Astros closer Josh Hader took an important step toward a return to action by throwing a live batting practice session before Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Facing hitters for the first time since August, the six-time All-Star threw 20 pitches to Taylor Trammell and Brice Matthews. Hader hasn’t pitched this season due to left biceps inflammation after a left shoulder strain kept him out of action for the final seven weeks of 2025.
“I got through it. That’s a positive thing to note,” Hader said.
Hader estimated he threw 15 pitches in the bullpen before taking the mound at Daikin Park. His fastball velocity ranged from 91-93 MPH, which is what he expected the first time out.
“Feeling good. Feeling strong,” Hader said. “Throwing relatively hard and commanding the baseball in the zone. Commanding the slider, getting good whiffs on it. Ideally, that’s what you want.”
Hader is approaching his buildup the way he would approach the ramp up to a season. He’ll throw a bullpen in the next few days and then another live BP. The goal is to shorten the gap between the two, but he did not put a timetable on when he could expect to go out on a rehab assignment.
“I take it day by day. Try and build my shoulder, bullet proof it, get it strong, and I feel like I’ve been able to do that.”
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 12: Cedric Mullins #31 of the Tampa Bay Rays scores against the New York Yankees during the second inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on April 12, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Apr 11, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Martin Perez (33) throws against the Cleveland Guardians in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Former Atlanta Braves starter pitcher Martín Pérez has cleared waivers after the team designated him for assignment on April 12, 2026. The team optioned him to Triple-A Gwinnett, but the veteran lefty elected free agency.
Pérez, who made two starts and three appearances with Atlanta after his contract was selected in the first week of the regular season, was signed as a minor league free agent this past off-season. The 35-year-old has pitched in 328 games – including 281 starts – since debuting with the Texas Rangers in 2012.
Atlanta is currently working with a four-man rotation but will not need a fifth starter until April 21. Should Pérez opt to return to the organization, it is possible he could be in-line to make a start the next time the Braves need a fifth starter. Injured starting pitcher Spencer Strider is on a rehab assignment and likely won’t be ready within the next week.
Pérez tossed 14.1 innings for Atlanta, striking out six with a 0.910 WHIP and 3.14 ERA and 3.86 xERA. His xFIP of 4.51 in 2026 is an almost exact match with his career 4.52 xFIP.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Josh Smith #8, Josh Jung #6, Evan Carter #32, Sam Haggerty #0, and Andrew McCutchen #4 of the Texas Rangers stand for the National Anthem before the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on April 03, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for April 14, 2026 against the A’s: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Jeffrey Springs for the A’s.
MacKenzie Gore looks to continue his early success against the A’s this evening. With former Ranger great Jeffrey Springs, a southpaw, on the mound, we have an odd looking lineup, though one that does feature Wyatt Langford, who is back in the lineup after missing the past three games with a quad issue. Langford is at DH, though, and looking at the outfield, I hope Gore generates a lot of ground balls.
The lineup:
Nimmo — RF
Langford — DH
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Haggerty — CF
Jung — 3B
McCutchen — LF
Jansen — C
Duran — 2B
8:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -135 favorites.
Bisons are seen on a farm in Mecklenburg-Lower Pomerania, Germany, on February 16, 2026. (Photo by Emmanuele Contini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
6pm CT on ESPN+.
Just got home from work… let me put this up now and then edit, so you have something to comment on.
On the Mound (I’m guessing…)
Tuesday @ 6:00pm ESPN+
Vanderbilt #45 Fr. RHP Connor “The Canadian” Hamilton (1-0; 4.07 ERA)
Homegrown, slider-slinging southpaw Noah Schultz makes his first MLB start tonight. | Allan Henry-Imagn Images
Finally making the long-awaited jump to the major leagues, left-handed pitching prospect Noah Schultz got the call up on Saturday after an excellent start to his season with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.
In three games this season (two starts), Schultz has allowed just two earned runs on four hits in his 14 innings, surrendering one home run and two walks while striking out a whopping 19 batters. He’s got three wins, and his 0.429 WHIP is exceptional, especially coming off a rough stint in Charlotte at the end of last season.
Schultz has a solid arsenal with his fastball, changeup, and slider, and his fastball typically sits in the mid-90s range while topping out around 99 mph. While his changeup is sound, his real weapon is a wicked slider that sits in the mid-80s and eats up batters left and right, with many comparing him to Randy Johnson.
Schultz will go up against a Tampa Bay team that is comprised mostly of right-handed hitters, and while he has been consistent against both this season, Schultz posted a 2.03 WHIP against righties in 43 1/3 innings in 2025. The Rays hold the fifth-best team batting average (.260) in baesball, though they rank in the bottom five thus far in isolated power, and 10th in BABIP (.304). One factor of the Tampa offense that Schultz might have to work through is that the Rays don’t strike out very much. They hold the second-lowest strikeout rate at 18.5%, with 108 strikeouts as a team; by comparison, the White Sox offense holds the highest K% (27.9%) with 160 (fifth-highest).
Leading off for the Rays is Yandy Díaz, who will be the designated hitter for the Rays. Díaz holds the 11th-best OPS (1.025) in 58 at-bats this season with 14 RBIs, though Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero are power bats who could definitely put some pressure on Schultz and the defense. Left fielder Chandler Simpson is also one to watch, as he hardly strikes out (5.1% K%), ranks in the Top 10 in on-base percentage, and has 99-grade speed that allows him to be a menace on the base paths.
On the bump for the Rays is lefthander Shane McClanahan, making his third start of the season. McClanahan has struggled with injuries over the last couple of years: Out for the 2024 season to have Tommy John surgery, and again in 2025 for a nerve-related issue in his throwing arm. In a small sample size, McClanahan has bounced back well so far, and has allowed two earned runs in both of his starts this season, striking out nine and walking seven in his 8 2/3 innings so far in 2026.
While the White Sox pitching has been (surprisingly) great over the last couple of weeks, the offense has taken over command of the struggle bus. Year-to-date, the South Siders rank last in baseball in pretty much every team hitting category: OPS, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBIs, and hits. And if you boil it down to just the last seven days … they still rank in the bottom three in all of those categories — I think you get the point.
Switching it up a bit tonight for the South Siders, Miguel Vargas will lead off, followed by Chase Meidroth, Munetaka Murakami, and Everson Pereira taking over in the cleanup spot as he returns to the lineup after a couple weeks on the IL.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 8: Starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen #24 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Houston Astros at Coors Field on April 8, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
That four-game sweep in San Diego last week?
Whatever.
It was a lifetime ago.
It’s a new day and a new series, this time with the Houston Astros, a team the Colorado Rockies swept last week that has now lost eight in a row. To be fair, the Astros have be devastated by injuries.
Taking the mound for the Rockies will be RHP Michael Lorenzen.
Currently, he has an ERA of 8.36 in 14.0 IP. He’s struck out 10 while giving up 4 walks and 3 home runs with a 2.14 WHIP.
Starting for the Astros is Colton Gordon, who was recalled from the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Monday. He has started three MiLB games and has a 1.76 ERA in 15.1 IP.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 9: Mick Abel #20 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Detroit Tigers on April 9, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch: 6:40 PM CST
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy App, LosTwins.com
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 13: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves fields a fly ball in the first inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park on April 13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After allowing a season-high 10 runs in yesterday’s matchup against the Miami Marlins, the Atlanta Braves are looking to approach tonight with a redemption and a momentum boost to push them into the finale tomorrow.
Both pitchers are making their first start; a few of the Braves are familiar with Marlins’ Max Meyer’s game, but the same can’t be said for the Marlins’ offense against Reynaldo López.
It’s going to take a force to be reckoned with to get ahead early and produce what wasn’t displayed last night. We’ll let by-gones be by-gones and start afresh. A new mindset and approach with similar lineups for game two…this isn’t just a new game, it’s a continuation.
Tune in at 7:15 p.m., and we’ll discuss the outcome.
Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers (40) pitches against the Athletics during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
Last night was one of the more entertaining baseball games you’ll ever see, but I’d just as soon take a clean little 5-1 win in game two of this four-game set with the Angels. While the Yankees are looking to continue the momentum from yesterday, Ryan Weathers is looking to continue a little personal momentum, coming off a strong eight-inning, one-run start last week.
After two middling starts to open his season, Weathers dominated the Athletics on Thursday, showing the potential the Yankees saw in trading with the Marlins to get him this winter. The fastball is real but the major thing that pops when you watch Weathers is his breaking pitches, and you may see him start to pitch “backwards” with the focus on his slider and curve tonight. Weathers has struggled with injury and inconsistency — he’s made all his starts so far this year, so the key is going to be following up one good start with another.
Reid Detmers will go for the Angels, himself having a solid year once you look past the ERA. A 3.38 FIP through his first three starts will play in any rotation, and while his strikeouts have dipped from his three-year baseline, so has his walk rate. It may not last — his flyball rate is up to 50 percent and his HR/FB rate is a paltry 4.5 percent — but for April the ball’s stayed in the yard. Based on what we saw from the Yankees last night though, that may not be the case in start number four.
Facing Detmers means Paul Goldschmidt leads us off, with Amed Rosario and his .999 OPS batting third and giving Jazz Chisholm Jr. a break, taking over second base. Randal Grichuk is also in left field spelling Cody Bellinger.
Apr 11, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run in the third inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images | Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (7-9) vs. Kansas City Royals (7-9)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., Comerica Park SB Nation Site: Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (1-1, 4.76 ERA) vs. LHP Cole Ragans (0-3, 5.91 ERA)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 28: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox runs back to the dugout out between innings during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 28, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After last night’s abysmal start from Garrett Crochet in which he only went 1.2 innings, the Red Sox middle relief is taxed. As a result, they had to make the following roster move today, which lands Jack Anderson in a big league uniform for the first time:
Ideally, Boston won’t need the middle relief tonight and Sonny Gray will just continue the success of his last two outings. Given the importance of the Crochet & Gray part of the rotation, this is a pretty big start for April 14th.
What’s also a pretty big start for April 14th is Roman Anthony retuning to left field as it’s just the third time he’s started a game out there this month. Given his recent struggles and inconsistent throws, there’s a good chance he’ll get a shot at an assist tonight as teams will be running on him until he gets over whatever’s going on there.
The other lineup note is that Ceddanne Rafaela is the odd man out tonight in the “five guys need to fit into four spots between DH and the outfield” puzzle Craig Breslow gave Alex Cora.
Today’s Lineups
RED SOX
TWINS
Roman Anthony – LF
Byron Buxton – CF
Caleb Durbin – 3B
Trevor Larnach – LF
Masataka Yoshida – DH
Luke Keaschall – 2B
Willson Contreras – 1B
Josh Bell – DH
Wilyer Abreu – RF
Matt Wallner – RF
Trevor Story – SS
Victor Caratini – C
Jarren Duran – CF
Kody Clemens – 1B
Carlos Narvaez – C
Brooks Lee – SS
Isiah Kiner-Falefa – 2B
Tristan Gray – 3B
Sonny Gray – RHP
Mick Abel – RHP
⚾️ First Pitch: 7:40 pm – Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 08: Rece Hinds #77 of the Cincinnati Reds walks off the field after warming up before his MLB Debut game against the Colorado Rockies at Great American Ball Park on July 08, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cincinnati Reds are back in action in Great American Ball Park on Tuesday evening after Monday’s much needed day off.
They’ll send righty Brady Singer to the mound to start this one, the series opener against the San Francisco Giants. The Giants, meanwhile, will send former Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray, and the lefty’s out to a pretty stellar start to his 2026 campaign after a solid season in 2025.
Because of that, the Reds have stacked their starting lineup with right-handed hitters, including the recently recalled Rece Hinds – he’ll start in RF tonight. Dane Myers is in CF for TJ Friedl, and yes, Ke’Bryan Hayes is at 3B looking to improve upon his league-worst -37 wRC+.
Negative thirty-seven.
First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET. Lineups for both clubs are listed below.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 7: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park on April 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants head to Ohio today to begin a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be left-hander Robbie Ray, who enters today’s game with a 2.08 ERA, 3.65 FIP, with 18 strikeouts to six walks in 17.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 6-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies last Tuesday, in which he allowed just three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in six and two thirds innings.
He’ll be facing off against Reds right-hander Brady Singer, who enters today’s game with a 7.71 ERA, 4.22 FIP, with 13 strikeouts to three walks in 11.2 innings pitched. His last start was in the Reds’ 7-4 loss to the Miami Marlins last Wednesday, in which he allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with three strikeouts in two and two thirds innings.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 13: Rob Refsnyder #30 of the Seattle Mariners warms up before a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Peoria Stadium on March 13, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
For those of you who have been clamoring to see Patrick Wisdom, rejoice. Mariners GM Justin Hollander today announced that Rob Refsnyder is headed to the paternity list for the birth of his third child. With the lineup desperately lacking righty hitting, the Mariners are bypassing recently-extended top prospect Colt Emerson for now and instead selecting righty-hitting Patrick Wisdom from Tacoma.
Wisdom, 34, has been off to a hot start to the season, currently leading all of MiLB with nine home runs. A true three true outcome player, Wisdom won’t help the Mariners solve their strikeout issues, but he’s been thumping the ball with regularity in Tacoma and will provide a solid counterpoint to the Luke Raley/Dominic Canzone parts of the lineup. Wisdom’s defensive home is a little more of a challenge, as he’s limited to first base, currently occupied by Josh Naylor, and with outfielder and fellow righty Victor Robles still on the shelf with no timetable for a return, that does make things somewhat dicey defensively.
Meanwhile, Refsnyder will get a mental break after a rough start to his season. The 35-year-old has only gotten in to eight games so far this season, but is still looking for his first hit after being brought in this off-season to balance a lefty-heavy lineup.
Wisdom is not in the lineup tonight as the team faces righty Michael King to open the three-game set with San Diego.
To make room for Wisdom on the 40-man roster, the Mariners DFA’d RHP Blas Castaño. A contact manager more than a strikeout pitcher who stands a generously listed five-foot-ten, Castaño has been with the Mariners since 2024. He’s likely return to Tacoma on waivers unless another team is tempted by his shiny ERA of 1.42.
