Bernie Brewer takes his first slide during an official game on April 6, 2001, at the inaugural opening day at Miller Park. Instead of a chalet with a simple slide to a mug of beer, Bernie in Miller Park has his own "dugout," with a corkscrew slide leading to a platform. This photo was published in the April 7, 2001, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Bernie Brewer's barrel and mug 2001 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Did you enjoy that series win over the Astros? Yes? Good, because you’re going to need to call on those happy memories as the Mariners face the playoff-bound Brewers. Jake already laid out for you how tough this series is going to be in the series preview, which you should revisit if you haven’t.
Lineups:
News:
No Taylor Ward in today’s lineup, but per Tim Booth, he worked out pregame and says he’s close to being ready to rejoin the lineup, and is available as an option off the bench tonight. Stuart Fairchild is with the team as a member of the taxi squad just in case, as Victor Robles continues to deal with a sore shoulder.
Victor Robles, who missed Sunday’s game with right shoulder soreness, is back in the Mariners’ lineup tonight.
Game information:
Game time: 4:40 PT
TV: Mariners TV with Rich Waltz and Ryan Rowland-Smith
Radio: Seattle Sports 710 AM, with Gary Hill Jr. and Shannon Drayer
Andrew Benintendi has been one of baseball’s most clutch hitters this season, and the White Sox will look for more of that magic from the cleanup spot tonight. | (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The White Sox are looking to rebound on the North Side after a heartbreaking, walk-off loss to the Cubs in extra innings Monday. With a chance to even the series tonight, they are turning to a (fairly) exhausted bullpen to handle Tuesday’s game, with lefthander Bryan Hudson getting the ball first for the seventh time this season.
Hudson has been excellent as an opener when called upon, holding a 1.29 ERA across seven frames while allowing just one run on three hits and five strikeouts — with a solo homer serving as the only major blemish in those outings. Hudson has amassed a 3.14 ERA in 51 2/3 innings, alongside a 1.277 WHIP, and has given up just two home runs all season in 54 games. He tends to thrive more in low- to medium-leverage situations and has the lowest ERA (0.34) with the bases empty (26 2/3 innings), making the lefty the perfect candidate for an opener.
Without any corresponding roster moves from the Good Guys, it seems that the White Sox will roll with either Erick Fedde or José Urquidy as the long reliever options, likely hoping to get deep enough in the game — with a lead, ideally — to turn to Sean Newcomb, Huascar Brazobán, and Grant Taylor, maybe even in that order.
Since the Cubs will have a righty on the mound with Kevin Gausman making the start, the lineup looks much more solid from the South Siders tonight, especially with Colson Montgomery returning to the batting order, hitting sixth and playing shortstop. With the right-handed matchup, Sam Antonacci will slot back into leadoff, followed by Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, and our clutch king, Andrew Benintendi. Tonight would be the perfect night for the Mune and Miguel combo to blast off with a pair of homers, but I’ll take anyone stepping up to be the hero if it means we don’t have to witness the Sox lose the way they did yesterday.
Gausman will have a whole bunch of lefties to face in the White Sox lineup, though his splits are similar against both right- and left-handed hitters. From the left side of the plate, batters are hitting .252 with a .697 OPS versus Gausman, who has a 1.28 WHIP against them. Righties are batting .262 with a .732 OPS, with essentially the same WHIP (1.27). This will be just the third start in a Cubs uniform for Gausman, who has struggled so far with a 6.17 ERA and eight runs allowed in 11 2/3 innings. With only two starts to work with, however, it’s probably best to take those numbers with a grain of salt.
Overall, Gausman holds a 4.53 ERA in 139 innings across 25 starts in 2026, though his 3.53 FIP suggests he has pitched better than that ERA would indicate. The righty isn’t necessarily a strikeout pitcher, but his 6.5% walk rate is one of his strengths to keep batters off the base paths. He still tends to get his opponents to chase pitches, and his splitter can be a weapon in his arsenal, racking up a 40.4% whiff rate.
As we know, South Side pitchers certainly need to watch out for Pete Crow-Armstrong in the leadoff spot. PCA has mashed six homers so far in August, trailing only Matt Olson, and two of those came last night — one on the very first pitch of the game and another on the very last. So far this month, PCA has slugged .636 with a 1.013 OPS and consistently comes through in clutch moments.
And that’s not to sleep on the rest of the Cubs lineup, who hold the third-highest SLG (.419) and second-most RBIs in MLB, also posting the highest WAR as a team at 28.2, 6.4 more WAR than the next team (the Los Angeles Dodgers). Seiya Suzuki is almost just as much of a threat as PCA is, and Nico Hoerner posted a four-hit night in the series opener, including the game-tying RBI base hit in the bottom of the ninth.
For once, there are all kinds of places to tune into Game 2 of the Crosstown Classic! If you’re in the Chicago market, you can still tune in on the usual spots with CHSN and Marquee Network; however, the game will also air locally on The U and nationally on TBS. On the radio, you can catch the White Sox broadcast at ESPN Chicago AM 1000, or the Cubs on AM 670 (or 104.3 FM). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field. Hopefully, this one ends with a White Sox win.
Aug 17, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) shakes hands with Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) after beating the Athletics at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The boyz are back, baby!!!! Jac, Vinnie, Maikel, Bob, everyone’s here—on offense, as it were. Yesterday, they scored a bunch of runs. It was delightful.
Today, they will need to score a bunch of runs. The Royals are inexplicably sticking Daniel Lynch IV in the rotation. Lynch’s career splits are super obvious: as a starter, he’s got a 5.31 ERA and a .349 wOBA against. As a reliever, he’s got a 2.47 ERA and a .278 wOBA against. This year is even more lopsided, albeit with only four innings as a starter. After Lynch, they’ll have more bullpen innings than normal, and we all know how well the bullpen has pitched this year.
But that just means we’re in for a high-scoring win, right?
Jul 17, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Cal Quantrill (44) throws against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Boston, MA - April 25: A marker for a Boston Tea Party Participant is seen beside a grave in the Granary Burying Ground during a tour of the Freedom Trail. (Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
DIAMONDBACKS
RED SOX
Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
Nick Sogard – 2B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Ceddanne Rafaela – CF
Gabriel Moreno – DH
Wilyer Abreu – RF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Willson Contreras – 1B
Tim Tawa – 1B
Adley Rutschman – C
Jordan Lawlar – CF
Caleb Durbin – 3B
James McCann – C
Jarren Duran – LF
Jose Fernandez – 3B
Andruw Monasterio – SS
Ryan Waldschmidt – LF
Mickey Gasper – DH
Merrill Kelly – RHP
Ranger Suarez – LHP
Well, at least we have a line-up at a reasonable time today. It appears everybody actually made it to the ballpark in good order this afternoon for the Diamondbacks, so we are clearly already ahead of yesterday. I suppose I should give you the latest updates on the Ketel Marte saga, from today’s pre-game media session. Though in terms of actual facts there is not a great deal more to report. According to Jody Jackson, manager Torey Lovullo has not talked to Ketel today. “He was asked if he was surprised at the lack of communication. “A little bit, yes“ given their close relationship.”
Marte is said to be on his way back to Arizona for an MRI on his knee, though John Gambadoro says he is “not back yet.” Steve Gilbert reports that Lovullo “thinks the reason Marte is getting MRI back in Phx instead of here was Ketel’s choice but not sure.” I think that’s just about all the information to come out today, and it all seems incredibly vague. I understand exactly why the team doesn’t want to say too much – and perhaps can’t, once you get into health. But the lack of reliable information is pouring gasoline on the fires of speculation. It’s also interesting that even long-term reporters with contacts in the organization have nothing publicly to offer on what’s happening.
Oh, well. In the ongoing absence of Marte, I’d expect it to be mostly Ildemaro Vargas, since he’s the only player apart from Ketel to have started at second-base for the D-backs this season. Tim Tawa has 3.2 innings there, and we saw Jordan Lawlar there in the ninth inning yesterday, when Vargas was on the mound. Not many other options on the 40-man roster with experience. Tommy Troy has played there for the Aces, but he’s still on the IL with a sprained right shoulder after crashing into a wall at Chavez Ravine. This evening’s infield of Tawa, Vargas, Geraldo Perdomo and Jose Fernandez is not exactly what we expected at the start of the season…
Minnesota Twins pitcher Zebby Matthews (52) throws against Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit in Tuesday, August 5, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
First Pitch: 6:40 PM CDT
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy App, LosTwins.com
SACRAMENTO, CA - AUGUST 12: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jacob Soriano/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
UPDATE: New starter tonight as lefty Brady Basso will get things started. One would assume this is merely going to be an opener assignment while Perkins handles the bulk this evening. The team will also swap Gelof and Muncy, with Gelof DH’ing while Muncy handles left field.
The A’s dropped their first game in Kansas City last night, losing 9-5 and dropping the club to 49-76, tied with the Angels for the worst record in the sport. If the club ever needed a win, tonight’s the night.
Before the game the A’s made a minor move for some extra bullpen depth, adding the recently-claimed Taylor Rashi to the active roster:
The right-hander has very minimal big league experience, with 10 games last year and three this season. The former Giants and Diamondbacks farmhand has generally put up good numbers in the minors, including a 2.56 ERA in 24 appearances this year. With the state of the bullpen Rashi is as good as any reliever to give a shot and see if the A’s can catch lightning in a bottle.
To make room on the roster right-hander Mason Barnett was optioned to Triple-A. He was in the rotation the past couple turns but he struggled in his chances and will now head back to the minors and continue to work on honing his craft. The A’s will need to make a move for a new starter sometime later this week.
It’ll be right-hander Jack Perkins getting the ball this evening for his 12th start this year. It hasn’t been an easy year for the rookie, who began in the bullpen before being asked to take on a starter’s role halfway through the year. The results have been unexpected as he’s struggled to an 8.17 ERA during his starting assignments so far. He’s not exactly trending in the right direction either as he’s gotten smacked for at least five runs in his past three starts. Hopefully he’ll be able to turn things around tonight in Kansas City against a fellow bottom-dweller in the Royals, though last night should warn everyone that they still got some big bats in that lineup of theirs.
Here’s how the A’s starting lineup shakes out tonight:
No Jacob Wilson again tonight. That shoulder injury has kept him out of recent games and it’s a real possibility that he’s done for the year. Manager Mark Kotsay spoke about his shortstop yesterday:
“He came up, tried to hit today and couldn’t really get full range of motion,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after the game. “He’s day-to-day.”
Darell Hernaiz will handle shortstop duties today and could see more time there moving forward. The rest of the lineup is fairly standard. We’ll see Tommy White return to third base while Jeff McNeil handles the other corner.
Meanwhile, the Royals kept it close to the chest but have now announced that Daniel Lynch IV is getting the start for them tonight. Lynch was a solid reliever all year long for the Royals but with them out of the playoff hunt they’re going to try him as a starting pitcher the rest of the season. His first two starts weren’t great as he allowed three runs in each short outing. They’ll be looking for more length from him tonight and it’s the A’s job to get him out as fast as possible.
Aug 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Zach McKinstry (39) hits a double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (61-64) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (61-66)
Time/Place: 6:40 p.m., PNC Park SB Nation Site:Bucs Dugout Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) vs. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.88 ERA)
CLEVELAND, OH - AUGUST 16: Cleveland Guardians left fielder Jo Adell (7) grounds out to second base during the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball interleague game between the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Guardians on August 16, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Here’s the Giants’ lineup:
Giants 8/18
J. Cox CF R. Devers DH V. Bericoto RF B. Eldridge 1B O. Basabe 2B B. Kennedy 3B D. Gilbert LF A. Knizner C C. Koss SS
TONIGHT’S GAME: The first-place Astros, who own a 2.0-game lead in the AL West, will open a three-game series with the Angels tonight at Daikin Park.
RHP Cristian Javier (1-3), who shut out the Angels in 5.0 innings of stellar relief last month, will get the start for the Astros tonight opposite Angels rookie RHP George Klassen (1 1).
EL REPTÍL: RHP Cristian Javier is making his seventh start of the season and his fourth since returning from the IL in early July…he’s split time between being a starter and reliever since his return, making four relief appearances and three starts.
Since returning from the IL, he has a 4.30 ERA (11ER/23IP) with 21 strikeouts in 23.0 IP.
THE TURNAROUND: After a slow start to the season, the Astros are 43-31 since May 22, which is the second-best record in the AL in that span.
On that date, the Astros were 20-31, 11 games under, which is their low water mark for the season.
THAT’S OFFENSIVE: Among American League teams, the Astros rank first in slugging (.413), first in total bases (1740), second in OPS (.732), second in home runs (168), and third in runs scored (576).
In the Majors, the Astros rank third in homers, trailing only the Nationals (180) and Yankees (171).
VS. THE ANGELS: The Astros are 6-4 against the Angels this season and need just one win this week to win their sixth consecutive season series against the Angels.
The Astros 144-92 (.610) all- time record against the Angels is their best against any single opponent in franchise history.
TONIGHT’S RADIO BROADCASTS: The Astros English radio broadcast can be heard on SportsTalk 790 featuring Robert Ford and Brian Bogusevic… the Spanish radio broadcast will feature Francisco Romero and Alex Treviño on TUDN 102.9 FM.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Several of the Astros minor league clubs are having second-half success this season, while the Astros FCL team dominated in their completed campaign:
Triple A Sugar Land: In second half action, the Space Cowboys are in first place in the PCL East Division with a 31-14 (.689) record.
Double A Corpus Christi: For the second half, the Hooks are in third place in the Texas League South Division with a 23-22 record (1.0 game out of first place).
Class A Fayetteville: For the second half, the Woodpeckers are in first place in the South Atlantic League North Division with a 26-20 (.565) record.
Rookie Level FCL Astros: The Astros won the Florida Complex League championship, finishing with a 42-11 (.792) record in the regular season.
SUNDAY NIGHT: The Astros and Mariners played a close ballgame on Sunday Night Baseball, with the Astros dropping the contest by a score of 3-2.
The Astros scored their two runs on solo shots hit by 2B Nick Allen (1×2) and SS Jeremy Peña (1×4).
RHP Hunter Brown (2ER/5IP) started for Houston and was handed the loss, as he worked around five walks and three hits allowed in his outing.
TAXI SQUAD ADDITION: RHP Ethan Pecko has been added the Astros Taxi Squad and will work out with the Major League team today at Daikin Park.
Pecko, 23, the Astros sixth-round pick in 2023, has combined to post a 4.57 ERA (42ER/82.2IP) with 86 strikeouts in 20 games (18 starts) in the minors this season, including 17 games at the Triple A level.
THE CLOSER: LHP Josh Hader, now in his 10th Major League season, has made 499 career appearances, needing just one more to become the 12th active Major Leaguer to reach 500 career appearances.
Hader has been stellar since returning from injury in early June, going 4-1 with a 0.90 ERA (3ER/30IP), 41 strikeouts, a .126 opponent average (13×103) and a 0.77 WHIP, while also converting all 17 of his save opportunities in 31 appearances.
THROWING STRIKES: LHP Steven Okert has not allowed a walk in 22 consecutive appearances (since June 28), which spans 22.0 innings pitched.
Some notes on his streak:
Okert is closing in on the club record for consecutive walkless apps. in a single season, which is 24 straight, posted by RHP Pat Neshek from April 8-June 2, 2015.
Only RHP Garrett Whitlock (27g) has had a longer streak of consecutive walkless apps. in MLB in 2026.
per Elias, Okert’s streak of 22.0 consecutive innings without a walk is the fifth-longest by a reliver in a single season in franchise history, and the longest since RHP Wilton Lopez had a streak of 22.1 consecutive walkless innings from April 8-May 17, 2012.
MVP-CALIBER: Yordan Alvarez holds the lead in all AL Triple Crown categories, ranking first in average (.321), first in HR (36) and first in RBI (88).
Additionally, he leads MLB in OPS (1.054), OBP (.435), SLG (.619), and TB (276)…in the AL, he ranks tied for first in hits (143) and XBH (61), second walks (86), and tied for second in runs (82).
YOR-GONE!: DH Yordan Alvarez has hit 36 home runs this season, which leads the AL.
He’s just one homer shy of matching his career high in homers (37 HR in 2022) and is 11 homers shy of matching the franchise record for a single season, set by 1B Jeff Bagwell in 2000 (47 HR).
OUCH!: 3B Isaac Paredes was hit by a pitch for the 17th time of the season on Sunday night, which ranks fifth in the Majors.
Hit 17 HBP are the most by an Astro in a single season since 2B Craig Biggio also recorded 17 HBP in 2007.
WHAM BAM CAM: RF Cam Smith has a triple, three homers and seven RBI in his last eight games.
Smith is batting .346 (18×52) with two doubles, two triples, three home runs, nine RBI and a 1.005 OPS in his last 15 games since July 29.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, August 18, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
SACRAMENTO, CA - AUGUST 11: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates in the dugout during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jacob Soriano/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TORONTO, ON - JULY 31: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on July 31, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s game 3 of the St. Louis Cardinals vs the Cincinnati Reds as they’ll clash again Tuesday night. Kyle Leahy will make the start for the Cardinals while Andrew Abbott is the scheduled starter for the Reds. First pitch at Great American Ball Park is set for 5:40pm central time.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 17: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres looks on during the game between the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday, August 17, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
San Diego Padres (67-59) at New York Mets (57-69), August 18, 2026, 4:10 p.m. PST
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SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 11: Carson Whisenhunt #88 of the San Francisco Giants pitches at Oracle Park on August 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians this afternoon.
Taking the mound for the Giants will be left-hander Carson Whisenhunt, who enters today’s game with a 6.11 ERA, 5.40 FIP, with 22 strikeouts to 18 walks in 28 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 4-1 win over the Houston Astros last Tuesday, in which he allowed one run on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks in five and two thirds innings.
He’ll be facing off against Guardians left-hander Foster Griffin, who enters today’s game with a 3.25 ERA, 4.23 FIP, with 125 strikeouts to 33 walks in 138.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Guardians’ 6-4 win over the Detroit Tigers last Wednesday, in which he allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and a walk in five innings.
Aug 12, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New York Mets pitcher Zac Thornton (49) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS Bo Bichette – 3B Luis Robert – CF Carson Benge – RF Francisco Alvarez – DH Christopher Morel – 1B Marcus Semien – 2B A.J. Ewing – LF Luis Torrens – C
SP: Zac Thornton – LHP
Padres lineup
Fernando Tatis – RF Luis Rengifo – LF Manny Machado – 3B Ty France – 1B Jackson Merrill – CF Xander Bogaerts – SS Austin Hays – DH Freddy Fermin – C Jake Cronenworth – 2B
SP: Robbie Ray – LHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 7:10 PM ET TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
