5/13-5/14 MLB Newsletter

American League

East

• Yankees🔼(28-15, @ MIN): Despite allowing a lead-off home run, Carlos Rodón got things back on track and went six innings for the fourth time in five starts, allowing only one run while striking out six. Giancarlo Stanton hit his ninth home run of the year as the Yankees scored five to beat the red-hot Twins. 💪

• Orioles🔽(26-14, v. TOR): This offense had gone 18.1 innings without scoring a run with Corbin Burnes on the mound, but that changed with a homer from Adley Rutschman in the bottom of the 4th, his first of two in the game. Tuesday’s game was rained out and will be rescheduled for 7/29.
  

• Red Sox (22-20, v. TB): Ceddanne Rafaela made an error in the 11th, allowing the go-ahead run to score. He made up for it with a crucial sacrifice bunt, which allowed the tying run to score. Then, in the bottom of the 12th, Romy Gonzalez drove in the game-winning run to walk it off for Boston.

• Rays (21-22, @ BOS): Randy Arozarena hit his 8th homer of the year, and Isaac Paredes drove in a run to tie the game in the 6th, but they eventually lost in the 12th.

• Blue Jays (19-22, @ BAL): Fighting through sickness, Toronto got some help from a rained-out game on Tuesday to give the team an extra day to recover after battling with only nine healthy players to extra innings win over Baltimore. Tuesday’s game was postponed.

Central

• Guardians (27-16, @ TEX): Emmanuel Clase recorded his 12th save as they continued to roll, winning their 10th series of the year in a 7-4 win. The Naylor brothers combined for five RBIs on the night.
  

• Royals🔼(26-18, @ SEA): Michael Wacha went six innings, striking out seven, while Nelson Velázquez ended his 101 at-bat home run drought as he blasted a 3-run homer to help them win the game 4-2.

• Twins🔽(24-17, v. NYY): Ryan Jeffers hit a leadoff homer, but this team was held scoreless for the rest of the game as they allowed five unanswered runs and fell to 44-118 against the Yankees since 2002.

• Tigers (21-21, v. MIA): Reese Olson threw eight scoreless innings and was still unable to get his first win of the year. Olson became the first pitcher with a sub-2.25 ERA and an 0-4 record or worse through his first eight starts of a season as the Tigers could not score a run in their 10-inning loss. 😞
  

• White Sox (13-30, v. WSH): After losing the first game, Chicago bounced back to hold Washington scoreless, thanks to seven scoreless innings from Erick Fedde in a 4-0 win to split the doubler header.

West

• Mariners (23-20, v. KC): Logan Gilbert struck out seven as he went 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Unfortunately, those runs came off a crucial 3-run shot to end his night and ultimately led to Seattle losing.

• Rangers (22-22, v. CLE): Jack Leiter continues to struggle as he only managed to go 1.2 IP while allowing six runs. The offense could not erase the deficit despite homers from Adolis García, Corey Seager, and Nathaniel Lowe.
  

• Athletics (19-25, @ HOU): Mason Miller led the game with five strikeouts despite pitching just two innings, as he remains one of the hottest pitchers in 2024. The A’s could only score one run despite holding the Astros to just two as they fell to Houston in the 10th.

• Astros (17-25, v. OAK): Ronel Blanco, having a breakout season, could be facing a 10-game suspension after being ejected from the game for having a sticky substance inside his glove. They still won the ten-inning game. 🤔

• Angels (15-28, v. STL): The bullpen continues to struggle as they now have a 5.23 ERA, the second-worst mark in the Majors this season. Several mistakes, including a botched suicide squeeze play in the 8th, led to the loss.

Source

National League 

East

• Phillies (30-13, @ NYM): Aaron Nola threw a complete game shutout on Tuesday while striking out eight and allowing just four hits to cap off a sweep of the two-game away series.

• Braves (26-13, v. CHC): Matt Olson hit his second home run of the month in Tuesday’s win while the pitching staff finished their second consecutive shutout. They’ll look to maintain the NL’s best home record (15-4) on Wednesday as they go for the sweep. 🧹

• Nationals🔼(20-21, @ CWS): Monday’s matchup was rained out, making Tuesday a doubleheader. They split the two games with Chicago but failed to score a run in the second game. Patrick Corbin, who has a 5.91 ERA, will take the mound in the series rubber match.

• Mets🔽(19-22, v. PHI): After dropping the last two games at home to Philadelphia, they’ll now head there for a two-game away series. Mark Vientos was called up and should get a chance to prove himself against a few lefties in the coming days.

• Marlins (12-32, @ DET): After a one-run loss on Monday, they returned with their own one-run win on Tuesday in a scoreless matchup until the top of the tenth inning. Ryan Weathers threw eight scoreless innings while allowing just three hits but didn’t factor into the decision.

Central

• Brewers (25-17, v. PIT): Despite losing Rhys Hoskins to the IL in Monday’s loss, the Brew Crew was able to come away with a one-run win on Tuesday, moving to 9-5 in one-run games. Sal Frelick came to play on both sides of the ball with his first homer and an incredible diving catch. 🤩

• Cubs (24-19, @ ATL): Failing to score a run through two games in Atlanta and only getting six runners into scoring position in those games, they’ll need the offense to show up today if they don’t want to get swept.

• Pirates (19-24, @ MIL): Quinn Priester allowed a four-run second inning on Tuesday, which ended up being a hill too large to climb for this team as they tallied just three hits through the game. Martín Pérez will get the ball in this afternoon’s series rubber match.

• Reds (18-24, @ AZ): With Monday night’s loss, this team had lost 11 of their last 12 games, but they got the offense going in Tuesday’s win, tallying 13 hits while going 4-for-11 with RISP.

• Cardinals (18-24, @ LAA): Sonny Gray allowed five or more runs for the second consecutive start, but the Cardinals were still able to hold on to a one-run win on Tuesday, which sets them up for the sweep this afternoon. After yesterday’s victory, they’ve tied their season-high win streak (3).

West

• Dodgers (29-15, @ SF): Shohei Ohtani, who currently leads the league in batting average (.361), hit the longest homer (446ft) at Oracle Park of the season in last night’s win. They’re 10-2 so far through May. 🚀
  

• Padres (22-23, v. COL): Dylan Cease sat down eight on strikes through 5.2 IP on Tuesday but allowed three earned runs while taking the loss. They’ll look to avoid the sweep today as Michael King takes the mound.

• Diamondbacks (20-23, v. CIN): After a walk-off win on Monday night, Slade Cecconi took the mound and allowed six earned runs on seven hits while the offense only scored two in the loss.

• Giants (19-25, v. LAD): Logan Webb will take the mound today in hopes of avoiding a sweep to their rivals after they dropped the last two games a combined 16-6. Jung Hoo Lee will see a doctor on Thursday to determine whether or not his dislocated shoulder will require surgery.
  

• Rockies (14-28, @ SD): They have their longest win streak (6) since 2019 and haven’t scored less than three runs in a game during that span. Cal Quantrill threw six innings of one-run ball to help secure the victory.

🥔 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 Wednesday! See you Friday. 👋