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Hello, friends.

As is often referenced in GIF form, “Oh no, we suck again!” Two days of playing the Yankees has made it feel as if the list of Orioles problems is proving insurmountable, that nothing is going to go right this year, that the theory of the case that Mike Elias had for this roster being able to compete was once again fatally flawed. Check out Alex Church’s recap of yesterday’s game for more of the not-so-lovely totals.

Two games remain in the series. This feels more like a threat than something to inspire hope of an in-series turnaround. For just one example of why it feels like a threat, the Orioles are facing left-handed starting pitcher Max Fried today. They remain winless in games started by lefty pitchers this season, a stretch of futility that’s gone on long enough to be alarming. Their right-handed batters are, collectively, not hitting lefties.

Also happening today, which will be news to you if you missed hearing about it yesterday, is the MLB debut of pitching prospect Trey Gibson. The team scratched him from starting for Norfolk on Saturday in case they wanted to use him today, and sure enough, it’s going to happen. The 23-year-old Gibson joined the Orioles as an undrafted free agent out of college and has made himself into a prospect who has some believers in his arsenal and his ability to use it to get through lineups.

I am not one of the believers, so I don’t have high expectations for today. There will probably be the standard stories about how a number of family members have come to New York to see him and I almost won’t be able to watch because I fear it will go badly. My non-belief in Gibson is mostly about his Triple-A results to date. Between last season and this season, he’s got a 6.17 ERA at the level. He has made a tweak to his pitch mix over the offseason. 2026 may go better for him, and if so, that’s great.

Still, Gibson is only here right now out of desperation. I think the ideal scenario for the Orioles would be that none of Gibson, Nestor German, or Levi Wells needed to be tried out any time sooner than July. Here Gibson is on May 3. That’s because Zach Eflin’s elbow blew out in his first start, because Dean Kremer strained his calf, and because Trevor Rogers got the flu so bad that he had to go on the injured list.

Even more recently, it’s because Cade Povich was so bad on Friday night that Albert Suárez, who I think otherwise might have made the start, had to pitch. Instead, Suárez was designated for assignment yesterday for roster flexibility. Tough business when you’re on the fringes of it. All of which adds up to Gibson today, facing down a Yankees lineup that has put up runs against the Orioles in this series. I just don’t think it’s going to go great. I’ll be happy if I’m proven wrong. The series continues at 1:35 today. One more game awaits on Monday night.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

The rotation comes under the microscope after Orioles lose another to the Yankees (The Baltimore Banner)
Andy Kostka’s gamer from yesterday puts some deserving focus on a struggling starting rotation. I’m down on the group, though I continue to wonder how much better things would go with even an average level of defense.

Three Orioles takeaways: Craig Albernaz takes ownership of 15-18 start (The Baltimore Sun)
Also in the takeaways are concerns about Kyle Bradish’s command and general issues with the offense. There’s a lot going on here and not a lot of it is good.

Get to know Trey Gibson: Orioles 2025 minor league pitcher of the year makes MLB debut today (Steve Melewski)
Longtime Orioles prospect writer Steve Melewski has been following Gibson’s career in the system in recent years. He’s more excited than I am.

Rutschman, Basallo are coexisting on Orioles roster just fine (Orioles.com)
The hitting of their catching duo is one of the few things that there’s no need to worry about, at least up to this point, with the 2026 Orioles.

Saturday roster summary: Wells optioned, Suárez cut, Enns and Raquet return (Baltimore Baseball)
A lot went on yesterday in the quest for fresh arms. Raquet’s stay will likely be brief, as someone has to come off the roster to make room for Gibson when he is activated today.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

In their 33rd game a year ago, the Orioles were beaten by the Royals, 11-6, to fall to 13-20 on the season. This comparison would really feel a lot better if the Orioles had won either of the first two games here in New York. Instead, they remain merely two wins better than last year’s performance. The O’s managed to lose that game despite Jackson Holliday hitting a pair of homers; three relievers gave up two runs in one inning in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. That was a bad team. To be determined if this one is much better.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2008-09 pitcher Bob McCrory, 1999-2000 pitcher Gabe Molina, and 1986-87 pitcher Tony Arnold. Today is Arnold’s 67th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: philosopher Niccoló Machiavelli, baseball Hall of Famer Eppa Rixey (1891), singer Bing Crosby (1903), baseball Hall of Famer Red Ruffing (1905), musician Pete Seeger (1919), musician James Brown (1933), Four Seasons singer Frankie Valli (1934), actress Christina Hendricks (1975), and golf guy Brooks Koepka (1990).

On this day in history…

In 1715, a total solar eclipse occurred, with the path of totality crossing much of northern Europe and Asia. This was a notable eclipse because astronomer Edmond Halley – the one the comet is named after – had predicted the start time of the eclipse within four minutes.

In 1815, a Neapolitan army led by Joachim Murat, who had contrived to become king of Naples, was defeated by the Austrians in the Battle of Tolentino. Murat was ousted by a post-war treaty before the end of the month.

In 1921, a British law passed the previous year took effect, partitioning Ireland between Northern Ireland, which has remained a part of the United Kingdom, and Southern Ireland. This occurred within the ongoing Irish War of Independence, which by the end of the following year led to the establishment of an Irish Free State.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on May 3. Have a safe Sunday. Go O’s!

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Fifteen games are on the MLB schedule today, and I’ve got you covered with my favorite moneyline picks for each matchup, highlighted by the Detroit Tigers edging out the Texas Rangers on Sunday Night Baseball.

Read on as I break down all of my top MLB picks for Sunday, May 3.

MLB moneyline picks for May 3

Matchup	Pick
Blue Jays vs Twins	+100
Reds vs Pirates	+108
Astros vs Red Sox	+122
Brewers vs Nationals	-122
Orioles vs Yankees	-203
Phillies vs Marlins	-127
Giants vs Rays	-113
Dodgers vs Cardinals	-138
Dodgers vs Cardinals	-150
Braves vs Rockies	-170
Guardians vs Athletics	-113
Mets vs Angels	+113
White Sox vs Padres	-170
Royals vs Mariners	-122
Rangers vs Tigers	-122

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 5-3.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for May 3

Blue Jays vs Twins: Twins (+100)

Twins win probability: 50%

Although Trey Yesavage looked solid in his 2026 debut, Joe Ryan has had the Blue Jays' number over the years, limiting Toronto hitters to a .708 lifetime OPS.

Expect the Twins to take the series finale at home.

Reds vs Pirates: Reds (+108)

Reds win probability: 48%

Cincinnati has quietly been crushing it away from the confines of Great American Ballpark, sporting a 10-5 SU mark on the road. 

Considering we have an equal pitching matchup that pits Chase Burns against Braxton Ashcraft, I'll roll with the Reds at plus value. 

Astros vs Red Sox: Astros (+122)

Astros win probability: 45%

There aren’t many teams more unwatchable than the 2026 iteration of the Boston Red Sox, and our very own Josh Inglis does a great job breaking down why their offense may have spiraled this season.

For all of Houston's pitching issues, the Stros can still score with the best of them — and it likely won’t take much to get past this Red Sox club.

Brewers vs Nationals: Brewers (-122)

Brewers win probability: 55%

Zack Littell enters Sunday winless through four starts, carrying an ugly 7.85 ERA that includes a 16:11 K:BB ratio.

Both offenses have been red-hot down the stretch, but Littell’s struggles loom large in D.C.

Orioles vs Yankees: Yankees (-203)

Yankees win probability: 67%

Shane Baz hasn’t been able to reinvent himself in Baltimore, showing the same inconsistency he flashed in Tampa with a 4.50 ERA, and the Yankees will have a major leg up when they send Max Fried to the mound in the Bronx.

This one won't be close. 

Phillies vs Marlins: Phillies (-127)

Phillies win probability: 56%

Can Donnie Baseball save the Phillies? Their new skipper is 4-1 and will be back at his old stomping grounds in Miami this afternoon.

Philly should keep the momentum rolling against Chris Paddack, who’s been rocked to the tune of a 6.11 ERA and 1.50 WHIP through 28 innings of work.

Giants vs Rays: Rays (-113)

Rays win probability: 53%

San Francisco is in the midst of a massively disappointing season for the second consecutive year, and the Giants are sitting in the basement when it comes to team home runs.

The Rays will grind you down with small ball and heads-up baserunning at the Trop, and I expect that to show up against a scuffling Tyler Mahle .

Dodgers vs Cardinals: Dodgers (-138)

Dodgers win probability: 58%

Justin Wrobleski is 4-0 as a Dodgers reliever-turned-starter, and with the struggling Dustin May on the mound for the opposing side, this play becomes an easy choice.

Diamondbacks vs Cubs: Cubs (-150)

Cubs win probability: 60%

Merrill Kelly rates among the bottom 10 of qualified pitchers in proStuff+, and he’ll be in trouble against a Cubs offense that has averaged six runs per game over their last five contests.

Braves vs Rockies: Braves (-170)

Braves win probability: 63%

Spencer Strider is set to make his first start of the season, though his notable dip in velocity over the years could give the Rockies a chance to pounce.

Meanwhile, Kyle Freeland will have his hands full against an Atlanta Braves lineup that ranks in the Top 5 in batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS.

The real bet is on the Over, but it's hard to go against Atlanta right now. 

Guardians vs Athletics: Guardians (-113)

Guardians win probability: 53%

Parker Messick is looking like an early AL Cy Young candidate, rolling into Sunday undefeated with a 1.73 ERA and a chase rate that sits in the 96th percentile at Baseball Savant.

As long as Messick keeps dealing, there's no reason not to bet on Cleveland when he takes the bump. 

Mets vs Angels: Angels (+113)

Angels win probability: 47%

Not only do the Mets possess the worst record in baseball, but Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr. have all landed on the IL.

It’s been a season from hell for Frank the Tank and the rest of Mets Nation, but let's profit off of it, shall we?

White Sox vs Padres: Padres (-170)

Padres win probability: 63%

Did San Diego win the Juan Soto trade with New York?

Randy Vasquez has really stepped up as a key cog in the Padres rotation, and the home team will have no trouble getting to White Sox lefty Anthony Kay (6.12 ERA), who’s on his third team in as many MLB seasons.

Royals vs Mariners: Mariners (-122)

Mariners win probability: 55%

Luis Castillo has been a shell of his former self, but the Mariners right-hander should bounce back against a putrid Royals offense that is hitting just .205 off of him.

Side with Seattle on Sunday afternoon. 

Rangers vs Tigers: Tigers (-122)

Tigers win probability: 55%

My preseason pick to win the World Series has been treading water through much of March and April, but a Sunday night matchup at Comerica will see the Tigers take on a Rangers team struggling to plate runs, sitting bottom-10 in runs per game and OPS.

Add in injuries to Brandon Nimmo and Wyatt Langford, and the home team should pull away in primetime.

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.

The Phillies got Harry Doyle’d yesterday in Miami, but hey, they get two more cracks at winning the series down there. Maybe they were just taking that day as a rest day.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• Garrett Stubbs, somehow, had found a way to stay on the Phillies’ roster ($).
• With Stubbs back on the roster, Dylan Moore now has to go find a new job, being designated for assignment.

MLB news:

• The Tigers have some injuries already, but now have to add Will Vest to the list.
• Anthony Volpe saw his rehab assignment extended while Jose Caballero continue to play well ($).
• The Reds tied an MLB record by walking seven consecutive batters yesterday.

I’ve made this point before on Pinstripe Alley, but it’s never a bad time to bring it up: Boy, do I love a good, boring win. The Yankees have been getting quite a few of those lately, and that continued yesterday against the Orioles. The Bombers very casually roughed up Kyle Bradish, Ryan Weathers was effective enough despite not necessarily having his wipeout stuff, and the offense kept adding when Bradish left, ensuring that any bullpen lapses wouldn’t hurt too much. The end result: a 9-4 win that didn’t even feel that close. May there be more on the horizon!

Today on the site, Estevão will spotlight some trends from the Yankees’ AL East foes’ first month, Peter will present the Rivalry Roundup, Matt will celebrate the 121st birthday of Yankees pitching legend Red Ruffing, Scott will have a feature on Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre reliever Bradley Hanner, and after the matinee, John will write up this week’s Social Media Spotlight.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

Time: 1:35 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, MASN

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. How deep does ace Max Fried go this afternoon against the O’s?

2. Any Game 7 predictions for today? We’ve got the top-seeded Detroit Pistons against the underdog Orlando Magic, and Toronto Raptors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA, as well as Canada’s last hope for snapping its 33-year Stanley Cup drought with the Montreal Canadiens trying to advance to the next around against the Tampa Bay Lightning (who, of course, have won three Cups in that timespan, including against the Habs in 2021).

New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Anthony Volpe’s rehab assignment will end today, and the Yankees will have to chose what to do with the former top prospect. He will either need to be activated and added to the MLB roster, or optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and begin his season for real in the minors. With José Caballero doing everything the Yankees could possibly ask of him, especially with his shortstop defense, some time in Scranton to ensure that Volpe can be a representative MLB player might not be the worst idea. Of course the counterpoint is what risk do you pose in hurting Volpe’s confidence, a player who has already struggled to live up to the expectations placed on him in his career?

NJ.com | Bob Klapisch: Much was made over the winter about the new Trajekt machines, batting practice aids that replicate the arm angle and movement of virtually any MLB pitcher. At least one Yankee has found success in a more low-tech environment though, with the aforementioned Caballero sinking his teeth into onfield batting practice. The shortstop has hit four home runs on the year, after five all of last season, and credits the confidence that watching the ball travel around the stadium during BP instills with the power surge. I’m not sure Cabby will ever be hitting in the top third of a lineup, but not having automatic outs at the bottom of the order has been a big part of the Yankees’ success early.

New York Post | Bridget Reilly: Yep, I’m gonna talk about Ben Rice again. The perceived vulnerability in the Yankee slugger was supposed to be left handed pitching — Paul Goldschmidt came back to the Bronx on a $4 million insurance policy as a partial hedge against that weakness. Instead, Rice is the second-best hitter in all of baseball against lefties, with a sterling 1.308 OPS facing southpaws in the first six weeks of the season. The Yankees lost Juan Soto and then effectively made Juan Soto out of a 27-year-old Dartmouth alum, one of the more stunning player development successes in recent years. A platoon hitter no more!

When it rains, it pours.

In the middle of a dreadful start to the season, the players and coaches on the field aren’t the only ones making mistakes for the Mets. Yes, it seems it’s now spreading beyond the walls and into the video replay room.

In the first inning of Saturday’s eventual 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles in extra innings, Nolan McLean allowed three straight two-out hits with the third hit resulting in both an out and a run scoring.

Except it shouldn’t have. 

Upon further review, the runner trying to advance to third base was tagged out, on a great throw by Austin Slater in right field, before the runner going home touched the plate which should’ve negated the run from counting.

The Mets did not challenge the call on the play and manager Carlos Mendoza was asked why not.

“He missed it,” the skipper said, referring to Mets replay analyst Harrison Friedland. “We called, obviously, and he missed it. Harrison is one of the best at his job. Obviously it ends up being a big play when you lose by one run, but I also think we had chances there and we couldn’t cash in.”

Yes, New York ended up losing by a single run in extra innings, meaning had they challenged the call and got it overturned and everything else stayed the same, the Mets would’ve won.

However, while that mental lapse proved costly, Mendoza doesn’t believe it’s the only reason his team lost. After all, once they tied the game in the seventh inning they had two more big chances to take the lead but were unable to cash in.

The first opportunity came with the bases loaded and one out and the top of the order coming up. In a lineup bereft of big hitters, this was the perfect time for the Mets to go for the jugular as Bo Bichette and Juan Soto, the two survivors of a once-thought stacked lineup, were due up.

Instead, Bichette, who had an RBI single earlier in the game, grounded into a force out at home and Soto struck out. Inning over.

Nevertheless, by a stroke of luck (and catcher’s interference), Bichette had a chance to redeem himself in the 10th inning with runners on first and second and nobody out. Once again, Bichette grounded out, this one a double play.

“I just hit two sliders in the ground,” Bichette said after the game. “I think for me just trying to be too perfect, have the perfect swing for every pitch and that’s not attainable.”

In a game where the Mets also lost Ronny Mauricio to a left thumb fracture (on the play right before Bichette’s first groundout), Mendoza admitted this loss was a tough one.

“This one stings,” he said. “We had our chances, but more times than not guys like Bo and Juan, those are the guys that we want at the plate to be in those situations. They’re gonna come through more times than not, today they just didn’t do it.”

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Mets need a replacement for their replacement at shortstop.

Ronny Mauricio is headed to the injured list, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, after he fractured his left thumb Saturday while diving into first base in the seventh inning of the Mets’ 4-3 loss to the Angels in 10 innings.

Mauricio hit a grounder to first base and beat Nolan Schaunuel to the bag with a dive into the base — a play that was originally ruled an out but was overturned on replay — and fractured his thumb.

He was removed after the half inning concluded.

Mauricio became the starter at shortstop just over a week ago when Francisco Lindor was placed on the IL with a left calf strain expected to sideline him for months.

Bo Bichette moved from third base to shortstop for the final four innings on Saturday and is a candidate to play the position in Mauricio’s absence.

Bichette was a shortstop before switching to third base this season.

“I have got to wait and see who the player is coming up [from Triple-A Syracuse],” Mendoza said. “I am pretty sure Bo is going to be in the conversation.”