Deadspin | Mariners’ big bats waking up ahead of series at Cardinals Apr 20, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12) hits an RBI-double against the Athletics during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Maybe the Seattle Mariners’ big three are finally getting over their World Baseball Classic hangovers. Over their just-completed six-game homestand, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor’s bats started to heat up. The Mariners went 3-3 against a pair of American League West rivals, the Texas Rangers and the Athletics, and start a six-game trip Friday in St. Louis with an interleague encounter against the Cardinals. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth Wednesday and the score tied at 4-4 against the A’s, Raleigh grounded a single to center field. Rodriguez followed by grounding a single to left, sending Raleigh to second, and he scored on Naylor’s line-drive single to left. “These guys have really found a good groove,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “Their at-bats have been outstanding, I was super impressed there with two outs, Cal getting the hit up the middle, Julio going into the hole and then Naylor going the other way to win it.” Entering that homestand, the Mariners’ Nos. 2-4 hitters were scuffling. Raleigh was batting .169 with two homers and 11 RBIs, Rodriguez was hitting .200 with one homer and six RBIs, and Naylor was at .118 with two homers and seven RBIs. During the six games, Raleigh went 7-for-24 with three homers — one in each of the past three games — and three RBIs; Rodriguez was 9-for-23 with two RBIs; and Naylor was 9-for-17 with three RBIs. “You work hard to get those results,” Naylor said. “It’s a hard game we play. It’s arguably the hardest sport. We chose to play it — and we’re idiots for choosing it — but we did. And we have decided to come to this ballpark every day and grind.” The Mariners hope to continue to progress on the road, where they’re 1-8 this season with eight consecutive defeats. They’ve been outscored 33-19 during the skid. “We’ll take this on the road with us and take some momentum from it for sure,” Wilson said. The Cardinals return home after going 4-2 on a six-game trip to Houston and Miami. They lost 4-1 to the Marlins on Wednesday but got a chance to give Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn a day off. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol called it a “no-brainer” to get his key players two days off in a row with the team being idle Thursday. “It’s hard because you want to empty out (the bench) and just take your shot,” Marmol said after the defeat. “But this early on (in the season), you also have to be disciplined about keeping your word. Hit the reset button. Getting (Thursday) off for some guys, two days off for the guys who needed it is important. It may not seem that way from a fan perspective. You look at it and go, ‘Gosh, hit Walker, Winn and Burly.’ That stuff catches up with you.” Friday’s series opener is set to feature a pair of right-handers in the Mariners’ George Kirby (3-2, 2.97 ERA) and the Cardinals’ Andre Pallante (2-1, 4.05). Kirby has won his past two starts, including a 7-3 decision against Texas on Saturday in which he allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings. He’s 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two previous starts against St. Louis. Pallante is coming off a 7-5 victory Saturday in Houston in which he gave up one run in five innings. This will be his first appearance against the Mariners. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mariners #big #bats #waking #ahead #series #Cardinals

Deadspin | Blue Jays in evaluation mode as homestand opens vs. Guardians Apr 20, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) delivers during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images The Toronto Blue Jays will try to gain some traction during a six-game homestand that starts Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians. The Blue Jays completed a 4-5 road trip with a 7-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday as they continue to seek the magic of last season. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak that came after the Blue Jays had dropped four straight. “I thought we played way better as the trip went on, obviously, and taking some positives out of the first two games here, even (Wednesday),” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. The Guardians also lost on Wednesday, 2-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series with the Houston Astros that completed their 4-3 homestand. “This series in particular could have gone either way,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We could have swept, but ‘could haves’ don’t count. So we’ve just got to continue to work every day.” The Blue Jays and Guardians both had Thursday off. The Guardians had played 13 consecutive days and were 6-7 in that stretch. “This 13-game stretch was long and these guys worked really hard and we’re going to enjoy this off day and get ready to go Friday night,” Vogt said. The Guardians will face Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (1-2, 7.16 ERA) on Friday. Scherzer is 9-5 with a 4.10 ERA in 22 career starts against Cleveland. Cleveland will start right-hander Gavin Williams (3-1, 2.12) in the opener. He has a 2.76 ERA with no decisions in three career starts against Toronto. Schneider said he would use the off day to consider how to deal with struggling closer Jeff Hoffman, who gave up a run on two hits Tuesday before being rescued by Louis Varland. “We’ll re-evaluate everything, talk with him, see how he’s doing,” Schneider said. “He’s going through it, obviously, a little bit.” Schneider said he will continue to support Hoffman and try to use him where he can have success. “He’s a big boy,” Schneider said. “He understands that the spotlight is on him a little bit, and rightfully so. So it’s like, ‘How can we be there to support you? How can we help you get ahead of hitters? Is it mechanical? Is it between the ears a little bit? What’s going on here, and how can we help?” Varland could be used as closer, but he has also been valuable in the seventh or eighth. “Sometimes the game could be won or lost in the eighth, top of the order,” Schneider said. “How do you weigh where to use Louis?” Guardians infielder Brayan Rocchio, who has had a solid start to the season, was 0-for-4 Wednesday to end a career-best eight-game hitting streak. He was 13-for-27 (.481/.517/.778) with two home runs and nine RBIs in that span. “Brayan’s growing up,” Vogt said on Tuesday after Rocchio’s single ignited a six-run eighth. “Brayan is figuring out who he is. He’s on a nice little run right now, and we want to keep that going as long as we can. I think for Rocchio, it’s just go play. He knows what his role is. His role is to get on base, whether that’s taking a walk (or) getting something he can handle to hit.” Rocchio is staying grounded. “As a baseball player, you never have to feel comfortable at the plate because this sport can humble you,” he said. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Blue #Jays #evaluation #mode #homestand #opens #Guardians

#Deadspin #Blue #Jays #evaluation #mode #homestand #opens #Guardians">

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Apr 20, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) delivers during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays will try to gain some traction during a six-game homestand that starts Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians.

The Blue Jays completed a 4-5 road trip with a 7-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday as they continue to seek the magic of last season.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak that came after the Blue Jays had dropped four straight.

“I thought we played way better as the trip went on, obviously, and taking some positives out of the first two games here, even (Wednesday),” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

The Guardians also lost on Wednesday, 2-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series with the Houston Astros that completed their 4-3 homestand.

“This series in particular could have gone either way,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We could have swept, but ‘could haves’ don’t count. So we’ve just got to continue to work every day.”

The Blue Jays and Guardians both had Thursday off. The Guardians had played 13 consecutive days and were 6-7 in that stretch.

“This 13-game stretch was long and these guys worked really hard and we’re going to enjoy this off day and get ready to go Friday night,” Vogt said.

The Guardians will face Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (1-2, 7.16 ERA) on Friday. Scherzer is 9-5 with a 4.10 ERA in 22 career starts against Cleveland.

Cleveland will start right-hander Gavin Williams (3-1, 2.12) in the opener. He has a 2.76 ERA with no decisions in three career starts against Toronto.

Schneider said he would use the off day to consider how to deal with struggling closer Jeff Hoffman, who gave up a run on two hits Tuesday before being rescued by Louis Varland.

“We’ll re-evaluate everything, talk with him, see how he’s doing,” Schneider said. “He’s going through it, obviously, a little bit.”

Schneider said he will continue to support Hoffman and try to use him where he can have success.

“He’s a big boy,” Schneider said. “He understands that the spotlight is on him a little bit, and rightfully so. So it’s like, ‘How can we be there to support you? How can we help you get ahead of hitters? Is it mechanical? Is it between the ears a little bit? What’s going on here, and how can we help?”

Varland could be used as closer, but he has also been valuable in the seventh or eighth. “Sometimes the game could be won or lost in the eighth, top of the order,” Schneider said. “How do you weigh where to use Louis?”

Guardians infielder Brayan Rocchio, who has had a solid start to the season, was 0-for-4 Wednesday to end a career-best eight-game hitting streak. He was 13-for-27 (.481/.517/.778) with two home runs and nine RBIs in that span.

“Brayan’s growing up,” Vogt said on Tuesday after Rocchio’s single ignited a six-run eighth. “Brayan is figuring out who he is. He’s on a nice little run right now, and we want to keep that going as long as we can. I think for Rocchio, it’s just go play. He knows what his role is. His role is to get on base, whether that’s taking a walk (or) getting something he can handle to hit.”

Rocchio is staying grounded.

“As a baseball player, you never have to feel comfortable at the plate because this sport can humble you,” he said.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Blue #Jays #evaluation #mode #homestand #opens #Guardians">Deadspin | Blue Jays in evaluation mode as homestand opens vs. Guardians

Apr 20, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) delivers during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays will try to gain some traction during a six-game homestand that starts Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians.

The Blue Jays completed a 4-5 road trip with a 7-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday as they continue to seek the magic of last season.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak that came after the Blue Jays had dropped four straight.

“I thought we played way better as the trip went on, obviously, and taking some positives out of the first two games here, even (Wednesday),” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

The Guardians also lost on Wednesday, 2-0, in the rubber match of a three-game series with the Houston Astros that completed their 4-3 homestand.

“This series in particular could have gone either way,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “We could have swept, but ‘could haves’ don’t count. So we’ve just got to continue to work every day.”

The Blue Jays and Guardians both had Thursday off. The Guardians had played 13 consecutive days and were 6-7 in that stretch.

“This 13-game stretch was long and these guys worked really hard and we’re going to enjoy this off day and get ready to go Friday night,” Vogt said.

The Guardians will face Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (1-2, 7.16 ERA) on Friday. Scherzer is 9-5 with a 4.10 ERA in 22 career starts against Cleveland.

Cleveland will start right-hander Gavin Williams (3-1, 2.12) in the opener. He has a 2.76 ERA with no decisions in three career starts against Toronto.

Schneider said he would use the off day to consider how to deal with struggling closer Jeff Hoffman, who gave up a run on two hits Tuesday before being rescued by Louis Varland.

“We’ll re-evaluate everything, talk with him, see how he’s doing,” Schneider said. “He’s going through it, obviously, a little bit.”

Schneider said he will continue to support Hoffman and try to use him where he can have success.

“He’s a big boy,” Schneider said. “He understands that the spotlight is on him a little bit, and rightfully so. So it’s like, ‘How can we be there to support you? How can we help you get ahead of hitters? Is it mechanical? Is it between the ears a little bit? What’s going on here, and how can we help?”

Varland could be used as closer, but he has also been valuable in the seventh or eighth. “Sometimes the game could be won or lost in the eighth, top of the order,” Schneider said. “How do you weigh where to use Louis?”

Guardians infielder Brayan Rocchio, who has had a solid start to the season, was 0-for-4 Wednesday to end a career-best eight-game hitting streak. He was 13-for-27 (.481/.517/.778) with two home runs and nine RBIs in that span.

“Brayan’s growing up,” Vogt said on Tuesday after Rocchio’s single ignited a six-run eighth. “Brayan is figuring out who he is. He’s on a nice little run right now, and we want to keep that going as long as we can. I think for Rocchio, it’s just go play. He knows what his role is. His role is to get on base, whether that’s taking a walk (or) getting something he can handle to hit.”

Rocchio is staying grounded.

“As a baseball player, you never have to feel comfortable at the plate because this sport can humble you,” he said.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Blue #Jays #evaluation #mode #homestand #opens #Guardians

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