CJ Abrams went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, leading the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.

Brady House added two hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who won for the fourth time in five games and evened the four-game series at a win apiece. The Pirates lost for only the fourth time in the past 13 games.

Pittsburgh left seven runners on base and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Pirates had two chances to come back late in the game but came up short.

Pittsburgh loaded the bases in the seventh with one out against Mitchell Parker. Cionel Perez took over on the mound and fell behind in the count 3-1 to Nick Yorke before the pinch hitter grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Parker (1-0) struck out five over two innings of scoreless relief.

The Pirates put two runners on with one out in the ninth, but Gus Varland struck out Oneil Cruz and induced a game-ending popup from Yorke to pick up his second save.

Pirates starter Mitch Keller (1-1) was unable to continue his stellar start to the season. He surrendered five runs on six hits and four walks while striking out three over four innings.

The Nationals scored three runs in the first inning after the first five batters reached base. House, Daylen Lile and Abrams each drove in a run with a single before the Pirates recorded the first out of the game when Lile was picked off at second.

Washington added two more runs on a solo home run by Abrams in the third and an RBI single by Luis Garcia Jr. in the fourth, pushing the lead to 5-1.

The Pirates cut the deficit to 5-3 in the fourth on an RBI double by Marcell Ozuna and an RBI groundout by Nick Gonzales. Ozuna had two hits after mustering only three hits in 43 at-bats entering the game. Ozuna nearly had a third hit in the eighth when he sent a ball into the left-center-field gap, but Lile made a diving catch.

PJ Poulin started the game for Washington as an opener and gave up one run in his lone inning on a Brandon Lowe homer.

The Nationals’ bulk reliever, Miles Mikolas, permitted three runs in 3 1/3 innings, including a solo homer by Joey Bart in the fifth that cut Washington’s lead to 5-4.

–Field Level Media

Brady Singer threw six strong innings, Spencer Steer and Sal Stewart hit early home runs off Robbie Ray, and the Cincinnati Reds held on for a 2-1 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series Tuesday night.

Bouncing back from his worst outing of the young season, Singer (1-1) allowed a two-out, fifth-inning home run to Willy Adames, his third of the season, but just five other hits in his six innings. He struck out one, hit a batter, but didn’t walk anyone.

Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan and Emilio Pagan all worked a scoreless inning in relief of Singer, with Pagan notching his fifth save after a seven-pitch ninth.

The win was just the Reds’ second in their last six games. The Giants dropped their third straight.

Neither team got a runner farther than second base until Steer circled them with his third homer of the year leading off the bottom of the third.

Stewart made it 2-0 an inning later with his fifth homer.

The home runs were the only two hits allowed by Ray (2-2) in five innings, during which he labored through 94 pitches. He walked four and struck out six.

The Reds finished with just three hits. Elly De La Cruz had the third, a one-out single off Caleb Kilian in the sixth.

Kilian and fellow Giants relievers Keaton Winn and Ryan Walker faced just 10 batters in shutting out the Reds over their last three at-bats.

The Giants had just three at-bats with runners in scoring position. Patrick Bailey flied to left field with Jung Hoo Lee on second to end the second inning; Heliot Ramos flied to left after Lee had doubled with two outs in the fourth; and Ramos stranded Casey Schmitt at second with a grounder to short in the sixth.

Luis Arraez had three singles, while Adames and Lee collected two hits apiece for San Francisco, which out-hit the hosts 7-3.

The double by Lee was the game’s only extra-base hit other than the three home runs.

–Field Level Media

Dillon Dingler drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the eighth and the Detroit Tigers extended their winning streak to four games with a 2-1 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.

Detroit, which swept Miami over the weekend, scored both of its runs in the eighth in the opener of the three-game series. Zach McKinstry scored on a wild pitch and Kevin McGonigle scored on Dingler’s second hit of the game.

The game featured a pitchers’ duel between the starters. Kansas City’s Cole Ragans allowed just one hit and no runs in six innings. He walked four and struck out one. Detroit’s Framber Valdez limited the Royals to one run and three hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out one.

Both starters thrived on getting ground balls. Valdez’s replacement, Will Vest (1-2), took a different approach. He struck out all three batters he faced.

Kenley Jansen left a runner stranded at third while recording his third save of the season and 479th of his career. He surpassed Lee Smith for third place on the all-time saves list.

Carter Jensen knocked in the lone Kansas City run. The Royals have been held to two or fewer runs eight times in 17 games this season.

Royals left fielder Isaac Collins was removed from the game with a right knee injury in the first inning. He dove into the stands trying to catch a foul ball.

Kansas City pushed across its run in the second inning. Salvador Perez led off with a single and Vinnie Pasquantino hit into a fielder’s choice. Starling Marte singled and Jonathan India walked to load the bases. Jensen grounded into a fielder’s choice as Pasquantino scored.

Detroit’s rally in the eighth inning began with McKinstry’s double to right off Nick Mears (1-1). He advanced to third on Gleyber Torres’ groundout. Pinch hitter Colt Keith hit a line drive that was snared by shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. With McGonigle up, McKinstry scooted home on a Mears wild pitch.

McGonigle walked and scored from first on Dingler’s double down the left field line.

–Field Level Media

Carson Kelly belted a three-run homer and Nico Hoerner and Alex Bregman also drove in three runs apiece, fueling the visiting Chicago Cubs to a 10-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

Hoerner recorded an RBI single in the third inning, Bregman had one of his own in the fifth and both added a two-run single in the sixth.

Ian Happ ripped an RBI double and Michael Busch reached base four times (two hits, two walks) for the Cubs, who banged out 15 hits to even their three-game series with the Phillies at one victory apiece. The deciding contest of the set is Wednesday night.

Colin Rea (2-0) relieved opener Riley Martin and allowed three runs on four hits with five strikeouts in six innings. His lone misstep was surrendering a three-run homer to Edmundo Sosa in the second.

Sosa also scored on Trea Turner’s RBI single in the eighth to bring the Phillies within 7-4, but Kelly provided insurance in the ninth with his first homer of the season.

With the game tied at 3-3, Tim Mayza (0-1) relieved Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola (five innings, eight hits, three runs) and ran into trouble in the sixth. A walk, a hit batter and an error quickly loaded the bases before Hoerner and Bregman each slapped a two-run single to right field. Bregman’s hit came off Brad Keller.

Mayza permitted four runs (three earned), two walks and one hit in one-third of an inning. He entered the game having yet to allow an earned run in seven relief appearances.

Brandon Marsh and J.T. Realmuto each had a one-out single in the second before Sosa deposited a 2-1 slider from Rea over the wall in center field to open the scoring.

Chicago cut into its deficit in the third, with Hoerner’s single plating Pete Crow-Armstrong and Happ’s double off the top of the wall in left field scoring Busch.

The Cubs forged a 3-3 tie in the fifth after Dansby Swanson walked to lead off the inning, advanced to second on another walk and scored on Bregman’s single to center field.

–Field Level Media

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Nick Pivetta, who recorded career highs in multiple pitching categories in 2025, will make a trip to the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation, the team announced on Tuesday.

Pivetta retired the first nine Colorado Rockies’ batters on Sunday and fanned four in three innings. But the right-hander was removed from the game after throwing a fastball to Edouard Julien, who was leading off the top of the fourth.

The move is retroactive to Monday, and the Padres have recalled right-handed reliever Alek Jacob from Triple-A El Paso.

Jacob, 27, has pitched in 39 games for San Diego over the previous three seasons and made a career-high 29 appearances in 2025. He posted a 1-0 record with a 5.13 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.

In 31 starts last season, Pivetta posted career bests in wins (13), ERA (2.87), WAR (5.2), WHIP (0.99), innings pitched (181 2/3) and strikeouts (190).

Pivetta, 33, has made four starts to date in 2026 and sports a 1-2 record with a 4.50 ERA. After allowing six earned runs in three innings to Detroit in the season opener, he had permitted only two earned runs in 13 innings (1.38 ERA) over three April starts. Pivetta struck out 20 and walked only three this month.

The 10-year major league veteran has a career record of 70-78 with a 4.47 ERA. He pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies (2017-20) and Boston Red Sox (2020-24) before signing with San Diego on a four-year, $55 million deal before the 2025 season.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz will be in the dugout for Tuesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks despite suffering at least seven fractures in his cheek and a broken jaw due to a foul ball off the bat of one of his own players on Monday night.

The incident occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning of the Orioles’ eventual 9-7 come-from-behind victory over the D-backs. Jeremiah Jackson hit a check-swing foul ball which struck Albernaz in the right side of the face as he stood by the opening of the dugout railing.

The Orioles’ new skipper put his hand to his face and took a few steps down the tunnel, where he was met by team trainers. He cleared concussion protocol, but was advised to watch the rest of the game from his office.

Several players, including Jackson and Monday’s starting pitcher Dean Kremer, came to check on him, but in the very next inning, Albernaz heard a roar from the crowd and pitcher Chris Bassitt came to the office to tell him that Jackson had hit a grand slam.

The manager reappeared in the dugout and, with a large red welt visible on his face, embraced Jackson before retiring again to his office.

Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer in the seventh to give the Orioles the lead and Jackson hit a solo shot in the eighth to cap a run of eight consecutive Baltimore runs scored.

Bench coach Donnie Ecker sat in for Albernaz for postgame media duties.

Albernaz told reporters before Tuesday’s game that he has to eat baby food for six weeks.

After hearing the crowd reaction to Jackson’s grand slam, Albernaz told reporters, “I heard the crowd and I was like… ‘You know what?, F— this, I’m going out in the dugout.'”

The Orioles were able to retrieve the grand slam ball, which Jackson signed and gave to Albernaz, writing “Sorry, homie.”

Albernaz could have taken Tuesday night off, but will be in the dugout — although perhaps not in his regular spot.

“This is what we’re here for,” he told reporters. “We’re here for the players. We have a game. I’m physically able to be here. So, let’s go.”

–Field Level Media

The Chicago White Sox made it official Tuesday, selecting the contract of top pitching prospect Noah Schultz from Triple-A Charlotte in advance of his major league debut against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The White Sox also reinstated outfielder Everson Pereira from the injured list and placed right-hander Jonathan Cannon on the IL with right hip inflammation.

Rated by Baseball America as their No. 1 overall prospect, and No. 21 in MLB, Schultz was Chicago’s first-round pick (26th overall) in the 2022 draft. In 14 innings this season at Triple-A, the left-hander has a 3-0 record and a 1.29 ERA with 19 strikeouts and two walks.

At 6-foot-10, Schultz will become one of the tallest left-handed pitchers in major league history, joining Randy Johnson and Eric Hillman. Former White Sox right-hander Jon Rauch was 6-foot-11.

Schultz threw just 73 total innings across Double-A and Triple-A last season due to a patella injury. He has yet to throw more than 88 1/3 innings in a season since being drafted, after dealing with shoulder and hand injuries.

Over five seasons across five levels of minor league competition, Schultz has a career 2.76 ERA in 59 appearances (58 starts) spanning 221 2/3 innings. He has 285 strikeouts against 84 walks.

Pereira, 25, has been out since April 3 with a left ankle sprain. He was 4-for-16 with a home run in five games this season after he was acquired from the Rays in a November trade.

Cannon, 25, was making his season debut when he was injured in the third inning of Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals. He is 9-20 with a 5.13 ERA in 46 appearances (38 starts) for Chicago over the past three seasons.

–Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Angels recalled left-hander Sam Aldegheri from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioned left-hander Mitch Farris in advance of Tuesday’s road game against the New York Yankees.

The Angels do not have a starting pitcher listed for games at New York on Wednesday and Thursday. Left-hander Reid Detmers is scheduled to start against the Yankees on Tuesday.

Aldegheri, 24, had a solid run with Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts (six innings). But he is 0-2 with a 10.80 ERA at Salt Lake in three starts since.

In seven appearances (five starts) for the Angels over the previous two seasons, Aldegheri is 1-4 with a 6.41 ERA.

Farris, 25, had a 2.08 ERA in three relief appearances and has a 5.97 ERA in eight appearances (five starts) over the past two seasons. He did not give up a run over 1 1/3 innings of Monday’s wild 11-10 loss to the Yankees.

–Field Level Media

The Seattle Mariners placed infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder on the paternity list Tuesday and selected the contract of infielder Patrick Wisdom from Triple-A Tacoma.

The Mariners designated right-hander Blas Castano for assignment to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Wisdom.

Refsnyder, 35, signed a one-year contract with Seattle in December. He is hitless in eight games and 16 at-bats this season, and is a career .252 hitter with 33 homers and 154 RBIs in 549 games with the New York Yankees (2015-17), Toronto Blue Jays (2017), Tampa Bay Rays (2018), Texas Rangers (2020), Minnesota Twins (2021), Boston Red Sox (2022-25) and Mariners.

Wisdom, 34, signed a minor league deal with Seattle in January after he was in the Chicago Cubs’ organization since 2020. He leads all minor leaguers with nine home runs in 15 games at Tacoma. At the major league level, he has a .209 average, 88 homers and 207 RBIs in 455 games with the St. Louis Cardinals (2018), Rangers (2019) and Cubs.

Castano, 27, has made just one career major league appearance, allowing three runs on four hits over three innings in a 9-0 loss to the Washington Nationals on May 28, 2025.

–Field Level Media

The Brewers placed outfielder/DH Christian Yelich on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a left groin strain.

The three-time All-Star was removed in the fifth inning of Sunday’s 8-6 loss to the visiting Washington Nationals.

The Brewers are projecting that Yelich could return in mid-to-late May. The move was retroactive to Monday.

“I’m not going to put a timeline on it,” Yelich said. “Just going to try to attack the rehab as good as I can and get back out there as soon as possible.”

Milwaukee said he has a second-degree adductor strain. Yelich, the National League Most Valuable Player in 2018, said he has never before dealt with a soft-tissue injury.

“Obviously, it’s frustrating,” said Yelich, 34, in his 14th major league season.

He felt tightness on a groundout in his first at-bat and wasn’t able to loosen up before another groundout in what the team initially diagnosed as hamstring tightness.

“He wanted to stay in the game,” manager Pat Murphy said. “But just like everything else, we have to be careful with these guys. It’s April 12, and we’ve got a lot of injuries.”

Yelich is off to a solid start this season, batting .314 with one homer, 10 RBIs and three steals in 15 games.

Milwaukee called up infielder/outfielder Greg Jones from Triple-A Nashville. Left-hander Rob Zastryzny (shoulder/ribs) was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Jones on the 40-man roster.

–Field Level Media