Latest news with #NationalLeagueWildCardSeries
Newsweek
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Braves Ex-MVP Set to Return, Provide Offensive Spark
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. After nearly 365 days away, former MVP and Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected to make his season debut on Friday against the San Diego Acuña has been out since May 25 of last season when he tore his ACL for the second time in four seasons. His addition to the Atlanta lineup could be exactly what the Braves offense needs after a bad series loss to the Washington Nationals. ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of Atlanta Braves celebrates advancing to the National League Wild Card Series after defeating the New York Mets during game two of a double header at... ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of Atlanta Braves celebrates advancing to the National League Wild Card Series after defeating the New York Mets during game two of a double header at Truist Park on September 30, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. More Matthew Grimes Jr./Getty Images The last full season we saw from Acuña was one of the greatest in the history of Major League Baseball. Acuña led all players in hits, runs scored, stolen bases and on-base percentage. The season was capped off by Acuña winning the first MVP award of his career and left high hopes for his 2024 season. That season was cut short by his injury in May against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is finally ready to return to the major leagues and prove he is still among the game's best players. A lifetime .289 hitter, Acuña will insert at the top of a Braves lineup that currently ranks 14th in the major leagues with a .247 team batting average. Acuña also has 196 career stolen bases and will add that threat to an Atlanta offense that ranks 20th in stolen bases with 32. After starting the season 0-7, the Braves were able to get their record back to .500 at 21-21 but have since lost four of their last season games to fall to 24-25 on the season. Atlanta's next three series are against the Padres, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox. With the club already sitting 7.5 games out of first place in the NL East, the next 10 games for the Braves are a chance to prove that despite their slow start, they are still one of the best teams in baseball. More MLB: MLB Power Rankings: Yankees Rise, Mets and Padres Fall, AL Team Skyrockets Into Top 10
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Instant analysis: Yankees cruise to win over Mets, spoil Juan Soto's return to The Bronx
NEW YORK − On the night that Juan Soto returned to r Yankee Stadium as a member of the rival Mets, it was the Yankees' replacements for the superstar who stole the spotlight. The Yankees ripped past Tylor Megill and Max Kranick for six runs between the third and fourth innings to claim a 6-2 victory over the Mets in the Subway Series opener in front of a sold-out crowd of 47,700 fans on Friday night at Citi Field. Advertisement Cody Bellinger was 3-for-5 with two runs and a double, while Paul Goldschmidt supplied two hits, two RBI and a run in the Yankees victory, which moved them to 26-18 on the season. On the heels of their second shutout loss of the season, the Mets only mustered two runs on five hits, with Brandon Nimmo supplying the opening run on an RBI single in the fourth inning. Francisco Lindor knocked an opposite-field double down the third-base line in the top of the ninth inning. Soto made the final out with a pair of runners in scoring position, sending a fly ball to center field against Yankees closer Luke Weaver. In his return, Soto made an impression but not a big enough mark to help the Mets past his former team as he heard boos and chants all night from the crowd in the Bronx. Soto finished 0-for-1 with three walks, a stolen base and the Mets' lone run. Advertisement The Yankees, meanwhile, stacked up six hits in the third and fourth innings and capitalized on a Francisco Lindor throwing error to take the advantage that they carried throughout the night. Juan Soto flies out to end ninth-inning threat The Yankees appeared to be looking to avoid using Weaver, but Yerry De Los Santos could not close the door in the ninth. He walked Francisco Alvarez and pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil before Francisco Lindor found a gap down the third-base line for an RBI double. That set the stage for Weaver vs. Soto. Weaver induced a fly ball to center field from Soto to end the game. Devin Williams wins rematch with Pete Alonso, strikes out side Maybe Devin Williams needed to exorcise some demons and can now return to his elite closer form. Advertisement Williams entered in the eighth inning with a five-run advantage and turned in his most effective outing as a member of the Yankees. It began with a rematch against Pete Alonso, who had taken the former Brewers closer deep to seal the National League Wild Card Series last October. On Friday, Williams froze Alonso on a 94.8 mph fastball on the outside corner. Williams then struck out both Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo to complete a perfect frame on 14 pitches. It was Williams' seventh clean outing in his last eight appearances. Carlos Rodon in line for fifth win May 16, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón (55) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images It might have been Carlos Rodon's shortest outing of the season, but the left-hander did enough to get himself in line for his fifth win of the season. Advertisement Rodon worked through three innings without allowing a hit then dug in when the Mets put the pressure on in the fourth inning. Despite the Mets collecting two hits and two walks in the inning, Rodon only surrendered one earned run. He induced a fly ball from Luisangel Acuña for the final out with the bases loaded. He allowed one more walk in the fifth inning but finished with one earned run allowed on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts in five innings. Paul Goldschmidt, Jasson Dominguez extend Yankees' lead The top of the Yankees lineup continued to put pressure on the Mets' pitching staff in the early innings. Advertisement In the bottom of the fourth inning against Max Kranick, Aaron Judge laced a single left field and then Cody Bellinger looped his third hit of the night — a double — down the right-field line. Those one-out hits set the table for a Paul Goldschmidt RBI single and an RBI fielder's choice from Jasson Dominguez on a ball deep to the right side of the infield. In the process, the Yankees opened up a 6-1 lead through four innings. Brandon Nimmo supplies first Mets run Rodon cruised through the Mets lineup the first time through, only allowing one walk to Soto in the first inning and throwing 45 pitches in three innings. Advertisement But he ran into his first trouble in the fourth inning as he walked Soto again and then gave up back-to-back one-out singles to Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo. The Mets left fielder cut his team's deficit to 4-1 on an opposite-field single that slipped out of reach of Oswald Peraza. The Mets loaded the bases but Acuña flew out to right field to end the threat. Tylor Megill's shaky command leads to early exit May 16, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Tylor Megill (38) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Through the first full month of the season, Tylor Megill had pitched effectively by pitching to contact, limiting opposing baserunners and cutting down on walks. Through the month of April, Megill had a sterling 1.74 ERA. Advertisement But the wayward control returned for Megill in the Subway Series opener on Friday night. Megill could not get through the third inning as he allowed four earned runs on five walks and three hits. All of the damage against Megill came in the third inning as he walked four batters, including a bases-loaded free pass to Peraza. A pair of singles and a walk with one out loaded the bases and an infield single by Paul Goldschmidt and throwing error by Francisco Lindor allowed the first two runs to cross. Anthony Volpe added a sacrifice fly and Megill's day ended in a 39-pitch third inning after he walked Peraza. The Mets was replaced by Max Kranick. Juan Soto gets icy reception in first inning May 16, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; A fan holds a sign during a first inning at bat against the New York Yankees by New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (not pictured) at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images If Soto was on the field doing anything on Friday night, he was hearing a response from the Yankee faithful. Advertisement When Soto emerged to stretch before the game, the boos came pouring down. That reaction was only interrupted when Aaron Judge jogged out of the home dugout. When the 26-year-old stepped toward home plate for the first time as a member of the Mets, the crowd rose to its feet and delivered the loudest jeer of the night. Soto smiled and tipped his batting helmet as he entered the batter's box. Soto was the first Mets batter to reach base, drawing a walk off Rodon and then stealing second base. He was left stranded there following back-to-back outs. And then he was front and center in front of the Bleacher Creatures in right field, some turning their backs as Soto took his place in right field as a member of the rivals. Worst of rain is gone After a mid-afternoon deluge in the metropolitan area, the brunt of the rain appears to be out of the way for the Subway Series opener. Advertisement According to AccuWeather, there is only a minor chance of misty precipitation at game time. The forecast is calling for a high temperature of 68 degrees. Follow along for updates as the Mets and Yankees square off for the first time in 2025 on Friday night in the Bronx. This article originally appeared on Yankees spoil Juan Soto return with NY Mets to open Subway Series
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider sharp in Triple-A rehab start
Spencer Strider is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. Without him for a bulk of last year, the Atlanta Braves underachieved a bit, falling in the National League Wild Card Series to the San Diego Padres. All eyes have been on Strider this spring as he rehabilitates his injured elbow. Last April, he opted to insert a brace into his elbow to stabilize his ulnar collateral ligament instead of having Tommy John surgery. Atlanta hopes to have him back in the Major League rotation in mid-April. Advertisement For now, Strider is rehabbing at Triple-A Gwinnett. He had already thrown four innings in two separate starts in the Grapefruit League during spring training, but the Braves are amping him up innings-wise now that the season has begun. Team officials said they anticipate two or three more starts in the minors before Strider is called back to the big club. As for his first start in the minors, it provided solid progress. Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider during a Spring Training game 2025Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images Strider threw 60 pitches in three innings for Gwinnett, giving up a run, two hits, a walk, hitting a batter and striking out six. "He got through what we wanted him to do," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "He got three and 60. That's where we wanted him to go." Advertisement Strider finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2023 when he went 20-5 with a 3.86 earned-run average, a 1.093 WHIP, and he struck out a Major League-high 286 batters. He made just two starts in 2024 as his elbow went out in the fifth inning April 5 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Strider hasn't pitched in a regular-season game since. "As long as he comes out of it (Sunday), throws his next side, then that'll be a big step forward for him," Snitker said. Related: Reds Receive Good News Regarding Injured Outfielder Related: Braves Eyeing NL MVP as Braves Face Key 2025 Season Challenges
New York Times
08-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Padres' Joe Musgrove plays catch for first time since surgery, continues to target October
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It was only 25 throws at relatively low intensity, but Monday will go down as a good day for Joe Musgrove. Musgrove, the San Diego Padres' veteran right-hander, played catch for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery almost six months ago. When he later walked off the field at Sutter Health Park, he wore a smile. Advertisement In a relatively ideal world, Musgrove might be just halfway through his rehab. Still, he had reached a significant milestone with enough ease that he intends to continue his pursuit of an ambitious goal. Musgrove, who had his surgery in October, is targeting a return to big-league action sometime this October. 'That's been my goal from the get-go, and I still feel like it's somewhat within reach,' Musgrove said before the Padres' series opener against the Athletics. 'I think the doctors are going to tell me no just because they prefer not to have anybody back in a game (in) anything shorter than a year. A year puts me in the middle of October, right in that playoff mix. I think starting is out of the question. I think an opener-type role, maybe. But I think most realistically, it would be a chance to come out of the bullpen, you know, somewhat late in the postseason. 'Whether I'm in the games or not, it's still part of my plan is to get healthy and throw in games by the end of the season so I can go in and have a normal offseason and build up properly, try to be as ready as I can for '26.' Musgrove, a 2022 All-Star for his hometown team, pitched around extended absences in 2023 and 2024 while knowing he might eventually require surgery for a damaged ulnar collateral ligament. He still managed to help hoist the Padres into last year's postseason, supplying a 2.15 ERA in nine summer starts before his elbow finally gave out in Game 2 of San Diego's National League Wild Card Series. He underwent Tommy John surgery Oct. 11, the same day the Padres were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. Musgrove said Sunday that his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, originally estimated he could begin playing catch in six months. Monday, 178 days after the operation, Musgrove did. He started with 5-foot throws to fellow Padres starter Nick Pivetta and stretched out to about 60 feet. The plan is to continue this 25-throw routine three days a week for at least the next week. It has been a long road to this point, but it also hasn't. Advertisement 'The workload is definitely what I thought it would be,' Musgrove, 32, said. 'I expected a lot of work and long days. But I can't say it's been what I expected in terms of, like, difficulty. The steps have all come to me pretty easy. … I was kind of checking every box and being very diligent about it. So, I do feel like it's been a relatively simple comeback. I wouldn't say easy, but it's been pretty simple — like, not many hiccups or not many setbacks.' For someone on the 60-day injured list, Musgrove has been an unusually engaged teammate. He said before spring training he planned to be with the Padres for almost every game this season, and he so far has been at every one. A clubhouse leader who signed a five-year, $100 million extension in 2022, Musgrove has remained an active participant in pitchers' meetings and other team gatherings. 'It means a lot to me. It means a lot to our group,' Mike Shildt said. 'Joe could've easily and rightfully been in San Diego right now or gone over to (the Padres' complex in Arizona). And he's been on the (first) road trip. He's preparing for every series like he's pitching in that series. So, his leadership is tremendous, and occasionally he uses his voice. He's a really, really special guy.' Part of that effort, Musgrove indicated, has been to preserve his own sanity. 'I just feel like baseball … is kind of how you deal with a lot of life problems,' Musgrove said. 'You come (to the field) and you can feel good about yourself having a good work day or executing pitches in the game and having a successful day. Like, a lot of that stuff increases your overall perspective on life and your attitude and stuff. Without that outlet, it's been difficult to try and find that in other ways. 'But putting more effort into being a good teammate and providing whatever kind of assistance I can has kind of been my main focus. So, I found it in a different way, in a sense.' Monday, he began to rediscover his primary outlet. 'It's a big day, man. It's a big milestone,' Shildt said. 'He's worked really hard. And that's a good thing for Joe. He's got a smile on his face.' (Top photo of Joe Musgrove leaving the game in October: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
CBS News
04-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Phillies turn to Jesus Luzardo to stop undefeated Dodgers in October-like April game
Jesús Luzardo knows what pitching at Citizens Bank Park in a playoff atmosphere is like. He's done it before, wearing the colors of a division rival. He lasted four innings and lost in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. Luzardo will get a taste of it for the first time in a Phillies uniform tonight as he makes his home debut in a rare October-like April game in Philadelphia. The Phils welcome the undefeated Dodgers to the Bank for an early-season three-game series featuring two NL heavyweights. "The fans get loud. The atmosphere gets really good, really intense, and I think that's something that drags a lot of players and brings the best out of people," Luzardo told CBS Philadelphia's Pat Gallen on an episode of " Gallen of Questions ." "If you're on the opposing side, it's definitely tough. On the home side, I think it adds that extra level of motivation for you." "You can just feel the atmosphere. You can feel the city. How excited the fans are. Just the city in general," Luzardo added. "Everyone knows the team, is excited about the team. Looking forward to coming to games. It's something that I've never been a part of." Two years ago, Luzardo was the Marlins' Game 1 starter after a breakout season. He had a 3.58 ERA and 28.1 K% in a career-high 178 2/3 innings in 2023. Injuries struck in 2024, limiting the 27-year-old southpaw to 66 2/3 innings and just 12 starts while seeing his ERA balloon to 5.00. His velocity on his fastball was affected, seeing his four-seamer's average speed drop from 96.7 mph in 2023 to 95.2 mph in 2024. "It was tough, just going through a whole year not feeling like myself," Luzardo said. "I felt like letting your teammates down, not being able to go out there and throw every five days. … Now I'm happy to be back 100% feeling good, back to feeling myself." The injury history didn't scare off the Phillies, who acquired the lefty from Miami in a December trade . Luzardo, who's been off social media for over a year, said he was caught off guard by the trade despite knowing his name was being floated around in rumors. "I was away from all the noise, so when I got that call, it kind of shocked me," Luzardo said. "At the same time, I was surprised and excited, looking forward to coming to a team like this with this much talent. Harper called me within maybe 30 seconds of the trade. "Wheeler reached out. A bunch of guys reached out. Schwarber reached out," he added. "It was cool to see the older and veteran guys reaching out and making sure I felt welcomed." Luzardo struck out 11 batters and allowed two runs over five innings in his Phillies debut last week, an 11-6 win over the Nationals . His fastball had his pop back, averaging 96.9 mph and maxing out at 98.9 mph. In his first start with the Phillies, Luzardo showed off a new sweeper he worked on over the winter and in spring training. He threw the sweeper 22 times, with a 70% whiff percentage, and struck out five batters with it. "It took all spring for me. First, having the body get accumulated to a new pitch," Luzardo said. "It's different on the body in general in the way you throw it. Once your body gets used to it. Building it into the bullpen sessions and building it into games and trying it in different scenarios, different counts, different hitters. And really just fine-tuning it to see where it works and where it doesn't. I think throughout spring, we did a good job with that. We had good and bad results with it, but that's what spring is for." Luzardo said his goal for the 2024 season is to make 33 starts for the Phils, but most importantly, it's staying on the field. "For me, I think the health is the biggest thing," Luzardo said. "I just want to be healthy all year." Hours before making his home debut in Philadelphia, Luzardo announced that for every batter he strikes out this season, the Jesús Luzardo Family Foundation will donate $100 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia. If you're looking to watch tonight's Phillies vs. Dodgers game in Philadelphia on cable TV, you're out of luck. Tonight's game is the first of two Apple TV+ games for the Phillies in the first half of the 2025 season. Fans looking to watch tonight's game featuring the 5-1 Phillies against the 8-0 Dodgers, they'll need an Apple TV+ subscription. If you don't have an Apple TV+ account, fans can listen to the game on SportsRadio 94WIP. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. ET.
