Munetaka Murakami set yet another MLB record in last night’s game: Homering in the opening game of eight straight series. The Good Guys look for more of that power tonight. | (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
After dropping the first game of this nine-game homestand last night and on a three-game losing streak, the Chicago White Sox will rely on Anthony Kay to provide a lead the turnaround. Kay (1-1, 5.70 ERA, 7.62 xERA) has struggled with consistency in the early going and hasn’t pitched into the sixth inning since April 9 in Kansas City. He’s yet to find the success he had on the other side of the world, so here’s hoping he settles in against a Mariners squad on the verge of breaking through.
As for his mound mate, he’s off to a rocky start himself. Luis Castillo (0-3, 6.29 ERA, 5.86 xERA) has given up runs in every start apart from his first of the year. He’s already had two such starts where he’s given up seven runs. Let’s see if the Sox can make it three.
Either way, something’s gotta give between these two starting pitchers.
Looking to keep the offense the way it was last night, Will Venable makes two small changes: swapping out his catcher and substituting an Andrew Benintendi dealing with neck soreness with Randal Grichuk, who homered in his pinch-hit appearance yesterday.
Here’s how the Mariners will line up:
Luckily for us, Luke Raley is not in tonight’s starting lineup — but Josh Naylor is.
You can catch tonight’s game at 6:40 p.m. CT on CHSN or ESPN 1000. Let’s get back in the win column!
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 9: Shane Baz #34 of the Baltimore Orioles throws a pitch against the Athletics during the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 9, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This game was summed up for me by two innings. Be warned; it’s not pretty.
In the top of the third, the Athletics’ Brent Rooker came to the plate with two on and one out. Orioles starter Shane Baz had already given up a four-pitch walk and a single. Then, with the right-hitting Rooker up to bat, Baz left a cutter hanging up and just off the plate. Rooker swung, launching the pitch 365 feet away onto the flag court. That meatball, and the bombardment thereof, made the game 4-0 Athletics.
This felt like an insurmountable lead until the Orioles got a glorious scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth inning. Infielder Jeremiah Jackson had reached on a Bermuda Triangle single, Gunnar Henderson doubled, and Taylor Ward walked. That brought up to the plate Adley Rutschman, a career .407 hitter with the bases loaded. Sadly, Adley did not deliver that inning. Nor did Pete Alonso. Nor did Samuel Basallo. The former struck out after a long battle with A’s starter Aaron Civale; the second popped up too shallowly to score the lead runner; the third also flew out.
There was a late, two-run Baltimore rally against Mark Leiter Jr.—brother of Jack, son of Mark, nephew of Al, but also a pitcher who entered this game with a 7.63 ERA. Leody Taveras, Dylan Beavers, and a pinch-hitting Colton Cowser strung together consecutive hits to make it 5-2. That was as good as it got.
Anyway, today’s game is still defined by Shane Baz handing out runs with missed pitches and Orioles hitters making Civale look like an ace. I’m not sure which is more concerning: Baltimore hitters failing to take advantage of Civale, a pitcher whose average exit velocity is higher than his fastball, or Baz failing to go five while throwing one hundred pitches.
Start with the pitching side. Shane Baz is way too talented to be allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings to an offense like the Athletics’. Command issues were at the heart of his problems today. It started in the first, when Baz hung a cutter to leadoff man Nick Kurtz, who doubled. Then Baz missed with three straight cutters to catcher Shane Langeliers, who singled home a first run.
After looking lost against the first two hitters, Baz appeared to find something, and reeled off three consecutive outs, plus a scoreless second.
But again, there was that third inning, which felt completely avoidable, barring that early walk and two bad cutters.
It still feels true to say that with his stuff, most teams can’t beat Shane Baz, so long as he doesn’t beat himself. But he sure seems to be beating himself a lot lately…
As for the offense, let’s put it this way. At one point in the third inning, with Baltimore still scoreless, MASN flashed a graphic placing Aaron Civale in the bottom 110 to 130 MLB pitchers in hard-hit percentage and whiffs. Perhaps such stats undervalue “Crafty Veteranness.” And true, Civale did command his breaking pitches today.
But I don’t quite buy this excuse, for the reason that today, it was the same O’s hitters who’ve been connecting who connected, and the same ones who’ve lately looked hopeless who continued to look hopeless.
Gunnar Henderson had two hits, including a double. (He’s chasing too much, but still.) Adley Rutschman had a double. (Also that crucial bases-loaded strikeout, but still.) Taylor Ward walked three times (!!). Samuel Basallo singled twice, one of them 112 mph.
But that was it for the hitters against Civale, who over five innings racked up six punchouts, equal to nine per nine innings. Given a pitcher who averages 6.6 strikeouts a game, it feels hard to deny that O’s hitters aren’t giving opposing pitchers much of a challenge.
And toward the middle innings, it was the talented Shane Baz who looked error-prone, not Civale with his more limited stuff. Baz allowed a leadoff double to first baseman Nick Kurtz, then allowed Kurtz—no Trea Turner in sprint speed, from what I can see—to take third base uncontested as Baz missed high to catcher Shea Langeliers, who then got the RBI with a sac fly to center.
Now 5-0 Athletics, this felt like a slow trudge through nine. The fifth inning was the one exception: a bases-loaded situation that had you dreaming of grand salamis, only to cruelly rob you of all hopes of a stirring comeback.
The bullpen pitched okay, with the exception of Andrew Kittredge. Lou Trivino covered two 1/3 scoreless and Dietrich Enns threw one, too, despite allowing two hits. Kittredge continues to look problematic, allowing a sixth run in the ninth, although at this point it didn’t feel very important.
The two-run rally in the eighth was nice, in that it raised the averages of the struggling Beavers and Cowser, but I doubt the Athletics were very nervous.
It is what it is. Back this spring, there were high hopes for both this lineup and the starting rotation. Well, maybe not high hopes for this rotation, but at least reasonable expectations of competence. Now, Trevor Rogers is hurt (or something), Zach Eflin is out for the year, Dean Kremer—who didn’t even make the rotation—is out with a quad, and Shane Baz is highly erratic.
If this is the Orioles throwing their hardest punches and still getting KO’d, this is going to be a long season.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 08: Wenceel Perez #46 of the Detroit Tigers hits an RBI double during the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 08, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Detroit Tigers (18-21) vs. Kansas City Royals (18-21)
Time/Place: 7:10 p.m., Kauffman Stadium SB Nation Site: Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Ty Madden (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Michael Wacha (3-2, 3.05 ERA)
CHICAGO - AUGUST 09: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Indians pauses during a heavy rain storm during the tenth inning against the Chicago White Sox on August 9, 2020 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images) | Getty Images
May 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart (41) pitches during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
LOS ANGELES — Blake Snell was activated off the injured list on Saturday to start against the Atlanta Braves, after missing the first six-plus weeks of the season with left shoulder fatigue. To make room on the active roster, Brock Stewart is back on the injured list, this time with a bone spur in his left foot.
With Tyler Glasnow sidelined with back spasms, the Dodgers turned to Snell, who was scheduled to pitch five innings in his final rehab start for Class-A Ontario on Saturday, with a proposition he was eager to accept.
“You try to figure out if [Snell] is open to taking the five innings here versus on rehab,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday. “And he was. he couldn’t be more excited to do that.”
Saturday is the 39th game of the season for the Dodgers, who to date have only used six starting pitchers in an incredibly stable rotation to date. This is the latest into a season the Dodgers have used their seventh different starting pitcher since 2021, when it took until game number 40 with opener Jimmy Nelson.
Stewart was just activated on Wednesday after missing the first 36 games while rehabbing from last September’s shoulder surgery. Stewart pitched in both games in which he was active, throwing scoreless innings on both Wednesday in Houston and on Friday against the Braves, totaling three strikeouts and a walk among his seven batters faced.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 21: Dustin May #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot park on April 21, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Tomas Diniz Santos/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dustin May will get the Saturday night start at Petco Park for the Cardinals as he’ll do battle with Randy Vásquez who will take the mound for the Padres. First pitch is set for 6:15pm central time and the musical chairs broadcast schedule has the game being broadcast on Fox Saturday night.
May 8, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; The Kansas City Royals celebrate a walk off win in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images | Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
One of my favorite things that happens on Royals Review is Suff76’s Path to 90 wins. Now that we’re at the quarter-point of the season, I wanted to check in on that. If the Royals were following that path, they’d have been 19-19 entering this series, and would want to be 21-20 exiting it. Instead, they entered it 17-21 and are now 18-21. If they at least split tonight’s game and tomorrow’s, they’ll be 19-22, only two games off the pace they’d need for 90 wins, assuming they can follow the path the rest of the way. Especially considering the 8-game losing streak, they’ve made up a TON of ground already.
One of the things I preach but don’t always practice is trying to view the season in homestand/away trip chunks rather than on a game-by-game basis. Going game by game, that Cleveland series was disappointing, but looked at from a series perspective, it was solid. Going series by series, the Oakland series was disappointing, while the Mariners series was terrific; from a road trip standpoint, a 4-2 trip was fantastic.
If we look at it from a homestand perspective, after the Royals take at least two out of three from the Tigers, that would be a good homestand. Win more games on a homestand/road trip than you lose, and you’re always making up ground, even if you lose individual games or even individual series.
What that means is the Royals have a chance to guarantee themselves a good homestand and give themselves a chance at a terrific homestand tomorrow with a win tonight. But that also means if they do win tonight and lose tomorrow, that’s not a lost opportunity, that’s a successful homestand. Baseball is, famously, a marathon rather than a sprint. But we fans so often treat individual games as if they will make or break a season.
The Royals, on paper, should have an excellent opportunity in front of them tonight. Michael Wacha will take the mound for KC, and five of his seven starts to begin the year have been of the above-quality version. A quality start is, of course, six innings and three runs. All five starts were that good, but all of them saw him allow fewer than three runs, and multiple saw him go more than six innings. He did have a couple of rough starts against Baltimore and the Athletics, but he rebounded with seven innings of two-run ball against the Guardians earlier this week in one of the Royals’ wins.
Wacha hasn’t faced the Tigers this year, but he faced them in every series the two teams played last year. He had two quality starts, one start where he allowed only 2 runs in 5.1 innings, and a final start that was a bit of a dud where he gave up 4 runs in 4.2 innings, but had some terrible sequencing luck as he only allowed 5 hits and 1 walk. Hopefully, he’ll pitch something more like the seven shutout innings he gave KC on May 31 last year, when the Royals won 1-0.
The Tigers had originally planned to throw Tarik Skubal in this one. Unfortunately for them, he had a loose body removed from his elbow earlier this week so he’s unavailable. As Rex might say, the Royals won’t be sending any sympathy cards. Instead, the Tigers will use old friend Burch Smith as an opener and likely follow him with bulk reliever Ty Madden.
Smith has had a rough time since pitching for KC, he bounced around the majors for a couple of years before spending 2022 in the NPB and then even took a stab at the KBO in 2023. He returned to the states in 2024 and pitched a few subpar innings for the Orioles and Marlins. Last year, he pitched exclusively for Pittsburgh’s AAA affiliate before signing a minor league deal with Detroit over the offseason. They recalled him on April 22, and he’s been pretty good with a 1.59 ERA in 11.1 innings. He can be hard to hit, but when he does get hit, he gets hit hard.
Ty Madden is a rookie who pitched a handful of big league innings for the Tigers in 2024, though he remained in the minors all of last year. He came into the season ranked 27th among the Tigers’ prospects by FanGraphs. He was pretty mediocre in 2024, but his bulk relief appearance against the Red Sox earlier this week saw him pitch five shutout innings with seven Ks and no walks. He had trouble finding the zone in that start, though; the Red Sox just kept chasing. If the Royals can be more patient, they ought to find more success.
Lineups
The Tigers have put their dangerous lefties back in the lineup. Things won’t be easy for Wacha. On the other hand, Quatraro has actually removed Isaac Collins in favor of Lane Thomas. I’m not sure why, but hopefully it will pay off.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 04: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, May 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last night, the Yankees opened up a three-game series in Milwaukee, and it could’ve gone better for them. Young phenom Jacob Misiorowski shut down the Bombers, striking out 11 in six innings and keeping them off the scoreboard. Tonight, the Yankees will look to bounce back, as they send their own best young starter to the hill.
Cam Schlittler will get the start for the Yankees looking to even the series up. Even though he only allowed one run in 5.2 innings, Schlittler is coming off a bit of a struggle, for him, as he uncharacteristically walked three batters and gave up seven hits.
Elsewhere in the lineup, recent callup Spencer Jones will make his first ever start in the field in this one. Jones will be playing center field and hitting eighth in the batting order.
For Milwaukee, Kyle Harrison will take the ball. The Brewers picked up Harrison in an offseason trade with the Red Sox, and he’s gotten off to a very impressive start. Through six starts and 29.2 innings, Harrison has a 2.12 ERA with a 2.86 FIP.
We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread for tonight’s action.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 01: Julio Rodríguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates in the dugout with Rob Refsnyder #30 of the Seattle Mariners after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at T-Mobile Park on May 01, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Baseball is so weird. Emerson Hancock pitched his poorest outing of the season yesterday and got a win after being handed a loss in what was probably the best-pitched game of his career last outing. And it was still one of the more normal games the Mariners have played in the Windy City, where things always seem to go sideways. Today Luis Castillo takes the ball for the Mariners and will try to stave off the weirdness. Meanwhile, the White Sox will attack the Mariners with yet another lefty starter, forcing the Mariners to their righty-heavy lineup and Luke Raley, hero of yesterday’s game, to the bench to start the game.
Lineups:
News:
Some updates from Ryan Divish in Chicago:
Bryce Miller will start Wednesday in Houston. With 14 games in 14 days , Mariners will use a six man rotation and then reassess after the road trip.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 9: Brent Rooker #25 of the Athletics celebrates with Nick Kurtz #16, Carlos Cortes #26 and Shea Langeliers #23 after hitting a three RBI home run during the third inning as catcher Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 9, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Bill Streicher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s came out on top for the second day in a row, beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 in convincing fashion and setting themselves up for a series sweep tomorrow afternoon.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 05: Mauricio Dubon #14 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after a two RBI double during the fourth inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 05, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well losing the Chris Sale game was really not what the doctor ordered for the Braves playing at the Dodgers, particularly the way that the game was lost, but they have a chance to even things up tonight behind Spencer Strider.
There are a number of notable changes to the Braves’ lineup, as Mauricio Dubon returns to the leadoff spot, bumping Baldwin, Albies, and Olson down a spot each. Sean Murphy is catching tonight, batting seventh, and he has hit well against Snell, with two walks, a single, double, and homer in 8 plate appearances. Jorge Mateo returns to the lineup at shortstop against the lefty Snell, batting ninth, after Jim Jarvis took a few days due to Mateo jamming his finger. Additionally, Michael Harris plays centerfield for the second consecutive night, a good sign that his quad continues to feel better.
May 9, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays left field Jesus Sanchez (12) dives back to first base in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Gerry Angus-Imagn Images | Gerry Angus-Imagn Images
Angels 1 Blue Jays 14
The only inning that really mattered was the fifth. The Jays scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning and that was more than enough. But the Jays added six more runs in the seventh and eighth.
Trey Yesavage was good enough, for four innings. He allowed four hits, two walks and six strikeouts, while not allowing a run. He was helped out by Addison Barger making a terrific throw from right, cutting down what should have been an easy run. Unfortunately, Trey threw a lot of pitches in those four innings, leaving the game with 87 pitches. Pitching deeper into a game would be nice. You can’t get the W if you throw just four innings.
Five different relievers did a good job too:
Mason Fluhardy got two strikeouts in the fifth. He got the win.
Braydon Fisher had a clean sixth.
Joe Mantiply a clean seventh.
Tyler Rogers gave up the Angels only run in the eighth, off 3 hits.
Tommy Nance allowed 3 hits in the ninth, but didn’t allow a run in the ninth.
We had 20 hits.
George Springer had two with a double.
Addison Barger didn’t have a hit but had two walks and scored a run. And he threw out a runner from pretty deep right and throwing at 101 mph to get the runner from third.
Vladimir Guerrero had two hits, with a run and an RBI.
Kazuma Okamoto was one for four with an RBI.
Jesus Sanchez had two hits, three runs, 2 RBI. One of those hits was a popup that landed just inside the left field line, falling between the third baseman, shortstop and left fielder.
Daulton Varsho was three for five with two runs scored.
Ernie Clement was five for five, with three runs and two RBI.
Andres Gimenez was o for four with an RBI.
Brandon Valenzuela went four for five with three runs, four RBI, a double and our only home run.
The Angels defense was terrible, which helped out. The only had one official error, but could have had three or four if they
Jays of the Day: Varsho (0.12 WPA), Clement (0.12) and Barger (0.10, plus the throw from right) and Yesavage (0.21) get the number.
Other Award? Well, George Springer had the number (-0.10).
Tomorrow the Jays go for the sweep with Eric Lauer (1-4, 6.03) going against José Soriano (5-2, 1.74). It is a 1:30 start time.
San Diego, California - May 08: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres runs after a single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Petco Park on Friday, May 8, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
St. Louis Cardinals (23-15) at San Diego Padres (22-16), May 9, 2026, 4:15 p.m. PST
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May 3, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images | William Liang-Imagn Images
Mets lineup
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – SS
MJ Melendez – DH
Mark Vientos – 1B
Carson Benge – RF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Brett Baty – 3B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Tyrone Taylor – CF
Clay Holmes – RHP
Diamondbacks lineup
Ketel Marte – 2B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Adrian Del Castillo – DH
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Lourdes Gurriel – LF
Gabriel Moreno – C
Ryan Waldschmidt – CF
Merrill Kelly – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:15pm EDT TV: FOX Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
May 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) advances to second on a two-base error during the seventh inning as Texas Rangers first baseman Justin Foscue (14) attempts to apply the tag at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
