The Baseball Buffet for 5/1/2026

HOU 3, BAL 10 (Gm 1) - BAL SP Chris Bassitt struck out seven and scattered seven hits over 6.2 IP (1 ER, 1 BB), while Adley Rutschman hit a grand slam in the fifth inning, and Jeremiah Jackson added a grand slam in the seventh. Isaac Paredes went 3-4 in the losing effort, and Brice Matthews, Dustin Harris, and Christian Vásquez had two singles apiece.

HOU 11, BAL 5 (Gm 2) - In game 2, HOU SP Lance McCullers Jr. had 9 K in 6 IP (2 H, 3 ER, 4 BB), while his teammates roughed up BAL SP Brandon Young (4 IP, 10 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). Yordan Alvarez was 3-4 with a walk, a HR, and 3 runs; Yainer Díaz was 3-5; and Cam Smith hit a 3-run HR.

STL 10, PIT 5 - The Cardinals jumped on PIT SP Paul Skenes in the first inning with a leadoff HR by JJ Wetherholt and then a 2-run HR by Jordan Walker, his ninth of the year. Skenes ended up striking out 9 with 0 walks over 5 IP, but also allowed 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER. STL SP Hunter Dobbins was a bit wild (4.1 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K), but then the Cardinals bullpen only allowed one more run from a HR by Brandon Lowe in the seventh. Ahead 5-4 at that point, St. Louis scored five more runs in the top of the eighth, all coming at the expense of Pirates reliever Isaac Mattson. Alec Burleson went 3-5 with 3 RBI, while Bryan Reynolds was 2-4 with 2 doubles and 2 RBI for the Bucs in the losing effort. With the win, the Cardinals swept the four-game series with the Pirates.

DET 5, ATL 2 - Both starting pitchers did well: DET SP Framber Valdez (6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 K) and ATL SP Bryce Elder (6 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K). Two Tigers relievers pitched three scoreless innings, including Kyle Finnegan who locked down his first save of the year. The Braves bullpen allowed two runs in both the eighth and ninth innings as Detroit came from behind for the win. Matt Vierling went 3-5 with a double, 2 runs, and 2 RBI; Gleyber Torres was 3-4; and Colt Keith and Spencer Torkelson had two hits apiece.

COL 4, CIN 6 - Tyler Freeman hit a 2-run HR in the top of the first inning, but then CIN SP Andrew Abbott settled in for six innings (6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K). Meanwhile, COL SP Michael Lorenzen (5.1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) allowed HRs to Nathaniel Lowe in the second and TJ Friedl in the fifth. Reds reliever Emilio Pagán allowed three hits and 2 runs in the top of the ninth, but eventually closed out the game.

WSH 5, NYM 4 - The Nationals took advantage of a throwing error by NYM SP Freddy Peralta (6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K) to take an early 3-0 lead, but MJ Melendez hit a 3-run HR in the bottom of the third to tie the game. They added another run in sixth, but then CJ Abrams hit a 2-run HR in the eighth off Mets reliever Luke Weaver. Nationals relievers Richard Lovelady (recently with the Mets) and Gus Varland kept the Mets from scoring the final two innings, with Varland earning his third save.

ARI 1, MIL 13 - MIL SP Brandon Woodruff displayed reduced velocity and so exited during the second inning and will undergo some tests. The Brewers' bullpen stepped up, notably including Shane Drohan (4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K), and overall their six pitchers combined for 13 K versus only 2 BB. Meanwhile, the Brewers' batsmen roughed up ARI SP Michael Soroka (3 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) and several Arizona relievers who succeeded him. William Contreras led the way by going 4-4 with a walk, a HR, a double, 3 runs, and 4 RBI. Sal Frelick added a solo HR, and Garrett Mitchell, Brice Turang, and Tyler Black had two hits apiece.

KCR 3, ATH 6 - KCR SP Noah Cameron allowed a lot of baserunners (5.1 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 5 K), while the Royals' hitters were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base overall. Maikel García went 3-5 with a HR and 2 doubles in the losing effort. For the Athletics, Shea Langeliers went 3-4 with 3 doubles and 2 runs; Jacob Wilson was 2-5 with 2 runs; and Darrell Hernaiz was 3-4 with 2 RBI. Jack Perkins pitched a scoreless ninth to secure his third save.

SFG 2, PHI 3 (Gm 1) - Both starters pitched well in this game: SFG SP Logan Webb (7 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K) and PHI SP Cristopher Sánchez (6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 7 K). The lone run allowed by Webb was a HR by Kyle Schwarber, his 10th of the season. Down 2-1, the Phillies came back in the bottom of the ninth against Giants reliever Ryan Walker, with Bryson Stott hitting a triple that drove in Adolis García, and then Justin Crawford hitting a walk-off single to drive in Stott.

SFG 5, PHI 6 (10) (Gm 2) - The lead went back and forth in game 2, starting in the bottom of the first inning when Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber hit back-to-back HRs to get things going. The Giants later tied it up, but then the Phillies scored two more in the bottom of the fifth. San Francisco came back with two more the next inning for another tie, and then both teams scored in the ninth to force extras. Overall, the Giants outhit the Phillies 13-9, but they left a whopping 15 runners on base, including a couple in the top of the tenth. In the bottom of the tenth, Bryson Stott successfully bunted to move the automatic runner Adolis García over to third. Alec Bohm was then able to lift a sacrifice fly to center to bring him in for the win.

TOR 1, MIN 7 - MIN SP Bailey Ober pitched well (6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K), only allowing a solo HR to Daulton Varsho in the fourth. Kevin Gausman (5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) gave up HRs to Ryan Jeffers and also Byron Buxton, who was 3-4 with a double and 2 runs on the day.

1988 Eric Davis Starting Lineup figure (unopened)

1995 Reggie Sanders Starting Lineup figure

1982 George Foster 7-Eleven Cup

1991 Street & Smith's Magazine, with Reds manager Lou Piniella on the cover

(5) 1984 Fun Foods Buttons

(12) different oversized cards, including Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and more

(9) different 1980s team stickers

(52) all different Barry Larkin cards, incl. 3 rookie cards

(35) all different Eric Davis cards

(20) all different Dave Parker cards

(12) all different Tom Seaver cards

(11) all different Dave Concepcion cards

(8) all different George Foster cards

(4) all different Ken Griffey Sr. cards

... and a few other miscellaneous items!

NYM CF Luis Robert Jr. - 10-day IL (lumbar spine disc herniation)

CIN RP Brandon Williamson - 15-day IL (left shoulder fatigue)

PHI RP Kyle Backhus - 15-day IL (left elbow inflammation)

HOU RP Ryan Weiss

13 - TOR Ernie Clement

13 - ATL Matt Olson

13 - BAL Taylor Ward

11 - TEX Josh Jung

11 - DET Kevin McGonigle

10 - SFG Willy Adames

10 - ATH Tyler Soderstrom

9 - six players are tied

23 - ARI Ildemaro Vargas

14 - COL Mickey Moniak

12 - ATL Ozzie Albies

10 - ATH Carlos Cortes

9 - TEX Josh Jung

8 - HOU Yainer Díaz

8 - MIL Jake Bauers

8 - BOS Marcelo Mayer

7 - BAL Adley Rutschman

7 - STL JJ Wetherholt

7 - CLE Daniel Schneemann

7 - COL Troy Johnston

7 - LAA Jo Adell

1906: Johnny Lush throws a no-hitter. "John Lush of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches a 6 - 0 no-hitter against the Brooklyn Superbas at Washington Park."

1920: 26-inning pitching duel. "Joe Oeschger of the Boston Braves and Leon Cadore of the Brooklyn Robins each pitch a 26-inning marathon in a 1 - 1 tie, the longest in major league history. Charlie Pick of Boston goes 0 for 11 at the plate during the deadlock at Braves Field, to set a major league record for hitless at-bats in one game."

1925: Jimmie Foxx makes his debut. "The Philadelphia Athletics introduce another future Hall of Famer, 17-year-old catcher Jimmie Foxx, who pinch-hits a single in the 9 - 4 loss to the Washington Senators."

1926: Satchel Paige makes his NSL debut. "All-time great pitcher Satchel Paige makes his debut in the Negro Southern League. Paige, at 19 years of age, leads Chattanooga to a 5 - 4 win over Birmingham."

1949: Two bases-loaded triples. "Elmer Valo of the Philadelphia Athletics becomes the first player in American League history to hit two bases-loaded triples in a game. Valo will hit a third bases-loaded triple during the season to tie the league mark set by Shano Collins in 1918.

1969: Don Wilson throws a no-hitter. "At Crosley Field, Don Wilson of the Houston Astros pitches his second career no-hitter. Wilson strikes out 15 in downing the Cincinnati Reds, 4 - 0, one day after Cincinnati pitcher Jim Maloney no-hit the Astros and nine days after Wilson absorbed a 14 - 0 pounding by the Reds."

1991: Nolan Ryan throws his seventh and final no-hitter. "Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers pitches the seventh no-hitter of his major league career. The 44-year-old Ryan, who defeats the Toronto Blue Jays, 3 - 0, becomes the oldest pitcher to hurl a no-hit game. His masterpiece includes 16 strikeouts and only two walks. It is also the 209th time he has struck out ten or more in a game, and the 26th time putting 15 or more down on strikes."

1991: Rickey Henderson surpasses Lou Brock. "Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics surpasses Lou Brock as the major league career stolen base leader with his 939th steal in a 7 - 4 victory over the New York Yankees. Henderson breaks the record in the 4th inning, when he steals third base against catcher Matt Nokes."

10-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1907-1918, mostly with the Phillies and Pirates

His best season was his first full one, in 1908, when he went 23-17 with a 1.53 ERA over 42 starts

Overall had a 85-89 record, a 2.38 ERA, and a 113 ERA+

First-round draft pick (22nd overall) in 2012 by the Blue Jays

So far has pitched 11 years in the major leagues, starting in 2014

Two-time All-Star

Has had 10+ wins six times

Currently a free agent, he so far has had a 90-87 record, a 3.79 ERA, and a 111 ERA+

7-year major league career, spanning from 2013-2019, mostly with the Brewers and Reds

A 2B with some pop, he hit 27 HR in 2017 and 23 in 2018, the one year he was an All-Star.

His biggest moment came on June 6, 2017, when he hit 4 HR in a single game.

Overall had 87 HR, a .286/.327/.449 slash line, and a 106 OPS+

According to Wikipedia, Ryan Joseph Gennett got the nickname Scooter "from the character 'Scooter' on the show Muppet Babies after a childhood incident with the police. As a kid, he would constantly remove his seat-belt while traveling in the car, angering his mother. His mother took Scooter to a police station to attempt to scare him into keeping the seat-belt on. When the policeman asked Gennett his name, he replied 'Scooter'; his mother asked him, 'Where did you come up with that?' He replied, 'The Muppets', and has gone by that name ever since."

SFG Robbie Ray vs. TBR Shane McClanahan - two solid starters in this matchup

KCR Cole Ragans vs. SEA Bryan Woo - same here, with Ragans striking out 11 over 6 IP in his last start, while Woo had a rare hiccup against the Cardinals his last time out

CHC Michael Busch, 4-9, HR, double vs. ARI Zac Gallen

TEX Joc Pederson, 7-22, 3 HR, double vs. DET Jack Flaherty

CIN Spencer Steer, 7-19, HR, 3 doubles vs. PIT Mitch Keller

MIL William Contreras, 4-14, 2 HR, double vs. WSH Jake Irvin

PIT Oneil Cruz, 4-9, HR vs. CIN Brady Singer

TBR Jake Fraley, 2-8, 2 HR vs. SFG Adrian Houser

MIN Byron Buxton, 2-10, 2 HR vs. TOR Patrick Corbin

MIN Josh Bell, 4-16, 3 HR, double vs. TOR Patrick Corbin

ATL Ozzie Albies, 9-19, 3 HR, 2 doubles vs. COL José Quintana

TEX Corey Seager, 1-12, 4 K vs. DET Jack Flaherty

CIN TJ Friedl, 2-24, 5 K vs. PIT Mitch Keller

CIN Will Benson, 0-12, 7 K vs. PIT Mitch Keller

PIT Brandon Lowe, 0-14, 4 K vs. CIN Brady Singer

ATL Ronald Acuña Jr., 3-19, 4 K (one hit was a HR) vs. COL José Quintana

ATL Michael Harris II, 3-16, 2 K vs. COL José Quintana

If the postseason began today, these would be the matchups, by Manny Randhawa at MLB, 4/30/2026

Can the renaissance for rookies (and Trout!) continue? 6 big questions entering May, by Will Leitch at MLB, 4/30/2026

The rookies that have rival executives glowing with praise, by Mark Feinsand at MLB, 4/30/2026

What it means to be in 1st place (or last) on May 1, by Sarah Langs at MLB, 4/30/2026

Stats of the Week: home run records, mind-bending velocity and streaks, by Sarah Langs at MLB, 4/30/2026