Category: Baseball

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

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

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

2023

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

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

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

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

2024

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

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

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

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

2025

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

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

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

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

2026

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

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

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

Where Does the System Stand?

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

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

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

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

Game Recaps

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

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

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

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

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

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

Diamondbacks News

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

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

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

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

A visibly emotional Lovullo had this to say:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Around the League

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

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

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

MLB unanimously approves sale of San Diego Padres [ESPN]

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

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

The Dodgers Fall Behind by Ryan Blake [FanGraphs]

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

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

Baseball talk? I thought this was a football website!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boy, I couldn’t have been more wrong!

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

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

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

The Yankees enjoyed their Monday off, headed to Baltimore for a three-game set with the Orioles. Coming off of a disappointing series against the Jays, albeit with a strong finish, the Bombers have plenty of ground to make up in the East during the final months of the season, though they still hold the top wild card spot in the Junior Circuit.

Despite the Bombers taking the day off, there was plenty of other relevant action to take in on Monday.

Tampa Bay Rays (75-49) 7, Baltimore Orioles (61-64) 6

Tampa Bay staged a solid comeback against the O’s to wrap up their four-game series in the Trop. The O’s had taken the first three games, so the Rays made up an important half-game in the East with their win.

The Orioles opened up scoring with Coby Mayo’s 16th homer, a solo shot in the second. An inning later, however, the Rays answered back with the same from Yandy Díaz. Outside of the solo blasts, the first three innings were quiet for starters Shane McClanahan and Brandon Young. The following innings would be anything but.

In the top half of the fourth, Baltimore plated a pair on Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s single through the middle, which put them up 3-1. The Rays punched back immediately in the bottom half, as homers from Ryan Vilade and Jorge Mateo flipped the score and put them up 4-3.

The O’s would not be outdone, as the derby continued in the fifth, as homers from Pete Alonso and Encarnacion-Strand prompted another lead change and had the O’s up once again, 6-4. After holding that lead for a while, the action kicked in once again in the seventh.

With a pair of runners on base, Jonathan Aranda’s single into left field cut the Rays’ deficit to just one, and had them in prime position to take the lead once again. Two Batters later, Jonny DeLuca cashed in on the opportunity, chopping a grounder into left field that scored a pair, and rewarded Tampa Bay with the final lead change of the night.

The win on Monday was Tampa Bay’s 75th of 2026, and with the Yankees off, they netted a free half-game in the East, as they continue to sit on a fairly comfortable cushion.

Other Games

Boston Red Sox (67-58) 11, Arizona Diamondbacks (66-60) 1:

Unlike the Rays, the Red Sox cruised to a much easier win on Monday. Scoring in six different innings, with multiple runs in four of them, Boston posted 11 runs while keeping the D-Backs in check. Willson Contreras belted his 25th homer of the season as part of his two-hit night, while Wilyer Abreu and Mickey Gasper each tallied multiple RBIs. On the mound, Brayan Bello was the bulk guy, and did a nice job, allowing just one run across 4.2 innings of work. Like the Rays, the Sox made up a free game on the Yankees with their win.

Chicago Cubs (73-53) 7 Chicago White Sox (65-59) 5(10 innings):

The Cubs won a dramatic game on Monday in this iteration of the Crosstown Classic. The White Sox had control through much of this game, plating five runs, thanks to big days and a pair of homers from Randal Grichuk and Andrew Benintendi. The Cubs scored two early on with homers from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki,, and eventually tied things up late in the game thanks to Nico Hoerner. Crow-Armstrong led things off for the Cubbies in the 10th, and promptly sent the north-siders home happy with a walk-off blast that also secured a 30-30 campaign for the young star.

Mark Gubicza serves as a color commentator for the L.A. Angels.   The 2x former All-Star Pitcher joins us exclusively at The Crawfish Boxes to preview the Astros next A.L. West series from Daikin Park.   

Q: I can recall some classic  battles that you had back in the days with Boggs & Mattingly. How would you approach an elite hitter like Yordan at the plate?  

A: I would never fall into a pattern against Alvarez. Each at bat I would pitch differently to him.

Q: Even as tough as this season has been for the Angels, how awesome was it to meet some of the members from KISS last week at the ballpark? 

A: Meeting Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley was an all timer. They were cooler than even I could’ve imagined. I’ve seen them in concert twice and it was a blast!

Q: When these clubs get together, I think of the tenure for Trout & Altuve with their respective teams.   Do you think Mike Trout finishes his career in an Angels uniform?   

A: I fully envision Mike Trout playing his whole Hall of Fame career with the Angels. There is something to be said for playing your whole career with one team.

Q: Any “new” faces on the horizon that L.A. could bring up for portions to close out this campaign from the minors? 

A: There have been lots of changes already but Christian Moore, Kyren Paris and maybe Raudi Rodriguez could be up and get some playing time.

Q: I’ve known you to be an optimist. What do you think happens next season?   Will there be baseball or some semblance of a work stoppage?

A: I went through a number of work stoppages in my playing days but I feel this CBA will get worked out before any games in 2027 are lost.

This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”

Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (56-61, 14.5 games back)

The Storm Chasers lost 3 of 4 to the Columbus Clippers, with two games being rained out. At the plate, Jack Pineda went 7 for 15, with 6 doubles and 6 runs driven in. Matthew Lugo went 6 for 16, with three doubles and a triple. Vinnie Pasquantino, who is on rehab assignment, went 3 for 16, with a double, striking out 3 times. Overall, through the 4-game set, it was a tough week at the dish for the Storm Chasers.

On the mound, Lucas Braun was really good again. He went 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 runs, 2 walks, striking out 7. I would like to see him get called up before the season is over and start a time or two. Luke Little threw a scoreless inning, striking out the side. Carlos Duran threw a scoreless inning this week as well. It’s a mixed bag on some of the pitchers the Royals recently acquired, but there are definitely some positives.

The Storm Chasers will be without Gavin Cross, who was placed on the Injured List last week. He was batting .333/.384/.621 with 11 home runs in his last 45 games. They return home this week, taking on the Rochester Red Wings, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals (47-65, 25 games back)

The Naturals split their six-game series with the Springfield Cardinals. On the mound, Hunter Owen looked really good in his lone start of the week, going 7 innings, allowing 1 hit, no runs, walking three and striking out 12 batters. Owen is a 24-year-old left hander, the Royals drafted him in the 4th round out of Vanderbilt in 2023. It hasn’t been the best year in Double-A for Owen, but it was good to see him dominate this week. Frank Mozzicato had two scoreless relief outings, striking out 6 in 2.2 innings. His fastball velocity is up too, so maybe they found something? Grant Gambrell threw 5 innings of 1 run ball in his lone start of the week. Gambrell is a 28-year-old right hander, the Royals took him in the 3rd round in 2019 out of Oregon State. The Royals traded him away in 2021, but he made his way back to the organization in July this year.

At the plate, Carson Roccaforte went 8 for 26, with two doubles and three homers, bringing his season total up to 30 now. Luke Pelzer, who has really impressed me this year, went 6-for-24, with two doubles and a triple. Maikel Garcia, who is on a rehab assignment, went 4 for 10, with a double, 3 walks and 5 runs scored. Justin Johnson was 4-for-14, smacking 3 homers.

The Naturals stay on the road this week, taking on the San Antonio Missions. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Quad Cities River Bandits (58-51, 6.5 games back)

The River Bandits swept the five-game series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps, with a game being rained out. At the plate, Derlin Figueroa went 6-for-17, with two homers and a double. Figueroa is up to 25 homers on the season now. Zion Rose went 4-for-14, with a double and 4 runs driven in. Fellow new guy, Ben North, went 3-for-10, with two homers.

On the mound, Kendry Chourio made a start, after a couple weeks off. Chourio looked rusty, going 3 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs, striking out 2. David Shields had a really good start, going 6 innings, allowing 2 hits, no runs, walking 1 and striking out 6.

The River Bandits hit the road this week to take on the Dayton Dragons. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.

Columbia Fireflies (56-56, 10.5 games back)

The Fireflies lost 5 of 6 in their series against the Wilson Warbirds. On the mound, Michael Braswell III, who just recently got to Columbia from the ACL, went 3.1 innings, allowing 1 hit, walking 1 and striking out a pair. Braswell is a 23-year-old right hander out of LSU. Jesus Oliveira went 2 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits, walking 4 and striking out 3. Oliveria also just recently got to Columbia from the ACL, he’s a 21-year-old right hander from Venezuela. The Royals signed him when he was 18 years old. Jose Gutierrez went 6 innings, allowing 8 hits, 2 runs (1 earned), striking out 3 in his lone start of the week. Darwin Rodriguez threw 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, 3 runs, walking 2 and striking out 5 in his lone start of the week.

At the plate, Yandel Ricardo posted a good week, going 6-for-17, with a double, 3 runs driven in and 4 stolen bases. Camden Johnson went 5-for-6, with a triple. Henry Ramos went 6-for-22, with two triples and a homer. Ramos is a 21-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic. The Royals signed him at age 17. On the season, Ramos is slashing .272/.345/.401 with 7 homers and 18 stolen bases.

The Fireflies return home this week to take on the Augusta GreenJackets, the series runs Tuesday through Sunday, with a doubleheader on Tuesday night.

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

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

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

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

Joe Musgrove update

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

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

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

The offense is booming

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

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

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

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

Pitching on the way up

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

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

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

Manny Machado doesn’t have to carry them anymore

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

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

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

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

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

Jackson Merrill gets paid

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

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

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

Roster and injury updates

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Game 1: Tuesday, 6:35 PM, MASN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Game 3: Thursday, 6:35 PM, MASN

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

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

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

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

**

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

The Detroit Tigers snapped their three-game losing streak on Monday night with an 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. At one point, the good guys had a seven-run lead, but a four-run seventh inning made things a little too close for comfort.

Taking the mound for the Motor City Kitties seeking to clinch the series is right-hander Keider Montero, whose results have wavered back and forth since returning to the starting role. The 26-year-old’s last time out was a strong one, tossing 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball on three hits and a walk without issuing a strikeout.

In fact, the Tigers did not strike out a single batter in that 3-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians, marking the first time a team threw a shutout without registering a K since Detroit did it 14 years prior.

For the home team, fellow righty Braxton Ashcraft will climb the hill looking to even things up. The 26-year-old has had a strong showing so far during his sophomore season, earning an All-Star nod for his efforts.

Ashcraft’s last start was the best of his career — a complete-game effort that saw him allow one solo home run and three total hits along with a walk while striking out 10. He earned his 12th win in the process as the Bucs prevailed, 13-1.

Here is a look at how Detroit and Pittsburgh’s pitchers match up on Tuesday.

Detroit Tigers (61-64) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (61-66)

Time (ET): 6:40 p.m.
Place: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
SB Nation Site:Bucs Dugout
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 126: RHP Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) vs. RHP Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.88 ERA)

MONTERO

ASHCRAFT

The Arizona Diamondbacks are still awaiting more word from All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte, who did not show up for the team's game in Boston on Monday night and was put on the restricted list.

Manager Torey Lovullo said the team was hoping Marte would arrive at the park before game time, but less than 15 minutes before first pitch, officials made the decision to replace Marte on the roster with Class AAA infielder José Fernández.

Outfielder Lars Nootbaar took Marte's place in the starting lineup as the designated hitter.

Lovullo said he was told Marte is dealing with a “personal issue.”

"That’s as much as I know right now," he said. "I’m sure in time we’ll start to uncover and unravel some information."

This was the 19th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Tuesday, August 18th).

According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), prospect Theo Gillen tops the system and might just find himself in the running for Minor League Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, Aidan Cremarosa remains the top hurler in the system despite spending the past several weeks on the Injured List; he was recently activated. Thus far in his first professional season, Cremarosa has a 2.75 ERA | 2.62 FIP with a 32.7 K% & 4.4 BB% over 59 IP in Single-A

RUMBLINGS

• Theo Gillen left a game early last weekend after being hit in the left leg by a pitch. Gillen stayed on his feet but was clearly in a lot of pain. He would walk off the field under his own power but with a noticeable limp.
• Grady Emerson has been assigned to Single-A Charleston and will make his professional debut. The #2 overall draft pick has been excelling in the Bridge League.
• Blake Morgan has been promoted to High-A after a solid run with Single-A to begin his pro career. The 2025 19th rounder had a 3.47 ERA | 3.97 FIP with a 26.1 K% & 5.7 BB% over 62 1/3 IP prior to his promotion.
• Xavier Isaac made Baseball America’s Hot Sheet
  • “No one should ever doubt Isaac’s power. He can go on runs where everything he hits seems to have a chance to clear the fence. This month is the third time he’s hit six homers in a month. But unlike the other two times, he’s doing it this time without the strikeouts that have usually come with the power. Isaac has a 15% strikeout rate this month. That’s way down from the 29.7% K-rate he had coming into this month. Isaac has shown signs of being a hitter and not just a slugger in the past. If this improvement is sustainable, watch out.“

TEAM LEADERS

• Must currently be assigned to that team
• Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
• (minimum of 200 TBF & PA)

Tampa Bay Rays

Top 10 Prospects

• None currently on active roster

Durham Bulls

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .264, Blake Sabol
OBP: .335, Blake Sabol
SLG: .425, Blake Sabol
HR: 11, Carson Williams, Blake Sabol, & Logan Davidson
wRC+: 95, Blake Sabol
SB: 31, Homer Bush Jr

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 2.37, Evan Reifert
FIP: 3.50, Ty Johnson
K%: 34.4% Ty Johnson
BB%: 4.2%, Mason Englert
WHIP: 0.99, Ty Johnson
AVG: .173, Ty Johnson
WHIFF%: 16.0%, Ty Johnson

Top 10 Prospects

• #3 Brody Hopkins
  • AAA: 5.34 ERA | 5.09 FIP | 26.9 K% | 21.6 BB% | .202 AVG | 12.0 WHIFF% | 86 IP

Montgomery Biscuits

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .309, Austin Overn
OBP: .412, Xavier Isaac
SLG: .565, Austin Overn
HR: 23, Will Simpson & Xavier Isaac
wRC+: 151, Austin Overn
SB: 48, Austin Overn

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 4.29, Chris Clark
FIP: 4.62, Chris Clark
K%: 26.0%, Jackson Baumeister
BB%:  3.2%, Santiago Suarez
WHIP 1.18, Santiago Suarez & Chris Clark
AVG: .225, Jackson Baumeister
WHIFF%: 14.2%, Jackson Baumeister

Top 10 Prospects

• #1 Theo Gillen
  • AA: .290/.395/.552 | 20.8 K% | 13.9 BB% | 9 HR | 11 SB | 147 wRC+ | 173 PA
  • A+: .342/.449/.589 | 23.8 K% | 14.3 BB% | 12 HR | 28 SB | 165 wRC+ | 265 PA
    • 6/23: Promoted to Double-A
• #5 Caden Bodine
  • AA: .298/.385/.405 | 5.8 K% | 11.5 BB% | 3 HR | 3 SB | 115 wRC+ | 156 PA
  • A+: .341/.411/.477 | 6.6 K% | 7.3 BB% | 4 HR | 3 SB | 132 wRC+ | 151 PA
  • A: .379/.433/.614 | 3.9 K% | 9.2 BB% | 5 HR | 1 SB | 175 wRC+ | 152 PA
    • 6/30: Promoted to Double-A
    • 5/19: Promoted to High-A
• #10 Santiago Suarez
  • AA: 4.89 ERA | 5.13 FIP | 19.5 K% | 3.2 BB% | .262 AVG | 11.1 WHIFF% | 103 IP

Bowling Green Hot Rods

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .286, Ryan McCoy
OBP: .431, Ryan McCoy
SLG: .564, Ryan McCoy
HR: 20, Nathan Flewelling
wRC+: 154, Ryan McCoy
SB: 45, Tony Santa Maria

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 3.88, Noah Beal
FIP: 3.99, Noah Beal
K%: 27.0%, Trevor Harrison
BB%: 5.3%, Dominic Niman
WHIP: 1.26, Dominic Niman
AVG: .233, Noah Beal
WHIFF%: 18.0%, Noah Beal

Top 10 Prospects

• #4 Nathan Flewelling
  • A+: .239/.366/.451 | 27.0 K% | 15.2 BB% | 20 HR | 8 SB | 112 wRC+ | 448 PA
• #9 Anderson Brito
  • A+: 3.34 ERA | 4.50 FIP | 28.8 K% | 14.4 BB% | .240 AVG | 13.4 WHIFF% | 32.1 IP
    • 5/23: Placed on 7-day Injured List

Charleston River Dogs

Team Offensive Leaders:
AVG: .330, Brady Marget
OBP: .429, Brady Marget
SLG: .473, Brady Marget
HR: 9, Cooper Flemming
wRC+: 146, Brady Marget
SB: 33, Alberth Palma

Team Pitching Leaders:
ERA: 2.67, Jacob Kuhn
FIP: 2.62, Aidan Cremarosa
K%: 32.7%, Aidan Cremarosa
BB%: 4.4%, Aidan Cremarosa
WHIP: 0.80, Aidan Cremarosa
AVG: .173, Aidan Cremarosa
WHIFF%: 16.5%, Aidan Cremarosa

Top 10 Prospects

• #6 Cooper Flemming
  • A: .301/.388/.444 | 17.1 K% | 10.7 BB% | 9 HR | 14 SB | 128 wRC+ | 450 PA
• #7 Taitn Gray
  • A: .275/.372/.425 | 23.4 K% | 12.9 BB% | 6 HR | 8 SB | 118 wRC+ | 248 PA
  • CPX: .333/.400/.611 | 20.0 K% | 5.0 BB% | 1 HR | 0 SB | 140 wRC+ | 20 PA
    • 6/1: Placed on the 7-day IL
    • 7/14: Began rehab assignment
    • 7/28: Activated from the IL
• #9 Daniel Pierce
  • A: .252/.336/.390 | 28.6 K% | 7.9 BB% | 4 HR | 6 SB | 101 wRC+ | 140 PA
    • 4/22: Placed on the 7-day IL
    • 5/2: Activated from the IL
    • Hasn’t played since May 30th. Underwent shoulder surgery. Likely out for the year

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The Atlanta Braves are -130 favorites to even the series in Minnesota tonight.

With a powerful offense set to take on a pitcher who comes with extreme barrel concerns, my Braves vs. Twins predictions and MLB picks see value in backing Atlanta to rebound.

Who will win Braves vs Twins today: Atlanta Braves (-130)

Tyler Mahle has been quietly pitching well over the last month, posting a 2.83 ERA and 3.18 SIERA. The Minnesota Twins have hit .228 off righties in August with a pedestrian .140 ISO. They're not doing much damage at the plate, and it’ll be hard to change that with how Mahle is playing.

Zebby Matthews has allowed at least three earned runs in six of his last seven starts, and he'll need to contend with an Atlanta Braves lineup sitting eighth in xwOBA vs. righties.

Back Atlanta to -145.

COVERS INTEL: Matthews has allowed an 11.6% barrel rate this season, ranking him in the fifth percentile leaguewide.

Braves vs Twins Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-120)

Quality offenses have been crushing Matthews this season. He’s made six starts versus top-10 lineups in xwOBA against righties and is sporting a 6.90 ERA.

Matthews gave up an alarming amount of power along the way, conceding 2.70 home runs per nine innings. That spells trouble against the Braves.

While Mahle has been performing well overall the past month, he’s gone through shocking road woes this season. His ERA sits at 7.07 away from Oracle Park. 

The Twins should chip in enough, making the Over an attractive buy up to -130.

Braves vs Twins home run prediction: Drake Baldwin (+350)

The home run drought for Drake Baldwin appears to be nearing its end.

The talented lefty is showing real signs of a breakout, most notably leading the team in average exit velocity (95.8 mph) while ranking second in hard-hit rate over the past 20 games.

He hit the ball at least 300 feet 16 times during that span, including a handful beyond 350. None left the park.

Matthews has allowed a .202 ISO and 1.71 HR/9 to lefties, making this a great spot for Baldwin to get back on track.

Bet him to +325.

Braves vs Twins weather

Temperatures should hover around the mid-70s with winds blowing out. That gives a small boost to the bats.

Braves vs Twins odds

• Moneyline: Braves -130 | Twins +110
• Run line: Braves -1.5 (+130) | Twins +1.5 (-150)
• Over/Under: Over 9.0 (+100) | Under 9.0 (-120)

Braves vs Twins trend

Minnesota has only won five of the last 15 games (-5.0 units, -31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Braves vs. Twins.

How to watch Braves vs Twins and game info

Braves vs Twins latest injuries

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Strikeouts are fascist.* The Red Sox, ergo, stand for democracy and classically liberal values, because last night they did this:

In baseball terms, 1949 was a looooooong time ago. Players still left their gloves on the field, for chrissakes!

Like a lot of baseball fans (maybe?) I’ve long wondered what it would be like to travel back in time and see how the game was played in another era. Deadball Era baseball was essentially an entirely different game, but I bet I would have loved it. We typically think of the pre-Babe Ruth version of the game as having less action because of the lack of homers, but think of how much more often the ball was in play! You wouldn’t be able to take your eyes off the field for a second, lest you miss something. Last night we didn’t exactly get the Deadball Era, but it might be the closest we denizens of the modernity may ever get to it.

Talk about your favorite historical era of baseball and whatever else you want in this space and, as always, be good to one another.

*The only good line from an otherwise horrible and horribly overrated movie.

** How insane is it that we ever thought it was okay for players to leave their gloves on the field?Ankle injuries for everybody!

If you missed the first two innings of the series opener between the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets, you essentially missed the game. The Padres had four runners thrown out at the plate over the first two innings, with three of those plays coming from outfield assists. The Mets scored their only two runs of the game thanks to a rough start to the game by San Diego starter Walker Buehler and New York went on to win the contest 2-1 in Flushing, New York on Monday.

The Padres hit four singles in the top of the first inning off Mets starter Nolan McLean, but two runners, Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado were thrown out at the plate by right fielder Carson Benge on two separate plays to keep San Diego off the scoreboard.

New York turned a single and a walk into a run thanks to an RBI-single by Bo Bichette in the bottom of the first. The hit allowed A.J. Ewing to score and moved Francisco Lindor to third base to leave runners on the corners with no outs. Benge grounded out, but Lindor was unable to score, however Bichette moved to second. Luis Robert Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to center field which allowed Lindor to score to give the Mets a 2-0 lead with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Buehler ended the inning after inducing a line out from Jared Young to end the inning.

The Padres were able to load the bases in the top of the second inning after McLean issued a walk to Luis Campusano, hit Gavin Sheets with a pitch and issued a second walk in the inning to Xander Bogaerts. Luis Rengifo hit a grounder back to McLean and he threw home for the force out for the first out of the inning. Fernando Tatis Jr. just missed a grand slam but did get a sacrifice fly that allowed Sheets to score to cut the Mets lead to 2-1. Jake Cronenworth followed with a two-out single to left field, but Bogaerts ran through a stop sign at third base and was thrown out at the plate trying to score.

Neither team was able to add to their totals throughout the remainder of the contest. San Diego ended the game with more hits than New York (7-5), but the plays on defense by Benge, McLean and Ewing held the Padres to just one run and allowed the Mets to get a series-opening win.

The teams will meet again on Tuesday at 4:10 p.m. and San Diego will hope to have more to show for its offensive efforts.

Padres News:

• MLB owners held a vote and unanimously approved the sale of the Padres to Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones on Monday. A press conference to introduce the new owners will be held next week.

• Ethan Salas has remained hot and hit another home run with the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Baseball News:

• Pete Crow-Armstrong his a walk-off home run to lift the Chicago Cubs over the Chicago White Sox.

• Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was a no-show at Fenway Park and was placed on the restricted list.

• Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers got a dominant win over the Colorado Rockies.

• The Philadelphia Phillies squeezed past the Miami Marlins, 6-5.

• The Cincinnati Reds split a double-header with the St. Louis Cardinals thanks to a walk-off double by Eloy De La Cruz.

There haven’t been many comparisons between the 2023 Orioles and this season’s team. The former was a 100-game winner, an AL East division champion and a team that historically outperformed the mediocre expectations placed upon them before the season. The latter currently has a sub .500 record, is scraping and clawing to stay in the playoff race and has largely failed to meet the expectations they had back in March. And yet, for both teams, a second-half, four-game series in Tropicana Park could very well have defined their seasons.

The Orioles’ recent series win against the Rays was reminiscent of Baltimore’s first road series after the All-Star break back in 2023. Three years ago, the O’s came into Tampa deadlocked with the Rays atop the AL East. Tampa Bay was supposed to be the juggernauts that would run away with the AL East after starting the season 23-6. Baltimore, on the other hand, was the team everybody just kept waiting to fall off.

Instead, the O’s went into Tropicana Field, won three out of four games and took a division lead they would never relinquish. Game 1 of that series saw a Félix Bautista masterclass. The eventual AL Reliever of the Year pitched a scoreless 9th to send the game to extras, and after Colton Cowser’s RBI single in the 10th, worked out of a two-on-no-out jam to seal the Orioles’ victory.

After a shutout loss in Game 2, the O’s won a rollercoaster ride of a Game 3. Baltimore took a 5-0 lead after a five-run 4th inning off All-Star Shane McClanahan. The bullpen trio of Danny Coulombe, Yennier Cano and Shintaro Fujinami would then slowly give that lead back to Tampa, setting the stage for another dramatic 9th inning. Facing Rays’ closer Peter Fairbanks, Adam Frazier led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and scored on a Ryan O’Hearn single. Bautista then pitched another perfect 9th to put the O’s up 2-1 in the series.

Game 4 was another back-and-forth affair, with the O’s taking a 3-0 lead before the Rays stormed back to tie it on a homer in the 5th. O’Hearn then untied the game with solo shot in the 6th and Anthony Santander added an insurance run in the 7th. Bautista then pitched his fourth inning of the series, striking out the side around of pair of singles to secure the series win and forever etch his name in Orioles lore.

The recent series win in Tampa doesn’t carry the exact same weight as their triumph three years ago. Instead of leaving the Trop with the division lead, the O’s leave tied with the Rangers for the final AL Wildcard spot. Instead of finishing the series 23 games above .500, Baltimore still sits three games under .500. Losing the series finale yesterday also ended the series on a sour note, as the O’s faield to gain ground on the other Wildcard hopefuls while ceding control of their destiny back to Texas.

And yet, it’s undeniable that this year’s team now has an air of hope they didn’t have before their series with the Rays. The overarching truth in the AL this season is that no team is that much better than any other team. Just like the 2023 Orioles went to Tamp looking to prove their AL East title aspirations were no fluke, these O’s went to the Trop looking to prove they can stay in this playoff race to the very end. And they did just that.

Perhaps more important than Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s wins against the Rays was the way the Orioles won. This team was supposed to an offensive, force led by Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson, that outscored even the best of teams en route to playoff contention.

For seemingly the first time this season, both Henderson and Alonso were firing on all cylinders at the same time. Gunnar kicked off the series by going 4-fo-4 with a home in Friday’s win, and finished the four-game set 7-for-16 with the homer, two doubles, two RBIs and five runs. Alonso was even more unstoppable. The reigning AL Player of the Week went 8-for-16, reaching base 11 total times, while adding two homers, a double and three RBIs.

The offensive explosion by the Orioles two stars is the culmunitation of two hot streaks that have gone from embers to full on flames. After struggling for most of the season, Gunnar is finally turning a corner in August. The star SS is now hitting .245 this month with a .477 slugging percentage and an OPS over .800. Strikeouts have been a problem for Henderson all season, but he’s been exceptionally disciplined hitter of late. In 15 games this month, his strikeout rate has dropped 12.7% while his walk rate has jumped to 2o.6%.

Alonso has been the steady heartbeat of this team for months and now its finally become the platform for actual success. Since the beginning of June, Alonso is slashing .296/.400/.554 with 15 HRs and 44 RBIs. As MASN’s Brett Holander put it, Alonso is the clear favorite (and perhaps only contender) for Most Valuable Oriole and is delivering exactly what the front office paid him $30+M/year to provide. When the Orioles traded Adley Rutschman and others at the deadline, it was obvious more would be asked of Alonso if the O’s wanted to remain in playoff contention. And the Polar Bear has continued to answer.

This team has also built a surprising identity off the strength of their pitching rotation, and we saw that epitomized against the Rays. Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers each delivered qualtiy starts and Chris Bassitt was strong in his return from the IL. Really, Brandon Young was the only starter who didn’t deliver, exiting after four subpar innings in Monday’s loss.

This team is still flawed (looking at you, bullpen) and still have the unenviable task of navigating the hardest remaining schedule in the American League. But in going to Tampa and taking three of four from the Rays, the 2026 Baltimore Orioles showed the heart of the a team willing to fight for its postseason destiny. A heart that’s largely been missing in Baltimore since 2023.