The Baseball Buffet for 3/30/2026

MIN 6, BAL 8 - The Twins scored four runs in the second against BAL SP Shane Baz (5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K), but then the Orioles came back with a 3-run HR by Tyler O’Neill against MIN SP Bailey Ober (4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 1 K). The Twins brought in rookie Mick Abel, but he really struggled (3.1 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 K). The Orioles bullpen allowed a solo HR to Royce Lewis, but ultimately closer Ryan Helsley pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.

TEX 8, PHI 3 - TEX SP Mackenzie Gore did pretty well (5.1 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K) in his official Rangers debut. Jesús Luzardo (6 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) gave up a 2-run HR to Brandon Nimmo in third, and then a 3-run HR to Andrew McCutchen in the fourth.

KCR 4, ATL 1 - KCR SP Seth Lugo pitched well (6.1 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K), while ATL SP Grant Holmes gave up three earned runs including a HR by Royals’ rookie Carter Jensen. Drake Baldwin hit a HR for the Braves, and 20-year-old Didier Fuentes pitched well in extended relief (4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K). But ultimately Lucas Erceg came in for the Royals in the ninth and secured the save.

ATH 2, TOR 5 - TOR SP Eric Lauer allowed a 2-run HR to Max Muncy, but otherwise did well with 9 K in 5.1 IP. Meanwhile, ATH SP Luis Morales (4.1 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) gave up three homers to George Springer, Jesús Sánchez, and Kazuma Okamoto. Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his first save of the year.

BOS 2, CIN 3 - CIN SP Rhett Lowder did fairly well (5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K), giving up a HR to Wilyer Abreu who was 3-4 on the day. BOS SP Connelly Early was solid (5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K), but then Eugenio Suárez hit a go-ahead 3-run HR in the sixth off Greg Weissert. The Reds’ bullpen pitched four scoreless innings, including Emilio Pagán recording his first save.

PIT 4, NYM 3 (10) - The Pirates held off a sweep with an extra-innings win over the Mets. Both starting pitchers had eight strikeouts in this one: Carmen Mlodzinski (4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K) and Nolan McLean (5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K). For the Bucs, Brandon Lowe went 2-3 with 2 walks, a double, and his third HR of the season, and Ryan O’Hearn went 3-5 with 2 RBI. For the Mets, Francisco Lindor went 2-4 with a triple, Juan Soto went 2-5 with a double and 2 RBI, and Luis Robert Jr. and Brett Baty also each had two hits.

COL 3, MIA 4 - The Rockies scored three in the top of the first against MIA SP Max Meyer, who settled in after that (5 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K). But the Marlins’ bullpen pitched four scoreless innings, and rookie Owen Cassie hit a walk-off 2-run HR in the bottom of the ninth.

LAA 7, HOU 9 - The Astros scored four runs in the bottom of the second, but then HOU SP Tatsuya Imai (2.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K) ran into trouble in the third with the Angels scoring four to tie the game. Zach Neto hit a 2-run HR in the fourth inning, but then the Astros came back with two runs in fifth and three more in the eighth. Yordan Alvarez was 1-2 with 3 walks, and Isaac Paredes went 2-5 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI.

CWS 7, MIL 9 - CWS SP Anthony Kay had 5 K in 4.2 IP, but also allowed 3 H, 4 BB, and 2 ER. MIL SP Brandon Sproat struggled (3 IP, 6 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 3 K), giving up homers to Colson Montgomery (a first-inning grand slam), Everson Pereira, and Munetaka Murakami, his third already this year. But down 7-3 the Brewers came back with six runs in the eighth, including a 3-run, pinch-hit HR by Christian Yelich. Closer Trevor Megill then struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his first save.

TBR 11, STL 7 - Plenty of scoring early in this one, as both starters struggled: TBR Steven Matz (5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) and Dustin May (4 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 K). For the Cardinals Jordan Walker was 3-4 with a HR, a double, 3 runs, and 3 RBI, and Pedro Pagés went 2-4 with 2-run HR. For the Rays, Yandy Díaz was an impressive 5-6 with a double, 2 runs, and 4 RBI, and Jonathan Aranda went 3-6 with a double and 2 RBI. The Rays tallied 17 hits in all, with Chandler Simpson, Jonny DeLuca, and Ben Williamson collecting two hits apiece.

WSH 6, CHC 3 - CHC Shota Imanaga had 7 K in 5 IP, but also allowed 6 H, 4 ER, and 2 BB. Meanwhile, WSH Jake Irvin also had 7 K in 5 IP but gave up solo homers to Alex Bregman and Ian Happ. Bregman gave the Cubs their third run late in the game with another solo dinger, but it wasn’t enough as Keibert Ruiz had hit a late 2-run HR for the Nationals. Of note, Joey Weimer went 3-3 with a HR, a triple, a walk, and 3 RBI, and is now 6-6 on the year with 2 BB, 2 HR, 3 runs, and 4 RBI.

CLE 0, SEA 8 - SEA SP Emerson Hancock pitched six innings of no-hit ball (6 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K), and then Cooper Criswell (3 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K) combined for the impressive shutout. Meanwhile, CLE SP Slade Cecconi, who had pitched quite well during Spring Training, struggled in this one (4.1 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 5 K). Brendan Donovan went 2-3 with a HR, 2 runs, and 3 RBI, and Randy Arozarena went 2-4 with a double, a walk, and 2 RBI.

1966: Drysdale and Koufax and their holdout. "Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers end their dual holdout. Both pitchers had stayed away from camp for 32 days, threatening retirement in an effort to acquire pay raises. Koufax signs for $120,000; Drysdale settles for $105,000."

1978: The Red Sox trade for Dennis Eckersley. "The Boston Red Sox acquire pitcher Dennis Eckersley and catcher Fred Kendall from the Cleveland Indians for pitchers Rick Wise and Mike Paxton, catcher Bo Diaz and infielder Ted Cox. Eckersley will win 20 games this year."

1992: The Cubs trade for Sammy Sosa. "The Chicago Cubs make one of their best trades ever, acquiring outfielder Sammy Sosa and pitcher Ken Patterson from the Chicago White Sox for outfielder George Bell. While Bell's career will last only two more seasons, Sosa will become an All-Star and capture national attention by hitting 66 home runs in 1998. Later with the Cubs, in 2003, Sosa will hit his 500th career home run."

2000: Rickey Henderson becomes the second player with a SB in four decades. "At the Tokyo Dome, the New York Mets defeat the Chicago Cubs in 11 innings, 5 - 1, on Benny Agbayani's pinch-hit grand slam. Rey Ordóñez commits an error in the game, ending his major league record streak of 101 consecutive errorless games at shortstop. With a swipe of second base, Rickey Henderson joins Ted Williams as the only major league players to steal a base in four different decades. Tim Raines will join the exclusive group next season."

First-round draft pick (13th overall) in 2010 by the White Sox

Currently in his 16th major league season, having pitched for the White Sox, Red Sox, and now the Braves

Nine-time All-Star

Has had 200+ K eight times, including leading the AL with 274 K in 2015 and 308 K in 2017

In 2024 he won the NL Cy Young Award after winning the pitching Triple Crown by leading the league in wins with a 18-3 record, 225 K, and a 2.38 ERA

Overall so far has a 146-88 (.624) record, 2,585 K in 2,090 IP, a 3.00 ERA, and a 142 ERA+

First-round draft pick (2nd overall) in 2015 by the Astros

Now in his 11th major league season, mostly spent with the Astros, then 2025 with the Red Sox, and this year with the Cubs

Three-time All-Star, and won a Gold Glove Award at 3B in 2024

Has hit 20+ HR five times, with highs of 41 HR and 112 RBI in 2019

Overall so far has 209 HR, a .272/.365/.480 slash line, and a 132 OPS+

17-year major league career, spanning from 1887-1903, mostly as a CF/LF with the Giants and four other clubs

Scored 100+ runs in 11 seasons, with a high of 136 runs in both 1891 and 1896

Had 15+ triples four times, including leading the NL with 21 triples in 1896

Had 30+ SB eleven times, including a career high of 75 SB in 1891

Overall had 1,642 runs, 2,544 hits, 161 triples, 583 SB, a .316/.386/.418 slash line, and a 122 OPS+.

9-year major league career, spanning from 1931-1941, as a 1B mostly with the Cardinals and Cubs

Three-time All-Star

Had 20+ HR three times, including in 1934 when he led the NL with 35 HR. That season he also hit .333 with 40 doubles, 12 triples, 116 runs, and 128 RBI.

Overall had 135 HR, a .296/.360/.492 slash line, and a 126 OPS+

He was born James Anthony Collins, but according to Wikipedia, "The nickname 'Ripper' developed during an on-field incident that occurred when Jimmy was a young player. A ball rocketed off his bat and struck a nail protruding from the outfield fence; it caused the cover to partially tear. When asked who hit the ball, the retrieving outfielder saw the ball hanging and said, 'It was the ripper.'"

PIT Braxton Ashcraft vs. CIN Chase Burns - 23-year-old Burns is always exciting and makes his season debut

CWS Davis Martin vs. MIA Chris Paddack - The 0-3 White Sox are looking for their first win against the surprisingly undefeated Marlins (3-0)

COL Tomoyuki Sugano vs. TOR Cody Ponce - The 0-3 Rockies are looking for their first win against the undefeated (3-0) Blue Jays, who have Ponce making his first official start after coming back from pitching in Asia

NYY Ryan Weathers vs. SEA Luis Castillo - The Yankees took all three games from the Giants in San Francisco

DET Justin Verlander vs. ARI Mike Soroka - The first official start of the year for future Hall of Famer Verlander in his return to Detroit

MIN Byron Buxton, 5-10, 2 doubles vs. KCR Kris Bubic

TEX Joc Pederson, 5-10, 2 HR, double vs. BAL Chris Bassitt

NYY Aaron Judge, 4-10, HR vs. SEA Luis Castillo

SDP Manny Machado, 4-10, HR vs. SFG Landen Roupp

SDP Fernando Tatis Jr., 5-8, double vs. SFG Landen Roupp

ARI Pavin Smith, 3-9, 2 HR vs. DET Justin Verlander

ARI Carlos Santana, 19-86 (.221), 9 HR, 5 doubles… with 19 K but also 12 walks vs. DET Justin Verlander. This is an interesting mix of a low average, but lots of extra-base hits including homers!

WSH Luis Garcia, 1-14, 2 K vs. PHI Taijuan Walker

ATH Jeff McNeil, 1-14, 2 K vs. ATL Bryce Elder

NYY Trent Grisham, 0-11, 4 K vs. SEA Luis Castillo

NYY Ryan McMahon, 1-11, 4 K vs. SEA Luis Castillo

ARI Ketel Marte, 2-22, 5 K vs. DET Justin Verlander

PHI Taijuan Walker, 63 AB, 1 HR, 13 K, 6 BB, .175/.246/.253 vs. WSH hitters

NYM Clay Holmes, 41 AB, 0 HR, 11 K, 1 BB, .195/.214/.214 vs. STL hitters

BAL Chris Bassitt, 65 AB, 4 HR, 16 K, 7 BB, .308/.398/.619 vs. TEX hitters

BOS Ranger Suárez, 49 AB, 1 HR, 10 K, 7 BB, .347/.429/.545 vs. HOU hitters

SFG Landen Roupp, 57 AB, 3 HR, 13 K, 6 BB, .316/.381/.514 vs. SDP hitters

3,567.2 - Justin Verlander

2,963.0 - Max Scherzer

2,101.1 - Jose Quintana

2,090.0 - Chris Sale

1,954.0 - Gerrit Cole

1,922.0 - Sonny Gray

1,917.0 - Kevin Gausman

Well, it's almost April, so time for our annual overreactions, by Anthony Castovince at MLB, 3/29/2026

30 years ago, Dodgers made history with international rotation, by Manny Randhawa at MLB, 3/29/2026

5 Baseball Cards to Help with Your Dyar Lent, at Wax Pack Gods Newsletter, 3/29/2026