The Baseball Buffet for 4/3/2026

MIN 5, KCR 1 - Both starting pitchers did very well: MIN SP Taj Bradley (6 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K) and KCR SP Cole Ragans (6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K). The game was close at 2-1 through eight innings, but then the Twins hit three solo HR off Royals’ reliever Steven Cruz in the top of the ninth (Matt Wallner, Kody Clemens, Josh Bell). Justin Topa came in for Minnesota and pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to close it out.

ATL 17, ARI 2 - ATL SP Reynaldo López did well (5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K), giving up a HR to Jordan Lawlar in the third inning. The Braves scored 12 runs through the eighth, and then Arizona put catcher James McCann on the mound and he let up another seven hits and five runs. Matt Olson went 3-5 with a HR, 2 doubles, 3 runs, and 3 RBI, and other homers came from Dominic Smith, Mauricio Dubón, and Jorge Mateo.

NYM 2, SFG 7 - SFG SP Robbie Ray did well (5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K), giving up a solo HR to Mark Vientos in the second inning. Meanwhile, NYM SP David Peterson struggled (4.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 K) and the Giants tallied 13 hits overall. Rafael Devers went 2-5 with a HR, Luis Arraez was 2-5 with a triple, and Matt Chapman was 2-5 with a double. Daniel Susac and Casey Schmitt, the eighth and ninth hitters, both went 3-3 with 3 singles and a walk.

SFG RP José Buttó - 15-day IL (right arm fatigue)

COL SP Jose Quintana - 15-day IL (right hamstring strain)

4 - MIL David Hamilton

4 - CHC Nico Hoerner

4 - COL Jake McCarthy

3 - KCR Kyle Isbel

3 - MIL Garrett Mitchell

3 - WSH Nasim Nuñez

1919: Yankee player beats an ostrich in pasta-eating contest. "One of the most bizarre off-the-field incidents in history takes place in Jacksonville, Florida. New York Yankees outfielder Ping Bodie competes against an ostrich named 'Percy' in a spaghetti-eating contest! Bodie wins the competition when Percy passes out after its 11th plate of pasta."

1966: How the Mets got Tom Seaver. "The New York Mets sign University of Southern California star Tom Seaver to his first contract, including a $50,000 bonus. Seaver had been selected by the Atlanta Braves in the January draft, but Commissioner Spike Eckert voided the deal when he signed a contract after USC's season had already begun. The Mets beat out the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies in a lottery for Seaver's services."

1974: The Dodgers trade for minor-leaguer Pedro Guerrero. "The Los Angeles Dodgers make one of the best trades in franchise history, acquiring minor league infielder/outfielder Pedro Guerrero from the Cleveland Indians for pitcher Bruce Ellingsen. The 17-year-old Guerrero will make his major league debut in 1978 and will compile 100-RBI seasons for the Dodgers in 1982 and 1983."

1987: The A's trade for Dennis Eckersley. "The Chicago Cubs trade starting pitcher Dennis Eckersley to the Oakland Athletics for three minor leaguers, Brian Guinn, Dave Wilder and Mark Leonette, none of whom will ever reach the majors. Eckersley will emerge as the game's dominant closer, saving 291 games over the next eight seasons."

1989: Ken Griffy Jr. makes his debut. "Ken Griffey, Jr. of the Seattle Mariners makes his major league debut. The rookie outfielder hits a double in his first at-bat against Dave Stewart of the Oakland Athletics."

2019: Jacob deGrom has a great game. "Jacob deGrom, last year's Cy Young Award winner, is back at it. He strikes out 14 Marlins in seven innings and also hits a homer to lead the Mets to a 6 - 4 win. It is deGrom's 26th consecutive quality start, dating back to 2018, matching the major league record set by Hall of Famer Bob Gibson in 1967-1968."

12-year major league career, spanning from 1954-1965, all as an OF with the Cardinals and Dodgers

Was NL Rookie of the Year for the Cardinals in 1954 after batting .304 with 12 HR, 18 SB, 106 runs, and 76 RBI

All-Star in two seasons, and won a Gold Glove Award in 1960

Hit 15+ HR five times, with a high of 24 HR in 1957

Overall had 142 HR, a .289/.371/.445 slash line, and a 118 OPS+

First-round draft pick (12th overall) in 2005 by the Reds

14-year major league career, spanning from 2008-2021, playing mostly RF with his first nine seasons for the Reds and the remainder spread across five other clubs

Three-time All-Star

Hit 20+ HR 10 times, including 30+ HR five times

Overall had 319 HR, 951 RBI, a .244/.314/.467 slash line, and a 108 OPS+

11-year major league career, spanning from 1982-1992, mostly as a CF with the Angels, Tigers, and Rangers

Won five Gold Glove Awards

Was a speedster on the bases, with 30+ SB six times and a high of 56 SB in 1985

Overall had 354 SB, a .236 average, and a .332 OBP

10-year major league career, spanning from 2011-2020, almost entirely as a 2B with the Indians

Two-time All-Star

Provided a mix of power, with four seasons of 15+ HR, and speed, with three seasons of 20+ SB

Overall had 126 HR, 136 SB, a .260/.333/.416 slash line, and a 102 OPS+

9-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1882-1890, mostly with Louisville of the American Association

Had 25+ wins four times, including his best season coming in 1884 when he won the pitching triple crown, leading the league with 385 strikeouts, 52 wins (vs. just 20 losses), and a 1.80 ERA over 670.2 innings

Overall had a 175-146 (.545) record, a 2.93 ERA, and a 113 ERA+

9-year major league pitching career, spanning from 2009-2017, playing for the Red Sox, Orioles, Rangers, and Cubs

Pitched ten years as a starter in his native Japan before coming over to MLB as a reliever for his age-34 season

Had 20+ saves three times, including in 2013 when he posted 21 saves with a 1.09 ERA and 101 K in 74.1 IP

Was the ALCS MVP in 2013 after posting a 0.00 ERA over 5 appearances with 9 K in 6 IP

Overall he had 95 saves, a 2.66 ERA, and a 162 ERA+

STL Michael McGreevy vs. DET Framber Valdez - The Tigers off to a surprisingly slow start. Both McGreevy and Valdez had good first starts.

MIA Eury Pérez vs. NYY Will Warren - The Yankees are 5-1, and surprisingly so are the Marlins.

SDP Michael King vs. BOS Sonny Gray - Gray hopes to turn things around for the 1-5 Red Sox, while King hopes to do the same for the 2-4 Padres.

BAL Kyle Bradish vs. PIT Mitch Keller - Two respectable starting pitchers here, but the big story appears to be the Pirates promoting overall top MLB prospect SS Konnor Griffin, to make his official MLB debut in this game.

LAD Freddie Freeman, 8-19, 3 HR, double vs. WSH Miles Mikolas

LAD Teoscar Hernández, 3-13, 2 HR, double vs. WSH Miles Mikolas

LAD Max Muncy, 4-15, 2 HR vs. WSH Miles Mikolas

LAD Mookie Betts, 5-12, 2 HR, double vs. WSH Miles Mikolas

LAD Shohei Ohtani, 5-10, 2 doubles vs. WSH Miles Mikolas

BOS Jarren Duran, 3-8, HR vs. SDP Michael King

SDP Manny Machado, 12-35 (.343), 3 HR, 2 doubles vs. BOS Sonny Gray

COL Jake McCarthy, 6-13, 2 HR, triple, 2 doubles vs. PHI Aaron Nola

PHI Kyle Schwarber, 9-24, 2 HR, 3 doubles vs. COL Michael Lorenzen

MIL Christian Yelich, 6-21, 2 HR, 2 doubles vs. KCR Michael Wacha

LAA Jo Adell, 5-9, 3 HR, double vs. SEA Bryan Woo

SEA Julio Rodríguez, 6-10, HR, 2 doubles vs. LAA Reid Detmers

NYM Juan Soto, 4-11, 2 HR, double vs. SFG Tyler Mahle

COL Ezequiel Tovar, 1-9, 6 K vs. PHI Aaron Nola

TBR Jake Fraley, 1-10, 4 K vs. MIN Bailey Ober

BAL Pete Alonso, 1-15, 4 K vs. PIT Mitch Keller

MIL Gary Sanchez, 1-11, 7 K vs. KCR Michael Wacha

LAA Mike Trout, 0-8, 6 K vs. SEA Bryan Woo

PIT Mitch Keller, 50 AB, 0 HR, 16 K, 3 BB, .140/.187/.161 vs. BAL hitters

CIN Brady Singer, 52 AB, 2 HR, 19 K, 5 BB, .173/.249/.303 vs. TEX hitters

TOR Dylan Cease, 48 AB, 2 HR, 15 K, 7 BB, .187/.303/.368 vs. CWS hitters

COL Michael Lorenzen, 57 AB, 3 HR, 18 K, 10 BB, .333/.425/.645 vs. PHI hitters

WSH Miles Mikolas, 108 AB, 9 HR, 20 K, 5 BB, .333/.357/.652 vs. LAD hitters

LAA Reid Detmers, 62 AB, 3 HR, 16 K, 12 BB, .306/.414/.519 vs. SEA hitters

BOS Sonny Gray, 130 AB, 7 HR, 32 K, 8 BB, .323/.357/.574 vs. SDP hitters

586 - Vince Coleman

567 - Rickey Henderson

439 - Tim Raines

338 - Juan Samuel

Streaks, strikeouts and Shohei (need we say more?): The best stats of Opening Week, by Sarah Langs at MLB, 4/2/2026

A comprehensive dive into what we've learned so far from ABS challenges, by Travis Sawchik at MLB, 4/2/2026

1 year after Raleigh's 60 HRs, are we about to see ANOTHER historic catching season?, by Thomas Harrigan at MLB, 4/2/2026

These highly anticipated debuts were a sign of things to come, by Matt Kelly at MLB, 4/2/2026

Konnor Griffin is coming to MLB as a teenager. How rare is that?, by Thomas Harrigan at MLB, 4/2/2026