GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21, 2026: Alejandro Osuna #19 of the Texas Rangers bats during the fourth inning of a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford has been placed on the 10 day injured list, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled outfielder Alejandro Osuna from AAA Round Rock. In addition, the team announced that pitcher Marc Church, who was designated for assignment last week, has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Round Rock.
Langford left yesterday’s game after two at bats due to soreness in his right forearm. After an MRI today, he has been diagnosed with a grade one flexor strain. Per the beats, Langford was optimistic that he will be able to return after the 10 day minimum.
This is the third year in a row Langford has landed on the injured list early in the season. In 2024, he went on the i.l. in early May due to a hamstring strain, and in 2025, he went on the injured list in early April due to an oblique strain.
Osuna, 23, had 63 games in the majors for the Rangers in 2025, slashing .212/.313/.278. He has gotten off to a slow start at AAA this year, slashing .262/.355/.354 in 17 games. Ezequiel Duran, who has played well of late, would seem likely to get the bulk of the playing time in left field while Langford is sidelined, though the Rangers could opt to sit Josh Smith some and put Duran at second to get Osuna some playing time.
As for Church, his star has fallen significantly since thirteen months ago, when he broke camp with the Rangers. One would think that someone would have put in a claim on him, but apparently not. He will remain in Round Rock for the time being.
Apr 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Coby Mayo (16) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a three run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Well, the Orioles did what they needed to do and won their series against the worst team in the American League. But it sure as heck wasn’t easy.
The O’s took the rubber game in Kansas City, 8-6, behind a six-run explosion in the top of the sixth, then held on for dear life to fend off the Royals’ late comeback attempt. The offense got contributions from up and down the lineup, including much-maligned underperformers like Colton Cowser (two hits) and Coby Mayo (a massive three-run homer), and Anthony Nunez filled in as closer for the day and notched his first major league save. The victory completes a 3-4 road trip for the Orioles, who bring a 12-13 record into their first off day in two weeks.
The Orioles offense faced a tough assignment in Michael Wacha, the veteran Royals right-hander who entered the game with a microscopic 1.00 ERA in his first four starts. But Wacha was a bit rough out of the gate. After a leadoff strikeout, the next three Orioles hitters — Taylor Ward, Dylan Beavers, and Pete Alonso — each mashed deep fly balls. Ward’s slammed off the wall for a double. Beavers’ was knocked down by the wind and caught on the warning track. But nobody was catching Alonso’s. The Polar Bear lofted a 410-foot, opposite-field blast over the wall in right, giving the Orioles a 2-0 lead. That’s the kind of easy power we’d like to see more of from the Birds’ shiny new slugger.
Despite the early O’s advantage, the vibes quickly turned sour. While Wacha settled into a groove and threw four straight scoreless innings, Orioles starter Chris Bassitt frittered away the lead. Vinnie Pasquantino provided the first Royals run with a solo homer in the first, snapping an 0-for-16 drought and giving the Royals just their second run in the first inning all season. Bassitt got through the second and third unscathed before the Royals flipped the lead in the fourth.
Pasquantino started the rally with a double, and two batters later — just as the MASN announcers were mentioning that the Royals are the worst hitting team in MLB with runners in scoring position — Carter Jensen delivered one such hit, a single up the middle to plate Pasquantino with the tying run. Later in the inning — just as the MASN announcers were mentioning that Lane Thomas was 0-for-8 in his career against Bassitt — the aforementioned Lane Thomas socked an RBI single to give the Royals a 3-2 lead. Just stop mentioning things, MASN announcers! Only silence from now on.
Staring down a deficit in the top of the sixth against a cruising Wacha, things looked bleak for the Orioles. And then: something amazing happened. The O’s scored six runs. Seriously! Not only that, but it was one of the most un-Orioles type of offensive rallies you’ll ever see. They hit the ball to all fields. They shortened their swings with two strikes, putting the ball in play however they could. It was a nearly unrecognizable Orioles attack, and it was delightful.
It all started innocently enough, when Alonso drew a four-pitch walk and Samuel Basallo doinked a changeup into right for a single. That brought up the Orioles’ dynamic duo of Leody Taveras and Jeremiah Jackson — two of the best hitters on the team, as we all predicted in spring training — and both of them delivered again. On a 2-2 curve from Wacha, Taveras flicked the ball into right field, bringing home Alonso to knot the score at three. Basallo aggressively ran to third base on the play, and Taveras alertly advanced to second on the throw to third.
Up next was Jackson, who dunked a single into left-center field, driving in two more runs and putting the Birds back on top, 5-3. There we go! Where would the Orioles be without Jeremiah this season? Not bad for a guy who might not have even made the team if Luis Vázquez weren’t hurt. The Orioles, improbably, had knocked Wacha out of the game. They hung six earned runs on a pitcher who’d allowed only three runs in his first four starts combined. Not too shabby!
But the Orioles had saved the best for last. Against reliever Eli Morgan, Colton Cowser singled on an 0-2 changeup — his second hit of the game — to bring up Coby Mayo. It’s no secret that Coby has struggled mightily this season, but when he’s on, he’s capable of hitting massive, jaw-dropping, moon-shot dingers. Eli Morgan got a first-hand look at that when Mayo jumped on his hanging slider and crushed it OVER THE FOUNTAINS AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM, a prodigious blast measured at 452 feet. Wowza. An Orioles fan in the second deck, who probably never thought in her wildest dreams that she was in home run territory, ended up with the ball. It was the Orioles’ longest home run since July 5 of last year, when Jordan Westburg crushed a 461-foot blast in Atlanta.
The Earl Weaver special gave the Orioles an 8-3 lead, and against a lousy offense like the Royals, you’d think that would be plenty. You’d think. But just as the MASN announcers mentioned how important it was for Bassitt to pitch a shutdown inning, you’ll never guess what happened. He almost immediately gave back a chunk of it. Jensen led off the bottom of the sixth with a homer, followed by a Michael Massey double. Bassitt got just one out in the sixth before Craig Albernaz went to the bullpen.
The good news, I suppose, is that Bassitt’s 5.1-inning performance was his longest of the season. But he still wasn’t good. Against a bad offense, he gave up eight hits and five runs, with his inherited runner scoring on Kyle Isbel’s two-run homer off Yennier Cano. With Cade Povich and Brandon Young pitching well at Triple-A, I’m wondering how long the O’s will persist with Bassitt in the rotation.
The Royals’ sixth-inning rally made it an 8-6 game, and the Orioles squandered numerous opportunities to add insurance runs. Beavers doubled to lead off the seventh but never advanced. In the ninth, Ward was thrown out at the plate on another Beavers double. Eight runs would have to do.
Fortunately, it did. Tyler Wells had his best high-leverage outing of the year, working 1.2 scoreless innings, and Anthony Nunez entered the ninth for his first career save opportunity (closer Ryan Helsley went on the bereavement list earlier in the day). Nunez retired the first two batters before the third baseman Mayo, on what should’ve been the final out, spiked a routine throw to first to bring Bobby Witt Jr. to the plate as the tying run. Oh boy. Here we go.
No worries. Nunez racked up a clutch strikeout of Witt, nailing down the win and earning his first save. Congrats to the rookie, who has been a great addition to the O’s bullpen (again, not bad for a guy who almost didn’t make the Opening Day roster).
That’s an Orioles victory. Who is your Most Birdland Player, Camden Chatters? Coby Mayo for his breathtaking three-run homer? Alonso for his dinger? Taveras or Jackson for their clutch hits? Wells or Nunez for their relief work? There are no wrong answers. Except Chris Bassitt.
STREAKING: The Cubs’ seven-game winning streak is their 107th since 1901 of at least seven games. It is their longest since they won eight in a row July 2-192, 2023. Their last that ended after seven games was Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2021. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
PITCHING: Cubs pitchers have allowed exactly six hits in each of the last three games. They have allowed no more than six in 11 games this season. The Cubs have won nine of them. Last year, they were 46-13 in such games, a winning percentage of .780. When they gave up seven or more, they were 46-57, .447. The Cubs rank third among all 30 teams in fewest hits per nine innings (7.3), fewest walks per nine (3.0) and fewest hit plus walks per nine (1.146). (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
DANSBY, HEATING UP: Dansby Swanson, last 13 games since April 7: .233/.393/.535 (10-for-43) with a double, four home runs, 10 RBI, 12 walks and 16 runs scored.
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Jason Heyward’s 10th inning walk-off single scored Javier Báez to give the Cubs a 4-3 win over the Mets. It happened five years ago today, Thursday, April 22, 2021.
The Cubs lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Cubs lineup.
Matthew Boyd returns tonight from an injured list stint for a bicep issue.
His first start this year on Opening Day wasn’t good; his second was excellent, with 10 strikeouts in 5.2 innings. Overall Boyd has 17 strikeouts in 9.1 innings this year (struck out 17 of 37 batters faced). In his rehab start last Thursday for Triple-A Iowa, Boyd struck out six of 16 batters faced.
Boyd made one start vs. the Phillies last year, June 9 in Philadelphia, and the difference in the game was, in part, Boyd’s own throwing error on a pickoff that led to an unearned run. No current Phillie has more than six career AB vs. Boyd.
Kyle Backhus is opening tonight’s game, and likely throws only one or two innings. The most pitches he’s thrown in any game this year is 41, last Wednesday against the Cubs in Philadelphia. Dansby Swanson homered off him. He also threw to five batters in Monday’s game at Wrigley Field.
Taijuan Walker was supposed to get the start tonight, and he’s likely the “bulk guy” in this game.
Walker’s 2026 season has been pretty awful. He’s made four starts, has a 9.16 ERA (yikes!) and has allowed six home runs in just 18.1 innings (double yikes!). He had one decent start (April 11 vs. the D-backs) where he allowed two runs in five innings, the other three were .. yikes.
Perhaps Alex Bregman will break out tonight. He’s 6-for-11 (.545) lifetime vs. Walker.
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
Mar 30, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (33) gets ready to hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers infielder Colt Keith is rolling in the early going of the 2026 season, and after two years of incredibly slow starts to seasons, that’s a positive development. On the other hand, Keith’s hot hand early on has led to a lot of frustration in the fanbase with the fact that manager AJ Hinch still chooses to keep him in reserve when an opposing team has a left-handed starter on the mound. Don’t be deceived. There are certainly some positive hints of a breakout for the 24-year-old, but so far this season he’s done nothing new to warrant playing everyday.
As we covered after the first series of the season in San Diego, Keith does show some underlying improvements that point to an impending breakout. He’s swinging the bat faster than ever, and he’s hitting the ball harder. His new upright stance, combined with the breathwork he started this offseason to help his body to stay more relaxed in the batter’s box, certainly have him looking more comfortable and much less tense than in his first two seasons. No one would argue that those aren’t positive developments, but they still have to translate to upgraded production before we can really say that Keith is unlocking a new level in his offensive game.
Really this is all pretty simple in terms of what a real, sustainable breakout from Keith would look like. For all the angst about him being platooned to hit right-handed pitching only, we have to recognize that Colt Keith is still only a modestly above average hitter against right-handed pitching. Until that changes and he becomes a force, he’s not going to get that many chances to hit left-handed pitching as well. That’s not a slight on Keith as much as it is important to get your right-handed hitters into the lineup because they’re generally going to outhit Keith by a significant margin in the proper matchups against lefties.
So, if you’re wondering how Keith is supposed to get better at hitting lefties when he rarely faces them, the answer is that he’ll earn those chances by hitting right-handed pitching better than he has in the early stages of his major league career. He’d also have a lot easier time if he played plus defense somewhere or was a big basestealing threat, something else to augment the bat.
Right now, Keith holds a 112 wRC+ after two previous seasons in which he posted a 95 mark, and then a 109 mark in 2025. If you prefer OPS+ that’s fine, but they’re generally not much different, and those two metrics are the best “one stop shop” to get an idea of a hitter’s overall contribution to run production. They’re reset each year so that 100 represents league average. So far, Colt is 12 percent better at doing the things that produce runs than the average major league hitter. That’s reasonably good, but considering he’s generally protected from tough lefties, it’s not really great in the sense of an everyday, full-time player.
Yes, Keith is hitting .309, but batting average is more of a descriptive statistic than one that tells you anything about how productive a hitter actually is. The simplest way to frame this, is that offense is all about collecting bases. Two singles or two walks equals one double in the simplest calculation. Sure, with runners on base, a single is better than a walk because said runners can often advance two bases, but without runners on base, a walk is better because it costs the opposing more pitches typically, and because walking has more of a psychological effect on a pitcher than giving up a ground ball that happens to get through the infield or a routine liner into the outfield for a single. But again, the goal is to collect bases, and move your teammates ahead of you around said bases, and using wRC+ or OPS+ gives you the best idea how well a hitter is succeeding.
Keith is hitting .309, but his batting average on balls in play is a whopping .396. Keith’s average BABIP mark is .307, meaning that a bit over 30 percent of his balls in play are going for hits. This year so far, he’s close to 40 percent, and that just isn’t sustainable. A higher batting average, without significant improvements in walk rate, strikeout rate, and power production, is the definition of fool’s gold in baseball. Keith is hitting the ball harder, and so a higher BABIP is appropriate, but something closer to a .310-.320 batting average on balls in play is probably the high water mark here and with enough time his numbers are going to settle at or below that level. Only 26 qualified hitters topped that mark in 2025. Riley Greene’s .323 mark made him the only Tiger to do it.
Incidentally, Kevin McGonigle will be one of those elite guys who consistently runs a high BABIP too. No worries there, although like Keith, it’s just about impossible to be a top shelf hitter without plenty of home runs and extra base hits.
At the moment, Keith has zero home runs. His strikeout rate is at 21.1 percent, which is essentially his career average. After posting a 10.3 percent walk rate last year, this season he’s at 4.2 percent. No doubt the walks will show up. Keith has swung a little more aggressively early on this year, and it’s largely paid off, but he’s always been a pretty disciplined hitter, and the walks will show up as the season progresses. He’s actually chasing pitches out of the zone 5.4 percent less than last year, showing increasing strike zone judgement that could be sustainable. I’m not concerned at all about the low walk rate. Keith is getting pitches to hit and he’s successfully taking his hacks. Until he starts doing damage, pitchers are going to continue pitching him aggressively.
The positive signs of a breakout developing are still in place. Keith is swinging the bat faster, and he’s hitting the ball hard more often. Per Statcast, his hard hit rate is 58.5 percent. Last year it was 43.7 percent. His current mark is 11th best among all qualified hitters so far, and this is the really positive development that has many of us expecting the awaited Keith breakout.
The issue? So he’s actually hit nine percent more ground balls than he did last year, and most of that eight percent comes from his fly ball rate dropping from 38.6 percent last year, which still isn’t that great, to 30.2 percent so far this season. That is not the direction we want to see his batted ball profile move. Yes, hitting the ball harder overall is good, and may be sustainable. That will keep his batting average a little higher potentially, but that’s not really going to make him a much more productive hitter. What needs to happen is for Keith to start collecting a lot more total bases, and the only way those are going to compound is two and four at a time.
Colt Keith has hit 13 home runs in each of his first two big league seasons, while getting roughly 4/5ths of a full season of plate appearances compared to a full-time MLB regular. This is the same guy who hit 27 total home runs in just 577 plate appearances split between the Double and Triple-A levels in 2023. The raw power isn’t in question. We’ve seen him destroy the upper levels of the minor leagues and hit many epic tape measure shots. Keith is 6’2” and probably 220 pounds, built like an undersized linebacker in incredible shape. He’s hitting the heck out of the baseball this season. And he has zero home runs.
This is where the breakout has to show up if it’s coming. It’s great to hit the ball really hard, but it doesn’t really convert to much more run production unless you’re pumping line drives to the wall and tons of fly balls over the wall. A 110 mph ground ball is a single unless it’s right down the lines. A 100 mph fly ball to the pull field is generally a home run is hit between 25-35 degrees of launch angle.
So, we have positive signs from Keith but no actual results. He’s a productive, above average hitter who has some of the underlying metrics of a young player about to break out. But he has to actually break out before any of this really matters much. Before people get to fretting over his ability to hit left-handed pitching, he’s got to become more of a force against right-handed pitching. Start there.
Keith is a talented, still young hitter who runs the bases well, has some speed, and is a useful but still somewhat below average infielder. That basically adds up to an average major leaguer. The ticket to an upgraded profile is still tied up in the need for more fly balls to the pull field. When we see him catching more balls out front and doing big time damage, then his role can expand. I’ve been a big Colt believer since he was in A-ball, and have confidence he’s going to figure that last part out, but until he does his role is going to remain the same. Hopefully the Tigers can get him more starts at first base to develop his defensive profile and give them more options beyond Spencer Torkelson, but the ticket to more playing time is still more power.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 21: Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers hits an RBI double in the fifth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field on April 21, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 22, 2026 against the Pittsburgh Pirates: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Braxton Ashcraft for the Pirates.
The Rangers play game two of their series against the Pirates this evening. Wyatt Langford is out of the lineup, and per the beats, he’s apparently going on the i.l. with a flexor strain.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Pederson — DH
Jung — 3B
Carter — CF
Higashioka — C
Smith — 2B
Duran — LF
7:05 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.
The Yankees’ uniforms come in two varieties: home whites with pinstripes and the iconic NY logo over the left side of the chest, and gray away ones with “New York” written across the chest. With each, there’s a number on the back and no name. That’s the tradition.
According to a report in The Athletic, players recently pitched club higher-ups about wearing an alternate road jersey for the first time in the history of the franchise.
And later on Wednesday, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch reported the Yankees' navy blue batting practice jerseys have been added as an official uniform set approved to be worn in games by the league.
The Yanks, one of only two MLB clubs without a City Connect uniform (the other being the stateless Athletics), new alternate won't be a loud pattern like other teams, but is similar to the ones worn during spring training that have "New York" across the chest in gray letters and numbers with white trim on the back.
“I think we'll always wear the pinstripes at home. I don't think that'll change,” Aaron Judge said before Wednesday’s game in Boston, via Hoch. “We’ve changed our road jersey other years. So I guess if we wear the blues, we’ll wear the blues on the road.”
Judge added, “I’m all about tradition, but we’ve got a [Starr Insurance] patch on our sleeves,” referencing the sponsorship patch added to both the team’s jerseys in 2023 in a deal that reportedly nets the club $25 million a season.
The players did not propose any changes to the home uniforms or to the regular road jerseys, per The Athletic report, which noted the Yanks are also the lone big league team without any alternate jersey.
Giancarlo Stanton called the current uniforms “iconic” when speaking with reporters Wednesday, but indicated that a change would be something that “a lot of people would be ok with.”
Stanton also expressed interest in a City Connect option.
“I think we should do that, too," he said, via Hoch. "There’s a lot of tradition here. The most iconic jersey there is in sports, pretty much. But that doesn’t mean that every once in a while you can’t change something up.”
DENVER, CO - APRIL 21: Relief pitcher Randy Vasquez #98 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Sometimes one run is all it takes.
That was the case for the San Diego Padres yesterday in their win over the Colorado Rockies. It was, by far, the lowest scoring game at Coors Field ever, with only one run being tallied in the hitter-friendly park.
Both starters had it working, but it was Randy Vásquez who won out. He pitched seven shutout innings against the Rox. Although Colorado starter Chase Dollander looked just as good (if not better) for six innings, he gave up one run to the Friars on a bases-loaded walk to Manny Machado. That was all the Padres would need.
Tonight, they’ll hope to win their fourth straight, and take their sixth consecutive series, with one more win over Colorado.
Taking the mound
Tomoyuki Sugano (COL) v. Walker Buehler (SD)
Sugano has had a mostly-solid start to the year. He’s pitching to a 3.92 ERA with his new ball club, and limiting batters to a .241 average. Those are markedly better numbers than last year’s marks (4.64 ERA, .276 BA).
But in his last start he gave up five runs to the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, only getting through four frames in the outing. If the Padres can get to him similarly, they’ll have no trouble tonight.
Buehler has had a similar turnaround. After allowing seven runs between his first two outings, he’s only allowed two since (11.0 IP). That includes a six-inning shutout of Colorado a week ago in Petco Park that started the bounce back campaign for the right-hander.
If Buehler can keep the good times rolling, it would signify a clear shift from his start to the season. It would also keep the streak of scoreless outings from San Diego starters moving. The last three (Germán Márquez, Michael King and Randy Vásquez) have combined for 17 2/3 scoreless innings.
Batter up!
With the lack of thump yesterday, the Padres will hope that their lineup can deliver against Sugano. That being said, not many have great track records against the righty. The club is 4-for-25 against him, with two of those being home runs (Luis Campusano and Gavin Sheets).
But against the righty, manager Craig Stammen seems pretty set with his lineup:
Ramón Laureano, LF
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Jackson Merrill, CF
Manny Machado, 3B
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, DH
Ty France, 1B
Luis Campusano, C
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
It’s worth wondering when Machado might come out of the cleanup spot. He’s been off to an incredibly cold start to the year, batting just .178 so far. If he can turn that around in this series, it would go a long way toward assuaging any concerns about his bat.
But, more than that, if the Friars can’t figure things out tonight against Sugano, they’ll have as tough a time as they did yesterday against Dollander.
Relief corps
With Vásquez having his longest start of the year of seven innings, the Friars only needed to use Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon to get the job done. The two will likely be unavailable today, though Morejon managed to finish the ninth on only eight pitches so don’t be too surprised if he trots out of the ‘pen in a high-leverage spot.
That leaves San Diego with a plethora of options in Kyle Hart, Ron Marinaccio, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta, Bradgley Rodriguez and closer Mason Miller.
Miller remained in reserve despite a narrow lead going into the ninth. With the off day Monday, it was surprising to see him on the bench, but Stammen has his reasons. That being said, Miller will be on the mound tonight if the Padres take a lead to the ninth.
Matthew Boyd spent about two weeks on the injured list with a biceps issue.
The left-hander made one rehab start in which he struck out six and was deemed ready to return.
So, the Cubs activated Boyd from the 15-day injured list this afternoon and he will start tonight’s game against the Phillies.
To make room for Boyd on the 26-man active roster, left-hander Luke Little was optioned to Triple-A Iowa..
Little appeared in one game for the Cubs, April 15 in Philadelphia, and allowed one run in the one inning he threw. He’ll likely be back at some point later in the season as he rides the Iowa Shuttle. As always, we await developments.
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 19: (left to right) Houston Astros manager Joe Espada (19) relieves from the mound Houston Astros starting pitcher Mike Burrows (50) in the top of the fifth inning during the MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros on April 19, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Houston Astros owner Jim Crane has said time and time again that as long as he’s in charge, the championship window will always be open. It’s a bold statement, and one that carries a lot of weight in a city that has grown accustomed to winning.
But what does that actually mean in 2026?
Is the window open so this team can compete for another title? Or is it open just enough for fans to look out and wonder how things have started to slip?
A Tale of Two Teams
When you look at this Astros team, there’s a clear divide.
Offensively, they’ve been more than good, they’ve been darn near elite. This is a lineup that continues to produce runs at a high level, boasting one of the best batting averages in baseball. They’ve been especially dangerous on the road and have consistently delivered with runners in scoring position. In short, the offense is doing everything you could reasonably ask, and then some.
But then there’s the pitching staff.
A Pitching Staff in Crisis
Coming into the season, general manager Dana Brown and the organization emphasized their depth in starting pitching. It was supposed to be a strength. Instead, just a few weeks into the season, it’s become the team’s biggest liability.
Injuries have piled up. Roles are uncertain. And on a nightly basis, the question looms: who’s going to take the mound next, and can they give this team a chance to win?
That’s a massive problem for a team with legitimate postseason aspirations.
Missed Evaluations and Mounting Pressure
This all circles back to roster construction.
Brown, now in the final year of his contract, is under increasing pressure. Whether or not ownership has limited his ability to make moves, the reality is that the results haven’t been good enough. The pitching staff, a strength just a year ago, has regressed in alarming fashion.
Yes, some players overachieved last season and some are failing miserbly this season. But more importantly, the Astros had a staff in 2025 that could get outs, limit damage, and hold leads, and now it seems the team got a little too flipped constructing the pen and may have taken for granted how difficult a task it can be.
Bullpen Breakdown
The bullpen, has been a recurring issue and a massive disappointment. Bryan Abreu has been almost unusable. With Josh Hader out, this has been the absolute worst case scenario.
Too many walks. Too many pitches thrown. Too many situations where a lead feels anything but safe.
It’s a dangerous combination. The few guys who can get outs are being used far too often, like Bryan King last night. Putting runners on base, especially without forcing hitters to earn it sets the table for tragedy. It’s all a recipe for disaster, and right now it feels like every inning comes with traffic on the bases and chance to fail yet again.
Rotation Questions and Failed Solutions
The problems extend beyond the bullpen, because the starting rotation has been just as bad.
The Astros knew changes were coming to the rotation. They knew they would have to replace key arms and find reliable options. Instead, the solutions they’ve turned to, both domestically and internationally, haven’t delivered.
Tatsuya Imai, for example, has been a major disappointment. Whether it’s injuries, adjustment issues, or a lack of proper evaluation before bringing him in, the result has been the same: he hasn’t helped stabilize the rotation.
Meanwhile, potential external solutions are disappearing. Pitchers like Lucas Giolito, now signed with the San Diego Padres, are no longer options, raising further questions about whether Crane is willing to spend what it takes to fix the problem and IF Dana Brown is the man to get it done.
A Staff Running on Empty
Another concern is the workload being placed on the few reliable arms this team does have.
The pitchers who are performing are being asked to do too much, throw too many pitches, cover too many innings, and compensate for those who can’t carry their share of the load. That’s not sustainable over a full season.
And if those arms start to wear down, things could go from bad to worse in a hurry.
What Comes Next?
This brings us back to the original question: what does an “open window” really mean?
Because right now, this doesn’t look like a team built to contend, it looks like a team with a glaring weakness that hasn’t been addressed.
There’s still time. The trade deadline offers an opportunity. Reinforcements could come in the form of returning arms like Hunter Brown, and perhaps even Christian Javier down the line.
But hope alone isn’t a strategy.
The Bottom Line
This is not the time to wave the white flag or consider moving key pieces. It’s the time to double down, to identify the problem and fix it.
The offense has already proven it can carry its weight. Now it’s up to the front office to give this team the pitching it desperately needs.
If Jim Crane truly believes the window is always open, then the next move is clear:
Boston, MA - April 20: Third base umpire Lance Barksdale makes an out signal following a challenge in the eighth inning. The Boston Red Sox played the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park on April 20, 2026. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
When the idea of the Automated Ball-Strike system was introduced, it was impossible to count the number of baseball fans who thought it would be a good idea. Every baseball fan has had to deal with their team getting robbed in a big moment by a bad call. Whether it was a strike well below the zone or one that was called too far to the east or west, umpires are humans; they’re imperfect. When the opportunity arose to give players a chance to point out those imperfections, it was widely regarded as one of the best modern ideas to come to the forefront of the sport.
However, while the ABS system was initially designed (and thought of by the public) as strictly a way to give players in the batter’s box, on the mound, or behind the dish some power in what decisions were being made by officials on the playing field, it has managed to award umpires some fun, maybe-not-so-foreseen power as well.
Arguing balls and strikes has rarely changed the zone of an umpire in the middle of a game, so while it’s easy for players and managers to get frustrated with how an ump is calling a game, there usually isn’t a point unless you’re a manager trying to send a message by being ejected. But even as pointless as those arguments are, they’re even more useless now with the ABS system. Since its introduction this year in Major League Baseball, there have been a handful of instances where the umpire has told players or managers to use a challenge if they truly don’t think the call was a good one. Like this most recent spot with Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz:
Orioles Manager Craig Albernaz was arguing a strike call so the umpire asked him why they didn’t use a challenge pic.twitter.com/H4r2qgSa3C
Another recent one that came against the Yankees was with the Athletics and pitcher Aaron Civale, who was unhappy with a pitch being called a ball, argued his case, but was ultimately told to challenge it if he felt confident the call was wrong:
While some may argue that giving baseball umpires more power is not a good thing, this isn’t necessarily giving them more power. The ABS system is merely giving the umpires an outlet to say “put up or shut up,” which I do believe is a good thing for baseball. Many, many fans want to see umpires receive their comeuppance, with everyone at some point having been burned by a bad call, while the umpire who made said call wasn’t held accountable. On the other end, players and managers whining about calls can sometimes be over-the-top and annoying, especially so now that they have the power to try and change the call if they’re so confident it was wrong. In this way, giving players the power to actually do something about it also gives umpires the chance to tell them to put their money where their mouth is.
The ABS system is an idea that is almost universally viewed as beneficial for the sport. Giving players a chance to have their say if they think a call is wrong (especially in big moments that could change the course of a ballgame) is an excellent addition. Given how much chatter there was constantly about MLB and its umpires, the system is an excellent way to hold umpires accountable and ensure they get it right. However, it also gives umpires a bit of breathing room. They don’t have to sit around and listen to whining and complaining from the batter’s box, mound, or the dugout. Instead, they have the ability to tell the people complaining to stop because there’s an avenue for them to object to the call. If they don’t challenge, they have no reason to complain. And while the system was initially designed for players, it’s a welcome change to see umpires telling players and managers to stop barking for the sake of it.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during the fourth inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers on April 17, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TV: NESN
First Pitch: 6:45 p.m. ET
The Red Sox should believe in Ranger Suárez after a pair of improved starts. Ultimately, that won’t matter unless they can score for him.
The Yankees shut out the Red Sox on Tuesday night for the first time at Fenway Park since 2020. Now, Boston returns to action with Roman Anthony out of the lineup, who will be day-to-day with back tightness.
Here’s who the Red Sox will send to the plate Wednesday night.
The Yankees send Max Fried to the hill. The talented lefty won 19 games a year ago and sports a 2.37 ERA in his career against Boston. The lefty diced up the Red Sox in the playoff opener last fall before New York’s bullpen relinquished the advantage.
The Mets are getting a huge boost in their lineup on Wednesday night, as superstar Juan Soto returns from the injured list.
Soto hasn’t played since April 3 due to a calf strain, but he’s back in the lineup against the Minnesota Twins, serving as the DH and hitting second.
Soto’s return comes at a time when the Mets desperately need a spark, having lost 12 straight games.
Interestingly enough, Soto told reporters on Wednesday that he didn't reach out to his teammates during the skid, citing the fact that the team has mainly been on the road.
“No, not at all,” Soto said when asked if he had spoken to teammates to try to pick them up during the losing streak. “I mean, they’ve been on the road most of the time, so I haven’t talked to them.”
That being said, Soto did express confidence in the club to be able to rebound from their recent stretch.
“We have a great lineup,” Soto said. “We have guys going through tough times right now…. It’s tough when most of the lineup is going through it. It makes it hard to win games like that.”
“It’s tough to see it,” he added about the losing streak, “and it’s a little uncomfortable to see it from the outside…. It’s a tough time, but we’re going to get out of it.”
While the Mets' lineup has been struggling to score runs lately, Soto had gotten off to a great start prior to his injury, slashing .355/.412/.516 with a home run and 5 RBI.
His presence in the lineup should make a huge difference for the Mets, and Soto is ready to get back between the white lines.
“To be back on the field is always great,” Soto said. “That's what we do this for - to be out there to share a good time with your teammates, to learn, to play the game you love."
“I don’t think there’s going to be any pressure,” he added. “I just need to be myself.”
Christian Scott ready to be back in the bigs
WhenChristian Scott takes the mound on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, it will have been 642 days since his last big league appearance.
Scott, a fifth-round pick of the Mets in 2021, was called up in May 2024, and right away it looked like he belonged, as he went 6.2 innings of one-run ball against the Tampa Bay Rays in his major league debut.
But after nine starts, Scott’s rookie season came to an early end due to Tommy John surgery.
It’s been a long road back to the majors for Scott, but he’s more than ready for the moment.
“I want it bad. I’m hungry for it,” said the right-hander, who pitched to a 4.56 ERA in his rookie season. “It’s tough to be away from the game for a year. Getting a little taste of it and then obviously getting surgery, but I feel like I belong here and gonna do what I can to stay here and help this team win as many games as I possibly can.”
The Mets are adding Scott to the rotation and having David Peterson pitch out of the bullpen, a move they hope will help them get back on track from what is currently a 12-game losing streak.
“Obviously, we’re in a little bit of a tough stretch right now, but we’ve got a really good ball club,” Scott said, “and if anyone’s going to get out of it, we’re going to get out of it. So, we’re excited for the rest of the season moving forward.”
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 19: Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) dons a team cowboy hat and gets high fives from teammates after hitting a home run in the bottom of the eighth inning during the MLB game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros on April 19, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Houston Astros (10-16) win their first road series of the season.
Yordan Alvarez hit a 2-run homer and Peter Lambert hurled 6 shutout innings as the Astros defeated the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 at Progressive Field, winning their first road series of the season.
Houston got on the board fast against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee. In the top of the first, Carlos Correa led off the game with a double. The next batter was Yordan Alvarez:
The blast was Alvarez’ MLB-leading 11th HR of the season. His now 26 RBI also lead baseball. Yordan would finish the game 3×4, collecting half of the Astros’ 6 hits on the afternoon.
It would be the only runs that an offense that has been one of the high-powered in the league would score today, and it would be enough.
Peter Lambert, making his second start as a Houston Astro, threw 6 shutout innings, allowing just 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 8. Lambert also had 16 called strikes and 16 swings and misses on the afternoon, as he continues to show an uncanny ability to miss bats. He earned his first win of the season t o even his record at 1-1.
A.J. Blubaugh, Steven Okert, and Enyel De Los Santos would complete the final 3 innings without allowing a run. Blubaugh and Okert would record holds and De Los Santos, who got 4 outs for Houston today, would pick up his 3rd Save of the season.
The Astros are off Thursday before coming back home to Daikin Park to begin a 3-game series with the New York Yankees.
With the win, the Astros improve to 10-16 on the season. They are 4GB in the AL West.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 19, 2026: Keyner Martinez #48 of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Cincinnati Reds at Scottsdale Stadium on March 19, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Just three games for the San Francisco Giants Minor League Baseball affiliates on Tuesday, as AAA Sacramento once again saw their game postponed due to poor weather. It’s already the fifth time this year that the River Cats have lost a game due to rain, and they’ll try to get it back on Saturday with a scheduled doubleheader. They also pushed back today’s game from a scheduled start time of 12:05 p.m. PT to 6:35.
Nothing can stop the Squirrels, who have responded to their 10-game winning streak being snapped by rattling off 3 straight victories. I’m enjoying this, and I’m sure they are, too!
It was once again the offense that led Richmond to victory, with a powerful attack. The Squirrels only had 9 hits, but were able to turn that into 8 runs thanks to 5 of those knocks going for extra bases.
The biggest contributor in that category was third baseman Sabin Ceballos, who hit 2-4 with a solo home run in the 1st inning, a double, and a strikeout.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 21, 2026
Ceballos, who has a .900 OPS and a 132 wRC+ on the year, is really putting his disappointing 2025 behind him, as the .670 OPS and the 102 wRC+ that he posted in AA last season looks more and more distant with every swing of the bat. It certainly seems that Ceballos has made a concerted effort to be more aggressive in the batter’s box. Last year, his passive approach drew him a lot of walks and kept his strikeout rate delightfully low, but it resulted in a lot of soft contact. As a result, he had just a .232 batting average and a lowly .106 isolated slugging, a disappointing mark after he had showed a lot of power in his debut stint with the organization in 2024, when he came over in the Jorge Soler trade.
This year, he’s bringing the aggression back, and swinging more. The result is that his strikeout rate has jumped (from 17.4% to 25.9%), but so has the average, which has leaped to .271, and the isolated slugging, which is all the way up at .250. After hitting just 6 home runs in 420 plate appearances with Richmond a year ago, Ceballos already has 3 in just 58 plate appearances this season.
All of that said … if you’re ever wondering why hitters who perform well in the Minor Leagues so often struggle in the Major Leagues, well … there are a lot of reasons, and one of them is the defense. It’s very hard to overstate just how bad Minor League defense is relative to what we watch on a daily basis in the big leagues. And as evidence, I present Ceballos’ “double”:
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 21, 2026
The other big star in the game was second baseman Diego Velasquez (No. 31 CPL), who had his best game of the young season, hitting 1-2 with a solo home run, a walk, a sacrifice fly, and a stolen base.
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 22, 2026
You’d imagine there’s a little frustration for the switch-hitting Velasquez, who first made it to AA in 2024, and is approaching 800 plate appearances at the level. He certainly hasn’t forced the issue, but you could make the case that his AA assignment is more about roster logistics than his personal development. He had a .677 OPS, a 107 wRC+, and just a 14.3% strikeout rate a year ago, with 19 stolen bases, and that’s someone who you could at least make a compelling argument for being in AAA, were second base not being occupied daily by Nate Furman (No. 39 CPL), whom the Giants certainly prefer at this juncture.
Velasquez’s numbers are quite similar this year to last year, though he has boosted the power a little, and has a .778 OPS and a 109 wRC+, with a 14.9% strikeout rate and 3 stolen bases in as many attempts (it tells you how the Eastern League is playing to start the year that Velasquez has increased his OPS by more than .100 points, but his wRC+ by just 2).
The questions remain for Velasquez — he’s lacking in physicality, lacking in power, and lacking in defensive value — though those are questions that also exist for Furman and Luis Arráez, so that doesn’t seem to be a huge issue for the Giants at the position. That said, it does feel telling that Velasquez wasn’t an NRI, and it seems like the 22-year old will be staying in Virginia for the foreseeable future.
Left fielder Scott Bandura also continued his hot play, hitting 2-5 with a double, a stolen base, and a strikeout, which saw his OPS rise to .905 and his wRC+ to 135. Most notably, Bandura has made a huge cut to his strikeout rate, which has dropped year-over-year from 26.3% in High-A/AA to just 16.2% in AA this year. His swinging strike rate has gone from 10.0% to 7.0%, as he is making more contact and better contact, though, again … Minor League defense, everybody:
— Richmond Flying Squirrels (@GoSquirrels) April 21, 2026
A pretty uninteresting day on the mound, with RHP Logan Martin (the incoming piece in the Mason Black trade) making his 3rd start for the organization. Martin did some good things, most notably avoiding walking any batters. But on the whole it wasn’t a great showing, as he allowed 4 runs — including a home run — in just 4 innings, with 2 earned runs and 3 strikeouts. Despite the lack of walks, Martin threw just 45 of his 76 pitches for strikes. Martin has done a good job limiting hits this year, with just 9 allowed in 12.1 innings, but he’ll need to increase the strike-throwing. He has a 4.38 ERA and a 4.99 FIP on the season.
RHP Tyler Vogel had another scoreless outing, pitching the 9th inning with 1 hit and 1 walk allowed, plus 1 strikeout. Vogel, who has a very strong case to be made for being in AAA right now, retained his perfect 0.00 ERA, though he has walked 5 batters in just 7 innings. He’s only given up 5 hits though, and no extra-base knocks.
LHP Jack Choate (No. 37 CPL) didn’t have the best outing, as he ceded a home run, but he struck out 3 batters in 2.1 innings. It seems the Giants are moving forward with Choate as a reliever this year, and so far the result has been 16 strikeouts in just 10 innings, which is exciting for the funky southpaw.
High-A Eugene (12-4)
Eugene Emeralds beat the Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) 5-3 Box score
The Ems used a pair of runs in the 8th inning to pull ahead against the Hops, and with that, succeeded in avoiding their first losing streak of the year. Keep that up, I say!
Those 2 runs came off the bat of right fielder Lisbel Diaz (No. 32 CPL), who smacked a go-ahead 2-run home run after Eugene had blown a lead in the bottom of the 7th. Way to save the day, Lisbel!
Diaz, who finished the day 1-4, started the season slow but now has 2 home runs in his last 3 games. That — and a tiny 11.6% strikeout rate — are the lone bright spots on the year for the 20-year old, who has just a .599 OPS and a 55 wRC+ through 10 games, with a .205 batting average and no walks drawn. But on Tuesday he was the hero, and really the only offensive player worth talking about, so here’s to more days worth writing about for the toolsy young outfielder.
The top prospects in Eugene all had a few nice moments, but altogether were uninteresting: center fielder Dakota Jordan (No. 5 CPL) hit 2-4 but struck out twice; shortstop Gavin Kilen (No. 7 CPL) hit just 1-5 with a strikeout; designated hitter Trevor Cohen (No. 15 CPL) hit 1-4 with a walk, a stolen base (his 10th!) and a strikeout; and left fielder Carlos Gutierrez (No. 18 CPL) went 1-4 with a double and a strikeout.
It was a really nice day on the mounding, starting with, well … the starter, LHP Charlie McDaniel. An undrafted free agent who debuted last year, McDaniel really struggled in 7 post-promotion starts with Eugene in 2025, posting a 5.77 ERA and a 4.82 FIP. But so far his 2026 is a case of learning and adapting, and Tuesday was the next data point, as he went 5 strong innings with just 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run allowed, while striking out 4. That was the 1st run that McDaniel had allowed all year (this was his 3rd start), and he needed just 61 pitches to get through 5 innings, throwing 41 of them for strikes.
McDaniel is remarkably consistent when it comes to throwing strikes. In Low-A last year, he walked 2.2 batters per 9 innings, then 2.4 in Eugene, and now 2.5 this year. His strikeouts per 9 innings, over those same 3 periods, went from 8.6 to 8.4 to 8.2. Consistency!
He’s a contact pitcher, and what he’s doing better this year is getting the ball back on the ground. He pitched well in San Jose in his debut season when he had a 46.8% ground ball rate, with just 0.3 home runs per 9 innings allowed. His struggles in Eugene last year included just a 33.3% ground ball rate, and 1.6 dingers per 9. This year? A 54.2% ground ball rate, and no home runs allowed yet.
RHP Ben Peterson closed out the game with a brilliant showing, striking out 2 batters while tossing 2 perfect innings. Like McDaniel, Peterson is an undrafted free agent who debuted last season and, like McDaniel, he wasn’t too sharp upon his Eugene debut following a 2025 promotion. In 27 innings last year, the UNC alum struck out 27 batters, while walking 12. But this year, the 24-year old already has 12 strikeouts in just 8 innings … and with only 1 free pass.
Low-A San Jose (12-4)
San Jose Giants beat the Ontario Tower Buzzers (Dodgers) 12-2 Box score
Another offensive explosion for the Baby Giants, who scored in double digits for the whopping 6th time already this season. Perhaps their big brothers in San Francisco could learn to do the same?
Yet despite the gaudy run total (again), the star for San Jose was on the mound, in the form of RHP Keyner Martinez (No. 10 CPL). We haven’t talked about Martinez all that much this year, but Tuesday’s start was one worth discussing, as the 21-year old was nothing short of dynamic.
Martinez, who was signed in 2023 out of Venezuela and enjoyed a serious breakout season a year ago, mowed down Ontario batters for 5 innings, giving up just 1 hit — a swinging bunt — and walking 1 batter, while striking out 7. That’s how you introduce a new team to the California League (this is the 1st season of affiliated ball for Ontario [California, not Canada], and the 1st game between the the Tower Buzzers and Baby Giants).
#SFGiants #7 prospect Keyner Martinez has his best start of 2026, wrapping up his day with a line of:
It was a tremendous display of strike-throwing prowess for Martinez, who did hit a batter, but threw 45 of 62 pitches for strikes. Martinez had a dominant showing in the ACL a year ago, and backed it up with a very nice run of games in a short stint with San Jose. But his 2025 got off to a slow start, as he allowed 7 runs in 6.2 innings through his 1st 2 starts. But it turns out that the 3rd time is, indeed, the charm. And now he looks much more like himself. And while the overall numbers are still poor — he has a 5.40 ERA and a 5.02 FIP — Martinez has 16 strikeouts against 5 walks in 11.2 innings, and those are exciting numbers.
RHP Jose T. Perez also pitched well, coming out of the bullpen to throw 2 scoreless innings with 1 hit, 1 walk, and 1 hit batter, plus 4 strikeouts. It’s been a fascinating career for the 22-year old Perez, who was signed in 2021 out of the Dominican Republic. He pitched just 3.1 innings that year, then lost the rest of the season to injury … and also all of 2022 ….. and 2023 ….. and 2024. He returned last year, made 1 appearance in the DSL, and then was the rare in-season international promotion, as he jumped up to the ACL. His numbers weren’t great in Arizona, but he still ended the season with a short stint in San Jose, where he begins this year, his 1st year of full-season ball.
Perez is struggling with command, as he’s walked 8 batters in 7.1 innings, but he’s also struck out 10, en route to a 6.14 ERA and a 7.58 FIP through 4 outings. Patience is certainly required, as this was just the 18th game of his young career.
The offense again put on a show, knocking 12 hits and drawing 9 walks. The star was first baseman Hayden Jatczak, an undrafted free agent from Kent State playing in his debut season. The right-handed hitter was an absolute force to be reckoned with, hitting 2-3 with a 3-run home run, drawing 2 walks, knocking in 4 runs, and striking out once. Hell of a day at the office!
Jatczak’s debut season has been a dream thus far, as he’s rocking a 1.019 OPS and a 161 wRC+ with a higher walk rate (22.9%) than strikeout rate (17.1%) through 15 games. The cold water for the UDFA is obvious, however: he’ll turn 25 later this season, and is nearly 3 years older than his average peer at the level. So we’ll need to see him face more advanced pitching before we start to mention him alongside Bo Davidson and Parks Harber as the next great undrafted hitter in the team’s system. But you can only beat up on the pitchers in front of you, and so far Jatczak is doing exactly that.
Also doing that is right fielder Cam Maldonado (No. 34 CPL) whose torrential attack on Cal League pitchers continues. Maldonado had just another brilliant day, hitting 3-4 with a double, a sacrifice fly, and a strikeout, while stealing 2 bases. It really does feel like July’s 7th-round pick found something, and saw it all click together. Following a subpar brief debut last year, look at what Maldonado has done to start his 1st full season:
First 9 games: 6-34, 0 home runs, 0 doubles Next 5 games: 13-21, 6 home runs, 3 doubles
And just like that, the 22-year old has a 1.158 OPS and a 175 wRC+, and is putting himself on the radar.
Nice games for left fielder Damian Bravo and designated hitter Jeremiah Jenkins. Bravo, a 22-year old 15th-round pick in 2025, hit 2-4 with a double and a hit by pitch, raising his OPS to .780 and his wRC+ to 86; Jenkins, a 22-year old 14th-round pick in 2024, went 2-3 with a double, 2 walks, and a strikeout, boosting his OPS to 1.151 and his wRC+ to 182 in his 2nd pass through the level.
Speaking of “level,” it was the rare quiet day for shortstop Jhonny Level (No. 3 CPL) who hit just 1-5, though he didn’t strike out and he had an RBI. Level now has a 10-game hitting streak as he continues to look like a star in the making, even on his quiet days.
Juan Soto | (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Mets have officially reinstated Juan Soto from the injured list, and he’ll serve as designated hitter and bat second tonight as the Mets face Twins left-handed pitcher Connor Prielipp.
In a corresponding move, the Mets optioned catcher Hayden Senger to Triple-A Syracuse. The team had previously been carrying three catchers—Francisco Alvarez, Luis Torrens, and Senger—but will proceed with two.
Since Soto exited early from an April 3 game against San Francisco with a right calf strain, the Mets have gone 4-12, with all dozen losses coming as part of an ongoing 12-game losing streak. Over the course of those twelve games, the Mets have scored just 22 runs, and the team’s 75 runs scored on the season rank last in baseball. In other words, they’re certainly hoping Soto, who was batting .355 with a .928 OPS in eight games before getting hurt, can pick up right where he left off.
Senger, meanwhile, didn’t get any in-game action during his few days on the active roster after being recalled on Saturday. He will join a Syracuse lineup that is currently seeing far better times than the major league squad.
