The game returns to San Francisco for the first time since 2007, and commissioner Rob Manfred has acknowledged the relatively quick return to the Bay Area for the big game would boost the chances MLB players could toggle from the All-Star break to the Summer Games in Los Angeles, with the baseball portion held at Dodger Stadium.
Creating a multiple-week block of high-ratings exhibition baseball will result in a longer midseason shutdown, but players have expressed interest in participating in Olympic ball. Their participation has become a bargaining point in negotiations with the league ahd the MLB Players' Association during collective bargaining talks.
This will mark the fourth All-Star Game in San Francisco, with the first two held at Candlestick Park. The 2027 game will be at Chicago's Wrigley Field, while Toronto, Baltimore and Boston have expressed significant interest in hosting games in the near future.
The Milwaukee Brewers (75-47) stormed back to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers (73-49), 5-4. Milwaukee scored three runs in the ninth inning rallying Edwin Diaz out the game.
After seven-straight losses, Los Angeles is 4-2 in the last six games. The Dodgers are batting .222 in that span (22nd) with 23 runs scored (15th). The pitching has held Los Angeles together lately. The rotation has posted a 2.95 ERA (5th) with the fourth-most strikeouts (54), and eighth-ranked OBA (.203) in those six games.
Milwaukee snapped its three-game losing streak with the comeback win on Thursday. The Brewers were swept by the Padres, losing two games by one run, so it's fitting they won by one against the Dodgers. In August, Milwaukee has a 3.78 ERA (14th) as a team and batting .218 (24th). The Brewers offense has scored 45 runs over 13 games, which is tied 18th with the Pirates.
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
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Game details & how to watch Brewers at Dodgers
Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
Time: 10:10 PM EST
Site: Dodger Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: ESPN
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Odds for the Brewers at the Dodgers
The latest odds as of Friday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-181), Milwaukee Brewers (+168)
Spread: Brewers +1.5 (-137), Dodgers -1.5 (+114)
Total: 7.5
Probable starting pitchers for Brewers at Dodgers
Friday's pitching matchup (August 14): Robert Gasser vs Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Shohei Ohtani is batting .298 to start August (14/47) with three home runs
Mookie Betts is hitting .282 in August (11/39)
Kyle Tucker is hitting .243 in August (9/37)
William Contreras is hitting .116 in August (5/43) with eight strikeouts and seven walks
Jackson Chourio is hitting .284 in August (13/46) with four home runs
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Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Brewers at Dodgers
Los Angeles is 50-72 ATS, ranking third-worst
Milwaukee is 63-59 ATS
Los Angeles is 64-57-1 to the Under
Milwaukee is 67-52-3 to the Under, ranking fourth-best
Los Angeles is 21-39 ATS at home, ranking second-worst
Milwaukee is 28-28 ATS on the road
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Brewers
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Dodgers and the Brewers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Brewers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Brewers at +1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 7.5
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A season after the Mets (and every other team but the White Sox) passed on slugging Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami, New York is showing interest in reigning NPB MVP Teruaki Sato.
It hasn't yet been confirmed that the star third baseman will be posted by the Hanshin Tigers this offseason, but Jorge Castillo of ESPN reported in May that teams are "preparing" for Sato to be available.
Sato, 27, hit .278/.345/.579 with 40 home runs, 34 doubles, and 102 RBI in 139 games in 2025 for Hanshin.
He's taken it up a notch this season, slashing .318/.404/.622 with 27 homers and 28 doubles in 103 games, though he has struck out 116 times.
Sato would very likely have to slide over to first base in a world where he lands in Queens and Bo Bichette doesn't opt out of his contract.
New York's current in-house options at first base for next season include Jared Young and Jorge Polanco. But Polanco has been abysmal at the plate this season, with his Achilles issue limiting him to DH duties since he returned from the IL.
Regarding Bichette, he has opt-outs after this season and the 2027 season. However, it's difficult to envision him exercising it this offseason, with him set to get an AAV of $42 million in both 2027 and 2028.
Bichette has been a lot better since his tough start, hitting .307/.349/.458 (.807 OPS) with seven homers and 11 doubles in 232 plate appearances dating back to June 11. But his OPS for the year is still just .690.
As far as Sato, Heyman notes that the Yankees, Dodgers, and Phillies are also "linked" to him.
Sato continued his huge season on Thursday night, when he crushed a 480-foot homer.
It was a day of high-scoring wins across the three highest levels of the Dodgers minor league system and a blowout loss for the Tower Buzzers.
Player of the Day
It had been a while since the name of James Tibbs III was mentioned in the running for Player of the Day. Yet here he is once again, the standout player in the Comets’ blowout win at home, hitting two home runs.
Tibbs hadn’t hit multiple long shots in the same game since the end of May, and with his four RBI, the corner outfielder moved to a team-leading 88 on the season.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
In one game, James Tibbs III hit more home runs (2) than he had since the start of July, commanding a great Comets effort in a 9-to-3 win over the Isotopes. Also pitching in on the power department, Zach Ehrhard and Ryan Ward both left the yard in this win.
Settling in nicely after nearly two years away from the mound, Gavin Stone was terrific, with a solo homer being the only hit he allowed in three innings of work, punching out five. Kyle Hurt and Ben Casparius also had scoreless appearances, with the former earning the win.
Gavin Stone strikes out his final four batters to end his second rehab start🔥
Capitalizing on big rallies of seven and four runs in the third and sixth innings, respectively, the Drillers beat the Travelers 11 to 8 despite getting out-homered two to nothing. Elijah Hainline was a key factor in both of those innings, driving in three runs, including a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth.
Elijah Hainline with a clutch 2-run single and the Ranch Dippers have taken back the lead! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5CxrZQkzLV
Tulsa starter Zach Root’s six earned runs allowed were the most he has had all season long, coughing up a 7-1 lead alongside reliever Myles Caba. However, Carson Hobbs, Kelvin Ramirez, and Lucas Wepf were able to shut things down in the backend of the bullpen with a combined 5.1 scoreless innings to give the offense enough time to retake the lead.
High-A Great Lakes
Scoring seven of their eight runs in the first two innings, the Loons built enough of a cushion early on to earn the win over the Cubs. Leadoff hitter Charles Davalan started things off with a solo shot and added another one in the fourth, the only two homers that the Loons hit.
Adjusting well to his time in High-A, Mairo Martinus was another key performer offensively with a pair of doubles—the only Loons player with multiple RBI besides Davalan. Across two levels this season, Martinus has a .890 OPS in 102 games.
The Cubs slowly but surely built a comeback effort against Sterling Patick and Justin Chambers, but Davis Chastain got the job done in the ninth to earn the save, his fifth of the season.
Single-A Ontario
When your leadoff hitter strikes out three times in just four at-bats, that’s probably a sign of a struggling offensive effort, such as it was in the Tower Buzzers’ 10-2 loss against the Quakes. Ontario’s offense was dominated by starter Derek Clark, who struck out 12 through seven innings of two-run ball.
Take the contributions of Brayan Vergara to close the game as well, and the Tower Buzzers struck out 17 times. On a positive note, though, Joendry Vargas left the yard for his 10th homer of the season; no surprise it was a solo shot given the Tower Buzzers’ offensive struggles in this one.
Transactions
The Loons activated catcher Anson Aroz off the injured list and placed right-hander Hyun-Seok Jang on the IL. The Tower Buzzers activated right-hander Mason Estrada off the IL. The Dodgers sent righties Jonathan Hernández and Landon Knack to Triple-A, and the Comets were also assigned catcher Chadwick Tromp.
Thursday’s scores
Oklahoma City 9, Albuquerque 3
Tulsa 11, Arkansas 8
Great Lakes 8, South Bend 6
Rancho Cucamonga 10, Ontario 2
Friday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Isaac Ayon) vs. South Bend (Alfredo Romero)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Luke Fox) vs. Arkansas (Kade Anderson)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Tyler Glasnow) vs. Albuquerque (Mason Adams)
6:30 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Rancho Cucamonga (Mikey Cascino)
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates his solo home run during the sixth inning of their National League Championship Series game against the Milwaukee Brewers October 14, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
On Thursday, MLB Pipeline rleeased its newest prospect rankings, including the overall top 100, as well as new top-30 rankings for each individual club.
Here’s how the Arizona Diamondbacks made out after this latest update. It’s not exactly ideal.
Corbin Carroll added another extraordinary accomplishment to his growing résumé Wednesday night, even if the Arizona Diamondbacks could not give him a victory to celebrate. Carroll hit the 100th home run of his career and added his 57th triple during Arizona’s 6-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. By reaching those marks in his 606th career game, the Diamondbacks star became the first player in MLB history to record at least 100 home runs, 50 triples and 100 stolen bases within his first 650 games.
He also became only the second player to reach all three totals within his first 700 games. The other was Willie Mays. That is rare company for any player, let alone one who is only 25 years old.
Schwarber wasted no time making his mark on the MLB Field of Dreams Game presented by John Deere, blasting a leadoff home run into the corn beyond the right-field wall. But he wasn’t done yet — the Phillies’ slugger then went back for seconds just a few innings later in the Phillies’ 7-1 victory over the Twins.
It’s perhaps only fitting that the player who leads the Majors in home runs (37) also leads in home runs to land in a cornfield (two).
On Wednesday, PCA had a game-tying RBI double and then scored on a go-ahead home run in a Cubs win, while Ohtani hit a go-ahead home run in a Dodgers win. The Dodgers are 73-48 and the Cubs are 71-50, both within close range of the best record in baseball.
It’s only August, of course, which means both players have six weeks to continue building their résumés. But there’s another interesting wrinkle in the race: does Ohtani pitch again during the regular season? And if so, how much does he actually pitch? On that front, there’s been movement. Sort of.
An underdog career on the least underdog of teams culminated in Muncy becoming the all-time leader in home runs at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, hitting his 131st in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers. He had entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Miguel Rojas and lifted a 426-foot homer off Brewers reliever Antonio Senzatela.
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 08: San Diego Padres mascot Swinging Friar poses for a photo prior to Game 3 of the Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Padres are 16-9 since the All-Star Break. The Guardians are 8-17. Something’s gotta give! The unstoppable force vs. The easily moveable object!
The Padres are 65-57 with a +1 run differential, 19th in team wRC+ at 97, sixth in baserunning runs above average at 5.5, sixth in Defense at -0.5, 26th in starting pitcher ERA at 4.62 (4.65 FIP), and fifth in bullpen ERA at 3.58 (3.70 FIP). Mason Miller and Adrian Morejohn are the best relievers in baseball.
The Guardians are 59-63 with a -30 run differential, 22nd in team wRC+ at 95, ninth in baserunning runs above average at 5, ninth in Defense at -6.2, seventh in starting pitcher ERA at 3.75 (3.92 FIP), and 14th in bullpen ERA at 3.98 (3.87 FIP).
GET TO THE STARTERS OR LOSE.
Matchups:
Friday, 7:10PM ET: Williams, RHP 3.55 ERA vs King, RHP 3.37 ERA
Saturday, 7:10PM ET: Probably Randy Velazquez, 4.80 ERS vs. RHP Cantillo, LHP 3.91 ERA vs.
Sunday, 1:40PM ET: Bibee RHP 3.99 ERA vs. Mize, RHP 3.38 ERA
The Padres are led by Luis Campusano 161 wRC+, Luis Rengifo 148 wRC+, Tyler France 140 wRC+, Samad Taylor 134 wRC+, Fernando Tatis Jr, 116 wRC+, and Will Wagner 113 wRC+.
The Guardians are led by… well. You know the story. Chase DeLauter, Steven Kwan, Angel Genao, Nate Lowe, And Jo Adell are about all we have to offer right now in terms of hitters getting on base. But Jose did hit the ball hard that last game. Surely some of those hits have to fall.
Have some pride, guys. Show some fight. Win this series
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Mets and CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals speak during the second inning of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fresh off their best road trip of the 2026 season, the New York Mets (53-69) return home to take on the Washington Nationals (59-63). The Mets have dropped four out of the seven games they’ve played with the Nats so far this year, including dropping two out of three to conclude the month of April. The two sides also split a four-game set in D.C. back in May. They’ll square off one more time after this, in the final series of the season.
The Mets had a somewhat disappointing end to their road trip, dropping the final two games to the Braves to finish off their trip 6-3 after starting off with wins in six of their first seven games. Nevertheless, they fared quite well against three teams that one could reasonably say are in contention (the Braves moreso than the Guardians and Pirates at the moment). They burst out for five runs in the first inning of this last series, punctuated by a Brett Baty grand slam, and then held on for an 8-5 win on Monday.
Beyond that, after scoring seven runs in the first three innings in Atlanta, they managed just four in the final 24 frames, and ended up dropping the last two games, 4-0 on Tuesday and 6-3 on Wednesday. In the latter, the club managed three solo homers, one apiece from Luis Torrens, Luis Robert Jr., and Bo Bichette, but could not piece much together after getting shut out in their Tuesday loss. On the bright side, their young pitching held up quite well in the heat of Atlanta, historically one of the toughest places for the Mets to play. After an uneven outing from Christian Scott in Monday’s win, both Nolan McLean and Zach Thornton offered up quality starts in defeat.
But beyond the pitching, the offense was really the story on this road trip. It was really a tale of two sets of games for New York, which I suppose is not surprising: In their six wins, they plated 50 runs, and in their three losses, they scored just three, which included shutout losses in Pittsburgh and Atlanta. Since August 4, the Mets have scored hit the most home runs of any club (17), have the second-highest wRC+ (130), own the third-highest OPS (.830), and have scored the third-most runs (53). Much like last August, the bats have heated up with the warmer weather.
There were three players who really shined on this most recent trip, starting with Luis Torrens. While only playing five games, he led the club with three homers and slashed .462/.563/1.154 (tops in each category) with a team-best 346 wRC+ and 0.6 fWAR. Unsurprisingly, Carson Benge has been the catalyst for the club, hitting .394/.444/.667 with two homers, seven runs scored, six runs batted in, and a 207 wRC+ and 0.6 fWAR across eight games. Bichette, who homered in yesterday’s loss, also had himself a nice trip, hitting .361/.439/.451 with two homers, six runs scored, eight runs batted in, a 192 wRC+, and 0.6 fWAR while playing all nine games.
The Nationals have shocked everyone by having one of the best offenses in all of baseball despite only one plate appearance from someone over the age of 29. They are incredibly young with some incredibly talented bats, though their pitching has kept them out of the race for much of the season. However, yesterday’s 7-0 win against the Cubs was a combination of solid hitting mixed with stellar pitching, as Cade Cavalli took a no-hitter into the seventh before relinquishing a hit. The victory helped Washington avoid a sweep at the hands of the Cubs. The Nats have won four of six heading into this series.
The Nationals lead all MLB teams in runs scored (622), home runs (177), and stolen bases (134), while their .769 OPS is also tops in baseball. It’s something that very few people could have reasonably predicted heading into this season, but the Nationals, with their young core, seem to have a bright future. CJ Abrams has led the charge, especially following the All-Star break, when he’s hit .311/.376/.642 with nine homers, 20 runs scored, 24 runs batted in, nine steals, a 175 wRC+, and 1.4 fWAR. Needless to say, he leads the club in every one of those categories since mid-July. James Wood, on the other hand, has struggled since the break and recently landed on the IL with an oblique strain. It was revealed that he won’t return this week, meaning the Mets won’t see him this weekend. Before his injury, he was hitting .191/.296/.324 with a 70 wRC+ and -0.2 fWAR since the break.
Friday, August 14: Robert Stock vs. Andrew Alvarez, 7:10 PM EDT on WPIX
Stock’s second start with the Mets this year did not go quite as well as his first. After allowing just one earned runs on three hits in five innings against the Marlins on August 2, he was tattooed for eight earned runs on nine hits over three-plus frames against the Pirates. Besides the nine hits, the big difference between the two starts can be found in the ‘walks’ column, as he issued five free passes against Pittsburgh after not walking a single batter against the Marlins. Andy Green noted that he would remain in the rotation, though another start like his last one likely will test that resolve.
After posting a 2.31 ERA in five starts for Washington last year, the 27-year-old Alvarez has been strong yet agains for Washington. He’s made 17 appearances, including nine starts, and has a respectable 3.76 ERA and 3.09 FIP in 69 1/3 innings. He’s also been strong in August, allowing just three earned runs on six hits over 11 2/3 innings in his two starts against the Phillies and Reds. He’s faced the Mets twice in his career—he picked up his first loss against New York after allowing six runs (four earned) in 3 1/3 innings last September, and he earned his first career save against New York after going four innings and allowing two earned runs on two hits back on May 20 of this season.
Saturday, August 15: Sean Manaea vs. TBD, 4:10 PM EDT on SNY
Manaea turned back the clock in his last start, giving the team an incredible outing the likes of which they had not seen since 2024. The left-hander struck out a season-high 11 over seven one-run innings. The best part was that he did not walk a single batter, only the second time this season that he accomplished this feat in a start. velocityHe has now struck out 18 and allowed three earned runs over 13 innings in his last two starts. He also has experienced an uptick in his velocity, which is a great sign. He threw 13 pitches of at least 94 mph in his last two starts after not doing so at all this season and routinely topping out below 90 mph in the early stages of the year. In a lost season, Manaea’s resurgence has been a really nice story to watch.
TBD
Sunday, August 16: Christian Scott vs. Jake Irvin, 1:40 PM EDT on SNY
Scott’s last start was a bit up and down. He only lasted four innings and ran up a pretty high pitch count, which resulted in him getting lifted early. He was charged with four earned runs on seven hits while striking out six and walking one. Over his last two starts, he’s allowed seven earned runs in nine innings, though the Mets have won both contests. On the bright side, he’s struck out 13 while only walking three in these two outings. Scott’s development over the past few weeks of this season will be one of the most important things to watch for the Mets.
Irvin is making his fourth start after returning from a two-month long IL stint with a right shoulder strain. It’s been a rough go of it since his return, as the righty has allowed 12 earned runs on 10 hits over 13 2/3 innings. He’s struck out eight in these three outings while walking six and surrendering four home runs. Irvin had a really rough season even before hitting the shelf in May, and will look to get back on track and end the year on a high (and hopefully healthy) note.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 31: Luis Morales #19 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park on July 31, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning A’s fans!
Entering the season, the Athletics hoped to take the next step toward division and playoff contention. The team got off to a promising start, spending a couple of weeks atop the American League West. However, the Green and Gold could never break free from a .500 record. That proved to be the high point of the season, as everything has gone downhill since.
From the middle of June, the club has nosedived to the bottom of the league, seemingly unable to escape a nightmare of its own making. A horrid pitching staff, coupled with injuries to several of the A’s key position players, has doomed the Green and Gold to another frustrating and embarrassing campaign.
In the modern era, the worst run differential belongs to the 2025 Colorado Rockies, who finished at −424. It would not be surprising if the 47-74 A’s came close to that mark—or even their own franchise record of -339, set by the 2023 club. Entering this weekend’s series against the Texas Rangers, the A’s have an MLB-worst -180 run differential.
Outfielder Carlos Cortes has pitched eight times this season, a testament to how often the A’s have found themselves down double-digit runs. Half of the team’s bullpen consists of guys claimed off other teams’ waiver wires, which helps explain why the group has posted the worst ERA in the majors.
Right-hander Luis Severino signed the largest free-agent contract in A’s history two winters ago, a decision that has turned into a bust. He spent last season complaining about his working conditions. This year, Severino has barely been able to work, as he has been sidelined since late May with a shoulder injury and shows no signs of returning anytime soon.
Speaking of right-handers with electric stuff, the team has also failed to unlock Luis Morales’ potential. The Cuban native showed his immense ability in his MLB debut last year but has struggled to replicate that success this season, both in the majors and at Triple-A.
The problems go beyond the players on the field. The Tampa Bay Rays have a lower payroll than the A’s, yet have the best record in the sport. While the A’s have fallen behind in the analytics and baseball development stuff because of owner John Fisher’s penny-pinching ways, the Rays have continued to invest in those areas to compete with bigger-market clubs.
That is why the club must not only hire the right general manager this offseason but also give that person the resources to bolster this roster by any means necessary. Hopefully, the two sides will figure out a new CBA deal in time to have a full 2027 baseball season. The Athletics need to show signs of progress next year. After everything the remaining A’s fans have endured, they deserve to cheer for a winning, playoff-contending team before this Sacramento era ends.
A’s minor-league left-handed pitcher Corey Braun and outfielder Breyson Guedez are two players standing out at the lower levels of the A’s farm system.
A’s minor-league LHP Corey Braun has pitched 6 no-hit frames with 10 Ks for the Ports. Fastball sits low-90s. Great command. Deserves promotion to Lansing.
This season has taken an unfortunate but predictable turn for the worse. Hopefully the A’s can turn things around and start winning more games during the final stretch.
I truly think that if you can sit through this 2026 A’s season, then you can sit through any season.
The way that they have lost so many games in truly heartbreaking fashion, the very predictable pitching disaster outings, especially when the bullpen comes in. Countless…
Aug 2, 2025; North Augusta, South Carolina, USA; Aggie wears overalls and a throwback jersey for '90s night during the Augusta GreenJackets and Carolina Mudcats game at SRP Park. The GreenJackets won the fifth game of the series 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale - Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY NETWORK | Katie Goodale / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Braves have a quartet of solid pitchers going on Thursday night, and Davis Polo topped the bunch by completing 6 2/3 innings while striking out seven batters. Polo has had a wonderful season in returning from Tommy John surgery and has been one of the best pitchers in the system for the past month and a half, and has earned a breakout status amongst prospects.
Owen Murphy, SP: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 3.52 ERA
Rolddy Munoz, RP: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 3.35 ERA
Owen Murphy had a solid final line against the Norfolk Tides on Thursday night, though he may have gotten away with more than better lineups in the league would have let him. Murphy’s fastball was the only reliable weapon he had throughout the game as he was scattered with all of his pitches, missing dangerously high on secondaries and finding a way to get away with it throughout the evening. The one exception was a changeup he left glove side and up to a left-handed hitter that got hit for a solo home run. For the second straight outing Murphy’s average fastball velocity was a little bit down from where it has been for most of the season, but the numbers are still within his normal range and he held velocity into the fifth inning with a drop in the sixth that was only represented by two pitches. For Murphy those secondaries up in the strike zone can work given his fastball-heavy approach, as hitters expecting fastballs may get fooled by non-fastballs dropping, and his slider did put up a good performance throughout this game. However this was a case of Murphy missing his spots with every pitch and only getting a few nice fastballs in there at the top or just above the zone. As mentioned in the last recap of Murphy’s outing he deserves some leniency for the rest of the season given how much of a jump in his workload he has faced this season, and he’s held up remarkably well to that as most pitchers have more setbacks.
Gwinnett got most of their offense out of the way early and then went quiet on the scoreboard despite scattering hits throughout the game. Patrick Clohisy was unsurprisingly a major contributor, punching a one out single the opposite way in the third inning that kicked off their biggest rally. The Stripers strung together three singles with two outs, capped by a bloop hit to score Rowdy Tellez from second base, and took an early 2-1 lead that held until Murphy coughed up that home run. Gwinnett managed 13 hits despite only getting three hard hits balls in the game, but it was one of those days that the ball was falling even if they couldn’t come through in the later innings against the bullpen. Clohisy had three hits himself all without getting a hard hit ball, though in his first two at bats against the Tides starter he showed a great approach even if he didn’t hit the ball solidly. His last matchup against the starter was much uglier as he swung at two breaking balls that bounced before chipping one the opposite way off the end of the bat for an out. Clohisy looks lost on sliders below the zone right now regardless of if it’s a lefty or righty on the mound, but is getting enough of them in the strike zone and making contact that he’s finding an avenue to success. After both sides went scoreless in the tenth inning it came down to Luke Williams for the Stripers in the 11th inning, which didn’t bode well for Gwinnett. Williams came into the at-bat with four strikeouts and nine whiffs on the day, then fell down 0-2 after swinging through two straight fastballs. Williams then somehow put this horrendous day behind him and hit a hanging slider for a single, driving home the go ahead run. Bailey Falter struck out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the 11th, then forced a fly ball right at Clohisy to end the game.
Brett Sears, SP: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 3.55 ERA
It was the first game for the Clingstones that Gil, Hartman, and Carey all put it together at once, but in the end it was still not enough for the pitching staff to hold onto the lead. I say they all put it together, but it was still not a great day from Owen Carey. Carey had a great swing in the fourth inning and split the gap for a double that ended up being a huge hit in the game. Carson Taylor followed it up by driving in both runners to put Columbus on top, but that was the end of the good hitting from Carey. He struck out swinging in his other three at bats, and strikeouts have been an issue for him since being called up. Strikeouts have been a bit elevated for all three, which I supposed is to be expected for making the transition to Double-A the first time. Gil has been the best of the three in that regard which isn’t a surprise given their relative histories offensively, and he has come along nicely with six hits in his last four games. Gil hasn’t really had a signature performance but has consistently gotten on base at a high clip, with him failing to get on at least one time only once in the nine Double-A games he has played. Gil pulled a couple of line drives hard in this game, and even though he’s not elevating as well as he did in Rome he has maintained his pace of hitting a ton of line drives and giving himself chances for hits. Gil had a big one in the top of the ninth inning with Columbus trailing by four runs with two outs, and that helped set the stage for a late rally. Hartman followed that up with his best hit when he laced a single to center to score Dalton McIntyre, and Jordan Groshans delivered with the Clingstone’s biggest hit. Groshan’s reached for a slider and muscled a three-run home run out to left field, tying the game up at six runs apiece.
What was a bad final line for Brett Sears really boils down to a terrible single inning of work after four innings of slicing through the Birmingham lineup. Sears started out shaky with a walk and a hit batter to lead off the first inning, but after that he locked it down and carried momentum over the next four innings. Sears was a little bit less fine with his pitches than he was in his great stretch during July, but commanded the ball well until he didn’t anymore. Sears hit two batters and walked two others in the fifth inning, gave up a double on a slider thrown in about as bad a location as you can put one, and ended up allowing three runs in the fifth inning to give Birmingham the lead. Sears lost every bit of touch he had in an instant, and wasted a solid outing. In the tenth inning LJ McDonough had the unfortunate task of trying to strand the runner at second after the offense failed to score, and he lost it in one of the worst ways possible. McDonough got his outs and had a chance to end the game, but threw two wild pitches that let the Barons runner advance in to score and win the game.
Luis Guanipa, CF: 1-5, 2B, BB, 3 RBI, .186/.205/.326
Conor Essenburg, RF: 0-4, BB, .176/.317/.294
Alex Lodise, SS: 0-3, BB, HBP, .264/.394/.415
Zach Royse, SP: 6 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 4.62 ERA
The Emperors faced off against an old friend in Adam Shoemaker, who reminded us of the good old days by walking five batters in two innings. He started the game off with a strikeout of Luis Guanipa, and while he did chase out of the strike zone it was a solid at-bat and Shoemaker has a great slider that is tough for any batter when he locates. Guanipa also got a called second strike in the at bat on a borderline slider down and in and probably felt he had to protect that spot. Conor Essenburg then fought a ball into right field and was robbed of a hit by a diving play and Alex Lodise drew a two-out walk. After a defensive lapse allowed Dixon Williams on base the Emperors had a chance to get a run early, but a shoestring catch on a hard hit liner from Cody Miller ended the inning. In the second inning Shoemaker ran out of charm, and walked four hitters including a free pass to Guanipa that forced home the first Rome run. Essenburg smoked a ball in the fourth inning that got tracked out for a fly out, and had a walk later in the game. So despite a hitless game Essenburg looked solid at the plate and had the contact to make a bigger contribution even if it didn’t show in the stat line. Alex Lodise didn’t have a particularly great day at the plate but had a fly out to the wall in the fifth inning and yet again no strikeouts. Lodise has had a couple of rough games in a row but continues to have infinitely more success at hitting breaking balls both in and out of the strike zone. Guanipa had one of his best days in terms of seeing the ball at the plate. He had that strikeout in the first but overall made the right decisions on when to swing and hit a ball hard off of the wall the other way for a double. But there are also at bats like in the fourth inning where I truly don’t understand what he is trying to do. A first pitch slider up in the strike zone is a great pitch to swing at, but pushing it the other way on the ground with a slow swing is not it and another example of the complaints I’ve had with him lately. Still he has had some hard hit balls the last few games which is a good sign for him, so I’m hoping this is the start of an upward trajectory for him.
Zach Royse was not quite his normal self in this game, though despite the unfriendly confines he did just enough to keep this game from being a disaster. Throughout the season Royse has made a pattern of looking good early and hitting a wall later in the game after guys get multiple looks at him, but he didn’t have much of a feel for his command early in this outing. He allowed a run and a walk in each of the first two innings, including a leadoff home run, and he never fully settled into the game. What he did was pound the strike zone after his early struggles, and even if this led to some more hits he made the Tourists batters put the ball in play and got solid work from his defense. By focusing on landing his sinker at the bottom of the strike zone he was able to get quick outs in the middle innings and extend his outing to six innings without allowing another run. It wasn’t clean and he allowed nine hits in the game, but he pitched to what he had working even when his slider wasn’t consistently getting the results he is accustomed to.
Swing and Misses
Zach Royse – 10
Jarret Whorff – 2
(58-51) Augusta GreenJackets 7, (62-49) Charleston RiverDogs 2
Davis Polo, SP: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 3.19 ERA
Davis Polo keeps churning out great starts for Augusta, and it’s long since been time for him to move up to Rome and get a challenge. Polo really didn’t have his best stuff early, and the RiverDogs were on his changeup but couldn’t square it up. Polo was very predictable with his sequences and locations this outing, which isn’t really anything shocking at this level, and early on he had some high misses with the changeup that limited how much he was able to get whiffs on the pitch. Everything else was working, but with a heavy lefty lineup and Polo’s reliance on his changeup that made it hard for him to get ideal results early in the game. As he settled in that pitch really started to fade below the zone or off the plate arm side and he was churning through this lineup. It was some of the best command he’s shown in any start over the final four innings or so, with him able to hit the sinker at the bottom of the zone and tunnel the changeup off of that, or move the fastball high in the strike zone to get whiffs there as well. His slider didn’t feature as much, but when he did have a righty up he pitched well with it and didn’t make any mistakes up with the pitch. There’s only positives to take out of this for Polo. The sequencing thing is a coaching decision to help guys at this level develop, and in terms of execution Polo did his job.
This lineup has become an older group of guys quite quickly, which has robbed which has robbed it of the consistent intrigue it had prior to this month. The major exception is Carter beck who got on base three times and stole three bases. Beck didn’t even have to take his bat off of his shoulder for his two walks and has been dicing fastballs all across the field for his hits. Beck hasn’t looked to pull the ball in the air as much as I expected and most of his results are coming against fastballs right now, though we’re still well in small sample territory. 15th round pick Caleb Klein had a three hit game to add to a magical start to his professional career. Klein has been a bit of a whiff machine early on, but everything he has made contact with has found a hole somewhere and he has four multi-hit games in six appearances.
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 5: Tyler Wells #68 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 5, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is a series that, on paper, is not setting up well for the Orioles. Their underwhelming performance of late has dropped them to the bottom of the AL East, though they are still within two games of the final wild card spot. Meanwhile, the Rays have surged to a nine-game winning streak that has them 6.5 games clear of the Yankees in the division, and well atop the junior circuit at large.
These four games will be played in St. Petersburg, where the Rays have been dominant all season long. They own a 41-18 record at home, the best mark in the sport. The Orioles, on the other hand, are 26-33 on the road and 27-28 against teams above .500.
Tampa’s offense comes into this series on fire. They just scored 30 runs in their three-game sweep of the Athletics, though that came on the heels of a stretch where they failed to score more than four runs in four consecutive games. Offense is not the team’s ultimate strength. They are 13th in MLB in runs scored on the year, but several of their big names have succeeded in August, including Chandler Simpson (161 wRC+ since August 1), Junior Caminero (153 wRC+), Jonathan Aranda (124 wRC+), and Yandy Díaz (111 wRC+).
The goal for the Orioles must be to get to the Rays bullpen sooner than later. The unit’s 4.46 ERA since the start of August ranks 24th in MLB, and many of their peripheral numbers are similarly subpar. They could get a boost this weekend with a return of the injured Manuel Rodríguez, who is yet to pitch this year and has already appeared in seven rehab games. Old friend Cole Sulser may also return from back spams, which put him on the shelf at the end of July. For what it’s worth, Tyler Wells has thrown 4.1 scoreless innings so far as a Ray while Bryan Baker has been one of the league’s best closers (1.55 ERA, 34 saves) this season
Adding to the uncertainty of this series is the Orioles pitching situation. They are yet to announce any of their starters for the series. That indicates that a roster move is coming, likely involving Chris Bassitt. The 37-year-old has made three rehab starts, including six shutout innings on August 7. It seems like he will start the opener of this series, but that has not been confirmed yet.
Game 1: Friday, August 14th, 7:10 p.m., MASN
TBD vs. LHP Steven Matz (5-4, 5.46 ERA)
Bassitt has not pitched in a major league game since June 3. His time with the Orioles has been a struggle. He has a 5.27 ERA over 12 appearances and 56.1 innings. He has been sharper during his minor league rehab games, and seems eager to help the team get back into contention. The team’s positive outlook on his health is likely what made the trade of Dean Kremer easier to pull off.
Matz will serve as the opener here. He has not thrown more than two innings in an appearance since late May, and this will be his first start at all since June 2. He has been quite good recently, allowing no runs over his last six appearances. That has dropped his season ERA from 6.29 to to 5.46.
Game 2: Saturday, August 15th, 6:10 p.m., MASN
TBD vs. LHP Ian Seymour (9-3, 4.08 ERA)
This would be Kyle Bradish’s turn in the rotation. He bounced back from a tough start against the Phillies to allow just one earned run over six innings in a tough luck loss to the Rangers. He has already made two starts against the Rays, both back in May. He served up three earned runs over 11.1 innings back then.
Seymour has been a useful piece that Kevin Cash has moved between the rotation and the bullpen several times this year. He has a 4.43 ERA as a starter and a 3.81 ERA as a reliever and has improved as the season has worn on. He has appeared in three games against the O’s this year, tossing 4.1 total innings without allowing an earned run.
Game 3: Sunday, August 16th, 12:15 p.m., Peacock
TBD vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.33 ERA)
This will probably be a Trevor Rogers start, though it remains to be confirmed. The lefty has labored a bit recently. Over his last three starts he has allowed 11 runs (eight earned) over 16 innings. But his peripherals are good. In those same 16 innings he has struck out 19, walked two, and only given up 15 hits. His FIP of 3.08 may be a better reflection than his 4.50 ERA over that stretch.
Peralta had a tough time with the Mets, and things haven’t gotten any better with the Rays. He has allowed 10 runs, all earned, over 9.2 innings in his two starts with the new club. His top line stats are worse than all of his expected numbers, but he has still been nowhere near the Cy Young level he pitched at in Milwaukee. The Rays probably aren’t too worried about it right now as long as he trends up closer to October.
Game 4: Monday, August 17th, 6:05 p.m., MASN
TBD vs. TBD
This is a wraparound series that ends on Monday. Neither team has announced a starter for the finale.
How many games do you think the Orioles will win in this series? Let us know in the comments.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JUNE 16: Robbie Kruse shakes hands with Ryan Rowland-Smith after throwing the first pitch before the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Baltimore Orioles at T-Mobile Park on June 16, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mariners have been on the ropes lately. With a sweep, the Astros could deliver a knockout blow, finishing them off once and for all. If accomplished, it would set the stage for a two-team race between Houston and their interstate foes who reside 250 miles north.
Ryan Rowland-Smith has been part of the Mariners broadcast team since 2017. He first gained notoriety by striking out Ken Griffey Jr in his MLB Debut. Today he dishes for us, exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: Is it now or never for Seattle in this upcoming series in Houston?
A: Yes, especially after these losses to the Yankees. I compare this to 2025 when the Mariners were trailing the Astros late in the year, they were coming off a tough series against the Royals but they were in a completely different place. They had offensive threats and really good pitching.
They have gotten to this stage going into Houston up against Yordan Alvarez (he was not in the lineup last year) and really struggling to score runs. This road trip, in my opinion, with decide the season for the Mariners.
Q: When it comes to Cal Raleigh, do you think it’s just a case of him pressing too much and putting too much pressure on himself to make something happen?
A: All of the above. He is carrying the weight of the entire team. He is the team leader but taking the weight of everyone’s struggles on his shoulders. I think the struggles have just layered on from the expectations to be similar to last year, the WBC and no prep, to the injury and to the team struggles. He is really going through it.
Q: We saw Julio Rodriguez moved to the five spot in the order. Do you think that trend will continue?
A: I think the Mariners are in a position where they have to try different combinations in the lineup as well and put righties in slots to break up lefties. There have been so many variations of lineups this year. Last year it was pretty set in stone, but you have to try something different until something clicks.
Q: One bright spot has been Randy Arozarena. What does he bring to the table for Seattle’s offense?
A: More consistency. He used to put up numbers but it was so streaky. He is wearing out the opposite field. He has always had a ton of contact to right field but not this kind of slug. He’s cut down on the chase also. He’s also a free agent at the end of the year, so good time for him to be the most complete hitter in our lineup.
DETROIT, MI - JULY 10: Catcher Rafael Marchan #13 of the Philadelphia Phillies during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 10, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Scranton/WB 5, Lehigh Valley 1
IronPigs had a bullpen game and it showed. Tucker Davidson gave up four runs and took his 5th loss of the season. The offense was held to just 4 hits on the game and 3 walks. Rafael Marchan was rehabbing the game and went 1 for 2 at the plate. His mid-game replacement Payton Henry had the lone RBI, a force-out where the bases were loaded. The IronPigs were 0 for 8 with RISP.
Reading 6, Chesapeake 4
27 year old starter Adam Seminaris has put up a nice little season with Reading this year, his first year with the organization after being a 2020 5th round pick of the Angels. He has a 3.24 EA with 131 strikeouts in 111 innings pitched. Raylin Heredia hit his 20th HR of the season, a solo shot, and relative newcomer Wuilfredo Antunez (signed back on July 17th) hit his first HR with the org and 13th overall on the season. Heredia also picked up stolen bases 18 and 19, setting himself up for a nice 20/20 soon.
Brooklyn 6, Jersey Shore 1
Sam Highfill takes the loss, his 5th of the season, and has had a very bad time since being called up to High-A. His ERA has has ballooned to 5.83 over 66.1 IP. Meanwhile, the BlueClaws offense was held to 5 hits and went 1 for 12 with RISP. Devin Saltiban had two hits among those five.
Fort Myers 10, Clearwater 4
Always fun when you outhit the opposing team 13 to 9 and still lose the game and that is what happened here. Only two of those hits were for extra-bases. Starter Sean Youngerman gave up 4 of the runs (3 earned) and took his 6th loss. Catcher Macon Winslow had a multi-hit game, the first of his young professional career and is riding a 3-game hitting streak (he also had a throwing error and passed ball…).
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 13: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a grand slam during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Bombers took a painful 1-0 loss on Thursday at the hand of the Mariners. They mustered just one hit against Seattle, wasting a very solid effort from Max Fried, as they drop to 6.5 games out of first place in the East. As something resembling a silver lining, they were far from the only contender in the AL to be shutout on Thursday, as quality pitching was abundant around the league on a short day. With a disappointing contest for the Yankees behind us, let’s take a look at some of the other action around the Junior Circuit.
Boston Red Sox (65-56) 7, Toronto Blue Jays (59-64) 0
The Red Sox scored in the top half of the first inning on Thursday, and never looked back. Willson Contreras’ RBI double had them up early, and it was left-hander Payton Tolle’s game from that point on.
Boston’s 23-year-old lefty enjoyed one of the best starts of his season against Toronto, as he tossed eight strong shutout innings, striking out four batters and surrendering just two hits. Until the offense broke out late in this one, it was Tolle’s excellence on the mound that had Boston rolling.
The Red Sox lead remained at just 1-0 until the eighth inning, when they loaded the bases with a pair of singles and an intentional walk. Caleb Durbin made the absolute most of the opportunity, when he belted a grand slam into the Jays’ bullpen in left field.
Now up-5-0 in the ninth, Boston added some insurance thanks to a sacrifice fly from Masataka Yoshida, and another RBI off the bat of Durbin. Greg Weissert finished things off on the mound after Tolle’s eight innings of work, as the Jays a pair of hits in the scoreless affair. With the win, the Sox maintain their cushion in the wild card race.
Detroit Tigers (60-61) 3, Cleveland Guardians (59-63) 0:
Despite all of the selling taking place at the deadline, the Tigers netted another win on Thursday, and actually have hold of the final wild card spot in the American League. They took the lead in the third inning, thanks to a timely ground out, but would later add on to their total with a homer from Eduardo Valencia and an RBI from Spencer Torkelson. Most importantly, starter Keider Montero worked 6.1 scoreless frames, while the Detroit bullpen continued that trend to keep the Guardians out of the run column for the day. With no Tarik Skubal or Casey Mize, the Tigers still find themselves very much involved in the playoff hunt.
Cincinnati Reds (58-62) 9, Chicago White Sox (62-58) 8:
Elsewhere in the Central, the White Sox dropped a tough one in a slugfest at home. The Reds jumped out early, with homers from Sal Stewart and Eugenio Suárez putting them up three runs in the first inning. The White Sox countered with help from some big hits off the bat of Randal Grichuk, whose double gave them the lead in the second inning, but the Cincinnati bats would not be silenced. The Reds plated six more runs between the third and the sixth, which included another long ball, this one from Tyler Stephenson. Chicago did what they could to stage a comeback, initially down 9-5, when a pair of big hits in the ninth cut the lead to just one, though they couldn’t ultimately complete the comeback.
Los Angeles Angels (48-74) 7,Texas Rangers (60-62) 0:
The Angels jumped on the trend of tossing shutouts, doing so against Texas late on Thursday. All nine Los Angeles hitters tallied a hit in this one, including three each from Mike Trout and Denzer Guzman, who played big roles in the seven-run output. All the while, Walbert Ureña and the Angels’ bullpen kept things in check and the Rangers out of the run column. With the Tigers winning, the Rangers drop to a half-game out of the wild card with their loss.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 8: Former San Francisco Giants player Buster Posey waits in the dugout before the Wall of Fame pregame ceremony at Oracle Park on August 8, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rosalind Adams at The City Reporter broke news that the Brooklyn Cyclones withheld tips from concessions stand employees. The Cyclones are owned by Diamond Baseball Holdings, the company that has purchased several minor league teams in recent years.
Although Shohei Ohtani’s contract stipulates that he could opt out in the event of a sale of the Dodgers, Alden Gonzalez at ESPN reports he would likely stick with the organization in that scenario.
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 13: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox hits a grand slam during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 13, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox 5-game losing streak, thankfully, is over. And while I wouldn’t exactly say that Red Sox Nation was panicking this week, there certainly was a sense of “oh no, what’s going on here?” as the bats went silent and the losses piled up.
It’s hard to blame anyone for feeling that way— we were subjected to some UGLY baseball for the first third of the season. A lot of fans probably don’t fully trust this team, and for good reason. And yet the FanGraphs playoff odds remain extremely favorable for the Sox, who currently sit with a 94.2% chance of making the playoffs. (And, by the way, that number never even dropped below 90% during the mini losing streak.)
So after Payton Tolle’s heroics yesterday, how are we feeling today? Are you brushing off the losing streak as something that almost every team goes through at some point, or are you worried about fundamental issues with the roster (i.e. the lacking of power hitting) popping up again?
Talk about the streakiest team in MLB history and whatever else you’d like in this space and, as always, be good to one another.
