Category: MLB

The Phillies got Harry Doyle’d yesterday in Miami, but hey, they get two more cracks at winning the series down there. Maybe they were just taking that day as a rest day.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Garrett Stubbs, somehow, had found a way to stay on the Phillies’ roster ($).
• With Stubbs back on the roster, Dylan Moore now has to go find a new job, being designated for assignment.

MLB news:

• The Tigers have some injuries already, but now have to add Will Vest to the list.
• Anthony Volpe saw his rehab assignment extended while Jose Caballero continue to play well ($).
• The Reds tied an MLB record by walking seven consecutive batters yesterday.

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Fifteen games are on the MLB schedule today, and I’ve got you covered with my favorite moneyline picks for each matchup, highlighted by the Detroit Tigers edging out the Texas Rangers on Sunday Night Baseball.

Read on as I break down all of my top MLB picks for Sunday, May 3.

MLB moneyline picks for May 3

Matchup	Pick
Blue Jays vs Twins	+100
Reds vs Pirates	+108
Astros vs Red Sox	+122
Brewers vs Nationals	-122
Orioles vs Yankees	-203
Phillies vs Marlins	-127
Giants vs Rays	-113
Dodgers vs Cardinals	-138
Dodgers vs Cardinals	-150
Braves vs Rockies	-170
Guardians vs Athletics	-113
Mets vs Angels	+113
White Sox vs Padres	-170
Royals vs Mariners	-122
Rangers vs Tigers	-122

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 5-3.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for May 3

Blue Jays vs Twins: Twins (+100)

Twins win probability: 50%

Although Trey Yesavage looked solid in his 2026 debut, Joe Ryan has had the Blue Jays' number over the years, limiting Toronto hitters to a .708 lifetime OPS.

Expect the Twins to take the series finale at home.

Reds vs Pirates: Reds (+108)

Reds win probability: 48%

Cincinnati has quietly been crushing it away from the confines of Great American Ballpark, sporting a 10-5 SU mark on the road. 

Considering we have an equal pitching matchup that pits Chase Burns against Braxton Ashcraft, I'll roll with the Reds at plus value. 

Astros vs Red Sox: Astros (+122)

Astros win probability: 45%

There aren’t many teams more unwatchable than the 2026 iteration of the Boston Red Sox, and our very own Josh Inglis does a great job breaking down why their offense may have spiraled this season.

For all of Houston's pitching issues, the Stros can still score with the best of them — and it likely won’t take much to get past this Red Sox club.

Brewers vs Nationals: Brewers (-122)

Brewers win probability: 55%

Zack Littell enters Sunday winless through four starts, carrying an ugly 7.85 ERA that includes a 16:11 K:BB ratio.

Both offenses have been red-hot down the stretch, but Littell’s struggles loom large in D.C.

Orioles vs Yankees: Yankees (-203)

Yankees win probability: 67%

Shane Baz hasn’t been able to reinvent himself in Baltimore, showing the same inconsistency he flashed in Tampa with a 4.50 ERA, and the Yankees will have a major leg up when they send Max Fried to the mound in the Bronx.

This one won't be close. 

Phillies vs Marlins: Phillies (-127)

Phillies win probability: 56%

Can Donnie Baseball save the Phillies? Their new skipper is 4-1 and will be back at his old stomping grounds in Miami this afternoon.

Philly should keep the momentum rolling against Chris Paddack, who’s been rocked to the tune of a 6.11 ERA and 1.50 WHIP through 28 innings of work.

Giants vs Rays: Rays (-113)

Rays win probability: 53%

San Francisco is in the midst of a massively disappointing season for the second consecutive year, and the Giants are sitting in the basement when it comes to team home runs.

The Rays will grind you down with small ball and heads-up baserunning at the Trop, and I expect that to show up against a scuffling Tyler Mahle .

Dodgers vs Cardinals: Dodgers (-138)

Dodgers win probability: 58%

Justin Wrobleski is 4-0 as a Dodgers reliever-turned-starter, and with the struggling Dustin May on the mound for the opposing side, this play becomes an easy choice.

Diamondbacks vs Cubs: Cubs (-150)

Cubs win probability: 60%

Merrill Kelly rates among the bottom 10 of qualified pitchers in proStuff+, and he’ll be in trouble against a Cubs offense that has averaged six runs per game over their last five contests.

Braves vs Rockies: Braves (-170)

Braves win probability: 63%

Spencer Strider is set to make his first start of the season, though his notable dip in velocity over the years could give the Rockies a chance to pounce.

Meanwhile, Kyle Freeland will have his hands full against an Atlanta Braves lineup that ranks in the Top 5 in batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS.

The real bet is on the Over, but it's hard to go against Atlanta right now. 

Guardians vs Athletics: Guardians (-113)

Guardians win probability: 53%

Parker Messick is looking like an early AL Cy Young candidate, rolling into Sunday undefeated with a 1.73 ERA and a chase rate that sits in the 96th percentile at Baseball Savant.

As long as Messick keeps dealing, there's no reason not to bet on Cleveland when he takes the bump. 

Mets vs Angels: Angels (+113)

Angels win probability: 47%

Not only do the Mets possess the worst record in baseball, but Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr. have all landed on the IL.

It’s been a season from hell for Frank the Tank and the rest of Mets Nation, but let's profit off of it, shall we?

White Sox vs Padres: Padres (-170)

Padres win probability: 63%

Did San Diego win the Juan Soto trade with New York?

Randy Vasquez has really stepped up as a key cog in the Padres rotation, and the home team will have no trouble getting to White Sox lefty Anthony Kay (6.12 ERA), who’s on his third team in as many MLB seasons.

Royals vs Mariners: Mariners (-122)

Mariners win probability: 55%

Luis Castillo has been a shell of his former self, but the Mariners right-hander should bounce back against a putrid Royals offense that is hitting just .205 off of him.

Side with Seattle on Sunday afternoon. 

Rangers vs Tigers: Tigers (-122)

Tigers win probability: 55%

My preseason pick to win the World Series has been treading water through much of March and April, but a Sunday night matchup at Comerica will see the Tigers take on a Rangers team struggling to plate runs, sitting bottom-10 in runs per game and OPS.

Add in injuries to Brandon Nimmo and Wyatt Langford, and the home team should pull away in primetime.

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.

Hello, friends.

As is often referenced in GIF form, “Oh no, we suck again!” Two days of playing the Yankees has made it feel as if the list of Orioles problems is proving insurmountable, that nothing is going to go right this year, that the theory of the case that Mike Elias had for this roster being able to compete was once again fatally flawed. Check out Alex Church’s recap of yesterday’s game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.

Two games remain in the series. This feels more like a threat than something to inspire hope of an in-series turnaround. For just one example of why it feels like a threat, the Orioles are facing left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried today. They remain winless in games started by lefty pitchers this season, a stretch of futility that’s gone on long enough to be alarming. Their right-handed batters are, collectively, not hitting lefties.

Also happening today, which will be news to you if you missed hearing about it yesterday, is the MLB debut of pitching prospect Trey Gibson. The team scratched him from starting for Norfolk on Saturday in case they wanted to use him today, and sure enough, it’s going to happen. The 23-year-old Gibson joined the Orioles as an undrafted free agent out of college and has made himself into a prospect who has some believers in his arsenal and his ability to use it to get through lineups.

I am not one of the believers, so I don’t have high expectations for today. There will probably be the standard stories about how a number of family members have come to New York to see him and I almost won’t be able to watch because I fear it will go badly. My non-belief in Gibson is mostly about his Triple-A results to date. Between last season and this season, he’s got a 6.17 ERA at the level. He has made a tweak to his pitch mix over the offseason. 2026 may go better for him, and if so, that’s great.

Still, Gibson is only here right now out of desperation. I think the ideal scenario for the Orioles would be that none of Gibson, Nestor German, or Levi Wells needed to be tried out any time sooner than July. Here Gibson is on May 3. That’s because Zach Eflin’s elbow blew out in his first start, because Dean Kremer strained his calf, and because Trevor Rogers got the flu so bad that he had to go on the injured list.

Even more recently, it’s because Cade Povich was so bad on Friday night that Albert Suárez, who I think otherwise might have made the start, had to pitch. Instead, Suárez was designated for assignment yesterday for roster flexibility. Tough business when you’re on the fringes of it. All of which adds up to Gibson today, facing down a Yankees lineup that has put up runs against the Orioles in this series. I just don’t think it’s going to go great. I’ll be happy if I’m proven wrong. The series continues at 1:35 today. One more game awaits on Monday night.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

The rotation comes under the microscope after Orioles lose another to the Yankees (The Baltimore Banner)
Andy Kostka’s gamer from yesterday puts some deserving focus on a struggling starting rotation. I’m down on the group, though I continue to wonder how much better things would go with even an average level of defense.

Three Orioles takeaways: Craig Albernaz takes ownership of 15-18 start (The Baltimore Sun)
Also in the takeaways are concerns about Kyle Bradish’s command and general issues with the offense. There’s a lot going on here and not a lot of it is good.

Get to know Trey Gibson: Orioles 2025 minor league pitcher of the year makes MLB debut today (Steve Melewski)
Longtime Orioles prospect writer Steve Melewski has been following Gibson’s career in the system in recent years. He’s more excited than I am.

Rutschman, Basallo are coexisting on Orioles roster just fine (Orioles.com)
The hitting of their catching duo is one of the few things that there’s no need to worry about, at least up to this point, with the 2026 Orioles.

Saturday roster summary: Wells optioned, Suárez cut, Enns and Raquet return (Baltimore Baseball)
A lot went on yesterday in the quest for fresh arms. Raquet’s stay will likely be brief, as someone has to come off the roster to make room for Gibson when he is activated today.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

In their 33rd game a year ago, the Orioles were beaten by the Royals, 11-6, to fall to 13-20 on the season. This comparison would really feel a lot better if the Orioles had won either of the first two games here in New York. Instead, they remain merely two wins better than last year’s performance. The O’s managed to lose that game despite Jackson Holliday hitting a pair of homers; three relievers gave up two runs in one inning in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. That was a bad team. To be determined if this one is much better.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2008-09 pitcher Bob McCrory, 1999-2000 pitcher Gabe Molina, and 1986-87 pitcher Tony Arnold. Today is Arnold’s 67th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: philosopher Niccoló Machiavelli, baseball Hall of Famer Eppa Rixey (1891), singer Bing Crosby (1903), baseball Hall of Famer Red Ruffing (1905), musician Pete Seeger (1919), musician James Brown (1933), Four Seasons singer Frankie Valli (1934), actress Christina Hendricks (1975), and golf guy Brooks Koepka (1990).

On this day in history…

In 1715, a total solar eclipse occurred, with the path of totality crossing much of northern Europe and Asia. This was a notable eclipse because astronomer Edmond Halley – the one the comet is named after – had predicted the start time of the eclipse within four minutes.

In 1815, a Neapolitan army led by Joachim Murat, who had contrived to become king of Naples, was defeated by the Austrians in the Battle of Tolentino. Murat was ousted by a post-war treaty before the end of the month.

In 1921, a British law passed the previous year took effect, partitioning Ireland between Northern Ireland, which has remained a part of the United Kingdom, and Southern Ireland. This occurred within the ongoing Irish War of Independence, which by the end of the following year led to the establishment of an Irish Free State.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on May 3. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!

The Detroit Tigers evened up their weekend home series against the Texas Rangers on Saturday night with a 5-1 victory. Keider Montero gave the good guys 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball, while Dillon Dingler’s three-run shot in the opening frame was enough to earn the W.

Sunday night, the two teams will duke it out one more time at Comerica Park in the series rubber match. With Casey Mize on the injured list with a groin injury, left-handed reliever Tyler Holton will start on the mound in what we can assume is an opener role.

So far in 2026, Holton has averaged exactly one inning per outing while entering the game in the seventh or later in 10 of his 13 appearances. Through his first seven games, he allowed zero runs on just four hits and four walks while striking out five over seven frames; he has put up a 12.00 ERA with an 8.14 FIP while giving up 13 hits (two home runs) and four walks over his last six appearances.

Meanwhile, Texas sends fellow struggling southpaw Jack Leiter to the bump, who has given his team at least five innings in five of his six starts. However, after beginning the season having given up just three runs in 11 innings, he has put up an ERA of 6.64 and FIP of 6.53 over the last 20 1/3 frames.

The last time Leiter faced the Tigers was in his major league debut on April 4, 2023, in Detroit, which saw him surrender seven runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three over 3 2/3 frames in a 9-7 Texas loss.

Make note that the game will be broadcast on the NBC Network/Peacock. Take a look below at the rest of what you need to know for the game.

Detroit Tigers (17-17) vs. Texas Rangers (16-17)

Time (ET): 7:20 p.m. ET
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site:Lone Star Ball
Media: NBC Sports Network/Peacock, Tigers Radio Network

Game 35: LHP Tyler Holton (0-1, 5.54 ERA) vs. RHP Jack Leiter (1-2, 5.17 ERA)

HOLTON

LEITER

I’ve made this point before on Pinstripe Alley, but it’s never a bad time to bring it up: Boy, do I love a good, boring win. The Yankees have been getting quite a few of those lately, and that continued yesterday against the Orioles. The Bombers very casually roughed up Kyle Bradish, Ryan Weathers was effective enough despite not necessarily having his wipeout stuff, and the offense kept adding when Bradish left, ensuring that any bullpen lapses wouldn’t hurt too much. The end result: a 9-4 win that didn’t even feel that close. May there be more on the horizon!

Today on the site, Estevão will spotlight some trends from the Yankees’ AL East foes’ first month, Peter will present the Rivalry Roundup, Matt will celebrate the 121st birthday of Yankees pitching legend Red Ruffing, Scott will have a feature on Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre reliever Bradley Hanner, and after the matinee, John will write up this week’s Social Media Spotlight.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

Time: 1:35 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, MASN

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. How deep does ace Max Fried go this afternoon against the O’s?

2. Any Game 7 predictions for today? We’ve got the top-seeded Detroit Pistons against the underdog Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA, as well as Canada’s last hope for snapping its 33-year Stanley Cup drought with the Montreal Canadiens trying to advance to the next around against the Tampa Bay Lightning (who, of course, have won three Cups in that timespan, including against the Habs in 2021).

New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Anthony Volpe’s rehab assignment will end today, and the Yankees will have to chose what to do with the former top prospect. He will either need to be activated and added to the MLB roster, or optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and begin his season for real in the minors. With José Caballero doing everything the Yankees could possibly ask of him, especially with his shortstop defense, some time in Scranton to ensure that Volpe can be a representative MLB player might not be the worst idea. Of course the counterpoint is what risk do you pose in hurting Volpe’s confidence, a player who has already struggled to live up to the expectations placed on him in his career?

NJ.com | Bob Klapisch: Much was made over the winter about the new Trajekt machines, batting practice aids that replicate the arm angle and movement of virtually any MLB pitcher. At least one Yankee has found success in a more low-tech environment though, with the aforementioned Caballero sinking his teeth into onfield batting practice. The shortstop has hit four home runs on the year, after five all of last season, and credits the confidence that watching the ball travel around the stadium during BP instills with the power surge. I’m not sure Cabby will ever be hitting in the top third of a lineup, but not having automatic outs at the bottom of the order has been a big part of the Yankees’ success early.

New York Post | Bridget Reilly: Yep, I’m gonna talk about Ben Rice again. The perceived vulnerability in the Yankee slugger was supposed to be left handed pitching — Paul Goldschmidt came back to the Bronx on a $4 million insurance policy as a partial hedge against that weakness. Instead, Rice is the second-best hitter in all of baseball against lefties, with a sterling 1.308 OPS facing southpaws in the first six weeks of the season. The Yankees lost Juan Soto and then effectively made Juan Soto out of a 27-year-old Dartmouth alum, one of the more stunning player development successes in recent years. A platoon hitter no more!

When it rains, it pours.

In the middle of a dreadful start to the season, the players and coaches on the field aren’t the only ones making mistakes for the Mets. Yes, it seems it’s now spreading beyond the walls and into the video replay room.

In the first inning of Saturday’s eventual 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles in extra innings, Nolan McLean allowed three straight two-out hits with the third hit resulting in both an out and a run scoring.

Except it shouldn’t have. 

Upon further review, the runner trying to advance to third base was tagged out, on a great throw by Austin Slater in right field, before the runner going home touched the plate which should’ve negated the run from counting.

The Mets did not challenge the call on the play and manager Carlos Mendoza was asked why not.

“He missed it,” the skipper said, referring to Mets replay analyst Harrison Friedland. “We called, obviously, and he missed it. Harrison is one of the best at his job. Obviously it ends up being a big play when you lose by one run, but I also think we had chances there and we couldn’t cash in.”

Yes, New York ended up losing by a single run in extra innings, meaning had they challenged the call and got it overturned and everything else stayed the same, the Mets would’ve won.

However, while that mental lapse proved costly, Mendoza doesn’t believe it’s the only reason his team lost. After all, once they tied the game in the seventh inning they had two more big chances to take the lead but were unable to cash in.

The first opportunity came with the bases loaded and one out and the top of the order coming up. In a lineup bereft of big hitters, this was the perfect time for the Mets to go for the jugular as Bo Bichette and Juan Soto, the two survivors of a once-thought stacked lineup, were due up.

Instead, Bichette, who had an RBI single earlier in the game, grounded into a force out at home and Soto struck out. Inning over.

Nevertheless, by a stroke of luck (and catcher’s interference), Bichette had a chance to redeem himself in the 10th inning with runners on first and second and nobody out. Once again, Bichette grounded out, this one a double play.

“I just hit two sliders in the ground,” Bichette said after the game. “I think for me just trying to be too perfect, have the perfect swing for every pitch and that’s not attainable.”

In a game where the Mets also lost Ronny Mauricio to a left thumb fracture (on the play right before Bichette’s first groundout), Mendoza admitted this loss was a tough one.

“This one stings,” he said. “We had our chances, but more times than not guys like Bo and Juan, those are the guys that we want at the plate to be in those situations. They’re gonna come through more times than not, today they just didn’t do it.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Mets need a replacement for their replacement at shortstop.

Ronny Mauricio is headed to the injured list, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, after he fractured his left thumb Saturday while diving into first base in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Angels in 10 innings.

Mauricio hit a grounder to first base and beat Nolan Schaunuel to the bag with a dive into the base — a play that was originally ruled an out but was overturned on replay — and fractured his thumb.

He was removed after the half inning concluded.

Mauricio became the starter at shortstop just over a week ago when Francisco Lindor was placed on the IL with a left calf strain expected to sideline him for months.

Bo Bichette moved from third base to shortstop for the final four innings on Saturday and is a candidate to play the position in Mauricio’s absence.

Bichette was a shortstop before switching to third base this season.

“I have got to wait and see who the player is coming up [from Triple-A Syracuse],” Mendoza said. “I am pretty sure Bo is going to be in the conversation.”

Randy Johnson is the first Mariners pitcher I remember watching. Somewhere there is a picture of a mulleted Randy taken by me with a hot pink camera in the Kingdome at a Kid’s Day. It’s blurry, and his head is partially cropped off, seven-year-old me tilting up the camera at the towering figure above me. That’s what it felt like watching him pitch: larger than life, scary, and a little bit thrilling.

Emerson Hancock, while very tall in his own right, does not spark the same fear, with his kind smile and soft Georgia accent. I have seen many versions of Emerson Hancock over the years: the college acee whose career and trip to Omaha was cut short; a young pitcher surrounded by other young pitching that leapfrogged him on his journey to the bigs; a beaten but not defeated Hancock searching for answers after a bad start, and another, and another; and tonight, what should have been a triumphant Hancock coming off a career-best start of 14 strikeouts against not walks, but was instead a chastened Hancock forced to explain away his teammates’ mistakes in a crushing 3-2 extra-innings loss.

Randy Johnson was famous for telling his offensively anemic Mariners teammates “just get me one run tonight, boys, that’s all we need.” Hancock would need just a little more than that. He wouldn’t get it.

The Mariners did oblige The RJ Doctrine in the first. Julio Rodríguez continued his torrid stretch with a one-out double that missed being a home run by about a foot, tagging a 90-mph fastball on the opposite corner of the plate. Josh Naylor followed him up with a classic Naylor single, the high fastball away that he punched into center field for a run. Unfortunately, Randy Arozarena capped the scoring there by unluckily lining into a double play, so the Mariners really did just get the one run, boys. That would prove to be significant, later, in a chain of events that undid this game from what should have been a thrilling win into a loss.

The Royals got their own run in the third through some bad luck for Emerson Hancock. Nine-hole hitter Kyle Isbel got a hold of a cutter at the bottom of the zone and laced it just past a diving Josh Naylor. Maikel Garcia then threw his bat at a first-pitch sweeper on the outer edge of the zone and blooped it into left field to bring home Isbel. Hancock rebounded even with one out, getting Bobby Witt Jr. to pop out on the sweeper (assisted by a strong throw from Luke Raley to hold the runner at second) and ending the inning on a strikeout looking to Vinnie Pasquantino, a perfectly spotted four-seamer at 97.4 mph.

The Mariners were able to get a go-ahead run in the fifth but it came…weirdly. With one out, the Mariners loaded the bases on back-to-back-to-back singles from Leo Rivas, J.P. Crawford, and Julio Rodríguez; Rivas then scored on a wild pitch by Royals starter Seth Lugo, the reigning Royals organizational Pitcher of the Month. Josh Naylor then struck out for the second out, but Randy Arozarena walked to re-load the bases…and then was picked off to end the inning, having lost track of the count. Manager Dan Wilson was gracious about the mental mistake postgame, saying there are times where he’s forgotten the count, or rolled the ball back with runners on, but once again, a scoring chance would be squandered, and eventually, the Mariners would run out of chances.

That sent Hancock out to protect the precious one-run lead once again. It looked like he might be done after the sixth, having to work around a leadoff ground-ball single from Bobby Witt Jr. followed by a line drive base hit from Vinnie Pasquantino. With Hancock’s velocity trending downwards and some location misses with sinkers leaking onto the plate, things felt dangerous. But Hancock spun a bunch of sweepers at Salvador Perez to get him to strike out, retired Carter Jensen on a frankly scary flyout, and then got Jac Caglianone to tap a comebacker right at him to end the inning without trouble.

Then, a surprise: Dan Wilson sent Hancock back out for a seventh inning of work, and Hancock dug down for what he had left, collecting two more strikeouts from the bottom of the order and getting Kyle Isbel to pop out softly to put a cap on his night. It was a brilliant, beautiful performance from Hancock that deserved so much better than this loss. It deserves a full recap devoted to the particular journey Hancock has taken this season, tunneling himself out of the fear and doubt and ineffectiveness of his first few seasons, bad outings and worse ones, and the perseverance he’s shown in making himself into not just a big-league starter, but the current anchor of this rotation.

If you want to just watch this highlight and stop reading, go ahead. I won’t fault you.

But once again, the bullpen wasn’t able to protect that slender lead, and the offense wasn’t able to add on. To be clear, Eduard Bazardo is blameless in this; he worked a clean eighth inning with some help from a diving Randy Arozarena. But Andrés Muñoz had the ninth and things started off roughly, with perpetual Mariner-killer Salvador Perez lining a leadoff single into right field and then pinch-runner Lane Thomas getting to second on a called balk. “DAN DO SOMETHING!” hollered one aggrieved fan in front of me in the press box and honestly, yes, I would also have liked for Dan to fix it somehow. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. Muñoz struck out Carter Jensen on a slider, but then Jac Caglianone ambushed a first-pitch heater for an RBI single – and then advanced to third on a fielding error by the normally surehanded Julio Rodríguez, who just sort of…let the ball roll past him. A swinging bunt from Isaac Collins advanced the runner to third, bringing up Michael Massey, who popped out to end the inning and make Julio’s error academic, but it felt like another missed stitch in the ugly afghan that was this game. May seems a little late to be making these kinds of mistakes, and so many of them.

The Royals brought out the anciént one (Matt Strahm) again for the ninth, causing Wilson to dip into his bench and summon Rob Refsnyder to pinch-hit for Canzone after Cole Young flew out softly for the first out of the inning. But righty pinch-hitters Refsnyder and Connor Joe couldn’t get anything cooking, and the game went to extras.

Cooper Criswell was tasked with handling the tenth and immediately had a base stolen off him, but was able to strike out Kyle Isbel for the first out of the inning, so it was basically like the sac bunt worked. That turned the lineup over, though, and Maikel Garcia was able to get that runner home with a shallow sac fly. Criswell was able to retire Bobby Witt Jr., but the Mariners – who hadn’t scored on a hit since the first inning of the game, remember – now entered with the bottom of their lineup to try to score off Royals closer Lucas Erceg.

They did not. It’s not important how. In lieu of dwelling on this annoying, frustrating, frankly godawful loss, let’s return to Emerson Hancock. While images of Randy Johnson snarling and strutting filled the giant screen behind him, Hancock warmed up as he always does, keeping an even tempo. The old baseball rule is you don’t talk to pitchers on their start days; most of the Mariners starters don’t follow that, but definitely not Hancock, who greets every member of the media as he does every day, with a soft hello-how-are-ya. Pregame, he was hanging on the batting turtle with Kevin Seitzer, maybe talking about the Braves, who come into town next, cheering a Dominic Canzone homer that scraped the upper deck. Hancock admitted he was a little starstruck by the baseball luminaries – Nolan Ryan and Pedro Martinez among them – whose voices filled the stadium before his start, but stopped short of saying he felt pressure to bring something of their greatness into his game, despite his career-best performance.

“You go out there and you try to be someone you’re not, you try to do something you don’t usually do, you can run into a trap,” said Hancock.

Not intent to dominate but intent to compete. Not a 99 mph fastball but one that ticks down to 93 at times and he lets it. Not an untouchable, harrowing presence, but a warm one that reflects the Georgia sun and open farmlands. Not a snarl but a smile. Emerson Hancock has always done it his way, and tonight he did it better than he ever has. In a frustrating game, that’s worth holding on to – the lesson that you don’t have to borrow anyone else’s persona to be great. Stick to who you are, be who you are, and you can find your own way to it, no matter how long it takes.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jonah Tong’s first month at Triple-A Syracuse this season hardly went smoothly, but Saturday was something he could appreciate.

The Mets pitching prospect fired a one-hitter over six innings with six strikeouts and two walks against Lehigh Valley.

Tong, who took a no-hitter into the sixth, has pitched to a 4.60 ERA in seven starts this season, but his 44 strikeouts are tied for the most in the minor leagues.

“We need to continue to see that,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Angels, when asked about Tong’s latest performance.

“He’s a guy that is important for this organization, for us, and we will continue to watch him closely. But it was good to see him today putting together another good outing out there.”

Tong, 22, started five games for the Mets last season and pitched to a 7.72 ERA.

Jonah Tong was absolutely DOMINATE today on the mound!

6.0 IP | 1 R | 0 ER | 1 H | 6 K | 2 BB pic.twitter.com/XnC1xtLf7U

— Syracuse Mets (@SyracuseMets) May 2, 2026

Austin Slater and Andy Ibáñez, both of whom joined the Mets within the last week, were the starting corner outfielders against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers.

“They have done it throughout their career at this level, so there is a reason why they are here and we will continue to give them chances,” Mendoza said.

Ibáñez was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly before being pinch it for by Carson Benge. Slater went 2-for-3 and scored a run.

Mets officials were encouraged by Christian Scott’s performance Friday, when he rebounded from a shaky performance a week earlier — in his return to the major leagues following Tommy John surgery — and went five innings against the Angels, allowing three earned runs, with eight strikeouts.

Scott walked five batters over 1 ¹/₃ innings in his previous outing.

In Friday’s start he didn’t walk a batter.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS

Scott surrendered a two-run homer to Jorge Soler in the first inning.

Over the next four the Angels managed just an unearned run against him.

“Not only because of his stuff, but he’s just got a really good head,” Mendoza said. “He doesn’t get too high or low. After the last outing and the first inning [Friday] he goes out and kind of like, ‘Here we go again.’ And he didn’t show any sign. I am not surprised. It just goes to show you he’s a mature kid.”

Jorge Polanco has begun taking batting practice on the field in his rehab from a right wrist contusion that has sidelined him for the last two weeks.

Polanco has also dealt with left Achilles bursitis.

The Mets are now 305-305 all time in interleague play.

If you needed more evidence that it’s no longer April, the Royals gave it to you tonight. Coming into May, the Royals were 1-5 in one-run games. So far in May, they’re 2-0 in those games and in all games. For most of the game, that didn’t seem possible.

Had the Mariners won, Emerson Hancock would be the story of this game. I’m not sure he shouldn’t still be. On the night the Mariners retired Randy Johnson’s number in a pre-game ceremony, Hancock pitched seven one-run innings with a whopping 14 strikeouts. That’s not only the most of his career; it’s the most of anyone in MLB so far this year. In case you were wondering, Hancock has never been a strikeout pitcher before. But the high heat was working for him tonight. You can refer to the game thread for a representation of how Hancock has looked this season; here’s the TJ Stats summary for Hancock tonight:

Oh yeah, he didn’t walk any either.

On the other side, Seth Lugo gave up a run within three batters. Julio Rodríguez continued his scorching hot May with a one-out, automatic double to the opposite field. Josh Naylor smashed a single to centerfield.

The Royals roared right back in the third inning. Kyle Isbel led off and snuck a double down the first base line, then Maikel Garcia drove him home with a double into the right-center gap. Unfortunately, the Royals stranded him there.

The Mariners stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the second after Vinnie Pasquantino and Seth Lugo each had brain farts on defense. In the bottom of the fifth, the Mariners had some good luck to load the bases against Lugo again. With one out, Leo Rivas had a clean single to right. J.P. Crawford snuck one past a diving Bobby into left, and Julio grounded one that Bobby grabbed on the dive but couldn’t get to Michael Massey in time to get an out. With the bases loaded and Josh Naylor at the plate, Lugo threw a wild pitch to allow Rivas to score. Lugo struck out Naylor but walked Randy Arozarena to reload the bases. Then, on a 2-2 pitch, Randy decided to take off for second. Perhaps he lost track of the count? Regardless, the Royals managed to tag him out before Crawford could score from third.

In the top of the sixth, the Royals put two runners on with no outs and failed to advance either runner. You’d be forgiven if you assumed the game was over then. But it wasn’t.

Lugo ended up only giving up two runs in six innings for the team’s 16th quality start – tied with the Mariners for fourth-most in baseball. He struck out six, walked a pair, and gave up seven hits. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. Luinder Avila looked absolutely deadly pitching the seventh and eighth innings. He allowed no runners and earned a strikeout. Matt Strahm pitched a clean ninth.

But the only reason Strahm pitched the ninth was because of what happened in the top of the inning against the Mariners’ stud closer, Andres Muñoz. Salvador Perez led off the inning and flipped a single into right. Lane Thomas came in to pinch run and was immediately awarded second base on a balk. Carter Jensen – who won April Royals player of the month, but is also 0 for his last 15 with 7 strikeouts – struck out. Jac Caglianone came to the plate with a chance to tie the game. We know what he did the last time Lugo started. Could he do it again?

Yep!

That was hit at 108.9 MPH off the bat of Jac Caglianone, and the defensive maven J-Rod had it skip past him, allowing Jac to arrive at third still with only one out. Unfortunately, the Royals couldn’t score him, so it was up to Strahm to get the game into extras.

In the top of the tenth, the Royals engaged in more shenanigans. Kyle Isbel led off with Massey at second. Isbel tried and failed to get the bunt down twice. On the second attempt, Massey got a little far from second, and Mitch Garver attempted a backpick. Massey turned his blunder into an opportunity by not panicking. Instead, he took off for third and made it a stolen base. Which was fortunate because Isbel struck out on the next pitch.

Maikel came up and, after taking a couple of big hacks, shortened his swing and got the ball just deep enough to score Massey.

In the bottom of the tenth, Lucas Erceg came out to earn his ninth save and looked like his 2024 self again. He struck out a pair – one on a slider in the zone and the other on a sinker up and away from a lefty – and got a 1-2-3 inning. Don’t look now, but Lucas has gone six straight appearances without allowing an earned run. Over that span, he’s walked 4, but he’s struck out 8 and only given up 1 hit. If Lights Out Lucas is back in business, that changes a lot of what’s possible for the Royals this year.

No matter what happens next, the Royals have guaranteed a .500 road trip with tonight’s victory. Still, they get a shot to earn a winning road trip and their second sweep of the season when they close out the series and the road trip with a late afternoon match tomorrow. Kris Bubic (3.74 ERA) will go against Luis Castillo (6.35 ERA). The game will start at 3:10 Royals time.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — For a second straight night the Mets rallied from an early deficit, but this time there wasn’t a postgame celebration.

Opportunities were wasted Saturday, including a replay challenge that the Mets didn’t issue, which would have subtracted the Angels’ first run.

Along with them went the Mets’ chances of winning a second straight game — something they have accomplished only once since April 7.

Former Yankee Oswald Peraza’s RBI single against Austin Warren in the 10th inning sent the Mets to a 4-3 loss at Angel Stadium.

The loss was the Mets’ 18th in their last 22 games.

Only adding to the team’s frustration, Ronny Mauricio fractured his left thumb diving into first base and will be placed on the injured list. It leaves the Mets in need of a shortstop — Mauricio became the starter last week after Francisco Lindor was placed on the IL with a left calf strain.

Warren was ahead 0-2 in the count with two outs before Peraza ended it with a line drive single to left. Warren had walked Jorge Soler and allowed a single to Jo Adell in the inning, moving the automatic runner to third base.

Adell’s single in the first gave the Angels a 1-0 lead, but the run should not have counted: replays showed Jorge Soler was tagged out attempting to race first-to-third before Nolan Schanuel touched home plate. The Mets did not challenge the play.

“We called obviously and he missed it,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, referring to replay coordinator Harrison Friedland. “Harrison is one of the best at his job and it ends up being a big play when you lose by one run, but I also think we had [other] chances there.”

Nobody had a rougher night at the plate than Bo Bichette, who grounded into a double play in the 10th inning after Brett Baty reached on a catcher’s interference. In the seventh, after the Mets had tied the game, Bichette batted with the bases loaded and hit into a fielder’s choice out at the plate. The Mets never took the lead.

“We had a chance to win it,” Bichette said. “I had two chances and didn’t get the job done.”

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS

In his shortest career start, Nolan McLean lasted just four innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

Bichette’s RBI single in the third tied it 1-1. Austin Slater, in his first start for the Mets, doubled before Bichette delivered against Reid Detmers for his 15th RBI this season.

Vaughn Grissom’s two-run single gave the Angels a 3-1 lead. Soler walked and Adell singled before McLean’s wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. After Grissom delivered, Peraza singled, but McLean avoided further damage by striking out Travis d’Arnaud for the final out.

“I just wasn’t executing,” McLean said. “I got behind in counts in the fourth and it’s really hard to pitch behind in counts.”

The Mets scored twice in the seventh to tie it 3-3, but left the bases loaded when neither Bichette nor Juan Soto could deliver. Bichette grounded into a fielder’s choice out at home plate before Soto struck out against Sam Bachman.

Andy Ibanez brought in the inning’s first run with a sacrifice fly before Taylor’s RBI single tied it.

Slater then singled and Mauricio’s squib to first base became an infield single following a replay challenge won by the Mets.

But Mauricio fractured his left thumb on the dive into the bag. Bichette and Soto were then retired, leaving the bases loaded. Mark Vientos’ double started the rally and Marcus Semien singled and stole second.

“Guys like Bo and Juan, those are the guys you want at the plate in those situations and more often than not they are going to come through,” Mendoza said.

Tobias Myers worked into the seventh and departed with the go-ahead run on first base and two outs. Huascar Brazoban ended the inning by retiring Soler.

Myers allowed three hits and one walk over 2 ²/₃ scoreless innings. The right-hander has pitched to a 2.05 ERA this season.

Was that the most fun game of the year? I think it was. It’s been a long time since we saw the offense score the way they have in the last two games. Seeing Travis Bazzana get his first big league hit with the bases loaded was truly special. His surface numbers may not look great so far but I have been very impressed with his ABs. He is going to be a good player for a very long time.

Chase DeLauter continues to do absurd things for a rookie. I told some of my friends earlier today that he’s like a video game character with maximum hitting attributes. He truly has no weakness at the plate and it is an absolute joy to watch. Over his last 7 games he has a slash line of .565/.630/.696.

Maybe the most important thing from today was Kyle Manzardo hitting a pinch hit 3 run bomb. Let us all pray that this is the start of him going back to being the Kyle Manzardo that we know he is capable of being. José Ramírez also seems to be in a bit of slump, it was nice to see him have that big double today that knocked in a couple runs.

Angel Martinez continues to have an awesome season with 3 hits today. And how about David Fry? They have had a lot of patience with him and it looks to be starting to pay off after he hit a huge HR today off a lefty. How could I possibly forget AUSTIN HEDGES? With two doubles and a HR today, he is now hitting .325 with an .864 OPS on the season, good for third best on the team behind Schneemann and DeLauter. I do not expect this to continue, but we appreciate any and all offensive contributions from Hedgey.

Now that we have went through all the awesome things with the offense, it’s time to talk about the elephant in the room. Slade Cecconi had another rough start today. His ERA is up to 6.56 on the season and it’s hard to find any positives with him right now. How long can they keep running him out there every 5 days? Do they think Logan Allen can give them a better chance to win right now? Allen is not exactly lighting it up in AAA either. Cecconi does have an option, so they could always send him down to AAA and have him work on some stuff there. If it were my decision, that is likely what I’d do as he seems like someone who just needs a reset.

Tim Herrin might be the most underappreciated member of the team right now, he’s been phenomenal this season. He has yet to allow an earned run and the advanced metrics support that. Hunter Gaddis had another rough performance, but I am still not worried about him. I think he just needs some time and he’ll be fine.

The Guardians will look for the sweep tomorrow. It will be Parker Messick vs…checks notes…Aaron Civale at 4:05 pm ET.!

Mets shortstop Ronny Mauricio is headed to the injured list after he fractured his left thumb on a head-first slide to first base against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night, manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game.

The injury occurred in the seventh inning after Mauricio hit a slow roller to first baseman Nolan Schanuel and tried beating it out by diving to first base. After initially called an out, the Mets immediately challenged the call which was overturned, but at great cost.

"I’m gonna have to talk to David [Stearns]," Mendoza said when asked about a possible replacement. "We need a player here tomorrow so it’s a quick turnaround."

Mauricio looked shaken up after the play, but stayed in to run the bases. He was taken out of the game in the bottom half of the inning when Brett Baty came in at third base, moving Bo Bichette to shortstop. 

Who will play shortstop in Sunday's series finale and beyond is now the question, although moving Bichette back to his natural position is an option.

"I gotta wait and see who the player is that’s gonna come up," Mendoza said. "Pretty sure Bo is gonna be in the conversation, but again we just got done with the game."

With Mauricio starting due to the calf injury of Francisco Lindor, this is just the latest blow to a team that has been decimated by injuries early this season. It's also Mauricio's second significant injury after he tore his ACL before the 2024 season and comes at a time where he was finally going to get a long look in the majors.

"It’s tough, obviously," Mendoza said. "You lose your everyday shortstop and the guy that comes up and is getting the everyday opportunity here now is hurt – somebody else is gonna have an opportunity."