In the second game of their three-game road series against the San Diego Padres (74-68), the Yankees (81-61) prevailed with a 5-1 victory.
Here are the takeaways...
-- The Yankees' offense chased Padres starter Robbie Ray early. The veteran southpaw recorded just seven outs and allowed five earned runs on five hits. In the second inning, Spencer Jones got things going with an RBI double, Ray walked in a run when Paul Goldschmidt got the better of him in the at-bat, and Cody Bellinger drove in two with a bases-loaded single.
The following inning, George Lombard hit a sacrifice fly to score Ben Rice, before San Diego brought in right-hander Griffin Canning to face Austin Wells with the bases juiced and one man out. The Padres escaped the jam as Wells grounded into a double play.
-- Carlos Rodon brought his best stuff tonight. Apart from a solo homer allowed to potential future Hall of Fame third baseman Manny Machado in the fifth inning, which cut New York's lead to 5-1, the lefty hurler was largely spotless. Rodon completed five full innings and threw 89 pitches, allowing just two hits and striking out seven Padres batters.
-- In relief of Rodon, four Yankees relievers -- Carson Fulmer, Brent Headrick, John Schreiber, and Tim Hill -- protected the lead the rest of the way with flying colors. Hill was the only pitcher of the quartet to allow a hit, surrendering a harmless single to Austin Hays in the ninth inning before bouncing back to seal the 5-1 win.
Game MVP: The pitching staff
Holding a lineup with Fernando Tatis Jr., Machado, and Jackson Merrill to one run on just three hits is worthy of praise. The bullpen in particular continues to show why it ranks among the best in MLB.
The Yankees conclude their West Coast road trip with the final game of their three-game set against the Padres on Sunday, with first pitch set for 4:10 p.m.
Gerrit Cole (3.29 ERA, 1.11 WHIP in 104.0 IP) is set to take the mound for the Yankees and the Padres will send out former Yankee Michael King (3.11 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 162.0 IP).
Sep 5, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland (77) celebrates with catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) after the win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Blue Jays 4 Royals 3
The Jays are above .500 and own the last Wild Card spot.
After the first inning, I thought this was going to be a high scoring game.
The Jays got two in the first (it should have been more). Brett Bateman started the game with a single, but was quickly picked off first. George Springer had a fly out to center. But Vladimir Guerrero singled. Kirk hit into what I thought was going to be the third out, but Royals third baseman threw wide of first, and Vlad scored from first. Kirk made it to second. Nathan Lukes lined a single to left scoring Kirk. Kazuma Okamoto followed with a double giving us guys on second and third, but that’s as far as they’d get.
We thought it was going to be a great day.
But Max Scherzer had a terrible first inning. He gave up 3 hits, a walk, a hit batter, a balk, but just two runs scored. Pretty lucky really, but it was a tie game.
Max got it together after that. He went 4.2 more innings allowing just 1 more run, a John Rave (who?) home run.
We got our third run in the third inning, Nathan Lukes had a one out single and Okamoto doubled him home.
And the game winning run came in the seventh. Springer led off with a walk and a stolen base. Vlad struck out and Kirk ground out. But Lukes reached on a Bobby Witt throwing error. And Okamoto, again, singled in the run.
The bullpen did a great job again:
Mason Fluharty got the last out of the sixth and the first two outs of the seventh.
Paul Sewald (I’m still wondering why Sewald?) got the last out of the seventh.
Tyler Rogers fought through a tough eighth. He gave up singled to the first two batters, but then got a ground ball hit back to him. He turned and threw a perfect throw to second to start a big double play. And then got another ground out to end the inning.
Louis Varland had a great ninth picking up his 33rd save.
In that first inning, Vlad made a terrific play in that first inning. With runners on first and second, Vlad got a ground ball and threw to third to get the lead runner. It turned out to be big, because Max balked, moving the runners up from first and second. Had there been a runner on third, he would have scored (but then things wouldn’t go exactly the same had he taken the out at first).
We had 13 hits, but just two extra base hits, both Okamoto doubles. He had four hits. Lukes had three hits. The only Jay without a hit was Springer (but he walk and stole and scored).
Jays of the Day: Okamoto (0.32 WPA), Varland (0.21), Rogers (0.15), Lukes (0.13) and Fluharty (0.09).
Other Award: Vlad (-0.11, tho that defensive play would bring that up a bit), Bateman (-0.10, plus the pickoff), Straw (-0.10, his one hit he beat out an infield single on pure hustle), and Clement (-0.09).
Tomorrow we have a day game. 2:00 Eastern. Jays list TBD, but I thought it was to be Spencer Arrighetti, being, at least, the bulk guy. The Royals have Randy Dobnak (2-3, 2.65)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 31: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 31, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Seems a game thread is needed, so here’s one. Springs vs. Kirby if you’re wondering (and even if you’re not).
Sep 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Actor James Jordan, of Landman fame tips his cap to the crowd before throwing out the first pitch prior to a game between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Texas Rangers scored three runs but the Tampa Bay Rays scored six runs in ten innings.
In more evidence to theory that we’re merely in purgatory watching the same Rangers game over and over, tonight’s contest was starting to travel a similar trajectory as last night’s loss and many that came before it.
The Rangers trailed after the customary Jacob deGrom first inning home run and didn’t seem especially competitive at the plate. After a second Rays solo home run, the Rangers got a home run of their own to move to within a run. Like last night, they couldn’t tie the game before the Rays got a late insurance run, but then scored the run that would have tied it had the leverage arms of the bullpen kept Tampa Bay off the board for their third run.
Unlike last night, however, the Rangers found a way to score the tying third run before they’d even gotten an at-bat with runners in scoring position all evening.
Following a solo home run from Evan Carter that brought Texas to within a run to lead off the eighth, Danny Jansen singled with one out and after Cam Cauley was brought in to pinch run for Jansen, Justin Foscue laced a double that allowed the speedy Cauley to come around all the way from first and score the tying run.
With Foscue the first Ranger in scoring position, Texas had the guys you’d think you’d want up with Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford due. However, neither could get the hit to give the Rangers the lead, both grounding out harmlessly. That was as emblematic as it would eventually be problematic.
Another difference between tonight’s game and last night’s loss was a Jacob Latz showing. The All-Star closer pitched in a tied game in the ninth and got three outs on nine pitches which allowed him to also pitch the tenth inning after the Rangers failed to produce a walk-off winner in the bottom of the ninth.
Latz stayed in the game but after the Rays sac bunted their Manfred man over to third base, the Rangers elected to intentionally walk Yandy Diaz to set up a potential double play. Instead of doing that, Jonathan Aranda hit a two-strike low quadrant slider 409 ft for a three-run home run.
The Rangers did not hit a three-run home run in their half of the extra frame — they did not even score their free runner, finishing the night 0-5 with RISP — and they are now three games below .500.
Player of the Game: After a solo home run in the eighth, Evan Carter is now one away from double digits on the year.
Up Next: The Rangers and Rays close out this series with LHP MacKenzie Gore expected to take the mound for Texas opposite a pitcher yet to be named for Tampa Bay.
The Sunday afternoon first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 1:35 pm CDT and you can view it on the Rangers Sports Network.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 01: Justin Wrobleski #70 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on September 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers finish things off with the Washington Nationals with a rare Sunday night start, a 7:10 p.m. first pitch on the night before Labor Day at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers will use a variety of arms to fill innings on Sunday, including Justin Wrobleski and likely Bobby Miller for bulk outings, while left-hander Andrew Alvarez goes for the Nats.
The Yankees captain took on-field batting practice for the second straight day Saturday at Petco Park, part of another busy day of full baseball activities as he tries to build up his endurance with just about all of the physical boxes checked off ahead of his potential return next week.
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“He’s physically to the finish line, where he needs to be, but it’s about just doing it a lot, because that’s ultimately what you’re trying to replicate is being out there for nine innings where you’re playing for three hours and sit down, get up, those kind of things,” manager Aaron Boone said Saturday. “Just replicating that. So we’re getting to that point with the volume. He ran bases again today. He’s in a good spot.”
The only thing Judge has not done yet is face live pitching, which the Yankees are trying to make happen Monday when they get back home for an off-day.
One potential option could be having Clarke Schmidt (currently on a rehab assignment) throw to him, though Boone would only say, “We’re working on it.”
Aaron Judge watches the action from the dugout during the Yankees-Padres game on Sept. 5, 2026 in San Diego. David Frerker-Imagn Images
Judge, who has been out since the beginning of June with a right rib stress fracture, indicated Friday that he would likely need to face live pitching “a couple” times before he is activated, though he does not want that to be on a rehab assignment.
Instead, the Yankees could finish off his buildup in the big leagues during the homestand against the Rockies and Mets, like having him play a game and then take a day off, or playing five to seven innings in the field his first few games back.
“I would consider that kind of buildup,” Boone said. “Those things are on the table.
“He’s done everything he needs to do to be at the finish line to be ready to play.”
After throwing 2 ¹/₃ scoreless innings Friday night while piggybacking Max Fried, Will Warren will slot back into the rotation for his next turn on the homestand.
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There was some question as to why the Yankees did not challenge Spencer Jones being thrown out at third base on a steal attempt in the 10th inning Friday night, but Boone said replay coordinator Brett Weber had Jones clearly out.
Austin Wells was back in the lineup Saturday against lefty Robbie Ray and will likely catch Gerrit Cole in Sunday’s series finale as well, meaning he will have started all three games of the series.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 31: George Kirby #68 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on August 31, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re three days into the “soft” part of the schedule to round out the year, and the last two games against these A’s have been… suboptimal is the polite way to put it. The best the M’s can hope for at this point in this four-game series is a split, and George Kirby will be on the mound to try to staunch the bleeding.
Lineups:
The Athletics are running out a largely unchanged lineup from last night aside from glove-first center fielder – and cousin of Josh Naylor – Denzel Clarke in the lineup over Carlos Cortes and rookie Henry Bolte starting in left. Noted left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs will be on the hill, so we’re treated to Weston Wilson rounding out Seattle’s lineup at the hot corner while Taylor Ward – who last night became the worst Mariners hitter in franchise history by wRC+ (minimum 80 PAs) – will occupy the DH spot. There is nowhere to go but up for him in these last few weeks, and today would be a great time to start that climb!
Lázaro Montes will sit after exiting last night’s game early with hip soreness thanks to crashing into the wall in right-center field. X-rays were thankfully negative, but with a southpaw opposing the M’s, it probably would have been a day that he was out of the lineup regardless, although Montes should be available to pinch-hit tonight. Láz was also spotted chatting with Ichiro pregame, with the Hall of Famer giving the rookie tips on navigating the angles at T-Mobile and making sure to always be in the correct position to field the ball.
In other injury news, Emerson Hancock did some light throwing from flat ground, his first baseball activity since landing on the injured list on August 30th (retroactive to 8/28) after making an awkward tumble fielding a ground ball up the first base line in Toronto.
Los Angeles, - September 04: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a two RBI double against the Washington Nationals in the third inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, September 4, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
But Rushing was scratched with elbow soreness, as was third baseman Max Muncy with illness from the original lineup. Alex Call and Kiké Hernández get starts now, with Teoscar Hernández moving to DH.
Dodgers lineup
Edman CF Freeman 1B Betts SS Tucker RF T. Hernández DH Feduccia C Freeland 2B Call LF K. Hernández 3B
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 4: Brady House #12 of the Washington Nationals beats the tag by Miguel Rojas #72 of the Los Angeles Dodgers for a stolen base in the second inning at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Nats rallied late last night, but it was not enough. They will look to even this series with the mighty Dodgers tonight. It will not be easy, but the Nats do have an ace up their sleeve. That would be Cade Cavalli, who is on the mound.
With a righty on the mound, the Nats make some lineup adjustments. Daylen Lile returns to the lineup after getting a day off yesterday. Lefties Jorbit Vivas and Jose Tena are also in the lineup. Dylan Crews is down in the 9 hole and Keibert Ruiz will do the catching. As mentioned, Nats ace Cade Cavalli is on the hill.
Nationals 9/5
J. Wood RF D. Lile LF A. Ortiz 1B C. Abrams SS B. House 3B J. Vivas 2B J. Tena DH K. Ruiz C D. Crews CF
Shohei Ohtani remains out of the lineup, but the Nats will have to deal with Freddie Freeman. The former Brave has been a Nat killer his entire career. Hunter Feduccia and Alex Freeland will be at the bottom of the order in this one. After facing Snell last night, the Dodgers are rolling out another ace (when healthy) in Tyler Glasnow.
The offense has been a bit lethargic the past couple games but hopefully that 9th inning can bring some momentum. We desperately need CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews to get doing as well. It is Cade day and we need a curly W. Follow along in the comments and let’s go Nats!
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 04: Riley Greene #31 of the Detroit Tigers high fives teammates in the dugout after scoring during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Friday, September 4, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Grace Hoppel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Tigers needed some of their big names to get it together and win them a game. Framber Valdez answered the call with seven shutout frames on Saturday, while Riley Greene homered twice and drove in four in a four-hit game. The bullpen only needed to go two innings to hold a 6-0 lead, and they did so with no trouble.
The Tigers already saw the weaker end of the Guardians rotation, so this was only going to get tougher on Saturday against Parker Messick, and then Gavin Williams on Sunday. With Framber Valdez going, the defense would need to be sharp, while Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark both got a needed day off against the left-hander.
Gleyber Torres and Hao-Yu Lee started the game off by striking out, but Riley Greene crushed a Messick cutter over the left center field wall for a solo shot and a quick 1-0 lead.
Steven Kwan grounded out to Lee to start the bottom of the first. Angel Martinez dumped a little broken bat bliner between Spencer Torkelson and Javier Báez for a single. Báez, playing second, collected it but Valdez wasn’t covering first expecting the ball in the air to be caught. Jose Ramirez lined out to Ben Malgeri in right field. Jo Adell got a bat broken as well but fouled off a 1-2 sinker in on his hands. A high fastball missed, but a good curveball whiffed him.
Malgeri started the second inning by driving a single to right center field. He thought about two, but hit the brakes, probably wisely. Torkelson chased a slider away and struck out. John Peck stayed back just enough to flick a changeup into center field for a single. Messick blew Zach McKinstry and Báez away with high fastballs to end the inning, with five and the Tigers first six outs coming on swinging strike threes.
David Fry led off the bottom half with a single through the right side of the infield. Angel Genao did the same thing. The speedy Petey Halpin put down a bunt toward third, but Hao-Yu Lee handled it, firing to Báez covering first. So it was second and third with one out. Valdez popped Austin Hedges up down the right field line to Malgeri, and the right fielder fired a strike to the plate to keep Fry at third. Brayan Rocchio grounded out to Peck, stranding both runners.
The Tigers took a little momentum from that as Torres led off with a single and Lee walked. Riley Greene came though again with a line drive single to score Torres, but Lee took way too big a turn and was thrown out trying to get back to the bag. Dillon Dingler bit on a good changeup and struck out as his recent struggles continued. Messick’s seventh strikeout came on another high fastball that Malgeri couldn’t hold up on. 2-0 Tigers, but yet again, they failed to fully capitalize on a rally.
Framber Valdez cruised in the bottom half, striking out Ramirez again to end the inning.
Torkelson, Peck, and McKinstry grounded out quickly in the top of the fourth, helping get Messick’s pitch count back in order. Valdez dispatched Adell with high heat to start the bottom half, and then snagged a comebacker from Fry for the second out. The dangerous, talented rookie Genao was up next, and barely checked with swing on an 0-2 curveball. A sinker got the ground out to Lee, wrapping up the fourth inning.
The top of the fifth saw Messick blow away Báez, Torres, and Lee in quick succession to reach 10 strikeouts in five innings of work. Halpin popped up a bunt to Valdez, who had it rattle out of his glove but caught it again waist high. That brought a rueful chuckle as his infield cracked up for a moment. He then walked Hedges, but got a 6-4-3 double play ball from Rocchio to end the inning. He was at 65 pitches through five frames. Still 2-0 Tigers.
Riley Greene led off the sixth, and he got a fourseamer in the same spot as the cutter he crushed in the first, and he hit it to almost exactly the same spot over the big wall in left center field for his 18th homer of the season. 3-0 Tigers.
Dingler bit on the changeup again and struck out. Malgeri though, hammered a drive into the right field corner for a double. Torkelson lifted a shallow fly ball off a pretty good 3-1 pitch to hit, and so it was up to Peck as Messick’s pitch count hit 90. The lefty missed with three straight fastballs, and Peck was taking on a 3-0 heater for a strike. He whiffed on the next fourseamer but Messick missed again to walk him, and Carl Willis came out to give his starter a pep talk for what would probably be his last batter in the game. That batter was McKinstry, who worked a 3-2 count but whiffed on a 96 mph heater for Messick’s 11th strikeout.
Valdez started bottom half getting Kwan to fly out to McKinstry in center. Martinez popped out to Torkelson behind first base. Ramirez got ahead 2-0, but grounded out to Peck to end the sixth.
Right-hander Matt Festa succeeded Messick in the top of the seventh, and there was a delay as the grounds crew cleaned up the mound. Báez fell behind 0-2 and flew out to center on a mistake pitch, clearly frustrated with himself. Torres pulled a grounder under Rocchio’s glove into left for a single. Lee put together a good at-bat and drew his second walk in the contest. That brought Greene to the dish and he hammered a double off the right field wall just short of his third home run.
Torres scored to make it 4-0, but Lee had to wait a beat to make sure the ball wasn’t caught and they held him at third. Festa was uncharacteristically spraying and he fell behind Dingler. The Tigers catcher lifted a high fly ball to left but just got underneath it a touch. Still it was a deep fly ball and enough to score Lee. Malgeri then lined a soft single to left center to plate Torres, and it was 6-0 Tigers. Malgeri now has 103 plate appearances in the majors with a 117 wRC+. I wouldn’t expect him to turn into a full-time, above average player for the Tigers, but he does a lot of things well and has already made a good case to take over Matt Vierling’s roster spot in particular.
Ron Kulpa had an equipment problem at that point, giving Festa a break as Willis came out to chat. He then punched out Torkelson to end the top of the seventh.
Valdez had a good 20 minute break while his teammates poured on the offense. He was only at 76 pitches beginning the frame, so he could potentially go two more frames with a quick inning. Instead, Adell fought through a long at-bat and then just nicked Adell with an inside heater in a 3-2 count. Fry grounded to Lee, who fired a one-hopper to second to get Adell as Báez made a nice pick on the throw. Genao then grounded into a 5-4-3 double play with a sweet turn from Javy and a nice scoop by Torkelson to wrap up the inning, and Valdez’s outing. The lefty was fired up after seven shutout innings, and so were his teammates. Gotta take a spark where you can find it right now.
Rookie right-hander Austin Peterson took over in the eighth. We saw him against the Hens twice this year, one good start and one shakier one. His fastball is nothing special, but as you’d figured from even a mediocre Guardians pitching prospect, he has quality secondary pitches and decent command.
Peck greeted him with a grounder to third that Ramirez couldn’t handle. They called it a single, and Peck will take it. McKinstry grounded into a force of Peck at second. Báez tapped one back to Peterson, and he spun and threw high to second and everyone was safe. That one was charged an error. Jose Ramirez gets a lot more deference, apparently. So first and seecond, one out, with Gleyber Torres at the plate. Torres hit a fly ball to Kwan in left and McKinstry tagged and took third, but Lee took a breaking ball just on the edge inside for strike three.
So, it was everyone’s favorite…bullpen time for the Tigers. Thanks to Valdez, they’d only need two innings, so we felt okay with a six-run lead. Possibly that’s because nothing matters anymore and life is meaningless, please Eat Arby’s, but hey, that’s just a long, miserably disappointing season talking.
Kyle Finnegan made quick work of the Guardians in the eighth. Halpin popped out again, and Hedges and Rocchio grounded out to wrap up a nine-pitch inning.
Peterson whiffed Greene on a changeup as the Guardians finally retired him in this one. Dingler grounded out, and Malgeri struck out to send it to the ninth.
Beau Brieske looked as good as we’ve seen him all year yesterday, and he came in to finish this one off. The new power curve Brieske debuted recently is pretty interesting, and his fastball-changeup combo look better, though he’s not back to the high 90’s velocity we saw from Brieske in his 2024 peak.
He got Kwan to ground out to Peck for the first out. Martinez lined out softly to Peck as well. Ramirez popped out to Báez, and that was a Tigers victory.
Jackson Jobe will take the mound for the Tigers on Sunday, facing off against the tough RHP Gavin Williams as the Tigers look to split the series. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. ET.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 30: Dalton Rushing #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, July 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers originally planned to start Dalton Rushing at designated hitter and Max Muncy at third base on Saturday against the Washington Nationals, but both were scratched from the lineup. Rushing has elbow soreness and Muncy is sick, the team said.
Several hours before first pitch on Saturday, Rushing was going through drills to test his elbow, including throwing from varying distances in the outfield, including what looked like to be around 120 feet. Rushing also did drills throwing to second base from behind home plate.
In their place, Teoscar Hernández moved from left field to designated hitter with Alex Call now starting in left field, and Kiké Hernández was inserted into the lineup at third base.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 05: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, September 5, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Every baseball fan is familiar with the scam known as the shell game— after all, it’s present, in more innocuous form, in the cap shuffle ubiquitous to scoreboards. Tonight Zack Wheeler offered the visiting Braves a shell game, tempting them with three baserunners through three at-bats… but when the Braves selected their shell, there weren’t very many runs underneath.
The start was rather subpar for the home crowd, with Wheeler allowing a pair of singles to the first two Braves, then walking Matt Olson to load the bases with none away. But a pop fly and a strikeout (aided by a canny ABS challenge from J.T. Realmuto) put him just a single out away from pulling off the great escape. Ozzie Albies flew out to center, and the Braves trudged back to the dugout with the dreaded NOBLETIGER (No Outs, Bases Loaded, Ending in Team Incapable of Getting Easy Runs, it’s a real term) nipping at their heels.
But the Phillies would give Atlanta starter Martin Pérez a rougher start. Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner worked walks to start off the game, with the former dashing for third on a fly out from Bryce Harper, and slipping right past the tag. A single to right from Luis Arraez scored him, and the bases were then loaded on a walk of Alec Bohm. Realmuto walked to bring in a run (an ABS challenge on ball four proved fruitless for the visitors). The inning ended when Ronald Acuña Jr, looking truly superb, leapt into the air to turn a line drive from Bryson Stott into out number three.
Wheeler’s second inning of work was a far smoother affair, with three up and three down. Pérez could not say the same. Derek Hill lined a ball to right, and Acuña suddenly looked far less superb, stumbling and allowing Hill to reach third. He then scored when Matt Olson bobbled a grounder at first.
The roller coaster ride that is Ronald then took another sudden swerve in the top of the third as he sent a Wheeler sweeper deep, deep into the left field seats. But the Phillies were certainly not inclined to let themselves be outslugged in their own ballpark: in the bottom of the fourth, Schwarber knocked a Pérez pitch over the fence in right. Two more hits, both with two outs, ensued, and Pérez’s night ended.
Acuña came up to the plate again with two outs in the fifth; both of his predecessors in the inning had walked away with Ks. The Citizens Bank Park crowd expressed their particular feelings for the Peach State superstar, roaring with delight whenever he fouled the ball off; the cheers reached a fever pitch when he whiffed for strike three.
Wheeler wrapped up his start after the sixth: three hits, one earned run, two walks, nine strikeouts. Jonathan Bowlan took over, allowing a homer to Austin Riley to narrow the score to 4-2. José Alvarado took the eighth, and kept the score where it was. And so, it was time for Jhoan Duran to do his thing. He did, striking out Michael Harris II, inducing a ground out from Mauricio Dubon, and another from Albies. That’s the game.
The Phillies are 80-62. They return to action on Sunday at 1:o5 for game three of the series.
Alex Call was originally tabbed to take Rushing's spot at DH, but he and left fielder Teoscar Hernández swapped spots in another lineup update six minutes later. In that same update, it was also announced that Kiké Hernández would start at third base in place of Muncy. Shohei Ohtani also remains out for his third consecutive game.
The team has yet to give a reason for either last-minute change, though Rushing reportedly was pulled after throwing on the field pregame, according to the OC Register's Bill Plunkett. He was originally scratched for the same reason on Aug. 2 with what Dodgers brass referred to as "irritation" at the time, only for an MRI to reveal a partially torn UCL in his right elbow. Rushing returned early last week, forgoing a rehab assignment entirely in a surprise move to many. The 25-year-old is unable to catch, so he's been available strictly as a lefty bat off the bench. He's pinch-hit in each of the Dodgers' four games since his return and has hit 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Muncy, on the other hand, has been relatively injury-free this season for the first time in years. He's been one of the Dodgers' most reliable hitters this season, posting a .826 OPS with 26 home runs through 130 games -- the most he's played since 2023. He was also named to the NL All-Star team this summer for the first time in five years and became Dodger Stadium's all-time leader in homers. However, Muncy has struggled as of late along with most of the Dodgers' offense, as he's hit just 1-for-22 over his last eight games.
Shohei Ohtani injury update
Dave Roberts told reporters Ohtani was set to hit in the cage on Saturday for the first time in a few days. He expects to talk with the two-way phenom on Sunday to see how he feels coming out of it, and that conversation will factor into whether Ohtani will need an IL stint or not.
Dodgers lineup vs. Washington Nationals for Saturday, Sept. 5
Here's what LA's batting order now looks like after late scratches to Muncy and Rushing:
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 05: Martín Pérez #33 of the Atlanta Braves takes the sign from the catcher during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, September 5, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After winning the battle of the aces on Friday to kick off this huge division rival series, the Braves had a Martin Perez vs Zack Wheeler matchup to contend with tonight.
Things started inauspiciously for Atlanta, as two singles and a walk from their first three batters of the game turned into zero runs in the first, followed immediately by four walks and a single allowed by Perez in the bottom of the inning to put the Braves in a 3-0 hole going into the second inning. Ronald pulled one back for the Braves in the third with a monster solo homer on a sweeper that wasn’t in an awful location from Wheeler. That was also Ronald’s 500th career RBI, which he picked up in style.
Perez allowed a solo homer to Schwarber, giving back the run in the fourth and allowed two more singles but Ray Kerr stranded those two Phillies to maintain the 4-1 deficit. That’s only 3.2 innings and 4 largely deserved runs allowed for Perez in a pretty rough outing for the veteran. Kerr stabilized the game and a big solo homer from Austin brought another run back in the seventh, making it a 4-2 game.
Kerr ended his outing with a big 3.1 scoreless innings with only the one strikeout but no walks and 5 whiffs on 35 pitches. Brent Suter worked a scoreless eighth, despite a single and a walk, giving the offense once last chance to overcome a two run deficit in the ninth. They went down in order to Jhoan Duran, handing the Phillies a 4-2 win to even the series.
While the offense didn’t do enough to win this game, despite some bad sequencing luck to only get 2 runs from 2 mammoth homers, Perez’ command meltdown gave the Phillies a lead that they would never relinquish.
We’ll be back tomorrow at 1:10 PM ET for game 3 of this 4-game wrap-around series.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 13: Bobby Miller #28 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks on the field during spring training workouts at Camelback Ranch on February 13, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers swapped relievers in the bullpen on Saturday, activating Bobby Miller from the 60-day injured list with Kyle Hurt getting optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The timing of the move helps provide a lesson in timing and roster planning with just over three weeks remaining in the regular season.
The immediate need is available arms to cover Sunday and Monday’s games. Sunday was an open spot in the rotation already on the nine-game homestand, and Monday opened up after Eric Lauer was placed on the injured list after his start last Tuesday. Justin Wrobleski, who pitched two innings on Tuesday, will be available for bulk innings on Sunday against the Nationals. Miller will be potentially available Sunday as well up to around 50 pitches if needed if he doesn’t pitch on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday.
Miller began the season on the injured list with shoulder inflammation, and also dealt with a back injury this season. During his rehab assignment for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Miller put up a 3.86 ERA in seven games, with 17 strikeouts and four walks in 14 innings. His last two outings were exactly one inning, but his first five games with the Comets were between two and three innings, and ranged from 44-50 pitches.
“I feel like my stuff has played up a little bit better [in relief], but being in attack mode just all the time is really a mindset out there,” Miller said Saturday. “Try to get ahead of every single hitter, not get in a ton of 3-2 counts, just try to get the hitter out as best you can.”
Whether Miller is even an upgrade over Hurt is at least debatable, as at least one Dodgers reliever was surprised to see Hurt in street clothes with a travel bag packed walking out of the clubhouse on Saturday. But Miller is more likely than Hurt to provide length, and the fresh arm express isn’t always fair.
Miller started his rehab assignment on August 5, which meant Thursday was his 30th day on rehab, the longest allowed for pitchers while on the injured list. Barring a setback or another injury, that’s the point at which the team must activate the pitcher off the IL, whether adding him to the active roster or option him.
Ben Casparius was in a similar situation last week, but hadn’t pitched since August 19, and was shut down with arm fatigue. Same for Gavin Stone, who’s 30th day on rehab was on Friday, but he hasn’t pitched since August 25 and is dealing with a biceps issue per Jack Harris of the California Post. So they remain on the 60-day injured list and will likely remain there the rest of the season.
Miller though was healthy, and joined the team on taxi squad on Friday until they determined when he would actually get called up. While the Dodgers could have activated him from the injured list and optioned him to remain with Oklahoma City, the baseball calendar comes into play here. The final day of the regular season is September 27, and had the Dodgers optioned Miller now and he remained in the minors, he’d have burned up his third and final option season, having used options in 2024 and 2025. But by calling him up now, if Miller can stick around until at least Wednesday, there won’t be the 20 days remaining in the season for him to exhaust an option year, whether he gets sent down past then or not.
That would keep Miller as a more functional depth piece on the roster going into 2027 if the Dodgers so choose.
Odd man out
Because Miller was on the 60-day injured list, the Dodgers needed a corresponding move to make room for him back on the 40-man roster. The axe fell on center fielder Alek Thomas, who was designated for assignment on Saturday, just four days after he was optioned as the Dodgers have turned to mostly Tommy Edman and some Kiké Hernández in center field for the next few weeks as they wait for Andy Pages to return from a broken hand.
Sure, this hurts the Dodgers center field depth in the short term, but most of their decision on Thomas was already made on Tuesday when he was sent to the minors. Thomas has already been on optional assignment well over 20 days this year so he will be out of options going into 2027. He was not long for the 40-man roster because of that lack of flexibility, and this just gets a head start on that, though Thomas could also clear waivers and potentially remain in the organization.
