5/15-5/16 MLB Newsletter

American League

East

• Yankees (30-15, @ MIN): They are the first AL Team to 30 wins as they shut out the Twins 5-0 while Clarke Schmidt pitched eight scoreless innings. Hal Steinbrenner hinted that the team will try to sign Juan Soto to a contract extension this season. 💰️

• Orioles (27-14, v. TOR): Adley Rutschman hit his fourth home run in three games with a walk-off tater in the bottom of the 9th, avoiding the Orioles from being swept for the first time since 2022 and since Rutschman has been part of the team. They have gone 105 straight series without being swept.
  

• Rays🔼(23-22, @ BOS): Despite losing track of mound visits and forcing a pitching change in the 9th, where Romy Gonzalez picked up his first save since 2020, the Rays were able to retake their lead thanks to a go-ahead single by Isaac Paredes and beat Boston 7-5.

• Red Sox🔽(22-22, v. TB): Kenley Jansen, who has struggled with walks this year, allowing 10 in 15.2 innings, allowed two runs in the top of the 9th as they fell to the Rays. In the loss, Jarren Durran had two doubles and a 426-foot solo shot.

• Blue Jays (19-23, @ BAL): Toronto was almost able to be the first team to sweep Baltimore in the last 104 series, but they were unable to do so, allowing a walk-off shot in the bottom of the 9th. Yusei Kikuchi struck out nine through just 4.1 IP, but they could only manage two runs in the loss.

Central

• Guardians (27-17, @ TEX): Cleveland could not complete the sweep on Wednesday to finish off their seven-game road trip. They were shutout, only able to get two runners into scoring position in the loss.
  

• Royals (26-19, @ SEA): Alec Marsh went five innings while allowing two runs on Wednesday and was handed the series loss as the offense couldn’t get going, failing to score until the sixth inning. Bobby Witt Jr. drove in both of Kansas City’s runs.

• Twins (24-19, v. NYY): Their hot streak has come to a screeching halt as they were held scoreless for the second straight game against the Yankees and scored just one run in the series as they were swept. 🧹

• Tigers (21-22, v. MIA): They only got three runners into scoring position and left ten on base despite tallying seven hits as they were held to a shutout on Wednesday.
  

• White Sox (14-30, v. WSH): The White Sox completed their second straight shutout win against the Nats and have now won their second straight series. It will be a real battle to get their third straight as they face off against the Yankees next.

West

• Mariners (24-20, v. KC): Ty France had his second homer in three games, and Bryan Woo allowed just one run over 5.1 IP to secure his first win in a 4-2 victory over the Royals. They’ll go on a 10-game road trip starting in Baltimore.

• Rangers (23-22, v. CLE): Adolis García and Marcus Semien hit two-run homers, as a four-pitcher shutout led by Jon Gray gave a much-needed win for the Rangers as they ended their five-game losing streak.
  

• Astros🔼(19-25, v. OAK): Rookie Joey Loperfido hit his first career homer, and Cristian Javier threw six scoreless innings while striking out eight, helping the Astros get their fifth straight win. They have now won seven of their last eight games.

• Athletics🔽(19-27, @ HOU): They were swept by Houston, only able to score four runs through as many games, and have now lost five straight. They will look to turn things around as they head to Kansas City.

• Angels (16-28, v. STL): Six players had multi-hit games for the Angels as they ended their three-game losing streak. They took a four-run lead in the first inning and were able to control the entire game, winning 7-2. 💥

Source

National League 

East

• Phillies (31-14, @ NYM): After winning the first of the two-game home series by five runs, they narrowly lost by one in the 11th inning. Taijuan Walker, who just recently returned to the starting rotation, had to exit in the fourth after getting hit in the foot with a line drive.

• Braves (26-14, v. CHC): Charlie Morton allowed three first-inning runs, which the offense couldn’t overcome as they scored their first and only run of the day in the seventh.

• Nationals (20-22, @ CWS): Wednesday looked a lot like Tuesday night for the Nats as they were held scoreless again, only managing to get three hits in the loss. 🫣

• Mets (20-23, v. PHI): Pete Alonso hit his tenth homer of the year on Thursday as the Mets forced a two-game series split after an 11th-inning win.

• Marlins (13-32, @ DET): It was their second consecutive shutout win over Detroit on Wednesday as Bryan De La Cruz drove in the only runs of the day in the first inning on a two-run tater.

Central

• Brewers (26-17, v. PIT): Five home runs on Wednesday emphasized the series over the Pirates. One of those homers came from William Contreras, who extended his 23-game on-base streak and is slashing .364/.441/.546 in that span. 🔥

• Cubs (25-20, @ ATL/v. PIT): While they avoided the series sweep against Atlanta on Wednesday, they weren’t as lucky on Thursday as they trailed the entire game in the series opener. Justin Steele allowed five runs on six hits while going 5.2 innings.

• Pirates (20-25, @ MIL/@ CHC): Martín Pérez allowed five home runs in the series rubber match loss on Wednesday. Jared Jones opened up the series against the Cubs with a win as he allowed three runs on seven hits but sat down seven on strikes. Paul Skenes will take the mound today for his second career start, available on MLB TV for free.

• Reds (19-25, @ AZ/@ LAD): After dropping Wednesday’s game and thus the series to Arizona, the Reds traveled to LA, where Elly De La Cruz went 4-4 with a walk, four stolen bases, and three runs scored to put the stamp on the series win.

• Cardinals (18-25, @ LAA): Lance Lynn allowed four runs in the first inning on Wednesday, a hill too tall to climb as they lost the game. Joe Buck & Chip Caray will broadcast the game on May 24th to pay homage to their father and grandfather, respectively, who were Cardinals broadcasters before them.

West

• Dodgers (29-17, @ SF/v. CIN): They were handed back-to-back losses for the first time in nearly a month. Tyler Glasnow tied his shortest outing of the year, going five innings while allowing four runs on six hits.
  

• Padres (22-24, v. COL): Michael King went 5.1 IP on Wednesday, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks. The offense tallied four hits and failed to get an extra-base hit in a forgetful loss.

• Diamondbacks (21-23, v. CIN): Seven innings of one-run ball from Brandon Pfaadt was exactly what this team needed to win the series rubber match. Pfaadt struck out nine batters and allowed just two hits, while Chrisitan Walker hit his first homer of the month.

• Giants (20-25, v. LAD): The pitching staff led by Logan Webb on Wednesday allowed just one run as they were able to avoid a sweep to their division foes. They led the rest of the way after Mike Yastrzemski’s two-run homer in the third inning.
  

• Rockies (15-28, @ SD): They’re on their longest win streak of the year (7) after capping off a sweep in a shutout win. The organization’s fourth-ranked prospect, Jordan Beck, hit his first career home run. 🚀

🥔 Tater’s Top Three

🗳️ Suggestion Box 

I love hearing directly from readers, so please reply or vote in the poll to let me know how I’m doing. I hope you have a great weekend! See you Monday. 👋