The Five
1. Reds win again, lead Central; Stewart hits another homer.
2. Rushing blasts his 7th homer in his 8th game.
3. Braves are 16-7; Olson w a HR, needs six for 300.
4. PHI 6 straight losses, 7 1/2 games behind ATL.
5. Cease 12 punchouts in 5 innings, and Vladdy rips three hits; batting .354.
Early MLB 2026 trade deadline preview: Player most likely to be traded for all 30 teams
From major league stars to prospects to if-all-goes-wrong candidates, here's who could be on the trade block come August.
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...
On the podcast, youtu.be/Ue_I1oTwPc0 @TheRealHoz35 talks about what was behind the Salvador Perez tweet, Rice and Judge at the top of the NY lineup, the Mets' struggles; @kileymcd talks Crochet struggles, Sal Stewart, Mets' problems; and a great listener email about Ohtani, Dodgers, Rockies.
The Five
1. Reds come back, again, to win. Bullpen is much deeper.
2. STL win streak is 5 after Cards broom HOU.
3. Rice hits leadoff and he and Judge blast homers.
4. Braves sweep PHI; their lead over PHI is 6 1/2 games, and 8 over the Mets.
5. Mets' losing streak reaches 11. When will it end?
The Five
1. Central Aces: Skubal ERA to 2.08, Gavin Williams at 2.12.
2. Giants win again; Ramos 3 hits.
3. ATL wins 4th straight; +55 run differential.
4. Salvador Perez's manager gives him a 'mental breather' day; Salvy tweets that he doesn't need a mental breather.
5. Mets 10 straight losses.
ESPN Baseball Tonight Podcast April 17, 2026
Thanks @busterespn.bsky.social for having me on the pod today, talking all things MLB City Connect
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYA0...
The Five
1. Jose Soriano reduces his ERA to 0.28 with 5 2/3 scoreless innings against SD.
2. Austin Riley clubs two homers as ATL crushes PHI.
3. Ryan McMahon goes oppo in eighth inning for 1st homer.
4. Yoshida walks it off in Boston's 1-0 win over DET.
5. The Mets: That's nine straight losses.
On the podcast, youtu.be/mYA0i1iq5CA the Reds' energy dynamo Sal Stewart talks hitting, his goal of being a college basketball coach, Will Clark comparison; Sarah Langs Numbers Game; Todd Radom rates the new City Connects on 1-to-10 scale; and Hembo talks Shohei stuff, Mason Miller Cy chances.
On the podcast, youtu.be/mYA0i1iq5CA the Reds' energy dynamo Sal Stewart talks hitting, his goal of being a college basketball coach, Will Clark comparison; Sarah Langs Numbers Game; Todd Radom rates the new City Connects on 1-to-10 scale; and Hembo talks Shohei stuff, Mason Miller Cy chances.
19 going on 35: How Konnor Griffin’s maturity is making an impression on Pirates
As the Bucs build for the future, the youngest player in MLB has his teammates singing his praises.
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...
The Five
1. Mike Trout HR in every game of a 4-game series in Yankee Stadium.
2. Parker Messick flirts with a no-hitter.
3. SD wins 8th straight; Mason K's everyone, again.
4. Rays 9th inning rally with great ABs; come back to win; they are 11-7.
5. DET scores 3 in the bottom of 9th to beat KC, 10-9
The Five
1. SD scores five runs in the bottom of the ninth to win.
2. Ohtani throws 100 mph fastballs, a 72 mph curve, dominates the Mets.
3. DET roll continues, with Jack Flaherty holds KC to a run over 6 innings.
4. The Judge-Trout showdown.
5. Sal Stewart 2 HR, 6 RBI; a .323/.434/.726 slash line.
On the podcast, youtu.be/gI6klQMKTrs Chandler Simpson talks about the reaction he hears from opposing players when he reaches base, what it means to wear No. 42 today; former NL president Leonard Coleman talks about how came up w the idea of retiring No. 42; David Schoenfield on NYM, HOU, Crochet.
ABS has been the talk of the MLB season. Here's what those in the game say about the new rule -- and how it changes their jobs.
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...
On Jackie Robinson Day, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick remembers one the game's most legendary players, what he means to baseball and his lasting impact.
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...
The Five
1. Mick Abel shuts out Boston for 7 innings; Twins have the best record in the AL.
2. Sal Stewart HR; he's batting .310/.431/.638
3. C.J. Abrams 3-for-4, HR; he's got a .356/.426/.695 slash line.
4. McClanahan gets his first win since 2023.
5. Reid Detmers 7 IP, 0 BB, 9Ks in Yankee Stadium.
I understand how the modern game works, but this is still wild to see
--> baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-playe...
The conversation about reporters and quid pro quo and bending the truth for sources is important for the industry.
x.com/DRonESPN/sta...
The Five
1. Teams averaged 7.2 runs per game Monday, the highest-scoring day across MLB since July 18, 1936. (Thanks, Paul Hembekides)
2. 9 different hitters had multi-HR games.
3. Pages 1st player to 20 RBI.
4. Walker clubs his 8th homer. He hit 6 in '25.
5. M's 4-game sweep of HOU; Naylor breakout
What makes a good pinch hitter in 2026? One manager might have revealed the secret
Looking for the key to production off the bench? Here's the long and short of it.
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...
Podcast youtu.be/DzZc8qsOQvw Bob Costas talks about a big ABS surprise early this season, and tells a classic story about a manager using him to motivate his players; I tell a Costas story; @PerezEd talks Jackie, and plays a game of Real or Not--Padres, Chandler Simpson's impact, Lindor's struggles.
When New York and L.A. collide this week, big-money baseball will be on display at a never-seen-before level.
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...
The Five
1. A's complete weeklong domination in NY. Nick Kurtz hits 1st HR.
2. TB sweeps the Yankees; Chandler Simpson wrecks with his speed.
3. Ramon Laureano HRs, and the Padres' W streak reaches 5.
4. Cubs rebound from 5-2 deficit to beat PIT in extras.
5. Willson Contreras 4 hits, 3 RBI vs. STL
The Five
1. Mariners, J.P. Crawford rebound from 5-run deficit to walk off Houston.
2. Chandler Simpson's speed completely discombobulates the Yankees.
3. Michael Wacha throws eight scoreless innings.
4. CLE's Parker Messick reduces ERA to 0.51.
5. Tatis, Jr. starts at 2B, rips three hits in SD win
Seattle's biggest stars have struggled at the plate with the team off to rough start this season. How real are the concerns? Let's find out.
www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/...
The Five
1. Ichiro shows so much humor, grace when his statue breaks in unveiling.
2. Max Muncy 3 HR, including a walkoff.
3. Mason Miller 3 batters faced, 3 more Ks. He's whiffed 19 of the 24 hitters he faced this season.
4. TOR, Seattle offenses break out.
5. A's pitchers second straight shutout.
Podcast youtu.be/B6cx217mnnQ Albert Pujols talks WBC, what he told Manfred about when it should be played, what he tells Junior Caminero, and discusses possibility of a unanimous HOF election. Paul Hembekides discusses Jordan Walker, Konnor Griffin, Drake Baldwin, Adley.
The Five
1. The Twins sweep the Tigers. Who would've imagined? (Not me!)
2. Xander walk-off GS, after Machado and Merrill walked intentionally to get to him.
3. Mason Miller 21 batters, 16 strikeouts.
4. A's hold NYY to one hit.
5. Reds lose, but Sal Stewart keeps rolling for CIN: .364/.473/.727.
The Five 04/09/26
1. MLB rules: Suspensions for Soler and Lopez, and Walt Weiss promoted to Peacekeeping Force. (not really)
2. Sonny Gray 6 1/3 innings scoreless IP
3. Orioles sweep CWS; Taylor Ward 4 hits, 2 RBI.
4. CLE's Angel Martinez has four hits.
5. Mariners drop to 4-9, hitting MLB-low .184
Podcast youtu.be/8HpVgLGK7Bw Yankees scout Matt Hyde talks about how the team landed Ben Rice in the 12th round, Cam Schlittler in the 7th round; @JesseRogersESPN on the injury wave that hit the Cubs.