Category: Baseball

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani was visibly caught off guard when Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts informed him that he would not be the designated hitter in the series finale against the New York Mets on Wednesday, April 15.

So much so, that Roberts recreated his expression for reporters when he explained that the two-way superstar's responsibilities would strictly be on the mound as the Dodgers concluded their six-game homestand.

"(He was) maybe surprised, but fine with it, because I've never asked him to pitch and not hit," Roberts said pregame. "Explaining to him why, I think it makes complete sense."

The why was straightforward enough: Ohtani took a sinker from Mets pitcher David Peterson to the back of his throwing shoulder to lead off Monday's 4-0 win and was still dealing with soreness. He was also having issues getting loose to hit after his afternoon throwing sessions, though Roberts said Ohtani is feeling "much better than he did two days ago, and better than he did yesterday."

Shohei Ohtani gets hit up and high in his first at bat by David Peterson

This breaks up his lead off home run streak. Today, he was looking for 3 in a row to leadoff the game. pic.twitter.com/V5Hnw2jxwu

— js9innings (@js9inningsmedia) April 14, 2026

In Roberts' eyes, the move lets Ohtani focus on one thing and is what he feels is the best way to keep him loose throughout his outing.

"We felt — training staff, pitching coaches and myself — we just thought it was the best thing for him," Roberts said. "So once I told him, he completely understood."

Roberts expects Ohtani to be DHing again and pitching in his next start but didn't close the door on possibly dropping him down from the leadoff spot — or even sit him out of the lineup entirely — on some of his pitching days at some point down the road, if the situation calls for it.

But that's something that Roberts said he won't be necessarily proactive about. After all, anytime you don't have your best hitter in the lineup, it has to be a move that makes sense.

And for Roberts, taking the bat out of Ohtani's hands makes the most sense on Wednesday.

"Specific to today, I think this is the right decision," he said. "This is the best decision, for him not to hit today. Then the question is, when does he hit on days that he pitches? Where does he hit in the order? I think there's fair arguments to both — to moving him down a little bit, to give him a breather, to let him get into the game — I'm not prepared to make that decision quite yet, but it is something that I'm mindful of.

"You can tell (Mets manager) Carlos Mendoza he's an option, though."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Shohei Ohtani is out of the Dodgers lineup vs Mets on Wednesday

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave updates on Juan Soto, Jorge Polanco and more prior to Wednesday's series finale against the Dodgers...

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Latest Juan Soto update

After Mets owner Steve Cohen updated the fans that Soto has begun his running progression, the Mets skipper had more to reveal about his star player.

"He ran again today," Mendoza said of Soto. "He took live at-bats at Citi Field. We brought some pitchers from Brooklyn. He came out well."

Mendoza was asked if Soto will rejoin the team in Chicago, but the manager quickly said he wouldn't. However, the goal is to have Soto be with the team when the Mets return to Queens.

"Not sure when, but at some point in the next homestand, we’ll get him back," Mendoza said. 

After the Mets' three-game weekend series against the Cubs in Chicago, they have an off day on Monday before hosting the Twins for a three-game set on Tuesday.

Soto has missed significant time since injuring his calf back on April 3. Mendoza said that the team will continue to monitor Soto's progress before he undergoes more imaging to make sure everything is healed. The Mets skipper added that the next step for Soto is to increase the intensity of his running, in particular, going side to side, and starting and stopping.

Before his injury, Soto was having a strong start to the 2026 season. He was 11-for-31 with one home run, two doubles and five RBI across his first eight games.

Carlos Mendoza says that the goal is for Juan Soto to return at some point on the next homestand pic.twitter.com/eAcTayphaw

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 16, 2026

Decision on Jorge Polanco coming soon

Polanco is dealing with Achilles bursitis and he has his good and bad days. After going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts yesterday, Polanco is not in the starting lineup.

"Just one of those days where yesterday he felt it a lot more," Mendoza explained. "Trying to take advantage of tomorrow’s off day. We’ll go from there. Have to check back on him to see if there’s any type of availability for today’s game."

Polanco has been in and out of the lineup for weeks now, and has been used strictly as a DH. Mendoza was asked whether they will consider placing the veteran on the IL and he revealed a decision is likely coming soon.

"Still on the table. Not going to lie," Mendoza said. "We’ll see where we’re at after today, after tomorrow’s off day. By the time we get to Chicago, if we decide to go that route, pretty sure we will."

Polanco has played in 14 games, and is 10-for-56 with one home run, three doubles and two RBI.

Decision to call up Melendez

The Mets placed Jared Young on the IL on Wednesday and called up outfielder MJ Melendez.

Melendez is in Wednesday's lineup and Mendoza was asked why they chose to bring Melendez up from the minors instead of Ronny Mauricio.

"The versatility piece. Lefty bat," Mendoza explained. "Talking about with Mauricio, we want him to play. I’m pretty sure it’ll continue to be fluid, but right now, we felt Melendez was the right way to go."

The Mets will look at the other depth pieces to step up in the absence of Young, who has provided a strong left-handed presence off the bench -- and would sometimes start.

Mendoza also admitted that Brett Baty will see more time with Young on the IL.

"Especially when we’re facing righties. We’ll stock up on as many lefties as possible," Mendoza said. "We’ll go from there. We’re going to need all of these guys."

Baty is 12-for-55 with seven RBI in 15 games, while playing all over the diamond, including outfield.

We’re about one hour away from gametime here tonight in Sacramento as the Athletics gear up for the third game of this four-game set against their division-rival Texas Rangers. Both teams are tied atop the AL West so whoever wins tonight’s contest can lay claim to sole possession of first place. Big stakes even if it’s only April, especially these divisional games. And it’s a big day for another reason as baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day, the day the legend broke the color barrier and made his MLB debut. So many greats in the game wouldn’t have had the chance to make their mark on the sport we love and we all love Jackie for the sacrifices he made in his time.

Taking the ball looking to make it two in a row for the good guys will be J.T. Ginn. The right-hander earned his first start of the season last week and did not disappoint, tossing four innings of one-hit ball against the team that drafted then traded him to us, the New York Mets. That must have felt good for the 26-year-old but now he’ll be tasked with taking on a division opponent in Texas. Last year Ginn made three starts against the Rangers, sandwiching a quality outing between a couple of duds. He’ll be looking for better results tonight and if he comes out looking like he did against New York we could see him in the game for a decent chunk tonight. There’s also a chance we see fellow right-hander Jack Perkins make an appearance tonight but that’ll largely depend on how Ginn is doing in the early frames.

The A’s lineup for Game 3 shakes out like this:

Tonight, we all wear 42. pic.twitter.com/aGJ1kcjkTo

— Athletics (@Athletics) April 15, 2026

The big 1-2 punch atop the lineup is back as Nick Kurtz reclaims the leadoff spot with Shea Langeliers right behind him. We do have a bit of a surprise in the #3 hole as backup outfielder Carlos Cortes will bat behind Langeliers. A curious move considering he’s just 7-for-24 with one home run so far. Not terrible numbers and I guess someone has to hit in that spot, but still feels like a curious choice. We’ll see if Mark Kotsay’s smarter than the rest of us. He’ll be the DH tonight.

The rest of the lineup is filled with the starters at all their primary positions. Soderstrom and Wilson will hit back-to-back in the middle of the order and Denzel Clarke will bring up the rear in the batting order.

On the mound for Texas tonight is former top prospect Kumar Rocker. The right-hander is considered one of the better younger pitchers in the Rangers’ organization and he’s looking like he’s taking a step so far in what will be his second full season in the big leagues. In two starts so far he’s pitched 10 innings (5 in each game) and allowed five total runs against the Reds and Dodgers. Not a bad start to his season but the A’s can pounce on the young arm if they can work his pitch count early. Last season the Athletics roughed him up for five runs in less than two innings of work so history is on the home team’s side in that regard tonight.

The Texas starting nine:

Lining up on Jackie Robinson Day. #Jackie42pic.twitter.com/oUHMIuB8LN

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) April 15, 2026

Ginn will have to work around the big bats in the middle of the order, especially the left-handed ones in Brandon Nimmo and Corey Seager at the very top of the order. Texas’ offense hasn’t quite hit their stride yet but they have the ability to put up a crooked number any time.

Let’s get back to first place with a win tonight, fellas. Let’s go A’s!

The Texas Rangers have placed reliever Chris Martin on the 15 day injured list with a shoulder impingement and reliever Luis Curvelo on the injured list with a biceps strain. To replace the pair, the Rangers have purchased the contracts of righthanded pitchers Gavin Collyer and Cal Quantrill. To make room on the 40 man roster for the new additions, the Rangers have moved Cody Bradford from the 15 day injured list to the 60 day injured list and have designated reliever Marc Church for assignment.

Martin and Curvelo each left yesterday’s game due to their injuries, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether either of them would have to go on the i.l. Martin had injury issues last year, and so playing it safe with him makes sense, and Curvelo is just a guy, so there’s no real need to wait and see on him.

Collyer, 24, will be making his major league debut when he first steps on the mound. Picked in the 12th round by the Rangers in 2019, and signed to a $585,000 bonus, Collyer had mixed results for much of his minor league career and had just one inning above A ball prior to 2025. He showed progress in 2025, however, splitting the season between AA and AAA, and though he became a minor league free agent after the season, the Rangers were able to re-sign him.

Collyer had an impressive camp, showing much improved command compared to prior years, and was reportedly being considered for a spot on the Opening Day roster. In 6.2 innings at Round Rock over 6 games, he allowed two runs, struck out 11 of 27 batters faced, and walked two. He has the stuff to be a potential late inning arm, and given the state of the pen, will likely get some late inning opportunities.

We wrote about Quantrill earlier this week when he won the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week award. He will presumably fill the long man/mop up role for the time being.

The initial hope was that Bradford would be back in the majors in May, but after having soreness after his rehab start on April 8, he’s on pause, and so the Rangers have apparently determined he’s not going to be an option before Memorial Day.

The surprising news is the decision to designate Marc Church for assignment. Church, taken five rounds after Collyer in 2019, established himself as a relief prospect, and made his major league debut at the end of the 2024 season. Church started the 2025 season in the majors, but was sent down after five appearances, and wasn’t healthy for most of the remainder of the season. He struggled with his command this spring, and has allowed four runs in 4.2 innings over five appearances at AAA this year.

The Rangers will now have seven days to waive, trade or release Church. If he clears waivers, he can be outrighted.

Texas Rangers @ Athletics

Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 8:40 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

Sutter Health Park

RHP Kumar Rocker vs. RHP J.T. Ginn

Go Rangers!

Seattle Mariners (8-10) at San Diego Padres (11-6), April 15, 2026, 6:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Today, we all wear 42 💙 pic.twitter.com/v7Tp3FwpvX

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 15, 2026

Here’s how we line up on Jackie Robinson Day. #Jackie42pic.twitter.com/yvMIYFRHQ8

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 15, 2026

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Mets right-hander Christian Scott took the mound for Triple-A on Wednesday and had a second consecutive solid start for Syracuse.

After giving up some early runs, Scott settled in and struck out five in his 5.1 innings of work, retiring the last 11 hitters he faced and 13 of the last 14. The one batter that reached base during that stretch reached on an error. 

Scott allowed just two hits and a walk in his outing while throwing 82 pitches (50 strikes), but the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, made them count. Spencer Jones hit a two-out double following a walk to open the scoring in the first and Ernesto Martinez Jr. tagged the 26-year-old for a solo shot to lead off the second. 

From there, Scott faced one over the minimum until he was pulled from the game in the sixth, in line for the loss with Syracuse down 2-0. Regardless, his season ERA dropped from 6.48 to 5.27 over 13.2 innings this season.

Scott missed the entire 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery following a big league promotion in 2024. That year, Scott had a 4.56 ERA in nine major league starts and a 2.76 ERA in nine starts in Triple-A. 

Christian Scott's final line tonight for Triple-A Syracuse:

5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K

Scott retired the final 11 batters he faced.

Catch the @SyracuseMets NOW on SNY pic.twitter.com/MYyJwYMBrM

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) April 15, 2026

Prior to tonight’s series finale against the Dodgers, the Mets placed Jared Young on the IL, retroactive to April 13, with a meniscus tear in his left knee. The team later revealed that Young will undergo surgery and is expected to miss six to eight week of action as a result. To take his place on the roster, the team called up MJ Melendez from Triple-A Syracuse. As an unrelated roster move, the team also released reliever Luis García, whom they designated for assignment last week.

Young had seen more playing time since Soto’s injury, picking up some at-bats at first base and the outfield. In 23 plate appearances, he’s posted a .350/.391/.450 slash line with two runs scored, two runs batted in, a 137 wRC+, and a 0.2 fWAR. Looking at tonight’s lineup, the team will go with Brett Baty at first base, an outfield configuration of Tommy Pham in left, Luis Robert Jr. in center, and Carson Benge in right, and the newly-recalled Melendez manning the DH role.

Melendez is coming off a game in which he homered and tripled for Syracuse Mets in an 8-6 victory over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on Tuesday night. In all, the 27-year-old outfielder, whom the Mets signed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal over the winter, is hitting .216/.286/.431 with two homers, three runs batted in, and seven runs scored for Syracuse.

The most telling statistic in the San Francisco Giants’ 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds is the two teams’ pitch counts. Four Giants pitchers combined to throw 145 pitches in eight innings. The Reds got through nine innings against the free-swinging Giants in just 111 pitches, an average of 12.3 per inning.

The Giants had seven hits but only one walk, getting their lone run when Willy Adames crushed his third home run of the season in the 5th inning. Cincinnati got only three hits in the game but two of them were solo home runs off Robbie Ray (2-2), which gave the Reds the first game of the series. The defining moment came in the bottom of the 4th, when Reds first baseman Sal Stewart fouled off four pitches before going deep on Ray’s ninth pitch of the at-bat.

Sal Stewart slugs his 5th home run of the season 💪 pic.twitter.com/rhX7XY3FeV

— MLB (@MLB) April 14, 2026

The Giants pitchers didn’t make too many mistakes apart from that fastball to Stewart and a hanging slider that Spencer Steer turned into a 401-foot bomb in the 3rd.

Way to get us started, Spence‼️@spenc__erpic.twitter.com/D607kcODZq

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) April 14, 2026

Reds starter Brady Singer pitched a solid six innings of one-run ball, striking out only one batter, hitting another, but walking none. That’s less of a challenge with the walk-averse Giants, but it allowed him to get through six innings in only 75 pitches. The Giants never had more than one runner on base at a time Tuesday, thanks to a caught stealing in the first inning and a Matt Chapman GIDP in the 8th.

Both teams had runners erased in the opening frame, with Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson throwing out Adames trying to steal and Gold Glover Patrick Bailey gunning down Matt McClain. Perhaps traumatized, neither manager called for a steal the rest of the game.

Adames did crush one in the 5th inning, reaching the second deck in left after sitting on Singer’s sweeper.

¡Willy Adames directamente para el segundo piso! 🏌️ pic.twitter.com/NnNhIQqZUT

— MLB Español (@mlbespanol) April 15, 2026

But that was it for the Giants offense, besides two singles by Luis Arraez, who went 3-for-4 and raised his batting average to .333. Jung Hoo Lee had a single and a double, but six Giants starters went hitless.

Even the team’s leading hitter, Daniel Susac, couldn’t come through Tuesday. He pinch-hit for Bailey with two outs in the 9th and hit one to the wall, but the ball fell short and lowered his average to .583. What a bum!

The Reds bullpen was excellent. Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, and Emilio Pagan (5 saves) struck out four Giants in three innings, giving up only a single to Arraez and an unintentional-intentional walk to Rafael Devers. Ashcraft was particularly filthy, getting Jared Oliva to whiff on a pitch at least five feet wide of home plate.

SF’s relievers were solid as well, with Keaton Winn and Ryan Walker throwing no-hit innings and Caleb Killian escaping a two-on, no-out jam in the 6th with a strikeout and a timely double play.

It’s the third game in a row that the Giants have scored two runs or fewer. It’s the ninth time in 17 games this season they’ve scored two or fewer and they’re 0-9 in those games.

Tony Vitello may be considering dramatic lineup changes. The most obvious move might come in left field, where Heliot Ramos has two extra-base hits all season, though the team isn’t exactly flush with options. Harrison Bader has struck out in a third of his at-bats. Oliva has one hit this season. Jerar Encarnacion might have the most upside — at least based on exit velocity.

If you can’t hit in the Great American Ballpark, that’s a very bad sign. It’s encouraging for the Giants pitching staff but another rough data point for the sputtering Giants hitters.

The Houston Astros (7-11) host the Colorado Rockies (6-11) for the second game of a three game series on Jackie Robinson Day.

RHP Spencer Arrighetti (season debut) will make his first Major League start of the season tonight opposite the 15-year MLB veteran LHP Jose Quitana (0-0, 4.15 ERA) and the Rockies.

TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Spencer Arrighetti opened his season at Triple A Sugar Land where he had three strong starts, posting a 1.26 ERA (2ER/14.1IP) with 20 strikeouts, a 0.77 WHIP and a .111 opponent average.

Arrighetti has spent the majority of the last two seasons in Houston, making 36 appearances (35 starts) for the Astros, posting a 4.69 ERA (94ER/180.1IP) with 202 strikeouts in 180.1 innings pitched.

TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have recalled RHP Spencer Arrighetti to make tonight’s start.

In a corresponding move, the Astros placed RHP Cody Bolton on the 15-day IL with right mid-back inflammation (retro to April 13).

JACKIE ROBINSON: Today is Jackie Robinson Day, which will include seminars, pregame activities and charity work at the ballpark tonight.

In recognition of Jackie Robinson Day, the Astros will host a short “Breaking Barriers” forum in the press conference room at 5:30 p.m. with 40 high school-aged kids from the Astros Youth Academy. Brice Matthews, Cam Smith, Taylor Trammell, Dave Clark, Joe Espada and Dana Brown are scheduled to take part.

Also, all pregame activities will be dedicated to Jackie Robinson Day, which will include the Play Ball Call from JC Hartman, the Astros first African American player.

CORREA’S GUESTS: The Correa Family Foundation will make their monthly visit to Daikin Park today.

IF Carlos Correa and his foundation will host young patients battling illness and their families at the game, including having them on the field during batting practice.

HOME-COOKIN’: Tonight is the second game of a six-game homestand for the Astros, in which they’ll host a pair of National League opponents in the Rockies and Cardinals.

The Astros enter tonight’s game 6-2 overall at Daikin Park in 2026.

VS. THE ROCKIES: The Astros were swept by the Rockies last week in a three-game series at Coors Field (April 6-9), which was the Astros first sweep at the hands of the Rockies since a four-game series from May 28-31, 2012.

After the 2012 season, the Astros have not lost a season series against the Rockies, winning seven times and splitting twice.

ROCKING THE ROCKIES: 1B Christian Walker has enjoyed facing the Rockies throughout his career, posting a .334 avg. (123×368) vs. them with 29 HR and 77 RBI with a 1.022 OPS.

His career avg., RBI and OPS vs. COL are his best vs. any club (min. 10g) while his 29 HR match his most against any single opponent (also the Dodgers). His 29 home runs are also tied with 1B Paul Goldschmidt for the most homers against the Rockies among active players.

AGENT SMITH: RF Cam Smith is coming off a strong road trip, in which he hit .324 (12×37) with three doubles, two homers, seven RBI and a .927 OPS in 10 games (nine starts).

Smith continued that hot streak last night, going 1×4 with an RBI and a run scored.

HOT START:Yordan Alvarez is off to a sizzling start for the Astros in 2026.

In the American League, he currently ranks first in extra-base hits (11) and in total bases (42), tied for first in walks (16), and second in RBI (16), OPS (1.175), SLG (.700) and OBP (.475). Alvarez was named American League Player of the Week for March 30-April 5 (fourth time to win the award).

THE ORDER: The Astros have used 18 different batting orders in their 18 games so far this season. Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the batting order (batting second).

FROM THE TRAINER’S ROOM: The Astros currently have 13 players on the Major League Injured List.

Here are updates on a few:

• RHP Cody Bolton (right mid-back inflammation) was placed on the IL today and is currently not throwing.

• RHP Hunter Brown (right shoulder sprain), RHP Tatsuya Imai (right arm fatigue) and RHP Cristian Javier (right shoulder strain) are rehabbing in Houston, but currently not throwing.

• LHP Josh Hader (left biceps tendinitis) tossed a 19-pitch live BP yesterday in Houston.

• RHP Nate Pearson (right elbow surgery) threw 2.0 innings in an extended Spring Training game on Saturday (April 11).

• LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) is out on a minor league rehab assignment now…he pitched last night for Double A Corpus Christi, working 1.0 scoreless inning on eight pitches (seven strikes).

• OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow sprain) is rehabbing in Florida…he has progressed to a position specific throwing program while continuing normal hitting.

• OF Jake Meyers (right oblique strain) and SS Jeremy Peña (right hamstring strain) are rehabbing in Houston, focusing on rehabilitation exercises.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, April 15, 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)

Updated Lineup:

Carlos Correa 3B
Yordan Alvarez DH
Isaac Paredes 2B
Christian Walker 1B
Cam Smith RF
Yainer Diaz C
Joey Loperfido CF
Nick Allen SS
Brice Matthews LF
Spencer Arrighetti RHP https://t.co/JL9Cune2Sn

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 15, 2026

Here is tonight's lineup ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FIVUT0Ruv5

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 15, 2026

Happy Jackie Robinson Day to all who celebrate! The White Sox (6-11) dropped the first game of a three-game set with the Rays Tuesday behind Noah Schultz in his MLB debut, and righthander Sean Burke will take the mound in an effort to create any form of positive momentum for the team. As it stands, the South Siders are 4-6 in their last 10 while holding down last place in the AL Central — 4.5 games behind the first place Twins — and they still hold the worst run differential in all of baseball (-33).

For us White Sox fans, we have more than one person to celebrate today. The White Sox announced this afternoon that utility man Sam Antonacci has finally been called up to the show, and will make his major league debut on the South Side Wednesday. Antonacci has cruised through the minor league system, making an solid first impression in Low-A ball with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers in 2024 (.333/.471/.432 in 81 ABs), and posted an .837 OPS with the High-A Winston-Salem Dash before being promoted to the Double-A Barons and maintaining a consistent .816 OPS.

After his performance on the international stage with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, he came into the 2026 season hot out the gates with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, slashing .313/.500/.479 with a .979 OPS in 14 games (48 at-bats). Though he’s primarily played the infield throughout his collegiate and amateur career, he’s played 100 innings in left field this season with a 1.000 fielding percentage, and has flashed his arm accuracy by throwing a few runners out — something the South Side outfield desperately needs. Welcome to the show, Sam!

Now for our pitching, Burke has been more consistent in this last two starts compared to opening weekend, sitting at a 2.45 ERA in two April outings, with three earned runs given up on six hits across 11 innings, accompanied by 10 strikeouts and just two walks. A small sample size, of course, but his statcast percentile rankings are almost night and day compared to 2025:

Burke’s 3.60 ERA on the season is nearly double his 1.96 FIP, signaling that the poor defense on balls in play are also hindering his ability to keep runs from crossing the plate. His low 4.8% walk rate also highlights that runners aren’t necessarily getting on base because of Burke alone, and the White Sox rank 7th with 12 errors so far on the year, and that doesn’t include the mental errors that we regularly see in the field. Last season, Burke struggled with batters barreling the ball at a much higher rate (10.4%), though he is down to 2.3% so far in 2026.

A week spot, however, is that he often gives up a lot of pulled fly balls, which could be trouble with the wrong batter, especially with power hitters such as Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, and Yandy Díaz. Here’s how the Rays will line ‘em up today:

Old friend alert! Righthander Jesse Scholtens will make his first start of the season, and second appearance in 2026, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings behind the starting pitcher to finish the game. Scholtens was claimed off of waivers by Tampa Bay last August after he was designated for assignment by the White Sox following his rehab assignment from Tommy John surgery. In two outings with the Rays last season (8 1/3 innings), he allowed seven runs (five earned) on nine hits, including one home run. Scholtens had an excellent 31.6% strikeout rate last season, and was able to get batters to chase, though his one outing this year is a bit too small of a sample size to see how he will progress throughout the season.

Tonight’s lineup construction is another Will Venable classic: seemingly picking lineups out of a hat to see if anything works better. For whatever reason, Andrew Benintendi is leading off and playing left field, while last night’s leadoff batter has now shifted into the three-spot (Miguel Vargas). Munetaka Murakami at least remains in the two-hole after a pair of walks and a two-run bomb yesterday, but some of the other choices don’t necessarily make sense. For example, on Tuesday, Venable insisted on batting Everson Pereira over Colson Montgomery in the cleanup spot in his first game off of the IL, yet today he is nowhere to be found in the lineup after a three-run homer.

Sam Antonacci will make his debut batting fifth and playing second base in place of Chase Meidroth, who will get a rest day. I’m not worried about where Antonacci is batting in the lineup, but the Sox have been working him in the outfield more a couple months only to roll out a brutal outfield rotation while sitting an everyday player. Trying to understand here, Will, but we are all confused on a daily basis. Normal teams probably aren’t doing a plug-and-play in the lineup everyday, but here we are. I digress.

Here’s the full lineup for the Good Guys tonight:

Another round of storms are set to roll through the Chicagoland area this evening, weather permitting, first pitch will take place at 6:40 p.m. CT. Be sure to tune in for Antonacci’s debut either on CHSN or on the radio via ESPN Chicago AM 1000.

Game two of three in Milwaukee.

I have such a dislike of Bud Selig that I don’t I could go to Milwaukee to watch a game. I know he doesn’t own the team anymore (and that he’s over 90 years old), but he worked very hard to kill off my Expos and was just an all-round Clemensing Farrell (he says trying to stay inside the site’s language rules).

It does look like they have a nice ballpark.

I also couldn’t drink Miller beer. I didn’t drink beer at all until the last 15-20 years, because my dad bought Labatt Blue. My father-in-law bought Old Style Pilsner (he was born in Saskatchewan). Both tasted like sewer water to me. But, craft beers are interesting. I’m generally a one and done, so I like the beer to be interesting.

But it is a nice looking park and I’m there is other things to do there than drink bad beer.

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Go Jays Go

It’s been a tough road trip for the Colorado Rockies as they are the losers of five straight games and dropped another close affair 7-6 on Tuesday against the Houston Astros. The offense came to life a little bit better, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a bad start on the mound, and the Rockies are looking to turn things around to snap the losing streak behind one of their free-agent starting pitchers.

Jose Quintana (0-0, 4.15 ERA) is making just his second start of the season tonight after being waylaid for two weeks with a hamstring injury. His lone start came on March 29 against Miami, in which he allowed two runs on four hits in 4.1 innings with two strikeouts. While Quintana escaped without too much damage, he did struggle with his command, issuing four walks in the start. It’s unclear how much of a leash he will have coming off the injured list, but the Rockies are in desperate need of some length out of a starting pitcher, so five innings would be ideal at the very least. This will be Quintana’s 12th appearance, 10th start, against the Astros, and he sports a 3.08 ERA in 52.2 innings of work.

Also, in a corresponding move, Kyle Freeland was placed on the 15-day IL.

As for Houston, right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (0-0, 1.26 ERA in Triple-A) was recalled from Sugar Land to take the hill. Arrighetti’s been off to a hot start in Triple-A, allowing just two runs on five hits over 14.1 innings in three starts. Last season in the big leagues, he went 1-5 with a 5.35 ERA over seven starts, allowing 21 runs over 35.1 innings. Much like the Rockies, the Astros are hoping for some length out of their starter and that he can pound the zone like he’s shown capable of doing in the past. He has made one appearance against the Rockies in his career, back in 2024, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, recording 10 strikeouts, and walking none.

First Pitch: 6:10 pm MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

SB Nation site: The Crawfish Boxes

Lineups:

For the visiting Rockies:

Here is tonight's lineup ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/FIVUT0Ruv5

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 15, 2026

and the Astros:

Back at it!

⚾️: 7:10pm
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 & 740 AM | Spanish: 102.9 HD2#ChaseTheFight x @reliantenergypic.twitter.com/pVny0Be9W7

— Houston Astros (@astros) April 15, 2026

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A Major League Baseball umpire did not feel any brotherly love while in the city of Philadelphia last week, and it had nothing to do with baseball. 

Brock Ballou was allegedly robbed and assaulted on April 9 while in town to work the Phillies series against the Diamondbacks, according to CBS News Philadelphia. 

Ballou was one of two people who were allegedly attacked by the same assailant, who Philadelphia police believe is in his teens. 

The MLB umpire was allegedly approached by the suspect — seen in surveillance video wearing a black hat, black pants and a light blue hoodie — while walking on the 1600 block of Walnut Street in Philly, when the individual stole his phone and took off. 

Ballou attempted to give chase and ended up getting into a “physical altercation,” Capt. Jason Smit told CBS News Philadelphia, and when Ballou tried to take back his phone, he was punched in the head several times. 

“They ended up on the ground, at which time the victim struck his head, causing injury,” Smith said. “The male continued his assault, violently punching him.”

The suspect ended up not making off with the MLB umpire’s phone. Ballou was able to get it back when a passerby returned it to him. 

The injuries sustained by Ballou were not serious, and he umpired first base the next night and called balls and strikes behind the plate the day after. 

Ballou has been an umpire in MLB since 2022.

MLB has not publicly commented on the matter that occurred earlier this week. 

Another person had also been allegedly assaulted by the same person on the same day at a 7-Eleven 20 minutes earlier.

The alleged assault was not the first peculiar situation that Ballou has found himself in. 

In a story published by MiLB.com in 2016, Ballou was traveling to call a game in the Carolina League and was on I-95 with fellow umpire Cody Clark when an RV in front of them lost control.

The two men jumped out to assist the vehicle’s occupants. 

Texas Rangers lineup for April 15, 2026 against the A’s: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and J.T. Ginn for the A’s.

Its Jackie Robinson Day, and the Rangers are playing game three of the four game series in Sacramento. Jake Burger gets his first day off of the season, and Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager switch places.

The lineup:

Nimmo — RF

Seager — SS

Langford — DH

Carter — CF

Pederson — 1B

Jung — 3B

Smith — 2B

Jansen — C

Duran — LF

8:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +105 underdogs.