Issue #635
The goal with The Baseball Buffet series is to provide the best daily dose of relevant baseball info in a smart-brevity format (mostly short bullets, getting to the point, with quick analysis/insights.) Think of it like what baseball fans of a certain age would look forward to in their morning newspaper’s sports section each day!
⚾ Welcome! ⚾
First, a Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! 🎉🌷
Yesterday’s schedule included a full slate of games (15) per usual for a Saturday, though one contest had to be postponed due to rain. Here are the results (link to all game box scores):
LAA 1, TOR 14 - The Blue Jays erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning, and then kept scoring against Mitch Farris and ultimately position player Adam Frazier too. In total they collected 20 hits, with Ernie Clement going 5-5 with a HR, and catcher Brandon Valenzuela going 4-5 with a HR, a double, 3 runs, and 4 RBI. Jesús Sánchez went 2-4 with a HR and 3 runs; Daulton Varsho was 3-5 with 2 runs; and George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits apiece. Meanwhile, Trey Yesavage struck out 6 over 4 innings (4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB), and the Toronto bullpen limited the Angels to one run late in the game.
PIT 13, SFG 3 - SFG SP Landen Roupp had 8 K in 4 IP and did well in his short start (3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB). But then the Pirates' offense heated up and they collected 13 runs off 20 hits (though they admittedly had five hits and three runs in the ninth off position player Christian Koss). They didn't hit any HRs, but Brandon Lowe was 2-4 with a walk, a triple, a double, and 4 RBI; Oneil Cruz went 3-6 with a SB and 3 runs; and Nick Gonzales and Joey Bart had four hits apiece. Meanwhile, PIT SP Braxton Ashcraft pitched well (7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K), giving up a HR to rookie prospect Bryce Eldridge in the fifth inning, his first major league HR.
DET 1, KCR 5 - KCR SP Michael Wacha pitched well (7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K), Bobby Witt Jr. hit a 2-run, inside-the-park HR in the first inning, and Michael Massey added a 3-run HR in the fourth. See the video of the Witt Jr.’s sprint around the bases at the game article by Anne Rogers at MLB.
MIN 2, CLE 1 (11) - Byron Buxton led off the game with a HR, his 13th of the season. But after that this game was a pitcher's duel: MIN SP Joe Ryan (6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 5 K) and CLE SP Tanner Bibee (6 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K). The game was tied 1-1 through the 9th and 10th innings. Then in the top of the 11th, Buxton came through again (with only the Twins' second hit of the game), this time with a double that drove in the automatic runner. Luis García came in and pitched a scoreless bottom of the 11th to earn his first save of the year.
HOU 1, CIN 3
ATH 6, BAL 2
WSH 7, MIA 8
COL 3, PHI 9
CHC 0, TEX 6
SEA 1, CWS 6
NYM 1, ARI 2
STL 2, SDP 4
NYY 3, MIL 4 (10)
ATL 7, LAD 2
TBR vs. BOS - postponed
RIP, Bobby Cox
As noted in an article by Mark Bowman at MLB, Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox has died at the age of 84. Cox played two seasons for the Yankees as a 3B in 1968-1969, but was successful later as a major league manager. His first tenure with the Braves from 1978-1981 was fairly unremarkable, as was his time leading the Blue Jays from 1982-1985 (though the 1985 club won their division with a 99-62 record). But then he led the Braves for 21 seasons from 1990-2010, which included five NL pennants and a World Series Championship in 1995. That was one of the most impressive managerial tenures of all-time, including 14 seasons with 90+ wins, and six seasons with 100+ wins. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014.
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Today’s Trivia Question
One of today's Birthday Boys (see below) is Royals' C/DH Salvador Perez. He is the active leader in games caught - can you name who is second?
(Trivia answers are provided for paid All-Star subscribers of the Baseball Buffet.)
🎂 Today’s Birthday Boys 🎉
Salvador Perez, Robby Thompson, Jim Hickman
In addition to Salvador Perez, currently active players who were born on May 10 include STL Nolan Gorman, STL César Prieto, CIN Pierce Johnson, CIN P.J. Higgins, CWS Lucas Sims, MIN Cody Laweryson, and COL Sammy Peralta.
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Game summaries for every game
Current MLB standings
Notable player transactions… injuries, call-ups, free agent signings, trades, etc.
Rotating statistical leader lists
Current hitting streaks of seven or more games
On this day in baseball history…
Career summaries for each of The Birthday Boys
Daily Hitter Watch and Pitcher Watch lists - who has historically done well or poorly against their matchup today?
Good Reads… my favorite recent baseball articles from other writers
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Today’s Matchups
We have a full slate of games (15) again today, with the following being some interesting matchups (see also full list):
TBR Nick Martinez vs. BOS Payton Tolle - yesterday's contest was rained out, so we again have this meeting between Martinez who has been great so far this year with a 1.71 ERA across seven starts, while the rookie Tolle has also looked good with a 2.04 ERA over three starts
SEA Logan Gilbert vs. CWS Davis Martin - Gilbert has been a bit inconsistent this year, while Martin has been outstanding with a 1.64 ERA over 44 IP and 7 starts
NYY Carlos Rodón vs. MIL Logan Henderson - the rookie Henderson will be tested by the Yankees' tough lineup, and Rodón is making his first major league start of the season
ATL Bryce Elder vs. LAD Justin Wrobleski - this big series is tied 1-1, and the third game features starters doing really well this year in Elder (2.02 ERA) and Wrobleski (1.25 ERA)
Other starters who are tossing today include MIA Sandy Alcantara, PHI Cristopher Sánchez, LAA José Soriano, CLE Gavin Williams, and TEX Jacob deGrom
Baseball Quote of the Day
One of today's Birthday Boys is Salvador Perez, so here are a few quotes from him:
"Try to do the little things. It's the same game that we've played. Just have fun and enjoy it. Don't try to do too much. Give it everything you have."
"I always say that if I prepare myself every day and do everything I have to do, I don't have anything to worry about. After the last out, if I give everything I have... I'm going to go to bed happy and sleep well."
"When I step onto the field, I carry the heart of Venezuela with me."
⚾ Enjoy the games today!⚾
Did you know? I wrote a 600+ page book with the same title as this newsletter/blog? Now Taking the Field: Baseball’s All-Time Dream Teams for All 30 Franchises was published in early 2019, by ACTA Sports. It is available at Amazon and most other major booksellers.
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