Locked On MLB - Daily Podcast On Major League Baseball

AHOY! Pirates Surge Into First Place - A's Keep On Winning - Yankees Are Sloppy

Apr 12, 2026
Pirates' extra-inning victory and a falling magic number highlight their surge in the NL Central. A's continue a dominant New York run with big offense and bullpen work. Yankees suffer a sloppy extra-inning loss as small-ball smarts outperform homers. Concerns about extending the CBA and lingering blackout rules round out the conversation.
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ANECDOTE

O'Neal Cruz Five-Tool Night

  • Paul Francis Sullivan describes O'Neal Cruz's breakout game where he reached base five times, scored, doubled, and stole three bases.
  • The performance anchored a tight extra-innings Pirates win in Chicago and highlighted Cruz's leadoff OPS over .900 and his growing impact.
INSIGHT

Head-to-Head Wins Drive Division Advantage

  • Sully emphasizes the value of winning head-to-head division games because season-series wins decide tiebreakers and seeding.
  • Pirates' victory plus other Central losses dropped their magic number to 148, making first place meaningful now.
INSIGHT

Value Of Deep Starting Pitcher Outings

  • Sully praises starters who go deep, citing Michael Wacha's eight shutout innings for Kansas City as a high-value outing.
  • Deep starts reduce bullpen strain and are especially important for teams needing reliable wins.
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