Category: Baseball

Worcester, Game 1: L, 2-4 (BOX SCORE)

Jake Bennett, who had his start derailed by a day due to rain, continues his hot start to 2026. He now has 16 1/3 innings with just one run earned, and continued that with three innings of shutout ball. However, neither that or the okay relief work was enough to propel Worcester to a win in Nashville (Brewers AAA). The WooSox had seven base runners all afternoon and only got some runs on the board via some singles courtesy of two-thirds of their outfield, Nate Eaton and Kristian Campbell. Eaton had two knocks of his own, but the WooSox had no lead enough built up; Devin Sweet let a lead turned into a tie, and Luis Guerrero let the go-ahead run in. Well, maybe there’d be more luck in game two of the double-header?

Worcester, Game 2: L, 2-4 (BOX SCORE)

No, it’s not de ja vu, it’s not a typo. This game was also a 4-2 loss by Worcester, and the starting pitcher also went three scoreless innings, and the bullpen also struggled. Vinny Capra also hit an RBI. An outfielder hit another RBI. Man, a lot of similarities between these two games… huh… still, Worcester has now lost four straight.

Portland: L, 3-5 (BOX SCORE)

Friday’s game in Altoona (Pirates AA) was a loss following a less-than-fulfilling Double-A debut by Jay Allmer and Dalton Rogers allowing five walks in 4 1/3 innings.

The loss is unimportant in the grand scheme, though. It’s time to start having a conversation about the trajectory of Franklin Arias’ 2026 season. After initially finding every way but home runs to get on base, he now has three home runs in a week. His OPS has now climed back above 1.5, and he emerges as a real option for a promotion, not just to Worcester, but eventually to the show before the end of the season. He has the same batting average as about three members of the lineup combined, and provides defensive stability, having just one error on the season so far. Worcester’s infield consists of some guys with experience who can aid younger guys like Mikey Romero and Arias along. He’s also still just 20, so there’s plenty of growth to continue for the team’s number two prospect. And, oh yeah, the homer was a BOMB to straightaway center:

WE GOT 3 HOMERS IN 3 GAMES FOR FRANKLIN ARIAS!

The added strength looks to be really paying off. He had 8 total homers in 2025. His stock seems like it’s about to transform… pic.twitter.com/bS0Z61JAOL

— Tyler Milliken (@tylermilliken_) April 17, 2026

Greenville: W, 8-7 (F/10) (BOX SCORE)

It took extra innings for the farm to have their lone winner, but, like their Major League counterparts, the Drive walked it off. This one had quite a bit more offense, though. Kyson Witherspoon started things off with a 4 1/3 innings outing where he allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, and from there the rest of the night was about avoiding facing Bowling Green (Rays High-A) center fielder Connor Husjak, who had four hits on the night. The Drive enjoyed two home runs on the night, but the most important moment of the night came on a sacrifice fly by Adonis Guzman following a Freili Encarnacion lead-off single to start the 10th. It was ugly, but a win is a win.

Salem: L, 5-7 (BOX SCORE)

Salem, like Worcester, has now lost four consecutive games. It’s tough to win games when the starting pitcher allows two home runs in four innings, but, as those two long balls were half of the total hits he allowed, matters could have been a lot worse… such as when the next reliever came in and allowed three more runs on four walks. Salem had two home runs of their own, also in the early going, the first two innings, but simply didn’t have the offense when it counted, having just four chances to knock runs in on the night and only converting once. Following a hot start, Salem is now 7-6.

I need to make an Arias pun here to shift focus back onto his amazing start to 2026, so have a Frankl-y-uhhhhh-in amazing Saturday!

The Royals’ early-season story is starting to take shape — and it’s a mix of promise, frustration, and big questions.

In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, hosts Jacob Milham and Jeremy “Hokius” Greco break down the Kansas City Royals’ recent performance against the Detroit Tigers, focusing on the team’s offensive inconsistencies, bullpen volatility, and overall outlook. While flashes of production from hitters like Vinnie Pasquantino and the rising impact of Jac Caglianone provide optimism, the Royals’ struggles in low-scoring games highlight how thin the margin for error has been.

The discussion takes a deeper look at the bullpen’s recent instability, where rotating struggles among relievers and potential injury concerns have complicated late-game management. On the positive side, the hosts highlight encouraging signs from veterans like Michael Wacha, whose underlying metrics suggest he may be outperforming expectations, and preview a key upcoming start from Noah Cameron as the Royals face the New York Yankees.

Beyond Kansas City, the episode explores a major development across MLB: the potential record-breaking sale of the San Diego Padres, which could reshape league economics, influence payroll expectations, and impact future labor discussions. The hosts also provide updates on the ongoing Kansas City stadium situation, examining the latest developments in funding discussions and what it could mean for the franchise and community.

Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

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– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social

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– Podcast: @RoyalRundownPod

Mets fans, if you don’t already know Jack Wenninger, you may want to start to. 

The right-handed pitching prospect quietly put together a tremendous showing in Double-A last season, posting a 2.92 ERA and finishing second to Jonah Tong in the Eastern League with 147 strikeouts.

He also impressed in the Spring Breakout game and his three outings in big-league camp. 

Wenninger was bumped up to Triple-A for the first time in his career to begin this year, and thus far he’s been able to carry over that success to the new level.  

The 24-year-old was extremely effective again on Friday, holding Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to just one run on a Spencer Jones homer while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings.

He now has a 1.26 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 15 K’s over his first three starts.

Wenninger, the No. 8 prospect in the system, may not project as a top of the rotation starter, but he gives SNY’s Joe DeMayo the feel of a high-floor No. 4 guy. 

According to DeMayo, his deep arsenal includes a fastball that touches 97 mph, a swing-and-miss splitter, a cutter, sinker, gyro slider, and he’s also thrown a curveball at times. 

Wenninger isn’t the only Syracuse arm who has been dealing of late, as Christian Scott has also put together back-to-back terrific outings after a rough first start of the season.

With both Kodai Senga and David Peterson struggling to find their footing, perhaps there could be an opening for one of the young arms to join the big league rotation in the near future.   

Carlos Mendoza was noncommittal on Senga taking his next turn after the right-hander was knocked around by the Cubs in the team's ninth straight loss on Friday afternoon. 

Senga has given up two homers in each of his last two outings, allowing a whopping 13 runs (12 earned) on 14 hits and five walks with just six strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

He’s now up to an ugly 8.83 ERA and 1.90 WHIP on the year. 

Peterson actually lowered his ERA his last time out against the Dodgers, but he still wasn't effective and is sitting at a mark of 6.41 through his first four starts. 

The top three have been very solid to this point, but the Mets are going to need much better pitching performances from the bottom of the rotation as they look to turn things around.

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We have a busy Saturday across the big leagues, and that means lots of opportunities for baseballs to leave the yard.  

My MLB player props and home run analysis will include Aaron Judge, Ian Happ, and Jordan Walker. 

Read all about it in my MLB picks for Saturday, April 18.  

Best MLB home run props today

Aaron Judge (+220)

Aaron Judge may be hitting just .240, but his power numbers are already heading in the right direction.

The reigning AL MVP has clubbed eight home runs in 20 games. He’s gone deep in two of his last three contests, and although he was kept in the yard on Friday, Judge still smacked a double. 

The New York Yankees face the Kansas City Royals again today, and Judge will face Noah Cameron. He’s 1-for-3 against the left-hander with a long ball.

Cameron has surrendered two homers already, and Judge has gone deep four times off southpaws in 2026. 

• Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Royals.TV, YES

Ian Happ (+590)

Ian Happ is a player with pop in his bat, going deep 20+ times in each of the last three seasons. He’s on track for a fourth in ‘26, clubbing five home runs through the first few weeks.

Happ will be looking forward to today's matchup against New York Mets righty Freddy Peralta. 

While he’s only 4-for-37 off Peralta, three of those hits have been bombs. He left Wrigley in the series opener on Friday, and Happ has three homers off right-handed pitchers.

Peralta has had trouble with the long ball too, surrendering three in just four starts.

• Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: SNY, MARQ

Jordan Walker (+520)

Jordan Walker has been a pleasant surprise for the St. Louis Cardinals early on. The slugger also has eight home runs, and he’s hitting .316.

The 23-year-old has gone yard three times in his last six contests, and tonight’s matchup profiles to be a clear chance to keep smack No. 9. 

The Cards are up against Houston Astros righty Lance McCullers Jr. He’s struggling, posting a 5.87 ERA through three starts.

While McCullers has only allowed one homer, the short porch in left in Houston undoubtedly plays in Walker’s favor. He’s in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak as well. 

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, SCHN

Today’s HR parlay

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

DENVER –– This time a year ago, Tyler Glasnow failed a bad-weather test.

On April 6 of last season, the Dodgers right-hander was rolling right along through the first two innings of a start at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies.

But then a rainstorm moved in, Glasnow lost his composure, and he failed to record an out in what became a disastrous five-run meltdown.

Such moments marred much of Glasnow’s first two seasons with the Dodgers. He would flash otherworldly potential. He would look like one of the game’s best pitchers. Then something would go wrong –– be it a mechanical flaw, a lack of feel for his throw, or outside factors like a late-spring shower amid a hostile Philadelphia crowd –– and suddenly, the $136.5 million starter would spiral into uncharacteristic form.

That’s why his outing Friday night in Denver against the Rockies was so important.

The competition wasn’t daunting, but the environment sure was.

He was making his first career start in the pitching torture chamber known as Coors Field. He was doing it on a day when snow fell for much of the afternoon, leaving the playing surface far from pristine. And when first pitch arrived, the 35-degree temperature marked the lowest on record in Dodgers’ franchise history.

They were all built-in excuses.

But in seven innings of one-run ball, Glasnow didn’t need them.

Instead, in the latest sign of growth from the 32-year-old All-Star, Glasnow navigated the game with remarkable ease. 

He worked around walks in the first and third innings. He didn’t give up his first hit until the bottom of the fourth. After that, he retired 11 batters in a row as the Dodgers pulled away for an eventual 7-1 victory. He finished with seven strikeouts and no moments of discernible stress.

“I think just feeling good was helpful,” Glasnow said afterward. “On days you feel bad, [the conditions] might affect you a little bit more. But I think today, I just felt good.”

Glasnow has felt good since the start of spring training, beginning this season with more comfort in his delivery than he said he’s had in years.

The injuries that repeatedly derailed his 2024 and 2025 seasons were behind him. The mechanical tweaks he made in search of better health had finally sunk in.

All camp, he talked about throwing “free and easy,” and taking an “external” mindset on the mound that allowed him to simply compete.

As manager Dave Roberts put it before Friday’s game, “he’s a different person for me” compared to a year prior. 

“Some of the things that he can control, he’s really manning right now and got a handle on,” Roberts said. “I think he’s grown exponentially. So I don’t see these that conditions are gonna affect him today.”

If anything, Glasnow joked the cold almost helped him.

“I’m usually super hot and sweaty,” he said, “so it was almost kind of nice.”

Just one more example of his growing self-assurance –– one the Dodgers hope has him primed for a career-best campaign.

“I think in years past, things affected him. He’ll admit that,” Roberts said. “I think right now where he’s at, he’s just put the blinders on and he’s performed. For us, that’s really good to see.”

Indeed, Glasnow acknowledged “I definitely feel different this year compared to last year,” noting that there were times in 2025 that “I just didn’t really feel like myself” as he worked through mechanical tweaks.

“When you pitch a certain way for so long, and then you switch up so many things, you just kind of feel in unfamiliar territory,” he said.

But finally, he and pitching coaches Mark Prior and Connor McGuiness found something leading into the playoffs. 

They adjusted Glasnow’s lower-body alignment. They suggested a mental cue in the way he lets his glove arm lead his throw. And then they watched in October as he took the changes and ran with them, turning in a 1.69 ERA during the team’s World Series run.

Ever since, Glasnow’s confidence has only been amplified. His ability to be “freer” and “more athletic” on the mound has steadily improved.

“I can focus on what I need to focus on,” he said.

Like attacking with his lively 96 mph fastball. Dropping gravity-defying curveballs when he gets ahead in the count. And mixing in the occasional slider and even sinker, a pitch he has added back to his arsenal since arriving in Los Angeles.

With Friday’s gem, Glasnow now has a 3.24 ERA with 29 strikeouts and only six walks in his first four starts this season. Roberts believes those numbers –– while still plenty excellent –– should be even better, insisting they belie the consistent dominance he has shown for much of the year.

If his conquering of Coors Field was any indication, in short time they likely will be.

Where Glasnow melted down in the past, this time he aced his test among the snow.

---

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Good morning, LSB.

The Rangers and Jacob deGrom held the Mariners scoreless last night in a 5-0 win.

Evan Grant writes that the Rangers made a statement with their first Seattle shutout in nearly four years.

Kennedi Landry writes about deGrom fighting through early trouble for the win.

Elsewhere it looks like Josh Sborz will remain a Ranger for now.

Mark Canha, meanwhile, has been wished the best in his future endeavors.

Robert Garcia is expected to avoid the IL, thankfully for Texas’ beat up bullpen.

And finally the Angels honored the late Garrett Anderson during an emotional night at the Big A.

That’s all for this morning. Have a great weekend!

Diamondbacks News

Soroka and Arenado Lead Complete Win Over Jays
Michael Soroka continued his unlikely start to the season, allowing only two runs across seven innings. Nolan Arenado hit another home run as he continued to show signs of his bat warming up. The rest of the team chipped in timely hits and a bit of fortunate defending. Sewald pitched possibly his least stressful save of the season thus far. The result was Arizona taking the first of the series against last year’s World Series team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Soroka Picks Up Fourth Win
Michael Soroka just pitched one of his best outings in a few years.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Could Return this Weekend
THe recovering left fielder started for the AA Amarillo Sod Poodles yesterday. Depending on how things look this morning, the 26-man roster may see his return to the lineup to give an already winning team a much-needed boost.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Nearng Return
A more complete look at the circumstances around Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Snakes Prospect Manuel Pena has HR Streak Come to End
The unheralded Sod Poodle homered in five consecutive games as he put his name in the team’s history books.

Other Baseball News

Angels All-Star Outfielder, Garret Anderson at 53
Garret Anderson, the multitalented outfielder who became the Los Angeles Angels’ career hits leader and led the team to its only World Series title in 2002, has died at age 53, the Angels announced.

Dodgers-Rockies Game Experiences Snow Storm Difficulties
Come first pitch, the temps had risen to a balmy 35 degrees.

The Dodgers and Rockies play here in four hours pic.twitter.com/lbAU1xZnPG

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 17, 2026

Can Extensions Go Too Far?
One of the less talked about big stories of the early 2026 season is the number of big-time extensions handed out to big prospects, even before reaching the Majors. But are some of these pseudo-mega-deals going too far? A likely answer will be found with the Chicago Cubs and PCA.

Seidler Family Nearing Deal To Sell Padres To José E. Feliciano
The deal values the Padres franchise at close to $3.9 billion, which would shatter the previous record for a big league franchise in a sale. Steve Cohen’s $2.4 billion purchase of the Mets in 2020 currently stands as the record. You simply are not going to convince me that MLB is not growing financially by leaps and bounds as these sorts of figures factor into the upcoming CBA talks.

This might be the worst ending to a game I've ever seenpic.twitter.com/oK7m7J2CBJ

— Baseball King (@BasebaIlKing) April 17, 2026

Brock Stewart made his second rehab appearance for the Class-A Tower Buzzers on Friday night in Ontario, three days after his first appearance.

This time around, Stewart retired the first two batters before allowing a two-out single then hit a batter in an eight-pitch battle. He was pulled with two outs in the inning, already at 22 pitches. Both runners were stranded.

Brock Stewart back on the mound ⭐️💙 pic.twitter.com/MQ2AhKoily

— Ontario Tower Buzzers (@towerbuzzers) April 18, 2026

This is expected to be a multi-week rehab stint for Stewart, who did not pitch in spring training after right shoulder surgery late last September.

Player of the day

Double-A Tulsa third baseman Jake Gelof was a triple shy of the cycle, including a two-run walk-off home run on Friday night.

JAKE GELOF 2-RUN HOME RUN TO WALK IT OFF FOR A DRILLERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/85zu3fDk0g

— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) April 18, 2026

Gelof tripled, doubled, and singled in his three-RBI affair.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Comets built a 13-3 lead then held on for a one-run win over the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies). Each team had an eight-run inning — Oklahoma City in the fifth, Albuquerque in the seventh.

Every Comets starter had at least one hit and scored at least one run. All nine starters also reached base at least twice, including Ryan Fitzgerald with a triple and three RBI, and Zach Ehrhard with two hits and three RBI.

Ronan Kopp faced eight batters and retired three of them with a four-walk outing. He gave up the first five runs in the seventh. Griff McGarry, acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, gave up a run and two walks and two strikeouts in the ninth before getting removed with two outs in his Dodgers organization debut. Jordan Weems stranded the tying and winning runs on base with a strikeout to earn the save.

Ryan Ward was originally in Oklahoma City’s lineup at first base but he did not play on Friday, with Nick Senzel batting third and playing first base in his place. That’s because Ward is joining the Dodgers in Denver, per Fabian Ardaya at The Athletic. When he might be activated is another story.

Double-A Tulsa

Gelof’s home run completed a comeback that began in the eighth inning of the Drillers’ win over the Arkansas Travelers (Mariners).

Tulsa trailed 4-1 after starter Patrick Copen was chased in the fifth inning, but Kelvin Ramirez struck out three in his 2 1/3 scoreless frames, followed by scoreless innings from Lucas Wepf and Nick Robertson. Robertson struck out the side in the ninth to earn the win.

Josue De Paula had two hits and a run batted in the victory.

High-A Great Lakes

Down 4-0 in the fifth inning of the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, the Loons rallied for three runs in the final three innings to salvage a split with the Dayton Dragons (Reds). Mike Sirota, who doubled and scored the only run for Great Lakes in the opener, had two hits in the nightcap, including a triple and two-run, walk-off double in the seventh.

#Dodgers No. 4 prospect, Mike Sirota, with the WALK-OFF double! pic.twitter.com/fkcuD02roz

— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) April 18, 2026

Logan Tabeling struck out eight in 3 1/3 innings in his start of the second game, allowing only one unearned run. Cody Morse struck out three in two perfect innings to earn the win in the nightcap.

Sterling Patick walked the tightrope early on in the first game, allowing eight baserunners in the first three innings but stranded them all. In the fourth, he wasn’t as fortunate, allowing a single, walk, two stolen bases, and three runs (two earned) while recording just one out.

Class-A Ontario

The Tower Buzzers scored single runs in the final four innings, but fell one run short of the Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies), who rode a four-run seventh inning to victory.

Jesus Tillero was previously unscored upon in his first 11 innings of the season, with 13 strikeouts. But he had a wild night on Friday with five walks while allowing four runs in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Starter Cam Leiter struck out three in two scoreless innings on the mound.

Outfielder Ching-Hsien Ko hit a solo shot in the sixth inning, his first home run in Class-A in his 34th game at the level. He had a three-hit night and is 5-for-7 since getting activated off the injured list Wednesday.

Infielder Jose Hernandez, who homered once in three games for Rancho Cucamonga last year, homered in the ninth inning to pull the Tower Buzzers to within one, his first home run in eight games for Ontario.

Emil Moralez, playing third base on Friday, had three hits in the loss.

Transactions

Triple-A: Friday’s originally scheduled starting pitcher was River Ryan, but he was placed on the seven-day injured list instead, with a hamstring issue per Comets announcer Alex Freedman on the broadcast. That made active roster room for right-hander Chayce McDermott, who was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

Class-A: Outfielder Brendan Tunink was Ontario’s hottest hitter to open the season, hitting .379/.424/.828 with three home runs and four doubles in eight games. But he was placed on the injured list on Friday after getting hurt scoring on a single from second base in Tuesday’s game. Tower Buzzers manager John Shoemaker didn’t want to commit to a timetable for Tunink. “Hard to say, it’s a little bit of a hamstring issue,” he said. “Sometimes those are tough to come back from. We just don’t know yet.”

Friday scores

• Oklahoma City 13, Albuquerque 12
• Tulsa 5, Arkansas 4
• Dayton 8, Great Lakes 1 (Game 1)
• Great Lakes 5, Dayton 4 (Game 2)
• Fresno 5, Ontario 4

Saturday schedule

• 10:05 a.m. PT: Great Lakes (Zach Root) vs. Dayton (Beau Blanchard)
• 5 p.m.: Tulsa (Wyatt Crowell) vs. Arkansas (Ryan Sloan)
• 5:35 p.m.: Oklahoma City (Jackson Ferris) at Albuquerque (TBA)
• 6:05 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) vs. Fresno (Angel Jimenez)

All told, it was a mixed bag of results down on the farm on Friday, as Atlanta’s four minor league affiliates split their contests and went 2-2 on the night. However, there were a handful of individual performances that stood out.

(12-7) Gwinnett Stripers 3, (13-6) Memphis Redbirds 5

• Jim Jarvis, SS: 3-3, 2 BB
• Brewer Hicklen, 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
• Elieser Hernandez, SP: 5 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 4 K

Box Score

It’s hard to get any meaningful offense going when your starting pitcher gives up three homers, and that’s exactly what happened to Gwinnett in their loss to Memphis. However, Jim Jarvis continued his incredible offensive display on the year, raising his average to .411.

On Friday, Jarvis managed to go 3-3 — including a leadoff single off the bat at 104.6 MPH — with a pair of walks to his credit to raise his OPS on the season to 1.081. Coming into the season, Jarvis was viewed by most as simply a potential bench piece in the event of an injury or two at the big league level.

Given his torrid start, Jarvis may very well force Atlanta’s hand if he continues to hit like this and there’s a good possibility he may be the first name called up in the event Atlanta needs a replacement infielder for whatever reason.

Starter Elieser Hernandez worked five innings, but scattered eight hits — three of which left the park — while striking out four.

The Stripers briefly held a 2-1 lead in this one after Brewer Hicklen launched a two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning. However, that lead would be short-lived as Hernandez gave up a pair of homers in the home half of the same inning.

HICKLEN NAILS HIS FIRST HOME RUN OF THE SEASON pic.twitter.com/TI4mNRKh6Y

— Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) April 18, 2026

Gwinnett would tack on another run in the top of the eighth inning as Chadwick Tromp doubled home Rowdy Tellez to make it a 5-3 deficit, but that would prove to be too much as the Stripers failed to put together any additional offense.

(8-5) Columbus Clingstones 6, (6-7) Biloxi Shuckers 4

• Lizandro Espinoza, SS: 2-5, 2 RBI, R
• Archer Brookman, C: 3-4, 2B, 2 R
• Cal Conley, 2B: 3-4, 3 R, RBI
• Brett Sears, SP: 6 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 3 K

Box Score

Columbus extended their win streak to three games with a 6-4 win over Biloxi on Friday night thanks in part to solid hitting and clutch relief pitching.

Brett Sears got the start on the mound for the Clingstones and while he wasn’t exactly sharp — as he surrendered four runs on seven hits and a walk — he still managed to go six innings while striking out three in the process. The best performance on the mound for Columbus came from reliever Luis Vargas, who tossed two shutout innings while holding Biloxi hitless and striking out three to get the save.

At the plate, Columbus got several key contributions on the night.

Lizandro Espinoza managed to go 2-5 with a pair of RBI, including taking an 0-2 pitch in the bottom of the eighth to the opposite field, plating Cal Conley to extend the Clingstones’ lead to 6-4.

Espi Adds On! pic.twitter.com/4LA1cF8xub

— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) April 18, 2026

With his performance, Espinoza raised his season OPS to .942 thus far while batting .279.

In additional offensive performances, Cal Conley and Archer Brookman both went 3-4, while the former drove in one run and scored three and the latter scored two runs on the night as well.

(6-7) Rome Emperors 3, (7-5) Jersey Shore BlueClaws 2

• John Gil, SS: 1-4, 2 RBI
• Eric Hartman, CF: 2-4, R
• Owen Carey, DH: 1-4
• Cade Kuehler, SP: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 K

Box Score

Thanks to a solid outing on the mound from Cade Kuehler and several key offensive performances, Rome narrowly came away with a win against Jersey Shore to move to one game under .500.

Across five innings of work, Kuehler scattered five hits while allowing two runs and striking out three on the night. Not only was it his longest outing of the season thus far, but it was by far his most productive as he gave up two runs in three innings in his first start of the season and followed that up by giving up five runs in three innings his next time out.

On a positive note, Kuehler has only issued four walks in 11 innings of work, so hopefully it’s the start of turning things around for Kuehler.

Offensively, Rome struggled mightly through the first 6.2 innings of play in this one before things finally broke in the Emperors’ favor.

Eric Hartman and Owen Carey had respectable nights as Hartman went 2-4 with a run scored and Carey laced a single in his only hit of the night.

The biggest hit of the night, however, came off the bat of John Gil who, in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded, laced an 0-1 changeup back up the middle to plate two runs and tie the game at 2-2.

WE ARE TIED! #Rulethelandpic.twitter.com/UJlMl8DYrN

— Rome Emperors (@GoEmperors) April 18, 2026

After what was an encouraging spring training, it’s been relatively rough on Gil recently as he went hitless in his previous three games entering Friday night. Still, he has a pair of homers and perhaps heroics leading to a win will be just what the young shortstop needs to get back on track.

Following Gil’s two-RBI knock, Eric Hartman crossed the plate after a balk was called, giving Rome the 3-2 lead.

In relief, Owen Hackman was excellent as he tossed three innings while only walking one batter and striking out three as he recorded the win for the Emperors.

(7-6) Augusta GreenJackets 2, (3-10) Fayetteville Woodpeckers 7

• Dalton McIntyre, RF: 3-4, 2B
• Junior Garcia, DH: 1-4, 2 RBI
• Tate Southisene, 2B: 1-4
• Alex Lodise, SS: 1-4, R
• Ethan Bagwell, SP: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Box Score

All in all, there wasn’t much that went right for Augusta Friday as the GreenJackets ultimately fell by a 7-2 final to Fayetteville.

Ethan Bagwell got the start on the mound and while he was decent — producing six strikeouts across 4.2 innings of work while giving up two earned runs — his offense failed to provide ample support in return. Bagwell has been a bright spot early on this season, as he’s currently carrying an ERA of 2.55 across 17.2 innings pitched to go along with 17 strikeouts and four walks.

As mentioned, there wasn’t much to write home about in terms of the offense despite the GreenJackets tallying just one hit less than the Woodpeckers in this one.

Dalton McIntyre led the way by going 3-4 with a double to his credit, while Junior Garcia tallied a two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring home Augusta’s lone two runs on the night.

Tate Southisene and Alex Lodise each registered a hit as well, with Lodise also scoring a run in the process.

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The New York Mets will hope to end a nine-game losing streak as they visit the Chicago Cubs for the second game of their weekend series on Saturday afternoon.

New York is in a deep hole right now, and I like Chicago to pile on at home and win in my Mets vs. Cubs predictions.

Read on to see my full analysis of this matchup in my free MLB picks for Saturday, April 18.

Who will win Mets vs Cubs today: Cubs moneyline (-112)

The New York Mets have suffered offensively during their current losing streak, being shut out three times and averaging 1.78 runs over its last nine games. Francisco Lindor is hitting .200 while new arrival Bo Bichette is catching the ire of Mets fans thanks to his .564 OPS.

The Chicago Cubs come into today having won three straight, scoring 10+ runs in each game. While Freddy Peralta (1-1, 3.86 ERA) has pitched well enough to give the Mets chances to win, Chicago should score more than enough to outpace this floundering New York lineup. I like the Cubs to win at home.

Mets vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (-118)

The four runs the Mets scored on Friday constituted a breakout for them, as it was the first time in five games they scored more than two runs. Veteran Jameson Taillon (0-1, 4.86 ERA) has struggled in his last two starts, but facing New York gives him a great chance to get right while the Mets’ bats are cold.

After a shaky opener, Peralta has been solid for the Mets, allowing just five runs in 16 innings over his last three starts. The Cubs have a .727 OPS against right-handed pitching this season, 61 points lower than their mark against southpaws. I like both pitchers to keep this game manageable and help us hit the Under.

Mets vs Cubs odds

• Moneyline: New York +101 | Chicago -112
• Run line: New York -1.5 (+152) | Chicago +1.5 (-175)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+109) | Under 8.5 (-121)

Mets vs Cubs trend

The Mets are 0-9 straight up in their last nine games overall. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. Cubs.

How to watch Mets vs Cubs and game info

Mets vs Cubs latest injuries

Mets vs Cubs weather

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Of all the players who donned the pinstripes, Dennis Rasmussen was certainly one of them. If we’re only looking at the numbers, he was a pretty forgettable starter who was often competent but rarely dominant. And as he played for the good-but-not-good-enough Yankees of the mid-80s, he has no rings nor legendary postseason exploits to his name. However, one biographical detail elevates Rasmussen’s story from the humdrum to the sublime.

Dennis Lee Rasmussen
Born: April 18, 1959 (Los Angeles, CA)
Yankees Tenure: 1984-87

Strictly sticking to baseball, Dennis Rasmussen’s biggest claim to fame may be being involved in three high-profile trades early in his career. The California Angels selected Rasmussen in the first round of the 1980 MLB Draft, only to ship him to the Yankees as part of a package for Tommy John following the 1982 season. Just the following year, the Yankees flipped him (along with another prospect) to the Padres for 1975 NL Rookie of the Year John Montefusco.

Rasmussen reached the big leagues with the Padres that year, posting a 1.98 ERA over four appearances and one start. However, San Diego would not be his forever home. Days before the start of the 1984 season, the Padres dealt Rasmussen back to the Yankees along with a PTBNL for Graig Nettles. Between John, Montefusco, and Nettles, that’s upwards of 160 total WAR entangled in the Dennis Rasmussen trade tree. 

While Rasmussen did not quite match the production of the players he was traded for, he was a solid pitcher in his own right, especially during his time with the Yankees. Across four years and 103 appearances (96 starts), he compiled a 39-24 record with a 4.28 ERA (4.53 FIP). Not amazing, but firmly within “dependable fifth starter” territory. His best year in terms of traditional stats was 1986, when he went 18-6 with a 3.88 ERA (albeit with a 4.40 FIP). Rasmussen stood out in particular on NBC’s “Game of the Week” over the Fourth of July weekend, when he registered his first career shutout, blanking the White Sox on three hits.

Rasmussen was the de facto ace of the rotation, a feat made more impressive by the fact that he barely made the team out of spring training—George Steinbrenner had publicly declared that he would send Rasmussen to Triple-A following a spring start gone awry, but a series of injuries to the rest of the staff opened up a spot for Rasmussen, and he ran with it.

That 1986 campaign earned Rasmussen an Opening Day start the following year, the only one of his career, at Detroit against Jack Morris. He pitched seven innings of one-run ball as the Yankees won in extras 2-1. However, the rest of ’87 was not as kind to Rasmussen. After a particularly brutal stretch to start August, in which he allowed 21 earned runs over six starts, the Yankees traded him to the Reds for Bill Gullickson. This ended Rasmussen’s time in the Bronx.

To his credit, Rasmussen did not go quietly afterwards. He pitched well for the Reds down the stretch in 1987, posting a 3.97 ERA (3.44 FIP) and 1.0 WAR over seven starts to close out the year. And though he struggled mightily to start the 1988 season, prompting the Reds to ship him to the Padres, it was there that Rasmussen truly shone for the first, and only, time in his career, winning 14 of 20 starts with a 2.55 ERA (3.18 FIP). He would pitch six more seasons in the majors but would never replicate that level of success, instead bouncing around the league as a back-end starter. He retired as a Kansas City Royal in 1995, at the age of 36. He then spent a couple of years as a minor-league coach for the (then) Devil Rays and Red Sox before leaving pro baseball altogether to spend time with his family. He returned to coaching in 2021, and is currently an Indy ball pitching coach for the Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League.

Rasmussen’s career was a fine one, if somewhat underwhelming for a first-round draft pick. But I’ve left out one crucial detail: Rasmussen accomplished all of the above with literally no cartilage in his left ankle. In fact, he nearly lost that foot altogether at the age of 14, when he was hit by a speeding car while riding a bike with his father. At the time of the crash, all that connected his foot to his leg was his Achilles tendon. Although his surgeon, a Vietnam vet, succeeded in reattaching his foot, no cartilage remained within, only bone against bone. 

Even after he recovered from that horrific injury, the condition of his foot prevented Rasmussen from running for any extended amount of time without his ankle swelling to an ungodly size. However, he was not deterred. Electing to do his cardio by riding on stationary bikes rather than running, he worked hard, proved skeptics wrong, rose through the minor leagues, and achieved one of the hardest feats anyone could hope for: he made the bigs, and he stayed there for 12 years. 

If that isn’t a story worth remembering, then I don’t know what is. Happy 67th, Dennis. I hope you have a good one.

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See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here

Good morning everyone and happy Saturday!

The Mariners’ slide continued yesterday in a flat 5-0 loss to the Rangers. Though the team is tied for third in the biggest split between xwOBA and wOBA and is 26th in BABIP, the hits just aren’t falling for the team yet.

To keep it on a positive note amongst all of the bellyaching, what’s one offense-related item that you’ve been encouraged by so far? I would say Cole Young’s increasing confidence and maturity is a huge development for the M’s since they’ve been in sore need of a competent, set-and-forget second baseman for years.

In Mariners news…

• In case you missed it, Bryce Miller is embarking on a rehab assignment with Tacoma, with his first start coming today. The team expects that he will need the full 30 days to get back to the big league club.
• Andrés Muñoz opened up about his blowup outing against San Diego and outlined what needs to change moving forward.
• Mariners reporter Angie Mentink spoke out about her use of AI to help prepare postgame interview questions for the team.
• Zac Hereth dug into the numbers behind the team’s unlucky start to the season.
• Make sure to submit your responses for the Lookout Landing Reverse Mailbag!
• The Mariners have started a new community fund to support the next generation of Black-led baseball.

• On the latest episode of the Cal Raleigh show, the backstop and reporter Shannon Drayer were joined by Pete Woodworth to talk about how the organization built their elite pitching culture.

Around the league…

• The Seidler family is reportedly closing in on a deal to sell the San Diego Padres to Puerto Rican businessman José E. Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones. The deal would value the organization at a record-breaking $3.9 billion.
• Former star Angels outfielder Garret Anderson passed away from a heart attack at the age of 53.
• Things continue to get worse for Mets infielder Jorge Polanco, who is now missing games with a wrist injury after previously dealing with left Achilles bursitis.
• Ryan Blake at Fangraphs revisited his look at Gen Z’s superstars, which really puts Juan Soto into statistical context against others of similar age.
• Yankees fans are tired of the constant stadium noise between pitches at the ballpark, but the players love it.
• We (well, at least I) still miss you, Ben!

Ben Williamson goes all out to make a spectacular play! pic.twitter.com/KJ3VDY8m5j

— MLB (@MLB) April 18, 2026

Jaylon Thompson writes about how the Royals lost again late in New York.

Lange threw a changeup that caught too much of the plate. McMahon got just enough of the pitch, as the baseball landed in the first row beyond the left-field wall.

“I feel like when you fall behind guys, bad things happen,” Lange said. “These hitters in this league are really good. It sucks … going out there and blowing a game. You feel like you let the boys down and they’ve been battling … all year.”

Anne Rogers writes about the Royals losing their fifth game in a row.

“Losses can beat you down,” Pasquantino said. “The way you’re performing can beat you down. You got to find a way to build yourself back up. This is a big-time confidence game. Things can change in one swing. We’ve talked about that quite a bit. One pitch, one swing, one defensive play. One stolen base. Anything can happen. We’re looking for that spark right now.

“We’ve just got to keep pushing forward. There’s nothing else we can do. We’re diligent in our work. We just got to make sure we’re doing the right things when we get out onto the field.”

Philip Ruo at Royals Keep looks at Isaac Collins’ drop in defense this year.

In 2026, Isaac Collins ranks 33rd out of 46 qualified outfielders in overall jump. His initial reaction is good, ranking third with 3.5 feet covered above average in the first 1.5 seconds. His burst is closer to average, with 0.3 feet covered above MLB average in the 1.5-second burst after the initial reaction.

The issue lies with his routes. Collins ranks last in route with 4.8 fewer feet covered against the direct, optimal path, over a foot worse than the second-worst outfielder.

Pete Grathoff writes about how Eric Hosmer is urging leadership in the Royals’ clubhouse.

“Honestly, it takes either Salvador Perez or Bobby Witt Jr. to walk in that clubhouse right now,” Hosmer said. “I’m sure those guys are sitting in their locker, staring at the wall, saying, ‘What happened?’

“One of those guys is going in there, saying, ‘Hey boys, that’s the fight, right there. You continue on with these next 130 games like that (and) we’re going to be where we want to be at the end of the year.’”

Sam McDowell writes the Royals need to provide more answers for this ballpark proposal than they did the last time.

As of Thursday, the Royals might have just been gifted an opportunity to fulfill their original vision, though they’re still seeking significant state contribution and potentially county contribution. But they’ve also been gifted an opportunity for a public perception reset.

It’s not yet clear how far-reaching they would pursue a surrounding ballpark district in a space that at first glance is tight. But no matter what is built, they would need to bring a couple of things they failed to deliver two years ago:

Details.

Public clarity.

“They have to be more transparent,” Eric Bunch, councilman for the Fourth District told me afterward. “It’s paramount.”

Joel Goldberg talks to Vinnie Pasquantino about his struggles.

What will happen to Crown Center under the potential stadium plan?

How Andy Pages injected offense into the Dodgers lineup.

Can contract extensions with young players go wrong?

The Angels may have found an ace in José Soriano.

Cubs pitcher Cade Horton has Tommy John surgery.

Tatsuya Imai thinks his arm injuries could stem in part from trouble adjusting to an American lifestyle.

Chelsea owner José E. Feliciano is close to buying the San Diego Padres for a MLB-record $3.9 billion.

Former All-Star closer Brad Lidge is now an archaeologist.

Authorities issue warnings after drones are spotted near Coors Field.

The MLBPA fired two executives for cause this week.

Longtime Angels star Garret Anderson dies at the age of 53.

Are the balls juiced in MLB the Show?

The Houston Texas sign defensive end Will Anderson to a three-year, $150 million deal.

Can history help predict who will the NBA title?

The shoe manufacturer Allbirds makes a baffling and ridiculed pivot to artificial intelligence.

Why robots can’t replace guide dogs.

Original ideas are starting to find success at the box office.

Your song of the day is Electric Light Orchestra with Rock n’ Roll Is King.

Triple-A: Durham (Rays) 19, Norfolk Tides 9

If you can believe it, the Tides had a 6-0 lead at one point in this game and later on held a 9-1 lead. Even still, this happened. The scoring started when Enrique Bradfield Jr. led off the third inning with a home run, his second of the season. The outfield prospect added another hit elsewhere in the game and has an .811 OPS through 10 games. Jhonkensy “Big Christmas” Noel hit a three-run homer that made it 9-1; he, however, is only OPSing .427.

The pitching, however… the pitching was bad. Very bad! Starting pitcher Levi Wells had it all fall apart in the fourth inning and by the time his night was over with no outs recorded in the fifth, he’d given up nine runs on 11 hits, including three home runs. A parade of Tides relievers also stunk it up over the remainder of the game to allow the remaining runs, of whom none are particularly notable other than rehabbing major leaguer Andrew Kittredge. For Kittredge, his one inning saw him give up three runs on four hits. No need to rush back.

Box score.

Double-A: New Hampshire (Blue Jays) 7, Chesapeake Baysox 6 – 10 innings

My guy Aron Estrada got two hits, including a double, to raise his season OPS to .626. There wasn’t much worth mentioning for the other hitting prospects on this roster. Hopefully it’s just an off day for guys like Thomas Sosa (1-5) and Ethan Anderson (0-5), who do have good season numbers, rather than the start of a trend.

This was also not a great day for starting pitching prospect Luis De León, with the lefty being tagged for seven hits while allowing four walks in four innings. That resulted in the Fisher Cats putting four runs on the board against him. Despite this, the Baysox took a 5-4 lead into the eighth inning, but then New Hampshire tied it up and won it in extras, eventually getting a walkoff wild pitch after an intentional walk and a bunt single loaded the bases with nobody out.

Box score.

High-A: Frederick Keys 7, Hudson Valley (Yankees) 1

In contrast to the previous two entries, and the one below it, there is actually some fun stuff to report from this game. Starting pitcher JT Quinn, an early draft pick last year, added a third excellent start to begin his first full pro season, posting five shutout innings with just three hits and one walk allowed. Quinn struck out seven Renegades batters. He has a 0.64 ERA and has struck out 23 batters in 14 innings this year. Pretty good.

Batting out of the leadoff spot, Ike Irish did an excellent job of setting the table. He reached base with two hits and a walk and also stole a pair of bases – though he still only scored one run since the guys after him, Nate George and Wehiwa Aloy, each took an 0-for. Things picked up from lower in the lineup, including the spring training sensation Vance Honeycutt, who hit his second home run of the season in the fourth inning. He’s only hitting .229 but is OPSing .814 on the young season. This includes reaching base in all nine games where he was in the starting lineup. His problems aren’t guaranteed to have been fixed, but it’s an interesting beginning.

Outfielder Braylin Tavera (3-4 including a two-run homer) and big man Victor Figueroa – one of the six players from the Padres trade last year – added multi-hit games as well. This continues to be the affiliate with the most excitement going on so far in 2026. Not that this is wholly reflected by their 5-7 record so far.

Box score.

Low-A: Fredericksburg (Nationals) 10, Delmarva Shorebirds 3

I have seen a lot of “the starting pitcher was bad, the defense was also bad, and so was the offense” games from the Shorebirds in recent years. Here’s another one. They committed three errors, although none of these led to unearned runs. But the real ugliness comes from starting pitcher Esteban Mejia, a hard-thrower who is battling command problems like many young hard-throwers do. What kind of command problems? How about, eight walks out of 13 batters faced in a 2.1 inning start? Yeah.

19-year-old DJ Layton, a sixth round overslot pick from two years ago, doubled and drew a walk out of the leadoff spot. The infielder has a 1.028 OPS across his first 12 games of the season. I’ll sign up for some more of that.

Box score.

Saturday’s Scheduled Games

• Norfolk: at Durham, 6:45. Starter: Brandon Young
• Chesapeake: at New Hampshire, 1:05. Starter: Sebastian Gongora
• Frederick: vs. Hudson Valley, 6:00. Starter: Juaron Watts-Brown
• Delmarva: at Fredericksburg, 6:35. Starter: Christian Rodriguez

Jackson Holliday is supposed to start a new minor league rehab assignment with Frederick this weekend, possibly as soon as today.

New footage has emerged from the massive brawl in the stands at Yankee Stadium earlier this week – showing a fan being stomped in the aisle as things escalated. 

The melee occurred during the Yankees’ 11-4 loss to the Angels on Thursday, with the initial video shot behind the fight in the left field upper deck. 

The new angle posted to Instagram is much closer to the action, showing a fan in a red shirt and one in a white shirt appearing to get into a verbal argument with another patron.

A fan in a gray Yankees shirt comes flying into the frame from the right side to throw a punch at the two individuals, momentarily knocking them into the seats as the crowd yells: ‘Oh!, Oh!”

The fans in the red and white shirts regain their footing as a Yankees supporter in a Gerrit Cole jersey gets into the scrap. The fan in the white shirt starts throwing hammer-fist punches at the fan in the grey shirt. 

This angle of a fight in the stands of the Los Angeles Angels vs New York Yankees game is absolutely crazy

Via – (blesskicks – IG) pic.twitter.com/Y1x1lwa0bG

— js9innings (@js9inningsmedia) April 17, 2026

The fan in the red shirt is confronted by another patron in a blue Yankees jersey, who he clocks in the face with a punch and shoves him down onto the steps. As that’s going on, the fan in the Gerrit Cole jersey appears to shove the other two fans to the ground.

As the video shifts its focus, the fan in the red shirt can be seen kicking and aggressively mushing the face of the blue-jerseyed fan as two other patrons try to de-escalate the situation to no avail.

The fan in the red shirt then starts stomping on the downed fan again before the two were finally pulled apart. 

The fan and the red shirt can be seen continuing to jaw at other fans across the aisles and appears to get one more kick in on the fans on the ground next to him, but it’s unclear if he made contact and to whom.

The fracas occurred as the Angels rallied in the sixth inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-4 lead.

The Yankees ended up splitting four games with the Angels before bouncing back with a 4-2 win over the Royals.