[ayaghmour2]

April 27th, 2031: With a day off, I optioned the struggling SS Rogelio Maldonado to AAA and recalled 1B Rodolfo Solorzano.

We headed home in preperation to host the Cubs. We'll see Seth Halvorsen (2-1, 4.58 ERA), Sergio Barreto (3-0, 2.55 ERA), and Jorge Flores (3-0, 1.31 ERA).

April 28th, 2031: We dropped to 3rd in the Power Rankings, with the new #1 our next opponent, the Chicago Cubs. At 16-8, we have a 2 game lead over the Mets.

Prospect Watch: SP Eric Estes (A Greensboro):

I'm just trying to feel better about guys who I drafted, so this week Eric Estes is being highlightes. A 23-year-old righty, Estes was selected in the 7th Round in 2029 from USC. Formerly a 5th Round Pick by the Brewers out of high school, he didn't sign, and then had a little bit of a down junior year, causing him to drop in the draft. Checking in at 26th in our top 30, Estes features plus control with a nice four pitch arsenal. He has a plus-plus fastball that sits at 94-96, and features a plus slider, plus forkball, and average knuckle curve. He's gotten off to a great start in his first taste of full season ball, going 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in 4 starts. He's struck out 27 and walked just 4. The Mimai Beach native doesn't quite jump out at you, but he's got back-of-the-rotation/spot starter potential in the majors.

The 17-7 Cubs came to town, and we opened this crucial series with Juan Maya (4-0, 3.47 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) facing Seth Halvorsen (2-1, 4.58 ERA, 1.58 WHIP). The pitching was great, and we topped the visitors 6-1.

Juan Ramirez left with a twisted ankle, but he'll be better once the series ends.

Juan Maya went 5.2 innings with 3 hits, a run, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. Ken Adeniran picked up a long save, tossing 3.1 perfect innings with one strikeout.

Juan Simental was 3-for-4 with 3 runs and a double. Ramirez was a perfect 3-for-3 with a run scored, steal, and 3 RBI's. Ernie Frye was 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 2 steals. Gregorio Alvarenga was 1-for-3 with a walk.

A's young star Mike Powerll struck out 15 in a 1-0 win over the Red Sox. He allowed 4 htis and walked none in 7 excellent innings.

April 29th, 2031: The middle match was a high caliber lefty pitching matchup, with Esteban Aguirre (2-0, 2.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) looking to shake off subpar outings against Sergio Barreto (3-0, 2.55 ERA, 0.79 WHIP). The pitchers' duel was as anticipated, and we shut the visitors out 1-0.

Even better, I forgot to bench Juan Ramirez, and now he's headed to the DL with a knee contusion...

Oh man...

Aguirre tossed 6 innings with 2 hits, a walk, and 13 strikeotus. C.J. LaFever and Josh Cronin picked up holds before Chad Scoles got the save. Each pitched an inning and each got a strikeout.

Jackson Miller was 2-for-3 with a double. Ernie Frye was 1-for-3 with a walk and RBI. Jon Reid was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

April 30th, 2031: I purcahsed the contract of LF Mike Smedley from AAA. I signed him back as a minor league free agent in 2030, but in 7 seasons with the Angels from 2023-2029, he hit .258/.319/.478 with 178 homers and 529 RBI's. He was a 2nd Round selection of theirs in 2020, and was hitting really well, .319/.365/.617 with 3 homers and 10 RBI's to start the year with New Orleans.

We looked to finish April off with a sweep, as Dursun Erbakan (1-1, 6.10 ERA, 1.55 WHIP) took on the ageless wonder (37!) Jorge Flores (3-0, 1.31 ERA, 0.61 WHIP). We were amazing, and won 7-1!

Erbakan tossed 5 shutout innings with 4 hits, 3 walks, and 10 strikeouts. Shiro Hiraki got a "hold" with a hit, run, walk, and an impressive 5 strikeouts in 2 innings of work.

Juan Simental was 2-for-3 with two solo homers, 3 runs, and a walk. Mac Horvath was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 RBI's, a walk, homer, and steal. Rodolfo Solorzano was 1-for-3 with a solo homer and sac-fly. Ernie Frye was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

We looked to ride the hot streak into May and St. Louis as we headed North for three games. We'd face Nelson A. Alvarez (1-0, 1.80 ERA), Nate Shcneider (3-0, 2.84 ERA), and Andy Frost (1-3, 10.89 ERA).

May 1st, 2031: We opened the three game set in St. Louis with Steve Paustian (1-2, 5.26 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) facing Nelson A. Alvarez (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.60 WHIP). We got four late runs in the 9th, to comeback and beat St. Louis 4-3.

Paustian went 5.1 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. Rodolfo Esquilin tossed an inning with a strikeout for the win. Chad Scoles got the save in the bottom of the ninth, an inning with a hit and strikeout.

Takeshi Kino****a was 2-for-3 with a double, run scored, RBI, and walk. Juan Simental was 2-for-4 with a double and run scored. Sergio Tello was 2-for-4 with a double. Luis Mora was 1-for-4 with a two run homer. Mac Horvath was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Twins C Dominic Keegan was 5-for-5 in a 6-5 win over the Tigers.

Down in AAA, Joe Martin was brilliant, tossing a 2-hit shutout in a 5-0 win over the Tuscon Toros.

May 2nd, 2031: We looked to keep on going with C.J. Jorgensen (1-2, 3.94 ERA, 1.38 WHIP) facing Nate Schneider (3-0, 2.84 ERA, 0.95 WHIP). It was a tight one, and they managed to even the series with a 3-2 win.

Jorgensen tossed 5 innings with 5 hits, 2 runs, 5 walks, and 2 strikeouts. Joe Cronin allowed a hit and run in 0.2 innings.

Juan Simental was 2-for-4 with a solo homer. Takeshi Kino****a was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. Jorgensen was 1-for-2. Jon Reid was 1-for-4 with a steal. Rodolfo Solorzano had a pinch-hit RBI double in the 7th.

Reds 3B Rafael Devers tallied his 2,500th career hit. The 34-year-old has played in 2,135 big league games, hitting an impressive .296/.356/.561 with 543 homers and 1,589 RBI's. He's a 11-Time All-Star and 7-Time Silver Slugger.

May 3rd, 2031: The Yanks will be without RHP Logan Gilbert for the year with a torn labrum in his shoulder. He was 2-1 with a 2.02 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 13.1 innings. He struck out 13 and walked just 4.

Juan Maya (5-0, 3.10 ERA, 1.14 WHIP) looked to stay perfect as we looked to win the finale against former Marlin farmhand Andy Forst (1-3, 10.89 ERA, 2.42 WHIP). We scored 4 runs in the 9th to tie the game at 9 and force extras. In the 11th, former Marlin Rodolfo Medrano hit a walk-off single, and the hosts won 10-9.

Luis Alcantra left with an injury...

Maya was lit up, 2 innigns with 9 hits and 6 runs. He walked 1 and struck out 2. Ken Adeniran went 3 innigns with 2 hits, a run, walk, and 3 strikeouts. Shiro Hiraki allowed a hit and run in an inning. Alcantra allowed a hit and run with a strikeout. C.J. LaFever got the loss, 3 hits and a run without an out.

Takeshi Kino****a was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 RBI's, 2 walks, a hit by pitch, and double. Jon Reid was 1-for-3 with a run scored, RBI, walk, steal, and hit by pitch. Ernie Frye was 1-for-4 with a solo homer and walk. Lusi Mora was 1-for-5 with a two run homer and walk. Mac Horvath was 1-for-4 with a run scored and walk. Juan Simental was 1-for-6 with a double, run scored, and RBI.

Well, we started out April 1-2 too...

We'll head back home for three with the Vultures. We'll face Steve Caprioi (2-2, 6.48 ERA), Ryder Green (1-2, 4.32 ERA), and Santiago Elizondo (0-2, 5.50 ERA).