Champs get Acuna back; Cardinals soar on steals
low catcher William Contreras (Braves) carried lineup cards to the plate, gave each other a hug and posed for pictures.
Cincinnati Reds
OF Aristides Aquino, who looked on his way to stardom when he made his major league debut in 2019, was designated for assignment April 30.
The Reds made the move after Aquino, 28, hit .049 with one homer in 15 games to begin the season. He also had 23 strikeouts in 43 plate appearances.
Aquino batted .259 with 19 homers in 56 games as a rookie. In the ensuing three seasons, he had a .164 batting average and 13 homers in 122 games.
“We still believe in him as a player,” manager David Bell said. “He’s going to get another opportunity, I believe, in the major leagues somewhere.”
h RHP Hunter Greene hit at least 100 mph with 39 of his 80 pitches April 16 in a loss at the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the rookie did not reach triple digits with any of his 161 pitches over his next two starts.
Milwaukee Brewers
In a win over the Chicago Cubs on April 30, LHP Eric Lauer allowed one run and five hits in seven innings with 11 strikeouts. That came six days after he set a career high with 13 strikeouts in a no-decision at the Phillies.
It marked the first time Lauer notched back-to-back games with double-digit strikeouts in his five-year career.
“Getting a swing-and-a-miss on a fastball in the strike zone is hard to do in this league,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s doing that pretty well.”
h DH Andrew McCutchen finally had success against the Pirates, the team he debuted with in 2009, when he homered and drove in all three of his team’s runs in a road win on April 28.
McCutchen has hit .175 with two homers in 18 career games versus the Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirates
When SS Kevin Newman went on the injured list April 27 with a strained left groin, some fans were hoping the Pirates would recall SS Oneil Cruz from Class AAA.
The 6-foot-7 Cruz is considered the Pirates’ top prospect. The 23-year-old also made a strong impression when he debuted in the major leagues during the final week of last season.
However, through 19 games, Cruz was hitting .176 with one home run. Thus, the Pirates decided to go with rookie IF Diego Castillo at shortstop.
h No Pirates starting pitcher had a win through 22 games, setting the major league record.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals had 22 stolen bases in 23 attempts in April. Their 95.65% success rate was their best over the first 20 games since caught stealing became an official stat in 1951.
CF Harrison Bader finished April with an NL-leading six steals. He had nine last season in 103 games.
Even C Yadier Molina, 39, swiped a bag against the Diamondbacks on April 28, making him successful on 10 straight attempts since 2018.
h 3B Nolan Arenado and LHP Genesis Cabrera served one-game suspensions for their roles in a bench-clearing incident with the Mets on April 27. The fracas started when Arenado ducked a high pitch from Yoan Lopez. The teams meet again May 16-19 in New York.
NL WEST Arizona Diamondbacks
LHP Madison Bumgarner is showing the form that once made him among the majors’ top starting pitchers. Bumgarner, 32, has gone 9-15 with a 4.65 ERA since he signed with Arizona in 2020.
Bumgarner has given up the fewest number of runs (three) in his first five starts over his 13year career.
The Diamondbacks signed the four-time NL All-Star to a five-year, $85 million contract in 2019. A big difference this season is how effective his cutter has been.
“I’d say it’s as good as it’s been in six years,” Bumgarner told The Arizona Republic.
h RHP Merrill Kelly didn’t allowing a run in three of his first five starts for a 1.27 ERA.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are hopeful LF Kris Bryant’s time off with a sore back is short term and he can return during its six-game road trip which starts May 6.
After getting off to a sizzling start with the Rockies by collecting hits in 10 of his first 11 games, Bryant slumped badly.
Bryant, who signed a sevenyear, $182 million deal with the team this offseason, went 1for-17 prior to him landing on the injured list.
Bryant has yet to hit a home run in 15 games.
h 1B/3B Elehuris Montero, one of Colorado’s top prospects, was summoned with Bryant being down. Montero arrived in the trade with the Cardinals for 3B Nolan Arenado.
Los Angeles Dodgers
LHP Clayton Kershaw became the franchise’ all-time strikeout leader. He had 2,700 and counting.
With a rotation that includes LHPs Julio Urias Kershaw and RHP Walker Buehler, sometimes the Dodgers bullpen gets lost in the shuffle.
It has been particularly effective with idle RHP Blake Treinen (shoulder), who handles the eighth inning before closer
RHP Craig Kimbrel enters.
RHP Daniel Hudson has provided mostly clean innings and LHP Alex Vesia hadn’t surrendered a run in 61⁄3 innings.
h RHP Trevor Bauer received a record two-year suspension from Major League Baseball on April 29 for violating its domestic abuse policy.
San Diego Padres
1B Eric Hosmer brushed aside trade rumors and the speculation that his skills were diminishing with a solid opening month for the Padres.
Hosmer’s rise is partially due to his plate discipline as he’s passing on breaking balls missing the strike zone. Another factor is the lift he’s generating on batted balls as he’s no longer routinely hitting grounders into the shift on the right side.
Hosmer finished April with the majors’ best batting average (.389).
h The Padres rotation will be juggled soon, with the return of RHP Mike Clevinger (knee)
and LHP Blake Snell (groin).
San Francisco Giants
The Giants are among the NL West leaders and they should get a boost with the return of some key left-handed-hitting outfielders.
OF Joc Pederson (groin), who has been among the team’s early standouts, will return soon. He had a club-high six home runs and a .353 average in 16 games.
Pederson got some extra atbats with OFs LaMonte Wade (knee), Mike Yastrzemski (COVID-19) and Steven Duggar (oblique) out.
Despite Pederson’s early success, manager Gabe Kapler is married to his platoon system, subbing Pederson out against left-handed pitchers in favor of OF Austin Slater.
h The Giants’ most durable player was 2B Thairo Estrada, who played every inning.
Contributing: Danny Knobler, Jay Paris, John Perrotto, staff and wire reports