Category: Baseball

After their shocking loss on Wednesday, the Mets had Thursday's game all mapped out perfectly for them.

Starter Kodai Senga pitched into the sixth inning -- a rare feat of late -- and they had Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley and Edwin Diaz set up to close out the win. Well, as has often been the case this season, the plan didn't work and the Mets could not hold down another late lead.

Sure, Rogers allowed an inherited runner to score and tie the game in the sixth, but with another one-run lead in the eighth, Helsley allowed two runs in the Mets' eventual 4-3 loss to the Braves. The loss clinched a series win for Atlanta and the Mets' fifth consecutive series loss, tied for their longest such streak this season. They've also lost three straight home series and are 2-13 over their last 15 games dating back to July 28, their worst record in any 15-game span since May/June of 2018. 

"Obviously, we’re not playing well but too much talent. We’re going through a really tough time now," manager Carlos Mendoza said of his team after Thursday's loss. "There’s a lot of good players there. We just have to get through this. We can’t look at the standings. We know where we’re at, not playing well, but right in the thick of things. We have to find a way."

"There are a lot of guys doing good things and then there are a couple of guys that are not. Sticking together is the most important thing," Francisco Lindor said after the game. "It’s tough. You have to be put in a situation where no matter what happens, we stick together, fight for each other, play for each other. It’s a test we’re going through. Big adversity. Everyone here has a sense of urgency to win and try to win."

Lindor had his best game in a while on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with a home run and being the catalyst for the Mets' offense. But, again, it wasn't enough. 

They got the starting pitching they desperately needed, and just enough offense to hand the lead to their rebuilt bullpen. But the Mets couldn't put it all together.

"Today we got starting pitching, got timely hitting, just couldn’t close it out," Mendoza said. "When you go through stretches like this, overall, we haven’t been able to put it together."

"Obviously, if we lose it’s a little bit gloomier; if we win it’s a little more cheerful," Senga said of the mood surrounding the team via an interpreter. "I think the reason why we're not able to come out on top at the end is because we're all missing a little bit, that one little bit to put us on top. And I think that starts with the preparation. If we can all prepare as best we can and go into tomorrow and the next day, we have a better chance of winning."

That "little bit" could mean any number of things. In Thursday's loss, Cedric Mullins took an awkward route on a liner from Michael Harris II that tied the game. A better route could have kept Harris at first base and not in scoring position for Ozzie Albies' go-ahead double. Or Juan Soto throwing to second to try and get Albies on said double instead of hitting the cutoff man to try and catch Harris, who was running back to second to try and tag up, at home plate.

Or, as Senga pointed out, the fastball Albies smashed to tie the game at 1-1. A fastball thrown to a hitter looking for a fastball. 

All of those little things are contributing to the worst stretch of the Mets' season. They have blown nine different leads over their last six games, and lost 13 of their last 15 games. New York's record now stands at 64-57, just seven games over. 500, their lowest watermark since April 19 when they were 14-7. 

A recurring theme between Mendoza and the players during this stretch is that they are too talented not to play better and turn their season around. While that may be true, it's getting dicey with fewer than 40 games to go in the season. The loss has allowed the Reds to be just 0.5 games behind them for the final wild card spot, with the Mariners, who hold an AL wild card slot, coming to town for a weekend series.

The Mets lost their 13th game in their last 15 contests on Thursday night, falling 4-3 to the Atlanta Braves. New York scored early and took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning, but, as they've experienced a lot recently, that lead was not safe.

Ryan Helsley, one of David Stearns' trade deadline acquisitions to bolster the bullpen, entered in the eighth inning and Atlanta took advantage. Helsley allowed a one-out walk to Marcell Ozuna and then left a slider over the middle for Michael Harris II to drive a double to center field and tie the game at 3-3. Two pitches later, the right-hander gave up a line drive double to Ozzie Albies as the Braves went up, 4-3.

It's the second straight save Helsley has blown. He previously allowed one run in the eighth inning to the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 10, in what ended up being a 7-6 loss. After the loss, manager Carlos Mendoza noted how Helsley is having issues with his slider and the team is trying to sort that out so he can be the piece in the bullpen they envisioned.

"The fastball's been getting hit, and it's a plus-plus fastball, right, but I think he's leaving that slider in the middle of the strike zone, Mendoza said. "That's kind of like the big difference for me. You see that pitch today to Harris, that slider. They're going to get ready for 100 (mph), and when that slider stays right there in the middle of the zone, good hitters are going to make him pay for it.

"We just got to get him to continue to finish those pitches, especially the breaking ball, the slider in this case. So that way the fastball when he throws it, he can use it effectively. This guy's elite, man, we just got to get him back on track."

Since coming over from St. Louis, Helsley is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA, allowing seven runs (three earned) over 5.0 IP. The veteran acknowledged that he's been throwing lots of hittable pitches and is hoping to make adjustments to his slider so it can be better located.

"Leaving too good of pitches [over the plate]," Helsley said. "The pitch to Michael Harris, you know right down the middle, breaking ball, and he put a good swing on it. The pitch to Albies was actually a ball, a couple balls below the zone, and he put a weird swing on it but ended up a good result. Just got to keep working and try to figure it out."

"Just leaving it up," Helsley added about his slider. "Feels good, the shape's there. Just got to change the sights a little bit, I think, to get it in a better location."

Helsley was asked if it's been a bit of an adjustment for him in his new role with the Mets, and said he's still "trying to figure out" pitching in the eighth inning as the set-up man to Edwin Diaz, instead of his traditional closer role.

"Just trying to figure out that role and that routine to be ready when my name's called. I just haven't been good," Helsley said. 

He added, "For everybody else to do their job and you not to do yours, it sucks. You never want to be that guy and be the reason the team loses. All of the guys did a great job tonight, offense did a good job, just wasn't able to pull through."

The Mets (64-57) have now lost each of their last seven one-run games and are 32-30 in one-run games this season. They'll hope to save their season before it's too late, but it'll be a tough task at hand with the hot Seattle Mariners (67-55) coming to town for a three-game series this weekend.

The Mets and Braves played the final game of a three-game series on Thursday night at Citi Field.

Here are the takeaways...

- With the Mets leading, 3-2, in the eighth inning, Ryan Helsley coughed up the lead. After getting Drake Baldwin to fly out to lead off, Helsley walked Marcell Ozuna before serving up back-to-back run-scoring doubles -- the first to Michael Harris II, the second to Ozzie Albies -- as Atlanta went ahead, 4-3.

- The Mets didn't muster much after falling behind, with Lindor's one-out single in the eighth the only time they reached base the rest of the way.

- Francisco Lindorbroke a scoreless tie in the third, smoking a solo homer to center field off Braves starter Bryce Elder to give New York a 1-0 lead. It was Lindor's 22nd home run of the season.

- The inning after being staked to a lead, Kodai Senga gave up a game-tying homer to Albies with two outs in the fourth. 

It was a very strong performance for Senga overall, though, as he allowed two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out seven in 5.2 innings. The second run scored after Senga exited with runners on first and third and two outs in the sixth.

Facing Albies, Tyler Rogers allowed a run-scoring single to left field before ending the inning by inducing a dribbler in front of the plate.

- New York responded immediately in the bottom of the frame, almost entirely on the legs of Lindor. With one out, Lindor roped a single to left-center. He promptly stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Drake Baldwin.Following a Juan Soto walk, Brandon Nimmo ripped a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Lindor with the tying run. 

Soto then stole second base and came around to score on a single by Pete Alonso to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. It was Alonso's 99th RBI on the season.

Meanwhile, the stolen base by Soto was the Mets' 36th straight attempt without getting caught, which set a new franchise record.

Game MVP: Francisco Lindor

Lindor did all he could in defeat, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two singles, a stolen base, and two runs scored. 

Highlights

A 7-game hitting streak for Juan Soto pic.twitter.com/2822jmX886

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 14, 2025

Two strikeouts on forkballs for Kodai Senga in the 2nd pic.twitter.com/pyGcsgPS2b

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 14, 2025

Kodai Senga started off Jurickson Profar with a 66 mph curveball

He then dialed it up with a 97 mph fastball to strike him out pic.twitter.com/Y3ZITLSqoJ

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 14, 2025

Francisco Lindor drives his 22nd homer of the year to put the Mets on the board first! pic.twitter.com/8qvEAk2oSM

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 14, 2025

Francisco Lindor steals second and it's the Mets' 35th consecutive stolen base without being caught, tying a franchise record pic.twitter.com/kqc6uUBJTR

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2025

Juan Soto with his 19th stolen base of the season and it's the Mets' 36th consecutive stolen base without being caught, a new franchise record pic.twitter.com/V6wmMcyB57

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2025

Pete Alonso singles and gives the Mets the lead with his 99th RBI of the season! pic.twitter.com/dBzG1RhCmq

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 15, 2025

What's next

The Mets open a three-game series with the Mariners at Citi Field on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Sean Manaea gets the start for New York, opposed by Luis Castillo for Seattle.

Metsprospect Brandon Sproat made his 23rd start of the season for Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, but it became a night to forget.

The right-hander allowed five earned runs on three hits over 3.1 innings, striking out six Rochester Red Wings and walking three.

Sproat tossed a 1-2-3 first inning with two strikeouts before allowing two runs in the second inning. He bounced back for another 1-2-3 frame in the third inning, but things fell apart in the fourth inning. 

The 24-year-old walked the first two batters he faced and allowed a two-run double as Rochester took a 4-2 lead. Sproat then got a ground out before another run crossed the plate due to Luisangel Acuña's fielding error. Richard Lovelady replaced Sproat and ended up allowing a two-run homer, tacking another run onto Sproat's scorecard.

Sproat's season ERA now sits at 4.40 after the rough outing. The five earned runs are the most he's allowed in a game since he gave up six earned runs in back-to-back starts on May 14 and May 20.

He was named International League Pitcher of the Month for July after pitching to a 0.67 ERA with a 0.81 WHIP and 33 strikeouts over 27.0 innings.

Despite Thursday's game, the righty may not make many more starts at Triple-A. Mets top pitching prospect Nolan McLeanis being called up to make his debut Saturday against the Seattle Mariners with Frankie Montas moving to the bullpen. Sproat could possibly join McLean in the bigs before the season and help New York during their postseason push.

Yankees pitchers Ryan Yarbrough and Fernando Cruz began rehab assignments with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night, and it was a mixed bag for the two.

Yarbrough started the RailRiders' game against Indianapolis and got off to a good start. After stranding a runner in the first inning, Yarbrough made his one mistake in the second. He got the first two batters out -- one on a pop out and the other called out on strikes -- before Alika Williams smashed a 1-1 fastball over the plate for a solo shot. Williams' blast went 419 feet with an exit velocity of 101.6 mph.

That would be the only run Yarbrough would give up, and he finished his night with a 1-2-3 third inning, all on ground outs.

Yarbrough allowed one run on three hits and no walks across three innings (37 pitches/25 strikes) while striking out three batters.

When Yarbrough went down with an oblique strain in mid-June, the southpaw was a part of the team's rotation, but his spot may not be there when he returns. The Yankees' rotation is currently comprised of Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren, the recently-returned Luis Gil and promising rookie Cam Schlittler. The team could conceivably option Schlittler back to the minors to limit his innings down the stretch to get Yarbrough back in the rotation, or use him in the bullpen like they did the first month of the season.

In 16 games (eight starts), Yarbrough has pitched to a 3.90 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP.

Cruz relieved Yarbrough to start the fourth inning and was in immediate trouble. After giving up a leadoff single, Cruz got a fly out before walking the third batter he faced. A stolen base followed by a single from Williams gave Indianapolis its second run of the game. 

After just four batters, Cruz's night was over. Sean Boyle allowed a single in relief of Cruz as the second run charged to the Yankees reliever crossed home plate.

Cruz tossed just 21 pitches (10 strikes) in his 0.1 inning of work, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk.

The Yanks placed Cruz on the IL back in late-June with an oblique strain, and the right-hander was finally in game action for the first time in over a month. Despite his bad outing, the Yankees need Cruz back in the bullpen as he was one of their best before the injury.

In 32 appearances, Cruz pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts across 33 innings pitched in his first season in pinstripes. He also closed two games.

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees hit the road to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game series starting on Friday...

Preview

Will Giancarlo Stanton play right field on the road?

Stanton has been the Yankees' hottest hitter for weeks now, and it's helped New York's offense while Aaron Judge was on the IL and relegated to DH duties when he returned. 

A big part of that is Stanton's ability to play right field. Of course, it's not too much to ask of Stanton to man right in Yankee Stadium, but now that the team is on the road, how will the Yankees utilize their slugger?  The Yankees are much better when Stanton and Judge are in the lineup but if Judge isn't ready, will Aaron Boone risk having Stanton play in the outfield?

The Aaron Judge of it all

Judge continues to scuffle since returning from the IL. In eight games since getting back in the lineup, Judge is 5-for-25 with eight strikeouts and just one extra-base hit. Granted that one hit was a home run back on Aug. 12, so perhaps the issues with the flexor strain haven't completely sapped his power.  It's something to monitor as the Yankees hit the road, but even more pressing is whether he can get back on the field.

The Yankees need Judge to play right field because he's a good fielder and, as previously stated, allows Stanton to play DH and give them that dual-threat. Boone said there's a possibility Judge can play in the outfield in St. Louis, but we'll see if that's the case when the series starts on Friday.

Can Max Fried find his mojo again?

Fried has not been the same since the blister on his throwing hand popped up before the All-Star break. The left-hander has made four starts since the Midsummer Classic and he has been inconsistent, pitching to a 1-2 record while allowing 14 runs across 22 innings. 

In his last start, Fried allowed four runs on eight hits over just five innings against the Astros in what would be a series-clinching win for Houston last Sunday. The start before that, he allowed four runs over five innings, again, to the Rangers. 

If the Yankees are going to make the postseason, they'll need their best pitcher to pitch at his best and he'll need to be when he takes the mound on Saturday. Fried is scheduled to pitch against Sonny Gray (11-5, 4.06 ERA), so runs could be hard to come by, especially if the Yankees lineup is going to remain inconsistent.

With the way Carlos Rodon and Will Warren have been pitching of late, Fried returning to peak form for the stretch run could be exactly what the Yankees need to clinch a wild card spot or better. 

Will Paul Goldschmidt land on IL?

Following the Yankees' loss to the Twins on Wednesday, it was revealed that Goldschmidt is dealing with a knee sprain and could be placed on the IL. Now, the veteran first baseman believes he avoided the worst and some time off is all he'll need to avoid being placed on the IL but the Yankees still have a decision to make.

If Goldschmidt is unable to at least be a pinch-hitter like he wasn't on Wednesday, the options for first base are limited. Ben Rice has become Goldschmidt's backup, and while Cody Bellinger is also capable, the bench is down too many bodies who hit right-handed, including Austin Slater and Amed Rosario. Rosario could be activated this weekend, and could be Goldschmidt's replacement if the Yankees decide to put him on the IL but that still leaves the Yankees without a viable right-handed bat. 

It's a situation to monitor when the series starts on Friday.

Lineup/Bullpen changes

As the race to make a postseason spot continues, Boone has begun to favor certain hitters over others. Trent Grisham is having a career year and that has taken playing time away from Jasson Dominguez. Austin Wells' slump that has lasted all summer has made Rice the No. 1 catcher at the moment. There's no reason that Boone will revert to using Wells and Dominguez in the starting lineup this weekend but if Rice or Grisham start to slump, it could happen.

And then there's the bullpen. Ryan Yarbrough and Fernando Cruz had rehab outings with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday evening, and if both come out of it feeling healthy, they could be in play to return to the team soon. 

Predictions

Who will the MVP of the series be?

Aaron Judge 

This will be the series Judge finally awakens offensively. He needed to get his first home run out of the way, and now that he has, he can get back to what he does best.

Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?

Max Fried

It's hard to bet against Fried, it's even tougher to bet that Fried will have three consecutive bad starts.

Which Cardinals player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?

Willson Contreras

The veteran right-hander seems to hit home runs in bunches and after missing a game due to being hit in the foot by a pitch, he should be fully rested.

Phillies' night sours in 7th inning of series-opening loss to Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — For the first time since being swept in late June by the Astros, the Phillies have a true losing streak.

They fell to a third consecutive defeat Thursday night at Nationals Park, dropping a 3-2 game to Washington in the opener of a four-game series. 

The 69-52 Phillies have totaled three runs during the three-game streak. The team is now 4-3 on its 10-game road trip. 

Starter Jesus Luzardo dipped to 11-6 on the season. He went six-plus innings and allowed four hits and three runs. Luzardo struck out seven and walked three. 

Luzardo’s sweeper was especially sharp in the early going. He notched five strikeouts over the first two innings, four on sweepers.

The sweeper is a new pitch for Luzardo this season and it’s been elite. Entering Thursday, batters had a .189 average and 43.8 percent whiff rate against it, according to Baseball Savant.

The Phillies didn’t need any loud contact against Nationals righty Brad Lord to take the lead in the third inning. Bryson Stott led off by squibbing a double over the third-base bag and Trea Turner followed with an infield single. After Kyle Schwarber struck out, Bryce Harper tapped an RBI ground ball to shortstop. 

Washington tied it up an inning later. Paul DeJong cracked a first-pitch Luzardo fastball just over the left-field wall. 

The Phils bounced right back with two outs in the fifth. 

Turner picked up another infield hit, and this one came with a shattered bat. Schwarber then clubbed a 3-1 heater off the right-center wall and Turner scored the go-ahead run. He added a third infield knock in the seventh inning. 

Luzardo’s seventh was not smooth at all.

DeJong walked, Riley Adams doubled and Daylen Lile walked. Luzardo exited and Orion Kerkering entered with no outs and the bases loaded.

He couldn’t escape the inherited trouble. Jose Tena ripped a one-out hit to left-center through the Phillies’ drawn-in infield and Washington went on top.

The Phillies threatened to even the game in the top of the ninth but couldn’t manage it. 

Max Kepler singled and Edmundo Sosa got him to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Bryson Stott then grounded out to first and the game ended with Turner waving at a Cole Henry sinker in on his hands. 

Bohm’s rehab stint 

Alec Bohm went 2 for 5 in Triple-A Lehigh Valley’s Thursday night game. That puts him at 3 for 17 overall with a homer and a triple in four rehab outings as he works his way back from a fractured left rib. 

How much longer will Bohm’s rehab assignment last? 

“Through tomorrow for sure, and then we’ll see,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame. 

Pitching plans 

The scheduled starters Friday night are the Phils’ Zack Wheeler (10-5, 2.68 ERA) and the Nats’ MacKenzie Gore (5-12, 4.09 ERA). 

With the Phillies moving to a six-man rotation for the time being, Taijuan Walker will start Saturday and Aaron Nola will return Sunday. Ranger Suarez is set to pitch Monday in Philadelphia against the Mariners. 

Phillies' night sours in 7th inning of series-opening loss to Nationals originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — For the first time since being swept in late June by the Astros, the Phillies have a true losing streak.

They fell to a third consecutive defeat Thursday night at Nationals Park, dropping a 3-2 game to Washington in the opener of a four-game series. 

The 69-52 Phillies have totaled three runs during the three-game streak. The team is now 4-3 on its 10-game road trip. 

“Just probably trying to do a little bit too much,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of his club’s recent struggles pushing across runs. “We’ve got to get back to using the entire field, doing the little things. Big things will happen.

“It’s not like they’re not working at it. You can hear a bunch of hitters in the cages right now. We’ve just got to fight through it.”

Starter Jesus Luzardo dipped to 11-6 on the season. He went six-plus innings and allowed four hits and three runs. Luzardo struck out seven and walked three. 

Luzardo’s sweeper was especially sharp in the early going. He notched five strikeouts over the first two innings, four on sweepers.

The sweeper is a new pitch for Luzardo this season and it’s been elite. Entering Thursday, batters had a .189 average and 43.8 percent whiff rate against it, according to Baseball Savant.

“Being able to land that thing has been big all year,” Luzardo said. “Just being able to throw it for strikes, throw it for chase, throw it in big counts, leverage counts — maybe 3-2 or 2-2 counts where most guys are looking for the fastball. … I think I went through a rough stretch where I didn’t have a really good feel for it, but lately it’s been a good weapon for me again.”

The Phillies didn’t need any loud contact against Nationals righty Brad Lord to take the lead in the third inning. Bryson Stott led off by squibbing a double over the third-base bag and Trea Turner followed with an infield single. After Kyle Schwarber struck out, Bryce Harper tapped an RBI ground ball to shortstop. 

Washington tied it up an inning later. Paul DeJong cracked a first-pitch Luzardo fastball just over the left-field wall. 

The Phils bounced right back with two outs in the fifth. 

Turner picked up another infield hit, and this one came with a shattered bat. Schwarber then clubbed a 3-1 heater off the right-center wall and Turner scored the go-ahead run. He added a third infield knock in the seventh inning. 

Luzardo’s seventh was not smooth at all.

DeJong walked, Riley Adams doubled and Daylen Lile walked. Luzardo exited and Orion Kerkering entered with no outs and the bases loaded.

“I thought I threw the ball well, felt really good going into the seventh,” Luzardo said. “Just frustrated with the way it ended, obviously, walking two guys. … The hit happens, but the walks are kind of what rubs me the wrong way about the outing.

“But besides that, I think the first six were great. We got through a good lineup, just kind of mixed and matched, kept them off balance.”

Kerkering couldn’t escape the inherited trouble. Jose Tena ripped a one-out hit to left-center through the Phillies’ drawn-in infield and the Nationals went on top.

The Phillies threatened to even the game in the top of the ninth but couldn’t manage it. 

Max Kepler singled and Edmundo Sosa got him to second base with a sacrifice bunt on a 3-1 count.

“Just the fact that we wanted to tie it up, because I felt like we had more bullpen than they did,” Thomson said of the bunt decision. “And win it in extra innings if we didn’t score two in the ninth.”

Bryson Stott grounded out to first and the game ended with Turner waving at a Cole Henry sinker in on his hands. 

Bohm’s rehab stint 

Alec Bohm went 2 for 5 in Triple-A Lehigh Valley’s Thursday night game. That puts him at 3 for 17 overall with a homer and a triple in four rehab outings as he works his way back from a fractured left rib. 

How much longer will Bohm’s rehab assignment last? 

“Through tomorrow for sure, and then we’ll see,” Thomson said pregame. 

Pitching plans 

The scheduled starters Friday night are the Phils’ Zack Wheeler (10-5, 2.68 ERA) and the Nats’ MacKenzie Gore (5-12, 4.09 ERA). 

With the Phillies moving to a six-man rotation for the time being, Taijuan Walker will start Saturday and Aaron Nola will return Sunday. Ranger Suarez is set to pitch Monday in Philadelphia against the Mariners. 

Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza met with reporters ahead of Thursday's rubber game with the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field.

Here's what the second-year manager had to say...

Frankie Montas available out of the bullpen

Mendoza confirmed that Thursday night's game will mark the first time that starter-turned-reliever Frankie Montas will be available to pitch out of the bullpen, given the fact that he would be pitching on his standard four days rest. 

And while the club anticipates using him in a Paul Blackburn-esque role as a long man, Mendoza made it clear that life in the bullpen isn't always that straightforward. 

"That’s the one thing when we were talking to him, we’ll do our best to give him more time to get loose, but life in the bullpen, things happen fast," Mendoza said. "Right now, his spot is in the bullpen and whenever we call his name, we’re counting on him. So, he’s going to play a big role for us up there, and he’ll step out."

"He’s on regular rest," Mendoza said later. "…Probably a multi-inning guy, like the long man out of the bullpen, but you never know. Things happen, and who knows if we play extra innings and he’s pitching because of where we’re at. As of right now, I see him more in the Blackburn role, length, but there are going to be days that, depending on where we’re at bullpen-wise, he might be asked to pitch multiple innings."

Nothing changing with Clay Holmes' role

With Clay Holmes' season innings count now at 126.0, the righty is closing in on doubling his previous career best of 70.0 innings in 2021. And while there was never a doubt that Holmes would blow past his previous innings numbers, given that this is his first full season as a starter, some signs of fatigue are beginning to show. 

Holmes has pitched to a 5.79 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP over his last seven starts, and he has not made it past the sixth inning since June 7. 

Still, Mendoza believes that Holmes is in a good place physically, noting that he checks in with he training staff after every outing, as does every other starter.

"He continues to check those boxes, and in talking to him, he keeps saying he’s fine," Mendoza said. "The numbers and everything keep saying that he’s in a good place. We will continue to monitor it, but nothing differently."

So Holmes will remain in the starting rotation?

"Yeah," Mendoza said. "I mean, he’s going to keep getting opportunities."

Nola to return for series finale in D.C., Phils to use 6-man rotation (for now)  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

WASHINGTON — Aaron Nola has joined the Phillies at the final stop of their 10-game road trip. 

He’ll take the ball for their series finale against the Nationals, too. 

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said ahead of Thursday’s series opener that Nola will start Sunday. The Phils will slide Ranger Suarez back to Monday night vs. the Mariners and — at least for now — expand their rotation to six starters. 

Nola hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since May 14. He was first sidelined by an ankle sprain, then a right rib stress fracture. Before that, Nola had a rough start to his 2025 season, posting a 6.16 ERA in nine starts. 

He fared well in three rehab appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, allowing three runs over 12 and 1/3 innings. Nola racked up 11 strikeouts in his final start.

As for the shift to a six-man rotation, Thomson wouldn’t commit to anything long term. 

“Once for sure, and then we’ve got some other ideas about how to attack this thing as we move forward,” he said. 

Zack Wheeler has recently dealt with shoulder soreness and his velocity was down last time out. Ranger Suarez’s season ERA has jumped from 2.15 to 3.28 over his past five starts.

The rotation has been a major strength for the Phils, whose starters have a National League-best 3.42 ERA. Thomson wants to be cautious about health and freshness. 

“Just getting some of these guys some extra rest, because we’ve been grinding on them pretty hard all year,” he said. “The one downside to it is you’ve got to take somebody out of your bullpen, so you’re a little bit short there, but we’ll just have to figure it out.”

Alvarado on track 

Barring any unexpected developments, the Phillies still plan to have Jose Alvarado back in their bullpen mix next Tuesday.

That’s the day the 30-year-old lefty is able to return from the 80-game suspension he received for testing positive for exogenous testosterone. He’s ineligible to pitch in this year’s postseason. 

Alvarado has not had a rusty rehab stint. In three Triple-A innings, he’s conceded zero runs. 

“It’s like he didn’t even leave,” Thomson said. “He looks like he’s in midseason form. 

“Sometimes guys, when they’ve had time off and come back, they go through kind of a dead arm period. Hopefully, he doesn’t do that. But so far it’s been really, really good.”

Red Sox getting some schedule relief for playoff push after daunting stretch originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are through the gauntlet.

They survived.

Mostly.

After entering the All-Star break on a season-high 10-game winning streak, the Red Sox were welcomed back to action with a brutal schedule, with seven of their first eight series in the unofficial second half coming against teams with a .500 record or better at the start of those series. That included some teams that significantly cleared the .500 hurdle, like the Cubs (57-39), Dodgers (60-43), and Astros (62-47 at the start of one series, 66-52 at the start of the next).

And though they certainly hit their struggles with a 1-4 stretch to start and more recently a three-game losing streak, the Red Sox posted a respectable 13-11 record over that span. They’re 66-56 on the year, and they’re firmly in the second wild-card position with a 1.5-game lead over New York and a 2.5-game lead over the Guardians, who are on the outside looking in at the moment. Through that daunting stretch of the schedule, the Red Sox largely did their job.

Now, like a cold front moving in at the end of a heat wave, here comes the relief.

After catching their breath with a day off on Thursday following a series loss in Houston, the Red Sox will begin a stretch with eight of 11 series coming against teams with a losing record.

That includes some middling teams like Miami (four games under .500 entering Thursday), Cleveland (five games under), Arizona (four games under), and Tampa Bay (four games under). Yet it also includes some of the league’s basement dwellers, like two series against the A’s (15 games under .500), a three-game home series against the Pirates (20 games under), and six games against the Orioles (12 games under .500).

And even two of their series against an over-.500 team come with a caveat, as they’ll play seven games against the Yankees. New York sits at 64-57, but they’ve arguably been baseball’s biggest mess this month. The Yankees are 4-8 in August, after starting the month with a five-game losing streak. A series win this week over the Twins may work to stabilize the team, but the Red Sox have to hope those struggles continue for the Yankees through their series in New York (Aug. 21-24) and perhaps even through the series in Boston (Sept. 12-14).

All told, between now and Sept. 21, the Red Sox will face eight opponents who entered Thursday with a combined record of 461-508, a .476 winning percentage.

After that, they’ll close the season against the teams that are currently the two best in the American League: the Blue Jays and Tigers. But the Red Sox have done their job against sub-.500 teams this season, currently owning a 33-21 record against them thus far. If you want to play the theoretical game, they can go 15-9 against the sub-.500 teams down the stretch, which would get them to 81 wins. And if they can tread water in their 16 games against teams over .500, they’ll get themselves to 89. And 89 wins has been enough to earn an AL wild-card spot every year since MLB added the third wild card in 2022.

That, though, is the theoretical. In real life, it’s much simpler: After enduring a tough month-long stretch against some of baseball’s best teams, the Red Sox now face a much easier schedule for the next month. In their quest to make the postseason for the first time in four years, they’ll make life a whole lot easier on themselves if they can feast.