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The Baltimore Orioles are hoping for a lift — and they’re placing that hope in the right arm of Zach Eflin. After missing over a month with a lat strain, Eflin is set to return to the mound Sunday afternoon as the Orioles wrap up a West Coast road trip against the Los Angeles Angels. The timing couldn’t be more crucial. Baltimore is 1-4 on this road swing and visibly searching for answers, particularly on the pitching front. “It’s hard,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “We’ve got guys who’ve been grinding, guys who should be having better results. But we’ve got to keep pushing.” Eflin opened the season as Baltimore’s ace, delivering three strong starts before landing on the injured

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