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Mets rally late, can’t come through with big hit in 3-1 Opening Day loss to Astros

The Mets opened the season with a 3-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday at Daikin Park.

Here are some takeaways...

-The birthday boy, Clay Holmes, took the mound making his first regular season start since 2018. After working his way easily through the bottom of the first, he began to labor and fell into some trouble in the second, before Jake Myers drove in the first run of the game with a bases-loaded fielder's choice.

Houston struck again in the third, as Holmes issued a leadoff walk to Isaac Paredes, who came around to score a few batters later on a Yainer Diaz single. He appeared to dance around further damage, but Luisangel Acuña threw a routine double play ball into the Mets' dugout to bring in another run.

New York's defense made up for it an inning later when Mark Vientos,Acuña, and Pete Alonso went around the horn for a double play to help Holmes work through a two-on and one-out jam. He retired the first two batters in the fifth but was pulled after issuing a two-out walk -- his final line: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 4 K.

- Huascar Brazoban was one of the last additions to the Mets' Opening Day roster, so fittingly, he was the first man out of the bullpen this year. The right-hander built off his strong spring showing, striking out two while allowing just one hit and a walk across 2.1 strong innings behind Holmes.

- Juan Soto reached base in each of his first two at-bats -- singling in the first and then drawing a five-pitch walk in the third. The slugger had his first opportunity with a runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth, but Luis Torrens was gunned down trying to advance to third on a wild pitch.

Soto flew out to left leading off the next inning and then drew a walk against Framber Valdez -- before his biggest at-bat of the game came later on. The rest of the Mets' offense was held in check by Valdez, who wasn't exactly sharp but still only allowed four hits and two walks across seven shutout innings of work.

- New York was finally able to get something going in the top of the eighth when Astros right-hander Bryan Abreu loaded the bases with three straight two-out walks, but Brandon Nimmo flew out to center on the first pitch he saw to end the threat. Nimmo had one of the team's four hits earlier in the day.

- The Mets then loaded the bases against Josh Hader in the top of the ninth as Starling Marte and Tyrone Taylor started the game with singles, then Acuña drew a 13-pitch walk. After Hayden Senger struck out in his first career at-bat, Francisco Lindor lined a sacrifice fly, and then Soto stepped to the plate representing the go-ahead run.

Soto got ahead of Hader 3-0 but struck out swinging on a wicked slider out of the zone to end the game. New York had plenty of chances to change the tide in this one, but they stranded 10 men on base and went an ugly 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

- The Mets still own the highest winning percentage in baseball on Opening Day, but they've now been defeated on back-to-back years for the first time since 1999 and 2000.

Game MVP: Framber Valdez

The left-hander wasn't at his best, but he kept the new Mets lineup at bay, working through seven shutout innings.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets and Astros continue their season-opening three-game set on Friday at 8:10 p.m.

Tylor Megill takes the mound against Hunter Brown exclusively on Apple TV.

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Yankees' pitching stellar in 4-2 Opening Day win over Brewers

The Yankees got home runs from Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe early and then survived a shaky outing by new closer Devin Williams in the ninth inning to hold on for a 4-2 Opening Day win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium on Thursday.

The Yankees are 7-1 in their last eight Opening Days.

Here are the takeaways...

-After excellent pitching got the Yankees into the ninth inning, Williams, facing the team that traded him to the Yankees during the offseason, got into a major jam as the Brewers loaded the bases with no outs on a single, a double, and a walk, while trailing 4-1.

Williams got one out on a deep sacrifice fly by Brice Turang. He then struck out Jackson Chourio swinging at his signature changeup.

Finally, he went to 3-2 to Christian Yelich before striking him out swinging with a 95-mph fastball to end the game.

-Carlos Rodon delivered a strong start, allowing only one run over 5.1 innings on a third-inning home run by right-handed hitting Vinny Capra.

Rodon looked sharp, mixing his mostly 95-mph fastball with a slider and a changeup, as he recorded seven strikeouts and got 13 swings-and-misses. The left-hander allowed two walks, both in the sixth, the second on a 10-pitch at-bat by Rhys Hoskins that knocked Rodon out of the game with his pitch count at 89.

Lefty Tim Hill came on to get out of the inning in what proved to be a crucial moment in the game. After an infield single loaded the bases with two outs, Hill got pinch-hitter Isaac Collins to ground out to short for a force-out, ending the inning with the Yankees leading 2-1 at the time.

-With a little bit of luck off the bat of Aaron Judge, the Yankees added to their lead with two runs in the seventh inning.

With runners at first and second and one out, Judge hit a hard ground ball down the third-base line. Capra was in position to field the ball for at least a force-out at third but the ball bounced off the base and high over Capra’s head, into shallow left field for an RBI double to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead.

Cody Bellinger followed with a sacrifice fly to right to make it 4-1.

The fortunate bounce got Judge off the hook on what was looming as a bad day. He’d already gone 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and would have been looking at an 0-for-4 start to the season.

-The Yankee bullpen dominated until the ninth. Hill, Mark Leiter Jr., and Luke Weaver combined to get eight outs while allowing only two baserunners, on an infield single and a walk.

-Wells was already making history in the first inning by becoming the first catcher ever to hit leadoff for the Yankees, but then he quickly took it a step further when he lined a home run just over the right field wall off starter Freddy Peralta.

In doing so Wells also became the first catcher in major league history to hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day and also the first Yankee player with a leadoff home run on Opening Day.

-Peralta gave up two Yankee Stadium home runs to the short porch in right field but otherwise threw a dominant five innings for the Brewers, racking up eight strikeouts and 14 swings-and-misses in his 92 pitches.

He finished in impressive style, striking out Judge swinging at a 96-mph high fastball, leaving runners at first and second.

-Chourio, the Brewers’ young star outfielder, had a spectacular spring training, hitting .469 in 17 games, but he earned the dreaded platinum sombrero in the season opener, striking out in all five of his at-bats.

GAME MVP: CARLOS RODON

Pitching in what would have been Gerrit Cole’s spot on Opening Day, Rodon gave the Yankees reason to believe they can survive without their ace.

The left-hander pitched a mostly dominant 5.1 innings, holding the Brewers to one run on a home run by Capra.

Highlights

What's next

After an off day, the Yankees and Brewers meet again for the second of their three-game series in The Bronx. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m.

Max Fried makes his Yankees debut against former Yankee Nestor Cortes.

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Orioles OF Tyler O’Neill homers on opening day for sixth straight year, extending own record

TORONTO — Baltimore Orioles outfielder Tyler O’Neill hit a three-run home run off Toronto’s José Berríos in the third inning of Thursday’s game at Toronto, extending his major league record by homering for a sixth straight opening day.

Playing a season-opening game in his home country of Canada for the first time, O’Neill connected on a two-out, 2-1 sinker, driving in Colton Cowser and Adley Rutschman and putting Baltimore up 4-0.

O’Neill’s opening day home run streak began with St. Louis in 2020 and continued for four seasons, matching a mark held by Todd Hundley (1994-97), Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58).

O’Neill took sole possession of the mark when he connected in his lone opening day with Boston in 2024.

O’Neill arrived at the stadium Thursday carrying two boxes of donuts from the popular Canadian chain Tim Hortons to share with his Baltimore teammates. He did the same thing when visiting Toronto with the Red Sox last season.

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After rumors all winter, Bohm demonstrates importance to Phillies on Opening Day

After rumors all winter, Bohm demonstrates importance to Phillies on Opening Day originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — For three months this offseason, Alec Bohm had no idea where he’d be on Opening Day.

Philly? Seattle? Kansas City? Elsewhere? Trade rumors were rampant, and a 28-year-old, cost-controlled, All-Star third baseman is the sort of commodity most of the league finds attractive.

It’s a good thing he remained where he was, third in the Phillies’ lineup, because he’s as necessary as ever hitting between Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber. And in Game 1 of 162, Bohm delivered the winning blow, a two-run double to left-center in the 10th inning to untie the game in a 7-3 Phillies victory.

“The (trade rumors) were real, he had a possibility of going somewhere else,” Harper said. “A lot of guys in here, including myself, we love that kid. He plays the game hard and understands what it takes. He just needs to not put too much pressure on himself and enjoy what he does. What a big at-bat for him to come through right there.”

Bohm’s name wasn’t out there over the winter because the Phillies were itching to trade him. It was because the Phillies viewed him as a player who could bring back a meaningful return. From a practical standpoint, Bohm’s skill set is exactly what the Phillies need and would have been difficult to replace. They need not just Bohm’s right-handed bat but his penchant for hitting line drives and using the entire field. His two hits Thursday were a double to left-center and single to right. He utilizes the whole field better than any of his teammates and he’s a .312 career hitter with runners in scoring position, .323 the last two years.

“It’s not very often that you get to play three, four seasons in a row with the same group in professional sports like this,” Bohm said. “It’s nice to be back here, back where I’m comfortable and familiar.”

Things were not comfortable for either side’s hitters for six innings. Shadows played a role, as they often do early in 4 p.m. games. It didn’t help the bats that Zack Wheeler was throwing 97 mph and Mackenzie Gore had maybe the best stuff of his career.

The Phillies trailed by a run with one out in the seventh inning when Harper woke up his team with a solo homer. The Nationals were using a right-handed reliever, Lucas Sims, because Trea Turner and Bohm were two of the three hitters due up. Harper, in between, made them pay. The Nats turned to a lefty two batters later for Kyle Schwarber, but he also came through with a solo shot.

So much focus has been on the Schwarber vs. Turner leadoff conversation, but each of the first four spots is equally important for this Phillies team. There will be many times like Thursday when the Phillies have the top of the order due up in late innings and an opponent feels it must use a righty to combat Turner and Bohm rather than prioritize Harper over them with a lefty. The more damage Harper does, the more teams will be tempted to use a lefty instead, which would play into the favor of the righties, Turner and Bohm.

It wasn’t an ideal offensive performance — the Phillies’ strikeouts were the most ever for a team that won on Opening Day – but a W is a W.

“I mean, obviously we don’t want to punch out 19 times. That’s comical,” Harper said. “It’s not fun to do that and we can’t do that as a team, but today, made it work. We’ll take it.”

The 1-0 Phillies are off on Friday. They have Jesus Luzardo and Aaron Nola pitching on Saturday and Sunday with forecasts of 80 and 74 degrees. The Nationals counter with right-hander Jake Irvin and lefty Mitchell Parker, far cries from the caliber of Gore.

“When you go back and forth and have an off day tomorrow,” Bohm said, “it would not have felt great to lose that one.”

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Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson joins Baseball Bar-B-Cast: 'You are the first Gunnar in MLB history'

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

Gunnar Henderson is gearing up for what could be a defining season in his young MLB career. Coming off a breakout year in 2024, the Orioles' shortstop is striking a pose on the cover of "MLB The Show" alongside two other breakout stars, Paul Skenes and Elly De La Cruz. 

On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discussed with Henderson how a spotlight moment such as this is both a privilege and a pressure. As Mintz quipped, "You are the first Gunnar in MLB history.” 

While his name might be unique, Mintz and Shusterman both believe that Henderson’s on-field impact is poised to transcend novelty.

[Read more: The top 50 people who will impact the 2025 MLB season]

Facing off against MLB’s hardest throwers is never easy, a fact Henderson knows all too well. In the episode, he reflected on a memorable matchup against Pirates ace Paul Skenes.

Henderson said his strategy involves maintaining calm under pressure, focusing on timing rather than trying to out-pace the pitcher. This is a vital skill for someone who might face Skenes more often as both players continue to rise. Mintz and Shusterman emphasized Henderson’s disciplined approach at the plate, underscoring his potential to evolve into a key player for the Orioles. 

The trio also discussed the palpable camaraderie within the Orioles’ locker room. Teammates such as Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg represent a new wave of youthful energy congregating in Baltimore — something that Shusterman said might be overlooked but is "central to the rebuilding narrative."

Henderson’s off-the-field relationships reflect the kind of ethos the Orioles need. His friendship with the light-hearted Colton Cowser is a case in point. Although the two are polar opposites personality-wise, Henderson said he values their interactions, which bring levity and unity to an otherwise intense environment. 

“It’s easier to face the long season when you’ve got a guy like Cowser who’s eternally optimistic,” Henderson said.

Looking ahead, it’s not only about Henderson's individual accolades but also the role he plays as a catalyst for his team’s performance. Mintz’s bold prediction that Orioles pitchers and hitters might combine for 500 home runs this year puts some tangible numbers behind the hype. If Henderson steps up, the offensive fireworks could be a reality, not just a fantastical prediction.

Is Henderson ready to assume the mantle of the next big baseball star? The Orioles’ hopes might very well hinge on it. As Shusterman put it, Orioles fans, "get ready for a season of surprises." 

Henderson's trajectory is not just about outperforming expectations but also about setting a new standard for rising talent in MLB.

To hear the full interview with Gunnar Henderson, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Yankees' Austin Wells hits leadoff home run in Opening Day win

Opening Day came and went for the Yankees who beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-2, and it didn't take long for some history to be made in The Bronx.

Leading off the bottom of the first inning, Austin Wells hit a solo home run off Freddy Peralta to give New York a quick 1-0 lead. It was the first time in MLB history that a catcher hit a leadoff home run on Opening Day.

Wells also became the first Yankee with a leadoff home run on Opening Day.

"It's pretty cool," Wells said after the game. "Obviously not playing to break records but it's still pretty cool to hear."

The ball traveled 348 feet to right field -- caught by a fan in the first row -- and had an exit velocity of 103.7 mph, getting out in a hurry.

What makes the home run even more impressive is it came in Wells' first at-bat hitting leadoff.

"I don't know, it felt pretty good I think," Wells said when asked about how he felt batting first in the order. "It was cool."

Without a true leadoff hitter in the lineup, New York tried Wells at the top of the batting order during spring training and the catcher answered the call well, prompting the Yankees to keep the 25-year-old there, at least for the beginning of the season.

"Pretty early on in camp I felt like -- you know I get it it’s unconventional, it’s the catcher, he’s not a burner and all that, but to me it made a lot of sense potentially," Boone said about Wells in the leadoff spot. "He’s one of the guys in my head I can say, this works for me and I just think that’s where he is as a hitter now too. I think he’s really a lot more advanced and I think he’s gonna take another step from last year."

When Boone first told Wells about his idea of batting him No. 1, the catcher thought he was joking, saying, "I didn’t really take it seriously."

Wells never envisioned himself as a leadoff hitter, but being in front of Aaron Judge has helped him make the switch.

"I think it’s something new for me and it's kind of exciting getting to hit in front of Aaron Judge and trying to get on base for him," Wells said. "I think that’s kind of helped me mindset-wise, just get on base anyway that I can."

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Reds outfielder Austin Hays placed on 10-day injured list with left calf strain

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left calf strain on Wednesday.

The move is retroactive to March 24 and comes a day before the Reds open the season at home against the San Francisco Giants.

“He had a scan today and it’s a very low grade (strain),” manager Terry Francona said. “But because of his history, he tried to play through this last year and it got him into some trouble. So we’ve got to nip this in the bud. He’s not sure when he did it.”

Francona said it’s possible that Hays could only miss six games, but he wanted to remain cautious.

The Reds signed Hays on Jan. 30 to a one-year, $5 million contract.

Last season, Hays was sidelined from April 21 to May 13 with a left calf strain. He strained his left hamstring in August, then in September missed three weeks with a kidney infection.

Hays, an AL All-Star in 2023 while with the Baltimore Orioles, returned for the postseason but went hitless with three strikeouts in four at-bats for the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS against the Mets.

He played only 85 combined games last season for the Orioles and the Phillies, and batted .255 with five home runs and 20 RBIs.

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Phillies' revised batting order an important part of Opening Day win

Phillies' revised batting order an important part of Opening Day win originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — The prevailing, modern thought around baseball is that batting order construction doesn’t matter much.

On Opening Day, for the Phillies, it sure did.

Leading off Trea Turner rather than Kyle Schwarber forced the Nationals to use a right-handed reliever instead of a lefty to begin the seventh inning up by a run against the top of the Phillies’ order.

It worked in the Phillies’ favor as Bryce Harper took righty Lucas Sims deep to center field on the first pitch he saw, a low-and-in heater, and Schwarber put them ahead by doing the same to lefty Jose Ferrer two batters later.

Jordan Romano blew the save by allowing two eighth-inning runs in a rocky debut, but the Phillies’ revised lineup came through again with two outs in the 10th to win it. After Brandon Marsh failed to get a bunt down and struck out for the fourth time and Turner lined out softly, Harper walked to bring up Alec Bohm, the Phillies’ most consistent bat with runners in scoring position, a .312 career hitter in those spots. Bohm delivered the game-winning blow, a two-run double to left-center, and the Phillies broke open a 7-3 win with a two-run triple by J.T. Realmuto, who struck out his first four times up.

Had to be a pretty good feeling for Bohm, whose offseason began with months of trade rumors.

Before the game, Phillies manager Rob Thomson confirmed that for now, he will lead off Turner against lefties and Schwarber vs. righties. Turner was 0-for-4 with a walk, seeing 28 pitches in his five plate appearances, which is the kind of grind the Phillies want from him at the plate. It could not only lead to more walks for Turner but it gives Harper more pitches to see in the on-deck circle.

The Phillies started five left-handed hitters, a highly unusual number against a southpaw. But Nats starter Mackenzie Gore, who absolutely dominated them on Thursday with six scoreless, one-hit innings and 13 strikeouts, has reverse platoon splits and they want to give Max Kepler and Marsh the opportunity to face same-handed pitching. This won’t always be the case — it will likely depend on the arsenal and delivery of the lefty starter. The next two the Phillies might face are Blake Snell and Chris Sale in their third and fourth series of the season. Those stick out as games Edmundo Sosa and Johan Rojas could start.

The game was decided long after both starters departed. Zack Wheeler did what he often does, keeping his opponents off balance en route to one run over six innings. This was his sixth Phillies season debut and he’s allowed no runs or one run in five of them.

Romano aside, the rest of the Phillies’ late-inning relievers pitched well. Orion Kerkering had two runners in scoring position with one out in the seventh after two unlucky bloops but dealt his way out of it. Jose Alvarado pumped 101 mph fastballs by the Nats in a scoreless ninth. And Matt Strahm, after missing most of spring training with a left shoulder injury and then a gash on his finger, went 1-2-3 in the 10th inning to close it out.

Lefty or righty, the Phils won’t face a starter as good as Gore for over a week. It wasn’t a perfect Opening Day — the Phillies struck out 19 times in all — but they all count the same.

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Teams successful on 52.2% of ball/strike challenges during spring training robot umpire test

NEW YORK — Teams won 52.2% of their ball/strike challenges during the spring training test of robot umpires, and catchers had a markedly better success rate than pitchers.

Major League Baseball said Wednesday that 617 of 1,182 challenges were successful in the 288 exhibition games using the Automated Ball-Strike System.

Batters won exactly 50% of their 596 challenges and the defense 54%, with catchers successful 56% of the time and pitchers 41%.

Teams challenged 2.6% of called pitches; offense asked for computer reviews of 4.4% and the defense 1.8%.

ABS was installed at 13 spring training ballparks hosting 19 teams, and an animation of the pitch was shown on video boards showing spectators the challenge result.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says robot umpires could be used as early as the 2026 regular season but feedback from players and teams needs to be gathered and analyzed before a decision is made.

During the 2024 regular season, 10.9% of called pitches in the strike zone were ruled balls and 6.3% of called pitches outside of the strike zone were ruled strikes, according to MLB Statcast.

Challenges averaged 4.1 per game. The overturn rate was slightly higher than the 50.6% for minor league games with the ABS system last year.

A challenge averaged 13.8 seconds, down from 16.6 at Triple-A.

Teams used their most challenges with a full count, 6.9%, but were successful just 44% of the time. While just 1.9% of first pitches were challenged, the success rate was 57%.

Challenges were made more often earlier in the game; 2.8% of called pitches were challenged in the first three innings, 2.6% in the middle innings, 2.3% in the seventh and eighth and 2.4% in the ninth. The overturn rate declined from 57% in the third three innings to 49% in the middle innings, then was 50% in the seventh and eighth, and 41% in the ninth.

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D-backs sign LHP Jalen Beeks to one-year deal, add RHP Shelby Miller to big league roster

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks signed left-hander Jalen Beeks to a one-year, $1.25 million deal and selected the contract of veteran righty Shelby Miller on Wednesday as they worked to solidify their bullpen before opening day.

The 31-year-old Beeks split time with the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates last season, throwing in 71 games with a 4.50 ERA. He was released by Houston from a minor league contract this week after appearing in three spring training games.

The 34-year-old Miller came to camp as a non-roster invitee and made the opening day roster after a solid exhibition season that included 11 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Miller will be get a $1 million salary while in the major leagues this season and $200,000 while in the minors. He could earn performances bonuses of $50,000 each for 10 and 15 appearances, $100,000 apiece for 20, 30, 35, 40 and 45 and $150,000 for 50.

This is Miller’s second stint with the Diamondbacks. He had a disappointing three-year stretch with the club from 2016-18 after being acquired in a trade that sent Ender Inciarte and former No. 1 overall pick Dansby Swanson to Atlanta.

Arizona placed lefty Jordan Montgomery on the 60-day injured list because of an elbow injury that’s expected to require Tommy John surgery. Catcher René Pinto was designated for assignment.

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Rockies give outfielder Mickey Moniak one-year, $1.25 million deal after his release from Angels

The Colorado Rockies added outfield depth by agreeing to a one-year, $1.25 million deal with Mickey Moniak.

Colorado announced the deal Thursday and also designated outfielder Sam Hilliard for assignment a day ahead of its opener at Tampa Bay. The Rockies placed infielder Thairo Estrada on the 10-day injured list, and right-hander Jeff Criswell and left-hander Austin Gomber on the 15-day injured list, all three retroactive to Monday,

Moniak hit .219 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs last season with the Los Angeles Angels.

The 26-year-old was released by the Angels on Tuesday after beating the team in salary arbitration. He will receive $483,781 in termination pay from the Angels rather than his $2 million salary.

Moniak was the No. 1 pick by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2016 draft. He spent parts of three seasons with the Phillies before being dealt in August 2022 to the Angels for pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

Last weekend, the Rockies traded outfielder Nolan Jones to the Cleveland Guardians for infielder/outfielder Tyler Freeman. The move offers more flexibility after the team lost Estrada to a broken right wrist.

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Manager Carlos Mendoza among those eagerly anticipating Juan Soto’s New York Mets debut

HOUSTON — Juan Soto’s debut with the New York Mets has seemingly the entire baseball world excited.

“Yeah, put me in that category too,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday. “I’m excited to watch him today and every day.”

Soto was set to bat second and play right field in his first game with the Mets on Thursday against the Houston Astros after signing a blockbuster 15-year, $765 million contract this offseason.

Soto, who played for the Yankees last season, joins the Mets as they chase their first World Series title since 1986.

“He’s an elite player,” Mendoza said. “I’m excited how he fit in right away since the first couple of days when he showed up in spring training. You’ve got to give guys in here a lot of credit because they made him feel like home... right away.”

“He’s a special player, but he’s also understanding that he’s human and he’s gonna struggle at times,” Mendoza continued. “But I’m excited to watch him day in and day out.”

The 26-year-old Soto hit .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs last year and won a Silver Slugger Award for a fifth straight season.

Soto is a career .285 hitter with 201 home runs and 592 RBIs in seven major league seasons where he also played for the Nationals and the Padres.

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White Sox’s Josh Rojas, Bryan Ramos, Mike Tauchman placed on 10-day injured list

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox placed infielders Josh Rojas and Bryan Ramos and outfielder Mike Tauchman on the 10-day injured list on opening day on Thursday.

Chicago also added right-hander Mike Clevinger, outfielder Travis Jankowski and infielder Nick Maton to its active roster before its game against the Los Angeles Angels. Left-hander Jake Eder and outfielder Dominic Fletcher were designated for assignment.

Ramos has a right elbow strain, and Rojas is dealing with a right toe fracture. Tauchman has a right hamstring strain.

Left-hander Tyler Gilbert was placed on the 15-day IL, and right-hander Drew Thorpe went on the 60-day IL. Gilbert is dealing with left knee bursitis, and Thorpe is out for the season after he had Tommy John surgery.

Andrew Benintendi was in the starting lineup against LA as the designated hitter. He broke his right hand when he was hit by a pitch on Feb. 27.

The 30-year-old Benintendi is wearing a hand guard at the plate for another couple of weeks. He will be back in the outfield for the final two games of the opening series, first-year manager Will Venable said.

“I’m ready right now. I feel confident in that part of my game,” Benintendi said of playing defense.

Clevinger, Jankowski and Maton joined the team on minor league deals in the offseason. The 34-year-old Clevinger is going to work out of the bullpen after spending most of his career as a starter.

Eder, 26, was acquired in an Aug. 1, 2023, trade that sent Jake Burger to Miami. Eder, a fourth-round pick in the 2020 amateur draft, pitched two innings of one-run ball in his lone major league appearance on Sept. 17 at the Angels.

Fletcher, 27, came over in a February 2024 trade with Arizona. He batted .206 with a homer and 17 RBIs in 72 games with the White Sox last season.

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Red Sox takeaways: Abreu's HRs help Boston beat Rangers on Opening Day

Red Sox takeaways: Abreu's HRs help Boston beat Rangers on Opening Day originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox started the 2025 MLB season with a 5-2 win over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field, and Wilyer Abreu made it possible.

The Red Sox right fielder hit two home runs, including a three-run blast that broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning.

Outside of Abreu, the Red Sox weren’t able to produce much offense against Rangers starter Nate Eovaldi and the rest of Texas’ pitching staff. Boston’s best hitters — Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers and Alex Bregman — combined to go 1-for-12 at the plate with five strikeouts and zero walks.

Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell made his major league debut and collected his first career hit in the top of the ninth inning. He finished 1-for-3 with one walk and one strikeout.

The team’s marquee offseason addition, left-handed starter Garrett Crochet, pitched five innings in his Red Sox debut. The bullpen took over in the sixth inning and allowed just two hits with zero walks and three strikeouts the rest of the way. Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless eighth inning and earned the win in his Boston debut. Justin Slaten threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning for the save.

Here are three takeaways from the Opening Day victory.

Wilyer Abreu shines

The bulk of the Red Sox’s offense came from Wilyer Abreu, who went 3-for-3 with two home runs, a single, three runs scored, four RBI and a walk. Boston had three hits through five innings, and Abreu tallied two of them.

One of those hits was a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning that tied the score at two. Abreu crushed a four-seam fastball from Eovaldi and sent it 415 feet into the right field stands.

Abreu hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning that gave Boston a 5-2 lead:

Abreu played his first full MLB season in 2024 and batted .253 with 15 homers and 58 RBI in 132 games. He really shined on defense and won an American League Gold Glove in right field, becoming the first Red Sox rookie to win a Gold Glove since Fred Lynn in 1975.

If you’re looking for a Red Sox player who could have a breakout season, Abreu should be at or near the top of the list.

Garrett Crochet solid in debut

Crochet’s much-anticipated debut was a good one. He started it in fine fashion by striking out the first batter he faced. He pitched a scoreless first inning but needed 18 pitches to do it.

The Rangers opened the scoring in the second inning when Kevin Pillar hit an RBI double to center field. After a scoreless third inning for Crochet, he allowed a run in the fourth when Kyle Higashioka hit an RBI double to center.

Crochet bounced back with a scoreless fifth inning to complete his day. He ended up throwing 88 pitches (61 strikes) over five innings and allowed five hits, two earned runs and two walks, while striking out four. He had 15 swings-and-misses.

It wasn’t a dominant performance from the 25-year-old lefty, but it was a solid outing against a very good Rangers lineup.

Rafael Devers really struggles

The Red Sox need a bounce-back season from their superstar slugger, and he did not take a positive step forward toward that goal Thursday.

Devers went 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts. He had five swings-and-misses in his first two at-bats and had a lot of trouble with Nathan Eovaldi’s breaking balls (see video below). Overall, the 28-year-old veteran just didn’t look comfortable at the plate.

It might take Devers a little bit to adjust to his full-time designated hitter role. Devers has played third base throughout his Red Sox career, but the offseason addition of Alex Bregman — who is much better defensively — has resulted in Devers shifting to DH.

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Ramos recaps epic battle vs. Greene that ended with big homer

Ramos recaps epic battle vs. Greene that ended with big homer originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

CINCINNATI — As Heliot Ramos finished an exuberant jog around the bases, Mike Krukow noted that it shouldn’t be a surprise when the Giants left fielder goes the opposite way. Ramos, Krukow reminded everyone, is the only right-hander to ever hit a homer into McCovey Cove. It turns out that Ramos is often thinking about that blast, too.

“I’m not even going to lie,” he said, smiling. “The ‘splash’ gave me a lot of confidence last year, too, but I always knew that I had that pop, that power [the opposite way]. I just needed to make it better and polish it.”

Ramos always has had swagger, but last year the results caught up, landing him in the MLB All-Star Game and securing an everyday job in the big leagues. He hit 22 homers and had a wRC+ of 120, but you didn’t have to dive too deep to find a troubling trend. Against lefties, he was basically Aaron Judge. Against righties, he at times looked like he was headed for life in a platoon.

The Giants will give Ramos every opportunity to show that he can be the same guy for 162 games, and the early returns are positive. Wilmer Flores had the game-winner on Thursday, but the Giants were only hanging around because of Ramos, who hit a two-run homer in the fourth that cut the deficit to one and helped knock Cincinnati Reds starter Hunter Greene out of the game after five innings. The Giants ended up winning 6-4. 

“With the way he was throwing, it just felt like we were lucky to get a hit, let alone a run off him,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “He was just throwing his fastball by everybody and slider just enough to get you off a 100-mph fastball. As the [Ramos] at-bat went along, you’re like, these at-bats usually end up pretty good for the hitter when you’re making him work like that. There’s a little frustration that comes in, too, having to throw that many pitches.

“He was not trying to pull him, because of the velocity, and he finally got a ball he could handle. We’ve seen him hit the ball to right-center field, so it was just staying with his approach the entire at-bat.”

Ramos fell behind 1-2 before taking two pitches to work the count full. Then the fun started. 

Greene’s four-seamer was the best for any NL starter last year by some metrics, and he threw Ramos seven straight, with five being fouled off in a row as the battle got to an 11th pitch. All were 98 or 99 mph, and Ramos kept making contact. 

“In my mind I’m like, ‘Damn, how am I not getting to the fastball? This is insane, he’s throwing it right there, I feel on-time, my body feels good,'” Ramos said. “But I didn’t get off my plan, obviously. I was just trying to stay compact and just put the ball in play.”

Ramos figured Greene might at some point elevate a fastball or go away with a slider, but he also knew that with Jung Hoo Lee on first, he probably didn’t want to issue another walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Ramos told himself to keep an up-the-middle approach, and when the 11th pitch came in at 98.7 mph, down and away, he put a quick swing on it. 

The ball kept carrying and carrying, as has often proven to be the case with Ramos’ fly balls. It landed in the second row, stunning Greene, but not Ramos. 

“Yeah, I knew it was gone,” Ramos said.

The homer came on Ramos’ first Opening Day. A year ago at this time, he was in Triple-A, having been surprisingly optioned early in camp. He ended up carrying the lineup for long stretches of the summer, but the second half also showed him there were adjustments to be made. 

Ramos spent the whole offseason working on his approach against right-handed pitching, and did the same this spring. He had a .673 OPS against righties last year, but he’s confident much better days are ahead. He’ll have to wait a bit to get another test, though. 

The Giants face left-hander Nick Lodolo on Saturday, meaning Ramos will be atop the lineup. He’s never lacking confidence, but he’ll have a bit extra the next time out after putting Greene in his book. He said the whole team should feel good about Thursday’s result and build off the win. 

“I feel like we never gave up,” Ramos said. “We struck out [17] times but we never gave up. We have a pretty good team, we have a pretty good set of players. I think it’s just [going] up from now. He’s one of the best pitchers in the National League. Not everyone is like that, so they have to watch out, for sure.”

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