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Welcome to the first full week of the 2025 season! After the opening series, another batch of teams will celebrate with home openers. Among them are the A’s, who begin their tenure in West Sacramento by hosting the Chicago Cubs. A major-league club purposefully playing in a minor-league stadium just seems wrong, but then there isn’t much right with the whole situation around the A’s and where they play. Ground has yet to be broken in Las Vegas, so who knows if the stadium will be ready by Opening Day 2028. What to know about the move? Pitcher List’s Dave Brown has this look at the A’s new home and what some players think about it.
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Today’s Headlines
Walk-off Like A Marlin
If you had the Miami Marlins in first place in the National League East any day of this season, congratulations! (Also, why are you lying?) But thanks to three dramatic wins, the Marlins are 3-1 and atop the NL East. The latest victory was yet another walk-off. Derek Hill scored from third on David Bednar’s wild pitch with no outs in the bottom of the ninth as the Marlins edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2. All three victories came via a walk-off. That, of course, made some history. The Marlins are the first team since the 2003 Tampa Bay Rays to earn their first three victories via walk-offs. They are also the first team with three walk-offs in their season-opening series since the 1901 Detroit Tigers.
Yankees’ Torpedo Bats Strike Again
It could just be one really good series for the New York Yankees. Or it could be the start of a new trend. Regardless, right now the torpedo bat is helping the Yankees do some silly things. Jazz Chisholm Jr. used the new bat style to clobber two more home runs as the Yankees blasted four dingers en route to a 12-3 bludgeoning of the Milwaukee Brewers. Aaron Judge, who is not using the torpedo, only hit one in the series finale after launching three the day before. The torpedo bat simply has moved the barrel closer to the batter’s hands while tapering the top of the bat. They have been deemed legal by MLB. The bats became a focal point after the Yankees launched a club-record nine homers Saturday, and others around MLB are talking about them.
Pitchers Are Athletes, Part 1
If you put a bug in your manager’s ear long enough, sooner or later, he just might take you up on it. Take Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Ryne Nelson, for instance. The former college shortstop at Oregon has been telling manager Torey Lovullo for a couple of years that he was available to pinch-hit. His number was called, and Nelson came through with an RBI single — a bouncer up the middle — during a massive eight-run eighth inning that propelled the D-backs to a 10-6 win over the Chicago Cubs. It was Nelson’s first MLB hit.
Padres Sweep Behind Pivetta
Nick Pivetta wasn’t exactly a division-altering signing for the San Diego Padres, but that doesn’t mean they don’t expect big things from their right-hander. Pivetta allowed just one hit in seven scoreless innings as the Padres finished a four-game sweep of Atlanta with a 5-0 triumph. Pivetta struck out four and faced the minimum. The Padres are 4-0 for the first time since 1984, when they won the NL pennant. Atlanta, meanwhile, is 0-4 after not scoring a run in the last 22 innings. Silver lining? The last time Atlanta began 0-4 was in 2021, when it won the World Series.
Return of deGrom-inator?
It has been far too long since we have been witness to the real Jacob deGrom experience. But even now, in a slightly toned-down version, it is still beautiful. The Texas Rangers right-hander flashed his famous form for five shutout innings in a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, who made only his 10th start for the Rangers since signing a five-year, $185 million contract before the 2023 season, allowed two hits and struck out six while walking two. Most of the time missed has been due to Tommy John surgery.
Best Moments From Yesterday
For You, Dad
Not everyone’s dad gets inducted in the Hall of Fame for the team they are playing for, but Griffin Conine had a front-row seat for dad Jeff Conine’s ceremony. Griffin added a cherry on top with a game-tying homer.
Pitchers Are Athletes, Part 2
What would you do if a ball came zipping right back at you? Cincinnati Reds right-hander Nick Martinez did a behind-the-back grab of this sixth-inning smash by the San Francisco Giants‘ Heliot Ramos.
For Ueck
Today will be an emotional home opener for the Milwaukee Brewers. It will be their first at home since the legendary Bob Uecker passed away in January at age 90. Prior to today’s ceremony, the Brewers put out a post of some of the ways their unforgettable radio broadcaster and icon will be remembered.
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-handed starter Max Scherzer on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right thumb. He left his start Saturday due to right lat soreness, which he said was directly related to his thumb issue.
⚾ The Rangers put third baseman Josh Jung on the 10-day IL due to neck spasms.
⚾ The Baltimore Orioles will be without right-hander Albert Suarez, who went on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation.
Articles You Should Read
Meet the MIT physicist-turned-Marlins coach behind the torpedo bat — Brendan Kuty, The Athletic
Hyde working on Orioles’ bullpen usage in early season — Roch Kubatko, MASNsports.com
White Sox’s right-field picture wastes no time getting stretched — Jim Margalus, Sox Machine
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
