MLB The Show 25 Franchise Discussion

[countryboy]

Cardinals go 12-15 in August, watch divisional lead shrink

The Cardinals (73-65) finished the month of August with a 12-15 record and now lead the Cubs by 3 games heading into September. It was a horrible month for the bullpen as they constantly blew games, leads, and failed to keep scores where they were. The Cardinals lost 9 games in the month of August when leading after 7 innings, with 3 of those losses coming in the 9th inning or extras. Couple that with Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, Masyn Winn, Brenton Doyle, and Lars Nootbaar all having horrific months at the plate, and you get the sub .500 record.

And if those aren't enough of setbacks for the month, you then lose Brendan Donovan thru at least the regular season and possibly the season with a broken foot. And the Cardinals spent the month trying to find a replacement between Edmundo Sosa and Cesar Prieto, and they are still searching.

The Cardinals will head into the final month of the season trying to hang on to reach their first postseason in 3 years. But it won't be easy with series against the Phillies, Yankees, and Cubs.

Dodgers having a very special season

The Dodgers finished the month of August with 100 wins and having clinched the NL West for the 5th straight year. At the conclusion of the month, the Giants were 27 games back of the Dodgers, and in 2nd place. In fact the Giants are the 2nd wilcard team. Its not surprising to see that record given the team the Dodgers have and the likes of Tyler Glasnow having 17 wins, Shohei Ohtani dominating the triple crown (.346 avg, 45 HR and 140 RBIs) and Tanner Scott with 46 saves in 46 opportunities.

[Arkansas Ranger]

Texas Rangers MOM Season 3 update

The Texas Rangers finish the All Star Break at 38-58. They are still in last place and sit 9 and a half games out of 1st. The Astros lead the division with a 48-49 record, so the division is horrible. My only all star rep was 18 year old Rookie Buddy Fitzgerald. How in the world your an all star hitting 220 with 6 hrs and play only sparingly is beyond me. This version of the Show is better than any version so far. Especially with the budget fix, but Spring and the All Star Game need work. The 7-9 hitters never sub out. The coaches never change year to year. The National League is always the home team, regardless if you change location. All Star selections are questionable. Ohtani a top 3 mvp candidate doesn't make the team yet somehow a 220 hitter does. Anyways Al won 7-4. Cedric Mullins for me was traded as we got Matt Shaw from the Cubs. Looking to make one more trade as we try to get younger controllable players and offload payroll

[countryboy]

Cardinals drop series to Nationals in St.Louis

RECORD: 74-67
DIVISION: +2 OVER CUBS
WILDCARD: -

The Cardinals got the month of September off to a rough start as they dropped 2 games of a 3 game series to Nationals in St.Louis. The Cardinals now find themselves just 2 games up over the Cubs and just 5.5 up on the surging Reds.

Walker Buehler got the ball on Monday night to begin the series and once again Buehler was good for 2 or 3 innings before the wheels fell off and he just imploded. Buehler is 1-4 with the Cardinals as a starter and has only gotten to the 5th inning twice in his 5 starts. Buehler left in the 4th having given up 6 runs on 9 hits with 1 strikeout. The bullpen which had been shaky at best the last month, was terrific pitching 5.2 innings giving up no runs, one hit and one walk. Offensively the Cardinals couldn't keep sustained rallies. Twice the had bases loaded with less than 2 outs and both times they scored one run. The Nats would win 6-3.

Tuesday it was Matthew Liberatore on the mound and once again Matthew was terrific. Liberatore went 7 innings allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts. The bullpen did yield a run when Chad Green surrendered a solo homerun to Dylan Crews in the 8th, but there really was no other threat as the Cards won 9-3. Alec Burleson and Masyn Winn each had 3 hits and drove in 2 runs. Willson Contreras hit his 1st homerun (a 2 run shot in the 6th) in 8 games.

Wednesday Dustin May was good the bullpen was not. The Cardinals led the game 4-1 going into the 8th and lost 7-4. John King, Jordan Hicks and Luke Weaver would blow up as the Nats scored 6 runs in the 8th to take the lead and eventually the game. May went 6 innings giving up one run with 10 strikeouts. Ryan Fernandez who just recently came off the IL pitched a perfect 7th on just 11 pitches with 2 strikeouts. Unfortunately the rest of the pen stunk. The offense was sparked by Victor Scott II who drove in 3 runs on 2 hits and he stole 2 bases. The other RBI belonged to Alec Burleson.

The Cardinals are off on Thursday as they welcome the Phillies to town for a 3 game weekend series in St.Louis.

[dragster646]

2025 Cincinnati Reds

Reds get off the schneid, get back to above .500

The last time we saw the Reds, they had lost six games in a row, right after an impressive eight game winning streak. They headed into Miami with hopes of halting the losing skid, only to be walked off in the 9th. From there, things looked up, as Cincy won their next two games before heading to Denver and facing the worst team in baseball. The Reds would sweep the Rockies, including a 10 run bombardment in the finale, which saw Elly de la Cruz hit for the cycle in his first four at bats.

Cincinnati did suffer two injuries in these 6 games: Jaimer Candelario left the first game of the Rockies series with a strained finger, he will miss a few games. Nick Martinez suffered a dislocated shoulder in the second inning of his start against Miami. He will miss 1-2 months and has been replaced by the Reds' 2023 first round pick, Rhett Lowder.

Cincinnati has also made their first major roster move of the season, sending Jake Fraley to AAA Louisville and calling up Will Benson. Benson, in four games, has driven in three runs and stolen four bases; both stats higher than what Fraley had done all year.

The Reds (16-12) now head home for a four game series against St. Louis (14-14) followed by three against Washington (15-13)

[bigjdotcom01]

June 2-4: LAS VEGAS (21-40) @ GILBERT (32-32)
Stadium: Fry's Field (Capacity: 9,448)

June 2: Barnstormers 2, Silver Kings 0
June 3: Silver Kings 3, Barnstormers 2
June 3: Barnstormers 6, Silver Kings 5

Gilbert, AZ (AP) - At some point, you just have to shake your head. The Silver Kings blew a late 5-1 lead in the finale, losing in walk-off fashion to allow Gilbert to win the series and drop the Silver Kings to (21-40) on the season.

The Barnstormers opened the series with Carlton Russell dominating, as he threw eight scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out five in a 2-0 victory. A Lamont Brady two-run hoe run in the sixth was the only scoring that the Barnstormers would need as they got back to .500.

Steve Sechrist (1-5) was the hard luck loser. He went 5.2 innings, allowing the two runs on three hits, striking out three. He was fantastic until the mistake to Brady in the sixth.

Martin Villegas tossed 2.1 scorless innings, allowing just one baserunner and striking out three. Mariano Hidalgo went 2 for 4 with a double in the loss.

Dan Law pitched the ninth for Gilbert and stayed perfect on the year, earning his 16^th save in 16 opportunities. Carlton Russell improved to (6-4) with the gem that he tossed.

On Tuesday evening, the Silver Kings responded with a 3-2 victory. Kevin Perez tossed 6.1 innings, allowing one run on six hits, striking out four as he improved to (4-6).

Gilbert would grab a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an Alton Callahan RBI single.

The Silver Kings would get single runs in the fourth, fifth, and six innings to go ahead 3-1. In the fourth, Caden Jaurez singled home Mariano Hidalgo, who had doubled to open the inning. In the fifth, Julio Maldonado doubled home Russell O'Reilly, who also had opened the inning with a double. Eric Machado blasted a 444' home run in the sixth to put Las Vegas up 3-1. It was his eighth on the year.

Gilbert got one back in the eighth as Lamont Brady homered off of reliever Russ Zickafoose. It was his fifth on the year, and second in two nights.

Las Vegas closer Kai Ransom worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his third save in five chances.

In the finale, the Silver Kings bullpen imploded...again. This time blowing a 5-1 lead as Gilbert pulled out a 6-5 walk-off win to win the series. Alton Callahan hit a ball off his hands, popping it over third base to drive in both runs in the bottom of the ninth as the Silver Kings' frustrations continue to mount.

Las Vegas grabbed a lead on the first batter of the game as Mariano Hidalgo homered to right, his eighth of the season. Russell O'Reilly would add a two-out RBI single to give Las Vegas a 2-0 lead after half an inning.

Danny Watt added a solo home run to center in the third to make it 3-0.

Lamont Brady homered off of Emery Hutchinson in the fourth. The solo shot was his sixth on the year and third in this series.

Julio Chacon hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth to put Las Vegas up 5-1. Red-hot Luis Delgaudio answered with a two-run shot in the bottom half to cut the lead to 5-3.

Emery Hutchinson pitched into the eighth, before giving way to Eric Herman. Herman served up a solo home run to Joaquin Ramirez that cut the Silver Kings lead to 5-4. The Silver Kings sent Herman back out for the ninth. Michael Castro singled, Rico Estrella doubled, and then Alton Callahan blooped in both runs to win the game.

Emery Hutchinson threw 7.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out five. Eric Herman (0-1) took the loss, throwing 0.2 and allowing three runs on four hits. Gilbert used six pitchers with Orlando David (3-0) picking up the win. He faced two batters in the ninth and got both out, stranding two runners in scoring position. The Silver Kings outhit Gilbert 16 to 7.

Las Vegas will now return home to face Long Beach (32-29) and Tahoe (40-24).

Around the League: San Antonio's Branden Hazel doubled and homered (8), driving in five runs as the Javelinas beat Salt Lake 6-3

Teddy Walker homered twice (11,12), driving in five, while Conrad Rouse (7-6) allowed just two hits over eight innings as Albuquerque beat Colorado Springs 8-1.

West Texas scored six in the bottom of the ninth to storm back and stun Denver 7-6 on Wednesday evening in Lubbock. Denver's Cole Joseph walked in the winning run in an improbable victory for the Bison.

Santa Fe's Corey Ziemer singled back up the middle to lead off the tenth, scoring Felipe Gomez with the game winning run in a 1-0 walk-off victory for the Jays over the Oakland Oaks.

Robby Lancaster homered twice (11,12), driving in three as Tahoe beat Glendale 5-0. Ray Hunter (5-6) picked up the win, tossing seven shutout innings, scattering six hits and striking out six.

West Texas has traded 29-year-old starting pitcher Dave Stanley (77 OVR, C POT) to Salt Lake for 29-year-old centerfielder Carlos Campillo (79 OVR, B POT).

The Barnstormers celebrate a walk-off win to win the series.

[Itsma806]

2025 Houston Astros 09/02-09/04

Overall Record: 69-72 (3rd AL West/13.0 behind Texas Rangers/5.5 behind 3rd WC spot)

Game Results

Game 1
Astros-5
Yankees-1

Game 2
Astros-8
Yankees-1

Game 3
Yankees-9
Astros-8

Astros one epic comeback away from series sweep.

The Houston Astros won the first two games rather dominantly versus the New York Yankees in both teams' first full series of September. Houston won the first two 5-1 and 8-1 behind strong pitching performances by their 4th and 5th starters, Spencer Arrigheti and Cristian Javier. The offense was also great with the main contribution coming from Yainer Diaz who went 4-4 in game one and 2-3 in game two.

Game three saw a matchup between 'aces' Framber Valdez (Astros) and Gerritt Cole (Yankees).

As per usual for this season, Cole was great and Valdez was not.

The Yankees got out to an initial 7-0 lead through the half of the fifth inning. The Astros bullpen and offense would battle back however as they had a chance in the end. Houston eventually brought the score to 9-8 in the ninth inning before finally taking the loss with Devin Williams' 32nd save of the season. That was achieved despite Williams allowing Yordan Alvarez;s 55th homerun of the season that brought the score to 9-8.

The series victory is nice but the sweep would have been better.

Houston will now start an important series as they stay in Texas to face the Rangers (82-59/1st AL West/7.5 over Mariners and 13.0 over Astros)

Isaac Paredes was injured in game three with a shoulder strain and has been placed on the 10 day IL. Zach Dezenzo has been recalled to the MLB squad and will take over as the everyday third baseman until Paredes' return.

[countryboy]

Cardinals take series from Phillies over the weekend

RECORD: 76-67
DIVISION: 1ST (+2 OVER CUBS - +4 OVER REDS)
WILDCARD: -

The Cardinals won a pivotal 3 game series against the Phillies in St.Louis over the weekend. The Cardinals maintain a 2 game lead over the Cubs and a 4 game lead on the Reds.

The Cardinals started the series off Friday night with a pitching showdown between Aaron Nola and Sonny Gray. Gray would get the better of the matchup as the Cards bats exploded for 5 runs in 5 innings against Nola knocking him out early. The Cards would add on 2 more against the bullpen for the 7-0 win. Gray lasted 8 innings but was pulled after 109 pitches. Nolan Arenado would homer as would Alec Burleson as they both drove in 3 runs.

Saturday it was Michael McGreevy and he pitched well aside from 2 bad pitches that resulted in a 2 run homerun and a 3 run homerun as the Phillies would beat the Cards 6-5. The Cards had a rally going in the 8th where they cut the lead from 6-2 to 6-5 but it would end with a double play and they couldn't get anything in the 9th. Nolan Arenado would homer for his 4th straight game and Burleson would hit in his 9th straight game.

Sunday Walker Buehler took the mound and he was good for 4 innings and then boom the wheels fell off just as they have many times before. The Cards led 3-0 and Buehler allowed the Phillies to tie it before being lifted for Bobby Miller who would earn the victory. Nolan Gorman hit a key 3 run homerun in the 6th that put the Cards up 6-3 and the Cards would end up winning 7-4 as they took the series. Burleson again had a hit and Masyn Winn went 2 for 3 with a walk and 2 doubles.

The Cardinals are back on the road was they travel to Washington for a 3 game series with the Nationals.

[Bgrd1080]

Los Angeles Angels
The first two full months of the 2025 season have been an up and down ride for the Los Angeles Angels, who find themselves at 27-31 as the calendar flips to June. While the club has managed to stay within striking distance of .500, inconsistency has been the defining theme so far.
After opening the season 4-2 they quickly found themselves on the losing end of things going 9-14 to finish the month at 13-16.
May was another Rollercoaster month as they lost a series to Detroit (32-28) 1-4 , then proceeded to take 2 of 3 from Toronto (29-31). A series lost to red hot Baltimore (34-25) and a sweep in San Diego (28-29) had them reeling headed up the freeway to Dodger Stadium. But the bats came alive and The Angels took 2 of 3, scoring 13 runs in 3 games. Little did they know after taking the final two in LA that it would be part of an 8 game winning streak. Things began to look up but then The big, bad Yankees (30-28) came to town and showed LA what a contender really looks like, taking the series in sweeping fashion outscoring LAA 15 to 4.
Los Angeles will look to get closer to .500 in Boston after taking 2 of 3 in Cleveland over the weekend. For The Angels the season has basically gone as the pitching goes, which unfortunately hasn't been great.
Jose Soriano has been the lone bright spot with a 2.48 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Everyone else sits above a 4 ERA .
If Los Angeles could figure out the pitching staff they'd win a lot more games as they've sent the ball flying out of the park. Adell 10 , Moncada 9, Soler 9 and Trout while injured early sits at 8 homeruns ( in 22 games).

League Leaders

Home Runs
Aaron Judge (Yankees) – 20
Rafael Devers (Giants) – 20

RBI
Rafael Devers (Giants) – 56
José Ramírez (Guardians) – 45

Stolen Bases
CJ Abrams (Nationals) – 17
Harrison Bader (Twins) – 15

OPS
Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)– 1.158
YOrdan Alvarez (Astros) – 1.115

Wins
Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays) – 8
Zack Wheeler (Phillies) – 7


Strikeouts (Pitching)
Tarik Skubal (Tigers) – 101
Freddy Peralta (Brewers) – 92

Best Team Records
Chicago Cubs – 36-23 (Best in MLB)
Houston Astros – 35-24

LAA Record
(27-31) June 2nd
7.5 back of AL West Houston and 4 gb in WildCard

[countryboy]

Cardinals win series with Nationals in Washington

RECORD: 78-68
DIVISION: 1ST (+3 OVER CUBS - +4 OVER REDS)
WILDCARD: -

The Cardinals took the 3 game series with the Nationals in Washington to begin the week. The Cards now lead the Cubs by 3 games and still the Reds by 4 as the final weeks of the season pass by.

Monday things got off to a good start with Matthew Liberatore on the mound. While he lasted just 5 innings, he pitched well and got exceptional help from Ryan Fernandez, Chad Green, and John King out of the bullpen to earn the win. Brenton Doyle had a phoenomenal day with 3 hits including a 2 doubles and a homerun. He also drove in 4 runs as the Cards beat the Nats 6-2, 2.

Tuesday it was Dustin May on the hill and he got knocked around. And then Bobby Miller got knocked around in relief as the Nats beat the Cardinals 7-2. There was no offense on Tuesday as the Cards managed just 4 hits and the two runs were via a 2 run homerun by Alec Burleson.

Wednesday things got better as Sonny Gray would go 8 shutout innings with 6 strikeouts to earn his 12th win of the season. Ryan Helsley closed out the 4-0 win, but didn't earn the save. Brenton Doyle and Jordan Walker each had two RBIs to account for the scoring.

The Cardinals are off on Thursday as they head home to face the Yankees in a 3 game weekend series. The Yankees currently lead the AL East by 8.5 games over the Orioles.

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets One Win Away From World Series
October 12, 2029

New York continues to look like the best team in the NL as they have overmatched the Rockies every step of the way in this series. RHP Travis West was far from perfect, but the bats took care of things on their end to propel the Mets to an 11-4 beatdown of the home team in Game 3 of the NLCS.

The Mets got off early and often as they had plated 6 runs before the Rockies turn at bat in the third inning. To give credit where it's due, Colorado would claw back, scoring 4 unanswered runs by the 6th inning. That would be as close as they would get as 3B Rafael Devers led off the top of the 7th with a solo shot. It was an absolute nuke - 113mph off the bat and 453 feet. The Metsies would add 4 more in the top of the 8th to get us to our final score.

Devers had himself a day going 3 for 4 with a double, HR, and 5 RBI. RF Albert Almora continued his hot hitting as well. He collected 2 hits, including a double, and 2 RBI. It looks like he will be starting in right until further notice.

The Rockies were hoping that once the series shifted west that they would have more fortune. That has not been the case. New York has completely controlled the series, outscoring Colorado 21-6 over the first three games. With the way things are looking, it will take a minor miracle for the Rockies to force a Game 5, let alone win 4 in a row and complete the comeback.

New York will be handing the ball to rookie LHP Jeremy Pacheco in Game 4. It will be his first postseason appearance. With a 3-0 series lead, management feels comfortable giving RHP Anderson Espinoza more rest. Ideally, the Mets will complete the sweep and Espinoza will be slated for Game 1 of the World Series.

In the AL, the White Sox and Yankees are currently tied at 1-1 with the series shifting to Chicago.

[bigjdotcom01]

June 6-8: LONG BEACH (34-30) @ LAS VEGAS (22-42)
Stadium: Ballys Ballpark (Capacity: 26,976)

June 6: Surf Dawgs 6, Silver Kings 2
June 7: Silver Kings 4, Surf Dawgs 0
June 8: Surf Dawgs 7, Silver Kings 4

Las Vegas, NV (AP) - Las Vegas dropped two of three to Long Beach to fall deeper into last place in the DL West. At this point, the team looks to be sellers at the trade deadline and may start looking at some younger players moving forward.

Stop me if you have heard this story before. On Friday night, Antoine Swanger left the game after seven innings with the lead......and the Silver Kings bullpen blew it. Long Beach scored five times in the late innings to rally for a 6-2 victory in the opener of this weekend series. Ward Mejia hit a three-run home run off of Russ Zickafoose in the eighth to key the rally as Long Beach tries to stay in the race in the DL West.

This one was a pitcher's duel, scoreless through five innings. In the sixth, Eric Machado led off with a single and stole second. He scored on a David Tejeda RBI single to make it 1-0 Las Vegas.

Long Beach tied it up in the top of the seventh on a Richard Cobain RBI single that scored Aubrey Winkler. But Las Vegas responded as Todd Matsumoto hit a two-out, RBI double to left that score Russell O'Reilly to put Vegas back up 2-1.

The Silver Kings lifted Antoine Swanger after seven innings. He allowed one run on six hits, striking out eight. John Sato (0-6) came on and could not get an out. Santiago Guevara struck out, but reached on a wild pitch. Patrick Hamill then hit a bloop single to left. Scott Soto singled to left to score Guevara to tie the game at 2-2. Manager Alvin Ambrose then brought in Russ Zickafoose. He surrendered a three-run home run to Ward Mejia and suddenly a 2-1 lead turned into a 5-2 deficit.

The Surf Dawgs would add another run in the ninth on a Scott Soto RBI double.

Carlos Cardona (4-1) picked up the win out of the bullpen. He got the final two outs in the seventh, stranding two runners on base.

On Saturday evening, Jude Vernon dominated, tossing a complete game shutout, scattering three hits and striking out five as the Silver Kings won 4-0. Vernon has been fantastic since being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake for the injured Jeremi Dillon. He is now (2-0) with an ERA of 1.16 in four starts.

This one started out with Len Almquist tripling to center to open the game. But he would not score as he was cut down at the plate on a Patrick Hamill ground ball to third. Julio Maldonado threw a strike to Russell O'Reilly and Almquist was nailed at the plate. Las Vegas then put a run up in the bottom half on a Julio Chacon RBI single, that plated Eric Maldonado.

The Silver Kings would increase that lead to 3-0 in the sixth. Julio Chacon homered to left, his eighth. Danny Watt added an RBI double, scoring Russell O'Reilly. Vegas would add one more in the eighth on a Julio Chacon RBI single. Chacon went 3 for 4 with the home run and three RBIs in the game.

Michael Tovar (6-4) took the loss for Long Beach. He pitched 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits.

On Sunday afternoon, the Silver Kings fell 7-4 to drop to 20 games below .500. Patrick Hamill went 3 for 5 with a double, home run and and RBI to help pace the Surf Dawgs to the series win.

Long Beach took a 1-0 lead in the second on a Lance Deardorff RBI single that scored Aubrey Winkler. They would make it 3-0 in the third on a Ward Mejia two-run home run, his second of the series and 12^th on the year.

Las Vegas struck back with a pair in the fourth. Caden Juarez tripled home David Tejeda, and Gilberto Cardona hit a sacrifice fly to cut the Long Beach lead to 3-2. In the fifth, Danny Watt lined an RBI double to center that scored Todd Matsumoto to tie the game at 3-3.

But Long Beach came right back in the top of the sixth, scoring twice. Lance Deardorff hit an RBI single and Richard Cobain singled home Deardorff. The Surf Dawgs woud add a single run in the seventh on a Scott Soto RBI double. A solo home run from Patrick Hamill in the ninth made it 7-3.

Las Vegas tried to make it interesting in the bottom half with an RBI double from Eric Machado that brought Danny Watt to the plate with the tying run. But he popped out to end the game.

Jack Sweat (6-5) earned the win for Long Beach. He pitched six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out six. Will Flaherty picked up his 22^nd save, getting Danny Ward to pop out to end the game.

Steve Sechrist (1-6) took the loss, pitching 5.1 innings and allowing five runs on ten hits. The Surf Dawgs piled up 17 hits in the series winner.

Las Vegas (22-42) will now host first-place Tahoe (42-25) for a three game series beginning on Monday evening. The Silver Kings struggles in 2025 are evident if you look at how they rank in key categories. They are 30^th in runs scored (222), 28^th in home runs (58), 30^th in OBP (.276), and 27^th in home runs allowed (91). Some positives are that the Silver Kings are 3^rd in runs allowed (241) and 11^th in team ERA (3.83).

After Sunday's loss to Long Beach, the Silver Kings optioned backup catcher Julius Roderick to Triple-A Salt Lake. Roderick was hitting .088 with three hits in 34 at-bats with one RBI and 11 strikeouts in 13 games. The team recalled Stefan Hernandez to backup Russell O'Reilly.

Around the League: Surprise's Keaton Ross homered three times (6,7,8) and drove in six as the Saguaros pounded Chandler 13-1 on Thursday afternoon. Johnnie Dawley (5-3) tossed eight solid innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out four and walking two.

Fort Worth got a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth from Pedro Lantigua (14), then got a two-run walk-off home run in the tenth from Jay Plaza (8) as the Drillers stunned Boise 7-5. Both teams are fighting for Wild Card positions in the Mountain League.

San Antonio's Juan Medrano (8-2) struck out ten, scattering four hits, in eight innings of work, in a 4-0 victory over Salt Lake. San Antonio currenty leads the ML East by two games over Amarillo.

The Mountain League home run leader, Boise's Chad Riley hit his 22nd on the season, adding two doubles and driving in four as Boise outslugged Colorado Springs 16-10 on Saturday afternoon.

Rookie starting pitcher Jude Vernon has been one of the few bright spots for the team in 2025.

[jamm113]

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⚾ ESPN RECAP: RAYS GAMES 16–20 – “CRACKS, COLLAPSE & A CLASSIC COMEBACK”

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🎙 Game 16 – Red Sox 8, Rays 0

April 15 – Tropicana Field

The Trop was silent. Brayan Bello sliced through the Rays' lineup with surgical precision — 8 shutout innings on 7 hits — while Marcelo Mayer made the ballpark his stage with a thunderous 3-run homer and 4 RBI night. Tampa Bay managed just seven singles, with Caballero grounding into no damage in key spots.

🔹 Bello: 8.0 IP, 7 H, 5 K
🔹 Rasmussen (L): 6.1 IP, 2 ER
🔹 Caballero: 1-4, bloop single, .650 OPS

📰 "Red Sox Mow Down Tampa with Bello’s Brilliance"

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🎙 Game 17 – Red Sox 6, Rays 0 (Jackie Robinson Day)

April 16 – Tropicana Field

Connor Wong turned into Johnny Bench for a day, belting two homers and collecting 3 hits and 3 RBI. Shane Baz looked lost, giving up 3 bombs and allowing hard contact nearly every inning. The Rays were shut out for the second straight game and booed off the field.

🔹 Wong: 3-4, 2 HR
🔹 Baz (L): 4.0 IP, 6 ER
🔹 Bright spot: Cole Sulser 2.0 IP, 3 K

📰 “Wong, Sox Bury Punchless Rays — Tampa Drops 5th Straight”

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🎙 Game 18 – Red Sox 7, Rays 6

April 17 – Tropicana Field

Taj Bradley melted down early, giving up 11 hits and 7 earned in under 5 innings. The Rays showed fight late, including a 3-run rally in the 7th, but couldn’t overcome the hole. Brandon Lowe’s bases-loaded strikeout in the 9th sealed the sweep.

🔹 Bradley (L): 4.2 IP, 11 H, 7 ER
🔹 Thais: 2-3, R
🔹 Aranda: 1-4, RBI

📰 “Bradley Blasted Again — Red Sox Sweep Hapless Rays”

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🎙 Game 19 – Yankees 6, Rays 3

April 18 – Tropicana Field

Kameron Misner was a spark... until his shoulder gave out. The breakout rookie reached base three times, but left the game with a serious shoulder injury. Ben Rice launched a game-winning HR, and Devin Williams slammed the door in the 9th.

🔹 Misner: 2-3, BB, injury (cartilage damage, 60-day IL)
🔹 Caballero: 1-4, HR
🔹 Pepiot (L): 5.0 IP, 5 ER

📰 “Rays Lose Game, Misner — Season Spiraling Further”

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🎙 Game 20 – Rays 10, Yankees 9 (11 inn.)

April 19 – Tropicana Field

One for the highlight reel. Down 8-4 in the 9th, Yandy Díaz mashed a 3-run HR before Aranda tied it with a sac fly. The 11th inning saw Taylor Walls score the winning run on a grounder from Aranda. Cole Sulser’s 3-inning relief performance saved the bullpen and the Rays' pride.

🔹 Díaz: 3-run HR, 3 RBI
🔹 Aranda: 2 RBI (incl. walk-off)
🔹 Sulser (W): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 2 K

📰 “Madness at the Trop — Rays Rally to Snap Skid in Extra-Inning Classic”

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📊 PROSPECT BREAKDOWN — "Thin Ice on the Mound"

🧊 Pitching Depth Looks Precarious

• Taj Bradley (MLB): 75 OVR, B Potential, nasty break but weak stamina & control. ERA ballooning. Development stuck in the mud.
• Dylan Lesko (AAA): 66 OVR, B Potential, flashes elite stuff but lacks control (42 BB/9) and command under pressure. A year away at best.
• Starter Pipeline Outlook: Beyond Bradley and Lesko, the org is alarmingly thin. No A-potentials, no one ready within the year. Rotation reinforcements may need to come via trade or free agency.

🛡️ Infield Boost Incoming

• Ha-Seong Kim (AAA): 29 y.o., 81 OVR, B Potential. Called up to stabilize shortstop after Walls’ struggles. Veteran presence with multi-positional value.
  • Elite defense, moderate pop, consistent .260–.270 range bat.

📰 “Bradley a Question Mark, Lesko Still a Question — Rays’ Pitching Prospect Depth Faces Reality Check”

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🔮 YANKEES SERIES FINALE PREVIEW (Games 21 & 22)

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🔥 Game 21 Probables:


Max Fried (2-1, 3.42 ERA) vs. Drew Rasmussen (0-2, 4.56 ERA)

April 20 – Tropicana Field

🔹 Watch for:

• Rasmussen’s ability to go deep; pen is worn out after 11 innings.
• Fried dominates lefties — will Thais and Aranda continue to produce?

🗣️ "It’s gut-check time. Rasmussen needs to look like an ace — or we’re just spinning our wheels." — Rick & Lefty Radio

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🔥 Game 22 Probables:


Carlos Rodón (2-1, 4.15 ERA) vs. Shane Baz (1-2, 7.08 ERA)

April 21 – Tropicana Field

🔹 Watch for:

• Baz must get ahead in counts — hitters are slugging .560+ when he’s behind.
• Caminero’s on-base and OPS are climbing (.860) — time to deliver a clutch HR.

📢 "Rodón's got 30 Ks already — Baz better not bring a matchstick to a sword fight." — Sunday Show Fan Caller

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🔦 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jonathan Aranda	.394/.328/.571 (.899 OPS)	Quietly one of MLB’s hottest hitters
Junior Caminero	.313/.352/.507 (.860 OPS)	10 RBI, solid plate discipline developing
Yandy Díaz	.275/.326/.409 (.726 OPS)	Team leader with 12 RBI, rally igniter
Josh Lowe	.277/.309/.477 (.786 OPS)	Entering a cold streak – needs to adjust

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[Cyrus09]

I really, really like that format! There is a lot going on, but it's worth it to go in depth through it.

The birth of our child(all healthy and well!) really made it tough for me to get serious playtime in, that's why I struggle to still contribute here. I really miss it though and I hope the situation gets better in the next days/weeks.
I wanted to use that opportunity and go through some custom rosters for the first time ever. Any recommendations?

[countryboy]

Cardinals drop series to Yankees as divisional lead is at a single game

RECORD: 79-70
DIVISION: 1ST (+1 OVER CUBS - +2 OVER REDS)
WILDCARD: -

The Cardinals dropped their 3 game weekend series with the Yankees in St.Louis. The Cardinals managed to score a single run in all three games and surprisingly still won a game in the series. The Cards now see their divisional lead shrink to a single game over the Cubs and to just 2 games over the Reds.

Friday night Michael McGreevy pitched a well of a ball game as he went 7 innings giving up no runs on 4 hits and fanning 6. McGreevy continues to be the biggest surprise of the rotation. Luke Weaver and Ryan Helsley closed out the shutout by each pitching a perfect inning. The sole run for the Cardinals came off the bat of Alec Burleson who hit his 30th homerun of the year with a monster shot to centerfield in 5th.

Saturday it was Walker Buehler getting the ball and well it didn't take 3 or 4 innings for the wheels to fall off. Buehler gave up 4 runs on 6 hits in the first inning without ever recording an out and was yanked by manager AJ Hinch and replaced with Bobby Miller. Miller would work his way thru the 5th inning but did give up 3 more runs when Cody Bellinger belted a 3 run homerun in the 5th inning to put the Yankees up 7-0 at the time. The Yankees would go on to win 8-1 as the Cards managed a single run again, this time thanks to Ivan Herrera's solo homer in the 8th.

Sunday it was Matthew Liberatore who pitched great but ended up with the loss. Liberatore went 6.1 innings before losing a 1-0 lead thanks to an Aaron Judge two run double in the 7th that put the Yankees up 2-1. John King would surrender another run in the inning as the Yankees went on to win 3-1. The Cards lone run was a RBI single by Nolan Arenado back in the 3rd inning. The Cardinals had ample opportunities to score runs but never cashed in with a big hit or just putting the ball into play.

The Cardinals will travel to Milwaukee for a 3 game series with the Brewers before then heading to Chicago for a 4 game weekend series with the Cubs in pivotal matchup.

Remaining Schedule

3 @ MIL
4 @ CHC
3 vs MIA
3 vs PIT

Cardinals placed RHP Walker Buehler on outright waivers

The Cardinals have placed RHP Walker Buehler on outright assignment waivers. Buehler who was acquired in a trade with the Angels really struggled in his time with the Cards going 1-5 with a 5.43 ERA. If he is not claimed, and he's not expected to be, the Cards will likely just outright release the 31 year old.

Kyle Leahy was recalled from Memphis to fill the vacant pitching spot. Bobby Miller will move into the rotation.

[countryboy]

Cardinals drop series to Brewers - now tied with Cubs in Central Division

RECORD: 80-72
DIVISION: TIED WITH CUBS (+2 OVER REDS)
WILDCARD: 2ND PLACE (+1.5 OVER GIANTS)

The Cardinals dropped a big series to the Brewers and are now tied atop the NL Central Division with the Cubs while the Reds remain 2 games back. Lack of offense was once again the story as the Cardinals scored one run on Monday, exploded for 5 on Tuesday, but were then shutout on Wednesday.

Dustin May had the ball on Monday night and he needed offensive help as he was knocked around. May would allow 5 runs on 10 hits over 5 innings of work. The bullpen would surrender an additional run as the Brewers beat the Cards 6-1.

Tuesday night it was Sonny Gray and he was dominant and the offense showed up. Gray went 6 innings allowing a run on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts. The offense scored 5 runs on 4 homeruns with Wynn, Doyle, Walker, and Sosa all belting one out of the ballpark.

Wednesday Michael McGreevy pitched a shutout, but got nothing for it. McGreevy went 9 innings, gave up zero runs on 2 hits and got nothing out of it as the offense was shutout. The Brewers won the game in extra innings, 1-0.

The Cardinals will now travel to Chicago for a pivotal 4 game series with the Cubs. Both teams are 80-72 and will battle for the chance to lead the Central Division heading into the final week of the regular season.