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I keep harping that it is early for a reason. It is early. The most any team has played is 23 games, not even one-sixth of the season. With rare exceptions, as the saying goes (because it is true), you can’t win a division at this stage of a season, but you can lose one. The biggest gap from first to worst in any division is the 8½-game advantage Atlanta has over the New York Mets in the NL East. And there is a strong argument that Atlanta is overachieving and the Mets are underachieving. Two or three weeks from now, their positions could be reversed. It is early.
Today’s Headlines
Orioles Have Grand Finish
Like a few teams this early in the season, the Baltimore Orioles are looking for a spark. Did that come in the series opener against the Kansas City Royals? Limited to one hit over the first seven innings by Seth Lugo, the Orioles tied it with two outs in the ninth and won it with a five-run 12th inning, beating the Royals 7-5. Samuel Basallo played the role of hero, singling home the run in the top of the ninth to send the game into extra innings, then delivering an RBI single in the 12th for the go-ahead run. Leody Taveras struck the knockout blow with a grand slam, the first of his career, for a 7-2 lead, then had to hold on in the bottom of the 12th with the tying run at the plate before getting the final out. Lugo was quite good, striking out seven but walking four while allowing just the one hit. Orioles starter Kyle Bradish battled through 5⅓ innings, allowing 10 hits and three walks, but only one run while striking out seven.
Vladdy, Cease Send Jays Past Angels
A long postseason run, especially one that ends in disappointment, can take something out of a team, no matter how much the players say they put what happened behind them. So it was certainly encouraging for the Toronto Blue Jays to see two key members of last year’s World Series team come up big in the series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his second homer of the season and embattled closer Jeff Hoffman nailed down the save as the Jays pulled out a 5-2 win over the Angels. Right-handed starter Dylan Cease was also a big factor, striking out 12 and allowing both runs in five innings. The Jays’ bullpen allowed one hit, while striking out six over the final four innings. The Jays certainly had an adventure getting to Anaheim. After their charter plane had mechanical issues, the team took a bus from Phoenix to Southern California after Sunday’s game.
Dodgers’ Díaz To Have Surgery, Out 3 Months
The mystery has been solved, at least for now. Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed closer Edwin Díaz went on the 15-day injured list with loose bodies in his right elbow. Díaz will have surgery on Wednesday and is expected to miss around three months. Left-handed reliever Jake Eder was called up from Triple-A. Díaz has four saves in seven appearances, but has racked up a 10.50 ERA by allowing three runs in each of his last two appearances, one April 10 vs. the Texas Rangers and the other Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Díaz had not complained about any arm or elbow injuries until after Sunday’s outing.
Rushing, Muncy Help L.A. Crush Rockies
Is it fishy when a backup catcher hits two homers in a game? Maybe not with the way Dalton Rushing is going. Rushing and Max Muncy each hit a pair of homers as the Dodgers cruised past the Colorado Rockies 12-3. Rushing called the Rockies’ hitting approach “fishy” Saturday, drawing a taunting response from the Rockies, who did a fishing-rod motion during Sunday’s game. Ultimately, Rushing, who played first base Monday and now has seven homers, got the last laugh as the Dodgers salvaged a split of this four-game series. Dodgers left-handed starter Justin Wrobleski allowed just one run on eight hits in seven innings. The Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas had a homer and the 1,000th hit of his career.
Stewart, Reds Win 4th Straight
If the Cincinnati Reds start hitting, the rest of MLB better watch out. Having built a 14-8 record entering the series opener vs. the Tampa Bay Rays with pitching and defense, the Reds, at least for one night, broke out the bats to produce more than enough offense for a 6-1 triumph, Cincinnati’s fourth straight win. Eight of the nine Reds starters had a hit, with rookie Sal Stewart hitting a two-run homer, his team-leading eighth, and stealing third base, his fifth theft of the year. Right-hander Rhett Lowder made that all stand up with six innings of five-hit ball, allowing one run. The Reds entered the game with the worst batting average and slugging percentage in MLB and ranked 26th in runs (3.6).
Schlittler Receives More Threats From Red Sox Fans
On the eve of his return to Fenway Park, New York Yankees right-handed starter Cam Schlittler said he and his family have continued to receive threats from Boston Red Sox fans. Schlittler, a Red Sox fan while growing up in nearby Walpole, Mass., is scheduled to start Thursday’s finale of a three-game series. He had the best game of his young career in last year’s postseason, striking out 12 in eight shutout innings in a 4-0 win over the Red Sox in the decisive third game of the AL Wild Card Series. “Most normal fans could care less, right?” Schlittler said. “It’s just those diehards that just have nothing else in their lives other than baseball or sports that really care about this, and the fact that I play for the Yankees makes it worse for them.”
Clevinger Under More Scrutiny
Pitcher Mike Clevinger, now at Triple-A in the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ organization, continued to harass and threaten his former fiancée and mother of his youngest child after MLB declined to punish him following an investigation for possible violations of the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, according to a new report. That probe concluded March 5, 2023, with the announcement that Clevinger would not face punishment. About six weeks later, on April 19, 2023, an hour before Clevinger was scheduled to pitch for the Chicago White Sox, the pitcher said in a phone call, “Your life is over, b—-.” She contacted the MLB investigator who handled the case in which Clevinger told her to kill herself multiple times. She also filed a police report. MLB has reportedly not reopened the investigation.
By The Numbers
11 Orioles right-handed reliever Rico Garcia extended his season-opening no-hitter to 11 innings with another scoreless inning in 7-5, 12-inning over the Royals, tying the Orioles’ record.
30, 32 With a 5-1 win, the Chicago Cubs won their sixth straight and sent the Philadelphia Phillies to their sixth consecutive loss. The Cubs have outscored their opponents by 30 runs (44-14), and the Phillies have been outscored by 32 (42-10) in their respective streaks.
15 Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals extended his hitting streak to 15 games in a 5-3 loss to the Miami Marlins.
Best Moments From Yesterday
It Gets Easier
Imagine the second pitch of the game and Nick Kurtz of the A’s hits this scorching, 107.5 mph knuckleball of a liner to center field. Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners had to react quickly to make a terrific catch.
Julio Rodríguez made the adjustment, made the catch and made himself smile 😄
It’s Fowl!
The outfield at Wrigley Field had a visitor.
There was a goose on the field at Wrigley, they played on
Our Friendship Is Over
Junior Caminero of the Rays didn’t appreciate buddy Elly De La Cruz of the Reds robbing him of a hit.
Elly De La Cruz robs Junior Caminero of a hit …And Junior doesn’t want to talk about it 🤣
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. was removed from the game vs. the Washington Nationals after being hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. X-rays on Acuna’s left hand came out negative for a break.
⚾ The Boston Red Sox will put right-handed starter Sonny Gray on the 15-day IL after leaving the game vs. the Detroit Tigers in the third inning with tightness in his right hamstring.
⚾ Seattle Mariners third baseman Brendan Donovan went on the 10-day injured list with a strained left groin. Infielder Will Wilson was called up from Triple-A, and infielder Miles Mastrobuoni (strained right calf) was transferred to the 60-day IL.
⚾ Minnesota Twins right-handed starter Mick Abel was placed on the 15-day IL due to inflammation in his right elbow. The Twins will be calling up left-handers Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas before today’s game. Additionally, left-hander Kody Funderburk is slated to go on the paternity list.
Articles You Should Read
Among first-year managers, Giants’ Vitello knows national focus is on him — Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle
Nationals’ Wood is on a quest for consistency, one swing at a time — Andrew Golden, Baltimore Banner
Mets, Phillies, Astros have deeper problems than their managers. That doesn’t mean they are safe. — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
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