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The Mets (14-7) won their third straight game against the St. Louis Cardinals (9-12) with a clean 3-0 win on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field.

Here are the takeaways...

-Despite a hot Saturday afternoon at the ballpark, the offenses were cold and held mostly in check as Kodai Senga and St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore were locked in a pitcher's duel. Both pitchers were coming off scoreless outings of six or more innings in their last start and kept it going on Saturday with Senga able to keep his scoreless streak alive by escaping a couple of jams.

In the second, after a one-out walk followed by a double, the right-hander came back from 2-0 on Nolan Gorman by throwing three straight forkballs and getting Gorman to swing and miss on all three for the strikeout -- one of just four strikeouts by Senga on the day. A flyout to center ended the scoring threat.

Then in the fifth, a leadoff double and wild pitch put a runner on third and nobody out for a prime scoring chance for the Cards. However, Senga struck out Gorman once again (on a forkball) for the first out before his defense helped him out on the next batter.

-Freshly inserted into the game after Mark Vientosexited with what the team announced as "groin discomfort", Brett Baty fielded a grounder to third base and with the runner at third running on contact, Baty immediately went home with the throw to nab Thomas Saggese at the plate by a comfortable margin as Luis Torrens applied the tag.

Senga's defense came to his rescue again in the sixth, this time a double play turned by Luisangel Acuna and Francisco Lindor after a walk and single put runners on first and second. With a chance to maneuver through another jam, Senga hit Nolan Arenado to end his outing after 5.2 innings. Reed Garrett did his part and got the final out of the inning to preserve Senga's scoreless streak and lower his season ERA to 0.79.

-Facing Liberatore, New York's offense was able to push across two runs in the third. The first was driven in by Juan Soto who singled home Acuna and the second came via Pete Alonso's double -- his ninth already this season.

Other than that, Liberatore's ledger was clean as the left-hander went 6.2 innings, striking out six.

-Alonso added an insurance run in the eighth with his sixth home run. The slugger finished 2-for-4 and is now hitting .356 with a 1.220 OPS as his early season success continues.

-A.J Minter survived the eighth inning despite three walks and set up Edwin Diaz who looked dominant in the ninth, striking out two and securing his fifth save in as many opportunities.

Game MVP: Pete Alonso

Alonso is doing it all right now as his 23 RBI lead the Mets and is one off Aaron Judge for the MLB-lead.

Highlights

Juan Soto with an RBI single to put the Mets on the board!

(via @MLBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/HoRdwxWeu7

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 19, 2025

Pete Alonso follows Juan Soto’s RBI with one of his own 🤝

(via @MLBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/0gpjsoVfrS

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 19, 2025

Pete Alonso LAUNCHES one to the second deck for a solo home run!!! 💣

(via @MLBONFOX) pic.twitter.com/rcZotwt4F2

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 19, 2025

What's next

The Mets will look for the sweep when they close out their four-game series against the Cardinals on Easter Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 p.m.

RHP Clay Holmes (2-1, 3.66 ERA) faces off against RHP Sonny Gray (3-0, 3.13 ERA).

Roupp reaches ‘new territory,' sets career high in Giants' win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Landen Roupp couldn’t have asked for a better way to introduce himself to Mike Trout in the first inning of the Giants’ game against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday.

The three-time AL MVP went down swinging, falling victim to a curveball that has brought Roupp plenty of success over his last two starts. Roupp struck out the side to begin Saturday’s game, but Trout’s next two at-bats against Roupp didn’t go as smoothly for the Giants starter. In the end, though, San Francisco was able to survive two Trout home runs off Roupp en route to a 3-2 victory at Angel Stadium.

“It was fun,” Roupp told reporters after the game about his first time facing Trout. “I wish I could have gotten him all three times, but that’s baseball and the way it goes, and I’ll learn from it.”

Aside from Trout’s two homers, Roup was lights-out against the Angels, recording a career-high nine strikeouts with one walk, five hits and two earned runs across seven innings on 96 pitches. His curveball, which he threw 56 times in a 10-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, was at work again 43 times Saturday and produced a 60-percent whiff rate.

Roupp’s sinker, which he threw as often as his curve (42 times), kept the Angels off balance as well, and the 1-2 punch allowed him to last seven innings for the first time in his MLB career.

“I think that’s new territory for him,” Giants manager Bob Melvin told reporters of Roupp’s seven-inning outing. “Nine punch-outs, only walked one, kind of splits the plate with his sinker and his breaking ball going the other way. It’s a tough breaking ball to track; kind of has different shapes on it from time to time … Less than 100 pitches, so pretty impressive.”

"Pretty impressive."

Bob Melvin lauded Landen Roupp's strong outing in tonight's win 👏 pic.twitter.com/e9M4mBDYna

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) April 20, 2025

After starting the 2025 MLB season out with a no decision and a loss, Roupp now has two consecutive wins under his belt and is proving worthy of the rotation spot Melvin gave him out of spring training. Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who delivered two of San Francisco’s three runs Saturday with a two-run homer in the first inning, is encouraged by what he has seen from Roupp so far.

“I thought it was great,” Chapman told reporters of Roupp’s outing. “I think he continues to get experience every time he goes out there. He gets to go back out for the seventh, and he’s gaining confidence, gaining experience. He’s got really good stuff, and I think he gave [the Angels] some trouble tonight. Obviously Mike Trout’s a great player and put some good swings on the ball.

“I thought [Roupp] did an amazing job and gave us an opportunity to win that game.”

Seven innings, nine strikeouts and a win. After wasting a gem by Logan Webb on Friday night at Angel Stadium, the Giants improved to 14-7 on Saturday behind Roupp’s dominance, a 1-2-3 eighth inning from Tyler Rogers and Ryan Walker’s fifth save of the year. It’s all coming together for the 26-year-old Roupp, who can feel the difference and improvements every time he steps on the mound.

“My curveball has been the best it’s been,” Roupp said. “It’s not even close to what it is last year. It’s been where I think it’s always been — I just feel really good right now.”

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Shohei Ohtani has added a new title to his already decorated résumé: father.

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar announced the birth of his first child, a daughter, in an Instagram post Saturday. Ohtani, 30, shared a photo of the newborn’s tiny feet cradled in two hands, along with a message expressing his gratitude and wonder at becoming a parent for the first time.

“Welcome to the Ohtani Family!” he wrote. “I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter. To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”

Ohtani is currently on Major League Baseball’s paternity list and missed the Dodgers’ weekend series against the Texas Rangers. He is eligible to miss up to three games, with the club off Monday before heading to Chicago for a series with the Cubs starting Tuesday.

The baby’s arrival marks the latest milestone in a whirlwind 16 months for Ohtani. After signing a record-shattering $700m contract with the Dodgers in December 2023, the three-time AL MVP revealed he had quietly married Mamiko Tanaka, a former professional basketball player in Japan. The couple had kept their relationship private, with Ohtani only confirming their marriage after joining the Dodgers.

Tanaka, 28, played collegiately at Waseda University before joining the Fujitsu Red Wave of the Women’s Japan Basketball League, where she competed from 2019 to 2023. The couple also share a dog, Dekopin, who has become a fan favorite on Ohtani’s social media accounts.

In his Instagram post, Ohtani extended his thanks beyond family. “I would also like to thank the Dodgers organization, my teammates, and the fans for their constant support and kind words of encouragement,” he wrote. “I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals and everyone who dedicated their support to us, up until this wonderful day.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the birth on Saturday’s game broadcast from Arlington, Texas. “Congratulations Sho!” Roberts said, adding with a smile that he wasn’t yet sure of the baby’s name.

Ohtani, who helped lead the Dodgers to a World Series title last fall, is off to a strong start in his second season with the club. Through 21 games, he’s batting .288 with six home runs, eight RBIs, and a .930 OPS.

Shohei Ohtani announced the birth of his first child on Saturday, posting on Instagram that he and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, welcomed a baby girl.

“I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote in his post. “To my daughter, thank you for making us very nervous yet super anxious parents.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shohei Ohtani | 大谷翔平 (@shoheiohtani)

Ohtani has been on the paternity list since Friday, and stayed back in Los Angeles during the Dodgers’ trip to Texas to face the Rangers this weekend in anticipation of the birth.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday afternoon — before learning the baby had arrived — that it remained possible Ohtani could be back in the lineup for Sunday’s series finale, though no plans had been finalized.

“I’m hopeful,” Roberts said.

Ohtani first announced that he and Tanaka were expecting back in December. The couple got married the same winter Ohtani signed his 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.

During an in-game interview on Saturday's Fox broadcast, Roberts said: "All of the baseball world, the Dodger family, is so excited for Shohei and Mamiko. Congratulations, Sho!"

Read more:Yoshinobu Yamamoto outduels Jacob deGrom, makes statement in Dodgers' win over Rangers

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke to reporters prior to Saturday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals and addressed a number of different topics...

Confidence in Brett Baty and Luisangel Acuña

Despite riding a five-game hitting streak, Brett Baty is on the bench Saturday and Luisangel Acuña is starting at second base. Mendoza talked about his decision with the Cardinals starting LHP Matthew Liberatore, making it clear both players understand they will have plenty of chances to play.

"I don't necessarily go and tell them why, by now they both know that they are both going to get opportunities," Mendoza said. "And it doesn't necessarily have to be against the lefties or the righties. I think I gave Acuñathe other day a couple of starts against right-handed pitching. And there'll be days with Baty, he'll stay in there with lefties, too.

"I think it just comes down to continuing to build the confidence for both of them. Not only Baty, who's playing really, really well. Acuña's been playing really, really well. Just continuing to communicate with those guys that they are good major league players. And now we're seeing that... I think everybody's different and you can manage a lot of different ways."

Over the last seven games, Baty is 8-for-25 (.320) with two doubles, one triple, two RBI, one walk, and one steal while Acuña is batting .368 (7-for-19) with four runs, two doubles, one RBI, three walks, and four steals.

Jeff McNeil getting close to return

Mendoza was asked if Jeff McNeil would be ready in time to play on Monday when the Mets begin a three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, and said they will wait and see. He's scheduled to play with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday and Sunday.

"We'll see," Mendoza said. "He's scheduled to play today and tomorrow, back-to-back. And we'll see where we're at after that."

McNeil played center field for the first time on Friday night during his rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie, logging six innings of action.

Of course, when McNeil does return, the Mets will need to make a roster decision. Mendoza gave a similar answer when asked if there's a scenario in which Baty and Acuña would both be able to stay with the team after McNeil returns.

"We'll see, we'll make that decision when we get there, we're still a few days away," Mendoza said. "The good thing is, if we are having this discussion, it's a good thing. That means Baty continues to play well, that means Acuña continues to play well and they're making that decision very tough on us. That's what we want. So hopefully that's the case in a few days from now where we got get in that room and make a difficult decision. They're both earning playing time and they're both proving they're big league players."

Plan for Francisco Alvarez

Catcher Francisco Alvarez, who's recovering from a broken hamate bone in his left hand,is nearing his return to the majors and will catch again on Saturday for Double-A Binghamton.

"Scheduled to catch nine innings today, maybe he'll DH tomorrow," Mendoza said. "As far as from the medical staff, he's going to be clear. It's now, 'Do you need more at-bats just to get your timing right? Or are you ready to come up and start playing big league games?'

"I think after he plays today, he caught nine innings last night, after he plays today, I think maybe DH tomorrow. And then after that, knock on wood, from a medical standpoint he's going to be clear."

Over six games with St. Lucie and Binghamton, Alvarez is 4-for-22 (.182) at the plate with one home run and three RBI.

Mendoza had said Thursday that Alvarez's return date will depend on if he needs more at-bats to feel ready for big league action, but he could return during the team's homestand. He also noted Luis Torrens will continue to see playing time

"They're both going to play," Mendoza said. " I got to take care of Alvy, too, I'm not going to run him into the ground. And Luis is playing well. That's a luxury to have, when you got two guys that you feel good about your chances, doesn't matter who's in the lineup. That's credit to Alvy and that's credit to Luis.

"I could see a scenario here where they both will play. Schedule will dictate a lot of that, where you're playing a lot of games in a row, day games, night games. All of that factors into the decision making, but I could see both of them playing."

José Azócar making season debut

With Jose Siri on the IL, Mendoza is giving José Azócar a chance in the starting lineup after he was added to the roster on Thursday.

"He's here and we're going to use him," Mendoza said. "It's something that I always put a lot of value, using the whole roster. Obviously giving TT (Tyrone Taylor) a day here, he's been playing a lot too and I got to protect him a little bit."

Mendoza likes what he's seen from Azócar, who hit .250 with one home run over 44 at-bats in spring training after playing the past three seasons with the San Diego Padres. He owns a .243 average with 21 RBI over 214 career major league games.

"Good ballplayer, he's a guy that can play defense, can play all three (outfield spots), can run the bases, and can give you good at-bats too," Mendoza said. "He's got some big league experience, brings a lot of energy. Yeah, I'm excited to have him here."