Category: MLB

Today’s Reflections

Here we are, on May 9th, and the Chicago Cubs have been christened by the media as the most stunning, powerful, dominant team in baseball!!! If they were talking to the Mets’ fanbase, or those from St. Louis, Atlanta, Texas, Tampa, etc., those fans would be on TOP OF THE WORLD!!1!!

But. Let’s be real. We’re Cub fans. WE know what’s going on. The media can paint all the pretty pictures it wants — WE know that while we have a fun (for now), aggressive (for now) mix of hitters and defenders that (can) dominate games, that can change in a flash. We see the small holes for now, like Dansby Swanson’s hitting, the occasional flub ups in LF that still makes Ian Happ most likely the best off-season free-agent outfielder, the goofy flub ups in RF by Seiya Suzuki who’s bat makes us forget all that (unless it’s in crucial situations), the unknown whether PCA is going to be half of the player we saw in the first half last year, the mistakes that Nico Hoerner …… AAAAAH, I can’t do it — he’s a modern-day god.

It’s mostly the pitching staff that’s not only held together by band aids and rubber bands — it’s more like titanium and cement. And I’m pretty sure it’s tough pitching with all that material on you. I just want to say two particular things — 1) I recently wrote that Shota and Colin Rea need to be so careful that they need someone to brush their teeth for them. I want the Cubs to do the same for Ethan Roberts (and everyone else, and, Ethan, don’t catch metal falling from the ceiling. 2) And I want them to go a little further with Ben Brown, the Cubs most consistent (best?) reliever that getting thrown to the wolves again as a starter. 1) Ben, don’t change anything that you’ve been doing. If that means you only go once through the order, fine. And 2) Cubs, wrap Ben in bubble wrap anyway. Just to be safe.

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

• Steve Drumwright (North Side Baseball): Cubs Activate Ethan Roberts Off Injured List. “The right-hander missed more than two weeks while recovering from a finger laceration. Right-hander Gavin Hollowell shipped back to Iowa.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): ‘This Week in Baseball’ is Loving on the Chicago Cubs. “It makes me happy to see that MLB has brought back a version of the program itself, and makes me even happier to see the Chicago Cubs featured so prominently this week.”

• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune): 3 numbers that stand out in the Chicago Cubs’ 9-game winning streak: ‘It’s pretty special’. “yes, all things considered, you look at where our record is and how we’ve gotten there, I think we’ve played well,” Jed Hoyer said “But we have five more months to go and we’ve got to keep doing it.”
• Carson Wolf (Just Baseball): Ian Happ’s Endless Consistency Is Going To Get Him Paid. “Happ is setting himself up to be one of the top free agents on next winter’s market. Will the Cubs pay up to keep him in Chicago?”
• Tyler O’Shea (Joker Mag): Riley Martin’s Road to the Big Leagues Began as a D2 Non-Prospect Already Enrolled in Pharmacy School ““I was thinking, I’m probably not gonna get drafted. This is probably my last season of baseball…I was like, ‘This is my last chance at it.’”“
• Steve Greenspan (MLB.com): Deep, balanced lineup a winning formula for Cubs. “Do the Cubs have the best lineup in baseball?”
• Ron Luce (SportsNetOnTap): Ben Brown’s Confidence Leads to New Chapter in 2026 as Starting Pitcher. “Ben Brown starts a new chapter in the 2026 season, getting the start in Texas as he builds back up into a starter for the Chicago Cubs.”

• Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Shota Imanaga, Cubs beat Reds 8-3 for 15th consecutive home victory. “This is what happens when the Cubs are off to their best start at Wrigley Field since 1923, nine years after its doors first opened for an outlaw team in an outlaw league that shortly went out of business.”
• Mike McGraw (Daily Herald): Too soon? Cubs join elite company as home win streak hits 15. “Are the Cubs peaking too soon?”
• Mike Wadleigh (Larry Brown Sports): Cubs accomplish rare feat not seen since 1955 Dodgers. “The Cubs now have two nine-game win streaks this season, making them the first team since the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers to have multiple nine-game win streaks in the first 38 games.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Cubs strike trade with Athletics to address ailing pitching staff. “The team’s surprise acquisition of right-hander Tyler Ferguson from the Athletics Thursday afternoon gives a much better idea of the type of moves we can expect to see.”
• Mike Axisa (CBS Sports): Reds’ Tyler Stephenson’s mental error vs. Cubs is latest example of lack of fundamentals across baseball. “ Five years after Javier Báez broke the Pirates’ brains running to first base, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson forgot to tag the Cubs’ runner coming home Thursday. He thought it was a force play. Nope. Stephenson had to apply the tag but just didn’t do it.“
• Jackson Stone (MLB.com): Cubs haven’t had a Wrigley winning streak like this one in 91 years. “The North Siders cruised to an 8-3 win over the Reds at Wrigley Field …..to mark Chicago’s 15th consecutive win at home.”
• Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs pitcher Ben Brown will start Friday’s game against Rangers. “Craig Counsell said he has made a point of giving Brown multiple innings. He went 3 innings in each of his first two appearances this season”
• Jared Bloom (Sporting News): Cubs’ Shota Imanaga finds his rookie form and a spot in the pitching power rankings “After a second-half swoon in ’25 and some offseason drama, Imanaga has carried the Cubs’ staff with a 2.40 ERA and more than a strikeout per inning through seven outings.”
• Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): “Booth is Literally Shaking” Pete Crow-Armstrong Stuns Cincinnati Reds’ Announcer. “Before Michael Busch walked to load the bases, PCA had Wrigley rocking (Video, Reds announcers):

• Ron Luce (SportsNetOnTap): Cubs Recall Gavin Hollowell, DFA Corbin Martin. “The Chicago Cubs designated Corbin Martin for assignment after a pair of rough outings and called up RHP Gavin Hollowell.“
• Evan Shuster (Chicago Cubs on SI): Cubs Share That Matthew Boyd’s Return Timeline is Better Than Expected.“Matthew Boyd has seemingly dodged a more severe meniscus injury, according to Cubs GM Carter Hawkins.”

Food For Thought:

JT Coldfire (James Thomas Uvalle, 1980–2015) was a highly regarded Texas blues-rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter known as a staple of the Austin music scene. Renowned for his raw, energetic “Texas roadhouse” style and prolific live performances, he released albums including Crazy Sun and Always & Never before his untimely passing.

He was a self-taught guitarist who started his career at age 11, playing professionally for over 15 years. His music was a blend of jump blues, Texas blues, and outlaw country, often compared to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Freddie King but with a unique, gritty vocal style. Often cited as one of the hardest-working musicians in Austin, he was known for long, intense live sets. He traveled extensively, playing from Texas to Europe.

Athlete pulls 21,737-pound bus with his neck —  A 49-year-old athlete from Aruba earned his 10th Guinness World Records title by pulling a bus a distance of more than 65 feet using his neck. Egmond Molina used a rope around his neck to pull the 21,737-pound bus on Jan. 9, and Guinness World Records has now confirmed he officially broke the record for the heaviest vehicle pulled by the neck.

“With the rope compressing my airway, I must generate force while carefully controlling my breathing under intense strain. It becomes a psychological battle to remain composed while the body is under severe stress,” Molina told Guinness World Records. The strongman’s previous Guinness World Records titles include the fastest 20-meter bus pull with one finger, 33.32 seconds; the fastest 20-meter tram pull with teeth, 39.9 seconds; the fastest hot water bottle burst, 2.87 seconds; and the most crown cap bottles opened with both hands in 30 seconds, 6 bottles. (VIDEO)

“We live on such an incredible planet! Enjoy this travel guide featuring the most incredible places of our world. From the wildlife of Africa, to the enchanting landscapes of Europe, there’s something worth seeing in every corner of our world. This video is my favorite to date and is took many years of traveling and months of editing to make! I can’t wait to share it with you.

Top 100 Places To Visit in The World – Ultimate Travel Guide (VIDEO)

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

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Saturday’s MLB picks card is loaded with strong pitching matchups, heavy favorites, and a few live underdogs worth backing.

From the Blue Jays and Cubs in favorable spots to the Braves battling the Dodgers late night, these are the MLB moneyline picks standing out most based on current form, pitching edges, and overall team metrics.

MLB moneyline picks for May 9

Matchup	Pick
Angels vs Blue Jays	-186
A's vs Orioles	-122
Astros vs Reds	-156
Rays vs Red Sox	+108
Nationals vs Marlins	+127
Rockies vs Phillies	-170
Twins vs Guardians	-117
Cubs vs Rangers	-133
Tigers vs Royals	+104
Mariners vs White Sox	-117
Yankees vs Brewers	-163
Mets vs Diamondbacks	-127
Cardinals vs Padres	-138
Pirates vs Giants	+100
Braves vs Dodgers	+108

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 5-9.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for May 9

Angels vs Blue Jays: Blue Jays (-186)

Blue Jays win probability: 65%

Toronto still gets the edge behind Tomoyuki Sugano, who’s been excellent early with a sub-1.00 ERA. The Blue Jays also hold the cleaner overall pitching profile, while the Angels remain vulnerable once traffic starts building on the bases. LA has enough power to stay dangerous, but Toronto looks like the steadier team over nine innings.

A's vs Orioles: Orioles (-122)

Orioles win probability: 55%

This is still an ugly matchup because neither side inspires much confidence on the mound, but Baltimore gets the nod at home. Aaron Civale has pitched well statistically, though the Orioles lineup is capable of creating pressure quickly against contact-heavy arms. Slight edge to Baltimore’s offense and late-game upside.

Astros vs Reds: Reds (-156)

Reds win probability: 61%

Hunter Greene versus Spencer Arrighetti is a much tighter pitching matchup than before, but Cincinnati still has value at home. Greene’s swing-and-miss stuff gives the Reds a real ceiling advantage, and Cincinnati’s bullpen has quietly stabilized lately as well. Houston is dangerous offensively, but the Reds still feel live behind the better strikeout arm.

Rays vs Red Sox: Rays (+108)

Rays win probability: 48%

The Rays remain the cleaner overall team entering this matchup. Better pitching depth, stronger run prevention metrics, and a lineup that consistently pressures defenses with speed. Boston’s offense has been too inconsistent to fully trust right now, especially against deeper staffs.

Nationals vs Marlins: Nationals (+127)

Nationals win probability: 44%

This pitching matchup flipped dramatically, but Washington still has a path because Miami’s offense remains limited overall. Zack Littell’s numbers are ugly, though the Nationals continue to own the stronger power profile and should generate enough offense against a Marlins lineup that struggles to sustain rallies consistently.

Rockies vs Phillies: Phillies (-170)

Phillies win probability: 63%

Aaron Nola’s ERA looks rough, but this still profiles as a bounce-back opportunity against Colorado away from Coors Field. The Phillies lineup is too experienced to stay cold forever, and Kyle Freeland continues to allow plenty of contact and baserunners. Philadelphia remains the more battle-tested offense in this spot.

Twins vs Guardians: Guardians (-117)

Guardians win probability: 54%

This becomes much riskier with Tanner Bibee struggling early, but Cleveland still has the stronger overall run-prevention profile at home. Joe Ryan has been solid, though the Guardians' bullpen remains one of the steadier late-game units in this matchup. Tight game that leans Cleveland in the later innings.

Cubs vs Rangers: Cubs (-133)

Cubs win probability: 57%

Chicago continues to profile as one of the best offenses in baseball, ranking near the top of the league in OPS, OBP, slugging, and runs scored. Edward Cabrera has also been solid lately, while Jack Leiter’s 5.45 ERA and command issues continue to create problems. Big edge to the Cubs offensively.

Tigers vs Royals: Tigers (+104)

Tigers win probability: 49%

This still feels close to a coin flip, but Detroit’s overall pitching profile gives them the slight edge. The Tigers have been steadier in both ERA and WHIP all season, and their bullpen depth remains more trustworthy late. Low-scoring game where one clean inning probably decides it.

Mariners vs White Sox: Mariners (-117)

Mariners win probability: 54%

Luis Castillo’s ERA looks ugly, but Seattle still owns the stronger overall pitching infrastructure entering this matchup. Chicago’s offense has improved statistically, though the White Sox remain vulnerable once games turn into bullpen battles. Seattle’s overall staff depth still separates these teams.

Yankees vs Brewers: Yankees (-163)

Yankees win probability: 62%

Milwaukee’s starter has been excellent, but the Yankees continue to hold massive offensive edges nearly everywhere statistically. New York ranks near the top of baseball in runs, OPS, slugging, and homers, and even against strong pitching, they’re capable of breaking games open quickly. Hard to fade this offense right now.

Mets vs Diamondbacks: Mets (-127)

Mets win probability: 56%

The Mets' offense has been inconsistent, but Clay Holmes versus Merrill Kelly is a sizable statistical pitching mismatch. Holmes has been dominant early with a sub-2.00 ERA, while Kelly’s 9.95 ERA speaks for itself. Arizona can absolutely score, though this matchup heavily favors New York on the mound.

Cardinals vs Padres: Padres (-138)

Padres win probability: 58%

San Diego still gets the edge at home behind the cleaner overall pitching profile. Randy Vasquez has quietly stabilized things lately, while Steven Matz continues to struggle with consistency. The Padres' bullpen and overall run prevention remain stronger entering this matchup.

Pirates vs Giants: Pirates (-100)

Pirates win probability: 50%

This is tougher now because Landen Roupp has pitched well for San Francisco, but the Giants' offense still ranks near the bottom of baseball in nearly every major category. Pittsburgh has simply been the more complete offensive team overall and should create enough chances to stay live here.

Braves vs Dodgers: Braves (+108)

Braves win probability: 48%

Even with Spencer Strider still rounding back into form, Atlanta remains the side because of the overall offensive ceiling and the matchup against Roki Sasaki. The Braves rank near the top of baseball in runs, OPS, and slugging, while Sasaki’s command issues have created major problems early this season. Atlanta still profiles as the more complete side tonight.

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.

Good morning, baseball fans!

We are in the middle of a new feature for May that I’m calling the “12 Days of Mays-mas” because I won’t be around for this week, and I want to leave you guys with some fun things to watch while I’m gone.

For the ninth day of Mays-mas, I thought we’d continue with our Tim Lincecum love-fest, and take a look at Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS, arguably Lincecum’s best playoff start. He pitched a complete game with 14 strikeouts and showed the rest of the baseball world exactly why he was San Francisco’s beloved superstar.

So grab your coffee, settle in, and enjoy!

What time do the Giants play today?

The San Francisco Giants continue this three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at 6:05 p.m. PT.

Good morning Birdland,

The Orioles offense is a three-man operation at the moment: Pete Alonso, Adley Rutschman, and Samuel Basallo. All three of them contributed on Friday night, going a combined 4-for-9 with two home runs, three runs scored, and three RBI. That’s with Basallo beginning the day on the bench in order to catch today’s late afternoon game. The rest of the lineup went 0-for-22 with eight strikeouts.

It’s a widespread problem. Gunnar Henderson is in a deep cold spell. His season OPS is down to .674. Coby Mayo only got two at-bats before he was yanked on Friday. Colton Cowser is basically just a fourth outfielder at this point, kept around for his glove and speed. They don’t trust his bat at all. Tyler O’Neill isn’t having the bounce back they hoped for. Taylor Ward’s doubles are drying up, and that’s not because they are turning into home runs.

It’s a shame because Kyle Bradish put forth a pretty good start. He went deep, tossing seven innings, and the stuff looked good, striking out 10 in the process. The only runs he allowed all came in the fifth inning, and otherwise he shutout the Athletics offense down. Using Trey Gibson as a bullpen piece was an interesting choice, one likely done to keep the rest of the pen fresh in the middle of this long stretch without a day off. But that’s a lot to ask of a young pitcher, who rarely relieves, and will be making just his second career big league appearance.

But the pitching was the least of our concerns on this day. The lineup is struggling, and at this point we may just have to admit that it’s not very good. And those same players are also not doing well in the field either. It’s a mess with no obvious in-season solution other than holding on for dear life and praying it turns around.

Maybe the return of Jackson Holliday in the next week or two gives some minor boost to the bats, but it’s not as if he has ever shown the upside that was once raved about. The team simply needs more out of Henderson and Ward for starters. And they need some sort of legitimate solution at third base. It seems like the duo of Weston Wilson and Blaze Alexander is gonna get a chance to show what they can do. That doesn’t exactly instill a ton of confidence, but it has to be better than what the position has gotten to this point.

Links

Orioles hold Tupac Shakur bobblehead promotion, and his sister throws out the ceremonial first pitch | The Associated Press
By far the highlight of the evening was the Tupac bobblehead giveaway. Credit to the Orioles marketing department for giving fans a reason to show up at the ballpark because the play on the field certainly isn’t doing it!

Singleton can appreciate Ward’s walks | Roch Kubatko
Ward has been a good addition. The team does need him to hit more home runs, but he is walking at a ridiculous rate and doing his job as a table setter. There can’t be too many complaints about him with everything else going so poorly throughout the roster.

Pitcher Cade Povich becomes latest Oriole to go on the injured list | The Baltimore Banner
In case you missed it, Povich is now on the IL with elbow inflammation. That usually spells bad news for a pitcher, but Povich’s discomfort is on the outside of the arm, not the inside. Tommy John often starts with pain on the inside of the elbow, so the Orioles are optimistic that he will be back rather soon. Yay?

Why Bradish’s ol’ reliable might be key to 2026 turnaround | MLB.com
Bradish is still trying to figure out a successful formula on the mound. It seems like he is getting closer. The timing would be great as the Orioles need someone to step up in the middle of their current injury crisis.

Orioles birthdays

Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!

• Jace Peterson turns 36 today. He was a utility-man for 11 years in the majors, including a stint in Baltimore from 2018 through ‘19.
• Tom Chism is 72 years old. The first baseman played in six big league games, all of which came with the 1979 Orioles.
• Ron Jackson is 73. He wrapped up his decade in the majors with a 12-game stay on the 1984 Orioles.

This day in O’s history

1961 – Orioles slugger Jim Gentile becomes the third player in major league history to hit grand slams in consecutive innings. As part of a 13-5 whooping of the Twins, Gentile hits a pair of slams in the first and second innings. A sacrifice fly later in the game makes it a nine-RBI day for him.

1962 – The Orioles trade Marvelous Marv Throneberry to the Mets for catcher Hobie Landrith and cash.

1962 – Brooks Robinson becomes the sixth player of the 20th century to hit grand slams in consecutive games. His homer on this day lifts the Orioles to a 6-3 win over the Kansas City Athletics.

1973 – Al Bumbry and Rich Coggins both club their first major league home runs, but the Orioles lose 4-3 to the Athletics anyway.

1987 – Eddie Murray homers from each side of the plate for the second straight game, the first time that this has been accomplished in major league history. The quartet of home runs helps the Orioles win two games against the White Sox, 7-6 and 15-6.

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (20-16)

ROCHESTER 7, SYRACUSE 5 (BOX)

Syracuse got out to a 3-0 lead as Jonah Tong spun five scoreless innings to begin his outing, but a five-run sixth inning for Rochester saw the visitors get two runs against Tong and three against reliever Carlos Guzman. Syracuse scored one in the bottom of the frame and another in the bottom of the seventh to tie things up, but Mets reliever Dan Hammer gave up a pair of runs while recording just two outs in the top of the eighth.

Tong struck out eight, walked four, and now has a 4.46 ERA on the season. That might not sound impressive, but he has a 2.57 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 21.0 innings over his last four starts. He’s walked 11 over that span, which means there’s still room for improvement, but his recent work has been encouraging.

And Ryan Clifford had a three-hit night in the loss, notching a rare stolen base in the process.

• RF A.J. Ewing: 1-4, R, 2B, BB, K
• CF Nick Morabito: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, BB, K, SB
• 1B Ryan Clifford: 3-5, SB
• DH Christian Arroyo: 0-3, RBI, K
• 2B Ji Hwan Bae: 0-2, R, 2 BB, SB
• LF Cristian Pache: 0-4, 3 K
• 3B Yonny Hernández: 0-3, R, RBI, BB, K
• C Hayden Senger: 1-4, R, 3 K
• SS Jackson Cluff: 0-4, 3 K
• P Jonah Tong: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K
• P Carlos Guzman: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• P Luke Jackson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• P Dan Hammer: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
• P Ofreidy Gómez: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (11-20)

HARTFORD 4, BINGHAMTON 2 (BOX)

Neither team scored until the Yard Goats got a run in the top of the seventh, and the Rumble Ponies came right back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Unfortunately, the lead didn’t hold, as Hartford scored a couple of unearned runs against Ben Simon in the eighth before getting one more run in the top of the ninth against Zach Peek. Binghamton starting pitcher Jonathan Santucci was superb in this one, making it one of his best start of the young season.

• CF Eli Serrano III: 1-4, 2B, K
• 3B Jacob Reimer: 1-4, R, HR, RBI, K
• C Chris Suero: 2-4, R, 2 2B, K, SB
• LF Jose Ramos: 0-4, 2 K
• 2B Nick Lorusso: 0-3, RBI, K, E
• 1B JT Schwartz: 0-3
• RF TT Bowens: 0-3, K
• DH Matt Rudick: 0-3
• SS Wyatt Young: 0-3
• P Jonathan Santucci: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
• P Saul Garcia: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• P Ben Simon: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• P Zach Peek: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (8-21)

BROOKLYN 7, BOWLING GREEN 2 (BOX)

The Cyclones got a rare win as they scored first with a pair of runs in the second inning, scored at least one run in three other innings, and never relinquished the lead. Mitch Voit drove in the majority of their runs as he went 2-for-4 with a double, a strikeout, and a stolen base, and Colin Houck had a two-hit night that included a home run. Brooklyn starter Channing Austin struck out ten in just four-and-one-third innings, an impressive tally—even if the rest of his line looks just okay.

• SS Antonio Jimenez: 1-5, R, 2 K
• CF Yonatan Henriquez: 1-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 BB, K, SB
• 2B Mitch Voit: 2-4, 2B, 4 RBI, K, SB
• DH Corey Collins: 0-4, BB, 2 K
• C Daiverson Gutierrez: 0-4, BB, 2 K
• 3B Colin Houck: 2-5, R, HR, RBI, 2 K
• LF John Bay: 1-5, R, HR, RBI, 3 K
• 1B Trace Willhoite: 1-3, R, HR, RBI, BB, K
• RF Yohairo Cuevas: 2-4, R, 2B
• P Channing Austin: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 10 K
• P Gregori Louis: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Bryce Jenkins: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• P Cristofer Gomez: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (13-18)

LAKELAND 11, ST. LUCIE 4 (BOX)

An eight-run bottom of the third by Lakeland put this game out of reach very early, and all eight of those runs were charged to St. Lucie starter Cam Tilly. There wasn’t too much to get excited about in this one.

• SS Elian Peña: 0-4, K
• CF Edward Lantigua: 2-4, R, 2 2B, SB, E
• DH Randy Guzman: 0-4, 2 K
• LF AJ Salgado: 0-3, RBI, BB, 2 K
• RF Simon Juan: 0-4, 2 K
• 1B Chase Meggers: 2-4, R
• 3B Branny De Oleo: 1-4, R, 2B, 3 K
• C Francisco Toledo: 1-3, RBI, K
• 2B Jamari Baylor: 1-3, R, HR, 2 RBI, K
• P Cam Tilly: 2.2 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Zack Mack: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Miguel Mejias: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
• P Tyler McLoughlin: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
• P Christian Rodriguez: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Rookie: FCL Mets (1-4)

FCL CARDINALS 15, FCL METS 4 (BOX)

• 3B Bohan Adderley: 1-4, 2B, RBI, K, 2 E
• C Josmir Reyes: 0-3, BB, K
• SS Anthony Frobose: 0-4, R, 2 K
• DH Yovanny Rodriguez: 1-4, R, HR, RBI, 2 K
• CF Heriberto Rincon: 1-4, 2 K
• RF Justin Ramirez: 0-3, BB
• 1B Yeider Mindiola: 0-4, 2 K
• LF Adolfo Miranda: 0-4, K
• 2B Vladi Gomez: 1-1, 2 R, 3B, BB
• P Julio Gonzalez: 1.1 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• P Eris Albino: 2.0 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
• P Caden Wooster: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• P Franyel Diaz: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• P Jean Brito: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

STARS OF THE NIGHT

Jonathan Santucci and Mitch Voit

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Cam Tilly

At Coors Field, innings can become dangerous in a hurry.

A walk. A hit. A bloop. Suddenly, the inning is fraught with peril.

That is why a clean double play can feel like an escape hatch: one ground ball, two outs, crisis averted.

I love double plays.

Double plays have their own little language. 6-4-3. 4-6-3. 5-4-3. To the uninitiated, they just look like more numbers. To the converted, they are something closer to cheat codes. Every number is a position. Every dash is a throw.

The first number tells you where the trouble began. The last tells you where it ended.

The classic 6-4-3 is not the same as a 4-6-3. The 3-6-1 asks the pitcher to finish the job. The 1-2-3 is panic turned into process. The 7-6-3 is basically a practical joke. 

The double play is not one play, really. It is a family of escape routes. And for years, the Rockies used them more than almost anyone. 

A Rockies habit starts to wobble 

So where did the double plays go?

The Rockies still have the main ingredient: ground balls. As of May 9th, they ranked 12th in MLB in ground-ball rate at 42.3%.

But grounders need the right setup. A ground ball with nobody on is just an out.

The easy explanation is actually good news: the Rockies are walking fewer hitters. Fewer walks can mean fewer double-play chances — a trade I would make every day.

That explains part of the drop. But not all of it.

The pivot stat 

To be clear, the total double-play number includes more than the common infield turns. A strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out counts. So does a weird outfield double play.

rGDP is narrower. It is the pivot stat, aimed at shortstops and second basemen. It does not just count double plays; it asks whether a middle infielder completed the turn more or less often than an average fielder would, given the runner, batter, and batted ball.

For years, Colorado was good at this. Earlier this season, the Rockies dipped to -2 rGDP, which stood out against their recent history. They have since climbed back to league average, so the usual small-sample warnings apply. Still, that early dip suggested the issue was not only fewer opportunities. For a stretch, there was some efficiency wobble in the turn itself.

The counting stats help frame the question, too. FanGraphs splits double-play involvement into starts, turns, and finishes, and those buckets show how different the second-base profiles can be. Edouard Julien has started 10 double plays at second, but has been credited with only one turn. Willi Castro, in fewer innings at second, has been credited with four turns.

This is not a playing-time argument. Castro has been good at second, and he will still get reps there, but his value comes from moving around the infield. Julien is the bigger second-base question because the Rockies are giving him regular time there.

The second-base question 

Julien’s bat explains his opportunity in the field. Through 113 plate appearances, he has a .363 OBP and a .741 OPS, and the underlying profile backs it up: strong expected production, hard contact, good swing decisions.

The glove is the question.

His defensive numbers at second have been uneven, including -2 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) in a small sample, and a few recent plays show why. Communication, the challenge of truly learning the position, and trouble on the turn have all worked against Julien — and against the double play.

One recent example against Atlanta stuck with me because the Rockies still got two outs. Julien fielded a grounder near second, started to take the bag himself, then hesitated as Ezequiel Tovar arrived expecting a feed. The throw to first was close enough for Atlanta to challenge, but the call stood. In the box score, it is just a 4-3 double play. The miscommunication does not show up.

These Mets clips show the other side of that coin: plays where not getting two outs becomes the story.

The first Mets clip shows the position-learning side of it. Julien fields the ball near second with Tovar moving to the bag, but instead of flipping to start the double play, he elects to chase the runner. 

Maybe that was the read he trusted. Maybe the timing made the choice harder than it looked. Either way, it shows how much decision-making lives inside a play that seems simple.

The second Mets clip shows the turn itself. Tovar starts the play, but Julien loses his footwork on the pivot and spikes the throw well in front of T.J. Rumfield at first.

That is the margin: An unclear exchange, a forced rundown, a throw in the dirt, and the double play can break. 

The turn can still come

While Julien is clearly still learning on the job in Colorado, that does not mean he is new to the position. Some of this is also physical — arm strength won’t drastically improve with more reps.

But the communication, timing, footwork on the pivot, and flow with Tovar can.

That is the part worth watching as the season moves along.

The Rockies still have ground balls. They still have Tovar. And Julien is getting real time at second. If the reps continue, if the rhythm sharpens, the double plays may return.

I hope they do. At Coors, this team could use more escape hatches. More clean turns. More innings that end before they become something worse.

Just don’t bring the walks back.

So, is this just an early-season wobble, or has one of the Rockies’ strangest little strengths actually changed?

On the Farm

Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 2, Sugar Land Space Cowboys 1

Albuquerque improved to 22-15 with a 2-1 win over Sugar Land, which fell to 17-20. Keegan Thompson gave the Isotopes a strong but short start, throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings with three hits allowed and one strikeout. Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) used his speed to score the first run in the sixth, coming home from third on a soft groundout by Sterlin Thompson (No. 13 PuRP). Vimael Machín added what would prove to be the deciding run with his third home run of the season in the top of the ninth. The Isotopes managed only six hits, but the pitching staff held Sugar Land to 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Overall, Thompson went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk, and his seventh stolen base, pushing his OPS to .984, and Carrigg finished 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored and is now hitting .366 with a .948 OPS.

Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats 4, Binghamton Rumble Ponies 2

Roc Riggio (No. 14 PuRP) got the offense started late and turned a quiet night into a Hartford win. The Yard Goats beat Binghamton 4-2, moving to 14-16 while the Rumble Ponies dropped to 11-20. Riggio supplied most of the offense himself, hitting a solo homer in the seventh before adding a two-run shot in the eighth to put Hartford ahead for good. He finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI, raising his OPS to .823. Jose Torres added the final run with his fourth homer of the season in the ninth and also finished 2-for-4. Jake Brooks was solid in a no-decision, allowing two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings with four strikeouts.

High-A: Spokane Indians 3, Tri-City Dust Devils 0

Spokane rode its pitching to a clean 3-0 win over Tri-City, moving to 12-19 while the Dust Devils fell to 17-14. Brody Brecht (No. 3 PuRP) set the tone with four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six. Stu Flesland III did plenty of the heavy lifting from there, adding four scoreless innings with three hits allowed, one walk, and four strikeouts before Jack Mann finished the shutout. Alan Espinal supplied the big swing, hitting a three-run homer in the sixth to break a scoreless tie. Ethan Hedges (No. 29 PuRP) and Robert Calaz (No. 6 PuRP) each added two hits as Spokane finished with eight hits and no errors.

Single-A: San Jose Giants 4, Fresno Grizzlies 3

Fresno fought back, but San Jose had the final answer in a 4-3 Grizzlies loss. Fresno dropped to 17-14, while the Giants improved to 19-12. Riley Kelly gave the Grizzlies a strong start, allowing one run on three hits over 3 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Fresno trailed 3-0 before getting RBI singles from Derek Bernard and Matt Klein in the sixth. Cameron Nelson then tied it in the seventh with a bunt single that scored Luis Mendez, helped along by a throwing error. San Jose retook the lead in the bottom half on Isaiah Barkett’s RBI triple off Jhon Medina, who took the loss.

Why Rockies Face Early-Season Road Trip Test After Disappointing Homestand | SI.com

Scott Roche frames the Rockies’ Pennsylvania road trip as a useful early measuring stick after a rough 1-5 homestand. The Rockies are still trying to prove this start has some staying power, and six games against the Phillies and Pirates should give everyone a better read. For a team trying to move from “interesting” to “actually improving,” this is the kind of week that matters.

How the Schaeffers turned MLB life into a family adventure | MLB.com

Thomas Harding takes a softer turn with a look at Warren Schaeffer, his wife Callie, and the family life built around baseball. The piece makes clear that Schaeffer is more than happy to honor her, not just on Mother’s Day, as Callie has helped make the season work as a full-family adventure. It’s a sweet read about road trips, homeschooling, ballparks, and the people who keep things steady behind the scenes.

Antonio Senzatela Succeeding in New Full-Time Role for Rockies | SI.com

Tyler Miller checks in on Antonio Senzatela’s move into a full-time bulk relief role, where the early returns have been much better than last year’s rotation work. Senzatela picked up the save against the Mets with two strong innings and has a 1.11 ERA over 24 1/3 innings. For a Rockies pitching staff still trying to find functional roles, this is one of the cleaner success stories so far.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks! 

Toledo Mud Hens 10, Memphis Redbirds 4 (b0x)

Sawyer Gipson-Long returned off the injury list for this one, and was pretty meh, but he did a lot better than lefty Pete Hansen did against the Hens.

Gipson-Long gave up two runs in the top of the first, and then another run before departing in the fourth.

It mattered little as the Hens scored seven in the second inning. Max Anderson led off with a double to left and Jace Jung singled to right. A sacrifice fly from Corey Julks scored Anderson, and Tyler Gentry walked. A soft serve single from Tomas Nido loaded the bases, and a Ben Malgeri grounder scored Jung but forced Gentry at third. Max Clark striped a line drive single to right to score Nido, and Paul De Jong walked. A Gage Workman triple cleared the bases, and Workman then scored on a wild pitch after the Redbirds had gone to the bullpen to replace Hansen. 7-2 Hens.

Workman doubled with one out in the fifth and took third on a wild pitch. Anderson walked, and Jung singled in Workman. A grounder to second from Julks went for an error, and Anderson scored to make it 9-3. Workman would then double in DeJong in the sixth to make it 10-3.

Woo-Suk Go fired three scoreless innings in the sixth, seventh, and eighth in his return to Toledo.

Workman: 3-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 3B, 2 K

Jung: 2-3, R, RBI, BB

Gipson-Long: 3.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, BB, K

Coming Up Next: The series is even heading into a 5:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday.

Erie SeaWolves 9, Harrisburg Senators 1 (box)

The SeaWolves got a decent outing from Joe Miller and played well behind him in this one as they pounded out 14 hits to win easily once again. Currently the SeaWolves are in the opposite gear of the Whitecaps, winning their ninth straight on Friday.

Andrew Jenkins singled and scored on an Izaac Pacheco single in the second inning to start the scoring. In the third, Aaron Antonini walked and rode home on Brett Callahan’s sixth home runs of the season. Chirs Meyers would single in Jenkins later in the inning to make it 4-0 SeaWolves.

In the fourth, Callahan reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second, scoring on a John Peck single. In the fifth, Jenkins and Meyers both singled, and with one out, Pacheco singled in Jenkins and Joe Campagna tripled in Meyers and Pacheco to make it 8-0.

A Pacheco error led to the Senators scoring a run on Milleri in the fifth. Yosber Sanchez cleaned this up and tossed a perfect sixth as well. Luke Taggart handled the seventh. Trevin Michael tossed the eighth.

Thayron Liranzo has been scuffling since his return from the injured list two weeks ago, but he led off the ninth with a solo shot hitting right-handed. Tyler Owens closed this one out and seems bound for Toledo again fairly soon. Woo-Suk Go was promoted to Toledo on Friday as well after a strong start to the year.

Jenkins: 3-5, 3 R

Callahan: 1-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR, K, SB

Pacheco: 2-5, R, 2 RBI, 3 K

Miller: 4.2 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:00 p.m. ET start in Harrisburg on Saturday.

Dayton Dragons 8, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)

The misery of the Whitecaps continued as their losing streak stretched to 12 games on Friday night.

There isn’t too much to report. Rayner Castillo’s struggles continued as he allowed a pair of home runs and four runs, three earned total. He struck out three and walked three over 4 1/3 innings, and there’s still no sign of the easy 95-96 mph sinker he was slinging in 2024 and early 2025.

Carlos Lequerica was knocked around for four runs in relief. Garrett Pennington had the only two hits for the ‘Caps. Bryce Rainer had the night off.

Pennington: 2-4, 2B

Castillo (L, 0-4): 4.1 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 2:00 p.m. ET start on Saturday.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 11, St. Lucie Mets 4 (box)

Troy Melton fired three perfect innings in his rehab outing, and the Flying Tigers mauled a pretty good pitching prospect in the Mets’ Cam Tilly.

Melton struck out five and needed just 27 pitches to collect those nine straight outs. His velocity wasn’t quite peak, but he was 95-96 mph the whole outing, racking up a ton of whiffs on fastballs and sliders.

Jude Warwick gave him an early lead to work with when the second baseman cracked a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning. That was his first of the year. It would be Warwick sparking an eight-run inning off Tilly in the third. He led off with a double, and Jordan Yost singled. Zach MacDonald lined a single to center that got away from the Mets center fielder and Warwick scored. Beau Ankeney cranked a three-run shot to make it 5-0, and Carson Rucker followed that up with a triple. Edian Espinal and Javier Osorio followed with singles, and by the time the Mets went to the bullpen, Warwick was up again and smoked a three-run shot to right field to make it 9-0 Lakeland.

Conner Seabold rehabbed with a solid inning in the fourth. Jan Carabello took over and had some trouble, giving up four runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Jose Guzman gentled the Mets down with two scoreless innings.

In the eighth, Carson Rucker doubled in MacDonald, and Espinal tripled in Rucker to make it 11-4 where it ended.

Warwick: 3-5, 3 R, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 HR, K

Rucker: 3-5, 2 R, RBI, 2B, 3B, K

Yost: 2-4, R, BB

Espinal: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, 3B, BB, K

Melton: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers are up 3-1 in the series with first pitch on Saturday set for 6:00 p.m. ET.

The Atlanta Braves received some unfortunate news when outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was placed on the injured list with a left hamstring strain earlier this week. However, he is eligible to return on Wednesday, and Mark Bowman of MLB.com reported that a timely return is plausible. 

Acuña was seen doing some agility exercises ahead of Friday night’s game, which was a great sign for the team who is typically riddled with injury.

If Acuña is able to return as soon as Wednesday, it would provide a major boost for Atlanta as the Braves look to stay atop the National League standings.

More Braves News:

Chris Sale put together a spectacular outing despite Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

In MLB Pipeline’s first mock draft of 2026, the Braves are projected to select a shortstop out of UCLA.

Dixon Williams logged another home run for the Rome Emperors on Thursday. More in the minor league recap.

Carlos Carrasco has reportedly rejoined the Braves on a minor league deal.

MLB News:

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-hander Tyler Glasnow on the 15-day injured list due to lower back spasms. Glasnow reinjured his back during his outing on May 6.

The Kansas City Royals placed left-hander Cole Ragans on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow impingement. The move is retroactive to May 7.

From the Feed:

Alex Anthopoulos and Buster Olney discussed the Braves’ collaborative approach to analytics. 

The Dodgers are reinstating Blake Snell from the injured list to start Saturday’s contest versus the Braves. 

The Yankees got their shit rocked by Jacob Misiorowski last night. Pardon my French, but it’s late as I type this and it’s a pretty darn accurate assessment. Shout-out to the Miz, who demonstrated why he’s one of the league’s best young starters. Once Max Fried ran into trouble, it seemed like the Yankees were probably staring at an L because no one aside from José Caballero seemed like they were in a position to do much with him (and even with Cabbie, he could only get singles). Just one of those nights and a tough draw for Spencer Jones in his MLB debut.

Today on the site, Nick will look back at the Yankees’ rotation from their last pitching staff to lead the league in ERA, the 1978 championship team, as the current squad is doing the same thus far in 2026. Madison will have the Rivalry Roundup, Jeff will celebrate the 42nd birthday of old friend Chase Headley (not Hedy), and Matt will reminisce about what the late John Sterling meant to him growing up as a fan.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees at Milwaukee Brewers

Time: 7:10 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, Brewers.tv

Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee, MI

Questions/Prompts:

1. Fill in the blank: “Jacob Misiorowski is the most impressive young pitcher to dominate the Yankees since ____”

2. Which team in the league has impressed you the least so far this season?

MLB Trade Rumors | Darragh McDonald: The Yankees made the promotion of Spencer Jones official yesterday. The top prospect replaced Jasson Domínguez, who sprained his AC joint during Thursday’s game. Jones DH’d and batted sixth in his debut, going 0-for-2 with a walk against fireballer Jacob Misiorowski, who had little issue with the rest of the Yankees’ lineup as well.

He was joined by right-handed reliever Kervin Castro, who made 20 appearances between 2021 and 2022 with the Giants and Cubs but until last night had not made a single MLB appearance since then, a span of 1,357 days. Castro replaced Brendan Beck, who was always expected to get sent down after making his MLB debut in a spot start.

SNY | John Flanigan: Ahead of Jones’ debut, his manager sang his praises. “He fits in really well with the guys,” Aaron Boone said before the game. “He’s gotten off to a really nice start this year down in Triple-A, has been really productive with the bat, and earned the opportunity to be here.

Boone also explained the decision to ease the center fielder in at DH. ”I just want him to focus on having good at-bats,” he said. “Obviously, we’re going up against a great pitcher here tonight, but just as much as you can, you take what you’ve been doing and apply it up here.” The skipper added that Jones would be in play in the field as time progresses.

Baseball Prospectus | Smith Brickner & Timothy Jackson: ($) Upon his call-up, a recap of the scouting report that has made Jones the Yankees’ “most polarizing prospect in perhaps a decade.” A steep attack angle has contributed to low contact and high chase rates, a difficult combination to transcend. The question — is his power legit enough to make it work? Timothy and our old friend Smith compare Jones with Munetaka Murakami, who’s hitting .237 but already has 14 homers. Unlike Murakami, though, Jones figures to provide value with his speed and defense, making him a fascinating test case for a singular all-around profile.

New York Post | Greg Joyce: In other injury news, Luis Gil landed on the minor-league IL with shoulder inflammation Friday, continuing a brutal start to the 2026 season. The right-hander will be shut down for at least three weeks. Considering the layoff, it’ll likely be at least six weeks before he sees game action again. Boone stressed that he did not think the injury played a role in the since-demoted Gil’s struggles with the Yankees. He posted a 6.05 ERA in four starts with the big club, calling into question his future as an MLB starter after an already-uneven 2025.

MLB.com | Mike Lupica: In advance of his ninth start Friday, a celebration of Max Fried. His steady dominance has already made his signing a massive success, and Lupica talks with David Cone about the lefty ace. The broadcaster and former pitcher highlights both Fried’s stuff (“He is a movement specialist. Subtle variations of cutters and sinkers working off each other. With a Koufax curve in his back pocket.”) and his mentality (“Max is smart and curious. And never satisfied.”).

Rafael Devers might have found his groove again.

Devers has homered in back-to-back games after cracking a 93.2-mph sinker from Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski into a 399-foot fly ball just over center in a 5-2 win on Friday, May 8.

He also added an RBI on a 2-for-4 batting night.

The Giants are now 15-23, but still at the bottom of the NL West standings. Devers hasn't had the best start to the 2026 season. He entered Friday with a batting stat line of .221/.265/.329.

After Friday, Devers has a .229 batting average, .271 OBP and .354 SLG in 37 games. He's accounted for four homers, 12 runs and 16 RBIs in 2026.

But his recent games could be a sign of good things ahead for Devers and the Giants. Over his last seven games, Devers has registered a .350 batting average, slugging 7-for-20. In that span, he hit two home runs and had 5 RBIs on a .391 OBP, .750 SLG and 1.141 OPS.

San Francisco hasn't had the ideal start to the season. It came with attention, not necessarily expectation, with the team taking a chance on signing a manager with zero major league experience.

The Giants hired Tony Vitello, whose previous experience came as a successful collegiate baseball coach at the University of Tennessee. He won a national championship in Knoxville.

USA TODAY Sports gave the Giants a D+ grade for their performance after a month, which has seen an inability to score runs, hit the ball or close games.

In desperate need of someone to step up and carry their extremely shorthanded offense, Mark Vientos continues to be the man for the Mets. 

Vientos has enjoyed a strong start to the road trip, and he delivered again on Friday. 

The slugger opened the scoring in the ballgame, crushing a third pitch slider from Ryne Nelson 401 feet deep to left-center for his fifth home run of the season.

New York’s offense went silent after that, until Vientos was able to come through once again in the latter innings. 

After Devin Williams pieced together a eight-pitch bottom of the ninth, Vientos immediately cashed in the ghost runner, ripping the first pitch he saw for a go-ahead double. 

Carson Benge immediately followed that with a big insurance run, and then Tobias Myers put the finishing touches on the victory with a 1-2-3 bottom-half. 

“It felt pretty good,” Vientos said postgame. “I felt like the at-bats I put together were pretty good, I’m just happy that I was able to come through in both of those spots.”

The righty slugger has finally started to look more like himself at the plate after a dreadful spring training and start to the regular season. 

He’s now hitting .261 with three doubles, three homers, five runs scored, 10 RBI, a .333 on-base percentage, and a .855 OPS over his last 13 games. 

“The more he gets the results, the more you’re going to see that,” Carlos Mendoza said. “When he gets going he gets locked in and mentally it helps him big-time -- he’s a very good hitter and it’s good to see him getting results.”

“I feel good right now for sure,” Vientos added. “Just gotta keep stacking the days and continue to be consistent.”

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers clawed and scrapped their way to some offense against Chris Sale to get the better of the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in Friday night’s series opener between perennial National League powerhouses at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers had only five hits in seven innings against Sale, but made them count. Teoscar Hernández singled and Kyle Tucker doubled him home in the second inning. Miguel Rojas reached on an error in the fifth inning, then with two outs Shohei Ohtani singled him home for the first Los Angeles lead of the evening.

Then, Freddie Freeman and his newer closed stance provided insurance with a solo home run in the sixth inning, his third consecutive game with an extra-base hit, and fourth in the last five.

That was Freeman’s first home run since April 6, snapping a string of 114 plate appearances without a long ball. Freeman now has 100 home runs with the Dodgers, the 37th player to hit that many with the franchise.

“I would have taken a broken-bat bloop against Chris,” Freeman said. “He’s one of the toughest left-handed pitchers you can face. He’s coming from behind you.”

All three Dodgers run-scoring hits off Sale were by left-handed batters, against whom Sale had allowed only seven hits in 38 at-bats all season before Friday, none with anyone on base.

“That guy was phenomenal. He’s one of the game’s best and has been for quite some time,” manager Dave Roberts said of Sale. “For us to scrounge and scrape and get a couple of points, was big.”

The specter of potentially losing a rotation spot once Blake Snell is activated on Saturday no longer loomed after Tyler Glasnow was placed on the injured list on Friday. Though the immediate pressure lessened, Emmet Sheehan still looked to turn things around after allowing a pair of home runs in a loss last Saturday in St. Louis.

Holding velocity through the game has been an issue for Sheehan this season. He threw a fastball 97 mph in the first inning, his fastest pitch of the year, and averaged 96.1 mph in the opening frame. Sheehan’s average velocity still waned in his start, down to 92.4 mph in the fourth inning and 93.1 in the fifth. But he was effective enough to induce 14 swinging strikes (eight on the fastball) and strike out seven, with just one walk.

“There’s certainly some things we’re trying to figure out and tap into to increase [velocity], but at the end of the day it’s about getting outs,” Roberts said before the game.

Sheehan got 14 outs, and was pulled in a 1-1 tie with two outs in the fifth with runners at the corners and lefty Matt Olson at the plate. Southpaw Alex Vesia got Olson to fly out to end the frame.

After the game, Roberts said, “I thought Emmet threw the ball as well as he’s been throwing the ball all year, as far as stuff, compete. He did everything we had hoped.”

Friday’s stellar matchup was close throughout, and also featured a few defensive highlights. Austin Riley doubled to the left field wall in the fourth inning, but a perfect relay from Hernández to Rojas to Will Smith nailed Michael Harris II at the plate, an out call upheld by replay review.

In the bottom of the fourth, a sure single to shallow left field by Tucker was instead plucked out of the air by shortstop Jim Jarvis in just his second major league game. Charley Steiner on the Dodgers radio call said of the spectacular catch, “It was as if he was diving into the pool.”

After using six relievers to cover the final eight innings on Wednesday, the Dodgers followed Thursday’s off day with five pitchers to get the final 13 outs on Friday, nearly all of them through stress.

Vesia stranded Sheehan’s two runners in the fifth. Kyle Hurt allowed two singles before pitching a scoreless sixth. Will Klein stranded a seventh-inning walk, then was pulled after a leadoff single in the eighth, trying to pitch a second inning. Brock Stewart walked a batter of his own, then stranded those two runners to finish the frame.

Tanner Scott however pitched a clean ninth to close out the win, earning his third save of the season.

Friday particulars

Home run: Freddie Freeman (4)

WP — Alex Vesia (1-0): 1 up, 1 down

LP — Chris Sale (6-2): 7 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 7 strikeouts

Sv — Tanner Scott (3): 1 IP, 1 strikeout

Up next

The Dodgers and Braves are back at it on Saturday night (6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), with Blake Snell on the mound for his season debut against Spencer Strider for Atlanta.

Time will tell if this weekend’s series is a postseason preview.

But Friday night certainly had the feel of a playoff game.

On one side, the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers.

On the other, a red-hot Atlanta Braves squad that arrived in Los Angeles tied for the most early-season wins in the majors.

Both teams possess high-powered offenses, with the Braves leading baseball in runs scored and the Dodgers topping all clubs in OPS.

Both teams have talented pitching staffs, the Dodgers ranking second in ERA and the Braves led by former Cy Young winner Chris Sale.

On Friday, they each topped it off by turning one spectacular defensive play after the next.

“Tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said, “was a typical sort of October game.”

A typical game, with a typical result, as the Dodgers did what they usually do in high-profile matchups by grinding out a 3-1 win to take the series-opener at Dodger Stadium.

“For me, it’s a pretty good win,” veteran infielder Miguel Rojas said. “Because it keeps telling us that we are ready for the big picture.”

Friday was decided on the margins, ultimately coming down to one costly mistake and one big swing.

With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, Braves rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis –– fresh off a stunning diving catch in the bottom of the fourth and his first career hit in the top of the fifth –– airmailed a throw into the dugout that put Rojas on second base.

Three batters later, Shohei Ohtani snuck a two-out ground-ball through the infield for a go-ahead RBI single.

“Two-out hits, we gotta get those,” Roberts said. “Especially against a guy like Sale.”

In the sixth, the Dodgers would stretch their advantage, when Freddie Freeman capitalized on a rare misfire from the 37-year-old left-hander. In a 0-1 count, Sale left a fastball over the heart of the plate. With his biggest swing in weeks, Freeman clobbered it to center for his first home run since April 6.

“I would’ve taken a broken-bat bloop against Chris,” Freeman joked. “Probably the toughest lefty you’re going to face in this game as a left-handed hitter.”

That was enough to give the Dodgers (24-14) some breathing room. And after a 4 ⅔-inning, one-run start from Emmet Sheehan, they got 5 1/3 scoreless innings from the bullpen to close it out.

It started with Alex Vesia, who stranded a pair of runners he inherited from Sheehan in the fifth. Kyle Hurt came on next, gave up back-to-back singles to lead off the sixth, then escaped the jam in his highest-leverage appearance so far this season.

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From there, Will Klein and Brock Stewart built a bridge to the ninth inning. Then, Tanner Scott emerged for his third save.

“You gotta prevent runs and use the arms in the ‘pen that you got,” Roberts said. “And we prevented runs tonight and got just enough hits.”

There were other key moments mixed in along the way. Like a perfect relay play from Teoscar Hernández and Rojas to gun down a runner at home in the fourth. Or Rojas winning a foot race to second base –– despite playing through some leg pain he suffered earlier in the game –– before absorbing a collision with a baserunner. Or Dodgers pitching holding the Braves (26-13) to just a 1-for-10 mark with runners in scoring position overall.

And though the Dodgers didn’t exactly solve Sale in a seven-inning, seven-strikeout start, they ultimately didn’t have to. Instead, they were simply a little better in every other phase –– finding a way to win on a night full of shades to the fall.

What it means

That, when facing premier competition, the Dodgers can win in a number of ways.

After all, the team was out-hit 9-5 on Friday. Sale easily outshined Sheehan, who continued to battle fluctuating fastball velocity, on the mound.

Yet, as the club has done so often over the past two Octobers, they prevailed nonetheless.

“We obviously put together a really quality, quality game played today,” Freeman said.

Who’s hot

The Dodgers got on the board Friday courtesy of Kyle Tucker, who continues the slow process of turning his season around.

With two outs in the second, Tucker was facing a 1-2 hole against Sale when he got a shin-high slider over the outer edge of the plate.

He was early with his swing, but rode the pitch out and somehow got the barrel to it, pulling a double down the right-field line to erase an early 1-0 deficit.

The hit marked Tucker’s seventh double in his last 14 games (a stretch that also includes a home run), and helped him raise his batting average to .288 in that time.

The $240 million signing is still hitting just .254 on the season with a sub-.750 OPS, but he’s at least been contributing more regularly since being dropped down the lineup.

Who’s not

With Mookie Betts out on a rehab assignment and set to rejoin the Dodgers on Monday, a potentially difficult roster decision is on the horizon.

In a rare chance to start Friday, utilityman Santiago Espinal didn’t exactly help his cause.

While Espinal worked a couple long at-bats against Sale, he only turned one of them into a hit. And even then, he got himself thrown out trying to stretch for an ill-advised hustle double on an opposite-field line drive.

Espinal, a former All-Star looking to revive his MLB career with the Dodgers this year, is now batting just .200. It’s possible that, when Betts returns, the Dodgers will opt to send one of Hyeseong Kim or Alex Freeland back to the minors, where they could get more regular playing time.

But both of them have been productive lately, raising the possibility that the Dodgers could cut Espinal loose in the next few days.

Up next

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell will make his season debut Saturday night, after missing the start of the campaign recovering from offseason shoulder fatigue. The Braves will turn to former All-Star Spencer Strider, for what will be only his second start of the year since returning from an oblique strain.

PHOENIX — The Mets waited until the 10th inning to start the party Friday night.

After totaling only two hits over the first nine innings, they awoke from their desert siesta with an energetic extra frame for a 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

“It’s a good thing we stayed locked in until the last inning,” Mark Vientos said of the team’s extended wait for hits.

Vientos and Carson Benge each delivered run-scoring doubles in the 10th before Tobias Myers got the final three outs for his first major league save. The Mets won for the fifth time in seven games on the road trip, capitalizing on a strong Nolan McLean start and bullpen performance behind him.

Vientos’ double against Kevin Ginkel leading off the 10th — he homered earlier — brought in the automatic runner. Benge, moved up to fifth in the lineup for the first time in his major league career, doubled on a 1-2 slider to provide the cushion.

“I am always confident at the plate — I feel good right now for sure,” Vientos said. “I just have to continue to be consistent.”

In a rebound performance from his shortest start of the season, McLean allowed one earned run on three hits, one walk and a hit batter over six innings with six strikeouts, departing after 100 pitches (matching a season high). McLean lasted just four innings against the Angels in the Mets’ loss last Saturday.

“My job is to get as deep into the game as I can every time I go out,” McLean said. “I was disappointed last time out against the Angels not doing that, so it was pretty important to do today.”

He began the day tied for fourth among NL pitchers with 51 strikeouts, seventh in WHIP (0.94) and ninth in opposing batting average (.184).

Vientos’ third homer on the road trip gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the second. Vientos hammered a cutter from Ryne Nelson over the left field fence for his fifth homer this season. He hit two against the Angels on Sunday before going 1-for-12 in three games in Colorado.

“The more he continues to get results, you are going to see [confidence] from him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “This is a guy that when he gets going, he gets locked in mentally.”

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Nolan Arenado took McLean deep on the second pitch in the bottom of the inning to tie it 1-1. The blast was the first allowed by McLean in his last three outings.

Francisco Alvarez singled leading off the third, but was left stranded as Bo Bichette’s shot to the right field fence was snagged on a jump by Corbin Carroll for the final out. Alvarez’s single was the Mets’ last hit until Vientos delivered in the 10th inning.

McLean plunked Carroll leading off the fourth before getting Adrian Del Castillo to ground into a double play and retiring Arenado.

In the fifth, McLean walked Gabriel Moreno with one out, but struck out Jose Fernandez and retired Jorge Barrosa to keep the game tied. The D’backs were without Katel Marte — a late scratch because of illness — adding Fernandez to the lineup at second base.

Ildemaro Vargas’ single in the sixth was only the D’backs’ third hit against McLean. On his 95th pitch of the night, McLean retired Carroll before concluding his night by striking out Del Castillo.

Benge walked with two outs in the seventh, snapping a streak of 14 straight retired by Nelson following Alvarez’s single.

Juan Morrillo entered following the walk to Benge and got Marcus Semien to pop out on the first pitch.

Luke Weaver walked Moreno with two outs in the seventh and Fernandez singled following a delay (Luis Torrens got smacked with a foul ball off the face mask and was examined).

Weaver walked Barrosa to load the bases before retiring Perdomo to escape.

Brooks Raley got two fast outs in the eighth before allowing a single to Ryan Waldschmidt in his first major league at-bat. The lefty retired Arenado for the third out.

Devin Williams needed just eight pitches to retire the side in the ninth. Mendoza was asked if he considered sticking with his closer for the 10th rather than use Myers, who worked a perfect inning.

“We talked about it,” Mendoza said. “But then at the end, how much we have been using these guys, I just decided to go with Tobias there, but we did discuss it.”