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Yankees' Brian Cashman defends Aaron Boone, says manager is doing 'best he can'

It's been a tumultuous season for the Yankees, who sit precariously as the final wild card team even after their win Friday night against the Cardinals.

The same Yankees that were in the World Series less than a year ago, and have kept the same core of players, have underachieved in 2025 and many believe it falls on manager Aaron Boone's shoulders. But Brian Cashman doesn't.

The longtime GM of the Yankees spoke to the media, including The Athletic, prior to Friday's game in St. Louis, and was asked numerous questions, including what he thinks of the job Boone is doing in 2025 and how he's handling the ups and downs of the season.

"The best he can," Cashman said. “I don’t know how any manager, let alone a manager in a big market like New York, speaking of Aaron Boone, I’ve told him many times, how he does the pre- and postgame and navigates that on a daily basis, that’s not easy. It takes a talent in its own right to try to walk through that without losing your cool or getting emotional. He has stayed level-headed and even-keeled. 

"He knows how tough this sport is. He’s invested in these guys heavily, as we all are. Trying to explain away a difficult play or a bad performance for some time while the storm is upon us is not an easy task to navigate or deal with and remain cool, calm and collected. He’s obviously done an amazing job of working through that."

Cashman said he wouldn't be able to do what Boone does in dealing with the media, but in addition to defending Boone with how he handles the large New York market, is how he also manages the players. 

“I’m not an advocate of becoming Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage or John Cena from WWE and providing a power drive to finish off the victim — the victim being someone struggling at the plate, struggling defensively, struggling on the mound," he said. "And now you’re hearing it externally, and their family and friends are all hearing it. Then internally, now, they’re getting piled on also. In many cases, you’ve got to understand what the atmosphere is like.”

Cashman said players require more support in a market like New York and that Boone has the skills to help players get through struggles at the plate or on the field. 

But the Yankees GM is not overlooking the team's struggles over the last few months, which include losing their grasp on the AL East and fighting for their playoff lives. The Yankees are just 1.5 games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians after Friday's games. 

And while that's good to get into the postseason, Cashman is not delusional about how the team is playing and that they need to right the ship sooner rather than later.

“We’re the defending American League champs trying to re-defend that,” Cashman said. “Obviously, right now, we’re not in control of the division. Our first goal is try to win the American League East and automatically punch the ticket that way. If not, we’ll be fighting to punch a ticket a different way. We have a lot of time on the clock, but not enough time at the same time. I don’t want to misrepresent (that) there’s not urgency, because there is.”


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Two-start pitchers: Joe Ryan headlines the dynamite options for the week of August 18

Hello and welcome to the 20th installment of our weekly two-start pitcher article for the 2025 MLB season.

I'll be here every Friday to highlight some of the best two-start pitcher options in fantasy baseball leagues for the upcoming week, as well as some streaming options to keep in mind.

Thinking ahead with your weekly strategy can give you an advantage on the waiver wire and hopefully be a difference-maker in the standings at the end of the season.

This is a living document, so we'll update the options below as the weekend moves along.

Before we get into it, we'll start with a couple of notes on situations that may be unresolved or teams that may not have a two-start pitcher lined up for the upcoming week:

The Phillies are going to a six-man rotation to accommodate the return of Aaron Nola. That means that despite the fact that Ranger Suarez will pitch on Monday, he’ll make just one start on the week like the rest of his rotation-mates. If anything changes, we’ll update here.

The Cubs play eight games next week due to a doubleheader on Monday, so even if they do shift to a six-man rotation, they would have two pitchers line up for two-start weeks. We’re confident that Cade Horton will be one of them, and he is profiled below. Jameson Taillon is likely to slot into the mix during one game of Monday’s doubleheader. If the Cubs go with a true six-man, he would start again over the weekend against the Angels in Los Angeles. It’s also possible that they may prefer to keep Matthew Boyd on regular rest or go with some sort of modified six-man rotation, in which case it’s possible that Boyd would make two starts next week. He should be in fantasy lineups regardless though, so there’s no decision point there. We’ll update in this space if we gain more clarity through the weekend.

The Rays only play five games next week, so it’s unlikely that anyone on the team will make two starts. It’s possible they could decide to skip Joe Boyle during this trip through the rotation, which would have Shane Baz make two starts – vs. Yankees and vs. Cardinals – but that’s not guaranteed.

We’re also still awaiting word on what the Blue Jays plan to do with their rotation to accommodate the return of Shane Bieber. Eric Lauer has pitched far to well to just bump him from their rotation, but it’s unclear if they want to go with a full six-man rotation. We’ll update as we receive more information.

Without further ado, let's dig into the options for the week of August 18.

Going Twice…

Note: Probable pitchers as of August 15 and are subject to change.

American League

Strong Plays

Joe Ryan, Twins, RHP (vs. Athletics, @ White Sox)

On paper, this looks to be one of the strongest overall weeks that we have seen this season. Twins’ ace Joe Ryan enters the week with a 12-5 record, 2.72 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 153/27 K/BB ratio over 139 innings. He has also pitched well as of late, coming in off of two straight wins including a dominant performance against the Yankees in New York. Now he’ll welcome in the slumping Athletics’ offense before finishing his week against the White Sox in Chicago. He’s probably the top option overall on the board this week and should be a goldmine of fantasy production.

Trevor Rogers, Orioles, LHP (@ Red Sox, vs. Astros)

I never thought that we’d see the day that Trevor Rogers blossomed into a fantasy ace with the Orioles, but here we are. The 27-year-old southpaw has gone 5-2 with a brilliant 1.43 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and a 60/15 K/BB ratio over 69 1/3 innings through his first 11 starts. Absolutely outstanding. The matchups are tough this week, but Rogers has shown us more than enough to trust him in difficult spots – especially with the added volume of a two-start week. After all, he has allowed just three earned runs over 21 innings his last three times out against the Phillies, Mariners and Cubs – with two of those starts coming on the road. It’s time to put some respect on his name and lock him into all lineups this week.

Logan Gilbert, Mariners, RHP (@ Phillies, vs. Athletics)

Gilbert is one of the best pitchers in all of baseball and should be started in 100 percent of leagues every week. A matchup against the Athletics to close out the upcoming two-start week is simply icing on the cake. Enjoying watching one of the best in the game perform his craft twice next week.

Hunter Brown, Astros, RHP (@ Tigers, @ Orioles)

There’s no decisions for fantasy managers to make with this one. One of the best pitchers in the American League should be locked into fantasy lineups each and every week. The fact that he gets to pitch twice is just a bonus. It’s also a bonus that he’ll be pitching in front of his friends and family in Detroit on Tuesday as a proud graduate of Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Brown will continue doing his thing this week, posting stellar ratios, piling up strikeouts and winning the occasional ballgame.

Jacob Lopez, Athletics, LHP (@ Twins, @ Mariners)

While he has had a couple of rough outings, overall Lopez has been very good for the Athletics this season – compiling a 3.30 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 103/30 K/BB ratio over 84 2/3 innings. It has only led to six victories, but that’s not his fault, and the rest of the production has made him mixed league relevant throughout the season. He’ll now get to face a depleted Twins’ offense that is really struggling to score runs before having to battle the powerful Mariners at Safeco Field. I’d be starting Lopez with full confidence in all leagues this coming week.

Seth Lugo, Royals, RHP (vs. Rangers, @ Tigers)

Lugo is having another very solid season for the Royals, posting an 8-6 record, 3.77 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 110/47 K/BB ratio over 131 1/3 innings through his first 23 starts. He has been a viable mixed league option for most weeks this season and that’s certainly the case again this week with to starts on tap. The matchups aren’t the greatest, but we aren’t really worried about Lugo blowing up our ratios. He should be started in all leagues.

Carlos Rodón, Yankees, LHP (@ Rays, vs. Red Sox)

It has flown a bit under the radar just how good the 32-year-old southpaw has been for the Yankees this season. Through his first 25 starts he sits at 12-7 with a 3.25 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 164/58 K/BB ratio over 146 2/3 innings and is on track to receive some down-ballot Cy Young votes. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling this week against a pair of very familiar divisional opponents. He should be locked into lineups regardless of matchups, but make sure you have him in there this week.

Merrill Kelly, Rangers, RHP (@ Royals, vs. Guardians)

Kelly has struggled through his first three starts with the Rangers, posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 15/6 K/BB ratio over 16 innings of work. This should be a good spot for him to get his first victory as a member of the Rangers, with a premium matchup against the Royals in Kansas City to start the week. He has shown enough this season to earn the trust of fantasy managers for any two-start week. Fire away.

Decent Plays

Dustin May, Red Sox, RHP (vs. Orioles, @ Yankees)

May has pitched well in his first two starts with the Red Sox, posting a 2.79 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 12/2 K/BB ratio across 9 2/3 innings. He’s pitching with a chip on his shoulder and like he has something to prove. He’ll get battle tested for sure this week, taking on a tough Orioles’ offense at home before having to battle the Bronx Bombers in Yankee Stadium. Even if he serves up a couple of home runs, the strikeouts should still be there and he’ll have a shot at earning a win in both starts. That’s more than enough for me to use him in 15 and 12-team leagues this week.

Michael Wacha, Royals, RHP (vs. Rangers, @ Tigers)

Wacha continues to produce solid results in his age-34 season, registering a 3.35 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 101/37 K/BB ratio across 137 innings of work. He’s not usually a strong streaming option in single start weeks due to his limited strikeout rate, but in two-start weeks, it should be all systems go. Start him with confidence if you have him and target him on the wire if he’s available in shallow leagues.

Yoendrys Gomez, White Sox, RHP (@ Braves, vs. Twins)

The 25-year-old right-hander was terrific in his first career start last week, striking out seven batters over five innings of one-run, one-hit baseball in a victory over the Tigers. In a two-start week, he should have no problem approaching or surpassing double-digit strikeouts and while it’s tough with the White Sox’ offense backing him, there’s a chance that he could find a victory in there as well. He’s almost universally available and makes for a nice streaming option for the upcoming week – especially in deeper leagues.

Gavin Williams, Guardians, RHP (@ Diamondbacks, @ Rangers)

After getting lit up for four runs in just three innings against the Marlins his last time out, it’s fair for fantasy managers to question whether or not to roll with Williams for his upcoming two-start week. He still owns a terrific 3.38 ERA overall on the season and he’s playing for a Guardians’ squad that has been among the best in baseball since the All-Star break, giving him a chance to win each time out. The high WHIP is going to continue as long as he continues to lead the American League in walks, but we’ll take that if he’s going to pile up strikeouts, limit runs and have a shot at wins. He should be started with confidence once again this week.

Jack Flaherty, Tigers, RHP (vs. Astros, vs. Royals)

It feels like this is the third straight week that we have written up Flaherty in this space, as the Tigers have continued to adjust their rotation and insert spot starters or bullpen days to give the rest of their rotation extra rest when it’s needed. Flaherty has piled up strikeouts at an impressive pace this season, but he has also given up a lot of hard contact, leading to an elevated WHIP. You have to roll with him for two home starts – especially with a matchup against the Royals to finish the week – just understand the ratio risk that you’re taking on by doing so.

Jack Leiter, Rangers, RHP (@ Royals, vs. Guardians)

Leiter continues to impress in the Rangers’ rotation, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his last nine starts – and two runs or fewer in each of his last five outings. Overall on the season he holds a 3.94 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 96/54 K/BB ratio over 105 innings. He’s worthy of consideration for fantasy purposes every time he takes the hill right now and should definitely be started for his two start weeks.

At Your Own Risk

Spencer Arrighetti, Astros, RHP (@ Tigers, @ Orioles)

After getting clobbered in his first start back from the injured list, Arrighetti pitched well his last time out, giving up two runs over five innings against the Red Sox. He’s been highly inconsistent in his four starts overall on the season though and the road matchups against the Tigers and Orioles are both very tough for opposing right-handers. It’s possible that he breezes through both of those starts without any issues, but I have my concerns. I’d still probably use him in 15-teamers, but I’d be leery of going there in 12-team formats.

Victor Mederos, Angels, RHP (vs. Reds, vs. Cubs)

Mederos only went four innings in his first career start his last time out, giving up three runs on three hits against the Dodgers. The matchups don’t get that much easier this time around – having to battle the Reds and the Cubs – though it at least plays to his favor that both starts will be at home. If you’re desperate for wins and strikeouts and don’t care about your ratios, maybe you could try it, but I think that even in most 15-teamers you can find better options.

National League

Strong Plays

Paul Skenes, Pirates, RHP (vs. Blue Jays, vs. Rockies)

It goes without saying that any time Paul Skenes takes the mound, he’ll be an elite option. That doesn’t change at all in two-start weeks – especially when one of those matchups is at home against the Rockies. He has been absolutely brilliant through his first 25 starts, compiling a minuscule 2.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 166/36 K/BB ratio across 148 innings. The only thing holding him back is that he has won just seven games, though that’s not his fault. Fantasy managers can kick their feet up and enjoy double the production from their ace this week.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers, RHP (@ Rockies, @ Padres)

Even with a six-man rotation, the Dodgers play seven games this week so they’ll afford one of their starters with a two-start week. This time it’s Yamamoto toeing the slab twice. He has been outstanding all season, posting a 2.84 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 145/44 K/BB ratio over 126 2/3 innings through his first 23 starts while notching 10 victories. While Coors Field isn’t a fun place to pitch, he’ll be a favorite to earn his 11th victory of the season there on Monday before a tough battle against the Padres in San Diego to finish the week. There’s no decision to be made here, Yamamoto should be started in all leagues.

Cade Horton, Cubs, RHP (vs. Brewers, @ Angels)

The 23-year-old rookie right-hander has been unbelievable since coming out of the All-Star break, registering a minuscule 0.32 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and a 24/9 K/BB ratio over 28 1/3 innings in five starts, notching four victories in the process. The Cubs can’t bump him from their rotation with Jameson Taillon returning, he’s simply pitching too well. He gets a tough draw to start the week taking on the red-hot Brewers before finishing the week with a much easier assignment against the Angels in Los Angeles. Horton should be started in 100 percent of leagues this week and he should be actively targeted on the waiver wire in shallow formats where he may still be hanging around.

Eury Pérez, Marlins, RHP (vs. Cardinals, vs. Blue Jays)

While he has pitched very well overall on the season, Pérez enters this week coming off of a rough stretch where he allowed nine runs over 10 1/3 innings in his last two starts against the Braves and Guardians. The good news is that both of those starts were on the road and now he’s heading back to the friendly confines in Miami. A matchup against a diminished Cardinals’ offense to start the week doesn’t hurt either. Even if the struggles continue, he should pile up double digit strikeouts on the week and should be a favorite to win at least the Cardinals’ start – possibly both. He’s an easy start in all leagues this week.

Brandon Woodruff, Brewers, RHP (@ Cubs, vs. Giants)

What Brandon Woodruff has been able to do so far this season after such a long layoff is pretty remarkable. Through his first seven starts, the 32-year-old hurler has gone 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and a 49/8 K/BB ratio. He has also made himself a lot of money in the upcoming free agent market. Pitching at Wrigley Field to start the week is a tough draw, but with as well as Woodruff is throwing the ball right now it doesn’t even matter. Just lock him into lineups and enjoy the ride the rest of the way.

Nick Pivetta, Padres, RHP (vs. Giants, vs. Dodgers)

Pivetta has been an absolute monster for the Padres and fantasy managers through his first 24 starts on the season, posting a 12-4 record, 2.87 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a 144/36 K/BB ratio over 141 1/3 innings. While the matchup against the Dodgers to finish the week is tough, at least it’s at home. With as good as Pivetta has been this season, there’s no reason to ever have him on the bench.

Robbie Ray, Giants, LHP (@ Padres, @ Brewers)

Ray is enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career in his first full season with the Giants, posting a 2.98 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 152/56 K/BB ratio over 148 innings. He’s always going to walk batters, but he allows such little hard contact that he has still been able to keep his WHIP in control this season. The matchups aren’t ideal – taking on two very strong offenses on the road, but with as good as Ray has been this season he still needs to be started in all leagues.

Decent Plays

David Peterson, Mets, LHP (@ Nationals, @ Braves)

The All-Star southpaw continues to produce quality results for the Mets and for fantasy managers, delivering a 3.30 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and a 117/50 K/BB ratio across 136 1/3 innings. The lack of strikeouts will be mitigated with the extra volume this week, making Peterson an excellent streaming option. I have no issues with starting him in leagues of all sizes.

Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks, RHP (vs. Guardians, vs. Reds)

Finally, it appears as though Zac Gallen has turned the corner and put his early-season woes behind him. The 30-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.18 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and a 10/5 K/BB ratio over 17 innings in his last three starts, picking up two victories during that stretch. He could turn back into a pumpkin at any time, but we should at least try to roll with him while he’s pitching well, so he can atone for all of the ratio damage that he inflicted on you earlier in the season. The matchups are tough, but nothing that we need to be shying away from. I’d be starting Gallen in both 15 and 12-team formats for sure this week.

Spencer Strider, Braves, RHP (vs. White Sox, vs. Mets)

Has Spencer Strider lost his fastball shape and been beaten like a drum more times than fantasy mangers would like this season? Yes. Should we still start him for a two-start week that includes a home matchup against the White Sox? Also yes. He’s not going to give you the results that you’re expecting if you’re looking for the Strider of yesteryear – at least not until he fixes the shape on that fastball – but he’s still a useful fantasy option on most weeks. The ratio risk is higher than you’d expect from Strider, but the strikeouts should be there and there’s a good chance he earns a victory against the White Sox. I’d be using him in all leagues.

Matthew Liberatore, Cardinals, LHP (@ Marlins, @ Rays)

He hasn’t always been consistent, but overall Liberatore has done a nice job for the Cardinals this season. He holds a 4.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and an 88/28 K/BB ratio over 117 innings through his first 22 starts. Normally the diminished strikeout rate would leave fantasy managers wanting more, but with the extra volume of a two-start week, he could be worth a look. For sure I’d be rolling with him in 15-teamers and I could see paths to using him in most 12-teamers as well.

Brady Singer, Reds, RHP (@ Angels, @ Diamondbacks)

Singer continues to perform about as expected through his first 24 starts with the Reds, registering a middling 4.31 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a 119/48 K/BB ratio across 125 1/3 innings. He has won 10 ballgames on the season. You pretty much know what you’re going to get from him, middling ratios, decent strikeouts and a shot at a win. That makes him appealing in two-start weeks, especially in deeper leagues. The matchup against the Angels in Los Angeles looks very appetizing while the battle against the Diamondbacks in Arizona to finish the week could pose some problems. I’m fine using Singer in 15 and 12-team leagues this week. Anything shallower than that, I’d try to find better options.

Nestor Cortes, Padres, LHP (vs. Giants, vs. Dodgers)

After getting absolutely obliterated by the Yankees to start the season, Cortes has pitched very well over his next three starts. Two of them have come since returning from the injured list, where he has surrendered just three runs over 9 1/3 innings against the Giants and Diamondbacks. He’ll get the Giants again – this time at home – before finishing the week with a tough battle against the Dodgers. There’s blowup risk in that second start, but I think I’m comfortable taking a shot on Cortes in all leagues for the upcoming week.

At Your Own Risk

Austin Gomber, Rockies, LHP (vs. Dodgers, @ Pirates)

Never Rockies. Never. Rockies. If that wasn’t enough, Gomber is 0-6 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.61 WHIP and he doesn’t strike anyone else. Like honestly, what are we doing here if we’re even considering starting Austin Gomber this week? And he faces the Dodgers at Coors Field to start the week. Stay as far away as you possibly can.

Bradley Blalock, Rockies, RHP (vs. Dodgers, @ Pirates)

We just went through this with Austin Gomber above, but let’s recap. Never Rockies. Even if we wanted to consider a Rockies pitcher, he’s facing the Dodgers at Coors Field to start the week. He’s also terrible and has pitched terribly this season. Full stop. Don’t do it.

Kai-Wei Teng, Giants, LHP (@ Padres, @ Brewers)

Teng has struggled through his first three big league appearances, posting a 9.90 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and an 8/8 K/BB ratio over 10 innings of work. It’s actually surprising that he stuck around while Carson Whisenhunt was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for the return of Landen Roupp on Friday. Regardless, Teng shouldn’t be considered as a streaming option in normal circumstances – and a two-start road week against the Padres and Brewers is anything but normal. Stay far, far away.

Jake Irvin, Nationals, RHP (vs. Mets, @ Phillies)

Irvin has not pitched well for the Nationals this season. He holds a miserable 5.14 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and a 94/47 K/BB ratio over 140 innings while serving up a National League-leading 27 home runs. If the matchups were perfect, maybe, but they aren’t. He’s facing two familiar divisional foes and will be a major underdog in both starts. There’s zero appeal to streaming Jake Irvin this week.

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With Mets 'not clicking,' team still believes in turnaround: 'We control our own destiny'

It's gone from bad to worse for the Mets after their latest loss on Friday night.

Now having lost 14 of its last 16 games, with each loss more disappointing than the last, New York has hit a crossroads -- one that requires the players to look themselves in the mirror and decide how they want to finish the season.

For how discouraging the Mets' recent play has been, it's been equally puzzling. After all, this is a team that is littered with talent, has a $339 million payroll and just went all-in at the trade deadline to push them over the top.

What's even more concerning is that the losses lately are not for a lack of effort. Talk to anybody on the team and they'll say everybody is putting in the work and doing the right thing. In fact, it was stressed by nearly every player who spoke after the game, as well as manager Carlos Mendoza.

"At the end of the day, everyone is doing what they’re supposed to do; it’s just the other teams are outplaying us," said Francisco Lindor. "We are all trying to win ballgames and all I can think of right now is that we’re not clicking at the same time and the other team is outplaying us."

How could that be? How is it possible that a team so talented that's putting in the work on a daily basis is getting consistently outplayed, oftentimes by inferior competition?

"It’s tough. We’ve all asked that question and it’s tough to point at one thing," Lindor said.

Consider this: over their last seven games, the Mets have blown leads of six runs, five runs, four runs, two runs (twice) and one run (seven times). They are 1-6 during that stretch.

And on Friday, even with Lindor, the team's catalyst, hitting two home runs, it still wasn't enough.

"I know baseball is weird sometimes and stuff just happens," said Sean Manaea. "At the end of the day, no one’s gonna feel sorry for us, so we just gotta figure it out. This is not where we wanna be and I know we’re way better than this."

After the latest loss, New York is now only six games above .500, six games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East title and just 0.5 game up on the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final wild card spot.

It's been quite the fall from grace and if the Mets want to keep playing baseball in October this season, things need to change in a hurry with just 40 games left in the regular season.

"It’s part of the mountain," Lindor said. "You got to climb the mountain and right now we’re in a very steep part of it. And if we don’t get ourselves together and we don’t push ourselves to be better day in and day out, the mountain is gonna be tough to climb.

"It doesn’t feel good to lose, but we’re staying together and having the conversations. At the end of the day, we spend a lot more time here than we do in our houses, so this is when teams come together and good teams, they turn it around and they go far."

New York still has time to figure things out and because the team played so well earlier in the season, it's allowed them to remain in playoff position despite such a horrendous run.

However, it's no longer just a bad stretch. The sample size is large enough to be concerning.

And if the players that the Mets traded for continue to fail them, talent alone won't be enough to carry them over the finish line.

"As much as this sucks, I feel like guys have been in the league long enough," Manaea said. "It’s part of the game, you grow from it, you learn from it, but at the same time, nothing is given to us. We control our own destiny. It’s not gonna come easy, but we just gotta figure it out."

"We’re still in a place where we can continue to climb and put ourselves in a much better position," Lindor added. "It’s been tough to point at that one thing. At the end of the day, it just comes down to execution."

Meanwhile, Brooks Raley offered a glimmer of hope and is excited to see this season through.

"When [we] come out of this, I mean I know our hair’s gonna be on fire and we’re gonna be ready to go," he said. "We’ll be fired up to win some games in a row and kind of streak some things together... We’ve got lots of baseball left and when it turns, I know it’s gonna be a lot of fun."

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Mets designate Paul Blackburn for assignment to clear space for Nolan McLean

With Nolan McLean gearing up for his MLB debut on Saturday, the Mets were forced to make a corresponding move and they've made it, designating Paul Blackburn for assignment following Friday night's loss to the Seattle Mariners, the team announced.

Blackburn dealt with a lot this season, which started with him on the IL with right knee inflammation. 

The right-hander didn't make his season debut until June 2 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, in which he pitched five scoreless innings. From there, things went downhill for the 31-year-old.

After a slew of ineffective outings, Blackburn went back on the IL with a right shoulder impingement, which he had been rehabbing for the last month. 

Healthy once again but with few spots available after the Mets fortified their bullpen at the trade deadline, the veteran was activated on Aug. 13 and pitched that day against the Atlanta Braves.

In what would end up being his final appearance for New York, Blackburn went five innings in what was a blowout loss to save the rest of the bullpen.

In seven games (four starts), the right-hander went 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA.

Joining the Mets at last season's trade deadline, Blackburn only made 12 appearances during his time in New York after spending eight seasons playing for the Athletics. 

In his career, the veteran owns a 4.96 ERA in 452 innings.

Meanwhile, McLean said Friday he was "surprised" to get the promotion, but is ready for his MLB debut. He's pitched to a 2.45 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 113.2 innings in the minors this season. The 24-year-old made five starts in Double-A before heading to Triple-A, where he owned a 2.78 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 16 outings.

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Jazz Chisholm Jr. homers as Yankees hold on to 4-3 win over Cardinals

Luis Gil was solid in his third start this season and Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s two-run blast proved to be the difference as the Yankees held on to defeat the Cardinals, 4-3, on Friday night in St. Louis.

The Yankees' win coupled with the Guardians' loss earlier in the day, increased their lead for the final wild card spot to 1.5 games.

Here are the takeaways...

-Manager Aaron Boone went with a different-looking lineup for Friday's game. With Aaron Judge occupying the DH spot, Giancarlo Stanton was relegated to the bench with Jose Caballero getting the start in right field. Jasson Dominguez and Trent Grisham rounded out the outfield. Cody Bellinger got the start at first base with Ben Rice behind the plate, and it was Rice who set the Yankees up early in this one.

Rice doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs in the first inning. Judge grounded out but drove in Grisham from third. After a Bellinger flyout, Chisholm hit a laser into the right field stands for a two-run shot off starter Andre Pallante to put the Yankees up 3-0.

-Gil was on the mound and was effective despite seemingly nipping at the corners early. He would induce inning-ending double plays in each of his first three innings. Gil was cruising until the fifth inning when he started to lose the zone. The Cardinals got runners on the corners with no outs. But Gil got the next three batters in order (flyout, strikeout, groundout) to get out of the jam.

The same would not be the case in the sixth inning as Gil allowed back-to-back, one-out doubles as the Cardinals got on the board, and was the end of Gil's night. 

Mark Leiter Jr. came in, and after a walk, the right-hander got another inning-ending double play, and put a bow on Gil's night.

Gil was economical heading into the sixth, but had to be pulled after tossing 83 pitches (50 strikes) across 5.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters.

-The Yankees bullpen was a bit shaky. After Leiter, Camilo Doval was on for the seventh and allowed two runs on one hit, one walk and a HBP in just 0.2 innings pitched. Luke Weaver was called to close the door on the innings, but an 0-2 changeup in the dirt went through Rice's legs and allowed another Cardinals run to score (both charged to Doval) on the wild pitch. Weaver did get the strikeout to end the frame but the Yankees' lead was just 4-3 after seven.

Doval has allowed at least one run in three of his seven outings since being acquired by the Yankees. It's also the third time he's recorded fewer than three outs.

Weaver pitched in and out of trouble in the eighth after a two-out single and his own throwing error put the tying run in scoring position. Weaver got Nolan Gorman to strike out to end the frame.

David Bednar got the Cardinals 1-2-3 in the ninth to pick up his second save as a Yankee.

-After the Yankees went up 4-0, the offense completely went to sleep. They consistently had traffic on the bases but couldn't scratch across any more runs, and the ninth inning was the worst culprit. After Ryan McMahon walked and Caballero singled to lead off the inning, Grisham tried to bunt them over but failed, as McMahon was thrown out at third on the force out. Rice struck out and Judge walked to load the bases for Bellinger. But the slugger popped out to end the threat.

The Yankees were 3-for-17 with RISP and left nine men on base.

-Dominguez, getting his first at-bat since Aug. 10, finished 1-for-4 with two strikeouts but delivered with an opposite-field single in the third inning to drive in the Yankees' fourth run of the game.

Caballero went 2-for-3 with a walk and one strikeout, while Rice finished 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Judge went 0-for-4 with a walk and an RBI groundout. He's now 5-for-29 since returning from the IL. 

-One piece of good news for the Yankees was that Paul Goldschmidt came in to play first base in the eighth inning for defensive purposes. It looks as if the veteran slugger will avoid an IL stint. 

Game MVP: Yankees bullpen (not named Doval)

The combination of Leiter, Weaver and Bednar got nine outs without allowing a run

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Cardinals play the middle game of their weekend series on Saturday evening. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.

Max Fried (12-5, 2.94 ERA) will take the mound against Sonny Gray (11-5, 4.06 ERA) in what will could be a pitcher's duel.

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'We wanted to throw a twist on it': Why an iconic Kobe Bryant image was altered for a Dodger-themed mural

Redondo Beach, CA - August 13: Gustavo Zermeno Jr.'s new mural of Dodgers players and Kobe Bryant on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025 in Redondo Beach, CA. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
A yet-to-be-finished mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. outside of a future Eat Fantastic restaurant in Redondo Beach features images of Dodgers Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani, as well as an altered version of an iconic Kobe Bryant photo. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

The image is iconic — Kobe Bryant letting out a roar while tugging on his gold Lakers jersey after scoring 49 points during a playoff win over the Denver Nuggets on April 23, 2008.

It has been used in numerous murals around Southern California, including one that is being painted in larger-than-life form on the side of a future Eat Fantastic restaurant on the 700 block of North Pacific Coast Highway in Redondo Beach.

This particular painting, however, is a little different from the others, and from the original image itself. Bryant's intensity is still there. His pose is exactly the same. He is still wearing a No. 24 jersey.

But in this version, that jersey is not gold with "Lakers" spelled across the chest in purple letters.

It's white, with "Dodgers" across the chest in blue letters.

A man in a Dodgers cap and faded black T-shirt stands with his hands in his pockets in front of a Kobe Bryant mural
Gustavo Zermeño Jr. altered an iconic image of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant for a Dodgers mural he is painting in Redondo Beach. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)

The altered version of the iconic image is just one portion of a sprawling mural paying tribute to the Dodgers' 2024 World Series championship. It's on the north-facing side of a former Carl's Jr. building that will open later this year as part of the growing Eat Fantastic chain in the Los Angeles area.

The mural was conceived by artist Gustavo Zermeño Jr. and Eat Fantastic owner Efthemios Alexander Tsiboukas. It features some of the key figures from the Dodgers' title run — players Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani (with his beloved dog Decoy) and rapper Ice Cube, who is shown riding in a classic Dodger blue convertible as he did when he performed before Game 3 of the World Series.

And then there's the late Lakers legend Bryant, whose inclusion in the piece was a must, Zermeño said.

Read more:Want to visit Kobe Bryant murals? Here are 24 in Los Angeles and 8 in Orange County

"Each [Eat Fantastic] location has a Kobe mural, at least the ones that have a good wall," said Zermeño, who is a huge fan of both the Dodgers and Bryant. "And for this location, [Tsiboukas] wanted to create something for the Dodgers' championship team. That's why Kobe has the Dodger jersey on, you know, staying on theme with the locations having a Kobe mural."

Zermeño said the original idea was to paint Bryant wearing a Dodgers baseball jersey, as he did while attending the team's games over the years before his shocking death in January 2020.

Lakers Kobe Bryant celebrates his three–pointer against the Nuggets
Lakers' Kobe Bryant celebrates a three–pointer against the Denver Nuggets on April 23, 2008, at Staples Center. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

"So we looked up a bunch of images," Zermeño said. "A lot of them are obviously cool images, but either they were very pixelated, or just didn't have what we wanted, that really aggressive Mamba-mentality feel.

"So we found this image. And you know, this image has been done before in several murals. But with the Dodger jersey, we wanted to throw a twist on it."

Tsiboukas said: "That's my favorite picture of him. I have the exact same one [painted at the restaurant location] in Arcadia. He's wearing the real jersey, though, the yellow one. So I wanted a replica of that same one I did in Arcadia, and do it in a Dodger jersey, because of the Dodger dynasty right now."

The purple and gold may have been removed from the jersey, but Zermeño said he purposefully incorporated them into the sunset depicted behind Bryant as a nod to the Lakers.

Zermeño started working on the mural Aug. 7 and expects to have it completed next week, ahead of Bryant's Aug. 23 birthday. The portion featuring Bryant is already done — and it has garnered mixed reactions.

"For the most part, I've gotten a pretty positive reaction over it," Zermeño said. "You know, a lot of Laker fans are also Dodger fans, so I think that overlap is pretty consistent throughout L.A. But yeah, man, you're always going to have some haters. I think a lot of it is more like playful taunting. ...

Read more:North Hollywood mural lauds Dodgers' Kiké Hernández 'for standing up for what is right'

"A couple of people driving by — I think they're just trying to be funny, making a joke, like yelling 'He didn't play for the Dodgers!' or like, 'He was a Laker!' And then some people are just curious why I made that change. I think the people that are curious are older, some of the older crowd that, I guess, doesn't understand why I would switch it, you know?"

Tsiboukas said he has seen a lot of online discussion about it, including on the popular kobemural Instagram page.

"Maybe 70% love it, and 30% are like, 'That looks like a Clipper jersey,'" Tsiboukas said. "It's causing a lot of friction back and forth, but it's good topic. It's raising awareness. It's keeping Kobe's legacy alive."

A man in a baseball cap and faded T-shirt holds a palette in one hand and a brush in the other while painting part of a mural
Gustavo Zermeño Jr. hand paints part of Mookie Betts' mouth onto his Dodgers mural outside the future Eat Fantastic restaurant in Redondo Beach. (Juliana Yamada / Los Angeles Times)
Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy are painted on a wall with a tree slightly blocking the view
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his dog Decoy, holding a Dodger Dog toy in his mouth, are depicted in a new mural by Gustavo Zermeño Jr. (Chuck Schilken / Los Angeles Times)

Zermeño said he doesn't mind the discourse over his artwork.

“It just, it sparks that conversation," he said. "So regardless of whether people like it or not, I think it kind of breaks the ice for people to come up and ask questions and learn more about why we created it, and the process of putting it together. ...

“It's art, you know, and art's meant to kind of create some type of conversation. And if we were to put him with a regular jersey, people would have been like, ‘Oh, that's cool, but it's been done X amount of times,' you know? I've seen that photo in at least five different murals. So, yeah, I think switching it up definitely — I don't want to say it elevated the piece, but it definitely created more conversation than there would be if we just kept the original jersey.”

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Dodgers' Max Muncy to miss several weeks because of oblique strain

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 3, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers third base Max Muncy.
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy sits in the dugout during a game against the Chicago White Sox on July 3. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Ahead of their biggest series of the season, the Dodgers suffered another significant injury blow.

Third baseman Max Muncy was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a Grade 1 right oblique strain ahead of the team’s pivotal divisional matchup against the San Diego Padres.

The Dodgers are hopeful Muncy’s injury — which manager Dave Roberts said was similar to, but more mild, than the oblique and rib problem that sidelined him for much of last year — won’t be season ending.

However, Muncy will be out for at least several weeks, with Roberts offering no firm timetable beyond that.

"I don't think anyone knows right now, but certainly beyond the 10 days,” Roberts said. “I think that's a safe bet."

In a corresponding move, the Dodgers claimed infielder Buddy Kennedy off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.

The last time the Dodgers lost Muncy, to a knee injury in early July that kept him out for about a month, their offense cratered.

Before that point, the team had led the majors in scoring, with 25 more runs than any other club. But over the 25 games he missed, they ranked last, averaging 3.5 runs per game while other star hitters endured slumps.

That sequence served as a reminder of Muncy’s importance to the team. Even after a slow start this year, he was hitting .258 with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs in 89 games.

"It's certainly a tough loss," Roberts said. "I think it's just, guys got to continue to perform to their abilities. It's hard to kind of backfill Max, what he brings as far as the plate discipline, the slug, the on-base, all that stuff. I feel good about our lineup, the guys that we have, and they've just got to go out there and take good at-bats. That's kind of all we can do right now."

Muncy’s injury comes amid other key injuries to the lineup.

Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernández (the team’s primary backup options at third base) are unlikely to return before September. Because of that, the club had already dug deep into its minor-league depth, including calling up highly touted prospect Alex Freeland — who has hit just .176 since arriving, but got the start at third base Friday.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Giants' offensive outburst not enough as tragic home stretch continues vs. Rays

Giants' offensive outburst not enough as tragic home stretch continues vs. Rays originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

For the first time since 1901, the Giants have lost 14 of 15 games at home.

It’s also San Francisco’s sixth straight loss, their third such streak in just over a month.

Though Friday’s 7-6 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Oracle Park looked much different than the previous five, the result was the same — and just as disheartening.

“It’s just like, we can’t get our timing right with anything,” manager Bob Melvin said postgame. “Everybody is feeling it right now, especially at home. You lose games, you lose multiple games and you lose them in different fashions — it’s not a great feeling.

“But I think we take the field every day in good spirits, and you got to do it again the next day, unfortunately.”

The Giants’ offense woke up quickly Friday night against Rays starter Joe Boyle, pushing six runs across in the first three innings. By comparison, the Giants had scored only five total runs in their previous five games.

Willy Adames ended an 0-for-24 streak at the plate with a third-inning homer, while the bottom of the Giants’ order showed life as well. Christian Koss reached base in all four of his plate appearances, while Patrick Bailey knocked a two-run double the other way to give San Francisco a 6-3 lead.

But even after their hot start at the plate, the Giants’ issues with runners in scoring position resurfaced again late in a tie game. After two hit batters and a single loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth, San Francisco still couldn’t get a ball out of the infield to drive in the go-ahead run.

The Rays, meanwhile, managed to do what the Giants couldn’t, converting a first-and-third, no outs situation into the eventual game-winning run in the top of the ninth.

That clutch hitting was yet again the difference in a San Francisco loss. The Giants went 4-for-18 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners, while Tampa Bay went 5-for-12.

To make matters worse for the Giants’ offense, Matt Chapman hit the IL again before Friday’s game with right hand inflammation stemming from his June injury. The All-Star third baseman spoke to the media postgame, explaining that he received two cortisone shots in his hand Friday to help relieve the inflammation.

Chapman said he has been dealing with pain while swinging since his initial return from the IL in early July, but he’s dealt with incerased soreness over the past two weeks — which has coincided with a decrease in performance at the plate.

“It’s something that kind of has to scar over,” Chapman detailed about the three tears he sustained in his hand. “There hasn’t been enough time for the scarring to happen, so I’ve been trying to just push through it, do what I can.

“I think just from constantly playing, the inflammation just kept going and I couldn’t get ahead of it. So, we’re just hoping this cortisone shot … can get me over the hump, and that way I can be productive and help the team win.”

Both Melvin and Chapman seemed optimistic that the Giants star could return after just the minimum 10 days.

But later that night, Chapman’s backup at third base suffered an injury scare as well, when Casey Schmitt was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning.

Melvin said Schmitt has a right forearm contusion and X-rays came back negative.

“It’s probably going to be a couple of days for him, though,” Melvin told reporters. “Obviously, it’s hard to lose him, but we have some guys that can fill in for now. Hopefully it’s not too long.”

Needless to say, the Giants’ run of bad luck continued in multiple facets on Friday night.

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After bullpen cart exit, X-rays negative on Duran's ankle

After bullpen cart exit, X-rays negative on Duran's ankle originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — Kyle Schwarber said the Phillies were hoping not to hear anything “super serious” on Jhoan Duran’s injury Friday night.

So far, so good.

Duran exited the Phils’ 6-2 win over the Nationals sitting in the bullpen cart after he was hit in the right ankle by a 94.1 mph Paul DeJong liner. A Phillies official said X-rays on Duran were negative and he’ll be evaluated further Saturday.

The Phils’ closer had a slight limp in the postgame clubhouse. On the field, he’d grimaced and struggled to put weight on his right foot during an extended delay. DeJong’s comebacker evidently struck him in a painful spot. 

“It hit him off the right ankle, the outer (part) of his ankle,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He ran like a shot over to retrieve the ball, and then once he got there the adrenaline wore off and the pain set in.

“But before the cart came out — I know it took a long time — he actually said, ‘I feel better. I think I can walk over to the dugout.’ But we have all these steps out here (leading to the clubhouse), so we just wanted to use the cart and take him all the way around.”

Duran was the Phillies’ big trade deadline pickup. He’d been fantastic in his first four outings — four saves, one baserunner, a signature entrance and a powerful arsenal of pitches.

The Phillies held a four-run lead when Duran entered because Schwarber bashed a three-run homer in the seventh inning and Bryce Harper made it back-to-back jacks. David Robertson got the last three outs and the Phils halted a three-game losing streak.

They’ll learn more about Duran’s ankle in the days to come. Caution was the obvious approach Friday.

“He’s 240 pounds,” Thomson said with a smile. “I don’t want him carrying all that up the stairs.” 

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Schwarber's clutch dinger gets Phillies back on track against Nationals

Schwarber's clutch dinger gets Phillies back on track against Nationals  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — The Phillies were in desperate search of a few slump-busting runs Friday night.

They were very glad to have Kyle Schwarber at the plate.

Schwarber hammered a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Phils snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-2 win at Nationals Park. 

The club now sits at 70-52 this season. The Phillies are 5-3 on a road trip that has two games to go against the Nats. 

Friday’s start was Zack Wheeler’s second since being pushed back in the Phillies’ rotation because of shoulder soreness. He pitched five innings, allowed four hits and two runs, struck out six and walked two. 

Wheeler’s velocity was significantly down in his last outing against the Rangers; the 35-year-old righty’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph. He was also below his norm against the Nationals, but Wheeler’s velocity numbers were certainly not alarming. Wheeler averaged 95.7 mph on four-seamers, which is 0.4 mph under his season average. 

The Phillies immediately went to work against Nats lefty MacKenzie Gore. Trea Turner led off with a single, swiped second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Schwarber walked. 

Bryce Harper lined the seventh pitch of his at-bat to right field and sprinted for second. Right fielder Dylan Crews failed to throw Harper out and his one-hop effort leaked past shortstop CJ Abrams. Schwarber profited, heading home to give the Phils a 2-0 edge. 

Though Gore needed 37 pitches in the first inning, the Phillies’ lead did not balloon. Nick Castellanos flew out to the center-field warning track for the night’s first out. Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp both struck out with the bases loaded. 

The Nats answered in the bottom of the first with a James Wood leadoff walk and CJ Abrams RBI double.

Washington nearly tied the game up in the second inning. After a one-out Crews single and Wheeler wild pitch, Riley Adams knocked an opposite-field hit. The Nats sent Crews home and Castellanos made a great defensive play, tossing a perfect throw to the plate and letting J.T. Realmuto handle the rest.

Wheeler’s command sharpened a bit as the night progressed, although he was clearly not at his top level. The Nationals had plenty of lengthy at-bats him. On the 12th pitch of his third-inning at-bat, Josh Bell grounded out to first. Daylen Lile lifted a down-and-in splitter over the right-field fence to even the contest in the fourth inning.

“It’s been iffy, to be honest with you,” Wheeler said of his command lately. “Today was a little bit better. I was able to throw high with ease instead of feeling like I was trying to throw it high. That’s my bread and butter, just letting it go and it rides up there. Once I get a full feel for that back, I think everything else will kind of just fall into place.”

For a moment, it appeared the Phillies might squander another chance in the seventh. Turner popped up a 2-0 fastball from lefty reliever Konnor Pilkington with runners on first and second.

Schwarber stepped up and slugged.

His blast to the second deck in right field traveled 456 feet and prompted a roar from the sizable contingent of Phils’ fans in D.C. Harper deepened Pilkington’s misery, smoking a slider over the center-field wall.

From there, the Phillies’ bullpen finished off the Nats. Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning.

The ninth was supposed to be Jhoan Duran’s, but he only saw one batter.

Paul DeJong lined a sweeper up the middle and it struck Duran’s right ankle. He began to run after the ball but pulled up short and appeared to be in pain. After talking with members of the Phillies’ training staff during a long delay, Duran left the game on the Nats’ bullpen cart and David Robertson came in.

Following the game, a Phillies official said X-rays on Duran were negative and he’ll be evaluated further on Saturday.

Robertson ultimately got the job done, recording the final three outs of the Phils’ 70th victory.

On deck 

Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.39 ERA) will face Cade Cavalli (0-0, 3.86 ERA).

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that “there’s a chance” Alec Bohm returns over the weekend from his rehab assignment. Bohm played his fifth game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night, going 0 for 4. He’s at 3 for 21 in this rehab stretch.

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Schwarber's clutch dinger gets Phillies back on track against Nationals

Schwarber's clutch dinger gets Phillies back on track against Nationals  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — The Phillies were in desperate search of a few slump-busting runs Friday night.

They were very glad to have Kyle Schwarber at the plate.

Schwarber hammered a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Phils snapped a three-game losing streak with a 6-2 win at Nationals Park. 

The club now sits at 70-52 this season. The Phillies are 5-3 on a road trip that has two games to go against the Nats. 

Friday’s start was Zack Wheeler’s second since being pushed back in the Phillies’ rotation because of shoulder soreness. He pitched five innings, allowed four hits and two runs, struck out six and walked two. 

Wheeler’s velocity was significantly down in his last outing against the Rangers; the 35-year-old righty’s four-seam fastball averaged 94.2 mph. He was also below his norm against the Nationals, but Wheeler’s velocity numbers were certainly not alarming. Wheeler averaged 95.7 mph on four-seamers, which is 0.4 mph under his season average. 

The Phillies immediately went to work against Nats lefty MacKenzie Gore. Trea Turner led off with a single, swiped second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Schwarber walked. 

Bryce Harper lined the seventh pitch of his at-bat to right field and sprinted for second. Right fielder Dylan Crews failed to throw Harper out and his one-hop effort leaked past shortstop CJ Abrams. Schwarber profited, heading home to give the Phils a 2-0 edge. 

Though Gore needed 37 pitches in the first inning, the Phillies’ lead did not balloon. Nick Castellanos flew out to the center-field warning track for the night’s first out. Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp both struck out with the bases loaded. 

The Nats answered in the bottom of the first with a James Wood leadoff walk and CJ Abrams RBI double.

Washington nearly tied the game up in the second inning. After a one-out Crews single and Wheeler wild pitch, Riley Adams knocked an opposite-field hit. The Nats sent Crews home and Castellanos made a great defensive play, tossing a perfect throw to the plate and letting J.T. Realmuto handle the rest.

Wheeler’s command sharpened a bit as the night progressed, although he was clearly not at his top level. The Nationals had plenty of lengthy at-bats him. On the 12th pitch of his third-inning at-bat, Josh Bell grounded out to first. Daylen Lile lifted a down-and-in splitter over the right-field fence to even the contest in the fourth inning. 

For a moment, it appeared the Phillies might squander another chance in the seventh. Turner popped up a 2-0 fastball from lefty reliever Konnor Pilkington with runners on first and second.

Schwarber stepped up and slugged.

His blast to the second deck in right field traveled 456 feet and prompted a roar from the sizable contingent of Phils’ fans in D.C. Harper deepened Pilkington’s misery, smoking a slider over the center-field wall.

From there, the Phillies’ bullpen finished off the Nats. Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm each pitched a scoreless inning.

The ninth was supposed to be Jhoan Duran’s, but he only saw one batter.

Paul DeJong lined a sweeper up the middle and it struck Duran’s right foot. He began to run after the ball but pulled up short and appeared to be in pain. After talking with members of the Phillies’ training staff during a long delay, Duran left the game on the Nats’ bullpen cart and David Robertson came in. This story will be updated when more information on his injury is available.

Robertson ultimately got the job done, recording the final three outs of the Phils’ 70th victory.

On deck 

Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.39 ERA) will face Cade Cavalli (0-0, 3.86 ERA).

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame that “there’s a chance” Alec Bohm returns over the weekend from his rehab assignment. Bohm played his fifth game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday night, going 0 for 4. He’s at 3 for 21 in this rehab stretch.

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Padres at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 15

It's Friday, August 15 and the Padres (69-52) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (68-53). Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for Los Angeles, while San Diego will announce its starter closer to first pitch as they put Michael King on the IL.

The battle for the NL West gets spicier Friday night when the Padres and Dodgers meet for a three-game series as San Diego is a half-game back.

The Dodgers are coming off four straight losses and the past three were a sweep via the Angels that solidified a 6-0 year head-to-head for the Angels over the Dodgers.

San Diego has won five straight games and seven of the past eight as the continue their climb atop the NL West. The Padres are 14-3 over the last 17 games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Padres at Dodgers

  • Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: SDPA, SNLA, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Padres at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (+118), Dodgers (-138)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Padres at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: TBA vs. Clayton Kershaw
    • Padres: TBA
    • Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, (6-2, 3.14 ERA)
      Last outing: 1.50 ERA, 1 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Padres and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the San Diego Padres at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Dodgers

  • San Diego is 5-0 in the last 5 games
  • San Diego is 14-3 in the last 17 games
  • The Dodgers are 0-4 in the last 4 games
  • The Dodgers are 5-2 versus the Padres this season
  • The Dodgers are 4-1 in the last 5 versus the Padres
  • The Padres have won their last 5 matchups against divisional opponents
  • With Clayton Kershaw starting the Under has cashed in the Dodgers' last 3 games
  • With Clayton Kershaw as the opener the Dodgers have covered the Run Line in 5 of their last 7 NL West home matchups

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Tigers at Twins Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 15

It's Friday, August 15 and the Tigers (71-52) are in Minneapolis to take on the Twins (57-64). Charlie Morton is slated to take the mound for Detroit against Pierson Ohl for Minnesota.

Detroit won the series opener, 4-3, in the 11th inning as the Tigers move to 4-1 over the last five games with three of those wins coming by one run. Minnesota is 1-3 in the past four and 2-4 over the last six as they try to course correct their season that seemed lost at the trade deadline.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Tigers at Twins

  • Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
  • Time: 8:10PM EST
  • Site: Target Field
  • City: Minneapolis, MN
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNDT, MNNT

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Tigers at the Twins

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Tigers (-133), Twins (+112)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Tigers at Twins

  • Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: Charlie Morton vs. Pierson Ohl
    • Tigers: Charlie Morton, (7-10, 6.10 ERA)
      Last outing: 12.46 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 7 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 10 Strikeouts
    • Twins: Pierson Ohl, (0-2, 7.15 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 1 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 0 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Tigers and the Twins

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Tigers and the Twins:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Tigers at Twins

  • Detroit is 4-1 in the last 5 games
  • Minnesota is 1-3 in the last 4 games
  • The Tigers have won four of five games at divisional opponents
  • Detroit's last three visits to Minnesota have stayed under the total
  • The Tigers have failed to cover the line in four straight games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
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Rays at Giants Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for August 15

It's Friday, August 15 and the Rays (59-63) are in San Francisco to take on the Giants (59-62). Joe Boyle is slated to take the mound for Tampa Bay against Landen Roupp for San Francisco.

The Giants are on a five-game losing streak and lost two straight series as they enter this home stand with the Rays. Tampa Bay is 2-4 over the past six games, but coming off a series win over the Athletics. Both the Giants and Rays have played themselves out of playoff position in the last 30 days.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Rays at Giants

  • Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
  • Time: 10:15PM EST
  • Site: Oracle Park
  • City: San Francisco, CA
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNSUN, NBCSBA, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Rays at the Giants

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Rays (+110), Giants (-131)
  • Spread:  Giants -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Rays at Giants

  • Pitching matchup for August 15, 2025: Joe Boyle vs. Landen Roupp
    • Rays: Joe Boyle, (1-2, 3.82 ERA)
      Last outing: 16.20 ERA, 6 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 5 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts
    • Giants: Landen Roupp, (7-6, 3.11 ERA)
      Last outing: 0.00 ERA, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 6 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Giants

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Rays and the Giants:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Tampa Bay Rays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Rays at Giants

  • The Giants are 0-5 in the last 5 games
  • The Giants are 1-11 in the last 12 home games
  • The Rays have won 4 of their last 5 away games against teams with losing records
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Rays' last 5 games
  • The Giants have failed to cover the Run Line in 17 of their last 20 home games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Posted on

Brewers activate All-Star rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorowski from injured list

CINCINNATI — Milwaukee Brewers rookie pitcher Jacob Misiorowski has been activated from the injured list after missing about 2½ weeks with a left tibia contusion.

The move potentially clears the way for the All-Star right-hander to pitch in the NL Central-leading Brewers’ series opener Friday at Cincinnati as they attempt to earn a 13th straight victory, which would match the longest winning streak in franchise history. The Brewers won their first 13 games in 1987.

Misiorowski last pitched on July 28 in an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Misiorowski’s knee appeared to buckle in the first inning that night as he fielded a dribbler and threw wildly to first base, though he remained in the game and ended up lasting four innings.

He owns a 4-1 record and 2.70 ERA in seven starts. Misiorowski has struck out 47 batters over 33 1/3 innings.

In other moves Friday, the Brewers optioned right-handed pitcher Grant Anderson to Triple-A Nashville, placed outfielder Blake Perkins on the bereavement list, put outfielder Isaac Collins on the paternity list and recalled infielder Tyler Black and outfielder Steward Berroa from Nashville.

Anderson, 28, was 2-3 with a 3.07 ERA in 53 relief appearances with Milwaukee.