After taking two of three from the Padres and enjoying an off day, the Dodgers now are in Milwaukee to start a three-game set with the Brewers.
Milwaukee leads the NL Central by 1.5 games over the Chicago Cubs. They have been winning games, but not by hitting a lot of home runs. They have the fewest homers of any team in MLB so far this season, with 33. Aside from the Tampa Bay Rays, the next three teams behind them all are at the bottoms of their divisions. They also have the fewest total extra base hits in the majors, and have the highest ground-ball rate in all of MLB.
They are doing it by getting men on base by taking their walks and putting balls in play. They have the fourth lowest strike out rate and are tied for third in on base percentage. Then once those batters are on base, they excel at steals and sacrifice bunts and have the fourth highest batting average as a team with runners in scoring position.
The Brewers are coming off a three-game sweep of their rival Chicago Cubs in Wrigley, taking the divisional lead. Their top three power hitters have missed significant time this season to injury, but all three, Christian Yelich, Jackson Churio and Andrew Vaughn, are back in the lineup.
Milwaukee also has a top-notch pitching staff, and the Dodgers are maybe lucky to be missing Jacob Misorowski in this series.
On Friday the Brewers will send Logan Henderson to the mound. Since returning from Triple-A, Henderson has allowed two or fewer runs and gone at least five innings in those three outings. Cumulatively he has struck out 20 and only walked two in those appearances also.
The Dodgers will counter with Justin Wrobleski, who has gone 4-0 on the road with a 1.50 ERA. He has gone at least six innings in his last six starts, including his last outing against the Angels in Anaheim. Wrobleski, who does not get a lot of swings as misses, is facing a team that as aforementioned, doesn’t strike out and puts a lot of ball in play.
With the off day, the Dodgers bullpen will be well rested. The Dodgers offense still isn’t putting up great offensive numbers consistently but still managed to take two of three in San Diego. The offense will have to keep battling in this series against the Brewers.
STREAKING THE WRONG WAY: The Cubs’ current five-game losing streak is their longest this season. Five also was their high last year, but it did not happen until Sept. 18-23. They have not lost at least six in a row since July 7-16, 2022, when they lost nine straight. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TOO MANY RUNS ALLOWED: The Cubs have allowed at least five runs in six straight games: five, eight, nine, nine, five and five. Six games also was their longest such streak of its kind last season, June 19-24. They went 1-5 then, as they are now. Their last longest streak was eight games, May 29-June 6, 2024. They went 3-5. Their longest streak of allowing at least five runs was 13 games, May 9-23, 1930. They had an 11-game streak, Aug. 31-Sept. 11, 2000, and 10 in a row, May 6-17, 1986. This is their 16th streak of at least six games since 2000. Seven ended at six games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
THE WALK WATCH: The Cubs’ 228 walks lead MLB. That’s an average of 4.56 walks per game. If they keep up that pace they would have 739 walks for the season, which would demolish the franchise record (656, set in 2016).
EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A GOOD HOBY: Hoby Milner, last 20 games since March 31: 1.29 ERA, 0.857 WHIP in 21 total innings.
Maybe we should just pretend Jameson Taillon’s last start didn’t happen.
Oh, you can’t do that. Right. So: Five home runs and eight runs given up to the White Sox. Don’t do that again, Jamo.
Taillon has also had some very good outings this year. So, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Last year in Houston, June 29, 2025, Taillon allowed the Astros two runs in 4.2 innings and struck out four. Which doesn’t sound too bad until I tell you that he threw 107 pitches in that game, which, yikes. Don’t do that again either.
Spencer Arrighetti made 29 starts for the Astros in 2024 (including one against the Cubs) and posted a 4.53 ERA. Then he was injured much of last year and made only seven starts for Houston with an even worse ERA (5.35).
Thus his 1.50 ERA in six starts this year has to be a bit of a surprise. He’s allowed one or no runs in five of those six starts.
No current Cub has more than four at-bats against him. Hope they have a good scouting report.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 18: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox bats against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 18, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Maddy Grassy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The White Sox spent a little bit in the offseason and acquired a fun player from Japan who has slugged the franchise back into relevance. As fun as it has been to see that the literal Pope of the Roman Catholic church is a White Sox fan, Munetaka Murakami’s fast rise in 2026 has dragged the Southsiders from embarrassing afterthought to a firm “on second thought” team and that alone makes this matchup feel cringe-inducing.
See, the Giants were supposed to be better than the Chicago White Sox. They’re supposed to be the better-run operation. Their player-turned-exec isn’t the one who should be getting grilled by AM radio hosts, it’s Chris Getz, the utility guy who hit .250 for his career then ditched his cleats for the front office, who should be having a tough time of things. He not only put together the 2024 & 2025 teams which combined for 223 losses, he was the exec in the offseason who couldn’t remember the handedness of a player he traded for — embarrassing… right?
And yet, his team has some heat. Not just from Vatican City, but across the country and in Japan. Game one of this three-game series is Friday Night at Oracle Park, which just so happens to be Japanese Heritage Night. Once again, the Giants don’t have a Japanese player on the roster, perhaps not for lack of effort, but they sure could use Munetaka Murakami in their lineup right now.
Here’s an extensive highlights package put together by MLB:
On the other hand, as Ben Clemens wrote for FanGraphs a month ago:
The book on Munetaka Murakami was pretty straightforward when he hit the market this winter. Phenomenal cosmic power – itty bitty contact rate. While acknowledging recent injuries, our writeup noted his contact rates against good velocity (63%) and secondary pitches (50%) as red flags in his profile. And these weren’t little red flags, either. […] “…if Murakami is only ever the quality of contact hitter we’ve seen the last three years, with no changes or improvements, he basically can’t be a good MLB hitter.”
In the 26 games since that post went up, the White Sox have gone 16-10 with Murakami hitting.253/.372/.526 in 113 plate appearances, boosted by 8 home runs and 2 doubles in 24 hits. His 18 walks and 38 strikeouts translate to a 15.9 BB% and 33.6 K%. On the season, he has 17 home runs and an 18.4 BB% paired with a 32.5 K%. That strikeout rate is currently 7th-worst in the sport behind the following players:
Hunter Goodman, COL — 36% (99 wRC+)
Garrett Mitchell, MIL — 35.9% (100 wRC+)
Oneil Cruz, PIT — 35.1% (115 wRC+)
Ian Happ, CHC — 33.0% (123 wRC+)
Kyle Schwarber, PHI — 32.9% (168 wRC+)
Spencer Torkelson, DET — 32.6% (95 wRC+)
I hope the takeaway is not that you can be a great hitter with a high strikeout rate, even as this list shows increasingly better hitters as the rate goes down. The 26-game sampling I just cited suggests that Murakami is trending in the direction the projection systems indicated given his numbers in Japan, too. No qualified hitter ended last season with a strikeout rate that high (Ryan McMahon had the worst with 32.1%) and only Zack Gelof in 2024 could “boast” something worse (34.4%). That walk rate is very competitive, though. It’s currently fourth-best in MLB behind Nick Kurtz (21.2%), Taylor Ward (21%), and Mike Trout (20.4%). His 17 home runs trail only Schwarber.
Why am I mentioning any of this?
Hmm… is it that I think the Giants missed out on signing a 26-year old slugger? Not exactly. I can certainly see the organization not wanting a player with lots of swing and miss in his game and I see that they’re willing to ignore the power potential to back up that belief (hello, Bryce Eldridge — or, rather, is it soon to be goodbye?) and I also acknowledge that 17 home run total might be closer to 8 or 9 playing in Oracle Park — though, it must be noted, the majority of his dingers have come on the road. And, it’s plausible that he’s going to regress to a mean ol’ mean pretty soon here given the spiking strikeout rate. But, just for a moment, it’s fun to imagine a team coming out of a rebuild led by a former player. Sounds nice.
Because how else have the White Sox gotten to the point of being above .500? Before he was the GM, Chris Getz was the team’s farm director. From his Wikipedia:
In 2014, Getz was hired by the Kansas City Royals as their assistant to player development. He worked with them until 2016 when he went to the Chicago White Sox as their director of player development from 2017 to 2020. There, he worked with many talented prospects like Luis Robert Jr., Yoán Moncada, Eloy Jiménez, Michael Kopech, Lucas Giolito, and Dylan Cease. The White Sox farm system was ranked as the best in the MLB in 2017. In 2021, White Sox promoted him as assistant General Manager to then-GM Rick Hahn. Following Hahn’s firing on August 22, 2023, Getz was promoted as the White Sox new Senior Vice President and GM on August 31
The current roster has his fingerprints all over it, both from player development and during a teardown that saw the franchise go 162-324 over three seasons.
C — Edgar Quero (acquired in deadline deal trading away Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez) 1B — Munetaka Murakami (signed in the offseason via the posting season, 2 years, $34 million) 2B — Chase Meidroth (acquired in deal for Garrett Crochet) SS — Colson Montgomery(1st round draft pick — #22 — in 2021) 3B — Miguel Vargas (acquired in 3-way with Dodgers & Cardinals for Michael Kopech & Erick Fedde) LF — Sam Antonacci (5th round draft pick in 2024) CF — Tristan Peters (acquired for cash considerations this offseason — was acquired by Giants in 2022) RF — Jarred Kelenic (signed as a free agent in the offseason) DH — Andrew Benentendi (the inherited bad contract — just one more season to go!)
Starting pitchers: Davis Martin (14th round draft pick in 2018), Sean Burke (3rd round in 2021), Anthony Kay (a pitcher I thought the Giants might’ve signed this offseason), Erick Fedde (signed him out of Korea and got the best season of his career in 2024), Noah Schultz (1st round draft pick — #26 — in 2022).
They also signed Seranthony Dominguez in the offseason to be their closer. It hasn’t gone well so far (6+ FIP), but the White Sox kept pushing even if the vision wasn’t quite clear. And from above I intend to illustrate that this is the road map the Giants have been chasing since 2017, just without those 100+-loss seasons as catalysts. Some of Chicago’s later round picks have paid off on top of trades and free agent pickups.
One of Getz’s other key moves was hiring Max Venable to be their manager starting last season. Max and Molly’s kid really wore it in year 1 of his deal (101 losses), but with Murakami and the fruition of some talent development, he’s off to a much better start in 2026. In Wednesday’s post-game wrap, Dave Flemming mused that Max Venable is the first major league manager that Duane Kuiper has ever changed the diapers of and that notion had Kuip feeling some kind of way. Max Venable’s name had been mentioned as a possible candidate going all the way back to the post-Bochy days, but here he is now wrangling another team trying to win its way back to relevance. Who’s got it better right now?
The Giants have lost 3 straight games and are just 7-12 in May with a -26 run differential. Their team 89 wRC+ puts them ahead of only the Mets and Rockies in MLB, but their team batting average of .244 puts them in a three-way tie with Arizona & Washington for top 1/3 of the league, so, who’s to say if they’re bad or not? The White Sox are hitting just .235 but have a 105 wRC+. They also have better pitching (3.8 fWAR to the Giants’ 2.3), but if you’re only looking at ERA then, sure, the Giants have it over Chicago with a 4.17 team ERA compared to Chicago’s 4.35. But if you’re only comparing batting average and ERA, please check the nearest calendar because you might have traveled back in time to some point in the 20th century.
Series overview
Who: San Francisco Giants (20-30) vs. Chicago White Sox (25-24) Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California When: Friday at 7:15pm PT, Saturday at 1:05pm PT, Sunday at 1:05pm PT National broadcasts: None.
Projected starters Friday: Davis Martin (RHP 6-1, 1.61 ERA) vs. Trevor McDonald (RHP 2-0, 2.37 ERA) Saturday: Erik Fedde (RHP 0-4, 4.30 ERA) vs. Adrian Houser (RHP 2-4, 5.25 ERA) Sunday: Noah Schultz (LHP 2-3, 4.93 ERA) vs. Robbie Ray (LHP 3-6, 4.28 ERA)
Players to watch
White Sox (besides Murakami)
Randal Grichuk: Here’s where this almost-Giant wound up in 2026. Well, first he was in the Yankees’ minor league system, then granted release, and then the White Sox got him. With three lefties in the Giants’ bullpen, it’s probable we’ll see him as a pinch hitter in this series as that’s been a big role for him in his 13 games. He’s 7-for-22 with 4 homers in this small sample size.
Jordan Hicks: Here’s where this former Giant wound up in 2026. The Red Sox wanted him off the roster enough to send cash, a prospect, and two players to be named later and all he’s done for the White Sox is continue his terrible slide into not being a major league-caliber pitcher. Having said that, don’t be surprised if he’s asked to get key outs in one of these games.
Giants
Victor Bericoto: As of this writing, it’s unclear who he’s replacing or what his role will be, but figure we’ll see him in this series at some point. The 24-year old left-handed batter has an .804 OPS in 186 PA for Sacramento this season.
Trevor McDonald: The Giants seem like they don’t want to send him down when Logan Webb becomes eligible to come off the IL, but it’s always worth checking out one of his starts.
Tony Vitello watch
With Eldridge and now Bericoto on the bench (presumably), might he turn to it a bit more often?
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MAY 14: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds runs to second base against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ball Park on May 14, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
By now you are all well aware of the quad issue that plagued Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz during the second half of the 2025 season. He rolled into the All Star Game having already hit 18 homers on the season, sporting a .495 slugging percentage and .854 OPS at the time.
During the season’s second “half,” or the final 65 games after the break, he swatted just 4 bombs, slugged just .363, and sported a meager .666 OPS. Clearly the leg was a problem despite him still playing each and every single day, and that was reflected in the decline in his sprint speed, too.
When he broke in during the 2023 season, he was at 30.5 feet per second – in the 100th percentile.
During his first full season in 2024 (when he swiped an MLB-best 67 bags), he was at 30.0 – once again in the 100th percentile.
During that 2025 season with the quad issue, though, he slipped a bit. He still ranked in the 91st percentile overall, but his speed was down to just 29.1.
The Elly we’ve seen so far in 2026 sure looks like he’s not dealing with any quad issues anymore. He’s hitting .290/.356/.525 (.881 OPS) through 50 games, and he’s already swatted 11 homers. Despite the spike in on-base percentage, he’s not nearly on the same pace when it comes to stealing bags, however – he has just 9 on 13 attempts, perhaps impacted by the fact that so many more of his hits so far this season have been of the extra-base variety than in previous years.
It’s not the decline in steals that jumps off the page to me, however. We know manager Terry Francona is much less inclined to push the issue on the bases than was David Bell, who managed during Elly’s league-best steals season in 2024. What’s puzzling to me is that despite Elly a) being 100% healthy this year, by all reports and b) having dealt with a pretty serious quad injury in 2025, he’s actually slower this year than he was last year.
It’s by a significant amount, too. So far in 2026, he’s averaging just 28.1 feet per second when sprinting, and that’s all the way down to the 74th percentile. That’s slower than Blake Dunn (30.0), Noelvi Marte (28.9), Will Benson (28.7), Matt McLain (28.6), and even Spencer Steer (28.3). Elly, who a blink ago was the fastest, most electric runner in the sport, is now just the 6th fastest player who’s donned a Reds uniform this season.
I’m not at all sure the origins of this decline. Perhaps it’s still just early season noise, and he’s just not had enough opportunities to motor to 1B on a weakly hit grounder on infield, or to try to score from 1B on a ball in play. Perhaps as the summer heat rolls in he’ll unleash a few faster runs and make this somewhat a moot point.
For now, though, it’s hard not to notice that despite still being just 24 years old and, reportedly, fully healthy, he’s slowed down pretty significantly even from his time playing hurt.
PORTLAND, ME - SEPTEMBER 05: Blake Wehunt #37 of the Portland Sea Dogs pitches during the game between the Erie SeaWolves and the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field on Friday, September 5, 2025 in Portland, Maine. (Photo by Ella Hannaford/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The Woo Sox used up all of their firepower in the first inning on Thursday night against the Red Wings (WAS). Anthony Siegler’s three-run double, and Allan Castro’s RBI single gave Worcester a 4-0 lead after one, before Rochester got the final nine runs.
Primarily a reliever, Jacob Webb got the start, allowing three runs in 2 ⅔ innings. The loss went to Devin Sweet, who gave up the go-ahead run in the fourth inning.
Castro and Tsung-Che Cheng had two hits for the Woo Sox, with Braiden Ward picking up his 23rd stolen base of the season.
Not sure in how much detail you may have looked at that box score, but yes that says 20 strikeouts in total underneath the Sea Dogs pitchers on Thursday. They were not playing a high school team, this was the double-A team from Reading (PHI), which has the same number of wins as Portland so far this season.
Blake Wehunt got things going by throwing five innings and getting the win, while striking out 11 batters. He did so in a nice and tidy 69 pitches, which seems mathematically impossible. Patrick Halligan was in relief of Wehunt, with all six of his outs retired coming via the strikeout. Cooper Adams got the save, striking out three more in two innings.
Though the Sea Dogs only had four hits in the victory, three of those came from shortstop Marvin Alcantara. Their lone run came in the bottom of the third, on a Nate Baez RBI groundout.
Each of the other two levels was postponed on Thursday, due to rain.
Greenville at Frederick will play a doubleheader beginning at 5:00 ET on Friday. Devin Futrell (2-0, 4.35 ERA) will throw the first game for the Drive.
Salem at Hill City will also play a Friday doubleheader, kicking off at 4:00. Leighton Finley (2-1, 4.05) gets the ball in game one for the RidgeYaks.
KANSAS CITY, MO - APRIL 22: Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro answers questions during a press conference before a MLB game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals on April 22, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Kansas City Royals are in midst of an awful streak, having lost 11 of their last 14 games. During the streak, the main culprit has been the offense, as they’ve scored 3.07 runs per game.
Unfortunately, this inability to score runs is also part of a season-long struggle to put together runs. On the year, they are scoring 3.88 runs per game, which ranks 28th out of the 30 Major League Baseball clubs. It is extremely difficult to consistently win baseball games when you can’t score, which is reflected in the Royals’ record of 20-30.
A particularly frustrating aspect of the Royals offense has been the baserunning. They have the fourth-lowest stolen base success rate in the league. They have made the fourth-most non-stolen base outs in the league. Overall, the Royals make outs on the bases at the third highest rate in the whole league.
On Tuesday, I was covering the game as a credentialed reporter. It was not a good contest, as the Royals were blown out by the Boston Red Sox. And, somewhat unsurprisingly, Kansas City made a pair of outs on the bases and once again struggled to score. At the end of every game, there is a postgame press conference with manager Matt Quatraro down in the media room outside the Royals clubhouse, and the bad offense and odorous baserunning would surely be topics of discussion.
They were. I recorded the interview, and I have some thoughts. Below is a majority of the interview that Q gave. Everything below is in sequential order, but I will note when I skipped a portion of the interview and what was talked about just for context.
After an initial inquiry about the pitching, we get to the first question about the offense.
Anne Rogers, MLB.com: Offensively you get the run in the first, but what kind of adjustments did they make with Suarez and then the bullpen shut you guys down later?
Quatraro: I thought our bats against Suarez were good. I mean, he was at 70-something pitches after four innings. I mean, the guys didn’t expand with him. They laid off some tough pitches. Obviously he puts the ball on the ground. That’s what he does really well. But as far as the competitiveness of those at bats and what the guys got him out of there in the fifth inning, it was working pretty good.
Immediately afterwards, we get into a lengthy discussion about baserunning:
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star: Can you take us through just some of the base running today, particularly Maikel Garcia in the fifth inning and then Lane Thomas later in the game?
Quatraro: Yeah. Well, I mean, start with Lane in the first inning, the hustle double getting to second base, setting up a second and third situation there. So that was a positive from him going hard out of the box. He’s got a green light to steal and in a situation where obviously we’re struggling to score runs, that’s a split second from being him standing up on third. The guy held the ball a split second longer and got us. So that was a tough break there. And Maikel reads the high throw out of the guy’s hand, he launched the throw and the catcher did a good job of throwing him out at second.
Rogers: Just to be clear, you do like that aggressiveness from Garcia going to second?
Quatraro: Yeah. When you read a throw like that, I mean that’s what everybody’s taught to do. You read that throw launch out of his hand like that, you go.
Rogers: I think metrically that you guys grade out pretty well baserunning this year in terms of extra bases taken and some of the stolen bases, but do you feel like those, I don’t know if you’d call those two mistakes tonight. Do you feel like they’re magnified more when you’re not scoring?
Quatraro: Sure. And at the same time you have to try to create some things when you’re struggling to score a run. So with every opportunity there’s also a chance to be thrown out and it feels bad when it doesn’t work out. But at the same time, like I said, like you accentuate the one in the first inning if we come through there and put up a crooked number or maybe the game has a totally different complexion. But yeah, I’m not going to sit here and tell you it doesn’t hurt when it doesn’t work out your way. But at the same time, if you’re trying to be aggressive and make some things, create some opportunities for yourselves on the bases, you got to do that.
Kurtis Seaboldt, 810 Sports: From a philosophical standpoint, can you be too aggressive on the base paths? What would that be?
Quatraro: Yeah, sure. I mean, if you’re just running without any regard for the game situation and those kinds of things, but yeah, for sure.
After some questions about the defense, the umpire review, and some more pitching, we got back to the offense.
Rogers: Just offensively, I know you guys are searching for answers searching for consistency. Where do you think that lies in terms of: Is it approach? Is it the mentality? Is it the personnel? I mean, where do you feel like the answer could be?
Quatraro: Well, I don’t know if there’s one answer. I think the mentality is good. I mean these guys are preparing, their execution, thoughts about the game plan and the approach are really solid. They’re competitive. These guys are between every at bat trying to make adjustments. Unfortunately it hasn’t stacked together. For 10 days, two weeks we were trending pretty good there offensively and then this last week’s been rougher and it’s been a grind, but I mean these guys are good players and with the ability to bounce back and that’s what we’re counting on.
Seaboldt: You’re around the major league average in almost every offensive category with the exception of runs scored. Is that a situation where if those other numbers stay there, the runs will eventually come. It really seems like it’s something you really can’t address.
Quatraro: Yeah. I mean I’m glad you brought that up because yeah, we look at that stuff all the time and even the underlying numbers as far as hard hit and those kinds of things, they are there and it’s just a matter of—I hate saying that just because it’s not that easy, but you know, cashing in some of those opportunities, we talk about that a lot in here, right? You got to give yourself the opportunity first and then you have to figure out how to put that best at bat together when you have it.
And finally, not pleased with Quatraro’s answers so far and wanting to push for a real answer, I asked again about the baserunning at the end of the presser.
Matt LaMar, Royals Review: You mentioned the hustle double earlier. A large part of the attitude of the team is aggression, but the Royals are third in the league in total outs on the bases this year. How do you sort of reconcile with ‘we want to be aggressive’ versus ‘we’re making a lot of outs on the base paths when maybe we don’t have to?’
Quatraro: Yeah. I mean, again, I think not all of those are going to be equal, right? Because some of them are talking about stolen base opportunities. Some of them are talking about things like tonight where the aggressiveness is warranted and some of them were much earlier in the season as well. We need to create opportunities. So we have to try to do things like that because we’re not hitting a bunch of homers. Our offense has to be predicated on some of the aggressiveness on the bases and sometimes you’re going to make those outs.
Thoughts on the interview
The Royals have played poorly all year. They are objectively a poor offense and were an objectively a poor offense last year, when their 4.02 runs per game ranked 26th in MLB. They have objectively ran into a high rate of outs on the basepaths. Their run differential lines up with their actual win-loss record. And they’ve done this while the vast majority of the team has stayed healthy.
All of this is important context, because there is a big underlying question here: why are the Royals bad? What is their plan to improve it? And what do they think about all of this? These are, ultimately, the queries that Quatraro—and by extension the front office, who are in lockstep with Quatraro on important decisions—was posed on Tuesday.
And I don’t know about you, but I get a distinct vibe from Q’s answers, and that vibe is “Yeah, bad things are happening to the Royals in these games, but it’ll all turn around eventually.” This is an extraordinarily frustrating position for the team to take because it feels like an abdication of responsibility. Nowhere in the press conference did Quatraro say that something was a mistake or that the Royals players or coaching need to do better.
From a baserunning perspective, this is clearest in his talk of aggression—that the Royals need to be aggressive and that outs on the bases just happen when you’re aggressive. When I specifically mentioned that the Royals have the third most outs made on the bases, Q brushed it off because “not all of those are going to be equal” and “sometimes you’re going to make those outs.” And from a batting perspective, Q lauded the team’s mentality, preparation, and execution.
But something just doesn’t add up. Bad teams don’t become bad on accident, and yet it feels like the Royals aren’t really convinced that they’re even bad at the things they’re bad at. It would be very, very easy for Quatraro to say something like this about the baserunning: “We want to stay aggressive. It’s part of our identity. But we need to be better at execution.” It’s easy to say about the offense: “Our underlying metrics look good, but at some point you have to perform and we didn’t do that.”
There just seems to be a huge disconnect going on between what the Royals see themselves as and what they are. I worry that the organization operates with too much faith in its own process and too much fear in making a change. Would moving Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen into the top four spots in the lineup really move the needle? Maybe, maybe not. Would firing Matt Quatraro or Alec Zumwalt really result in better coaching or preparation? Maybe, maybe not. But you’re rapidly approaching the point where the risk for an awful lot of moves is vastly outweighed by the potential reward, and the worst thing the Royals can do right now is nothing.
Get ready for the weekend with a trio of NRFI/YRFI bets for Friday, May 22!
My top MLB picks call for a low-scoring first frame between the Cleveland Guardians and Philadelphia Phillies, with the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels also blanking the first inning to wrap up my betting card.
Williams has held opposing hitters to a .222 batting average while tossing a scoreless first inning in seven of 10 starts, and it’s been a similar story for Sanchez. The southpaw has pitched a scoreless first in eight of 10 starts with a 2.70 ERA.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBCSP, CLEG
Mariners at Royals: NRFI (-121)
The Kansas City Royals have scored in the opening inning in just 24% of their games, tied for sixth-lowest in the majors.
Although Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert has been hit for a 1.045 OPS in the first inning, he posted a .645 mark in 2025, making this a great spot for the righty to flip the early script.
Seattle also ranks 29th in wOBA against left-handed starters, and Royals southpaw Noah Cameron has fired a scoreless first inning in six of eight starts.
Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ROYL, SEAM
Team at Team: Rangers at Angels: NRFI (-127)
While it might be asking a lot to back Los Angeles Angels right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, the Texas Rangers have scored in the first inning at the eighth-lowest rate in baseball this season. Rodriguez also held the Los Angeles Dodgers scoreless in the first inning in his season debut last time out.
Rangers righty Jacob deGrom is also due for some statistical correction in the opening frame. He’s allowed four first-inning home runs with a 1.010 OPS, but considering he’s surrendered just 10 total homers and a .625 OPS overall, those early struggles should start to subside.
Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
Where to watch: ABTV, CW33
Neil Parker's 2026 Transparency Record
NRFI/YRFI picks: 6-10, -4.27 units
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.
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.
There’s a potential playoff lookahead as two of the best teams in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers, begin a three-game weekend series on Friday.
With two effective hurlers on the mound in Justin Wrobleski and Logan Henderson, my Dodgers vs. Brewers predictions envision a low-scoring contest.
Read on for my full analysis and MLB picks for Friday, May 22.
Who will win Dodgers vs Brewers today: Dodgers (-106)
Justin Wrobleski has experienced a breakout start, notching two more wins (6) than any other hurler on the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a single loss to show for it. He carries a 2.49 ERA and 1.03 WHIP while avoiding walks (5.9% BB%) and home runs (0.36 HR/9).
The Milwaukee Brewers have struggled to hit southpaws all season, ranking 26th in wRC+ (78) and 27th in wOBA (.283).
That contrasts greatly with L.A.’s numbers against righties — second in both wRC+ (120) and wOBA (.345) — so the edge goes to the Boys in Blue.
COVERS INTEL:Milwaukee’s struggles against LHP are backed up by their poor batted ball metrics. Its lineup hits soft grounders (first in groundball rate, 26th in hard-hit rate) and rarely goes deep (28th in HR/FB).
Dodgers vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-110)
It’ll be cold (56 degrees) and windy (11 mph blowing in toward first base) day at American Family Field, which already has the sixth-lowest Park Factor (97) of any venue.
That’s pitching weather if I’ve ever seen it, and it’ll benefit two effective starters.
Logan Henderson is a budding star, notching a 2.49 ERA across his first nine starts. That’s supported by a 114 Pitching+ and a robust 26.5% K-BB% that would rank second among qualified starters.
These are the top two bullpens in FIP this month (Milwaukee 2.36, LA 2.45), and both are well-rested after Thursday’s off day.
J.D. Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 14-16, -6.53 units
Over/Under bets: 23-8, +14.64 units
Dodgers vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Los Angeles -103 | Milwaukee -107
Run line: Los Angeles -1.5 (+152) | Milwaukee +1.5 (-168)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-103) | Under 8.5 (-107)
Dodgers vs Brewers trend
The Dodgers have cashed the Under in five of Justin Wrobleski’s seven starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Brewers.
How to watch Dodgers vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Friday, May 22, 2026
First pitch
7:40 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet LA, Brewers.TV
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (6-1, 2.49 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Logan Henderson (1-1, 3.50 ERA)
Dodgers vs Brewers latest injuries
Dodgers vs Brewers 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.
NEW YORK - CIRCA 1987: Tommy John #25 of the New York Yankees poses for this portrait prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game circa 1987 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. John played for the Yankees from 1979-82 and 1986-89. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the baseball canon, Tommy John’s name gets used with more frequency and gravity than almost any one else’s. Unlike some of the other cemented names in the game’s history, John’s recognition comes largely from reasons outside of his play. Now, this does make sense, given the importance of the surgery that bears his name, but it’s also perhaps a bit unfair, as the left-hander was a very good, and sometimes great, pitcher in the big leagues for the better part of three decades.
A four-time All-Star who enjoyed a run of particular run of excellence in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, John made his mark on and off the field, as a monument of longevity, and of course, providing the name to the procedure that forever changed the game.
Tommy John Born: May 22, 1943 (Terre Haute, IN) Yankees Tenure: 1979-82, 1986-89
Born in Indiana in 1943, Thomas Edward John would be pitching in the Major Leagues 46 years later, taking a route that was anything but straightforward.
He made his big league debut back in 1963 with Cleveland, as a spry 20-year-old. The lefty spent two decent-but-brief seasons in Cleveland, before being shipped to the South Side of Chicago in a three-team trade. He had his first great season with the White Sox in ‘68, when he managed a sub-2 ERA and made his first All-Star team.
Prior to the 1972 season, Tommy John was traded to the Dodgers in as high-profile a one-for-one trade as you will see, sent in exchange for Dick Allen. Allen immediately went and won the MVP award in ‘72, but John did his best to match it, entering the best and most significant stretch of his career. His first two seasons in L.A. saw him pitch over 400 combined innings with a neat and tidy 3.00 ERA.
While John had already established himself as a reliable and highly effective starter, his fame would skyrocket for the wrong reasons in the mid-’70s. After an excellent start to the 1974 campaign, the lefty had to leave mid-game in a July start against the Expos. John heard a pop and had significant pain in his throwing elbow; he would not return for the rest of the season. An external doctor told John that it was a career-ending injury, having torn his UCL, though Dodgers’ team doctor Frank Jobe had different plans. He performed the now universally known and eponymous reconstructive surgery, using a tendon from John’s wrist and placing it in his throwing elbow. It was a leap of faith, with the procedure never being done on an athlete, but it was a resounding success. John missed all of the ‘75 season, but ultimately returned, pitching 14 more seasons following the procedure, and of course, paving the way for thousands of other hurlers.
Following the famed procedure, the veteran starter returned for his age-33 season, and was just as good as ever. In fact, it would mark the beginning of the finest stretch of his career. The lefty pitched three more seasons with the Dodgers, working well over 200 innings in each, finishing second in Cy Young voting in ‘77, and making another All-Star team during that stretch. Following another excellent run in 1978, the 15-year veteran hit free agency for the first time, when he signed a three-year deal with the Yankees.
Upon arrival, the impact John had was immediately clear. In 1979, He set a career high with 276.1 innings pitched, doing so at a very high level, managing a sub-3 ERA, notching his first 20-win campaign, and once again finishing second in Cy Young voting. Now several years removed from his revolutionary surgery, the doubt that shadowed him was rightfully subdued.
When the 1980s rolled around, John had entered his late-30s, but he remained near the top of his game. He tossed a whopping 265.1 innings, he won another 22 games, and made his fourth (and third consecutive) All-Star team. In 1981, despite his medical history and 40th birthday beginning to knock on the door, John continued to deal. Although he pitched in just 140.1 innings, thanks to a strike and a frightening medical scare with one of his sons, it was one of his best seasons from a run prevention standpoint, posting a 2.63 ERA in the shortened campaign.
During his initial stretch in New York, he did his part in the postseason as well, particularly in 1981. That year, he was the winning pitcher in Game 1 of the ALCS, stymieing the A’s with six innings of one-run ball. Then in Game 2 of the World Series against the Dodgers that season, John tossed seven shutout frames and did not allow a baserunner to reach until the fifth inning.
Tommy John was traded to the Angels in August of 1982, and despite being 39 at the time, he still had plenty of baseball ahead of him. He pitched in parts of four seasons for the Angels, not quite meeting his standards of performance, but continuing to pitch plenty of innings. After a brief and disappointing finish to the ‘85 season with Oakland, John once again defied the odds and continued to pitch for four more seasons after.
All of this time came in a return to the Yankees. He even posted a sub-3 ERA in over 70 innings in ‘86, and tossed 187.2 innings a year later at the age of 44. Tommy John would pitch his final game at 46-years-old in the 1989 season with New York.
Tommy John’s career and legacy in the baseball world is as significant as some of the biggest names in the game. While that may be primarily for reasons aside from his playing ability, the lefty was a terrific pitcher, and was generally as durable as they come for multiple decades. His eponymous surgery is certainly vital to baseball history, but John should also be remembered as an excellent pitcher, who pitched more than 4,700 Major League innings.
Here’s to a happy 83rd birthday to one of baseball’s biggest names!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
NEW YORK — New York Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham was relieved that tests did not reveal any structural damage to his left knee a day after he exited a game in the fifth inning.
“Last night I was pretty optimistic just with how I was feeling there would be no structural damage but still good to get the news,” Grisham said before the Yankees concluded a four-game series against Toronto.
Grisham grimaced at second base after his bloop double fell between left fielder Yohendrick Piñango and third baseman Kazuma Okamoto in the second inning Wednesday of a 2-1 loss.
The 29-year-old remained in the game until Spencer Jones replaced him in center in the fifth. Jones made his second start in center Thursday after playing 22 games there for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Grisham is hitting .174 with six homers and 27 RBIs. While his batting average is the fourth-lowest in the majors among qualifying hitters, Grisham has the third-most RBIs among center fielders.
Acquired from the Padres in December of 2023 along with Juan Soto, Grisham returned to the Yankees on the one-year, $22,025,000 qualifying offer in the offseason after batting .235 with a career-high 34 homers and 74 RBIs in 143 games.
Tony Bernazard had three hits in a 7-3 win on this day, 44 years ago — a victory that gave the White Sox the best record in baseball. | (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
1926 With a single in his first at-bat, Earl Sheely ran his hot streak to 10-of-13, one of just seven such stretches in White Sox history. Of his 10 hits, Sheely had four singles, five doubles and a home run.
1928 Center fielder Johnny Mostil tied former White Sox center fielder Happy Felsch with an AL-record 12 chances in a 4-3 win against Cleveland. Mostil took advantage of a cavernous Comiskey Park center field to grab 10 fly balls (including all three outs in the top of the third) in the game. Mostil also initiated an inning-ending double play in the top of the sixth, snagging a liner off the bat of Luke Sewell.
As if scampering deep to center and into left and right field for fly balls wasn’t enough of a testament to Mostil’s speed and quicks, he also scored the eventual winning run on a wild pitch by George Uhle — from second base!
Mostil had three hits on the day, scoring two runs.
1938 Ted Lyons beat the Senators, 9-2, for his 200th career win. The future Hall-of-Famer would earn 60 more victories before his career was done. Despite this milestone in 1938, other counting stats failed the legend, as his 9-11 record and seemingly-high 3.70 ERA (nope, he had a 134 ERA+) for a putrid, 65-83-1 White Sox club saw Lyons get his $10,000 salary slashed by 10% in 1939!
1977 Richie Zisk became only the second White Sox player in history to hit a home run into the center field bleachers at Comiskey Park, joining Dick Allen (1972). Zisk’s blast off Detroit’s Dave Rozema in the eighth inning didn’t help the Sox win, however — they got beat, 14-3, despite slapping out 12 hits in the game. The blow was the fifth-ever hit into Comiskey’s center field bleachers, over the ballpark’s 67 years.
1982 A 7-3 win against Cleveland raised Chicago’s record to 26-12 — best in all of baseball. The win also moved the White Sox one game up in the AL West race, breaking a tie with California.
The victors struck for four in the bottom of the first inning, and by end the of five frames were ahead, 7-2. Tony Bernazard and Greg Luzinski both rapped out three hits in the game, while Harold Baines went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs. Steve Trout went 5 1/3 innings for the win, while Jerry Koosman worked 2 2/3 for the save.
1990 White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk struck a blow for traditionalists.
Fisk got into a verbal exchange with Yankees outfielder Deion Sanders after the two-sport star drew a dollar sign in the batter’s box before an at-bat at Yankee Stadium, and then failed to run out a pop-up. Fisk followed Sanders back to the Yankee dugout while shouting, “Run the ball out, you piece of shit.”
The next time Sanders came up to bat, he said something to Fisk. Carlton started to go after him when home plate umpire John Hirschbeck intervened.
Fiskwas asked after the game what else he said to Sanders: “‘There is a right way and a wrong way to play this game,’” he said. “‘You’re playing it the wrong way. And the rest of us don’t like it. Someday, you’re going to get this game shoved right down your throat.’”
2019 It was a night of firsts for the White Sox, in a 9-4 win over the Astros. Things started off in the third inning, when Houston had runners on first and second with nobody out. Jake Marisnick hit a shot down to third base. Yoán Moncada fielded it and stepped on third for the out, fired to second baseman Yolmer Sánchez for out No. 2, and Sánchez relayed the ball to first baseman José Abreu just in time to nip Marisnick for a triple play. (One day short of the fourth anniversary of the triple play, Marisnick was designated for assignment off of the White Sox roster.)
Then with the Sox up, 4-3, in the sixth inning, outfielder Charlie Tilson launched a grand slam into the right-field seats. It was Tilson’s first big-league home run, and became the first time in franchise history the Sox had both a grand slam and a triple play in the same game — and only the fourth time in 40 years that had happened in all of baseball!
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Athletics outfielder Denzel Clarke was returned from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas because of a “significant left hamstring strain” and will be sidelined at least through the All-Star break, according to the team.
He has returned to Sacramento to continue his rehab after an MRI confirmed a high-grade strain. Clarke will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break in July.
Clarke was on a rehab assignment for a right foot bone bruise that forced him onto the 10-day injured list on April 22. The 26-year-old Canadian missed significant time last year as a rookie because of an adductor strain.
In 22 games for the Athletics this season, Clarke is hitting .170 with no homers, six RBIs, one double and two stolen bases.
The Chicago White Sox head to the Bay Area tonight to begin a three-game series with the San Francisco Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 10:15 p.m. ET at Oracle Park.
With an intriguing pitching matchup, my White Sox vs. Giants predictions see value in the Under.
Who will win White Sox vs Giants today: White Sox moneyline (-108)
The Chicago White Sox send their ace to the mound tonight in Davis Martin. He's dominated this year, compiling a 1.61 ERA and 6-1 record through nine starts.
Martin has also been solid on the road, sporting a 1.95 ERA. He's up against a San Francisco Giants team that is 30th in runs scored and has lost three straight.
Chicago has also won three of the last four meetings against the Giants. The hosts hand Trevor McDonald the ball, and he's allowed six earned runs at home across his last two outings.
COVERS INTEL: The Giants are 20th in wRC+ in May, sitting at 92.
White Sox vs Giants Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-125)
While McDonald hasn't been at his best at Oracle Park lately, he does have a very respectable 2.37 ERA overall through three starts.
The right-hander has shown the ability to get outs on a consistent basis, and the White Sox aren't exactly thriving at the dish lately,scoring just six runs across their previous series with the Mariners.
Martin, meanwhile, can't do much wrong, giving up two earned runs or fewer ever since his season debut on March 30.
He is lights-out, and the Giants have struggled immensely all year to muster up any offense. Also, four of the last five meetings have hit the Under.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 15-11, +4.72 units
Over/Under bets: 15-11, +2.09 units
White Sox vs Giants odds
Moneyline: White Sox -104 | Giants -100
Run line: White Sox -1.5 (+148) | Giants +1.5 (-192)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-101) | Under 7.5 (-127)
White Sox vs Giants trend
The White Sox have hit the moneyline in 19 of their last 30 games (+10.25 Units / 33% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Giants.
How to watch White Sox vs Giants and game info
Location
Oracle Park, San Francisco, CA
Date
Friday, May 22, 2026
First pitch
10:15 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, NBC Sports Bay Area
White Sox starting pitcher
Davis Martin (6-1, 1.61 ERA)
Giants starting pitcher
Trevor McDonald (2-0, 2.37 ERA)
White Sox vs Giants latest injuries
White Sox vs Giants 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.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 15, 2024: Yohandy Morales #35 of the Washington Nationals runs out a single during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 15, 2024 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Nationals’ farm system has been in the limelight for the past two months, with plenty of lower-level talent already emerging as legitimate prospects. For a franchise that continues to look toward the future, the recent developments have been nothing short of incredibly encouraging.
With all of the hype surrounding prospects still in the early stages of their development, little has been said about players who could see a promotion to the MLB club and make an impact in the near future. The slow start of offseason trade acquisition, catcher Harry Ford (MLB.com #6), hasn’t done much to change that narrative.
One player, however, has been lighting up AAA pitching, and could give Washington some much-needed reinforcements if his play continues to dazzle. You won’t find 24-year-old corner infielder Yohandy Morales on any Top-10 prospect lists, and many don’t even have him in the organization’s Top 20. A middling hit tool has long forced scouts to question his future at the big league level, and he’s remained an afterthought in a rising system. That could soon be coming to an end.
Yohandy Morales is having a tremendous season at Triple-A. Not sure what he has to do to get as hot in the majors.
Hit his 10th HR tonight. He's hitting over .350 with a 1.024 OPS. Plays the position Brady House just left vacant. pic.twitter.com/EpSd98EDEu
Through 45 games with the Rochester Red Wings so far in 2026, the right-hander is slashing a downright absurd .344/.425/.592/1.017, smashing 10 long balls and driving in 27 runs. He’s hitting the ball hard as much as anyone in the minor leagues, with his Average Exit Velocity, Max EV, 50th% EV, 90th% EV, and Hard-Hit% all landing in the 90th percentile or higher. The whiffs continue to be a problem, but even his swing decisions, a visible weakness in his game that led to 164 punchouts in 2025, have improved in recent weeks.
Critics of a potential promotion point to the largest concern with his game: he simply swings and misses too often, especially on pitches in the zone. His Zone-Contact% is a measly 75.48%, good for just the 20th percentile, and the one fix that batters point to for overcoming said issues, a high Pull-Air%, is nowhere to be found as he’s posting an abysmal 11th percentile mark.
The pathway to playing time is easily visible, with Jorbit Vivas struggling to provide anything in the way of offensive production in his at-bats. Morales has fantastic raw power, and the possibility of injecting that type of life into the Nationals’ lineup may be too appealing for the front office to ignore for much longer.
I asked Paul Toboni about Yohandy Morales. Toboni said the key for him is to stay consistent and says good things will happen for him if he keeps this up
No one should be expecting Morales to light the world on fire if he does indeed get the call to the majors, but his performance continues to make the decision to keep him in AAA more difficult to support.
Only time will tell, but the Puerto Rican slugger could find his way to Washington in the near, if not immediate, future.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Cole Hertzler #35 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during the fifth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (20-28) lost 8-2 (BOX SCORE)
Alexander got the scoring started with a solo home run in the 2nd inning. Pecko got the start for Sugar Land but struggled allowing 6 runs over 4 innings of work. He was relieved by VanWey who allowed 2 runs. Sugar Land got one run in the 9th on a sac fly but that was it as they fell 8-2.
Sam Carlson, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (19-23) lost 13-1 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning on a Holy leadoff home run. Hicks got the start and started off well but ran into some trouble allowing 8 runs, 7 earned, over 5 innings of work. Hader allowed a run in relief and Cuevas allowed 4 runs in the 9th. The offense was quiet the rest of the way as the Hooks fell 13-1.
Hertzler got the start in game one and was dominant tossing 6 innings allowing 1 run while striking out 9 batters. The offense got not the board in the 5th inning scoring a run on a Walker bases loaded walk. In the bottom of the 7th, the Hot Rods walked it off with a home run as Asheville dropped game one 2-1.
Note: Hertzler has 49 K in 30.1 innings this season.
Santos got the start in game two but had a tough outing allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, over 4 innings of work. He was relieved by Rodriguez who allowed 3 runs, 1 earned, over 2 innings of work. The offense got on the board in the 6th inning on a Brutcher RBI single. In the 7th, they picked up 2 more runs on a passed ball and a Thomas groundout but that was it as Asheville dropped game two 8-3.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (18-24) lost 12-8 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got the scoring started in the third inning scoring 2 runs on a Huezo RBI double and Flores RBI double. Perez got the start and after 3 scoreless innings to start the game, he ran into trouble allowing 6 runs in the 4th. The Woodpeckers battled back with a run in the 4th on a Cauro sac fly and a run in the 5th on a Salas walk. Wells relieved Perez and 6 runs over 2.1 innings. The offense got one in the 5th on a Newman RBI single and in the 8th, Huezo connected on a 3 run home run. Unfortunately the offense couldn’t complete the comeback as the Woodpeckers fell 12-8.
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COVERS INTEL:
