The Yankees slugger was close to making a return from his current calf injury, when he fell while running the bases and strained his other calf, slowing him down once again.
This current one has been diagnosed as a moderate-grade strain.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said pregame Saturday that Stanton will continue working to try to be available, but he is facing an uphill battle with just 33 games left in the regular season.
"We're not ruling anything out," the skipper said. "He'll continue working to try to get it right and hopefully be available, but obviously we're at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but also you never know."
Stanton was originally placed on the IL in late-April after injuring his right calf running from first to second.
He suffered a setback with that right calf in June which extended his absence, and now has ran into another speed-bump, this time on the left-side, after taking steps forward on the road to recovery.
"Bummed for him," Boone said. "Been working his tail off every single day to try to get this thing right, you all know how bad he wants to be on that field and contributing to a championship, so obviously it's disappointing."
Stanton appeared in just 24 games before suffering the injury, hitting .256 with a .724 OPS over that span.
This is a significant blow for the Yankees' offense, which certainly could've used a nice boost from the five-time All-Star down the stretch in the regular season and into the playoffs.
The Boston Red Sox are priced as a massive -209 moneyline favorite for tonight's matchup with the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
The run line is what stands out to me in my Giants vs. Red Sox predictions, as I expect Boston's red-hot offense to keep thriving.
Who will win Giants vs Red Sox today: Red Sox -1.5 (+105)
The Boston Red Sox send Patrick Sandoval to the mound, and while he has not been great, he may not need to be if the offense keeps raking.
The underlying numbers suggest the left-hander is close to finding his best though, with a 2.88 FIP across his last two outings and zero homers allowed.
The San Francisco Giants have an 88 wRC+ over the last week. Blade Tidwell counters after allowing seven earned runs in his previous two appearances with a 5.14 xERA.
Tidwell has also surrendered 5.40 BB/9, dangerous against a Red Sox lineup carrying a 150 wRC+ and .230 ISO over its last six games.
Boston has the clear edge. Play to -110.
COVERS INTEL: The Giants struggle immensely against left-handers, posting an 83 wRC+ this season. Against righties, that number sits at 102.
Giants vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-126)
The total sits at a modest 7.5, and I’m targeting the Over, mainly because of the Boston offense angle.
Both bullpens are in good form. San Francisco’s relief corps owns a 2.71 FIP over the last week with limited home run damage. The Red Sox pen, meanwhile, has a 3.01 FIP over its last 25 1/3 frames.
That being said, Boston could easily score three or four runs off Tidwell alone, and that does not require the Giants to do much damage. Sandoval is also by no means untouchable, and the Red Sox bullpen has allowed a 43.3% hard-hit rate, so there is still some vulnerability.
Play to -140.
Giants vs Red Sox home run prediction: Willson Contreras (+414)
Willson Contreras has certainly benefited from Fenway’s left-field setup. He owns a .288 ISO at home, has gone deep 16 times in Boston, and has 26 homers overall. Contreras has also left the yard twice in his last five contests while posting a .444 ISO during that span.
What stands out here is his 50% fly-ball rate over the last week. Tidwell has a 39.2% fly-ball rate this season, and at Fenway, Contreras’ lifted contact has a chance to do damage toward the Green Monster.
He also owns a 41.7% hard-hit rate and 16.7% barrel rate over the last seven days.
Play to +400.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 56-65, -17.11 units
Over/Under bets: 68-50, +8.91 units
Giants vs Red Sox weather
Weather at Fenway Park looks cool and damp tonight, with temperatures sitting around 66–67°F throughout the game. Skies turn overcast after first pitch, winds ease from about 9 mph to 5 mph, and rain chances stay modest around 12–21%. Conditions look mostly playable with limited scoring impact.
Giants vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Giants +188 | Red Sox -209
Run line: Giants +1.5 (-121) | Red Sox -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-126) | Under 7.5 (+109)
Giants vs Red Sox trend
The Red Sox have covered the Run Line in 31 of their last 50 games (+17.95 Units / 30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Giants vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Giants starting pitcher
Blade Tidwell (1-1, 4.33 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 4.76 ERA)
Giants vs Red Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
EA Sports has revealed its 10 highest-rated players in NHL 27, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes made the cut.
Hughes received a 95 overall rating and was ranked as the No. 10 player in the game. He is tied at 95 overall with Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar, Macklin Celebrini, David Pastrnak, Zach Werenski and Sidney Crosby.
Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid once again sits atop the ratings with a 99 overall. Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov follow at 97, while Leon Draisaitl received a 96.
Hughes' inclusion gives the Wild one of the game's elite players and one of just three defensemen to crack the overall top 10, joining Makar and Werenski.
The 95 rating also puts Hughes in a tie for the second-highest-rated defenseman in NHL 27, behind only Makar.
Minnesota acquired Hughes to give the organization an elite puck-moving defenseman capable of driving offense from the blue line, and EA Sports clearly views him among the very best players in hockey.
The Wild now boasts one of NHL 27's top-rated players at the top of their defense corps, with Hughes earning the same overall rating as some of the biggest stars in the league.
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The Buffalo Sabres could go a number of different ways as the NHL is in the midst of trade season following the NHL Draft and the opening of free agency on July 1. With the departure of winger Alex Tuch and defenseman Bowen Byram, GM Jarmo Kekalainen is expected to seek out offensive reinforcements to make up for the 44 goals lost by their departures.
We are continuing to look at potential options for the Sabres, now that veteran Patrick Kane has returned with Chicago. Some of the possibilities are not going to match Tuch’s stats, but any additions could provide some relief to the pressure that youngsters Konsta Helenius, Jiri Kulich, or Noah Ostlund will be under to make up the deficit.
Kekalainen ideally is looking for someone who could make up as much of the 60-to-70 point production that he lost with Tuch, or someone who can fill the leadership gap and/or add some snarl and sandpaper to the middle-six, with the trade of Jordan Greenway to Chicago.
Who had the best and worst offseason in the Atlantic Division?
Normally, a player of Boeser’s talent and consistency would not be readily available, but the Vancouver Canucks are on a rebuild path, and their timeline may not be a match with the veteran sniper. The 29-year-old was a 2015 first-rounder of the Canucks and has scored 20 or more goals seven times in his nine-year career, including a career-high 40 goals in 2023-24.
It was expected that Boeser would be heading elsewhere last summer as an unrestricted free agent, but he instead re-upped with the Canucks on a seven-year, $50.75 million deal ($7.25 million AAV), with a no-movement clause in the first four years of the deal. The departure of Quinn Hughes, Conor Garland, and Vancouver finishing at the bottom of the NHL standings has led to the firing of GM Patrik Allvin, head coach Adam Foote, and a complete revamping of the organization.
Boeser has complete control of where he wants to play for another three seasons, but with Vancouver rebuilding, playing for an up-and-coming club like Buffalo would be an interesting proposition. The Sabres would likely be interested in a player younger than Tuch, with six more years of cost certainty at a cap hit very close to what Tage Thompson is making. Kekalainen also possesses the assets that Vancouver is likely looking for, in young prospects like Helenius/Ostlund and Mrtka/Rudolph.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 21: Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott #5 is shown at bat with his custom Victus Sports bat during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals on August 21st, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We asked the question about whether or not you would give Bryson Stott an extension and boy howdy are the results one sided.
Nine out of ten people thought that there should be talks on the horizon with Stott, which is somewhat of a shocking number. There have been a lot of things written about Stott lately with his play having been picked up quite a bit since the All-Star break, putting him among the league leaders in a lot of offensive categories in that time period. His defense has also been a talking point thanks to an early smooth transition to third base in the wake of the Luis Arraez trade. Yet seeing how many people would want an extension is surprising.
But maybe it shouldn’t be.
I’ll have more on this later on next week, but there are a lot of reasons why an extension for Stott makes sense, but the counterarguments are also pretty convincing.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 21: Keibert Ruiz #20 of the Washington Nationals hits a solo homerun in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on August 21, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by JC Ruiz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not a whole lot is going right for the Nats right now. Between injuries and trades, the once fearsome offense is a shell of itself. However, one player who is still producing is catcher Keibert Ruiz. Plenty of players have not been stepping up, but you can’t lay that accusation on Ruiz, who homered last night.
In a season full of surprise contributors, Ruiz might be the most surprising of them all. His 8-year $50 million contract looked like a complete anchor heading into the season. According to fWAR, he had been a below replacement level player each of the last three seasons. In 2023, that was due to his abysmal defense, but in the past two seasons, the bat fell off a cliff as well.
It felt like 2025 was rock bottom for the Nats catcher. He posted -1 WAR and had concussion issues which put his future in question. With the trade for Harry Ford in the offseason, it felt like his time in DC was coming to a merciful end. However, the 28 year old catcher has completely flipped the switch this season on both sides of the ball.
Is Keibert Ruiz one of the best two way catchers in baseball? 😭😭😭😭😭
Like wtf happened to him bro. Been a demon on defense and batting .280
Honestly, the biggest surprise for me has been his defensive improvements. With the help of new catching coach Bobby Wilson, Ruiz has turned into a slightly above average defensive catcher. That may not sound like anything crazy, but given where he was that is a radical turnaround. From 2023 to 2025, he was the worst defensive catcher in baseball.
The framing was poor, his blocking was a disaster and he was not great at controlling the running game. He still has some issues with the running game, but he has taken massive strides in the other two areas. Ruiz has gone from -6 blocking runs last year to a mediocre but acceptable -1 this season. The framing has been the biggest area of improvement though, going from -9 runs last year to +1 this year.
One thing that helps his framing value even more is the fact he has gotten a lot better at ABS challenges. He struggled with the new system early in the season, but he has really picked it up. Ruiz has the 7th most challenge wins in all of baseball and his win percentage is a slightly above average 60%.
Ruiz has also made substantial offensive improvements, which have made him a rock solid catcher. On the season, he has a 107 wRC+, a career high outside of 8 at bats in 2020. He has really leaned into pulling the ball in the air, which leads to his outslugging his pedestrian exit velocities. Ruiz is making contact like always, but he is elevating the ball more often which is leading to more hits.
His plate discipline remains questionable, but even that has come along slightly in the second half. Since the All-Star Break, Ruiz has more walks than strikeouts. His 7 walks in the second half is the same as he had in all of the first half.
There is actually an interesting reason for this. Ruiz is still chasing a lot, but he has found a way to be more selective in 3 ball counts. He may not get there often, but when he does, the Nats catcher is finding a way to turn those into walks.
Who’s been the biggest surprise on the Nats this season? 🤔
In 2026, Keibert Ruiz has been a solid starting catcher. Given where he was last year, this is a minor miracle. He is hitting .279 with a .761 OPS and solid defense. When the Nats acquired Ruiz, that was about what we expected from him. It has taken a long time to get there, but it seems like we have finally arrived.
Ruiz has been outperforming his xwOBA pretty substantially all season, so it is worth looking out for some offensive regression. However, there is some reason to believe he can overperform at least slightly moving forward. His high contact, pull heavy approach tends to lead to more hits than expected. If he can continue pulling the ball in the air over 30% of the time, he should be in decent shape.
For the season, Keibert Ruiz has 1.5 WAR according to Fangraphs and Baseball Reference. That is not star level production by any means, but if he can perform like that for the rest of his contract, that 8-year $50 million deal won’t look so bad after all. There are not a lot of positives for the Nats right now, but Keibert Ruiz is one of them and his turnaround has been so much fun to watch.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 15: Ronel Blanco #56 of the Houston Astros reacts during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on August 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (66-57) won 4-3 (BOX SCORE)
Blanco started for Sugar Land and went 5 innings allowing 2 runs while striking out 5. The offense got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Meyers RBI single. In the 6th, Salazar connected on a 2 run home run to give Sugar Land the lead. VanWey allowed a run in the 8th inning as the Comets tied it. The game went to extra innings and in the 10th, Sugar Land walked it off on a Brooks RBI single.
Ronel Blanco, RHP: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Ryan Weiss, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K (WIN)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (55-63) lost 4-2 (BOX SCORE)
Tredwell started for the Hooks but struggled walking 5 and allowing 2 runs in the first inning. The Hooks picked up 2 runs in the 2nd inning on a Schiavone solo home run and Call RBI single. The pen allowed a couple of runs late and the offense was unable to score again as the Hooks fell 4-2.
A+: Asheville Tourists (41-75) lost 16-12 (BOX SCORE)
Oakes started for Asheville but struggled allowing 8 runs on 12 hits over 3.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the first inning on a Neyens solo home run. The offense got 3 runs in the third on a Powell 2 run single and a run on a wild pitch. In the 6th, Newman added an RBI double. The pen struggled allowing another 8 runs as the Cyclones extended their lead. The offense got 2 in the 7th on a Gomez RBI double and Garcia groundout and 2 in the 8th on a Powell 2 run home run. In the 9th, Asheville scored 3 runs on a Vasquez RBI single and 2 runs on wild pitches but the comeback fell short as Asheville lost 16-12.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (62-53) won 12-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the third inning scoring a run on a Ramirez bases loaded walk. The offense got 2 runs in the 4th inning on a Flores solo home run and Luciano RBI single. In the 5th inning, Ramirez added a 2 run single. The offense continued to score adding 3 runs in the 6th inning on a Piasecki RBI single and Flores 2 run double. Beck started for the Woodpeckers and pitched well striking out 8 over 6 innings allowing just 2 hits. The offense got some insurance in the 8th scoring 3 runs on a Piasecki RBI double and Soto 2 run single. Nowak added another run in the 9th inning on an RBI single. The game was called in the bottom of the 9th due to rain as the Woodpeckers won 12-3.
Note: Beck has 94 K over 80.2 innings this season.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 21: Jose Fernandez #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks slides into home plate to score a run against the Cincinnati Reds during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Snakes Tune Out Distractions, Dominate Reds Eduardo Rodriguez tossed 5.2 shutout innings while the Arizona offense ponded out 15 total hits as the Diamondbacks earned a dominant win over Cincinnati.
Ketel Marte at Talking Stick Casino While Diamondbacks Hosted Reds Marte spent Friday at Salt River Fields as part of his stint on the 10-day IL. Afterward, the star second baseman apparently decided to avail himself of the casino while he was there. During his four hours at the casino, the Diamondbacks hosted and trounced the Cincinnati Reds.
VIDEO: #Dbacks manager Torey Lovullo postgame about Ketel Marte being at casino during the game tonight.
"He's free to do whatever he wants as long as he wakes up tomorrow.. and gets his work done at Salt River (Fields), which I am certain he will, that's all that matters to be… pic.twitter.com/RPjvEDwbaq
Dodgers’ President Quashes Rumblings About Sale of Dodgers Despite Mark Walter’s legal and financial hurdles, the Dodgers are not for sale, something that was being bandied about once Walter sold his share in the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
The Sabres have drafted predominantly right-handed defensemen (Radim Mrtka, Daxon Rudolph, Adam Kleber, Simon-Pier Brunet, Maxim Strbak, Gavin McCarthy, and Vsevolod Komarov) in the last five drafts, with the top half of their NHL blueline all left-handers.
Who had the best and worst offseason in the Atlantic Division?
The club continued that practice at the 2025 NHL Draft, selecting Mrtka ninth overall, and after trading their second-round pick to clear Connor Clifton’s contract and acquire righty Conor Timmins, Buffalo selected another righty in David Bedkowski in the third round.
The 19-year-old played his first two OHL seasons with Oshawa and was traded in his draft year early in the season to the Owen Sound Attack. The 6’5”, 215 lb. defenseman’s skill set is purely physical, as he had only seven points (3 goals, 4 assists) in 35 games, but compiled 73 penalty minutes. Last season, Bedkowski played the first half as team captain of the Attack, but was traded to the Ottawa 67’s. In 68 games between the two clubs, he posted 29 points (5 goals, 24 assists) and 118 penalty minutes.
Elite Prospects Draft Guide said that it would be an understatement to say Bedkowski has a mean streak. “He punishes. He hurts, retaliates, beats down, knocks, and crushes opponents with open-ice hits and bone-rattling contact along the boards.”
That mean streak is something that most of Buffalo’s blueline have been missing for years, but it will be at least a few years before the Toronto native can bring that physicality to the NHL roster. He has one more year before the Sabres have to make a decision on whether to sign him or not, unless he decides like many CHL products to go the NCAA route.
After a bit of a slow start with his new organization, Jefferson Rojas has quickly been showing why he’s the most highly-regarded prospect the Mets acquired at the MLB trade deadline.
Rojas has been swinging an extremely hot bat of late with Binghamton, and that continued again on Friday night.
The youngster struck out his first time up but was able to get the Rumble Ponies on the board in his next AB, clobbering a pitch almost at his shoulders for a monstrous two-run homer.
He did even more damage in the very next inning, driving in his third run of the night with an RBI single the other way in the bottom of the fourth.
Rojas was retired each of his next two times up, but he left rehabbing Mets slugger Mark Vientos impressed with his strong 2-for-5 showing at the plate.
“He’s for real,” Vientos said. “He’s a really good baseball player -- that home run and that single to the opposite-way, you could just see the talent in him, for sure.”
Vientos will be around Rojas and the Ponies for a few more days as he continues his rehab.
As for the 21-year-old infielder, he's now up to three homers, four doubles, 17 RBI, and a .872 OPS over his first 14 games since joining Binghamton.
If he’s able to keep this up, Rojas just might take that next step to Triple-A Syracuse, with his sights set on making his mark with Vientos and the big-league club at some point next season.
Jun 2, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; A view of Yankee Stadium before the match between between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It is a busy day here at Casa Dakers, my wife’s birthday. We are having friends over and someone is expected to barbecue steaks. I don’t think I’ve ever barbecued 20ish steaks all at one time. They will be barbecued medium rare (likely closer to rare) and if anyone wants their steak well done:
It is really just a busy weekend, but we will get through and get back to regular programming very soon.
The best news coming out of yesterday was that Buck Martinez is cancer free. He’s been through a lot, so it is great to hear.
Yesterday there were a couple of roster moves, that you likely already know about:
Brendan Cellucci was optioned to Buffalo.
Josh Smith went on the IL with left hamstring inflammation (with all the players going down in Tampa, we are lucky Smith is the only one going on the IL
Spencer Arrighetti came off the IL, and pitched some yesterday.
Davis Schneider is back.
I’m running around until game time, or likely slightly after game time, so use this as an open thread until the game starts (our game threads are pretty much open threads most of the time.
Vlad is back on the roster and in the lineup. Davis Schneider goes back to Buffalo.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 24: Marco Luciano #60 of the New York Yankees high fives teammates in the dugout in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during the Grapefruit League spring training game at TD Ballpark on February 24, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a long road for Marco Luciano.
The No. 2 overall prospect in the 2018 international class, Luciano was signed by the Giants out of the Dominican Republic for $2.6 million. San Francisco valued the 16-year-old for his 6-foot-3 frame, pop, and athleticism, projecting him as a middle-of-the-order bat with the potential to develop into a sturdy defender at a premium position. After Luciano slashed .302/.417/.564 across 47 games in his first action as a pro, the wider baseball world agreed. He entered Baseball America’s prospect rankings at number 19 in 2020, marking a player with both high upside and — ostensibly — a projectible floor.
Still just 18 in 2020, it would be a few years before the uber-talent made his way to the bigs. He lost some steam as he went but was still a consensus top-50 prospect by the time he debuted with sky-high expectations in 2023.
That’s when the narrative flipped. Luciano hit just .217 with no home runs in 126 plate appearance between 2023-24, failing to translate his power and plate discipline at the MLB level. And he was done no favors by his glove, grading out well below average on defense while splitting time between shortstop and second base.
And so it was that he ended up on waivers after the 2025 season. He was claimed by the Pirates, putting in motion a month-plus of indignity that would have been unthinkable for the former top prospect just a couple of years prior. Pittsburgh cut him after a month to clear up a roster spot. The Orioles picked Luciano up, only to DFA him again a couple of weeks later.
That’s when the Yankees swooped in, adding him off waivers. They DFA’d him themselves a week later, but when none of the other 29 MLB teams had a 40-man spot for Luciano, he was sent down to Double-A Somerset to rebuild his swing. While there was a modicum of buzz around the move, largely due to his former prospect pedigree, Luciano’s signing was more of a move around the margins than a long-term play.
Then something surprising happened. In his first 28 games of the seasons, Luciano hit like a man reborn, batting .327 with 10 homers. It was the kind of dominance he hadn’t demonstrated since Rookie ball seven years earlier. He was quickly promoted to Triple-A where he’s slashed a still-excellent .280/.374/.470 the rest of the way. He’s also passed the eye test as a viable defender at second base after moving to the position full-time.
Marco Luciano looks a lot more fluid at second now. He’s made good progress since the start of the year. Turning double plays, throws, and footwork improvements. pic.twitter.com/FzAPu6JRbm
Is this a case of a Quadruple-A player having a couple of good months? Or is something more at play here? As Eli Ben-Porat over at Baseball America outlined in an excellent primer on Monday, there are some tangible changes that signal the latter. While Luciano never ceased to show prodigious power, he was being too passive at the plate, resulting in poor timing and a lot of swing and miss. By hunting fastballs and not being afraid to swing at borderline pitches, he’s making much more hard contact, leading to a more balanced offensive profile.
The results speak for themselves. Among the 119 second basemen who’ve come to the plate at least 350 times across all levels of the minors, Luciano’s 141 wRC+ leads the pack. In his article, Ben-Porat teases that Luciano could be the Yankees’ second baseman of the future. With Luciano still a couple of weeks from his 25th birthday and Jazz Chisholm Jr. a free agent after the season, it’s a distinct possibility he’ll get an opportunity next spring to earn a job.
But what about this year? Chisholm has been a massive disappointment at the plate but, barring an injury, it’s hard to see him getting displaced at this stage of the season. If the Yankees did need a next man up at the keystone, José Caballero, Max Schuemann, and Amed Rosario are already on the active roster while Anthony Volpe and Oswaldo Cabrera are on the 40-man down at Triple-A. The fact that the Yankees would need to free up a 40-man spot for Luciano makes his promotion unlikely. Still, his is a name to tuck away in the back of your mind. He’s been the best-hitting second baseman in the Yankees’ system this year. Whether this season or next, it behooves the Yankees to give him a look at the big-league level.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 21: Jake Rogers #28 of the Chicago White Sox is greeted at home after hitting a two run walk-off home run against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Rate Field on August 21, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Bartel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets got out to a 4-0 lead in last night’s series opener against the White Sox in Chicago. Alas, they could not hold the lead, as Sean Manaea surrendered back-t0-back-to-back homers to tie the game in the sixth inning, and Jefry Yan subsequently gave up a two-run walk-off homer to Jake Rogers. The Mets thus fell to the White Sox 6-4.
Austin Warren spoke about his fear that his previous injury would require Tommy John surgery.
Carson Benge and Nolan McLean are both in the mix for NL Rookie of the Year, though both are likely behind JJ Wetherholt.
Around the National League East
The Braves, like many teams before them, had no answer for Jacob Misiorowski, and Atlanta fell to the Brewers 2-1.
The Phillies had themselves an extra-inning affair against the Cardinals and won on a two-run walk-off triple from Alec Bohm in the tenth inning.
The Marlins were held scoreless for the first seven innings against the Nationals, but they tied it up in the eighth and then got a walk-off single from Javier Sanoja in the ninth to defeat Washington 3-2.
Trade deadline acquisition Will Dion has been a revelation since joining the Nationals.
Aug 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) walks with head athletic trainer Thomas Albert (left) and manager Dave Roberts (30) after being hit by a pitch in the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers lost their lone productive outfielder for nearly the rest of the regular season, as Andy Pages broke his left hand after getting hit by a pitch during Friday’s win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pages remained in the game for one more inning on defense, but was replaced in center field by Kiké Hernández in the top of the fifth inning.
“Unfortunately it came back as a fracture, so he’ll be out for a while,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Friday night. “It’s not season-ending, because obviously things like that is four to five weeks I would expect him back, knowing him, on the earlier side. … There’s still time in the season for him to be back.”
Pages started the All-Star Game in his third major league season and has been one of the Dodgers’ best players this season, hitting .272/.338/.458 with 21 home runs and a 119 wRC+. Pages also has 18 defensive runs saved and nine outs above average in center field, and leads all major leaguers with 13 outfield assists.
Not that there’s any good time to suffer an injury, but Pages was basically the only Dodgers outfielder producing anything this season. Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández have been barely above replacement level, combining below average offense with bad defense in the corners.
Roberts said Friday night the Dodgers will prioritize defense in replacing Pages, who has started 125 of 129 games in center field this season. Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández have center field experience, but also Edman has been playing second base regularly. Among the options on the 40-man roster, Alek Thomas is the only other true center fielder.
“You’ve got to be mindful of the defense,” Roberts said. “The main thing is locking down center field.”
DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 26: Reverse Retro jerseys of the Colorado Avalanche hang in the locker room prior to the game against the Dallas Stars. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
In the biggest Colorado Avalanche news of the summer, our beloved LG Red is back at Altitude for the upcoming season! Lauren Gardner won’t be exclusive to just Avalanche broadcasts but she is back in Colorado and will be on our TV screens. Welcome home, LG!
The NHL announced they are committing to regular season games in Germany for three years starting with the 2026-27 season as the league continues to increase their global reach.
NHL fans in Germany will be treated to regular-season games in their country for at least the next three seasons following the announcement of the @NHL and @FCBayern's strategic partnership.
There will be a new specialty jersey coming this fall for every team, dubbed the Hometown Remix. Word on the street is that just like their two versions of the Reverse Retro, the Avalanche will have a white sweater in this upcoming collection as well.
Something new is coming to all 32 NHL cities this season. 👀
The countdown is on for the first-of-its-kind Hometown Remix program by the @NHL and @Fanatics. More details to come after the puck drops on the 2026-27 season next month. pic.twitter.com/zX1uBNLNZn
Preseason isn’t just for the Avalanche as the Colorado Eagles are expected to participate in what’s been dubbed the Southwest Showdown. The Tucson Roadrunners will serve as host while the Eagles will play the Texas Stars on September 26th and the Henderson Silver Knights on September 27th. Giddy up!
COVERS INTEL: The Giants struggle immensely against left-handers, posting an 
