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Monday Stat Party: Alvy’s blasts, Senga’s whiffs, Tidwell’s revenge

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 03: Francisco Alvarez #4 and Tyrone Taylor #15 of the New York Mets celebrate after Alvarez hit a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park on April 03, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin…

MONDAY

Carson Benge became the eighth Met to steal two bases in their first four career games, and the first to do so since Ronny Mauricio in 2023.

TUESDAY

Kodai Senga averaged 97.4 mph on his four-seam fastball, the highest of any start in his major league career. Senga also notched five swinging strikeouts on the four-seamer; since pitch tracking began in 2008, the only Mets right-handers to register more swinging strikeouts on a four-seamer in a single game are Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Matt Harvey.

Jared Young recorded a hit with an exit velocity of over 111 mph in a second consecutive game. In 2025, Pete Alonso and Juan Soto were the only Mets to accomplish that feat.

WEDNESDAY

The Mets played extra innings for the third time in their first six games for the second time in franchise history, joining 1991. (credit: MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo)

The Mets scored one run or fewer through nine innings for the third time in their first six games. It’s only the seventh time that’s happened in franchise history, but the third time in the past four years (along with 2023 and 2024).

THURSDAY

Blade Tidwell became the first former Mets major leaguer to get a save against his old team since Paul Sewald on June 2, 2024.

FRIDAY

The Mets scored double-digit runs for the second time in their first eight games. It’s the first time they’ve accomplished that feat since 2007.

Juan Soto became the tenth Met to record a hit in each of the team’s first eight games in a season, and the first since Jeff Francoeur in 2010.

Francisco Alvarez recorded the sixth multi-homer game of his career, and the third where both homers were hit over 400 feet at 105+ mph. The only other Mets with three such multi-homer games in the statcast era (since 2015) are Pete Alonso and Yoenis Cespedes.

Mark Vientos reached base four times for the third time in his career. He had previously done so on April 28, 2025, and June 3, 2024 — both games at Nationals Park.

Through his first ten career games, Nolan McLean has recorded 58.1 innings pitched, 69 strikeouts, and a 2.16 ERA. The only other pitcher with that many IP and strikeouts with that low of an ERA through their first ten outings is Paul Skenes.

SATURDAY

The Mets earned their first shutout win while scoring 9+ runs since September 18, 2024, when they beat the Nationals 10-0 at Citi Field.

Clay Holmes completed seven innings for only the second time in his career, having previously done so on June 1, 2025 against the Rockies at Citi Field.

Tyrone Taylor has only hit ten homers as a Met, but he has now homered at Oracle Park twice, having previously done so on April 24, 2024.

SUNDAY

The Mets have won three games in a row for the first time since August 25-27, 2025, when they swept the Phillies at Citi Field (think parabolic microphones).

The Mets have recorded 12 hits in three straight games for the fourth time this decade.

Luis Robert Jr. has reached base 18 times in his first nine games as a Met. Only 14 Mets have done that to begin their stint with the team, with the first being Willie Mays in 1972 and the most recent being Ángel Pagán in 2008. Other notable names include John Olerud, Rickey Henderson, and Carlos Delgado.

Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:

Ron Swoboda is the Mets’ all-time leader in home runs against the Giants with 16. Swoboda only hit 69 homers total with the Mets, and 23.2% of those came against San Francisco.

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Seattle Mariners Minor League Roundup – Week Two

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11, 2026: Luke Stevenson #31 of the Seattle Mariners bats during a minor league spring training game against the Cleveland Guardians at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Tacoma Rainiers

Tacoma’s had more time under their belt than the other three affiliates, and with a 4-5 record thus far, it’s been a somewhat middling mix to start the season. There’s enough talent on this roster to be one of the more compelling teams in the PCL, but they’ll have to start picking things up in order to prove that on the field.

Colt Emerson, fresh off his record setting extension, fouled a pitch off his foot and had to exit Saturday’s game, though X-Ray imaging came back negative. He has been labeled as day-to-day and presumably should be back in the lineup sooner than later.

Looking like one of the most prodigious sluggers in all of minor league baseball right now, Patrick Wisdom has already launched seven homers on the young season, pulverizing baseballs deep into the stratosphere. He’s done a lot of the heavy lifting for this lineup so far and could be a compelling option as a right handed platoon option for the big league club should a spot happen to open up.

Arkansas Travelers

It’s been a tough start to the season for perhaps the most loaded affiliate in the entire organization, as a winless opening weekend has the Travs sitting in the cellar of the Texas League through the first three games. Despite their zero in the win column, there were plenty of performances that would indicate the future of this squad is much brighter than where they’re at right now. Talent wins out, and there’s plenty of it all throughout this roster.

Kade Anderson made his official minor league debut on opening night, and the left hander was as-advertised, dicing up opposing hitters and working an efficient four innings in Friday’s contest against the RockHounds. Striking out six and walking just one on 59 pitches, the third overall pick in last year’s draft didn’t surrender a run and looked like the premiere prospect he’s been touted as all offseason. His deceptive delivery and complete arsenal are brutal on opposing hitters and should give him a great shot at dominating Double-A competition from the jump.

Everett AquaSox

The Frogs kicked off their season with an opening series in Spokane, dropping two of three to the Indians in some back-and-forth battles that featured crazy momentum shifts. With a potent lineup and unproven pitching staff, expect a lot of high scoring games this season at Funko Field.

Luke Stevenson is picking up right where he left off. After an excellent stint in the California League last summer, Stevenson is 4-9 thus far and looks to have maintained his balanced approach at the plate. The power, his calling card in college, has been more subdued in the professional ranks, but in his current form, Stevenson looks more and more like an absolute steal as a Comp A round selection. There’s a non-zero chance he’s the best player on this team.

Jonny Farmelo, the top ranked prospect on this roster, has already homered on the young season, launching a towering shot out to the opposite field. The whiff isn’t in a great spot right now and is going to be something that needs to be monitored this season, but hopefully the small sample size normalizes sooner than later.

Inland Empire 66ers

It’s been an unceremonious start for the 66ers under Mariner affiliation as they’ve yet to collect a win just yet, but thus far, a few blowup performances on the mound have really sunk the team’s chances at winning. It’s far too early to make any long-term conclusions about how this team will shake out, and there’s a lot of fun “sleeper” prospects that could easily shoot up the latter half of the organizational rankings by mid-summer.

Korbyn Dickerson, patrolling centerfield for the 66ers, has been great through opening weekend and remains one of the bigger X-factors in this system. His talent could easily vault him into the upper-tiers of Mariner prospects, and though there are some concerns regarding the hit tool, he’s made strides improving his adjustability at the plate has shown an ability to succeed despite it. He’s a big name to circle for this season.

Ricardo Cova has been in the system for a while, but he’s consistently flown under the radar due to absolutely loaded infields in past seasons. Collecting seven hits across his first thirteen AB’s, the undersized second baseman has been on a tear at the plate and will look to continue this success in what will be his sixth season in the organization despite being just 21 years of age. He should be a key part of this team’s offensive attack this season.

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North Carolina passes on Billy Donovan to hire Mike Malone, per report

Orlando, FL - AUGUST 3: Head Coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets and Head Coach Billy Donovan of the Oklahoma City Thunder kneel during the National Anthem prior to a game on August 3, 2020 at The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It looks as though the North Carolina Tar Heels have found their next head coach, and it’s a surprising name in former Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone.

According to ESPN college basketball reporter Pete Thamel, North Carolina is set to hire Malone, who won an NBA Championship with Denver in 2023 before being fired two seasons later.

This, despite strong interest in former Florida Gators head coach Billy Donovan, who is now leading the Chicago Bulls. Donovan was tabbed as the favorite for the UNC opening almost immediately once Hubert Davis was let go. One oddsmaker even had Donovan at -250 to get the job early Monday morning.

And according to Jeff Goodman, there’s a very real chance Donovan would have taken the job if offered.

But just like Mitch Barnhart and Kentucky two years ago, it appears North Carolina wasn’t willing to wait just one more week to potentially hire the two-time NCAA champion.

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Championship roundup: Coventry stay 12 points clear at top despite Hull stalemate

  • Results elsewhere favour Frank Lampard’s side

  • Norwich deal blow to Millwall’s promotion push

Coventry crept closer to promotion to the Premier League despite an off-colour display in a goalless draw at Hull.

Setbacks for promotion rivals Millwall and Middlesbrough meant a win for Coventry would have moved them to within two points of guaranteeing a return to the top flight for the first time in 25 years. While the Sky Blues were second best for large spells at the MKM Stadium and fortunate to avoid defeat, they retained their 12-point lead at the top of the table.

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MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers lead the way, Konnor Griffin and the Pirates are rolling

Welcome to the very first regular season edition of MLB Power Rankings for 2026. I’ll be here every Monday through the end of September to break down the top teams, moments, and storylines around MLB.

I posted a preseason edition of MLB Power Rankings a couple of weeks ago, and while I don’t want to be overly reactive, I do want to reward some impressive starts. For the most part, these rankings will be a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.

For this week’s edition, we celebrate Konnor Griffin’s arrival to the majors, Jo Adell’s once-in-a-lifetime defensive performance, and José Ramirez on the brink of history.

Let’s get started!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, April 6.

Yordan Alvarez
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1) Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have the best hitter on the planet right now. It’s just not fair. Wait, were you expecting Shohei Ohtani? He’s pretty good too, but Andy Pages is off to the best start in this Dodgers’ lineup, including three straight three-hit games last week. It’s nice to see given how much he struggled in the postseason last year. Pages’ progress takes on added importance with Mookie Betts on the injured list due to an oblique injury.

2) New York Yankees

With Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón sidelined to begin the year, it was understandable to be somewhat nervous about how the rotation would be to begin the year. Well, it’s safe to say they are getting by just fine. Even with a shaky outing from Ryan Weathers against his former team on Saturday, the Yankees’ rotation holds an MLB-best 1.81 ERA through nine games.

3) Milwaukee Brewers

I’m here to report that the Brewers are indeed inevitable. Even without Jackson Chourio, they’ve scored more runs than any team in the National League to begin the year. A pleasant surprise in the early going, Garrett Mitchell homered and put up a career-high five RBI in the first game of a doubleheader against the Royals on Saturday.

Tortoise power! The Brewers stumbled into merchandising gold with the introduction of “Bobby Jr.” over the weekend.

4) Seattle Mariners

It’s been a rough start to the season for Cal Raleigh. After Jo Adell robbed him of what have been his first home run of the season on Saturday, the slugging backstop struck out with the bases loaded in the 11th inning on Sunday as part of an eventual 8-7 loss to the Angels.

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A look at the top MLB prospects who can help fantasy teams in 2026 and beyond.
  • Christopher Crawford
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5) Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies had their four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in Colorado as their offense continues to experience fits. The club is awaiting Zack Wheeler’s return from thoracic outlet syndrome, but he averaged just 92.7 mph on his fastball in his most recent minor league rehab start. For now, the Phillies aren’t concerned.

6) Detroit Tigers

The Tigers might have lost to the Cardinals on Sunday Night Baseball on Peacock and NBCSN, but catcher Dillon Dingler continues to win ABS challenges. He was 4-for-4 on Sunday night and is now a perfect 8-for-8 to begin the year.

7) Atlanta Braves

Despite missing Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and AJ Smith-Shawver, the Braves’ rotation has been carrying the load out of the gates. Their 2.26 ERA is the best mark in the National League.

8) Houston Astros

Losing Hunter Brown to a shoulder strain is a tough blow for this rotation, but Yordan Alvarez is reminding everyone that he’s one of the best hitters in the majors when healthy. The 28-year-old blasted his fourth homer of the season on Sunday and currently leads MLB with a 1.478 OPS.

9) Toronto Blue Jays

The start of the season isn’t treating the Blue Jays kindly. Amid injuries to Cody Ponce (knee) and Alejandro Kirk (thumb) in recent days, they lost two out of three to the Rockies before being swept by the White Sox over the weekend.

10) New York Mets

No Juan Soto, no problem. The Mets pounded out 24 runs while winning the final three games against the Giants in San Francisco, with guys like Mark Vientos, Jared Young, and Luis Torrens playing key roles. As for Soto, it was announced on Monday that he's expected to miss around two to three weeks with his calf strain.

11) Chicago Cubs

It's understandable to be alarmed right now, as Cade Horton is sidelined with right forearm discomfort and Matthew Boyd is headed to the IL with a biceps strain. One positive for Chicago is that Seiya Suzuki is nearing his return from a knee injury. He began a minor league rehab assignment on Friday and could be activated as soon as Friday.

12) Cleveland Guardians

After Monday night, José Ramírez will have played more games than any player in Cleveland franchise history. He surpassed Hall of Fame second baseman Nap Lajoie (1,614) last week and is currently tied with Terry Turner at 1,619 games played.

13) Texas Rangers

After winning four straight, the Rangers have lost four in a row while scoring a grand total of seven runs. New leadoff man Brandon Nimmo has at least done his part by reaching base safely in all nine games for the Rangers.

MLB: Texas Rangers at Baltimore Orioles
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Eric Samulski lists his favorite streaming starts of the week and discusses some key pitch mix changes.

14) Baltimore Orioles

An active offseason for the Orioles hasn’t translated to wins so far. They were swept by the Pirates over the weekend and have now lost five out of six. They've hit just six homers through nine games. Only the Padres and Giants have hit fewer.

15) Pittsburgh Pirates

Is the patience finally paying off for Pirates fans? They’ve won five straight and had the best moment of the week with No. 1 prospect Konnor Griffin hitting a double in his first MLB at-bat.

Gosh, do these fans deserve it.

16) San Diego Padres

There's untouchable and then there's Padres closer Mason Miller. He’s struck out 11 out of the 15 batters he’s faced so far this season.

17) Boston Red Sox

Wilyer Abreu is hitting, but that’s about it so far as the Red Sox have tied their worst start (2-7) through nine games in team history.

18) Miami Marlins

Now that’s the vintage Sandy Alcantara that we love to see. The former Cy Young Award-winner pulled of a Maddux (shutout in fewer than 100 pitches) against the White Sox last Wednesday for his 13th career complete game and fifth shutout. If he’s truly back to his ace form, the Marlins could take that next step this year.

19) Cincinnati Reds

With Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo sidelined, young hurlers Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns are stepping up to lead the Reds’ rotation. Burns struck out nine over six innings of one-run ball on Sunday as the Reds completed a sweep of the Rangers.

20) Kansas City Royals

This wasn’t necessarily a graceful play by Royals reliever Daniel Lynch IV, but it sure was effective.

21) Arizona Diamondbacks

Is it okay to say that the Diamondbacks have been snake bit so far this season? No? Okay, well I’m doing it anyway. In addition to all of the injuries (Jordan Lawlar being the latest), the offense has really scuffled, most notably from new arrivals Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana. Corbin Carroll has done most of the damage for this lineup, but it was a good sign to see Ketel Marte walk things off on Sunday.

22) Los Angeles Angels

The best baseball picture of the year already exists. And it came from a fan.

If you haven’t seen Jo Adell’s three home run robberies on Saturday, make sure to remedy that quickly.

23) Tampa Bay Rays

Junior Caminero finally connected for his first home run of the season on Sunday against the Twins. And if you thought this pitch looked low to the ground, you are correct. Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, it was the lowest pitch for a home run hit so far this season.

24) San Francisco Giants

The Giants have struggled in multiple phases to begin the year, but there was a feel-good moment on Thursday as Daniel Susac notched three hits and drew a walk in his first MLB start. Most of his family was ecstatic about the performance.

25) St. Louis Cardinals

With all of the hype and success of this year’s rookie class, it’s easy to forget about a player like Jordan Walker, who was all the rage when he came up in 2023. It has been a bumpy ride since then, including a .584 OPS in 111 games last season, but he’s swinging a hot bat so far this season.

The metrics back it up too, as Walker ranks in the 99th percentile in bat speed and hard-hit percentage. Not bad for a guy who doesn’t turn 24 years old until next month.

26) Minnesota Twins

Entering play on Monday, the Twins rank last in the majors with a .192 batting average. Byron Buxton, who celebrated 10 years of service time on Sunday, is 4-for-30 (.133) to start the year.

27) Athletics

Brent Rooker was hitting .133 with zero homers and one RBI through the first eight games of the season before exploding for two homers and six RBI against the Astros on Sunday, highlighted by a walk-off homer in extras.

Nick Kurtz also reached base in five out of his six plate appearances as he tries to break out of an early-season slump.

28) Chicago White Sox

So far, the gamble on Munetaka Murakami looks like a wise one for White Sox. With this three-run blast against the Blue Jays on Saturday, he became the first Japanese-born player to amass four homers over his first eight games in the majors.

29) Washington Nationals

After homering in three straight games last week, CJ Abrams is tied with Liam Hicks of the Marlins and Garrett Mitchell of the Brewers for the MLB lead with 12 RBI.

30) Colorado Rockies

The Rockies had lost each of their last nine games against the Phillies until Sunday, as Tomoyuki Sugano spun a gem and Mickey Moniak slugged a pair of homers against the team who drafted him.

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Mets expect Juan Soto to be sidelined 2 to 3 weeks by strained right calf

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto is projected to miss two to three weeks because of a strained right calf.

New York put the four-time All-Star on the 10-day injured list Monday, a move retroactive to Saturday. The Mets said the typical timeframe for a return to play for this type of injury is about two to three weeks.

Infielder Ronny Mauricio was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

Soto, 27, is in the second season of a record $765 million, 15-year contract. He is hitting .355 with one homer and five RBIs in eight games after batting .263 with 43 homers, 105 RBIs, 38 stolen bases, 127 walks and a .921 OPS in his first season with the Mets.

Soto was hurt Friday night trying to run from first to third during the Mets’ 10-3 win at San Francisco.

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Brewers place Jared Koenig on injured list, Shane Drohan recalled

Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shane Drohan against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Brewers have placed left-handed pitcher Jared Koenig on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow sprain, recalling fellow lefty Shane Drohan from Triple-A Nashville to replace him on the 26-man roster.

Koenig, 32, is in his third season in Milwaukee as he’s developed into a valuable back-of-the-bullpen piece during his Brewer tenure. Over his three seasons, he has a 2.62 ERA and a 3.30 FIP with 135 strikeouts over 130 1/3 innings. He’s made three appearances so far this season, pitching 2 1/3 innings with two unearned runs allowed and four strikeouts.

Koenig’s injury is just the latest in a line of early-season injuries, including outfielder Jackson Chourio, first baseman Andrew Vaughn, and pitchers Quinn Priester, Craig Yoho, and Rob Zastryzny.

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Brewers place Jared Koenig on injured list, Shane Drohan recalled

Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shane Drohan against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Brewers have placed left-handed pitcher Jared Koenig on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow sprain, recalling fellow lefty Shane Drohan from Triple-A Nashville to replace him on the 26-man roster.

Koenig, 32, is in his third season in Milwaukee as he’s developed into a valuable back-of-the-bullpen piece during his Brewer tenure. Over his three seasons, he has a 2.62 ERA and a 3.30 FIP with 135 strikeouts over 130 1/3 innings. He’s made three appearances so far this season, pitching 2 1/3 innings with two unearned runs allowed and four strikeouts.

Koenig’s injury is just the latest in a line of early-season injuries, including outfielder Jackson Chourio, first baseman Andrew Vaughn, and pitchers Quinn Priester, Craig Yoho, and Rob Zastryzny.

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Braves vs Angels Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Los Angeles Angels are going to need more than Jo Adell robbing home runs if they want to upset the Atlanta Braves tonight.

Atlanta hands the ball to ace Chris Sale, which will be an issue for a Halos team that has been anything but heavenly when it comes to getting punched out.

My Braves vs. Angels predictions and MLB picks like Sale to lead road team to a win by multiple runs in this interleague matchup set for first pitch at 9:38 pm ET at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, on Monday, April 6.

Who will win Braves vs Angels today: Braves -1.5 (+100)

The Los Angeles Angels needed Jo Adell’s miracle glove to literally rob a 1-0 win from the Mariners on Saturday night. 

Unfortunately, they’ll need their bats to step up in order to have any hope against Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves. 

Sale has looked great in his first two starts, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out nine over 12 innings.

He faces an Angels team that has the fourth-highest strikeout rate this season and had the highest in 2025 when facing left-handed pitching.

Sale will lead the Braves to a decisive win on Monday night.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Current Angels hitters have combined for a career 32.4% strikeout rate when facing Sale.

Braves vs Angels Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-105)

Outside of a 17-run outburst on April 2 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Braves' bats haven’t been as loud as you would expect and have plated four runs or fewer in four of their first seven games.

Tonight, they’ll face Angels’ ace, Jose Soriano. The right-hander has yet to allow a run on four hits over 12 innings pitched this season.

Meanwhile, the Angels rank 20th in OPS, 21st in wRC+, and it now sounds like they’ll be without Mike Trout for an extended period of time. That never helps an offense. Runs could be hard to come by tonight.

Andrew Caley's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-1, +1.8 units
  • Over/Under bets: 3-1, +1.9 units

Braves vs Angels odds

  • Moneyline: Atlanta -170 | Los Angeles +145
  • Run line: Atlanta -1.5 (+100) | Los Angeles +1.5 (-120)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5

Braves vs Angels trend

The Angels have hit the Team Total Under in 31 of their last 41 games dating back to last season for +20.90 Units and a 43% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Angels.

How to watch Braves vs Angels and game info

LocationAngels Stadium, Anaheim, CA
DateMonday, April 6, 2026
First pitch9:38 p.m. ET
TVBravesVsn, FDSN West
Braves starting pitcherChris Sale
(2-0, 0.75 ERA)
Angels starting pitcherJose Soriano
(2-0, 0.00 ERA)

Braves vs Angels latest injuries

Braves vs Angels 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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Braves vs Angels Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

The Los Angeles Angels are going to need more than Jo Adell robbing home runs if they want to upset the Atlanta Braves tonight.

Atlanta hands the ball to ace Chris Sale, which will be an issue for a Halos team that has been anything but heavenly when it comes to getting punched out.

My Braves vs. Angels predictions and MLB picks like Sale to lead road team to a win by multiple runs in this interleague matchup set for first pitch at 9:38 pm ET at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, on Monday, April 6.

Who will win Braves vs Angels today: Braves -1.5 (+100)

The Los Angeles Angels needed Jo Adell’s miracle glove to literally rob a 1-0 win from the Mariners on Saturday night. 

Unfortunately, they’ll need their bats to step up in order to have any hope against Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves. 

Sale has looked great in his first two starts, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out nine over 12 innings.

He faces an Angels team that has the fourth-highest strikeout rate this season and had the highest in 2025 when facing left-handed pitching.

Sale will lead the Braves to a decisive win on Monday night.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Current Angels hitters have combined for a career 32.4% strikeout rate when facing Sale.

Braves vs Angels Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-105)

Outside of a 17-run outburst on April 2 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Braves' bats haven’t been as loud as you would expect and have plated four runs or fewer in four of their first seven games.

Tonight, they’ll face Angels’ ace, Jose Soriano. The right-hander has yet to allow a run on four hits over 12 innings pitched this season.

Meanwhile, the Angels rank 20th in OPS, 21st in wRC+, and it now sounds like they’ll be without Mike Trout for an extended period of time. That never helps an offense. Runs could be hard to come by tonight.

Andrew Caley's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-1, +1.8 units
  • Over/Under bets: 3-1, +1.9 units

Braves vs Angels odds

  • Moneyline: Atlanta -170 | Los Angeles +145
  • Run line: Atlanta -1.5 (+100) | Los Angeles +1.5 (-120)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5

Braves vs Angels trend

The Angels have hit the Team Total Under in 31 of their last 41 games dating back to last season for +20.90 Units and a 43% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Angels.

How to watch Braves vs Angels and game info

LocationAngels Stadium, Anaheim, CA
DateMonday, April 6, 2026
First pitch9:38 p.m. ET
TVBravesVsn, FDSN West
Braves starting pitcherChris Sale
(2-0, 0.75 ERA)
Angels starting pitcherJose Soriano
(2-0, 0.00 ERA)

Braves vs Angels latest injuries

Braves vs Angels 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.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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NBA playoff bracket: Monday's games, where teams stand if postseason started today

It’s the final week of the NBA regular season, meaning it’s crunch time for teams battling for playoff positioning. And there are big battles across both conferences, with just a handful of games left before the postseason begins with the NBA Play-In Tournament on April 14.

Only one thing is certain at this point: the Detroit Pistons have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. But there are a few games on the Monday, April 6 slate that could play a key role in determining who lands where on the playoff bracket.

The night begins with a crucial matchup in Atlanta, pitting the New York Knicks, the current No. 3 seed in the East, against the red-hot Hawks, who currently hold the No. 5 seed. One hour later, the San Antonio Spurs, who still have a chance to catch the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the West, host the Philadelphia 76ers, who are trying to hang on to the sixth seed in the East. The night concludes with a Northest division matchup between the Denver Nuggets, the current No. 4 seed, and the Portland Trail Blazers, who sit in the No. 9 seed.

Here are the current brackets for the playoffs and the Play-In Tournament, the NBA standings and the schedule for Monday, April 6:

NBA schedule for Monday, April 6

All time Eastern

  • New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks, 7 p.m.
  • Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic, 7 p.m.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m.
  • Philadelphia 76ers at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m.
  • Portland Trail Blazers at Denver Nuggets, 9 p.m.

NBA standings

All 20 teams – 10 in each conference – that will participate in the postseason have been determined. Here are their records through games Sunday, April 5, and what each of those teams has clinched so far (x-clinched playoff berth; d-clinched division; y-clinched conference):

Eastern Conference

  • (1) y-Detroit Pistons: 57-21
  • (2) x-Boston Celtics: 53-25 (4 GB)
  • (3) x-New York Knicks: 50-28 (7 GB)
  • (4) x-Cleveland Cavaliers: 49-29 (8 GB)
  • (5) Atlanta Hawks: 45-33 (12 GB)
  • (6) Philadelphia 76ers: 43-35 (14 GB)
  • (7) Toronto Raptors: 43-35 (14 GB)
  • (8) Charlotte Hornets: 43-36 (14.5 GB)
  • (9) Orlando Magic: 42-36 (15 GB)
  • (10) Miami Heat: 41-37 (16 GB)

Western Conference

  • (1) d-Oklahoma City Thunder: 62-16
  • (2) d-San Antonio Spurs: 59-19 (3 GB)
  • (3) d-Los Angeles Lakers: 50-28 (12 GB)
  • (4) x-Denver Nuggets: 50-28 (12 GB)
  • (5) x-Houston Rockets: 49-29 (13 GB)
  • (6) Minnesota Timberwolves: 46-32 (16 GB)
  • (7) Phoenix Suns: 43-35 (19 GB)
  • (8) Los Angeles Clippers: 40-38 (22 GB)
  • (9) Portland Trail Blazers: 40-38 (22 GB)
  • (10) Golden State Warriors: 36-42 (26 GB)

JAtlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) drives past New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during a game at Madison Square Garden on Jan. 2, 2026

NBA playoffs bracket

(Through Sunday, April 5)

Eastern Conference

  • (1) Detroit Pistons vs. (8) Play-In Winner
  • (4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Philadelphia 76ers
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner

Western Conference

  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner
  • (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) Houston Rockets
  • (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
  • (2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Play-In Winner

NBA Play-In Tournament

(Through Sunday, April 5)

Eastern Conference

  • (7) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Charlotte Hornets
  • (9) Orlando Magic vs. (10) Miami Heat

Western Conference

  • (7) Phoenix Suns vs. (8) LA Clippers
  • (9) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (10) Golden State Warriors

When do the NBA playoffs begin?

  • The NBA Play-In Tournament begins on Tuesday, April 14 and runs through Friday, April 17.
  • The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 18 and feature eight teams in each conference after teams are eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
  • Game 1 of the NBA Finals is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3.

Which NBA teams have been eliminated from the playoffs?

Eastern Conference

  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Chicago Bulls
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Washington Wizards

Western Conference

  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • Sacramento Kings
  • Utah Jazz

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoff bracket projections today: Monday's schedule, standings

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The D-backs: 10 games in

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk off RBI double against the Atlanta Braves during the tenth inning at Chase Field on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Diamondbacks won 6-5. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With an off-day today, it seems like a good time to take stock of the early going. We have now completed two turns around the rotation, and Arizona has gone 5-5 against a trio of teams Fangraphs currently has at better than sixty percent odds to make the postseason. Could certainly be worse. [Looks over at San Francisco, 3-7 and in last place in the division, their suckiest start since 2015] Of course, there’s still room for improvement. But given the toughness of the early schedule, keeping around .500, say through mid-May would by no means be a bad thing. However there’s still room for improvement. Let’s look at what has and hasn’t worked so far for Arizona

Hitting

  • Runs per game: 3.5 (25th in MLB)
  • OPS+: 80 (26th)
  • BA: .211 (22nd)
  • OBP: .271 (28th)
  • SLG: .367 (17th)

This is certainly the area where there has been the biggest drop-off. Last year through ten games, Arizona had scored 58 runs, with an OPS of .800. That’s 162 points better than the figure this year. Some of that may be bad luck. The team’s BABIP this season is .245: 47 points down on a year ago, and ranked 28th. Three regulars have posted an OPS+ of lower than 25 – Nolan Arenado (23), Alek Thomas (15) and Carlos Santana (-19). But let’s be honest: nobody really expected much from them at the plate. Almost as troubling has been three others who were expected to produce. Gabriel Moreno, Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte all have OPSs in the sixties.

Some of this may rectify itself. Marte in particular is hammering the ball. Only two players have more balls classified by Baseball Savant as hard-hit (95+ mph) than Marte’s 18. The problem is, Marte’s average launch angle is 6.9 degrees. It doesn’t matter how hard you hit the ball if you are pounding it into the ground. Last year, Ketel’s launch angle was a much more productive 14.8 degrees. Thomas may simply be unlucky. More than half his balls in play have been hard-hit (52.4%) and the launch angle of 17.8 degrees is fine too. But his BABIP is all the way down at .190. I’d expect his results to improve going forward. Just keep doing what you’re doing, Alek.

Arizona ranks much nearer the middle of the pack in these peripheral offensive metrics. Their hard-hit percentage of 41.1% is twelfth, with a launch angle of 13.5 degrees which is 14th. What is odd is, the offensive struggles have not been due to a team-wide lack of clutch hitting. With runners in scoring position, Arizona has an OPS of .793. That’s eighth-best in the majors. Though it is hugely variable. Marte, Perdomo, Moreno and Santana are a collective 1-for-26 with RISP. Ketel’s walk-off hit yesterday afternoon was that quartet’s first clutch hit of the season. But generally, it has been struggling to get runner on base. With nobody aboard, Arizona has an OPS of just .579.

Starting pitching

  • ERA: 3.29 (11th)
  • FIP: 4.37 (24th)
  • fWAR: 0.5 (24th)
  • K:BB: 2.06 (23rd)
  • K%: 17.4% (29th)
  • BB%: 8.5% (15th)

It’s less the overall performance of the rotation which has been a surprise, than who has been delivering it. After two starts apiece, Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Soroka have combined to throw 22 innings while allowing just a single earned run. Anybody see that coming? Zac Gallen has been okay: one meh start, one good one. But it’s the in-house products of Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt who have struggled, with a combined ERA there of 6.30. All told, the overall numbers have been good. That ERA is exactly one run better than the Arizona rotation delivered in 2025. But there’s cause to wonder if that is sustainable.

In particular, look at the FIP, which gives back all that improvement, and a little more. It’s worse than the equivalent figure last season (4.21). You don’t have to look far to see why. Arizona’s starters are not missing enough bats. Starters generally this year are basically at 9.0 Ks per nine innings. Arizona are second-worst, all the way down at 6.4. Soroka, who has 13 strikeouts in ten innings, is the only one even at 7.0. Everybody else has combined for 24 Ks over 42 IP. Gallen has fanned only four of the forty batters he has faced. The performance has been very reliant on a .238 BABIP, fourth-lowest in baseball. That may well regress, and it probably won’t be pretty when it does.

Relief pitching

  • ERA: 6.50 (29th)
  • FIP: 5.03 (21st)
  • fWAR: -0.3 (21st)
  • WP: +26% (12th)
  • Shutdowns: 16 (3rd)
  • Meltdowns: 9 (3rd)

The situation here is likely the reverse, in that things aren’t bad as they seem. As noted in yesterday’s recaps, half of the 26 runs allowed by the bullpen belong to the junkball arms of the DFA’d Joe Ross and backup catcher James McCann, who gave up 13 ER in 4.2 IP. Take them out, and Arizona’s relief ERA plummets to a much more respectable 3.73. That would actually be ranked in the top half by overall bullpen ERA, a position the D-backs have not occupied for a very long time. Of course, any other team would improve if you took out their two worst arms as well, but likely not to such a dramatic degree.

It has felt to me like the bullpen has been feast or famine, and you can see that in the shutdowns and meltdowns, where Arizona ranks close to the top in both categories. It seems like almost every game, one reliever or another will have a sticky outing, but everyone else is solid. Consequently, almost two-thirds of D-backs’ relief appearances (25 of 38) have been classed as a shutdown or a meltdown, a far higher ratio than last year’s 41.6%. I think we are still figuring out who can be trusted. But things haven’t been too bad thus far, despite the absence of left-handed options. Hopefully, we can keep improvising until reinforcements arrive, in the shapes of A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez.

Defense and base-running

  • DRS: +15 (1st)
  • Def: +3.2 (4th)
  • Errors: 5 (=10th)
  • SB/CS/OOB: 6/2/3
  • BSR: -1.4 (27th)

Torey Lovullo made defense a priority after a “disgusting” campaign with the glove in 2025. That was a key factor in the signings of Arenado and Santana, and going by the metrics so far, that seems to have paid off. While these are still very small samples, Arizona have been among the best teams on defense so far. Particularly outstanding has been Thomas, who certainly has not let his struggles at the plate carry over into the field. By DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), Alek’s +4 leads all major-leaguers, with Marte just behind him at +3. Fangraphs’ Def also has Thomas as the best fielder in the majors. Early days, but a Gold Glove could be in Thomas’s future.

The base-running got off to a rough start, with multiple TOOTBLANs over the opening series in Los Angeles. Things have calmed down, with no outs on the basepaths since. Indeed, the team might now be skewing too conservative. Looking at the percentage of times they take an extra base, e.g. scoring from second base on a single, Arizona’s figure of 31% is the third-lowest in the majors. In particular, the D-backs have had a runner on first 22 times when a single was hit. Only twice has that runner reached third safely. Last year, that happened around 33% of the time for Arizona. We might want to pick that up.

Conclusions

As you would perhaps expect from a team with a 5-5 record, it has very much been a mixed bag for the Diamondbacks. That’s in line with the emotional roller-coaster we’ve gone through. From being swept by the Dodgers, to sweeping the Tigers, to being clubbed mercilessly by the Braves, to walking them off yesterday. It is still only ten games, and I expect more or less everything to normalize as the sample size increases. That overall win record may be the most accurate reflection of where the team is heading, rather than particular areas or individual performances.

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The D-backs: 10 games in

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk off RBI double against the Atlanta Braves during the tenth inning at Chase Field on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. Diamondbacks won 6-5. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With an off-day today, it seems like a good time to take stock of the early going. We have now completed two turns around the rotation, and Arizona has gone 5-5 against a trio of teams Fangraphs currently has at better than sixty percent odds to make the postseason. Could certainly be worse. [Looks over at San Francisco, 3-7 and in last place in the division, their suckiest start since 2015] Of course, there’s still room for improvement. But given the toughness of the early schedule, keeping around .500, say through mid-May would by no means be a bad thing. However there’s still room for improvement. Let’s look at what has and hasn’t worked so far for Arizona

Hitting

  • Runs per game: 3.5 (25th in MLB)
  • OPS+: 80 (26th)
  • BA: .211 (22nd)
  • OBP: .271 (28th)
  • SLG: .367 (17th)

This is certainly the area where there has been the biggest drop-off. Last year through ten games, Arizona had scored 58 runs, with an OPS of .800. That’s 162 points better than the figure this year. Some of that may be bad luck. The team’s BABIP this season is .245: 47 points down on a year ago, and ranked 28th. Three regulars have posted an OPS+ of lower than 25 – Nolan Arenado (23), Alek Thomas (15) and Carlos Santana (-19). But let’s be honest: nobody really expected much from them at the plate. Almost as troubling has been three others who were expected to produce. Gabriel Moreno, Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte all have OPSs in the sixties.

Some of this may rectify itself. Marte in particular is hammering the ball. Only two players have more balls classified by Baseball Savant as hard-hit (95+ mph) than Marte’s 18. The problem is, Marte’s average launch angle is 6.9 degrees. It doesn’t matter how hard you hit the ball if you are pounding it into the ground. Last year, Ketel’s launch angle was a much more productive 14.8 degrees. Thomas may simply be unlucky. More than half his balls in play have been hard-hit (52.4%) and the launch angle of 17.8 degrees is fine too. But his BABIP is all the way down at .190. I’d expect his results to improve going forward. Just keep doing what you’re doing, Alek.

Arizona ranks much nearer the middle of the pack in these peripheral offensive metrics. Their hard-hit percentage of 41.1% is twelfth, with a launch angle of 13.5 degrees which is 14th. What is odd is, the offensive struggles have not been due to a team-wide lack of clutch hitting. With runners in scoring position, Arizona has an OPS of .793. That’s eighth-best in the majors. Though it is hugely variable. Marte, Perdomo, Moreno and Santana are a collective 1-for-26 with RISP. Ketel’s walk-off hit yesterday afternoon was that quartet’s first clutch hit of the season. But generally, it has been struggling to get runner on base. With nobody aboard, Arizona has an OPS of just .579.

Starting pitching

  • ERA: 3.29 (11th)
  • FIP: 4.37 (24th)
  • fWAR: 0.5 (24th)
  • K:BB: 2.06 (23rd)
  • K%: 17.4% (29th)
  • BB%: 8.5% (15th)

It’s less the overall performance of the rotation which has been a surprise, than who has been delivering it. After two starts apiece, Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Soroka have combined to throw 22 innings while allowing just a single earned run. Anybody see that coming? Zac Gallen has been okay: one meh start, one good one. But it’s the in-house products of Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt who have struggled, with a combined ERA there of 6.30. All told, the overall numbers have been good. That ERA is exactly one run better than the Arizona rotation delivered in 2025. But there’s cause to wonder if that is sustainable.

In particular, look at the FIP, which gives back all that improvement, and a little more. It’s worse than the equivalent figure last season (4.21). You don’t have to look far to see why. Arizona’s starters are not missing enough bats. Starters generally this year are basically at 9.0 Ks per nine innings. Arizona are second-worst, all the way down at 6.4. Soroka, who has 13 strikeouts in ten innings, is the only one even at 7.0. Everybody else has combined for 24 Ks over 42 IP. Gallen has fanned only four of the forty batters he has faced. The performance has been very reliant on a .238 BABIP, fourth-lowest in baseball. That may well regress, and it probably won’t be pretty when it does.

Relief pitching

  • ERA: 6.50 (29th)
  • FIP: 5.03 (21st)
  • fWAR: -0.3 (21st)
  • WP: +26% (12th)
  • Shutdowns: 16 (3rd)
  • Meltdowns: 9 (3rd)

The situation here is likely the reverse, in that things aren’t bad as they seem. As noted in yesterday’s recaps, half of the 26 runs allowed by the bullpen belong to the junkball arms of the DFA’d Joe Ross and backup catcher James McCann, who gave up 13 ER in 4.2 IP. Take them out, and Arizona’s relief ERA plummets to a much more respectable 3.73. That would actually be ranked in the top half by overall bullpen ERA, a position the D-backs have not occupied for a very long time. Of course, any other team would improve if you took out their two worst arms as well, but likely not to such a dramatic degree.

It has felt to me like the bullpen has been feast or famine, and you can see that in the shutdowns and meltdowns, where Arizona ranks close to the top in both categories. It seems like almost every game, one reliever or another will have a sticky outing, but everyone else is solid. Consequently, almost two-thirds of D-backs’ relief appearances (25 of 38) have been classed as a shutdown or a meltdown, a far higher ratio than last year’s 41.6%. I think we are still figuring out who can be trusted. But things haven’t been too bad thus far, despite the absence of left-handed options. Hopefully, we can keep improvising until reinforcements arrive, in the shapes of A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez.

Defense and base-running

  • DRS: +15 (1st)
  • Def: +3.2 (4th)
  • Errors: 5 (=10th)
  • SB/CS/OOB: 6/2/3
  • BSR: -1.4 (27th)

Torey Lovullo made defense a priority after a “disgusting” campaign with the glove in 2025. That was a key factor in the signings of Arenado and Santana, and going by the metrics so far, that seems to have paid off. While these are still very small samples, Arizona have been among the best teams on defense so far. Particularly outstanding has been Thomas, who certainly has not let his struggles at the plate carry over into the field. By DRS (Defensive Runs Saved), Alek’s +4 leads all major-leaguers, with Marte just behind him at +3. Fangraphs’ Def also has Thomas as the best fielder in the majors. Early days, but a Gold Glove could be in Thomas’s future.

The base-running got off to a rough start, with multiple TOOTBLANs over the opening series in Los Angeles. Things have calmed down, with no outs on the basepaths since. Indeed, the team might now be skewing too conservative. Looking at the percentage of times they take an extra base, e.g. scoring from second base on a single, Arizona’s figure of 31% is the third-lowest in the majors. In particular, the D-backs have had a runner on first 22 times when a single was hit. Only twice has that runner reached third safely. Last year, that happened around 33% of the time for Arizona. We might want to pick that up.

Conclusions

As you would perhaps expect from a team with a 5-5 record, it has very much been a mixed bag for the Diamondbacks. That’s in line with the emotional roller-coaster we’ve gone through. From being swept by the Dodgers, to sweeping the Tigers, to being clubbed mercilessly by the Braves, to walking them off yesterday. It is still only ten games, and I expect more or less everything to normalize as the sample size increases. That overall win record may be the most accurate reflection of where the team is heading, rather than particular areas or individual performances.

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Chris Sale takes the mound for the Braves against the Angels

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 01: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning during the game against the Athletics at Truist Park on April 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves are coming off a disappointing series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and will stay out west to face the Angels. Chris Sale will be taking the mound facing off against José Soriano, who has firmly cemented himself as the best pitcher in the Angels’ rotation.

Soriano has started the season of in incredible fashion. He has made two starts and pitched a total of 12.0 innings and has only given up four hits. He has yet to give up a single earned run this season. His only blemish is that he has walked four hitters to striking out eleven. Hitters so far have a .105 average against him, and he is inducing ground outs at twice the rate of outs in the air.

With Soriano spending his entire career so far with the Angels, the players on the Braves’ roster have not seen him much. Jonah Heim has twelve at-bats against him, but those were not in a Braves uniform. Outside of Heim, no other player on the roster has seen Soriano more than six at-bats.

Even though Heim has seen him the most, it has not helped. He has a .083 average in his limited action. Acuña, Albies, Farmer, and Harris are all hitless against Soriano, although it is hard to make any type of conclusion after only seeing him a few times.

The player with the most success against Soriano is Matt Olson with a .333 average and 1.000 OPS, but that is in only three at-bats. On paper the Braves’ offense does not have an upper hand in this matchup. The only area that sticks out in terms of hope for a fun night offensively is that there is a large gap in Soriano’s wOBA against him versus his xwOBA. His wOBA against of .175 is in the best 9.0 percent in MLB, but his xwOBA against is much higher at .266. An xwOBA against of .266 is still very good. For reference the league average over the past four seasons is .315.

Chris Sale is taking the mound with a pristine ERA of 0.75 after two starts and 12.0 innings pitched. His strikeout rate so far this season of 21.4 percent is well below his career average of 32.3, and his walk rate of 7.1 percent is the highest of his career, so both of those are concerning.

There is a bright spot to his metrics outside of the obvious ERA. He is inducing ground balls at a 48.3 percent clip. That number is 12.0 percent better than league average and is well above his career rate of 42.3 percent. We also need to consider that in his last game he was battling flu symptoms. If last game he was actually feeling poor and he is inducing a ton of grounders, it is a good sign of things to come this evening.

Most players on the Angels have faced Sale before, but only two have faced him fourteen times or more. 2021 World Series hero Jorge Soler has fourteen at-bats against Sale but has struggled with a .143 average and .536 OPS. Mike Trout has twenty at-bats with a HR, .300 average, and .940 OPS. However, Trout is day-to-day, so we don’t know for sure if he will play or not.

We can hope that the Braves offense can kick it into gear again tonight, but Soriano has been on fire. It looks like we may be in store for a fun night filled with great pitching.

First pitch is at 9:38 PM EDT

Game Info

Game Time: Monday, April 6th, 9:38 pm EDT

Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

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Chris Sale takes the mound for the Braves against the Angels

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 01: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning during the game against the Athletics at Truist Park on April 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves are coming off a disappointing series against the Arizona Diamondbacks and will stay out west to face the Angels. Chris Sale will be taking the mound facing off against José Soriano, who has firmly cemented himself as the best pitcher in the Angels’ rotation.

Soriano has started the season of in incredible fashion. He has made two starts and pitched a total of 12.0 innings and has only given up four hits. He has yet to give up a single earned run this season. His only blemish is that he has walked four hitters to striking out eleven. Hitters so far have a .105 average against him, and he is inducing ground outs at twice the rate of outs in the air.

With Soriano spending his entire career so far with the Angels, the players on the Braves’ roster have not seen him much. Jonah Heim has twelve at-bats against him, but those were not in a Braves uniform. Outside of Heim, no other player on the roster has seen Soriano more than six at-bats.

Even though Heim has seen him the most, it has not helped. He has a .083 average in his limited action. Acuña, Albies, Farmer, and Harris are all hitless against Soriano, although it is hard to make any type of conclusion after only seeing him a few times.

The player with the most success against Soriano is Matt Olson with a .333 average and 1.000 OPS, but that is in only three at-bats. On paper the Braves’ offense does not have an upper hand in this matchup. The only area that sticks out in terms of hope for a fun night offensively is that there is a large gap in Soriano’s wOBA against him versus his xwOBA. His wOBA against of .175 is in the best 9.0 percent in MLB, but his xwOBA against is much higher at .266. An xwOBA against of .266 is still very good. For reference the league average over the past four seasons is .315.

Chris Sale is taking the mound with a pristine ERA of 0.75 after two starts and 12.0 innings pitched. His strikeout rate so far this season of 21.4 percent is well below his career average of 32.3, and his walk rate of 7.1 percent is the highest of his career, so both of those are concerning.

There is a bright spot to his metrics outside of the obvious ERA. He is inducing ground balls at a 48.3 percent clip. That number is 12.0 percent better than league average and is well above his career rate of 42.3 percent. We also need to consider that in his last game he was battling flu symptoms. If last game he was actually feeling poor and he is inducing a ton of grounders, it is a good sign of things to come this evening.

Most players on the Angels have faced Sale before, but only two have faced him fourteen times or more. 2021 World Series hero Jorge Soler has fourteen at-bats against Sale but has struggled with a .143 average and .536 OPS. Mike Trout has twenty at-bats with a HR, .300 average, and .940 OPS. However, Trout is day-to-day, so we don’t know for sure if he will play or not.

We can hope that the Braves offense can kick it into gear again tonight, but Soriano has been on fire. It looks like we may be in store for a fun night filled with great pitching.

First pitch is at 9:38 PM EDT

Game Info

Game Time: Monday, April 6th, 9:38 pm EDT

Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan