The 2026 Field of Dreams game takes place tonight at 7:30 PM ET exclusively on Netflix as the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins make their debut in the event.
Tonight's game marks the third edition of the signature event, inspired by the Academy Award-nominated film "Field of Dreams", in which Kevin Costner, starring as Ray Kinsella, follows a voice that inspires him to build a baseball field in his cornfield.
The Field of Dreams game was contested in 2021 and 2022, before a three-year hiatus due to site renovations.
Live coverage of tonight's Phillies vs Twins game begins at 6:30 PM ET. See below for additional information on how to watch the 2026 Field of Dreams game.
How to watch 2026 MLB Field of Dreams Game (Phillies vs Twins):
Where: Dyersville, IA
When: Today, Thursday, August 13
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Live Stream: Netflix
Where is the 2026 MLB Field of Dreams Game?
The Field of Dreams game will take place in Dyersville, Iowa, at a newly constructed baseball park located approximately 500 feet away from the actual movie site of the 1989 movie "Field of Dreams".
MLB Field of Dreams History:
The Field of Dreams game debuted in 2021, with the White Sox defeating the Yankees 9-8 on a walk-off HR. In 2022, the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-2.
MLB Sunday Leadoff is a weekly Major League Baseball showcase featuring live Sunday daytime games. It highlights marquee matchups throughout the regular season and streams primarily on Peacock, with some games also airing across NBC Sports and NBC.
MLB Sunday Night Baseball is a weekly primetime Major League Baseball showcase, featuring marquee matchups each Sunday night during the regular season. The games air on NBC and Peacock and anchor NBC Sports’ Sunday night programming lineup.
NBC Sports will also stream one out-of-market game each day of the 2026 MLB season nationally on Peacock. Telemundo Deportes will present all NBCUniversal-produced MLB games in Spanish, with Universo televising all games broadcast on NBC.
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Why are some MLB games unavailable to stream on Peacock?
Due to territorial blackout restrictions, select regular season, special event, and Postseason games may be unavailable on Peacock. Television territory blackout restrictions apply regardless of whether a Club is home or away and regardless of whether a game is televised in that Club's home television territory. For more information, visit Peacock’s Help Center.
Everything you need to know about MLB Road to the Show, a five-part docuseries on Peacock following some of the top college and minor league players across baseball.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 11: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on from the dugout during the eighth inning while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 11, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After yesterday’s post appealing to Stephen Vogt, it’s time to hypothetically talk to my all-time favorite baseball player, Jose Ramirez.
Jose, there are few things in life that bring me more joy than watching you play baseball. You are on your way to being the greatest Cleveland baseball player to ever lace them up. It isn’t your fault you broke your hamate and had to get surgery. Your quick return and dedication to playing everyday isn’t surprising to anyone who has followed you for any period of time.
But, Jose… is it possible you need a couple more weeks to rest? We can all see that your hand/wrist is a huge liability for you. Prior to your injury, your “down” season was 111 wRC+ with a .354 xwOBA and a slashline of .239/.339/.418 with a .249 BABIP with a 14/13 K/BB%. Since your return, you have a 61 wRC+ and a slashline of .207/.338/.207. with a .317 xwOBA and a 4.5/15.5 K/BB%. To your credit, you’re still making amazing quantities of contact and spitting on bad pitches… but your hand doesn’t have the strength to do anything much with the contact you make at the moment. Would that strength have a better chance of returning with a little more rest?
Perhaps most concerningly, the injury is affecting your play at third base. From not being able to turn the wrist quick enough to catch a snap throw to third to nab a runner, to not being able to smoothly corral ground balls, it’s clear that more time needs to elapse in order to recover enough mobility to be reliably fluid at the hot corner.
Now, if you were to go on the IL again, the infield would become Travis Bazzana at second, Angel Genao at third, and Brayan Rocchio at short, with Daniel Schneemann likely returning as the utility infielder. Personally, I’d like to give the recently red-hot Milan Tolentino a look in that role for a bit, but, in any case, it’s important to note that Schneemann has a .286 xwOBA, Rocchio a .294 xwOBA, and Bazzana a .302 xwOBA (Tolentino’s xwOBA would be much better of late in Columbus but for the season it is only .316), so I can see that your expected numbers even with a drastically diminished wrist tell us you’re still a better hitter than all these young players. However, there is enough reasonable optimism about these fledgling bats (including Genao’s sparkling .381 xwOBA!) to float us to the end of the month and give you a chance to return with some additional strength and healing at the beginning of September.
It’s up to you. Cleveland has made that clear, and far be it from me, a fanalyst, to tell you how to go about your business. You have earned the right to do as you see fit. But, if even a small part of you feels like getting another couple weeks plus off can give you a shot at returning as something closer to your normal self (especially defensively), don’t hesitate. It’ll help the team most of all if that hand/wrist heals more and gives us a shot at getting our star back to something like his usual abilities.
Every Guardians’ fan is in your corner and believing in you to find your way and play a part in giving us a chance at a playoff run. Just know it can involve some more R&R if needed and no one will feel you have failed them in the slightest!
SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Willie MacIver #47 of the Texas Rangers hits a three-run double against the Athletics during the second inning of the spring training game at Surprise Stadium on March 12, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning friends!
The Mariners couldn’t hang onto an early lead in last night’s game against the Yankees, dropping the middle match 10-5. The gods have cursed us with another Mariners baseball game today with first pitch slated for 10:35am PT.
Both chambers of the California State Legislature have signed off on a measure that would force the Angels to go back to being called the “Anaheim Angels.” Team owner Arte Moreno has long opposed the dropping of “Los Angeles” from the team name, but the state is asking the team to claim the city of Anaheim in exchange for an affordable housing exemption.
Several Angels players spent the trade deadline at Mike Trout’s private golf course. Davy Andrews at Fangraphs did an analysis on where exactly on the course everyone was when they found out they were getting dealt — and why Trout decided to do this in the first place.
In the 1800s, the best graphite in the world came from China. The Americans wanted to give a tribute to the Chinese for the graphite used in their pencils. Yellow means royalty and respect in China, which is why the Americans manufactured their pencils in yellow. To this day, the default color for pencils is still yellow.
Venus is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
Most planets rotate on their axis in an anti-clockwise motion. However, Venus rotates clockwise in retrograde once every 243 Earth days.
Star Trek: Generations was the first film to have a website.
The 1994 film Star Trek: Generations was the first movie to ever have an official website. Since then, the trend seems to have caught on, now it’s strange not to have a website for a movie.
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 21: Herick Hernandez #96 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Offenses across the board were pretty stagnant on Wednesday, but the pitching — for the most part — stood out, with Hernandez leading the charge for the Stripers. Let’s get into it.
Gwinnett ultimately fell short on Wednesday, moving to just one game above the .500 mark for the year. While the outcome wasn’t what everyone wanted, Herick Hernandez had as good of a day as he’s ever had as a professional.
Across 6.1 innings of work, Hernandez gave up two runs on two hits, but managed to strike out 11 batters in the process for his first double-digit strikeout game since being promoted to triple-A. Additionally, Hernandez managed to get a phenomenal 22 whiffs as well on the night, which paced all pitchers at the triple-A level on Wednesday.
Hernandez’ stock has absolutely rocketed up over the course of this season, as he is suddenly looking like a potential big league piece — perhaps as soon as this season. The stuff is there, but he will need to cut down on the walks if he wants to truly take that next step.
Regardless, the strikeout stuff is legit and he, at the very least, should be able to help out of the bullpen, if not the rotation in Atlanta sooner rather than later.
Back to Wednesday’s action, the Stripers actually outhit Norfolk by a 6-4 tally and actually carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh. However, the Tides managed to tie things up and the game ultimately went into extras.
Gwinnett brought home their fifth run in the top of the 10th thanks to a Brewer Hicklen — who also had a pair of doubles on the night — sacrifice fly to plate Maverick Handley. In the home half, however, Norfolk tagged Ian Hamilton for two walks (one intentional) and a two-RBI double to take the lead and seal off the walkoff loss for the Stripers.
It was a bit shaky as Columbus had to stave off a late comeback attempt, but the Clingstones managed to get things done and cap off the narrow 4-3 win over Birmingham.
Cam Caminiti got the start and got a relatively early hook as he didn’t have his best stuff. His command was off and he gave up a homer in the three inning start in which he allowed the one run while striking out three. However, there doesn’t seem to be any concern regarding injury for Atlanta’s top prospect, but perhaps rather a case of wanting to pull him simply because he wasn’t bringing his plus stuff on the night.
At the plate, Owen Carey paced the offense by driving in a pair of runs and scoring one himself, while Adam Zebrowski went 2-4 with a double and RBI to his credit as well.
Carey’s biggest hit of the night came in the top of the eighth inning, as he singled into right field to plate Eric Hartman to give Columbus what would be a crucial insurance run.
Leading 4-1 headed into the bottom of the ninth, the Clingstones only needed three outs to secure the win, but Birmingham didn’t make it easy.
The Barons tagged Owen Hackman for two runs on two hits to cut the Columbus lead to 4-3. However, Hackman thankfully settled in and managed to record the final out to get the save.
Rome rode a solid start from Luke Sinnard and multiple banner performances at the plate en route to a 4-1 victory over Asheville.
Across four innings, Sinnard held the Tourists scoreless, limiting the opposition to just a pair of hits and striking out four as well.
In his seven starts with Rome since returning from injury, Sinnard has been excellent. Sinnard is carrying an ERA of 2.81 across 25.2 innings in which he has also struck out 29 batters and limiting the opposition to a batting average of .202.
Overall, Sinnard is striking out batters at a 30.1% clip, while his walk rate has remained steady at 8.1%, which is slightly below his career average thus far. The system will most-likely take it easy with Sinnard and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him finish out the season with the Emperors. However, there is a slight possibility he gets a few start at Columbus at the end of the year.
As Sinnard was dealing, his offense provided him with plenty of firepower in the process.
Colin Burgess got the scoring party started with an RBI-single in the top of the second to plate Colby Jones and make it a 1-0 lead. Burgess then came around to score on an RBI-double off the bat of Luis Guanipa to extend the lead to 2-0. Had the Emperors been playing in virtually any other park, Guanipa’s double would’ve probably resulted in a homer.
Nevertheless, Guanipa had a big day at the plate, doubling twice and driving in and scoring a run as well. It is an encouraging turn of events for Guanipa, who has sputtered a bit since being promoted to high-A.
Dixon Williams also had a huge game for the Emperors, which featured a triple in the top of the seventh, while Logan Braunschweig came off the bench in the eighth and provided an RBI-single to extend the lead to 4-1 which held as the final.
(57-51) Augusta GreenJackets 2, (62-48) Charleston RiverDogs 11
This one unfortunately was pretty much over with before the GreenJackets even had a chance to come to the plate.
Starter Gensi Angeles was hit hard, giving up six runs (five earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out one. Angeles ultimately wouldn’t make it out of the first inning, as Augusta had to go to their bullpen earlier than they probably would have liked to.
With Charleston leading 8-0, the GreenJackets finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as 2026 15th round pick Caleb Klein registered his first professional RBI on a single to score Parker Brosius — who tallied a double to his credit on the night — to make it an 8-1 game.
The DSL Braves mounted a late comeback in this one to earn their 15th victory of the season on Wednesday.
Cesar Navarro got the start and spun an excellent game, allowing two runs across six innings, striking out three and not walking a single batter on the day.
Overall, Navarro has sort of flown under the radar in terms of Braves prospects putting together a solid 2026 campaign. In 10 starts — 47.1 innings pitched — Navarro is currently carrying an ERA of 2.47 while striking out 36 batters during that span. Opponents are also hitting just .196 against the righty, while only tallying one homer against him on the season as well.
If Navarro can continue to put up solid numbers through the close of the DSL season, there’s a good chance he could sneak his way onto next season’s top preseason prospects lists.
Back to Wednesday’s action, while Navarro was doing his thing, his offense sputtered through the first six innings.
In the midst of a 3-0 shutout, the Braves’ bats finally came alive in the top of the seventh.
Luis Fortunato led things off with a walk before advancing to second on a Jose Nelo infield single. Elioberto Mondesir worked a walk to load the bases before Yassel Pena drew a free pass of his own to plate Fortunato and cut the deficit to 3-1.
Luis Consoro proceeded to come through with an RBI-single up the middle, allowing Nelo to score and make it a 3-2 game. The tying run came as Durban Arnedo grounded into a double play and Mondesir scored.
It wouldn’t take much longer for the Braves to take their first lead of the night, as Fortunato doubled home Mayonbanex Rosa to give them a 4-3 lead, which ultimately held as the final.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Twins moneyline
Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket
The Minnesota Twins are slight 50-cent "home" underdogs for their "Field of Dreams" game in Iowa today at the new permanent Dyersville Stadium.
I know everyone thinks the Philadelphia Phillies are the better team on paper, but how they’re perceived and how they produce are two different things.
The Twins have the pitching edge, as lefties are hitting just .206 against Taj Bradley, while Aaron Nola could be vulnerable to the long ball with the low Iowa fences. No pitcher has allowed more home runs than Nola this year.
The Minnesota bullpen is also the better unit. The Phillies' pen has been overworked of late and is pitching to a 4.94 ERA over the last week, compared to 2.31 for Minnesota. There are also two very good sub-3.00 ERA lefties available to throw against this heavily left-handed Philly lineup.
In what is being priced as a near coin-flip, I have the Twins at around 53%-54% probability.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
How to watch: Netflix
Jon Metler's expert pick: Dodgers moneyline
Price: 58¢ (-138) at Polymarket
This is straight-up appointment television.
We're looking at a potential NLCS matchup between the two top teams in the National League, but unfortunately, tonight's game could be a preview of how that series ultimately plays out.
I'm taking the Los Angeles Dodgers on the moneyline. They're trading at 58 cents on Polymarket, but this number should be closer to 60 cents.
Roki Sasaki has arguably been the Dodgers' best starting pitcher over the last month, and his swing-and-miss stuff should play extremely well against a Milwaukee Brewers lineup that wants to work counts, put the ball in play, and create pressure on the basepaths. That's a difficult approach to execute when you're facing a pitcher capable of taking the bat out of your hands and sending you back to the dugout via the strikeout.
Max Scherzer has a history of showing up in big games (look no further than last year's Game 7 of the World Series), and has actually been pretty serviceable for the Toronto Blue Jays as of late after struggling out of the gate.
The veteran has allowed just three earned runs across his last 11 1/3 innings pitched, and the stage might be the brightest of the season tonight as Toronto looks to sweep the Boston Red Sox and continue its ascent in the Wild Card standings.
He's looked good in this specific matchup, too, limiting Willson Contreras, Adley Rutschman, and Jarren Duran to a .165 xBA or worse across 25 combined at-bats. The Jays have won 10 of their last 14 games, and the offense has scored five or more runs in five of their last six.
I'm a buyer at 55 cents as a result.
Time: 3:07 p.m. ET
How to watch: NESN, Sportsnet
Joe Osborne's expert pick: Yankees moneyline
Price: 58¢ (-138) at Polymarket
The New York Yankees are available at a very fair price at home today with Max Fried on the mound, especially considering the state of their opponent.
Fried has been excellent since returning to action, allowing one run or fewer in three of his last four starts. While Seattle Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert has been solid, New York holds a major edge in the recent form of both its offense and bullpen.
Over the past week, the Yankees rank eighth in OPS compared to 26th for the Seattle, while their bullpen ranks fourth in ERA compared to 29th for the Mariners. Seattle has now lost six straight and 15 of its last 20 games in what's been a disaster of a second half.
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 Dodgers and Brewers may serve up another memorable moment or two during their four-game series that starts Thursday, Aug. 13 at Dodger Stadium. But their postseason history already is rich.
The Brewers had won 11 straight heading into the best-of-7 series. The streak reached 12 games when the Brewers won the opener, 6-5.
Three of the games were decided by a single run during the tightly contested series.
Clayton Kershaw was in top form in Game 5, striking out nine and allowing just one earned run in seven innings in the Dodgers’ 5-2 victory. Of course, it all culminated with Game 7.
That night Yasiel Puig powered the Dodgers with a three-run homer. The Dodgers also got a home run from Cody Bellinger, who was voted NLCS MVP. The Brewers got a home run from DH Christian Yelich.
2020 National League wild card series
These days, the Dodgers wait and wonder if Edwin Diaz can regain the form he showed before they signed him in the off season. There was no such worrying in 2020, including when the Dodgers and Brewers met for a best-of-3 wild card series.
Kenley Jansen recorded the save in Game 1 for the victorious Dodgers.
There was no need for Jansen in Game 2 after Kershaw stuck out 13 batters and allowed just three hits over eight shutout innings. Brusdar Graterol did the honors, pitching a scoreless ninth to seal the Dodgers’ series-clinching, 3-0 victory.
2025 NLCS
The Brewers finished the regular season with the best record in baseball, then ran into the biggest payroll in baseball.
The Dodgers did not demolish the Brewers, so much as exert their superiority as they swept the best-of-7 series.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 12: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers high-fives teammates after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 12, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning, all!
Cody Bradford has impressed Skip Schumaker in his first two outings after a long road back from injury, and is providing some much needed stability to a rotation that is showing the wear and tear of a major league season.
The Rangers released an injury update wherein we learn that Jack Leiter will be making a rehab start on Friday and that Josh Jung still has not resumed baseball activities.
Wyatt Langford acknowledges that he’s been slumping, saying ““yeah, I’ve been pretty bad.”
The Angels have also been pretty bad this season unless they’re playing the Rangers, apparently, with the Rangers dropping another game to them last night.
Maybe Corey Seager finally getting healthy will fix all of this tram’s problems.
The New York Yankees are -138 favorites to break out the brooms when they host the Seattle Mariners in Game 3 of their three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
Max Fried has dominated this current collection of Seattle bats, and my Mariners vs. Yankees predictions and MLB picks expect the southpaw's strong play to lead to a comfortable New York victory on Thursday, Aug 13.
Who will win Mariners vs Yankees today: Yankees -1.5 (+152)
I’m laying the run line with the New York Yankees because this is a better pitching matchup than the numbers suggest.
Max Fried has been outstanding, and the Seattle Mariners offense has been awful outside of Tuesday’s outburst.
Logan Gilbert can miss bats, but he’s allowed at least three earned runs in each of his last three road starts, and that puts pressure on a Seattle bullpen that owns a 6.94 ERA over the last two weeks. He's also been homer-prone, allowing 19 long balls in 139 1/3 innings, which won't help him at Yankee Stadium.
I’m not chasing yesterday’s 10-5 score, either. I trust Fried to control this game and New York to create separation late.
I’d play -1.5 to +135.
COVERS INTEL:Seattle has a .566 OPS against Fried in 77 at-bats. Tuesday’s five runs don’t change how badly this lineup matches up against the Yankees lefty.
Mariners vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-102)
I’m playing the Under because I don’t think Tuesday’s 10-5 game changes what this matchup is about.
Seattle has posted a 75 wRC+ over the last two weeks, and the Yankees have been almost as bad at 79.
Fried gives me the strongest starting-pitching edge in the game, and Seattle’s .566 OPS against him tells me this lineup has struggled to square him up.
Gilbert has been better overall than his recent road results suggest, and I’m willing to trust his 3.42 ERA and 0.99 WHIP to keep a struggling Yankees offense from doing big damage.
I’d play Under 7.5 to -120.
Mariners vs Yankees home run prediction: Ben Rice (+310)
Ben Rice is my favorite home-run look today. He’s up to 32 home runs and has been one of the better power bats in baseball, averaging 92 mph off the bat with a 15.6% barrel rate.
Gilbert throws his four-seam fastball nearly 40% of the time, and Rice is hitting .290 with a .662 slugging percentage against fastballs this season.
That’s the matchup I want. I’d play Rice to +300.
Phil Naessens' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 11-13, +0.20 units
Over/Under bets: 11-11, -1.55 units
Mariners vs Yankees weather
It will be a humid day in the Bronx, with 10 mph winds blowing out to right-center field today.
Mariners vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Mariners +133 | Yankees -138
Run line: Mariners +1.5 (-163) | Yankees -1.5 (+156)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-100) | Under 7.5 (-104)
Mariners vs Yankees trend
The Under is 8-0 in the Yankees' last eight games when their opponent allowed five runs or more in their previous game. Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Yankees.
How to watch Mariners vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Thursday, August 13, 2026
First pitch
1:35 p.m. ET
TV
Mariners.TV, YES
Mariners starting pitcher
Logan Gilbert (8-7, 3.42 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Max Fried (4-3, 2.88 ERA)
Mariners vs Yankees 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.
With the first Field of Dreams game in five years, what better time to debate the best baseball movies of all time? Here's just one seamhead's list (let the angry comments begin):
Best baseball movies of all time
Bull Durham (1988) - "We need a live rooster ... was it a live rooster? We need a live rooster to take the curse off Jose's glove."
Field of Dreams (1989) - I love it because it's sappy. Sorry ... not sorry.
A League of Their Own (1992) - Tom Hanks deserved best actor consideration.
The Sandlot (1993) - "You're killing me, Smalls!", Wendy Peffercorn, Squints. What's not to love?
Major League (1989) - Bob Uecker deserved best supporting actor consideration.
Moneyball (2011) - Every time I run across it on TV, I'm stopping to watch it.
Long Gone (1987) - The best baseball movie you've never heard of. Came out on HBO. Must watch if you can find it.
Pride of the Yankees (1942) - A classic that still holds up well.
Eight Men Out (1988) - I get it, yes, there are inaccuracies but still a good watch.
The Natural (1984) - A lot of people hate it. I'm not one of them.
Honorable mention in no particular order:
Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)
The Bad News Bears (1976)
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)
Aug 12, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh (16) reacts as he is called out on strikes by umpire Dan Iassogna (58) during the fourth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
This week has been brutal for the Phillies, but at least you’ll be able to watch them ground into double plays with the majestic backdrop of a cornfield in Iowa tonight at the Field of Dreams game. Well, if you have Netflix. And if it doesn’t rain.
The Detroit Tigers failed to secure the series win on Tuesday night, falling to the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park, 6-4. Framber Valdez was not sharp and the offense could not keep up with the visitors after the two teams opened things up with a pair of runs in the first inning.
Climbing the hill for the Motor City Kitties in the series finale is right-hander Keider Montero, who is looking to bounce back from one of his weaker starts last time out. The 26-year-old was tagged for five runs on five hits (two home runs) and three walks while striking out five San Francisco Giants over six innings of work to earn his seventh loss of the season in a 5-2 final.
Montero saw Cleveland once before this season back on May 19, when he threw five frames of three-run ball on two hits (one home run) and four walks while striking out one. He did not figure in the decision as Detroit fell, 4-3.
For the Guardians, left-hander Parker Messick gets the start on the heels of a superb six-game stretch. Since the start of July, the 25-year-old has put up a 1.77 ERA and 3.61 FIP over his last 35 2/3 innings, allowing 26 hits (four home runs) and nine walks while striking out 30 and tossing a pair of wild pitches. Up until his most recent outing, he had not allowed more than one earned run over that span.
When Messick last saw the Tigers, he also faced Montero, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits (one home run) and three walks while striking out seven over five frames. Much like his Detroit counterpart, he did not figure in the decision that day.
Take a look below at how the two match up on paper for their second head-to-head meeting this season.
Detroit Tigers (59-61) vs. Cleveland Guardians (59-62)
Time (ET): 1:10 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:Covering the Corner Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 121: RHP Keider Montero (8-7, 3.38 ERA) vs. LHP Parker Messick (9-6, 2.57 ERA)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 11: Jihwan Bae #0 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after being hit by a pitch during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on August 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are dealing with a serious depth problem on the left side of their infield. Cooper Pratt is out for a few more weeks with a hamstring strain. Joey Ortiz has been dealing with a neck/back injury. Those are the two top shortstops on the Crew’s depth chart.
The Brewers have a large number of infield prospects in their minor league system, including several in the upper levels. However, they have not called on any of them to this point since Cooper Pratt came up in June. When Pratt needed to go on the IL, the Brewers opted not to dip back into that farm system for more help, but instead signed free agent Ji-hwan Bae.
It was understandable that on such short notice, Bae might have been the only one who could get to Milwaukee in time for Sunday’s game.
Bae struggled defensively in his lone start so far. He dropped a couple of successful bunts in his Brewers debut, but it’s been mostly downhill since. With Ortiz also battling an injury, that’s left the Brewers a man down on the bench.
Pat Murphy has had to turn to Andrew Vaughn starting at third base, moving Brice Turang over to shortstop, and other creative solutions just to put a healthy lineup out there. Ortiz was able to make it back for the series finale against the Padres, but it’s become quite obvious there is still a problem in the infield with Pratt on the IL.
One solution the Brewers should turn to is right in their farm system with one of their top prospects and it’s not Jett Williams.
It’s Luke Adams.
Adams has a great combination of power and on-base ability that he has proven at Triple-A Nashville this year and he has been solid at third base defensively. His glovework there should be passable enough that the Brewers can feel comfortable putting him at the hot corner and have a chance to fortify this lineup a little bit more.
This season, Adams is hitting .260/.407/.544 with 16 homers, 35 walks, and 40 strikeouts with a .944 OPS.
Adams is Rule 5 eligible this winter and will need to be added to the 40 man roster anyway in a few months, especially since it’s highly likely they would want to protect him. Why not take this opportunity to get to see him in the big leagues for a little bit?
Jett Williams would have been the choice, but he’s been dealing with a wrist injury and on the same night that Pratt and Ortiz got injured, Williams also re-aggravated his wrist injury in Triple-A and has since been placed back on the IL.
Brock Wilken has been healthy, but is hitting just .177 with 12 homers and 118 strikeouts in 100 games. Tyler Black is not an option on the left side of the infield at this point, and that leaves Luke Adams as really the only viable option that can handle a position on the left side.
Adams is an on-base machine, which is what this offense could use more of right now. He also has plenty of over-the-fence power, which this Brewers offense also could use more of.
While he’s not a shortstop solution with Pratt on the IL, Adams can shore up this infield, shore up this offense, and maybe provide another spark here, because after this series in San Diego, it sure looks like they could use one.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees walks off the mound after throwing his 1000th strikeout pitch as a Yankee during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What is a Hall of Fame starting pitcher in today’s MLB? We know of a few retiring legends who’ve transcended eras and will be in Cooperstown: namely Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer. But the game and the position itself have evolved in such a way that the traditional stats that used to define a Hall of Fame starter are no longer achievable.
300 wins used to be the goal, but after Verlander’s quest to get it came up short, it seems nobody will come close for a long time, if ever. 3,000 strikeouts have also been used as a moniker to make you a lock, but with innings being managed and injuries plaguing even the most durable starters, how many people can realistically get to that?
Two older pitchers who are viewed as the best chances to get inducted from this era were on display this past weekend against Atlanta, as Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole went head-to-head on a Saturday afternoon in the Bronx. The two aging aces are two men on the same warpath as their careers wind down, having fought the same battles to get here.
Sale was younger than Cole when he went under the knife for Tommy John surgery, but it was part of a stretch of ailments that cost him a large portion of his prime. He missed eight starts in 2019 before making a grand total of 11 starts from 2020 to 2022, throwing his entire $150 million contract extension into the shredder. He’s enjoyed a career renaissance in Atlanta, but has still battled injuries, being held to just 20 starts in both 2023 (his last year in Boston) and 2025.
As Cole enters his mid-to-late 30s, he’s entering the same part of his career that Sale struggled to stay on the field with Boston. The normally durable ace, who had not been on the injured list since 2016, missed several months in 2024 with an elbow flare-up before going under the knife for Tommy John in March 2025. The internal brace procedure allowed him to return relatively quickly, making his 2026 debut on May 22, but questions existed about whether he’d be able to recapture his old form quickly or face the lagging effects that others have in the past.
Those lagging effects can come in a bunch of different forms. It can hit your velocity, as it did with Spencer Strider. It can hurt your command, as it did with Sandy Alcantara. It can leave you more susceptible to future injuries. At age 35, Cole isn’t in a position to have a multi-year ramp-up if he wants to stay on a Cooperstown path. Fortunately for him and the Yankees, he seems to be right where he wants to be.
There have been some hairy patches, but Cole’s first few months back after a long absence have seen more life on his fastball than he had when healthy in 2023 and 2024, good control of the strike zone, and an ability to work deep into games. He’s been bitten by shoddy command at times, which is often considered the last thing to come back from an injury, but the results have been excellent. A 3.35 ERA across 80.1 innings with 87 strikeouts to a mere 17 walks. In a 2026-centric view of it, the Yankees might be getting a fresher version of the ace they signed back in 2020.
But this article is thinking long-term. When MLB.com analysts ranked Hall of Fame likelihood in 2023 and 2024, Cole was pretty high up due to his body of work and durability, but the elbow injuries knocked him down a few tiers in recent editions. With how Tommy John has impacted dozens of veterans in recent years, it was impossible to know if he would be able to get the train back on track.
Entering his 15th start of the season against Toronto this weekend, Cole has 159 career wins and 2,338 strikeouts. In the two traditional categories that Hall of Fame voters care about most, he likely won’t get the opportunity to hit any incredible milestone, but there are two numbers that, should he hit them, should make him a lock to eventually be enshrined in this era of baseball.
200 wins used to not be a big deal. There are 122 200-game winners in MLB history, with many of them never getting to Cooperstown. The mark that has been used as more of a moniker since guys stopped pitching 40+ games a year in the 1980s is 250, and predictably, only seven of the 49 pitchers who have achieved it have been left out (with multiple being shunned due to PED use).
But in the ever-changing game, 200 might need to be the new standard. Only six pitchers who’ve thrown a pitch in the last 10 years have more than 200, and all of those guys started their careers in the 2000s, a time when pitchers were given a lot more rope. In that case, does Cole only need to get 200, assuming the voters will adjust with the times? 41 wins might be difficult for a 35-year-old to attain, but if he can stay on teams with good offenses and continue to be good for at least five innings, it’s not out of the question.
The fun one is the number that he’s banking on more: strikeouts. The magic number is 3,000, a mark that has virtually ensured induction, with every single one of the 17 eligible pitchers who’ve reached it being inducted except Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens, who aren’t in for reasons you probably already know. While big, round numbers are what we all love, the number that has virtually guaranteed induction is actually closer to 2,564. The only non-controversial players who were left out were David Cone, Mickey Lolich, Frank Tanana, and Chuck Finley.
That lower number is a lock for Cole as long as he stays healthy and has already been exceeded by Sale. As someone who’s still averaging more than five strikeouts per start, he might only need another 40-45 starts to do so, which he might achieve as early as April-May 2028 (barring a lengthy lockout). From there, it’s all gravy, with the more strikeouts he can accrue, the better.
Cole has just two years left on the nine-year megadeal that he inked in the winter of 2019, but his efficacy immediately after a lengthy absence makes you believe that he’ll still be pitching beyond the 2028 season. A guy like him who eats, sleeps, and breathes baseball feels like someone who will go as long as possible, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he was still pitching past his 40th birthday in the early 2030s, which at that point, these round numbers become more attainable.
Let’s say Cole wants to plays into his 40’s, and pitches five more years and retires at age 41 in 2031. If he managed to be fully healthy, which is unlikely, that’s 160 more starts. Let’s be more conservative and say he has 100-120 left in his career. In those 100-120 starts, is it possible he can get those 41 wins and 662 strikeouts? It might be hard, but this is a guy who’s consistently picked up a win in 40 percent of his starts since 2021 with new life on his fastball that can will him up the strikeout leaderboards.
Would 190 wins and 2,800 strikeouts be enough? It should be, because if it isn’t, you’d be shutting the door on the rest of baseball history.
Aug 12, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Christian Franklin (27) can’t get to a fly ball against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
This past week was the Orioles’ chance to decide whether they want to be serious contenders in the postseason race. Unfortunately, it appears they have made their decision quite clear.
Presented with a golden opportunity to make up ground against two wild card opponents, the Orioles lost their series to both the Rangers and Twins, all but burying themselves in the race. The O’s controlled their own destiny, and they steered it right into a ditch. Their latest failure came in yesterday’s rubber game in Minnesota, with Shane Baz imploding in a 7-5 loss. Mark Brown recapped the action.
Even in a mediocre American League, a 2-4 stretch just isn’t going to cut it. As of this writing, the Orioles sit 2.5 games out of the third wild card spot, pending the results of the Rangers’ late game last night. The O’s also trail the Twins, the Tigers, the Guardians, and now the Blue Jays, who pulled a half game ahead of the Birds by winning three straight against the Red Sox. That means the Orioles now sit alone in last place in the AL East.
The fact that the Orioles squandered their chances against mediocre teams like the Rangers and Twins is all the more painful considering what’s coming next. Starting tomorrow, the Birds will spend the next 10 days playing exclusively against the two best teams in the American League. Seven of those are against the Rays (74-46), who are riding a nine-game winning streak after completing a perfect 9-0 road trip. A three-game set versus the Yankees (68-52) is sandwiched in between.
If you’re looking for a sliver of hope, I’ll point out that the Orioles have won a series each against the Rays and the Yankees this season, including a sweep of Tampa Bay in May. Of course, the O’s have also gotten swept by both teams, too. On paper, these are the worst possible opponents for the Orioles at the worst possible time. It’s two teams that are clicking on all cylinders against a Baltimore squad that is again struggling to even win two games in a row.
Call me pessimistic if you like. But it’s hard to imagine any scenario where the Orioles remain even on the fringes of the postseason race after this punishing 10-game stretch is over. Not unless they find another gear and bring their all-too-rarely-seen A game to these upcoming series.
For all intents and purposes, this could be the 2026 Orioles’ last stand. Will they show up?
The Orioles added yet another top-30 prospect as the player to be named in the Rutschman trade. That still doesn’t make it any easier for me to stomach.
I’m not bullish on Kjerstad’s chances of ever contributing in the majors again, but we’re getting to the point that there’s no harm in giving him one more try. What’s he going to do, cost them a playoff spot?
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 22nd to Samuel Basallo. The Orioles’ catcher is having a solid rookie season at the plate, with 16 homers and a .756 OPS, but has been sidelined since July 19 with right shoulder inflammation. There’s no word yet on his potential return. Once he comes back, the primary catcher position is Basallo’s for good, which the O’s made clear by trading Adley Rutschman earlier this month.
Former Orioles born on Aug. 13 include right-handers Cory Doyne (45) and Tom Niedenfuer (67), lefties Will Ohman (49) and Jeff Ballard (63), and outfielder Corey Patterson (47).
Aug. 13 has been a big day for Hall of Fame Orioles, none bigger than in 1969, when Jim Palmer threw a no-hitter against the Athletics. Palmer was effectively wild, scattering six walks throughout the game — three of them to fellow Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson — but blanked the A’s lineup with a masterful 0-for-29, eight-strikeout performance. Palmer improved to 11-2 after missing the entire previous season with back and shoulder problems.
In 1977, Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson played the final game of his legendary 23-year MLB career. Well, he didn’t technically play in it. Brooks was announced as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth against left-hander Bob Lacey, but when the Athletics brought in righty Doug Bair, Robinson was replaced by Tony Muser without ever batting.
In 1978, Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver stole a win for the Orioles through some crafty gamesmanship. The Orioles were leading the Yankees 3-0 after six innings before New York rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh. But when heavy rains arrived, Weaver stalled the game long enough (with help from the groundskeepers) that the field was deemed unplayable. According to the rules at the time, the score reverted to the last completed inning, giving the O’s a 3-0 win. The rule was changed two years later.
And on this date in 1998, Hall of Famer Harold Baines became MLB’s all-time leading RBI leader as a designated hitter, driving in his 824th run with an RBI single in the sixth off Cleveland’s Dwight Gooden. That record has since been demolished, like a dugout phone, by David Ortiz of the Red Sox (1,343).
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