The first no-hitter of the 2022 baseball season goes to the Mets in a collective effort Friday against the Phillies. It was the second no-hitter in franchise history. Johan Santana still owns the only no-hitter by a single pitcher for the Mets -- completed on 134 pitches against the Cardinals on June 1, 2012. Tylor Megill got things started against the Phillies. The 26-year-old right-hander got some help from Brandon Nimmo in the top of the third inning when he made an outstanding diving catch in center field to rob Jean Segura of a hit. Megill escaped trouble in the fifth after walking two batters, getting Odúbel Herrera to strike out swinging. That would end the night for Megill after five no-hit innings on 88 pitches -- 53 for strikes. He finished with 12 whiffs to strike out five batters. And after the Mets got on the board against Aaron Nola in the bottom of the fifth, Megill was in line for his fourth win in five starts. One of 2022’s early breakouts, he now has an excellent 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, and 27 strikeouts over 28 innings.
Drew Smith replaced Megill in the sixth inning and worked around a walk to Bryce Harper while striking out the side. The right-hander would get the matchup against J.T. Realmuto to start the seventh and got him to strike out swinging before southpaw Joely Rodriguez entered to face Kyle Schwarber. Smith has been incredible for the Mets, tossing 9 1/3 scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts to start the season. Rodriguez walked Schwarber, but got Alec Bohm to ground into a double play to take the no-hitter into the eighth. A groundout and walk to Johan Camargo would be it for Rodriguez. Seth Lugo was next up, getting Segura and Rhys Hoskins to pop out to end the inning.
In came Edwin Diaz for the final three outs. The 28-year-old right-hander shut the door on the Phillies, inducing six whiffs on 11 swings to strike out the side, complete the no-hitter, and pick up his fourth save of the season. At 15-6, the Mets hold the best record in baseball going into Saturday’s action and look like legitimate contenders as we head into May. Taijuan Walker will look to keep it going Saturday as he takes the mound against Kyle Gibson and the Phillies.
Hitters with an EDGE
Taylor Ward vs. White Sox
3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
The Taylor Ward breakout continues. Ward led off the game with a solo homer off of Lucas Giolito for his fifth blast of the season. He later added a base hit in the seventh inning and an RBI double in the ninth. The 28-year-old outfielder has led off each of the last five games. Ward is slashing .404/.517/.830 with an 11/10 BB/K ratio and 18 percent barrel rate, giving legitimacy to what he’s doing at the plate.
Shohei Ohtani vs. White Sox
2-for-5, HR, 3 R, SB
Ohtani had a productive day at the plate on Friday. He launched his fourth homer on the year in the first inning off of Lucas Giolito. After reaching on a fielder’s choice in the sixth, he scored on a double by Anthony Rendon. Ohtani knocked a base hit in the eighth and stole second for his fourth steal. This is hopefully the start of a good run for the 27-year-old star. He’s hitting .247/.297/.435 with four homers, four steals, and 11 RBI across 91 plate appearances.
Hunter Renfroe vs. Cubs
2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Renfroe broke a 1-for-16 slump with a two-homer day Friday against the Cubs. He took Daniel Norris deep in the fifth inning to extend the Brewers’ lead, then blasted his fourth homer on the year with a two-run shot in the seventh. The 30-year-old outfielder is hitting just .229/.267/.457 in the early going.
Pitchers with an EDGE
Adrian Houser vs. Cubs
6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K
25% CSW, 8 swinging strikes
Houser continued his excellent start with a six-inning shutout performance against the Cubs. He tossed 64-of-101 pitches for strikes, scattering three walks and two hits. The 29-year-old right-hander generated eight whiffs while collecting six strikeouts on the day. Houser will take a 2.53 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts across 21 1/3 innings into his next start against the Reds in Milwaukee next week.
Corey Kluber vs. Twins
6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K
32% CSW, 11 swinging strikes
It was vintage Kluber out there Friday against the Twins. The 36-year-old right-hander needed just 71 pitches -- 48 strikes -- to get through six innings of one-run ball. He hit Byron Buxton to lead off the sixth. Buxton made it to second on a groundout before Carlos Correa knocked the first hit of the game against Kluber to drive in Minnesota’s lone run. Kluber generated 11 whiffs to strike out six batters. He’ll take a 3.05 ERA into a start against the Mariners in Seattle his next time out.
Priority Pickup
Ramon Laureano, OF, A’s --available in 72 percent of Yahoo leagues
With Laureano widely available, it might be a good time to get ahead of the rush and pick up him this week. The 27-year-old outfielder is eligible to return from his suspension on May 8. He’ll be among the most added players over the next week due to his five-category upside. Laureano was hitting .246/.317/.443 with 14 homers, 43 runs, 39 RBI, and 12 stolen bases across 378 plate appearances in 2021 before receiving an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. He has the potential to be a dynamic addition in all mixed leagues.
Closing Time
Hansel Robles had started the ninth inning for the Red Sox with a three-run lead against the Orioles. A home run and a base hit brought the tying run at the plate with two outs before Matt Strahm was called on to record the final out for his first save.
The Marlins took a five-run lead into the top of the ninth against the Mariners. Shawn Armstrong surrendered two doubles and a base hit to score a run before Anthony Bender took over with one out. Bender allowed a sacrifice fly and a base hit to bring in two more runs for Seattle before he closed it out to secure the win for Miami. Bender is up to five saves in Dylan Floro‘s absence.
Taylor Rogers took over for the Padres with two runners on and one out in the ninth inning against the Pirates. He needed just eight pitches to record the final two outs while keeping Pittsburgh off the board to secure his eighth save of the season.
Kenley Jansen was summoned in the ninth to close things out with a three-run lead against the Rangers. He tossed a clean inning with one strikeout to record his sixth save for the Braves. The 34-year-old right-hander has now mande eight scoreless appearances since giving up three runs on April 8 while retiring 24 of his last 25 batters faced.
Matchup of the Day
Robbie Ray (SEA) vs. Jesus Luzardo (MIA)
We’ve got an intriguing matchup in Miami on Saturday as the Mariners take on the Marlins. Robbie Ray, last year’s American League Cy Young Award winner, has pitched at least six innings in all four of his starts so far. He’s allowed two runs or less in three of them, but surrendered six runs to the White Sox on April 13, inflating his ERA to 3.91. Ray’s velocity and strikeout rate have been down in the early going. While it’s only a slight cause for concern through four starts, it’ll be something to monitor. On the other side, Luzardo has been impressive with a 3.77 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 14 1/4 innings. Unlike Ray, his velocity has been up to 97 mph on the fastball. And more lean on his breaking stuff has led to plenty of whiffs through his three starts. If he can keep it up, the 24-year-old left-hander looks like a breakout in the making.
American League Quick Hits: Teoscar Hernandez went through a full workout and took batting practice off a machine on Friday... J.D. Martinez remained out of the Red Sox lineup Friday... Mitch Haniger was removed from Friday’s game with an ankle injury... Noah Syndergaard was scratched from his start Friday due to illness... The Yankees activated OF Aaron Hicks from the paternity list... Bailey Ober (groin) is likely to land on the injured list... Yonny Chirinos is hoping to throw off a mound by late May... J.T. Chargois advanced to playing catch at 90 feet on Wednesday... James Paxton threw two simulated innings at the Red Sox spring training complex Thursday... The Blue Jays purchased the contract of Vinny Capra and optioned Bowden Francis... The White Sox optioned Kyle Crick to Triple-A Charlotte and activated Ryan Burr from the 10-day injured list... The A’s optioned Mickey McDonald and Ryan Castellani to Triple-A and activated Kevin Smith and Jed Lowrie... Johnny Cueto may make two additional starts at Triple-A before joining the White Sox...
National League Quick Hits: Major League Baseball announced that they have suspended Trevor Bauer 324 games without pay due to his violation of MLB’s Joint Domestic Violent, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy... Brandon Belt was placed on the COVID-19 injured list... Alex Cobb could rejoin the Giants rotation as soon as this weekend... Joc Pederson is dealing with a Grade 1 adductor strain... Garrett Hampson began a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday... Mark Melancon was placed on the COVID-19 injured list... Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated that a promotion of infield prospect Nolan Gorman is not imminent... Reds sent RHP Ryan Hendrix outright to Triple-A Louisville... Dominic Leone was placed on the COVID-19 injured list...
