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There’s a triumvirate of top-100 hitting prospects playing at CHS Field this spring, on one of Minor League Baseball’s most offensively loaded teams. Naturally, Twins fans are wondering who will debut first. In the early going, Emmanuel Rodriguez has been the most productive and looks the most ready. What’s fueled his incandescent April? A change in approach and setup at the plate. We’ll start with his setup at the plate. Rodríguez has closed his batting stance this year. Slight camera angle differences aside, notice the difference in his setup in the first image (2025) and the second image (2026). What are the potential benefits here? Several, but I want to focus on two; being more closed can help with coverage on the outside part of the plate. Additionally, it can support better hip rotation and directionality with his swing. Both benefits seem to be playing out for Rodríguez through the first month of the season. The outside portion of the plate (down and away) has been a weak spot for Rodríguez, throughout his professional career. Since he hits the ball so dang hard, we’ll use quality of contact as a proxy for his ability to do damage. In 2025, Rodríguez averaged 84.4 mph on batted balls in that quadrant of the zone, good for a .353 slugging percentage. In 2026, it’s 94.3 mph, resulting in a 1.000 slugging percentage at the time of writing. In order to examine the second contention, we need to revisit 2025. Rodríguez had a weird year. He played 52 games at Triple-A, and managed a 134 wRC+ despite only rocking a .166 ISO. For context here, a .140 ISO is around league average. Rodríguez, who will always strike out at an above-average rate, has a power-reliant offensive profile, so sitting at such a low mark was discouraging. He simply wasn’t launching the baseball in 2025. He carried a 51.6% ground-ball rate. Below, you can see his launch angles by zone from last year. Insert sad trombone. The newly closed stance has ameliorated that issue in 2026. While it’s only 16 games, his ground-ball rate is just 31.6%, which has allowed him to tap into a .263 ISO. Peep the launch angles by zone in 2026. That’s looking much more productive. If you want more evidence, he recently hit the hardest ball in St. Paul Saints history (117.1 mph), and he leads all Triple-A players ages 23 and under in EV90, at 110.8 mph. Those numbers probably won’t hold, but they're both markers of top-of-the-scale power. In short, this is the potential 30-home run bat Twins fans have been dreaming of. We should also discuss some changes Rodríguez has made in his approach at the plate. Describing his plate discipline binary pithily as ‘patience or passivity’ has become a staple of our analysis of Rodríguez since he became a notable prospect. Through the first month of the season, he’s made some swing decision tweaks that might finally help put that phrase to bed. In his 52-game 2025 Triple-A sample, Rodríguez swung at 38.1% of pitches. That's as low as anyone goes in MLB. Only Taylor Ward and Juan Soto swung less often in the majors last year. That’s not necessarily a problem, in and of itself, but it’s easy for that lack of aggression to quickly become an impediment. How would this play out disadvantageously? Hypotheticaly, Rodríguez would be waiting for his perfect pitch and quickly get into 0-2 or 1-2 counts. Without elite bat-to-ball skills in his back pocket, he’s in challenging counts too often to be consistently productive. What’s different in 2026? In short, he’s swinging more. His overall swing percentage is up from 37.7% to 44.4%. That's a level at which he's defending the strike zone much more robustly. Rodríguez is swinging at pitches in the zone around 10% more in the early going in 2026. While that has resulted in a higher chase percentage (17.3% in 2025; 23.9% in 2026), this is a trade worth making, because it was such an absurdly low mark to begin with. If Rodríguez carries his current increased chase rate into the majors, it’d still be a top-15 mark in the league. What’s the headline here? Rodríguez is chasing more, but the prize is more of that incredible bat speed directed at hittable pitches earlier in counts. You can see this represented below, with his average exit velocities represented by count. In 2026, we see a greater swath of red earlier in counts. You miss 100% of the swings you don’t take, I guess. How does Rodríguez force himself into the Twins lineup, and at whose expense? That’s a fun discussion, but one for another day. What’s clear is that early in 2026, he’s making the adjustments needed for his specific skillset to thrive in the majors—not just in Triple-A. View the full article

The Kansas City Royals' struggling offense has lost a struggling bat. Second baseman Jonathan India was put on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a left shoulder subluxation. Infielder-outfielder Nick Loftin was called up from Triple-A Omaha. India has not been in the starting lineup since Thursday's 10-9 road loss to the Detroit Tigers. He did come off the bench and had two at-bats Friday vs. the New York Yankees and came in defensively in Saturday's blowout loss. India did not play Sunday. The Royals entered Monday with the third-worst OPS at .635 and are dead last in MLB at 3.23 runs per game. India has helped contribute to that with his .167/.310/.313 slash line with two homers and eight RBIs in 17 of the Royals' 22 games. Loftin made the Opening Day roster, but was optioned to Omaha on April 6. He appeared in four games, two at second base, one at third base and the other in left, going 2-for-9 (.222/.364/.333) with two walks and three runs scored. At Omaha, he had a .303/.385/.455 slash line in nine games. View the full article

Red Sox Affiliate Overview (April 17 - April 19) Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Series at Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers): 1-5 Season Record: 11-9 Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Series at Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates): 4-2 Season Record: 8-6 High-A Greenville Drive Series vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods: 3-3 Season Record: 6-9 Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Series at Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers): 1-5 Season Record: 8-7 Triple-A Worcester Red Sox Season Record: 11-9 Series Opponent: Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers) Series Standing: 1-5 April 17: It was a busy Friday for Worcester as they lost both games of a doubleheader 4-2. Thursday’s game was suspended in the fourth inning due to rain, and picked up on Friday with the score 0-0. Prior to the suspension, Jake Bennett worked through three innings and only gave up three hits. He lowered his ERA to 0.55 in his fourth game of the season, a stellar start for the lefty. Seth Martinez lasted two and ⅔ innings to resume play on Friday. He gave up one run on two hits and three walks before turning the ball over to Devin Sweet. Sweet went another two innings, giving up two runs, two walks, and one hit and earning the loss on the day. With a save opportunity on the line, Tayron Guerrero gave up another run on three hits as the Sounds pulled ahead. At the plate, the WooSox didn’t take long to find their groove after the suspension of play. Vinny Capra singled to drive in Tsung-Che Cheng and give Worcester the one-run advantage. Then, four innings later in the top of the eighth, Kristian Campbell drove in Nate Eaton on a line-drive single to tack on another run for the WooSox. It was a slow afternoon at the plate for the WooSox as they only generated six hits and lost 4-2. For attendees of Friday’s games, the second game was like seeing double. The WooSox again fell 4-2 on seven hits this time. Isaac Coffey took the mound to start for Worcester, turning in three innings of quality work. He allowed four runners via two walks and two hits, but struck out four as well. He maintained his 0.00 ERA amid a fantastic stretch to start the season. Tyler Samaniego took the mound next, but wasn’t nearly as good as Coffey. In just one inning he gave up two runs on three hits and two walks. Samaniego is working his way back to the majors after making his debut earlier this month. Tommy Kahnle took over in the fifth and couldn’t rebound from Samaniego's outing. In two innings he gave up two runs on one hit. It’s been a less than ideal start for the veteran as he also tries to crack the big league roster. At the plate, the WooSox continued their performance from the day’s first game. Allan Castro drove in Nate Eaton on a first inning single to take a 1-0 lead. There was some excitement in the second when Braiden Ward was hit in the head with a pitch. He threw his bat in the direction of the mound and the benches cleared. The frustrations are understandable for Ward, who’s been hit eight times already this year. In the sixth, down 2-1, Capra tacked on his second RBI of the day on a sac fly to drive in Campbell. That was all the offense for the WooSox, who again fell 4-2. April 18: Worcester dropped their fifth straight game in a low-scoring affair. It was a bullpen game for the WooSox, who had Reidis Sena start the game. Sena went two innings and struck out four. He allowed one run on a solo home run in the first inning, and only allowed two baserunners otherwise. Noah Song got the nod next, and allowed two hits over two and ⅔ innings. He struck out five as he continued to build his case to be called up. Wyatt Olds pitched the next two and ⅓. He walked two and gave up one run on a sac fly. He got the loss despite striking out four. Kyle Keller pitched the final inning of the game and gave up one hit but no runs. The WooSox’s bats were all but silent at the plate. Only five players recorded a hit and they struck out a combined 11 times. It was an uncharacteristic series for Worcester who have seriously struggled to generate offense. On Saturday, the WooSox only run came from a Matt Thaiss single that scored Allan Castro. Mickey Gasper stood out, drawing two walks and going 1-2 with a double. It was a quiet showing from the WooSox as they fell without protest. April 19: The WooSox got back in the win column with a 4-2 victory. Payton Tolle was scratched from his start just hours before Saturday’s game, with Michael Sansone getting the start in his absence. Sansone was excellent, putting in six innings of shutout work, striking out five, and only giving up two hits. It was Sansone’s longest outing of the year, and the first since his call up from Double-A Portland. Jacob Webb pitched two innings in relief, earning the hold. He gave up two more hits, and allowed the only two runs of the afternoon for Worcester in the bottom of the ninth. Tayron Guerrero came in looking to close out the game for the WooSox, and did just that, earning the save as he rebounded from his rough outing on Friday. The WooSox looked better at the plate as well. Nate Eaton highlighted the afternoon for Worcester with a brilliant game. He went 3-5, crushing a solo homer in the fifth, and driving in Mikey Romero on an eighth inning single. Nick Sogard also knocked in his tenth RBI on a single in the fifth, scoring Tsung-Che Cheng. Cheng tacked on the fourth run of the day for Worcester with a sac-fly in the eighth to drive in Mickey Gasper. Cheng had two hits and a walk, building on a good start to the season. Double-A Portland Sea Dogs Season Record: 8-6 Series Opponent: Altoona Curve (Pittsburgh Pirates) Series Standing: 4-2 April 17: The Sea Dogs fell 5-2 on Friday, giving the Curve their first win of the season. Dalton Rogers started things off for Portland, going four and ⅓ solid innings in his second appearance of the season. He gave up two runs on two hits and struck out two. The issue of the day for Rogers came in the walk column. He allowed five baserunners via walk as he struggled with his command. Jay Allmer came in next and his outing was nothing short of disastrous. In his first appearance since being called up from High-A Greenville, he allowed three runs on six baserunners in just one and ⅔ innings. Max Carlson rounded things out for Portland, pitching a dominant two innings without allowing a baserunner. Franklin Arias has been utterly outstanding thus far this season. The Red Sox top position prospect continued his campaign to be called up to Triple-A Worcester with yet another solid performance on Friday. In the third inning Arias absolutely crushed a 440ft home run to dead center, his third of the season as he bumps his batting average to an astonishing .538. It seems like the 20-year-old won’t be in Portland much longer if he keeps up his dominant form. Other than Arias, the Sea Dogs offense was spurred on by Ronald Rosario, who hit his first homer of the season in the fourth inning to give Portland a 2-1 lead. Rosario also drove in a second RBI on a single to right field that drove in Miguel Bleis. Other than Arias and Rosario, the Sea Dogs offense was mostly silent as they fell to the lowly Curve. April 18: The Sea Dogs fell to the Curve again on Saturday, this time by a score of 2-0. Despite getting the loss on the scoresheet, John Holobetz was excellent as he got the start. The 23-year-old turned in seven innings of one-hit ball, and punched out 11 of the 23 batters he faced. The lone run, however, was a solo home run. The righty has a 1.13 ERA through 16 innings of work so far this season. Jedixson Paez pitched one inning in relief, but gave up another solo home run. Paez was selected by the Chicago White Sox in last season’s Rule 5 draft, but was designated for assignment and returned to the Red Sox on April 4. He will look to bounce back from a rough early season with Chicago back in a familiar organization. Portland struggled to generate offense at the plate. Despite a collective seven hits, the Sea Dogs failed to drive in a run. Nelly Taylor was the lone bright spot, hitting two singles as he tried to rebound from a rough early season. Portland’s offensive struggles were evident, especially as Franklin Arias went 0-4 in one of his worst games of the season. April 19: Portland snapped a two-game skid, beating Altoona 5-3. Hayden Mullins got the start for the Sea Dogs, going six innings three-hit ball while striking out eight. It was a strong return to form for Mullins who struggled in his first two starts, lowering his ERA from 9.53 to 4.63. Patrick Halligan came in for the seventh, allowing all three of Altoona’s runs on a three-run shot. Halligan’s season has been a mixed bag to say the least, he’s amassed an 8.64 ERA over eight innings. Cooper Adams came in with two innings left, and shut down any comeback attempt. He went two hitless innings, only allowing two walks as he closed the game for Portland. All of the Sea Dogs' five runs came in a high-scoring fourth inning. Miguel Bleis got the offense going with an RBI single that was deflected by the third baseman, scoring Marvin Alcantara. Ronald Rosario kept it going, driving in Nate Baez on a single and adding onto the lead. Bleis then scored on a wild pitch as Rosario advanced to third. Will Turner stepped up to the plate, driving in Rosario on a sac-fly. Then, to cap off the inning, Max Ferguson hit an RBI single to score Tyler McDonough. Despite the silent bats the rest of the afternoon, it was a much better effort all around compared to earlier in the weekend. High-A Greenville Drive Season Record: 6-9 Series Opponent: Bowling Green Hot Rods Series Standing: 3-3 April 17: The Drive prevailed 8-7 in a walk-off win against Bowling Green. Friday marked Kyson Witherspoon’s third professional start, and it was a rough one. His career hasn’t gotten off to the start he would have liked, but there’s still plenty of time for the young prospect to settle in. Over four and ⅓ innings on Friday, Witherspoon gave up three runs on five hits, allowing two runners by way of walks. He struck out three, but was unsuccessful in lowering his ERA, which rose to 6.17. Ben Hansen came in in relief, pitching three and ⅓ innings while allowing two runs. He gave up two hits but didn’t allow any walks, striking out four. Matt McShane made his first appearance of the season coming off the injured list. It was a so-so return, he went one and ⅓ innings and allowed two runs on one hit, accounting for a blown save. P.J. Labriola took the bump in extra innings and earned the win with one shutout inning, allowing just one baserunner on a walk. It was Labriola’s second consecutive scoreless outing as he continues to rebound well from a rough start to the season. The Drive were excellent at the dish, amassing ten hits and eight runs. Natanael Yuten hit his first homer of the season in the second, driving in Adonys Guzman. The sixth was eventful for the Drive. Freili Encarnacion hit his second of the season in the sixth to lessen the deficit to 5-3. Then, Guzman scored again on a passed ball to cut the lead to one. Up to the plate next was Hudson White, who tripled to drive in Yuten and Yophery Rodriguez. Just one batter later, Yoeilin Cespedes singled to center to drive in White to give the Drive a two run lead. With the game tied 7-7 in the bottom of the tenth, Guzman stepped up to bat and hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field, driving in Isaiah Jackson and capping off the comeback win for the Drive. April 18: The Drive won 4-0 behind great outings from Anthony Eyanson and Devin Futrell. Anthony Eyanson has been living up to the hype to say the least. The Louisiana State alum shoved over five shutout innings. He struck out five and only allowed two runners on two hits. He lowered his ERA to 0.73 as he continued his stellar start to his professional career. Devin Futrell gave up just one hit and one walk, striking out three in his first High-A appearance after being called up from Low-A Salem. The two combined for nine shutout innings, putting the Drive in prime position. At the plate, Greenville took advantage of the strong pitching. Justin Gonzales accounted for two hits and one run, while Yoeilin Cespedes went 2-4 with an RBI single. The one-two punch of Gonzales and Cespedes has been excellent for the Drive as the pair makes up a solid portion of the offense. Jack Winnay had the first RBI of the day for the Drive, driving in Cespedes on an RBI double in the sixth. Later in the inning, Winnay scored on a wild pitch, giving the Drive a 2-0 lead. Additionally, Yophery Rodriguez has stood out recently, and hit an RBI double in the sixth to cap off a three-run inning. April 19: The Drive won their third game in a row to split the series. Marcus Phillips started the game for Greenville and turned in a solid outing. The righty went three and ⅔ innings, only giving up two hits and striking out half of the fourteen batters he faced. Austin Ehrlicher got the next inning and ⅓, putting together a rough outing. He walked three, giving up three runs on two hits, the only runs Bowling Green would score all afternoon. Calvin Bickerstaff put together a solid three and ⅓ innings behind Ehrlicher. Bickerstaff gave up three hits and two walks, but didn’t allow a run, earning the win for Saturday. P.J. Labriola got the nod for the last ⅔ innings of the game, striking out one and earning the save after sealing the win for Greenville. Justin Gonzales continued his strong season, going 2-5 with two RBIs on a single in the second inning and giving the Drive a 2-0 lead. In the eighth, Antonio Anderson drove in Jack Winnay with a sac-fly, and Natanael Yuten drove in Isaiah Jackson on an RBI single to give the Drive a one-run advantage. Mason White also had a strong showing, he went 2-4 with a run. The Drive combined for seven hits, but offensive struggles persist. Not one hitter has an average higher than .300, and five are hitting well below .200. However, Saturday was a positive sign for the Drive who will look to build on their momentum at Asheville this week. Low-A Salem RidgeYaks Season Record: 8-7 Series Opponent: Hickory Crawdads (Texas Rangers) Series Standing: 1-5 April 17: Salem lost 7-5 as it had a hard time on the mound. Madison Frias’ tough start to the season continued in his third start of the season. Through four innings he allowed four runs (one unearned) on four hits and two home-runs. He walked three and struck out three as his ERA ballooned to 10.00. Ethan Walker came in relief, throwing three and ⅔ innings of three run ball. He gave up two hits and only allowed one earned run, but his four walks were an eyesore on the scoresheet. He earned the loss, but despite that his ERA remains an impressive 1.69. Wuilliams Rodriguez sealed the game with ⅓ inning of easy work. The RidgeYaks got off to a hot start on Friday. Starlyn Nunez launched his first homer of the season in the top of the first, and just an inning later Avinson Pinto hit his first, driving in two and extending the lead to three. In the third, Andrews Opata hit a two-run double to left field to give Salem a 5-0 advantage. However, that was all the offense the RidgeYaks could generate as they allowed five unanswered runs and took the loss. April 18: After starting the season 7-2, the RidgeYaks dropped their fifth straight and fell to .500. Jose Bello, the only remaining piece of the Rafael Devers return, made his second appearance of the season. He gave up two hits and one run off of an inside-the-park home run in the second inning before getting pulled after one and ⅔ innings. Christian Foutch put in three solid innings of relief, giving up two runs on two hits, but striking out six. Adam Bates earned the hold in his two and ⅓ innings of work. He allowed four runs on four hits and allowed two runners via walks. Harry Blum had the opportunity to earn a save, but instead went home with a blown save. In just an inning he gave up six runs (one unearned) on five hits and three walks. Overall it was a night to forget for Salem’s pitching staff, who collapsed towards the end of the game. At the plate, the RidgeYaks tried valiantly to make up for the poor pitching performance, but fell short. Enddy Azocar has been strong as of late, and this trend continued. He went 3-5 with four RBIs while launching two homers. Stanley Tucker was also excellent, going 3-4 with two runs and a triple. Frederik Jimenez went 2-4 and drove in one run on a soft line drive to center field. The bulk of Salem’s offense came in the early stages of the game, and they were mostly silent from the sixth on, allowing Hickory to seal the game. April 19: Salem snapped a five-game losing streak, snatching the series finale 4-2. Barrett Morgan made his second start of the season, turning in two and ⅔ innings of one-hit ball and striking out two. He maintained his season ERA of 0.00. Nicolas De La Cruz earned the win for his one and ⅓ innings of work, allowing two hits and a walk, and striking out one. He’s been excellent in four appearances this season, allowing no runs and just two hits through a combined five innings of work. Dalvinson Reyes kept up the good work in his first appearance of the season for Salem. He threw three innings and allowed just two baserunners via walks. He struck out three and earned the hold in his first game for Salem after being called up from the FCL Red Sox. Wuilliams Rodriguez threw the final two innings, and was the only pitcher to allow a run. He gave up two runs on three hits and a walk, but prevented a comeback as he closed out the game. D’Angelo Ortiz got the offense started, driving in Avinson Pinto on a groundout in the fifth to put the RidgeYaks up 1-0. Later in the inning, Stanley Tucker scored on a wild pitch to add onto the lead. Ortiz went 2-4 as he continued to be one of Salem’s hottest hitters. In the seventh, Starlyn Nunez tripled to right, driving in both Tucker and Ortiz to tack on two more runs. Luke Heyman went 2-4 as he tried to shake off a rough start, and Pinto went 2-4 as well. Andrews Opata, who leads the team in average, went 1-4 with a single. Salem avoided the sweep, and kept itself above .500 with the win. View the full article

San Diego Padres Weekly Snapshot Record last week: 5-1 Runs scored last week: 22 Runs allowed last week: 19 Standings Scores Game 17 (Tuesday): Padres 4, Mariners 1 Game 18 (Wednesday): Padres 7, Mariners 6 Game 19 (Thursday): Padres 5, Mariners 2 Game 20 (Friday): Angels 8, Padres 0 Game 21 (Saturday): Padres 4, Angels 1 Game 22 (Sunday): Padres 2, Angels 1 Series Breakdown/Highlights Mariners series Game 1: Following a day off and after receiving the bad news before the game that Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta was going on the injured list, the Mariners came to town for the season opener of the Vedder Cup. And right-handed starter Michael King was certainly rocking, even if he didn't hit all the notes correctly. King allowed one run over six innings as the Padres won their sixth straight, beating the Mariners 4-1. King allowed four hits, walked two and struck out five, but his control was off as only 49 of his 85 pitches were strikes. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, the Padres took control of the game. Ramon Laureano had a one-out triple and scored on a single by Fernando Tatis Jr. Xander Bogaerts snapped the 1-1 tie with a two-run single to center, the second of his three hits. Jackson Merrill also had three hits and scored twice, including doubling and scoring an insurance run on Bogaerts' final hit in the eighth inning. That set the stage for closer Mason Miller, who struck out one of the three batters he faced for his fifth save in as many chances. Miller has struck out 20 of the 27 batters he has faced this season while extending his scoreless streak to 29⅔ innings, third-longest in team history and one-third of an inning shy of tying the late Randy Jones for second place. Game 2: If you left the stadium or turned to a different channel early, sorry. You missed a terrific comeback by the Friars, who extended their winning streak to seven games. For the third time in six games, the Padres won in walk-off fashion, with Merrill's double down the left-field line scoring Laureano and Luis Campusano with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to finish off a five-run rally for a 7-6 victory. It was the third career walk-off hit for Merrill, who was already going to be a star of the game. That was because of his third-inning home run robbery of a drive by Mariners superstar Julio Rodriguez in the left-center field cap. Merrill's theft denied J-Rod of a two-run homer and kept the Padres' deficit at 2-0. Merrill called it the best catch of his young career. Still, the Padres did trail 6-0 in the fifth inning before starting their comeback. Bogaerts got things started with his third homer of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth inning that was his third in his last seven games. For Bogaerts, it was his 200th career homer. That was the lone damage off Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock, who good for six innings. Mariners closer Anthony Munoz, a former Friar, came on in a non-save situation in the ninth and couldn't finish the job. There were plenty of good trips to the plate in the ninth and it started with Manny Machado drawing a seven-pitch walk. Tatis had a pinch-hit sacrifice fly, Campusano with another big hit in the form of an RBI single and Laureano's own run-scoring single to pull the Padres within 6-5. That chased Munoz in favor of Jose Ferrer, who inherited runners on first and second with two outs. Ferrer got the count to 2-2 on Merrill, who then laced a double down the left-field line that Randy Arozarena bobbled, allowing Campusano to score from second and Laureano from first without a play. The only two dings on the Padres were Randy Vasquez's first bad start of the season. The right-hander gave up four runs on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts in four innings. Also, catcher Freddy Fermin left the game in the top of the third inning after taking another foul ball off the mask. Game 3: How about an undefeated homestand? Tatis capped a four-run second inning with a two-run single as the Padres won their eighth straight, a 5-2 win over the Mariners. That gave the Friars a three-game sweep of the Mariners and a 7-0 record on this homestand before heading to Anaheim. The Friars' first homestand of the season resulted in a 2-4 mark. The eight wins in a row are the most by a team this young season. Right-hander Walker Buehler earned his first win as a Padre, pitching into the sixth inning and Miller surpassed Jones for the second-longest scoreless streak in franchise history at 30⅔. Only Cla Meredith has a longer run at 33⅔ innings. Miller is 6-for-6 in save opportunities after striking out the side, giving him a spectacular 23 K's in 30 batters faced this season. He has allowed just one hit. The Friars put up all the offense they would need in the second inning against right-hander Luis Castillo. Gavin Sheets doubled with one out, took third on Miguel Andujar's single and scored on Campusano's single to left. Cronenworth's comebacker led to a throwing error by Castillo to load the bases and Laureano grounded to first to plate Andujar. Still looking for a big moment this year, Tatis lined a single to center to drive in two more runs and stake Buehler to a 4-0 lead. Buehler took a two-hit shutout into the sixth inning, but yielded singles to the first three hitters to load the bases, ending his night. Right-hander Bradgley Rodriguez came in and gave up a two-run single to Julio Rodriguez. A groundout and a walk reloaded the bases and manager Craig Stammen had the quick hook, turning to Morejon to again escape a jam. A strikeout and a groundout did the trick, preserving the 4-2 lead. Jason Adam allowed one hit in the eighth and Miller slammed the door in the ninth. Angels series Game 1: Every winning streak must come to an end, but there might have been some other forces at work as the Friars' eight-game winning streak was halted. On a day the Angels announced the death of former outfielder Garret Anderson at the age of 53, Los Angeles sent the starting pitcher off to the best beginning of the season to the mound. It added up to an 8-0 loss for the Padres. Right-hander Jose Soriano allowed just two hits in 5⅔ shutout innings, striking out eight, walking four and lowering his ERA to a microscopic 0.28 after five starts. The Angels jumped on Padres right-hander Matt Waldron, making his season debut as Pivetta's rotation replacement, for six runs in 3⅔ innings. Waldron allowed eight hits and a walk with four strikeouts. The Padres managed just three hits off four Angels pitchers in being shut out for the first time this season. The only real threat by the Friars came in the sixth inning as, with two outs, Machado singled and Bogaerts walked, ending Soriano's day. Sheets flew out to the warning track in right on the first pitch from right-hander Chase Silseth to end the threat. Game 2: A terrific start by German Marquez and another dose of late offense got the Padres back in the win column. Marquez pitched 5⅔ shutout innings, while Laureano and Tatis drove in all the runs in the eighth and ninth innings as the Friars won 4-1. It was their 12th win in 14 games and came a day after their eight-game winning streak was halted. The story early was Marquez, who allowed two hits and two walks while striking out five. It was his second scoreless outing in his last three starts. He was backed by Merrill's third homer-robbing catch of the season, this time in the right-center gap in the second inning on a drive by Yoan Moncada. The Padres likewise were held in check by left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, which left the game 0-0 entering the eighth inning. Fermin, back in the lineup after sitting out two games after taking a foul ball of the mask, and Cronenworth drew leadoff walks. Laureano grounded a single up the middle to score Fermin from second and extend hit hitting streak to seven games. Tatis, shaking off an early slump despite plenty of hard-hit balls, dribbled a grounder to the right side of the infield that barely trickled onto the outfield grass to bring in Cronenworth from third. After mustering two hits in the first seven innings, the Angels got three hits in the eighth off Adam, making it 2-1. In the ninth, Bryce Johnson, who came on as a pinch-runner earlier, singled in his first at-bat, then Fermin and Cronenworth walked again to load the bases. Laureano's sacrifice fly to center made it 3-1 and Tatis made it a three-run cushion on a line drive to right-center. That brought in Miller, who was tagged for just his second hit of the season by Moncada. After a strikeout, Miller issued his second walk of the season before retiring the final two batters. That was the first time an opponent had multiple runners on vs. the closer, who earned his seventh save. Miller's scoreless streak is now at 31⅔ innings, two shy of Meredith's club record. Game 3: Sustainable winning means getting contributions from every part of the roster. Johnson hasn't had a lot of playing time this season, but he made sure to chip in when given the chance. Johnson's opposite-field single in the top of the seventh helped the Friars to a 2-1 win in the series finale. It was the Padres' 13th win in 15 games. Johnson's hit drove in Bogaerts from second for a 2-0 lead. Bogaerts had singled home Tatis in the fourth for the first run of the game. That was enough for King to work with. The right-hander allowed just one hit and struck out six in five innings, although he did walk four. In the bottom of the seventh, facing left-hander Kyle Hart, Oswald Peraza got the Angels' second and only other hit with a leadoff double. A hit by pitch and sacrifice bunt forced a move to Bradgley Rodriguez, who gave up RBI grounder to make it 2-1. That left it up to Miller to finish another one off. The closer struck out two of the three batters he faced for his eighth save. That also boosted his scoreless streak to 31 games and 32⅔ innings, one inning shy of Meredith's club record. The Friars have two days off in the coming week, one due to the travel day to Mexico City for the two-game series vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks. Marvelous Mason Miller Some of the amazing stats for the Padres' closer: In 11 games this season, Miller is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA, allowing two hits and two walks with 27 strikeouts in 11⅓ innings. Opponents are hitting .056 and he has a 0.35 WHIP. Has struck out 27 of the 38 batters he has faced (71.1% strikeout rate). Struck out the side in Thursday's game, increasing his strikeout rate over his last nine appearances to 78.1%. It is the third time Miller has struck out 75% of the batters in a nine-game stretch in MLB history. He is the only pitcher in MLB history to accomplish that. Struck out all three batters faced in a game for the fifth time in his last seven appearances, two more times than any other pitcher in his team's first 19 games since at least 1900. Opponents are 0-for-25 with 21 strikeouts against Miller's slider this season, including 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Sunday. His slider has the highest whiff rate of any pitch by any pitcher this season at 77.8%. Random Stats Wednesday's five-run ninth inning resulted in the Padres' first win when trailing by four or more runs in the ninth since June 14, 2019, a game they beat the Colorado Rockies 16-12 in 12 innings. In that game, the Friars scored six runs in the ninth. The Padres had five consecutive games with 10 or more hits during their winning streak, the longest stretch in club history since a six-game run June 4-9, 2013. Since snapping his 0-for-35 stretch that dated to the 2024 season, Luis Campusano had an eight-game hitting streak that came to an end Friday. Five of his nine hits in that run were for extra bases. The Padres have faced opposing starting pitchers who have turned in quality starts in 10 of the Friars' first 18 games. Transactions Tuesday: Placed RHP Nick Pivetta on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Monday with right elbow inflammation. Tuesday: Recalled RHP Alek Jacob from Triple-A El Paso. Thursday: Activated IF Sung-Mun Song from the 10-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso. Friday: Activated RHP Matt Waldron from the 15-day injured list (hemorrhoid surgery). Friday: Optioned RHP Alek Jacob to Triple-A El Paso. Website Highlights Padres' sale reaching final steps for record $3.9 billion — Brandon Glick Feliciano ushers in LinkedIn-ification of the Padres — Brendan Dentino Who is to blame for Musgrove's setback, Padres, pitcher or no one? — Steve Drumwright Waldron can't replace Pivetta, but he can save his Padres career — Randy Holt Cronenworth might be playing his way onto Padres' bench — Andy Johnson Sheets' grip on Padres' first base job is loosening — Randy Holt Looking Ahead Monday: Off Tuesday: Padres (Randy Vasquez) at Rockies, 5:40 p.m. Wednesday: Padres (Walker Buehler) at Rockies, 5:40 p.m. Thursday: Padres (Matt Waldron) at Rockies, 12:10 p.m. Friday: Off Saturday: Padres (German Marquez) at Diamondbacks (Mexico City), 3:05 p.m. Sunday: Padres (Michael King) at Diamondbacks (Mexico City), 1:05 p.m. View the full article

New York Mets Record Last Week: 0-6 Runs Scored Last Week: 10 Runs Surrendered Last Week: 33 Standings: 5th in NL East 7.5 GB of 1st Place Transactions: 4/13 New York Mets selected the contract of LF Tommy Pham from St. Lucie Mets. 4/13 New York Mets optioned 3B Ronny Mauricio to Syracuse Mets. 4/14 New York Mets released RHP Luis García. 4/14 New York Mets placed RHP Joey Gerber on the 15-day injured list. Right finger blister. 4/14 New York Mets recalled RHP Austin Warren from Syracuse Mets. 4/15 New York Mets placed LF Jared Young on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 13, 2026. Left meniscus tear. 4/15 New York Mets recalled LF MJ Melendez from Syracuse Mets. 4/16 New York Mets sent LHP A.J. Minter on a rehab assignment to Brooklyn Cyclones. 4/16 New York Mets traded LHP Richard Lovelady to Washington Nationals for cash. 4/18 New York Mets placed 2B Jorge Polanco on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 15, 2026. Right wrist contusion. 4/18 New York Mets recalled C Hayden Senger from Syracuse Mets. Scores: Game 16 (4/13): NYM 0, LAD 4 Game 17 (4/14): NYM 1, LAD 3 Game 18 (4/15): NYM 2, LAD 8 Game 19 (4/17): NYM 4, CHC 12 Game 20 (4/18): NYM 2, CHC 4 Game 21 (4/19): NYM -, CHC - Series Breakdown/Highlights Dodgers Series: The Mets took their losing streak to Chavez Ravine to take on the defending world champion Dodgers. The losing streak was extended after the team was swept right out of LA. It wasn't ever really close. In game one, the Mets were shut out 4-0. David Peterson, who took the loss, was not as bad as he was in prior outings this season, though he was on the ropes early. The Mets' offense sputtered two singles against Dodgers starter Justin Wrobleski across eight innings. They added one in the ninth against Tanner Scott, though that was erased on a double play. In game two, the Mets had a lead for a half inning after Fransisco Lindor lead the game off with a home run off Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Nolan McLean gave it right back on an RBI single from Will Smith. The two starters traded zeros until the bullpens came in. It took an eighth inning bloop RBI single by Kyle Tucker off Brooks Raley to break the 1-1 tie. Alex Vesia came in and struck out the side to earn the save. In the series finale, on Jackie Robinson Day, Clay Holmes and Shohei Ohtani duked it out on the mound. The Dodgers took a second-inning 2-0 lead on a Hyeseong Kim two-run home run. The Mets got a run back on a RBI ground-rule double by the hottest hitter in the lineup (MJ Melendez), but stranded runners in scoring position when they could have had a big inning. Devin Williams came in for the eighth inning, loaded the bases with no outs and gave up a back-breaking grand slam to Daulton Rushing to put the game out of reach. The Mets got swept, though they scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to avoid total embarrassment. Cubs Series: Kodai Senga got the start in game one of the series. He spotted the Cubs four runs in the top of the first inning. The bottom of the Mets' lineup did respond scoring three runs, but it was not enough. Senga would go on to allow four more runs and ended his day going 3.1 innings, allowing seven runs, six earned. Sean Manaea came in and was able to give the Mets bullpen four innings of work and gave up five runs. The Mets lost 12-4. In game two of the series, Freddy Peralta got the start. The Mets gave him an early 1-0 lead, though that was handed right back. After Peralta waked two batters with two outs in the sixth inning, Carlos Mendoza went to his not-so-trusty bullpen. Brooks Raley came in and gave up a back-breaking pinch-hit three run home run to Carson Kelly. The Mets scored a run in the eighth inning, but it wasn't enough as they fell to the Cubs 4-2. It was the finale where the Mets hit rock bottom. They got good pitching from Tobias Myers, who opened the game, David Peterson who came in for relief, and Huascar Brazoban and Brooks Raley out of the bullpen. Going into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Mets had a 1-0 lead and went to closer Devin Williams. The one run was a solo home run by MJ Melendez. Williams would blow the save in the ninth inning on an RBI double by Michael Conforto into the corner with one out. Williams would escape the inning, but a wild pitch and a sac fly in the bottom of the tenth against Craig Kimbrel gave the Cubs a walk-off sweep. The Mets are now on an 11-game losing streak, their longest since 2004. Website Highlights Brett Baty Is Swinging Wildly and Failing Miserably In the Process New York Mets 2026 Top Prospects Rankings: Nos. 16-20 New York Mets 2026 Top Prospects Rankings: Nos. 11-15 Looking Ahead April 20th: OFF April 21st (vs. MIN, 7:10pm EST): RHP Mick Abel (1-2, 3.98) vs. RHP Nolan McLean (1-1, 2.28) April 22nd (vs. MIN, 7:10pm EST): RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-3, 6.10) vs. RHP Clay Holmes (2-2, 1.96) April 23rd (vs. MIN, 7:10pm EST): RHP Joe Ryan (2-2, 3.29) vs. TBA April 24th (vs. COL, 7:10pm EST) April 25th (vs. COL, 4:10pm EST) April 26th (vs. COL, 1:40pm EST) View the full article

Now we know the full picture of why the Minnesota Twins are calling up two of their top pitching prospects. In a big blow to the starting rotation, the Twins will be placing right-hander Mick Abel on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. The move will be made before Tuesday's series opener against the New York Mets. On Sunday, news broke that left-handers Kendry Rojas and Connor Prielipp were joining the team in New York. One part of the equation as to whose roster spots they would take was another left-hander, Kody Funderburk, is set to go on the paternity list. Rojas and Prielipp are both already on the 40-man roster. The Abel injury answers the other half of that. Abel, 24, has appeared in four games, including three starts, this season with a 3.98 ERA. He has been especially sharp in his last two starts, tossing 13 shutout innings against the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. He struck out 16 in those two games, including 10 Tuesday vs. the Red Sox. Abel joins star right-hander Pablo Lopez, who is out for the season after having his right UCL repaired in late February. View the full article

The Twins suffered a major loss on an off day Monday, as they're set to place right-handed starter Mick Abel on the 15-day injured list. Dan Hayes of The Athletic broke the news on Twitter. The initial diagnosis—inflammation in his throwing elbow—isn't the worst news you could hear about a player hitting the injured list between starts, but it's awfully close. The extent of Abel's injury won't be clear until the team provides further updates about any imaging taken on the arm, but right away, one must worry about a long-term absence. Inflammation isn't an injury in itself; it's a symptom of fatigue and/or damage, which has some cause. Finding out the cause of the inflammation will tell us whether Abel will be out a few weeks, the rest of the season, or somewhere in between. No matter what, though, it hurts the team badly to lose him now. Abel, 24, has a 3.98 ERA and a 24.7% strikeout rate through his first four appearances of the season, but that undersells what has been a thrilling upward trend over his last two outings. His dominance of the Red Sox last week at Target Field (7 innings, 4 hits, 10 strikeouts, no walks) felt like a step toward legitimate mid-rotation status, and Abel came out of that outing feeling great. Abel was scheduled to start Tuesday night in Queens. The team could turn, instead, to left-handed pitching prospect Connor Prielipp, who was on the taxi squad for the trip, anyway. Barring that, it's likely to be a bullpen day, but the team's roster isn't built for that right now. Short-term and long-term, this is a daunting disruption of the team's plans. They can only cross their fingers while they (and we) await more news on Abel's prognosis. View the full article

Boston Red Sox Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 2-4 Runs Scored Last Week: 19 Runs Surrendered Last Week: 34 Standings: 4th in AL East 4.5 GB First Place Transactions: 04/14/26; Red Sox selected the contract of RHP Jack Anderson from Worcester Red Sox. 04/14/26: Red Sox Transferred RHP Johan Oviedo from 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Right elbow strain. 04/15/26: Everyone changed number to 42. 04/16/26: Everyone changed numbers back to original from 42. Scores: Game 16 (4/13): BOS 6, MIN 13 Game 17 (4/14): BOS 0, MIN 6 Game 18 (4/14): BOS 9, MIN 6 Game 19 (4/17): BOS 1, DET 0 Game 20 (4/18): BOS 1, DET 4 Game 21 (4/19): BOS 2, DET 6 Series Breakdown/Highlights Twins Series: For as much went right in the Milwaukee and St. Louis series last week, that much went wrong in the series against the Twins. Garrett Crochet turned in the worst start of his career in the first game, lasting only 1 ⅔ innings while giving up 11 runs, ten earned, with zero strikeouts, and three walks. The offense came alive later in the game, but it was too little too late. Heading into game two, Sonny Gray was trusted to steady the ship against the Twins and he failed to go more than four innings after being tagged for five earned runs while walking one and striking out one. Finally, Connelly Early turned in arguably his best start of his young career. He went six innings, only allowing one earned run while walking two and striking out five. Perhaps most promising, though, Roman Anthony seemed to wake up this series. He went 5-10 during the three game stint and was far more selective with his swing decisions than he had been previously in the season. It’s the little things when the season is going the way it currently is. Tigers Series: In a weekend series that goes through Marathon Monday, we have the rare week in review that will be written before the series concludes. Game one was a classic pitcher’s duel that saw Ranger Suarez turn in his best performance in a Red Sox uniform. He tossed eight scoreless innings, giving up zero runs, walking one, and striking out four. He flashed his defensive abilities a couple of times and looked as poised as he could be in the first Fenway Greens game of the season. In classic Greens fashion, the win was secured on a walk off bouncing single from Masataka Yoshida, who grinned from ear to ear as he rounded first. Games two and three were less fun. The Red Sox had reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on the ropes a couple of times but failed to capitalize with ducks in the pond. Against such a dominant pitcher, not being able to push those runs across to chase him off the mound earlier in the game. In game three, Crochet seemed to be on the right track through the first four innings, throwing his fastball options better than he did against the Twins but things went off the rails in the fifth. His eight strikeouts are promising, but he’s hardly throwing his sweeper at all. It was his best out pitch last season, and one of the best breakers in the league, but he seems to not trust it at all right now. In good news, Willson Contreras launched another homer early in the game. Website Highlights The Red Sox Have Been MLB’s Least Successful ABS Team (Ryan Painter) Never Trust the Numbers: Greg Weissert Turning Season Around Following Homer-Laden Start (Adam Samrov) Trading Places: Should A Trevor Story-Marcelo Mayer Position Swap Be on the Sox’ Radar? By Ryan Salvaggio The Red Sox Still Have a Trevor Story Problem (Alex Mayes) Looking Ahead April 20: Tigers (Jack Flaherty) @ Red Sox (Sonny Gray): 11:10 AM EDT April 21: Yankees (Luis Gil) @ Red Sox: 6:45 PM EDT April 22: Yankees (Max Fried) @ Red Sox: 6:45 PM EDT April 23: Yankees (Cam Schlittler) @ Red Sox 6:10 PM EDT April 24: Red Sox @ Orioles: 7:05 PM EDT April 25: Red Sox @ Orioles: 4:05 PM EDT April 26: Red Sox @ Orioles: 1:35 PM EDT View the full article

You could call the Cubs' rash of injury troubles a bug, but lately, that feels insufficient. With the club's fiery closer Daniel Palencia the latest to go down with an oblique strain, the "bug" this squad is up against is more akin to one of Godzilla's adversaries than a gnat you swat away while waiting for the Purple Line. Fortunately, there have been signs of lift from the sleeping giant that was the Cubs' offernse over the first two-plus weeks. With Javier Assad taking the ball for the Cubs in the first of their three-game set versus the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park last week, the lineup awoke. The Cubs scratched seven runs across the plate in that contest. The trouble is, the home team tallied 13. Craig Counsell's pitching staff labored, surrendering runs to Philadelphia in all but two innings. Former Cubs hero Kyle Schwarber had no hesitation in making life difficult for his former squad, launching a three-run homer that set the tone early. As Schwarber well knows, success is the perfect revenge, and the North Siders exacted theirs in the middle game of the series. Chicago erased an early 3-0 deficit on the strength of a balanced offensive output from the visitors—especially Nico Hoerner and Carson Kelly, who combined for six RBIs. Hoerner, with his consistently elite play at both the plate and second base, is the clear leader of this club and the driving force behind his team's recent success. Suddenly needed to be something like an ace again, Shota Imanaga is either on the cusp of his 2024 All-Star form or already there. It's not that he doesn't surrender the long ball anymore, like the solo shot he gave up early to Trea Turner in the rubber game of last week's set, but his penchant for recovery is impressive. He takes any blemish personally. Imanaga went on to tie a career-high in strikeouts, with 11 of them over six solid innings. The Cubs used four scoring innings, showing both power and situational hitting. Hoerner racked up 5 RBIs with a 3-for-5 day at the plate. Matt Shaw, who has been on an upward trajectory, enjoyed his best offensive day of the year with a 3-for-4 outing, collecting three doubles. It was the rare case this season in which the offense not only rolled, but the Cubs also were terrific defensively, allowing virtually zero meaningful scoring opportunities for the Phillies. The 11-2 romp earned the North Siders an impressive series win on the road. The team rode that wave back to Wrigley Field, for a weekend set against the Mets. Edward Cabrera took the bump for his fourth start as a Cub. His teammates plated four runs in the opening frame, giving him some margin for error. Moisés Ballesteros and Hoerner both homered in an easy 12-4 win to open a seven-game homestand. Their loss Friday was the Mets' ninth in a row; they're often beating themselves. With Freddy Peralta returning to Wrigley Field—a place that became his personal house of horrors in October 2025—that trend didn't change. Even though the Cubs only took this contest by a 4-2 score, it's how they did it that made spectators take note. Ian Happ's solo homer off of his old adversary sparked the home crowd, but it was Kelly's pinch-hit, three-run blast in a tie game in the sixth inning that got the party started in earnest. Having already secured the series win, the North Siders took the field Sunday in search of their first sweep of the 2026 regular season. In the eleventh hour, they found it. Bouncing back from a laborious start earlier in the week, Javier Assad cruised through the first third of the game with relative ease. A solo shot from the Mets' MJ Melendez was the only disruption to what was otherwise a dominant showing from Assad. Though held scoreless through the first eight innings of this contest, the North Siders frequently put runners on base, most notably via a leadoff triple from Pete Crow-Armstrong to kick off the third. Pinch-hitting in the bottom of the ninth inning, Michael Conforto laced a double into the corner in deep right field, scoring pinch-runner Scott Kingery to tie the game against another former divisional foe, Devin Williams. A gutsy 10th-inning relief appearance from newly-minted closer Caleb Thielbar set the stage for the home team to deliver walk-off magic. With one out and the zombie runner Crow-Armstrong standing 90 feet away, Hoerner came through with a game-winning sacrifice fly. The dramatic finish not only marked the club's fifth straight win, but vaulted them three games over .500 and out of the cellar of the National League Central. Good teams find ways to win. At the outset of a four-game series with the Phillies at Wrigley, this feels like a good team, despite its many injury issues. They've benefited from some good luck and they've beaten themselves once or twice this year, but after a tough start, they're finding their groove a bit. If they can survive the pitching crisis and get their key hitters out of early funks, they'll really be on to something. View the full article

Dylan Cease has been off to an excellent start this season, posting a 1.74 ERA over 20 2/3 innings. His 36.0% strikeout rate (32 strikeouts) leads AL pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched. Although, it's not all pretty, as his 5.23 walks per nine innings would be his second-worst rate over his eight-year MLB tenure. Free passes have been an issue for Cease throughout his career, 3.84 per nine innings. Though he struggles with walks, the righty is posting a career-best strikeout percentage in his first season in Toronto. Another aspect Cease brings to the table is his durability. He has made at least 32 starts in each of the last six seasons. Healthy starting pitchers are something the Blue Jays greatly need right now. They currently have Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, Shane Bieber, and Cody Ponce on the injury list to start the season, and Ponce is likely out for the season due to an ACL injury. However, Yesavage and Berríos have made rehab starts and are close to returning. Cease has been considered a strikeout pitcher throughout his career, but his increased success this season is not a fluke. In the last four seasons, he was primarily a two-pitch pitcher. Although he has six pitches in his arsenal, he threw his four-seam fastball and slider over 80 percent of the time in each of those four seasons. Hitters could sit on a certain pitch, and when it came, they could hammer it. This season, Cease has varied his pitches more often. He only throws his four-seam fastball and slider a combined 65.5 percent of the time, and his other four pitches are thrown between eight and 10 percent of the time. The inclusion of his offspeed pitches at a higher rate keeps batters off balance. Especially with his slider, changeup, knuckle curve, and sweeper sitting in the mid-to-high 80 mph range, while his fastball and sinker hit 96 to 98 mph. The 30-year-old throwing pitches at similar speeds is significant because they all have different movement profiles, either to the arm side or glove side. This craftiness prevents batters from sitting on a specific pitch, as in years past. Below is a breakdown from Baseball Savant. The pitch characteristic stats are all from 2026. Total Movement (in inches) 2025 2026 Pitch Type Avg. MPH Avg. Vertical Drop Avg. Horizontal Break Usage % Whiff % Usage % Whiff % Four-Seam FB 98 9.7 3.6 arm side 42.1 25.7 36.9 33.8 Slider 89.6 30.5 0.5 glove side 40.8 42.9 28.6 55.7 Changeup 85.2 22 9.5 arm side 1.2 46.7 9.4 77.8 Knuckle Curve 83 54.4 2.4 glove side 8.3 37.1 8.8 27.3 Sweeper 84.6 46.8 10.8 glove side 3.5 26.7 8.3 33.3 Sinker 96.8 15 12.0 arm side 3.9 12.9 8.1 7.1 The deception Cease has added by throwing more types of pitches more often shows in the increase in whiff percentage the righty has accrued this season versus last. Every pitch except his sinker and his knuckle curve has a higher whiff percentage, while his overall whiff rate has climbed from 33.4% to 41.0%. These high numbers show that his various offspeed pitches, thrown at similar speeds to one another, are working to keep hitters guessing. Although the sample is small, with only four games under his belt, you can't discredit the fact that Cease's adjustments have made a massive difference this season. The Blue Jays should have an exceptional top trio of starting pitchers with Kevin Gausman, Cease, and, eventually, Yesavage, who all possess similar swing-and-miss pitches. Fans can expect to see a ton of strikeouts in each of these fireballers' games. View the full article

Elite raw power as a left-handed hitting catcher does not grow on trees, but Jensen did not get there overnight. A look at Carter Jensen's power progression and why he is such an exciting rookie. View the full article

Breaking down the ridiculously high ceiling of Luis Peña and why his slow finish to 2025 is not something to be concerned about. View the full article

Owen and Jesse lament the sixth straight series loss for the Toronto Blue Jays, but take some solace in the series finale victory before getting into Jeff Hoffman's continued struggles. They both have emotional thoughts about Eric Lauer's comments to the media about his thoughts on pitching behind an opener. The guys finish with some positives, crediting Kazuma Okamoto and Nathan Lukes with strong series performances in Arizona, and preview the upcoming series in Los Angeles against the Angels. Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jays-centre-podcast/id1846108462 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bi7SzfpcqMo5xYWnbCeoL Listen on iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-jays-centre-podcast-300304824/ Listen on Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/2qk9wqxd Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jayscentre View the full article

A great first pro campaign capped by a historic postseason for the Blue Jays makes it difficult to compare Trey Yesavage to other prospects. It's clear he creates a very unique look that is tough on hitters at any level. View the full article

Jack and Spencer discuss Trevor Megill's status in the bullpen, the level of concern for the left side of the infield, Coleman Crow's MLB debut, and more. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-brewer-fanatic-podcast/id1740648724 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5CY8mWsQayqjDXqw9OT2TdiHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-the-brewer-fanatic-podcast-166534588/ Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ommzz627 Watch On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brewerfanatic View the full article

Joe Ryan didn’t need a complete overhaul, but the tweaks he made are changing things for the better. A closer look at how his revised arsenal is making an already reliable starter even tougher to solve. View the full article

Jarren Duran has faced a difficult start to the 2026 season. Offensive contact has been one of the key components to his poor performance; however, there are a few things that could be key factors in this early slump. There's hope, though, as he's been a key performer with clutch moments. View the full article

There is now a full year of evidence that Agustín Ramírez does not provide major league-caliber defense behind the plate. Fish On First LIVE discusses what comes next for him.View the full article

In isolation, the record-shattering sale of the San Diego Padres is a head-scratcher. Why would Jose E. Feliciano's group pay $3.9 billion for the franchise? That price is more than 60 percent higher than the $2.42 billion Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets in 2020, and it's 25 percent more than the $3,1 billion Forbes magazine estimated the club to be worth last month. But if you look at Forbes' estimates of the top-tier clubs -- and the Padres are in that upper echelon -- you'll notice that it's not an outrageous overpay and Feliciano sees value. For example, Cohen's investment has appreciated nicely over the past six years. The Mets are now worth $3.5 billion in Forbes' estimation. That's sixth-highest in MLB. There's no sign Cohen wants to flip the club, but business is business -- and the baseball business is booming. Robust league revenues fueled by surging fan and sponsor interest is a tide lifting all yachts. The teams ahead of the Mets are all well ahead: the New York Yankees ($8.5 billion), Los Angeles Dodgers ($7.8 billion), Boston Red Sox ($5.75 billion), Chicago Cubs ($5 billion) and San Francisco Giants ($4.05 billion). Seventh through ninth are the Philadelphia Phillies ($3.4 billion), Atlanta Braves ($3.35 billion) and Houston Astros ($3.2 billion). The mid-market Padres, with their gem of a stadium, ideal weather, and huge payroll, are 10th. To put the franchise inflation into greater focus: The Baltimore Orioles were sold for $1.73 billion in August 2024 to a group led by billionaire David Rubenstein. A year and a half later, Forbes pegged the franchise as being worth $2.1.billion. There's a good chance, then, that the Penner Sports Group had a lot more than civic pride in mind when it bought 40 percent of the Colorado Rockies from the Monfort brothers this month. Forbes estimated the Rox at $1.68 billion, 25th in the league. If the cash infusion gets the club out of the mud -- and if the 30 team owners can avoid a damaging labor dispute next year -- then everyone would stand to benefit. Contrast that transaction with the Penner group buying the NFL's Denver Broncos for $4.65 billion, then a record for a North American pro sports franchise in 2022. (The Washington Commanders sped past the Broncos a year later when a group led by Josh Harris bought them for $6.05 billion. Then, the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers changed hands for a $10 billion valuation in 2025.).Last November, Forbes estimated the Broncos' franchise value at $6.8 billion, 13th-highest in the NFL. If one of the NFL's marquee franchises were to go on the market, the bar would be reset much higher. The Dallas Cowboys topped Forbes' rankings last year at $13 billion, followed by the Los Angeles Rams ($10.5 billion) and New York Giants ($10.1 billion). Just a reminder that MLB represents a desirable neighborhood but isn't the exclusive community the NFL is. Buying into an MLB franchise now practically guarantees a strong positive return on investment within a few years' time. The Padres are getting a wealthy owner who shelled out a gobsmacking total for them, but don't expect their record sale price to stand for long. View the full article

Nolan Santos' comeback is complete. The former seventh-round pick who missed all of the 2025 season threw a career-high five innings for the Kernels tonight. He surrendered one run, but it was unearned. Sticking with the pitchers, Jose Olivares made his 2026 debut with three perfect innings in a rehab outing with Fort Myers. On the hitting side, Kala'i Rosario smashed a huge go-ahead homer late for Wichita, and Eric Wagaman filled the stat sheet for St. Paul. View the full article

The Mets' farm went 1-2 on Sunday as the Syracuse Mets' game was postponed. Binghamton was no-hit 4-0 by Akron despite Jonathan Santucci striking out five over four innings. Brooklyn lost 6-4 to Greensboro in 10 innings after Dakota Hawkins struck out four in three scoreless innings of relief. St. Lucie crushed Daytona 13-4 behind Elian Peña's three hits and three RBIs, with Christian Rodriguez striking out five across 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief. Mets Transactions No Roster Moves Syracuse Mets' Game Postponed The Syracuse Mets' scheduled Triple-A game was postponed. Rumble Ponies No-Hit In 4-0 Loss To Akron The Binghamton Rumble Ponies were no-hit and shut out 4-0 by the Akron RubberDucks on the road, failing to produce a single base hit (that's the definition of a no-hitter, but you already knew that). Jonathan Santucci took the loss, going four innings while allowing two runs on four hits, walking two, and striking out five. Kevin Gowdy followed with one inning of work, giving up one run on one hit, walking one, striking out one, and allowing one home run. Matt Turner followed with one inning, giving up one run on two hits with one strikeout. Saul Garcia tossed a scoreless inning. Zach Peek closed with a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out two. Akron scored one run in the bottom of the first, added two more in the fifth, and tacked on one more in the sixth. At the plate, Binghamton drew six walks, with Chris Suero drawing two walks and Wyatt Young also drawing two walks. Marco Vargas and Jacob Reimer each drew one walk. Jose Ramos, The Rumble Ponies finished with zero hits, six walks, eight strikeouts, and left six runners on base across the nine-inning contest. Player AB R H RBI BB K A.J. Ewing 4 0 0 0 0 1 Marco Vargas 3 0 0 0 1 1 Jacob Reimer 3 0 0 0 1 2 Chris Suero 2 0 0 0 2 0 Eli Serrano III 4 0 0 0 0 1 Jose Ramos 4 0 0 0 0 2 Kevin Parada 3 0 0 0 0 0 Nick Lorusso 3 0 0 0 0 0 Wyatt Young 1 0 0 0 2 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jonathan Santucci 4 4 2 2 2 5 0 Kevin Gowdy 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Matt Turner 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 Saul Garcia 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Zach Peek 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Cyclones Fall In Extras After Scoring Three In First The Brooklyn Cyclones lost 6-4 to the Greensboro Grasshoppers at home in 10 innings, surrendering a three-run first-inning lead in what became extra baseball. A.J. Minter opened with 2/3 of an inning, allowing one hit. Jonathan Jimenez followed with 2 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Tanner Witt pitched three scoreless innings with one strikeout while walking two. Dakota Hawkins added three scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just one hit. Felix Cepeda took the loss after one inning in the 10th, giving up three runs on two hits and two walks with one strikeout. John Bay led the offense with a home run, two hits, three RBIs, and one run scored. Heriberto Rincon added two hits and drove in a run. Corey Collins went 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in the cleanup spot. Brooklyn took a 3-0 lead in the first inning before Greensboro tied the game with three runs in the second. The score remained 3-3 through nine before Greensboro plated three runs in the 10th and Brooklyn answered with one. The Cyclones finished with six hits, two walks, struck out 10 times, and left five runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Mitch Voit 5 0 0 0 0 1 Antonio Jimenez 4 1 0 0 1 2 Ronald Hernandez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Corey Collins 2 1 1 0 1 1 John Bay 4 1 2 3 0 0 Yohairo Cuevas 4 0 0 0 0 2 Diego Mosquera 4 1 0 0 0 1 Kevin Villavicencio 4 0 1 0 0 2 Heriberto Rincon 4 0 2 1 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR A.J. Minter 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Jonathan Jimenez 2 1/3 5 3 3 2 2 0 Tanner Witt 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 Dakota Hawkins 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 Felix Cepeda 1 2 3 2 2 1 0 Elian Peña Drives In Three As St. Lucie Routs Daytona The St. Lucie Mets bashed their way to a 13-4 road win over the Daytona Tortugas behind 14 hits and a six-run fifth inning. Jose Chirinos started and worked three innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk, five strikeouts, and one home run. Dylan Ross earned the win with an inning of relief, allowing one unearned run on no hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Nate Lavender contributed a scoreless inning with a walk and two strikeouts. Luis Alvarez got one out in the sixth but allowed one earned run on no hits with four walks and one strikeout before Christian Rodriguez took over. Rodriguez delivered 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit with five strikeouts. Ernesto Mercedes closed with a scoreless ninth, striking out three. Elian Peña led the attack from the leadoff spot with three hits, a walk, three RBIs, and one run scored. Julio Zayas contributed two hits and two runs scored with one RBI. JT Benson went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Vladi Gomez added two hits, a walk, and two runs scored. Sam Robertson reached base three times with a hit, two walks, and two runs scored. St. Lucie scored four in the third, one in the fourth, the decisive six in the fifth, one in the seventh, and one in the eighth. Player AB R H RBI BB K Elian Peña 5 1 3 3 1 1 Chase Meggers 6 1 1 1 0 1 Randy Guzman 4 1 1 0 1 2 Julio Zayas 4 2 2 1 0 0 AJ Salgado 5 1 1 1 0 2 JT Benson 4 2 2 2 0 2 Sam Biller 5 1 1 0 0 2 Sam Robertson 3 2 1 1 2 1 Vladi Gomez 3 2 2 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jose Chirinos 3 4 2 2 1 5 1 Dylan Ross 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 Nate Lavender 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Luis Alvarez 1/3 0 1 1 4 1 0 Christian Rodriguez 2 2/3 1 0 0 0 5 0 Ernesto Mercedes 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 View the full article

For the week, Nashville (5-1) and Wisconsin (3-2) were series winners. Wilson (3-3) pulled off a draw and Biloxi (2-4) fell just short. Transactions: 1B/OF Tyler Black activated from AAA Nashville’s 7-day injured list RHP Craig Yoho sent on rehab assignment to AAA Nashville C Andrick Nava transferred to Nashville’s Development List Game Action: Nashville Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Worcester 4, Nashville 2 Box Score and Game Log Via the Sounds’ website, game details and we encourage readers to review affiliate write-ups as part of their Link Report routine: Sounds Win Streak Snapped in Sunday's 4-2 Loss to Worcester The linked game recap by Nishant Brahme does a solid job covering this relatively low-scoring Sunday affair, during which opening RHP Peter Strzelecki (3-up, 3-down 1st inning) and bulk LHP Shane Drohan (5 IP, 2 R, 6 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks; 80 pitches) could have benefited from more run support. Early season injuries to Tyler Black (last played April 5) and Craig Yoho (made 2026 debut in this game) likely cost them some MLB opportunities over the past 2 weeks, but they’re back and the spotlight is on them for a potential near-term call-up. Yoho issued a walk and a hit-by-pitch (on a 72.3mph sweeper) in a scoreless 7th inning, while Black grounded out twice and popped out before his 9th inning 105mph double to center field. Black’s RBI double prompted Worcester to call upon 100mph-throwing closer Tayron Guerrero, against whom C Jeferson Quero impressively smacked an RBI single to right field before the comeback fell short. Sounds’ Extras: After 3B Jett Williams doubled to open the bottom of the 1st inning (and was stranded), the offense only produced 2 singles over the next 7 frames. LHP Drew Rom (1/3 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 Ks) unfortunately allowed an earned run in his 4th consecutive relief outing, but LHP Brian Fitzpatrick (2/3 IP, 0 R, 0 Ks) and RHP Joe Corbett (1 IP, 0 R, 2 Ks) did their part to keep Nashville within striking distance. Congrats to OF Jheremy Vargas on his first AAA hit, a single to center field in the 3rd inning. Next week’s outlook: Nashville (11-9) hits the road for a 7-game series at White Sox affiliate Charlotte (9-11), with the opening game set for 12:05pm on Tuesday. Biloxi Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Columbus 10, Biloxi 8 (in 12 innings) Box Score and Game Log Via the Shuckers’ website, game details: Shuckers Drop Heartbreaker to Clingstones in 12 Innings With only 14 active pitchers on the roster, RHP Stiven Cruz (3 2/3 IP, 4 Ks) looked like the last man standing as he heroically retired 11 straight batters from the 9th through the 12th innings, even keeping the Manfred Men from scoring in the 10th and 11th frames. Unfortunately, Columbus eventually got to Cruz with a 2-out, run-scoring single to tie the game in the bottom of the 12th before following with the walk-off homer. That’s a tough break, but also a reminder of why relievers typically don’t have to face an opposing lineup a second time. Before the lock-down late-game pitching, both offenses were humming along, with Biloxi scoring in 5 of the first 7 innings and taking a 7-6 lead on 2B Dylan O’Rae’s RBI single. Unfortunately, O’Rae was thrown out trying for 2nd base, one of two Shuckers thrown out on the basepaths in that frame. O’Rae and SS Jesus Made combined for 6 hits, 3 RBIs, 2 walks and 2 stolen bases to lead the offense alongside OF Mike Boeve (3-for-4, double, 2 walks), who did well to break out of a recent slump. Starting 20-year old RHP Manuel Rodriguez (4 IP, 4 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K) wasn’t able to replicate his solid Tuesday outing (4 2/3 IP, 1 R, 6 Ks), as he allowed 3 home runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings to cough up an early 3-0 advantage, exiting down 4-3. Shuckers’ Extras: Rather than risk 1B Blake Burke smashing yet another homer (he has 7 on the young season), Columbus chose to intentionally walk him with 2 outs in the top of the 10th inning, after which OF Tayden Hall popped out. Unfortunately, Hall compounded his woe by being picked off of 2nd base as the Manfred Man in the 11th inning. LHP Mark Manfredi Sr. stranded 2 inherited baserunners in the 6th inning, but was not immune to the high-scoring affair as he conceded his first run of 2026 on a 2-out single in the 7th inning. He also walked the next 2 batters to load the bases, but escaped via a ground ball force out. The 26 at-bats with runners in scoring position may have been the second-most in Shuckers’ history (per the linked game report), but 3-for-26 production with RISP will need to improve. Here’s the 2-out RBI single off the bat of OF Jordyn Adams, who was nearly credited with the game-winning hit. Next week’s outlook: Biloxi (7-8) returns home to battle Angels’ affiliate Rocket City (7-8), with RHP Ryan Birchard (9 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 12 Ks in 3 games) listed as the starter for the series opener on Tuesday. Wisconsin Pre-Game Media Notes Final: Peoria 11, Wisconsin 1 Box Score and Game Log Via the Timber Rattlers’ website, game details: Rattlers Fall Behind Early and Drop Series Finale to Chiefs Despite the defeat, Wisconsin’s terrific media team has put together video highlights: We’re also treated to the insightful post-game podcast by Chris Mehring and Jonathan Timm, providing 13 minutes of discussion and featuring Manager Nick Stanley Having already captured the series with Saturday’s victory, perhaps the Timber Rattlers took their eye off the ball in this one, as Peoria put up a 4-spot in the 2nd inning and added more runs in most innings thereafter. Starting RHP Yorman Galindez had been solid through 2 outings (4 IP, 1 R, 5 Ks), but a full count walk and hit-by-pitch to open the 2nd inning set the stage for the 3-run homer, followed by a walk, wild pitch and another earned run. Four walks for Wisconsin in the bottom of the 2nd inning gave them a chance to immediately get back into the game, but the breakthrough hit didn’t come so only 1 run came home. Timber Rattlers’ Extras: While the wide margin may jump out to most readers when looking at the box score, our attention is drawn to the early exit of C Marco Dinges, who played only 2 innings after flying out in the 1st frame. If and when we receive an update on his status, we’ll be sure to post it in the Minor League Forum. Each of the Timber Rattlers’ four relievers conceded at least one earned run, with RHP Yerlin Rodriguez (2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 K) issuing 3 walks and a hit-by-pitch and RHP Braylon Owens (3 IP, 4 R, 4 Ks) allowing 6 hits and 4 walks. Despite the blow-out, 8 of 9 Wisconsin position players reached base via hit or walk in the contest, highlighted by 2B Daniel Dickinson (1-for-3, walk), OF Josiah Ragsdale (1-for-3, walk) and DH Andrew Fischer (1-for-4, double). Next week’s outlook: Wisconsin (8-5) travels to Fort Wayne, Indiana to take on the Padres’ affiliate (6-9), which is stocked with a number of their top prospects as mentioned in the podcast. Final: Wilson 5, Hill City 3 Box Score and Game Log Via the Warbirds’ website, game details: Anderson Home Run Propels Warbirds to Walk-off Win After striking out in his first two at-bats (including with the bases loaded to end the 5th inning), OF Jose Anderson played hero to deliver a 2-out RBI single to give Wilson its first lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the 7th inning before blasting the no doubt 2-run walk-off homer to win the game. The team can thank starting RHP Tyler Renz (4 IP, 2 R, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 Ks; 1.93 ERA) and impressive middle reliever LHP Anfernny Reyes (2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K; 0.00 ERA) for keeping the game close while the offense tried to warm up in 59-degree weather. C Yannic Walther (1-for-3, double, walk) delivered Wilson’s first hit of the game, a double to open the bottom of the 5th inning, scoring on a first-pitch swinging single off the bat of SS Brady Ebel (1-for-4, walk, RBI) to cut the deficit to 2-1 at that point. RHPs Joshua Quezada (2 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks) and Ayendy Bravo (1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks) faced a bit of traffic in the final 3 frames, but limited the damage by recording a combined 6 strikeouts. Warbirds’ Extras: Anderson now leads the team with 3 homers (second place has 1) and 18 RBIs (second place has 8) in 14 games played. Anderson also stole his 2nd base in the contest. Congrats to OF Nick Monile on his first official minor league hit, a bunt single to start the 7th inning rally. Recognition also goes to OF Handelfry Encarnacion (1-for-3, 2 walks, RBI) and 3B Luis Lameda, who extended his hitting streak to 6 games while adding a stolen base. Next week’s outlook: Wilson (6-9) heads over to Maryland to take on Orioles’ affiliate Delmarva (4-11) for 6 games. We hope that you enjoy the Minor League Link Report. On Monday, the affiliates have a travel day and the Milwaukee Brewers are also off before commencing their series in Detroit on Tuesday. Organizational Scoreboard including starting pitcher info, game times, MiLB TV links, and box scores Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Batting Stats and Depth Current Milwaukee Brewers Organization Pitching Stats and Depth View the full article

Weekly Snapshot: Record Last Week: 4-2 (Overall: 12-9) Run Scored Last Week: 26 Runs Surrendered Last Week: 26 Standing: 3rd in NL Central Game 16 (4/14) | TOR 9, MIL 7 Game 17 (4/15) | MIL 2, TOR 1 Game 18 (4/16) | MIL 2, TOR 1 Game 19 (4/17) | MIL 7, MIA 5 Game 20 (4/18) | MIL 5, MIA 2 Game 21 (4/19) | MIA 5, MIL 3 Game 16 | Blue Jays 9, Brewers 7 MIL Starter: Jacob Misiorowski (5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 K) Top Performers: Brice Turang (3 H, RBI) Gary Sánchez (H, BB, HR, RBI) Jake Bauers (H, HR, 3 RBI) The Brewers' now-distant losing streak was pushed to six games on Tuesday, in ugly fashion. It wasn’t through the fault of Jacob Misiorowski, however, as he turned in another strong start, twirling 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball. It was the bullpen that let the contest slip, with Trevor Megill getting tagged for 3 runs and blowing the save in the 9th, and Grant Anderson coughing up a pair of runs in the 10th. That implosion wasted timely home runs from Gary Sánchez and Jake Bauers, and a game-tying hit from Brandon Lockridge in the 9th. Jake Bauers’ 3-run bomb (+19.5 WP%) Game 17 | Brewers 2, Blue Jays 1 MIL Starter: Chad Patrick (6.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 2 K) Top Performers: Aaron Ashby (1.0 IP, H, BB, 0 ER, 3 K) Abner Uribe (1.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, K, SV) William Contreras (2 H, RBI) Wednesday was a return to form that saw the Brewers snap their skid behind Chad Patrick, turning in their (then-)longest start of the year. That took the pressure off the bullpen, which put up a zero behind Patrick, while the offense used their signature death-by-paper cuts approach to plate two runs in the eighth inning. Finally, the Brewers were back to their winning ways. William Contreras' game-tying single (+30.0 WP%) Game 18 | Brewers 2, Blue Jays 1 MIL Starter: Brandon Sporat (6.2 IP, 4 H, BB, ER, 6 K) Top Performers: Trevor Megill (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K) Gary Sánchez (2 H, BB, 2B) The rubber match mirrored the previous day, with Brandon Sproat turning in his best outing as a Brewer and, like Patrick, turning in the longest start of the Brewers' young season. On the offensive side, the Brewers took small ball to the extreme, using a walk and three consecutive bunts to score all the runs they needed before Ángel Zerpa shut the Jays down in the 9th. Milwaukee plays small ball (again) Game 19 | Brewers 7, Marlins 5 MIL Starter: Coleman Crow (5.1 IP, 4 H, BB, 2 ER, 4 K) Top Performers: Luis Rengifo (2 H, 2B, RBI) Garrett Mitchell (2 H, 2B, 3 RBI) Gary Sánchez (H, 3 BB) Coleman Crow earned his first major-league start, though the minor maladies of Kyle Harrison paved the way for it. Under the Miami sun, Crow turned in exactly what Pat Murphy and the Brewers were looking for. There were some bullpen struggles behind him, though, with a late Marlins rally sending the game to extra innings. Fortunately, some timely poor defense from Miami and a Garrett Mitchell knockout punch put the game away. Garrett Mitchell knocks in a pair of runners Game 20 | Brewers 5, Marlins 2 MIL Starter: Brandon Woodruff (7.0 IP, 3 H, BB, ER, 4 K) Top Performers: Brice Turang (2 H, 2 BB, 3 RBI) Garett Mitchell (H, 3 BB) Joey Ortiz (H, 2 BB) Saturday's contest was as smooth a game as the Brewers have had in some time, with an efficient Brandon Woodruff being the first Brewer to complete seven innings all season. With the bats, Brice Turang led the way with a 2-run home run, while the rest of the team drew six walks against the usually pinpoint former Cy-young award winner Sandy Alcantara. Brice Turang’s two-run homer (+20.6 WP%) Game 21 | Marlins 5, Brewers 3 MIL Starter: Jacob Misiorowski (5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 R, 1 ER, 9 K) Top Performers: Carlos Rodriguez (2.0 IP, 2 H, O ER, 3 K) Gary Sánchez (H, 2 RBI) Jacob Misiorowski's rough start in the series finale looked like it was all the Marlins were going to need to avoid a sweep, as a 3-run first inning was more than enough cushion for Marlins hurler Eury Pérez, who tossed six innings of one-run ball against the Brewers' lineup. Misiorowski did manage to labor through five innings, though, striking out nine Fish along the way, and that set the stage for the Brewers to make the game interesting late—although the comeback did eventually fall short. Miz's nine K's Transactions: 04/18/26 - Optioned RHP Coleman Crow to AAA Nashville. 04/18/26 - Recalled RHP Carlos Rodriguez from AAA Nashville. 04/17/26 - Recalled RHP Coleman Crow from AAA Nashville Sounds. 04/17/26 - Optioned RHP Easton McGee to AAA Nashville. 4/15/26 - Traded RHP Junior Fernández to Milwaukee Brewers. 04/14/26 - Placed LHP Rob Zastryzny on the 60-day injured list with a left shoulder strain. 04/14/26 - Placed LF Christian Yelich on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain. (Retroactive to April 13, 2026) 04/14/26 - Selected the contract of RF Greg Jones from AAA Nashville. Notes: The timeline for Christian Yelich's return is mid to late May. Greg Jones took his place on the roster. Looking Ahead: Tuesday, 4/21 - Brewers @ Tigers - 5:40 PM CDT Wednesday, 4/22 - Brewers @ Tigers - 5:40 PM CDT Thursday, 4/23 - Brewers @ Tigers - 12:40 PM CDT Friday, 4/24 - Pirates @ Brewers - 6:40 PM CDT Saturday, 4/25 - Pirates @ Brewers - 6:10 PM CDT Sunday, 4/26 - Pirates @ Brewers - 1:10 PM CDT View the full article

Expectations can be tricky in baseball. One year, a player bursts onto the scene and looks like a foundational piece. The next, the league adjusts, and suddenly, nothing comes easily. That’s what Luke Keaschall faces early in his sophomore season with the Twins. After an impressive rookie season where he slashed .302/.382/.445, Keaschall's sophomore start hasn’t been as smooth. Through Sunday, he is hitting just .209/.258/.279. On Saturday, manager Derek Shelton moved him down in the lineup for the first time this season, shifting him from third to fifth. On Sunday, with right-handed hurler Brady Singer on the mound for the opposing Reds, he slid to sixth. That move tells part of the story. Shelton began the season with confidence in Keaschall as a table-setter near the top of the order. The adjustment now signals a need to reset and a chance to take pressure off a young hitter still finding his footing at the big league level. Friday’s game against the Reds might have been the epitome of his struggles. Keaschall batted with the bases loaded in the third inning, two runners on base in the fifth inning, and two more runners in the seventh. None of those runners scored. In those three at-bats, Keaschall struck out on a called third strike, grounded into his first double play of the season, and hit an inning-ending groundout. After the game, he gathered with the team’s hitting coaches to break down his swing and his at-bats. “We’ll get it back,” said Keaschall after the game. “We’re a tick off. It can change quickly. That’s what I keep on thinking, and it’s going to happen soon.” That belief is shared inside the clubhouse as well. “Luke Keaschall has hit at every level. I mean, I can’t go back to his Little League stats, but I guarantee he raked there,” Shelton said. “It’s early in the season, and it’s also the first year he’s started the year in the big leagues. A lot of guys put more emphasis on that.” There’s a mental side to this as much as a physical one. Shelton acknowledged that moving Keaschall down in the lineup was designed to ease the burden, as Shelton felt Keaschall was putting “a little extra on himself.” As Keaschall looks for answers, he said his focus is on getting the most out of each day. “I think it’s just being in control of your movements and executing plans,” Keaschall said. “Right now, we’re not doing that the best. All you can do is get a little bit better each and every day.” The underlying numbers explain why the results haven’t been as strong. His 85.0 mph exit velocity and 24% Hard Hit rate both sit in the bottom 7% of the league. His exit velocity is down 1.2 mph compared to last season, and his hard-hit rate has dropped by 6.6%. That lack of authoritative contact has limited his ability to cause damage, even when he puts the ball in play. Pitchers have also adjusted their approach. He is seeing fewer fastballs, down 4% from last season, and he hasn't punished them when he gets them, posting just a .302 slugging average despite an xSLG that sits more than 100 points higher. That gap suggests there may be some bad luck involved, but it also highlights missed opportunities. Instead of fastballs, Keaschall is seeing a heavier dose of offspeed pitches. Last season, he torched those offerings to the tune of a .407 average and a .556 slugging, though the expected numbers hinted at regression. That regression has come quickly. This year, he is hitting just .211 against offspeed pitches and has yet to record an extra-base hit against them. Still, this is not a profile completely devoid of optimism. Keaschall continues to show strong plate discipline. His chase rate, per-swing whiff rate, and strikeout rate all rank in the 82nd percentile or better, and his 27.2% Squared-Up rate sits comfortably above league average, meaning he's getting his fair share of exit velocity from below-average bat speed. Those are indicators of a hitter who is not overmatched, but rather one who is just missing his best contact by a small margin. Sometimes, that margin is everything. Moving down in the lineup could give Keaschall space to recalibrate. Rather than setting the tone early, he can focus on simple at-bats and build momentum one swing at a time. For a Twins team that has leaned on young talent to exceed expectations, getting Keaschall back on track is an important piece of the puzzle. The foundation is still there. The approach remains sound. Now, it's about turning those underlying positives into production. If history is any indication, that turnaround may not be far away. What are your thoughts on Keaschall's sophomore performance? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View the full article

Week in a Nutshell After going 3-4 last week, the Royals needed at least a respectable showing in this road trip to Detroit and the Bronx this week. Thinking they were going to win the week was going to be a tough challenge, especially considering their offensive woes. However, it was entirely plausible that the Royals could've gone 3-3, or at least 2-4, and kept their head above water before returning home to Kauffman Stadium. Unfortunately, the optimism proved to be for naught. The Royals went 0-6 this week and were outscored by the Tigers and Yankees by a combined 21 runs. As a result, the Chicago White Sox are ahead in the standings. For those who can't read between the lines, that means the Royals are in last place in the American League Central. It's one thing to have a slow start to the season. But even with 140 games remaining, it seems like the Royals are in the midst of not just a disappointing campaign, but perhaps a nightmarish one, especially considering all the negative vibes from the Salvador Perez drama surrounding his benching on Saturday. 'The Royals have a bad offense, bad bullpen, bad record, and honestly, bad vibes right now in the clubhouse, with the Salvy and Carter Jensen "sleeping in" incidents being the prime examples. One has to wonder when and how the Royals will turn around the momentum after such an awful week of play in Detroit and New York. Record this Week: 0-6 Run Differential for the Week: -21 Record for the Year: 7-15 Run Differential for the Year: -32 Standing: 5th in the AL Central Game 17: DET 2, KC 1 It wasn't the prettiest Cole Ragans start, as he walked four and only struck out one in six innings of work. However, he allowed only one hit and zero runs, and Matt Strahm held the lead in the seventh. Unfortunately, Nick Mears allowed two runs in the eighth. Game 18: DET 2, KC 1 Seth Lugo and Jack Flaherty both battled in this one, with Lugo going 6.2 innings and striking out seven, while Flaherty also struck out seven in six innings. The Royals tied it up in the fifth after relinquishing an early lead. However, Eli Morgan was unable to keep the game tied in the eighth. Game 19: DET 10, KC 9 Kris Bubic had a tough start, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks in 4.2 innings of work. Even though the Royals were down 6-1, they scored six runs in the top of the seventh before the rain hit and caused a delay. Despite getting some insurance in the top of the ninth on a Vinnie Pasquantino home run, Lucas Erceg was unable to hold a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth. Game 20: NYY 4, KC 2 Michael Wacha gave the Royals six strong innings and only allowed two runs on three hits and three hits while striking out six. Pasquantino hit his second home run of the year and had two hits. However, like the Detroit series, the Royals were unable to keep the game tied, as Alex Lange allowed a two-run home run to pinch-hitter Ryan McMahon. Game 21: NYY 13, KC 4 Noah Cameron struggled in the Bronx, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and two walks in four innings of work. Mitch Spence wasn't much better, as he allowed six runs on four hits and five walks in four innings of work. Carter Jensen hit his fifth home run of the year. Game 22: NYY 7, KC 0 The Royals' bullpen didn't allow a run in 3.2 innings of work. Also, Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits. However, it was a brutal game otherwise. Ragans did his best "Nuke Laloosh" impression, walking eight, striking out six, and allowing seven runs in 4.2 innings of work. News and Notes Early in the week, Stephen Kolek started a rehab assignment with Omaha. He's had a couple of outings and has a 2.16 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 8.1 IP. On April 15th, Bailey Falter began his own rehab assignment. He had a 6.00 ERA and 1.67 WHIP in 3.0 IP with the Storm Chasers. He looked much stronger in his most recent outing on Sunday against Indianapolis. The biggest move the Royals made was on Sunday. They called up catcher Elias Diaz and pitcher Mason Black from Omaha and sent down Spence and utility player Tyler Tolbert to Triple-A. Furthermore, they added James McArthur to the 60-Day IL to make room for Diaz on the 40-man roster. Highlights Some of the Royals' struggling hitters showed some life at the plate this past week, which should help fans feel encouraged about their outlook for the remainder of the season. In 15 at-bats, Jac Caglianone hit .400 with a .971 OPS. That included six hits, a triple, and an RBI. Pasquantino only hit .167, but he launched his first two home runs of the season and posted a .700 OPS in 24 plate appearances. Jensen continued to show strong discipline at the plate this week, with his power on display in the Bronx. In 17 at-bats, he hit .235, walked three times, and posted an OBP of .350 and an OPS of .762. He also launched his fifth home run of the year on Saturday, which leads the team. On the pitching end, Lugo had the strongest performance of the rotation this past week, striking out seven and allowing only one run, five hits, and no walks. In four starts this year, Lugo is posting a 1.48 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 24.1 IP. Despite the Royals' struggles, the 36-year-old is looking more like his 2024 self. A reliever who had a nice week and didn't melt down was Daniel Lynch IV. In two appearances, he struck out two and didn't allow a hit, walk, or run in 1.1 IP. The TJ Stuff+ is still a bit below-average (99 overall TJ Stuff+), but he's been producing excellent chase, whiff, and xwOBACON metrics so far this season, as illustrated below. Lowlights To be frank, there are a lot more lowlights than highlights for the Royals this week, which isn't surprising for a team that went 0-6 this week. Here are some of the team stats from this week for Kansas City. Their .581 was the second-worst mark in baseball. Only the New York Mets, who have lost 11 times in a row, had a worse OPS at .534. Their .208 average was the fifth-worst mark in baseball this week, and their .256 OBP was the second-worst mark as well. The Royals' pitching staff's 6.66 ERA was the worst mark in baseball over the past week (somewhere, Dayton Moore is cringing). Their 1.66 WHIP was the second-worst mark in baseball this past week. They also issued 33 walks, the third-most walks over the same time period. Lastly, the pitching staff allowed 11 home runs, tied for fifth-most in baseball over the past seven days. Yep. That's rough. In terms of individual performances, Maikel Garcia had a brutal week at the plate. In 24 at-bats, he hit .125 with a .327 OPS. He also struck out seven times and walked only once. On April 11th, Maikel was hitting .328 with a .911 OPS. After his lackluster week, he is now hitting .256 with a .718 OPS. On the pitching end, Ragans struggled immensely, with some wondering if he'll ever match that 2024 form again. In two starts and 10.1 IP, Ragans posted a 6.10 ERA and 1.65 WHIP. He also walked an astonishing 12 batters while allowing just five hits and striking out seven. Frankly, Ragans' control has been a problem this year, and his inability to find the zone has led to a drop in chase and lackluster xwOBACON metrics. This is despite strong overall TJ Stuff+ numbers and whiff rates, as seen below. In 21 IP this year, Ragans has a 6.00 ERA, 7.34 FIP, and 1.67 WHIP. He's generating a 23.9% K%, which isn't as good as years past, but is still solid. However, his K-BB% is 4.3%, thanks to his 19.6% BB%. Those poor numbers explain his high FIP metrics. Furthermore, a decline in extension (down 0.2 feet from a year ago) could also be a reason why he's struggling to find the strike zone (45.5% zone rate) this season. Looking Ahead On a positive note, the Royals return to Kauffman Stadium for a weeklong homestand against the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels. The Royals are 5-5 this year at home, much better than their 2-10 record on the road. Baltimore should be an easier matchup on paper. The Orioles are 10-12 and have had issues with starting pitching this season. They rank 18th in starter ERA and 25th in WHIP. Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt, whom the Royals are supposed to face this week, have ERA marks of 4.91 and 6.19. Thus, if the Royals want to win this series against the Orioles, they will have to chase Baltimore's pitching early. Gunnar Henderson (119 wRC+) and Taylor Ward (136 wRC+) are two hitters who will lead the Orioles on the offensive end. "Los Angeles" (come on, they're in Anaheim, which is in Orange County) will be a tougher challenge, though it has its flaws. The Angels are 11-12 and have lost two in a row after taking three of four in the Bronx earlier last week. They have a lot of guys who can mash, as Mike Trout (171 wRC+), Zach Neto (138 wRC+), Jo Adell (115 wRC+), and former Royals Jorge Soler (136 wRC+) and Adam Frazier (171 wRC+) are off to great starts. In fact, the Angels have the second-most home runs in Major League Baseball. However, the pitching is a bit shakier. The Angels rank 17th in ERA at 4.17, but their 5.14 BB/9 is the third-worst mark in baseball. The Royals also miss ace Jose Soriano in the weekend series at Kauffman, and Yusei Kikuchi, who likely will face Kansas City on Friday, has struggled this year with a 5.63 ERA. If they can set the tone against Kikuchi, the Royals could have a good shot against rookie Walber Urena on Saturday and Reid Detmers on Sunday night (they play a national game on NBC). View the full article