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Miami snapped a brief wobble with Saturday’s 3‑1 victory, yet the Marlins still sit near the NL East basement after dropping eight of their last 11. Chicago has lost five of six and needs a home‑series win to keep May from spiraling like April. Sunday’s rubber game pairs a former Cy Young winner searching for form with a rookie suddenly flashing frontline stuff. Momentum—and clubhouse morale—hang in the balance. Sandy Alcantara (2‑4, 8.42 ERA) owns an ugly four‑start slide, allowing a 12.06 ERA while laboring through high pitch counts and shaky command. His sinker hasn’t shown late bite, leaving him vulnerable early in counts. By contrast, Sean Burke (2‑4, 4.35 ERA) has flipped a horrid April into a stellar May (0.73 ERA,

Four Reds starters—TJ Friedl, Jonathan India, Christian Encarnacion‑Strand and now Jake Fraley—hit the IL this week, yet Cincinnati erupted for a 10‑run first inning Saturday, snapping a 1‑6 funk. Manager Terry Francona credits clubhouse morale: “They’ve been enthusiastic,” he said. Replacement bats like Spencer Steer (two HRs, five RBIs) and Elly De La Cruz (three hits, three runs) have stepped up, proving the farm’s depth can offset a battered roster and keep playoff hopes afloat. MLB Pipeline’s No. 97 prospect, Chase Petty, endured a nine‑run nightmare in his April 30 debut yet showed flashes of his 98‑mph sinker and sweeping slider at Triple‑A Louisville (3.52 ERA, 35 Ks in 29 IP). Key adjustments: attacking with first‑pitch strikes to avoid hitter‑friendly counts and trusting his changeup as a neutralizer against Houston’s left‑handed core.

Kansas City’s seven‑game winning streak ended in a 10‑1 drubbing Saturday, but another chance for a statement looms. The Royals have not won a series against Boston since August 2022, dropping five straight sets. A victory Sunday would cement their surprising 2025 surge—already 16 wins in 19 games—while silencing skeptics who point to an early soft schedule. For Boston, salvaging a road series stabilizes playoff aspirations after up‑and‑down pitching and clubhouse noise surrounding roster tweaks. Seth Lugo (3‑3, 2.84 ERA) shoulders the Royals’ hopes despite career struggles vs. Boston (0‑3, 7.24 ERA). Key for Lugo is commanding his sweeper early; last season the pitch flattened twice in back‑to‑back losses to the Sox. Lucas Giolito (0‑1, 8.38 ERA) makes just his third post‑surgery start. His velo ticked

When Drew Rasmussen takes the mound on Sunday, the moment will be more than just another start — it’ll be personal. The Tampa Bay Rays right-hander is not only facing his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers, but doing so on Mother’s Day — a day he says means a lot to him for all the right reasons. “It’s just really cool to get to pitch on a day to celebrate them,” Rasmussen said, referring to his mother, mother-in-law, and wife. It’s a full-circle kind of afternoon: honoring the family that helped him chase his dream while competing against the team that gave him his major league debut. Drafted by Milwaukee, Rasmussen debuted with the Brewers on August 19, 2020. He