The Los Angeles Dodgers struggled with pitching, issuing 14 walks in a 6-3 loss to the San Diego Padres, leading to a series loss. Despite briefly holding a lead, the Dodgers' pitchers, including James Paxton and the bullpen, struggled with command, resulting in a high number of walks and ultimately contributing to the team's defeat. Manager Dave Roberts expressed frustration at the pitching performance, emphasizing the difficulty of winning games when giving up so many walks.
Blake Snell struggled in the San Francisco Giants' loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, acknowledging that his shortened spring training may have affected his pitching location but refusing to make excuses. Giants manager Bob Melvin attributed Snell's early-season struggles to the abbreviated spring training, while Snell emphasized the need to improve his pitching location. Despite the rough start, Snell remains determined to work on his performance as the Giants continue their road trip with a series against the Miami Marlins.
The No. 12 Florida State Seminoles suffered their first loss of the season against the Clemson Tigers, with their pitching faltering in a 15-5 defeat. Despite a strong start with a grand slam, Seminoles' pitcher Cam Leiter struggled, allowing six runs in 2.2 innings. Clemson's offense was relentless, scoring in five of the seven innings. The Seminoles will look to bounce back in a doubleheader against Clemson, with tough matchups ahead.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto's highly anticipated debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers quickly turned disastrous as he allowed five runs in just one inning, showcasing a lack of command and struggling to find his footing in the major leagues. The Dodgers, who invested heavily in Yamamoto, also faced defensive issues and miscommunications, leading to a distressing end to their eventful week in South Korea.
The Atlanta Braves suffered a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the Division Series, struggling to capitalize on scoring opportunities and being shut out at home for the first time since August. The Braves' offense was stifled by the Phillies' pitching, leaving seven men on base and going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Despite a solid outing by pitcher Spencer Strider, the Braves couldn't generate enough offense to overcome the Phillies. The team now faces the challenge of going up against Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola in Games 2 and 3. Braves manager Brian Snitker emphasized the need to regroup and focus on winning Game 2.
Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby expressed frustration after giving up a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays, leading to a 7-4 defeat. Kirby believed he should not have been on the mound for the seventh inning, as he felt he had reached his pitch limit. Despite a rocky start, Kirby had a strong turnaround in the middle innings, retiring 15 of 17 batters. However, his recent performances have been inconsistent, with a 6.00 ERA in his last four starts. The Mariners' bullpen is also facing workload challenges, further complicating their playoff push.
Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin had a disastrous outing against the Miami Marlins, lasting just 3-and-a-third innings and allowing 10 earned runs, including five home runs. This poor performance may result in Gonsolin being removed from the starting rotation for the foreseeable future. Dodgers fans expressed their frustration on social media, suggesting potential replacements from within the team. Manager Dave Roberts had previously stated that Gonsolin was on a short leash, and it appears that leash has now been taken off.
The Los Angeles Angels' starting rotation, once considered a strength, has struggled this season with a 4.58 ERA, ranking 19th in the majors. One of the disappointments has been Reid Detmers, who had a promising second half last year but has struggled this season with a 5.27 ERA. With Griffin Canning returning soon, the Angels should send Detmers down to the minors to work on his game and make room for Canning in the rotation.
The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a surprising 9-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals, who have the second-worst record in the majors. Dodgers pitcher Tony Gonsolin struggled once again, giving up four runs in 3 ⅔ innings. Gonsolin has not been as sharp or dominant as he was last season, particularly in his last three starts. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts attributed Gonsolin's struggles to the absence of his slider. The Royals outplayed the Dodgers in all aspects of the game, including situational hitting, baserunning, and defense. The Dodgers received some positive news regarding ace Clayton Kershaw's injured shoulder, as he made progress in a throwing session and may start on Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah had the worst and shortest outing of his major-league career, throwing 38 pitches and surrendering six earned runs while recording just one out against the Houston Astros. Manager John Schneider didn't rule anything out for how the Blue Jays will proceed from here. Manoah's struggles continued as his ERA jumped to 6.36 on the season over 58.0 innings in 13 starts. Toronto is the only MLB team to have used just five starters this season, but amid Manoah’s never-ending woes, that streak may soon come to an end.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Alek Manoah's nightmare season continued as he was pulled in the first inning against the Houston Astros, allowing six runs on seven hits and a walk. The 25-year-old's ERA rose to 6.36 through his first 13 appearances, and he hasn't completed six innings in a start since April 22. Manoah's struggles have been attributed to a drop in fastball velocity and poor location, possibly due to a heavy workload last season.
Iowa baseball's pitching struggles continued in their second elimination game of the NCAA Tournament, as they cycled through pitchers who were only available due to the importance of starting 2-0. The Hawkeyes couldn't escape as Indiana State scored in every inning but the fourth, eliminating Iowa from the Terre Haute regional with an 11-8 loss. Despite some nice offensive moments, most of the thump went to waste as the pitching gifts piled up, ending Iowa's strong 2023 season with an unimpressive thud.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Noah Syndergaard, who previously played for the Philadelphia Phillies, expressed his frustration with his current struggles on the mound, saying he would give his "hypothetical first-born" to be the pitcher he once was. Syndergaard has struggled this season with an ERA of 6.54 and a decrease in fastball velocity. The Phillies are also struggling, with Aaron Nola providing a lackluster performance on Wednesday against the Mets and Alec Bohm dealing with a hamstring injury.
Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon continues to struggle this season, with a 0-3 record and 8.10 ERA. Despite feeling physically fine, Taillon has struggled to find his rhythm on the mound and has issued six walks in his past four outings. The Cubs are hoping to work with Taillon to identify areas for improvement and get him back to his previous form. Taillon is confident he can make the necessary adjustments and turn his season around.
Luis Castillo of the Seattle Mariners has been struggling in his past four starts, with a 0-4 team record and a 5.73 ERA. In his most recent start against the Boston Red Sox, Castillo gave up a career-high-tying three homers and seven runs (five earned). The common theme in this stretch has been the long ball, with six home runs given up in total. Despite an uptick in velocity and generating six strikeouts, Castillo left many pitches over the plate and fell behind in counts, leading to his struggles.
