Pirates 2 Blue Jays 5

I thought we were in tough against Paul Skenes today.

And then George Springer started the game with a home run

And then got three more run on him in the sixth, after the Pirates tied it in the top of the inning.

In the sixth:

• Vladimir Guerrero started it off with a single.
• Yohendrick Piñango followed with another single.
• And Jesús Sánchez doubled one home.
• Ernie Clement singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one more.

That was it for Skenes, who had been cruising along before that.

• Andrés Giménez bounced into a double play that scored our fifth run. I was surprised the didn’t try to stop the runner from scoring. but Sánchez didn’t start for home until the Pirates took the out at second.

Right in there, the Pirates had some issues with plate umpire Alan Porter. It seemed strange, they had challenges left, but instead wanted to just yell at the umpire. In a matter of moments, pitching coach Bill Murphy and manager Don Kelly were thrown from the game. I’d be curious to find out why.

Skenes went 5 innings, allowing 9 hits, 4 earned, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.

We got the fifth run on Tyler Heineman’s first homer of the season.

Patrick Corbin was terrific. 6 innings, just 5 hits, no walks with 7 strikeouts. He gave up the run in the sixth, on a single and a double with two outs, but got out of the inning with a Spencer Horwitz strikeout. I was worried he wouldn’t get the well deserved win. But the team got those runs in the bottom of the inning.

Braydon Fisher had a terrific seventh, allowing a walk but getting two strikeouts.

Yariel Rodriguez didn’t have a terrific eighth. Ground out, walk, steal, walk, blown pickoff play at second and a ground out to score the run.

I hate pickoffs attempts at second base. I bet we don’t get three pickoffs at second that work in a season and must see ten errors on the play.

Adam Macko came in, hit a batter and then got a ground out.

Jeff Hoffman got the ninth with a three-run lead. I do admit, I am still hating that Varland pitched that second inning last night. But Hoffman got 3 strikeouts without anyone touching a pitch (wrong Tom, there was one foul off, but still he was amazing).

We had 11 hits on the day. I’m sure that gets us to the over on any gambling site in a Skenes start. Springer, Vlad, Piñango and Sánchez had two each. Daulton Varsho (with our only walk) and Lenyn Sosa had the 0 fors.

Jays of the Day: Corbin (0.20 WPA), Sánchez (0.18) and Springer (0.10).

No one had the number for the Other Award. Sosa had the low mark at -0.06.

Other than that, Andrés Giménez made a very nice play, going to his left, spinning and making a good throw to Vlad (who did make a nice dig on the play).

Fourth win in a row.

Tomorrow is an early start. 12:15 PM. I guess I gotta get out of bed tomorrow morning.

It is Mitch Keller (4-2, 3.86) vs. Dylan Cease (3-2, 2.98). A sweep would be nice.

The San Diego Padres needed this. After only scoring five runs across their entire series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Friars put up seven runs with three homers against the Athletics. It was a barrage that felt warranted.

The Padres offense looked healthy as ever against the Seattle Mariners last weekend but went cold against their division rivals. It’s nice to see that some slug was rediscovered — especially from the struggling bats of Manny Machado and Ramón Laureano.

Starter Walker Buehler struggled with command, but managed to work around it, pitching five solid innings and surrendering three runs. But two of those came in the first inning and Buehler settled down after that.

With the game tied when Buehler exited, San Diego was forced to use their high-leverage relievers. That could affect the game today if Lucas Giolito doesn’t pitch as well as he did in his debut against Seattle.

Taking the mound

J.T. Ginn (ATH) v. Lucas Giolito (SD)

Giolito impressed in his 2026 debut, pitching five great innings before struggling to finish his sixth. His final line of three runs allowed doesn’t quite do justice to the fantastic start he had.

The right-hander was signed late into the season for a measly $3 million. He’s already impressed despite only making one start. If Giolito can continue that against the A’s tonight it would go even further toward his Padres resumé.

Ginn was an inning away from a no-hitter in his last start before the wheels fell off and the Athletics lost the game. He’s been one of the more impressive parts of the A’s lackluster pitching staff.

Through eight starts Ginn owns a 2.98 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 44 strikeouts. He’ll look to limit the Friars offense tonight after their power surge in Friday’s game.

Batter up!

Friday’s win was great for a lot of reasons, but chief of them was San Diego finally flashing some power. Four of their seven runs came via the long ball, with Machado and Laureano starting to break out of their slumps. 

1. Fernando Tatis Jr., 2B
2. Miguel Andujar, DH
3. Gavin Sheets, 1B
4. Manny Machado, 3B
5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
6. Ramón Laureano, LF
7. Jackson Merrill, CF
8. Nick Castellanos, RF
9. Freddy Fermin, C

Tatis is still without a homer, though he found other ways to be productive. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored in last night’s game.

Merrill will likely be back in the lineup though he could continue to sit on the bench if the Padres want to play his injury safe. Bryce Johnson played in center last night and made several great defensive plays. 

Relief corps

With the game close (and several innings to cover), the Padres used Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada to finish out the game. 

The quartet pitched fantastically, though Rodriguez floundered in the sixth, struggling to record the final out. Morejon was called on and finished the job.

For today’s matchup, the Friars will have Ron Marinaccio, Yuki Matsui, Mason Miller and Wandy Peralta available. Only Miller has been viewed as a high-leverage piece of the four, though Matsui has yet to allow a run this season.

So let me get this straight. After Friday’s loss to the Astros, here’s what Cubs manager Craig Counsell said he would do:

So what do we get as “something different”?

Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off, Nico Hoerner batting cleanup and Ian Happ getting a day off. That’s it.

That’s not a “different look,” in my view.

The Cubs, over the last two days, have added two of their top prospects to the 26-man roster: Pedro Ramirez and Kevin Alcántara. Why not start them, Craig. I mean, how much worse could it have been than the pathetic, three-hit offense the Cubs put on the field Saturday in a depressing 3-0 loss to the Astros?

Both players got pinch-hit at-bats, both made outs and Alcántara played a couple innings in left field. Big whoop.

Or why not do this?

I mean, that was silly (and the Rays lost the game 8-1) but I mean, something, ANYTHING to get these guys to maybe have a little fun on the field. They sure don’t look like they’re having any.

Oh, the Cubs solved the RISP problem in this one by not having a single at-bat with runners in scoring position. The only time a Cubs runner got past first base was when Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong singled with two out in the third. Alex Bregman was at bat when PCA got thrown out trying to steal to end the inning [VIDEO].

The only other Cubs hit was a two-out single by Bregman in the ninth.

I’ve said many times that too much is made of lineup construction and I’ll stand by that but in a situation like this, where Counsell literally said he wanted to try “something different,” well, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT! This wasn’t “different.” This was a proverbial “deck chairs on the Titanic” move.

Colin Rea deserved better, he made two mistakes, both of which were deposited in the bleachers by Christian Walker, a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the fourth. Rea threw seven solid innings, striking out four. He threw 98 pitches (56 strikes) [VIDEO].

Here are Rea’s four K’s [VIDEO].

Here’s a note on Rea’s outing from BCB’s JohnW53:

The only Cubs pitcher this season before Colin Rea today to pitch at least seven innings and allow three or fewer earned runs was Shōta Imanaga, who has done it three times, throwing 7.0 innings in each. He gave up no, one and two runs.

Trent Thornton and Ryan Rolison both threw scoreless innings in relief. So that’s good.

The other thing I can show you here is some good PCA defense. Here’s a nice sliding grab he made in the third [VIDEO].

Here, he leaps into the ivy for a grab in the sixth [VIDEO].

PCA seems a man on a mission in this series, about the only Cub producing any offense. In the two games against the Astros he’s 2-for-6 with a home run and two walks and several nice defensive plays.

Speaking of good defense, here’s an amazing behind-the-back flip from Hoerner [VIDEO].

So the Cubs are still playing solid defense and in this one they got good pitching. It’s just the offense that’s completely disappeared.

More notes on this loss from John:

The Cubs have scored seven runs in the last five games.

They scored five in a five-game span May 9-14. That is their only span of five games with fewer than seven runs since they scored six April 28-May 3, 2022. They have played 677 games since then.
…..
The Cubs have scored four runs in the last 40 innings and seven in the last 45.  

Thus, Craig Counsell: When you talk about doing “something different,” please actually do that. I, personally, would like to see both Ramirez and Alcántara in Sunday’s starting lineup. Again: HOW MUCH WORSE COULD IT BE?

At least it was quick. At 2:18, this was the fastest game at Wrigley Field this year. The previous fastest: 2:30, March 30 vs. the Angels. Four other away games were faster than 2:18, the fastest: 2:10 vs. the Rays April 6 at Tropicana Field. Curiosity: The five fastest Cubs games this year are all losses.

The Cubs will try to salvage one game of this six-game homestand on Sunday. Shōta Imanaga will start for the Cubs and Peter Lambert goes for the Astros. Game time is again 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.

Phillies end three-game losing skid, ride all-weather Wheels to win in the rain originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

If you were wondering whether Zack Wheeler would still be Zack Wheeler post-surgery, your question has been answered over the last month.

He is.

Wheeler has made six starts since his recovery from surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome. The Phillies have won all of them.

The latest came Saturday night when he pitched six scoreless innings in a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians at Citizens Bank Park. 

Wheeler gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out six. He threw a first-pitch strike to 17 of 21 hitters. He generated 15 swings and misses, seven on his four-seam fastball and six on his splitter. That pitch was sharp early and catcher J.T. Realmuto rode it.

“I threw 22 splitters,” Wheeler said. “That’s probably a record for me.”

Wheeler said he had trouble harnessing the movement on some of his pitches early, but “J.T. got me through it.”  

His fastball was down a tad from its 95-mph season average. It sat at 94.4 mph but topped out at 95.9.

Still, manager Don Mattingly was impressed with the way Wheeler was able to “bully” hitters with his heater.

“It’s a pretty amazing pitch,” Mattingly said.

Wheeler has registered a quality start in five of his six outings. The right-hander, who has two second-place finishes in NL Cy Young voting during his time with the Phillies, has yet to qualify for a spot among the league leaders in ERA, but his mark of 1.67 is impressive, just the same.

Wheeler’s Saturday Night Special followed Cristopher Sanchez’ Fantastic Friday. Sanchez pitched eight shutout innings, running his scoreless innings streak to 37 2/3 innings, second-best in franchise history, and lowering his ERA to a league-best 1.63. The Phillies, however, lost that game, 1-0.

While Sanchez received zero offensive support, Wheeler got two runs in the fourth and another in the sixth as the Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak and got back to .500 (26-26), heading into Sunday afternoon’s series finale against Cleveland.

Orion Kerkering, Brad Keller and Jhoan Duran completed the shutout.

“Those guys are a weapon,” Mattingly said of Wheeler and Sanchez. “You get outings like that, it helps keep your bullpen fresh and allows you to use guys where they’re supposed to be used.”

The start of the game was delayed one hour, 56 minutes by rain. The cold, wet weather continued throughout the night, but the teams played through it. With more bad weather forecast for Sunday and a flight scheduled to San Diego, followed by a day game Monday, the Phillies were eager to get the game in, even if it meant playing in icky weather.

Wheeler returned from the injured list on April 25 as the Phillies were struggling to win games. They dropped to 9-19 a day later, leading to Rob Thomson’s firing. Mattingly took over as skipper. The Phils are 17-7 under Mattingly. Since Wheeler’s return, the team is 10-1 in games started by Wheeler and Sanchez. The duo has combined for a 1.06 ERA in those 11 starts.

“I don’t know if there’s a better 1-2 punch in the game right now,” Bryce Harper said. “I don’t know. I really don’t think there is one.

“It’s been fun to watch. On any given night, when you can go (almost) 38 scoreless innings with Sanchy, then Wheels. It’s tough coming to the ballpark knowing you’re going to face those guys. And when (Jesus) Luzardo is going right and (Aaron) Nola is going right, it’s even tougher.”

Over the years, Wheeler has often talked about how the members of a rotation feed off each other and compete with each other. Cole Hamels used to talk about the same stuff. Intrastaff competition is real and it’s good for a team.

“You always try to beat the guy the day before you,” Wheeler said. “Sanchy is pretty hard to beat right now, but you’ve got to go out there and try. We always say that. We have a good group of guys to do that little competition within ourselves. But what a run (Sanchez) has been on. It’s pretty special. Almost unmatchable.”

Offensively, the Phillies were led by Harper, who had three hits and scored a pair of runs. Bryson Stott drove home two runs with a two-out single against Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi in the fourth. Adolis Garcia, dropped to eighth in the batting order, drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning for the Phillies’ third run.

The pitching did the rest. Particularly Wheeler.

“Zack’s been amazing,” Mattingly said. “Getting to see this firsthand is fun to watch. Where he’s come from. Everything.”

Andrew Painter starts Sunday as the Phillies try to win a series.

Christian Walker homered in both of his first two ABs to drive in all 3 Astros runs, backing 6 shutout innings by Kai-Wei Teng as the Houston Astros (22-31) shut out the Chicago Cubs (29-23) 3-0 at Wrigley Field.

The Astros have now won 3 of their last 4 games, and 5 of their last 8. Houston sent Chicago to its 7th straight loss, and the Northsiders have now dropped 11 of their last 13 games since posting a 10 game win streak.

Teng (W, 3-3) allowed only 2 hits, walked 3, and struck out 6 while lowering his ERA to 2.19. He threw 56 of his 89 pitches for strikes. He got an incredible 23 called strikes, while also generating 10 swings and misses.

Walker drove a 1-0 slider from Cubs starter Colin Rea (L, 4-3) 376 ft to left center for a 2-run home run in the first. The blast was 105.5 MPH off the bat as Walker’s shot cut through the wind at Wrigley for his 12th HR of the season. Walker would then connect for his 13th HR in the 4th, a solo shot 369 ft to left center off a 3-2 sinker. The 105.6 MPH blast cut through the wind as sharply as the first one.

Steven Okert, Enyel De Los Santos, and Bryan King would finish off the 3-hit shutout, with King collecting his 6th Save.

In the top of the 6th, Yordan Alvarez had to be removed from the game mid-AB. Alvarez led off the inning, and before his AB he and manager Joe Espada had a long conversation, which was eventually joined by the team trainer. Yordan was allowed to take his AB.

After swinging and missing an 0-1 pitch, Alvarez took a long time to get in the batter’s box again and seemed to be in discomfort. Espada and the trainer came out again, and Alvarez was lifted for PH Zach Dezenzo. The Astros would later announce Alvarez left the game with a back spasm.

The Astros certainly hope Alvarez won’t be out long, as their injury-depleted roster has already been stretched past it’s limits and the team can ill-afford to lose it’s best hitter for a prolonged stretch.

Houston will go for the series sweep Sunday at 1:20 pm behind RHP Peter Lambert (2-4, 3.57), while the Cubs have not yet announced their starter for tomorrow’s game.

The rain came down in the middle of the second inning after threatening to do so since before the game started. Hang out here while we wait for the Braves and Nationals to re-start.

No updates yet on the restart time.

The tarps is still on the field, but not in the stands.

Looks like this will get started again at 5:15PM.

The Yankees have signed RHP Peter Strzelecki to a minor league and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Strzelecki, 31, has pitched in 77 big league games over his career with the Brewers, Diamondbacks and Guardians, but has not thrown a pitch in the majors since 2024. 

In 11 appearances with the Guardians that season, Strzelecki pitched to a 2.31 ERA while striking out nine batters across 11.2 innings. For his career, Strzelecki pitched to a 3.44 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and 86 strikeouts across 83.2 innings with one career save. 

This year, Strzelecki was pitching in the Brewers' system before he was designated for assignment on May 17, and once he cleared waivers, he elected free agency. 

With Triple-A Nashville, Strzelecki appeared in 16 games, pitching to a 4.12 ERA after allowing 10 runs (nine earned) across 19.2 innings. 

Verdugo Hills, the fourth-place finisher in the Valley Mission League with a 10-18 record entering the City Section Division I playoffs, completed a remarkable turnaround on Saturday, winning its fourth consecutive playoff game to take home the Division I title with a 3-1 victory over Taft at Dodger Stadium.

No one was picking the Dons in this one. They had used their two best pitchers in a 10-inning semifinal win over top-seeded Sylmar. But coach Angel Espindola had a plan.

Verdugo Hills 3, Taft 1. DI champs. Anthony Velasquez complete game. pic.twitter.com/qDs1P2OxCT

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 23, 2026

“I’ve got tricks up my sleeve,” he said.

Anthony Velasquez threw a complete-game one-hitter while relying on his defense to make the routine plays and deal with six walks and only one strikeout. At the plate, the hero was first baseman Cutlor Fannon. He had an RBI double in the first inning and an RBI single in the seventh.

But there was drama in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Toreadors’ Victor Jara represented the tying run at the plate with two outs. He hit probably the hardest ball of the day to deep left field.

Moises Rodriguez of Verdugo Hills caught the final out in left for 3-1 win at Dodger Stadium to win Di City title. pic.twitter.com/2UNU6Xrxs1

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 23, 2026

“The last one scared me,” Velasquez said as he watched left fielder Moises Rodriguez stick out his glove running to catch it and start a victory celebration.

The catch by Moises Rodriguez that saved Verdugo Hills. Courtesy Interscholastic Films. pic.twitter.com/8KsqsPy5Mo

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 23, 2026

Rodriguez said he “felt all my emotions running through me” as he chased down the fly ball.

“It was surreal,” he said.

Espindola’s best coaching moment came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Taft drew consecutive walks from Velasquez with one out. Espindola went to the mound for a pitcher conference.

“Relax,” is what he told Velasquez.

Then Taft hit into an inning-ending double play.

Verdugo Hills’ fielders more than handled the Dodger Stadium environment. Catcher Miguel Wong threw out a runner trying to steal second. Outfielders Rodriguez, Jack Iafrate and Jessie Olmos combined to catch seven fly balls. And third baseman D’Angelo Duran and shortstop Ethan Sanchez were flawless on ground balls.

As for what happened in the playoffs, Rodriguez said, “We changed our perspective to playing baseball instead of doing baseball. It was let’s have fun.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.