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MLB News & Moments: Honoring Garret Anderson

RIP, Garret Anderson

Pablo Figueroa
MLB Morning News 12 Hours Ago

Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.

Before any Friday games began, the baseball world learned of the sad and unexpected passing of Garret Anderson. As heartfelt messages and tributes became a fixture on social media, it is important to remember how Anderson became one of the most beloved, if underrated, players of his generation.

Despite being a fourth-round pick with little fanfare, Anderson became a key member of the Angels from an early age, finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 1995. His compact swing from the left side developed into a model of consistency, averaging over 150 games, 20+ homers and 100+ RBI during his prime. He would also be a playoff hero for the franchise, being part of their only World Series championship in 2002 – a season in which he also finished fourth in AL MVP voting.

Despite late-career spells with Atlanta and the Dodgers, Anderson will always be remembered as an Angel, as he is still the franchise leader in games played, hits, RBI, runs, and total bases. He will also be remembered for his integrity and sportsmanship. Rest in peace.

 

Today’s Headlines

 

A Fitting Tribute

Saddened by the news of losing a franchise icon, the Angels gave him a nice tribute pre-game and then with an inspired performance on the field. Despite playing the red-hot Padres, the Halos rode the spectacular streak of José Soriano to a comfortable 8-0 win. Mike Trout did not add to his homer barrage, but walked twice and scored a run, while Yoán Moncada and Josh Lowe homered as part of a 13-hit effort from the Angels. Soriano continues to be the story, though, as he is moving from an early-season curiosity to a genuine Cy Young contender. With 5.2 scoreless frames, Soriano lowered his ERA to a microscopic 0.28 while winning his league-leading fifth game of the season. He needed 99 pitches but struck out eight, as San Diego was limited to only three hits in the contest. Garret Anderson would be proud.

Cloud 9 (but the opposite)

Despite ownership’s vote of confidence towards manager Carlos Mendoza, the Mets were sluggish and distraught, extending their losing streak to nine games by falling 12-4 to the Cubs. Starter Kodai Senga’s ERA rose to an unsightly 8.83 after allowing six runs in 3.1 innings, including a couple of first-inning homers that gave the Cubs an early 4-0 lead. Even as the Mets battled back with a three-run second, the fight would stop there, as Chicago took control of the game behind six strong innings from Edward Cabrera, who earned his second win of the year. Things are so bleak for the Mets that they even matched Chicago’s 14-hit output, but missed opportunities and a couple of defensive errors led to the lopsided score. This is now their longest losing streak since September 2004, when they lost 11 in a row.

Goliath Slays David

In what is certainly the most lopsided matchup in MLB, round one between the Dodgers and Rockies went exactly as expected. Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak by ripping a double on the fourth pitch of the game, promptly scoring on a Will Smith sacrifice fly, as LA would go on to score at least one run in each of the first five innings. Max Muncy added two homers, and Tyler Glasnow cruised through seven innings of one-run ball, while striking out seven. With the 7-1 win, the Dodgers added to their MLB-best 15-4 record.

Giants Torment the Capital

The Giants have been mostly a disappointment, sometimes bordering on disaster, in 2026. For one day, though, it all came together to show how dangerous they can be. With Logan Webb on the mound, rare run support came early and often, as San Francisco erupted for a six-run second inning, starting with an Heliot Ramos homer that paved the way for a 10-5 win. While Webb was far from his best (four runs allowed over six innings), the offensive support continued, as every Giants starter got at least one hit, with Ramos collecting four RBI, and Matt Chapman having three. Having won two games in a row, San Francisco will aim to achieve its first three-game winning streak of 2026.

Seeing Red

The Reds continue to be confounding, as their -12 run differential ranks eighth in the NL, while their 12-8 record has them tied with the Pirates atop the NL Central. The formula for a close win was a familiar one, as the Reds used a strong effort from their starting pitcher, a stellar bullpen, and just enough offense to scrape the W. This time, it came in the form of a 2-1 road win over the Twins, as Brandon Williamson allowed only one run to earn his second win of the season, while four relievers combined to close out the contest. Despite only getting four hits of their own, a clutch two-run double from Eugenio Suárez did the job, as Cincinnati is now 9-0 in games decided by two or fewer runs.

 

By The Numbers

 

9 The Reds have now won all their 9 games that have been decided by two or fewer runs. In all other contests, they are 3-8.

21 By hitting two homers, Max Muncy now has 21 multi-homer games in his career, including two in 2026.

7 The Red Sox played their seventh game using green City Connect jerseys, dating back to last season. They improved to 7-0 in those games, with all wins coming via a walk-off.

-34 After taking a devastating 9-0 loss against Atlanta, the Phillies now own the worst run differential in MLB, at -34.

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

McDreamy

Within the Yankees’ uneven start to the year, Ryan McMahon has been an easy target for vitriol and fan anger. The former Colorado standout started the game on the bench, as he had a .119 average with no extra-base hits. After New York’s bullpen squandered a one-run lead in the eighth, McMahon was summoned as a pinch-hitter, and he finally gave the Bronx something to cheer. With a man on first and a 2-1 count, McMahon put one over the fence to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead they would not surrender.

The Power of Alliteration

While NPB import Munetaka Murakami had a fast start to his career stateside, the recent White Sox skid had not been kind to his numbers. A game in Sacramento against the subpar A’s staff was just what the doctor ordered, as Murakami hit the first grand slam of his MLB career as part of a three-hit day. As Chicago cruised to a 9-2 win, Murakami’s blast was the exclamation point, as the ball cleared the batter’s eye in center field.

Pitching 101

In a game dominated by pitching, Ranger Suarez and Casey Mize traded zeroes all night long, as both starters combined for only five hits and two walks allowed, as the game stayed scoreless through the eighth inning. Enter Aroldis Chapman and his timeless dominance. Navigating through a tough frame, Chapman allowed two hits and a walk, but benefited from a caught stealing and then cleaned up his mess by throwing nothing but gas. Facing Dillon Dingler with two men on base, Chapman proceeded to throw sinkers at 99, 99, and 101, as Dingler swung helplessly to strike out. Chapman’s ERA is a sparkly 1.29, and the Boston would finally break through in the tenth to earn a hard-fought 1-0 win.

 

Injuries and Other Moves

 

⚾ The Cubs have placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain. The move is retroactive to April 14, when Palencia first suffered the setback. This adds to the long list of Chicago pitchers on the IL, as there is no clear replacement for the closer job. The team may move to a closer-by-committee strategy, with Ben Brown likely to be the top option when a save opportunity arises. 

⚾ The Astros have moved closer Josh Hader to the 60-day IL, which makes him eligible to return by late May. The star lefty was originally placed on the 10-day IL with right biceps tendinitis, but his progress has been slow enough to warrant a longer IL stint. While Hader has recently faced live hitters, the team considers that he still needs a regular ramp-up to build enough stamina for the rest of the season. 

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Can Extensions go Too Far? — Mike Baumann, Fangraphs

Korn Is Also a Mason Miller Fan — Bryan Horowitz, MLB.com

 

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Pablo Figueroa

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Pablo Figueroa is a Baseball Writer here at Pitcher List, with experience as a writer since 2013. He lives in Aguascalientes, Mexico - proud home of Los Rieleros. When he´s not thinking about baseball , he's a husband, owns two dogs, watches random episodes of The Sopranos , plays padel, and works on his day job to pay the bills.

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