The Baseball Buffet for 5/4/2026

BAL 3, NYY 11 - NYY SP Max Fried had 6 K in 5.1 IP, but also allowed 6 H, 3 BB, and 3 ER. But that is all the Orioles would produce, as three Yankees relievers kept them off the board. BAL SP Trey Gibson (4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) made his major debut and allowed a solo HR to Ben Rice in the first, and a 2-run HR to Aaron Judge in the third, his 13th of the year. New York had a slim 4-3 lead through seven, but then they erupted in the eighth inning with seven hits and seven runs off Orioles reliever Andrew Kittredge, including Jasson Domínguez hitting a 2-run HR, his first HR since being called up. He was 3-5 with 2 doubles, and Ryan McMahon went 3-4 with a double.

CIN 0, PIT 1 - This game was a pitcher's duel with neither starter allowing any scoring through at least seven innings: CIN SP Chase Burns (7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K) and PIT SP Braxton Ashcraft (7.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K). In the bottom of the eighth Marcell Ozuna led off with a single, but then Tony Santillan relieved Burns and got Spencer Horwitz to ground into a double play. With now two outs, 20-year-old Konnor Griffin hit a double, pinch-hitter Jake Mangum walked, and Oneil Cruz singled to center to drive in Griffin. Pirates reliever Gregory Soto, who had gotten the last out in the eighth, came back out for the ninth and retired three straight for the win.

ATL 11, COL 6 - ATL SP Spencer Strider had 6 K in 3.1 IP but also had some control issues in his 2026 debut (4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB). He allowed a HR to TJ Rumfield, and Mickey Moniak hit two HRs in this game, giving him 11 for the season. Like Strider, COL SP Kyle Freeland got some strikeouts, but was also roughed up by the Braves hitters (4.1 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 7 K). Jonah Heim was 2-4 with a HR, a double, and 5 RBI; Jorge Mateo went 2-5 with a HR and 2 RBI; Matt Olson went 2-4 with two doubles (giving him an MLB-leading 15 on the season); and Drake Baldwin, Ozzie Albies, and Eli White also had two hits apiece.

TOR 3, MIN 4

HOU 3, BOS 1 (10)

MIL 2, WSH 3

SFG 1, TBR 2 (10)

PHI 7, MIA 2

LAD 4, STL 1

ARI 4, CHC 8

CLE 1, ATH 7

NYM 5, LAA 1

KCR 4, SEA 1

CWS 3, SDP 4

TEX 1, DET 7

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

… and the answers to the daily trivia questions!

BOS Payton Tolle vs. DET Tarik Skubal - in his third major league start of the year, the rookie Tolle draws a tough matchup against Skubal

CIN Chase Petty vs. CHC Edward Cabrera - 23-year-old rookie Chase Petty makes his first major league start of 2026 after only three appearances last year

CWS Davis Martin vs. LAA José Soriano - two pitchers who are doing better than expected this year

ATL JR Ritchie vs. SEA Logan Gilbert - the Braves continue to roll, but today rookie JR Ritchie draws a tough matchup against Seattle and Gilbert

Hall of Famer George Sisler said that Tobin was "the best drag-bunter anyone ever saw." He also said of Tobin's abilities: "It was uncanny the way he could drag the bunt just past the mound, too far over from the pitcher and too soft for the second baseman to make a play."

Then here is further high-praise for Tobin, from none other than Hall of Famer Walter Johnson: "In these days when nine out of every ten batters simply takes a healthy swing, Johnny Tobin stands out as one of the few batters who mixes them up, keeps the pitcher uneasy. Tobin is fast, an excellent bunter and perhaps the best man in the American League dragging the ball down the first-base line. Nothing tends to upset a pitcher more than to have a player unexpectedly drag the ball and get away with it. The maneuver also tends to make the whole team wobble on defense. Tobin, however, doesn't confine his hitting to mere bunting or dragging the ball. He can pull a ball into right field with great force, and can poke a fast one on the outside into left field with uncanny deftness. Tobin is a batter of the old school, not unlike Willie Keeler in many respects. I am glad there are not more like him."