On the heels of a huge extension in San Diego, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Dodgers, Braves streaking:
The reigning World Series champions are off to a phenomenal start, having won their first seven games in a row. After sweeping the Cubs out of Tokyo last month, the Dodgers then swept the Tigers out of Dodger Stadium and since then have taken two of three from the Braves. As noted by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the 7-0 start to the season matches the 1933 Yankees for the strongest start to a season of any reigning World Series champion in history, and is also the Dodgers’ best start to the regular season since they relocated to Los Angeles in 1958.
On the other side of things, Atlanta can’t buy a win. They’re the only club that’s yet to win a game this season, and their nine runs scored across six games is tied for the fewest in the majors. The Dodgers will attempt to keep the good times rolling at 5:38pm local time tonight with lefty Blake Snell (3.12 ERA in 2024) on the mound, while Atlanta will counter with righty Bryce Elder (6.52 ERA in 2024) as they try to stop the bleeding.
2. Padres also streaking:
Phenomenal as the Dodgers’ start to the 2025 campaign has been, they’ve not been able to put away their division rivals. The Padres have gotten off to almost as strong of a start, winning all six of their games to this point in the season. They were the beneficiaries of Atlanta’s struggles for the first four games of the year, and since then have taken the first two games of their series against the Guardians to run up a 6-0 record on the season. They’ll be going for their second consecutive sweep today at 1:10pm local time in San Diego with right-hander Dylan Cease (3.47 ERA in 2024) on the mound. Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with righty Ben Lively (3.81 ERA in 2024). Fortunately for the Guardians, they’re not in as dire straits as the Braves are after taking two of three in their opening series against the Royals.
3. Tucker looks to continue homer streak:
There’s a fourth noteworthy streak going on in the National League at the moment, although this one isn’t about the club’s records. After scuffling during the Tokyo Series, newly-acquired Cubs star Kyle Tucker has looked more like himself at the plate since the club returned stateside. Overall, he’s hitting an incredible .353/.450/.853 in 40 trips to the plate across eight games. He leads all of baseball with 12 hits, five doubles, 11 RBI, and 29 total bases, but the streak in question has to do with the long ball.
Tucker’s homered in four consecutive games after hitting a long ball off newly-minted A’s starter Luis Severino last night, and he’ll go for a fifth straight homer against A’s lefty Jeffrey Springs at 12:35pm local time in West Sacramento this afternoon. He’d become just the fifth Cubs player in history to have five games in a row with a homer, joining Sammy Sosa in 1998, Ryne Sandberg in 1989, and Hack Wilson in 1928… as well as teammate Michael Busch, who accomplished the feat just last year.
Snell vs Elder, not liking their chances for their first win.
@cash
Theres alot of people who thought elder was gonna be good, but once you dive into his metrics….they’re not good.
Dodgers could pull Snell after 2 and still win with that pen lol
Well, there’s some solace there, considering Elder’s one good year was during the first half of the season.
Well, we may find out since he has given up 3 BB and 4 hits and 5 unearned runs thru 2 but hey, he walked the guys and gave up the hits.
More like June but your point is valid.
Look at Snell in April/May the past few years (I’m a SD fan so not bashing a former fan favorite just stating reality). Just have to wait and see which Snell shows up.
I’m not overly worried about the Braves record; it’s early. I think some fans are overreacting just because of the time of year. You lose 6 in June, the panic is usually less.
Elder is not a ML pitcher, though. I’m mildly frustrated they continue to run him out there as if the results are going to improve. Those opportunities would be better spent on anyone else.
100% agree, but given the competition in the NL East, starting on a 0-6 record is tough. But they can be streaky, so I’m hoping for solid returns from Strider, Acuna, and Murphy. Having a few great months and maintaining consistency should, at the very least, put them in the Wild Card conversation this fall.
Elder was better with the beard.
So when they streak it’s okay but when I do it I get arrested….
I’m sick of the class divide in this country
Streaking in San Diego is my band’s new name. We go on tour after baseball season
I’ll be in the front row (naked of course)
Elder stat line tonight: 2.1 Innings 8H 7ER Braves fall to 0-7.
elder is terrible, I don’t even get how he had a fluke season with his metrics, he got really lucky.
hes a AAAA guy. you get what you can get from that type of pitcher.
He gets lit up in the minors as well. I’m tired of the Braves giving this bum a chance.
“Beneficiaries of Atlanta’s struggles”????? Gosh, let’s not give the Padres credit for maybe being the reason for those struggles, like, you know, with a good pitching staff and bullpen??? Is it that hard to give them credit and admit they might be a good team, even though people dumped on them for not going crazy this off-season???
Vermont – I read that slant the same! The Dodger take the first 2 while SD benefits from struggles! LOL!
Good lord, get over it.
Vegas – don’t make too much of it – note I did add a LOL suggested I wasn’t too “into it”in the first place.
I didn’t rant or cry. Just noticed it read the way it read.
Don’t feel like you have to be the guy that determines whether a comment or commenter has a valid point to express.
Holy Butt Hurt Batman.
Vermont, Longtime- I read it the same way. In 6 games, Padres pitching has only given up 9 runs. Their run differential is highest in the league. They’re off to a great start.
CAN WE START TALKING ABOUT EUGENIO SUAREZ???
He’s a home run hitting machine. But he does go in bunches.
He’s akin to prime Mike Schmidt or Albert Pujols when he’s playing against the Cubs.
@the
talk about him how? everyone knows he’s good, and has the potential to be a 40+ Homer guy as we saw in one of his seasons.
the roche: Anyone who hits a GW GS against the Yankees is a star in my book.
Plays in a Pony League launching pad.
I have been following Suarez since his breakout seasons with Reds, always thought he had the makings of a great hitter. FA in ’26, but it will be his age 35 season. That will be interesting.
bwmiller: It will be. It doesn’t matter how old a player is as long as they’re still producing. Grandpa Suarez seems like he’s hitting his stride again at the ripe old age of 35.
Seeing that play out while watching mlb big inning was incredible
I saw that too (waiting for the Padres game to start).
Eugenio Suarez, the current NL Player of the Week, now a certified Yankee-killer after his grand slam gave the D’backs the win.
He’s a Cub killer too, although I’ll give him credit for keeping his cool after almost being hit in the face three times by the Cubs’ clown show bullpen.
Clown show bullpen? You mean the one with guys like Porter Hodge, who is looking like a young future closer & the respected Ryan Pressley? Poor babies can’t handle some early season struggles and get out of the way? Too bad.
Hodge is one of the few bright spots, as is Merryweather. Pressly has sucked thus far. I have very little confidence in the rest of them, but I hope I’m proven wrong.
Dave Roberts said at the presser after Tuesdays game: “We got to get ready to face Elder tomorrow”! I know he is not that concerned, I think it was more about gloating! Blake Snell vs Bryce Elder. No shock here, Vegas favors the Dodgers (-1.5) or (-250) The Over/Under opened at 10.5 Runs but since the Braves can’t score it is now at O/U 8.5. As a Braves fan, seems like a line for how many runs the Dodgers should score.
The Braves supposedly ordered some Torpedo Bats, but I don’t think the bats will help them!
The Braves At-Bats are shorter than the Commercial Breaks between 1/2 innings!
Lowest team AVG through 6 games (.137) – tied for fewest runs – they would lead in strikeouts, but CHC played 1 extra game (Tokyo). SD/LAD have good pitching, but it’s more than that, folks.
Rotisserie league winners are determined by adding up individual player statistics; as do team projections for coming baseball seasons.
Major League Baseball depends on wins by a team of human beings playing the sport on a baseball field.
People that see MLB through the lens of statistics will state – among other things – that managers don’t matter. They don’t comprehend the success the San Diego Padres have with Mike Schildt managing the team as well as why a dozen other MLB managers teams outperform their statistics.
you forget one simple fact. The average MLBTR commenter (according to them) are Hall of Fame level managers that should get the chance to manage ASAP
Which also holds true for John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals that doesn’t understand the sport either.
What success. Bob Melvin is the only one who won a non wild card playoff series in 20 years and they tossed him out like trash
I don’t hate Melvin, but his hands-off management style was not fit for this club. The difference between the 24-25 Padres and 22-23 Padres is unbelievable.
The Braves did not invest much into the team this past off-season as far as pitching and other needs.
However, they announced today that they purchased some land across I-75 with 4 Office Buildings and 2,700 additional parking spaces for Braves games!
I think they need to invest in their product, as in the team on the field.
What was Terry McGuirk’s comment “We have Dry Powder” to invest in payroll really about??
They were counting on Strider & Acuna coming back and making the team better – those were the *improvements* this offseason.
But they signed “Juiceman” Profar. That was a considerable investment.
The Profar signing was a mistake altogether. He will be a headache and a problem.
If Sale remains healthy, he’s the absolute top chip at the trade deadline, right?
Guerrero
Hack Wilson reference. Nice!
Can’t mention Hack without mentioning 190 RBI in a season.
I think it’s been adjusted to 191 for some years now, but I’d have to look.
Edit: yup, 191 is the “new” record.
Wow
Cubs should do what they can to sign Tucker long term. His price is going through the roof.
According to someone I know with the Cubs, he told them unless they blew him away he was willing to bet on himself. And Ricketts isn’t going to hand out the kind of dough needed to lock him up anyway. He’s a pure one year rental and will be gone after the season.
I think Ricketts has become a lousy big market team owner. But if Tucker has an outstanding season- and they get into the playoffs- He’s gonna HAVE to make a serious run at him. They’ll be a ton of pressure to at least make a sincere effort to keep him.
Why would Tucker sign now and not wait until free agency to get multiple teams involved?
What’s the record for most wins to start the season by any team? I’m thinking the only teams that might be able to stop the Dodger’s run are the Padres and maybe the Phillies. Although their first loss will probably be against the White Sox or Marlins.
13-0 2023 Rays in post-WC era (1995-present). +71 run differential.
Sorry YBC. Didn’t see your comment until after I posted. Wish I would have. Would have saved me a google search. lol
All good!
13.-three teams (82 Braves, 87 Brewers and just recently 2023 Rays
The Dodgers “have taken two of three from the Braves”.
Does the writer have a time machine that allowed him to see a Dodgers loss today?
Yeah I also felt that was stated awkwardly. I know what he meant but yeah I feel you AHH.
Technically, it is true. They will take the 3rd game today.
Definitely could be worded better.
All that was needed was two words; ‘the first’.
“…Dodgers…have taken (the first) two of three from the Braves.”
@AHH
Does this work better for you?
Undefeated Dodgers host winless Braves in series finale tonight.
the giants have gone 4-1 with a +11 RD that would have them leading with a hot start in every division except the NLwest where they are 3rd
Kinda glad they didn’t get that Rooki Sosticky guy though. Crybabies are sad.
Did you just have a stroke oldg?
Rooki Sosucky ?
His name is spelled “Roki Sasaki”… Oh, I see the “old” in “oldgfan”
I know how to spell. Sorry my puns went past you. Let me spell them out.
1. He’s a Rookie
2. He was accused of using stickem
3. He sucks
why? he costs nothing.I know they aren’t needing him right now but it would have stacked the rotation deeper
Just don’t think he is all that.
Looking a little fragile, mentally and physically.
but it is all upside – you can literally just option him off the active roster if he doesn’t perform and only costs the league minimum. I don’t understand celebrating that he didn’t get signed
Celebrating ?
Just commenting…
It’s way too soon to know anything about Sasaki.
We know he’s a ducking fodger so therefore, he sucks !
I am excited to see the first 162-0 season in MLB. All the best to the Dodgers.
Dodger got a great start from Dustin May yesterday, 1H, OER, 6K over 5IP. He is their No. 7 I believe, Gonsolin is there No. 8. Dodgers could potentially field two five man rotations and both would be considered better than average.
Ohtani
Kershaw
Yamamoto
May
Miller
Snell
Sasaki
Glasnow
Gonsolin
Kopech
How do you put another team “away” in the first two weeks of the season?
Prediction for Braves and Jesse Chavez:
The Angels will claim Chavez off waivers! The Braves already have a trade lined up to bring Jesse back for the Jesse Chavez “Rocking Chair Bobble Head” giveaway in late August! Also, Jesse will have a new pitch called the “Rocking Chair Knuckleball” that dives to the ground after 58 feet!
Also, Kirk Cousins has begun throwing bullpen sessions for the Braves and will attempt a Deion Double Dip late in the MLB season just after NFL Week 1..
KING TUCK!!!!
I wonder if it’s possible to win your first seven games in any way other than in a row.
Maybe in a column?
We talkin’ spreadsheets now.
Just do a matrix transform and bam presto.
A column is just a vertical row.
It’s the other definition of row, and pronunciation. Every game has been contested by an opponent.
The price on Tucker just went up. I’m happy he’s raking, but cheapskate Ricketts and Hoyer are probably already closing the wallet…
Bidding starts at $500 million.
If he keeps putting up these numbers, he’s probably a Met next season…
Looks like all the people who thought Tuckers spring training numbers actually mattered have crawled back into their holes.
Time for some changes in the ATL. AA and Snit out Donny Mattingly for ATL manager.
@LonnieB: “AA out”? Why don’t you bet your house on that and join the ranks of the homeless. If Snit retires at the end of 2025—because he won’t be fired—-the Braves will hire from w/in. Why would you want Mattingly anyway? Yikes.
Lonnie- No way Jose.
I would like to see one of 2 former Braves players to take Snitker’s place! Either Mark DeRosa or A J Pierzynski! Mark is a broadcaster and knows the game and A J is a broadcaster and former catcher who knows the game, plus catchers make great Managers! Joe Torre, Bruce Bochy..etc!
I would like to see one of 2 former Braves players to take Snitker’s place at the end of the season or end of the week! Either Mark DeRosa or A J Pierzynski! Mark is a broadcaster and knows the game and A J is a broadcaster and former Catcher who knows the game, plus Catchers make great Managers! Ala Joe Torre and Bruce Bochy! Also DeRosa was the manager of the US team in the World Baseball Classic and would have won the championship if not for Japan having this guy named Shohei Ohtani whom struck out Mike Trout to end the series!
Barring wave of unforeseen injuries, dodgers good for 130 plus wins! Is it even possible to give magic numbers this early?
They aren’t even in first place, they are tied for first place.
Early-season streaks only feel important because they happen when no other data exists. By June, nobody will care who started 7-0 or 0-6. The only metric that matters? Underlying performance indicators like exit velocity, expected batting average, and strength of schedule.
I remember watching the 1982 Atlanta Braves start the season 13-0. They were managed by Joe Torre. They won the NL West for the first time since l969 and they were the only Braves team Torre took to the playoffs. I think they were swept in 3 by Whitey Herzog’s Cardinals.It was the first time Ted Turner’s team made the playoffs since his purchase of the team. DALE Murphy became the star of the Team. Those were the good ol days.
“Phenomenal as the Dodgers’ start to the 2025 campaign has been” is NOT PROPER ENGLISH. You can’t just leave “as” out to begin the sentence. It’s not optional! Grammar is not optional when you’re being paid to write.