Mets Pummel Arizona; Juan Lagares, 2HR, 6 RBI; Luke Voit Leads Yankees Over Detroit

Players of the Day for Thursday, September 12, 2019

Voit: 3-5, HR, 3R, 3 RBI

American League

Rained out on Wednesday, the Yankees played two in Detroit on Thursday with the worst team in the majors.

As expected, New York captured both ends of the double dip, winning the first game, 10-4, then taking the nightcap, 6-4.

Luke Voit had himself a nice day at the plate, especially in game one, where he singled, doubled and hit a two-run homer run in the first inning, scoring three times and driving in three. In the second game, he went 1-for-3 and scored a run.

Voit has 20 homers and 58 RBI on the year.

Detroit is now 43-102, 3 1/2 games worse than the Orioles, each at the bottom of their respective divisions.

The Yankees improved to 97-51, the best record in the majors and two games better than Houston, which currently gives the Yanks home field advantage for the duration of their playoff run. With 14 games left on the schedule and a 10-game edge on Tampa Bay, the Yankees magic number to clinch the AL East is FIVE.

The Yankees head to Toronto Friday for a three-game weekend series with the Blue Jays.

National League

Lagares: 2 HR, 6 RBI

Making their way into the heart of the NL wild card race, the New York Mets completed a sweep of the visiting Diamondbacks, taking four straight from the team that until recently, had been the hottest in the majors.

Arizona had won 11 of their last 13, losing the series finale in Cincinnati before heading to New York. With the Mets' 11-1 win Thursday, New York handed Arizona its fifth straight loss and passed them in the wild card standings.

Juan Lagares led a barrage of six home runs with two of his own: a grand slam in the third inning and a two-run homer in the fifth, totaling six RBI for the game. The Mets outscored Arizona, 26-4, in the four games, winning 9-0 on Wednesday.

The win kept the Mets tied with the Phillies, two games behind Chicago and Milwaukee, who are tied for the second wild card spot. Washington continues to lead in the #1 position, 3 1/2 up. Arizona is another 1 1/2 behind the Mets and Philly. Other than Arizona, all five of the wild card contenders won on Thursday.

Arizona heads home to meet the Reds starting Friday; the Mets host the Dodgers in a three-game weekend series.

Jacob deGrom, Pete Alonso Lead Mets Past D'Backs; Robinson Chirinos Leads Astros in 15-0 Win Over A's

Players of the Day for Monday, September 9, 2019

American League

Chirinos: 2 HR, 6 RBI

On Sunday, the Astros hammered the Mariners, 21-1 and on Monday, opened a four-game series with the A's, in Houston, so, OK, maybe the score would be a little closer.

It was, but not by much. Houston clobbered Oakland, 15-0, putting themselves that much closer to the AL West pennant and showing the wild card contender what they might be dealing with should they reach the playoffs.

The Astros belted seven home runs, all but one coming in the first two innings, as Houston built an 11-0 lead. Zack Grienke, the Houston starter, was the beneficiary of the big advantage, tossing six innings of shutout ball to go 5-1 in an Astros uniform.

Robinson Chirinos and Yordan Alvarez each socked two home runs. While Alvarez was banging out solo shots, Chirinos was doing it with men aboard, mashing a two-run homer in the first and a three-run rip in the seventh. His single in the second innings plated another run, giving him six RBI for the game.

The win left Houston with a 10 1/2 game lead over the A's and a magic number of seven to clinch the division for the third straight season. Game two is set for 8:10 pm ET, Tuesday, in Houston.

deGrom: 7IP, 3H, 1ER, 10K

National League

With three weeks left in the regular season, the wild card race in the National League is shaping up for excitement.

In New York, two contenders for the second and final wild card spot took to the field as the Mets opened a huge four-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Jacob deGrom was at his best for New York, tossing seven innings of three-hit ball, allowing in one run in the Mets' 3-1 victory, pulling them closer to the pack and to Arizona. Striking out 10, deGrom surrendered Arizona's only run in the fifth inning, when Wilmer Flores went deep for his eighth home run of the year.

Alonso's 47 HRs lead NL

Seth Lugo also came up big, fanning four in a hitless six-out save spanning the final two innings.

Aiding the cause was rookie sensation Pete Alonso, who cranked out a pair of solo homers. Alonso leads the league in home runs, with 47 and is fifth in RBI at 109. No rookie has led the National League in home runs since Ralph Kiner socked 23 for Pittsburgh in 1946. Only five players have led their league in home runs in their rookie season, the most recent being Aaron Judge, who hit 52 for the Yankees in 2017.

The Mets gained to within four games of the Cubs for the second wild card, but they have plenty of competition. The Brewers are two games back, the Diamondbacks, 2 1/2, the Phillies, three out. Washington leads all, two games up on Chicago.

The Mets host Arizona Tuesday in game two of the series at Citi Field, starting at 7:10 pm ET.

Mets' Noah Syndergaard Blanks Nationals Over 7; Tommy Pham Leads Rays to 5th Straight

Players of the Day for Monday, September 2, 2019

Pham: 3-for-3, 3 RBI

American League

Three teams are vying for two wild card spot in the American League. Cleveland, Oakland, and Tampa Bay have been engaged since the all-star break as two will make the playoffs and one will go home.

On Monday, Tampa Bay took their fifth straight game, doing so in dramatic fashion, as Tommy Pham singled home Joey Wendle with the game-winner with two outs in the bottom of the 10th for a 5-4 Rays' win over visiting Baltimore.

Pham's walk-off single was the end of a solid day for Pham, who went 3-for-4 and doubled in two runs for the Rays in the fifth inning, putting Tampa up, 4-0. The Orioles battled back to tie the game, sending it into extras, setting up Pham's dramatic poke.

On a youthful team with no superstars, Pham has been stalwart, batting .278, with 20 home runs and 61 RBI. The 31-year-old has also swiped 18 of 21 bases this season.

The Rays lead the wild card chase by 1/2-game over Cleveland, with Oakland 1 1/2 back. The Rays host a double-header with the Orioles on Tuesday, but the wild card battle looks like it will go down to the final weekend of the season.

National League

Syndergaard: 7IP, 3H, 10K

Threatening to run away with the top wild card spot - ensuring home field for the one-game playoff - the Washington Nationals hosted the Mets in the first of a three-game series on Monday.

Winners of four straight and nine of their last ten entering the game, the Nationals were met by Noah Syndergaard, who blanked them for seven innings while his teammates mounted a sizable lead that led eventually to a 7-3 victory.

Syndergaard stopped the Nationals on three hits, striking out 10. Improving to 10-7, the hurler known as "Thor" was aided by Jeff McNeil's two-run homer and a three-hit, two RBI effort from J.D. Davis.

The game result left the Nationals with a 3 1/2-game lead over the Cubs in the wild card and the Mets clinging to playoff hopes, four games behind Chicago. After six straight losses, the Mets have rebounded to win three of their last four.

Game two of the series is Tuesday, 7:05 pm ET.

Mets End Skid As Todd Frazier Drives In Six; Mookie Betts Keeps Red Sox Hopes Alive

Players of the Day for Friday, August 30, 2019

American League

Betts homers twice

Mookie Betts got the Red Sox started with a leadoff home run. Five hours later, he ended Boston's 15-inning marathon with another solo shot, as Boston kept its playoff hopes alive with a 7-6 win over the Angels at Anaheim.

Betts finished the night 3-for-7 with three runs and two RBI, adding a single and scoring the third inning.

One of the few bright spots for the Red Sox this year, Betts has 23 home runs and 69 RBI. His 121 runs leads the majors.

The win kept the Red Sox 5 1/2 behind Oakland for the second wild card. Cleveland leads by a game in the #1 position, while Tampa Bay helped themselves with a 4-0 win over the Indians on Friday. Boston is 4 1/2 behind the Rays.

Boston has won three straight and five of their last six games, and will look to make it two straight over the Angels when they meet on Saturday, at 6:07 pm PT.

National League

Frazier: 2HR, 6 RBI

Losers of six straight, the New York Mets needed a spark - and a win - lest they fall completely out of contention in the wild card race. Entering the first of a three-game series at the Phillies, they found themselves five games behind the Cubs for the second wild card, with the Phillies, Brewers and Diamondbacks (winners of five straight) in between.

Through seven innings, there seemed to be little hope, as the Mets and Phillies remained tied at 1-1. All of that changed in the final two innings, as the teams combined for 14 runs.

After Amed Rosario singled in two runs, Todd Frazier broke out with his 17th home run, a three-run blast that gave the Mets a solid lead at 6-1. In the ninth, he did it again, driving in six runs with his two dingers, as the Mets exploded to an 11-5 victory.

The win kept the Mets on pace with the Cubs and Diamondbacks, both winners Friday, and improved their position versus the Phillies and Brewers. Milwaukee has lost four of its last five games.

The Mets and Phillies meet again on Saturday and Sunday.

Gerrit Cole Fans 12 As Houston Tames Tigers; Noah Syndergaard 2-Hits Indians for Mets' Sweep

Players of the Day for Thursday, August 22, 2019

American League

Cole: 15-5, 3.20, 238 Ks

While the Oakland A's were busy wrapping up a three-game sweep of the Yankees with 5-3 win, Gerrit Cole and the Houston Astros were doing their best to remain atop the AL West with a 6-3 win over Detroit.

The win wrapped up the series with the visiting Tigers, with Houston taking three of four.

A leading Cy Young candidate, Cole worked seven innings, allowing just two hits and no earned runs. He fanned 12 Tigers, marking the fifth time this season he's struck out at least 12 in a game.

Cole was serving up the whiffs right from the start, fanning two in each of the first and second innings before striking out the side in the third. He gave up one walk and finished with 238 strikeouts, one behind teammate Justin Verlander, who leads the majors.

Cole is 15-5 with a 3.75 ERA in 26 starts and he's won 11 straight, his last loss coming on May 22, a 9-4 loss to the White Sox.

Houston's win kept them seven up on the Athletics in the division. With the Yankees losing four straight, Houston has crept to within one game for the overall best record in the league, which would ensure home field throughout the playoffs.

The Astros host the Angels for three over the weekend with game one starting at 8:10 pm ET.

National League

Syndergaard Stops Tribe

Completing a three-game sweep of Cleveland, the New York Mets continue to amaze the baseball world, winning their fifth straight with a 2-0, rain-shortened win over the Indians.

Noah Syndergaard took a no-hitter into the sixth, gave up a pair of singles, but closed out the inning without allowing Cleveland a run.

Jeurys Familia and Paul Sewald set down the Indians in the seventh and eighth. The game was called with the Mets batting, two on base and no outs in the eighth.

Syndergaard improved to 9-6 with a 3.71 ERA and his best performance since one-hitting the Rockies over seven innings on June 9th.

The Mets have earned their way into the playoff race. They are 27-10 since the all-star break and are 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild card slot. Washington leads the wild card, 1 1/2 ahead of the Cardinals.

NL East's first place team, the Atlanta Braves, visit Citi Field and the Mets this weekend for a three-game series. Game one is Friday at 7:10 pm ET.

Rafael Devers First to 100 RBI as Boston Rips O's; Mets Win, Pete Alonso Sets NL Rookie HR Record

Players of the Day for Sunday, August 18, 2019

Devers first to 100 RBI

American League

Rafael Devers became the first player in the majors to knock in 100 runs this season, going 4-for-5 with four RBI in Boston's 13-7 romp over the Orioles.

Devers has been "el Fuego" of late, riding an eight-game hitting streak in which he's batting a robust .540 (20-for-37) with four home runs and 14 RBI. That streak includes an August 13, 6-for-6 effort in a 7-6 win at Cleveland which started Boston's current five-game winning streak.

Devers singled, doubled twice, and socked his 27th home run as the Red Sox completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Orioles. He has 101 RBI and is third in the batting stats, at .332.

Boston remained 6 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay for the second wild card spot, as the Rays defeated Detroit, 5-4. While the odds that the Red Sox will reach the playoffs are slim, they do play at Tampa Bay four more times and have a favorable schedule coming up. After hosting two games against the contending Phillies Tuesday and Wednesday, they embark on an eight-game road trip, with three in San Diego, two at Colorado, and three in Anaheim against the Angels. All of those teams have sub-.500 records.

National League

Alonso sets rookie mark

There's little doubt who the NL rookie of the year is going to be. The Mets' Pete Alonso has been having an incredible first year, providing a power punch in the middle of New York's lineup.

On Sunday, Alonso watched a milestone, setting a new National League record for home runs by a rookie with his 40th dinger as the Mets punched out the Royals, 11-5, tying Philadelphia and Milwaukee in the wild card standings.

Alonso, home run was an add-on solo shot in the ninth, but he contributed earlier, walking and scoring in the first inning on Michal Conforto's three=run homer, singling in the sixth, doubling in a run and scoring in the Mets' six=-run seventh.

His two RBI have Alonso at 95, closing in on the leaders, three of which are tied at 98 (Freddie Freeman, Eduardo Escobar, and Josh Bell). He's batting .271.

The previous rookie HR record was held by Cody Bellinger, who socked 39 for the Dodgers in 2017 and was named rookie of the year. Alonso is just one homer short of the Mets' franchise record, held jointly by Carolos Beltran and Todd Hundley. Mark McGuire's MLB record of 49, set with the Oakland Athletics in 1987, may be too much to ask of the 24-year-old slugger.

24-10 since the all-star break, the Mets are the success story of the second half. They've gotten themselves into the wild card hunt, just two games behind the Cubs and/or Cardinals, who are the holders of the second spot but are tied for the lead in the NL Central.

Their work cut out for them with a brutal schedule ahead - a nine-game home stand with three games each against the Indians, Braves, and Cubs - the Mets open on Tuesday with a 7:10 pm ET game against Cleveland.

Cleveland Rips Yankees, 19-5, as Jose Ramirez, Greg Allen Star; Mets Pound Braves Behind Amed Rosario, Pete Alonso

Players of the Day for Thursday, August 15, 2019

American League

Greg Allen

Jose Ramirez uncorked a first-inning grand slam, added a two run blast in the second, and Greg Allen went 4-for-5, scored four times and drove in four as the Indians pummeled the Yankees, 19-5, in New York.

Jose Ramirez

The two Ramirez homers gave him 19 on the year, 11 of which he's hit in his last 30 games. Allen singled twice, doubled and socked his fourth home run of the season.

The game was the opener of a four-game series at Yankee Stadium. Cleveland's visit to the Big Apple also include a trio of game against the Mets, next Tuesday through Thursday.

Putting the game away in the opening frame, the Indians scored seven runs in the first inning and added more as the hit parade carried forward. Cleveland eventually rocked five Yankee pitchers for 24 hits.

Cleveland remained 1/2-game behind Minnesota in the Central division, as the Twins punched out a win at Texas, 13-6. The Yankees dropped a half game on second place Tampa Bay, idle on Thursday.

Game two is Friday, 7:05 pm ET.

National League

Amed Rosario

Staying alive in the wild card race - and on the fringes in the division - the NY Mets managed to avoid being swept by the East-leading Braves, knocking around Atlanta ace, Julio Teheran for six runs in the first two innings en route to a 10-8 road win.

Pete Alonso

The Mets banged out 23 hits, five each by Amed Rosario and rookie phenom Pete Alonso.

Batting in the leadoff spot, Rosario went 5-for-6, with three singles, a double and a triple, scoring four times, driving in one. Alonso was an unstoppable 5-for-5, with four singles, a first-inning, three-run homer, and six RBI.

Alonso's home run was his 39th, which tied him with Milwaukee's Chistian Yelich, one behind NL leader, Cody Bellinger, who smoked #40 in the Dodgers' 13-7 loss at Miami. Alonso is also in the league's top ten in RBI, with 91. Rosario has been recently getting it done as the Met spark plug. In his last 30 games, Rosario is batting .366 (45-for-123) with three homers and 21 runs.

The Mets are in fourth place, nine games behind the Braves in the AL East, but are just two games out of the second wild card spot, currently claimed by the Cubs. Washington holds the top wild card, 1 1/2 ahead of Chicago.

The Mets will complete a six-game road trip with three in Kansas City over the weekend. Friday's game is 8:15 pm ET.

Didi Gregorius 5-5, 7 RBI in Wild Yankee Win over Twins; Mets' Robinson Cano Socks Three HR

Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 23, 2019

American League

Gregorius: 5-5, 7 RBI

It took more than five hours, 14 pitchers throwing 432 pitches, 35 hits, and a bases-loaded, circus catch by Aaron Hicks, but the Yankees finally prevailed over the Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis, 14-12, in 10 innings.

Yankee shortstop Didi Gregorius had a career night, going 5-for-5 with two singles, two doubles, and a three-run homer. He collected seven RBI in total and scored twice, including the game-winning run.

The Twins built an early 8-2 lead after four innings, but the Yankees batted back with three in the fifth and a five-run eighth. They finally took the lead with two runs in the ninth on Aaron Hicks' two-run homer, but the Twins came back to tie it with a run in the bottom fo the frame.

In the 10th, Gregorius singled with one out, moved to second on Austin Romine's single, and scored on a single by Gleyber Torres. Romine scored an insurance run on a wild pitch.

Minnesota mounted a rally in the home half of the 10th, loading the bases on three walks, but the game ended when Aaron Hicks made a diving catch in center field on Max Kepler's line drive.

The win kept the Yankees 10 games up on both Boston and Tampa Bay in the AL East. Minnesota's loss was not damaging, keeping them three games ahead of the Indians in the Central. Cleveland dropped a 2-1, 10-inning decision in Toronto.

Tied at a game apiece, the two teams finish up their three-game series on Wednesday, 8:00 pm ET.

National League

Cano: 4-4, 3HR, 5 RBI

Both the Mets and Pardes fell out of their respective divisional races in June, but the games still have to be played.

On Tuesday night in New York, Robinson Cano made the most of it, going 4-for-4, belting three home runs and driving in all of the Mets' runs in New York's 5-3 win.

After singling in the first, Cano whacked a solo homer in the fourth off San Diego starting pitcher, Chris Paddack (6-5). In the sixth inning, he victimized Paddock again, lining a two-run homer in the sixth. Cano completed the trifecta with a two-run blast in the seventh off Logan Allen.

Acquired from the Mariners after the 2018 season, Cano has not been productive for the Mets, batting .254, with nine home runs and just 27 RBI. In his last 15 games, however, Cano has hit .316 with five home runs and nine RBI.

The Mets and Padres take up game two of their three-game set at 7:10 pm ET on Wednesday.

Amed Rosario Powers Mets to 14-4 Win at Twins; Jurickson Profar Belts a Pair of HRs as A's Win 6th Straight

Players of the Day for Wednesday, July 17, 2019

American League

Profar: 2 HRs, 4 RBI

After winning their sixth straight - a 10-2 pounding of the Mariners - the Oakland A's are part of a four-team pack seeking two wild card spots, the others being the Red Sox, Rays, and Indians. The A's, however, are eyeing a more distinct entry point into the playoffs, namely the AL West crown, as they have a firm grip on second place in the division, a mere 4 1/2 games behind the Astros.

In Wednesday's conquest, Oakland played their own version of home run derby, socking six out of their park in a dazzling power display. Long balls by Chad Pinder, Ramon Laureano, Mark Canha, and Jurickson Profar accounted for all of the A's runs.

Pinder had a three-run shot, Laureano a solo blast, while Canha belted two solo homers and Profar launched a pair of two-run blasts. Profar, the sixth-season second baseman, was acquired by the A's from the Rangers following the 2018 season. He also walked and scored on Pinder's home run.

The A's begin a seven-game road trip on Thursday, with four games at Minnesota followed by three at first-place Houston. Game time for the open in Minnesota Thursday is 8:10 pm ET.

National League

Rosario: 4-4, HR, 3b, 4R

The New York Mets completed their only visit to the Twin Cities this season with a resounding, 14-4, romp over the home-standing Twins, desperately holding onto first place in the AL Central after dropping two straight to the invaders from New York.

Trailing 3-2 entering the seventh inning, the Mets went on a hitting binge, scoring three runs in the seventh, five in the eighth, and three more in the ninth.

With a spectacular day at the plate, Mets' shortstop, Amed Rosario went 4-for-4 with a home run, triple and two singles, scoring four times and driving in three runs.

One of the hottest hitters of late, Rosario is batting a brilliant .545 over this last seven games.

After splitting a pair of games in New York, the Mets stole two from the Twins at home. The Mets have won four straight while Minnesota has dropped three in a row and now lead the charging Cleveland Indians by only four games. The Indians have won four straight and are 8-2 over their last 10.

On Thursday, the Mets head West to San Francisco, while the Twins remain home, opening a four-game series with Oakland.

National League Roundup: Mets, Padres On Top; Cardinals Win Five Straight, Tie Brewers in Central

National League

Yesterday, we took a quick look at the American League, so today it's the senior circuit in view after nearly two weeks of play.

Mets Hold Slim Lead in East

With their 6-3 win at Atlanta Thursday, the Mets leapfrogged over the idle Phillies into first place in what appears to be baseball's most contentious division. The only team likely to be out of it by August 1 or sooner is the Miami Marlins, though with the Braves, Mets, Nats, and Phillies all flawed to some extent, that's not exactly a surety.

New York is just 1/2 game to the good over the Phillies, who did themselves loads of good in the off-season, snatching up the biggest free agent prize in Bryce Harper among other pick-ups, including All-Star infielder Jean Segura. The deal sent first baseman Carlos Santana and shortstop J.P. Crawford to Seattle.

Segura was one of the top hitters in the AL last season, notching a .304 batting average. A sure-handed fielder, Segura fills a big hole in Philadelphia at short, though he's unlikely to add much power. He hit just 10 homers last season with 63 RBI. Look for him to up his runs total of 91 last season to over 100 if he's batting at or near the top of the lineup. He's batting .304 though 11 games and has crossed the plate 10 times.

Harper is off to a decent start, with four homers and 10 RBI to go with a .314 batting average. In his new surroundings, Harper may challenge for the batting title. He hit .330 with Washington in 2015 and is in a good spot in a hitter's ball park. Last year's .249 average will be overlooked if he produces as expected.

The Mets have as good a shot as any team to take the division if they get quality starts from the rest of the rotation and score runs for Jacob deGrom. The keys are the keep Noah Snydergaard healthy, get Steven Matz though six innings and get solid innings from middle relievers Robert Gsellman, Jeurys Familia, and Seth Lugo. Closer Edwin Diaz, with five saves already in the books, appears to have his role nailed down.

Washington still may have the best rotation in the division, but will miss Harper's bat. Atlanta, last season's division winner, will be in it as long as Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. stay healthy. Their pitching matches up well anywhere they play.

Cards Catch Brewers With Five Straight Wins

After a 3-5 start, St. Louis has reeled off five straight wins, including Thursday's 11-7 rip over the visiting Dodgers. The Cardinals may not have much thunder in their lineup, but as long as they get good pitching, their youthful lineup seems capable of keeping them in games, especially if the old man behind the plate - 36-year-old Yadier Molina - continues to play like a future Hall of Fame inductee.

Paul DeJong, Kolten Wong, Harrison Bader, and Marcel Ozuna form the nucleus of the offense, and the pickup of Paul Goldstein from Arizona gives the Cards' long-ball potential. Goldstein is batting just .180, but he's already swatted six homers. He needs to be more consistent (and he likely will be) for the Cardinals to hang in over the long haul.

In Milwaukee, the Brewers - also at 8-5 with the Cards - will have every opportunity to defend their 2018 division title and move forward in the playoffs. With the remarkable Christian Yellich leading the charge, Milwaukee is likely to repeat, especially if the Cubs continue to flounder. At the moment, Chicago is tied with the Reds for last place at 4-8, 3 1/2 back of the Brew Crew and Cardinals.

San Diego Improved With Machado

The Padres couldn't get much worse than their 66-96 mark in 2018, so they pulled the trigger and landed Manny Machado in the off-season after Machado had bailed on the Orioles mid-season for a playoff shot with the Dodgers in 2018.

A post-season hero Machado is not. His lifetime .213 average in the playoffs and World Series included 16 games with the Dodgers, a .227 batting average, three homers and 12 RBI. Those numbers are unlikely to raise any eyebrows, save those of Machado's detractors. Over the course of a full season in San Diego, Manny is likely to be "the Man" in bordertown California.

Thus far, Manny's helped the Padres to first place in the West, their 9-5 mark a game better than LA's 8-6 record. With three homers, seven RBI and a .245 batting average, Machado is probably trying a little too hard to impress his new team and fans. If he shakes off the nerves, he's capable of 35 homers and 100 RBI for the next six years or so. He had 35 and 86 in 2015, 37 and 96 in 2016, 33 and 95 in 2017, and 37 and 107 splitting time between Baltimore and LA.

Obviously, Machado can't do everything for the Padres. He'll need help, especially from the pitching staff, which includes left-handed rookie, Nick Margevicius, who has shown promise in three starts, winning two of them, against one loss. in 16 innings, quick Nick has fanned 12 and sports an ERA of 1.69.

It's a long season, and while the Padres probably won't go worst to first, the contenders in the division are few and far between. The Giants haven't been able to figure it out for a few years and don't look very competitive in 2019. Ditto the Rockies. Arizona has a good mix of veterans and good pitching, but the Dodgers, should they play to their potential, may run away and hide in the West.

The Dodgers are just a game off the pace and that's without Clayton Kershaw, who started the season on the 10-day IL. He's slated to make his seasonal debut Friday night, agains the Brewers. LA opens a three-game series with Milwaukee and will host the Reds for three following the weekend. Cody Bellinger has been carrying the team, batting .411, with seven HRs and 19 RBI.

Other series of note this weekend are San Diego at Arizona and the Mets at Atlanta. Both series began on Thursday, with the Mets topping the Braves, 6-3, and the Padres nipping the D-Backs, 7-6.

Logan Forsythe 5-for-5 In Twins Win Over Tigers; Jose Bautista Drives In 7 As Mets Rout Phillies, 24-4

Players of the Day for Thursday, August 16, 2018

5-for-5 Forsyth

American League

Minnesota clubbed Detroit, 15-8, Thursday, but it's not likely Minnesota is going to get any close to Cleveland in the AL Central, where the Indians are the only team over .500 and lead the Twins by 12 games.

Minesota's 15-hit outburst was led by second baseman Logan Forsythe, who had a 5-for-5 night at the plate, socking a pair of doubles, three singles, driving in two runs, and scoring three times.

Minnesota is 57-63 on the year, second best in the division, a full eight game up on third place Detroit. The White Sox and Royals are 25 and 32 1/2 games out, respectively.

The Twins play the second of a four game home series against Detroit Friday, 8:10 pm EDT.

National League

Bautista: 3-for-4, GS, 7RBI

Jose Bautista didn't even start the first game of a doubleheader at Philadelphia, but he made a major impact, going 3-for-4 with a grand slam, driving in seven runs in the Mets' 24-4 win.

Yes that's right, three touchdowns and field goal. The scoring outburst by the Mets came a day after they bounced the Orioles, 16-5, setting a franchise record for runs in a game. The previous record was 23 runs at the Cubs on Aug. 16, 2017.

Bautista entered the game in the bottom of the third inning, after right fielder Brandon Nimmo was injured grounding out to end the top half of the frame. His first at-bat was a single in the fifth, driving in a run and subsequently scoring. As the Mets piled on the runs, Bautista got to the plate again in the inning, delivering his 10th home run, a grand slam for 10 runs in the inning. The Mets scored in every inning except the second and sixth.

After lining out in the seventh, Bautista doubled in another run, for a season-high seven RBI.

The Mets dropped the second game, 9-6, and play again in Philly, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday's game is set for a 6:05 pm EDT start.

Brandon Nimmo 5-for-5 As Mets Bury Orioles; Tyler White, Evan Gattis Lead Houston Over Rockies

Players of the Day for Wednesday, August 15, 2018

American League

Evan Gattis

While Seattle was slowing down the A's with a 2-0 win, the Houston Astros snapped out of their five-game losing streak, taking down Colorado, 12-1, in Houston.

Tyler White

Tyler White and Evan Gattis each homered twice for the Astros. White socked a pair of two-run blasts, one in the fifth and another in the seventh. Gattis had two solo shots, belting one in the third inning and the second in the fifth. He also singled, going 3-for-4 for the game.

The win left Houston clinging to a two game lead in the AL West over the A's. While Seattle's win over Oakland may give the Astros some needed breathing room, they have to also be aware of the Mariners, now 4 1/2 off the pace.

Houston gets a day off Thursday as they prepare for a nine-game road trip. They open Friday in Oakland with the first of a three-game series. After that they head to Seattle and Anaheim to play three apiece with the Mariners and Angels.

National League

Nimmo: 5-for-5, 3R, 3RBI

On average, the Mets score just over four runs per game. Only San Deigo and Miami score less in the National League, so their 16-5 romp at Baltimore was out of the ordinary, to say the least.

The 19-hit outburst started with Brandon Nimmo's first of five hits, leading off the game with a single and scoring on Wilmer Flores' sacrifice fly. Nimmo would later double, triple, and single twice more, going 5-for-5 with three runs and three RBI, helping send Baltimore to its 85th loss of the season.

Nimmo, 25, is in his third year with the Mets, and has had nine hits in his last three games, batting .750 (9-for-12) with three doubles, two triples, and a home run.

The Mets have won three of their last four and five of their last seven but are still hopelessly out of the race, 16 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East.

They open a five-game series in Philadelphia on Thursday with a doubleheader. Game one starts at 4:05 pm EDT.

Yoenis Cespedes Lifts Mets Over Nationals; Toronto's Teoscar Hernandez Homers, Drives In 4 In 15-5 Rout Of KC

Players of the Day for Wednesday, April 18, 2018

American League

Hernandez: 4-6, HR, 4RBI

Boston continued to lead the AL East by three games after taking two straight from the Angels in LA, 10-1 and 9-0, but they're being dogged by the second place Blue Jays, who won their fourth straight with a 15-5 bombing of Kansas City, sweeping the Royals in Toronto.

Traveling to New York on Thursday for a four-game series, the Blue Jays find themselves 3 1/2 in front of the Bronx Bombers, and will be looking to expand their edge after splitting a four-game set with New York in the season's opening series.

A player who could play a big role in the series and maybe for the rest of the season is right fielder Teoscar Hernandez, who came up big in Wednesday's romp with a 4-for-6 effort consisting of two singles, a triple and a two-run homer, his first of the year, driving in four runs and scoring twice.

Hernandez was picked up from Houston last year mid-season, and played in 26 games for the Jays, socking eight home runs in 88 at-bats. This year he's only played four games because the Blue Jays have a loaded outfield, but 25-year-old Hernandez has tried to make his case despite limited playing time. He's batting .421 with six RBI.

The first of the four-game series opens Thursday in New York at 6:35 pm EDT.

National League

Cespedes Slams Nationals

In 2015, the Mets took the NL East, but, in the past two years, they've been overtaken by the Washington Nationals, winners of the division in 2016 and 2017.

Determined to give the Nats a run for their money, the Mets have broken well out of the gate, their 13-4 record the best in the National League, earning them a three-game lead over surprising Atlanta and Philadelphia. The Nationals have struggled to a 9-10 mark, despite taking the first two from the Mets in the series at New York.

In game three, Washington struck first, scoring three runs in the opening frame and taking a 4-2 lead into the eighth, but that was prior to the Mets' nine-run explosion in which they sent 11 men to the plate, capped off by a Yoenis Cespedes grand slam.

Cespedes was 0-for-3 going into the eighth, but singled with no outs and a man aboard, eventually coming around to score. When he went to the plate for the second time in the inning, the bases were loaded and Cespedes struck with his fourth home run of the season, a slam off Nationals' reliever A.J. Cole. The Mets prevailed, 11-3.

The four RBI gave Cespedes 17 on the year, one behind NL leader, Bryce Harper, who could only stand and watch from right field when Cespedes' blast carried into the left field stands of Citi Field.

With their lead in the division intact, the Mets travel to Atlanta for a four-game series beginning Thursday. The Nationals head across the country to start a three-game series with the Dodgers in LA, starting Friday.

Zack Wheeler Pitches Mets To 8th Straight Win; Yankees Even Series In Boston As Gary Sanchez Homers Twice

Players of the Day for Wednesday, April 11, 2018

American League

Sanchez: 2B, 2HR, 4RBI

Heading into his third start of the season, Boston hurler David Price hadn't given up a run, blanking the Tampa Bay Rays in back-to-back seven inning stints.

In a New York minute, the Yankees put an end to that streak, scoring four runs in the first inning on their way to a 10-7 win at Fenway Park, evening their series with Boston at a game apiece.

Giancarlo Stanton tripled in the first pair of runs; Gary Sanchez brought Stanton home with a bomb over the Green Monster, a 432-foot belt that set the tone for the night. Price finished the inning and was not seen again.

Sanchez, however, was not quite finished, doubling and scoring in the third prior to homering again with a man aboard in the fourth.

Beyond the Yankee onslaught, the game also featured a grand slam by Boston's J.D. Martinez and a bench-clearing brawl in the seventh inning after Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly plunked Tyler Austin in retaliation for a hard slide by Austin earlier in the game. Keely, Austin, Yankee reliever Tommy Kahnle, and third base coach Phil Kevin were all ejected.

With the series squared and Boston's eight-game winning streak over, the Yanks and Sox will finish off the series Thursday at 7:10 pm EDT. Boston remains in first place in the division, with a 9-2 mark. The Yankees are 6-6.

Wheeler: 7IP, 2H, 1ER, 7K

National League

Starting the season off by taking two of three from the Cardinals at Citi Field, the New York Mets were just getting warmed up.

Since that opening series, the Mets haven't lost, winning their eighth straight Wednesday night with a 4-1 win over the Marlins at Miami.

Doing it with a combination of solid pitching and timely hitting, the Mets came through for starter Zack Wheeler after being held hitless for six innings by Maimi starter, Jarlin Garcia.

Wheeler surrendered a first-inning solo homer to the second hitter he faced, Miguel Rojas, but settled in, giving up just one more hit and a walk, fanning seven over seven innings. Pulled in the top of the seventh for pinch hitter, Adrian Gonzalez, Wheeler got the win when Gonzalez mashed a two-run homer and the Mets added two more in the frame.

Having missed all of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Wheeler returned to start 17 games for the Mets in 2017, going 3-7 with a 5.21 ERA, but his first start of the new season was very encouraging, ensuring he'll see the mound more often.

With the win, the Mets maintained a 3 1/2-game lead over the Braves in the NL East. After a day off Thursday, they open a weekend series at home with the Brewers on Friday.

Mets Win Over Nats Features Two Yoenis Cespedes HRs; Zach Davies Pitches Brewers Past Royals

Players of the Day for Thursday, March 22, 2018

Grapefruit League

Cespedes: 3-3, 2HR 4RBI

If the NY Mets are going anywhere this season, their success falls squarely on the broad shoulders of power-hitting outfielder, Yoenis Cespedes.

The slugger proved his value in Thursday's come-from-behind, 12-5 whipping of the visiting Nationals, as Cespedes started a nine-run, fourth-inning uprising with a solo homer run and added to it later in the frame with a sac fly for his second RBI as the Mets hammered Washington starter, Tanner Roark.

After Jay Bruce completed the inning with a two-run homer, Cespedes added to the Mets' lead in the sixth with another homer, a two-run blast to left. He also doubled, going 3-for-3 with 4 RBI.

Injured much of 2017, Cespedes missed half of the games he could have played, but still managed to knock in 42 runs on 17 homers, batting .292. Healthy once again, the Mets' leading slugger is sporting a .323 average this Spring with is home runs and nine RBI.

The win was only their ninth for New York thus far in Florida. They are eight games off the pace, at 9-16, leading only Pittsburgh in the standings.

Cactus League

Davies was 17-9 in 2017

Continuing their dominance in the desert play of Arizona, the Milwaukee Brewers slipped by charging Kansas City, ending the Royals' seven-game winning streak, with a 1-0 triumph.

Four Milwaukee hurlers limited the Royals to six hits, most of the work done by starting pitcher, Zach Davies, who allowed four hits over five innings, walking one and striking out three for his second win without a loss.

Milwaukee scored the only run of the contest in the fourth inning, when Brett Phillips socked a solo homer.

Davies, a 25-year-old phenom, had a solid season in 2016, going 11-7 with a 3.97 ERA, but really came into his own in 2017, helping the Brewers to a solid second-place finish in the NL Central, six games behind the Cubs. Davies went 17-9 with a 3.90 ERA last season, and appears to be heading for another strong showing in 2018. In 11 1/3 innings this Spring, Davies has a 2.38 ERA and the Brewers hold first place in the Cactus League by 2 1/2 games over the Cubs.

Matt Joyce Belts A Pair As A's Rout White Sox, 14-0; Travis d'Arnaud Leads Mets To Rare Win

Players of the Day for Sunday, March 18, 2018

Grapefruit League

d'Arnaud: 2-3, HR, 2B, 3RBI

Moored in last place with a record of 7-15, the NY Mets haven't exactly found a winning formula this Spring, so their 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles may have served as a wakeup call.

With Noah Syndergaard on the mound, catcher Travis d'Arnaud took offensive matters into his own hands, socking a second-inning solo homer and rapping out a two-run double in the fourth to give his pitcher some cushion. d'Arnaud also threw out Tim Beckham in the fourth, on an attempted steal of second base.

Syndergaard, who has been shaky in privies starts, managed to go seven innings, scattering eight hits and fanning five while allowing just one run.

The Orioles weren't done however, scoring three runs off reliever Seth Lugo in the eight, narrowing the lead to one run. The ninth wasn't without its share of suspense, either, as Robert Gsellman managed to close out the game, but not before allowing a leadoff double to Austin Hays and walking Craig Gentry with two outs before fanning Sharlan Schoop to end the game.

Cactus League

Joyce: 2-for-5, 2HR, GS

Oakland manager Bob Melvin may be trying out some distinctively different concepts with the hopeful A's this season.

In Sunday's 14-0 blowout over the visiting White Sox, Melvin inserted Matt Joyce - normally a right fielder - into the lineup as the DH, in the leadoff spot.

Why not?

Joyce responded with a leadoff solo homer to start the A's scoring, then belted a grand slam in the fifth inning, driving in five runs total.

Joyce had been struggling. Prior to his breakout game, he was just 3-23 (.130) with no homers and one RBI. Planting him in the leadoff spot apparently worked to everyone's advantage.

The A's improved to 12-9, tied for fourth place in the Cactus League with Kansas City, three games behind the streaking Brewers, winners of three straight and eight of their last 10.

Carlos Beltran Caps 11-Run Rally By Astros; Robert Gsellman Works Out Win For Mets Over Brewers

Players of the Day for Monday, May 29, 2017

American League

Beltran keys rally

While the AL East and Central divisions are tightening and becoming more interesting every day, the Houston Astros are beginning to make a mockery of the AL West.

Winning their fifth in a row, the Astros manhandled Minnesota, the current resident of first place in the Central, by a score of 16-8. The three, four, and five hitters in the Astro lineup - Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and Carlos Beltran - were a combined 10-for-15, with Beltran going 4-for-5, stroking three singles and a three-run homer, scoring three times and driving in three runs.

The amazing part of Houston's win was that they trailed the Twins, 8-2, going into the eighth inning, then erupted for 11 runs in the top half of the inning, finalized by Beltran's blast, plating himself, Altuve and Correa.

The Astros have found little in the way of competition as they've gotten off to a 36-16 mark, 11 games in front of the Angels and Rangers in the division. Though they lost three straight to Cleveland at the start of their most recent homestead, they finished up by taking three of four from Detroit and sweeping three from the Orioles. The win at Minnesota was the start of a three-game series and ten-game road trip that will take them to Texas and Kansas City.

Game two of the series at Minnesota resumes Tuesday, at 8:10 pm ET.

Gsellman: 7IP, 1ER, W

National League

Monday was a strange day for Mets' pitcher, Robert Gsellman.

First, he pitched seven innings in New York's 4-2 win over Milwaukee, giving up only three hits, but the Brewers scored two times against him, though only one run was earned.

At the plate, Gsellman's day was more weird. With the score tied at 1-1 in the fifth, the 6'4" right-hander lifted a sac fly to right, scoring Wilmer Flores from third. In the sixth, the Mets had forged a 3-2 lead, but loaded the bases on a walk, a single, and a hit batsman.

Up stepped Gsellman, who worked out a walk from Rob Scahill, adding an insurance run with his second RBI of the day, doing so without a hit.

After seven innings, walking two and striking out five, Gsellman left the game to the bullpen, which blanked the brewers the rest of the way.

Gsellman is 3-3 with a 5.75 ERA, batting .067, with one hit in 15 at-bats, but three RBI.

The win left New York tied for second with the Braves in the NL East, though both teams trail the Nationals by 8 1/2 games. Washington (31-19) is the only team in the division with a winning record. The Mets are 22-27. Despite the loss, Milwaukee holds first place in the Central by 1 1/2 over the Cardinals and Cubs.

Game two of the four-game series is scheduled for 7:10 pm ET at Citi Field in New York.

Marwin Gonzalez Homers As Houston Wins 4th Straight; Mets' Jose Reyes Drives In 5

Players of the Day for Wednesday, May 3, 2017

American League

While the races are tight - albeit it's only early May - in the AL East and Central divisions, the Houston Astros are threatening to run away in the West.

Marwin Gonzlaez

Houston's 10-1 rout of the Texas Rangers was their fourth straight victory, taking the third in a row from visiting Texas.

Marwin Gonzalez had two hits and whacked a two-run homer to center in the sixth inning for a 6-1 lead. Gonzalez has four homers in his last three games, socking a pair against Texas on Tuesday, including a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth, boosting Houston to an 8-7 win. He also homered against Oakland on Sunday in Houston's 7-2 win. The sixth-year first baseman did not play in Monday's 6-2 win over the Rangers. He's batting .246 with eight home runs and 19 RBI.

Houston leads the Angels by 4 1/2 games in the division. Seattle is in third, though seven games out. At 19-9, Houston has the best record in the majors and will try for a sweep of the Rangers when they meet Thursday, 2:10 pm ET at Minute Maid Park.

Reyes: 5 RBI

National League

Jose Reyes set a career mark, driving in five runs in the Mets' 16-5 victory at Atlanta.

Reyes went 2-for-5, starting with a two-run single in the third inning. Following with a sac fly in the fifth, Reyes capped off his big night with a bases-loaded double that sent three runners to the plate in the eighth inning as the game got completely out of hand.

The Mets racked up 20 hits of six Atlanta hurlers, scoring seven times in the eighth after already leading 9-5.

New York's win put the Braves temporarily back into last place in the NL East, with the Mets just 1/2 game better. The battle for last place continues on Thursday at 7:35 pm ET in Atlanta. New York has taken two of three.

Aaron Judge Hits 2 HR In Yankee Win; Jay Bruce's Slam, 2 HR Not Enough In Mets Loss At Atlanta

Players of the Day for Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Judge's 12 HRs lead AL

American League

Aaron Judge isn't letting up after his sizzling start in April.

On just the second day of May, Judge touched off another pair of home runs, giving him the AL lead with 12 and helping the Yankees hammer the Blue Jays, 11-5.

The red-hot rookie put the Yankees up 6-0 with a solo shot in the second and finished New York's scoring with a three-run bomb to right in the seventh, giving him four RBI for the game and 25 overall, second to Miguel Sano (27) in the American League. Judge finished 2-for-4 with three runs. He's batting .313.

Coupled with Boston's 5-2 win over the Orioles, the win put the Yankees back into a first place tie with Baltimore in the AL East.

Toronto and New York will complete their three-game series on Wednesday with the rubber game, starting at 7:00 pm ET at Yankee Stadium.

National League

Bruce: 2HR, GS, 6RBI

To say the New York Mets have had their share of struggles this season would probably be an understatement as the team finds itself in last place in the NL East with a record of 11-15 after Tuesday's 9-7 loss at Atlanta

A rash of injuries - most recently to starting pitcher, Noah Syndergaard - and a severe lack of hitting have contributed to the slow start. The Mets' .220 batting average is the worst in the National League and a 4.73 ERA is 14th of 15 NL teams.

Even when the Mets hit, as they did Tuesday, it's often not enough, as evidenced by Jay Bruce's effort, going 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and six RBI. Bruce is batting .293 with nine homers and 22 RBI.

Bruce socked a two-run homer in the first inning and belted a grand slam in the ninth, accounting for six of New York's seven runs. Unfortunately for Bruce and the Mets, the Braves touched up starter Matt Harvey for six runs over 5 1/3 innings and added three more against four Mets' relievers.

Atlanta got out of last place and put the Mets there with the win. The Braves are 11-14, 1/2 game better than the Mets. The series is tied at 1-1, with game three of the four-game set scheduled for Wednesday at 7:35 pm ET.

Matt Holliday, Jacoby Ellsbury Spark Yankees Over O's; Travis d'Arnaud's Two Homers Power Mets Past Nats

Holliday: Walk-off HR

Players of the Day for Friday, April 28, 2017

American League

Rallying from a 9-1 deficit, the New York Yankees outlasted the Baltimore Orioles, tying them for first place in the AL East with a 14-11 win in 10 innings.

The game lasted three hours and 41 minutes, featuring 29 hits, eight home runs - two of which were grand slams - and a walk off three-run job by Matt Holliday.

Ellsbury: Grand Slam

Thanks to Mark Trumbo's grand slam in the top of the sixth, the Yankees were down 9-1 after 5 1/2 innings, but scored three in the bottom of the sixth, then added four more on Jacoby Ellsbury's grand slam in the seventh. Ellsbury knocked in another run in the ninth on a fielder's choice, and scored when Starlin Castro socked a three-run homer to tie the game at 11.

An inning later, Holliday delivered the final blow, a 414-foot blast to center with two aboard, completing one of the biggest comebacks in Yankee history (and there have been plenty of them). Ellsbury finished 1-for-5, but had five RBI and scored twice. Holliday was 3-for-5, with three runs and three RBI.

Now dead even at 14-7, the two teams tangle again at Yankee Stadium in game two of their three-game series, Saturday at 1:05 pm ET.

National League

d'Arnaud: 2 HR, 5RBI

The New York Mets could not have picked a better time nor place to snap their six-game losing streak, traveling to Washington, DC, for a 7-5 win over the first place Nationals.

Travis d'Arnaud belted a pair of home runs and drove in five runs to power the Mets past their NL East rivals in the opener of a three-game series of vital importance to the Mets.

While the Mets were busy losing six straight and ten of their last eleven, the Nationals had seized the lead in the NL East, going 11-2 over the same span, including a three-game sweep of the Mets in New York.

Now at 9-13, the Mets own last place in the division, 6 1/2 games behind Washington, but have hope that they can make up some ground during their head-to-head weekend series.

Game two is slated for a 1:05 pm ET start at Nationals Park on Saturday.