usual lineup meant for right-handed pitchers.
That means that Mike Yastrzemski and Dominic Smith are back in the lineup and Drake Baldwin is catching. Here’s the rest of the lineup:
As I mentioned in the title, this lineup is identical to the one that they trotted out there for their matchup against the Cubs on Tuesday and hopefully, it’ll be just as successful. Mike Yastrzemski in particular was successful, as he picked up two hits (including a homer) and three RBI on Monday and then he added on another big hit as a pinch-hitter in Wednesday’s win. He’s doing pretty well against the Cubs in this series and here’s hoping that he can keep it up. Dominic Smith will also be looking to pick up where he left off on Monday, which is when he delivered a four-hit game. His pinch-hit effort was unsuccessful on Wednesday but maybe we’ll see something different here on Thursday night.
Here’s the lineup for the Chicago Cubs, which was released just under an hour after this post was originally published. Thanks, Cubbies.
The Cubs will have played three games here and will have put out three different lineups so far. Nico Hoerner remains in the leadoff spot, Alex Bregman, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki each move up a spot, Matt Shaw makes his first start of the series in right field, old friend Dansby Swanson moves up to his highest lineup position so far this series in seventh, Miguel Amaya becomes the third different starting catcher for the Cubs in this series and Pete Crow-Armstrong moves down to ninth like he was on Tuesday. The only constants has been Michael Busch batting sixth. Fascinating.
What do y’all think? Does Atlanta’s lineup look good enough to complete a sweep?
May 14, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) scores a run against Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (34) on a bunt by Mets catcher Hayden Senger (not pictured) during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
I would start this recap by talking about the importance of the Tigers avoiding a sweep, and how they need to come together to prove they are a better team than what we’ve been seeing from them, but that’s just stating the obvious at this point and the Mets are starting Nolan McLean, who totally dazzled viewers in the World Baseball Classic. So what I’m saying is that every game could be anything and we’ll just see what happens. Keider Montero was on the mound for the Tigers and he’s been having a respectable season so far, so let’s cross our fingers and just go with it.
Colt Keith got a one-out walk in the first, followed by a single from Riley Greene, who has been a real highlight in this series. With two outs, Gage Workman came through with a home run to score three.
Despite his heroics in the top of the inning, Workman was quickly charged with an error in the home half that allowed Carson Benge to get safely to first. Three outs (including one challenged one by Bo Bichette) followed, ending the threat by the Mets.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the second. In the home half with one out, Brett Baty got a walk, but he was very quickly eliminated in a double-play off the bat of Marcus Semien.
With two outs in the third, Riley Greene continued his incredible efforts this series with a single, but the Tigers weren’t able to convert the baserunner. The Mets did manage to get one back, though, in the home half as A.J. Ewing got a solo home run to start things off. Three outs followed, but the Mets had started to chip away at the lead.
Gage Workman continued to have one heck of a game, starting the fourth with a leadoff double. Zach McKinstry then singled, sending Workman to second, but he was called out at the plate. It was pretty clear from both replay and the naked eye that he was safe, but when the Tigers called for a review, the call on the field was upheld. A.J. Hinch then got ejected for having it out with the umpires about the insanely incorrect review play. This series has just been crazy with umpire nonsense. A double play ended the inning. With two outs in the home half, M.J. Melendez walked. Baty then homered, bouncing a ball off the orange outfield line. The call of a homer was reviewed, but upheld, and the game was tied. Marcus Semien followed that up with a single. The final out of the inning came on a crazy good catch by Kevin McGonigle who practically ran a half-marathon to snag the ball.
Wenceel Perez got the fifth going with a leadoff single. There was a pickoff attempt of Perez at first, and he was ruled safe by the Mets, who challenged. Somehow, this call was overturned. Did someone hire some Etsy witches to curse this team or something? Jake Rogers then walked. Wonder if someone wants to challenge that and have it overturned, too. Really, the only thing the Tigers had working in their favor at this point in the game was that McLean wasn’t at his best, showing shaky command. Yet, Keider Montero, who barely gave up any home runs all season, gave up two in one game. So no one is really playing their best, are they? The Tigers didn’t manage to convert any baserunners, but the universe conspiring against them didn’t help. The weirdest series ever continued. Benge got a one-out single, then stole second. Initially, he was called out, but the Mets challenged and it was overturned. With two outs, that was it for Montero. He went 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 2 HR on 70 pitches. Certainly not his best outing. Tyler Holton came out of the bullpen to replace him. A Juan Soto single scored Benge. Then, because this game and series are what they are, Mark Vientos homered, putting the score up to 6-3 for the Mets. The Tigers finally got out of the inning, but they’d have a long way to go to get a win at this point.
Riley Greene took a leadoff walk in the sixth. After that, they went down in order, though, leaving Greene stranded. Enmanuel De Jesus was the new Tigers pitcher in the home half. With one out, Semien walked. A.J. Ewing then singled, continuing his impressive debut series. Semien moved up to third. Hayden Senger played the coward’s game with a sac bunt, scoring Semien. With the second out of the inning De Jesus was done. Brenan Hanifee came in and got the final out of the inning. The Mets were up 7-3.
In the seventh, Spencer Torkelson was hit by a pitch, but even with a free baserunner, the Tigers couldn’t make anything happen. Heading into the home half, Juan Soto got a leadoff home run. With two outs after that, the Tigers switched over to Ricky Vanasco, who got the final out of the inning.
McLean’s day was finally done after seven innings, and he was replaced by Tobias Myers. With two outs in the eighth, Dillon Dingler got a solo home run. The Tigers would have to settle for just the one run, and then as the game headed to the home half, the Mets got it right back with a leadoff home run off the foul pole by Semien. With two outs, we had to take a break so Benge could have someone put in eye drops for him. Maybe the drops helped, because he singled. Bo Bichette then walked, but the Mets weren’t able to bring any additional runs in.
Craig Kimbrel came in for the Mets for the top of the ninth. He got the Tigers out in order and the series limped over the finish line.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 14: Chase Dollander #32 of the Colorado Rockies leaves the game with medical staff in the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Rockies were unable to replicate their offensive production from Wednesday, but the major concern from their 7-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates lies with a concerning injury to their most promising starting pitcher. The Rockies finish the road trip with a 2-4 record and two series losses.
Danger for Dollander?
The Rockies hoped for another strong outing from Chase Dollander, especially three games into a schedule of playing 16-games straight. Unfortunately, the fireball righty departed in the top of the second with an apparent injury.
The day didn’t start well as Oneil Cruz kicked things off with a double in the top of the first inning that dropped because of a miscommunication between Jordan Beck and Brenton Doyle. Cruz then scored on a single from Bryan Reynolds to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. The next batter, Ryan O’Hearn, belted a two-run home run to center field, making it 3-0 with one out. Dollander managed to escape the inning with a couple of pop-ups, but lasted just two batters the following inning after giving up a double to Endy Rodriguez and walking Jared Triolo. Dollander shook his arm after walking Triolo, and out of caution, Warren Schaeffer pulled him from the game, turning the day into a bullpen affair.
It was later announced that Dollander departed with right forearm tightness and will undergo some more testing in Denver.
Early Game Bullpen Brigade
Brennan Bernardio replaced Dollander in the second with two on and nobody out and managed to quickly record three outs to escape the inning. Bernardino started the third inning, giving up back-to-back singles and inducing a weak groundout in front of the plate for the first out of the inning.
Victor Vodnik then entered the game and walked Marcell Ozuna to load the bases. Rodriguez followed up with a two-run single to center field to extend the Pirates’ lead 5-0. Cruz later drove in another run on a groundout to short to make it 6-0 before Vodnik struck out Brandon Lowe to end the inning.
Between Dollander and the two relievers, the Pirates were quite effective in putting the ball in play, and it threatened to place a heavy burden on the bullpen, but the Rockies were able to get length out of Tanner Gordon to survive the day.
Go-Go Gadget Gordon
It’s been a crazy couple of days for Gordon after he was optioned back to Albuquerque on Tuesday and had to turn around and quickly return to Pittsburgh after Jimmy Herget was placed on the injured list. With the transition to a bullpen game, it became clear that Gordon was going to have to eat some innings, and he delivered on the day.
Gordon ended up tossing four innings, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out five batters and allowing one walk. He threw 69 pitches, 47 for strikes, inducing two groundouts and four flyouts. Calm and composed, Gordon worked through the seventh, giving way to Juan Mejia in the eighth. Given the circumstances that arose for the game, Gordon lifted a potentially great burden from the shoulders of the Rockies’ pen.
Steel City Blues
The Rockies’ offense wasn’t able to get much of anything done at the plate. They managed to score two runs on just five hits while striking out seven times. They did manage four walks, but they were unable to string together hits like they had done Wednesday night.
The runs came in the fourth inning after TJ Rumfield and Willi Castro managed to draw back-to-back one-out walks against bulk reliever Carmen Mlodzinski. Troy Johnston then managed a two-out, two-run double to get the Rockies on the board, trailing 6-2 at the time.
Still, some promising things are happening for the Rockies’ offense. Rumfield continues to impress as he drew a pair of walks, Johnston remains very clutch with runners in scoring position, and Ezequiel Tovar is slowly coming along with some excellent at-bats.
The Pirates exemplified what the Rockies are trying to do contact-wise on offense, as they totaled 12 hits with four players collecting two or more.
Up Next
The Rockies head back home to welcome Nolan Arenado and the Arizona Diamondbacks to town. Kyle Freeland (1-4, 6.00 ERA) looks to rebound from a couple of rough starts. He will face off against Merrill Kelly (2-3, 7.62 ERA) who has also had a rough go of it to start the season.
The Mets came back from an early 3-0 deficit to beat the Tigers, 9-4, on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field and complete a three-game sweep.
Here are the takeaways...
- With the score tied, 3-3, two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Carson Benge on second base (after he lined a single and swiped a bag), the Mets pounced.
First, Juan Soto stroked a single up the middle to drive in Benge and put New York up, 4-3. Mark Vientos followed that up by launching a no-doubter of a two-run homer deep into the seats in left field to increase the Mets' advantage to 6-3.
The Mets added on in the sixth, seventh, and eighth.
In the sixth, after Marcus Semien walked, A.J. Ewing cracked a single that moved Semien to third base. Hayden Senger then dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt/safety squeeze that brought Semien home to make it 7-3, Mets -- with Senger beating out the play to reach first base.
In the seventh, Soto led off by drilling a homer to center to increase the lead to 8-3.
In the eighth, Semien roped a leadoff shot off the foul pole in left field to up the advantage to 9-4.
- Leading off the third inning, Ewingjumped on a 1-0 pitch from Keider Montero and sent it over the right field fence for his first big league homer to trim New York's deficit to 3-1 -- the ball came off his bat at 110.5 mph.
Aside from Ewing's jack, the Mets' offense was kept in check by Montero over the first 3.2 innings. But they staged a two-out rally in the fourth. After MJ Melendez walked, Brett Baty smoked an opposite-field homer that tied things, 3-3.
- It was an inauspicious start for the usually-dominant Nolan McLean, who struggled with his command and didn't have his usual swing-and-miss-stuff in the first inning.
After a one-out walk followed by a single, the Tigers capitalized with two outs when Gage Workman lofted a three-run homer that landed just over the wall in left-center field to give Detroit a 3-0 lead.
Those were all the runs Detroit would get.
May 14, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images
McLean, who battled with his command throughout and didn't have his best stuff, fought through seven innings where there was constant traffic on the bases -- his only clean frame was the second.
In the seventh, McLean closed his outing in emphatic fashion, striking out Jake Rogers swinging and Kevin McGonigle looking to end the inning before unleashing a primal scream as he fist-pumped while making his way off the mound.
McLean's final line: 7.0 innings, three runs, six hits, three walks, one hit batter, seven strikeouts. His ERA for the season is 2.92.
- Ewing became the first player in Mets history to have a triple and home run (in either order) for his first two career hits, and just the seventh MLB player in the last 20 seasons to accomplish that feat (h/t Sarah Langs).
BOSTON, MA - MAY 13: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox talks with media prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Starting pitching has not been the Red Sox problem in 2026. And with Payton Tolle performing well and Brayan Bello possibly bouncing back thanks to the use of an opener, the staff has more than held its own in the absence of Garrett Crochet. But Crochet isn’t taking any chances. Yesterday, he completed his first bullpen session since being sidelined with shoulder inflammation. And while he’s not ready to come back just yet, he hopes to skip any rehab assignments and head straight back to the Majors when he is. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Crochet returning without stretching himself out in the minors would not be without recent precedent. Sonny Gray also came right back to the big league team and has been outstanding. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
Exactly how good as the Sox’ rotation been lately? They have a 2.61 ERA in May. “I think pitching is contagious,” said Sonny Gray. “I think hitting is contagious. I think winning is contagious. So, I’ve enjoyed watching our staff, and there’s zero part of me that feels complacent or that feels that we’re there. I feel like when you start to feel that way, it’ll come up and find you. I feel we have a good staff, and I feel like you can definitely build off of one another. We’re just going to continue to push forward because I think we could still get better.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
It sure would be nice if Roman Anthony could return from injury, but things aren’t looking great in that regard. He’s due to come off the IL tomorrow, but is wearing a brace and has yet to resume baseball activities. According to Chad Tracy, the Sox are waiting until his grip strength improves before thinking of next steps. (Justin Leger, NBC Sports Boston)
Speaking of injuries, Sox catcher Connor Wong had a little bit of an injury scare last night, when he tripped over Edmundo Sosa’s leg while chasing after a foul pop-up in the eighth inning. “I think he banged on the outside bone part of the ankle,” said Chad Tracy. “They did some quick images. Everything’s negative. He was able to kind of jump on it. Just felt a little discomfort pushing off of it.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
And speaking of Red Sox catchers, Sam Kennedy spoke a bit about the recently fired reassigned Jason Varitek. “We have a personal relationship, all of us do, with Tek. We’re gonna give him all the time he needs given what went down. We respect him and appreciate him. There will always be a home for him in this organization. But we’re also gonna respect the fact he’s probably taking some time now, well-deserved time, but we’ll address that at the appropriate time.” (Lauren Campbell, MassLive)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 12: A detailed view of the No. 6 on the back of the hat of Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves is seen prior to the first pitch against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park on May 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. The No. 6 is embroidered on the back of the Braves hats to honor Bobby Cox, Hall of Fame manager of the Braves, who passed away on May 9, 2026. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Long after Bobby Cox managed his final game on October 11, 2010, and stepped away from the game he dedicated his life to, the news of his passing on May 9 felt like the coda to a magical period in Atlanta Braves history.
As it did throughout a storied baseball career that began in 1959, Cox’s influence still reverberates through the Braves organization. His loss was felt not only by the hundreds of men who played under the legendary skipper for over three decades, but by generations of baseball fans as well.
Current Atlanta manager Walt Weiss counts himself as fortunate to have played for Cox and believes that his legacy and commitment to the game will continue to live on.
“I wish everybody in the game could either play for Bobby or work with Bobby for at least one year just to see how it’s supposed to be done,” Weiss said. “He was different. He was a different type of leader, different type of person, really. He just created loyalty with how he treated people and that respect always came back to him.”
The passing of Cox added to an emotional week for the team as it closely followed the death of longtime owner and media mogul Ted Turner on May 6. Those two men were instrumental to the Braves’ rise to prominence in a true golden era that was the 1990s.
Cox led the team both on the field and the front office during two separate stints in Atlanta, while Turner established Braves baseball as a staple of his television empire on TBS.
As the club memorialized both men on Tuesday at Truist Park, the memories, testimonials and deep reverence shared by many who experienced those years was palpable.
Though Turner led from afar for most players and coaches in the organization, Cox’s fingerprints were all over the design of the team. His death struck a resounding chord for those who experienced life with the Braves during Cox’s time as a stalwart of the organization.
“I think everybody’s done a really good job of just communicating the legacy of Bobby Cox,” Weiss said on Tuesday. “A lot of great stories and just a lot of confirmation about what a great leader he was the impact he had on so many people.”
Though baseball is the ultimate game of numbers and those accomplishments may garner significant glory, Cox received universal praise for his loyalty and belief in his teams. The way he interacted with, utilized, and thereby instilled confidence in his players was second to none.
“He was a great encourager, and he had a knack for always making you feel like you were playing better than you actually were,” Weiss said. “Even in times where you struggled, he went out of his way to make you feel like maybe it wasn’t as bad as you thought. That’s probably the biggest thing I take from him, because I’m always in tune with that.”
Weiss, who is in his second stint as a major league manager, carries the lessons learned during a 14-year playing career with him to this day. The final three of those seasons were spent in Atlanta playing for Cox, who Weiss witnessed balance fiery competitiveness with steadfast loyalty.
Having the opportunity to pay those lessons forward is important to Weiss.
“With guys that are struggling, especially, [I] go out of my way to check in with them,” Weiss said. “I enjoy encouraging guys. I know how hard the game is. Over the course of my career, I struggled at times as much as anybody in this game, so I don’t ever want to forget that. That’s why I think it’s important to be an encourager. You have standards and you want to hold guys accountable to those standards, too, but at the same time you’ve got you got to encourage them. That’s the sort of thing Bobby was great at.”
Striking a balance between the tangibles and intangibles that lead to victory is one of the many responsibilities a major league manager signs up for. Playing for Cox allowed Weiss to gain a deeper understanding of just how much winning can be done in moments when not even a single pitch is thrown.
“Look, at the highest level, the margin of victory is razor thin,” Weiss said. “The difference between first and last place is one win a week. That’s 26 games out at the end of the year. So, you look for ways to create the edge, because it is razor thin. Maybe it’s encouraging a guy or speaking confidence into him so that he plays better ultimately. That’s where the culture comes in. Any way that you can create an edge could be a difference-maker in this game because it’s difficult to win at the highest level. Bobby was always so in tune with those things, and he always had great culture.”
Even though Weiss had already played for great teams and a World Series champion with the Oakland Athletics early in his career, it did not take him long to realize Atlanta’s way of doing things was different. By the time Weiss arrived, the World Series was an annual expectation.
“I remember coming in my first year in spring training as a Brave, because they were in the middle of that run I was thinking, ‘Man, I don’t want to be the one to screw this thing up,’” Weiss said. “So, you get on board and you do things the way that Bobby wanted them done.”
In doing so, Weiss was able to be a part of some special teams during his three-year stay in Atlanta. While the Braves did not realize the dream of becoming World Series champions again, Weiss recognized that he was experiencing something truly rare with Cox’s revered leadership style.
“I think that the greatest compliment I can give him is that in 1999, we lost in the World Series to the Yankees and every guy in the room felt like we let Bobby down,” Weiss said. “I mean, that doesn’t happen in professional sports. A lot of times it becomes self-preservation because it’s such a cutthroat business, but he had that kind of impact where you knew when we didn’t play well. In that instance, we didn’t win the World Series for him, and we felt like we let him down. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that before and at this level.”
The drive to baseball’s postseason begins when the team reports to spring training. In addition to the physical preparation required over the course of a marathon season, the club sets its intent through intense commitment to one another and the organization.
The Braves franchise underwent a tonal shift when the 1991 club went from worst to first in the National League West and set off a string of events that would establish Atlanta as a perennial contender.
After decades of irrelevance in the standings, expectations changed. So too did the Braves’ standards. Atlanta captured 14 consecutive division titles, won five NL pennants, and defeated the Cleveland Indians to win the 1995 World Series during their incredible run under Cox.
In many ways Cox was an instrument of change, right down to how the team dressed.
“I stand up in front of the club and talk about our standards or rules – I like to call them standards not rules – but and we continue the tradition of taking care of the brand,” Weiss said. “I communicated that on the first day of spring training, how important that is to me and how important it’s been to a lot of people before me. We’re going to continue to respect that and honor it in the way that we wear the uniform, the way that we respect the brand. The brand means something really special to a lot of people. A lot of people have worked hard to make it this brand special and Bobby is at the forefront of that. So, as long as I’m here, we will always honor that.”
That is certainly a fitting tribute to Cox and his legacy.
While the game continues to evolve, the uniform standard remains sacrosanct to the Braves. It was of the utmost importance to Cox. Though his playing days were long behind him, Cox still wore his traditional stirrup socks and metal spikes every single day he put on a Braves uniform. It was a small but meaningful symbol of his reverence for the game.
Even in something as relaxed as the batting practice environment, Weiss believes just as Cox did all those years that the Braves brand is always on display.
“We don’t go out there in t-shirts and cutoffs and that kind of thing,” Weiss said. “We wear the uniform. We’re going to respect the Braves brand. We’re going to wear a hat the right way. Bobby’s thing was that we don’t put the sunglasses over the ‘A’ so that people can see the ‘A.’ We’ll continue to do that. It’s just a respect for the game a respect for the brand.”
With Cox already immortalized in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, his lasting legacy will be one of a man who held a deep respect for the game, fostered relationships, elevated the people around him, maximized talents, and left baseball better than he found it.
“I said this when I got hired, that I was proud that in some small way as it relates to me that Bobby’s lineage continues,” Weiss said. “He’s been foundational to the Braves’ success over the last few decades, so I’m proud of that… I’m proud that in some small way I’m an extension of Bobby.”
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Michael McGreevy #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on May 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their west coast swing Thursday afternoon as Michael McGreevy will start the game against the Athletics. Left-hander Jacob Lopez is scheduled to take the mound for the Athletics. First pitch scheduled for 2:05pm central time in Suter Health Park in Sacramento. Game broadcast on Cardinals.tv.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 10: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers checks an iPad in the dugout during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on May 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first time of 2026, the Dodgers on Thursday won’t have Shohei Ohtani starting for them in any capacity, a planned rest day during the final game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.
“It might be a good thing to take a little bit of a load off his plate offensively,” manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday.
That means no start for Ohtani on Thursday, though Roberts did say Ohtani would be available to pinch-hit later in the game if needed. Roberts also had advice for Ohtani’s first real rest day of the season, which is directly in the middle of a stretch of 13 game days in a row for the Dodgers.
“I would say show up late, start the day much later, build up some R and R,” Roberts said. “But as the game goes on, start reading the scoreboard and seeing if the situation potentially could arise, to then prepare for that spot.”
Teoscar Hernández had his second multi-hit game of the series on Wednesday night as he filled in at designated hitter while Ohtani was focusing only on pitching. Dalton Rushing has the other three non-Ohtani starts at DH this season, collecting a home run and double in his 11 at-bats, with four RBI. Throw in Alex Call’s pinch-hit double on May 5 in Houston, the non-Ohtani designated hitters are hitting .313/.313/.625 (5-for-16) with two doubles, a home run, five runs scored and five RBI in four games, with another coming Thursday night.
The Dodgers are 8-5 in the final game of series this season, but just 3-4 in such games at home. Thursday is the end of the fourth homestand of the season, with the Dodgers splitting the final games in each of their first three homestands of 2026.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 26: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on April 26, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fresh off of winning a series in Dodger Stadium to cap off a successful road trip out West, the Atlanta Braves are now looking to keep this fantastic run going by not just picking up a series win against the Chicago Cubs but capping off the three-game set with a series sweep of the current NL Central leaders.
The pitching has been a big reason behind Atlanta’s success in this series so far (and the season as a whole), as the raves have only given up three runs on five hits through both games so far. The Cubs came into this series slumping after having been shut out during their final two games at Texas and the Braves have done a good job of extending that misery with their efforts on the mound and their defensive quality as well.
It only figures to get better for the Braves coming into this game, as it’s Chris Sale’s turn in the rotation. Outside of a rough outing in Anaheim against the Angels last month, Sale has ben pretty consistent and a very steady figure in the rotation so far — which is exactly what you’d expect from the future Hall-of-Famer. Sale’s last outing saw him perform well enough to keep the Braves competitive against the Dodgers but ultimately, the three runs (two eanred) that he conceded were enough for the Dodgers to eke out a win. Still, those two earned runs were the most that Sale had given up in any outing outside of the one against the Angels — all of the others saw him give up at least one run or fewer while going at least six innings as well.
That’s to say that Chris Sale has been very consistent on the mound so far for the Braves and you always have to like Atlanta’s chances of winning any given game that he’s pitching in. While this does seem like an ideal situation for Sale and the Braves to thrive in considering how anemic the Cubs lineup has been in recent days, one thing to keep an eye on is that the Cubs have done pretty well against left-handed pitching so far this season. As a team, they’re hitting .267/.364/.425 against lefties with 15 home runs, a .352 wOBA and 126 wRC+ and that wRC+ mark is the top mark in all of baseball so far. If the Cubs do wake up tonight, it may not be all that surprising.
With that being said, it also wouldn’t be surprising if they just kept on struggling. The Cubs have faced left-handers Dylan Lee (who FanGraphs has noticed is doing a fantastic job so far) and Martín Pérez for three innings combined over the course of this series and they’ve collected zero hits, zero walks and struck out six times against the two of them. It is possible for left-handers to have success against the Cubs and maybe we’ll see that from Chris Sale tonight.
If they continue to struggle, then the relevant stat could be that the Cubs’ lineup isn’t nearly as imposing away from The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field. At home, the Cubs are hitting .263/.364/.496 with a .377 wOBA, 29 homers and a wRC+ of 128. Away from the North Side, those numbers go down to .227/.319/.378 with 23 homers, a .317 wOBA and a wRC+ of 100. Now granted, it’s not hardly surprising to see a team hit better at home than on the road but for comparisons’ sake, the Braves wRC+ goes from 123 at home to 119 on the road. That much of a drop off is enough to take notice of and maybe it could be that the Cubs are just a different team once they put on the road grays (or blues).
So while the Braves may have the advantage in their attempt to go for a sweep, it won’t be easy. That’s because the Cubs are sending Ben Brown to start tonight’s game. There’s been a lot of uncertainty about whether or not the Cubs want to make Brown a starter instead of keeping him in the bullpen and as of right now, he’s got the nod to be a starter. His most recent outing was a successful one where he tossed four scoreless innings against the Rangers and that was part of a lovely stretch that he’s been on since April 11 where he’s thrown 19 innings and given up three runs (with only one of those being earned) on 10 hits and five walks while striking out 16 batters.
While that start against the Rangers was actually a spot start, the Cubs clearly believe in Brown enough to give him a shot against this very potent Braves lineup at Truist Park, so we’ll see if Chicago’s faith in their talented pitcher will be paid off. He’s entering this game with an ERA of 1.82 (46 ERA-) and a FIP of 2.63 (66 FIP-) so if he keeps that up, he will provide some tough opposition for the Braves this evening.
If it comes down to it, the Braves may just have to once again find a way to get to their opposition’s bullpen and make something happen in the later innings. As it turns out, the Braves have been the best-hitting team in baseball from the seventh inning onwards. Atlanta is hitting .275/.344.459 with a wOBA of .353 and a wRC+ of 125 in the seventh, eighth and ninth inning of games so far — all of those numbers are either at the top of the baseball leaderboards or in the top five when it comes to that particular stat, so it’s pretty clear that if the bullpen does get involved, the Braves are capable of turning the game around at that point in time.
The pitching matchup is certainly intriguing and it’s one that makes you think that the Braves can afford to get greedy and go for a sweep here. Going 5-1 against two of the best teams in the National League so far would be a true statement of intent to the rest of baseball that this Braves team means serious business here in 2026. You could argue that that statement has already been made with their series win but a sweep just seems so much nicer, doesn’t it? It’s not going to be an easy task for the Braves but with the way they’ve been rolling so far, it’s not hard to believe that they can pull it off. Let’s see what happens, y’all.
A.J. Ewing blasted his first major league home run in Thursday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
Leading off the bottom of the third inning, the Mets' outfielder jumped on a Keider Montero 93 mph fastball, hitting a line-drive laser over the wall in right.
The solo home run traveled 405 feet and came off the bat at 110.5 miles per hour.
"That was really cool," Ewing said after the game. "The first homer, that was awesome."
The Mets' highly touted prospect scored the game-winning run in extras on Wednesday night, hustling in from second on Carson Benge's 10th-inning single, and now he has his first major league round-tripper.
Ewing finished the game 2-for-4 and is slashing .333/.538/.889 while filling up the stat sheet with a home run, a triple, four walks, three RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base after his first three-game series in the big leagues.
Not exactly known for his power after hitting just 15 dingers in 251 minor league games in his career, including two in 30 games between Double-A and Triple-A this year, Ewing believes it can still happen every now and then.
"I think it can be a part of my game," the rookie said. "I don’t think it’s gonna be my identity, I’m gonna spray the ball, hit a lot of line drives and put myself in position to get on base a lot, but I think that when I catch stuff out in front it can happen for sure."
Jacob Lopez takes the mound today in the rubber match of the three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Sutter Health Park. | Getty Images
Last night the A’s tied up this inter-league three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Sutter Health Park in West Sac, and today we get the rubber match at 12:05 PM. The Athletics currently reside in first place in the American League West with a 22-20 record, while the Cards are in third place in the National League Central Division with a 24-18 record.
Taking the mound for the Athletics today is 28-year-old lefty Jacob Lopez. So far on the year, Lopez has a 3-2 record with a 6.11 ERA over 35.1 innings. He’s started in seven of his eight appearances and has struck out twenty-eight batters. He’ll face off against 25-year-old righty Michael McGreevy. He’s 3-2 on the season with a 2.11 ERA in his eight starts this season.
McGreevy will go up against this lineup for the Mark Kotsay’s A’s today:
The Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox wrap up their three-game series. The teams split the first two games. Jesús Luzardo takes the mound for Philadelphia with a 5.77 ERA, while Ranger Suarez starts for Boston with a 2.77 ERA.
How to watch Philadelphia Phillies vs. Boston Red Sox
Jun 8, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Mitch Garver (18) reacts after scoring in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
After last night’s fully-cursed game, the Mariners have just one game to play before they get to get out of Houston and return home to Seattle. Luis Castillo will take the ball for Seattle.
Lineups:
News:
Unfortunately it’s bad news for the Mariners. Cal Raleigh is headed to the IL for the first time in his career with an oblique strain. Obliques! They are evil! Read more here.
Game Information:
Game time: 11:10 PT
TV: Mariners.TV, with Aaron Goldsmith, Dave Valle, Jay Buhner and Brad Adam
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.
The Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves end their three-game series between divisional leaders. The Braves won the first two games. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Ben Brown for the Cubs, with a 1.82 ERA, and Chris Sale for the Braves, with a 2.20 ERA.
The Seattle Mariners placed catcher Cal Raleigh on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, the team announced Thursday, May 14.
Raleigh left Wednesday's game against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning after experiencing pain on his right side. Raleigh lands on the injured list for the first time in his career, and in a corresponding move, catcher Jhonny Pereda was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.
Mitch Garver will take Raleigh's place in the lineup for Thursday's game against Houston and is batting eighth.
After hitting 60 home runs and finishing second in the American League Most Valuable Player voting, the 29-year-old Raleigh has gotten off to a horrible start in 2026.
“Logan (Gilbert) gave me some good advice to wash off the bad mojo or juju from the baseball gods,” Raleigh told the Associated Press. “So yeah, it worked. He was right, so I got to give him credit where credit’s due.”
Raleigh is batting .161 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs for Seattle, which enter the day two games back of the Athletics for first place in the AL West.
