Garrett Crochet ready to face Orioles, end Red Sox skid

The Boston Red Sox had counted on pitching to keep them close in some recent games. But it’s going to take the bats to get going for them to make a turnaround.

They carry a four-game losing streak into Saturday afternoon’s road game against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles hammered six home runs, including a pair of two-run blasts from Adley Rutschman, in Friday night’s 10-3 triumph.

“All these guys have that capability in them,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “It was good to see kind of everything come together.”

Coby Mayo has homered in three consecutive games for the Orioles. Rutschman was in his second game back coming off the injury list.

“We’ve got great hitting coaches,” Rutschman said. “Everyone in our clubhouse kind of knows we’re trying to put the gas on as early as possible and just put together good ABs and try to string some runs across early.”

The Red Sox will try to prevent a second five-game skid this season. The three runs for Boston in the series opener marked their most offense in four games, but that’s not likely to be enough. The Red Sox have lost six of their last seven games overall.

“I don’t think we have a bad team,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We’re just going through a bad stretch.”

A pair of left-handers will try to get back on track with Saturday’s starting assignments on the mound.

Garrett Crochet (2-3, 7.88 ERA) will start for Boston in an attempt to stop a personal two-game skid. He allowed a total of 16 runs (15 earned) in 6 2/3 innings in losses to Minnesota and Detroit, allowing two home runs in each game. He has struck out at least seven in four of his five outings.

Crochet has faced the Orioles five times, with three of those in starts. He’s 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Trevor Rogers (2-2, 4.08) has lost his last two starts when facing Arizona and Cleveland, surrendering 10 runs (nine earned) in 9 2/3 innings. All three of the homers he has surrendered this year have come in those two games.

Rogers is 1-2 with a 2.13 ERA in five career starts vs. the Red Sox.

Friday’s result marked Baltimore’s first game against an American League East rival this year. Albernaz said he likes the competitive nature of the division with every team built to win.

But regarding the impacts of those meetings, those will take care of themselves.

“For us, we prepare just like it’s another game,” Albernaz said.

Baltimore has outfielder Tyler O’Neill available after he was brought back from the concussion injury list, though he didn’t play Friday night.

“He’s a guy who has a track record of hitting,” Albernaz said. “Just lengthens the lineup when he’s in there. Good to see him healthy and back. He’ll bring some thump.”

Rutschman said the Orioles could be gearing up for a good stretch given that the roster is coming back together.

“It’s an unbelievable group to be a part of,” Rutschman said. “Just the positive energy everyone brings.”

Saturday’s game time has been moved up four hours to 12:05 p.m. because of the threat of inclement weather later in the day.

–Field Level Media

Blue Jays to use new bullpen approach vs. Guardians

The Toronto Blue Jays will be going to a closer-by-committee if the situation arises Saturday afternoon against the visiting Cleveland Guardians.

Jeff Hoffman has struggled as the closer this season and he was told Friday by manager John Schneider that the team will mix-and-match for now instead of putting the onus on one particular pitcher in the ninth inning.

“It’s still finding spots for guys, so whoever that may be in the ninth inning, for now, it’ll be that guy,” Schneider said.

The Blue Jays did not need a closer in their 8-6 loss to Cleveland on Friday in the opener of the three-game series. Toronto fell behind 5-0 and never had a lead.

Hoffman understood the move, saying there are other relievers pitching better than him currently. The right-hander is 3-for-6 on save chances to go with a 1-2 record and a 7.59 ERA.

“That gives them the nod to go out there and do it for the group,” he said. “I’m good for whatever is going to put us in the best position to win as many games as possible.”

Schneider said, “I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that he’s striking out half the hitters he’s facing. There’s a component to it where you want to just stop some momentum, and we’re still going to use him in big spots.”

The Blue Jays will look to bounce back when they send out right-hander Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.54 ERA) on Saturday. Gausman is 5-5 with a 2.30 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) against Cleveland. Last season, he was 1-0 with 0.00 ERA in two starts vs. the Guardians, allowing three hits, two walks and one hit batter while striking out 15 in 14 innings.

Left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-0, 3.20 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Guardians. He has pitched one-third of an inning in his career against Toronto, retiring the only batter he faced last season.

The Guardians expect to have struggling Steven Kwan back in the lineup on Saturday after he didn’t start on Friday. Kwan, who is batting .227 (22-for-97) with one homer and eight RBIs, did enter the game as a ninth-inning defensive replacement in the series opener.

“We were looking to get him two days off and one of them on the (Rogers Centre) turf,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We just wanted to give him a chance to reset the legs. Playing center field is a new beast. We just wanted to give him two days to get his body back underneath him.”

Kwan, a four-time Gold Glove left fielder, has been playing mostly in center this season.

“I don’t think moving between left and center field has affected his offense,” Vogt said, “but it’s a new workload that he’s never had in the big leagues. I wouldn’t read any more into this day off other than we wanted to get him two days off by using the off day (Thursday).”

It worked out well. Daniel Schneemann replaced Kwan in the leadoff spot on Friday and Angel Martinez started in center field.

Schneemann, batting leadoff for the first time this season, led off the game with a home run against Max Scherzer. He also walked and doubled.

Martinez hit two-run homers in the first and third innings.

Toronto lost Nathan Lukes in the first inning Friday when he left the game with what the team announced was left hamstring discomfort. Schneider said the outfielder was to going have an MRI.

–Field Level Media

Jesus Ferreira ready for reunion as Sounders host FC Dallas

Jesus Ferreira is in his second season with the Seattle Sounders, but he always enjoys playing his old club, FC Dallas.

“There’s still, like, butterflies,” Ferreira said ahead of the teams’ Saturday night match in Seattle. “Going against your childhood club, the club that you grew up your whole life in … so, it’s exciting. I’m looking forward to it.”

Ferreira, who is tied for fifth in MLS with five assists, and the Sounders (5-1-1, 16 points) will take a five-match unbeaten streak (4-0-1) into the Western Conference showdown with Dallas (3-2-4, 13 points), which is winless in its past three matches (0-1-2).

Dallas is led by Petar Musa, who leads the league’s Golden Boot race with nine goals.

Santiago Moreno, on loan from Brazilian side Fluminense, made his first start for FC Dallas on Wednesday in a 1-0 loss to visiting Minnesota United. A former Portland Timbers star, Moreno is very familiar with the Sounders from his clashes against them in the Cascadia Cup series.

“Each practice as he gets to know the style of play and his teammates more, his quality is becoming more and more obvious,” Dallas coach Eric Quill said of Moreno, who joined the club in late March.

Dallas is 1-12-4 all-time at Lumen Field, with the lone victory coming in 2011.

The Sounders were idle Wednesday after registering a 4-1 home victory against St. Louis City last Saturday. Cristian Roldan scored twice for Seattle in the first half, both on corner kicks from Albert Rusnak.

When the Sounders were awarded a penalty kick early in the second half, Rusnak asked Roldan if he wanted to take the shot in a bid for a hat trick.

“I’d rather win than get a hat trick,” Roldan responded.

Rusnak made the kick, and Osaze De Rosario later scored off a pass from Ferreira.

The Sounders have only allowed an MLS-low three goals all season and had a 495-minute shutout streak snapped when St. Louis scored off a deflected shot in second-half stoppage time.

–Field Level Media

In last home match till August, Whitecaps meet improved Rapids

The Vancouver Whitecaps play their last home match until August on Saturday night when they host the Colorado Rapids.

The Whitecaps (7-1-0, 21 points), who are second in the Western Conference and the league overall behind only San Jose (24 points), will play their next eight matches in a row on the road as their home pitch, BC Place, undergoes preparations to host seven FIFA World Cup matches. Vancouver’s next home MLS match won’t be until Aug. 1 against Los Angeles FC.

The Whitecaps have made the most of their unbalanced schedule, which has seen them play seven of their first eight matches at home. Vancouver has gone 6-1-0 at home, losing only 1-0 to San Jose back on March 21, and brings in a three-game win streak, outscoring its opponents 8-2 during that span.

Vancouver enters the weekend tied with the Earthquakes, who have played one more match, for the league lead in goals scored (22) and goal differential (plus-18). Forward Brian White (six goals), former Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller (four goals) and U.S. national Sebastian Berhalter (three goals) lead the team in scoring.

Colorado (4-4-1, 13 points) has been one of the league’s most improved teams. The Rapids are in seventh place and have gone 1-1-1 in their last three matches.

After blowing out Houston 6-2 and losing a tightly contested match with defending MLS Cup champions Inter Miami 3-2, before 75,824 at Empower Field at Mile High, the Rapids pulled out a 0-0 draw at Los Angeles FC on Wednesday.

“They’ve been looking very, very good, and have grown from game to game,” Vancouver coach Jesper Sorensen said. “They changed up a lot of stuff since last season. I think looking to head in a good direction. Obviously, we’d like to make them look a little worse than they did (at LAFC), but that’s up to us.”

Lionel Messi scored twice to lead Inter Miami past the Rapids but Colorado finished with 61.9% possession and a 14-5 edge in shot attempts. The Rapids also dominated possession in the draw with LAFC, finishing with a huge 72.5% to 27.5% advantage.

“Another very high-level, technical performance by us,” Rapids coach Matt Wells said of the draw. “I thought we played with personality, played with courage, just like we did against Miami. … We’re showing we’re definitely a different team than we’ve been in the past.”

–Field Level Media

Better-rested Nashville SC welcome Charlotte FC

Two months into the regular season, Nashville SC built the best record in the Eastern Conference while juggling matches in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Now, Nashville will have had a rare full week’s rest when it hosts Charlotte FC on Saturday.

Nashville SC (6-1-1, 19 points) had Wednesday off while much of the league was in action. They also didn’t have a midweek Champions Cup fixture for a change: Nashville beat Club America on aggregate last week and will tussle with Mexican power Tigres UANL in the semifinals beginning April 28.

“I think when you actually get a full week of training, you can really focus on yourself for periods of time,” Nashville head coach B.J. Callaghan said. “Obviously when you’re playing every two days, a lot of it has to do with recovery and thinking about what you’re going to do for the opponent.”

Recovery helps, too. Callaghan said Nashville’s top scorer Sam Surridge, who hasn’t played since April 11 due to a hamstring injury, is back at practice and available for selection. He’s tied with Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi for third in the league with seven goals.

That April 11 match was the first meeting between regional rivals Nashville and Charlotte this year. Edvard Tagseth and Patrick Yazbek scored in either half to lift Nashville to a 2-1 road win.

“We didn’t play well in the first half against Nashville. We never got the ball back,” Charlotte coach Dean Smith said this week. “I didn’t think we pressed as well as we could’ve, with the intensity that we needed to. We certainly need to go and do that.”

Charlotte FC (4-3-2, 14 points) have dropped two of three in league play, most recently taking a 4-1 road loss to Orlando City on Wednesday. That was Charlotte’s highest yield of the season, yet Smith insisted his team played better than in its previous match, a 2-1 win over New York City FC. Defender Morrison Agyemang, 21, had his first career goal.

Smith said defender and U.S. men’s national team captain Tim Ream (adductor) will miss one more match but should be ready for May 2 at the New England Revolution.

“I think they’ve had to make a few adjustments with Tim Ream out,” Callaghan said, “but I think what you always get from Charlotte is a really well-coached team, organized in a lot of phases and again, that highlights a lot of — I would say, some of their individual attacking qualities really are able to come out from that.”

–Field Level Media

Fire endeavor to keep unbeaten run alive vs. last-place SKC

After letting a second-half lead slip away in their last outing, the host Chicago Fire renew their rivalry with fellow Midwestern foe Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.

While the Fire (4-2-2, 14 points) are unbeaten in their last five matches across all competitions (4-0-1), they blew a 3-1 second-half lead against FC Cincinnati on April 18. Evander’s penalty kick in the 79th minute and Dje D’Avilla’s own goal seven minutes later engineered Cincinnati’s 3-3 come-from-behind draw.

“For us, there were a couple things we did wrong, and a lot of that is correctable. We looked at the video and worked on it. It’s something we want to stay focused,” Fire head coach Gregg Berhalter said.

Though Kansas City (1-6-1, 4 points) is currently at the bottom of the Western Conference, that’s “a little bit misleading,” Berhalter said.

“They have played better at times than the results show, and they pose some problems. For us, it’s being really focused on what we’re trying to do, being aggressive and trying to set the team up for success,” he said.

Sporting KC have dropped five in a row across all competitions, including a 3-0 upset loss to USL Championship side Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on April 14. They have been outscored 16-3 in that span.

It’s far from what SKC head coach Raphael Wicky anticipated, ahead of his first meeting against the club he helmed for just shy of two seasons in 2020 and 2021.

“When you look at all these games, there’s always moments where we’re good, that we’re in the game, and then very quickly we make a mistake or we concede, and then we’re quickly out of the game,” Wicky said. “So that is always frustrating, but that is where I think we have to keep going.”

Chicago forward Jonathan Bamba (personal matters) will remain out against Kansas City, per Berhalter. Defender Leonardo Barroso (lower-body injury) is out as well.

Wicky was 12-26-14 in 52 matches as the Fire’s head coach.

Hugo Cuypers has netted half of Chicago’s 12 goals. Dejan Joveljic has four of SKC’s seven to lead the visitors.

–Field Level Media

Red-hot San Jose Earthquakes seek 1st-ever win over St. Louis City

St. Louis City SC has never lost or tied in six matches against the San Jose Earthquakes in their four-year existence.

If current form holds for both teams, that streak figures to end Saturday night when San Jose invades Energizer Park in a fixture of Western Conference squads.

After routing Austin 5-1 on Wednesday in northern California, the Earthquakes (8-1-0, 24 points) boast the top record in MLS and are tied with Vancouver for the best goal differential at plus-18.

Meanwhile, St. Louis (1-4-3, 6 points) is coming off a 4-1 loss last Saturday at Seattle that extended its MLS winless streak to three matches (0-1-2). Not only is it once again struggling to score goals — it has seven in eight matches — but its defense has conceded at least once in every match.

Midfielder Marcel Hartel didn’t have a real answer when asked why the team continues to struggle to finish its chances.

“That’s a good question,” he said. “We speak about it after every game — analyze the goals we concede, the goals we score. We defend good as a collective. … We have to score more goals. We have good opportunities in every game.”

The return of Eduard Lowen could help St. Louis unlock its offense. He played briefly at the end in Seattle and scored in stoppage time.

As for San Jose, its only problem might be overcheering. The team is scoring nearly three goals per match and its defense, an issue last year when it missed the playoffs, is maintaining its shape beautifully.

It’s adding up to another magical second season for coach Bruce Arena. If the Earthquakes earn the Supporters’ Shield, it would be the fourth team Arena has coached that has earned that honor in his second year with that squad.

“We won nine games last year. We have eight now,” he said. “I attribute it simply that they grind it out, they work hard every day and they like each other.”

Oussemi Bouda and Preston Judd each have five goals, while four other players have scored two goals each.

–Field Level Media

Offenses ready to shine as Padres, D-backs meet in Mexico City

The Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres will meet in the third incarnation of the Mexico City Series in a two-game set beginning Saturday.

If form holds, runs will follow.

The Padres and San Francisco Giants combined for 37 runs in the inaugural two-game set in 2023, which the Padres swept with 16-11 and 6-4 victories. The teams combined for 15 homers, 11 in the first game.

The pace slowed slightly in 2024, but the Houston Astros and Colorado Rockies still combined for 26 runs. The Astros hit six homers in sweeping the two games, 12-4 and 8-2.

Mexico City’s host site, Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu, is well-positioned for offense. Mexico City has a listed elevation of 7,320 feet, more than 2,000 feet greater than Denver’s Coors Field, highest in the majors.

The dimensions also help generate offense. It is 332 feet down the left field and right field lines, and 410 feet in dead center.

“We have a lot of experience playing in Colorado, and we know the ball is going to take off there,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen (1-1, 3.51 ERA) is to oppose Padres right-hander German Marquez (2-1, 3.86) in the Saturday opener.

Neither starter is a stranger to altitude. Marquez made 97 appearances (96 starts) at Coors Field in his 10 seasons with the Rockies. Gallen is 3-0 in eight starts at Coors in his eight seasons.

“One thing I don’t want our hitters to do is try to drive the ball and hit long fly balls that carry out of the ballpark,” said Lovullo, instructions similar to the approach at Coors Field.

“I want them to be good hitters. I want them to trust their approach and trust what they are capable of doing. Good hitters will let balls carry out of the park naturally. If they get an extra 10 feet on their carry, good for them. But I don’t want to change our approach.”

Both teams have been playing well. The Diamondbacks have won nine of 14 despite losing two of three to the Chicago White Sox earlier in the week, their first series loss since opening weekend.

The Padres have won 12 of 14 after a 10-8 comeback victory at Colorado on Thursday and have not lost a series since the first two of the season.

“Baseball is supposed to be enjoyable,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said of the expected fan excitement, “so it’s easy to marry those two things. Should be a fun trip. Fun atmosphere for us all to be playing in.”

San Diego first baseman Gavin Sheets hit a go-ahead three-run homer in a five-run ninth inning Thursday, the second time he had done that against the Rockies this season. He hit a three-run walk-off homer in the Padres’ 5-2 victory April 10.

San Diego has been the best team in the majors since March 30, going 16-6. Atlanta was 16-7 entering Friday games, and the Chicago Cubs were 15-7.

The Padres have several return visitors to Mexico City. Manny Machado had two of the Padres’ six homers against the Giants on April 29, 2023, and Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts had one apiece.

Padres closer Mason Miller, who leads the majors with nine saves, enters the series with a 33 2/3-inning scoreless streak after pitching the ninth Thursday, tying the franchise record held by Cla Meredith (2006). Miller has 27 strikeouts in 12 1/3 scoreless innings this season.

“Tying something is cool, but obviously you want to go a little further,” Miller told reporters. “So hopefully just keep rolling and keep doing what I’m doing.”

–Field Level Media

Wild try to keep up with Stars on special teams entering Game 4

The Minnesota Wild haven’t won a Stanley Cup playoff series since 2015, losing in the first round eight times since then.

So with the Wild staring at a 2-1 deficit heading into Game 4 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Dallas Stars on Saturday in Saint Paul, are they feeling a little antsy?

“We’re confident in our group,” Wild forward Matt Boldy said. “It’s a long series, so this whole narrative that we’re frustrated and all this, that’s not true. We’re so confident in our group, so let’s nip that in the bud now because it’s made up.”

Minnesota looked superior when it blew away the Stars 6-1 in Game 1, but then Dallas answered back with a 4-2 win in Game 2 on Monday.

The Wild and Stars then battled into double overtime in Game 3 on Wednesday before Dallas prevailed 4-3.

“From my experience, and I think in the last few years, I’ve been in about three of these that went a couple periods and I don’t think it gives you any momentum other than the win for carryover,” Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan said. “Whether it’s 6-1 or in OT, I think every game is its own entity. Momentum can swing in a series so quickly both ways. It’s just like, tuck it away and move on.”

Both teams agree the difference in Game 3 was special teams.

Dallas went 3-for-8 with the man-advantage and Minnesota was 1-for-7.

“You never know when you’re going to get hot on the power play,” Minnesota defenseman Quinn Hughes said. “It could be the next game, could be the game after that. Whether we were 4-for-4 on the power play or whatever we were, that doesn’t change how we have to approach the next game.”

Dallas had the second-best power play during the regular season at 28.6%, with the Wild right behind at 25.2%.

“You look around the league, it comes down to (special teams),” Dallas forward Jason Robertson said. “Every team is so tight, every team defends hard. You’ve got to take advantage when you can. We definitely think we can improve a little bit of our 5-on-5 offense, and we’ll look at that and try to improve for Game 4.”

Stars forward Wyatt Johnston, who led the NHL with 27 power-play goals during the regular season, which was a franchise record, has scored with the man advantage in each of the past two games.

“It’s important to capitalize when you get those (power-play) chances,” Johnston said. “I just try to pitch in and do what I can to help.”

Minnesota forward Mats Zuccarello will be a game-time decision on Saturday because of a lower-body injury that kept him out of Games 2 and 3. Zuccarello had three assists in the Game 1 victory.

Yakov Trenin will also miss his second straight game after the Minnesota forward was injured in Game 2. Trenin was the only Minnesota player to appear in all 82 regular-season games, totaling six goals and 17 assists.

The Stars will remain without forward Roope Hintz, who has played just one game since the Olympic break because of a lower-body injury.

“It’s the time of year where you just got to stick with it,” Gulutzan said. “You can’t get frustrated. It’s not even an emotion that helps at this time of the year.”

–Field Level Media

Thunder must adjust without Jalen Williams in Game 3 vs. Suns

After being without him for much of the regular season, the Oklahoma City Thunder will once again have to adjust to playing without Jalen Williams.

One of the Thunder’s primary ballhandlers, Williams suffered a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in Wednesday’s Game 2 win over the Phoenix Suns in their Western Conference first-round series.

Oklahoma City leads the series 2-0 heading into Saturday’s Game 3 in Phoenix.

The Thunder will be without Williams for at least a week before he’s reevaluated, a diagnosis Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault called a “relatively positive development.”

The injury figures to mean a more prominent role for Ajay Mitchell.

Mitchell was used little in last season’s championship run, averaging seven minutes per game, with most of his playing time coming late in blowout wins.

But the second-year guard made a significant leap this season, giving the Thunder another ballhandling option behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams.

“He is very even-keeled on and off the court,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He’s just a guy that is always in the moment — he’s never too high, never too low — and it allows him to sustain a certain level of play and performance.”

Mitchell scored 14 points off the bench with five rebounds, five assists and two steals in Game 2.

Williams’ injury is certainly among the biggest storylines in the series, but the chippy play between the teams has also been prominent.

In Wednesday’s 120-107 Thunder win, Phoenix’s Dillon Brooks and Oklahoma City’s Luguentz Dort were assessed simultaneous technicals after a brief tussle for a potential rebound on a free throw, then the Suns’ Devin Booker was called for a technical when he threw the ball off Jaylin Williams while trying to keep a possession alive.

All three technical fouls were rescinded Friday, though Booker was fined $35,000 for postgame criticism of officials.

Daigneault said the officiating and any controversy around it wasn’t a distraction to his team.

“We’re focused on Game 3 and what we need to try to go win Game 3,” Daigneault said. “… We want to be ruthlessly focused on the things we can control that are gonna help us win the next game.”

Oklahoma City has won 10 consecutive first-round games, sweeping the first round in each of the last two seasons.

Booker is averaging 22.5 points per game in the series, but Phoenix coach Jordan Ott said the team needs to create more around him to help overcome the Thunder’s league-best defense.

“They’re the best defensive team for multiple years for a reason. They have multiple guys they can throw at him. They come in different ways,” Ott said. “… I know there’s ways we’ve got to get him the ball in better spots, especially as the game goes and it’s up, down, up, down, we’ve somehow got to get him the spots.”

Though Oklahoma City has won the first two games by an average of 24 points per game, a home win could help turn the tide toward the Suns.

“We’ve been talking about how one game can change a series,” Phoenix’s Oso Ighodaro said.

The Suns have been without Grayson Allen (hamstring) since the end of the regular season and Jordan Goodwin (calf) since a Game 1 injury. Both went through drills following Friday’s practice while Mark Williams (foot), who hasn’t played since April 14, did not appear to be participating and has been ruled out for Game 3, according to the Arizona Republic.

–Field Level Media