CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 25: Manager Blake Butera (10) of the Washington Nationals talks with his players during an MLB game against the Chicago White Sox on April 25, 2026 at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Nats showed grit and clutch hitting in their extra inning win yesterday. That evened up the series and set up a rubber match this afternoon. This is a series both teams are going to really want to grab, so this will be a hotly contested game.
For the second time this series, the White Sox have a lefty opener, which made Blake Butera alter his lineup. Curtis Mead will be in the 2 spot at first base, while Luis Garcia Jr. is lower in the order, in the 7 spot. CJ Abrams will be back in the lineup after a day off yesterday. Drew Millas will be back behind the dish. He will be catching Foster Griffin, who has had a very good start to his Nats career.
With a lefty on the mound, we will see some new faces for the White Sox. Tanner Murray, Derek Hill and Drew Romo will make their first starts of the series. Luisangel Acuna will also be back in the lineup. Chase Meidroth will be all the way up in the leadoff spot. For the second time in this series, lefty Bryan Hudson will be the opener. Righty Sean Burke will follow him.
This has been a very evenly matched series, with the Sox taking game one by a single run and the Nats winning game two in extra innings. That should set up for a fun series finale. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats.
Apr 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) hits an rbi single during the third inning against the Athletics at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday.
Imai, who has been on the injured list due to right arm fatigue since April 12, threw a bullpen at Daikin Park Sunday morning before the Astros series finale against the New York Yankees. Manager Joe Espada said Imai will start against the Frisco Roughriders if he comes out of that bullpen feeling good.
“He could go four innings, five innings, just depending how efficient he is,” Espada said. “He’s fully stretched out.”
Espada didn’t say how many rehab starts Imai would need being reinstated from the IL.
Imai signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Astros from the NPB’s Seibu Lions, that included opt outs after the first two seasons. He posted a 7.27 ERA in his first three Major League starts and was unable to finish the first inning in his last start on April 10 against the Seattle Mariners.
After he was placed on the IL, Imai revealed that the transition to the United States had been tougher than he expected, but Espada said Sunday he believes things are getting better for the 27-year old.
“We continue to talk with him and encourage him to be open with us,” Espada said. “I know he’s got his strength coach finally here. He feels like he’s more complete when it comes to his progression and his process that he has leading into his next start, into his bullpen, so he’s in a much better place mentally.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: Spencer Arrighetti #41 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 20, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (10-18) will try to salvage a victory in the finale this three-game series opposite the rival New York Yankees (18-9) today at Daikin Park.
RHP Spencer Arrighetti, who’s 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his two starts this season, will put his perfect record up against RHP Luis Gil (1-1, 4.11 ERA) and the Yankees.
SPENCER’S GIFTS: RHP Spencer Arrighetti has impressed in his two Major League starts, striking out 13 in 11.0 innings, while posting a .195 opponent average.
This continues his run of success, as he opened his year 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 years in Houston, making 38 apps. (36 starts) for the Astros, posting a 4.56 ERA (97ER/191.1IP) with 215 strikeouts in 191.1 innings.
RIVALRY RENEWED: The Astros went 3-3 against the Yankees in 2025, but have had their struggles vs. the Yankees since the start of the 2023 season, going 6-16 in their regular season games.
In the postseason, the Astros and Yankees have played 18 games against each other since 2015, the most playoff games between any two teams in that span, with the Astros going 13-5 in those games with wins in all four postseason series (2015 WC; 2017 ALCS; 2019 ALCS; 2022 ALCS).
GUN ‘EM DOWN:C Christian Vázquez threw out SS José Caballero attempting to steal third base in the 3rd and 7th innings last night.
Vázquez has thrown out seven baserunners attempting to steal (in 14 attempts), ranking tied for second in the AL.
THE ORDER: The Astros have used 28 different batting orders in their 28 games so far this season.
Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the lineup (second).
ON THE LEADERBOARD: Yordan Alvarez has had a torrid start to this season, currently leading the Majors in total bases (77), OBP (.464), and OPS (1.219), ranking tied for first in hits (36), extra-base hits (19), batting average (.353) and in homers (11), and second in RBI (26) and SLG (.755).
STALKING THE PUMA: LF Yordan Alvarez has matched the Astros franchise record with 11 home runs in the club’s first 28 games of a season, a feat he also accomplished in the 2022 season.
The only other Astro with 11 homers with the club’s first 28 games was OF Lance Berkman, who did so in both 2002 and 2006.
Should Alvarez homer today, he would be the first player in franchise history to hit 12 homers within the club’s first 29 games.
WE’RE GOING STREAKING!: LF Yordan Alvarez is on an active 11-game hitting streak in which he’s hit .391 (18×46) with four doubles, five homers, 12 RBI and a 1.233 OPS.
The streak is the second-longest of his career, trailing only a 13-game streak, which was posted from May 2-16, 2023. Lastly, Alvarez’s streak is the longest active streak in the AL and the longest by an Astro this season.
OUT ON REHAB: LF Zach Dezenzo played in his third rehab game for Triple A Sugar Land last night, going 1×2 with a double and two walks. Dezenzo has been sidelined this entire season while recovering from a right elbow sprain.
MINOR LEAGUE REPORT: RHP Brandon McPherson, an undrafted free agent signing last season, tossed 4.0 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a start for Double A Corpus Christi last night, lowering his season ERA to 3.24 through four starts.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 1998 – The Astros shellac the Expos 15-0 in what ties as the largest margin of victory in a shutout game in franchise history.
Two Astros have four-hit games in 3B Sean Berry and CF Richard Hidalgo, who both go 4×5. LF Moises Alou drives in five. RHP Sean Bergman (6IP) picks up the win, while LHP Trever Miller earns a 3.0-inning save.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, April 126, 1:10 p.m. CST
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM & 99.1 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Apr 24, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (31) breaks his bat on a hit in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (14-14) vs. Cincinnati Reds (18-9)
Time/Place: 1:40 p.m., Great American Ball Park SB Nation Site: Red Reporter Media: Detroit Sportsnet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (1-2, 3.68 ERA) vs. RHP Rhett Lowder (3-1, 3.10 ERA)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 16: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays talks with media after the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Thursday, April 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Sheridan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 20: Rhett Lowder #25 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 20, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rhett Lowder’s best outing of the 2026 season came back on April 4th against the Texas Rangers. The Cincinnati Reds righty fired 6.0 IP of scoreless, 3 hit ball that day, and he did so pitching to catcher Jose Trevino for the first (and, so far, only) time this year.
That’s largely because Trevino hit the shelf immediately after that game with pain in his back. But after three weeks on the shelf, Trevino is back with the Reds and immediately in action today in the series finale against the Detroit Tigers.
And, he’ll have Lowder chucking baseballs his way as the Reds starter for the day.
Cincinnati goes for the series sweep over the Tigers on Sunday in Great American Ball Park, with Lowder hurling the first pitch of the day at 1:40 PM ET.
Here’s how both teams will line up as the Reds look to tie a bow on an already electric Hall of Fame induction weekend:
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 14: Mitch Keller #23 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at PNC Park on April 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pitching Matchup: Carmen Mlodzinski (1-1, 3.28 ERA) vs. Kyle Harrison (1-1, 3.06 ERA)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Milwaukee Brewers looking to grab a win.
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TORONTO, CANADA - APRIL 25: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians reacts on second base as he doubles in the fourth inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on April 25, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 20: Starting pitcher Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles cannot make a bare-handed fielding play during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 20, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a weird weekend at Camden Yards. Neither of the games have been close, and the Red Sox have fired half of their coaching staff. Saying it that plainly would make you think the Orioles have outclassed the Red Sox all series. But that wouldn’t be true.
Sure, the O’s looked amazing in the opener, but they really stunk up the place in the sequel. And yet, the Red Sox front office chose to do the firing of World Series-winning manager Alex Cora and many of his underlings right after their team won a game by 16 runs. The optics of that are odd, though the team’s 10-17 record overall gives it more logic.
Chad Tracy will step into Cora’s shoes. He was an MLB player for parts of ten seasons, most of those spent with the Diamondbacks. More recently, the 45-year-old has been a coach in the Red Sox system. Up until Saturday he was manager of their Triple-A squad, the Worcester Red Sox.
For the Orioles, it’s business as usual. Saturday’s game was so terrible that they may as well flush it and move on. They have a series to win, against a division opponent no less. With a day off coming on Monday everyone should be available to get the W. That includes closer Ryan Helsley, who was activated from the bereavement list earlier today. Albert Suarez was DFA’d to make room. You have to imagine the O’s hope they can get Suarez back to Triple-A Norfolk, but he may have opportunities elsewhere.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 20: Starting pitcher Jose Quintana #62 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a full day of rain in New York City on Saturday, the Colorado Rockies and New York Mets will pick things up where they left off, with a Sunday doubleheader to make up for the postponed game.
The Rockies won a close one on Friday night in the city that never sleeps, withstanding some late pressure to take down the Mets 4-3.
The win felt like a huge relief in a number of ways. For one, it was a nice way to bounce back after dropping a tight, series-deciding game in San Diego on Thursday. The Rocks have kept things competitive fairly often this season, but have wound up on the wrong side of close results. Holding on for a win the day after a blown save feels like a nice spark.
It also put a halt to the momentum New York was trying to build. Entering this series with Colorado, the Mets had just won two straight against the Minnesota Twins after making headlines for a 12-game losing streak. The pressure is now back on.
The win also marked just the fourth road win for the Rockies this year. Signs point to it being a pivotal one.
In promising news (knock on wood), the Rockies only series wins this season — against the Toronto Blue Jays on the road and the Houston Astros at home — came after they took the series opener. Friday’s victory puts them in position to win another.
Two teams looking for wins will try to do so with two pitchers each looking to bounce back from rough outings in their latest starts.
After some rotation shuffling as a result of the rainout, the Rockies are sticking with Jose Quintana (0-2 in three starts, 6.23 ERA) who was projected to start on Saturday, while the Mets are opting to go with Nolan McLean (1-1 in five starts, 2.67 ERA). Quintana was initially set to faceoff against Kodai Senga, who will instead pitch in the second game of the afternoon.
Quintana’s starts have been shaky to say the least. He’s been vulnerable to early runs and currently has more than double the number of walks (nine) as he does strikeouts (four). In his last game, the 12-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Quintana gave up six runs on eight hits including two home runs, before he was yanked after five innings. Before that, he only made it 3.2 innings in a 3-1 loss against the Houston Astros, giving up all three of those runs on three hits and four walks.
Conversely, McLean has been reliable for deep outings this season, averaging just over 6.0 IP in his five starts. While he hasn’t posted a win since his April 3rd outing against the San Francisco Giants, he has escaped his starts without enduring much damage.
McLean has given up only three hits a game on average, with only nine earned runs surrendered across those five starts. He’s been good for a ‘K’ as well, striking out eight or more batters in four of his starts. McLean’s last outing was his worst of the season, giving up five hits, three runs, and one homer in a 5-3 loss to the Minnesota Twins earlier in the week.
The Rockies offense will likely have to withstand a long day from McLean to garner some much-needed run support for Quintana, who will look to clean things up against a Mets offense that has had its own struggles. While not quite the high-ERA slugfest that Quintana vs. Senga was projected to be, the game one Quintana vs. McLean matchup is an embodiment of two teams trying to find their rhythm.
Aug 27, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) reacts during the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Bo Bichette – SS
Juan Soto – DH
Luis Robert – CF
Mark Vientos – 1B
Marcus Semien – 2B
Brett Baty – 3B
Tyrone Taylor – RF
Tommy Pham – LF
Luis Torrens – C
Nolan McLean – RHP
Rockies lineup
Edouard Julien – 2B
Mickey Moniak – RF
TJ Rumfield – DH
Troy Johnston – 1B
Kyle Karros – 3B
Brett Sullivan – C
Ezequiel Tovar – SS
Jake McCarthy – CF
Jordan Beck – LF
Jose Quintana – LHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 1:40pm EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
Akron isn’t known as the Rubber Capital of the World for nothing. It’s the birthplace of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
One day after being run-ruled, a stud freshman just beginning to stretch out his arm and some bullpen guys shut out the dominant Tejas Long Fed-offense. It was a beautiful thing.
Last week was a sweep for the Braves, today could lead to another series win… if the Phillies don’t carry over from yesterday and find a way to break their streak.
The Braves will have to get runs on the board as early as possible, while the Phillies will have to endure in the latter half of the matchup, as the Braves are known to score leads in later innings to secure their wins.
