April 3, 2026 · 4 games · 4-0 on the night · Toledo: 3-4 · Erie: 1-0 · West Michigan: 2-0 · Lakeland: 1-0
Toledo Mud Hens (AAA · International League) — W 7-1 at Syracuse · 3-4
One night after exploding for 17 runs, Toledo kept the offense rolling with a much cleaner 7-1 victory over the Syracuse Mets. The Mud Hens didn’t need a big crooked number to get the job done Friday, getting timely power from Eduardo Valencia and Gage Workman, who each went deep to provide the big blows.
Wenceel Pérez led the way offensively with two hits and an RBI out of the leadoff spot, while Max Clark drew a walk and scored to add another run. Ben Malgeri brought some extra-base punch with a double and an RBI, and Tomás Nido chipped in a double as well.
The pitching staff was night-and-day better than the opener. Ty Madden ran into trouble early, lasting just two-thirds of an inning, but the bullpen was outstanding as Burch Smith was the star, striking out four over two clean innings, and Konnor Pilkington tossed 2.1 frames without allowing a run.
Hitter of the night: Wenceel Pérez, 2-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B Power: Eduardo Valencia, 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI | Gage Workman, 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI Also: Ben Malgeri, 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B | Max Clark, 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB | Tomás Nido, 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B
Pitching: Ty Madden 0.2IP/3H/1ER/0BB/0K | Konnor Pilkington 2.1IP/3H/0ER/1BB/0K | Matt Seelinger 2IP/1H/0ER/1BB/2K | Burch Smith 2IP/1H/0ER/0BB/4K | Ricky Vanasco 1IP/2H/0ER/0BB/2K
Bullpen Heroes: Burch Smith didn’t make the noise Valencia and Workman did, but four strikeouts over two clean innings out of the pen is exactly the kind of reliable depth this Toledo bullpen is going to need over a long season.
Erie SeaWolves (AA · Eastern League) — W 7-6 HOME vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels · 1-0
Home opener · UPMC Park, Erie, Pa.
The Erie SeaWolves made their home opener a memorable one, holding off the Richmond Flying Squirrels 7-6 in a back-and-forth contest in front of the UPMC Park faithful. It wasn’t always pretty, but the SeaWolves found a way to get it done in the first home game of the 2026 season and their 8th straight opener.
Andrew Jenkins was the offensive hero, launching a home run and driving in three runs to pace the Erie attack. Peyton Graham had the most electric moment of the night, going 2-for-4 with a triple and double — two of the prettiest swings of the young season. Brett Callahan added a home run of his own and drew two hit-by-pitches, reaching base three times, while Justice Bigbie went 2-for-4 with two RBI to keep the lineup churning.
Joe Miller started and worked 3.2 innings, striking out four before running into trouble. Tanner Kohlhepp was sharp in relief, throwing 1.2 scoreless frames to help preserve the lead, though Moises Rodriguez hit a bump in the road, allowing three runs in 1.1 innings before the SeaWolves defense held firm.
Hitter of the night: Peyton Graham, 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 2B, 1 BB Big blow: Andrew Jenkins, 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI Also: Justice Bigbie, 2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI | Brett Callahan, 1-for-2, 2 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 HBP, 1 SB
Pitching: Joe Miller 3.2IP/5H/3ER/2BB/4K | Trevin Michael 1.1IP/0H/0ER/1BB/1K | Eric Silva 1IP/0H/0ER/1BB/1K | Moises Rodriguez 1.1IP/2H/3ER/2BB/0K | Tanner Kohlhepp 1.2IP/1H/0ER/0BB/1K
The star of the night for Erie was Peyton Graham’s 2-for-4 who had a triple and a double. He’s showing gap-to-gap power and a good feel for the barrel right out of the gate in 2026.
West Michigan Whitecaps (High-A · Midwest League) — W 6-4 at Lake County · 2-0
The West Michigan Whitecaps made it two straight wins and two straight victories over the Lake County Captains to open the season, coming away with a 6-4 road win Friday night. Unlike Thursday’s shutout gem, this one required a bit more offense — and the ‘Caps delivered.
Garrett Pennington was the story again, launching a home run to go with his game-winning RBI single the night before, while Patrick Lee quietly had one of the best nights in the lineup with three RBI. Hunter Dobbins and Clayton Campbell each went 2-for-something with a pair of hits to keep the offense humming, and Roberto Campos reached base twice and picked up a hit.
Lucas Elissalt made his 2026 debut on the mound and showed flashes, striking out four in three innings while working through some early command issues. Zack Lee was the pen standout, spinning two hitless frames with two strikeouts to keep Lake County at bay.
Hitter of the night: Patrick Lee, 1-for-3, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB Power: Garrett Pennington, 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI Also: Hunter Dobbins, 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB | Clayton Campbell, 2-for-4, 1 R | Roberto Campos, 1-for-3, 2 BB
Pitching: Lucas Elissalt 3IP/4H/2ER/2BB/4K | Zack Lee 2IP/0H/0ER/1BB/2K | Carlos Marcano 1IP/0H/0ER/0BB/0K | Ryan Harvey 2IP/2H/2ER/1BB/2K | Duque Hebbert 1IP/1H/0ER/1BB/1K
Lucas Elissalt is the No. 18 prospect in the Detroit system per MLB Pipeline, and his debut was a mixed bag, four strikeouts is encouraging, but he’ll need to tighten up the command as the season goes on. Friday was a starting point, not a ceiling.
Lakeland Flying Tigers (Low-A · Florida State League) — W 12-7 at Tampa · 1-0
Season opener · George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, Fla.
The Lakeland Flying Tigers opened their 2026 Florida State League season with a bang, outlasting the Tampa Tarpons 12-7 in a high-scoring season opener at Steinbrenner Field. It was an up-and-down night on the mound, but the Lakeland bats had more than enough to get the job done in the opener.
Beau Ankeney and Zach MacDonald each went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base between them, and Carson Rucker went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base of his own to lead what was a well-balanced offensive attack. Bryce Rainer and Jack Goodman each crossed the plate twice despite going a combined 1-for-8, drawing a combined four walks, and Nolan McCarthy came through with an RBI in a pinch appearance, drawing three walks.
Ben Jacobs was the arm of the night, spinning four innings with seven strikeouts and allowing just one earned run in the middle of the game to keep Lakeland in control. Sawyer Gipson-Long got the ball to start and ran into trouble but kept the damage unearned, stranding runners in a 1.2-inning outing.
Hitter of the night: Carson Rucker, 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 SB Also: Beau Ankeney, 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 HBP | Zach MacDonald, 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 2B, 1 SB | Jack Goodman, 1-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB | Nolan McCarthy, 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB
Pitching: Sawyer Gipson-Long 1.2IP/2H/0ER/0BB/2K | Ben Jacobs 4IP/2H/1ER/2BB/7K | Donye Evans 0.1IP/1H/0ER/1BB/0K | Pedro Garcia 1.2IP/1H/2ER/3BB/0K | Jorger Petri 1.1IP/0H/0ER/1BB/2K
Strong debut: Ben Jacobs was the unsung hero of this opener, seven strikeouts in four innings is a legitimately eye-catching line for a Low-A arm. If he can repeat that kind of performance, he’ll be one to watch as Lakeland’s rotation takes shape this spring.
Farm System Standouts — April 3, 2026
Ben Jacobs (Lakeland) — 4IP/2H/1ER/7K · seven strikeouts in his season debut, the best pitching line across the system Peyton Graham (Erie) — 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 2B · triple and double in the home opener Andrew Jenkins (Erie) — 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI · the go-ahead blow in a tight home opener Carson Rucker (Lakeland) — 2-for-5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 SB · led Lakeland in a 12-run season opener Burch Smith (Toledo) — 2IP/0ER/4K · the bullpen standout as Toledo won its second straight Garrett Pennington (West Michigan) — 1 HR, 1 RBI · back-to-back games with a big RBI for the ‘Caps
Jerry McKennan 
Chris Brown