Category: MLB

One day after Kevin Gausman had a strong debut in a Cubs uniform, Clay Holmes hoped to match that effort against the Royals.

Welp. Back to the drawing board. Holmes allowed four runs in four innings, including a home run by Jac Caglianone, and the Royals evened up the series by defeating the Cubs 6-3, ending the Cubs’ winning streak at five.

Caglanone’s homer off Holmes gave the Royals a 1-0 lead in the first inning. But you know what? The Cubs’ opponent had scored first in all five games of the winning streak, so perhaps this could be another come-from-behind win?

Unfortunately, no. Holmes got touched up for two more runs in the second and another in the third, and overall it wasn’t a great outing. He threw 70 pitches (44 strikes). Remember that Holmes is coming off a fractured fibula. It could be that he’s still not 100 percent from the injury. Hopefully, his next start — which should come up next weekend at Wrigley Field against the Cardinals — will be better.

The Cubs did make attempts to get back into this game. In the fourth, Michael Busch led off with a single. He was forced at second by Alex Bregman, but one out later Nico Hoerner singled Bregman to third.

Carson Kelly’s double scored both runners to make it 4-2 [VIDEO].

So it’s 4-2 in the fourth — that’s not an insurmountable deficit.

Colin Rea relieved Holmes and got through the fifth and sixth scoreless. Meanwhile, the Cubs had cut that two-run deficit to one when Ian Happ smashed his 19th home run of the year [VIDEO].

That had to feel really good for Happ, who’s been in an awful slump for quite some time. This made it a one-run game — and Happ also had made this great defensive play in the top of the inning [VIDEO].

Notes about Happ’s evening from BCB’s JohnW53:

This is the 28th of Happ’s 1,253 career games in which he had a homer and a double.

It was the fourth this season. He did it May 2 at home vs. the Diamondbacks, adding a triple, then May 29 at St. Louis and June 4 at home vs. the Athletics.

He also did it four times last season, six in 2024 and four in 2023. He had 10 in 2017-22, with a high of three in 2021.

Unfortunately, that one-run deficit didn’t last long, as Caglianone smacked a two-run homer off Rea in the bottom of the seventh to make it 6-3. About Caglianone’s two-homer, two-double game, from John:

Jac Caglianone is just the seventh player since 1901  to hit multiple home runs and multiple doubles against the Cubs.

The previous one was Luis Urias of the Brewers on Aug. 12, 2021. The one before that was Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals, on July 20, 2018. He hit three homers and two doubles, the only one of the seven with a third homer.

The first five were Les Bell of the Cardinals in 1925, Jim Russell of the Braves in 1948, Paul O’Neill of the Reds in 1991 and Nick Castellanos of the Tigers in 2015. All six earlier games were at Wrigley Field.

Bell and Urias had six plate appearances; the others, five. Caglianone had only four.

And that was it for the Cubs, made a bit worse when former Cub Nate Pearson entered to close the game for the Royals. Michael Conforto led off the ninth with a double, but that was it off Pearson, who struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong to end the game. Pearson now has one more save for the Royals than he had in his season and a half and 30 games with the Cubs. (That’s one save for KC, as he had none for the Cubs.)

Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame remarks [VIDEO].

One point Counsell makes in that clip is, I think, very important — Rea went four innings and so no other relievers even got up in the pen. That helps save the bullpen for future games.

This one, I think, just comes in the category of “You can’t win ‘em all.” The Cubs lost a game in the NL Central standings to the Brewers, who won Saturday, and now trail by 5.5 games. The Phillies and Diamondbacks both lost Saturday, so the Cubs lead both by six games in the wild card race.

The Cubs will once again go for the series win Sunday afternoon in Kansas City. Matthew Boyd will start for the Cubs and Randy Dobnak goes for the Royals. Game time is 1:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network. The BCB game preview will post at 11 a.m. CT.

Rangers 5, Orioles 1

• That was a fulfilling win.
• Jacob deGrom mowing guys down. The bullpen keeping the opposition off the board. Corey Seager with a big home run.
• What more could you want from a game?
• Yes, deGrom gave up the first inning homer that seems to be such a bugaboo this season, but that was the only run given up in five innings.
• And with nine Ks in the game, deGrom moved past Red Ruffing, Johan Santana and Kevin Appier to take the #95 spot on the all time strikeout list.
• Once again, the Rangers didn’t have a ton of baserunners, but they made them count.
• Half of the Rangers’ six hits on the game came in the second inning, when a couple of Orioles errors contributed to the Rangers taking a 2-1 lead.
• Texas looked for most of the game like it might be needing to win its second straight 2-1 game, before Corey Seager provided the breathing room.
• In the bottom of the eighth, former Ranger farmhand Grant Wolfram issued back-to-back two out, full count walks to Justin Foscue and Wyatt Langford, then fell behind 2-0 to Seager.
• The third pitch of the at bat, Seager turned on, crushing a three run homer to make the game a little less tense.
• The homer allowed Skip Schumaker to stay away from Jacob Latz, who was warming in anticipation of coming into the game in the ninth to protect a one run lead a day after picking up a two inning save. Cal Quantrill came in to finish things off instead.
• That’s now four in a row for the Rangers, who are just a half-game back of Houston in the American League West, and who have a 1.5 game edge on the Guardians and Twins for the third Wild Card spot.
• Jacob deGrom’s fastball topped out at 99.0 mph, averaging 97.5 mph. Peyton Gray hit 93.3 mph with his fastball. Chase Silseth touched 96.5 mph with his fastball. Cal Quantrill reached 94.0 mph with his fastball.
• Corey Seager’s homer was 107.7 mph. Joc Pederson had a 104.5 mph groundout. Ezequiel Duran had a 101.2 mph GIDP. Brandon Nimmo had a 100.3 mph single.
• Let’s finish the sweep on Sunday and break out Herbie.

Meet the Mets

Robert Stock’s second start for the Mets this season didn’t go nearly as well as his first, as the Mets were soundly defeated 9-0 by the Pirates, ending their short-lived winning streak.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, New York Daily News, New York Post

Before yesterday’s game, the Mets added Gabriel Arias, who the Mets acquired off waivers from the Guardians, to the active roster and optioned Eric Wagaman to Triple-A as the corresponding move.

The Mets got very good news on Carson Benge yesterday, who has a bone bruise on his wrist but nothing more after smashing it into the wall making an incredible catch in Friday night’s game. Andy Green said Benge is not going on the injured list as of right now and is considered day-to-day.

The group of prospects the Mets acquired at the trade deadline have strings of connections that date back to before their time in pro ball. Maybe this will help the Mets replicate some of that Nova Knicks magic, writes Laura Albanese of Newsday.

Around the National League East

The Phillies fell to the Blue Jays 7-5 in eleven innings. Of note in this game besides Nathan Lukes’ thrilling go-ahead homer in the eleventh: both starting pitchers reached milestones. With his strikeout of Brandon Valenzuela in the second inning, Aaron Nola became just the seventh active player to notch 2,000 strikeouts for his career. Unfortunately, Nola was struck on the knee with a 104.8 mph comebacker in the sixth inning, which forced his exit from the game, but luckily X-rays were negative. Ironically enough, Nola’s opposition last night was one of the other active pitchers with 2,000 or more strikeouts; Max Scherzer passed Walter Johnson for sole possession of 10th place on Major League Baseball’s all-time strikeout list when he struck out Kyle Schwarber in the sixth inning for the 3,516th punchout of his career.

The Marlins shut out the Angels 7-0 behind seven scoreless innings from Sandy Alcantara.

Gerrit Cole struck out nine in the Yankees’ 5-4 victory over the Braves on Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium.

The Nationals walloped the Reds 8-2 at Nats Park.

Around Major League Baseball

Tommy John, the first to receive a revolutionary elbow surgery that now bears his name, shared an emotional message for fans on Old-Timers’ Day at Yankee Stadium, which he had to miss due to health issues.

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com recounted all of the festivities at yesterday’s star-studded event at Yankee Stadium, which included some father and son duos.

Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com looks into why lefty batters are dominating in 2026.

Edwin Díaz blew another save, but this time the Dodgers won anyway.

Boston’s nine-game winning streak came to an end, as the Red Sox fell 7-3 to the A’s.

After retiring Ozzie Guillen’s No. 13, the White Sox notched victory number 60 on the season with a 6-3 victory over the Guardians—significant because it matches their win total from all of 2025.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 1988, the Mets participated in the first night game ever played at Wrigley Field.

The Yankees have had some decent success in replacing franchise cornerstones over the years. Back in the day, they had a run at catcher that, with some small gaps, went from Bill Dickey to Yogi Berra to Elston Howard to Thurman Munson. Their careers overlapped, but Mickey Mantle became the Yankees’ center fielder shortly after Joe DiMaggio’s career at the spot, a generation after Joe D. effectively succeeded Murderers’ Row center fielder Earle Combs. In recent years, Didi Gregorius did an extremely admirable job taking over at shortstop after Derek Jeter retired.

In terms of Yankee managers, Casey Stengel is arguably the best ever. He’s tied with Joe McCarthy with seven World Series titles, while Stengel has one more pennant and did all that in a shorter time frame. However, the Yankees did — somewhat controversially — dismiss Stengel following the 1960 World Series loss. While the man who followed Stengel didn’t match the number of World Series titles or anything, he did pretty well himself.

Ralph George Houk
Born: August 9, 1919 (Lawrence, KS)
Died: July 21, 2010 (Winter Haven, FL)
Yankees Tenure: 1947-54 (player); 1955-60 (coach/Triple-A manager); 1961-63 and 1966-73 (manager); 1964-66 (general manager)

Born in Kansas in 1919, Ralph Houk grew up on a farm not far from Stull. He grew a love of baseball while watching his uncles play local semi-pro ball. He eventually started playing himself, and took to the catcher position, where he excelled with his sturdy frame at Lawrence High School in the shadow of the University of Kansas. He also excelled in football and indeed had offers to play in college both at Kansas and Oklahoma. However, Houk preferred baseball, and eventually inked a deal with the Yankees in 1939.

Houk got off to a decent start in his first couple minor-league seasons, but he left to serve in the army in World War II ahead of the 1942 campaign. While he wasn’t part of the initial D-Day Normandy landings, Houk did land on Omaha Beach shortly after and took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He received a number of commendations in his time in the military, including a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. Houk’s strong military background eventually led to him being referred to as “the Major.”

Well over four years after his previous professional games, Houk eventually returned to baseball in 1946. He did enough that season and in spring training in 1947 to make the Yankees, but he spent the next couple seasons going back and forth between the majors and Triple-A. During that stretch, he nearly gave up on the Yankees at one point, believing that he should be with the big league team and not in the minors, but was eventually persuaded to stick through it.

Houk eventually would play with the Yankees for good from 1950-54, but was very much a third-string catcher. This stretch was, after all, the height of Yogi Berra’s powers, when the beloved backstop won multiple MVPs.

Houk only ever played in 91 games over eight major league seasons, and almost half of them came in that first 1947 season. He won his first World Series ring that year (getting a pinch-hit infield single off Brooklyn’s Joe Hatten in his first of two career Fall Classic at-bats) and was part of the dynasty that won five championships in a row from 1949-53, though during that latter stretch, he never received even 10 plate appearances in a single season. However, Houk did become a clubhouse leader in the Bronx, with teammates often turning to him for advice on their game and more. That reputation led to the Yankees approaching him about becoming a minor-league manager.

In 1955, Houk hung up his cleats and was named skipper of the Triple-A Denver Bears. In Denver, Houk had three winning seasons, including winning the American Association pennant in 1957. That success led to the Yankees bringing in Houk to serve as first-base coach under Stengel. He did so for the next three seasons, securing his seventh ring for the 1958 champs.

Then in 1960, the Yankees lost a heartbreaking World Series to the Pirates, losing on Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run in Game 7 despite easily outscoring Pittsburgh in the Fall Classic. In the aftermath, the team announced that they were moving on from Stengel. Owner Dan Topping said that they were looking towards the future as Stengel was 70, and the move would’ve been made even if the Yankees had won. (Stengel famously said “I’ll never make the mistake of turning 70 again.”) There’s also a thought that the Yankees didn’t want to lose Houk, whose success in the minors and as a Yankees’ coach had made him a hot manager target for other teams. Whatever the true reasons, Houk was indeed the choice to take over as Yankees’ skipper.

In 1961, Houk was taking over a team that already had plenty of talent and had been a dominant force in baseball over previous years, but he did put a bit of his own spin on it. Whitey Ford had already been the team’s ace, but Stengel often liked to move him around and selectively use him in tougher matchups, lowering his start total. Houk, however, said he would be taking the ball every fourth day no matter what. As a result, Ford won 25 games with a 3.21 ERA in 283 innings, winning the Cy Young Award for the first and only time in his career.

Then of course, there were the M&M Boys. From the start of the 1961 season, Houk slotted Roger Maris third in the lineup and Mickey Mantle fourth and that helped result in one of the most memorable seasons of all time. The two famously challenged Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record of 60, going back and forth all summer. A hip issue ended up leading to Mantle missing some time and finishing with 54, but Maris broke the record with 61, holding the mark for over 30 years.

Oh, and the Yankees as a team were pretty good in 1961 too. Led by those three great seasons and more, the team won 109 games and beat the Reds in five games in the World Series. Houk became just the third manager to ever win the World Series in their first season.

The Yankees repeated as champions in ‘62 in a seven-game classic over the Giants, with Houk standing by his starter who had been the goat two years prior, Ralph Terry. The righty pitched a 1-0 shutout in Game 7 and Houk had his ninth ring.

New York made it back to the Fall Classic in ‘63, but fell in a sweep to the Dodgers. After that season, Houk stepped into a front-office role and handed over the reins to Berra. While Yogi led the team back to the World Series, Houk and ownership weren’t enamored with him as manager and fired him after the team lost to the Cardinals in seven. In his place, Houk hired the Cardinals’ manager, Johnny Keane, who had clashed with his front office in St. Louis.

However, the stars of dynastic era of the team were starting to age out, and the Yankees didn’t have the reinforcements in store. Keane lasted just over a year before Houk dismissed him in May 1966 and took back over the job himself, eventually ceding GM responsibilities to Lee MacPhail. Houk’s second tenure as Yankee manager lasted eight seasons, but wasn’t remotely as successful as the first. He led them to a second-place finish in the AL East in 1970, but other than that the team hovered around .500 or worse. Houk did gradually help usher some stars of the future — such as Thurman Munson, Roy White, and Bobby Murcer — into the big leagues, but new owner George Steinbrenner decided to move on after the 1973 season. For his own part, Houk sounded relieved to not stick around long enough to really endure the worst of Steinbrenner’s meddling.

After leaving the Yankees, Houk managed the Tigers from 1974-78 and the Red Sox from 1981-84, but never led either to the postseason. However in both cases, he helped develop some of the teams’ future young stars. (Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker, and others in Detroit; Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and more in Boston.) He later held a front office role with the Twins, helping assemble the teams that would win the World Series in 1987 and ‘91.

In 1990, he retired to Florida, where he eventually passed away in July 2010, the same month as Steinbrenner and longtime PA announcer Bob Sheppard. The Yankees wore black armbands in tribute to Houk for the remainder of that season.

Ralph Houk absolutely had the good fortune of inheriting a dynasty when he took over as Yankees’ manager in 1961. However, fancy cars still need a driver who knows what they’re doing and Houk absolutely did so, earning his players’ trust and keeping the dynasty going.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

The Dodgers are back in the win column for the first time since July 30, as they took an extra-inning thriller against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday to end a seven-game skid.

Shohei Ohtani provided the deciding run, grounding an infield single to bring home Kyle Tucker to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with two outs in the top of the 10th inning. Before he carried his team to victory, Ohtani managed to play catch on the Chase Field outfield, marking the first of many steps in his return to two-way duties.

Ohtani is insistent on taking his time with his throwing program, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com, and the Dodgers are confident that he can return before the end of the regular season.

“Any inning, any innings we get from him are bonuses, given he’s a two-way player,” manager Dave Roberts said earlier in the week. “So I think whether it’s one inning, two innings, three innings, I’m not too concerned about the timeline.”

When the Dodgers needed it most, Yoshinobu Yamamoto helped stop the bleeding on Saturday by firing 5 2/3 shutout innings in a no-decision. It was Yamamoto’s first scoreless appearance since July 4, and he now sports a remarkable 2.65 ERA on the season, placing him tied for fourth in the National League with Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez.

Yamamoto spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA following Saturday’s much needed win, noting how the whole team felt a sense of urgency in doing whatever it took to get things going right again.

“We dropped to seven, and I think everybody was feeling the same way. We really wanted to win, and I wanted to get the team off on the right foot.”

Roki Sasaki continued to show gradual improvements on the mound during Friday’s contest against Arizona, as although the right-hander allowed two runs, he went six full innings while striking out five and walking only one. Sasaki has been turning heads to begin the second half, as the right-hander has a 2-1 record with a 1.88 ERA in four second half starts, striking out 26 and walking just seven over 24 innings.

While Dave Roberts noted that his splitter wasn’t as lethal as it had been in prior outings, he commended Sasaki on continuing to mature at the big league level and consistently put his team in a spot to win, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.

“The split wasn’t as good as it has been, but he did a fine job,” Roberts said. “He really did, and it’s good to see him, even when his best pitch isn’t there, still go out there and finding ways to get through six innings and put us in a good spot to win.”

Omaha Storm Chasers 7, Toledo Mud Hens 2 (box)

Carl Edwards Jr. took the loss, but that’s largely because his defense didn’t have his back. The first run was on Edwards. He gave up a double and single in the first, and a fielder’s choice made it 1-0. The other four were unearned.

Bennett Lee threw away a dropped third strike that would have been the third out of the third inning. (Triple-triple). A leadoff error by Cal Stevenson at first ruined the start of what should have been a 1-2-3 inning. Instead, it turned into a three-run homer. 5-0, Omaha.

Brant Hurter took over in the seventh. He gave up an RBI single, but Trei Cruz made it a two-run base knock after letting the ball go right by him in center field. Cruz had a chance to throw the lead runner out at home, but you have to glove the ball first to do that. It was a bad night for the defense.

Stevenson made up for his earlier mistake by hitting an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh. He came home a few batters later on a Wenceel Perez sac fly. That was all of the meaningful offense for Toledo, though.

Ricky Vanasco faced the minimum in the eighth, thanks to an inning-ending double play, and went 1-2-3 in the ninth.

Cruz: 2-3, BB

Stevenson: 2-4, 2B (7), R, RBI, K

Perez: 0-3, SF, RBI, K

Edwards Jr. (L, 4-10): 6.0 IP, 5 R, 1 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 8 K, HR

Coming Up Next: It’s a noon ET start on Sunday. Omaha leads the series, 4-1.

Erie SeaWolves 10, Altoona Curve 6 (box)

It was a big home run day for Erie, with the SeaWolves sending the ball into the stands six times. Izaac Pacheco and E.J. Exposito each hit multiple long balls, going back-to-back in the first and fifth innings. Pacheco hit a third homer in the seventh for good measure.

The other home run came from Thayron Liranzo, also in the first. It was a two-run shot and his second in as many games. Roll the tape!

Pacheco and Exposito were next, and neither were wallscrapers.

Max Alba had plenty of run support to work with after the first, but he gave up four runs over his 5.1 innings of work. A solo homer in the first got Altoona on the board, and a sac fly in the fourth made it 4-2. Alba gave up six hits and two walks overall, so it wasn’t a runaway win by any means.

Pacheco and Exposito did it again in the fifth, this time with a little less power, but both went to center field. Exposito leads the team with 20 homers, but Pacheco is closing in after this explosive night.

Alba left the game in the sixth with one out and two on. Tyler Owens took over and immediately gave up a two-run, ground-rule double, with both runs going on Alba’s line. Owens wasn’t particularly sharp, walking a batter and giving up an RBI single later in the inning, keeping it a two-run game.

Josue Briceno created some separation in the bottom of the sixth with a sac fly, but Wandisson Charles gave that run right back to Altoona in the seventh.

Pacheco’s third home run of the night and 15th of the year came in the seventh. It served as the final blow of the game, but a six-homer night ending with a four-run differential feels a bit off. A win’s a win, though.

Charles went 1-2-3 in the eighth and Trevin Micahel closed things out with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Pacheco: 3-4, 3 HR (15), 3 R, 5 RBI

Liranzo: 1-3, HR (12), R, 2 RBI, BB, K

Exposito: 2-4, 2 HR (20), 2 R, 2 RBI

Briceno: 0-3, SF, R, RBI, BB

Alba (W, 2-4): 5.1 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 0 K, HR

Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:35 p.m. ET start on Sunday. Erie leads the series, 3-2.

West Michigan Whitecaps 14, Fort Wayne TinCaps 6 (box)

Back-to-back days with 14 runs for West Michigan. Not too shabby. All of those runs came in the first four innings, with 10 coming in the third alone. You’d think this was another home run barrage, but the Whitecaps had zero homers and just two extra-base hits. Singles and walks, baby. That’s baseball at its purest.

Singles from Woody Hadeen and Roberto Campos got things going in the first. Fort Wayne starter Bryan Balzer tried to give West Michigan more runs in the opening frame, but the Whitecaps stranded the bases loaded.

Hadeen doubled in the second, moving Juan Hernandez to third. Bryce Rainer scored him on a sac fly right after.

Brady Smith’s first start in the Tigers farm went well, but a two-run homer in the second made it a tie ball game. Those were the only two runs he allowed, though. He gave up two hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings.

Then, the big inning came. Balzer gave up a leadoff single to Clayton Campbell and hit Luke Shliger. He loaded the bases with a walk to Jackson Strong, and another walk to Andrew Sojka gave West Michigan the lead back.

The TinCaps changed pitchers, but it didn’t help. Javie Chacon hit Cristian Santana for another free run, and then Hernandez and Hadeen hit back-to-back RBI singles. All of a sudden it was 7-2, in favor of the Whitecaps.

Another single from Roberto Campos gave West Michigan its eighth run, and Campbell walked for the second time in the inning. Shliger hit a sac fly, and Strong reached on an error. Chacon hit Sojka, and Santana singled in Strong to cap off the 10-run frame.

Campell hit a sac fly in the fourth, and a wild pitch put West Michigan ahead by a dozen. Smith cruised and turned it over to the bullpen in the sixth.

Logan Berrier gave up three runs over his two innings of work, but that was only enough to cut Fort Wayne’s deficit to single digits. Juanmi Vasquez had trouble getting the third out in the eighth, so Jalen Evans had to come in and finish things out. Evans was sharp with three strikeouts.

Hadeen: 4-6, 2B (14), 3 R, RBI, BB, K

Rainer: 1-5, 2B (19), R, RBI, 3 K

Campos: 3-6, R, 2 RBI, 2 K

Smith (W, 1-1): 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K, HR

Coming Up Next: It’s a 1:05 p.m. ET start on Sunday. West Michigan leads the series, 4-1.

CANCELED: Lakeland Flying Tigers vs. Dunedin Blue Jays

Rained out. No makeup.

Coming Up Next: It’s a noon ET start on Sunday. The series is tied, 2-2.

Triple-A: Buffalo Bison (TOR) 10, Norfolk Tides 8

Luis De León’s second Norfolk start wasn’t as successful as his first. In four-plus innings, De León allowed six earned runs. In the second inning, he allowed three runs thanks to five straight singles. He started the fifth inning with a home run, a single, and a HBP. He exited after the HBP but both runners on base came in when Anthony Nunez gave up a grand slam.

The Tides rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning, but Nick Raquet gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning for the loss.

Enrique Bradfield had two hits and a bases-loaded walk from the top of the lineup and Creed Willems had two hits as well. Rece Hinds and Luis Vázquez had three hits apiece; two of Hinds’s were doubles. Those doubles were the only extra base hits of the game.

Box Score

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 5, Harrisburg Senators (WAS) 2

New top prospect Anthony Eyanson made his organizational debut and it went pretty well! The centerpiece of the Adley Rutschman trade allowed two run runs in five innings, both on solo home runs. He struck out nine batters, walked one, and allowed four hits total.

The Baysox had only four hits, but they made them count. Victor Figueroa homered in the second, then doubled in the fourth. He came in to score on Frederick Bencosme’s two-run double. Tavian Josenberger capped the scoring with a two-run home run in the sixth. Griff O’Ferrall walked ahead of Josenberger’s bomb.

Box Score

High-A: Frederick Keys 3, Jersey Shore BlueClaws (PHI) 1

Another new prospect, Kyson Witherspoon, debuted today. Listed as the #7 prospect for the Orioles on MLB Pipeline, he allowed just one unearned run in 4.1 innings last night. That sounds great! But he also walked five guys. Ouch. He also gave up five hits, so there was a lot of traffic on the bases. He benefitted from a double play, a caught stealing (that he initiated), and a pick off.

The offense got on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI triple from Fernando Peguero. It was a two-hit, one walk day for Peguero. They added two more in the seventh when Leandro Arias doubled, moved to third on a single from Braylin Tavera, then scored on a wild pitch. Tavera later scored on a single Félix Amparo. Amparo had a three-hit game.

Box Score

Low-A: Fredericksburg Nationals 9, Delmarva Shorebirds 5

Another org debut! This time it was Harrison Kreiling, who came back in the Taylor Ward trade. He pitched a 1-2-3 first inning. In the second he walked two, then gave up a double and a single which resulted in two runs. He finished the inning and called it a day. The relief pitching was bad, with seven more runs allowed.

The offense was kept off the board until the seventh inning, despite having eight baserunners in the first six. DJ Layton hit two doubles, while Stiven Martinez had two hits and three RBI. Jordan Sanchez had a three-hit game.

Box Score

Today’s Schedule

• Norfolk @ Buffalo, 1:05. Starter: Michael Forret
• Chesapeake vs Harrisburg, 1:05. Starter: Trace Bright
• Frederick @ Jersey Shore, 1:05. Starter: Carson Dorsey
• Delmarva @ Fredericksburg, 1:35. Starter: Esteban Meija

The Atlanta Braves are once again in a position of avoiding a sweep. The New York Yankees pulled off two low-scoring wins and are looking to accomplish a third in this finale before the Braves return home to face the team just across the city.

Grant Holmes is currently boasting a 3.77 ERA and is coming off a successful outing against the Miami Marlins just five days ago. Reestablishing his starting campaign after a shaky first half of the season, Holmes has found his command and played up to what fans were expecting coming into the season.

It’s just been one game, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

The outing, however, was a sign that Holmes still has what it takes to keep his starting spot and put on a stellar performance. He will not only have to match that showing, but top it, as it’s uncertain what version of the Braves’ offense will show up after their recent losses. And they need all the defense they can muster to hold the Yankees’ offense.

As for New York, Cam Schlitter is set to take the start. Holding a 2.26 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and a five-pitch arsenal that’s touching high velocities, it’s no wonder Boston is keeping him in their conversations.

Though not coming off his best outing against St. Louis on August 3 with four earned runs in his three innings pitched, don’t get fooled, Schlittler is a beast on the mound. And it’ll take the dominant version of the Braves to stop him and avoid a sweep. They’ll have to strike early with Holmes on the defensive end to continue his strong stint.

One could only hope, but the Braves will have to execute if they want this hope to turn into action.

Today’s Reflections

Welcome, Kevin Gausman, to the family! And DO NOT scare us like that!

I’m sure I’m not the only one when, on his 14th pitch as a Cub Friday, Gausman took a line drive off his ankle by Kansas City’s Salvador Perez and he was hobbling around. The thought in my head couldn’t be avoided: “Of course. We, as Cub fans, can’t have nice things.”

But Gausman shook off the zinger and got out of the inning allowing just the run set up by the ricocheted liner out into short right field. Gausman cruised through seven innings, including four 1-2-3 innings. He, of course, gave up the complimentary Cubs Starter solo home run (I want to retire this phrase!), but in total, Gausman allowed only four hits and a walk while striking out four. The nearly-perfect performance (66 of his 96 pitches were for strikes) was a joy to watch. Keep it up, Kevin.

Offensively, most of the damage was from the top three in the order. PCA was 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base. Seiya Suzuki followed, going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Alex Bregman finished the top three going 1-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.

At the other end of the lineup, Pedro Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Michael Busch added a pair of hits in three at-bats.

BIG complaint — Caleb Thielbar needs a break. He’s been a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde, but Friday he allowed two runs on three hits in 0.1 IP. Two games before that against the Dodgers, Thielbar allowed four hits, including a home run, and gave up four runs in 0.1 IP. And two games prior to that against the Cardinals, he gave up a solo home run in 1.0 IP. Yes, those were sandwich around two good performances, but he needs a reset. The two home runs mentioned above are two of 10 that Thielbar has given up this year.

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Friday’s Game Stories:

• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune {#}): Kevin Gausman’s strong Chicago Cubs debut fuels 6-4 win: ‘That’s the reason you trade for somebody like this’. “The Cubs (68-49) won their fifth consecutive game and moved 4½ games back of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, who lost Friday.”

• Vinnie Duber (Chicago Sun-Times): Trade-deadline addition Kevin Gausman shines in Cubs debut: ‘He’s nasty, he really is’. “The newly arrived right-hander was excellent after a shaky first inning, retiring 19 of the final 21 batters he faced in helping the Cubs to their fifth straight win, a 6-4 victory over the Royals.”

• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Kevin Gausman strong in Cubs debut as North Siders continue their winning ways. “Gausman seems to fit in perfectly with a playoff-hungry Cubs team.”

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): After whirlwind week, Gausman delivers 7 strong in impressive Cubs debut. “As Gausman walked back to the dugout following that seventh-inning strikeout, there were clear cheers from the Chicago fans occupying the ballpark.”

Assorted Stories:

• Jay Staph (Just Baseball): Pete Crow-Armstrong Has a Real Shot to Win NL MVP. “For the first time since 2023, the NL MVP race may come down to the wire, as a new challenger has emerged: Cubs CF Pete Crow-Armstrong.”
• Zachary Weinberger (ClutchPoints): Kevin Gausman drops high praise for Cubs after stellar debut. “New Cubs pitcher Kevin Gausman reacts to his debut against the Royals, shouting out the team after the trade with the Blue Jays.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Unbelievable Cubs stat justifies Jed Hoyer’s often-frustrating approach to building a pitching staff. “The best defensive team in the Statcast era has Cubs pitchers finding tremendous success.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cabrera’s impending return gives Cubs crucial starting depth after Deadline. “After this upcoming rehab outing, it is possible that the hard-throwing righty will be deemed ready to rejoin Chicago’s rotation.”

• Anthony Kerr (DaWindyCity): The time for the Cubs to finally make a push at the NL Central has arrived. “The Cubs have everything they need to finally dethrone the Brewers from the top of the division.”
• Jake Misener (Cubbies Crib): Clay Holmes was quietly helping Cubs succeed long before getting traded to the team last week. “The right-hander was instrumental in one of the team’s biggest pitching success stories.”
• Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): Clay Holmes’ Pitching Style Fits Cubs Perfectly. “Clay Holmes and the Cubs’ infield defense will sing a harmonious tune from the moment he steps on the mound.”
• Matthew Creally (Pitcher List): Ryan Zeferjahn is Geared for Prime Time. “The newest Cub has all the tools for a big moment or two in October.”
• Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): Acquiring Tyrone Taylor Was An Unsung Gem By Jed Hoyer At Trade Deadline. “Not as hyped as the Cubs’ myriad of pitching additions at the trade deadline, Tyrone Taylor should settle in nicely as a key piece of the bench down the stretch.”
• Aldo Soto (Sports Mockery): Who’s On the Chopping Block in the Chicago Cubs Bullpen? “The Chicago Cubs bullpen has been shaky throughout the 2026 season, and who would have thought back in April that Jacob Webb wouldn’t only be good, but he’d be one of the best relievers in MLB?”
• Elias Schuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): Cubs Share Bad News on Matt Shaw’s Status as Season Enters Crunch Time. “The good news is that they don’t have to feel rushed at this point, but he’s still the kind of bat and versatile position player you’d like to have in the dugout at such a crucial point in the season.”
• Matt Sullivan (Sporting News): Cubs predicted to sign All-Star pitcher traded by Tigers to $90M contract in free agency. “This prediction would make a lot of sense for the Cubs this offseason.”

Food For Thought:

With her rich vocals, captivating guitar style, and hefty catalog of well-crafted original songs, she has entertained audiences in true southern style, and has garnered 21 music industry nominations, including 3 for “Song of the Year.” An indisputable triple threat – as singer, songwriter, and guitar player – her own unique blend of “country flavored southern fried blues” appeals to fans across the genres.

A seasoned veteran of the road, Kight has no plans to slow down. She’s writing and recording more new songs and performing more live shows, taking her roots music to the fans. No matter the city or the venue, wherever she’s making music, she’s at home. It’s what she does. It’s what she loves.

Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.

The Colorado Rockies started their week on a high note by completing their sweep of the Kansas city Royals. Unfortunately, they were then promptly swept themselves by one of the best teams in baseball in the Tampa Bay Rays. Now the Rockies are on the road for a nine game road trip, starting with a series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Rockies dropped a close game on Friday against the redbirds. They scored just two runs despite having plenty of baserunners. Then on Saturday, Jake McCarthy was the star of the show. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs and a perfect bunt single in a Rockies victory.

Meanwhile, we are just under one week out from this year’s trade deadline. The Rockies turned four Major League players into eight different prospects from a variety of organizations. Let’s take a quick look at how everyone fared in their first outings wearing new uniforms.

RHP Seth Halvorsen to Los Angeles for RHP Nick Frasso and OF Landyn Vidourek

Right-handed pitcher Seth Halvorsen was on the 15-day injured list when he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has since been activated and sent to Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets. The Dodgers organization quickly put Halvorsen into a late inning role with their Triple-A team and he’s done well so far. In six appearances and 6.1 innings Halvorsen has yet to give up an earned run. He’s allowed four hits and two walks while tallying eight strikeouts and going 2-for-2 in save opportunities.

Right-handed reliever Nick Frasso made five appearances with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, giving up just one earned run in 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts and only one walk. Frasso was then called up to the Rockies’ roster to make his Major League debut. Frasso was called upon for his first big league action in the 11th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays and gave up two runs—one earned—on two hits. He fared much better in his second appearance, which came against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

Toolsy outfielder Landyn Vidourek hasn’t quite found his swing with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies, but he has consistently gotten on base and even slugged his first two home runs for the Rockies organization. In his first 16 games he is hitting .163/.379/.306 with a double, 11 RBIs, 17 walks, and 20 strikeouts.

OF Brenton Doyle to Chicago White Sox for RHP Mason Adams and INF Carlos Vielma

Two-time Gold Glove winner Brenton Doyle is already adjusting to outfields away from Coors Field. In his five games following the deadline, Doyle has already recorded an outfield assist, been part of a double play, and made some of the spectacular catches we’ve grown accustomed to from him. However, his bat has yet to take off. Doyle is 2-for-9 with no extra-base hits, though he does have a steal.

Right-handed starter Mason Adams made his Rockies organizational debut with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes last night. He spun four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and a walk while giving up three hits while making his first appearance in the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

16-year-old infielder Carlos Vielma is off to a strong start in his first four games with the Rockies’ Dominican Summer League DSL-Colorado. Vielma has gone 8-for-15 to start his time with the organization with a double, four runs, four RBIs, and one walk to two strikeouts.

RHP Antonio Senzatela to Milwaukee for LHP Mark Manfredi and INF Juan Martinez

Long-time Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela’s first 1.1 innings and two appearances with his new club were scoreless and hitless with a strikeout and a walk. His third and most recent appearance was less successful. On Friday against the Minnesota Twins he gave up two earned runs on three hits and was saddled with the loss.

Left-handed reliever Mark Manfredi had a difficult PCL debut with the Albuquerque Isotopes. In his first appearance with the Rockies organization he lasted just 0.2 innings and gave up four earned runs on two hits and two walks, although he did strike out two hitters. Manfredi’s second appearance was much better. He pitched 1.2 innings and gave up just one earned run on two hits and a walk with two strikeouts.

Switch-hitting infielder and a stand-out for the Brewers at this year’s Arizona Complex League, Juan Martinez already has two triples in four games with the Low-A Fresno Grizzlies. Martinez is 5-for-18 to start his time with the Rockies organization and has two RBIs.

RHP Victor Vodnik to Miami for RHP Aiden May and INF Connor Norby

Hard-throwing righty Victor Vodnik has hit some bumps with his new team in Miami with many of the same issues that troubled him with the Rockies. In two appearances and three innings of work, Vodnik has given up three earned runs on two hits, two walks, and a hit batter.

New right-handed starter Aiden May looked excellent in his debut with the High-A Spokane Indians despite being on a hard pitch count of 75 pitches. May was largely flawless through his first four innings of work. He didn’t give up any earned runs and allowed just one hit and one walk. May gave up a single in the fifth inning and an earned run was credited to him after being allowed to score by the bullpen. He finished the night with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

Infielder Connor Norby was the only player acquired with MLB experience despite his struggles with the Baltimore Orioles and Miami Marlins. Norby seems to have taken to his new home with the Rockies organization well. Assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes after the deadline, Norby has played all four games so far at second base. Meanwhile, his bat has shown signs of life. Norby is 6-for-18 with a double, two home runs, three RBIs, two walks, and four strikeouts. He’s alsso swiped two bags.

With that being said, here’s what our staff here at Purple Row had to say this week:

To Read: Rockpiles

• Monday:Chase Dollander provides updates on his recovery from internal brace surgery | Sam Bradfield
• Tuesday:Paul DePodesta addresses the Colorado Rockies moves at the trade deadline | Renee Dechert
• Wednesday:Should Brennan Bernardino have been traded? | Skyler Timmins
• Thursday:The Rockies may be attempting to “build their plane while flying it” | Cory Cohen
• Friday:Former Rockie Eric Young making history as first-time manager in WPBL | Joelle Milholm
• Saturday:The beauty of a Kyle Karros at-bat | James Riggenbach

To Read: News

• Rockies trades:Rockies reportedly trade Brenton Doyle to the Chicago White Sox | Renee Dechert and Cory Cohen
• Rockies trades:RHP Antonio Senzatela traded to the Milwaukee Brewers | Evan Lang
• Rockies trades:Rockies reportedly trade Victor Vodnik to the Miami Marlins | Cory Cohen
• Rockies news:Rockies 2026 Trade Deadline Grades: Solid moves, but an underwhelming day | Skyler Timmins
• Rockies news:Colorado Rockies pursuing two-year extension with Mickey Moniak | Evan Lang and Renee Dechert
• Weekly Pebble Report:A second look at Double-A is working for Roc Riggio and Jack Mahoney | Eli Whitney
• Rockies prospects:Zac Veen named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week | Renee Dechert
• Rockies prospects:Wilder Dalis named California League Play of the Month for July | Renee Dechert

Weekly Discussion Topics

Now that the dust has fully settled on the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline, who do you think will find the most success in their new home? Let us know in the comments!

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Good morning, baseball fans!

The first week of the Women’s Professional Baseball League is in the books, so let’s take a look at how the San Francisco Firebells did, and what’s coming up this week.

The Firebells kicked off their season with an 11-3 win over the Boston Hunters on Sunday. Kelsie Whitmore went three innings, allowing just one run on one hit with one strikeout and a walk. Amanda Gianelloni (2B) batted leadoff and went three-for-five with three RBI, setting the tone for the rest of the offense. Alexia George (C), Skylar Kaplan (RF), Joely Leguizamon (SS) and Jua Park (3B) all had multiple hits as well.

Things didn’t go quite as well for the Firebells on Thursday, as they lost 13-8 to the New York Heights. Ela Day-Bédard, Jua Park and Liz Gilder were knocked around for six, four and three runs respectively after Andreanne Leblanc pitched a scoreless first inning. Leblanc (P/1B) led the team on offense as well, going three-for-four with two RBI. Alexia Jorge (C) scored two runs, and Jill Albayati (LF/1B) knocked in two as well, but the Firebells fell a few runs short of a comeback, even with a five-run sixth inning.

As of the time this is being written, Friday and Saturday’s games have not yet been played, so I will include those in next week’s round-up.

Now, let’s take a look ahead at what this week has on deck for the Firebells:

Wednesday, August 12th – vs. Los Angeles – 4:30 p.m. PT

Friday, August 14th – vs. Los Angeles – 4:30 p.m. PT

Saturday, August 15th – @ New York – 11:00 a.m. PT

What time do the Giants play today?

The San Francisco Giants wrap up this weekend series against the Detroit Tigers this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. PT.

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Sunday brings another full slate of MLB action with plenty of opportunities to find value on the moneyline.

Our MLB moneyline predictions for Sunday feature a good mixture of short favorites and long underdogs in favorable matchups as we look for more ways to build your bankroll.

Read on for our MLB picks for Sunday, Aug 9. 

MLB moneyline picks for August 9

Matchup	Pick
Reds vs Nationals	-122
Braves vs Yankees	+122
A's vs Red Sox	+223
Blue Jays vs Phillies	+150
Mets vs Pirates	+122
Angels vs Marlins	-138
Twins vs Brewers	+213
Cubs vs Royals	-150
Guardians vs White Sox	-100
Rockies vs Cardinals	-150
Orioles vs Rangers	-138
Tigers vs Giants	-113
Dodgers vs Diamondbacks	+117
Rays vs Mariners	-108
Astros vs Padres	+113

Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of 8-9.

Expert MLB moneyline picks for August 9

Reds vs Nationals: Reds (-122)

Reds win probability: 55%

Cincinnati brings momentum behind a bullpen that is flat-out locking teams down, while Washington’s offense is sputtering down the stretch. With Brady Singer giving the Reds a dependable baseline on the mound, back Cincinnati’s bullpen to outlast the Nationals at a very reasonable road price.

Braves vs Yankees: Braves (+122)

Braves win probability: 45%

The Bronx faithful are getting restless as the Yankees offense is sputtering big time, managing a dismal .200 average and high strikeout numbers across the past 14 days.  Atlanta provides huge value catching plus-money with Grant Holmes on the bump, especially against a cold New York lineup that is failing to produce timely hits.

A's vs Red Sox: Athletics (+223)

Athletics win probability: 31%

Boston’s steep -233 line pushes past anything I am comfortable laying, forcing us to grab the Athletics as massive underdogs.  The Athletics will need J.T. Ginn to pitch out of his mind and keep Boston’s raking bats quiet, but catching a huge +223 payout makes this the only eligible play for this game.

Blue Jays vs Phillies: Blue Jays (+150)

Blue Jays win probability: 40%

Philadelphia at -170 is another market I am uncomfortable laying this much juice, so I am going with Toronto at +150 as the prediction. Veteran starter Shane Bieber steps onto the bump for the Blue Jays, giving them a veteran arm capable of silencing Philadelphia’s home crowd and pulling off the road upset.

Mets vs Pirates: Mets (+122)

Mets win probability: 45%

The Mets boast a late-inning relief corps that is utterly lights-out right now with a 1.85 ERA. Pitching Sean Manaea against Jared Jones gives New York a fantastic opportunity as road underdogs, particularly with Pittsburgh’s lineup struggling to cross the plate over the past two weeks.

Angels vs Marlins: Marlins (-138)

Marlins win probability: 58%

Los Angeles is riding the struggle bus at the plate with a dismal .600 team OPS over their last fortnight. Miami hands the ball to Ryan Gusto in a cozy home spot, making the Marlins a strong home favorite to control the action against a completely stalled Angels offense.

Twins vs Brewers: Twins (+213)

Twins win probability: 32%

Milwaukee’s heavy -223 line exceeds my comfort zone, shifting the play to Minnesota at better than 2/1 underdog odds. Young lefty Connor Prielipp gets the starting nod against Jacob Misiorowski. If the Twins can generate early traffic against Milwaukee’s pitching staff, this long shot offers massive plus-money value on the card.

Cubs vs Royals: Cubs (-150)

Cubs win probability: 60%

The Cubs are raking at an elite clip across the last 14 days, pacing the top five in MLB offense with a .345 wOBA. Matthew Boyd takes the mound facing a Royals squad that is severely lagging offensively, making Chicago a prime favorite right at a reasonable price. 

Guardians vs White Sox: Guardians (-100)

Guardians win probability: 50%

With both divisional rivals struggling to score, this pick 'em matchup comes down to baseline execution. Joey Cantillo gets the start for Cleveland, giving the Guardians enough run-prevention stability to pull out a narrow victory against a White Sox team that is currently lacking offensive firepower.

Rockies vs Cardinals: Cardinals (-150)

Cardinals win probability: 60%

Colorado’s bullpen is leaking oil with ugly WHIP numbers, making road trips a high-wire act for the Rockies. St. Louis sends Michael McGreevy to the mound at home, setting up the Cardinals as a solid home favorite to capitalize on Colorado's ongoing relief and defensive metrics.

Orioles vs Rangers: Rangers (-138)

Rangers win probability: 58%

Baltimore’s bats are cold as ice, slumping to a dismal .190 team batting average over their past two weeks. Texas hands the ball to electric starter Kumar Rocker at Globe Life Field, making the Rangers a solid lay-the-juice home play against an abysmal Orioles lineup.

Tigers vs Giants: Tigers (-113)

Tigers win probability: 53.1%

Detroit is absolutely raking right now, leading all of Major League Baseball with a blistering 147 wRC+ over the last 14 days. Troy Melton leads the charge against Logan Webb, providing elite offensive support at nearly even odds to secure a big road victory in San Francisco.

Dodgers vs Diamondbacks: Diamondbacks (+117)

Diamondbacks win probability: 46.1%

The Dodgers bullpen is leaking oil in a big way, posting an ERA over 6 while walking over 13% of batters over the past two weeks. Catching Arizona as a plus-money home dog behind Eduardo Rodriguez gives us tremendous value against a Dodgers relief corps that simply cannot find the strike zone lately.

Rays vs Mariners: Rays (-108)

Rays win probability: 51.9%

Tampa Bay features a dominant late-inning bullpen that keeps opponent scoring under lock and key. With Seattle’s bullpen posting a disastrous 5.95 ERA over their last fortnight, the Rays hold a distinct late-game advantage at near pick 'em odds to close out a tough road win.

Astros vs Padres: Astros (+113)

Astros win probability: 47%

Houston is firing on all cylinders right now, pairing a raking lineup (134 wRC+) with a stingy 2.36 bullpen ERA. Getting the Astros at plus-money against San Diego offers exceptional value on a team that is outperforming almost everyone in baseball over the past two weeks.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.