Game Day: May 26th, 2026

There are no afternoon games on the schedule today but taking a look at the slate there are also no games that are likely to be played, from first pitch to the conclusion of the game, completely under the lights.

The lights in the stadium usually are on when the game starts in the evening but the sun is still well above the horizon in a 6:40 PM CDT start in the midwest.  The sun doesn't begin to set until after the eight o'clock hour.  

By 8:30 PM CDT, it will be night.  The lights will fully illuminate the field of play, and that atmosphere is sort of surreal.  It's like being on the moon but only for an inning or two.  If the game is on schedule, it will be complete in approximately two hours and thirty seven minutes.  In a 6:40 PM CDT start at Rate Field in Chicago, that gives fans about 50 minutes of moon ball before they have to go home and say their prayers.  

A game that starts at dusk has a real allure to me. The division of the game between the daylight hours and the dark skies is tiring in some way but to play the game under lights, from the first pitch to the last out, that is exciting.  A full two hours and thirty minutes of moon ball.  Games that go past 12 innings with the Manfred Runner would be deemed a tie. 

Vegas can bring that to the table with their new moon dome on the Strip.  That would be an interesting Friday night.  A game that starts at 9:05 PM Mountain Time, and concludes right around Midnight.  If the city allowed hotels to comp tickets, it could work out.  The Vegas Athletics AKA the Vegas Vampires.

There is a full slate of games to be played today, mostly in the sun.  

O's Fumbled and the Ball is Loose

Orioles got the win last night over the Rays in extra innings.  A win tonight could mark a turning point in the season.  Game Two features Griffin Jax (1-2) vs. Shane Baz (1-5).  The O's traded away four prospects and a draft pick for Baz this off-season.  None of the players the Rays received are making an impact this season, but if you keep stacking valuable prospects eventually it will result in production for the big club.  The Orioles can win this game and can win this series, and a series win could momentarily turn their season around, but if they continue to make bad trades (Baz, Baker) and bad free agent acquisitions (O'Neill, Bassitt, Eflin) they will completely destroy the rebuild that is at the window. Rutschmann is close to being a free agent.  Gunner Henderson is likely be on his way out of town with the high dollar deal that he is seeking in free agency.  They stacked the farm, managed the payroll to a fine point and belly flopped this off-season.  They paid Baz too.  O's need a win today.  Baz has his money, he just needs to show up and lace up his cleats.  It's a 5:35 PM CDT start from Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD.

Ashcraft > Skenes 

It's a big game for the Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft.  Ashcraft aces this start today a gets his team a big win over the Cubs and, in some sense, he will fully emerge from Paul Skenes' shadow.  Ashcraft has been the better pitcher this season and from what I see, has better mechanics.  Skenes is jenky.  He will make an unhittable closer one day.  I believe Skenes' future is in the bullpen.  Mostly because of how big his body is.  His delivery is a train wreck.  It's Ashcraft (3-2) vs. rookie Jordan Wicks (0-0) in a 5:40 PM CDT start from PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA.  Cubs have lost nine straight.  Pie-Rats pull even with the Northsiders with a win tonight.  

Interleague Implications

The Braves would be 13 games up on Boston if the two teams were in the same division.  Braves, at 36-18, have the best record in the NL. Boston, with a record of 22-30, is eight games under .500 but only 3.5 games out of the wild card in the AL.  Both teams are well alive and capable of making the playoffs.  This Interleague series is a pitstop on the road for both clubs.  The Red Sox win a series against the Braves and they will have some good momentum heading into the weekend.  Im trying to drum up some importance here and I feel like I'm failing.  These teams played each other just last week and it's an interleague matchup.  MLB scheduling games that suit TV audiences more than baseball fans.  It's another boring interleague series.  Good pitching matchup.  Spencer Strider (2-0) takes on Ranger Suarez (2-2) in a 5:45 PM CDT start from Fenway Park in Boston, MA.  

Ballgame Blitz

Chase Burns (6-1) gets the ball this evening against the Mets.  Burns has pitched to a 1.83 ERA this season.  It will be the first time the Mets have faced off with the Reds' phenom this season.  No starter has been announced for New York.  It's a 6:10 PM CDT start from Citi Field in Flushing Meadows, NY.  

I am interested to see how Joe Ryan (3-3) handles this White Sox team tonight.  This is a big swries for both teams.  Anthony Kay pitched the White Sox to a 3-1 victory in the opener over rookie Zebby Matthews.  Sean Burke (2-3) gets the start for the Southsiders.  It is a 6:40 PM CDT start from Rate Field in Chicago, IL.

Mariners pounded the A's last night, 9-1.  M's hit five home runs in the game.  Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller only allowed five hits over eight innings of one-run baseball.  It's Emerson Hancock (3-2) vs. Luis Severino(2-5) tonight in Sac-Town.  I like Emerson Hancock, a former first-round pick, 6th overall, he has pitched well this season.  Luis Severino seems to be over his difficulties with the bump at Sutter Health Field but no telling when his temper might flare up.  It should be relatively cool this evening.  That bodes well for the A's who need a good start from Severino tonight.  I still like the M's tonight.  The A's offense has scored three or less runs in six of their last ten games. Game starts at 8:40 PM CDT from Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, CA.  

That's it for Tuesday Game Day.  I am interested in a number of games this afternoon.  I'm looking into nine teams before post, all favorites tonight:  Rays (-125), Pirates (-130), Reds (-140), Twins (-140), Brewers (-175), Yankees (-225), Mariners (-125), Padres (-125) and the D'Backs (-110).   

There is some nice edge to be dug out of those games.  It is likely a few different combinations of those teams will produce a winning two-team parlay.  Let's see if I can extract a winner tonight.  

Back before post time with Today's Pick.  Stay tuned.  

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