MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 07: Kaelen Culpepper #12 of the Minnesota Twins reacts while crossing home plate after getting his first major league hit, a solo home run, in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on August 07, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
First Pitch: 6:10 pm CDT TV: Twins.TV Radio: TIBN / WCCO 830 / The Wolf 102.9 FM / Audacy
Armed with their latest weapon — unstoppable rookie Kaelen Culpepper — the Twins aim to take the series against baseball’s best team. They already got one; what’s one more? After all, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching baseball, it’s that if something happens today, the exact same thing will probably happen tomorrow. The same is true for life!
Taj Bradley struggled to miss bats in his last outing, unless you count walks as missing bats. Either way, two strikeouts against the Mariners was a far cry from 10 strikeouts against the Royals, although both starts were quality and four of Bradley’s last five outings have met the same criteria. One of Bradley’s tougher recent tests will come in the form of Milwaukee’s first-place lineup, who showed everything they can do and then some in the first game of this set.
Milwaukee will start relative newbie Robert Gasser, a lefty making his 20th start tonight despite appearances in three big-league seasons. Gasser likes him his sweeper/sinker mix and has been able to limit hard-hit balls while staying in the zone, walking only three total hitters across his five most recent appearances.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 08: Home plate umpire Dan Merzel #3 talks to manager Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves after a balk call during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 08, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We were treated to a fun pitching matchup between Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole in the Bronx on Saturday.
Sale blinked first in the second, allowing a run on a double and a single, despite pumping upper 90s heat with his fastball. After a couple more quiet innings, the Braves flipped the script in the fifth, as doubles from Dubon and Yaz, followed by singles from Riley and Jarvis scored two runs, giving Atlanta a 2-1 lead. An Acuna liner nearly scored another two, but instead was caught for an out.
An ABS strikeout-turned-walk and a triple tied the game up in the bottom of the frame. Chris Sale struck out the next batter but was called for a balk to give the Yankees the go-ahead run. A fired-up Sale was arguing with the ump and Walt Weiss interdicted, getting ejected himself, but saving Sale from receiving what I would guess would have been an ejection. Things spiraled a bit with one out, as Sale allowed a double and issues a walk, but a double-play ended the inning with the one run deficit held at just that, as a visibly frustrated Sale walked to the dugout. The sixth held 1-2-3 frames for both starting pitchers, but spelled the end for Sale, while Cole remained in the game. Sale had 6.0 innings of 3 run ball on 8 strikeouts and 2 walks.
Mederos was first out of the bullpen for Atlanta after Cole shut down the Braves’ offense in the seventh. Mederos allowed short porch homer to lead off the frame. His command was shaky as he issued a walk and hit the next batter, but struck out the final two to end the inning there. Ronald Acuna crushed a solo homer against the Yankee’s pen on a full count after a long at-bat in the eighth.
Michael Harris reached with two outs, prompting a pitching change to prevent Ozzie from being able to bat right-handed. Ozzie fouled off a few pitches on a 2-2 count before ultimately grounding out and leaving the Braves with 3 outs and down 1 run. Danny Young gave back the run on a solo shot to dead center to lead off the ninth, as his existence on the roster continues to be perplexing. Young funnily enough ended up striking out the side, with a single and walk in there as well. Yaz walked to put the tying run at the plate with one out for the 8 and 9 spots. Riley struck out, but Dominic Smith brought Yaz home with a ground ball single up the middle, after Yaz took second on defensive indifference. That brough Drake Baldwin to the plate, representing the winning run. Baldwin struggled with Bednar’s splitter and ultimately lined out softly to right field, ending the game.
That’s a series loss and tomorrow will be a rough matchup, with Grant Holmes vs Cam Schlittler. Join us as the Braves look to avoid a sweep at 1:35 PM ET.
On a beautiful Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees beat the Braves, 5-4 the final score, to clinch the series victory.
Here are the takeaways...
-Gerrit Cole and Chris Sale faced off against each other for the third time in their illustrious careers.
-The Yankees opened the scoring in the second inning, when Spencer Jones singled home Trent Grisham - who had doubled a few batters earlier - with two outs. Sale wasn't fazed, however, and the southpaw retired each of the next seven Yankees batters he faced.
-The Braves roared back to take the lead in the fifth inning, scoring two runs before Cole could record a single out. The first RBI came off the bat of Mike Yastrzemski, who doubled over the head of an ill-positioned Heliot Ramos in left field to bring home Mauricio Dubon. Austin Riley then singled to put Atlanta runners on the corners, before rookie shortstop Jim Jarvis roped a line drive into right field to bring home Yastrzemski and make the score 2-1 Braves. Yankees skipper Aaron Boone kept the faith in his veteran right-hander, and Cole battled back to retire the next three batters in order to escape the jam, including two strikeouts. Cole's strikeout of Braves slugger Matt Olson was his 1,000th in just 139 games with the Yankees, making him the fastest to reach that milestone in franchise history.
-Leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, George Lombard Jr. successfully challenged two straight pitches to turn a strikeout into a walk. Jonesgot the best of Sale yet again, driving a front-door slider into the gap for a triple, which easily brought home Lombard to tie up the game. The next batter, much to the chagrin of Sale and Braves manager Walt Weiss, the umpire ruled that Sale balked, and Jones was allowed to walk home from third base. Weiss was ejected in the ensuing argument. Austin Wells kept the momentum rolling for the Yanks with an opposite-field double, but two batters later, Ramos grounded into a double play to end the inning with New York leading 3-2.
-Cole faced the minimum of nine total batters as he cruised through innings five, six, and seven. He finished his start having allowed two earned runs on six hits, tallying nine strikeouts and zero walks across 82 pitches.
-Sale was relieved by right-hander Victor Mederos in the seventh inning, who promptly surrendered a leadoff solo shot to Lombard, who clubbed his hanging cutter the opposite way and over the short porch in right field. Later in the inning, Wells was issued a strike after the umpire judged that Jose Caballero - who had just been walked - took too long to get to first base. The umpire got an earful from an irate Boone. Wells was subsequently hit by a pitch, and the Yankees baserunners executed a double steal to put two runners in scoring position, but Mederos struck out Paul Goldschmidt and Ramos to strand them both.
-Lefty setup man Brent Headrick relieved Cole in the eighth inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. launched a solo shot to cut the Yankees' lead to 4-3, and Michael Harris II slapped a two-out single to extend the inning and force the Yankees to call upon right-handed reliever Paul Blackburn to record the final out and hold the lead entering the final frame.
-Facing left-handed reliever Danny Young, Ben Rice broke his 11-game long ball drought with a leadoff bomb to straightaway center field. His 32nd homer of the season extended the lead to 5-3 for the Yankees. Lombard and Jones stayed hot to ignite a two-out rally with a single and a walk, respectively. They each reached base in three of their four at-bats on Saturday, combining for three of the team's five RBI.
-After issuing a one-out walk to Yastrzemski and a two-out RBI single to pinch-hitter Dom Smith, Yankees closer David Bednar persevered to seal the 5-4 win, his 26th save of the season.
Game MVP: Spencer Jones
The rookie right fielder notched the fourth multi-hit game and second multi-RBI game of his young career, a much-needed showing as the Yankees offense looks to get back on track.
Highlights
Spencer Jones gives the Yankees a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI single off Chris Sale, scoring Trent Grisham pic.twitter.com/F9bCS1Zzvs
A.J. Ewing – LF Francisco Lindor – SS Bo Bichette – 3B Jared Young – 1B Luis Robert Jr. – CF Brett Baty – RF Marcus Semien – 2B Jorge Polanco – DH Francisco Alvarez – C
SP: Robert Stock (RHP)
Pirates lineup
Jake Mangum – CF Brandon Lowe – 2B Bryan Reynolds – DH Spencer Horwitz – 1B Nick Gonzales – 3B Endy Rodríguez – C Esmerlyn Valdez – LF Jacob Gonzalez – SS Ronny Simon – RF
SP: Bubba Chandler (RHP)
Broadcast info
First pitch: 6:40 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - AUGUST 03: Bubba Chandler #36 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at American Family Field on August 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the middle of a three-game set against the New York Mets at PNC Park this weekend.
Bubba Chandler is making his 22nd start for the Pirates this season. In his last appearance on August 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Chandler had one of his better outings of the season, pitching 5.2 innings and giving up two earned runs as the Buccos won 4-3 at American Family Field. It was his first win since June 25, and it was the Pirates’ only win in the four-game set.
The Mets are handing the ball off to 36-year-old right-hander Robert Stock, who is making just his second appearance for the team this season. In his last start on August 2 against the Miami Marlins, Stock pitched five innings, giving up three hits and one earned run, but his offense did not support him. The team lost 2-0 to the Miami Marlins at Citi Field.
Stock was a second-round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2009 MLB Draft. He spent his first nine professional seasons in the minor leagues before being called up in 2018 by the San Diego Padres. He has pitched for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs and even had stints in Korea and Mexico before returning to the big leagues.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Robert Stock (0-1, 1.80 ERA) vs. Bubba Chandler (4-8, 4.49 ERA)
BD community, chime off in the comments section below for the game day thread. Enjoy!
Nov 28, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; General aerial overall view of Citizens Bank Park (top) and Lincoln Financial Field. The venues in the Philadelphia Sports Complex are the home of the Philadelphia Phillies of the MLB an the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Game Two in Philadelphia.
The news for the game is that Springer is scratched because of shoulder tightness. And Vlad is back in the lineup.
Beyond that, Zack Wheeler was whining about the Jays wanting him to, you know, follow the rules:
You know, they’ve lost a lot of games over there, so they’re probably trying to pick some things up to complain about.
Well, seemed to work, because they hit him pretty good. You know that teams are going to be pushing the umpires on this for the rest of the season. From Sportsnet:
According to the MLB rulebook, a pitcher must touch the rubber while beginning his throwing motion. However, Wheeler appears to pitch with his right foot on the front edge of the rubber, nearly off the mark.
Tonight, Max Scherzer tries to build on his best start of the season, against the Cardinals last week. Hopefully, tonight will be a step better. Aaron Nola (3-9, 5.55 ERA in 23 starts, leading the league with 28 home runs allowed). But then the Jays know how to make any pitcher look good.
Ahead of the Mets' game against the Pirates on Saturday evening, interim manager Andy Green spoke to the media and hit on a number of topics...
Brett Baty in right field
Baty is starting in right field for the second straight game and Green was asked whether he feels the utility player has improved his outfield defense.
"He’s played a very solid right field. There’s been a few tough, tailing plays that tend to get the spotlight when you’re a guy that moves around positionally," Green said. "Brett’s made a lot of good plays out there as well."
Green pointed out that when the plays Baty doesn't make happen to an outfielder like Tyrone Taylor who is known for his defense, it doesn't make headlines, but Baty has taken it in stride.
One reason for that is the pride Baty has in his defense and wanting to be better.
"He takes extreme ownership. Every single time something comes up short, he owns it, he knows it and moves forward and goes out and makes the best possible play the next time," Green said. " He’s done a nice job of bouncing all over the diamond and every team has players like that. And allowing somebody to evolve into a valuable, versatile player is important for us as well."
It's been somewhat of an adventure for Baty in right field this season. There have been misplays in the outfield this season, including a notorious one in right against the Brewers back in July that cost the Mets a win. But Baty was solid in right on Friday, and Green hopes it'll be the same on Saturday.
Gabriel Arias' role
The Mets made one roster move ahead of Saturday's game, calling up Arias and optioning Eric Wagaman to Triple-A.
Green was asked what Arias will bring to the team, and the skipper said simply Arias allows more defensive versatility, and with the return of Jorge Polanco, the number of 1B/DH opportunities -- which Wagaman was used for -- are limited.
"He provides us with a measure of defensive versatility than Wags does," Green said of Arias. "It’s hard to find him consistent opportunities. Gabriel gives us an opportunity to rest regulars on the left side.
"He’s a really good defender at a lot of positions. He’s done that really well for a long time, and he has some pop. Those are nice pieces to add to your team. How much opportunity he gets is predicated on how everyone else maintains his health and how well he plays when he gets his chances."
When asked if he'd use Arias in the outfield, Green said while he views Arias as an infielder first, if he had to, he'd use him in the outfield. In his career, Arias has played 27 games in the outfield.
The Mets claimed Arias earlier this week from the Guardians and, in 42 games this year, has hit five home runs, 11 RBI with a .244/.284/.386 slash line and a .669 OPS.
Wagaman, 28, hit two home runs and drove in four runs across 23 games while slashing .190/.291/.378 with an OPS of .669.
Aug 2, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz (3) during pregame warmup before a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jon Endow-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Twins beat the Brewers in the first game of this weekend’s series in a wild game, one in which Milwaukee took an early four-run lead but couldn’t hold on to it. Tonight, they’ll look to even the series, though the on-paper pitching matchup favors the Twins: Robert Gasser will take the mound for the Brewers, while Taj Bradley will be his opponent.
Gasser is working on a string of solid outings. He’s given up three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight outings, excepting only the stinker in the team’s last game before the All-Star break. Throw that one out, and in the other seven outings he’s got a 2.41 ERA in 41 innings going back to June 16th. Even with the bad one, Gasser has a 3.68 ERA and 3.41 FIP over what basically amounts to the last two months.
His opponent is no slouch, though, and with Joe Ryan on the injured list, Bradley slots in as Minnesota’s de facto ace. In 22 starts covering 126 2/3 innings this season, Bradley has pitched to a solid 3.69 ERA (114 ERA+) and 3.91 FIP, and while his walks are higher than you’d like (3.8 per nine), he’s striking out 10 batters per nine innings this season. Bradley, who was traded straight up for Griffin Jax at last year’s trade deadline, seems to be finding his own with the Twins in his age-25 season.
Speaking of pitching, the Brewers made a logical but still somewhat surprising move today: after pitching well in six outings for the Brewers, including three really good innings last night, Bryse Wilson has been designated for assignment. Recalled in his place is right-hander Lyon Richardson, who has made 41 mostly sub-par appearances for the Reds over the last four seasons (most of which came in 2025, when he had a 4.54 ERA in 34 outings). Richardson was designated for assignment by the Reds in early June and joined Triple-A Nashville; in 13 outings there since his acquisition, Richardson has a 4.20 ERA, 8.4 K/9, and a troubling 5.4 BB/9 in 30 innings.
It’s tough on Wilson, who did as well as one could’ve asked for in his short reunion with the Brewers. At this point, it’s a numbers game: the Brewers need fresh arms somewhat desperately during this run of 17 straight days with a baseball game, and Wilson is the sort of journeyman that is deemed expendable in a situation like this (the Brewers were already the third team he’d pitched for in 2026 alone). It should also be said that, for the most part, Wilson’s stats in every stop he’s made except for Milwaukee have been quite bad, so it does seem like the Brewers understand that whatever they’ve been getting from him has been at least partially aided by luck and/or good fortune.
Note also in that transaction: Sal Frelick is on his way to Nashville for a rehab assignment. Things are going to get a bit crowded when he returns, and Luis Lara’s good play has complicated things. It will be interesting to see what ends up happening, but Brandon Lockridge may find himself on the outside looking in.
BCB readers, rejoice! Joey Ortiz is starting at third base against a right-handed pitcher after David Hamilton had started five in a row at the hot corner against righties (Ortiz started the first of those five at shortstop). It is, of course, somewhat amusing that this is when Hamilton goes to the pine, given that he actually had a good game last night. (The Brewers say they have a plan with Ortiz, honest.) Andrew Vaughn also gets a start against the right-hander tonight, with Jake Bauers back in right field and Christian Yelich again playing DH; down in the seven spot tonight, this will officially be the lowest Yelich has started in the batting order since 2015.
First pitch tonight is at 6:10 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
Aug 28, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Phillies Phanatic entertains fans from the top of the Philadelphia Phillies dugout during the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
UNDER THE LIGHTS: The Cubs are 42-26 in night games, a winning percentage of .618. They finished last season 49-38, .563. At night on the road, they are 26-14, .650. They finished last season just 28-27, .509. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
SATURDAY IN THE PARK: At 11-7, the Cubs already have lost as many games on Saturday as they did all of last season, when they were 20-7. They are 5-3 on the road on Saturday this year. Last year, they were 11-2. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
NOT SCORING FIRST: The Cubs have given up the first run in six consecutive games, each in the first three innings, including the first inning of the the last three. They have not scored first in eight of nine games, after having done it in five straight, seven of eight and 11 of 13. The Cubs have taken the first lead in 55 games and fallen behind in 62. They are 40-15 when they score first and 28-34 when they do not. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Jim Edmonds homers twice, including a game-tying blast in the seventh, and Henry Blanco’s walk-off single wins the game over the Cardinals 3-2 at Wrigley Field. It happened 18 years ago today, Friday, Aug. 8, 2008.
Clay Holmes was having a fine year with the Mets when he suffered a fractured fibula on this play against the Yankees May 15:
He has made three rehab starts. In the most recent one, Aug. 2, he threw 43 pitches for the Mets’ High-A affiliate. He’d thrown 59 pitches in the rehab start before that.
So I’d think he’ll be on a pitch limit tonight, maybe 75 or so? The Cubs do have Colin Rea and Javier Assad ready for long relief.
Below you’ll find Holmes’ pitch mix. As you’ll note, he relies on a sinker which, we hope, will induce lots of ground balls to the excellent Cubs defenders.
Seth Lugo was a big Royals free-agent signing before the 2024 season. He was very good that year (second in AL Cy Young voting), a bit worse last year, and not very good this year, especially over his last eight starts (5.82 ERA, 1.477 WHIP, eight home runs in 43.1 innings). He’s also walked a lot of guys in those eight starts (8.9 percent walk rate).
He has, however, held current Cubs to a .167 BA (14-for-84) with one home run (Seiya Suzuki). Hopefully Cubs bats are ready for him tonight.
Please visit our SB Nation Royals site Royals Review. If you do go there to interact with Royals fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 02: Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on August 02, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If ever the Cincinnati Reds are going to sneak their way into the playoff race, they’re going to need every last good thing than ace Chase Burns can give them – especially now that they’ll be without Hunter Greene for the remainder of the season.
Problem is, Burns is going to slam into an innings limit at some point in the very near future. He’s already at 118.2 IP so far in the 2026 campaign, already outpacing the 109.1 IP he threw across all levels just last year. Given that he only touched 100 IP exactly in his final college season, there’s not a ton of ‘build up’ on his prized right arm just yet, and letting him blow past 150 IP likely isn’t in the designs of the Reds front office this season.
So, they need to maximize his opportunities while they have them, and one comes around again on Saturday against the Washington Nationals.
Burns starts opposite Nats lefty Andrew Alvarez with first pitch slated for 6:45 PM ET, and the Reds have done what they can to stack the lineup against the southpaw accordingly.
Williams ranks in the 96th percentile in K%, thanks to elite extension and a filthy sweeper generating a 44.3% whiff rate. Since the All-Star break, he leads the majors with a 1.26 xFIP.
The Chicago White Sox are struggling against righties. Since the All-Star break, they rank 26th in BA (.218) and 25th in BABIP (.267) against RHP, with the fifth-highest K% (25.5%) of any team.
Add in their league-high 31.8% K% the past week, and it’s a great spot to back another strong outing from Williams.
I’m backing them to take victory down to -145.
COVERS INTEL: Gavin Williams leads the majors with a 48.4% K% since the All-Star break among SP with at least 70 batters faced—nearly nine percentage points higher than the next-best pitcher.
Guardians vs White Sox Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-126)
Anthony Kay is coming off a strong outing against the Rays, and has looked improved since the break. He’s also posted a home ERA of just 3.24 this season, compared to a 4.88 road ERA.
That’s largely driven by Kay’s home HR/9 of just 0.62 which is a full dinger less than his road metric.
The Guardians have hit the ball well the past week, but their ISO of .121 and HR/FB rate of 9.3% since the break make it unlikely they’re going to post crooked numbers.
Cleveland will win a lower-scoring contest.
Back the Under to -135.
Jason Ence's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-16, -4.66 units
Over/Under bets: 16-13, +2.01 units
Guardians vs White Sox weather
Hitters will be dealing with temps in the upper 70s and winds blowing from left field towards first base at up to 10 mph, which will help both pitching staffs limit the damage on big flys.
Guardians vs White Sox odds
Moneyline: Guardians -137 | White Sox +124
Run line: Guardians -1.5 (+134) | White Sox +1.5 (-148)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+114) | Under 7.5 (-126)
Guardians vs White Sox trend
The Cleveland Guardians have covered the Run Line in 9 of their last 12 away games (+5.55 Units / 32% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Guardians vs. White Sox.
How to watch Guardians vs White Sox and game info
Location
Rate Field, Chicago, IL
Date
Saturday, August 8, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
FOX
Guardians starting pitcher
Gavin Williams (11-6, 3.56 ERA)
White Sox starting pitcher
Anthony Kay (8-5, 4.01 ERA)
Guardians vs White Sox latest injuries
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.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 07: Former Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. talks with Greg Amsinger (L) and Harold Reynolds prior to a game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 07, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The enterprise of selecting the top 50 Seattle Mariners in the franchise’s history is a fun and challenging one. As such, we let our staff take a few cracks at it. Some folks leapt at it, while others are more eager to pick through the official list in the next few days when it’s revealed Saturday night. Below, we’ve got a few lists, each with variable criteria, along with some explanations and tiers from a few members of the staff, and we’ll be glad to hear your thoughts as well.
Grant:
So here’s the thing: if you’re reading this, you know that the Seattle Mariners just haven’t been that good over 50 seasons. We’ve had three different high points (1995, 2001, 2025), a few other playoff seasons, and lots of mediocrity sprinkled in.
Perhaps, then, it doesn’t surprise you that putting together a top 50 list leans on the nostalgia. There are some genuinely great players on this list; there are also some who played 3 seasons with the team or who have <= 8 WAR. We have five different batting title winners, and we have kinda mid second basemen/utility men.
My list isn’t in order outside of my top 10, and if you try this on your own, you will also find out how challenging it is once you hit #30 or so. But as you go down this list, no matter what, you’ll stumble across some players who make you smile, who lifted your spirits on summer weeknights driving home after a long shift, who drove you just a little crazy, who made you stand and applaud, who made you cry. You might find your kid’s first ever favorite player or the one who you’d bond over with your parents.
Yes, this team has been bad for much of its existence, and yes, baseball is nearly unbearable right now if you’re a Mariners fan. But as Dave Niehaus said, it fills our days and brightens our nights, and these 50 folks epitomize this team.
Welcome back, baseball. Stay forever.
Top 10
Ken Griffey Jr.
Ichiro
Felix Hernandez
Edgar Martinez
Randy Johnson
Dave Niehaus
Alex Rodriguez
Rick Rizzs
Julio Rodriguez
Lou Piniella
Honorable Mention
Kyle Seager
Amazing, but not known as elite for the Mariners
Robinson Cano
Edwin Diaz
Adrian Beltre
Close but no cigar…yet
Cal Raleigh
Logan Gilbert
George Kirby
Bryan Woo
Andres Muñoz
Jerry Dipoto
Simply, Truly Good Players
Mitch Haniger
Nelson Cruz
Hisashi Iwakuma
James Paxton
Marco Gonzales
J.P. Crawford
Early Days
Mark Langston
Alvin Davis
Mike Moore
Phil Bradley
Harold Reynolds
Floyd Bannister
Bruce Bochte
Dave Valle
2001 Immortality
Jamie Moyer
Bret Boone
Freddy Garcia
Kazuhiro Sasaki
Mike Cameron
John Olerud
1995 Immortality
Jay Buhner
Dan Wilson
Jeff Nelson
Nostalgia in Some Way or Another
Jose Lopez
Franklin Gutierrez
Mike Zunino
Mark McLemore
J.J. Putz
Luis Castillo
Diego Segui
John:
I love a list. It’s one of the delightful parts of prospect writing, gathering all the names together to consider what sets one player apart from another and whether they deserve clear demarcation. For my list, I’ve only selected players, and while I considered exclusively ruling on players I’ve seen myself, I ultimately opted to follow my heart and those I’ve read about enough to feel a connection to. I’ve broken them out in tiers that made sense to me in the moment, but they are hardly steadfast in terms of their true ordering.
The Hall of Famers
Ichiro Suzuki
Edgar Martinez
Félix Hernández
Ken Griffey Jr.
Randy Johnson
Seattle Royalty
Kyle Seager
Jamie Moyer
Jay Buhner
Julio Rodríguez
Alvin Davis
Meteoric
Alex Rodríguez
Cal Raleigh
Mike Cameron
Held it Down When Things Were Grim
Harold Reynolds
J.P. Crawford
Me and Félix’s Favorite Pitcher
Freddy Garcia
Era-Defining Stars With Warts
Bret Boone
Robinson Canó
Game 161
Nelson Cruz
Game 163 (sorry Mark, you were great here too but it was too easy)
Mark Langston
Boron Rods in the Reactor
Dan Wilson
Logan Gilbert
Raúl Ibañez
Free Agents That Worked Out
John Olerud
Adrian Beltré
Hisashi Iwakuma
Mike Zunino
Mike Zunino
Pitchers I Never Saw But Made the Early Mariners Less Awful
Mike Moore
Erik Hanson
The Guys Who Were Luckier Than Kyle Lewis
Mitch Haniger
Franklin Gutierrez
Relievers Who Fuck
Arthur Rhodes
Kazuhiro Sasaki
Andrés Muñoz
J.J. Putz
Edwin Díaz
Mike Jackson
Era-Defining Starting Pitchers
Luis Castillo
James Paxton
Marco Gonzales
Hitters I Never Saw But Made the Early Mariners Less Awful
Phil Bradley
Tom Paciorek
Ken Phelps
Bruce Bochte
Good Vibes Iron Men
Eugenio Suárez
Dave Valle
I Am Tired Of Everyone Trying To Trade You
George Kirby
The First Mariner (Julio Cruz should get to be here too)
Ruppert Jones
Relievers I Joked About Putting On But No, They Actually Deserve It
Jeff Nelson
Tom Wilhelmsen
Kate:
This is a vibes-based list, hand-written and transported with haste to the world wide web for you all to enjoy. It leans on going through year after year and seeing the top performers in each individual season, which was an interesting exercise in seeing what had to sustain many, many years of this club.
San Diego Padres SP Michael King (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Diego Padres looked to upgrade their depleted starting rotation at Monday’s trade deadline. In the final hours, the front office acquired Robbie Ray from the San Francisco Giants and Casey Mize from the Detroit Tigers.
However, both pitchers were less than impressive in their first start in new surroundings. Ray’s control betrayed him in last night’s 6-3 defeat. The southpaw allowed four runs on seven hits, walked five batters and struck out two in five lackluster innings.
With this loss, the Padres fall two games behind in the National League Wild Card race.
Taking the mound: Peter Lambert (HOU) vs Michael King (SD)
San Diego will turn to Michael King (6-8, 3.45 ERA) to get the team back on their winning ways in the second game of the three-game set. He has been solid all season, but King put together his best statistical month in July.
In five starts, he went 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA. But one stat that should bring a smile to the Friar Faithful is that King went six innings in four of the five starts. His pitching repertoire is finally coming together and becoming an effective arsenal.
King’s mix of the changeup, four-seam fastball, and sweeper has kept batters off balance during at-bats. You can tell the right-hander is pitching well when he induces ground-ball outs. King is near his normal career rate (43.3%).
If he can generate swing-and-misses or weak contact, it will be a long day for the Stros hitters.
The Astros are sending out Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.06 ERA) to secure a series victory today. The right-hander has been the one constant in an ever-changing starting rotation, as Spencer Arrighetti, Lance McCuller Jr., and Tatsuya Imai were either dealt away or shuffled out of the rotation this season.
The road to becoming a quality starting pitcher has not been easy for Lambert. He struggled with the Colorado Rockies after they drafted him in the second round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. The right-hander went 8-19 with a 6.28 ERA before the organization released him after the 2024 season.
His return to the majors began with a season in Japan. Lambert made some adjustments to his delivery and began working from a different spot on the rubber. He has been outstanding, as lowering his arm angle has made his sinker and cutter more effective in the strike zone.
The results increased his innings pitched, from 89.1 with the Rockies to 124.1 in Japan, and improved his strikeout numbers (111 batters in 24 starts). In 2026, Lambert has struck out 108 batters and held opposing teams to a .206 batting average in 19 starts.
His signing may have been the best under-the-radar move this winter.
Today’s lineup
8/8 ⚾ Astros Lineup is Out! Provided by mlbstartingnine (@DailyMLBLineups for link)
The Mets and Carson Benge received the results of the imaging on his wrist Saturday and things look encouraging.
Although Benge isn't in the Mets' starting lineup for the second of their three-game set with the Pirates, the youngster gave an update on his status and how he's feeling.
"Everything came back positive. Should be back in there within a few days," Benge said. "Nothing too serious, thankfully."
Benge said he's still a little sore, but is feeling better than he did in Friday's series opener. And who could blame him?
In the third inning, Benge made a feet-first slide into the left field corner at PNC Park. Benge stuck his glove out and caught the ball, but jammed his wrist against the wall. Benge was hunched over for a few seconds before finishing up the half-inning.
Benge said he knew something didn't feel right, but after about 10 seconds the pain went away and he was able to finish. But once he got back to the dugout, the adrenaline was gone and he felt the pain again. The Mets then pulled Benge from the game and the X-rays after came back negative.
"He’s in a good spot. He has a bone bruise, don’t believe it’s significant," interim manager Andy Green said Saturday. "We’re going to let him breathe today, see where he’s at tomorrow. Make determinations on how quickly we can get him back. We do believe at this point in time we’ve avoided an IL stint. That can change once he starts hitting again and feels it more, but we expect him to be in a good spot in a day or so."
Benge was already 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI before he was pulled and has picked up his offense of late.
Over his last 15 games, Benge is slashing .328/.371/.517 with two home runs and eight RBI.
So while he wants to be in the lineup, he understands he can still help the team in other ways.
"I always want to be in there every single day…I feel like this isn’t going to be something that’s going to take me a long time to come back from," Benge said. "Everyone plays a part, no matter who it is; if you're on the bench, just being a good teammate. Everyone feeds off each other. Being able to pick up on that is pretty big."
COVERS INTEL: Gavin Williams leads the majors with a 48.4% K% since the All-Star break among SP with at least 70 batters faced—nearly 
