SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 15: Gavin Sheets #30 of the San Diego Padres high fives teammates in the dug out after scoring during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 15, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Gavin Sheets and Nick Castellanos hit homers off Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert and the San Diego Padres earned a 7-4 win at T-Mobile Park on Saturday night. Sheets opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the second inning to put the Padres up 1-0. With San Diego leading 2-0, Castellanos hit with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 5-0. That was all the run support Walker Buehler would need. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits over five innings of work. Buehler walked two and struck out six. Rodolfo Duran tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh inning with a two-run homerun, which was also his first hit in MLB. San Diego will look to complete the sweep of Seattle today at 4:20 p.m.
Rodolfo Duran recorded his first MLB hit and did it in style with a two-run home run. He almost added a second home run – int the same game – but Julio Rodriguez robbed him of that feat.
Manny Machado is never one to get too worried about results, so it is no surprise he is confident his slow start will turn around.
David Morgan was sent to the minors to work on his command issues that suddenly popped up this season. To this point the struggles have continued, which will keep him on the farm until he can make the necessary improvements.
Mason Miller is one of, if not the most, dominant pitchers in MLB. He is a precious commodity for the Padres, and they are trying to get the most out of him while at the same time protecting him to ensure he is healthy and effective for the entire season.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 06: Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on May 06, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
All four Dodgers minor league affiliates won on Saturday.
Player of the day
Alex Freeland homered for a second straight day, and liked it so much he did it twice on Saturday. After Friday’s homer was hit from the right side, Freeland on Saturday homered twice while batting left-handed, and also singled.
The Comets scored in five consecutive innings in a second straight rout of the Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies).
In addition to Freeland’s two home runs, Jack Suwinski helped break the game open with a three-run homer in the fifth inning. Suwinski has 19 extra-base hits (nine home runs, 10 doubles) in his last 23 games.
Shortstop Noah Miller also had three hits. Catcher Eliézer Alfonzo doubled, singled, and drove in two, giving him six hits over his last two games.
For the second consecutive day, Oklahoma City activated one of the Ryan brothers to start. On Friday it was River Ryan who pitched four innings in his first start in five weeks. Saturday was Ryder Ryan returning to the rotation after missing over three weeks with a back injury. He pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and just one single allowed.
Kiké Hernández played all nine innings in center field on Saturday and was had two walks in his five plate appearances.
Double-A Tulsa
The Drillers hit four home runs, erasing an early 4-0 deficit to beat the Springfield Cardinals.
Josue De Paula has exactly one hit in all five games of this series, including a home run on Saturday. Zyhir Hope homered, as did Jake Gelof. Kyle Nevin also homered and reached base four times with three hits and a walk.
Starter Adam Serwinowski allowed four runs on a grand slam in the third inning, but gave up nothing else through five innings. Serwinowski struck out a season-high nine and walked only one.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons trailed 5-1 after six innings, then scored once in the seventh and five runs in the eighth to stun the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers). The fateful eighth for Great Lakes included four singles, a triple by right fielder Samuel Muñoz, two walks, and a run-scoring wild pitch.
Mike Sirota and Jose Izarra each had two hits, including run-scoring singles for both in the eighth inning.
Alex Makarewich recorded six outs in a scoreless outing that stretched from the seventh into the ninth, then left-hander Matt Lanzendorfer entered with one on and the tying run at the plate and struck out his only two batters faced, the first professional save for the 2025 15th-round draft pick.
Left-hander Justin Chambers tied a career high with five strikeouts in his 2 1/3 innings, his longest outing of the season. Chambers allowed a run on two hits and also walked two. Free passes have been a problem for the 20-year-old, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers in January 2024 for left-hander Bryan Hudson. Chambers has 15 walks and 7.82 ERA in 10 1/3 innings this season to go with his 19 strikeouts, but he’s been better of late. In his first seven appearances this season, Chambers had a 26.3-percent walk rate and more walks (10) than strikeouts (seven). But in his five games since the left-hander has a 17.2-percent walk rate with five walks and 12 strikeouts.
Class-A Ontario
Chase Harlan had four hits in the Tower Buzzers’ win over the San Jose Giants, including a double, three singles, and a walk.
Emil Morales homered, while middle infielders Mairo Martinus and Joendry Vargas each had three hits.
Arizona Complex League
Peter Heubeck, who started 16 games last year for Double-A Tulsa before getting injured in July, made his 2026 season debut on Saturday in the rookie league at Camelback Ranch. The 23-year-old struck out all three batters he faced in a one-inning start, the first game back for the 2021 third-round draft pick.
Transaction
Triple-A: Ryder Ryan was activated off the injured list.
May 16, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; San Francisco Giants designated hitter Casey Schmitt (10) celebrates with shortstop Willy Adames (center right) after hitting a home run against the Athletics during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The San Francisco Giants had gone three games without a hit with a runner in scoring position. The offense just couldn’t string together anything of substance. They had become reliant on an inside-the-park-homer or solo shot from Luis Arraez, which is like relying on lightning strikes to be your home’s main provider of electricity.
Unsurprisingly, the Giants lost all three of those games.
The spate of innings without a RISP knock dated back to Jung Hoo Lee’s 7th inning double last Tuesday, and including the first two innings on Saturday’s contest in which a lead-off double by Willy Adames was promptly squandered in the 2nd, extended to 31 consecutive offensive frames, until it was mercifully snapped with a Casey Schmitt bloop with Jung Hoo Lee standing at second.
But in true 2026 Giants fashion, even that long-awaited hit wasn’t enough to score a run.
True to form, the bloop blooped, spinning indecisively in the airspace above shallow right-center, buffeted and carried by the winds coursing from left to right, as outfielder Nick Bolte charged in. Would he catch it? Would it find grass? Lee couldn’t be sure, and by the time it fell back to earth, the only option was a 90-foot progression to third. Station-to-station — sounds about right for this team. Laughable too, how this team found a way to technically snap their skid while still managing to hold onto the spirit of the slump. This feeling of disheartened disbelief grew even more palpable when this strike-3 call from Luis Severino to Rafael Devers was upheld.
But just when this long rope of recent ineffectiveness, stretching from Chavez Ravine to the banks of the American River, began to tighten around the line-up’s neck, Willy Adames decided to think opposite field, and slapped a first-pitch single into right field to plate two runs.
They had done it! The streak demon banished! The floodgates opened and the river of run-production and efficiency flowed!
Not exactly. Adames was thrown out at second to end the inning on the play. And while the offense did an impressive job of accruing 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position, they managed just three hits and left 11 runners stranded on base. Eight of their 11 strikeouts came with a runner in scoring position. Five of Severino’s seven strikeouts came in situations when a ball-in-play would’ve either advanced the runner or plated another run.
This is a happy recap, I promise. San Francisco did win this game 6 to 4, but this inefficiency with runners threatening and lack of situational hitting meant that, despite all the opportunity and semblance of control, a rough outing from a reliever, one decisive swing from an opponent’s bad, turned a breezy weekend win into a bit of a nail-biter.
With a 6-1 lead, Erik Miller, in his first game back from the IL, walked the first two batters he faced in the 8th (extending Nick Kurtz’s on-base streak to 39 games). Tony Vitello chose to swap him for Caleb Kilian against the right-handed Brent Rooker and after the mound visit, the call to the bullpen, the warm-up pitches, Kilian served up a first pitch slider that Rooker obliterated.
The Boog booged it — walk, walk, 3-run dinger, and a stressful ballgame. While it didn’t have the same effect as Kurtz’s Boog from Friday, it was a timely reminder that few leads are safe, that there’s never a strategic time to not-score or not pad a lead.
If San Francisco just relied on the two hits with RISP that scored runs (Adames, and Matt Chapman’s RBI double in the 7th), Rooker’s 3-run shot would’ve proved decisive and so so so depressing.
Thank god for Casey Schmitt and homers. Schmitt’s two homer game provided the other half of the Giants’ 6-run output. His team-leading seventh homer of the year came off Severino in the 1st, and his eighth, pinged off the right field foul pole in the 5th to give San Francisco a 5-0 lead at the time.
A diverse offensive portfolio. Singles with runners on base and homers after walks — that’s what we’ve been missing. Someone alert Buster and Tony that I’ve figured it out!
Good pitching helps too, and Trevor McDonald appears to be a good pitcher. In his third start of the year (and fifth of his career), he earned his second (and fourth) quality start, allowing just one earned run over 6.2 IP while needing just 90 pitches to do it.
The secret: throw strikes, make them hit the ball. The secret: keep the ball grounded when they hit the ball. With his dive-y sinker leading the charge, McDonald induced 9 groundball outs. Two of the A’s five hits on the day didn’t leave the infield. The two doubles he surrendered came with two outs and nobody on base.
The secret: field your position well. In the 5th, with a runner on and a run already scored, McDonald won a 3-2 battle against Kurtz with a heavy inside sinker that the big boy recognized but couldn’t help but offer at. Immediately after, Shea Langeliers lined the third out into McDonald’s glove.
The Rooker 3-run shot upped the heart rate for sure, but ultimately thanks to Schmitt, just enough knocks with runners in scoring position, and an excellent outing from Trevor McDonald, San Francisco evened the series in West Sacramento.
May 16, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Luke Weaver (30) reacts after retiring the side in the eighth inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets beat the Yankees 6-3 to even the Subway Series at one game apiece. It was a solid group effort, especially from the bullpen, highlighted by Luke Weaver escaping an inherited bases loaded, nobody out jam in the seventh to protect the lead.
Gerber is just with the Mets until they need a starter to fill Holmes’ spot. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com ran down the options the Mets have to replace Holmes in the rotation, including Tobias Myers, who was mentioned as a possibility by Carlos Mendoza during his pregame press conference.
Left-hander Anderson Severino was also briefly with the Mets on the taxi squad yesterday, but ultimately no roster move was made to activate him, as a player who had been feeling ill felt better ahead of last night’s game.
Juan Soto continues to be banged up, but is playing through his various minor ailments for now.
Veteran reliever Luke Jackson opted out of his minor league deal with the Mets yesterday.
Jon Matlack and Jerry Koosman fondly remember 1973 Met Buzz Capra, who passed away this week.
Around the National League East
The Nationals unleashed a 13-3 drubbing on the Orioles, powered by a seven-run seventh inning.
Similarly, the Marlins erupted for a whopping eight runs in the 10th inning to beat the Rays 10-5 in extra innings.
The Phillies blanked the Pirates 6-0 behind another fantastic outing by Cristopher Sánchez, who struck out 13 to maintain MLB’s longest active scoreless streak among pitchers.
Willson Contreras delivered a clutch go-ahead homer in the eighth, as the Braves suffered a dramatic 3-2 loss to the Red Sox that included Aroldis Chapman escaping a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to end the game.
Around Major League Baseball
The Red Sox placed shortstop Trevor Story on the injured list with a sports hernia. The team had been calling it a right groin injury, but Story recently underwent scans that revealed the more serious problem that may keep him sidelined for several weeks.
Tommy Pham, recently let go by the Mets, signed a minor league deal with the Orioles.
Blue Jays pitcher José Berríos will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair his fractured elbow and also to address potential loose bodies. Depending on whether there is ligament damage, Berríos could be sidelined for a couple of months or much longer.
Dodgers’ Blake Snell will also undergo surgery to address loose bodies in his elbow and could be out for awhile.
Gerrit Cole, pitcher with the New York Yankees, makes his rehab start with the Scranton Wilkes Rail Riders.
MOOSIC — At PNC Field, home of the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the pitch speed on the scoreboard rounds up.
So when Gerrit Cole threw a four-seam fastball 99.6 mph in the top of the third inning of his latest rehab start Saturday night against the Syracuse Mets, “100” popped up on the board. Later, in the fifth inning, he hit 99 mph with another four-seamer.
“Just the progression, getting stronger and stronger every outing,” Cole said. “It’s been coming the last few weeks.”
Those pitches were the highlights of a solid performance on Saturday by the six-time All-Star and 2023 American League Cy Young Award winner as he moved another step closer to returning to the New York Yankees from reconstructive elbow surgery on March 11, 2025. Cole went 5.1 innings and allowed one run and six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. He threw 86 pitches, 56 for strikes.
“Felt really good,” Cole said. “Some good velocity tonight, some good locations. Some good quick innings and some innings that tested us.”
Going in, Cole was expected to throw about 80 pitches. So when he was at 83 after five innings, there was plenty of speculation that would be it for him.
However, Cole came out for the top of the sixth. He retired Christian Arroyo on a groundout to third on one pitch, then got ahead 0-2 on erstwhile Yankees prospect Eric Wagaman. That’s when RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan emerged from the dugout to pull Cole. Turns out 86 was the number.
In each of his first five rehab starts, his pitch count has increased — 44 on April 17th, 52 on April 23rd, 60 on April 29th, 69 on May 5th, and 77 on May 10th. “So far, so good, it’s been a good progression,” Cole said. “Pitch count is steadily increasing, recovery has been good and velocity and command are steadily increasing as well.”
Duncan thought Cole looked really good. He felt he was aggressive in the strike zone and had command of all his pitches. “He was doing what Gerrit does best,” the manager said. “He was hitting spots, working his pitches off each other, making it hard for the opposing hitters. It was a lot of fun watching him.”
Catcher Ali Sánchez agreed.
“He was commanding the fastball, it was good velo on it,” Sánchez said. “The two-seam was moving good. The sinker was good. Everything was working really good. Curveball, slider, changeup to lefties. He threw some good ones. He mixed it to righties, too. It was a great job by him.”
Cole retired the first seven batters he faced, including strikeouts of Ryan Clifford to end the top of the first and Cristian Pache to begin the third. Then things got a bit interesting.
Jackson Cluff and Kevin Parada followed with one-out singles. With two outs, Ji Hwan Bae hit a groundball wide of first base that Ernesto Martínez Jr. fielded and flipped to Cole covering. However, the speedy Bae beat Cole to the bag and was safe on an infield single. Cluff never stopped running on the play and headed for home. Cole turned and threw to the plate, but Cluff just got his hand in under the Sanchez’s tag to score and make it 2-1, Scranton.
Sánchez had hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to put the RailRiders in front.
“A guy scored from second base on a groundball to the first baseman,” Cole said. “I made a really good play overall, but they’re really fast. I anticipated him coming around to home and made a strong throw. But we just didn’t convert an out or prevent a run. It was a little frustrating.”
To end the inning, Cole struck out Clifford. It was during that at-bat that he threw the 99.6-mph four-seam fastball.
With one out in the fourth, Wagaman doubled. Yonny Hernandez followed with a single to left. Wagaman tried to score, but Jonathan Ornelas threw him out at the plate. Pache followed with a single that sent Hernandez to third, but Cole struck out Cluff to strand the runners.
He made it three straight strikeouts when he got Parada looking and Nick Morabito swinging to open the Syracuse fifth. Cole then got ahead of Bae 0-2, but he threw four consecutive balls to walk him, including another 99-mph four-seam fastball on ball one.
“I was repeating the changeup a few times,” Cole said. “For the most part that was good. That, unfortunately, was one package of two in a row where I lost the zone a little bit and then didn’t make a good pitch 3-2.”
Clifford flew out to right field for the final out of the fifth. Cole then threw the three pitches in the sixth to conclude his sixth rehab start. On the night, he averaged 97 mph on the heater and induced 13 combined swings and misses from his full arsenal — including seven from his changeup alone.
Well after Cole exited, Syracuse rallied to win in 10 innings, 6-2. The Mets tied it in the eighth inning, then struck for four runs in the top of the 10th.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has told reporters in New York that Cole likely will need one more rehab start before returning to the majors. Despite Max Fried recently being placed on the injured list and expected to miss at least a month with a left elbow bone bruise, the Yankees won’t rush Cole back. Elmer Rodríguez was recalled to take Fried’s spot and will start the Subway Series matinee today at Citi Field.
“That’s a challenge, but my job is to stay focused on my progression and my start from week to week,” Cole said. “Max obviously is an integral part of our rotation and our team. It’s unfortunate, but thankfully we have good depth in order to cover him in the interim. In situations like this, it’s just important to remain focused on what their job is. I fall into that category as well.”
Whether that likely final start will be with the RailRiders again remains to be seen. They have a series in Allentown, Pa., against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs next week.
“I’m sure Cash (GM Brian Casheman), Boonie, the whole group will talk about his outing here along with Gerrit and make a decision,” Duncan said. “We’ll be ready if it is here. If not, we’ll have the privilege of watching him in the big leagues.”
Cole admits he is itching to return to the majors. He pointed out that when you include the offseason following the 2024 season, it has been more than 17 months that he has pitched in the bigs.
“No matter how you slice it, that’s a long time,” Cole said. “I feel like we’ve executed one step at a time and it’s been going really well. I just take it week to week. There’s always something to work on. I’m never really satisfied.”
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 16: Shirtless fans cheer during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium on May 16, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rivalry weekend is a wash at this point, but the Mariners will attempt to salvage a win in the series anyway on NBC and Peacock at 4:20pm.
In Mariners news…
The young season isn’t actually so young anymore, and performances are starting to look more and more sustainable with each passing week. Some players appear to have bounced back from relative down years in 2025, including Mariners starter George Kirby.
Toronto Blue Jays starter José Berríos will be getting surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday. The severity of the injury won’t be known until Berríos is on the table, but it seems even in the best case scenario, the team will be without his services for the remainder of 2026.
Travis Sawchik at mlb.com wrote about how the consistent rise in fastball velocity may be due in large part to many pitchers slowest fastballs being faster than ever before, rather than fastballs getting that much faster year after year.
The St. Louis Cardinals and manager Oli Marmol have fully embraced the power of their shirtless fans.
The hits keep coming and they don’t stop coming. The beatings will continue until morale improves. Etc. Etc.
The Boston Red Sox placed infielder Trevor Story on the IL yesterday and called up utility infielder Nick Sogard, who has had a promising start to his season in Triple-A Worcester.
A baseball game is a beautiful place to meet someone new, or run into an old friend.
Feb 10, 2026; North Port, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Garrett Baumann (90) works out during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Saturday saw a lot of action in the Atlanta Braves farm system. Michael Martinez homered for the second straight day, as his red hot start to the FCL season continues. The entire Augusta lineup had big days, as did David McCabe, Manuel Campos, and Yamvier Carrero. On the pitching side, we got to see great efforts out of Garrett Baumann, Cedric De Grandpre, Zach Royse, and Gensi Angeles, as the quartet allowed just three earned runs over 27 innings on the day.
Durham Bulls 11, Gwinnett Stripers 2
Luke Williams, DH/P: 1-4, HR, R, RBI, .242/.303/.418
Brett Wisely, 2B: 2-4, 2B, BB, .310/.377/.500
Lucas Braun, SP: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 4.85 ERA
This one was ugly early, as starter Lucas Braun failed to make it out of the first inning. Braun was able to record just two outs before allowing four runs on four hits and a walk. Rolddy Munoz pitched a scoreless next inning and a third, before giving way to Elieser Hernandez. Hernandez came in and ate five innings, though allowed five runs – including a pair of homers. After a scoreless Joel Payamps inning, they put in position player Luke Williams to pitch the ninth, and he went on to allow the final two runs to score.
Prior to coming in to pitch, Williams spent the game at DH, where he blasted a 105.7 MPH home run. He and Brett Wisely were about the only two players in the Stripers lineup who were productive on Saturday, as Wisely recorded a single, double, and walk in five trips to the dish. Brewer Hicklen and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. singles accounted for the remainder of the Stripers hits. Keirsey also drew a walk to reach base twice, and Jim Jarvis had two walks in the loss.
This season has been a bit of a struggle for Garrett Baumann in his first experience in the upper minors, but on Saturday he put together his best start of the season. Baumann set new season high marks for going both seven innings and striking out 11. In total he allowed six hits and a walk, and the two runs he gave up were both unearned, while he picked up 13 whiffs. Luis Vargas and Tyler LaPorte were each able to toss a scoreless frame to close this one out, and each one struck out a pair of batters to give Columbus pitchers 15 strikeouts on the day.
The top part of the order won this game for the Clingstones, as each of the first three hitters in the lineup had a multi-hit day. David McCabe’s two hits went for his 11th homer and third double of the season, and he picked up three runs batted in. Patrick Clohisy went two for three with a walk, stolen base, and run scored, while Lizandro Espinoza was two for three with a steal, run batted in, and two runs scored. In total seven members of the lineup had base hits, and eight of the nine reached base safely in the win.
Rome Emperors 1, Brooklyn Cyclones 0
Dixon Williams, 2B: 1-3, 2B, .297/.426/.541
John Gil, DH: 0-3, BB, R, SB, .274/.376/.452
Cedric De Grandpre, SP: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K, 5.13 ERA
Cedric De Grandpre’s season of ups and downs continued on Saturday night with a very much up start. Cedric went seven shutout innings, allowing just two hits and no walks and striking out 10 with 14 whiffs. This gives him three excellent outings with three poor outings, as well as two mediocre outings on the season. Drew Christo came on to pitch the final two innings and struck out three to preserve the combined shutout. Combined Cedric and Christo allowed three hits and no walks with 13 strikeouts.
As good as the pitching for Rome was, the offense was equally non-existent. The Emperors managed a run on just two hits and three walks. A Dixon Williams double and Logan Braunschweig single accounted for the hits, while John Gil, Eric Hartman, and Mac Guscette were able to draw the walks. Gil scored the lone run, and had a stolen base – as did Hartman and Braunschweig.
Augusta GreenJackets 11, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 1
Luis Guanipa, CF: 1-4, BB, HBP, R, RBI, .305/.352/.511
Nick Montgomery, C: 2-5, 2B, BB, 2 R, RBI, .213/.341/.387
Zach Royse turned in a dominant start in this one, going a career best eight innings and allowing just one run on four hits and no walks. Royse picked up eight strikeouts, to go with 15 whiffs, and needed just 90 pitches to get through eight innings. Styven Paez pitched a scoreless ninth inning to finish this one off, and dropped his ERA to 0.71 on the season.
The Augusta offense got going in the top of the first, when they put up four runs, and never looked back as they cruised to an easy win. Every member of the lineup got on base, and eight of the nine got on multiple times in the win. In fact the only guy not to factor into the storyline was Tate Southisene, who received a rare day off here. The star of the game had to be Cooper McMurray, who homered, singled, walked twice, and batted in four runs. If it wasn’t McMurray, then Dallas Macias is the next option after he went recorded two doubles, two hit by pitches, a walk, run scored, and two batted in. Nick Montgomery singled, doubled, walked, scored a run, and batted two in. Luis Guanipa singled, walked, and got hit by a pitch. Alex Lodise singled, walked, stole a base, and scored a pair of runs. Juan Mateo singled twice, walked, and stole a base. Even Dalton McIntyre had a pair of singles and a walk, while Junior Garcia drew a pair of walks.
FCL Rays 10, FCL Braves 9
Michael Martinez, LF: 1-4, HR, 2 R, RBI, .375/.522/.781
Manuel Campos, DH: 3-5, 3B, R, RBI, 3 SB, .200/.391/.286
The final score isn’t truly indicative of the game that was played. The Braves team was up 5-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth, before the bullpen let things get away. Gensi Angeles threw five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and no walks as his ERA remains at 0.00 through 14.1 innings, to go with a 0.98 WHIP. Angeles also had four strikeouts with five whiffs. Edward Cedano came in for the sixth, and he was charged with six runs without recording an out. Cristobal Abreu allowed another run, but was able to limit further damage in the sixth. Daniel Brooks came in for the next two innings, and gave up two runs of his own. Melvin Hidalgo went an inning and a third, allowing a walk-off in the 10th as the inherited ghost runner came in to score.
The Michael Martinez show continued on Saturday, as he homered for the second straight day to give him four on the year, in just 11 games. Martinez’s homer went 108.1 MPH off the bat. Infielders Manuel Campos and Yamvier Carrero also helped lead the Braves offense, as each had three hits. Campos’ three hits included a triple, and he stole three bases as he scored once and batted one in, while Carrero also stole a base, scored a run, and batted one in. Diego Tornes played for the third straight day, going one for four with a single and batting in a pair of runs, though from reports he just missed his first pro homer on a 102.5 MPH flyout. Manuel Dos Passos and Juan Espinal each added two-hit games, while Johan Rodriguez had a double in the loss. Conor Essenburg was not in the lineup after he started his rehab assignment on Friday.
The Philadelphia Phillies go for the road series sweep today when they play the Pittsburgh Pirates in an exciting pitching matchup.
Paul Skenes and Zach Wheeler take the mound today, which has the MLB odds expecting a fairly low-scoring game.
My Phillies vs. Pirates predictions and MLB picks explain why it’s what happens after they depart that will decide this one for the road underdogs.
Who will win Phillies vs Pirates today: Phillies moneyline (+120)
Paul Skenes will dominate the Philadelphia Phillies today... and then he’ll hand the ball to a bullpen with a league-worst 7.09 ERA over the past two weeks.
That will be the difference in this game.
Philly’s pen has a league-best 2.76 xFIP in that same span, with a 2.30 ERA. They also got a full day’s rest yesterday.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a GB rate of 46.4% the past two weeks, the sixth-highest in the league, and Zach Wheeler’s sinker/splitter combo has induced ground balls at a 46.5% clip.
Wheeler and his pen will outlast Skenes and his.
COVERS INTEL:Kyle Schwarber will likely struggle vs. Skenes’ arsenal today, as he’s posting a 40.4% whiff rate vs. breaking balls and a 43.9% whiff rate against offspeed pitches.
Phillies vs Pirates Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-130)
Skenes is dominating opponents behind a filthy arsenal and impeccable control. His 1.26 BB/9 and .183 BABIP lead the majors, and his 1.85 xERA is 0.62 runs better than any other qualified pitcher.
He’s also controlled this Philly lineup. In 38 appearances, they’ve posted a .081/.108/.213 split while striking out 11 times.
Skenes should rack up plenty of punchouts against a Philly lineup with the fifth-highest chase rate over the past two weeks, swinging at 37.1% of pitches outside the zone.
He and Wheeler will limit scoring enough to stay under the total.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 5-10, -5.94 units
Over/Under bets: 10-5, +4.74 units
Phillies vs Pirates odds
Moneyline: Phillies +127 | Pirates -133
Run line: Phillies +1.5 | Pirates -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+122) | Under 7.5 (-127)
Phillies vs Pirates trend
The Phillies have hit the Moneyline in 6 of their last 7 games (+5.15 Units / 47% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Pirates.
How to watch Phillies vs Pirates and game info
Location
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Sunday, May 17, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
NBC Sports Philadelphia, SportsNet Pittsburgh
Phillies starting pitcher
Zack Wheeler (2-0, 2.55 ERA)
Pirates starting pitcher
Paul Skenes (6-2, 1.98 ERA)
Phillies vs Pirates latest injuries
Phillies vs Pirates weather
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Apr 13, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Grant Holmes (66) throws against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The first two games of this weekend’s Braves-Red Sox series couldn’t have been much closer, with each team claiming a 3-2 win.
After Boston used an eighth-inning homer from Willson Contreras to win Saturday night’s game, the rubber match is set for Sunday at 1:35 p.m. at Truist Park.
The Braves, who have lost just one series this season, are 6-1 in rubber matches this season, including 4-0 at home.
The Red Sox, on the other hand, are 3-5 in rubber matches and have lost their last four, including one Thursday against the Phillies.
With the series on the line, the Braves will turn to Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.35 ERA), who will close out the homestand he began on Tuesday after going 11 days between appearances when he was skipped once through the rotation.
The right-hander has battled some control issues of late, with 13 strikeouts and 10 walks in his last three starts. In eight starts this season, he has 34 strikeouts to 21 walks in 41 1/3 innings. With his 1.31 WHIP, one would imagine his ERA would be higher. However, he’s navigated trouble pretty well, with only one start where he’s allowed more than three runs this season.
Last time out in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the Cubs, Holmes glided through three innings before allowing a homer to Alex Bregman and walking the bases loaded in the fourth. He allowed one more run before escaping but his elevated pitch count chased him after a season-low-tying four innings of work.
Holmes has faced the Red Sox twice, starting a pair of games against them less than two weeks apart last May. He’s 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA, allowing a combined five runs over 11 2/3 innings, striking out 14 and walking five. He took the loss in a 5-1 Braves defeat on May 30.
Boston had a TBA starter for the series finale until after Saturday’s win. Brayan Bello (2-4, 6.46) was expected to be the bulk pitcher, but the last two times, he’s been used after an opener. This time, Bello will get the start, a role he’s had much less success in this season.
In his last two games out of the bullpen, Bello threw a combined 13 1/3 innings, allowing a run on four hits in each appearance with 12 total strikeouts and two walks.
In his six starts before that, he had a 9.12 ERA and a 1-4 record, allowing 26 runs on 43 hits over 25 2/3 innings. He struck out 17 and walked 15 in those six starts.
It’s been a surprising down season for Bello, who had a career-best 3.35 ERA in a career-high 166 2/3 innings last season and has never had an ERA above 4.71 in his first four seasons.
Bello is 1-1 with a 6.61 ERA in three career starts against the Braves. His two 2023 starts against Atlanta went pretty well, but he was roughed up last season in Boston, allowing seven runs on 10 hits over 4 1/3 innings in a 10-4 Braves win.
A breakout performance for an Atlanta offense which hasn’t yet scored more than five runs in a game this week would help end the homestand on a positive note and with a winning record.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, May 17, 1:35 p.m. EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: BravesVision, Gray TV
Streaming: MLB.tv — it’s a free weekend, even if you don’t subscribe (though of course you’ll need to be out-of-market to benefit)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 15: Caden Scarborough #18 of the Texas Rangers pitches during the game between the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday, March 15, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning, folks…
The Texas Rangers lost to the Houston Astros last night by a score of 4-1.
Evan Grant says the Rangers’ offense is historically bad, though his math appears to be off in regards to the average number of runs the Rangers are scoring per game thusfar.
Mark Vientos is not prone to overthinking. His confidence is so sturdy that it renders any anxious analysis moot: If he is hitting, of course he is. If he isn’t, he will be soon.
So Vientos sees no mystery in the way he has gone from struggling this spring to settling into the cleanup spot, protecting Juan Soto in the Mets’ injury-riddled lineup, and tied for fourth in baseball with 14 May runs batted in. He was, the way he explains it, merely due.
“I think baseball’s just being baseball,” Vientos said after the Mets’ win over the Yankees Saturday night. “You have a good month you have a bad month. “The season’s so long. You have a bad month, you have a good month, you have a bad month, you have a good one. That’s just the nature of the game.”
Two months ago, Vientos was in a 2-for-35 spring training that left him with no clear path to regular at-bats other than as a part-time designated hitter. A month ago, the 27-year-old was clawing out of an 0-for-23 hitless streak that spit him out as a part-time player even for the Mets’ patched-together lineup.
But then Jorge Polanco landed on the injured list and Francisco Lindor followed. Suddenly, Vientos was the Mets’ every day first baseman. Eventually, he secured the cleanup spot. Since April 18 — the first of 21 starts in 22 games — Vientos has five home runs, three doubles, and an OPS of .747.
“He knows he’s in the lineup. He knows he’s playing every day. He knows he’s hitting cleanup,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He doesn’t have to worry whether he’s going to be in the lineup or not, whether he has to get two or three hits to be in there again — which is the competition. You have to earn it. And he’s done that, obviously. We need him.”
Vientos acknowledged that being in the lineup every day helps him, but he did not seem to think it made some transformational difference. And to his earlier point about being subject to baseball’s whims, Vientos has been unlucky: Even those solid numbers since April 18 include several near misses on deep fly balls as well as a batting average on balls in play so low (.228) it suggests they should be even better.
“He’s just swinging the bat well. He’s just been a little unlucky lately. He’s a great, talented player,” Soto said, before cracking a rare postgame interview smile. “His talent, it has to come out at some point. Now, it’s just coming out.”
Certainly, Vientos’ talent has come out before. His 2024 postseason outburst, for example, seemed to signal a star turn that did not materialize.
But whether it lasts or not, this latest reemergence arrived at a crucial time for the Mets, whose cleanup options were whittled away by injuries in recent weeks. If they want to revive their season, they will probably have to claw back to .500 over the next few weeks — a period they will almost certainly spend without Franciscos Lindor and Alvarez and could possibly spend without Polanco and/or Luis Robert Jr., either.
Bo Bichette is still slumping. Soto is still aching. Recovery will probably require several members of their bruised lineup producing beyond their usual levels. Vientos, meanwhile, need simply to keep doing what he’s doing.
“I don’t think there’s a formula to it,” Vientos said. “It’s going my way now, and just gotta trust it.”
Stephen Kolek gets the ball for the Kansas City Royals, and he’s already given up three homers over his first two appearances of the season.
Time: 2:15 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Cardinals.TV, Royals.TV
Home run pick: Munetaka Murakami (+338)
Munetaka Murakami snapped a six-game homer drought Saturday with a pair of dingers, bringing his season total up to 17 and just three back of Kyle Schwarber for the most in the majors.
Chicago Cubs starter Colin Rea has allowed three dingers over his last two outings, and five overall through his last six games.
The Cubs' pen has also struggled to keep the ball in the yard, surrendering 23 home runs this season.
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, Chicago Sports Network
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 6-12, +9.14 units
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Every single member of the Columbus Clippers lineup had at least one hit on Saturday, with three top prospects all homering.
Cooper Ingle led the way, going 2-for-5 with a three-run home run.
Cooper Ingle 3-run homer.
His OPS is now 1.199 in Triple-A.
The Guardians had Austin Hedges pinch hit for Patrick Bailey last night, which tells you everything about where their catcher production is at. pic.twitter.com/vDEzKmuchR
Angel Genao also blasted his second home run in as many days, also going 2-for-5 and raising his Triple-A OPS to 1.006.
Make that consecutive days with a home run for Angel Genao!
The @CleGuardians No. 2 prospect (MLB No. 47) continues his tear since being promoted to Triple-A last week with 11 hits — 7 for extra bases — in his past 7 games for the @CLBClippers. pic.twitter.com/niN8JmhcGD
Juan Brito reached base safely four times, going 1-for-2 with three walks. Kahlil Watson doubled and had a sacrifice fly while Nolan Jones doubled and walked. Stuart Fairchild doubled and walked and Kody Huff went 1-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.
Starting pitcher Logan Allen got hammered for six runs on nine hits in 3.2 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.
Jack Leftwich added 2.1 scoreless innings of relief while Daniel Espino added a scoreless inning while striking out the size. Tanner Burns earned the save by getting the final out of the ninth inning.
Luke Hill had a huge game for Lake County, but it wasn’t enough. Hill went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and two walks, raising his season OPS to 1.006.
Johan Rodriguez had the lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
Jose Pirela went 1-for-3 with a walk, while Cannon Peebles went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk. Robert Arias tripled while Yaikel Mijares walked twice and stole a base. Jhorvic Abreus homered.
Starting pitcher Will McCausland allowed four runs on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 4.0 innings.
Jervis Alfaro allowed four additional runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings.
Luke Fernandez added a scoreless inning of relief.
Roch Cholowsky of the UCLA Bruins reacts during an NCAA baseball game at Bainton Field in Piscataway, United States, on April 12, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
I’ll be honest. College baseball is decidedly not my thing. The very best college prospects sometimes end up in Double-A, while the vast majority will be sent to A ball or perhaps the complex. If I wanted that I could, you know, go see actual minor leaguers in person. I know “gotta support the school” and all, but I paid tuition to two of them so we’re even. And I find that as a working parent and a guy who watches the Braves intently, I don’t have the bandwidth.
But thankfully, I don’t represent everybody. And some of you really like college baseball. Some of you have played it and others are parents of current players. And I’ve noticed that this place clears out when there’s no Braves game and the NCAA baseball tournament.
This year, the Braves have the eighth highest draft pool. They could end up drafting some of the better prospects. So I’m gonna attempt to follow the college baseball postseason this year. You might get a baseball tournament roundup, or at least an aggregated one from other coverage pretty soon.
So are you going to watch the college baseball tournaments? Are there any players that you’re following? Can you all help me find what to watch for? I know UCLA is good, and there are 8 SEC teams in the top 25. Also, can players jump up the board drastically with a good postseason? I know college football players do all the time. Regardless, you’re going to hear more about it in the coming weeks. The minor league team is already on the hunt, and I’ll be chipping in where I can.
COVERS INTEL: 
Jordan Walker
Munetaka Murakami 
