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Happy Memorial Day! Today, we commemorate our fallen veterans and our national pastime. Here, we’ll stick to the latter. Saturday was a strange day. Two rainouts, one delay, a doubleheader. Quirky is the first word that comes to mind. There were losing streaks kept, others snapped. Sit down for a recap of all the action before doing so in front of the grill.
Today’s Headlines
Cubs Drop Seventh Straight
The Chicago Cubs. Sometimes they’re good, other times they’re bad, and occasionally, they’re somewhere in between. Bottom line, they’re confusing. The Cubs lost 3-0 yesterday to a bad Houston team and are now losers of seven-straight. Thanks to it, they find themselves third in the NL Central. Bear in mind, no pun intended, the Cubs were 27-12 and three-and-a-half games up in the Central almost exactly two weeks ago. Local kid Ferris Bueller said it best: Life moves pretty fast.
As for Saturday itself, the story starts not with the Cubs. That honor goes to Astros starter Kai-Wei Teng. Teng pitched six shutout innings and struck out six. His only downsides included two hits and three walks allowed. But with neither amounting to much, all’s well that ends well. That adage continues to apply to Weng. He touts a 2.19 ERA through 17 games, four of which he’s featured in as a starter. That saying also goes toward the Astros’ first baseman, Christian Walker. The veteran blasted two home runs yesterday to maintain his strong season. There’s a little bit of logic amidst Wrigley’s oddities.
Two Swings and Teo
The Los Angeles Dodgers needed just two swings to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 11-3. The first came early, when LA was trailing 3-0. With a runner on second, Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages pounded a high fastball for an RBI double. The Dodgers were suddenly on the board. Two batters later, outfielder Kyle Tucker walked. The go-ahead run was now at the dish, and his name was Teoscar Hernández. Hernandez let Brewers starter Robert Gasser get ahead 0-2. But that’s as far as Gasser’s advantage went. Hernandez sliced an inside sweeper deep to left for a three-run blast. Hernandez kept hammering the Brewers late. He’d end the night with six RBI, his most in a game this season.
New York, Same Story
The New York Mets went to their house of horrors: LoanDepot Park. The result? Same as it’s always been: a dreadful 4-1 loss. The offense flatlined, starter Freddy Peralta made a few too many mistakes in an otherwise solid start, and that was that. Miami starter Max Meyer is responsible for the former. Meyer went seven shutout innings, striking out eight, allowing just three walks and one hit. He was nasty. Meyer rode his sweeper to four strikeouts, helping him notch nine swinging strikes. As for Peralta’s few mistakes, he can partly blame Marlins catcher Liam Hicks. The backstop powered two homers. Hicks is now up to 11 homers and 44 RBI on the season. Miami takes the series and some more of New York’s hopes and dreams.
San Fran’s Fifth
Tied 3-3 after just taking a 3-0 lead, the San Francisco Giants had a choice: Lead another charge or let the first suffice. They chose the latter and rode it to a 10-3 win over the Chicago White Sox. That choice came in the fifth. Outfielder Casey Schmitt got things rolling, belting a ball 396 feet for a two-run bomb. But it’s outfielder Harrison Bader who made up San Fran’s mind. With the bases loaded, Bader rocketed a grand slam to cap a six-run fifth. It was the loudest Oracle Park has gotten, maybe all season. San Francisco went once more into the breach. And for it, they were greatly rewarded.
Toronto: 1. Skenes: 0.
Outside of a leadoff homer, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes was cruising. Not like a Scud missile. But more like a pontoon boat. The Toronto Blue Jays notched five hits and a walk, with only one run to show for it. Then came the sixth inning. Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. laced an innocuous single that led to much more. Two singles and a double put the Blue Jays ahead 3-1 and pulled Skenes from the game. Toronto’s starter, 36-year-old Patrick Corbin, on the other hand, allowed just one run while striking out seven. Corbin had 15 swings and misses. Skenes had seven. Make it make sense! Nonetheless, Toronto wins 5-2.
NL Central Plays Two
The Cardinals and Reds split Saturday’s doubleheader. Both wins came in different fashions. The first, an 8-1 drubbing in St. Louis’ favor, lived up to its score. Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker drove in three. Yet the star was rookie outfielder Bryan Torres. Torres, a 28-year-old grinder and 11-year minor league veteran, had a heck of an MLB debut. Two hits, two RBI, a walk, a home run. Torres and his story are a reminder that sometimes, waiting is well worth it.
Game two appeared to take a similar shape, albeit one in Cincy’s favor. A five-run fifth, powered by a pair of jacks, one from Elly De La Cruz and another from Nathaniel Lowe, had the Reds up 5-1 early. Then came the Cardinals. More specifically, then came Walker. He continued his day of torment with a three-run homer. It was now 5-4, Reds. Three innings later, with two on and two outs, Walker struck again. This time, he laced an RBI single to left for the game-tying run. The clubs went to extras, and Cincy slammed the door twice. St. Louis did not. A throw home from Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn was too late. Reds runner Blake Dunn just beat the tag for an awkward, is-he-or-isn’t-he-safe walk-off. Still, it’s a split the Reds will take all the same.
By The Numbers
⚾ 50. With yesterday’s game, Fernando Tatis Jr.’s homerless streak has now reached 50 games. Only four other qualified players have yet to hit a longball.
⚾ 46. Nick Kurtz, with a single last night, officially tied Ricky Henderson’s 46-game on-base streak. Both now share the third-longest streak in franchise history. The only players left for Kurtz to surpass? Jimmie Foxx with 47, and Mark McGwire, who reached base in 48 and 62 consecutive games.
⚾ 10. Atlanta’s Grant Holmes starred in an otherwise uneventful 2-0 loss. Holmes recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts.
⚾ 9. Kansas City Royals pitcher Stephen Kolek shoved on Saturday. The 29-year-old pitched a complete-game shutout.
⚾ 9, Part Deux. With their win last night, the Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a nine-game regular-season losing streak against the Milwaukee Brewers. LA’s last win before yesterday? Aug. 13, 2024.
⚾ 6. The Nationals, alongside starter Jake Irvin, pitched six no-hit innings against Atlanta. Atlanta outfielder Michael Harris II broke the no-hit bid with a sharp liner.
⚾ 2. Two games were postponed this afternoon. Rays-Yankees will be made up in a September doubleheader. Orioles-Tigers will play a doubleheader tomorrow.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Torres’ Triumph
After 11 years of waiting, Bryan Torres finally made the majors. And his family made the trip.
Who’s cutting onions? 🥹
Bryan Torres’ family traveled from Puerto Rico for his debut and shared a special moment with him after the game! pic.twitter.com/XbToLBOjJT
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 23, 2026
Benches Clear in Boston
These are about Fenway’s only fireworks these days.
Benches clear after Contreras collides with Caratini at the plate 👀 pic.twitter.com/MZlIWbVcat
— NESN (@NESN) May 23, 2026
Walker Waylays Two
Have a day, Christian Walker! With two ding-dongs yesterday, Walker’s now up to 13 on the season.
Christian Walker goes yard for the second time today! pic.twitter.com/JQJ2cgXn9X
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2026
Hicks the Hero
Speaking of players with a two-homer Saturday.
Liam Hicks clubs his second homer of the game! pic.twitter.com/1cT4nd8vbN
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2026
De La Dairy
Just out of curiosity, did this man buy milk at the park? Does Great American Ballpark sell milk? Or did he bring it with him, receive odd looks and questions from security, and answer them by saying, “Yeah, if the Reds homer, I’m dumping this jug all over me.” Again, just curious. No judgment here.
Elly De La Cruz belts a 3-run homer, and one fan in particular LOVED it 😂@Reds lead! pic.twitter.com/n4mCcKo60M
— MLB (@MLB) May 24, 2026
NicOMG
Nico Hoerner is a two-time Gold Glove winner. Plays like this are why.
Nico Hoerner BETWEEN THE LEGS 🤯 pic.twitter.com/GGpinBVbsA
— MLB (@MLB) May 23, 2026
You Can’t Kill the Idea
“Boy, what a career day from Hingle McCringleberry, the rookie out of Penn State. Oh, he’s just amazingly fired up here today…”
The Giants' outfield did the Key and Peele celebration skit after the win 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ESYLePQgdB
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) May 23, 2026
Start ’em Young
Watch out, Jacob Misiorowski. You’ve got competition.
4-year-old internet superstar Waylon showed off his cannon in Milwaukee 💪 https://t.co/YRopnBH8MH pic.twitter.com/0Xq0GZck3h
— MLB (@MLB) May 24, 2026
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Houston Astros star slugger Yordan Alvarez exited early on Saturday. Alvarez departed with back spasms and should be okay.
⚾ The Arizona Diamondbacks placed outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. Tommy Troy will sub in for Gurriel on the active roster. It’s a tough blow for Gurriel. Atop a slow start, he’d just come back earlier this season from a torn ACL. Now he’s on the shelf once more.
⚾ Minnesota Twins starter Taj Bradley is back. Unfortunately for reliever Luis García Jr., it comes at his expense. The Twins DFA’d the veteran on Saturday to clear room for Bradley’s return.
⚾Apparently, longtime Dodger and current Angel Chris Taylor is not retiring. Despite confirmation on Friday night, Taylor is instead getting surgery for a left forearm fracture. Rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated, apparently.
⚾ Despite pitching a no-hitter through five, Nationals starter Jake Irvin left early. Irvin came out for the sixth, tossed a few warmup pitches, and knew something was wrong. Either way, the Nationals are labeling it a shoulder injury.
⚾ Windy City is blowing the winds of change. The Chicago Cubs DFA’d infielder Nicky Lopez. In his place, they’ve called up outfielder Kevin Alcantara. Lopez failed to get a hit in his five at-bats with the Cubs.
⚾ There are some new cogs in Cincy. Relievers Caleb Ferguson and Zach Maxwell are back. The Reds activated Ferguson from the IL and recalled Maxwell from Triple-A. Connor Phillips and Jose Franco were demoted in a corresponding move.
⚾ The Los Angeles Angels and Taijuan Walker agreed on a minor league deal. The Phillies, Walker’s former team, released him on April 23 after posting a 9.13 ERA in five games. Expect Walker to build himself back up before joining the big league squad.
⚾ New York Mets rookie pitcher Zach Thornton will have to wait to make a second impression. The club demoted the righty to Triple-A following a poor debut. Reliever Jonathan Pintaro, another rookie, replaces Thornton. Pintaro also figures to replace the recently DFA’d Craig Kimbrel.
⚾ The Texas Rangers claimed first baseman Blaine Crim on Saturday. Crim, a recent Rockie, will report to Triple-A Round Rock as he joins the Rangers organization.
⚾ Peter Strzelecki is off to the Bronx. The Bronx Bombers signed the right-hander to a minor league contract. It’s a homecoming for Strzelecki, who was born in New York.
Articles You Should Read
Baseball’s Top ‘Triple Threat’ Is Speeding His Way Toward More History — Manny Randhawa, MLB.com
Sunday Notes: Nationals Prospect Erik Tolman Has a Remarkable Backstory — David Laurila, Fangraphs
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