Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer left Saturday's game against the New York Mets with ...

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2931" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2931">George Springer</a> left Saturday's game against the New York Mets with lower back spasms after crashing into the wall, manager John Schneider said postgame, per <a href="https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/george-springer-exits-game-after-colliding-with-wall">MLB.com's Keegan Matheson</a>.Schneider added that Springer won't need to undergo an MRI.Springer collided with the fence in right field while attempting to catch a game-tying, two-run triple off the bat of the Mets' <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4022" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4022">Jesse Winker</a> in the bottom of the eighth inning.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/jesse-winker-triples-2-on-a-fly-ball-to-right-fielder-george-springer-fra?partnerId=web_multimedia-search_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure>(Video source: MLB.com)The 35-year-old was in obvious pain after the play and needed help from the training staff as he walked off the field."It was weird, between the padding and the fence there. He hit it weird," Schneider said. "I’m glad he got up and threw it, to be honest with you, but I think he hit the wall weird, and the conditions definitely didn't help."New York went on to win the game 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning on a walk-off sacrifice fly off the bat of <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2909" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2909">Francisco Lindor. </a>Springer has been a bright spot for the Blue Jays in the early portion of the season, hitting .379 with a 1.055 OPS, one home run, two doubles, one triple, and five RBIs across 29 at-bats.The Blue Jays and Mets wrap up their three-game series Sunday.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 02: George Springer #4 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 02, 2024 in New York City. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 8-5.

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Blue Jays' Springer exits after crashing into wall

Jose Altuve said he's seeing signs of growth in his play in left field despite making his first e...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2841" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2841">Jose Altuve</a> said he's seeing signs of growth in his play in left field despite making his first error of the season in Saturday's 6-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins.Altuve was charged with a fielding error when he bobbled the ball on <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5766" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5766">Ty France</a>'s single, allowing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4126" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4126">Byron Buxton</a> to score.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/spencer-arrighetti-in-play-run-s-to-ty-france?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure>(Video source: MLB.com)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We're putting in a lot of work, and we're working on everything now: fly balls, line drives, groundballs," Altuve said postgame, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6257873/2025/04/05/jose-altuve-left-field-twins/?source=emp_shared_article">Chandler Rome of The Athletic</a>. "I'm feeling slowly better out there. You can tell by the way I've been catching fly balls. I think at the end, we're going to keep working and keep getting better."The Astros moved Altuve to left field after he spent the first 14 seasons of his career at second base, winning a Gold Glove in 2015."The routes and the fly balls, the tracking, the whole entire thing, he's looking more comfortable and comfortable every day," Astros manager Joe Espada said.However, Altuve had a productive day at the plate, registering three hits in five at-bats, including a lead-off home run in the first inning.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 03: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros reacts to striking out against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning during the home opener at Target Field on April 03, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Astros defeated the Twins 5-2.

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Altuve feeling 'slowly better' in LF despite 1st error

The Arizona Diamondbacks placed star second baseman Ketel Marte on the 10-day injured list with a...

The Arizona Diamondbacks placed star second baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3555" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3555">Ketel Marte</a> on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring, they announced Saturday.A timetable for his return was not immediately announced.Marte sustained the injury in the top of the first inning in Friday's game against the Washington Nationals. He pulled up lame while running the bases after hitting a one-out double, and was immediately removed for a pinch-runner.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/jake-irvin-in-play-no-out-to-ketel-marte-5ag0id?partnerId=web_multimedia-search_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure>(Video source: MLB.com)Marte signed a six-year contract extension reportedly worth $116.5 million earlier this week.The 31-year-old is hitting .346 with three doubles and six walks in 26 at-bats this season.Marte has blossomed into one of baseball's best second basemen over nine seasons with the Diamondbacks. He put together the best campaign of his career in 2024, finishing third in NL MVP voting after setting career highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (95) across 136 appearances.To fill Marte's spot on the active roster, Arizona recalled infielder Tim Tawa from Triple-A Reno. Tawa, who will turn 26 on Monday, was added to the 40-man roster this winter after hitting 31 homers across 142 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024. The former 11th-round draft pick owns a 1.418 OPS with three homers and 12 RBIs in six games with Reno this season.Tawa will make his MLB debut Saturday, batting ninth and playing second for Arizona against the Nationals.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts to injuring his leg after hitting a double in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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D-Backs place Marte on IL with strained left hamstring

Justin Verlander is liking what he's seeing from the San Francisco Giants through the first seven...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/195" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/195">Justin Verlander</a> is liking what he's seeing from the San Francisco Giants through the first seven games of the 2025 campaign.The Giants won a wild home opener Friday, defeating the Seattle Mariners 10-9 thanks to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4784" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4784">Willy Adames</a>' walk-off, two-run single in the 11th inning. The win improved San Francisco's record to 6-1 on the season.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/willy-adames-singles-on-a-line-drive-to-right-fielder-victor-robles-luis?partnerId=web_multimedia-search_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure>(Video source: MLB.com)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Like I said in spring, this team has something special," Verlander said postgame, according to <a href="https://x.com/PavlovicNBCS/status/1908325053672067193">Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports</a>. "I thought we were overlooked. It’s early but I think you can see that this team is pretty good."Verlander struggled in his first home start with the Giants, scattering five hits and two walks with three earned runs across 2 1/3 innings.The 42-year-old joined the Giants in the offseason, signing a one-year, $15-million contract.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: The San Francisco Giants celebrate with Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants after his walk-off hit in the eleventh inning during the home opener at Oracle Park on April 04, 2025 in San Francisco, California.

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Verlander impressed by Giants: 'This team has something special'

Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting says he understands the fans voicing their displeasure at th...

Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting says he understands the fans voicing their displeasure at the club's lack of success."I really am out here working every day to try to build a team," Nutting said Friday, according to <a href="https://community.triblive.com/news/3767176">Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review</a>. "I've done it for 20 years. We did it successfully for a few years. We didn't win enough. We need to win more. That's what we've been focused on since the first day I got here and continue to work on throughout the offseason, so I think that's critical."The Pirates haven't made the postseason since 2015 and have finished with a winning record only once during that span.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Nutting was greeted with boos and chants of "sell the team" as he strolled around PNC Park during Friday's home opener against the New York Yankees.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Bob picked the wrong day to walk to suite level on the rotunda. <a href="https://t.co/gFTZVndTI3">pic.twitter.com/gFTZVndTI3</a>— Gabe Mazefsky (@abuccofan) <a href="https://twitter.com/abuccofan/status/1908259004339347590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>A plane carrying a banner urging Nutting to sell the franchise also flew over PNC Park ahead of Friday's game."When I see the (plane) banner, I'm reminded that we need to be focused on what will deliver the results they expect," Nutting said. "I don't think it's selling the team. I think it's executing, executing, executing what we're focused on."Nutting has owned the franchise since January 2007.

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 25: Pittsburgh Pirates owner Bob Nutting presents the 2024 NL Rookie of the Year award to Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2025 BBWAA Awards Dinner at New York Hilton Midtown on Saturday, January 25, 2025 in New York, New York.

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Nutting knows Pirates 'need to win more' amid boos, 'sell the team' chants

Opening week has come and gone. Though the sample sizes remain small, there's plenty of reason to...

Opening week has come and gone. Though the sample sizes remain small, there's plenty of reason to be optimistic about your team's chances. Here's one thing we loved about each club after the first week of the 2025 season.Jump to: <a href="#ARI">ARI</a> | <a href="#ATH">ATH</a> I <a href="#ATL">ATL</a> | <a href="#BAL">BAL</a> | <a href="#BOS">BOS</a> | <a href="#CHC">CHC</a> | <a href="#CWS">CWS</a> | <a href="#CIN">CIN</a> | <a href="#CLE">CLE</a> | <a href="#COL">COL</a> | <a href="#DET">DET</a> | <a href="#HOU">HOU</a> | <a href="#KC">KC</a> | <a href="#LAA">LAA</a> | <a href="#LAD">LAD</a> | <a href="#MIA">MIA</a> | <a href="#MIL">MIL</a> | <a href="#MIN">MIN</a> | <a href="#NYM">NYM</a> | <a href="#NYY">NYY</a> | <a href="#PHI">PHI</a> | <a href="#PIT">PIT</a> | <a href="#SD">SD</a> | <a href="#SF">SF</a> | <a href="#SEA">SEA</a> | <a href="#STL">STL</a> | <a href="#TB">TB</a> | <a href="#TEX">TEX</a> | <a href="#TOR">TOR</a> | <a href="#WSH">WSH</a><a id="ARI" name="ARI">Arizona Diamondbacks</a>: Eugenio Suárez is a man possessed. The veteran slugger has five home runs, including a game-winning grand slam in the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium. Suárez has five seasons of at least 30 homers, and he looks primed to add a sixth to his resume.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><a id="ATH" name="ATH">Athletics:</a> The A's have received excellent production from two burgeoning anchors of their lineup. First baseman Tyler Soderstrom's off to a hot start, hitting .296/.321/.667 with three home runs. Rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson has gone 9-for-24 (.375) with no strikeouts over his first seven games.<a id="ATL" name="ATL">Atlanta Braves</a>: There's not much when you're the only winless team in the league. At least the Braves won't have to travel back to California anytime soon. They'll have nightmares of San Diego and Los Angeles after going 0-7 through those two cities out of the gate.<a id="BAL" name="BAL">Baltimore Orioles</a>: It's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uRfYBHAFmo">Cedric Mullins again</a>; we can't escape him. Mullins mashed three homers and a team-leading 11 RBIs while posting a 1.092 OPS. That's a fantastic sign for the Orioles, who desperately need Mullins to return to form.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778627/cropped_GettyImages-2207601733.jpg?ts=1743648474" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778627/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207601733.jpg?ts=1743648474 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778627/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207601733.jpg?ts=1743648474 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778627/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207601733.jpg?ts=1743648474 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778627/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207601733.jpg?ts=1743648474 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778627/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207601733.jpg?ts=1743648474 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty</figcaption></figure><a id="BOS" name="BOS">Boston Red Sox:</a> Craig Breslow locked up two key members of the young core before the first week ended. Newly acquired left-hander Garrett Crochet signed a six-year, $170-million extension. A few days later, top infield prospect Kristian Campbell inked an eight-year, $60-million deal after five big-league contests.<a id="CHC" name="CHC">Chicago Cubs</a>: Runs galore. The Cubs exploded for 35 runs in a three-game wallop of the Athletics in Sacramento. Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki lead the way early, combining for eight home runs, seven doubles, 22 RBIs, and 17 runs in nine contests.<a id="CWS" name="CWS">Chicago White Sox</a>: The White Sox are 2-4 after six games, which is somehow good enough for a share of the division lead. Last year, during their record-setting 121-loss season, it took them 11 contests to secure their second win and 18 games to get their third. After the previous campaign's misery, guaranteeing the White Sox won't be that bad again has to bring smiles to the South Side.<a id="CIN" name="CIN">Cincinnati Reds</a>: Elly De La Cruz had four hits, two homers, and seven RBIs in his first game using a torpedo bat. He hit 25 home runs and stole 67 bases in 2024 without the benefit of the highly publicized piece of lumber. The Reds will need De La Cruz and the rest of the lineup to find some runs, with, or without the torpedo bat after getting shut out in three consecutive games.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776290/cropped_GettyImages-2203968636.jpg?ts=1742516977" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776290/w220xh124_GettyImages-2203968636.jpg?ts=1742516977 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776290/w320xh180_GettyImages-2203968636.jpg?ts=1742516977 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776290/w640xh360_GettyImages-2203968636.jpg?ts=1742516977 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776290/w768xh432_GettyImages-2203968636.jpg?ts=1742516977 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/776290/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2203968636.jpg?ts=1742516977 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Brandon Sloter / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure><a id="CLE" name="CLE">Cleveland Guardians</a>: Kyle Manzardo was expected to face challenges against left-handed pitchers. Instead, he's opened the season by mashing southpaws to the tune of .667/.714/2.167 with two homers. The hulking DH even added a triple for good measure. It's clear Manzardo's ready to anchor Cleveland's lineup.<a id="COL" name="COL">Colorado Rockies</a>: Rockies starting pitchers have an ERA under 2.00. That isn't a typo. Don't adjust your screen. The real test begins when the club returns to Coors Field. At the very least, Kyle Freeland and Germán Márquez should be reliable contributors this season.<a id="DET" name="DET">Detroit Tigers</a>: Casey Mize seems to be finally staking his claim to a rotation spot. The former first overall pick, who's battled elbow injuries, hasn't allowed a run after a solid start to open his year. Mize breaking out would give Detroit three reliable starters, and that could go a long way toward helping the Tigers return to the playoffs.<a id="HOU" name="HOU">Houston Astros</a>: Hunter Brown has carried the momentum from his breakout 2024 campaign into this season. The right-hander has 15 strikeouts and 1.00 WHIP through a pair of starts against the Mets and Twins. Brown could be on the verge of becoming one of the top starters in the AL. <a id="KC" name="KC">Kansas City Royals</a>: Maikel Garcia's gotten off to a tremendous start, slashing .353/.421/.824 with two homers. A Garcia breakout would be welcome news for the Royals, who could desperately use another impact bat. At just 25 years old, there's no reason Garcia can't keep this going.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771018/cropped_GettyImages-2036979261.jpg?ts=1739835144" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771018/w220xh124_GettyImages-2036979261.jpg?ts=1739835144 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771018/w320xh180_GettyImages-2036979261.jpg?ts=1739835144 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771018/w640xh360_GettyImages-2036979261.jpg?ts=1739835144 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771018/w768xh432_GettyImages-2036979261.jpg?ts=1739835144 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/771018/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2036979261.jpg?ts=1739835144 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Masterpress / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure><a id="LAA" name="LAA">Los Angeles Angels</a>: Forget about his slash line. Mike Trout, who hit his first home run Wednesday, made it through the season's first week healthy. That's a win not just for the Angels but for baseball.<a id="LAD" name="LAD">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>: The Dodgers are cruising, and it doesn't even feel like they're fully operational yet. Six of their first eight wins were comebacks. The margin for error for this collection of talent is so huge. Good luck to the rest of the league.<a id="MIA" name="MIA">Miami Marlins</a>: Otto Lopez looks like a keeper. The 26-year-old leads the Marlins in home runs, RBIs, and OPS through seven games. Any offensive improvement to go with his elite defensive play at second base would make Lopez a valuable piece moving forward.<a id="MIL" name="MIL">Milwaukee Brewers</a>: Freddy Peralta is delivering for a depleted pitching staff. The Brewers ace has 16 strikeouts, one walk, and a 2.08 ERA in his first two starts. With a handful of veterans on the shelf, Milwaukee will need Peralta to be at his absolute best if it hopes to stay afloat.<a id="MIN" name="MIN">Minnesota Twins</a>: Harrison Bader is making his hits count. Minnesota's offseason acquisition is 4-for-19 through six games with three homers. His eight RBIs lead the Twins and account for 37% of the team's runs driven in on the campaign.<a id="NYM" name="NYM">New York Mets</a>: Luis Torrens has been a godsend with Francisco Alvarez on the IL. Torrens is hitting .313 with a .978 OPS. His defensive play behind the plate came up clutch in a recent comeback win over the Marlins.<a id="NYY" name="NYY">New York Yankees</a>: No Juan Soto, no problem for the Yankees. Five hitters have an OPS above .970, and three have hit at least four homers. Aaron Judge has already crushed an AL-best five long balls.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777963/cropped_GettyImages-2206938077.jpg?ts=1743721500" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777963/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206938077.jpg?ts=1743721500 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777963/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206938077.jpg?ts=1743721500 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777963/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206938077.jpg?ts=1743721500 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777963/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206938077.jpg?ts=1743721500 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777963/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206938077.jpg?ts=1743721500 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Samuel Corum / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure><a id="PHI" name="PHI">Philadelphia Phillies</a>: Jesús Luzardo's new sweeper induced an astonishing 70% whiff rate in his Phillies debut, leading to 11 strikeouts. Luzardo's always had the talent to be among the game's best starters. If he can stay healthy, this could be the year he puts it all together.<a id="PIT" name="PIT">Pittsburgh Pirates</a>: Paul Skenes hasn't really dominated, but he still has a 1.46 ERA with over a strikeout per inning across two starts. Skenes' outings remain appointment viewing.<a id="SD" name="SD">San Diego Padres</a>: It's hard to find any faults when you open 7-0 for the first time in franchise history. The lineup is raking, the rotation looks sharp, and the bullpen has been lights out. Maybe the Padres will find a way to put pressure on the Dodgers atop the NL West standings.<a id="SF" name="SF">San Francisco Giants</a>: The Giants are riding high after sweeping the Astros and opening the season with a 5-1 road record. The club should be encouraged to have this success considering offseason acquisition Willy Adames is struggling to the tune of a .366 OPS.<figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777882/cropped_GettyImages-2206599498.jpg?ts=1743721582" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777882/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206599498.jpg?ts=1743721582 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777882/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206599498.jpg?ts=1743721582 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777882/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206599498.jpg?ts=1743721582 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777882/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206599498.jpg?ts=1743721582 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777882/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206599498.jpg?ts=1743721582 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Rod Mar / Major League Baseball / Getty</figcaption></figure><a id="SEA" name="SEA">Seattle Mariners</a>: The team's pitching remains elite, with Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo leading the way. Gilbert's 18 strikeouts tops the AL, and he's issued just one walk in 12 innings. Castillo owns a 3.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while holding hitters to a .182 average.<a id="STL" name="STL">St. Louis Cardinals</a>: Iván Herrera hit three of his eight career home runs in one game, becoming the first catcher in Cardinals history to go deep three times in the same contest. St. Louis is certainly hoping Herrera is part of the next homegrown core to usher in another era of great Cardinals baseball.<a id="TB" name="TB">Tampa Bay Rays</a>: Tampa's pitching staff has taken a liking to Steinbrenner Field. Rays hurlers have allowed a league-low two homers through six games while striking out 61 and walking only six in 54 innings. They also own the AL's lowest WHIP (0.91) and ERA (2.00).<a id="TEX" name="TEX">Texas Rangers</a>: After losing multiple starting pitchers to injuries during spring training, the remaining members of the rotation have picked up the slack. Three starters - Jack Leiter, Nathan Eovaldi, and Jacob deGrom - boast an ERA below 1.20. Eovaldi threw a shutout Tuesday, and Leiter followed with five shutout frames in back-to-back 1-0 wins.<a id="TOR" name="TOR">Toronto Blue Jays</a>: The Andrés Giménez trade is paying huge dividends already. Toronto's big offseason acquisition owns a 1.131 OPS with three homers in seven games, and he continues to play stellar defense at second base. It's early, but this could be a sign that Giménez has rediscovered his 2022 form at the plate.<a id="WSH" name="WSH">Washington Nationals</a>: Keibert Ruiz was a top-100 prospect for several years with the Dodgers before landing in Washington. Ruiz struggled to a .619 OPS last season but appears to have put that behind him with a .381 average and 1.149 OPS with two home runs in six games.

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What we loved from each MLB team after 1 week

The Arizona Diamondbacks and All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte agreed to a six-year contract ex...

The Arizona Diamondbacks and All-Star second baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3555" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3555">Ketel Marte</a> agreed to a six-year contract extension, the club announced Wednesday.The new deal will pay Marte $116.5 million, according to <a href="https://x.com/nickpiecoro/status/1907537619904328170">Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic</a>.The agreement reportedly gives Marte $64 million in new money.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Marte was already under contract through 2028, but the new deal kicks in this season and includes a player option for 2031 worth $11.5 million, sources told <a href="https://twitter.com/JesseRogersESPN/status/1907538478277210503">ESPN's Jesse Rogers</a>.The 31-year-old could <a href="http://twitter.com/JesseRogersESPN/status/1907538479698886752">earn</a> up to $149.5 million with escalators and will receive a five-team no-trade clause."You're looking at one of the best players in the entire league," D-Backs general manager Mike Hazen said, per <a href="https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/ketel-marte-d-backs-contract-extension-2025">MLB.com's Steve Gilbert</a>. "So our ability to have one of the best players in the entire league playing on our team for a long period of time is a goal of mine."Marte signed a five-year, $76-million contract extension in March 2022. He was set to make $19.6 million this season, $16.6 million next year, and $14.6 million in 2027. The deal also had a club option worth $13 million for the 2028 campaign.Marte has blossomed into one of baseball's best second basemen over nine seasons with the Diamondbacks. He put together the best campaign of his career in 2024, finishing third in NL MVP voting after setting new career highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (95) across 136 appearances.Marte is slashing .273/.385/.364 with two doubles and four walks in 22 at-bats this season.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 29: Ketel Marte #4 poses with manager Torey Lovullo #17 of the Arizona Diamondbacks after being presented with the 2024 National League second base Silver Slugger Award before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on March 29, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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D-Backs sign Marte to 6-year extension worth reported $116.5M

It was a night to remember for Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly.  Kelly hit for the cycle Monday...

It was a night to remember for Chicago Cubs catcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3911" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3911">Carson Kelly</a>.Kelly hit for the cycle Monday against the Athletics in the franchise's first game in Sacramento.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/carson-kelly-hits-for-the-cycle?partnerId=web_multimedia-search_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure>(Video source: <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/carson-kelly-hits-for-the-cycle?q=Carson%20Kelly&amp;cp=CMS_FIRST&amp;qt=FREETEXT&amp;p=0">MLB.com</a>)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kelly ripped an RBI triple in the top of the eighth inning to complete the cycle. It's the first cycle for the Cubs since Mark Grace in May 1993."I've been in this same position before where I needed a triple for the cycle," Kelly said postgame, according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/cubs-carson-kelly-cycle-e185124981232578b0ed171d096b6c45">Janie McCauley of The Associated Press</a>. "If anybody's ever looked up my numbers, I have two triples, so odds are not in my favor, right?"I didn't get it done the first time. This time I'm like, oh, I'm just going to put a good at-bat together. Hit it, like, 'Oh yeah, pretty good.' Then I hit first and saw it ricochet, and I was like, 'Oh boy, this is it right here, I gotta go.' That's probably the fastest you'll ever see me run."The 30-year-old homered to lead off the top of the fourth, singled home a pair of runs in the fifth, and doubled in the sixth. Kelly is the 18th catcher to hit for the cycle in MLB history.The veteran backstop signed a two-year, $11.5-million contract with the Cubs in December.The Cubs went on to finish off an 18-3 blowout of the Athletics, who held their home opener at Sacramento's Sutter Health Park.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 31: Carson Kelly #15 of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated by teammates after the eighth inning, in which he hit a triple to complete hitting for the cycle, at Sutter Health Park on March 31, 2025 in Sacramento, California.

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Cubs' Kelly hits for cycle in 1st MLB game in Sacramento

The Boston Red Sox locked up left-hander Garrett Crochet on a six-year contract extension, the te...

The Boston Red Sox locked up left-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12246" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12246">Garrett Crochet</a> on a six-year contract extension, the team announced.Crochet's new deal, which starts in 2026, is worth $170 million and includes an opt-out after the 2030 campaign, sources told <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1906880430973800758">ESPN's Jeff Passan</a>. He receives a $4-million signing bonus and will earn $24 million in 2026, $28 million annually from 2027-30, and $30 million in 2031, sources told <a href="https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2025/04/garrett-crochets-red-sox-extension-official-includes-big-salary-in-opt-out-year.html">MassLive's Chris Cotillo</a>.Crochet's ability to opt out after 2030 is conditional on his health, according to <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/alexspeier.bsky.social/post/3llrgovyvtc2s">Alex Speier of the Boston Globe</a>. Should he miss 120 consecutive days because of a "significant arm injury," the player option will be voided, and the Red Sox would gain a $15-million club option for 2032 in its place, Speier reports.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The contract does not contain any deferred money, Cotillo notes.There are also escalators in the contract that could take the total value to $180 million, <a href="https://x.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1906881385929052572">FanSided's Robert Murray</a> reports. Beginning in 2027, Crochet can earn up to $2 million extra per year based on where he finishes in Cy Young voting, according to Cotillo.The contract surpasses <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4311" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4311">Jacob deGrom</a>'s five-year, $137.5-million deal as the most valuable for a pitcher with four or more years of service, according to <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1906882906225537504">Passan</a>.The Red Sox acquired Crochet from the Chicago White Sox in a blockbuster trade in December.Crochet is making $3.8 million this season after he and the Red Sox avoided going to arbitration. The 25-year-old allowed two runs with four strikeouts in his Red Sox debut against the Texas Rangers last week.Crochet put together a breakout season in 2024 after converting from a reliever to a full-time starting pitcher, registering a 3.58 ERA, 2.23 FIP, and 12.88 K/9 across 146 innings.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MARCH 27: Garrett Crochet #35 of the Boston Red Sox pitches in the third inning against the Texas Rangers on Opening Day at Globe Life Field on March 27, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

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Red Sox ink Crochet to 6-year extension reportedly worth $170M

Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman is day-to-day after tweaking his surgically-repaired ank...

Los Angeles Dodgers star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1412" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/1412">Freddie Freeman</a> is day-to-day after tweaking his surgically-repaired ankle entering the shower, manager Dave Roberts said Monday, according to <a href="https://x.com/FabianArdaya/status/1906844824562782481">The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya</a>.Roberts added that Freeman is out of the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Atlanta Braves due to the "mishap."Freeman underwent offseason surgery after sustaining a severe ankle sprain at the end of the 2024 campaign. The 35-year-old played through the injury in the playoffs, helping the Dodgers win the World Series.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"He feels he could go out there and play, but just let him kind of recoup today, and we'll see how he is tomorrow," Roberts said, according to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3255399" href="https://thescore.com/news/3255399">The Associated Press</a>. "For the most part, he's always kicking and screaming (to play)."<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2444" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2444">Enrique Hernández</a> is patrolling first base and batting eighth in the lineup in Freeman's absence.Freeman is hitting .250 with an .833 OPS, two home runs, and four RBIs across 12 at-bats this season.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 29: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his solo home run while rounding the bases in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Dodger Stadium on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

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Dodgers' Freeman day-to-day after tweaking ankle entering shower

The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Reynaldo López on the 15-day injured list with right shoul...

The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5352" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5352">Reynaldo López</a> on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, the club announced Monday.The Braves recalled right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///ncaabbl/players/10240" href="https://thescore.com/ncaabbl/players/10240">Bryce Elder</a> to take López's turn in the rotation for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.López struggled in his first outing of the season, allowing nine hits and striking out one batter in five innings against the San Diego Padres.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 31-year-old authored a breakout season in 2024, earning his first All-Star nod. López finished the campaign with a 1.99 ERA and 148 strikeouts across 135 2/3 innings. He was sidelined for just over two weeks in September with shoulder inflammation.Elder made 10 starts for the Braves last season. The 25-year-old went 2-5 with a 6.52 ERA across 49 2/3 innings. Elder's best year came in 2023 when he made his first All-Star Game and posted a 12-4 record with a 3.81 ERA in 31 starts.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: Reynaldo Lopez #40 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on March 28, 2025 in San Diego, California.

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Braves place López on IL with shoulder inflammation

Christian Yelich isn't sugarcoating the Milwaukee Brewers' miserable start to the season.  The Br...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3338" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3338">Christian Yelich</a> isn't sugarcoating the Milwaukee Brewers' miserable start to the season.The Brewers were dismantled 11-1 in their home opener Monday and fell to 0-4 to start the season for the first time since 2015."It's just four games, but we've got to do better. It's unacceptable to do that over the first four games," Yelich said, according to <a href="https://x.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/1906827968803967230">MLB.com's Adam McCalvy</a>. "There's different kinds of losses, but we have to be better than that. And we will be."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Brewers tied an MLB record by allowing 47 runs through the first four games of the season, according to <a href="https://x.com/CyrtHogg/status/1906816767986454675">Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</a>.Milwaukee was the surprise of baseball in 2024, winning 93 games and an NL Central title in a year where many predicted they would miss the postseason.Brewers pitchers allowed a league-high 17 home runs through the first four games this season. The rotation has been decimated by injury. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8683" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8683">Brandon Woodruff</a>, T<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13648" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13648">obias Myers</a>, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12432" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12432">Aaron Ashby</a>, and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9543" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9543">Aaron Civale</a> are all currently sidelined."Pitchers have had our back over the years here many times, they've picked us up, so, things will straighten out," Yelich said.The Brewers are turning to right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15538" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15538">Chad Patrick</a>, who will make his first MLB start when the club looks for its first win of the season against the Royals on Tuesday.

MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 31: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers runs back to the dugout in the seventh inning during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday, March 31, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Yelich: Brewers' 0-4 start is 'unacceptable'

The Toronto Blue Jays' 2025 regular season is underway, with the club earning a split over a four...

The Toronto Blue Jays' 2025 regular season is underway, with the club earning a split over a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. Here, we look at early storylines that emerged and are worth watching with the Washington Nationals and New York Mets on the schedule this week.<h3>Rotation depth already tested</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777913/cropped_GettyImages-2206924659.jpg?ts=1743343825" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777913/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206924659.jpg?ts=1743343825 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777913/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206924659.jpg?ts=1743343825 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777913/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206924659.jpg?ts=1743343825 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777913/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206924659.jpg?ts=1743343825 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/777913/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206924659.jpg?ts=1743343825 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Cole Burston / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The Blue Jays took a gamble signing future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer to a one-year, $15-million contract to bolster the rotation. Scherzer's still proven to be a productive pitcher, but questions remained about whether he could stay on the mound long enough to justify the deal. Injuries have been a big part of the Scherzer equation in recent years, including the ace making only nine starts with Texas last season. The 40-year-old looked great during spring training, but a nagging thumb issue limited him late in camp. Despite Scherzer trying to manage the problem, it popped up during his debut Saturday.The Blue Jays decided not to add Ryan Yarbrough to the roster ahead of Opening Day due partly to having Yariel Rodríguez as the potential long man out of the bullpen, making Yarbrough somewhat redundant. The decision was iffy at the time, and it didn't take long for the move to look even worse after Scherzer left his Blue Jays debut after three innings and 45 pitches with right lat soreness. Scherzer said in spring training that the thumb injury could lead to other issues, and Toronto listed thumb inflammation as his reason for being on the injury list.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Any prolonged absence for Scherzer would be difficult for manager John Schneider to navigate. Rodríguez seemed like a candidate to slide into the rotation, but Schneider appears to be considering keeping him in a high-leverage relief role. This is where Yarbrough's presence would've come in handy. Opting for Richard Lovelady (who the Jays designated for assignment Sunday) and Jacob Barnes over Yarbrough doesn't make much sense for a team that headed into the season with a major question mark in Scherzer. It took less than three games for that decision-making to be put under the microscope. Time will tell if it costs the Blue Jays games in the standings.<h3>Giménez surprises in clean-up spot</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778021/cropped_GettyImages-2207235957.jpg?ts=1743343864" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778021/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207235957.jpg?ts=1743343864 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778021/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207235957.jpg?ts=1743343864 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778021/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207235957.jpg?ts=1743343864 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778021/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207235957.jpg?ts=1743343864 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778021/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207235957.jpg?ts=1743343864 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Schneider turned heads before the opener against the Orioles when he slotted in offseason acquisition Andrés Giménez into the cleanup spot. It was a surprising decision, as Giménez entered the game with just 21 career MLB at-bats hitting fourth. When you picture a conventional No. 4 hitter, you'd forgive fans for not immediately thinking of someone with a career slugging percentage under .400 and coming off a year with a .638 OPS.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Giménez's 1st 4 games" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-Gr1zs" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Gr1zs/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="205" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>The move paid dividends in the first contest, as Giménez provided the only offensive punch in a deflating 12-2 loss with a two-run home run. Giménez homered again in the series and finished the four-game set 4-for-16 (.250) with a team-leading four RBIs. While it remains unconventional, there aren't a lot of options for Schneider when it comes to who hits behind Anthony Santander. Depending on matchups, Giménez could stick in the cleanup spot until Daulton Varsho returns from the IL. Giménez's sudden power outburst was one of the surprising developments from the season's first weekend.<h3>Bichette hits the ground running</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778024/cropped_GettyImages-2206768108.jpg?ts=1743344178" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778024/w220xh124_GettyImages-2206768108.jpg?ts=1743344178 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778024/w320xh180_GettyImages-2206768108.jpg?ts=1743344178 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778024/w640xh360_GettyImages-2206768108.jpg?ts=1743344178 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778024/w768xh432_GettyImages-2206768108.jpg?ts=1743344178 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778024/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2206768108.jpg?ts=1743344178 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Kevin Sousa / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Bo Bichette's impending free agency flew a bit under the radar with all of the attention focused on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. It didn't help that Bichette struggled through injuries and the worst statistical season of his career in 2024. Most assumed he'd try and rebuild his value at the plate this year before testing free agency after the campaign.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="Bichette through 4 games" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-0y0Mu" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/0y0Mu/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="660" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}}))}();
</script></figure>The early returns look promising. Bichette is 7-for-15 without a strikeout to start the campaign. He's hitting the ball hard and using all parts of the field. This looks like the player who led the American League in hitting for two straight years. Bichette appears motivated and ready to prove that 2024 was a mere blip on the radar of a productive and consistent career. His bat-to-ball skills look like a good fit leading off moving forward.Bichette attributes his success to keeping things consistent in his approach, so don't expect him to experiment with the new "Torpedo" bat displayed by the New York Yankees during opening weekend."I've pretty much used the same bat since I was, like, 15 years old," Bichette told theScore Sunday. "I've just never wanted to act like the bat is the reason for success or failure."<h3>Back of bullpen in good hands </h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778081/cropped_GettyImages-2207211743.jpg?ts=1743367860" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778081/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207211743.jpg?ts=1743367860 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778081/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207211743.jpg?ts=1743367860 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778081/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207211743.jpg?ts=1743367860 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778081/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207211743.jpg?ts=1743367860 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778081/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207211743.jpg?ts=1743367860 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>The combination of Yimi García in the eighth inning and closer Jeff Hoffman in the ninth should feel like a warm blanket to Blue Jays fans who endured a calamitous bullpen situation that cost the club countless games in 2024. The two combined to allow just two hits with five strikeouts, zero walks, and zero runs in four innings. Hoffman collected his first save with Toronto, putting up a perfect ninth inning Sunday that included two strikeouts.Having battled-tested veterans who can miss bats at a high clip in the most important stages of a game is a nice luxury for any club. The Blue Jays invested $48 million in Hoffman and García for a reason. It's clear why they were aggressive in that pursuit after opening weekend.<h3>Unlikely hero emerges</h3><figure class="article-segment--image"><img src="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778078/cropped_GettyImages-2207204685.jpg?ts=1743367810" srcset="https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778078/w220xh124_GettyImages-2207204685.jpg?ts=1743367810 220w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778078/w320xh180_GettyImages-2207204685.jpg?ts=1743367810 320w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778078/w640xh360_GettyImages-2207204685.jpg?ts=1743367810 640w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778078/w768xh432_GettyImages-2207204685.jpg?ts=1743367810 768w, https://assets-cms.thescore.com/uploads/image/file/778078/w1080xh607_GettyImages-2207204685.jpg?ts=1743367810 1080w"><figcaption class="article-segment--image-caption"> Mark Blinch / Getty Images Sport / Getty</figcaption></figure>Blue Jays backup catcher Tyler Heineman isn't known for what he can do with a bat. His value comes on the defensive side, with the journeyman back in Toronto for a third tour of duty. The 33-year-old entered play in the series finale against the Orioles with only one career home run, which came in 2019 with the Miami Marlins.With the Blue Jays leading 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Heineman stepped to the plate against tough left-hander Cionel Pérez. Heineman turned on a 1-0 slider, hitting it to left field with an impressive 101.2-mph exit velocity. He unleashed an epic bat flip after the clutch homer, the first long ball Pérez had allowed in 104 games.<h3>Things to keep an eye on</h3>Kevin Gausman's lack of whiffs: The right-hander grinded out a quality start with four strikeouts across six innings of two-run ball to earn his first win of the season. However, his trusted splitter induced only an 11.1% whiff rate, a far cry from the 33.6% rate he carried in 2024. Overall, Gausman's whiff rate was only 20% against the Orioles. His fastball velocity was good, which is a reason for optimism. Gausman's splitter has historically performed better when he can play it off a good fastball. It'll be interesting to see if Gausman can pile up a few more swinging strikes in his next start against the Nationals.Chad Green's bumpy start: Green allowed home runs in each of his two outings against the Orioles. The 33-year-old struggled down the stretch in 2024, posting an 11.42 ERA in his final nine appearances. Green will be afforded some runway to get things back on track, but the door could be open for someone like Rodríguez or Nick Sandlin to supplant him on the bullpen pecking order if he continues to struggle.

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Unpacking Blue Jays' opening weekend performance

New York Yankees superstar outfielder Aaron Judge isn't resting on his laurels amid a scorching-h...

New York Yankees superstar outfielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4773" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4773">Aaron Judge</a> isn't resting on his laurels amid a scorching-hot start to the season.Judge hit his fourth home run in two games in Sunday's 12-3 drubbing of the Milwaukee Brewers as the Yankees completed the sweep.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/m/aaron-judge-homers-4-on-a-fly-ball-to-left-field-paul-goldschmidt-scores?partnerId=web_multimedia-search_video-share" width="560" height="315"></iframe></figure>(Video source: MLB.com)<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We're getting there," Judge said of his start to the season, according to <a href="https://x.com/GaryHPhillips/status/1906460704044937644">Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News</a>.The reigning AL MVP has a gaudy 2.461 OPS with 11 RBIs and eight runs scored in his first 11 at-bats of 2025."Working on a couple things, and hopefully, these things continue to give us good results," Judge said. "I wanted to try to have a better March and April than I did last season. So I did some stuff throughout spring training, but I think the biggest thing is just this offense. Every time I walk up, there's guys on base."Judge struggled to start the 2024 season, posting a .754 OPS with six home runs across 31 games in March and April.The Yankees tied a major-league record Sunday with 15 home runs in the first three games of the campaign. The club has also made waves with its <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3253934" href="https://thescore.com/news/3253934">use</a> of "Torpedo" bats.Despite seeing some of his teammates use the bats with great success against the Brewers, Judge said he isn't planning to incorporate it into his repertoire."What I've done the past couple of seasons speaks for itself," Judge said, per <a href="https://x.com/BryanHoch/status/1906405887255704034">MLB.com's Bryan Hoch</a>.Judge and the Yankees will look to continue their winning ways when they welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to town for a three-game series beginning Tuesday night.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates his first inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium on March 29, 2025 in New York City. New York Yankees defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 20-9.

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Judge not satisfied despite torrid start: 'We're getting there'

Cleveland Guardians star third baseman José Ramírez avoided serious injury after leaving Saturday...

Cleveland Guardians star third baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4066" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4066">José Ramírez</a> avoided serious injury after leaving Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals with a right wrist sprain, manager Stephen Vogt announced.While he was held out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale, the Guardians are anticipating Ramírez will be ready to return Monday."He passed all the tests (and the) imaging was negative," Vogt said, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/jose-ramirez-not-in-guardians-lineup-vs-royals">Tim Stebbins of MLB.com</a>. "He's just day to day, hopefully ready to go (Monday). He could be available off the bench today in a big spot. We also want to be super cautious with this and make sure it doesn't turn into something that’s going to linger."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12316" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12316">Gabriel Arias</a> replaced Ramírez at third base in the sixth inning of Saturday's game. Ramírez appeared to suffer the injury when he attempted to steal a base in the third frame. He was initially listed as day-to-day by the club.The 32-year-old was hitless in two at-bats with one walk before exiting. Ramírez has been a hallmark of consistency, making at least 152 appearances in each of the last four seasons.Ramírez enjoyed the best campaign of his career in 2024, setting new highs in runs (114), RBIs (118), stolen bases (41), and games played (158) to finish fifth in American League MVP voting.

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 29: Cleveland Guardians third base José Ramírez (11) before an MLB game between the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals on March 29, 2025 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

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Guardians' Ramírez avoids serious wrist injury, could play Monday

The nightmare start to the season continues for Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers.  After recordi...

The nightmare start to the season continues for Boston Red Sox star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5400" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5400">Rafael Devers</a>.After recording three strikeouts across four at-bats in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers, Devers became the first player in MLB history to strike out 10 times in the campaign's first three games, according to <a href="https://x.com/CodifyBaseball/status/1906168356736291068?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet">Codify Baseball</a>.Most strikeouts through first three games<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Player</th>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Strikeouts</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Rafael Devers</td>
<td>2025</td>
<td>10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Greg Luzinski</td>
<td>1974</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Wally Post</td>
<td>1956</td>
<td>9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>Devers didn't seem worried about the rough start after striking out in all four of his at-bats Friday, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3252935" href="https://thescore.com/news/3252935">saying</a> postgame that "everything will change" and reiterating that it had only been two contests.The 28-year-old generally hasn't struggled with strikeouts, owning a career 21.3% strikeout rate.However, Devers drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the second inning Saturday for his first RBI of the young season.The three-time All-Star is adjusting to life as a full-time designated hitter after he spent the first eight seasons of his MLB career at third base. The Red Sox moved Devers away from the hot corner after signing Gold Glove third baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5367" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5367">Alex Bregman</a> to a three-year contract in February.

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 29: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox reacts during an at bat against the Texas Rangers during the second inning at Globe Life Field on March 29, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

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Devers sets MLB record with 10 strikeouts in 1st 3 games

Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers isn't concerning himself too much with a rough start at the pla...

Boston Red Sox star <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5400" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5400">Rafael Devers</a> isn't concerning himself too much with a rough start at the plate through the season's first two games.Devers donned a golden sombrero in Friday's loss to the Texas Rangers, striking out in all four at-bats. The 28-year-old has struck out seven times in his first eight at-bats."It's only been two games," Devers said postgame via interpreter, according to <a href="https://x.com/NESN/status/1905821845233791176">NESN</a>. "I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good. I haven't hit the ball, but I feel very good. It's only been two games, and I think everything will change."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Devers is adjusting to his full-time designated hitter status after the Red Sox announced they were moving him away from third base to make room for free-agent signing <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5367" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5367">Alex Bregman</a>."I know that I haven't done my job and I know that I haven't done what I'm supposed to do," Devers said. "But I know that everything will change."Devers entered the 2025 season with only 21 games of experience at DH during his eight-year MLB career.Red Sox manager Alex Cora <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3252753" href="https://thescore.com/news/3252753">said</a> Friday that Devers is the club's full-time DH moving forward and won't see time at third base when Bregman needs a day off.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MARCH 28: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox reacts as he bats during the third inning of a game against the Texas Rangers on March 28, 2025 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

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Devers confident 'everything will change' amid rough start

The Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Brandon Pfaadt agreed to a five-year contract extension...

The Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/14055" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/14055">Brandon Pfaadt</a> agreed to a five-year contract extension, the club announced Friday.The pact runs through the 2030 season with a club option for 2031 and a mutual option for 2032. Pfaadt is guaranteed $45 million in the deal, <a href="https://x.com/nickpiecoro/status/1905741085714075764">Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic</a> reports.The club option for 2031 is worth $21 million, and the following year's mutual option is for $25 million, a source told FanSided's Robert Murray. Pfaadt will also reportedly receive a limited no-trade clause from 2030-32.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
A breakdown of Brandon Pfaadt’s extension with the Arizona Diamondbacks, per source: $2 million signing bonus. 2026: $3 million. 2027: $5 million. 2028: $8 million. 2029: $11 million. 2030: $15 million. 2031: $21 million club option ($1 million buyout). 2032: $25 million mutual…— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByRobertMurray/status/1905742868914020380?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>"I think you've got to think of the peace of mind that it brings," Pfaadt said, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/brandon-pfaadt-contract-extension">MLB.com's Steve Gilbert</a>. "Ever since we got drafted in 2020, my wife and I, we've loved Arizona. We've loved everything about it, whether that be in the clubhouse and outside the clubhouse. We're just happy to be here longer and extend that stay a little longer."Pfaadt is expected to be a big piece of Arizona's rotation this season. The 26-year-old won 11 games with a 4.71 ERA and 185 strikeouts across 181 2/3 innings in 2024.Pfaadt emerged during Arizona's run to the 2023 World Series, posting a 3.27 ERA with 26 strikeouts and only five walks in five starts.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Brandon Pfaadt #32 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks to throw during a spring training game against the Kansas City Royals at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 11, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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D-Backs sign Pfaadt to 5-year extension worth reported $45M

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos was left disappointed after a rough outing in the clu...

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4769" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4769">José Berríos</a> was left disappointed after a rough outing in the club's Opening Day loss to the Baltimore Orioles.Berríos allowed six runs on nine hits, including three home runs, and struck out five across five innings in Toronto's 12-2 loss."Today, I wasn't executing my pitches," Berríos said postgame, per <a href="https://x.com/Sportsnet/status/1905402672024273089">Sportsnet</a>. "I tried, but I didn't. And also, they had a good day in the box. Like a leader I am, I failed today."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Berríos has struggled in three Opening Day starts with the Blue Jays, registering a 9.53 ERA and 2.03 WHIP.The Orioles set a franchise record for Opening Day with six home runs in the win. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12256" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12256">Adley Rutschman</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5763" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5763">Cedric Mullins</a> both went deep twice."You've gotta pitch inside to this team," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/video/john-schneider-breaks-down-opening-day-loss?q=blue%20jays&amp;cp=CMS_FIRST&amp;qt=FREETEXT&amp;p=0">MLB.com</a>. "(Berríos) got in a little, but, I think it was just mistakes."The Blue Jays will turn to right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/3634" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/3634">Kevin Gausman</a> as they look to win their first game of the season when the two clubs resume their series Friday night at Rogers Centre.

TORONTO, ONTARIO - MARCH 27: José Berríos #17 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning on Opening Day at Rogers Centre on March 27, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

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Blue Jays' Berríos laments rough opener: 'I failed today'

The Toronto Blue Jays enter the 2025 campaign defined by uncertainty. The club has failed to maxi...

The Toronto Blue Jays enter the 2025 campaign defined by uncertainty. The club has failed to maximize its window of opportunity over the past few seasons and faces the very realistic prospect of losing both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette by this time next year.The Blue Jays' win total declined from 92 in 2022 to 74 in 2024 as they finished in the basement of the AL East for the first time since 2013. Their roster is among the oldest in the league, and they own a farm system that ranks in the bottom 10 on most lists. The AL East is still a daunting proposition, even with teams like the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles facing their own questions. A lot will need to go right if the Blue Jays want to engineer a quick turnaround and get back into contention this season.Here, we look at some reasons to be optimistic and pessimistic about what the 2025 campaign might hold for the Blue Jays.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><h3>Reasons for optimism</h3>An experienced rotationThe rotation of Kevin Gausman, José Berríos, Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, and Bowden Francis is undoubtedly the Blue Jays' strongest positional group. Gausman, Berríos, and Bassitt have been dependable workhorses during their respective stints in Toronto - the three combined for 94 starts last season and are good bets to threaten 200 innings and eclipse 30 starts. There's a lot of value in that reliability when pitchers are being removed from games earlier and earlier. Scherzer's health is the biggest question mark, but he's shown he can still get outs at a high level if he's able to take the mound. Francis emerged as a legitimate starting pitcher in 2024 and looks like a very capable fourth or fifth starter despite his struggles this spring. If the Blue Jays are going to make any noise in the standings in 2025, the pitching staff will be one of the big reasons why.A motivated Bichette and GuerreroA contract year can often bring out the best in a player. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are recent examples of players who elevated their game ahead of free agency to set up a massive payday, and Bichette and Guerrero have that opportunity in 2025. Guerrero rejected a long-term contract from the Blue Jays reportedly worth at least $400 million. He's taking on a fairly substantial level of risk in betting that he can produce this season and make more, either from the Blue Jays or in free agency.Bichette needs to put a disastrous 2024 campaign behind him and show he can return to being an upper-echelon shortstop. It's a delicate balance, as both players performing well is key to the club's success. Even though a strong showing could hurt Toronto's chances of retaining either star in the long run, the Blue Jays need to focus on team success this year and let the free agency chips fall where they may in the offseason.Improved bullpenThe Blue Jays made fixing last year's calamitous bullpen, which cost the team several games, a priority. Jeff Hoffman, the returning Yimi García, and Nick Sandlin were brought in to boost a bullpen that finished 29th in ERA and strikeouts last season. Hoffman and García in particular have proven adept at handling high-leverage situations. Assuming good health, the Blue Jays should be able to cobble together at least an average bullpen in 2025 - a gigantic improvement from last year's mess. Wide-open American LeagueSince MLB expanded the number of teams that qualify for the postseason, playoff runs by the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Arizona Diamondbacks have proven that anything can happen if a team can just get in. The American League in particular looks as weak as it has in some time. The Yankees lost Juan Soto. The Houston Astros lost Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. The Orioles haven't proven a thing in October. Almost every team in the AL has at least one major question mark heading into the season.<h3>Reasons for pessimism</h3>Starting pitching depthFor as strong as the five-man rotation looks on paper, things could get hairy if a pitcher is forced to miss time. The Blue Jays have lacked pitching depth for several seasons, and it appears to be a sore spot once again. Right-hander Yariel Rodríguez, who showed flashes during his rookie season, is the most likely candidate to move into the rotation in the event of an injury. But he still has his limitations. Beyond that, right-hander Jake Bloss looks nowhere close to being ready to go through the order multiple times in the major leagues. Trey Yesavage has put himself on the map as a prospect to keep a close eye on, but he looks to be another year of seasoning in the minors away from making an impact. Ryan Yarbrough is surprisingly no longer on the roster and Alek Manoah is unlikely to be healthy enough to return before August at the earliest. It's always hard to forecast a pitcher's ability to stay healthy for the entirety of a long MLB season. The Blue Jays could be in trouble if the injury bug beckons for any of their starting pitchers.Question marks in the lineupAnthony Santander is a welcome addition to a Blue Jays lineup that finished the 2024 regular season 26th in home runs, 23rd in runs scored, and 17th in OPS. Santander's coming off a 44-homer campaign and provides power from both sides of the plate while offering protection for Guerrero. Despite that, the lineup is still filled with potential sore spots. The Blue Jays made an interesting bet that second baseman Andrés Giménez can improve at the plate and perform closer to his 2022 form. If he's more of the .674 OPS hitter of the past two campaigns, he won't do much to move the needle. There are also many question marks with hitters like Daulton Varsho, George Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Ernie Clement. The Blue Jays should be a better offensive ball club than last year's edition. The question remains whether that improvement is enough to win more games. Tough early scheduleThe Blue Jays have no time to get acclimated to start the campaign with an incredibly difficult April schedule. Outside of a three-game series at Rogers Centre against the Washington Nationals, Toronto will exclusively play playoff-caliber teams through the first weekend of May. Coming through this stretch around .500 would be a success. Conversely, a poor record could set the tone for a long season and force the team to evaluate some tough questions much sooner than anticipated.Potential distraction from Guerrero's contract situationGuerrero's contract situation feels like a cloud hanging over the entire franchise. Even if he performs, it's easy to see the narrative developing that it's pushing him closer to free agency and closer to leaving the only team he's ever known. The All-Star first baseman whipped everything into a frenzy by disclosing some details of the negotiations and also mentioned his openness to play for any team in the league. A slow start to the season for Guerrero, the team, or both, could serve as a major distraction with everyone pointing at the contract situation as a potential culprit.

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What can we expect from the 2025 Blue Jays?

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Josh Goldberg

News editor

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