With seven scoreless innings from Lance McCullers, the Astros' rotation ERA sits at 2.25. It's averaging 10.55 strikeouts per nine innings -- just about equal to Randy Johnson's career rate of 10.6. Batters are hitting .186 against them -- that's less than the .195 average Pedro Martinez held hitters to during his 1997-2002 peak. They've allowed a .254 wOBA -- only seven regular batters are worse this season. Incredible.
Big win for the Mariners, who can continue to battle the Angels for second in the AL West while hanging close to the Astros. One-hit for eight innings by Francisco Liriano of the Tigers, Mitch Haniger tied it with a two-run homer in the ninth off an 0-2 slider from Shane Greene, and then Jean Segura knocked in Dee Gordon in the 11th for the walk-off win.
It's been a few days since a no-hit watch, so we have a no-hit watch! Francisco Liriano has the no-no going through 6.1 innings for the Tigers and is sitting at 70 pitches. Liriano threw one back in 2011 for the Twins, in one of the "worst" no-hitters ever: He had six walks and just two strikeouts in that one.
Watch Kyle Schwarber discuss getting tossed for the first time in his career after arguing a called third strike.
Kris Bryant gets a rare day off as the Cubs complete a busy stretch in Cincinnati today. Ian Happ will play third base while Javy Baez is at SS giving Addison Russell a breather.
Ronald Acuña's reign as MLB's youngest player is over. The Nationals are calling up 19-year old outfielder Juan Soto. Soto has just 31 at-bats above A-ball, but is hitting .362 with 14 home runs in 39 games across three levels this year. The Nats outfield, which has been decimated by injuries, suffered another blow on Saturday when Howie Kendrick sustained a season-ending Achilles injury.
With his second inside-the-park home run of 2018 on Saturday night, Aaron Hicks became the first Yankees player with more than one of them in a season since Mickey Mantle hit three in 1958, per ESPN Stats & Information.
Watch Javy Baez discuss his issue with Reds pitcher Amir Garrett before the benches cleared as well as his current frustrations at the plate.
Joe Maddon, after the Cubs lose 5-4 in 11: "It was not a good game. One of my worst sitting in that dugout."
After striking out in the seventh inning Friday night, Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius — the American League's Player of the Month for April — is now 1-for-his-last-45. On April 25, Sir Didi was batting .372. He's now hitting .248.
Rain strikes in DC. Again. The opener of Nats/Dodgers has been postponed and will be made up as part of a day/night doubleheader on Saturday. Official pitching matchups have not yet been announced, but there's word that one of the games may feature Noah vs. a pair of giraffes.
Watch Jason Heyward discuss returning from a concussion he suffered trying to catch a HR ball in St. Louis 12 days ago.
Shohei Ohtani hit his 6th HR of the season, hitting 5 of them to centerfield. Only Bryce Harper (6) has more such homers.
Hey Red Sox fans... bring back any memories?! Tim Wakefield and Josh Beckett looking at the Green Monster... at Fluor Field in Greenville, SC.
David Price was one strike away from finishing off his first shutout since 2015 when Manny Machado crushed a two-run homer over the Green Monster seats. It was Machado's 14th home run, breaking an eight-way tie at 13 home runs and giving him the major league lead. Maybe the Orioles need to keep Machado at least until the All-Star Game. Who represents the Orioles otherwise?
Cubs call up an extra arm in Randy Rosario while optioning infielder David Bote. Rosario was impressive in spring training after coming over from Minnesota.
This is the version of Caleb Smith that keeps me from buying into his 30-plus-percent K rate — four walks in three frames and a 56 percent strike rate on all pitches. He had so much better control the previous four turns and is giving back all those gains today.
Bud Norris will surely be one of my bigger-moving relievers in my next rankings update. I know he cooled late last year, but lots to like in 2018: career-best BB% (3.7), increased velocity, improvement vs. LHB. A top-20 RP ranking is warranted.
Justin Verlander's 1.05 ERA and 33.8 percent strikeout rate in his first 15 regular-season starts for the Astros are better than he had during any 15-start stretch in his entire Tigers career.
Shohei Ohtani went 0-4 with 3 K in a 2-0 loss to the Astros on Wednesday. It was his first hitless start in two weeks.
Watch Tyler Chatwood react to being pulled in the sixth inning after just 79 pitches in the Cubs 4-1 loss to the Braves on Wednesday. It was a 1-1 game at the time but lefties Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis due up.
Watch Ben Zobrist discuss the latest on shoe gate. He says the league and union are in discussions for a resolution.
Aaron Boone says the Yankees will tweak their pitching rotation a bit going to Kansas City and Texas: CC Sabathia now goes Friday (KC), Luis Severino now goes Saturday (KC), Sonny Gray now goes Sunday (KC), Masahiro Tanaka now goes Monday (Texas), Domingo Germán now goes Tuesday (Texas). And Germán will be a bullpen option the next couple of days, Boone said.
Clint Frazier is still part of the Yankees "for now," Aaron Boone says. With a few lefty pitchers on the trip to Kansas City and a fresh bullpen, the Yankees want that extra bat. "I'm happy," Frazier said. Wanted to make sure he didn't go back to Triple-A without having an at-bat.
So much for Scherzer vs. the Bombers. Both Nats/Yankees games - the resumption of Tuesday's suspended game as well as the originally scheduled one for today - have been postponed. Makeup date for both games is June 18th.
