MLB 2026

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

Braves took the series even after losing game one pretty handily against the dodgers. Spencer strider returning to ace status too!

 

[jaylach]

And then there was Sunday. Same thing as to not getting the clutch hit. Cleveland lost 5-4. Saturday they left 13 runners on base and, Sunday, they left 12. Not really worried yet as they are still in first place and have, for years, been a slow start.

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

Fun fact here (this shows you I am young) I was out of town when my travel ball team played the #8 in the nation, with kids throwing 85 to 90 mph (no joke, that is basically MLB pitching) that can locate nasty curveballs and sweepers. It is unreal. They lost 15-0. This last tourney they went downhill and lost all three after we won the last tourney and went undeafeated. All this to say @jaylach , and from 12 years of baseball and still going experience, you can do everything right and it still does not go your way. Baseball is a non forgiving sport. But I think CLE will pick it up soon!

 

[jaylach]

Fun fact here (this shows you I am young) I was out of town when my travel ball team played the #8 in the nation, with kids throwing 85 to 90 mph (no joke, that is basically MLB pitching) that can locate nasty curveballs and sweepers. It is unreal. They lost 15-0. This last tourney they went downhill and lost all three after we won the last tourney and went undeafeated. All this to say @jaylach , and from 12 years of baseball and still going experience, you can do everything right and it still does not go your way. Baseball is a non forgiving sport. But I think CLE will pick it up soon!

A lot of Cleveland's offense revolves around Jose Ramirez and he normally has a slow start but makes up for it in spades later. I think part of the reason Jose gets off to a slow start is that Cleveland has an exceptional farm system and they look at a lot of could be rookies during spring training leaving some automatic starters, like Jose, without a lot of game time in the spring.

Don't get me wrong as many players would LOVE to have Jose's "slump". Cleveland is a young team that is 'happy-go-lucky' and has to play relaxed. Jose is still getting on base or he wouldn't lead the league as to stolen bases. He just isn't, yet, getting his clutch extra base hits. When he is down some of the younger players try to carry him and press too hard.

I have no doubt that Cleveland will be fine and fight with, probably, Detroit for the division. I complain about the offense at the moment but probably should not as they are still in first place even with the offense being below their norm. What do I really have to gripe about?

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

The braves continue to surprise and exceed all of my 2026 expectations. After winning the series in LA, with the last game being taken so handily, I feel that this team is now at the pinnacle (for now) of the MLB. 29-13, I remember that they had 10 losses several weeks back, only the two losses to SEA and the one loss in the opener in LA. There have been no blemishes for the past weeks. Dom Smith the vet with a 4-4 night. Yastrzemski with his first ATL homer, and Riley is beginning to heat up. Take note Sen Murphy down (AGAIN after returning from a previous injury only a week back) for 8 weeks, and Acuna returning in a week or two, this teams starting rotation is still in pieces, (although they are dealing at the same time) but with all this somehow the braves have the best record in the majors. And now have beat the Cubs too. 2 games left with them. Boy the cubs are tough customers! They looked stacked.

Kim has returend who is our 3 SS. Remember our depth ever since Dansby Swanson and Orlando Arcia left has been minamal. Now we have Mateo, Dubon (who plays OF too) and now Kim returning from his finger injury.

I am spoiled right now, but I guess us braves fans deserve something decent as last year was a horrid experience for sure!

@jaylach I think CLE will get it going. I love how even if they get back to 500 or below, they fight back up to above it. Consistency will begin to show soon, I am certain!

 

[jaylach]

@jaylach I think CLE will get it going. I love how even if they get back to 500 or below, they fight back up to above it. Consistency will begin to show soon, I am certain!

I'm not concerned about Cleveland at this point. Sure, Kwan and Ramirez are not at full speed but they will get there. Right now it is the bottom third of the lineup that is doing the most as to RBIs which is actually nice.

I still don't understand Cleveland playing Kwan in center a lot. Center is the easiest outfield position to play as you don't get the hooks and slices you get in left and right. Since left is Kwan's natural position, and he has a gold glove there for every year he has played, why would you move him to split between left and center? Personally I believe his moving back and forth between positions is affecting his early hitting.

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

Great game cooking in ATL!! 1-1 Bottom 8th! We shall see what happens

 

[bgarthe]

Looks like my Cubs have tripped up and are slumping after having been red hot.

 

[GaryE]

Meanwhile, back at Toronto. Last season, I thought the Jays were built for their traditional third place in the east spot. Everything came together, they had career years happening all around and they got very close in a good World Series. They were great fun to watch.
This season, they're all pressing and playing as individuals, key players are hurt and the pitching is in rehab form. The team is a stale, boring shambles. There's an element of bad luck, an element of poor farm system development and a degree of over achievement hangover, but there's also a team back to normal. They could still catch fire as there is serious talent, and major elements hurt that should return. Someday.
I'm a fan of the game and not of the one team. But it is interesting to see my sports soap opera with the same cast unable to write a decent plot.

 

[Whitecloudminnowguy09]

Looks like my Cubs have tripped up and are slumping after having been red hot.

You guys might get the dub tonight though the Braves (even though Chris Sale dominated with the one run a result of an error that should have been a double play) are not looking great tonight, which not to brag on them, has not happened in at least 2 weeks. Hopefully no slumps soon!

Hope the cubs get out of the skid, after this game

 

[jaylach]

You guys might get the dub tonight though the Braves (even though Chris Sale dominated with the one run a result of an error that should have been a double play) are not looking great tonight, which not to brag on them, has not happened in at least 2 weeks. Hopefully no slumps soon!

Hope the cubs get out of the skid, after this game

All teams experience ups and downs. The trick is to ignore the downs and continue with your team strategy.

 

[bgarthe]

Sorry, but it looks like they arrested their skid tonight…..

 

[jaylach]

Cleveland and Cinci start a weekend series this evening. Since they are both in Ohio they do a pretty cool thing called the 'Ohio Cup'. There is a trophy and whichever team wins the season series gets the trophy for the year.

Ohio Cup - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[jaylach]

What a day for Cleveland batters! Don't often see 4 2-run and 2 solo homers in a game.

 

[jaylach]

And Cleveland wastes rival Detroit 8-2 tonight. The weather in the mid west is getting warmer and Cleveland is just not a cold weather team. Too early to know but it seems that Cleveland is finding their groove on offense.