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Hey, folks. We had an interesting Thursday around MLB, which I’ll get to momentarily. First, I’d like to mention a much more serious topic regarding Boston Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks. Sadly, the cancer survivor has brought it to the public’s attention that he and his wife have been receiving death threats. The story is quite alarming and one that’s just easier for everyone to read on their own time. Here’s a link to the masslive.com article by Lauren Campbell. Take a look at it when you can. It goes without saying that no one should have to deal with the things Hendriks and his wife have dealt with recently, according to comments he made via his Instagram Story.
This is awful regarding Liam Hendriks, and his family.
I sometimes get s*** from other Red Sox fans for suggesting not saying miserable things about players (aka human beings), even if they’re struggling on the field.
This is a reason why I suggest it… Your words do in fact… pic.twitter.com/D7NcQbeYyA
— Ryan Martin (@remartin_34) May 22, 2025
I’ll leave it at that. The Red Sox and Orioles game was postponed on Thursday due to rain, and they’ll play a doubleheader on Friday.
On the brighter side of the baseball world, we had several winning streaks continue, a couple of walk-off wins, and the two compelling inter-division series get underway.
Don’t forget to watch every game with the Pitcher List community on Playback!
Today’s Headlines
Angels Sweep A’s For Seventh Straight Win
It’s not often that PitcherList starts the headlines with the Angels and Athletics. However, on Thursday, the Los Angeles Angels took advantage of the Athletics‘ bullpen after SP Luis Severino left after a six-inning quality start with his team ahead 5-2. That lead was safe until reliever Grant Holman entered in the seventh and surrendered a go-ahead grand slam to Angels left fielder Taylor Ward.
Ward finished the day with three hits and five RBI. Two batters later, the Angels tacked on another run via a Logan O’Hoppe solo homer to give them a 7-5 lead.
Holman yielded all five Angels runs in the frame. The Halos added three more in the ninth and won 10-5 to complete a four-game sweep on the road for their seventh straight victory. Meanwhile, the loss for the Athletics was their ninth in a row, and they are now seven games under .500 and in last place in the AL West with a 22-29 record.
Suárez Dominates Rockies
The Philadelphia Phillies had no problems putting runs on the board over the first three games of this series at Coors Field, scoring a total of 25 times in those contests. With a sweep in mind on Thursday, the Phils took advantage of the Rockies on the mound instead. Starting pitcher Ranger Suárez cruised through 6.2 scoreless innings to earn his third straight win. Suárez’s run support came via RBI doubles by Bryce Harper in the fourth and Max Kepler in the seventh.
Colorado actually outhit Philadelphia 7-4, but went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and in the end lost 2-0 for their fifth straight loss. After 50 contests, the Rocks are 8-42. The seventh consecutive win for the Fightin’ Phils upped their NL East record to 32-18, good enough for a two-game lead over the Mets.
Yankees Need Only One Run to Complete Sweep of Rangers
Well, it wasn’t a pretty offensive display by the Texas Rangers this week in the Bronx. Coming into this match, the home team Yankees had held the visitors to five runs over the first two contests, and that number would stay the same after Thursday.
Let’s begin with the pitching duel between Yanks SP Carlos Rodón and Rangers veteran SP Nathan Eovaldi. Both pitchers went six innings with the only blemish coming on this fifth inning long ball surrendered by Eovaldi to rookie second baseman Jorbit Vivas.
It was Vivas’ first career homer, and it proved to be the game winner as New York held on for a 1-0 victory to complete the three-game sweep of the 2023 World Series champs. New York enters Friday on a five-game winning streak.
Here are some clips of Rodón and Eovaldi.
Neither deserved the loss, but certainly Carlos deserved the win. Rodón struck out eight over his six scoreless innings to earn his sixth W of the campaign.
Astros Take Care of Mariners in Kirby’s Debut
Starting pitcher George Kirby had right shoulder inflammation before the season began. This ailment kept Seattle’s 14-game winner from a year ago on the IL until Thursday’s season debut against the Astros. He was not greeted kindly by his AL West rival. Despite being staked an early 2-0 lead after two frames, Kirby ran into trouble beginning in the third inning after giving up two runs, followed by three more in the fourth, including this two-run triple off the left field wall by Jeremy Peña to give his team a 5-2 advantage. It was Peña’s 500th career hit.
Houston wasn’t done. In the fifth and sixth innings, their longtime second baseman, now turned left fielder, Jose Altuve, got in on the action with a pair of homers.
The Astros took the series opener 9-2. Kirby claimed the loss after allowing five earned runs over 3.2 innings. With the L, Seattle’s lead over Houston in the AL West was trimmed to 2.5 games.
Guardians Shut Out Division Leaders
Finally, the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers met on a baseball field this year. In what was their first meeting of 2025 and first of four games this weekend, Cleveland reminded Detroit what happened the previous time these teams met in a meaningful game last October, when the Guards knocked out the Tigers in the fifth game of the American League Division Series.
On Thursday, Cleveland needed only six knocks to score seven runs and was led offensively by 23-year-old Angel Martínez, who went 2-for-3 at the dish, including this solo blast off Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty in the fifth inning.
However, the story of this game was the stellar performance on the bump by Guardians No.1 starting pitcher Tanner Bibee. The right-hander allowed three hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out eight for his fourth win of ’25.
Cleveland’s 7-0 shutout improved their record to 27-22 and put them in a three-way tie for second place in the AL Central with the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals. All three squads trail the division-leading Tigers by five games entering play on Friday. While the Guardians and Tigers continue their battle this weekend, the Twins and Royals will begin a three-game set in Minnesota. Looks like a fun weekend ahead in the American League Central.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Two Walk-Offs in Extras
The Washington Nationals won their second straight over Atlanta by a final score of 8-7 in a back-and-forth affair thanks to this pinch-hit walk-off single by Amed Rosario in the 10th.
Nationals rookie Robert Hassell III made his big league debut, and quite a debut it was. The 23-year-old outfielder not only scored the winning run, but he also collected two hits and his first career stolen base. The Nats have won five straight.
Speaking of walk-off singles. Across the border in Toronto, the Jays completed a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres courtesy of a walk-off single in the 11th. Thank you, Nathan Lukes.
The Padres have lost six straight contests and eight of their last 10 after starting May with an 8-4 record. San Diego dropped to 27-21 and trails the Dodgers by three games in the NL West. They’ll try to turn their luck around on Friday in Atlanta. Toronto improved to 25-24 and enters the weekend five games behind the Yankees for the AL East lead.
Rain Delay No Problem For Martinez to Earn First Career Win
This was cool. Brewers No.22 prospect Carlos Rodríguez made his season debut against the Pirates. Despite giving up three runs in relief before a near two-hour rain delay with two outs in the sixth, manager Pat Murphy still rolled with the youngster despite the long break. Here’s what happened with Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds at the plate once play resumed.
Martinez escaped the jam without further damage and went on to earn his first career win after Milwaukee hung on for an 8-5 victory in the first of four meetings with the Buccos.
Very well-deserved first career win for C Rod pic.twitter.com/OlWpK6BdvV
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) May 23, 2025
Injuries and Other Moves
⚾ He’s back. Atlanta’s star hitter and former NL MVP, Ronald Acuña Jr., will be activated from the injured list to make his season debut on Friday versus the Padres. Acuna hasn’t played in a big league game since tearing his ACL a year ago this Monday. The outfielder collected six hits in 15 at-bats during his minor league rehab assignment.
⚾ Colorado placed rookie SP Chase Dollander on the 15-day IL with right forearm tightness. It’s been a rough beginning for the potential future ace of the franchise. Through eight career starts, Dollander is 2-5 with a 6.28 ERA.
⚾ Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez was a late scratch before their game with the Astros due to back tightness. He is considered day-to-day.
⚾ The Yankees placed reliever Fernando Cruz on the 15-day IL retroactive to May 19 due to right shoulder inflammation. Cruz appeared in 21 games for New York before the injury and had a 2.66 ERA with 35 strikeouts over 23.2 frames.
⚾ The Houston Astros will be without the services of their former 13-game winner Ronel Blanco after the right-hander landed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation. The move is retroactive to May 20. Blanco hasn’t been as sharp as he was in 2024 (13-8, 2.80 ERA), but still has three wins and a decent 4.10 earned run average this year.
⚾ The Guardians activated outfielder Lane Thomas on Thursday after spending over a month on the IL with a bone bruise on his right wrist. Thomas was 0-for-4 in his return against the Tigers. Cleveland also sent outfielder Will Brennan to the 10-day IL with left forearm inflammation. In 11 at-bats this season, Brennan has collected one hit.
Articles You Should Read
How defense has turned St. Louis Cardinals into contenders — Jeff Passan, espn.com
Presenting the MLB All-Quarter Century Team, the very best in baseball since 2000 — Jayson Stark, The Athletic
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