MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 17: Martín Pérez #33 of the Atlanta Braves walks to the dugout before the game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on August 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Martin Perez has given this Braves team 121.0 important innings of reasonably well pitched and fortunate innings this season. It was far from a lock that he would make the roster and he was even DFA’d, but those innings have been very important to Atlanta’s current position. He hasn’t pitched like a 3.05 ERA pitcher, running a 4.18 FIP and a 4.25 xFIP, but those innings are banked at a 3.05 ERA rate if runs allowed. It’s valuable to appreciate the value of those innings to this team, highlighted by 5.2 innings of one run ball on six strikeouts Saturday.
The Mets placed Luis Robert Jr. on waivers, continuing the trend of quality players being placed on waivers by out-of-contention teams in hope of salary relief and adding an intriguing option to waivers.
Most teams sell ticket packages that include food and drink, a great way to save money for a family that just wants the basic concessions. Certainly it's more difficult for teams with tickets in higher demand, but taking advantage of deals or even bringing your own food to the stadium is a great way for fans to save money.
According to Bookies.com's fan cost study – which includes four tickets, a parking pass, two beers, two sodas and four hot dogs – the Miami Marlins' LoanDepot Park is the most affordable, with an all-in price tag of less than $160. On the other end, the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers are the most expensive at more than $400.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 29: Brice Turang #2 and Luis Lara #18 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after defeating the Texas Rangers 5-3 at American Family Field on August 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Brewers kept on rolling tonight. Despite facing a pitcher having a strong month, the Brewers put up an early 3-0 lead, built on it and then held on late. The end result was 5-3 win, their fourth straight win. It also secured their fifth straight series win.
Cal Quantrill of the Rangers entered this start with just two runs allowed in August and one run in his last 19 innings. It took just four batters for the Brewers to match that monthly total. The second batter, Jackson Chourio, hit a solo home run out to right-center field, putting the Brewers up 1-0. It was his 20th home run of the season, coming on his cereal bowl night.
Two batters later, it was William Contreras’ turn. His home run went out to left-center, a 409 ft blast into the bleachers that put the Brewers up 2-0.
The offense would tack on another run in the second inning. Christian Yelich led off the inning with a double to center, then stole third. The next batter, Luis Lara, hit a single to center that scored Yelich, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. That gave the Brewers a 3-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Shane Drohan pitched what he needed. He started out well enough, striking out the first two batters he faced. He then hit Wyatt Langford with a pitch and allowed a single to Brandon Nimmo, but struck out Ezequiet Duran to end the early threat.
Two innings later, the Rangers mounted another threat. Cody Freeman was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then Corey Seager singled two batters later to put runners at first and second. With two out, Nimmo came up and hit a ground ball to Brice Turang. It was a little too slow to get the out at first, but Turang saw Freeman attempt to score. He threw to Contreras at home instead, and Freeman was an easy out to end the inning.
The Rangers did get one run off of Drohan, a solo home run by Freeman to lead off the fifth. Drohan was nearing his limit after allowing a single to Justin Foscue, but a double play erased him from the bases. Langford drew a walk to give the Rangers another baserunner, but Nimmo flew out to center to end the inning.
Droahn finished the day with five innings pitched on 99 pitches. Most of those came a long third inning, where he needed over 30 pitches to get through the inning. He allowed six hits, a walk, and hit two batters, but only allowed the one run. He also struck out six in the start.
As for Quantrill. he settled in well after Lara’s single. He did not allow another baserunner in his start, recording fourteen straight outs to finish his day. He finished the day at six innings pitched, allowing three runs on four hits with eight strikeouts.
The Brewers couldn’t score again until Peyton Gray entered from the bullpen. They started the inning with four straight batters reaching base. Contreras led off with a single, then an error by Duran allowed Mitchell to reach. Yelich added a single to load the bases and bring up Lara. He singled sharply to left, scoring Contreras but not deep enough to score Mitchell.
Mitchell didn’t have to wait long to score, as Pratt sent a fly ball into mid-left field for the first out. It wasn’t too deep, but it was enough to get Mitchell home and increase the lead to 5-1. They couldn’t tack on another run from there, but now had a four-run lead.
However, the Rangers weren’t done yet. Chad Patrick entered in relief and started with two clean innings, retiring six batters in order. Seager would break that streak by drawing a walk. Two batters later, Nimmo hit a cutter that was right down the middle into the Rangers’ bullpen, closing the gap to 5-3.
Antonio Senzatela was brought into the game after that, and the Rangers got the tying run to the plate after Duran singled. Senzatela locked it down from there, getting two groundouts to end the inning.
The Brewers had a chance to add on in the eighth against Jakob Junis, after Jake Bauers and Contreras drew back-to-back one out walks. They advanced on a Mitchell groundout, but the Rangers chose to intentionally walk Yelich and face Lara. That worked as Junis struck out Lara to end the inning.
Trevor Megill came in for the save in the ninth. He needed just seven pitches to finish the game, getting two flyouts and a groundout to secure his 25th save and the Brewers fourth straight win.
Three batters — Contreras, Yelich, and Lara — had two-hit days. Lara also led the offense by driving in two of the Brewers’ five runs. Chourio, Contreras, and Pratt added an RBI each as well.
The Brewers have a chance to sweep the Rangers and extend their winning streak to five games before a critical stretch against the NL Central. Dustin May is back after his one-pitch start that ended when he took a hard-hit ball off the back of his right shoulder. He will face Kumar Rocker of the Rangers. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.
Aug 24, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (14) attempts to catch a ball hit by Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young (not pictured during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In 2022, Major League Baseball adopted the universal designated hitter for both the American and National Leagues. This eliminated the need for pitchers to hit, and changed the strategy of lineup construction and late-inning substitutions.
Throughout this 2026 season, there have been numerous occasions where the Rockies had a player who was hot at the plate but a liability on defense. This made me think: What if Major League Baseball adopted a Designated Fielder?
The premise would be that a player would only play the field, and would not bat. Perhaps he could be paired with the designated hitter, but that would mean you would need to fill his spot in the lineup. That could bring back pitchers hitting, or maybe it would mean a second DH.
Would this be something MLB could adopt? How would the logistics work? Who would be a good candidate for a Rockies’ designated fielder?
San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish is considering retirement, according to Padres general manager Craig Stammen.
Darvish is working his way back from ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) surgery he had in late 2025. He had Tommy John surgery in 2015.
Darvish last pitched in October 2025 during a wild-card playoff game against the Chicago Cubs. He has missed the entire 2026 season.
"He's been doing the normal Tommy John rehab — some of it at Petco, some of it not at Petco," Stammen said when talking on 97.3 The Fan earlier this week. "We see him here and there. He's on his own timeline. He still doesn't know if he really wants to come back, wants to retire, what his next role is within the organization. We're kind of letting him have his space and do his thing, and right now he's throwing bullpens.”
He last threw a bullpen session on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
"It's a reason for excitement to see him throwing that way," Stammen said, "but it doesn't really change anything that's happened throughout the year. The ball's in his court, and he'll decide what he wants to do when he wants to do it."
The 40-year-old pitcher has spent 15 years in the major leagues. He has a 115-93 career record with a 33.2 WAR and 2,075 strikeouts in 297 starts. Darvish has two years left on his contract after this season. He is expected to make at least $15 million during each of those years.
DYERSVILLE, IA - AUGUST 11: BJ Murray #9 of the Iowa Cubs hits a 3 run home run in the sixth inning during the MiLB Field of Dreams game between the St. Paul Saints and the Iowa Cubs at MLB Field at Field of Dreams on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Cubs have released shortstop Ed Howard.
Iowa Cubs infielder Hayden Cantrelle has been placed on the Development List.
Iowa right-hander Tyler Santana was activated off the Development List.
Iowa right-hander Andrew Wantz was placed on the temporarily inactive list.
Braxton Garrett started this game and had some trouble with the long ball, as he gave up three solo home runs. The final line on Garrett was five runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked one.
Jayden Murray got the win in relief. Murray pitched 1.2 innings and did not allow a hit or a run. He did walk three including two in the ninth inning, which meant that Eduarnial Nuñez had to come in to get the final out in the ninth. He got a fly out to right field to retire the only batteer he faced and get the save.
For the second game in a row, left fielder BJ Murray led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run. It was Murray’s 16th home run on the year. Murray went 1 for 4.
Shortstop Jackson Cluff hit his first Cubs home run with the bases empty in the fifth inning. It was his seventh overall home run. Cluff was also 1 for 4.
Later in the fifth inning, first baseman Owen Ayers hit a two-run home run. It was Ayers’ third Iowa home run and his 25th overall. Ayers went 1 for 4.
Second baseman Ben Cowles gave the I-Cubs a 7-6 lead in the eighth inning with an RBI double. Cowles went 1 for 3 with a sac fly, giving him two RBI.
Third baseman Owen Miller was 3 for 4 and scored twice.
Brooks Caple started and allowed just one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked two.
Tyler Schlaffer then threw three scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked no one and struck out two,
Vince Reilly got called upon to get the save in the ninth, holding on to a 3-1 lead. Unfortunately, Reilly walked the first two batters he faced and then gave up two singles to get Biloxi to within a run.. The next batter hit a ground ball to first and two runs scored when Knoxville failed to complete a 3-2 double play on a bad throw by first baseman Miguel Useche.
The final line on Reilly was three runs, one earned, on two hits and two walks over a third of an inning.
Useche did provide most of Knoxville’s offense, doubling twice in a 2 for 5 game. Useche had two RBI and one run scored.
Right fielder Alex Ramírez was 2 for 3 with two walks and two steals. He scored twice.
Third baseman Edgar Alvarez was 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Starter Pierce Coppola allowed one run on three hits over 3.2 innings. The one run came on a home run in the fouth inning. Coppola struck out two and walked one.
Noah Edders relieved Coppola, pitched the next 3.2 innings and got the win. Edders was charged with four runs on five hits and one walk. He struck out three.
The Rattlers got back in the game with a three-run eighth inning and Jackson Kirkpatrick was summoned from the pen with the bases loaded and just one out. Kirkpatrick walked the first batter he faced, forcing in a run to make it 7-6, but then got a strikeout and a pop up to end the threat. Kirkpatrick then pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to get the save. The final line on Kirkpatrick was no runs on no hits over 1.2 innings. He walked one and struck out two.
The Cubs jumped out to an early lead when shortstop Angel Cepeda hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning. It was Cepeda’s ninth home run for South Bend and tenth overall. Cepeda went 1 for 4.
Left fielder Jose Escobar went 2 for 5. He scored on Cepeda’s home run and had an RBI single in the seventh inning.
First baseman Josiah Hartshorn was 1 for 2 with three walks. He also scored on the Cepeda home run.
Everyone in the South Bend lineup had at least one hit.
Starter Riely Hunsaker went five innings and allowed three runs on four hits. All three runs scored on two home runs: a two-run home run in the first and a solo shot in the third. Hunsaker struck out six and walked no one.
Sixteenth-round pick Ashton Pocol threw the next 1.1 innings and claimed his first professional win. Pocol surrendered one unearned run on two hits. He walked two and struck out two.
Jordan Henriquez went the rest of the way and got the save. Henriquez allowed one unearned run on two hits over 2.2 innings. He did not have a strikeout nor did he walk anyone.
Myrtle Beach won this game with a four-run seventh inning. Shortstop Alexis Hernandez had a two-run double in the seventh. Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice.
Second baseman Juan Cabada drove in the other two runs in the seventh with a single. Cabada went 2 for 5 and added an important insurance run with an RBI single in the ninth, giving him three on the game.
Center fielder Darlyn De Leon went 2 for 5 and scored one run.
Aug 29, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Andruw Monasterio (32) reacts after striking out against the New York Yankees during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Recap
Opener Alec Gamboa departed in the second inning, yielding to Brayan Bello with a runner on first. The Sox used the same template as the earlier contest today: score early with a solo homer. This time it was Nick Sogard in the top of the third, notching his third hit in his last four at-bats.
Unfortunately, Bello let things get away from him in the third. Three hits, a walk, a hit batsman, a sac fly, stolen base and an error later, the Yankees had plated three (all earned). Bello followed with a nine-pitch fourth inning and a similarly 1-2-3 fifth, making it look easy again, and giving the offense time to chip away at the deficit.
In the sixth, the Sox tried to do just that, starting off with a walk and a HBP and no outs. They forced another pitching change too but then quickly ended the inning, with a sequence that included two K’s in a row. So much for that rally.
The sixth was also rocky for Bello, with two Yankee singles and a double steal. After a sac fly that scored a run, Chad Tracy had seen enough. Raymond Burgos, freshly back in the bigs, got the Sox out of the inning.
Meanwhile, things were real quiet at the dish between Sogard’s third-inning homer and Abreu’s eighth-inning double. That double seemed to light a fire under them, as Willson Contreras followed it with a triple…but he was stranded there.
In the bottom of the eighth, there was an embarrassing defensive moment when a pop fly dropped between Sogard and Abreu. Then another when Burgos didn’t cover first base, allowing the bases to fill because Contreras, who’d fielded the ground ball, had nowhere to throw. Several runs scored on single after single after single [blah blah let’s not dwell on it too much], then the bases loaded for the second time in the inning. The Yankees batted around, sending Bellinger to the plate twice in the eighth. They scored five times in the inning, all on singles, all on Burgos.
On the night, every spot in the batting order scored a run.
Not our night at all. The Yankees evened up the season series again with the split of the doubleheader.
Studs
None tonight. There were flashes from players like Bello, Sogard, and Burgos—and in fact, each of them occupied a place on this list…until they didn’t.
Duds
Brayan Bello
While he alternated chaos with masterful 1-2-3 innings, the Dr. Jekyll in him won out today. He was lifted after 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1K.
Raymond Burgos
Grateful to him for serving as a sacrificial lamb and saving the rest of the bullpen, but his 5 ER were worse than Bello’s four. Sigh. 2.1 IP, 7H, 5 ER, 2K.
Offense
They spent themselves in the ninth inning of Game 1 and apparently lost the momentum. The Yankees demonstrated how chipping away with singles can accomplish a lot, but the Sox were sleeping in class.
Play of the Game
Gosh, I don’t know if there really was a POTG tonight. Certainly there wasn’t much to choose from for the Sox tonight, so let’s give it to Nick Sogard’s homer to get them on the board.
Aug 29, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried (54) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In the opening game of today’s doubleheader, the Yankees just didn’t show up. They were shut out, while the pitching and defense had some shaky moments, leading to a less-than-stellar loss. However with another game to play, they had a chance to quickly bounce back, and — credit to them — the Yankees did that.
In his first start back off the injured list, Max Fried went just over 60 pitches, which ended up being 3.2 innings. He gave up one run on three hits and a walk, while striking out four. It was a perfectly good outing for someone going for the first time in a couple weeks.
However, the story in this one was more about the Yankees’ offense actually putting in a good shift. In total, they ended up recording 13 hits, all of which were just singles. The difference was that they managed to actually string them together, allowing them to score nine runs for the game (five in the eighth to break it open). Nine runs ended up being plenty, as they rebounded to split the doubleheader and pick up a 9-2 win over the Red Sox.
Despite the win, early on, it seemed like this game might follow a similar path to the first one. Immediately after the Yankees failed to cash in with runners in scoring position in the second, the Red Sox scored. Nick Sogard did the honors, leading off the third with an opposite-field homer off Fried.
However, the Yankees then immediately struck back, scoring more runs in the bottom of the third than they had in their last couple games. José Caballero led off the inning with a single, and Trent Grisham followed with a walk. Ben Rice then popped in a single to get the Yankees on the board.
After Heliot Ramos was hit by a pitch, a couple productive outs gave the Yankees the lead. A Luis García Jr. grounder left the Red Sox only with a force out at second, bringing home one run. Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a sacrifice fly in the following at-bat, plating another run.
George Lombard Jr. flew out in the next at-bat to end the inning, but also ended his own day. Lombard did not come back out for the following inning, with Caballero shifting over to shortstop and Amed Rosario coming into the game. The reason was revealed to be “right knee discomfort,” seemingly from a check swing in his first at-bat. He’s set to undergo testing; the initial prognosis is that it’s a day-to-day injury.
George Lombard Jr. underwent imaging. Aaron Boone said they are still waiting to make sure, but “it looks like a day to day situation.”
After walking the leadoff hitter in the fourth, Fried got the next two outs. With Fried sitting at 63 pitches in his first start back off the injured list, Aaron Boone then came out to get him and go to the bullpen. Yerry De los Santos came in and got a strikeout to end the frame.
The offense picked up another run in the sixth. García and Rosario both recorded singles and then later combined for a double steal to get to second and third respectively. That steal put García in position to score on a Spencer Jones sacrifice fly, which came on the 10th pitch of an impressive at-bat from the youngster.
Having relieved Fried mid-inning, De los Santos got another couple outs before handing things over to Michael Fulmer. He got one out, but worked himself into some trouble, which Paul Blackburn did well to escape. Tim Hill put in a scoreless frame as well.
Brent Headrick was brought in for the eighth, but he ran into some trouble. After getting the first out, Headrick allowed a double to Wilyer Abreu and then an RBI triple to Willson Contreras that got deep into the right field corner. He got the next two outs though, stranding Contreras, and keeping the damage to just one run.
The Yankees got that run back and several more as insurance in the bottom of the eighth, though. They got some help as a high, catchable Cody Bellinger popup fell in between a couple Red Sox in shallow right field. A García then gave the Yankees runners at the corners, and a Rosario single brought home a run. Following another defensive miscue — this one on Contreras at first — loaded the bases, an Austin Wells jam shot then also managed to bloop in for a hit. That score another two runs. Another couple hits led to Ben Rice singling to plate two more runs as the Bombers batted around for the inning.
That inning also allowed the Yankees to turn to call-up Brendan Beck for the ninth. He threw an easy 1-2-3 frame to seal the victory.
The Yankees will wrap up their series with Boston and the homestand tomorrow at 1:35 PM ET. Will Warren and Ranger Suarez are expected to get the start in that one. This game will have an extra layer of meaning baked in, as it will decide who wins the season series. That will be the tiebreaker should the two teams end up all even at the end of the regular season.
The Yankees finally put some runs on the board after a quiet stretch, beating the Red Sox, 9-2, in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader.
All 13 of New York's hits were singles, including seven singles in a five-run eighth inning, and nine different players scored a run.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Making his first start since Aug. 13 due to a left elbow bone bruise, Max Fried was solid in a short return outing. He allowed one earned run on a solo HR over 3.2 IP, striking out four and walking one.
Fried retired the first six Red Sox, including two strikeouts, but let up a leadoff home run to Nick Sogard in the top of the third inning that gave Boston a 1-0 lead. He let up two more hits in the frame, but avoided damage by getting a forceout and pop up. The left-hander walked the leadoff man in the fourth inning and then struck out back-to-back Red Sox, but that would be it for him after 63 pitches.
-- New York had an opportunity to get on the board in the second inning with runners on the corners and just one out, but Spencer Jones hit a tapper back to the pitcher who threw home to get Luis García Jr. for the second out. Austin Wells then popped out to short to end the inning, leaving two on base.
The Yanks made up for the missed scoring chance in the third inning, as Ben Rice drove in José Caballero with a single to shallow right field that tied the game at 1-1. New York kept the pressure on against Brayan Bello, loading the bases with no outs. They tacked on two more runs thanks to García and Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a forceout and sacrifice fly, respectively, to take a 3-1 lead.
-- Yerry De los Santos struck out Sogard to end the fourth and recorded two outs in the fifth inning before Michael Fulmer came in to get the third out. Fulmer ran into trouble in the sixth, hitting a batter and walking another, as Paul Blackburn was tasked to escape the jam. The veteran came through in the clutch, striking out two straight and getting a flyout to keep the Yanks ahead.
-- Garcíaand Rosario both singled in the sixth and then pulled off a double steal to get into scoring position. Jones stepped up and won a 10-pitch at-bat against Bello with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4-1. That knocked the former starter out of the game having reached 94 pitches over 4.1 IP.
--Boston's bats made things more interesting in the top of the eighth inning against Brent Headrick as Wilyer Abreu doubled and Willson Contreras cut the Yanks' lead to 4-2 with a triple. Luckily, the lefty got out of it with a strikeout and groundout.
The Yanks got the run back in the bottom half of the eighth thanks to Rosario's deep single off the wall in right field scored Cody Bellinger to make it 5-2. After Jones singled to load the bases, Austin Wells extended the lead to 7-2 with a bloop single down the left field line and Rice added two more with another single, making it 9-2.
Game MVP: Ben Rice
Rice went 2-for-5 with three RBI, giving him 86 total RBI on the year.
What's next
The Yanks and Red Sox wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon at 1:35 p.m.
Will Warren (8-6, 4.39 ERA) will take the mound against LHP Ranger Suarez (5-3, 3.35 ERA).
WHITE PLAINS, NY - APRIL 3: A general view of the arena before the game between the Maine Celtics and the Westchester Knicks during the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2025 G League Playoffs on April 3, 2025 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Bummed out by the ticket prices at Madison Square Garden? Head over to the Westchester County Center in White Plains, where the jerseys look familiar and the seats are much more budget-friendly!
The Westchester Knicks released their complete 2026–27 schedule Friday. They open with two road games against the Maine Celtics on November 6 and November 8 before returning to their home gym to face the reigning G League champion Greensboro Swarm on November 14.
The G League season begins with a 14-game Tip-Off Tournament, with regional pods of teams playing one another. That leads into the Winter Showcase, held December 19–22 in Orlando, followed by a 36-game regular season in which every team’s record resets. Regular-season play begins around December 27.
You might be wondering whether G League games are as exciting as the big-league tilts. To which I counter: You would have had fun watching Tyler Kolek do this last season.
Here are a few games we’ll be zeroed in on during the 2026–27 campaign.
November 6 and 8 at Maine: Westchester immediately gets two games against Boston’s affiliate. The opening weekend should offer our first meaningful look at the Knicks’ developmental pecking order.
November 14 vs. Greensboro: The home opener gives us our first chance to see this roster in the flesh locally, while the Swarm arrive fresh off the first championship in franchise history.
Four early games against Long Island: Westchester faces Brooklyn’s affiliate twice during the Tip-Off Tournament and twice immediately after the regular-season reset. Four early games against the same opponent should provide a useful measuring stick, no?
January 18 and 20 vs. Cleveland: The Cavaliers’ affiliate comes to town for consecutive games, providing another useful glimpse at how Westchester compares with one of the Eastern Conference’s stronger developmental pipelines.
Three 11 a.m. School Day games: The annual chorus of several thousand children returns Wednesday, January 27; Tuesday, February 9; and Thursday, March 11. Bring earplugs.
The eventual assignments of Tyler Nickel, selected 47th in this summer’s NBA Draft, and New York’s other prospects will determine how closely we follow each date. Either way, I hope to see you at a few games this season. Go W-Knicks.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 29: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers tags out Cody Freeman #39 of the Texas Rangers at home plate in the third inning at American Family Field on August 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers scored three runs but the Milwaukee Brewers scored five runs.
Remember last night’s game? Well tonight’s game was pretty much the same game except everyone watched it on FOX instead of no one watching it on BZZR.
Just like last night the Rangers trailed 2-0 after an inning, made no headway with producing run-scoring rallies, hit a solo home run to briefly give the illusion of competitiveness, and then saw a leaky bullpen erase all doubts in the late innings.
The main differences tonight is the Rangers actually had more than two baserunners (out-hitting the Brewers 8 to 7) and showed more fight in the late innings with Brandon Nimmo bringing Texas to within a couple of runs with a two-run home run in the eighth.
Unfortunately also like last night, the Rangers lost. They have now lost four in a row and are four games under .500 for the first time since they were 38-42 back on June 24.
Player of the Game: Quantrill allowed three runs over six inning with just four hits and zero walks with eight strikeouts. That’s a quality start and one I think you take any chance you can get against a team of Milwaukee’s caliber.
But Quantrill should have known better than to allow three early runs when he’s on a team with a lineup that is prone to turtling up when faced with any challenge. Therefore I nominate Nimmo, who went 3-for-4 with the two-run dong.
Up Next: The Rangers take another crack at the Brewers with RHP Kumar Rocker expected on the mound for Texas opposite RHP Dustin May for Milwaukee.
The Sunday afternoon first pitch from American Family Field is scheduled for 1:10 pm CDT and will be back on the Rangers Sports Network.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 19: Yunior Marte #41 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well, they lost the first one. But they’re back to try it again! The San Francisco Giants are hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second game of a doubleheader, and are hoping to split the four-game series.
It’s an exciting pitching situation for the Giants, as right-hander Yunior Marte takes the mound for his MLB debut. Marte — not to be confused with the reliever of the same name, who pitched for San Francisco in 2022 — is a young prospect whom the Giants acquired a year ago in the Mike Yastrzemski trade. He is, shockingly, following in Jonah Cox’s footsteps as the second player the Giants have called up directly from AA this year … after going nearly a decade without making such a move.
Marte, who turned 23 earlier this month, has a strong fastball/slider combo, with a splitter as well. He’s fastball reliant, and sits mid-90s, while occasionally touching high-90s. He does a good job limiting walks, despite a slightly herky-jerky motion that isn’t always conducive to consistent strike-throwing. In 13 starts with AA Richmond this year, Marte posted a 3.92 ERA and a 3.97 FIP, with 72 strikeouts and 22 walks in 64.1 innings. He started the year with High-A Eugene, where he had a 3.74 ERA and a 4.11 FIP in nine games, with 41 strikeouts and 19 walks in 43.1 innings. He was not on the 40-man roster (though he would have been a Rule 5 decision this winter), so the Giants made a spot for him by moving Casey Schmitt to the 60-Day IL. The Giants made space on the active roster by optioning lefty Seth Lonsway, who made his MLB debut in the first game of the doubleheader.
For Arizona, it’s lefty Mitch Bratt, who is also a 23-year old lefty. Bratt, who was a fifth-round pick in 2021, has made nine appearances in his debut season, and is 1-2 with a 4.54 ERA, a 5.28 FIP, and 28 strikeouts against 25 walks in 39.2 innings. After a pair of great starts to open the month, Bratt has given up three runs in three innings in each of his last two games.
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto, activated from the 10-day injured list before the game, had the go-ahead RBI single a pitch after fouling a ball off his right leg Saturday, leading the New York Mets to a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros.
Soto was tended to by manager Andy Green and a trainer before his hit off Cristian Javier (1-5) capped a seven-pitch battle and sparked a three-run fifth for the Mets, who halted a three-game skid.
Soto returned to the last-place Mets after missing 31 games with a grade 2 strain of his left calf. It was the second IL stint of the season for Soto.
Jared Young added a two-run triple later in the fifth and finished with three hits and a career-high three RBIs. Francisco Alvarez hit a two-run double in the eighth,
Nolan McLean (10-8) surrendered an unearned run and struck out four over seven innings. He is 8-4 with a 2.19 ERA over his last 16 starts.
McLean allowed just two hits, including Jeremy Peña’s double on his first pitch of the game. Peña took third on an error by left fielder Brett Baty and scored on a sacrifice fly by AL Triple Crown candidate Yordan Alvarez.
Peña’s hit was just the second McLean has surrendered to a leadoff batter in his 35 big league starts.
Alvarez hit his AL-leading 38th homer off Daniel Duarte in the eighth.
Astros opener Bennett Sousa allowed one run while recording two outs. Javier was charged with three runs and struck out four in 4 1/3 innings.
Up next
Astros RHP Ethan Pecko (0-0, 7.88 ERA) starts Sunday’s series finale against Mets LHP Zac Thornton (3-4, 2.88 ERA).
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 28: Colton Cowser #17 of the Baltimore Orioles gestures after hitting a double during the top of the sixth inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on August 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Saturday, folks! Hope you’re having a nice weekend. If you decide to spend it watching late-night West Coast baseball, I hope the Orioles grace you with a series win tonight. They snatched a win in Game One last night with a 4-3 victory in ten innings. Although Brandon Young pitched a strong seven innings, the bullpen couldn’t hold onto a meager 2-0 lead, and it took extras to sort things out: two clutch base hits by Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand gave the birds the winning margin of victory.
Let’s hope the Orioles make Game Two worth staying up for. Tonight, taking the mound at Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park for the Athletics is Jack Perkins, a 26-year-old righty who debuted for the A’s in 2025, and has been used mostly as a swingman. In 11 starts and 20 relief appearances in 2026, he has an ugly 6.68 ERA, although it seems he’s been the victim of bad defense, to judge by his FIP (4.79) and xERA (3.96). He’s still been much more effective as a reliever, going by his ERA splits (4.76 ERA in relief/8.17 ERA as a starter). His best pitch is the sweeper, which generates a 36.1% whiff rate, followed by a decent changeup and cutter. The soft spot in Perkins’ arsenal is his mid-90s four-seamer: it’s been his most hittable pitch by far (.318 average, .664 slugging against, Run Value -14), and he still throws it nearly a third of the time. Perkins is also prone to the long ball (1.69 HR/9) and to putting runners on via the walk (3.79 BB/9) or hit-by-pitch (9 on the year).
As for the O’s starter, I don’t know if it’s crazy or reasonable to hope for a win, given that it’s unlucky Shane Baz who takes his turn on the mound tonight. Despite the fact that Baz (4.04 ERA, 3.34 FIP) has allowed three or fewer runs in 19 of his 26 starts, he doesn’t have a win in his last twelve starts (which is incredible to process). And he’s been pretty good! He had a 3.68 ERA in June, a 3.00 one in July, and August, while slightly worse, shows him at a 4.30 mark. Poor Baz. Can the schneid please end tonight?
Tonight’s lineup features a surplus of lefties. Jackson Holliday back in the leadoff spot, and Henderson, hopefully rested after his day off, hitting third. Dylan Beavers, hot lately, is back in, and so is Cowser playing center field. The newly activated Blaze Alexander is sitting today. However, Coby Mayo, slayer of lefties, is getting a start against the right-handed Perkins anyway, hitting seventh. And Pete Alonso, lately called our team’s “iron man,” is still out there, hitting, even with a sore calf.
Last night saw these Orioles snatch a game back from Cleveland’s lead to put them just two games back of the third and final Wild Card spot. Earlier today, the lowly Royals did the Orioles a huge favor, pummeling the Guardians 8-3, which gives the team chance to make up yet another game! The next four games against the A’s and the Rockies, whom the O’s visit next, represent a best chance to make score some easy wins in the wild card race, if such a thing is even possible.
Orioles lineup:
Jackson Holliday 2B Pete Alonso DH Gunnar Henderson SS Christian Encarnacion-Strand 3B Samuel Basallo C Dylan Beavers LF Coby Mayo 1B Colton Cowser CF Leody Taveras RF
RHP Shane Baz
Athletics lineup:
Henry Bolte CF Jeff McNeil 1B Zack Gelof 2B Lawrence Butler RF Tommy White 3B Donovan Walton SS Max Muncy DH Carlos Cortes LF Jonah Heim C
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yandy Diaz knocked in three runs with a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning and Chandler Simpson followed with a tiebreaking RBI hit as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat San Diego 7-6 on Saturday in a game in which Padres second baseman Luis Rengifo was carted off with a right knee sprain.
Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda homered as the Rays won their third straight and for the fifth time in six games.
Kevin Kelly (6-3) earned the win with 1 2/3 innings in relief. Bryan Baker recorded his league-leading 39th save by working a scoreless ninth. Starter Nick Martinez allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out four in six innings.
Bradgley Rodriguez (3-3) took the loss after failing to record an out while facing four batters in the seventh. Walker Buehler allowed seven hits and three runs while striking out three in five innings. Ty France hit a two-run home run for San Diego.
The Rays scored four times in the seventh inning. Diaz hit a bases-loaded single off the base of the wall in center. On the play, Rengifo was injured after taking a relay throw and while trying to cut down Cedric Mullins at the plate in a run down. When his throw sailed wide, Rengifo fell to the ground and two additional runners scored, tying the game at 6.
Rengifo needed assistance to stand and was carted off the field. The Padres said after the game that Rengifo would return to San Diego for further evaluation.
Simpson then delivered a two-out, run-scoring single to left that plated Diaz four batters later.
The Padres took a three-run lead in the top of the seventh on Manny Machado’s two-run single with the bases loaded. San Diego then executed a delayed double-steal allowing Fernando Tatis, Jr., to score from third.
Aranda hit a 453-foot home run to center field in the third. Caminero ended a 15-game homer drought with a solo shot in the sixth.
Up next
Padres LHP Robbie Ray (11-7, 3.21 ERA) faces Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (14-5, 2.95) in the series finale on Sunday.
