NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Abimelec Ortiz #81 of the Washington Nationals follows through on his third inning home run against the New York Mets at Citi Field on August 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night was a lifeless performance for the Nats, who got shut out by the Rangers. Now they will look to even the series and take steps back in the right direction. The last thing we want is for a once promising season to totally implode the last two months of the season.
The Nats are making a couple of changes. CJ Abrams is back at shortstop, with Nasim Nunez sliding to second which pushes Jorbit Vivas to third. Andres Chaparro will man the DH position in this one. Jose Tena will start out in left, which pushes Daylen Lile to right field. Dylan Crews is out of the lineup. Keibert Ruiz is back behind the plate. Nats ace Cade Cavalli will get the ball. He dominated in his last start.
With a righty on the mound, the Mariners are making a few changes. Veteran Joc Pederson is back in the lineup at first base. Wyatt Langford will DH, which moves former top prospect Jarred Kelenic to left field. Nicky Lopez will play second base and Elias Diaz is behind the plate. Kumar Rocker is on the mound.
The Nats need to start showing some more fight down the stretch. It will be key for Blake Butera to show he can keep his players engaged as the season winds down. Tonight will be a good test. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
Aug 18, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Leo Rivas (76) watches a home run by Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Luis Lara (18) not pictured go over the outfield wall in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
This may be difficult to believe, but the Seattle Mariners still have a series in front of them to try to win. Sure, they may have nearly doubled their negative run differential last night, but the league standings do not care for the nuances in margin of victory; rather, they only consider which team scored the greater number of runs on a given day. Last night’s debacle counts for but one loss, despite the horrors. Today, the Mariners grace the baseball diamond once again.
Leading the attempt to even the series will be Logan Gilbert, who has somewhat quietly been the Mariners’ most productive starter for over a couple of months now. Dating back to his start on May 22, Gilbert’s FIP (2.89) ranks sixth in baseball among qualified starters. He’ll face off with a formidable opponent in righty Dustin May, whom Jake Mailhot covered in the series preview.
Lineups
Deadline acquisition Taylor Ward is back in the lineup as a DH after missing just under a week with leg soreness. He’ll get a soft landing at eighth in the order, with Brendan Donovan remaining in the leadoff spot against a righty.
News
Shannon Drayer provided an ounce of good news Wednesday. J.P. Crawford appears headed towards a return in his final year under contract.
Two news items from Milwaukee…
JP Crawford will begin his rehab assignment with the Rainiers tomorrow in Sacramento.
Roster move: Jhonathan Diaz has joined the club here, Josh Simpson optioned to Tacoma.
Also mentioned is the shuffling of arms. Josh Simpson was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma, with Jhonathan Díaz taking his place. The club announced that Luke Raley was transferred to the 60-day Injured List to make room for Díaz on the 40-man roster.
Game Information
First Pitch: 4:40 p.m. PDT
TV:Mariners.TV with Rich Waltz, Ryan Rowland-Smith and sideline reporter Brad Adam
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports with Gary Hill Jr. and Shannon Drayer
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 18: Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers swings at a pitch during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Globe Life Field on August 18, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Aug 14, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Seth Lugo (67) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Game 3 with the Sacramento/Las Vegas A’s will see the Royals going for a series win before the day game finishes off the four-game set tomorrow afternoon. This evening will feature Seth Lugo versus Gage Jump. Lugo has had an up and down season with some pretty disappointing overall numbers. Jump is a lefty whose ERA looks similar to Lugo’s but with better peripherals. That means the lineup is going to have an extra righty with Massey sitting for KC today with Loftin leading off again.
Jul 31, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs (59) throws a pitch during the fourth inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Yesterday, the Athletics were three outs away from evening up this four-game series against the Kansas City Royals. However, the league-worst bullpen cost the team once again. Hogan Harris blew his sixth save of the season, allowing the Royals to tie the game before giving way to fellow reliever Elvis Alvarado, who surrendered Bobby Witt Jr.‘s walk-off bloop single.
With two games remaining in Kansas City, the A’s still have a chance to earn a series split, but they must first break their two-game losing streak tonight.
Roster Move
Before the game, the A’s injured list got a bit less crowded. Veteran left-hander Jeffrey Springs returns after missing three weeks because of hip discomfort. To make room on the roster, struggling reliever Seth Johnson was optioned to Triple-A, where he can work on regaining his form in a lower-pressure environment.
Springs will have an immediate opportunity to make an impact, as he will start for the A’s today. The 33-year-old southpaw enters his 23rd start of the season with a 3-11 record, a 6.17 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP and 88 strikeouts over 108 innings.
Springs was a solid starting pitcher in his first season with the Athletics last year. This year, things have gone south, as he has not won a game since April. In his most recent seven starts, Springs went 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP.
When fellow veteran Luis Severino went down with an injury earlier this season, the team looked to Springs to provide a solid experienced presence in the rotation. Instead, Springs has pitched like one of the worst pitchers in the league, as only two MLB pitchers have allowed more home runs than him this season.
The fly-ball pitcher has especially struggled at Sutter Health Park, calling it “a recipe for disaster.” Yet, he has performed just as badly on the road, something he will try to remedy this evening in his second start against the Royals this season and eighth of his career.
Here’s how the A’s starting lineup shakes out tonight:
Jacob Wilson is out of the lineup for a third straight game. That shoulder injury has kept him sidelined in recent games. There is a real possibility that he will soon join the team’s lengthy season-ending injured list.
With the A’s on track for another 100-loss campaign, the objective for the rest of the season should be for the veterans to finish strong and for the youngsters to take advantage of extended playing opportunities.
If the Athletics want to win tonight, the team will need center fielder Henry Bolte and second baseman Jeff McNeil to continue their respective hot streaks. Additionally, this game gives Tommy White and Max Muncy another chance to position themselves as part of the A’s future plans. Finally, catcher Jonah Heim is feeling the effects of being pushed into an everyday role following starter Shea Langeliers’ injury. Not only does Heim have one hit in his past 20 at-bats, but he also committed a crucial catcher’s interference error that gave Kansas City a free baserunner in its game-winning ninth inning rally.
The A’s offense will face Royals right-hander Seth Lugo. The 36-year-old enters his 26th start of the season with a 5-7 record, a 4.59 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP and 108 strikeouts over 139 1/3 innings. Lugo has struggled lately, posting a 4.66 ERA over his past seven starts. The 10-year veteran received a no-decision in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels after allowing five runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Over his career, Lugo holds a 2-0 record with a 4.66 ERA and 26 strikeouts in four total appearances against the Athletics. The right-hander will aim to earn his third win against the A’s, but given his current run of form, tonight presents a great opportunity for the A’s offense to put more runs on the scoreboard. The Green and Gold must take advantage of any mistake pitches Lugo leaves over the plate if they want to hand him his first defeat against them.
All of the Royals’ regulars are in the lineup, spearheaded by the duo of Witt Jr. and right fielder Jac Caglianone. Left fielder Tyler Tolbert gets his first start of the series after his game-tying, pinch-hit two-run single in the ninth inning last night.
Win #50 is waiting for us! We need this one. Let’s go A’s!
Young has more than taken advantage of his opportunity in the Mets’ lineup this season, and that continued again on Wednesday afternoon.
The sweet-swinging lefty enjoyed himself another multi-hit showing.
He flew out to right in his first at-bat of the day, but then ripped a two-out single behind Carson Benge’s two-run homer, which opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth.
Young was retired again his next time up, but tacked on a much-needed insurance run in the eighth.
Left in the game for a tough left-on-left matchup with the dominant Yuki Matsui, the veteran saw just one pitch before ripping a two-out RBI single up the middle to make it a three-run ballgame.
“That was a huge swing from Jared to give us a little cushion there,” Andy Green said.
Kodai Senga had to work through his first scare in his new high-leverage role, but the Mets rolled a game-ending double play to secure a second straight series victory.
For Young, that was just his eighth hit against a left-hander in 35 tries on the year.
No matter who he faces, though, the slugger just continues to produce as he’s now hitting .270 with 20 XBH’s, 30 RBI, and a .880 OPS for the season.
“It’s going to sound cliché, but I’m just keeping things simple,” he told SNY’s Steve Gelbs. “Doing my work in the cage with the coaches, listening to my teammates, and just going out and playing ball.”
That simple approach certainly has worked for Young.
The 31-year-old is enjoying the most consistent stretch of his big league career with a .332 average, 12 RBI, and a .880 OPS over his last 30 games.
With five years of club control remaining, Young figures to be playing himself into a role on the 2027 Mets roster.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - JULY 29: A general view of Tropicana Field as fans cheer during game between the Texas Rangers and the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
We might as well make it two in a row against the Rays. Getting 10 runs again would be a good thing too. Half a game out of a wild card spot seems unbelievable considering where we were at the start of the month.
Vlad is going to play a rehab game tomorrow in Dunedin.
The Jays are saying that Ernie Clement is ‘under the weather’ and that George Springer is getting a day off to rest his shoulder and allow Kirk to DH while Valenzuela plays behind the plate.
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
RAYS
Brett Bateman – CF
Chandler Simpson – LF
Nathan Lukes – RF
Junior Caminero – 3B
Alejandro Kirk – DH
Jonathan Aranda – 1B
Kazuma Okamoto – 1B
Yandy Diaz – DH
Andres Gimenez – SS
Liam Hicks – C
Jesus Sanchez – LF
Cedric Mullins – CF
Josh Smith – 2B
Ryan Vilade – RF
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Richie Palacios – 2B
Charles McAdoo – 3B
Taylor Walls – SS
Max Scherzer – RHP
Drew Rasmussen – RHP
And there are a couple of former Jays watching the game today:
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 25: David Fry #6 of the Cleveland Guardians at bat in the top of the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on July 25, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Guardians vs. Tugboat. Oh boy.
Here’s the Giants’ lineup:
Giants 8/19
J. Cox CF R. Devers DH W. Adames SS B. Eldridge 1B V. Bericoto LF J. Lee RF O. Basabe 2B D. Cavanaugh C C. Koss 3B
Rhys Hoskins to the IL, DeLauter and Adell still out with various ouchies. Looks like the bench is Patrick Bailey and David Fry (back for Hoskins), folks.
CINCINNATI, OH - AUGUST 18: Masyn Winn #0 of the St. Louis Cardinals loss on during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Colten Strauss/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s game 4 of the St. Louis Cardinals 5-game series vs the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday evening as Matthew Liberatore will hopefully be the best version of himself as he’s the scheduled starter. The Reds will force Chase Burns onto the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 5:40pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 13: Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OH - JULY 18: A general view of Progressive Field as Khristian Curtis #64 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, July 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Sean Finucane/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants continue this three-game road series against the Cleveland Guardians this afternoon.
Getting the start for the Giants today, and making his major league debut, will be left-hander Matt Wilkinson. Wilkinson has a 3.40 ERA for the season in the minors, with 96 strikeouts to 31 walks in 90 innings pitched over 20 starts.
He’ll be facing off against Guardians left-hander Parker Messick, who enters today’s game with a 2.59 ERA, 3.25 FIP, with 142 strikeouts to 40 walks in 142.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Guardians’ 3-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers last Thursday, in which he allowed two runs on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks in five and two thirds innings.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 18: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers is congratulated by Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers after hitting a three run homer in the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at American Family Field on August 18, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are going to attempt to follow up yesterday’s 22-0 historic thrashing of the Seattle Mariners. While it’s unlikely the scoring output will be similar, the Brewers are continuing to get closer to full strength on the offensive side.
The Brewers announced that they had activated shortstop Cooper Pratt from the IL prior to tonight’s game after dealing with a hamstring strain. Pratt is back in tonight’s starting lineup. To make room on the roster, the Brewers optioned outfielder Brandon Lockridge to Triple-A Nashville.
Lockridge’s option is a mild surprise, given he plays a different position, but with Joey Ortiz dealing with a twisted ankle that he suffered in last night’s game that the team is monitoring, it makes sense for the Brewers to want to keep Jonathan Ornelas on the roster for a few more days rather than designating him for assignment. Lockridge has options, Ornelas does not. With limited infield depth options in the minors, it’s the smart play.
Also on the injury front, Pat Murphy told reporters pregame that centerfielder Garrett Mitchell is dealing with a sore foot and they are holding him out of the lineup as a precaution.
On the mound, the Brewers will have Dustin May making his third start with the club following his trade deadline arrival. This will be May’s first night game start with Milwaukee. May’s been exceptional so far, with a 2.08 ERA in his two starts, covering 13 IP.
On the other side, the Mariners will have one of their best with right-hander Logan Gilbert. Gilbert has a 3.28 ERA on the season with a 9-7 record and 152 Ks. He’s been a consistent and reliable starter for a number of years now, including a 6th place AL Cy Young finish in 2024, when he led the league in innings pitches and WHIP. Christian Yelich, who homered last night, has a good history against Gilbert, with a pair of home runs in nine at-bats.
The Brewers lineup will feature a familiar top group with Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, and Jake Bauers forming the top of the order. William Contreras, Christian Yelich, and Andrew Vaughn make up the middle of the order. Luis Lara gets the start in centerfield and bats seventh while Joey Ortiz and Cooper Pratt round out the bottom of the order. With Pratt’s return to his home at shortstop, Ortiz slides back over to third base.
The Mariners will make a few changes to their lineup after being shut out last night. Brendan Donovan, Randy Arozarena, and Dominic Canzone make up the top of the order. Julio Rodriguez, Josh Naylor, and Cole Young form the middle of the lineup. Cal Raleigh, Taylor Ward, and Brock Rodden will round out the bottom of Dan Wilson’s starting nine.
It’ll be a matchup of two pitchers who have had great seasons. It’ll be unlikely that there are 22 combined runs scored again, especially all from one team.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 12: Samuel Basallo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles hits a two-run home run in the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 12, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Probable pitchers: RHP Chris Bassitt (4-4, 5.11 ERA, 40 Ks) vs. RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.42 ERA, 117 Ks)
It’s been a small emotional rollercoaster for Orioles fans the last week. The high of winning the first three games in Tampa over the weekend was met with the lows of 1) losing a very winnable series finale vs. the Rays, followed by 2) wasting another Shane Baz gem with minimal run support in yesterday’s 3-1 loss to the Yankees. Now, Birdland gets another high, as Samuel Basallo returns to the lineup in Game 2 vs. New York.
The powerhouse young backstop has been out of the lineup since July 19th after injuring his shoulder on a hard swing with the Astros. After the sell-off at the trade deadline, the team Basallo returns to is very different. The goal is not, as the O’s still sit tantalizingly close to a Wild Card spot at just a game behind the Twins and Rangers.
Basallo will start at 1B for the first time all season, as Pete Alonso continues to DH after picking up an injury in Tampa. Coming back at home should make for a stronger return for the 22-year-old, as the rookie slugger is hitting .264 with a .815 OPS at Camden Yards this season.
The rejuvenated lineup will look to provide plenty of support for righty Chris Bassitt, who make his first start in Baltimore since coming off the IL last week. Bassitt was sharp Friday night vs. the Rays, limiting Tampa to two runs and five hits over 5.1 innings. It will be his first time taking on the Yankees as an Oriole, but Bassitt has typically fared well against the team from the Bronx. In nine career starts against the Yankees, the 37-year-old has a 2.06 ERA while holding New York to a .209 average.
Opposing Bassitt is 27-year-old right-hander Will Warren. The third-year starter is coming off a rough outing against the Mariners, having allowed 5 runs and 3 homers in 4 innings in a 10-5 Yankees win. Warren has been better against the Orioles, guiding the Yankees to two wins against Baltimore. In his first start against the O’s at Yankee Stadium, Warren put up a line of 6.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB and 9 Ks. Eleven days later, he allowed 2 runs over 5.2 innings while striking out 6 Orioles at Camden Yards.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 12: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on August 12, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I probably didn’t need to tell you this, but the 2026 AL East is shaping up to be one of the most competitive divisions in the history of baseball, particularly with the weakness of the rest of the American League. Entering Wednesday night, the last-place Orioles are 61-65, which would be just two games behind the AL West-leading Astros. No division has ever had five teams with a winning record, coming closest in 1991 with the Angels in the AL West and the 2005 Nationals in the NL East, both finishing exactly .500.
It’d be one thing if this were an outlier, but it isn’t. This will almost certainly be the fifth consecutive season without a 90-loss team in the AL East, with the rebuilding 2021 Orioles being the last ones to fit that criterion. In the last seven full seasons, only one other division has had a single season like this (NL Central, 2024), while the AL East is doing it for a fifth consecutive year. It shows, now more than ever, that there are no pushovers in these divisional games, so winning a series here just feels bigger than it would otherwise.
Looking to secure a series victory for the Yankees will be Will Warren, who got a new lease on life in the starting rotation after Max Fried’s potentially precautionary IL stint corresponded with Carlos Rodón’s return last night. Making his 25th start, Warren has pitched to a 4.42 ERA (95 ERA+) and 4.20 FIP in 118 innings. His struggles over the better part of two months have eliminated his great start and dragged him back to where he was statistically last season. Fortunately for Will, he’ll be facing a team he’s fared well against in 2026, allowing three runs in 12 innings with 15 strikeouts.
Recent Yankees nemesis Chris Bassitt continues his age-37 season tonight for the O’s in his first season with Baltimore after three years in Toronto. He’s struggled in 13 appearances and 11 starts this season, pitching to a 5.11 ERA (81 ERA+) and 4.65 FIP across 61.2 innings. He never faced the Yankees in the first six years of his career, but has dominated them across nine starts since 2021, pitching to a 2.06 ERA in 56.1 innings, although the results slightly improved last year.
Bassitt no longer has the stuff to generate whiffs and strikeouts, but has stayed serviceable through managing hard contact and barrels while keeping the ball on the ground. He’s able to do that with his seven-pitch mix that keeps hitters off balance, although he’s refined it more this year. He essentially only uses four of them against righties, throwing his sinker half the time, while using the curveball as his main secondary along with more cutter and changeup usage.
The red-hot Trent Grisham will lead off once again, followed by the usual three of Ben Rice, Luis García Jr., and Heliot Ramos. A bold strategy of using three straight high-strikeout bats then ensues with Jazz Chisholm Jr., Spencer Jones, and Ryan McMahon before George Lombard Jr. and Austin Wells round out the lineup. I guess a guy who strictly manages contact won’t exploit them as much?
Jackson Holliday leads off again for Baltimore with Pete Alonso flanking him. Gunnar Henderson bumps up to third in the order, followed by a returning Samuel Basallo at first base, the lefty-killing Coby Mayo, and Dylan Beavers. A pair of fallen prospects follow with Leody Taveras and Colton Cowser before former Yankee Carlos Narvaez rounds it out at the bottom.
How to watch
Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards — Baltimore, MD
First pitch: 6:35 pm ET
TV broadcast: MASN, MLB Network (out-of-market only)
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM
Online stream: Amazon Prime Video, MLB.tv (out-of-market only)
The Cincinnati Reds were shutout in yesterday’s 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals as their league-worst offense continues to be in a funk so deep even George Clinton is impressed. On Wednesday evening in Great American Ball Park, they’ll get to turn to ace Chase Burns with hopes that he can somehow hold the Cards to negative one runs allowed so they may actually have a chance to take home a win.
Veteran left-hander Matthew Liberatore will toe the rubber for St. Louis, and he’ll do so after having allowed 7 ER acrosss 10.1 IP in his two most recent starts. He sports a 5.07 ERA on the season and Cincinnati tagged him for 3 ER in 4.1 IP in a win back on June 6th, so maybe there’s some residual je ne sai quoi the team has going on with him on the mound.
Likely not, but if you’re actually reading this you’re probably inclined to hope for it anyway.
Cincinnati has stacked their lineup as best they can with righty swingers to take on the southpaw. Burns will chuck the game’s first pitch at 6:40 PM ET.
