Results for: MLB

Marcus Semien’s home run in the eighth inning proved to be the game-winner as the Texas Rangers edged out the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on Friday night. Semien’s solo blast off Lucas Sims snapped a 1-1 tie and ultimately secured the victory, while Kirby Yates notched his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning. Evan Carter had earlier tied the game with a solo homer in the second inning. The Reds took an early lead thanks to a stolen home by Elly De La Cruz, but the Rangers’ offense came alive in the later innings to clinch the win.

The Houston Astros have endured a dismal start to the 2024 season, losing 19 of their first 26 games. This has significantly reduced their playoff chances, with their odds of reaching the postseason now standing at just 43%. According to projections, the Astros would need to win 89 games to qualify for the playoffs, requiring them to post an impressive winning percentage of .603 in their remaining 136 games. While mathematically possible, history suggests that achieving this level of consistency is unlikely. Over the past three seasons, the Astros have maintained a combined winning percentage of .599, falling just short of the World Series each time. The team’s dismal start indicates that they will need to perform at an even higher level than they have in recent years to have any chance of reaching the playoffs in 2024.

The Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox will face off at Fenway Park this weekend in the first game of a three-game series. The Cubs are coming off an impressive home sweep of the Houston Astros, while the Red Sox dropped two of three games at Cleveland. Shota Imanaga will start for the Cubs, while Kutter Crawford will take the mound for the Red Sox. The Cubs have won four of their last five road games, while the Red Sox have a dreadful 1-8 record in Crawford’s last nine home starts. Chicago has also been strong in series openers, winning four of their last five. Based on these trends, the Cubs are a good pick to win Game 1 on Friday at Fenway Park.

Despite a .500 record, the Pittsburgh Pirates have displayed both red flags and surprising performances in their first 26 games. While they have won as many games as they’ve lost, their key players have underperformed, including Mitch Keller and David Bednar with high ERAs. However, rookie pitchers Jared Jones and Bailey Falter have emerged as strengths, and Joey Bart has impressed as a power-hitting catcher. The Pirates’ defense has also been a concern, with errors by Ke’Bryan Hayes, Oneil Cruz, and Rowdy Tellez, although Cruz has shown improvement in his most recent games.

Cody Morris, acquired from the Guardians in December, was designated for assignment by the New York Yankees on Thursday to make room for Michael Tonkin, claimed off waivers from the Mets earlier in the day. Morris, despite being in the Yankees’ bullpen for seven games but never appearing, will return to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Meanwhile, Tonkin, a 34-year-old right-hander, will join the Yankees’ bullpen for their series opener in Milwaukee on Friday. He has a 6.00 ERA in six games this season, but his slider has been effective, holding opponents to a .133 batting average.

The Toronto Blue Jays will send ace Jose Berrios to the mound Thursday in the series finale against the host Kansas City Royals, aiming to avoid their first series loss since dropping two out of three to the New York Yankees from April 5-7. Berrios has been outstanding this season, posting a 4-0 record with a 0.85 ERA. He has not allowed a run in his last three outings, covering 19 2/3 innings. The Blue Jays’ bats have struggled as of late, but they will need to produce runs against Royals starter Cole Ragans, who has a 0-2 record with a 4.32 ERA. The Royals have run the bases aggressively in this series, executing hit-and-runs and double steals to take two of the first three games.

The Minnesota Twins, seeking to clinch a series sweep, will face the Chicago White Sox, who are mired in a prolonged losing streak, at Target Field on Thursday, April 25th. Simeon Woods Richardson will start for the Twins, while Mike Soroka will take the mound for the White Sox. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM ET. Fans can tune in to watch the game live or stay informed about the latest developments through the provided link.

The New York Yankees, boasting a solid 17-8 record, will face off against the Oakland Athletics (9-16) at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, April 25th. The game is scheduled to commence at 7:05 PM ET. Catch the excitement live on Fubo, where you can stream the game or tune in on TV.

For those seeking tickets to any MLB game this season, Ticketmaster has you covered. Additionally, Fanatics offers officially licensed MLB gear, including jerseys and shirts, for passionate fans eager to represent their teams with style.

The Los Angeles Dodgers (15-11) will seek a series sweep as they square off against the Washington Nationals (10-13) at Nationals Park on Thursday, April 25. The game is set to commence at 4:05 PM ET.

The Chicago Cubs (15-9) and Houston Astros (7-18) will meet at Wrigley Field on Thursday, April 25, for a series finale. Fans can tune in to watch the action live at 2:20 PM ET. Cubs pitcher Javier Assad will take the mound against the Astros’ Justin Verlander. The Cubs are seeking a series sweep after winning the first two games of the series, while the Astros are looking to avoid a fourth consecutive loss. For those unable to attend the game in person, Fubo offers a live streaming option with a free trial available through their website. Additionally, tickets for all MLB games can be purchased through Ticketmaster, and officially licensed MLB gear is available at Fanatics.