Category: MLB

Your 2026 New York Mets:I plan to keep going until my worst year is over.

“It was the first time that I was struggling like that, but I never give up. I was always trying to find a way to feel better, to pitch better. I knew what I could do, and I was feeling good physically too and healthy, but I couldn’t make an adjustment. The good thing is that now I’m different, I feel different and I plan to keep going until my worst year is over.” -Freddy Peralta [New York Daily News]

Your 2026 New York Mets:Not all positive.

“What do I think about my season? I think it’s been up and down. I’ve struggled to find real consistency, I would say. Which, I don’t know, that’s just part of what comes with the job. It’s hard for me to find consistency. I’ll pitch and then fall out of rhythm, [have a] bad outing, get back into my rhythm. It’s just kind of been all over the place. I’ve had really good streaks. I’ve had, I’m not going to say really bad streaks, but I’ve had bad games — like three or four [fucking] terrible games. But yeah, I’d say mostly it’s positive. Not all positive.”” -Devin Williams [MLB]

Your 2026 New York Mets:Not going to get too hung up thinking that I’m the world’s worst pitcher.

“I’m not going to get too hung up thinking that I’m the world’s worst pitcher last week and the world’s best one this week. It’s what I need to do to continue to be good.” -Robert Stock [New York Post]

Your 2026 New York Mets: Probably got too much plate.

“[Pintaro] probably got too much of the plate.” -Andy Green [MLB]

With the above out of the way, we’ve still got one more month of Mets baseball; so let’s enjoy some happier storylines you might’ve missed while understandably watching the US Open and getting ready for the upcoming football/Knicks season.

Journeymen/Rookies get to live their dream of playing in the big leagues:

Congratulations to Nick Morabito on collecting his first (and second) career hit. I remember being at a 2024 Brooklyn Cyclones game and [arrogantly] saying to my wife his ceiling is probably ‘a cup of coffee’ in the majors, and I’m happy to root for him to try to surpass that.

“It’s really cool. I’m glad that I was able to do all that today, and it was fun. It was a lot of fun.” -Nick Morabito [MLB]

Nolan McLean starts continue to be must-watch games:

Also, any quotes/articles with McLean are must read as McLean gives great insight into how certain modern starters think and use information about their craft. [It was tempting to put in every quote from Jared Greenspan’s article, so do yourself a favor and give it a read.]

“It’s a little tricky whenever your pitch doesn’t move like you’re used to. That’s the part I’ve struggled most with this year: the sweeper shape.” -Nolan McLean [Mets]

“I’m not getting the shape that I wanted this year. Even with the same type of metrics, I’m just not able to produce the same shape. There’s been times where I’ve shown it, but I haven’t been able to clip that pitch quite as much. It’s the constant evolution of, ‘I don’t want to dig myself in a hole and keep throwing it when I don’t really feel like I have it.’” -Nolan McLean [Mets]

“It’s kind of something I’m known for, but it’s also been the pitch I’ve given up the most damage on as well, which makes it a risk-reward thing.” -Nolan McLean [Mets]

“Everything’s screaming that it should be the same pitches. I’m just not getting the same shape.” -Nolan McLean [Mets]

“I think that’s the importance of trying to constantly develop your arsenal. If you don’t have a sweeper one game, you might have to rely heavily on a curveball or a changeup. And if I’m not working on those in the offseason, how am I supposed to have confidence in them?” -Nolan McLean [Mets] 

“Ideally, you want all six pitches and to go out there and dominate, but you never really have that. A lot of times, you’re working with three pitches, and you have to go out there and figure out what those are pretty early and ride them until you can.” -Nolan McLean [Mets]

We get to continue our Weekly Bo Bichette Update:

This week with some veteran-level quotes from rookies in support of Bo.

“I think just one day I kind of let it all go and started playing better. I don’t necessarily think I found me for a long time after that. But I was still able to come here and compete and put up numbers, which I was not able to do at the beginning.” -Bo Bichette [SNY]

“You spend a good part of the season wondering why we’re not playing as well, wondering why I’m not playing as well, having a lot of different things in your head. On top of that, you’re feeling you want to show your new teammates how good you are and live up to the contract and all that. In the simplest way I can put it, I think in a lot of ways I just kind of let go.” -Bo Bichette [SNY]

“Bo is one of the guys who took me under his wing a little bit and made me feel unbelievably comfortable. He’s been a great resource for me, even now [as he is slumping]; he’s been helping me, talking me through things, trying to keep my head on straight.” -AJ Ewing [SNY]

“Obviously, we all want him to stay. At the end of the day, it’s his choice, his career. Whatever he chooses, I’ll wish him the best. But we obviously want him to stay.” -Carson Benge [SNY]

We get insight into how much Juan Soto loves baseball and his teammates…

“It’s really frustrating to be down and not being able to help your team … to not perform out there, have fun with the boys. That keeps me motivated to be out there again.” -Juan Soto [The Athletic]

“That’s not overstating it at all. It’s sick. It’s like a warrior mentality. A lot of guys have that. It’s basically [Juan Soto] saying, ‘I want to be great.’ I’ve seen him do his rehab every day. If he is feeling good and wants to come back, that’s sick. Everyone here definitely appreciates the work he puts in and him wanting to come back this year.” -Sean Manaea [The Athletic]

“It’s really frustrating at the time [taking the ball off his shin] — everything went through my mind. Definitely, I tried to stay positive, think the best way possible to get out of it. Little by little, I was getting better. I just said, fuck it, I am going to try to push through it, not take too long. I gotta be out there.” -Juan Soto [The Athletic]

“Loves the game,” was how Green described Soto. “Enjoys his teammates. Wants to be a part of winning baseball for the rest of the year.” -Andy Green [The Athletic]

…and insight that there are still more important things in life than baseball.

I think Andy Green is a good guy who cares about his family.

“[When considering if he’d rather continue as manager or go back to the front office] The family consideration is real. We’re all trying to do the best we can balancing career and family. My twins have one year left in high school. I want to be present as much as possible like any dad would.” -Andy Green [The Athletic]

/OpenAI prompt/ Make the statement “I think Andy Green is a good guy who cares about his family” more professional and appropriate for C-Suite presentation.

“I think it’s laudable and consistent with who [Andy Green has] been during his time here. He’s genuine and real about what fulfillment means for him.” -David Stearns [The Athletic]

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The Seattle Mariners continue their playoff push against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Friday, Sept. 4.

First pitch is set for 10:10 p.m. ET, and my top Athletics vs. Mariners predictions and MLB picks call for a low-scoring game. 

Who will win Athletics vs Mariners today: Mariners moneyline (68%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Kade Morris has struggled to a 10.60 FIP and 2.85 WHIP against left-handed batters in 2026. Tonight, the Seattle Mariners are likely to have seven lefties in their lineup against Morris.

Behind Morris, the Athletics’ bullpen isn’t in great shape after using Hogan Harris, Luis Medina, and Scott Blewett twice each in the last three days. Chris Roycroft threw 39 pitches yesterday, too, which means he’s unlikely to be available here.

The A's offense has been underwhelming against right-handed pitching over the last 30 days, ranking 16th in wRC+.

Seattle has the better offense, the better starting pitcher, and a more rested arm barn, so they should be able to take care of business at home here. Play to 70%.

COVERS INTEL: The Athletics' bullpen ranks dead-last in ERA in 2026.

Athletics vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (56%)

Logan Gilbert owns a 4.54 FIP at T-Mobile Park in 2026, but much of his struggles have been due to an inability to keep the ball in the yard.

Cooler temperatures in Seattle this evening should help mitigate that issue. The Athletics offense is a good matchup for Gilbert, too, ranking only 14th in ISO and 19th in home runs against right-handed pitching since the beginning of August.

If the bullpens for the Athletics and Mariners can avoid a late-inning meltdown, runs are likely to be at a premium. Play to 60%.

Athletics vs Mariners home run prediction: Cal Raleigh (21%)

Cal Raleigh leads all of baseball with a 32.1% barrel rate against right-handed pitching during the last 30 days (min. 20 plate appearances). Raleigh didn’t catch a barrel yesterday, but both of his balls in play were 95+ mph off the bat.

Morris has allowed a 37.2% fly-ball rate against left-handed hitters this season. There is a good chance we see Raleigh leave the yard this evening.

Play to 24%.

Athletics vs Mariners weather

T-Mobile Park has a retractable roof, but the design of the stadium preserves an open-air environment. That means the outside weather still has an impact on the playing field for home games. Cooler temperatures forecasted for Friday in Seattle slightly favor pitching.

Athletics vs Mariners odds

• Moneyline: Athletics 34% | Mariners 67%
• Run line: Athletics +1.5 | Mariners -1.5
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5

Athletics vs Mariners trend

The Athletics have only hit the F5 moneyline in 15 of their last 50 games (-9.70 Units / -19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Athletics vs. Mariners.

How to watch Athletics vs Mariners and game info

Athletics vs Mariners latest injuries

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.

Today marks the 76th birthday of former Blue Jays pitcher Doyle Alexander.

Doyle pitched for the Jays over four seasons—two full seasons and two partial ones. During his time in Toronto, he posted a 46-26 record with a 3.56 ERA across 106 games, making 103 starts.

The Jays signed him as a free agent on June 21, 1983, roughly a month after the Yankees released him. At the time of his release, Alexander had a 0-2 record and a 6.35 ERA in eight games, following a previous season where he went 1-7 with a 6.08 ERA in 16 starts.

Alexander turned things around in Toronto, posting a 7-8 record with a 3.93 ERA in 17 games. That season, the Jays finished fourth, nine games behind. When Doyle joined, the team was just 1.5 games out of first and remained competitive until a rough August set them back.

In 1984, Alexander enjoyed the best season of his career, going 17-6 with a 3.13 ERA in 36 games and tossing 11 complete games. He even received some MVP votes that year. Although he struck out just 139 batters in 261.2 innings, he consistently got the outs when it mattered.

The Jays reached the playoffs for the first time in 1985, with Alexander playing a key role. He finished 17-10 with a 3.45 ERA over 36 starts. While he only struck out 142 batters in 260 innings, the team’s solid defense supported him. The playoff run was short-lived, however, as the Jays lost to the Royals in the ALCS. Alexander struggled in the postseason, recording an 8.71 ERA over two starts.

Midway through the 1986 season, the Jays traded Alexander to the Braves for Duane Ward—a deal that worked out well for Toronto. A year later, the Braves sent Doyle to the Tigers in exchange for John Smoltz, which was an even better haul for the Braves than the Jays got. Alexander later helped the Tigers edge out the Jays for the AL East crown in 1987, starting two games during the Jays’ season-ending seven-game losing streak. In the first of those games, he pitched 10.2 innings without getting a decision. That memory still stings.

Alexander finished his career with a 194-174 record and a 3.74 ERA. He wasn’t a hard thrower, relying instead on a variety of pitches and arm angles. I always thought he’d make a good pitching coach. Over his career, he played for eight different teams.

He didn’t come across as particularly warm or cheerful, at least from a distance—though perhaps he was different with teammates. Surprisingly, he received no votes when he appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot. Usually, there’s at least one writer willing to cast a courtesy vote, but it seems Doyle didn’t have that advocate.

Happy Birthday, Doyle.

Today also marks the 53rd birthday of Brian Simmons and the 49th for Matt DeWitt. I mention them together because both were part of the notorious Mike Sirotka trade.

In January 2001, DeWitt and David Wells were traded to the White Sox in exchange for Simmons, Kevin Beirne, and Sirotka. Realistically, only Wells and Sirotka were considered significant pieces in the deal.

As most fans remember, Sirotka never pitched for the Blue Jays—he arrived injured, which is why physicals are standard today. Bud Selig, then-commissioner and friend of White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, ensured Toronto got no compensation. Ironically, Wells performed poorly for the White Sox.

DeWitt appeared in 24 games for the Jays between 2000 and 2001, and pitched five more times for the White Sox in 2002, marking the end of his MLB career. After 2002, he was traded back to Toronto for Mike Williams (also involved in the Sirotka trade), but neither returned to the majors.

Simmons, a utility outfielder, played 55 games for the White Sox in 1999 but didn’t make a major league appearance until joining the Jays. In 2001, he played 60 games for Toronto, hitting .176/.239/.280. The White Sox claimed him off waivers after the season, and although he bounced between teams, he never returned to the majors.

Wishing both Matt and Brian a happy birthday.

Erik Swanson turns 33 today.

Swanson, along with Adam Macko, joined the Jays in the trade that sent Teoscar Hernandez to the Mariners.

He played a major role in the bullpen during 2023, posting 29 holds in 69 appearances and finishing with a 2.97 ERA.

In 2024, he had a 5.03 ERA in 45 games, with batters hitting .235/.304/.516.

2025 started even worse. He had 15.19 ERA after 5.1 innings and was released in June.

Happy Birthday, Erik.

Andrés Giménez also celebrates his 28th birthday today.

Now in his second season with the Jays, Giménez has appeared in 232 games, batting .228/.287/.336 with 15 home runs.

He has provided stellar defense at second base last year and at shortstop this season.

Happy Birthday, Andrés. Celebrate it with a win tonight.

Longevity in sports can be a double-edged sword. On one side, the longer something lasts, the more opportunities there are for positive memories, greatness, or the achievement of goals. The other side of the longevity sword allows for more failures and burnt bridges. For Doyle Alexander, his 19 seasons across the majors resulted in both.

Doyle Lafayette Alexander
Born: September 4, 1950 (Cordova, AL)
Yankees Tenure: 1976, 1982-1983

Born in a rural town north of Birmingham, Alabama, Alexander grew up and attended Woodlawn High School in the city. Woodlawn also produced legendary Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden. Alexander was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth round of the 1968 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Woodlawn.

The 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher made quick work of climbing up the ranks in the Dodgers’ farm system. After pitching in the Northwest League after being drafted, Alexander reached Double-A the next season in 1969. Alexander remained in Double-A to start the 1970 season, but after an impressive 4-3 start to the season, the Dodgers promoted the 18-year-old to Triple-A Spokane.

Spokane would be Alexander’s home to start the 1971 season. After 15 starts and going 6-3 with a 3.44 ERA, the Dodgers called Alexander up to make his MLB debut. At just 20 years and 295 days old, Alexander made his Major League debut on June 26, 1971, going eight innings against the Padres. Doyle would go on to make 12 starts and appear in five more games, ending his rookie year with a 6-6 record and a 3.80 ERA across 92.1 innings.

During the offseason following the 1971 season, Alexander was used as the centerpiece of a trade, alongside three other prospects, to land future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson and Pete Richert from the Orioles. This would kick off Alexander’s longest tenure with any team, as he would spend 4.5 seasons in Baltimore. As an Oriole, Alexander appeared in 137 games, 64 of which were starts. His final career line with the club was 35-37 with a 3.41 ERA.

On June 15, 1976, Baltimore traded Alexander, along with Jimmy Freeman, Elrod Hendricks, Ken Holtzman, and Grant Jackson to the New York Yankees for Rick Dempsey, Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, Scott McGregor, and Dave Pagan. This would be Alexander’s first of two stints in the Bronx and the most successful one. Despite this trade working well for the Yankees at the time, Dempsey, Martinez, and McGregor would eventually help the Orioles win the 1983 World Series.

Alexander did exactly what the Yankees had hoped for when they traded for him. He went 10–5 with a 3.29 ERA down the stretch, helping the Yankees win the AL East and reach the 1976 World Series. Alexander was the starter for Game 1 of the 1976 World Series, a move many questioned Billy Martin for at the time, and took the loss. The Reds would go on to sweep the Yankees.

Following the season, Alexander became a part of the first-ever free agent class. After the Yankees would not promise him at least 20 starts per season, Alexander opted to sign with the Texas Rangers. Over the next few years, Alexander became a highly traveled journeyman.

The Rangers moved him to the Atlanta Braves in December 1979. Then, almost a year to the date later, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants. His whirlwind tour finally came back to the Bronx just before the start of the 1982 season when the Giants traded him to the Yankees in exchange for Andy McGaffigan and Ted Wilborn. Alexander held out of the Giants Spring Training, trying to secure a contract extension. That holdout might have contributed to Alexander’s second stint in pinstripes not going well.

Following the trade, Alexander signed a lucrative, for the time, four-year, $2.2 million contract extension. However, Alexander struggled mightily on the mound. Over a season and a half in 1982 and 1983, he limped to a dreadful 1–9 record with a 6.16 ERA.

The legend of patience himself, George Steinbrenner, quickly grew peeved at Alexader for his performance. Following a particularly rough outing, Steinbrenner said he was flying Alexander back to New York to undergo a physical, as something had to be wrong with the pitcher. Thoroughly disgusted, the Yankees ate the remainder of his salary and released him on May 31, 1983.

This move ultimately backfired when a rejuvenated Alexander signed with the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays on June 21st. Alexander would beat the Yankees at the end of the season, pitching a complete game in a 5-1 Blue Jays win to clinch the 1985 AL East crown on Steinbrenner’s own dime, no less.

Following this run with Toronto, Alexander was traded back to the Braves in July 1986 for future star reliever Duane Ward. After briefly testing free agency following the 1986 season, he ultimately re-signed with Atlanta.

In 1987, Atlanta traded Alexander to the Tigers in exchange for a minor-league prospect named John Smoltz. This trade, the last one of his career, became a legendary piece of baseball lore: Alexander pitched brilliantly down the stretch, going 9–0 with a 1.53 ERA to push the Tigers to the 1987 American League East title, while Smoltz went on to have a first-ballot Hall of Fame career with the Braves.

Alexander remained with the Tigers for the rest of his career, testing free agency again in late 1988 before re-signing for one final season in Detroit. In 1988, at 37 years old, he earned his very first and only All-Star selection. Alexander endured a grueling final year as he battled a fractured jaw. The season resulted in a frustrating 6–18 record that led the American League in losses. Following the 1989 season, at 39 years old, Alexander officially called it a career.

Over his 19-year Major League career, Alexander compiled a final statline that included a 194–174 record, a 3.76 ERA, 561 games played including making 464 starts, 3,367.2 innings pitched, 1,528 strikeouts, and a 35.0 WAR. Following retirement, Alexander returned home to Alabama and remained mostly out of the public eye. In 2022, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

Happy birthday, Doyle!

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

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The Milwaukee Brewers (60%) get on base better than anybody against right-handed pitching, and they should have plenty of opportunities to do so facing Rhett Lowder.

I expect Milwaukee to put up a big number tonight, and my Brewers vs. Reds prediction and MLB picks reflect that.

Who will win Brewers vs Reds today: Milwaukee Brewers (61%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Rhett Lowder is very hittable, which becomes especially evident when he goes up against a quality offense.

He has posted a 7.22 ERA over 12 starts against teams ranking Top-10 in OBP vs. right-handed pitching. Unfortunately for Lowder, the Milwaukee Brewers lead the league in that category.

They are likely to string together hits in bulk, and Lowder’s 15th percentile barrel rate will also elevate their ability to generate power.

Shane Drohan has managed a 2.93 ERA against Bottom-10 opponents in OBP, and the Cincinnati Reds sit 29th.

Play to 64%.

COVERS INTEL:Lowder ranks in the 11th percentile in xERA, making him unlikely to hold up against an elite Brewers offense.

Brewers vs Reds Over/Under pick: Over 9.5 (52%)

The Brewers are in a great spot to score early and often, making the Over an attractive buy.

Lowder’s ERA sits at 8.13 when isolating seven matchups against teams in the Top-10 in OBP and xwOBA vs. righties.

That includes two starts against the Brewers, in which Lowder combined to allow nine runs in just over 10 innings of work.

Drohan owns a 4.70 xERA the past month and the Reds do possess real power. Aided by playing in a hitter-friendly ballpark, only five teams have gone deep more times at home this season.

Play to 53%.

Brewers vs Reds home run prediction: Jake Bauers (23%)

Milwaukee’s leader in barrel rate against Lowder’s pitch mix this season is…Jake Bauers!

The veteran lefty profiles amazingly well, generating barrels at nearly a 15% clip while posting a healthy .231 ISO to boot.

Bauers also owns a magnificent track record when facing Lowder, going 5-for-8 with a pair of homers.

Isolating matchups against starters ranking in the 30th percentile or worse in xSLG and FB% against left-handed bats, Bauers has homered in seven of 12 games.

Brewers vs Reds weather

Temperatures are expected to comfortably sit in the 90s with winds blowing out. Very favorable hitting conditions at Great American Ballpark.

Brewers vs Reds odds

• Moneyline: Brewers 60% | Reds 41%
• Run line: Brewers -1.5 (48%) | Reds +1.5 (53%)
• Over/Under: Over 9.5 (51%) | Under 9.5 (50%)

Brewers vs Reds trend

Milwaukee has hit the moneyline in 13 of their last 20 games (+5.0 units, 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Brewers vs. Reds.

How to watch Brewers vs Reds and game info

Brewers vs Reds latest injuries

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.

Jac Caglianone and Noah Cameron just became the first pair of Royals teammates to win AL monthly awards in the same month since 1985, and Jacob Milham and Jeremy Greco give the milestone its full due even as the season around it has slipped back into disappointment. Cameron’s August was more than enough to earn Pitcher of the Month honors despite modest strikeout totals, while Caglianone led the AL in batting average, slugging, OPS, and RBI in a breakout that now feels like genuine league-wide recognition rather than a stats-driven argument.

The September call-ups told a different story. Nolan Hoffman, Easton McGee, and Drew Waters headline a group that left both hosts underwhelmed, and the conversation turns to whether the front office should have used this stretch to evaluate younger players like Gavin Cross or Carson Roccaforte instead. The Royals’ fading playoff odds add an edge to the discussion, particularly as broadcast optimism around the team’s chances has started to feel out of step with reality.

Cameron’s rougher outing against Miami still showed signs of progress rather than regression, even as the Marlins series brought its share of chaos, including a balk reversal and Matt Quatraro’s animated ejection that left the broadcast crew disagreeing about what actually happened. Seth Lugo’s future and the uncomfortable reality of needing multiple new starters heading into 2026 round out the pitching conversation.

The broader baseball landscape gets attention too. MLB’s proposed free agency changes and the meaningful difference between a delay and a full transaction freeze draw real concern, while Arte Moreno’s sale of the Angels reopens the conversation about team value, spending, and Royals ownership specifically. Joe Sheehan’s sharp criticism of John Sherman gets a direct read, and Jacob and Jeremy float their own creative fix for position players pitching, proposing an emergency pitcher spot filled by an undrafted college player or a retired arm.

Need your Royals fix? Head to royalsreview.com for news, analysis, and to engage with Royals fans around the world! Follow us online:

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– Jeremy Greco: @hokius.fromthehawkseye.com
– Jacob Milham: @jacobmilhkc.bsky.social

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– Podcast: @RoyalRundownPod

If you were writing the script of the Cubs season, I’m sending it back for re-writes. My son, not particularly a baseball fan, has found the path to conversation is being the sounding board for what I’m going to write. He’s always asking what the gist of my story is going to be about. Given that he’s not much a baseball guy, I often use non-baseball analogies. Here, I explained my thinking: “It is Empire Strikes Back for too long. You have to eventually get to Return of the Jedi.” If we’re at the movies or binging this on Netflix, you eventually leave or change the proverbial channel. No one wants to be watching the villains winning ad infinitum. The worm needed to turn.

Elsewhere, on social media I said it that the last 13 games was basically useless time. If you are a daily follower, you’ll have seen me recently yawning about a blowout win. Over the previous 13 games, the Cubs had lost nine games and had four blow-out wins. Totally useless. First off, there probably aren’t going to be 17-2 games in the playoffs. It’s not going to get that sideways. But if it does, we can do that. The Cubs are incredibly adept at piling on when the other team starts going sideways. They’ve been good at that for years and with souped up Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman post-fountain of youth, they are elite at it now. They can pile fast. And their pitchers seem to thrive in that environment. Yeah, who among us is surprised that marginal pitchers become good pitchers when they can pitch downhill and attack?

Ironically, this was exactly the game I was talking about yesterday. Offense bad, pitching good. For one, that’s where the Brewers try to take the game. They don’t want to slugfest with anyone. They want to play fundamental baseball and beat you with pitching and defense. Their offense, is incredibly adept at playing downhill. They are a quintessential sum of the parts better than the individual pieces offense. I’m sure I’m being equal parts flippant and naive, but it feels like they’ve got one maybe two players at best that the Dodgers or Yankees would chase from a position player standpoint. And yet, year after year that offense produces. And produces better than anyone expected.

This game matters because they beat the Brewers at the Brewers’ game. The Cub pitching was a little better which is saying something given that the Brewers held the Cubs to three hits. Three hits, one walk, no hits after the third inning. That’s elite. And the Cubs found a way to win. Here’s the thing, from a practical standpoint, the Brewers did what they needed to do in this series. Four days off of the calendar, no ground yielded. The division is over. The Brewers will never self destruct the way it would take to blow this lead. That’s the reality. They are going to win the division. Their battle is finishing the adventure and getting the No. 1 seed. In a world where the seeds hold, they get the Wild Card winner while the Dodgers and Braves have to slug it out against each other. That’s their objective. Don’t have to beat both the Dodgers and Braves to get to the Series.

But I will say this. The Cubs got everything they needed out of this series. They left a lot that they wanted behind. No question. It’s not an exciting pill to swallow a split and the cold reality of having to go the Wild Card route and risk not getting into longer series. But check these things out.

On Monday, the Cubs posted 17 runs. The first eight of that was in a competitive game against a guy who will probably start playoff games. On Monday, Clay Holmes shoved. The Cubs got good starting pitching. That pitching stifled the Brewer offense. And it got lopsided so the Cubs didn’t have to use their leverage guys. On Tuesday, Matthew Boyd was up and down. His line wasn’t great at the end of the day. Also, that game was 3-1 Cubs after four. Now that pitcher probably throws long relief for the Brewers in the postseason. So not HUGE. But there were positives in that loss. On Wednesday? They hung the worst start of the year on the Miz. Of course, for the second straight day, their pitching staff just gave it all away.

For three days, the Cubs offense showed it could score runs against the vaunted Brewers starters. Check. Now Kevin Gausman, the other big trade deadline addition, you know, the one with World Series experience, finished this series. He finished the series with an exclamation point. Seven innings of one run ball. Yeah, that’s what I’m talking about. Nine strikeouts against a contact oriented team. Yes, please. More of that. And then the Ryans, Zeferjahn and Rollison came in and closed the door.

The Brewers split the series and that’s a win for them. But there were silver linings. Survive the back six of this 13 straight, then lock down the top Wild Card spot in the sprint to the finish. Take care of business against a Marlins team that is fighting to stay alive. It feels like we always catch them when they are playing with extra motivation. Oh yeah, now that we got this 2-1 win in the bag, feel free to get another blow-out win over the weekend. I’m sure after three days of fighting for inches that a good old fashioned clobbering would feel excellent. Though I’ll still be back here hoping there’s another 3-2 or 2-1 win in there.

Holmes and Gausman and throw a roster full of relievers at them. That can win a Wild Card round series. Hopefully Boyd and David Peterson can keep two other games close. You’re going to have all four of them on short leashes and that fleet of relievers. Also, don’t mess up. Get Javier Assad onto the playoff roster. I know what the metrics and your instincts tell you about him. I see it loud and clear. There’s going to be a game that’s skidding out sideways. Hand him the ball and turn him loose. Over and over again through his career he’s outproduced what your numbers and your instincts tell you to expect. If he fails? It was already skidding out, right?

Three Positives:

• Kevin Gausman. The last time he threw seven innings and struck out nine or more batters was a complete-game shutout against the Astros last September. Everything the team needed, right when they needed it. I’ve seen him say he might retire. I respect a guy who doesn’t want to hang around, but I see a guy who can pitch at least one more year.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong. We needed two runs to win and Pete gave them to us. “Perils” of playing on a strong offensive team, but I believe this to be the first time Pete has driven in all of the runs in a Cub win since May 1, 2024. He drove in the only run in a 1-0 win against the Mets in New York. One more iconic achievement in his season. His next iconic moment should be his 40th homer.
• Ryan Zeferjahn. It says a lot about the start to his Cubs career that I was much more comfortable with Ryan Rolison of the two late relievers. But Zeferjahn has struggled more AND got to face the three most dangerous Brewer hitters and got them all. Rolison had a save before, we remain at 13 different Cubs with a save. But Zeferjahn is a candidate for No. 14. Justin Steele or Edward Cabrera are other off the wall options now entering the radar. Or Shelby Miller. Another pickup that was laughed at when it was made.

Game 141, September 3: Cubs 2, Brewers 1 (79-62)

Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.

THREE HEROES:

• Superhero: Kevin Gausman (.362). 7 IP, 27 BF, 5 H, BB, R, 9 K (W 4-1)
• Hero: Ryan Rolison (.166). IP, 3 BF (Sv 2)
• Sidekick: Pete Crow-Armstrong/Ryan Zeferjahn. (.123). PCA: 1-4, HR, R, 2RBI. Zeferjahn: IP, 0 R, K.

THREE GOATS:

• Billy Goat: Ian Happ (-.074). 0-3
• Goat: Nico Hoerner (-.058). 0-3
• Kid: Seiya Suzuki (-.043). 0-3

WPA Play of the Game: Pete Crow-Armstrong’s third inning two-run homer with one out for the game’s first two runs. (.200)

Brewers Play of the Game: Andrew Vaughn’s solo homer with two outs in the fourth cut it to one. (.105)

Cubs Player of the Game:

Game 140 Winner: Alex Bregman received 50 of 54 votes.

Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)

The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.

• Alex Bregman +27
• Pete Crow-Armstrong +26
• Ben Brown +13.5
• Javier Assad +12
• Carson Kelly +10.
• Edward Cabrera -12.5
• Jameson Taillon -13
• Nico Hoerner -15
• Dansby Swanson -17
• Caleb Thielbar -17.5

Scoreboard Watching: Brewers lost (8 up on Cubs). Everyone else except the Dodgers was off. So the Cubs gain half a game on everyone while they all get to rest. Hopefully a lot of them lose when the Cubs get their reciprocal day off because they had the same number of games played as just everyone. Now they’ve played one more than many teams. The Dodgers were losing early in the late game, staring down a potential sweep by the Cardinals. The Dodgers have a soft September schedule, but aren’t a lot more likely than the Cubs to catch the Brewers. The Braves are a bit of a toss up. The permutation you want is one where the Dodgers are the first Brewer opponent. Then you only have to beat one of them to get to the Series. Beating one is a monumental task. Beating both of them would probably take a miracle.

Up Next: The Cubs travel to Miami. The Marlins are 71-70 and actually only three back of the Wild Card.

I’ve not seen anything to suggest that Shōta Imanaga (8-10, 4.01) won’t be taking his turn in Miami. The numbers still don’t look as bad as it has felt, with 2-2 and a 4.33 over his last seven. Last time out, he allowed six runs in five innings of work while losing to the Reds. Miami should be a decent place to start for him.

The Marlins start 30-year-old righty Janson Junk (6-8. 4.11). Junk is 2-2 with a 2.15 over his last seven appearances, which includes one turn out of the bullpen. He’s thrown six innings once since the start of August, in a start against the Pirates. That was also his last win, back on August 12. He was a Brewers reliever in May of 2024 when he last pitched against the Cubs.

The Marlins are 10th in team OPS, making them a really far below the radar top third offensive team (by at least one metric). They are also 11th in team ERA. That’s a really narrow basket of stats, but suggests they should be a bit better than their record probably. The Marlins bullpen is 14th in ERA (two spots behind the vaunted Cub bullpen). Their bullpen is sixth in WHIP. So you’re not going to just roll them late. This is a solid, if unspectacular team and will be a good challenge this weekend.

Fangraphs has the Cubs with an edge in all three games this weekend, with the Friday one being by an eyelash and the Saturday one topping out at 55.7 percent. For what it is worth, FG had the Cubs winning this Thursday game against the Brewers. It most definitely does not like the Cubs at any point in the Milwaukee series ahead. But have to take care of business here and then try to slay some dragons.

Ceddanne Rafaela, who has mostly been a model of perfect health throughout his short big league career, missed last night’s win in Baltimore with a tight right quad. He’s not going on the IL at this point, but given that there isn’t that much on the line for the rest of the season, he’s going to get plenty of time off to get better. We’ll essentially be day to day,“ said Chad Tracy. ”He’s going to get treatment like crazy, and we’ll be day to day to see how he feels and how he’s progressing… we’ll get a better idea over the next couple of days of how much improvement you’re seeing, and that’ll be easier to answer. But right now, we’re not going to put them out there until we see good improvement.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)

Thankfully, the injury news isn’t all bad. Tanner Houck pitched in a Bridge League game this week (what the hell is the Bridge League?) and will throw another simulated game today. If everything goes well, he hopes to start a rehab assignment next week. Meanwhile, Garrett Crochet will also throw his first bullpen session today, but it sounds like he’s much further behind Houck. “I don’t think it’ll be an excessive amount of pitches,” Tracy said. “This is first time off the slope, actually pitching off the slope, not just playing catch. So we’ll see how that goes. Hopefully it goes well and we’ll progress him from there.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)

I’m not getting my hopes up about either Houck or Crochet being big contributors down the stretch. But that said, the pitching does seem to need a refresher right about now. (Scott McLaughlin, WEEI)

If Tanner Houck does make it back and finds a way to contribute to the postseason, that that will have been quite the journey, considering that he’s been MIA for over a calendar year. But no Red Sox journey is more impressive than that of Mickey Gasper, who initially signed for just $5,000. The scout who signed him isn’t surprised at his ascent, though. “There’s certain things you’re drawn to as a scout, and one is this common thread of makeup, and the desire to be at the park and put the work in and just never give up,” said Matt Hyde. “Even getting sent back down to Worcester and then being brought back up and hitting another home run, it’s like, ‘Yeah, that’s no surprise.’” (Tyler Kepner, The Athletic)

Last night, though, it was Adley Rutschman, not Gasper, playing home run hero. Of course it was fitting that his breakout game with the Sox happend at Camden Yards. “The people of Baltimore have always treated me with an unbelievable amount of respect and love,” he said. “I always felt that when I was here.” (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)

Baltimore is where Rutschman started his big league career, but it’s not where he began in baseball. That would be Oregon, where he comes from a family of baseball legends. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

You don’t need a piece on TheGoodPhight or somewhere else to tell you the Phillies look different. Simply reading the lineup and seeing several players change positions will tell you enough. It’s very different.

Since the start of August, the Phillies are 22-8, roughly when the trade deadline came and went. They were active at that deadline, trading one of their best pitching prospects for Luis Arraez and Caleb Killian, then making a smaller trade for Brooks Raley. You would think that is why the Phillies have taken a massive step forward.

But what if I told you that those moves haven’t really helped them at all? Yes, Luis Arraez, even with an 80 wRC+ in a Phillies uniform, is a big indirect upgrade over Gabriel Rincones jr, Adolis Garcia, and whatever else the Phillies were trying. However, he still has an 80 wRC+ with solid but not world-beating defense. On top of that, Caleb Killian looked like a disaster in four outings before hitting the injured list and Brooks Raley looks like a serviceable middle reliever but nothing more.

In total, the Phillies trade deadline acquisitions have been worth a combined 0.0 fWAR so far, there is still plenty of time for that to change but it shouldn’t be labeled as a success at the moment.

So how did a team that went 57-53 over the first four months of the season balloon to 79-61? Here are some of the big steps forward from the Phillies’ most unlikely contributors.

Aaron Nola and Andrew Painter solidifying the rotation

Arguably, the Phillies most pressing need five weeks ago was to find one or even two more viable starting pitchers. Aaron Nola had an ERA over 6 prior to August while Andrew Painter was in AAA because his first 65 innings in the majors were a disaster. Alan Rangel and Brian Keller were getting bulk innings or starts at one point, without anyone on the injured list, because the Phillies back of the rotation had been such a mess.

There has been a little smoke and mirrors for Nola thanks to a 95.2% left on base rate (LOB%) but a 2.65 ERA in 34 innings is worth a lot.

Andrew Painter is now getting a more reliable fastball shape thanks to some delivery tweaks and has been working with a new changeup grip, ditching his unreliable splitter in AAA. Hitters are hitting just .075 on the new changeup, without any extra base hits and are whiffing at it 32.2% of the time.

It’s obviously not just those two who have taken a step forward. Jesús Luzardo and Cristopher Sánchez have ERAs well below 2 but frontline-caliber starters have stretches like this. The Phillies issue was that two of every five days had big question marks about the starting rotation. That isn’t the case right now, even if Zack Wheeler hasn’t looked sharp.

Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm transforming in new positions

It’s unfair to not mention Bryce Harper playing like an MVP candidate in August and walking 25% of the time. So it’ll be mentioned here.

Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm did not have the biggest challenges in the world moving down the defensive spectrum to new positions. Stott has specifically taken to third base extremely well, already recording four outs above average there. Bohm’s first base has generally looked stable and just getting him off third has helped things.

Offensively, they’re both providing bottom half of the lineup offense the Phillies were lacking for months. Stott has hit a cold stretch but still has a 119 wRC+ in his last 124 plate appearances. Alec Bohm has started swinging nearly 2 mph faster on average with a slight decrease in groundballs. It has lead to an .851 OPS first baseman, which is significantly better than before.

Those are the two biggest surprises but Justin Crawford also deserves praise as a regular that is coming through. Even with a recent cold streak, Crawford has still looked roughly like a league average hitter since the start of August without a massive BABIP spike. For someone that is probably batting 8th or 9th in October, it’s a huge jump.

Alex McFarlane already looks like the Phillies second or third best reliever

A fastball over 100 mph with a sinker, and two very good horizontal breaking pitches, McFarlane has looked nasty since rejoining the Phillies. With every outing, he looks a little more comfortable and composed. His last outing, escaping a first-and-second-with-no-outs situation unscathed, probably gives him plenty of runway as a leverage arm down the stretch and into October.

The bullpen trust tree obviously starts with Jhoan Duran at the top and Jonathan Bowlan should absolutely factor in right behind him, even with the solo home run he allowed Wednesday (on a back-to-back after doing an up-down the day before). McFarlane is probably the third guy even if he might just walk the bases loaded in a playoff game, he also might just strike all of them out.

An upgraded bench

When Edmundo Sosa, Bryan De La Cruz, and Derek Hill have played this month, they do something. Whether it’s Sosa hitting a three-run bomb in the ninth to give the Phillies the lead, Bryan De La Cruz hitting .294 with 9 RBIs or it’s Derek Hill drawing a big walk, hitting a walk-off, or making a diving catch. It’s kind of the perfect bench, each player just finding a way to do something whenever the manager calls on them.

So even with an underwhelming trade deadline so far, the upgrades the Phillies have seen internally have completely changed the club’s expectations and performance. Just off recent trends, the Phillies look like a World Series threat with everything clicking at the right time. They might even mess around and win the division.

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The Chicago Cubs are a sizable road favorite over the Miami Marlins ahead of the 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch at loanDepot Park on Friday, Sept. 4.

My top Cubs vs. Marlins prediction and MLB picks are calling for Chicago to win convincingly in the series opener. 

Who will win Cubs vs Marlins today: Cubs -1.5 run line (44%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

The Chicago Cubs have an advantage at the plate and on the mound over the Miami Marlins tonight.

Chicago ranks second in xwOBA and first is ISO across the past 30 days, while Miami respectively checks in ranked 27th and 25th. The Cubs also rank fourth in wOBA against righties for the season, and the Marlins are 20th in the metric against lefties.

Similarly, while Cubs starter Shota Imanaga has had plenty of peaks and valleys this season, his 3.89 xERA and 3.82 xFIP across his past 11 starts also reinforce the edge on the mound.

Marlins starter Janson Junk sports a ho-hum 4.28 xERA and 4.72 xFIP over his past seven starts, after all.

It all adds up to Chicago pulling away on the scoreboard tonight. 

COVERS INTEL: Miami Marlins righty Janson Junk has the second-lowest whiff percentage and 11th-lowest strikeout percentage among the 116 pitchers with at least 100 innings.

Cubs vs Marlins Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (56%)

In addition to the highlighted offensive struggles of the Marlins, they’ve played to the Under in 26 of their last 40 home games (+11.70 Units / 27% ROI).

This is also a potential letdown spot for the Cubs.

Chicago just split a key, four-game divisional series with the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Cubbies were held to just 11 runs over the final three games of the set.

Cubs vs Marlins home run prediction: Michael Busch (15%)

There’s been a considerable dip in Cubs first baseman Michael Busch’s ISO against righties this season. He posted a rock-solid .245 mark across the past two seasons but is all the way down to a .141 ISO in 2026.

So, with Junk allowing a healthy 16.7 blast-contact percentage at home, this is a long number for Busch to cash in on statistical correction and leave the yard tonight.

Cubs vs Marlins market trends

Smart traders at Polymarket are leaning rather heavily to the visitors in tonight's Cubs vs. Marlins matchup. All of the action is backing the favorite, as of 4 p.m. ET.

Cubs vs Marlins weather

The retractable roof at loanDepot Park is expected to be closed for tonight’s game, but the official decision won’t be announced until a few hours before the game on the @loanDepotpark X feed.

Cubs vs Marlins odds

• Moneyline: Cubs 60% | Marlins 43.5%
• Run line: Cubs -1.5 (47.6%) | Marlins +1.5 (56.5%)
• Over/Under: Over 8 (52.4%) | Under 8 (52.4%)

Cubs vs Marlins trend

The Chicago Cubs have covered the run line in 12 of their last 18 away games (+7.65 Units / 37% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Marlins.

How to watch Cubs vs Marlins and game info

Cubs vs Marlins latest injuries

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.

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Keider Montero has absolutely dominated the Cleveland Guardians over the course of his career, so I'm rocking with him as part of my Tigers vs. Guardians predictions.

The Detroit Tigers are a live underdog today at Polymarket, trading at 45 cents - we can't pass up that type of value.

 Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Friday, Sept. 4.

Who will win Tigers vs Guardians today: Tigers (46%)

For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.

I'm giving the Detroit Tigers the benefit of the doubt in this one, with Keider Montero historically finding success against this Cleveland Guardians lineup.

Across 73 plate appearances (we love to see this type of sample size), he's limited Cleveland to a .169 xBA and .223 xwOBA. That'll play.

On the other side, the Tigers have beat up on Logan Allen, owning a .355 average in 38 plate appearances. This includes a 5-for-8 mark from Spencer Torkelson. If Detroit is scoring, he's probably at the center of it today.

COVERS INTEL: Keider Montero is generating weak contact at the highest rate of his career (5.8%), which should put us in a good spot to cash this underdog play against a contact-first team like the Guardians.

Tigers vs Guardians Over/Under pick: Under 8.5 (55%)

Not only is Montero having one of the best years of his career and is in a great matchup against Cleveland, but the trends are on our side, too. The Under is 7-0 in Montero's last seven starts as a road underdog, and you shouldn't expect Cleveland to smudge that perfect mark, either.

It helps us here that the Guardians are the worst-hitting team with runners in scoring position in the big leagues, owning just a .682 OPS in that situation this season.

All the numbers point toward the Under here - I'd play this up to 58 cents.

Tigers vs Guardians weather

We do have a risk of thunderstorms tonight in Cleveland, with temperatures at 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Watch out for a potential delay before first pitch.

Tigers vs Guardians odds

• Moneyline: Tigers 45% | Guardians 56%
• Run line: Tigers +1.5 (62%) | Guardians -1.5 (39%)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (48%) | Under 8.5 (52%)

Tigers vs Guardians trend

The Under is 5-0 in Allen's last five starts vs. the American League Central. Find more MLB betting trends for Tigers vs. Guardians.

How to watch Tigers vs Guardians and game info

Tigers vs Guardians latest injuries

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.

The New York Mets (63-77) welcome the San Francisco Giants (58-83) for a three-game series at Citi Field. The Mets, coming off a 2-1 roadtrip to Tampa Bay, won their first series in the last three, getting walked off twice in Chicago, and being relatively manhandled by both the Brewers and Astros.

That said, the Mets have not looked terrible over this stretch, and continue to figure out how to win games after selling off most of their bullpen and two of their outfielders. The most recent departure is of Luis Robert Jr., claimed off waivers by the Orioles a few days ago.

But as has been the way things have gone, the Mets seemingly aren’t missing Robert too much, and that’s not just because of Nick Morabito’s excellent game on Wednesday night. Morabito collected his first two big league hits, driving in three runs on a double and making a fantastic catch in left field.

As for that remade bullpen, a few of the newbies have struggled here and there, but overall, folks like Daniel Duarte, Nate Lavender, Austin Warren, and Dedniel Nuñez have all been stepping up. It will be very interesting to see which of these players will be a part of the Mets’ bullpen next season.

But the story has really been the three young starters, all of whom will start against the Giants. While Sean Manaea has wilted as of late and Robert Stock is pitching like a 36-year old journeyman, the trio of Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and Zac Thornton look like rotation mainstays for the foreseeable future. With Jonah Tong’s last few starts looking far, far better than most of his 2026, he will likely be joining the rotation shortly.

While the Mets’ season has been a disappointment, the Giants season has been fairly close to disaster. They’d be in the basement of the NL West if not for the truly astoundingly bad Rockies. While Mets fans like my good friend Chris McShane will be looking forward to watching Drew Gilbert, there really aren’t too many bright spots for the Giants right now. Their best player by bWAR, Luis Arraez, no longer plays for them. Their second best player by bWAR, Rafael Devers, is reportedly miserable.

While the Mets have their problems, the Giants make the Mets look like a respectable, functioning ball club. Thanks?

Friday, September 4: Nolan McLean vs Matt Wilkinson,  7:10pm EDT on SNY

McLean (2026): 155.2 IP, 172 K, 61 BB, 15 HR, 3.06 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 75 ERA-

Nolan McLean is garnering some Rookie of the Year discussion, and while he has had a few rough patches over the season, it’s hard to argue that he doesn’t belong there. Since his shaky start on August 6th, McLean has been phenomenal. In four starts, he’s tossed 25 innings, allowing just three earned runs, ten hits, 13 walks and 16 strikeouts. The walks have been a little more of an issue later in the season and his strikeouts are down, but the results haven’t suffered at all.

Wilkinson (2026): 11.2 IP, 6 K, 2 BB, 1 HR, 4.63 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 114 ERA-

The 23-year old rookie only has three stars under his belt, and for the first start he was acting as an opener. In his most recent appearance, he notched a quality start, allowing just two runs over six innings.

Saturday, September 5: Zac Thornton vs  Anthony Molina, 4:10pm EDT on SNY

Thornton (2026): 61.1 IP, 45 K, 14 BB, 7 HR, 2.93 ERA, 3.89 FIP, 72 ERA-

Thornton’s starts tend to look a little more like a tightrope walk than the other young pitchers on the staff, but he’s settling into a really impressive rookie campaign. The biggest highlight might be his walk rate; he’s only walked 14 in 11 starts, while only walking one or fewer batters over his last four starts.

Molina (2026): 14.1 IP, 9 K, 5 BB, 2 HR, 3.77 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 92 ERA-

The 24 year old Molina is the veteran of this trio of Giants starters. He came over from the Braves mid-season, and has made two appearances thus far for San Francisco. In his only start, he went five, giving up three run and striking out six.

Sunday, September 6: Christian Scott vs TBA, 1:40m EDT on SNY

Scott (2026): 94.2 IP, 113 K, 44 BB, 10 HR, 3.80 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 93 ERA-

Scott’s August wasn’t pretty at times, though in every appearance there have been moments of transcendence. In his last start against the Astros, walks were an issue, with five free passes to only two strikeouts. But in his first year back from Tommy John, Scott is doing a lot to establish himself as piece of this rotation after a lost season.

Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.

AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (69-65) won 11-4 (BOX SCORE)

Sugar Land got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Salazar RBI double. Alexander got the start and went 5 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, with 7 strikeouts. The offense rallied for 5 runs in the bottom of the third inning on a Cole 2 run home run, Dezenzo walk and Salazar 2 run single. The offense added 4 more runs in the 7th to extend the lead. The pen allowed a couple of runs but held on as Sugar Land won 11-4.

Note: Biggio has a .833 OPS in Triple-A.

• Zach Cole, LF: 2-for-5, R, HR, 3 RBI
• Pascanel Ferreras, SS: 1-for-5, R
• Cavan Biggio, 2B: 1-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, SB
• Joey Loperfido, RF: 2-for-5, R, RBI
• Cesar Salazar, C: 3-for-4, R, 3 RBI, BB

• Jason Alexander, RHP: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (WIN)
• Jackson Nezuh, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
• Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
• Julio Rodriguez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (59-70) lost 14-1 (BOX SCORE)

Tredwell started for the Hooks but struggled allowing 8 runs on 7 walks while retiring just three batters, despite not allowing a hit. The Hooks got a run in the 6th on a Janek sac fly but the pen allowed a few more runs and they eventually went to position players pitching. The Hooks ended up dropping this one 14-1.

Note: Salas is hitting .273 in Double-A.

• Tyler Whitaker, CF: 2-for-4
• Walker Janek, C: 0-for-2, RBI, BB
• Alejandro Nunez, LF: 1-for-3, BB
• Hector Salas, 2B: 1-for-3, R, BB

• Alonzo Tredwell, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 7 BB, 0 K
• Hudson Leach, RHP: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
• Jose Guedez, RHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
• Marcus Brown, RHP: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K
• Brandon Forrester, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

A+: Asheville Tourists (42-86) lost 6-5 (BOX SCORE)

Asheville got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Powell 2 run single. Shoemaker got the start for Asheville and went 5 innings allowing 3 runs, 2 earned. The offense got a run back in the third on a Vasquez sac fly. They picked up another run in the 5th on a Monistere sac fly. Saunier pitched in relief but allowed 3 runs in the 8th as the Grasshoppers took the lead. Asheville got one back in the bottom of the inning on a Fielder groundout. The offense was unable to rally in the 9th as Asheville fell 6-5.

Note: Walker has 37 stolen bases this season.

• Kyle Walker, 2B: 0-for-3, 2 R, BB, 3 SB
• Anthony Huezo, CF: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, SB
• Caden Powell, DH: 2-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, SB
• Nick Monistere, SS: 0-for-3, RBI
• Zach Daudet, 2B: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB
• Yosweld Vasquez, C: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
• Jadyn Fielder, RF: 2-for-4, RBI, SB

• Adam Shoemaker, LHP: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K
• Jose Varela, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
• Grayson Saunier, RHP: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
• Brandon Nigh, RHP: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (71-56) lost 3-2 (BOX SCORE)

The Woodpeckers got on the board in the 5th inning on a Ramirez RBI single. Verdugo got the start and was pitching well but with 2 outs in the 5th, he allowed 3 runs. He finished allowing those 3 runs over 4.2 innings. The offense got a run back in the 8th inning on a Hughes solo home run. The offense was unable to rally in the 9th as the Woodpeckers fell 3-2.

Note: Hughes is hitting .333 this season.

• Logan Hughes, RF: 1-for-3, R, HR, RBI, BB
• Aaron Piasecki, 2B: 1-for-3, BB
• Owen Nowak, LF: 1-for-4, R
• German Ramirez, 3B: 1-for-3, RBI

• Ryan Verdugo, RHP: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 7 K
• Brandon Cassedy, RHP: 2.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
• Brady Thomas, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Today’s minor league starters:

SL: TBD – 7:05 CT

CC: Andrew Taylor – 7:05 CT

AV: Kellan Oakes – 5:35 CT

FV: TBD – 6:00 CT

As we enter September, the Nationals are out of the playoff hunt. However, that does not mean these games are meaningless. There are three players whose future could be shaped by what they do this month. Dylan Crews, Harry Ford and Abimelec Ortiz all need strong finishes to the season to secure a spot on the team in 2027 and beyond.

Dylan Crews is the highest profile example of a player who needs a strong final chapter to the season. So far, Crews’ career has been defined by taking one step forward before taking two steps back. He has had some big moments, but has never been able to follow those up with consistent play.

His walk-off against the Marlins is the perfect example of this. That could have been a real turning point for Crews where he gathered momentum. However, in the three games since that walk-off, Crews is hitless. Honestly, that is the story of his Nationals career.

You can see flashes of the talent that made him the number 2 overall pick. However, they are not consistent enough and the end result is not good enough. For the season, Crews is hitting just .216 with a .643 OPS. That is pretty much the hitter he has been his whole MLB career now. In 741 career at bats, Crews is a .213 hitter with a .638 OPS.

Unless he has a strong finish to the season, Crews should not be given the sort of everyday playing time he has gotten this season. James Wood, Daylen Lile and Jacob Young have all proven to be better than him so far. This month is a chance for Crews to finish strong and prove to the club that he belongs.

In July, Crews posted an OPS over .800. If he can do that again in September, it would go a long way for him. However, time is running out for the former LSU star. I could see him being a potential trade chip this offseason as a change of scenery candidate. It could be the best thing for all parties if things don’t get better quickly.

Harry Ford has not had as much time to prove himself in the big leagues as Crews, but he has also had a tough year. When the Nats traded for Ford in the offseason, many people including myself assumed he would quickly establish himself as the Nats starting catcher. However, that has not been the case as Keibert Ruiz has re-established himself while Ford has not shown the power he did last year.

The 23 year old started the year in Rochester and got off to a brutal start. He posted a .531 OPS in April and it was an uphill battle from there. To his credit, Ford got better every month. His OPS was over .800 in both June and July. That earned him a big league call up.

So far in the big leagues, it has been a mixed bag. On the positive side of things, his defense has been about average, which is better than expected. He has also shown off his trademark plate discipline, with a chase rate of just 18.7%. That number is in Juan Soto territory and it is why he is walking over 12% of the time.

The plate discipline is the only thing propping up his offensive profile right now though. His .697 OPS is not terrible for a rookie, but the lack of slugging is a concern. Ford was seen as having average power before this year, but his quality of contact has fallen off a cliff.

In the big leagues, his average exit velocity is just 83.5 MPH. That is problematic for a player whose contact skills are just average. Right now, there is a lot of blue on his Baseball Savant page. He will need a strong finish to the season in order to establish himself as a full time big leaguer. At the moment, he is closer to Drew Millas than Keibert Ruiz.

I also think this offseason is very important for Ford. He needs to find a way to hit the ball harder and improve his bat speed. The plate discipline is great, but he needs to show more thump to keep pitchers from just pounding the zone.

For Abimelec Ortiz, thump is not the issue. The 24 year old first baseman has big power and bat speed. Those qualities, along with a solid hit tool helped him get off to a fantastic start in the big leagues. He burst onto the scene, hitting 5 homers and batting over .300 in his first 14 games.

However, Ortiz’s flaws have been brutally exposed lately. Right now he is chasing way too much and not working quality at bats. In the big leagues, Ortiz’s chase rate is 37.4%. That is way too high for a hitter of his profile. It leads to quick outs and causes him to do less damage than he should. 

Ortiz will never be a guy who takes a ton of walks, but he needs to walk more than 5% of the time. In AAA, Ortiz’s swing rate was just 45.6% but that has jumped to 51.4% in the show. This month, Big Abi needs to show an ability to make the proper adjustments if he wants to stick around long term.

After the way he started his career, the 1B job seemed like his to lose. However, he seems to be losing it right now. Ortiz can reclaim that spot if he can bounce back. The talent is there, he just needs to stop swinging so much.

Overall, there are a lot of players who have points to prove this month. Dylan Crews, Harry Ford and Abimelec Ortiz are on the top of the list though. All three are talented, but they need to show that talent more consistently down the stretch.