NEW YORK, NY - MAY 04: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, May 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last night, the Yankees opened up a three-game series in Milwaukee, and it could’ve gone better for them. Young phenom Jacob Misiorowski shut down the Bombers, striking out 11 in six innings and keeping them off the scoreboard. Tonight, the Yankees will look to bounce back, as they send their own best young starter to the hill.
Cam Schlittler will get the start for the Yankees looking to even the series up. Even though he only allowed one run in 5.2 innings, Schlittler is coming off a bit of a struggle, for him, as he uncharacteristically walked three batters and gave up seven hits.
Elsewhere in the lineup, recent callup Spencer Jones will make his first ever start in the field in this one. Jones will be playing center field and hitting eighth in the batting order.
For Milwaukee, Kyle Harrison will take the ball. The Brewers picked up Harrison in an offseason trade with the Red Sox, and he’s gotten off to a very impressive start. Through six starts and 29.2 innings, Harrison has a 2.12 ERA with a 2.86 FIP.
We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread for tonight’s action.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 01: Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates in the dugout with Rob Refsnyder #30 of the Seattle Mariners after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on May 01, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baseball is so weird. Emerson Hancock pitched his poorest outing of the season yesterday and got a win after being handed a loss in what was probably the best-pitched game of his career last outing. And it was still one of the more normal games the Mariners have played in the Windy City, where things always seem to go sideways. Today Luis Castillo takes the ball for the Mariners and will try to stave off the weirdness. Meanwhile, the White Sox will attack the Mariners with yet another lefty starter, forcing the Mariners to their righty-heavy lineup and Luke Raley, hero of yesterday’s game, to the bench to start the game.
Lineups:
News:
Some updates from Ryan Divish in Chicago:
Bryce Miller will start Wednesday in Houston. With 14 games in 14 days , Mariners will use a six man rotation and then reassess after the road trip.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 9: Brent Rooker #25 of the Athletics celebrates with Nick Kurtz #16, Carlos Cortes #26 and Shea Langeliers #23 after hitting a three RBI home run during the third inning as catcher Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 9, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s came out on top for the second day in a row, beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 in convincing fashion and setting themselves up for a series sweep tomorrow afternoon.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 05: Mauricio Dubon #14 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after a two RBI double during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 05, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well losing the Chris Sale game was really not what the doctor ordered for the Braves playing at the Dodgers, particularly the way that the game was lost, but they have a chance to even things up tonight behind Spencer Strider.
There are a number of notable changes to the Braves’ lineup, as Mauricio Dubon returns to the leadoff spot, bumping Baldwin, Albies, and Olson down a spot each. Sean Murphy is catching tonight, batting seventh, and he has hit well against Snell, with two walks, a single, double, and homer in 8 plate appearances. Jorge Mateo returns to the lineup at shortstop against the lefty Snell, batting ninth, after Jim Jarvis took a few days due to Mateo jamming his finger. Additionally, Michael Harris plays centerfield for the second consecutive night, a good sign that his quad continues to feel better.
May 9, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays left field Jesus Sanchez (12) dives back to first base in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Gerry Angus-Imagn Images | Gerry Angus-Imagn Images
Angels 1 Blue Jays 14
The only inning that really mattered was the fifth. The Jays scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning and that was more than enough. But the Jays added six more runs in the seventh and eighth.
Trey Yesavage was good enough, for four innings. He allowed four hits, two walks and six strikeouts, while not allowing a run. He was helped out by Addison Barger making a terrific throw from right, cutting down what should have been an easy run. Unfortunately, Trey threw a lot of pitches in those four innings, leaving the game with 87 pitches. Pitching deeper into a game would be nice. You can’t get the W if you throw just four innings.
Five different relievers did a good job too:
Mason Fluhardy got two strikeouts in the fifth. He got the win.
Braydon Fisher had a clean sixth.
Joe Mantiply a clean seventh.
Tyler Rogers gave up the Angels only run in the eighth, off 3 hits.
Tommy Nance allowed 3 hits in the ninth, but didn’t allow a run in the ninth.
We had 20 hits.
George Springer had two with a double.
Addison Barger didn’t have a hit but had two walks and scored a run. And he threw out a runner from pretty deep right and throwing at 101 mph to get the runner from third.
Vladimir Guerrero had two hits, with a run and an RBI.
Kazuma Okamoto was one for four with an RBI.
Jesus Sanchez had two hits, three runs, 2 RBI. One of those hits was a popup that landed just inside the left field line, falling between the third baseman, shortstop and left fielder.
Daulton Varsho was three for five with two runs scored.
Ernie Clement was five for five, with three runs and two RBI.
Andres Gimenez was o for four with an RBI.
Brandon Valenzuela went four for five with three runs, four RBI, a double and our only home run.
The Angels defense was terrible, which helped out. The only had one official error, but could have had three or four if they
Jays of the Day: Varsho (0.12 WPA), Clement (0.12) and Barger (0.10, plus the throw from right) and Yesavage (0.21) get the number.
Other Award? Well, George Springer had the number (-0.10).
Tomorrow the Jays go for the sweep with Eric Lauer (1-4, 6.03) going against José Soriano (5-2, 1.74). It is a 1:30 start time.
May 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – SS
MJ Melendez – DH
Mark Vientos – 1B
Carson Benge – RF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Brett Baty – 3B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Tyrone Taylor – CF
Clay Holmes – RHP
Diamondbacks lineup
Ketel Marte – 2B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Adrian Del Castillo – DH
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Lourdes Gurriel – LF
Gabriel Moreno – C
Ryan Waldschmidt – CF
Merrill Kelly – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:15pm EDT TV: FOX Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
San Diego, California - May 08: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres runs after a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Petco Park on Friday, May 8, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
St. Louis Cardinals (23-15) at San Diego Padres (22-16), May 9, 2026, 4:15 p.m. PST
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May 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) advances to second on a two-base error during the seventh inning as Texas Rangers first baseman Justin Foscue (14) attempts to apply the tag at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Kyle Harrison (52) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking to parlay their win in the series opener against the New York Yankees into a series win on Saturday night. They were able to shut out the Yankees potent lineup on Friday night, the first shutout the Brewers have had against the Yankees since 1992.
On the mound trying to repeat that performance, albeit with fewer triple-digit fastballs, will be the lefty Kyle Harrison. Harrison has been off to a great start in his first season with the Brewers following the February trade with the Boston Red Sox.
Harrison has a 2.12 ERA across his six starts and his last two have been his best. He struck out 12 over 6 IP against the Pirates and then his last time out went 6 IP again, allowing just one run in a win over the Nationals.
On the mound for the Yankees will be the right-hander Cam Schlittler, who has a stellar 1.52 ERA on the season.
With a righty being on the mound for New York, Pat Murphy is loading his lineup with left-handed hitters. Jackson Chourio and William Contreras are the only right-handed hitters in the order tonight, hitting leadoff and third, respectively. Brice Turang is in between them. Then the 4-9 spots in the order are all lefties and switch-hitters; Jake Bauers, Tyler Black, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Luis Rengifo, and David Hamilton.
The Yankees, meanwhile, are going a little atypical with 38-year-old first baseman Paul Goldschmidt batting leadoff. Goldschmidt has killed the Brewers over the course of his 16-year career with a .295 average, 30 homers, and .932 OPS. Ben Rice, Aaron Judge, and Cody Bellinger follow him. Spencer Jones, the hotshot prospect who made his debut facing Jacob Misiorowski’s 104-mph heat, is back in the lineup playing center field and batting eighth.
The Brewers made a transaction today, placing Brandon Lockridge on the IL with a right knee laceration and contusion following his scary crash into the LF wall yesterday. Blake Perkins was recalled from Triple-A to take his place.
Pat Murphy told reporters that “At the shortest, it’s a month,” that Lockridge will be out. But he’s still yet to get an MRI as they wait for the swelling to go down. The MRI is scheduled for Monday.
The Brewers offense will have a tough task again with a quality starter on the bump for New York, but their man on the mound is no slouch either. First pitch is at 6:10 p.m.
25 Feb 2000: Manager Bobby Cox #6 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a studio portrait during Spring Training Photo Day in Kissimmee, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport | Getty Images
Earlier this afternoon, the Atlanta Braves announced the passing of Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox. He was 84.
In six decades in the organization, Cox spent two separate stints as Braves manager; served as the team’s general manager; and was a player with the organization’s minor leagues prior to the beginning of his coaching career.
Cox’s death comes the same week as the passing of former Braves owner Ted Turner, who twice hired Cox to leadership roles in the organization.
Cox was born in Oklahoma in 1941 and moved with his family to California three years later. He began his playing career in 1960 after signing with the Dodgers organization out of high school.
After making it to Double-A with the Dodgers, he spent the 1965 season in Triple-A with the Cubs organization and split 1966 between the Cubs and Braves Triple-A ranks, playing for Austin in the Braves organization. In 1967, the Braves affiliate moved to Richmond, and he had a productive season with a .849 OPS.
The New York Yankees gave Cox an opportunity at the MLB-level in 1968 and he spent that and the 1969 season in the big leagues before his playing career wrapped up with parts of two seasons in the minors in 1971. Primarily a third baseman, Cox ended his big league career with 220 games played with nine home runs.
When his playing career concluded, it was only a few years until the beginning of what would become an iconic managerial career.
After several seasons of managing and coaching in the minor leagues and in winter ball, Cox became the first base coach for the Yankees in 1977 under manager Billy Martin. When the Braves moved on from manager Dave Bristol, they tabbed Cox as the team’s manager for the 1978 season.
Cox spent four seasons at the helm of a rebuilding Braves team that had a young Dale Murphy and added third baseman Bob Horner with the first overall pick in the 1978 draft. Unfortunately for Cox and the Braves, the team finish as high as fourth in the National League West only once – a 81-80 season in 1980.
The Braves weren’t able to build on the success of the 1980 season, finishing just below .500 in the first and second half of the strike-impacted 1981 campaign. Turner opted to replace Cox as manager, but when asked about the type managerial candidate that would be ideal to lead the Braves, it was Cox who Turner named.
Joe Torre, the former Braves All-Star player, would be hired to replace Cox and the two would both go on to have Hall of Fame careers.
The Toronto Blue Jays wasted no time hiring Cox as manager in 1982. Cox lead the Jays to back-to-back 89-win seasons in 1984 and 1985 and then took the squad to the American League Championship Series after a 99-win season in 1985. It was the first American League East title in franchise history.
Despite coming off of the best season of his managerial career, when Turner and the Braves came calling with an offer to become Atlanta’s general manager, Cox opted to return to the Braves.
As general manager, Cox oversaw a rebuild of the team’s minor league system with a focus on pitching. It was a painful era of Braves baseball at the big league level with the team losing 97-or-more games in three consecutive season, including the 106-loss 1988 season. But, by shifting from aging veterans to young, developing talent, Cox was setting a coarse for what would be a historic run for Atlanta.
During the 1990 season, Cox was faced with firing manager Russ Nixon after a 25-40 start. In doing so, he took over as skipper of the team. The team’s on-field record didn’t improve, but when John Schuerholtz was brought in from the Kansas City Royals as general manager, it was Cox he wanted to continue leading the team as manager.
The 1991 worst-to-first season for the Atlanta Braves changed everything for the Braves, the city of Atlanta and all of Braves country. The excitement, electricity and magnitude of that season is difficult to encapsulate 35 years later, but that season – and the run of 14-consecutive division-winning seasons (1994 notwithstanding) – has yet to be bested in MLB.
With the fiery Cox as skipper, the Braves won more than 100 games six times, and of course won the 1995 World Series. On the field and in the clubhouse, Cox was revered by players – many of whom he called by homespun nicknames that ended with -y – and respected by opponents as he was viciously loyal to his guys, a notion that was underscored by his MLB-record 162 ejections as manager.
Off-the-field, Cox dealt with a domestic abuse issue during that 1995 campaign, although charges were dropped and Cox did not miss any time during the season.
Cox led the Braves to the playoffs in every season there was a post-season from 1991 through 2005. Atlanta missed the playoffs in 2006, finishing below .500 for the first time since 1990, but returned to the post-season in 2010 – Cox’s final season as manager – when the team finished second in the NL East but claimed the Wild Card.
Cox’s post-season success was marginal, he ended his career with a below .500 record with the Braves and Blue Jays, and his sole World Series Championship was often sighted as a blight on an otherwise historic 15 years of dominance by the Braves.
He retired with 2,504 career victories, fourth most all-time, and led his teams to the post-season 16 times – 15 of those coming with the Braves. He won 15 division titles, five pennants and managed five All-Star games, including the 2000 contest in Atlanta. His 67 career post-season wins are fourth-most all-time. He also led the Braves to the 1995 World Series Championship.
Cox was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2011.
A four-time manager of the year winner, Cox was inducted into the the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 – a class that included Torre and fellow manager Tony La Russa as well as two of his former starting pitchers, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.
Cox suffered a stroke in 2019, the day after appearing at Trust Park for Opening Day, and made limited public appearances in the years that followed. His last appearance with the Braves was in 2025, on August 22, when the 1995 team was honored.
Cox, who was teammates with Mickey Mantle in New York, led teams in Atlanta that included future Hall of Fame players Fred McGriff, Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux, Chipper Jones, Andruw Jones and John Smoltz. As general manager, he drafted Chipper Jones and traded for Smoltz. He notoriously almost pulled off a trade for Barry Bonds in 1987 – five years before the Braves attempted to do a deal for Bond with Pittsburgh for a second time.
Cox’s 2,149 regular season wins are the most in Braves franchise history – with more than an 1,100 win gap between him and fellow Hall of Fame manager Frank Selee who has the second-most wins if franchise history. Cox is also third all-time in wins in Blue Jays history.
Each of the three managers who followed Cox in the position have ties to him with Fredi Gonzalez and Brian Snitker both serving as coaches on his staff while current manager Walt Weiss played under Cox from 1998 to 2000. Snitker (3) and Gonzalez (6) are both in the top six in wins in franchise history.
After a decade of being marketing as “American’s Team” on TBS by Turner, the Cox-led Braves became one of the powerhouse teams of the 1990s, transiting Atlanta from an also-ran franchise to one of the top brands in the sport.
The outpouring of messages from his former players in the hours following the new of his passing showed the reverence they held for him. Andruw Jones called him a “second Father” and outfielder Ender Inciarte labeled him, “a wonderful person, a great human being” while numerous others called him the greatest manager for whom they played.
To honor Cox during his final season, the Braves had a game-day give away that was a poster of Cox comprised of photos of every player he had managed, a fitting honor for a manager who still wore spikes like he did when he a player.
The image of Cox hobbling out of the dugout to argue a call, kicking dirt and get ejected for defending his players and his team, is one that resonates across many Braves fans who are mourning the loss of their skipper this afternoon.
The Atlanta Braves and their fans lost the person responsible for building the foundation for the success the Braves franchise has had for the past 35 years.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Logan Webb #62 and Trevor McDonald #72 of the San Francisco Giants look on at Scottsdale Stadium on February 12, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants Opening Day battery for the last three seasons is as gone as gone can be. Hours after announcing the shocking trade of Patrick Bailey to the Cleveland Guardians, the Giants placed the star of their rotation, two-time All-Star Logan Webb, on the 15-Day Injured List. Webb, who has led the National League in innings pitched in each of the last three seasons, is headed to the IL for the first time since 2021. The Giants professed optimism that he’ll return as soon as the 15 days are up.
Webb’s injury, which is officially listed as right knee bursitis, is retroactive to May 6. It was that injury that led him to come out of his last game after just 61 pitches, and the Giants are hoping it’s behind his rough start to the season, as he has a 5.06 ERA and a 3.59 FIP through eight starts.
A new battery is up to replace the old one. Taking Webb’s spot is right-hander Trevor McDonald, who will slide right into the rotation. While McDonald hasn’t been having a very good season in AAA, he was sensational when called upon on Monday, holding the San Diego Padres to two hits, no walks, and one run in seven innings, with eight strikeouts. McDonald has not pitched since, so the Giants can slot him into the rotation whenever and wherever they choose.
As for Bailey, his spot is being taken by catcher Logan Porter, whose contract was purchased from AAA Sacramento. The Giants are apparently intent to go with three catchers, even with their defensive ace gone, as Porter joins Eric Haase and Jesús Rodríguez. Daniel Susac is rehabbing in AAA, and should return at some point during the team’s upcoming road trip, barring a setback.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Yuki Matsui #1 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning at Petco Park on May 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This was a tough one for the Friar Faithful to take in.
The San Diego Padres didn’t do a whole lot to help their case as they lost their second consecutive game to the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s been a difficult stretch that has been marked by a poor Friars’ offense.
But the offense wasn’t the Padres biggest problem last night. Their defense ended up losing the game, being the main reason that six runs came across the board in the fifth inning, with right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. making his first error since May of last year. That call was controversial, this one was not.
With the bases loaded, JJ Wetherholt hit a single into right field. It would have been only one run with the play at the plate to get the lead runner, but the ball trickled under Tatis glove as he rushed to make the play and ended up at the wall. It went from a single to a little league grand slam.
But the Cards wouldn’t even need that many, with the Padres failing to score against the St. Louis pitching staff, despite having opportunities to do so. They’ll need to put some runs together tonight in order to right the ship in what has been a difficult stretch of baseball for San Diego.
Taking the mound
Dustin May (STL) v. Randy Vásquez (SD)
May has been middling but just good enough for the Cards, pitching to a 5.15 ERA over 36 2/3 innings. But the best thing for the righty is the simple fact that he’s healthy. In the past, that’s been a major struggle.
2025 was May’s first season pitching more than 60 innings with 132 1/3 innings. It was a mediocre year with May posting a 4.96 ERA but his health earned him a modest contract in St. Louis.
The Padres faced May plenty of times while he was a Los Angeles Dodger, and they played well against him then. There’s nothing to suggest that that wouldn’t remain the case this time around. The Friars need to scratch some runs across after failing to score very much in this series.
Vásquez has looked incredible for San Diego so far this season, but the last two starts have been shaky. In 10 2/3 innings, the righty has given up eight runs. That’s raised his ERA from 1.88 (as of April 21) to a 3.20 mark heading into tonight’s matchup.
That’s not to say he’s been bad, he hasn’t. But Vásquez has struggled with command, issuing five walks in those recent starts. If he can regain his command tonight, the Friars should have no trouble.
Batter up!
Of the Padres’ lineup, Manny Machado and Tatis have the most experience against May (53 combined at-bats). They own a combined .283 batting average with three homers against the right-hander. If those two bats can come alive, that would be a major improvement for the Friars.
Jackson Merrill, CF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Manny Machado, 3B
Gavin Sheets, DH
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Ramón Laureano, LF
Ty France, 1B
Sung-Mun Song, 2B
Freddy Fermin, C
After having two knocks in his debut start, Song’s bat has gone cold, it would be great for it to return against the lower-leverage starting May. Andujar has been in a similar state, cooling off after his eight-game hitting streak came to an end.
Merrill batting leadoff has been an interesting development in the lineup. It seemed to work initially, but hasn’t in the last two games. Manager Craig Stammen has seemed to let things linger before doing away with something so it seems likely that the center fielder continues to bat leadoff.
Relief corps
Yuki Matsui made his 2026 debut last night after spending the year rehabbing from a groin injury. He was mostly alright, pitching a solid 1 2/3 innings before being asked to return for the seventh inning. After striking out Wetherholt, he allowed the next three batters to reach before getting out of the jam.
With the game well out of hand, the Friars then went to Wandy Peralta and Ron Marinaccio to close out the eighth and ninth innings, respectively. That will leave the ‘pen fresh for tonight’s game.
Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Bradgley Rodriguez will all be available to pitch in relief after Vásquez’s outing concludes. Those five are all high-leverage options for Stammen to go to, and will each be trusted to turn to in a close game.
DENVER, CO - MAY 3: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field on May 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, that was quite the way to open the series.
The Colorado Rockies survived another blown lead to manage an exciting extra-inning win against the Philadelphia Phillies last night. Colorado carries a two-game winning streak into the matchup, as the teams meet for the second time this weekend and the fifth time already in this young season.
Tonight, Kyle Freeland takes on Aaron Nola.
Freeland enters with a 1-3 record in five games started, with a 5.04 ERA, 1.360 WHIP, eight walks, and 24 strikeouts. He’s had an equal mix of very good games and pretty shaky games. In two of his earlier starts, he gave up eight hits and two earned runs in both games combined. On the other side of things, he gave up eight hits and six earned runs in his last game, the 11-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves last Sunday. He’ll aim to bounce back today.
Colorado already got a look at Nola in the 10-1 home opener loss. As the score might suggest, he dominated the Rockies in that one. While he did give up the lone run, he surrendered just five hits alongside nine strikeouts, controlling the game with a lead in his 6.1 innings pitched.
Since then, Nola’s production has fluctuated. He picked up one more win and three losses across five starts since his early season appearance at Coors. His last start (on Monday against the Miami Marlins) was his best of the season. He pitched a scoreless six innings, notching five hits and five strikeouts in a 1-0 win. In his two starts before that, Nola gave up five earned runs in a loss to the Chicago Cubs and six earned runs on two homers in a loss to the Braves. He currently sits at 2-3 across seven starts, with a 5.06 ERA, 1.446 WHIP, 13 walks, and 40 strikeouts.
The Saturday night showdown gives us two pitchers (and honestly, two offenses) that have had a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde season. The two starters boast essentially identical ERAs and a similar mix of ups and downs. If last night is any indication, we’re in for another fun one!
STREAKING: The current season is only the fourth since 1901 in which the Cubs have enjoyed multiple double-digit winning streaks — and the first in 91 years. They won 14, 12, 10 and 10 in a row in 1906. They won 11 and 10 in 1910. They won 21 and 11 in 1935. The Cubs had one streak of at least 10 wins in six seasons before 1935 and have had one in 10 seasons since then. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
STEALING: The Cubs stole three bases last night. They had swiped three in only two earlier games this season: a 10-2 win at home over Nationals on March 28, second game of season, and a 9-2 win at Tampa on April 8 — 27 games before yesterday. They have stolen two bases twice, March 30 and April 15, and one base in 13 games, for a total of 18 with a steal and 21 with none. Last season, the Cubs stole at least three bases in 19 games, stole two in 23 and stole one in 40, for a total of 82 with a steal and 78 with none. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
BEST IN THE BIZ: This season is just the fifth since 1901 in which the Cubs have had the best record in baseball after their 39th game. The last time, as you might have guessed, was in 2016,. They were 28-11 and the Orioles were second, at 24-15. The Nationals were second among National League teams, at 25-16. The three earlier times came in a span of five seasons in the first decade of the 1900s. In 1903, the Cubs were 28-11 and the Giants were 26-11. In 1904, the Cubs were 26-11, to 27-12 by the Red Sox and 26-12 by the Giants. In 1907, the Cubs were 30-9; the Giants, 28-11; and the White Sox, 27-12. A year earlier, the Cubs had been the best in the NL, at 26-13, but the Athletics of the AL, at 22-10, had a higher winning percentage, .688 to .667. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
THE SEIYA FILES: Seiya Suzuki, last 20 games since April 15: .329/.432/.658 (24-for-73) with three doubles, seven home runs, 12 walks, 15 RBI and 17 runs scored.
Edward Cabrera has been remarkably consistent this year. After starting with two scoreless outings, he has allowed exactly three earned runs in each of his last five starts. So you pretty much know what you’re getting with a Cabrera start.
This will be Cabrera’s first-ever start against the Rangers. So, most of the Rangers have not faced him. One who has, from their common time in the NL East, is Brandon Nimmo (6-for-16, a double, seven walks).
Jack Leiter is the son of former MLB pitcher Al Leiter, and so the first cousin of former Cub Mark Leiter Jr.
Highly touted, he was picked in the first round in 2021 (second overall) by the Rangers.
He had a pretty good year in 2025 (29 starts, 3.86 ERA) but this year has been a bit rough, with a 5.45 ERA and seven home runs allowed in 38 innings.
This will be Leiter’s first-ever start against the Cubs. Only three Cubs (Alex Bregman, Carson Kelly and Nicky Lopez) have ever faced him, and have gone a small sample size 0-for-9.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
May 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana (37) celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
First Pitch: 1:10 pm CDT TV: Twins.TV Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy
Forty games of baseball is probably “enough” games of baseball to feel like you have a sense of the team you’re watching. After 40 games, my sense is roughly the same as it was after 34 games, when I remarked that the team was, in no uncertain terms, “ass.”
Since we last left off, the Twins had salvaged a split against the Blue Jays, then handed the Washington Nationals their first home series win (a la last season’s Colorado Rockies), and got jumped by the Cleveland Guardians on Apple TV. For all the chatter about the relative weakness of the division, Minnesota remains dead last in the American League Central with a 16-23 record, and are dangerously close to being the worst outright team in the league.
That one Detroit/Boston week notwithstanding, the Twins are starting to look like the bits-and-pieces roster that preseason assessments identified.
FUN STUFF, GANG!
Today, Joe Ryan makes one of his last starts on the team. Maybe, at the very least, we can be excited for his future and what it holds. He’s got forty strikeouts so far — one for every game the Twins have played! He didn’t get one per game, though. He doesn’t pitch that often, you silly billy.
Meanwhile, Tanner Bibee is looking to get his first win of the year after an 0-5 record in eight starts to begin 2026. It’s as good an opportunity as any!
