Covering the Bases: The best stuff happening in MLB this week
Welcome to theScore's roundup of everything you need to know from around MLB. Here we'll touch on the notable storylines, biggest trends, most shocking plays, and some other cool things. Let's dive in!
What everyone's talking about 👇
Captain America: Team USA is powering up for next spring's World Baseball Classic. Manager Mark DeRosa announced that Aaron Judge will not only be joining the American squad but will also serve as team captain. It'll be the two-time MVP's first WBC. Read more ...
Padres off and running: Just as everyone predicted, the Padres have steamrolled their way to the top of the NL West. San Diego won its first 11 home games during a 15-4 start that's included six shutouts. The last time the Padres started this hot was back in 1998 ... when they won the pennant.
Soto still adjusting: It's been a slow start for Juan Soto in Flushing. The Mets' $765-million man thinks it's because he's being "pitched differently" without Judge protecting him. The Yankees captain isn't too concerned about his ex-teammate, though. Read more ...
Who's hot? 🔥
Shane Baz: The Rays right-hander authored one of the best outings of his career against the Red Sox, fanning 11 over six innings of one-run baseball. Baz's curveball and changeup have been devastating so far, with whiff rates of 34.1% and 45%, respectively.
Nick Pivetta: The Padres signed Pivetta late in the offseason, and he's rewarded that with a terrific start. Pivetta has wins in his last two starts, with a 0.69 ERA, 16 strikeouts, and just two walks in 13 innings.
Cal Raleigh: "Big Dumper" has been swinging a red-hot bat. Raleigh hit four homers over a five-game stretch, including his 100th career long ball.
Who's not? 🥶
Tanner Houck: Nothing's going right for Houck, who became the first Red Sox pitcher in 63 years to allow at least 12 runs in a game during Monday's 16-1 loss to the Rays. Houck now owns a 9.16 ERA through four starts while giving up a league-leading 19 earned runs.
Dylan Crews: The Nats' top prospect may need a reset at Triple-A. One of the preseason favorites for NL Rookie of the Year, Crews' minus-5 wRC+ is the worst in baseball by a wide margin.
Christian Walker: Astros fans are hoping the Walker signing isn't a repeat of the José Abreu contract. Walker's off to a dreadful start at the plate, with just one homer and a .482 OPS in 18 games. The 34-year-old has decent batted-ball metrics, which is at least a reason for some optimism.
You love to see it 😍
Angels star Mike Trout took time to greet a fan and his son after a game in Houston despite that fan taking a ball out of his glove.
Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas had a little fun pitching in a blowout loss, imitating a handful of his teammates on the mound.
We can't believe this happened 🤯
Jose Miranda put himself on the blooper reel forever with a brutal baserunning error that netted him a one-way postgame ticket to Triple-A. And if you thought things couldn't get worse for him, you're dead wrong: On Monday, Miranda hurt his hand carrying a case of water and landed on the injured list.
Spencer Torkelson got the force at second the hard way when his throw caromed off Brice Turang's helmet and bounced directly into shortstop Trey Sweeney's glove. He couldn't do this again if he had 1,000 throws.
Over in the NCAA, Cincinnati's Donovan Ford channeled Willie Mays while making a truly jaw-dropping catch against rival Xavier. Yeah, you should go crazy after hauling that one in, Donovan.
On Tuesday at Isotopes Park, the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes did the seemingly impossible: They scored three runs on a walk. Yes, you read that right. This one has to be seen to be believed.
Sound smart among your friends 🧠
Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda is scorching the baseball so far this season. The Mexico native ranks in the top 10 among all hitters in average exit velocity (95 mph) and has the fourth-best slugging percentage (.679). The Rays are treating the left-handed-hitting Aranda as a platoon player for now. Even if he continues to sit against southpaws, Aranda's minor-league track record and overall offensive profile show that a breakout could be in the cards.
They said what? 🗣️
Jazz Chisholm on (temporarily) tying Aaron Judge for the Yankees' HR lead: "I've got to go talk to him right now. I think I'm beating him right now, right? Stolen bases. You've got to add both. You know how they say OPS is, what, on-base plus slug? Home runs plus stolen bases."
Former All-Star Eric Hosmer on MLB's PED policy: "I think the only way this game gets cleaned up and these guys don't risk 80-game suspensions for another couple years on the back end is to take away guaranteed money. ... If you tell me I have a $110 million on the line for these next three years and I could possibly lose that, I'm not even thinking that."
Spencer Strider on the Braves' early-season hole: "We're not in a great position at the moment, and that's fine. It's early still in the season, and people want to doubt us, that's great. Bring it on."
Jim Palmer, 79-year-old Orioles legend, on eating chicken wings: "(I've) never, ever had a wing. ... Why would I? Don't they have skin and stuff?"
What to watch this weekend 📺
Rays host Yankees at Steinbrenner Field: The four-game set marks the first time the Yankees will be the visiting club in their spring training home. Expect a lot of pro-Yankees fans in the crowd.
Last two champions meet up in Texas: The Rangers welcome the Dodgers to town for a meeting of the past two World Series winners. The Dodgers have Yamamoto, Sasaki, and Glasnow lined up to pitch.