Category: Sports News

Astros fans, how are we feeling about Bryan Abreu after this past weekend?

It’s been a rocky start to the season for a pitcher who entered the year with sky-high expectations. Tasked with stepping into a more prominent late-inning role while ace reliever Josh Hader works his way back from injury, Abreu has struggled to find consistency. Instead of being the shutdown arm fans have come to trust, he has too often looked like a fire starter, unable to hold leads, keep runners off base, or slam the door when it matters most.

What’s made his early-season performance even more frustrating is how uncharacteristic it has been. Abreu has built a reputation as a dependable, high-leverage arm, but lately he’s been allowing too many baserunners, both via hits and walks, and, more often than not, those runners have come around to score. On top of all that, his velocity has been down a few miles per hour.

This weekend, however, offered a glimpse of hope.

Abreu delivered two innings of much-needed relief, including a strong eighth inning that resembled the pitcher Astros fans have grown accustomed to. But the ninth inning told a different story. What should have been a clean finish quickly turned into a nerve-wracking escape act. Whether you call it luck or skill, the ground-ball double play that ended the game and secured the save came at a moment when it felt like things were about to unravel once again.

If the outing had ended after the eighth, the takeaway would have been overwhelmingly positive. Instead, the ninth inning left room for continued concern. For now, it’s a reminder that while progress may be underway, trust still needs to be rebuilt.

The bigger picture for Houston only raises the stakes.

If both Abreu and Hader can return to form, it would provide a massive boost to a bullpen that has been overworked and underwhelming. The Astros’ pitching staff as a whole has struggled this season, and their issues with control, evident in a troubling rate of walks, have only compounded the problem. That’s put added pressure on a team whose offense ranks among the top in the American League, but can’t carry the load alone.

There are also financial implications looming. With Abreu approaching a contract year, his performance down the stretch could significantly impact his market value. The Astros, meanwhile, must be cautious about committing long-term money to relievers, a lesson learned the hard way in the past.

Still, there were encouraging signs in his outing against Boston. His velocity ticked up slightly after being down for much of the season, and his slider showed improved location, key factors in limiting hard contact and keeping the ball in the park.

For now, Astros fans will take any step forward they can get. A save is a save, and a win is a win. But until Abreu strings together consistent, clean outings in high-leverage situations, questions about his role, and the bullpen as a whole, will continue to linger.

Monday was a sad day in Yankees universe, as we learned about the passing of the beloved, legendary radio announcer John Sterling. The Yankees honored Sterling in a way he would have loved — with their performance in a 12-1 rout of the Orioles to cap off a four-game sweep of their division foes.

Now that we are almost a week into May (yikes!) we’ve rearranged our coverage to reflect the risers and fallers in the AL. Gone are the last place Astros while the similarly bottom-dwelling Red Sox have been demoted from the main games into our “other games” section, the second-place Rays taking their spot alongside the Blue Jays.

Tampa Bay Rays (22-12) 5, Toronto Blue Jays (16-19) 1

The 35-year-old journeyman swingman Nick Martinez is quite well traveled in his baseball career, plying his trade for the Rangers, Padres, and Reds sandwiched a round a four-year stint overseas in NPB. He found a new home with the Rays this past winter, inking a one-year, $13 million deal, and has quietly been one of the best starters in the league. This was his seventh start of the year and he has yet to give up more than two runs in any of them. His five innings of one-run ball position his season ERA at a sterling 1.71 — sixth-best among all starters in MLB.

Toronto’s only run came on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. RBI single in the third. By that point, the Rays had done most of their damage for the night. Chandler Simpson singled and Junior Caminero walked to lead off the first, setting up a no-doubter three run blast from Ryan Vilade on a first-pitch curveball below the zone from Eric Lauer.

Taylor Walls tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth, his two-out single plating Jonathan Aranda and Ben Williamson after the Rays loaded the bases with three singles. The Blue Jays created plenty of opportunities with ten hits and two walks on the night. However, Martinez and a quintet of Rays relievers stranded a pair in the first, third, and sixth. Things got interesting when Casey Legumina surrendered three singles in the ninth, but Bryan Baker slammed the door as the Jays went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded ten runners.

Other Games

Boston Red Sox (14-21) 5, Detroit Tigers (18-18) 4

On the day the Tigers learned that two-time defending AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal requires surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and will miss three months at minimum, the Detroit outfit suffered a back-breaking loss in a game blown by the bullpen. Boston also received bad news on the injury front, Roman Anthony departing the game in the second after injuring his wrist on an awkward check swing.

Forced into an emergency bullpen game with Skubal getting scratched, the Tigers received essentially a Skubal start in the aggregate. Opener Tyler Holton struck out one in a scoreless first, followed by five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts from bulk guy Ty Madden. That allowed their offense to open the scoring with a pair in the sixth on a hit-by-pitch, walk, throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and a throwing error on a routine ground ball.

That would be all for naught, however, as reliever Ricky Vanasco imploded in the seventh. He walked Carlos Narváez and gave up a single to Andruw Monasterio to open the frame, setting up the go-ahead three-run homer from Jarren Duran. A Masataka Yoshida double knocked Vanasco from the game, but the implosion didn’t stop there. Enmanuel De Jesus gave up three straight singles to Wilyer Abreu, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Marcelo Mayer allowing a further pair of runs to score.

Dillon Dingler brought his team to within one with a two-run double in the eighth, but that is where the comeback would end. Payton Tolle collected his first big league win with eight strikeouts across seven innings allowing the pair of unearned runs.

Kansas City Royals (16-19) 6, Cleveland Guardians (18-18) 2

Michael Wacha gave the Royals seven strong innings, the only blemish a David Fry two-run homer in the second. Kansas City scored the next six runs unanswered, Bobby Witt Jr. and Jac Caglianone weighing in with solo homers. Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez contributed RBI knocks while Nick Loftin contributed a two-run single in the Royals’ four-run fourth. With the Guardians loss, there is not a single team in the AL Central with a record better than .500, Cleveland and Detroit tied for first at 18-18.

Seattle Mariners (17-19) 5, Atlanta Braves (25-11) 4

The baseball was uncharacteristically flying out of T-Mobile Park, the two teams scoring all nine of their runs via the long ball. Atlanta jumped out to a 4-0 lead with four solo home runs off Logan Gilbert. The first was by Drake Baldwin to lead off the game, while the final three all came in the sixth inning — all blasts of well over 400 feet from Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson (the 300th of his career), and Austin Riley.

The Mariners immediately picked up their starter, exploding for five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone drew a pair of walks to lead off, setting up a booming three-run rocket from Luke Raley. Mitch Garver was issued a free pass, and with two outs and a full count, J.P. Crawford smacked the go-ahead two run tank off reliever Tyler Kinley.

Wow that was ugly. After a four-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees, the Orioles are making like the snowbirds, leaving the Bronx for the sunnier climate of Miami, and frankly, it’s a relief.

The Marlins are a less scary opponent, but they can’t be taken lightly, either. (And these hot-and-cold Orioles have had a way of playing down to the competition, so you can never get too cocky.) At 16-19, they’re holding down second place in the NL East. They, too, have hot-or-cold tendencies: they took two of three from the mighty Dodgers last week, but have also recently dropped series to St. Louis and Milwaukee.

The Marlins, unusually, are a good-hitting team this year. They’re not much in the power department with a fourth-lowest 25 homers, but their collective .252 average outranks all but seven teams. As a team, they’ve been led by three players playing out of their minds: shortstop Otto Lopez (.341 BA and a MLB-leading 45 hits in 33 games), second baseman Xavier Edwards (.336 BA, .896 OPS) and catcher Liam Hicks (.309 BA, .923 OPS). Hicks, in just his second year, has nearly exceeded his WAR from 120 games his rookie season. Former Orioles friends haven’t excelled: Kyle Stowers has missed time due to a hamstring, and infielder Connor Norby has just been just-OK, with a .238 average and 107 OPS+ so far.

Miami’s starting pitching staff has been a weakness over the last two seasons, despite having a guy like Sandy Alcantara fronting it. This year, the rotation is just above average, while the team’s main weakness lies in the bullpen. The team has blown nine games in which they had a lead, which seems like a sizeable number to me. Closer Pete Fairbanks is on the 15-day IL with nerve irritation, and others, like Anthony Bender, Andrew Nardi and Calvin Faucher, have been ineffective.

Following injuries to Trevor Rogers and Dean Kremer, a pitching-strapped O’s will be countering with Chris Bassitt, Brandon Young and Cade Povich. Young and Povich in particular are giving Little Engine That Could vibes: you root hard for them, but frequently view them as outmatched.

Game 1: Tuesday, May 5, 6:40 ET

Chris Bassitt (2-2, 5.46, 17 SO) vs. RHP Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 3.04 ERA, 31 SO)

Alcantara opened 2026 with his franchise-record sixth straight Opening Day start, throwing 7 shutout innings against the Rockies. He followed that up with a complete-game shutout of the White Sox on April 1, striking out seven and allowing just three hits in a 10-0 romp. After his rough 2025—a full season back from Tommy John surgery that produced a 5.36 ERA—this looks more like the vintage Alcantara, with a fastball that generally sits around 97 mph and maxes out around 101. His 3.04 ERA comes with a solid 1.16 WHIP.

Signs Chris Bassitt is figuring it out: he’s given up one earned run or fewer in three of his last four starts. Signs he’s not: the Royals tagged him for five runs on eight hits on April 22. The veteran righty has a career 3.68 ERA. I choose to believe.

Game 2: Wednesday, May 6, 6:40 ET

Brandon Young (2-1, 6.14 ERA, 9 SO) vs. RHP Eury Pérez (2-3, 4.46 ERA, 39 SO)

Eury Pérez is 23 years old and already seems to have lived a lifetime in pitcher years. He debuted in 2023 at age 20, posting a nice 3.15 ERA in 19 starts. Then he missed all of 2024 with Tommy John. A 4.25 ERA on his return seemed like a dip, but he had a strong 1.05 WHIP and 3.67 FIP. This season has been his worst so far: his 4.63 FIP suggests he’s getting hit, hard, and so does a 13.9% barrel percentage in the bottom seventh percentile of pitchers. The strikeout stuff is very much present, but he’s also walking more hitters than he ever has. This is the matchup the Orioles need to take advantage of.

Thrust into the rotation by Dean Kremer’s quad injury, the big Texan has had one good start in three tries: a scoreless five innings against the White Sox on April 6. Since, he’s given up three runs in 5 ⅔ innings against Boston and—gulp—ten runs in four innings against Houston. There’s been talk about Young working on his offspeed pitches in the offseason: if so, this would be a good time to see it.

Game 3: Thursday, May 7, 6:40 ET

Cade Povich (1-1, 4.41 ERA, 11 SO) vs. RHP Max Meyer (1-0, 3.30 ERA, 33 SO)

Drafted third overall by the Marlins in 2020, Max Meyer is currently Miami’s best starter in sheer WAR (1.1, edging out Alcantara’s 1.0). Through seven starts he has a 3.30 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 30⅔ innings, averaging 9.9 K/9, with opponents hitting just .207 against him. Length isn’t a strength of his, yet, as he’s averaging just five innings per outing, but he’s been effective. His most recent start saw him throw five scoreless innings against the Giants.

The only southpaw in the rotation right now, Cade Povich is always teetering on the edge of success in the major leagues, it feels like. But inevitably he’ll flash his significant strikeout potential, then lay an egg. This inconsistency works out to a kind of consistency, as he posted nearly identical ERA’s in 2023 and ‘24: 5.20, give or take one hundredths of a point. Like Young, Povich was not supposed to be in the rotation, but that’s where we are. In three starts so far, he’s allowed eight runs in 16.1 innings.

—-

It’s hard to feel massive optimism about the Orioles right now, fresh off a sweep in the Bronx and putting out a starter lineup of Bassitt, Young and Povich heading into Miami. Injuries stink, but this backup plan feels more typical of a rebuilding year than what fans were promised for these next few seasons. Maybe I’m just a grouch. We’ll see if these early May doldrums end up characterizing the season.

So, Birdland faithful, how do you think the Orioles will fare in their trip to the 305? Sound off in the comments.

Welcome to Tuesday everyone!

The A’s had their off day yesterday and now it’s time to get ready for game action to resume. The team is on the road and on the East Coast yet again, their third trip to the other side of the country already. Not a fun travel schedule to open the year but on the bright side they’re getting these longer trips out of the way early.

We’re in Philadelphia tonight to take on the Phillies in the first of three. The high-priced Phillies, whose $282 million payroll ranks fifth in all of baseball, came into this year with sky-high expectations after winning the NL East. They unfortunately ran into the eventual champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round and got knocked out in four games, but they brought back essentially the same team that won 96 games.

Things have not gone their way this season however. They’re sitting in fourth place in their division entering this series at just 14-20, behind the Nationals ($92 million, 26th) and Marlins ($77 million, 30th). They are 10 1/2 games back of the division-leading Atlanta Braves, and a lot of that has to do with under performance on both sides of the ball.

The Philly offense ranks just 17th in home runs, but more worryingly for them they are near the bottom in batting average (28th), on-base percentage (also 28th), slugging (26th), and total runs scored (27th). They’ve gotten solid production out of players like Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh, but the rest of their starting lineup all have an OPS below .700, which should cause panic for Philly fans.

As for their pitching, the team ranks second in all of baseball in strikeouts, but also is just 26th in team ERA. Their pitching staff has given up the most hits in the sport and are tied for fourth in total runs allowed. They’ve certainly missed Zack Wheeler (who only just returned from injury) and Ranger Suarez (FA departure), but veterans Aaron Nola (6.03 ERA), Jesus Luzardo (5.09 ERA), and Taijuan Walker (9.13 ERA) have crippled the Phillies’ starting rotation with poor performances, and top prospect Andrew Painter (5.28 ERA) hasn’t been any better. Meanwhile their bullpen has been middle-of-the-pack as they’ve certainly missed flamethrowing closer Jhoan Duran, who has been on the IL for the past month but is nearing a return, though he’ll likely be activated after the A’s leave town.

Tonight’s series-opening matchup will see right-hander Luis Severino get the ball for the home team. His season to date has certainly seen its peaks and valleys. He has a 4.46 ERA but generally pitches better away from Sacramento. He’s coming off a pair of very strong outings and looks to be on a role entering tonight. He’ll be opposed by Philly ace Cristopher Sanchez, who has kept the Philadelphia rotation afloat with a great 2.90 ERA through his first seven starts.

Wednesday evening’s game will feature left-hander Jeffrey Springs on the mound for the Athletics. The veteran started the year out strong pitching to a 1.46 ERA through his first four starts but he’s been more vulnerable in his past three outings. He actually departed his most recent start with hip tightness but it seems he’s dodged any sort of injury and looks primed for a bounce back against the Phillies, whom he doesn’t have much experience pitching against. He’ll be opposed by Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia’s true ace when healthy. This’ll be his third game since returning from injury and so far he’s looked like he hasn’t skipped a beat. He went five innings of 2-run ball against Atlanta in his first start back, then followed that up with one run allowed over six innings against the Marlins. This could be a tough matchup for the offense if he really is back to his normal self.

And finally the series wraps up on Thursday night with a pitching matchup pitting young right-hander J.T. Ginn against fellow young arm Andrew Painter. Ginn had his first truly bad outing last time out when he allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings of work against the Guardians, though before that he’d been on a roll so he’ll be looking to bounce back and get back on the right path. Painter on the other hand has given up 11 runs over his previous three starts so the A’s may be getting him at the right time when he’s not quite on his game and still figuring things out. This is, after all, his first big league action of his career.

The A’s sit with a two-game lead in the division entering tonight. It’d be great to extend it with a win over an under performing Phillies squad. We’ll be without one of our biggest bats while in Philly as Shea Langeliers gets some time off to be with his wife and newborn son. Hopefully backup Austin Wynns is ready to take advantage of this opportunity. The A’s made a late night move yesterday evening to give Wynns his backup, trading for Jonah Heim from the Atlanta Braves:

The A's have acquired C Jonah Heim from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations. In addition, the A’s have placed C Shea Langeliers on the paternity list.

— A's Communications (@AthleticsPR) May 5, 2026

The move reunited Heim and the A’s after the organization traded him to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Elvis Andrus way back in 2021. The catcher would go on to have a successful run in Texas, making the All-Star Team in 2023. He fell off hard after that excellent year however, spending two more years as the Rangers’ primary backup before moving on to Atlanta this past offseason. He’s only made it into 12 games for the Braves so far and now that former Athletic Sean Murphy is back, Heim’s role became redundant. But not for the A’s. He’ll be Wynn’s backup for this Phillies series, and who knows, he could end up sticking around a bit longer even when Langeliers returns.

First pitch is a little earlier than usual for us here on the West Coast. 3:40 start time this evening. Have a great day A’s fans.

A’s Coverage:

• Civale and Soderstrom lead Athletics to a Sunday Victory
• Langeliers HRs twice on wife’s b-day, then welcomes 1st child; taking time off
• A’s Drop Second Straight To Guardians 14-6
• A Walk In The Park Is Nice…To A Point
• A’s Drop Series Opener To Guardians 8-5
• Three Things To Watch For The Athletics In May
• A’s Hold off Royals to Win Series Finale
• A Moment To Appreciate The Awesomeness That Is Carlos Cortes
• A’s defeat the Royals 5-2 behind Severino & Butler
• A’s drop opener 4-1 to Royals in extra innings
• Another hard-luck injury (fractured hand) lands Muncy on IL
• Kurtz ‘starting to get back to himself’ — and that’s a scary prospect
• What the Athletics’ Hot Start Means for Their 2026 Trade Deadline Strategy
• When he Reached the New World, Cortes Burned Opposing Pitchers

MLB News and Interest:

• Skubal to have surgery for loose bodies in elbow; timetable TBD
• John Sterling, beloved longtime Yankees radio voice, passes at 87
• Brewers activate Chourio, Vaughn from IL
• Mets move Soto to leadoff spot for just 3rd time in career
• Orioles sign Lou Trivino to major league contract
• Braves Designate Jonah Heim For Assignment, Activate Sean Murphy
• Giants Designate Jerar Encarnacion For Assignment
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Lin is coming sooner rather than later:

#Athletics No. 4 prospect Wei-En Lin surrendered two hits and recorded six punchouts over seven scoreless frames for @RockHounds!

🏆: https://t.co/TLUttzKGVVpic.twitter.com/kFQTQxZbdO

— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 4, 2026

No A’s pitchers on the list, thank god:

A partial list of pitchers who have landed on the IL with arm injuries this year …

Tarik Skubal
Garret Crochet
Spencer Schwellenbach
Hunter Greene
Hunter Brown
Brandon Woodruff
Joe Ryan
Nick Pivetta
Josh Hader
Edwin Diaz

— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) May 4, 2026

Think the A’s would consider sitting Butler for Bolte?

Butler should start counting his days pic.twitter.com/qgRoEgxKXG

— Big Perk Truther #CavnarFC (@PoppinPerckins) May 3, 2026

And one more congrats to our starting catcher and his family!

Shea Langeliers and his wife, Reagan, reportedly welcomed their first son earlier this morning.

Congratulations to the Langeliers Family! 💚💛#Athleticspic.twitter.com/Ro57rMoPPf

— Uprooted (@uprootedoakland) May 3, 2026

Happy Tuesday! In an exciting and much-needed win, the Mariners scored five runs in the sixth inning last night to secure a 5-4 win at home. Home runs from Luke Raley and J.P. Crawford powered starter Logan Gilbert to his second win of the season in the series opener against the Atlanta Braves. George Kirby takes the mound tonight against RHP Bryce Elder for the 6:40 PM start.

In Mariners news…

• ICYMI: Gabe Speier was placed on the 15-day IL prior to yesterday’s game due to left shoulder inflammation. In a few additional roster moves, LHP Josh Simpson has been recalled from Triple-A Tacoma, RHP Cole Wilcox has been optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, and Jose Suarez has reported to the club.
• The Mariners have been among baseball’s worst defensive teams so far this season according to the Outs Above Average (OAA) and Fielding Run Value metrics.
• Top infield prospect Felnin Celesten has been putting up intriguing numbers for the Everett AquaSox as he earned his second straight Northwest Player of the Week award yesterday.

Around the league…

• A very impressive start to the Chicago White Sox infielder’s MLB career (and shoutout to former Mariner legend Dae-Ho Lee):

• Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is set to undergo surgery for loose bodies in his left elbow, and is expected to miss two to three months.
• The Houston Astros have placed catcher Yanier Diaz on the 10-day IL with a left oblique injury.
• The Baltimore Orioles have signed free agent RHP Lou Trivino to a major league deal.
• With rotation depth continuing to be a consistent problem for the San Diego Padres, RHP Randy Vasquez has stepped up into a larger role that could be beneficial to the team’s future.
• Veteran LHP Andrew Chafin has opted out of his minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds and is now a free agent.
• The Chicago White Sox have signed outfielder Randal Grichuk to a major league deal and placed Austin Hays on the 10-day IL with a left calf strain.
• The Atlanta Braves have traded catcher Jonah Heim to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations.
• The Chicago Cubs were powered to their 12th-straight home win by outfielder Michael Conforto’s walk-off home run last night.
• Legendary New York Yankees radio voice John Sterling has passed away at the age of 87 after 36 seasons with the team.

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It’s a loaded slate of baseball with all 30 teams hitting the field Tuesday, May 5, and I’ve got a trio of NRFI/YRFI bets to cover you throughout the night.

My favorite MLB picks begin with the Baltimore Orioles-Miami Marlins bout in the early window and wrap up with tonight’s matchup between the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Angels.

Best NRFI/YRFI bets today

Orioles at Marlins: NRFI (-107)

Baltimore Orioles veteran Chris Bassitt has spun a blemish-free opening inning in three of his past four starts, and he’s coming off a strong outing with just a single run allowed and seven strikeouts across 6 2/3 frames. He’s catching the Miami Marlins at the right time, too. They’ve posted a 28th-ranked wOBA while striking out at the third-highest clip in baseball and averaging just 2.8 runs per game during a 3-6 slump.

Turning to Miami righty Sandy Alcantara, he has pitched a scoreless first inning in six of his seven starts, and the Orioles are tied for last in the majors in percentage of games with a run in the opening frame.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: Marlins.TV, MASN

Twins at Nationals: NRFI (-103)

Both Minnesota Twins righty Taj Bradley and Washington Nationals starter Cade Cavalli have been strong in the opening frame with matching 2.57 first-inning ERAs, and I also value their respective 25.3% and 26.6% strikeout rates. 

We’re also landing an excellent number because the Nationals have scored in the first inning at the third-highest clip in the league while sporting an unsustainably high .388 BABIP, so statistical correction is set to kick in.

• Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NATS, MNNT

White Sox at Angels: NRFI (-102)

Chicago White Sox starter Erick Fedde has held opposing hitters to a minuscule .385 OPS in the opening frame and pitched a scoreless first in three of his four starts, including last time out against the Los Angeles Angels. 

Los Angeles counters with lefty Sam Aldegheri, and he’ll have the benefit of the Chicago lineup seeing him for the first time. So, while Aldegheri’s MLB and Triple A numbers are nothing to write home about, the Pale Hose sport a .231 batting average in the first frame and score in the first inning at a league-average rate of just 28.57%.

• Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: ABTV, CHSN

What is a NRFI bet?

NRFI (No Run First Inning) and YRFI (Yes Run First Inning) bets add a thrilling twist to the start of an MLB game. A NRFI bet is a wager that no runs will be scored in the first inning. You're betting that the starting pitchers for both teams will get through the first inning without allowing any runs, whether by striking out batters, inducing ground balls, or through solid defensive play.

A YRFI bet is the exact opposite. You're betting that at least one run will be scored in the first inning. In this case, you’re hoping for an early offensive burst such as a leadoff walk, a timely hit, or even a home run.

NRFI and YRFI bets add excitement to the early part of a game and offer immediate gratification for bettors looking for a quick resolution.

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.

I would be quite surprised if the Washington Nationals do not have a heavy scouting presence in Fayetteville, Arkansas right now. There are two Arkansas Razorbacks players that could be in play for the Nats with their 11th pick in this upcoming draft. Those would be pitcher Hunter Dietz and catcher Ryder Helfrick.

The pair has arguably been the best battery in the SEC, and both are jumping up draft boards this season. They have both been big time performers in the SEC, and both play positions that the Nats need badly. I am going to breakdown their skills, and talk about which one would be a better fit for the Nats.

Let’s start with Helfrick. If you have watched any Nats games this season, you would know that the catching position has been a problem. Keibert Ruiz and Drew Millas have both been total liabilities at the plate. The Nats traded for Harry Ford, but he has been awful in Triple-A this year. It is clear that the Nats still need to be searching for their catcher of the future.

The best catcher in this draft is Vahn Lackey out of Georgia Tech, but he is going to be a top 5 pick. That leaves Helfrick as the consolation prize. He is a very good prospect in his own right, ranking 10th on the Baseball America board and 16th on the MLB Pipeline board. His biggest strengths are his massive power and good defensive chops.

Ryder Helfrick: Captain America pic.twitter.com/kWP07E5av4

— Andrew Ellis (@EllisAndrew_) March 28, 2026

Helfrick has plus raw power and has 33 home runs in 140 career college games. His OPS has been over 1.000 in each of the past two seasons. However, there are some question marks about his hit tool. He does not project to hit for a great average, but the offensive bar for a catcher is not that high. 

A good offensive comparison may be pre-2025 Cal Raleigh. That version of Raleigh hit around .220 with 25-30 homers. He was not an MVP candidate, but he was still one of the best catchers in baseball. That could be what we see from Helfrick. It is worth noting that Helfrick has lowered his strikeout percentage every year he has been in college, and is only striking out 17.5% of the time this year.

Kiley McDaniel of ESPN mocked Helfrick to the Nats, noting that the Razorbacks catcher has improved his contact rates significantly. Helfrick fits a need and is in the 11th overall pick range on talent. It just feels like a natural fit, and one we will hear about a lot as we approach the draft.

While Helfrick is a pretty easy prospect to analyze, his teammate Hunter Dietz is more polarizing. You can see how controversial he is based on his range. MLB Pipeline ranks him at 18th, while Baseball America has him all the way at 55th.

Personally, I think BA is way off on this one. Dietz is a massive left handed pitcher who throws in the mid to upper 90’s, while featuring several potentially plus breaking balls. He is not some massive projection either, posting a 3.43 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 65.2 innings in the SEC. Dietz was the first SEC pitcher to reach 100 strikeouts on the season.

Hunter Dietz becomes the first SEC hurler to hit the 100-strikeout plateau in 2026 🔥

Scouting report and grades on MLB's No. 18 Draft prospect: https://t.co/3SmNVQxEr7

(📹: @RazorbackBSB) pic.twitter.com/oyGru8jV8p

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 2, 2026

This feels like a clear first round profile, so I am not sure what BA is missing here. Dietz did deal with injury issues before this season, and only threw 12.1 innings his first two years of college. However, injuries are just part of the game with pitchers these days. He was also a highly touted high school prospect, so it is not like this has come out of nowhere.

Over the past few years, Paul Toboni’s former club, the Red Sox, have loved a couple things. They really like SEC pitchers and big lefties. Dietz fits both of those categories, which could make him a fit for a front office with so many ties to the Red Sox. Last year, the Red Sox took SEC pitchers with three of their first four picks. 

There is some cool video of Dietz throwing to Helfrick in a start against Alabama. Dietz was 95-97 and held the velocity into the 7th inning. Right now, it feels like Dietz could be a slight reach, but if he continues to dominate down the stretch and in post season play, he could fit squarely into the Nats range.

LHP Hunter Dietz (@RazorbackBSB) K'd 9 over 6 IP & FB sat 95-97. Real FB traits w/ ride up to 22" from 7" ft rel ht. Really got rolling as outing went, still had 97 100+ pitches in. Tight CT at 85-87 & CB up to ~2900 RPM, 4-pitch mix. Phys 6'6"/235, big time upside. R-Soph./'26… pic.twitter.com/nIoiNEHyyJ

— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) April 11, 2026

If he has not already, I would advise Paul Toboni to take a trip down to Arkansas. That is where you can find two of the most exciting prospects in the 2026 MLB Draft that fit the Nats range in the draft and positions of need. Hunter Dietz and Ryder Helfrick are two names Nationals fans need to be monitoring.

The Mets continue a three-game series against the Rockies in Colorado at 9:20 p.m. on SNY.

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Mets Notes

• Carson Benge is slashing 303/.361/.545 with two homers and two doubles over his last 11 games
• Huascar Brazoban has a 1.08 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 16.2 innings over 15 appearances this season 
• Luke Weaver has allowed just two runs in his last seven outings, spanning 7.2 innings

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Today's Lineups

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We’re back at it with another full slate across the big leagues tonight. My MLB player props will highlight the efforts of Cristopher Sanchez, Jacob deGrom, and Drake Baldwin. 

Read more in my MLB picks for Tuesday, May 5. 

Best MLB player props today

Cristopher Sanchez Over 6.5 strikeouts

Cristopher Sanchez has been a bright spot in the Philadelphia Phillies’ disappointing season. He’s gone 2-2 with a 2.91 ERA, striking out 50 batters in just 40 1/3 innings. The lefty has serious swing-and-miss stuff, and he’s cashed the Over in Ks in three of his last four appearances. 

Sanchez will face the Athletics tonight, who are 19th in strikeouts. The southpaw has 40 Ks in 30 innings at Citizens Bank Park, and he struck out seven last time out against the Giants at home.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jacob deGrom Under 2.5 earned runs

Jacob deGrom will have a tough task today as he faces the New York Yankees, but that won’t bother the veteran. After all, he just held the Bronx Bombers to one earned run across six frames in his most recent start. In fact, the Texas Rangers ace has hit the Under in earned runs allowed in five consecutive outings. 

On the season, deGrom owns a stellar 2.01 ERA, and he has a 2.45 ERA on the road in three starts. The veteran has held this Yankees lineup to a .176 average across 85 at-bats, and Aaron Judge is barely hitting .200 against him, and none of the Yankees' main stars has had any success against deGrom. He’ll deal.

• Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: RSN, YES

Drake Baldwin Over 0.5 runs

Drake Baldwin may not be a household name, but he’s sure making people know him very quickly. The catcher leads the big leagues with 46 hits and 33 runs scored. The 25-year-old has come across the plate in three straight contests. 

He’s smacked six hits during that span, and the Atlanta Braves are the best team with RISP, batting .275. When he gets on base, it’s become a common theme for Baldwin to touch home plate.

Expect Baldwin to play his part tonight in generating offense, especially as Seattle Mariners starter George Kirby, while effective, has struggled to generate whiffs with his 19.1% strikeout rate.

• Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Where to watch: BravesVSN, Mariners.TV

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.

Jackson Merrill hit a first-inning solo home run to put the San Diego Padres ahead of the San Francisco Giants, 1-0 but that was all the offensive excitement the Padres could muster for much of the game. Randy Vasquez started on the mound for San Diego and continued to be effective. However, with an offense that seems to have largely disappeared, the three runs allowed by Vasquez and Luis Arraez, proved to be too much for the Padres to overcome. San Diego dropped the series opener to San Francisco, 3-2. Arraez was the offensive leader for the Giants with two doubles and two runs scored. Merrill was the only offense for the Padres until the top of the ninth inning. He finished the night 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Ramon Laureano hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the ninth inning to make the score, 3-2 but Fernando Tatis struck out for the third time in the game, Merrill grounded out and Manny Machado struck out on a check swing the end the game. Merrill and Laureano combined for three hits, which were the only hits in the game for San Diego. The Padres did not draw a walk and had 10 strikeouts in the game. San Diego will try to bounce back with a win in the second game of the series at 6:45 p.m.

Padres News:

• It’s always hard to say goodbye, but Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball thinks that is exactly what the Padres should do with Nick Castellanos. The veteran was brought in to slug, but he has not been able to get going offensively and San Diego may not have time to wait.

• The Padres salvaged their series against the Chicago White Sox with a win in the final game at Petco Park. Griffin Canning started the game and although he did not get a decision, his performance was one of the highlights of the week according to Cheri Bell of Gaslamp Ball.

• Mason Miller was named the National League Reliever of the Month for the second consecutive month.

• The Padres added Canning to their rotation on Sunday and Luca Giolito continues to build up in the minors before coming to the big-league team. AJ Cassavell of Padres.com believes they can and should do more.

Baseball News:

• Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow which will send him to the IL for the foreseeable future.

• The New York Yankees completed a four-game sweep on the same day they learned former announcer John Sterling passed away.

• The Athletics made a trade with the Texas Rangers to add Jonah Heim to improve their offense.

• Yoshinobu Yamamoto recorded eight strikeouts to help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Houston Astros.

• The Boston Red Sox scored five runs in the seventh inning to help Peyton Tolle get his first MLB win.

• Michael Conforto hit a solo walk-off home run to lead the Chicago Cubs past the Cincinatti Reds.

• Aaron Nola had a strong start and helped the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Miami Marlins.

Yesterday’s first game in Kansas City was… not good.

Tanner Bibee had a horrible inning. Matt Festa gave up a bomb. Travis Bazzana and Brayan Rocchio had bad errors. And José Ramírez is still mired in an early season funk. If the top of your lineup goes 2-24 and those two hits are singles, you’re probably gonna lose.

The Guardians will now face lefties Noah Cameron and Cole Ragans, both of whom have been struggling, to see if they can cool off the Royals who have won 8 of 10.

Tarik Skubal of the Tigers has loose bodies in his elbow and so looks likely for an August return from surgery at best. The Royals and Guardians will look to get some momentum going in that intervening time. But, every baseball fan knows that “there but for the grace of the baseball gods go we” when it comes to pitching injuries.

Gavin Williams will try to do the ace thing and snap the Guardians two-game losing streak tonight

AROUND MLB:

The White Sox beat the Angels and the Tigers lost to the Red Sox.