5/01-5/02 MLB Newsletter

American League

East

• Orioles (20-11, v. NYY): They proved they’re top of the class in the AL East by holding the Yankees to two or fewer runs in each of the four-game series. They capped off the series win on Thursday with Kyle Bradish's season debut, which was 4.2 IP of one-run ball.

• Yankees (20-13, @ BAL): After Luis Gil and company's combined shutout on Wednesday, the team's lone win of the series, the offense scored two runs for the third consecutive game on Thursday. Carlos Rodón gave up three homers and six earned runs through four.
  

• Red Sox (18-14, v. SF): Able to take advantage of a six-game homestand by going 4-2, they’ll head on a tough five-game road trip against Minnesota, which has won 10 straight, and Atlanta, which speaks for itself. They’ll be bringing the best ERA for a pitching staff in MLB with them. 💨

• Blue Jays (15-17, v. KC): The lone run scored in Wednesday’s loss was a solo shot by Danny Jansen. This team has the third-lowest RBI total across MLB and has now lost seven of their last ten.
  

• Rays (14-18, @ MIL): Going 0-for-8 with RISP on Wednesday was a hill too large to overcome, especially as the offense totaled just five hits in Wednesday’s loss. This moved Tampa to four games below .500 for the first time since ‘18.

Central

• Guardians (20-11, @ HOU): For the first time since 1910, Cleveland played in its fourth straight extra-inning game on Wednesday and came away with the lone win of the series. However, the extra work caught up with them on Thursday, as they allowed eight runs while only scoring two.
  

• Royals (19-13 @ TOR): Two three-run innings helped secure a win on Wednesday as Seth Lugo threw seven innings, allowing just one run to pair with it. With the best home record in the AL at 12-5, they’ll host Texas this weekend, which will be a tough test as KC is just 5-10 against over .500 ball clubs.

• Tigers (18-13, @ STL): After his start was delayed on Monday due to rain, Kenta Maeda threw six innings of one-run ball on Wednesday to continue the winning after this club posted their most wins before May since ‘84. 🚀

• Twins (17-13, @ CWS): Scoring ten runs to get their MLB-leading tenth-straight win came with the cost of Byron Buxton exiting early in the second inning after a stolen base attempt.
  

• White Sox (6-25, v. MIN): Since being called up on 4/26, Tommy Pham has hit .375 and had two more RBIs in Wednesday’s loss to the Twins, the second time in a week they have been swept by the Twins.

West

• Mariners (17-14, v. ATL): For the second time since April 10th, they allowed five or more runs and left ten on base in the process, failing to complete the sweep of Atlanta. They’ll head to Houston in hopes of winning their seventh straight series. 📈

• Rangers (17-15, v. WSH): They threw a combined shutout on Thursday to cap off a series sweep, but unfortunately, Nathan Eovaldi had to exit the game in the sixth inning with groin tightness.
  

• Athletics (15-17, v. PIT): On Wednesday, the A’s won their fourth straight game in a shutout, capping off a sweep to win their second consecutive series. They’ll look to stay hot as Miami comes to town.

• Astros (10-21, v. CLE): Moving to 4-1 in their last five games and winning their second consecutive series for the first time this year, they’ll host Seattle this weekend to put their winning run to the test. Despite their record, this team has the third-best batting average and fifth-best OPS in MLB.

• Angels (11-20, v. PHI): Patrick Sandoval struck out 10 for the fourth time in his career, but a solo shot from Ehire Adrianza was the only offense this team could muster up in a loss on Wednesday. They’re now 2-8 in their last ten.

Source

National League 

East

• Braves (20-9, @ SEA): Going 3-for-7 with RISP on Wednesday, they were able to stave off the series sweep in Seattle and will head to Dodger Stadium to finish off a west coast road trip for my favorite series of the weekend.
  

• Phillies (21-11, @ LAA): Despite striking out 18 times on Wednesday, the Phils come away with the win to advance to their best record through 32 games in over ten years.

• Mets (15-14, v. CHC): After starting on the bench on Thursday due to an illness, Fransico Lindor pinch-hit in the bottom of the sixth and drove in four runs with a walk-off double in extra innings to split the series.

• Nationals (14-15, @ TEX): Scoring just a single run in the first two games of the series, Washington was shut out on Thursday with only four hits.

• Marlins (7-24, v. COL): Jesús Sánchez hit his second RBI of the night to walk it off on Thursday, and Miami completed its first sweep and series win of the year. 🧹

Central

• Brewers (19-11, v. TB): The ‘Average Joes’ led the entire way on Wednesday thanks to Willy Adames, who hit two taters and six scoreless innings from Colin Rea. The umpires get involved for the fourth straight game for the Brewers, this time for Thyago Vieira's illegal glove, which he used just the night prior. 🤔

• Cubs (19-13, @ NYM): Shota Imanaga threw seven innings on Wednesday without allowing a run, lowering his season ERA to 0.78 and becoming the first pitcher since at least 1901 to have a sub-1.0 ERA while winning their first five games. Unfortunately, he can’t pitch every day, and the Cubs split the four-game series after falling in extra innings on Thursday.

• Reds (16-15, @ SD): After allowing six runs for their second consecutive game, the offense can’t keep up. They only scored two and dropped the series to the Padres.

• Cardinals (14-17, @ DET): With their only run being a solo shot from Willson Contreras, they lost the series rubber match as they could only get three runners in scoring position in the loss.

• Pirates (14-18, @ OAK): Going 0-for-10 with RISP, they were shut out and swept by the A’s, dropping to a 3-12 record over their last 15 games. 📉

West

• Dodgers (20-13, @ AZ): Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw his second consecutive scoreless outing as the Dodgers shut out the Diamondbacks while putting up eight runs. Since Yamamoto’s first start in Seoul, he’s posted a 1.64 ERA through 33 IP with 40 Ks. 🔥
  

• Padres (16-18, @ COL): After snapping their five-game losing streak on Tuesday, they follow it up with a series win on Wednesday on the back of nine strikeouts through six innings from Joe Musgrove and a grand slam by Jake Croneneworth.

• Giants (14-16, @ BOS): Mike Yastrrzemski did his best Carl impression on Thursday by launching a tater into the right-field bullpen at Fenway, helping SF avoid a sweep. Kyle Harrison struck out seven through five innings, and despite the offense getting just two runners into scoring position on Thursday, they managed to win the game.

• Diamondbacks (14-18, v. LAD): After Jordan Montgomery’s start was delayed on Wednesday due to a bee swarm, he started Thursday’s game, allowing six runs in three innings of work. After the 8-0 loss, they still have a +18 run differential and are the only team below .500 with a positive differential.
  

• Rockies (7-22, @ MIA): Unable to take advantage of two extra innings games in the series, Colorado was handed their fifth straight loss on Thursday getting swept for the second consecutive time. They’re now 1-3 in extra innings games and 2-7 in one-run games.

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