DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 13: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers scores a run past Patrick Bailey #16 of the Cleveland Guardians in the eighth inning at Comerica Park on August 13, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians are 6-1 against the Tigers this season. To have a good shot at the playoffs, they’ll need to make that 9-2 or 10-1 by Monday (weather-permitting).
Since August 4th, the Tigers are 29th in MLB in team wRC+ at 85, 19th in baserunning runs above average at -0.7, tenth in Defense at -0.9, ninth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.64 (4.67 FIP), and 26th in bullpen ERA at 4.88 (4.99 FIP).
Since August 4th, the Guardians are 12th in MLB in team wRC+ at 100, 19th in baserunning runs above average at -0.7, eighth in Defense at 1.2, 12th in starting pitcher ERA at 3.92 (4.25 FIP), and eighth in bullpen ERA at 3.28 (3.74 FIP).
Need to get into the Tigers’ pen early and take advantage.
Matchups:
Game One, Friday, 2:10PM ET: Montero RHP 3.24 ERA (3.86 FIP) vs. Allen LHP 3.77 ERA (4.98 FIP)
Game Two, Friday, 7:15PM ET: Sears 6.75 ERA (4.30 FIP) vs. Griffin LHP 3.96 ERA (4.42 FIP)
Game Three, Saturday, 6:10PM ET: Valdez LHP 4.36 ERA (4.24 FIP) vs. Messick LHP 2.46 ERA (3.06 FIP)
Game Four, Sunday, 1:40PM ET: Jobe RHP 4.63 ERA (5.37 FIP) vs. Williams RHP 3.81 ERA (3.58 FIP)
The Tigers have been playing lifeless baseball for a while but don’t be surprised to see them get fired up for this series. They have hit LHP much better than RHP as well lately (though still not particularly well), so Allen, Griffin and Messick will need to be careful.
Over the past month, the Tigers have been led by Hao-Yu Lee at 121 wRC+ and Brett Callahan 107 wRC+. Yep, it’s been bleak. Meanwhile, during that time period, the Guardians have been led by Chase DeLauter 166 wRC+, Angel Martinez 148 wRC+, Steven Kwan 133 wRC+, Patrick Bailey 129 wRC+, Jo Adell 118 wRC+ and Jose Ramirez 101 wRC+.
Today is the day the Guardians have to figure this thing out. This weekend is the series they have to win or sweep to start a run to the playoffs. If they do not, then we will definitively know what kind of team this is.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 02: Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics is congratulated by teammates following a two run home run against the Texas Rangers during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field on September 02, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Friday A’s fans!
Last night, the Athletics kicked off a four-game series against their division-rival the Seattle Mariners with a 7-4 victory.
With 21 games remaining, the team’s focus should be on building for next season while trying to avoid the dreaded 100-loss mark. The Athletics have a golden opportunity to play spoiler in upcoming matchups against the Mariners, Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros, three teams vying for playoff berths. Given how tightly contested the American League West is, how the Mariners and Astros fare against the A’s could help decide who represents the division in the postseason.
When assessing what went wrong, individuals will justifiably single out the pitching staff, which for a second straight season failed to pitch effectively during home games at Sutter Health Park. That resulted in the dismissals of pitching coach Scott Emerson and general manager David Forst, while manager Mark Kotsay remains employed for now.
However, the A’s have enjoyed some positives. Top prospects Henry Bolte, Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Tommy White and Gage Jump have made their MLB debuts, with Bolte and Jump particularly proving they have the ability to be pivotal pieces of the team’s roster moving forward. Right-hander J.T. Ginn emerged as the most consistent member of the club’s starting rotation, while Hogan Harris and Luis Medina became the most reliable members of the below-average bullpen.
Down on the farm, the Athletics’ top two picks of the 2025 MLB Draft, left-handed pitcher Jamie Arnold and outfielder Devin Taylor, showcased their vast potential in their first professional season. Additionally, fellow left-hander Wei-En-Lin’s Double-A dominance earned him a spot among MLB Pipeline’s Top-100 prospects before he suffered season-ending Tommy-John surgery.
Finally, in the low minors, recent international signing Breyson Guedez put his name on the map with a standout first season in the U.S., while this year’s first-round pick, Drew Burress, began his professional journey with a flourish at Single-A Stockton.
Despite all the losing, there remains hope that improved roster construction and better injury luck could help the Green and Gold return to prominence next season. That is, of course, if there is a season. How many games do you think will be missed because of the looming lockout?
What do you think of this person’s take? If there is a season next year, which pitcher should the A’s target in free agency this offseason to strengthen their rotation?
Next years rotation out of spring training in my eyes going into the offseason:
Guaranteed spot:
Severino Ginn
Not a guaranteed spot, but almost a guaranteed spot
Quite the Triple-A introduction for Devin Taylor. His rapid ascent through the minor leagues puts him firmly on the A’s radar as a potential impact call-up next season. Taylor could replace Brent Rooker as the team’s designated hitter, take over one of its corner-outfield spots or even be used as trade bait to acquire a talented pitcher for the Green and Gold.
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 03: Adley Rutschman #31 of the Boston Red Sox rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Thursday, September 3, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Piazza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With a mostly successful series against the Angels behind them, the Yankees had the benefit of a day off on Thursday, before heading down the coast to San Diego. As the American League playoff picture remains clustered, New York was able to make up some free ground in the division, while several other playoff hopefuls duked it out on a busy night of baseball.
Let’s take a look at what went down around the Junior Circuit.
Texas Rangers (70-71) 6, Tampa Bay Rays (83-57) 0
In case the title didn’t spoil anything, the Tampa Bay bats went cold in Texas on Thursday. They managed just three hits in their scoreless effort, as the Rangers earned a good all-around win to crawl closer to .500.
Things were scoreless through three innings in this one, before singles from Justin Foscue and Ezequiel Duran in the fourth and fifth respectively put the Rangers up 2-0. Later on in the fifth, Corey Seager delivered the big blow when he mashed a two-run shot for his 14th homer of the season.
While the bats had built a 4-0 lead, Cal Quantrill was giving it his all on the mound. The veteran right-hander ultimately tossed seven scoreless frames, allowing just a pair of hits while striking out five Tampa Bay hitters.
Quantrill’s efforts, along with a pair of scoreless innings from Jakob Junis and Chase Silseth, kept the Rays out of the run column all night, as they dropped one on the road. For good measure, a triple from Evan Carter and a sacrifice fly from Jake Burger plated the final runs of the night, as Texas cruised to a 6-0 victory. Despite sitting a game under .500, they are still just a half-game out of the final AL wild card spot.
Other Games
Houston Astros (72-69) 6, Chicago White Sox (73-67) 2
It was a busy night in the West, as the Astros maintained their lead with a win as well. After a Jose Altuve two-run homer had them up early, a pair of RBI knocks from the Sox had things squared up after two innings. In the bottom half of the fourth, extra-base hits from Isaac Paredes and Daulton Varsho scored three runs, before a Christian Walker single plated the fourth run of the inning. From that point, both squads were done scoring on the night, as Hunter Brown settled in to his solid six-inning outing, before the Houston ‘pen secured things in the latter portion of this one. With the win, the Astros maintain their two-game lead out west.
Boston Red Sox (76-65) 6, Seattle Mariners (66-75) 5
In an AL East battle, the Red Sox held on for a big win over the O’s in a close affair. Both squads plated a run in the first, before Baltimore jumped ahead in the third inning, with solo home runs coming from Luis Robert Jr. and Pete Alonso. From there, however, the Sox began to chip away. Adley Rutschman swatted his second homer of the game in the sixth (in his return to Baltimore), before Isiah Kiner-Falefa tied the game with a single an inning later. Finally, it was homers from Nick Sogard and Roman Anthony that decided this one, which put Boston up 6-3. The O’s fought hard, including another homer in the ninth that got them to within one run again, but it wouldn’t be enough.
Toronto Blue Jays (70-71) 6, Cleveland Guardians (70-70) 3
A four-run fifth inning was the difference-maker for the Jays on Thursday. A two-run double from Nathan Lukes was the big hit in the inning, and was part of his solid night that saw him tally a pair of hits. It was a shaky outing for relative newcomer José Soriano, who gave up three runs in 4.2 innings, but the Jays bullpen kept the game scoreless over the final 4.1 innings. The Guardians stay at three games back in the Central, while Toronto is fully entrenched in the hectic AL wild card picture.
Apr 26, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Seattle Mariners first baseman Connor Joe (9) celebrates after hitting a double against the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning everyone and happy Friday!
The Mariners dropped the first game of the Athletics series last night by a 7-4 score as the M’s pitching staff couldn’t quite stem the flow of A’s runs. They’ll get another opportunity to notch a win today with first pitch scheduled for 7:10pm PT.
Andy McCullough at The Athletic checked in on several managers who are on the hot seat as the season draws to a close — including our own Dan Wilson. ($)
The Tigers have been one of the unluckiest teams in recent memory. Jay Jaffe at Fangraphs marveled at the difference between their actual record and Pythagorean record.
In case you missed it, the Los Angeles Clippers were handed down several punishments for circumventing the salary cap to sign star Kawhi Leonard — an investigation initially launched by podcaster Pablo Torre. Matt Yoder wrote about the importance of unbiased journalism in an era where basically everyone is bought and paid for.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes prepares to throw to the Chicago Cubs in the first inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on March 3, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Burnes pitched two 1-2-3 innings for the Reno Aces on Aug. 23 and in a bridge camp game on Thursday. There was discussion of Burnes potentially returning from the injured list for the Diamondbacks’ weekend series against the Houston Astros, but manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday the organization opted to build him up for one more rehab start to increase his pitch count.
The right-hander was previously slated to return to the rotation earlier this season, but a right teres major (shoulder) strain delayed his expected mid-summer return. Now, it appears Burnes is finally ready to rejoin the team at a critical point in Arizona’s season as the Diamondbacks continue to fight for a spot in the postseason.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are in Houston this weekend to face the Astros for a three-game interleague series at Daikin Park.
The D-backs (74-67) will enter play on Friday, September 4 with a half-game lead over the San Diego Padres for the third and final NL Wild Card spot.
Arizona narrowly avoided a sweep at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday with a 1-0 victory in which they used seven pitchers in a shutout bullpen game.
Despite falling behind early, the Royals fought back thanks to the arm of Michael Wacha and timely hits by Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone to win the third and final game of their series against the Miami Marlins, 7-3. The win improves the Royals record to 63-78.
A month after the Orioles traded the three-time All-Star catcher to Boston, Rutschman went deep in the first and sixth innings. He received a standing ovation from the Baltimore crowd before his first-inning drive to right gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Alonso tied it with a sacrifice fly in the bottom half.
With the 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline exactly one month behind us, it’s time to look back at some of the more notable deals and highlight which headliners have thus far been major successes … or major disappointments. There’s still the month of September left to correct or reinforce these performances thus far, but here’s where things stand one month out. Bad news first, in keeping with therapeutic best practices …
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Gage Wood #14 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches in the MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Wood you believe that a pitcher in his first full professional season could strike out 10 in four innings? That’s one way to Gage a prospect’s progress.
Scranton/Wilks-Barre 4, Lehigh Valley 3
The RailRiders walked off the IronPigs on an Oswaldo Cabrera single. Alan Rangel went 5.1 innings with four hits, two runs (one earned), and six K; Kyle Backhus had a blown save, and Kirby Snead took the loss. Gabriel Rincones Jr. was two for four with a double, and Carter Kieboom was two for two with a double after coming in to replace Alex Binelas, removed with an injury, at first base.
Reading 10, Hartford 5
The Fightin Phils had 14 hits on the night against the Yard Goats. Pedro León and Caleb Ricketts had three apiece, Dante Nori, Raylin Heredia, and Aroon Escobar had two each. Bryan Rincon had a rough night (0 for five, three K) in a rough stretch (his fifth consecutive game without a hit). Gage Wood had a whopping 10 strikeouts in just 4 innings, walking two and allowing two runs on four hits.
Hub City 2, Jersey Shore 1
The BlueClaws capitalize both halves of their compound name, but the Spartanburgers don’t. That’s not really important. What is important is turning your hits into runs. Both Hub City and Jersey Shore had six hits, but the Spartanburgers eked one more run out of their half-dozen knocks. Four of those six BlueClaw hits came from the duo of Nathan Humphreys and Daunte Stuart, who had two each; Humphreys also reached base on an HBP. Starter Ryan Dromboski allowed all six Hub City hits and both runs over five innings of work; though one of those runs was unearned thanks to an error from Scott Mudler at first. He struck out five and walked one.
Clearwater 9, Fort Myers 3
In game one of this doubleheader, the Threshers got the better of the Mighty Mussels thanks to a six-run fourth. Eight of the Clearwater nine had hits, with Reece Moroney and Matthew Ferrara having two each; the former also reached twice via the free pass. Tyler Spangler and Jonathan Hogart matched Moroney for walks, and Will Gasparino outdid them by taking three. Starter Sean Youngerman went five inning with three hits, one ER, and three K. Interestingly, all of the Thresher hits were singles; they had to push their baserunners home the old fashioned way (though with the aid of copious free passes and a few HBPs).
Clearwater 6, Fort Myers 5
Clearwater went into the seventh (and final, given the MiLB doubleheader rules) inning down five. They then proceeded to score six. A parade of singles, aided by a walk, a wild pitch, and an error, spelled victory for the Threshers. Jack Hopko’s single to center ended the memorable affair. As in the first game, Reece Moroney and Matthew Ferrara both had two hits. Starter Zuher Yousuf went four innings with five hits, 3 ER, and 4 K, surrendering two homers. Richie Cortese got the win thanks to pitching a hitless inning in the top of the seventh.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 28: President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff of the Cleveland Guardians watch batting practice prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field on April 28, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Guardians lost another series yesterday, dropping the finale to the Blue Jays 6-3. Yet, in a weak American League and American League Central, there is still room to hope.
The Tigers come to town today, starting with a doubleheader at 2:10PM and 7:10PM ET today.
Jeff McNerny and I commiserated about this mediocre Guardians team on the Disgusting Baseball Podcast last night.
Around MLB:
The White Sox, Orioles and Mariners lost, and Astros and Rangers won.
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 2: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox prepares to receive the Wally the Green Monster hat for his solo home run from Wilyer Abreu #52 against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Fenway Park on September 2, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! Roman Anthony has been on fire since finally finishing his rehab assignment. In his five games since returning he has slashed .455/.500/.909 with 2 homers, 2 doubles, and a triple. He is so good that he is somehow 5th on the team in position player bWAR despite being 16th in games played.
But there is one stat he’s lagging behind on this week: he has just 2 RBI, both of which came on his two solo shots.
This raises the question: should the Sox consider batting him somewhere other than leadoff?
On one hand, you don’t want to mess with what’s working. And it goes without saying that a hitter who gets on base as much as he does is exactly what you want at the top of the order. But it is worth considering the obvious fact that production with the bases empty doesn’t help the team as much as production with someone on.
Moreover, the Sox do have a pretty good candidate to take that leadoff spot: Nick Sogard has posted a .368 OBP since returning to the big leagues in late July, with 21 walks and 9 doubles in 34 games. It’s hard not to salivate at the thought of Anthony hitting with Sogard already on second ahead of him.
Talk about the batting order and whatever else you want in this space and, as always, be good to one another.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - AUGUST 30: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres slides in to third base against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on August 30, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres dropped two of three games to the Pittsburgh Pirates before going on the road to face the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians. They return to Petco Park battered and bruised after a 1-5 road trip to host the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals.
Despite the struggles the Padres will still play meaningful games over the final 22 games of the regular season thanks in large part to the Philadelphia Phillies who took two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend. San Diego is a half game out of the final Wild Card position and holds their postseason fate in its hands. The most glaring area of need after their trip to Cincinnati was hitting with runners in scoring position. Over the final two games against the Reds, both losses, the Padres went 1-for-17 in that category. Between the lack of timely hits and the untimely inability to play fundamental baseball the current potential playoff berth picture could and probably should look much worse.
San Diego will have to improve in all three phases of the game if it is going to put an end to its current streak of poor play. At times, the offense has looked unstoppable, but then it just disappears. The same could be said for the starting pitching, which had back-to-back poor outings from Randy Vasquez and Casey Mize. The bullpen, which has been the strength of the team throughout the season, has been hittable and no one outside of Yuki Matsui has been immune.
Hopefully the hometown crowd and the friendly confines of Petco are just what the Padres need to get right, but if for some reason they are not, it could be a slow and agonizing end to the season. We should have a feeling one way or the other when San Diego opens its series against New York tonight at 6:40 p.m.
Padres News:
Padres manager Craig Stammen has some decisions to make and could have more if Nick Pivetta and/or maybe Joe Musgrove return from the IL. Fair or not, his first year and how it will be remembered hinges on how he manages the next 22 games.
There are probably questions from the Friar Faithful about what went into the decision to call up top prospect Ethan Salas. AJ Cassavell of Padres.com has the answer.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 2: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a foul ball during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on September 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the first eight innings of Thursday’s contest against the St. Louis Cardinals, the absence of Shohei Ohtani in the starting lineup was emphatically felt.
Ohtani had went 0-4 with four strikeouts during Wednesday’s 8-6 extra-inning loss to St. Louis, and the Dodgers decided to give him the night off. Although the offense floundered throughout most of Thursday, they were able to string together a ninth inning rally to walk off St. Louis 3-2.
As the Dodgers prepare to host the Washington Nationals for three games, the question of whether Ohtani will be back in the lineup or not remains undecided. Sonja Chen of MLB.com notes that a move to the injured list for the two-way superstar is unlikely, but the team will monitor his health over the final 22 games of the regular season.
“Right now, I would consider it unlikely,” Roberts said. “Unlikely, but not impossible.”
“I think it’s up to us to kind of figure out how we navigate these next three and a half, four weeks,” Roberts said. “But I’m very confident that we’ll see the guy we all expect to see.”
Teoscar Hernández was the one to send the Dodgers to a walk-off victory, with his two-run double helping the Dodgers avoid a sweep at the hands (or wings) of the Cardinals. Hernández capped off the series going 6-13 with two doubles and two RBI, and he spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about what he was looking for from All-Star closer Riley O’Brien.
“First, I was just trying to be more patient. He was a little wild in that inning. Just trying to get focused on the middle of the plate and get a good pitch to hit… We know we’re not playing the best baseball that we know we can play. We know we’re not hitting we know we can hit. One thing they should know is that we’re going to go out, we’re going to battle, fight every at-bat and just try to win every game.”
Tarik Skubal helped the Cardinals collect a season-high 10 hits against him, but he held them in check for just two runs allowed over 5 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out six in another no-decision. Skubal spoke with Watson following the walk-off win about not having to adjust as much while fending off traffic and dealing with calls going against him.
“I think, early, the changeup was a little bit elevated. They put some good hits on it. At the end of the day, they were all singles, so it’s not like I needed to change my approach. It’s not like they were slugging anything. Just gotta stay true to myself. I bet there was 10-15 throws that were less than two inches off the plate both ways. If those were over the plate, then that’s 10-15 more strikes.”
Hollywood, - August 13: A Dodger fan holds up a 1988 World Series pennent as Los Angeles Dodgers great, Orel Hershiser is honored with a star along the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood on Thursday, August 13, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Though the current ultra-humid atmospheric soup we call “air” belies this observation, autumn is right around the corner. Before embarking on Labor Day plans later today, let’s widen the aperture from the Minnesota Twins and look around Major League Baseball to see how each division is shaping up for the stretch run…
AL Central
We know the drill: the current 1st place club (Chicago White Sox) could technically still finish 5th while the current 5th place club (Kansas City Royals) could technically still finish 1st. Shake the container and maybe the Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, or our Twins could sort to the top. Your guess is as good as mine.
AL West
The Houston Astros & Texas Rangers have spent the majority of summer’s dog days slightly leapfrogging each other for the top spot. But now after struggling all season long, the Seattle Mariners have re-emerged as a potential threat (5.0 GB). The rub: none of these teams are all that good. There is a very real chance the West crown could be captured with a sub-.500 record. Yuck.
AL East
The American League has two solid squads—maybe three—and they all reside on the Eastern Seaboard. The Tampa Bay Rays have been the Junior Circuit’s premiere club all year, with the New York Yankees consistently 3-5 games back. The Boston Red Sox are probably a little too far out—7.5 GB—to make a division run, but they are locked into a Wild Card berth and will be a tough out in the tournament.
NL Central
The Milwaukee Brewers have this one in the bag—the only remaining drama being whether they will procure the #1 National League seed and be able to unleash The Miz (Jacob Misiorowski) at home. The Chicago Cubs are also cruising to a WC slot thanks to Pete Crow-Armstrong’s MVP push.
NL West
As per usual at this time of year, the Los Angeles Dodgers are not battling fellow West teams—they are trying to maul Milwaukee for that top bunk. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres & Arizona Diamondbacks—two teams nearly 10 games above .500—are in a dogfight for the final Senior Circuit WC entry.
NL East
As per their usual pattern, just when you think “the Atlanta Braves’ window has probably closed”, they make a legitimate title run (in the hunt with LAD & MIL for the top NL spot). However, those ever-pesky Philadelphia Phillies lurk just 4.0 GB. Whether as a wild card or division champ, the Fightin’ Kyle Schwarber’s will be a pernicious postseason opponent.
Have an enjoyable and safe holiday weekend. When you return to reality, the weather may cool down but one thing will be for certain: the pennant races will only be heating up!
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 16: Brett Harris #11 of the Athletics bats during the game between the Athletics and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants spent much of the year acting as though the waiver wire did not exist. But they’re now ending the season by trying to make up for lost time.
On Thursday, the team announced that it had claimed infielder Brett Harris off of waivers. Harris had been designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox two days prior. To make space for Harris on the 40-man roster, pitcher Keaton Winn was moved from the 15-Day Injured List to the 60-Day Injured List.
Harris, a 28-year old right-hander, was a seventh-round pick by the Athletics in 2021, out of Gonzaga. He made his MLB debut in 2024 and has played in the Majors for the A’s in each of the past three seasons, while also appearing in games for the Red Sox this year.
He’s never really been able to find his bat in the Majors, as he holds a career .192/.307/.286 slash line in 216 MLB plate appearances. But he’s done a good job working counts, and he plays very strong defense at third base, while also being able to handle first and second. He’s spent most of this year in AAA, where he’s hit .293/.405/.459 for a 119 wRC+ with both the A’s and Red Sox affiliates. The Giants optioned him to Sacramento, so he’ll get a chance to lace up cleats for three different AAA teams this year.
While Harris could find himself in the Majors with San Francisco this year, especially if Christian Koss, Osleivis Basabe, Shay Whitcomb, or Nate Furman were to suffer an injury, it’s highly unlikely that he survives the upcoming offseason roster crunch. The Giants have a whopping 14 players on the 60-Day IL currently, meaning their 40-man roster has 54 names on it. That number will have to get trimmed down to 40 when the season ends, and lower still when the team wants to make Rule 5 protections and sign free agents. And not only is Harris unproven, but he’ll be out of options after this season.
But adding Harris now gives the Giants some extra depth in the infield for the rest of the season. And it also gives them a good chance of slipping him through waivers in the offseason, and then outrighting him to Sacramento to keep him in the system.
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants kick off a three-game road series against the New York Mets today at 4:10 p.m. PT.
HARRISBURG, PA - AUGUST 27: Anthony Eyanson #18 of the Chesapeake Baysox pitches during the game between the Chesapeake Baysox and the Harrisburg Senators at FNB Field on Thursday, August 27, 2026 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Casey Saussaman/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The Jumbo Shrimp struck for two in the top of the tenth, but Norfolk walked it off in the bottom half. José Barrero trimmed the lead to one with a base hit, and Brandon Butterworth stepped in with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. With the infield playing in, Butterworth lined a ball up the middle. Both runs scored without a throw, and the Tides bested the Jumbos 10-9.
Barrero went a game-best 4-for-5 with a two-run home run. Enrique Bradfield Jr. finished 2-for-5 with a double, and Bryan Ramos ended the day 2-for-4 with a solo shot. Jud Fabian singled, doubled and scored three of Norfolk’s 10 runs.
Starter Trace Bright continued to struggle at Triple-A. Bright allowed seven earned runs over the first three innings. Dietrich Enns limited Jacksonville to three hits over three scoreless innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.
On the night the Adley Rutschman returned to Camden Yards, Anthony Eyanson delivered six strong innings against his former team. Eyanson limited the Sea Dogs to one solo homer. He struck out eight batters without issuing a free pass and dropped his ERA to 2.00 through five Chesapeake starts.
Eyanson exited with the Baysox leading 4-1, but the bullpen let this one slip away. Richard Guasch coughed up two. Tyson Neighbors allowed the tying run to score, and Micah Ashman surrendered the fifth and final run.
Griff O’Ferrall and Vance Honeycutt both finished 3-for-5 from the top two spots in the order. Both Ethan Anderson and Anderson De Los Santos finished 2-for-4. Colin Tuft game Chesapeak a 2-1 lead with a solo shot in the second.
High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 12, Frederick Keys 5
The Cyclones broke this one open with a five-run eighth. Starter Boston Bateman allowed three runs over three innings. Stephen Still allowed four more (three earned), and Cohen Achen gave up the big inning.
Enddy Azocar—another member of the Rutschman deal—finished 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Yasmil Bucce drove in three with a majority of the damage coming on a two-run home run. Ryan Stafford shined from the nine-hole going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Delmarva was outhit 14-5 in an absolute dud. Looking for a bright spot? Stiven Martinez tripled in the sixth inning. Adriander Mejía had already reached base with a leadoff walk, but he was erased on a double play before Martinez delivered Delmarva’s only extra-base hit. Obviously the Shorebirds stranded Martinez at third.
The Shorebirds committed four errors during the game. Only seven of the 13 runs were earned.
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 23: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians throws to first to complete the double play as Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies slides in during the fifth inning at Coors Field on August 23, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One of the strengths of the Colorado Rockies this season has been their ability to come back and win games late. They’ve been able to come up clutch and overcome deficits, making baseball more fun this season.
Including Wednesday’s 11th-inning walk-off victory, the Rockies have come from behind to win 33 games (compared to 30 last season). It’s a big reason why the Rockies have 11 more wins than they earned in 2025 with 23 games left on the schedule.
However, August didn’t go as well. It wasn’t the worst month of the season record-wise, though. That distinction belongs to May when the Rockies went 8-20, but August was close behind at 9-19.
Because the Purple Row community is awesome, you gave us a great idea to break down:
ArkieRockie, you are 100% right.
The Rockies have been able to cash in with runners in scoring position this season, but that significantly dropped off last month. Overall, the Rockies are in the middle of the pack at No. 12 with a .256 batting average with RISP. They rank No. 13 in average runners left on base per game at 6.8. In August, the Rockies hit .210 with RISP, which was the worst in MLB for the month. Their average number of runners left on base in August jumped to 7.47 per game.
Month
Games
Team ABs
BA with RISP
MLB Rank
HRs
RBIs
BB
SO
GDP
Win-Loss Record
March/April
32
270
.274
5th
4
99
38
75
8
14-18 (.437)
May
28
231
.251
15th
6
83
18
55
4
8-20 (.286)
June
26
239
.272
T-7th
14
104
25
57
5
11-15 (.423)
July
24
187
.273
13th
6
84
19
44
4
10-14 (.417)
August
28
233
.210
30th
9
89
35
68
8
9-19 (.321)
Total
138
1,160
.256
12th
39
459
135
299
29
53-85
There’s no clear answer as to why production with RISP was so bad. Like most things in life, it’s complicated.
With runners at second and/or third, the Rockies walked more — which is good — but struck out more, too — which hurts. Hitting into eight double plays isn’t very helpful, either.
At the same time, if you examine when the Rockies couldn’t come up with that big hit to bring runners home, it happened a lot in close games. The Rockies lost eight games by two or fewer runs in August. In those close losses, the Rockies went 9-for-59 with RISP. That’s an absolutely abysmal .153 batting average. They also left 59 runners on base for an average of 7.5 per game.
Can you imagine a timely hit in three or four of those eight games? If that’s three more wins, perhaps it breaks up that gnarly seven-game losing streak in the middle of the month or the five-game skid to end the month.
When it comes to individual Rockies, it helps to see who has been the best Colorado batter to have at the plate when the team needs runs. The answer is three Rockies: TJ Rumfield,Jake McCarthy and Troy Johnston.
Player
G
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
AVG
OBP
SLG
OPS
Hunter Goodman
87
119
24
4
0
9
40
12
40
.202
.274
.462
.736
TJ Rumfield
91
116
39
6
1
3
47
26
18
.336
.455
.483
.938
Ezequiel Tovar
80
112
18
6
0
1
27
5
35
.161
.184
.241
.425
Jake McCarthy
82
109
35
5
2
5
57
9
17
.321
.363
.541
.904
Willi Castro
71
95
25
6
0
4
41
15
33
.263
.365
.453
.818
Troy Johnston
73
88
29
8
0
1
40
12
15
.330
.418
.455
.873
Kyle Karros
72
85
20
7
0
2
32
18
27
.235
.364
.388
.752
Mickey Moniak
58
68
18
3
2
5
41
5
17
.265
.296
.588
.884
Tyler Freeman
50
66
16
0
0
1
19
2
11
.242
.306
.288
.594
Cole Carrigg
52
64
20
8
1
3
32
5
16
.313
.360
.609
.969
When it comes to RISP, Rumfield is tops with a .336 batting average and has the second most RBIs at 47. McCarthy has driven in the most runs with 57, with an impressive .321 average. Johnston is hitting .330 with 40 RBIs.
In August, Rumfield walked 19 times, seven more times than any other month this season. If he’s drawing more walks, then he’s also not driving as many in with hits. While McCarthy is still hitting well, his RBIs dropped from 22 in July to 11 in August. Johnston’s playing time has decreased in the past two months, giving him fewer at-bats, which could also hurt Colorado’s RISP performance.
There are likely dozens of other factors that came together to make a perfect storm of RISP despair.
The good news is that September is off to a better start. In the Rockies win over Baltimore on Sept. 1, Rumfield homered with Mickey Moniak on second and McCarthy singled with Veen on third. Colorado went 2-for-11 with RISP and left nine on base, but they held the Orioles to 0-for-3 with RISP and stranded eight runners.
In the walk-off win on Wednesday, McCarthy hit an RBI triple, Cole Carrigg singled with Goodman on third, Zac Veen doubled with Carrigg on second, and Rumfield, Adael Amador and Brett Sullivan were all clutch in the 11th inning. They went 4-for-11 with RISP, leaving eight runners on base.
If the Rockies want to avoid 100 losses and build momentum to carry into 2027, they’ll need to rebound in September and return to their above-average production with RISP.
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When Thompson hit a two-run double in the eighth, the Istopes went up 8-6. But the Rainers tied it up in the ninth and scored three runs in the top of the 10th to come out on top. Roggio and Conner Capel finished with three hits each and Tyler Freeman doubled, walked and scored two runs.
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