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Yoshinbou Yamamoto continues stellar start, out-dueling Jacob deGrom in Dodgers win

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a pitch to the Texas Rangers.
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers during the fourth inning of a 3-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday. Yamamoto threw seven shutout innings. (Julio Cortez / Associated Press)

One of the starting pitchers Friday night has won two Cy Young Awards.

The other is making an early case to win one of his own.

For years, Jacob deGrom has (when healthy) been the gold standard of major league pitching. He has a career ERA of 2.54. He is a four-time All-Star and two-time strikeout king. In 2018 and 2019, he won back-to-back Cy Young honors.

In the Dodgers’ 3-0 win over deGrom’s Texas Rangers, however, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the best pitcher.

Read more:Anticipating birth of first child, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani goes on paternity leave

Although deGrom gave up just one run over seven strong innings, Yamamoto spun seven scoreless innings at Globe Life Field. Where deGrom struck out seven and walked a batter, Yamamoto had 10 strikeouts and no free passes.

It helped the Dodgers win this series-opening matchup between the last two World Series champions, even though they were without Shohei Ohtani, who went on the paternity list in anticipation of the birth of his first child.

And it further cemented one of the most promising early storylines of this Dodgers season — continuing to affirm Yamamoto, in just his second MLB season, as someone who could be competing for hardware this fall.

Friday presented a new challenge for Yamamoto, who entered the game with a 1.23 ERA in his first four starts. His fastball didn’t have its usual life, sitting a tick lower than normal at 95 mph. His splitter, while still wicked, was a little wilder than typical.

So, the 26-year-old Japanese star dug deeper into his bag of tricks. What he came up with kept the Rangers off balance.

A rare area of weakness for Yamamoto early this season had been his curveball. Though manager Dave Roberts last year called it one of the best he’s seen from a right-hander, opponents entered the night batting .429 against it. Yamamoto hadn’t registered a strikeout with it once.

On this night, though, Yamamoto snapped off a flurry of big-bending curves to the Rangers. It generated four whiffs on 11 swings. It accounted for two of his strikeouts, including one to Joc Pederson that stranded runners at second and third in the third. And of the seven that Texas put in play, only two fell for hits.

As Yamamoto worked deeper into the game, he also mixed in his rarely used slider, giving Rangers hitters a different look the second and third time through.

He fanned Jake Burger with one to end the fourth, stranding yet another runner at second. He used it again on his 102nd and final pitch, recording a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out double-play to complete seven innings for only the third time in his MLB career.

Yamamoto’s splitter was still effective, totaling seven whiffs (four of them strikeouts) on 17 swings. And with his four-seamer playing down, he incorporated more sinkers and cutters into his arsenal.

It all served as a reminder that Yamamoto — whose 0.93 ERA is now best in the National League — is much more than a two-weapon pitcher. That, after brief flashes of brilliance last year, he is starting to put all the pieces together for a breakout sophomore season.

On the backside of his career at age 36, deGrom was almost as good in what turned into a vintage pitcher’s duel. He yielded just three hits, and retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. But back in the first inning, he threw an elevated fastball to leadoff man Tommy Edman (who was filling in for Ohtani at the top of the batting order). Edman whacked it for his NL-leading seventh home run.

It proved to be deGrom’s only real mistake.

But the way Yamamoto was dominating, it was one too many.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Francisco Lindor's walk-off homer lifts Mets to 5-4 win over Cardinals

Francisco Lindor hit his first Mets walk-off home run in the team's 5-4 win over the Cardinals at Citi Field on Friday night.

It was Lindor's 250th career homer.

The Mets (13-7) have now won consecutive games after losing two stright for the first time this season.

Here are the takeaways...

-Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas held the Mets' offense down for the first four innings, allowing just four baserunners in that span. However, the Mets' bats woke up in the fifth with Brett Baty's leadoff double and Tyrone Taylor's RBI triple. AfterLindor's shallow fly ball failed to bring Taylor home, the Citi Field crowd gave Juan Soto a standing ovation in hopes of urging their new star to drive in the tying run. The left-hander slugger obliged, pulling a single into right field to tie the game, 2-2.

Soto snapped an 0-for-12 skid and finished 1-for-3 with a walk on the night.

-With the Mets down 3-2 in the sixth, Mark Vientos found the seats for the second straight night with a solo shot. He turned on the eighth pitch of the at-bat -- a 95.4 mph fastball up and in -- depositing it 371 feet into the left field seats. According to MLB's Sarah Langs, Vientos’ home run came on a pitch 4.14 ft above the ground, which is the third-highest pitch a Mets player has homered on in the pitch-tracking era (2008), behind:

  • 8/27/17 Amed Rosario: 4.17 ft
  • 9/22/20 Robinson Cano: 4.16 ft

-The bottom of the eighth was a wild one. After Vientos' leadoff single, Luisangel Acuña pinch-ran and stole second. Brandon Nimmo hit a chopper to third base and the young infielder tried to get a jump to third, but Nolan Arenado hadn't thrown the ball to first yet and it created a foot race for third. Acuña initially beat the tag, but he slid off the bag and the Gold Glover put the tag on to get the first out, which was confirmed by replay.

With Nimmo on first, former Met reliever Phil Maton threw to keep the veteran outfielder on but it hit Nimmo, allowing him to get to second. Luis Torrens then made the Cardinals pay with a double down the left field line, giving the Mets their first lead of the night.

-David Peterson was effective on Friday night, but the Cardinals were able to use small ball to get to the talented lefty. Three singles, which were hit softly but not where fielders were, allowed the Cardinals to score the first run of the game in the second. They then pushed across another after Brendan Donovan took second on a passed ball. Jordan Walker then scorched a liner toward first base that Pete Alonso knocked down but trickled into the outfield.

Peterson would continue to overcome this scrappy Cardinals team and rack up the strikeouts, but St. Louis would push their third run across thanks to a leadoff double from Willson Contreras and a single by Arenado.

Carlos Mendoza pulled Peterson with one out in the sixth and called on Max Kranick to limit the damage. And as the right-hander had done for most of the season, he left ducks on the pond to keep the score 3-2.

Peterson was dominant in spurts, but the Cardinals were able to string hits together in three separate innings. The left-hander went 5.1 innings on a season-high 99 pitches, allowing three runs on seven hits with no walks and a season-high nine punchouts.

-With Edwin Diaz unavailable due to pitching consecutive games, Huascar Brazoban was called to get the final three outs, but on the second pitch, Donovan launched a game-tying homer off the netting on the right-field foul pole. Brazoban bounced back, however, striking out the next three batters to send it to the bottom of the ninth.

-Baty continued to look good at the plate, picking up his first walk of the season in his first at-bat and then swiping second for the third stolen base of his career. He doubled in his second at-bat and finished 1-for-3 with the walk and run scored.

Baty now has a five-game hitting streak.

-Nimmo hit in the No. 6 hole on Friday, his lowest place in the lineup since 2021. He looked good, too, despite his 1-for-4 night.

-After going hitless in Thursday's series-opener -- his last hitless game came on April 13 --Alonso got on the board with a first-inning triple. It was his first three-bagger since 2023. The slugger went 1-for-2 with two walks.

Game MVP: Francisco Lindor

In a back-and-forth affair, Lindor's walk-off sent the crowd home happy and is the logical choice.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets and Cardinals continue their four-game set with an afternoon tilt on Saturday. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m.

Kodai Senga (2-1, 1.06 ERA) will take the mound against Matthew Liberatore (1-1, 3.93 ERA) of the Cardinals.

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Carlos Rodón delivers six gutsy shutout innings in Yankees' 1-0 win over Rays

The Yankees extended their winning streak to five games on Friday night, as they outlasted the division rival Tampa Bay Rays, 1-0, at Steinbrenner Field.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Carlos Rodón entered Friday with the fifth-highest walk percentage in the league, and fittingly walked Rays leadoff batter Yandy Díaz on five pitches before allowing a single to Junior Caminero four pitches later. But the veteran southpaw managed to escape the two-on, no-out jam in the first inning by striking out three straight with his slider and changeup. Rodón needed 28 pitches to work out of the early trouble.

-- It didn't take too long for the Yankees to draw first blood against Rays starter Drew Rasmussen. After a leadoff single from Paul Goldschmidt and a one-out walk from J.C. Escarra in the second, Trent Grisham smacked a two-out RBI single to shallow center, giving them their lone run. The backup outfielder was also robbed of extra bases in the fourth, when his slicing fly to deep left was snagged on a terrific diving catch by Christopher Morel.

-- Anthony Volpe was no match for Rasmussen in their first two matchups -- he whiffed on three straight pitches in both at-bats. But his woes at the plate didn't disrupt his defensive groove and range. In the bottom half of the fourth, the Yankees' shortstop took an infield single away from Curtis Mead with an impressive across-the-body throw deep in the hole that was nicely scooped up by Goldschmidt at first.

-- Before the game, Aaron Boone insisted that Rodón -- who's developed a knack for back-breaking mistakes -- hasn't resembled a feast-or-famine pitcher this season. The comments were validated, as the left-hander wound up completing six shutout innings with nine strikeouts on 102 pitches. Rodón also overcame profuse sweat and footing issues -- he threw a few wild pitches and received a mid-inning towel break.

-- Mark Leiter Jr. entered in relief of Rodón in the seventh, and nearly gave up a leadoff triple to Jose Caballero. But the deep fly off the center field wall induced a stellar relay between Grisham and Volpe that ended with Oswaldo Cabrera securing the tag at third. The Rays' baserunning blunder shifted momentum -- Leiter settled down after the huge play, striking out two.

-- Cabarello somehow made up for his mistake in the eighth, as he robbed Ben Rice of a two-run home run to right with a stunning leaping catch at the wall. The line drive had a 105 mph exit velocity and a 74 percent chance of becoming a hit, but if not for the clear robbery, Rice easily would've had his sixth homer of the season. He was as shocked as everyone else in the ballpark.

-- The Yankees relied on Fernando Cruz and Luke Weaver to record the final six outs, and neither right-hander disappointed. Cruz logged a pair of strikeouts with his nasty splitter and fastball, while Weaver produced a 1-2-3 ninth with two punchouts for his second save. It was yet another clutch performance from the bullpen, which had to complete 7.1 innings in Thursday's win.

-- Grisham's second-inning RBI single was the only blemish on Rasmussen's record -- Tampa's right-hander lowered his ERA to 0.87 by striking out seven across a season-high 5.2 innings. While the Yankees nearly added two runs on Rice's deep lineout, they struggled overall to muster offense. The only player who found success was Goldschmidt, who produced three of their five total hits and is now tied with Aaron Judge for the team lead in knocks (28).

-- It was another forgettable night at the plate for Jazz Chisholm Jr. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, lowering his season average to .160. The Yankees' second baseman will most likely be forced to sit on Saturday, as MLB issued him a one-game suspension and fine for actions that followed his ejection from Thursday's game. Chisholm appealed the league's ruling on Friday afternoon.

Game MVP: Carlos Rodón

While the sweat on his uniform and arms caused some disruptions on the mound, Rodón delivered his strongest start of the season thus far. He struck out a season-high nine batters, walked four, and gave up two hits. His ERA now sits at 4.34 through five starts.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees (13-7) continue their four-game weekend series in Tampa on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m.

Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 5.94 ERA) is slated to take the mound, opposite Shane Baz (2-0, 1.42 ERA).

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Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. suspended 1 game following ejection, violation of social media policy

TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was suspended for one game and fined by Major League Baseball on Friday following his ejection during a game at the Tampa Bay Rays and violation of MLB’s social media policy.

MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill announced the decision.

Chisholm appealed, delaying any penalties until after a resolution. He was in the starting lineup for the second game of the four-game series.

Chisholm was ejected in the seventh inning on Thursday night by plate umpire John Bacon when Chisholm argued after a called third strike on a full-count pitch from Mason Montgomery that appeared low. It was his fifth career ejection and first with the Yankees.

Chisholm then posted on his X account, “Not even ... close!!!!!” with a profanity mixed in, then deleted the post.

MLB’s regulations ban the use of electronic devices during games. The social media policy prohibits “displaying or transmitting content that questions the impartiality of or otherwise denigrates a major league umpire.”

“I didn’t think before I had anything that I said was ejectable but after probably,” Chisholm said after the game. “I’m a competitor, so when I go out there and I feel like I’m right and you’re saying something to me that I think doesn’t make sense, I’m going to get fired up and be upset.

“I lost my emotions. I lost my cool,” he added. “I got to be better than that. ... I’m definitely mad at myself for losing my cool.”

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Giants' offense again fails to reward stellar Webb outing vs. Angels

Giants' offense again fails to reward stellar Webb outing vs. Angels originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Giants ace Logan Webb pitched very well, recording double-digit strikeouts and no walks.

But San Francisco lost 2-0 to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night at Angel Stadium.

If that sounds familiar, it’s because almost the exact same script played out in last week’s 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park.

It’s not a new phenomenon for Giants fans, who affectionately refer to it as “getting Cained.”

On April 7, Webb’s stat line read seven innings, four hits, no runs and 10 strikeouts; he was credited with a no decision after departing a 0-0 ballgame.

Eleven days later, Webb tied a career high with 12 strikeouts in six innings of work and again allowed four hits. But this time, he gave up two runs (only one earned) to earn his first loss of the 2025 MLB season.

“It feels like a wasted pitching effort the way he pitched tonight,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said postgame of his star right-hander. “That’s a really good performance. We’re seeing him with the added pitches being able to strike some guys out, too. So, kind of next-level stuff for him. …

“He pitched great — good enough to win a game.”

Webb has shown off a new-look pitch mix this spring, but it was ol’ reliable — his world-class changeup — that was particularly effective on Friday. Webb used his changeup as the knockout pitch for six of his 12 strikeouts.

“Yeah, super excited about the changeup,” Webb told reporters after the game. “That’s probably the most confident, the best I’ve felt in a long time on that pitch.”

If there’s any solace for Webb, tonight’s outing put him in elite company among Giants pitchers. Only Madison Bumgarner, Tim Lincecum and Juan Marichal have as many games with at least 10 strikeouts and no walks in franchise history, per MLB’s Sarah Langs.

“I grew up in the area, and I grew up watching those guys,” said Webb, a Rocklin native who looked up to Lincecum and Bumgarner. “Anytime you’re on a list with those guys, I think you’re doing alright.”

Unfortunately for Webb, none of those players — or anyone in Giants franchise history — ever struck out at least 12 batters without a walk while also being on the hook for the loss.

So perhaps it was apt that Webb’s postgame interview in the clubhouse was interrupted by, well, a stinky deed.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Anticipating birth of first child, Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani goes on paternity leave

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) is introduced.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani is introduced before the team's home opener against the Detroit Tigers on March 27. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Shohei Ohtani has had plenty of milestone moments on the field in the last year.

This weekend, he’s about to have one off of it.

The Dodgers slugger and reigning National League MVP was placed on the paternity list, the team announced, in anticipation of the birth of his first child this weekend.

Ohtani stayed back in Los Angeles with his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, according to manager Dave Roberts, and was replaced on the roster during the Dodgers' series against the Texas Rangers by veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario, who was called up from triple A.

Read more:Dodgers coach Chris Woodward is ‘proud’ of Rangers managerial stint, despite 2022 firing

“I don’t know when they’re going to have the baby,” Roberts said. “But obviously they are together in anticipation.”

Ohtani can stay on the paternity list for up to three days — which means he would be back for the team’s series next week against the Cubs at Wrigley Field at the latest — but Roberts said it’s possible he could rejoin the team later this weekend in Texas.

To make room on the 40-man roster for Rosario, the Dodgers transferred reliever Edgardo Henriquez to the 60-day injured list.

Read more:Pitching help on the way, improved bats, too? | Dodgers Debate

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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MLB dynasties: Why the late-'90s Yankees ruled and why it’s so hard to replicate today

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman sat down with ESPN’s Buster Olney to dig into the question: Where did all the dynasties go? Their conversation offers a look at the legendary New York Yankees dynasty of the late 1990s — and why today’s superteams struggle to achieve similar levels of dominance.

Buster Olney quite literally wrote the book on the Yankees’ dynasty years: "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty: The Game, the Team, and the Cost of Greatness." As he explains in the episode, the late-’90s Yankees weren’t just a collection of high-priced free agents; they were a product of patience, clever management during a brief George Steinbrenner suspension and a homegrown core that included Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Bernie Williams. Veterans and stars such as David Cone and Roger Clemens rounded out the roster, but the key ingredients were sustainability and in-house talent.

Olney frames the 1998-2001 Yankees as the last “true” MLB dynasty, or as he puts it: “maybe the last dynasty that's going to win four World Series in five years.” 

What made the Yankees so special? Olney emphasizes the “combination of homegrown players and great stars that they added through free agency,” plus, crucially, a culture that made outside stars want to join: “Because they were so successful, they have what the Dodgers have now, which is a lot of players coming in from the outside saying, 'I want to be a part of that.'”

So what has changed? Olney, Mintz, and Shusterman point to several big reasons dynasties have become nearly impossible in MLB.

  • Roster turnover and free agency: With player movement so much more common today, keeping a championship core together is extremely difficult.

  • Injuries and luck: As Olney notes, “it’s also about luck, it’s about injuries, it’s about players who decide to depart.” Maintaining excellence over multiple MLB seasons is just brutally difficult.

  • The psychological toll: Olney makes a great point: Today’s social media era means players face far more noise, scrutiny and pressure than Ken Griffey Jr. ever did in the clubhouse. “I do think it takes a toll … players get worn down by the constant feedback.”

  • Expanded playoff fields: More rounds mean more opportunities for upsets — a dynasty killer. As Mintz notes, “The playoffs are longer by one round … just another roll of the dice.”

Every few years a team emerges — think the Dodgers, Astros or the earlier 2010s Giants — and gets branded with the “dynasty in the making” label. But as the Bar-B-Cast crew explains, none has repeated the Yankees’ level of sustained postseason success. Olney praises the current Dodgers as, “on paper, the best team I've ever seen,” but even he acknowledges that it’s far from a given that they’ll embark on a pinstripes-level run.

The Astros’ frequent postseason trips and the Giants’ trio of even-year titles are impressive, but Mintz still contends, “I would probably argue against both of those [being true dynasties].”

All signs, according to the podcast trio, point to “maybe, but don’t hold your breath.” The hosts agree that because of all the factors named above, a four-titles-in-five-years run looks like an artifact of another era.

But as Mintz points out, that isn’t a reason to stop believing: “For those of us who love the drama, there’s always a chance … and that’s what keeps baseball compelling.”

For more deep dives into baseball’s dynasties and other debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Mets top prospect Brandon Sproat throws six scoreless innings in third straight strong Triple-A outing

Mets pitching prospect Brandon Sproat appears to have found his stride in Triple-A. 

The young right-hander has now recorded three consecutive strong outings after putting together six efficient innings of work in Game 1 of Friday afternoon’s doubleheader with the Buffalo Bisons.

Sproat allowed leadoff singles in each of the first two innings, but he used a double play to erase the threat both times. He was then helped out by a caught stealing and worked around a two-out walk in the top of the third.

The 24-year-old began cruising from there, retiring the next eight batters before allowing Jonatan Clase to reach on a two-out infield single in the sixth. Sproat then retired the next batter to end his day on a high note.

Overall, he allowed just four hits and a walk while striking out one across six shutout innings.

He touched 99.5 mph with his fastball and leaned heavily on his sweeper, throwing it 38 percent of the time.

Sproat was knocked around toward the end of last season with Syracuse, but he's settled in at the new level, allowing just two runs while striking out nine in 14.1 innings over his last three appearances (1.26 ERA).

While the Mets likely want to see him continue this stretch of strong pitching, he's certainly knocking on the door.

According to reports, he was among the options New York was considering as a spot starter against the Cardinals before Griffin Canning was scratched Wednesday due to an illness. Justin Hagenman came up instead.

If Sproat can continue pitching like this, it likely won't be long before he receives the call too.

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Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. receives one-game suspension for ripping umpire on social media

Just moments after being ejected for arguing a strike-three call on Thursday, Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. voiced his frustation with home-plate umpire John Bacon via social media, posting on his X/Twitter account that the seventh-inning pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays was, "Not even f---ing close."

While the message was deleted shortly thereafter, it still caught MLB's attention and called for punishment. Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed on Friday afternoon that Chisholm has received a one-game suspension and fine from the league for the incident, and that the veteran infielder intends to appeal the decision. Chisholm is in Friday's lineup.

The discplinary action was predictable, as MLB rules state that players aren't allowed to use electronic devices during a game. The league's social media policy also mentions that players can't produce or endorse content that questions the "impartiality of or otherwise denigrates" an umpire.

Chisholm addressed the feud after Thursday's win, saying that he was "fired up" after the call from Bacon and didn't feel the ejection was warranted until after he left the field. He owned up to the situation, confirming that he did tweet immediately from the clubhouse and accepting the consequences.

The first month of the 2025 season has been odd for Chisholm, who's displayed notable power at the plate but also struggled to reach base at a tolerable rate. He's slashing just .169/.272/.451 over 81 plate appearances, and his strikeout rate of 32.1 percent is currently a career-high mark. In spite of his pop -- he's tied for fourth in MLB with six home runs -- the consistent whiffs are a concern.

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Phillies start hot again and Wheeler strikes out 13 Marlins in series-opening win

Phillies start hot again and Wheeler strikes out 13 Marlins in series-opening win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

To begin their series with the Marlins, the Phillies carried over exactly what worked for them Thursday vs. the Giants.

The Phils again seized a quick lead and received a strong, strikeout-heavy performance from their starting pitcher. Zack Wheeler struck out 13 Marlins in a 7-2 win Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.

In seven innings, Wheeler allowed five hits and two runs. He walked none.

Wheeler tossed a seven-pitch, all-strike first inning. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara was in for a much bumpier ride.

Though he lined out to center field, Bryson Stott had an exemplary, eight-pitch leadoff at-bat. Trea Turner walked and Bryce Harper then hammered a slider into the right field second deck. 

A day after grabbing a 5-1 lead in the first inning against San Francisco, the Phillies stretched their advantage to 6-0 in the second. Alcantara needed 53 pitches to get four outs and didn’t reach the third inning. 

Max Kepler opened the bottom of the second with another excellent at-bat and walked. J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm and Johan Rojas all smacked singles and the Phillies kept on scoring with assistance from two Alcantara wild pitches. 

Meanwhile, Wheeler did smooth, no-nonsense work. He leaned on his four-seam fastball early and retired the first seven hitters he faced.

Through five innings, just one Marlin made it to second base. Eric Wagaman broke through for Miami with a two-out, two-run homer off of Wheeler in the sixth, but the Phillies had no trouble seeing their win through. 

Kyle Schwarber provided the team’s only run after the second inning when he cracked a long ball in the fifth off of lefty reliever Anthony Veneziano. Tanner Banks pitched a scoreless eighth and Jose Ruiz handled the ninth. 

Twenty games in, the 2025 Phillies sit at 12-8. 

Injury updates

Nick Castellanos returned to the lineup after leaving Thursday’s win with left hip flexor tightness. He went 2 for 3 before Kody Clemens replaced him in the fifth inning. 

Brandon Marsh missed his second straight game with a right knee injury. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Marsh did some running pregame and would’ve been available to play in an emergency situation.

With Marsh still out, Rojas started his third consecutive game in center field. He’s gone 3 for 8 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base during that stretch. 

Weekend slate 

Taijuan Walker (1-1, 2.30 ERA) and Cal Quantrill (1-1, 5.79 ERA) are set to start Saturday at 1:05 p.m. 

Jesus Luzardo (2-0, 2.31 ERA) will pitch against his former team Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Connor Gillispie (0-2, 6.63 ERA) is Miami’s scheduled starter for the series finale. 

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Phillies start hot again and Wheeler strikes out 13 Marlins in series-opening win

Phillies start hot again and Wheeler strikes out 13 Marlins in series-opening win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

To begin their series with the Marlins, the Phillies carried over exactly what worked for them Thursday vs. the Giants.

The Phils again seized a quick lead and received a strong, strikeout-heavy performance from their starting pitcher. Zack Wheeler struck out 13 Marlins in a 7-2 win Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.

In seven innings, Wheeler allowed five hits and two runs. He walked none.

Wheeler tossed a seven-pitch, all-strike first inning. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara was in for a much bumpier ride.

Though he lined out to center field, Bryson Stott had an exemplary, eight-pitch leadoff at-bat. Trea Turner walked and Bryce Harper then hammered a slider into the right field second deck. 

A day after grabbing a 5-1 lead in the first inning against San Francisco, the Phillies stretched their advantage to 6-0 in the second. Alcantara needed 53 pitches to get four outs and didn’t reach the third inning. 

“We’ve seen him a lot,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He probably wasn’t as sharp as he normally is, but I thought we were very disciplined. … I really liked our approach against him.”

Max Kepler opened the bottom of the second with another excellent at-bat and walked. J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm and Johan Rojas all smacked singles and the Phillies kept on scoring with assistance from two Alcantara wild pitches. 

Meanwhile, Wheeler did smooth, no-nonsense work. He leaned on his four-seam fastball early and retired the first seven hitters he faced.

“Every time he goes out there, it’s special,” Harper said. “He pounds the zone, understands what he needs to do. I thought he was very sharp today.”

Wheeler said he “made a couple of adjustments” following a loss to the Cardinals in his last outing.

“Just getting into my front leg a little bit better,” he said. “My fastball was playing well, spinning nice and true how you want it to be. The split was playing well of of that. J.T. called a great game, just keeping them off balance, for the most part.”

Through five innings, one Marlin made it to second base. Eric Wagaman broke through for Miami with a two-out, two-run homer off of Wheeler in the sixth, but the Phillies had no trouble seeing their win through. 

Kyle Schwarber provided the team’s only run after the second inning when he cracked a long ball in the fifth off of lefty reliever Anthony Veneziano. Tanner Banks pitched a scoreless eighth and Jose Ruiz handled the ninth. 

Twenty games in, the 2025 Phillies sit at 12-8. 

Injury updates

Nick Castellanos returned to the lineup after leaving Thursday’s win with left hip flexor tightness. He went 2 for 3 before Kody Clemens replaced him in the fifth inning. 

“At that time I didn’t really want him to run the bases,” Thomson said. “And we were up 7-0, so I felt pretty comfortable with it just to get him out of there and make sure he’s safe.”

Brandon Marsh missed his second straight game with a right knee injury. Thomson said Marsh did some running pregame and would’ve been available to play in an emergency situation.

With Marsh still out, Rojas started his third consecutive game in center field. He’s gone 3 for 8 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base during that stretch. 

Weekend slate 

Taijuan Walker (1-1, 2.30 ERA) and Cal Quantrill (1-1, 5.79 ERA) are set to start Saturday at 1:05 p.m. 

Jesus Luzardo (2-0, 2.31 ERA) will pitch against his former team Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Connor Gillispie (0-2, 6.63 ERA) is Miami’s scheduled starter for the series finale. 

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Mets Notes: Dedniel Núñez closing in on return, early reports on Jeff McNeil in center

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza discusses a number of different topics prior to Friday night's game against the Cardinals...

Núñez back soon?

Dedniel Núñez continues working his way back to the club.

The hard-throwing right-hander took the ball again on Friday night down in Triple-A and he put together another scoreless inning, striking out two as he worked around a pair of one out walks.

He threw 28 pitches and now has posted a zero in three consecutive appearances.

Núñez won't throw on Friday, but it appears he could be closing in on a return to the Mets' bullpen very soon.

"He continues to do whatever we ask him to do," the skipper said. "Now it's just a matter of when do we call him up. He pitched last night, definitely down today, so we'll see what we have in the next couple of days."

Núñez was optioned to Syracuse at the end of spring training so that he can properly ramp up after suffering a pronator strain in his right forearm last August.

When healthy, he was one of the Mets' most effective relievers, pitching to a 2.31 ERA across 25 appearances.

New York's bullpen has been spectacular thus far this season, but there's no denying that getting him back in the mix would be another big boost.

McNeil impresses in center

Jeff McNeil got his first taste of center field on Friday night and he looked strong.

The versatile defender played six innings for the St. Lucie Mets and he made all of the plays that came his way, including an impressive sliding catch to leadoff the game.

Mendoza likes what he heard from the early reports down in Single-A.

"We all saw the play he made," he said. "Overall, I thought he played well. Talking to some of the guys there, he should be here today so I'll talk to him -- he's going to get checked out again before heading back to Binghamton. But the reports that we got he looked really good."

New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna (2) runs up the first base line after hitting an RBI double against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Citi Field.
New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna (2) runs up the first base line after hitting an RBI double against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner - Imagn Images

It remains to be seen whether or not McNeil will actually see time in center when he makes his return from the injured list, but he's been mentioned in the mix along with Brandon Nimmo and Tyrone Taylor.

With McNeil closing in on his return, it means one of Luisangel Acuña or Brett Baty could potentially find themselves back off the roster soon.

The youngsters struggled early, but they've picked things up of late, making that decision all that more difficult.

"We'll cross that bridge when he have to," Mendoza said. "It's going to be a very difficult decision whether we decide to send one of them or we decide to keep both here because they're playing well -- I hope that's the case."

What Mets have learned about Kranick

Max Kranick didn't pitch for the Mets last season -- but this year he's quickly developed into a weapon for them.

The young right-hander has mastered the transition to the bullpen, building off his strong spring training to allow just two earned runs while striking out seven over his first seven appearances this season.

Mendoza has loved what he's seen from him thus far.

"He's a great kid, a competitor, wants to win," he said. "He's willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win baseball games. The biggest thing for me is his ability to bounce back -- we've asked a lot out of him early on with his ability to throw multiple innings.

"After an off day I'll check with him and he's like I'm ready to go if you need me. On days where I'm probably trying to stay away from him, the fact that he's telling me I'm ready if you need me to go -- that for me has been the biggest thing that I've learned from him. He's adjusting really well."

Because of his past injury troubles, the Mets will continue to monitor his workload moving forward.

But early on, Mendoza has been impressed with his willingness to take the ball whenever called upon.

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Dodgers coach Chris Woodward is 'proud' of Rangers managerial stint, despite 2022 firing

Chris Woodward doesn’t have any hard feelings toward the Texas Rangers.

Just some awkward ones about being back this week.

“I don’t know if I’m looking forward to it,” the Dodgers first base coach said with an uncertain chuckle on Wednesday, ahead of his first return trip to Arlington since his time as Rangers manager ended with a midseason firing in 2022.

“I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of people … just the whole staff, the assistant trainers, just people I haven’t seen,” he added. “But I don’t know if it’s something that’s on my bucket list to go back and do.”

Such conflicting emotions mirror the way Woodward reflects on his Rangers tenure at large — a four-season stint with what was then a rebuilding ball club that taught Woodward much, but ended on a sour note.

Read more:Shohei Ohtani is back on a 40/40 pace. But can Dodgers give him more RBI opportunities?

“I don’t have any regrets or any bad feelings toward anything,” he said. “Obviously, there were some disagreements that led to me not being there anymore. But I have nothing but respect for everybody. I don’t hold a grudge. Life’s too short, man. Honestly, I take that experience as a really positive thing.”

Originally hired by the Rangers in November 2018, after serving as the third-base coach on back-to-back pennant-winning Dodgers teams, Woodward’s first season in charge in Texas began with promise.

Joey Gallo and Hunter Pence led the offense as All-Star selections. Mike Minor and Lance Lynn anchored a veteran core of pitchers. In late June, the Rangers were 10 games over .500, far outpacing modest preseason expectations.

But then, the vagaries of baseball set in.

Gallo and Pence suffered season-ending injuries. The pitching staff began to crumble beneath a lack of reliable depth. What had started as a “decent” year, Woodward said, ended with the Rangers limping to 78 wins.

And after fading following a 10-9 start in 2020, the Rangers never had a winning record under Woodward again.

Instead, Texas entered a rebuild, giving Woodward’s job a much more developmentally focused bent.

Behind the scenes, the organization created entirely new personnel departments, reimagined player development processes and administered ever-changing responsibilities to members of the coaching staff. Woodward had a hand in every bucket, trying to establish everything from hitting style to base-running technique to a roster-wide focus on all-around fundamentals.

Compared to a fully-fledged contender like the Dodgers, it almost felt like building from the ground up.

“Here [with the Dodgers], it’s such a well-oiled machine. Yeah, we make little adjustments to things here and there, but no major changes,” Woodward said.

In Texas, on the other hand, “we added a lot of resources and a lot of things while I was there, which was necessary. Because we had to get caught up to ‘championship standards,’ is what I called it.”

Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward smiles while returning to the dugout after visiting the mound during a 2022 game.
Chris Woodward managed the Texas Rangers from 2019 until he was fired in Aug. 2022 with one year remaining on his contract. (LM Otero / Associated Press)

“When everything’s a blank canvas,” he added, “it’s not as easy as people think.”

The losses along the way were difficult (the Rangers were 133-203 over Woodward’s final three seasons, finishing in last place twice).

The fire-sale trades of team stalwarts such as Gallo and Lynn were “probably one of the harder things to deal with,” Woodward recalled.

And when the Rangers failed to take a step forward in 2022, despite their marquee free-agent signings of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager (the ex-Dodgers shortstop whom Woodward helped woo to Texas) the previous offseason, discontent among the club reached a boiling point.

In an unexpected move, Woodward was fired on Aug. 15, 2022, with a year remaining on his contract.

“I tell a lot of the staff here that’s never managed, ‘Each year, you feel like you’ve aged five,’” said Woodward, who returned to the Dodgers in a special advisor role the following winter, before rejoining the on-field staff this year as first-base coach following Clayton McCullough’s hiring by the Miami Marlins.

“It’s kind of like being president, in a way,” the 48-year-old Woodward added. “You see guys age right before your eyes.”

But through those trials — which also included the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Rangers’ move into a new stadium during an era of social distancing — Woodward also came to find perspective and growth.

“I know I aged a lot in those four years, but in a good way,” he said. “I think I grew wiser, and understood how to lead and just get better every year.”

It’s part of the reason why, when the Rangers won the World Series in 2023 — in Bruce Bochy’s first season as Woodward’s successor — Woodward felt pride rather than resentment; confident he had left his old club in a better place than he found it.

Read more:Bobby Miller struggles, but Dodgers complete sweep of Rockies

“Those four years, I was really proud of, when I left,” he said. “[The club] was in a much better spot internally, all the way from the staff to the front office to the sports science to all the different things that we did … Everything was in line. And they won. Proud of that.”

It doesn’t mean Woodward will be in for a big ovation when he returns this weekend, during the Dodgers’ three-game series at Globe Life Field. He said his old friends in Dallas joked they should all come to form a cheering section, “because you just don’t know the reaction you’re going to get” from the rest of the crowd.

But when asked to reflect on his time with the Rangers this week, the potential awkwardness of the return didn’t overshadow the silver linings Woodward took from his tenure.

“Tremendous experience. Grateful for the opportunity,” he said. “I just think it’s important that you learn and grow.”

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Luke Keaschall, Caleb Durbin & Ranger Suárez

We’re leading off this week’s column with a couple of callups possessing the potential to help in steals.

Luke Keaschall (2B Twins) - Rostered in 3% of Yahoo leagues

It certainly wasn’t the plan for Keaschall to join the Twins this early. Coming off Tommy John surgery in August, he only DH’d while going 5-for-21 with a homer this spring. In Triple-A thus far, he’s split time evenly between second base and DH, starting back-to-back games in the field only once. He also hasn’t really gotten hot yet, having hit .261/.379/.348 with one homer in 58 plate appearances. Nevertheless, the banged-up Twins have chosen to promote him in time for Friday’s game.

Whether he’s truly ready now or not, Keaschall is one of the game’s most well rounded offensive prospects. Since being drafted in the second round out of Arizona State in 2023, he’s batted .297/.415/.470 with 19 homers, 38 steals and a 17.5% strikeout rate in 148 games and 662 plate appearances. His approach is excellent, and while he might not show enough power to be a contender for All-Star teams, he seems destined to enjoy a lengthy career somewhere on the diamond.

As for his position, that’s still to be determined. Keachall played center and first in addition to second base in Double-A last year. The Twins don’t want him trying to make throws from the outfield with his surgically repaired elbow at the moment, but the outfield is probably where he belongs. He has the speed required to play center if his routes come along. The Twins figure to mostly give him starts at DH and second base for now.

Odds are that Keaschall isn’t up to stay at this point, but those with an open roster spot could do worse than taking a chance on him. He won’t be overwhelmed at the plate, and if he does manage to get off to a hot start here and establish himself, he might contribute 10 homers and 20 steals with a solid average over the rest of the season. If not, mixed-league value will probably wait until 2026.

Caleb Durbin (INF Brewers) - Rostered in 5% of Yahoo leagues

The Brewers decided that Durbin wasn’t the answer at third base this spring, but then the guys they pick started out hitting .150/.188/.233 through 19 games. As a result, Oliver Dunn was demoted, and Durbin is set to make his major league debut Friday.

A 14th-round pick of the Braves in 2021, Durbin was traded to the Yankees for Lucas Luetge after the 2022 season and then to the Brewers in the Devin Williams deal last winter. He’s boasted strong minor league numbers the last two years, but where he really gained attention was in the Arizona Fall League last October and November. Not only did he hit .312/.427/.548 in the offense-heavy league, but he stole a whopping 29 bases in 30 attempts over 24 games. He opened up this year hitting .278/.316/.481 with three steals in five attempts over 13 games for Triple-A Nashville.

Considering that Durbin had OBPs over .390 each of the last two years, his start in Triple-A this year has been interesting. He’s pretty clearly gone in search of more power. Last year, his average exit velocity in Triple-A was 83.8 mph, which would put him very close to the bottom among major leaguers. This year, he was at 88.6 mph, which is merely below average and perfectly fine for someone who makes as much contact as he does; he’s struck out just five times in 58 plate appearances.

It remains to be seen if the 5-foot-7 Durbin can really hit for power in the major leagues. He’s also not truly as fast as the steal numbers suggest, and his defense can be kind of rough. There’s a good chance he’ll be a bench guy for the long haul. Still, there shouldn’t be any harm in Milwaukee giving him a try as a regular now. He’s probably a better bet than Keachall to offer mixed-league value over the rest of 2025.

Ranger Suárez (SP Phillies) - Rostered in 36% of Yahoo leagues

Having recovered from the back stiffness that put him on the shelf late in spring training, Suárez has made two rehab starts with low-A Clearwater, allowing a total of one run and striking out 11 in seven innings. He’s probably one more outing away from displacing Taijuan Walker in the Phillies rotation, yet he’s still available in nearly two-thirds of Yahoo leagues at the moment.

A National League All-Star a year ago, Suárez is coming off a poor second half, also seemingly fueled by back woes that caused his velocity to drop. He was looking better this spring, though. When he’s going good, he combines a league-average strikeout rate with strong groundball numbers. Of the 60 pitchers to throw 400 innings since 2022, Suárez has the fifth-highest groundball rate and seventh-lowest hard-hit rate.

Suárez isn’t likely to go on another surge like the one that saw him open 9-0 with a 1.36 ERA last season, but he’s pretty clearly mixed-league worthy while healthy. He should be in line for strong run and bullpen support, even if the Phillies have been a little lacking in both areas to date, and while Citizens Bank Park isn’t ideal for pitchers, Suárez’s groundball tendencies make it less of an issue for him.

Waiver Wire Quick Hits

- Clayton Kershaw won’t be ready nearly as quickly as Suárez, but are we really leaving him unrostered in 82% of Yahoo leagues? Coming off knee and toe surgeries, he’s on the 60-day IL and won’t be eligible to return until late May. However, he’s already on the rehab trail, having thrown three scoreless innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

- Not including the Rays’ Kameron Misner in this week’s update to the Top 300 was a mistake I’ll need to correct Monday. He’s available in 81% of Yahoo leagues, and he’ll be getting regular time against righties for the foreseeable future. The 15% strikeout rate is likely to reveal itself as a fluke eventually, but he’s pummeling the ball right now with his 49% hard-hit rate and .733 slugging percentage.

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Fantasy baseball two-start pitchers: Kris Bubic tops the list of stellar options for week of April 21

Hello and welcome to the fourth edition of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Please note that there are teams that don't have anyone lined up for two starts in the upcoming week, either because they're working with a modified six-man rotation at the moment or because they are only scheduled for five games. These teams include the Cubs, Dodgers and Cardinals.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of April 14.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of Friday, April 11, and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Kris Bubic (vs. Rockies, @ Astros)

After delivering dominant performances in each of his first three starts on the season, Bubic took a bit of a step back this past week in a no-decision against the Royals. That’s no reason to shy away from him now though, especially with a juicy matchup against the Rockies in Kansas City to start the week. Bubic holds an outstanding 1.88 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 27/9 K/BB ratio over 24 innings on the season and he should continue to produce elite results during the upcoming week. The ERA is going to show regress at some point this season, but for now you have to roll him out there every week while he’s pitching like this.

Hunter Brown (vs. Rays, @ Royals)

Hunter Brown has looked like an ace through his first four starts on the season, compiling a minuscule 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and a 22/5 K/BB ratio over his 24 frames. The proud graduate of Lakeview High School (St. Clair Shores, MI) should be able to continue his dominance this week with a pair of plus matchups against the Rays and at the Royals. He should be able to add 10+ strikeouts to his ledger this week with a good shot at earning a victory and the stellar ratios that we have come to expect from the 26-year-old hurler. He’s one of the best options on the board this week.

Jack Flaherty (vs. Padres, vs. Orioles)

Flaherty was supposed to line up for two starts this past week, but the Tigers decided to insert Keider Montero into the mix to give each of their starters an extra day of rest. That pushed his two-step back to a much more formidable set of matchups against the Padres and Orioles. He’s coming off of his worst start of the season but still holds a terrific 2.53 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 25/9 K/BB ratio across 21 1/3 innings on the season and both of his starts will be in the pitcher friendly confines of Comerica Park. He should be started in all formats.

Jose Soriano (vs. Pirates, @ Twins)

Maybe it’s a slight leap including Soriano as a strong option this week, but with the way that he’s throwing the ball right now and the premium matchups it makes plenty of sense to me. Through his first four outings he has posted a 3.16 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and a 20/10 K/BB ratio over 25 2/3 innings. The strikeouts are a bit light, but over two starts he should be able to provide 8-10 punchouts and he’s in a great spot to try to snag a victory in that first start against Bailey Falter and the Pirates. I’d prioritize him as a streaming option in shallower leagues wherever he may be available.

Bailey Ober (vs. White Sox, vs. Angels)

Ober was drafted by most fantasy managers to be a mainstay in their starting rotations and while he has been brutal through his first four starts (6.16 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 17/6 K/BB in 19 innings), this is a case where you simply have to stay the course. The matchups couldn’t be better – battling the White Sox and the Angels with both starts coming in Minnesota. If Ober can’t right the ship this week, then you have to think about benching him periodically instead of starting him every week, but he should be in 100% of lineups for this dazzling two-step.

Bryce Miller (@ Red Sox, vs. Marlins)

This is one that you really shouldn’t have to think too much about. Miller has been good through his first four starts – posting a 3.43 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and a 21/10 K/BB ratio over 21 innings. The WHIP is a bit high, but we’ll take it given the other production. Now he’s lined up for a two-start week that includes a home date against the Marlins where he’ll have a great shot at earning a victory. He’s someone that I would start without question in all formats.

Decent Plays

Osvaldo Bido (vs. Rangers, vs. White Sox)

While Bido shouldn’t be a staple in fantasy lineups most weeks, this two-step that he has on tap is truly the exception. He holds a stellar 2.61 ERA through his first four starts, but the 1.45 WHIP, limited strikeouts (14 in 20 2/3 innings) and the 5.31 xFIP hint that trouble could be on the horizon. Fortunately, he gets to take on the White Sox during the upcoming week, which have made even the most pedestrian of hurlers look good this season. The matchup against the Rangers isn’t terrible either. I don’t like that both starts will be in West Sacramento where the ball is flying out of the yard, but in 15-teamers for sure I’d be taking the gamble and rolling him out there wherever possible. In 12-teamers it’s a bit more dicey and I’d only take the plunge if I’m already significantly behind my target in wins and looking to try to make up ground.

Dean Kremer (@ Nationals, @ Tigers)

This one I’ve been having a difficult time with. Kremer has really struggled through his first four starts, posting a 6.41 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and a 13/4 K/BB ratio over 19 2/3 innings. The 4.49 xFIP, while still not good, hints that he may have been a bit unlucky so far. Even so, he has still managed to secure a pair of victories with the O’s offense backing him and he’s coming off of his only good start of the season. The matchups aren’t perfect, but they aren’t ones to shy away from either and I think it’s actually a benefit that he’ll be pitching away from home twice given the hitter-friendly confines of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He’s a player that I’ll be targeting in 15-team formats where I can get him and someone that I could also consider in 12-teamers as well if I needed another useable arm.

Gavin Williams (vs. Yankees, vs. Red Sox)

While he hasn’t quite been able to carry over his brilliant form from spring training, Williams has pitched decently through his first four starts on the season – registering a 4.58 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and an 18/10 K/BB ratio over 19 2/3 innings. In most weeks, he’s probably a fringe option in 12 team leagues and a rotation staple in 15 teamers. In both cases, he should probably be started in all two-start weeks. The only issue here is the matchups. He’ll be battling two of the most powerful offenses in the American League and the ratio risk is very real. Pitching both games in Cleveland helps, and he’ll get enough strikeouts either way that you probably have to stay the course, just understand that there is more risk involved than usual here.

Clarke Schmidt (@ Guardians, vs. Blue Jays)

Fantasy managers that have been waiting patiently to deploy Schmidt this season get the added benefit of him having a terrific two-start week lined up. He looked sharp in his season debut against the Royals, giving up just four hits and a pair of walks over 5 2/3 innings of three-run baseball while striking out a pair. There shouldn’t be any concerns over workload or pitch count restrictions and he looks like a good bet to snag a victory this week with somewhere in the 6-9 strikeout range. I’d be comfortable starting him in all leagues and would be targeting him any place that he’s available via waivers.

Kevin Gausman (@ Astros, @ Yankees)

In most matchup combinations, I would have had Gausman listed as a strong play given how well he has thrown the ball to start the 2025 campaign. Having to take on two of the better offenses in the league in two extreme hitters’ parks though, is far from ideal. The 34-year-old hurler sports an outstanding 2.49 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and a 20/3 K/BB ratio over 25 1/3 innings through his first four starts and looks like the ace that we have come to expect from him over the years, albeit with a decreased strikeout rate. You could get cute and try to bench him due to the matchups, but if I have Gausman, I’m rolling the hot hand out there again this week.

Walker Buehler (vs. White Sox, @ Guardians)

As much of a history that I have of being a believer in Walker Buehler, I just haven’t bought in to what he has done so far with the Red Sox. Through his first four starts he sits at 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 17/5 K/BB ratio over 20 2/3 innings of work. The 3.83 xFIP is interesting, but the lack of strikeouts and overall lack of whiffs are very concerning. The saving grace here is the matchups. The White Sox are one of the most attractive targets on the board and there’s nothing at all terrifying about the Guardians’ lineup. There’s some ratio risk here, sure, but I think Buehler is good for around 10 strikeouts total on the week with a decent shot at earning a victory. I think I’d be rolling him if I had him in 15 and 12 team formats. Anything more shallow than that, he’s probably a pass for me.

At Your Own Risk

Sean Newcomb (vs. Mariners, @ Guardians)

With Richard Fitts landing on the injured list, it looks like Newcomb will get another week to hold down a spot in the Red Sox’ rotation until Lucas Giolito is ready to return. The 31-year-old southpaw has a passable ERA (3.63) and 19 punchouts in 17 1/3 innings on the season – both of which would be helpful for fantasy purposes – it’s the 1.90 WHIP that’s giving me nightmares here. The matchups are great though, at least on the surface, but when you dig deeper you’ll see that he’s matched up against Bryce Miller and Gavin Williams. Not ideal if wanting to earn victories. If you need the strikeouts in deeper leagues and fell like gambling with your ratios, go ahead and take a shot.

Jonathan Cannon (@ Red Sox, @ Athletics)

The White Sox enter play on Friday with a 4-14 record on the season after finishing with the worst record in MLB history during the 2024 season. They aren’t going to win many games, so going there looking for streaming options isn’t ideal, as they simply won’t deliver victories. In lieu of wins, you would hope to get strikeouts or ratio help from two-start streamers. Cannon has delivered one of those this season, with 18 punchouts in 18 1/3 innings, but the ratios are much higher than you’d like. He’s also battling two good offenses in two hitter’s parks. This seems like an easy avoid to me.

Davis Martin (@ Twins, @ Athletics)

Similar to what was mentioned with Jonathan Cannon above, the White Sox are probably the single worst spot that you can turn to if trying to make up victories. Unlike Cannon, Martin hasn’t even generated strikeouts this season, with a mere 13 over 22 1/3 innings through his first four starts. So he isn’t going to win, he isn’t going to help out much in strikeouts and he’s very likely to hurt your ratios. There’s no reason to go here this week, even in the deepest of mixed leagues.

Zack Littell (@ Diamondbacks, @ Padres)

Littell had been lined up for two starts last week, where we were recommending to fade him in all formats. Then the Rays shuffled their rotation and he got pushed back to an even more brutal two-start week – having to take on the Diamondbacks in Arizona and the Padres in San Diego. This one is simple. Don’t punish yourself, simply avoid Littell at all costs this week.

Patrick Corbin (@ Athletics, @ Giants)

Despite the placement at the bottom here, this one isn’t quite as straightforward. Corbin was bitten by a venomous spider before Wednesday’s outing against the Angels and then pitched like he was superhuman, delivering his finest start of the season. Can that continue? Unlikely, but at least possible. There’s risk here that Jack Leiter could return and bump Corbin from the rotation – or at least from the two-start week. The matchups aren’t terrible though at the Athletics and at the Giants, if you were really desperate and needed to find a ninth starter in a 15-teamer, I could at least understand looking in Corbin’s direction.

National League

Strong Plays

Max Meyer (vs. Reds, @ Mariners)

Max Meyer is another pitcher that was supposed to be lined up for two starts this past week that got pushed back due to shuffling of the rotation or adding in an extra starter for a week. It may wind up working in his favor though, as the matchups on tap for the upcoming week are very favorable – taking on the Reds in Miami and then traveling to Seattle to battle the Mariners. While he’s just 1-2 on the year, the 26-year-old hurler holds a terrific 2.63 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 27/7 K/BB ratio across 24 innings. He’s pitching so well that he should be started in most leagues on a weekly basis even for single starts, so for this juicy two-start week he absolutely needs to be started with confidence in all leagues.

Brandon Pfaadt (vs. Rays, vs. Braves)

Through his first four starts on the season there’s a whole lot to like about what Pfaadt has done. He has gone 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and an 18/5 K/BB ratio across 23 2/3 innings of work. The improved command has been very encouraging, and his profile suggests that more strikeouts should be coming. The matchups aren’t worrisome either, especially with the Braves’ bats struggling to start the season. I’d start Pfaadt with confidence in all formats.

Spencer Schwellenbach (vs. Cardinals, @ Diamondbacks)

We aren’t going to let one bad start throw us off of Spencer Schwellenbach, who has registered a scintillating 2.55 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and a 22/5 K/BB ratio across 24 2/3 innings. He’s a player who should be in most fantasy lineups for every single start, let alone for a brilliant two-start week that includes a matchup at home against the Cardinals. Is it possible that he struggles again or that the Diamondbacks light him up over the weekend? Sure. It’s very unlikely though and I’d have a hard time believing that you have nine better options than him to start on your fantasy roster.

Robbie Ray (vs. Brewers, vs. Rangers)

Ray was a very popular name in fantasy drafts this spring and surged up draft boards in late March after dominating his way through the Cactus League. Things haven’t gone quite as swimmingly through his first four starts as he holds a 4.19 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and a 21/15 K/BB ratio over 19 1/3 innings. He is 3-0 though and pitches for one of the better teams in the National League. If you’re relying on him, you simply have to stay the course and use him for a two-start week at home against the Brewers and Rangers. Ray has always been a player that could be a risky option in WHIP, that comes with the territory, but the strikeouts and victories should continue to be there and he makes for a strong play overall for the upcoming week.

Decent Plays

Aaron Nola (@ Mets, @ Cubs)

Of all the upper echelon starting pitching options through the first few weeks of the regular season, Nola has to be among the most disappointing from a fantasy perspective. Through his first four starts the 31-year-old right-hander is 0-4 with a 6.65 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and a 25/9 K/BB ratio across 21 2/3 frames. His xFIP sits at a respectable 3.40 though, hinting that better times should be on the horizon. The matchups aren’t ideal, having to take on the Mets in New York and then battle the Cubs at Wrigley. I get that. If you have Aaron Nola though, I just can’t justify sitting him for a two start week. If you’ve already absorbed the four bad starts, you have to keep him in your lineup and give him a chance to correct those ratios. Worst case scenario he should still deliver the strikeouts.

Nick Martinez (@ Marlins, @ Rockies)

To say that Martinez has struggled through his first four starts on the season would be a massive understatement. The 34-year-old hurler is 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and a 19/7 K/BB ratio over 21 innings of work. It’s hard to recommend throwing a pitcher who has been so terrible in the early going, but the matchups are just too good to ignore. Despite the fact that he has to travel to Coors Field, you would much rather go there in April than in the summer, and he gets to battle two of the worst offenses in all of baseball. If you have Martinez on your roster or are able to pick him up, this would be the optimal time to use him. If he can’t succeed this week, it’s probably time to cut bait.

Quinn Priester (@ Giants, @ Cardinals)

The Brewers have had to scrounge up rotation options due to a plethora of injuries in their rotation to open the season, and one of the most intriguing options came as they acquired Quinn Priester from the Red Sox. He was thrown right into the fire and has been terrific through his first two starts, posting a 0.90 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and an 8/5 K/BB ratio over 10 innings. He gets a pair of strong matchups in good pitcher’s parks and makes for an outstanding streaming option for the upcoming week, especially considering how widely available he is in most leagues.

Jose Quintana (@ Giants, @ Cardinals)

In a similar boat to his teammate Quinn Priester above, Quintana has looked outstanding since joining the Brewers rotation – going 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and a 6/3 K/BB ratio across 12 2/3 innings. He’s obviously not going to continue at that pace, but we have seen the veteran southpaw have sustained success at the big league level before. He gets two strong matchups in pitcher’s parks for the upcoming week and makes for a strong streaming option in 15-team leagues and I’d be comfortable rolling him out there in 12-team formats as well.

Tylor Megill (vs. Phillies, @ Nationals)

He’s coming off of his worst start of the season – giving up two runs on eight hits over five innings in a loss to the Twins – but it’s hard to not be impressed by what Megill has accomplished to open the 2025 campaign. He has posted a 1.40 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 20/7 K/BB ratio over 19 1/3 innings. While he has shown bouts of dominance in the past before crashing back to earth, the underlying metrics seem to support Megill being a strong option right now. The matchups aren’t ideal, and there’s always a chance that he could blow up your WHIP, but he’s a start for me this week in both 12 team and 15 team leagues.

Randy Vasquez (@ Tigers, vs. Rays)

On the surface, Vasquez has seemingly taken advantage of the opportunity that presented itself when Yu Darvish and Matt Waldron opened the season on the injured list – posting a 1.74 ERA through his first 20 2/3 innings. Look just a bit deeper though, and there are major reasons for concerns, specifically his 1.35 WHIP and cringe-inducing 8/14 K/BB ratio over 20 2/3 innings. Those numbers contribute to an xFIP that jumps off the page at 6.27. Can he continue to outperform his metrics and pitch well in a pair of decent matchups against the Tigers and Rays, sure he absolutely could. Given that he pitches for the Padres, there’s also a decent chance that he could secure a victory in one of these starts. That makes him a fringe streaming option for me in 15-team leagues, though I’d probably avoid him in 12 teamers.

Mitchell Parker (vs. Orioles, vs. Mets)

Parker continues to exceed all expectations whenever he has been given a shot in the Nationals’ rotation and it’s probably time to start taking him seriously from a fantasy perspective as well. The 25-year-old southpaw owns a 1.85 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and a 16/9 K/BB ratio over 24 1/3 innings in his first four starts while earning a pair of victories. He takes on a couple of strong offenses during the upcoming week, but gets to do so at home which increases the chances of earning a win. I’m comfortable using him in all 15 and 12 team leagues for this week and think that he has staying power for the duration of the season as well.

At Your Own Risk

Ryan Feltner (@ Royals, vs. Reds)

As will be the case many times this season, it’s always going to be difficult to stream two-start options from the Rockies. Not only do they pitch in one of the worst pitcher’s parks in all of baseball, they’re also a terrible baseball team and won’t win many games. Even if a pitcher had been pitching well and the matchups were good, it would be a tough recommendation. Fortunately, Feltner isn’t pitching well and is an easy fade. He holds a 4.82 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and a 17/10 K/BB ratio on the season and is winless through his first four starts. He should be avoided in all formats if possible.

Jordan Hicks (vs. Brewers, vs. Rangers)

I’m having a difficult time trying to ascertain what to do with Jordan Hicks this week. He’s coming off of a start where he gave up five runs in the opening inning against the Phillies before settling in and finishing his day with six shutout innings and nearly touched 102 mph with his fastball. The overall numbers are troublesome, with a 6.04 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a 19/10 K/BB ratio over 22 1/3 innings, but the peripherals, the whiff rate and the increased velocity are obviously intriguing. Both starts are at home in San Francisco, which makes then a bit more appealing. You’re asking for ratio damage if you take the plunge, but the way that he finished Thursday’s start has me interested enough that I’d probably risk it in deeper leagues.

Bailey Falter (@ Angels, @ Dodgers)

I’m a bit surprised that Falter remains a staple in the Pirates’ rotation with all of the shuffling that they have done early in the season. I’m even more surprised that he has pitched decently – with a 4.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 15/7 K/BB ratio over 22 innings. He gets to take on both the Angels and Dodgers in Los Angeles for the upcoming week and I fear that an implosion is imminent. Both clubs hit left-handed pitching well and Falter has struggled to keep the ball in the yard throughout his career. If you’re desperate for starts and want to try it, be my guest, but he won’t be anywhere near my bid lists this weekend.

Streamer City

Here are a couple of my hand-picked streaming options for the upcoming week that are readily available in most fantasy leagues. I’ll track these results throughout the season so you can see how my recommendations have performed.

American League

David Festa Twins, RHP (vs. White Sox - Wednesday 4/23)

We're going to continue attacking the White Sox anytime that we can. Festa is already a strong option on his own as he has spun nine scoreless innings with a 1.11 WHIP and a 10/2 K/BB ratio through his first two starts, the fact that he gets to battle Martin Perez and the White Sox at home is simply a bonus. It's shocking that he's rostered in only eight percent of all Yahoo leagues at the moment.

National League

Andrew Abbott Reds, LHP (vs. Marlins - Wednesday 4/23)

Another team that we like to pick on is the Marlins. Abbott looked sharp in his season debut last week, giving up just one run while posting a 0.80 WHIP and five strikeouts over five innings against the Pirates. He's still rostered in only 15 percent of all Yahoo leagues. That will certainly change in the days leading up to his start against the Fish, so it may be wise to strike early to secure him for that one.

Last Week’s Review

Osvaldo Bido Athletics, RHP (@ White Sox - Wednesday 4/16)

It was a strange start in which Bido didn't record a single strikeout, but he surrendered just one run over 5 2/3 innings in a victory over the White Sox. While we'd like something in terms of punchouts, that's still a great start and something that we would take ten times out of ten from a streaming option.

Eduardo Rodriguez Diamondbacks, LHP (vs. Marlins - Thursday 4/17)

E-Rod was brilliant in his start against the Marlins, piling up nine strikeouts while allowing just one earned run in a victory over the Fish. He's not going to deliver those types of results every week, but we have seen early on what types of benefits you can get from streaming against the worst offenses in the league. Hopefully you listened and were able to pick up either of last week's recommendations!