The Atlanta Braves have scored two runs or fewer in four of their last five games, and now they're tasked with facing Logan Henderson and the Milwaukee Brewers (-170).
My Braves vs. Brewers predictions and MLB picks expect Atlanta's offensive struggles to continue, setting the stage for Milwaukee to claim another low-scoring victory on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Who will win Braves vs Brewers today: Brewers moneyline (-175)
The Atlanta Braves are reeling offensively. They sit 28th in on base percentage against right-handed pitching in August, and it’s not going to get any easier for them facing Logan Henderson.
He has been exceptional, pitching to a 2.70 ERA, 2.90 SIERA, and striking out over 31% of opposing batters.
The Milwaukee Brewers are more likely to hold their own at the plate. Regression started to come for Martin Perez last time out, and his season numbers (3.15 ERA, 4.64 SIERA) indicate tougher times are still ahead.
Back the in-form offense against the weaker pitcher. Brewers to -180.
Braves vs Brewers Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-105)
Six different Braves own xwOBAs of .300 or worse against Henderson’s pitch mix over the last 30 games.
There are a lot of black holes in their offense right now, and that is going to make it tough to score more than a couple of runs off Henderson.
Perez is an elite home run suppressor, on pace to give up fewer than one HR/9 for the second consecutive year.
His ability to limit raw power — even when not at his best — should help keep the Brewers to a manageable number.
Take the Under to -112.
Braves vs Brewers home run prediction: Jackson Chourio (+425)
Jackson Chourio has a strong profile against left-handed pitching. He owns a .305 average, .891 OPS, and his batted ball numbers are very good.
Chourio sits in the 82nd percentile in xSLG, as well as the 88th percentile in both hard-hit rate and barrels. He is consistently making powerful contact.
His exit velocity and hard-hit rate are trending up over the last 25 at-bats, and he's taken Perez yard in one of eight career at-bats against him.
I’d play Chourio to +415.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 86-78, -10.20 units
Over/Under bets: 85-73-6, +1.22 units
Braves vs Brewers weather
This game will be played in a dome.
Braves vs Brewers odds
Moneyline: Braves +145 | Brewers -170
Run line: Braves +1.5 (-140) | Brewers -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-115) | Under 7.5 (-105)
Braves vs Brewers trend
Milwaukee has hit the moneyline in 35 of their last 50 home games (+11.55 units, 14% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Brewers.
How to watch Braves vs Brewers and game info
Location
American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI
Date
Saturday, August 22, 2026
First pitch
2:10 p.m. ET
TV
MLB Network
Braves starting pitcher
Bryce Elder (8-7, 3.92 ERA)
Brewers starting pitcher
Logan Henderson (7-2, 2.70 ERA)
Braves vs Brewers 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.
CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 18: Jo Adell #7 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a home run in the first inning during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Sean Finucane/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Guardians had a great series-opening win against the Rockies.
Jake covered it for us here in a very fun recap. Stephen Vogt talked a lot about Kwan and Bazzana not trying to do too much and taking the ball where it was pitched. I know folks are concerned the team is overemphasizing pull-lift. Vogt never sounds like a guy who believes every pitch should be pulled and lifted, for what it’s worth.
Since I questioned if trading for Patrick Bailey was a mistake, he has been Barry Bonds. So… we should bench Rocchio, guys. He’s terrible.
Around MLB
The White Sox, Orioles, Astros and Rangers won, Tigers, Blue Jays and Twins lost. The Guardians are currently one game behind the Rangers for the third wildcard, and 4.5 behind the White Sox in the division. The Rangers are one game behind the Astros in the West.
It’s Dylan Cease bump day, so you know we have to back Toronto in our Blue Jays vs. Yankees predictions.
The Toronto Blue Jays visit the New York Yankees for Game 2 of their three-game series this afternoon at Yankee Stadium as slight -105 underdogs at BET99. They’ve shrunk their path to the Wild Card to just 1.5 games, and are looking for an eighth straight series win.
Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Saturday, Aug. 22, and win another best bet.
Blue Jays vs Yankees predictions
Blue Jays vs Yankees best bet: Blue Jays moneyline (-105)
Dylan Cease is likely going to win the AL Cy Young odds race for a reason — he’s pretty good at throwing baseballs. He’s especially good at throwing baseballs against the New York Yankees.
Across 126 plate appearances, New York owns just a .306 xwOBA, .232 xBA, and is striking out at a 28% clip.
Look for them to take Game 2 of the series with Cease on the mound.
COVERS INTEL: Who's hotter than Alejandro Kirk right now? He just moved his hitting streak to nine games yesterday, and is 3-for-5 with a .330 xBA against Weathers.
Blue Jays vs Yankees same-game parlay (SGP)
We’re riding Cease to go deep and record nine strikeouts after punching this lineup out at a 28% rate.
Charles McAdoo has also done his job since getting called up, and we’re taking a chance on him after going 2-for-3 in his initial meeting with Weathers. Let’s cash our third SGP this week.
Blue Jays vs Yankees SGP
Charles McAdoo 2+ H/R/RBI
Blue Jays moneyline
Dylan Cease 8+ Ks
Alberta: Sports betting is now live!
Regulated Alberta sports betting has officially launched, allowing sportsbooks to operate under provincial oversight.
You can sign up and join BET99 — one of the best Alberta betting apps — now to get in on the Blue Jays action!
Sign Up Now atimg src="https://img.covers.com/betting/sportsbooks/82/bet99.svg" alt="BET99" width="100" height="28" style="vertical-align: middle;"
Blue Jays vs Yankees home run pick: George Springer (+575)
Let’s ride with the veteran George Springer here, who has two homers under his belt against Weathers in just eight at-bats.
At this price, you have to take a chance on him at one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the bigs.
2026 Transparency Record
Best bets: 5-5, +2.36 units
SGPs:2-8, -0.7 units
HR picks: 0-10, -2.3 units
Blue Jays vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Toronto (-105) | New York (-115)
Run line: Toronto -1.5 (+170) | New York +1.5 (-210)
Over/Under: Over 7 (+100) | Under 7 (-120)
Blue Jays vs Yankees trend
The Blue Jays are 5-0 in Cease's last five starts as a road underdogs. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Yankees.
How to watch Blue Jays vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Saturday, August 22, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
YES, SportsNet
Blue Jays starting pitcher
Dylan Cease (7-5, 2.42 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Ryan Weathers (5-7, 3.56 ERA)
Blue Jays vs Yankees latest injuries
Blue Jays vs Yankees weather
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.
It's another busy day in the Majors, and my MLB player props analysis is eyeing value both on the mound and at the dish.
I'll start things off with Dylan Cease, followed by Casey Mize and Jordan Walker.
Read more in my MLB picks for Saturday, August 22.
Best MLB player props today
Player
Pick
Odds
Dylan Cease
Under 1.5 earned runs
+102
Casey Mize
Under 2.5 earned runs
-151
Jordan Walker
Over 1.5 total bases
+104
Dylan Cease Under 1.5 earned runs (+102)
The Toronto Blue Jays send their ace Dylan Cease to the hill today against the New York Yankees. While Cease has been a little bit more vulnerable lately, he still owns a stellar 1.81 xERA over the last month.
The right-hander has cashed the Under in earned runs allowed in three of his previous five appearances, and he'll face a Yankees lineup with a poor 78 wRC+ across their last six contests.
On top of that, Cease has dominated this lineup. Across a large sample size of 95 at-bats, New York is only hitting .168 against him.
I'll play this pick down to -120.
Time: 1:35 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet, YES
Casey Mize Under 2.5 earned runs (-151)
Casey Mize gets the ball tonight against the Minnesota Twins. The San Diego Padres right-hander has allowed Under 2.5 earned runs in two straight starts with his new team, and he has a 3.42 FIP during that span.
Mize rarely gives up a lot of runs. In fact, he's held opponents to two earned runs or fewer in four of his previous five outings. The veteran faces a Twins lineup that isn't in the greatest form, collecting a 91 wRC+ in the last week.
Mize will keep Minnesota at bay here.
Play this pick up to -160.
Time: 8:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Twins.TV, Padres.TV
Jordan Walker Over 1.5 total bases (+104)
Jordan Walker is one of the hottest hitters in baseball right now. He has smacked four homers in his last eight games and posted a ridiculous .471 ISO.
The St. Louis Cardinals slugger has cashed the Over in total bases in five of his last six games, and he finished with three hits in Friday's loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Walker will face the vulnerable Andrew Painter tonight, who sports a 6.08 FIP over his previous two appearances.
Walker also has a 55.6% hard-hit rate and 22.2% barrel rate over the last week. He'll keep it rolling.
Play this pick down to -110.
Time: 6:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, Cardinals.TV
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 9-3, +6.02
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.
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Aug 9, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez (61) on the bench against the Toronto Blue Jays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Phillies are blessed to have three ace-type pitchers atop their starting rotation. Having Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and Zack Wheeler should make everyone feel a little better about their playoff chances, so long as they a) get there, and b) hit.
Focusing in more on Luzardo and Sanchez, they each possess a pitcher that is considered among the game’s elite, Luzardo and his sweeper, Sanchez and his changeup. Which one is better?
By Statcast, Luzardo has the best sweeper in the game among qualified pitchers, a +19 run value on the pitch. Sanchez ranks second among those that have thrown a qualified changeup, coming in with a +12 on his particular pitch. Head over to Fangraphs, by Stuff+, Sanchez’s 123 is second for changeups. They do not rank sweepers there, instead calling Luzardo’s a sweeper and that Stuff+ comes in at 122, seventh in the game. So, there’s some disagreement there about which is better.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 20: Didier Fuentes #72 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates ending the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on August 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He has a point. I’ve been referring to him as Didi but I’m saying Dee Dee, the Spanish pronunciation. It used to be Bobby Cox’s deal to call the player’s name and tack on a -y. Maybe we can do better. His play deserves, nay demands a proper nickname. After all, watch this in case you were at work on Thursday.
Fuentes came into the game after Grant Holmes was allowed to start the seventh inning. He arrives with two on and no out. He steals the soul of Braden Montgomery, and then brushed off Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth. The bullpen was a monster Thursday, that’s for sure. Just look at this slider.
Very solid. Not earth-shattering, but very good. But pair it with this split fingered fastball.
My. Word. This is not even a strike. It is so good Braden didn’t bother with a challenge. But it looked so similar to the slider in the first pitch of the at-bat. He wasn’t going to be fooled again, only he was fooled in an entirely different way. Take these and add a four seam fastball that can touch 100, and the Braves have something very special.
So does Didier Fuentes need a nickname? Honestly, I don’t think we can legally allow a reliever like this to operate without one. What’s “Destroyer of Souls” in Spanish? Google says Fuentes translates to “sources” or “fountain”. Come thou Fount of Every Fastball? Help me out here.
SEATTLE — To begin this recap of Friday night’s 6-5 Cubs 10-inning loss to the Mariners, I thought it would be appropriate to give you this fact from BCB’s JohnW53, because this is the primary reason the Cubs lost this game:
The Cubs’ 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position was their worst with one hit this season. They were 1 for 15 in a 4-3 loss to the Pirates at home on April 11. They were 0 for 13 in a 6-0 loss at Texas on May 9.
One for sixteen. Eleven runners left on base. The Cubs had 12 hits and smacked four home runs. You’d think that would produce more than five runs.
It did not, and this game wound up in the “L” column.
As you can see, that ball just barely made it over the right-field wall, and on the ninth pitch of the at-bat. More from John:
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s homer was his second leading off a game on the road and the Cubs’ 117th since 1910, first year for which baseball-reference.com has searchable play-level data.
Alfonso Soriano did it 12 times as a Cub; Dexter Fowler, seven; Ian Happ, Brian McRae and Rick Monday, five. Soriano hit 20 as the first Cub to bat in a game (eight at home).
PCA now has done that five times, tying for sixth most with Michael Busch, Eddie Miksis, Karl “Tuffy” Rhodes, Kyle Schwarber and Eric Young Sr. McRae had seven; Happ, eight, Fowler, 11; and Monday, 12.
It was also PCA’s seventh leadoff home run of the season. The Cubs’ franchise record for such things is 12, set by Alfonso Soriano in 2007.
So the game is four batters old and the Cubs lead 3-0. This is good!
After the first four Mariners were retired by Matthew Boyd, things turned not good. Josh Naylor singled and Taylor Ward walked.
That brought up Cal Raleigh, who after hitting 60 home runs in 2025 is suffering through an injury-plagued, awful year in which he entered this game batting just .156 and over his last 14 games was 4-for-38 with 14 strikeouts.
No matter. Look where Boyd left his first pitch to Raleigh:
Well. That’s what you call a mistake pitch, all right, and even a MLB hitter in a horrid slump will hit that a long way, and Raleigh did, for a three-run homer tying the game.
The Mariners were not done in that inning, either. Cole Young singled and when Brock Rodden flied to left, moved up to second. That’s not something you see too often, that kind of tag-up, and it paid off for the Mariners when Brendan Donovan singled him in to give Seattle a 4-3 lead.
That’s where the game stayed until the bottom of the fifth, despite the Cubs having RISP in the third, fourth and fifth innings, and in each of those innings that situation happened with fewer than two out. They couldn’t score in any of them, and Seattle extended their lead when Nico Hoerner allowed Rodden to reach on a throwing error leading off the fifth. He was balked to second by Boyd, and that call got Craig Counsell tossed [VIDEO].
As you can see in the clip, Boyd asked plate umpire Brennan Miller for an explanation of the balk, which was not only his first of the year, but first in his two years as a Cub, and only the third called on a Cubs pitcher this year. And the expression on Boyd’s face after the balk call kind of sums up this game. Also — happy birthday, Craig Counsell, your birthday gift is being ejected! It was the fifth ejection for Counsell this year, tied for the most in a season in his 12-year managing career.
Anyway, that was important because it put Rodden in scoring position, where a single by Randy Arozarena scored him to make it 5-3. The Mariners were 4-for-7 with RISP in this game and… sigh.
Boyd’s outing wasn’t awful — six innings, five runs (four earned) — but it wasn’t really that good, either. Daniel Palencia, just returned from the injured list, threw a 1-2-3 seventh with a pair of strikeouts, so that’s good. Here’s his K of Arozarena [VIDEO].
Happ has started to hit recently, a bit. Over his last 12 games: .286/.348/.548 (12-for-42) with three home runs. One of Happ’s late-season hot streaks would be quite welcome right now.
After that homer, again the Cubs put runners in scoring position. Hoerner singled and Pedro Ramirez walked. Nobody out. Great scoring chance, right?
Not so much. Michael Conforto popped up. Carson Kelly grounded out, with the runners advancing. That prompted the Mariners to intentionally pass PCA and face Seiya Suzuki. Good opportunity, but… Suzuki struck out [VIDEO].
Colin Rea threw a scoreless eighth and so the Cubs had one last chance in the ninth.
But the Cubs could not score again in the ninth, and Jacob Webb entered to attempt to preserve the tie for extras, which he did. That was Webb’s 24th consecutive scoreless appearance dating to the second game of the doubleheader against the Mets June 24 — a stretch of 24.2 innings in which he’s posted a WHIP of 0.932 and has 25 strikeouts.
The Cubs could not score in the top of the 10th and so that left the bottom of the inning to Javier Assad — oh, wait, no, because Assad had been optioned to Triple-A Iowa earlier in the day to make room for the activation of Palencia. Instead, Ryan Zeferjahn was given the 10th.
Victor Robles sacrificed the placed runner, Arozarena, to third. Zeferjahn got Julio Rodriguez to hit a comebacker. Okay, two out, runner on third. The Cubs opted to intentionally pass Josh Naylor to pitch to Leo Rivas, a backup infielder who’d entered the game as a pinch runner and remained as the DH.
This was the right call. Rivas entered the game batting .130 and had been 3 for his last 40 with 14 strikeouts.
Sigh. Rivas lined a single to center, game over. The loss dropped the Cubs to 19-14 in one-run games and 11-7 in extra-inning games. The 18 games in extras are the most for any MLB team this year. Also (Bluesky link):
And not only the four home runs, but all those baserunners and 1-for-16 with RISP… this game should never have even gotten to the 10th inning, the Cubs should have scored far more than five runs in regulation and won easily.
But they did not. The loss dropped the Cubs six games behind the Brewers in the NL Central, and perhaps more importantly, the Cubs’ lead over the Phillies for the first wild card spot is now just three games, as the Phillies have won seven straight. So it would be pretty important, I’d think, to turn things around and win the next two games of this series.
Which will be particularly interesting to watch Saturday, as the Mariners are calling up their top prospect and MLB’s top pitching prospect (fifth overall per MLB Pipeline), left-hander Kade Anderson, to start Saturday’s game. The Cubs will counter with David Peterson. Game time Saturday is 6:15 p.m. CT and Fox-TV (regional — coverage map). A reminder that if you subscribe to MLB.TV or MLB Extra Innings, you can watch this game via those services even if it’s not on the Fox affiliate in your market. In the Chicago local market this game will be on WPWR-Ch. 50 because WFLD-Ch. 32, Fox-TV’s primary channel, is carrying the Bears preseason game.
SARASOTA, FL - MARCH 20: Kyson Witherspoon #50 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday, March 20, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Scott Audette/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides vs. Nashville Sounds (Brewers) — POSTPONED
This game was canceled due to wet grounds and will be made up as part of a Saturday doubleheader.
A 2-1 Baysox lead disappeared after a three-run top of the eighth for Richmond, with reliever Ryan Long coughing up an Earl Weaver special to Giants prospect Lisbel Diaz. Before that, starter Patrick Reilly had his most successful outing since returning from Tommy John surgery, holding the Flying Squirrels to one run in five solid innings. He walked three and struck out six.
The Chesapeake lineup managed only five hits in this game. Wehiwa Aloy was the only batter with multiple knocks, going 2-for-4 with a double. The red-hot Aron Estrada was held hitless but contributed a sac fly and a walk.
High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals) 1, Frederick Keys 0 — Game 1, F/7
The Keys and Blue Rocks played to a scoreless tie until Wilmington walked it off in the bottom of the seventh (remember, doubleheader games in the minors are only seven innings). But you certainly can’t pin the loss on starter Kyson Witherspoon, who was absolutely brilliant in his third start since joining the organization in the Adley Rutschman trade. The right-hander pitched five hitless, scoreless innings, racking up eight strikeouts and walking three. It was the first hitless outing of his career and the second scoreless.
Unfortunately, Witherspoon got no help from the Keys offense, which had only three hits, all singles. Fellow Rutschman trade acquisition Enddy Azocar had one of them. The Keys drew six walks but went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Reliever Bradley Brehmer continued the Keys’ no-hit bid in the sixth inning, but in the seventh, he gave up a double and a Jacob Walsh walkoff single.
High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks 2, Frederick Keys 1 — Game 2, F/7
In a makeup of Thursday’s rainout, Wilmington completed the doubleheader sweep with another low-offense, one-run victory. This time the Keys got only two hits, and all told, they went just 5-for-43 in the doubleheader. Not great! Again they had plenty of baserunners, thanks to seven walks, but they squandered nearly every scoring opportunity. They took another 0-fer with RISP and their only run scored on a double play.
Stephen Still (not the guy from Buffalo Springfield) struck out eight batters in four innings, but he gave up two runs, and on this night that was enough for him to be saddled with the loss. Once again it was Jacob Walsh who did all the damage with a two-run single. Walsh drove in all three of the Blue Rocks’ runs in the twin bill.
Offense continued to be nonexistent for Orioles affiliates on this night. The Shorebirds were blanked by Crawdads pitchers Moises Morales, who worked six innings for the win, and Jake “Shrimp on the” Barbee, who earned a three-inning save. The Shorebirds actually didn’t have a problem getting hits — collecting eight in all — but couldn’t push a single one of them home. It didn’t help that all eight hits were singles, giving them very few chances with runners in scoring position. They also didn’t have any walks.
But there’s good news: Esteban Mejia had another solid (abbreviated) outing. He delivered 3.1 scoreless innings, struck out five, and — most promisingly — walked only one. The Shorebirds seem to be limiting Mejia to 2-3 inning outings to help him work out his season-long control problems, and it’s worked out well three times in a row. Reliever Brandon Downer gave up three runs, but righty Andrew Herbert tossed three scoreless.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 21: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Fenway Park on August 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees had a tense affair to open their homestand against the Blue Jays, as Cam Schlittler wasn’t on his A-game and the offense got a couple across early before shutting down. Despite this, their Cy Young candidate managed to fight through and give them six innings of one-run ball and the crooked number they put up in the second would be enough to survive as they won their fifth straight game and continued to put pressure on their AL rivals to match them.
Tampa Bay Rays (76-52) 3, Baltimore Orioles (62-67) 5
After getting swept by the Yankees, the Orioles turned around and scrapped with the top team in the AL. Though the O’s were up 1-0 in the second inning, it looked like the Rays were going to keep them at bay with a three-run frame started by a Junior Caminero double and capped off by a Kenny piper two-run shot. However, that was all the offense the Rays would muster, and the Orioles were far from out of it.
Baltimore’s comeback started right away in the bottom of the second with a Dylan Beavers solo shot, but a couple of one-two-three innings afterwards kept the score in Tampa’s favor. Freddy Peralta started off the fifth by plunking Coby Mayo though, and from there the wheels fell off. Colton Cowser singled and a throwing error brought the runners both into scoring position. After a strikeout brought in the first out, Jackson Holliday lifted a sacrifice fly to tie the game at three. Now an out away from escaping, Peralta faced Pete Alonso and gave him a 2-2 fastball low but down the middle. The Polar Bear punished it, driving the ball 443 feet to left.
Trevor Rogers held things down once his team got him the lead back, lasting seven innings without any more incidents, and Andrew Kittredge and Rico Garcia pitched through the eighth and ninth without incident. Tampa’s loss coupled with the Yankees’ win cuts the deficit in the AL East to just three games after the little hot streak that New York has built, and getting help from the team you just beat has got to feel great.
Other Games
Boston Red Sox (69-59) 6, San Francisco Giants (52-76) 4: Rafael Devers was traded away in an early midseason move last year, and though he played against his former team quite quickly afterwards that was out in San Fran. This was his trip back to Fenway since the deal, and there was a decent mix of cheering and boos for the former star of the team. Unfortunately for him, the Giants lost his potential revenge homecoming as Logan Webb fell apart in the third inning. Willson Contreras launched a three-run homer with two outs to give Boston the lead, Webb gave up a couple of singles to continue the rally, and then he completely lost the zone sandwiching a walk to Andruw Monasterio around a pair of hit by pitches to push across two more runs. The five spot was enough to survive the Giants’ comeback attempt, though Devers managed to get something for himself as he ripped a solo homer in the fourth inning.
Chicago White Sox (67-61) 6, New York Mets (58-71) 4: The Mets were cruising in this game, up 4-0 after five thanks to a Brett Baty two-run shot and a Bo Bichette solo homer, but the White Sox woke up in the sixth facing Sean Manaea. A trio of homers from Miguel Vargas, Randal Grichuk, and Colson Montgomery tied the game up at four, and that score held until the ninth when Jefry Yan entered to try and bring it to extras. Yan walked Montgomery on six pitches, though he thought he’d gotten him to strikeout twice and did his signature hop off the mound each time. Montgomery got bunted over to second and advanced to third on a groundout bringing Jake Rogers up down to their last out. Rogers got a hold of an 0-1 fastball and drove it just over the reach of center fielder A.J. Ewing for the walk-off two-run blast.
Those of you who have been around the site for a number of years may remember when our own Jake Devin coined the AL Central Rock Fight title for when we had to cover the division’s many inept but still contending teams. With the way that the third Wild Card has developed this year with multiple teams under .500 competing for it, perhaps its time for a reprisal. We’ll give each of these teams a short summary while they try to scramble out of the muck, and if anyone out West wants to pull away with their division a bit they would be welcomed out of the fracas as well.
Houston Astros (65-64) 4, Athletics (49-80) 0: Let’s start with the Astros, who have been flirting with .500 for a while but have pulled their head above water with this win. Hayden Wesneski gave the ‘Stros five one-hit innings and the bullpen carried his work over, four relievers combining to allow two base hits the rest of the way. A pair of RBI doubles from Yordan Alvarez as well as an Isaac Paredes RBI double and a Christian Walker sac fly were more than enough to give Houston the lead, handing the A’s their league-worst 80th loss.
Texas Rangers (64-65) 2, Los Angeles Angels (51-78) 1 (10 innings): A scoreless game through nine was finally broken up by the Manfred runner, Denzer Guzman leading off the top of the 10th with an RBI double (just the third hit all game for the Angels). The Rangers’ similarly inept offense responded in the bottom half with an RBI double from Wyatt Langford, and then after an intentional walk Ezequiel Duran singled through the left side to walk it off for Texas.
Minnesota Twins (63-66) 2, San Diego Padres (69-60) 6: The Padres jumped ahead 2-0 after a Ty France two-run blast in the first, but coughed that up in the fourth when Kody Clemens tripled in a pair. The home run was the last hit Minnesota would get all game, as Randy Vasquez buckled down for seven strong innings and the Padres rallied for four runs in the fifth on a procession of four singles, a walk, and a sacrifice fly.
Cleveland Guardians (63-66) 9, Colorado Rockies (50-78) 1: The Rockies briefly held a 1-0 lead after Willi Castro knocked a run across in the first, but it was all Cleveland from there. Petey Halpin tied it up with a solo shot in the third, Travis Bazzana gave them the lead with a two-run single in the fourth, and Patrick Bailey put it out of reach with his three-run homer in the seventh inning.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 26: Reynaldo López #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 26, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Atlanta Braves right-hander Reynaldo López is ramping back up and is set to make a rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. López landed on the injured list on July 30 with inflammation in his left knee; fortunately, his MRI did not reveal any structural damage.
The hurler has had a subpar year for Atlanta. Through 24 games, he’s recorded four wins and posted a 3.64 ERA. He’s fanned 66 through 71.2 innings.
If all goes well, López could soon rejoin Atlanta’s pitching staff and provide a boost down the stretch. Sunday’s outing should give the Braves a better idea of how close he is to returning.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Franklin Arias #19 of the Boston Red Sox bats during the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The WooSox didn’t get much offense in Syracuse (Mets AAA) and, as a result, got walked off with two outs. But it shouldn’t have even gotten to that point since they were getting outhit 11-3, so there’s some people on the squad we need to tip our caps to. Blake Wehunt didnt’ quite make it five innings but kept all but one run off the board despite allowing seven total baserunners. Allen Castro drove a late run in to make this a tie game in the 9th, and Franklin Arias and Romy Gonzalez hit doubles; Arias’ scored a pair of runs.
Don’t look now, but Arias already has 22 RBIs since his call up to Triple-A a month ago, and his total in 2026 sits at 74. That’s a good season by any account, but keep in mind that Arias batted first for a lot of his time in Double-A so that total might be even higher if he wasn’t hitting so many solo shots to start the game. That he’s consistently been the youngest at his level and hasn’t gone more than three days before finding a groove are very, very good signs going forward (as in, after the lockout, in this writer’s humble opinion.) Still, Arias is slashing .291/.357/.488(!) in a sample size that is growing bigger and bigger against guys who are getting better and better. And maybe, just maybe, it was all part of Breslow’s plan to waltz straight from the Trevor Story (0-4, 2 K’s on Friday) contract into Franklin Arias mowing down big league pitching. (And it was just how he drew it up, even down to Andruw Monasterio playing so well this year, right?)
Yes, it was Roman Anthony rehab night against the Fightin Phils (Phillies AA.) Yes, he drove in a run, his third in as many games. Devin Futrell also had a good night on the mound and shoved through six innings even after allowing a first-run home run, displaying a line that could have been plenty enough to take a decision win with a bit more pop at the plate: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
But the real story of the night – aside from Anthony getting closer to beign back with the big league club just in time to be one of the team’s “September call-ups” – has got to be how good Justin Gonzales has looked in general this year, but especially since his promotion to Double-A. He hit a triple and his OPS stands at over 1. These are numbers that folks made a big deal out of when Arias started the season hot this year, and there’s reason to believe that it’s time to pay attention to the outfielder, who won’t turn 20 until New Years Eve.
Greenville: PPD in 3rd, Make-Up Today
I will not jinx the Drive into saying they might be able to sleepwalk into a win Saturday following a rain delay in which they had a lead. The last time I did that, they sweated out a 7-run performance in the remaining innings and gutted a win out by the skin of their teeth. What I will say is that it’s looking good in the third against Winston-Salem (White Sox High-A.) “First” pitch of the double-header is today at 4:30.
I think it may be time to have a look at Franklin Primera at the High-A level until the season ends. The 19-year-old catcher is hitting .344/.484/.536 in 35 games, which is a decisively small sample size, but he’s got it at the plate. He added two more hits off the Warbirds (Brewers A) staff Friday in the DH slot as the other guy on the club catching, Adonys Guzman, also went 2-for-4 with a home run. The RidgeYaks were fighting an uphill battle all night, though, as they found themselves down 7-0 after two. They were able to make the deficit two, but that’s as close as it got.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 22: (L-R) Kyle Tucker #23, Andy Pages #44, and Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers stand in the outfield during a pitching change in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on July 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Among the 122 major league outfielders with at least 200 plate appearances entering Friday, Teoscar Hernández (.250/.313/.401, 97 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR) and Kyle Tucker (.232/.327/.368, 95 wRC+, 0.3 fWAR) ranked 87thand 94th, respectively in FanGraphs WAR.
With the Dodgers getting such little production offensively and defensively from the corner outfield this season, calling up one of their many productive minor league outfielders seems more and more appealing by the day.
The fine folks at FanGraphs introduced a new feature this week: the count progression tool. “This tool isn’t meant to completely explain shifts in walk and strikeout rates,” wrote Ben Clemens, “but I think it’s a great way to help investigate the ways the game is changing.”
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 21: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 21, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
The Orioles four-game skid came to an end on Friday night as they beat the Rays 5-3. Pete Alonso stole the show with his 30th home run of the season and a snazzy diving put out to lead the O’s to the win. But Trevor Rogers also made a difference, delivering seven innings and allowing just three runs on six hits, one walk, and six strikeouts.
The losing streak did cost the Orioles in the standings. They are now two games back of the final AL wild card spot rather than controlling their own destiny like they were a few days ago. But I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that if they go undefeated from here on out they will make the playoffs anyway. So just do that? Seems simple!
More seriously, the win on Friday was a blueprint for how the Orioles have wanted to play all season. They got a good start from Rogers and limited exposure of the bullpen. They also hit two home runs. The 157 home runs that the Orioles have hit rank ninth in MLB this season, which is good, but they probably expected to be even higher.
Dylan Beavers launched a solo shot in the third inning, his third home run in as many days. He is one of several Orioles that the team has needed more out of. His recent hot streak has improved his overall numbers to the point that he now owns a league average 100 wRC+ on the year.
Coby Mayo (98 wRC+) and Jackson Holliday (96 wRC+) are two other names that have seen their numbers improve post-all star break. A continued upward trend from this young trio is needed in order for the Orioles to make an honest run at a playoff spot. And don’t forget Gunnar Henderson (99 wRC+), who may have to finally find his “MVP” form as September nears.
Another matchup with the Rays awaits tonight. That has been good news for the Orioles recently. First pitch is set for 7:05.
Links
Holliday’s Players’ Weekend bat features … his dog Coconut! | MLB.com Many of the players will be rocking custom bats, cleats, and other gear this weekend. Jackson Holliday is featuring his dog, Coconut. Samuel Basallo reps the Dominican Republic. Beavers has…well, a beaver. It’s good stuff!
O’s closer Bautista (shoulder surgery) to begin rehab assignment Sunday | MLB.com This is exciting! The version of Félix Bautista we saw in 2025 was not as dominant as the 2023 iteration. That was after elbow surgery. Could we see another dip in form following a shoulder procedure? Maybe. But even that feels like a vital upgrade to a bullpen that desperately needs a late-inning arm. Whatever he can provide in 2026 feels like a bonus to what he can do in 2027 and beyond.
Orioles Designate Albert Suárez For Assignment | MLB Trade Rumors Yet again, Suárez has drawn the short straw for the Orioles. This move was all about getting a fresh arm in the bullpen. The 36-year-old threw 36 pitches on Thursday, and the team needed reinforcements. This is the fourth time the Orioles have DFA’ed him this year alone. Odds are he ends up sticking with the Orioles, but he will need to go through waivers first. A team in need of some bullpen depth might snag him.
This, that and the other | Roch Kubatko The question of who gets promoted when the rosters expand on September 1 is bandied about here. Blaze Alexander feels like a no-brainer, and the timing could be just about right. Maybe he is up a couple of days sooner even. Bautista feels less likely, simply because I expect the Orioles to take things slow there. Luis De León is also mentioned. The Orioles didn’t move him to the bullpen so suddenly for no reason. They seem keen to give him a big league audition.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Chayce McDermott turns 28 today. Acquired from the Astros as a prospect in the Trey Mancini trade, McDermott emerged in the big leagues with Baltimore in 2024. He would end up pitching in just five total games through 2025 before he was dealt to the Dodgers earlier this year.
Randy Wolf is 50 years old. The lefty came to Baltimore near the end of his 16-season MLB career. During the magical 2012 season in Baltimore, Wolf was signed at the end of August and appeared in five games for the squad.
Steve Kline turns 54. The southpaw spent the 2005 season working out of the Orioles bullpen, where he had a 4.28 ERA over 61 total innings. The O’s traded him to the Giants after the season in exchange for fellow reliever LaTroy Hawkins.
The late Angelo Dagres (b. 1934, d. 2017) was born on this day. He played in eight MLB games, all of which came with the 1955 Orioles.
1998 – Cal Ripken Jr. scores his 1,500th career run as part of Baltimore’s 6-3 win over Cleveland.
2007 – The Orioles are torched by the Rangers, 30-3. The game sets several records, all of them embarrassing for the Orioles. What’s worse, that was the first game of a double-header. The Orioles lose the nightcap too, though with a more respectable 9-7 scoreline.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 19: Matt Wilkinson #71 of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch during the second inning of his Major League debut against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to a close this weekend, so it’s time to make our picks for Player of the Week!
This week, I’m going with a player who made their MLB debut and did pretty well, all things considered. My pick this week is pitcher Matt Wilkinson, who made his debut in the Giants’ 1-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday. Wilkinson allowed just one hit in his two inning start. Is it a small sample size? Absolutely. But two innings of scoreless baseball in your debut is nothing to sneeze at.
Good job, rook!
Who is your pick for this week’s Player of the Week?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants continue this three-game series against the Boston Red Sox this afternoon at 4:15 p.m. PT.
COVERS INTEL:Henderson ranks in the 94th percentile in xERA, and will make life miserable on a struggling Braves offense.
Dylan Cease
Casey Mize
Jordan Walker
