[ayaghmour2]

April 27th, 2029: C.J. Jorgensen asked for an extension, and I can actually afford him. I submitted a 5-year, $109.4 million deal.

We headed home today to prepare for a three game set with the Pirates. We'll see Jonathan Kearns (1-2, 6.48 ERA), Brad Rauter (1-2, 3.52 ERA), and Caleb Barnsley (1-2, 4.50 ERA).

April 28th, 2029: We opened the series with Pittsburgh as a sold out Marlins park. Luis Ardon (2-1, 3.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) looked to stay hot against Jonathan Kearns (1-2, 6.48 ERA, 1.50 WHIP). We have the position advantage at every position except pitcher, but Ardon's stats (and mustahce!) are much better. But, baseball isn't a game of mustaches, and with a 5 run 5th, the Pirates won the opener 7-3.

Daylen Lile left with an injury... He was 2-for-2 with a steal as well...

Ardon went 4.2 innings with 6 hits, 6 runs, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Jamie Priest allwoed 2 hits and a run in 2 innings with 3 strikeouts.

Isaac Nunez was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Juan Simental was 1-for-4 with a solo homer. Noah Smith was 1-for-4. Jarred Kelenic came off the bench and was 1-for-1 with a sac-fly.

April 29th, 2029: I claimed RHP Pat Riley off waivers from the San Frnacisco Giants, and it's an absolute steal. He's an absolute steal, a 3.5/4.5* righty with elite stuff, elite control, plus-plus movement, and plus staimna. He averages 96-98 with his fastball from a sidearm slot. He's an extreme groundball pitcher. The former 8th Round Pick has a career 4.05 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 166 strikeouts in 215.2 innings.

The Nationals signed RHP Bikichi Tsukamoto to a 1-year, $14.1 million year deal. The Japanese import didn't have inital success in the open market, but eventually got a really good deal.

I optioned Jamie Priest to New Orleans.

We looked to even the series back up with Pat Saitta (2-2, 3.38 ERA, 1.40 WHIP) taking on Brad Rauter (1-2, 3.52 ERA, 1.35 WHIP). The pitching was great, and we shut them out 5-0.

Saitta went 6.1 innings with 4 hits and 8 strikeouts. Chad LaFever tossed 1.2 innings wiht a hit, walk, and 3 strikeouts. Ignacio Hinojos went an inning with a walk and 2 strikeouts.

Jarred Kelenic was 1-for-4 with a double, run scored, and RBI. Chris Reid was 1-for-3 with a double and run scored. Noah Smith was 1-for-4 with a double and run scored. Saitta was 1-for-2 with an RBI and sac-bunt. Mac Horvath was 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. Isaac Nunez was 1-for-4 with a run scored and RBI.

Reds starter Esteban Aguirre tossed a 3-hit shutout in a 14-0 win over the Padres. He allwoed 3 hits and struck out 4.

April 30th, 2029: Lile is headed to the DL for 2-3 weeks with a sore elbow. I recalled Eric Kisela from AAA.

We dropped down to 4th in the Power Rankings. At 17-9, we have a 2.5 game lead over the Phillies.

C.J. Jorgensen (2-2, 3.38 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) took on Caleb Barnsley (1-2, 4.50 ERA, 1.23 WHIP) as we looked to win the finale. Man it was a crazy one... The Pirates got 1 in the 12th, and we answered back with a Chris Reid solo homer. Then in the 13th, Trevor Hauver hit a two run homer off Josh Brown, and we failed to answer, and they beat us 6-4 in a backwards series...

Jorgensen went 6 innings with 7 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Brown went an inning plus with 2 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and a strikeout. Ignacio Hinojos finished the game, allowing a hit then striking out the side.

Chris Reid was 3-for-5 with 3 runs, 2 RBI's, a walk, and two home runs. Parker Meadows was 2-for-5 with 2 RBI's, a walk, double, and steal. Juan Ramirez was 2-for-5 with a walk and double. Jackson Miller was 2-for-6 with a run scored. Gregorio Alvarenga was 1-for-3. Jorgensen was 1-for-3.

We're off to St. Louis for three. We'll see Luis Manzano (2-2, 3.26 ERA), Andy Frost (4-0, 2.97 ERA), and Duany Gomez (1-1, 6.75 ERA).

May 1st, 2029: Down in New Orleans, Juan Maya was named American Confrence Pitcher of the Month. He was 3-0 with 22 strikeouts in 34.1 innings in 5 starts with a 1.57 ERA.

We needed to get back on track, and opened the Cardinals series with Devon Peterson (2-1, 3.86 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) taking on Luis Manzano (2-2, 3.26 ERA, 0.86 WHIP). Here's another crazy one... Down 3-0 into the 8th, we got a run to cut the deficit 3-1. In the 9th, Isaac Nunez hit a three run homer off Wilmer Torres to take a 4-3 lead. Rodolfo Medrano then tied up the game after a triple off Chad Scoles to tie the game. We got 4 in the top of the 10th, and then won 8-4.

Peterson went 5.2 innings with 10 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Jarred Kelenic tossed 2.1 innings with a hit and strikeout. Scoles blew the save and got the win, an inning with a hit, run, and strikeout.

Gregorio Alvarenga went 3-for-5 with a walk and 2 RBI's. Noah Smith was 2-for-4 with a run scored, RBI, walk, and double. Juan Ramirez was 2-for-5 with a triple and run scored. Nunez was 1-for-4 with a walk, 2 runs, and the three run homer. Parker Meadows came off the bench and was 1-for-1 with 2 runs (pinch-runner), an RBI, and double. Chris Reid was 1-for-3 with a double and walk. Mac Horvath was 1-for-4 with a double, walk, and run.

Phillies starter Cullen Dana tossed a 2-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over the Cubs.

May 2nd, 2029: We looked to keep rolling with Steve Paustian (3-0, 3.77 ERA, 1.36 WHIP) taking on former Marlin Andy Frost (4-0, 2.97 ERA, 1.14 WHIP). It was a high scoring affair, and we topped them 10-5.

Paustian went 6.2 innings with 7 hits, 3 runs, a walk, and 10 strikeouts. C.J. LaFever allowed a hit, 2 unearned runs, and a strikeout in 8 innings.

Jon Reid was 4-for-5 with 3 doubles, 2 runs, and an RBI. Jarred Kelenic was 3-for-5 with 3 runs, 3 RBI's, a homer, and a steal. Gregorio Alvarenga was 2-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, double, walk, and steal. Juan Ramirez was 2-for-4 with a run scored, 2 RBI's, double, and walk. Jorge Tapia was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Isaac Nunez was 1-for-4 with a run scored, RBI, and walk.

Down in Jacksonville, Jon Carpenter was 5-for-5 in a 7-4 win over the Mobile BayBears.

May 3rd, 2029: We looked to finish the sweep with Luis Ardon (2-2, 5.33 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) taking on Jacob Heatherly (0-0, 3.52 ERA, 1.24 WHIP), who's making his first start after 11 appearences. It was a great pitching performance, and we won 3-1 to finish the sweep.

Ardon went 7 innings with 8 hits, a run, and 7 strikeouts. Gene Hall got a hold and Chad Scoles got a save. Both guys tossed an inning with a strikeout.

Isaac Nunez was 3-for-3 with a double, triple, and 2 RBI's. Juan Ramirez was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, a walk, and triple. Gregorio Alvarenga was 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Chris Reid was 1-for-3 with a walk.

After that successful series, we're headed home for three with the Mets. We'll see Noah Syndergaard (1-1, 4.79 ERA), Pablo Ochoa (1-2, 6.88 ERA), and Arturo Romo (1-2, 4.05 ERA).