Category: Baseball

The Giants and Guardians made an early season trade – now they play a late-season series with the trade pieces likely playing a prominent role for each of these disappointing teams.

The Giants are 51-73 with a -67 run differential, 20th in team wRC+ with 97, 26th in baserunning runs above average at -4.9, 18th in Defense at -20.9, 19th in starting pitcher ERA 4.37 (4.09 FIP), and 24th in bullpen ERA 4.38 (4.32 FIP).

The Guardians are 60-65 with a -32 run differential, 24th in team wRC+ with 94, ninth in baserunning runs above average at 5.2, eighth in Defense at -4.8, 10th in starting pitcher ERA at 3.77 (3.99 FIP), and 12th in bullpen ERA 3.97 (3.90 FIP).

The Giants are pretty bad at just about everything. If ever there is a time for the season to turn around, it should be now.

Matchups:
Tuesday, 6:40PM ET: Whisenhunt, LHP 6.11 ERA (5.40 FIP) vs. Griffin, LHP 3.25 ERA (4.23 FIP)
Wednesday, 6:40PM ET: TBD (Houser, RHP 4.28/4.67 FIP or Tugboat Wilkinson, LHP) vs. Messick, LHP 2.59 ERA (3.23 FIP)
Thursday, 1:10PM ET: Roupp, RHP 4.31 ERA (3.62 FIP) vs. Williams, RHP 3.74 ERA (3.59 FIP)

The Giants are led by Bryce Eldridge 117 wRC+, Rafael Devers 117 wRC+, Casey Schmitt 114 wRC+, Jung Hoo Lee 111 wRC+, and Victor Beritoco 109 wRC+.

The Guardians are led by Nathaniel Lowe 128 wRC+, Chase DeLauter 127 wRC+ (please, be back), Angel Genao 126 wRC+, Austin Hedges 105 wRC+, Steven Kwan 104 wRC+, Jose Ramirez 103 wRC+ and Travis Bazzana 102 wRC+.

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Who will win Marlins vs Phillies today: Marlins (+197)

The Fightin' Fish look pretty delectable this evening after coming off a 6-5 loss last night. They now draw veteran right-hander Zack Wheeler, who has looked off in his last three outings. Wheeler owns a 5.84 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, and a 10.34% walk rate during that stretch. With the Miami Marlins' lineup starting to heat up again, this could be an interesting matchup. 

The Marlins own a 119 wRC+, .339 wOBA, and .759 OPS in their last six games. The Philadelphia Phillies' offense has been great, but they don't boast as many hitters barreling the ball like the Marlins, which is why the latter is an intriguing pick at a near 2/1 price. 

Tyler Phillips seems likely to follow opener Cade Gibson for Miami. He's been struggling, but paying more than two dollars for a team to secure a win on a random Tuesday in August doesn't move any needles. 

COVERS INTEL:Owen Caissie sports a .274 ISO, 50% hard-hit rate, and a 19.4% barrel rate over his last 60 plate appearances against right-handed pitching.

Marlins vs Phillies Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (+105)

With over half of the Marlins' lineup batting from the left side this evening, runs could be on the horizon. Wheeler has scuffling against left-handed hitters in his last three outings, posting a 6.75 ERA, 5.78 xERA, 6.05 xFIP, and 15.2% walk rate. Phillips has also been lagging on the road, where he owns a near 6.00 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.

Both offenses are hitting extremely well right now, so I expect plenty of runs. After 11 runs were scored last night, we should see a similar offensive explosion this evening.

Marlins vs Phillies home run prediction: Griffin Conine (+474)

It's very hard to ignore a batter who's been producing this much hard contact over his last 10 games, and Marlins outfielder Griffin Conine has been destroying baseballs. He owns a .690 slugging percentage, .345 ISO, 15.8% ground-ball rate, 58% hard-hit rate, and 21.1% barrel rate during that stretch.

Wheeler has taken a step back against left-handed hitters. The last 60 he's faced are making 44% hard contact, and barreling the ball 11% of the time with just a 22% ground-ball rate. Wheeler is also allowing a 2.08 HR/9 during that span.

Conine enters today with the highest matchup rating in this game, according to Batters-Box, where he covers 60% of Wheeler's offerings.

At +474, we're getting a great price for a hitter absolutely killing the baseball. Play this down to +450.

Marlins vs Phillies weather

Marlins vs Phillies odds

• Moneyline: Marlins +197 | Phillies -219
• Run line: Marlins +1.5 (-112) | Phillies -1.5 (-103)
• Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+105) | Under 8.5 (-116)

Marlins vs Phillies trend

The Miami Marlins have covered the run line in seven of their last nine games (+7.50 Units / 69% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Marlins vs. Phillies.

How to watch Marlins vs Phillies and game info

Marlins vs Phillies latest injuries

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Patrick Sandoval has been playing with fire baserunners all season since returning from Tommy John surgery this year, and it finally blew up on the Red Sox over the weekend. Now we’re hearing that an injury may be playing a role in his performance, even if it’s a small one. Sandoval apparently has been battling a blister on his left foot (the foot he uses to push off the rubber) for most of the year. (Jon Conahan, NESN)

If Sandoval does go on the IL — or if he’s just bumped from the rotation for underperformance — the Sox do have another experienced starter on the roster who could take his rotation spot in Brayan Bello. The problem is that Bello, for whatever reason, is thriving in his long relief role after struggling in the first inning all season long. “Does this mean Brayan can’t start anymore? That’s not the case,” Chad Tracy said. “It’s difficult to ignore how very, very effective he has been coming out of the bullpen in a bulk relief role and taking down innings. So I don’t think that we’ve closed the book on that by any means. It just feels like that’s the way to do it right now.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

Bello is pitching so well in his long relief role that it’s hard not to think about what the narrative of his season would be if he was able to perform this way as a conventional starter. He has an ERA of 0.85 in over 50 relief innings, and if he were performing anywhere close to that while starting games, we’d be talking about him having a career year and thrusting himself into the Cy Young conversation. As it stands, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees seems to have that award locked up, though Sonny Gray is currently projected to finish fifth. (Jason Foster, MLB.com)

Sonny Gray is rightly heralded as one of the best offseason acquisitions any big league team has made this year. But, so far, the Red Sox trade deadline acquisitions aren’t faring nearly as well. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)

Bello isn’t the only Red Sox veteran who went missing from this team for most of the middle of the season, of course. Trevor Story has been out since mid-May recovering from sports hernia surgery, after struggling through the first weeks of the season. But he now hopes to return as early as Friday. It’s fair to ask whether he still should get the nod at shortstop given his poor performance before hitting the IL, but Chad Tracy says the goal is for him to be the everyday shortstop again. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

If he does make it back to the big leagues this week, Story won’t be the first one to make the trip East from Worcester. Reliever Wyatt Olds made the drive yesterday, after being called up to make his MLB debut in place of Raymond Burgos. But before he headed to Boston, he got pranked by the Woo Sox coaching staff. (Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald)

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We may be in the dog days of summer, but there is a full slate of baseball waiting for us, so it can't be all bad!

Today's MLB expert picks offer a trio of moneyline predictions, including the underdog Miami Marlins as an upset special over Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies.

It's part of our full set of MLB picks on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

MLB expert picks for today

Pick	Odds
Josh Inglis: TOR ML	+122
Jon Metler: MIA ML	+203
Dustin Saracini: NYM/SD u8.5	+100
Joe Osborne: MIL ML	-150

Prices courtesy of Polymarket.

Josh Inglis' expert pick: Blue Jays moneyline

Price: 45¢ (+122) at Polymarket

The Toronto Blue Jays finally had a day off yesterday after a stretch of 17 straight games. Over that stretch, Toronto posted the best team ERA in baseball and went 11-6 straight up against some of MLB's best teams.

THE BAT has the Jays as a 56-cent favorite, but they’re trading at just 45 cents, making this the best +EV play on the board today, according to the projection.

The Jays also have a rested bullpen, while the Tampa Bay Rays could be down two arms, including closer Bryan Baker, who threw 21 pitches yesterday and has pitched in two of the last three days. Their best lefty, Cam Booser, is also unavailable. 

Even with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the shelf, Toronto can still win this game on pitching alone.

Nick Martinez is coming off a 101-pitch complete game, his season high, which could affect his efficiency today. Jose Soriano has also looked good since coming over from the Halos.

Dustin Saracini has a full preview of the action with his Blue Jays vs. Rays predictions.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Sportsnet, Rays.TV

Jon Metler's expert pick: Marlins moneyline

Price: 33¢ (+203) at Polymarket

Fading the Philadelphia Phillies with Zack Wheeler on the mound is never an easy sell, but this matchup sets up well for the Miami Marlins.

Wheeler will make it difficult to string together big innings, so Miami needs to find creative ways to manufacture runs. That means working counts, driving up Wheeler's pitch count, forcing an early move to the bullpen, creating pressure on the basepaths, and using contact plays and hit-and-runs.

The good news is that none of this is outside Miami's offensive identity.

The Marlins don't need to rely on big swings or home runs to score. They can manufacture runs in a variety of ways, which is exactly the approach you want against a pitcher like Wheeler.

The Marlins are trading at 33 cents on Polymarket, but I price them closer to 37 cents, which gives us enough of an edge to hit the button.

• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Marlins.TV, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Dustin Saracini's expert pick: Padres vs. Mets Under 8.5

Price: 50¢ (+100) at Polymarket

We're running with a large sample size of success with Robbie Ray and the hot hand in Zac Thornton tonight.

This New York Mets lineup has 82 at-bats against Ray and owns just a .204 xBA while striking out 30% of the time.

What sold me here is their astronomical 37% whiff rate against the San Diego Padres' prized deadline acquisition — look for him to end New York's four-game winning streak, too.

Thornton has been dealing lately, allowing just three earned runs across his last 11 innings. While the Mets' No. 8 prospect pitches to contact, he's allowed a low 4.5% hard-contact rate this season, which will be enough to suppress the Padres' bats.

With two well-rested bullpens, I'm expecting this game to cruise Under the total. 

I'd play this to 55 cents at Polymarket.

• Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Padres.TV, SNY

Joe Osborne's expert pick: Brewers moneyline

Price: 60¢ (-150) at Polymarket

The Milwaukee Brewers have a major pitching edge tonight as they return home following a seven-game road trip.

Kyle Harrison has been lights out in Milwaukee, posting a 1.38 ERA across 10 home starts. He’s backed by a bullpen in good form, ranking third in ERA over the last two weeks. 

Meanwhile, Bryce Miller has allowed nine earned runs across two August starts and hasn’t been the same pitcher on the road, where his ERA is more than double his mark at home.

The Seattle Mariners’ bullpen has also been a disgrace lately, posting an MLB-worst 7.17 ERA over the past two weeks. Milwaukee is one of MLB's top home teams, going 12-4 at American Family Field since the All-Star break.

For more on this game, Quinn Allen has a full slate of Mariners vs. Brewers predictions on tap.

• Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
• How to watch: Mariners.TV, Brewers.TV

More MLB best bets for today

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The Chicago Cubs (-170) are coming off a thrilling extra-innings victory, and they're in a good spot to grab another win tonight against the Chicago White Sox.

They have Kevin Gausman on the mound going up against a steady stream of relievers, making the home team an attractive buy with my White Sox vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Who will win White Sox vs Cubs today: Chicago Cubs (-170)

Kevin Gausman has pitched better than the results indicate over the past month.

He’s held opponents to a 31.1% hard-hit rate — third-lowest among today’s projected starters — and has a 0.68 HR/9, but hasn’t kept runs off the board in part due to an unsustainably high .364 BABIP and a low 61.8% strand rate.

He’s in a good spot to rebound against the Chicago White Sox. They’ve hit .233 against righties in August while striking out 27.4% of the time.

The Chicago Cubs should give him plenty of support against a bullpen sitting 22nd with a 4.70 xFIP this month.

Play to -180.

COVERS INTEL: The Cubs rank second in homers and third in HR/FB at home over the last month.

White Sox vs Cubs Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-126)

The White Sox have gotten five innings out of their starter just once over the past five games, putting a lot of strain on their relievers.

That’s far from ideal heading into a designated bullpen game where nine innings are needed from a group in poor form.

The Cubs rank third in wOBA and first in ISO in August, and are certainly capable of making life difficult on this bullpen.

While the White Sox haven’t hit for average, they do have power that should play well at Wrigley with winds blowing out.

Take to -135.

White Sox vs Cubs home run prediction: Munetaka Murakami (+245)

There are no secrets when facing Gausman. You’re going to see a ton of fastballs, and you’re going to see a ton of splitters.

Munetaka Murakami hasn’t faced many splitters this season, but he has absolutely destroyed the fastball against right-handed pitching.

He owns a ridiculous 27.5% barrel rate, 62.5% hard-hit rate, and .436 ISO. He is likely to sit on the fastball, and it only takes one good swing to do damage – especially with the predicted 15% home run boost with help from the wind at Wrigley.

Back to +230.

White Sox vs Cubs weather

The forecast calls for mid-70s temperatures with up to 10 mph winds blowing out. While there could be some rain, the bats will see a boost.

White Sox vs Cubs odds

• Moneyline: White Sox +145 | Cubs -170
• Run line: White Sox +1.5 (-135) | Cubs -1.5 (+115)
• Over/Under: Over 9.0 (-105) | Under 9.5 (-115)

White Sox vs Cubs trend

The Cubs have won 33 of their last 50 games (+11.65 units, 18% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Cubs.

How to watch White Sox vs Cubs and game info

White Sox vs Cubs latest injuries

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Welcome to Tuesday A’s fans!

The club can’t seem to get things right, even against a fellow bottom dweller like the Kansas City Royals. At 49-76 the team is tied with the Angels for the worst record in the sport. We need a win tonight or else we could be all alone at the bottom by the end of the day.

The A’s will be hoping that right-hander Jack Perkins can play stopper and help get the A’s their 50th win. That could be a tall task however, considering the massive struggles Perk has seen this year.

It’s easy to forget but the 26-year-old was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the system just last year. A former 5th round pick, the right-hander looked solid in a 12-game, four-start cup of coffee for his big league debut last year. There weren’t huge expectations for him this season, but there was an expectation he’d be able to hold himself.

That hasn’t really been the case. There have definitely been flashes of brilliance that make us see what he could become but consistency has eluded him in his brief time as a major leaguer. Perhaps some of that has to do with the fact that he began the year in the bullpen before being promoted to the starting rotation. Some pitchers make that transition look easy but those guys are the exception and not the rule. It’s much more common to see guys such as Perkins go through some struggles during their first extended look in the big leagues.

Struggles are putting it mildly for Perkins though. In the 11 starts since being slotted into the starting five the righty has an abysmal 8.17 ERA. Things aren’t exactly trending in the right direction either: he’s gotten shelled in his three August starts, allowing at least five runs in each appearance. That’s a streak that needs to stop tonight.

Many of Perkins’ underlying numbers don’t look as bad as that ERA does, but they’re still not great numbers overall. A lot of this can be chalked up to rookie growing pains. Some can be attributed to the mid-season role switch. Some blame on the ballpark. Some blame on the defense. There’s plenty of blame to go around for his tough season, but most of it has to be on the pitcher himself.

That’s not to say we should consider him a failed pitcher already. The thing we have to begin thinking about now though is what kind of role will he thrive best in? Is that going to be in the rotation, where he’s been among the worst in the sport this year? Or as a longman out of the bullpen who goes in short two, three inning bursts? The club will almost certainly add some starting pitching depth this offseason and push him down the depth chart, but the team would do well to pick a role for Perkins moving forward and sticking with it. What role should Perkins have on the next playoff contending A’s squad?

We don’t know who will be opposing Perkins tonight in Kansas City to stay tuned. First pitch is at 4:40. See you all then, and have a great Tuesday!

A’s Coverage:

• A’s Drop Road Trip Opener 9-5
• A’s Take Series Against Rangers, Win 5-2
• A’s place Soderstrom on 10-day IL with left hip impingement; Hernaiz recalled
• Late Blast Lifts Rangers Over Athletics
• Jeff McNeil Leads A’s to 8-3 Victory Over Rangers
• Why The New GM Needs To “Clean House”
• 111 games, zero errors: Wilson sets MLB record at shortstop
• A Seemingly Rock Bottomless Glass
• MLB Trade Grades: A’s Have Quiet Trade Deadline
• A’s Top Prospect Jamie Arnold Sets Career High in One of His Best Double-A Starts
• Fustercluck 2026: The Real Reasons For A Disappointing Season
• Signs Of Hope And Signs Of Hopeless
• Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko says feeling in his legs returning
• Cuban’s investment group purchases minority stake in Athletics
• Chan Ho Park joins A’s group; 1st Korean to buy stake in MLB club
• Blogfather Saves The Day With Pearls Of Most Excellent Advice

MLB News and Interest:

• D-backs star Marte placed on restricted list after not showing up at Fenway
• Yankees activate Carlos Rodon, place Max Fried on 15-day IL
• Cubs Place Edward Cabrera, Dansby Swanson On Injured List
• PCA 1st since 2010 with leadoff, walk-off home runs
• AL, NL Cy Young races seem all but decided as Schlittler, Miz dominate latest poll
• Two straight runners tested him at home. He fired 99 mph, 103 mph to nail them both!
• Mariners, Andy Ibáñez Agree To Minor League Deal
• Here are the current top prospects at each position
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Some major injury updates:

Prospect promotions:

Maybe a Wink in our future?

Haven’t seen that reported, any sources anyone?

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The Toronto Blue Jays will be well-rested going into Game 1 of their series with the Tampa Bay Rays after a day off, so I'm rocking with the road 'dogs as part of my Blue Jays vs. Rays predictions.

With Jose Soriano on the mound and a rested bullpen behind him, plus the Blue Jays owning strong numbers against Rays starter Nick Martinez, I'm seeing a slight edge we can take advantage of.

Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Tuesday, Aug. 18, and cash a same-game parlay, shall we?

Blue Jays vs Rays predictions

Blue Jays vs Rays best bet: Blue Jays moneyline (+115)

When I say this could be the best spot to bet the Toronto Blue Jays during this three-game set in Tampa, I come with support.

Nick Martinez goes for the Tampa Bay Rays, and on top of not being able to miss any bats this season (14% K rate, 17% whiff rate),the Blue Jays own a .310 xBA and .352 xwOBA against him while striking out at just a 10% clip.

On the other side is Jose Soriano, who's limiting the Rays to a .245 xBA, including shutting down their star Yandy Diaz over 14 at-bats (.212 xBA).

It helps that the Rays have a taxed bullpen, too, using a combined five arms last night after Shane McClanahan got the early hook.

Coming into this game losers of three of their last four after a tough series against the Baltimore Orioles, expect the Jays to come out swinging.

I'd play this to +105.

COVERS INTEL: It could be the George Springer show against Martinez. The veteran is 8-for-19 with two homers with a .401 xBA against the right-hander.

Blue Jays vs Rays same-game parlay (SGP)

The Jays are winners of six straight series, and the Rays' pitching has been getting absolutely pummeled, surrendering 26 runs across their last four games.

Martinez is a sinker-ball pitcher, throwing it 30% of the time. It's a pitch Ernie Clement owns a .368 average against, playing right into our hands. Look for the Jays, and Clement, to get to the Rays' right-hander early and take advantage of an extremely tired bullpen.

We're playing it safer in the same-game parlay and rocking with the Blue Jays on the run line, giving us multiple opportunities to cash today.

Blue Jays vs Rays SGP

• Blue Jays +1.5
• Blue Jays team total Over 3.5 runs
• Ernie Clement H/R/RBI

Blue Jays vs Rays home run pick: Ernie Clement (+1200)

Outside of Springer, Clement has the strongest numbers against Martinez, owning a .689 xSLG with a homer against the righty across seven at-bats. I'm staying off Springer for the most part today due to the sore shoulder he's playing through, which could suppress his power.

Clement came off the bench and played in Game 2 against the Yankees (going 2-for-2) and is in a prime spot to hit his first homer since Aug. 5 against a contact pitcher. Lock him in as a long-shot play.

Blue Jays vs Rays odds

• Moneyline: Toronto (+115) | Tampa Bay (-135)
• Run line: Toronto +1.5 (-190) | Tampa Bay -1.5 (+160)
• Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-110) | Under 7.5 (-110)

Blue Jays vs Rays trend

The Over is 5-0 in Blue Jays' last five games as a road underdog. Find more MLB betting trends for Blue Jays vs. Rays.

How to watch Blue Jays vs Rays and game info

Blue Jays vs Rays latest injuries

Blue Jays vs Rays weather

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The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are playing a rare crosstown series that actually matters this week at Wrigley Field. The White Sox are MLB’s biggest surprise this season, entering the week in first place in the AL Central with a 5.5 game lead over three other teams. The Cubs are the NL’s top wildcard team at the moment, and are hoping to chase down the Milwaukee Brewers for the division title by the end of the regular season.

Tensions were high in the first game of the series, and not just on the field. The Cubs beat the White Sox, 7-5, thanks to a dramatic 10th inning walkoff homer from possible MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong. The two teams traded the lead back and forth all night, with the Sox striking first on a three-run blast by Randal Grichuk, the Cubs forging ahead on a throwing error by Miguel Vargas, and then the Sox coming back on an eighth inning pinch hit home run from Andrew Benintendi.

It felt like a playoff game in mid-August, but unfortunately some fans couldn’t control themselves. There was a large brawl in the middle of the Wrigley bleachers during the game between fans. These were adults involved, but their actions were childish. Watch the video of the fight below.

Here’s another angle as security guards stood by and watched a Cubs fan get beat by a Sox fan.

PCA commented on the fight after the game, saying “you have people in the stands competing, too.”

There’s no reason for any of this to be happening. It brings back memories of New York Knicks fans reportedly jumping San Antonio Spurs fans in the streets of Manhattan after Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals. It’s not that serious, guys.

When the Cubs and Sox played on the South Side earlier this season, Crow-Armstrong fired back with a vulgar response to a young woman in a Sox hat who was talking trash to him. Back in my day, the fighting between the Cubs and Sox happened on the field during the 2006 brawl after AJ Pierzynski trucked Michael Barrett at home plate.

The Cubs moved to 20 games over .500 with the win at 73-53. The Sox were the worst team in baseball history two years ago (41-121), but they now sit at 65-59 after Monday following thanks to a remarkable turnaround this season.

Cubs vs. White Sox is fun again, but some drunk, dumb fans threaten to ruin it for everyone else around them. These are adults, and they need to start acting like it.

The San Diego Padres completed a six-game home stand with a sweep of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers and winning two of three from the AL West-leading Houston Astros. After an off day on the road in Cleveland, the Padres took on the fourth-place Guardians of the AL Central.

With the team still deploying their “pitching chaos” approach for one of those games, the Friars took two of three with new starter Casey Mize throwing a shutout for six innings in the final game of the series.

Overall, the Padres took seven of nine games at home and on the road, and improved their season record to 67-58, good for second place in the NL West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Arizona Diamondbacks have dropped out of the Wild Card standings, with the Padres tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the second spot in the Wild Card race.

With 37 games remaining, the Padres are fighting tooth and nail for a playoff slot. The road trip continues with three games in New York against the Mets, then the team comes home for three games against the Minnesota Twins and three games versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. That six-game home stand is bracketed by days off both at the beginning and the end of the two series.

Joe Musgrove update

The possibility of no longer needing the TBD designation as their starting pitcher seems imminent for the Padres. Righty Joe Musgrove has completed his third rehab start and has reached 70 pitches in the latest of those three games. 

In his last start on Friday with Triple-A El Paso, Musgrove allowed five runs and nine hits, maxing out his velocity on his fastball at 97 mph. He hung between 93-95 mph through his 4.2 innings pitched and was able to throw all his pitches, reportedly feeling good afterward.

There should be one more minor league appearance, probably on Wednesday, and then he could be available to start against Pittsburgh during the home stand.

The offense is booming

The turnaround by the Padres offense has been impressive and is badly needed. President of baseball operations, A.J. Preller, got the pitching help the team needed at the trade deadline because the offense began a surge that promised to give them a shot at a playoff spot.

With the acquisition of Casey Mize and Robbie Ray, the pressure is on the offense to continue their success, which allows pitchers to be aggressive with their pitches. Getting ahead of hitters and throwing strikes has led to better outcomes for the Padres’ starting staff.

There has also been a power surge from this team. Over August, the Friars have slugged 21 homers, tied for third in MLB. Their slugging percentage in August is .430, ninth in baseball. For the better part of May, through June and into July, they had the worst offense in MLB.

This chart, taken from Kevin Acee’s daily newsletter from Aug. 17, shows how the offense has turned the corner. The key now is to be consistent with this turnaround.

Pitching on the way up

The Padres pitchers had a 3.98 ERA in June, a 4.77 ERA in July, and have a 3.69 ERA in August. The starters have six quality starts over their past 12 games, while they only averaged one every six games before August. 

Newly acquired starter Robbie Ray has had an underwhelming start with the Padres. With the San Francisco Giants, Ray pitched 122.2 innings with a 3.08 ERA. In his two starts as a Padre, Ray has nine innings pitched and a 6.00 ERA. Assuming a return to form for the rest of the season, the Padres will have another quality pitcher to help fill out their rotation as they sprint to a playoff spot.

The team has a 17-5 record since July 24, which is the best record in MLB over that period. Improved pitching, as well as a more potent offense, makes them one of the teams to beat for the rest of the season.

Manny Machado doesn’t have to carry them anymore

For the last several years, it was repeated every season that the Padres go as Manny Machado goes. The reality was that they couldn’t win unless Manny was playing well and basically carrying the team in stretches through the season.

That is not the case this year. As we all know, Machado has struggled for much of the season. He has maintained his power stroke, hitting 23 home runs with 70 RBI, both tops on the team. But his .211 batting average is the lowest of his career and the worst of all the regular starting position players.

Luis Rengifo, signed by the Padres on June 29 after being released by the Brewers, leads the team in average with a .323/.411/.473 line. He is being outslugged by Ty France, who sits at a .516 slugging percentage. Catcher Luis Campusano leads all Padres with a .925 OPS. 

Of the qualified players (those with enough at-bats to statistically qualify), Fernando Tatis Jr. has a .778 OPS with Jackson Merrill sitting at .711.

It is a good thing that the leadership on this team is now spread out amongst three or four offensive stars and not just a burden for Machado to carry. They are a better team as a result.

Jackson Merrill gets paid

The Padres played the Cleveland Guardians on Friday. Michael King started the game and went six innings, getting the win in the 7-5 contest. He leads the team with nine quality starts of their 22 total.

Just as noteworthy was the milestone reached by center fielder Jackson Merrill. His contract, which was signed in 2025 and began this season, rewards him for his successes on the field. He gets a raise with every 500 plate appearances he achieves in a season. His first time up on Friday was his 500th appearance this year and the escalator adds $1 million to five different years of his contract. The nine-year, $135 million guarantee gets pushed to $140 million. There is a total of $30 million available in escalators over the length of the contract and tied to his performance. 

There is also an escalator for MVP votes that would turn his team option for 2035 into a player option.

Roster and injury updates

The Padres signed outfielder Austin Hays to a major league contract on Aug. 9. Hays was released by the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 7. 

Reliever Jason Adam has begun playing catch. His shoulder strain is healed enough that he can throw without pain. Now he has to increase his effort and get to a mound before any timeline can be set. According to reporting from San Diego Union-Tribune’s Kevin Acee, the team hopes for a mid-September return.

Nick Pivetta is still throwing bullpens but there is no timeline for his next step. Per the report in Kevin Acee’s daily newsletter, Pivetta is throwing every two days and has increased his intensity this past week.

The team has not provided any update on pitcher Lucas Giolito. The last report was he was building up his strength and fixing some issues with his mechanics. 

Neither Miguel Andujar (broken wrist) nor Samad Taylor (oblique strain) appear close to rejoining the team. Andujar is out of his splint and beginning some activity, but there is no timeline for his return. Taylor was sent to Arizona to work in the bridge league over a week ago, and there has been no update on his progress or if he will begin a minor league rehab stint.

The Padres signed RHP Brent Honeywell, 31, to a minor league contract. Honeywell pitched for the Padres for 36 games in 2023. He will be assigned to El Paso. Honeywell has not pitched since 2024, when he won a World Series ring by pitching 34 innings for the Dodgers.

RHP David Morgan completed his rehab assignment and was optioned to El Paso.

RHP Germán Márquez cleared waivers and was released by the Padres. 

After a grueling 11-day, 10-game road trip, the Orioles finally return to Camden Yards for the first time since Aug. 6. And this time, they’re coming in with some swagger.

The Orioles just went toe-to-toe with the best team in the American League, taking three out of four from the Rays in a hard-fought series that had a postseason feel. So now, facing the second-best team in the AL, the Yankees, doesn’t seem like such an intimidating challenge for the O’s.

The Yanks are comfortably headed to the postseason, currently 8.5 games ahead for the first AL wild card spot, but they’re a team with some flaws, particularly since Aaron Judge went down with a fractured rib at the end of May. The Yankees have essentially been a .500 team (33-32) during Judge’s absence after going 36-23 before his injury. Judge just started playing catch last week and isn’t particularly close to a return. Also on the shelf is Cody Bellinger with a left hamstring strain. He’ll start a rehab assignment this week but won’t appear in this series.

The Yankees have an offense that is extremely reliant on the long ball. They can’t hit for average (an AL-worst .229) and can’t get on base (.308 OBP, second-worst) but they sure can hit some dingers, even without Judge. The Yankees’ 171 homers are second-most in the majors, and they’ve got nine players in double digits, led by All-Star Ben Rice’s 33 blasts. Keeping the Yankees in the ballpark will be the key for O’s pitchers to neutralize their offense.

The Yanks’ attempts to bolster their lineup at the trade deadline haven’t panned out as yet. Luis Garcia Jr., acquired from the Nationals, has a .664 OPS in 11 games. Former Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos has been terrible, going just 3-for-36 as a Yankee so far. But one new face has been a big hit: #1 prospect George Lombard Jr., called up on Aug. 4, has stabilized the shortstop position after replacing the struggling Anthony Volpe.

What’s made the Yankees successful is their stellar pitching staff, which has a 3.26 ERA that leads the majors by a wide margin. Second-year righty Cam Schlittler is an AL Cy Young favorite who currently leads the league in ERA (2.19), IP (152.0), and WAR (5.1) and is rocking an 11.2 K/9 rate. Fortunately, the Orioles won’t face him in this series. The bullpen has also been stout, with journeymen Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn emerging as top late-inning options ahead of quality closer David Bednar, who is 27-for-30 in save opportunities.

The Yankees are a good team. But the Orioles proved in Tampa that they’re capable of shifting their game into another gear against even the best opponents. If the O’s can bring that momentum back home to Baltimore, this could be a heck of a series. But if the Birds revert to their old ways, well, things could get ugly fast.

Game 1: Tuesday, 6:35 PM, MASN

LHP Carlos Rodón (4-2, 3.30) vs. RHP Shane Baz (4-12, 4.00)

Rodón, fresh off the IL after a bout of elbow inflammation, will be making his first start since June 28. That was after he’d already missed all of April while recovering from offseason elbow surgery. In his nine starts between his injuries, Rodón struggled with his control, issuing 26 walks in 46.1 innings. He could be on a pitch count limit in this game. Gunnar Henderson, who’s been swinging the bat much better of late, has had some success in his career against Rodón, homering twice. Pete Alonso, Tyler O’Neill, and Carlos Narváez have each homered once.

Shane Baz, despite pitching decently overall, has been something of a bad-luck charm for the Orioles. The O’s have a 6-18 record in his starts and have lost nine of the last 10, and Baz himself doesn’t have a win since June 12. In many cases that’s been due to a criminal lack of run support from the O’s offense; Baz has thrown six quality starts in that span without a victory to show for it. In his most recent start, though, Baz only had himself to blame, coughing up a 4-1 lead in Minnesota and exiting after a season-low three innings. Baz’s previous start against the Yankees this year was one of his worst; he surrendered six runs in 5.2 innings on May 4 in the finale of the Yanks’ four-game sweep in the Bronx.

Game 2: Wednesday, 6:35 PM, MASN, MLB Network (out of market)

TBD vs. RHP Chris Bassitt (4-4, 5.11)

Bassitt’s return to the Orioles last Friday, after more than two months on the IL, went pretty well. He held the Rays in check for two runs in 5.1 innings. The trade of Dean Kremer gives Bassitt plenty of leeway to hold onto the fifth starter’s spot for a while, even if his overall 2026 performance has been less than impressive. The 37-year-old is very familiar with some of the veterans in the Yankee lineup. He’s been particularly successful in his career against Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3-for-17 with seven strikeouts) and Austin Wells (3-for-13). He’s also held Trent Grisham to a 3-for-19 performance, though two of the hits were homers.

The Orioles were originally scheduled to face Max Fried in this game, but the Yankees placed him on the 15-day injured list yesterday with a bone bruise in his elbow. It’s the same injury that Fried suffered in a game against the Orioles in May, sidelining him for two months. The Yanks have yet to announce a replacement starter, but it could be righty Will Warren, who would be working on six days’ rest.

Game 3: Thursday, 6:35 PM, MASN

RHP Gerrit Cole (6-6, 3.22) vs. RHP Kyle Bradish (7-11, 3.65)

For the first time in two years, the Orioles will have to deal with Gerrit Cole, who owns a career 7-3 record and 2.39 ERA against the Birds. Of course, only two players remain from the last O’s starting lineup that faced Cole in September 2024 (Henderson and Colton Cowser), so this will be a bit of a different look for him.

Cole, after undergoing Tommy John (R.I.P.) surgery and missing the entire 2025 season, has returned to his ace-like self since debuting on May 22 this year. He hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his last eight outings, throwing six quality starts in that span. His underlying stats — a 1.085 WHIP and 9.6 K/9, among others — are about on par with what they were in 2024, which aren’t quite at the standard of his Cy Young 2023 season but still make him a pretty tough customer.

Bradish, in five appearances since signing his five-year, $90 million extension, has had three quality starts, including a gutty effort against the Rays on Saturday in which he battled for six innings despite not having his best stuff. He’s made two starts against the Yankees this year with wildly different results. On May 2 they torched him for five runs in four innings at Yankee Stadium, including a Grisham homer. But Bradish came back two starts later in Baltimore and dominated the Yanks for six shutout innings.

**

How do you expect this series to play out, Camden Chatters? Let us know in the comments.

In 2023, the Astros, fresh off a World Series title, brought in a new general manager in Dana Brown. Brown was lauded for his scouting acumen given his background as an amateur scout and his role in helping build a strong organization in Atlanta.

With the 2026 MLB Draft now complete, we have four draft classes to evaluate what Brown and company have been able to do. Let’s take a look at those classes, along with the international signings and trades, and see how the Astros’ farm system compares to where it was when Brown took over in 2023.

Going into the 2023 season, the Astros had a decent farm system with two Top 100 prospects in Hunter Brown and Yainer Diaz, according to Baseball America. Diaz, however, was not included on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list.

2023

In the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft, the Astros held the 28th pick and selected shortstop Brice Matthews out of Nebraska. Matthews eventually broke into Pipeline’s Top 100 in July 2025, ranking No. 98. Their second-round pick, Alonzo Tredwell, had a breakout 2025 season but has only pitched one in 2026.

The Astros had a few other intriguing picks, including Jake Bloss, who was eventually traded in the deal for Yusei Kikuchi; Chase Jaworsky, who was traded for Jesus Sanchez; and Ethan Pecko, who is now one of the top pitching prospects in the system. Nehomar Ochoa and Anthony Huezo were two later-round fliers who have developed into legitimate prospects.

Also of interest from that draft are right-handers Jackson Nezuh (Triple-A) and James Hicks (Double-A), along with an intriguing C/1B option in Will Bush. While it doesn’t appear the class produced any slam-dunk top prospects, it has already produced two major league players, and I would expect at least another two or three to debut.

At the 2023 trade deadline, Brown traded Drew Gilbert and Ryan Clifford for Justin Verlander and Korey Lee for Kendall Graveman, dealing away some talent from the system in an effort to bolster the major league club.

2024

The 2024 international class was the first that Brown was really a part of. The Astros signed Cesar Hernandez for $1.7 million, but he has struggled, hitting just .242 over three minor league seasons. Luis Rives also received a significant bonus and is currently a 21-year-old in the FCL. There is still time for him to develop, but there hasn’t been much else of note from that class so far.

The 2024 draft was the next step in the process of rebuilding the system. In the first round, No. 28 overall, the Astros selected Walker Janek. He had a solid 2025 season, but 2026 has been a struggle as he’s hitting just .215 in Double-A. The Astros didn’t have a second-round pick due to signing Josh Hader. Their third-round pick, Ryan Forcucci, unfortunately hasn’t been able to stay healthy and has struggled in 2026.

Looking deeper into the draft, there are some good prospects in Cole Hertzler, Caden Powell, Joseph Sullivan and Jason Schiavone. They also found Bryce Mayer in the 16th round, and he is now one of the top pitching prospects in the system. On the undrafted side, they landed Lucas Spence and Jagger Beck. Only one player from that draft class has debuted so far, and it was Spence.

At the 2024 trade deadline, Brown traded Joey Loperfido, Jake Bloss and Will Wagner for Yusei Kikuchi. None were Top 100 prospects at the time, though Bloss was trending in that direction before the trade.

2025

The next big date was the international signing period in January 2025, and so far, it looks like the Astros nailed it. They gave their biggest bonus that year to Kevin Alvarez, who is now a Top 100 prospect and the top prospect in the system. Anthony Millan has also drawn good reviews, while Juan Fraide and Sami Manzueta look like other solid finds from the class.

The 2025 draft was next, and the Astros went with prep talent Xavier Neyens in the first round. He has been as advertised, showing big power along with some swing-and-miss, but he has still developed into a Top 100 prospect in baseball. The Astros didn’t have a second-round pick due to signing Christian Walker, but their third-round pick, Ethan Frey, appears to be a nice selection.

Other picks who have drawn interest from that class include Nick Potter, Gabel Pentecost, Jase Mitchell and Justin Thomas. A few other names are intriguing as well, but it’s still very early in their professional careers.

At the 2025 trade deadline, Brown made a series of smaller moves, trading away a few prospects but nobody who was considered a significant piece of the system.

2026

Next came the 2026 international signing period, where the Astros signed Albert Fermin, who has been great and is on the verge of Top 100 consideration, and Randy Arias, who signed for more than $1 million. It’s way too early to make any definitive judgments on the class, but Fermin already looks like a great pickup.

In Brown’s three-plus years as general manager, no opportunity to improve the farm system was more important than the 2026 draft. The Astros had two first-round picks and two fourth-round picks, giving them an opportunity to inject significant talent into the organization.

They selected Logan Hughes and Jack Radel in the first round, Wes Mendes in the second and then added overslot signings in Keon Johnson and Beau Peterson. Six players from the class have already made Pipeline’s Top 30 Astros prospects list and while debuts have been limited, there is a lot to like with this class.

Where Does the System Stand?

A general manager’s job is never finished, but the Astros have found some nice prospects through both the draft and international market under Brown. They’ve also missed on a few high picks, which is inevitable when evaluating multiple draft classes.

The biggest difference now is the depth of legitimate prospects throughout the organization. Alvarez and Neyens have developed into Top 100 prospects, which is the first time having two top 100 prospects in a long time. Players such as Fermin, Mayer, Pecko, Hertzler, Frey, Schiavone, Huezo and others have given the system more depth behind them. That’s before knowing what the Astros will ultimately get out of a potentially important 2026 draft class.

There have also been prospects traded away during Brown’s tenure, most notably in deals to improve the major league roster, which has worked against some of the progress made through the draft and international market.

Overall, I would say the Astros’ farm system is in a better spot today than it was when Brown took over in 2023. How much better could ultimately hinge on the 2026 draft class. With multiple premium picks and six players already ranked among the organization’s Top 30 prospects, that group has a chance to define Brown’s success in rebuilding the Astros’ farm system.

Game Recaps

Diamondbacks, minus Ketel Marte, look uninspired in a Boston blowout by Nick Piecoro [AZ Central]

Lefty Mitch Bratt gave up three runs in three innings and right-hander Zack Littell allowed eight runs (six earned) in 3 2/3 innings.

It was just the Diamondbacks’ 13th loss in their past 34 games — they entered the day tied for the second-most wins in the majors since July 9 — but given the circumstances surrounding Marte and how thoroughly they were beaten, it felt like it could be more than just another loss.

Day of promise for Diamondbacks turns ugly from Marte’s absence to poor pitching vs. Red Sox by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

The Arizona Diamondbacks started their Monday on an encouraging note, by reinstating reliever Justin Martinez and outfielder Jordan Lawlar from the injured list while they prepared for a series opener against the Boston Red Sox.

The day ended with the Diamondbacks putting up a sloppy performance in an 11-1 loss at Fenway Park, preluded by second baseman Ketel Marte getting placed on the restricted list moments before first pitch as a no-show. The reason for Marte’s absence was not immediately clear — manager Torey Lovullo told reporters it was due to personal reasons — but his status becomes the most pressing issue facing the team.

Diamondbacks News

D-backs place star 2B Ketel Marte on restricted list by Steve Gilbert [Dbacks.com]

As of 20 minutes before the start of Monday night’s series opener with the Red Sox, the Diamondbacks still had not put out a lineup.

Not long after that it became clear why, when the team announced that second baseman Ketel Marte had been placed on the restricted list. Marte did not show up to Fenway Park, per a team official, and the D-backs waited until close to game time with the hope that he would arrive.

Torey Lovullo Addresses Ketel Marte’s Baffling Unexcused Absence in Boston by Alex D’Agostino [SI]

A visibly emotional Lovullo had this to say:

“It”s been a crazy day. All I know is that he’s dealing with a personal issue. We’re trying to figure that out. He didn’t show up today and he was put on the restricted list. That’s as much as I know right now. I’m sure in time we’ll start to uncover and unravel some information.”

Lovullo said he “knew that there was something going on” when he met with the media ahead of the game, but still expected the second baseman to report to Fenway Park.

Diamondbacks get RHP Justin Martinez, OF Jordan Lawlar back as wave of reinforcements arrive by Alex Weiner [Arizona Sports]

Arizona Diamondbacks fireball-throwing relief pitcher Justin Martinez is active for the first time in 14 months, as he has returned from Tommy John surgery to bolster the bullpen for the final quarter of the season.

The Diamondbacks reinstated Martinez and dynamic outfielder Jordan Lawlar from the injured list on Monday before facing the Boston Red Sox, representing the next wave of help coming off the IL for a team expecting more reinforcements down the stretch.

Corbin Carroll Named National League Player of the Week [MLB]

D-backs’ OF Corbin Carroll was named National League Player of the Week (August 10-16) for the third time in his career (also: June 5-11, 2023 and Aug. 26-Sept. 1, 2024). He is the third D-back to earn the honor this season, joining Ildemaro Vargas (April 20-26) and Ketel Marte (May 18-24).

It is the third time in franchise history where 3 different D-backs position players earned the weekly honor in a season, joining 1999 (Jay Bell, Matt Williams, Steve Finley) and 2019 (Eduardo Escobar, Nick Ahmed, Ketel Marte).

Around the League

Benge reminds Padres you don’t run on him. Twice. In the same inning. by Bill Ladson [MLB]

San Diego decided to run on him twice in the first inning of Monday’s game against the Mets, and Benge threw out both of them on back-to-back plays, becoming the first player in franchise history to throw out two runners at home in the same inning. Those putouts proved pivotal in helping New York nab the series opener, 2-1, at Citi Field.

With runners on first and second, one out and Mets right-hander Nolan McLean on the mound, Ty France singled to right-center field. Jake Cronenworth attempted to come home, but he was easily thrown out at the plate by Benge, whose throw clocked in at 99.9 mph.

MLB unanimously approves sale of San Diego Padres [ESPN]

Major League Baseball’s team owners unanimously approved the sale of the San Diego Padres to an investor group led by private equity billionaire José E. Feliciano and his wife and business partner, Kwanza Jones.

The league announced the approval Monday after a vote. Feliciano and Jones reached an agreement in May to buy the Padres from the family of late owner Peter Seidler at an MLB-record valuation of $3.9 billion. The deal is still contingent on the official closing of the transaction in the coming weeks.

The Dodgers Fall Behind by Ryan Blake [FanGraphs]

The Dodgers are not the best team in baseball right now.

It’s been a tough go of late for the team supposedly breaking the sport. The Dodgers began August with a seven-game losing streak, and they’ve played two games below .500 since the All-Star break. They just dropped three of four to the Brewers over the weekend, ceding their standing as the top team in the majors.

Baseball talk? I thought this was a football website!

Don’t worry, I’ll tie it all together by the end.

As some of you may remember, I’m a Seattle Seahawks aficionado born, raised, and living in the great state of Wisconsin. Even if I’m not a Cheesehead like most of my fellow Wisconsinites, I am a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers. I’m guessing that a good number of you reading this follow the Seattle Mariners who just so happen to be opening a series against the Brewers. 

Now, I’m not an expert on the Mariners, but feel like I’ve gained enough knowledge through following the Seattle sports scene to be dangerous. The Brewers and Mariners actually have quite a bit in common – and no, I’m not talking about the Seattle Pilots relocating to Milwaukee to become the Brewers. We lost the Braves to Atlanta in 1965, so there’s some shared history there. The Brewers, like the Mariners, have never won a World Series, though they did appear in one, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982. The Brewers and San Diego Padres are the oldest MLB franchises to never win a World Series. Both the Brewers and Mariners made the Championship Series for their respective Leagues in 2025, each falling short. We feel your pain, Mariners fans. 

Yet, as the two teams prepare to square off in 2026, they couldn’t be in more different positions. The Mariners have been highly disappointing, even though the division has been within their reach for pretty much the entire season, with the Houston Astros currently leading the AL West at 63-62. Flip over to the National League with the Brewers coming off winning three of four games on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers to push their record to 77-48 – the best record in all of Major League Baseball. Mariners fans will be able to watch the Brewers play, seeing what makes them so successful. 

So, what is that, and how can the Seahawks learn from it?

It’s pretty simple, and is actually what the Seahawks leaned on in 2025 as they won the Super Bowl: identity and belief.

Outside of a little spurt of success in the mid to late 2000s, the Brewers have been a historically middling franchise. Former Brewers player and hometown boy Craig Counsell took over as manager in 2015, and things changed. From 2015-2023, Counsell won over 700 games, leading the Brewers to the playoffs five times with three NL Central division titles.

After 2023, Counsell bolted for the division rival Chicago Cubs on a huge (for a manager) contract. His bench coach, Pat Murphy, replaced him as the manager. At the time, I figured Murphy would just be a fall guy, and last a season or two like many of the former managers. 

Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong!

All Murphy did was post two consecutive 90-win seasons, set the Brewers franchise record for wins in a season, take home two NL Central Division titles, and be named NL Manager of the Year for both 2024 and 2025. He’s on pace to potentially make that three in a row in 2026 by leaning hard into pitching, defense, and playing small ball. In a league where the home run is king, the Brewers consistently win by getting guys on base and moving them over whether that’s from swiping bags or sac bunts. The best word to describe their play is “pesky.” The Brewers spray the ball to the gaps, take the extra base, and work the count. They have fantastic starting pitching and a shutdown bullpen. Milwaukee prioritizes playing great defense, saving runs in that capacity. 

They also love playing for Murph. He’s an old-school type of manager, getting a little testy at times. However, he’s able to relate to the players and get them to fully buy into his vision. Contrast that with what I’ve gathered about the Mariners situation. They seem like a ship without a rudder, no clear direction or vision. The talent level on the Brewers roster isn’t leagues above the Mariners. In fact, you can argue that the Mariners actually have more talent in some areas. However, the Brewers believe in their leadership and are executing the vision of their manager to near-perfection.

THAT is what the Seahawks and Mike Macdonald can take from the Brewers and Mariners, a renewed conviction in their way of life. The Mariners and Brewers were both on the precipice of greatness in 2025, yet are traveling in opposite directions in 2026. Milwaukee’s continued focus on playing Pat Murphy’s style of ball has them in position to take another step forward this season, proving the importance of a strong culture and belief system. This is another example that Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks can look to in 2026 as they prepare to “run it forward.”