LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 03: New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) jokes with Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 3, 2025 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Dodgers continue their homestand with a three-game series against the New York Mets beginning Monday night at Dodger Stadium.
Justin Wrobleski makes his third appearance of the season and second start, after earning the win last Monday in Toronto by allowing one run in five innings against the Blue Jays.
Left-hander David Peterson goes for the Mets, who have lost their last five straight games.
Apr 12, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle (7) celebrates after he hits a home run in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Coming off a sweep in Minnesota, the Detroit Tigers needed to right the ship with some home cooking. They successfully did so, riding three home runs, including rookie Kevin McGonigle’s first, and a strong start from Tarik Skubal, to sweep the Marlins out of Comerica Park. The Tigers record is now back to 7-9, but there’s still some hole left to dig out of for the kitties.
We had a duel of aces lined up as 2022 NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara took on the two-time defending American League Cy Young winner. The game opened with Skubal facing outfielder Austin Slater, who was in camp with the Tigers this spring. Skubal quickly fell behind 3-0, but bounced back and eventually made a nice stab on a solid ground ball back up the middle, flipping to Torkelson at first. A fly out, and then a strikeout of Jacob Marsee quickly wrapped up the top of the first.
Kevin McGonigle flew out swinging first pitch to open the bottom half. Gleyber Torres struck out, though the Marlins did burn a challenge in the process. Ground ball singles from Colt Keith and Riley Greene followed, and then Dillon Dingler stepped in the box with two outs. Alcantara landed a sinker and a slider away from strikes to get ahead, but the Tigers’ catcher fouled off a changeup and then got a second one tailing in on his hands. He turned on it and smashed a three-run homer to left field. 3-0 Tigers. Kerry Carpenter grounded out, and we were on to the second.
Skubal got ahead 0-1 with the help of a successful Dingler challenge, and Otto Lopez grounded out sharply back to the Tigers’ pitcher for the first out of the second inning. Skubal’s fielding was tested early and on point. He then blew away Otto Lopez with a 98 mph heater inside, and carved up Connor Norby with a changeup to end the top of the second.
Alcantara settled into his game, getting Torkelson to ground out, and Zach McKinstry to fly out the opposite way. Javy Báez, playing center field in this one, battled Alcantara to a full count as the right-hander dialed up 98-99 mph, but eventually chased a breaking ball to strike out. On to the third.
Xavier Edwards lined out to Báez to open the inning, and Skubal punched out Deyvison de los Santos for his fourth strikeout of the contest. Javier Sanoja grounded out to McGonigle to send it to the bottom of the third.
McGonigle did McGonigle things to open the Tigers’ half, lining a 2-2 fastball sharply to right field for a single. A grounder from Torres forced McGonigle, but Edwards threw wildly to first, allowing Torres to reach base. Colt Keith flew out to right center field, and that brought up Riley Greene with two outs. Torres reached second on a poor block by the Marlins’ catcher, but Greene whiffed at a sweeper for strike three.
Skubal opened the fourth with four straight balls to Slater to put the leadoff hitter on, with Slater challenging the fourth pitch of the AB and winning. Ramirez worked a full count after a foul pop fly to left evaded McGonigle, but he flew out to Báez jogging into the left center field gap. Marsee grounded to Torres, and the Tigers turned a slick 4-6-3 double play to end the Marlins half of the fourth. Skubal was at 50 pitches, and in good shape to go deep in this one. His command varied from great to just average early on, but as usual the stuff was ridiculous.
Dillon Dingler grounded out sharply, but Kerry Carpenter worked from behind in the count as Alcantara sprayed it a bit, mixing in five different pitches. Carpenter eventually walked, but Torkelson got a meaty cutter up in the zone and lifted a lazy fly ball to left for the second out. McKinstry flew out to center to end the inning.
Skubal got a quick pair of fly outs to open the fifth, but ahead of Norby 1-2, he drilled the Marlins’ first baseman with a 98.3 mph heater, and that didn’t feel great, mostly for Norby. Xavier Edwards grounded out to McGonigle to end the inning. The Marlins had yet to record a hit in this one.
Báez banged a sharp grounder off Alcantara’s glove to start the Tigers’ half, but it went right to Edwards. At that point, McGonigle stepped in, got himself a first pitch heater down the middle and he crushed it at 108.8 mph off the bat to right field for the first home run of his major league career. There will be many, many more, but it had to feel good to get number one. The kid is on fire and his teammates were as fired up as he was as he bounced back to the Tigers’ dugout. 4-0 Tigers.
Torres grounded out, and Keith made a bid to deep left center field, but Marsee hauled it in, and we were on to the sixth.
Skubal punched out de los Santos to start the sixth, and then Sanoja flew out sharply to center field. Skubal had continued to deny access to first base other than Norby, but Austin Slater fought off a heater on his hands and blooped a single into shallow center field to snuff thoughts of a no-hit bid. The Tigers’ ace was less than thrilled, but had a wry smile for his spring teammate at first base. And then he carved up Ramirez for his sixth strikeout to strand Slater.
Riley Greene ripped a sharp single through the right side of the infield to start the bottom half. Dingler hit another ball hard, but flew out to Slater on the warning track in right field. If Dingler starts hitting opposite field homers everyone is going to be in real trouble against him.
Kerry Carpenter fell behind 0-2, but fought off a pitch away and took a changeup away before Alcantara floated a sweeper down and in. Kerry kept a short stroke and golfed that thing to right field for his fourth home run of the season. Masters tribute homer. 6-0 Tigers.
Torkelson singled to left in the wake of Carpenter’s blast, and Alcantara’s day was about over. McKinstry followed by lining Alcantara’s 89th pitch for a single to right center field, and the Tigers were in business again. The Marlins still didn’t even have their bullpen working, which was bizarre, so they held a mound meeting to let Alcantara regroup and get someone warm. They were way too late, as Báez stayed red hot and smoked a fastball to right center field for an RBI single, scoring Torkelson. McKinstry went first to third, and Báez took advantage of the relay to reach second base on the play. 7-0 Tigers.
Alcantara wanted nothing to do with McGonigle again, and quickly walked him to load the bases with one out. Torres grounded a ball to third, and Sanoja came home to cut down McKinstry at the plate. That left it to Keith. Alcantara was at 98 pitches, and it was wild to see the Marlins leave their ace in to take this beating. Ramirez wasted the Marlins last challenge on a first pitch ball to Keith, but they eventually got him to pop out down the third base line to end the parade of Tigers’ baserunners.
Marsee finally got something going for the Marlins when he dumped a fly ball into the right field corner and hooved it around to third with a triple. Lopez lifted a sacrifice fly to Carpenter, and it was 7-1 Tigers.
Skubal was looking a little upset with himself, and tried to settle in, but he ended up walking Heriberto Hernandez. The second walk of the outing brought Chris Fetter out to chill his ace out. The Tigers’ bullpen started getting Kyle Finnegan warm, and Skubal took a few deep breaths as Fetter departed back to the dugout.
After a lengthy battle with Norby, Skubal got the whiff on a good changeup, and that was the end of his day. The crowd roared for Skubal as he left the field, and the Tigers’ ace clapped his glove in appreciation of the home fans in return. 6.2 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K on the day for Skubal.
Edwards flicked a soft single off of Finnegan, but Liam Hicks, former Tigers’ farmhand, pinch-hit for Ramirez. Finnegan got him to ground out to end the inning.
Right-hander Tyler Phillips took over for the Marlins in the bottom of the seventh. Riley Greene challenged a fastball low and won, drawing a walk to start the Tigers’ half. Dingler flew out to center field for the first out. Carpenter grounded into a force of Greene at second, and Torkelson struck out to send us to the eighth.
Finnegan got Sanoja to fly out to start the eighth, but Slater reached on a grounder that pulled McKinstry into foul territory. He made a nice play on it, but Torkelson couldn’t handle the one-hopped throw. It didn’t matter, as Ramirez grounded into an inning ending 5-4-3 double play. McKinstry and Báez lined out in the bottom of the eighth, but McGonigle was enjoying the day too much, and smoked a fastball to right field for another single. The more he takes the junk ball approach and draws a ton of walks, the more they’re going to have to throw him some fastballs, and he is hammering just about every fastball over the plate that he sees.
Torres flicked a line drive single to right field, and McGonigle went first to third on the knock. A wild pitch, really another poor block, to Colt Keith scored McGonigle to make it 8-1. Keith worked a full count, but eventually struck out on a bounced curveball to send us to the ninth.
Right-hander Connor Seabold got the call in the non-save situation. He gave up a one out solo shot to Otto Lopez that made it an 8-2 game, but bounced back to get Hernandez on strikes. Connor Norby kept the game alive with a soft single into left, but Edwards flew out to Greene in left to end it.
With this outing, Skubal is the fourth Tigers starter in a row to throw at least 5.2 IP and allow no more than one run. It is the team's longest such streak in a single season since doing it five games in a row from July 30 – Aug. 4, 2013. https://t.co/XfPjLHRg63
Good win, good series, and much needed for the Tigers here in the early going. They’ll welcome in the Royals for three starting with a great southpaw matchup as Framber Valdez takes on Cole Ragans on Tuesday night.
With three more hits today, McGonigle is now hitting .322/.412/.508 with a 169 wRC+ and has reached base twice in 11 of his first 16 major league games. With Keith, Dingler, and Báez also red hot, the Tigers’ offense is shaping up very well as Greene and Carpenter have broken out of their early funks.
BYB would like to send our condolences to the family and friends of former manager and three-time All-Star, Phil Garner.
The Tigers mourn the passing of former manager Phil Garner and share our condolences with his family and loved ones.
Garner, a 3x All-Star and World Series Champion during his 16-year playing career, went on to a successful 15-year big league managerial career including 2000-02… pic.twitter.com/gbXSAvnAx8
CHICAGO, IL - CIRCA 1985: Phil Garner #3 of the Houston Astros bats against the Chicago Cubs during an Major League Baseball game circa 1985 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Garner played for the Astros from 1981-87. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros released the following statement on former player and manager Phil Garner, who passed away yesterday after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 76 years old:
“Phil Garner had a tremendous impact on the Houston Astros as both a player and manager. On the field, he spent seven seasons with the Astros (1981-87) and was a part of two postseason teams (1981, 1986). As a manager, he led the Astros to their first World Series appearance in 2005, famously rallying that club from a 15-30 start to earn a postseason berth, and, ultimately, the National League pennant. In his four seasons as manager (2004-07), the Astros were 272-252 (.524) with two postseason berths (2004-05). In 2004, his Astros fell just one win shy of reaching the World Series. As a player, Phil earned the nickname “Scrap Iron” due to his hard-nosed style of play. Off the field, he was an extremely popular figure around baseball, known for his wit and engaging personality. Everyone loved “Garr.”
From Astros Owner and Chairman Jim Crane:
“On behalf of the Astros, Whitney and I send our heartfelt condolences to Phil’s wife, Carol, their children and to his many friends, fans and admirers. Phil Garner’s contributions to the Houston Astros, the city of Houston and to the game of baseball will not be forgotten.”
Prior to becoming a manager, Garner played 16 seasons (1973-88) as an infielder in the Major Leagues with Oakland (1973-76), Pittsburgh (1977-81), Houston (1981-87), Los Angeles (1987) and San Francisco (1988). A three-time All-Star, he played in 1,860 games in his career with 109 HR and 225 stolen bases. He was a key member of the 1979 World Champion Pirates team, hitting .500 (12×24) in the World Series and .417 (5×12) in the NLCS with a HR.
In addition to his tenure as Astros skipper, Garner also served as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers (1992-99) and Detroit Tigers (2000-02).
With an MLB logo emblazoned on his collar, Cameron Young sits at the top the Masters leaderboard on Sunday. But that’s not the only cross-sport connection between golf and baseball on this beautiful American afternoon. At Wrigley Field, the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcast kicked off their coverage of Sunday’s Pirates-Cubs game with a pitch-perfect tribute to golf’s most iconic event. Watch it and weep tears of joy.
“It’s a tradition unlike any other,” Pirates play-by-play announcer Greg Brown croons as the camera pans across a patch of budding flowers. “Welcome the final found at the Wrigely.”
The SportsNet Pittsburgh crew even went as far as to create a mock Masters leaderboard highlighting the Pirates early-season lead at the top of the NL Central. It’s A+ stuff from stem to stern, and one of the few non-Paul-Skenes-related reasons to watch Pirates baseball over the last several seasons. That’s saying a lot, so join us as we tip our “ EGG SALAD” cap to the geniuses who brought this little taste of Augusta National to Wrigleyville on Masters Sunday.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts in the dugout against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers will look to get their second sweep at home as they wrap things up against the Texas Rangers on Sunday. Roki Sasaki makes his third start of the season against Jacob deGrom.
Both Alex Call and Dalton Rushing start Sunday, while Andy Pages gets bumped up to third in the lineup.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 11: J.P. Crawford #3 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after hitting a walk off single during the ninth inning to beat the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on April 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners have a chance for their first series victory tonight.
I was going to say “sweep” but then I remembered the Mariners and Astros actually wrap up this four-game set tomorrow at 1:10 p.m. Still, this would be as good a time as any to take their first series of 2026.
They have the right personnel to do so. Logan Gilbert is on the mound, looking to build off a solid outing in Texas earlier in the week where he went six innings with five strikeouts and no walks. It was a good sign for Gilbert, who’s shown elite stuff for well over a year now but has often struggled with efficiency, unable to make it through six innings.
Brendan Donovan is back in the lineup. Donovan has been out the last few days with an illness, but he was feeling well enough to draw a crucial walk in the ninth inning last night, keeping the ball rolling just long enough for J.P. Crawford to end the game. Speaking of which, Donovan slots right back into the leadoff spot, after Crawford took over Batter 1 duties in his absence. Rather than hitting ninth, however, Crawford is hitting seventh.
The rest of the Mariners’ lineup is as expected. They will face former Mariners’ reliever Cody Bolton, who has a 3.39 FIP in two appearances this year — one as a starter, the other as a reliever. The Mariners have Astros’ pitchers on the ropes, working into the depths of their bullpen in the first two games of the series with 17 walks and 16 hits. The Astros have hung in there with 25 hits and eight walks of their own. But if the Mariners can get to the Astros bullpen early, they may be forced to punt.
Lineups
Game Info
First Pitch: 1:10 p.m. PDT TV: Mariners TV Radio: Old Reliable
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 07: Atlanta Braves outfielder Mauricio Dubon (14) reacts to striking out during the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels on April 7, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With Michael Harris Jr. on the paternity list and Eli White day-to-day with plantar fasciitis, Mauricio Dubon will make his second straight start in center field for Sunday night’s finale of the Braves-Guardians series in Atlanta.
Dubon will hit eighth in the lineup followed by Jorge Mateo, who will make his second straight start at shortstop. Mike Yastrzemski is also back in the lineup, hitting fifth against a righty starter following Ronald Acuña Jr, Drake Baldwin, Matt Olson and Austin Riley in the top four spots.
This will be Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee’s second career start against the Braves. He tossed seven shutout, no-hit innings, striking out nine and walking none but not factoring into the decision of Cleveland’s 4-2 11-inning victory in Atlanta on April 27, 2024.
The only Braves hitters who have faced Bibee more than three times are newcomers Jonah Heim (0-for-9 but not in the lineup after he caught Saturday’s game) and Dubon (0-for-4). The current Atlanta roster is a combined 1-for-29 (.034) against Bibee. Ozzie Albies has the only hit, a double.
Cleveland is giving starting center fielder Steven Kwan the night off even though he has had success against Braves starter Chris Sale in a small sample size (2-for-6 with a homer and a double).
Kyle Manzardo is back in Sunday’s lineup, DHing and hitting sixth, after he hit his first homer of the season Friday and did not play in Saturday’s game.
Sale, whose career began with seven seasons in thee AL Central with the Chicago White Sox, has faced the Guardians 33 times (22 starts), third-most of any major league team. He has a 7-8 record and 4.44 ERA against Cleveland, his worst ERA against any team he has faced more than five times.
Current members of the Guardians’ roster, though, don’t have a ton of experience against Sale. Of the team’s 52 at-bats against Sale, longtime Cleveland infielder Jose Ramirez has 30 of them with eight hits (.267), one double, one RBI and more walks (four) than strikeouts (three).
Kwan has the only homer by a current Cleveland player off Sale. Overall, the Guardians’ roster is 13-for-52 (.250) with two RBIs, 11 strikeouts and four walks against the Atlanta ace.
Baseball lifer Phil Garner, who won a World Series as a player with the Pirates and took the Astros to a World Series as a manager, died Saturday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
He was 76.
“Phil Garner passed away peacefully last night, April 11, surrounded by family and love after a two-plus-year battle with pancreatic cancer,” his family said in a statement. “Phil never lost his signature spark of life, he was so well known for, or his love for baseball, which was with him until the end. Special thanks to the Houston Medical Center, MD Anderson, Baylor St. Lukes and all the Doctors and Nurses for their excellent care and support.”
Phil Garner waves to the crowd during a ceremony honoring the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series Championship before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park on July 20, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Getty Images
Garner played from the Majors from 1973-88, spending notable stints with the Oakland A’s, Pittsburgh Pirates and Houston Astros, most notably.
Garner, who starred with the Pirates from 1977-81, won a World Series with the team in 1979.
Two of his three All-Star appearances also came while representing the Pirates in 1980 and ’81, respectively.
His first All-Star appearance came in 1976, his last with the A’s.
Garner was also a longtime MLB manager after his playing career.
Former Astro Phil Garner throws out the ceremonial first pitch for game one of the American League Championship Series between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees at Minute Maid Park on October 13, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images
Garner led the dugout of the Milwaukee Brewers from 1992-99, the Detroit Tigers from 2000-02, and the Houston Astros from 2004-07.
“He was competitive. He was honest. He told you the truth. He made you accountable — all the great things that leaders do,” said Jeff Bagwell, who played for Garner while with the Astros. “I think Gar just did a tremendous job of that. You could see how much he cared about his players, cared about winning and our organization. It was just a pleasure to play for him and be his friend.”
As a manager, Garner’s best work came with the Astros, whom he led to a World Series appearance in 2005, losing to the Chicago White Sox led by Ozzie Guillen.
Phil Garner of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses before an MLB game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Garner played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1977-81. Getty Images
He retired with a 277-252 record as a manager, with a 13-13 display in the playoffs.
As a player, he put up a career .260 average with 1,594 hits, 299 doubles, 225 stolen bases, 109 homeruns and 738 RBIs.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 10: Cam Smith #11 of the Houston Astros at bat during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on April 10, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (6-9) look to stop a 6-game slide as they play their 3rd of 4 games in Seattle against the Mariners (6-9) at T-Mobile Park.
RHP Cody Bolton (0-0, 3.68 ERA) will be on the mound for the Astros opposite RHP Logan Gilbert (0-2, 5.40 ERA) and the Mariners.
ABOUT BOLTON: RHP Cody Bolton will make his second career start today against the Mariners.
In his first career start on Tuesday, April 6 at COL, he allowed two runs on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
AGAINST THE MARINERS: The Astros and Mariners face each other today for the third of 13 scheduled matchups in 2026.
The Astros went 5-8 against the Mariners in 2025, including 2-4 record at T-Mobile Park.
Houston owns a 132-99 all-time regular season record against Seattle.
The Mariners will travel to Daikin Park for the first of two road trips to Houston from May 11-14 for a four-game series.
PEÑA INJURY: Astros SS Jeremy Peña left last night’s game due to right knee posterior tightness. He will get further evaluation today.
ULLOLA INJURY: RHP Miguel Ullola left last night’s game for Triple A Sugar Land due to a left ankle sprain.
ON THE MEND: LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) began a rehab assignment with Triple A Sugar Land last night…in his outing, he walked one and struck out two in one scoreless inning.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Astros number two overall prospect IF Xavier Neyens went 2×4 with a solo home run, walk and a stolen base. It marked his first career home run as a professional.
AIRCRAFT CARRIER: RF Cam Smith went 4×5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored last night at SEA. It marked his second career four-hit game, also June 17, 2025 at ATH.
TOMORROW’S PITCHER: RHP Mike Burrows will draw the start in tomorrow’s series finale vs Seattle.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2019 – The Astros outslug the Mariners in Seattle by a score of 10-6.
Houston smacks three home runs, including grand slams from 2B Jose Altuve (2×5) and 3B Yuli Gurriel (3×5). It marks just the third time in club history for the Astros to hit two grand slams in the same game.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, April 12, 3:10 p.m. CST
Location: T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 10, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Díaz (3)sits in the dugout after blowing a save giving up three runs to the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning on April 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES — With a three-run lead in the ninth inning on Saturday night, the Dodgers opted not to use closer Edwin Díaz, whom they signed to a record-setting contract in December. His velocity is down, but Díaz says he’s not hurt, and the Dodgers say they don’t think it’s a mechanical issue. Díaz may or may not be available on Sunday.
“Just talking to the pitching guys, looking at the velocity and some of the things he’s dealt with in the past, it’s a day-to-day thing,” manager Dave Roberts said Sunday. “I’m going to see how he feels in catch play and talk to the trainers and pitching guys, see where we go and make a decision from there.
“I’m confident right now, because everything I hear is he feels fine. For me, you hear it, you want to completely trust it, but you’re also looking at the [radar] gun and making sure. We’re treading lightly, and giving him the benefit of the doubt, and still watching.”
On Saturday night, manager Roberts said Díaz was unavailable due to the previous night’s workload, which completely tracks with the team’s bullpen deployment in the first three weeks of the season. Thus far, there have been only eight instances of a pitcher throwing on back-to-back days, including Díaz on March 27-28. Only one of those outings on no days rest came the day after throwing more than 17 pitches — Edgardo Henríquez threw 25 pitches on April 3 in Washington D.C., then was used the next day in a very low-leverage situation, up by six runs to get the final three outs in the ninth inning.
Ten times this season a Dodgers reliever has thrown at least 20 pitches in an outing. Other than the Henriquez outing, all those pitchers have been given at least one day off before pitching next, and in most cases got two or more days off.
During that outing on Friday, Díaz averaged 95.5 mph on his nine four-seam fastballs, and on the season he’s averaged 95.8 mph. He’s averaged at least 97 mph on that pitch in every other season of his career, including 97.2 mph in 2025.
Starting slow has been the norm recently for Díaz, for whom April has seen his lowest velocity of the season dating back to 2022. He did not pitch at all in 2023 after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his knee.
Year
April
Season
2022
98.1 mph
99.1 mph
2024
96.9 mph
97.5 mph
2025
96.3 mph
97.2 mph
Díaz has pitched only six games, and struck out 10 of his 29 batters faced while allowing four runs in six innings. But his current 95.8 mph would be the lowest velocity month of his career.
“We’re still trying to dig in a little bit,” Roberts said, calling the 2-mph drop from Díaz’s usual average “significant.”
“A couple days ago there were a lot of throws in there, too. Like we’ve done many times is to play the long view with our guys,” Roberts added. “We’re still going to do what’s best for him and the organization. This is a day-to-day thing, it really is. It’s not an IL thing we’re talking about, it’s more day-to-day.”
San Diego, California - April 11: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres attempts to tag out Edouard Julien #6 of the Colorado Rockies at second base during the first inning at Petco Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Colorado Rockies (6-9) at San Diego Padres (9-6), April 12, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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DENVER, CO - APRIL 07: Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
While it’s disappointing to once again be facing a sweep at the end of a series, one must remember the Colorado Rockies are who we thought they were. They are a team at the ground floor of a rebuild and by their own admission are “here for the climb.”
By that metric, the Rockies have one major takeaway from the series so far: They’re keeping the San Diego Padres on their toes. Through the first three games, they have kept things close and competitive. The Padres had to walk-off the Rockies in the first two games, and the Rockies had the tying run at the plate last night in the top of the ninth inning.
This is not a post-season team. This is a team where progress is all that matters.
That being said, it sure would be nice to avoid getting swept out of San Diego to end this series. The man leading the Rockies into battle for that cause will be left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland.
Freeland—despite a truncated spring training—is off to a strong start. Over his first three starts of the season he has a 2.30 ERA over 15.2 innings with 13 strikeouts and four walks. His last time out against the Houston Astros he pitched a 6.1 inning Quality Start, giving up just one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out five batters.
On the bump for the Swingin’ Friars is right-handed veteran Nick Pivetta. Pivetta has his strikeout stuff working well to start the season with a 13.8 K/9 through 13 innings. However, he’s also had opposing batters get to him. Over his first three starts he has an ERA of 5.54 on 12 hits and six walks, but he’s also yet to allow a home run.
Historically Pivetta hasn’t had the best of luck against the Rockies. He holds a 9.64 career ERA against the boys in Purple over eight appearances—seven of which were starts—with seven home runs allowed over 32.2 innings of work. This season Pivetta is working primarily with four pitches: a four-seam fastball averaging 94.1 MPH, a curveball, a sweeper, and a cutter. He can also throw a sinker and slider if needed.
Apr 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob Degrom (48) comes off the field after he pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The Mets designated Luis Garcia for assignment on Sunday.
One part of the Mets’ bullpen makeover is already gone, with Luis García designated for assignment prior to Sunday’s series-finale against the A’s.
After the 39-year-old right-hander was forced into Saturday’s loss, in part because of Luke Weaver’s ineffectiveness, Carlos Mendoza said the bullpen needed to be replenished for Sunday’s game at Citi Field.
So the Mets opted to recall right-hander Joey Gerber from Triple-A Syracuse and are set to lose García, who was signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal in January.
The Mets designated Luis Garcia for assignment on Sunday. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“We needed an arm, especially with the way we used the bullpen the past couple of nights,’’ Mendoza said. “We feel like we needed some protection there in case something bad happens again.”
Of the decision to DFA Garcia , Mendoza said it was “not an easy one. Luis had to pitch [Saturday] on a day we were staying away from him. [Weaver] got in trouble and we needed a fresh arm here.”
Gerber last played in the majors with the Rays last year, making two appearances, while spending most of the season with Triple-A Durham.
His contract was purchased by the Mets in November and he struggled in four outings in the minors this season.
PITTSBURGH, PA - CIRCA 1977: Phil Garner #3 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during an Major League Baseball game circa 1977 at Three River Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Garner played for the Pirates from 1977-81. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Phil Garner, longtime major league infielder and longtime major league manager, has passed away, it was announced. He was 76.
Garner originally came up with the Oakland A’s, and in 1975 and 1976 solidified what had been an unsettled situation at second base for the A’s, including getting an All Star nod in 1976. During spring training, 1977, Garner was dealt, along with Chris Batton and Tommy Helms, to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Tony Armas (the Elder), Doug Bair, Rick Langford, Mitchell Page, Doc Medich and Dave Giusti.
Garner had a four-plus year run as a key part of the Pirates’ infield, highlighted by his slashing .472/.537/.722 in 10 playoff games in 1979 as the We Are Family Pirates won the World Series.
Garner was dealt at the end of August, 1981, to the Houston Astros for prospect Johnny Ray, with the Pirates giving up their second baseman of the present for their second baseman of the future. Garner played with the Astros until the 1987 trade deadline, when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers. His final season came in 1988 with the San Francisco Giants.
For his career, Garner put up a 29.7 bWAR in 1860 games over 16 seasons, with a .260/.323/.389 slash line an 99 OPS+. He is 68th all time in career bWAR for second basemen.
Garner was named the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers following the 1991 season. He spent seven-plus years as the Brewers’ manager, being let go during the 1999 season with the team sporting a 52-60 record. Garner was hired by the Detroit Tigers in the 1999-2000 offseason — Rangers fans may recall that that was the offseason when Texas traded Juan Gonzalez to the Tigers. The Tigers were not successful during Garner’s time there, however, and he lasted two seasons and six games, being fired in 2002 after the team got off to a 0-6 start.
Garner’s final stop was with the Houston Astros. When the Astros fired Jimy Williams at the 2004 All Star Break, with the club at 44-44, Garner was brought in to take over. The Astros went 48-26 the rest of the way, then beat the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS before falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games in the NLCS.
Garner led the Astros to the World Series the following year, beating the Braves again in the NLDS and exacting their revenge against the Cardinals in the NLCS. In the World Series, however, the Chicago White Sox proved to be too much, with the ChiSox sweeping the Astros.
The Astros missed the playoffs in 2006, finishing 82-80, and in 2007, with a much different roster than the ones that had had so much success in 2004 and 2005, Garner was fired mid-season when the team’s record was 58-73.
Garner ended his career having managed 2040 games, with a career 985-1054-1 record.
