Baseball fans got a glimpse of Tarik Skubal wearing Dodger blue.
It happened when the two-time Cy Young Award winner was in his new team’s dugout on Sunday, Aug. 2. Now the baseball world can see Skubal wearing Dodger blue where he’s at his best: On the pitcher's mound.
He'll head to the mound with a 7-5 record and 2.79 ERA, and he's been better than that over the past five weeks. In his past six outings, Skubal has given up only eight earned runs in 37 innings for an ERA of 1.95. But his last outing with Detroit captured his life as a Tiger.
He looked ecstatic when he greeted Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in the team’s dugout Sunday night.
His scheduled start against the Cubs will be the chance for Dodgers fans to see Skubal on the mound in Dodger blue. And a chance for the baseball world outside of Los Angeles to grind their teeth in resentment.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 02: Mitch Keller #23 and Endy Rodríguez #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates meet in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 02, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are going to be without one of their top starting pitchers for the rest of the season. The team announced that Mitch Keller has a teres major muscle injury in his right shoulder and that he will be out.
Keller won’t be eligible to be activated back on the active roster till October 2 and the regular season ends on September 27.
Keller won’t be allowed to throw for six to eight weeks, preventing a possible return. The teres major is one of the major muscles controlling the shoulder joint, extending from the shoulder blade to the top of the arm.
The injury could have something to do with the offseason that Keller is having. He has 5.29 ERA in 22 starts and a 6-8 record.
The 30-year-old’s last outing was one his worst starts of his career, only lasting two innings and allowing seven earned runs in the 10-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The start was frustrating for Keller because it also came after he put together two starts where he allowed two earned runs over 10 1/3 innings to seemingly start to get his season back on track.
Even though Keller has been inconsistent this season, it is still a big loss for a Pirates starting rotation that has been pretty healthy. Jared Jones started the season on the 60-day IL but has been playing well since coming back.
The Pirates recalled Brandon Eisert from Triple-A Indianapolis to join the roster as a replacement for Keller. The Bucs went all in on relief pitchers during the trade deadline and didn’t go after a starting pitcher.
We could see Carmen Mlodzinski be put back into the rotation after leaving to go to the bullpen in late May. The right-hander is 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 25 appearances/nine starts this season.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: Offday, though not in terms of impact. George Lombard Jr. was promoted to the Yankees, with Anthony Volpe, Jasson Domínguez, and Angel Chivilli heading down to Triple-A. Jake Bird (dealt to Washington) and Kervin Castro (promoted) will also need replacements in the bullpen. Max Schuemann is one, as he was a big-league roster casualty with Luis García Jr. in tow.
Double-A Somerset Patriots: Offday; they’ll need to replace trade chips Ben Grable and Jack Cebert, who both went to the Nationals in the García trade.
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades: Offday; they’ll need to replace trade chips Henry Lalane and Kaeden Kent, who both went to the Giants in the Heliot Ramos trade.
Low-A Tampa Tarpons: Offday
Florida Complex League Yankees: Season over
Dominican Summer League Yankees:W, 12-0 vs. DSL Rockies
CF Isaias Castillo 1-4, K, SB PH-LF Emmanuel Orozco 0-0, BB SS Stiven Marinez 0-4, BB, SB 2B Juan Torres 3-3, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, SB, fielding error — 18-year-old has crushed rookie ball with a 1.059 OPS this year LF-CF Luis Cruz 2-4, 2 RBI, BB C Juan Martinez 1-5, 2 RBI 1B Cesar Lopez 1-4, HR, RBI, BB, 2 K DH Poly Ojeda 2-5, RBI, K RF Stalen Ramirez 1-4, 3B, 2 RBI, K 3B Adrian Feliz 0-3, 2 K
Hector Moreno 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K Fredy Penuelas 4.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K (win) Cesar Vivanco 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K — an impressive 16 K’s for the Yanks staff
Dominican Summer League Bombers:L, 14-3 at DSL Colorado
CF Ruben Castillo 1-4, HR, RBI 2B Dariel Santana 1-4, 2 K C Alessandro Rodriguez 2-3 PH-C Jesus Guerrero 0-1, K 3B Carlos Bello 0-3, BB, K, GIDP, fielding error RF David Carrera 1-3, K RF Eliezer Adames 0-1, K DH Kenneth Melendez 0-4, 2 K SS Germayhoni Beltre 1-4, 2B, SB, fielding error LF Sebastian Pint 0-3, K 1B Alfred Ciriaco 2-3, HR, RBI
Sebastian Castillo 3 IP, 6 H, 6 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 1 K (loss) Randy Angomas 3.1 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2 HBP — Randy had a good go of it his last time out, but this is now the seventh time in ten appearances he’s allowed five-plus runs Breidy Adames 1.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
It's starting to feel like revenge season in Boston, where a club that went 10-17 with the fired Alex Cora is now a seemingly unbeatable 50-34 with interim-but-probably-permanent manager Chad Tracy.
Lost in the hubbub of Tarik Skubal's arrival in L.A. was the Red Sox schooling the Dodgers over three games, running their unstoppable streak to 23 wins in 26 games, moving within five games of first place.
They now have a virtual lock on the No. 2 wild card and also Adley Rutschman in the fold, ready to upgrade their putrid production at catcher while Cedanne Rafaela continues his MVP run. All that's left is home cooking: The Red Sox are 25-29 at Fenway Park and welcome the Central-leading White Sox and free-falling Athletics to the Fens this week.
It wouldn't be surprising if they had a winning home record by week's end.
Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Michael Conforto, Tyrone Taylor...is this Queens Midwest?
7. Boston Red Sox (+3)
Imagine telling a Red Sox fan two years ago that Kyle Teel and Marcelo Mayer were gone, Roman Anthony slipping out of favor and Kristian Campbell buried in the minors.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 03: Luis García Jr. #26 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium on August 3, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The dust has settled on the MLB Trade Deadline. After weeks of anticipation, the Yankees came away with a thinner haul than most probably expected, picking up a pair of hitters in Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos but not doing much else, content to maintain the status quo with their pitching staff, and with their catching situation. The latter decision stuck out like a sore thumb, as their direct division rivals, the Red Sox and Rays, made major backstop additions yesterday, Boston landing Adley Rutschman in a blockbuster, and the Rays picking up Liam Hicks from the Marlins.
It’s not the deadline most fans were hoping for, and though the Yankees are better today than they were a few days ago (heck, even a few hours ago, as they swapped out Anthony Volpe for top prospects George Lombard Jr. and demoted Jasson Domínguez to make room for Ramos), it remains to be seen if they’ve done enough to either win the division or the American League. So, now that the stage has been set, let’s ask: where do the Yankees rank among AL contenders? Can you make a case that the Yankees are favorites to win the American League?
I can already hear a loud chorus of fans ready to answer an incredulous “No!”. The case against seems fairly obvious: the Yankees have been unable to hit their way out of a paper bag the last eight weeks, their offensive production at catcher has been a nightmare, and multiple players on the infield dirt have not played to expectations. The Yankees have struggled of late, still are waiting to get some key players back from the injured list, and are behind in the standings 3.5 games back of the first-place Rays.
But I think there’s an equally plausible case for the Bombers. No, they didn’t add pitching at the deadline, content to go with what they have. In this case, though, playing to the status quo is in the Yankees’ favor (last night’s Cam Schlittler dud and Angel Chivilli meltdown notwithstanding). They entered the deadline with the best ERA in baseball by distance this season, and that’s with arguably four of their five most talented starting pitchers all missing significant chunks of the season due to injury. The conventional wisdom heading into the deadline was that the Yankees were pitching the lights out, but needed to add bats, and that’s what happened.
And after doing that, their roster projects as well as any in the (American) League. In fact, by FanGraphs projections, the roster is tops in the AL the rest of the way, and not only that, FanGraphs’ playoff odds have the Yankees with the best pennant odds in the Junior Circuit. That is thanks in no small part to the wide-open nature of the AL. FanGraphs gives the three AL division leaders a combined chance of winning the league of roughly one-in-three, compared to roughly three-in-four odds for the NL division leaders.
There are a couple hinge points in those projections that forecast the Yankees as tops in the AL. One, of course, is the status of Aaron Judge, who is projected to produce a .986 OPS in 78 plate appearances. Is that OPS figure, and that plate appearance amount, optimistic? Pessimistic? It’s possible Judge returns in September and hits at a high level (Brian Cashman has indicated that’s what the team expects), but it feels just as plausible that Judge doesn’t play again this year. Also highly influential is one’s estimation of the Yankees’ catching situation; FanGraphs rather charitably pegs the team’s catcher’s room as tenth best rest-of-season, partially because Austin Wells and Co. have always rated well defensively, and because Wells in particular has underperformed his offensive peripherals in 2026.
It can be hard to feel optimistic through long periods of iffy play and avalanches of injuries, but the Yankee roster at anything resembling full health should be favored against any AL team. What do you think? Is that an overly optimistic view? Or do you believe the projections that still see this as the top squad in the AL?
On the site today, we’ll have loads more reaction to the Trade Deadline, with analysis of both of the Yankees’ major moves. We’ll also have a recap of a light Monday of action from Andrew, and a profile of Roger Clemens, who turns 64 today. Later, Michael analyzes the week that was down on the farm, while Josh and John our AL West and Central monthly rundowns.
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 01: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Saturday, August 1, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on a bad streak of games since coming back from the All-Star break, and could be slipping out of the playoff race.
FanDuel Sportsbook has released their current odds for teams to make the postseason, and currently project Pittsburgh being on the outside looking in come October. The Pirates have the 17th best odds to make the playoffs with +520 odds. Unfortunately for Pirates’ fans the team is more likely to miss the playoffs with -870 odds to miss the postseason.
After the Pirates recent collapse against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds there are definitely some questions that need to be answered if the team is going to make a serious push towards October. The team now sits at 57-57 on the season, while placing third in the National League Central. They’re 4-6 in their last ten and are now 3.5 games back from the last Wild Card spot in the NL. Since returning from the All-Star break the team is 7-10 and have been allowing their opponents to score a lot of runs against them in recent contests.
Welcome to the Pirates bullpen Camilo Doval. 10 spot. Blowout city. This is bad. Really bad. pic.twitter.com/ATM6NlZtuF
Although it looks like the team is looking to buy and add to this squad, the odds are stacked against them as August gets underway. They have not been able to beat the teams that on paper they should like the cellar dwelling Reds, and they haven’t looked very competitive against the better teams in the league like the Cubs or the Dbacks.
The stacked NL Central isn’t going to make their path to the playoffs any easier either as it’s been difficult all season to find any breathing room within the division. The Pirates embark on a four game series against the Milwaukee Brewers next, a team that is currently tied for the best record in baseball with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The second place Chicago Cubs also seem to be surging while the Pirates are sliding, going 6-4 in their last ten, and of course have a recent series victory over Pittsburgh. The Cubs currently have a four game advantage in the Wild Card race, holding firmly onto the first place spot.
The Pirates are certainly not out of the race yet, but this is the wrong time of the season to be looking as flat as they are right now. The lineup has lacked run production, the pitching staff has been erratic in both the rotation and the bullpen, and management has made some bone-headed decisions as of late. This squad needs to regroup if they hope to prove the odds makers wrong and secure a spot in the postseason.
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 28: George Lombard Jr. of the New York Yankees poses for a photo during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 28, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NY Post | Greg Joyce: The Yankees’ top prospect, George Lombard Jr., has rapidly climbed his way up prospect rankings as he’s jumped through each level of the minors. This year he’s really turned on the burners, crushing Double-A before getting a midseason promotion to Triple-A and whittling down his adjustment time to a mere month or so before finding his groove. An injury slowed down his ETA and raised some doubts about whether he could contribute to the 2026 team’s playoff push, but doubt no more: Lombard is getting the call to The Show. The 21-year-old shortstop is expected to officially debut tomorrow after the team demoted Anthony Volpe (alongside Jasson Domínguez and Angel Chivilli). The team held off on trading their blue chip infielder, and for a change they’re going to immediately plug him into the big league lineup alongside new additions Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos to revamp what has been a lifeless offense.
AP | Larry Fleisher: Speaking of the deadline, the Yankees ended up not doing nearly as much as they were expected to on the final day. They came to an agreement with the Giants to land Ramos, but couldn’t get traction on anything else as they failed to land an upgrade at catcher or in the bullpen. Brian Cashman said that he tried for several flashier moves though, checking in with the Tigers on Tarik Skubal and Baltimore with Adley Rutschman. The former didn’t go far as the Tigers apparently were set on the deal they got from the Dodgers while the Yankees were the ones unwilling to continue negotiating with Baltimore as the price was set too high for them.
NY Daily News | Peter Sblendorio: While all of the trades were being completed, one other significant topic on reporters’ minds was the status of Aaron Judge and his injured ribs. Cashman gave an update of sorts when addressing the media following the deadline, saying that there was a “pretty high likelihood” that Judge will return this season. The team couldn’t rule out the possibility of Judge sitting on the shelf for the rest of 2026 but expressed optimism that he was still on pace to return, adding that they’ll have a clearer picture once Judge goes through re-imaging on his ribs. Not exactly reassuring, but also not surprising considering how vague his timeline has been since getting placed on the IL in the first place.
Central Jersey | Mike Ashmore: Mickey Mantle’s legacy with the Yankees needs no introduction, and even after 30 years since his passing his family remains a beloved part of the organization. Mantle’s two living sons, David and Danny, were in Somerset on Saturday to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and got to meet with a crowd of folks wearing their father’s retired No. 7 on their backs.
In this week’s Injury Report, James Wood exits Monday’s contest with an apparent oblique issue. The Rays add reinforcements after Shane McClanahan landed on the injured list with a back injury. And Kyle Harrison is set to return this week following a successful rehab appearance. All that and more as we cover the latest relevant injury news around the league.
⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.
James Wood (side)
Wood was replaced in the field in the eighth inning of Monday’s contest against the Phillies with an oblique issue following a swing in the sixth inning. Nationals manager Blake Butera said after the game that Wood would undergo an MRI on his left side. The fear here is an oblique injury that could lead to a multi-week absence. Fantasy managers will want to keep an eye out for an update on Tuesday. The 23-year-old outfielder has been one of the most productive hitters in the game, slashing .265/.393/.535 with 30 homers, 100 runs scored, 73 RBI, and 17 steals across 535 plate appearances.
McClanahan was removed three innings into his start against the Rangers last Thursday with lower back tightness. The Rays placed him on the 15-day injured list with mid-back tightness the following day. President of baseball operations Erik Neander called the injury “pretty minor” with hopes that he’ll miss just a couple of starts. It makes sense for the Rays to take a cautious approach as they sit at the top of the AL East standings, especially after acquiring Freddy Peralta from the Mets. McClanahan has pitched well in his first season back since 2023, posting a 3.09 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 91 strikeouts over 99 innings.
Matt Chapman (abdomen)
Casey Schmitt (knee)
Chapman appeared to be getting close to a return from an abdomen injury that’s kept him sidelined since early July. He apparently still has trouble running and underwent an MRI on Monday after meeting with team doctors. We should know more in the coming days. Meanwhile, Schmitt’s season is likely over after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 27-year-old infielder had enjoyed a breakout campaign before the injury, slashing .271/.301/.483 with 21 homers over 409 plate appearances.
Kyle Harrison (forearm)
Harrison made a rehab start with High-A Wisconsin on Thursday and tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings on 68 pitches. He allowed one hit, walked three, and struck out five. The 24-year-old left-hander came out of it feeling good, passing his final hurdle before he’s activated from the injured list. Out since July 11 with left forearm tightness, he’ll end his absence this week with a return against the Pirates on Wednesday or Thursday. With Harrison returning and Dustin May joining the team in a trade with the Cardinals, Milwaukee could deploy a six-man rotation to keep starters fresh for a playoff run.
Brendan Donovan (groin)
Donovan has wrapped up a minor league rehab assignment and is set to be activated from the injured list on Tuesday for Seattle’s series opener against the Tigers. The 29-year-old infielder has been sidelined since mid-May with a groin injury. He’s been limited to just 25 games, hitting .274/.386/.452 with three homers over 101 plate appearances.
Dalton Rushing (arm)
Rushing was scratched from Sunday’s lineup against the Red Sox with an arm injury that the team deemed minor at the time. But Rushing was also out of Monday’s lineup against the Cubs while the Dodgers added catching depth with Ben Rortvedt at the trade deadline. Shortly after, Rushing was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Meanwhile, Will Smith is still likely a couple of weeks away from returning after resuming baseball activities just last week. Smith has been sidelined since early June with a neck injury.
Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow)
Fantasy managers can probably give up any hope of Schwellenbach making an impact this season. The 26-year-old right-hander said on Friday that he remains optimistic that he’ll make his season debut in September. He has a couple of bullpen sessions left before he advances to facing hitters. At that rate, he’d likely be cleared for a rehab assignment in mid-to-late August and would likely require at least a few starts before joining the Braves. Schwellenbach hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 28, 2025, dealing with elbow issues.
Blake Snell (elbow)
Tyler Glasnow (back)
Snell made his third rehab start last Wednesday with Low-A Ontario, striking out nine over four scoreless innings. He’s set to make one final rehab start on Tuesday, aiming to throw 75 pitches in a final tune-up before joining the Dodgers rotation. The 33-year-old left-hander made one start this season for Los Angeles before undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow in May. He’ll join a Dodgers rotation that just added Tarik Skubal as the team loads up for another deep playoff run. And Glasnow isn’t too far behind Snell. He’s set to make his first rehab start with Low-A Ontario on Tuesday after completing a pair of live batting practice sessions. The 32-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since May 6 with back issues. He’ll likely need a few outings before a potential return later in August.
Nick Lodolo (blister)
Lodolo landed on the injured list before the All-Star break as his blister issues on his left index finger resurfaced. After throwing a bullpen session last week, he’s ready to start a minor league rehab assignment. The 28-year-old left-hander is aiming to throw 60 to 65 pitches in a start with Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Even when available, Lodolo hasn’t been nearly as effective this season, posting a 4.60 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts over 62 2/3 innings.
Jul 21, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Some quick grades for the Jays deadline day deals.
Kevin Gausman to the Cubs for Ty Southisene and Brett Bateman
Gausman’s having the poorest season of his five with the Jays, but still has a 102 ERA+, so he’s still a useful pitcher. And he could step it up in a pennant race. The Jays didn’t send any money along with Kevin.
Southisene was listed as the Cubs #10 prospect by Baseball America. He’s 21, and has played most of this season in High-A ball. hitting .326/.451/.372. I do like guys who get on half the time. But he has no power and I think pitchers will throw him more strikes as he moves up the ladder. He can play short or second. Could end up a utility players. Has some speed.
Bateman is #21 on MLB Pipeline’s list of Cub prospects. He’s a lefty bat, hitting .312/.430/.421 with 20 steals in Triple-A. Could be a lefty hitting Myles Straw-type. I’d imagine we’ll see him in Toronto before the end of the season.
Quick Grade: C. Not an overwhelming return for Gausman, but I don’t know that you could have hoped for much more.
Arjun Nimmala, Eddie Macheletti, and Angel Rivero to Angels for José Soriano
In the middle of all this selling, the Jays became buyers.
Soriano won’t be a free agent until 2029. He’s been a good pitcher for the Angels, with a 3.29 ERA and a 2.7 bWAR this year in 22 starts. Career, he has a 7.0 bWAR in 113 games 73 starts. He, Cease and Yesavage could be a very good threesome at the top of our rotation.
Nimmala is a very good prospect. I hate losing him, but you have to give up something to get a starter like Soriano.
Quick Grade: B. Depends on what Nimmala becomes.
Adam Macko to Rangers for Josh Smith and Josh Stephan
Macko has been on the highway from Toronto to Buffalo a lot. He’s been perfectly ok. Macko is out of options after this year.
Smith has had five years in the MLB. He’s played every position other than catcher and pitcher. In 2024 he had a 3.5 bWAR and in 2025 a 2.9 bWAR. This year hasn’t been as good, -0.6. He’s hitting .213/.299/.272. And he’s, more or less, major league average defensively where ever he’s played. We do seem to like utility infielders. If he can be the player he was the last couple of years, he would be useful. If not, he can’t be optioned.
Stephan is a 24-year-old RHP. He has a 5.44 ERA in Triple-A this year. He gets ground balls. He could have Macko’s job of bouncing between Buffalo and Toronto if all goes well.
Quick Grade: C. Macko’s value was that he had options, that changes next year. Smith either remembers how to hit or spends a lot of time in Buffalo.
Daulton Varsho to Astros for Spencer Arrighetti
Varsho was having a terrible season for the Jays. The team is sending some money to Houston as well. He’s a free agent at the end of the season.
Spencer Arrighetti is 27, a right-handed pitcher, who can’t be a free agent until 2030 and he still has an option year left. He was a sixth round pick in the 2021 draft. He’s in his third season in the majors. This year he has a 4.60 ERA in 17 starts. In 88 innings, he’s got 87 strikeouts, but 50 walks. Batters are hitting .215/.344/.360 against him. If Pete Walker can work a little magic and bring his walk rate down, he could be a decent back of the rotation starter. As we’ve seen this year, you can never have too much pitching.
Quick Grade: A. Turning two months of Varsho into a starting pitcher with three-years of control left is pretty good. If Walker can help him find the strike zone more, it would be a great trade.
Jeff Hoffman to the Twins for Dasan Hill, John Klein and Dameury Pena
Hoffman was not a fan favourite, had a very rough time as our closer, but was excellent since moving into the setup roles. It’s entirely possible that he will be great for the Twins. He is signed through next season.
The Twins pick up their second Jays reliever in a month, after getting Tommy Nance. They give up:
Hill, who Baseball America had as their #8 Twins prospect is a left-handed pitcher. He was their Competitive Balance pick in 2024 (the 69th overall pick). He walks too many, but struck out 35% of batters this year. If he can’t cut down the walk rate, well he could be a back of the pen reliever. If he does cut back, he could be a very good starting pitcher.
Klein is 24, a RHP. He’s has pitched 4.1 innings in the majors this year. In Triple-A, he has a 5.91 ERA this year, with 74 strikeouts in 64 innings (also 34 walks and 14 home runs). He looks like a middle reliever type. Hopefully, Pete can work a bit of magic with him.
Pena turns 21 September first. He’s playing mostly second base in A ball but sounds unlikely to stay in the middle infield. He’s hitting .300/.373/.362. Lots of walk, not many strikeouts, but not enough power to make it as an outfielder. Some speed, but seems a long shot to have a major league career.
Quick Grade: A. Honestly, getting Hill for Hoffman would be an A for me, if Klein can be a semi useful reliever that’s gravy.
Overall Quick Grade: B.
Of course, if Soriano pitches great and the Jays make run at a Wild Card spot, I’ll edit this to a A.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 03: Tim Tawa #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Ketel Marte #4 after hitting a three run home run against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning at Chase Field on August 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Record: 60-53. Pace: 86-76. Change on 2025: +6.
The resurrection of Brandon Pfaadt continues. The team won his seventh consecutive start since he came back from Reno. The pitcher should have a 7-0 record, if not for the Thompson/Sewald meltdown in Pittsburgh. He’ll have to settle for being 6-0 with a 1.55 ERA (40.2 IP and 7 ER), after going 6.2 innings tonight, allowing only an unearned run. To be fair, he did get some help from his defense, with a number of quite excellent plays. But that ERA is the best by a Diamondbacks starter across any seven-game span, since Zac Gallen’s figure of 1.16 (46.2 IP and 6 ER) in April-May 2023. I may just have made myself a little bit sad with that memory.
Tonight was definitely a contrast in opposites, with Pfaadt being remarkably efficient, in contrast to the Padres’ Michael King. It took Brandon only 31 pitches to record nine outs. 31 pitches into his outing, King was still working with two outs in the first. Arizona didn’t manage to score, but it was still a promising start against a man who had given them trouble in the past. Over five previous starts against the D-backs, covering 25.2 innings, King had a 1.05 ERA. But tonight spawned chances from the off. A pair of two-out walks were stranded in the first. Tim Tawa stood on third with one out in the next frame, then fell victim to the dreaded contact play. A Max Kepler double-play ended the third.
I do want to talk about a pair of quite terrible Diamondbacks challenges tonight (above). One came with one out in the top of the first inning by James McCann, on a pitch which was nowhere near the zone – 1.7” from the edge, according to the graphic. That left the D-backs down to just one challenge, two batters into the game. As a result, they – specifically, Ketel Marte – had to suffer some egregiously terrible calls by home-plate umpire Ramon De Jesus. Though the three most obviously blown ones didn’t impact the outcomes of the at-bat: Marte walked twice, and Nolan Arenado singled. However, Marte then decided to waste Arizona’s second challenge on an equally blatant strike.
Had this all led to a loss, I’d probably be more than the “slightly irritated” all of the above made me reach. In the fourth inning, the D-backs finally broke through against King. One of those Ketel walks led things off, and one out later, Adrian Del Castillo singled. Then, Tim Tawa blasted his fifth home-run of the year down the left-field line and into the home bullpen (below). It was one of Tawa’s three hits on the day, and his OPS is now higher than that of Max Kepler. Also on form tonight was James McCann, a late replacement in the line-up after Gabriel Moreno had to go off and give birth (or something – I was in the kitchen…). He had an RBI double plus a single, and is now batting .319 for the year.
Pfaadt continued to cruise through six innings, with a two-out double in the fifth the only time a Padres got past first base. But he was beginning to look a little rosy-cheeked, and Pfaadt connoisseurs will be aware, that often indicates he’s running out of gas. So it proved in the seventh. He allowed his first walk with one down, and a single followed one out later. A ball hit into the shortstop hole proved too difficult for Nolan Arenado, his throw sailing wide of Tawa, and putting the Padres on the board. Torey Lovullo had seen enough, and Pfaadt was lifted. His final line: 6.2 innings, with just five hits and a walk, and three strikeouts.
Juan Morillo took over, and disposed of Xander Bogaerts on three pitches, the last a 100 mph fastball. Morillo then worked around a leadoff single in the eighth. Arizona added a pair of insurance runs to make the score 5-1, one on McCann’s double mentioned above, and the other on a well-worked sacrifice fly off the bat of Jorge Barrosa. He was clearly hyped at getting the job done, and why not? But it wasn’t all good news. Corbin Carroll went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the leadoff spot, and some really bad choices. Over his last 30 games, a spell now covering 137 PA, he is hitting just .148. It’s the worst 30-game streak of his career.
Still, a four-run lead proved far more than adequate. New chairman of the closer committee, Brandyn Garcia, set down the Padres in order in the ninth, on 12 pitches – non-save situations apparently not proving an issue there. The win was an important one, over a wild-card rival and on a night where all the other active contenders won. It kept Arizona in a tie for the second wild-card spot with the Phillies, two games up on the Padres, who are now tied with the Marlins. The Diamondbacks are also “only” nine games back of the Dodgers in the NL West. Their lead in the division hadn’t been that small since June 27.
I also want to call out the Arizona defense. Ryan Waldschmidt had a lovely running catch in deep right center, and Max Kepler might have robbed a home-run at the wall in left. There was also an excellent double-play turned, and despite his error, Arenado also made a play worthy of a man with ten Gold Gloves. All told, a solid game for Arizona on all sides of the ball, and a welcome win after the understandable disappointment of the team’s limited moves at the trade deadline.
Click here for details, at Fangraphs.com Trade winds: Tim Tawa, +32% Trading partners: Pfaadt, +23%; Morillo, +15%
Trade deadline: Corbin Carroll, -7%
Comment of the thread to ercil, for an observation regarding Barrosa’s sacrifice fly:
Tomorrow night, it’ll be the same two teams in this best of four series, with the D-backs now having a very good chance of at least securing a split. Eduardo Rodriguez starts for Arizona, with another 6:40 pm first pitch.
When it happened again on Monday night, he seemed decidedly less amused.
In his first trip back to Wrigley Field since leaving the Cubs for the Dodgers in free agency this winter, Tucker received a reception that belied that ballpark’s “Friendly Confines” nickname.
He was voraciously booed before his first at-bat. Then again and again with each subsequent trip to the plate.
“I don’t know,” he said when asked of the hostilities afterward. “I tried my hardest last year. I tried playing through a hand fracture and calf thing, just trying to get back for the playoffs for them, trying to do what I could to help out the team.”
Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) tags out Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) during the sixth inning on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Imagn Images
Evidently, that didn’t sway a nearly 40,000-person crowd on the North Side to welcome him with a warm greeting.
Tucker’s lone season with the Cubs didn’t go according to plan, of course. After an All-Star first half, the slugger slumped down the stretch while battling his hand and calf injuries.
Though the team still made the playoffs, and prevailed in a three-game series against the Padres in the wild-card round, their NLDS elimination to the rival Brewers ultimately qualified as a disappointment.
Tucker’s 4-for-16, one-RBI performance in that series also left a disappointing impression –– at least, it seemed, among the fan base –– before he entered free agency and signed his $240 million deal with the Dodgers this past January.
“I mean, I liked playing here last year,” Tucker said. “There were some really great guys over there and they have a good team.”
“Didn’t end up great at the end of the year,” he added of his up-and-down campaign. “But I had a good run.”
Monday’s scene was not exactly new for Tucker.
A fan boos Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Monday, August 3, 2026. (2026 Getty Images) Getty Images
During a May trip back to Houston to face the Astros –– the team with which he spent his first seven MLB seasons before being traded to the Cubs last year –– the outfielder was also booed in a way he hadn’t been during his only prior visit in 2025 (having “Dodgers” across his chest seemed to have something to do with that).
That night, however, he said “I don’t really focus on crowd noise and stuff” and “don’t really have a take.”
On Monday, his answer struck a different tone, even while he insisted it was “nice being back and playing here.”
On the field, Tucker went 2-for-3 with a walk in the defeat, snapping the latest slump in his disappointing debut season with the Dodgers after going 3-for-19 in his previous seven games.
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“I just try to move on to the next day if I have a bad game,” he said, despite continuing to sport career-lows in batting average (.240) and OPS (.710). “If I have a good game, I try and just keep it going. So, I mean, felt like I had good at-bats tonight. And I’ll just try to continue that to tomorrow’s game.”
Yet, Monday’s performance also came with a baserunning mistake, with Tucker getting thrown out at second base –– one at-bat before Teoscar Hernández hit a home run, no less –– while trying to stretch for a double on a line drive off the wall in right field.
“They made a good play,” Tucker said, explaining he was trying to take a chance with the Dodgers facing a three-run deficit in the sixth.
Manager Dave Roberts, however, was more critical.
“It just doesn’t look good when you’re down three,” he said.
On a night full of booing, it was the one time Tucker prompted Wrigley Field to cheer.
“Yeah, it means a lot to be able to do that,” García said through an interpreter. “Hit a home run in Yankee Stadium and to be able to get the ball back, it’s a great moment there, a great memory. So I’ll keep that in my heart.
“It means a lot to be able to connect there. I’m really just going there, try to do my job, try to find a pitch where I can put my team on top. Just the whole moment, I’m going to cherish it.”
New York Yankees first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (26) hits a two-run go-ahead home run during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Robert Sabo for the NY Post
Starting at first and hitting third, García went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs — crushing a go-ahead home run in the seventh.
He drilled a 2-2 pitch from George Soriano out to right-center, dropping his bat and watching with a smile as the ball cleared the fence.
“He was amazing,” starter Cam Schlittler said.
“I’m sure a lot of emotions run through. You’re from here, this is your team growing up, and you walk into Yankee Stadium for the first time, everyone’s watching you, counting on you,” Aaron Boone said. “That’s one of those things about being a big leaguer and being a good player, being able to slow moments down. He obviously did a really good job of that.
“Very few guys are turning those double plays. And then, good at-bats, too. … So, excited for him. Cool that he came in, first day you get settled in and have a big night. Hopefully that goes a long way in getting him acclimated where it’s normal and routine for him.”
García had been leading the National League in slugging before the Yankees acquired him.
His 24 homers and 78 RBIs are already career highs.
New York Yankees’ Luis Garcia Jr. turns a double play as St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn is out at first in the first inning on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
And the Bombers are convinced there’s even more offense to unlock because of how his newfound penchant for pulling the ball will take advantage of the short porch in right.
He raked righties for a .918 OPS, and could give the Bombers a boost.
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They had scored just seven runs in their prior four games and 35 in their previous 12 contests.
His impact was clear and immediate.
New York Yankees first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. (26) hits a two-run go-ahead home run during the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
And general manager Brian Cashman dismissed any concerns of overlap between García and Ben Rice, both lefty-swinging first basemen/designated hitters.
“We went into the trade deadline looking to find ways to improve our offense, and quite simply, he does do that. He improves our offense. He gives us more flexibility, more choices, and more impact,” Cashman said. “It makes us deeper and it makes us better, period.”
García got the ball from his first Yankees home run, and got to debut in front of friends and family.
But he’ll get to play in front of many more Tuesday.
“[Monday] was just five,” said García, adding with a grin, “but [Tuesday] will be 25.”
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 03: Kenny Piper #50 of the Tampa Bay Rays runs during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Monday, August 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This game had a little bit of everything, and it really was not as close as the final score. This game was well in hand very early, but Coors did what it often does and made things interesting late. It is rather crazy this game was 13-9 with the wind screaming in from left field that actually supressed what would have easily been a three-run home run by Hunter Goodman.
This was one of several interesting plays disrupted by the wind in the outfield, but the most notable one as it would have plated the first three baserunners of the inning before an out was recorded in the 9th. These were the types of games Coors was infamous for before the humidor came into play, so it was comforting to see the Rays get out to an early lead the way they did.
The matchup on paper could not have been better for the beleaguered Rays offense coming off a slumber of a weekend series. Michael Lorenzen was the starter for the Rockies and came into the outing with a 8.86 ERA at home, and that number only got worse when Junior Caminero hit this 442 ft laser beam the other way in the first inning:
The second inning was no better than the first as consecutive singles by Chandler Simpson and Richie Palacios brought Kenny Piper to the plate for his first major league plate appearance. Piper is the 56th different catcher to put on a Rays uniform in franchise history and he could barely contain his excitement for his first at bat, which resulted in him drawing a walk to load the bases:
Taylor Walls would single to drive in the first two followed by a Yandy Diaz sacrifice fly to plate Piper. Walls would steal second and come around to score on the second of Jonathan Aranda’s four hits on the evening.
Caminero would come up later and blast another long home run, this one into the teeth of that aforementioned wind from left field:
The offense would continue to pick up some runs off singles and baserunning while Ian Seymour kept the Rockies offense at bay through the first six innings. Seymour pitched about as well as one can in Coors striking out 9, walking none, while scatting seven hits over six complete innings
Seymour generated 18 swings and misses by Colorado hitters tonight, 11 coming off the changeup. He featured the pitch this evening, and aside from a hanging one which Ezequiel Tovar hit out, it was fantastic for him tonight. Michael Grove, Casey Legumina, and Kevin Kelly had to get the final nine outs and the former two made things interesting enough that Kelly was called in to throw one pitch to get the elusive final out of the 9th inning.
The 9th inning saw Richie Palacios blast a no-doubt homer run to plate Cedric Mullins after his leadoff double, but the highlight of the inning belonged to Piper collecting his first major league hit:
The dugout was absolutely elated for him, which was heartwarming. Longtime fans might remember the 0 for 25 stretch Stephen Vogt had in his only season with the club and how he was thrown out at first by a hair in his final at bat of the season. It was great to see Piper get his first ht as a 28-year old who has spent the past five years in the organization while earning the admiration of his peers in that time.
Piper was called up from Double-A Montgomery as an emergency backup plan for the trade deadline plans, and it worked out for all involved. He and the rest of the offense bankged out 15 hits and went 6 for 14 with runers in scoring position on the evening. This was a much needed outing after the offense was catatonic in the series against the White Sox and the club hopes to continue the effort against Gabriel Hughes Tuesday evening with new catcher Liam Hicks likely hitting cleanup and receiving new starter Freddy Peralta.
Scott Harris explained why he didn't wait to trade for Tarik Skubal ahead of the deadline.
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris pushed back on the notion that the organization should have held off on dealing Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers.
Skubal, who has won back-to-back Cy Young Awards, was traded to the Dodgers over the weekend ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.
The Tigers received outfield prospect Zyhir Hope and right-handed pitching prospects River Ryan and Brady Smith, but there had been some thought over whether Harris should have waited to trade the talented starting pitcher to try and maximize the offers he would have gotten.
Scott Harris is pictured in 2024. MLB Photos via Getty Images
“We came into this with a firm idea of the type of deal that we wanted to ultimately land. And we had a deep understanding of what every organization had to offer,” Harris told reporters. “I think there is a unique dynamic with a player like Tarik Skubal. Markets at the deadline for the top players are just different than the rest of the market. So I understand the intuition that, ‘Hey you’re supposed to wait until the very last second on a deal and then pull a trigger at the very last second to maximize a return.’ That’s not how markets for the top players work.
“There was no team that was pursuing Tarik Skubal that was waiting to see if they could get someone else and then pivoting to Tarik if they didn’t get him. There weren’t these market forces that were ultimately affecting what each team’s appetite was for a package to land Skubal.”
Harris also said that it became clear through conversations with other organizations that the market was set for someone like Skubal and that the Tigers “could steer it as fast or as slow as we wanted to” when it came to finding the right move for the organization.
“We felt like we put ourselves in a position on Saturday night where it was abundantly clear what every organization was going to be able to do, and we laid down all the offers in front of us and we chose one. I’m very confident that we absolutely maximized the return we could get for Tarik Skubal,” Harris said.
Tarik Skubal of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on in the dugout against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, August 2, 2026, in Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
The Tigers executive also said that several teams pursued Skubal aggressively before Detroit’s front office decided that the Dodgers’ offer was the best deal, describing the interest in the star pitcher as a “bidding war.”
Even with Skubal on to a new club, Harris explained that they did believe a playoff run still could be in the cards for the Tigers, who also dealt starter Casey Mize to the Padres.
The ballclub is 2 ½ games back of a wild-card spot in the American League.
New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, on Monday, August 3, 2026. (JASON SZENES)
Following weeks — or months — of uncertainty, the Yankees finally landed on their starting catcher the rest of the season.
It’s Austin Wells.
It was no secret the Yankees wanted to acquire a right-handed-hitting catcher by Monday’s trade deadline.
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With Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers seemingly off the market and Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman going to Boston, the Yankees were left with the same setup they had going into the deadline: Wells and Ali Sánchez splitting time behind the plate the rest of the way.
General manager Brian Cashman said the “limited opportunity” to trade for a catcher helped lead to the Yankees staying put.
He acknowledged again the team has struggled offensively for much of the season — especially at catcher.
But he also added the team has been encouraged by Wells’ improved results over the past month.
Yankees catcher Austin Wells hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, on Monday, August 3, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
“I think Austin has got his offense going the past month,” Cashman said. “It’s a much more successful version and much closer version to what he’s capable of. I hope he’s trending in the right direction.”
Wells said he was unaffected by the vote of confidence the Yankees showed in him, saying his approach to his game would be “the same either way. I have no control on that [trade situation].”
Cashman praised Wells’ defense and handling of the pitching staff.
In his past 16 games, Wells has an OPS of .973, with four homers.
Prior to that stretch, the lefty-hitting Wells had a paltry .468 OPS in his first 62 games and he still had the worst OPS of any player with at least 250 plate appearances (.537).
“He does possess a lot of potential with that bat,” Cashman said. “Hopefully he’s able to tap into it and save his best for the rest of the way.”
It’s the latest twist for Wells, who was drafted by the Yankees as a bat-first catcher and remained one throughout his minor league career.
Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Many outside the organization believed Wells would wind up moving out from behind the plate.
Instead, Wells became a solid pitch-framer and the Yankees value his ability to game-plan against hitters — but his offense has declined steadily.
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Earlier in the season, he was sidelined by cervical headaches.
He said he’s seeing the ball better since his return, which has helped lead to his uptick at the plate.
“The last three or four weeks, he’s moved the needle back to who he can be and that’s a real presence at the bottom of the order, with some power,” manager Aaron Boone said.
Eric Samulski
