MLB The Show 25 Franchise Discussion

[Itsma806]

2027 Houston Astros 04/26-04/29

Overall Record: 10-22 (5th AL West/9.0 behind Seattle)

Game Results:

Game 1
Astros-6
Athletics-1

Game 2
Athletics-3
Astros-2

Game 3
Astros-6
Athletics-4

Game 4
Athletics-3
Astros-2

Astros split series with Athletics as they plea for April to end.

It's just been a disastrous start for Houston in 2027. That's after a terrible 26' season that sees them drafting 3rd in the upcoming draft. Thus far in 27' they have the second worst record in the majors. That is despite being heavy spenders in the offseason bringing in players such as Pete Alonso, Jose Miranda, Jonathan Loaisiga and others.

They have been a bit injury prone with their starting pitchers. Ronel Blanco is currently on his second stint on the IL. This time will keep him out for a while (2-3 months with a separated shoulder. Hayden Wesneski is also on the IL and is still slated to miss around a month with his broken hand.

Still, that doesn't fully explain their terrible start. The pitching was an area that Houston was concerned about coming into the season as they failed to make any big moves and the one move they made (Loaisiga) has been terrible in his few save opportunities. But the offense hasnt been the teams biggest weak point. They currently rate #26 in the league in team batting average and 25th in runs scored.

Anyway, the series with the Athletics saw Houston stay where they were to begin it. They tied the series 2-2 and remain in last place in the division. Mean while the Athletics are surprisingly second despite just being .500 at 16-16. Houston did win the first game of the series for their second straight win only their second time so far to win two games in a row this season. After that however the teams traded wins and eventually tied the series.

Houston at hit the Athletics in game 4, 10-4. However, 9 of Houstons 10 hits were singles while the Athletics had three homeruns (Brent Rooker (10), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (4) and Joc Pederson (7) out of their 4 total hits. Homeruns are killing Houston as they are currently well in last place in the league in homeruns allowed.

Houston will soon get their wish as April is coming to an end. They have one more game in this cursed month before their series versus the Nationals (15-16/5th NL East) bleeds over into May.

[The Gamer]

Cubs sweep Padres to open historic ’99, set table for Seattle showdown at Wrigley

CHICAGO — The Cubs didn’t ease into Year 2 of this new baseball season — they kicked the door in, sweeping the reigning NL West champion Padres in three games and doing it with the kind of variety that travels: power early, pressure late, and one emphatic reminder that Kerry Wood can still take a night and own the whole script. The reigning Cy Young and Rookie of the Year winner Wood experienced some elbow discomfort in spring training that had the Cubs organization and entire fan base worried that he could miss the entire season, however as it turns out it was just a cramp from sleeping in a wrong position.

The opener was as clean as the April air. Wood went the distance, spinning a 9-inning shutout with 9 strikeouts and no walks, turning San Diego’s first series into a long, quiet walk back to the dugout. The Cubs didn’t need fireworks — they needed execution — and they got it: Gary Gaetti homered, Mark Grace doubled, and the Cubs scratched together just enough to make Wood’s masterpiece stand up in a 3–0 win.

Game 2 showed a different muscle: resilience. The Cubs absorbed a push from the Padres, then punched back with timely swings — Sammy Sosa drove in a run, Grace delivered two RBIs, and the lineup kept moving until Chicago escaped with a 5–4 win. Even when the pitching got messy late, the Cubs didn’t blink. They just kept answering.


And in the finale, the Cubs went full Wrigley chaos — the fun kind. Mickey Morandini had himself a day (a 4-hit afternoon with traffic everywhere he went), and when San Diego made it interesting, the Cubs responded with a crooked number and a finishing flourish: Sosa left the yard, and the Cubs closed the sweep with a 7–5 win, with Rod Beck slamming the door for the save.

Three wins. Three different styles. And a very loud message: this club didn’t come into ’99 looking for a “nice start.” It came in looking for leverage.

Next up: Mariners arrive — and the headlines are already written
The reward for sweeping a division champ? Another division champ walks into your park.

The Seattle Mariners, reigning AL West kings, come to Wrigley with a roster full of problems — and not the kind you feel sorry for. The biggest of them is a familiar name in a new uniform: Edgar Martínez is here — and he’s bringing his trophy case with him
Seattle’s lineup now features the ’98 AL MVP, Triple Crown winner, and Silver Slugger / Hank Aaron Award force of nature in Martínez. The Cubs don’t need a reminder of what that means — the league spent last season watching Edgar turn good pitching into bad memories.
And if you’re looking for the big new story in this series, it might come from the other side:
Freddy García watch
All eyes are on Seattle’s Freddy García, the highly regarded pitching prospect acquired out of the Randy Johnson trade tree. This series shapes up as one of his first real “spotlight” moments — the kind you remember later when he’s no longer “promising” and just “feared.”

Probable pitching matchups (as scheduled)

Game 1: Kevin Tapani vs John Halama
Game 2: Brad Woodall vs Jeff Fassero
Game 3: Kerry Wood vs Jamie Moyer

That finale has “marquee” written all over it: Wood coming off a shutout statement, Moyer bringing the veteran calm, and a Seattle lineup that now includes a man who just won everything last year.
Tribune-style keys to the series
Wood’s tone-setting is real. A complete-game shutout in the opener doesn’t just win a game — it tells everyone the Cubs can win a series without playing perfect.
Morandini looks locked in. When your leadoff/turnover bats are doing that, the whole lineup gets annoying in the best way.
Sosa vs. Seattle’s new crown jewel. Sammy already opened ’99 with a reminder swing. Now he runs into a staff with García on the horizon and a veteran like Moyer in the spotlight.
The Edgar question. Do you pitch around him early in April and let the rest of the lineup decide games… or challenge the guy who just won the Triple Crown and hope courage beats math?

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[The Gamer]

Chicago Tribune
Cubs Find Their Footing Late, Avoid Sweep as Mariners Take Series
The Cubs didn’t win the series — but they didn’t let it spiral, either.
Seattle arrived at Wrigley with confidence and left with a 2–1 series victory, but not without resistance. Over three games, the Cubs were tested early, punched again, and finally answered — salvaging the finale to steady themselves before heading into a demanding road stretch.
Game 1 — Mariners Set the Tone
The opener belonged to Seattle.
The Mariners struck early and often, putting the Cubs on the defensive from the start and never fully loosening their grip. Chicago flashed moments offensively, but couldn’t string enough together to offset Seattle’s ability to capitalize when opportunities arose.
It was the kind of game that quietly slips away — not a blowout, but never quite in reach late. Seattle’s pitching kept traffic manageable, and the Cubs were left chasing runs instead of dictating the pace.
Result: Mariners take Game 1 and immediately apply pressure to the series.
Game 2 — Seattle Clinches the Series
If Game 1 set the tone, Game 2 confirmed it.
Seattle again jumped ahead, and again the Cubs found themselves trying to play uphill. Chicago battled — there were baserunners, there were chances — but timely hits proved elusive while the Mariners continued to do just enough, inning by inning, to stay in control.
By the late innings, the reality had set in: Seattle wasn’t just winning games — they were winning moments.
With the Cubs unable to flip momentum, the Mariners clinched the series before the weekend was through.
Result: Mariners win Game 2, take series (2–0).
Game 3 — Cubs Refuse the Sweep
The Cubs finally exhaled — and swung freely.
In a chaotic 11–8 slugfest, Chicago played its most complete offensive game of the young season, trading blows with Seattle and refusing to let the finale follow the script of the first two.
Seattle landed first again, tagging the Cubs with a three-run opening punch. This time, Chicago answered immediately — and kept answering.
Sammy Sosa, coming off a 1998 season that ended with MVP and Silver Slugger honors, reminded everyone why opposing pitchers still plan around him. Two home runs later, the Cubs had their anchor. Glenallen Hill delivered damage from the middle of the order. Lance Johnson ignited rallies with speed. When Seattle threatened late, Rod Beck finished it with resolve.
It wasn’t clean. It wasn’t calm.
But it was necessary.
Result: Cubs win Game 3, avoid sweep, regain momentum.
Series Summary
Mariners win series: 2–1
Cubs finish: 4–2 overall
Takeaway: Early-season reminder — talent alone doesn’t win series, but resilience can stop a skid before it starts.
Looking Ahead — Cubs at Reds (4 Games)
The Cubs now head to Cincinnati to face a 5–1 Reds club, one that has played crisp, aggressive baseball out of the gate.
Probable Pitching Order
Game 1: Jon Lieber
Game 2: Steve Trachsel
Game 3: Kevin Tapani
Game 4: Brad Woodall
What Matters
Lieber sets the tone. The Cubs need stability early in the series.
Short memory. Seattle exposed mistakes; Cincinnati will punish them.
Carry the bats. The offense finally showed life in Game 3 — it can’t stay in Chicago.
The Cubs didn’t win the Mariners series.
But they left it standing — and sometimes, early in a season, that matters more than it sounds.

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[The Gamer]

CHICAGO TRIBUNE — SERIES WRAP
Cubs drop Cincinnati set, but Tapani’s shutout win keeps the trip from turning sour
CINCINNATI — The Cubs didn’t get swept, but they didn’t get what they came for, either.
Chicago dropped three of four to the Reds, losing the opener 4–3, getting blanked 3–0 in Game 2, salvaging the third game with a 3–0 shutout, and then watching the finale unravel in a 9–4 defeat that featured too much traffic, too many big swings, and not enough outs when they mattered most.
The series was a study in thin margins, and Cincinnati played it like a team that understands them.
Game 1: Reds 4, Cubs 3
The opener was the one that lingered because it was winnable. The Cubs hung around, fought back, and still left short. Cincinnati struck when it had to, and Chicago never landed the finishing blow.
Game 2: Reds 3, Cubs 0
The Reds seized control of the series with a shutout that turned at-bats into quick outs and innings into dead ends. Chicago didn’t just lose — it was neutralized. By the end of the night, the Cubs were down 2–0 in the series and playing from underneath.
Game 3: Cubs 3, Reds 0
This was the Cubs’ best baseball of the trip, and it came the grown-up way.
Kevin Tapani worked 6 1/3 shutout innings, and the Cubs spaced out their damage exactly how you want in a road win: one run, then another, then a final punch.
Blauser RBI double
Hernández homer
Gaetti homer
Mulholland/Myers/Beck shut it down cleanly
It didn’t win the series, but it stopped the series from becoming a slide.
Game 4: Reds 9, Cubs 4
Then came the one that burned.
Cincinnati’s big bats turned the game loud, and Chicago never found the brakes. Greg Vaughn’s two-homer, four-RBI night was the headline, but the larger story was what it represented: once the Reds got momentum, the Cubs couldn’t shut the door fast enough to keep the inning from becoming a problem.
What it means
Ten games in, the Cubs look like a team that can pitch well enough to win most nights — but not consistently enough to survive games where defense and bullpen execution slip.
They’re not broken.
They’re just not clean yet.
And in April, “not clean” is how you lose series you could have split.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE — GAME 1 PREVIEW (SAN DIEGO)
Tone-setter time: Wood opens Padres series with Cubs needing a reset
SAN DIEGO — The best thing about a tough series loss is that baseball doesn’t give you time to mope.
The Cubs arrive in San Diego with a 5–5 record and a road lesson still fresh: when innings get messy, this team can bleed fast. That’s why the next series begins the only way it should — with the Kid taking the ball.
Game 1 matchup
Kerry Wood vs. Matt Clement
This is the start that can wash the taste of Cincinnati off the trip immediately.
Wood isn’t just the rotation’s ace — he’s the rotation’s mood. When he’s sharp, the defense locks in. The bullpen breathes. The lineup doesn’t feel like it has to score five to win.
And after watching a series swing on execution — and one ugly inning — the Cubs need a game that feels controlled again.
What to watch
Fastball command early. If Wood is in the zone with conviction, San Diego’s lineup gets passive fast.
First-inning tone. The Cubs have been living in the margins; they can’t afford early deficits that force chase mode.
Bullpen usage. A strong Wood start means the Cubs can script the late innings instead of improvising them.
The bigger picture
This rotation is now locked in order — Wood → Lieber → Trachsel → Tapani → Woodall — and that’s a deliberate choice. It’s built to start series with authority, follow with stability, and survive the grind.
It starts tonight.
If the Cubs are going to play the kind of season they think they’re capable of playing, it begins with a simple idea on this West Coast swing:
Stop the chaos before it starts.

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[MannybeingManny]

I can’t believe I’ve played nearly two full seasons of this year’s series. I played with Cleveland in my first franchise and lost in the wildcard round. Now with the Red Sox I have three games left in the regular season. I’ve clinched a playoff spot but I’m tied with Baltimore for the east with three games left in the regular season. All three American League divisions are tied with three games left. Baltimore and Boston, Cleveland and Detroit and Seattle and Texas. I could knock Detroit out of the playoffs because they have to win their division to get in. With five weeks left in the season I was a season low 6.5 games behind Baltimore. Now we’re tied. This is crazy. Best regular season experience I’ve had with this series I think.

[Itsma806]

close it out!

[Itsma806]

2027 Houston Astros 04/30-05/02

Overall Record: 11-24 (5th AL West/10.0 behind Seattle)

Game Resutls:

Game 1
Nationals-3
Astros-2

Game 2
Nationals-9
Astros-1

Game 3
Astros-9
Nationals-7

As the Calendar flips, Astros fortunes stay the same.

April ended much as expected with an extra innings loss to the Washington Nationals for Houston. May was supposed to see a change of fortunes but that wasn't to be. Houston got abosultely dominated in their first game of the new month, 9-1.

Then, it was the second game of the month and third of the series. Houston got out to the early lead with a two out two run homerun off the bat of Pete Alonso (12/1st Astros). That lead would only hold until the 3rd inning however and the game eventually went into extras for the second time in the series. The 11th inning saw the Astros take an extra inning commanding lead. Washington fought back but Houston was able to hold them off to avoid the series sweep.

Houston still tries to get things going as they return home to face the Angels (15-18/3rd AL West/5.0 behind Seattle).

[The Gamer]

Cubs Sweep Padres, Leave San Diego Flat
SAN DIEGO — The Cubs left town with more than three wins. They left the Padres worn down.
Chicago swept San Diego by winning three different kinds of games — a one-run grinder, a controlled pitching win and a late comeback powered by Sammy Sosa — to finish the trip 8–5 and carry momentum home to Wrigley.
Game 1: Cubs 5, Padres 4
Kerry Wood set the tone by finishing what he started.
The Padres struck first on a Tony Gwynn RBI single and added two more in the third, but the Cubs flipped the game in the fourth when Sosa launched a 403-foot homer to center. Mark Grace singled, Henry Rodríguez doubled home a run, and Glenallen Hill added another as Chicago surged ahead.
Wally Joyner’s solo homer in the sixth cut into the lead, but Wood never turned the ball over — even singling in the ninth to help spark an insurance run before closing out a complete-game win himself.
Game 2: Cubs 4, Padres 1
Saturday was simpler.
Rodríguez opened the scoring with a 417-foot homer in the second, then the Cubs broke it open an inning later with extra-base hits. Lance Johnson scored on a Sosa double, Grace doubled home Sosa, and Rodríguez added another RBI.
Jon Lieber worked eight efficient innings, allowing one run while striking out eight. Rod Beck handled the ninth for his fourth save.
Game 3: Cubs 5, Padres 3
Sunday demanded patience.
Steve Trachsel kept the Cubs close despite constant traffic, and Gary Gaetti pulled them within one with a two-run homer in the seventh. One inning later, after a Padres error opened the door, Sosa slammed it shut with a 444-foot, three-run homer to left.
Scott Sanders earned the win, Rodney Myers bridged the eighth, and Beck finished it for his fifth save.
What It Means
The Cubs won tight, won clean and won late — the kind of versatility that travels early in the season.
Up Next
Chicago returns home for three against Houston:
Friday: Kevin Tapani vs. Scott Elarton
Saturday: Brad Woodall vs. Sean Bergman
Sunday: Kerry Wood vs. José Lima
Wood (3–0) and Lima (3–0, 1.74 ERA) square off in a finale that already feels like a measuring stick.

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[countryboy]

Cardinals trade Nolan Gorman to the Rays

The Cardinals and Rays have struck a deal in latter June that will send Nolan Gorman to the Rays in exchange for RHP prospect Josh Jimenez. Gorman has been battling to stay in the big leagues this year due to the emergence of rookie Johnnie Escobar who has taken over the DH duties. The switch hitting former top overall pick is hitting .266 with 8 homeruns and 2nd best 47 RBIs on the season. Gorman on the other hand is hitting just above .100 and striking out in nearly 37% of his at-bats.

The return RHP Josh Jimenez was the Rays #14 prospect in the organization and was a 3rd round pick in the 2029 draft. Jimenez is 19 years old and has only pitched at the Single A level, which is where he will be placed with the Cardinals.

With the trade season around the corner, expect the Cards to make a few more moves as they get positioned for a battle with the Cubs, Reds, and Pirates (all separated by 3 games) in a race to clinch their 3rd straight NL Central divisional title.

[The Gamer]

Cubs vs. Astros — Series Recap (Astros take 2 of 3)
Game 1 — Cubs 10, Astros 9 (10 innings)
Wrigley Field — an early-season classic
This one had the feel of a July pennant game crammed into April — momentum swings, big swings, and tension that refused to break.
Houston struck first, manufacturing early runs with traffic and timely contact, but the Cubs stayed within striking distance all afternoon. Sammy Sosa set the tone offensively, doubling and later delivering one of the game’s loudest moments — a no-doubt home run that jolted Wrigley and flipped the energy back toward the home dugout.
The Astros answered late. In the eighth, Houston pieced together a rally highlighted by extra-base damage and situational hitting, briefly seizing control and quieting the crowd. The Cubs refused to fold. Sosa came through again in the late innings, reaching base and scoring as Chicago clawed back to force extras.
In the 10th, the Cubs finally landed the decisive blow. A string of quality at-bats put pressure on Houston’s bullpen, and the winning run crossed amid chaos and noise, sealing a 10–9 Cubs victory that felt bigger than one game.
It was the kind of win that can anchor a homestand — resilient, loud, and earned.
Game 2 — Astros 8, Cubs 4
Momentum swings back
Houston made sure the emotional lift from Game 1 didn’t linger long.
The Astros jumped ahead early, capitalizing on mistakes and hard contact to build a working margin. Chicago briefly pulled even with run-scoring hits from the middle of the order — Mark Grace and Henry Rodríguez delivering timely RBIs — but Houston’s offense never fully loosened its grip.
The turning point came in the middle innings. Houston stacked hits, drew traffic, and punished pitches left in the zone, turning a tight game into a separation that forced the Cubs into bullpen maneuvering earlier than planned.
Sosa remained a threat all night, collecting multiple hits and scoring, but the Cubs couldn’t string together enough clean innings on either side of the ball. Houston added late insurance and closed out an 8–4 win, evening the series and resetting the tone.
Game 3 — Astros 6, Cubs 3
Strong start, narrow margins
The finale played tighter and sharper, with both teams trading clean innings early.
Kerry Wood was dominant from the outset, carving through Houston’s lineup with velocity and command. He carried Chicago deep into the game, striking out hitters and keeping the Cubs within reach even as Houston scratched across runs via solo damage and opportunistic hitting.
Chicago answered with timely doubles and contact — Henry Rodríguez again in the middle of the action — and pulled within one late, threatening to turn the series back in their favor.
Houston, however, executed when it mattered. A late rally widened the gap just enough to hold off the Cubs’ final push, and the Astros’ bullpen shut the door to secure a 6–3 win and the series.
Wood’s line told the story of the night: dominant stuff, minimal margin for error.
Series Takeaway
The Cubs proved they can trade blows with a veteran Houston club — and win a classic when given an opening — but the Astros’ experience showed across Games 2 and 3. Chicago flashed resilience, power, and top-end pitching, yet small lapses and missed opportunities turned the series.
This felt like a measuring-stick matchup.
The Cubs didn’t blink — but Houston didn’t either.

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[MannybeingManny]

I can’t believe I’ve played nearly two full seasons of this year’s series. I played with Cleveland in my first franchise and lost in the wildcard round. Now with the Red Sox I have three games left in the regular season. I’ve clinched a playoff spot but I’m tied with Baltimore for the east with three games left in the regular season. All three American League divisions are tied with three games left. Baltimore and Boston, Cleveland and Detroit and Seattle and Texas. I could knock Detroit out of the playoffs because they have to win their division to get in. With five weeks left in the season I was a season low 6.5 games behind Baltimore. Now we’re tied. This is crazy. Best regular season experience I’ve had with this series I think.

I ended up winning the division despite having the exact same record as Baltimore. I must have beat them more in the regular season or something? I ended up playing them in the division round and swept them. I’m up 3-0 over the mariners in the alcs. It’s like a story of two different seasons. I played 500 ball for four months, can’t seem to lose a series over the last six weeks.

[The Gamer]

Cubs vs. Athletics
April 14–16, 2026 | Wrigley Field
Series: A’s win 2–1
GAME 1 — Cubs 3, Athletics 2
April 14 | Wrigley Field
The Cubs opened the homestand by grinding out a win the hard way.
After five scoreless innings, Chicago broke through with a three-run sixth, sparked by a pinch-hit single from Manny Alexander, a sacrifice fly from Glenallen Hill, and an RBI knock by Benito Santiago. The inning flipped a tight pitchers’ duel and gave the Cubs a cushion they’d need.
Jon Lieber was cruising before misfortune struck in the fourth, when a line drive forced him out of the game after 3.2 innings. The bullpen absorbed the shock without blinking. Dan Serafini steadied the middle innings, Félix Heredia and Rodney Myers bridged the gap, and Rod Beck slammed the door for Save No. 6.
Oakland scratched out two runs in the fifth on a Ben Grieve RBI, but the Cubs’ relief corps never let the game tilt back.
Key notes
Cubs scored all three runs in one inning
Lieber exits early; bullpen delivers 5.1 scoreless
Beck perfect in the ninth
GAME 2 — Athletics 4, Cubs 2 (12 innings)
April 15 | Wrigley Field
This one hurt.
Steve Trachsel delivered one of his sharper outings of the season — 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 5 K — but the Cubs couldn’t land the knockout blow when given the chance.
Oakland struck first in the sixth on a Jason McDonald solo homer (439 ft), but Chicago answered immediately in the seventh. Mark Grace singled, Henry Rodríguez lashed a double to center to tie it, and Sandy Martinez followed with an RBI single to give the Cubs a 2–1 lead.
From there, the bullpen door slowly creaked open.
Terry Mulholland was tagged with a blown save in the eighth when Scott Spiezio crushed a solo shot to left. The game dragged into extra innings, with both teams trading zeros until the 12th — when Oakland finally broke through.
A Miguel Tejada double set the table, and Spiezio struck again, launching a two-run homer to left to put the A’s ahead for good. The Cubs went quietly in the bottom half.
Key notes
Cubs stranded multiple late runners
Trachsel deserved better
Spiezio: 2 HR, 3 RBI
Cubs lose a winnable one deep into extras
GAME 3 — Athletics 3, Cubs 2
April 16 | Wrigley Field
The finale followed a familiar script — tight, tense, and ultimately tilted the wrong way.
The Cubs drew first blood in the fourth. Curtis Goodwin singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored when Sammy Sosa doubled to center.
Oakland answered in the fifth with a three-run burst. Mike Oquist delivered the dagger, tripling to right to score two before coming home himself on a groundout.
Chicago clawed back late. In the ninth, Henry Rodríguez crushed a 446-foot solo homer to center, pulling the Cubs within one and electrifying the park. But the rally stalled, and Oakland closed it out behind Billy Taylor.
Kevin Tapani went the distance in spirit if not in reward, allowing just 3 runs over 8 innings, but the offense never fully recovered from the fifth-inning swing.
Key notes
Rodríguez HR nearly flips the script
Cubs outhit A’s 10–7
Oakland capitalizes on one big inning
SERIES TAKEAWAYS
Cubs go 1–2, but none of the losses were blowouts
Bullpen cracks in Games 2 and 3 prove costly
Henry Rodríguez was the most consistent bat (HR + key RBIs)
Cubs pitching kept them competitive every night
Execution in high-leverage moments favored Oakland
The Cubs leave the series 10–9, knowing they were a handful of pitches away from a very different outcome.
WHAT’S NEXT
Cubs at Blue Jays — 3-Game Road Trip
April 17–19 | Rogers Centre
The Cubs now head north to face a hot Toronto club (13–6) in a challenging interleague set inside the dome.
Probable Matchups
Game 1: Brad Woodall vs. Roy Halladay
Game 2: Jon Lieber vs. David Wells
Game 3: Kerry Wood vs. Pat Hentgen (projected)
Toronto brings veteran arms, patience at the plate, and an offense that punishes mistakes — a real test for a Cubs team still searching for consistency away from Wrigley.
Storylines to watch
Can the Cubs bullpen reset after back-to-back gut punches?
Will the offense cash in more consistently with runners on?
Big arms on both sides — pitching should dominate this series
Kerry Wood looms as the tone-setter if the Cubs can split the first two
This trip has the feel of an early-season measuring stick. The Cubs don’t need perfection — but they do need sharper execution when games hang in the balance.

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[MannybeingManny]

I ended up winning the division despite having the exact same record as Baltimore. I must have beat them more in the regular season or something? I ended up playing them in the division round and swept them. I’m up 3-0 over the mariners in the alcs. It’s like a story of two different seasons. I played 500 ball for four months, can’t seem to lose a series over the last six weeks.

Absolutley unbelievable comeback by Seattle. I lead the series three games to none and just lost in 15 innings and now the series is tied. Game seven tomorrow night. The cubs won the pennant over Cincinnati in seven games.

[MannybeingManny]

Absolutley unbelievable comeback by Seattle. I lead the series three games to none and just lost in 15 innings and now the series is tied. Game seven tomorrow night. The cubs won the pennant over Cincinnati in seven games.

League champions! Beat Seattle. Playing Chicago for the ship!

[Itsma806]

2027 Houston Astros 05/03-05/05

Overall Record:13-25 (5th AL West/9.0 behind Seattle)

Game Results:

Game 1
Angels-5
Astros-2

Game 2
Astros-5
Angels-4

Game 3
Astros-13
Angels-12

BREAKING NEWS: The 2027 Astros won a series!

It is sort of breaking news at least for Houston and their fans. They just beat the Angels 2-1 for their first series win since approximately a month ago when they swept the Rockies in a three game set April 5th through the 7th.

Houston and Los Angeles split the first two games of the series before the Astros took the final game and the series.

That final game was wild oh wild however.

The game saw Justin Steele take the mound for the Angels while Spencer Arrighetti took the bump for the Astros. Steele came over to LA last season in a trade with Chicago that saw a 1 for 1 swap for Zach Neto. He is currently LA's lead man in their rotation. Arrighetti has taken a step back in his role on his rotation and had been in the bullpen before Ronel Blanco went down with his injury. That injury moved Spencer back into a starting role.

Both were pretty good although Arrighetti ended up having the better start. He pitched 6 innings while he gave up just one run. That run came in the 5th when Dylan Moore doubled in a run. However, Houston answered back and struck Steele with his three earned runs of the game those came via a Stone Garrett rbi double and Yordan Alvarez's 12th homerun of the season, a two run shot to center field.

Cal Quantrill is another pitcher getting a chance with the Astros injuries to the staff. He hadnt pitched much but had done decently in the times he did come in. This time however was not one of those times. He failed to get an out while he allowed three runs. He then gave way to Tayler Scott who had been great thus far in the season. Well he wasn't either as he too gave up three runs however he did make it to the end of that tough 7th innings that saw the Angels take the lead after scoring six runs to make it 7-3.

At that point, a team in Houston who already has an uphill battle to climb back into any kind of race could have given up. They didn't and the game eventually went into extras tied at 7.

The craziness didn't end their either. Twice, in extras Los Angeles put up crooked numbers, scoring two in 10th and three in the 11th but both times, Houston Answered back.

Then, finally in the 12th inning, Yordan Alvarez hit a liner that just went over the glove of the leaping Mike Trout in right field and Pena came in to score as Houston walked it off with the 13-12 win.

Now after that marathon, Houston will have a day off before they take on Baltimore (18-19/3rd AL East).

[jmcole33]

The Amazins

Mets Drop 2 of 3 to Dodgers at Citi Field
July 27, 2030

It took the Mets until the series finale to get pitching that was effective enough to win a baseball game. The Dodgers managed 28 runs over the three game series, winning the first two games with relative ease.

Game 1 saw Giolito go only 3.2 IP while giving up 5 runs and then a 7th inning meltdown from the bullpen courtesy of Ramon Chavez and Cesar Feirrera. Corey Seager hit his 26th HR in the bottom of the inning to make it a 13-4 ball game, which would be the final.

In the second game, Anderson Espinoza turned in the worst start of his season. He surrendured 7 runs over 5 innings, In the 7th inning, an Alexis Quevedo sac fly and a 2-run shot by Elvis Valido pulled the Mets within 7-5. Cesar Feirrera would get tagged for the second game in a row, giving up back to back homers in the 8th to give the Dodgers some more breathing room. Quevedo added his third RBI of the day in the bottom of the 9th, but it was too little too late in the 10-6 Dodgers win. John James gave up a run and struck out three over an inning in his Mets debut.

Manuel Diaz made his first career start in the finale and was solid over 5 innings. He gave up 5 runs, 3 of which were in the first inning, and struck out 4. The bullpen was lockdwon tonight, with Donald Beals collecting the save. Offensively, the Mets got home runs from Michael Conforto, Corey Seager, and two from Steven Logan. Logan's second gave him 43 on the year and 100 RBI, and it was the final run in a 7-5 Mets win. Alexis Quevedo also had a 2-run double that tied the game at 4 in the 3rd inning.

The Mets (73-37) will now get a day off before flying to Miami (54-55). The Mets took 2 of 3 from Miami last weekend.