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Friday was another fun day around the MLB, but Saturday will be a little more humbling. April 15 marks the anniversary of the day Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier 76 years ago by becoming the first Black person to play for an MLB team. There will be tributes big and small throughout baseball. Take a moment to reflect on what Robinson meant to baseball, not only then, but now.
Today’s Headlines
Rays’ Historic Win Streak Halted At 13 By Jays
Turns out the Tampa Bay Rays won’t go 162-0 this season. Thanks to five strong innings from right-hander José Berríos, Bo Bichette going 5-for-5 and some uncharacteristic sloppiness by Tampa Bay, the Toronto Blue Jays snapped the Rays’ record-tying 13-0 start to the season with a 6-3 victory Friday. The Rays have been the talk of baseball with their emphatic season-opening winning streak, which tied Atlanta in 1982 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1987 for the longest in the modern era. Rays reliever Colin Poche issued two bases-loaded walks and second baseman Brandon Lowe failed to catch an easy throw during a four-run fifth inning for Toronto.
Outside of the modern era (defined as since 1900), the St. Louis Maroons started the 1884 season 20-0.
Somewhere, the 1884 St. Louis Maroons are popping a bottle of champagne. pic.twitter.com/2lBn308Uj0
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 15, 2023
Mariners’ Kelenic Stays Hot
Is Jarred Kelenic finally realizing his potential? Time will tell, but for the last few games, the Seattle Mariners‘ young outfielder certainly is on the right path. Kelenic hit another monster home run in the Mariners’ 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies, the fourth straight game he has gone deep. Friday’s 414-foot blast to center came in his first at-bat since crushing a 482-footer two days ago against the Chicago Cubs. Ken Griffey Jr. (1993) holds the Mariners’ record of eight straight games, which is tied for the MLB mark with Dale Long (1956) and Don Mattingly (1987).
.@jarredkelenic is LOCKED IN 🔒 pic.twitter.com/nfToMJ1LQi
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 15, 2023
Don’t Walk This Way: A’s Issue 17 Free Passes
Sure, it is early in the season, but the Oakland A’s just might have a historically bad pitching staff. The A’s issued a whopping 17 walks, their most since moving to Oakland, in a 17-6 loss to the New York Mets. Starter James Kaprielian walked seven, including five in the second inning, while left-hander Hogan Harris had a forgettable MLB with five walks while lasting just one-third of an inning and right-hander Jeurys Familia issued four in 1.1 innings. It boosted the A’s ERA to 8.34, the highest mark after 14 games since 1901. Shortstop Francisco Lindor helped the Mets take advantage of all the free passes by driving in seven runs, tying his career high, including a second-inning grand slam.
SLAMCISCO LINDOR! 💥 pic.twitter.com/0dFwc4Ignl
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 15, 2023
White Sox Moves: Jimenez Back, Moncada To IL
It was a good news, bad news, start to the day for the Chicago White Sox, who made a slew of moves. Outfielder Eloy Jiménez (hamstring) was activated off the 10-day injured list, while third baseman Yoán Moncada replaced him on the IL with lower-back soreness. Moncada last played Sunday. Also of note, the White Sox claimed infielder-outfielder Nick Solak off waivers from the Seattle Mariners and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte. Right-hander Matt Foster was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Solak on the 40-man roster.
Giants Extend Webb
While his stats so far this season don’t necessarily match the move, the San Francisco Giants locked down a key member of their starting rotation by giving right-hander Logan Webb a five-year, $90 million contract extension. The 26-year-old from Rocklin, California, had his last two years of arbitration and first three years of free agency bought out. In three starts this season, Webb is 0-3 with a 4.76 ERA. But that is a far cry from his performance the last two seasons as he established himself atop the Giants’ rotation.
Webb, who is making $4.6 million this season, went 11-3 with a 3.03 ERA in 26 starts in 2021 and 15-9 with a 2.90 ERA in 32 starts in 2022. The new deal calls for Webb to make $8 million in 2024, $12 in 2025 and $23 million in 2026-28. Webb will make annual donations to the Giants Community Foundation of about $500,000 for fentanyl awareness after a cousin died from it last year.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Welcome Back. That’s A Violation.
You just knew Cody Bellinger was going to get a tremendous reception when he returned to Dodger Stadium as a member of the Chicago Cubs. Following a pregame video tribute, Bellinger, the 2019 National League MVP as a member of the Dodgers who was non-tendered in the offseason, received a warm reception when he strode to the plate for the first time. But the pitch clock didn’t care and he started the AB in an 0-1 count due to a violation.
Cody Bellinger got a pitch clock violation after getting an ovation in his first game back at Dodger Stadium
What are we doing blue https://t.co/Ts9RJDbB3S
— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) April 15, 2023
Gotta Be The Shoes
New shoes are always a joy to receive. But new shoes with a meaning? Check out Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton unboxing these Jackie Robinson tribute sneakers.
Byron Buxton's reaction to the new Jackie Robinson Air Force 1 😂 pic.twitter.com/zWH12Ylnll
— MLB Life (@MLBLife) April 14, 2023
Injuries and Other Moves
Umpire Larry Vanover was released from the Cleveland Clinic following the 67-year-old being struck in the head by a relay throw during Wednesday’s Cleveland Guardians–New York Yankees game.
Rays left-hander Jeffrey Springs will miss at least two months and possibly more as the team awaits a definitive diagnosis on his left elbow, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
Outfielder Nomar Mazara signed a minor-league contract with the Washington Nationals.
Articles You Should Read
How do umpires feel about the new rule changes? — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
A look back at what went wrong with Cody Bellinger and the Dodgers — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times
Star in the making: Padres’ 16-year-old Ethan Salas ahead of his time — Josh Norris, Baseball America
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)