The Baseball Buffet for 3/29/2026

WSH 2, CHC 10 - The Nationals’ James Wood hit a solo HR in the fourth inning, but otherwise CHC SP Cade Horton did pretty well (6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K). Meanwhile the Cubs got plenty of baserunners off WSH SP Miles Mikolas (5 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K), and Ian Happ and Miguel Amaya had their first homers of the season.

TBR 5, STL 6 (10) - The Cardinals scored two in the bottom of the first, but then TBR SP Joe Boyle settled in (6 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K). Meanwhile, STL SP Michael McGreevy pitched six innings of no-hit ball (6 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K), and then the Cardinals scored another two runs in the bottom of the eighth to go up 4-0. The Rays came back with four runs in the ninth to force extra-innings, with rookie Carson Williams providing a 2-RBI single, and then Nick Fortes driving him in with a single to tie it up. Tampa scored one more in the top of the tenth, but then with one out and runners on second and third, rookie JJ Wetherholt singled to drive them both in for the walk-off win.

ATH 7, TOR 8 (11) - TOR SP Dylan Cease was outstanding in his official Blue Jays debut (5.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 K). Toronto’s bullpen got into trouble later, including giving up a grand slam to Shea Langeliers, already his third HR of the year. Down 6-5, Alejandro Kirk tied the game with a solo HR in the bottom of the ninth to force extras. Both teams scored a run in the 10th, and then with one out and runners on first and second in the bottom of the 11th, Ernie Clement singled to drive in the game-winner.

MIN 4, BAL 1 - MIN SP Taj Bradley did well in a short start (4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 9 K), and five Minnesota relievers held the Orioles scoreless the rest of the game, with Cole Sands striking out two in the ninth for the save. Byron Buxton went 2-4 with a run, and Royce Lewis was 1-3 with a walk, a HR, 2 runs, and 2 RBI.

TEX 5, PHI 4 (10) - Corey Seager hit a solo HR in the first inning, and Jake Burger hit a 2-run HR in the third. Aaron Nola otherwise did well with 7 K in 5 IP, but those three runs had Texas up 3-0 through eight innings as Jacob Latz (4 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) and three Rangers’ relievers kept the strong Phillies lineup off the board. Until the bottom of the ninth that is, when with two outs Adolis García hit a double that drove in a run, and then Brandon Marsh hit a single that drove in two and forced extras. The Phillies brought in their closer Jhoan Duran but he allowed two runs (one earned), including veteran Andrew McCutchen hitting a single that knocked in Wyatt Langford to give the Rangers a two-run lead. In the bottom of the tenth Bryce Harper singled to drive in a run, but Tyler Alexander closed out the game from there for his first save.

BOS 5, CIN 6 (11) - The Reds built up a lead early against BOS SP Sonny Gray (4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K), including Sal Stewart hitting a solo HR in the third. Elly De La Cruz also homered for Cincy, while the Red Sox got HRs from Trevor Story in third inning and Wilyer Abreu in the ninth which tied the game 5-5. Connor Phillips came in for the Reds and he struck out three in two scoreless frames, while the Red Sox, having already used Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, brought in Justin Slaten who gave up a walk-off single to Dane Myers that drove in TJ Friedl from second.

PIT 2, NYM 4 (11) - Both starting pitchers did well: PIT SP Mitch Keller (6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) and NYM SP David Peterson (5.1 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K). And both teams’ bullpens kept putting zeroes on the board, such that it was still 0-0 through nine. Both teams scored a run in the tenth, and Nick Gonzales singled in the top of 11th to drive in Bryan Reynolds to put the Pirates up 2-1. But Pittsburgh had rookie Hunter Barco (usually a starter) go back out for a second inning of work in the bottom of the frame, and after walking Jorge Polanco, he gave up a walk-off, three-run HR to Luis Robert Jr.

COL 3, MIA 4 - MIA SP Eury Pérez had 8 K in 7 IP, but also allowed 5 H and 3 ER off homers by TJ Rumfield and Ezequiel Tovar. COL SP Michael Lorenzen allowed the same number of runs (4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K), with Hicks hitting a HR for the Marlins. With the score still 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Miami rookie Owen Cassie hit a single that brought home Otto Lopez from second base. Pete Fairbanks then pitched a scoreless ninth to notch his second save of the young season.

KCR 2, ATL 6 - ATL SP Reynaldo Lopez did very well (6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K), finally giving up a solo HR to Salvador Perez in the seventh. KCR SP Michael Wacha also pitched well (6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K), and the Royals were up 2-0 until the bottom of the ninth. They brought in their closer, Carlos Estévez, but he allowed a series of hits and walks, and then ultimately a walk-off grand slam by DH Dominic Smith.

CWS 1, MIL 6 - Munetaka Murakami hit his second HR of the season, but MIL SP Chad Patrick otherwise did well (4.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) and four Brewers’ relievers blanked the White Sox the rest of the way. Meanwhile the Brewers scored three runs in the first inning and overall had 12 hits and 7 SB. Brice Turang was 3-5 with 2 doubles and 2 runs.

NYY 3, SFG 1 - Will Warren pitched well (4.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K), Cody Bellinger went 2-3 with a walk and a triple, and Aaron Judge hit his second HR of the season. David Bednar notched his second save of the season.

LAA 9, HOU 11 - LAA SP Reid Detmers had 9 K in 4.2 IP, but also allowed 6 H and 3 ER. Those were the first three of 11 consecutive runs the Astros scored in the fifth and sixth innings, putting them up 11-6 at that point. Nolan Schanuel hit a 3-run HR in the top of the ninth off of Bryan Abreu, but it wasn’t enough as the Astros held on for the first win of the year. Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa, Christian Walker, and Jake Meyers each had two hits apiece.

DET 0, SDP 3 - SDP SP Randy Vásquez did very well (6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K), and Kyle Hart and Mason Miller combined for a 2-hit shutout. Ramon Laureano went 3-4, and Jake Cronenworth was 1-3 with a walk and 2 runs.

ARI 2, LAD 3 - Both starting pitchers did well: ARI SP Eduardo Rodriguez (5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) and Tyler Glasnow (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K). Down 2-1, the Dodgers came back with a 2-run HR by Will Smith in the bottom of the eighth, and then Edwin Díaz pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.

CLE 6, SEA 5 (10) - SEA SP Bryan Woo did well (6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K), but this one was tied 3-3 through nine innings. In the top of the tenth, Steven Kwan bunted to advance a runner from second, but a throwing error by Brendan Donovan allowed a run to score and Kwan to advance to second. Rookie Chase DeLauter then hit a 2-run HR, and his fourth HR of the season, to put the Guardians up 6-3. Cleveland brought in Connor Brogdon, and he allowed a 2-run HR to Luke Raley, but then managed to close out the game for the save.

MIL 1B Andrew Vaughn - 10-day IL (left hamate fracture, retroactive to March 27)

MIA LF/1B Christopher Morel - 10-day IL (left oblique strain, retroactive to March 25)

1979: Slugger Luke Easter dies at the age of 63. "Former Negro Leagues and Cleveland Indians star Luke Easter is murdered in Euclid, Ohio, at the age of 63. Easter starred for the Homestead Grays and several minor league teams before arriving in the major leagues at age 34."

1988: Slugger Ted Kluszewski dies at the age of 63. "Popular slugger Ted Kluszewski dies in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 63. In a 15-season career, Kluszewski hit 279 home runs, including a National League leading 49 in 1954."

2000: An MLB opener is played outside of North America. "In Japan, the Chicago Cubs open the major league season at the Tokyo Dome by defeating the New York Mets, 5 - 3, in the first major league opening day ever played outside of the United States, Canada or Mexico. Jon Lieber gets the victory and Mike Hampton takes the loss. Shane Andrews, Mark Grace and Mike Piazza hit home runs in the game."

2011: The new 7-day concussion DL is created. "Major League Baseball creates a new seven-day disabled list for players who have suffered concussions, following a number of serious incidents last season, and controversy about concussions in professional football and hockey. Players will need to be evaluated by a medical specialist before they are allowed to return to action."

Hall of Famer

22-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1890-1911, mostly with Cleveland in the NL, and then Boston in the AL

Had 25+ wins an amazing twelve times, leading his league five times

Led the NL with a 1.93 ERA in 1892 and led the AL with a 1.62 ERA in 1901

Was critical to the Red Sox winning the first-ever World Series over the Pirates, as he had a 1.85 ERA over 34 IP in 4 games (3 starts)

Has several all-time records that will never be broken: Wins (511), Losses (315), games started (815), complete games (749), and innings pitched (7,356).

Overall also had 2,803 strikeouts, a 2.63 ERA, and a 138 ERA+

10-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1963-1972, mostly with the Tigers

Three-time All-Star

Won both the AL MVP Award and Cy Young Award in 1968 after posting a 31-6 record, a 1.96 ERA, and 280 K. Started three games in the 1968 World Series with a 3.24 ERA over 16.2 IP.

Won the AL Cy Young Award again in 1969 after leading the league in wins with a 24-9 record to go with a 2.80 ERA

Overall had a 131-91 (.590) record, a 3.39 ERA, and a 101 ERA+

According to Wikipedia, "While achieving success in baseball, McLain faced legal issues in his personal life, including convictions related to organized crime and embezzlement, for which he served time in prison."

Late first-round draft pick in 2012 by the Athletics

So far has played 11 years in the major leagues, for the Athletics and Braves

Three-time All-Star, and has won three Gold Glove Awards at 1B

Has hit 20+ HR eight times, including leading the NL with 54 HR and 139 RBI in 2023

A very durable player, Olson has the longest active streak for consecutive games played at 784

Overall so far has 288 HR, a .257/.351/.508 slash line, and a 135 OPS+

First-round draft pick (30th overall) in 1988 by the Cardinals

15-year major league career, spanning from 1992-2006, mostly with the Cardinals and Braves

Hit 20+ HR four times and was an All-Star in 1999 when he posted a career high 115 RBI

Was a two-sport professional athlete who played three years in the NFL (defense and special teams)

Overall had 184 HR, 119 SB, a .282/.333/.455 slash line, and a 105 OPS+

11-year major league career, spanning from 1942-1952, mostly as a CF/RF with the Boston Braves

Came in second in the NL MVP vote in 1945 after batting .352, with 125 runs, 117 RBI, 15 SB, and leading the league with 224 hits, 47 doubles, and 28 HR

Was an All-Star in 1948 and finished the season with a .325 average and 85 runs

Overall had 88 HR, a .302/.366/.432 slash line, and a 122 OPS+

9-year major league career, spanning from 1947-1955, playing 1B for the Philadelphia Athletics and three other clubs

Five-time All-Star

Led the AL with a .344 average in 1951, and then led the AL with 43 doubles and a .327 average in 1952

Had a good batting eye, 100+ BB five times, and posted a .399+ OBP every year

Overall had a .290/.424/.396 slash line and a 121 OPS+

TEX SP MacKenzie Gore vs. PHI SP Jesús Luzardo - this is Gore’s official debut for the Rangers

LAA SP Jack Kochanowicz vs. HOU Tatsuya Imai - the MLB regular season debut of Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai

PHI Trea Turner, 11-25, 3 doubles vs. TEX MacKenzie Gore

ATL Matt Olson, 4-8, HR vs. KCR Seth Lugo

ATL Ronald Acuña, 6-14 (.429) vs. KCR Seth Lugo

ATL Mike Yastrzemski, 1-12, 4 K vs. KCR Seth Lugo

CHC Michael Conforto, 2-13, 2 K vs. WSH Jake Irvin

MIN Bailey Ober, 53 AB, 2 HR, 13 K, 4 BB, .170/.228/.320 vs. BAL hitters

WSH Jake Irvin, 69 AB, 4 HR, 13 K, 10 BB, .290/.381/.536 vs. CHC hitters

2,632 - Cal Ripken (1982-1998)

2,130 - Lou Gehrig (1925-1939)

1,307 - Everett Scott (1916-1925)

1,207 - Steve Garvey (1975-1983)

1,152 - Miguel Tejada (2000-2007)

1,117 - Billy Williams (1963-1970)

1,103 - Joe Sewell (1922-1930)

895 - Stan Musial (1952-1957)

829 - Eddie Yost (1949-1955)

822 - Gus Suhr (1931-1937)

798 - Nellie Fox (1955-1960)

782 - Matt Olson (2021-active)

How these 7 teams can overcome early injury woes, by Jared Greenspan at MLB, 3/28/2026