Category: MLB

In its never-ending quest to separate the hardball superfan from more of their hard-earned money, Major League Baseball, its apparel and merchandising partners and eight teams have rolled out a second generation of “City Connect” jerseys and hats.

Coming just three years after dropping alternate togs for the Braves, Brewers, Orioles, Padres, Pirates, Rangers, Reds and Royals, fans of that octet of teams will now have the right drop $200 on a new jersey, or $53 on a cap.

Yet is it all worth it?

Whether these Connects 2.0 are an improvement on the OGs is of course a matter of taste. Yet the first pass through these eight mid-market clubs produced both iconic jerseys and also some mail-it-in efforts that made it an easier bar to clear.

Ranking the eight new City Connect jerseys – and whether they represent an improvement on the original:

1. Pittsburgh Pirates

Daunting and haunting, from font to cap. Pirates are supposed to be a little scary and this kit fills that bill, thanks to a heaping spoonful of what outfielder Jake Mangum calls “mustard gold” accenting the jersey and cap. The Jolly Roger on the sleeve is downright horrifying. While the league wants to siphon more cash out of the consumer, you might be in a plundering mood yourself when donning this gear.

𝙒𝙀 𝘽𝙇𝙀𝙀𝘿 𝘽𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙂𝙊𝙇𝘿. pic.twitter.com/ziIJ9Bo9GA

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 9, 2026

An improvement?

Yes. Both the Pirates and Reds seemed to draw the short straw the first time around, with unimaginative “PGH” and “CIN” slapped across the jerseys. The Pirates, at least, got better treatment this time around.

2. San Diego Padres

Just a gorgeous callback to their orange and blue color scheme of the 1990s. While the Padres have wisely and successfully leaned into Brown over the years, this color scheme is regionally evocative and recalls an era that was quietly successful, including a surprise 1998 World Series run.

Two countries. Two cultures. Together as one. pic.twitter.com/z2dX4w3HOd

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 9, 2026

An improvement?

No. You wanna talk retro regionally evocative? There’s just no improving upon the fluorescent aerobics-class gear of the original City Connects, an apparel set that makes you want to grab a Walkman and rollerblade through Mission Bay Park. This version's La Catrina Dia de los Muertos patch, while a nice touch, seems to make the kit want to split the difference between "active lifestyle" and "cultural history."

3. Texas Rangers

The Rangers opened their airplane hangar of a ballpark with an accompanying everyday uniform set that was appropriately bland. Their ’23 City Connects were an improvement on that. Yet this version steers hard into the red that was a staple of their franchise for most of their first six decades. And the “TEJAS” script across the chest is “also in homage to the Tejano culture as we know it,” Daisy Rincón, the Rangers manager of multicultural marketing tells MLB.com. “There’s a large mix of Mexican-Americans here in Texas. It’s in the spirit of celebrating Texas culture.”

The new Texas Rangers City Connect uniforms are here 🤩 pic.twitter.com/Kuc0zhcqwB

— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2026

An improvement?

Yes. The originals that paid homage to the long history of baseball in Texas were pretty cool, even if they had a “Will I really wear this in public?” vibe. Acknowledging the multicultural makeup of the club’s fans is a nice touch, though it loses some steam when you take into account some, um, other actions of the franchise.

Whether you say it with an X or a J, you're invited. pic.twitter.com/lRWgy62c1y

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) April 9, 2026

4. Baltimore Orioles

Aiming to connect the city’s “big stoop energy” with its jewel of a gathering place, Camden Yards, the Orioles’ new entry features accents of “Camden Green” (who knew?) and patches celebrating the Eutaw Street home-run plaques and the iconic clock tower. Hey, why be less when you can BMORE?

The Baltimore Orioles have dropped their new City Connect uniforms 🔶 pic.twitter.com/LIfxe9Rbnf

— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2026

An improvement?

Yes. If only because the previous version’s special touches were so subtle they often escaped the naked eye. The green and orange does evoke a Miami Hurricanes intrasquad scrimmage, but it’s a pretty combo.

5. Milwaukee Brewers

The “Wisco” in script letters across the chest immediately signal an aggressive rebrand: “Even though the official branding is City Connect, we call it ‘State Connect’ internally,” Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger tells MLB.com. So, shoutout Kewaunee County, we guess. It is a pretty color scheme, for sure, with its Base Blue intended to reflect the state’s endless shorelines and waterways.

Uniquely Wisconsin, down to the last stitch#WiscoConnect x #CityConnectpic.twitter.com/Z1C439QuCb

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) April 9, 2026

An improvement?

No. Hey, the Great Lakes are freaking awesome, and the club is wise to tap into the state’s greatest natural resources. Yet the grill-out theme of the originals also captured the Milwaukee baseball experience and the winterlong pining for warmer times so wonderfully.

6. Atlanta Braves

The most powdery blue you’ve ever seen, the Braves have scrawled an audacious “Atlanta” across the chest with font choices aimed to evoke the team’s TBS glory days of the 1980s and ‘90s (the ATL sleeve patch is essentially the old TBS logo). Sartorially pleasing.

Southeast, Stand Up.

The Atlanta Braves’ 2026 City Connect uniform is a nod to the Braves’ Classic 1980 powder blue uniforms, harkening back to when Braves baseball was a national fixture across the country on the SuperStation.

Featuring an updated “Atlanta” script logo, and… pic.twitter.com/N6OUlzhjQs

— Nike (@Nike) April 9, 2026

An improvement?

No. The 2023 originals were so clean, with “The A” scrawled in such gorgeous type. It provided a nice roadmap should the club ever want to move on from its nickname. Also, it was released “to honor the legacy of Hank Aaron,” which one would think might have a shelf life greater than three years.

7. Cincinnati Reds

They are the Reds, and the uniforms are very red – seven shades of it, according to the team. For the first time since that odd swath of franchise history when the club commuted from Riverfront Stadium/Cinergy Field to Great American Ball Park, the kits will feature pinstripes, though they’re less pronounced set against the, well, redness of it all.

Elly De La Cruz stuns in new photo. pic.twitter.com/8tu5BwSQ2y

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 9, 2026

An improvement?

Yes. Like the Pirates, the Reds’ first Connects seemed bereft of creativity, relative to their major league brethren. These pop a little more and feature more interesting design elements, though the “C” logo is, well, interesting.

8. Kansas City Royals

They’ve gone from a fountain theme to a… fountain theme. At first glance, the scheme looks like way too much is going on, though the subtleties pop a little more once you slow everything down. Most notably: Two blue stripes on the armbands surrounding a swath of white, symbolizing the city’s position with one foot in Missouri and another in Kansas.

Connected to our city with every stitch. https://t.co/AIQAT6cx60pic.twitter.com/ULnbmjPzbt

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) April 9, 2026

An improvement?

No, but it’s close. The Kauffman Stadium fountains have given way to a more regional look, appropriate given the club’s desire to join the Chiefs in greener pastures elsewhere in the surrounding area.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Giants fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

It hasn’t been the start to the season that the San Francisco Giants wanted. And unfortunately, it’s been a struggle across the board.

The offense, which on paper should arguably be the strength of the the team, is 28th in the Majors in runs per game. The defense, something Buster Posey openly wants to win with, has graded out as fairly poor, with plenty of mistakes. The pitching looks significantly better after back-to-back shutout wins over the Philadelphia Phillies, but even so, the rotation is 15th in ERA, and the bullpen 19th … despite playing 10 of their 13 games at Oracle Park.

So which of those four do you assign the most blame to when assessing the poor start to the 2026 season?

Fresh off a come from behind, ninth inning victory over the New York Yankees last night, the two teams are back at it this morning in the Bronx. Yankee Stadium will host the rubber match of this three-game series with the 4-7 A’s going up against the 8-3 Yankees.

Jeffrey Springs will get the start for the Athletics today. Springs is 1-0 in his two starts this season with a 2.38 ERA and nine strikeouts in 11.1 innings.  He’ll go up against 26-year-old lefty Ryan Weathers who came to the Yankees vis trade from Miami in the off-season.  Weathers is the son of former MLB (and Yankees) hurler David Weathers. He has no record in his two starts for the Yankees this season with a 4.50 ERA and eleven strikeouts.

Weathers will face off against this lineup for the A’s:

Springs will go up against this batting order for Aaron Boone’s first place Yankees:

Follow the Game:

Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, A’s Cast

One of the most passionate fan bases in baseball just got a lot happier Thursday morning.

MLB and the Padres announced San Diego’s new City Connect jerseys for the 2026 season, revealing a striking color combination that honors the cross-cultural fan base between Southern California and Mexico.

Per the Padres, the slogan for the jerseys are “Two Countries. Two Cultures. Together as One.”

The uniform begins with a white hat and navy blue bill, with the traditional “SD” embroidered in orange and navy blue. The jersey is navy blue with trim colors that reflect the traditional celebration of Día de Los Muertos. The pants are white with an orange band the runs from the hip to the ankle along the side.

According to the Padres, there are six distinct features for the city connect uniforms.

The newest iteration of the jerseys are a stark contrast to its predecessors.

While the old combination was bright and vibrant, celebrating San Diego’s sublime coastal location, the newest version pays homage to past that honors its legends and former greats.

Among Padres legends who have passed recently are Tony Gwynn, Ken Caminiti, Randy Jones and Padres owner Peter Seidler.

Gwynn, or better known as “Mr. Padre” after spending 20 season with the team, is the greatest Padre to have ever lived. He finished with a career .338 batting average, eight national league batting titles and played in San Diego’s two World Series trips. He passed away on June 16, 2014 at the age of 54 after losing his battle with cancer.

According to the Padres, there are six distinct features for the city connect uniforms.

Sleeve Patch

Día de los Muertos is about remembering and celebrating our loved ones. The Padres honor our traditions and families with a La Catrina patch, an iconic symbol of this holiday and celebration of those we hold dear. She is adorned with a traditional floral crown, surrounded by ofrenda candles, and set against the aqua backdrop of the Pacific Ocean.

Wordmark

The uniform is a continued celebration of our binational region. The refreshed wordmark is inspired by our beautiful shared coastline, spectacular sunsets, and active lifestyle.

The Cap

Featuring a bone crown, obsidian bill and floral pattern on the interior, the hat design is a nod to one fo the Padres greatest teams and legends taken too soon.

Two countries. Two cultures. Together as one. pic.twitter.com/z2dX4w3HOd

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 9, 2026

Trim and Braid

A marigold pattern is sublimated on the trim of the sleeves and the braids on the bone-colored pants. This flower is quintessential to Día de los Muertos and symbolizes joy and the beauty of life.

Colors

Evocative of our vibrant landscape, rich culture, history, and traditions, the colors — bone, obsidian, marigold, aqua, fireberry, and Padres gold — come together in one uniform.

Jock Tag

The papel picado celebrates the history of the Padres franchise and region we call home, using logos from the past that pay tribute to our teams, players, and faithful fans.

To purchase the City Connect jerseys, click HERE.

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Alex Vesia pitched in one of the highest-leverage moments of the young season for the Dodgers on Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh inning to protect a two-run lead.

Vesia inherited runners at the corners after Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed a double and single to open the frame, the first Dodgers starting pitcher to last into the seventh inning this season. Vesia walked his first batter to load the bases, but then sandwiched two flyouts around a strikeout to get out unscathed.

Tuesday was also notable because it was Vesia’s 300th game with the Dodgers, a number reached by only 25 pitchers in franchise history. A fitting number, considering Vesia walked off the mound with the energy of Leonidas.

When the Dodgers acquired Vesia in February 2021 — from the Miami Marlins along with Kyle Hurt for reliever Dylan Floro — the left-hander was entering his age-25 season, and to that point had pitched five games in the majors, all with the Marlins in 2020.

He’s been a fixture in the Dodgers bullpen for the last half-decade, with a 2.62 ERA and 3.01 xERA, and 32.6-percent strikeout rate, and also has a 1.86 ERA and 3.76 xERA in 26 postseason games, including a save in Game 2 of the 2024 World Series.

Since joining the Dodgers, he ranks 21st in the majors in games pitched, including sixth-most among left-handed pitchers.

Only one of Vesia’s Dodgers games was a start. He served as the opener on July 8, 2023 against the Angels, and pitched a scoreless first inning. But when he pitches next in relief, Vesia will join an even more exclusive club. Currently only nine Dodgers have pitched 300 times in relief.

Most relief appearances, Dodgers history

1. Kenley Jansen, 519 games
2. Ron Perranoski, 456 games
3. Jim Brewer, 456 games
4. Clem Labine, 388 games
5. Jonathan Broxton, 386 games
6. Charlie Hough, 385 games
7. Pedro Báez, 355 games
8. Ed Roebuck, 321 games
9. Tom Niedenfuer, 310 games
10. Alex Vesia, 299 games

I think this series is our clearest evidence yet that 2026 should be a better year for the Atlanta Braves than 2025 was. Sure, it’s still very early and 13 games is only a small drop in the bucket of a full 162-game season but the Braves have already just gotten done doing something that they failed to do all last season: Win more than one (1) game in the state of California.

Indeed, the Braves are now back in Atlanta after pulling off a series win in California in order to up their record in the Golden State to 2-1. For reference’s sake, they went 1-12 in every game they played in that state last season. Already, things are looking up for this ballclubs and it’s not just the fact that they got this particular monkey off of their collective backs. There’s a lot to talk about from what was a wild (but successful) series in Anaheim against the Angels. Let’s get into it!

Monday, April 6

Angels 6, Braves 2

This game essentially came down to two bad innings from Chris Sale — two uncharacteristically bad innings, at that. The bottom of the fourth felt like one of those typical implosions that seems to happen with alarming regularity in the state of California for the Braves, no matter who’s pitching or playing. It started with Sale hitting our old friend Jorge Soler with a pitch and that was the start of five of the first six Angels batters in that frame reaching base safely. Despite the fact that only one of those was a hit that made it into the outfield, Sale managed to give up three runs in the process. Two singles, two walks and two hit-by-pitches was the method by which the Angels did their damage. He did strike out seven batters though, so there’s that.

The Braves were unable to respond in the next frame as Jose Soriano continued to absolutely mow down Braves hitters for what would turn into an excellent eight-inning performance from the Angels hurler. The Angels then rudely welcomed Sale back to the mound with a Jorge Soler single and then a two-run dinger from Jo Adell. That was the end of the night for Sale and essentially the end of the contest for the Braves as they were unable to muster up anything outside of a first-inning solo homer from Drake Baldwin and a ninth-inning solo shot from Mauricio Dubón.

Tuesday, April 7

Braves 7, Angels 2

Even when the Braves win one in California, it’s anything but normal. Jorge Soler continued to be a thorn in Atlanta’s side as he hit a two-run shot in the first inning that put the Angels ahead and it would’ve been understandable to think that this would be the start of another long and late night out West for the Braves. The good news is that this time, the Braves got up off of the mat and came back swinging. Eli White doubled in the first run of the night for the Braves in the second inning and then Atlanta took the lead in the fourth inning after rallying to score three more runs. Austin Riley tied the game up with an RBI single, which was lovely to se considering how much he has struggled to start this season

Funnily enough, there weren’t too many post-fight fireworks from both teams and things actually calmed down a bit. Atlanta’s bullpen did a very good job of covering the final four innings of this one after López got ejected, which meant that the runs scored by the Braves later on in the game weren’t sorely needed but were there purely as insurance. A solo homer from Ozzie Albies in the eighth gave Atlanta some real breathing room at 5-2 and then RBIs from Drake Baldwin and Matt Olson in the ninth inning allowed the Braves to pull away in order to make sure that this truculent ballgame ended in victorious fashion for Atlanta.

Wednesday, April 8

Braves 8, Angels 2

If you had told me that Grant Holmes would’ve gotten nearly seven full innings deep into this game after how the second inning went, first I’d be confused about you being a time traveler and using that power to inform me about a baseball game but then I’d be shocked at the result of said baseball game. Indeed, Grant Holmes looked like he was going to have a Sale-like implosion in the second inning of this one but he somehow got out of it by “only” giving up two runs. Those two runs would be all he’d surrender for the rest of his outing, as he quickly regained his composure and clamped down on the Angels from that point forward.

While that was going on, Atlanta’s lineup proved to be a bit much for Reid Detmers and the rest of the Angels pitching staff to deal with on the day. Austin Riley came to life in this one with a hit and two walks and each time he reached base, he scored. Riley even legged out a double in extremely cool fashion (with a swim move at second to finish it) as he looked as dynamic and threatening as he had since Opening Day. Ronald Acuña Jr. picked up a couple of good-luck hits in this one as well, so hopefully this’ll be the start of these two really getting going.

Ultimately, the Braves ended up cruising to victory in this one as Holmes settled down and went deep. Joel Payamps was able to make sure that Holmes’ line stayed looking good once he exited and then Jose Suarez delivered a nice performance over two innings as well. The series win marked Atlanta’s first series victory in California since 2024, which is when they downed this same Angels team over the course of three games in mid-August back then.

Is the California Curse over and limited to just 2025? They still have to go visit their National League foes in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco but for now, this was a huge relief to see the Braves pick up a series win in Anaheim and it was even better to see this team continue to avoid dropping any series so far. They’ve now either won or split each of the series that they’ve played here early on and you don’t need me to tell you that winning every series is a surefire way to rack up some wins across the long haul of a regular season.

A winning road trip in general is a lovely way for the Braves to return home. While they could’ve gotten more from the series in Arizona, taking two-out-of-three against a tricky Angels squad was the perfect way to make sure that this was a productive road trip. While Chris Sale’s performance was disappointing, even the staff ace is entitled to having a bad day now and then. It also helped that Reynaldo López was effective before he joined Fight Club (and they even got some best-case scenario news when it came to his inevitable suspension) and Grant Holmes came up big as well. The offense was also consistent over the course of these three games and hopefully this will get some of the stars like Acuña and Riley going as well.

Meanwhile, things won’t get a lot easier for the Braves once they return home to wear their clean new City Connect uniforms. The Cleveland Guardians won their series over the Kansas City Royals, so we’ll have two 8-5 teams doing baseball battle once the Braves get back in action on Friday night. That’ll certainly be a test for the bottom portion of this Braves rotation and another test to se if this lineup can continue getting it done. For now, they’ll be full of confidence following a productive road trip with a lot of positives to take home with them.

Worcester: W, 8-5 (BOX SCORE)

After almost two years of rehab, Patrick Sandoval is back. The idea of paying someone fresh off of Tommy John surgery $18 million to rehab has been met with plenty of criticism, but Sandoval’s 529 strikeouts in 536 career innings with an ERA just over 4 can provide some stability if healthy. I don’t think I want Sandoval in the big league roation, but perhaps some sort of relief role is best for the current club as they deal with injuries and uncertainties in that regard (as our own Jake Roy points out, the current iteration of the bullpen cannot hold a lead).

In his first trip back to a mound, Sandoval dealt with some rust regarding control. Of his 63 pitches, only 35 fell in for strikes. This also led to longevity issues, as he recorded just ten outs, issuing three walks (and letting three runs score from these walks) but striking out three. Seth Martinez brought some balance back to the game, pitching eight perfect outs. This gave the WooSox time to string some runs on the board, resulting from a costly error of the Clippers’ (Guardians AAA) Travis Bazanna on a Braiden Ward grounder. Ward would subseqently break the tie in the eighth, while Kristian Campbell would drive in a run with a bases loaded HBP. A Mikey Romero sac-fly later, the lead was up to three runs, and the WooSox would not let that up.

Portland: L, 3-11 (BOX SCORE)

Franklin Arias continues to start the season strong, as he had two knocks and three RBIs. The team also managed two three-baggers, one each from Marvin Alcantara and Abrham Liendo. That’s about all the good that came from Wednesday night’s game against New Hampshire (Blue Jays AAA).

Four hitters in the Sea Dogs’ lineup are still hitless on the season almost a week in. Also, it doesn’t help that Gage Ziehl, the return for the Jordan Hicks trade, allowed seven runs, five earned, off nine hits in two and a third innings, so this one was done quickly in a fashion in which “get the game to Michael Sansone” doesn’t hit quite the same way as it does with a lead. Sansone was fine, pitching five and a third, allowing the deficit to grow more, but then, since this was the second blowout Portland’s incurred in a week, we were treated to a position player pitching, and, to his credit, Drew Ehrhard put in the best pitching performance of the night.

Greenville: L, 1-4 (BOX SCORE)

Everyone in the lineup had a hit against the Spartanburgers (Rangers High-A) on Tuesday, but it was quite the opposite on Wednesday. Hub City had a no-hitter going against the Drive until the sixth, when Jack Winnay drove into right field to advance Justin Gonzales (who led the inning off with a walk) to third; Gonzales would score on a Mason White sac fly. Winnay had the only hit of the night for the Drive, and, if you’re a math person, you know that one hit is usually never going to beat the two home runs Luis Cohen allowed.

Salem: W, 6-3 (BOX SCORE)

It was a bullpen game in Salem, but no matter. Jacob Meyers, Myles Patton, Brandon Neely and Harry Blum may not be aboard the Artemis II by a long shot, but they navigated this game safely and kept the Warbirds (Brewers A) at bay following some early trouble. All in all, Wilson stranded nine batters. The six hits Greenville got as a team were all concentrated among three hitters, but the hits came at the right times, namely Andrews Opata getting two triples to put himself in scoring position and 18-year-old Avinson Pinto tacking on two doubles.

Have a marvelous Thursday!

The Colorado Rockies (6-6, tied for second in the NL West) face the San Diego Padres (6-6, also tied for second in the NL West) in the first game of a four-game series. The Padres are favored with a moneyline of -190 and a spread of -1.5, with Randy Vásquez starting on the mound, boasting a 0.75 ERA and 11 strikeouts. Colorado’s starter is TBD.

How to watch Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres

• Date: Thursday, April 9

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET / 6:40 p.m. PT

• Where: PETCO Park, San Diego, CA

• TV Channels: Padres.TV, Rockies.TV

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Colorado Rockies: 6-6 (tied for second in NL West)

• San Diego Padres: 6-6 (tied for second in NL West)

Odds (via BetMGM)

• Spread: San Diego Padres -1.5

• Moneyline: San Diego Padres -190 (62.6%) / Colorado Rockies +155 (37.4%)

• Over/Under: 8

Starting pitchers

San Diego Padres: Randy Vásquez (1-0; ERA: 0.75; K: 11; WHIP: 1.00)

Colorado Rockies: TBD

Series: Game 1 of 4 (series tied)

Weather: 69°F at first pitch

The Arizona Diamondbacks (6-6), tied for second in the NL West, face the New York Mets (7-5), tied for second in the NL East, with the Mets favored at -160 odds. The starting pitchers are Eduardo Rodriguez for Arizona (0.00 ERA), and Nolan McLean for New York, with a 2.61 ERA. The over/under is set at 7 runs.

How to Watch Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Mets

• Date: Thursday, April 9

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET / 4:10 p.m. PT

• Where: Citi Field, Flushing, Queens, NY

• TV Channels: SNY, Dbacks.TV, MLB Network

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Arizona Diamondbacks: 6-6 (tied for second in NL West)

• New York Mets: 7-5 (tied for second in NL East)

Odds (via BetMGM)

• Spread: New York Mets -1.5

• Moneyline: New York Mets -160 (59.1%) / Arizona Diamondbacks +135 (40.9%)

• Over/Under: 7

Starting pitchers

Arizona Diamondbacks: Eduardo Rodriguez (0-0; ERA: 0.00; K: 8; WHIP: 0.92)

New York Mets: Nolan McLean (1-0; ERA: 2.61; K: 12; WHIP: 0.87)

Weather: 44°F at first pitch

The New York Yankees, ranked first in the AL East with an 8-3 record, are favored with a -200 moneyline over the Oakland Athletics, who are 4-7 and ranked fourth in the AL West. Thursday’s rubber match comes after the Yankees took the first game of the series, and the A’s took the second.

How to watch Athletics vs. New York Yankees

• Date: Thursday, April 9

• Time: 1:35 p.m. ET / 10:35 a.m. PT

• Where: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

• TV Channels: YES, NBCSCA

• Live Stream:ESPN+, MLB.TV | Follow on Yahoo Sports

Team records

• Athletics: 4-7 (fourth in AL West)

• New York Yankees: 8-3 (first in AL East)

Odds (via BetMGM)

• Spread: New York Yankees -1.5

• Moneyline: New York Yankees -200 / Athletics +165

• Over/Under: 8

Starting pitchers

Athletics: Jeffrey Springs (1-0; ERA: 2.38; K: 9; WHIP: 0.97)

New York Yankees: Ryan Weathers (0-0; ERA: 4.50; K: 11; WHIP: 1.88)

Series: Game 3 of 3 (series tied)

Weather: 46°F at first pitch

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The Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets wrap up a three-game series at Citi Field on Thursday night.

New York had a four-game win streak snapped yesterday but my Diamondbacks vs. Mets predictions expect the home side to bounce back with a strong start from Nolan McLean. 

Here are my best free MLB picks for this NL clash on April 9.

Who will win Diamondbacks vs Mets today: Mets run line -1.5 (+145)

Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Eduardo Rodriguez has allowed eight hits and one run through 12 frames. However, he had an ugly 5.02 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP in 39 starts over the previous two years, so expect major regression.

The New York Mets are giving the pill to Nolan McLean who is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. In 10 MLB starts going back to last season, McLean has a 2.16 ERA with a .189 OBA and 69 punchouts through 58 1/3 innings.

With the Mets also boasting better hitting metrics, I'm playing the run line.

COVERS INTEL: McLean has a six-pitch arsenal that features a devastating sinker, a sweeper and curveball with elite movement, and a four-seamer that hits 98 mph.

Diamondbacks vs Mets Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (+117)

The Mets have balance from 1-9 in their lineup and despite the absence of Juan Soto have been making good contact. Over the last week, they are batting .284 while slugging .405. 

Bo Bichette has come alive after a slow start to his season, while proven sluggers like Marcus Semien and Francisco Lindor will break out eventually. 

I expect them to have success against Rodriguez and an Arizona bullpen that is projected to be one of the worst in baseball. That has me leaning towards the Over 7.5. 

Diamondbacks vs Mets odds

• Moneyline: Arizona +150 | New York -156
• Run line: Arizona +1.5 (-150) | New York -1.5 (+144)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+117) | Under 7.5 (-122)

Diamondbacks vs Mets trend

The Mets have covered the Run Line in 13 of their last 25 games (+3.55 Units / 13% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Diamondbacks vs. Mets.

How to watch Diamondbacks vs Mets and game info

Diamondbacks vs Mets latest injuries

Diamondbacks vs Mets 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.

The A’s announced a roster move on Thursday morning. The club has recalled right-hander Jack Perkins while optioning righty reliever Michael Kelly to Triple-A:

It looks like the club has settled on Perkins taking the rotation spot that was vacated by Luis Morales earlier this week. Perkins, who came into camp vying for a spot in the season-opening rotation, had a decent spring but was always a long shot to jump over someone else for a spot. Instead he began his season in Las Vegas with the Aviators, with whom he made three relief appearances lasting a total of just seven innings of work.

That means he’s likely going to be on a short pitch limit at least in the early going. It’s being speculated that he’ll work with JT Ginn, with one or the other piggybacking off the other. We’ll see how it works on Friday against the Mets.

To make room on the roster the club demoted right-handed reliever Michael Kelly to Triple-A. Kelly, who had been viewed as a potential late-game option for manager Mark Kotsay in the bullpen, has had a tough start to his season, allowing runs in three of his four appearances. The club needed a spot on the active roster for Perkins and Kelly drew the short stick this time. We’ll almost certainly be seeing him again later this season. For now he heads to Las Vegas to work on his stuff and staying ready for when the A’s need another arm in the ‘pen.