It’s a sad state of affairs when disappointment settles in, like a thick bank of fog, even before mid-April has rolled around. I don’t have constructive suggestions. I’m not even sure these thoughts rise to the level of complaints since I’m not worked up about it anymore. What I can offer are mere observations—no hot takes, no surprises.
Starting rotation falls short so far
After all the preseason talk about our world-class rotation, let’s just say that things are running counter to plan. Crochet’s catastrophe of an outing in Minneapolis has received the lion’s share of the headlines, of course, but he’s not alone. This is no deep dive, but take a glance and admit no one predicted this. Stats as of April 18.
Garrett Crochet: -0.6 WAR, 7.58 ERA
Ranger Suárez: until Friday’s game, his stats were a not-great -0.1 WAR and a pretty ugly 5.02 ERA. That stabilizing performance improved these numbers to 0.4 WAR and 3.22. He has reentered respectable territory.
Brayan Bello: these stats got worse with Saturday’s outing, dropping to -0.4 WAR and 6.75 ERA
Errors
And after I was looking forward to smooth defense, too! I talked it up, and this is the thanks I get.
Through April 13, the Red Sox were collecting errors at a slightly increased rate from 2025, when they led the league in errors for much of the season. It took four errorless games in a row to drive the rate down, if only slightly. This streak is the first of the season where the Sox have played more than two games in a row without an error. Along the way, they have also already logged four two-error games. So much for the Sox newfound defensive prowess.
And so it goes
Marcelo Mayer needing to step up, Roman Anthony shedding his cape and revealing that he is all too human, the stupid hit celebration…I won’t belabor these points again, so much as offer them as punctuation to my point that the Red Sox have been anything but fun to watch in 2026.
MLB Side Quest
As a matter of self-care, I turned to my local Mariners to seek relief from the torture of Red Sox fandom. Surprise, surprise, I ran up against a wall there too.
An almost equally slow start to the season (9-13, compared to the Sox 8-12 as of April 18) has them falling far behind all expectations.
Old friend Rob Refsnyder is hitless (0-18) as of April 18.
Ferry fries have been MIA at T-Mobile Park due to some unfathomable oversight and it’s simply wrong. What does a fan have to do to have fun in 2026? I arrived incredibly early for a game last week JUST TO BOOST MY SPIRITS BY TAKING A SELFIE WITH THE FERRY FRIES only to find that they were completely out, indefinitely. As in, needing to source a new supplier or whatever. You know it’s bad when even comfort food lets you down.
It has to get better, right?
[Author’s note: at least the ferry fries returned, though with an unexpected rebrand. I will hope the same for the Red Sox.]
Apr 18, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Felix Reyes (29) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run in his first major league at bat during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Calling up Felix Reyes was an idea that someone in the front office had in order to give the offense a spark. “Moribund” is an adjective that isn’t used enough, but it’s accurate in describing what the Phillies’ offense has been of late. Reyes hitting a home run on the first strike he saw was impressive, but it being against Chris Sale and to the opposite field was super impressive.
The Detroit Tigers evened up their four-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday with a 4-1 win behind an ace performance by Tarik Skubal and his 10 strikeouts.
The victory brought AJ Hinch’s squad back above the .500 mark and within a half game of the American Central Division lead, behind the 12-10 Cleveland Guardians; they are also tied with the Minnesota Twins at 11-10. Not that the standings mean too much early in the season, but it always feels good to be trending toward the top.
On Sunday, the two teams will play Game 3 in a faceoff between a pair of big-name southpaws. Detroit has Framber Valdez on the mound, having given the Tigers many quality innings so far this season, up against Garrett Crochet, who has not been quite as good as his talent level would suggest.
Take a look at how they match up below.
Detroit Tigers (11-10) vs. Boston Red Sox (8-12)
Time (ET): 4:35 p.m. Place: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts SB Nation Site:Over the Monster Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 22: LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 3.75 ERA) vs. LHP Garrett Crochet (2-2, 7.58 ERA)
The New York Yankees look for a series sweep when they host the Kansas City Royals this afternoon. New York starter Ryan Weathers has thrown better than his numbers suggest, and my Royals vs. Yankees predictions anticipate a comfortable win for the Bronx Bombers. Find out more in my MLB picks for Sunday, April 19.
Who will win Royals vs Yankees today: Yankees -1.5 (+165)
Ryan Weathers doesn’t need to be perfect today — he just needs to be better than Cole Ragans, and that bar isn’t especially high.
Ragans walks nearly 15% of the batters he faces, and the Kansas City Royals bullpen has been leaking runs, posting a 6.08 ERA with 1.55 home runs allowed per nine innings.
The moneyline price is solid, but the run line is where the real value lies.
COVERS INTEL: The Royals’ bullpen ranks bottom five in MLB with a 4.67 xFIP and a ninth-worst 4.25 SIERA.
Royals vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+100)
Ragans has command issues and is prone to the long ball. When he exits early, the Kansas City bullpen has been a disaster, and this Yankee lineup is beefy, having already scored 17 runs in this series.
The Yankees will feast, but Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia are no pushovers either, both posting xwOBAs above .350 against a mediocre Yankees bullpen.
Runs are coming from both sides, poor weather be damned. Back the Over.
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 2-3, -0.85 units
Over/Under bets: 3-1, +1.94 units
Royals vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Royals +122 | Yankees -127
Run line: Royals +1.5 (-200) | Yankees -1.5 (+165)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)
Royals vs Yankees trend
New York has covered the run line in four of its last five meetings with the Royals. Find more MLB betting trends for Royals vs. Yankees.
How to watch Royals vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Sunday, April 19, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
Royals.TV, YES
Royals starting pitcher
Cole Ragans (0-3, 3.78 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers (0-2, 4.29 ERA)
Royals vs Yankees latest injuries
Royals vs Yankees weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Sunday’s 15-game slate offers some intriguing value spots that the markets may not have fully priced in.
We’ve got several starting pitchers due for regression against lineups that underlying metrics suggest are primed to break out, while some seemingly weaker starters are actually performing better than the surface numbers indicate.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for April 19
Tigers vs Red Sox: Tigers (+117)
Tigers win probability: 46%
Framber Valdez is one of the best arms in this game. Boston sits at 8-11, and being favored at -122 is a market mistake.
Tigers plus money offers strong value.
Royals vs Yankees: Yankees (-150)
Yankees win probability: 60%
This matchup features shaky starting pitching, and I expect a slugfest.
That being the case, the Yankees have better hitters, while Kansas City has been brutal on the road.
Giants vs Nationals: Giants (-122)
Giants win probability: 55%
Miles Mikolas has been highly inefficient.
Robbie Ray has been good thus far, and we’ll eat the juice and roll with Ray and the Giants to hammer Mikolas today.
Rays vs Pirates: Rays (+117)
Rays win probability: 46%
Shane McClanahan is coming off his best start of the season, while Mitch Keller is coming off his worst.
The Rays' sticks have been solid and are worth backing at plus-money.
Orioles vs Guardians: Guardians (-122)
Guardians win probability: 55%
Joey Cantillo is the real deal, while Trevor Rogers boasts a .404 xFIP.
Cantillo is a fireballer, and the Orioles’ top-10 strikeout rate should get overwhelmed by the young lefty and the Guardians’ bats.
Brewers vs Marlins: Brewers (-104)
Brewers win probability: 51%
We have two fireballers on the hill this afternoon, along with a low total.
Jacob Misiorowski has been prone to the long ball, but I’m backing the Brewers' bats against Eury Perez and his command issues.
Reds vs Twins: Reds (+104)
Reds win probability: 48%
Believe it or not, Cincinnati has been more effective away from Great American Ballpark.
Bailey Ober has struggled to find any consistency, and Minny's bats won’t save him today.
Cardinals vs Astros: Cardinals (+122)
Cardinals win probability: 45%
Mike Burrows has struggled mightily to begin the season.
The Cardinals can score runs, and Matthew Liberatore will pitch decently enough to give the Cardinals' bats a chance to pull off the road upset.
Mets vs Cubs: Cubs (-113)
Cubs win probability: 53%
David Peterson and the Mets have both been brutal this season.
I’ll back the home team and its surging offense as short home favorites.
Dodgers vs Rockies: Rockies (+261)
Rockies win probability: 28%
We have two starters prone to the long ball, and two lineups full of sticks to capitalize on it.
The Rockies have a plus .500 mark at home, and there is no way I am backing Roki Sasaki at Coors.
Hold your nose and take Colorado.
White Sox vs Athletics: Athletics (-156)
Athletics win probability: 61%
Jeffrey Springs has been dynamite for the Athletics, while Noah Schultz is a rookie coming off a tough start.
The A’s are a more consistent offense with a better bullpen. Back Springs and the Athletics bats today.
Padres vs Angels: Angels (-104)
Angels win probability: 51%
Mike Trout seems to have found his stroke, and the Angels are scoring runs in bunches.
Michael King’s underlying metrics suggest he could get lit up today, while Reid Detmers numbers are solid.
Rangers vs Mariners: Rangers (+117)
Rangers win probability: 46%
Mackenzie Gore’s numbers are better than they already suggest, and the Mariners' offense will give Bryan Woo little support.
Texas has been heating up on offense, and I’ll take the Rangers at good value.
Blue Jays vs Diamondbacks: Blue Jays (+113)
Blue Jays win probability: 46%
Although Toronto’s offense is riding the struggle bus, Ryne Nelson surrenders nearly two bombs per nine.
Let’s bet on the Jays' offense turning things around this afternoon.
Braves vs Phillies: Phillies (-107)
Blue Jays win probability: 52%
Andrew Painter and his 2.20 xERA look solid, whereas Clay Holmes’ xERA is two points higher than his ERA.
The Phillies' bullpen is also elite, so I’ll back Painter and the bullpen to get the job done tonight.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 18: Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) celebrates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 18, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Hello, friends.
In yesterday’s edition of the Bird Droppings, Tyler Young began by saying, “The Orioles offense is having a weird weekend in Cleveland.” They’re still doing it. They lost on Saturday to add another weird game to the pile, one in which they had only four hits all game (actually out-hitting the Guardians) but also struck out 16 times, with Pete Alonso and Colton Cowser each collecting the ol’ golden sombrero. It wasn’t great. Check out Andrea’s recap of the game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.
This was a game that was winnable, if not for the total lack of offense beyond each of Leody Taveras and Gunnar Henderson hitting a solo homer. Dean Kremer turned in the minimum quality start, six innings with three earned runs allowed, with all of the damage coming on one swing. Annoying to get beaten by the #9 hitter getting a three-run homer. Still, if the offense was performing according to expectations, that’s good enough to win. They just… aren’t.
If you’re inclined to make allowances for the Orioles this weekend, it is worth noting that yesterday’s Guardians starter, Gavin Williams, was pretty darn good a year ago and so far this year has been on an even greater form for recording strikeouts. He brought a 2.38 ERA into yesterday’s game. It’s not like getting rocked by some random joker who came in with a 9 ERA. Still, it doesn’t feel good.
Although the Orioles are, at least, successfully mounting some comebacks to fight off this feeling somewhat, there are still a lot of games where it feels like not enough has changed since last year’s set of problems. It’s too early to say they haven’t fixed them. We are 13% of the way through the season. It’s just, it would feel better if it seemed like they had fixed some of them – especially if guys like Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo were looking capable at the plate instead of… whatever they are doing.
Today is a new day and a chance to start writing a different story. Not that it will be easy to do this. Another Guardians starter who’s been good so far this year awaits. This one is Joey Cantillo, a lefty with a 2.61 ERA through his first four starts. Are we going to get the whopper lineup with Johnathan Rodríguez as the cleanup hitter again all because it’s a lefty? The Orioles also have a lefty going on the mound in the form of Trevor Rogers. Last year’s ace wasn’t too good last time around. Hopefully it goes better. The finale is set to start at 1:40 Eastern. It’s going to be cold over there in Cleveland.
Rico Garcia’s hitless streak to open the season (Orioles.com) People are noticing that Rico Garcia has been very, very good, which means his excellent streak is definitely going to end today.
In their 21st game last year, the Orioles were figuratively slaughtered on Easter against the Reds, getting pasted by a 24-2 margin. Every Oriole who pitched in the game, starting with Charlie Morton and ending with backup catcher Gary Sánchez, gave up at least three runs. They fell to 9-12 after this blowout loss.
There are a pair of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2008-09 reliever George Sherrill, and 1997-99 pitcher Scott Kamieniecki. Today is Kamieniecki’s 62nd birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Declaration of Independence signer Roger Sherman (1721), Al Capone investigator Eliot Ness (1903), actress Ashley Judd (1968), and baseball Hall of Famer Joe Mauer (1983).
On this day in history…
In 1713, the reigning Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI, who at that point had no living male children, issued the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 to state that his titles, including the throne of Austria, could be inherited by a daughter. In spite of this, a seven-year conflict called the War of the Austrian Succession broke out after his death.
In 1775, colonial militias clashed with the British military in battles around Lexington and Concord in present day Massachusetts, the first substantial battles in what ultimately became a successful war for American independence.
In 1861, a mob of secessionists attacked army troops who were marching through Baltimore. 17 people were killed during this rioting, among them five soldiers. These were the first Union soldiers killed in some kind of hostile action of the Civil War.
In 1995, the federal office building in Oklahoma City was bombed. There were 168 people killed by this act of domestic terrorism, including 19 children who were six or younger.
**
And that’s the way it is in Birdland on April 19. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!
This photograph of Rick Monday saving the American flag, taken by James Roark of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, was lauded by Times columnist Jim Murray as "the most famous picture of its kind since the flag-raising at Iwo Jima." (Herald Examiner / Associated Press)
There are the great moments we saw, and then there are the great moments we feel we saw. We have heard about them, seen them, talked about them so often that we feel like we were there, even if we might not have been alive at the time.
For generations of Dodgers fans, Vin Scully was our historian, with words so memorable we feel as if we lived those experiences, so perfect fans repeat them to this day.
In 1965, for the Sandy Koufax perfect game: “There’s 29,000 people in the ballpark and a million butterflies.”
In 1988, for a walk-off home run by the hobbled Kirk Gibson in the World Series: “In a year that has been so improbable, the impossible has happened!”
In 1990, for the Fernando Valenzuela no-hitter: “If you have a sombrero, throw it to the sky!”
On April 25, 1976, for perhaps the only time in the 67-year career of the best broadcaster in baseball history, Vin Scully didn’t know quite what to say.
“There’s two of them,” Scully said. “All right.”
Two people had run onto the field at Dodger Stadium, in the middle of the game. That was not entirely unusual in the disco era. A woman nicknamed “Morganna the Kissing Bandit” hopped fences and interrupted games to smooch players.
But this was something unfamiliar. Tension was in the air. Three seconds of silence, then Scully resumed his narration, his voice flat for the first sentence, rising with incredulity in the second and with exclamation in the third: “I’m not sure what he’s doing out there. It looks like he’s going to burn a flag.
“And Rick Monday runs in and takes it away from him!”
“It just happened in 10 seconds,” Dodgers historian Mark Langill said. “Fifty years later, we’re still talking about it.”
It was the play that defined an already distinguished career. On Saturday, the 50th anniversary of the day he rescued the American flag, the Dodgers will honor Monday before they play the Chicago Cubs — the team for which he played on that day in 1976.
The flag itself — presented to Monday two weeks later by Dodgers general manager Al Campanis — will be on display at the National Baseball Hall of Fame from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, as America celebrates its 250th birthday.
Monday, who served in the Marine Corps reserves during his major league career, has used the flag to raise money for veterans and their families, but he never has loaned it for a long-term exhibition.
Seldom does a day pass without someone coming up to Monday to say thank you, or to shake his hand.
“It is nothing that he seeks out,” said Charley Steiner, Monday’s partner on Dodgers broadcasts for 22 years. “Whether we’re at Dodger Stadium or on the road somewhere, people will just come up and say hi.
There was nothing flashy in the rescue. Monday leaned down, grabbed the flag without breaking stride, and delivered it to pitcher Doug Rau in the dugout. He returned to his position in center field, serenaded by a standing ovation.
Fred Claire, the Dodgers’ publicist at the time and later the general manager, sent word to the scoreboard operator to display a congratulatory message. When Monday came to bat in the next inning, the scoreboard read: “RICK MONDAY … YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY.”
Said former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley: “It’s one of the great moments in Dodger history.”
That moment came courtesy of a guy wearing a Cubs uniform, but Monday grew up in Santa Monica and delivered his spontaneous commemoration of Flag Day in the year of America’s bicentennial.
“It all came together,” Steiner said. “The hometown kid, visiting from Chicago, doing what he did at that time in American history, it was just an unbelievable confluence of events.
“And then, lo and behold, he becomes a Dodger. And he has been a Dodger ever since.”
After the 1976 season, the Dodgers traded Bill Buckner to the Cubs for Monday, who played the final eight years of his career in Los Angeles. He was the first player drafted in the first-ever baseball draft in 1965, a two-time All-Star and 1981 World Series champion that might have been best remembered for hitting the home run that lifted the Dodgers past the Montreal Expos in the 1981 National League Championship Series.
Best remembered, that is, if not for the flag rescue that elevated him from a ballplayer to a hero.
“Whether you’re a casual fan or an avid fan, you know of that moment if you grew up as a fan in Los Angeles,” Hall of Fame president Josh Rawitch said.
And beyond. Steiner, who was news director of a radio station in Hartford, Conn., that day, said Monday’s play instantly made headlines on the East Coast. President Ford called Monday after the game.
In 2006, the U.S. Senate formally presented him with a proclamation of appreciation. Two years later, President George W. Bush invited him to the White House.
Rick Monday stands near a flag he rescued from being burnt by protesters at Dodger Stadium during a news conference on Capitol Hill on June 14, 2006 in Washington. The news conference was held on Flag Day to support the proposed Flag Protection Amendment. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)
The award-winning photograph of Monday swiping the flag, taken by James Roark of the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, was lauded by Times columnist Jim Murray as “the most famous picture of its kind since the flag-raising at Iwo Jima.”
“It about as unique a moment in U.S. baseball history as there’s been,” Rawitch said, “and I think that’s probably why people connect to it.”
Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, but that game was on the schedule. History, yes, but no surprise. Same when Bush threw out the first pitch during a World Series game in New York after 9/11.
The father and son that invaded the field at Dodger Stadium that day never have spoken publicly about why they did. But all was not well in America in 1976, in the aftermath of the unpopular Vietnam War and the presidential scandal that was Watergate, and beset by soaring gasoline prices amid crisis in the Middle East.
We hear echoes of all three themes today. In an Ipsos poll released this month, a majority of Americans said the country’s best days are behind us and said we are “splitting apart” as a nation.
However, 80% said military veterans reflect “core America values,” including service and commitment to the greater good. And, among a list of icons that included the Statue of Liberty and the White House, respondents most often selected the U.S. flag as the one they associated most closely with America.
Perhaps Monday and his flag can help renew a sense of national unity, borrowing from the astonishment that pervaded Scully’s voice that day in 1976, once he finally figured out what was happening: “I think a guy was going to set fire to the American flag. Can you imagine that?”
It turned out to be a great call after all. In 2022, as soon as he learned Scully had died, Monday listened to Scully’s call one more time.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 17: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees crosses home plate following his two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium on April 17, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees finally got some home cooking going on Saturday, putting a beatdown on the Royals to the tune of 13 runs while Will Warren made it a worry-free day tossing seven innings and striking out 11 batters. Cody Bellinger slugged two home runs on the day, Ben Rice made it three straight days with a bomb, and Amed Rosario continued to earn his starting time with another homer to round out the long balls. Now the team sits a win away from a sweep that would turn the homestand overall into a decent one when it started off incredibly rocky.
While we wait for the finale to start up, let’s run through what’s in store for the day. Scott profiled Dom Hamel before he went up against his old organization in Scranton’s doubleheader yesterday, and Andrew goes over the latest scores from around the AL in the Rivalry Roundup. Nick wishes Scott Kamieniecki a happy birthday and goes over his Yankees career in the early ‘90s, Estevão looks around the AL landscape and sees some expected contenders floundering leaving a path to the top for the Yanks, and after the game John will have the weekly social media spotlight featuring plenty from Jackie Robinson Day.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals
Time: 1:35 p.m. EST
Video: YES Network, Royals.TV
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. What do you make of Will Warren’s gem? Was it just a nice surprise, or will he find his way into the sixth and seventh innings more frequently?
2. Can Ben Rice make it four straight games with a homer?
SNY | John Flanigan: Will Warren dominated the Royals Saturday, holding them off the board into the seventh inning to continue an encouraging start. “The four-seam was really playing well,” Aaron Boone said of his second-year starter. “He got a lot of swing-and-miss, the changeup was good today too, I just think it was the overall mix — it was good to see him take that lead and run with it, really good job.” Warren has pitched to a 2.49 ERA through five starts, building on a campaign in which he finished eighth in AL Rookie of the Year voting last year.
NY Post | Greg Joyce: The offense also played its part in making the win a rare comfortable victory. Cody Bellinger led the charge with two homers, as the lineup overall coasted to 13 runs. This outburst came against left-hander Noah Cameron, a particularly encouraging sign as the team had entered play with a .535 OPS against southpaws, second-worst in baseball.
ESPN | Jorge Castillo: Aaron Boone threw some cold water on anyone anticipating a rapid return from Gerrit Cole, who made his first rehab start on Friday against Double-A Somerset, indicating he will need “several more” rehab outings first, with a return expected by early June. “Nothing’s imminent here,” the Yankees manager noted. “We’ll be disciplined and make sure we take the right amount of time.” Cole threw 44 pitches across 4.1 innings, and his fastball was sitting around 95 mph. Carlos Rodón still appears ahead of Cole, even though he won’t begin his rehab until this week.
SNY | John Flanigan: Saturday’s rout was also a showcase for Ben Rice, who’s begun 2026 proving the predictive nature of analytics which indicated he was profoundly unlucky last season. Boone sat lefty-masher Paul Goldschmidt against the left-handed Cameron and the gambit paid off, with Rice crushing a 398-footer lefty-on-lefty to notch his third straight game with a home run. After the game, his OPS sat at 1.224, second-best in baseball.
NJ.com | Bob Klapisch: Day games at Yankee Stadium have been kicking off a little later than in years past this season. At the request of several veterans, including Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees pushed their start times back from 1:05 to 1:35 with the goal of allowing more time for recuperation and preparation. The seemingly minor change has had a noticeable impact. “It’s a 100 percent improvement,” said Stanton. “For some guys, the extra sleep in their prep. For other guys, they use time here getting treatment. I like it. The extra half hour feels like an hour.”
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 18: Gabe Speier #55 of the Seattle Mariners hands the ball to manager sm6 during the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on April 18, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dan Wilson managed to shut down the Rangers just long enough.
The Mariners snapped a pair of losing streaks on Saturday. They entered the day having lost four straight games. They also entered the day having lost four straight to the Rangers, dating back to last week’s sweep in Arlington. With another strong start from George Kirby and some timely hitting to boot, the Mariners secured a 7-3 win, beginning what they hope is the slow climb from their hole in the AL West.
The offense finally had a few things go their way, racking up seven runs on 11 hits and three walks. They picked up five of their runs on hits that snuck through a drawn-in infield with the Rangers defending against a runner on third. They got another run on a towering solo home run from Luke Raley, his fifth of the season.
But it was Wilson’s bullpen management that caught my eye Saturday. It was pretty much flawless, despite increasingly tricky circumstances. Wilson and his coaching staff used nearly all their relievers, and seemed to perfectly pair each for the situation in the game.
Decision #0: Furious George Kirby
Bullpen management, of course, starts with the starter. Kirby took the mound for the fifth time this season and was solid once again. He pounded the zone with fastballs and expanded the zone with sliders — a strategy that’s helped him dominate this Rangers’ lineups in the past. It worked for the most part: Kirby got 14 whiffs on 51 swings (27%) and five strikeouts; he also got 12 grounders to raise his ground ball rate to a league-leading 60.2%.
But Kirby struggled with efficiency at times. He allowed seven hits, two walks, and frequently pitched with men on base.
“I kind of feel like I wasted a lot of pitches, got in some deeper counts, forced a couple of those guys on,” he said after the game.
There were a few tough-luck moments for Kirby. In the fourth inning, he gave up a hard single to put a runner on first with one out. The next batter ripped another hard grounder up the middle. This might have been a double play, but the ball instead hit Kirby in the pants and ricocheted into no man’s land for a single.
Kirby walked the next batter to load the bases with one out. He faced Ezequiel Duran, who took a 2-2 pitch just off the edge of the strike zone. Kirby, perhaps in equal parts desperation and frustration, challenged the called ball. ABS confirmed the ump’s ruling to work the count full.
In the past, Kirby might have unraveled after this series of misfortune. Instead, he ramped up and threw a perfect, 96 mph fastball up and in. Duran jammed a shallow fly out to center. Kirby then faced Kyle Higashioka, who hit a go-ahead homer off him last week, and got him to fly out as well.
Kirby said he’s been working on his composure in these moments, where the game isn’t quite going his way. He said it’s about trying to stay in control, not do too much, and simply attack.
“They just keep coming up, opportunities to get better and learn from it,” he said. “You just gather your breath, or just take a couple quick exhales, get yourself going to kind of get your body right for the moment you’re in.”
The only run Kirby allowed was a solo shot in the sixth inning. With his workload maxed out, a two-out single ended his day. Wilson turned to the bullpen.
Decision #1: Matt Brash gets an out
Matt Brash was the first reliever in the game on Saturday. He entered with a runner on first and two outs, with the Mariners up 3-1. The leverage index read 1.03.
The leverage index is a measure of how “on the line” a game is during an at bat, given the inning, score, outs, and men on base. Basically, it reflects the stakes of the game. Everything 0.85 and below is low leverage, and everything 2.0 and above is high leverage. The mushy middle is medium leverage.
The game was low leverage when Kirby began the sixth inning, with the Mariners holding a three-run lead and nobody on base. After the homer and single, the game progressed to medium leverage. The moment the game shifted from low to medium leverage, with Kirby at 96 pitches, Wilson turned to Brash — the Mariners’ second best righty reliever.
Now, one could argue this was maybe a better moment for Eduard Bazardo — the Mariners’ third best righty reliever — to face the Ranger’s nine-hole hitter in Higashioka. But had Higashioka reached base in any capacity, the game would have moved firmly into high leverage with the top of the order coming up. Given the minimum three-batter requirement, Bazardo would have been required to stay in the game, and the Rangers could have taken the lead before Wilson could make another change.
Instead, Wilson turned to Brash as contingency against a potential high-leverage spot. It worked. Brash threw just six pitches to dispatch Higashioka with a groundout, and the Mariners’ lead held.
Decision #2: Gabe Speier faces the leadoff lefties
The Mariners picked up another run in the bottom of the sixth, meaning they lead 4-1 in the top of the 7th. The game was back to low leverage.
Wilson turned to Gabe Speier, (arguably) his best lefty out of the pen to face the top of the Rangers’ order. One could argue maybe Wilson should have stuck with Brash after his quick work in the previous inning. But the top of the Rangers’ lineup — Brandon Nimmo and Corey Seager — are both very good lefty batters.
Wilson said that handedness matchup was the main consideration in turning to Speier. But he also noted the move keeps Brash available for Sunday’s game, which wound up looking quite prescient on a day where nearly every Mariners’ reliever pitched.
“I think we really felt with the lefties that that was Gabe’s inning, and he came out and did what he does. I think with our guys you also have to weigh rest. You have to weigh what’s tomorrow, and what’s beyond tomorrow. So all those things you have to throw in the hopper and come up with the best decision you can at that point. But yeah, we really felt like that was Gabe’s inning.”
Now, I’m not always a fan of thinking ahead in bullpen management. Wilson’s predecessor, Scott Servais, often espoused was (something to the effect of), “Win today’s game first,” when referring to bullpen decisions, and I generally agree with that. But this move was a good example of the range of considerations a manager faces when dealing with their bullpen. Wilson made the decision to sacrifice an arm in the game to get the better matchup while still saving an arm for the next game. It was a shrewd move that worked out given the context to that point.
But Wilson also got hit with a consequence of that decision: sometimes the bird in the bullpen just doesn’t have it. Speier struggled. He got Nimmo to strikeout but then walker Seager and later walked Jake Burger.
With the game back to medium leverage, Wilson opted for a fresh arm.
Decision #3: Break glass for Eduard Bazardo
Eduard Bazardo entered the game. He also wasn’t quite sharp, immediately walking Josh Smith to load the bases and progress the game to high leverage.
Maybe one could argue Wilson could have stuck with Speier and trusted him to escape, though I’m not sure I’d buy that after 24 not-great pitches. There’s also a case that Wilson could have gone with Jose Ferrer, though that would sacrifice the handedness advantage (Bazardo is a bit better against righties for his career).
I think this was probably the right move, and it wound up OK. Bazardo got Josh Jung to fly out to escape the jam he and Speier created.
Decision #4: Sticking with Bazardo
The game remained 4-1 heading into the eighth, with the game back in low leverage. Wilson stuck with Bazardo to face the 7-9 batters in the Rangers’ lineup.
Again, there’s some question about whether Bazardo, having struggled with his command in the previous inning, was the best choice. But given Kirby’s abbreviated outing, the decision to save Brash for Sunday, Speier’s struggles, and the Mariners three-run lead with the bottom of the Rangers’ order coming up — and given Ferrer threw 20 pitches Friday — Wilson was out of medium leverage options.
Bazardo wasn’t quite sharp. He walked the leadoff batter to move the game to medium leverage. Then he got a fly out and a pop out to push the game back to low leverage.
With two outs, a runner on first, and Bazardo at 21 pitches, Wilson turned to the pen.
Decision #5: Jose Ferrer to face the leadoff lefties
Wilson went with Ferrer to face the lefties at the top of the Rangers’ order.
Again, maybe one could argue Ferrer should have been the choice to begin the inning. But given his workload the night and the situation in the game, Ferrer appeared to be something of a last resort. When the situation required that last resort, Wilson was ready.
Ferrer gave up a weak bloop single to Nimmo but got Seager to groundout to end the thread.
Decision #6: Cole Wilcox to close out the blow out
The Mariners scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to extend their lead to 7-1, effectively ending the game. Wilson turned to Cole Wilcox, who’s impressed early but is firmly a “low leverage” arm. It was the ideal spot to get him some work without much on the line.
Unfortunately, Wilcox quickly raised the stakes. He gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out. He got the second out with a sac fly to make the game 7-2. but gave up a double to make the game 7-3. Wilcox then walked the nine-hitter Higashioka to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate in Nimmo.
Decision #7: Andrés Muñoz, the redeemer
Wilson turned to Muñoz with the game back in medium leverage. Muñoz had a rare meltdown in his last outing in San Diego, giving up five runs and eventually the game. He’s looked just off early in 2026 and has struggled with command over the last week.
But he looked sharp Saturday, quickly punching out Nimmo on four pitches to end the game.
This was essentially flawless execution from Wilson in what wound up being a tricky game to manage. The game was rarely in jeopardy for the Mariners, who finally strung together some hits on offense, but it was very often in jeopardy of being in jeopardy. Wilson had manage a comfortable lead and a starter who couldn’t get through six innings and a trio of relievers who didn’t quite have it. He made seven correct — or at least “defensible” — decisions at each inflection point, and the Mariners held on.
“Those are the things you sort of try to walk through ahead of time and try to make a plan. And sometimes it doesn’t go to plan and you end up in a weird situation,” Wilson said after the game. “Definitely it’s been a while for a couple of guys in the bullpen. (Brash) hadn’t been out there in a while and (Speier), really, too. So it was nice to get those guys in the game and I thought they threw the ball well. Good to get them rolling. But you have to weigh all those things when you’re making decisions. We try to do that as much as we can ahead of time and then follow the plan.”
There’s not a single number to say whether a manager is making the right calls to the bullpen, but Saturday’s game outlined Wilson’s general strategy. He operates with a hierarchy of relievers and turns to them based on the “leverage” in the game. Presumably, the hierarchy and the leverage are set by the front office, and it’s Wilson’s job to execute that plan within the context of the game and season.
To his credit, Wilson has been very good at this in broad strokes. His best relievers, generally in rank order, have pitched in the biggest spots — this year and last year. Muñoz, for instance, was the highest-leverage reliever in the game last year. It’s also worth noting the Mariners got significantly more WPA from their bullpen in 2025 than their context-neutral performance would indicate. Remember, the Mariners pitching was something of a mess last year, with an injured rotation often exiting early, requiring a 2 1/2-man bullpen asked to pick up four or five innings each night. Wilson was often forced to punt games early rather than using a leverage arm to protect a narrow deficit in the fifth inning. But when the Mariners did hold a late lead, Wilson was ready with Muñoz and Speier (and eventually Brash) to the shut the door.
Of course, that changed in the ALCS when Wilson made the infamous decision to go with Bazardo over Muñoz, which wound up being the final note for the 2025 Mariners. But it was a rare mistake for Wilson, who’d threaded the needle with a below average pitching staff all season.
Again, there isn’t a single number to summarize whether Wilson or any manager is good at deploying relievers. For instance, last year I was able to say pretty confidently lthat the Mariners extreme dependence on pinch hitters wasn’t working (and I’m a bit disappointed to see so many pinch hitters again to start 2026). But it’s not as easy to say whether the Mariners are getting all they could out of their bullpen. As we saw Saturday, there are plenty of variables that change in real time, and relievers can be a bit finicky. Still, Wilson does seem to know who his best arms are and when to use them. Sometimes, it even works out.
It’s all about second chances when Trevor Bauer tugs on a Long Island Ducks jersey on opening night.
After years of playing in Mexico and Japan, the polarizing “outcast” 2020 Cy Young winner returns to the mound in America for the first time since his bombshell 194-game MLB suspension in 2022 over sexual assault allegations, which the former Dodger has vehemently denied and was never criminally charged for.
“I don’t really think about image rehabilitation, because I think I have a fine image with the fans, baseball players, coaches, front offices, all that stuff,” he told reporters Saturday.
“My image is what it is. I don’t control my image.”
The highly anticipated outing will be Tuesday when the independent Atlantic League Professional Baseball team opens at home against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars — and fan response has been “outstanding,” according to Ducks president Michael Pfaff.
“We had a huge increase in ticket sales for opening night,” Pfaff said. “There were a few thousand tickets purchased around his start.”
While a member of the Dodgers, Bauer was accused in 2021 of punching and choking a woman during sex, which he previously said was “wholly consensual.”
He was initially given a 324-game suspension by MLB in April 2022, which was reduced after an appeal.
“I felt like I’m kind of an outcast for a while now,” Bauer admitted.
The 35-year-old added that he’s “communicated with all 30 teams” in Major League Baseball, but “there are things that are completely out of my control” regarding a prospective return.
“There’s no question about talent or effectiveness if I were to come back,” said Bauer, who added, “I think I’m a better pitcher in a lot of ways now than I was.”
Long Island Ducks pitcher Trevor Bauer throws a pitch during a bullpen session on April 18, 2026. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
Pfaff is hopeful that playing for the Ducks — a team that previously signed divisive pitcher John Rocker, among other star-caliber talents like Daniel Murphy — will be a pivotal step in Bauer’s redemption arc.
“This league has existed for 28 years to give players like Trevor the showcase that they deserve to get back to Major League Baseball or to get better opportunities in the game,” Pfaff said.
Crowds roared for the righty during a Saturday fan fest with spectators wearing Bauer jerseys from the Dodgers and his international teams.
“Even just seeing people standing outside of the clubhouse before games start in spring training” has brought joy to the now stateside pitcher, who is eager to play in front of friends and family.
“I feel like he was kind of wronged,” said Erik Stanton, the dad of an adult daughter who was hoping to get Bauer’s autograph at Fairfield Properties Ballpark ahead of the spring training game. “I feel like some guys have done worse.”
Long Island Ducks pitcher Trevor Bauer talks with Gavin Collins during a bullpen session. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
Still, fan Cheryl Geller isn’t thrilled and said, “I look at him a little differently,” after her husband, Bruce, recently explained Bauer’s past to her.
California’s Joe and Stacy Green, a married pair on vacation in New York City, made an impromptu drive out to Islip after hearing Bauer would be showing his face. He had mentored their son, Max Green, a former ALPB pitcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers.
Bauer remembered Max while briefly chatting with his parents near a bullpen entourage of supporters.
Stacy described Bauer as a “good guy,” and Joe said, “he’s been treated wildly unfairly.”
Lindenhurst grandpa Vinny Moran added, “Hopefully he can get back in the major leagues.”
Trevor Bauer signs autographs for fans before a spring training game. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
“He got railroaded out,” said Moran, who brought his daughter and two granddaughters to the ballpark Saturday and gladly would bring them back to see him play.
Bauer said he signed with the Ducks at the last minute, only to realize its new owner is a Texas Rangers-adjacent company, Rev Entertainment. He chalked up the connection to nothing more than “a cool fact.”
The focus for Bauer isn’t on any benchmark stats, but rather “to help guys” on the roster.
“I want to be good in the clubhouse with teammates,” he said.
Bauer will also be filming a “Hard Knocks”-style day-in-the-life YouTube vlog throughout the season that will offer a behind-the-scenes peek at his day-to-day.
Trevor Bauer talks to the media during an introductory press conference after signing with the Long Island Ducks on April 18, 2026. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
“I’ll be mic’d up for all the games,” he said, “so you’ll kind of get a really unique insight into what I’m thinking on the mound — and what I’m thinking afterwards.”
His presence hasn’t been a distraction to the team but instead a major motivator, manager Lew Ford said.
“It’s early, but I think the guys, we could feel there’s an energy,” Ford said. “We’re going to have some fun this year — and we’re going to win some baseball games.”
Ducks 26-year-old outfielder Matt Hogan is stoked to get to know his new teammate.
“What can’t you learn from a guy like that? That’s a guy who’s been through it,” said the former White Sox minor leaguer from Plainview. “He knows pretty much everything you could possibly know about baseball. … I’ve had the chance to talk to him briefly so far, and he’s just a tremendous guy. He’s really nice. I look forward to getting to know him better.”
Bauer said he has no intentions of staying in the shadows, either.
“I’d love to get out into Long Island and see some baseball around the community that’s not here at the stadium, and just interact with fans,” he said.
Apr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams (32) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
What a game that was for the Guardians. Gavin Williams is blossoming into everything we hoped he could be. He was excellent tonight, as he has been all season. 7 innings, 3 hits, one run, and 11 big strikeouts to lower his ERA to 2.12 on the season. Oh, and he also leads all of MLB in strikeouts. He was in full control tonight with the only mistake being a hanging curveball to Leody Taveras in the top of the 4th.
It is also noteworthy that Cade Smith came in and got the save, and he looked like Cade Smith. That was the best we have seen him look all season by far.
As for the offense, we only had three hits, but they sure were big ones. Brayan Rocchio’s three run HR in the bottom of the 5th was personally one of the most exciting moments of the season for me thus far. The development we have seen from him since the all star break last year has been incredible. Bo Naylor finally hit his first HR on the season. He has had some brutal luck this year and it was awesome to see him finally get some good results for his process.
Another Saturday game, another Zac Gallen start, another swirling bit of anxiety in the gullet as we waited to see which Zac we were going to get today. I remember the heyday of Gallen’s good times, when he really was the unquestioned ace of the rotation, rather than simply being the guy who happens to pitch for us on Opening Day. I’ve mostly gotten over the animosity I’ve developed for him over the last couple of seasons, but I still feel kinda queasy when I see that I’ve pulled a Gallen start for a Saturday recap. Today, he was starting opposite grizzled veteran (and old friend for a brief moment at the very start of his career) Max Scherzer, who entered today with an ERA above 9, while Zac was enjoying a 3.60 ERA coming into this start.
It didn’t look great, honestly, in the top of the first. Gallen was being efficient—he got through the first four batters with only seven pitches thrown—but he was very efficiently throwing meatballs in the middle of the strike zone, which meant that three of the first four Blue Jays to come to the plate reached on singles into the outfield. The third single drove in Toronto leadoff hitter Nathan Lukes, putting us in an early hole. Thankfully, however, after that third single Zac actually seemed to buckle down and start to, you know, pitch. The results were much better after that, as he struck out the next two batters to end the frame. 1-0 Toronto
It turned out not to be the end of the world, though, because we got the run right back in the bottom of the first, thanks to a one-out Corbin Carroll walk that he capitalized on by promptly stealing second base on Scherzer’s first pitch to Geraldo Perdomo, and then Perdomo lining a single to center on the next pitch he saw to drive home Corbin. Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., back in the lineup for the first time since September 1 of last year, hung a pretty decent 7-pitch at bat on Scherzer before popping out to first, and Adrian Del Castillo saw another seven pitches before grounding out to first. But things were all tied up again. 1-1 TIE
After that, the game got kinda quite for the next few innings. Gallen pitched around traffic in each inning, giving up singles in the second, third, and fourth, and then a double in the fifth, but despite that he was quite effective, putting up zeroes and wrapping up the fifth with only 66 pitches thrown. Meanwhile, we were doing absolutely nothing against Scherzer, sitting down in order in the second, third, and fourth innings, while only making Shcerzer throw 31 pitches total to get through those three innings. Scherzer’s probably going to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot once he retires, but the dude is old and not all that at this stage of his career, but our hitters were making him look like he was back in his Cy Young heyday. It was disappointing, to say the least.
Thankfully, our young blood got things going again in the bottom of the fifth, as Jose Fernandez lined a single to left to lead off the inning. Nolan Arenado grounded out to short, but Fernandez alertly took second to keep from being doubled off, and Ildemaro Vargas popped out to first for the second out of the inning. Alek Thomas came to the plate, and promptly rolled over on the first pitch he saw, squibbing a grounder just over the first base bag that rolled to the fence about halfway up the first base line and ended up going as an RBI double:
Ketel Marte continued his fruitless night at the plate with a first-pitch pop-out to shallow center, but we had a lead now. 2-1 D-BACKS
Sadly, however, Gallen and what feels like an increasingly frequent Perdomo miscue led to us giving the run right back in the top of the sixth. Toronto DH Eloy Jimenez singled with one out in the sixth, but Gallen immediately induced what appeared to be a 3-6-1 double play to end the inning. But no. Toronto challenged the out call at second, and the call was overturned because Perdomo’s foot came off the base before the ball was in his glove, so after heading back to the dugout he had to come back to the mound. As folks noted in the Gameday Thread, Zac often responds badly when the fielders behind him blow a play, and that was the case here, as he gave up a single that scored Jimenez and earned Gallen the hook. Ryan Thomspon came on and recorded the third out on three pitches, but our short-lived one-run lead was no more. 2-2 TIE
Nothing much happened for a little while after that—Gerry TOONBLANned his way into an out in the bottom of the sixth after singling to right and trying to stretch it to a double. Ryan Thompson and Jose Morillo put up a zero for us in the top of the seventh, we sat down in order against the Blue Jays bullpen in the bottom of the seventh, Morillo pitched around a one-out single in the top of the eighth to put up another zero for the bullpen.
Cue the bottom of the eighth. Jeff Hoffman, who I guess is supposed to be the Blue Jays’ closer—Maybe? Sometimes? He’s had five save opportunities so far this year, and have converted two of them, and he came on for the eighth, so who knows?—gave up a ground ball single to Ildemaro Vargas, then another ground ball single to Alek Thomas, and then he walked Ketel Marte to load the bases with no outs. Corbin Carroll came to the plate, swung at the first pitch he saw, laid off the next three to bring the count to 3-1, and finally got a meatball right down the middle that he did not miss:
Perdomo, Gurriel, and Del Castillo then made three quick outs, but really, who cares? 6-2 D-BACKS
Because it wasn’t a save situation anymore, Torey Lovullo brought Kevin Ginkel out to pitch the top of the ninth, and despite a two-out single surrendered to Nathan Lukes, he did his job and put up the final zero. Yay.
Killer of Birds: Alek Thomas (4 AB, 2 H, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, +21% WPA) Harrassers of Birds: Juan Morillo (+15% WPA), Corbin Carroll (+11% WPA), Ryan Thompson (+10% WPA), Geraldo Perdomo (+10% WPA) The Bird Whisperer: Lourdes Gurriel, Jr. (4 AB, 0 H, 0 R, 1 K, -14% WPA)
We had a nice, vibrant, very well-attended Gameday Thread tonight, with 307 comments at time of writing. The leading comment by popular acclaim belonged to chwalter, but it wasn’t game-relevant, sadly, so I’m giving this one to Snacks&DBacks, who posted the following right before Carroll’s big swing (plus an assist from Smurf1000, which I’m including because why not?):
And with that, it’s on to not the rubber match, but our chance to secure our second sweep of the season, as well as our second sweep against an AL team that went deep in the playoffs last year while we and our Diamondbacks were sitting at home watching them on TV from our respective couches. Ryne Nelson takes the mound for us, Kevin Gausman goes for the Jays. Gausman seems to be the sole competent starting pitcher Toronto has going for them so far this year, so it may not be easy to secure the sweep. But bring your brooms anyway, and cheer us on and help keep TheRealRamona company as she gears up for her first guest recap of the 2026 season! First pitch is scheduled for 1:10pm AZ time. Hope you can join us!
As always, thanks so much for reading, and as always, go Diamondbacks!
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 17: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a 9-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies with Austin Riley #27 at Citizens Bank Park on April 17, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Braves continue to just cruise this season, in a refreshing departure from last season. Chris Sale had a really nice outing against the Phillies’ lineup on Saturday, backed up by Dylan Lee and Robert Suarez, while the offense got enough done to win the game. That makes for the sixth series win this season, as the Braves have still not lost a series in 2026. Atlanta is 14-7, 5 games clear in the division lead, and has the best run differential in baseball. That is nothing short of a fantastic start, especially given all of the talent Atlanta has on the IL, and how much of that talent could be returning in the coming months.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 18: Troy Johnston #20 of the Colorado Rockies hits a single in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whether it was a snowy Friday giving way to a sunny Saturday or the playoff vibes from the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche spilling over, the Mile High Magic was palpable across the city today.
For the cherry on top of a wonderful sports day in Denver, the Colorado Rockies got the best of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4-3 rollercoaster of a win.
Runs early and often
It was a good night if you bet YRFI.
Starting pitchers Ryan Feltner and Emmet Sheehan brought a pair of high ERAs into their matchup today (7.30 and 6.60, respectively). That showed as the scoreboard was lit up immediately in the first inning.
That’s sadly not out of character for the Rockies, who have given up 161 runs in the first inning since the start of last season — the most in MLB.
To start off the evening, Shohei Ohtani reached first base after a throwing error by Troy Johnston on the first pitch. Kyle Tucker followed immediately with a home run on the second pitch of the game, giving the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead.
The Rockies responded in the bottom of the inning. Mickey Moniak doubled to center and was brought home with a line-drive single from TJ Rumfield to bring the game to 2-1.
The Dodgers and Rockies would notch one more run each in the second inning. L.A.’s came on a Dalton Rushing homer knocked right above the out-of-town scoreboard in right on a 78 MPH curveball from Feltner. The Rockies’ run came after Johnston put himself in scoring position with a line-drive single, a stolen base, and a move to third on a Brenton Doyle ground out. Johnston ultimately came home on a Kyle Karros sacrifice fly to make it 3-2 Trolley Dodgers.
Pitchers dueling
That “early and often” hot start dried up pretty quickly. Despite some scattered chances, the offensive action calmed down and yielded scoreless third, fourth, and fifth innings as both pitchers found their rhythm.
After walking Freddie Freeman in the top of the third, Feltner sat down eight straight batters. Among those eight, Feltner struck out Teoscar Hernández, Alex Freeland, and Andy Pages. Feltner looked in command of his four-seam fastball in particular across those punch outs. He also got a fly out to left from Ohtani, dropping Ohtani to 1-10 against Feltner across their last encounters.
Sheehan walked a couple of baserunners and gave up a double in the fourth inning, but otherwise looked sharp. He gathered strikeouts against Hunter Goodman, Brenton Doyle, and Edouard Julien across those three innings.
Feltner’s streak came to an end on a Freeman triple in the top of the sixth. Lucky for him, Karros would save a run with an incredible diving grab to stop a ball driven down the third base line, throwing out Hernández at first.
Following that, Brennan Bernardino came in to relieve Feltner with two outs and Freeman on third. Feltner finished his day with five strikeouts, five hits, and three runs surrendered via two home runs.
The Rockies got rolling
Despite a 1-2-3 fifth inning from Sheehan, the Dodgers pulled him at 77 pitches, swapping in Will Klein. That did not go well.
The Rockies immediately pounced with a Goodman double to deep center. Up next, Ezequiel Tovar singled with a ball banked off of Klein over to Freeman, with Tovi winning the foot race to first. Johnston brought those two in with a double to center for his team-leading 10th RBI, giving the Rockies their first glorious lead over the Dodgers in what felt like an eternity.
Klein would get the next three batters out to keep Johnston at second and to limit the damage at 4-3 Rockies.
Catching a crazy eighth
The top of the eighth inning got a little dicey for the Rockies, with much of the commotion centered around Goodman behind the dish.
Jaden Hill replaced Bernardino to kick off the inning with the Dodgers back at the top of the order. Hill worked to an 0-2 count against Ohtani. In an at-bat that looked like it might end in another Ohtani out, Goodman was called for catcher interference as hit glove bumped Ohtani’s swing, putting the batter on first.
Tucker singled next, putting two men on with no outs. Just when things felt like they were about to get worse, Goodman redeemed himself with a wonderful ABS challenge, overturning a ball and sitting Pages down on strikes.
Freeman flied out to center next, moving Ohtani and Tucker up a base. In a tense at-bat for Hernández, the Rockies would challenge a pitch again, but this time unsuccessfully. Hernández walked to load the bases.
Hill responded extremely well to cap off a nice relief pitching performance, throwing two strikes to Max Muncy before getting him to ground out on a changeup to end the (very stressful) inning.
No insurance needed
The Rockies wouldn’t get any insurance runs in the bottom of the eight, but luckily they wouldn’t need them (although that would have reduced some ninth inning stress).
Victor Vodnik came in to close out the ninth, trying for his third save of the season. He sat Rushing and Hyeseong Kim out quickly. With two outs, Will Smith singled on a nice hit to second that made for a just-difficult-enough throw for Julien.
Santiago Espinal came in to pinch run and Ohtani got his first hit of the night to move the runner to second. With the game on the line, the energy in Coors felt exciting in a way it hasn’t felt too often is recent years. Tucker sent a routine flyball to left field, and Vodnik got his save.
There was a lot to be proud of for the Rockies today. Namely, the Rockies looked resilient.
Feltner settled down after a shaky start. The bullpen was flawless in relief. Hits and baserunners came when they were needed most. Scoring chances were converted. Key defensive plays swung the game in Colorado’s favor.
It had been a rough week in the wake of a sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres and a series loss to the Houston Astros. After a 7-1 loss last night, it felt like an uphill battle to steal even one from Los Angeles.
The Dodgers were 10-0 against the National League this season. Emphasis: were. Your Colorado Rockies just served up a tally mark in the L column.
The Rockies are having fun!
Up Next
First and foremost, it’s Dinger Day at the ballpark! Our favorite purple dino and all of his friends will try to bring some good vibes and even better luck to the matchup.
The Rockies and Dodgers square off for Game 3 of the wraparound series at 1:10 p.m. MT. Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for Los Angeles, while Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 8.10) is slated to go for Colorado. The Rockies will try to take the series lead in a Sunday matinee matchup.
COVERS INTEL: The Royals’ bullpen ranks bottom five in MLB with a 4.67 xFIP and a ninth-worst 4.25 SIERA.
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