Alex Cora’s suggestion that Red Sox could be MLB’s best team is not as crazy as it sounds — Boston Herald

It’s probably a little soon to take a victory lap, but the Red Sox are clearly feeling good about themselves these days. What a turnaround this has been. 871 more words

Alex Cora’s suggestion that Red Sox could be MLB’s best team is not as crazy as it sounds — Boston Herald

Red Sox ‘super excited’ as Fenway Park set to increase capacity in May — Boston Herald

Fenway Park is inching closer back to normalcy. In an announcement made by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday, the next phase of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan includes the further increased capacity of sports venues from 12% to 25%, effective May 10. That means Fenway Park’s capacity will increase from about 4,500 fans to…

Red Sox ‘super excited’ as Fenway Park set to increase capacity in May — Boston Herald

Oakland A’s to privately finance new ballpark at Howard Terminal — KRON4

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – The Oakland A’s dream of a baseball stadium on the edge of the Oakland estuary is moving forward.    On Friday, the team released its plan spelling out what the privately funded billion-dollar project could mean for the team, city, and East Bay residents.  Steph Curry, Warriors welcome back fans and beat…

Oakland A’s to privately finance new ballpark at Howard Terminal — KRON4

BLUE JAYS-RAYS PITCHING MATCHUPS FRIDAY

Blue Jays LHP Steven Matz (3-0, 1:47 ERA)

2021 GAME LOGS
DATE SCORE OPP DEC EXIT SCORE IP H R ER BB K HR PIT-STRIKES NOTES

4/5 W, 6-2 at TEX W 6-1 6.1 2 1 1 1 9 0 91-62 1st win as a Blue Jay (last W was 9/28/19 vs. ATL)
4/10 W, 15-1 LAA W 14-1 6.0 5 1 1 3 4 1 90-54 Won first 2 starts for first time since 2015
4/17 W, 5-1 at KC W 4-1 6.0 2 1 1 2 5 0 82-48 3G win streak, longest since 2016 (7G, 4/17-5/25

PITCH SELECTION (2021)
Sinker (58.3%, 94.7mph), Changeup (27.8%, 85.8mph),
Curve (14.1%, 77.9mph), Slider (9.9%, 87.3mph

Rays RHP Tyler Glasnow (2-0, 0.73 ERA)

GAME DEC ERA IP H R ER BB SO HR HB WP P/K FINAL OPP. LEFT
4/1 at MIA — 0.00 6.0 1 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 77/57 W, 1-0 Alcantara tied, 0-0
4/6 at BOS — 0.75 6.0 4 1 1 2 9 0 0 1 97/60 L, 5-6 (12) Pérez up, 3-1
4/12 vs. TEX W-1 0.46 7.2 2 0 0 1 14 0 0 0 102/73 W, 1-0 Dunning up, 1-0
4/17 at NYY W-2 0.73 5.0 2 1 1 4 7 0 0 1 105/62 W, 6-3 Montgomery up, 3-

2021 PITCH TRACKING DATA
STAT FB CB SL CH CT
Usage Rate 57.5 12.3 29.1 1.0 —
Avg. Velocity 97.2 83.6 87.6 91.0 —
Max Velocity 100.7 86.0 91.5 91.7 —
Whiff Rate 33.6 52.0 39.1 0.0 —
Avg. Spin Rate 2418 3067 2827 1668 —
Strikeouts 16 16 4 0 —
HR Allowed 0 0 0 0 —
Avg. Exit Velocity 86.5 84.9 86.9 88.0 —
Opp Avg. .081 .074 .176 .500 —
Runs Above Avg. 8.6 0.6 2.1 -0.3 —
CODE: FB-fastball, CB-curveball, SL-slider, CH-changeup, CT-cutte

SF Giants’ Curt Casali catches his fifth straight shutout win, 21-year-old flamethrower steals show — Red Bluff Daily News

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s no secret that when Buster Posey elected to sit out the 2020 season, Giants pitchers struggled to adjust to working with a group of inexperienced catchers who left the staff longing for the good old days. With Posey back in the fold this year, the Giants are obviously thrilled, but they…

SF Giants’ Curt Casali catches his fifth straight shutout win, 21-year-old flamethrower steals show — Red Bluff Daily News

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE BEASLEY; HATCH TO 60-DAY IL

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE BEASLEY

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired RHP Jeremy Beasley from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash considerations. Beasley has been optioned to the club’s alternate training site. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Thomas Hatch has been transferred to the 60-day injured list (right elbow impingement).

Beasley, 25, made his only career Major League appearance on August 11 last season, striking out one of the three batters he faced for Arizona before he suffered a season-ending right shoulder injury. The 6-3, 235 lb. right-hander pitched in three games during 2021 Spring Training and was assigned to the Diamondbacks’ alternate training site until he was designated for assignment on April 17. The native of Lyons, GA, was a 30th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Angels in 2017 and has a 16-15 record to go with a 3.56 ERA over 68 Minor League games.

– BLUE JAYS –

A’s extend winning streak to 11, helped by 2 errors in 10th — MLB | NBC Sports

The Oakland Athletics extended their winning streak to 11 with a 10th-inning rally fueled by two errors for a 13-12 victory over the Minnesota Twins.

A’s extend winning streak to 11, helped by 2 errors in 10th — MLB | NBC Sports

Red Sox lose to Blue Jays as the Garrett Richards experiment still isn’t working — Boston Herald

If Garrett Richards could’ve gotten just one of those erratic fastballs in the strike zone, the Red Sox might’ve come away with a different result on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, Richards looks totally lost on the mound this year. To say he was erratic would be an understatement. A map of his scattered pitches on the…

Red Sox lose to Blue Jays as the Garrett Richards experiment still isn’t working — Boston Herald

Stripling, Romano put on IL

BLUE JAYS ROSTER MOVES

The Toronto Blue Jays have made the following roster moves:

  • RHP Ross Stripling has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm flexor strain (retroactive to April 12)
  • RHP Jordan Romano has been placed on the 10-day injured list with right ulnar neuritis (retroactive to April 14)
  • LHP Anthony Kay have been recalled from the club’s alternate training site and will be active for tonight’s game
  • RHP Joel Payamps have been recalled from the club’s alternate training site and will be active for tonight’s game

– BLUE JAYS –

Kansas City Royals shut down the Los Angeles Angels, 6-1 — KSNT News

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KSNT)- Kansas City’s bullpen and slugging paved the way for a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. Brad Keller got the start on Wednesday afternoon. After having two rough previous starts, Keller had a successful start for the Royals. Keller went 5.2 innings pitched, giving up four hits, one run, one…

Kansas City Royals shut down the Los Angeles Angels, 6-1 — KSNT News

Red Sox manager Alex Cora after five-game winning streak: ‘It’s a good vibe’ — Boston Herald

The Red Sox have erased a 0-3 start to the season and won five in a row. Inside the locker room, the Sox are feeling good. “It’s a good vibe,” manager Alex Cora said after the Sox’ 6-4 win over the Orioles in extra innings on Saturday. “It’s a good vibe. We’ve got a bunch…

Red Sox manager Alex Cora after five-game winning streak: ‘It’s a good vibe’ — Boston Herald