Apr 30, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff (53) walks off the mound with an injury in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The red flags popped up immediately. Brandon Woodruff’s first fastball of the game came across the plate at 84.2 mph. I initially thought the radar gun was mis-calibrated, or the system registered an off-speed pitch as a fastball. But then the next one came in at 85 mph, and instantly things looked bad.
Brandon Woodruff looked uncomfortable delivering the baseball. His smooth, repeatable, athletic delivery looked rigid, unathletic, and unusual. He walked Geraldo Perdomo with some really bad misses but somehow rallied to get a pair of strikeouts and a scoreless first inning.
Pat Murphy, the pitching coaches, and the athletic trainer all huddled trying to figure out what to do. Woodruff went back out for the second inning as the bullpen stirred, but no one began throwing. After allowing a single to Lourdes Gurriel Jr, the Brewers had seen enough. Murphy, Chris Hook, and athletic trainer Brad Epstein went out to the mound and quickly Woodruff was removed from the game.
His fastball averaged 85.4 mph and he didn’t register a pitch above 86 mph. Woodruff’s average fastball velocity this season is 92.5 mph, a drop of 7.1 mph.
Murphy on the Brewers TV broadcast said “He wasn’t himself. He felt like, felt kind of dead. He said he didn’t feel any pain, just nothing was coming out. We’ve seen a little bit of this, but never at this level where he can’t get the ball over 85 mph. He’s so important to us. We’re not going to risk anything maybe long term by having him try to step on it.”
Woodruff missed the entire 2023 postseason and 2024 regular season with a shoulder capsule injury that required surgery. He finally returned to the big league rotation in the middle of last season and found great success. That was until a lat injury prevented him from being able to pitch in the postseason again last year.
Woodruff came into this season focused on maintaining his health so he could be available all season long and into the playoffs. That’s why his ramp up in spring was slower and why he did not start on Opening Day. The Brewers have been as careful with him as they can be to keep him on the mound throughout the whole season.
This article will be updated as new information is provided from the Brewers on this concerning injury for one of the Crew’s best starters and longest-tenured player.
Over the next several weeks, they’re hopeful the return of two superstar players can help.
Shortstop Mookie Betts and starting pitcher Blake Snell are approaching returns from injuries; Betts from an oblique strain that he suffered a week into the season, Snell from shoulder fatigue that plagued him through the winter and forced him to begin the year on the injured list.
Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell, who is recovering from shoulder fatigue, is scheduled for another rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Jason Szenes for CA Post
Snell has completed two minor-league starts already as part of a rehab assignment and is scheduled to next take the mound for four innings Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. After that, the team will decide whether he’s ready to return or will need another minor-league outing to get further built up.
Betts, meanwhile, has been on a longer recovery track than he initially hoped. He said he recently experienced soreness following a batting practice session that forced him to temporarily slow his progression. However, he noted he remains on target for the four- to six-week timeline doctors gave him from the start, eyeing an activation sometime in mid-May.
“I think I’ve kind of started to turn the corner,” he said. “Where every day I’m starting to wake up and it feels good.”
While getting Betts and Snell back will be a boon for the Dodgers –– who started the year 15-4 but are just 5-7 the last two weeks –– it will create some tricky decisions elsewhere on the roster.
Good problems, Dodgers officials will note.
But, conundrums nonetheless.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is getting closer to returning from an oblique strain. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Start with Betts. In his absence, Hyeseong Kim was called up from Triple-A to platoon at shortstop with Miguel Rojas, while Alex Freeland got increased playing time as more of an everyday second baseman.
Kim and Freeland, who battled for the team’s final roster spot in spring training, have capitalized on their opportunities. Kim is batting .296 with two doubles, a home run and five stolen bases, while also cutting his strikeout rate from 31% last year to 21% this year. Freeland has started to shake off a slow opening three weeks, hitting .308 with two doubles and three RBIs over his past nine games (raising his season batting average to .234).
When Betts returns, the Dodgers will likely have two options: Send Kim or Freeland back to the minors to continue getting regular at-bats, or cut veteran utilityman Santiago Espinal (who is 5-for-23 in limited playing time this year) and move one of the other two into more of a reserve role.
The Dodgers might be reluctant to the latter strategy. It wouldn’t preserve as much organizational depth. It would force one of the young hitters to effectively ride the bench. And typically, the roster works better when the 13th and final position player spot is filled by a veteran presence who can better handle (and not be harmed long term by) the exceedingly inconsistent playing time that comes with the job.
Thus, barring any other injuries between now and then, the team might face another Kim/Freeland decision before long.
The looming rotation question is equally debatable.
When Snell returns, the Dodgers will have their big four starting arms all together again, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2-2, 2.87 ERA), Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.56 ERA) and Shohei Ohtani (2-1, 0.60 ERA).
However, it means one of the other three members of the current six-man group will have to be squeezed out.
Justin Wrobleski was originally the likeliest candidate for that, only joining the rotation a couple weeks into the season as a placeholder in Snell’s absence. But then, he went out and won all four of his starts since with a 0.69 ERA. That dominance might not be sustainable, especially for a pitch-to-contact lefty who has only 13 strikeouts in his last 26 innings. Still, it should warrant a longer look in a starting role.
Thus, the next few weeks could be crucial for Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 4.78 ERA) and Roki Sasaki (1-2, 6.35 ERA). Both began the season miserably. But both have made strides lately, with Sheehan rediscovering his typical fastball velocity and Sasaki altering his splitter to better find the strike zone.
Either of them could be optioned to the minors upon Snell’s return. Or, if they pitch well enough and Wrobleski suddenly stumbles, they could both keep their jobs while Wrobleski returns to the bullpen.
For now, it all remains on the table, providing some intriguing subplots as the Dodgers proceed into May.
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CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 21: George Valera #7 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on during the game against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The team has announced that George Valera has been sent back to Columbus. What will they do to fill out their roster?
George Valera had a brief and inglorious time in Cleveland this April. In 38 plate appearances, he put up a 46 wRC+ and struck out in back-to-back games against the Rays in spots where the team desperately needed a hit or a walk. His 40% chase rate was the big issue in his return, as well as looking pretty bad in the field (-1 OAA in LF and -1 OAA in right field). I think it’s a wise move to let Valera settle down in Columbus. Honestly, they should probably revisit swapping Valera and Kyle Manzardo in a couple weeks and let Valera be a DH vs. RHP if Manzardo can’t find a way to right the ship. Valera is still hitting the ball hard, not whiffing an exceptional amount and making good in-zone contact. He just couldn’t find the barrel or stop chasing, both skills he HAS shown in the past and may be able to find again.
In Valera’s absence, the team could promote any one of four main options:
CJ Kayfus, LHH – After putting up an 83 wRC+ in Cleveland, Kayfus was demoted earlier this month and has put up a 115 wRC+ in Columbus. He has split half his time in the field there between first base and the two corner outfield positions. I don’t think Kayfus’s numbers would warrant a call-up, and I suspect that, due to Angel Martinez and Daniel Schneemann’s recent success, the team will be looking for a player who isn’t still developing (i.e. won’t have growth hampered by part-time reps).
Nolan Jones, RHH – Jones has a 140 wRC+ with a 26/14 K/BB% in Columbus and fits the bill of a veteran whose development is past the point of where part-time reps will hurt him. He’s still struggling with zone-contact (only at 79%), so, personally, I wouldn’t make him my first call. He would, however, replace the left-handed bat the team has removed in Valera and is capable of playing centerfield (though has spent most of his time in right field in Columbus). I think the team might prefer someone with the flexibility to play any outfield spot in this place on the roster.
Stuart Fairchild, RHH – Fairchild has a 161 wRC+ with an 18.8/13.5 K/BB in Columbus. He has split his time pretty evenly between all three outfield spots there and is 4 for 4 in stolen base attempts. He is whiffing more than I’d like (12.6%), but his zone contact rate is right at average (85%). Fairchild may have a clause in his contract where he will be released by 5/1 if he is not on a major league roster. This has been rumored, but not confirmed anywhere that I can find. The timing of the Valera move would seem to indicate that Fairchild is likely to get the call, and, again, he would be a veteran fit for a part-time role. Notably, either Jones or Fairchild would require a roster move, and I suspect it would be a Codi Heuer DFA.
Kahlil Watson, LHH – Watson has a 140 wRC+ with a 28/20 K/BB in Columbus, while playing excellent defense in centerfield. His average exit velocity is an eye-popping 93 mph and he has a hard-hit rate of 50%. I am still concerned about his 78% zone contact rate and a 12.6 whiff rate isn’t ideal, but he has dramatically cut his chase rate from 34% to 20%. If Watson continues this pace, he will eventually get a shot this season to play center in Cleveland, but I think we are likely to be a 4-6 weeks away from that point.
In conclusion, I think it’s likely that tomorrow’s roster move will be adding Stuart Fairchild to the active roster and the 40-man and DFA’ing Codi Heuer, bringing the 40-man to 20 pitchers and 20 hitters. The active roster becomes, then:
C – Bo, Hedges, Fry 1B – Manzardo, Hoskins 2B – Bazzana 3B – Jose SS – Rocchio LF – Martinez CF – Kwan RF – DeLauter Utility – Schneemann OF – Fairchild
That’s 6 lefties, 3 switch-hitters, and 4 right-handed hitters, which is a pretty solid mix of handedness. It also gives the Guardians some much needed speed off the bench, as Fairchild has 86th percentile sprint speed in comparison with Valera’s 25th percentile. Going from Brito to Bazzana and Valera to Fairchild drastically changes this team’s available speed… and likely dramatically improves them defensively. Time will tell how the hitting changes shape up, but I like the move for Valera’s development and for the current roster’s ability to succeed.
The Mets claimed infielder Andy Ibanez off waivers from the A's.
The struggling Mets claimed infielder Andy Ibanez off waivers from the Athletics.
Ibanez is on his third team this year, hitting 2-for-18 with a .167 OBP in 11 games.
The reeling Mets have lost 16 of their last 19 games, with a lineup struggling to hit.
The reeling Mets are looking for help anywhere they can find it.
The latest flier taken is on infielder Andy Ibanez, whom the Mets claimed off of waivers from the Athletics, The Post’s Joel Sherman confirmed. Ibanez is 2-for-18 this season with a .167 on-base percentage in 11 games.
The Mets will be the third team of the calendar year for Ibanez, who signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract with the Dodgers on Jan. 13. Three weeks later, he was designated for assignment and claimed by the Athletics.
The Mets claimed infielder Andy Ibanez off waivers from the A’s. Getty Images
Ibanez only had more than 300 at-bats once during his first five MLB seasons (two with the Rangers and three with the Tigers). He has a career OPS of .688. He is at his best against left-handed pitching with a .763 OPS in 564 career plate appearances.
Most of Ibanez’s experience is at second base and third base, with a smattering of appearances at first base, shortstop and the corner outfield positions.
Thursday’s lineup against the Nationals included six hitters with a sub-.600 OPS at one point in the game. No wonder the Mets have lost 16 of their last 19 games.
The Royals conclude their trip to Sacramento this afternoon in the rubber game of their series against the A’s. After taking the first game in extras on Tuesday, the Royals fell yesterday. Now, Noah Cameron takes the mound with a chance for Kansas City to take it’s second straight series.
Vinnie remains out of the lineup, which is righty-heavy with the lefty Jeffrey Springs on the mound for the A’s. Lane Thomas is batting third, there are three catchers in the lineup, and Cags is also on the bench. Cool cool cool.
Man, those jerseys are sick. These are, to me, the best uniforms in baseball. I wish I could root for the A’s. Unfortunately, they left Kansas City about 30 years before I arrived.
After today’s game, the Royals head to Seattle for three to conclude their road trip. It would be really nice to capture this one.
With today being an off day for the Cubs, I thought it would be a good time to let you know that my fourth book about the Cubs will be coming out soon.
“The Incredible Chicago Cubs Trivia Book” is 300 trivia questions centered around our favorite team. I’ve separated this book into chapters about batters, pitchers, managers, Wrigley Field, broadcasters and much more. There are questions of every difficulty level in every chapter.
Here are some sample questions, from that Amazon link. I’ve left the answers out, see if you can answer these before you click on the link.
Who played the most games in Cubs history?
Which pitchers threw two no-hitters as members of the Cubs?
Can you name the manager that has the most wins in franchise history with a losing record?
Which player has the most postseason hits and strikeouts in Cubs history?
There are nuggets of Cubs history throughout the book. Some are things you surely know. Others, maybe not — otherwise, why would they be trivia?
The official release date of “The Incredible Chicago Cubs Trivia Book” is June 9, but you can pre-order now at that link.
This is in the acknowledgments to the book, but I wanted to say right here that I could not have completed this book without the help of BCB’s own JohnW53, whose knowledge of Cubs history is unparalelled. Thanks, John, for everything. My friend Mike Bojanowski, whose work you have occasionally seen here, was also a great help to me.
Hope you’ll pick up a copy. Enjoy! (And if you can make it to Wrigley, bring it and I’ll sign your copy.)
April is just about over, which means it’s time for our first GM approval poll of the 2026 regular season. We’ve learned several things through the first month of games. The American League could be an absolute dogpile with just the Yankees and Rays better than one game over .500, while across the league managers’ seats are getting hotter earlier than ever. Boston’s Alex Cora and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson learned this lesson the hard way and free-falling Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza seems likely soon to follow. Before the season started, we polled our readers on their confidence level in Brian Cashman and the team he assembled heading into the new campaign, voters overwhelmingly voicing their disapproval of the Yankees GM. Now that we are a month into the season, we are curious if any of those opinions have changed.
The Yankees started their season with a three-game sweep of the Giants at Oracle Park, followed by series wins against the Mariners and Marlins. But then the offense went silent, leading to a 2-9 stretch against the A’s, Rays, and Angels. That span included a five-game losing streak, getting one-hit by the Rays, and going 17 consecutive innings without scoring. This inability to dent home plate was primarily attributed to being dragged down by the worst bottom of the order in MLB.
It's still very early in the season, but the Yankees entered today's game with the worst 6-7-8-9 hitters in baseball.
Those spots had a combined 22 wRC+ before today's game. They are currently 0-for-6 with 3 Ks today.
Despite splitting that four-game split with the Halos, they built positive momentum as the offense started to click — this time it was the pitching’s fault, giving up 32 runs including an eye-watering 13 home runs in those four games. They rode that wave to a 10-2 finish to the month to reclaim their lead atop the division. That span included back-to-back sweeps of the Royals and Red Sox, an eight-game winning streak, four straight series victories, and a 26-inning scoreless streak by their pitching staff.
The dominant narrative of the early going has been the Yankees’ stellar starting pitching. Cam Schlittler and Max Fried are one and two in fWAR among all qualified pitchers. The highest ERA of their four regular starters belongs to Ryan Weathers at 3.21, and he has acquitted himself well since joining from Miami over the winter. Both he and Will Warren have a double-digit strikeout start to their names, the latter looking like he has taken the next step in his development after a solid rookie campaign. Even with the since-demoted Luis Gil’s struggles, the rotation is far and away the best in baseball, with the most innings per start (5.8), lowest ERA (2.70) and FIP (3.21), and most fWAR (4.6) of any starting staff in the land.
This is the 3rd time in franchise history the Yankees have 11+ wins and 40 or fewer runs allowed in their first 16 Road games of a season.
Fried and Schlittler aren’t the only ones on the team performing among the best in their discipline. Aaron Judge and Ben Rice place third and seventh, respectively, in position player fWAR, meaning the Yankees have the two best pitchers and two of the seven best hitters in all of baseball, which is certainly a good starting point for any roster. Judge and Rice became the first pair of Yankees teammates in franchise history with at least 10 home runs and at least 20 walks before the end of April, the pair placing second and third in wRC+ among qualified hitters in the league.
It’s a good thing that pair is more than pulling their weight when you consider the output of the rest of the offense. The Yankees do not have another lineup regular with a wRC+ above Cody Bellinger’s 108 mark. Amed Rosario has been a remarkable catalyst when he bats against lefties, but his defensive limitations prevent him from being an everyday starter. As we alluded to earlier, the bottom of the order was a black hole through the first three weeks, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, Ryan McMahon, and José Caballero combining to give the Yankees an automatic out in almost half their lineup. Fortunately that has turned around some in the final half of April. Every member of that quartet has posted a wRC+ of at least 119 since the start of the Royals series, and it is no surprise that this coincided with the Yankees’ best stretch of results.
That leaves the bullpen as the unit that struggled the most for the entire month. The group sits middle of the pack league-wide in ERA (3.86), FIP (3.97), and fWAR (0.7), though it’s easy to envision a scenario where those metrics are worse had the starting rotation not accounted for so many innings pitched. They optioned (and recalled) Jake Bird to the minors for the second time in his short Yankees tenure, you can reliably pencil Camilo Doval in to give up a home run in every outing, Fernando Cruz is walking almost a batter per inning, there’s a fear of pitching the suddenly-important Brent Headrick into the ground with 17 appearances in 31 games, and even David Bednar is a human vasopressor when he closes games.
Just when it looked like the Yankees would go injury-free in April, the bug started to bite in the final week. Giancarlo Stanton landed on the IL with a calf strain and his replacement, Jasson Domínguez, had to exit the series finale against the Rangers; he is undergoing imaging after getting hit on the elbow by a fastball. Conversely, they do have reinforcements on the horizon. Carlos Rodón is about a week and change away (two rehab starts) from rejoining the team after undergoing offseason surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. Gerrit Cole is probably a month behind his rotation mate as he completes a lengthy rehab from Tommy John surgery. Anthony Volpe could join up with the big-league squad during the upcoming homestand after his offseason surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder. The players they will eventually displace from the active roster is a question they will have to answer shortly, but it’s a good problem to have when you’ve got veterans reinforcing a team that’s already performing well.
That brings us to today’s task. Do you approve of the job Brian Cashman has done through the end of April? On one hand, the Yankees sit atop the division with the best record in the AL posting the second-most runs per game and the lowest staff ERA in the AL. On the other hand, the areas that everyone identified as weak spots over the offseason — third base and the bullpen — continue to drag the team down. The polarizing GM certainly elicits stronger feelings than can be captured in a one-word response — you may feel a question such as the one being posed requires more nuance, greater elaboration, or a wider selection of options than just a “yes” or a “no,” however for the sake of this exercise, a binary question works best.
Note: This is the same poll that is currently appearing on the Feed, so if you’ve voted there, that should already be counted.
Alex Cora was fired and shipped out unceremoniously in the dark of a Baltimore night. He told reporters he was happy. He was heading back to his home in Puerto Rico, ready to spend a summer with his family.
But he also sat down and wrote a love letter to the people and the ballpark of the same organization that had just given him the boot.
Days after being dismissed, Cora sent a mass email to the Red Sox organization thanking the staff, honoring the city and fans and closing with a reminder to everyone to cherish Fenway Park.
“One last thing, keep showing up every day and don’t take the Fenway experience for granted, you working place is the best place in the world," Cora wrote in the letter, obtained by MassLive.com.
Cora, who played in Boston before managing there, drew a stark contrast to the men who sent him packing.
When chief baseball officer Craig Breslow gathered the players the morning after, the meeting lasted seven minutes. He spoke for about two of them, according to reports. No questions were allowed. Owner John Henry stood against a wall and said nothing to the group.
There was no explanation or understanding that the players felt. Reliever Garrett Whitlock told reporters they made it clear their players were paid to just play baseball.
Even at his press conference the day after the firing, Breslow offered nothing of substance.
“It comes down to the belief that we have in the players and the belief that we have in the group to accomplish what we set out to accomplish,” Breslow said.
There was little feel to the way Breslow, who spent over a decade playing in the big leagues, handed the situation.
Trevor Story called Breslow’s explanation unsatisfactory. He said the direction of the franchise was “up in the air.”
That may be the underlying reason for Cora’s “I’m happy” reaction. The Breslow-constructed roster is a mess with too many outfielders and lack of veteran players; the pitching staff is unsettled with Garret Crochet and his 6.30 ERA now on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation.
Cora turned down a chance to jump right back in as the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. He said he needed time to spend with his family and adjust to life after the Red Sox.
“Being part of this organization has meant a great deal to me,” Cora wrote. “As a player and as a manager. Like I always tell free agents, I’m glad my kids grew up here. It’s unique, special and magical place.”
Apr 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs (59) throws during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
This afternoon, the Athletics will take on the Kansas City Royals in the rubber match of their three-game series. After letting the series-opener slip through their fingers in an extra-inning defeat, the A’s rebounded last night, defeating the Royals 5-2 to force this series-deciding finale. Luis Severino shone on the mound, pitching seven innings of one-run ball and right fielder Lawrence Butler’s three-run home run to the right field berm was the key offensive blow.
With a winning April already secured, a victory today would give the team a third-straight series win and a strong finish to its first full month of the season.
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs gets the start for the A’s today. The 33-year-old enters his seventh start with a 3.2 record and a 3.79 ERA. In his last start at the Texas Rangers, Springs pitched well until his sixth and final inning, when he gave up Rangers’ third baseman Josh Jung’s go-ahead, game-winning home run. In his previous start, at home against the Chicago White Sox, Springs gave up seven runs in five innings. Having suffered back-to-back losses, the veteran lefty aims to right the ship today and return to the form he displayed in his first few outings of 2026.
Springs will be opposed by Royals’ left-hander Noah Cameron. The 26-year-old impressed in his rookie season last year, going 9-7 with a 2.99 ERA in 24 starts. Cameron is 2-1 with a 5.13 ERA through his first five starts of his sophomore campaign. He is coming off a strong outing against the Los Angeles Angels, in which he allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings. The A’s faced Cameron twice last season, faring better against him at home than in Kansas City.
Designated hitter Brent Rooker, who has not recorded a hit since coming off the injured list, is out of today’s lineup as is left fielder Tyler Soderstrom, who is still recovering from whiplash sustained when attempting to make a diving catch in Friday’s contest. The team’s hottest-hitter, left fielder Carlos Cortes remains in the lineup, even with a left-hander pitching for the Royals. Both catchers are starting, with Shea Langeliers serving as the designated hitter to give his legs a rest following two-straight days behind the plate. Last but not least, hopefully yesterday’s home run will get Butler going offensively as the team needs more production out of the inconsistent outfielder.
Springs will face this batting order for the Royals today:
The Royals are trotting out several regulars, including the duo atop the lineup in Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. However lefty sluggers Jac Caglianone andVinnie Pasquantino are on the bench, with Pasquantino sidelined due to back tightness suffered Tuesday night.
It is time to win another series. Let’s go Athletics!
NEW YORK — The depleted New York Mets took another hit when center fielder Luis Robert Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list with lumbar spine disc herniation.
Robert, 28, hasn’t played since the first game of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies due to what the team said was lower back tightness. An MRI administered revealed the injury. The IL move was retroactive to April 27.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Robert had an epidural and was instructed to rest for seven to 10 days. He said team doctors were hopeful Robert could return shortly thereafter.
“It’s just frustrating from both ends — for Luis, for us,” Mendoza said before the series finale against the Washington Nationals. “But we’ve got to get him back right.”
The IL stint is the 10th since 2021 for Robert, who previously has been sidelined by right hip, right knee, left wrist and left hamstring issues as well as blurred vision. He has played more than 110 games just once — in 2023, when he finished 12th in the AL MVP voting after hitting 38 homers for the Chicago White Sox.
The Mets acquired Robert from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Luisangel Acuña in January in hopes the former Gold Glove Award winner could help improve their up-the-middle defense. He was limited to back field duty for most of spring training in an attempt to keep him healthy for the regular season.
Robert had a homer and five RBIs in the first two games of the season but has just five hits in his last 38 at-bats dating back to April 13 to drop his season average to .224.
“He’s super frustrated — yesterday and this morning, when he got the news — because he’s done everything we’re asking him to do,” Mendoza said.
Robert is the second Mets player to hit the injured list with a lumbar spine ailment and the third opening day position player on the shelf. Starting pitcher Kodai Senga (lumbar spine inflammation) went on the 15-day injured list.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor (left calf) and first baseman/designated hitter Jorge Polanco (left Achilles, right wrist) are also on the injured list for the Mets, who currently have baseball’s worst record at 10-20.
To replace Robert, the Mets recalled infielder Eric Wagaman from Triple-A Syracuse. The club also recalled pitcher Austin Warren from Syracuse and designated veteran pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. for assignment. Edwards allowed one run in six innings of relief over two appearances.
The Mets are making another depth addition, claiming versatile infielder Andy Ibáñez off waivers from the Athletics, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes has confirmed.
Ibáñez signed with the Dodgers on a one-year deal this offseason, but he was DFA'd just days later and was picked up off waivers by the A's.
He hit .308 with six extra base-hits during spring training, but wasn't able to carry that production over to the regular season, being set free again after just 11 games.
Ibáñez now comes to the Big Apple, where he'll look to help the Mets as they deal with a plethora of injuries.
The 33-year-old has experience at first base, second base, third base, and both corner outfield spots over his big league career.
He's a career .275 hitter with 17 homers, 32 doubles, and a .763 OPS against left-handed pitching.
SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 21: Carlos Cortes #26 of the Athletics bats during the game between the Athletics and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The A’s and Royals have split the first two games of this mid-week three-game set. Now we have a rubber match this afternoon that’ll determine who takes the series, and who heads into Friday on a losing note. And with a slim one-game lead in the division over the Mariners, the A’s could really use a win today.
Taking the ball for the series finale will be Jeffrey Springs. The lefty has been the A’s unquestioned best pitcher in the early going here in 2026 but is coming off a pair of tough outings that have seen him allow 11 runs in as many innings. Both he and the team will be hoping he can bounce back and look like the guy who had a 1.46 ERA before these two tough outings. In his career (6 appearances, two starts) the left-hander has a solid 3.07 ERA against this AL Central for.
Here’s how the A’s lineup looks against the Royals for the finale:
The team is predictably still without regular left fielder Tyler Soderstrom as he continues to recover from whiplash. And of course taking his spot in the field is last week’s Player of the Week Carlos Cortes, hitting in the fifth spot. He’s getting mighty comfy in his everyday role and deservedly so.
We got Jacob Wilson and Shea Langeliers atop the batting order followed by the big bopper in Nick Kurtz. Langeliers is in the DH spot today while Brent Rooker gets the day off. That means Colby Thomas draws the start in right field and Austin Wynns will be catching Springs this afternoon.
For the Royals, they’ll be relying on their own left-hander in Noah Cameron. The young starter burst onto the scene last year with a 2.99 ERA in his first 24 career starts, though his sophomore season has been a bit bumpier. He pitched twice against the A’s last year, going four innings and two-thirds innings and allowing three runs in his major league debut, then shutting down the A’s over five full frames his second time out.
Gotta keep Witt from doing any damage this afternoon. If they can avoid giving up the big hit to Kansas City’s star player the A’s have an excellent chance today.
Let’s finish this series strong before we welcome Cleveland this weekend. Let’s go A’s!
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Yoelin Cespedes #23 of the Boston Red Sox takes batting practice ahead of the Spring Breakout game against the Atlanta Braves at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on March 16, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Portland and Somerset (NYY) played a pair of seven-inning affairs on Wednesday, with the second game being a makeup of a rainout on April 5th. Let’s talk about the first game in as few words as possible.
Somerset had 15 hits in six innings, scoring multiple runs in four of them. They teed off on starter Cade Feeney and reliever Max Carlson for seven extra base hits, while stealing five bases. Right fielder Will Turner homered for the only Sea Dogs run. On to game two…
Rehabbing Yankee starter Gerrit Cole got the ball for Somerset in Game Two. Some people in social media circles are saying that Cole looked a little bit hefty in his postgame interview. Not me, I would never say something like that. Cole allowed home runs to Johanfran Garcia and Max Ferguson. We’re certainly posting video of both of these.
Cy Young Award winners don't scare Johanfran Garcia
Cole went 5 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs, and striking out three. With the game tied 3-3 entering the seventh inning, the Sea Dogs scored three runs, all on RBI doubles by Max Ferguson, Will Turner, and Tyler McDonough. The Patriots cut the lead to one on a Jace Avina two-run homer but Reidis Sena eventually locked down the save in a 6-5 win.
Blake Wehunt went the first three innings, allowing one run and striking out four.
On Thursday, Portland’s starter at 6:35 ET is TBD.
Greenville Drive 8, Hub City Spartanburgers 7 (BOX)
The Drive blew a late lead before winning in dramatic fashion in extra innings on Wednesday against Hub City (TEX).
Entering the ninth inning up 5-3, reliever Danny Kirwin allowed a two-run homer to Luke Hanson, tying the game. Malcolm Moore did the same off of Matt McShane in the top of the tenth, putting the Spartanburgers up 7-5.
And that’s when Yoeilin Cespedes happened, again. Cespedes had already homered in the third inning and, in the bottom of the tenth, hit a two-run dinger with a man on to tie the game. The Drive walked it off on a potential double-play ball, which Freili Encarnacion beat out at first to win 8-7.
Yoeilin Cespedes can’t be stopped!
The Boston Red Sox prospect ties the game in the bottom of the 10th inning with a two-run homer. He has four hits and two home runs tonight.
On the day, Cespedes was 4-for-5, with three RBI, to go along with the two home runs. Encarnacion had homered in the second inning, and Justin Gonzales added three hits as part of a 13-hit effort for the Drive. Alex Bouchard had a standout relief appearance, allowing just one run over 5 ⅓ innings.
On Thursday, Kyson Witherspoon (0-1, 6.00) will take the hill for Greenville at 6:45.
Starting pitching Dylan Brown continued his excellent start to the season, throwing 5 ⅔ innings without allowing an earned run, and striking out seven against the Warbirds (MIL). In a 1-1 game in the eighth, the bullpen for the RidgeYaks got roughed up a bit, leading to a 5-1 L.
Third baseman Ty Hodge’s long ball accounted for the lone run for Salem.
Madison Frias (0-1, 11.08) will toe the rubber on Thursday at 7:05.
Worcester Red Sox vs. Rochester Red Wings – Ppd.
The Worcester and Rochester game was postponed on Wednesday, with a doubleheader coming up on Thursday, which already got underway at 11:05 ET. Worcester’s is starting Alec Gamboa in game one, and although game two is currently unlisted for the Woo Sox, Rochester will be throwing Riley “The Great” Cornelio.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 23: Bryce Eldridge #8 of the San Francisco Giants hits a home run during the game at Oracle Park on March 23, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the second day in a row, the San Francisco Giants only had three Minor League Baseball games, as AA Richmond had their contest against Altoona rained out. Those teams will play a doubleheader on Friday.
All listed positions in the roundup are the position played in that particular game.
News
AAA Sacramento had a little shifting of inventory. On Wednesday, the Giants purchased the contract of RHP Gregory Santos, who presumably had a May 1 opt out. In exchange, RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 9 CPL) was optioned back to Sacramento after his successful stint in the Majors. And on Thursday, the Giants brought up RHP Trevor McDonald (No. 12 CPL) as the allotted 27th player for their doubleheader. The Giants can keep McDonald on the roster past Thursday and option/release someone else, but I’d assume that he’ll be headed back to Sacramento.
AAA Sacramento (16-11)
Sacramento River Cats beat the Salt Lake Bees (Angels) 17-7 Box score
It’s not exactly news to anyone, but first baseman Bryce Eldridge (No. 1 CPL) is one of the top prospects in the sport. But hey … just because it’s not news, doesn’t mean we don’t like to be reminded about it, right?
And remind us he did.
The tall lefty had an eye-popping showing on Wednesday — the type of game that will have KNBR callers losing their minds if the Giants offense doesn’t do much during today’s doubleheader.
In his 1st plate appearance of the day, he worked a walk.
In his 2nd plate appearance of the day, he worked the count full and then, against a left-handed pitcher, blasted an absolutely sensational 2-run home run that measured out at 434 feet, and left the bat at 110.1 mph.
In his 3rd plate appearance of the day, he ripped a 103.6-mph single, again off of a lefty.
In his 4th plate appearance of the day, he hit yet another single off of a left-hander.
In his 5th plate appearance of the day, he was finally retired, but on a hard-hit ground out.
And in his 6th plate appearance of the day, he capped his superstar showing with a 3-run home run, hit 103 mph and 401 feet. Not only that, but it came in an 0-2 count and, you guessed it, against a lefty.
Yes, it was a 4-5 day with 2 dingers and a walk, and all 4 of his hits coming off of same-handed pitching. Even when you account for the Salt Lake environment — the Bees play in a park that is basically the Great American Ballpark of the Coors Field League — it was a mesmerizing showing, and one that raised his OPS all the way up to .955 and his wRC+ to 155.
That’s about as good of a day as you can have, and about as encouraging of a day as you can have, though fans clamoring for his call-up will probably be disappointed. There are still things to work on — mainly making contact, as his in-zone contact rate remains in the 32nd percentile, while his whiff rate is in the 18th percentile — but yeesh. Sometimes a player reminds you of what they’re capable of, and when that player is the best power prospect the Giants have had in many decades, it’s pretty exciting!
Eldridge didn’t have the only good day in the batter’s box, as you could probably surmise by the 17 runs, which came via 15 hits, 10 walks, 3 hit batters, and 2 Salt Lake errors. Center fielder Grant McCray had a fantastic game and would have been the headliner had Eldridge not stolen the show.
McCray had a brutal start to the year but has been turning things around lately, and Wednesday was his best game yet, as he hit 2-5 with a grand slam, a walk, a stolen base, and a strikeout.
The grand slam was beautiful, but it’s the stolen base that the Giants are probably happiest to see. If McCray wants to get back to the Majors soon, it will likely be in a Jared Oliva-esque role, and we saw during the spring the difference in how those two attack the bases, despite having similar speed. McCray had 52 thefts in 2023, but swiped just 14 bags in the Minors in 2024, and 5 more in the Majors. He bounced back a little with 27 stolen bases last year (but none in 22 Major League games). So far this year, he has 3, but has been caught stealing twice.
As for the bat, though, it’s thankfully coming around, as he’s up to a .718 OPS and a 101 wRC+. McCray started the season with a great game, hitting 3-3 with a walk, but then hit a huge slump: over the next 15 games, he hit just 5-46 with 0 home runs, 2 doubles, 12 walks, and 17 strikeouts. But since then, he’s hit 10-32 with 2 home runs, 2 doubles, 4 walks, and 7 strikeouts. A big step in the right direction.
The other nice hitting days belonged to right fielder Victor Bericoto (No. 35 CPL) and third baseman Buddy Kennedy. Bericoto hit 2-5 with a walk, and smashed a 2-run home run.
The 24-year old is holding his own in his 1st real look at AAA (he had a brief stint there last year), as he has a .803 OPS and a 113 wRC+. The big power in his right-handed bat hasn’t been too on display — this was his 1st home run since April 8, and just his 2nd extra-base hit in that time — but the 18.3% strikeout rate is extremely encouraging. Bericoto has some really nice exit velocities (he’s 83rd percentile in 90th percentile EV), so if he can keep limiting strikeouts, that will be a very good thing.
As for Kennedy, he kept his excellent season going by hitting 3-4 with a double, a walk, and a hit by pitch, which raised his OPS to .933 and his wRC+ to 154. He’s done absolutely everything that the Giants have asked of him when they signed him to a Minor League contract to be AAA depth.
On the pitching front, it was a pretty nice start for RHP Carson Seymour, who you have to imagine the organization was considering calling up for Thursday’s MLB doubleheader before landing on RHP Trevor McDonald (No. 12 CPL). Seymour went 5 strong innings, most notably not issuing any walks while striking out 5 batters. He gave up 6 hits (honestly not bad given the environment) and 2 runs, which came on a 2-run home run by former Giant Donovan Walton. AAA baseball, baby!
Mostly it was just nice seeing Seymour strike some batters out, as that has been mysteriously absent from his game this season. The 27-year old, who made his MLB debut last year, has struck out just 7.7 batters per 9 innings, though he’s only walked 2.0 (he also has a very high 58.5% groundball rate at the moment). The overall package has been so-so, as he has a 4.03 ERA and a 4.76 FIP on the season. But games like this, especially against a Salt Lake roster with so many former Major Leaguers on it, certainly help him state his case.
A pair of Sacramento’s more high-profile relief prospects really struggled, as LHP Juan Sánchez (No. 41 CPL) gave up 2 hits (including a home run), 2 walks, and 3 earned runs while recording just 2 outs, and RHP Trent Harris (No. 29 CPL) allowed 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 earned runs while also recording just 2 outs. Sánchez has a 4.76 ERA and an 8.36 FIP through 5.2 innings, while Harris has a 9.45 ERA and a 7.52 FIP in 6.2 innings.
RHP Marques Johnson had a great game though, retiring all 5 batters he faced and striking out 2 of them. The 2022 11th-round pick, who came to the Giants in the Mauricio Llovera trade, has a 4.50 ERA and a 5.37 FIP in his debut AAA season.
The Emeralds continued their great season, and they did so with a stellar pitching performance. A quartet of arms took the mound for Eugene, and all 4 pitched very well … but none better than the starter, LHP Charlie McDaniel. The 24-year old southpaw isn’t the most heralded pitcher in the system, as he was an undrafted free agent who is in his 2nd season. But there aren’t many pitchers in the organization who have been better to start the year.
Wednesday was McDaniel’s 4th start of the season, and he went 5.1 strong, strong innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. Most impressive, though, was his strike-throwing ability: McDaniel threw a gorgeous 53 of 70 pitches for strikes, didn’t walk a single hitter, and struck out 8 batters on the day. Glorious!
McDaniel’s numbers are nothing short of excellent this year, as he has a 1.10 ERA and a 2.38 FIP. The really nice thing has been the control, though, as McDaniel has 18 strikeouts to just 3 walks in 16.1 innings. Control has always been McDaniel’s strength, though he’s taken it up a notch this year by improving both his walk and strikeout rates … and he’s also upped his ground ball rate from 42.2% last year to 54.3% this season. While McDaniel doesn’t have overpowering stuff, he certainly fits into the Giants big bucket of funky and intriguing bulk inning southpaws.
But McDaniel wasn’t the only undrafted pitcher to shine in this game, as RHP Ben Peterson earned the save with 2 no-hit innings, walking 1 and striking out 1. Like McDaniel, Peterson — who has a 1.80 ERA and a 3.15 FIP — has been tremendous with his control so far this year, with 13 strikeouts against just 2 walks in 10 innings. A fantastic start to his 2nd season for the 24-year old North Carolina alum.
It was a mild day on offense, but there were a pair of stars: first baseman Zander Darby and left fielder Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL). Darby continued his awesome season, hitting 1-3 with a beautiful home run and a strikeout.
💣 Darby Dinger! 💣@DarbyZander takes advantage of the wind blowing out and hits this baseball 434 feet to dead center field. Call him with all your insurance needs!#RootedHerepic.twitter.com/8T48jmEEtV
A 23-year old taken in the 12th round of the 2024 draft, Darby really struggled when he got to Eugene late last year, posting just a .489 OPS and a 45 wRC+ in 21 games … which came after a delightful .862 OPS and 136 wRC+ with Low-A San Jose. But he’s made the adjustments this year, and looks much more like the hitter who earned the promotion than the one who struggled with it. Through 19 games this year, Darby has a .892 OPS and a 147 wRC+. He’s still striking out too much … his rate is 29.9% this year, after 42.0% in Eugene last year, which followed a very good 18.4% rate in San Jose.
Darby’s a little bit of a fill-in-wherever option for the Ems, as he’s started at least 5 games at first, second, and third base this year. He’s not the highest-regarded prospect, but if he keeps hitting he’ll keep playing!
As for Gutierrez, he went 2-3 with a walk and a stolen base. That’s more like the Gutierrez we’ve grown accustomed to! The 21-year old lefty broke out last year with a high-contact approach — he had a .351 average and just a 13.7% strikeout rate, but with limited power with San Jose — but this year has flipped the script a little bit. He’s had more power than we’re used to, but with a lower batting average and higher strikeout rate. So this performance was nice to see, as it was a return to the norm!
Gutierrez is still settling into the level, as he has just a .215 average … but thanks to that increase in power and a 10.8% walk rate, he’s still hitting right at league average, with a .711 OPS and a 102 wRC+. He’s also up to 5 stolen bases on the year, without yet being caught.
Not very good days for the other high profile hitters in Eugene: center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) went 0-4 and struck out twice, lowering his OPS to .897 and his wRC+ to 147; shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) hit 0-2 with a walk, a sacrifice fly, and a strikeout, and now has a .756 OPS and a 109 wRC+; designated hitter Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL) hit 1-4 with a double, but struck out 3 times and saw his OPS move to .683 and his wRC+ to 105; and third baseman Walker Martin went 0-2 with a walk, a stolen base, and 2 strikeouts, lowering his OPS to .780 and his wRC+ to 122.
Low-A San Jose (15-8)
San Jose Giants lost to the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) 9-8 Box score
A rough loss for the Baby Giants, who took an 8-3 lead into the bottom of the 9th inning, only to get walked off later that inning. Ouch!
The struggles began with RHP Cooper McGrath. Last year’s 18th-round pick cruised through the 8th inning, but couldn’t find the strike zone in the 9th, issuing a 4-pitch walk, a 5-pitch walk, and a hit batter (in a 3-ball count) to load the bases without an out.
He then gave way to RHP Alix Hernandez, who preceded to hit a batter, bringing in a run. After recording a strikeout, Hernandez allowed a run-scoring single, and then a sacrifice fly, before ceding a walk-off 3-run home run.
That’s a painful way to go out, and it raised McGrath’s ERA to 14.14 and his FIP to 11.29, and Hernandez’s to 5.06 and 4.99, respectively. After giving up no earned runs in his 1st 5 games of the year, Hernandez has allowed 3 runs in each of his past 2 games.
The bullpen collapse came after a decent start by RHP Jordan Gottesman. The team’s reigning 6th-round selection threw 50 of 73 pitches for strikes while giving up 5 hits (including a home run), 1 walk, and 2 earned runs in 4.2 innings, while striking out 4.
That’s not a great outing, but it’s a solid enough one, and it moved his ERA to 3.60, though his FIP sits at just 6.46. The long ball has been dooming the Northeastern product in his debut season, as he’s limited hitters to just 16 hits in 20 innings … but 4 of them have cleared the fence.
San Jose had a funny day on offense, netting 8 runs without recording an extra-base hit. You don’t see that very often … in fact, I looked it up out of curiosity, and the last time the Major League team did that was 1979!
A trio of hitters had really nice games though: right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL), catcher Junior Barajas, and left fielder Damian Bravo.
Maldonado hit 2-4 with a sacrifice fly and a stolen base, moving his OPS to 1.107 and his wRC+ to 166, with 9 stolen bases in 11 attempts. Last year’s 7th-round pick has come back to earth following his other-worldly week of baseball destruction, but is still having one of the best seasons on the farm this year. Barajas hit 3-5, which raised last year’s 11th-round pick’s OPS to .940 and his wRC+ to 134. And Bravo, a 15th-round pick a year ago, went 1-3 with 2 walks, a stolen base, and a strikeout, boosting his OPS to .867 and his wRC+ to 112, with 2 stolen bases in as many attempts.
Sacramento: 5:35 p.m. PT at Salt Lake (SP: TBD) Richmond: 8:05 a.m. PT at Altoona (SP: Joe Whitman) Eugene: 6:35 p.m. PT vs. Spokane (SP: Tyler Switalski) San Jose: 6:35 p.m. PT at Visalia (SP: TBD)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Daikin Park on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As a result of last night’s rainout, the Houston Astros (11-20) and Baltimore Orioles (15-15) will play a traditional doubleheader today at Camden Yards.
Game Two:RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 6.75 ERA) will make his 6th start of the season of the season as he takes on Orioles RHP Brandon Young (2-0, 2.53 ERA).
TODAY’S GM 2 STARTER: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. will make his 7th career start and 9th overall app. vs. BAL in Game 2. He is 3-0 in his career vs. the O’s with a 3.34 ERA (13ER/35IP) and 41 strikeouts.
Déjà Vu: McCullers pitched in relief in Game 2 of the last doubleheader between HOU and BAL, which was on Sept. 29, 2018 at Camden Yards (0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 SO).
Last Start: Prior to today, McCullers last start was on Friday vs. NYY (5 IP, 5 ER).
Innings Milestone: McCullers needs just 0.2 IP to reach 800.0 for his career.
Fun Fact: He and his father, Lance McCullers Sr., were both the 41st overall pick in their respective MLB Drafts (1982 and 2012). Lance Sr. pitched 7 seasons in the Major Leagues
DOUBLEHEADER INFO: Today will be the first doubleheader for the Astros since July 21, 2022 at home vs. NYY, which resulted in an Astros sweep of the Bronx Bombers. That DH was scheduled as a result of the delay to the start of the 2022 season due to the work stoppage.
Doubleheaders are a rarity at Daikin Park since the Astros have a roof.
The Astros last doubleheader played vs. BAL was Sept. 29, 2018 at Camden Yards, which also resulted in an Astros sweep. In Game 2 of that DH, today’s Game 2 starter, RHP Lance McCullers Jr., hurled 0.2 scoreless in relief, earning a hold in the Astros 5-2 win.
VS. THE O’S: Today’s doubleheader will wrap up this 3-game series vs. the Orioles.
The Astros were 4-3 vs. BAL in 2025 with a 3-1 mark here at Camden Yards, Aug. 21-24. The two clubs will next meet for a 3-game set at Daikin Park, July 17-19.
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY: To Phil Garner, who would have turned 77 years old today.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1982 – At Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburth, Phil Garner hits a 3-run HR on his 33rd birthday to help defeat the Pirates, 4-3. Garner, who was voted into the Astros Hall of Fame earlier this month, had played for the Pirates (1977-81) prior to being traded to HOU on Aug. 31, 1981.
1979 – At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Terry Puhl’s 2-run HR in the top of the 9th lifted the Astros to a 6-5, comeback win over the Cardinals. The Astros had entered the 9th, trailing, 4-2. Puhl’s HR capped a dramatic, 4-run 9th-inning rally.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, April 30, 30 minutes after completion of Game 1
Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
