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The St. Louis Cardinals continue to remain relevant in the postseason discussion thanks to a solid month-plus of play since the All-Star break. After struggling out of the break, the team has been one of the best in the National League since the calendar turned to August. They have done so with starting pitching that has kept the team in games and the continued offensive breakouts from Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker.

It does not show up in the box score, but another reason for the August success has been the consistent spectacular work the Cardinals have done with the glove. With a pitching staff that allows plenty of contact, the defense around the field gives the arms confidence to fill up the strike zone and let the fielders do the work. As the fourth-best defensive team in the majors this season, the glove work behind the staff has been nothing short of spectacular.

If you have been on social media in the past couple of months, there is a continuous debate about how much defense should be valued, especially when looking at the NL Rookie of the Year race. Unpopular side bar take: Give me a 30 homer, 100 RBI guy that knows the strike zone in the lineup. Sorry JJ.

For this iteration of the roster in St. Louis, however, the defense has been valuable for the pitch-to-contact staff. Wetherholt is one of the best defenders in baseball, regardless of position, and Alec Burleson has finally gotten the respect he deserves for his stellar work at the first base bag. Those two surprises and passable performance at the hot corner has taken some attention away from one of the best shortstops in the game in Masyn Winn. Currently, Winn and Wetherholt make up the best defensive middle infield in all of baseball and we have seen plenty of times where Winn’s arm (sorry Justin Turner) has gotten outs no other player in the game would be able to get.

Cardinals should lock up Masyn Winn before his bat makes him too expensive

The glove and arm have never been a question for Winn, who is in his fourth big league season. Where people still need convincing is with the bat, especially after the former top prospect put together a successful minor league career together on offense. It has not completely translated to the majors just yet, but there have been signs that he is on the verge of reaching another level in the box.

His current hand/wrist injury notwithstanding, Winn has looked more comfortable as a hitter with a noticeable change in his approach. Known offensive threat Pedro Pages suggested a slight change for the shortstop between games in a doubleheader, and the adjustment paid immediate dividends for Winn. In five games since, Winn has three extra-base hits and two walks, but he has still struck out eight times in that span. That level of offense, if sustainable, when matched with his otherworldly defense, to me makes Masyn Winn an easy choice for an extension.

As we all know, VEB has the smartest fanbase in baseball and the majority of you agreed with me in June when Doc ran a poll asking if Winn should be extended. 63% of you agree that now is the time to get it done, and I am pushing it a little further and saying they should get this hammered out before the end of the season.

My annual prediction of Masyn Winn being a 20 homer, 20 stolen base threat looks worse and worse every year, but expect me to beat that drum once again heading into the 2027 campaign. Since his solid rookie season, his overall offensive numbers have been going the wrong direction but there has always been a reason (or excuse) for why he has not yet reached the same level of production as he did in the minor leagues with his bat or his legs. Maybe all he needed was a little more Pedro Pages in his life to put everything together.

Winn debuted in 2023 as a 21-year-old coming off a strong season in Memphis and has been with the major league team ever since, mostly because of his nightly highlight reel plays. Because of the early debut, Winn will be arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason and will become a free agent after the 2029 season. At that point, the shortstop will be just 27-years-old and hopefully blossoming into the hitter we all want him to be.

That is why I have some concerns with the Cardinals playing the waiting game around Winn and his contract when talking extension. There has not been much reporting, if any, about either sides desire to work out a longer term contract, but that does not necessarily mean there is bad blood from anyone. To me, it signals that both player and team are hoping for more production from Winn and want to see additional improvement before sitting down at the negotiation table. If I were Chaim Bloom, which thankfully I am not, I would take these next few weeks to get a price and start talking numbers… just in case the bat does finally take off.

“Take off” for me means a .270 hitter that shows gap-to-gap ability and can pop double digit (I’ll drop my number to 15) homers and steal as many or more bases. Take that offensive skillset and put it on one of the best defensive shortstop in all of baseball and you now have one of the more complete players in the National League. C.J. Abrams is currently the only NL shortstop to surpass all of those numbers while Willy Adames and Elly De La Cruz have the power but not the average. Otto Lopez has the average and stolen bases while Konnor Griffin would have likely surpassed those numbers if not for injury.

In Abrams’ case, the Nationals are also planning to move him off of shortstop so if Winn could truly end up being that player we would be looking at a top shortstop in the league. Unfair expectations, sure, but he is still just 24 and will hopefully be in a lineup that will give him more opportunity to succeed in the future. Right now, Winn is relied upon to be a run-producer and also a table setter in the middle-third of the order but his skillset would be better used at the bottom of the lineup. With the Cardinals top four (or five) boasting above-average offensive potential, a couple free agent additions or other minor league options could push Winn to be the perfect 8/9-hole hitter in a competitive lineup.

So why is the time now if there are still so many questions about his bat? I want him locked up now because an investment into Winn for another six years is a safe option. While he has missed regular season time with minor injuries in his career, he has not looked hampered by the knee issues in a big way in the field. His arm will continue to play for another decade even if his lateral movement does drop a bit in the next few seasons. I am normally against paying for defense, but in Winn’s case, he has proven time and again to be a valuable piece up the middle and a major league-average bat would only raise his price.

If Bloom is able to get Winn to the table before the postseason, a six-year deal could end up being a discount if the Pages adjustment sticks. I am also a believer that he is a hard worker who wants to spend his best years in St. Louis, so rewarding him with confidence (and money) could continue to push him to be the hitter I still believe he can be.

I am pretty bad at comps and extension estimates, so anyone who is on board with a Masyn Winn extension should drop their thoughts below. I would like to say 6/$100 million would be a fair point for both player and team, but it’s also not my money.

Thanks as always!

Let’s say that right now, the Phillies had a high leverage situation in which neither Jonathan Bowlan or Jhoan Duran are available. Both of those pitchers are ones the Phillies want to use in the eighth and ninth innings in games in which they are tied or have a lead, something that has been established in the days since Brad Keller went down for the season.

In this high leverage spot, the team needs a right handed pitcher to get them out of a jam. Which pitcher are you hoping the Phillies go to – Alex McFarlane or Orion Kerkering?

Both of them have good, strikeout stuff that can get outs on their own, not needing a defense to get involved if need be. Both of them have had control issues in their past. We haven’t seen how McFarlane would react in a big spot, but we have seen how Kerkering will pitch when the chips are down. It’s hard to predict how that at bat would end up going, but which would you rather see?

The Red Sox should feel comfortable with the current outlook of a playoff rotation.

Game 1: Sonny Gray
Game 2: Ranger Suarez
Game 3: Payton Tolle

Wouldn’t it have been hard to fathom early in the season that the Red Sox could be a real threat in the American League without Garrett Crochet leading the rotation as a healthy, functional starter? 

That still won’t be the case for Boston the rest of the way. Even as the 2025 AL Cy Young runner-up continues to ramp up his progression from left shoulder inflammation for a possible return late this year, the best case scenario is far from handing him the ball and letting him eat, as he did to open the 2025 postseason. 

Crochet said this week that, at best, he could get up to throwing two innings in live game action if and when he takes the ball again in 2026, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. While that takes him out of the rotation, that’s far from a loss for the Red Sox. Any innings from Crochet in October should be greatly welcomed. A step further? He could be a legitimate weapon. 

Would it be wise to deploy him more than twice a series? Perhaps not. But he’ll be ready as a competitor, the stuff will likely play up in shorter intervals and he’s already proved he can effectively handle the role in October. 

Remember, Crochet was not a full-time starter with the White Sox until the 2024 season. He previously put together a fantastic campaign out of the bullpen in 2021 with a 2.82 ERA and 10.8 K/9 when Chicago won the AL Central. He also did not allow a run in four total outings in the postseason between 2020 and 2021. 

He’ll also become a pretty vital part of the bullpen in this iteration of the roster. Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock will have massive responsibilities in high-leverage spots while Justin Slaten and Tyron Guerrero will have big outs to get themselves.

Assuming he doesn’t make the rotation in a potential later series, Brayan Bello will be a vital long reliever. Crochet’s role is interesting. He can be saved to get out of late inning jams or could end up being the bridge in the middle innings to get to the horses late. 

He won’t have the innings potential that David Price had during his bullpen run in 2017 (that will be a separate article eventually, he was spectacular in that role, albeit expensive), but Crochet’s realistic ability to contribute in 2026 is still really intriguing. 

Arms are arms in October. The Red Sox could have the best in the American League ready to roll with wins on the line.

MOOSIC, Pa. — Friday at Yankee Stadium was Cody Bellinger Bobblehead Night.

While that was taking place, the real thing was at PNC Field in northeastern Pennsylvania in the second game of a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

Both games went well for Bellinger to the point where he is expected to come off the injured list Sunday. He has been out since July 26th with a left hamstring strain.

In Friday night’s game against the Charlotte Knights, Triple-A affiliate of the White Sox, he played six innings in the RailRiders’ 5-3 victory. He went 0-for-3 against right-handed starter Jonathan Cannon, who made 38 starts for Chicago between 2024-25. Batting second, Bellinger struck out swinging in the bottom of the first on a 3-2 pitch. He grounded out to second on an 0-1 pitch in the bottom of the third and grounded out to third on a 2-2 pitch leading off the bottom of the sixth.

Bellinger also played left field and had some balls hit to him that tested the hamstring. He made consecutive putouts on fly balls in the top of the second inning. In the top of the sixth, Junior Perez lined a ball to left field. Bellinger went back and reached up, but had the ball just deflect off the top of his outstretched glove for a RBI double. When he threw the ball back in, it eluded shortstop Oswaldo Cabrera for a throwing error that allowed Perez to advance to third. Mario Camilletti followed with a RBI double into the left-field corner that Bellinger had to run down.

Playing the outfield is a better indicator than batting to see if the hamstring is healed. Bellinger had no issues.

“I think it’s moreso the up-and-down. Playing defense, going to sit down. Playing defense, going to sit down. Going to the bases,” Bellinger said.

On Thursday night, in the first game of his rehab assignment, Bellinger was penciled in the lineup in left field, but Mother Nature had other plans. An all-day rain delayed the start of the game two hours and caused RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan to switch Bellinger to DH.

“I walked the field before the game and the soft warning track, that’s tricky,” Duncan said. “Don’t want him to go back on a ball and have an injury. I want him to play the game the way he plays the game. Too much of a risk there.”

As the DH, Bellinger went 1-for-3 in the seven-inning game.

“It felt good. It was good to get in the batter’s box again off a pretty good arm over there,” Bellinger said. “Ran the bases once, felt good. It was a good day.

“First time (here). It’s a really nice ballpark, it’s got nice views. Obviously the weather kind of made it a little bit of a delay, but overall it was good day.”

Facing Charlotte’s 6-foot-10 lefty starter Noah Schultz (another recent White Sox starter), he grounded a 2-1 pitch past a sliding second baseman Rikuu Nishida and into rightfield for a single. He was erased on a double play by Jasson Domínguez.

“It was the first time seeing a live pitch in a while, so I wanted to keep it simple,” Bellinger said. “See the ball, hit the ball.

“I wanted to slide to see how it felt. I slid (on the double play), no issues.”

With one out in the bottom of the third and Kenedy Corona on second following a leadoff double, Bellinger hit a 1-2 pitch from Schultz to deep right-center field. However, right fielder Perez caught it in on the warning track in front of the fence 385 feet away for the second out.

Righthander Adisyn Coffey came on to pitch for the Knights in the bottom of the fifth. Bellinger popped up a 1-0 pitch to shortstop Andy Weber to end the inning. A two-run home run by Anthony Volpe preceded Bellinger’s at-bat and accounted for the only offense in a RailRiders’ 2-0 win.

“Second AB, I just really stayed with my plan,” Bellinger said. “Got the righty in there for my third at-bat and popped up. But overall I liked where I was at.”

Bellinger wasn’t sure if he got all of the ball he hit to the warning track in his second at-bat.

“I hit it decent,” he said. “Didn’t know if the ball flew here. But it was a good swing. I liked that swing a lot.”

Duncan agreed that Bellinger had some good at-bats.

“It looked like he was seeing it well. Gave it a charge his second at-bat,” Duncan said. “It was nice to see him comfortable up there at the plate. I know we’re here to get his legs ready, but at the plate he looked like there was no rust. He put together good swings.”

This season, in 102 games with the Yankees, Bellinger is batting .259 with 97 hits, including 21 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs and 53 RBIs. He was Most Valuable Player of the MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia in July after driving in two runs with a single in the first inning to help the American League win, 4-0.

Watching the Yankees struggle offensively the past few weeks while he has been sidelined has been frustrating for Bellinger. But after two games with the RailRiders, he appears ready to return.

“It’s hard being on the IL. You want to get out and play and help the boys win,” he said. “Hopefully I’m pretty close and hope I can do what I can to help the team win.”

Meet the Mets

Luis Robert Jr. homered twice in a 10-5 Mets victory over the White Sox. The Mets got out to an early lead, but the White Sox fought back in bottom of the third, thanks in part to Carson Benge catching a ball against the wall, but the force of the impact knocking the ball over the fence for a home run. Luckily Benge made up for it with a home run of his own, as the Mets built a second lead they would not relinquish and the bullpen held firm in relief of Christian Scott.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, New York Post

“I am having a really good time here right now,” Bo Bichette said when asked about his opt-out and whether he intends to exercise it. “There are a lot of really good young players that make it fun to come here and a lot of really good players that have been around, so I am enjoying my time here.”

And suddenly Bo Bichette opting out doesn’t look so bad, writes Laura Albanese of Newsday.

After another year when big spending let the Mets down, David Stearns’ more low key approach may be what the franchise needs to turn things around next season, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Around the National League East

The Marlins beat the Nationals 4-2, buoyed by a strong performance from Eury Pérez.

Andrew Painter had the best start of his career in the Phillies’ 12-3 rout of the Cardinals, extending the Phillies’ winning streak to eight games.

The Braves fell to the Brewers 4-1, as they continue to see their NL East lead shrink amidst the Phillies’ winning streak.

Around Major League Baseball

Giancarlo Stanton sustained a moderate strain of his left calf while running the bases trying to make his way back to the Yankees, which may end his injury plagued season.

In more bad news for the Yankees, Ryan Weathers left yesterday’s game early with forearm discomfort and is being sent for imaging.

In a surprising turn of events, Brandon Woodruff, who has been sidelined since early July and was scheduled to have surgery this month, won’t need surgery after all and is holding out hope for a return this season.

Randy Arozarena hit a home run, robbed one, and then hit a walk-off homer in the Mariners’ crazy win over the Cubs.

This Date in Mets History

The infamous unassisted triple play against the Mets took place on this date in 2009.

Pirates catcher Henry Davis hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations you get when you are selected with the first overall pick. Davis has a batting average of .170 with just eight home runs and 32 RBIs. 

However, MLB.com believes Henry Davis is a top Gold Glove candidate and should be in that conversation. Going into this week’s games, Davis was worth 10 defensive runs saved, per FanGraphs. That is tied for second in Major League Baseball. In 2025, Davis was ninth among catchers with at least 500 innings caught with 8 DRS. 

Davis does have an absolute cannon behind home plate, throwing for 85.6 mph, which is ranked first in the league. He has also thrown out 17 runners, which is surpassed by only six catchers who’ve caught at least 500 innings. Davis would also have more caught-stealings if anyone actually ran on him. The 35 attempts against him are the fewest on that list.

Base runners just simply don’t run on Davis, and he doesn’t cause any major defensive errors when behind home plate. Davis perfected his setups along with where and how he catches the ball, Davis has seen that number become a positive (2.3, 10th in MLB).

Another big stat to look at for catchers is their challenge success rate while using ABS. After going 19-24 (44.2%) on challenges in the first half, Davis is 20-12 (62.5%) since the All-Star break. Overall, Davis has a 52% success rate (51st among those with 20 or more challenges), but he’s also flipped 16 strikeouts in the Pirates’ favor, which ranks tied for ninth. 

MLB.com used all of those stats to say that not only should Davis be a candidate but that he could be the favorite. Although I would love to see Davis win a gold glove this year I just don’t think it will happen. Patrick Bailey of the San Francisco Giants is an elite defender behind home plate and is having a great defensive season. Luis Torrens from the New York Mets is also a top candidate because of his defensive runs saved which is top five in the majors. 

Davis is a very good catcher because of what he can do defensively but this season he has been a liability offensively. It brings up a difficult question. Do you keep Henry Davis because he is a great defender even though his offense is lacking ?   

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Our Sunday MLB moneyline predictions feature a strong mix of short favorites and massive underdogs in appealing individual and team matchups across the board.

Read on for my MLB moneyline predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, Aug. 23.

MLB moneyline picks for Aug. 23

Matchup	Pick
Cardinals vs Phillies	+194
Rays vs Orioles	-104
Blue Jays vs  Yankees	-127
Nationals vs Marlins	+133
Athletics vs Astros	+138
Tigers vs Royals	-127
Mets vs White Sox	-117
Angels vs Rangers	-156
Guardians vs Rockies	-163
Giants vs  Red Sox	+223
Cubs vs Mariners	+104
Twins vs Padres	-133
Pirates vs Dodgers	+233
Reds vs Diamondbacks	-122
Braves vs Brewers	-133

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 8-23.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for Aug. 23

Cardinals vs Phillies: Cardinals (+194)

Cardinals win probability: 34%

Laying -203 on Philadelphia ignores the value on St. Louis' bats, which have produced a solid 112 wRC+ and .756 OPS over the last 14 days. Kyle Leahy gives the Cardinals a live puncher’s chance to exploit Philadelphia’s bullpen vulnerabilities (3.71 SIERA) at a massive plus-money price.

Rays vs Orioles: Rays (-104)

Rays win probability: 51%

Tampa Bay enters with a red-hot offense posting a 113 wRC+ over the last 14 days, pairing high contact with disciplined plate approaches. Baltimore's bullpen has been prone to high-damage contact despite strikeout flashes. Back the Rays' superior operational baseline at a coin-flip price.

Blue Jays vs Yankees: Yankees (-127)

Yankees win probability: 55.9%

While the Yankees' lineup has slumped (86 wRC+), their bullpen has been historically stingy, sporting a slate-best 1.55 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across the last two weeks. Carlos Rodón should exploit Toronto's low-power profile (.125 ISO) to keep this tight and let the late-inning relievers finish.

Nationals vs Marlins: Nationals (+133)

Nationals win probability: 42.9%

Washington brings significant value at +133 against Janson Junk, targeting Miami's bullpen that has struggled with a 4.87 ERA over the past two weeks. Jackson Kent limits self-inflicted damage, while Washington's relievers boast a strong 25.4% strikeout rate and 3.63 SIERA to close this one out. 

A's vs Astros: A's (+138)

Athletics win probability: 41%

Houston's offense has bottomed out over the last two weeks, generating a 65 wRC+ and a dismal .200 batting average. The A's bring above-average pop (.167 ISO, 103 wRC+) and present massive underdog value against Cristian Javier, making this price an ideal fade of Houston's dormant bats.

Tigers vs Royals: Tigers (-127)

Tigers win probability: 56%

Detroit gets the nod at a manageable price against Daniel Lynch IV and a Kansas City bullpen that has struggled badly with command, issuing 5.36 walks per nine with a 4.95 SIERA over the last two weeks. Even with the Tigers' starter still undecided, Detroit has the stronger late-inning path and enough offensive depth to capitalize if Lynch fails to work deep.

Mets vs White Sox: Mets (-117)

Mets win probability: 53.9%

New York offers a major pitching edge with a dominant bullpen posting a 2.90 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 25.6% strike rate over the last 14 days. With Chicago starting an undecided arm against Nolan McLean, backing the Mets at a short, playable price avoids laying massive juice.

Angels vs Rangers: Rangers (-156)

Rangers win probability: 60.9%

Both offenses have cratered recently (Texas 74 wRC+, Angels 72 wRC+), but the Angels' league-worst .086 ISO severely caps their run ceiling. Cal Quantrill's ground-ball profile matches up well against an Angels lineup striking out 24.8% of the time, giving Texas the defensive edge.

Guardians vs Rockies: Guardians (-163)

Guardians win probability: 62%

Colorado's bullpen remains a liability, yielding a 4.97 SIERA and managing only a 14.8% strikeout rate over the last 14 days. Cleveland puts the ball in play with elite bat-to-ball skills (16.4% K rate), allowing them to consistently manufacture runs at altitude against Tomoyuki Sugano.

Giants vs Red Sox: Giants (+223)

Giants win probability: 31%

Laying -233 chalk on Boston creates negative expected value regardless of recent lineup splits. Carson Whisenhunt gives San Francisco a live southpaw option, while the Giants' bullpen holds a sturdy 3.32 FIP over the past two weeks. Take the massive plus-money price against this massive juice.

Cubs vs Mariners: Cubs (+104)

Cubs win probability: 49%

The Cubs are mashing the ball, posting a 116 wRC+ and .218 ISO over the last 14 days. Seattle's bullpen has melted down recently, posting a 7.59 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. Shota Imanaga gives Chicago the stability needed to keep the Mariners' lineup in check and exploit Seattle's pitching struggles at plus-money.

Twins vs Padres: Padres (-133)

Padres win probability: 57.1%

San Diego is firing on all cylinders, combining a 120 wRC+ with the league's most dominant bullpen (2.18 ERA, 2.95 SIERA, 31.0% K rate over two weeks). Ober is capable, but Walker Buehler and this stacked Padres relief core hold the distinct late-inning advantage.

Pirates vs Dodgers: Pirates (+233)

Pirates win probability: 30%

Laying -257 juice on Los Angeles is untenable with their bats slumping to a 93 wRC+ and sub-.300 OBP over the last two weeks. Carmen Mlodzinski and a high-leverage Pirates bullpen posting a dominant 28.0% strikeout rate and 3.77 SIERA over the past 14 days offer massive price value against heavy market tax.

Reds vs Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks (-122)

Diamondbacks win probability: 55%

Cincinnati has been the league's worst offensive team over the past two weeks, slashing .183/.257/.290 with a dreadful 47 wRC+. Arizona's lineup is rolling (118 wRC+, .349 OBP), giving Mitch Bratt tremendous run support and setting up the Snakes to dictate today's game.

Braves vs Brewers: Brewers (-133)

Brewers win probability: 57.1%

Atlanta's offense has stalled completely, putting up a 64 wRC+ and striking out 25.3% of the time. Milwaukee pairs disciplined hitting (11.1% walk rate) with a shutdown bullpen posting an MLB-best 1.54 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over the last two weeks in this neutral-site Williamsport showcase.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

The Dodgers are riding high on a five-game winning streak after sweeping the Colorado Rockies in Denver and taking the first two of three games against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home.

Next week will see the return of an important reinforcement for the starting rotation, as Tyler Glasnow is expected to make his return from injury on Tuesday during the team’s series in Atlanta. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic tweeted the return date for Glasnow on Saturday.

Glasnow had started seven games this season before low back spasms caused him to miss over three months worth of playing time. In those starts, Glasnow tossed 39 2/3 innings to the tune of a 2.72 ERA with 49 strikeouts, 13 walks and a 0.832 WHIP.

Links

Tarik Skubal stumbled out of the gates on Saturday, as the left-hander allowed three runs in the first inning highlighted by a two-run triple from Oneil Cruz. From the second inning through the seventh, the two-time AL Cy Young winning form of Skubal was finally on display, as he struck out 11 hitters while holding Pittsburgh at bay, earning his first win in a Dodger uniform.

Skubal noted that the “punch in the mouth” he got from Pittsburgh in the first inning helped him settle in throughout the rest of his start, while Dave Roberts noted that Saturday’s version of Skubal is what the team needs moving forward, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com.

“I always think it’s important for any pitcher to see how you respond to those moments, getting punched in the mouth,” Skubal said. “I think that’s when the true who-you-really-are kind of shows out. And yeah, that’s something I take a ton of pride in.”

Said manager Dave Roberts: “That’s the guy that we needed.”

Outfielder Alek Thomas made his Dodger debut on Saturday, finishing with an RBI single while reaching base twice. While showing excitement towards playing as a Dodger at the big league level, Thomas found it rather comical that the fan base has become accepting of him after relentlessly booing him during his time with Arizona, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.

“I’m super glad to be back, and happy to help the team in any way, shape or form.”

“It’s funny, because they always hated me whenever I came out there in center field,” said Thomas, who was acquired by the Dodgers in May. “I was, like, ‘Come on, guys, I’m Mexican too. You don’t have to yell at me; like, we’re on the same side here.’”

Mark Manfredi did not speed.

This is worth establishing up front because he had every reason to. He he ducked out of the clubhouse in Albuquerque the night before to FaceTime his wife and his seven-month-old son before bedtime, and he was back at his apartment when his pitching coach called with a message that was less a request than a summons.

“He goes, ‘Hey, Skip wants to see you,’” Manfredi said. “I was like, ‘Well, I’m saying good night; I’m at the apartment.’ And he’s like, ‘Well, you better want to get back here as soon as you can. He wants a word with you.’ So I rushed back, trying not to speed for whatever reason it may be.”

It was a 10-minute drive. He was asked, later, whether it felt longer than that.

“Longest 1o minutes of my life.”

Then he walked in, and Isotopes manager Pedro Lopez asked where he’d been. Manfredi told him the same thing.

“And he was just like, ‘Well, you better call them back and tell them that their dad and husband is going to be a big leaguer.’ And I was just like — I am at a loss for words.”

The road to the 26-man

Manfredi’s route here was not linear, and he does not pretend otherwise. A ninth-round pick in 2023 out of the University of Dayton — 272nd overall, a $27,500 bonus — he spent 2024 in High-A as a swingman, moved to the bullpen full-time in 2025, and broke out this spring: a 39.2% strikeout rate across 16 games in Double-A, then 18 more with Triple-A Nashville, where he ran a 3.09 ERA and a 31.3% strikeout rate over 23.1 innings.

Then on August 3, Milwaukee traded him to Colorado. He found out the way most players do — his name scrolling across a television.

“That was the first thing that I had in mind when I saw my name on the TV, and I got the calls,” he said of the chance to reach the majors. “The Brewers are a fantastic organization, but I love it here already.”

The Albuquerque line that followed does not look like a promotion case: four appearances, five innings, six walks, six earned runs. The peripherals were kinder — a 4.76 FIP against a 10.80 ERA — and so was the context. He was learning to pitch a mile up in real time.

“Everyone talks about the PCL and elevation,” Manfredi said. “The only way I can describe it is you don’t really know until you experience it for yourself. Pitching in game, everything is different — besides maybe a pitch or two. And then you go back to non-elevation, and your pitches move the way they have your whole life.”

The data backs the complaint precisely.

His four-seamer averaged 14.1 inches of induced vertical break in Nashville. In Albuquerque, it averaged 11.9. For a pitcher that throws the fastball nearly 60% of the time, that is not a rounding error; that is the pitch he built a career on, arriving flatter than he had ever seen it.

His adjustments followed the shape of the problem. Start two-strike pitches further off the plate, because they won’t chase as far. Get ahead early. And lean on the one thing altitude can’t take.

“I knew that in altitude, the gyro slider is going to play,” he said. “It’s the pitch that’s least affected by altitude.”

He threw it 31.7% of the time in Albuquerque, up from 24.1% in Nashville — partly by design, partly because the two weeks in the PCL brought him more left-handed hitters than he’d seen all season, which also gave the developing sweeper a workout it badly needed. He picked up the grip in spring training from former Milwaukee Brewer-turned-Rockie, Sammy Peralta.

And then, in a touch-and-feel session in Albuquerque the day before he was called up, he found something.

“I threw a two-seam a couple weeks ago in Nashville and never really visited it again. And then I threw one yesterday, and it was my exact four-seam metrics in non-elevation with my two-seam,” he said. “Me and [Craig Bjornson], the pitching coach in Albuquerque, we were just like, we might be onto something here.”

Wednesday night

Kyle Freeland’s neck tightened up, and Manfredi knew what was coming next before anyone told him.

“When I saw the injury, and he was walking off, I was just like, ‘This is 100% going to be me.’ So I ran frantically and started throwing plyos as fast as I could, and then my name got called.”

What he walked into was a two-out, bases-empty situation against the Dodgers with Shohei Ohtani due up first. Warren Schaeffer, who watched him take the ball with what the manager described as a big smile, got a five-word scouting report from his own reliever.

“He said, ‘This is the perfect spot,’” Schaeffer recalled. “I’m glad his family was here to see that. I thought he threw that ball exceptionally well. His first at-bat against Shohei — I thought that was perfect. He’ll never forget that.”

Manfredi’s plan for Ohtani was the same plan he’d described that afternoon, before he knew he’d be using it that night: go right at them, don’t pitch around them. He also, finally, got to run his experiment. He threw the two-seamer — one to Ohtani, he thinks, and maybe one to Freddie Freeman.

“And it sank.”

The full debut line: 1.1 innings, one hit, one walk, two strikeouts, no runs, on 19 pitches. Eleven four-seamers averaging 94.0 mph, four sliders, two sinkers, and one each of the sweeper and changeup. He landed a first-pitch strike on five of six hitters.

The second inning of work was where he felt himself arrive — “coming back in, winding down, and starting to be like, okay, this is where I’m at, and I’m here” —and it opened with a strikeout of Freddie Freeman. Which very nearly cost him his first career strikeout ball.

“No, not at all,” he said, when asked whether he’d realized what it was. “I was just kind of in the moment and just rolling with it. And then when he asked me for a new ball, I was like, I want this ball. And then it kind of clicked.”

The people who would want to see that ball were all in the building: his wife Madison, his son MJ, his parents, his grandparents from Cleveland, his college head coach at Dayton, a buddy from Dayton, and both his agents. On less than a day’s notice, across a two-hour time difference.

“That was all orchestrated at like two or three in the morning,” Manfredi said. “I can’t express how grateful I am.”

Prior to his debut, he’d been asked how he processes a season that took him through two organizations, three levels, and a first child in January.

“Me and my wife always say it’s God’s plan; it’s not our timing,” he said. “All I’ve got to do is just throw the ball to the best of my ability and kind of ride the wave. Because in this profession, you’ve got to be like that. If you’re not, you’re not going to last very long.”

To Read: Rockpiles

• Monday: Kyle Karros, Cole Carrigg, and the Power of Friendship | Sam Bradfield
• Tuesday: As Zac Veen and Cole Carrigg show, these aren’t your mother’s Colorado Rockies | Renee Dechert
• Wednesday: Taking stock of the Rockies’ current starting depth | Skyler Timmins
• Thursday: What is fueling the Rockies offensive improvements? | Cory Cohen
• Friday: A look into a new 1B receiving stat and how TJ Rumfield measures up | Joelle Milholm
• Saturday: What Are the Rockies Actually Trying to Build on the Mound? | James Riggenbach

To Read: PuRPs

Full Stream | Jeff Aberle

• Nos. 25-21
• Nos. 20-16
• Nos. 15-11
• Nos. 10-7
• Nos. 6-4

To Read: News

• Roster News: Rockies DFA Michael Lorenzen, recall TJ Shook | Renee Dechert
• Weekly Pebble Report: Jared Thomas lost six months. He never lost his belief. | Eli Whitney
• Roster News: Rockies place Hunter Goodman on the injured list; recall Braxton Fulford | Skyler Timmins
• Roster News: According to reports, Rockies to call up Mark Manfredi | Renee Dechert
• Staff Feature: The Purple Row Mailbag: August 2026 | Skyler Timmins
• Staff Feature: Colorado Rockies 2026 walk-up songs 2.0 | Renee Dechert
• Purple Row After Dark:The Rockies have 50 wins. Let’s celebrate! | Sam Bradfield

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Triple-A: Norfolk vs Nashville (MIL) – PPD

The Tides and Sounds were scheduled to play a doubleheader today, but it never happened. The first game was suspended for rain in the top of the first, and the second was canceled. They’ll try again today with another doubleheader. The first game will pick up where the suspended game left off, with a 3-1 count on the first batter of the game.

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 4, Richmond Flying Squirrels (SFG) 3

The Baysox took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on back-to-back doubles by Fernando Peguero and Wehiwa Aloy. Peguero homered in the fifth inning, so a big day for him. Colin Tuft also homered, his first since being promoted to Double-A 12 days ago. Aloy also walked twice in the game, a good table setter. The red-hot Aron Estrada went 0-for-4.

JT Quinn started and gave up two runs in five innings. He allowed five hits without a walk, one of which was a home run. He only struck out two.

Box Score

High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks (WAS) 1, Frederick Keys 0

Twine Palmer pitched four innings with just one unearned run allowed. Yeremy Cabrera of the Blue Rocks singled, moved to second on a passed ball, to third on a balk, and then stole home. Carson Dorsey followed Palmer with four scoreless innings on four hits.

The Keys were held to just five hits, two from Randal Diaz. Enddy Azocar singled, and Colin Yeaman had a single and a walk.

Box Score

Low-A: Hickory Crawdads (TEX) 7, Delmarva Shorebirds 2

Starting pitcher Brayan Orrantia pitched four good innings and one lousy one. In the fourth, he allowed three runs on a hit-by-pitch, three singles, and a wild pitch. In his other four innings, he allowed one hit, one walk and one HBP. He hit the same guy twice, which just seems mean.

One offense, Miguel Rodríguez singled in Carlos Sanchez in the fourth inning. In the sixth, Hector Campusano walked, went to second on a bad pickoff pitch, and scored on an Adriander Mejía single. Jaiden Lo Re went hitless in the game. Stiven Martinez singled and walked. Both Eric Booth, Jr. and Ty Head had the day off.

Box Score

Today’s Schedule

• Norfolk vs Nashville, 12:05. Game 1 starter: TBD; Game 2: Trace Bright
• Chesapeake vs Richmond, 1:05. Starter: Sebastian Gongora
• Frederick @ Wilmington, 1:05. Starter: Boston Bateman
• Delmarva @ Hickory, 2:00. Starter: Collin McKinney