Category: MLB

Saturday notes…

• STREAKING AT HOME: The Cubs are trying today for a 10th consecutive victory at home. They have had 18 such double-digit streaks during the Modern Era, the last 14 at Wrigley Field, their home since 1916. Their most recent was 14 in a row, May 18-June 22, 2008. A 13-game streak in 2001 and a 10-game streak in 1998 are their only others of the kind since 1970. Their record is 18 straight, Sept. 4-22, 1935, during a surge that lifted them to the pennant. The 2008 streak was one of five of 14 games. The 2001 streak was the only one of 13. They also had a lone streak of 12, in 1927, and of 11, in 1910. Eight of the streaks ended after 10 games. Ten were snapped after nine wins. The first seven were in 1908-33. Then there was one in 1957 and two in back-to-back years, 2016 and 2017. The most recent streak ended with a 5-1 loss to the Braves in which the Cubs managed only five hits: two each by Ian Happ and Ben Zobrist, and one by Jason Heyward. One of Happ’s was a homer. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• THREE OF A KIND: The Cubs’ pair of three-run innings yesterday were their 11th and 12th of the season with a trio. They have scored five runs in three innings, four runs in seven and two runs in 22, for a total of 44 crooked-number innings, out of 95 total innings in which they have scored. They have allowed multiple runs in 35 of 74 innings in which they gave up runs. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• DANSBY: Dansby Swanson, last 17 games since April 12: .273/.391/.600 (15-for-55) with a double, a triple, five home runs, 11 walks, 16 runs scored and 18 RBI.
• TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs homered four times (Sammy Sosa, Gary Matthews Jr., Bill Mueller and Eric Young Sr.) and defeated the Padres 8-3 at Wrigley Field. It happened 25 years ago today, Wednesday, May 2, 2001.

Cubs lineup:

Diamondbacks lineup:

Shōta Imanaga, LHP vs. Ryne Nelson, RHP

Shōta Imanaga was a little off his game Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing five runs in 5.1 innings. One positive: He did not allow a home run and this year he’s given up just three long balls in 34.1 innings, a vast improvement over last year.

Overall, though, after a bit of a rough outing his first time out this year against the Nationals, Imanaga posted a 2.45 ERA and 0.750 WHIP in 29.1 innings in five April starts. Can’t really argue with that sort of production.

Last year, he threw seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball against the D-backs March 29, 2025 at Chase Field. Do that again, Shōta.

Ryne Nelson had a pretty good year for the D-backs in 2025 (33 games, 23 starts, 3.39 ERA, 1.071 WHIP, 3.4 bWAR), but this year has been a disaster. He’s had two decent starts but the other four have been awful, and especially the last two: 15 hits, 14 earned runs in 5.1 innings (that’s a 23.83 ERA). He’s allowed six home runs in 25.2 innings this year.

Last year he made two relief appearances against the Cubs and they absolutely pounded him: 10 hits, nine runs in 2.1 innings.

Do that again this afternoon, Cubs hitters.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Wrigley Field.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Diamondbacks site AZ Snakepit. If you do go there to interact with D-backs fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees clash this afternoon in the Bronx.

That matchup headlines my favorite MLB picks for today in the "no run first inning" and "yes run first inning" markets.

Here are my best free NRFI and YRFI bets for Saturday, May 2.

Best NRFI/YRFI bets today

Pick	Odds
/ - NRFI	-108
/ - NRFI	-117
/ - NRFI	-108

Orioles at Yankees: NRFI (-108)

The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees continue their three-game set today. Kyle Bradish takes the hill for the visitors, and he has a perfect 6-0 NRFI record this season. While his 4.80 ERA isn’t great, Bradish rarely gets into trouble in the first inning.

The Yankees are hitting just .220 in the first, and they’ve scored in the first inning just twice in their last six games. As for the O’s, they’re in the midst of a three-game NRFI streak, and Ryan Weathers has allowed no runs in the first in two of his previous four appearances.

• Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: MASN, YES

Blue Jays at Twins: NRFI (-117)

This one is a no-brainer. We’re looking at two teams who rarely produce offense out of the gates. The Toronto Blue Jays have a 23-9 NRFI/YRFI record, while the Minnesota Twins are 25-8 in that category.

Dylan Cease has allowed a run in the first in just two of his six starts this year, while Connor Prielipp is 1-1. The Jays are hitting just .253 in the first innings, and although the Twins are 10th in the big leagues in runs, they’re batting under .200 in the first.

• Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Twins.TV, SN1

Phillies at Giants: NRFI (-108)

The Philadelphia Phillies send Andrew Painter to the mound tonight against the Miami Marlins. While he’s posted a dismal 5.25 ERA, Painter hasn’t allowed a run in the first inning yet this season. The Fish have also scored in the first just once across their last six appearances, and that was on Friday.

As for the Phils, their offensive struggles are well known, and they’ve only scored in the first in 66% of their games so far. Max Meyer has also shoved early in games, not surrendering a single run in the first inning in five straight starts.

• Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBCSP, Marlins.TV

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.

Mets catcher Luis Torrens has inked a two-year extension with the club, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.

Torrens, 30, is set to receive $11.5 million ($5.75 million each year) as part of the new deal, with $2 million up front. He can also get $2 million in incentives.

He was set to become a free agent at season’s end, after two-plus years with the Mets.

Torrens, who got the contract on his 30th birthday, has hit .200 this season in 13 games, with four RBIs.

Behind the plate, he’s leading MLB with a 57.1 caught-stealing percentage after finishing at the top of baseball last year (40.8 percent).

The extension will see Torrens continue to serve as the Mets’ backup catcher behind Francisco Alvarez, who has hit four home runs this season.

Torrens was traded to the Mets from the Yankees (who he had signed a minor league contract with) in May 2024, and he’s gone on to play 152 games for the franchise.

Prior to joining the Mets, Torrens had major league stops with the Padres, Mariners and Cubs.

He saw action in two games this week as the Mets fell to the Nationals on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Mets beat the Angels 4-3 on Friday to move to 11-21 on the year.

The NL East leading Atlanta Braves, who have a 7.5 game lead and refuse to lose a series, have made a roster move before tonight’s game with the Colorado Rockies.

Anthony Molina was helpful in last night’s come-from-behind win for the never-say-die, put-them-in-a-Walt-Weiss-sleeper-hold Braves. He pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh inning with a walk and no strikeouts as Atlanta staged their comeback. And hahahaha just as I was writing something to highlight Anthony Molina, he’s been sent to Gwinnett. I will do it anyway but still annoying. He has my attention. With a 96-97 MPH fastball and a 85 MPH curveball, he is more equipped than the average fringe reliever. But with a career 15% K rate and 110 xFIP-, he still needs to cook in Gwinnett.

Speaking of Cook(ie), Carlos Carrasco is back with Atlanta tonight. Carlos was designated for assignment on Wednesday, chose free agency on Friday, and will be in the Braves bullpen tonight. With Chris Sale on the mound tonight, they may not need him. But Denver has made a fool of many pitchers.

Crumpet and Lobo love walks. Unfortunately, so do opposing batters and my dogs only wish they could get walked at the rate A’s pitchers are offering. It’s been an issue all season and not only does it continue to be a major barrier to success, it is a widespread phenomenon across all types and levels of pitchers.

Last night the A’s issued 8 more free passes, 5 from starter JT Ginn in just 4.1 IP. Today’s starting pitcher, Jacob Lopez, is trying to bring down a walk rate that started at over a batter an inning and currently sits at 21 BB in 24.1 IP. “Ace” Luis Severino has put together two excellent starts in a row, but has still walked 23 in his 38.1 IP for the season.

Team wide, strangely the A’s have issued the 3rd most walks in all of MLB yet also only the 3rd most walks in the division. More generous than A’s pitchers are only those who toil for the Angels and Astros. But for contrast, the A’s have now walked 147 batters in 32 games (4.6 per game) while despite playing one more game the Mariners staff has walked only 82 (2.48 per game).

What is typical this season, with the ABS challenge system shrinking the strike zone a bit as umpires can’t “Verlander” the opposing hitters? 3.5 BB/game is the median, meaning the A’s staff is a whopping 31.4% above the league average so far in 2026.

Here’s the ominous part. The issue is far from limited to the big league club. Currently the A’s have an organizational problem with throwing enough strikes, including their very best pitching prospects.

Gage Jump? Scouts continue to be excited about his potential and his ceiling and cite him as not being far from ready to pitch in the big leagues. Yet one stat stands out as still needing work and attention: so far this season at AAA, Jump has thrown 18.1 IP and walked 10.

Luis Morales was envisioned to be a breakout candidate pitching his way to the front of the A’s big league rotation but he has been wild at 3 levels in the span of a month. In spring training Morales threw 19 sad innings in which he walked 14 and was tagged for 16 ER. Then he lasted only 7.1 IP in the big leagues as he walked 8 and was soon shipped back to AAA for more seasoning. At AAA he has completed just 12.1 IP in 3 starts, walking 9. So that’s, in aggregate, 38.2 IP, 31 BB.

Mason Barnett continues to struggle greatly to throw enough strikes, with an MLB mark of 13 BB in 24.1 IP. At AAA he has not made strides, with 12 BB in 19.2 IP.

Even Kade Morris, a “pitch to contact” sinker baller with low K rates but strong “pitchability,” has walked 16 in his 31.1 IP.

Dipping down to AA, Jamie Arnold is, like Jump, viewed as a “fast mover” with upside and in fairness to Arnold starting his pro career at AA is an aggressive assignment. Arnold came with some concerns around his control and so far, indeed control has been his main vice. In 21.1 IP he has walked 10.

Perhaps most puzzling is Wei-En Lin who, at 19 years old last season, established himself as a strike throwing machine. Lin issued only 22 free passes in 87 IP as a teenager (while striking out 117), walking just 2.28/9 IP at AA. But Lin walked 4 batters in his 3.1 IP in spring training and hasn’t been nearly as efficient at Midland so far this season with 9 BB in 21 IP (3.86/9 IP). It’s as if everyone in the A’s system has caught the walkies bug.

To what can we attribute what is becoming a serious issue impeding the A’s quest for success on the mound? There are myriad potential explanations, most of which are probably entirely inaccurate. They include:

1. Lack of talent. If the group of MLB pitchers and top MiLB prospects just doesn’t measure up to the industry norm then you’re going to see it reflected in performance. Certainly pre-season projections did not favor the big league staff as a whole, but few organizations would not want to have Jump, Morales, Arnold, and Lin among their top pitching prospects.

2. Mechanical issues not solved. Control problems often arise when a pitcher loses that “repeatability” or something gets off with their mechanics, they can’t get right in real time and coaches are unable to help them right the ship.

3. Approach not geared to limit walks. If pitchers are nibbling, throwing breaking pitches in fastball counts, trying to miss bats with chase pitches instead of challenging, etc., the cost is going to be higher walk totals along the way.

4. Drafting/Acquiring philosophy. Certainly, from Joe Boyle to Elvis Alvarado to Braden Nett to the selection of Arnold, the A’s have not shied away recently from pitchers with plus stuff whose biggest red flag on the mound is their control. Perhaps the organization is paying the price of a “be careful what you wish for” approach.

5. Home field disadvantage. Both in Sacramento and Las Vegas/PCL, A’s pitchers face a hostile pitching environment that discourages being aggressive in the strike zone and tempts hurlers to be extra careful. This could inflate walk totals as well as embedding bad habits even when in the comfort of a “pitcher’s park”.

What do you think is at the root of the A’s system wide breakdown in throwing enough strikes in 2026? It’s having a significant impact on the big league team’s success and on the development of the A’s top prospects, so it would be prudent for the A’s to identify and solve the issue. Walks are great for doggies and terrible for ERAs.

Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the season’s final month upon us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.

Out in the West, it already looks like a two-horse race will pull many lengths ahead of the rest of the pack. The Dodgers got off to a scorching start and have never relinquished their grasp on the NL West lead. However, a recent slip up and consistent strong play from the Padres have the Friars breathing down the necks of their division rivals.

First Place: Los Angeles Dodgers (20-11)

Top Position Player: Max Muncy (1.4 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani (1.3 fWAR)

Shohei Ohtani looks like he’s on a mission to secure one of the few pieces of hardware that has eluded him thus far in his career. He has four MVPs and a pair of rings, next up on the mantel might be the NL Cy Young. He leads all NL pitchers with a 1.97 FIP and 1.3 fWAR, his 0.60 ERA in five starts the second-lowest of any starts after the Angels’ José Soriano and has yet to give up a home run in 30 innings. His hitting has suffered a touch as he sacrificed some DH days to focus on pitching, but even then he still has six home runs and a 143 wRC+. He leads a team that boasts the best offense by wRC+ (123) and second-best pitching staff by ERA (3.19) in baseball.

Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts are once again experiencing slow starts to their campaigns, both right around league-average at the plate and not much more valuable than replacement level. Kyle Tucker has also had a slow start to his Dodgers career with a 100 wRC+ and 0.3 fWAR. Fortunately for LA, Max Muncy as well as a pair of their youngsters have been carrying the weight at the dish, Andy Pages looking like a legitimate perennial All-Star caliber center fielder while rookie catcher Dalton Rushing has been worth a win while trying his hardest to be the league’s biggest villain.

Ohtani is joined by three other excellent starters in the rotation, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Wrobleski all sporting sub-3.00 ERAs. The bullpen will be without big money closer Edwin Díaz until at least the All-Star break after he underwent elbow surgery, but a resurgent Tanner Scott has helped ease that blow. Top to bottom the Dodgers once again look like a deep, scary team, which underlines why they are still the overwhelming favorites to make it a three-peat.

Second Place: San Diego Padres (19-11)

Top Position Player: Luis Campusano (0.9 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Mason Miller (0.9 fWAR)

The Padres have had to play their best baseball to keep pace with the Dodgers, but a recent 5-7 stretch by LA has the Dads within a half-game. It’s not often that you see a relief pitcher being a team’s most valuable pitcher, but Mason Miller is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible from a pitcher. He recently had his scoreless streak ended, but a -0.06 FIP from striking out over half the batters he has faced is the stuff of video games. His efforts have gone a long way toward carrying an offense and pitching staff that has been middle of the pack in terms of wRC+ (97) and ERA (4.23).

Their offense lacks any standout performers. Case in point: the usually light hitting Luis Campusano leads the way with 0.9 fWAR, propped up a lot by his defense behind the plate and an unsustainably high .400 BABIP. Fernando Tatis Jr. has been one of the unluckiest hitters so far and still has yet to hit his first home run of the year while Jackson Merrill has been a serious disappointment — neither has a wRC+ above Tatis’ 76. Xander Bogaerts is riding a hot start while Manny Machado has been league average so far.

Two of the pitchers from the Juan Soto trade to the Yankees lead the way in the rotation, both Michael King and Randy Vásquez sporting sub-3.00 ERAs. However, there is a chance they could lose Nick Pivetta for the season after an MRI revealed a forearm flexor strain — often a harbinger of Tommy John surgery. Griffin Canning and Lucas Giolito could be close to reinforcing the rotation once they return from injury.

Third Place: Arizona Diamondbacks (16-15)

Top Position Player: Ildemaro Vargas (1.5 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Michael Soroka (0.6 fWAR)

Last year, the Diamondbacks mounted a late surge led by a three-headed monster of Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo. Carroll is the only one to have picked up where he led off with a 165 wRC+ and 1.3 fWAR. Perdomo is at a 107 wRC+ while Marte is at 89 after both were at or above 138 in 2025. Instead, it’s the most improbable candidate leading the way, 34-year-old journeyman first baseman Ildemaro Vargas posting MLB’s fourth highest wRC+ at 199 (which is almost certain to normalize given his 3.2-percent walk rate and almost 100 point gap between wOBA and xwOBA).

It’s quite remarkable that they are above .500 considering they are one of only three teams with a staff ERA north of 5.00. Four of their six starters in Eduardo Rodriguez, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, and Merrill Kelly have been replacement level or worse. The bullpen has been a smidge better, led by Juan Morillo and his 1.84 ERA.

Fourth Place: Colorado Rockies (14-18)

Top Position Player: Mickey Moniak (0.9 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Antonio Senzatela (0.7 fWAR)

I’m not sure anyone would have believed that the team that lost 119 games in 2025 would not be in last place at the end of April. Mickey Moniak might finally be fulfilling the pedigree of being the first overall pick in 2016, leading the way with his 162 wRC+ and 0.9 fWAR along with eight home runs. He’s joined by fellow slugger Hunter Goodman and his nine home runs, 129 wRC+, and 0.8 fWAR. Otherwise, their offense is a bottom-five unit in the game.

Instead, it’s Colorado’s completely remade pitching department that leads the way. After finishing dead last in ERA and FIP in each of the last three seasons, they modernized their analytics department, leading to a pitching staff that is middle of the pack now in those aforementioned stats. They brought in starters Michael Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano, and Jose Quintana to bring some experience to the room, but it’s actually the bullpen that has shown up. Led by converted starter Antonio Senzatela and his 0.46 ERA, the Rockies are just not surrendering leads with the same ferocity with which we are accustomed.

Last Place: San Francisco Giants (13-19)

Top Position Player: Luis Arraez (0.9 fWAR)
Top Pitcher: Landen Roupp (0.9 fWAR)

The Giants are adrift in the wilderness, led by a college manager with zero MLB experience in Tony Vitello who could find his seat growing quite hot given the way heads are rolling early this year. Despite investing over a half-billion dollars into Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman, San Francisco are rolling out a bottom-three offense by wRC+ (84) and fWAR (0.8).

Devers is the second-worst qualified hitter in baseball with a 48 wRC+ and -0.8 fWAR as his ability to hit the fastball has seemingly disappeared. Adames isn’t much better at a 64 wRC+ and -0.5 fWAR, that pair two of the ten worst hitters in the sport. As a team, they’ve hit an MLB-worst 19 home runs, so it is fitting that their top position player is noted singles hitter Luis Arraez at a 97 wRC+ and 0.9 fWAR.

Their pitching staff is in the top-third of the league in ERA (3.96), but there is only so much you can do to make up for an absent offense. Landen Roupp has displaced a surprisingly underperforming Logan Webb from the top spot among their pitchers — the third-year righty sports a 2.55 ERA and has yet to give up a barrel in 84 batted ball events. Robbie Ray is having another nice start to the campaign, but winter signings Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser have been worse than replacement level. Their bullpen is the lone bright spot, second in the majors at a 3.19 ERA led by Erik Miller (3.18 ERA, 1.72 FIP, and Keaton Winn (2.84 ERA, 2.26 FIP).

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The New York Yankees took care of business on Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles, and showed no signs of slowing down.

With the Orioles sending a vulnerable pitcher to the mound, my Orioles vs. Yankees predictions expect today to be a repeat of yesterday as the Yankees win in a high-scoring affair.

Read all about it in my MLB picks for Saturday, May 2.

Who will win Orioles vs Yankees today: Yankees moneyline (-163)

Kyle Bradish's arsenal is a problem against this New York Yankees lineup.

His fastball, breaking ball, and overall pitching run value all grade in the Bottom 15th percentile, and his walk rate sits in the 24th percentile, meaning he is going to put runners on base. That's a problem against such a potent offense.

New York’s league-leading barrel rate is a prevailing story in this matchup. Bradish is a true groundball pitcher, and that should help him in some aspects of this matchup, particularly against the bottom of the lineup. But he’s not elite enough in that category.

His 50% groundball rate is in the 80th percentile of baseball, and that’s likely due for some regression given his historical numbers.

I simply don’t think that’s good enough to overcome a Yankees team that is rolling like they are for the moment, especially when you have a Bottom 30th percentile hard-hit rate and barrel rate. I’d play this to -170. 

COVERS INTEL: This matchup features two teams ranking in the Top 3 of baseball in hard-hit rate against two pitchers with hard-hit rates in the Bottom 30% of the sport.

Orioles vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-115)

Rinse and repeat from yesterday, with a lot of the same reasons. Both pitchers have real vulnerabilities, and the Yankees should score a good amount of runs, meaning the Baltimore Orioles won’t have to do much.

Moving on from Bradish, it’s past time for Ryan Weathers to come down to earth. His xERA of 4.63 is nearly a full run and a half over his actual.

What’s pushing that expected number the most is a poor hard-hit rate and barrel rate that both rank in the Bottom 25 percentile of the sport. This Orioles lineup isn’t overwhelming with power, but the likes of Pete Alonso, Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman should still be enough to punish here. 

Orioles vs Yankees odds

• Moneyline: Orioles +149 | Yankees -162
• Run line: Orioles +1.5 | Yankees -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Orioles vs Yankees trend

The Yankees have hit the F5 Moneyline in 17 of their last 25 games at home (+7.20 Units / 14% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Orioles vs. Yankees.

How to watch Orioles vs Yankees and game info

Orioles vs Yankees latest injuries

Orioles vs Yankees weather

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.

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It’s another busy day across the Major Leagues, with all 30 teams in action.

My MLB player props analysis will include Dylan Cease, Ozzie Albies, and Chris Sale.

Read more in my MLB picks for Saturday, May 2.

Best MLB player props today

Player	Pick	Odds
Dylan Cease	Over 6.5 strikeouts	+108
Ozzie Albies	Record a run	-135
Chris Sale	Over 7.5 strikeouts	+108

Dylan Cease Over 6.5 strikeouts (+108)

Dylan Cease has been electric this season for the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s compiled a 2.87 ERA while striking out 49 in 31.1 innings of work. In fact, the right-hander is second in the American League in Ks.

Cease has cashed the Over in strikeouts in two of his last four outings, and in his last start on the road, the veteran had 12 punchouts against the Los Angeles Angels. He’ll face the Minnesota Twins tonight, and Cease has 27 Ks in 63 at-bats against their lineup. Minny is also 20th in team strikeouts.

• Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Twins.TV, SN1

Ozzie Albies to record a run (-135)

Ozzie Albies is having a wonderful season so far. He’s hitting .320, and he’s come across the plate 24 times. Albies has cashed the Over in runs in four straight contests, and during that span, the infielder has five runs. He’s a spark plug in this Atlanta Braves lineup.

It also helps that everyone around him is producing. The Braves are one of the best ball clubs around with RISP, hitting .271. Albies also has a .369 OBP, and he’s also in the midst of a 13-game hitting streak. He’ll stay hot, and come across the dish again versus the lowly Colorado Rockies.

• Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: BravesVision, Rockies.TV

Chris Sale Over 7.5 strikeouts (+108)

Chris Sale has always had strikeout stuff, and 2026 has been no different. He’s punched out 38 hitters in 35 innings of work. The southpaw has only cashed the Over in Ks once this season, but it was in his last outing, sitting down nine Philadelphia Phillies via the strikeout.

Tonight’s matchup heavily plays in his favor, though. The Rockies are one of the worst teams in the Majors as usual, and Sale has 15 Ks in 35 at-bats against their lineup. Colorado is also 28th in the bigs in team strikeouts with 9.36 per contest. Sale should breeze through them, and miss his fair share of bats along the way.

• Time: 8:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: BravesVision, Rockies.TV

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.

In honor of the Philadelphia Phillies playing host to the 2026 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, we here at The Good Phight are launching a yearlong series that focuses on the history of the Phillies and the All-Star Game. Check back regularly for posts about the Phillies participation (or lack thereof) in the Midsummer Classic over its history.

It’s that time again. That’s right, it’s time to look back at two obscure Phillies all-stars from yesteryear, this time from the groovy decade of the seventies. If you missed the rest of our series on one and done all-stars, you can catch up with the 1960s, the 1950s, the 1940s part 1 + part 2, and the 1930s.

Joe Hoerner, 1970

The story of Joe Hoerner is one of heart, both literally and figuratively. The son of an Iowan farmer-turned-deputy sheriff, Hoerner grew up in a family full of athletes. Both brothers flirted with a baseball career, with the older Bob playing in the Cubs organization and the younger Jim (who was Joe’s catcher in high school) declining to pursue a career in the White Sox organization. Two of his cousins were football stars, Dick Hoerner being an All-Pro running back for the Los Angeles Rams and Mike Reilly being a linebacker that played in Super Bowl IV against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Joe Hoerner originally played outfield for his high school team, but his coach soon began to slowly have him pitch more. His team won a state championship in 1954 where he earned the win out of the bullpen in the quarterfinal and pitched a one-hitter in the semifinal. This was all after he was nearly killed in a car accident where Hoerner fell asleep at the wheel and smashed into a tree, suffering a separated shoulder and broken ribs.

Hoerner elected to forgo college and play semi-professional baseball while working at a Sears Roebuck. The White Sox offered Hoerner a contract after watching him play against one of their minor league affiliates, he accepted, and he was assigned to Duluth-Superior in the Northern League. Hoerner, despite being just 20 in his first professional season, dazzled with a 16-5 record and a 2.58 ERA in 28 games including 23 starts, throwing a no-hitter on May 12th for good measure.

1958 started off pretty well for Hoerner, as he was assigned to big league camp with the White Sox as a non-roster player just a week after marrying his longtime girlfriend, Darlene. Hoerner was assigned to Class-B Davenport, allowing him to go home to Iowa to see his new wife. One night with his wife watching, Hoerner felt his heart racing after delivering a pitch and soon collapsed on the field. He was taken to a hospital where he remained unconscious for the next two to three hours, even receiving the Last Rites of the Catholic Church. Hoerner eventually woke up and his symptoms disappeared. The local newspaper called the event a “minor heart attack”, but Hoerner was back on the field a few days later.

Unfortunately, Hoerner continued to be plagued by what he described as “blackout spells”, but only while he was on the mound and pitching. Multiple tests found nothing, and Hoerner spent his 1959 split between Class-A Charlston and local medical centers, pitching only 32 total innings on the year. Finally, doctors concluded that the muscles around Hoerner’s heart were weak, possibly as a previously undetected effect from his car accident. Some medical professionals tried to talk him into retirement, but Hoerner refused. Instead, he altered his delivery from an overhand motion to one that was more sidearm on the advice that his previous motion may have been putting stress on an artery.

Hoerner remained in the White Sox farm system through 1961 but never appeared in the majors, thus exposing him to the minor league draft where he was selected by the Houston Colt .45s. He made his MLB debut on September 27th, 1963, against the New York Mets in a game where Houston deliberately fielded an all-rookie lineup, including a 17-year-old starting pitcher. Hoerner entered in the top of the fourth with the score 8-0 New York and threw three scoreless innings while allowing two hits and collecting two strikeouts.

The 27-year-old Hoerner started 1964 with Houston but was demoted after just seven appearances. He would then bounce around the minor leagues for the next two years. By his wife’s count, the Hoerners and their young family had 35 residences, and their daughter attended 11 schools before Joe became a regular in the majors. Hoerner contemplated retirement but was talked out of it by his older brother.

His luck began to change when playing winter ball in Puerto Rico in late 1965. That’s when a scout from the St. Louis Cardinals was puzzled why Hoerner wasn’t in the majors and was able to convince the team to select him in the Rule 5 Draft. Hoerner made the team in 1966 despite manager Red Schoendienst’s reservations and impressed, as he finished the season with a 1.57 ERA across 57 appearances and 76 innings, all in relief. He would remain with St. Louis through 1969, winning a World Series in 1967 and accumulating a 2.10 ERA across a total of 244.1 IP.

In November of 1969, Hoerner was included in a massive seven player trade with the Phillies that included Dick Allen heading to the Cardinals. Hoerner along with Tim McCarver, Byron Browne, and Curt Flood went to Philadelphia while Allen, Cookie Rojas, and Jerry Johnson went to St. Louis. Flood never played for the Phillies though, as he refused to report to the Phillies and instead sued for free agency, ultimately losing his legal battle and retiring but setting the standard for the players and their union to fight for and win free agency.

Hoerner meanwhile did embark on his new career with the Phillies, but an old problem surfaced once again on June 28th, 1970. Hoerner was in the midst of an appearance against his old team in St. Louis when he once again felt a sharp pain in his chest. After picking up a strikeout of Carl Taylor and walking Dick Allen, Hoerner was removed from the game by Phillies manager Frank Lucchesi. He was then examined by the Cardinals team physician with whom he was familiar and diagnosed with a minor heart spasm. Hoerner was then carted off and sent to the hospital. But once again just like his first episode in 1958, all tests at the hospital were negative and he returned to the team a day later.

It didn’t seem to stop Hoerner’s momentum though, as he went on to pitch to a 2.86 ERA through 34.2 innings by the time Mets manager Gil Hodges selected Hoerner for the 1970 NL All-Star team for the game to be held in Cincinnati. However, despite the game being a 12-inning thriller that ended with Pete Rose barreling over Ray Fosse to score the winning run, Hoerner did not appear in the game. His brother claimed though that Hoerner was warming in the bullpen to pitch the 13th inning were it not for Rose’s infamous play that ended the game. In any case, Hoerner would go on to finish 1970 with a 2.65 ERA across 57.2 IP.

The 34-year-old Hoerner improved in 1971, ending his year with a 1.97 ERA in 73 innings, but his efforts were wasted on a 95-loss Phillies team. He continued to pitch well in 1972, but the Phillies were on their way to another losing season. That’s why the Phillies traded Hoerner to the Braves in June of 1972. Hoerner himself had even recommended them doing so, telling the Inquirer “If they don’t trade me, they’re crazy. My value isn’t going to get any higher.” In return, the Phillies got what Bill Conlin of the Inquirer called “two of the most expendable members of a staff that can’t get anybody out” in Jim Nash and Gary Neibauer who were in their final and penultimate year in the majors, respectively.

Hoerner then spent the rest of his career bouncing around the majors, including landing back in Philadelphia for 1975. His career ended in 1977 where, despite being 40 years old, the Reds called him up to the big-league club as they were desperate for any pitching. Hoerner faced the Phillies in his first MLB appearance of the year on June 22nd, and he promptly allowed a grand slam to Larry Bowa. His final game of his career came on August 5th, where he entered in mop up duty in a blowout and punched Pirates shortstop Frank Tavares in the face after the latter rushed the mound following a hit by pitch. Both were ejected from the game, but Hoerner would never again appear in a major league game.

Wayne Twitchell, 1973

The one thing that may be more interesting than just looking back at history is looking back and thinking what could have been. That’s even more true with baseball, and it’s very true in the case of Wayne Twitchell. Twitchell excelled in sports at his local high school in Portland, Oregon, being an All-State winner for baseball and football. The tall lanky Twitchell preferred playing football, where he played quarterback, over baseball. But his father Ralph, a former running back for Oregon State, tried to steer Wayne away from the gridiron where he suffered a career-ending knee injury by warning his son that such injuries ran in the family.

The Houston Astros stepped in to make the choice easier when they selected Twitchell with the third overall pick in the 1966 amateur draft, one selection after Reggie Jackson. Labeled a “pitching phenom” by the Houston Post, Twitchell stood a staggering 6’6 and weighed in at 220 pounds despite being only 18 years old at the time he was drafted. Twitchell impressed enough in his first season in A-ball that he was promoted all the way to Triple-A for three (unsuccessful) starts.

But by 1969, Twitchell was still in the minor leagues, and the Astros were growing impatient. He finished 1969 with a 4.76 ERA across 68 innings and 13 starts in Triple-A, which wasn’t deemed good enough for the Astros. Houston sold Twitchell’s contract to the Seattle Pilots, giving him dreams of pitching close to home, but the Pilots franchise was moved to Milwaukee a few months later after being purchased by a group headed by Bud Selig.

Luckily for Twitchell, he was still able to go back home as the Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate was coincidentally in Portland. He made 26 starts there in 1970 before earning a call to the majors on September 7th. The 22-year-old Twitchell entered in the fifth inning against the Twins and struck out the side, including reigning MVP Harmon Killebrew, to work around an error and a walk. Unfortunately, his effort went to waste as the Brewers ultimately lost 7-6. Twitchell made another appearance three days later but didn’t have nearly the same amount of success, as he lasted only two-thirds of an inning and allowed two runs on three hits.

Despite the promise Twitchell showed, the Brewers decided to trade him to the Phillies in exchange for outfielder Pat Skrable prior to 1971. Twitchell later remarked that the reasoning behind the trade was that he didn’t “fit in” with the Brewers and that their ideas for his pitching style differed from his own, saying “I was a fastball pitcher and they were trying to make me into a spot pitcher.” The Phillies sent him to their Triple-A affiliate in Eugene, Oregon, once again close to his hometown of Portland. Twitchell credited Eugene manager Andy Seminick for allowing him to be himself and inadvertently convincing him not to retire in doing so.

Twitchell made his Phillies debut not long after in 1971. Despite being used almost exclusively as a reliever in Eugene, Twitchell made his first MLB start against the Mets on September 4th at Veterans Stadium. He lasted four innings and surrendered three unearned runs on five hits including a home run while walking two and striking out one in a 6-5 Phillies loss. However, he made five more appearances in relief and did not allow an earned run while racking up 14 strikeouts in 12 innings with just three hits. Twitchell earned his first big league win on September 23rd after throwing 2.1 hitless innings against the Montreal Expos in a 6-4 Phillies win.

The retirement of Jim Bunning allowed Twitchell to keep his spot on the Phillies for 1972. That was the year in which the Phillies won only 59 games, but Steve Carlton won 27 of them. Twitchell meanwhile had a good showing in his first full season as a major leaguer. The 24-year-old Twitchell posted a respectable 4.09 ERA in 139.2 innings with 112 strikeouts to just 56 walks across 49 games and 15 starts. His best start came against his old team the Astros on August 19th when Twitchell pitched a complete game shutout with eight strikeouts to no walks and only five hits.

After the 1972 season, Twitchell sought out Bunning for advice on developing a slider at the behest of pitching coach Ray Ripplemeyer. The new pitch proved to be a boon for Twitchell, as he started 1973 in the bullpen but earned a spot in the rotation by May 7th. Twitchell excelled in both roles, with a 2.29 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 137.2 innings pitched by the All-Star break. That first start on May 7th against the Reds where Twitchell went 7.1 IP and allowed 2 runs stuck in the mind of Cincinnati manager Sparky Anderson, who just so happened to be managing the NL All-Star team and put Twitchell on the team over Steve Carlton who was presumed by some to be in line to be the Phillies lone representative.

Anderson was impressed enough to actually use Twitchell in the game too, albeit the big right hander entered in the sixth inning of what was a 7-1 NL lead. Twitchell allowed a double to John Mayberry before striking out the man taken one pick before him in the draft in Reggie Jackson, getting Dave May to pop out, and Bobby Mercer to groundout to end the inning. The score would remain the same as the NL bested the AL, with Bobby Bonds taking home MVP honors with two hits including a two-run homer off of the Angels’ Bill Singer.

As for Twitchell, he returned to the Phillies and continued to look like he was finally realizing his phenom potential at age 25. But that all changed on September 18th at Wrigley Field. Twitchell was working in the sixth inning of a 2-0 game when Billy Williams hit a ball on the ground in the infield. Twitchell ran over to cover first base, but Willams attempted to slide headfirst into the base, and he connected with Twitchell’s right knee. Twitchell immediately left the game with what was first called a strain to his MCL. The saddest irony of the whole event was that it was totally unnecessary, as the ball Williams hit had been ruled foul.

Twitchell underwent four hours of surgery to repair damage to his ligaments, cartilage, and capsule in his right knee. He was ruled out for the rest of the 1973 season. His doctor told Twitchell that if he followed orders, he would be able to pitch again. But the doctor also warned Twitchell that if he didn’t listen, he wouldn’t be able to walk normally again. The Phillies even sent their team trainer to Portland to help Twitchell in his recovery.

Despite the injury, Phillies general manager Paul Owens claimed he turned down numerous trade offers for Twitchell before 1974, as Owens and the Phillies believed he was on the verge of becoming a star. But Twitchell was extremely ineffective when he finally returned to action in May, finishing the 1974 season with a 5.21 ERA in 112.1 innings. He then lost his spot in the rotation in August of 1975 and by 1976 was pitching almost entirely out of the bullpen. Twitchell started 1977 with a 4.53 ERA in 45.2 IP before being traded to the Expos along with catcher Tim Blackwell in exchange for Barry Foote and Dan Warthen. Twitchell made 22 starts with the Expos after the trade, posting a 4.21 ERA in 139 innings. At the same time the Phillies were shipping out Twitchell, they unsuccessfully tried to trade for Tom Seaver, with the Mets preferring the Reds offer instead of the package of Larry Christenson, Jerry Martin, Jay Johnstone, and two minor leaguers presented by Owens.

Twitchell meanwhile would go on to play two more years in the majors. He was released by the Expos following the 1978 season and signed on with the Mets for 1979, but he was later sold to the Mariners who ultimately released him after the season. Despite playing six more seasons after his devastating knee injury, he never again reached the potential he seemed to be realizing, making his father’s premonition from when Twitchell was a teenager come true.

Sources

Baseball-Reference.com

Brian Cooper, Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Biography for Joe Hoerner

The Daily Times, August 28th, 1958

Sandy Padwe, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 1st, 1970

Bill Conlin, The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 16th, 1972

The York Dispatch, August 6th, 1977

Neal Poloncarz, Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Biography for Wayne Twitchell

The Beaumont Enterprise, June 8th, 1966

Clark Nealon, The Houston Post, August 30th, 1966

Bill Conlin, Philadelphia Daily News, July 17th, 1973

Bruce Keidan, The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 19th, 1973

Bill Conlin, Philadelphia Daily News, September 19th, 1973

Allen Lewis, The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 17th, 1977

The San Diego Padres starting rotation will receive a boost to start next week when right-handed starter Griffin Canning will make his long-awaited Padres debut. 

With his rehab window coming to a close on Sunday, Canning will most likely make his last start with El Paso on that date and then join the team Monday. After pitching Sunday, his first start would not come before Friday.

Up until this weekend, Canning has been on a six-day schedule with the Chihuahuas. When he makes his start on Sunday it will be his first time starting on four days rest. 

Adjusting the rotation

The Padres will also have a log jam with their pitching staff when Canning joins the team. None of the current starters can be sent to the minor leagues and it is unlikely the team wants to risk trying to sneak any of them through waivers.

On first look it would seem that Matt Waldron would be the odd man, but the organization has invested a lot of time and work into developing Waldron into an effective starter. He has shown improvement with each of his starts this season.  Letting a pitcher who can get through five innings with three or fewer runs walk away is unwise for any team. Pitching coach Ruben Niebla has shown a lot of faith in what Waldron can eventually become, it is unlikely that will change.

Is a six-man rotation possible? 

Can the bullpen be reconfigured to allow an opener/long man other than Ron Marinaccio or Kyle Hart?

The possibilities could include sending a bullpen arm to the minors and keeping six starters, allowing for a six-man rotation in the short-term and an opener or piggy-back situation for a few weeks. These problems usually work themselves out in baseball. The solution should be interesting to follow.

Difficult stretch ahead

The Padres have a 10 games in 10 days stretch starting Friday through Sunday, May 10. They also have 19 games in 20 days over the next three weeks. A six-man rotation would not be out of the question for that marathon.

Canning coming off best season

Canning has not pitched in MLB since he ruptured his Achilles tendon on June 26, 2025, while pitching for the New York Mets. Before his injury he was having the best season of his career.

The 29-year-old had a 7-3 record and a 3.77 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched before the injury. The Mission Viejo native signed a free agent contract with the Mets after playing the first years of his career with the Angels. 

Drafted in 2017, the Angels brought him up in 2019 and he pitched five seasons with the team. He missed 2022 with a back injury. 

After signing with the Mets, Canning showed his most ground-ball heavy season yet. Always having a tendency to keep the ball on the ground, Canning had a 51.6% ground ball rate that ranked in the 87th percentile among all pitchers. Up until 2025, he had a 36.1% to 42.4% rate through his previous seasons.

Canning features six pitches in his mix with a fastball that he threw 35% of the time in 2025 and has an average velocity of 94 mph. He threw his slider 31% of the time and it averages 87.7 mph. He also mixes in a changeup, knuckle curve, cutter and sweeper.

The pitch mix used while with El Paso will be different than what he will likely employ in less dry conditions. The Pacific Coast League is a notorious hitters’ league and few pitchers do really well there.

Before the injury, Canning also pitched to a 21% K-rate, a 25.5% whiff rate and a 45.7% hard-hit rate in 2025. Those were all better than the MLB average.

Build up complete

In his fifth start with El Paso on Tuesday, Canning threw five innings with four strikeouts and one earned run allowed. He was removed from his previous start in the second inning after a 35-pitch effort and 46 pitches overall. With this start he had 68 pitches through those five innings. The goal is likely to get his pitch count up a bit more before he joins the Friars.

Over those five starts, Canning has 15 innings pitched and a 3.60 ERA with two homers allowed 12 walks and 18 strikeouts.

Worcester: W, 10-5 (BOX SCORE)

This WooSox team found themselves in a quick hole after Isaac Coffey gave up a home run and the Red Wings (Nationals AAA) pulled out to a 5-2 lead, but that’s not to say the WooSox were just laying down without a fight. Mickey Gasper started off what would become a four-hit night with a solo shot in the first, and Vinny Capra kept the team to within striking distance with a home run of his own. Combined, Iggy Suarez’s first three slots (Nick Sogard, Capra and Gasper) in the lineup went 8-for-15 with 6 RBI’s.

The game swung in Worcester’s favor with three solid innings from Eduardo Rivera, who the Red Sox saw in their bullpen early in the season and who’s been great in Triple-A since. Rivera allowed one hit on five strikeouts and no walks. This allowed the WooSox to climb back into the game with those aforementioned three hitters and a Braiden Ward triple that would later score. Ward flies around the basepaths; the outfielder already has nine swiped bases on the season. All told, the Woo Sox had thirteen hits on the way to a win.

It’s curious to see some MLB veterans in Gasper, Sogard (veteran is doing some heavy lifting here for these two, but still) and Capra seeing the ball well at the Triple-A level amidst some infielders, well, not doing that. (Also worth noting that Sogard played in right field Friday night but is certainly capable in the infield.) With recent production, it’s entirely possible we see a transaction or two later in the month… but it’s also notable that none of these guys have reached any real success at the plate in their prior experience, so maybe it’s more likely the organization opts to get some of these younger talents like Mikey Romero up in a year like this.

Portland: L, 3-13 (BOX SCORE)

Joe Holobetz got fried in his three and two thirds innings in Somerset (Yankees AA), where he registered his only truly bad start of the season thus far. He allowed two home runs and the latter prevented him from finishing the fourth. The Sea Dogs were down 10-0 at one point and pitching issued ten walks on the night which didn’t make it easy, but Portland did gather some offense with some garbage time home runs from some struggling bats in Will Turner and Johanfran Garcia.

Greenville: L, 1-7 (BOX SCORE)

Greenville’s starter, Anthony Eyannson, also couldn’t make it out of the fourth but utlimately it was his pitch count and trouble finding the strike zone more than his ability to create outs, throwing 37 strikes in 67 pitches. He had four strikeouts but walked three Spartanburg (Astros High-A) batters. Brandon Neely had his welcome to High-A moment as he got taken for a ride in his two innings, getting tagged for six runs on eight hits and taking this game squarely out of Greenville’s hands. The Drive didn’t exactly do the pitching staff many favors, though, as they went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.

Salem: : L, 1-11 (BOX SCORE)

Another brutal loss by some uninspired middle relief by the only remaining piece of the Rafael Devers trade, Jose Bello, who, despite striking five out, fell victim to allowing runs reached by errors to score. The RidgeYaks, though, were never going to win when they had as many of those errors committed (3) as hits. Skylar King provided some spark with his fourth home run of the season, but that was about it.

Have a superior Saturday! Go Celtics.

It has been a tale of two seasons for the Nationals already this season. When the Nats are on the road, they are a fun, exciting force that can beat anybody, holding a 12-7 road record. However, it has been a different story when the Nats are playing in front of their home fans. They have a dismal 3-11 record at Nationals Park after last night’s loss.

For last night’s game in particular, it is tough to blame them too much. I do not think any lineup was going to do any damage against the version of Jacob Misiorowski we saw. The Miz was sitting at 101 MPH with mid to upper 90’s sliders and a curveball that was up to 90 MPH. He was also locating at a high level. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap.

However, this was a continuation of the Nats home woes. For his part, Blake Butera attributed the issues to bad luck rather than any differences in preparation. He said if he did notice anything different in how they prepared, he would talk to the team about it. However, he has not seen anything like that so far.

It is worth noting that the Nats have had a pretty tough home slate. They have faced the Dodgers, Braves and now Brewers at home. However, they have dropped some more winnable series against teams like the Cardinals and Giants at Nationals Park as well. The home record should level off some once they stop facing elite teams at Nats Park as often.

You still get the sense that they just don’t have the same juice at home. The pitching has really struggled at home this season. They have allowed 101 runs at home to just 90 on the road. The fact they have played five more road games than home games makes that even more alarming.

It is also just frustrating for the fans. We have seen momentum from nice road trips just disappear when the boys head home. There are fans wondering if the Nats should just play all of their games on the road, and I cannot blame them.

Outside of yesterday against Misiorowski, the offense has not really been a problem at home. They are still averaging over 5 runs per game at Nationals Park. James Wood has actually been a much better hitter at home. 8 of his 10 homers have been at Nats Park and he has a 1.183 OPS at home. Bats like Wood and Daylen Lile have been thrilling the home fans, but it has not been enough.

You cannot win a whole lot of games when you are allowing over 7 runs a game, like the Nats are at home. I would imagine that those numbers will just naturally come down, but it is worrying. It is worth noting that Nationals Park becomes more hitter friendly in the summer as the heat and humidity come in.

I will be watching to see how the staff performs at home in particular. While they have faced a lot of good lineups at Nationals Park, it is still an ominous sign to see them allow this many home runs during a time of the year where the park plays bigger. 

Foster Griffin will be on the mound for the Nats today, and he has been something of a stopper for this team. So far this season, the crafty lefty has been the Nats ace, and someone we can rely on. I am curious to see how he fares against a team seeing him for the second time though.

Hopefully that is not too big of an issue for Griffin. The Nats need to win this game, especially with Zack Littell on the mound tomorrow. For every game the Nats lose at home, there are going to be more and more questions. Blake Butera can talk about bad luck, but that explanation is not going to hold up forever.

The Nats have been a fun and exciting team, but most of that excitement has not taken place in front of their home fans. That is a shame because this Nats team really is a joy to watch when they are on the road. If they played like they have on the road at Nationals Park, it would really galvanize this fanbase and get butts in seats.

They have not done that so far, and it has everyone searching for answers. There is definitely some randomness and a tough schedule that can explain some of this, but the Nats simply need to play better in front of their home fans. We know what this team is capable of, they just have not shown it at Nationals Park.

Diamondbacks News

Ildemaro Extends Streak, Gallen Implodes in Cubs Narrow Win
Ildemaro entered May in emphatic fashion, going 4-for-4 to raise his league leading batting average to .404. On the other side of things, Zac Gallen didn’t make it out of the third inning, allowing six earned runs. The bullpen slammed the door shut and the offense tried to salvage the game, but was unable to push a runner across with Vargas, Carroll, and Marte coming up in the ninth.

Ildemaro Vargas’ 27-Game Hit Streak Sets Venezuelan Record
With his commanding 4-for-4 performance, Ildemaro Vargas passed Wilson Ramos for the longest hit-streak by a Venezuelan born player.

The Concerning Trend Impossible to Ignore
The Arizona Diamondbacks went from being second in the league in2025 for average length of a starting pitcher’s outing to below league average this year, a mark that got even worse after yesterday’s abysmal outing by Zac Gallen.

Other Baseball News

MLB Power Rankings – First Update
For once, a ranking that largely seems to get things right.

Top 10 Prospects for Every Team
Kiley McDaniel checks in with updated prospect rankings.

Two Weeks Later, Umpire Still Unconscious
Two weeks after being struck on the head by a flying bat, referee Takuto Kawakami remains unconscious in hospital.

Meet the Mets

Rejoice! April is over, and the Mets are 1-0 in May thus far after a win to begin a three-game series against the Angels out west. The Amazins fell behind early on, but managed to claw their way back, and a Ronny Mauricio solo homer gave them a 4-3 lead that they would not relinquish.

Choose your recap:Amazin’ Avenue, NY Post, Daily News, Newsday, MLB.com

While speculation has continued to run amok about Carlos Mendoza’s job security, the Mets came out and said that they would not be firing their beleaguered manager for the time being.

While many would like to see the Mets make a managerial change, history suggests such a move is unlikely to make a meaningful difference.

Christian Scott pitched much better for the Mets last night after a rough first outing.

Prior to yesterday’s game, the Mets optioned Eric Wagaman back to Triple-A to make room on the major league roster for the recently claimed Andy Ibáñez.

It is fair to say that the current state of the Mets is in large part the result of a number of moves from David Stearns that have not worked out.

There were a lot of brutally awful moments for the Mets in the first month of the season.

A.J. Minter is on the verge of making his return to the Mets after a lengthy rehab process.

Jack Wenninger has been a workhorse in the Mets’ farm system and continues to inch closer to the majors.

Pete Alonso is back in New York for a series with the Yankees and discussed his departure from the Mets once more.

David Wright was in attendance at last night’s game and joined Steve Gelbs in eating a hot dog.

Around the National League East

The Braves fell behind 6-0 early on, but because the devil magic is working in their favor this year, they roared back for an 8-6 victory.

Break up the Phillies! Don Mattingly remains undefeated as manager after Philadelphia defeated the Marlins 6-5.

Jacob Misiorowski left yesterday’s start with an injury, but not before dominating the Nationals’ bats en route to a 6-1 loss for Washington.

The Nationals have inked old friend Max Kranick to a deal as the former Met looks to make his way back from injury.

Around Major League Baseball

Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff is hitting the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation.

Ryan Pepiot has been on the shelf all year for the Rays, and that will continue to be the case with him set to undergo season-ending hip surgery.

More pitching injury news: Ryan Helsley is on the injured list with right elbow inflammation, though the Orioles don’t think he will miss significant time.

Several rookies have been impressing people in baseball this year—including a certain Mets pitcher.

FanGraphs examined the question of whether midseason managerial firings tend to be beneficial for teams.

Who will be some of the big names moved at this year’s trade deadline?

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Brian Salvatore previewed the weekend series in Anaheim.

Steve Sypa examined how the Mets’ top prospects performed in the month of April.

This Date in Mets History

Edgardo Alfonzo recorded his first major league hit on this date in 1995.

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

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (16-15) lost 4-3 (BOX SCORE)

Pecko started for Sugar Land and went 2 innings allowing 1 run. The offense got on the board in the third inning on a Strahm solo HR. In the 6th, Sugar Land took the lead on a Price RBI groundout. The pen tossed 4 scoreless innings before the 7th where Munoz allowed 2 unearned runs as the Aces took the lead. The offense tied things up in the 9th inning on a Strahm RBI triple but in the bottom of the 9th, the Aces walked it off as Sugar Land fell 4-3.

Note: Willingham has a 1.35 ERA this season.

• Riley Unroe, SS: 2-for-4, R
• Kellen Strahm, CF: 2-for-4, R, 3B, HR, 2 RBI
• Jax Biggers, 2B: 1-for-2, R, BB

• Ethan Pecko, RHP: 2.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Amos Willingham, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• Tom Cosgrove, LHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (12-13) won 9-4 (BOX SCORE)

The Hooks got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 3 runs on an Encarnacion RBI single and Bush 2 run single. The offense had another big inning in the 4th scoring 4 runs on an Allen 2 run double, Dezenzo RBI single and Sullivan RBI double. They got another run in the 5th on a Salas sac fly. McPherson got the start and allowed 1 run over 4.2 innings. The offense picked up another run in the 7th on an Encarnacion RBI double.

Note: Sullivan has a .843 OPS this season.

• Will Bush, 1B: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, SB
• Nick Allen, SS: 1-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
• Zach Dezenzo, LF: 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB
• Joseph Sullivan, DH: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB
• Trevor Austin, 3B: 1-for-4, R, 2B
• Yamal Encarnacion, CF: 2-for-3, R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB
• Tyler Whitaker, RF: 1-for-1, 2 R, 3 BB
• Hector Salas, 2B: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI

• Brandon McPherson, RHP: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
• Trey McLoughlin, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (WIN)
• Railin Perez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
• Alex Santos, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (6-19) lost 7-6 (BOX SCORE)

Smith got the start for Asheville and allowed 2 runs in the 1st and 2 runs in the 5th as he went 5 innings, allowing 4 runs. The offense got on the board in the 6th scoring 4 runs on a Thomas RBI single and a Schiavone 3 run home run. Carr came in relief and was solid keeping the game tied. In the 10th, Thomas gave Asheville the lead with an RBI double. In the bottom of the 10th, Wilmington got a run to tie it. Asheville took the lead again in the 12th on a Walker sac fly. In the bottom of the inning, Steinbaugh allowed 2 runs as Wilmington walked it off.

Note: Schiavone has a 1.068 OPS this season.

• Justin Thomas, CF: 4-for-5, R, 2B, RBI
• Alejandro Nunez, 2B: 1-for-6, R, SB
• Jason Schiavone, C: 1-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB
• Freuddy Batista, 1B: 1-for-4, BB
• Max Holy, SS: 0-for-1, 4 BB, SB
• Zach Daudet, DH: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB
• Kyle Walker, 3B: 0-for-4, R, RBI, SB

• Parker Smith, RHP: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
• Jordan Carr, LHP: 3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Conor Steinbaugh, RHP: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (10-14) POSTPONED

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: Josh Hendrickson – 6:05 CT

CC: Brett Gillis – 7:05 CT

AV: TBD – 5:05 CT

FV: TBD – 5:05 CT