Bear in mind final week when Shohei Ohtani flexed on his bobblehead night? Apparently he began a pattern as a result of one other All-Star determined to provide the followers what they got here for on Saturday evening. Talking of followers, over the weekend we noticed a repeat of Mookie Betts‘ World Collection Glove Gate, when an Astros fan determined to tear the ball out of Mike Trout’s glove following a catch in foul territory on Saturday in Houston. Later, Trout met up with that very same fan, signed the ball and made positive there was no love misplaced. Traditional habits from one of many nicest guys within the sport.
In the event you’re hankering for extra baseball highlights, then you definately’re in luck. This 12 months, we began a brand new sequence the place we highlight the ten finest storylines that occurred in MLB every week. This is a take a look at final week’s standout stats and thrilling performances.
10. Cubs overwhelm the reigning champs with 16 runs
Probably the most lopsided shutout loss at dwelling in Dodgers franchise historical past was delivered by none aside from the North Siders. Michael Busch tormented his former staff with a 4-for-6 evening on the plate, together with a second-inning dwelling run off Roki Saski. Catcher Carson Kelly joined the occasion with a multi-home run sport, whereas serving to starter Ben Brown throw six shutout innings towards one of the dominant lineups in baseball.
You’d suppose after the Cubs scored all these runs that the Dodgers can be in a bitter temper. However Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas made gentle of their double-digit deficit when he was requested to pitch a few innings. Rojas imitated Sasaki’s supply with a high-leg kick, inflicting Sasaki and Blake Snell to erupt with laughter within the dugout. In the event you’re the Dodgers, seemingly destined for the playoffs, there’s hardly any pressure a few shutout loss in April.
9. Division rivals duke it out
There isn’t any higher approach to shake off a brutal, extra-inning loss towards a division rival than to place collectively an inconceivable late-game rally towards them simply 24 hours later. The Mariners have been soul-searching on Tuesday after the offense went 1-for-19 with runners in scoring place, giving the Astros far too many possibilities to ship the ultimate blow. By Wednesday, Randy Arozarena had sufficient of their struggling methods. With the Mariners down 5-0 within the eighth inning, the outfielder crushed a grand slam and impressed the rally that led to a much-needed come-from-behind win towards Houston. After Arozarena’s contagious vitality lifted the remainder of the dugout, he drew a walk-off stroll within the backside of the ninth to seal the Mariners’ first sequence win of 2025.
8. Monster season loading for the Polar Bear
It was necessary for Pete Alonso to start the season wanting extra like himself on the plate — not simply due to the underwhelming begin he had final 12 months, but in addition as a result of a monster marketing campaign from the primary baseman might dramatically alter his speedy future. Alonso is incomes $30 million from the Mets this 12 months, and he is set to earn $24 million in 2026 until he opts out of his contract after this season. Given the way in which he is been enjoying, there is no query he’ll authorize that opt-out. Alonso single-handedly carried the Mets offense this week, batting .378 with 4 dwelling runs, 18 RBI, and a 1.260 OPS by his first 13 video games of the 12 months. And the 10-5 Mets are loving each single second of it.
[MORE: With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended, who’s left in 2026’s free agent class?]
7. Elly’s grand salami on bobblehead evening
Previous to Saturday evening in Cincinnati, April hadn’t precisely been form to Elly De La Cruz. The shortstop entered play batting simply .154 and slugging .205 throughout 10 video games this month. However, the vitality of 31,188 Reds followers packing the home for his bobblehead evening appeared to assist. Within the third inning De La Cruz fell behind within the depend earlier than Pirates southpaw Andrew Heaney delivered two off-speed pitches that sailed a mile out of the zone. Instantly, De La Cruz was again within the at-bat; he simply wanted a pitch to hit. A fastball up-and-in was no downside for the 6-foot-5 switch-hitter, who promptly pounded it to left subject for his second-career grand slam. The gang went berserk as De La Cruz flexed his energy. Extra of that, please!
6. Tigers rotation continues to stun
Solely Tarik Skubal might make shutting out the Bronx Bombers look simple. However the reigning American League Cy Younger winner wasn’t the one Motown starter who perplexed New York’s lineup this previous week. Proper-hander Casey Mize delivered six sturdy innings of one-run ball towards the Yankees final Monday, whiffing six batters and decreasing his ERA to 0.77 within the course of. Righty Jack Flaherty, again in Detroit’s rotation after successful a World Collection with the Dodgers, struck out 9 Yankees hitters and has given up simply three earned runs throughout three begins this season. The energy of that trio alone is sufficient to lead a rotation, however then there’s additionally rookie Jackson Jobe, who has utterly baffled opposing hitters along with his pitch motion and velocity. The primary-place Tigers are shortly placing the remainder of the league on discover with their filthy beginning pitchers. Be careful.
5. James Wooden joins elite firm
The Nationals budding left fielder picked the proper time to indicate the world why he was ranked the No. 1 prospect by Baseball America in 2024. The 22-year-old went 3-for-4 with two dwelling runs, 5 RBIs, a stroll and two runs scored in Washington’s 8-2 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday. Not solely did he assist the Nats win the sequence towards Los Angeles, however he grew to become the third-youngest participant in franchise historical past to document a two-homer, five-RBI sport — behind solely Juan Soto and Bryce Harper. Contemplating the Corridor of Fame trajectories of Soto and Harper, that is only the start for Wooden, who continued his energy surge with a 400-foot solo shot on Friday towards the Marlins.
4. Giants’ finest begin in final 22 seasons
Do not look now, however the Giants are a top-three staff in baseball. Their 11-4 document marks their finest begin by 15 video games of a season since 2003 (13-2). That is the seventh time for the reason that Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958 that they’ve began a season 11-4 or higher. Their newest win arrived in comeback vogue on Sunday within the Bronx, the place Jung Hoo Lee placed on a present and silenced the usually rowdy crowd with a two-homer time without work southpaw Carlos Rodon. Whether or not it is Lee crushing the ball, Robbie Ray terrorizing opposing hitters or Wilmer Flores’ 19 RBI trailing solely Aaron Judge’s 20, the Giants are getting contributions from your complete staff to maintain the nice occasions rolling.
3. Behold a wholesome Mike Trout
Lastly. It does not matter which staff you root for, Trout is a kind of particular gamers that everybody who loves this sport can get behind. The slugger is tied for the major-league lead with six dwelling runs, together with three jacks in two video games this previous week, and he posted a .926 OPS in his first 13 video games of the season. If Trout can simply keep on the sector — currently, one of many largest “ifs” within the huge leagues — he might develop into simply the second participant in MLB historical past to win 4 profession MVP awards. Alas, that is removed from a positive factor for the reason that 33-year-old entered the 12 months having performed in simply 266 out of 648 video games since 2021. For now, although, there is no want to fret about accidents, so let’s respect Trout placing on an elite efficiency.
When one of many biggest gamers of all time is feeling this good, it often has a ripple impact. Which leads us to our subsequent matter…
2. The Halos are sizzling
Trout has little doubt performed an enormous half in carrying the Angels to a 9-6 document over the primary two weeks of the 12 months, however let’s give his teammates the flowers they deserve, too, for sustaining Los Angeles’ early-season success. Throughout Thursday’s 11-1 rout towards Tampa Bay, three totally different hitters loved multi-home run performances, together with Jo Adell, Taylor Ward, and Trout. In the event you wanted any extra indication that their 99-loss 2024 season is behind them, the Angels have received their first 4 sequence of the 12 months for the primary time since 2018. What’s subsequent? Breaking the longest lively playoff drought in baseball? Positive, it is nonetheless very early, however you need to admit that the Halos look primed to qualify for the postseason for the primary time since 2014.
1. Depleted Padres are first to 10 wins — and 10-0 at dwelling
Who would’ve thought the Padres, with all their damage hits, can be the primary staff in MLB to achieve 10 wins this season? San Diego had no downside stacking wins whereas coping with numerous accidents to a few key gamers: Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth. Mixed, that trio has collected 5 All-Star nods and three Silver Slugger awards, in order that’s a whole lot of expertise idling away on the injured listing. How did the Friars get it finished? Padres relievers have been phenomenal, boasting the most effective bullpen ERA (1.51) within the main leagues. As if their aid corps wasn’t spectacular sufficient, Michael King wrapped up their sweep of the Rockies along with his first profession complete-game shutout on Sunday. The Rockies did not a lot as rating a single run in three video games towards San Diego. The Padres are 10-0 at dwelling, wanting unstoppable even after they’re not at full energy.
Deesha Thosar is a MLB reporter and columnist for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the Mets for 4 years as a beat reporter for the New York Each day Information. Observe her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Get extra from Main League Baseball Observe your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
