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Jase Bowen powered the El Paso Chihuahuas past the Tacoma Rainiers 4-1, homering and singling behind five sharp innings from JP Sears. Despite Jagger Haynes' quality start, the San Antonio Missions fell 6-2 at home to the Midland RockHounds. Carson Montgomery silenced Beloit, and Zach Evans drove in two late as the Fort Wayne TinCaps prevailed 3-1. Bryan Balzer also turned in a quality start, but the Lake Elsinore Storm lost 4-1 at Inland Empire. Padres Minor-League Transactions Padres selected the contract of C Rodolfo Durán from El Paso Chihuahuas. Padres optioned 3B Will Wagner to El Paso Chihuahuas. El Paso Chihuahuas activated C Colton Vincent from the Development List. El Paso Chihuahuas transferred 2B Nate Mondou to the Development List. JP Sears, Relievers Combine On Two-Hitter For Chihuahuas Left-handed starter JP Sears and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, while Jason Bowen hit a two-run homer as the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas shut down the Tacoma Rainiers 4-1 for third straight win. Sears, who had given up two or more runs in all six of his starts this year for a 7.00 ERA, allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks with a season-high eight strikeouts. Right-handers Garrett Hawkins, Logan Gillaspie and David Morgan combined for four perfect innings of relief, striking out four to complete the stellar game by the pitching staff. Chihuahuas pitchers retired the final 16 batters of the game. Bowen was in the middle of the Chihuahuas' offense. He led off the bottom of the first with a hard ground single to left, was bunted to second by Samad Taylor and went to third on Will Wagner's fly to right. Pablo Reyes then laid down a bunt toward the third baseman on which no play was made, easily scoring Bowen. The single extended Reyes' on-base streak to all 25 games he has played this season, the fourth-longest active streak in Triple-A. In the second, Anthony Vilar had a two-out single to center and Bowen cranked his eighth homer of the season, a blast to center that made it 3-0. Tacoma got its lone run in the top of the fourth after a leadoff double, a flyout and a run-scoring grounder that was booted by second baseman Clay Dungan. The only other hit Sears allowed was a game-opening single. El Paso made it 4-1 in the seventh as Vilar and Bowen drew one-out walks and Wagner a two-out walk to load the bases. A wild pitch plated Vilar. Mason McCoy's career-best 14-game hitting streak came to an end as he went 0-for-2 with a walk and a sac bunt. EP_0507.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Jase Bowen, CF 3 2 2 2 1 0 Samad Taylor, LF 3 0 0 0 0 1 Will Wagner, 3B 2 0 0 0 2 0 Pablo Reyes, DH 2 0 1 1 1 1 Mason McCoy, SS 2 0 0 0 1 2 Nick Schnell, RF 4 0 1 0 0 1 Jose Miranda, 1B 4 0 0 0 0 2 Clay Dungan, 2B 4 0 0 0 0 2 Anthony Vilar, C 2 2 1 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR JP Sears (W, 3-1) 5.0 2 1 0 2 8 0 Garrett Hawkins (H, 2) 2.0 0 0 0 0 3 0 Logan Gillaspie (H, 3) 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 David Morgan (S, 1) 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Bullpen Falters After Jagger Haynes' Solid Start In Missions' Loss Despite a good start from left-hander Jagger Haynes, the Double-A San Antonio Missions gave up a decisive four-run seventh inning in a 6-2 loss to the Midland RockHounds. Haynes, Padres Mission's No. 7 prospect, allowed two runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings. He gave up a run in the first with two outs by issuing two walks sandwiched around a single before giving up an RBI single. The other run came in the third via a single and RBI double to the first two hitters. The Missions came back in the second. Luis Verdugo singled and Carson Tucker doubled before Kai Murphy's RBI groundout. Ethan Salas then tied it with a sacrifice fly to medium center. Once Haynes left, the SkyCarp jumped on the Missions' bullpen. Left-hander Omar Cruz gave up a single, a walk and two steals before a go-ahead two-run double that one-hopped the wall in right-center. Right-hander Johan Moreno relieved Cruz, getting a strikeout before hitting the next batter and giving up another two-run double off the wall in left-center for a 6-2 advantage. The Missions were limited to five hits, including four in six innings off RockHounds left-hander Wei-En Lin, who struck out 10. SA_0507.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Ethan Salas, C 3 0 0 1 0 2 Romeo Sanabria, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 0 Leandro Cedeño, DH 4 0 1 0 0 1 Albert Fabian, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 Ryan Jackson, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 2 Braedon Karpathios, CF 3 0 0 0 1 2 Luis Verdugo, 3B 4 1 1 0 0 3 Carson Tucker, SS 2 1 1 0 1 1 Kai Murphy, LF 3 0 0 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jagger Haynes 6.0 7 2 2 3 3 0 Omar Cruz (L, 1-1) 0.0 2 3 3 1 0 0 Johan Moreno 1.0 1 1 1 0 1 0 Andrew Thurman 2.0 1 0 0 0 3 0 Carson Montgomery Stellar Again As TinCaps Edge SkyCarp Right-hander Carson Montgomery turned in a second straight scoreless outing and Zach Evans hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning as the High-A Fort Wayne TinCaps topped the Beloit SkyCarp 3-1. Evans, who had one RBI in the season's first 18 games before driving in three in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, came up big again in the eighth inning. Tied 1-1, Lamar King Jr. drew a leadoff walk and Jake Cunningham singled to right, with Cunnningham taking second when the throw went to third. Kavares Tears tried a safety squeeze, but his bunt went right back to the pitcher, who threw to first for the out. Evans then grounded a 3-2 pitch up the middle past a drawn-in infield that easily scored both runners to put the TinCaps up 3-1. Tears doubled in the TinCaps' first run in the bottom of the sixth inning after Beloit took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the inning. Meanwhile, Montgomery, the Padres' 11th-round pick in 2023, pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits while walking one and striking out five. Montgomery had a nearly identical outing last week against the South Bend Cubs, going five scoreless. He now hasn't allowed a run in 11⅔ innings, lowering his ERA to 1.64 in five starts. Left-hander Javier Chacon took over in the sixth and allowed a run on one hit and two walks with a strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning. Right-hander Will Varmette had a run-scoring wild pitch to the first batter he faced, but then combined with left-hander Igor Gil, right-hander Kleiber Olmedo and right-handed closer Clay Edmondson to not allow a hit over the final 3⅔ innings, although each did issue a walk and for striking out a total of six batters. Edmondson notched his sixth save in as many chances and didn't allow a run in his eighth straight game covering 10 innings. FW_0507.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Kasen Wells, CF 3 0 2 0 1 1 Rosman Verdugo, 2B 3 1 0 0 1 0 Lamar King Jr., C 2 1 0 0 2 1 Jake Cunningham, LF 4 1 1 0 0 2 Kavares Tears, RF 4 0 1 1 0 2 Zach Evans, 3B 4 0 1 2 0 0 Carlos Rodriguez, 1B 3 0 1 0 1 1 Jack Costello, DH 4 0 1 0 0 0 Dylan Grego, SS 2 0 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Carson Montgomery 5.0 3 0 0 1 5 0 Javier Chacon 1/3 1 1 1 2 1 0 Will Varmette 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Igor Gil 2/3 0 0 0 1 1 0 Kleiber Olmedo (W, 3-2) 1.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Clay Edmondson (S, 6) 1.0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Storm Quieted By 66ers; Bryan Balzer Rebounds After Rough First Ryan Wideman returned to the starting lineup with a pair of hits, but the Low-A Lake Elsinore Storm was stifled by the Inland Empire 66ers 4-1. For Wideman, who didn't start the first two games of the series, it was his 11th multi-hit game of the season. He also walked and scored. But the rest of the Storm managed just three hits by the three 66ers pitchers, who retired the final eight hitters of the game. Inland Empire scored twice in the bottom of the first against Storm starter Bryan Balzer, who allowed two singles and a two-out two-run double. Balzer was really good from there, allowing just one more hit and finishing two two walks and five strikeouts in a career-high six innings. The Storm got its only run in the fourth. Wideman had a leadoff walk, went to second on a groundout and scored on Luke Cantwell's opposite-field single to left to make it 2-1. The 66ers added two insurance runs in the eighth on a walk, a single, a stolen base and a two-run single for a 4-1 lead. LE_0507.mp4 Player AB R H RBI BB K Bradley Frye, 3B 4 0 0 0 0 2 Justin DeCriscio, RF 4 0 0 0 0 1 Ryan Wideman, CF 3 1 2 0 1 1 Truitt Madonna, C 4 0 0 0 0 1 Luke Cantwell, DH 4 0 1 1 0 2 Jorge Quintana, SS 4 0 1 0 0 0 Jose Verdugo, 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 Kerrington Cross, 1B 3 0 0 0 0 1 Qrey Lott, LF 3 0 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Bryan Balzer (L, 3-1) 6.0 4 2 2 2 5 0 Carson Swilling 1 2/3 2 2 2 2 4 0 Joseph Herrera 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kash Mayfield: DNP Ethan Salas: 0-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 K Kruz Schoolcraft: DNP Bradgley Rodriguez: DNP Humberto Cruz: DNP Miguel Mendez: DNP Ty Harvey: DNP Jorge Quintana: 1-for-4 Kale Fountain: DNP Ryan Wideman: 2-for-3, BB, R, SB, K Jagger Haynes: 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K Lamar King Jr.: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB, K Romeo Sanabria: 1-for-4 Truitt Madonna: 0-for-4, K Michael Salina: DNP Garrett Hawkins: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, H Kavares Tears: 1-for-4, 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K Deivid Coronil: DNP Francis Pena: DNP Bryan Balzer: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, L View the full article

Once again in 2026, I will be monitoring Miami Marlins predictions from our valued SuperSubs, Fish On First staffers and livestream guests. Individual article pages like this one will be created prior to every Marlins series and featured prominently on the FOF site. Consistent participation is key if you want to win this annual contest. Submissions only take a few seconds. Scoring system A "perfect" series is worth three points: Earn one point for predicting which team will win the upcoming series Earn one point for predicting the precise number of victories for each team Earn one point for predicting the “Series MVP” who accumulated the highest win probability added (WPA) during the series as calculated by FanGraphs (could pick a player from either team) FOF staffer Sean Millerick currently sits atop the 2026 season leaderboard, which will be updated between every Marlins series. If you are a SuperSub, leave a comment with your Prediction Time picks on this page, or join the Marlins Discord Server and submit there. We'll feature them on the upcoming Fish On First LIVE episode and track your points throughout the season! Any picks submitted prior to the first pitch of the series opener will be counted. If you are not a SuperSub, please consider signing up here to support the FOF staff. Series preview notes Probable starting pitchers: LHP Robby Snelling (MIA) vs. LHP Foster Griffin (WSH) on Friday RHP Janson Junk (MIA) vs. RHP Zack Littell (WSH) on Saturday RHP Sandy Alcantara (MIA) vs. RHP Cade Cavalli (WSH) on Sunday The Marlins rank 16th in MLB with a 98 wRC+ and 11th in MLB with a 3.87 FIP. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games and have a 11-9 record at home this season. The following Marlins players are on the injured list: Griffin Conine (10-day IL), Pete Fairbanks (15-day IL), Ronny Henriquez (60-day IL) and Adam Mazur (60-day IL). The Nationals rank 11th in MLB with a 100 wRC+ and 29th in MLB with a 5.08 FIP. They are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have a 12-7 record on the road this season. The following Nationals players are on the injured list: Clayton Beeter (15-day IL), Josiah Gray (60-day IL), Cole Henry (15-day IL), DJ Herz (60-day IL), Max Kranick (15-day IL), Ken Waldichuk (60-day IL) and Trevor Williams (60-day IL). View the full article

MIAMI, FL - After the Marlins had trailed in the first inning of every game in the series against the Baltimore Orioles, the script was flipped, as the Marlins took the lead early, but after Baltimore tied it late in the game, it took a wild walk-off for the Marlins to defeat the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3, improving to 17-21 on the season. "You never know what might get some things going, and I think certainly enough to have a tight game and one tonight where we get out ahead and to claw back into it, hang in there, they tied up," Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. "Good for us to hang in there and win a close game here at home and salvage this series. Hope this is something that kind of can get us going a little bit." In the top of the eighth inning, leading 3-2, McCullough turned to Fish On First No. 20 prospect Josh Ekness. It marked his first high-leverage moment in the big leagues, but failed to hold the lead, allowing an RBI single to none other than Pete Alonso, tying the game, 3-3. He kept the game tied, as Samuel Basallo grounded into a double play and Tyler O'Neil flew out to Heriberto Hernandez. "Everyone was available," McCullough said. "I think (Josh Ekness) is a really good pitcher. It's big time stuff and he's had a couple of outings under his belt to this point. You can see Josh get put into a lot of various situations and scenarios. I just think that the time is going to come for him where I'm going to continue to ask him to maybe be in some of those spots, and proud of him for being able to wiggle out of that, at least keep it tied." Although the Marlins had runners on second and third in the bottom of the eighth, the inning concluded after Hernandez popped out to Gunnar Henderson. The Marlins went with Kyle Stowers to lead off the bottom of the ninth, pinch-hitting for Esteury Ruiz, but popped up on the second pitch of the at-bat. After Jakob Marsee struck out, Joe Mack, who entered the game in the top of the eighth inning, mainly for his defense as McCullough later noted, smacked a double into the right field corner. It marked his first career double. With a runner on second and two outs, Javier Sanoja was up for the Marlins. He hit a grounder to third baseman Coby Mayo, who bobbled it while Mack was on the move to third, and after not attempting to tag Mack, Mayo made the throw to first, which was off and allowed Mack to score the winning run. "I definitely have to work on my base running," Mack said postgame. "We're probably going to have some work on that tomorrow. Honestly, it was just kind of as soon as he swung the bat, I was going, and he kind bobbled it a little bit, so I ran past him and ducked in front of him. Just seeing that whole thing unfold, then running home, looking at Otto (Lopez) with this hands up and jaw open, it was really cool experience." Through his first four big league games, Mack is 3-10 with an RBI. Behind the plate, Mack has looked comfortable and as McCullough said, he will be playing almost everyday. "It's been awesome," Mack said. "The guys here have been so awesome in every single way. They've been just joyful to be around, very happy and just welcoming. It's a great group of guys, the staff's also phenomenal. It's just awesome to be around these guys. Truly a dream come true." After Connor Norby, who was hitting second, worked a walk in his first at-bat, the stage was set for Liam Hicks to hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season. Hicks now leads all Major League Baseball with 34 RBI on the season. Following the first inning, the Marlins led, 2-0. In the bottom of the third inning, Norby drove in the Marlins third run of the game. Meyer, who had the best start of his season against the Philadelphia Phillies in his last appearance, went five innings allowing two runs on six hits, two walks and struck out five. He threw 94 pitches, in which 55 landed for strikes. The righty mixed his pitches well, throwing his slider and sweeper 29% of the time. The slider, generated seven whiffs, but only struck one out with the pitch. The sweeper on the other hand generated only three whiffs, but three of his five strikeouts came on that pitch. "Just one of those outings that make it really tough on the pitcher," Meyer said. "Fell behind in some counts, lacked a little bit of my fastball location, that kind of made it hard. Other than that, yeah, just grind up and outing." Fish On First's No. 2 prospect Robby Snelling will make his MLB debut on Friday in the series opener against the Washington Nationals. Joe Mack, who caught him in Triple-A, will start at catcher. "I'm very excited," Mack said regarding Snelling. "He's been very dominant throughout the whole year in AAA, and last year as well. It's been really cool. He's a great guy as well, so, I'm really happy to see him get a shot and be the one to catch him. I think that's a good comfort for him as well. It's all coming together and I think he's earned it and deserves a shot." First pitch between the Marlins and Nationals is set for 7:10 pm. View the full article

As midseason pickups who cost nothing but cash considerations go, Tyler Ferguson is a reasonably interesting one. He's a low-slot right-handed pitcher with a mid-90s fastball, a sweeper that can flash above-average, and a cutter and sinker that can play well when located well. He's 32 years old, but still has one minor-league option remaining. He was a college teammate of Dansby Swanson at Vanderbilt. Of course, pitchers don't get to age 32 with fewer than two years of cumulative big-league service time without having warts. Ferguson is reasonably interesting, but the Athletics—hardly a team awash in high-end arms—designated him for assignment a few days ago. He's prone to walks, and his stuff seems unlikely to consistently miss bats in a compressed strike zone. The Cubs traded for him because they thought he might be claimed before he got to them on the waiver wire, but they had to give up virtually nothing because he's never been a good big-league relief pitcher for an extended period. Why was this transaction worthwhile, then? It's pretty simple: the Cubs are desperate. With Javier Assad moving into the rotation to replace the injured Matthew Boyd, the team was an arm short. They're very short on pitchers whom they trust in the majors who can also be optioned to the minors, as exemplified by the fact that they had to designate Corbin Martin for assignment in the wake of his poor outing Wednesday night. They've already called up multiple pitchers they had hoped to stash at Triple-A Iowa a bit longer. If one more starter gets hurt, they'll have little choice but to stretch Ben Brown back out to work as a modified starter. If they get back an injured reliever or two, they could quickly face a roster crunch and lose some of their depth. They needed a pitcher with at least a modicum of upside who can still be sent to Iowa as needed; Ferguson fits the bill. For a team currently 26-12, the Cubs will have to answer a lot of tough questions over the coming weeks. They're nowhere near as securely placed in the driver's seat of the NL Central as they appear, because of the injuries piling up and the fragility that threatens their staff. Ferguson is unlikely to be this year's Tyson Miller or Drew Pomeranz, but he's worth a shot. It's only fair to note that pitchers like him—a low arm slot, feel for spin, average-plus velocity—often prove malleable, and that Tommy Hottovy and company have had success with such hurlers before. The team will, at least, hope he can give them five or six outs when needed while they try to get healthier and manage the workloads of their uninjured arms. View the full article

MIAMI, FL — Fish On First No. 2 prospect Robby Snelling will start on Friday night against the Washington Nationals. His selection to the Miami Marlins roster is not official yet, but he's already with the big league club, "trying to soak it in." "Take it all in and not let the moment get too big," Snelling said on Thursday. "Just enjoying today and then try not to change anything and go into tomorrow and replicate to as nearly and closely as I can what I was doing in Jacksonville." Snelling, 22, made six starts in Triple-A Jacksonville, posting a 1.86 ERA, 2.91 FIP, 13.66 K/9 and 4.66 BB/9, before being called up. It took a while for Snelling to be informed that he was going to be called up. The Marlins designated Chris Paddack for assignment on Tuesday morning, but even following Wednesday's Jacksonville win, manager David Carpenter did not announce who would be filling that open rotation spot. Later that afternoon, Snelling was called into Carpenter's office. "They sat me down and said, 'We know you've been stressed the last couple of days, but it's pretty awesome that you haven't let it affect your routine. It's very professional of you,'" Snelling said. "I was like, 'It's really hard to keep my sanity knowing that potentially I was an option for me to come up here, but I did the best that I could to keep doing the same thing I've been doing day in and day out.' He goes, 'hopefully this eases you a little bit, but they have their guy for Friday. They know who they want. So knowing that we just wanted to put your mind at ease.' He didn't tell me and I was like, alright, I'm still throwing on Friday. He's like, 'You're so good to go on Friday, right?' He goes, 'Well, you're gonna be throwing in Miami.'" In four spring training appearances (two starts), Snelling had a 7.56 ERA, but 3.53 FIP. The big issue he identified was his 4.32 BB/9, something he said he needed to cut down on with the help of throwing more first-pitch strikes. Through his six regular season starts, Snelling has only walked three or more hitters twice; outside of that, it has been two walk or less. Snelling has a new sweeper in addition to a gyro slider that entered his arsenal in 2025. He's been focused on throwing the gyro at the bottom of the zone. His original breaking ball, the curveball, continues to be one of his best pitches. In that start against Durham, he generated six whiffs and four of his five strikeouts came on that pitch. Overall, the curveball is his second-most-used pitch and has a 32.4% whiff rate. The final start Snelling made for the Jumbo Shrimp came against the Durham Bulls, where he tossed five hitless innings, striking out nine and walking one. His fastball topped out at 96.1 mph and averaged 94.7 mph. Five of his nine strikeouts came on the fastball. Aside from his left-handedness, Snelling differs from the other Marlins starters in that he's very difficult to steal bases against. Since the beginning of last season, opponents have succeeded only eight times on 24 attempts. Partly due to that, he's the reigning Minor League Gold Glove Award winner. The Nationals enter the weekend series with an 18-20 record under first-year manager Blake Butera. Snelling has seen most of the players in the Nationals lineup before, whether that be in minor league or Grapefruit League competition. With left-handed pitcher Foster Griffin on the mound for Washington, all signs point to Liam Hicks catching Snelling on Friday. First pitch is set for 7:10 pm. View the full article

Prior to making his major league debut on Friday, Marlins left-hander Robby Snelling speaks with the media about what he's been working on to become a more complete pitcher.View the full article

The San Diego Padres are losing half of their catching tandem due to a broken toe. Catcher Luis Campusano was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday by the Padres with a fractured toe on his left foot. Catcher Rodolfo Duran was called up from Triple-A El Paso and will be making his MLB debut tonight after 11 seasons in the minors. Duran is starting at catcher and batting ninth in the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals. Right-handed starter Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) was transferred from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list to make room for Duran on the 40-man roster. The move is simply procedural from Musgrove's perspective as he isn't close to returning to the active roster. Also, infielder Will Wagner was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to El Paso, where he had been on a rehab assignment following a strained right oblique in spring training. Campusano fouled a ball off his foot in Tuesday's 10-5 win over the San Francisco Giants. He has been a surprisingly significant contributor to the Padres' offense while splitting time with Freddy Fermin. Campusano has a slash line of .288/.362/.596 with three homers and 10 RBIs in 18 games. Campusano has had the reputation of an offense-first catcher, but with questionable defense. That second part hasn't shown itself through the first month-plus of the season. The 28-year-old Duran is in his second season with the Padres at El Paso. He has a slash line of .238/.356/.429 with four homers and 20 RBIs in 23 games this season. A year ago, he posted a .288/.344/.503 slash line with 16 homers and 73 RBIs in 86 games. View the full article

After a shaky start, Kazuma Okamoto has broken out in a big way for the Toronto Blue Jays. What exactly changed, and how is he becoming a fan favourite so quickly? View the full article

After a shaky start, Kazuma Okamoto has broken out in a big way for the Toronto Blue Jays. What exactly changed, and how is he becoming a fan favourite so quickly? View the full article

The topsy-turvy season of the Boston Red Sox took another turn when left fielder Roman Anthony was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a sprained right wrist. Catcher-infielder Mickey Gasper was called up from Triple-A Worcester to replace Anthony on the 26-man roster Anthony was injured during a checked swing Monday in a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers. In the time since, Anthony has been receiving treatment and the wrist was showing improvement, but the Red Sox decided to take the safer route and put Anthony on the shelf for a brief period and not rush him back into the lineup or leave the roster shorthanded for any further games. Anthony's performance at the plate could also use some time off. The left-handed-hitting slugger has put together a .229/.354/.321 slash line with one homer and five RBIs in 30 games. That is a stark contrast to what he did last year after making his MLB debut. In 71 games in 2025, Anthony had a slash line of .292/.396/.463 with eight homers and 32 RBIs. He was MLB's No. 1 prospect when he was promoted last year. Gasper has a .296/.429/.519 slash line in 28 games at Worcester with six homers and 27 RBIs. Gasper made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2024, playing in 13 games, going 0-for-18, then was traded to the Minnesota Twins and played in 45 games last year. Between the two seasons, he has a .133/.250/.195 with two homers and 11 RBIs. The Red Sox picked him up this offseason after twice being designated for assignment. View the full article

Box Score SP: Simeon Woods Richardson - 4 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 2 K (61 pitches, 34 strikes (56% strikes)) Home Runs: Ryan Jeffers Bottom 3 WPA: Simeon Woods Richardson (-0.36), Austin Martin (-0.19), Byron Buxton (-0.18) Win Probability Chart The Twins entered Thursday’s rubber match against Washington with a chance to secure the series and build some momentum after a rocky start to the season. Instead, they let another winnable game slip away. Despite multiple offensive contributions and several chances to swing the game in their favor, the Twins couldn’t overcome another uneven pitching performance and a handful of costly mistakes in a 7-5 loss. Minnesota battled back more than once and briefly erased a late deficit, but every answer they had was quickly matched by Washington. In the end, the Nationals took the series, while the Twins fell to 16-22 on the year. BROOKS LEE BREAKS THROUGH EARLY The Twins wasted little time putting pressure on the Nationals’ starting pitcher, Bloomington, Minn. native Jake Irvin. After Irvin cruised through a quick first inning, Minnesota broke through in the second. Ryan Jeffers opened the frame with an eight-pitch walk, Luke Keaschall followed with an infield single, and Kody Clemens was hit by a pitch to load the bases. That brought up Brooks Lee, who continued what’s becoming a trend this season in big spots. Behind in the count with two strikes, Lee ripped a ground ball through the left side to score Jeffers and Keaschall, giving the Twins an early 2-0 lead. Heads-up baserunning from Clemens allowed him to move to third on the play, though the inning eventually ended with him getting tagged out at the plate trying to score on a shallow fly ball. Lee wasn’t done. After Washington tied the game in the third, Lee delivered again in the fifth with a leadoff double, smoked 105 MPH off the bat. Moments later, Tristan Gray punched a single into shallow center, allowing Lee to score from second and briefly restore Minnesota’s lead. By the middle innings, Lee had accounted for all three Twins runs, continuing a hot stretch at the plate and once again coming through in clutch situations. WOODS RICHARDSON CAN’T ESCAPE THE FIFTH For four innings, Simeon Woods Richardson looked like he might finally be settling in. Despite some shaky command early, he worked efficiently throughout the afternoon. Through four innings, Woods Richardson had thrown just 46 pitches and allowed only two runs. Aided by a pair of double plays and some solid defensive moments behind him, including a diving catch from Austin Martin in left field that robbed James Wood of extra bases, it was looking like the outing he desperately needed. But the fifth inning unraveled quickly. José Tena drew a leadoff walk, Jacob Young was hit by a pitch, and Keibert Ruiz came through with a two-run double to put Washington ahead 4-3. After a sacrifice bunt moved Ruiz to third, Woods Richardson’s day came to an end after just 4 1/3 innings. It marked his sixth straight start allowing at least three earned runs, and once again, he failed to make it through five innings. Things only got worse after Anthony Banda entered the game. Banda walked James Wood and hit Daylen Lile to load the bases, and a miscommunication between Matt Wallner and Keaschall on a routine pop-up allowed another run to score. Washington pushed its lead to 5-3 before the inning finally came to an end. The ugly fifth inning erased what had been a relatively encouraging outing up to that point. THE TWINS KEEP FIGHTING BACK To their credit, the Twins didn’t go away quietly. Ryan Jeffers immediately answered in the sixth inning, hammering a leadoff homer 432 feet to left field off an elevated sinker from Irvin. It was his fifth homer of the season and trimmed the deficit to one. Minnesota had a golden opportunity to do even more damage after Wallner reached via hit-by-pitch and Keaschall worked a walk. Clemens moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt, putting the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with one out. But after the Nationals intentionally walked Lee, Tristan Gray struck out, and Byron Buxton came up empty in a huge spot, striking out on a full count to end the threat. An inning later, the Twins clawed back again. Jeffers picked up his third extra-base hit of the game with a cheap double down the right-field line, and Josh Bell, facing his former team, delivered off the bench with a game-tying RBI double off the wall in left field. Suddenly, the game was tied at 5-5, and the momentum had swung back toward Minnesota. Unfortunately for the Twins, it didn’t last long. WASHINGTON RESPONDS IMMEDIATELY The Nationals answered right away in the bottom of the seventh. Keibert Ruiz, who tormented Twins pitching all afternoon, launched a leadoff homer off John Klein to put Washington back in front. It was the first run allowed in Klein’s big-league career. Moments later, James Wood ripped a ground-rule double, Daylen Lile reached on a swinging bunt that appeared to beat, and Curtis Mead added an RBI single to extend the lead to 7-5. That proved to be enough. The Twins managed just one baserunner over the final two innings. Byron Buxton singled in the eighth to bring the tying run to the plate, but Trevor Larnach popped out to end the inning, and the top of the ninth went down quietly against Gus Varland (brother of Louie). It was another frustrating loss for a Twins team that had opportunities throughout the afternoon but couldn’t capitalize enough when it mattered most. They battled back multiple times, but defensive mistakes, missed chances, and another short outing from the starting rotation ultimately proved too much to overcome. What’s Next? The Twins will travel to Cleveland to start a three-game weekend series tomorrow against the AL Central-leading Guardians. We’ve got a battle of young, talented left-handers tomorrow with Connor Prielipp on the hill for the Twins and Parker Messick throwing for Cleveland. First pitch is set for 6:15 PM. Postgame Interviews Coming Soon! Bullpen Usage Chart SUN MON TUE WED THU TOT Orze 24 0 16 0 0 40 Morris 57 0 0 14 0 71 Rogers 32 0 0 0 26 58 Garcia 0 0 13 14 0 27 Banda 0 0 19 0 20 39 Topa 17 0 0 32 0 49 Funderburk 3 0 0 17 0 20 Klein 0 0 0 0 31 31 View the full article

After beating the Cleveland Guardians for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, the Royals woke up on Wednesday with a 17-19 record, with an ongoing five-game winning streak and just half a game behind the top spot in the AL Central. The Royals swept the Mariners in Seattle over the weekend and have taken the first two games of their series vs. Cleveland, a direct divisional foe, at home. Talk about a hot streak and a considerable improvement: this team was 12-19 on April 30. The AL Central might not be the best division, with no team at .500 as of Wednesday afternoon, but it sure is the most fun these days: all five squads are separated by just a game and a half. (Not So) Pleasant Surprises The Guardians and the Detroit Tigers are ahead with an 18-19 record before Wednesday’s games. Jose Ramirez, with a 103 wRC+, hasn’t been his usual dominant self, but Cleveland is enjoying breakout seasons from rookies Chase DeLauter and Parker Messick, utilityman Daniel Schneemann, infielder Brayan Rocchio, and outfielder Angel Martinez. Additionally, star prospect Travis Bazzana is already up. The Guardians are dangerous, and even with some regression from the aforementioned players, it’s also wise to expect a bounce-back by Ramirez. The Tigers have top Rookie of the Year candidate Kevin McGonigle already leading the team in fWAR with 1.5. Most of their regulars are performing above the league average offensively, most notably Riley Greene (139 wRC+) and Spencer Torkelson (six homers, 112 wRC+), but they lost Tarik Skubal for at least a few months, and that hurts their chances. They are still a solid ballclub, though. Then, tied with the Royals, you have the surprising Chicago White Sox. Led by Munetaka Murakami’s 14 home runs and multiple young players performing well on offense and defense, the South Siders certainly don’t look like the team that finished with a 60-102 record. Their -10 run differential is not that bad considering pre-season expectations, and it’s actually better than Kansas City’s -11. The Twins are last with a 16-20 record, just a game and a half behind the leaders. They have won the last two and boast a +3 run differential, second-best in the division behind Detroit’s +10. Can The Royals Compete All Year? Before the start of the season, the overall consensus was that the Tigers, Guardians, and Royals would be the main contenders for the AL Central crown. Perhaps it’s time to open the mind for new possibilities and potential scenarios, though. All five teams are definitely flawed, but they also have talented rosters and room to grow. The Royals, in particular, can definitely count on Vinnie Pasquantino (72 wRC+) returning to form at some point, and even though he is getting up there in age, Salvador Perez (58 wRC+) should also improve. The same can be said about ace Cole Ragans, should health be on his side. Will that be enough to compete for a spot in the postseason? We won’t know the answer to that question until September, but it sure will be fascinating to find out if the overachievers in the division can keep up and actually compete for October. View the full article

Blue Jays Affiliate Overview (May 4-May 6) Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Series vs Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies): 1-1 Season Record: 16-19 Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats Series vs Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox): 1-0 Season Record: 16-10 High-A Vancouver Canadians Series vs Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants): 0-1 Season Record: 11-17 Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays Series vs Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh Pirates): 0-2 Season Record: 11-18 FCL Blue Jays Week Record: 3-0 Season Record: 3-0 Triple-A Buffalo Bisons Season Record: 16-19 Series Opponent: Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies) May 5: The Buffalo Bisons opened a new series on Tuesday, this one against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The game was placed into the relievers' hands from the start, as it was a bullpen game for Buffalo. Hayden Juenger and Devereaux Harrison pitched well, combining for four innings and allowing zero runs to cross home plate. Brendan Cellucci and Brendon Little were next up out of the pen, and they imploded in an epic way. Cellucci surrendered a three-run home run in his inning of work. Little then was bit by an error. After getting a double play ball, Little walked two, with a runner reaching on Riley Tirotta's error in between. Otto Kemp then blasted a grand slam off of Little; it went 104 mph off the bat and traveled 423 feet. While the pitching and fielding put Buffalo in a bind in the middle innings, the bats were nonexistent until the end of the game. There were a couple of standouts at the plate, though. Charles McAdoo and Ismael Munguia were almost perfect on the day. McAdoo collected five hits, while Munguia added three. Having only scored one run up until the top of the ninth, Buffalo tried to pull off a comeback down 7-1. Josh Kasevich knocked in a run on a single, and then McAdoo notched his fifth and final hit of the game, a big three-run home run to left field. The comeback was nearing completion, but Josh Rivera struck out to end the game, with Buffalo falling 7-5. May 6: Wednesday's game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs was by far the best and most complete game Buffalo has played on the season. The bats came alive early and never stopped. The Bisons recorded 15 hits on the day, including five doubles. With two more base knocks, Ismael Munguia continued his torrid start to his time at Triple-A. He ended the game with his batting average at .375. Jonatan Clase opened up the scoring by knocking in Munguia following his double to lead off the game. RJ Schreck began his big game with an RBI single to score Clase. In the second inning, Charles McAdoo doubled home a run, and then Schreck doubled in two more. Schreck was 3-for-5 for the game, with two doubles, five RBI, and two runs scored. On the pitching side, Austin Voth pitched four strong innings, not allowing a run to score and only giving up three hits. Yariel Rodríguez and Jesse Hahn wrapped up the final 3.1 innings and didn't allow a run either. Buffalo took this game with ease in a full team effort, 11-1. Double-A New Hampshire Season Record: 16-10 Series vs. Portland Sea Dogs (Boston Red Sox) May 5: New Hampshire kicked off their series with the Portland Sea Dogs in a fast manner. In the top of the first, Jace Bohrofen lifted a ball over the right field fence for his eighth home run of the season to give the Fisher Cats a one-run lead. In the fourth, New Hampshire would strike again. This time, a Cutter Coffey double scored a run. Nate Baez and Johanfran Garcia launched home runs in the fourth and seventh innings, respectively, for Portland to tie the game. In the top of the ninth, Aaron Parker took his turn at crushing a solo home run, as the Fisher Cats took a one-run lead. Conor Larkin came in and closed the game for his fourth save and a 3-2 New Hampshire win. May 6: Postponed High-A Vancouver Season Record: 11-17 Series vs Eugene Emeralds (San Francisco Giants) May 4: The Canadians had to face the red-hot Emeralds, who have won every single series they have played this season. Danny Thompson Jr. bounced back from his previous start, although he got tagged for a two-run double in the first inning. He still struck out six batters in four innings of work and didn’t allow a run after that. The Canadians threatened in the second inning, loading the bases with one out, but J.R. Freethy grounded into a double play. That was the only time the Canadians threatened the Emeralds’ starter Charlie McDaniel, who went a little over four innings of scoreless pitching. Reece Wissinger has struggled since getting promoted to Vancouver, and he gave up two more runs to make it a 4-0 ball game. Kelena Sauer, on the other hand, continued to pitch well, with three strikeouts in a perfect inning. The Canadians answered back in the seventh inning, with Peyton Williams continuing his hot start, driving in two with a double, and the Canadians had runners on second and third with one out in the eighth inning, but all they could muster was a sac fly from Tucker Toman, leading to a close 3-4 loss. Single-A Dunedin Season Record: 11-18 Series vs Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh Pirates) May 5: After losing the first three-game series against Bradenton, the D-Jays hoped to turn it around this series. Dylan Watts was once again solid in his second pro start, showing good velocity and allowing only two runs in 4.2 innings, including one homer to the “Password” Jhostynxon Garcia, who was on a rehab assignment for the Pirates. Utilityman Dariel Ramon, who’s played six different positions already early on in this season, hit a double to score Blaine Bullard to get Dunedin on the board in the fifth, and Yorman Licourt hit a solo shot to tie it up in the sixth inning. Diego Dominguez struck out five people in over three innings of work in relief, keeping it a tie for the Jays, but in the top of the ninth, Jack Eshleman gave up a solo homer, which ended up losing the game for the Jays, who couldn’t get Will Cresswell in after he hit a double with two outs. May 6: The Jays were undone once again by their own poor defense. Brayden Heidel started this game, and despite three walks, he was able to prevent any damage, going nearly four innings of scoreless baseball. Luis Victorino replaced Heidel and pitched well into the sixth inning, but a throwing error broke the game open for the Marauders, and after Victorino hit a batter with a pitch, he was replaced for Carson Myers. Unfortunately for Myers, a catcher’s interference loaded the bases, and he gave up a grand slam to make it a five-run inning for Bradenton. Eduar Gonzalez was the new pitcher after Myers was taken out, and after allowing a run to score on an RBI single, Juan Rosas made another mistake defensively with a passed ball, leading to another unearned run to score, making five of the seven for Bradenton off of Dunedin miscues. Addison Barger prevented the shutout with a towering homer to right field, but that was it for the Jays. FCL Blue Jays Season Record: 3-0 May 5: The FCL Blue Jays faced off against the FCL Tigers in a game dominated by pitching on Tuesday. Carson Messina was back on the mound for the Blue Jays squad after only pitching two innings last season before getting hurt. He was fantastic, going three perfect innings, not allowing a hit, walk, or run, and striking out three. Edgar Gallegos went two innings without giving up a run, and Josbel Garcia closed the game with two perfect innings and one strikeout for the save. The FCL Blue Jays won 2-0. Transactions 05/06/26 New Hampshire Fisher Cats activated RHP Yondrei Rojas from the 7-day injured list. 05/06/26 New Hampshire Fisher Cats activated CF Victor Arias from the 7-day injured list. 05/05/26 Buffalo Bisons activated LF Jonatan Clase from the 7-day injured list. 05/05/26 Buffalo Bisons transferred RF Je'Von Ward to the Development List. 05/05/26 Dunedin Blue Jays placed RHP Dayne Pengelly on the 7-day injured list. 05/05/26 SS Owen Gregg assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from FCL Blue Jays. 05/05/26 SS Eric Snow assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from New Hampshire Fisher Cats. 05/05/26 OF David Guzman assigned to Dunedin Blue Jays from FCL Blue Jays. 05/04/26 RHP Michael De La Cruz assigned to FCL Blue Jays from DSL Blue Jays Blue. 05/04/26 Dunedin Blue Jays placed SS Raimundo De Los Santos on the 7-day injured list. 05/04/26 Dunedin Blue Jays placed OF Enmanuel Bonilla on the 7-day injured list. 05/04/26 New Hampshire Fisher Cats transferred RHP Fernando Perez to the Development List. 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Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs designated LHP Charlie Barnes for assignment. Chicago Cubs placed LHP Matthew Boyd on the 15-day injured list retroactive to May 4, 2026. Left meniscus injury. Chicago Cubs sent RHP Yacksel Ríos outright to Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs selected the contract of RHP Trent Thornton from Iowa Cubs. Pedro Ramírez Walks Off Iowa Past Columbus In 11 The Iowa Cubs outlasted the Columbus Clippers 3-2 in 11 innings on a walk-off single from Pedro Ramírez that scored Owen Miller from second base. Ramírez finished 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Miller produced the top hitting line, going 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Christian Bethancourt knotted the game in the bottom of the 10th on an RBI single up the middle that scored zombie runner Ben Cowles, and BJ Murray drove in Miller with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly for Iowa's first run. Charlie Barnes opened with five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out four. Collin Snider was charged with one earned run across 1 1/3 innings, but Luke Little held Columbus to a single unearned run over two innings to pick up the win. The decisive stretch came in the final two frames. Columbus took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th when Kody Huff doubled to left to plate the zombie runner, only for Bethancourt to answer in the bottom half. In the 11th, Miller again opened the inning at second as the zombie runner, Justin Dean dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move him to third, Murray drew a walk, and Ramírez lined his single to left to send Iowa home a winner. Iowa managed only four hits but drew five walks and stranded seven runners. Player AB R H RBI BB K Justin Dean, cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 BJ Murray, 1b 3 0 0 1 1 2 Pedro Ramírez, 3b 4 0 1 1 1 1 Kevin Alcántara, rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 Jonathon Long, lf 3 0 0 0 1 2 Ben Cowles, pr-ss 0 1 0 0 0 0 James Triantos, 2b 4 0 0 0 0 1 Christian Bethancourt, dh 4 0 1 1 0 0 Eric Yang, c 4 0 0 0 0 1 Owen Miller, ss-lf 3 2 2 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Charlie Barnes 5 4 0 0 1 4 0 Ethan Roberts 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 Collin Snider 1 1/3 2 1 1 1 1 0 Gabe Klobosits 1 2/3 3 0 0 0 2 0 Luke Little 2 1 1 0 1 2 0 Knoxville Smokies Game Postponed The Double-A Knoxville Smokies did not play. The game was postponed. Cole Mathis Powers South Bend Past Lansing The South Bend Cubs took down the Lansing Lugnuts 3-1 behind a three-run sixth inning fueled by a Cole Mathis two-run home run to follow his pervious games triple, homerun, and triple at the plate. Mathis finished 1-for-3 with the homer, two RBIs, a walk, a run scored, and a strikeout, and the long ball was his second of the season. Cole Mathis was labeled Player of the Game, if you haven't had a chance to hear from him check below. Drew Bowser added a 2-for-4 night with a double, an RBI, and a strikeout. Kade Snell also collected two hits and scored a run while stealing a base, while Kane Kepley and Alex Madera each contributed singles to South Bend's seven-hit total. Koen Moreno started and turned in four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five on 75 pitches. Jackson Brockett followed with two hitless and scoreless innings, striking out five. The bottom of the sixth flipped a scoreless contest. Cameron Sisneros opened with a walk before Mathis launched a two-run shot to left field. Snell singled, Leonel Espinoza struck out, and Bowser doubled into left to plate Snell from first. Justin Stransky struck out, and Madera then added a bunt single, but Bowser was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second to end the rally. South Bend stranded seven runners on the night. A play of note was Kane Kepley's wild sprint in center for a diving play in the seventh. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley, cf 4 0 1 0 0 0 Ty Southisene, ss 4 0 0 0 0 0 Cameron Sisneros, 1b 2 1 0 0 2 1 Cole Mathis, dh 3 1 1 2 1 1 Kade Snell, rf 4 1 2 0 0 0 Leonel Espinoza, lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 Drew Bowser, 2b 4 0 2 1 0 1 Justin Stransky, c 3 0 0 0 0 2 Alex Madera, 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Koen Moreno 4 2 0 0 2 5 0 Jackson Brockett 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 JP Wheat 1 1/3 1 1 1 0 2 0 Ethan Bell 1 2/3 2 0 0 1 4 0 Logan Poteet Homers, But Pelicans Fall To Hickory The Myrtle Beach Pelicans dropped a 4-2 decision to the Hickory Crawdads despite a Logan Poteet solo home run, his fourth of the season, in the top of the ninth inning. Poteet finished 1-for-4 with the homer, an RBI, a run scored, and a strikeout. Geuri Lubo led the offense with a 2-for-4 effort that included a double, an RBI, and a strikeout. Pierce Coppola opened with four scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking none, and striking out five on 64 pitches. Edwardo Melendez took the loss after surrendering four earned runs on four hits and two walks across two innings, with two home runs allowed. Aiden Moffett followed with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out one. Lubo gave the Pelicans the early edge with an RBI double in the top of the fourth that scored Carico, and Coppola kept Hickory off the board through four. The Crawdads broke through against Melendez in the fifth on a triple and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-1 lead, then added two more in the sixth on solo home runs to push their advantage to 4-1. Poteet's ninth-inning shot pulled Myrtle Beach within two but came too late. The Pelicans stranded five runners on the night. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez, ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 Josiah Hartshorn, rf 3 0 0 0 1 1 Alexey Lumpuy, cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 Michael Carico, 1b 2 1 0 0 2 1 Logan Poteet, c 4 1 1 1 0 1 Jose Escobar, 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 Geuri Lubo, lf 4 0 2 1 0 1 Derniche Valdez, 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 Edward Vargas, dh 3 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Pierce Coppola 4 2 0 0 0 5 0 Edwardo Melendez 2 4 4 4 2 1 2 Aiden Moffett 2 1 0 0 3 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Moises Ballesteros: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Jefferson Rojas: DNP Kevin Alcantara: 0-for-3, BB, K Jonathon Long: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K Ethan Conrad: DNP Pedro Ramirez: 1-for-4, RBI, BB, K Kane Kepley: 1-for-4 Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-3, BB, K James Triantos: 0-for-4, K Brandon Birdsell: DNP Cole Mathis: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K Angel Cepeda: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Jostin Florentino: DNP Dominick Reid: DNP Ty Southisene: 0-for-4 Erian Rodriguez: DNP View the full article

Boston Red Sox Affiliate Recap (May 6) Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Worcester fought back from a couple of deficits and forced extra innings with a dramatic ninth-inning rally, only to fall 9-7 in the tenth inning to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees). Nate Eaton set the tone immediately, launching a solo homer to left in the bottom of the first to put Worcester up 1-0. The WooSox pitching staff, Erik Rivera and Red Sox relief pitcher Justin Slaten, who is currently rehabbing, kept Scranton off the board through the first four frames. Nathan Hickey blew the game open in the fourth with a two-run shot to right, scoring Anthony Seigler to push the lead to 3-0. Then came the fifth inning. Jacob Webb entered in relief, and the RailRiders pounced, a double scored a run, and a three-run homer flipped the score 4-3 in one swing. Worcester answered right back in the bottom half when Mickey Gasper smacked a two-run homer to reclaim the lead at 5-4. However, Scranton tied it 5-5 in the seventh with an RBI single. Entering the ninth with the game still knotted, the RailRiders hit a two-run shot to put them up 7-5. Down to their last three outs, Worcester didn't fold. Matt Thaiss and Nathan Hickey both reached base with a pair of singles, then Braiden Ward ripped an RBI double down the right field line to make it 7-6. Nick Sogard followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it at 7-7. The WooSox bullpen could not hold on in the tenth as they gave up a two-run double to make it 9-7. The bats tried to start a rally once again in the bottom of the tenth, loading the bases with no outs, but unfortunately, they did not score any runs, which ended the game. Key Performances: Nathan Hickey: HR, 2 R, 2 RBI Mickey Gasper: HR, R, 2 RBI Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Game postponed: Inclement weather. Makeup on May 7 High-A Greenville Drive Greenville launched an absurd eight home runs, but a catastrophic seventh inning and a walk-off single in the ninth sent the Drive home with a brutal 13-12 loss to the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pittsburgh Pirates). After falling behind 1-0 on a first-inning sacrifice fly, Greenville stormed ahead. Yophery Rodriguez homered to tie it in the second, 1-1, and a Natanael Yuten forceout made it 2-1. The Drive blew it open in the fourth, Yuten crushed a two-run homer, and Yoeilin Cespedes followed with a solo shot to left-center that gave Greenville a 5-1 lead. Antonio Anderson tacked on an RBI single in the fifth to push it to 6-1. Greensboro fought back, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 6-4. The Drive got some more insurance runs in the seventh, Rodriguez belted his second homer of the day, and Ronny Hernandez followed up with a solo shot as well, making it back-to-back home runs, 8-4. The bottom of the seventh was a major collapse. It started when the Drive gave up a two-run double to make it 8-6. A couple of RBI singles and a three-run bomb to right-center put Greensboro ahead 11-8. An error by Jack Winnay led to another run to score, 12-8 Grasshoppers. Greenville did not quit; Yuten hit his second homer of the game in the eighth to make it 12-9. The Drive made an incredible comeback in the ninth. Isaiah Jackson worked a walk, and Mason White ripped a two-run homer to cut it to 12-11. Hernandez followed and continued his incredible day at the plate, belting his second home run of the game with a solo blast to tie it 12-12. Sadly, the bullpen could not keep the game tied as the Grasshoppers walked it off with an RBI single to end it 13-12. Key Performances: Ronny Hernandez: 4-for-4, 2 HR, 4 R, 2 RBI, BB Natanael Yuten: 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI Yophery Rodriguez: 2 HR, 3 R, 2 RBI Mason White: 2-for-5, HR, R, 2 RBI Yoeilin Cespedes: 2-for-5, HR, R, RBI Single-A Salem RidgeYaks Salem’s slow start proved it was too much to overcome in a 6-4 defeat to the Delmarva Shorebirds (Baltimore Orioles). The RidgeYaks had a tough time delivering with RISP, going 1-for-10. Delmarva wasted no time, pushing a run across in the first on an RBI single. They added another run with a groundout in the third to make it 2-0. The fourth inning unraveled, an RBI double, an RBI single, and a throwing error from Salem let a fifth run cross the plate, 5-0. Salem finally broke through in the fifth when Ilan Fernandez reached base with a double and came around to score on a Starlyn Nunez sacrifice fly to make it 5-1. In the sixth, Luke Heyman and Skylar King walked, and Heyman eventually scored on a Kleyver Salazar ground ball single to left, cutting it to 5-2. King ended up scoring due to a couple of wild pitches, and Salazar stole home, making it a one-run game, 5-4. Delmarva added an insurance run in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly, 6-4. The Shorebirds bullpen held off the RidgeYaks in the last two innings to end it. Madinson Frias was a bright spot for Salem, throwing five innings of relief and only giving up one run, giving the RidgeYaks a chance to come back. Key Performances: Madison Frias: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2K Luke Heyman: 2-for-3, 2B, BB Kleyver Salazar: 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB View the full article

Caleb Durbin is filling in some pretty legendary shoes as the Boston Red Sox third baseman in 2026. Filling a spot once occupied by Rafael Devers and then Alex Bregman, Durbin has struggled to start the season, hitting below the Mendoza line without much hard contact to show for it. In this video, we will unveil the one stat that is holding Durbin back from a productive first year at Fenway Park. View the full article

Welcome to the first event of the Brewer Fanatic Social Club! The Brewers are visiting the Twin Cities to face the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, May 16th, with a 6:10pm start time. Along with the team of Twins Daily, we're hosting dual, simultaneous events, and they're free to attend! Milwaukee Watch Party At Broken Bat Brewing Co. Located in the historic Walker's Point neighborhood, Broken Bat is perfect for this kind of gathering. I mean, look at the name! The space blends a modern tavern feel with a lively, social atmosphere – perfect for reconnecting with fellow fans, talking ball, and watching some Brewers baseball. Expect a full Brewer Fanatic vibe: giveaways, contests, and no shortage of baseball talk as we gear up for first pitch. And the first beer is on us! All attendees will have their first beers paid for by Brewer Fanatic (as if you needed more encouragement to visit). Show up any time after 5 o'clock, and get ready for game time! BrokenBatBrewery.com Minneapolis Pre-Game At Smorgie's Do you live in Minnesota, or are you traveling to watch the Brewers play in lovely Target Field? We have you covered there as well; we're hosting a pre-game party at Smorgie's, just blocks from Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. Smorgie's brings the added bonus of game-day-friendly food and drinks, with a menu full of affordable comfort favorites and a welcoming, high-energy setting designed for groups. From shareable bites to cold drinks, it checks all the boxes for a perfect pregame hangout. SmorgiesBar.com Smorgie's brings the added bonus of game-day-friendly food and drinks, with a menu full of affordable comfort favorites and a welcoming, high-energy setting designed for groups. From shareable bites to cold drinks, it checks all the boxes for a perfect pregame hangout. So rally your friends, throw on your Brewers gear, and join us on Saturday, May 16th. Let's pack our host bars, and get ready to see the Brewers battle the Twins! View the full article

Royce Lewis once looked like a future superstar. Now, his future with the Twins feels far less certain. View the full article

Baseball lineage can bring attention, but production still has to be earned. Quentin Young entered pro ball with both a well-known last name and a toolset that caught scouts' attention. Now, as his first full season gets underway, there are early indications that he may be starting to find his footing offensively. Quentin’s uncles, Dmitri and Delmon Young, each carved out lengthy major league careers. While their playing days have long since ended, the family name continues to carry weight as the next generation works its way through professional baseball. When Young decided to reclassify into the 2025 draft, he brought both that pedigree and a tantalizing skill set with him. His raw power stood out immediately, drawing some of the highest grades in his class. There was legitimate first-round buzz at times, but questions about his hit tool ultimately pushed him into the second round, where Minnesota selected him and signed him for a full slot bonus of $1.76 million. Early exposure to pro ball offered a glimpse of both the upside and the work ahead. In a brief five-game stint last season, Young managed just two hits in 17 at-bats while striking out nine times. The sample size was minimal, but it reflected the challenge that comes with harnessing such a power-driven profile. The Twins have already begun addressing those concerns. Young spent the offseason at the team’s complex focusing on simplifying his offensive approach. With his 6-foot-6 frame, there will likely always be some swing-and-miss in his game, but the organization has emphasized reducing unnecessary movement and creating a more direct path through the zone. The goal is to give his power a better chance to show up in games. Defensively, Young continues to develop as well. While he still sees time at shortstop, most projections point toward a future at third base. During the 2026 season, he has played both positions. His arm strength is a clear asset and should translate well to the left side, even if his size eventually limits his range up the middle. “A player comp for me would be Elly De La Cruz,” Young said. “We’re both around 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6, really tall and quick on the infield. We both have a lot of power. I’m probably not as fast as him, but I definitely think I can be as fast as him at some point.” “I think that’s the biggest goal I have, just to stay at shortstop for as long as I can,” he said. “I feel like if I keep putting the work in and keep staying at that position for a long time, I feel like I could definitely play it as well as other players.” The start of the 2026 season has followed a familiar developmental arc. Young opened the year in the Florida State League, where he is over two years younger than the average age of the competition. The early results were rough, as he went 8-for-50 (.160 BA) over his first 13 games. More recently, though, there have been signs of progress. However, he’s gone 13-for-45 (.288 BA) over his last 11 games with two doubles and a homer. This past Sunday, he had the first four-hit game of his career. On Tuesday, he hit his second homer of the year. It is far too soon to draw sweeping conclusions, but the recent stretch offers a glimpse of what adjustments can look like when they begin to take hold. Young was always viewed as a long-term project, one built on elite raw power that would require time and refinement to fully emerge. That reality has not changed. Development for a player with his profile is rarely linear, and there will be more ups and downs ahead. But if the recent improvements are tied to the work he put in during the offseason, the Twins may be starting to see the early stages of an offensive corner being turned. What stands out about Young so far? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

The Chicago Cubs made a minor move involving their bullpen Thursday, calling up right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa. To make room on the 26-man roster, right-handed reliever Corbin Martin was designated for assignment. Hollowell will be making his first appearance with the Cubs after beginning the season at Iowa. He has made 40 MLB appearances with the Cubs and Colorado Rockies over the last four years, including seven with Chicago in 2025. He has a career 5.79 ERA with a 12.3% walk and 21.7% strikeout rate. This year at Iowa, Hollowell appeared in six games, allowing two runs on four hits with six walks and 15 strikeouts in eight innings for a 2.25 ERA. Martin made seven appearances with the Cubs since coming up April 18. He had a 10.80 over five innings, giving up six runs on five hits (two homers) with five walks and four strikeouts. View the full article

Twins Daily's top ranked prospect Walker Jenkins is once again dealing with an injury, this time after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. The injury occurred on Sunday while playing for Triple-A St. Paul, adding another interruption to what has already been a stop-and-start season. The organization announced that Jenkins will be re-evaluated in 10 days, at which point a clearer timetable for his return should become clearer. For now, the expectation is that he will miss at least a couple of weeks while recovering. The injury happened on a defensive play in center field when Jenkins made a running catch and carried his momentum into the wall. After securing the ball, he hit the fence hard and immediately went to the ground. He exited the game with a trainer and did not return. Imaging the following day confirmed the shoulder sprain. This marks the second time Jenkins has been sidelined this season. The 21-year-old appeared in just four Grapefruit League games before a hamstring injury kept him out of action. When healthy, he has been productive at the plate, hitting .256/.396/.389 across 111 plate appearances with St. Paul. Despite the setbacks, Jenkins showed flashes of his upside during a recent stretch against Iowa. Over that series, he went 8-for-18 with four doubles, a home run, four runs batted in, six runs scored, and four walks. It was one of his most complete offensive showings of the season before the injury halted his momentum. Durability has been one of the few question marks in Jenkins’ young career. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has yet to play a full season, appearing in 82 and 84 games during his first two professional campaigns. In 2025, he missed nearly the entire first month after an ankle sprain in minor league camp. The year prior, a hamstring injury on Opening Day sidelined him for six and a half weeks. Jenkins is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball, but consistent time on the field has remained elusive. For a Twins organization looking to develop impact talent, his development is critical. Each setback delays that timeline, even if only temporarily. The injury news does not stop with Jenkins. Triple-A St. Paul has been hit hard in recent days, with outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez leaving Friday’s game with a left thumb injury after a headfirst slide into first base. Infielder Kaelen Culpepper was also absent from Sunday’s lineup after being hit by a pitch. For now, the focus remains on Jenkins’ recovery and his return to the field. The talent is undeniable. The challenge continues to be keeping him there long enough to fully realize it. View the full article

The Minnesota Twins have been searching for consistency in the early part of the season, and over the past week, Byron Buxton provided exactly that. When he is healthy and locked in, there are few players in baseball who can impact a game in as many ways, and this latest stretch served as a reminder of his game-changing ability on both sides of the ball. Buxton put together one of the most productive weeks of his career, appearing in seven games and collecting 10 hits in 29 at-bats for a .345 average. His power was on full display as he launched five home runs, added a double, and swiped two bases. He also crossed the plate six times and drove in seven runs, serving as the catalyst for Minnesota’s offense throughout the week. Notably, he homered in five of those seven games, including a streak of three consecutive contests, marking the sixth time in his career he has accomplished that feat. This recognition marks the third time in Buxton’s 12-year career that he has earned American League Player of the Week honors. His previous awards came on August 26, 2017, and June 11, 2022. It also represents a milestone for the Twins lineup, as Buxton becomes the first Minnesota hitter to take home the award since Luke Keaschall did so on August 9 of last season. With this latest honor, Buxton continues to climb into elite territory within franchise history. He is now one of six players in Twins history to win the award at least three times while with the organization. That group includes Kent Hrbek, Joe Mauer, Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew, and Johan Santana, a collection of names that highlights just how impactful Buxton has been when at his best. Buxton got off to a slow start at the plate to begin the season, and some have pointed to his limited action in the World Baseball Classic after being hit by a pitch as a contributing factor. Through his first eight games, he went just 4-for-30 (.133) with 10 strikeouts. Since then, the turnaround has been significant. Over his next 24 games, he has posted a .288/.351/.615 (.966) slash line with 10 home runs and four doubles, a stretch that looks much more like the All-Star level production the Twins have come to expect. If this stretch is any indication of what Buxton can provide moving forward, the Twins lineup may have found the spark it needs. His combination of power, speed, and defensive excellence makes him one of the most dynamic players in the game, and when he is producing at this level, Minnesota looks like a much more dangerous team. View the full article

It would have been presumptuous to get grumpy with the baseball gods when Cade Horton went down with a torn UCL early last month. That's the cost of doing business, especially when a team leans on pitchers with long injury histories. Relatedly, neither the Cubs nor their fans could justifiably claim to be surprised when Justin Steele suffered a setback later in April, pushing off his return from a second elbow reconstruction for what could be months. That, too, is in the normal run of things. You're allowed to be a little bit mad at Dame Mutability now, though. She's been very unkind to the Cubs this year, and dealt by far her cruelest blow Wednesday. The Cubs announced that Matthew Boyd will have to undergo surgery for a torn meniscus in his knee, after suffering the injury while sitting down to play with his young children at home. That's just unfair. Boyd is one of the great people in the game, and his career has been pockmarked by plenty of injuries, already. Now, the Cubs could be without his services until late summer, or even for the balance of the season, and the injury he suffered has nothing to do with baseball itself. The loss puts the Cubs in a brutal predicament when it comes to their starting rotation, too. With Horton gone for the year and Steele's return now in doubt, they're down to Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea, and Javier Assad in terms of available starters. Top prospect Jaxon Wiggins has tantalizing stuff, but his lack of command renders him unready for the majors right now—and besides, his own arm has been hurting him this spring. Injuries in the bullpen (and his skill set, which has always better placed him there, anyway) have forced Ben Brown to morph into a true reliever. Jordan Wicks has a 9.53 ERA in four Triple-A starts. No more help is coming from within for a while. The team is operating without a safety net, and there are real reasons to worry about the durability of Cabrera, Imanaga and Taillon. For now, the team is playing tremendously well. Jed Hoyer's offseason efforts to add depth to the pitching staff are paying reasonably good dividends. The team could have spent more for better reinforcements in (especially) the bullpen, but they're still sorting through some usable options in the relief corps. Trent Thornton was a savvy January pickup. Corbin Martin and Ryan Rolison were similarly solid moves, and Collin Snider could prove to be another one when the time comes. Eventually, though, this team will need help from beyond the current boundaries of the organization. Boyd's injury guarantees that the Cubs' top priority come July will be some kind of help for the starting rotation. It could take many forms, but one way or another, the team will have to explore the trade market. In the meantime, the club had better hope no more major injuries come. Their margin for error is gone. View the full article

It would have been presumptuous to get grumpy with the baseball gods when Cade Horton went down with a torn UCL early last month. That's the cost of doing business, especially when a team leans on pitchers with long injury histories. Relatedly, neither the Cubs nor their fans could justifiably claim to be surprised when Justin Steele suffered a setback later in April, pushing off his return from a second elbow reconstruction for what could be months. That, too, is in the normal run of things. You're allowed to be a little bit mad at Dame Mutability now, though. She's been very unkind to the Cubs this year, and dealt by far her cruelest blow Wednesday. The Cubs announced that Matthew Boyd will have to undergo surgery for a torn meniscus in his knee, after suffering the injury while sitting down to play with his young children at home. That's just unfair. Boyd is one of the great people in the game, and his career has been pockmarked by plenty of injuries, already. Now, the Cubs could be without his services until late summer, or even for the balance of the season, and the injury he suffered has nothing to do with baseball itself. The loss puts the Cubs in a brutal predicament when it comes to their starting rotation, too. With Horton gone for the year and Steele's return now in doubt, they're down to Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea, and Javier Assad in terms of available starters. Top prospect Jaxon Wiggins has tantalizing stuff, but his lack of command renders him unready for the majors right now—and besides, his own arm has been hurting him this spring. Injuries in the bullpen (and his skill set, which has always better placed him there, anyway) have forced Ben Brown to morph into a true reliever. Jordan Wicks has a 9.53 ERA in four Triple-A starts. No more help is coming from within for a while. The team is operating without a safety net, and there are real reasons to worry about the durability of Cabrera, Imanaga and Taillon. For now, the team is playing tremendously well. Jed Hoyer's offseason efforts to add depth to the pitching staff are paying reasonably good dividends. The team could have spent more for better reinforcements in (especially) the bullpen, but they're still sorting through some usable options in the relief corps. Trent Thornton was a savvy January pickup. Corbin Martin and Ryan Rolison were similarly solid moves, and Collin Snider could prove to be another one when the time comes. Eventually, though, this team will need help from beyond the current boundaries of the organization. Boyd's injury guarantees that the Cubs' top priority come July will be some kind of help for the starting rotation. It could take many forms, but one way or another, the team will have to explore the trade market. In the meantime, the club had better hope no more major injuries come. Their margin for error is gone. View the full article

Results alone made it clear that the Brewers were missing Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn. Through May 3, Milwaukee’s offense posted a collective 96 wRC+, which ranked 18th in baseball. Their .354 slugging percentage ranked 28th. Both hitters quickly helped in that regard upon returning from the injured list in St. Louis on Monday. In two games, Chourio has gone 6-for-9 with three doubles, while Vaughn launched his first home run of the season on Wednesday afternoon. Beyond their individual results lies the pair’s larger impact on the Brewers’ offensive identity. With Chourio and Vaughn sidelined, their lineup made do with an even more extreme version of the scrappy small-ball approach that has defined them during the Pat Murphy era. According to Baseball Savant, last season’s Brewers had baseball’s fourth-highest ground ball rate and laid down the second-most bunts. Without Chourio and Vaughn (who was only active for four plate appearances on Opening Day), they were the only team with a ground ball rate over 50%, the league’s highest by nearly four percentage points. They also bunted four more times than any other team. Through a combination of fortunate sequencing and timely, well-executed small ball, the Brewers have gotten more mileage from that approach than many might expect. Despite that below-average wRC+, they were eighth in runs scored without Chourio and Vaughn. It would always be challenging to successfully ride that style of play through a 162-game season, though, so regaining those two hitters and their more powerful batted-ball profiles was a welcome change. Chourio’s career ground-ball rate is 45.1%, and Vaughn’s is 43.1%. In addition to supplying more line drives and fly balls, the two bring something else the lineup was lacking more generally: hard-hit balls. Without them, the Brewers were 24th in hard-hit rate. While Chourio and Vaughn’s contact quality is closer to good than great, their respective hard-hit rates ranked in the 62nd and 84th percentiles of hitters last season. The aggressive Chourio also brings a damage-hunting approach to a lineup that once again has baseball’s lowest swing rate. Blake Perkins, Luis Matos, Greg Jones, and Tyler Black filled most of the playing time while Chourio and Vaughn were on the shelf. In 118 combined plate appearances, they combined to hit eight balls with an exit velocity of at least 100 mph. In 19 plate appearances, Chourio and Vaughn have hit nine. With two of their heavier hitters in tow, the Brewers’ lineup now comes together more cohesively. Their presence takes pressure off Brice Turang as one of the few remaining power bats in the order. Black, Jake Bauers, Sal Frelick, and Garrett Mitchell need not hit in as many unfavorable left-on-left matchups and can return to roles better suited to their skill sets. Murphy won’t be forced to sacrifice flexibility with late-game substitutions by starting backup catcher Gary Sánchez as the DH. As encouraging as the early results were, the bigger-picture impact makes Chourio and Vaughn’s returns most promising. View the full article