The Boston Red Sox continued to get creative with their pitching staff on Thursday, tabbing left-hander Brennan Bernardino as their opener against the Cleveland Guardians. It was a familiar role for the 27-year-old reliever, who thrived in six opening assignments last season.
As the Red Sox juggled their rotation amid injuries to starters Nick Pivetta and Garrett Whitlock, Bernardino took the hill first before handing off to bulk reliever Cooper Criswell.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Los Angeles Angels were searching for a spark on offense against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night. As he’s done so many times before, Mike Trout provided the jolt they needed.
Trout crushed a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning, his seventh of the season, to ignite a five-run rally that propelled the Angels to a 7-3 comeback victory over the Rays at Tropicana Field.
In a riveting extra-inning showdown, José Ramírez delivered a game-winning RBI single in the 11th inning, propelling the Cleveland Guardians to a thrilling 10-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.
With the game knotted at 7-7, Ramírez’s clutch hit broke the deadlock, driving in the go-ahead run with no outs and runners on first and second. The Guardians then capitalized on the momentum, scoring two more insurance runs on Estevan Florial’s two-run single, putting the game out of reach for the Red Sox.
In the annals of Major League Baseball, few names evoke the reverence and respect commanded by Whitey Herzog. The late, great manager’s impact on America’s national pastime is indelible, leaving an enduring legacy that resonates across generations of players, coaches, and fans alike.
Born Walter Ray Herzog on July 9, 1931, in New Athens, Illinois, the man affectionately known as “Whitey” carved a path from humble beginnings to the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.
In the ever-evolving world of professional baseball, roster decisions are a constant dance between strategy and circumstance. On Monday, April 15th, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a notable adjustment to their lineup, with outfielder James Outman taking a seat on the bench for the series opener against the Washington Nationals.
Outman, a promising young talent who has been making waves with his impressive performances, found himself on the outside looking in as manager Dave Roberts opted to give him a well-deserved breather.
When Brandon Crawford takes the field this week at the Oakland Coliseum, donning the iconic birds-on-bat emblazoned across his chest, it will mark a homecoming of sorts for the Bay Area baseball icon. Though the jersey may be different, the surroundings will feel comfortingly familiar for the former San Francisco Giants shortstop as he returns to the region where his storybook career began.
For 13 seasons, Crawford patrolled the infield at Oracle Park, his steady glove and timely hitting integral parts of the Giants’ even-year magic that delivered World Series titles in 2012 and 2014.
In a move that Dodgers fans have become accustomed to under manager Dave Roberts, promising rookie outfielder James Outman was given a day off Monday as Los Angeles opened a series against the Washington Nationals.
Utility man Kiké Hernandez got the start in center field and hit seventh in the batting order against the Nats. While Outman has shown tremendous power potential since being called up in August, Roberts has made a habit of resting his young players regularly to keep them fresh over the long grind of a 162-game season.
The Chicago White Sox were left ruing missed opportunities as they suffered a heart-wrenching 7-6 extra-inning loss to the Cleveland Guardians in the series finale on Wednesday. Despite holding early leads, the Sox failed to capitalize on golden scoring chances late in the game, ultimately denying them their first series victory of the 2024 season.
The White Sox had their chances to seize control of the game, but a combination of clutch defensive plays and timely strikeouts kept them at bay.
Baseball fans eagerly awaiting the rubber match between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will have to exercise patience, as Mother Nature has intervened. The Dodgers announced that Sunday’s primetime clash, part of the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, will experience a weather delay due to rain in the area.
The news comes fresh off a similar scenario from the previous evening, where the second game of the series was pushed back by over an hour before the teams could take the field.
The Chicago White Sox were inches away from securing their first series win of the 2024 season on Wednesday, but a pair of squandered scoring chances in the 8th and 9th innings came back to haunt them. Despite a monster day at the plate from Gavin Sheets, the Sox fell 7-6 in extras to the Cleveland Guardians.
Sheets was a one-man wrecking crew, going 3-for-5 with a double, a three-run homer, and 5 RBIs.
Baseball fans eagerly anticipating the Sunday night showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will have to exercise a bit more patience. The marquee matchup, scheduled to be televised nationally on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, has been delayed due to inclement weather conditions in the area.
The Dodgers announced the postponement via their official Twitter account, stating that the game would have a weather delay and asking fans to stay tuned for updates as they monitor the situation.
In the world of professional baseball, few rookies have burst onto the scene with as much fanfare and immediate impact as Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres. The 20-year-old outfielder, who skipped Triple-A and made the leap straight to the big leagues, has been nothing short of a revelation for the Padres, seamlessly transitioning to the leadoff spot in the batting order.
Merrill’s move to the top of the lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday was merely the latest chapter in his meteoric rise.
In a move that may have caught some fantasy baseball owners off guard, the Philadelphia Phillies opted to rest their starting catcher J.T. Realmuto for Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 31-year-old Realmuto has been one of the most durable catchers in Major League Baseball over the last few seasons. However, he exited Friday night’s contest early, leading to speculation that he may have been dealing with a minor injury or just needed a routine day off.
The Boston Red Sox hoped the friendly confines of Fenway Park would provide a cure for their early season defensive ailments. Instead, their woes only intensified in a deflating 7-0 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.
Entering their home opener with a 7-3 record on a West Coast road trip, the Red Sox looked to build off a strong start bolstered by stellar starting pitching. However, sloppy defense and an ice-cold offense resulted in the club’s fourth straight defeat to open their homestand.
In a battle of AL Central foes, the Detroit Tigers made a lineup adjustment for the second game of their doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. Veteran catcher Carson Kelly, who started behind the plate in the opening game, was given the night off for the nightcap.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch penciled in Jake Rogers to catch the second contest and bat ninth as the two teams wrapped up their twin bill at Comerica Park.
The Atlanta Braves’ offensive juggernaut rolled into Miami looking to take the series against the Marlins on Saturday. With Jarred Kelenic reinserted into the lineup batting ninth and playing left field, the Braves aimed to keep their hot bats rolling.
Kelenic, who had been out with a minor injury, rejoined a Braves lineup that had been scoring at a torrid pace lately. In the previous game, Atlanta had hung eight runs on the Marlins’ pitching staff.
In a disappointing turn of events, Texas Rangers relief pitcher Brock Burke’s road to redemption hit a significant roadblock after he broke his non-throwing hand in a fit of frustration following a subpar outing against the Houston Astros. The 27-year-old lefty, who has been struggling to find his form this season with a bloated 15.00 ERA, allowed three hits and four runs in the seventh inning of the Rangers’ 12-8 win on Friday night.
In a dramatic turn of events on a wet, windy night at Camden Yards, tempers flared between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of their series opener. The confrontation between Brewers’ infielder Willy Adames and Orioles’ catcher James McCann escalated to the point where both teams’ benches cleared, and pitchers rushed in from the bullpens.
The incident began when Adames stepped up to the batter’s box for his fourth plate appearance of the game.
In the ever-evolving chess game that is Major League Baseball, even the most promising young talents can find themselves caught in the crosshairs of strategic maneuvering. Such was the case for Luis Gil, the hard-throwing right-hander whose electric arm was primed for a weekend start against the Cleveland Guardians, only to be sidelined in a move that left fans scratching their heads.
Gil, whose meteoric rise through the Yankees’ farm system has been nothing short of captivating, was initially slated to take the mound on Saturday, his sixth day after an impressive outing at Yankee Stadium.
The Miami Marlins’ ongoing battle with low attendance figures is a stark reminder of the importance of fan support in sustaining professional sports teams. Despite a promising start to the 2024 season, with a near-sellout crowd on Opening Day, the Marlins have struggled to attract fans to loanDepot Park, raising concerns about the team’s long-term viability in the city.
According to recently released statistics from Baseball Reference, the Marlins are tied for the second-worst percentage of stadium capacity filled so far in 2024, averaging only 40% of the 36,742-seat loanDepot Park.
In the ever-evolving landscape of Major League Baseball, few names have captured the imagination of fans quite like Elly De La Cruz. The Cincinnati Reds’ top prospect has taken the baseball world by storm, injecting a much-needed dose of excitement into the game with his electrifying play and infectious charisma.
At just 21 years old, De La Cruz has already established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the diamond.
In a strategic move aimed at fortifying their bullpen for a highly anticipated series against their National League West rivals, the San Diego Padres have reshuffled their relief corps. Ahead of the three-game set at Dodger Stadium, the Padres recalled left-hander Adrián Morejón while designating right-hander Pedro Avila for assignment.
The decision to part ways with Avila, who is out of minor league options, was a tough one for the Padres’ brass.
In a highly anticipated matchup against the San Diego Padres, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the promising rookie pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, delivered a solid performance despite not factoring into the decision. Yamamoto showcased his potential, striking out six batters over five innings while allowing three runs on four hits and one walk.
The game started on a challenging note for Yamamoto, as he surrendered a towering 390-foot home run to Manny Machado in the first inning.
Baseball fans in the Seattle area have a convenient way to catch the action when the Mariners take on the Chicago Cubs on April 14th. Sound Transit is offering special Sounder train service to T-Mobile Park for the 1:10 p.m. game, giving fans an easy and stress-free way to arrive at the ballpark.
The Sounder trains offer a relaxing alternative to navigating game day traffic and finding parking. Fans from the north can board the inbound Sounder N Line train from Snohomish County, which departs Everett at 10:45 a.
In a highly anticipated reunion, Blake Snell stepped onto the field at Tropicana Field, but this time as a visitor with the San Francisco Giants. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, who spent the first five years of his major league career with the Tampa Bay Rays, couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotions wash over him.
“The barber shop,” Snell said with a reminiscent smile, referring to a familiar spot at the stadium.
As the 2024 Major League Baseball season unfolds, a concerning narrative has emerged in the sunny confines of loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. Despite the team’s promising playoff run the previous year, the turnstiles have remained alarmingly dormant, casting a shadow over the organization’s efforts to cultivate a dedicated fan base.
The jarring attendance figures released by Baseball Reference paint a sobering picture. The Marlins find themselves tied for the second-worst percentage of stadium capacity filled, a disheartening 40% on average.
The American League Central division is shaping up to be a battleground this season, and the upcoming clash between the Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers is sure to be a thrilling spectacle. With two of the division’s top pitchers taking the mound, this matchup promises to be a pitcher’s duel for the ages.
Twins’ Ace Pablo Lopez Looks to Tame the Tigers For the Twins, the hopes of securing a crucial divisional victory rest squarely on the shoulders of Pablo Lopez.
The Philadelphia Phillies finally busted out of their early season power outage on Thursday night, bashing three home runs to power their way to a 5-1 victory over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Alec Bohm got things started by launching a solo shot in the 4th inning to break a 91 plate appearance homerless drought for the Phillies. It was the first dinger of the season for the young third baseman.
In a surprising move, the Pittsburgh Pirates left slugger Rowdy Tellez out of their starting lineup for Thursday’s clash against the Philadelphia Phillies. The power-hitting first baseman has been a key cog in the Pirates’ offensive machinery this season, making his absence from the leadoff spot a perplexing decision.
Tellez, who has blasted 14 home runs and driven in 38 runs so far, will have to watch from the dugout as Connor Joe takes over at first base and leadoff duties against the Phillies.
The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets are set to conclude their weather-shortened three-game series on Thursday afternoon at Truist Park. The Braves will send out Allan Winans for his season debut, while the Mets counter with veteran left-hander Jose Quintana.
For Atlanta, manager Brian Snitker has stuck with the same lineup that was announced for Wednesday’s postponed game. Adam Duvall gets the nod in left field against the lefty Quintana, a pitcher he has enjoyed success against in the past.
