New York has been ravaged by the injury bug of late, and now Ryan Weathers was forced to leave Saturday's start in the fourth inning due to left forearm discomfort.
Aaron Boone didn't have an update postgame, but Weathers is set to undergo further imaging.
The young lefty was shaken up after throwing an 0-1 sweeper for a ball to Toronto outfielder Myles Straw.
He took a few minutes after delivering the pitch, then, after a meeting around the mound, made his way to the dugout alongside the Yankees training staff.
De los Santos allowed Toronto to load the bases with two outs, but was helped out by Jazz Chisholm Jr. to escape the inning without further damage on Weathers' line.
The lefty saw his book close with just two runs allowed on eight hits while striking out three across 3.1 innings of work, but the elbow discomfort is certainly cause for concern.
Losing Weathers for a significant amount of time would be a blow for the Bombers, as he has been spectacular of late, entering Sunday with a 1.94 ERA over his last seven starts.
New York is also already without Max Fried due to a bone bruise in his elbow.
"You never want significant pieces to go down, but that's part of it," Boone said. "We're throwing the ball really well and expect to continue to do that -- if this creates an opportunity in the short term, we've had guys step up all year and we'll need to do it again."
Will Venable’s talents outshine his miscues, but he has no leeway in the final stretch for the AL Manager of the Year Award. | (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The White Sox are one of the few AL teams to beat as the home stretch of baseball approaches, and a lot of the credit goes to Will Venable. The sophomore skipper has led Chicago to first in the division with a 67-61 record, giving him a huge leg up in this year’s AL Manager of the Year Award.
But Venable can’t get too comfortable. Two games ahead of the White Sox are the Red Sox, who were 37-47 at the end of June, staring down the barrel of being the biggest disappointments this season but emerged as one of the strongest AL wild card teams since the All-Star break. And interim manager Chad Tracy is receiving high praise for steering the Bosox back into the playoff hunt. Kevin Cash’s unwavering first-place standing with the Tampa Bay Rays the AL East also makes him a formidable MOY frontrunner.
For Venable to win AL MOY, the White Sox must win the division. Here are three things the franchise and Venable can do to secure the AL Central.
Find a pitching diamond in the rough The quickly-fatiguing pitching staff needs a boost. Since the beginning of August, Venable has been forced to get creative with his permutations of openers, starters and relievers. An arm is an to him, and how you pitch matters more than where in the game you pitch. Venable managed to squeak two wins from games played with only relievers on the bump, but the luck is starting to run out.
Chicago’s pitching needs a hero in September. Luis Castillo has been a stand-up starter since the trade deadline, but the White Sox need more, and there are two possibilities: Davis Martin or Drew Thorpe.
Martin needs to come back from his blistered finger looking like the early Cy Young candidate he was with a 8-1 record from March through May, with a 2.00 ERA, 71 strikeouts, 14 walks, and just three home runs allowed. He was a force to be reckoned with, with command and presence on the mound that made him look a lot older and wiser. Martin’s time off will hopefully be the reset he needs to finish the season strong.
Otherwise, Thorpe needs to be the pitcher’s version of Tristan Peters: An underrated and unexpected workhorse who emerges out of nowhere. Thorpe has been working his way back to Chicago, but timing his return and ensuring he’s ready to dive into the deep end will be challenging. Thorpe only has 22 innings under his belt since 2024, and began his recovery just over a month ago. And he was hardly an experienced hand before TJS, tossing only tossed nine inconsistent games before his injury. Expecting Thorpe to be able to keep pace sprinting while he’s still learning to walk is a tall order, but dropping a series to the Mets would warrant an expedited return. If Thorpe can give the White Sox at least three starts that last into the fifth while giving the team a chance to win, he’ll make a huge impact.
Eliminate silly mistakes Venable can’t afford another embarrassing mistake. Despite some of his brilliant platoon and pinch-hitting decisions, his naïvité and newness to managing aren’t lost. His least forgiving misstep was losing track of the mound visits in an eventual 8-2 loss to the Guardians on August 7, which forced Noah Schultz off the mound prematurely.
Will Venable took me through what happened with the two mound visits in the first inning that resulted in Noah Schultz having to exit the game. #whitesoxpic.twitter.com/B2MxPSqIfX
A smaller but equally-costly error recently committed was not walking Pete Crow-Armstrong leading off the 10th of the first White Sox-Cubs game at Wrigley, with the score tied and PCA’s run having no meaning.
Despite his willingness to take responsibility for his poor decisions, Venable can’t afford another blunder.
Win more games than Boston Evading a collapse as catastrophic as Detroit’s last year should be the top priority for Chicago. Getting a fair pitcher back and eliminating bad decisions will help, but Venable needs to win games, period.
Chicago has five divisional series ahead of them, and it can’t be understated how important it is to win them. Winning at least eight of those 16 games is pivotal, although the standard should be much higher.
Also, Venable has to take the winnable games on the schedule. Excluding the Tigers and Guardians, the White Sox face four teams with a .500 record or worse. Winning 10 of those 15 games is table stakes. Setting the bar lower would not be MOY-worthy.
Together, those 18 wins should be enough to at least keep pace with Boston. But if Venable wants to win MOY and finish first in the second-easiest division in the league, he must come out on top of the Red Sox when all is said and done. If the Red Sox win more games than Chicago, Chad Tracy is the obvious MOY choice.
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 16: Logan Henderson #43 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, August 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tony Macon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Yesterday, the Milwaukee Brewers became the first team to reach 80 wins with a 2-1 series-opening victory over the Braves and ace Chris Sale.
Things will get a little easier — although not quite easy — against Atlanta’s starting pitcher for today’s game, Martín Pérez. The 35-year-old Pérez doesn’t throw hard (89.3 mph average fastball velocity this year), but he’s hung around in the majors since 2012 thanks to his ability to limit barrels and induce ground balls. He’s having the second-best season of his career, with a 3.15 ERA and 133 ERA+, although — as you might expect from someone with that profile — his 4.14 FIP is quite a bit worse.
On the mound for Milwaukee will be rookie right-hander Logan Henderson, who has a 2.44 ERA through 17 career starts with the Brewers. Henderson has missed some time due to injury in each of the last couple of seasons, but when healthy, he’s been a revelation. He’s made 12 starts this year, pitching to a 2.70 ERA and an even-more-impressive 0.87 WHIP.
Before we get into today’s lineup, I wanted to share some news for those of you who haven’t seen it. When right-hander Brandon Woodruff left Milwaukee in late July, his plan was to undergo shoulder surgery, but his shoulder has reportedly shown remarkably unexpected healing, and his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, is no longer recommending surgery. Given the way Woodruff’s season has gone, it’s hard to fault anyone for not getting too optimistic just yet, but you never know. Even seeing him pitch out of the bullpen before the end of the year would be an unexpected — but pretty great — way for his season to end.
Just talked with Brandon Woodruff, who in a twist didn’t need surgery and will start throwing progression Wed. As he exhausted his options pre-surgery, 4-week scan showed unexpected healing, so he went to Dr. Meister, who said surgery was not recommended. “I’m thankful,” he said.
Could Brandon Woodruff pitch sometime this postseason? The Brewers are realistic about the challenge that lies ahead, but “it’s possible,” Pat Murphy said. https://t.co/59AHU7SIAX
As for the lineup, no massive surprises today. Leading off will be Jackson Chourio, followed by Brice Turang and William Contreras, who went 4-for-4 with an RBI yesterday in a game the Brewers won by one run. Behind Contreras are Jake Bauers, the team leader in home runs with 22, and Andrew Vaughn, starting at first base with Bauers in right field. Rounding out the lineup are designated hitter Christian Yelich, third baseman Joey Ortiz, center fielder Luis Lara, and shortstop Cooper Pratt.
As usual, you can catch today’s game on Brewers.TV, WTMJ 620, and the Brewers Radio Network. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. CT.
Aug 20, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) celebrates with catcher Sean Murphy (12) after defeating the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Braves could badly use a win Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee.
They’re 1-4 on their four-game, seven-day road trip this week entering this 2:10 EDT game at American Family Field. The Phillies, meanwhile, have won seven straight games to trim the NL East lead to four games.
Atlanta hopes Martín Pérez (8-7, 3.15 ERA) can return to his normally solid form after a rocky start Monday at the Twins.
Milwaukee is starting rookie right-hander Logan Henderson (7-2, 2.70) in his first career appearance against the Braves.
Tune in on BravesVision, 680 or however you watch/listen to the Braves and see if they can force a rubber match in Sunday night’s series finale at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 21: A detailed photo of the Players Weekend belt worn by Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 21, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Winning is nice. I like winning. Do you like winning? The Yankees have been winning.
With a victory in the Bronx last night, the Bombers have clinched a winning week, and will have two opportunities to make it a perfect week. Meanwhile, the Orioles, whom they just swept, bounced back to beat the Rays for the fourth time this week. That assistance from Baltimore has allowed New York to pull within three games of first place in the AL East.
The Yankees grabbed the initiative in the first of 10 games in this critical late-August homestand, finding more answers than the Blue Jays in a 3-1 win. Cam Schlittler wasn’t his absolute best, but still kept Toronto at bay while a hulking homer from Spencer Jones which just stayed fair proved the pivotal highlight. This Saturday afternoon will feature a familiar matchup on the mound as New York looks to take the series and get their revenge for last weekend.
I’m feeling some personal dèja vu from my last recap, which involved the Yankees playing the Blue Jays—with Ryan Weathers against Dylan Cease as the pitching matchup. That game, if you’ll recall, ended with the ever-so-rare extra-innings win on the road (despite a ninth-inning debacle) which kicked off the current five-game winning streak they find themselves riding. Ben Rice hit a huge two-run homer in the 10th inning to atone for his critical error the previous frame, and the Bombers escaped with a 1-2 split of that weekend’s battle.
Weathers and Cease both pitched brilliantly, but both ended with no-decisions. Cease left on the hook for the loss thanks to a booming double by George Lombard Jr. followed by an RBI hit from José Caballero (and a failed a Matrix choreography shoot). Weathers completed his sixth consecutive quality start with 7.1 innings of one-run ball, continuing his sensational second half. If he continues this roll and the bats meet him halfway, we could be looking at a breezy series win. We’ll see if the Jays have adjusted their approach from then.
It’s a day game after a night game, so there are some changes to announce from last night’s lineup. With the right-handed Cy Young candidate Cease on the hill, Aaron Boone’s card will look more familiar. Trent Grisham goes back to his leadoff spot ahead of Rice and Heliot Ramos. Luis García Jr. and Jones will bat ahead of Lombard in the middle third, then Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, and third baseman Caballero pull up the rear. Hello Kitty will unfortunately not be able to come off the bench today.
For what it’s worth: the struggling Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was placed on the concussion IL the previous weekend, is back in the Blue Jays’ lineup. New Jersey icon Davis Schneider was optioned to make room. Guerrero has obviously played quite a bit better at Yankee Stadium than at Rogers Centre. It’s a shame the latter is his home ballpark.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
First pitch: 1:35 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | SN590 THE FAN (TOR)
OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 30: Dustin Pedroia #64 of the Boston Red Soxs bats during the game against the Oakland Athletics at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California on August 30, 2006. The Athletics defeated the Red Sox 7-2. (Photo by Don Smith/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Twenty years ago today, Dustin Pedroia made his major league debut in Anaheim. It was a big moment for Red Sox Nation. The transition from the 2003-2005 Red Sox teams was happening and they were calling up a player who would define the next decade of Boston baseball.
In both the April and June updates to the SoxProspects rankings, Pedroia was the #4 prospect in the system. He was behind legends like Jonathan Papelbon (who would graduate while holding down the closer job), Jon Lester, Craig Hansen, and Jacoby Ellsbury. Hansen aside, that’s quite the top four guys.
Think of the possible back of the bullpen for 2006…
Pedroia was a second round draft pick in 2004 and made it to the majors just about two year later. As a shortstop. Yes, for a time there was a middle infield logjam with Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, and Jed Lowrie. No one knew who would shake out at second base and shortstop. Well, Theo probably knew. Mike Lowell and Kevin Youkilis were taking the other two spots because of another trade. That trade was Hanley finding himself on the Marlins in exchange for Josh Beckett, the aforementioned Lowell, and of course, Guillmero Mota.
The rest of the lineup against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that August night?
Coco Crisp, CF
Mark Loretta, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Wily (not Fitzy) Mo Peña, LF
Mike Lowell 3B
Doug Mirabelli, C
Gabe Kapler, RF
and of course, Dustin Pedroia, SS.
Seeing Mirabelli listed you probably have a good idea who the starting pitcher was. You would be wrong.
This game was started by Kyle Snyder! Before he became the slow-walking pitching coach of the Tampa Bay Rays he was a pitcher for the Red Sox.
Snyder would be relieved by Kason Gabbard and Manny Delcarman.
Pedroia would be pinch hit for by Manny Ramirez. Manny doesn’t usually pinch hit at all, mostly because he’s in the lineup already. But there he was, ready to go.
The Sox would go on to lose that game but Dustin Pedroia would collect his first hit (a single to center field off Joe Saunders) and go on to have a great career. Starting with his Rookie of the Year the very next season. And an MVP. And three World Series rings.
He wasn’t even #15 yet in 2006. But he was a dirt dog.
Pedroia wouldn’t hit his first home run for a few more games – September 9th 2006 – and since the MLB Filmroom has zero Pedroia moments from his #64 days, I’ve taken the liberty of tracking it down.
Classic Don and Jerry reactions.
I’m sure someday he’ll start appearing as a regular in the Legends Box during Sox games and will get a fantastic response each time.
Can you believe it’s been 20 years? Do you have a favorite memory of Pedroia? A game you were at or watched?
The chances of New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton playing in the regular season have become more unlikely as he suffered another lower leg injury, this time a moderate-grade strain in his left calf.
Stanton was already on the injured list with a right calf injury, and this latest setback happened while he was running the bases during his rehab stint.
The 36-year-old has not played since April 24, and in his 24 games played, he hit .256 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.
"We're not ruling anything out," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday, Aug. 22. "He'll obviously continue to work to try to get it right and hopefully be available. But obviously we're at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but you also never know."
Even with the absence of Stanton and reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge, who has missed 70 games this season because of a right rib stress fracture, the Yankees' power surge hasn't gone away, as they lead the AL in home runs with 176, in part due to the emergence of designated hitter Ben Rice, who has 34 home runs.
Stanton has two seasons remaining on a 13-year, $325 million contract he signed in 2014 when he was with the Miami Marlins. Next year, he is due $25 million, and the 2028 season is a club option with a $10 million buyout.
"Obviously, I'm bummed for him," Boone said. "He's been working his tail off every day here trying to get this thing right. I think you all know how badly he wants to be on that field contributing to a championship, so obviously that's disappointing. Hopefully, we just continue to work to get him right and healthy."
New York entered Saturday with a 73-55 record, good for second place in the AL East, three games back of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Aug 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) reacts before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Colin Hubbard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mauricio Dubón’s versatility continues to be a major asset for the Braves.
He’s playing second base for the second time this season for Saturday’s 2:10 p.m. ET game at the Milwaukee Brewers, giving Ozzie Albies a rare designated hitter day.
This is well timed because, as Scott Coleman pointed out, things have been trending down for awhile now for Albies.
Ozzie Albies has a 73 wRC+ since the first week of May. Approaching 400 plate appearances in that time. They'll likely pick up his final option for 2027 because it's so cheap, but I think we're just about done
Drake Baldwin is back atop the lineup against right-handed Brewers starter Logan Henderson, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II.
Albies, DHing for just the second time in his career (both this season), will hit fifth, followed by Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley and Jim Jarvis at shortstop.
This will be the first time anyone on the Braves’ roster has faced Henderson, who debuted last season and was on the injured list when Milwaukee traveled to Atlanta in June.
The Brewers are running back a similar lineup to the one from Friday’s series opener, making a few order swaps and bringing in Christian Yelich at DH after Gary Sanchez held the role on Friday.
Although Braves starter Martín Pérez is in his 15th major league season, only a handful of active Brewers have extensive experience against him. Sanchez (5-for-22 with two homers) is the only Milwaukee hitter with more than 14 career at-bats against Pérez.
Old friend William Contreras (4-for-10) actually has the best batting average on the team against Pérez aside from Joey Ortiz (3-for-4). Overall, the Brewers are a combined .281 against Pérez lifetime with six homers, three doubles, 18 RBIs, a .517 slugging percentage and .850 OPS.
The Yankees activated the slugger from the IL ahead of Sunday's series finale with the Blue Jays in the Bronx.
Bellinger was sidelined for just under a month due to a left hamstring strain.
He had been progressing his way back over the past few weeks, and the team expected that he'd be able to make his return before the end of this weekend.
Bellinger appeared in two rehab games, and was deemed ready to come back.
"Very excited," Boone said Saturday. "He's had a very good rehab process here, and he's gotten tested well enough the past two nights and has gotten a handful of at-bats, so we feel like he's ready to roll."
Bellinger went 1-for-6 over his two Triple-A rehab games but was scorching hot before landing on the IL, hitting .322 with three doubles and a .903 OPS over his last 12 games.
Getting him back in the mix is certainly a huge boost for a Yankees offense that's been operating without three of their top bats in Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton.
In a corresponding roster move, the Yankees have optioned UTL Max Schuemann back to Triple-A.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees looks on during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium on June 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The injuries have come in bunches for Giancarlo Stanton this season, and Saturday morning brought even more bad news for the veteran slugger. Stanton suffered a “moderate” left calf strain (not the right calf which he injured back in April, as Bryan Hoch reported) after falling while running. Although the Yankees don’t want to rule anything out, Aaron Boone told reporters he may not return this year.
The Yankees probably already had to prepare for the possibility that Stanton would be unable to contribute to their playoff run this October, and this news essentially seals the deal. The 36-year-old DH played in 24 of the first 26 team games this season, hitting .256/.302/.422 with three home runs before straining his right calf in Houston on April 24th. Since then, he’s struggled to get back into playing shape. In June, he tweaked that calf again, forcing him to miss more time. Now, with an injury to the other calf, his Murphy’s Law season continues.
There isn’t much to say other than, woof. It’s hard not to feel for Stanton, who has tried his best to return as a contributor for the stretch run; and we only need remember his exploits from 2024 to know how much of a difference-maker he can be. Alas, his body has refused to cooperate. That said, if this is indeed curtains for him in 2026, the Yankees’ general postseason plan doesn’t figure to change much. Ben Rice has been closer to a full-time DH since Luis García Jr. came aboard at the deadline, and a healthy Stanton in the mix would likely have just given the Yankees another pinch-hitting option late in games; likely not a starting role.
After this season, Stanton has one guaranteed year remaining on the megadeal he signed with the Marlins all the way back in 2015. There is a team option for 2028 which the Yankees are all but certain not to exercise. Will the Yankees give Giancarlo a chance for one last hurrah since they collect insurance when he’s on the IL anyway, or will they decide to at last conclude this wild, up-and-down saga of Stanton in New York? Time will tell.
With Castillo giving up dingers left and right, Lindor is a good bet to go deep on Saturday.
Ed Scimia's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 15-23, -9.29 units
Over/Under bets: 14-22, -9.09 units
Mets vs White Sox weather
A steady wind blowing out to right field should provide some help for both lineups tonight.
Mets vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Mets +100 | White Sox -104
Run line: Mets -1.5 (+170) | White Sox +1.5 (-178)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+108) | Under 8.5 (-113)
Mets vs White Sox trend
Luis Castillo's teams have gone 3-8 straight up in his last 11 starts. Find more MLB betting trends for Mets vs. White Sox.
How to watch Mets vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Saturday, August 22, 2026
First pitch
7:10 p.m. ET
TV
SNY, CHSN
Mets starting pitcher
Christian Scott (4-3, 3.51 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Luis Castillo (4-9, 4.99 ERA)
Mets vs White Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
If you were an outsider to Cubs/Mariners on Friday night, it was a thrilling back and forth game. The Mariners appear to be a team on the outside looking in, though they are within striking distance of a division title in a down year for the AL West. Despite that, this had that feel of playoff baseball, with each team surviving big blows from the other team only to keep on battling. These are the days that I most hate the ghost runner in extra innings. A competitive back and forth game between two teams that are playing well decided because one team didn’t score in the top half. I’m not sitting around hoping that a competitive game will just get snuffed out.
The Cubs have won a bunch of these, so I’m not going to sour grapes it from a Cub perspective. To be fair when it went extras, I thought there was a good chance of the Cubs adding yet another last team at bat win to their resume. There is some overlap in these two numbers, but the Cubs lead MLB with 13 walk-off wins and also lead MLB with 11 extra inning wins. Add in some games where the Cubs took the lead at home in the bottom of the eighth or on the road in the top of the ninth and the Cubs have won a lot of their games in their last at bat.
Friday night wasn’t one of those. This was their seventh extra-inning loss. They’ve also been on the wrong end of a good handful of these games at the very end. The good news is that Cub baseball has been competitive down to the end of way more games than not. And looking over the various metrics, a last at bat decision is the most common Cub occurrence (in one direction or the other) and the next most common is the Cubs blowing out their opponent. So if you were watching Cubs baseball at any time this year, there is a fair chance you were being entertained.
That doesn’t provide a lot of comfort, though, when the Cubs had their last three hitters in their lineup up for the 10th inning while the Mariners were in their middle third. The only silver lining was Nico Hoerner being the runner for the Cubs and he did steal third, but it was too late and the Cubs didn’t get him home. The Mariners were able to use a sacrifice and an RBI single to walk it off.
Matthew Boyd had an uneven start for the Cubs, so he’s had a couple of rougher ones after a long stretch of very good ones. The Cubs have six weeks to get Boyd and Clay Holmes dialed in so they can try to win a tough postseason series. The Cub bullpen was very good, including the return of Daniel Palencia. That was great to see. Ryan Zeferjahn was on the mound for the loss. Pitching in extra innings has about the most generous grading curve ever from me. If you throw a scoreless inning, I’m going to praise you. It is literally designed to produce immediate scoring. If you don’t allow a big crooked number, I’m basically giving you a pass. So I’m not frustrated with Ryan about Friday’s outcome. I see the talent and why they landed him. I can’t imagine how you have him on a playoff roster at this point. Again, six weeks to try to unlock something usable there.
Close doesn’t count very often and I don’t imagine it’s a lot of cushion for anyone who stayed up late to watch that game. Another day off of the calendar. Another tough road trip. The good news is that this team is positioned very well as second place teams go. The bad news is that it’s going to be extremely difficult to catch the Brewers without sweeping the head to head games, a a VERY tall order indeed.
Three Positives:
Alex Bregman looks like a world beater in the second half. Two more home runs and three driven in. Added another hit on top of that. The season line creeps up to .258/.347/.418. Those first two numbers are now within shouting distance of his career numbers. He’s going to need to stay on a tear with his power numbers. But he has now matched last season’s homer number and exceeded his runs scored and runs driven in, though those last two numbers are very much context driven.
Ian Happ had a double and a solo homer (and three strikeouts). The batting average is unsightly at .216 but his on base (.323) and slug (.414) aren’t far off of his career numbers either.
Pete Crow-Armstrong with another leadoff homer and was also intentionally walked in the game. 40/40 is slowly coming into shape. He’s got to stay locked in, but what a monster season he is having.
Welcome back, Daniel Palencia! He threw a scoreless inning that included two strikeouts.
Game 129, August 21: Mariners 6, Cubs 5 (74-55)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
WPA Play of the Game: Leo Rivas’ walk-off single in the tenth. (.371)
Cubs Play of the Game: Alex Bregman’s solo homer in the ninth to tie. (.366)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 128 Winner: Clay Holmes with 47 of 70 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +28
Alex Bregman +24
Shōta Imanaga +14
Trent Thornton/Carson Kelly +13.5
Phil Maton -10
Edward Cabrera -12.5
Jameson Taillon -13
Dansby Swanson -17
Caleb Thielbar -18.5
Scoreboard Watching: Braves lose (one up on Cubs) to Brewers (six up). Phillies win (three back). Diamondbacks win (six back). Padres win (five back). Dodgers win (four up). So basically every game went the least favorable direction for the Cubs yesterday. That makes that close loss sting twice as hard. But still, really well positioned. With the Cubs having the tie-breaker on the closest Wild Card team, they have a four game cushion with 33 to play.
Up Next: Game two of the series sees David Peterson (7-7, 5.29) return to the rotation. David is 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA over his last seven outings (one of those in relief). I vibe with this team’s decision making so much of the time. But I am never, ever looking to replace a guy on that kind of a roll. That was a too cute move.
The Mariners will start 22-year-old lefty Kade Anderson in his major league debut. He is 10-1 with a 1.05 ERA over 18 starts for their Double-A affiliate. He has 135 strikeouts in 93.1 innings of work and an opponent batting average of .147. Just last year he was the Most Outstanding Player at the 2025 College World Series as his LSU Tigers won it all. He was then the third overall pick in the draft. For what it’s worth, the 2026 Cubs are not a Double-A lineup. Still, this looks like a tricky matchup against a guy you haven’t seen work with the big league team. The Cubs are 24-13 when facing a lefty starter.
The Los Angeles Dodgers take aim at their fifth straight victory when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates as big -233 favorites, while Tarik Skubal is still in search of his first win with his new club.
The two-time Cy Young winner was unfortunate not to pick up a win last time out, but I’ll explain why he and the Dodgers will cruise into the win column tonight.
Read my Pirates vs. Dodgers predictions and free MLB picks for Saturday, Aug. 22 below.
Who will win Pirates vs Dodgers today: Dodgers -1.5 (-108)
Tarik Skubal was somehow saddled with the loss last time out after allowing just one earned run over six innings, but he’ll have a pretty soft assignment tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates are one of the worst teams in baseball vs. left-handed pitching, ranked 24th in average (.224), 25th in wOBA (.303), and 24th in OPS (.690).
Skubal has a solid 3.18 ERA over three starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last nine contests.
I’m playing the Dodgers run line up to -120.
COVERS INTEL: Skubal’s main weapons are his four-seamer and changeup. The Pirates are batting .209 vs. the changeup from lefties (23rd) and .224 vs. the four-seamer (24th).
Pirates vs Dodgers Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-104)
I am expecting Skubal to outpitch Pirates starter Jared Jones tonight, but let’s not discredit the Pirates offense as a whole. Pittsburgh is tied with LA as the third-best offense in MLB (5.00 runs per game), so both teams likely put up some runs.
Jones owns a bloated 4.78 ERA, while the Dodgers have the best SLG in the majors vs. righties (.432).
On the other side, the Dodgers bullpen got a workout last night with nearly 70 pitches thrown collectively, so we could see some weaker arms tonight.
I’m playing the Over up to -115.
Pirates vs Dodgers home run prediction: Max Muncy (+350)
Max Muncy went yard in last night’s series opener as the Dodgers slugger launched his 26th dinger of the season.
Muncy has three homers in his last five games, and he’ll enjoy a favorable matchup vs. Jones tonight. Muncy has 20 home runs vs. right-handed pitchers – the most on LA – with a hard-hit rate of nearly 48%.
Jones has allowed at least one home run in five straight starts, and Muncy is the most likely man to hit one out of the park tonight.
Chris Faria's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 8-6, +1.06 units
Over/Under bets: 7-7, -0.57 units
Pirates vs Dodgers weather
Clear skies, temperatures up to 90 degrees, and light winds out to center field are projected for tonight’s game at Dodger Stadium.
Pirates vs Dodgers odds
Moneyline: Pirates +223 | Dodgers -233
Run line: Pirates +1.5 (+104) | Dodgers -1.5 (-108)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-104) | Under 7.5 (-100)
Pirates vs Dodgers trend
The Pirates have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 14 of their last 20 away games (+7.55 Units / 30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Pirates vs. Dodgers.
How to watch Pirates vs Dodgers and game info
Location
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Saturday, August 22, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Pirates starting pitcher
Jared Jones (2-5, 4.78 ERA)
Dodgers starting pitcher
Tarik Skubal (7-7, 2.85 ERA)
Pirates vs Dodgers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Yankees slugger was close to making a return from his current calf injury, when he fell while running the bases and strained his other calf, slowing him down once again.
This current one has been diagnosed as a moderate-grade strain.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said pregame Saturday that Stanton will continue working to try to be available, but he is facing an uphill battle with just 33 games left in the regular season.
"We're not ruling anything out," the skipper said. "He'll continue working to try to get it right and hopefully be available, but obviously we're at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but also you never know."
Stanton was originally placed on the IL in late-April after injuring his right calf running from first to second.
He suffered a setback with that right calf in June which extended his absence, and now has ran into another speed-bump, this time on the left-side, after taking steps forward on the road to recovery.
"Bummed for him," Boone said. "Been working his tail off every single day to try to get this thing right, you all know how bad he wants to be on that field and contributing to a championship, so obviously it's disappointing."
Stanton appeared in just 24 games before suffering the injury, hitting .256 with a .724 OPS over that span.
This is a significant blow for the Yankees' offense, which certainly could've used a nice boost from the five-time All-Star down the stretch in the regular season and into the playoffs.
The Boston Red Sox are priced as a massive -209 moneyline favorite for tonight's matchup with the San Francisco Giants at Fenway Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
The run line is what stands out to me in my Giants vs. Red Sox predictions, as I expect Boston's red-hot offense to keep thriving.
Who will win Giants vs Red Sox today: Red Sox -1.5 (+105)
The Boston Red Sox send Patrick Sandoval to the mound, and while he has not been great, he may not need to be if the offense keeps raking.
The underlying numbers suggest the left-hander is close to finding his best though, with a 2.88 FIP across his last two outings and zero homers allowed.
The San Francisco Giants have an 88 wRC+ over the last week. Blade Tidwell counters after allowing seven earned runs in his previous two appearances with a 5.14 xERA.
Tidwell has also surrendered 5.40 BB/9, dangerous against a Red Sox lineup carrying a 150 wRC+ and .230 ISO over its last six games.
Boston has the clear edge. Play to -110.
COVERS INTEL: The Giants struggle immensely against left-handers, posting an 83 wRC+ this season. Against righties, that number sits at 102.
Giants vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-126)
The total sits at a modest 7.5, and I’m targeting the Over, mainly because of the Boston offense angle.
Both bullpens are in good form. San Francisco’s relief corps owns a 2.71 FIP over the last week with limited home run damage. The Red Sox pen, meanwhile, has a 3.01 FIP over its last 25 1/3 frames.
That being said, Boston could easily score three or four runs off Tidwell alone, and that does not require the Giants to do much damage. Sandoval is also by no means untouchable, and the Red Sox bullpen has allowed a 43.3% hard-hit rate, so there is still some vulnerability.
Play to -140.
Giants vs Red Sox home run prediction: Willson Contreras (+414)
Willson Contreras has certainly benefited from Fenway’s left-field setup. He owns a .288 ISO at home, has gone deep 16 times in Boston, and has 26 homers overall. Contreras has also left the yard twice in his last five contests while posting a .444 ISO during that span.
What stands out here is his 50% fly-ball rate over the last week. Tidwell has a 39.2% fly-ball rate this season, and at Fenway, Contreras’ lifted contact has a chance to do damage toward the Green Monster.
He also owns a 41.7% hard-hit rate and 16.7% barrel rate over the last seven days.
Play to +400.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 56-65, -17.11 units
Over/Under bets: 68-50, +8.91 units
Giants vs Red Sox weather
Weather at Fenway Park looks cool and damp tonight, with temperatures sitting around 66–67°F throughout the game. Skies turn overcast after first pitch, winds ease from about 9 mph to 5 mph, and rain chances stay modest around 12–21%. Conditions look mostly playable with limited scoring impact.
Giants vs Red Sox odds
Moneyline: Giants +188 | Red Sox -209
Run line: Giants +1.5 (-121) | Red Sox -1.5 (+105)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-126) | Under 7.5 (+109)
Giants vs Red Sox trend
The Red Sox have covered the Run Line in 31 of their last 50 games (+17.95 Units / 30% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Giants vs. Red Sox.
How to watch Giants vs Red Sox and game info
Location
Fenway Park, Boston, MA
Date
Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Giants starting pitcher
Blade Tidwell (1-1, 4.33 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcher
Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 4.76 ERA)
Giants vs Red Sox latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
COVERS INTEL:
