Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
There is a lot going on this week. Not only are we getting into the teeth of the MLB schedule, but the NBA and NHL have begun their playoffs, and the NFL Draft begins Thursday. So let’s not dawdle and get right into what made news Monday around baseball.
Don’t forget to watch every game with the Pitcher List community on Playback!
Today’s Headlines
Lindor Strikes Twice For Surging Mets
Francisco Lindor didn’t have a hit in his first 14 plate appearances this season as the New York Mets started 1-3. Since then, Lindor and the Mets have flipped the script. Lindor homered twice, including a leadoff homer for the second day in a row, as the Mets opened a series against the rival Philadelphia Phillies by withstanding a ninth-inning rally to win 5-4. It was the third time Lindor has opened a game with a homer as the Mets tied the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in MLB at 16-7 following their fifth straight win. Right-handed starter Tylor Megill struck out 10, matching his career best, in 5.1 innings. Lindor’s second homer of the night was a three-run shot in the seventh inning that staked the Mets to a 5-o lead. But the Phillies made it tense in the ninth by scoring four times, including Bryson Stott’s three-run homer.
Marlins’ Meyer Whiffs 14
Rumors will always swirl around the Miami Marlins when they have a good starting pitcher. While it isn’t known how long one of his better-known teammates will be in Miami, right-hander Max Meyer is showing that he is ready to assume the mantle of the Marlins’ ace, if and when that does happen. Meyer struck out a career-high 14 in six innings as the Marlins toppled the Cincinnati Reds 6-3. This is the same Reds team that put up 24 runs on the Baltimore Orioles the previous day. Meyer didn’t walk anyone and allowed five hits. He tied several others for the second-most strikeouts by a Marlins pitcher, two behind Ricky Nolasco’s 16 in 2009. The 14 strikeouts are the most by an MLB pitcher this season.
Atlanta Heating Up
Following a weekend sweep of the Minnesota Twins, it felt like Atlanta was turning a corner following a suboptimal start to the season. In the series opener vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta added another chip to the momentum column by scoring five times in the eighth inning and then holding on for a 7-6 victory. Sean Murphy crushed a three-run homer after Michael Harris II’s go-ahead sacrifice fly to extend Atlanta’s winning streak to a season-best four games to improve to 9-13 following an 0-7 start. It was the fifth straight loss for the Cardinals.
Strider Back On IL
Atlanta ace Spencer Strider is again out of action, but for a much different reason. The right-hander, who returned from elbow surgery last week after more than a year away, strained his right hamstring while playing catch before his scheduled start today. Strider was expected to be a boost to a beleaguered Atlanta rotation, which is missing right-hander Reynaldo López (right shoulder surgery) and includes a struggling Chris Sale (6.17 ERA), the 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner.
Shutdown Brown
Who is the best pitcher in MLB right now? With apologies to MLB Network’s The Shredder, it could be Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown. Why Brown? All he did was twirl seven more shutout innings as the Astros beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0. That extended Brown’s scoreless innings streak to 24, the longest stretch in MLB this year. Brown allowed just two hits and a walk while striking out nine, lowering his ERA to 1.16. Jose Altuve and Brendan Rodgers each drove in a pair of runs for the Astros.
Buehler’s Day On
Having spent his entire MLB career on the West Coast pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitching in a game that started at 11:10 a.m. ET must have been a foreign concept to someone like Walker Buehler. But that is where the right-hander found himself with his new team, the Boston Red Sox, on Patriots’ Day, which includes the Boston Marathon. But Buehler was up to the task, striking out nine over seven innings as the Red Sox dispatched the Chicago White Sox 4-2. Buehler allowed four hits, three walks, and one run in his longest outing in almost three years.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Hair It Is
Players aren’t the only ones benefiting from the New York Yankees‘ modernized facial-hair policy. A Cleveland Guardians bat boy, who has come under scrutiny as he works the visiting dugout, particularly from legendary announcer Michael Kay, is letting it flow.
Too Short
How many times does a game end on a U2?
One of the shortest game-ending groundouts you'll ever see. 👀
— Rob Friedman (@pitchingninja.bsky.social) 2025-04-22T01:42:13.642Z
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ San Diego Padres first baseman-DH Luis Arraez went on the seven-day concussion list as a result of the collision in Sunday’s game vs. the Houston Astros.
⚾ First baseman Nick Kurtz, the No. 4 overall pick in last year’s draft and the Athletics‘ top prospect, is being promoted to make his MLB debut. Kurtz has played just 32 games in the minors across the Single-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels. He has a .336/.432/.689 slash line with 11 homers and 37 RBIs. Kurtz will not be activated until Wednesday.
⚾ The Milwaukee Brewers called up right-handed reliever Craig Yoho to make his MLB debut. The Brewers’ No. 18 prospect, Yoho posted a 0.00 ERA in eight appearances (9.2 innings) at Triple-A. Left-handed starter Nestor Cortes, already on the 15-day IL with a strained left flexor tendon, was moved to the 60-day IL.
⚾ Right-hander Triston McKenzie has been designated for assignment by the Cleveland Guardians. McKenzie has an 11.12 ERA and 2.47 WHIP in four relief appearances covering 5.2 innings.
⚾ Detroit Tigers infielder Jace Jung (wrist surgery) was activated off the 10-day injured list.
⚾ San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt, put on the 10-day IL Saturday with a strained left oblique, was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain, which will sideline him for about a month.
⚾ Left-hander Drew Pomeranz was traded by the Seattle Mariners to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations. Pomeranz, who was at Triple-A Tacoma, had an upward mobility clause in his contract that forced the Mariners to promote him or offer him to every other club. The 36-year-old, who will initially report to Triple-A Iowa, has not pitched in the majors since 2021.
Articles You Should Read
In calling out Snitker’s double standard, Acuna had a point — Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic
Long road back has changed Dodgers’ May as a person, not as a pitcher — Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register
Pirates’ Bednar ready for whatever comes his way — John Perroto, Pittsburgh Baseball Now
Fantasy Baseball Coverage
