Stay updated on everything baseball with our morning MLB News & Moments articles. We’ve got you covered to keep you in the know.
As only the White Sox and Giants rested on Tuesday, we have an almost full slate of games to cover. Let’s get into it!
Today’s Headlines
Orioles calling up Grayson Rodríguez
Due to a bout of injuries and serendipity, the Orioles are calling up top pitching prospect Grayson Rodríguez to start today’s game against the Rangers. It will be interesting to see how the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft fares in his MLB debut, as a lat strain bugged him for much of 2022 and it was followed by a rough Spring Training (7.04 ERA). He still entered 2023 among the top 20 prospects in the game and now gets to face Jacob deGrom in what should be an intriguing matchup.
Orioles To Promote Grayson Rodriguez https://t.co/qlHCZPKwDw pic.twitter.com/ekBOgmiW0L
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) April 5, 2023
Sandy Alcántara comes close to a Maddux
In a crisp game that ended in less than two hours, reigning NL Cy Young Sandy Alcántara pitched a complete game shutout in exactly 100 pitches, allowing only 4 Minnesota baserunners. Avisaíl García’s solo homer in the second was all the scoring Sandy needed to notch his first win of 2023.
It's no surprise the first shutout of 2023 belongs to @sandyalcantar22! pic.twitter.com/nv4MTRp9AQ
— MLB (@MLB) April 5, 2023
Tampa Bay rallies to stay undefeated
Entering the ninth inning with a one-run deficit, the Rays managed to remain undefeated by blasting back-to-back home runs courtesy of Luke Raley and Josh Lowe. Yandy Díaz would provide a three-run blast to add insurance and give Tampa Bay its fifth win in as many tries.
Back to back and just like that we are back pic.twitter.com/dufGbR450C
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) April 5, 2023
Teoscar Hernández homers twice
After a tough start to the season, Teoscar Hernández finally hit his first homer as a Mariner, and then followed it up with an emphatic second blast in Seattle’s blowout win over the Angels. It was Hernandez’s 14th career multi-homer game. Fellow offseason acquisition A.J. Pollock also hit a pair of dingers to back a strong start from Luis Castillo.
.@TeoscarH DRILLS his 2nd homer of the night! pic.twitter.com/YLOI3uyvtF
— MLB (@MLB) April 5, 2023
Brewers ambush Max Scherzer
Another day, another blowout win for Milwaukee. What started as a pitchers’ duel turned into a disaster for Mad Max, as the Brewers connected for back-to-back-to-back homers in the sixth inning, with Rowdy Tellez, Brian Anderson, and Garrett Mitchell going deep. It was only the second time in Scherzer’s career allowing three straight home runs, and he will head into his next start with an uncharacteristic 6.35 ERA.
The @Brewers went back-to-back-to-back! 💪
(MLB x @loandepot) pic.twitter.com/vRWuucnad9
— MLB (@MLB) April 5, 2023
Best Moments From Yesterday
Manny Machado ejected, Nelson Cruz takes his place and homers
Recently extended Manny Machado was ejected in the bottom of the first inning, following a controversial automatic strike on a 3-2 count. After arguing with umpire Ron Kulpa, Machado was tossed out as everyone tried to figure out what just happened. He was replaced as DH by Nelson Cruz, who promptly homered in his first at-bat. At 42 years old, it was homer #460 for Cruz, who has now homered for seven franchises. The Padres would ultimately blow a 5-1 lead and lose to the Diamondbacks.
Looks like Manny Machado was trying to call time before the clock violation that led to his ejection pic.twitter.com/Ppq7lpyP0o
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 4, 2023
Bobby Witt, Jr. … outfielder?
In only the second pitch of the game, Bobby Witt, Jr. emerged from shortstop to catch a pop-up all the way in left center field. Even after channeling his inner Willie Mays, it was not enough to stop an eventual Royals loss to the Blue Jays.
Bobby Witt Jr. went out to CENTER FIELD to make that catch! 😱 pic.twitter.com/RHGfUqJwu6
— MLB (@MLB) April 4, 2023
Another side of the Babe
As part of a newly-released collection of over 10,000 vintage baseball photos, the SABR project gives us this amazing still of none other than Babe Ruth in what looks like a pottery class. It is nice to see that he had other interests besides hitting long balls.
Grateful to @SABR's new photo archive for providing us this picture of Babe Ruth making pottery in a fur hat pic.twitter.com/r1HCpQpJzF
— eric nusbaum (@ericnus) April 4, 2023
Injuries
After being pulled out from his Opening Day start with a hamstring injury, Atlanta ace Max Fried has now been officially placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Saturday. After finishing second in last year’s Cy Young balloting, Fried hopes to recapture his form and lead the Braves’ rotation upon his return.
The Marlins placed two former All-Stars on the IL, with Johnny Cueto suffering from biceps tightness and Joey Wendle nursing a right intercostal strain. Both veterans were off to rough starts, as Cueto took the loss in his first outing while Wendle went hitless in his first 9 plate appearances before landing on the IL.
In what appears to be another setback on a rocky career, Pirates catcher Austin Hedges was placed on the 7-day concussion IL. The former top prospect had started Pittsburgh’s first three games, going 0-for-7 at the plate. The Pirates promoted Tyler Heineman to the big league club in a corresponding move.
In more optimistic news, Rangers outfielder Josh H. Smith revealed he has cleared concussion protocol following Monday’s scary incident in which he was hit on the face by an errant pitch from Baltimore’s Danny Coulombe. While Texas will play it safe and monitor Smith’s progress, there are no immediate plans for him to have an IL stint.
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