Kyle Schwarber is 2-for-2 with 2 walks today -- all against left-handed pitchers (including a BB vs. Aroldis Chapman).

It's the 1st time in Schwarber's career that he's reached base 4 times vs. LHPs in a single game.

OPS, top 4 batting order spots:

1.026 LAD
.856 MIL
.851 CLE
.848 ATL
.841 HOU
.839 ARI
.810 TEX
.804 KC
.787 SD
.785 LAA
.755 BAL
.748 NYY
.734 CHC
.729 PIT
.725 TOR
.724 DET
.715 STL
.711 COL
.705 MIN
.695 SF
.694 OAK
.691 BOS
.682 PHI
.658 WSH
.653 CWS
.646 MIA
.634 CIN
.633…

The Seattle Mariners last 2 games vs. Cubs 🤯

April 12, 2024: Mariners W; allow 2 R; Ty France goes 2-for-4 with RBI; J.P. Crawford goes 1-for-3 with walk.

April 12, 2023: Mariners W; allow 2 R; Ty France goes 2-for-4 with RBI; J.P. Crawford goes 1-for-3 with walk. #TheMayerGWS

Here’s the statement from Michael Freedman, Ippei Mizuhara’s lawyer.

“He wishes to apologize to Mr. Ohtani”

Freedman said Mizuhara he wants to resolve the case before trial.

Ippei Mizuhara surrendered to authorities Friday in Los Angeles and was released on a $25K bond.

From Sam Blum: theathletic.com/5411537/2024/0…

Tyler's Friday column is must read, as always

Every time I read it, I learn something I didn't know about baseball. And I'm not making that up!

“That tragedy is going to follow him throughout eternity.

“He’s paid for it a thousand times over it privately in his mind. If he’s got any soul at all, he’s got to be in agony for what he did.”

For Shohei Ohtani, exoneration seemingly is at hand. Column: theathletic.com/5409424/2024/0…

'You’d have some guys who didn’t want to play coming up with fake injuries.'

This was so much fun from Tim Britton

I loved the line from Roger McDowell about how the folks who ran the K Korner had to bring 27 K's when Gooden pitched, because nothing was impossible!

Interesting stuff here from Mark and SIS

NEWS: MLB's Sunday Morning deal with Peacock is unlikely to continue, but MLB still hoping to keep the games going this season, The Athletic has learned.

Full details ...

theathletic.com/5408872/2024/0…

Key section of the complaint:

'I do not find it credible that (Ohtani) would have repeatedly authorized wire transfers to MIZUHARA while MIZUHARA continued incurring gambling debts to BOOKMAKER 1 for nearly two years. Further, I do not find it credible that (Ohtani) would have…

The complaint states that between Dec. 2021 and this January, Mizuhara allegedly placed 'approximately 19,000 wagers.'

Losing bets: $182.94 million
Winning bets: $142.27 million

Total losses: nearly $40.7 million

The seized records 'do not reflect any bets on baseball games.'

Here's the complaint against Mizuhara. It's 37 pages.

documentcloud.org/documents/2454…

'MIZUHARA messaged BOOKMAKER 1 stating, “Have you seen the reports?” BOOKMAKER 1 responded, “Yes, but that’s all bullshit. Obviously you didn’t steal from him. I understand it’s a cover job .. MIZUHARA then responded, “Technically I did steal from him. it’s all over for me.” '

Reminder: The Athletic is hiring two student interns. The deadline to apply is April 19. Both internships run from 9/16 until 12/6.

The editorial design student intern application 🔗➡️ jobs.lever.co/theathletic/df…

The MLB writer student intern application 🔗⤵️jobs.lever.co/theathletic/fe…

Bo + Josh Naylor’s 10th-inning heroics are the 3rd time one brother had a game-tying RBI & another had the game-winning RBI, both in the 9th inning or later, Expansion Era (1961), joining:

4/6/2013 Uptons (B.J. tying HR, Justin walk-off HR in 9th)

9/7/1988 Ripkens (Billy tying…

Travis Jankowski has a bunt single as the team's DH.

The last Rangers player with a bunt single as the DH?

Shin-Soo Choo on September 27, 2020.

The significance?

It was Choo's last ever MLB plate appearance. He was lifted for a PR after reaching!

Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter, is negotiating a deal to plead guilty to the theft, according to a report by the New York Times.

The report described the investigation into Mizuhara’s alleged theft as “rapidly nearing a conclusion.'

theathletic.com/5407268/2024/0…

Before their win today, the Phillies hadn’t had a winning record on their first road trip of the season since … 2011.

Their record on all those first trips in between: 15-40!

Winning pitchers on that 2011 trip:

Oswalt
Hamels
Halladay
Lee

So it’s been a while