Missouri baseball is rolling into another huge SEC weekend, fresh off its big wins over Missouri State and Kentucky.
The series against South Carolina kicks off at 7 p.m. Thursday night, followed by 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon. This will be another game at Taylor Stadium underneath the lights, with Tiger fans dressed in black and the bats ready to do some damage.
Series Expectations
The Tigers have a current record of 20-14, and a home record of 11-7, after their huge victories against Missouri State and Kentucky. The team has an overall batting average of .287 and a slugging percentage of .438.
The Gamecocks have an overall record of 15-19, with their away record being 1-8. The team has a .253 batting average and a .446 slugging percentage, with more strikeouts than Mizzou.
Offensive Side
The biggest threats Mizzou will have to watch out for are KJ Scobey, with 15 doubles this season, Talmadge LeCroy, with a .496 SLG and Will Craddock, with a .308 AVG and a .598 SLG. Although their weak spots run in the bottom of their lineup, with weaker batting averages.
Mizzou takes the advantage on the consistency side, with more walks and a better team on-base percentage of .404. The Gamecocks are on the hunt for extra-base hits, so Mizzou pitchers will have to look out for this.
Although the Tigers have key hitters, such as Tyler Macon, with a .348 AVG, and lots of gap power. Also, Jase Woita has a solid combo of power and consistency, which will hopefully be a big threat for the Gamecocks. Blaize Ward has not gone unnoticed, with an on-base percentage of .467 and key hits when needed most.
Pitching Comparison
The Tigers have a team ERA of 5.29 and an opponent average of .235. South Carolina has a lower team ERA of 4.51, with a higher opponent average of .237. That being said, the Gamecocks have the same number of strikeouts as the Tigers do, and an almost identical opponent average.
To break it down even more, Josh McDevitt is the team’s ace, with a 3.66 ERA and 52 strikeouts for the team. Alongside him, Javyn Pimental has contained low damage during his time on the mound and a 3.33 ERA to go along with it.
Mizzou’s bullpen is even stronger, with Eli Skidmore proving to be a shutdown reliever and Juan Villarreal’s opponents averaging a 1.46. Sam Rosand, a usual late-game option, started for the first time in his career and secured their win against Kentucky on April 5.
The Gamecocks have an ace similar to McDevitt, named Amp Phillips, with a 2.59 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Alongside him, Brandon Stone has a 3.11 ERA and 36 strikeouts. For their bullpen, Zach Russell and Logan Prisco have been effective relievers.
Ward has had nothing short of an impressive season so far, from becoming the SEC Freshman of the Week to going 3-3 against Kentucky during the last game of the series on Sunday, April 5.
Ward leads the team with his outstanding batting average of .360, with 20 RBI’s and 27 hits in total. His ability to drive in runs for the team when needed most is stellar, and so is his current seven-game hitting streak.
Victory against Neighboring Missouri State
The Tigers put on a show at Taylor Stadium and claimed a 5-2 victory backed by Donovan Jordan and his powerful bat. He delivered the game’s biggest moment when launching a three-run homer on his birthday, breaking their 2-2 tie.
On the mound, Keyler Gonzalez dominated as a reliever, tossing six innings in total with nine strikeouts to shut down Missouri’s offense. More pitching led the way for the Tigers, as Trey Lawrence came in at the end of the game and secured his first win of the season.
Wrap Up
With a chance to extend their SEC success and protect their home-field advantage, Missouri looks ready to make this three-game series a showcase for Tigers baseball at its best.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Pico Kohn of the New York Yankees works out during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 27, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The minor league season is in full swing, as all four affiliates have now hit the field for a full week of play. The last two weeks, we’ve previewed Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Somerset as the two affiliates containing the closest prospects to the majors. You’ll see a number of these guys in the big leagues in the next two years, whether in the Bronx or elsewhere.
But today, we’re checking out the affiliates full of players who still have a bunch of developing left to do. They come from all different backgrounds. Some are just beginning their professional journeys after being drafted last July (here’s a full list of where they’re all starting this season), while others are international prospects who are looking to continue their climb up the minor league ladder. There are big prospects, former top prospects in need of a bounce-back season, and everyone in between.
This area of the minor leagues is make-or-break for dozens of prospects yearly. Many of the prospects who are released before naturally hitting free agency never reach Double-A. Despite being so far off from the majors, there’s a big microscope on these levels. Everyone’s path here may be different, but they’re all judged the same.
High-A Hudson Valley
As we’ve seen with the upper levels, the organization’s catching depth took a serious beating at last year’s Trade Deadline, when they dealt Rafael Flores Jr., Edgleen Perez, and Jesus Rodriguez for big league help. At the High-A level, we have Josue Gonzalez and Eric Genther.
Gonzalez is another glove-first catcher who’s struggled to get his bat going since making it to A-ball in June 2024. As Low-A Tampa’s backup catcher and first baseman in 2025, he hit just .171 with an OPS under .600 in 265 plate appearances. Genther predominantly played outfield at Rhode Island in college, but the 23-year-old undrafted free agent appears to be utilized behind the plate to start the first full season of his pro career after a strong 17-game cup of coffee in Tampa last year.
The infield is chock full of 2025 draftees, headlined by third-round pick Kaeden Kent and fifth-round pick Core Jackson, who figure to slide around second base, third base, and shortstop, along with a former top prospect. Roderick Arias is coming off two brutal seasons in Tampa, where his strikeout rate was untenably high and his supposed strength, his defense, was equally poor. The 21-year-old is moving up despite not showing real progress in either season, but sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery.
Also on the infield are 2025 10th-rounder Connor McGinnis and 13th-rounder Kyle West. While McGinnis will mop up reps at DH and second base when one of the other three is sitting, West will split time at first base with Josh Moylan, who’s entering a pivotal season after struggling in 2025, and the outfield.
The outfield features another 2025 draft pick in 12th-rounder Camden Troyer, along with Wilson Rodriguez, a former 18th-rounder out of Puerto Rico, and Cole Gabrielson. There are also three guys currently on the 7-day injured list. Robbie Burnett was a priority UDFA out of Georgia in 2025, Tyler Wilson is a former eighth-round pick, and Luis Durango will fill in as a glove-first center fielder with tremendous speed.
On the pitching side, the starting rotation features several Tampa call-ups and 2025 draftees. Leading the way is Pico Kohn, the Yankees’ highest drafted pitcher in 2025 out of Mississippi State. He’s joined by sixth-rounder Rory Fox out of Notre Dame, and Texas Tech’s Jack Cebert, who was picked in the 15th round. You might remember Kohn from his very brief cameo in spring training, when he struck out both batters he faced before the game was called due to rain.
Brandon Decker got a midseason promotion last year from Tampa, and the former 19th-round pick will look to build on a solid campaign that saw him post a 3.61 ERA in 85 innings. Sean Paul Liñan will look to improve his arsenal around his standout changeup in his debut season in the organization after being dealt by Washington in the Jorbit Vivas trade. Rounding out the rotation is Luis Serna, who’s still only 21 despite losing much of the last season due to injury. The Mexico native was a prospect darling in rookie ball and is looking to get back on the saddle.
The rotation even has some built-in depth in case of injury, as Andrew Landry and Franyer Herrera are up from Tampa to serve as spot starters and long relievers. Herrera, who turns 21 next month, only has 10 innings above rookie ball, but was tremendous in the FCL last year. Landry was a 16th-round pick in 2023 who split time in Tampa and Hudson Valley last year and made 22 starts.
Hudson Valley’s bullpen has been one of the best in all of minor league baseball for several years, as the Yankees have routinely signed older UDFA arms with one or two strong pitches whose stuff can play right away in A-ball. While most of those arms are starting in Tampa, they’ll be here soon. 11th-rounder Ben Grable figures to get high-leverage innings right away as he joins a number of holdovers, like Jackson Fristoe, Tanner Bauman, Hansel Rincon, Jack Sokol, Chris Veach, and Tony Rossi, a 26-year-old righty who could be in Somerset before long after a terrific 2025.
They have a number of pitchers still on the shelf who could factor in soon. Brady Kirtner, Aaron Nixon, and Bryce Warrecker figure to be key parts of the bullpen when they return, while we could see Brian Hendry and Ocean Gabonia later in the year. The elephant in the room is the Renegades’ highest-ranked prospect, Bryce Cunningham. He’s on the 7-day injured list, so his return could come relatively soon.
Low-A Tampa
Tampa’s roster is a mix of FCL prospects taking the next step and the rest of the 2025 draft class. One name that will not start the year here is Dax Kilby, who’s rehabbing a minor hamstring issue to start the year. If he gets off to a similar start to the year as George Lombard Jr. did in 2025, expect him not to stay here for long. 16th-rounder Jackson Lovich, who tore the cover off the ball in a small sample last year, is also on the injured list.
The catching room is headlined by Engelth Urena, who will also split time at first base while trying to get going at the plate. He featured very mature power in rookie ball, but struggled to do much in Tampa last year with an additional cup of coffee in Hudson Valley. FCL call-up Ediel Rivera and 2025 UDFA Gregory Bozzo will also get reps.
While Kilby and Lovich rehab their injuries, the infield will feature the likes of 2024 draftee Austin Green, 2025 20th-rounder Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek (son of Mark), holdovers Enmanuel Tejada and Hans Montero, and FCL call-ups Santiago Gomez and Kevin Verde.
Tejada is the big name here, as he looks to get back to his 2024 form, where he was hitting .300 before tearing his ACL in July. He and Montero could be in Hudson Valley before long. Gomez’s bat regressed in 2025, but he hit .321 in 2024 in the FCL and will also be the designated position player-pitcher, having entered 12 different games in mop-up duty in the last few years.
Brando Mayea is the headliner in Tampa’s outfield, as the former top international prospect makes his full-season debut after injuries and underperformance hurt his trajectory over the past two seasons. Willy Montero will get plenty of reps alongside him, as will 2025 UDFA Logan Maxwell and 2024 17th-rounder JoJo Jackson, who’s only played 12 games in his first two professional seasons due to injury.
Tampa’s rotation is similar to HV’s in terms of composition. 2025 draftees Justin West, Tyler Boudreau, and Blake Gillespie will start down here, and there are reasons to like each of their arsenals. Danny Flatt is a holdover from an injury-riddled 2025 and could be a strong start away from a promotion, while Allen Facundo has a strong case to already be in Hudson Valley after pitching to a 1.85 ERA in 39 innings last year after recovering from injury. Former top prospect Henry Lalane will also look to build up after an injury-riddled 2025, looking to get back to the tremendous stuff that had turned heads in rookie ball.
The bullpen will be erratic all year, but the org will look to find some diamonds in the rough. 2024 fifth-rounder Greysen Carter is looking to bounce back after an ugly 2025, where he walked 67 in 54.2 innings. UDFAs Matthew Tippie (who throws a forkball!) and Parker Seay will look to follow the blueprint that many have utilized, while FCL call-ups Jose Ledesma, Jose Martinez, Jordarlin Mendoza, Jose M. Rodriguez, and Josh Tiedemann look to make a name for themselves. Look out for former seventh-round pick Wyatt Parliament to factor in at some point this summer as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
In 2024, Javier Assad ascended from swingman to the Cub rotation and made 29 starts in a very effective season. Between injuries and other options emerging in 2025 he was an afterthought. Tuesday night, he was summoned from Iowa to fill one big hole in the Cub rotation.
In 2025, Colin Rea was signed for a swingman role but filled a large hole in the Cub rotation that arose when Justin Steele was lost to an elbow injury. In 2026, the Cubs obtained even more depth and on top of Assad starting in Iowa, Rea was relegated to long reliever. Another elbow injury and a (hopefully) much less significant injury to 2025 All-Star Matthew Boyd opened two spots in the rotation.
Assad re-emerged on Tuesday and gave the Cubs a huge lift with a very strong start, just missing six innings and a quality start (by definition). On Wednesday it was Rea’s turn to re-emerge. And re-emerge he did. He followed Assad’s script and pitched what felt like a real quality start. At just five innings, it doesn’t meet the accepted statistical definition. With two hits, two walks and just one run, it was an awfully effective one.
It can never be said enough. You just can’t ever have too much pitching depth. Hopefully, Matthew Boyd comes back strong and Justin Steele also finds his way back to being an effective pitcher for this team. None of us are ever going to be fully comfortable with a rotation that includes Rea and Assad as well as Jameson Taillon and Shōta Imanaga. Each of them has been a mixed bag in the early going. Never quit adding. In some bizarro world where there aren’t enough innings to go around, there are always at least half a dozen teams willing to part with real talent for a quality pitcher.
On the other side of the ball, this is the best the Cub offense has looked over a two-day period. It isn’t just 15 runs in two games (just one better than they had in games 1 and 2). It was 15 runs in two days that felt like maybe it could have been 20 or more. They still left a number of runners on base and had a handful of fly balls that died at the warning track.
On Tuesday, the primary weapons were Alex Bregman and Pete Crow-Armstrong with three hits apiece. On Wednesday, it was Nico Hoerner with three hits and two more by Carson Kelly. Even Michael Conforto chipped in a timely double that scored three runs. On Friday, Seiya Suzuki should return to the lineup and make the lineup a little bit deeper.
It’ll be interesting to see who heads out with Seiya back. Scott Kingery has gotten just two appearances and no plate appearances so far, but is the most obvious player to play center field if/when you finally rest Pete Crow-Armstrong. Kingery hasn’t had regular playing time since the 2020 season and at 32, isn’t particularly a valuable piece. Dylan Carlson has four plate appearances over three games. I can’t see anyone other than the two of them going. I know a lot of people will expect Conforto to go. While I do wonder how productive his bat will be when it gets much less playing time, he has shown a bit of value at the plate in this series. I’d drop Kingery and figure out center when you need it later on. Conforto is the left-handed bench bat at this time.
It was good to see Conforto produce while Ian Happ was out of the lineup a couple of days. It was so rare to get any production out of the bench in 2025. Maybe he and the non-playing catcher give the Cubs a couple of good bench options, at least at the plate, as well as Matt Shaw who should head to the bench.
Hello .500, old friend. It’s been, what? Three days since we last saw you?
Let’s look at the results from this one.
Three Positives:
Nico Hoerner. Three hits, two runs, two runs driven in. Professional hitter. Team leader in RBI? Who’d believe?
Colin Rea. Another big lift for the pitching staff. Quietly, the Cubs starters are putting together a decent run of games and providing some length. He didn’t get run support until the fifth inning.
Carson Kelly had a pair of hits, one a double, and scored a run.
Game 12, April 8: Cubs 6, Rays 2 (6-6)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Michael Conforto (.156). 1-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R
Hero: Colin Rea (.123). 5 IP, 20 BF, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K (W 1-0)
WPA Play of the Game: Michael Conforto batted with the bases loaded and no outs in the fifth inning, the game tied at one. He hit a double into the right center field gap, not missing a homer by much. The throw back to the infield was wild as was the throw to the plate and the Cubs netted three runs and a runner on third. (.183)
*Rays Play of the Game: Jonny DeLuca led off the third inning with a single while the Rays were down only one. (.044)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 11 Winner: Javier Assad received 178 out of 190 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 3/Bottom 3)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Edward Cabrera +6
Nico Hoerner +5 (+1 this game)
Hoby Milner/Ian Happ/Colin Rea +4 (Rea +2 this game)
Matt Shaw -6 (-1)
Phil Maton -6
Alex Bregman -7 (-3)
Up Next: An off day Thursday and then the Cubs return to Wrigley Field to face the Pirates. The Pirates have been a bit of an early surprise and have won seven of 10 after dropping the first two games of the season and looking sloppy doing it. The Pirates are 4-2 at home and 3-0 against teams under .500. So they are still needing to show that they can win away from home and against good teams. I still think the Cubs are ultimately one of the good ones.
Shōta Imanaga (0-1, 4.50, 10 IP) gets the start for the Cubs. He looked better on Sunday in his second start of the year. He’s 2-0 with 0.35 ERA in four career starts against the Pirates. 27-year-old Carmen Mlodzinski will start for the Pirates. I can’t help shedding a tear for a future game between Carmen and Milwaukee’s opening day starter. Keyboards will be broken. Carmen was a compensatory pick for the Pirates in the 2020 draft (31st overall) out of South Carolina. Carmen has no decisions yet and a 4.00 ERA in nine innings of work. In parts of four seasons, he’s made 111 appearances, 19 of them starts with a 3.28 ERA.
Oct 10, 2008; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers celebrates with first base coach Davey Lopes after hitting a single driving in two runs in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game two of the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
There will be a few baseball obituaries about Davey Lopes written in the coming days, most of them better written than this. Going over the full career of Lopes as it pertains to his playing days would require me talking about his days with the Dodgers, days in which he was part of a hated rivalry between them and the Phillies. Perhaps his most infamous moment as a member of the Dodgers playing against the Phillies came on a play in the 1977 playoffs, where he was incorrectly called safe on a bang-bang play in the ninth inning of Game 3 of that NLCS.
He was out, but the decision to not bring in a substitute for Greg Luzinski was arguably as critical, but I digress.
Lopes’ real impact with the Phillies came during his coaching career with the team from 2007-2010, where he transformed that team into a terror on the bases. It’s one of the parts of the game that isn’t as noticeable with its impact on the field compared to hitting, pitching or fielding, but it can still be something that takes good team into a different territory. It’s what happened with the Phillies during that time period and Lopes was the conductor.
Being a good coach means you make players better. A lot of times, that might show up on the field right before our eyes. If a hitter that was struggling turns his game around under the tutelage of a new voice, the hitting coach gets the credit. We’ve seen what happens when a pitching coach has his finger on the pulse of a staff when it comes to Caleb Cotham as he has become one of the better pitching coaches in the game. Heck, even Bobby Dickerson has somehow made Alec Bohm into something resembling an average fielder.
It’s those other guys, the infield coaches, outfield coaches, guys like Dickerson, that improvement sometimes isn’t truly seen on pages of data. When it comes to Lopes, his impact on the team’s running game was undeniable. During his tenure with the team, the Phillies were the best baserunning team in baseball. It showed up in the traditional stats like stolen bases, where Lopes’ expertise in analyzing the opposing pitchers made them the most efficient team around (84% success rate). It also showed up in the other things that make baserunners good. Fangraphs tracks different advanced baserunning stats with their publicly available information. The Phillies of 2007-2010 were the best in several of these categories, including wSB (stolen bases and caught stealing runs above average – 43.8), speed score (5.3) and baserunning runs (77.5).
It’s no coincidence that in the years after Lopes left, the team fell to the middle of the pack. His being let go had an impact on the team. Of course, the team during this time had several baserunners that excelled at the skill in Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Jayson Werth to name a few. Sometimes, it helps having better clay to mold from, but almost to a man, Lopes was given a lot of credit for helping them improve in an underrated facet of the game.
The Phillies of that time period gave the city its first extended taste of championship baseball in nearly 30 years. It culminated in a world championship in 2008 that saw all parts come together in a glorious run. Lopes was an important part of that team.
Gwinnett rode an excellent start from Didier Fuentes to a shutout victory on Wednesday, as the Stripers moved to 7-4 on the young season.
In six innings of work, Fuentes scattered just two hits while striking out eight in the process. The only blemish for the young righty, is that he issued four walks during the process.
Regardless, Fuentes’ stuff was still incredible despite the shaky command. His fastball topped out at 99.8 MPH on the night while averaging 96.9 MPH. As for his breaking stuff, Fuentes’ only threw two changeups on the night while relying heavily on his sweeper, which was somewhat inconsistent, especially on the inner third of the plate for RHH.
Overall, Fuentes was as solid as ever, getting a team-high 13 swings and misses during the process on the night as well, while only five of his 86 pitches were hit “hard” into fair territory, per Baseball Savant.
Just another day at the office for Didier Fuentes 🔥
At the plate, it was sort of an “all-hands-on-deck approach for Gwinnett, as Jim Jarvis went 1-3 with an RBI, while DeShawn Kiersey Jr. laced an RBI-triple in the process as well.
On another note, relatively new farmhand Victor Mederos was spectacular in his organization debut.
Across two innings pitched, Mederos dominated as he struck out three in those two frames. What was more impressive is his two-seam fastball averaged 96 MPH with more than 16’ of horizontal break and 7’ of vertical break. In addition to his fastball, Mederos threw a cutter and slider, both of which he used 19% of the time in his outing.
If he can keep up numbers like that from out of the pen, the Braves may have another interesting bullpen piece to add to the big league roster eventually.
Keeping with what has been a trend for Atlanta’s minor league affiliates so far this season, pitching was the key to the game for Columbus as they picked up their first win of the year on Wednesday.
Herick Hernandez got the start and struck out seven across 4.2 innings of work while getting 14 swings and misses — good for fourth-best in all of double-A on Wednesday. While he did scatter three hits and issue three walks, the lefty limited the damage and managed to keep Montgomery off the scoreboard while he was on the mound.
The star of the show at the plate was Lizandro Espinoza, as the 23-year-old utility player went 2-4 with a homer and a double to go along with a pair of RBI, a pair of runs scored and a walk in the process.
Ambioris Tavarez finally notched his first homer of the season, as he took a 2-1 fastball on the inner third of the plate and pulled it over the left field wall for a two-run homer. The shot registered at 104 MPH off the bat, which is a good sign for Tavarez who has struggled mightily at the plate over the course of his pro career.
— Columbus Clingstones (@GoClingstones) April 8, 2026
With Wednesday’s performance, Tavarez has seen his OPS jump to 1.025 across eight games, which is admittedly a small sample size, but it’s encouraging for the 22-year-0ld nonetheless.
(3-2) Rome Emperors 5, (3-2) Bowling Green Hot Rods 6
As the only minor league affiliate to come up short in terms of a win on Wednesday, Rome still had several individual performances to stand out.
Starter Jeremey Reyes didn’t have his best stuff on Wednesday, but still showed flashes of his above-average stuff. In 5.2 innings of work, Reyes was tagged for four runs on three hits while striking out five. The largest detriment to his performance were walks, as he issued three of them.
While it may not have been the outcome he wanted, his fastball did touch 98 MPH and his breaking stuff looked sharp at times as well.
Getting the start at DH, Eric Hartman put the barrel on the ball tremendously last night. Hartman laced a 101 MPH double off the bat in the second inning and also crushed a 103 MPH solo homer in the top of the first — not to mention hitting it off a LHP — to get the scoring started for Rome on the night.
Owen Carey was excellent as well, as he went 2-4 with an RBI and a rocket of a double that checked in at 104 MPH and just narrowly missed leaving the yard in the third frame.
(2-3) Augusta GreenJackets 11, (1-4) Delmarva Shorebirds 1
The GreenJackets absolutely dominated Delmarva, winning by a final of 11-1.
Augusta got standout performances from both the usual and unusual suspects in the process, as Tate Southisene launched his first career homer — a 431 blast that registered at 108 MPH off the bate — while driving in three runs and scoring two in the process to lead the charge.
— Augusta GreenJackets (@GreenJackets) April 9, 2026
As for the unusual suspects, Caden Merritt was excellent on Wednesday night, as he went 2-3 with a double and three RBI as well. Through 16 at-bats, the undrafted free agent out of Gainesville, Virginia is batting .313 with an OPS of .825 to start the season.
Starter Derek Vartanian was solid in his first career minor league start as the Campbell University product has dealt with a plethora of injuries over the course of his career.
In 4.2 innings of work, Vartanian gave up six hits, but limited the damage to just one earned run while striking out a whopping seven batters in the process.
Hopefully the 22-year-old righty can stay healthy to give the Braves a longer look, because the talent and stuff is absolutely there.
The Colorado Rockies head to Petco Park for a four-game series with the San Diego Padres, with Game 1 taking place tonight.
These two teams are deadlocked at 6-6 in the NL West standings after Colorado’s surprising four-game winning streak.
See why the underdogs may not cool off so quickly in my Rockies vs. Padres predictions and MLB picks for Thursday, April 9.
Who will win Rockies vs Padres today: Rockies moneyline (+170)
Randy Vasquez was all the rage in spring training and in his first start due to his increased velocity.
Turns out, that was illusory, as Vasquez was back down to his 2025 level (93.6 mph) during his April 4 start. His 5.37 xERA and 4.6% K-BB% with that velocity a year ago hardly indicate future success.
Colorado Rockies right-hander Chase Dollander is up a tick to 98.8 mph, has a solid 102 Pitching+, and will throw in tandem with an effective bullpen (2.74 SIERA).
The San Diego Padres have a lowly 85 wRC+ against RHP, so there’s cause for concern both at the dish and on the mound.
COVERS INTEL: Vasquez was one of the most fortunate hurlers in 2025 as his xERA and xFIP (5.51) both undersold his 3.84 ERA. The increased velocity from his first start is gone, as is the cold and windy weather from his second.
Rockies vs Padres Over/Under pick: Under 8 (-109)
Neither lineup has performed well enough to have confidence in an offense-oriented game. Colorado checks in with a 94 wRC+ while San Diego is even worse at 81.
The Padres have one of the most talented bullpens in the league, whereas the Rockies have been one of the most effective.
Colorado has been an Under bettor’s dream this season, cashing tickets in nine of their 12 contests.
Dollander has an effective 3.86 ERA on the road, holding batters to a .208 AVG, and his increased stuff to start the year should pay dividends against a down lineup.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 3-2, +1.25 units
Over/Under bets: 3-3, -0.11 units
Rockies vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Rockies +164 | Padres -196
Run line: Rockies +1.5 (-134) | Padres -1.5 (+112)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Rockies vs Padres trend
The Rockies have hit the Under in 14 of their last 20 away games. Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Padres.
How to watch Rockies vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Thursday, April 9, 2026
First pitch
9:40 p.m. ET
TV
COLR, SDPA
Rockies starting pitcher
Chase Dollander (1-1, 5.40 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Randy Vasquez (1-0, 0.75 ERA)
Rockies vs Padres latest injuries
Rockies vs Padres weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
There's a small board to choose from for our MLB pickstoday, but our baseball experts have still found some value to get action on.
Our baseball experts are double-dipping on today's White Sox/Royals matchup, as well as banking on the Mets to bounce back, for their favorite plays today at Polymarket — which allows MLB fans all across the country to join in on the action.
Sign up now using our exclusive Polymarket promo code 'COVERS' (on your mobile app only) and get a $20 trading bonus after you deposit $20 to trade on any other event contracts — including MLB expert picks!
Sign Up Now at img src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/polymarketlogo.png" alt="Polymarket" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
*Eligible locations only
Josh Inglis' expert pick: White Sox/Royals Under 9.5
Price: 52¢ (-108) at Polymarket
This is a big number for a Kansas City Royals squad that has been one of the best Under teams in the league at 4-8 O/U. The offense is coming off a three-game set in Cleveland, where it managed just seven runs and cashed the Under in each game. They're also sending Seth Lugo, who has allowed just three total runs through two starts, to the mound today against the White Sox. The wind is blowing out, which is inflating this total, but it feels like an overreaction given that both teams have recently been lined closer to 7.5.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Royals moneyline
Price: 63¢ (-170) at Polymarket
The Royals are trading as a 63% favorite, and this price still isn’t short enough — I make them closer to a 69% favorite in this matchup against Chicago. Seth Lugo features a deep arsenal, mixing seven different pitches, with his curveball serving as his primary weapon. That variety of off-speed pitches should create significant problems for a young White Sox lineup, which is anchored by Munetaka Murakami, who thrives when he can hunt fastballs... but that’s not what he’ll be seeing from Lugo today. If Murakami isn’t able to provide power in the middle of the order, the White Sox offense looks much less threatening.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Mets ML
Price: 61¢ (-156) at Polymarket
Eduardo Rodriguez comes back down to earth tonight with the cooler temperatures in New York. He has a horrible track record at Citi Field, where he was rocked for eight earned runs in an April start last season, while also getting smacked for five earned runs there in a 2024 start. Meanwhile, Nolan McLean has looked sharp early, and Arizona’s offense ranks a brutal 27th in OPS vs righties. Add in a major bullpen edge (with the Mets third in ERA and the Diamondbacks 26th), and this sets up for a bounce-back win for New York.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
NEW YORK — Early on in his career with the Houston Astros, J.D. Martinez was trying to find his way.
He was a 20th round pick out of Division II Nova Southeastern — less than an hour north of his native Miami. In his first three seasons with the Astros, he was back and forth between the minor leagues and far from the polished hitter he would become later in his career.
As he looked to become a better player, Martinez sought out help in the Astros clubhouse. In his own words, the veterans "weren't very nice."
"I remember seeing that and asking questions, and them kind of never answering, and them kind of blowing me off and just making my life a nightmare," Martinez said. "I remember saying, ‘If God ever blesses me where I'm in that position, I'm never going to treat a young guy like that, and I'll always answer any questions and help them out any which way,’ because I remember how helpless that feeling was and going through that whole process."
After a standout 14-year career, Martinez, who was a six-time All-Star, three-time Silver Slugger and 2018 World Series champion, will be able to provide the mentorship that he felt he had been lacking early in his career as a special assistant to Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.
What will J.D. Martinez's role with the Mets look like?
Martinez said his goal in his new role since playing his last major league game with the Mets in 2024 is to be a resource for the major league team. He feels like he has an experience that can relate with much of the roster, from being a top prospect, to being cut, to rising to one of the best hitters in the game, working through struggles and ultimately retiring.
"Just my knowledge with that and just helping any way I can, anything I see, whether it's in the offense, whether it's the strategy, whether it's mentorship, I'm just here to help out any way I can," Martinez said.
The Mets now have a Hall of Famer in Carlos Beltran and decorated hitter in Martinez as sounding boards for the players.
The addition of Martinez as a designated hitter right before the 2024 seasons served as one of the Mets' pivotal moves in the campaign. While he batted a modest .235/.320/.406 with 16 home runs, 69 RBI and 46 runs, the veteran had a commanding presence as a leader inside the clubhouse.
"It brings back memories to 2024 when he was a huge part for us and the impact, not only on the field but off the field, his knowledge," Carlos Mendoza said of having Martinez back. "Right away yesterday, having those interactions with him and watching him in the cages with the boys, behind the cage in batting practice, it's just the presence to it, not only with J.D. but having Carlos around too.
"Those are great baseball minds, not only in the hitting department but just baseball in general."
Along with the addition of Jose Iglesias, the Mets made a massive turnaround, clawing from 11 games under .500 to clinching a playoff spot on the final day of the season. That run helped endear Martinez to the Mets organization.
"I like what they're doing here. I like the team they built here," Martinez said. "I had a great experience here with the front office, with ownership, with the clubhouse, everything. It was just a really fun place to come. So I said, ‘You know what? Why not? Let's do it.’"
On coming out of retirement
Martinez said he finally put the bat down last spring after trying to prepare to land another spot with a major league team. He left his batting gloves and a bat at a facility after working out at a facility in Miami and never went back.
The Miami native finished his career with a career .863 OPS, including 331 home runs, 1,071 RBI, 897 runs and a bWAR of 30.8.
He used last summer to clear his mind after more than three decades playing baseball year-round. Martinez's Instagram showcases a summer filled with deep-sea fishing and professional pickleball.
But on Monday and Tuesday, it was back on the diamond at Citi Field. He expects to be in steady communication with this year's team with anything they need while coming to New York monthly for a homestand to be around the players.
And maybe he can have his fingerprints on another deep postseason run, albeit in a new, unfamiliar role.
"Obviously, at the beginning of the year, they weren't really scoring, they're starting to score a little bit more now," Martinez said. "Adding Freddy (Peralta) too is huge and the pitching staff, they've added, they're a threat. It's a really good baseball team."
Apr 8, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) reacts after hitting a double against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images
Third time’s the charm! Nelson overpowers Mets after pair of rocky outings
Nelson’s fastball velocity was right around his season average (96.5 mph) early in the game, but as the sun went down and the wind picked up, it went down a tick. That didn’t seem to keep Nelson from being effective as he gave up just two hits through the first five innings. Of his 86 pitches, 65 were four-seam fastballs and he threw 14 sliders. “Cold day like today, it can be kind of tough to feel the spin [for breaking pitches],” Nelson said. “But that just allows me to use the fastball more, which I want to do anyway and jump ahead of guys, pound the zone with it.”
D-backs Corbin Carroll Stands Alone in This Impressive MLB Record
That 500th contest closed the door on a chapter of Carroll’s career — one in which he sat alone atop an MLB leaderboard. Per the D-backs.TV broadcast, Carroll is the only player in MLB history to record 120 stolen bases, 80 home runs and 40 triples through his first 500 games.
Diamondbacks Bring Back Controversial Veteran Reliever
“It’s one of those unfortunate parts of baseball where you start to… get behind with some pitching and you need arms. And you know, sometimes you have option-able players, sometimes you don’t. And Joe wasn’t, unfortunately was not throwing the ball that well,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said after the team initially designated the right-hander for assignment. https://www.si.com/mlb/diamondbacks/onsi/arizona-diamondbacks-news/diamondbacks-sign-controversial-veteran-reliever-ross
Here’s one of our sweetest did you know facts about food. When honey is heated and strained and sealed properly, it will not be able to absorb moisture and therefore will stay as it is forever. The oldest jar of honey ever found is stated to be over 5500 years old today.
The Northwest Territories in Canada once wanted to rename itself.
One of the most amazing facts about this is that it was considered due to the recent separation from Nunavut in 1999. One of the names that were highly considered during the meeting was ‘bob’.
The Earth used to be purple.
Green is seen as a symbol of life, but scientists claim that the earliest life on Earth might have been purple. Currently, chlorophyll molecules create the greenish hue of organisms. However, scientists theorize that ancient microbes may have used a different molecule to harness sun rays, giving organisms a violet hue instead.
MINNEAPOLIS – It's early, but the Detroit Tigers are playing losing baseball.
The Tigers have a 4-7 record for fourth place in the American League Central through 11 games, but more notably, they've lost seven of their past nine games. Among the 30 MLB teams, the offense ranks 12th, the rotation ranks 16th and the bullpen ranks 14th.
There are 151 games remaining in the 2026 season.
"Team-wise, you're always pushing to play winning baseball," manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday, April 8, before the third of four games in the series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. "Right now, we haven't done that. We're trying to find ways to get back to our brand of baseball that produces those wins without overreacting."
Before Wednesday's game, Hinch revealed what the Tigers have been working on with all of their players early in the season – which extends throughout the entire 162-game schedule.
For position players, it's refusing to chase bad pitches and hitting the ball hard. For pitchers, it's throwing first-pitch strikes and getting into leverage with two strikes.
"It's a tricky time when you look at guys coming out of the spring," Hinch said. "They're hot or they're cold, or they run into some bad luck or don't get something to fall, and there's the psychology that comes with the big board putting your numbers up there."
For MLB position players, the average chase rate is 29.9% and the average exit velocity is 89 mph.
"The elements come into play a little bit," Hinch said, referencing the cold weather in Detroit and Minneapolis over the past four games, all losses, "but we've got to get over that play in the same elements everybody else does and know that it's part of the start of the season."
To be clear, the Tigers aren't panicking about their 4-7 record to start the season because it's only been 11 games.
But the Tigers remain determined to play winning baseball.
"In April, you can certainly overreact to a lot of things as the competition gets stronger," Hinch said. "You can also underreact if you just chalk it up to just April. I think it's a fine line in coaching to address the things that create success and create wins."
According to the team, only a limited number of black and green hats, featuring the team's sock logo in the middle and shaped like a Pope's miter, will be given away.
There are caveats to receiving the hat: only fans seated in certain sections known as "pews" can receive one, and tickets must be purchased directly from the team.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, is a Chicago native and longtime White Sox fan, even attending Game 1 of the 2005 World Series against the Houston Astros. The White Sox swept the Astros, winning the title for the first time since 1917.
This afternoon at Target Field, the Minnesota Twins (6-6) look to complete a four-game sweep of their AL Central rivals, the Detroit Tigers (4-8).
The Twins are riding a three-game winning streak, their longest of the young season. They jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning last night and held on for an eventual 8-6 win. Off to a slow start this season, Byron Buxton showed signs of life yesterday collecting three hits to lead a Twins’ attack that collected a total of 11 hits in the win. Framber Valdez suffered his first loss as a Tiger giving up all eight runs over five innings of work.
While the pitching failed them yesterday, Detroit’s issues most nights have revolved around their offense. The Tigers have struggled to hit consistently. They are hitting a collective .239 for the season. They will look to Jack Flaherty (0-1, 7.56 ERA) to salvage the final game of the series for them. Mick Abel (0-2, 11.05 ERA) is expected to start for the Twins, looking to find his footing after a tough start to the 2026 season.
The Total for this game is set at 8 runs with the expectation these two pitchers will serve up opportunities to the opposing hitters but it is expected to be another chilly afternoon at Target Field which typically hinders offenses.
Lets dive into this afternoon’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Tigers vs. Twins
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 1:40PM EST
Site: Target Field
City: Minneapolis, MN
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, Tigers.TV, Twins.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Tigers vs. Twins
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Tigers (-136), Twins (+113)
Spread: Tigers -1.5 (+123) / Twins +1.5 (-149)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Tigers vs. Twins
Pitching matchup for April 9:
Tigers: Jack Flaherty Season Totals: 8.1 IP, 0-1, 7.56 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 8K, 8 BB
Twins: Mick Abel Season Totals: 7.1 IP, 0-2, 11.05 ERA, 2.86 WHIP, 7K, 7 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Tigers vs. Twins
With his 3 hits yesterday, Byron Buxton is now hitting .214 this season
Victor Caratini is riding a modest 3-game hitting streak (5-12)
After going just 2-14 (.143) in March, Luke Keaschall is 9-34 (.265) in April
Kevin McGonigle has hit safely in 6 of 7 games in April (8-30)
Javy Baez is 4-7 in this series against Minnesota
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Tigers vs. Twins
The Tigers are 4-8 on the Run Line this season
The Twins are 7-5 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 6 times in the Tigers’ 12 games this season (6-5-1)
The OVER has cashed 5 times in the Twins’ 12 games (5-6-1)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Tigers vs. Twins
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday’s game between the Tigers and the Twins:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Tigers on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 8.0.
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Will Bush #56 of the Houston Astros bats during the second inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (6-5) lost 3-1 (BOX SCORE)
Gordon started for Sugar Land and pitched really well striking out 5 over 5.1 innings allowing just one unearned run. The pen allowed a couple of runs as Tacoma extended their lead. In the 9th, the offense picked up one run on an Unroe RBI single but that would be it as Sugar Land fell 3-1.
Colton Gordon, LHP: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Jose Fleury, RHP: 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Michael Knorr, RHP: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Hudson Leach, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (2-3) won 9-6 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the 2nd inning scoring 4 runs on a Bush solo home run, a run on an error and a Spence 2 run single. Mayer got the start but ran into trouble in the 2nd inning allowing 3 runs as he was pulled after just 1.2 innings. He was relieved by Swanson who allowed 1 run over 3.1 innings. The offense picked up another run in the 6th on a Ferreras RBI single, though the Mission tied it in the 8th. The teams exchanged runs in the 10th but in the 11th, the Hooks picked up 3 runs on a Bush bases loaded walk and RBI singles by Austin and Nelson. David closed it out with a scoreless 11th as the Hooks won 9-6.
Asheville got on the board first scoring 4 runs in the 3rd inning on a Call solo HR, a run scoring on an error and a Schiavone 2 run HR. Taylor got the start and pitched well striking out 7 over 4 innings allowing just 1 run. The Grasshoppers took the lad in the 5th but the Asheville offense responded with 2 runs in the 6th on a Hernandez groundout and Powell RBI double. After the Grasshoppers tied it again, Thomas connected on a 2 run HR in the 8th to give Asheville the lead. The pen allowed a run in the 9th but held on for the 8-7 win.
Yeriel Santos, RHP: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (WIN)
Eurys Martich, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K (SAVE)
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-4) lost 6-5 (BOX SCORE)
Potter started for the Woodpeckers and allowed 2 runs over 3 innings with 4 strikeouts as he made his professional debut. The Woodpeckers got on the board in the 4th inning on a Monistere RBI double. Oakes relieved Potter and was pitching well but allowed 2 runs in the 6th, as he also went 3 innings allowing 2 runs. The offense rallied for 4 runs in the 7th to take the lead on an Ochoa 2 run single and 2 runs scoring on errors. Varela allowed 2 runs in the top of the 8th as the RiverDogs retook the lead. The offense was unable to respond as the Woodpeckers fell 6-5.
The Colorado Rockies (6-6) and the San Diego Padres (6-6) link up on MLB TV for the start of a four-game series between NL West opponents.
The Rockies are on a season-long four-game winning streak, which ties their season long of last season. Colorado has outscored its opponents 27-10 over their winning streak. The Rockies are batting .247 (10th) through 12 games and owns a 3.67 ERA (14th).
San Diego is 4-1 over the past five games and starting to find a rhythm after a 1-4 start to the season. The Padres own a 4.00 ERA (18th) and the offense has the fifth-worst batting average (.213) through 12 games. San Diego has the second-fewest home runs (7) and the fifth-fewest walks (38) as the offense has struggled.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Rockies at Padres
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026
Time: 9:40 PM EST
Site: Petco Park
City: San Diego, CA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Rockies at the Padres
The latest odds as of Thursday:
Moneyline: San Diego Padres (-199), Colorado Rockies (+163)
Spread: Rockies +1.5 (-131), Padres -1.5 (+109)
Total: 8.0
Probable starting pitchers for Rockies at Padres
Thursday's pitching matchup (April 9): Randy Vasquez vs. TBD
The Padres’ Miguel Andujar is hitting .310 with 9 hits and 13 total bases over 29 at-bats
The Rockies’ TJ Rumfield is hitting .375 with 14 hits, eight strikeouts, and five walks scored over 38 at-bats
The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .196 with nine hits, 16 strikeouts, and six walks over 46 at-bats
The Rockies’ Jake McCarthy is hitting .120 with three hits and six strikeouts over 25 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rockies at Padres
The Rockies are an MLB-best 10-2 ATS this season
The Padres are 7-5 ATS this season
The Rockies are an MLB-best 9-3 to the Under this season
The Mets are 5-6-1 to the Over this season
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rockies and the Padres
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Thursday's game between the Rockies and the Padres:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Padres on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Padres at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 8.0
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 07: Wyatt Langford #36 and Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers celebrate after the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Courtney Kramer/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Morning, all!
The Rangers’ 2022 top international signee, Anthony Gutierrez, will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL in the second inning of his first game. Someone has a little Anthony Gutierrez doll they’ve been sticking pins in as he has yet to play more than 80 games in a season.
Cody Bradford has hit a setback in his return from elbow surgery, though it’s unclear if it will significantly delay his planned return to the Rangers in May.
Jacob Latz is embracing his versatility, making five appearances thus far in multiple roles without giving up an earned run.
Evan Grant will be serving burgers at two different Rodeo Goat locations on Friday to benefit disadvantaged youths.
MacKenzie Gore only allowed one hit over five innings while striking out nine yesterday to complete a sweep of the Mariners.
This is the first time the Rangers have managed to sweep a series against the Mariners since 2023.
When you are trotting out Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, and MacKenzie Gore it definitely ups your chances of sweeping a three game series.
The Rangers say their data indicates that fly balls are going deeper at Globe Life than last year, so maybe this low scoring homestand is just a result of great pitching.
COVERS INTEL: Vasquez was one of the most fortunate hurlers in 2025 as his xERA and xFIP (5.51) both undersold his 3.84 ERA. The increased velocity from his first start is gone, as is the cold and windy weather from his second.
