SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: Nick Pivetta #27 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Petco Park on April 12, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres officially announced that starter Nick Pivetta, who suffered an injury while pitching on Sunday, is being placed on the 15-day injured list. It will be retroactive to April 13. The diagnosis is right elbow inflammation. Pivetta was in the fourth inning of a perfect start against the Colorado Rockies when his velocity dropped and manager Craig Stammen walked out and took the ball.
Starter Matt Waldron and reliever Alek Jacob have been brought up from Triple-A El Paso with Waldron saying (per Padres media) that he will be starting on Friday in Anaheim against the Angels. Waldron has had starts for the Chihuahuas with 12 innings pitched and has allowed seven hits and no runs with 12 strikeouts.
His last start was April 9, going five innings with two hits and no runs with three strikeouts. Friday would normally be the spot for Germán Márquez, following Walker Buehler on Thursday, but the starting pitchers past today’s game against the Mariners have not been announced by the Padres.
Jacob can be activated and used out of the bullpen until Waldron is needed to start. That would give the bullpen a fresher arm to relieve some stress on the current pitchers. Jacob last pitched 1.2 innings on Sunday for El Paso. He has pitched 7.1 innings over five games with a 0.00 ERA. He has six strikeouts and three walks.
Pivetta was placed on the injured list by the Boston Red Sox, his team in 2024, with a right elbow flexor strain and he was activated after a month on the IL. He also experienced what was described as arm fatigue during Spring Training this year and was shut down for a start before resuming his build up.
There was no announcement regarding elbow imaging done or if that is in the plan for Pivetta.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 14: Jonathan India #6 of the Kansas City Royals throws the ball to first base as Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers collides with him during the bottom of the first inning at Comerica Park on April 14, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. McGonigle was out at second base and Dillon Dingler #13 of the Detroit Tigers was thrown out at first base to complete the double play. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tigers are happy to be home. They had an incredible weekend sweep against the Marlins, and with division rivals the Kansas City Royals in town for a three-game series, they were hoping to keep climbing in the AL Central standings. For the first game of the series, Framber Valdez was up against Cole Ragans. Valdez had a rough go in his last outing and was looking for some redemption at home.
In the top of the first, Maikel Garcia reached on a fielding error by Kevin McGonigle at third. Bobby Witt Jr., who is certain to be a problem for the Tigers this series, grounded into a double play, and another out wrapped up the ending with no damage done. In the home half, Matt Vierling hit a one-out single. Isaac Collins, the Royals’ left fielder, chased down a Kevin McGonigle foul, landing in the seats and soon exiting the game entirely.
McGonigle ended up walking, but then a double play ended the inning.
Salvador Perez kicked off the second with a single. A groundout then resulted in possibly the funniest out of the season, as Framber Valdez knocked down a ball from Vinnie Pasquantino, going to the ground and struggling to get a grip on it before making the slowest toss in history to second and still managing to get the out. Pasquantino did manage to get safely to first, though. Starling Marte then singled. Jonathan India walked to load the bases. Carter Jensen grounded into a force out, eliminating India, but scoring Pasquantino, putting the Royals on the board first. The Royals would have to settle for the one run, though. In the bottom of the inning, Ragans got the Tigers out in order.
In the top of the third, Valdez finally got his feet under him a little better, getting two outs before giving up a walk to Lane Thomas. In the home half, the Tigers went down 1-2-3 again.
The fourth finally went entirely smoothly for Valdez as he got the Royals to go three-up, three-down. Matt Vierling for MVP of this game as he got on base for the second time in the game, this time with a walk. A McGonigle groundout advanced him to second. A Dingler groundout got Vierling to third. On a lengthy plate battle (and hoping to finally, finally get on base) Wenceel Perez went to a full count, before a called strikeout, which he then challenged, and good for him, because it was ruled ball four and got him a free base. The Tigers couldn’t manage to get a run across though.
The top of the fifth saw the Royals go 1-2-3 again. Hurray! In the bottom of the inning Spencer Torkelson took a leadoff walk twice. The first time the ball four call was overturned on a challenge, then he worked the count again and got on base. The effort didn’t pay off, though as a pop out and double play ended the inning.
Bobby Witt Jr. got a leadoff single in the top of the sixth. Three outs followed, including Valdez’s first strikeout of the game. The man just really loves inducing a ground ball, what can I say? Speaking of groundouts, the Tigers got two of them in the bottom of the inning, plus a lineout for a little fun.
The Royals went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh. In the home half, it was getting on to crunch time for the Tigers, who needed to act soon if they were planning to make some kind of comeback and not lose the game by a single run. The Royals were the first to go to their bullpen, bringing in Matt Strahm. Dingler got things going with a leadoff single to the infield, beating out a slow throw by Maikel Garcia. With two outs, Torkelson drew a walk, and it was up to Javier Baez. But death by groundout continued, and the Tigers left the inning with a goose egg on the scoreboard.
Valdez’s day was done, with a final line of 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K on 87 pitches. Having a pitcher who is good at inducing groundballs is swell, but you need to have the infield defense to make it work for you. Unclear at this point if the Tigers have the necessary combo for success. Still, decidedly a better outing for Valdez overall. Will Vest came on to replace him. And you know who does strikeout batters? Will Vest. He did it three times in a row, in fact, and man, there’s just something extra enjoyable about watching fastball strikeouts after watching a pitcher who specializes in weak contact. Mmmm, fastballs. In the home hald, Nick Mears was the newest Royals pitcher to face the Tigers. Zach McKinstry got a leadoff double. Gleyber Torres hit a grounder to get McKinstry to third. Colt Keith came off the bench to pinch hit for Vierling. He hit a liner down the middle but Bobby Witt Jr. is a menace and smothered what would have been an RBI single for the second out of the inning. It’s really rude when he’s good against us. A wild pitch by Mears and heads up baserunning scored the Tigers’ first run of the game to tie things up.
McGonigle took a walk. Dingler then drove the ball right down the third base line and McGonigle went first to jome on the double, giving the Tigers the lead. The Tigers wouldn’t get any more runs, but they had the lead, and the best closer in the business (historically speaking) coming up.
Kenley Jansen came in for the ninth. Lane Thomas got a leadoff single. Thomas stole second, and while McKinstry did try a really fun jump-over-the-runner-and-tag-him-on-the-head play, it was just a little too slow. A Perez groundout advanced Thomas to third. A Pasquantino groundout put the Tigers just one out from victory, and one runner 90 feet from a tie game. Let’s all hold our breath. Jansen was dialing his cut fastball up over 96 mph, which is a great sign after sitting 92-93 mph early on. A flyout to Baez after getting to a full count ended the game, and Jansen managed to snag himself a save that puts him alone at third all-time saves leader with 479.
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/designated hitter Christian Yelich is expected to miss at least a month with an adductor strain.
Yelich left in the fifth inning of the Brewers’ 8-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on Sunday with what the team described as tightness in his left hamstring. The Brewers placed him on the injured list Tuesday, retroactive to Monday, and said he had a second-degree adductor strain.
The Brewers estimated he would return in mid-to-late May, though Yelich said he didn’t want to put a timeline on it.
“I’m just trying to go about it the best I can, do a good job with the rehab and get back out there as quickly as possible,” Yelich said.
Milwaukee also selected infielder/outfielder Greg Jones from Triple-A Nashville and transferred left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny to the 60-day injured list.
The 34-year-old Yelich was in the lineup as a designated hitter Sunday and said he started to feel something was off while grounding into a fielder’s choice in the first inning. He stayed in the game and grounded out in the third before getting pulled for a pinch hitter in the fifth.
“After running to first in the first inning, it just kind of felt weird,” Yelich said. “I just thought it was tight, kept going and after my (next) at-bat, I felt like it was weird.”
Milwaukee already had outfielder Jackson Chourio and first baseman Andrew Vaughn on the injured list due to hand issues. The Brewers said Tuesday that Chourio is expected to return in early May and Vaughn could come back in mid-May.
The Brewers also are playing without starting pitcher Quinn Priester (thoracic outlet) and reliever Jared Koenig (elbow). Milwaukee had lost five straight for its longest skid since 2003 as it prepared to open a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.
“We’ve had a lot of adversity early,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “We’ve faced this before. It just seems different in terms of how it’s kind of piled on us.”
Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP and a three-time All-Star, is hitting .314 with one home run, 10 RBIs and three steals in 15 games.
Murphy said Gary Sánchez probably will get much of the playing time at designated hitter in Yelich’s absence.
Sánchez replaced Yelich in the fifth inning Sunday and hit a game-tying, three-run homer in the seventh. He entered Tuesday with four homers, matching Jake Bauers for the team lead.
Yelich is coming off a 2025 season in which he played 150 games – his second-highest total since joining the Brewers in 2018 – after back issues had limited him for multiple years.
He said this is the first time he has dealt with a soft-tissue injury. Now, he’s the latest key player missing from Milwaukee’s lineup.
“No one’s going to feel bad for us,” Yelich said. “You’ve got to navigate injuries and difficult parts of the season. The guys will be all right. Just kind of hold it down. It’s a really long year. There’s good times and bad times in a season. You’ve got to deal with adversity throughout.”
Jones, 28, was batting .317 with a .462 on-base percentage, no homers, seven RBIs and seven steals in 13 games with Triple-A Nashville. He was in the major leagues for six games with Colorado in 2024 and three with the Chicago White Sox last year.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Mason Miller #22 of the San Diego Padres reacts after pitching the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park on April 10, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before the start of the 2026 season the San Diego Padres were projected to win 79-80 games by FanGraphs and PECOTA. The assumption was the bench was not deep or talented enough, the starting pitching was not deep or talented enough and the bullpen wouldn’t be as good with the departure of closer Robert Suarez.
It is obviously way too early to prove any of those assertions wrong. The returns so far show that the Padres have the potential to be way better than assumed and a lot rests on the starting pitching.
The one thing no one expected, not the so-called experts or anyone who covers, or is a fan of the team, was for new closer Mason Miller to overwhelm baseball.
Coming to the Padres from the A’s at the 2025 trade deadline, in exchange for top prospect Leodalis DeVries, Miller was the setup man for Suarez. And he was really good. He pitched in 22 games and 23.1 innings with a 0.77 ERA, allowing 10 walks with 45 strikeouts. His fastball topped out at 104.5 mph in the playoffs against the Chicago Cubs – the highest velocity of any pitch in postseason history.
While no one on the outside of the organization knows exactly what changes were made between last year and this year, there are observable differences that might help explain what we are all seeing Miller do so far this year.
Defying gravity
Modern day pitchers increasingly rely on two things in order to get hitters out. Their velocity and their ability to spin the baseball. Command is a constant in baseball with every successful pitcher needing good command of their pitches.
The “rising fastball” description is a myth. No pitch can rise after being thrown. The term “Induced Vertical Break” (IVB) was developed to describe the illusion of a ball rising as it approaches the plate. What actually occurs is that the spin the pitcher puts on the ball causes it to drop less than we expect due to the forces of gravity on the pitch. That is called the “ride” of the pitch and backspin is the only way to induce it.
What Mason Miller does incredibly well is throw both of his dominant pitches (fastball and slider) for strikes consistently and also has the most break on his slider this season that he has ever had.
The hitters are timing up for a fastball that normally comes at them from 100-104 mph (his average is 101.4) and they often get a slider that looks like it’s coming right over the plate and ends up off the plate.
In 2025, Miller had a 44.4% K-rate and a 45.2% whiff rate with a 35.7% chase rate over the entire season. Those are all great numbers and put him in the 98-100% ranking among all pitchers. He threw these pitches from a 35-degree arm angle. In his previous professional seasons, his arm angle was fairly consistent, between 34-36 degrees.
2026 dominance
In the 7.1 innings pitched so far this season, Miller has thrown to 24 batters and has struck out 19 of them. 18 of those are swinging strikeouts. The best K-rate for a pitcher normally is 40-50%, exactly where Miller sat last season.
His success this year puts him at a 79.2% K-rate with a 60.8% whiff rate and a 57.1% chase rate against those 24 batters. Some of this can actually be explained. Miller has more IVB on his slider this season than ever before. Measured in inches, his previous slider broke 1.6 inches more than expected and he currently is sitting at three inches more break than expected. Sliders break laterally and down, as opposed to fastballs that appear to rise when they don’t drop as much as expected. Breaking pitches either move down or laterally and some do both.
His arm angle has changed significantly from previous seasons. He is now throwing from a 39 degree angle and that could explain the significant difference in his slider break from last season.
The effect on his fastball is less dramatic with less than an inch difference from last year to this year. (Stats per Baseball Savant)
Ben Clemens of FanGraphs wrote an article for the site detailing how dominant Miller has been and how unprecedented this dominance is.
We’re still squarely in small-sample season, but Miller stands out even there. His slider is missing more bats than anyone else’s in baseball, of course. The gap between his slider’s swinging-strike numbers and second place (Erik Miller) is the same as the gap between second and 11th place. That 80% whiff rate looks just as silly. Mason Miller has recorded as many swinging strikes on his slider as Jesús Luzardo, a slider-dominant elite starter. But Luzardo has thrown more than twice as many sliders! They’re tied for the sixth-most slider whiffs in the majors so far this year – and Miller has gotten there in only 7 1/3 innings.
Can he sustain this?
The obvious answer is no.
The Cy Young conversation has begun in baseball because of how dominant he has looked in this young season. The last reliever to win a Cy Young Award was Eric Gagne in 2003.
Miller is fast approaching the record for scoreless innings for a Padres reliever, held by Clay Meredith at 33 ⅔ innings in 2006. Randy Jones holds the record for starters at 30 scoreless innings. Miller currently sits at 28 ⅔ scoreless innings dating back to last August.
All over baseball, the Mason Miller appearance is considered must-watch. MLB Network put together a compilation showing his progress through his career and how dominant he has become.
No matter what happens this season with Miller, he has elevated the excitement on a national level and brought more attention to the Padres with his performances. His new walk-up music and the video show that Petco Park presents when he enters, also went viral at the start of the season.
All eyes remain on Miller while he tries to continue his dominance and set new records. The Friar Faithful have the best reliever in baseball. Enjoy it.
Mets right-handerJonah Tong was dominant in the early innings of his start for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, but it did not end the way he would have wanted.
Going up against the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Tong struck out the side in the first inning, which included Jasson Dominguez and Oswaldo Cabrera.
Tong allowed one run across his first four innings, but the fifth was not kind to the youngster.
After walking the leadoff batter, Ernesto Martinez Jr. took Tong deep and cut Syracuse's lead to 6-3. Tong bounced back to strike out former big leaguer Paul DeJong, but Payton Henry homered to make it 6-4.
Dominguez doubled before Tong struck out Oswaldo Cabrera. Tong got behind Max Schuemann in the count, 2-1, when the infielder lined a single to score the fourth run of the inning, and ended Tong's night.
Dan Hammer replaced Tong but gave up a double to Spencer Jones as the RailRiders tied the game at 6-6, with all six runs going against Tong.
Tong finished Tuesday's start, throwing 86 pitches (53 strikes), allowing six earned runs on five hits (two home runs) and three walks. He did strike out a season-high 10 batters.
Tuesday was Tong's fourth start at Triple-A this season. His last start saw him allow just two runs on one hit through five innings, but it's been an inconsistent beginning to Tong's minor league season.
His ERA now stands at 7.04, but his high strikeout rate is still intact. He's now punched out 23 batters across 15.1 innings.
Mar 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
BRONX, NY - APRIL 09: Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics pitches during the game against the New York Yankees on April 9, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ready to get back in the win column, A’s fans? After seeing their five-game winning streak snapped yesterday in the series opener the team dropped down a spot in the rankings to second place in the AL West. Luckily for them they can get back into a tie for the division lead if they can overcome their rivals the Texas Rangers in the second game of four tonight.
It’ll be a battle of left-handers on the mound tonight. For the Athletics’, they’ll have Jeffrey Springs on the bump getting the ball for his fourth start this season. He’s been easily the team’s best pitcher in the early going as he’s 2-0 and sporting a 1.47 ERA across 18 1/3 innings pitched. His most recent outing was especially dominant as he allowed just one hit and two walks in seven full frames against the New York Yankees’ dangerous lineup. If he can do that against that juggernaut of a lineup then the Rangers’ bats have a big challenge ahead of them tonight. In seven career games (four starts) against the Rangers Springs has a solid 2.55 ERA, including two starts last season when he first went six shutout frames on the road and then pitched into the sixth and allowed three runs in his second against these guys. The A’s would be happy with either of those performances again tonight.
Here’s how manager Mark Kotsay drew up the lineup for tonight’s contest:
As you may have noticed we’ll be getting our first real look at Zack Gelof in the outfield tonight. After getting an inning of work in center field last night he’ll be asked to handle a full game in right field, which will be his first career start on the grass at the big league level. Keep an eye on how he handles his new position this evening.
Elsewhere across the lineup Shea Langeliers will get a half-day off by DH’ing and leading off. That means we’ll get an Austin Wynns appearance this evening. First baseman Nick Kurtz will bat behind him tonight and then it’ll be Jacob Wilson, rising in the order above Tyler Soderstrom.
And we’re also getting some seriously good news in regards to the hot corner. After leaving yesterday’s contest after getting hit by a pitch on the hand Max Muncy is back in the starting nine and at his usual third base. We all held our breath last night when the HBP occurred but it seems like Muncy has dodged the worst possible outcome. Thanks incredibly lucky for the A’s since Muncy has been one of the better hitters for the squad so far.
The Rangers meanwhile have their own lefty in MacKenzie Gore on the mound for tonight’s game. One of Texas’ big offseason acquisitions, Gore has lived up to the high cost it took to acquire him from Washington, pitching to a 2.76 ERA in his first three games in a Rangers uniform. He’s pitched at least five innings in each appearance so far so if he’s looking lost or struggling early the A’s would be smart to capitalize on those chances and possibly chase him from the game early.
Here’s the Rangers’ starting lineup for Game 2 of this four-game set:
All the regulars in there for Texas this evening, with just a couple small changes from last night’s lineup. We’ll be getting an Andrew McCutchen sighting tonight as he’ll line up in left field for Texas in this one. A very right-handed heavy lineup, and that makes sense considering the left-handed Springs is on the bump.
First place is on the line tonight. Even though it’s early it’s still nice to be sitting atop the division. Let’s go A’s!
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 11: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning at Petco Park on April 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Seattle Mariners (8-9) at San Diego Padres (10-6), April 14, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST
Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying it
Remember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity site
Out of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threads
Los Angeles, CA - April 12: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) walks back to the mound after a pitch during the third inning of an MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, April 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers close out their homestand on Wednesday night against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium, on the 79th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s debut with Brooklyn in 1947. All uniformed personnel on Wednesday will wear number 42.
Shohei Ohtani, who has not allowed an earned run in 12 innings so far this season, starts on the mound on Wednesday night. Right-hander Clay Holmes starts for the Mets.
The Mets are dealing with another potential IL situation on their roster.
Before Tuesday's game against the Dodgers, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was asked why he decided to go with Mark Vientos over Jared Young at first base, and the skipper revealed that Young is dealing with a knee injury.
"Jared is dealing with some left knee discomfort. Happened Sunday after the game," Mendoza said. "Didn't get better yesterday, so we have to see what we're dealing with here.
When asked if an IL stint is possible, Mendoza said it was but that they have to wait and see the results from imaging they had done on Tuesday.
"Yea we have to see what we're dealing with and see what we got," Mendoza said of a potential IL stint for Young. "Have to check in to see if he's available today. And then we'll go from there."
Young has appeared in 11 games so far this season, mostly off the bench, but has been effective in his handful of starts. This year, he's 7-for-20 with two doubles, two RBI with a .391 OBP.
In Young's last game, Sunday against the Athletics, he went 1-for-2.
The Mets are dealing with a few injuries on their roster. Of course, Juan Soto is on the IL and they just placed reliever Joey Gerber on the IL with a blister. Jorge Polanco is dealing with Achilles tendinitis and has been in and out of the lineup -- and unable to play first base.
The injuries are a part of the Mets' early-season struggles, along with their lack of offense. Mendoza has changed his lineup a bit in recent games to try and get a spark from his bats.
For Tuesday's game, Mendoza moved Vientos down in the lineup and explained that he just liked Francisco Alvarez's at-bats right now.
"Just continue to move guys around and continue to get guys going," Mendoza said.
One aspect of the lineup he won't change, for the time being, is moving Francisco Lindor out of the leadoff spot.
"Not at this point," Mendoza said of the proposition. "He's too good of a hitter. I haven't considered that."
After a hot stretch, Vientos is just 2-for-24 over his last seven games. Lindor's slump has been season long. The shortstop is slashing .176 with an OBP of .291 and has not recorded an RBI yet.
Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe made his first rehab start on Tuesday night, playing for Double-A Somerset and it was a bit of a mixed bag.
Volpe finished the game going 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, but he was going up against one of the best pitchers in the league, Zack Wheeler.
The Phillies ace was making a rehab start of his own, and the right-hander struck Volpe out swinging on three pitches. In Volpe's second at-bat, he put up more of a fight. Volpe worked the count full and fouled off a couple of pitches before Wheeler finally got the young infielder to strike out swinging on a nasty sweeper.
In the field, Volpe made every play hit to him at shortstop. Rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery, Volpe is showing no effects of the injury that hampered his offensive and defensive performance in 2025. He was eventually pulled after five innings.
Volpe had his worst statistical season last year, batting .212 with 19 home runs and a career-low .272 OBP. He also had a career-high 19 errors in the field.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Volpe will play about three to five innings in his first couple of starts before building him up. The Yankees skipper said that Volpe has had more than 50 live at-bats in the Yankees complex in Tampa and has put in a lot of work at shortstop, so he considers Volpe ahead of where players are at when spring training begins.
Anthony Volpe fields his first chance in his first rehab appearance for Somerset pic.twitter.com/mi70G9ozE7
Yankees top prospect George Lombard Jr. was also playing in Somerset on Tuesday and started at third base to pair with Volpe. Lombard was a victim of a Wheeler strikeout in the first inning, going down in six pitches. But the second at-bat, he launched a 3-1 pitch deep to right-center field, but the ball died at the wall and was caught for the first out of the fourth inning.
Lombard has had a hot start to his Double-A season. He entered Tuesday's game hitting .464 with five doubles, two home runs and four RBI in seven games.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 04: Colton Gordon #61 of the Houston Astros delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles during a Grapefruit League spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Astros (6-11) return home tonight to begin a 3-game series vs. the Colorado Rockies (6-10) as they seek to end an 8-game slide.
LHP Colton Gordon will make his first start of the season as he takes on Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen.
TONIGHT’S ASTROS STARTER: LHP Colton Gordon will make his first start of the season for the Astros tonight…Gordon began the 2026 season with Triple A Sugar Land, where he was 1-1 with a 1.76 ERA (3ER/15.1IP) in three starts while posting an 0.98 WHIP. His last start was on April 8 vs. Ta- coma (5.1 IP, 0 ER).
Gordon, who was the Astros 8th pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, made his ML debut last season, appearing in 20 games (14 GS) for the Astros (6-4, 5.34 ERA)as a result of a rash of injuries, Gordon finished T-3rd on the Astros staff in both starts (14) and innings pitched (86.0).
He recorded his 1st ML win on June 6 at CLE (5 IP, 5H, 0 R, 5 SO). He was a member of Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
NEED A WIN: The Astros need a win to snap an 8-game losing streak, which is their longest since ending the 2013 season with a 15-game losing streak (Sept. 14-29).
VS. THE ROCKIES: The Astros were swept by the Rockies last week in a 3-game series at Coors Field (April 6-9). HOU was 4-2 vs. COL in 2025 and has a 110-90 record vs. the Rockies all-time.
ROCKING THE ROCKIES: Christian Walker has enjoyed facing the Rockies throughout his career, posting a .330 avg. (120×364) vs. them with 28 HR and 75 RBI with a 1.009 OPS. His career avg., RBI and OPS vs. COL are his best vs. any club (min. 10g) while his 28 HR are 2nd to his 29 HR vs. the Dodgers.
Walker was 5×13 (.385) with a HR in his three games at Coors Field last week.
HOME-COOKIN: Tonight is the first game of a 6-game homestand for the Astros. On the stand, HOU will host COL (Mon-Wed.) and STL (Fri.-Sun.), respectively. The Astros enter tonight’s game on a 5-game home winning streak. HOU is 5-2 overall at Daikin Park in 2026.
REMEMBERING PHIL: Prior to tonight’s game, the Astros will play a tribute video followed by a moment of silence for former player/manager Phil Garner. Sadly, Garner passed away over the weekend after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
As manager in 2005, Garner led the Astros to their first World Series appearance, famously rallying that club from a 15-30 start after 45 games.
ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have added RHP Spencer Arrighetti to the Taxi Squad.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, April 14, 7:10 p.m. CST
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Brock Stewart #41 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a photo during Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day at Camelback Ranch on February 19, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — If the nine Dodgers pitchers on the injured list, Brock Stewart is the closest one to returning to the majors. But up first for the veteran right-hander is a minor league rehab assignment, which starts Tuesday night for the Class-A Ontario Tower Buzzers, about 42 miles east of Dodger Stadium.
Stewart resumed throwing late in spring training, and threw a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on March 27, during the first homestand of the season, before continuing to rehab at Camelback Ranch in Arizona. Pitchers are allowed up to 30 days on a minor league rehab assignment, and Stewart will probably need the majority of that time to build back up a number of games before getting activated.
“You’re sort of looking at a spring training, and how many outings a reliever takes,” manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday, “That’s probably what it’s going to take.”
A few veterans who got off to late starts in Cactus League play during spring training might have something close to the template Stewart might follow on his rehab assignment. Tanner Scott’s first game in camp was February 28, and he pitched 10 games in 24 days. Blake Treinen’s first game was February 26, and he pitched nine games in 25 days.
As for whom Stewart might replace in the Dodgers bullpen, there’s still plenty of time to work that out. Will Klein (1.17 ERA, 2.02 xERA in 7 2/3 innings) and Edgardo Henriquez (5.40 ERA, 3.71 xERA in five innings) have done pretty well but have also pitched in the lowest-leverage innings, on average, relative to the rest of the relief corps. Ben Casparius was pitching in nearly league-average leverage before getting placed on the injured list on Monday, with Kyle Hurt called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“When he gets closer, certainly that will be a conversation. I hope we have that, it means everyone is healthy and then hopefully it’s a tough conversation,” Roberts said. “With [Stewart] being out, with other guys being out, it’s a good opportunity to see some guys. I’m happy Kyle Hurt is here, and obviously we get a longer look at Edgardo and guys like that.”
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 08: Michael McGreevy #36 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will try again Tuesday as they will take their 8-8 .500 record up against the Cleveland Guardians at Busch Stadium. According to MLB.com, Michael McGreevy will take his 1-1, 2.16 ERA to the mound for the Cardinals while the Guardians will have Joey Cantillo make the start. He’s 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA so far this season.
Astros closer Josh Hader took an important step toward a return to action by throwing a live batting practice session before Tuesday’s game against the Colorado Rockies.
Facing hitters for the first time since August, the six-time All-Star threw 20 pitches to Taylor Trammell and Brice Matthews. Hader hasn’t pitched this season due to left biceps inflammation after a left shoulder strain kept him out of action for the final seven weeks of 2025.
“I got through it. That’s a positive thing to note,” Hader said.
Hader estimated he threw 15 pitches in the bullpen before taking the mound at Daikin Park. His fastball velocity ranged from 91-93 MPH, which is what he expected the first time out.
“Feeling good. Feeling strong,” Hader said. “Throwing relatively hard and commanding the baseball in the zone. Commanding the slider, getting good whiffs on it. Ideally, that’s what you want.”
Hader is approaching his buildup the way he would approach the ramp up to a season. He’ll throw a bullpen in the next few days and then another live BP. The goal is to shorten the gap between the two, but he did not put a timetable on when he could expect to go out on a rehab assignment.
“I take it day by day. Try and build my shoulder, bullet proof it, get it strong, and I feel like I’ve been able to do that.”
