4/24-4/25 MLB Newsletter

American League

East

• Orioles (16-8, @ LAA): On Wednesday, Dean Kramer was on fire on the mound, striking out 10 through 5.1 IP. Gunnar Henderson homered again as the Orioles now lead the AL in HR, R, RBI, SLG%, and OPS. 🚀
  

• Yankees (17-9, v. OAK): Totaling 11 hits but only one run Thursday for the first time since ‘09 and the first time at home since ‘97, they fell to the Athletics 3-1 and split the series.
  

• Red Sox (14-12, @ CLE): Chase Anderson had a night to forget, allowing five earned runs through just 1.2 IP in a 6-4 loss. Coming off a six-game road trip and going 4-2, the Sox will head home for six games.

• Rays (13-13, v. DET): Curtis Mead hit a ball 327 feet, and luckily, he was at the one ballpark where that was a home run. His 87.3 mph (the lowest exit velocity of any out-of-the-park homer this season and tied for the seventh lowest since 2015) 2-run blast came at the perfect time, as the Rays won the game 7-5.

• Blue Jays (13-13, @ KC): The Jays were on the losing side of a 5-inning game, which ended due to heavy rain. Their only run came from Ernie Clement, driving in a run in the top of the fourth as they fell to the Royals 2-1.

Central

• Guardians (18-7, v. BOS): José Ramírez was 3-4 with a grand slam on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, helping Cleveland to their 18th win. They have won seven out of their first eight-season series. They’ll face off against Atlants this weekend in a battle of the two best records in their leagues. 🤺
  

• Royals (16-10, v. TOR): Everything went right for KC on Thursday, as Cole Ragans allowed only one run through five innings, a great catch by Kyle Isbel, and a 2-run shot by Salvador Perez in the first inning. Due to the rain, KC got their first five-inning win since July 2005.

• Tigers (14-11, @ TB): Even though they lost to the Rays 7-5, they are still going home happy with a series win and a much-needed day off after 14 straight days. They will be getting ready to take on the Royals this weekend.

• Twins (11-13, v CWS): Edouard Julien had two of the Twins' five home runs on Thursday as they finished the sweep of the White Sox. They will look to win their fifth straight as they head to take on the Angels.
  

• White Sox (3-22, @ MIN): While the NFL Draft is top of mind for many, here’s a reminder that despite having the worst record in MLB, the White Sox are not eligible to pick higher than 10th in next year’s draft due to a rule change in the CBA a few years ago.

West

• Mariners (13-12, @ TEX): On Thursday, Luis Castillo pitched six innings, striking out six, to help the Mariners win the series against the reigning World Series champs. Ty France added some offense with his first homer of the year. The Mariners are rolling and have now won their third straight series. I’m headed to T-Mobile Park on Saturday. If you’ve been, I’m all ears for recommendations!

• Rangers (13-13, v. SEA): Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Smith had their first homers of the year, but it wasn’t enough, as the Rangers lost the game on Thursday and the series to Seattle.

• Angels (10-15, v. BAL): Mike Trout became the first player to hit 10 home runs this year with a 114.5 mph tater. This is the third time Mike Trout has had 10+ HRs in his team's first 25 games of a season, but it was not enough on Wednesday as they lost the rubber match.

• Athletics (10-16, @ NYY): Alex Wood had a great first career start against the Yankees, going 5.2 IP and allowing just one run. Mason Miller continued to lock down saves and throw heat as he stopped any Yankees comeback in their tracks. 🔥

• Astros (7-19, @ CHC): A sac fly from Yordan Alvarez in the first ended up being the Astros only offense as they lost Thursday, being swept by the Cubs, and have now lost five straight and 12 of their last 15 games.

Source

National League 

East

• Braves (17-6, v. MIA): Michael Harris hit a double to walk off in the bottom of the tenth and complete a series sweep against Miami, thanks to two game-saving plays from the left side of the infield in the ninth and tenth inning. 💥
  

• Phillies (16-10, @ CIN): Bryce Harper proves that Dad Strength is a real thing again, homering in his first game back from the paternity list for the second time. The Phils split this series after a shutout win on Thursday, after losing back-to-back games for the first time since the season's first two games.

• Mets (13-11, @ SF): After snapping a three-game skid on Wednesday and avoiding a series sweep, the Mets will get some help on offense as J.D. Martinez is expected to join the team today for a series against St. Louis.

• Nationals (10-14, v. LAD): McKenzie Gore allowed just one run on seven hits on Thursday as the Dodgers swept the Nats. The Nats scored a combined four runs throughout the three-game series.

• Marlins (6-20, @ ATL): Miami went just 1-for-13 with RISP on Wednesday, capping off a sweep by Atlanta. Having the second-worst OBP and allowing the third-highest opponent batting average has led this team to the second-worst run differential in the NL (-47).

Central

• Brewers (16-8, @ PIT): After dropping the series' first two games, the Brew Crew returns to win the next two to split the series. In an early afternoon thriller on Thursday, Gary Sanchez faced off against former teammate Aroldis Chapman for just the second time. He crushed a two-run go-ahead tater, which was the difference at the end of the game.

• Cubs (16-9, v. HOU): The 15th overall prospect, Pete Crow-Armstrong, got his first hit on Thursday, a go-ahead two-run homer, pushing the Cubs over the edge to finish the sweep of Houston. 🧹

• Reds (14-11, v. PHI): After a comeback win in the sixth inning on Wednesday, Cincy secured a season series win over Philadelphia, which could be crucial come playoff seeding time. This team was held to just three hits on Thursday, resulting in the four-game series ending how it started, with a Cincinnati shutout.

• Pirates (13-13, v. MIL): Unable to hold onto a win on Thursday after a three-run first inning for the Bucs, the miscues added up over time, resulting in a loss, ultimately splitting the series with the current division leaders.

• Cardinals (11-14, v. AZ): Kyle Gibson pitched six innings of one-run ball on Wednesday to help the Cards win the series. Last year’s fourth-ranked prospect, Jordan Walker, was sent down to Triple-A, hoping to find his swing again. He was batting just .155.

West

• Dodgers (16-11, @ WSH): LA tied their season high in runs on Wednesday at 11 and completed the sweep of Washington on Thursday as Yoshinobu Yamamoto sat down seven on strikes through six scoreless innings in his best start of the year.
  

• Padres (14-14, @ COL): Allowing two comeback wins through the four-game series, San Diego was forced to split it with Colorado after allowing a six-run eighth inning on Thursday, a situation they haven’t found themselves in since 1977.

• Diamondbacks (12-14, @ STL): The highs and lows of the Snakes season continued on Wednesday as they scored just one run after putting up 14 the night prior. They’re the only MLB team with a losing record and a positive run differential (+35). 🙈
  

• Giants (12-14, v. NYM): After Blake Snell was placed on the IL, the Giants were forced into a bullpen game, where they allowed eight runs and could not complete the series sweep.
  

• Rockies (7-19, v. SD): After recording an out in their first at-bat of the eighth inning, Colorado scored six to come back and split the four-game series with San Diego. Brenton Doyle scored three runs on Thursday and is now batting .406 in his last nine games.

🥔 Tater’s Top Three

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