CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 27: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees and Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees celebrate after the New York Yankees defeat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 at Rate Field on July 27, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is reportedly joining the 10-day injured list with a sprained right thumb. Another injury to add to the Yankees’ extensive list this season.
MLB Insider Bryan Hoch reported the news on Wednesday, revealing that Chisholm is unable to participate in baseball activities for 7-10 days. Manager Aaron Boone indicated within the last hour that they just heard the news, so a replacement might not be available to join the team tonight. All told, not what you want to hear in the heart of September baseball and just days away from the Subway Series, but on the other hand, a new space in the roster could be the perfect shuffle the Pinstripes need to finally gain a consistent momentum.
The Yankees have several options to call up and add depth to the roster. Fans probably have mixed feelings on this subject, but placing Chisholm on the IL also opens the possibility of Anthony Volpe’s return to the majors. Reports confirmed that Boone would be “comfortable” with putting the New Jersey native at 2B. Max Schuemann and Oswaldo Cabrera are both already on the 40-man roster as well and could be options if the Yankees want someone in more of a bench role.
Following through with Volpe could be the spark needed for this offense to propel into the postseason. He’s been especially hot of late with a .440 average and a .533 OBP for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in September. He’ll be a huge asset in the Bronx if he can maintain or bolster his numbers, but it would make sense to be cautiously optimistic at this point.
Chisholm will likely rejoin the lineup once he’s reinstated from the IL, which could be just in time for arguably one of the most crucial series against the Rays. The Yankees took the first game in the Rockies series and currently remain four games behind Tampa Bay in a tight race for the AL East crown.
Update
When Jazz Chisholm is placed on the IL, Anthony Volpe will be recalled from AAA. Volpe will join the team tomorrow. Chisholm is still active and will be available to pinch run tonight.
YES Network’s Jack Curry just reported that Volpe will indeed get the call from Triple-A and join the Yankees on Thursday. As noted, Chisholm will remain active tonight in case a pinch-running situation arises.
Davis Martin looks to sink the Pirates and steady the Sox rotation. | (Patrick Gorski/IMAGN IMAGES)
A bit of housekeeping before tonight’s game: The White Sox placed righthander Tyler Davis on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List and recalled lefthander Chris Murphy from Triple-A Charlotte.
Prior to tonight’s game vs. Pittsburgh, the Chicago White Sox have placed right-handed pitcher Tyler Davis on the Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency List and recalled left-hander Chris Murphy from Class AAA Charlotte.
After getting shellacked, 9-3, last night, the South Siders could use a convincing win tonight. Davis Martin gets the ball for Chicago as it attempts to protect a two-game lead in the AL Central — and a three-game advantage in the loss column.
Martin is 9-6 with a 4.13 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 25 starts. The righthander was solid in his first appearance after returning from a brief injured-list stint caused by a blister. He tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out three.
That was an encouraging response after a brutal August in which Martin posted a 14.63 ERA and 2.25 WHIP over three starts. The Sox badly need the Martin of old — specifically, the April and May version who went 7-1 and appeared headed toward an All-Star selection and perhaps even Cy Young consideration.
The Baseball Savant numbers show exactly what Martin needs to do to rediscover that form. The veteran needs to lean on his changeup and sinker and be careful with his breaking stuff. The changeup should be featured particularly against lefties such as Oneil Cruz, Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds.
Martin has also generated chases at a healthy rate, ranking in the 70th percentile, so expanding the zone with the changeup once he gets ahead should be an important part of the plan. The danger comes when he leaves pitches in hittable locations. Martin ranks in only the 15th percentile in average exit velocity and the 10th percentile in hard-hit rate. His expected batting average is in the 11th percentile, and his expected ERA is in the 25th. In other words, when hitters make contact against him, it is often loud contact.
His slider has been particularly vulnerable, ranking in the 11th percentile in run value, while his overall breaking-ball run value sits in the 18th. The curveball has been closer to average, but this is not a night for Martin to rely heavily on breaking pitches in the heart of the plate. He should establish the sinker, use the changeup as his primary putaway offering and make Pittsburgh prove it can resist chasing.
Starting pitching remains one of Chicago’s most significant weaknesses. White Sox starters have a 4.69 ERA, which ranks 26th in baseball, and a 1.34 WHIP, good for only 24th. If this team is going to finish the job and clinch the division, the rotation needs to step it up.
On the flip side, the arm barn owns a 3.65 ERA, sixth-best in baseball. Can you imagine what the White Sox record might look like if the starters had merely been average?
Of course, the offense also needs to get itself together.
Over the past 15 days, the Sox are slashing .220/.318/.379 with a .697 OPS. They have shown patience and a reasonable amount of power, but they have struggled to collect enough hits to sustain rallies. The 98-point difference between their batting average and on-base percentage suggests they are drawing walks, while their .159 isolated power is respectable.
Their .266 BABIP also helps explain the low average. Some of that could be poor batted-ball luck, although weak contact and inconsistent at-bats are likely part of the problem. Either way, the offense has become too dependent on walks and extra-base hits rather than consistently stringing together productive plate appearances.
Tristan Peters and Miguel Vargas have been the brightest spots. Peters is slashing .333/.381/.564 with a .945 OPS over the past 15 days. At the other end is Munetaka Murakami, whose extension price tag keeps slipping lower and lower. He is hitting a paltry .114/.278/.205 with a .483 OPS during that span.
Lake Bachar will serve as the opener for a Pittsburgh bullpen game. The righthander, now in his third major league season, is 1-3 with a 3.59 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. This will be his fifth turn as an opener since the Pirates acquired him from Miami at the deadline. In his first four, he allowed only two runs on four hits over 9 2/3 innings. That is pretty darn good.
Bachar’s Savant profile suggests the Sox should arrive with a patient but aggressive-in-the-zone approach. He ranks in the 80th percentile in whiff rate and the 69th percentile in strikeout rate, so this is not a pitcher against whom they should expand the zone or attempt to protect against everything.
However, Bachar ranks in only the 26th percentile in chase rate and the 29th percentile in walk rate. He has not been especially effective at persuading hitters to offer at pitches outside the zone, and his control can create opportunities. The Sox should force him to throw strikes and avoid helping him manufacture quick outs.
Bachar’s curveball is his featured weapon, ranking in the 96th percentile in run value. His four-seamer has also been effective, landing in the 77th percentile, while his overall breaking-ball run value ranks in the 84th. The Sox should not go hunting for the curveball, especially with two strikes. Instead, they should look for a fastball in a specific area early in the count and avoid getting caught between the heater and the breaking ball.
His expected statistics are strong: 72nd percentile in expected ERA, 92nd in expected batting average and 71st in expected slugging. Bachar has also limited hard contact, ranking in the 79th percentile in hard-hit rate. Waiting around indefinitely will not necessarily work, but controlled aggression could. If he puts a hittable four-seamer in the zone, the Sox need to be ready to attack it.
Pittsburgh has been playing good baseball lately. The Pirates are 7-3 over their last 10 games and have won four consecutive series since being swept by the Dodgers. They are slashing .259/.343/.370 with a .713 OPS and .326 BABIP, with Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds all hitting better than .300 over the past seven days.
Martin’s mission is straightforward. He should keep the ball away from the middle of the plate, feature the changeup and sinker and avoid hanging sliders. For the offense, it is about laying off Bachar’s curveball outside the zone, making him throw strikes and attacking the right fastball when it arrives.
Now would be a lovely time for both sides of that plan to come together.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CDT. The game will be televised on CHSN and can be heard on ESPN 1000.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 28: A general view in the third inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies at Truist Park on August 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s get after it, y’all! The Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays are in the middle portion of their three game series and the onus is on the Braves to make sure that they don’t end up dropping the series right away. Reynaldo López has returned to the mound and hopefully we’ll see him put in a creditable performance while the Braves figure out a way to break through against Griffin Jax. Let’s see what happens, folks!
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Jackson Ferris #93 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch against the San Diego Padres during a spring training game at Peoria Stadium on February 22, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Oklahoma City Comets outlasted the Sugar Land Space Cowboys 8-6 on Wednesday, going two games up on Sugar Land in the second half of Pacific Coast League standings, with 10 games left to play. Jackson Ferris continued his strong recent run by pitching the final six innings in relief, with seven strikeouts.
More importantly, for my interests, Ferris was credited with a SIX-INNING SAVE.
The game was very wild early. Gavin Stone started, his first game in two weeks, starting a new rehab assignment while on the 60-day injured list. He needed 32 pitches to record only two outs, both by strikeouts, with two walks and two hits, one of the hits a three-run home run.
Chris Campos relieved Stone and stranded the runner to end the first inning, then allowed a solo home run of his own in the second inning. In all, Campos struck out three with the one run allowed in 1 1/3 innings.
Oklahoma City tied things with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, then took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with three more runs, and never relinquished it. Campos was the pitcher of record when the Comets grabbed the lead, putting him in position to earn the win.
Official baseball rules govern both Major League Baseball and minor league affiliates, and Rule 9.17(c) covers this sort of situation, and grants the official scorer discretion when the starter doesn’t last five innings:
The Official Scorer shall not credit as the winning pitcher a relief pitcher who is ineffective in a brief appearance, when at least one succeeding relief pitcher pitches effectively in helping his team maintain its lead. In such a case, the Official Scorer shall credit as the winning pitcher the succeeding relief pitcher who was most effective, in the judgment of the Official Scorer.
Oklahoma City play-by-play broadcaster Alex Freedman passed along the official scorer at the ballpark said he could not in good conscience say the outing by Campos was both ineffective and brief.
After rehabbers Edwin Díaz and Kris Bubic got three outs in the third inning, it was Ferris the rest of the way. He allowed only a run on two hits in his six innings, with seven strikeouts and only two walks for his first professional save.
He might not have started, but Jackson Ferris certainly finished the job 🫡
That’s five straightstellar outingsby Ferris, with a minuscule 1.27 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 10 walks in 28 1/3 innings, rescuing a season by the 22-year-old that featured a 7.15 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 43 walks through his first 18 outings and 73 innings. He had a strikeout-minus-walk rate of 8.1 percent through August 8, improved to 22.3 percent over the last five Ferris outings.
In that 2002 game, Texas starter Aaron Myette was ejected after only one batter, and Todd Van Poppel followed with two scoreless innings, and by then the Rangers led 4-0, so Van Poppel got the win. It was nearly a combined no-hitter, but Jerry Hairston Jr. tripled to open the ninth inning off the rookie Benoit, and scored Baltimore’s only run.
“I really didn’t think about it. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen, whatever,” Benoit said of the near no-hitter, per Associated Press.
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 18: Daniel Lynch IV #41 of the Kansas City Royals follows through on a pitch in the second inning of an MLB game between the Athletics and Kansas City Royals on Aug 18, 2026 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Royals have won just 2 of their last 9 games since the hot stretch ended. Last series they were able to salvage game three to avoid the sweep and will attempt to do so again. tonight. On paper it looks like a very lopsided pitching matchup with Daniel Lynch IV facing Zac Gallen, but at this point Gallen has not been very good for a couple of years. So far in 2026 he has posted a 6.34 ERA across 19 starts with a shocking 5.6K/9. I do not know what happened to Zac. I do know that both lineups are probably licking their chops in a series where both have struggled to score runs until the very end of the game.
Jac Caglianone is not headed to the injured list, but he also still is not in the lineup today. Nothing really shocking about the starters today.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 09: Elias Díaz #35 of the Texas Rangers reacts after striking out in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers scored two runs but the Seattle Mariners scored three runs.
So the Rangers weren’t especially lucky today. Maybe you could say you make your own luck when you do things like go 11-15 against the Angels and A’s, but the Rangers are trying to right their wrongs and sneak into the playoffs so they’d gladly take any favors that they can get and none arrived this afternoon.
The Mariners were lucky to land baseball’s top pitching prospect Kade Anderson after moving up to No. 3 with just 0.7% odds in the 2025 MLB Draft. They were lucky Anderson was available at No. 3 when two braindead orgs above them opted for slot bonus shenanigans rather than taking the LSU College World Series-winning ace.
That windfall became bad news for the Rangers and today they got their first look of many more to come against Anderson in the fourth start of his young MLB career. As it would turn out, it would be the best outing for Anderson thus far.
Despite pinning ten runs on Seattle less than 24 hours ago, the Rangers were held to just two solo home runs — only one of which came off Anderson, who allowed one run in six innings — and couldn’t make use of an early 1-0 lead with the rookie starter on the mound. Despite some traffic in most innings today, the Rangers went 0-for-5 with RISP and left seven on base.
Meanwhile, Texas starter Cody Bradford allowed two, two-out RBI hits in two separate innings with the first coming after Cal Raleigh drew a walk and only advanced into scoring position on a foul out to the backstop wall which allowed Raleigh to tag up and scamper to second base. Taylor Ward followed with the two-out single that tied the game, a parachute blooper over the head of Justin Foscue.
A few of innings later, in a 1-1 game, Bradford got two quick outs and then a ground ball to a waiting Corey Seager for what appeared to be a sure inning-ender only for it to hit off the second base bag and go for a single to ignite a surprising rally. Ward followed the fortuitous hit with a walk and then Cole Young doubled them both in on a ball to right field that Brandon Nimmo couldn’t reach.
Two runs scored to put Seattle up 3-1 and the scored remained there until the top of the eighth when Seager smacked a solo home run to pull the Rangers to within a run. Unfortunately, a third run never came despite a couple of shots at it in the top of the ninth that ended in strikeouts.
Another opportunity to return to .500 wasted and there’s not terribly many chances left for opportunities to matter.
Player of the Game: Burger hit a second inning solo home run for his 26th dong of the year which broke a tie with Joc Pederson for the current team leader in long balls.
Up Next: The Rangers and Mariners close out this series with a rubber match featuring RHP Jacob deGrom for Texas against RHP Logan Gilbert for Seattle.
The Thursday afternoon finale first pitch from T-Mobile Park is scheduled for 3:10 pm CDT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
Baseball: New York Yankees Will Warren (29) in action, pitching vs Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Bronx NY 8/30/2026CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164944 TK1)
Time’s winding down on the 2026 regular season for the Yankees, and their long-stated goal of avoiding the dogfight of the Wild Card Round that hamstrung their hopes in 2025 is getting less and less likely. They’re just simply running out of time to make up their deficit to the Tampa Bay Rays, and even though they technically control their destiny with the four-game set later this month, they don’t want to have to sweep that to have a shot.
Looking to build on some great recent outings is Will Warren, who will be making his 27th start and first since his brilliant seven-inning gem against the Red Sox that secured the season series back in late August. He has since appeared in a relief role, tossing 2.1 shutout innings in San Diego against the Padres, but will return to a starting role for the rest of the regular season. He enters with a 4.16 ERA (101 ERA+) and 4.17 FIP in 136.1 innings.
On the other side is Tomoyuki Sugano, a familiar face from his time in Baltimore. The 36-year-old was forced to ink a deal with the Rockies after a lack of interest following his rookie year, but has honestly not done as badly as some expected, given how Coors Field makes low-stuff pitchers extremely hittable. Through 25 starts, he has a 5.19 ERA (95 ERA+) and 5.31 FIP in 131.2 innings. Despite being on the worst team in the National League, he has a winning record at 12-8.
Interestingly enough, he’s been worse away from Coors this year (5.46 ERA, .883 OPS allowed), especially in the slugging department. He’s once again struggled mightily with keeping the ball off batters’ barrels, among other things. In fact, his only positive attribute on Baseball Savant is an elite walk rate. The rest are bottom of the barrel. Sugano tossed five shutout innings against the Yankees last April, but then proceeded to allow 11 runs across 11 innings in the next three starts.
Ben Rice will once again lead off for the Yanks, followed by Cody Bellinger and a “rehabbing” Aaron Judge. Luis García Jr. cleans up at first, followed by Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. Ryan McMahon, Austin Wells, and José Caballero round things out, with the latter replacing the injured Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Jake McCarthy once again leads off for the Rox, followed by Cole Carrigg and former Yankee prospect T.J. Rumfield. Hunter Goodman will clean up after his homer in the ninth last night, with former No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak and legacy big leaguer Kyle Karros behind him. We’ll see Brett Sullivan behind the plate, former Oriole Connor Norby batting eighth, and Zac Veen wrapping things up.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium — The Bronx, NY
First pitch: 7:05 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Rockies.TV
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM (COL)
Sep 9, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young (2) reacts to hitting a double against the Texas Rangers in the fourth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Richard Dizon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Sep 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson (43) delivers the ball during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It has been quite a series. After two late comeback victories in a row, the Milwaukee Brewers are looking for a sweep tonight of their rivals, the Chicago Cubs. Last night’s victory assured the Brewers of the season series and thus any tiebreaker, though their now-nine-game lead with only 16 games remaining means that tiebreaker should not matter. Still, Milwaukee is battling with the Dodgers and Braves for the top two seeds in the National League, so there’s still plenty to keep playing for.
On the bump for the Brewers tonight will be the guy who has developed into the Robin to Jacob Misiorowski’s Batman, Logan Henderson. Henderson has been nothing short of fantastic: he’s allowed fewer than three runs in 13 of his 15 starts this season, and more than three in zero of them. Henderson has also been a reliable source of innings lately: he’s completed seven innings in three of his last four outings after never having done it in any of his first 16 career starts. Overall, Henderson has pitched to a 2.48 ERA and an eye-popping 0.792 WHIP. He’s striking out 10 batters per nine innings while walking just 1.5 per nine; if he had enough innings to qualify, Henderson would lead major-league starters in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 6.64.
On the other side will be one of Chicago’s trade dealine pickups, Kevin Gausman. Gausman has pitched to nearly identical ERAs before and after the trade: when traded, he had a 4.38 ERA with Toronto, and he’s got a 4.37 ERA in six starts with the Cubs. Regardless of which you look at, FIP suggests he’s had bad luck—Gausman had a 3.50 FIP with Toronto and it’s at 3.83 with the Cubs. Gausman was fantastic against the Brewers last week, though: on Thursday, he went seven innings, allowed only one run on five hits and a walk, and struck out nine, his highest total since April 1st.
After his big night last night, Jackson Chourio is back atop the Brewers’ lineup. Joining him in the outfield tonight are Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick, while Andrew Vaughn, Brice Turang, Cooper Pratt, and Joey Ortiz make up the infield. William Conteras is catching, and Christian Yelich bats fifth as the designated hitter.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network. How about a sweep?
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Leo Bernal #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases after he hit a three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Oracle Park on September 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Game Summary
Leo Bernal broke a 1-1 tie with a 3-run HR. Andre Pallante spotted the Giants an early run, but was solid through five innings. The offense tacked on single tallies for a 6-1 lead, but no lead is safe with this bullpen. The Giants explode for six runs in the bottom of the eighth, aided by walks and HBP.
Pre-game notes
Greetings from the west coast. It is a warm day today.
Pallante goes for the Cardinals. Tidwell for the Giants.
Walker gets today off. He will end up with close to three days, which I suspect he could use.
That means Baez in RF, Torres in LF, Sags at 2B, Gorman at 3b.
The first innings
The Cardinals, as is their norm, start quietly. A double and an RBI single get the Giants out front in the bottom of the first. The Cardinals answer quickly in the top of the 2nd, with a Baez double and a Gorman single knotting the game back up. In the third, the Cardinals exploded quickly with a single, a walk and the Bernal 3-run HR breaking the tie. Pallante kept the ball on the ground in the early going, handcuffing the Gigantes. Cardinals up 4-1. Interesting, the rally was fueled by Herrera getting picked off, but the pitcher, running right at Herrera managed to interfere with Ivan, resulting in the runner being placed on second.
The middle innings
The game moved along quickly through the fourth. In the fifth, a similar script played out with a Torres single, a Herrera HBP (shocking!) and a Burly walk loaded the bases for Bernal. Time to have a day! Bittersweet, Bernal GIDP results in the Cardinals extending their lead to 5-1. AP kept things in order through the end of his start at five innings. Well done.
In the sixth, Saggese walks and Church bunt singles and the Giants throw it around resulting in runners on second and third. Fermin with a SacFly to tack on another run. These runs are needed with this bullpen. Bruihl Cardinals up 6-1.
The decisive and bitter end
The Cardinals went quietly in the seventh. Gastelum pitched a clean bottom of the seventh, looking sharp. In the fateful eighth, Winquest started off allowing a single, but earned a K. He then got the second out on a harmless fly out and things looked good. What followed? The seeds for any explosion inning. An HBP. A walk. An RBI single. Winquest out, Soriano in and things turned worse. Single, double, double results in four more run, handing the Giants a six-run explosion and a 7-6 lead. A ground out, six batters late, ends the inning.
In the ninth, a single is followed by a Walker GIDP (man, did he finish the trip poorly!) and a Herrera ground out closes out a very tough loss.
Post-Game Notes
Be sure and check out “Tonight on the Farm – Wednesday 9.8” over at The Feed.
The Cardinals end a grueling 9 game western swing with a 4-5 record, pretty much ending any hopes of a wild card run.
They will return home and on Friday begin the long-awaited series against the White Sox.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Leo Bernal #13 of the St. Louis Cardinals rounds the bases after he hit a three-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the third inning at Oracle Park on September 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Game Summary
Leo Bernal broke a 1-1 tie with a 3-run HR. Andre Pallante spotted the Giants an early run, but was solid through five innings. The offense tacked on single tallies for a six run lead, but no lead is safe with this bullpen. The Giants explode for six runs in the bottom of the eighth, aided by walks and HBP.
Pre-game notes
Greetings from the west coast. It is a warm day today.
Pallante goes for the Cardinals. Tidwell for the Giants.
Walker gets today off. He will end up with close to three days, which I suspect he could use.
That means Baez in RF, Torres in LF, Sags at 2B, Gorman at 3b.
The first innings
The Cardinals, as is their norm, start quietly. A double and an RBI single get the Giants out front in the bottom of the first. The Cardinals answer quickly in the top of the 2nd, with a Baez double and a Gorman single knotting the game back up. In the third, the Cardinals exploded quickly with a single, a walk and the Bernal 3-run HR breaking the tie. Pallante kept the ball on the ground in the early going, handcuffing the Gigantes. Cardinals up 4-1. Interesting, the rally was fueled by Herrera getting picked off, but the pitcher, running right at Herrera managed to interfere with Ivan, resulting in the runner being placed on second.
The middle innings
The game moved along quickly through the fourth. In the fifth, a similar script played out with a Torres single, a Herrera HBP (shocking!) and a Burly walk loaded the bases for Bernal. Time to have a day! Bittersweet, Bernal GIDP results in the Cardinals extending their lead to 5-1. AP kept things in order through the end of his start at five innings. Well done.
In the sixth, Saggese walks and Church bunt singles and the Giants throw it around resulting in runners on second and third. Fermin with a SacFly to tack on another run. These runs are needed with this bullpen. Bruihl Cardinals up 6-1.
The decisive and bitter end
The Cardinals went quietly in the seventh. Gastelum pitched a clean bottom of the seventh, looking sharp. In the fateful eighth, Winquest started off allowing a single, but earned a K. He then got the second out on a harmless fly out and things looked good. What followed? The seeds for any explosion inning An HBP. A walk. An RBI single. Winquest out, Soriano in and things turned worse. Single, double, double results in four more run, handing the Giants a six-run explosion and a 7-6 lead. A ground out, six batters late, ends the inning.
In the ninth, a single is followed by a Walker GIDP (man, did he finish the trip poorly!) and a Herrera ground out closes out a very tough loss.
Post-Game Notes
Be sure and check out “Tonight on the Farm – Wednesday 9.8” over at The Feed.
The Cardinals end a grueling 9 game western swing with a 4-5 record, pretty much ending any hopes of a wild card run.
They will return home and on Friday begin the long-awaited series against the White Sox.
According to YES Network's Jack Curry, in a corresponding move to placing Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the IL, New York will recall Volpe to the major league roster. The infielder will join the team Thursday while Chisholm is available to pinch-run Wednesday, per Curry.
Volpe, 25, was optioned to Triple-A back in early August after struggling offensively and defensively to make way for George Lombard Jr. at shortstop.
In 56 games with the Yankees this season, Volpe was slashing .240/.325/.332 with an OPS of .647 and just one home run after starting the season on the IL after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery that affected Volpe's play in 2025.
Ahead of Wednesday's game against the Rockies, manager Aaron Boone said he was confident putting Volpe at second base if needed.
"I know he's been a complete pro and completely got after it down there in everything they've thrown at him," Boone said of Volpe. "Whether it's moving and playing some second base, obviously introducing some third base to him, making sure his swing is dialed in, and he's obviously swung the bat incredibly well. That's not an easy thing to do when you've been the guy in the big leagues and you gotta go back."
To Volpe's credit, the youngster has produced well in the minors. In 37 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Volpe is slashing .264/.345/.561 with an OPS of .906 to go along with his 11 home runs and 26 RBI.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 28: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, August 28, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (74-71) and Philadelphia Phillies (81-64) will play the 2nd game of this 3-game set tonight at Citizens Bank Park.
RHP Hunter Brown (5-3, 3.31 ERA) will start for the Astros as he takes on the Phils’ LHP Cristopher Sánchez (16-5, 2.58 ERA). Tonight will be Brown’s 1st career appearance at Citizens Bank Park and his 3rd career appearance overall vs. PHI (2nd start).
REMATCH: RHP Hunter Brown and LHP Cristopher Sánchez faced each other on June 26 of last season in what was a pitcher’s duel at Daikin Park. Brown hurled 7.0 scoreless innings with 9 K’s and no walks while Sanchez allowed just 1 run in 6.0 innings with 11 K’s and no walks. HOU won the game, 2-1 (Brown had ND).
ASTROS-PHILS: The Astros have won 5 straight games vs. the Phillies. In those 5 wins, which include 3 shutouts, Astros pitchers have combined for a 1.00 ERA (4ER/36IP). Astros starters have a 0.83 ERA (3ER/32.2IP) in those 5 wins. The starters had gone 4 consecutive starts without allowing a run vs. PHI until last night. HOU swept a 3-game series vs. PHI at Daikin Park in the last meeting between the 2 clubs, June 24-26 of 2025. In those 3 games, Astros pitchers allowed just 1 run in 27.0 IP.
Last Visit to CPB: The Phils took 2 of 3 from HOU in the last series here in Philly, Aug. 26-28 of 2024. In the final game of that series, Yordan Alvarez went 4×4 with 3 HR in a 10-0 Astros win.
Postseason History: The Astros and Phils have met twice in the postseason, with PHI taking the 1980 NLCS and the Astros winning the 2022 World Series.
BROTHER BROWN: RHP Hunter Brown has pitched well as of late, posting a 2-0 record in his last 3 starts with a 1.96 ERA (4ER/18.1IP) and 21 strikeouts. Tonight will be his 17th start of the season as he missed several weeks due to a right shoulder strain.
Last Season: In 2025, Brown finished 3rd in the AL Cy Young voting after posting a 12-9 record with a 2.43 ERA and 206 strikeouts.
LEAD PROTECTORS: The Astros are 64-0 this season when leading after 8.0 innings. They are one of four MLB teams with a perfect record when leading after 8.0 innings this year.
BIG WES: With last night’s outing, RHP Hayden Wesneski is now 3-0 in his last 4 starts with a 1.57 ERA (4ER/23IP). For the season, he is 5-1 with a 3.35 ERA in 8 starts (Astros are 7-1 in his starts).
ROAD WARRIORS: Tonight is the 2nd game (1-0 thus far) of a 6-game trip (3g at PHI, 3g at TB). Since going 1-9 on the first road trip of 2026, the Astros have gone 36-24 (.600) on the road since April 14, which ranks third in the Majors in that span. More recently, they are 20-12 (.625) on their last 6 road trips combined (includes current trip).
ON THE OFFENSIVE: The Astros rank 2nd in the AL in HR (190), 1st in SLG (.408) and 4th in runs scored (653).
SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 54-40 (.574) in their last 94 games (since May 22). That is the second-best record in the AL in that span, behind only the Red Sox.
WINNING THE WEST: The Astros currently hold a 2.0-game lead in the AL West over the 2nd-place Rangers. HOU finished at 9-4 vs. TEX, so they hold the tiebreaker vs. them.
STARTING STRONG: In the last 8 games, Astros starters have combined for a 2.45 ERA (12ER/44IP). The Astros are 5-3 in that span. Additionally, the Astros are 9-5 in their last 14 games, during which the starters have posted a combined 3.03 ERA (24ER/71.1IP).
THE HIT MAN: Jose Altuve enters tonight just 1 hit shy of reaching 2,500 for his career.
Another Record: Altuve’s 3-hit game on Sunday vs. ARI was the 225th of his career, which ties Craig Biggio for the most in franchise history. Among active players, Altuve ranks 2nd in hits, trailing only Freddie Freeman (2,587).
TRIPLE THREAT: Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently ranks 1st or 2nd in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories. He enters tonight leading the AL in batting avg. (.311), while ranking 2nd in HR (38) and RBI (95). Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.022) and leads the AL in SLG (.593) and OBP (.428).
Rare Feat: Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).
CHALLENGING STRETCH: The Astros are 5-3 thus far while in the midst of a stretch of playing 4 consecutive teams that would be in the postseason if the season ended today (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB, respectively). They went 3-1 vs. CWS and 1-2 vs. ARI.
MEASURING UP: The Astros are 30-20 (.600) vs. teams currently at .500 or above, which is the 2nd best record in the Majors in that category.
STREAK SNAPPED: LHP Josh Hader had his consecutive scoreless innings streak snapped at 22.0 innings last night. This is the longest streak by an Astros hurler this season and had been 2nd-longest active streak in the Majors. Despite the end of the scoreless streak, in last night’s win, Hader did convert his 24th save in 24 chances this season. His 24 saves are the most in the MLB without a blown save.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Single A Fayetteville defeated Fredericksburg last night in game one of the North Division Carolina League playoff series.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY:1987 – In the Dome, Hall of Fame RHP Nolan Ryan has one of the most memorable nights of his career in a 4-2 win over the Giants. In addition to tallying 16 punchouts in 8.0 innings of work, Ryan also picks up his 4,500th career strikeout in the 7th inning when he fans Mike Aldrete.
1967 – In a 5-3 win over the Dodgers, Jimmy Wynn hits 2 HR and becomes the 1st player in frachise history to reach 100 RBI in a season.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, September 9, 5:40 p.m. CT
Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 23: Shane Baz #34 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts during the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Shane Baz starts have been a kiss of death for the Orioles this year. It’s not Baz’s fault. He has pitched fine this season, sometimes fantastic. But the Orioles do not win very often when he is on the mound.
Baz has one pitching win since June 12. He has made 14 starts since then, and has a 3.76 ERA/2.77 FIP. Those are good numbers! Baz is 1-9, and the Orioles are 2-12 in those games anyway. It defies logic.
They just don’t score runs for the guy. The 3.02 runs score per game for Baz this year is the worst in all of Major League Baseball. That’s not to say this lineup has been a model of consistency, particularly so far in September, for any member of the rotation. But you would expect them to figure it out at least occassionally for a pitcher that has been rather solid all season long.
Blaze Alexander was placed back on the IL with low back discomfort he suffered in last night’s loss. He is replaced on the roster by Jeremiah Jackson, who goes right into the lineup at second base. Jackson Holliday will swing over to shortstop to give Gunnar Henderson a day off after he left the game with a knee injury. Craig Albernaz described Henderson as “pretty banged up.”
The Orioles need to win at least 12 of the remaining 16 games on their schedule if they want to make the playoffs. That is a tall task that they are probably incapable of achieving. But I’m going to watch them try all the same.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 2: Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Coors Field on September 2, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tomoyuki Sugano (12-8, 5.19 ERA) takes the hill for the Rockies on the heels of a quality start against his former club, the Baltimore Orioles. Sugano worked through six innings, allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four against one walk. It was a nice return to form for the veteran righty after a trio of rough starts. Unfortunately, Sugano faces a tough match-up against another familiar foe.
He made four starts against the Yankees last season, posting a 6.19 ERA over 16 innings of work, giving up 11 runs on 23 hits with six home runs. At Yankee Stadium, Sugano has surrendered seven runs on 12 hits over eight innings, including four home runs. It’s going to be crucial that he keeps the ball in the ballpark and works on inducing weak ground ball contact, as well as limit walks, because he can get in trouble in a hurry if the Yankees start squaring up the ball.
Meanwhile, Will Warren (9-6, 4.16 ERA) makes the start for the Yankees. The 27-year-old has settled in as a solid back-end rotation piece for the Yankees since debuting in 2024. His success has fluctuated this season as he has given up a lot of contact and battled his command while getting stung by home runs. However, he also has a knack for racking up strikeouts when he’s on point. Warren finished August on a strong note, allowing one run over seven innings in his last start. His most recent appearance came as a reliever, when he tossed 2.1 scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres.
Warren has faced the Rockies twice before, posting a 9.00 ERA and allowing eight runs — seven earned — on nine hits over seven innings. He does have 13 strikeouts against three walks, however, which bodes well for him as the Rockies can get strikeout-prone. Last season, he fired four innings, allowing just two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts, in a start at Coors Field.
