The Pittsburgh Pirates confirmed a long-term contract extension with outfielder Bryan Reynolds on Wednesday.

The deal runs from 2024 through 2030 and includes a club option for 2031. The team did not provide financial details, but multiple outlets report the deal is valued at a franchise-record $106.75 million.

Reynolds, 28, has helped the Pirates get off to their best start since 1992. He is batting .294 with five homers and 18 RBIs through 22 games.

The deal puts an end to the acrimonious and drawn-out negotiations that led Reynolds to request a trade in December.

“Throughout this process, one thing that I always made clear to Bryan was just how much we appreciate him as a player and person, and how important he is to our future success,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said in a news release. “Today is another important step forward for our organization. I appreciate Bryan, his wife Blair, and our shared commitment to the long-term success of the Pirates.”

Reynolds was an All-Star in 2021 and batted .262 with a career-high 27 home runs in 2022.

“We are thrilled to reach this agreement with Bryan. He is a player we trust on and off the field,” said Pirates general manager Ben Cherington. “This agreement is an important step toward our shared goal of building a championship team in Pittsburgh.”

Through four-plus seasons with Pittsburgh, Reynolds is a .282/.359/.484 hitter with 79 homers and 257 RBIs in 515 games.

The Pirates acquired Reynolds in the January 2018 trade that sent Andrew McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants, who selected Reynolds in the second round of the 2016 draft.

–Field Level Media

Major League Baseball is embracing tempo like never before, and that includes on the basepaths: the art of stealing has been reborn in 2023.

Sure, the pitch clock was added to speed up games, but MLB rule changes were not just designed to get ticketholders and viewers on to the next part of their day as soon as possible. The ambitious master plan was to create a tidier package that also included more excitement.

Baseball wanted to have its instant-recipe cake and make it more delicious, too.

Well, part of that equation does not look all that tasty to the New York Mets, whose catchers have an 8.3 percent success rate in throwing out basestealers this season. That is just two runners caught in 24 stolen base attempts, tied for the second-worst percentage in the majors.

It’s enough to get Mets manager Buck Showalter to consider hiring a counselor for each of his catchers.

“I’ll tell you, one of the jobs you have now is keeping your catchers from getting down on themselves,” Showalter said recently. “If you look at the times and you do the math of where (basestealers) are when they start and the momentum they have … this is what they want.”

The offense’s chances of stealing a base improved with the new limit of two times a pitcher can “disengage” from the rubber per plate appearance. Pickoff throws are included in the disengagements. Slightly enlarged bases also mean baserunners can reach the next bag a tick earlier.

A less-obvious assist to basestealers is not allowing pitchers to hold the ball for any length of time while on the mound as to give doubt if there would be a pickoff throw or a pitch to the plate. Baserunners now essentially know when the pitcher will go into action.

“Unless a pitcher is willing to get on the mound with 13 seconds left and know what pitch he’s going to throw, where he can hold the ball, these guys are going to continue to get running leads,” Showalter said. “It’s going to be hard for good catchers to throw them out.”

It’s a fair point, but the best way to offset that negative to steal more bases yourself. So that is what the Mets have done. Their 21 steals are tied for fourth in the National League. They have been caught stealing just three times, one of six teams with three or fewer.

So just how bad it is for opposing catchers these days? On average, not many teams are having it as hard as the Mets, although the success rate for basestealers is up in the early going.

Catchers are throwing out basestealers at a 20.6 percent success rate nearly a month into the season. That is down from 24.6 percent last season. But the success rate for catchers has been on a steady decline ever since masked men threw out 40.7 percent of basestealers in 1967.

In 2000, catchers threw out 31.2 percent of basestealers, with that figure dropping under 30 percent by 2004.

As analytics valued a potential run over the possible out by getting caught stealing, stolen bases dwindled to 0.46 per game in 2021 — the lowest average since 1971. But they are up to 0.69 per game this season, the highest figure since it was at 0.70 in 1999.

Yet not all catchers are taking the duck-for-cover approach. Veteran Kansas City Royals backstop Salvador Perez says he is enjoying the rule changes so far.

“Believe it or not, I think it’s easier for the catcher because if the pitcher changes the (delivery) time — going at eight seconds (left on the clock), or sometimes waiting until one second, or sometimes going at 13 or whenever they are ready — It’s hard for the guys trying to steal,” Perez said. “They aren’t going to have the specific time to go. The problem is that if you throw over two times, the third time has to be an out or you know he’s going to get second base.”

Perez, a seven-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner, called the increased success rate for basestealers a small sample size and suggested the numbers would swing back toward the catchers as the season progresses. In fact, catcher success rate was at 18 percent when he said as much last weekend, and it improved in a matter of days.

Perez does admit to a biased view at the numbers, though. He is loving the faster games. At age 32, he is more aware than ever that all players have an expiration date. His, though, might be extended a bit longer.

“I think to speed up the game will add to my career two more years behind the plate,” said Perez, whose current contract goes through 2025, with a 2026 club option, but now is thinking about 2027. “Before, we would play 3 hours, 45 minutes. Now it’s 2 hours and 45 minutes at the most. We played a game the other day at home in 2 hours and 2 minutes. … It takes an hour off my body (each night) to be behind home plate.”

–Doug Padilla, Field Level Media

The San Francisco Giants have the unenviable task of following up on two improbable endings when they go for three wins in a row against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

Giants right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (1-1, 2.63 ERA) and Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz (0-3, 6.55) are the projected starters.

One night after watching Alex Cobb get mobbed coming off the mound at the end of his first shutout in almost 11 years, the Giants got even more excited as Blake Sabol rounded the bases following his two-run, walk-off home run for a 5-4 win in the rematch.

The game-ending blast occurred after the Cardinals rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to go up 4-2. The Giants pulled to 4-3 in the ninth before Sabol came up with two outs and a runner at second, then fell behind 1-2 in the count.

The next pitch turned a potential loss into a win — San Francisco’s fourth straight overall — thanks to the rookie’s fourth homer of the season, triggering a moment that had Giants manager Gabe Kapler at a loss for words.

“That’s about as tough a situation as you can draw up,” Kapler said of facing Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. “You’re fighting for your life with two strikes, and for him to get off a swing like that is pretty remarkable. Very, very unexpected outcome. Very challenging situation for a young hitter, and you just don’t see it end that way very often.

“I’ve never seen a happier player than Blake Sabol. Really cool moment. One of the coolest moments since I’ve been here.”

The task of opening the curtain on a possible three-peat falls upon DeSclafani, who has allowed zero, one, three and four runs in his four starts, with the Giants winning the first two games and losing the next two.

The 33-year-old veteran, who spent five seasons in the National League Central with the Cincinnati Reds, is quite familiar with the Cardinals — and vice versa — having faced them 18 times, including 17 starts. He is 7-5 with a 3.80 ERA vs. St. Louis.

DeSclafani no doubt isn’t looking forward to facing Cardinals slugger Paul Goldschmidt, who has the most hits (14) and doubles (five) among DeSclafani’s all-time opponents. Goldschmidt has a .519 average and a 1.520 OPS in 32 plate appearances vs. the right-hander.

The good news for DeSclafani is he has had no such trouble with Goldschmidt’s sidekick, Nolan Arenado, who has gone 1-for-9 in lifetime head-to-heads.

Goldschmidt had two hits while Arenado went 0-for-4 in the Cardinals’ Tuesday loss, one that manager Oliver Marmol tried to spin in a positive direction afterward.

“At the end of the day, we’re going through a tough one,” he said of opening a West Coast swing with four losses in five games. “When we suffer like this, it creates some perseverance, and perseverance builds character.

“I’ll tell you right now: This will serve us well down the road. This group’s not going to cave; I don’t care what people say. This will serve us extremely well in September, I will tell you that.”

Matz has yet to start a win this season, allowing 26 hits, 10 walks and 16 runs in his 22 innings.

The 31-year-old has started five times in his career against the Giants, going 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA.

The Cardinals’ road trip will conclude with a game Thursday in San Francisco, then with three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend.

–Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Angels proved they could retain a lead on Tuesday. They hope to get the chance to repeat the feat when they host the Oakland A’s on Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif.

The Angels have held a lead in 21 of their 24 games but have just 12 wins to show for it, including a 5-3 victory over the A’s on Tuesday. Los Angeles leads the majors with seven blown saves, including one on Monday, when the team fell 11-10 to Oakland in 10 innings.

Angels manager Phil Nevin has used both Jose Quijada and Carlos Estevez in the closer’s role, and each has four saves, but the club’s problems run deeper than the ninth inning.

Los Angeles has five relievers with an ERA over 5.00, including Jimmy Herget, who recently was demoted to Triple-A Salt Lake, and Ryan Tepera, who is on the injured list.

“We’ve certainly had leads,” Nevin said. “So, yeah, that’s disappointing, but I’m confident in those guys. … We have guys who can get outs. Everybody down there has to get outs when we play 18 straight games and we need to get guys rest. Everybody is going to need to get big outs.”

The Angels haven’t had a day off since April 13, and they will keep playing daily until they have a travel day on Monday.

Left-hander Tucker Davidson (1-1, 2.40 ERA in six games) is one reliever who has pitched well — so well that he soon might be in the rotation, replacing Jose Suarez, who has struggled as a starter (0-1, 10.26 ERA).

“That discussion’s going to be had, I’m sure,” Nevin said when asked about a decision to move Davidson to a starting role. “He was really good his last few times.”

The Los Angeles bullpen came through on Tuesday, as Aaron Loup, Matt Moore and Estevez combined for four scoreless innings to close out the win.

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval (1-1, 3.38 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season for the Angels on Wednesday. He is coming off his only loss of the year, when he gave up five runs and four hits in four innings against the New York Yankees on Thursday. He struggled with his control, walking six to tie his career high.

Sandoval is 3-3 with a 1.84 ERA in nine career starts against Oakland, the three victories being his high against any opponent.

Right-hander Luis Medina will make his major league debut for Oakland on Wednesday after going 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Medina, 23, was one of four players the A’s acquired last year from the Yankees in a midseason trade, when Oakland sent pitchers Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to New York.

Medina struggled with Double-A Midland last season once he joined the Athletics’ organization, and he requested the club allow him to pitch in the Dominican Winter League.

In 10 appearances for Toros del Este, he went 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 28 innings.

“Medina pitched really well in the Dominican,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “He was really comfortable and had some outstanding games. It’s been nice to see him go three innings at a time and pitch well. He’s stood out as somebody that we’ve seen a nice little jump from, and it makes sense because he’s comfortable down there and knows the team. Luis stood out.”

–Field Level Media

The New York Mets were shut out on Tuesday upon their return from a season-high 10-game road trip.

However, manager Buck Showalter didn’t want to blame jet lag for the quiet offensive effort in a 5-0 loss to the Washington Nationals.

The Mets will look to snap a three-game losing streak on Wednesday, when they will host the Nationals in the middle game of a three-game series between the National League East rivals.

Right-hander Kodai Senga (3-0, 4.29 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Mets against Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore (2-1, 3.43).

Washington’s Josiah Gray and Mason Thompson combined to toss a five-hitter on Tuesday, when Keibert Ruiz homered and Joey Meneses and Luis Garcia had two RBIs apiece.

The loss was the third in a row for the Mets, who were on the verge of posting their best California trip ever before falling to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday and Sunday.

New York went 7-3 against the Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco, falling one win shy of tying the franchise record for most wins on a trek consisting entirely of games in California. The Mets went 8-1 against the Dodgers, Giants and San Diego Padres, Aug. 18-27, 1986.

The Mets got little going on Tuesday, when they built their lone rally in the fifth inning. Down 2-0, New York loaded the bases with two outs before Gray struck out Starling Marte.

Gray threw a perfect sixth inning and Thompson faced the minimum over the final three innings in recording his first save of the season and handing the Mets their fourth shutout defeat.

Afterward, Showalter shrugged off the idea that the rigors of the West Coast trip were to blame for the loss.

“That’s a very convenient excuse — one our guys won’t use,” Showalter said. “It’s something every team goes through.”

The win continued an encouraging stretch for the Nationals, who improved to 3-1 on a six-game road trip in which they are facing a pair of likely contenders, the Twins and the Mets. Washington outscored Minnesota 14-9 while taking two of three over the weekend.

The Nationals had 11 hits on Tuesday as they provided Gray some much-needed support. Washington had scored just one run in Gray’s first four starts, during which he was 0-4 despite a 3.74 ERA.

“We put the ball in play, we took our walks,” manager Dave Martinez said of the Nationals, who walked six times in 4 2/3 innings against Mets starter Jose Butto. “We’re doing better on just understanding who we are as hitters, swinging at pitches that are strikes. And we’re going to continue to get better.”

Senga remained unbeaten as a big-leaguer on Thursday, when he earned a win after allowing four runs over five innings as the Mets beat the Giants 9-4.

The 30-year-old Japan native, who is set to make his fifth career U.S. start on Wednesday, has never faced the Nationals.

Gore took a loss in his most recent start on April 19, when he gave up three runs over six innings as the Nationals fell 4-0 to the Baltimore Orioles.

Gore has never opposed the Mets.

–Field Level Media

After flirting with perfection in his most recent start, Chicago Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly will look to continue his success at home.

After briefly snapping out of their hitting funk, the San Diego Padres hope to get their bats going following a shutout loss in Chicago.

Smyly and the Padres will face off on Wednesday, with the host Cubs looking to take the first two of a three-game set.

Smyly (2-1, 3.13 ERA) took a perfect game into the eighth inning Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bid for history ended when Smyly and catcher Yan Gomes collided trying to field David Peralta’s slow roller that barely made it halfway to third base.

It was the only hit and runner Smyly allowed over 7 2/3 innings, as he struck out 10 in the Cubs’ 13-0 win at Wrigley Field.

After yielding seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings at Cincinnati in his 2023 debut, Smyly has given up two runs and seven hits over 18 1/3 innings over his past three starts. Armed with a balanced approach of fastballs and curveballs, plus other off-speed options, Smyly has found an early rhythm in his second season with Chicago.

“Teams are always going to hunt out super talented individuals — the ‘stuff’ guys,” said Smyly, who turns 34 in June. “But there’s going to be outliers.”

In his past seven home starts, Smyly is 3-1 with an 0.89 ERA — perhaps a big reason he enjoys being a Cub.

“Pitching here at Wrigley Field is so special,” said Smyly, who has played for six other teams since breaking into the majors in 2012. “It’s awesome. Every single game.”

This will be the first time Smyly has faced the Padres at Wrigley. He is 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in four games (two starts) vs. San Diego.

The Padres managed just five hits during a 6-0, series-opening loss on Tuesday — after totaling 19 runs while taking three of four at Arizona over the weekend.

San Diego ranks last in the majors in batting average (.214) and in the bottom third in runs per game (3.68) and on-base percentage (.301). The Padres have been shut out five times in 2023.

“It’s been a little bit of struggle here at the early part of the season,” said San Diego manager Bob Melvin, whose team struck out 10 times, stranded 10 men on base and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position on Tuesday.

Despite the team’s offensive issues, San Diego’s Xander Bogaerts is batting .330 and has reached base in all 25 games this season. However, he is just 4-for-21 (.190) with a homer and seven strikeouts in his career vs. Smyly.

Teammate Manny Machado is 6-for-18 against Smyly but just 8-for-55 (.145) in his past 14 games.

Scheduled San Diego starter Michael Wacha (2-1, 7.08 ERA) allowed four runs and eight hits over 12 innings while winning his first two starts this season. However, he has yielded 12 runs and 21 hits in 8 1/3 innings over his past two outings.

The right-hander is 4-8 with a hefty 6.50 ERA in 20 career outings (18 starts) against the Cubs, but he last faced them in 2019 when he was with the St. Louis Cardinals. Chicago’s Ian Happ is 4-for-11 with three home runs vs. Wacha but 2-for-13 in his past four games overall.

After hitting a bases-loaded triple on Tuesday, Chicago’s Nico Hoerner is batting .347 with 14 RBIs and has reached based in 20 consecutive contests.

–Field Level Media

The visiting Miami Marlins hope Sandy Alcantara can rediscover his Cy Young Award-winning form and help them stop a three-game losing streak when they meet the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

Alcantara (1-2, 5.47 ERA) will be matched up against Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (2-0, 1.14) in the third game of a four-game series. The Braves won the first two games, 11-0 and 7-4.

Alcantara missed his last scheduled start, on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, due to biceps tendinitis.

“It didn’t feel right to start him in a cold-weather day, cold-weather environment,” Miami manager Skip Schumaker said. “It just felt a couple more days to let it calm down was the move.”

Alcantara has been roughed up in the early portion of the season aside from the shutout he threw on April 4 against the Minnesota Twins.

Over his two most recent starts, he allowed 14 runs (12 earned) in 10 innings. He gave up five runs (three earned) in his latest outing, on April 16 against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, but had a season-high nine strikeouts.

Alcantara has enjoyed plenty of success against the Braves. In 10 career starts vs. Atlanta, Alcantara is 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA. He was 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA in three starts against the Braves in 2022, logging 24 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Elder has pitched at least 5 1/3 innings in each of his four starts this year, and he held the opposition without an earned run three times. In his latest appearance — on Friday against the visiting Houston Astros — Elder did not get a decision after pitching six innings and yielding only one unearned run.

“It ultimately comes down to trusting my stuff in the zone, trying to get outs in the zone and not trying to get swinging misses,” Elder said. “This year, (I’m) really focusing on getting out in the zone and going right at guys and just kind of seeing what happens.”

Elder has made four career starts against Miami, all of them in his rookie year of 2022. He is 0-2 with a 2.78 ERA vs. the Marlins, having fanned 25 in 22 2/3 innings.

After being dormant during a four-game losing streak last week, the Atlanta offense heated up in the first two games of the current series, scoring 18 runs.

Among the hottest hitters is second baseman Ozzie Albies, who is 4-for-9 with two home runs, a triple and five RBIs. On the current homestand, he is 7-for-19 (.368) with three homers and nine RBIs.

“You work on your swing and things start to come around,” Albies said, “so that’s a good sign.”

The Marlins hit two home runs on Tuesday — a solo shot by Jazz Chisholm Jr. an inside-the-park homer from Yuli Gurriel. That gives the team 23 homers in the first 24 games. Miami has scored 37 of its 76 runs via home runs.

Miami could get second baseman Luis Arraez back on Wednesday. He has missed three straight games after fouling a ball off his left knee on Saturday. Arraez has 32 hits in his first 20 games, with 10 multi-hit games. He leads the National League with a .444 batting average.

–Field Level Media