Francisco Lindor continued to spark the New York Mets with back-to-back standout games against the Miami Marlins, reaching 1,500 career hits and launching his first home run of the season. In the American League, Kenley Jansen made history by surpassing Hall of Famer Lee Smith for fifth all-time in strikeouts among Major League relievers during the Los Angeles Angels’ road win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Lindor’s Hot Bat Keeps Mets in First
Lindor launched a solo home run Tuesday afternoon against Marlins starter Connor Gillispie, a 391-foot shot to right-center that cut Miami’s early lead to 2-1. The Mets went on to win 10-5 at Citi Field.
Lindor raises the apple! 🍎 pic.twitter.com/Oq6wm1nQFw
— New York Mets (@Mets) April 8, 2025
A day earlier, Lindor added a sacrifice fly that scored Luisangel Acuña, marking New York’s final run in a 2-0 series-opening win. The Mets improved to 8-3 and remain in first place in the National League East. They’ll wrap their three-game series with Miami on Wednesday, April 9, at 1:10 p.m. EDT.
Kodai Senga earned his first win of the season Monday, throwing five shutout innings and striking out four on 77 pitches. On Tuesday, Clay Holmes struck out 10 in 5.1 innings, giving up four earned runs on five hits and three walks.
The 32-year-old Holmes, in his first season with the Mets, is 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA over three starts. He has allowed seven earned runs over 14.2 innings, with 20 strikeouts and nine walks.
Lindor had three hits on Monday, bringing him to 1,501 for his career. Through nine games, the 31-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico, is batting .243/.295/.378 with one home run, five RBI, and two stolen bases across 39 plate appearances.
Now in his 11th Major League season, Lindor holds a career .274 batting average with 249 home runs, 775 RBI, and a .817 OPS. The former first-round pick out of Montverde Academy in Florida has appeared in 1,385 games between the Cleveland Guardians and Mets.
Jansen Makes History for Angels
Kenley Jansen recorded his 450th career save Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 at George Steinbrenner Field. He struck out José Caballero with a 95.3 mph cutter for the final out.
Career save No. 450 for Kenley Jansen!
(MLB x @BudweiserUSA) pic.twitter.com/jupTKEQOv1
— MLB (@MLB) April 9, 2025
The 37-year-old right-hander from Willemstad, Curaçao, also passed Hall of Famer Lee Smith on the all-time reliever strikeout list. He now ranks fifth after fanning Brandon Lowe with a 94.5 mph cutter for the second out of the ninth inning.
𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐥𝐥-𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐋𝐁 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: @kenleyjansen74 ❗️#TeamWass pic.twitter.com/ok8yIoUV2m
— Wasserman Baseball (@WassBaseball) April 9, 2025
Jansen had tied Smith’s mark of 1,255 strikeouts on April 6 with a punchout of Gabriel Arias at home against the Cleveland Guardians.
He now trails only Craig Kimbrel (1,265), Aroldis Chapman (1,250), Goose Gossage (1,340), and Hoyt Wilhelm (1,363) on the all-time strikeout list for relievers.
Jansen has appeared in 876 games across 16 MLB seasons with the Dodgers, Braves, Red Sox, and now Angels. He owns a 49-36 record with a 2.56 ERA, 1,227 strikeouts, and a 0.963 WHIP over 873.1 innings.
He is expected to once again represent the Kingdom of the Netherlands at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, having pitched in the 2009, 2013, and 2023 tournaments.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Network reported Tuesday on Francisco Lindor’s 1,500th career hit and his long-standing commitment to international play with Puerto Rico. Lindor, who called representing his country “a blessing and an honor and a privilege” following the 2023 tournament, is widely expected to rejoin the national team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
José Berríos, who also reached a career milestone this week, has pitched in three WBCs for Puerto Rico—2013, 2017, and 2023—and remains one of the most experienced arms in the island’s international rotation. All signs point to both players participating again in 2026.
Netherlands Prepares for WBC 2026
Kenley Jansen, the right-hander from Willemstad, Curaçao, has represented the Kingdom of the Netherlands in three World Baseball Classic tournaments—2009, 2013, and 2023—and remains eligible for 2026. Before becoming one of MLB’s top closers, Jansen was the catcher for the Dutch team during its 2009 Cinderella run, famously throwing out Wil Taveras to help upset the Dominican Republic.
Jansen has not made any recent public statements about his availability for the next tournament, but if the Netherlands makes a deep run, his return remains possible.
Former MLB outfielder Andruw Jones expressed interest in managing the Dutch national team, telling Diamante23’s Leonte Landino on March 18 that he would welcome the opportunity.
The Netherlands will compete in Pool D at loanDepot Park in Miami from March 6–11, alongside Venezuela, Israel, the Dominican Republic, and a qualifier team.
Andruw Jones habló sobre su potencial confirmación como manager de Países Bajos en el Clásico Mundial 2025 👀#TokyoSeries #MLB #Béisbol #Diamante23 pic.twitter.com/2k6BJKWzBW
— Diamante 23 (@Diamante23OF) March 18, 2025
The Netherlands will compete in Pool D at loanDepot Park in Miami from March 6–11, facing Venezuela, Israel, the Dominican Republic, and a yet-to-be-determined qualifier nation.
2026 World Baseball Classic Schedule
The 2026 World Baseball Classic will begin with pool play across four international venues. Four teams—Colombia, Chinese Taipei, Brazil, and Nicaragua—have already qualified but have not yet been assigned to a specific group.
Pool A – Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico (March 6–11):
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, Qualifier nation
Pool B – Daikin Park, Houston, Texas (March 6–11):
United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain, Qualifier nation
Pool C – Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan (March 5–10):
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, Qualifier nation
Pool D – loanDepot Park, Miami, Florida (March 6–11):
Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Netherlands, Israel, Qualifier nation
