(Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Inspiration.
In the game thread on 1 May, there was some doubt about the sustainability of the Diamondbacks’ performance (16 wins, 14 losses before the game started).The game was close, with the Diamondbacks losing by one run.
For whatever reason, the Diamondbacks are not pitching well in the first inning. With my optimistic viewpoint, I’m confident the problem can be fixed. Perhaps the fix is as simple as using an opener for every game (as suggested in the thread).
The first inning ERAs for Diamondbacks pitchers (3 game minimum, games through 3 May) follow:
Nelson, 12.79 ERA
Soroka, 10.5 ERA
Kelly, 9.0 ERA
Gallen, 6.43 ERA
Rodriguez, 6.00 ERA
Pfaadt, 3.00 ERA
Fixing the first inning pitching would go a long way toward the Diamondbacks reaching a wild card berth into the playoffs. Let’s look at how likely is it that the Diamondbacks will reach the playoffs?
Wins needed to be a wild card – Last 4 seasons.
The following list shows wins needed to gain a NL wild card berth into the playoffs. The list only includes seasons after the playoff format changed.
2022, 87 wins.
2023, 84 wins.
2024, 89 wins.
2025, 83 wins
My conclusion: this season, if the Diamondbacks win 84 games they will have a 50% chance of a wild card; win 87 games they will have a 75% chance of a wild card; and win 89 games they will have a 99% chance of a wild card.
Wins needed to be a wild card – 3 projections.
On 29 April, two projections (Baseball Reference and Baseball Prospectus) showed 86 wins would earn a wild card. The FanGraphs projection showed that 83 wins would do it, but it projected the Diamondbacks with only 82 wins.
How many games will the Diamondbacks win?
My final preseason prediction was that the Diamondbacks will win 85.1 games. That was about the same as my Too Early Win Projection. Based on historic wins needed, 85 wins would give the Diamondbacks slightly over 50% chance of a wild card. However, this season is unusual because the range of possible wins is very wide.
“This season is unusual because of the wide range of possible wins. My view is that the Diamondbacks will win between 81 and 89 games, depending on the health and performances of nearly all Diamondbacks players. Therefore, my confidence that they will reach the playoffs is less than 50%. Nevertheless, there is a realistic chance of reaching the playoffs…. Makakilo, 23 March Round Table
An Alternate way of predicting whether the Diamondbacks will be a wild card.
The team with the most triples in a 3-game series.
Teams with at least 3 stolen bases in a 3-game series.
Teams that win an epic battle.
Teams with at least 9 RBIs in a 3-game series.
Let’s expand that view to regular season games against likely wild card teams. Through 3 May, the Diamondbacks played 3 teams that could be NL wild cards:
2 game series against Padres. 11 hits per game, 1 triple, & 8 RBIs per game indicate that the Diamondbacks could do well as a wild card.
3-game series against the Brewers. 6.7 hits per game, & 3.7 RBIs per game indicate that the Diamondbacks could be average as a wild card.
3-game series against the Cubs. 7.3 hits per game, & 3 RBIs per game indicate that the Diamondbacks could be average as a wild card (despite the Cubs sweeping the series).
Perspective: Sustainable Performance.
Batting is a strength of the Diamondbacks. In games through 3 May, the Diamondbacks 4.55 runs per game ranked 11th in the Majors. Players such as Nolan Arenado seem to be improving during the season.
Pitching sustainability will be boosted by players returning from the injury list.
In 1-run games through 3 May, the Diamondbacks’ 6 wins and 5 losses (39 runs scored and 38 runs allowed) was about average. However, this could improve because my feeling is that the Diamondbacks are at their best in 1-run games.
Leveraged batter run value is encouraging.
A hat tip to Preston Salisbury because in a game thread he made a comment about base runs. That prompted me to look at Baseball Savant and found the following data about batter run value.
In games through 28 April, the Diamondbacks batters created +15 leveraged runs, which was higher than most other NL contenders for wild card berths. Examples were the Cubs (+21), the Padres (+6), Pirates (+3), the Phillies (negative 19), and the Mets (negative 24). The Diamondbacks ranked eighth highest in the Majors.
Summary: Will the Diamondbacks reach a wild card berth into the playoffs?
First inning pitching is a problem. All things considered, my prediction is the Diamondbacks will win 85 games.
Looking at the broad range of possible season wins (81 to 89 games), how well the Diamondbacks play could greatly impact their chances, either negatively of positively. It’s encouraging that the Diamondbacks batters created more leveraged runs than most NL contenders for wild card berths. The Diamondbacks performance may be sustainable for several reasons.
In two of the last four seasons, it only took 84 wins to obtain a NL wild card berth in the playoffs. Three different projections estimate that this season it will take between 83 and 86 wins.
With the problems that the Phillies and Mets have experienced, and with the Diamondbacks [recently] above 500, there is a real chance (about 50%) for the Diamondbacks to reach a wild card berth into the playoffs!
The Padres will likely be a NL wild card. If the Diamondbacks win most of their games against the Padres (they play 11 more times this season) that will be a big step in controlling their destiny.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 01: Cade Denton #31 of the Salt River Rafters throws a pitch during an Arizona Fall League game against the Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium on November 1, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Original photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images 11/1/2026
The hard-throwing righty had just helped his Oral Roberts Golden Eagles go deep in the 2023 College World Series by posting a 1.83 ERA over 35 appearances and carried a 12.1 SO/9 over 64 innings of work. You might have overlooked both Denton and Oral Roberts as that was the season Paul Skenes took Louisiana State all the way, but the Rockies didn’t, signing him for above slot value and quickly assigning him to their farm system.
He made eight appearances that season: four with the Arizona Complex League following the draft and four with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies to end the season.
However, Denton seemed to largely fly under the radar during his minor league career and hasn’t been ranked among the organization’s top prospects despite solid results. He spent most of the 2024 season with the Grizzlies, posting a 2.86 ERA in 26 relief appearances, but struck out just 23 batters in 28.1 innings.
Following a late-season promotion to the High-A Spokane Indians, Denton made an additional five appearances. However, he struck out just three batters and had a 7.36 ERA over 7.1 innings.
Denton was assigned again to Spokane for the 2025 season, where he found his footing. A workhorse reliever for the Indians, Denton made 42 appearances and posted a 3.73 ERA with 63 strikeouts over 50.2 innings. He also tallied seven saves. He did struggle somewhat with his command, issuing career high 20 walks for a 3.6 BB/9—a career high tying his metric during his initial four-game stint in Fresno. He also gave up a career high eight home runs.
Once there, Denton quickly stood out. He struck out 18 batters and walked only four over 13 innings of work for the Salt River Rafters. He did allow five earned runs, but all five came in one bad inning that included a grand slam on October 16th. Denton finished the Fall League with a 3.46 ERA due to his combined efforts outside of that outing.
An important part of Denton’s success in Arizona was finding rhythm with his fastball. Delivering out of a low arm slot, Denton’s fastball rides upwards and is at its best when he places it at the top rail with higher velocity—maxing out around 96 MPH. Denton had lost velocity on the pitch in 2024, but during the Fall League, he had regained the velocity and control.
“During the Fall League I finally got [the fastball] to the top of the zone where I wanted it to be. It’s not a four-seam carry fastball, but pitching coaches prior [had said] that it’s a deceptive arm slot,” Denton explained of his success. “So just trying to get that ball to the top of the zone to get whiffs, just trying to keep emphasizing filling up the zone, filling up the top of the zone with the fastball and everything else will keep working the way that it’s supposed to.”
“That was really cool,” Denton said. “After a rough second outing—I think it was—in the Fall League where you go out there and you give up a grand slam. You’re like ‘yeah, pitch [well] the rest of the Fall League, put your name out there.’ [I] didn’t expect to be reliever of the year. There was quite a few guys that that I think were also deserving of that honor, but I was super excited. It was really cool.”
He went on to praise his wife and family for the support and excitement they’ve shown for him.
“My wife was really excited whenever that happened. Those are the moments that you get to share that joy with other people and family and friends and stuff,” he said. “So it was definitely a good fall and definitely a cool award to get.”
Denton has continued to emphasize the importance of family throughout his baseball journey.
“It’s been amazing,” he continued. “I mean, without them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. They came to probably about every college baseball game I played in, and they were just here for spring training. It’s really cool to just share that with the people that are closest to you and the people that got you to the place you are now. Now you’ve just got to go out and prove it to everybody else.”
Denton joined the big league camp multiple times during spring training and appeared in three Cactus League games as the Rockies tried to grow on the momentum he gained during the fall. He gave up one earned run on one hit—a solo home run—while striking out four batters and walking one over 2.1 innings. Denton also appeared in the Spring Breakout prospect showcase game.
“With the the new the new pitching directors here, pitching staff, there’s a lot of the mental side of the game that I think comes into play [in spring training] where you’re trying to find a way to get into a groove.”
Denton was assigned to the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats to start the season. As he works with the new pitching development staff in the organization, their philosophies remain aligned.
“The philosophy, like I said, it’s ‘fill up the zone to two strikes’ and then then, you know, ‘kill.’ That’s what they said, is ‘Get there and your stuff’s meant to get guys out with two strikes. You’re not trying to generate whiffs as early in counts. You’re trying to get strikes. Whiffs are fine. Whiffs are good. Whiffs will always be okay, but fill up the zone, strike guys out and finish at bats when you can.’”
Once again, the Albuquerque Isotopes managed to split a game series, winning the final three games against the El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres). It marked the third time since the six-game format was implemented that Albuquerque won the final three contests to earn a split after losing the initial three games. The Isotopes outscored El Paso 49-18 over the final three games of the series. On Friday, Albuquerque exploded for 26 runs, the most scored in franchise history, as every player recorded at least one hit, an RBI, and a run scored. The following day, they scored 19 runs to win 19-7 after being down 5-0 in the first inning. On the homestand, they ended up batting .332/.433/.484 with 41 strikeouts and 40 walks. Meanwhile, pitching posted a 6.67 ERA, allowing 53 runs (40 earned) on 74 hits with 45 strikeouts and 28 walks.
⬆️ Stock Up:Cole Runnings
Not that his stock needed much more raising, Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) had himself quite the week, earning Player of the Week honors in the Pacific Coast League. During the series against El Paso, Carrigg slashed .583/.615/.875, going 14-for-24 with two doubles, a triple, a homer, eight RBI, and four stolen bases. He led the PCL in runs scored (11) and stolen bases (four), while tying for first in hits (14) and placing third with 21 total bases. This also comes as Carrigg is in the midst of a 24-game on-base streak and a 13-game hitting streak. Last Saturday, he also went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and five RBI, tying career highs in all three categories.
It was an amazing weekend for our bats, and Cole Carrigg led the way! He's been named PCL Player of the Week.
Carrigg was 14-for-24 with four extra-base hits, eight RBI and four steals in the set. His best performance was a four-hit, five-RBI night on Saturday vs. El Paso. pic.twitter.com/6e9FmwfJUM
⬇️ Stock Down:Turbulence on the flight of the Condor
After a hot start out of the gate, Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP) has hit a bit of a rougher patch where he isn’t seeing much success at the plate. During the home stand, Condon slashed .150/.393/.150, going 3-for-20 with three RBI. His plate discipline remains impeccable, as he drew six walks and had just five strikeouts and increased his on-base streak to 24 games. In 59 plate appearances at home this season, Condon has just one extra-base hit. Hopefully, Condon can tap back into the damage he can do with his bat and complement the discipline even more.
Upcoming
The Isotopes head to Sugar Land, Texas, to face off against the Space Cowboys (Houston Astros).
The Yard Goats ended up splitting the series against the Reading Fightin’ Phils (Philadelphia Phillies). They were outscored 40-32 including both a 12-6 victory on Sunday, as well as an 11-3 loss on Friday and a 15-5 loss on Thursday.
⬆️ Stock Up:Take a good look, you won’t see it for Long-well!
Aidan Longwell went on an absolute tear this week, going 9-for-23 with three doubles, a triple and three home runs in six games. The first baseman also recorded nine RBI with just one walk and three strikeouts.
In 26 games this season, Longwell is slashing .282/.333/.524 with 11 doubles, one triple, four homers, 20 RBI, six walks and 18 strikeouts. The double lead only Andy Perez (10); he’s tied with Dyan Jorge and Benny Montgomery with one triple apiece; the four homers rank second behind Bryant Betancourt; and the 20 RBI lead the team ahead of Roc Riggio’s (No. 14 PuRP) 16.
Aidan Longwell makes it look wayyyy too easy with his 3RD HR THIS HOMESTAND🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/wBU2zReKTL
⬇️ Stock Down:Pa-checo yourself before you Pa-wrecko yourself
LHP Alberto Pacheco had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad outing this week. He came in to relieve the titular Cade Denton in the third inning of April 30’s contest against the Phils and did not record a single out, but gave up seven earned runs on three hits (though one resulted in a grand slam). He also hit a batter and walked three without any strikeouts.
Upcoming
This week, the Yard Goats will head to Binghamton for a series against the Rumble Ponies (New York Mets).
High-A: Spokane Indians (1-5, 9-18 overall)
The Spokane Indians have struggled so far in 2026, which was reflected in their week against the Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants). Despite having two off days last Monday and Tuesday (which resulted in a Saturday doubleheader), they only managed one win on Friday. Additionally, they were outscored 34-17 (including an 11-0 loss in Game 1 of the doubleheader and an 8-1 loss on Sunday). They did, however, win 7-1 on Friday behind an excellent two-pitcher performance (see below).
⬆️ Stock Up: The Cat-lett is out of the bag
LHP Everett Catlett had an excellent outing this week, earning him Northwest League Pitcher of the Week honors.
Catlett made one appearance on Friday against the Emeralds and absolutely dominated in the 7-1 victory. He threw six innings behind starter Lebarron Johnson Jr., who pitched three innings and only allowed one run on one hit in three innings of work.
Catlett finished the game with six scoreless innings of work, allowing twice as many hits as Johnson Jr. (2) but striking out 11 and only walking one batter. That lowered his ERA from 5.09 to 3.80 in five starts for the Indians.
In his previous start on April 24th, Carlett threw 4.2 innings and allowed one run (a solo homer) on two hits with five walks and seven strikeouts. His stock is definitely climbing!
⬇️ Stock Down:Min Belyeu
Max Belyeu (No. 15 PuRP) struggled this week at the plate, going just 2-for-15 (.133) with one RBI, three walks and 10 strikeouts. He attempted to steal one base, but was caught. Belyeu has struggled in his repeat High-A assignment (though he only played 21 games there last year after the Draft. In 22 games, Belyeu is slashing just .185/.290/.395 with a team-leading 38 strikeouts.
Upcoming
This week, the Indians will welcome to Avista Stadium the Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels).
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (3-3, 15-12 overall)
The Grizzlies equalized the Stockton Ports (Athletics), outscoring their competition 43-33. They started off the week with a bang, shutting out the Ports 10-0. They also had two 9-8 games directly following, one being a win and the other being a loss. They scored nine runs for a third time on Saturday en route to a 9-4 victory.
⬆️ Stock Up:Jolly Holliday
Ethan Holliday (No. 2 PuRP) is becoming more comfortable, as was evident this week. The fourth-overall draft pick went 6-for-12 with a double, two home runs (one of which was a grand slam), 11 RBI, eight walks and just three strikeouts.
Not to be outdone, Roldy Brito (No 11 PuRP) also had himself quite a week. He went 8-for-21 with three doubles, two home runs (including a grand slam), seven RBI, three walks and three strikeouts.
Brito flips the script in grand fashion!
Roldy Brito's grand slam regains the lead for the Grizzlies in a back and forth game in Stockton
While the infield soared, the backstop struggled. Matt Klein went just 1-for-16 with a run scored. He also recorded three walks, but struck out five times. Klein is hitting just .156/.304/.313 in 18 games this year.
Upcoming
The Grizzlies will travel to San Jose for a series with the Giants (San Francisco Giants).
The Arizona Complex League kicked off on Saturday, and the ACL Rockies have played two games so far, winning both. They beat the ACL Angels on Saturday 4-0 and the ACL Giants on Monday 4-3.
⬆️ Stock Up:U-got-it, Ronny!
Over two games, 21-year-old Ronny Ugarte had quite the showing! The Venezuelan first baseman went 5-for-7 with a double, a home run and three RBI with zero strikeouts and one stolen base.
⬇️ Stock Down:Garci-oh
On the flip side, 19-year-old Dariel Garcia has yet to record a hit. The Puerto Rican shortstop went hitless (0-for-6) with a walk and two strikeouts.
In 2001, the Cubs were coming off a 97-loss season. The Dodgers were good, but hadn’t made the playoffs in four years.
That was the backdrop to what began as an ordinary Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Cubs, off to a good start that year, entered the day at 17-11, two games in the lead in the NL Central. They had shut out the Dodgers the day before, 4-0, led by seven strong innings by Kevin Tapani. The Dodgers were 17-12, also in first place in the NL West.
And the game was fairly ordinary — for a while. Sammy Sosa and Todd Hundley hit two-run homers in the fourth off Darren Dreifort for a 4-0 lead. The Dodgers were shut out by Julian Tavarez for five innings before future Cub Eric Karros hit an RBI single in the sixth to make it 4-1.
That’s where things stood going to the bottom of the seventh. A perfectly ordinary game…
Damon Buford and current Cubs radio announcer Ron Coomer singled, followed by an RBI single by Eric Young Sr.., making it 5-1. Ricky Gutierrez attempted a sacrifice bunt (remember those?), but wound up safe on a fielder’s choice, loading the bases.
Bill Mueller singled in a pair of runs, now it’s 7-1. RBI hits by Sammy Sosa and Rondell White made it 9-1. Hundley struck out, but Julio Zuleta smashed a three-run homer and the Cubs had an eight-run inning, leading 12-1 heading to the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth, Gutierrez hit a one-out double, followed by a walk by Mueller. A comebacker by Sosa to Dodgers pitcher Jose Nuñez was thrown away, with Gutierrez scoring and runners winding up on second and third. Another walk loaded the bases and Hundley struck out.
Now there are two out, the bases loaded and the Cubs with a 13-1 lead.
Cubs pitcher Courtney Duncan walked, forcing in a run. Buford singled in two runs, now it’s 16-1. Another single by Coomer re-loaded the bases again, and Augie Ojeda hit a grounder to third that could have ended the inning, but it was booted by Dodgers third baseman Dave Hansen (another guy who briefly played for the Cubs). Two runs scored on the error, making it 18-1.
A single by Gutierrez, batting for the second time in the inning, scored Coomer to make it 19-1. Mueller walked, loading the bases, and Sosa drew a walk, scoring the 20th run.
The Dodgers went out meekly in the ninth and the Cubs had their 20-1 victory, with back-to-back eight-run innings. Sadly, no extensive highlights survive from this game, though the first minute or so of this highlight video from that day show a few plays from the game:
The Cubs swept that 2001 series against the Dodgers, winning the final game 3-2 on a walkoff hit by Hundley, and eventually led the NL Central by 3.5 games before losing eight in a row later in May. They followed the eight-game losing streak with a 12-game winning streak, going back into first place where they’d stay until mid-August. Their final record of 88-74 was a 23-game improvement over the previous year, but they missed the then-single wild card spot in the NL by five games.
The Cubs’ 20-1 blowout of the Dodgers happened 25 years ago today, Saturday, May 5, 2001.
As the Mets' 2026 season spiraled early, with New York going from 7-4 to 7-16 before bottoming out at 10-21 as their shockingly bad nine-game homestand against the Twins, Rockies, and Nationals concluded this past weekend, it was easy to lose sight of why New York had fallen so far.
Yes, they were a bad team. And it seemed kind of beside the point to bother to dig beyond that given how deep their struggles were, how rare the wins were, and how bleak it seemed.
But focusing on the why was important when it came to diagnosing the problem and envisioning the possibility of a recovery.
The why, of course, was the offense.
During their 12-game losing streak, the Mets mustered just 22 runs, an average of 1.83 per game.
It was more of the same during their 3-6 homestand against the Twins, Rockies, and Nats, when New York scored 13 runs combined over their six losses -- an average of 2.16 per game.
There were other issues at play during that 10-21 start, including way too many mental and physical errors, along with the serious struggles of Kodai Senga (who pitched himself out of the rotation before landing on the IL) and David Peterson (who has excelled in relief this season, but struggled when handed the ball to start).
But the takeaway here is that the Mets have the kind of pitching that could anchor their rise back to respectability and (yes, it's still possible) contention.
Apr 3, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. / Neville E. Guard - Imagn Images
First, let's look at the rotation...
Nolan McLean is an emerging ace with wipeout stuff who has a 2.97 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. His 2.13 FIP leads the National League, and his hits per nine rate (5.9) and strikeout rate (11.7) are elite.
Clay Holmes' 1.69 ERA is the second-best in the NL and his 0.98 WHIP ranks sixth. His 3.66 FIP and relatively low strikeout rate (6.5) suggests there will be some regression to the mean, but Holmes has become a legitimate rotation weapon. And when it comes specifically to the low K rate, it's mitigated by Holmes' ability to get hitters to chase and to pound the ball on the ground -- his ground ball rate this season is in the 94th percentile.
Fredy Peralta has been steady, if not spectacular, posting a 3.52 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 42 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. He's been rounding into form lately, pitching 5.2 innings or more in each of his last four starts while seeing his fastball velocity tick up.
Christian Scott remains a bit of a mystery in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, but his second start was eye-opening, with the right-hander firing four no-hit innings after allowing two runs in the first frame. Scott has the kind of swing-and-miss stuff to excel.
The fifth starter spot is still being pieced together, but it's fair to believe Jonah Tong -- who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his most recent start for Triple-A Syracuse -- will be a factor by June or July.
Then there's the bullpen.
There were some early hiccups, including a brutal four-game stretch where Devin Williams couldn't harness his stuff and back-to-back appearances for Luke Weaver where he allowed six combined runs.
But Williams has four straight scoreless appearances under his belt, and has been dominant during that span -- allowing just one hit in four innings while walking none and striking out five. Meanwhile, Weaver has been terrific since his aforementioned two-game hiccup, allowing two runs in 7.2 innings over his last seven appearances dating back to April 18.
May 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) and pitcher Devin Williams (38) celebrate the victory against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez - Imagn Images
Elsewhere in the bullpen, Huascar Brazoban (1.08 ERA, 0.84 WHIP in 15 appearances) and Brooks Raley (1.42 ERA, 0.86 WHIP in 14 appearances) have been tremendous.
The relief corps will also get a boost soon, with A.J. Minter expected to be activated off the IL in the next few days.
One thing the Mets will arguably have to do in the near future when it comes to their bullpen is adjust the configuration. It's very hard to maintain success when three relievers (Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Tobias Myers) are ordinarily used for multiple innings at a time, which limits how often they can pitch and has a trickle down effect on the other relievers. Peterson has been very good in relief, while Myers has been stellar in his role. Manaea, whose fastball velocity has not returned after his injury-riddled 2025 campaign, has a 6.55 ERA and 1.63 WHIP.
But again, the Mets have the pitching to succeed, and their overall runs allowed (151, seventh-best in the NL) is inflated due in part to the three starts where Senga surrendered 17 runs in just 8.1 innings.
This takes us to the caveat, which is a huge one.
Will the Mets, still without Lindor, Polanco, and Robert, hit enough to be able to take advantage of what their pitching staff can do?
As far as how much they'll have to hit, it's fair to believe that -- given the quality of their pitching staff -- the Mets will win far more often than not if they can simply be about average offensively.
For example, while winning three of their last four games, the Mets have scored four, five, and four runs. Not exactly an offensive onslaught.
New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) greets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium / William Liang - Imagn Images
But just being average will require a massive improvement from what they've been most of the year, since New York has scored only 122 runs -- the second-fewest in baseball.
That paltry run total is obviously colored by everything that was covered above, including the absence of Soto, the current injuries, and most of the Mets' key offensive players going through prolonged slumps at the same time earlier this season.
In that regard, things seem to be going in the right direction.
Soto's return has helped stabilize things, Bo Bichette has looked more comfortable, Mark Vientos has hit enough to lift his OPS to an above average level, Francisco Alvarez has emerged from the doldrums and hit in four straight games, MJ Melendez has come up from the minors and posted a .906 OPS, and Carson Benge is starting to get his feet under him at the plate in his first taste of the majors.
Over his last 11 games, Benge is slashing .303/.361/.545 with two homers and two doubles.
Potentially huge will be getting Polanco and Robert back, which could happen sooner rather than later. As far as Lindor and his calf injury, more will be known when he undergoes reimaging in about 10 days, with a "relatively quick progression" possible if all goes well.
In any event, while the worst seems to be behind the Mets, they still have a very tall mountain to climb.
Notable when it comes to New York's expected chances of scaling that mountain is that the FanGraphs playoff odds currently give the Mets a better chance to reach the postseason than about half the league, including the 21-14 Cardinals and 20-15 Reds -- teams that just so happen to be holding two of the three Wild Card spots in the NL.
Those odds should be taken with a grain of salt, but the Mets have the ability to rise up, even if they haven't yet earned the benefit of the doubt that they will.
Minor League Baseball: View of starting lineups for San Jose Giants and Fresno Grizzlies before game at Excite Ballpark. San Jose, CA 5/7/2021 CREDIT: Brad Mangin (Photo by Brad Mangin/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X163609 TK1)
It’s been a tough go for the Colorado Rockies, who have lost their last four games, including the series opener with the New York Mets. However, the Rockies will have to wait for Game 2 since snowstorms across the Front Range led to postponing today’s game.
So we interrupt our regularly scheduled MLB game thread and instead will focus on the Rockies minor league affiliates today.
(We’ll add more game details as they become available.)
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (18-15) @ Sugar land Space Cowboys (17-16)
The Isotopes and Space Cowboys meet for the first of four series on the year, including two in Sugar Land (other: July 7-12). The Isotopes will look to extend their winning streak to four and hope to see as much success this week as they did last when they went on a hitting frenzy. The last time Albuquerque has been over .500 in May was May 20, 2019 (23-22).
Starters: RHP Velente Bellozo (0-1, 6.87) vs. RHP Tatsuya Imai (1-2, 5.79) on a rehab start.
Game 1 First Pitch: 5:05 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
For the visiting Isotopes:
We open a six-game series on the road at Sugar Land tonight!
— Binghamton Rumble Ponies (@RumblePoniesBB) May 5, 2026
High-A: Spokane Indians (9-18) vs. Tri-City Dust Devils (16-11)
The Spokane Indians host the Tri-City Dust Devils (Los Angeles Angels affiliate) this morning for the opener of a six-game series. The Indians are optimistic that being back home gets them back on track after finishing their road trip through Everett and Eugene with a 3-9 record. Spokane continues to struggle offensively, scoring just 41 runs in their 12 games on the road (3.41/game) while allowing 67.
They’ll have their work cut out for them today though, with Angels No. 1 prospect and last year’s No. 2 overall pick Tyler Bremner on the mound for the Dust Devils in the series opener.
STARTERS: Tri-City Dust Devils RHP Tyler Bremner (0-0, 1.08) vs. Spokane Indians RHP Jackson Cox (0-1, 5.16)
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies (15-2) @ San Jose Giants (17-10)
It’s a big week for the Grizzlies as the take on the California League-leading Giants. Fresno opens the set against a San Jose club that leads the California League in runs (198), average (.292), OBP (.387), slugging (.467) and OPS (.854). The Grizzlies counter with 33 home runs, 147 walks and an .801 OPS, giving this series plenty of offensive punch on both sides.
The Grizzlies bring one of the league’s most disciplined approaches into San Jose, ranking second in the California League with 147 walks and posting a .367 on-base percentage (4th). Cameron Nelson (24 BB, 2nd in CAL) and Ethan Holliday (17 BB, T-8th) continue to set the tone, helping Fresno grind out at-bats against a Giants staff that has issued just 113 walks — fewest in the league — setting up a strength-on-strength battle at the plate.
Starters: Fresno Grizzleys LHP Ethan Cole (2-1, 4.58) vs. San Jose Giants RHP Keyner Martinez (1-1, 5.17)
TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 6: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers runs off the field with teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 after their team defeated Toronto Blue Jays in their MLB game at the Rogers Centre on April 6, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani has allowed only four runs to date this season, two of them unearned, which has aided his ability to complete six innings in all five of his starts. Completing at least six innings has been the norm this season for the Dodgers rotation, whose 5.83 innings on average are tops in the majors.
Dodgers starters have completed six innings in 23 of their 35 games thus far in 2026, three more than the next-most in the majors. Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched six innings in Monday night’s win in Houston, and has lasted at least six innings in six of his seven starts. Tyler Glasnow lasted at least six innings in his first five starts before 5 2/3 last Wednesday at home against the Miami Marlins.
Who will win Braves vs Mariners today: Mariners (-125)
George Kirby threw just 43 changeups in 2025, with a 5% whiff rate.
This year, he’s already thrown 58 of them with a 30.7% whiff rate. That has helped him generate a career-high 56.5% ground-ball rate, well above his 44.2% lifetime metric.
The Atlanta Braves had just nine hits last night, and four of them were solo bombs. Without Ronald Acuna Jr. or Michael Harris II in the lineup, they simply aren’t creating enough runs.
Bryce Elder will give them a solid start, but his inability to generate strikeouts or limit contact will lead to the Seattle Mariners scoring enough to win.
Braves vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (+100)
Kirby’s changeup is a tremendous complement to his sinker and sweeper. Opponents have posted an xSLG of .189 and xBA of .161 against the pitch.
It’s helped him post career lows so far in ERA, xERA, xwOBA, and xwOBAcon.
Elder’s allowed just two homers in 37 IP, despite a career-low ground-ball rate. A key reason has been an improvement in limiting pull rate, thanks to adding a cutter to his arsenal.
Both starters should limit runs and eat innings in a ballpark that doesn’t give much to hitters. With Acuna, Harris, and Raleigh all on the shelf, this has all the makings of a lower-scoring affair.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 4-5, -1.42 units
Over/Under bets: 6-3, +2.91 units
Braves vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Braves +117 | Mariners -122
Run line: Braves +1.5 (-186) | Mariners -1.5 (+163)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-113) | Under 7.5 (+108)
Braves vs Mariners trend
The Seattle Mariners have hit the moneyline in 32 of their last 50 games at home (+7.10 Units / 9% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Mariners.
How to watch Braves vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
BravesVision, Mariners.TV
Braves starting pitcher
Bryce Elder (3-1, 1.88 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
George Kirby (4-2, 3.00 ERA)
Braves vs Mariners latest injuries
Braves vs Mariners weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 17: The snow is plowed at Coors Field prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies on Friday, April 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Tonight’s game between the Mets and the Rockies at Coors Field has been postponed due to inclement weather. Freezing rain and snow, as well as cold temperatures, is forecasted for the Denver area, which resulted in the need for the changes to the schedule.
Tomorrow’s game, which was originally scheduled for a 3:10pm EDT first pitch, will now be moved to 9:20pm EDT. Today’s game will then be made up on Thursday afternoon at 3:10pm EDT. Thursday was originally a scheduled travel day for both clubs, with the Mets heading to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks and the Rockies heading to the East Coast to play the Phillies.
The Mets have gotten off to a strong start on their nine-game road trip, winning three of the first four games against the Angels and the Rockies following their 3-6 homestand. The Mets won their series opener 4-2 against Colorado yesterday thanks to a four-run sixth inning, including a Carson Benge home run, and a strong performance from their pitching staff.
Freddy Peralta and Christian Scott were slated to pitch on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. Presumably, the team will push them both back a day and keep them on the same schedule.
The New York Yankees begin a new series with the Texas Rangers after a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. New York is one of the hottest teams in baseball with eight wins in their last ten but tonight, they are favored when they simply shouldn’t be. I’m taking the Hall of Fame pitcher here at plus money.
Read all about it in my Rangers vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks for Tuesday, May 5.
Who will win Rangers vs Yankees today: Rangers moneyline (+111)
These two teams faced off in Texas a week ago, with Jacob deGrom going head-to-head with New York Yankees ace Cam Schlittler in a 3-2 loss. Not much has changed in a week, deGrom is still poised to slow the Yankees' bats, but he’s facing a much different pitcher in Elmer Rodriguez.
deGrom will be deGrom in this matchup. His uniqueness as a pitcher plays directly against some of the things New York struggles with. deGrom is getting strikeouts out and in the zone.
Unlike many pitchers, he’s not reliant on chase, which has hurt many opponents facing the Yankees, as New York has the lowest chase rate in baseball. deGrom doesn’t have to worry about that low chase rate and can still exploit the five Yankees hitters with an above-average strikeout rate.
On the other end, I’ll simply fade an arm in Elmer Rodriguez, who is making his second career MLB start with an expected ERA that exceeds 6. His strikeout stuff will keep the Texas Rangers hitters honest, but I worry about his struggles with the hard-hit ball against a lineup with plenty of power.
COVERS INTEL:Jacob deGrom has one of the highest strikeout rates in baseball at 32% which sets in the top 7% of baseball.
Rangers vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (+105)
I projected this total right at 8, so I was fairly surprised to see this number.
deGrom should be able to suppress a good part of this Yankees lineup for a variety of reasons. Even though they haven’t chased pitches outside the zone, this is still a Yankees lineup that ranks 7th in whiff rate.
deGrom has faced a few other teams outside of New York that rank among the top ten in whiff rate in the sport and held them to one earned run over double-digit innings (Seattle Mariners).
On the other side, it’s still hard to know what to make of Rodriguez going forward. However, he’s demonstrating enough swing-and-miss stuff that makes you think he can work through the less formidable parts of the Rangers lineup. That may be all it takes to keep this under.
Chris Hatfield's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets:13-10, +3.62 units
Over/Under bets:16-9, +7.72 units
Rangers vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Texas +113 | New York -117
Run line: Texas +1.5 (-178) | New York -1.5 (+180)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-104) | Under 8.5 (+100)
Rangers vs Yankees trend
The Texas Rangers have hit the Moneyline in 9 of their last 18 away games (+0.50 Units / 3% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Yankees.
How to watch Rangers vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
RSN, YES
Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.01 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Elmer Rodriguez (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
Rangers vs Yankees latest injuries
Rangers vs Yankees weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Chicago White Sox signed veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal and placed outfielder Austin Hays back on the 10-day injured list because of a left calf strain.
Grichuk, who elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees, should give the White Sox a solid right-handed bat against left-handed pitchers.
The 34-year-old is a career .268 hitter with an .816 OPS, 79 homers and 220 RBIs in 1,569 at-bats against left-handers over 13 big-league seasons, including a .317 average and .940 OPS against them from 2022-2024.
“It kind of came together last second,” Grichuk said before the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. “We were talking to a few other teams and were about to get something done when they came into the mix. It’s a young, exciting team that is playing good baseball, so we felt like it was a good spot.”
The White Sox lost at least 100 games in each of the past three years — including a major league-record 121 losses in 2024 — but they entered Monday with a 16-18 record, thanks in part to the potent bat of new first baseman Munetaka Murakami’s 13 homers and 26 RBIs.
“Any time you get a chance to throw on the jersey and compete and keep playing, it’s an honor,” said Grichuk, a 2009 first-round pick of the Angels who is playing for his sixth team in four years.
“They’ve had some tough years here, but they’re on the up-and-up. They’ve got a lot of good guys, and I’m excited to grind with them.”
Hays missed most of April because of a right hamstring strain. He returned and played three games before suffering a calf injury that is expected to sideline him for at least two weeks.
“With Hays going down, we needed a right-handed outfielder,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “(Grichuk) fit the roster, he was available, and we feel really lucky that we got him. He’s a guy with a ton of experience who has performed really well in his league.”
NEW YORK — Anthony Volpe has to earn back his New York Yankees job, just like any other prospect.
New York optioned the Gold Glove-winning shortstop to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following the end of a 20-day minor league injury rehabilitation assignment that followed Oct. 14 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
José Caballero, who helped the AL-best Yankees win 14 of 16, started at shortstop for the 34th times in 35 games.
“It’s a surprise, but then also Caballero’s rolling,” said Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who called Volpe and spoke with him for 30-40 minutes. “I think the biggest thing is how the team is flowing right now. It’s kind of tough to move some things around.”
Volpe hit .250 (11 for 44) with one homer and six RBIs in 13 minor league games during his rehab assignment. He is in a 1-for-11 slide.
“Whether he’s ticked off, happy, frustrated, whatever, I know he’s going to grind,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I’m sure he’s not thrilled about it and doesn’t necessarily love that idea ’cause I think he’s obviously worked really hard to go through this and going into this, we expected him to be, once this rehab was up, to be here and playing and so that’s obviously changed over the last few weeks. But I think there’s part of him that gets it, too, and Anthony’s a pro.”
New York’s starting shortstop since 2023, Volpe has struggled at the plate, hitting .222 with 52 homers, 192 RBIs and 70 stolen bases over three seasons. His .212 average last year was 144th among 145 qualifiers, his play hampered after he hurt his hurt his left shoulder on May 3.
“He’s going to be more motivated than ever to come back here,” Judge said. “If it’s even him as a utility guy, anything, just to get himself back up here, because besides what he can do on the field, he’s a big part in this clubhouse and this dugout.”
Caballero entered Monday hitting .259 with four homers, 12 RBIs and 13 stolen bases — tied for the AL lead. He was batting .316 in his last 21 games.
Caballero’s seven defensive runs tied Boston’s Wilyer Abreu for third in the major leagues, trailing Chicago Cubs centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (10) and Seattle second baseman Cole Young (eight).
“We have a lot of really good players right now and competing for real roles and real spots and I think that competition ultimately is going to be a great thing for us,” Boone said. “It doesn’t change how we feel about Anthony or the kind of player we think he is and will be. But in this moment of time we felt like this was absolutely the right thing to do.”
If Volpe remains on option to the minors for at least 20 days, it would delay his free-agent eligibility by a year until after the 2029 World Series. For now, he’ll play shortstop for the RailRiders and not other infield positions.
“If we have those conversations as the days unfold, we’ll have those, but not right now,” Boone said.
George Lombard Jr., a top prospect promoted to Triple-A on April 29, “will bounce around,” according to the manager.
Volpe will follow the path of outfielder Jasson Domínguez, who spent his first 24 games at Scranton and then rejoined the Yankees on April 27 after Giancarlo Stanton strained a calf muscle.
“This has been a tremendous character reveal for Jasson. All he’s done is put his head down and had a smile on his face and worked his tail off and played really good baseball and now is up here earning real time again,” Boone said. “Anthony’s going to have a long career, be a really good player in this league. His next step as a player is gaining that consistency offensively. Even through some of his struggles, I think he’s been a way better player than some of the narratives around him sometimes are.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 26: A general view of the 2026 All Star Game logo prior to the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers on March 26, 2026 at Citizens Bamk Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
As the calendar turns from spring to summer, the warmer temperatures bring us the highs and lows of America’s pastime. Majestic and plentiful homers, programs turned into makeshift fans, sweaty thighs stuck to plastic seats.
Everyone’s favorite time of year featuring our favorite sport wouldn’t be complete without being inundated with reminders to VOTE for our BOYS to make the ALL-STAR GAME (!!)
I have curated my online experience so meticulously, I fear I will not see a single thing about the 2026 All-Star Game. The mute list is thorough – the city, the ballpark, the team and its players, and most nicknames and variations of all of the above.
But of course, I want a huge contingent of Braves to be recognized. (Or do I? The 2023 curse might still be fresh in my mind.) Less than forty games into the young season, it’s way too early to be predicting who will be earning a nod to represent the A.
Except Drake Baldwin. We riot if the reigning ROY doesn’t get to add an All-Star honor to his resume.
There will be plenty of time to bitterly argue over who should win the fan voting based on merit and a deep understanding of stats. That’s a space in which my Battery Power colleagues shine. My lane and expertise is a little different, so I am far more interested in the question: what will the promotional voting campaign look like?
Braves Creative Director Insung Kim and team have undoubtedly already put pen to paper, if not already finalized, what this year’s aesthetics, graphics, and posting schedule will be. Maybe the only thing left to execute is production of their annual promo video for the campaign launch, where Peter Moylan has become their main muse and star. (However, with the introduction of BravesVision, it might be Wiley Ballard’s time to shine…)
Every year, a minimum of thirty-one creative and marketing teams (all clubs, plus MLB itself), have to sit down and decide which singular city trait to use for their All-Star campaign and pray that it’s a wholly original idea. The list on the whiteboard probably doesn’t change much from year to year. It’ll be something like:
Most famous food / drink
Historical or pop culture homage
Generic regional quirk
The first one has been the frontrunner the last few years. We all saw everyone and their mother doing coffee/barista campaigns for Seattle in 2023. It was a little disappointing, but not surprising, to see everyone resort to Legally Distinct Waffle House / diner theming and photoshoots when we hosted last year. I guess peaches and peanuts weren’t inspiring stuff.
Arlington’s cowboy hats and wild West stereotypes in ‘24 fall in the third bucket and thus were everywhere (but it doesn’t feel like it ever left Atlanta with the introduction of the “Braves Country” branding shortly thereafter).
I could be entirely wrong, but it seemed like everything across the org kicked up a notch after winning it all in 2021, and the budget increase for marketing showed. For Los Angeles in 2022, the Braves rolled out their “send our stars to Hollywood” campaign giving each player a feature film title and brief trailers for each. These graphics became real posters that were given to fans, the trailers played at local movie theaters… this one was fun and the fans seemed to react enthusiastically in turn. Not only was this a successful test run / proof-of-concept for the marketing team (2022’s six All-Star selections are the most for the Braves since 2011, when they had five players in attendance), it’s yet another case of how human originality and creativity can resonate with people, be valuable, and build a brand.
The Braves’ investment in creative concepting and campaign execution doesn’t go unnoticed and unappreciated by me! In the spirit of the list above, here are some ideas off the top of my head for 2026 in Philadelphia:
Weiss’s Water Ice
Pretty self-explanatory. Some examples:
Rainbow Acuña Jr.
Mango Matty O
Baldwin Blue Raspberry
Yaz-pricot
Butterscozzie Albies (woof, I know)
The Boxin’ Braves
The Rocky statue is there, but that’s pretty one-note on its own. I’m envisioning something similar to the Hollywood and Western campaigns where they give players a ring name or persona and different boxing poses in their respective posters.
Convenience store (à la Wawa)
This seems comparable to the Waffle House of it all. It must be of some significance to the city’s denizens if they changed the r/phillies subreddit to it during their losing streak earlier this season. There’s a hoagie angle here but I’m not brave and/or paid enough to try.
Honorable mention concepts I didn’t want to think through: American history, soft pretzels, being home of the First U.S. Mint for some coin-related imagery, perhaps.
In all seriousness, my best guess for the creative vision will probably be around Philadelphia being the Mural Capital of the World. If not done by the Braves, then it’s a contender for the league in general. It’s a way that pays homage to the city that’s very safe / not controversial or too pander-y. There’s immense potential for distinctive, stylized, and vibrant photo treatments and backdrops. And it could have nice tie-ins and activations throughout the city engaging with the existing walls and murals in the lead up to the game itself.
We’re a month out til all the All-Star festivities kick off in earnest. While you all brace yourselves, I’ll be waiting with bated breath to see what creative’s cooked up (and to see if I’m completely off the mark). Did I miss any extremely obvious ideas? Let us know in the comments.
Munetaka Murakami is the hero we need and deserve! | (Sean Haffey/Getty Images)
Winning is fun. For the first time in the 2026 season, the White Sox had a winning week. What started as an astonishing sweep of the Los Angeles Angels ended with a near sweep and series win in San Diego. Sunday’s loss capped a 5-1 week and saw the South Siders just two games below .500.
When your team wins five games in a week, there are only a few low lights to mention, but there are always some.
Dog Day Rain Delay
If you’re unfamiliar with the saying “April showers bring May flowers,” look no further than Monday’s game in Chicago. Fans of the Pale Hose braved the weather to bring their pooches to the park, only to be met with a three-hour rain delay. First pitch was finally tossed at 9:40 p.m. CDT, and the White Sox would not win the game until 12:34 a.m. CDT Tuesday. There are serious props to divvy out to those who stayed to see the end of the game. Here’s hoping there were endless beers for those fans.
Pitching’s Weakest Link
Anthony Kay has officially earned this title for the starting rotation. Kay pitched in two games this week, and while there was improvement between the two starts, there is still work to be done.
Monday’s rain delay might have been a long one but the lefty’s outing was quite short. Four innings of pitching resulted in four earned runs, two hit batters, two walks, and two strikeouts. Had the offense not kicked it into high gear, he would have earned the loss. Instead, he eked out a no-decision for the night and got to celebrate a comeback win with his teammates.
Kay also started in the series finale in San Diego on Sunday, giving up three runs (two earned), walking one, and striking out five. He was again in line to get the loss, but the White Sox tied the game in the seventh to take him off the hook. Two no-decisions in one week sure feels better than two losses.
Luisangel Acuña
To be fair, the offense was facing a well-rested Mason Miller in the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday. However, I can make no excuses for Acuña when the tying run is on second base with two outs, and you strike out on three pitches to end the game.
Fans can say the White Sox swept the Angels at home and took a series from the Padres in San Diego in 2026. If you had told them that in 2024, they probably would not have believed it. It has been a long road to get back to playing fun baseball again, and followers of the South Side team should be soaking in every last inch of it, no matter how brief it may be.
Monday’s Fun
After the aforementioned rain delay, the White Sox were down 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning. If viewers had not already turned the game off, they were in for a treat.
In the seventh inning, Tristan Peters, Andrew Benintendi, Munetaka Murakami, and Miguel Vargas all drove in runs. The outfielders did their damage the old-fashioned way — with a single and a double — while Murakami and Vargas went with their usual method this year: the long ball.
Every run of the seventh inning would count for something as relief pitching gave up two additional tallies to open the week with a final score of 8-7.
In the second game of the home set against the Angels, the South Siders were up against April’s AL Pitcher of the Month, José Soriano. The apparent ace entered the game with an ERA of 0.24 and had not surrendered a run since his start on April 6. After 25 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball, Colson Montgomery tagged one to right field in the second inning of the game to snap the streak.
On the home pitching side of things, Davis Martin continues to make himself known. He was one out shy of another quality start, going 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven, and allowing just one run. He ended the night with an ERA below 2.00.
Tuesday was the night Drew Romo officially made a name for himself. In the fourth inning, he too hit a home run off of Soriano. His first hit of the season would also be his first career home run. The switch-hitter decided to take his at-bat in the sixth inning from the right side of the plate and hit his second hit of the season. This one also exited the park.
There was an abundance of school-aged children at Wednesday’s series finale, given that it was Weather Day at the ballpark. They made their presence known with many screams captured by the on-field microphone.
Even though he earned a no-decision, Erik Fedde showed up for seven strong innings of baseball. He held Mike Trout’s Angels to just two runs, walked no one, and struck out six. Seranthony Domínguez earned his keep after recording the save in Tuesday’s game. The closer held this game at a 2-2 tie in the top of the tenth and even ended up with the win.
The contest was looking like it was going to be a tough 2-1 loss until the bottom of the ninth inning. Sam Antonacci hit his second triple of the season to drive in Peters to tie it up and push the contest into extras. In the 10th inning with the bases loaded, Montgomery played hero and walked off the game to complete the sweep.
Vibes were high when the White Sox arrived in San Diego. Mune treated some of his teammates to sushi during the off-day, and it appears a new handshake between him and Montgomery was born out of it.
The power of friendship is clearly what brought them to homering in the same game for the seventh time this season. They are the only pair to do so this season thus far. Murakami’s home run capped off a six-run second inning for the White Sox. His 13th dinger of the season allowed him to retake the MLB home run lead (as of 9:35 p.m. CDT May 4, Mune and Aaron Judge are now tied for the lead after hitting their 14th home runs).
The shortstop’s round-tripper did not occur until three innings later to extend the lead to 7-0. Long balls are always exciting, but the ninth home run of Montgomery’s season carried a little less pizazz than his counterpart’s 13th.
Scoring eight runs will win plenty of ballgames, but strong pitching is what keeps teams in them. Noah Schultz knew the task at hand and delivered one of his strongest outings thus far. The 22-year-old rookie struck out only two batters in his six innings of work, but he also allowed no runs, keeping the White Sox’s cushion at maximum comfort.
Shutouts on Saturdays
Sean Burke would like a word with Martin about the title for pitching staff ace. The righthander came out guns blazing in San Diego and fired six innings of no-run baseball, striking out six along the way. Burke has now gone 14 1/3 innings without allowing a run.
Domínguez yet again gets praise for achieving the save in this win as well.
The singular blemish to the week came on Sunday; however, there were still highlights in the close loss.
First and foremost, Romo homered for a third time in the week during the top of the third inning to give the Good Guys an early lead. As if that were not exciting enough, Derek Hill saw that the team was running out of time and hit a game-tying two-run bomb in the seventh inning.
The saddest little infield squibbler in the eighth brought home the go-ahead run, lifting the Padres and handing the White Sox their first loss of the week.
If you weren’t keeping track, pitching gave up only 17 runs last week. That is an average of less than three runs per game. On the flip side, the offense scored 32 runs. That comes out to just over five runs per game. Five runs scored per game > three given up per game = lots of wins this season. This equation, if repeated by the White Sox many weeks over, could result in a very fun rest of the season.
Other News and Notes
The big news during Sunday’s loss was that Chicago promoted Braden Montgomery from the Double-A Birmingham Barons to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. After 99 at-bats with the Barons, the outfield prospect is hitting .313 with five doubles, three triples, and six home runs. A promotion well deserved.
Also down on the farm, Hagen Smith was named the White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April. He ended the month with a 2.20 ERA in Charlotte, striking out 21 batters in 16 1/3 innings pitched.
Austin Hays went on the injured list on May 4 with a calf strain. To add outfield depth to an already infield-heavy White Sox team, the front office signed Randal Grichuk to a one-year, $1.25 million deal. The former first-rounder was DFA’d by the Yankees on Friday after playing in 16 games and batting .194. He will fit right in with this outfield.
The momentum looks to continue on the West Coast with three more games against the Angels until the Good Guys can return home for a weekend series against the Mariners.
May 1, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) reaches first on a single against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Shohei Ohtani has won the past two National League MVP awards, and his two-way production as a pitcher and a hitter give him a leg up on the competition in the race for what could be his third.
FanDuel’s odds for NL MVP show Ohtani (-370) as the easy favorite to repeat amidst an emerging field of rising stars. Ohtani’s striking out 10 batters per 9 innings and posting a sub-1 WHIP. He’s still an excellent hitter who’s drawn the most intentional walks, but he’s slugging just .454 and working through a genuine slump, going hitless through four straight games for the first time in his career.
Even a small dimming of Ohtani’s star might contribute to voter fatigue as members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) look to reward more of the game’s incredible talents. Despite the long odds of overtaking the dual-threat Ohtani, there are a few early candidates who could see their stocks rise significantly with another impressive month of production.
Corbin Carroll (+1700) finished tied for sixth in NL MVP voting last season, and he’s returning from a broken hamate bone by drawing more walks and legging out extra-base hits at an historic clip.
Matt Olson (+1700) is leading the league in WAR after the first month, mashing 11 HRs and pushing across a league-leading 31 RBI while slashing .299/.380/.650.
Elly De La Cruz (+2200) is already in his third season in the pros at just 24 years old. After playing through a quad strain for much of last season, he’s back on pace for a potential 40/40 season, and just a fraction behind the league lead in WAR.
Ronald Acuna Jr (+2200) was the most recent non-Ohtani recipient of NL MVP, and he’s produced MVP-caliber numbers whenever he’s healthy. His health is another big reason for the Atlanta Braves’ league-leading win total, but he’ll need to bounce back quickly from a recent stint on the IL.
Juan Soto (+3000) – finished third in NL MVP voting last year, and he’s starting to get healthy for a Mets lineup that’s desperate for a star to step up. His first game back in the lineup marked the end of a 12-game losing streak.
James Wood (+4000) has a massive frame and a short swing that blasts through contact. He strikes out a fair amount, but he’s also walking more this season (19.9% walk rate leads NL), and has made a few highlightplays in right field.
Drake Baldwin (+5000) won the 2025 Rookie of the Year award, and if the left handed-hitting catcher continues on his pace to leap past last year’s 19 HRs, he could emerge as Atlanta’s brightest star. Jordan Walker (+6000) is stealing more bases and he’s already exceeded last season’s HR total, showing the 23-year-old might be getting comfortable in his 6’6”, 250 lb. frame.
Yohendrick Pinango is off to an amazing start to his MLB career, and I’m expecting the Toronto Blue Jays rookie to continue swinging a hot bat tonight against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen.
Read on to see why with my Blue Jays vs. Rays predictions and MLB Picks on Tuesday, May 5.
Blue Jays vs Rays predictions
Blue Jays vs Rays best bet: Yohendrick Piango Over 0.5 hits (-145)
Yohendrick Pinango has been a delight since being called up from Triple-A.
The Toronto Blue Jays’ rookie outfielder has seven hits in his last three contests, raising his batting average to .500 over seven games.
He’s gone 5-2 to the Over on his hits market, and has cashed in three straight games.
Pinango’s early results suggest he’s got a pretty good matchup tonight with Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a three-pitch starter who deploys a cutter, sinker, and four-seamer.
Though it's a small sample size, Toronto’s rookie owns a .600 batting average with a .475 xBA against the trio of pitches Rasmussen uses. He's also batted leadoff in the last two games, giving him more opportunities at the dish.
COVERS INTEL: While his 5.3% strikeout rate is unsustainable, Pinango has never showcased much swing-and-miss, with K-rates ranging between 19-24% in Double-A and up since 2024.
Blue Jays vs Rays same-game parlay (SGP)
I’ll continue to bet on the birds and take Kazuma Okamoto to record a hit. The Jays slugger is on a heater, with at least one hit in four straight, recording seven total in that stretch.
For the final leg of the SGP, I’ll take Kevin Gausman to go Over 17.5 outs. The Blue Jays ace owns a .96 WHIP and has seen his pitch count increase game by game. He should be in line to throw up to 100 pitches if he’s dealing.
Additionally, Gausman is averaging 18 outs over his last three starts, and has finished the sixth in four of his seven appearances.
Blue Jays vs Rays SGP
Yohendrick Pinango Over 0.5 hits
Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 hits
Kevin Gausman Over 17.5 outs
img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.
Blue Jays vs Rays home run pick: Daulton Varsho (+510)
I’m only betting a half unit on this one.
Rasmussen doesn’t give up a lot of hard contact, but he has been a little homer-prone in 2026, allowing five long balls in just over 30 innings (1.47 HR/9).
However, Daulton Varsho has a good chance to go hard tonight.
He’s got a lot of pop in his bat and has a .611 SLG rate against the sinker, which is one of Rasmussen's go-to pitches. Also, four of the five home runs Rasmussen has allowed have come off left-handed bats.
2026 Transparency record
Best bets: 13-21, -4.5 units
SGPs: 6-28, -3.5 units
HR picks: 8-25, +10.65 units
Blue Jays vs Rays odds
Moneyline: Toronto +110 | Tampa Bay -130
Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-190) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+160)
Over/Under: Over 7 (-110) | Under 7 (-110)
Blue Jays vs Rays trend
The Toronto Blue Jays have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 25 of their last 35 games (+14.90 Units / 35% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Rays.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Rays and game info
Location
Tropicana Field, Tampa, FL
Date
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
First pitch
6:40 p.m. ET
TV
Rays.TV, SN1
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Kevin Gausman (2-2, 3.10 ERA)
Rays starting pitcher
Drew Rasmussen (2-1, 2.64 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Rays latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Rays weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL: The Braves 
