MLB: What to watch on April 3, 2026

• 03 April 2026
• mlbw

Here are today's MLB games, ordered by watchability, based on how interesting the teams and starting pitchers look. Higher is better. For more information, read this post.

Notes:

• Pitcher 'no data': Pitchers only have a pNERD score once they've started at least one game and have at least 20 innings pitched. I also show 'no data' when I can't correctly link a starting pitcher with their stats.
• Generated by the mlb-watchability project on GitHub.

Detail

Miami Marlins @ New York Yankees, 10:35a

Summary

The Marlins are a genuinely fun team to watch right now — young, cheap, and surprisingly sharp — and 22-year-old Eury Pérez is shaping up to be the most compelling reason to tune in. This game's gNERD of 15.07 is the highest among today's games and lands in the 90th percentile historically, driven almost entirely by Miami's team profile.

Miami's tNERD of 13.74 is the highest of any team today and near the all-time ceiling. The Marlins contribute positively across nearly every dimension: their offense, baserunning, fielding, and bullpen all grade out above average. At 22 years old, Pérez is the youngest starting pitcher in the majors among active roster members, and he's already delivering: he just matched a career high with seven innings in a win over the Rockies. Coming off Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2024, he posted a 3.67 FIP with 9.91 K/9 in 95⅓ innings last year — and added a sweeper late in 2025 that generated a 46.4% whiff rate in a small sample.

Miami's payroll sits at just $81.5M — a significant watchability bonus in the NERD framework — and their roster skews young (average age 27.4). Both pitchers carry pNERD scores of 0.00 due to limited 2026 data, so the pitching matchup against Will Warren is a bit of a mystery box. The Yankees' tNERD of 6.39 is respectable, anchored by solid barrel rates and bullpen performance. Pérez alone is worth the price of admission.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, New York Yankees (2.08); radio, New York Yankees (2.22)

Miami Marlins

New York Yankees

Eury Pérez, Miami Marlins

No detailed stats available

Will Warren, New York Yankees

No detailed stats available

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Milwaukee Brewers @ Kansas City Royals, 4:45p

Summary

The Brewers come to Kansas City as one of the hottest teams in baseball, and their tNERD of 12.57 — among the highest in the historical dataset — reflects a team that's genuinely fun to watch right now. The main caveat: both starters are unknowns on paper, with pNERD scores of 0.00 due to insufficient data.

Milwaukee has been averaging 7.5 runs per game through its first six contests, led by Christian Yelich hitting .381 with seven RBIs. The tNERD tells a complete story: the Brewers rank near the top in batting runs, and their baserunning component (z-score: 2.85) is genuinely elite. Their bullpen has also been excellent. The Brewers are without Andrew Vaughn and Jackson Chourio, both out with hand injuries, along with several pitchers on the IL.

Kansas City's tNERD of 3.51 is a drag on this game, and their bullpen is a real liability — closer Carlos Estévez is out with a left foot contusion, compounding an already shaky relief corps. Luinder Avila is a young arm making a spot start after being called up from Triple-A, while Chad Patrick is coming off a solid rookie campaign with 131 strikeouts. With both starters statistically uncharted, the game's watchability leans heavily on Milwaukee's offense running into a vulnerable Kansas City pitching staff.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Milwaukee Brewers (2.66); radio, Milwaukee Brewers (2.56)

Milwaukee Brewers

Kansas City Royals

Chad Patrick, Milwaukee Brewers

No detailed stats available

Luinder Avila, Kansas City Royals

No detailed stats available

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Houston Astros @ Athletics, 6:40p

Summary

This game is driven almost entirely by one of the starkest lineup mismatches of the early season, partially redeemed by a genuinely compelling subplot in Shea Langeliers. The Astros are a well-constructed, patient offensive unit facing a team whose bats have been historically quiet — but Langeliers alone is worth watching.

Houston comes in leading the AL West on a five-game winning streak, while the Athletics return home for their West Sacramento opener after a 1-5 road trip. The Astros' tNERD of 8.94 is legitimately strong — their batting runs and barrel rate rank among the best in today's slate — while Houston is scoring 6.4 runs per game, and the Athletics have managed just 2.8 per game, ranking 27th in MLB. The A's batting component drags their tNERD down accordingly.

The pitching matchup is a question mark: both Javier and Springs carry pNERD scores of 0.00, meaning we're working without statistical grounding. Javier was rough in his first outing, giving up six runs in 4.2 innings while walking four. Springs, meanwhile, opened his season with 5⅓ innings of two-run ball and is 3-0 with a 3.55 ERA in four career appearances against Houston.

The real draw is Langeliers. He's hit five homers in six games — a pace no primary catcher has matched since Hall of Famer Gabby Hartnett in 1925 — and is the first Athletics player to do it since Mark McGwire in 1992. At 11.98, this gNERD sits right around the historical median, which feels about right.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Houston Astros (2.17); radio, Houston Astros (1.99)

Houston Astros

Athletics

Cristian Javier, Houston Astros

No detailed stats available

Jeffrey Springs, Athletics

No detailed stats available

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Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland Guardians, 1:10p

Summary

Cade Horton is the main reason to tune in here — a 24-year-old with a genuine shot at becoming a staff ace, making just his second start of 2026 against a young, budget-conscious Guardians team that's quietly watchable in its own right.

Both pNERD scores sit at zero, meaning we're working without pitcher statistical data, but Horton's backstory fills the gap. After going 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA over 22 starts in 2025, he finished the year on a tear with a 1.03 ERA over his final 12 starts. His season debut extended a Cubs franchise record for consecutive starts allowing no more than two runs — 13 straight, breaking the previous mark of 12 set by Ed Reulbach in 1909. He's not just riding results, either: his four-seamer moves like a cutter, and combined with a changeup, sweeper, sinker, and curveball, a sharp Horton creates real problems for hitters.

On the team side, the Cubs' strong baserunning and solid defense lift their tNERD to 7.01, while Cleveland's value comes from a young roster and low payroll — the Guardians' age and cost-efficiency components both contribute positively to their 6.20. The Cubs' bullpen is a modest drag. At a gNERD of 11.60, this sits right around the median historically and is solidly in the middle of today's slate — not a must-watch, but Horton alone makes it worth a look.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Chicago Cubs (3.01); radio, Chicago Cubs (3.15)

Chicago Cubs

Cleveland Guardians

Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs

No detailed stats available

Joey Cantillo, Cleveland Guardians

No detailed stats available

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St. Louis Cardinals @ Detroit Tigers, 10:10a

Summary

The Cardinals bring a young, athletic, and genuinely watchable team into Detroit's home opener, and Framber Valdez makes for a compelling headliner — even if the NERD scores can't yet quantify either starter. With a gNERD of 11.41, this game sits right around the historical median but is buoyed considerably by St. Louis's standout tNERD of 10.21, one of the higher team scores you'll see.

The Cardinals' watchability case is built on youth and athleticism: St. Louis enters at 4-2, and their tNERD reflects a team that barrels the ball well, runs the bases aggressively, and fields competently — all on a modest payroll, and with the youngest roster in today's slate. McGreevy pitched six scoreless innings in his season debut against Tampa Bay, working through an arsenal of seven pitches, though his pNERD of 0.00 means we're flying blind statistically.

On the other side, Valdez worked 192 innings with 187 strikeouts in 2025, then opened 2026 with one earned run in six innings in his Tigers debut — a solid foundation, even if he is 0-2 with a 9.90 FIP-adjacent ERA in two career starts against St. Louis. Detroit's tNERD of 2.62 reflects a lineup that's been thin early, and the Tigers hold a .667 regular-season winning percentage against the Cardinals — their highest mark against any team, adding a faint historical wrinkle to what is otherwise a low-stakes early April series.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Detroit Tigers (2.74); radio, Detroit Tigers (2.64)

St. Louis Cardinals

Detroit Tigers

Michael McGreevy, St. Louis Cardinals

No detailed stats available

Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers

No detailed stats available

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Toronto Blue Jays @ Chicago White Sox, 11:10a

Summary

Dylan Cease returning to face his former club, armed with a record-setting Blue Jays debut and a White Sox lineup that's been getting punched around all week, gives this game a genuine storyline worth tuning in for. The gNERD of 11.38 sits just above the historical median, driven almost entirely by a strong Toronto team score.

Cease faces the club that brought him to the majors for the first time as a Blue Jay, having set a franchise record with 12 strikeouts in his Toronto debut. He's also tinkering with his repertoire, spreading usage more evenly across multiple pitches rather than leaning on just two. Both pitchers carry pNERD scores of 0.00, meaning we lack the underlying data to evaluate them analytically — though Cease's early results are hard to ignore.

Grant Taylor is expected to work as an opener before handing off to Sean Burke, who will handle the bulk of the innings. The 23-year-old Taylor returned from Tommy John surgery in 2025 and is still working on his command in early appearances.

Toronto's tNERD of 8.12 is the real engine here, driven by strong fielding and a notable luck component — the Blue Jays are underperforming their underlying numbers, suggesting improvement is likely. Chicago's scripts have been harsh: losses of 14-2, 6-1, 9-2, and 10-0 alongside one spike win. The game also serves as Chicago's home opener after weather delays.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Toronto Blue Jays (3.10); radio, Chicago White Sox (2.57)

Toronto Blue Jays

Chicago White Sox

Dylan Cease, Toronto Blue Jays

No detailed stats available

Grant Taylor, Chicago White Sox

No detailed stats available

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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Washington Nationals, 10:05a

Summary

The Dodgers bring a loaded lineup and a barrel rate that ranks among the best in the game to Washington, but the real subplot here is whether Emmet Sheehan can find himself after a rocky start to 2026. The gNERD of 10.96 lands right around the historical median, and the Nationals' low tNERD keeps this from being a must-watch — but there's enough going on to make it worth a look.

Sheehan is in his first full season removed from Tommy John surgery, and posted a 2.93 FIP over 73.1 innings in his 2025 comeback. But his 2026 debut against Arizona was rough — four runs on five hits over 3.1 innings, six strikeouts and two walks, with his fastball down nearly two mph from last season. Manager Dave Roberts says the velocity dip is a mechanics issue, not an injury, but it's a question mark heading in.

The Dodgers' tNERD of 8.46 is the main engine here, driven by strong fielding and a barrel rate well above average. The Nationals have been one of the better offensive teams through the first week of play, which is reflected in their positive batting runs, though their bullpen is a genuine liability and their barrel rate sits below average. Miles Mikolas, like Sheehan, has no statistical data available for a pNERD calculation, so both starters are essentially unknowns on paper. This one's worth a glance — mostly to see if Sheehan's mechanics have clicked back into place.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Los Angeles Dodgers (2.45); radio, Los Angeles Dodgers (2.51)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Washington Nationals

Emmet Sheehan, Los Angeles Dodgers

No detailed stats available

Miles Mikolas, Washington Nationals

No detailed stats available

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San Diego Padres @ Boston Red Sox, 11:10a

Summary

This is the Red Sox home opener at Fenway, and it doubles as a homecoming for Xander Bogaerts — returning to face the franchise that once made him a cornerstone — which gives the game a storyline the stats alone can't manufacture. Both clubs are off to rough starts, and what unfolds on the mound will likely determine whether this is a pitchers' duel worth your afternoon.

Michael King bounced back from a spring plagued by home run trouble (nine allowed in 17⅔ innings) with a sharp season debut, surrendering just one unearned run and one hit while striking out six over five innings against Detroit. Sonny Gray, in his first season with Boston at age 36, had a rougher introduction, lasting only four innings against the Reds while allowing six hits and three earned runs. Both pitchers have pNERD scores of 0 due to missing statistical data, so we're flying blind on their underlying metrics — though early-season FIPs of 3.77 for King and 4.67 for Gray suggest King holds the edge today.

After a 1–5 road trip to open the season, Boston is looking to reset in front of the hometown crowd. The Red Sox tNERD of 6.30 gets a notable boost from a significant positive luck component, suggesting the team has been underperforming its underlying numbers — meaning improvement is plausible. The Padres' bullpen rates as a genuine strength, while Boston's pen is a soft spot. The series also marks a significant homecoming for Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts, returning to face his former club in front of the Boston crowd. The gNERD of 10.79 lands right around the historical median — a perfectly watchable game, especially with Fenway's home opener energy adding what the numbers can't quite capture.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, San Diego Padres (3.47); radio, San Diego Padres (3.37)

San Diego Padres

Boston Red Sox

Michael King, San Diego Padres

No detailed stats available

Sonny Gray, Boston Red Sox

No detailed stats available

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Cincinnati Reds @ Texas Rangers, 1:05p

Summary

This is the Rangers' home opener, and they've handed the ball to MacKenzie Gore, who no-hit the Phillies through five innings in his Texas debut — a strong first impression for a pitcher acquired from Washington in the offseason. The Reds, meanwhile, arrive having scored three runs or fewer in five of their first six games, which makes for a tidy contrast.

Both pitchers have pNERD scores of 0, meaning we're working without underlying statistical data on either arm, so take the early-season surface numbers with appropriate skepticism. Gore was acquired from the Nationals in the offseason and no-hit Philadelphia through five innings in his Rangers debut, striking out seven in a Texas win. He was an All-Star last season and owns a strong 2-0 career record against Cincinnati. Singer, meanwhile, permitted three runs on five hits in four innings in his season opener against Boston.

The team NERD scores are nearly identical and squarely average — both sit around the historical median. The Reds carry a notable positive luck component (1.51), suggesting they've been underperforming their underlying numbers and may be due for some offensive improvement. Cincinnati has mustered three runs or fewer in five of its first six games, so that uptick can't come soon enough. The Rangers bring a solid bullpen and a lineup that's been hitting the ball well early. At a gNERD of 10.54, this game sits right at the historical average — perfectly watchable, but not a must-see.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Cincinnati Reds (2.09); radio, Cincinnati Reds (2.11)

Cincinnati Reds

Texas Rangers

Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds

No detailed stats available

MacKenzie Gore, Texas Rangers

No detailed stats available

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Seattle Mariners @ Los Angeles Angels, 6:38p

Summary

Bryan Woo is a legitimate ace making his way through the early season, and while both pitchers lack statistical data for NERD scoring, there's enough context here to make this a watchable mid-tier game — just don't cancel dinner for it. The Mariners bring a noticeably stronger profile than the Angels, and Woo himself is one of the more compelling arms in the AL right now.

Woo enters 2026 as a Cy Young contender after finishing fifth on the ballot last year, and in his season opener against Cleveland, he struck out nine over six innings, holding the Guardians scoreless through five before allowing two runs in the sixth — generating 15 whiffs on 83 pitches. He primarily throws a four-seam fastball and sinker averaging 95 mph, leaning on those two pitches close to 75% of the time. Both pitchers' pNERD scores come in at 0.00, meaning we're working without underlying statistical data on either starter — so the gNERD of 9.94 is driven largely by the teams themselves, landing right at the historical median.

Seattle's tNERD of 6.70 is the more interesting half of this matchup, boosted by solid baserunning and a respectable barrel rate. The Angels' 3.19 tNERD is weighed down by a fielding runs figure that ranks among the worst in recent history — their -6.4 fielding runs produces a component of -2.53, which is hard to overcome. Their luck value is mildly positive, suggesting some room for offensive improvement. This is a fine game if Woo is your focus, but the Angels' glove work alone might supply unintentional entertainment.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Los Angeles Angels (2.59); radio, Seattle Mariners (2.52)

Seattle Mariners

Los Angeles Angels

Bryan Woo, Seattle Mariners

No detailed stats available

Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels

No detailed stats available

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Philadelphia Phillies @ Colorado Rockies, 1:10p

Summary

Aaron Nola heads to Coors Field looking to bounce back from a rough 2025, but with both pitchers carrying pNERD scores of 0.00, the mound matchup is more of an open question than a known quantity.

The gNERD of 9.64 lands right around the middle of today's games and just below the historical median, which is about where you'd expect a Phillies-Rockies early April matchup to sit. Nola is hoping to rebound in 2026 after turning in a career-worst 6.01 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across just 17 starts last season, and he did show some encouraging signs in spring, getting his fastball velocity back up to 92.9 mph after averaging just 91.4 mph during his injury-plagued 2025. Michael Lorenzen on the other side is similarly a statistical blank slate at this early point in the season. The Rockies also placed starter José Quintana on the 15-day IL with a right hamstring strain, retroactive to March 30, which signals some rotation instability in Colorado.

On the team side, the Phillies' modest tNERD (5.58) gets a notable bump from their luck score — they're currently underperforming their underlying numbers and due for some positive regression. The Rockies (tNERD: 3.70) are dragged down by genuinely poor offense, with their batting runs well below average. Both bullpens are a mild bright spot. Coors Field will do what Coors Field does, but this one is closer to a skip-it than a must-watch.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Philadelphia Phillies (2.92); radio, Philadelphia Phillies (2.69)

Philadelphia Phillies

Colorado Rockies

Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies

No detailed stats available

Michael Lorenzen, Colorado Rockies

No detailed stats available

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Atlanta Braves @ Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:45p

Summary

The Braves just put up 17 runs on Arizona, every starter got an RBI, and now Atlanta's bats face a lefty with a shaky bullpen behind him — so the real question isn't whether Atlanta is good, it's whether this game can match yesterday's carnage. The gNERD of 9.14 lands just below the historical median, which feels about right.

Atlanta's tNERD of 7.23 is the clear engine here — the Braves rank well in batting runs and fielding, and every starter in the Atlanta lineup got an RBI Thursday, the first time Atlanta has done that since 2001. Arizona's tNERD of 1.04 tells a grimmer story: the Diamondbacks have an unsightly early-season trend of giving up crooked numbers, with 23 of 27 runs allowed through six games coming across in five monster innings. Their bullpen has been a particular liability.

Both pitchers carry pNERD scores of 0.00, meaning no underlying statistical data is available. Rodriguez is only a few weeks removed from starting Venezuela's WBC championship game win over the United States, allowing just one hit over 4⅓ scoreless innings. Holmes's fastball effectiveness was in the bottom 8% of pitchers last year, and he struggled in his first start, giving up seven baserunners and three runs in five innings to the Royals. A matchup of two pitchers with thin statistical profiles, one trending up and one not, in a hitter-friendly park — watchable enough, but don't rearrange your evening for it.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Atlanta Braves (2.36); radio, Atlanta Braves (2.36)

Atlanta Braves

Arizona Diamondbacks

Grant Holmes, Atlanta Braves

No detailed stats available

Eduardo Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks

No detailed stats available

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New York Mets @ San Francisco Giants, 7:15p

Summary

The main reason to watch this game isn't the gNERD score — it's Nolan McLean, one of the most compelling young pitchers in baseball right now. The Mets' rookie is making his 10th career start carrying some genuine narrative weight, as New York looks to snap a four-of-five skid after dropping the series opener.

McLean posted a 2.06 FIP-adjacent ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts across 48 big-league innings last season, and he touches 98 mph with his fastball and pairs it with a sweeper that averages above 3,000 rpm with 20-22 inches of horizontal movement — a genuinely nasty combination. The Mets have lost four of their last five, and manager Carlos Mendoza is leaning on McLean to stop the slide. On the other side, Tyler Mahle signed a one-year, $10M deal with the Giants and struggled in his first start, giving up five hits and two earned runs in just four innings against the Yankees.

Both pNERD scores are zeroed out for lack of data, so the gNERD of 8.78 — below the historical median of around 10 — is carried largely by broadcaster ratings on both sides and a Mets luck score suggesting some offensive improvement may be due. The Giants' barrel rate is a genuine drag on watchability. With both pitchers taking the mound at Oracle Park, one of the more pitcher-friendly venues in the league, runs figure to be scarce. Worth a look if McLean is your thing — and he probably should be.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, New York Mets (3.32); radio, San Francisco Giants (3.49)

New York Mets

San Francisco Giants

Nolan McLean, New York Mets

No detailed stats available

Tyler Mahle, San Francisco Giants

No detailed stats available

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Tampa Bay Rays @ Minnesota Twins, 1:10p

Summary

Two teams limping into this Minnesota home opener with matching 2-4 records and a combined nine errors from Tampa Bay alone — this is less "compelling baseball" and more "early-season growing pains on display." The gNERD of 7.68 lands in the bottom quarter of today's slate and well below the historical average, and the on-field product so far does little to argue otherwise.

Both pNERD scores are zero — we simply don't have statistical data on either starter yet — but what we do know from their season debuts isn't especially encouraging for watchability. Joe Boyle went six innings against the Cardinals, allowing two runs on three hits with zero walks and four strikeouts, which is a promising sign for a pitcher whose career walk rate of 13.7% has long been his Achilles' heel. Ober averaged below 90 mph with his fastball in his first start, and his 2025 campaign (4.75 xFIP, 14.3% K-BB%) was a significant step back from his 2023-24 form. Pablo López is out for the season, David Festa is down with a shoulder issue, and Travis Adams is also on the IL, which thins Minnesota's pitching depth considerably.

Both team tNERD scores are low, dragged down by poor fielding and weak bullpens on both sides. The Rays are coming off an 8-2 loss featuring uncharacteristically shoddy defense and have committed nine errors through their first six games. This is Minnesota's home opener, which adds a touch of atmosphere, but atmosphere doesn't fix a shaky pitching staff or two offenses still searching for consistency.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Minnesota Twins (2.30); radio, Tampa Bay Rays (2.10)

Tampa Bay Rays

Minnesota Twins

Joe Boyle, Tampa Bay Rays

No detailed stats available

Bailey Ober, Minnesota Twins

No detailed stats available

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Baltimore Orioles @ Pittsburgh Pirates, 1:12p

Summary

Kyle Bradish is the real story here — a genuine TJ comeback narrative on a team with legitimate playoff aspirations, facing a Pirates squad that grades out as one of today's least watchable. With both pitchers carrying pNERD scores of 0 (no statistical data yet this early in the season), the watchability burden falls on the teams and the storylines, and it's a mixed bag.

Bradish has been limited to just 12 starts over the last two seasons due to elbow injuries, including Tommy John surgery in August 2024. He returned late last season looking sharp, posting a 47:10 K:BB over 32 innings in six starts. He expects some form of workload restrictions in 2026, so don't count on a deep outing — but watching him navigate his first full season back has genuine appeal.

The team numbers, though, tell a sobering story. Pittsburgh's tNERD of 0.96 sits at the very bottom of today's slate, dragged down by a bullpen that ranks among the worst in baseball and a below-average barrel rate. Baltimore grades out better, with a solid bullpen and decent broadcaster ratings lifting their tNERD to 3.74, but poor defense and baserunning keep them from being truly compelling. At a gNERD of 7.35 — the lowest game on today's card — this one is best appreciated as a Bradish watch party, not a neutral-fan destination.

(A model from Anthropic generated the above text using instructions, the NERD scores, and these sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.)

Recommended broadcasts: TV, Baltimore Orioles (2.82); radio, Baltimore Orioles (2.10)

Baltimore Orioles

Pittsburgh Pirates

Kyle Bradish, Baltimore Orioles

No detailed stats available

Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates

No detailed stats available

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