Category: Baseball

As the Yankees continue their path to the postseason, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes opens up the mailbag to talk roster construction when Aaron Judge returns and much more...

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Are the Yankees really going to run with Grisham in center field instead of Spencer Jones and is it even likely that they’ll send Jones down with Judge returning? -@yellow643

I can see a world in which the Yankees run with Trent Grisham in center down the stretch, at least against right-handed pitching, out of respect for his experience and to give him time to get his bat going before the postseason. I don’t know if I would make that decision, and I don’t know if they will, either.

I cannot see a world in which the Yankees do not have Jones on their roster down the stretch and into October. Yes, Aaron Judge creates a roster crunch, but I don’t anticipate Jones being the one pushed out. He has been too good, and is too much of a power threat, to take off the roster for the most important games of the season. And if he is on the roster, the Yankees will have to take another position player off.

The Yankees’ general dearth of right-handed bats makes this complicated. I would assume Heliot Ramos remains on the roster as a pinch-hitter or platoon option in center against a tough lefty. So that means an infielder would have to go.

Amed Rosario feels like the likeliest choice, but even in a difficult offensive season, he maintains the Yankees’ confidence as a right-handed option off the bench. But in the postseason, Paul Goldschmidt can fill that role, even if it means pinch-hitting for someone in another infield position: The proven positional versatility of Jose Caballero and the theoretical versatility of Luis Garcia Jr. allow for creativity.

Ryan McMahon’s defense at third base is probably too important to the success of key pitchers like Max Fried to leave off the roster due to his inconsistency offensively. But I could see them making that decision if they are worried about being too left-handed.

Long story short: I think Jones has proven himself too valuable to leave him off the roster when Judge returns and beyond.

Will we ever see Giancarlo Stanton play again in pinstripes? -@MrEd315

I don’t know. His contract situation makes any kind of retirement scenario complicated: The Yankees owe him $25 million next year and a $10 million buyout if they choose not to bring him back for 2028. Thirty-five million isn’t crazy for the Yankees, but it isn’t nothing.

My expectation is that this will be up to Stanton. If he wants to try to play again – and he is just 44 home runs shy of 500 – I think the Yankees will give him that chance. Even if he is a semiregular designated hitter and a huge bench bat, his clubhouse presence probably justifies keeping him around. But his legs clearly gave out on him this year, which is not a good sign for a player with chronic elbow pain, too. I would not be surprised if he decides to call it after this season, though to be very, very clear, I have not heard anyone who would know suggest that is imminent.

Who do you think will have a better career? Nolan McLean or Cam Schlittler? -@LobstersLong

Whichever one is healthiest. Period. They’re both incredible young talents. Schlittler has been better so far and appears to be an excellent big-game pitcher. So he has the edge for now. But McLean’s stuff moves naturally in ways people spend whole careers trying to achieve. His numbers are not THAT far behind Schlittler, all things considered. To me, whoever is healthier will finish with the better resume. They’re both incredibly talented.

 

The Seattle Mariners announced Thursday that they’ve placed OF Victor Robles on the family medical emergency/bereavement list. Robles is allowed up to three days on the list, and though the exact nature of the situation is unknown, kindness and best wishes are being sent his and his family’s way. Robles is currently in the Dominican Republic with his family, which is where Mariners GM Justin Hollander said he “needs to be.”

In his stead, Seattle has recalled OF Stuart Fairchild, the local product who Seattle acquired midway through this season. As of pregame Thursday, Fairchild isn’t yet with the club, needing to travel from where Tacoma is playing in Albuquerque. Additionally, Seattle recalled OF Brennen Davis from Triple-A Tacoma and placed him on the 60-day injured list, immediately removing him from the 40-man roster. Davis had been dealing this season with a severe hamstring strain that’s kept him out all year; most recently, he suffered an oblique injury while swinging in the cages, and has now had a setback with that oblique that will end his season.

Occupying a bench and defensive replacement role when healthy this year for the most part, Robles will be mostly a 1-1 swap for Fairchild in the next few days. Though not quite the base stealer Robles is, Fairchild roams the outfield well and runs enough to fill in. The Seattle Prep product has been a stellar hitter in Triple-A this year in his age 30 campaign, and has played in parts of the last six seasons in the bigs.

Davis is a bittersweet move, as the 26 year old outfielder who spent years near the top of prospect lists spent much of this season on the sidelines once again, unable to ring the bell when Seattle was scouring its system for any sort of offensive spark. By adding him to the 40-man roster earlier this year, Seattle retained Davis following a scorching hot spring and excellent season with the Tacoma Rainiers. Unfortunately, as has been the case every year of his career, his body betrayed him, first with the hamstring, and then the oblique. By putting him on the IL, Davis will be paid for the remainder of the year at a big league minimum rate, a goodwill gesture from Seattle for a player who by all accounts is a diligent, hard worker and high-quality teammate. Seattle may also choose to retain Davis through the winter on their 40-man roster without needing to expose him to minor league free agency once again, though it’s unclear if they’d choose to do so.

Tyrese Haliburton spent the past two years dumping his hometown baseball team in public, one jersey at a time. On Thursday night, he made it official at Wrigley Field.

The injured Indiana Pacers point guard threw out the ceremonial first pitch wearing a Cubs jersey before Chicago hosted the Brewers, taking the mound at Wrigley rather than 90 miles north in Milwaukee.

Haliburton, from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was a Brewers fan his whole life. That ended in 2024, he said, when the team invited him to throw out a first pitch that summer, then pulled the offer after his Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs.

"I was a Brewers fan and then I was supposed to throw the first pitch last summer and then they X'd that after the playoffs ended," Haliburton said on the "The Pat McAfee Show" in April 2025. "So I said, you know what, I'm no longer a Brewers fan."

Tyrese Haliburton grew up a Brewers fan in Wisconsin. Tonight, he took the mound to throw out the first pitch for the Cubs ... against the Brewers 👀 pic.twitter.com/h4bwoFK4pl

— MLB (@MLB) September 3, 2026

It was a rough break up. Haliburton started showing up to Pacers games in Cubs and Dodgers gear, including a Cubs jersey at a preseason game in October 2025. When the Dodgers swept the Brewers out of the National League Championship Series that fall, he leaned into rooting against Milwaukee.

The Dodgers noticed. Manager Dave Roberts invited Haliburton to jump on the bandwagon and throw out a first pitch at Dodger Stadium.

"I'd like to offer him the first pitch at Dodger Stadium, and he can rock that Ohtani jersey in its rightful place," Roberts said on Amazon's "Good Sports With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson."

Haliburton, who calls himself a baseball free agent, has had plenty of time to practice his first pitch. He tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City Thunder in June 2025 and was out for the entire 2025-26 season. The Pacers have said he isn't expected to play again until late 2026.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyrese Haliburton's breakup with the Brewers becomes official at Wrigley

The good thing about this week’s series in the land of the Crawford Boxes and the choo-choo is that both Sean Burke and Davis Martin pitched extremely well, a big turnaround from their recent starts and a good sign for the stretch run. The bad thing — well, besides nearly the entire offense — is that Luis Castillo once again demonstrated that while Chris Getz may have had a very nice offseason, he had a miserable trade deadline.

Castillo started out looking good, striking out Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez. He then walked Isaac Paredes on 10 pitches and threw José Altuve a fastball that would have been a strike on Aaron Judge but was nose-high on Altuve. Altuve still sent it into the Crawford Boxes to make it 2-0 Astros.

The lead didn’t last long. Braden Montgomery singled off Hunter Brown to lead off the second, and Colson Montgomery followed with a routine ground ball to second. Peña blew the relay, though, and Chase Meidroth followed with an unplayable 50-mph dribbler. Jake Rogers and Sam Antonacci then delivered actual singles to tie the score.

There being no other Sox offensive highlights, what the heck, let’s show you the RBIs. First, Jake’s:

Nice stop by Peña, nice hustle by a catcher to avoid the DP. Then Sam’s, which actually made it to the outfield.

The Sox even got a single and a walk to lead off the third, but that apparently ticked off Brown, who entered the game 5-0 against them in his career. He then struck out the side, retired nine in a row and didn’t allow another hit through the sixth.

Meanwhile, the Astros were allowed to bat more against Castillo, which, as usual, was not a good thing. In the bottom of the third, they went single, HBP, double, triple, single to make it a 6-2 game. That was all they scored, but it was all they needed.

Will Venable left Castillo in for the fourth, when he stranded a couple of runners, but that was it for the alleged innings eater who has turned into just an appetizer nibbler. Tyler Schweitzer, Trevor Richards and even José Urquidy combined for four scoreless innings, but the feeble Sox offense didn’t manage another hit until a two-out Meidroth single in the ninth.

The one moment of good performance by Sox non-pitchers came on a nifty Braden grab with two on and two out in the fifth.

Baseball lore has it that if a player who makes a nice catch leads off the next inning, he always gets a hit. Braden only managed a walk, but that sorta counts. Didn’t matter, because Colson then hit into a real double play.

After the third, the Sox never stranded another runner in scoring position. But that’s because they never got another runner to second.

The White Sox fall to 73-67 but remain three games ahead of Cleveland, which lost to Toronto this afternoon. Their lead over Houston is down to 1 1/2 games, though. The Astros also hold the tiebreaker after winning the season series 5-2, which could matter for postseason positioning and home-field advantage if the teams finish with identical records.

The Sox now head home to face the Twins and Pirates beginning tomorrow night but, oddly, have Labor Day off.

As for the Sox MVP, there really isn’t one, but feel free to name somebody in the comments — maybe Meidroth for his two singles and two Ks, or the pen for four innings of scoreless work?

Castillo would seem to be the runaway choice for goat (not GOAT), but if you prefer a batter, Munetaka Murakami was 0-for-4 with three Ks. He is 1-for-20 and hasn’t homered since Aug. 18. Colson was also 0-for-4 with a strikeout while hitting into one double play and another that should have been.

I think I’d give the dishonor to Chris Getz for his terrible work at the trade deadline, but have at whomever you like in the comments.

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to make Shohei Ohtani’s health a priority in order to help preserve him for a postseason run.

The Dodgers are looking to become the third franchise to secure a World Series three-peat.

Ohtani is expected to play a key role in trying to make that happen, but he will need to be healthy to do it.

Ohtani was not in the starting lineup as a designated hitter on Thursday, Sept. 3. It is the first time he has not been in the lineup since July 30.

Ohtani showed signs of discomfort in the Dodgers' 8-6 home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 2. He went 0-for-4, but did walk and score a run.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani told the team he had discomfort in his biceps and neck during the game.

The Dodgers have not placed Ohtani on the injured list, but it hasn't officially been ruled out either. The Dodgers will treat Ohtani's status for the moment as "day-to-day."

The manager said he will need to have further conversations with Ohtani before deciding on the next step.

"I think for me it's just getting with him later today and seeing how his day is and how he responds to a day of rest and I think at that point we will make a decision as far as tomorrow," Roberts said.

Ohtani is known for his two-way ability, but has been limited to just hitting for most of this season due to injuries.

Ohtani was working toward making his first pitching start since July 3 due to knee inflammation and biceps discomfort. Ohtani had a short bullpen session on Aug. 28, but it wasn’t enough to give the superstar the green light to get on the mound for a game.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani out of Dodgers lineup as injury concerns mount

All last weekend, my kid told me that it was going to be Labor Day that next Monday. I kept telling her no, it was next Monday. I mean, like 10 or 12 times. Then I told this to the wife. She was very quiet, then asked “it’s not Labor Day tomorrow?” Because she kept telling our kid it was, then I kept breaking her heart. So if you’re broken hearted to hear that there’s no game today, I apologize.

What is going on then? The Brewers and Cubs are kicking off shortly. The Cubs are 9 back of the Brewers, but they’re not out of it. The Cardinals can complete a sweep of the Dodgers at 10 pm Eastern.

The mutant form of college football is going on tonight as well. Missouri and Utah look poised to devour their opening week cupcakes of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Idaho, respectively. That’s going on at 7pm and 8pm.

Are you guys and gals going to the beach? Ima sit at home and broil myself. The next trip we take will be either to a sick relative’s or to Atlanta for a playoff game. Hopefully, the family can pull through and the Braves can be victorious.

Do we want to debate what the Braves playoff position will be? I’m thinking the Braves might slide into that #2 slot if the Dodgers keep slipping up. Let’s go take care of Philadelphia first.

Lately, I’ve been writing game discussions and recaps after unfortunate events.

Last Thursday, I wrote the game thread the day after the nine-game winning streak snapped.

Today, it’s following the end of five straight series wins.

But that’s okay. Listen, if you were thinking that the Royals could make the playoffs during this stretch of great baseball that began when they were 24 games under .500, I applaud you. I wish I could’ve had that kind of hope.

Still, we’ve seen this team’s best action the past couple of weeks. Even having dropped two in a row to the Fish, I’m looking forward to watching Michael Wacha take the mound tonight on the heels of his gem against Cleveland on August 28th.

Let’s bid adieu to the Marlins with a victory, one that would push them even farther behind the Diamondbacks for the last National Wild Card spot. It’s that time of year: playing spoiler.

As mentioned, Wacha takes the ball tonight. In his last outing, he absolutely cooked the Guardians, tossing eight scoreless innings while allowing four hits and zero walks while striking out 10. It was beautiful. In his third year with the Royals, Wacha has become the starting rotation’s anchor. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Royals tabbed him as the team’s Opening Day starter in 2027.

Here’s the Royals’ lineup:

Wacha bump night. pic.twitter.com/6EsnQQ5W0h

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 3, 2026

Carter Jensen launched two home runs last night while also drawing a walk. He’s locked in. I’m glad to see Isaac Collins back in left because I am over the John Rave Experience. Neither one of these dudes is the long-term answer in left, but, obviously, I’d much rather see Collins out there. Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino swap defensive roles, such as it is, with the former starting at first and the latter taking on the DH role. Josh Rojas starts at the hot corner over Nick Loftin.

This lineup will face Sandy Alcantara, who captured the National League Cy Young Award back in 2022. Since, he’s struggled, falling off in 2023, missing all of 2024, and rebounding in 2025. Now, he’s as close to 2022-form as he’s been. He leads the Majors in games started, innings pitched, and batters faced, but has also allowed the most hits. The Marlins haven’t won any of his starts since August 8.

His offense:

Finale in K.C.

📺: https://t.co/CoO4Nlpkc8
👂: @MarlinsRadio, @radiomambi710, @1043wqam
⏰: 7:40 PM ET#FightinFishpic.twitter.com/dVzhdE6ENU

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 3, 2026

Name me a more anonymous lineup the Majors. Not that the Marlins are bad—they’re clearly not, as they have a winning record. But this offense—heck, this franchise—is just so…I don’t know…boring, and they have been for years. When they first entered the National League with the Rockies, they were a cool new thing, especially when they won the World Series in 1997 (thanks a lot, Jose Mesa) and 2003.

Since? Yawn.

And still, they are 71-69 and just 2-and-1/2 games back of Arizona for a playoff spot (albeit with the Padres also ahead of them).

First pitch tonight at 6:40. It will be hot.

Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers

Thursday, September 3, 2026, 7:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

The Shed

LHP Shane McClanahan vs. RHP Cal Quantrill

Go Rangers!

BALTIMORE — Adley Rutschman reported to his longtime workplace on Thursday, Sept. 3, greeted several longtime Camden Yards staffers and made the well-worn walk into the Baltimore Orioles' clubhouse.

He prepared for a game that will be attended by hundreds of fans wearing his jersey as he resumed the fight for an American League wild-card spot.

But the stopover in the Orioles' clubhouse was only to exchange hugs and laughs and talk some smack with his friends. His pregame prep was in service of catching Boston Red Sox starter Jake Bennett, not Orioles rookie Brandon Young.

And the socks and undershirt and all other trappings he pulled on were not in the black and orange of the Orioles – or his college, Oregon State - but rather the red of Boston’s Olde Towne Team.

Rutschman’s professional life was turned upside down five weeks ago, when the only organization he knew, the one he led out of the darkness of a rebuild and into the playoffs traded him north, within the division, to a club that now finds itself running the same wild-card race that his friends on the Orioles are desperate to stay in.

And in his first at-bat as a visiting player, Rutschman showed why he became a franchise staple in Baltimore.

He drilled a Brandon Young curveball 377 feet, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and leaving little doubt who he works for now.

Yet they still love him in Baltimore.

ORIOLES FANS GREET ADLEY.

Adley Rutschman was greeted with a standing ovation in his first at-bat with the Red Sox at Camden Yards. pic.twitter.com/QKqCar2CaH

— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) September 3, 2026

Rutschman got an extended standing ovation before his first at-bat as the ballpark played his usual walk-up song from Kid Cudi. He got a hug from Pete Alonso as the Polar Bear climbed into the batter's box for his first at-bat.

And a video that played after the first inning touched on so many highlights as an Oriole - from his Home Run Derby appearance to his wide-eyed debut and a cigar celebration after clinching a playoff berth.

If it sounds like commemorating an era now past, well, that's exactly what it was.

When club president Mike Elias, who made Rutschman the No. 1 overall pick in 2019 and the first selection in his career, dealt Rutschman to Boston in a seven-player trade Aug. 3, it brought Rutschman and his pals to tears. They were simply trying to go to a movie.

Instead, the plug was pulled on a movement, on a young core that led the Orioles to consecutive playoff appearances, a friend group busted up by the business of baseball.

And so upon his return Thursday, Rutschman filibustered most of a 10-minute session with a larger throng of media than almost any he encountered as an Oriole by talking of page-turning, and new opportunities and a positive acclimation.

Yet he realizes he left behind a significant amount of unfinished business in Charm City.

“At the time, absolutely you always want to be able to achieve the goals that you set at the beginning of the year,” Rutschman said of his mindset after Elias called and told him to pack his bags for Boston. “And in years past, you set goals to win the World Series and come up short.

“But then you have a new opportunity. And a new situation. And today’s a new day.”

Adley homers in his first AB back at Camden Yards! pic.twitter.com/E7oIkF9oJj

— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 3, 2026

That day came with the Red Sox in an appreciably better position than his old team. Elias deal Rutschman, reliever Tyler Wells and outfielder Taylor Ward on Aug. 3 because he said the club didn’t play well enough – it was 54-58 on deadline day - to justify continuing on.

Since then, the Orioles have gotten it together, kind of, beginning play Thursday at 69-71 and one game out of a wild-card berth – though with three teams to vault.

The Red Sox? Their crazy 21-4 run through July made them unlikely buyers, which is why they shipped a pair of vaunted pitching prospects to Baltimore for Rutschman. They enter Thursday night's game at 75-65 and hold a five-game lead for the No. 2 wild-card spot with 22 games left.

The Rutschman-Orioles reunion came amid such tension.

“They’ll love to see Adley,” says Orioles manager Craig Albernaz.

“But also, they’re going to try and kick his ass, too.”

Hey, it wasn’t all fire and brimstone. Albernaz noted that it was “good to see a smile on his face and see his goofy self walking around” during Rutschman’s brief trip to the Orioles' clubhouse.

And Rutschman, who in times good and bad exudes significant Golden Retriever energy, reiterated his love for Orioles fans and his teammates. And, at least publicly, he holds no enmity toward Elias, whose cold calculation that Rutschman was more valuable as a trade chip as Rutschman neared his final season before becoming eligible for free agency.

“I have a ton of respect for Mike,” says Rutschman. “You know, he's got a tough job. He’s got to make tough decisions, and I always respect that he's really good at what he does, and he has reasons for everything that he does.

“I’ve always had a good relationship with him, so it’s just one of those things in baseball that you kind of understand is part of the business aspect of it, and he’s got to do what he thinks is best for the organization, short term, and long term.

“I don't have any ill feelings toward anyone in the Orioles organization at all.”

Unsurprisingly, Rutschman has ingratiated himself quickly with the Red Sox. While Rutschman was on the injured list with a wrist injury at the time of the trade and missed the previous three games with the injury, he was in the lineup and batting third Thursday night.

It’s been a month – the trade, the injury, the city of Boston wondering what it has in Rutschman. His affability has helped.

“He’s a great guy. He’s a great person. He’s a hard worker,” says Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “When I spoke to him on the phone the day we traded for him, I kind of pretty immediately felt, ‘This is a pretty good dude.’

“When I got to meet him and interact with him in the five days before he got activated, high-character guy. You meet someone and feel like, ‘He can handle it.’ This will be in some ways emotional for him. He’s an important player here for a long time and I’m sure he’ll be well-received.

“But I know he’ll be ready to go.”

Rutschman’s eyes moistened a bit in his media session, but held his composure. He began his career with a long glance around Camden Yards as he trotted out to catch in his major league debut.

He finished his Orioles career with three All-Star berths, including during their 101-win 2023 season, a .756 OPS, 69 homers and 16.5 WAR. Those numbers don’t quite capture what he represented when he arrived in 2022: Hope, after three 100-loss seasons in the three full seasons that preceded his arrival.

The crowd was ready for him once again Thursday, and so was Rutschman. He talked with former teammate Ryan O’Hearn about battling emotions in a return. The advice stuck: To move on, but not forget.

“Try to make the most of every single situation in life in general,” says Rutschman.

“Which is, I guess, good life advice, as well.”

Particularly when your professional life is turned upside down.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Adley Rutschman returns to Baltimore a Red Sox - and homers in first at-bat

The St. Louis Cardinals will enter the gauntlet again Thursday night as it’ll be game 3 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Quinn Mathews will start for the Cardinals going up against the formidable Tarik Skubal for the Dodgers. First pitch scheduled for 9:10pm central time at Dodger Stadium and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.

Probable pitchers: RHP Brandon Young (9-3, 3.38 ERA, 103 Ks) vs. LHP Jake Bennett (9-6, 3.27 ERA, 74 Ks)

Where to watch: FOX/FOX ONE

Usually when you win six out of nine games on a road trip, you return home feeling good about the direction of your team. With the Orioles, however, they come into tonight’s game against the Red Sox having to shake off the disappointment from their last two losses in Colorado. 

Had the O’s offense not gone completely silent in Coors Field (the most offensive-friendly park in baseball), they could have swept the Rockies and would currently be in the last Wild Card spot. Instead, after losing an 11-inning heartbreaker Wednesday, they come into this series against Boston 1.5 GB of Cleveland for the last AL playoff berth. 

Tonight, Birdland will also be fending off the emotions of seeing Adley Rutschman return to Baltimore in a Red Sox uniform. In 15 games with Boston, Rutschman is struggling, slashing .170/.254/.245 with only two extra-base hits and 15 strikeouts. The former Baltimore backstop is hitting .271 with a .826 OPS at Camden Yards this season, though he last played in OPACY back on July 11th. 

The O’s turn to Brandon Young as they try to start a new winning streak. The big Texan has been Baltimore’s most reliable starter all season, with the O’s going 18-5 in games started by BY. Young has only faced the Red Sox once previously this year, getting the win back in April after putting up a line of 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB and 5 Ks. 

Opposing Young is rookie left-hander Jake Bennett. The 25-year-old out of Oklahoma has pitched one other time in Camden Yards, putting up a solid start of 5.2, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB and 4 Ks in a 6-3 Boston win. Christian Encarnacion-Strand tagged Bennett for a home run that day, while Pete Alonso went 2-for-5 with a double. The lefty-masher Coby Mayo will also in the two hole for the first time all season, tonight. Mayo will look to build on his MLB-leading 15 home runs vs. LHPs—though Bennett has only allowed 7 long balls in 93.2 IP.

Orioles lineup

1. Blaze Alexander (R) 2B
2. Coby Mayo (R) DH
3. Luis Robert Jr. (R) CF
4. Pete Alonso (R) 1B
5. Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
6. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (R) 3B
7. Leody Taveras (S) RF
8. Dylan Beavers (L) LF
9. Carlos Narváez (R) C

Red Sox lineup

1. Roman Anthony (L) DH
2. Mickey Gasper (S) 1B
3. Adley Rutschman (S) C
4. Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
5. Nick Sogard (S) 2B
6. Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
7. Jarren Duran (L) LF
8. Eli White (R) CF
9. Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS

I don’t know about you, but I am tired of reading and writing about Guardians’ losses. They dropped a critical series to the Blue Jays today, losing 5-3.

Tanner Bibee had an awful fifth and the Guardians went 2 for 10 with Runners in Scoring Position. As a cherry on top, Travis Bazzana made an error and got lifted for David Fry as a pinch-hit option in the fifth (Fry took a walk. Throw a parade).

The stadium was full of Blue Jays fans who are, from my experience, the most obnoxious fans who visit Progressive Field. I say this as a Canada fan. They are not sending us their best.

Steven Kwan had two hits, Austin Hedges hit a clutch two-run single, Angel Genao had an RBI single and a walk. They need to hit homers but don’t expect to see Ralphy Velazquez anytime soon because he is probably too young to help, anyway.

The White Sox lost so the Guardians still have a path to the playoffs, somehow. They need to find a way to take at least three of four from the Tigers this weekend.

Stephen Vogt pitched Carlos Hernandez in the 9th, probably thinking bringing a rested pen to a doubleheader against Detroit tomorrow was a better chance to steal wins than this lineup vs. Louis Varland in the 9th. I guess I can’t disagree with that.

Foster Griffin and Logan Allen will pitch tomorrow. So, that could go quite poorly

Over the first five months of his tenure as San Diego Padres manager, Craig Stammen offers the perfect poker face when answering questions about his team’s play. But his unshakeable composure might be tested in the season’s final month.

Coming off a memorable 21-7 hot streak out of the All-Star break, the Padres limped into September with a 2-7 mark in their last nine games. That recent slump has sparked restlessness among the Friar Faithful. 

It has not been easy for Stammen to keep the Friars playing consistent baseball all season. He faces another challenge in seeking a path to a Wild Card berth. 

Most of his upcoming decisions will not be easy, as they will center on the pitching staff. And Stammen’s choices must put the team in position to win each night. 

Do the Padres have enough starting pitching?

No question, the Friars have a reliable five-man starting rotation. Everyone is in relatively good health after early-season injuries nearly decimated the staff. 

On the mound, Randy Vasquez has pitched like an ace. In August, he put together his best stretch of the season, posting a 4-0 mark with a 2.57 ERA in five appearances. The right-hander has put himself in the conversation for possible late-season starts. Stammen has a difficult choice between Vasquez and a proven commodity in Nick Pivetta.

Before any decision, Stammen and pitching coach Ruben Niebla must determine whether Pivetta can contribute down the stretch. He has worked his way back from an elbow injury, but the jury is still out on whether Pivetta can thrive in the majors again. It will be a tough decision that may come down to arm strength and the ability to be effective every fifth day.

A surplus of starting pitching is a luxury in September. Unfortunately, arm injuries (Joe Musgrove’s setback) and subpar pitching performances come unannounced.

Whoever is chosen, Stammen has confidence in their ability. 

What is the state of the Friars’ bullpen?

The bullpen has been the one constant for the Padres in 2026. But the unit has hit a rough patch, being unable to protect late-inning leads. Closer Mason Miller experienced a brief hiccup, giving up a go-ahead home run and blowing a save during this bad stretch.

Stammen may need to shorten the circle of trust with his set-up relievers. It is time for him to judge which pitchers can excel in high-leverage situations. To secure a postseason berth, the workload will be excessive, with few days off on the docket. 

The goal is to stabilize the bullpen by identifying everyone’s role and recording big outs. 

With all that said, every Wild Card-contending team has blemishes of its own. It will be a sprint to the finish line. 

After a season of ups and downs, the Friars hope that a few more highs await them in September. 

Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup Thursday and his availability is a “day-to-day situation,” manager Dave Roberts announced before the Dodgers’ series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Ohtani’s health has been scrutinized for much of the season and even more over the last week. He hasn’t pitched since July 3 because of soreness and threw a bullpen session last Friday in hopes of pitching one inning Sunday against the Detroit Tigers. But, not feeling “100%,” as Roberts put it, Ohtani didn’t return to the mound, and his throwing progression stalled.

Though Roberts described Ohtani’s ailment as an overall issue, including his left knee and right biceps, he remained in the lineup. Roberts said then that he’d been given no indication that swinging the bat was affecting Ohtani, but if that changed, the manager would have no problem with sitting the superstar.

Wednesday, as Ohtani went 0 for 4 in the midst of a two-for-23 skid, seemed to be a turning point.

Read more:Shohei Ohtani doesn't look right to Dodgers manager after striking out four times in loss

“I saw the same thing that everyone saw,” Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 8-6 loss to the Cardinals. “I saw the shaking of the arm, I saw the wincing, and clearly the swings aren’t who he is. And so, obviously, there’s some compensation. So I’m going to talk to him, and then I’ll make a decision about his availability.”

Roberts said a stint on the injured list was unlikely “but not impossible.”

Ohtani has declined requests for comment through a team spokesperson and hasn’t addressed reporters in more than two weeks.

“He definitely doesn’t want to take the day [off],” Roberts said Wednesday. “Speaking for him, I know he feels that he needs to post and be in the lineup, and if he’s upright, he should play. I respect that. But if he’s feeling the way that it visibly looks, then it’s really not helping anyone. So that’s the conversation I’ll have with him.”

Managing Ohtani’s health will continue to be a priority for the Dodgers. He’s been dealing with lingering knee soreness and inflammation since at least mid-June, and his biceps issue has flared several times this season.

Ohtani’s buildup back to pitching has been halted twice since he received an Orthovisc injection to lubricate the knee joint over the All-Star break.

As valuable as Ohtani is to the Dodgers as a pitcher, his offensive impact is needed far more, especially with left-hander Tarik Skubal added to the rotation. If continuing to try to pitch jeopardizes Ohtani’s production with his bat, it may be in the team’s best interest to take pitching off the table for him.

Tommy Edman was penciled into the leadoff spot and will play center field, while Alex Call will be the designated hitter and bat eighth.

Tonight's #Dodgers lineup vs. Cardinals: pic.twitter.com/77gpgH4iyi

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 3, 2026

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Mets made a roster move on Thursday afternoon before their three-game set against the Giants begins at Citi Field on Friday night, claiming right-hander Cameron Weston off waivers from the Orioles and designating catcher Shawn Ross for assignment. Weston was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.

Weston, who turned 26 years old last Thursday, was drafted by the Orioles in the eight round of the 2022 Draft and worked his way up through Baltimore’s minor league system. He has appeared in one major league game, tossing a scoreless inning against the Blue Jays on May 28 in his MLB debut. He struck out the first batter he faced — former Met Andrés Giménez — before allowing a walk to Brandon Valenzuela and inducing a double play from George Springer. Weston was subsequently optioned back to Triple-A Norfolk, where he has struggled to the tune of a 7.89 ERA in 51.1 innings pitched this season.

The Pennsylvania native sports a unique sidearm delivery, with a four-degree arm angle that would rank second-lowest among qualified right-handers behind submariner Tyler Rogers. Weston also averaged an impressive 19.9 inches of horizontal break on the seven sinkers he threw in his debut. For reference, no qualified pitcher is averaging over 18.7 inches of horizontal break on a sinker this season (Austin Warren, Sean Manaea, and Nolan McLean all rank in the top 20 on that leaderboard).

Ross was claimed off waivers from the Pirates on August 2. In 15 games with Syracuse, he hit .195 with one home run. Ross made his debut earlier this season for Pittsburgh, playing in two games and crushing a mammoth home run (110.6-mph exit velocity, 438-foot projected distance) in his second big league at-bat.

The Mets and Orioles have now each claimed a player off waivers from the other team in the past 72 hours, with Luis Robert Jr. currently in the heart of Baltimore’s lineup. When the the two clubs play a three-game series at Citi Field from September 14-16, it will already mark the return of Pete Alonso and Robert — but perhaps Weston will have a chance to join the party of players facing their former teams as well.