MLB podcast Michael Duca Thu Apr 17, 2025: Pirates Skenes will he have another Cy Young type season?; Braves Strider returns after missing last season; plus more news

Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skenes (30) pitches to the Washington Nationals in the first inning on Mon Apr 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh (AP News photo)

MLB podcast Michael Duca Thu Apr 17, 2025

#1 There is a lot of talk about the Pittsburgh Pirates Paul Skenes who is now considered an All Star. During the 2024 season Skenes had himself a season going 11-3 ERA 1.96 and so far this season is 2-1 ERA 2.96. Skenes says that he does focus when he gets some quite time and that brings him out on the field to make those starts. Can you talk about his skill as a pitcher and can he repeat the kind of season he had last year?

#2  Atlanta Braves right handed pitcher Spencer Strider faced the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday and threw five plus innings allowed two runs, struck out five, walked one and hit one batter in an 3-1 loss and it was Strider’s first appearance since he had surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

#3 Veteran umpire Hunter Wendelstedt who was working first base took a line drive that hit him in the face. Wendelstedt the son of former umpire Harry Wendelstedt hit the ground after being hit off the bat by New York Mets center fieldr Tyrone Taylor in the seventh inning. Taylor and Minnesota Twins pitcher Louis Varland reacted in shock after seeing the ball hit Wendelstedt.

#4 The Chicago White Sox who got lit up by the Sacramento A’s 12-3 on Tuesday night at Rate Field designated right hand pitcher Mike Clevenger for assignment on Wednesday. Clevenger allowed three runs in the top of the ninth inning in Tuesday’s game. He had been struggling with an 0-2 record and an ERA of 7.94 in five appearances so far this year. He was 9-14 in 28 starts and eight relief appearances for the Sox.

#5 Miguel, finally talk about the job that San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee has been doing he’s hitting .333, 21 hits, 3 home runs, and 12 RBIs. He’s played some outstanding defense and went two for three with two hits and two runs scored in his last game on Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Join Michael Duca for the MLB podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: Wendelstedt won’t be disciplined; A’s having slight uptick improvement so far this season

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was tossed out in the first inning after a fan behind the Yankees dugout shouted something to plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt at Yankees Stadium in New York on Mon Apr 22, 2024 (AP News photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong:

#1 Jessica, on New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s ejection on Monday. Boone had just come out of the dugout to question plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt about a ball that hit Oakland A’s hitter Esteury Ruiz’s foot and on a swing. Once back in the dugout Wendelstedt had warned Boone about saying anything further when a fan said something and Wendelsted threw out Boone who said nothing.

#2 The A’s who were the worst team in baseball last season has improved slightly. They won two straight series which didn’t happen much last season. They did get swept by the Cleveland Guardians who are the hottest team in baseball. But the A’s surprised everybody with a 2-0 shutout win over the Yankees on Monday, they maintain third place and are three games back in the AL West.

#3 The Chicago White Sox said before the season that they would be an improved team and they would compete but they have lost nine of their last ten games and are dead last in the American League Central winning on three games so far this season against 19 loses. The Sox have an atrocious road record winning only one game against 12 loses.

#4 Turning to the NBA, Los Angeles Lakers LeBron James had lots to say about the officiating after last Monday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in a game 2 loss 101-99. LeBron was called for having his foot on the three point line and got only two points losing the three points in a close game. He also was called out of bounds in a game against the Golden State Warriors. LeBron questioned why the NBA has a replay center for when calls are going to stand like those ones?

#5 Jessica, the subject was raised about the Golden State Warriors possibly trading Stephen Curry. The Warriors who lost a play in game against the Sacramento Kings to be eliminated from post season. Curry scored only 22 points and teammate Klay Thompson had 0 points. The Warriors might even consider trading Draymond Green. It looks like Golden State is going to break up that old gang and try and get younger.

Jessica Kwong does Headline Sports podcasts every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com