Dodgers Pitcher Credits Dalton Rushing for Getting Him Out of 'Mess' The Los Angeles Dodgers survived Shohei Ohtani's worst statistical start of the 2026 season on Wednesday, eking out a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman displayed his knack for clutch at-bats, launching a 407-foot home run that just barely escaped the reach of Rays center fielder Cedric Mullins. Freeman wasn't the only hero of the game, though. Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia had a shoutout for catcher Dalton Rushing after a shaky ninth inning threatened the Dodgers' lead. Of his first five batters faced, Vesia walked three, including an intentional walk of star designated hitter Yandy Diaz. Mullins had a chance to tie the game, or take a lead, before Vesia struck him out with an 84-mph slider that secured the Dodgers' third-straight win. "I put myself into that mess," Vesia said to reporters after the game. "[Dalton Rushing] and I were just — I was leaning on him, to be honest. He had some good words of encouragement during a couple meetings. Just trust my stuff. I felt like I was nibbling around the edge. Overall, I’ll take it. It was a good win for all of us." Rushing has made headlines many times this year for all the wrong reasons. However, internally, the Dodgers have continued to praise the young backstop, both for his play and his accountability. Earlier this week, Rushing took responsibility for the Dodgers' loss to the Chicago White Sox, saying he was "exposed" by them in his pitch calling. "They made a few adjustments as an offense and exposed me personally," the young catcher said. Rushing has seen an increased role with starting catcher Will Smith landing on the 10-day injured list with a neck injury.#los_angeles_dodgers #freddie_freeman #cedric_mullins #dalton_rushing #alex_vesia
Chicago Cubs vs. Tampa Bay Rays Game Preview: Early Season Rivalry and Key Matchups The Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays are set to face off for the first time this season on Monday, April 6, at 3:10 CT. This matchup marks the earliest date in the Cubs’ history for a game against the Rays, surpassing the previous earliest meeting on April 18, 2022, at Wrigley Field. The Rays’ last visit to Chicago was June 11, 2024, and the Cubs’ first games against the Angels and Guardians this season also set new early-season records for those rivalries. The Cubs’ recent performance against the Rays has been mixed, with the team losing three of their last four games against them. Notably, the Cubs have struggled to convert three-homer games into wins, losing the last three such contests. The most recent loss occurred in Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians on March 29, where the Cubs fell 6-5 despite hitting three home runs. Prior to that, the Cubs had a strong record in three-homer games, winning 16 of 19 contests since Sept. 30, 2023. The Cubs split their doubleheader against the Guardians on Sunday, ending a long drought since their last road doubleheader sweep on Sept. 11, 2015, at Philadelphia. The team has also excelled in base-stealing, recording eight stolen bases without being caught this season, a feat unmatched by any other MLB team. The pitching matchup features Jameson Taillon for the Cubs and Shane McClanahan for the Rays. Taillon, making his 2026 season debut, struggled in his first start, walking four batters and failing to complete the fifth inning. However, his performance was a marked improvement over his Spring Training struggles. Taillon’s last appearance against the Rays was on June 11, 2024, when he pitched six shutout innings, striking out five.#chicago_cubs #tampa_bay_rays #jameson_taillon #shane_mcclanahan #cedric_mullins
