The Kansas City Royals enter Saturday’s game against the New York Yankees on a five-game losing streak. The lost the series’ opener 4-2 on Friday after Ryan McMahon hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Starting pitchers are Noah Cameron for Kansas City and Will Warren for New York.
How to watch Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees
Camilo Doval took home the win on Friday, but not before suffering his second blown save of the season.
Trying to protect a slim one-run Yankees lead in the top of the eighth, Doval retired the first two Royals he faced on just seven pitches before allowing a game-tying solo shot to Vinnie Pasquantino.
Doval fell behind Pasquantino 2-0 and the lefty made him pay, crushing a 2-0 sinker low in the zone 339 feet to right.
He retired the next batter to keep things evened, but this marks the second straight outing allowing a back-breaking blast, as Mike Trout jumped him for a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth inning of Monday’s back-and-forth affair.
Just like Monday, the Yanks’ offense did well to pick him up, as they jumped back in front in the bottom half of the inning on Ryan McMahon’s go-ahead two-run homer and never looked back to secure the series-opening victory.
Doval continues to be a bit of a concern, though, allowing seven runs over his last seven outings.
Despite that, Aaron Boone actually likes how he’s looked the last two times out.
“Really it’s back-to-back outings where I think he’s been really good, really sharp,” the skipper said. “The strike throwing is there, but Trout got him and then he did fall behind Pasquantino and just missed in his slug zone.
“The three outs around that were really good -- so look, I know he’s gotten hurt with a couple of long balls in some outings here, but also I feel like he’s close to being really dialed in.”
Doval is now up to a 7.56 ERA through his first 10 appearances (8.1 IP), but he’ll continue to serve as one of the Yanks' go-to arms bridging the gap to closer David Bednar in the late-innings.
“He’s gonna be in the fire,” Boone said. “The good thing he has all the things to get it done -- if he can add that layer of consistency, they stuff and the way he’s throwing is there.”
Bo Bichette took a lot of heat for how he started his New York Mets career, but he has quietly been one of their best hitters in April.
He has a nice matchup to build on his increased production and headlines my three MLB player props for Saturday, April 18.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Bo Bichette
Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI
-165
Alec Bohm
Over 0.5 Singles
-135
Tyler Soderstrom
Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI
-180
Bo Bichette Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI
Bo Bichette struggled out of the gate but is starting to turn things around, even as the Mets continue to lose games.
Bichette has hit .274 since the beginning of April while leading the team with a 45.8% hard hit rate. He is finding more gaps and hitting the ball harder, which is a good sign.
His improved play should lead to healthy production on Saturday afternoon. Jameson Taillon (4.86 ERA, 6.27 FIP) has been very hittable this season, and Bichette has hit .375 over 24 at-bats against Taillon in his career.
Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
Where to watch: SNY, MARQ
Alec Bohm Over 0.5 Singles
Alec Bohm has struggled to generate hits but he owns a .151 average on balls put in play, which is unsustainably low and lightyears away from where it should be.
For perspective, eight other Phillies have had at least 50 plate appearances. None of them have hit less than .250 on balls put in play.
Bohm is due for some regression, and this isn’t a bad spot for it to kick in. Bohm is 4-for-13 against Chris Sale in his career, and all four hits went for singles.
He also managed a .295 average against lefties last year. He’s clearly capable of hitting them.
Time: 7:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: FOX
Tyler Soderstrom Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBI
Erick Fedde was crushed by left-handed hitters a season ago, allowing a .320 average, .397 wOBA, and 1.85 homers per nine innings.
He throws the sweeper, cutter, and changeup at almost identical rates against lefties, and Tyler Soderstrom owns fantastic numbers against that mix. He is hitting .333 with a .286 ISO and .423 wOBA.
Soderstrom should have the edge in this matchup and will get to face the 26th-ranked bullpen by ERA when Fedde departs.
Factor in Soderstrom also plays in one of the league’s most hitter-friendly ballparks — and weather approaching 80F is expected — and all signs point to a productive outing.
Time: 4:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: CHSN, NBCSCA
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.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 17: Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson (82) rounds the bases after hitting a 3-run home run during the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 17, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The Orioles offense is having a weird weekend in Cleveland. The were no-hit through eight innings on Thursday, but rallied late and got the tying run on base before dropping the opener. On Friday, they would be shutout for seven innings before erupting for six runs in the eighth, which would prove enough to win the game 6-4 and even up the series.
Jeremiah Jackson came through with yet another clutch home run, a three-run shot. He now leads the team with 17 RBI on the season. Who had that on their 2026 Orioles bingo card? Probably a few more people than those that expected *checks notes*…Weston Wilson and Jonathan Rodríguez (?) to contribute to any wins at all.
At 10-10, these Orioles aren’t going to be confused for some sort of juggernaut. And if they are going to turn into a true contender, there are plenty of improvements to be made. But considering the context of their current performance, I’m actually encouraged.
The offense is currently surviving on the backs of Jackson and Leody Taveras. At some point, Gunnar Henderson and Pete Alonso are going to find some consistency. Taylor Ward will eventually homer, probably a bunch. Samuel Basallo is too talented to keep hitting .148. Adley Rutschman is going to get healthy. Maybe those things don’t all happen at once, but they will happen, and when they do the offense is going to be tougher to handle.
So what does success look like for the Orioles right now? Having a .500 record feels fine to me. Keep their head above water and buy time for those positive regressions to come. This was never a 100-win roster anyway. It’s an 85-ish win roster with upside, especially if they add at the trade deadline. Staying close to that pacing while you are missing several key pieces is a win.
The vibes are good for this squad. Wins like last night only add to that and inch them ever closer to healthier and better days for the roster.
More questions attached to Orioles | Roch Kubatko Lots of roster questions. They are valid! But also, they feel like questions for another day. How do the Orioles make space for X player when they return? That answer is going to change depending on who is healthy at the time. Holliday could be fit right when another infielder picks up a nick. The Oriole would probably prefer to just get everyone healthy. That is probably an unrealistic hope.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Pete Stanicek turns 63 today. A player so nice, the Orioles drafted him twice; in the 13th round in 1984 and then (after he didn’t sign the first time) in the ninth round in ‘85. He would end up spending little time at second base, third base, and left field with the big league squad between 1987 and ‘88.
Rich Bordi is 67 years old. A reliever for nearly a decade in the bigs, Bordi played for five different teams. That included the 1986 season in Baltimore, where he had a 4.46 ERA over 107 innings.
This day in O’s history
2013 – The Orioles win their first extra-inning game of the year, beating the Rays 10-6 on a walk-off grand slam from Matt Wieters. Dating back to the previous season, the O’s have now won 17 consecutive extra-inning games.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Masataka Yoshida #7 of the Boston Red Sox is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th 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
It took some unexpected heroics from Ryan McMahon, but the Yankees picked up a much-needed victory in their series opener against the Royals. Having just played a very frustrating series against the Angels, the last thing they needed was a dumb loss to open the set against Kansas City.
While the Yankees wouldn’t lose any ground on Friday night, let’s see if they gained on anyone in today’s Rivalry Roundup.
Boston Red Sox (8-11) 1, Detroit Tigers (10-10) 0 (10 innings)
Ranger Suarez and Casey Mize put on a pitchers’ duel at Fenway, with the Red Sox scoring the game’s only run on Masataka Yoshida’s walk-off single in the 10th inning.
Not only did the Red Sox get the better of Detroit in the end, Suarez won the duel as well. He ended up going eight innings, allowing just two hits and a walk. For the Tigers, Mize struck out more batters, K’ing seven, but he went 6.2 frames, having given up three hits and a walk.
However as those numbers indicate, it’s not as if either teams was just wastefully blowing chances. Sure, they had their runners, but neither team could breakthrough until the game went to extras.
In the 10th, a flyout allowed the Tigers to move their auto-runner to third, but they couldn’t bring them home the last 90 feet. Boston then took advantage in the bottom of the 10th, as after an out and a walk, Yoshida chopped through a single to walk it off against Will Vest.
St. Louis Cardinals (11-8) 9, Houston Astros (8-13) 4
Nolan Gorman’s three-run homer in the seventh off Bryan Abreu helped the Cardinals break open a game against the Astros, allowing them to pull away for the win.
The game went back-and-forth early. While the Cardinals scored the game’s first three runs, the Astros pulled two runs back in the bottom of the third. St. Louis then added a run back to their lead, but Jose Altuve’s fifth-inning home run got Houston back within a run.
However Gorman’s homer gave the Cardinals a four-run advantage, and St. Louis went on to tack on a couple more runs, ensuring that the final couple innings weren’t super stressful. The Astros have now lost 11 of their last 14 games.
Texas Rangers (11-9) 5, Seattle Mariners (8-13) 0
Jacob deGrom and the Rangers’ bullpen combined to shut out the Mariners, as Seattle ended up leaving nine runners on base in another tedious loss for their home fans.
The Mariners will probably end up shaking their heads about this one, as they went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, in addition to the nine left on base. Besides that, Texas scored three of their runs in the final three innings, meaning Seattle had plenty of time before that with the game still close.
deGrom was okay, but only lasted four innings, having allowed four hits and two walks. Texas’ bullpen picked things up the rest of the way, although every reliever put at least one Seattle runner on.
On the offensive side of things, the Rangers scored in the game’s very first at-bat, when Brandon Nimmo homered. In total, Texas recorded 15 hits, with Wyatt Langford going 3-for-5 and driving in one of the runs.
Arizona Diamondbacks (12-8) 6, Toronto Blue Jays (7-12) 3
The Diamondbacks roughed up Eric Lauer, while Michael Soroka was pretty good for them to take the opener of this interleague clash.
Toronto busted out an opener for this one, sending Braydon Fisher to the mound to start this game. He got through the first inning fine, but when the Jays turned to Lauer as the bulk guy, Arizona started to get going. While Toronto actually took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, Arizona immediately answered with a Nolan Arenado homer in the bottom of the fourth, and then took the lead thanks to Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez in the fifth.
While a Myles Straw homer got Toronto back within a run, Soroka ended up giving Arizona seven good innings, with just those two runs allowed. Arizona eventually tacked on, with Toronto scoring more run, but not doing too much else over the final innings. The Jays remain in the AL East cellar.
Other Games
Baltimore Orioles (10-10) 6, Cleveland Guardians (11-10) 4: This game remained scoreless until the bottom of the seventh, when the Guardians broke through with four runs. Except, the Orioles then answered with six runs in the top of the eighth, swinging the game back in the other direction. Jeremiah Jackson’s three-run homer to give Baltimore the lead ended up being the game-decider as the O’s held on after that.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 15: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker #99 looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs on April 15th, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Phillies fans are pretty much over Taijian Walker. He’s yet to escape the first inning this year without allowing multiple runs. He’s on the final year of a four year, 72 million dollar contract. It’s been 3 plus seasons of 4.97/5.29/4.88 ball with 1.5 WAR (before last night’s shelling). Phillies fans want him gone, and the media doesn’t see interested in seeing him start again. So they could stuff him in their bullpen for now. Though the Philadelphia bullpen is not bad by FIP standards. Their 2.80 FIP is obscured by their 4.66 ERA (again, before last night’s shelling). But if he can’t escape the first inning, how is the bullpen going to work out?
So what would happen if they put him on the street and the Braves gave him a ride? The Braves have managed to get a song out of cheaply acquired free agent pitchers lately. Jose Suarez has a 2.37 FIP (through last night). Martin Perez has been decent, and was excellent while wind assisted last night. Joey Wentz (4.92/3.43/4.00 with the Braves last year) was prepared to make a run at the starting rotation before injuring his knee. Even Osvaldo Bido wasn’t entirely unhelpful before meeting the Guardians.
So would the Braves grab Walker if available? I mean, if no other organization wants him and he wants to play the DFA game like some others, maybe. NL East teams do like to pass around players. But mostly, hahahahahaha no. A lot would have to happen with the Braves and Taijuan for them to find each other. Here’s hoping they never do.
Yeah no, but let’s watch the dingers again anyway.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 17: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers celebrates his run with Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 17, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rangers 5, Mariners 0
That’s four straight wins against the Mariners this season.
That’s a good, right?
The Rangers registering a shutout with Jacob deGrom on the mound isn’t exactly shocking. The Rangers registering a shutout with Jacob deGrom having a difficult time of it on the mound, though?
deGrom only went four innings in the game, and only faced 17 batters. The problem was an inability to put away batters — deGrom used a whopping 88 pitches to get through those 17 batters, an average of over 5 pitches per at bat.
The first inning featured 32 pitches, as deGrom loaded the bases on a Cal Raleigh four pitch walk, a Julio Rodriguez double, and a Josh Naylor 10 pitch walk before striking out Randy Arozarena and Luke Raley to end the inning.
After a relatively quick 13 pitch second inning, deGrom needed 25 pitches to get through the four batters he faced in the third, then 18 pitches for the four batters he faced in the fourth.
deGrom’s slider, which is usually so effective at getting whiffs, wasn’t doing it against the M’s — out of 24 sliders he threw, just two resulted in swings and misses, and he generated just nine swings and misses in the game.
The Mariners had a whopping 27 foul balls against deGrom, resulting in extended at bats and, ultimately, deGrom leaving the game after just four innings, despite having allowed no runs.
It has to have been maddening for Mariners fans to see deGrom get chased after just four innings, get into the Rangers’ grab-bag bullpen early, and still get shut out.
Gavin Collyer made his second major league appearance, threw the ball hard, struck out two, gave up a walk and a hit in 1.1 innings, and ended up picking up his first major league win.
Tyler Alexander, Jalen Beeks, Cole Winn and Jacob Latz followed Collyer, and in all, the Ranger pen allowed just two hits and three walks over the final five innings of the game.
The closest the Mariners came to scoring was on a two out J.P. Crawford single off of Alexander in the sixth. Josh Naylor, who was at second, was sent home, but was thrown out easily.
Wouldn’t that make you mad, if you were a Mariners fan? It would make me mad.
Well, not mad. I’m mellowing in my old age. I don’t get mad as often. But, you know, it would generate feelings that are in the same overall category as mad.
I mean, I guess we can say for discussion purposes mad. I don’t want to get into a semantic argument here.
But I wouldn’t get mad. Don’t put in the paper I got mad.
The Rangers offense banged out fifteen hits, and one would think that would mean more than five runs, so I guess if you want to be a glass-half-empty guy you can say the Rangers should have done more damage than they did, but whatevs.
Every Ranger starter got a hit except for Josh Smith, whose early struggles continue.
Brandon Nimmo started the game off with a home run. We like leadoff home runs.
Corey Seager, who has been slumping recently, returned from a day off with a 2 for 4 game that included two doubles and also featured him getting hit on the foot with a pitch.
I wouldn’t want to be hit by a pitch, but I guess if you’re going to be hit by a pitch, the foot is probably a good place to be hit.
Wyatt Langford, off to a very slow start to the year, had three singles, which is good. None of them were hit particularly well, though, and one of them was of the softly hit pop up variety. He also struck out twice. Still, we will take the three hits, and hopefully that will help get Langford going.
Josh Jung had three doubles in five at bats, and even the double play he hit into was 99 mph off the bat. His OPS on the year is now up to 795.
Jake Burger had three more hits, pushing his OPS to 810.
Even Joc Pederson did some things, drawing a walk and hitting a single in three plate appearances. Way to go, Joc!
Joc’s birthday is coming up on the 21st. I hope everyone has thought about what they want to get him.
Jacob deGrom topped out at 98.3 mph with his fastball, averaging 96.5 mph. Gavin Collyer maxed out at 99.7 mph with his fastball. Tyler Alexander’s sinker hit 91.3 mph. Jalen Beeks’ fastball reached 93.7 mph. Cole Winn touched 95.4 mph with his fastball. Jacob Latz hit 94.5 mph with his fastball.
Jake Burger had a 198.0 mph single and a 108.5 mph single. Corey Seager had a 109.4 mph double and a 102.4 mph lineout. Josh Jung had a 105.0 mph double and a 101.9 mph double, with his other double being 98.8 mph. Danny Jansen had a 103.0 mph double. Brandon Nimmo’s homer was 102.4 mph.
Can the Rangers keep this going? Tune in on Saturday and find out!
The Tampa Bay Rays and Pittsburgh Pirates continue a three-game set this afternoon at PNC Park, with first pitch scheduled for 4:05 p.m. ET.
With Paul Skenes on the hill, my Rays vs. Pirates predictions are eyeing Pittsburgh to win another one here.
Read more for my MLB picks for Saturday, April 18.
Who will win Rays vs Pirates today: Pirates moneyline (-165)
The Pittsburgh Pirates turn to ace Paul Skenes today. While he hasn’t had the greatest start to the campaign, the right-hander still has a 4.00 ERA through four starts, compiling a 3-1 record. He’s struck out 18 in 18 innings while walking seven batters.
Skenes has gotten an average of 9.5 runs of support when he takes the mound, hence the impressive record. Skenes has held this Tampa Bay Rays lineup to a .161 average across 31 at-bats in his career.
Pittsburgh won’t have it easy against Drew Rasmussen, but their offense has scored 12 runs across their last two games, and they always turn up when Skenes takes the hill.
Even if it’s low-scoring, the Pirates will win this contest behind their ace.
COVERS INTEL:Skenes has been dominant at home in 2026, posting a 1.46 ERA across two starts in 12.1 innings of work.
Rays vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-120)
Both of these teams rank in the top 10 in MLB in runs scored, but we’re looking at a true pitcher’s duel at PNC Park. Skenes is a beast on home turf, and he’s had success against Tampa in the past.
Rasmussen is also dealing this year. He has a 1.13 ERA across three outings, with opponents hitting just .138. Both pitchers consistently pound the strike zone, and there’s not a ton of hard contact coming off either of them.
The Under cashed in the series opener, and it’s also hit in the last four meetings dating back to last season.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 6-2, +1.71 units
Over/Under bets: 7-1, +5.19 units
Rays vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Rays +115 | Pirates -127
Run line: Rays +1.5 (-150) | Pirates -1.5 (+130)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-120) | Under 6.5 (+100)
Rays vs Pirates trend
The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Moneyline in 30 of their last 50 games at home (+8.45 Units / 13% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Pirates.
How to watch Rays vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Saturday, April 18, 2026
First pitch
4:05 p.m. ET
TV
Rays.TV, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Rays starting pitcher
Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 1.13 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Paul Skenes (3-1, 4.00 ERA)
Rays vs Pirates latest injuries
Rays vs Pirates 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.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Masataka Yoshida #7 of the Boston Red Sox reacts with Roman Anthony #19 after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th 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
You know how sometimes you hear a statistic that feels so outrageous you have have to dig into the details and verify it yourself? Well, Chris Cotillo dropped one of those last night when he tweeted this after the Red Sox 1-0 win in ten innings:
Red Sox have seven wins wearing the green uniforms — and all seven are walk-offs.
Now let’s be clear, the Red Sox don’t always win when they wear these uniforms (they’re 7-5 overall in the Fenway greens), but when they do, they always hit a walk-off. For more context on how outrageous this stat is from Cotillo, let’s think about how common walk-offs are across the MLB landscape. On average, teams have hit about seven walk-offs per season over the last 30 years, but since you can only hit a walk off at home and you only win on average a little over half of those 81 games each season, the odds of any random win at home being a walk-off are actually about one in six. (Think somewhere in the ballpark of about seven times out of 42 for simplicity’s sake.)
So now let’s apply the math. The odds of hitting something with a one in six chance seven times in a row? One in 279,936. That’s the absurdity of what the Red Sox are doing in these green uniforms!
So with something so rare and majestic ongoing, let’s relive the magic up to this point, starting with the first Red Sox walk-off in these uniforms back in May of last year:
The streak began in rather unusual and innocuous fashion with no real sign of what was to come. The Red Sox actually lost their first ever game wearing these green uniforms on May 16th to Atlanta, but their mere presence must have awakened something in the old ballpark, because the very next night, the Red Sox (back in their regular uniforms) came from 5-0 down to beat the Braves 7-6 in walk-off fashion.
The next time they were supposed to wear the green uniforms was the following Friday on May 23rd, but bad weather disrupted the start of a four game series against the Orioles and postponed the Thursdays game, which completely shuffled the deck. As a result, the Sox ended up playing a double header on Saturday, and the first game played that day became the green uniform game of the series, which is the walk-off highlight you see above.
Three weeks later, a more traditional pattern would start to settle in.
Like most things that turn into a huge deal, the Red Sox walk-off streak of wins in the greens should have been cut off before it got rolling. This is the game Garrett Crochet nearly threw a complete game shutout, but Aaron Judge got him with a game tying homer in the ninth. With context, we now know all that did was allow Carlos Narvaez to continue the green walk-off streak in extras.
If there’s a signature game in these uniforms, I’d argue it’s this one. Between the way this ninth inning unfolded, the way the win was also part of a four game sweep and a ten game winning streak, the way Roman Anthony walked, the way this ball was absolutely clobbered, the fact this might be Dave O’Brien’s best call ever, and of course the way Ceddanne Rafaela reacted, was all just pure cinema!
What would an electric Red Sox streak be without Roman Anthony right in the middle of it? He had been in the majors for less than two months at this point, and looked incredibly comfortable throughout this at bat.
I think this is the point where people really started catching on to the green uniforms and their walk-0ff magic. The summer wasn’t even over and the Sox had walked off five times in an outfit that only made its debut in May.
This was the perfect explanation point on a season that got Boston back in the playoffs for the first time in four years. Unfortunately, there weren’t any postseason games played at Fenway Park, which obviously also means the 2025 list ends here.
But with a new season, we have a continuation of the streak. The Red Sox wore their greens for the first time in 2026 last night, and so far, everything seems to be carrying over. It’s also a fun little nugget that the guy who wears No. 7 delivered the hit that extended this streak to seven.
So with that, you might be wondering … “When do the Red Sox play in their green uniforms again?” Well, as long as they stick to their usual pattern, it will be on their next Friday night home game, which is set for May 1st against the Astros. If they win in walk-off fashion again on that night for the eighth time dressed in green, that one in 279,936 from above becomes one in 1,679,616. You could start a religion out of this.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 02: Garret Anderson #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting the game winning base hit in the 14th inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on June 2, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Garrett Anderson, who played the first 15 seasons of his career with the Angels and finished up with the Dodgers in 2010, died at age 53, the Angels announced on Friday.
Anderson was born and raised in Los Angeles, and played at Kennedy High School before getting drafted by the Angels in 1990. I first saw him play with the Class-A Palm Springs Angels in 1992. Anderson made three All-Star teams and drove in the go-ahead runs in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series to help clinch the Angels’ only championship.
With the Dodgers, a 38-year-old Anderson played sparingly, but did notably drive in the only run of a 14-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 2, 2010. It marked the first time the Dodgers had won back-to-back 1-0 games for the first time in 26 years.
“You always hear, ‘Don’t meet your heroes,’” Freeman told The California Post. “But then I got to meet him, and I was like, ‘I’m glad I did.’ Because he was a beautiful man. And I wish he was still here. He meant a lot to so many people … I’m at a loss for words really.”
Hyeseong Kim talked to Jack Harris of the California Post about getting optioned to the minors at the beginning of the season, and his subsequent return two weeks ago when Mookie Betts was placed on the injured list. Manager Dave Roberts praised Kim’s swing, noting improvement from late in spring training: “I think he’s into the ground much better. I think the swing decisions are better mechanically. It looks great. So really proud of the work.”
Earlier Friday, Katie Woo at The Athletic noted the improvement of Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia, and Blake Treinen in the Dodgers bullpen in the first three weeks of the season. Through Friday, that trio has combined to allow only one run in 22 2/3 innings with a 27.7-percent strikeout rate.
At the moment, I’m not on the IL. I am, however, perpetually listed day-to-day.
When it rains it pours: The Cubs placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15 day IL with a left oblique strain. He joins Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey and Porter Hodge (out for the season) as relievers who are down.
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Who is Cubs’ new closer? Chicago has replacement plan for injured Daniel Palencia. “Caleb Thielbar, the 39-year-old lefty veteran who has some closing experience in his career, is an option. Hoby Milner, another veteran lefty, doesn’t have much closing experience, but it’s not completely foreign. Jacob Webb? Ben Brown?”
Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs reveal 2027 timeline for Cade Horton after Tommy John surgery. “”Cubs Cade Horton had his elbow surgery,” Rogers reports. “Looking at a 15-16 month recovery, per Craig Counsell. Horton being out 15-16 months means that, beyond simply missing the rest of the 2026 MLB season, he’s also going to miss the first few months of the 2027 season.”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs Could Be Only Option for Giolito, Who Might Settle for Discounted One-Year Deal. ““The two teams linked are the Padres and the Cubs,” Jon Heyman told 104.3 The Score on Thursday. “Now, the Padres are creative, but they have zero money. So it’s not gonna be easy to sign a free agent of that ilk with zero money. So, of the two teams linked, [the Cubs]’re the only one who has a dime, so they probably have a shot at Giolito.”
Brian Kelder (North Side Baseball): Just How Good is Michael Busch? “He’s off to a rough start, but do the Cubs have a star at first base?”
Field Level Media (Deadspin): Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (biceps) begins rehab assignment. “Boyd gave up three runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Iowa, while throwing 64 pitches (46 for strikes) at Columbus. He had one walk and six strikeouts. Boyd could return to the Cubs’ rotation as early as next week, according to manager Craig Counsell, with Chicago set to face the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.”
Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Jed Hoyer addresses the elephant in the room talking about rash of Cubs injuries. “Regardless of the cause, the fact (the injuries) are happening with such regularity, paired with the Cubs having not yet proven they can consistently develop long-term pitching solutions, is a major long-term concern..”
Tony Andracki (Bleacher Nation): Is the Cubs Offense … Back? “The Cubs scored 28 runs in three games in Philadelphia, including blowout wins Tuesday and Wednesday. For perspective, the Cubs scored only 29 runs in the previous six games.”
Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): Chicago Cubs Fans Need to Slow Their Roll on Kevin Alcántara. “This week is the perfect example of the boom-or-bust nature of Alcantara’s season so far. In two games this week, he’s 2-for-10 with 2 HRs with six strikeouts. Out of 225 qualified hitters in triple-A, Alcantara’s 38.1% ranks ninth-highest.”
“Every page these days has some form of advertising. {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.“
Food For Thought:
D Man is the driving force behind D Man & The Alley Hounds, a prominent blues-rock outfit based in Louisville, Kentucky. D Man is recognized for his “High Energy Blues & Rock ‘n’ Roll Show,” often interacting closely with the audience. His performances are characterized by soulful vocals and a repertoire that honors legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf while keeping a modern edge.
An Arkansas athlete donned 55 T-shirts and ran a half marathon
Most Unique Places to Visit in the USA | Hidden Gems Travel Guide
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DENVER, CO - AUGUST 15: Second baseman Tyler Freeman #2 of the Colorado Rockies flips the baseball to first with his glove but is unable to get the runner in the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on August 15, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rockies love versatility.
They collect it. They prioritize it. They build around it — players who can move, adjust, and fill gaps across the roster.
Under the current front office, that emphasis has been explicit.
In theory, it works. But, like any philosophy, it only works if you know when to stop applying it.
The Rockies didn’t invent the experiment — but they’ve kept it going
Freeman wasn’t developed as a utility player.
In the minors, he was overwhelmingly an infielder — developed at shortstop with the expectation he’d eventually slide to second base as his long-term home.
Cleveland began expanding that role late, even moving him into center field in 2024 and asking him to learn a new position on the fly. By the time Colorado acquired him, the flexibility was already part of his profile.
The Rockies didn’t create that version of Freeman. They chose to keep going.
The Rockies saw a problem — and chose more flexibility
In 2025, Freeman hit .281, posted a .354 OBP, and still finished with negative bWAR
Because, as Joelle Milholm wrote here on the Row — he “raked at the plate, tanked in the field.”
The Rockies have a real reason to hesitate here. Freeman struggled defensively across positions, including second base.
And in 2026, they’ve already leaned on players like Willi Castro and Edouard Julien to cover those innings. That approach isn’t irrational, but the response has been more movement for Freeman.
And defense, especially in the infield, is built on repetition.
Freeman hasn’t gotten that.
The profile has never really changed
For years, the reports have been consistent:
Elite bat-to-ball skill
Advanced feel for contact
Modest but developing gap power
A likely defensive home at second base
Statcast tells a similar story now:
This isn’t a star profile. But it is: An everyday, contact-oriented profile the Rockies haven’t fully defined
So what’s missing?
The last step.
Freeman makes contact as well as almost anyone. But he hasn’t consistently turned that into damage.
And development like that doesn’t happen in abstraction — it happens in routine.
It’s the same glove. The same angles. The same pre-pitch rhythm. The feel of the dirt under your cleats, every inning.
Freeman hasn’t had that.
Instead, it’s been different gloves, different sightlines, different responsibilities. One night he’s reading hops on the infield dirt, the next he’s standing in the outfield grass, waiting instead of reacting.
That instability matters — even if the exact effects are hard to isolate.
Sports psychology research consistently shows that role clarity can influence confidence, decision-making, and perceived effectiveness. Baseball-specific evidence is more limited, but the general principle holds: players tend to perform best when expectations are stable.
And when things aren’t stable, hitters often get more conservative.
They shorten up. They put the ball in play. They avoid risk.
So a player with developing pop can become: a contact hitter who never fully taps into it
That’s not proven cause and effect, but it’s a pattern worth considering.
What happens if they choose a lane?
Make Freeman the everyday second baseman.
Not because it’s guaranteed to work, but because it hasn’t really been given a chance to.
Once that decision is made, the rest of the roster starts to organize itself.
Ryan Ritter isn’t part of the current roster, but that actually reinforces the point. His path isn’t as a primary second baseman — it’s as a true super-utility player. When he’s up, his value comes from moving between the infield and outfield, not competing for a single position. Castro already fills a version of that role at the major-league level, rotating through shortstop, second, and third base in a way that makes the roster more flexible without blurring development.
The real redundancy is elsewhere.
Freeman and Julien share a similar offensive identity — contact-driven, bat-first players whose value comes from what they do at the plate. Both have been moved around defensively. Both have below-average defensive track records. But they’re not interchangeable.
Freeman brings more athleticism. He was developed as an infielder. His profile — contact, speed, and just enough developing pop (maybe) — fits more cleanly at second base if given the chance to settle there.
Julien’s path is narrower. His value likely comes as a bat-first option moving between second, first, and DH. And if that role overlaps too heavily with Freeman’s, the Rockies eventually have to decide whether carrying both actually creates value — or just duplicates it.
Just as importantly, the outfield stops being a catch-all.
Instead of absorbing infield uncertainty, it can stabilize around players like Brenton Doyle, Mickey Moniak, Jordan Beck, Troy Johnston, and Jake McCarthy — players who are actually being evaluated as outfielders, not filling gaps created elsewhere.
That clarity extends beyond the active roster.
With Freeman anchored at second, the path for the next wave — Charlie Condon (No. 1 PuRP), Zac Veen (No. 9 PuRP), Cole Carrigg (No. 4 PuRP) — becomes easier to see. Not guaranteed, not blocked, but defined. They’re no longer competing against positional drift; they’re competing within structure.
And that’s the real point. Choosing a lane for Freeman doesn’t just answer one question.
It forces the Rockies to decide which overlapping skill sets they actually believe in — and which ones they don’t.
The clock is ticking
Freeman is 26 and under club control through the 2028 season.
That gives the Rockies a limited window to define him, develop him, or extract value.
Right now, they’re still figuring out what he is.
Let him be the exception
Purple Row has already documented the Rockies’ embrace of optionality. The front office has been clear about valuing adaptability.
That philosophy has value, but it still requires decisions.
Tyler Freeman doesn’t need more positions. He needs a clearer role.
The Isotopes (10-9) fall just short to the Comets (10-9) in a scoring bonanza. Charlie Condon led the way, going 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Cole Carrigg drew two walks and Chad Stevens stayed hot with a 2-for-5 performance. On the mound, Luis Peralta took the loss as pitching struggled to contain the Comets’ offense. Welinton Herrera was a bright spot, tossing two scoreless innings to open the game.
The Yard Goats (5-8) fell to the Flying Squirrels (11-2) in a hard-fought game. Aidan Longwell led the way on offense, going 3-for-5 with a home run, while Andy Perez added three hits of his own. Pitching proved to be the difference, as every arm allowed at least one run, with starter Alberto Pacheco taking the loss after giving up three earned runs in 2.1 innings.
The Indians (6-7) walked it off in the 10th inning, edging the Canadians (4-9) after a scoreless battle through nine. Robert Calaz delivered the game-winning single in extras to seal the win. On the mound, Jordy Vargas and Fisher Jameson were outstanding, combining for a shutout. It was a tightly played game throughout, with pitching dominating until the final swing.
The Grizzlies (9-4) edged the Tower Buzzers (6-6) in a close contest, scoring five runs on just five hits despite striking out 11 times. Wilder Dalis provided the biggest swing of the night, going 1-for-3 with a crucial three-run homer in the seventh. On the mound, Austin Newton delivered a strong start, allowing one run while striking out six over 5.2 innings. It was a gritty win, with Fresno making the most of limited opportunities.
In this piece by Thomas Harding on MLB.com, Ezequiel Tovar is off to a slow start, but underlying metrics suggest better results could be on the way. The Rockies remain encouraged, as he looks to turn those signs into production while aiming to reach a higher level this season.
Snow blanketed Coors Field before the Dodgers-Rockies game, where Emmet Sheehan even paused to admire a snowman near the field. Crews cleared it in time, but the scene added a perfect “only in Colorado” twist to an April night at the ballpark.
Renee Dechert of Purple Row takes a fun look at the Albuquerque Isotopes’ 2026 walk-up songs, highlighting the mix of personality and culture throughout the roster. From hip-hop and reggaeton to rock and country, the playlist reflects each player’s style and adds a behind-the-scenes feel to the team’s at-bats.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - APRIL 15: Jung Hoo Lee #51 of the San Francisco Giants is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a run during the second inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 15, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball is drawing to a close, which means it’s time to pick our Player of the Week!
They say there’s a song for any and every occasion, and I guess the one for today is “Slim Pickins” by Sabrina Carpenter. Because there was not a lot to cheer for this week. As of the time this is being written, the Giants have lost every game so far this week.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t silver linings, I guess. So I’m going to give the honors to Jung Hoo Lee this week. He has been heating up a bit over the last few games, and even got his first home run of the season in last Friday’s win over the Baltimore Orioles. The last recorded win as of the time this is being written. So that’s something to celebrate.
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue their series against the Washington Nationals today at 1:05 p.m. PT.
Just like that, there is no real reason to parse scoring stats for the Cubs anymore. With 33 runs over their last three games and 47 over five, they are now up to 106 runs in 19 games (~5.6/game). Last season, over the whole season, they averaged about 4.9 runs per game. Summer weather and rosters depleted by injuries and/or trades haven’t happened yet.
I know some were worried about the offense after an anemic open to the season, but just like that, the Cubs offense is clicking. To be fair, when they struggled over those early games, I noted that the distressing thing is that they really hadn’t had to go through very many elite pitchers. That was a daunting aside at that point. Now, through this earlier schedule, they’ve produced very well. The wear and tear of a season and those elite arms still lay ahead. But the Cubs offense has shown that they can be dangerous.
There is a lot of baseball to be played. I’m not going to be exuberant about things based off of three straight wins, just like I wasn’t in the doldrums when they had gotten off to a sluggish start. Even the worst teams look good sometimes and even the best teams look lousy sometimes. Through a little less than 15 percent of the season, the team is 10-9. Over 162 games, that would be an 86-win pace. I’m going to bet most of you won’t quibble that this team has felt like about an 86-win team over the course of the season.
The real question from here is does the team stay around that level? Or does this team take off from here? I’ve learned that, despite the marathon nature of baseball, a lot of fans suffer from a lot of recency bias. So this is a weird conversation for me to have with many of you. I thought they were a 90-95 win team before the season. So these three wins feel like some signal that they can be that kind of team. But if you thought they were an 80-85 win team, you are probably looking at the whole 19 and saying this is going to be a bumpy ride.
Either way, enjoy it when things swing up like this.
Three Positives:
Moisés Ballesteros had two hits, one a three-run homer that blew the game open early.
I love Nico Hoerner, he’s my favorite current Cub. That said, if I had to list Cubs who might put up MVP caliber numbers over a 20 game period, he’d be well down the list. I would be highly surprised to see a Hoerner like player do well in the MVP voting, but he’s having that kind of run right now. Three more hits, one more a homer and two more runs driven in. Second in all of baseball in RBI. Largely from the lead-off spot.
Michael Busch had two hits, a walk and scored twice. The numbers are rebounding some and I’m hoping the power numbers start to fall in place next.
Game 19, April 17: Cubs 12, Mets 4 (9-8)
GRAPH
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Moisés Ballesteros (.226). 2-2, HR, 3 RBI, R
Hero: Nico Hoerner (.156). 3-5, HR, 2 RBI, R
Sidekick: Seiya Suzuki (.077). 2-5, 2B, RBI, 2 R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Carson Kelly (-.044). 1-4, R, DP
Goat: Pete Crow-Armstrong (-.030). 0-3, BB
Kid: Dansby Swanson (-.029). 1-2, BB, 2 R
WPA Play of the Game: Moisés Ballesteros hit a three-run homer with two outs in the first to add to an early 1-0 lead. (.206)
*Mets Play of the Game: Marcus Semien with runners at first and second and no outs in the second, scoring one and decreasing the Cub lead to three. (.122)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 18 Winner: Nico Hoerner received 145 out of 244 votes.
Up Next: Game two of the three-game set. Jameson Taillon (0-1, 4.86, 16.2 IP) makes his fourth start and seeks his first win. Old nemesis Freddy Peralta (1-1, 3.86, 21 IP) makes his first start as a Met against the Cubs. This is his fifth start for the Mets.
I have no objections to a fourth straight win. If the Mets want to implode, I’m definitely here for it.
Dylan File put together a nice start and Max Clark had a big night as the Hens took down the Bats and evened the series 2-2.
Clark singled but was picked off in the first inning, but in the top of the second, Eduardo Valencia led off with a single. Jace Jung followed with a single and Corey Julks reached on an error. After a Tyler Gentry strikeout, Ben Malgeri lifted a deep enough fly ball to get the run in, but that was all they’d get from the inning. 1-0 Hens.
File cruised through four innings without much trouble in the meantime, although he certainly wasn’t racking up the whiffs. He allowed two hits and two walks, and then watched his team add on a run in the top of the fifth. Trei Cruz led off with a single and Clark lined another single to right field. Gage Workman doubled in Cruz, but Clark was thrown out trying to score on a Valencia ground ball, and the Bats escaped the inning with the Hens leading 2-0.
Max Clark with his third single of the day, and just like that he’s hitting .333 against lefties on the season. pic.twitter.com/ffIe0BlbI2
File allowed a run in the bottom half, but escaped a minor jam on a Blake Dunn double play ball and wrapped up a pretty good outing overall.
Gentry and Malgeri immediately got the Hens going in the top of the sixth with back-to-back doubles to make it 3-1. A pair of ground outs followed, but Clark stepped to the dish and crushed a 108.4 mph blast to right field for a two-run shot, his first Triple-A home run. 5-1 Hens.
Max Clark crushes this ball for his first Triple-A homer. Left his bat at 108.4 MPH and went an estimated 414 feet. He’s 4-for-4 tonight, and Toledo leads 5-1. pic.twitter.com/Lv5FxpiQ0Z
Max Burt tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the eighth to make it 6-1. Matt Seelinger allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth, but wrapped this one up without much trouble.
Clark: 4-5, R, 2 RBI, HR
Jung: 2-4, 2B, BB
Julks: 2-5, K
File (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday.
Knuckleballer Kenny Serwa survived issuing five walks, surrendering just a pair of runs, only one earned, but it was a quiet game from the SeaWolves offense.
Brett Callahan doubled and drew a walk, but Justice Bigbie was the only other player with a hit. Harrisburg right-hander Davian Garcia wasn’t exactly dominant, but he had a solid night and got good defensive work behind him.
Woo-Suk Go did post his second straight outstanding outing, striking out five and giving up one hit in two scoreless innings.
Carlos Pena gave the SeaWolves a good outing, and the bats had enough to take down the Senators on Friday.
The SeaWolves started quickly as Seth Stephenson lead off with an infield single, and Peyton Graham doubled him in. A pair of ground outs got Graham home for a 2-0 lead.
Pena allowed a two-run homer in the top of the second as Harrisburg tied it up, but he shut the Senators down from there, striking out eight without a walk allowed, scattering four hits on the night.
The SeaWolves came right back as Justice Bigbie singled to lead off the game, and E.J. Exposito cracked a two-run homer to re-open a 4-2 lead.
Pena got in a bit of trouble in the fourth after a single allowed, and then a two-out double, but a relay from left fielder Chris Meyers in to Graham and home to Bennett Lee cut down the runner and ended the inning.
The SeaWolves made it 5-2 in the bottom half after Bigbie led off with a single, Exposito walked, and Lee singled in Bigbie.
Peña finished his outing by striking out the side in the fifth. Trevin Michael walked three in two innings of work, but collected the save anyway.
Exposito: 1-2, R, 2 RBI, HR, BB
Stephenson: 2-3, R, K
Bigbie: 2-3, 2 R
Pena (W, 1-1): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:35 p.m. ET start on Saturday.
West Michigan Whitecaps 6, Lansing Lugnuts 4 (box)(F/7)(Gm1)
The Whitecaps got a good outing from Lucas Ellisalt and just held on against a late charge from Lansing to take Game 1 on Friday.
Elissalt only went four innings in this one, but he blanked the Lugnuts, striking out four. Meanwhile, his teammates gave him an early lead to work with. Patrick Lee and Ricardo Hurtado hit one-out singles in the top of the first, and Garrett Pennington reached on an infield single to load the bases. Andrew Sojka paddled a single through the right side of the infield to plate Lee and Hurtado, though Pennington was thrown out trying to take third base, and Cristian Santana flew out. Still is was a 2-0 lead.
Lee got them started again in the fifth when he hammered a deep drive to center field for a triple. Hurtado walked, and their first baseman, Pennington, did first baseman things by ripping a three-run shot the opposite way to make it 5-0.
Patrick Lee drives a triple to right center to get West Michigan started in the 5th inning. pic.twitter.com/2jNyf1jXUA
Garrett Pennington launches a 3-run homer to the opposite field to put the Whitecaps up 5-0. It’s his 3rd home run of the year. @jgoldstrass on the call. pic.twitter.com/9KKASHSNbQ
Duque Hebbert took over for the ‘Caps after a clean fifth from CJ Weins. Hebbert got knocked around a little for two runs in the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, leading 5-2, Hurtado drew a one-out walk and Pennington singled him to third. A Sojka fly ball was deep enough to get the run in for a 6-2 lead.
Hebbert got into trouble in the bottom of th eseventh, but held on to wrap this one up.
Pennington: 3-4, R, 3 RBI, HR
Hurtado: 2-2, 3 R, 2 BB
Patrick Lee: 2-4, 2 R, 3B, 2 K
Elissalt: 4.0 IP, 0 R, H, 2 BB, 4 K
West Michigan Whitecaps 4, Lansing Lugnuts 1 (box)(F/7)(Gm2)
The Whitecaps swept the Lugnuts despite Lansing outhitting them 11 to 4. That makes it four straight for the Whitecaps in this series, and five straigth overall.
On a bit of a makeshift night from the bullpen, the Whitecaps built a lead right away and managed to hold on despite all the traffic on the bases. The game started with Patrick Lee reaching on an error, and Juan Hernandez, just up from Lakeland, followed with a single. Garrett Pennington stepped in and launched his second three-run bomb on the day, and it was 3-0.
And Garrett Pennington gives West Michigan an early lead with this 3-run blast to left center. It’s his 2nd 3-run shot of the doubleheader, and his 4th home run of the season. @jgoldstrass calls it, and he sees threes everywhere. pic.twitter.com/KXNsjhmMR0
Zack Lee got the start, and he tossed three scoreless innings. Lefty Ethan Sloan handled the fourth, and then Ryan Harvey took over in the fifth. Harvey allowed a pair of singles before getting a strikeout and a pop-up. Another single drove in the Lugnuts only run of the game. One more single to Nolan McCarthy in left, making his High-A debut, saw McCarthy cut down Gunner Gouldsmith trying to score to end the inning.
Nolan McCarthy made a great catch earlier in the game and now he makes a great throw home for an outfield assist to end the inning. pic.twitter.com/vdrUqMXVvT
The Tigers signed RHP Seth Chavez to a minor league deal back on April 8, and he took over for the final two innings. Hunter Dobbins singled in the top of the seventh, advanced to second on a Clayton Campbell soft tapper to the pitcher, advanced to third on a balk, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1, where it ended.
Pennington: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
Patrick Lee: 0-2, R, 2 BB
Lee: 3.0 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, K
Coming Up Next:
Lakeland Flying Tigers 5, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 2 (box)
Zach MacDonald remains red hot at the plate, and the Flying Tigers got good pitching on a bullpen day to win again on Friday.
The Flying Tigers got out to a quick lead when Jesus Pinto singled and MacDonald walked with one out in the first. Beau Ankeney doubled to left and both runners came around to score.
Charlie Christensen is off to a nice start in his pro career, and he tossed two scoreless to start this one off. Cale Wetwiska had a little more trouble, striking out five, but giving up two solo shots that tied the game in his two innings of work.
In the fifth, MacDonald, playing left field in this one, crushed another hard hit homer at 111.4 mph to make it a 3-2 lead. Wetwiska started the fifth, but came out of the game with an injury, though there was nothing obviously wrong and his velocity had been good all night.
Zach MacDonald with another absolute rocket to left. It’s his 5th home run of the year, and he has gone deep in three straight games. Left his bat at 111.4 MPH and went 396 feet. The Flying Tigers lead 3-2. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/bkJnkU2Mzo
Scott Effross and Eliseo Mota got the Flying Tigers through the fifth, sixth, and seventh without a baserunner, combining for five strikeouts.
In the top of the ninth, Jack Goodman singled, and catcher Sergio Tapia pulled a fly ball to left for a two-run shot to make it 5-2, where it ended. Donye Evans was a little shaky in his two innings of work, but collected the save.
While Zach MacDonald is tearing it up, Bryce Rainer continues to struggle pretty terribly after his long absence. He’s struck out 19 times in 10 games this season and his approach is a mess currently. It’s very early though.
Sergio Tapia launches a 2-run homer to left and Lakeland takes a 5-2 lead in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/hXkg6TOAB2
Bo Bichette
Alec Bohm
Tyler Soderstrom
COVERS INTEL:
