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Angels’ Mike Trout aims to continue power surge vs. slumping Yankees
Mike Trout was hitting the ball hard but running into tough luck for the past few games before arriving at Yankee Stadium.
In the past two nights, he has hit the ball hard and over the wall for the Los Angeles Angels.
The Angels hope to see another big night from Trout and their offense on Wednesday when they play the third contest of a four-game series against the host New York Yankees.
The Angels have 17 runs on 24 hits in the first two games and evened the series with a 7-1 rout on Tuesday. After Trout homered in the sixth and eighth innings on Monday, the Angels absorbed an 11-10 loss on a game-ending wild pitch.
On Tuesday, Trout homered in the first inning off Ryan Weathers.
Jo Adell and Jorge Soler also went deep as the Angels hit three homers in a span of five pitches.
Trout is 6-for-21 with three homers and 10 RBIs over his past five games and has raised his batting average from .190 to .222.
“Honestly, he’s swinging the bat the same he has been, and now he’s getting it to go far,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said.
Trout’s latest homer was part of big night for the Angels, whose 26 homers lead the American League. Former Yankee Oswald Peraza also homered and had three hits while Yoan Moncada went deep and drove in three runs.
“It was good,” Trout said. “Last night’s game, just the back and forth. Obviously it didn’t come out with what we wanted to with the loss, but we came back and turned the page quick.”
After snapping a five-game skid by getting two homers apiece from Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham on Monday, the Yankees took their most lopsided loss so far. New York was held to five hits and struck out 12 times.
Judge was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts while Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton were a combined 0-for-7 with four strikeouts.
“I think you see how streaky this game is,” Goldschmidt said. “You just got to take in stride and day by day.”
After New York saw a starter allow more than three runs for the first time, Right-hander Luis Gil (0-1, 6.75 ERA) will make his second start Wednesday, and the Yankees hope to see some better command.
Gil made his season debut Friday when he allowed three runs, three hits and walked three over four innings in a 5-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. He issued 33 walks in 57 innings during his 11 starts last season, when he missed four months with a lat strain.
Gil is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in a pair of starts against the Angels, who have four hits off him in 13 innings.
After Reid Detmers saved the Angels’ bullpen by pitching into the eighth on Tuesday, Jack Kochanowicz (2-0, 3.24 ERA) can match his win total from last season, when he was 3-11 with a 6.81 ERA in 23 starts.
The right-hander has struggled with command by issuing 11 walks in 16 2/3 innings and survived four free passes when he allowed a run on two hits in seven innings during Friday’s 10-2 win at Cincinnati.
Kochanowicz is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
CJ Abrams, Nationals strive to stay hot in clash vs. Pirates
CJ Abrams continues to be at the heart of most of the positives thus far for the Washington Nationals.
He remains one of the hottest hitters in the majors for the Nationals, who will visit the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third contest of a four-game series on Wednesday night.
Abrams is hitting .356 with a 1.121 OPS, six home runs and 19 RBIs in 16 games this season. He is on pace for career highs in each of those categories.
Abrams will try to provide run support again when the Nationals send right-hander Jake Irvin (1-1, 7.07 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday.
Abrams collected three hits and two RBIs, including a home run, in Washington’s 5-4 win over Pittsburgh on Tuesday night. He would have scored an additional run had he not been thrown out at the plate on a great play from left field by Jake Mangum in the eighth inning.
The Nationals have won four of their past five games.
“There are a lot of positives with CJ’s game right now,” manager Blake Butera said. “The leadership stands out, the way he rallies the guys around him from all aspects … and he’s not afraid to go out there and make a play.”
Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe has been one of the top hitters in baseball as well this season.
Lowe became the first Pirate to record five RBIs in consecutive games since the RBI became an official statistic in 1920. He accomplished the feat Sunday against the Chicago Cubs and Monday against the Nationals.
Lowe homered in the second inning on Tuesday, but Pirates manager Don Kelly took some heat from fans later that night after his decision to pinch hit Nick Yorke for Lowe in the seventh with the bases loaded and one out and Pittsburgh trailing 5-4. Yorke worked the count to 3-1 against reliever Cionel Perez before grounding into an inning-ending double play.
“I thought it was the right move,” Lowe said. “if you take the personal out of it and look at it with a baseball mind, it was bases loaded, one out, lefty on the mound and lefty in the pen. (Yorke) sees lefties really well and doesn’t strike out against them. … If the ball was (hit) three feet one way or another, we’re having a completely different discussion about this.”
Irvin, who is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Pirates, produced mixed results in his last outing Friday at Milwaukee. He pitched five innings and gave up three runs on just two hits but walked five batters and struck out five as the Nationals won 7-3.
The Pirates had not named a starter for Wednesday’s game, although right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski (0-0, 2.51 ERA) would be in line to pitch in the contest.
If Mlodzinski gets the nod, he’ll make his first career start against the Nationals. He has faced them as a reliever, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in five career appearances.
Mlodzinski would be looking to build off his best start of the season last Friday against the Cubs. He pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings despite allowing six hits and three walks while striking out two in a no-decision in Pittsburgh’s 2-0 victory.
–Field Level Media
Cubs, Phillies vie to settle series after 34 runs in first 2 games
Nico Hoerner will look to continue his stellar month on Wednesday night when the Chicago Cubs play the decisive contest of their three-game series against the host Philadelphia Phillies.
Hoerner, who has 16 hits and 11 RBIs in April, joined Alex Bregman and Carson Kelly in driving in three runs apiece for Chicago during a 10-4 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Hoerner recorded an RBI single in the third inning and joined Bregman with a two-run single in the sixth.
“The at-bat where Nico drove in two (runs) is kind of a Nico at-bat,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He gets down 0-2, fouls a couple pitches off, and then he puts a ball in play. That’s the difference in the situation like that. Hit a ball hard up the middle and good things happen.”
Bregman collected three hits on Tuesday and has 11 in his past seven games.
The Nos. 1-4 batters in the Cubs’ lineup combined to go 9-for-20 with seven RBIs on Tuesday.
The Cubs’ offense in general has picked it up a notch as well, totaling 24 runs on 36 hits over the past three games.
“It’s a mature group. … It’s a bunch of guys who know how to compete and know how to get the most out of it even when they’re not feeling good,” Bregman said. “We’ll get this thing rolling, and we’ll get guys locked in and be right where we need to be.”
The Cubs and Phillies have combined for 34 runs in the first two games of the series.
Left-hander Shota Imanaga (0-1, 2.81 ERA), who will start for Chicago in the finale, was right where he needed to be in his most recent outing, as he did not allow a hit and struck out nine over six scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Friday. The Pirates won 2-0.
Imanaga, 32, also received a no-decision in his lone encounter vs. Philadelphia. He yielded three runs on six hits — including two homers — with eight strikeouts in six innings of a 5-3 loss on July 3, 2024.
Philadelphia left-hander Jesus Luzardo (1-2, 6.23 ERA) will provide the opposition on Wednesday.
Luzardo has sandwiched lackluster starts around one good outing this season. He answered striking out 11 batters in a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on April 4 by allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings of a 5-4 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
Luzardo, 28, is 4-0 with a 2.30 ERA in seven career encounters with the Cubs.
On Tuesday, Edmundo Sosa belted a three-run homer onto Ashburn Alley in the second inning to stake the Phillies to an early lead. Sosa and J.T. Realmuto each had two of Philadelphia’s eight hits, one day after the team erupted for 13 runs on 15 hits in a 13-7 win in the series opener on Monday.
“I thought we hit some balls hard today,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said following Tuesday’s game. “I didn’t think our at-bats were that bad today. They just didn’t fall.”
Chicago placed right-handed reliever Ethan Roberts on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, one day after he sustained a lacerated right middle finger during his typical pregame routine in the series opener.
Left-handers Ryan Rolison and Luke Little were recalled from Triple-A Iowa, with Rolison allowing one hit in a scoreless inning on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
Lightning, with home ice vs. Habs assured, oppose Rangers in tune-up
When Tampa Bay hosts the New York Rangers in the regular-season finale on Wednesday, the Lightning know they won’t need to pack their bags postgame.
Thanks to the Canadiens’ 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, the Lightning (50-25-6, 106 points) clinched second place in the Atlantic Division, and Montreal (48-24-10, 106 points) will finish third. The Canadiens will open a first-round playoff series in Tampa this weekend.
While the Lightning, if they lose in regulation to the Rangers, would finish level on points with the Canadiens, Tampa Bay owns the regulation-wins tiebreaker (40-34).
The Rangers (33-39-9, 75 points), who will finish a dreadful campaign last in the Eastern Conference, are 1-1-0 against the Lightning.
The previous matchups have been blowouts. New York won 7-3 at Tampa on Nov. 12, while the Lightning returned the favor in a 4-1 win on the road against the Rangers on Nov. 29.
Darker times were ahead for the Rangers after Black Friday.
Coach Mike Sullivan’s crew fell out of the wild-card race after going 10-17-5 during a three-month stretch in December, January and a truncated February due to the Winter Olympics.
On Monday, the Rangers celebrated the career of retiring goaltender Jonathan Quick, who was starting his final game. However, they lost 3-2 as the Florida Panthers played a defensive-minded game and cashed in three times in their 16 shots and beat the 2011-12 Conn Smythe Trophy winner.
“I thought Quicky played well for us,” said Sullivan, whose group all wore the goalie’s No. 32 sweater in warmups. “Obviously, tonight was about a celebration for him. … He’s an inspiration to all of us, just in his example and how he carries himself. In a lot of ways, he personifies what we hope to become as a group.
“His work ethic, his attention to detail, just incredible attitude. His professionalism is second to no one’s. … We’re all better that we’ve had the opportunity to work with him.”
The Lightning recorded a 4-3 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, helping them keep pace with Montreal after they squandered a two-goal lead entering the third period.
Nikita Kucherov scored 27 seconds into overtime on his team’s first possession by finishing a give-and-go created by Brayden Point, leading to a two-on-one rush that produced the victory.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper thinks Kucherov should be awarded a second Hart Trophy after winning his first for the 2018-19 season. He leads Tampa Bay in goals (44), assists (86) and points (130).
“There are some fabulous players in this league. … He’s pretty darn important to us,” said Cooper after his team put itself in position to control its playoff destination this weekend. “Could you make a case for a bunch of guys? Yes. But I think it’s pretty evident that Kuch has made a name for himself this year, that he should be the guy.”
Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy got a toe on Alex DeBrincat’s breakaway try on the first shot in overtime, keeping the match alive and leading to Kucherov’s winner nine seconds later.
A strong Vezina Trophy candidate, Vasilevskiy leads the NHL in wins and owns a 39-15-4 record. The 2018-19 Vezina winner boasts a 2.31 goals-against average (second-best in the league) and a .912 save percentage (tied for third).
–Field Level Media
The Cleveland Guardians head to Busch Stadium for a midday matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals, with first pitch set for 1:15 PM ET on Wednesday. Cleveland enters at 10-8, sitting near the top of the AL Central, while St. Louis is 9-8 and trying to stay competitive in a tight NL Central race. Both teams are hovering around .500 over their last 10 games, so this feels like a tone-setter more than just another early-season game.
St. Louis took the opener of this series 6-5, and that result kind of highlights what we’re dealing with here. Two offenses capable of producing quick runs, but also pitching staffs that have been a bit shaky, especially in the middle innings. The market has this one tight, with the Cardinals slight favorites at home, and the total sitting in a range that suggests scoring opportunities without fully committing to a shootout.
Cleveland Guardians vs St. Louis Cardinals Odds
These are the current betting lines, and as always, bettors should keep an eye on the latest MLB odds before placing anything.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Guardians | -105 | +1.5 (-165) | O 8.5 (-108) |
| St. Louis Cardinals | -115 | -1.5 (+145) | U 8.5 (-113) |
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Cleveland Guardians Betting Form
Cleveland is one of those teams that doesn’t always feel dominant, but they consistently put pressure on you. The lineup is balanced, with enough power to change a game quickly and enough plate discipline to extend innings. They’ve already piled up solid extra-base numbers, ranking near the top of the league in doubles and sitting comfortably in the top tier in home runs. That combination matters, especially against pitching staffs that struggle to miss bats.
If you look deeper into the [Guardians stats and results], the approach is pretty clear. They don’t chase much, they’ll take walks, and they force pitchers into uncomfortable counts. That creates value in markets like team totals and even first five innings, especially when facing a starter with command issues.
Slade Cecconi gets the ball here, and honestly, this is where things get a little less clean. His ERA is elevated, and the underlying profile shows some concerns. Strikeouts are there, but so is hard contact. He’s been hittable, particularly when falling behind in counts. That puts pressure on Cleveland’s bullpen, which is dealing with some key absences, including Emmanuel Clase. So even if the Guardians start well, holding a lead late is not guaranteed.
St. Louis Cardinals Betting Form
The Cardinals come in off a win in this series, and that offense is starting to show signs of life. Power has been their calling card early on. They rank among the league leaders in home runs, and when they’re clicking, it comes in bunches. You saw that in the opener, where a couple of swings completely shifted the game.
Looking at the [Cardinals schedule and stats], there’s a bit of inconsistency, but the upside is real. At home, they tend to be more aggressive early in counts, which can work well against pitchers like Cecconi who struggle to locate consistently. The absence of Lars Nootbaar does hurt their depth, but the middle of the lineup still has enough punch to create scoring bursts.
Dustin May is the wild card here. The ERA jumps off the page, and it’s not in a good way, but it doesn’t fully tell the story. He’s shown flashes of effectiveness, especially when his sinker is working and generating ground balls. The problem is command. When he misses, he misses in hittable spots. Cleveland’s patient approach could force him into trouble early, so this feels like a start that could go either way pretty quickly.
Guardians vs Cardinals Matchup Breakdown
This game really comes down to which version of each starting pitcher shows up. Both Cecconi and May have been volatile, and that usually pushes things toward offense, but not always in a clean way. Sometimes it’s a couple of crooked innings and then quiet stretches.
From a matchup standpoint, Cleveland probably has the slight edge in terms of plate discipline and overall contact quality. They’re more likely to grind out at-bats, which matters against a pitcher like May. On the other side, St. Louis has the more explosive power profile, and that plays well in spots where Cecconi falls behind.
Bullpen availability is another layer here. Cleveland’s late-game options are thinner than usual, which could swing things if this turns into a tight game again. St. Louis hasn’t been perfect in relief either, but they’re slightly more stable in terms of defined roles.
If you’re looking at this through a broader lens, this is the type of matchup covered in any solid MLB betting guide. You’ve got volatile starters, decent offenses, and just enough uncertainty to create pricing edges across multiple markets.
Cleveland Guardians vs St. Louis Cardinals Predictions and Best Bets
I keep coming back to the same point here. The market is pricing this close to a coin flip, and that makes sense on the surface. But when you break it down, Cleveland’s approach at the plate might give them a slightly higher floor in this matchup.
I think the Guardians are better equipped to take advantage of Dustin May’s command issues. They’ll make him work, draw some walks, and eventually get into the bullpen. Even if Cecconi gives up some runs, Cleveland’s offense feels more reliable over the full nine innings.
As for the total, it’s tricky. Both starters can give up runs, but there’s also a scenario where one of them settles in just enough to keep this from getting out of hand. The number at 8.5 feels about right, maybe even a touch high given the uncertainty.
There’s also some interest in the first five innings market. If you believe Cleveland gets to May early, that could be the cleaner way to play it without worrying about bullpen volatility late.
Best Bet: Guardians Moneyline -105
MLB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Finding consistent edges in MLB betting usually comes down to volume and information. That’s where following top sports handicappers can really help. Instead of guessing, you’re working with proven records, tracked performance, and transparent results over time.
The handicapper leaderboard gives a clear view of who’s actually winning, not just who’s making noise. You can compare styles, see long-term profit, and decide whose approach fits your betting strategy.
If you want a more direct route, premium MLB picks offer access to curated plays backed by deeper analysis. It’s not about chasing every game. It’s about identifying the right spots and staying consistent over the long run.
Arizona and Baltimore wrap this three-game set Wednesday afternoon at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, with first pitch set for 12:35 p.m. EDT. The Diamondbacks enter 10-8, while the Orioles are 9-8 and only a half-game off the AL East lead. It is a quick-turnaround rubber match, with Eduardo Rodriguez lined up for Arizona against Kyle Bradish for Baltimore, and the game airing locally on MASN and Dbacks.TV.
This series has already swung hard both ways. Baltimore erased a six-run deficit to win 9-7 on Monday, then Arizona answered with a 4-3 win Tuesday behind a big fifth inning and another clean finish from its late bullpen arms. The weather matters here too. It should be partly sunny and warm at first pitch, with temperatures climbing from the upper 70s into the 80s through the afternoon.
Diamondbacks vs Orioles Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor the latest MLB odds before locking anything in. As of Wednesday morning, Baltimore was sitting in the mid -150s on the moneyline, with a total of 9.
| Team | Moneyline | Run Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Diamondbacks | +132 | +1.5 (-154) | O 9 (-105) |
| Baltimore Orioles | -156 | -1.5 (+128) | U 9 (-115) |
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Arizona Diamondbacks Betting Form
Arizona has been the steadier team lately, going 7-3 over its last 10 and putting itself right back in this series after Tuesday’s 4-3 win. Even with the occasional messiness, this lineup still creates pressure. Geraldo Perdomo is swinging it well, Jose Fernandez has been productive, and the D-backs continue to play a lot of tight games without looking rattled. Ketel Marte is the variable. He was a late scratch Tuesday with lower-back tightness and is considered day to day, while Gabriel Moreno is already on the injured list, so there is at least some reason to think Arizona’s lineup ceiling is a little lower than normal. Still, this is a club bettors should take seriously when scanning the broader MLB previews board because the run-prevention side is giving it a real chance most days.
Rodriguez is the biggest reason Arizona is live here. The left-hander comes in with a 1-0 record, a 0.50 ERA, and two straight quality starts, and he has a long track record of pitching well against Baltimore. He is not overpowering hitters right now, which is worth noting, but he is getting enough weak contact and staying in control of counts. Against an Orioles lineup that is still dealing with Jackson Holliday’s wrist setback and can get a little pull-happy versus left-handed command, Rodriguez looks like the cleaner starter in this matchup. That pushes me more toward Arizona moneyline value and, maybe even more than that, an Arizona-first-five look.
Baltimore Orioles Betting Form
Baltimore is not playing poorly at all. The Orioles are 6-4 in their last 10, they had won three straight before Tuesday, and the lineup has shown real fight in this series. Pete Alonso changed Monday’s opener with one swing, Samuel Basallo went deep Tuesday, and there is still enough right-handed thump here to punish mistakes if Bradish can keep the game from tilting early. This is the kind of profile that will still land on plenty of daily MLB picks cards because the offense can flip a game quickly and the club has mostly held up at home.
The issue is that Bradish has not been especially crisp. He has walked three batters in each of his first three starts, and that kind of free-pass profile gets dangerous against an Arizona lineup that does not need many extra chances to turn one inning sideways. The Orioles’ bullpen was excellent Tuesday, which helps the full-game case for Baltimore, but Bradish still looks like the shakier starting option by a decent margin. Add in the early-season rotation hit from Zach Eflin’s season-ending elbow surgery, plus Holliday still being sidelined, and Baltimore feels a bit expensive at this number.
Diamondbacks vs Orioles Matchup Breakdown
This game starts with the starting-pitching edge, and I think that edge belongs to Arizona. Rodriguez is in much better form than Bradish right now, and Bradish’s walk issues are a real problem in a midday game where extra baserunners can turn into crooked numbers fast. Baltimore has the stronger home-field case, but Arizona is the club getting the better arm and the cheaper price. That usually gets my attention. The broader lesson is simple: when the underdog has the more trustworthy starter, you do not need much else to justify a plus-money look.
Bullpen usage is not a huge red flag for either side, though Baltimore probably has a slight comfort edge after getting 3 2/3 scoreless innings from its relievers Tuesday. Arizona also finished cleanly, and the possible availability of Brandon Pfaadt in a relief role adds another interesting wrinkle if Rodriguez gives them five or six solid frames. So I do not think this is a spot where either pen forces me off the side.
The total is trickier. The warmth helps hitters, and Bradish’s control profile can definitely feed an over. But 9 is not a soft number in a game where Rodriguez has been sharp, Baltimore may still be missing a few cleaner at-bats against left-handed pitching, and Arizona’s own lineup could lose some punch if Marte is limited again. I lean to the under more than the over, but not enough to make it the top play. The better angle, to me, stays with Arizona’s price.
Diamondbacks vs Orioles Predictions and Best Bets
The market is still asking you to pay Baltimore like the Orioles clearly deserve to be in the mid -150s. I do not see it that way. My number is closer to Baltimore -135, maybe a touch lower, because Rodriguez has been the better starter, Bradish has not solved the walks, and Arizona’s current form is good enough to trust in a coin-flip type game. At plus money, that is the side I want.
I think the best Baltimore argument is pretty straightforward. The Orioles are at home, their bullpen looked excellent Tuesday, and if Rodriguez’s low ERA is hiding some correction, this lineup can absolutely cash in. That is why I would rather take the underdog than lay the run line against Baltimore. The safer value is simply the plus price.
As for the total, I would only lean under 9. The weather points one way, the starting-pitching form points the other, and the injury uncertainty around Arizona’s lineup keeps me from getting aggressive there. For me, this is a side-first game. Arizona has the better starter, enough lineup depth to scratch out offense, and a market number that still looks a little rich on Baltimore.
Best Bet: Diamondbacks Moneyline +132
MLB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you are betting baseball every day, this is the kind of matchup where comparing opinions matters. Some bettors will back the home favorite automatically. Others will price the starting-pitching edge more heavily and take the dog. That is where tracking top sports handicappers helps. You can find different MLB betting styles, compare how aggressive each capper is with dogs and totals, and avoid treating every pick as if it comes from the same angle.
The other useful piece is transparency. The handicapper leaderboard makes it easier to sort through long-term performance, recent runs, and overall consistency before you tail anyone’s baseball card. In a sport with daily volume and constant pitching changes, that kind of context matters a lot more than a random hot take.
Giants’ Tyler Mahle asked to shut down Reds in return to Cincinnati
Tyler Mahle of the San Francisco Giants will return to his old home Wednesday night when he starts on the mound against the Reds in Cincinnati in the second game of a three-game series.
Mahle, a right-hander, spent the first five-plus seasons of his career in Cincinnati, and after stints with the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers, he signed with the Giants in the offseason.
He will be asked to help stop the Giants’ three-game losing streak, but he might need to be nearly perfect to do it because San Francisco has only five runs during the skid.
Solo home runs by Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart provided all the Cincinnati offense on Tuesday night in a 2-1 victory.
Four Reds pitchers, led by starter Brady Singer, combined on a seven-hitter that included an 0-for-3 performance by Rafael Devers, who saw his season batting average drop to .212.
The slugger brought a five-game hitting streak into the series, but five of the six hits during that run were singles. A three-time All-Star who averaged 32.2 homers over the past five seasons, Devers has gone deep just twice in 17 games this season.
“He’s competing. He’s probably a little extra frustrated at times. He’s trying,” Giants manager Tony Vitello told reporters after the Tuesday defeat. “There’s maybe a little extra body in his swing.
“He’s a smart guy. He knows his swing better than anybody. He’s got such a pretty swing. Really handsy. At times, there are times when hands get gobbled up by a little extra body in there. Sometimes extra body comes from extra effort.”
On Wednesday, Devers and the Giants will face Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder (1-1, 3.31 ERA), who started the season strongly with 11 innings of six-hit, two-run ball in his team’s wins over the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers before getting roughed up on the road by the Miami Marlins last Thursday. He allowed eight hits and five runs (four earned) over 5 1/3 innings in an 8-1 loss.
The 24-year-old has pitched in just nine games in his career, none against the Giants.
Mahle (0-2, 4.30 ERA) made his first 113 starts for the Reds, who drafted him out of a Southern California high school in the seventh round in 2013. He went 31-38 with a 4.35 ERA with Cincinnati before getting dealt to the Minnesota Twins in August 2002 for three players, including Steer.
Mahle, 31, has never faced the Reds, the only major league team he hasn’t pitched against. He’s very familiar with the Great American Ball Park, however, having gone 13-18 there with a 5.02 ERA in 55 career games (54 starts).
After allowing a combined seven runs and 13 hits in nine innings in losses to the New York Yankees and New York Mets, Mahle shut out the Philadelphia Phillies on three hits over 5 2/3 innings in his last start. He did not get a decision in a 5-0 win over the Phillies last Wednesday, as all five Giants runs came after he left the game.
After walking four and throwing 94 pitches his last time out, the veteran said he can improve on his return to Cincinnati.
“We want to go deep in games whatever the pitch count is. That’s the goal,” he told reporters after failing to complete six innings for the third straight time in a Giants uniform. “Six innings is the baseline we should be striving for.”
– Field Level Media
Tigers turn to Jack Flaherty in bid to win series vs. Royals
The Detroit Tigers will look to extend their winning streak to five games when they host their American League Central rival, the Kansas City Royals, in the middle contest of a three-game series on Wednesday night.
The Tigers scored twice in the eighth inning to pull out a 2-1 victory in the series opener on Tuesday.
Most of the game featured a pitchers’ duel between Kansas City’s Cole Ragans and Detroit’s Framber Valdez.
Both were out of the game when the Tigers scored their runs.
“Incredible performance on both sides,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “We couldn’t get anything started against Ragans, and Framber did his part to match him.”
Detroit’s Kenley Jansen, 38, passed Hall of Famer Lee Smith on the all-time saves list and now stands alone in third place (479) after escaping a ninth-inning jam.
“It takes a lot to be in this room in general, and then on top of that to have the longevity and legacy that he has,” Hinch said. “I don’t know how many games he’s pitched that haven’t mattered. He’s at the back end of games that matter, and he’s done it for a really long time. And now he’s third all-time in the entire history of the sport.”
Royals outfielder Isaac Collins departed in the first inning with a right knee contusion. He was injured while trying to catch a foul ball and tumbled into the stands.
“His X-ray was negative,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said. “We’ll know more tomorrow and see if we can get the swelling out of there.”
Detroit right-hander Jack Flaherty (0-1, 5.14 ERA) will make his fourth start of the season on Wednesday. He had his best outing on Thursday, limiting Minnesota to one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision. The Tigers lost 3-1.
“He was mixing all his pitches and getting in the zone,” catcher Jake Rogers said. “When he gets ahead, he’s got a lot of pitches that can get you out. When he’s in the zone and in the zone often, his stuff plays.”
Flaherty settled in after a first-inning double play.
“Getting in a little trouble early got me right,” he said. “I was more in sync working in the stretch. Still too many walks (three) and not in the zone quite enough, but I felt as the game went on, I got better and better… Rog (Rogers) did a really good job of navigating the first couple of innings, and as we got in sync, everything became easier.”
Flaherty is 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA in six career starts against the Royals, and he’ll oppose another veteran right-hander in Seth Lugo (1-1, 1.53) on Wednesday.
In his last start on Thursday, Lugo allowed two runs (one earned) and four hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 2-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox. His control was spotty, as he walked four batters.
“I thought I threw the ball pretty good,” Lugo said. “Too many walks. I want to pitch deeper in the game. So those walks kind of hurt me there, especially toward the end.”
Lugo is 3-3 with a 4.98 ERA in eight career outings against the Tigers.
–Field Level Media
Sparked by Byron Buxton, Twins chase sweep of Red Sox
The Minnesota Twins will look to continue their torrid play on Wednesday afternoon when they go for a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox in Minneapolis. Minnesota, which has won four games in a row and eight of its last nine, posted a 13-6 victory over Boston on Monday and a 6-0 decision on Tuesday.
Boston’s starting pitchers, Garrett Crochet and Sonny Gray, combined to allow 16 runs (15 earned) on 18 hits in 5 2/3 innings during the first two games of the series. Minnesota leadoff hitter Byron Buxton was the offensive catalyst in both games. He had two hits, including a home run, on Monday, and added two solo homers on Tuesday to highlight his four-hit performance in the victory. “We created the first run because Bux can really fly,” Minnesota manager Derek Shelton said. “He hits the two home runs. … Overall, I know this is being said ad nauseam, but just a team victory. Up and down the lineup we did really good things.” Brooks Lee also homered during Tuesday’s win. “It’s just really enjoyable to be out here every single day,” Lee said. “Pregame … I’m excited to come to the field every day, see my teammates, and I want to see them have success, and we’re doing it.” The Boston offense sputtered against Mick Abel, who gave up four hits and struck out 10 in seven innings. “(Abel’s performance) was outstanding,” Shelton said. “In control the entire game. Mixing and matching. Fastball usage was tremendous. He used the changeup right-on-right … just overall in command of his pitches.” Boston is batting .231 this season, with a .315 on-base percentage and a .345 slugging percentage. The Red Sox are 0-7 when their opponent opens the scoring. Tuesday’s loss was the first time Boston has been shut out this season. Despite being held to six hits, the Red Sox stranded at least one runner on base in seven of the nine innings. “(Abel) had good stuff,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We faced him in spring training. Good fastball. Good changeup. He was working ahead. I think with the lead he was more aggressive (than) in his last outings, but that’s no excuse. We have to execute better.” Boston first baseman Willson Contreras left Tuesday’s game in the fifth inning after feeling tightness in his lower back during a defensive play. “We’ll see how he feels (Wednesday) morning,” Cora said. “The trainer feels like it’s nothing serious, but obviously we have to be careful. He’s so important to us.” Contreras is batting .298 with a .444 on-base percentage, three home runs and 11 RBIs in 17 games this season. Wednesday’s probable pitchers are Boston left-hander Connelly Early (0-0, 2.63 ERA) and Minnesota righty Simeon Woods Richardson (0-2, 4.60).
Early will make his first career appearance against Minnesota.
Woods Richardson has a 5.79 ERA in one career outing against Boston. He pitched 4 2/3 innings and did not get a decision in that game, which his team won 5-4 last July.
–Field Level Media
Leafs visit Senators for season-ending role reversal
The Toronto Maple Leafs will end their season Wednesday night when they visit the Ottawa Senators, in a dramatic reversal from nearly a year ago.
When the Maple Leafs (32-35-14, 78 points) visited the Senators (43-27-11, 97 points) last May 1, they won Game 6 to clinch a victory in the first-round playoff series.
This time, the Maple Leafs will be packing their gear following the game after they were eliminated from playoff contention several games ago.
Ottawa, meanwhile, has clinched an Eastern Conference wild-card spot and will use the regular-season finale to prepare for the playoffs.
Toronto has dropped six in a row (0-5-1) after blowing a 3-0 first-period lead Monday and losing their final home game of the season 6-5 to the playoff-bound Dallas Stars.
The Maple Leafs also led by two goals in the third period before Dallas scored three straight.
The highlight for Toronto came when Jacob Quillan scored his first career NHL goal in the first period.
The Senators are coming off a 4-3 overtime road loss Sunday to the New Jersey Devils that snapped their four-game winning streak.
Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot did not play for Ottawa on Sunday.
Dawson Mercer tied the game 3-3 in the third period with New Jersey’s second short-handed goal of the contest.
“It was a big point,” Senators coach Travis Green said. “We had a lot of good players out of the lineup tonight. Guys battled, but when you give up two short-handed goals, it’s tough to win in the NHL.”
The Senators overcame a 2-0 first-period deficit to earn the point.
“I didn’t like the first 10 minutes of our game,” Green said.
“We did a lot of good things,” said forward Claude Giroux, who had an assist. “We just played more to our identity. We want to play more as a team, and we did that in the second period. “
“We’re playing pretty well going into the playoffs,” said forward Shane Pinto, who scored a power-play goal.
Fabian Zetterlund has been surging for the Senators and scored his fourth goal in four games on Sunday.
Tkachuk is also expected to sit out Wednesday after taking a hit Saturday that forced him to leave the 3-0 win over the New York Islanders. He said on Tuesday that he will be ready for the playoffs.
Ottawa has won two of three from Toronto this season.
The Maple Leafs started Monday as if they would finish their home schedule on a positive note.
“I was disappointed,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “We got a 3-0 lead, and then we gave it back to them that quickly in the second period, just on mistakes. With the coverage, we’re right there, but we’re not close enough.
“It is disappointing on my end, for sure. We talked about getting a win here tonight. It would have been nice, but it didn’t happen.”
Maple Leafs forward John Tavares opened the scoring with his team-leading 31st goal of the season.
The 35-year-old will have played in all 82 games this season when he takes to the ice on Wednesday.
“It’s impressive,” Berube said. “I talk about him all the time with you guys, about his preparation and work ethic. It’s the same every day, every practice, every game. When things aren’t going well, he works his way out of it. He’s a great pro. He’s been a great pro his whole career.”
–Field Level Media
