For Tuesday, it's a 13-game slate including 13 night games (we would've had a full one, but Rays-Orioles and Tigers-Pirates each got banged because of weather). The headliners include a rematch of the 2016 World Series and two key intra-divisional clashes: Red Sox-Blue Jays and Angels-Astros (Shohei Ohtani gets the start for the Halos). Let's get to it ...
Tuesday's scores
- Mariners 1, White Sox 0 (box score)
- Cubs 10, Indians 3 (box score)
- Yankees 8, Twins 3 (box score)
- Reds 9, Braves 7 Redsn 12 (box score)
- Diamondbacks 8, Phillies 4 (box score)
- Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3 in 10 (box score)
- Athletics 3, Rangers 2 (box score)
- Angels 8, Astros 7 (box score)
- Mets 6, Cardinals 5 in 10 (box score)
- Brewers 5, Royals 2 (box score)
- Rockies 8, Padres 0 (box score)
- Marlins 2, Dodgers 1 (box score)
- Giants 4, Nationals 3 (box score)
- Rays at Orioles - POSTPONED
- Tigers at Pirates - POSTPONED
Votto finally hits first homer
The Reds have been the worst team in the majors this season. While it's unfair to dump everything on Joey Votto's back, he's been part of the reason why.
Votto entered Tuesday having hit .247/.352/.260 over his first 21 games. That's an uncharacteristically poor line for one of the game's top hitters. Put another way, Votto had fewer extra-base hits than Billy Hamilton -- despite having 14 more plate appearances. Ouch.
Votto showed at least a little spark on Tuesday night, hitting his first home of the year -- this blast off Brandon McCarthy:
👋 that ⚾️ GOODBYE!!!!
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) April 25, 2018
Joey Votto launches his first HR of the season and the @Reds take a 4-0 lead over the Atlanta Braves.
STREAM on FSGO: https://t.co/xheqbCZeqX pic.twitter.com/3bv75WBBND
Votto's line is now up to .250/.351/.300. His next home run could put him ahead of Hamilton in both extra-base hits and home runs.
Mahle flirts with no-no in banner night
Votto was not the biggest story of the Reds' night. That honor instead belonged to Tyler Mahle, who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Braves.
Mahle was soon foiled by a Freddie Freeman home run. He'd exit without recording another out, though he did give up another two hits and runs. Still, Mahle ended the night having struck out 11 of the 23 batters he faced.
Most of Mahle's success came with his fastball. Though Mahle's fastball averaged around 93 mph, he generated 13 whiffs on 68 heaters. He recorded another six swinging strikes on 20 sliders, as well as one on a changeup. Impressive stuff.
In four previous starts this season, Mahle had fanned 20 batters total. He'd previously never struck out more than seven in a single big-league outing.
Dozier's hit streak ends
Brian Dozier extended his MLB-best hitting streak to 24 games on Monday night. Yet that streak came to an end on Tuesday with an 0-for-4 performance versus the Yankees.
Dozier grounded out to the shortstop in his first at-bat, flied out to right in his second, grounded out to third in his third, and grounded out to shortstop again in his final at-bat. Three of those registered single-digit hit probabilities, per Statcast. The other -- Dozier's final -- checked in at 58 percent.
With Dozier's streak out of the way, baseball now has zero active hitting streaks comprising more than 20 games. In other words, don't expect anyone felling Joe DiMaggio's record anytime soon.
Tomlin gives up four home runs
Josh Tomlin has been associated with home runs throughout his career. Last season, he gave up 1.5 jacks per nine, which was actually his lowest rate since 2011.
Alas, Tomlin's gopheritis has returned with a vengeance thus far in 2017. He entered the night having yielded four over his first nine innings. Then, against the Cubs, he gave up another four in less than four innings of work, including a pair to Kyle Schwarber.
Tomlin has now allowed eight home runs in 12 2/3 innings. For those wondering, that's, oh, a 95-homer pace over 150 innings. Tomlin obviously won't reach that total for one reason or another, but sheesh.
Harvey makes second career relief appearance
Now that the Mets intend to use Matt Harvey out of the bullpen for the foreseeable future, it'll be interesting to see how and when Mickey Callaway calls upon the ex-ace.
On Tuesday, Harvey made his first relief appearance of the season. He entered in the fifth inning of a tied game with the Cardinals. Harvey retired the first two batters he saw before allowing consecutive doubles to Dexter Fowler and Paul DeJong. Just like that, the Cards were back in front. Harvey returned for the sixth and allowed just one baserunner, as Tommy Pham walked.
For those wondering, Harvey topped out around 95 mph with his fastball and induced three whiffs on 35 pitches. He entered the night averaging about 93 mph with his fastball this season, meaning his velocity was about the same.
Quick hits
- The Braves reportedly promoted top prospect Ronald Acuna.
- We handed out grades for all 30 teams through the first 10 percent (or so) of the 2018 season.
- The Royals have activated C Salvador Perez and OF Alex Gordon from the DL.
- The Mariners have assigned OF Jayson Werth to Triple-A.
- The Orioles have claimed INF Jace Peterson off waivers from the Yankees.
- The Nationals have placed RHP Shawn Kelley on the 10-day DL with ulnar nerve irritation.
- The Braves have designated RHP Miguel Socolovich for assignment. To take his spot on the active roster, they've recalled LHP Max Fried.
- The White Sox have placed outfielder Avisail Garcia on the 10-day DL with a strained right hamstring.
