ST. LOUIS, MO - MAY 9: Butch Huskey of the New York Mets looks on against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on May 9, 1997 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Mets beat the Cardinals 10-3. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) | Sporting News via Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Robert Stock and the Mets fell behind 1-0 in the third inning in last night’s series opener against the Nationals. But that would prove to be the only run the pitching staff would surrender on the night, and a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh innings—including solo homers from Francisco Lindor and Jared Young—were enough to propel the Mets to victory.
Following Thursday’s Field of Dreams game between the Phillies and Twins, the league has announced that next year’s game at the famous location in Iowa will be between the Royals and Red Sox.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 14: Eli White #38 of the Boston Red Sox looks at his bat after striking out in the fifth inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees traveled north of the border on Friday, as they opened up a series against the Blue Jays. However, they left their bats — or whatever is left of them — back in the states. The lineup mustered just one run as they dropped the opener 3-1 to Toronto.
While the Yankees stunk up the joint yesterday, did anyone give them a helping hand in the various playoff races. Let’s check in today’s edition of the Rivalry Roundup.
Baltimore Orioles (59-63) 6, Tampa Bay Rays (74-47) 5
The Rays very nearly climbed all the way out of a four-run hole in the ninth inning, but they fell one short, stranding the potential game-tying run at second as the Orioles finished things off behind Cam Sanders, snapping Tampa Bay’s nine-game winning streak.
The two teams traded off runs in the second and third innings, with the O’s taking 1-0 and 2-1 leads, only for the game to be tied by Tampa Bay shortly after. The game stayed tied for a while after that, as Chris Bassitt put in a solid effort for Baltimore fresh off the 60-day IL, matched by a combined effort by the Rays’ bullpen.
The deadlock was broken when Dylan Beavers drove home two runs on a single in the seventh inning. Amid a deeply disappointing season, Gunnar Henderson then gave Baltimore some breathing room when he hit a two-run homer in the eighth. That seemed like it would be plenty enough, but it very nearly wasn’t.
Tampa Bay started the bottom of the ninth with two singles and a wild pitch moving two runners into scoring position. Jonathan Aranda cashed in on that opportunity, driving home two runs with a single. A walk and a pair of stolen bases then put the tying run in scoring position, but Junior Caminero managed just a run-scoring ground out. Baltimore opted to issue an intentional walk Liam Hicks, which did put the winning run on base, but the gambit worked and the O’s escaped and eked out the win. The Rays remain 6.5 games ahead of the Yankees and the O’s got to within a game of the Tigers and Rangers for the last Wild Card spot — though the Twins and Blue Jays also sit between them.
Other Games
Pittsburgh Pirates (60-64) 8, Boston Red Sox (65-57) 4: The Pirates got to Red Sox pitching to the tune of two home runs and eight runs in total, keeping Boston from gaining ground on the Yankees. Former Yankee prospect Rafael Flores Jr. got Pittsburgh on the board in the second, and the Bucs then scored a combined six runs over the fourth and fifth to fully take control of the game. In terms of pure numbers, the Red Sox actually recorded the same number of hits as Pittsburgh with nine, but the Pirates just did far more damage with their chances.
Chicago White Sox (63-58) 9, Detroit Tigers (60-62) 5: Miguel Vargas went 4-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI to lead the White Sox past the Tigers. Chicago took control of this game with a five-run fourth inning, which included a Munetaka Murakami homer and a two-run Braden Montgomery triple. The White Sox didn’t have a particularly sterling pitching day, they just never remotely needed one; now, they’re 3.5 games ahead of Detroit in the AL Central.
Houston Astros (63-60) 10, Seattle Mariners (57-66) 7 – 10 innings: An absolutely wild 10th inning saw the Astros give up two runs in the top of the frame before scoring five in the bottom of it to walk off with the win. Houston led for most of the game before the M’s scored two in the eighth to tie things up and eventually send it to extras. Seattle then seemingly took control in the 10th, with a Victor Robles’ triple leading the way to them putting up two runs. However, they couldn’t hold that edge, and Christian Walker eventually sent everyone home with a three-run homer. Houston is 2.5 games ahead of Texas in the AL West, while the M’s continue to fade (six back of Houston and 3.5 behind the Wild Card).
Definition: two things are totally opposite or completely different from each other.
That’s what baseball fans witnessed in Washington, D.C. over a 24-hour period.
The time period ended Thursday afternoon. Kevin Gausman struck out seven in his 4.2 IP, but surrendered six runs on seven hits and a walk. Gausman matched Nationals starter Cade Cavalli over three innings before an RBI-double by the Nats in the fourth began the scoring. The Nationals blasted open the door with a five-run fifth, knocked Gausman off the mound and, along with the Cubs, out of the game. Cavalli just rolled through the line-up, with Dansby Swanson ending the perfect game on a walk in the sixth. Michael Busch broke-up the no-hitter with a soft single to left with two out in the seventh — thus ending any residual drama.
BUT! We’re here to talk about the game 24 hours earlier. You know, the one on Wednesday where Alex Bregman hit three home runs and drove in seven runs in a 12-6 Cub win? Or what Jim Deshaies is calling, “Breggy-mania”? The one that guaranteed the Cubs their ninth road series win of the season?
I’m not saying that I did anything special. But I’m sure you’ve watched a guy hit back-to-back homers, and the next time up it floats through your mind that he could make it three in a row. And when it happens, it’s almost a surprise he actually did it.
I’d like to think that what went through my mind went through some of yours as well: The way Bregman walked to the plate in the eighth inning, I said out loud (and scared my wife), “This is going out, too.” In setting up for the 2-2 pitch, and the catcher set up belt-high over the outside-half of the plate, I said, “Don’t throw it there.” And the ball would have hit the center of the catcher’s glove — if it hadn’t landed in the left-field seats.
So many good tidbits in the game stories below about Bregman, I’ll let you peruse while I’ll expand on the other players.
The Cubs’ top three hitters each went 2-for-4 with a walk. Swanson added a solo home run, three runs scored, a double and two RBI. Seiya Suzuki added two runs scored and two RBI. And Ramirez had a double, two runs scored and two stolen bases. Four other Cubs had a hit as the team gathered 13 hits and four walks in the game.
David Peterson had a rocky start, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and three walks while having managed six strikeouts over five innings. And while Javier Assad allowed two hits — both solo home runs — and a walk, his four innings of work earned himself his second save of the season.
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Thursday’s Game Stories:
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Gausman stumbles in 5th while Cavalli shuts down Cubs’ offense. “As Michael Busch slowed down at first base in the seventh inning on Thursday, cheers began to fill Nationals Park. They were both out of respect for Nationals righty Cade Cavalli’s bid at history, but also mixed with the Cubs fans on hand who were happy to see it end.”
The Cubs are the 3rd team since RBI became official in 1920 to have two players with a 3-HR, 7-RBI game in a season (Paul O'Neill/Mike Stanley for 1995 Yankees, Aaron Judge/Jasson Domínguez for 2025 Yankees and Bregman/Swanson this year). https://t.co/qBTp2KhXYx
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): How Jacob Webb found another level ‘real quick’ with Cubs. “There were discussions and work done in Spring Training to bring back a curveball the righty used in college, through the Minors and briefly in the big leagues. And then when April went awry for Webb, he told Chicago’s pitching group that it was time to finally ditch the sweeper.”
Alexander Rosquez (Last Word On Sports): Cubs Could Confidently Rely on Jacob Webb. “The Chicago Cubs didn’t enter the season expecting Jacob Webb to become their primary option at the back of the bullpen.”
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Edward Cabrera Is Coming Back! “The Chicago Cubs have made their decision on Edward Cabrera’s rehab assignment: it’s over.”
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Can the Cubs Piggyback Their Way to Glory? “If ever piggybacking were going to truly take root in the major leagues, it might as well happen in the city of big shoulders—hog butcher to the world.”
Jordan Bastian and Jim Callis (MLB.com): Hartshorn, Ayers headline Cubs’ updated Top 30 Prospects list. “Both Josiah Hartshorn and Owen Ayers made strong impressions in their limited exposure to the Cubs’ big league team during Spring Training games. When the Minor League season arrived, the pair of prospects developed into two of the system’s breakout stars.”
Cory Sparks (North Side Baseball): First Impressions From Ethan Conrad’s First 30 Pro Games With Cubs. “Ethan Conrad’s long-awaited pro debut has happened, and the 2025 first-rounder is starting to live up to the expectations the Cubs set for him over one year ago.”
Elmore James was born on January 27, 1918 in Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi. At the age of 12, he started making music using one-string instruments like the diddley-bow, which was strung on a shack wall. Eventually as time passed, Elmore developed into a solid musician by the time he was 18. It was during this period that he met a certain musician who went onto became one of his strongest influences. This was none other than the legendary Robert Johnson.
This meeting took place in Belzoni, Mississippi, where he was meeting one of his good friends, Sonny Boy Williamson II. Before this meeting, Elmore’s style of playing the guitar was less of a slide guitarist. However, it was Robert Johnson who showed him how to play the guitar using a metal sleeve on your finger that soon became the slide. He also began covering songs by Chicago Blues musician Tampa Red, who was another influence on Elmore in developing his distinctive Slide guitar sound.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 11: Connor Norby #35 of the Colorado Rockies throws over Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks to complete a double play during the sixth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 11, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Connor Norby has already packed quite a bit into a major-league career that is barely two years old.
He debuted with the Baltimore Orioles in June 2024, was traded to the Miami Marlins at that year’s deadline, spent much of 2025 working around injuries and returned to Triple-A this summer after his offense backed up. Then came another trade, this time to the Colorado Rockies as part of the return for Victor Vodnik.
Eight days later, Norby was back in the majors.
At 26, he is no longer a prospect waiting for his first opportunity. He has more than 700 major-league plate appearances and a fairly clear set of strengths and weaknesses.
There is also a version of Norby that has never quite disappeared.
He never became a consensus Top 100 prospect, but consistently ranked among the better second-base prospects in the game, placing 10th at the position entering 2022, sixth in 2023 and seventh in 2024. Second base was his primary defensive home through much of the minors, while his bat was built around patience and above-average power.
The production backed that up. Norby hit .279/.360/.526 with 29 home runs in 2022, then .290/.359/.483 with 21 homers and 40 doubles at Triple-A in 2023. His strikeout rate generally sat in the low 20s, manageable for the amount of damage he produced.
His platoon splits also gave little reason to view him as a right-handed specialist. In 2023, for example, he hit .292/.360/.473 against right-handers and .285/.356/.510 against lefties.
That profile reappeared this summer. In 121 Triple-A plate appearances, Norby hit .291/.397/.544 with eight doubles, six home runs, 17 walks and 23 strikeouts.
Level
AVG
OBP
SLG
BB%
K%
MLB Career
.234
.302
.383
7.5%
29.3%
MiLB Career
.286
.367
.496
10.6%
23.0%
2026 MiLB
.291
.397
.544
14.0%
19.0%
The harder part has been getting those skills to coexist against major-league pitching.
The problem is contact
In 2024, Norby struck out in 33.0% of his plate appearances but produced a 14.8% barrel rate, a .202 ISO and a .448 xSLG. The strikeouts were ugly. The damage gave them somewhere to hide.
He cut the strikeout rate to 26.7% in 2025, but his barrel rate fell to 9.4% and his xSLG to .417. Even so, the overall profile stayed roughly above water: 0.3 bWAR in 194 plate appearances as a rookie and 0.8 bWAR in 337 plate appearances last season, with 162WL% marks of .499 and .498.
This year, the balance broke.
Norby hit .205/.313/.325 in 233 plate appearances with Miami before being optioned in late June. His strikeout rate returned to 30.0% while the barrel rate slipped again to 7.5%.
His swing decisions, however, have improved.
Norby has chased only 26.9% of pitches this season and walked in 10.8% of his plate appearances. The contact numbers are much less encouraging: a 77.0% zone-contact rate and 32.3% overall whiff rate.
The problem runs across the pitch mix, but breaking and off-speed pitches have punished him most severely. Norby has whiffed on 47.8% of his swings against sliders, 44.4% against changeups, 40.0% against sweepers, and 66.7% against curveballs. His four-seam whiff rate is also elevated at 33.1%.
This looks much more like a bat-to-ball problem than a swing-decision problem. Norby knows the zone reasonably well; making enough contact when he attacks has been the harder part.
The contrast between his swing decisions and his ability to make contact shows up in these two pitches:
Whether timing, swing path, contact point, or sequencing is driving that is harder to say.
The quality of the contact he does make has slipped, too.
Norby’s fly-ball rate remains high at 37.3%, but his sweet-spot rate has fallen from 47.0% in 2024 to 42.0% last season and 29.9% this year. His under rate is up to 32.1%, while his barrel rate has dropped from 14.8% to 9.4% to 7.5%.
The power still shows up when he gets the barrel there.
But that’s not often enough. More of Norby’s air contact is coming from underneath the baseball instead of becoming line drives and barrels.
His average exit velocity sits at 87.1 mph, only modestly below league average, while his bat speed has been fairly steady. So the problem does not appear to be a simple loss of bat speed.
That contact shape still makes Coors Field interesting. Norby already gets the ball in the air and has enough power and speed to benefit from the outfield when he squares one.
Coors can reward his contact. It cannot create the contact for him.
Where the glove fits
How much offense Norby needs depends on where he plays.
His +5 Outs Above Average this season is driven mostly by first base, where he has been +3 over 100 attempts. There is some major-league history at second: Norby handled 28 Statcast attempts there in 2024 and finished at 0 OAA. But that opportunity is now fairly distant, and his current sample with Colorado is only beginning to build.
Third is less encouraging. Norby is +1 there in 20 attempts this season after finishing at -4 OAA in 2025 and -5 in 2024. His arm has never been an above-average part of the profile, either.
First looks playable, while third has produced the most negative evidence. Second remains the more immediate question.
The position itself is familiar. Second base was Norby’s primary defensive home through much of the minors, and the early eye test with Colorado has been encouraging. He has not made spectacular plays, but he has looked competent and comfortable, handling routine ground balls, feeds and double-play pivots without much trouble.
Norby does not need to become a standout defender there. If he can simply provide adequate defense with some regularity, the offensive standard becomes considerably easier to clear than it would be at first base or DH.
Norby is still looking for his first hit as a Rockie, but Friday night was the kind of ballplayer’s game that shows why his value does not have to begin and end with the bat. He went 0-for-2, walked twice, stole a base, scored a run and handled a busy night at second base without looking out of place.
The hit column was empty. His impact was not.
The comparison with Edouard Julien is difficult to avoid because the profiles are not dramatically different.
Both came to Colorado around the same age with offensive skills worth testing and questions about whether those skills could combine into enough major-league production.
Same bet, different ante.
Julien hit the ball hard and controlled the strike zone, but too much of that contact stayed on the ground. Once the bat failed to produce enough, there was little defensive or baserunning value underneath it. He departed with a 65 wRC+ and -7 DRS at second base.
Norby is not an established offensive upgrade. His major-league bat needs recovering, too.
But he is right-handed, runs better, gets the ball in the air and offers more defensive possibilities. His overall game had already produced some major-league value before this season, and his first few games with Colorado have already shown how some of that secondary value can surface even before the hits do.
The right-handed bat also helped the rest of the roster make more sense. Tyler Freeman’s trip to the injured list had removed a right-handed bat from the mix, even if much of his recent work had come in right field. Norby gave Colorado a right-handed hitter who could also handle the infield, restoring some of that balance without simply duplicating Freeman’s role.
That mattered when the Rockies moved on from Julien and recalled Zac Veen. The transactions were not one-for-one replacements: Norby had already arrived for Freeman, while Veen took Julien’s roster spot. But the resulting roster kept a right-handed infield option in Norby while replacing Julien’s left-handed bat with Veen.
That is roster balance with actual utility.
Making the competition mean something
Second base has been a below-average offensive position for Colorado this season. Rockies second basemen rank 24th in batting average, 21st in slugging and 18th in OPS. They have drawn the fifth-most walks at the position, but also have the fourth-most strikeouts while ranking only 16th in home runs.
There has been some on-base value, but too many strikeouts and not enough damage around it to produce a complete offensive profile.
Norby does not have to fix all of that himself.
He just has to raise the standard of the competition.
The Rockies no longer need another player who can merely play second base. They need players good enough to make the competition at second base meaningful.
Norby has a legitimate path to a majority of the playing time himself. If enough of his minor-league offensive profile translates and he proves adequate defensively, a second baseman who walks, gets the ball in the air, produces 20-plus-homer power and can stay in the lineup against both right- and left-handed pitching has plenty of value.
If not, there is still a potential role as a right-handed, multi-position bat with some pop.
Either way, Colorado does not need to clear the position around him.
Adael Amador can compete for it. Ryan Ritter can force the issue from Triple-A. Roc Riggio provides another possibility farther down the line.
None of them has to be evaluated in a vacuum. Even with an unsettled offensive profile, Norby has already shown he can hover around neutral major-league value.
He gives them an actual major-league baseline to beat.
The Albuquerque Isotopes (61-57) beat the Oklahoma City Comets (65-51) 4-2, using a three-run fifth inning to erase an early deficit before adding an insurance run late.
Newly acquired Mason Adams started for Albuquerque and allowed two runs on three hits over four innings, walking two and striking out four. Mason Green followed with two scoreless innings to earn the win, lowering his ERA to 5.71, and Jaden Hill worked a clean seventh with one strikeout to pick up his first hold. TJ Shook recorded the final out in the ninth for his 11th save, after taking over for Evan Shawver with two outs.
The Isotopes trailed 2-0 before breaking through in the fifth. Jose Cordova singled, Drew Avans reached on an error, Ryan Ritter singled to load the bases, and Roc Riggio walked in Albuquerque’s first run. Braxton Fulford then delivered the big swing with a two-run single to put the Isotopes ahead.
Fulford finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and now has a .910 OPS, while Ritter went 2-for-5 and is hitting .325 with an .881 OPS. Cordova added two hits and is now batting .299 with a .731 OPS. Charlie Condon went 0-for-3 but drew a walk and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh, giving him 74 RBI with a .919 OPS.
The Hartford Yard Goats (55-56) dropped a tight 2-1 game to the Erie SeaWolves (65-46), with all three runs coming in the fifth inning.
Bryson Hammer started for Hartford and took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits over 4.1 innings while walking one and striking out four. The damage came in the fifth, when Erie used a walk, a double, a bases-loaded walk, and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead. Hammer is now 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA.
GJ Hill accounted for Hartford’s only run, going 3-for-4 with his 14th home run of the season. Hill’s solo shot came in the bottom of the fifth and cut the deficit to one, but the Yard Goats could not push across another run.
Dyan Jorge added his 14th double of the season, drew a walk, and stole his 44th base. Andy Perez, Cole Messina, and Skyler Messinger each added a hit, but Hartford went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.
The Spokane Indians (50-61) were walked off in a 3-2 loss to the Everett AquaSox (58-54), with Carter Dorighi’s ninth-inning single ending a tight game.
Newly acquired Aiden May started for Spokane and allowed two runs on six hits over five innings without a walk, striking out one. He owns a 2.79 ERA on the season.
Kelvin Hidalgo led the offense with three hits and stole his 19th base of the season. Roldy Brito and Tanner Thach added two hits apiece, with Brito stealing two bases to give him 17 on the year and Thach adding his second steal.
Spokane trailed 2-0 after the second but chipped back. Cameron Nelson doubled home Clayton Gray in the third, and Thach scored on a wild pitch in the sixth to tie the game. Seth Clausen took the loss after allowing a leadoff double in the ninth, followed by Dorighi’s walk-off single.
The Fresno Grizzlies (61-51) gave up three runs in the eighth inning in a 6-4 loss to the San Jose Giants (62-50), another late lead slipping away for a Rockies affiliate.
Fresno fell behind in the first but answered in the third, when Cristian Arguelles drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. The Grizzlies took the lead in the fourth after Jack Natili was hit by a pitch, Ryan Niedzwiedz doubled, and Juan Martinez reached on an error that brought both runners home.
Natili added his first home run of the season in the sixth, giving Fresno a 4-1 lead. Arguelles, Daniel Jackson, Natili, Niedzwiedz, and Aidan Redahan each had one hit, but the Grizzlies finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and were held hitless over the final three innings.
Luichi Casilla allowed one run over four innings, but the bullpen could not hold the lead. San Jose scored three times in the eighth, with Luke Hansel taking the loss.
Hunter Goodman was held out of Friday’s lineup with left shoulder inflammation that dates back to a swing Wednesday in Arizona. Manager Warren Schaeffer said Goodman is day-to-day as the Rockies give him treatment and see how the shoulder responds. His absence is significant: Goodman leads Colorado in OPS, RBIs and runs while ranking fifth in the majors with 34 home runs entering Friday.
Roc Riggio’s latest promotion adds another name to the Rockies’ increasingly crowded middle-infield pipeline. The piece looks at where Riggio now fits among Colorado’s second-base options and what his rise means for the organization’s depth at the position.
Nick Frasso’s path to the majors changed quickly after the Rockies acquired him from the Dodgers at the trade deadline. His debut came in the 11th inning at Coors Field, and Frasso reflected on the experience, what he learned from it and how he is beginning to settle into Colorado’s bullpen.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 11: Willy Adames #2 of the San Francisco Giants throws Powerade on Bryce Eldridge #8 of the San Francisco Giants after a win at Oracle Park on August 11, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants have 40 games remaining. In all likelihood, they’re going to lose most of those games. They’ve been a bad team all year, and then they went and traded a significant chunk of their talent at the deadline (as they should have, I might add). As such, the Giants have gone a meek 3-7 since trading Luis Arráez, Robbie Ray, Heliot Ramos, Tyler Mahle, Erik Miller, and Caleb Kilian, despite seven of those games being at home.
That ain’t gonna change.
Over the next 40 games, the Giants are likely to pitch poorly, hit poorly, and defend poorly. They might even find a few more ways to embarrass themselves beyond the standard being bad at baseball stuff.
Yet during Friday’s feckless loss to the equally miserable Colorado Rockies, there was a moment that got me thinking. It came a few seconds after Bryce Eldridge absolutely annihilated a baseball — off a lefty, no less — for one of the most mesmerizing home runs of the season. Here, let’s watch it together.
After that home run, I checked in on the Giants chatter on Bluesky, and I saw a common refrain. Different users were posting different iterations of the same thought: this is why I’ll keep watching the Giants this year.
Eldridge mashing dingers and (hopefully) further developing into a face of the franchise is one of the main reasons to watch the Giants, but it’s not the only one.
There will be milestones, such as on Friday, when Trent Harris recorded his first career strikeout; likely later today we’ll see Turner Hill make his MLB debut. It will be the 10th MLB debut this season for a Giants player, and almost surely not the last.
There will be battles for future roles. Can Hill, Jonah Cox, or Drew Gilbert make a clear case to be the starting center fielder next year? Can Victor Bericoto (or perhaps Parks Harber, Bo Davidson, or Scott Bandura) emerge as the everyday left fielder? Will Blade Tidwell or Carson Whisenhunt, who have cemented their spots as starters in 2026, cement those same roles for 2027? Can anyone pitch in relief?
There will be fun moments and highlight plays and, above all else, some final games for Mike Krukow to broadcast.
It's become a bucket-list destination for baseball fans — especially since the opening of Volunteer Stadium in 2001, when the tournament expanded — offering a chance to watch 11- and 12-year-olds from around the world become the biggest stars in town, drawing crowds that fill up stands and the berm.
But for those who can't make the trek to the small Western Pennsylvania town, the voices behind ESPN's broadcast of the tournament become synonymous with the experience each August. For the last two decades, that has been Karl Ravech.
Ravech, an ESPN mainstay since 1993 and the longtime lead play-by-play voice of the network's baseball coverage, was among the latest round of layoffs at The Worldwide Leader in Sports. So, with that said, will Ravech still be behind the microphone when this year's tournament picks up on Wednesday and Thursday?
Here's what to know:
Is Karl Ravech calling Little League World Series games despite ESPN layoff?
Yes, Ravech will be in the booth in Williamsport calling the Little League World Series over the next few weeks. Despite being laid off by ESPN, Ravech was given the option to call the Little League World Series — and a select number of MLB games — a person with knowledge of his status with the network told USA TODAY Sports. That person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the details of his contract publicly.
Ravech himself posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Aug. 7 about ESPN's coverage of the LLWS.
"It is my favorite time of the year. @LittleLeague baseball is back and all over the ESPN app. Check out the amazing, fun action as we work toward Williamsport and the Little League World Series beginning Wednesday, August 19th," Ravech wrote.
It is my favorite time of the year. @LittleLeague baseball is back and all over the ESPN app. Check out the amazing, fun action as we work toward Williamsport and the Little League World Series beginning Wednesday August 19th.
How many Little League World Series has Karl Ravech called on ESPN?
According to his ESPN profile page, Ravech has called Little League World Series games since 2006. He expanded his Williamsport responsibilities in 2011 by adding the Little League World Series championship games, and he has even hosted ESPN’s Baseball Tonight from the event.
In recent years, Ravech has called the entirety of pool play in the United States bracket, as Mike Monaco has served as the play-by-play announcer for the International bracket.
"And then later that night we ended up going on the ESPN Baseball Tonight set and had a microphone on my face. The whole thing was just wild."
Was Karl Ravech laid off at ESPN?
Yes, Ravech was let go by ESPN on Tuesday, July 21, as part of the network's round of layoffs, two people close to the situation confirmed to USA TODAY on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly on personnel decisions.
There’s not a more beautiful view in baseball than PNC Park in Pittsburgh, no better garlic fries than those at Oracle Park in San Francisco, or beer choices than T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The most dedicated and diehard fans can be found at Busch Stadium in St. Louis or Fenway Park in Boston.
And if you want to harass the opposition, or even boo the hometown team, you hit Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
We’re here to provide you with the top 10 ballparks in Major League Baseball:
1. Fenway Park, Boston
No ballpark in America has the romantic feel or the unique quirks of Fenway Park, from the Green Monster to to Pesky's Pole. It’s not a baseball game, but a religious experience watching games at Fenway.
2. Wrigley Field, Chicago
There’s not a more beautiful sight than walking into the ballpark and taking your first look at that beautiful green grass, the ivy on the walls and the iconic scoreboard in center field. Taking in a Friday afternoon game, hitting Murphy Bleachers afterwards, and enjoying the Chicago nightlife is utopia for any baseball fan.
3. PNC Park, Pittsburgh
The most gorgeous ballpark in America. Forget the game on the field. You want to be sitting in the upper deck taking in the view of the Clemente Bridge, the Pittsburgh skyline and the Allegheny River. It’s magnificent.
4. Target Field, Minneapolis
This may be the most impressive urban design in baseball on its downtown eight-acre site with freeways and trains outside the park, and warehouses to the left. It also has an ultra-modern look inside, with a 360-degree open concourse, that celebrates the club's glorious history. Its nod to the retro look is the iconic neon Minnie and Paul home-run sign featuring two ballplayers shaking hands over the Mississippi River representing the Twin Cities.
5. Petco Park, San Diego
This gorgeous park doesn’t quite have the stunning views as Pittsburgh or San Francisco, but it’s pretty darn close. The architecture is beautiful and the old Western Metal Company warehouse in left-field gives it a retro look. It also happens to be located in the heart of the lively Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego.
6. Oracle Park, San Francisco
This ballpark has the second-best view in baseball behind PNC Park with its bay backdrop and splash-down hits in McCovey Cove, but only if you happen to sit in the upper deck. The park is already showing its age and its concourses are narrow and cramped, making it difficult to move around, with the Giants already out-growing the place and badly needing more space.
7. Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
This is the most serene setting in baseball, nestled into the hillside of Chavez Ravine. It has a view of the San Gabriel Mountains beyond the outfield, and downtown Los Angeles behind home plate. It’s hard to believe it was built in 1962 and even though it holds 56,000 fans, it still feels intimate.
8. Coors Field, Denver
The team may stink but the ballpark is so beautiful and the vibe is so cool that it’s become a destination on its own. There’s a purple row of seats signifying the mile-high altitude, and the bullpen could be mistaken for a forest with its trees and running stream. The right-field upper-deck is the hottest bar in Denver.
9. Camden Yards, Baltimore
Meet the godfather, with its famous B&O Warehouse. This is the original retro-classic ballpark that not only dramatically influenced the look of new stadiums, but changed the fabric of some major cities. Denver, Cleveland, San Francisco and San Diego followed its lead and built downtown ballparks that completely invigorated growth.
10. T-Mobile Park, Seattle
This ballpark fits perfectly in the Northwest with the nearby mountains, skyline and water. It features an “umbrella-style" retractable roof that doesn’t enclose the park, only stopping the rain, while enabling fans to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
Nick Morabito of the Syracuse Mets is at bat during a Minor League Baseball game at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, United States, on June 28, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
New Mets Émilien Pitre and Billy Amick each had two hits, and so did Chris Suero. That wasn’t near enough to top Portland, however, as the pitching got shellacked.
Luke Gabrysh looked like an actual dude in this one, striking out six over four scoreless innings and allowing only one hit. His stuff has real in-zone-whiff upside, and if he can curtail the walks there’s a legitimate starting pitching prospect here. Unfortunately, the Cyclones offense and defense let him down, making as many errors (2) as they had hits (2) in a one-run loss.
If you’re not paying attention to John Smith III yet, you should be. No, he didn’t do much in this game, and he’s a 19th round senior out of Central Florida. He is also hitting the ball quite hard and had only his second whiff in the zone (on a foul tip) in 40 professional PA in yesterday’s games. The biggest knock against him to this point is that he’s been overly passive, something to keep an eye on going forward if he’s to blossom into a true diamond in the rough or remain a cheeseball.
Anyway, St. Lucie didn’t do much and lost a one-run game.
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 13-1 at Lehigh Valley IronPigs
2B Anthony Volpe 1-4, HR, RBI, 2 K — second homer back in Scranton CF Jasson Domínguez 1-4 LF Max Schuemann 1-4 DH J.C. Escarra 0-4 SS Oswaldo Cabrera 1-4, K RF Yanquiel Fernández 1-4, K C Mitch Garver 1-3, 2B, BB, K — double for the 10-year veteran in his first Scranton game 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 2-4 3B Tyler Hardman 0-3, 2 K
Adam Kloffenstein 4.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 2 K, 1 HR (loss) Eric Reyzelman 0.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1 HR Brian Hendry 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR Will Brian 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 0 K Christian Bethancourt 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Double-A Somerset Patriots: W, 5-4 vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats
DH Jace Avina 0-4 SS Core Jackson 0-3, BB, K 3B Roderick Arias 0-3, BB, 2 K — made a sensational play at the hot corner C Omar Alfonzo 1-4, HR, 3 RBI, K LF Jackson Castillo 0-2, BB RF DJ Gladney 0-3, 2 K 2B Connor McGinnis 0-2, BB 1B Josh Moylan 1-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB — 21st long ball in what’s been a fine season CF Luis Durango 1-3
Don Hamel 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K Luis Velasquez 1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K Matt Keating 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K Kelly Austin 2.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K (win) — hell of an outing in relief
Omar Alfonzo WALKS IT OFF with his first HOMER in the @Yankees organization! 🤩
High-A Hudson Valley Renegades:L, 5-2 vs. Wilmington BlueRocks
C Eric Genther 1-4, HR, RBI, K SS Jackson Lovich 1-3, BB, K, SB 1B Kyle West 0-3, BB, 2 K CF Maika Niu 0-3, BB 3B Hans Montero 1-4, 2 K DH Dean Toigo 1-4, RBI, 2 K 2B Bryce Martin-Grudzielanek 1-4, 2 K, SB LF Robbie Burnett 0-3, BB, 2 K RF Camden Troyer 0-3, K
Luis Gil 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, K — looked solid as he continues to rehab Pico Kohn 2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K Jose M. Rodriguez (loss, blown save) 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR Jack Sokol 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K Hansel Rincon 1 IP,2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 HR
SS Dax Kilby 1-4, BB DH Wilberson De Pena 1-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K — third Low-A homer RF Paul Gutierrez-Contreras II 1-2, 2 BB, K, 2 SB, CS 1B Luis Puello 2-5, SB CF Diego Castellanos 0-4, BB, 2 K LF Brando Mayea 1-4, RBI, CS 2B Blake Cyr 1-2, RBI, K, SF C Ediel Rivera 0-3, BB, 2 K 3B Bayram Hot 0-2, 2 BB, K, SB
Yerry Rodríguez 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K Richard Mena 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 HR (win) Jordarlin Mendoza 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 2 K (hold) Matthew Tippie 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K (hold) Joshua Tiedemann 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K (save)
#Tarpons OF @WilbersonDePena (1-for-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R) reached base twice, including his 19th HR (3rd w/ Tampa) hit 105.6 mph off the bat. Has hits in 3-straight games, batting .333 (4-for-12) w/ 4 RBI, 3 R in that span. #Yankeespic.twitter.com/v6sJv80RVJ
The Detroit Tigers dropped the weekend series opener to the Chicago White Sox on Friday night, 9-5, at Comerica Park. Jackson Jobe got roughed up in his second start of the season while Ben Malgeri’s two-homer effort was not enough to keep pace with the visitors.
Taking the mound for the Olde English D in Game 2 is right-hander Troy Melton, who has thrown three straight quality starts and has not allowed more than two runs since June 9 — which also happens to be the only time that has happened this season. Over his last three outings, the 25-year-old has thrown 20 shutout innings on 10 hits and five walks while striking out 14 for a 2.43 FIP.
Melton has faced the White Sox twice this summer, with both resulting in quality starts. On May 29 in Chicago, he tossed seven frames of one-run ball on six hits and a walk while striking out one for a no-decision in an eventual 4-3 loss in extras; the other was on June 20 in Detroit, where he threw six innings of one-run ball, allowing just a solo home run and three walks while striking out five for his fourth win of the year in a 4-1 final.
On the other side, left-hander Anthony Kay will climb the hill having served up a pair of quality starts in his last two outings. The 31-year-old has posted a 1.46 ERA and a 3.73 FIP over his last 12 1/3 innings of work, surrendering 13 hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out seven and hitting a batter.
Kay took on the Tigers once before this season back on May 30 at Rate Field, throwing five frames of one-run ball on six hits (one home run) and a walk while striking out three. He earned his fifth win of the campaign for his efforts in a 7-1 final.
Here is how the two match up for the second of the three-game series at Comerica Park on Saturday afternoon.
Detroit Tigers (60-62) vs. Chicago White Sox (63-58)
Time (ET): 1:10 p.m. Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan SB Nation Site:South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 123: RHP Troy Melton (7-1, 1.46 ERA) vs. LHP Anthony Kay (9-5, 3.96 ERA)
Jacob Misiorowski has been on an absolute tear in 2026, and the Brewers ace headlines a marquee showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine tonight.
Along with backing the Brew Crew at Dodger Stadium, here are my MLB moneyline predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, Aug. 15.
MLB moneyline picks for Aug. 15
Matchup
Pick
White Sox vs Tigers
-150
Cardinals vs Cubs
-170
Yankees vs Blue Jays
-144
Rockies vs Giants
+156
Nationals vs Mets
+113
Orioles vs Rays
-138
Marlins vs Reds
+108
Mariners vs Astros
-122
Phillies vs Twins
-138
Padres vs Guardians
+117
Brewers vs Dodgers
-122
Diamondbacks vs Braves
-127
Red Sox vs Pirates
-117
Royals vs Angels
-133
Rangers vs Athletics
-117
Prices courtesy of Polymarket as of Aug. 15.
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Expert MLB moneyline picks for Aug. 15
White Sox vs Tigers: Tigers (-150)
Tigers win probability: 60%
How about Troy Melton!
The Tigers' 25-year-old boasts a 291 ERA+ over 80 innings and is fresh off three quality starts. Facing a White Sox team that has cooled off lately, I'm riding with the home team at Comerica.
No Skubal, no problem?
Cardinals vs Cubs: Cubs (-170)
Cubs win probability: 63%
Chicago boasts a .382/.438/.570 slash line against Michael McGreevy, and the Cubs tagged the right-hander for seven runs on seven hits over just 1 2/3 innings back in July.
Expect a lopsided one at the Friendly Confines.
Yankees vs Blue Jays: Yankees (-144)
Yankees win probability: 59%
Cam Schlittler has it out for Blue Jays fans, and the right-hander will look to distance himself from Dylan Cease in the Cy Young odds when he takes the bump at Rogers Centre.
Luckily for the Yankees' young ace, this isn't the 2025 Jays, as Toronto ranks 29th in runs per game and 30th in OPS heading into this afternoon's showdown.
Even as a Jays fan, I can't go against the Bronx Bombers in this one.
Rockies vs Giants: Rockies (+156)
Giants win probability: 39%
Logan Webb has seen his average whiff rate drop from 24.7% to 20.5% year over year, and the Rockies are hitting .339 against the Giants starter over the course of his career.
San Francisco has traded away Luis Arraez and Heliot Ramos, while several key starters remain sidelined with injuries. I'll side with the Rockies in this NL West basement battle.
Nationals vs Mets: Nationals (+113)
Nationals win probability: 47%
At this point, you're a mad man if you're betting on the Mets.
Even without James Wood, the Nationals' offense remains lethal, and they'll pounce on Sean Manaea, whose fastball velocity ranks in just the sixth percentile at Baseball Savant.
Orioles vs Rays: Rays (-138)
Rays win probability: 58%
Tampa Bay has rattled off 10 straight wins and is a league-best 42-18 at home.
Death, taxes, and betting on the Rays at the Trop.
Marlins vs Reds: Marlins (+108)
Marlins win probability: 48%
Miami quietly enters the weekend with a top-10 OPS in the league, and the Marlins love to create havoc on the basepaths, trailing only Washington in stolen bases.
In a fairly even pitching matchup between Ryan Gusto and Brady Singer, I'm rolling with the plucky Fish in Cincy.
Mariners vs Astros: Astros (-122)
Mariners win probability: 55%
Shame on Mariners management and ownership for cheaping out at the trade deadline instead of going all-in.
Seattle is set to miss the playoffs after being eight outs away from reaching the World Series last year, and team morale is currently at an all-time low, with the Mariners ranking dead last in runs per game and hits.
Roll with Houston in this one and let the Astros remain big brother in the AL West. Keep prospect hoarding, Seattle.
Phillies vs Twins: Phillies (-138)
Phillies win probability: 58%
Left-hander Jesus Luzardo has surrendered two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts, and Minnesota is slugging just .368 against southpaws this season.
I'm all over Philly to grab a pivotal road win.
Padres vs Guardians: Padres (+117)
Padres win probability: 46%
If the game is tied or San Diego is holding a lead heading into the sixth inning or later, good luck beating Mason Miller and the Padres' elite bullpen.
Randy Vasquez sports a .205 ERA and .200 OBA over the last 30 days, so the Friars are the pick in Cleveland.
Brewers vs Dodgers: Brewers (-122)
Brewers win probability: 55%
As much of a pleasant surprise as Justin Wrobleski has been, the Dodgers' bullpen remains a weakness, and the absence of Will Smith continues to be felt in the middle of the Dodgers' order.
With Jacob Misiorowski running away as the eventual NL Cy Young winner, this play is a no-brainer.
Diamondbacks vs Braves: Braves (-127)
Braves win probability: 56%
As good as Eduardo Rodriguez's 11-4 record and 2.60 ERA look on the surface, his 4.79 xERA signals negative regression is looming.
Facing a fully healthy Braves offense, I anticipate Atlanta to strike at home.
Red Sox vs Pirates: Red Sox (-117)
Red Sox win probability: 54%
Pittsburgh will continue to fall out of the playoff race after facing veteran righty Sonny Gray, who boasts a 2.79 ERA this season and has limited Pirates hitters to a lifetime OPS of .689.
With Boston looking to maintain its spot in the Wild Card race, expect Gray to lead the Sox at PNC Park.
Royals vs Angels: Angels (-133)
Angels win probability: 57%
Angels southpaw Reid Detmers owns a K% sitting in the 86th percentile at Baseball Savant.
Facing a bleak Royals offense led by Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez, I’ll take the Halos at the Big A.
Rangers vs Athletics: Rangers (-117)
Rangers win probability: 54%
MacKenzie Gore continues to be a strikeout machine, and his .231 xBA signals a pitcher whose 4.43 ERA is quite deceiving.
Against an A's team with the worst bullpen in baseball and a 3-7 record over their last 10, give me Texas.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DYERSVILLE, IOWA - AUGUST 13: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases after hitting a fourth inning home run against the Minnesota Twins at Field of Dreams on August 13, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Did you know the duo who appear in the Twins’ logo are known as Minnie and Paul? News you can use.
Actually, you probably can’t use that, outside of Minnesota sports trivia nights. But hey, you never know.
Austin Gomber gave the Hens a solid short start, but the bats were quiet in this one.
The lefty tossed 3.2 innings of no-hit ball with two walks and four strikeouts. Brant Hurter took over for his second rehab outing and just gave up hit after hit. He surrendered two runs in the fourth, and three more in the fifth before Nick Sandlin finally took over to clean up the inning. Carl Edwards Jr. then gave up four more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Max Burt doubled in the top of the sixth to lead off the inning, and Bennett Lee and Jace Jung each grounded out, allowing Burt to score the Hens only run. They only managed two hits in this one despite facing an older depth starter in Ben Wereski.
Burt: 1-3, R, 2B, K
Jung: 0-2, RBI, 2 BB
Gomber: 3.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: The series is tied up heading into a 7:15 p.m. ET start on Saturday.
Lucas Elissalt’s Double-A debut went very well, and the SeaWolves got good work out of the bullpen on a night when both lineups were muted.
The right-hander has seen his velocity tick up this season and with some riding life and excellent extension, his fastball is presenting a problem, even for more experienced hitters. Elissalt went 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, while striking out nine on the day. He touched 97 mph with the heater, averaged 94-95 mph, and flashed good sliders and changeups, though both pitches are still a little inconsistent. He also mixed in his good low 80’s power curveball to good effect. He has work ahead to sharpen his command, particularly of the slider-changeup combo, but his progress has gone almost exactly as hoped in the preseason after a slow start for him. There’s plenty of time to tune things up, and the 22-year-old’s raw stuff is coming along nicely while his walk rate continues to drop. Elissalt should be regarded among the club’s top pitching prospects at this point.
The SeaWolves had some early chances to score but didn’t cash in. Woody Hadeen led off the fourth, and with one out, Zyhir Hope doubled the opposite way to get Hadeen to third. A grounder to shortstop from Andrew Jenkins saw Hadeen cut down at the plate, and they failed to score.
Nice piece of hitting by Zyhir Hope, who ropes a double into the left field corner for his first hit in the series pic.twitter.com/ZY3jbYiSGS
In the fifth, Luke Shliger walked with one out, and Joe Campagna doubled him to third. Patrick Lee walked, loading the bases, and Hadeen walked to force in a run. Peyton Graham lifted a fly ball to center for a sacrifice fly to score Campagna for a 2-0 lead.
Marco Jimenez took over from Elissalt and allowed the Goats only run. Tanner Kohlhepp, Johan Simon, and Wandisson Charles closed this one out without much issue.
Shliger: 2-3, R, 3B, BB, K, CS
Campagna: 2-4, R, K
Hope: 1-4, 2B, 2 K
Elissalt: 4.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 9 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:10 p.m. ET start on Saturday with the SeaWolves holding a 3-1 lead in the series.
West Michigan Whitecaps 5, Lansing Lugnuts 3 (box)
The Whitecaps showed off the home run power in this one, launching four long balls and getting good work from their bullpen.
They got off to a fast start as Jackson Strong led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot to right center field. That was the center fielder’s 12th of the season and second in as many days. Bryce Rainer then crushed his 11th of the year to dead center for a 2-0 lead.
JoJo Ingrassia tossed three innings to start the ’Caps off. He allowed a run in the second inning before turning it over to Preston Howey.
In the bottom of the third, Rainer singled and Beau Ankeney continued his rampage with a screamer over the left field wall for a two-run homer.
Howey allowed a run in the fourth. Juanmi Vasquez threw two scoreless innings, while Luke Hoskins and Luke Stofel handled it from there, with Hoskins allowing a run in the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth, Ankeney went deep yet again. That’s seven home runs in 14 games at High-A for the first baseman and he’s shown plus power to all fields consistently this year. In his first pro season as an 11th round pick out of Loyala, Ankeney now has 22 home runs total in 97 games. His relatively high chase and whiff rates still suggest that you shouldn’t get too excited, but there’s no getting around the fact that he is just hammering the baseball with regularity. Let’s just see if his approach improves enough over time to trim some of the punchouts from his profile.
Beau Ankeney is on an all-time heater. He crushes another homer here to put the Whitecaps up 5-3. It’s his 2nd of the game, his 5th in his last 5 games, and his 7th in 14 games at High-A. Sheesh. @ThatDanHasty calls it. pic.twitter.com/TK36VMUrD6
Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start in West Michigan on Saturday with the Whitecaps up 3-1 in the series. They are now effectively tied with the Great Lakes Loons in the East division.
Malachi Witherspoon bounced back to throw a pretty good game in this one.
However, it didn’t start out that way. After a delay, Witherspoon took the mound and the first batter of the game reached on a comebacker that he couldn’t handle. He hit the next batter and then walked the bases loaded. Three consecutive strikeouts got him out of it, illustrating the deeply Jekyll and Hyde performance he’s displayed in his first pro season.
Witherspoon then locked in and went 4.2 innings, scattering three hits and two walks without a run allowed, while punching out seven. The question is can he do this for a few starts in a row.
Jesus Pinto walked in the second inning after Zach MacDonald walked and stole second. MacDonald was thrown out trying to steal third, but Pinto advanced and eventually scored on a pickoff attempt for a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Pinto led off with a single. Anibal Salas lined out, but Hunter Dobbins walked, and Javier Osorio reached on an infield single to load the bases and Pinto scored on a hit batter.
So it was 2-0, and Jorge Guzman gave up an unearned run in the seventh. Donye Evans blew the save in the top of the ninth, but kept it a 2-2 game.
In the bottom half, Angel De Los Santos singled sharply and took second on an error. Ronald Ramirez singled him over to third, and then stole second base. MacDonald struck out, but it was Pinto up again, and he paddled a ground ball single up the middle for the game winner.
Pinto: 2-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB
Osorio: 3-4, 2B, K
De Los Santos: 1-4, R, BB, K
Witherspoon: 4.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: The Flying Tigers lead 3-1 heading into a 6:00 p.m. ET start on Saturday.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 04: George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees smiles after hitting his first career home run during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Yankee Stadium on August 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Matthew Ritchie: George Lombard Jr. has impressed since his call-up last week, not just with his tools on the field, but the way he’s comported himself through all the hoopla. The rookie himself credited the wide range of voices he can seek in the Yankees clubhouse. There are, of course, numerous veterans, MVPs and champions across the roster that a player like Lombard can seek out, but Lombard also noted the importance of the Yankees’ other young talents in making his transition to the majors easier. “Having Spencer [Jones] and Ben [Rice], guys that have come up through the org and you’ve played with someone coming up, they both have helped a lot”, Lombard said. “Like just getting different perspectives, asking them a bunch of things… They’ve definitely made me feel more comfortable.”
Lombard didn’t cross over that much with Jones and Rice during their respective routes through the minors, but both have very recent experience with rising through the Yankee farm system and earning a spot on the biggest stage, experience that must prove invaluable to others going through the same process.
New York Post | Mark Suleymanov: The Yankees need bats, but the next bit of reinforcement they’re likely to receive comes in the form of even more pitching. Carlos Rodón, working back from elbow inflammation, made his second rehab start this week and looked sharp, striking out seven over 4.1 innings with Double-A Somerset. His next outing very well may come in the majors. It’s possible the Yankees will look to piggyback Rodón with someone like Will Warren the next time out to continue to slowly build up Rodón’s workload, something Rodon said he’d be fine with. “I’m willing to do whatever to help our team win,” Rodón said. “If they think that’s the avenue they want to go, I’m ready to perform and help our team win.”
SNY | Phillip Martinez: Thankfully, it looks like Cody Bellinger isn’t far behind Rodón on the recovery train. Bellinger did some more on-field work ahead of Friday night’s game in Toronto, and Aaron Boone said Bellinger could be in line for a rehab assignment some time next week. Everything appears to be lining up for a return around the end of the month for Bellinger.
The Athletic | Chris Kirschner: Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s struggles have been a hot topic lately, with the second baseman mired in another slump as part of a career-worst campaign. Chisholm said this week that he’s at a loss, and that he’s tried everything. “I swing up. I swing down. I’ve tried to fix it a couple of different ways. When I fix it, it’s still unlucky.” Chisholm doesn’t feel that a spell on the bench would help, telling reporters “I think if I was to sit for a couple days, I don’t think that would help. Just play through it.” That said, perhaps a more aggressive platoon could be in order; Chisholm’s 74 wRC+ against lefties has been a liability this year.
MLB.com | Maria Guardado: MLB announced yesterday that the San Francisco Giants would host the 2028 MLB All-Star Game at Oracle Park. It has not yet been decided if MLB players will be able to compete in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, but the league decided that planning for a Midsummer Classic elsewhere in California would help keep that possibility open. It will be the fourth time San Francisco has hosted the All-Star Game, and the first since 2007, the year Ichiro Suzuki won MVP thanks to an inside-the-park home run:
And some minor-league roster news: Angel Chivilli, currently with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders has been placed on the 7-day IL, while Scranton has signed reliever Justin Topa to a minor league deal. Also, Mitch Garver, the veteran catcher signed after his release from the Mariners, has joined the RailRiders.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 14: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after giving up a home run to Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the second straight night, the Brewers fell behind and needed a late rally. They loaded the bases in the ninth, but couldn’t break through this time and lost to the Dodgers, 3-1.
Early on, the Brewers made Yoshinobu Yamamoto work. Even though they only managed one baserunner — a Jake Bauers walk — in the inning, Yamamoto needed 26 pitches to get through it. Meanwhile, Robert Gasser was efficient for the Brewers, needing just 14 pitches for the first inning. However, the Dodgers hit three singles in that inning, the last of those a Mookie Betts single to drive in a run. That put the Brewers down 1-0 after one inning.
From there, the two starters matched each other with scoreless innings in the next three frames. The Brewers had a scoring chance in the third after Joey Ortiz hit a one-out double, but he was left stranded there after Garrett Mitchell and Jackson Chourio both struck out. The Dodgers had a scoring chance with two outs in the bottom of the inning after Andy Pages singled and stole second, but he was stranded there.
The Brewers’ offense broke through in the fifth inning. Luis Lara led off the inning with a long double that just barely stayed in the park. It did set up the offense. David Hamilton went for the bunt, and it was a good one that went for a single. Ortiz brought in the run after that, hitting a sharp line drive but right at Kyle Tucker. It was more than deep enough to score Lara, and the Brewers tied the game at 1-1.
Unfortunately, that was all the offense could manage that inning. Mitchell struck out again, and Chourio grounded out to end the inning.
That tie didn’t last long. In the bottom of the inning, Andy Pages hit a two-out solo home run to left field, and the Brewers were down again, 2-1. One inning later, Tommy Edman added another solo home run to center, extending the deficit to 3-1.
Gasser pitched into the seventh, starting the inning by getting a line out from Hunter Feducia. After walking Shohei Ohtani, his day came to an end. It was a solid day for Gasser overall. He allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and one walk while striking out seven. It was also the most pitches he has thrown in a game, as he finished the day with 102 pitches thrown.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto mostly kept the Brewers in check, but the Brewers managed to get him out of the game after six innings. He allowed just one run, four hits, and two walks, and struck out nine Brewers.
The bullpens kept both offenses in check for the next two innings. Evan Phillips and Tanner Scott pitched scoreless seventh and eighth innings for the Dodgers. Grant Anderson finished out the seventh inning scoreless and worked around a walk. Bryse Wilson pitched the eighth inning and struck out the side.
Once again, the Dodgers brought in Edwin Díaz to close in the ninth inning. It started out looking like it could be a repeat of last night. Andrew Vaughn led off the inning and worked a full count before getting hit by a pitch. He was replaced by pinch-runner Jihwan Bae, who stole second on a 1-1 count. It put a runner in scoring position, but Christian Yelich struck out for the first out of the inning.
William Contreras was up next, and Díaz was struggling heavily as he threw five pitches all out of the strike zone, walking Contreras. His first pitch to Lara was high and inside as well, then he threw a slider right down the middle. Lara hit it sharply on the ground, but Edman made a running grab to rob Lara of a base hit. It wasn’t quick enough to turn a double play, so Edman took the sure out of Lara at first.
That moved both baserunners up to second and third, putting the tying run in scoring position. Hamilton was up next, and Díaz continued to struggle to throw strikes. Hamilton didn’t swing once and drew a five-pitch walk. Ortiz was up next with another chance with the bases loaded. Unfortunately, he couldn’t complete the rally for the Brewers, grounding out to Betts to end the game.
The offense remained subdued again, managing just one run, five hits, and four walks. Those hits were scattered among five different Brewers, with Bauers and Hamilton the only two Brewers on base twice. They had their scoring opportunities tonight, but went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base.
With the series tied 1-1, the Brewers will send their ace to the mound tomorrow night. Jacob Misiorowski will face Justin Wrobleski in Saturday’s game, which will be a national broadcast on FOX. First pitch is at 6:15 p.m.
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