MLB News

Bo Bichette went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI against the Mariners on Sunday.

Bichette is still without a home run after 96 at-bats this season. The 27-year-old shortstop is hitting .313 after Sunday’s two-hit effort. Bichette is a career .291 hitter with a .796 OPS, though his OPS is just .752 so far this season. Despite the lack of power, Bichette has 13 RBI out of the leadoff spot for Toronto.

Dylan Moore went 2-for-5 with a solo home run against the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Moore is off to a scalding hot start with the bat this year. The 32-year-old utility man is hitting .316 with five home runs and five stolen bases so far this year. Moore is seeing playing time at shortstop and second base with Ryan Bliss out for months. Moore is a career .211 hitter and hit .201 in 368 at-bats last year. Maybe the average is due to regress, but Moore’s hot start is getting more difficult to ignore everyday.

Cal Raleigh went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run against the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Raleigh now leads the league with nine home runs. The 28-year-old catcher belted 34 home runs last year and has started this year on an even better pace. Raleigh is a career .219 hitter, who hit .220 last year and is hitting .233 so far this year. While his average is subpar, his .233/.333/.593 slash line this year is outstanding. Raleigh has never had an OPS above .800 in a single-season, but he’s in position to change that this year.

Easton Lucas allowed six runs in 1 2/3 innings and took the loss against the Mariners on Sunday.

Lucas has now been hit hard in back-to-back starts after a promising beginning to his season. The 28-year-old left-hander was rudely greeted by the Mariners as the game began with a home run by Dylan Moore, a double by Julio Rodriguez and a home run by Cal Raleigh. It was downhill from there as Lucas allowed six runs and didn’t make it out of the second inning. He’ll look to bounce back against the Yankees next weekend, but he can do that safely from your bench or waiver wire.

Luis Castillo allowed three runs in five innings and got the win in the Mariners’ 8-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Castillo gave up 10 hits, walked two and struck out five. With the Mariners taking a big lead, the 32-year-old right-hander just had to get through five innings to get the win. Castillo did just that, though he allowed 10 hits including four doubles. He’s recorded two wins and a 4.44 ERA on the season. Castillo doesn’t look as good as the pitcher we’ve seen in previous years, but he’s got a great matchup next weekend at home against the Marlins.

Noelvie Marte went 5-for-7 with a home run, three runs scored, and seven RBI in a 24-2 drubbing of the Orioles on Sunday.

Yes, the home run was a grand slam off position player Jorge Mateo, so we need to consider that, but it was still an incredible box score from Marte. The 23-year-old had also been red-hot at Triple-A, slashing .353/.425/.529 in nine games before being called up and barely played by the Reds earlier in the week. With Christian Encarnacion-Strand on the IL, Jeimer Candelario struggling, and Gavin Lux not showing anything different than he did in his time with the Dodgers, Marte should get a longer leash to be the starting third baseman in Cincinnati. We have no idea if the Reds will let it happen, but he can be added in fantasy leagues just in case they do.

Noelvi Marte went 5-for-7 with a home run, three runs scored, and seven RBI in a 24-2 drubbing of the Orioles on Sunday.

Yes, the home run was a grand slam off position player Jorge Mateo, so we need to consider that, but it was still an incredible box score from Marte. The 23-year-old had also been red-hot at Triple-A, slashing .353/.425/.529 in nine games before being called up and barely played by the Reds earlier in the week. With Christian Encarnacion-Strand on the IL, Jeimer Candelario struggling, and Gavin Lux not showing anything different than he did in his time with the Dodgers, Marte should get a longer leash to be the starting third baseman in Cincinnati. We have no idea if the Reds will let it happen, but he can be added in fantasy leagues just in case they do.

Francisco Lindor hit a leadoff homer on his way to a three-hit game Sunday as the Mets beat the Cardinals 7-4.

Lindor scored three times for the first time this year. Typically, when April stats are added up, they include the few March games commonly played these days. Lindor, though, is hitting .311 with three homers in April alone after going 0-for-11 in the Mets’ first series of the season. He’s at .271 overall.

Clay Holmes pitched six innings of one-run ball Sunday against the Cardinals.

Holmes, who benefitted from Brandon Nimmo robbing Jordan Walker of a solo homer, struck out six before leaving with a two-run lead. Alas, that lead disappeared in the seventh. The Mets went on to win anyway, but Holmes remained 2-1 with a 3.16 ERA. He’ll face the Nationals next weekend.

Sonny Gray surrendered three runs in six innings Sunday versus the Mets.

Gray struck out six in the quality start. It seemed like he might struggle in April after a tough spring in which he dealt with velocity issues, but he’s 3-0 with a 3.41 ERA through five turns. He’ll face the Brewers next.

Juan Soto went 2-for-3 with a two-run double, a sac fly and a walk against the Cardinals on Sunday.

It’s Soto’s first three-RBI game for his new team. He’s knocked in 12 runs in 22 games for the year. That’s a bit off his usual pace. But considering that he walks so much, he’s batting second regularly and he’s in a tough ballpark for offense, 100 RBI is hardly a given here.

Jordan Walker finished 0-for-4 with three strikeouts against the Mets on Sunday.

Walker did have one good swing today, and it would have gone for a homer if Brandon Nimmo hadn’t stolen it away. Still, Walker is sitting at .227/.284/.320 for the year, and he’s struck out 26 times in 81 plate appearances. That 32 percent strikeout rate is up from 28 percent in 51 games last year and 22 percent in 2023. If he doesn’t improve quickly, he might be in line for an early demotion to Triple-A for a third straight year. The potential homer really might have helped.

Austin Hays went 4-for-6 with a double, an RBI, and four runs scored in a win over the Orioles on Sunday.

Hays has been on fire since being activated off the IL early this week, and has gone 12-for-28 with three home runs, eight RBI, and seven runs scored in six games. He’s not going to stay this hot all season, but he hits cleanup for the Reds and will play all his home games in one of the best ballparks for offense, so he should be added in most leagues.

Austin Wynns went 6-for-7 with a home run, six RBI, and two runs scored in a win over the Orioles on Sunday.

Take a bow, Mr. Wynns. It was a tremendous offensive day for the backup catcher, but he starts only two games a week right now and will be sent back to the minors when Tyler Stephenson returns, so we would not chase this in fantasy leagues of any size.

Adley Rutschman went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Reds on Sunday.

It was Rutschman’s fourth home run of the season and maybe the only thing that went right for the Orioles on Sunday. The 27-year-old has struggled to start the year with a .208/.299/.390 slash line, but he’s barreling the ball a ton and not swinging and missing a lot, so now is the time to buy low if the fantasy manager in your league is worried about the slash line.

Zach McKinstry went 3-for-4 with two RBI against the Royals on Sunday.

Batting in the third spot in the lineup once again, McKinstry came through with three hits for the Tigers Sunday. The 29-year-old utility man tied the game with a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning and put the Tigers in front with an RBI single in the seventh inning. McKinstry is hitting .288 with an .809 OPS and 11 RBI this year. He’ll continue to be a fixture in the Tigers lineup until he cools off at the plate or Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows return from the injured list.

Kerry Carpenter went 3-for-4 with an RBI against the Royals on Sunday.

Kerry Carpenter left Sunday’s game against the Royals with right hamstring soreness and will undergo further testing.

Carpenter had three hits, all of which were singles in a game where no one on either side had an extra-base hit. The 27-year-old outfielder was removed for defense in the ninth inning despite his spot in the batting order due up third in the bottom of the inning. Now we know that Carpenter is dealing with hamstring soreness and is set to undergo further testing. The Tigers begin a series with the Padres on Monday and while no further details are known, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Carpenter requires a stint on the disabled list.

Charlie Morton allowed seven runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings in a loss to the Reds on Sunday.

Morton had allowed one run in the first two innings, but Elly De La Cruz started the third inning with a solo home run, and five of the next six Reds hitters reached base before Morton’s day was done. The 41-year-old did post a 30 percent whiff rate on 27 swings, but is now 0-5. Morton was the big addition to the Orioles’ starting rotation this offseason, but he’ll now carry a 10.89 ERA into a start against the Tigers next week. He is not worth rostering in any fantasy format right now.

Kyle Manzardo went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in a 5-4 extra-innings win over the Pirates on Sunday.

The home run was Manzardo’s sixth of the season, and he now has 16 RBI as well. He homered in the seventh to give the Guardians a three-run cushion and then knocked in the eventual game-winning run with a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning after the bullpen blew the lead. His batting average leaves a little to be desired, but Manzardo’s process has looked great this season, showing a strong understanding of the strike zone and trying to lift the ball more than he has in the past. The hits should start dropping soon.

Tarik Skubal allowed two runs in five innings and got a no-decision against the Royals on Sunday.

The Royals are the one team that has consistently given Skubal trouble over the course of his career. That was the case yet again Sunday as Kansas City had four hits and two runs in the second inning. Skubal gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out four overall. He threw 91 pitches in just five innings. Skubal is set to face the Orioles next weekend.

Bryan Reynolds went 3-for-5 with one run scored in a loss to the Guardians on Sunday.

All three of his hits were singles, but we’ll take it. Reynolds picked up seven hits in the three-game series against the Guardians and is now hitting .244/.310/.389 on the season. The 30-year-old has been one of the most consistent hitters in baseball over the last three seasons, and we see no reason to doubt that he will finish the year hitting around .265-.270 with 25 home runs while hitting second in a mediocre Pirates lineup.

Emmanuel Clase allowed three runs on four hits in one inning while blowing a save against the Pirates on Sunday.

Clase had pitched on both Friday and Saturday, so it’s questionable that he was used to save a three-run lead against a weak Pirates offense. The inning started with a tough seven-pitch walk to Enmanuel Valdez before back-to-back doubles plated two runs. One of the doubles — the one by Adam Frazier — would have been a routine groundball to third base if the Guardians had not been shifted. Clase would then get one out before a single by Ke’Bryan Hayes off the glove of Kyle Manzardo and a drawn-in infield tied the game. Clase’s velocity was fine, and he threw plenty of strikes, but he didn’t miss bats. He came into today with an elevated .455 BABIP, and while he has not been his dominant self, the batted ball luck against him has been tough to swallow. The poor luck continued today with just an 88 mph average exit velocity allowed.

Logan Allen allowed one run on five hits in 5 2/3 innings in a tough-luck no-decision against the Pirates on Sunday.

The left-hander struck out five and walked one on the day, and seemed on his way to another win before the bullpen blew a three-run ninth inning lead. There’s nothing exceptional about what Allen is doing, but he’s pounding the strike zone with four of his five offerings and earned 20 called strikes during the game. That command-centric approach has helped him register a 2.11 ERA so far this season, but it’s tough to recommend him next weekend against the Red Sox.

Mitch Keller allowed two runs on five hits in five innings in a no-decision against the Guardians on Sunday.

The right-hander struck out three and walked two but allowed a two-run homer to Steven Kwan in the third inning, which was the difference in the game before the offense clawed back in the ninth. While Keller didn’t give up many hits, he gave up a decent amount of hard contact with a 92.2 mph average exit velocity. He also only posted an 18 percent whiff rate on the day in what could have been a much worse line had he not pitched his way out of trouble in the fifth inning. Keller will now take a 4.18 ERA into a must-avoid start against the Dodgers next week.

Liam Hendriks allowed two runs on three hits in one inning in a loss to the White Sox on Sunday.

This was the first time Hendriks had appeared in an MLB game since June of 2023. Over the last few years, Hendriks has battled back from stage four cancer and Tommy John surgery, so it’s nice to see him out on the field. Hendriks came into the game with the Red Sox down by just one run in the eighth inning and allowed a two-strike single to Luis Robert Jr. and then a two-run homer to Andrew Vaughn. He didn’t look as crisp as we’re used to seeing, and he averaged 95.3 mph on his fastball, which is down a bit from his heyday, but Hendriks should be a usable reliever for the Red Sox this season. He’s just unlikely to get many save opportunities if he remains close to this version of himself.

Wilyer Abreu went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in a loss to the White Sox on Sunday.

Abreu launched a 387-foot home run in the bottom of the first inning to erase an early deficit. It was his fourth home run of the season and gives him 15 RBI on the year as well. Abreu would also register a 102.7 mph line out in the game and, perhaps more importantly, remained in the lineup when the White Sox brought in a left-handed reliever as manager Alex Cora has opted not to be strict in his platooning of Abreu this season.

Tanner Houck allowed two runs on three hits in six innings in a no-decision against the White Sox.

Houck allowed a walk and two hits, including a two-run home run, in the first inning, and it seemed like he was on the road to another brutal start. However, the 28-year-old settled down from there, allowing just one hit in five shutout innings while striking out seven, walking two, and leaving with a 4-2 lead that the bullpen would squander. Houck looked a little bit closer to the starter we saw in the first half of the 2024 season, posting a 30 percent whiff rate and 34 percent CSW. His sinker pounded the strike zone, and the sweeper missed plenty of bats, which was enough for today. Things will get a little tougher next week against the Guardians where Houck is not a recommended start.

Trent Grisham went 1-for-4 with a solo home run against the Rays on Sunday.

Grisham started the game with a solo home run off Ryan Pepiot. He wasn’t a factor offensively for the rest of the game as he struck out in his other three at-bats. Grisham has certainly given the Yankees offense a boost in the early going this season as he sports a 1.093 OPS. He could continue to see regular at-bats with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined and Ben Rice now dealing with an elbow issue.

Cody Bellinger went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and a stolen base against the Rays on Sunday.

It’s been a quiet start to the season for Bellinger, who hit his second home run Sunday. The 29-year-old outfielder hit a solo shot off Ryan Pepiot in the sixth inning. Bellinger is still hitting .179 on the young season, though Sunday’s game was a step in the right direction with a home run and stolen base.