CLEVELAND — All it took was a trade deadline overhaul to get the Mets on track.
Whether it was balls exploding beyond the fence or unproven relievers emerging, the Mets had their act together for three straight days, which is saying a lot for a team that hadn’t swept a series since May.
This three-game sweep was completed Thursday with a 13-6 victory over the Guardians. The sweep was only the third by the Mets this season.
For a third straight day, the Mets hit three homers. Marcus Semien, Luis Torrens and Francisco Lindor compiled the latest barrage to lead an 18-hit attack. The Mets averaged 8.3 runs in the three games.
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It followed Monday’s deadline purge, in which Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor departed in trades. Freddy Peralta and A.J. Minter were traded in the days leading up to the deadline.
“It’s a new group of guys, so getting to know everyone is a great step,” Carson Benge said. “We have already jelled together quite nice, and losing all those guys hurts, but there is plenty more depth for this organization.”
The new arrivals have included Jefry Yan, a fireballing lefty reliever with colorful strikeout celebrations.
“We have got some good energy in the clubhouse right now,” Nolan McLean said. “We got to see Jefry throw the other day, and it’s pretty special. I think it’s just cool to watch guys with that much passion play the game of baseball, and it kind of gets you back to your roots a little bit of just remember why you play and it’s just to have fun.
“It’s a great blessing to be 25 years old and for me and playing a game that I played when I was 6 or 7 years old, so it’s awesome.”
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor celebrates with catcher Luis Torrens (13) and first baseman Jared Young (29) after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Interim manager Andy Green noted the Mets slumped offensively in losing three of four games to the Marlins before the trade deadline.
“We didn’t swing the bats well, and so when you come in here guys are swinging the bats and feed off each other and then you add in those debuts and guys just touching their dreams for the first time,” Green said. “Everybody wants to be a part of that, no matter how the season has gone.”
It was a seesaw outing for McLean, who sandwiched three strong innings around two stinkers. Overall, the right-hander surrendered five earned runs on eight hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over five innings.
McLean slogged through the first inning, allowing two walks and three hits in placing the Mets in a 2-0 hole. Angel Martinez stroked a two-run single with the bases loaded, but McLean escaped further damage by retiring Patrick Bailey for the final out after surrendering two additional singles in the inning.
Semien and Torrens homered in the second to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. Torrens’ blast, a two-run shot, was his second in three days.
Benge just missed hitting a homer in a third straight game and settled for an RBI triple in the third that increased the Mets lead to 4-2. Semien hit a sacrifice fly in the inning to boost the lead to 5-2.
New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor watches his three-run home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Craig Yoho as catcher Patrick Bailey looks down during the seventh inning of a baseball game on Thursday, August 6, 2026. AP Photo/Phil Long
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Jared Young delivered an RBI single in the fifth that gave the Mets a 6-2 lead.
McLean retired 11 straight batters into the fifth, but Nathaniel Lowe crushed a three-run homer to bring the Guardians to within 6-5.
Lindor’s three-run blast in the seventh extended the Mets lead to 9-5. Lindor’s homer was his eighth since returning from the injured list June 24.
The Mets padded their lead with four runs in the eighth. Alvarez stroked an RBI double and Young and Torrens each walked with the bases loaded before Bo Bichette singled in the final run.
“That Lindor home run today was huge for us after they scored three in the fifth and got to Nolan a little bit,” Green said. “To answer back and get those three runs back, I think, ended the game for us. We still had some things to do, but that was huge for us.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 06: Luis Torrens #13 celebrates with Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets after both scored on a three-run homer by Lindor during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 06, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets racked up 18 hits on their way to their third win and series sweep against the Guardians, 13-6. Nolan McLean was good for most of his outing, and when he needed to come out after the fifth inning, the bullpen smothered the Guardians’ hitters, allowing two hits and one run.
The first inning was deceptively quiet for the Mets. With two outs, Luis Robert, Jr. sneaked a ground ball into left field for a single, but Carson Benge struck out immediately after that. When McLean took the mound for the bottom of the inning he issued two walks back-to-back, and then allowed a line-drive single to Nathaniel Lowe to load the bases. After this, Angel Martínez managed an RBI single on a grounder to center field that scored Chase DeLauter and José Ramírez. After getting the second out, McLean gave up another single, this one on a fly ball smacked into left field by Petey Halpin. Fortunately, McLean got Patrick Bailey to fly out right after that, and the inning ended with the Guardians leading 2-0.
In the second inning, Marcus Semien responded by bouncing a home run off the top of the fence, slightly confusing the announcers. Next up, Eric Wagaman lined a single into center field, setting up Luis Torrens to drive a two-run home run into right field, stunning new Guardians pitcher Foster Griffin and giving the Mets the lead. McLean continued to struggle slightly with walks, allowing one to Travis Bazzana. Bazzana stole second base after Torrens’ throw to second was a bit too high, but he was stranded there when Wagaman dove to stop a ground ball from Ramírez and got it to McLean in time for the third out. The score remained Mets 3, Guardians 2 at the end of the inning.
Bo Bichette walked to lead off the third inning but was caught in a fielder’s choice out when Robert grounded to third softly. With Robert on first, Carson Benge smacked an RBI triple off the wall above Halpin’s head, scoring Robert. Francisco Alvarez walked as well, and Semien scored Benge on a sac fly into left field for the second out. Wagaman struck out for the third out, but after Nolan McLean retired the batters in order at the bottom of the inning, the score was Mets 5, Guardians 2.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Lindor drove a single into left field, and Bichette doubled on another line drive, sending Lindor to third base. However, Robert flied out to right field to end the half-inning and strand the pair in scoring position. McLean once again worked a 1-2-3 inning. Matt Festa replaced Foster Griffin in the top of the fifth inning and gave up another walk to Alvarez with one out. Semien then rolled a double down the left field line, and Alvarez slid into to third. Jared Young pinch-hit for Wagaman and threaded an RBI single through the infielders into left field, scoring Alvarez. Young then stole second base completely uncontested. However, the next two outs came back-to-back to strand the runners in scoring position again.
At the bottom of the fifth inning, the Guardians punched back. DeLauter lined a single into right field, and Ramírez followed up by socking a single into right field. Nathaniel Lowe then smacked a three-run home run to score both DeLauter and Ramírez and bring the Guardians within one run of the Mets, with only one out. McLean’s troubles did not end there. After striking out Martínez, he allowed singles to both Brayan Rocchio and Halpin. McLean managed to get Patrick Bailey to ground out to end the inning, but his outing ended after the fifth inning, and the score stood at Mets 6, Guardians 5.
In the sixth inning, the Mets once again hit a couple of singles, this time from Robert and Benge, and once again stranded the runners without scoring. Nate Lavender worked a 1-2-3 inning in his second big-league outing. At the top of the seventh, Semien lined a single into right field. Jared Young popped a ball up that Angel Genao allowed to drop before getting the force out at second. Young once again stole second base, this time because nobody was covering second base. When Torrens hit a fly ball single to right field, Young made it to third base. When A.J. Ewing tried for a safety squeeze, he was thrown out at first, even though Andy Green came out to discuss if it was foul or fair with the umpires. With two outs, Lindor belted a three-run home run to right field, providing more cushion to the Mets’ lead. Kodai Senga replaced Nate Lavender in the bottom of the seventh and demonstrated again how well his new role is working, retiring the side in order. The score was now Mets 9, Guardians 5.
Slade Cecconi came out for the top of the eighth inning for the Guardians, and the Mets proceeded to take him for a ride. Robert led off with an infield single, and Benge followed up by lining a single into left field. A wild pitch by Cecconi allowed both runners to move up, and when Alvarez clobbered an RBI double off the wall in left field, Robert scored. With no outs yet recorded, Semien walked to load the bases, and then Young worked a walk to score a run. At that point, Tim Herrin replaced Cecconi on the mound, but he walked Torrens on four pitches to walk in another run and keep the bases loaded, still with no outs. Ewing struck out for the first out, but not before narrowly missing a hit by pitch, and Lindor struck out for the second. Next up, though, Bichette bounced a grounder just past third base for an RBI single to score Semien. Catcher Austin Hedges became the third pitcher in the inning for the Guardians when he replaced Herrin, and he struck out Robert, who was in his second plate appearance of the inning, for the third out. Xzavion Curry piled on for the Mets by retiring the Guardians batters in order, the third straight inning that the Mets bullpen shut down the Guardians offense. The eighth inning ended with the Mets 13, Guardians 5.
The ninth inning was quiet offensively for the Mets, and Xzavion Curry came back out after only needing seven pitches to close out the eighth. He struggled a bit more this time, allowing a leadoff single from Genao, who advanced to second on defensive indifference. With one out, DeLauter tapped an RBI single into center field and advanced to second base on defensive indifference himself. After allowing a walk to Lowe, Curry closed things out by getting Martínez to pop out to center field for the Mets’ win, the final score being Mets 13, Guardians 6.
The Mets begin a new series in Pittsburgh tomorrow against the Pirates. Zac Thornton will face TBD with first pitch at 6:40 PM ET.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Mauricio Dubon #14 of the Atlanta Braves and Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves share a moment prior to the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For 114 games this season, Ozzie Albies has been in the starting lineup. Sometimes he’s hit third, sometimes he’s hit sixth, he had a long stretch hitting second… but he’s been in there.
Tonight, for the first time in 2026, Albies won’t be in there. He gives way to Mauricio Dubon, who will slide over to the keystone and bat fifth.
The rest of the lineup is more or less as expected, with the Braves loading up on lefties against right-hander Janson Junk, a day after they loaded up on righties against right-hander Eury Perez. Austin Riley remains set in the eight-hole, as the Braves double up on lefties after Dubon.
Given that Junk has already made one start against the Braves this year, there’s no lack of familiarity here, though neither Drake Baldwin nor Jim Jarvis have stood in against him yet. And, really, we’re not talking a lot of PAs for the other seven guys, as Mike Yastrzemski leads the way with nine. The collective line is just a .255 xwOBA in 34 PAs… but it does come with a .340 wOBA. Both Riley and Dominic Smith hit three-run homers off Junk earlier this year.
Aha, here’s the Miami lineup, after I posted this:
It’s a bit of an interesting one: Agustin Ramirez is making a start for the first time in about three months. He’s pinch hit in both games of this series, but has been mostly toiling in Triple-A, and is now back and batting third. Ramirez is supposed to be a fairly big-time prospect who provides huge power with the ability to at least fake it at catcher. The knock on him has been plate discipline, but he’s actually avoided a lot of chase this year, and has reasonable walk and strikeout rates. Instead, Ramirez has been killed by fairly awful contact, including grounderitis.
Though Perez has been around a long time, many of these Marlins bats haven’t. Only six guys in this lineup have faced him, and none for more than six PAs. It’s a collective .303 wOBA and .345 xwOBA in 28 PAs. Esteury Ruiz has nearly a .100 point xwOBA overperformance (.408 to .311) against lefties this year in 75 PAs, so that’s fun for him.
Fans at T-Mobile Park celebrated local raccoon celebrity Jimothy at the M’s game against the Tigers — and those who purchased tickets with a special promotional offer were given Jimothy shirts.
The first 20,000 fans at the game received Jimothy trading cards with his stats, including his hometown of Ballard and his throwing hand, “all fours.”
Fans pose with a Jimothy card before a game between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Seattle. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Kevin Ng
Many others arrived at the game with their own regalia.
Jimothy, who typically roams around the Ballard area, went viral for his interesting, spherical shape, likely caused by a spine condition.
Upon announcing the Jimothy theme night, special tickets quickly sold out, which prompted the team to schedule a second Jimothy night for later this week.
M’s fans came prepared for the celebration, such as Hannah McCausland, who wore matching headbands with friends Donika Saqipi and Robert Kinsey.
“It was specifically to wear our Jimothy attire and support the Jimothy,” McCausland said.
Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez, left, signs baseballs for fans before a game against the Texas Rangers on Friday, July 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Jessica Tobias
Other fans were pleasantly surprised when they showed up to the game and caught wind of the festivities.
Payton Ives crocheted two Jimothys on the drive up from Portland, Oregon, and gave one to Mariners pre- and postgame TV host Brad Adam.
Even the players got in on the fun.
Mariners star Julio Rodriguez gave his teammates Jimothy batting practice shirts.
Jimothy, the viral short-spined raccoon, is seen drinking water in a Seattle backyard. Anna Miner via Storyful
It was hard to go anywhere in the stadium and not see a Jimothy reference.
An inflatable raccoon posed for pictures with the Mariner Moose on the field pregame, and the SEAcret Door’s drink for the game was called a Trashed Panda.
Jimothy raced in the Salmon Run, and the video board displayed a “Get Loud for Jimothy” graphic.
Aiden Karmil, a tutor at a local Mathnasium, said the raccoon is a topic with the young kids at work.
“I love a theme night,” Karmil said. “I love something that brings something from Seattle into the park.”
The Mets crushed the Guardians, 13-6, on Thursday afternoon in Cleveland to secure a three-game sweep.
Here are the takeaways...
- Batting in the top of the sixth inning with the Mets leading, 6-5, Francisco Lindor was in an 0-2 hole with runners on second and third with two outs. He then went down and got a changeup at the bottom of the zone, golfing it into the right field seats for a three-run homer that upped New York's lead to 9-5.
The Mets poured it on in the eighth.
Francisco Alvarez hit a ringing double high off the left field wall, Jared Young and Luis Torrens drew bases loaded walks, and Bo Bichette had an infield hit as New York took a 13-5 advantage.
- Kodai Senga, pitching for the second time in his new, high-leverage relief role, fired a dominant 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh.
Using almost exclusively four-seam fastballs and forkballs, Senga retired Jose Ramirez on one pitch before getting two swinging strikeouts -- one on a 97.3 mph four-seamer, the other on an 84.1 mph forkball. Senga's fastball topped out at 100 mph.
- The Mets answered back immediately after falling into a 2-0 hole, with a solo homer by Marcus Semien and two-run opposite field shot off the bat of Torrens giving them a 3-2 lead in the top of the second.
New York added on in the third, with Carson Benge smoking a run-scoring triple high off the center field wall and Semien cashing in a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.
In the fifth, the Mets tacked on a run on a YoungRBI single to make it 6-2, but couldn't capitalize further, withTorrenspopping out and pinch-hitter A.J. Ewing grounding out to strand runners on second and third.
Aug 6, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
- Against a lineup that featured all left-handed hitters, Nolan McLean struggled with his control in the first inning (often missing away), issuing a pair of one-out walks to get into trouble. After a two-run single by Angel Martinez gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead, the Guardians loaded the bases with two outs on a flare single by Petey Halpin. McLean escaped a potentially disastrous inning by inducing a fly out to right field -- capping a frame where he threw nearly as many balls (12) as strikes (14).
After his laborious first inning, McLean settled in, needing just 39 total pitches to get through the next three innings -- retiring eight batters in a row to cap that span.
Things came crashing in for McLean in the fifth, though as he again had serious issues with control as he again missed predominantly arm side.
McLean struck out Travis Bazzana looking before giving up back-to-back singles by Chase DeLauter and Jose Ramirez. He then threw a four-seam fastball that caught too much plate, with Nathaniel Lowe turning it around for a three-run homer that trimmed New York's lead to 6-5.
Overall, McLean allowed five runs over 5.0 innings while giving up eight hits, walking three, and striking out eight.
- Semien had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a sacrifice fly and a walk -- finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
- Rookie Nate Lavender twirled a perfect sixth inning with a pair of strikeouts, inducing a number of uncomfortable swings along the way.
May 11, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman (15) in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The St. Louis Cardinals return to Busch Stadium Friday night for the start of a 3-game series versus the NL West cellar-dwelling Colorado Rockies. It should (key word) be an opportunity for the Cardinals to relearn their winning ways while enjoying some home cooking, but we all know how best laid plans go this season.
The Colorado Rockies are a meager 45-70 this season trailing the billionaires Los Angeles Dodgers by 24 games so playoff talk is not a factor for them. They have lost 7 of their last 10 games so no worries about big momentum from the Coloradoans.
Here are the projected pitching matchups
Friday, August 7 – Kyle Leahy vs Ryan Feltner (RHP 4-5, 5.75 ERA, 57 SO)
Saturday, August 8 – Matthew Liberatore vs Kyle Freeland (LHP 3-10, 6.81 ERA, 93 SO)
Sunday, August 9 – Michael McGreevy vs Michael Lorenzon (RHP 3-10, 6.94 ERA, 80 SO)
Ryan Feltner won his last start for Colorado on August 1 as he tossed 6 innings allowing 8 hits and 4 earned runs vs the Royals, but he lost the previous 2 before that against the Brewers and Reds. Kyle Freeland also won his last start throwing a complete game gem vs the Royals on August 2 allowing just 5 hits and 1 earned run. Michael Lorenzon lost his last start vs Tampa Bay on August 3 lasting just 3 innings and getting thumped for 7 earned runs. He had 2 no decisions prior to that.
Here are the Colorado Rockies players to watch
Hunter Goodman (C): Leads the Rockies with 33 home runs and 66 RBIs.
TJ Rumfield (1B): Team’s highest batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.374) with a team-leading 116 hits.
Mickey Moniak (LF): Extra-base power with 19 home runs and 52 RBIs.
Kyle Karros (3B): Decent contact bat hitting .268 with a .366 OBP.
What did the Colorado Rockies do at the trade deadline?
Brenton Doyle: Traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a pair of minor league prospects.
Antonio Senzatela: Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for pitching depth/prospect returns.
Victor Vodnik: Traded to the Miami Marlins
This is another series where on paper it looks like the St. Louis Cardinals should have an opportunity to win if not sweep the Colorado Rockies. However, St. Louis has a similar downward spiral since the All-Star break that Colorado has. The expectation is that Jordan Walker should be back in the starting lineup starting Friday after nursing knee soreness. Masyn Winn also expected to be back at short after a couple of days off including sitting out Wednesday night’s game in New York. I can tend to be unrealistically optimistic sometimes which is probably why I’m hopeful this young Cardinals team can rediscover their early season energy and make an unexpected run at the third wild card playoff spot. Is that delusional? Magic 8 Ball says “YES”.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Wilder Dalis #3 of the Colorado Rockies covers to tag out Druw Jones #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at second base during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
On Wednesday, Minor League Baseball announced that Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP) was named July’s Player of the Month for the California League.
In winning the award, the Fresno Grizzlies infielder and native of Maracay, Venezuela, received recognition for his performance over the course of the month.
Over 24 games in July, Dalis batted .374/.443/.727 with a combined 1.170 OPS, while collecting 37 hits, including nine doubles, a triple, and eight home runs, 24 runs scored and 35 RBI.
He led the California League in hits, RBI and total bases (72) for the month, and finished second in the league in runs, doubles, home runs, stolen bases (10), and slugging percentage. In addition, Dalis ranked third in the league in OPS and fourth in batting average. His 35 RBI led all of Minor League Baseball for July, and his 72 total bases ranked second.
After appearing in 18 games in April and then three in May, Dalis was placed on the Injured List until June 16, when he returned to the Grizzlies’ lineup. It did not take long for him to get back on track. Dalis hit .341 with six doubles over his final 13 games of June. He followed that up by putting together one of the most productive months by any hitter in the California League this season.
Consider the numbers.
Dalis reached base multiple times in 11 different games during July. He set a career high with four hits on July 8 against Stockton and equaled it on July 26 against Rancho Cucamonga, when he went 4-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored, and four RBI. He also went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI on July 10 against Stockton and delivered a 3-for-4 day with a double, a home run, and four RBI on July 23 against Rancho Cucamonga.
To end July, on the 30th, his 20th birthday, Dalis hit a three-run homer and drove in four to spark a blowout win for Fresno.
Also notable, Dalis produced the numbers while manning multiple spots on the infield.
Over the course of July, he started at third base, second base and shortstop, giving Fresno’s lineup flexibility.
Since returning to the lineup on June 16, Dalis has hit .370 with 11 home runs, 50 RBI, and 17 stolen bases over his last 37 games, posting a .466 on-base percentage, a .705 slugging percentage and a 1.171 OPS in that stretch.
For the season, Dalis is hitting .310 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI and 21 stolen bases across 61 games. Entering August, he ranked seventh in the California League in batting average, tied for fourth in home runs, eighth in RBI, fourth in on-base percentage, second in slugging percentage, and third in OPS.
In August, he picked up where he finished July, going 6-for-11 with two home runs and eight RBI over his first three games of the month.
“Obviously, I know I’m talented,” Dalis said earlier in the season, “but I’m not thinking about ‘Hey, I’m a prospect in the Top 100’ or whatever. I know what I have and my abilities, and that’s it. I don’t worry about the other stuff.
“Hopefully in the near future, I’ll be there (in the majors) and can help the team win and make an impact with the team in Denver.”
And as a reminder, our PuPRs voting closes tomorrow. Leave your rankings here.
Aug 4, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (55-59) vs. Seattle Mariners (56-59)
Time/Place: 4:10 p.m., T-Mobile Park SB Nation Site:Lookout Landing Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (6-7, 4.41 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (4-5, 2.80 ERA
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 06: Samy Natera Jr. #52 of the Los Angeles Angels tags out Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles on a Henderson out at home on runner's fielder's choice in the eight inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 6, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles entered today’s game with a chance to pull into a tie for a Wild Card spot. And as it turns out, with the Guardians likely to lose today, the O’s would have done exactly that — if only they had actually, you know, remembered to win.
Instead, they put up one of their most pathetic, frustrating efforts of the season and dropped the finale to the worst in the majors, the Angels, by a 4-1 score. It was another stark reminder that O’s fans should never make the mistake of getting their hopes up. This team is simply too flawed to let you feel good about their chances.
It didn’t take long into the afternoon to realize that this was going to be one of those games. You know the ones I mean. The kind where the Orioles do lots and lots of dumb stuff to give away an easily winnable game. Like, say, losing a routine pop-up in the sun because your sunglasses are on your hat instead of your face, which is exactly what Jackson Holliday did in the second. And even though Brandon Young pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam that inning, the miscue forced him to throw 29 pitches.
That was the unfortunate story of the game for Young, who lacked his usual crispness and command. The entire afternoon was a struggle for the normally reliable right-hander, no inning moreso than the third. An infield single (on which Young himself committed a throwing error) and a walk put two on for the struggling Zach Neto, who hadn’t homered in more than a month. I think you know where I’m going with this. One big fly into the bleachers later, the Angels had a 3-0 lead. Sigh.
Young trudged through a 25-pitch inning in the fourth, including 13 pitches to the #9 hitter, Oswald Peraza, though he escaped a two-on, no-out jam on a well-timed double play. But with his pitch count so elevated, Young couldn’t get deep into the game, exiting after 4.1 innings with 98 pitches. That’s a disappointingly short outing on a day when most of the Orioles’ high-leverage relievers were unavailable. Then again, you don’t need high-leverage relievers when your offense can’t even make it a competitive game.
Oh my, that Orioles offense. This is going to be a real problem for the rest of the season, isn’t it? With Samuel Basallo and Blaze Alexander on the shelf, and with Gunnar Henderson showing no signs of breaking out of his season-long slumber, and with Taylor Ward and his team-leading OBP gone, and with Adley Rutschman never to return, the O’s are trotting out a truly woeful offense most days. The Orioles fielded a lineup today in which six of the nine hitters have a sub-.700 OPS for the season. They’ve got nobody that any pitcher should be afraid of except maybe Pete Alonso. That’s not going to win you many games.
And indeed it didn’t. The Birds’ offensive flaws were on full display against a pitcher that by all accounts they should have clobbered, Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson and his 7.63 ERA. What if I told you that the Orioles put nine runners on base in 4.2 innings against him? That he walked five batters and plunked another? How many runs would you assume the O’s scored?
The answer is one, and it came on a solo homer by Yohel Pozo. All of those walks and free baserunners? They amounted to nothing, because if there’s one thing you can count on the Orioles to do, it’s to waste every opportunity that comes their way. They ended both the first and second innings by grounding into a double play.
Then came the torturous bottom of the third, which started off promisingly enough on Pozo’s unlikely dinger, the first of his Orioles career. Yet somehow, even though the next four batters all reached base, the Orioles didn’t score again. That’s because Dylan Beavers, who singled, got himself thrown out trying to steal. Johnson practically begged the Orioles to start another rally by walking the next two batters and plunking another to load the bases for Holliday.
Pop quiz time: if you’re up to bat and the clearly struggling pitcher has just walked and/or hit three consecutive batters, what do you do? Do you work the count and try to force him to throw strikes, or do you just hack away at the very first pitch, ground out weakly, and let him off the hook completely? I think you can guess which approach Holliday took, and it was painful. Holliday, who had been red hot to end July, is now 0-for-14 in August. And he also doesn’t know how to wear sunglasses, apparently.
Johnson didn’t end up getting the win because he was removed with two outs in the fifth, but he finished with 4.2 innings of one-run ball despite issuing five walks and throwing more balls (39) than strikes (37). Johnson, who threw six scoreless innings against the Orioles in June, now has a 0.84 ERA against the Orioles and 8.78 against all other teams this year. Sometimes all you can do is laugh.
The Angels added an insurance run in the seventh against Yaramil Hiraldo, and their 4-1 lead might as well have been 40-1. The Angels’ bullpen, even after all of their best relievers were traded a few days ago, dominated the Orioles’ listless lineup. Four guys I have never heard of — Mitch Farris, Luke Murphy, Taylor Saucedo, and Sammy Natera Jr. — combined to work 4.1 scoreless innings. The O’s only got one hit off these randos! Are we still laughing?
The Birds’ best chance to score came in the eighth when they brought Jeremiah Jackson to the plate as the possible tying run, but Gunnar Henderson tried to score from third on a wild pitch that unluckily bounced off the wall and back to the catcher, who fired to Natera covering the plate for the out. Replays showed that Henderson hesitated for a split-second coming down the line, which likely cost him the chance to score. It was that kind of day.
Natera finished things off with a perfect ninth, sealing one of the Orioles’ dumbest losses of the year. And there have been many.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 6: Brian Serven #10 of the Athletics rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 6, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati defeated the Athletics 6-5. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics took on the Cincinnati Reds in the series finale, seeking to avoid a sweep and end a seven-game losing streak. The Reds secured the series sweep by defeating the A’s 6-5, dropping the Green and Gold to their eighth straight defeat in a game that played out all too similar to several of the team’s previous losses. For the third straight day, the bullpen faltered, and the offense was unable to do enough to overcome the pitching struggles.
Reds Strike First
A’s starter Mason Barnett got off to a rough start. The first batter he faced, Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, hit his 19th home run of the season, putting the hosts up 1-0.
His counterpart, Reds starter Andrew Abbott, pitched three scoreless innings to begin the game, consistently getting A’s hitters to chase pitches outside the strike zone and inducing strikeouts and soft-contact groundouts.
A’s Take the Lead
Athletics center fielder Henry Bolte and first baseman Tommy White led off the fourth inning with back-to-back singles, setting up the visitors first scoring opportunity of the game. Jonah Heim drew a walk, bringing up Tyler Soderstrom with the bases loaded and no outs. The A’s left fielder delivered, grounding a two-run single to center field to give his team a 2-1 lead.
After Max Muncy singled to re-load the bases, Lawrence Butler grounded into the A’s second double play of the game, bringing home the third run of the inning, but preventing the rally from extending further. That replay-aided play swung the momentum in the Reds’ favor and they never looked back.
The Reds immediately responded. First baseman Sal Stewart led off the last of the fourth with his 25th home run of the season, a solo shot to center field that cut the A’s lead to 3-2. Later that inning, catcher Tyler Stephenson tied the game with his 10th home run of the season, another solo shot to center field.
The Reds had the chance to re-take the lead after drawing two walks, but Barnett recorded the final out of the frame to keep the game tied at three. Innings like these have been a major reason the A’s have struggled to win baseball games lately, as their pitching staff has repeatedly allowed opponents to score immediately after the offense provides a spark.
Same Story Every Game!
The Reds threatened to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, loading the bases with one out against Barnett. After he walked JJ Bleday to load the bases, A’s manager Mark Kotsay made a pitching change, bringing in hard-throwing but erratic reliever Elvis Alvarado, a move that quickly backfired.
After striking out the first hitter he faced, Alvarado lost his command and walked in two runs, giving the Reds a 5-3 lead through five innings. It seems like a bases-loaded situation may not be the ideal spot to use Alvarado, raising the question of which pitcher the A’s should have turned to instead.
For the second time this series, the A’s bullpen gave the Reds free runs, with Alvarado’s walks fest coming two days after Hogan Harris’ wild pitch bonanza. No wonder this team has the worst bullpen ERA in the major leagues! Both of the runs scored were charged to Barnett, who allowed five runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings. His seven strikeouts were encouraging, but allowing three home runs proved costly.
Reds Eying the Sweep
Unlike the A’s, the Reds can actually throw strikes and hold leads. Abbott completed his second straight scoreless inning, keeping the game’s momentum firmly on his team’s side. Cincinnati’s southpaw turned in a quality start, allowing three runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings.
New A’s reliever Seth Johnson made his first appearance in the eighth inning, and unfortunately, he fit right in with the rest of the A’s struggling bullpen. With one out, Bleday launched his 20th home run of the season and the Reds’ fourth of the game, turning the deficit into a three-run hole. Bleday, who struggled last season with the Athletics, has revitalized his career in Cincinnati, putting a spotlight on the A’s player development staff.
A’s Comeback Falls Short
Down by three, the A’s attempted to come back in the ninth. Facing Reds left-hander Brock Burke, Butler reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz. A’s catcher Brian Serven hit his second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center, field that cut the Reds’ lead to one.
That was as close as the visitors got. Burke retired the next two hitters to earn his second save of the season. The loss was the Athletics’ eighth straight, dropping them to 6-32 over their last 38 games as they were swept for the second consecutive series.
It could be more of the same this weekend as the A’s head to Boston to face a Red Sox team trending in the opposite direction. Right-hander Jack Perkins is scheduled to start for the Athletics on Friday evening, while the Red Sox have yet to announce their starter.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 05: Gleyber Torres #25 of the Detroit Tigers gets in the face of Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning at T-Mobile Park on August 05, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Things turned awfully testy during the late innings of Wednesday night’s 4-2 Mariners victory over the Detroit Tigers, which evened the pivotal series for both teams in an American League playoff race that is heating up more and more with every passing day. A half-inning after Cal Raleigh was drilled in the ribs with 95 mph four-seam fastball by Enmanuel De Jesus — and no warnings were issued — Gabe Speier pegged Gleyber Torres with a 96 mph four-seamer of his own, leading to an exchanging of words and the benches clearing. Speier and Dan Wilson both ended up ejected. As Kate said in the recap, we’ll see if this has any ramifications Thursday.
Speaking of throwing at people, Framber Valdez gets the start for the Tigers on Thursday. His first season in Detroit hasn’t gone quite to plan, with many of his numbers across the board taking a step back. His FIP has ballooned to 4.13 in 2026, having not exceeded 3.50 over his previous four seasons in Houston.
The Mariners will look to Bryce Miller to try to secure an important series win before the American League-leading Tampa Bay Rays come to town for 50 Seasons weekend. Big Tex had a much shakier month of July (4.93 FIP) after beginning his 2026 campaign with solid performance in May (2.86) and June (3.22). For more on the pitching matchup, check out the series preview.
Lineups
Taylor Ward is in the leadoff spot for his first time as a Mariner. Brendan Donovan and Josh Naylor both get scheduled days off, and Raleigh gets a rest day (unrelated to the hit-by-pitch last night). Jhonny Pereda will be behind the plate for the first time since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, while Weston Wilson and Leo Rivas make starts at first and third base.
News
In the aftermath of Wednesday’s bench-clearing incident, both Speier and Dan Wilson have been suspended by Major League Baseball. Speier’s discipline amounts to three games, which he is appealing. Dan Wilson, on the other hand, will serve his one-game suspension on Thursday afternoon. Manny Acta will be the Mariners’ acting manager for this important rubber game.
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 25: Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Saturday, July 25, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Evan Yu/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
I have some firsthand experience on the subject. You know what’s worse than the Dodgers being walked off? Having the Dodgers be walked off on consecutive nights after they have just coughed up a no-hitter on the 26th out. I remember writing at one point that it should be a crime to be playing such bad baseball in such beautiful surroundings. C’est la vie – such is life.
Now, if you are unhappy right now, I get it. Even with the current skid, the Dodgers are still on a 97-win pace, which is still better than the 92-regular season wins I predicted at the start of the year. Arguably, the Dodgers are ruining baseball, not by all the emotional nonsense being spouted by those mad about the Tarik Skubal trade, mind you.
…The league has devalued winning the division, especially if you’re not a top-two seed. The Dodgers likely look at the benefits of being the third-seed division winner compared to the fourth-seed top Wild Card and…shrug. It’s home-field advantage in the Wild Card round either way, so why press things?
The difference between [now and previous seasons] is that the Dodgers had enough cushion within the division that whatever in-season experiments they wanted to run were basically irrelevant. That’s the kind of thing you can do without causing agita when you win 111 games and finish the season 22 up on your next closest competitor. …
But it’s the similarities that create the bigger problem. In both situations, Roberts and the Dodgers seem to just…not care all that much. Obviously, their preference is to win, you don’t spend what they’ve spent just to win in the playoffs, but to be good enough to sell lots of tickets and ads throughout the season, too. …
There’s nothing strictly wrong with prioritizing a World Series; it’s where the league and its culture have arrived, hand in hand. But the impact of taking the longest view available at every possible turn undeniably results in a diluted on-field product—again, much as we’ve seen with the league as a whole. …
The Dodgers sleepwalking through regular season series against potential playoff opponents, while looking comically inept? We have seen this figurative movie before. To the uninitiated, it is a crisis. To the experienced, it is a Thursday.
To summarize the sage analysis of Craig Minami, you might see a collapse in the making, but what you are likely seeing is some self-correction due to some probably entirely unsustainable portions of the roster, including, but not limited to:
Justin Wrobleski pitching like an All-Star;
Eric Lauer pitching like a mid-rotation arm;
The bullpen pitching like a lights-out unit without peripheral stats to back it up, and so on.
Last year, the Dodgers lost a nine-game lead in 40 days. This year, over almost the same stretch, the lead has gone from 14 games to eight as of the start of play on Friday, which is not great, but not terrible.
So you should probably bear down and enjoy the ride, because it was so much worse last year. While the last week was bad, it wasn’t “look inept in front of last place teams who have nothing to play for” bad. Granted, if the team keeps losing and has to play in the Wild Card round again, then they will only have themselves to blame.
Several players are having down years in 2026. Today, we take notice of Kyle Tucker, but before we start any analysis, I must ask an unexpected question.
Why would they come just to boo him?
Generally, I do not pay attention to players not on the Dodgers unless they play in Japan. Even then, one has to be special to grab and hold my notice. Generally, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, and Munetaka Murakami. I knew Yamamoto, Sasaki, and Murakami; Kyle Tucker is not Yamamoto, Sasaki, or Murakami.
Putting that theme aside for a moment, there was a tidbit from my visit to Houston that I originally omitted, mostly because I forgot. At the time, I was struck by how absolutely hostile the Houston faithful were towards Kyle Tucker.
It was so visceral and obnoxious, I had to check midgame in Game 1 how Tucker left Houston. Considering how hostile the ballpark’s conditions were (terrible view, blinding lights, overly tight chairs, insufferable fanbase, among other demerits), it was a novel distraction.
At this point, Tucker had only been in my orbit for about a month. So Houston’s petty rage felt like it was directed towards a boiled potato or a stalk of celery, which feels like an apt comparison for our right fielder’s temperament, and it was absolutely confusing to the uninitiated.
The observation is generally not meant as an insult; if you put Tucker in a nondescript suit, put him at a desk, and said he was a certified public accountant (CPA), you would accept the image. As opposed to putting Enrique Hernandez or Freddie Freeman in the same situation, despite his public declaration of wanting to be a CPA if this whole baseball thing didn’t work out. (Author’s Note: That’s your side hustle when you retire, Mr. Freeman; no one should putter about the house.)
“I appreciate everything that the Houston Astros team and the city itself has done for me and my family since I got drafted in ’15 until now,” Tucker said on a video conference call Tuesday. “And I don’t think I could have gone to a much better organization than the Cubs. So I’m excited to start playing in front of the fans and in the city and everything else…A lot of things in life and sports and everything kind of is what it is. Stuff happens and whatnot. Some stuff is out of your control, but you’ve just got to make the most with it.” …
Testing the open market after one season in Chicago would seem likely, though Tucker did not declare that his intention when asked multiple times Tuesday about the potential for extension talks with the Cubs.
“Kind of like I’ve always said, I’m always open to talks to see where that leads,” Tucker said. “You never know what the future’s going to hold. I’m still real close with everyone on the Astros. It’s not like we’re all enemies now or anything or I hate everyone over there — no, that’s not it. Obviously, whenever we play against them, I would prefer to win. But at the end of the day, I’m still close with a lot of those guys and some close friends of mine.”
[Emphasis added.]
If there was an opposite for bulletin board fodder, the above paragraphs would likely be it. I am not doubting the sincerity of the statements, but anodyne is the adjective that immediately comes to mind upon reading it. So, yes, the Houston faithful were largely being spectacularly unreasonable and petty. Shocking.
Kyle Tucker returned to the Northside of Chicago for the first time since leaving, which begged the question of how he’d be received. More of a question of “how would it be?” versus “how will they react?” The fans let Tucker have it all series long.
"Let's see what kind of hand Kyle Tucker gets here coming back to Wrigley Field"
Again, to put it kindly, it didn’t go well — again, either on or off the field, especially in Games 1 and 2, with blunders on the base paths and the outfield. Again, Tucker had nice things to say about his time in Chicago after Game 1.
“I tried my hardest last year. I mean, I tried playing through hand fracture and calf thing, just trying to get back to the playoffs for them, and trying to do what I could to help out the team last year with them. … Hit really well in 1st half, and 2nd half didn’t go as great, and kind of didn’t end up great at the end of the year. But had a good run. … They’re a good team, and it should be good for them for the rest of the year.”
Again, as bulletin board fodder, this interview fails miserably. Tucker in Chicago was not the same as Manny Machado in Los Angeles in 2018, who performed well enough on the field, but his style of play (dirty or otherwise) did not ingratiate himself with the fanbase.
In fact, local media was initially confused as to why Tucker was being treated so harshly by the crowd.
The accepted explanations were that Tucker did not act as if he wanted to be in Chicago and his signing in Los Angeles was emblematic of the perceived ills of the sport, which was a roundabout way to say sour grapes. Tucker played well on the whole and then signed elsewhere; the marriage was one of convenience, as clearly everyone was ready to move on, much like the Dodgers and Machado after 2018.
The latter point on Tucker is one for a later day, but the first point is idiotic and arguably applies to recent arrival Tarik Skubal. Tucker, like Skubal, was traded without a movement clause. It’s like flying a hot air balloon; one doesn’t steer it as one is at the mercy of the winds. Tucker played well in 2025, even while hurt, before the Cubs were unceremoniously bounced by the Milwaukee Brewers, which really was a historical footnote in the grand scheme of things.
For as much as everyone is glazing the Cubs now, the Brewers are still the defending NL Central Division champion until dethroned; never mind that they once again have the best record in baseball. Brewers/Cubs 2 Electric Boogaloo likely having a repeat result this October would be very funny.
Some guy on the Astros and Chicago Cubs generally does not pop up on my radar, even if he was averaging 5 fWAR/bWAR a year. While preparing this essay, I came across something that Jordan Bastian of MLB.com wrote last year, which just seems kind of mean now:
When Tucker is healthy and his swing is in rhythm, he is simply one of the best hitters on the planet.
“Look, it’s important,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s part of why at times this has been a really, really good offense. He’s a big part of it.”
[Emphasis added.]
With respect to Mr. Bastian and Craig Counsell, I have no earthly idea who they are talking about, because the person they are speaking about is not the person I have seen in my travels or in my viewing of the 2026 campaign. I have yet to see the so-called King Tuck who merited this record contract and will be in Los Angeles for the next three years, at this rate.
I have recently taken to calling Tucker “Steamed Ham” because of the impromptu reaction I had to actual power being demonstrated by Tucker in Queens, NY.
Something occurred to me as the de facto Traveling Correspondent during my travels that I had to double-check once I got home from Philadelphia that I thought I might be imagining: Has Tucker been okay, if moderately underwhelming, on the road, but downright unwatchable when at Dodger Stadium?
I decided to put my observations to the test because I was genuinely curious whether I was falling victim to confirmation bias or recency bias. Tucker has played exactly 54 games at home and 54 games on the road in 2026, so any difference will likely show in the statistics by now.
On the road, Tucker compares to 2026-Max Muncy (.253/.347/.494, 131 OPS+). At Dodger Stadium, Tucker compares favorably to 2026-Nasim Nunez, currently ranked next to last in OPS+ for qualified players (.235/.318/.274, 68 OPS+).
Tucker was signed, in part, to shore up the Dodgers outfield, which was manned in part by now-Chicago Cub Michael Conforto. Last year, Conforto was generally bad in left field. It was generally painful to watch. However, I give Conforto credit in one regard: during his terrible 2025, he wasn’t publicly complaining about it.
Conforto did his best, but it just did not work out. Sometimes one’s reach exceeds one’s grasp. Moreover, the clubhouse rallied behind Conforto, and I can’t recall him making any public outbursts, even though he played poorly enough to show it.
Tucker’s facade was starting to crack in Los Angeles with public displays of frustration in the dugout after poor at-bats. This slow meltdown, compounded by his generally poor play in Chicago, led to mistakes on the basepaths and in the outfield throughout the series.
In Game 1, with the Dodgers down 3, Tucker was thrown out trying to extend a single, just before Teoscar Hernandez homered to cut the deficit to two.
“It’s just the scoreboard. [Cubs outfielder] Seiya [Suzuki] throws as well as anyone in baseball,” Roberts said. “It just doesn’t look good when you’re down three making the first out at second base.
“It just doesn’t.”
In Game 2, Tucker seemingly forgot how to play right field at Wrigley, which is a little bit awkward considering the year he played there, having a key miscue that both cut Skubal’s night short and triggered the events that tagged Skubal with the loss.
If Tucker is starting to press even further to try and overcompensate for his poor 2026, he needs to stop, because it clearly is not working. With the Summer Swoon now in full effect, if Tucker wants to change the narrative surrounding his inaugural campaign in Los Angeles, he has 48 regular-season games left to turn the tide.
As a result, Bader’s already disappointing 2026 season is now over. And the Giants are suspending Bader’s pay because of this incident’s non-baseball nature.
Harrison Bader of the San Francisco Giants is seen on deck during a game. Getty Images
Giants players have remained tight-lipped about the situation since it happened. But one player addressed Bader’s situation in a hilarious way during his team’s game on Wednesday.
Giants rookie catcher Daniel Susac hit a double during the second inning. Upon reaching second base, he turned to his team’s dugout and mimicked riding a scooter. He then shot a grin before removing his protective gear.
The camera than flashed to several Giants players in the dugout, including ace Logan Webb, who was laughing out loud at the celebration.
Looks like the Giants are having a little fun with their new scooter celebration pic.twitter.com/UdybmGESrg
There seem to be two options for why Susac and his Giants teammate embraced the celebration. Either they’re paying homage to their fallen comrade, or trolling a teammate who made a selfish mistake that cost both himself and his team.
The latter scenario seems much more likely. Regardless, Susac’s teammates got a kick out of what he did.
Daniel Susac celebrates during a San Francisco Giants game. Getty Images
It would be interesting to hear Susac speak on the celebration, or get a glimpse of how manager Tony Vitello responded to it. Whether this celebration picks up steam among Giants players and becomes their primary extra-base celebration will also speak volumes about the situation.
Don’t expect Bader to comment on the celebration either way.
Krukow has been battling a degenerative muscle disease called body myositis for the past two decades. It appears this battle is what ultimately forced Krukow to make his retirement decision.
“I don’t want to quit. Unfortunately the rules change, first from year to year, and then month to month and now it’s day to day. It’s becoming unsafe. My home in Reno is much safer, and it really is the determining factor in how I can’t do games anymore,” Krukow told NBC Sports Bay Area.
Mike Krukow will end his Giants broadcast career this season. Getty Images
Krukow released an official statement on Thursday that read, “[His wife] Jennifer and I have been so blessed to be able to stay in the game for as long as we have and it’s really made it impossible to feel sorry for myself that my career is coming to an end.”
It is good to hear that Krukow still feels grateful for his time in the Giants’ booth, even if he is not fully ready to call it a career quite yet.
Krukow also played in the majors with several teams, including the Cubs and Giants. Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Krukow has become a legend in baseball largely because of his broadcasting partnership with Duane Kuiper. “Kruk and Kuip” are immortal among Giants fans, as their close-knit friendship has sparked countless hilarious moments and camaraderie that is usually found in MLB clubhouses, not broadcast booths.
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 01: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees throws to first base during the game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, August 1, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
When Anthony Volpe reports to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, manager Shelley Duncan anticipates the shortstop to see some action at second base and possibly third base.
“There’s a good chance of that,” Duncan said. “We’ll see when he gets here. Us as an organization, we’ll have a plan in place for him. Anthony will be a part of that plan. We’ll move forward accordingly for what’s best for him and what’s best for the organization.”
Volpe, Jasson Domínguez, and Max Schuemann were all sent down by the Yankees on Monday following the fallout of the Trade Deadline and the promotion of top prospect George Lombard Jr. Schuemann arrived and played for the RailRiders on Wednesday night. Duncan expected Volpe and Dominguez to join the team by Friday; they had 72 hours to report.
The trio will be joining an already-good RailRiders squad. Despite having their eight-game winning streak snapped Wednesday with an 8-1 loss to the Rochester Red Wings at PNC Field, the RailRiders are in first place in the International League second-half standings with a 23-10 record, one-half game ahead of the Durham Bulls. Overall, the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate is 60-47. They are one of four teams in the 20-team league with 60 or more wins. Rochester has 64, the St. Paul Saints 63, and first-half champion Memphis Redbirds 62. During the RailRiders’ six-game series sweep at Iowa last week, they batted .343 with 79 hits, including 11 home runs, and outscored the Cubs, 50-18.
Heading into Thursday’s action, the RailRiders rank fourth in the IL in home runs with 152. On the mound, they rank first in ERA (4.14), hits allowed (774), runs allowed (492), earned runs allowed (423), WHIP (1.33), and opponents’ batting average (.227). They’re also tied for first in shutouts (7), rank second in home runs allowed (104), and tied for third in saves (29).
Two big reasons for their pitching success are right-handers Brendan Beck and Elmer Rodríguez.
Beck, the Yankees’ No. 19 prospect, is 9-2 with a 2.69 ERA in 20 starts and 118 strikeouts in 110.1 innings. He is tied for first in the league in wins with Trenton Denholm of the Columbus Clippers, is first in ERA, innings, strikeouts, and WHIP (1.02) and second in opponents’ batting average (.201). He has not lost a game at the Triple-A level since April 26th. In 14 starts since then, he is 7-0 and he hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of those outings. Additionally, six of the starts have been scoreless, including Tuesday in the series opener against Rochester, when he tossed six shutout innings with four hits, one walk, and a career-high 12 strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Rodríguez, the Yankees’ No. 3 prospect, is 7-3 with a 2.77 ERA in 16 starts and 81 strikeouts in 81.1 innings. He is coming off a month of July that saw him go 4-0 in five starts with a 2.73 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 26.1 innings with eight runs (eight earned), 26 hits, and 10 walks.
Adding Volpe, Dominguez, and Schuemann makes the RailRiders even better. They potentially could be the team to beat in the International League second half.
“The sky’s the limit,” Beck said. “Those are great players and we’re going to be excited to have them join the team. Everyone wants to be up top; this isn’t anybody’s end goal. It’s nice that we’re playing well right now and hopefully can seamlessly slide them in. Those are guys everyone is going to look to take things away from. They’ve had huge experiences in the big leagues, played in huge games. That’s something I’m interested in taking things away from them and I know the other guys are probably going to do the same.”
Duncan cautions, however, not to think things automatically will be better. He said there could be an adjustment period adding the new players.
“You don’t know honestly,” Duncan said. “The group of guys in that clubhouse over the past two weeks or so have allowed me to sit back and plug and play almost the same lineup every day. They’ve gotten really comfortable together and the chemistry in there is phenomenal. A lot of times when you bring in new players, even when you bring in really good talent, it takes a little bit for everyone to really vibe and get to know each other. The expectation can’t be they’re going to come in and have a sense of comfort. Anytime there’s any movement on a team, there’s always a little time that chemistry builds.
“Over the course of a season, you have a team’s win-loss record. But over the course of that season, you see many different teams. When I talk about that, it’s players learning to play with each other, learning to support each other, learning to sacrifice a little bit of yourself for the guy next to you. The guys in there right now are doing that with each other. When one guy doesn’t come through, the next guy picks him up. They’re able to communicate real well between at-bats and doing the little things right. I don’t think it’s fair to expect the same chemistry right out of the get-go. It takes work. Having a good team takes work. It takes constant effort to pour into that team. We’ll need to do it again. When we do, you let the talent play for itself. It will be interesting, but it will be fun at the same time.”
At various points this season, Volpe, Dominguez, and Schuemann have all played for the RailRiders, so there is some familiarity. But Duncan said when they were here, it was a completely different team. For example, when Schuemann was last here in April, the infield included Paul DeJong, Jonathan Ornelas, Braden Shewmake, and Seth Brown. None of those players are with the team now.
“There’s going to be some level of comfort,” Duncan said. “But when the makeup on teams change, there’s always work that needs to be put in with everyone.”
Despite all that, Beck believes there won’t be any issues.
“Baseball is a hard game. It’s hard to continuously go out there and have success,” Beck said. “When people come and go from the locker room, you rely on the culture of the team and the culture of the clubhouse to keep those things moving along. Luckily, we have a good culture here, so I’m excited to see what we’re able to do.”
It certainly should be quite a wild ride over the final six weeks of the season.
