Category: MLB

Carlos Beltrán only spent a small part near the end of his career with the Yankees. However, for as short as his tenure was, there was always something about him in pinstripes that felt natural. Maybe it was that he had been connected to the team before during his prior times on the free agent market. Maybe it was just that he grew up a Yankees’ fan and had a desire to play for the team.

When the average baseball fans thinks of Beltrán’s now Hall of Fame career, they probably won’t remember him as a Yankee, but he did have an interesting little stint in the Bronx.

Carlos Ivan Beltrán
Born: April 24, 1977 (Manati, Puerto Rico)
Yankees Tenure: 2014-16

Carlos Beltrán was born and raised in baseball-loving Puerto Rico as the second of four children. He fell in love with baseball and, as mentioned, the New York Yankees. However, after a sterling amateur career, he was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 1995 MLB Draft.

Beltrán got off to a very slow start to his minor league career, before breaking out and then rocketing through Kansas City’s system in 1998. After starting the year in High-A ball, he impressed and earned several promotions, including all the way to the big leagues for a September cup of coffee.

The following season, Beltrán got the Royals’ starting center field job to start the year and he more than made the most of it. In 1999, he hit .293/.337/.454 while also playing good defense out in center. He was rewarded with the AL Rookie of the Year for the season, receiving all but two of the first-place votes.

The 2000 season was a downer after ‘99, as Beltrán dealt with injury and a tiff with the Kansas City organization as a result of the missed time. However, he rebounded in 2001 and began to develop into a star. From 2001-03, he OPSed .876 and put up 16.7 fWAR.

As the calendar turned to 2004, Beltrán was set to become a free agent following the season. He and the Royals had tried and failed to come to terms on a contract, with the outfielder making it clear that he wouldn’t take a hometown discount and wanted to play for a winner. After another hot start to that season, the Royals decided they had to move their star before losing him for nothing, and traded him to the Astros in June.

In Houston, Beltrán famously had one of the most impressive post-trade stretches ever. In 90 games with the Astros, he put up a 133 wRC+, while accruing 4.0 fWAR just in those months alone. Although they were only five games back, the Astros had been in last in the NL Central when they acquired Beltrán. From that day on, they went 54-36, including 23-7 from September on. That allowed them to win the NL Wild Card spot by just one game over the Giants. Appearing in the playoffs for the first time, Beltrán then OPSed 1.557 with eight homers in just two rounds as Houston advanced to the NLCS, where they fell to the Cardinals in seven.

Off the back of that, Beltrán hit the free agent market and eventually came to a deal with the Mets for seven years and $119 million. There were reports that the Yankees were his first choice and he even offered them a slight discount from the Mets’ offer, but the team had Bernie Williams, who had still been a good hitter in the previous seasons (even if his defense had faded). In retrospect, the Yankees should’ve taken up Beltrán, but I guess you might not have been able to fully predict Williams’ dramatic fall-off, with the team letting him go after 2006.

Over the course of his seven years in Queens, Beltrán was stellar. He hit .280/.369/.500 and was worth 31.1 rWAR or 29.3 fWAR, with switch-hit power ans superb defense.

However, there are also still a lot of Mets’ fans where if you mention his name, only one thing will be remembered. Yes, he was the batter who was caught looking to end Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS with the bases loaded.

Beltrán’s Mets tenure came to an end in 2011 when he was again subject of a midseason trade that brought them future ace Zack Wheeler (whose best years would not come in Queens). That one sent him to the Giants, and while he played well there, San Francisco missed the playoffs, as that era of the team only performed in even years.

After that season, he again became a free agent and joined the Cardinals on a two-year deal. Beltrán continued to produce there and got to play in the World Series for the first time with the 2013 Cardinals. However, he and St. Louis fell to the Red Sox.

Beltrán again hit the free agent market and this time did come to an agreement with the Yankees. Having lost Robinson Canó, the Yankees signed a bunch of other options instead, and Beltrán was one of those, inking a three-year deal to join Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian McCann on the new-look Yanks.

Beltrán’s debut season in the Bronx was a bit of a step back, as his 98 OPS+ was his worst in nearly a decade as New York missed the playoffs. However, he rebounded with a better 2015, helping the team return to the postseason. He was then one of very few Yankees to do anything on offense as they lost the AL Wild Card Game, getting shut out by Houston.

Beltrán’s best season with the team came in 2016. In 99 games, he OPSed .890 (133 wRC+) with 22 home runs, making his ninth and final All-Star team. However, the team was going nowhere and ended up decided to do a bit of a rebuild. The Yankees basically traded away anyone of value who was near free agency, and Beltrán ended up being one of those names.

At the trade deadline, he was sent to Texas for prospects Nick Green, Erik Swanson, and Dillon Tate. He was on the Rangers’ AL West winners, but they lost in the ALDS to the Blue Jays. After that season, he signed with the Astros in 2017, helping them win a World Series. That season would become known for something else, which we’ll get to.

Beltrán retired after 2017. He interviewed for the Yankees’ manager gig when Aaron Boone got it and eventually rejoined the Yankees as a consultant. Ahead of the 2020 season, he was then hired as the new skipper of the Mets, but he never would manage a game. That same winter, the details of the Astros’ sign-stealing scheme were reported, which took place in 2017, when Beltrán played there. The investigations into the scheme pinned a lot on Beltrán himself, and the Mets ended up letting him go before the season.

Since then, Beltrán has done a little bit of work for the YES Network and has had some front office roles back with the Mets. The sign-stealing scandal might have had a bit of an effect on his Hall of Fame prospects, but he was voted in this past winter on his fourth ballot and will be inducted later this summer.

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

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All 30 teams are in action on Friday, April 24, and I’ve got a trio of MLB picks for YRFI and NRFI bettors tonight.

My favorite NRFI bets start with a matchup between the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds and wrap up with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers.

Best NRFI/YRFI bets today

Tigers at Reds: NRFI (-115)

Both the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds rank below average in wOBA against left-handed pitching and first-inning scoring rate.

Detroit left-hander Framber Valdez has been sharp in four of five starts (3.30 ERA, 3.28 xERA), while Cincy starter Andrew Abbott's 5.84 ERA and 1.74 WHIP are well above his respective career marks of 3.42 and 1.24 through his first 75 starts — so he’s set for statistical correction going forward.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: CINR, DSN

Twins at Rays: NRFI (-125)

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen has been sharp in three of four starts, sporting a tidy 2.75 ERA and 0.66 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .141 average and .220 wOBA.

The Minnesota Twins counter with Taj Bradley, who’s posted a similarly solid line with a 1.63 ERA and 3.55 xFIP while limiting opponents to a .226 average and .276 wOBA.

Scoring in the opening frame also hasn’t been a calling card for either club. The Twins have plated a first-inning run in just 32% of their games, while the Rays are even lower at 29.2%.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: RAYS, MNNT

Pirates at Brewers: NRFI (-142)

I’m anticipating a pitchers' duel breaking out at American Family Field between Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Milwaukee Brewers righty Brandon Woodruff, and this game carries the lowest total of the day.

Skenes sports a sterling 1.27 ERA and 0.66 WHIP across his past four starts. Meanwhile, Woodruff has been sharp at home dating back to last season, boasting respective 3.14 and 0.91 marks across 43 frames. 

Most importantly for Woodruff, he’ll likely face four left-handed hitters at the top of the Pittsburgh lineup — and he’s held lefty bats to a pedestrian .240 on-base percentage and .263 wOBA to start the year.

• Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: BREW, SNP

What is a NRFI bet?

NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.

A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.

NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.

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

The Royals are tied for the worst record in baseball, and manager Matt Quatraro has been the target of ire for many fans. When a team loses, the manager will bear a brunt of the criticism. It is more than fair to hold him accountable, since ultimately performance is judged by wins and losses. Fans have criticized Quatraro for his bullpen management, for the poor fundamentals the team exhibits, for playing too many different lineups, and even for not shaking the lineup up enough!

One familiar complaint has been that the team platoons too much – they sit left-handed hitters against left-handed pitchers, and sit right-handers against right-handed pitching. Fans argue the team should play the “hot hand”, that hitters need to learn how to hit against pitchers with the platoon advantage, that the numerous lineups exhibit overthinking and an excessive reliance on analytics.

But what looks like excessive platooning is really just….baseball. The Kansas City Royals aren’t reinventing baseball strategy. They’re doing what teams have always done when trying to get the most out of a roster – trying to put their players in the best possible position to succeed.

At its simplest, a platoon is when a team splits playing time at one position between two (or more) players based on matchups, most commonly pitcher handedness. Instead of one everyday starter, you might have a right-handed hitter who starts against left-handed pitching and a left-handed hitter who starts against right-handed pitching, with each player put in situations that play to their strengths. Most hitters (certainly not all) do better against pitchers of the opposite hand. They can track the ball better coming out of the pitcher’s hand, and the ball is coming into their swing zone, rather than away from it.

You can see how all MLB hitters have performed in 2026, broken down by platoon matchups.

Platooning has been embraced by analytics, but it is hardly new. Earl Weaver built a dynasty with the Orioles in the 1970s and frequently employed platoons, famously using the left-handed-hitting John Lowenstein and right-handed hitting Gary Roenicke in an outfield platoon. Whitey Herzog, perhaps the most successful manager in Royals history, was also a believer in platoons. When the team traded first baseman John Mayberry away after the 1977 season, Herzog filled the void with a left-handed hitting Pete LaCock and right-handed hitting John Wathan. Jay Jaffe at Fangraphs found that Herzog had the platoon advantage 68.7 percent of the time, the highest for any manager during his era.

More teams are using platoons to maximize offensive potential. The Royals may not be using platoons enough. A look at how often Royals hitters face opposite-handed pitching shows they are actually below league average in holding the platoon advantage.

And when they have the platoon advantage, they fare much better, even as compared to the league as a whole.

There are always going to be individual exceptions of course. And there is some evidence that a “hot hand” effect may be real, although a common baseball adage is “momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher.”

The Royals have precious little roster depth in the offense. Quatraro needs to squeeze every ounce of offensive potential as he can. That generally means putting hitters in the best position to succeed and giving them the platoon advantage.

As we all know, the Nationals badly need talented pitchers. After yesterday’s game, they called up one of the more promising arms in their system in Riley Cornelio. The 25 year old was the Nats 7th round pick in 2022 who broke out last season before taking another step this year. Now, he is getting a chance to prove himself in the big leagues.

Today, Cornelio will be part of a rotating cast of characters who combine with Miles Mikolas to give the Nats length. This plan worked perfectly last time the Nats utilized it. PJ Poulin opened before Mikolas fired four scoreless innings. After Mikolas left the game, Andrew Alvarez threw 4.1 scoreless innings of his own to secure a shut out for the Nats.

PJ Poulin will be the opener again tonight. Mikes Minolas and Riley Cornelio both available to pitch behind him.

— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) April 24, 2026

The hope is that the Nats can repeat the trick, this time with Cornelio. In my opinion, Cornelio is more talented than Alvarez and has a higher ceiling. He throws harder than Alvarez, sitting in the mid-90’s, while also having a really sharp slider to pair with his heater.

Over the last couple of years, Cornelio’s heater has taken massive strides. He added three ticks between 2024 and 2025, and added another tick this offseason. It is not just pure velocity for Cornelio either. He has a unique fastball shape that gets ride and run. This season, he has leaned heavily on his dynamic heater, throwing it over 60% of the time.

Riley Cornelio gets the call!

Cornelio has looked great in AAA, posting a 2.45 ERA, 2.93 FIP, and 38.0 K% across 18.1 IP while flashing a impressive fastball-slider combo. He profiles more as a reliever, but he will likely start his MLB career in the rotation

Congratulations! https://t.co/N3DNNL4KhCpic.twitter.com/CvPYqnOlse

— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) April 23, 2026

Before this season, Cornelio was more known for his wipeout slider than his heater. That devastating slider is still there, and it is a massive weapon for him particularly against right handed hitters. He throws the slider 45% of the time to righties, and gets a ton of whiffs. 

Cornelio has been racking up the strikeouts all season so far. In his four starts, Cornelio has 27 strikeouts in 18.1 innings. These kinds of strikeout numbers are new for Cornelio, who had 9.4 K.9 last year. This season he has raised that number to 13.25 K/9. 

The Nats are going to use Cornelio in a bulk relief role to start, but I would be intrigued by him as a higher leverage bullpen arm. He is basically a two pitch guy, only throwing his changeup 6.6% of the time. Having a shallow arsenal causes him to struggle when facing a lineup for a second or third time. I am also not sure how he would fare if teams stacked their lineup with left handed hitters.

He is far from a perfect prospect, but Cornelio has good stuff and solid command. The Nats have too many guys on the staff who just do not have dynamic stuff. Cornelio will at least provide that. He can get plenty of whiffs and has two pitches he can lean on.

Nats are calling up Riley Cornelio pic.twitter.com/YXNtVTB9VZ

— Kev (@klwoodjr) April 23, 2026

Hopefully Cornelio will stick around for a little while. I understand the logic, but it is frustrating to see guys like Andrew Alvarez and Orlando Ribalta demoted immediately after having good outings. Utilizing optionable arms is smart, but in this bullpen, I want to see more guys who look good. 

While he is not a mega-prospect, Riley Cornelio is a guy with plenty of helium who has taken massive steps the last couple of seasons. Last year we saw Brad Lord come out of seemingly nowhere, and I think Riley Cornelio can do something similar. Congrats to Riley and I can’t wait to see him pitch in the big leagues.

There weren’t many bright spots for the Phillies week or Tanner Banks. He carries a 5.59 ERA and is probably too on the current depth chart because of their injuries (more on this later).

But he put together a fun three pitch sequence to Seiya Suzuki for a called third strike.

He pinpointed an up and in cutter for a called strike, Suzuki sort of backed up a because of the movement.

JT calls for a fastball in, Suzuki looks ready for a fastball in but sometimes missing your spot can be a good thing. Thats what happens here and Banks gets a whiff.

It’s 0-2 and Banks has struggled to get right handed hitters out. He has allowed a .727 OPS against right handed hitters for his career.

Suzuki knows this, so it’s fair to assume Banks is looking for chase. Especially if the ball starts down, it’s probably going to be a backfoot sweeper right?

Nope.

The looking strikeout on a fastball down the middle is one of my favorite little things in the sport. It’s easy for anyone, from the brightest in the game to the casuals who watch a handful of games a year. They might all think “that was right down the middle”.

Bullpen injuries

While the offense has caught headlines and the starting rotation has struggled during their eight game losing streak, the bullpen injuries have begun hurting them. Zach Pop, Jonathan Bowlan, and Jhoan Duran are currently on the injured list.

Take that Banks game for example, he faced five straight right handed hitters at the top of the Cubs order because there aren’t many other options with the bullpen injuries.

On Sunday night against the Atlanta Braves, Andrew Painter can’t an out in the fifth so the club has to call on Tim Mayza, who signed a minor league deal during the off-season. Thomson leaves him in because of how thin the depth is and Ozzie Albies made them pay.

Or it’s just trying to come up with an opener for Taijuan Walker. They go with Kyle Backhus, so Craig Counsell moves Michael Busch down to the five hole to stack the top of the order with righties. They ended up scoring a first inning run.

Jonathan Bowlan could’ve played a key role in at least two of those games as a viable middle of the bullpen option for Thomson. Not having Jhoan Duran to close games out means that Brad Keller can’t even be considered until the 8th or 9th inning.

Rotation Depth

The Phillies released Taijuan Walker before Thursday’s finale against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley after he had an ERA over 9 in five appearances, either as a starter or as a bulk reliever to follow an opener. There is no clear-cut number six option at this point.

Alan Rangel is the most likely option at this point. He pitched in mop-up duty against the Cubs Wednesday night and looked serviceable. He got the fastball for strikes and showed off a promising changeup, even if the control of it was shaky. In three innings, Rangel struck out five and allowed only one run.

Rangel was also performing like the best Lehigh Valley IronPigs starter by a wide margin. There are a few notable other options because of previous MLB experience but there probably isn’t anyone to stabilize the fifth spot if required.

Jean Cabrera has an ERA over 9 with a 12.3% walk rate, Tucker Davidson and Bryse Wilson have ERA’s over 8, and Ryan Cusick is over 5. Unless things change quickly, Rangel is the clear frontrunner if a rotation need arises. It’s pretty bleak.

The bad weather continues for much of the minor league system and the records remain poor with the upper-level teams despite multiple standout players at all four levels. Fort Wayne had the best week, breaking even over their six games. El Paso has lots of pitching issues with multiple offensive players doing better than the pitchers.

Lake Elsinore Storm (8-9 record, 2nd in California League South)

With multiple new players coming into the system this season via draft and free agent/international signings, there are a handful that have distinguished themselves early in 2026.

RHP’s Jesus Castro and Carlos Medina, both from Mexico, are making themselves comfortable with Lake Elsinore. In their Low-A debut, Medina has a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts to one walk. Castro has started three games with 11.2 innings pitched with a 4.63 ERA and seven strikeouts to five walks.

LHP Kruz Schoolcraft has somewhat righted the ship after two disastrous starts. He started April 17 and completed three innings with four hits, one earned run, two walks and three strikeouts. His fastball sat 92-94 mph, up from his previous starts.

The two undrafted free agents signed by the Padres that are playing for the Storm have made a big impact so far. Infielder Bradley Frye has played in 15 games and 48 at-bats with a .417/.463/.563 line and 1.025 OPS. He has four doubles, a home run and 10 RBI. Not to be outdone, OF Conner Westenburg has played in 15 games with 49 at-bats with a .367/.426/.490 line and a .916 OPS. He has two doubles, two triples and 11 RBI. He has 10 out of 10 stolen bases, two more than OF Ryan Wideman.

Wideman, the third-round pick in the 2025 draft, is hitting .304/.388/.551 and .938 OPS with six doubles, a triple, three home runs and 18 RBI. Catcher Ty Harvey, the fifth-round pick in 2025, has a .353/.450/.471 line with a .921 OPS with two doubles and four RBI.

Not a bad start for many of the Padres new prospects.

Fort Wayne TinCaps (6-11 record, 6th in Midwest League East)

OF Jake Cunningham, who was drafted by Baltimore in 2023, signed with the Padres as a free agent in January of this year. He currently leads Fort Wayne with a .350 average, a .700 SLG and a 1.081 OPS. He has four home runs and six RBI with two stolen bases in 13 games and 40 at-bats. OF Kasen Wells leads the team with a .393 OBP with a .260 average and 11 walks, he has stolen three bases in four attempts.

OF Alex McCoy continues to smoke the ball with a .328/.355/.586 line and .941 OPS. He has six doubles, three home runs and nine RBI in 16 games and 58 at-bats. Both infielder Rosman Verdugo and C/1B/DH Lamar King Jr. have seven RBI each, with two and one homer respectively.

On the pitching side, LHP Kash Mayfield has a 0.00 ERA after three starts and 12 innings pitched. He has 16 strikeouts and five walks. Mayfield has dominated with his fastball/changeup combination as his command has been stellar so far. RHP Carson Montgomery, in his return from injury which kept him out all of last season, has two starts and eight innings pitched with a 2.25 ERA with seven strikeouts and four walks.

Reliever Clay Edmondson has two saves in his six games and seven innings pitched with a 1.29 ERA and nine strikeouts to three walks. Reliever Tucker Musgrove, on almost everyone’s watch list for this year, has had a rough start. He has appeared in three games for 2.2 innings with three runs allowed for a 10.13 ERA in the small sample. He has five strikeouts and three walks.

San Antonio Missions (5-12 record, 5th in Texas League South)

Free agent OF/1B Leandro Cedeño, 27, who spent a few seasons in the NPB before signing this past offseason, has played in seven games and 21 at-bats with a .381 average and .500 OBP. He has a double, two RBI and five walks. IF Carson Tucker, 24, was a highly regarded prospect (No. 1 pick) in the Guardians system who was released after suffering injuries that slowed his progress. He signed with the Padres in the offseason. In 12 games and 38 at-bats he has a .316/.381/.368 line and .749 OPS with a double, three RBI and 4-for-4 stolen bases. The strikeouts are high at 12 with four walks. A 33% K-rate needs to be watched.

Catcher Ethan Salas, working back into the mix after a lost 2025, has played in 13 games with 42 at-

bats and a .238/.304/.310 line and .614 OPS while getting back to himself behind the plate. He has a 25% caught stealing rate and has had no errors in 10 games caught.

RHP Eric Yost, who has both started and been in relief, has a 1.32 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched with 16 strikeouts and eight walks. RHP Miguel Mendez, who has flashed 100 mph fastballs this season, has a 1.42 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched in three starts. He has 14 strikeouts (26.9% K-rate) and six walks. RHP Francis Pena, who had a poor second half of 2025, has bounced back with 6.2 innings pitched in his five appearances with a 1.35 ERA and 10 strikeouts to nine walks. The high walk rate is concerning but his previous effectiveness seems to be returning.

El Paso Chihuahuas (10-13 record, 4th in Pacific Coast League East)

OF Carlos Rodriguez leads with a .300 batting average. IF Pablo Reyes is tops in OBP with .433 and OF Jase Bowen has a .636 SLG, .989 OPS and also leads with five home runs. Bowen also has a 26.3% K-rate with 22 strikeouts. IF Sung-Mun Song, who is hitting .293/.369/.320 with a .689 OPS also has 21 strikeouts in his 75 at-bats. Song has 12 RBI but only two XBH and nine walks. He has not attempted to steal any bases.

IF Jose Miranda leads the team with 16 RBI and is hitting .296/.321/.556 with a .877 OPS. The Padres depth both on the bench in San Diego and waiting to help, if needed, in El Paso is a vast improvement over many past seasons. Miranda has an opt out in June with his contract.

RHP Griffin Canning started on April 22 for El Paso but didn’t make it out of the second inning. He threw 45 pitches with 1.2 innings pitched and two runs with two walks. He currently has a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings pitched with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks. He must be activated by May 4.

LHP Yuki Matsui has had all one inning appearances so far with El Paso. He has 6.2 innings pitched over seven games and a 4.05 ERA with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Injured list

LHP Luis Gutierrez (San Antonio) and RHP Jeferson Villabona (Fort Wayne) were both placed on the IL on April 21.

A new stadium on the horizon — but can the Royals fix what’s happening on the field?

In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, hosts Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco break down the latest developments in the Kansas City Royals’ proposed stadium project at Crown Center, including funding structure, land control, and the broader implications for the team and the city. The discussion explores the pros and cons of the move, from economic impact and urban development to fan accessibility, public perception, and long-term franchise stability.

On the field, the conversation shifts to the Royals’ recent struggles, focusing on fundamental breakdowns, inconsistent execution, and questions surrounding coaching and preparation. Using insights from a recent Royals Review article, Jacob and Jeremy examine how issues like defensive lapses, bullpen inconsistency, and lineup construction may point to deeper systemic concerns rather than just player performance.

The hosts also analyze pitching trends, offensive flashes, and the fine margins in close games, emphasizing how discipline and attention to detail can define outcomes at the major league level. With a focus on accountability, communication, and development, the episode takes a critical but constructive look at what needs to change for the Royals to turn things around.

Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

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– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social

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– Podcast: @RoyalRundownPod

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (13-10) POSTPONED

Game One – lost 5-3 (BOX SCORE)

Pearson got the start in game one and went 2 innings allowing 1 run. The offense got on the board in the bottom of the first inning on an Alexander 2 run home run. The teams exchanged runs in the 5th inning. The Express got one in the 6th to tie it and the game went to extras. In the 8th, the Express scored two but the Sugar Land offense was quiet as they dropped game one 5-3.

Note: Nelson is hitting .333 in Triple-A.

• James Nelson, LF: 2-for-4, R, 2B, RBI
• CJ Alexander, RF: 2-for-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
• Kellen Strahm, CF: 1-for-3, R, 2B

• Nate Pearson, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
• Sam Carlson, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
• J.P. France, RHP: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
• Anthony Maldonado, RHP: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Game Two – lost 12-5 (BOX SCORE)

Ullola got the start in game two but struggled allowing 6 runs over 2.2 innings. The offense got 4 runs back in the 4th inning on a Biggers 2 run double, run on a wild pitch and Salazar RBI double. Sugar Land got another in the 6th on a Biggers solo HR. The Sugar Land pen struggled through allowing another 6 runs as they dropped game two 12-5.

Note: Biggers has 2 home runs this season.

• James Nelson, LF: 1-for-3, BB
• Jax Biggers, 2B: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
• Cesar Salazar, DH: 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB

• Miguel Ullola, RHP: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• Amos Willingham, RHP: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
• Jose Fleury, RHP: 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
• Hudson Leach, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Cesar Salazar, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

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AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (10-8) lost 3-0 (BOX SCORE)

Hicks got the start for the Hooks last night and went 5 innings allowing 3 runs while striking out 5. He was relieved by Mancini who was great striking out 7 over 3 perfect innings. Unfortunately the offense was quiet collecting just 3 hits as they were shutout in the 3-0 loss.

Note: Mancini has 14 K in 8.1 innings in Double-A.

• Joseph Sullivan, CF: 1-for-3, BB
• Luis Baez, LF: 1-for-4
• Garret Guillemette, 1B: 1-for-3

• James Hicks, RHP: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
• Joey Mancini, RHP: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

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A+: Asheville Tourists (5-13) won 7-6 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got off to a nice start picking up a run in the first on a Frey RBI double and then 4 runs in the second inning on a Schiavone grand slam. Hertzler got the start and pitched well striking out 8 over 4 scoreless innings. After the Drive got 3 in the 5th inning, Asheville got one back on a Walker sac fly. In the 8th, the Drive scored 3 more runs to tie it. The game went to extras and in the bottom of the 10th, Hernandez walked it off with sac fly.

Note: Hertzler has a 1.62 ERA this season.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 0-for-1, 2 R, 4 BB, 5 SB
• Jason Schiavone, C: 1-for-5, R, HR, 4 RBI
• Ethan Frey, DH: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB, SB
• Drew Brutcher, 1B: 1-for-4, BB
• Chase Call, LF: 1-for-4, 2 R, BB, SB
• Cesar Hernandez, RF: 0-for-3, RBI
• Kyle Walker, DB: 1-for-3, R, 2B, RBI
• Alberto Hernandez, 3B: 1-for-4, R

• Cole Hertzler, RHP: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
• Raimy Rodriguez, RHP: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 0 K
• Nate Wohlgemuth, RHP: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Colby Langford, LHP: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (WIN)

---

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (6-12) won 7-1 (BOX SCORE)

The Woodpeckers jumped out to an early lead scoring 4 runs in the first inning on a Sierra walk, 2 runs on an error and a Vasquez groundout. They got 2 more run the 2nd inning on Monistere and Sierra RBI doubles. Ochoa added a solo HR in the third inning. Perez got the start and was great striking out 7 over 6 innings allowing just 1 unearned run. Weber went the final 3 and struck out 6 as he closed out the 7-1 win.

Note: Perez has 26 K in 19 innings this season.

• Zach Cole, DH: 0-for-3, R, BB
• Josh Wakefield, CF: 1-for-2, 2 R, 2 BB, SB
• Nick Monistere, SS: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, SB
• Juan Sierra, RF: 1-for-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
• Nehomar Ochoa, 1B: 2-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB, SB

• Javier Perez, RHP: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (WIN)
• Charlie Weber, RHP: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (SAVE)

---

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: TBD – 7:05 CT

CC: Brandon McPherson – 7:05 CT

AV: TBD – 5:35 CT

FV: TBD – 6:05 CT

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Toronto Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement has been Mr. Consistent this season, picking up where he left off in October. 

He is sitting just one hit shy of the MLB hits lead, and I’ll bet on him closing the gap tonight with another big game at the plate against the Cleveland Guardians. 

Read on to see why in my Blue Jays vs. Guardians predictions and free MLB picks for April 24. 

Guardians vs Blue Jays predictions

Guardians vs Blue Jays best bet: Ernie Clement O 1.5 total bases (+120)

Ernie Clement has picked up where he left off last postseason, currently sitting one hit shy of the MLB lead, while averaging 1.75 bases per game so far this season 

He’s had multiple hits in four of his last five, averaging 2.8 bases per game in that stretch. 

Additionally, the pitching matchup favors Clement tonight. 

Cleveland Guardians starter Gavin Williams throws a heavy dose of the sweeper to right-handed batters, and it’s gotten him a lot of swing and miss this season. 

Clement has just a 17% whiff rate against the sweeper this season, with a .444 average against the pitch. 

Guardians vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

Nathan Lukes is starting to swing the bat well after a slow start to the season. He has a hit in four of his last five games with a 1.132 OPS in that stretch. 

Lastly, I’ll take Over 1.5 walks for Williams. The Cleveland starter ranks in the 13th percentile in walk rate, averaging 3.4 walks per game this season. The Jays' lineup as a whole owns a combined .410 OBP against him with five walks in just 34 at-bats. 

Guardians vs Blue Jays SGP

• Ernie Clement Over 1.5 bases
• Nathan Lukes Over 0.5 hits
• Gavin Williams Over 1.5 walks

img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"

Guardians vs Blue Jays home run pick: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+510)

I’ll make this a half-unit wager.

Firstly, if Lenyn Sosa gets a start today and a home-run market pops up for him, I’d sprinkle a little there. He leads the Jays in hard-hit rate and is 4-for-6 with two home runs against Williams in his career.

However, my official home run pick will be Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who owns a 1.319 OPS against Williams himself. 

It’s a good matchup for Guerrero, too, as Williams gives up a lot of hard contact with a 48.3% hard-hit rate, while ranking in the 7th percentile in average exit velocity. 

Additionally, Williams has given up one home run in four of his five starts this season. 

Guardians vs Blue Jays odds

• Moneyline: Cleveland -126 | Toronto +108
• Run line: Cleveland -1.5 (+124) | Toronto +1.5 (-160)
• Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)

Guardians vs Blue Jays trend

The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 11 of their last 15 games at home (+6.65 Units / 37% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Guardians vs Blue Jays and game info

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The Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants begin a three-game set tonight at Oracle Park, with the hosts looking to keep their winning ways alive.

However, my Marlins vs. Giants predictions have Miami coming away with the series opener, with Sandy Alcantara on the hill.

Read more for my MLB picks for Friday, April 24.

Who will win Marlins vs Giants today: Marlins moneyline (-108)

The Miami Marlins head into this one having won three of their last four contests, and when Sandy Alcantara is on the hill, they always have a chance to win. The righty has compiled a 2-2 record and 3.06 ERA this season, holding opponents to a .197 average.

While the San Francisco Giants did just take two out of three against the Los Angeles Dodgers, they scored only six runs in total, and the Giants were shut out in the rubber match. Alcantara allowed just two earned runs last time out.

Also, Adrian Houser has struggled immensely this season for San Fran. He owns a 5.40 ERA and a 0-2 record through four starts, with opponents batting .292. Miami has scored 18 runs across its last three road contests as well.

Marlins vs Giants Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 runs (-110)

Three of the last four meetings have cashed the Under, and San Fran just hit the Under in all three contests against the Dodgers at home. They’re 30th in runs scored and 29th in home runs. This offense isn’t thriving, and when Alcantara is on, he’s hard to hit.

While Houser’s 5.40 ERA is concerning, his FIP is sitting at 4.44. He has definitely struggled, but it’s not like getting lit up for six or seven runs each start.

That being said, he has allowed four earned runs in three straight, and the Marlins' offense is averaging 4.5 runs per game.

They will be the ones doing most of the scoring, but it won’t be a high-scoring affair. Miami’s bullpen, which has a 3.13 ERA, will also keep the Giants at bay after Alcantara departs.

Marlins vs Giants odds

• Moneyline: Marlins -112 | Giants -104
• Run line: Marlins -1.5 (+158) | Giants +1.5 (-192)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5  | Under 7.5 

Marlins vs Giants trend

The Miami Marlins have hit the Moneyline in 26 of their last 45 games (+9.05 Units / 16% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Marlins vs. Giants.

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Worcester: W, 10-4 (BOX SCORE)

No Payton Tolle, no problem. Alec Gamboa rolled to a six-strikeout performance that got messed up by a home run ball, but the bullpen held the Mets scoreless the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the WooSox may have stranded 11 men on the night, but they slammed the door through some explosive offense in the late innings, including a single by Nick Sogard to score two and advance a runner via a third Mets error on the night. The Red Sox may have gotten a bit fortunate, but it obviously takes an offense on top of opportunities to win by six runs.

Portland: W, 5-4 (F/10) (BOX SCORE)

No, you’re not seeing things. Yes, this is getting ridiculous now. Franklin Arias is still only 20, but there is no denying that, after the fourth game in a row with a home run against the Yard Goats (Rockies AA), and sixth in seven games, it’s time to see how the young infielder fares at the next level. In the game itself, Arias’ home run was instrumental; it tied it all up and clinched the Sea Dogs heading to extra innings where they’d later walk Hartford off via a Max Ferguson single. They may have gone 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position, but last night, that was good enough to pull away victorious.

Greenville: L, 6-7 (F/10) (BOX SCORE)

Fourteen strikeouts just wouldn’t be enough to keep Greenville from getting walked off in extras, even when the Drive drew ten walks. The Drive got most of their six runs off of a combination of these walks and the Tourists (Astros High-A) four errors on the night. With just three hits, this game shouldn’t have been even close, especially allowing four runs in the second inning as well as stranding ten runners on the night.

Salem: : L, W, 10-4 (BOX SCORE)

We go from a game that shouldn’t have been close to a game that wasn’t close. The RidgeYaks claimed an early lead by two home runs and never looked back with solid starting pitching from Dylan Brown. By the fourth inning, Salem was leading the Nationals 4-0, and the expected winning percentage never eclipsed back below 90 percent.

Nine is divine! It sure wasn’t pretty. But in the end, that doesn’t really matter. The Cubs won their ninth consecutive game. It’s April, and so the two teams the Cubs faced in those nine games understandably have two of the worst records in baseball. For kicks, I pulled up MLB.com’s preseason baseball predictions for 2026. Their pick for the NL East? The Mets. In other choices? The Phillies were listed first. Baseball America? The Mets first followed by the Phillies with both making their playoff prediction. Two of their 10 writers had the Mets in the World Series (at this point, kudos to their one who had the Braves there).

My point is that we don’t know that both teams are bad, though certainly both are in disarray. There’s a lot of baseball to be played. This stretch of wins isn’t nothing. And it also doesn’t guarantee anything for anyone. I do suspect there is some residual value to sweeping a seven-game homestand. That can create some swagger and intimidation for teams coming in later. Is that worth a lot? No. But I also don’t think it’s nothing. I do think a team draws on the things they’ve done before. This team will remember ultimately prevailing even after the Phillies came off of the mat and fought back.

Obviously, it isn’t great that Caleb Thielbar appears to have been injured. It does appear that all four of the anticipated leverage relievers from opening day are now all hurt. Add to that the loss of Cade Horton, arguably the team’s best starter, and it is a scary development. At least in terms of all of those relievers, we expect them all back at some point.

The Cubs have been winning largely on the back of a very productive offense and a very strong defense. You won’t be able to find one stretch of games for any team in the league than the Cubs did. It was so striking that the few times the defense did let down, it was very striking. The seventh inning of this game was almost that way. The bullpen hasn’t had to do much. But today, they didn’t answer the bell when the Cubs needed them. I’m going to imagine that continues to be something they struggle with as they head west for the first time.

The offense, though, was terrific throughout the series. They added 18 more hits on Friday. The Phillies and their fans are likely to wake in a cold sweat remembering just a sea of Cub runners seemingly in every single inning of the series. What’s that old phrase? Who leaves a lot of runners on base? Teams that get a lot of runners on base. By OPS, the Cubs are up to third in the league. By on-base percentage, they now rank first. This series was a lot of that.

The team is getting contributions from so many different players. The crazy thing is that the team shows at No. 1 for OBP. But Nico leads the team with the 25th best OBP. It doesn’t feel congruent. Until you look under the hood. Carson Kelly (.440), Seiya Suzuki (.449), Moisés Ballesteros (.439), and Michael Conforto (.452). None of them would qualify for a batting title. They are 7th, 10th, 9th and 12th in at bats for this team. This coaching staff is doing a good job of putting guys into a position where they can succeed. Right now, when this team spins the wheels on the slot machine, they keep winning.

It’s a lot of fun while it lasts. How about number 10 for good old Ron Santo? Leon Durham was my first love with that number, but in the hearts and minds of Cubs fans, that number is emblematic of the nine time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove and long time partner of Pat Hughes. I’m not old enough to have seen him play, but I do have a favorite piece of Ron Santo trivial knowledge. Ron’s best season by bWAR was in 1967. In a seven year stretch from 1963-1969, that was the only one in which he wasn’t an All-Star. It was also his best finish in MVP voting (fourth).

Three Positives:

• Seiya Suzuki was an absolute beast in this game. Three hits, two walks, a homer, and two runs scored.
• Michael Busch had only two hits, but he made the most of it with four runs driven in, including a crazy three-run homer off Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez.
• This game was really two different games. In the first six innings, the star was Edward Cabrera, who looked like he might go the distance. Your mileage may vary, but I’m going to tip the cap to his excellent six innings of work and not the weird seventh inning.

Hat top to Carson Kelly with two singles, a double and a hit by pitch as well as Moisés Ballesteros with two doubles in two chances. The offense was an abundance of riches.

Game 25, April 23: Cubs 8, Phillies 7 (16-9)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Michael Busch (.335). 2-6, HR, 4 RBI
• Hero: Seiya Suzuki (.326). 3-4, HR, 2 BB, RBI, 2 R
• Sidekick: Carson Kelly (.229). 3-5, 2B, HBP, 2 R

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Caleb Thielbar (-.429). 0 IP, 2 BF, H, BB, ER
• Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.199). 0-5, BB
• Kid: Jacob Webb (-.170). 0.1 IP, H, BB

WPA Play of the Game: Adolis Garcia homered off of Thielbar leading off the ninth inning to tie the game. (.341)

*Cubs Play of the Game: Seiya Suzuki’s homer leading off the bottom of the eighth inning. (.266)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 24 Winner: Alex Bregman got 80 of 170 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Nico Hoerner +8.5
• Carson Kelly +8
• Michael Conforto/Shōta Imanaga +7
• Matt Shaw -7
• Jacob Webb -10
• Pete Crow-Armstrong -13

Up Next: If I’m going to do a bit, I’ll keep running it until it runs out of steam. The Cubs are on a 103.7 win pace. If they play one over for the remainder of the season, they win 85 games. Not too shabby. But it gets tougher here. The two-time defending champion Dodgers are 17-8. Only the Braves have been better at 18-8.

Jameson Taillon (1-1, 3.97, 22.2 IP) makes his fifth start of the year. It’s been a mixed bag, but he’s coming off of a terrific start against the Mets (6 IP, 1 ER). We are firmly in the part of the season where the Dodgers start guys I’ve never heard of. 26-year-old Emmet Sheehan (2-0, 5.85, 20 IP) makes his fifth start. He’s also coming off of a pretty good start (2 ER, 5 IP in Colorado). The sixth-round pick of the Dodgers in 2021 (192nd overall) is 12-4 in his career with a 4.04 ERA in 153.2 IP (27 starts, five relief appearances). I’m not yet losing my mind, he’s never faced the Cubs.

Friendly reminder to all that the Dodgers just lost two to the Rockies, so not all is lost yet

Diamondbacks News

(AZ Central via Yahoo!) Diamondbacks’ Sewald folds in 9th as Benintendi blast lifts White Sox

Maybe once or twice a year, Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald said, he will have the sort of outing in which he isn’t sure where the ball is going — and where he has to resort to hoping opposing hitters hit line drives at someone.

“Today,” Sewald said on Thursday, April 23, “was one of those days.”

(Arizona Sports) Diamondbacks snap series winning streak to White Sox

The Arizona Diamondbacks lost their first series since the opening weekend of the season, dropping the finale to the Chicago White Sox 4-1 at Chase Field on Thursday.

The game was tied 1-1 entering the ninth inning, but Paul Sewald surrendered two walks before Chicago’s Andrew Benintendi crushed a middle-middle fastball deep to right field.

After scoring 11 runs in a win on Wednesday, Arizona failed to score multiple runs for the first time since April 3.

(SI.com) What D-backs’ Brutal Series Loss to White Sox Told Us — And What it Didn’t

Utility infielder Ildemaro Vargas has been on quite the hot streak to open the season, and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

Though no one can expect an OPS of 1.000-plus to continue for the duration of the season, Vargas’ efforts in this series certainly inspire confidence that he is capable of providing an offensive spark at the right moments.

He homered in his final at-bat of game one, then followed that up with back-to-back homers in game three, powering the D-backs to their lone win of the series.

(KJZZ) Ads for allegedly fake frozen yogurt company causing headaches for Diamondbacks, other MLB teams

There are ads throughout Chase Field, as there are throughout most MLB stadiums and arenas that house other sports.

But one ad, from one particular company, is causing headaches for the Arizona Diamondbacks and a few other sports franchises. And it happened to have a prominent spot at Chase Field during a memorable time in recent D-backs history.

Sam Blum is a staff writer at the Athletic covering Major League Baseball; he’s investigated this and joined The Show to talk more about it.

(AZ Family) Arizona Diamondbacks unveil redesigned specialty license plate

For those looking to jazz up their ride a bit.

MLB News

(MLB.com) With brain ‘on autopilot,’ Brazobán causes bullpen confusion in ninth

With his brain “on autopilot,” Brazobán forgot his instructions and reentered the playing field. Once he crossed the foul line, umpires ruled that Brazobán must face at least one batter, banishing Williams back to the bullpen. After taking a moment to refocus, Brazobán retired Austin Martin before giving way to Williams for the final two outs.

“I felt bad,” Brazobán said. “I was also a little bit embarrassed that I didn’t fully pay attention to what was going on. Sometimes when that happens, something bad can happen. But luckily I was able to go out there, get that out, and everything kind of went the way that it should have been by the end of it.”

(Sporting News) Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani batting struggles when pitching may force difficult Dave Roberts decision

On Wednesday night, Ohtani took the mound against the San Francisco Giants. This time, he was also in the lineup as a hitter. While he once again dominated as a pitcher, he struggled at the plate. His numbers when both pitching and hitting since his return suggest Roberts may need to make a difficult decision about using him as a designated hitter on those days.

“Shohei Ohtani’s on-base streak is in danger tonight. He is 0 for 3 with two weak ground outs and a K. Since resuming pitching last season, he has hit .203 (13 for 64) on days when he pitches,” Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett posted.

(CBC) Vancouver will actively pursue a Major League Baseball expansion team

Vancouver City Council has approved a motion to explore a bid for a Major League Baseball expansion team. But some sports experts say getting — and keeping — an MLB team would not be easy for a city with limited funds and space. (VIDEO)