Apr 3, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Members of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate defeating the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
It seems that Zack Wheeler got roughed up a bit last night in his rehab start with Lehigh Valley.
It’s probably mostly important to remember that he had major surgery and we aren’t sure what version of Wheeler will be returning soon. It’s also important to remember that this is his spring training, so peaks/valleys in his velocity are to be expected. Best not to make too much of it.
Aug 12, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Victor Mederos (58) reacts in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
On Friday afternoon, the Atlanta Braves announced that they had acquired right-hander Victor Mederos from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for international bonus pool money. He was immediately optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett, and to make room on the roster, fellow righty AJ Smith-Shawver was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
The #Braves today acquired RHP Víctor Mederos from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for international bonus pool money, and optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club transferred RHP AJ Smith-Shawver to the 60-day injured list.
Mederos only has 12 big league games under his belt, each with the Angels. In those 12 games, he’s given up 24 runs, issued 21 walks, and struck out 22. Though not a blockbuster move for Atlanta, Mederos can provide some depth, should the pitching staff continue to be riddled with injury.
As for Smith-Shawver, the move was expected as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in June 2025.
More Braves News: Grant Holmes turned in a spectacular start Friday night as the Braves defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0.
Spencer Strider got some action in a bullpen session on Friday, but there is still no timetable for his return.
John Gil launched a homer in his debut with the Rome Emperors on Thursday. More in the minor league recap.
The Automated Ball-Strike System truly is a game changer, and here’s why.
The Boston Red Sox placed righty John Oviedo on the 15-day injured list with an elbow strain. Tyler Urberstine has been recalled to make his major league debut.
Three North American AT-6 Texan aircraft fly over Angel Stadium during the singing of the national anthem before the Angels' home opener Friday. The Angels lost 3-1 in 10 innings to the Seattle Mariners. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
The Angels celebrated their 2026 home opener on Friday, and the fans booed the ceremonial first pitch.
Magic Johnson, the Dodgers’ co-owner and the foremost winner in Los Angeles sports history, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Dodgers’ opener. Jeff Kent, just elected to the Hall of Fame, did the honors for the San Francisco Giants.
In Anaheim, John Carpino tossed the first pitch, even with popular alumni such as Torii Hunter and Tim Salmon in the house. Carpino is the Angels’ president, retiring Monday after 16 years in that role and 23 years in all as a loyal executive under Angels owner Arte Moreno.
Moreno thought it would be lovely for Carpino to throw out the first pitch and, under different circumstances, it would have been.
So Carpino, as a proxy for Moreno, was booed loudly. Then a few modest choruses of “sell the team” broke out.
Behind the Angels' dugout, Dave and Chris Bloye of Upland wore red T-shirts. His shirt listed five priorities, in order: Affordability, good experience, safety, peanuts, fan surveys. Her shirt listed five priorities too, starting with “sell the team.” The Bloyes said they have had season tickets for more than 20 years.
“We’ve never had a survey,” Chris Bloye said.
Moreno is competitive, a hardcore fan who regularly attends even spring training games. Perhaps he did not mean his words to come out the way they did.
Moreno declined an interview request from The Times at the owners’ meetings in February. A team spokesman said last week that Moreno would pass on an opportunity to clarify his remarks about fan priorities.
But, if those were indeed the priorities, they would have been reflected by the fans that showed up more than six hours before game time for the free fan festival the Angels throw before the home opener every year.
Surely, the man in the jersey that read “FAN SINCE 81” and the Angels tattoo on his left leg would be here win or lose.
Angels fans stand in front of the stadium before the team's home opener against the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
Yes, Jose Bocanegra of Chino said, he would be. But for Moreno to say winning was not a top fan priority?
“That’s crazy,” Bocanegra said. “If you’re not in it to win it, then what are we doing?”
How about the fan in the Nolan Ryan jersey? He held his 7-year-old daughter atop his shoulders. She wore a Mike Trout jersey, smiled broadly, and clutched a cup of ice cream.
His name was Nate Ryan, from Hemet. He and his daughter attend Dodgers and Angels games, but they particularly like visits to Angel Stadium. His daughter loves the rally monkey and the free games in the Pac-Man arcade, and he appreciates Moreno’s focus on affordability.
“The Angels are more economical,” Ryan said. “We have a good time.”
Jarod Venegas of Corona dressed in a white wrap, wearing a red cap topped by a gold halo. He was about to spend nine innings as — you guessed it — an angel in the outfield.
“I believe we have a team that can be the best,” he said.
What exactly do you mean by best?
“I mean World Series champions,” he said.
Venegas had something to say about fan priorities.
“Winning is our No. 2 priority,” he said. “No. 1 is getting a new owner.”
Johnny Estrada of Corona wore a T-shirt with eight lines on the back. All eight lines read the same: “Sell the team.”
He said he loves the team, supports the players, and does not believe Moreno chose his words poorly.
“I don’t necessarily feel it came out wrong,” Estrada said. “I feel he hasn’t cared for a while.”
Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken, who remains irked by Moreno branding the team with a Los Angeles name, has been a season-ticket holder far longer than she has been mayor. She’ll give Moreno a pass on his comments.
“I think it was a misstep,” Aitken said. “I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He knows that winning, for a true fan, is one of the most important things. Winning is a priority for our players. Winning is a priority to the loyal fan base.”
Even more so, perhaps, to the casual fans, the ones that determine whether the Angels sell three million tickets in any given year.
The Angels sold 2.6 million tickets last year, a testament to the strength of the market amid a second consecutive last-place finish.
The "Big A" sign outside Angel Stadium on Friday during the team's home opener. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)
However, attendance has fallen 20% over the past 20 years, a span that includes one postseason series victory and the current streaks of 10 seasons with losing records and 11 seasons without a playoff appearance.
Friday’s home opener was sold out. However, as of Friday afternoon, resale markets listed tickets for as little as $7 for Saturday’s game and $4 for Sunday’s game.
This is a great fan base, to me much more frustrated than angry, waiting to erupt in joy. The fan festival was dominated by fans wearing “sell” jerseys but a variety of Trout jerseys — home white, road gray, alternate red, City Connect, All-Star, World Baseball Classic, even one from the Salt Lake Bees.
Trout’s loyalty has been reciprocated by the fans. Moreno could feel that love too, with a renewed commitment to the excellence the Angels he displayed in his first decade as owner.
In Anaheim, the thunder sticks were glorious. Moreno does not want to sell at the moment, so best to demonstrate a dedication to returning October to the Angels’ schedule, lest their fans take home their giveaway calendars from the home opener and start the countdown to “wait ‘til next year.”
Christian Scott got rocked by the Mud Hens in his three and a third innings of work, giving up runs in almost every way you can imagine: a balk, home runs, poor defense, doubles, and a sac fly. If there’s some good news from the pitching side of things, it is that the bullpen of Joe Jacques, Tanner Witt, and Nick Burdi threw five and two-thirds hitless ball, striking out six an walking two.
MJ Melendez was the lone bright spot, offensively, for the Mets, hitting a solo home run for their only sliver of offense.
The Rumble Ponies won their inaugural game of the season, wringing every ounce of offense out of their starting nine, with all but Jose Ramos contributing a hit, a run, a walk, or an RBI. Will Watson and Saul Garcia were the main offenders on the pitching side, each surrendering three earned runs in their appearances.
The Ponies won in that most classic of ways, by a fielder’s choice leading to a run scoring. How can you not be romantic about baseball? Also very normal was Chris Suero’s 1-5 with two runs scored and FIVE RBI performance. A grand slam and a sac fly will do that for you.
John Bay homered and singled for Brooklyn, but otherwise the team could muster just two hits against the Renegades. Noah Hall went the deepest of any Mets’ minor league starters, tossing four and a third innings. The eight walks as a staff is not great.
St. Lucie took a three run lead in the top of the first and never looked back. Eddison Paulino hit RBI triple in the fifth to put the Mets up by three. Joel Lara walked three in his season debut, including walking in two runs.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Aaron Judge #99 celebrates a home run with Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees during the first inning of the home opener against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 03, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When you’re going good, you’re going good. The Yankees got more great pitching and a home run from their captain in an easy win in the home opener, running their record to 6-1 on this young season. The season is oh-so-long, and the nature of baseball will ensure that the Yankees will have to take their lumps eventually, perhaps even soon. But for now, bask in the pleasure that is good, clean, winning baseball every day, and hope that the run continues tonight, as the Yankees play a rare Saturday night game at the Stadium.
On the site today, John praises Ben Rice’s defense in the early going, and Matt remembers Cameron Maybin’s wonderful 2019 campaign on the occasion of the former outfielder’s birthday. We’ll also get the day’s Rivalry Roundup from Andrew, and Kento performs a dangerous experiment.
Today’s Matchup
New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins
Time: 7:15 p.m. EST
Video: YES Network, Marlins.tv
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. Does Ryan Weathers keep up this streak of great starting pitching today?
2. It’s only been seven games of course, but are you feeling a little more optimistic about the underbelly of the Yankees’ bullpen after seeing some quality performances from the likes of Jake Bird, Fernando Cruz, and Brent Headrick?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a single in the eighth inning during the home opener at Yankee Stadium on April 03, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The New York Yankees defeated the Miami Marlins 8-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
ESPN | Jorge Castillo: On Thursday night, with the Yankees’ home 0pener looming, the team’s players received a missive from their captain. The message was simple: suits tomorrow. Aaron Judge followed up on his sartorial directive with a booming two-run homer in the first, setting the tone for an eventual 8-2 victory. “That’s what he does best,” first baseman Ben Rice said after the game. “Coming out, swinging out the gate like that for us is huge. It’s just so contagious and got everybody going.” Most importantly, the team dodged a bullet when Judge was hit by a pitch on the forearm in his next at-bat, a type of HBP which once caused the right fielder to break his wrist, and walked away unscathed.
SNY | Garrett Stepien: Another highlight in Friday’s victory was an improbable, juggling grab by Cody Bellinger in the ninth inning to help close the door. After the ball hit off his wrist, the left fielder somehow managed to reach down and grab it before it hit the ground. “I definitely got lucky. I threw my glove out there,” said Bellinger, who was visibly surprised with the recovery. The veteran excelled in left last year in his debut with the Yankees, tying for tops in the AL with five Outs Above Average at the position.
SNY | Ben Krimmel: Yesterday morning, manager Aaron Boone gave his thoughts on a few key Yankees topics. After reports that Carlos Rodón suffered a hamstring issue as he works his way back from elbow surgery, Boone expressed confidence the setback would be minor. “He’s able to keep his arm going through this,” the skipper noted, adding that the hamstring issue “is minor enough that that’s the case, so it’s a good thing.” Gerrit Cole is also continuing his progression back from Tommy John, with Boone indicating that his recovery is “going well, he looks great, every bullpen, every live, every game that I’ve seen from him has been really, really encouraging.” The last update on the IL front is that shortstop Anthony Volpe is expected to begin a minor-league rehab start around mid-April if he avoids any setbacks in his recovery.
Boone also sang the praises of Giancarlo Stanton, who started the year a scorching hot 10-for-20. “He’s just kinda been on everything,” Boone said of his DH. “Recognizing pitches well. He’s really good at devising a game plan that he wants to use against a particular pitcher and staying disciplined to that.” He also noted Stanton’s contributions to the clubhouse, calling the veteran “such a stud in our room.”
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 03: Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Alex Freeland (76) fields a ground ball during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals on April 03, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. (Photo by Charles Brock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Overdue
44 – Roy Hodgson today won his first game as Bristol City boss in 44 years and 35 days, since a 3-1 win over Preston in February 1982. Overdue. pic.twitter.com/czTKJRPMv4
Apr 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Luke Raley (20) greets teammates after scoring during the tenth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
12 years before I was born, while Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were bemoaning broken glass, the Seattle Mariners were breaking bats. The M’s of 1982 were the club’s crowning achievement, a 76-86 assemblage that was, at the time and until 1987, by far the franchise’s most respectable showing. On a night where the M’s pitching staff dazzled and had to wait for fashionably late aid from their hitters, this club I never witnessed was on my mind.
Having dealt OF Tom Paciorek in the offseason after his 10th-in-MVP-voting season that was the most recognition the club had received to that point, those M’s were shallow at the plate. They’d moved Paciorek for Todd Cruz, who’d become expendable to the Chicago White Sox after the North Siders determined Cruz potentially stealing a bunch of watches from an Edmonton, Alberta department store was a dealbreaker. Seattle also flipped future rotation stalwart Bud Black for 3B Manny Castillo, who gave the ‘82 M’s what he had: limited defense and awful hitting. He also was 2-for-10 stealing bases. I haven’t forgotten.
But what those M’s had for the first – and potentially only time – in the Kingdome era, was a club made competent by its pitching staff. While the hitters fumbled their rationed cromulence between one another, Floyd Bannister, Jim Beattie, Wild Bill Caudill, and Ed Vande Berg put together one of the greatest pitching staffs in Mariners history. They were buoyed by impressive work from Bryan Clark, Bob Stoddard, and several others, including 43 year old Gaylord Perry who famously secured his 300th win in this penultimate campaign. The M’s had, by FanGraphs, the best pitching staff in their franchise history that year, amassing 21.2 fWAR (5th in MLB) and 23.0 bWAR (3rd) by Baseball Reference.
It was novel, not yet enshrined in their ballpark’s fabric to be baseball’s ballast to Coors Field, the bulwark of the Steroids Era and Launch Angle Revolution. The club had little in the way of expectation, nor could it compound their astounding improvements in the years to come. But tonight, watching Seattle’s hitters labor through their eighth game of the season, bearing expectations that would’ve been laughable in every year of the 1980s for a Mariners club, we witnessed a throwback victory.
Both Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez have started the year frosty. Seattle’s 2-3-4 hitters have been glacial at the dish, putting the M’s in uphill battles to score runs with their most frequent hitters producing nothing and less. Aptly, against Anaheim southpaw Reid Detmers, both Raleigh and Rodríguez chipped their barrels. Broken bats, everywhere, cautions the Grandmaster at this recap’s introduction. If it was just Seattle’s superstars, it might as well have been each plate appearance, as neither club mustered more than cardboard threats most of the evening. In their home opener, the Angels managed one hit, one walk, every ABS challenge going their way, and not a damn thing else. Bryan Woo, Matt Brash, Andrés Muñoz, and Gabe Speier made sure of of that.
While Anaheim are roundly expected to clutter the AL West’s cellar this year, at this stage, their lineup is no pushover. For Bryan Woo, whose lone hit yielded was a bloop single Victor Robles nearly speared at full dive and sprint and was backed up savvily by Cole Young, the resemblance between him and the image of an ace grew uncannier. I’ve shared before how much I adore seeing Woo pitch. The flow of his motion is the apogee of pitching to me, fastballs that ride and tumble to their intended locations, sweepers and sliders eluding bats and ending innings. 87 pitches for 7.0 scoreless, one-hit frames, and each reliever behind him was even more dominant. By the time Jorge Soler skied a sacrifice fly to cash in Mike Trout as the Manfred Runner, the end result had already been finished in pen, tossed in a “complete” bin like a Sunday Crossword.
But for much of the night, Seattle slogged. The gusting winds of Orange County blew fly balls back in the yard, added movement to pitches, and otherwise ensured a low-scoring affair. Despite six walks – four from an otherwise impressive Detmers – Seattle’s multiple well-struck gap-shots found premature conclusions in the gloves of Josh Lowe, Trout, and Jo Adell. The game felt, heading into the bottom of the 9th still knotted 0-0, eminently losable.
The ‘82 M’s would look foreign in today’s game in many ways. The club’s 7.3% K-BB% was fourth-best in the league then and would’ve been worst in the sport every year since 2011 now. But they’d have watched with knowing familiarity this predicament, albeit also narrow pride as Muñoz shredded the 9-1-2 of the Angels’ order, spaghettifying Trout on a pair of sliders and then a 100-mph heater at the zone’s apex.
It feels wrong not to give Woo a clip this evening, but I hope if you did not see it, you can grant yourself a moment of zen. Close your eyes, and imagine this pitch from Muñoz, ad nauseum, all evening. A beautiful process, with many results just as gorgeous as the stage set in the top of the 10th for Seattle. Cole Young did his best Troy Bolton, starting the inning off with yet another highlight in this young season.
That’s Cole Young, who started against a lefty, and evaded a pinch-hitter, albeit in part due to an early exit for Brendan Donovan which was minimally explained beyond caution with leg discomfort postgame with optimism from manager Dan Wilson. Cole Young whose ferocious early results are a massive feature in Seattle’s ability to overcome the palpitations of their order’s heart. Notably, Anaheim opted to pitch to Cal Raleigh with one out after retiring Rob Refsnyder, whose day at the dish in fairness included some of Seattle’s most capable PAs including a pair of walks. Raleigh, for his part, looked infinitesimally closer to clobbering Brent Suter’s heater, but put a two out opportunity in the hands of Rodríguez. Seeking a left-on-left matchup, Anaheim walked Julio, who dashed to second on a dirt ball to give the club an additional insurance run when Josh Naylor’s single lined into right.
The gap in expectations between 1982 and 2026 are chasmic. At times, I’ve struggled to balance those expectations, finding only relief in a win like this that could’ve been facile. But not today. Woo’s and the bullpen’s brilliance, a timely hit by a hot-starting youngster, J.P. Crawford’s healthy return, and the first road victory of the year. That’s beautiful enough for me.
The Mets know what they got in Nolan McLean, and the young right-hander showed off that ace potential on Friday night against the Giants.
McLean may not have been as dominant as some of his past starts, but he was near-perfect for most of his outing. The right-hander pitched five perfect innings, before the Giants finally wore him down in the sixth.
"He was very good. The cutter was the pitch he had today," manager Carlos Mendoza said of McLean's outing. "A lot of three-ball counts. And the cutter was the one to get back in counts to get swings and misses. It’s impressive when he doesn’t have the feel for the secondary pitches and that cutter was the way he did it today. It goes to show you that there are so many weapons there that he can go through lineups with a pitch or two. It was good to see it."
Those three-ball counts were McLean's one kryptonite on Friday. It elevated his pitch count and once the Giants batters started drawing walks, it was only a matter of time until they broke through. With one out in the sixth, and two runners on base via the walk, Willy Adames drove a double in the gap to give San Francisco their first hit and first run.
"I was just trying to piece it together," McLean said of his outing. "Nothing felt incredibly great. It felt ok towards the end of the game. Full counts snuck up on me there at the end, got a little fatigued by the end of it. Leaning on the cutter really helped things tonight."
McLean said he leaned on the cutter because it was the only pitch he could throw strikes with any consistency. Of his 93 pitches, 19 were the cutter (20 percent) and it's the pitch he got his most whiffs on (4). However, the 24-year-old said that his other pitches showed up at times, and made hitters keep them in the back of their minds. McLean took advantage of that to get through his outing.
In fact, he didn't even realize he was throwing a perfect game because of how ineffective most of his pitches were.
"I didn’t realize [I was perfect]," he said. "It didn’t feel that way because of how many 3-2 counts and behind in the counts I felt like I was. Felt grinder than what the scoreboard showed."
"If he's got a perfect game going and he didn't feel great, I can't wait to see what he does when he feels great," Marcus Semien said of McLean's start.
"It’s pretty impressive. He had one pitch today, which was the cutter, and he still dominated that lineup," Mendoza said. "Kid’s special, man. Still going to show you the breaking ball, the secondary, the sinker, he kept using it. But when he needed to get back into counts or execute a pitch, it was the cutter tonight."
Perfect or not, McLean delivered a performance the Mets needed. Although the offense exploded for 10 runs, McLean gave them the lane to break out offensively by putting up zero after zero.
Friday was McLean's 10th start as a major leaguer. He's now 6-1 with a 2.16 ERA. And although it's a small sample size, the Mets know their chances of winning a game goes up with him on the mound.
"You feel good about your chances every time he takes the baseball," Mendoza said. "Every time he’s pitching, you feel good about winning that game and that’s what he’s done. And even when he’s not at his best, you know he’s going to keep you in games, he’s going to go at least five. That’s what makes him special."
Mets left fielder Juan Soto exited Friday's game against the San Francisco Giants due to right calf tightness.
Tyrone Taylor replaced Soto in the bottom of the first inning.
After leadoff-batting shortstop Francisco Lindor's game-starting single to left field against Tyler Mahle, Soto singled to right-center field and appeared to come up gingerly on a run from first base to third during third baseman Bo Bichette's subsequent RBI knock that scored Lindor.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that the injury occurred when he was running first to third, and the slugger hoped that his calf would loosen up while standing on third. It did not, instead getting tighter, so he came out of the game once he was out at a force play at home.
"We don’t have much other than what was announced," Mendoza said after Friday's win. "He’s going to get imaging tomorrow and we’ll see what we’re dealing with.
There’s obviously concern. Every time you send a player for MRI, those calf areas can be tricky. We have to wait, but obvioulsy concern."
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets celebrates as he trots around the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on April 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was a lot to like about tonight’s relatively smooth and easy 10-3 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The Mets’ offense, which had been floundering, finally had a big day. Marcus Semien hit his first home run as a Met and Francisco Alvarez went deep twice. Semien and Bo Bichette both had a three-hit game. Nolan McLean was brilliant—perfect through his first five. Much like McLean’s performance, it was almost a perfect night…except for one very significant wrinkle. Juan Soto left the game in the bottom of the first inning after experiencing calf tightness running the bases in the top of the inning. So instead of being able to breathe easy and freely enjoy a nice rebound win after last night’s disastrous game, some anxiety and foreboding hangs like a specter over this victory.
Nonetheless, this was otherwise a relatively stress-free game. The Mets got on the board right away in the first against Tyler Mahle. Francisco Lindor led off the game with a single and Juan Soto followed with a single of his own. Bo Bichette then laced the Mets’ third consecutive base hit to drive in Lindor for the game’s first run. Luis Robert then walked to load the bases with nobody out and with one run already in, it looked like the Mets were poised for a huge first inning, much like they achieved on Opening Day. However, Brett Baty grounded into a 1-2-3 double play to take some of the air out of the rally. The Mets did manage to scratch out another run on a well-struck Marcus Semien single over the shortstop to double their lead to 2-0, but it should have been a bigger inning—both because of Baty’s double play and because Robert didn’t run on contact on Semien’s hit, despite the two-out situation, so he was unable to score from second on the play. Still, the Mets found themselves two runs to the good early and Nolan McLean took the mound with some run support already behind him.
It turned out that two runs was plenty of run support for McLean on this night, as he had all of his pitches working and was throwing some absolutely filthy stuff at Giants hitters all evening. In fact, McLean did not allow a single baserunner until the sixth inning when he issued back-to-back walks to start the inning. It was clear McLean was tiring at that point, partially because—to the credit of the Giants lineup—there were eight full counts against McLean in the first 17 batters he faced. Those walks came back to bite McLean, but he was still fantastic tonight. If you did not watch this game live because you are not a night owl sicko like I am, you should do yourself a favor and watch the clip of the pitch McLean threw to strike out Heliot Ramos to end the fifth inning. You can thank me later.
Meanwhile, the Mets added three more runs in the top of the fourth—all via the long ball. Mark Vientos singled to lead off the inning and Marcus Semien blasted a two-run homer to dead center—an impressive feat at Oracle Park—for his first Mets home run. Then with one out, Francisco Alvarez followed with a pretty prodigious blast of his own to extend the Mets’ lead to 5-0.
Unfortunately for McLean, both of those walks he issued in the sixth would come around to score. After recording the first out of the inning on a Jerar Encarnacion fly out to right, Willy Adames launched a ground rule double to end the no-hitter and the shutout. That chased McLean from the game and after 93 pitches, he made way for Brooks Raley, who did his job, striking out Rafael Devers and retiring Luis Arraez on a ground ball to first. However, Francisco Alvarez failed to handle one of Raley’s pitches and the Giants’ second run scored on the passed ball. But Alvarez would immediately make up for the run he cost his team, going deep again to lead off the seventh. The Mets piled on that inning against JT Brubaker in his second inning of work. After Alvarez’s second homer, Francisco Lindor—becoming quite the on-base machine in the early going—walked. Tyrone Taylor then struck out for the first out, but Bo Bichette doubled, advancing Lindor to third. Luis Robert drove him in with a single, which knocked Brubaker out of the game. Matt Gage came in for the Giants and struck out Brett Baty for the second out, but then Mark Vientos singled to plate the Mets’ eighth run.
Huascar Brazobán worked around a two-out hit by Heliot Ramos (the Giants’ second hit of the evening) to pitch a scoreless bottom of the seventh. Unlike his other recent appearances, this game proved to be an appropriate situation for Richard Lovelady, who gave up a run in the eighth on a Jerar Encarnacion double and a Luis Arraez RBI single. But luckily this time Lovelady had plenty of margin for error and the Mets added yet more insurance off Erik Miller in the top of the ninth. Luis Robert got things started with a walk and Brett Baty, who was one of the few Mets having a rough night at the plate, doubled him in. Marcus Semien notched his third hit of the night, advancing Baty to third and Baty scored on a Carson Benge grounder to second to put the Mets’ run total into double digits. Luis García polished off the lopsided victory with a scoreless ninth inning, working around a one-out single by Heliot Ramos.
Thus, the Mets snap their three-game losing streak in resounding fashion, but on a night when the bats finally broke out, concern remains for the lineup’s most potent threat; we should find out more about the severity of Juan Soto’s calf injury in the coming days.
Big Mets winner: Marcus Semien, +20.2% WPA Big Mets loser: Brett Baty, -15.1% WPA Mets pitchers: +17.3% WPA Mets hitters: +32.7% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Bo Bichette’s RBI single in the first, +12.3% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Willy Adames’ ground rule double to break up Nolan McLean’s no-hitter in the sixth, -7.7% WPA
SAN FRANCISCO — The bats erupted and Nolan McLean dominated, but Friday night was defined for the Mets by who wasn’t on the field following his first at-bat.
Juan Soto, bothered by right-calf tightness, departed after only a half inning, leaving the Mets to wonder when their best player will return.
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.
Soto singled in the first inning and felt discomfort running from first to third on Bo Bichette’s RBI single. Now the Mets, who snapped a three-game skid with a 10-3 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park, wait on their $765 million outfielder.
“We don’t have much other than what was announced, right calf tightness,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, adding that Soto will receive imaging on Saturday.
What is Mendoza’s concern level?
“There is obviously concern every time you send a player for an MRI and the calf area can be tricky,” he said. “We have just got to wait.”
New York Mets’ Nolan McLean (26) pitches to a San Francisco Giants batter during the fifth inning on Friday, April 3, 2026, in San Francisco. AP
McLean took a perfect game into the sixth but never escaped the inning, his shot at history spoiled by patient at-bats as his pitch count climbed.
The right-hander indicated his cutter was the only pitch he felt comfortable with, forcing him deeper into counts than he would have liked.
He lasted 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs (one unearned) on one hit and two walks with four strikeouts, departing after 93 pitches.
“I was just trying to piece it together,” McLean said. “Nothing felt incredibly great. Everything felt OK toward later in the game, but just kind of the full counts snuck up on me there at the end. I got a little bit fatigued by the end of it.”
Francisco Alvarez of the New York Mets celebrates trotting around the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on April 3, 2026 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images
McLean said he didn’t realize he had carried a perfect game into the sixth.
“It didn’t really feel that way just because of how many 3-2 counts and behind on counts I felt like I was,” he said. “So, it kind of felt grindier than what the scoreboard showed.”
Francisco Alvarez led the Mets’ three-homer attack with two blasts (Marcus Semien hit the other) in the Mets’ best showing offensively since their 11-run outburst against the Pirates on Opening Day.
New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts on a call strike against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Alvarez’s bid at a three-homer game included a shot to the warning track in center field in the eighth inning.
The perfect game watch officially began as McLean breezed through the fifth, easily retiring Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee before working the count full to Heliot Ramos. McLean unleashed a hellacious sweeper that nicked the inside corner for a called third strike.
McLean took the mound for the sixth at 67 pitches and walked Harrison Bader, reducing the performance to a no-hit watch. McLean worked the count full to Patrick Bailey and walked him, giving the Giants a rally. Jerar Encarnacion worked a nine-pitch at-bat before flying out, and Willy Adames ended the no-hit drama and McLean’s night with a shot that one-hopped the fence in right center for an RBI double.
Brooks Raley struck out Rafael Devers, but before the lefty could escape the inning, an Alvarez passed ball allowed the Giants’ second run to score.
The Mets countered in the seventh with Alvarez’s second homer of the night and an RBI single by Luis Robert Jr. that extended the lead to 7-2. Mark Vientos continued the party with an RBI single in the inning.
Bichette was among the offensive heroes, with a 3-for-5 performance in easily his best game since arriving to the Mets. The team was without Jorge Polanco, whose left Achilles tendonitis placed him on the bench and raised questions about his near-term availability. Polanco has dealt with discomfort since Sunday, limiting him to the DH spot.
The Mets sent eight batters to the plate against Tyler Mahle in the first inning and scored twice, but missed an opportunity to break open the game early. Bichette delivered an RBI single, and Robert Jr. walked to reload the bases before Brett Baty hit a comebacker that turned into a 1-2-3 double play.
New York Mets’ Marcus Semien, center, celebrates with Carson Benge, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning. AP
But Semien, who snapped an 0-for-20 a night earlier, slashed an RBI single following a walk to Vientos, extending the Mets’ lead to 2-0. The rally started with consecutive singles by Francisco Lindor and Soto.
Semien struck again in the fourth with a two-run homer to center that gave the Mets a 4-0 lead. The blast was Semien’s first in a Mets uniform. Two batters later, Alvarez cleared the center field fence.
Ramos’ single in the seventh against Huascar Brazoban gave the Giants their second hit. Brazoban recovered to retire Bader, ending the inning.
Luis Arraez delivered a bloop RBI single in the eighth against Richard Lovelady before Baty stroked an RBI double in the ninth. Carson Benge’s RBI fielder’s choice brought in the Mets’ 10th run.
Seattle's Luke Raley scores in front of Angels catcher Logan O'Hoppe on a triple by Cole Young in the 10th inning of the Angels' 3-1 loss Friday at Angel Stadium. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
The Angels' offense was stifled in a 10-inning, 3-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners during their home opener Friday night in front of 44,931 fans at Angel Stadium.
In a scoreless game in the 10th inning, Seattle's Cole Young tripled to the right-field corner off Angels reliever Brent Suter that scored Luke Raley from second base. Two outs later, Suter intentionally walked Julio Rodríguez. Josh Naylor singled in two more runs to make it 3-0.
Jorge Soler drove in Mike Trout on a sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the 10th, but that was all the Angels (3-5) could muster after Seattle held them to just one hit and retired the final 21 Angels batters.
Mariners starter Bryan Woo gave up that one hit, struck out six and walked one over seven strong innings. Seattle relievers Matt Brash, Andres Muñoz and Gabe Speier were just as dominant, combining for six strikeouts and no walks over three no-hit innings.
“[Woo] is one of the best starters in the league. He was on his game tonight,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “He pitched well and when a guy like that pitches well you just got to do your best in battle and I feel like our guys were battling, just couldn’t muster anything up."
Angels starter Reid Detmers also had a strong game, giving up three hits, with four strikeouts and four walks over 6⅔ innings.
"It was a well-fought game and obviously we didn’t come out on the winning side, but we’ll go get them tomorrow," Detmers said.
Suzuki thought Detmers was in control and executed pitches well. He was getting ahead in the count of batters and putting them away, while also inducing soft contact, which allowed him to go deep into the game.
“He pitched his butt off,” Suzuki said. “It was nice to see him rebound from the last one and really have a good start."
In the first inning, Trout stared down Woo before taking first base after a sinker hit the star outfielder’s left shoulder. The blow came after the right-hander threw a four-seam fastball that nearly missed Trout's face.
“Anytime you get thrown up-and-in and then you get hit on the next pitch, you’re gonna be upset,” Trout said.
Angels star Mike Trout is hit by a pitch during the first inning Friday against the Mariners. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
The first hit came in the bottom of the third after Oswald Peraza sent a bloop single to right field. Woo cleared the base paths after picking off the runner for the second out of the inning. Zach Neto grounded out to stop the Angels’ offense.
threw a fastball behind Rodríguez to open the top of the fourth inning. The outfielder stared down the left-hander and later grounded out to first baseman Nolan Schanuel. Seattle threatened to break the tie after Naylor reached first and Randy Arozarena followed with a single to right field.
Neto threw out Brendan Donovan at third to record the second out and Detmers struck out J.P. Crawford to end the inning.
Trout almost ended the pitchers' duel in the bottom of the sixth inning after sharply hitting a fly ball to left field but Arozarena tracked it down.
“I thought I got enough, for sure,” he said. “I hit it off the end a little bit but I thought I got enough — it is what it is.”
Suzuki also believed Trout hit the ball hard enough for a home run.
“I didn’t really see what the exit [velocity] or anything like that was, but I thought it came off his bat pretty well," Suzuki said. "Obviously the wind kind of hung it up there, but I thought it was a great pass.”
After a one-out walk to Crawford in the top of the seventh, Detmers picked off the runner but gave up a single to Victor Robles. The hit concluded his night after 104 pitches. He walked off to a round of applause from the crowd, but he didn't notice.
“I was in my zone, so I mean, it was a good game,” said Detmers, who lowered his ERA to 2.38.
Reliever Chase Silseth struck out Young to end the seventh.
In the eighth, Drew Pomeranz gave up a one-out walk to Cal Raleigh and a single to Rodriguez but retired Naylor and Arozarena on a fly ball and a groundball, respectively.
In the ninth, Jordan Romano threw a fastball that looked like it hit Leo Rivas, but the call was overturned after a challenge confirmed it hit the bat. The right-hander struck out Rivas and Crawford and got pinch-hitter Raley to line out.
With two outs and two strikes, Trout struck out to send the game to extra innings.
Nolan McLean pitched into the sixth inning with a perfect game and the Mets bats launched three home runs as they defeated the Giants, 10-3, on Friday night in San Francisco.
Friday's 10 runs scored is the most the Mets have driven in since the 11 they put on Opening Day. The 10 runs are more than the Mets offense scored in their last four games combined.
The combination of McLean and four relievers allowed just five hits. The Mets put up 15 hits, with each batter reaching base at least once.
Here are the takeaways...
-The Mets offense had struggled mightily since Opening Day, but the lineup would get started early on Friday. Three straight hits from Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and Bo Bichette drove in the game's first run. After Luis Robert Jr. walked the bases loaded, Giants starter Tyler Mahle got what he needed with double play from Brett Baty. Mark Vientos walked, giving way to Marcus Semien with the bases loaded and two outs. Semien lined a single to drive in the second run of the inning, but Robert Jr. held up at third when he should have scored. Carson Benge struck out swinging to end the inning.
That extra run didn't matter much as the Mets offense continued to break out of their funk.
Vientos hit a leadoff single in the fourth and Semien followed up with a two-run shot, his first home run as a Met to put the team up 4-0. Two batters later, Francisco Alvarez hit a solo shot that landed in the same place as Semien's, straight away center field.
-Alvarez would hit a second solo home run in the seventh, but not to be outdone, Robert Jr. poked a single to drive home Lindor and Vientos, two batters later, looped a single to score Bichette and put the Mets up 8-2.
-As for McLean, the young right-hander was perfect through four innings. He tossed 54 pitches to that point, hurt by a few 3-2 counts a couple of times through the order, but it didn't deter him. McLean would get through five perfect innings before Harrison Bader worked a leadoff walk in the sixth. McLean walked the next batter, and after a fly out, Willy Adames knocked McLean out of the game with a run-scoring double.
Brooks Raley entered to try and limit the damage in relief of McLean. After striking out Rafael Devers, a wild pitch allowed the Giants' second run of the inning to score. Luis Arraez grounded out to end the inning and close the book on McLean's night.
The talented right-hander got through 5.1 innings pitched (93 pitches/51 strikes), allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit and two walks while striking out four.
-In the top of the first, Soto was replaced in left field by Tyrone Taylor. Soto suffered a tight right calf seemingly when he was going first to third on a base hit. Taylor finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
-Vientos, making his fourth straight start, is making the case to stay in the lineup. The young slugger went 2-for-3 with two walks and reached base four times. It's just the third time in his career he's reached four times in a game.
Game MVP: Marcus Semien
The veteran infielder was struggling, but his two-run shot opened up the game for the Mets to win this game. Semien finished 3-for-5 and drove in three runs.
Mike Trout was not entirely pleased with reaching base in the fashion that he did during the Los Angeles Angels' home opener on Friday, April 3.
Seattle Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo threw a 95 mph pitch that hit Trout high on the shoulder in the bottom of the first inning. That came after a high pitch that made Trout duck back.
Trout was seen glancing over at Woo with a look of disapproval before making his way over to first base.
Bryan Woo’s first pitch to Mike Trout was up and in and near Mike Trout’s head. His second pitch to Trout drilled him up high. Interesting 👀
After nine scoreless innings of play, the Mariners outscored the Angels 3-1 in the 10th inning to secure the victory.
Trout told reporters that Woo apologized to him later in the game, per The Athletic.
Trout, the three-time MVP, has already produced six hits, two home runs, six runs scored and three RBI through the first seven games of the season.
Outside of the pitch to Trout, Woo had a solid outing on the mound. He allowed just one hit and a walk, while striking out six in seven innings pitched.
