4/19-4/21 MLB Newsletter

American League

East

• Yankees (15-7, v. TB): Aaron Judge was booed on Saturday after going 0-4 with four strikeouts on his own bobblehead day. 993 days after his first win, Luis Gil got his second career win Sunday, going 5.2 IP and allowing just two hits as the Yanks narrowly escaped with the series win. 🤏
  

• Orioles (14-7, @ KC): Saturday, Colton Cowser accidentally threw teammate Craig Kimbrel’s 422nd save ball into the fountains at Kauffman Stadium. He made up for it Sunday as he hit a 430-foot tater, also into the fountains, helping cap off a series win.

• Red Sox (13-10, @ PIT): A team effort on the mound held the Pirates to just one run as the Sox completed the series sweep. In this week's feel-good story, 31-year-old Cam Booser made his MLB debut after a series of devastating injuries led him to leave baseball in 2017.

• Blue Jays (12-10, @ SD): After holding San Diego to three combined runs in the first two games of this series, the Jays made some critical mistakes on Sunday, including walking in the go-ahead run, unable to complete their first series sweep of the year.
  

• Rays (12-11, @ NYY): They fell short of a comeback on Sunday and dropped the series to their division foes. After packing on muscle this offseason, Randy Arozarena continues to struggle. He struck out three times in back-to-back games this weekend and is hitting .157.

Central

• Guardians (16-6, v. OAK): The bats stay hot, sweeping the Athletics and winning 16 of their first 22 games for just the fifth time in 80 years. Their +52 run differential is the best in MLB, separated by 15 runs with second place. 🚀
  

• Royals (13-9, v. BAL): After scoring nine and seven runs in the series' first two games, they were held scoreless on Sunday for the first time all year as Seth Lugo allowed his first two homers. This was their second series loss to Baltimore of the year.

• Tigers (12-10, @ MIN): Getting his first win since late ‘21, Casey Mize pitched six scoreless innings as Detroit won the series against Minnesota. The Tigers advanced to an 8-3 record in road games on the year.

• Twins (7-13, v DET): Unable to get their first series win of April, Minnesota has quietly been the second-worst team in MLB in batting average, with a .195 average. Luckily, they’ll host the White Sox, the worst batting average team in MLB, as they look to get right.
  

• White Sox (3-18, @ PHI): This team is off to its worst start in franchise history after suffering another series sweep. Eloy Jiménez hit his first homer of the year so that’s at least something positive, right? 🫣

West

• Rangers (12-11, @ ATL): Evan Carter shined Sunday night with his first multi-hit game in over a week, and the Rangers took down the Braves to avoid the sweep. Three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer is set to begin his minor league rehab assignment as he recovers from offseason back surgery.

• Mariners (11-11, @ COL): Advancing to 5-1 in their last six games, Seattle capped off their second straight series win. Cal Raleigh has been red hot, going 7-15 with three taters in his previous four games.

• Angels (9-13, @ CIN): Getting swept for the first time this year, this team has scored one or fewer runs in three out of its last four games. With Baltimore coming to town, the offense must come out firing if they want a chance.

• Athletics (8-14, @ CLE): Kicking off a 10-game road trip Friday, the A’s dropped the first three games, getting swept by the dominating Guardians. The road trip won’t get easier as they travel to take on the Yankees.

• Astros (7-16, @ WSH): Moving to their worst start since 2016, this team was held to just four hits in a shutout on Sunday, losing their second consecutive series. On a bright note, they have Justin Verlander back, recording a quality start in his first outing on Friday night.

Source

National League 

East

• Braves (14-6, v. TEX): Marcell Ozuna hit his MLB-leading ninth home run and 27th RBI in a loss on Sunday night, snapping Atlanta's six-game win streak. Prospect pitcher Bryce Elder got called up to the majors to help bolster this rotation and make his season debut today.
  

• Phillies (14-8, v. CWS): With MLB’s longest win streak at six, the Phils completed their best 10-plus-game homestand since 2011, going 8-2. During those ten games, the starters have a combined 1.5.1 ERA. 📈🔥

• Mets (12-9, @ LAD): After an 0-5 start to the season, they’ve now won eight of their last ten as they came away with their fifth straight series win. Unfortunately for the Mets, Francisco Alvarez injured his thumb on Saturday night, likely putting him out until June.

• Nationals (10-11, v. HOU): After getting his first career win last week against the Dodgers, Mithcell Parker threw seven scoreless innings on Sunday as the bullpen capped off the shutout, taking the series from Houston.

• Marlins (6-17, @ CHC): On Sunday, they matched their third-highest run total of the month at six runs. The Marlins leave Chicago splitting the series as Edward Cabrera gets his first win of the season.

Central

• Brewers (14-6, @ STL): Pat Murphy tied the franchise’s second-most wins in a manager's first 20 games as they capped off a sweep with a shutout on Sunday. They tallied a season-high 18 hits on Saturday night as Brice Turang stole his MLB-leading 10th base, tied with Elly De La Cruz and Lane Thomas. 🧹

• Cubs (13-9, v. MIA): Kyle Hendricks continued to struggle on Sunday, allowing four runs in four innings, leading to a series split against Miami. Shota Imanaga came away with a win on Saturday night after giving up his first two runs of the season.

• Reds (12-9, v. LAA): Frankie Montas left after only 16 pitches on Sunday after being hit by a line drive. Forced into a bullpen game, the Reds managed a combined shutout and won the series.

• Pirates (11-11, v. BOS): After a red-hot start, the Bucs have lost six straight games, scoring nine combined runs. Having batted first for most of the season, a struggling Oneil Cruz batted in the eighth spot the last two games.

• Cardinals (9-13, v. MIL): Despite Sonny Gray striking out 12, the Redbirds couldn’t avoid the sweep as the bats left ten on base, going 0-9 with runners in scoring position. 🤦‍♂️

West

• Dodgers (13-11, v. NYM): Tyler Glasnow delivered on Sunday, helping the Dodgers avoid a sweep by striking out 10 through eight innings. Shohei Ohtani homered to become the HR leader for Japanese-born players.
  

• Padres (12-12, v. TOR): Xander Bogaerts launched his second tater of the year on Sunday while logging just his second multi-hit game of the month, helping avoid getting swept on Sunday.

• Diamondbacks (11-12, @ SF): The Snakes held on to the series win after a comeback in the sixth inning on Sunday, but they might lose Merrill Kelly for some time. He was a late scratch due to shoulder strain. Arizona recorded 22 hits on Friday night to set a franchise record for hits in a nine-inning game.
  

• Giants (10-13, v. AZ): Patrick Bailey helped lead the Giants to a series split as he went 4-4 on his bobblehead day on Saturday and smashed a homer that landed cleanly inside a kayak in McCovey Cove. 👀
  

• Rockies (5-17, v. SEA): Colorado was unable to win their first series of the year as they lost the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday after the first game of the day went into extra innings after a scoreless nine innings for just the third time in Coors Field history.

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