Category: MLB

The 10th installment of our Legends Series features longtime manager Terry Collins, who began his career as skipper of the Astros, never enduring a losing season.      

Q:  I want to start in August of 94′ when you guys are 17 over the .500 mark and then the stoppage occurs.  You were neck and neck with the Reds.  Do you think you could’ve reached the series if play had continued?    

A:  You know, the game before the strike, Bagwell broke his hand, so I’m not sure what would’ve happened down the road, but we really had a good team.  Biggio, Finley and Caminiti were all playing great,  we had a really good club and our pitching was really starting to come around.    

I had placed Shane Reynolds in the rotation with Drabek, Swindell and Harnisch and we had turned the corner.    

The Expos had a good team as well, but even our bench was strong.  Bob Watson assembled a really strong roster for us.   

Q:  When things resume the following year, you are named as one of the All-Star Game coaches.  What did that recognition mean to you back then?

A:  It really meant a lot.  I had known Felipe Alou for a long time, and I think because of the season we were discussing a moment ago, he phoned in recognition of that.  He asked me to be one of the coaches and that was very special to me.  Being named to that staff was huge as it was still really my first year.    

Q:  Did you know at the time that Biggio and Bagwell were laying the foundation for their permanent place in Cooperstown?

A:  Oh God without question!  Those are the kind of guys that don’t need managers.    They knew how to get ready with the same exact routines every day.  

I used to watch Biggio everyday go out and do this ground ball routine, and he never missed doing that.  

When we went to St. Louis, you’d see Ozzie Smith doing the same thing with the Cardinals.  That’s why guys like that were so great.  They never vary their routine.     

Q:  Did Biggio really embrace being the tone setter?

A:  He really didn’t want to lead off but he knew that’s what the team needed, so he went out there and just did it.  I actually thought he was the best leadoff hitter in all of baseball.    

I cannot tell you how many days in a row Craig Biggio would be standing in scoring position and then Bagwell would be coming up to hit.  Those guys were so special.

Q:  What do you think about the managers being fired so early in the season?

A:  There’s always been pressure. Although these days with the larger payrolls, it might be more intense but it’s comical to me because anyone who thinks that Rob Thomson can’t manage after leading the Phillies to the playoffs the last four years is flat out wrong.     It just comes with the territory, and ias my friend Jim Leyland once told me, you’re hired to ultimately one day be fired.    

Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the season’s final month upon us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.

Like the Yankees, the Mets will consume an outsized amount of attention because of the market they play in, the payroll they put up, and the habits of their owner. It was a disastrous month for the boys in Queens, and yet they’ve been just a hair worse than the Phillies, and what was expected to be a two-horse race atop the NL East has devolved into the two squads trying to avoid baseball’s worst record.

First Place: Atlanta Braves (22-10)

Despite the battering of their pitching staff in the spring, Atlanta’s managed to get off to a hot start. The pitchers that remain have all been solid and Bryce Elder has led the way with a sterling 1.88 ERA, with Robert Suarez being the dominant force out of the bullpen. Offensively, Matt Olson, catcher Drake Baldwin, and Ozzie Albies have led the way, while the club still waits for Ronald Acuña Jr. to be his usual gamebreaking self.

There are still some headwinds on the horizon — Austin Riley is barely a league average hitter while still having seven years remaining on his contract — but a 6.5 game lead in your division is nothing to sneeze at. The club’s gone from a 36 to 83.4 percent chance of winning the division per FanGraphs, taking advantage of the despondence in Philly and Queens.

Second Place: Miami Marlins (15-16)

My dark horse playoff pick this year, the Marlins haven’t exactly been bad but haven’t done enough to put themselves over what’s a pretty poor division. The team features a trio of Canadians — Liam Hicks, Otto Lopez and Owen Cassie — and two of them have paced the offense, while Cassie has looked a little overmatched in his age-23 season. As perhaps fitting for a team that stumbles along around .500, they currently sit 14th in baseball in wRC+ and 16th in pitching fWAR.

The pitching is the real opportunity for the franchise, with Max Meyer and Jansen Junk poised to join Sandy Alcantara in what could be a devastating rotation. So far the staff has been gutted by a bad bullpen and a lack of length from starters, but improving one of those marks might just be enough to produce a reliable winner in South Beach.

Third Place: Washington Nationals (15-17)

My pick for 2026’s worst team in baseball, the Nats have scrabbled together something almost resembling respectability. They do feature the worst — the WORST — pitching in MLB today, but CJ Abrams and James Wood both seem to finally be living up to their prospect potential. Wood in particular is striking out in a third of his PAs, but he’s walking in a fifth of them, a better K-BB% than he managed last year. Avoiding the second-half falloff will be the key to James’ season, and Abrams might end up being the best available player at the trade deadline. In the meantime, thank you James Wood for one of my favorite moments of the year:

Everything in this division is going to come down to how much of a bounceback the Mets and Phillies can make, but the Nationals shouldn’t let their current third-place slotting confuse them. This is a very badly managed franchise that needs some direction, and their current spot in the division doesn’t change that. The long-term forecast for the club is more important than the bottom falling out of two division rivals, and whether that forecast includes trading the everyday shortstop or not, those kind of strategic decisions should be driving the next three months.

Fourth Place: Philadelphia Phillies (12-19)

Boy, the vibes are different. Two years ago the Phillies had a Himbo Culture, a bunch of big dumb guys who were nevertheless endearing and critically, good at baseball. Now, that Himbo Culture is still at least a little present, worshipping Zack Wheeler’s rib bone and all, but the team on the whole is pretty terrible. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are as reliable a pair of hitters as you’ll find, but the rest of the lineup has struggled to stay above league average. The Phillies are running out six regulars that are below-league average hitters, with third baseman Alec Bohm being just about the worst player in the game period.

It’s a joke but one with some ring of truth: when Alex Cora was offered the Phillies’ managerial job, he looked at one of the few teams in MLB with a worse third baseman than the Red Sox, and picked sitting on the beach instead. The pitching has been slightly better, with Cristopher Sánchez still among the best in the sport and both Jesús Luzardo and Andrew Painter probably due for some positive regression. That’s the thing with the whole team really, they should probably be better, but the collective age of the roster and the deficit they find themselves in gives you a pretty deep hole you need to climb out of.

Fifth Place: New York Mets (10-21)

I’m breaking from our standard writing style to type it out in full, because I believe the weight of it merits: Three hundred and sixty-nine million dollars. I don’t care about Steve Cohen or his bank account, but that is the cheque he is writing for this baseball team, currently with the worst record in MLB. Just as I’m writing this the Mets have publicly backed manager Carlos Mendoza, and while he may be happy to have that support, it does beg the question of just who is responsible for this gong show.

The Mets are 93-100 after signing Juan Soto, what should have been the ultimate crowning achievement for a franchise that purports to have World Series aspirations. Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr. are both IL bound, while Kodai Senga was moved to the list earlier this week. I don’t feel a lot of schadenfreude for the club, maybe because I don’t live in New York, but you have to wonder what exactly is the point of spending all this money just to set yourself on fire. I have my criticisms for Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman, but the money poured into the 2026 Yankees has so far yielded a first-place team. It looks like a catastrophic year for the Mets, and more proof you don’t always get what you pay for.

There have only been a handful of games in which to judge anything done by Don Mattingly so far. There really isn’t any discernable difference between him and Rob Thomson on much of anything that either does, but one thing does sort of stick out – he’s not a fan of letting starters go too long.

On Thursday, Cristopher Sanchez was yanked after 85 pitches even though they were having a bullpen game in the second part of the doubleheader. The night before, Jesus Luzardo only threw 88 pitches. It should be said that both of at least pitched in the seventh inning, Luzardo allowed to finish it, Sanchez yanked before he could do the same. Sanchez was at least a little annoyed by the decision, but Mattingly stood by it.

Which brings us to our question of the day: what are your feelings on the few instances we’ve had to judge Don Mattingly on how he’s going to handle this pitching staff? Again, not much to go off of, but the initial decisions at least may give some idea of what’s to come.

The Rockies definitely had the Braves for the first seven innings. Ah but in the last three games, the leading team didn’t finish the job. Michael Harris II was headed for the Injured List as well, don’t you know. Then, he came on to pinch hit.

Yup, pretty standard Braves heroics at the end. Here Michael Harris is again with a go-ahead pinch-hit double in the sixth inning on April 24th.

Here are the Braves scoring four in the seventh of a tie game.

Here’s Michael Harris hitting two home runs after being down 4-1 after one inning. The Braves went single, single, walk, single, double to grab three runs and a 4-2 win in April 19th and on and on.

This team is scoring runs, y’all. They’re third in homers, fourth in xwOBA, fourth in wRC+, and for the most part aren’t making dumb mistakes. We probably shouldn’t turn our back on them after they give up six runs in Denver. You could talk me into closing the door on Grant Holmes as a starting pitcher, but not this offense.

ESPN’s updated list of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects shows a lot of movement within the organization’s top ten.

The very top of the list remains unchanged, as Konnor Griffin maintains his status as the top Pirates’ prospect and the top prospect in baseball. Griffin is on pace to graduate from prospect status as he continues to grow in his Major League career, but for the time being he’s the top dog for Pittsburgh.

First-year pitcher Seth Hernandez was previously ranked third for the Pirates but his dominant start to his career has him ranked as the second best prospect on ESPN’s updated list. So far this year the 19-year-old righty has a 2-0 record with a 1.23 ERA across five starts. Hernandez is coming off a week where he was named the FSL Pitcher of the Week and his most recent outing saw him strike out nine batters.

Moving up the list from four to three is Edward Florentino who is off to a hot start with High-A Greensboro this season. At just 19-years-old, the Dominican product is already in his third season of Minor League baseball and is excelling at a fast pace. Wyatt Sanford (4), Hunter Barco (5) and Esmerlyn Valdez (6) also found themselves moving up the most recent rankings. Barco is on the verge of working his way off this list as he’s made it to the majors and is looking better in recent outings. Valdez figures to be at the top of the list for the next prospect to be promoted as he’s already in Triple-A Indianapolis and is off to a hot start at the plate. It’s possible that he ends up in Pittsburgh as another depth piece for the team’s outfield.

Second baseman Termarr Johnson (7) and outfielder Jhostynxon Garcia (8) are the only two young Bucs that find themselves moving down the list. Johnson is in his first season with Indianapolis and has been struggling at the plate. Through 27 games, he has a .161 batting average, has struck out 25 times and has zero homers. Garcia looked to be a promising prospect when he was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, but he too has struggled at the plate with Indy. He’s currently on rehab assignment with Low-A Bradenton.

Catcher Rafael Flores (9) and Antwone Kelly (10) round out the franchise’s top 10 list. Flores has been in conversation a lot recently as fans and critics have been discussing the poor play from Pittsburgh’s catchers. Flores has been performing better at the plate in Indy than Joey Bart and Henry Davis have been with the Pirates. Davis had his first two homers of the season against the Cincinnati Reds so he likely won’t be on the move, but there is an argument to be made that Flores should be promoted. Kelly was previously not in the top 10, but following some strong outings in Indy, he creeps in to the number ten spot.

The Pirates have the fifth overall pick in the upcoming MLB Draft and will be looking to add more promising talented to their already stacked Minor League system.

Rangers 5, Tigers 4

• Back to .500, guys.
• Not a great start from MacKenzie Gore.
• Gore had some issues throwing strikes and struggled to put batters away. Gore generated just six swinging strikes in his outing out of 94 pitches. And despite throwing 94 pitches, he only faced 18 batters and registered 11 outs.
• Gore needed a whopping 49 pitches to get through the first two innings, despite facing just eight batters. After a quick 1-2-3 third inning, he couldn’t get out of the fourth. With two on and two out in the inning, he walked Spencer Torkelson, then gave up singles to Wenceel Perez and Hao-Yu Lee, getting chased from the game with three runs in and two runners on base.
• Go ahead, Mr. Wenceel.
• Cole Winn got out of the inning with a strikeout, but was pulled with one out in the fourth after a walk, a wild pitch and a single. Jalen Beeks got a grounder from Riley Greene, but the Rangers weren’t able to turn two, such that Texas, which had been up 4-0 just an inning and a half ago, was suddenly faced with a 4-4 tie.
• Beeks, by the way, got dinged with a blown save for allowing an inherited run to score in the fifth inning on a ground out. That doesn’t seem fair.
• In any case, it seemed like doom awaited.
• DOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
• Doom didn’t await, though. At least not for the Rangers.
• The collection of no-names in the Rangers pen once again banded together to keep their opponents off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
• Well, they do have names. Along with Beeks, there was Tyler Alexander, Jakob Junis, and Jacob Latz.
• Beeks, Alexander, Junis and Latz are all sporting sub-2 ERAs on the year. Gavin Collyer and Peyton Gray have yet to allow a run. The only active members of the Rangers bullpen with an ERA over 2 are Winn (5.27) and Cal Quantrill (6.43).
• The Rangers’ offense, once again able to do some damage now that they are away from the Shed, got up early with a Brandon Nimmo leadoff single and a Josh Jung two out RBI single. They seemed poised to chase Tigers starter Jack Flaherty in the third, when a Danny Jansen homer was followed by three straight walks and another Josh Jung RBI single.
• They scored a third run in the inning on a Joc Pederson sac fly, but Jake Burger popped up for the second out. Alejandro Osuna then battled Flaherty for ten pitches, but ended up fanning to end the inning.
• Still, Osuna ended up coming through with the winning hit later in the game, doubling to left field with Jake Burger on second in the eighth, giving the Rangers the ultimate winning margin in the game.
• Brandon Nimmo left the game with hamstring soreness for the second game in a row, which is not ideal. It did, however, result in Ezequiel Duran moving from second base to right field, which set up this great play in the seventh:

• MacKenzie Gore hit 96.9 mph with his fastball, averaging 94.6 mph. Cole Winn hit 95.9 mph with his fastball. Jalen Beeks’ fastball touched 93.6 mph. Tyler Alexander’s sinker topped out at 91.3 mph. Jakob Junis reached 92.2 mph with his sinker. Jacob Latz maxed out at 96.0 mph with his fastball.
• Jake Burger had a 108.4 mph double. Josh Jung had a 106.9 mph ground out. Ezequiel Duran had a 105.9 mph ground out. Corey Seager had a 105.5 mph double. Brandon Nimmo had a 103.2 mph single and a 101.6 mph single. Danny Jansen had a 102.7 mph home run and a 101.6 mph fly out.
• The road trip has started on a positive note.

With the Dodgers back in St. Louis this weekend, Katie Woo at The Athletic wrote about a pep talk last June in St. Louis that Kiké Hernández gave to Miguel Rojas, who was struggling both at the plate and mentally:

“I wanted to change the mentality, because if he didn’t, he was going to be on the way out,” Hernández explained. “Not because it was going to happen, but because he was going to do that to himself. I basically told him, ‘I’ve been where you are right now, and it’s not a good way to live. If you put a stop to it, and you say the season starts tomorrow and that’s the mentality you bring in each and every day, you’re going to be much more enjoyable.’”

Mike Petriello at MLB.com wrote about Max Muncy, who over the last 12 months has been one of the best hitters in baseball.

Teoscar Hernández wears the Autism Awareness logo on various pieces of baseball equipment, in honor of his son Teo, who is on the autism spectrum. Hernández talked to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register:

“I think that’s the best that I can do to support that and let people know they’re not alone – that we can continue our lives regardless of any family member that has autism.”

The New York Black Yankees were a Negro Leagues team that existed from 1931 to 1948. True to their name, they called Yankee Stadium home from 1940 onwards until their demise. They were not a particularly successful franchise, with a 258-497 overall record, but they count among their alumni such legends as Satchel Paige, Ted Radcliffe, Willie Wells, and many more. Today, we celebrate the birthday of a player who isn’t quite at the same status as those luminaries, but had a very nice career of his own. 

George Giles
Born: May 2, 1909 (Junction City, KS)
Died: March 3, 1992 (Topeka, KS)
Black Yankees Tenure: 1936-37

George Giles was a precocious talent. He was only 17 years of age when he got his first taste of (semi-) pro baseball with the Gilkerson’s Union Giants, an independent barnstorming Black team that played mainly in the Midwest. He was the starting first baseman on one of the most successful iterations of the club, and many of his teammates on the 1926 squad, like Lefty Brown and Steel Arm Davis, were/would go on to be Negro League stars. 

If that wasn’t impressive enough, consider this; the Kansas City Monarchs, one of the most successful Negro league teams, signed Giles the following year. He started 59 games for them and hit .269/.330/.360, good for a 92 OPS+. Not bad at all for an 18-year old playing in the highest level available to him — and Giles was just getting started. In 1928, his OPS+ improved to 113, and from there the speedy Giles settled in as a comfortably above-average regular, making up for his rather pedestrian power numbers (career .112 ISO) by consistently posting high averages and OBPs (career .316 and .386, respectively). 

When Giles joined the New York Black Yankees in 1936, he was still only 27, but his career was in its twilight. His first season was pretty rough, as he struggled to the tune of a .273/.356/.356 line (84 OPS+). However, he managed to rebound in 1937, posting a prime DJ LeMahieu-esque .327/.395/.453 line (114 OPS+) in 39 games. Unfortunately, despite Giles’ best efforts, the fortunes of his ballclub followed the opposite trajectory; the Black Yankees enjoyed a 30-19 campaign in 1936, but struggled to a 23-33 finish in 1937. It’s unclear whether he was released or traded, but by the time the 1938 season rolled around, Giles was no longer a Yankee. He spent what would be his final year in pro baseball with the Pittsburgh Crawfords, hitting .298 in 59 plate appearances across 14 games.

I realize that this summary of Giles’ playing career is painfully short. Unfortunately, there simply isn’t much readily available information on his exploits as a player, despite the fact that he was a very good hitter who was an All-Star in 1935. It is nothing short of a travesty that his story, along with countless other Black players of his time, has been neglected for so long. While long overdue, it’s at least heartening to see the recent wave of recognition and renewed attention that the Negro Leagues is receiving. One can only hope that more details about Giles and his career surface in the coming years.

Indeed, a Giles renaissance might already be burgeoning. This 2021 piece in the Manhattan Mercury (the local newspaper for Manhattan, KS, where Giles lived most of his life) offers a vividly rendered glimpse into Giles’ career and life, including quotes from Giles himself from past interviews for the Mercury and other local outlets. The whole piece is fascinating, but Giles’ recollections of the abhorrent conditions he endured as a Black ballplayer on the road are particularly striking. In one quote, he says he used to lay newspapers on the beds of seedy motels, claiming that it warded off bedbugs. In another, he remembers how when he played against a white team in his barnstorming days, his opponents stayed at a hotel, while his team was forced to change into their uniforms in a farmer’s barn. It’s truly depressing stuff, but it needs to be told.

Given the countless hardships he endured as a player, I can only hope Giles lived a full and fulfilling post-playing life. The Mercury article gives me hope that this was the case. After working a number of jobs, Giles opened a small inn named George’s Motel in Kansas which served the Black community, providing the kind of accommodations that were unavailable to him during his playing days. And in his autumnal years, he got to witness his grandson Brian Giles — no, not that one — make his MLB debut in 1981 with the New York Mets. What a moment that must have been for him.

A final detail from that Mercury piece — when asked whether George would have been proud to see his grandson surpass his achievements by reaching the major leagues, Brian rejected that premise, saying, “Actually, I think he was more successful, doing what he did in times that presented African-American ballplayers (with challenges).” As we try to properly appreciate the Negro Leagues and Black ballplayers of the past, this perspective is something we must not forget. It’s not enough to say that the Negro Leagues were major leagues in terms of quality of play; we must also acknowledge the various ways in which Black players and their communities were held back by racism — and question the notion that those are relics of the past.

All stats from Seamheads.com.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Saturday’s MLB slate is loaded, and there’s no shortage of betting angles if you know where to look. From clear mismatches like Atlanta and San Diego to plus-money shots with sneaky value, these MLB picks focus on pitching edges, lineup production, and where the market might be off.

Let’s break down the best moneyline plays for May 2.

MLB moneyline picks for May 2

Matchup	Pick
Orioles vs Yankees	-138
Blue Jays vs Twins	+117
Diamondbacks vs Cubs	-150
Guardians vs A's	+108
Reds vs Pirates	+117
Brewers vs Nationals	-127
Astros vs Red Sox	+113
Phillies vs Marlins	-113
Giants vs Rays	-127
Dodgers vs Cardinals	-138
Rangers vs Tigers	-127
Braves vs Rockies	-222
White Sox vs Padres	-203
Mets vs Angels	+108
Royals vs Mariners	-138

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 5-2.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for May 2

Orioles vs Yankees: Yankees (-138)

Yankees win probability: 58%

New York owns the edge where it matters most—run prevention and power. Baltimore is allowing too many runs and dealing with key injuries, while the Yankees bring a deeper lineup and more reliable pitching. Kyle Bradish hasn’t been sharp enough to trust here, and with New York’s ability to capitalize on traffic, this is a spot where the better team should take control.

Blue Jays vs Twins: Twins (+117)

Twins win probability: 46%

Toronto’s offense just isn’t getting it done. Bottom-tier power and inconsistent contact make it tough to trust them, even with Dylan Cease on the mound. Minnesota has the better offensive profile and enough pitching stability to hold serve. With more reliable run production, the Twins have a clearer path to win this game.

Diamondbacks vs Cubs: Cubs (-150)

Cubs win probability: 60%

This is a clean mismatch. Arizona’s pitching staff has been one of the worst in the league, and Ryne Nelson hasn’t shown he can slow down a quality lineup. Chicago brings elite on-base ability and consistent production, paired with a steady arm in Shota Imanaga. The Cubs should control this game from the start.

Guardians vs A's: Guardians (+108)

Guardians win probability: 48%

Cleveland doesn’t need to be explosive here—they just need to be competent. Oakland’s pitching is extremely shaky, and that opens the door for even a contact-heavy offense to generate enough scoring. With the Guardians holding the edge on the mound and in overall run prevention, they should grind out a win.

Reds vs Pirates: Reds (+117)

Reds win probability: 46%

Cincinnati has more ways to score, even if the batting average doesn’t jump off the page. They bring power and speed, while Pittsburgh leans heavily on contact without much upside. Rhett Lowder has been more efficient than Carmen Mlodzinski, and that slight pitching edge, combined with a more dynamic offense, gives the Reds the advantage.

Brewers vs Nationals: Brewers (-127)

Brewers win probability: 56%

Washington can put up runs, but their pitching is a problem. Milwaukee has the more reliable arm and a clear bullpen edge, which matters in a game that could get loose late. Even without full offensive strength, the Brewers do enough at the plate and prevent runs at a higher level, making them the safer side.

Astros vs Red Sox: Astros (+113)

Astros win probability: 47%

Houston’s offense is the difference. They consistently generate baserunners and apply pressure, while Boston lacks the same level of production. Even with some pitching concerns, the Astros lineup is capable of outscoring problems. If this turns into a higher-scoring game, Houston is clearly better equipped to handle it.

Phillies vs Marlins: Marlins (-113)

Marlins win probability: 53%

Aaron Nola’s struggles are too significant to ignore. With a high ERA and too many baserunners allowed, he’s not someone you can trust right now. Miami has been the more balanced team, with stronger lineup metrics and steady pitching from Max Meyer. Until Philadelphia shows signs of life, fading them remains the sharper play.

Giants vs Rays: Rays (-127)

Rays win probability: 56%

San Francisco simply doesn’t hit enough to win games like this. A lack of power and poor OPS numbers limit their ceiling, even with solid pitching. Tampa Bay is more balanced offensively and can manufacture runs in different ways. In what projects as a lower-scoring game, the Rays have more paths to come out on top.

Dodgers vs Cardinals: Dodgers (-138)

Dodgers win probability: 58%

There’s a clear class gap here. Los Angeles brings elite production across the board, while St. Louis struggles to prevent runs. Even if Roki Sasaki hasn’t been perfect, this is a favorable spot for him to settle in. The Dodgers’ offensive firepower and overall depth should be too much for the Cardinals to handle.

Rangers vs Tigers: Tigers (-127)

Tigers win probability: 56%

Detroit has the edge offensively, with better on-base skills and more consistent production. Texas continues to struggle generating runs, which puts added pressure on Kumar Rocker. While both starters are capable, the Tigers’ ability to create scoring opportunities gives them the higher floor in this matchup.

Braves vs Rockies: Braves (-222)

Braves win probability: 69%

This is one of the biggest mismatches on the board. Atlanta is elite offensively and pairs that with strong pitching, led here by Chris Sale. Colorado simply doesn’t have the arms to keep this lineup in check. Even on the road, the Braves should dictate the pace and overwhelm the Rockies.

White Sox vs Padres: Padres (-203)

Padres win probability: 67%

San Diego has the advantage on the mound with Michael King, and that’s where this game tilts. The White Sox offense doesn’t consistently apply pressure, making it difficult to back them against quality pitching. With a steadier bullpen and enough offense, the Padres should separate over the full game.

Mets vs Angels: Angels (+108)

Angels win probability: 48%

The Mets’ offense is a major concern, sitting near the bottom of the league in nearly every key category. That lack of production makes it tough to support them, even with decent pitching. The Angels have more power and a more functional lineup, giving them the edge in a game that likely comes down to who can actually score.

Royals vs Mariners: Mariners (-138)

Mariners win probability: 58%

Seattle’s pitching gives them the edge here. Emerson Hancock has been efficient, and the Mariners as a staff do a better job limiting damage. Kansas City doesn’t generate enough offense to overcome that gap. In what projects as a tight game, Seattle’s run prevention and slightly cleaner execution make them the more reliable side.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

As several Colorado Rockies search for traction on offense, it makes sense that the next wave of Albuquerque names has started to become more interesting. 

Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) has been part of that conversation. Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), too. Sterlin Thompson (No. 13 PuRP) is a quieter name, but maybe a more intriguing one than first appears. And with several players on the current roster still trying to find their footing, a call-up does not have to be a final judgment. Sometimes, it is just a reset for one player and a test for another. 

So the better question is not simply who should come up. 

It is this: What actually translates? 

The Albuquerque warning label 

Minor league numbers matter. They are evidence. They are not answers. That is especially true for Rockies prospects in the Pacific Coast League, and especially true when Albuquerque is involved. A hitter producing there means something, but it comes with a giant Isotopes-shaped warning label — not just because the ball flies, but also because the jump to major-league stuff and sequencing is where those numbers get stress-tested. 

The PCL can inflate outcomes. MLB pitchers expose process. 

That does not mean every good Albuquerque line is fake. It means the first question should be less “Who is hot?” and more “What skill is showing up?” 

Or, maybe more precisely this:How is the player accessing that skill? 

A first filter, not a final answer 

For a quick first filter, I looked at two imperfect but useful ideas: Impact Frequency and Chase Frequency. These are not replacement stats. Rather, they are trait-and-approach metrics. They are meant to help explain why the more familiar numbers look the way they do. 

Impact Frequency is hard-hit balls divided by total pitches seen. It is not traditional hard-hit rate, which is usually measured per ball in play. This raises a different question: How often does a hitter turn his overall pitch environment into loud contact? 

Chase Frequency is chase-zone swings divided by total pitches seen. Again, not traditional chase rate. This is more of a translation-risk check. Will big-league pitchers see enough chase in the profile to nibble a hitter to death? 

With a 300-pitch filter, the shape gets clearer. Carrigg and Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP) rank 32nd and 33rd in Triple-A in Impact Frequency. Thompson and Condon are a step behind, at 78th and 79th. Then the picture flips in Chase Frequency: Thompson ranks 10th and Condon 22nd, while Carrigg sits 173rd and Veen is, well, the bottom. 

That does not mean Carrigg and Veen are better hitters. It does not mean Thompson and Condon lack impact. It means they are accessing their offense differently. 

That is the point. 

Carrigg and Veen are finding loud contact a bit more often, but with more swing-decision risk attached. Thompson and Condon are getting there through “approach” first. That does not make one path automatically better than the other. It just tells us what still needs to be tested. 

Thompson: approach first 

Thompson is the cleanest example. He has 117 plate appearances in this sample, a strikeout rate around 22%, and a walk rate around 17%. That lives somewhere in the Edouard Julien neighborhood: walks, patience, and forcing pitchers into the zone. 

The walks matter because they are frequent. The contact matters if it is hard. 

The risk is that the approach has to travel intact. If Thompson expands more against major-league pitching, the profile can get thin quickly. The patience is the foundation. Without it, the strikeouts become louder, and the offensive floor drops. 

Condon: patience with damage 

Condon is similar, but with more damage attached. His .267/.409/.851 line is not just a slugger-in-Albuquerque line. With a walk rate around 17% and a strikeout rate around 19%, plus a 22nd-place Triple-A rank in Chase Frequency, the offensive idea makes sense. He is not just swinging big: He is controlling the zone. 

The trap is that power is his calling card, and it is not fully popping yet in this snapshot. If chasing more power pulls him away from the approach, the profile gets riskier. I would rather see him keep the approach than sell out for more power. 

But if the power truly develops alongside that approach? 

Watch out. 

Carrigg: aggressive, but not reckless 

Carrigg is almost the opposite question. His traditional line explains the interest: .340/.402/.864 with 18 stolen bases. The Statcast layer adds to it. 32 hard-hit balls on 403 pitches is a real signal for a switch-hitter whose appeal already includes speed, arm strength, and defensive flexibility. 

But Carrigg is not doing this the Thompson way. His nine walks in 117 plate appearances put his walk rate around 7.7%, while his strikeout rate sits around 14%. He is more aggressive, more willing to enter the chase band, and currently making enough contact for it to work. 

That “currently” is doing some work. If the contact backs up, the aggression gets harder to live with. Carrigg’s profile is exciting because the bat is touching the ball often enough to let the speed, defense, and hard-hit frequency matter. If that contact slips, the whole equation gets tighter. 

Veen: the counterweight 

Veen is the counterweight. His .258/.340/.716 line is not terrible, and the Impact Frequency says the talent is still there. But 37 chase-zone swings on 377 pitches is not nothing. 

Big-league pitchers wont need to beat him in the zone when he is willing to meet them outside of it. 

What comes next? 

This is still only a first filter. Launch angle, pull rate, zone contact, whiff rate, and whether the hard contact is turning into actual damage all matter from here.

Carrigg hitting the ball hard is interesting. Carrigg hitting the ball hard on the ground is a different conversation.

Condon controlling the zone is interesting. Condon doing damage when he gets a pitch to hit is the next question. 

There are roster questions, too. If Ezequiel Tovar goes down, Chad Stevens probably makes the most sense for the Rockies. It is a less-splashy move, but it fits the infield need. If Jordan Beck goes down, the conversation changes. That is when Thompson, Carrigg, and Condon really enter the picture. 

I am glad I am not the one making these decisions. I am impulsive. I like to dream.

But if Thompson, Carrigg, and Condon keep playing this way, it no longer feels crazy to think we could see all three in Denver at some point this year. Not because Albuquerque numbers should be taken at face value. Not because any one of them is a finished answer. Because each is starting to show a skill set worth testing. 

There is something here. Maybe even several somethings. 

But this is still development, not arrival. 

On the farm

Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes 26, El Paso Chihuahuas 8

Well, that escalated. Albuquerque set a new franchise record for runs in a 26-8 win over El Paso. It was also the most runs the Chihuahuas have ever allowed, and only the third time since 2005 that a PCL team has scored at least 26 runs in a game. Sterlin Thompson, Zac Veen, and Braxton Fulford all homered as the Isotopes piled up traffic all night. El Paso issued 13 walks, and Albuquerque kept turning those chances into damage. Sean Sullivan gave the Isotopes a useful start, allowing three earned runs over five innings. It was not spotless — eight hits, four walks, one strikeout, and a homer — but five innings of three-run ball plays just fine in Albuquerque.

Double-A Reading Fightin Phils 11, Hartford Yard Goats 3

Hartford fell behind early and never really got the game back under control. Reading scored twice in the first, added four more in the third, and kept tacking on in an 11-3 Yard Goats loss. The Fightin Phils improved to 12-12, while Hartford dropped to 10-14. Carson DeMartini and Bryan Rincon both homered for Reading, and Rincon also stole home as part of a double steal in the sixth. For Hartford, Aidan Longwell was the bright spot. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI, factoring into all three Yard Goats runs. Benny Montgomery and Conner Capel each added RBI singles.

High-A Spokane Indians 7, Eugene Emeralds 1

Spokane handled Eugene 7-1, improving to 9-15 while the Emeralds dropped to 18-6. Ethan Hedges got the Indians started early with a two-run homer in the first, his fourth of the season, and finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a walk. Roynier Hernandez also homered, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. The pitching was the real story, though. Lebarron Johnson Jr. allowed one run on one hit over three innings, walking one and striking out three. Ben Catlett took it from there and was dominant, throwing six scoreless innings with two hits allowed, one walk, and 11 strikeouts.

Single-A Stockton Ports 7, Fresno Grizzlies 3

Fresno jumped ahead early, but Stockton took control late in a 7-3 Grizzlies loss. The Ports improved to 12-13, while Fresno fell to 14-11. Jack O’Dowd had the best offensive night for Fresno, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Clayton Gray also went 2-for-5 and scored a run, while Roldy Brito doubled and scored. Tanner Thach drove in Fresno’s first run with a sacrifice fly. The game turned in the sixth, when Stockton scored four times to flip a 3-2 Fresno lead into a 6-3 deficit. Ethan Cole took the loss, allowing four runs, two earned, over two innings. Michael Herrera started and struck out seven over four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk. O’Dowd continues to be one of the more productive bats in the lower levels, now sitting at a 1.078 OPS after another multi-hit game.

Rockies Early-Season Success Is Bad News for the Rest of National League West | SI.com

In this piece by Scott Roche, the Rockies’ 14-18 start is framed as a small but real warning to the rest of the NL West: Colorado may not be good yet, but it is no longer automatic. The piece leans on improved pitching depth and early competitiveness against division opponents as signs of progress.

As his son becomes MLB manager, Jim Tracy recalls pivotal moments from ’09 Rox | MLB.com

In this piece by Thomas Harding, Jim Tracy looks back on the 2009 Rockies through a few small moments that ended up feeling much bigger with time: the pitch, the at-bat, and the catch. It’s a nice little nostalgia trip, with a fun current-day wrinkle now that Tracy’s son Chad is getting his own big-league managerial shot in Boston.

Rockies Still Disrespected in Latest Power Rankings | YARDBARKER.com

Seth Dowdle has some fun with the Rockies still hanging near the bottom of ESPN’s power rankings despite a recent Mets sweep and a split with the Dodgers. Is it disrespectful? Maybe. Is it also what happens when you lose 119 games the year before? Unfortunately, yes.

Tovar’s struggles against fastballs continue in Rockies’ loss to Braves | MLB.com

In another piece by Thomas Harding, Ezequiel Tovar’s early slump gets a closer look, with fastballs standing out as a particular issue. Tovar points more to timing than a broken swing, which gives the Rockies something specific to work through as he tries to get back on track.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks! 

Today’s Reflections

• What a question — Can Carl Edwards Jr. be the key piece to the Cubs’ bullpen woes? Wow, it seems like a big stretch. One hundred people will 100 different first-photo memories of the post-World Series activities, but the photo below is one of my favorites. Can he help bring the title to the Cubs (and the “W” flag to the field) one more time? It would be much even more unexpected than a WS speech during a rain delay.
• I’m not trying to be Mr. Negative, but can the offense remain strong while nearly the entire pitching staff is in shambles? Edwards will not be able flip the script, but there’s a trade suggestion below that could/would, but at what prospects (and maybe a 26-man piece) would do it? Pedro Ramirez’s explosion has helped a lot, but a lot more would be needed.
• I wish there was video (maybe I missed it) of Counsell drinking Malört! But I don’t want to see him throw it up, either — save that reaction to the next bullpen injury.
• *** Regarding the story below about Nico Hoerner’s stunned reaction, I was really disturbed about the offensiveness of the Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing in recent games. In addition to the story below about Rushing is another one (NSFW) that includes three other incidences the previous two series. As “fun” as it was, this isn’t the 1970s. Rushing is lucky that Dave Parker, Pete Rose and Bill Madlock weren’t the recipients of his behavior. You know that no one in the Dodgers’ dugout is doing to do anything — hopefully, a respected person outside the dugout can get in his ear. Soon.

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

• Tommy Erbe (Sports Net On Top): Biggest Chicago Cubs Storylines Going Into Diamondbacks Series. “The Cubs have an important stretch behind them. Here are some headlines going into the weekend and week ahead; Ian Happ’s On-Base Streak is His Career-Best; Can the Bats Keep Wrigley Warm and Arizona Pitching Cool?; Cubs Can’t Look Ahead, but It’s Hard Not To. ”It’ll be the Reds and the Cubs matching up in a four-game series at Wrigley Field to begin next week. It’s hard not to, but the Cubs cannot be looking ahead to this big series. They need to focus on the now and take care of business against the Diamondbacks.“
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Daniel Palencia Begins a Rehab Stint at Iowa. “Palencia, who has been out since April 12 with a mild lat strain, will presumably get into the I-Cubs game today, and then they’ll see how he feels tomorrow.”
• Jordan Campbell (Fansided): Mets just handed the Cubs a perfect reunion opportunity in their quest for bullpen answers. “It should be an easy yes. ….. At this point, Carl Edwards Jr. checks the easiest box there is. ……But if Edwards’ missing bats, he can be effective. He struck out 11 of the 25 batters he faced during his time with the Mets while only giving up one run.” *One more time:*

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): So Far, the Cubs Have Had a Big Roster Advantage When It Comes to Pinch-Hitting. “The Cubs have already had 36 pinch hit appearances, 6th most in baseball, and they’re making a lot of hay with those opportunities.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs’ series with D-backs forces them to confront an offseason decision they may suddenly regret. “Zac Gallen is pitching at Wrigley Field this weekend…just not with the Cubs.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The bitter taste of victory: How Malört and Craig Counsell bring Cubs together. “Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell ripped back some Jeppson’s Malört. As the team toasted his 900th career win as a major-league manager, Counsell downed the bitter-tasting liqueur. ….. Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. “Counsell’s big message was: ‘Just embrace it, man.’ You appreciate this game more when you have to go through some of those struggles early. It brings the team together.”
• Steve Silverman (Clutch Points): Cubs’ surprise breakout star behind the team’s offensive surge. “Nico Hoerner has been a productive member of the Cubs since 2019, but he has never had more than 10 home runs in a season or 68 RBI. With about 20 percent of the season in the books, he is on pace for 20 home runs and 130 RBI. He is unlikely to stay on his current pace for RBI, but there is every reason to believe he will have the best offensive season of his career.

• Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Shota Imanaga doing more than ever to ensure he and Cubs share common language. “In his third season with the Cubs, Imanaga is taking accountability in a new way. Through his interpreter, he says he no longer wants to use his being from Japan as an excuse for when he doesn’t do well.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Ian Happ Integral as Cubs Keep Winning War of Attrition. “Among the top 15 hitters in MLB who’ve gotten the most PAs with runners on base, you’ll find five Cubs. The titular player, however, can’t be found until No. 93 with his .351 OBP. What’s more important is that Ian Happ is currently riding a 22-game on-base streak that has seen him reach in a variety of ways.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Rick Sutcliffe Offers an Inside Perspective on the Swap from Kyle Tucker to Alex Bregman. “We know that Bregman comes with a reputation for making every player around him – even prospects in the organization – better. It’s a little harder to compare that value.”

• Connor Liguori (Sporting News): Cubs linked to Angels’ 0.84 ERA Cy Young candidate for Justin Steele reason. “Battling their way past the injuries will be a difficult task for the Cubs, but they also have the trade deadline to make upgrades. Fansided’s Mark Powell suggests they give the Los Angeles Angels a call.“
• *** Paranjoy Goswami (Total Pro Sports): Nico Hoerner Breaks Silence on Dalton Rushing’s Body-Shaming NSFW Remark. “Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner alleges Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing of making an obscene body-shaming comment on Miguel Amaya.”
• Jeff Agrest (Chicago Sun-Times {$}): What’s it like for local media covering Cubs, White Sox? I’m finding out. “Not only am I fulfilling a dream I’ve had since I was a kid — covering baseball — but I’m getting out and seeing the broadcast media’s coverage up close, not just from my office chair at home.”
• RB Hayek (Clutch Points): Has Alex Bregman totally changed Cubs’ offense? Craig Counsell isn’t buying it. “Craig Counsell dismissed the idea that Alex Bregman is the sole reason the Cubs offense is swinging less at the plate.”
• Nick Hudson (SportsNetOnTap.com) Cubs Turn to Rea, Imanaga, and Boyd as Rotation Looks to Reset Against Diamondbacks. “The Cubs send Colin Rea, Shota Imanaga, and Matthew Boyd to the mound against the Diamondbacks, with each starter looking to rebound while a taxed bullpen needs support.”

Food For Thought:

Henrik Freischlader (born 3 November 1982) is a German blues guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer, and autodidactic multi-instrumentalist. His style of music cannot be considered pure blues. He often blends in musical styles such as rock, jazz, soul, and funk, even though blues is the basis of all of his songs. His guitar-playing is influenced by Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Peter Green, Albert Collins and Albert King.

Massive sea lion ‘Chonkers’ drawing crowds in San Francisco (Video)

15 Best Places to Travel in 2026! (Why Now?) (Video)

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

Good morning, baseball fans!

We are in the middle of a new feature for May that I’m calling the “12 Days of Mays-mas” because I won’t be around for the next week or so, and I want to leave you guys with some fun things to watch while I’m gone.

For the second day of Mays-mas, I thought we’d continue with the theme from yesterday, and re-visit Game 4 of the 2012 World Series, because it was the second championship of the San Francisco era.

This one might be my favorite. Not because it was necessarily the most exciting, or the most memorable from a baseball standpoint, but because of the memories associated with it. It was a thrilling ride of a playoff run, at least until the World Series itself. So getting the sweep was great for all of our collective sanity.

So get your coffee, settle in, and enjoy!

What time do the Giants play today?

The San Francisco Giants continue this road series against the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon at 3:10 p.m. PT.

Good morning Birdland,

Sometimes it feels like the Orioles are in a free fall, and then you look at their 15-17 record and realize that things could be much worse. Yesterday was one of those days.

Before their 7-2 loss to the Yankees on the Friday night, the Orioles got some bad injury news. Their closer Ryan Helsley was headed to the IL with elbow inflammation. Fortunately, imaging had already been done and come back clean. Helsley is taking medication to calm down the inflammation and is expected back relatively soon.

This is just the latest pitching injury for an Orioles team that has already had its fair share. It comes right on the heels of Opening Day starter Trevor Rogers going on the shelf with the flu. The club is also awaiting returns from Dean Kremer and Dietrich Enns.

The Orioles have shown off some of their depth in the pitching department. The likes of Cade Povich, Brandon Young, and Albert Suarez have come up and shown varying levels of success. That has its limits, though, as witnessed this week. Povich got hit around by the Yankees on Friday, right after Young was bombed by the Astros on Thursday.

Right now, the Orioles are simply in survival mode. Their double-header on Thursday marked the beginning of a streak that will see them play 15 games in 14 days. So expect to see a lot of pitching shuffling over the next two weeks. Hopefully the team can also, ya know, win some of the baseball games.

Kyle Bradish is on the bump this afternoon at Yankee Stadium. His stuff has looked good recently and the top-line stats are improving. The O’s need an ace-like start from him today, one that comes with a little length as well.

Links

Orioles Place Ryan Helsley On IL With Elbow Inflammation | MLB Trade Rumors
Here is more on Helsley’s IL stint. As they point out, an elbow issue tends to be quite ominous for a pitcher, but it sounds like the Orioles aren’t too concerned. Of course, we have heard that before and see it go south. Fingers crossed!

Catching up on Rutschman and Basallo backstop duo | Roch Kubatko
Things have gone well for the Orioles behind the plate, despite Adley Rutschman’s IL stint a few weeks back. Both he and Samuel Basallo have been hitting while many other parts of the lineup have struggled. The defense is more of a mixed bag (particularly for Basallo), but it’s outweighed by how productive the two bats have been.

Jon Meoli: The Orioles’ biggest early-season test comes this weekend in New York. Their stars need to ace it. | The Baltimore Banner
The Orioles will play two series against the Yankees in the next two weeks. I don’t expect them to win both of them, but they need to be competitive and look like a squad that could chase down the Bombers in the division at some point. That didn’t seem to be the case on Friday.

Orioles’ Pete Alonso, back in New York, has no regrets | Capital Gazette
I mean, how could he? It doesn’t sound like the Mets ever got serious about bringing him back. And it’s not as if his former squad is in an enviable position anyway. While the Orioles have their own issues, you have to think Alonso feels fine about where he ended up.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Jonathan Villar turns 35 today. He was quite good for some very bad Orioles teams. Between 2018 and ‘19, Villar was worth 6.0 bWAR, had a 106 OPS+, hit 32 home runs, and stole 61 bases.
• Brent Bowers is 55 years old. The outfielder played in just 21 big league games, all of which came with the 1996 Orioles.
• Keith Moreland is 72. He wrapped up his 12-years in the majors with a 33-game cameo on the 1989 O’s.

This day in O’s history

2010 – The Orioles complete their first home, three-game sweep of the Red Sox since 1974 when Ty Wigginton hits a walk-off double against Jonathan Papelbon in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Fun game today, although it may have been ever-so-slightly overshadowed by the happenings of another Cleveland sports team. Offense looked shaky to start the game.

The Guardians had the bases loaded with no outs in the first, but failed to bring home any runs. In the bottom of the first, Cantillo gave up a 2-run 2-out homer to Brent Rooker. But, the next inning, the Guardians had runners at the corners with no outs, and then made two consecutive outs. Luckily, Cleveland’s own Chase DeLauter rocketed a double into right that the Athletics’ right fielder, Colby Thomas, misplayed, leading to 2 Guardians runs.

In the fourth, Cantillo gave up a 2-rbi single down the line to Zack Gelof. But, again, in the next inning, the Guardians answered right back with a Rhys Hoskins 1-out 2-run double.

Later that inning, Martinez (pinch-hitting for Schneemann) drove in another run with a sac fly.

Cantillo wasn’t his best today, giving up 4 earned in 4 innings. 5 hits, 3 walks, 2 strikeouts. But, when the offense hums the way it did tonight, we spend less time focusing on the pitcher.

In the seventh, Hoskins drove in another run with a solo shot.

Bo Naylor (!) drove in a run with a 104 mph double to right, and then Rocchio drove him in right after.

Erik Sabrowski got out of a Hunter Gaddis-induced bases-loaded jam in the 7th, striking out 2 consecutive Athletics, and getting Colby Thomas to fly out to very deep left-center.

Cade Smith put out a Connor Brogdon-induced fire in the 8th, stranding runners at the corners with two outs. He came back on in the 9th for a 1-2-3 inning.

Other highlights include things such as: a Matt Festa scoreless inning, 2 Travis Bazzana walks, a 2-hit night for Bo Naylor, a *4-hit* (5x on-base) night for Chase DeLauter, and a 3x on-base game for Steven Kwan.

Have a good night!

Toledo Mud Hens 18, Columbus Clippers 5 (box)

Sawyer Gipson-Long was scratched prior to this game, fueling talk that he might be part of a spot start plan against the Rangers on Sunday in Casey Mize’s regular turn. Instead, it was a bullpen day with Grant Holman leading the way, and early on the Clippers built a 4-0 lead after Sean Hunley allowed a three-run third inning in relief. As you can see by the score, things would take a decisive turn in the Mud Hens’ favor.

It was still 4-0 Columbus when Cal Stevenson led off the fifth with a single. Andrew Navigato doubled him to third, but Tomas Nido flew out to shallow center and Stevenson couldn’t score on that fly ball, nor the shallow fly to right that followed from Max Burt. He would score on a Ben Malgeri bouncer that he beat out. Tyler Gentry doubled in Navigato and Malgeri, and it was a 4-3 Clippers lead.

In the sixth, Corey Julks led off with a walk, and Eduardo Valencia singled. After a Stevenson strikeout, Navigato singled in Julks, and later in the inning, a Max Burt single and an error brought home Valencia and Navigato. Malgeri walked, and Gentry came through with another two-run double to make it 8-4 Mud Hens. Gentry, a former Royals farmhand, has always had a very well rounded game and just never broke through to the major league level. Now 27, the right-handed hitting corner outfielder is a bit of an interesting depth option in Toledo.

In the top of the seventh, the Clippers walked in two runs, and Malgeri cleared the bases with a double that made it 13-4.

Scott Effross allowed a run in the bottom of the seventh, but in the eighth, singles from Valencia and Stevenson set the table for Navigato, who crushed his first home run since rejoining the Tigers’ organization. 16-5 Hens. They added two more in the ninth for fun.

Max Clark had the night off and missed this party.

Navigato: 3-4, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2B, HR, BB

Malgeri: 3-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2B, BB

Gentry: 2-5, R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, BB, K

Holman: 2.0 IP, ER, H, BB, K

Coming Up Next: The Hens take a 3-1 lead in the series into a 4:05 p.m. ET matchup on Saturday.

Erie SeaWolves 7, Chesapeake Baysox 4 (box)

John Peck remains absolutely on fire for Erie, and the offense cracked three home runs to win behind a solid day from the bullpen.

The SeaWolves got rolling immediately with a five run bottom of the first. Peyton Graham singled with one out and then stole his 13th bag of the young season. Brett Callahan made it a moot point, cranking his third home run of the season. Peck smoked a double to left, and a Justice Bigbie lineout to right, Andrew Jenkins doubled in Peck, and then rode home on an E.J. Exposito two-run shot. 5-0 SeaWolves.

Colin Fields and Johan Simon both tossed a pair of scoreless innings to start off the bullpen day. Peck cracked a solo shot in the third, making that four straight days with a home run. He would also single, steal second, and score on a Jenkins single in the eighth.

Trevin Michael allowed a pair of runs in the middle innings, but Tyler Owens handled the seventh and eighth with no issues. Wandisson Charles was knocked around for a pair of runs in the ninth but eventually pulled it together.

Peck: 3-4, 3 R, RBI, 2B, HR, K, SB

Jenkins: 3-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B

Owens: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:35 p.m. ET start in Erie on Saturday with the SeaWolves up 3-1 in the series.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 8, West Michigan Whitecaps 4 (box)

The Kernels continue to have the Whitecaps number as they mauled Rayner Castillo and cruised to an easy victory on Friday.

After a good outing last time out, Castillo couldnt’ miss bats in this one and the Kernels scored two runs in each of the first three innings.

Jackson Strong singled, stole second, and scored after a pair of ground outs in the top of the first. So it was a 6-1 games when Castillo’s outing ended early. In the top of the fifth, Samuel Gil doubled in Hunter Dobbins and Strong to cut the lead to 6-3, but that was as close as they’d get.

Luke Stofel allowed a pair of runs in the sixth to make it 8-3. Cristian Santana doubled in the eighth and was wild pitched to third, where he would score on a Juan Hernandez ground out.

The combination of Castillo, Inohan Paniagua, Stofel, and CJ Weins combined for just three strikeouts against five walks, as the system wide drought in pitching contines. Only Ben Jacobs, Kelvis Salcedo, and Grayson Grinsell have really been impressive out of the field of prospects so far.

Hernandez: 1-3, RBI, 2B, BB, K

Strong: 1-4, 2 R, BB, K, SB

Castillo (L, 0-3): 3.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday as the Whitecaps try to avoid a sweep.

Bradenton Marauders 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 4 (box)

The Flying Tigers got a pretty good short outing from Kelvis Salcedo on Friday, and did a pretty good job at the plate against one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. The bullpen let them down a bit late to lose this one after they’d mounted a comeback.

Anibal Sales smashed a 98 mph Hernandez fastball for a solo shot in the second to open the scoring. Javier Osorio followed him with a double but was stranded. In the third, Zach MacDonald turned on a slider and bashed his eighth home run of the young season. He’ll be coming to a Whitecaps game near you pretty soon, but the strikeouts remain a pretty big problem as well.

This was just Salcedo’s second outing of the year, so he’s still building up his pitch count. He punched out five in three innings of work, but did give up a solo shot to Cristian Jauregui in the third before wrapping up his outing.

The Flying Tigers kept getting some traffic on the bases against Hernandez but wouldn’t score off of him again. Charlie Christensen threw a clean fourth for Lakeland, but he leaked a pair of runs in the fifth to lose the lead. So it was 3-2 Bradenton, and then 4-2 when Luke Hoskins allowed a run in the sixth.

The Flying Tigers struck back in the seventh with Hernandez’s day over. Jude Warwick led off with a double and Jesus Pinto was hit by a pitch. The next two hitters made outs, but Beau Ankeney drove a ball to center for a double to plate both runs and tie the game 4-4.

Unfortunately, Bradenton immediately untied it with a solo shot to lead off the eighth, and the Flying Tigers couldn’t manage another comeback.

MacDonald: 2-5, R, RBI, HR, 3 K

Salas: 2-4, R, RBI, HR, 2 K

Salcedo: 3.0 IP, ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: Bradenton leads the series 3-1.